gypsy punks
Thanks to the recommendation of several friends, I had the immense pleasure of witnessing the spectacle that is Gogol Bordello. A schizophrenic mix of punk, east European folk, dub and hip-hop, it was without a doubt the most enjoyable show I’ve seen this year¹. Trying to convey the energy and intensity they brought on stage leaves me at a loss for words, but others far more qualified for such endeavors could probably manage.
As to be expected, their studio recordings do little justice to their live act, but at this point I’ll take what I can get.
Immigrant Punk
Think Locally, Fuck Globally
Not A Crime
Also of semi-related interest is the mention of two Romani-centric directors on the Gogol Tour Bus Music Collection page. Emir Kusturica and Tony Gatlif. I was having trouble recalling films with any Romani characters, stereotypical or otherwise, so I think this warrants at least one trip to I Love Video.
¹ With of course the exception of the legendary Desmond Dekker, but that was in San Francisco, and until that show I was under the impression he was dead. So I’m not so sure that it counts.
going underground
Reading “Underground “, one particular aspect of many of the stories has stuck with me, in the back of my mind. Nearly everyone that recounted what they experienced on March 20th knew exactly which rail car they sat in, which door of that car they entered through, and in some cases, where they sat. Not because of the magnitude of the events of that day, although that would be understandable, but because that’s what they do every morning. Day in, day out.
The reasons given ran the gamut from practical “that puts me right by the exit closest to my office“, to whimsical “you get the best view from the Yotsuya Station platform. Looking out past the roof line you can see the Sophia University soccer field, it’s like a breath of fresh air!”
At first this struck me as incredibly odd, but the more I thought about it, and the more I paid attention to my own behavior, the more routine every day became. Every morning I take the same route to work simply because it’s the fastest I’ve found. When I go downtown, I always take the same route and always attempt to park in the same lot, for no fathomable reason. The more I ponder on it, the more I realize I need to find my own breath of fresh air.
brevity
There’s a lot to be said for it.