Damage
Firstly, I should say congratulations to I Heart Hiroshima for an amazing instore appearance on Saturday. Interruptions asides, it was a great show. I can't wait to do some promo pics for you kids.
Far out, I know that you are better than your interruptions (and perhaps you'd rather I didn't discuss this) but I was just a little bemused by what happened. Half way through the IHH set (which was going flawlessly) a guy pushed his way through and started slam dancing the younger set down the front. Fine - they moved. Then he started shouting over the top of the band about how we should not support this capitalisim, that music was about the DIY culture, that he hated to have to say this to us but we were all capitalists. It was a rant better suited to the routunda of the Queen Street Mall where people *do* play just to sell billions of records. Okay, he was truly utterly devoted to his convictions -which is admirable, I mean, truly admirable to be that devoted (perhaps a little less violently in future might be good) HOWEVER a little thought behind the forum he was crashing would see that:
1) it was an independent band playing
2) it was an independent record store
3) it was a free event
4) it was all ages
5) it was in the afternoon
It doesn't come much more capitalist minded than that ladies and gentlemen! Right...
I think IHH took it on the chin - they were incredibly poised and didn't let it get to them (even though half their audience fled) but I'm just incredibly sad about the whole event. I admire people who question, who educate, but this was nothing of that ilk. This was a sad dogma. I hate, HATE, that punk has become this regime where people discontinue to see things stripped back - on whatever musical level that they form - and just decide to rant their shit over the top without even standing back to see the driver, the motivation!
Still, it was quite an amazing moment. IHH beating their hearts out and this ageing punk spouting retarded words which had no meaning in the context of the afternoon. I wanted to film it but was truely aware that he'd probably beat me up (he had resorted to violence already).
Sorry IHH from taking away from your show by focusing on that. But I'm sure you feel my frustration.
I'll move on.
Secondly, thanks go to Adam for a great record shopping experience on Saturday - its been a while and its been a while since we've been on the same musical track (since uniting many years ago over Polvo, Pavement and Sebadoh)!
Adam is truly a great person. Tired as hell as he was, he made a commitment to some people and he stuck by it (even though it took him 4 hours out of his way). He's pretty good like that. And nice as they were, they rewarded him with a voucher for a record store to say thanks for going out of his way - and we had great fun spending on Sat.
So this is a combined effort of things I have discovered recently, things that Adam and I bought on Saturday, other records by artists we love.
CONVERGE
Ultimate props must go out to Mr Ian Iron-On for lending us "You Fail Me" and a rumbling went across camp Alderley... Perhaps no other band has led both Adam and I to go weak at the knees, to sit there in stunned silence whilst the record is playing. I've lost sight of what my top five bands would be - that's impossible to pin down - however Converge will be in there.
From Petitioning The Empty Sky
Visit Converge at their website
Buy Converge at Missing Link
Listen to Converge Albatross
400 Blows
Yeah so I'm a big fan of The Bronx. They happen to quote fellow LA band 400 Blows a fair bit. I had an incredibly hard time getting the album in Australia but finally...
From Angel's Trumpets and Devils Trombones
Visit 400 Blows at their Website
Buy 400 Blows at Missing Link
Listen to 400 Blows The Beauty of Internal Darkness
Just come over incredibly tired - Daughters, Doomrider, Melt Banana, Cursive, Boris and Erase Errata later in the week.
posted by Spiked Punch @ 7:37 PM
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