I just got back from another exciting week in Virginia. Obviously I was there for work again, and I had several days of free time this time around, so I got to go into D.C. a couple of times. I didn't really do much though; I spent some time in the Georgetown area, which is always nice, and ate a delicious meal at Martin's Tavern, which is where JFK proposed to Jackie O, and where loads of other big high politicos have always hung out apparently. So that was interesting. I kept my eye out for Obama, but no luck. I really want to ask him what his definition of "change" is, because he often says it's time for it, but rarely spells out exactly what kind of change it's time for.
On Wednesday though, I got to see Dean & Britta in concert! I'd checked concert listings for the DC area for this past week and was extremely pleased to see that they were going to be playing at The Black Cat club. Dean & Britta are Dean Wareham & Britta Phillips, formerly of the band Luna, who I'm a huge fan of. And Luna was composed of members from Dean's previous legendary underground band (underground is what they used to call what we now use the blanket label indie music for) Galaxie 500 (also the original shoegazer band), and another seminal NYC band, The Feelies. Anyway, I got to see Luna in concert about five years ago in Munich when I was living there... It was a small club and a small crowd, so it was really awesome. See that T-Shirt Dean is wearing?
It's a Deutsche Bahn logo! Deutsche Bahn is the awesome German train system, and if you ever travel in Germany, you will come to love Deutsche Bahn more than you ever thought you could or should love a train.
Dean & Britta... get it?!
So so nice. Dean & Britta are recently married, and are obviously in love, and it's clear who she's singing to.
Anyway, I experienced a moment of outrage when they finished playing, because I realized that this legendary musician, Dean Wareham, was the opening act! I couldn't believe it; I'd assumed that they were the main show, but nope. They opened for some young newcomer named Keren Ann. Her band actually wound up being very good and I quickly realized that a lot of people at the show were there to see her rather than Dean & Britta, and I felt old. I understand though, because Dean & Britta are not Galaxie 500, nor are they even Luna, and Keren Ann is young, hot, from Israel, sings many of her songs in French and is a rising star. Dean & Britta are a swan song, still magnificent, but older generation. Ah well.
When the show was over and many people had left, D & B were on the floor hanging out and talking to people. At the merchandise kiosk they were selling a CD titled Dean & Britta Variations, which is a concert only EP, meaning it's not going to be sold in stores. So I bought one and worked up my courage to go say hey to them. I said hello and he sort of took the CD in my hand without me even having to say anything and he signed it and passed it over to Britta to sign. I told him I really enjoyed the show and that I'd had the chance to see Luna in Munich a few years back and he went off on this tangent about which club that must have been at. I said it was probably the Orange Cafe but he insisted that it was at the Atomic Cafe. I told him I was pretty sure it was the Orange Cafe, but he wasn't familiar with that name and kept blabbing on about the Atomic Cafe. It took forever to get away from him, but you know how those chatty annoying rock stars can be. It's like I mean come on, who's a fan of whom, here?
Right. So anyway I'm going to leave three YouTubes of the Dean Wareham bands in case you're curious. The first one is 'Fourth of July' by Galaxie 500, 2nd is "Lovedust' by Luna, and last is 'Knives From Bavaria' by Dean & Britta, the remix version by Sonic Boom from Spacemen 3.
You should submit that blurry picture of Britta to Rolling Stone. It's awesome.
Posted by: Miss Luongo | Sunday, March 02, 2008 at 11:46
Aw thanks, you're so sweet. This means a lot coming from the girl who had the good taste to totally pan those gross Linday Lohan shots.
Posted by: messiestobjects | Sunday, March 02, 2008 at 12:25
I agree. I stopped scrolling on the blurry pic. It rocks.
One of my fave wedding album pics is of me and Keyser doing "our dance". The flash hadn't gone off. The photographer had accidentally left it in with the proofs, but I snatched it up. It's all orangy and fuzzy. It's the only genuine photograph I have of my wedding that accurately illustrates the real time memory I have of that day.
Anyhoo, I have an idea of what Obama might mean when he throws out those words on change to the general public. But I will keep my own words to myself. And continue to fear for the welfare of this country on so many levels.
Mad Max meets Rambo in Washington. It will go down in history. That is, if it's still being recorded by then.
Posted by: Sissy | Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 08:19
Hey, long time no see... How you been, Sissy?
