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MAKE OPINION
OBJECTIVE
This is in regards to David H. Fairbairn’s
letter “Flagpole’s Fault" in the August 12
issue.
This letter hit many points about the little
rock" music “scene" here in Athens square
on the head. The observations on the article
written about the band Slut, are utterly true
(in general I wasn’t at this show): many peo
ple pay attention to a musical show for all
the weak reasons. Try this kids, ignore the
fashion at your next rock show, just blank it
out — take a long sip from your vodka and
tonic or something — then close your eyes.
Let it sink ;n. Does it get that spark in the
back of your brain going? If it does, it’s wor
thy of your attention. If not, go back to one
of the popular bars, get noticed and play
your little social game, like you always do.
Favoritism exists in Athens, and so does a
sort of brain-dead inability to take ALL of the
art and music in by the local press, whether
it be because of concern for family matters
(like the Banner-Herald, which can’t print
racy stuff for obvious reasons), or the desire
to keep it all within a small circle of high-pro
file celebrity wanna-bes. Why can’t these
people be more objective? You know who
you are too, and you’re guilty, inane, weak
and unintelligent. If you don’t like what 1 just
said, then talk to me! I’ll be around and I’m
not afraid. A lack of real, in-depth conversa
tion and communication is another downer
in this town, also.
Bottom line, though, is that it doesn’t
matter You start a band in \thens, achieve
your Uarke County 15 minutes of fame, and
then, subsequently, get ignored because
your not hanging with the right kind of peo
ple, or screwing the right kind of people.
Well most give up, but if you are possessed
with great powers like the Radio Tahiti folks
you keep doing it because you love it and it’s
important to you and the people that really
matter. By the way, I’m in Radio Tahiti and
I’ve been through all this and my advice is:
ignore Athens! We’ve played (as spin-off
band Autoscope) in a number of towns out
side of Athens and the response has been
overwhelming, energetic and positive com
pared to the blitheringly dull crowd
response around these parts. Keep at it if
you love it! Don’t worry about acceptance
from the nameless townies of this world! Go
to a show and yell your ass off; make a fool
of yourself, and if someone doesn’t like it,
tell them to take a long walk off a short pier!
Hey, I write for Flagpole too, sometimes.
Writing isn’t easy... Well actually it is, but,
anyway, just keep petitioning for greater
objectivity out there. There’s a few good
writers here at Flagpole that might take
heed, such as Fausset (finally the 7th day
Adventists get some press!), Lesemann
(keep sweating on the road, dude, it helps to
make you fierce!), Link (keep the damned Art
Patrol in going, folks!), Britt (you don’t scare
me), and of course, me. And I haven’t had
anything to lose in years, kids. You want a
piece of this, punk?
It will happen though, the cream will rise
to the top, fanzines that aren’t afraid to piss
people off will get published, the criminals
will pay for their crimes, the masses will
revolt against the oppressors, “hip" coffee
houses will finally feature free re-fills (1 can
dream can’t I?), etc.
All-in-all. this letter is a very good obser
vation on the foolish
negativity and lack of objectivity that
exists here in this burg. Good job, Mr.
Fairbairn!
Steve Fitzpatrick
Athens
BE POSITIVE
What an entertaining and fun read the
August 12 issue was! I haven’t enjoyed a
Flagpole this much in months.
Two of the reasons were on the letters
page, as correspondents David Tairbairn and
Frark Bishop made quite a lot of sense.
Fairbairn’s absolutely right... there has been
way too much negativity in Flagpole geared
towards newer groups and not enough con
structive criticism in the live reviews. I have
noted, though, that the album reviews tend
to be more focused than live reviews, and
less sarcastic than the ABC column, and
most of your critics do a fair and equitable
job of pointing out the highs and lows of
albums. I don’t know why you wasted the
column inches talking about the Cheap Trick
reissue though.
Which brings me to the Rock 103.7 con
troversy. Frank Bishop’s right on the money
when he called it “crrrraaaaaappppp.” I’m
sure 103.7 has some good old records and
CDs in their library, but when I’ve flipped
THIS Mtlllli Will
Trtfc PRESIDENT'S ME* CU»A, TB*HSt*TC0...|
by TOM TOMORROW
AUGUST 26, 1998
around the dial and landed on it, I sure as
hell haven’t heard any. Frankly, on those
ultra-rare occasions when I want to listen to
old power rock, this loser station will be the
last place I try.
Meanwhile, the interview with Randall
Bramblett was fascinating (sorry you were
too alternative for him, John!) and Melissa
Link is continuing to outshine Ballard with
her Movie Pick reviews. And knock me down
with a feather! Melissa reviewed a Brian De
Palma film and didn’t mention Hitchcock
even once! I think Entertainment Weekly's
reviewer (who had me in stitches, mind you;
dropped the “H" word into every paragraph.
All this and that 406-part “Trip to New
York" strip is over and forgotten. Damn
entertaining birdcage liner this week, guys.
Grant Goggans
Athens
WHAT’S YER 10/20?
This is the continuing saga of two
Athenians lost in the American West. This
week’s dateline: Glendale, Calif. —ed.
