Webb describes representation as "...how we experience and communicate ourselves and the world we inhabit, how we know ourselves and how we deal with others." This past weekend my fiance and I attended a Slightly Stoopid concert (all ages) at Hammerstein Ballroom. I can best describe this group as a present day Sublime homage band. The laid back vibe perfect for a new breed of teenagers looking to express themselves through melodic beats, and one massive cloud of smoke hanging in the air.
The girls were covered up outside with sweatshirts and hoodies, as soon as they made their way inside the hoodies were stripped off to expose revealing low cut tops and tight mini skirts their parents probably had no idea they owned. The boys I would describe to be "Skateboard Chic" an emulation of west coast skateboarders with hints of New York urban wear. Beanie hats, baseball caps and long hair shielded their eyes from the bright lights of the concert, but also maintaining an aura of anonymity amongst themselves.
Sitting in the balcony section of the show made it easy to chat with fellow concert goers about what connections they felt to the music and to the band. Aside from the teenage melodrama of boyfriend/girlfriend arguments many of the teens were their to share their love of marijuana and music. Jimmy a 9th grader who traveled from Yonkers to see Slightly Stoopid, shared that he liked the fact that he could "groove out and get lost in their lyrics." Jimmy and his friends look up to the band, and felt like their lyrics were words to live by.
"I'm so stoned
And I'm free
So free
Said if you roll another spliff sir
Won't cha' pass it right over to me
I'm so stoned
And I'm free
So so free
But if you tell it
In a letter girl
You know that you ain't no good for me"
This "stoner" culture lets youth live vicariously through their heroes, cool musicians with a carefree persona. Exactly the type of visual and verbal language these adolescents can associate with.
Webb shares that "Representation is, in short, how we experience and communicate ourselves and the world we inhabit, how we know ourselves and how we deal with others."
Sitting in the balcony section of the show made it easy to chat with fellow concert goers about what connections they felt to the music and to the band. Aside from the teenage melodrama of boyfriend/girlfriend arguments many of the teens were their to share their love of marijuana and music. Jimmy a 9th grader who traveled from Yonkers to see Slightly Stoopid, shared that he liked the fact that he could "groove out and get lost in their lyrics." Jimmy and his friends look up to the band, and felt like their lyrics were words to live by.
"I'm so stoned
And I'm free
So free
Said if you roll another spliff sir
Won't cha' pass it right over to me
I'm so stoned
And I'm free
So so free
But if you tell it
In a letter girl
You know that you ain't no good for me"
This "stoner" culture lets youth live vicariously through their heroes, cool musicians with a carefree persona. Exactly the type of visual and verbal language these adolescents can associate with.
Webb shares that "Representation is, in short, how we experience and communicate ourselves and the world we inhabit, how we know ourselves and how we deal with others."
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