I've been thinking a lot about the topic I'm about to write on. I have done not one iota of any semblance of research (read, googling) other than trying out my theor(y/ies) on various people in various places. I think it is important that we look at the issue and try and reach a conclusion. I fear that we have unleashed a beast of which the irony will last long after the ironic run this fad had. I'm hear to talk to you about trucker hats.

It seems a couple years ago hipsters and scenesters decided that trucker hats, those hats that have mesh backs and fronts adorned with "Bob's Bait and Tackle" and "Jimmy's Garage", were somehow the new cool headwear. It's as if they watched some Burt Reynolds movies and decided to be just like Burt. Except they did not want to mess up their Honda's by installing a CB. 10-4?

Seeing the irony, companies such as Von Dutch sprung up in an attempt to cash in on the guillable by selling overpriced hats to those people who admired the ironically hip but did not have the time to search out and find irony in its natural habitat. Cafepress offered custom created trucker hats as a limited offer, they knew trucker hats would be short lived. These more than anything quickly killed the irony for the hipsters and scenesters, though there were holdouts in those groups. This is not what bothers me or caused me to posit my theory on the trucker hat though. Frankly, I'm glad to see the trucker hat going the way of neo-disco and other crappy fads. Though I do have to hand it to the people that came up with the Cafepress picture of a trucker hat on a trucker hat. Nothing says you're really ironic by pointing out the irony with irony. Could those wearing such a hat be... uber-ironic ?

I must preface this all by pointing out that I am one of the least fashionable people you'll ever meet. I am your standard fashion noise... you don't ever really see me because I don't usually stand out. I'm generally content in a pair of Levi's and a cheap polo or t-shirt. I've been known to dawn the red blazer(that's me on the right) on occasion but that's about it. Oh yes, I'm also part of what is known as "Team Sideburn". So with those bases covered, I ask the important question:

Has the trucker hat replaced black as "the new black" as a fashion comparision? Will we from here on out refer to the newest fashion fad as the new trucker hat? I'm working on several potential outcomes here, and it's tragic, you know, in an ironic sense.

First outcome: Indeed the trucker hat has replaced black as the comparison. From here on out black will be relegated as the unhip comparison to make, at least until someone sees the irony and brings it back as the comparison. We'll be bombarded for years to come that x fashion is the new trucker hat.

Second outcome: The trucker hat does not have a big enough foothold with the consumers at large and thus cannot replace black as the fashion new comparision because it will be lost on most people. However, we spent a good year or so being bombarded by the trucker hat. At a minimum it's possible that those young enough to have worn the trucker hat ironically will remember it in some way shape or form. Thus the x fashion as the new trucker hat in outcome one will still stand, at least in some circles. In addition, it will be a comparison that those that are ironically aware will also use (such as I). The real potential of the circulation outcome and the split between those too old for the irony and those that soaked it up could possibly break down as follows: Black will still remain as the comparision for the fashion world. However, the trucker hat will replace black for those wearing ironic fashion. Follow? ie, we'll always compare x fashion as being the new black. However, hipsters and scenesters and those aware of the irony will look at a t-shirt with the 80's Linda Ronstadt in short-shorts and roller skates and declare it to be the next trucker hat (I have bets on this t-shirt gaining in popularity in the next year).

Third outcome: Irony as a fashion will die. I don't see this happening though I would not cry if it did. We always have people wearing retro clothing and irony in fashion is by default an extension of retro. We've always had hipsters and scenesters. In the 80's they wore thin ties (another item ripe for irony). To play out this outcome, trucker hats are returned to their rightful owners and relegated to a footnote in fashion history. 10 years from now we'll look back at the 00's fashions and we'll remember the way the hats let our heads breath much like we fondly remember how flannel in the 90's kept us warm. I'm not optimistic this will be the outcome, though we'll see some mention of the trucker hat's on VH-1's I love the 00's.

Yes indeed, this is one of the more important things I've thought about. Those I've sampled are pretty much making outcome number two to be the answer. Those aware of ironic fashion agree that trucker hats have replaced black as the fashion comparison. Those not aware of ironic fashion look at me funny and ask me what the hell I'm smoking.

Of course, 1 RIMBoy.com Way is not without irony in computing. Last weekend I spent a fair bit of time getting a PowerMac 9600 w/ dual 604 procs up and running. I've got a scanner hooked up to it so I can finally start scanning a bunch of stuff. I'm going to start a new section of the site dedicated to stuff I've scanned. I'll let you know when it's up and rolling.

Weatherdrew again with a flannel themed band name. Did trucker hats become the new flannel?

Made up Band Name of the Day: Simon Gibbs and The Flannel Shirt Posse

Note, I could give a flip less about the CMA's (Country Music Awards for those fortunate enough not to have it drilled into them). However, anytime Toby Keith is nominated and does not win is a good day. And so, it appears he was nominated something like 6 times and did not win a thing. Now that's what I call sticking a boot properly.

One item of fallout from the CMA's was the fact that tasteless and tactless tourists were again in town (whose names are not Toby Keith, oddly enough). You can pretty much set your watch by it. When the awful rhinestone sequin wearin blue haired types show up you know it's Fan Fair (or whatever they're calling it these days). The bonus is the fact that they're navigating the streets of Nashville. It's not a difficult town to get around in if you pay attention. And if you've lived here a couple years.

Anyway, on Monday and today I noticed people getting their picture taken with Musica. It's not too surprising, but not something that happens often, let alone twice in a week. As I was witnessing the people today I thought for a moment, why in the hell are these people getting their picture taken with Musica and why has it happened twice this week?

Then I remembered the CMA's were last night. And these people were getting their picture taken because some joker on the Row thought it'd be funny to write a song. When this originally hit the news I posted the following to a listserv of local artists:

Let me get this straight. The same group of people (songwriters) that brought us such pieces of musical brilliance like "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy", "Courtesy of the Red White and Blue" (frankly any Toby Keith Song), anything Pro-Tooled by Shania Twain, "Ain't Goin' Down ('Til the Sun Comes Up)" (and other portions of Garth's catalog), plus other ones I'm too embarrassed to mention I've heard in passing. Where's the freaking art in country music? You know, stuff like Hank (Sr), Willie, Waylon, Cash, etc?

Rather than writing a good song, by good I mean not the normal run of the mill schlock Music Row routinely belches out, they waste their time poking fun of something that they clearly have no understanding of (thus stooping to levels I thought not possible). That's fine if you don't "get art" but don't try to pass yourself off as an artist (that being a songwriter) when your opinion of Musica is no better than the songs you write. If you want to know why the industry is in a slump it's because of stupidity like this song. The worst part about it is the fact that the songwriter is getting a bunch of publicity as a result. The levels songwriters will stoop to in this town never cease to amaze me. While this guy's at it, he should write a song called "Hillbilly Stupidity", a song about Terri Clark's DUI.

Larry Cordle is right. There has been a murder commited on Music Row.

As a result people will return to their homes and hundreds of film processors will wonder why these people have had their pictures taken in front of naked statues. Greetings from Nashville is all I can say.

On another note. I promise to try and update a bit more than my current once a month schedule. I think about posting an update and the next thing I know a month has gone by. It's a tough job, this weblogging, but I'm trying to keep the quality up. Try being the operative word.

Weatherdrew dropped me a line a ways back with a couple of band name suggestions. I think I promised him a spot in the special corner of this website, if not I should have. So to keep that promise, imagined or otherwise, here's Weatherdrew's suggestion:

Made up Band Name of the Day: Flannel Held Hostage