Willie Wonka and Colonialism

I haven't seen the movie, and don't really care, but this article on the new Tim Burton adaptation of Roald Dahl is a straightforward political analysis after the manner of Ariel Dorfman, author of How to Read Donald Duck...

Wooden Octopus Skull

I probably won't be going, but there's some really great stuff happening, if you're a noise freak, at the Seattle Wooden Octopus Skull festival , happening from Sept. 8 to 11th -- Fe-mail, with Maja Ratkje, Sun City Girls-related project the Climax Golden Twins, Irr. App. (Ext.), Nurse with Wound, and even former Vancouverites The Haters will all be performing... Speaking of the Haters, they were my first ever noise gig. I saw them when I was a teenager, I think maybe opening up for the Dead Kennedys (link takes you to a related gig poster from the Edmonton date). Or else it was on a bill with Death Sentence, The Spores, and House of Commons (does anyone else out there miss the Spores? I wish I could get Schizofungi on CD). They wore black hoods and made noisy noisy noise with power tools, microphones, and various implements of distruction, completely amusically; most of the audience stood around and booed, and I have to admit, I didn't get much out of it myself, at the time. It was in the mid-1980's -- they were a bit ahead of the game. Strange that there should be whole festivals devoted to this kind of thing now, eh? Who woulda thunk it?

Zombiewalk Afterparty

The Creaking Planks were fun -- an accordion/banjo/ukelele (or sometimes harmonium) trio who played zombified versions of popular songs, plus Al Mader's marvelous "Dead Man's Pants," one of the funniest lyrics I've heard in awhile (they also did a charming cover of a Randy Newman song about being dead, but not knowing it...). Flat Grey (listed as the Cranberrys, for reasons I am not in on) were like being given a proctological exam with a power tool, but in a surprisingly pleasurable and soothing way. Dan and Harlow, neither G42 nor Sistrenatus, pictured above, provided dark texture and disturbing noise as images from Dawn of the Dead and Fulci's Zombie played in the background, and I fiddled with my camera. By that point, most of the zombies had staggered home, tho' -- apparently zombies don't like noise. The anecdote of the evening, from Heather, the event's organizing force, involved a security guard at the mall frantically trying to lock all the doors to keep out the approaching zombies. Also: Heather had made a brain pinata and forgot to bring it out during the party, so it rode with us back to her apartment; I got to carry her brain for awhile.

See you at Zombiewalk 2006... I might even dress up, then.

More on Torture

Having briefly viewed Znet with skepticism, below, I am delighted to find an article of great value there, dealing with recently declassified documents on discussions of the efficacy of torture.

To quote, briefly:

"Connections to Muslim communities must be based on trust, and such trust is obviously less likely to exist if the threat of detention with torture and without trial is a cornerstone of U.S. policy. It is not a question of Muslims around the world hating Americans, but of Muslims wanting to work with an administration whose policies are built on torture and detention without end or recourse. Underlying any policy of torture in present circumstances, as the writers of the JAG memos recognized even in 2003, is the assumption that it is not worth our while to build real bridges to Muslims (rather than the cosmetic ones envisioned by Karen Hughes, the President's favorite advisor and new undersecretary of state for public diplomacy). As the military lawyers realized two years ago, the Bush administration's recourse to torture policies was a sign that its officials neither trusted, nor put much faith in what once would have been considered basic American values; nor believed our policies to be attractive when compared to the hatred that bonds Islamic fundamentalists together. Just as the JAGs sensed it would, this has proved a losing assumption -- and torture the Achilles heel of administration policy -- based on an exceedingly short-sighted concept of national security."

Again, you can read the whole article here.

Hugo Chavez, Pat Robertson, and Zombies

An interesting article on Hugo Chavez, oil, and Pat Robertson. It disturbs me that Chavez buddies up to Fidel Castro, and I'd like to know more about his own human rights record (which I confess to being ill-informed on). I've been adding more salt to my consumption of anything on Znet; I've long consumed mainstream news with a fair bit of sodium, but the longer I've been reading Znet, the more I've become aware that the site definitely has strong ideological parameters on what can be said on it, and that the leftist vision, while useful, has its blind spots... Still, I've been impressed with some of what I've heard from Chavez, and only ever felt a shudder of revulsion in regard to Pat Robertson... Anyone out there with informed, interesting views on the "bad side" of Chavez is invited to post a comment. Let me know what you think will happen in the future, too -- should we expect another Allende-style coup, and the propping up of a bloody dictator? Or is America stretched too thin to manage that this time around?

I don't think I'm actually going to participate in Zombiewalk. I approve heartily, though, and wish the zombies of the city a pleasant stagger through the streets. I am sorry that, despite the title, I actually fail to make any intellectual connections between Chavez, Robertson, and zombies... I hope none of you are too disappointed.

