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Strike!

Hypknowtized at Coachella 2004. More pics here.

I had a great time in San Diego. I consider myself very lucky to have the opportunity to study there for the next two years. It's a gorgeous part of the world and the warm people there make it even more enticing.

As you can tell from my pictures of the Coachella festival, I had the chance to attend the 2004 Coachella Festival. I'll forego a detailed review of the on-goings and just say that I had a great time and I got my money's worth. I don't think there's any way I could have been disappointed by seeing The Pixies and Radiohead perform back to back. I almost had a heart attack when The Pixies appeared on stage. Among others, I also got to see Beck, Air, Broken Social Scene, Prefuse 73, Mogwai, Belle and Sebastian, Basement Jaxx, and the movie Dig! Everything was great.

In addition to resolving to never walk in anyone's shadow, I decided long ago that rock concerts were not great fora for political discussion. While artists like Bono and Thom Yorke did get me to think a bit harder about international finance and globalization, I have managed to remain fans of their music while steadily coming to disagree with their sentiments. Fortunately, both of them seem to be careful to leave their political ramblings out of their on-stage performances. Unfortunately, many less thoughtful artists can't resist the temptation to preach to the kids while on stage.

Before I continue, I want to say that I'm largely grateful for artists who encourage their listeners to be politically active. I cherish my right to criticize and challenge my government (many heroes have died to preserve it), and I'm glad that it's considered "cool" to do so. However, while rock concerts provide a great opportunity to preach the value of participatory government to our youth, the discourse is pretty miserable.

First of all, it's far too predictable. It's rock n' roll, it's designed to upset parents and challenge the mainstream. No matter who's in office, the guvnent's gonna get it. With a guy like Bush in office, who has done absolutely nothing to court young voters (because they don't vote), it's obvious where the rock star's ire is directed. Second of all, no matter what an artist says, roughly 30% of the crowd will cheer (except for when Broken Social Scene mentioned the Us Festival).

Anyway, I can't even begin to figure how many times I heard the phrase "f*** Bush!" Whether on signs or from the stage, those two words magically brought thousands of kids together. I can think of many reasons why people would be upset with Bush, and I'd like to discuss them, but reducing the discussion to a mere "f*** Bush" does nothing for nobody. Take a look at the etymology of the famous four-letter word and you'll notice that it has its roots in words that mean to strike, push, or bludgeon. Dumbing down the discussion to a call to flog Bush reminds me of the way my two year old nephew, not having any other means to express himself, might clumsily swat at his older brother when wronged. It's entirely visceral and hardly productive, but, for better or for worse, such emotion drives people to action. We'll see what happens in November.

I'm not asking for a more lively debate from the bandstand. I'm just inclined to think that most artists should play their music and let their songs move their listeners to action. The constraints placed on political discussion at a concert make for a very sparse discussion. A call for me to f*** the establishment is too hackneyed, and unnecessary with lyrics like the following tugging at my heartstrings...

I'll take a quiet life
a handshake of carbon monoxide
-Radiohead, "No Surprises"

sleeping on your belly
you break my arms
you spoon my eyes
been rubbing a bad charm
with holy fingers
gouge away
you can gouge away
stay all day
if you want to
-Pixies, "Gouge Away"

In the next world war
in a jack knifed juggernaut,
I am born again.
-Radiohead, "Airbag"

Norman Schwartzkoff
Something tells me you want to go home
Champagne, bibles
Custom clothes you own
Calling up from special area codes
Hollywood nuns with the Hollywood phones
I got nothing to do, nowhere to go
I'll tell you what you want
If you want to know
Satin sheets
Tropical oils
Turn up the heat
Till the swimming pool boils
Let all the neighbors
Read it in the papers
Making all those gentlemen cry
Realistic tears
-Beck, "Hollywood Freaks"

why...do you work when you're sick of lifting
when you're sick of lifting
the festivities left you on the shelf
why are you always trying to please everybody but yourself?
that which bears witness to its own failure, you so sure
why...do you work for the festival
when you're sick of lifting
spirits
spirits
to the sky
body and soul: two words for that same nameless thing you have never known
Why do you work in place of bearing witness to your own inclusion
inclusion
inclusion
and STRIKE!
AND STRIKE!
STRIKE!
STRIKE!
STRIKE!
STRIKE!
STRIKE!
STRIKE!
STRIKE!
STRIKE!
STRIKE!
-Destroyer, "Strike"