Help me out ILF buddies, where should I live?

[phantasmagorovich]

Berlin and NYC are different. I've never lived in either, but visited both. They are both big, awesome behemoths of cities, you can live there and feel small and washed with the tide in a good way. I felt that both cities were vibrant and bursting with energy. NY more so than Berlin, but both much more than any place I ever lived in. I think that comes with the hype. Both cities attract a certain kind of people, very energetic people that come to do something. If you are one of those, you will be right at home. I always wondered if that energy would rub off on me and make me be a more proactive, radical dude than I am. I haven't tried.
Out of the two I'd probably choose Berlin if I were you. Rent is cheap, it's out of the country, making it more of an adventure and you can learn more and it's very welcoming to newcomers. Lots of people are from the US and can help you out, lots of english speaking places etc. You would have a much harder time in Paris.

Some other hip places to consider: Barcelona & San Francisco.

Caveat: If you are simply looking for a nice place to live, you might better look elsewhere. A smaller, less hyped city like whatever, Philly or Austin or Glasgow or Hamburg might be better suited for you. All of the above are (reportedly) very awesome and great places to live with active music scenes, nightlife, nature etc. But I think they are less energetic and less attractive for the people I tried to describe above.
It all boils down to the decision if you find that kind of energy inspiring or stressful.

[ryan summit]

. Changing up the scenery is very important. Staying in the same place can make you feel all stagnant - falling into routines. Travel around, see what YOU like - make a move - dont be scared!!!! there is a whole world out there!!!

truth^
if i ever leave hudson
austin is my next move
or back to nyc if the gf gets her way

[emptyparadigm]

The music scene isn't what it used to be - so much indie rock crapola and not enough METAL. It smells like poopie and people are rude. But that is me, just realizing that I don't like cities all that much anymore. I mean there are benefits like opportunities to meet people, play music, party, whatever you would want to do really, but NYC is so freaking expensive and unless you are rolling in dough say goodbye to buying nice gear/equipment/whathaveyou.
!

Not trying to be argumentative, but

1) There is a TON of metal in NYC. Brooklyn in particular has some great music and places to play/see music. Yes there are "hipsters" there, but so what?

2) NYC is pricey, but if you're strategic about it, it's totally doable on a meager budget. Plan to have roommates. Take the subway rather than having a car. I live in Boulder, and rent prices are comparable to Manhattan -- I still buy more gear than I need to.


Also, people mentioned Austin. It's a great city. San Francisco was mentioned too, but if pricey living is a big issue, you might look elsewhere. Or get a bunch of roommates. It's an AWESOME city, though.

[fungalattack]

Not trying to be argumentative, but

1) There is a TON of metal in NYC. Brooklyn in particular has some great music and places to play/see music. Yes there are "hipsters" there, but so what?

2) NYC is pricey, but if you're strategic about it, it's totally doable on a meager budget. Plan to have roommates. Take the subway rather than having a car. I live in Boulder, and rent prices are comparable to Manhattan -- I still buy more gear than I need to.


Also, people mentioned Austin. It's a great city. San Francisco was mentioned too, but if pricey living is a big issue, you might look elsewhere. Or get a bunch of roommates. It's an AWESOME city, though.

Argue away. I've played and seen some good shows there but I'm so done with it. There is no community or unity within the music scenes just a lot of seperate entities. Sure it possesses some charm over me but overall I just want to leave whenever I return. I didn't mention "hipsters", I could care less as long as they don't bother me they can do whatever they please. I do dislike when people live in Williamsburg for a year and brag about how NYC is the greatest place on the earth. I don't care at all about what they have to say. Also living in manhattan is to me the ultimate waste of money. To pay 1500 for a studio is absurd. Like I said I'm sick of cities. Part of me loves New York and the other part despises it. Living there for a bit/growing up there gives you a different perspective than visiting or being there for some months. To each there own - if you love it, cool live there! I still go there to visit friends and family but living there not for me.

Side note - the Bronx is awesome and where I grew up so it holds a special place in my heart! This pizza place, called Loretta's, in throngs neck is my favorite pizza place in existence! Oh yeah live in NYC if you want to eat incredible pizza all the time - i did

[Chankgeez]

Throgs Neck ... greatest name ever...