The United States assault on the United Nations

John Bolton is GWB's new appointee to the United Nations. See a nice little video of him espousing his vision of the United Nations role in the world here (from a few years ago): his position is that there is no such thing as the United Nations, save when it serves the US' interests. Note his friendly manner.

Here's an article on some of the conflicts of vision between Mr. Bolton, new to his job, and the United Nations, who are approaching an important summit.

Here's a pointed little cartoon.

Sigh.

Zombie Walk 2005, dark afterparty for G42/ Funerary Call fans

As some of you may already be aware, on Saturday, August 27th, various Vancouverites will be dressing as zombies and staggering around the city, we hope without spurring the locals to shoot us in the head. The current information on the ZombieRoute is to be found here.

Also of note: there will be dark music indeed (or so I assume, with good reason) provided by Dan Kibke of G42 and H. McFarlane, formerly of Funerary Call and now of Sistrenatus (hm... the sites look strangely similar) at the Zombiewalk afterparty (along with other bands whose names I do not recognize). The event will take place at Video In (1965 Main Street), starting sometime after 9PM. For fans of dark ambient, industrial electronica, noise, and cattle mutilations. Check it out.

By the way, G42 are now podcasting -- subscribe here, for a taste.

Cheers to Cindy Sheehan

Cheers to Cindy Sheehan, who is the protesting mother whose son was killed in Iraq, now camped outside Bush's Texas ranch for his month-long vacation. She has my support, sympathy and admiration. This article, though, on the local reception to her (and other protesters) is pretty interesting... I suggest you continue reading after the feelings of disgust start to arise (where one normally would tune out) to get a fairly fascinating portrait of the U.S. David Lynch should make a movie about presidential politics, perhaps with a Bret Easton Ellis screenplay...

Gaza Pullout

Did anyone expect this could come to pass, that the Israeli army would be removing settlers from Gaza, when, just a couple of years ago, American peace activists were being run over by bulldozers as they tried to stop the destruction of Palestinian homes and the left were talking about a massacre in the Jenin refugee camp? I didn't. I'm finally impressed with Ariel Sharon -- considered a war criminal for the Sabra and Shatila massacres in Lebanon, now suddenly on the side of the doves (or at least making a move for pragmatic reasons that the doves will much applaud; in any event, it's the right thing to do). I suddenly find myself worrying that he will suffer the same fate as Yitzhak Rabin. It will be a much-needed sign of hope, if this pullout goes smoothly, and if it has the desired affect -- though with America in Iraq, we can't really have recourse to the old formula of "peace in the Middle East."

Tonight's the Night: Hunter S. Thompson, exploding in the sky

Tonight is the night that the ashes of Hunter S. Thomspon are being fired from a cannon, of sorts. There should be some sort of anthem for the crowd to sing, before the launch; and everyone should stand up and salute.

Checking in with Robert Fisk, at the Baghdad Morgue

Reading articles like this, one senses a reality so much in conflict with what we are encouraged to believe that one shakes ones head in confusion. Someone somewhere is deeply delusional, or lying; in ways, it would be more comforting if it were Fisk. Among his critics, Robert Fisk is seen as an hysterical leftist who will commit whopping errors to print. Surely, though, such an article would not run in a paper such as the Independent unless there were some factual basis for it -- if the figures weren't to some extent correct? It's not like we can turn to CNN for confirmation of such a story, though. The best you can do is construct your own reality out of the bits that fit your sense of the real. Not an easy task.

Postscript: another snippet from the Baghdad morgue, here.

HOLY SHIT! Terry Riley! Meredith Monk! Fred Frith!

I am breathless. Fred Frith will be doing a bunch of shows, mostly with Montreal-based artists, throughout Vancouver New Music's upcoming festival at the Scotiabank Dance Centre, beginning on Oct. 19th; Meredith Monk and vocal ensemble perform Nov. 12 at the Chan Centre; and Terry Riley performs (with poet Michael McClure) at the Chan Centre on Jan. 2o. It's like the gods are trying to cheer me up (I've had a bad couple of weeks) and give me something to look forward to. Thank you, gods! Thank you!

I can't wait for the summer to end!

Concerts to Consider

Last year, the summer was the season to be an enthusiast of interesting musics in Vancouver -- Mission of Burma, Supersilent, Paul Dutton, the Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra (who played to a room of uber-enthusiastic Japanese students; I was one of about 20 non-Japanese in attendance at the Commodore) and Diamanda Galas were among some of the things I got pretty darned enthusiastic about. This year, the fall is proving to be the season to wake up for. I've yet to hear what Vancouver New Music has planned, but so far there's plenty to consider -- and I'm not even taking Cinemuerte or the VIFF into account.

