Ghost of a flea: Angry, not angsty

? The Azoic: Conflict | Main | Art achieves a purpose which is not its own ?

January 10, 2007

Angry, not angsty

Sick of being a whiney, mopey goth? Then own the dancefloor as an angry rivethead instead!

Now my Stompy Stomp Stomp Boots have arrived I am attempting to further acquaint myself with Rivethead lore. The Instant Rivethead Kit offers a variety of thoughts on the stompity stomp stomp effect that is Rivethead dancing* and a number of variations on the theme of stomping. Remember: You are not trying to pull spiderwebs off the ceiling.

My current life-quest is to master "Kung-Fu Overdrive":

One that I've come across and since become the ultimate master of is the Kung-Fu Overdrive. Especially good for the more electronic end of things (in the UK that usually means Prodigy). 1) Study several styles of kung fu to various depths, but never getting particularly good at any of them. Reading books about them counts. Then watch a whole load of movies to glean extra moves. Next, form a dance made up of all the most redundant impractical moves (especially the over complex parries), with obscure leg movements, and lots of highly strenuous but martially useless poses. Snap into each pose/move quickly with a tiny little pause each time, for the full b-movie kung-fu experience. If there are any quieter sections, you can differentiate by moving smoothly in a 'Slowmotion TaiChi' style. Remember, lots of useless wrist movements, but make it look really mean, like your using the movement to rip someones eyes out. This dance is obviously quite a good one as it gets me chucked out of places without actually touching anyone.

Also worth special attention: rivethead haiku. Further thoughts on the expense of rivethead clothing - and the tricky distinction between rivetheads and cybergoths - include the intriguing assertion that Prada Sport makes the best rivetware. This strikes me as highly improbable but I am willing to be corrected. The Urban Dictionary continues the rivets - goth or not goth - debate.

* Which is under no circumstances to be confused with goth dancing. With respect to the latter, please note especially "With Catlike Tread" for exact details of the Flea-dance (hat tip to Mr. Taylor).

Posted by Ghost of a flea at January 10, 2007 07:10 AM

Comments

Maybe I'm too old to "get it" but isn't this stompy business basically a retread of the slamdancing / mosh stuff of the late 80s/early 90s? Or is the object not to make actual physical contact with other dancers?

BTW the Kung-Fu Overdrive sounds like easily the most stylish and a clever way of deterring potential post-club brawling.

Posted by: Chris Taylor at January 10, 2007 11:43 AM

Though I could also imagine Kung Fu Overdrive instigating post-club brawling...

Posted by: Ghost of a flea at January 10, 2007 12:33 PM

I haven't been near a mosh pit for more than ten years, so the subtle distinctions these kooky kids draw are pretty much lost on me. Although the part about being able to download MP3s with your fake hair does sound intriguing.

Interesting (and very disturbing) comment on that cybergoth/rivethead thread comparing rivetheads to trekkies. Someone is begging to be the center of a post-club brawl.

Posted by: utron at January 10, 2007 06:27 PM

Good God, it's 1992 again...

Posted by: Andrea Harris at January 10, 2007 07:39 PM

Surely goth dancing is where they all flounce around looking at the floor being all gloomy and miserable.

Posted by: Andrew Ian Dodge at January 11, 2007 01:55 PM

Precisely. Also, intense, reflective and - at the risk of citing my post's title - angsty. Female goths also manage ethereal and consumptive.

Posted by: Ghost of a flea at January 11, 2007 02:01 PM