(... and if you believe that, I've got a bridge to sell you ...)

[fungalattack]

I believe I believe it...sell it to me

Band name material?

[lucas]

Haha awesome. Thanks for the tips guys. I'll probably save to go travelling at the end of this year. On a side note, all of you will love Melbourne. There's nothing you can hate on about this city. Maybe just the train frequency.

[Chankgeez]

I don't think NYC is unfriendly. It can be hectic however. It's also an easy place to get lost if one lacks focus.

There are lots of things about NYC that never change. There're also many things that change fairly rapidly. In some ways it doesn't stay static for very long.

[fungalattack]

Unfriendly is not the right word. Hostile, no that is not it, absorbed - maybe. Hmm it is a hard thing to articulate. Everyone is in this little bubble of themselves. I mean you should look out for yourself and be selfish to get things done that you want to get done. But it is like people don't even acknowledge you - some people go out of there way to avoid even acknowledging your presence. Everyone just stares into space absorbed with themselves. Of course this is not true for most people or even a majority. It is just a feeling that rubs of on me. But it is funny because I don't want everyone to acknowledge me, or worry about me. I don't want everyone to look at me or be concerned about me or everyone to be friendly, for that matter. There is some sick charm to being yelled at by some drunken bum. I really can't articulate this feeling that I am muddling up and confusing y'all with. This vibe I'm failing to explain is the reason why big cities irk me. It's a bit of a mindfuck catch 22 kind of situation. That being said I am on a bus to New York this very moment about to hang out in the Lower east side and see some friends!!!!!! I will have to walk through midtown, in my eyes, a soulless void of tall buildings and empty stares but the end destination will be a charming little park Tompkins square!

Love/hate relationships!!! It has spawned a lot of thoughts in my head so I guess that is a plus. Maybe you should move there. It is quite an experience. Maybe one of you has some faint idea of what I am getting at or has experienced it themselves. I'm a freaking weirdo.

[Chankgeez]

OK, fungalattack, I get you now. Absorbed is a good way to describe it. Spot on.

I think part of the ignoring thing is a coping mechanism in a city so large. It might be too overwhelming otherwise. There's a lot of stimulation. (TWSS)

People in NYC are generally courteous when you engage them though.

I'm sick and tired of cities too. So, I know what you mean.

I hate Midtown too. (You're not a weirdo. Well, maybe you are, but not because of this.) Tompkins Sq. Park used to be scary, not anymore. You can blame Sex and the City.

[fungalattack]

You are right it is definitely a coping mechanism and I realize I do the same thing to outsiders. On my walk through midtown, I air guitared the whole first ramones album and felt nostalgic. New York is cool because you can do that and no one thinks twice. That made me feel awesome. I also stopped in guitar center on 14th street and played a sexy gretsch hollow body through a beautiful fender twin reverb and a jaguar, too, but it was some crappy Mexican jag that was well crappy. I played the electronic drums and played some sabbath bass riffs through a sexy ampeg svt and matching refrigerator 8 x 10! Oh yeah and played a frazz dazzler ( I was surprised they had a used one for sale) . I walked through greenpoint with some friends and cruised around the Brooklyn-queens expressway listening to illmatic by nas! Today reassured me about the things I love about New York!

Oh yeah in the subway this cloaked dude playing a purple painted strat was soloing to house of the rising sun. And he was using a beaten to death fuzz face!!!!!! I'll post the pic later!!!!!


I wish I could have experience Tompkins when it was a gritty heroin hellhole.

[Derelict78]

Move to Detroit

[dubkitty]

seriously, i believe that for people with the bollocks to be urban pioneers Detroit could be such a blank canvas for an arts/music scene. Christ only knows that city needs more positive input. it's got the same kind of possibilities as when people started working in Brooklyn or (former) East Berlin.

[psychedelicrelic]

Edit: I'm so anti-america. I retract my huge long winded post.

[Derelict78]

seriously, i believe that for people with the bollocks to be urban pioneers Detroit could be such a blank canvas for an arts/music scene. Christ only knows that city needs more positive input. it's got the same kind of possibilities as when people started working in Brooklyn or (former) East Berlin.

Yeah dude I was 100% serious. I want to go back for that exact reason.