All this hubbub over Low’s set at Rock the Garden is unbelievable. For the non-locals, a little background. We have a public radio station called The Current that puts on a big outdoor music fest each year at The Walker Art Center, a modern art museum. Low is one of my all-time favorite bands. Large-scale outdoor music fests are among my least favorite venues. The music gets lost. Drowned out by my internal concerns about my own physical discomfort (heat, bugs, rain, mud, need to pee, etc.) or inability to get a line of sight (because I am so short), or to external irritations like the hundreds of drunk people, taller than myself, boxing me in at arm-pit level while they shout-talk over the music or WHOOOOOOO and whistle loudly. Give me a more intimate venue any day. Or even a smaller indoor fest, like the ones All Tomorrow’s Parties put on (where I did see Low, in upstate New York, playing to a completely reverent crowd of fans).
Anyhow, I didn’t attend this year’s Rock the Garden. Nor have I ever. But I have seen Low perform dozens and dozens of times over the last 17+ years. Saturday I started seeing posts pop up about their set and I was bummed I didn’t get to experience it firsthand. But my mind has been boggling over these indignant attendees (I can’t stomach reading any more of their ridiculous comments) who didn’t get what Low were doing - a drone set at a modern art museum - and felt they were somehow “owed” something more, like catchier pop songs. These confused numskulls who accuse Low of playing their set as a deliberate F U clearly are not aware of the entirety of Low’s repertoire, or that the song in question was recorded for one of their early albums, The Curtain Hits the Cast. I don’t feel the band need to explain or defend themselves. I am embarrassed by these alleged music fans who were lucky enough to experience this firsthand and a) not only not bright enough or open enough to appreciate something more “challenging” but b) who rushed to the internet to post belligerent comments about how they wanted their money back. Some went as far as to declare that this local band - who has long been a beacon to the world of Minnesotans’ ability to produce interesting art music - better not ever try to play here again. What? Pearls before swine, people.
Enough ranting. How about five good things for this Monday:
- The weather is finally awesome and my son started summer camp today. Perfect!
- I love these kids and wish them the best: Internet-Famous Preteen Metalheads Are Being Bullied for Being Awesome
- My Dad Was In a Band. Great vintage band photos. There should be a “My Mom Was In a Band” version too though.
- So. Long long ago my step-brother was in a metal band called The Regime (far left). He is old school. He lacks a paypal account. And a computer. So I helped him order this ridiculous guitar. Which falls somewhere along the “Trustworthiness of Guitars” spectrum…
- The boyfriend and I got sucked into the first two seasons of Game of Thrones. Seriously, we binged. Watching three episodes in a sitting (and now we need to get a hold of season three but it won’t be released until 2014). I was intrigued by the actress who plays Lady Brienne of Tarth (she looks like Tilda Swinton on steroids) and came across this fun article about her, and her photographer friend, Polly Borland. And now I’m a huge fan of both.
Eeep! My 40th birthday is two weeks CORRECTION one week from tomorrow. And we have so much planning to do. At least flyers have been designed for both of my birthday shows - at The Hex and The Turf Club. But I need to get them printed and distributed asap.
Post a Comment