An asterix denotes essential musical experiences, by me:

Sept. 13 – Black Mountain @ Richards on Richards (great, narcotized hard rock, but I've seen 'em -- it'll depend on my mood). Other people tell me I should see the Brian Jonestown Massacre... is that on this date, too.

*Sept. 15 – John Oswald (of Plunderphonics) @ Western Front (sample-based weirdness, I think -- a big name, must explore)

*Sept 21 – New Model Army @ Richards on Richards (unconfirmed - gig may not happen! An amazing, underrated, passionate British band with a social conscience and biting, insightful lyrics)

Sept. 22nd -- DOA plays with reinstated original members Randy Rampage and Chuck Biscuits at the Candy Bar and Grill. I might actually have to go to this event.

Sept. 23 – Apocalyptica @ Richards on Richards (European heavy metal cellists: go figure)

Sept. 27, Sigur Ros @ Orpheum (I haven't really explored these guys yet, which I suppose is kind of funny, given they're the most commercially successful band on the list, but... They're from Iceland, and that's enough to make me curious.

*Sept. 28 – Acid Mothers Temple @ Richards on Richards (psychedelic freaks from Japan)

*Oct 14 - Nihilist Spasm Band @ Western Front (seminal Canadian noise pioneers who play instruments they've designed themselves)

*Oct. 15 - Al Neil at Western Front, @VPL Oct 21, @Roundhouse Nov. 10, @VAG Nov 25 (important avant-garde pianist who rarely performs; his LP, Boot and Fog, is noteworthy for having the most fucked up version of "Over the Rainbow" imaginable -- a must-hear. Also a painter.

*Oct. 27 - Tobias Delius 4Tet, @ Ironworks (I've seen this European sax improviser play twice and loved both shows. Will be bringing wildman Han Bennink with him, too. Everyone should see Han Bennink once!)

*Nov. 25 – Eugene Chadbourne @ Western Front (wacky, weird psychedelic hero and guitar improviser with a fondness for covering Roger Miller and Phil Ochs tunes and doing twisted takes on classic rock songs -- or making huge, dangerous noises. Fronted Shockabilly, has played with John Zorn, Derek Bailey, Camper van Beethoven, the Sun City Girls, the Violent Femmes, Evan Johns, Jimmy Carl Black, Jello Biafra, Han Bennink, and far too many other noteworthies to note. YOU MUST ATTEND THIS SHOW. So must I. Assumedly, so must Dr. Chad.

This is pleasant, actually -- as the weather gets greyer, I'll need something to cheer me up.

Freedom to Torture Iraqis?

There it is, folks -- the Operation Iraqi Freedom coffee mug, with the words "Abu Ghraib" on the front. Get yours today -- $4.99 on eBay.

IS EUGENE CHADBOURNE COMING TOO???!!!!

Holy shit, it looks like Eugene Chadbourne is coming, too! (See the last listing on the page). Alas, it doesn't sound like he'll be playing "Georgia in a Jug" with this particular ensemble, but fuggit, it's still a great day! I will presently e-mail Dr. Chad (who knows me as a guy who is most enthusiastic about his "homemade" CD packaging -- I've about 8 of his homemades at present) and confirm that he's coming up this way. Perhaps I can tempt him with some local, uh, greenery...

You know, it's just as well the Flesheaters never tour anymore. We're getting pretty close to the end of the "performers to see before I die" list... The Ex are pretty high up there, too...

Postscript: it's confirmed, folks: Eugene Chadbourne is coming! Our correspondence on the matter began thus:

Me: Dr. Chadbourne!!!

Him: Sir Allan of Couve!

Me: Do I gather that you are going to perform in Vancouver in November?

Him: This is true.

Me: Oh joyous day, if it is so!

Him: Joyous for me, for once I am not unemployed during this gross out American holiday...

Looks like he's going to play two gigs, one here and one in Victoria. I am delighted at the prospect of meeting him. Any Eugene Chadbourne fans out there?

NIHILIST SPASM BAND ARE COMING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope you read it hear first, folks: Canada's art-noise cacophaneers are making their way to the west coast -- and will be playing the Western Front, on October 15th. Add this to the list of essential autumn shows, alongside the New Model Army and the Acid Mothers Temple (both play Richards on Richards in September). On bad days, shows like this on the horizon are all I need to get me through; whoever THOUGHT I'd get to see the Nihilist Spasm Band perform live?

