Elite Gymnastics: 'There isn't a scene in Minneapolis'

Unique snowflake syndrome.

Minneapolis doesn't have a music scene?  Try living in cities like Charlotte, Denver or most other cities of similar size.  The Minneapolis area does well among its peer metros (Seattle, Portland, Austin, and Nashville).  The remainder of "solid" scenes belong to larger cities / metros.  In other words, Minneapolis holds its own.

I do just love the image of this girl just getting this look of indignant, horrified shock as she read that line of the interview and then quickly put on Mumford and Sons

The only way I can explain this article is that Andrea Swensson has never lived in Chicago, New York, Athens or any number of other cities that actually have music scenes.  I mean it's just baffling.  If you call everyone listening to what the Current tells them to a music scene, well then I don't know what to tell you.  Minneapolis hasn't had a real music scene in 20 years.

But don't feel bad about it.  The concept of a vibrant localized music scene is fading rapidly in the Internet age.

draaaaama!

B Clarke, I may be off this is my opinion on it all, but I think they are simply getting influence from their core support/ interest/community on the internet...and that's intentionally broad I'm sure.. so again they view "scene" different than you.  to them there is no scene here in MN. I still don't think this is that shocking.   Minneapolis "scene" is not the source of pride (neutral to them at the very least) and this is odd to your average MN because so many people here are very proud of the music heritage here.. .which is fine but in my opinion this has made the "scene" kind of stagnant.  People look inward way too often - instead of exploring the world (or even "world wide web" as it's often known)  they WEB CRAWLASkeep it going CRAWLASenter some words, and start your search.  the Web Crawl.  doin the web Crawl.

I think there is certainly irony in this interview, just like there is irony in their music. Take it with a grain of salt. Also, ironic bands shouldn't exist.

Get back to me when you can shave, dumb ass

it kinda just sounds like they mean that they're not apart of any scene, rather then there being none at all. 

You guys make some good points and I think declining to partake in the usual boosterism is a valid position to take for a band like EG, who have found success appealing to the internet music community at large. But when asked "What's the music scene like in Minneapolis?" To answer that it simply doesn't exist is so blatantly false, regardless of your opinion of it's importance, it seems like a bit of a troll.

I can relate to a large extent. this is no publicity stunt. they aren't even trying to be mean.  It's refreshing to have some honesty - mn people can't handle this and think it's some shocking shit. it's not.   Also, I see it as the internet is an international community of artists and producers that gives much more support than the mpls music scene for them.  they aren't influenced by bob dylan. or indie, social aware hip hop... and they don't get support from radio/media/big artists locally (until they were getting hyped of coure).. Why?  because there is no scene?  what's the controversy?  what's the big deal?  it is what it is

In their defense, having cats and girlfriends is super weird.

I think what he's saying is that, from their perspective, the very idea of a "scene" doesn't exist. A music scene is only real to the people who are part of that scene, and to a lot of those people (sadly) there is no world outside that scene. They can't wrap their heads around the idea that 99.9% of the world doesn't care about their "scene." That's not to disrespect the many fine musicians working in Mpls, but you have to admit that a lot of them are delusional wankers and hangers-on.

These chaps seem all right.