Posted by coqfosters in Uncategorized.
Tags: health
I had it in my head, before Barney Frank dropped the ice bucket of satire onto the flame of ignorance, that I was going to write some sort of burning criticism of American culture as the teeming uninformed masses have somehow chosen the moment of The Great Health Care Debate to rear their heads once more, displaying that while America has some unbelievable features to be proud of (history of innovation, liberty, the highway system, Beyonce’s hips, Gordon Beckham), its backside is tainted by the sort of cultural hemorrhoids even Arnold Klein wouldn’t be be able to do anything about.
Banksy, somewhere, is probably finding the omnipresent, crude copying of his style quite hilarious. Why wouldn’t he? Suburbanite nerf bats are taking to the streets, frothing with anger and waving their homemade banners of the president with blood dripping from his mouth, in clown make-up, or looking like that old bag of chuckles himself, the Führer. And of course it was the latter exhibition that became internet-famous when some know-nothing shat the bed when she had her 15 seconds to really ask the tough questions and, as a constituent, grill her democratically elected representative. Instead, Mr. Frank shot her down and all of these recently smug bed wetting centre-left wingers waved it in everyone’s face on their Twitter feeds.
For me, that should really be the end of it, but there’s still something inside that leads me to ask: Hitler? Why? Is it because that is the only shocking historical figure that Americans can really associate with something that’s bad? I know I’m a day late and an idea short, but the analogy is so feckless it really does beggar belief. On one hand, you have a guy who, whether he is right or not, whether you agree with him or not, is trying to change the way people get medical assistance in a way that he believes is for the better. On the other hand, you had a guy who wanted to give people he viewed culturally and genetically superior more Lebensraum by murdering everybody else. That comparison’s the kind of farce that the Iannuccis, the Moffats, the Linehans couldn’t ever possibly write. It’s just beyond absurd.
And of course, yes, it’s offensive. But what’s most offensive isn’t the metaphor. What’s offensive is that the people who are raging with a sense of injustice (to a proposed change to a facet of the way they live their life), are by and large completely unable to actually take a second and learn the facts. That they, when faced with the opportunity to give their representatives an informed piece of what of they think, decide to instead halfheartedly wave a crudely photoshopped image around and shout allusions to the Third Reich, a term they probably couldn’t even spell nevermind describe, and one of the words comprising it is in English.
What’s offensive in this day and age is that those who are so wound up with anger about something that might or might not impact their health and well being were nowhere to be seen when thousands of their countrymen were taking a vacation to the other side of the world and coming home in coffins. And what’s amazing is that ten years ago, any average idiot could peddle hate and gain a following while hiding behind their keyboard. Now you can do it while influencing thousands of your compatriots from the sanctity and safety of a major network studio, and no one’s going to think twice because who has time when they could be playing The Sims?
Or is it no one except Olbermann and Maddow, the supposed “great white hopes” of sane thinking that have had their bollocks chopped off by the fact that instead of reporting with any shred of dignity, they have chosen to present their programs for entertainment’s sake. And when you do that, you lose cred, you’re no different than the Becks and O’Reillys. You’re the other side of the same coin. Because it’s about ratings and therefore, it isn’t about those who laugh last laughing best, it’s about those who laugh at all bringing ad revenue. Hell, if Bush had introduced this plan, who’s to say we wouldn’t see the same folks waving a photoshopped image of him at Orrin Hatch from a printout they got off Rachel Maddow’s website?
Anyhow, I was going to level some sort of thought out critique of what this all really means and how we’re lurching into some sort of 21st Century Trailerpark McCarthyism but frankly I can’t really be fucked. At this point, Obama should just get on with it, grow out a little moustache and with a wry smile tell everyone he was actually inspired by Charlie Chaplin, the old commie pinko. Now that’d really get their goat.
Posted by coqfosters in All your life, Music business, NYC.
Tags: europe, life, lists, music, new york, work
Every now and again one of those lists goes around that I never particularly feel like filling out on account of it not having enough meat, but I thought I could do something with this one…
1. No Doubt – first gig I ever properly went to. It was the Tragic Kingdom tour, and it was pretty crap. Civ and The Vandals opened, and I bought a t-shirt because I thought that’s what you’re meant to do. Saw a lot of people from school there and felt pretty cool as well.