Each and every time DeeDee and I see a
model from Detroit’s finer era traveling our
nation’s highway, we nearly swoon. Copies
of Hot Rod and Lowrider magazine lie in
stacks around our house, and our most
expensive book purchases usually contain
full-color glossies of classic cars. Cur
favorite car game is a bastardization of that
childhood classic, “Punchbug,” which
instead features El Caminos and Rancheros,
with points taken off for each incorrect
guess (hey, cross couniry traveling isn’t con
stant excitement!). So naturally when we saw
the flyer for the Fifth Annual Blessing of the
Cars, we scrapped all itinerary and headed
straight to Verdugo Park.
! knew this was goi;<g to be a good’n when
I spotted a cherry ‘69 Charger in the parking
lot. We paid our entrance fee after scanning
the “poor man’s show" under the shade
trees outside the main gates. Once inside the
gates we felt pulled to the le f t, unable to
resist the long ;ow of Hearses. Every major
coachbuilder was represented and the own
ers displayed the cars with relevant decora
tions (funeral flags, caskets and related
creepies). Where to go next?
The “art car” section featuring a Rambler
posing as a rolling J.B. Weld Epoxy advertise
ment? The mini-bike section filled with a
score of Taco minis, including a sidecar rig?
My head was beginning to spin and my
mouth watered as I spotted a 454 Chevy
topped with a Hilbornc fuel-injection unit, its
velocity stacks ready to cause a simultane
ous decrease in atmospheric pressure and
the world oil supply. How about the ‘32 Ford
with a Halibrand quick-change rear and a
catalog full of Moon products?
Big Sandy was pumping out the tunes in
front of a s^uge curtain illustrated with a
priest holding a “pep boys” bible. In addition
to the car show, there were valve cover
races, model car and pinstriping contests.
As if that wasn’t enough, at the end of the
event every pre ’68 car was blessed by a
priest donning a checkeied and flamed robe!
Add to the aforementioned day 80 degree
weather with 20 percent humidity, clear
skies with a slight NNW breeze at 2-5 mph
and you have one heck of a reason to come
next year... and if you do, you might very
well find us also. Bringin’ you yer 10/20 ‘til
then, this is...
Kap’n Krisp and Dec Dee Galore
In a Van
1) As I read the letters section
[ Flagpole’s Fault,” August 12], in particular
David H. Fairbairn’s (more the name of an
accountant than a musician, and 1 think his
music will attest to that) missive, I could
only mutter aloud “oh, please," “dear God”
and finally “oh just shut up" as I turned the
page in a huff (truly — in a huff). If anything
Flagpole could be accused of boosterism,
lightly dismissing groups that truly deserve
to be savaged, and giving fairly favorable
reviews to groups that, again, truly deserve
to be savaged. If anyone writes something
with a hint of vitriol to it then God bless
Flagpole, and God bless strongly held opin
ions. In a town this small with this many
bands it isn’t surprising that many (or,
indeed, most) of the bands aren’t really that
good.
What’s amazing is that there are a handful
that are good, great even. I went to see
Neutral Milk Hotel in Chattanooga a few
months ago and as I walked out of the tiny
bar they played in I could hear one of the
locals say “God I wish we had bands that
good around here,”; we have several (well
maybe not several as good as Neutral Milk
Hotel, but several good bands nonetheless).
Of course we’re going to have as many if not
more bands that are awful, and of course
most people aren’t going to know the differ
ence (if you don’t beiieve me just glance at a
Billboard), but wher most of the bands
aren’t good, then it stands to reason that
most of the things written about them will be
fairly negative.
2) As far as how to be cool, look to your
roots and do what R.E.M. and Pylon did, try
to sound like Wire and Gang of Four and, if
possible, put your own spin on it. Better yet,
play country music so you don’t have to
worry about how to be cool you just have to
worry about how to be good.
OR Better yet, break up.
3) Anyhow, don’t let the bastards grind
you down Flagj- ole, and keep on truckin’.
James Blount
via the Internet
LOVE IS ALL AROUND
You suck, Flagpole! Flagpole should dunk
every shitty band around town in au d’toi-
lette. Haven’t you heard? Flagpole’s job is to
promote the local music scene, not to sell
ads. And the best way to promote the scene
is to say the same boring crap about every
band. Anybody remember how great Classic
City Live or On Top Of The Rock was?
It took Flagpole a year to start listing my
band correctly in the ABC, but I didn’t give
a damn because nobody noticed. Now I’m
afraid that people will notice what Flagpole
says, and this could hurt my rock image.
The last thing I need to grow as a person is
opinion. In fact, I get up on stage and do
my thing because I don’t want people to
notice me, or think about what I’m saying
or playing.
Also, John Britt is a meanie. After all, his
band sucks almost as bad as my own. If he
keeps rocking in this town long enough, he’ll
find out what an honest opinion does to a
rock scene. And we the musicians make the
scene, man. So...
Fuck off,
Davey Wratngabar
via the Internet
P.S. — Classic Rock Rules, Dude!
CONTACT FLAGPOLE
—
Write to FLAGPOLE at LETTERS, P. a Box 1027, Athens, GA 30603; or via the Internet at
maU@flagpole,com Letters may be edited for style, clarity and space considerations.