Another Difficult Free Cell

11390. It takes a while to figure it out.

Jim Jarmusch's BROKEN FLOWERS

I loved Down by Law, my first exposure to Jim Jarmusch; liked Stranger than Paradise and Mystery Train; and I've been glad to see Jarmusch trying to broaden the scope of his filmmaking over the last few years. None of his last few films have impressed me much, though. Coffee and Cigarettes had one truly engaging episode and otherwise meant little to me. Ghost Dog left me flat; the samurai exoticism didn't move me much, the characters seemed more like contrived eccentric sketches of people than real people, and some of Jarmusch's deliberately quirky bits (gangsters talking in deadpan about Indians, say) seemed distracting, annoying, and unnecessary -- seemingly moved by a desire to preserve his reputation as an oddball than by any filmic considerations. Dead Man, too, much as I liked things about it -- it's certainly his most praiseworthy film since Down by Law -- has its share of failed moments, and ends up being subverted by the directors' self-conscious need to maintain a "quirky" reputation -- I mean, Iggy Pop in a dress telling the story of Goldilocks? Such moments leave you questioning whether Jarmusch really knows what he's doing, whether he actually has the control and discipline and insight into his own work to carry out a film as ambitious as Dead Man is without badly fucking up at least 5% of it. I was starting to come to the conclusion that the size of his talent simply didn't match the size of his ambitions, and rather wishing he would attempt to make something a little smaller scale, where his skills lie; I was happy to hear Broken Flowers described as a sort of minimalist mood piece, and I was aware sitting down at the Granville Seven tonight that I wanted badly to like it. I've needed a film to play at a mainstream cinema lately that I could respect and enjoy; it seems like it's been years. I was worried that, even being aware that most of his last few films left me wanting quite a bit more, that my hopes would be too high, and ruin the movie for me.

Turns out I have cause to be relieved and grateful: I was moved by the film and am glad to be able to recommend it (which is all I'm trying to do, here; I have little to say about it, am just pointing to it and saying that you should see it; it's not a film that leaves you overwhelmed with the desire to analyze it, come the end). It still has a few unnecessarily Jarmuschian touches -- the constant invocation of the "Don Juan" theme at the beginning is clumsy and heavy-handed, as if Jarmusch doesn't trust his audience to pick up on such things unless he underlines, italicizes, and boldfaces them; and the animal communication sequence leaves you worried throughout that he'll subvert the mood he's managed to create, too -- its actually a wonder that he doesn't. (As an aside: Jessica Lange is still damned hot, too; how old can she possibly be? She was looking fifty about ten years ago -- and she still does; she just keeps getting sexier, somehow). There is little I can say about the film that will heighten the experience of watching it, and too much chance that I'll subtract from its pleasures by cataloguing them in advance, so that's all I'll say. It's an effective, sad, quiet, gentle, and finely observed film -- basically the only film playing in any commercial cinema in Vancouver that I imagine a thoughtful adult viewer might appreciate.

I think I'll just skip Gus van Sant's Last Days, you know? I saw Gerry. I saw Elephant. I even saw Nirvana in concert, back in the day. I just don't care. It's great that he's imitating Bela Tarr and I hope that it leads to Tarr getting more notice in North America, but my respect just isn't that easily won; after Finding Forrester, it offends me that van Sant has the ego to think he can win credibility for himself through imitation, no matter who he chooses to imitate. I'd respect him more, probably, if he stuck to making well-crafted, hollow commercial films for the masses; there is a point beyond which there is no turning back, and he reached it far too long ago to try to win back the respect of critics and cineastes. Besides, he doesn't really have a whole hell of a lot to say.

Tell me if I'm wrong.

PS: looks like Jessica Lange was born in 1949.

Jazz Fans Note: Sale at Virgin

Some locals might be interested in this... In preparation for the September changeover that will be happening, when Virgin music ceases its Canadian operations and hands over the Megastore to HMV, they've been selling off a lot of their merchandise. Books, at 50% off, are well-picked-over at this point, as are the headphones, accessories, video games, LPs, and so forth; but they've just begun marking down some of their CDs and DVDs, and its in the CD bins that I've found some special items. HMV will be buying a lot of their stock, but apparently not anything on obscure labels or any imports -- I stocked up on free jazz and improvised music, including stuff on Leo, on the British label Emanem (not to be confused with angry white rappers), plus some cool William Parker and Alan Silva discs, and two neat Residents reissues, all at half-price. Given Virgin's tendancy to charge the highest possible price for items, that's really not that much of a discount -- I paid around $18 a CD, once taxes and whatnot were included -- but given how hard some of this stuff is to find, I'm quite happy. There's a bunch of cool stuff left to be picked over, including old folk blues (I spied a Blind Lemon Jefferson CD that tempted me) and trad jazz (including some really cool Count Basie and Duke Ellington discs); and there was even some avant garde stuff I left behind, including Curlew, Roscoe Mitchell, Evan Parker, and Michael Moore releases. Worth your while, if you're into that kind of music.

Nothin' much else to say... The Winks play Wednesday at the Butchershop.

Praying Mantis Kills Hummingbird

This'll surely be making the rounds.

There were praying manti (mantises?) in Japan. They were fascinating creatures, and some were quite large. I recall picking one up from a parking lot and moving it to safety on a bush; I was most unnerved that it could turn its head to look at me.