Asheville residents Keelan Vinson, 17, and Lennon Medvick, 16, busk outside the Mountain Xpress offices on Wall Street. They haven’t come up with a name for their group yet, but they’re toying with “The Fagabonds.” Their style — which they describe as “gay gutterpunk” — is a combination of folk, punk, indie, and cowpunk (yup, I had to Google that one too). “We’re not really gay, exactly, because we sing about girls” said Medvick. “And that would be really weird.” Vinson agreed: “And we both have girlfriends. Well, you know. Girlfriends-ish.” Photo by Michael Muller
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Shortly after this shot was taken, the duo was told by the owner of a near-by business, “You’ve been here an hour. Time to move on before I call the cops”. I double checked the city ordinances and there is no stated time limit for buskers. What gives?
“We’re not really gay, exactly, because we sing about girls” said Medvick. “And that would be really weird.”
Still trying to figure this one out…translation anyone?
Awww they still have forehead acne.
i knew i was getting old a few years ago when twenty somethings started looking like high schoolers to me.
So what does that make me when i cant tell the boys from the girls?
Translation: Looking this way gets us girls. We would totally beat the crap out of any gay people we ever met because we are soulless little posers.
I might be wrong about some of the inflection and nuances but I am pretty certain that is what they meant.
their tryin’ to be metrosexuals is my best guess
There’s nothing cowpunk about this.
Translation: Looking this way gets us girls. We would totally beat the crap out of any gay people we ever met because we are soulless little posers.
I might be wrong about some of the inflection and nuances but I am pretty certain that is what they meant.
Interesting, but not at all my take, which had more to do with a river in Egypt — what with their “not really gay, exactly” and their “girlfriend-ish” girlfriends.
Poor guys sound like a dying cow in a hail storm.
faux-homosexuality created by a lack of father figures and masculine role models is SO asheville.
Poor guys sound like a dying cow in a hail storm.
Perhaps that’s what is meant by cowpunk. (I admit to not having actually listened to the video.)
I listened. Someone needs to smash that banjo before it can inflict any more harm.
I listened. Someone needs to smash that banjo before it can inflict any more harm.
I have now listened. They have demonstrated the wisdom of FDR’s answer to how many strings there are on a banjo — “Five too many.”
[b]I listened. [/b]
egads. i can see why the business owner asked them to leave. i wouldnt have lasted a fraction of the hour he waited.
maybe they could spend more time learning to play their instruments and less on styling their hair.
They are very young and free to be what ever they want to be. caught in the act and not quite ready for prime time they fumbled the interview. but what i have to say to all of you…is don’t you have anything better to do then comment on a couple of youngsters? in the end i guarandamntee ya’s they’ll be more fair and open minded than all y’all.
gramma-
i dont want them to be open minded. i want them to be able to play their instruments and sing in time.
What “the gramma” said.
They really are just kids, 16 and 17, exploring their world, which they’ve now learned can be brutal.
I admire them a lot more for seeking an original, creative niche than a 26-year-old adult who neck-chains himself to a door and parrots platitudes.
Keep exploring, boys, and practice, and come back next week, and every week thereafter. You’ll find your own niche, your own true style, and you’ll sound better with every performance.
I tend to agree with “the gramma” and Betty in broad strokes. They are young and I was actually expressing a sympathetic take on their words. (I was going to say nothing till I saw their statement being interpreted negatively.) And I applaud them for getting out there and doing this, but their musicianship does need work, and if you’re going to go public you’re going to get feedback — and it’s not going to all be positive, no matter how good you are.
Absolutely, the challenge of an artist is to develop a think skin. And criticism should be used to hone one’s craft.
I’m shocked, shocked I tell you, that no one has commented on the ironic combination of the banjo and Rancid t-shirt.
Also, to the kid on the right, the sun is in fact not your enemy. Go see it sometime.
And finally, get the hell off my lawn.
Opening sounds VERY similar to opening of OCMS’s “Wagon Wheel.”
I agree whole-heartedly with the gramma. It’s somewhat amusing that so many of you have nothing better to do with your time than rant about the quality of two teenage buskers’ musicianship.
Lighten the hell up.
Second of all, I kinda liked it. I’m pretty much in love with the original version of New Mexico Song by Johnny Hobo and the Freight Trains, but I thought what they did with the harmony was cool. And I didn’t think the banjo was a bad addition at all.
Judy, I agree. What a bunch of whinners! Why do you live in Asheville? Cranky, you must really dislike music. You people are just plain sad.
What a bunch of whinners!
What’s a “whinner?” Do they get prizes?
i have a feeling “dpewin” might have a different opinion if he listened to the ‘music’ he is defending.
[b]I agree whole-heartedly with the gramma. It’s somewhat amusing that so many of you have nothing better to do with your time than rant about the quality of two teenage buskers’ musicianship.
Lighten the hell up. [/b]
as others have said, they put themselves out there as artists. Feedback is part of that process. So perhaps you need to lighten up, yourself :-)
[b] And I didn’t think the banjo was a bad addition at all. [/b]
I never like it when a banjo is used as a prop and played like a guitar.
it was mandolin in that song, I am glad everyone is able to tell the difference it gives your opinions on our sound so much credit. thanks to those of you who liked. And yes the sun is my enemy to whoever tried to say otherwise. (I was in the band)