2. Matthew Good Band - first gig I went to alone. Stood right at the front and got sweated all over by the filthy mouthed Canadian. They were a pretty average band but they gave it their all and in a small venue as a 17 year old, it was pretty magnificent.
3. Calla – they opened for Team Cooper. Lots of reverberation around the venue. I wasn’t old enough to know shoegaze but it felt like going back about 12-13 years and growing your hair in a bowl cut.
4. JJ72 – Saw them opening for Coldplay before Hilary left. Oh, Hilary. I got a setlist but it got ruined the same night. We blagged our way backstage, hoping to meet up with JJ72 but they were gone and we had to hang out with Coldplay instead.
5. Muse – this one took a while after a few false starts but finally happened. Great show it must be said, couldn’t believe the line stretching blocks and blocks outside the venue in the dead of summer, just to get in.
6. Embrace – saw them at a festival in 2001, lots of crowd surfing which I really couldn’t believe. It was better than I’d have thought, to be honest.
7. Gorillaz x5 – all in different circumstances and the last three coming at the Apollo. Not really much to say here that hasn’t been said, but memorable experiences all…
8. Faithless – another festival show, great fun as well. On record you know what a Faithless song is going to sound like but in the live atmosphere it was quite good.
9. Coldplay x4 – the first three times I saw them, they just got better and better. The first time was before they were festival headliners and it was not even a year after Yellow and it was pretty amazing, it was the culmination of a small band becoming big. After that, their most triumphant American theatre gig, then their first arena tour. The last show was at Madison Sq. Garden, the infamous Viva free show, and it was pretty bad by their standards.
10. Ash x6-10 – not sure how many times I’ve seen them but they are the one band I’ve always just wanted to see over and over again because they are so full of energy and their music is more or less timeless. They’ve fallen off the radar a bit lately, which is a shame because I’d happily go and see them once a year for the rest of my life.
11. Blur – this was without Graham, but at the same time it was pretty incredible because you grow up and then your favourite band goes away for long periods of time, they all do side projects and then you think the chance has passed. Even so definitely one of the highlights of my gig going life. That I didn’t make it to Hyde Park this year will haunt me for a very long time.
12. Super Furry Animals – you never see a show in New York with as much crowd participation as this, truly amazing! Was really excited that they played all my old favourites as well, and Gruff came onstage in a power rangers helmet.
13. Lily Allen – good show at the Bowery, tiny venue and it was completely packed. Fun stuff but the sound wasn’t great and she was a bit drunk by the end of it so I took off early, which I rarely do.
14. Mason Proper x20 – can’t remember how many times I’ve seen them, in front of crowds of ten and crowds of a hundred, in TV studios and theatres and bars. One of those bands that will forever be associated with certain friendships in your life but I’m sad that whenever I brought friends to see them, it was inevitably the worst gigs they’d ever play! But when they are on it’s just magic and I’d tell anyone about them.
15. The Pipettes – waited an age to see this and it was great. They tried to get everyone dancing to different degrees of success… I remember them saying “don’t worry about looking uncool, you’re at a Pipettes concert already!” No wonder 2 of them left within a few months after!
16. Interpol – the 2/3 full MSG show. I actually thought it was a great performance but it was a band that was synonymous with certain experience in my life and it was an important gig for me. At the same time, bit of a lack of judgement there and it was a little underwhelming from both sides of the stage in terms of interaction.
17. We Are Scientists – I’ve seen them twice, both times in venues with bad sound. Not sure what it is but I always felt it could be that little bit better, but on the other hand felt reasonably satisfied. Would definitely see them again though.
18. The Cooper Temple Clause – This is one I’m happy I got in before they withered away and split. Great gig in support of the second album. Not sure how many people went but it couldn’t have been many, in this venue in Detroit above a bowling alley. We bowled next to them and they signed our copy of CMJ for the student radio station which I thought was brilliant. Apparently they’re all doing very normal things now like farming. Wikipedia says Ben’s managing a lower league football team, can’t speak to that but he was the consummate frontman. Wow. Team Cooper RIP.
19. A Fine Frenzy – she opened for Rufus Wainwright which I didn’t stay for. I thought she was talented but pretty much as expected. Would love to see her play again as the new album is far superior to the last one…
20. Tristan Prettyman – a little let down by this performance as I felt she needed more than a 3 piece band to fill out the sound. The big songs should have been bigger and the delicate songs needed more instrumentation. Had one of those horrible record label meet & greets afterwards where I was a bumbling idiot so I’m sure she wasn’t impressed by me either. All in all a shame as I love that last record.
