2002-08-12 - 3:51 p.m.
I went to see The Coup and Dead Prez last week. I can't say enough good stuff about either of them. I had a great time at the show, and surprisingly enough, was spared the sight of oceans of expensive Che Guevara-emblazoned t-shirts (for the record, I only counted three. Relatively good odds). Besides loving the Coup and Dead Prez for their straightforward anti-authoritarian and anti-capitalist politics, I can't stop giggling at the many food references in the rhymes of the latter group ("I'll make you a salad, fresh bed of lettuce with croutons, later we can play a game of chess on the futon".... and my personal favorite: "lentil soup is mental fruit"). And Pam the Funkstress of the Coup lived up to her legend and did some remarkable scratching with her hands and also with her tits.
The show got me thinking about where the music we listen to and the movements of which we consider ourselves a part end up meeting. Looking back on my various musical/political affiliations, I wonder if communities built largely around music can be politically accountable and politically effective.
It is easy to feel as if our groups are organized when we look around and see lots of people at shows and events. But what do we mean when we say "organized?" That we can count on each other to come to shows? Or is there more implied in this notion of organization? And what expectations do we have of those that are into politically-charged music that we don't have of those that aren't? Last week, Dead Prez asked the crowd a number of times, "Are you organized? Is Seattle ready?" People cheered in response, presumably indicating that, yes, they considered our fair city to be organized for "the revolution." I stood amidst the cheering, not wanting to be such a killjoy, but wondering if any of us audience members even agreed on what "the revolution" will be, what it will look like, what will be at stake, and what we are even fighting for, specifically… let alone being organized to take it on/make it happen/defend ourselves/fight/whatever.
Boots (Potential, not Riley) would like to know what you think.
And by the way, Boots P. wants you to know that monster swiped his name from Boots McAleenan, 10-year-old agitator in the 1899 Brooklyn newsboy strike, rather than from the smart and articulate MC.
