Bandthropology 101

On Wednesday we talked with a sociologist about the "community" of music listeners known as Deadheads. Traveling tribes of Grateful Dead fans really do form a community, Rebecca Adams of UNC-Greensboro told us, despite not having a single fixed place to live - which one would think would be a prerequisite for calling something a community.

Now we look at the bands themselves - not individually, but as a kind of subspecies of homo sapiens. Homo sapiens musicalis, perhaps. The study of this particular community comes from scientist Sara Mednick and musician Lilah Freedland. Of course, most of the best anthropology is done by visiting and observing one's subjects in their native habitat. So Sara and Lilah's collaboration, called Bandthropology, has done that too - by creating its own MySpace page. Bandthropology describes itself as female, 99 years old, living in Antarctica. "I'm a collaborative research project between a scientist and a musician," Bandthropology informs us. "I travel around the country collecting data! DONATE YOUR BAND TO SCIENCE!" (I've deleted a whole bunch of additional exclamation points!!! Bandthropology seems to be a very excitable project!!!)

It's hard to know what to really make of Bandthropology. It's a self-selecting group of bands who take part, and some of the data seems a little - surprising, let's say. I also have to admit that apart from The Donnas and The Dresden Dolls, I haven't ever heard of most of these bands. As you climb the ladder of professionalism and success, with all its attendant pressures and temptations, I wonder if you'll find the same sorts of behavior in better-known bands than you do in the indie bands they've studied.

Another thing that distinguishes Bandthropology is its sense of humor. Margaret Mead might be rolling in her grave, but I like it.
After all, musicians don't "work" music; they "play" it, and when that sense of fun leaves a band, it's usually not good news for the music. And that is something I bet you'll find in any band, whatever the genre or level of fame.

Tell us: Have you observed Homo sapiens musicalis? Or are you a band member? What kinds of behavior have you seen?
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