I'm a big fan of slightly blurry shots... they often seem to hold more meaning than your average picture. One of my favorite ones like that I ever took is this one.
A part of me would rather have Obama than McCain, if we can't get Hillary, but the more rational side of me realizes that in the end it doesn't matter if you get hit with a cane or fed a carrot, they both come from the hand of the same master.
Posted by: messiestobjects | Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 10:51
That's bleak.
Posted by: Miss Luongo | Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 15:51
Political candidates are bleak, because they're ultimately in it for themselves no matter how good they sound. If a blacksmith or a social worker without any previous political leanings ever decided to run for office, I'd feel better about the whole thing.
I guess my feeling is that "Politician" should not be a job description. Good people who really do care about other people more than their own ambition generally don't wind up in the political arena.
Posted by: messiestobjects | Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 16:08
Ooooo. That's heavy. I like it. And it's why the human race will someday crash and burn. How's that for bleak?
Do you think that the original U.S. politicians were in it for the glory? Didn't they start the ball rolling on the back of "freedom" from people like themselves?
It's like the alcoholic chain that can't be broken. "I promise we will build a new world and be free from the evils of the throne!"
Huh. I guess we're still free. And although I'm not worldly, I think England is free, too. And their money is worth more than ours. And they were kind enough to pull their prince out of the war last week. Good peeps.
Posted by: Sissy | Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 22:55
I'm mostly speaking in generalities here, but my gut feeling is that people that actually want to be in positions of authority over other people are generally bad people.
George Washington and Thomas Jefferson and other such heroes were in a slightly different situation, politically speaking, than we are now. They were trying to make a home for themselves and for a new nation of disenfranchised people. GW was quite happy to turn over his Presidency at the end of his term, which is actually quite an undersung and dramatic incident in our history. The American people loved old George. Most people didn't really understand the new form of government and the reasons behind it, and many many many of them wanted George to be President for life. He could have been KING, if he wanted. But he knew that if Democracy was to work, power had to be abdicated before it corrupted.
We're still free, sure, whatever that means, but much less so than before our current train wreck of a penisident got into office, much less so than before JFK was murdered... etc etc. I wonder where we'll be in 20 years.
Posted by: messiestobjects | Wednesday, March 12, 2008 at 00:29
Jessie The Body Ventura believes the same thing. There shouldn't be politicians, just smart, altruistic people who want to serve the public for 4 years. He also believes that if people make bad choices and get themselves into trouble, they should pull on their bootstraps and get out of their troubles on their own. Oh, what lofty goals that wacky celebrity public servant has for us.
Posted by: Miss Luongo | Wednesday, March 12, 2008 at 02:36
Democracy would work if "Good people who really do care about other people more than their own ambition" were consistantly voted into office rather than power-hunger mongers who are about as talented as a stone wall when it comes to leading an institution.
Like GW, a true leader steps up with a country's objective in mind, not "what can I do or say to make these people like me". Democracy originated as a means to fair and trusted operations. Now it is a platform for popularity based on abstract fabrications lacking the intelligence and courage by which our founding fathers were driven.
Sadly, faith without action is dead and our country has suffered greatly from putting our faith in those who have implemented nothing to back it.
It's turned into a game.
I'm glad to hear that Mr. Ventura is thinking clearly. Unfortunately, the whack-jobs of our nation take the spotlight from those who actually make sense.
True leaders don't want to be king. They build foundations upon which future leaders can stand and continue to cultivate. True leaders have better things to do than rule forever. It's a component of being an innovator.
Movement is necessary for change.
Change germinates growth.
Posted by: Sissy | Wednesday, March 12, 2008 at 08:26
I like Jessie The Body Ventura. He could totally kick Arnuld's ass. And that's exactly what I'm talking about. I think that nobody should be allowed to stay in politics for more than a few years. Or that beyond a salary equivalent to a school teacher's, they should not be allowed to make any other money during that time, or something. I'm no political genius, but there need to be more strictures on our politicians. Or maybe if you go to school as a poly-sci major, or any other learning course which teaches politics, you can't ever hold an elected office or a decision-making position; you'd only ever be able to be a political aid or adviser or something.
Maybe that's naive, but I just feel that people who want power are bad, and people who want power don't really care about a fair Democracy, and people who want power gravitate towards Washington or poly-sci majors.
Posted by: messiestobjects | Wednesday, March 12, 2008 at 12:55