rduwtf.com

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These two videos are great documents of an earlier time in the Triangle. The first is a 1984 documentary filmed by Alan Hervey, a rising junior at Enloe High School at the time. The next is a local news feature about Triangle Rock becoming the “Next Seattle” in the early 90’s and features Steve Noble, later of Inside Edition fame.

We bore personal witness to both of these phases in Triangle history and these videos are probably of more interest to us than most, especially the 1984 documentary. Both reminded us of some forgotten moments and faces and are a testament to the concept that a large stock of cheap housing near universities can create student ghettoes that teem with creativity. Witnessing the scenes of Raleigh’s Ashe Avenue in the mid-eighties, before it became a ghetto-ghetto, is a reminder of the conditions that helped create and sustain these scenes. The unanimous explanation as to why young people were drawn to the Chapel Hill and Raleigh music scenes was the cost of living: “It’s cheap..cheap..cheap!”. But cities promote development and climbing property values; they don’t work to create bohemian ghettoes teeming with creative energy, fueled by cheap rent, cheap beer and soft drugs.

Look for Sidney McCain, daughter of Senator John McCain in the 1984 video. Unfortunately, I doubt he’ll make the Bohemian Ghetto issue a cornerstone of his Presidential campaign platform. Also notice how the NC accents are much stronger just a few years before.