First Avenue Freeze Out

Local rock fan and Fraters reader Chad O. has been duped. By John Kerry and local rock shrine First Avenue no less. Here's his report on an upcoming, deceptively titled show:

On July 18th, there is a show at First Avenue being billed as "Rock For Democracy".  The Flops, Iffy, The Honeydogs, Golden Smog, The Jayhawks, etc. are expected to play.  My friends and I go to a lot of local music shows so seeing this many good local bands in one place was an appealing opportunity.  Now comes the rub, what was being billed as "Rock For Democracy" is actually a fundraiser for John Kerry. 

Unfortunately, they already got my $60 for tickets so I am planning to go, drink a couple of beers and having a few laughs.  One of my friends says he still wants to go, but only if he can wear his Bush Cheney 2004 t-shirt.  I don't really believe that the $60 I paid is going to help JK win the election, but I am really not looking forward to the constant droning of how we were lied to, how anyone but Bush would be better, and so on.

I just wish they had accurately described the show as a fundraiser for Kerry.  I feel as though they misled people in an effort to raise some money for the guy.
 
Here are two links, first to First Avenue where on the 18th you'll see no mention of John Kerry. The second to Rolling Stone magazine, with a story regarding the show. 

Following Chad O's links, I have to laugh. The first line of the Rolling Stone article, describing the show First Avenue promotes as "Rock for Democracy":

Singer-songwriter David Poe is organizing a pair of concerts to benefit Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry's campaign.

Young Chad is learning the hard way the first rule of any politically-oriented music event. It's marinated to its marrow in liberalism. Liberalism of the most naive, least informed, pseudo-rebellious, and impudent sort. All stemming from either the hatred the artists have for their parents (despite the fact most of the guys are in their late 40's), or their hatred toward a society that hasn't appreciated their "genius" enough to allow them to quit their day jobs.

If you go to concerts at any of the hip rooms in this town, you will have to get used to inane, insolent, inarticulate stage pronouncements from the alleged talent. That's been true for years. It's part of the conservative's sacrifice for appreciating local music. But I can understand Chad's particular chagrin in knowing his entire ticket price is going to a candidate he wouldn't donate a dime to under other circumstances. For Chad's sake, let's just hope the show doesn't suck. But with that tired line up (the Flops, Golden Smog), the odds are no better than 50-50.

For future reference please note, any rock event using "democracy" in its title should cause the same red warning lights to flash and sirens to go off as when you casually notice a country in the Almanac whose official name includes "Democratic People's Republic". That's trouble mister.

If I were you Chad O., and I had already bought the ticket, I'd go too. $60 are indeed righteous bucks. But as a way to amuse yourself, let me suggest you listen carefully to the between song comments, write them down and report it all back here to Fraters Libertas. Let's find out exactly which local artists are the most inarticulate, superficial, and/or most under the influence of controlled substances. I have no doubt the competition will be intense.