Craig the Superfan.
Marc's Rock Blog
This is a follow up to my last blog about Ram Danesse and his gig at Average Joe’s.
It was while watching his show that two disparate, and at the time, seemingly unrelated events took place: I stopped a waitress and complemented her on her body art. Ram Danesse made a shout out to a gentleman from England in the crowd as he proceeded to do a commendable cover of Oasis’ Wonderwall.
And while not necessarily having to deal directly with a band, I want address in this blog another important aspect of the music experience.
I want to blog about Craig the Superfan.
Craig was tall, lean – with wiry energy coming off him in waves. He was sporting a black short-billed military-style cap and a black Ram Danesse t-shirt. His passion was obvious, his fervent intensity over Ram Danesse’s band, while no doubt somewhat fueled by alcohol, was no less palpable, engrossing … and endearing.
When it came time after their gig to sit and ask Ram more questions in a more intimate setting, things got, well … interesting. When I began asking Ram and his outfit questions, Craig began to answer them, cutting off the other band members before they had a chance to complete their thoughts.
Was Craig at times interrupting, even speaking for, Ram D. – yes.
Did Average Joe’s owner and local rock and roll impresario, Jorge Gutierrez, have to, at one moment, intervene – yep.
Should Craig maybe’ve taken a back seat and let Ram answer – of course.
As an interviewer/blogger I’m here to ask questions and, of course, I’d prefer the person I ask to answer them so our readers can rate that artist on the merit of his/her own answers and make up their own minds. You, our readers, want to know about the bands (yeah, even you in the dark basement – pull your pants back up, perv!).
But at the same time, I wasn’t going to say a damn thing because it was just so interesting to watch.
Was Craig’s passion for the band false, orchestrated, or some sort of over blown sycophancy? No.
Was his love, his complete, overzealous loyalty obvious? Hell yes.
But this is why the Craig's of the world are necessary in any music scene. It is their unapologetic, manic, overzealous passion that gets bands noticed. It is the Craigs of the world, with their intense love, that shine the light on bands and get them noticed. Their zeal focuses the spotlight on them and gets people to notice the bands they so tirelessly champion.
Besides, if it weren’t for the fans – who would buy the songs, the CDs, the vinyl?
Who’d attend the shows?
Who’d spread the lore and the legends of the small, rare show where that was the first time they ever played that song and I was there and it’ll never happen again and it was freakin’ awesome?
This is how music gets noticed. This is how legends and fanlove are spread.
Craig’s a Scot, and he defended and championed his band as only a fierce highlander would defend his home, his kin, and his clan. And like a character out of Braveheart, it’s easy to picture Craig painted up, kilt on, brandishing his broadsword and expelling foul oaths at the nobles of musical mediocrity.
So I’m okay with Craig.
What’s more, I’ll even say I like him – a lot.
I’ll take manic, wild-eyed, near-insane passion with my music over blasé and jaded anytime.
So you swing that sword Craig, you mad Scot.
Swing it high.
What I’m listening to now: Cousins by Vampire Weekend
Couple of the night: Craig and Jess, of course.
