Victory Review,Victory Future: Passing the Torch!, by Dejah Leger, June 2006
"As the last segment of a three-part series, it is time to examine where the future of Victory lies. We've explored the "shoulders", so to speak, upon which Victory has been founded, and now we're to look at what-and who-will stand upon them. I was asked to write this article because I am a young, twenty-something folk musician who is part of a generation with the responsibility of ensuring that Victory Music Review endures.
But as the previous articles have shown, what can one person say? The past, present, and future of Victory lies squarely in the hands of a community. Insread, I turned to a young, local old-time band and Victory music favorite, The Tallboys. Having played venues ranging from punk clubs to Folklife to Victory open mics, I felt they would have valuable insight on where the new folk culture and Victory are heading.
The question posed to our generation is what to do with the groundwork that has been laid for us by the previous generation. Baby boomers revived and recreated much of the folk music that builds the foundation available to us today. Mandolinist Paul McGowen says, "Folk music is a constant, in that it's interactive and for the people. What it sounds like changes with new generations." He adds, "When we're playing in the Tallboys, I just want to show people that while this music is old, we're still plaing it here and now and so it's just being born too. By providing a community space for the exploration and sharing of acoustic folk music, Victory and nurture the appreciation of folk music throughout the generations." "Traditional folk music is an important way to remind us all of our roots," says Victory member, clogger, and guitarist Charmaine Slaven. "Playing and sharing music seems to keep all musicians young."
The next question, then, is how Victory can maximize its outreach to a younger generation abd remain one of Seattle's top resources for acoustic folk music. "I think, like myself, just finding out about good folk music gets alot of people hooked. I think a lot of youth get isolated into a world of really heavily commercialized music," says Charmaine. Paul agrees. "Exposure seems like the biggest need. Most people never hear good folk music," adding that he first heard about Victory by attending one of the open mics.
"I recently became a Victory member, and I hope it grows. Seattle needs a good resource to bring the acoustic music community together," says Charmaine. "I think if more youth just knew about the Victory Review, there would be more involvement. Also, more content on younger musicians would help. I tmight also help to distribute the paper at places where young people hang out, like coffee shops, record stores, and venues in neighborhoods like Capital Hill or the U-district."
However distribution isn't possible without the help of volunteers. Victory has relied on plentiful hands to aid in its success. Its perpetuation is not the responsibility of one person, or one generation, but of the community it unites. Helping with distribution, getting ads, increasing exposure, writing articles and becoming a member are all ways to help Victory's future. Folk music is never as simple as passing the torch. It needs loving banjo-picking, fiddle-bowing, guitar-strumming hands to shape it, and the support of communities and generations to perpetuate it. The past and present of Victory is the result of a group of musicians and music lovers coming together to create a resource that rallied their musical family. The future needs the same enthusiasm and dedication to continue to have this resource available for western Washington's acoustic folk musicians for years to come.
Thanks to The Tallboys for their input, and to the many hard-working volunteers who put so much time and energy into the Victory Review!"