Thy speakest the truth, my son.
I spent a large part of my youth in Chch - I must have committed suicide in a previous life....
1) Art is always a human's commentary on the society they are a part of.
It is an acknowledgement and expression of all the things that you need, that your life does not provide for you - and can serve as a means of creating those things for yourself..
So if you need to tell someone about your deepest neuroses but are not capable of doing so, you can form a band and write neurotic songs. This says "my life in this society does not provide me an outlet for my neurosis, but here I am making you aware of this fact and also solving the problem myself".
Or, if you feel your life is too serious/monotonous/dull, you can form a Brazilian samba dance troupe, and get all dressed up in flashy colours and flowing skirts and shake your hips about in public. This says "my life in this society provides not enough fun, I am making you aware of this and also showing you how I am solving this problem myself".
Or, if you need girls, you can join a band, sing about fucking, and get girls. This says "my life in this society makes it hard to meet girls, but I am making you aware of this fact and also showing you how I am solving the problem".
...Silly examples but you get the idea. Art expresses an artist's unsatisfactory reality, and what they are doing to make their reality satisfying. It's a form of discussion.
2) Art is simultaneously the most worthwhile and worthless of all human endeavour.
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Putting these two ideas together, I believe that if the human race ever managed to evolve society to a form that is close to a utopia, the need for art would disappear, and you'd see it phased out. People wouldn't feel the need to expend all this energy to create something so worthless anymore.
The existence of art is proof that the world is still very messed up, but is also proof that people are still working on it.
Ugh. This needs a re-write......
Buh.
In NZ nobody gave a shit. Here nobody gives a shit either, but at least you get to play about 10 times as many shows per year, plus occasionally play to a packed venue of people who will scream and holler with enthusiasm through your entire show, spazz out dancing, and then some Spanish chick will ask for your phone number afterwards.
It's worth it.
I cannot wait to hear this new record.
Jordan, you fucking rule, where you been?
So I was in this record store the other week, flipping thru the hardcore section, and this CD appears in front of me by this band called 'The Phoenix Foundation'.....it was released on some obscure Finnish label, and was indeed hardcore. It was decidedly not Messuers Buda, Scott and friends.
Just thought you might want to know, there's another band out there with your name..... weird.
I haven't tried googling it, but you may wanna....
I can't listen to your music (for technical reasons)....but can I express my amazement that someone else out there likes Breach? May I kiss your feet? Will you marry me?
Mr. Lucifer, I would like to clarify: not all of my suggestions are disses, I'm just pointing out male trends that should stop. There's a varying amount of tongue in cheek with each of these, and the baldness one had no tongue in cheek (hence my caveat in brackets) As in, I think there is nothing wrong with baldness, but it would be nice if it didn't have to happen.
None of this is intended as a personal attack on you......also, I am pretty sure I am male (last time I looked), and never said that I myself have not personally commited any of the travesties I list. By being guilty of some of these things, I consider myself qualified to list them as mistakes. (I will not, however, confess to exactly which ones!)
Yours sincerely and most humbly
Little Thief
Trying to look 'intense' when having your photo taken for a music magazine, generally by refusing to smile and squinting your eyes a bit.
Beer bellies.
Baldness (yeah I know it can't be helped, but still, it'd be nice if it would stop).
Being too scared to admit defeat or self-doubt.
Wearing any kind of 'tough guy' sunglasses, ie. wraparound, pointy and totally black.
Ooh ooh!
Meeting another male friend in a public place, and greeting each other with some kind of weirdo hand-slapping/clasping routine.....
Sideburns - especially those sideburns that are shaved to look like pointy spikes going over the guy's cheeks.
Growing a small goatee and referring to it as a 'clit tickler'.
Buff guys who wear skin-tight t-shirts.
Penis piercings. Oh dear.
Having any kind of conversation whatsoever about computers, hard drives, RAM, etc.
Being in any way a boy racer.
Using hair gel.
Wearing t-shirts that advertise rock bands, whether ironically or not.
Also, I think playing guitar in a rock band is a male trend that has to stop.
June 5 at Happy.....you prob already spotted this link:
[ external link ]
PVC pants on males...........perhaps not such a good idea, whether baggy or loose. Girls, yes. Guys, please no. Ewww.
Apparently the While You Were Sleeping people are putting out a compilation of Wellington artists associated with their event. They lean toward fairly left-of-field stuff, so it might contain some decent tracks that are an alternative to the usual 'easy to swallow' kiwi-tronica.
I suspect it will only be available at the WYWS shows however.....
From my experience, I can attest that the female staff at Guitar Gallery work there because they know their shit. Not only did they fix my guitar, they can also play it way better than I could ever hope to.
So I dunno if Guitar Gallery is sexist, but I guarantee that if you go there, YOU will walk out of there less sexist.
While You Were Sleeping is a semi-regular evening of live electronic music at Bar Bodega in Wellington.
The next one is this Sunday, Nov 2nd. 8pm to 12pm-ish.
Featuring 4 local acts:
Andrew Thomas (recently signed to German electronic label Kompakt)
Panoramica
Little Thief
SstimulusS
With full visuals, by:
Xulf
SectionGFX
Mr J
No turntables in sight - this is not an excuse for DJ laziness, let alone dance music. ALL LIVE.
You can view the poster here:
[ external link ]
I agree, Horsepower is a slow grower......
It surprised me how understated it is.......initially it didn't seem like there was much there, but then I kept catching myself going 'hang on'... continually giving it another chance....
Of course, how can you go wrong with 'Mr Charisma' Luke Buda out the front! Dang!
I now have a website.....and have changed my artist name.
[ http://www.alexmeinsmith.com/ ]