I Predict A Riot

The trial of punk band Pussy Riot has captured the attention of an international audience over these last few months, coming to a fever pitch this last week when the 3 female defendants were sentenced to serve 2 years jail time each for the charge of "hooliganism motivated by religious hatred".  There have been countless articles written about this case, so instead of rehashing all the specifics to the uninitiated, check out this piece here.

I'm concerned with the dichotomy of the internet when it comes to important stories like this.  On one hand, Western society would know virtually nothing about Pussy Riot without the myriad reports of this case.  There have been several articles praising the group and defending their actions, bringing to light how Maria Alyokhina, Yekaterina Samutsevich, and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova are blatantly being made examples of for dissenting against Putin and his Russian regime.  A multitude of protests and readings of their closing statements in court have been covered by almost every major news corporation, as well as music news sites.  I'm ecstatic to see this issue hit home with so many around the world and the support that is being garnered.

But then there is the other hand.  We live in the world of the 24 hour news cycle.  Aggregates and journalists are always looking to break the next huge story, and this causes amnesia in the common information consumer.  News that was important one day becomes buried underneath dreck like whom Katie Holmes is dating the next day.  It's hard to keep concerned citizens involved with important issues when we're inundated with so much rhetoric about EVERYTHING!!

This doesn't just go for Pussy Riot either.  Go on the Huffington Post (an aggregate that I do enjoy reading which has had a multitude of Pussy Riot coverage) and check the headlines.  The top stories change almost every hour, from politics to shootings to a porn star syphilis outbreak.  Yes, it's convenient that we have all this information available to us, but it's delivered in a way that is extremely disposable.  A subject will be under intense scrutiny and then buried under the endless minutiae of other less topical happenings within the same day.  This goes for any aggregate, not just HuffPost.

I don't want to see the Pussy Riot story go six feet under and become forgotten.  If they're out of sight, they're out of mind unfortunately.  It's great to see the outpour of support from artists and public and private citizens right now, and I hope the message doesn't get lost.  Society can't afford to turn a blind eye to important occurrences such as these and allow them to become minute footnotes in history.  Progress has always come from the outliers who take a stand for what they believe in, and Pussy Riot are no exception.  They've brought global attention to the way women are viewed and treated by the Russian government and are unapologetic in their actions.  They are rebellious role models and I believe that is the root of why Putin's government is being so harsh with the sentencing.  How amazing to have a regime afraid of your actions!!

I guess my ultimate point is that anyone who is concerned about Pussy Riot (or any other civil rights issue, for that matter) needs to keep making their voice heard.  It's so easy to be singular and anonymous in today's societal archetype, but if forward thinkers refuse to stay silent behind a worthy cause, there's no way they can be ignored.  My goal is to get a benefit organized in the next few weeks in support of Pussy Riot in my hometown of Las Vegas.  Do something, even if you're scared, because if you believe it's important enough, you'll always find others who are right there with you.

“I know, up on top you are seeing great sights, but down here at the bottom we, too, should have rights.” 

-Dr. Seuss

If you want to find ways to help the Free Pussy Riot movement, click here.  Keep on fighting the good fight!! 

Refused Party Program: Chicago Contingent 7/26/12

On Thursday, July 26th, I was fortunate enough to catch OFF! and Refused at the Congress Theater in Chicago.  It's an experience I will never forget.  Easily, it was the best concert I've ever been to!  Often in blogs concerning music events, hyperbole is a second language, but I am not exaggerating.  I've seen Rage Against The Machine's reunion show at Coachella 2007, and even that doesn't hold a candle to the majesty of what I witnessed in Chicago.

My partner in crime, Dizzle Q. Guapo, and I arrived a half-hour before the doors opened and the line was already over 100+ people deep.  To see that kind of anticipation from so many others was quite a telling sign of the greatness that was about to unfold.  The line moved super fast once the theater opened, so it was straight to the merch booth for a sweet t-shirt, then into the venue.

Tangent Time: **OK, Vegas.  Let's take note.  We are completely lacking in awesome venues.  The Congress blew me away, and as I spoke with Chicago locals, they informed me it was one of the more "ghetto" venues in town. That means there are even better, more impressive concert halls than the Congress spread over the Chicago area.  Either Chicago-nauts are spoiled, or I'm easily impressed.  Refused sold out this gorgeous, 4,000 person capacity theater.  In Vegas, we're lucky to have 300 people seeing Stephen Malkmus at the Beauty Bar.  There are no worthwhile, off-Strip venues left in Vegas.  The locals are screwed again.**

Being early paid off in dividends.  Dizzle and I strolled right up to the rail and planted ourselves there the rest of the show.  I kept waiting for something to go wrong.  Everything was falling into place so easily I felt as though the ceiling should have collapsed to cause some sort of disruption.

