Meaning: The quote you've provided is from Lester Bangs, a renowned music critic known for his influential work in the 1970s and 1980s. Bangs was a passionate advocate for the power and authenticity of rock music, and his writings often reflected a deep understanding of the cultural and social significance of music. In this particular quote, Bangs is expressing his belief that a resurgence of garage bands and a new wave of musical creativity will emerge when commercialized music becomes less accessible to young people.

Bangs' quote reflects a concern about the commercialization and commodification of music, particularly in the context of the New Wave movement of the late 1970s and early 1980s. At that time, many music scenes were becoming increasingly commercialized, with major record labels and media outlets exerting significant influence over the music industry. Bangs' comment suggests that this commercialization was leading to a situation where young people were unable to afford to engage with music in the same way as before, perhaps referring to the rising costs of concert tickets, albums, and merchandise.

The idea of a "resurgence of garage bands" speaks to Bangs' optimism about the potential for grassroots musical movements to challenge the dominance of commercialized music. Bangs believed that when young people were unable to access or afford mainstream music, they would turn to creating their own music in a DIY fashion, echoing the ethos of garage bands from earlier eras. This idea aligns with Bangs' broader perspective on the democratizing potential of music, and his belief in the power of everyday people to create meaningful and authentic art.

The reference to "New Wave" in Bangs' quote is particularly significant, as it was a genre that emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s as a reaction against the perceived excesses of mainstream rock music. New Wave bands often embraced a DIY ethos and experimental approach to music-making, and Bangs saw this movement as holding the potential to inspire a new wave of creative energy at the grassroots level. By invoking the idea of New Wave "meaning something on a grass roots level," Bangs is suggesting that the spirit of innovation and independence associated with the genre could be revitalized outside of the mainstream music industry.

Overall, Bangs' quote captures his deeply held beliefs about the transformative power of music and the potential for cultural renewal through grassroots creativity. His words reflect a passionate commitment to the idea that music has the capacity to inspire and unite people, particularly when it is freed from the constraints of commercial interests. Bangs' vision of a resurgence of garage bands and a renewed significance for the New Wave movement speaks to his enduring influence as a critic who championed the enduring value of authentic, DIY music-making in the face of commercial pressures.