Posts by Russell Brown
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While I wait for a phone call ...
'Che Speeds', Straitjacket Fits: When Alan Gibbs' daughter and band manager Debbi Gibbs fell under the influence of a revolutionary socialist sect, SJFs' singer Shayne Carter also embraced socialism and recorded a profoundly ill-advised version of his anguished love song 'She Speeds', dedicating it to Che Guevara. The record was set for release by a workers' collective, until Debbi was caught on a security camera robbing a bank. This was the final straw for Gibbs Sr, who had everyone who knew about the incident killed or made bankrupt. The project was dropped, and Carter went on to have commercial and critical success with the more familiar territory of singing about his old girlfriends.
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If a bouncer didn't like my tie I'd get refused entry to private gigs, I can't see that refusing tasteless paraphernalia like annoying big flags at a concert is any business of the federal government.
And yet, there have been explicit threats by politicians to close the whole thing down on the basis that it takes place at a state facility.
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It doesn't get much more ironic that slagging off the horrors of modernity over the internet.
Must agree. Modernity works for me ...
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collectors favour the one with the 27-second euphonium solo after the words "and I'm lying in a coma, outside Verona."
And with some justification: that's a great line.
I just can't think of a rhyme for "Family & Naval" ...
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Perhaps a contributing factor to Sydney’s problems is the alcohol policy. I’m used to the Auckland thing, where you’re only allowed to drink in the special area, which is usually away from the music. I like that idea, because it forces you to choose between the music and drinking, and those who choose the latter at the expense of the former deserve to be kept away from the rest of us. If I want to drink all day I’ll just go down the pub and save myself the $110 bucks that the ticket cost.
I agree, and I have been known to like a drink or two. I see one of the commenters on the Age blog is advocating handing out E at the gate ...
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meanwhile, over in Murray-land, the whole flag saga has led to him deciding that he agrees with the solution put forward by some Aussie 'patriot': 'KILL ALL LEFTIES!'
Ah yes, Murray. I remember when he advocated the mass-murder of Muslims ...
I'm glad you didn't quote more from Crusader Rabbit: I'd rather not have that kind of hateful racist flith on a website I'm responsible for.
I'm really warming to this reclaiming the BDO for music fans thing. Perhaps Murray and Crusader Rabbit and their ilk could have their own, inevitably tragic, cultural festivals.
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I really like this blog from The Age:
So, it's dickheads that are the problem, and if the Australian flag makes them easier to spot - and weed out - I'm all for discouraging its use. After all, Lees and West have a duty of care when it comes to BDO patrons, and if they reckon discouraging Our Flag's use means I'm less likely to be punched in the face by a drongo with delusions of patriotism, then I thank them.
Until John Howard, Morris Iemma, Don Rowe and pals come and stand with me four or five 'rows' from the front of the main-stage and get showered in beer, kicked in the back, covered in dust, sprayed by security and deafened by wonderful, invigorating live music - and know what a music festival is really about, and why there's no need for nationalism in the mosh pit - then I'll thank them to keep their noses out of this.
Nationalists like to talk about reclaiming the flag (or the beaches, the cities, our jobs and our country). This is about reclaiming the Big Day Out as a music festival for music fans - and if any flag-waving tool tries to harsh my Big Day Out buzz, I'm going to turn and face them, point to the gates, and holler, "F--k off, we're full."
I can't imagine anything more likely to kill my BDO buzz than having to deal with flag-waving fuck-knuckles. I like that "reclaiming the Big Day Out as a music festival for music fans" line, and it's nice to see the duty of care issue explained to opportunistic politicians.
As things stand, I wouldn't be surprised if the promoters decided to take a break next year, like they did a few years back. Who needs the grief?
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It never ceases to amaze me - now there's a big "hoohaa" about videos of the BDO from cellphones being posted on YouTube.
It's a total media beat-up. I'm pretty sure no one involved with the show cares about cellphone video.
They did try and ban camera phones the year they first appeared (under a different local promoter), but then they realised what a ridiculous idea that was.
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Wow. Just heard a bit more about the Sydney BDO flag ban. At last year's event - held not long after the Cronulla riots - there were reported incidents of dusky people being forced to kiss the flag, and beaten up if they refused.
I know a little of how promoters think, and that's the kind of thing you really don't need when you're responsible for 45,000 intoxicated people on a confined site.
And of course, there were nationalistic brawls between Serbs and Croats at the tennis last week ...
It sounds like a blurt from West rather than official policy, but he clearly made a mess of it. It's interesting to see Howard leap on it so quickly and loudly.
I quite like New Zealand's rather diffident take on nationalism sometimes.
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I just dont get it. I can understand the mosh pit, but forming a circle and bouncing into each other in the middle of the mosh pit - just plain strange! Through the binoculars (I know - I AM OLD!) I did get to see a few juicy punches being thrown in these 'circles'.
Can anyone with a teenager (or an insight) explain the thinking behind these?Urban Dictionary has "death circle" listed but undefined, but "circle pit" sort of gets it:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=circle+pit
It's interesting (and a couple of the blogs alluded to this) that in the hardcore punk circles where it emerged, there's a understanding that anyone who falls will be helped up, that no one really gets hurt, especially girls, but I wonder if the munter brigade grasps that. There's also the Wall of Death (mosh pit divides into two groups, who run at each other and collide) which is more a metal thing:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Wall+of+Death
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