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Holy shit! Where do I even fucking begin today!? The Supreme Fucking Court! Way to fucking go! And of course gay marriage today is a hue fucking deal, but compounded with yesterday's upholding of ACA!? Bam and bam! I was at work mesmerized by facebook on my phone when I read the ending from Kennedy's ruling and I started tearing up on the verge of crying and had to gather my wits in the bathroom. Had to ban myself from the phone for a little while. I've been elated all day. Maybe it's silly, like I'm trying to crib off someone else's victory, but it makes me appreciate my marriage with Mary Beth all the more, it feels more meaningful now that so many others aren't excluded. It's always felt meaningful, of course, I'm just kinda bursting with emotion right now.
Yesterday was also an incredible fucking day. After work we went to this PechaKucha thing (20 slides/20 seconds). It was centered on food. It started late so we didn't get to see but two speakers. The Seun Kuti + Egypt 80 free concert at the Shell was happening! So we went to that. I was a little worried 'cuz as we got out of the car I could hear music playing so we were missing it. As we got closer the music was only sounding okay, some reggae not bad but not really good either. But it was just the warm up before Seun came on. Then it was just straight tearing it up from there. I was a little skeptical of how it would be but my expectations were blown out of the water. Definitely the closest thing to seeing Fela I'll ever get. He's definitely carrying on his father's work ("like fater, like son" as was said by another in the band during one of the songs) but not in a mimicky sort of way but in really living that message. The band was badass and he had his father's moves. Actually the biggest difference was the band seemed more democratic, like, other musicians had solos too. They did play "Opposite People" but for the most part it was newer music and it all killed. He gave a long political speech at one point. And it wasn't some facile shit. He talked about foreign aid to Africa being the equivalent of kickbacks and just a way for countries to get first dibs on the resources and block the African people's access, the hypocrisy of the US going after FIFA's corruption as every politician lets "donations" influence their decisions, the bullshit of fake "for the children" concern about profanity (he used quite a bit of profanity, especially in mentioning the song "International Mother Fucker" which they'd just played and sang that line a bunch in the actual song), and questioning current wars' efficacy in protecting Americans' freedom. I don't remember the exact quote but it was something along the lines of "before you go to bed tonight tell yourself that bomb killing these children in Africa and the Middle East is not keeping me free." He was heckled by someone during this to play a song and his shutdown was awesome, "I'm not a fucking jukebox." Told him to leave if he didn't like it. He could get a full refund on his way out (free show, remember?). A little later I guess the guy made a noise and he said, "Why are you still here? If I was making a noise like that I wouldn't be staying, I would have left." At some point the Levitt Shell used their projector to put up an apology for the language. And the usual we don't share these views and have no political affiliation. Oh I think I can find that...
"Levitt Shell would like to apologize to those offended by tonight's show and the use of strong language.
We do not share the views of the artist that were represented as we do not choose political or religious affiliations, and we do not condone the use of profanity."
Kinda goofy. Ran into Jacques afterwards and he was pissed about it. I wasn't pissed, just thought it was stupid. Also, after the show a lady with the Shell came out to speak a similar apology and the crowd booed the fuck out of her. It was pretty funny. You get the impression he was brought on as some kind of clueless African world music tokenism for the free concert series. I think this may be one of the most important concerts in Memphis's history. I think it will be as legendary (hopefully moreso) as the Sex Pistols playing that venue that was replaced by a Taco Bell. Certainly one of the best shows I've seen! Really fucking powerful on all levels. We sat in the back of the lawn 'cuz we got there kinda lateish, but it was okay 'cuz I'd forgotten my earplugs anyway and I guess closer wouldn't've been good for me and I could hear it all great. God, really a landmark event. I bought shirts for us and it's funny to have a shirt that says THC in big letters (me being the teetotaler I am and all). Oh yeah, that's another thing he talked about, curing all the world's problems with THC ("the higher consciousness"). Also, Jacques was able to get me the two dollars I was short to get the cd A Long Way to the Beginning. Well, the past couple days have been a real high. I guess that's about it for now.
Yesterday was also an incredible fucking day. After work we went to this PechaKucha thing (20 slides/20 seconds). It was centered on food. It started late so we didn't get to see but two speakers. The Seun Kuti + Egypt 80 free concert at the Shell was happening! So we went to that. I was a little worried 'cuz as we got out of the car I could hear music playing so we were missing it. As we got closer the music was only sounding okay, some reggae not bad but not really good either. But it was just the warm up before Seun came on. Then it was just straight tearing it up from there. I was a little skeptical of how it would be but my expectations were blown out of the water. Definitely the closest thing to seeing Fela I'll ever get. He's definitely carrying on his father's work ("like fater, like son" as was said by another in the band during one of the songs) but not in a mimicky sort of way but in really living that message. The band was badass and he had his father's moves. Actually the biggest difference was the band seemed more democratic, like, other musicians had solos too. They did play "Opposite People" but for the most part it was newer music and it all killed. He gave a long political speech at one point. And it wasn't some facile shit. He talked about foreign aid to Africa being the equivalent of kickbacks and just a way for countries to get first dibs on the resources and block the African people's access, the hypocrisy of the US going after FIFA's corruption as every politician lets "donations" influence their decisions, the bullshit of fake "for the children" concern about profanity (he used quite a bit of profanity, especially in mentioning the song "International Mother Fucker" which they'd just played and sang that line a bunch in the actual song), and questioning current wars' efficacy in protecting Americans' freedom. I don't remember the exact quote but it was something along the lines of "before you go to bed tonight tell yourself that bomb killing these children in Africa and the Middle East is not keeping me free." He was heckled by someone during this to play a song and his shutdown was awesome, "I'm not a fucking jukebox." Told him to leave if he didn't like it. He could get a full refund on his way out (free show, remember?). A little later I guess the guy made a noise and he said, "Why are you still here? If I was making a noise like that I wouldn't be staying, I would have left." At some point the Levitt Shell used their projector to put up an apology for the language. And the usual we don't share these views and have no political affiliation. Oh I think I can find that...
"Levitt Shell would like to apologize to those offended by tonight's show and the use of strong language.
We do not share the views of the artist that were represented as we do not choose political or religious affiliations, and we do not condone the use of profanity."
Kinda goofy. Ran into Jacques afterwards and he was pissed about it. I wasn't pissed, just thought it was stupid. Also, after the show a lady with the Shell came out to speak a similar apology and the crowd booed the fuck out of her. It was pretty funny. You get the impression he was brought on as some kind of clueless African world music tokenism for the free concert series. I think this may be one of the most important concerts in Memphis's history. I think it will be as legendary (hopefully moreso) as the Sex Pistols playing that venue that was replaced by a Taco Bell. Certainly one of the best shows I've seen! Really fucking powerful on all levels. We sat in the back of the lawn 'cuz we got there kinda lateish, but it was okay 'cuz I'd forgotten my earplugs anyway and I guess closer wouldn't've been good for me and I could hear it all great. God, really a landmark event. I bought shirts for us and it's funny to have a shirt that says THC in big letters (me being the teetotaler I am and all). Oh yeah, that's another thing he talked about, curing all the world's problems with THC ("the higher consciousness"). Also, Jacques was able to get me the two dollars I was short to get the cd A Long Way to the Beginning. Well, the past couple days have been a real high. I guess that's about it for now.
