Two shows: one big, one small

I only went to one show in London and all I can say is that if anyone out there gets a chance to see Flamingo 50 from Liverpool, go go go! They played at this little club (The Arts Café) where I had the weird out-of-my-own-punk-scene feeling that I knew everyone but didn’t know their names. Like on soap operas when an actor goes on vacation or demands more money, "Tonight the part of silly queer punk boy #1 will be played by. . . "

Is it comforting, or a sad statement on punk scene conformity? I mean I enjoyed it but it was a little bizarre. It reminded me of the Culturecide version of "California Girls" which they turned into a critique of mid ‘80s, generic, MRR punk:

"If you think this is anarchy
Then it probably won’t bother you
That the bands in Outer Mongolia
Sound like the bands in Timbuktu"

But everyone was nice and friendly and Flamingo 50 really did sound great. Lack of Reason from France were ok but not really my thing. They were into it, but just a little too mid tempo and serious for me. I only heard one Reverend Pike song . It sounded totally Riot Grrrl ’93 and guys were leaving the club as I walked in, complaining about how bad they were. Sounds like I would have liked ‘em. Too bad the show started at like 7 PM.

---------------------------------------------------------

On my Northwest vacation, I got to see Le Tigre in Portland. Proving how punk I am, I ran into an old co-worker and an old Epicenter friend who was traveling with Aislers Set before I even got into the club. Since I attended the show with another old Epicenter buddy we had a mini reunion. Whoo-hoo!

I also saw akki but she didn’t see me. I was upstairs drinking and she couldn’t hear me call her name. Her and her boy had gone out drinking with me the night before. They had social skills and didn’t appear dangerous or creepy. Another good LJ meeting experience! (Thanks guys!)

Le Tigre was great. I hadn’t seen them since their first SF show a few years ago and they were much better. Coordinated outfits, synchronized dances, videos for every song, and they opened with a cover of "I’m So Excited". Seriously, my only complaint was that I wish they played for another hour. A band with stage presence is an amazing thing. They also had audience members come up on the stage to give out info for political events. It was like a punk show, but more fun.

The most touching part of the show was the video for "Hot Topic". There’s something about seeing cultural icons that are actually meaningful to me projected on a big video screen and it hit me in a way that that song never has on CD. It made Sara who I also went with, send them her book in hopes of a future name check.

I thought about not mentioning that I went to see Le Tigre because I didn’t really want to debate the whole boycott thing (is that still on by the way?) on my LJ. But then I decided it felt chickenshit not to write about something I would have otherwise, just because of potential response.

I wouldn't have crossed a trans picket line. . .

Not that I was going to keep it or anything. . .

We got a delivery at my workplace for Blowfish today. I saw it in the back as I put something out for a UPS pickup. It said, in our receiver's handwriting, "delivered to wrong address". When I saw who it was for, I called over two other pervy co-workers who happened to be walking by.

"Oops, my box knife is accidentally cutting the packing tape," I said.

What would it be? The anticipation was killing us as we all tried to get the first glimpse beyond the styro peanuts. Would it be a case of dildos? A box of condoms and gloves? Bad, big-haired porn? One of those scary butt toys bigger than my leg? Bulk lube?* I lifted the invoice out. . .

The box contained one case of "massage oil". Yep, the lamest possible thing to buy from a sex toy distro with the possible exception of a "tickling" feather.

I sealed the box back up and returned it to the UPS pile.



* To their credit, I believe bulk lube is available at the Olympia Food Co-op. Though I'd hate to have to be the cashier who has to touch the recycled containers.