A short wait later, OFF! began forming on stage.  Keith Morris and company sauntered up as if they were their own roadies, taping down their own setlists, tuning their own guitars, placing their own water bottles down.  Then... EXPLOSION!!  OFF! is a band whose songs are often under a minute long, but boy, do they pack a punch!  They're like Black Flag on speed; each member an expert in rapid fire aggression, hammering out notes and words as a machine gun fires bullets.

Keith Morris has never really relished in the idea of being a godfather of punk rock, which makes him that much more respected and vital an institution.  Anytime I've seen him perform or get interviewed, he's always the smart-ass uncle that you laughingly shake your head at, but know is right about whatever he says.  Directly after the set, Keith Morris made his way to the rail up front and thanked all the sweaty fans across it's length.  All I could say was "Thank you" as we shook hands. A very gracious, stand up guy.

I'd like to take a moment to speak about how crazy hot it was in the Congress.  Even before OFF! started their set, beads of sweat were forming on my brow just from standing.  It being a sold-out performance, the crowd grew bigger and the humidity grew thicker minute by minute.   After OFF! finished, I was glistening as if I had been in a sauna for an hour, and that was only the warm-up for what was to come.

Earlier in the year I had made the trek to Coachella specifically to see Refused.  I didn't know if they were just doing that show as a one-off performance (technically two-off since Coachella spanned two identical weekends), so I made damn sure I was there to witness their return.  I've always told anyone when Refused was the topic of conversation that if they ever reunited, and Refused were only playing one show in Sweden (or whatever corner of the Earth that was lucky enough to host them), I would quit my job and get a loan to be at that show no matter what.  They are that important to me.  In my wildest fantasies I never though I would be lucky enough to catch Refused TWICE within a couple months!

Just as at Coachella, as the roadies were breaking down and setting up for the upcoming chaos, there was no music played between acts.  Instead there was an ambient, ever-increasing tone humming.  At Coachella I didn't even notice it until a few minutes before Refused took the stage, but I remember feeling this growing tension I couldn't define.  This attention to setting the mood was just one more reason to love Refused.  Dizzle and I looked around the room to see the faces of the thousands gathered, and we spotted nothing but giddy faces with smiles of gritting teeth, eagerly anticipating the ear orgasm they were waiting to hear for years.  Dizz and I were prepared and we were just as stoked!  I reverted back to my 8th grade self when I first discovered Refused.

A sheer black curtain unfurled in front of the stage, and steadily became backlit to reveal the word "REFUSED" as the ambient humming drew to a fever pitch; the crowd couldn't stop cheering and the band had't even played yet.  The house lights dropped and we could all see Dennis, David, Kristopher, Jon, and Magnus get into place through the curtain.  The humming suddenly stopped and a voice spoke over the soundsystem: "Worm of the Senses, Faculties of the Skull".  Then the curtain dropped, revealing Refused as they erupted to life, "I've got a bone to pick with capitalism, and a few to break!!!"

The next hour and a half was pure joy!  The sweat rained down and nobody seemed to notice, the band and audience were drenched.  Refused played hit after hit off of The Shape Of Punk To Come and threw in songs from Songs To Fan The Flames Of Discontent for good measure.  The only bummer for me was that they didn't play Circle Pit, but that is the most minor of complaints; it didn't affect how much I enjoyed the show in the slightest.  In fact, one of the huge highlights was when Dennis invited Keith Morris on stage and they sang some Black Flag songs together!  The joy on all the faces of Refused was contagious!  Check out the video below to see what I'm talking about:

All in all, I couldn't have asked for a better show.  Well, maybe if my band, The Quitters had been able to open up the show, ha!  Dizzle and I were thoroughly exhausted and dripping sweat at the conclusion, the way any incredible concert should end.  I'm not sure how long this tour will last; I feel that every time I check Refused's website that there are more dates added.  But if you are within 1 MILLION miles of a show, make it a point to see Refused!  You won't be able to thank yourself enough.