Northcoast

Front and center: My Bosses. And yes, I'm more than a little embarrassed.

Are you guys (Adam and Nolan) going to the Pixies at the Fine Line on April 13?

Q: Why would they spend more time on a video for one song than the recording of their whole album?

Image means a lot to some artists.

I wasn't commenting on the merits of the White Stripes' music, although I can see how Matt interpreted them that way. I am simply saying that they and Interpol are two bands who are big-time "cashing-in"ers. (Hellooooo? Major Label!!!! And weren't the White Stripes on the Grammy's or something? If touring is cashing in, so is that. And the lead singer for Interpol was on the cover of Spin, I believe.) I'm simply saying that if Braid is guilty of "cashing in," then WS and Interpol are, too. Yet Pitchfork absolutely loves those two bands, but rips on HM. Double standard. (I probably could have used better examples, like, all rap artists, as Matt so appropriately noted.)

Let me also say that I don't necessarily care if a band "cashes in."

Let me also say that I will defend a midwest band to the death.

Let me qualify that last statement and say that I would probably not defend the White Stripes to the death.

Let me finally add a postscript to all of my White Stripes comments and apologize for stating that any appreciation of the White Stripes is beyond me and therefore possibly implying that anyone who appreciates them has no taste. I'm not saying that's what I said or meant to imply, just that an inference to that effect is understandable. The fact that Matt and a gajillion other Americans appreciate them suggests to me, now, that there are redeemable qualities in their music.

Whether or not this tour will lead to new recordings from the band remains to be seen. It is worth pointing out, however, that Hey Mercedes hasn't exactly been rolling in success lately. In a message posted on Hey Mercedes' official site, frontman Bob Nanna made a plea to fans for donations in order to keep touring, citing the band's recent string of bad luck revolving around their van (long story short: the van ain't workin'). Oddly enough, that message has since mysteriously disappeared.

Why in the world is that odd? Their van broke down. They asked for money so they could keep their tour commitments, they got money, they took down the message. What's "mysterious" about that? Does he want them to keep the message up forever?

Unfortunately, this can't help but call into question the band's intentions for the tour. Admittedly, the vanished message stated how much the band wanted to be "out there playing music," so a glass-half-full interpretation is that this is a way they could do that in a financially viable manner. Of course, if you're a glass-is-fucking-empty kind of person, then this reeks of a pitiable cash-in.

This guy is a moron. First of all, the primary purpose of touring is and always has been TO CASH IN -- TO PROMOTE YOURSELF. I romanticize touring as much as the next guy, but I threw away the ridiculous notion that touring is one huge party a long time ago. It has got to be excruciatingly boring after only a short while. If this guy, who would probably give his left nut to play just one song live, is going to get down on a band for touring to "cash-in," then he's an idiot.

Second, if there is any band that deserves to cash in it's Braid/Hey Mercedes. They are one of the hardest working bands around and they're prolific. Wouldn't it stink to be about 30, have produced tons of great music, have toured your ass off, and worked as hard as or harder than most people your age, and be poor. I cannot begrudge them one bit for trying to cash in.

What an arrogant prick. I hate pitchfork. (And where do they get off ripping on Braid, of all bands, while pimping bands like Interpol and the White Stripes?)

The other night I was talking to a co-worker (a young conservative Catholic) about The Passion. Then, I asked him how it compared to other movies he has seen about Jesus. He talked about all the usual films, but then I asked him if he had seen The Last Temptation of Christ. He said no. I proceeded to tell him the basic idea of the film. He then said there was no way he would ever see it because he didn't like the idea of focusing too much on the humanity of Christ. I pretty much stopped talking to him then. I just can't stand people who won't watch a film, read a book, or do anything that forces them to think about a viewpoint other than the one they've blindly held since they were a child. I wouldn't expect Last Temptation to change his religious beliefs, and I don't really care if it did or not. But to just say you would never ever see a movie because it deals with ideas you don't agree with is stupid.

I was at a party tonight talking to this guy about The Passion. He recently returned from a mission to India where he exposed people to the word of g(G)od. He told me that the Passion was powerful and moving. I told him my friend said it was boring. He told me that was impossible.

Then I asked him if he'd seen Starsky and Hutch. He laughed. I told him that I thought it was really pretty good, and that it was actually a little better than I thought it would be. I also mentioned that Vince Vaughn is pretty funny. He didn't say much to either of those things. (Needless to say, I didn't bother to note that I was suprised to see an appearance by Har Mar Superstar.)