21. The Cloud Room – introduced to them opening for Muse and I couldn’t get over how great they were. Immediately went on a hunt to find the album which I played for most of the next year. A real shame they’ve only had an EP since, to my knowledge.
22. Keane – I saw them in their infancy playing first of three on a bill with Rooney and the next band on this list. Barely anyone in the venue at that point and I’m pretty sure not many people had any idea they’d go on to be as huge as they were. As a show it was bland but the thing was that you were just mesmerised by Tom who had the most amazing set of pipes – what a voice! They’d only released about 4 songs at this point but couldn’t get enough after that.
23. The Sounds – Same show as Keane, saw them very early on in their development. George and I took a couple of them out to TGI Friday’s before in this interview for the student radio station that I don’t think we ever did anything with. They wanted to eat the biggest burgers we could get. I remember really loving this, it was my favourite album of that year and it was just one of those exciting gig moments.
24. Hot Chip – This show had a bit of a real wow factor. I wasn’t expecting anything outrageous but it was so fun, the songs just came into another level in the live setting. Watching 3000 people bounce up and down over 3 levels of Terminal 5 was pretty incredible, and we were definitely among them…
25. Nicole Atkins – similar situation to the Cloud Room in that I hadn’t heard her before seeing her open for another band, and was absolutely blown away by her voice. The record’s a little theatrical but it was perfect in that setting. Nearly blew away the headlining act but not quite.
26. Doves – lucky enough to see them at the peak of their game, in England in support of the Last Broadcast. What a super show, and it ended with Sub Sub’s Space Face which I thought was just fantastic, I felt like we must have been at the Hacienda, but no, we were in Birmingham.
27. The Delgados – they were opening for Doves and this must have been not long before they split up. This was in support of the Hate album, the lead single from which ended up being my single of the year that year.
28. The Decemberists x2 – first time was at Terminal 5 the day after Obama got elected and WOW! That was amazing. It was a real party atmosphere. They must have played for near on 3 hours and not a single person left. Everything about this show was brilliant, the lead up, the gig itself, the crowd interaction, the special sauce that makes the show unique to that band and of course the euphoric feeling walking out into the night afterwards. Truly marvellous. Second time was at Radio City on the Hazards of Love tour and I thought the first half (the album) was great, but wasn’t impressed with the rest of it. Bad venue for a band like them.
29. Ben Kweller – another one I managed to catch very early. This show was in a room over a pub in Chalk Farm and there must have been maybe 100 people squeezed in there, if that. Very much in demand and a good chap I know who is also a singer invited me to come along. Ben came over and said hello later and he was quite sweaty and looking forward to a ride around the London Eye.
30. Spooks – saw them at Shepherd’s Bush Empire, probably my favourite venue in the world it must be said. I remember them saying “fuck this RAP SHIT, who wants to see HIP HOP!?” which I thought was pretty cool as they had a full on band behind them. They were a pretty average hip hop group but they did do a good show and I was compelled to see them after they tore up a festival I’d seen earlier in the week.
31. Delinquent Habits – they opened for Spooks and that shit was crazy. There were two really cute girls and a midget next to me and they spent half the show pouring Hennessey from the stage into all three of their mouths. The little guy was loving it. At the end of the show they poured shots for the whole front of the crowd, which took some doing.
32. The Bird And The Bee – Carnegie Hall! Great show, fantastic acoustics and it was really a moment to savour even though Inara had a cold. Really lovely. Probably about as far the other direction from Delinquent Habits as it’s possible to get.
33. The Kooks – they played Central Park and I thought it was pretty average.
34. Africa Express/Honest Jon’s Revue – This show was at the Lincoln Center and it was marvellous. Such a great blend of musicians from around the world, predominantly of african origin, playing all kinds of music. Have to say the highlights were Candi Staton’s “I’ll Sing A Love Song To You” and the end, when Damon came up to play “Sunset Coming On” from the Mali Music record. Afterwards I had a drink in the hotel bar with Tony Allen, who also played an incredible show, but we didn’t really have much to talk about.
