“There’s something real magical about this town, but at the same time not cause people kind of get stuck here, but maybe that’s just my jaded opinion. Maybe that’s why it’s so magical. Maybe it’s just for us.” -Andy Conrad in Towncraft
I always find myself mentioning the documentary Towncraft. It’s about time I actually put my thought about it on here. Again, these are just thoughts I’ve had over the last couple years since I saw it in 2006, and I know things will be a bit long, but I’ve got a lot of thoughts on the matter.
Towncraft is so much more than just a documentary. It’s Little Rock. It’s the music. It’s the scene. Most importantly though, it’s the people here that make it what it is. If any of these integral components went missing, this wouldn’t be the scene that embraced so many youth about twenty years ago, and it still wouldn’t be the scene that has taken in me and countless other native & non-native Arkansans. Little Rock is still a diamond in the rough to most, but those who have experienced what it has to offer know that it’s priceless.
One of my regrets in life is that I wasn’t born earlier. Yes I know that was not in my control, but to be a 14, 15, or 16 year old when the punk era took off in Little Rock would have been downright kickass. Instead I was born shortly before things took off. However, those involved in the movement were young, talented, and needed a creative outlet. Punk had hit the kids in Little Rock, and that’s pretty much all it took to propel them on one crazy life journey after another. Several key bands formed, the most notable Trusty, and the scene caught like wildfire with the youth who didn’t want to stay at home. Instead shows were booked at the DMZ, which changed its name several times over the years to settle on Vino’s. This was instrumental because rather large name punk acts at the time traveled through, and the local bands got to open for them. I suppose you could say it was the best of both worlds for everyone.
The movement quickly gained momentum with mere teenagers touring the country. I know it’s not completely unheard of these days, but in the late 80s and early 90s it wasn’t seen often at all. As the slightly older bands were dispersing Little Rock, a new crop of bands arose. I believe the scene started out with about five recurring bands and in the span of a few short years multiplied four or five fold. All of these bands created rabid followings, and it was these fans and musicians alike that made this time in Little Rock special and unique.
Enter 1993 & 1994 and Soophie Nun Squad was born. I could go on about them for quite some time because they are my favorite band to come from Little Rock. Instead, I’ll leave a few fun facts about them and continue on. Nate Powell is an accomplished comic book author/illustrator. Soophie always had anywhere between 6-12 members. The shows weren’t necessarily shows but more of a spectacle. You never knew what to expects, but always knew it’d be a great time. They are severely missed by their fans, and hopefully will hold a reunion show in the future. I, along with many others, can only hope.
Fast forward another couple years and Little Rock is taken by storm with Max Recordings. (Thank you Burt Taggart!) Max has fostered an amazing group of musicians such as American Princes, The Big Cats, Sugar & The Raw, Kevin Kerby & Battery, and countless others. The label was initially started to try and help Arkansas musicians either get out of the state, stay here because of family, or simply just to help them stay put in a place they love. I know many of these artists personally, and they all seem to be exceedingly happy about the paths that they’ve chosen.
I started heavily going out to shows in Little Rock when I was 15. I used to be a fixture at Vino’s when it was a massive hangout in a large room of second hand smoke, but what venue back then wasn’t. Sure, I’ll probably be one of those unlucky people who will develop lung cancer or another respiratory ailment because of it all, but it was worth it. Some of my best times were at Vino’s and Juanita’s, and I often find myself wondering what those walls would say if they could talk. Those were my glory days along with countless others. I often wish to relive some of them, but knowing it’s impossible to do so, I forge ahead.
Upon someone turning 21 in Little Rock, several new venues open up to them. White Water Tavern (in the great hands of Matt White & co.), Sticky Fingerz, and shows once in a while at the Rev Room & Juanita’s cater to those who can legally drink. White Water books acts off the beaten path and almost always has live music 4-5 nights a week. It truly is a gem among the fodder of everyday life. The other venues tend to book better known acts, and that’s totally fine by me. It’s nice to see we can get some of those larger acts at smaller venues. I always anticipate the intimacy these shows offer. While none of these places are really prevalent in the documentary, who’s to say they won’t be mentioned if another film is made 10 years down the road.
Now deep in the latter half of the 2000s, Little Rock has seen a resurgence of those who started the scene Towncraft depicts. Sure they’re in their 30s or a little older, but that doesn’t mean they still can’t rock. I saw Burt Taggart and The Big Cats blow the roof off White Water several months ago, even though his priority these days is his family. It’s so cool to see these musicians back to doing what they love to do. It’s also great to know that the scene isn’t dead in the slightest due to a couple new record labels, Thick Syrup & Last Chance Records, and the growing amount of talented new musicians out there.
If any of my ramblings have appealed to you, I wholeheartedly recommend buying or borrowing Richard Matson’s documentary, Towncraft. It has changed how I view things. I have met a lot of great people from it, and it’s just amazingly well done. Towncraft is not some mystical idea. We are Towncraft.
--L
P.S. I'll update with show related things when I go to some. It's been a while, but I'm really looking forward to getting back in to things.
Towncraft
(Photo from the Towncraft website)
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