Not Steampunk Music?

So there is a little kerfuffle about Capt. Rob rants om facebook. Claming that Bands like the UK based BB Blackdog aren't Steampunk bands, but simply jumped the bandweagon. When people disagreed he went on to insult the fanbase of such bands. And know many Steampunk aren't that happy with the dear Captain. But I don't want to dusicuss that incident myself. If you're intrested, read this article on Steampunk Journal .
This is simply my opinion on Steampunk music.

When I met Montagoue Jacques Fromage in 2013, one of the things he told me was: 'There is nothing like Steampunk music. Just music Steampunks like.'
If there is any consistancy in Steampunk, it is how inconsistent it is. 'Steampunk is a feeling,' after all. A phrase I use sarcasticly once, but many of my readers have taken it to heart. 'Steampunk music' is a perfect example of this. Bands tends to bring a Retrofuturistic stories and worlds to life in their own way. They intend to move people, invocing images of adventures in airship or to bring back the authenticity of Victorian nightlife in the decrepd streets of London. They all do this with diffrent types of musical genres and styles.

Of those styles, I could never get into the one of Abney Park. I just complained about consistancy... Well, AP, in my opinion, has none. I can recognise Victor Sierra or Steampunk Giraffe, to name a few. But AP sems to have  no signiture sound I can get behind. I tried to get into some of their songs, like Steampunk Revolution, but they all started to grade on me very fast. Especially the lyrics on how 'special' they are and don't conform to modern society. Which is a shame, because it was an interview I read with Captain Rob, in the Steampunk Gazette, that made me want to write about Steampunk in the first place. But I consider Steampunk, and myself, to be a product of the 21st century. Not some freakish anomally, like they seem to proffess.
Still, I liked to way the presented Steampunk outside of their song to a larger audiance. I have seen and read some great interviews they did.

To sum up. I don't agree with the Captain. Steampunk is very individualistic. The Music Scene reflects that. Every band projects their vision of Steampunk unto the audiance and brings these fictional worlds alive in their own way. Some are inspired by Jazz, Techno and simply good ol' Punk. Each sounds accentuates diffrent parts of the Creative-Engine that is Steampunk. 

Radio Retrofuture #11: A history of Teapotracing

An intresting historical conversation with Simone Monty on the conception of Teapotracing and how it went Viral (part 1).

To be honest. The first time I heard of this, somewere in 2014, I thought is was nothing more than a new ritual to compensate for the lack of direction within the community. I am glad Simone Monty proved me wrong. Still I don't think I will ever get into this. But atleast I know have some good reasons to support it.

Here is Part 2