Beck Mongolian Chop Squad or the Essence of Following a Band

     One of my favorite bands of all time has no music, no albums, and nothing in the way of members. This band does not exist on a technical sense. While yes they are real enough to be known, by any logic they are not a musical group. This band is Beck, a fictional band from a manga of the same name.

     

     Starting serialization in 1999 and running till 2008, written by Harold Sakuishi, Beck is the story of five young men trying to make a go at being a band. We follow their trials and tribulations through lineup changes, live venues, studio recordings and more. Throughout the story we see them go on to break into the world stage and get the respect they deserve. It is a highly enjoyable and impactful journey, and I encourage anyone reading this to go seek it out. It is easily one of the best stories of recent years. 

     However i would like to change track real quick to talk about one of my favorite real world bands, I Fight Dragons. They are a pop-punk/chiptune band from Chicago, and I have been a fan since around 2011. I have watched and listened to this band ever since, through album releases, tours, festivals, and their departure of their record label. There is a part of me that takes great satisfaction in knowing about this band before others, and spreading the information about them. Hell I still have my membership card for what is their now defunct fan club. Even further than that my fan club number was my license plate number on my first car.

Always remember the Advanced Guard

     Now why did I go through the effort to describe my time following a band. Because it is a feeling that not many people go through. The aspect of following a band, becoming a dedicated fan, and following their story is a major part of indie and underground music. In that sense you feel like you are a part of the band, even more so for me and this band, as the fan club I was a part of helped spread word of the band. Ok again, what does this have to do with Beck. well in my opinion everything, as that is the tonal feeling of the entire story. 

     Throughout the story we as audience members follow this band and their up's and down's. We cheer them on while they are on stage, and wait in anticipation for their next show. We wait with baited breath to see the results of them recording an album. Every step they take forward we cheer them on, as expected of a story. We root for the guys we want to win. This is not any thing new, we all know this, so why does it feel different, to me at least.

     I think part of it is that I have that experience of following a band, through hardships and successes. It is a visceral feeling of artistic catharsis, of liking a band and knowing they will succeed. There is no apprehension, it is a light hearted story and you know that they will win in the end. You do not have to wait years for their next album to see if they make any money, just turn the page. All of the benefits of following a band but none of the heart ache. Do you need this lense to understand the story, no, no you do not. This is just a layer, a thought next time you want to go through this story. And for those that follow musicians and band, but dread the thought of them failing, check out this story to lift your heat up a little bit. Hopefully you become just as big of a fan of them as I am.



     Some minor things of note. Yes I am aware of the anime, seeing as that is my number one anime. And I am aware of the music within the show. I do not consider the music Beck's, seeing as in the album and credits for the show attribute it to a real world band.