All posts by G. Gordon Gritty

Entertainment, Music, rant

Harlem @ House of Blues

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Harlem, you know that really awesome band from Texas who Chris and I saw at Great Scott just short of a month ago, will be back in these parts in a couple of months. July 14, to be exact, at the House of Blues. No, no, no. I know what you are thinking. They couldn’t even draw a sold-out GS crowd, so any chance of them headlining a 1,000 capacity venue seems moot, don’t you think? Right. They will be opening for the perfectly average hard-rock/blues outfit Dead Weather. Fellow KLYAMer Matt will be presumably in attendance and he’ll be in for a treat. In a summer void of great concerts, I’d probably go to this one. BUT it’s $29 bucks and $29 for a quickie set from Harlem (fuck they only played 25 minutes at GS as headliner) is a bit much.

Culture Jamming, News, Politics

Rand Paul

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His “controversial” view shouldn’t really be controversial at all. It’s a radical libertarian inspired view that is either ignored by the corporate media or, inversely, made mainstream. Saying that racial discrimination should be allowed among private institutions may seem like an outright racist view, indeed, but it falls right in line with the theory of limited government in business and economic affairs. Of course, such “limited government” should be in place to cover racial discrimination, which is a clear violation of human rights. Rand covered his ass by reversing his beliefs on the matter and saying that he supports the 1964 Civil Rights Act. I don’t really see that as much of a compromise to the libertarian outlook; rather, it’s a more pragmatic stance on a serious subject.

Culture Jamming, pictures

New Pledge of Allegiance

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I pledge allegiance to the principles of the American Revolution, stated by Jefferson, and for which the Minute Men and Washington’s Army fought: that government’s only purpose is to protect our natural rights to life, liberty, and property; that any government that does more ” than protect our natural rights must thereby violate those same rights and become a tyranny that the people have the right to alter or abolish. I pledge to resist that tyranny by peaceful means if at all possible.

Entertainment, Music, Video

Box Elders Live Gem

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This is footage from November 2009. I just found it today. It is great and has three parts. The first, below, features both songs (“Tiny Sioux” and “Plenty of Room”) off of their new single. Be sure to watch!

Set-List:
1. Alice & Friends
2. Death of Me
3. Unknown
4. Tiny Sioux
5. Plenty of Room at the Bottom
————–
6. Necro
7. One Foot in Front of the Other
8. Dave
9. Talk Amongst Yourself
10. Hole in My Head
11. Jackie Wood
————-
12. Stay
13. Dave
14. 2012
15. Unknown


Entertainment, EP Review, Music

EP Review: ZOL! [2010]

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Band: BLK JKS
Release: 6/2010
Label: Secretly Canadian

1. “Iietys” – C
2. “Bogobe” – C+
3. “Zol!” – A-
4. “Paradise” – B–
5. “Mzabalazo” –  B+

Comments: Direction. It’s something BLK JKS had in their excellent debut track “Lakeside,” but is something that this release is lacking. I liked how “Lakeside” was short and immediately catchy. Going the route of six minute aimless tracks isn’t a viable route for most bands. “Iietys” is a tough listening journey with spurts of neatness, thanks in large part to a solid beat. Besides that, though? Too long. Even the experimentally inclined “Bogobe” is backed by a bare-bones bass-line that makes it borderline enjoyable. The Carribean flavored title track is absolutely outstanding in comparison to the first two. Think early 2000s Animal Collective intertwined with African tribal shouts. “Paradise” is a bit too maniacal for my tastes and wears its harder rock influences on its sleeves. Comparatively, though, it’s got a fine flow…something much needed when length is taking into account. Despite the craziness of the final tune, I find it pretty good. There’s a lot of layers in it, but like its two predecessors is relatively easy on critical ears.

Grade: B- (82)