American Hipster's Detroit Party Marching Band Story To Stir Hipster Meaning Debate

Something called American Hipster documented the phenomena that is the Detroit Party Marching Band. If you’ve frequented downtown/midtown bars then you’ve probably seen these crazy kids, you know, marching around and playing music.

As usual, the Marching Band sounds great in this segment but are they actually hipsters?

This question embodies the identity crisis of an entire generation. To be a true hipster is to deny your inherent hipsterness. The very fact that someone denies that he/she isn’t a hipster suggests he/she probably is a hipster.

How can the denial of one’s personality, define that personality? Truly, this is a paradox that would confound even David Carradine. Do the kids still watch Kung Fu reruns ironically?

Anyway, here's what we learned about the Detroit Party Marching Band from this American Hipster story: Some DPMB members define themselves as anarchists, they huddle up for secular group prayers to contemplate their purpose, and they really dig their acoustic-ness because (we guess) acoustic brass instruments are like vinyl but purer or something. Glitter is involved, as is men in tight pants, also high-minded statements about bending reality.

After you make through all of that, a DPMB member pretty much says they’re just kids having fun and playing music.

In other words, sorry Detroit Party Marching Band, you guys are totally hipsters. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. -- JTW