35. The Mighty Narwhale – must have seen them a few times in various places. The thing about Jon is that he has this magnetism about him as a performer that was pretty fantastic. They were a really weird band and I mean that in the best possible way and I was very sad when they broke up. The album was promising.
36. Badly Drawn Boy – he played on the roof! It was where I used to work and he played a lovely show up there. There’s something about one man and a guitar that can be really boring unless you’ve got something about you and he obviously has that. If I remember correctly I was hugely excited about him playing All Possibilities.
37. Orwell – probably one of the more unlikely shows I’d ever seen… they played at some bar I’d never heard of in West Michigan and I organised my whole French class to come along for it. I really loved this and I remember looking on longingly at another girl in the class throughout most of the show but at the end of the day, that’s what you’re supposed to do with French music. The album they were touring at the time is fantastic and I hope I get to hear more from them in future.
38. LCD Soundsystem – They co-headlined with the next band on this list at Randall’s Island and more than anything I went because it was supposed to be a cultural event and you don’t want to not go to those. It turned out to be spectacular and gave me a new appreciation for James Murphy and his music, a truly marvellous show. His band was fantastic.
39. The Arcade Fire – I’ve never been a huge fan against all odds but I have to say this was good, probably punctuated by Win going into the crowd at the end and leading the show from there, which in the middle of a massive field is impressive.
40. Nelly Furtado – saw her play in support of her first album at a festival. It was pretty average but she looked great and the highlight was when she ran down in front of the front row and we made eye contact. When you’re 18 or whatever that’s important. I was in the front row for Coldplay, who followed… not her!
41. Birdmonster – this show was in a small bar in Kentucky and I went because I happened to be down there and Mason Proper were opening. It ended up being quite good but I have to say, the opening band won out on that day.
42. Green River Ordinance – I’m not really into bands like these most of the time, but I saw them play The Canal Room and it was really a hell of a show. Five guys who do what they do incredibly well and go out there and perform… it’s very hard not to root for a band like that.
43. Cat Power – she opened for Interpol and it was the wrong venue and the wrong crowd. But her voice was fantastic and it was one of those things that no matter where you hear the voice, you’re going to be mesmerised by it. Instantly became a fan after this.
44. Moving Units – they opened for Blur and were another opener of the many already listed that defied expectations, but for some reason I never got into them on record.
45. LSDudes – they opened a new venue in Grand Rapids and at the time that was a pretty important thing, so we all went down to watch it. All kinds of video game background video and sound effects and I’m pretty sure I’ll never see another show like it again. Joystix was undoubtedly the highlight.
46. Late of the Pier – this must have been during CMJ week in New York. They were absolutely bonkers and thinking back on it now, they are probably what LSDudes would have ended up sounding like if LSDudes were good enough to get a record deal.
47. Ra Ra Riot – this was at some tastemaker showcase that we somehow blagged our way into at the last minute. They played on the floor and it was pretty stellar, it was one of those moments when you could tell that something fantastic was about to happen to the band and they’ve gone from strength to strength since then.
48. Mosquitos – this was at some showcase in Minnesota years ago. They stuck out like a sore thumb because they were planning for a very uncool showcase of college kids that just aren’t really into that kind of music. I did think it was cool though. For a bonus point, Ying Yang Twins and Vanessa Carlton played later in the showcase and were much more well received although I think the kids were freaked out by Carlton playing a song about wanting to fuck a vampire… I was just disappointed the Ying Yang Twins didn’t do The Whisper Song.
49. Gnarls Barkley – this was ridiculous, it was a Myspace Secret Show and all kinds of folks were there. The line down the block looked like it was going to go for miles. I physically ran into Woody Harrelson (sorry about that) and Janelle Monae and I think I spent most of the gig wedged in next to half of Travis. The guestlist for this must have been ridiculous. This was on the 4th day of 100 degree heat last summer and inside Irving, it felt like we were all going to die but die loving it. Cee-Lo took his shirt off which… I don’t think I saw coming.
50. Arctic Monkeys – only stayed for a few songs in truth as it was part of All Points West 2009 a.k.a. the worst festival in history. I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed a festival setup less than this one. But I did manage to hear my two staples, Brianstorm and Fluorescent Adolescent, which were marvellous.
Next up: Manic Street Preachers in October… a band I never thought I’d get to see and can’t believe I will…
