Any lazy motherfucker can go to a gig and proceed to describe what the band sounded like. The New York Times’ Kelefa Sanneh, is far more informative, telling us what we really need to know. His review of Sunday’s Deerhoof/Beruit show at McCarron Pool, for instance.
The pool™s official capacity is 5,500, which meant an almost comically large audience for a couple of cultish bands. McCarren Pool is a big, shallow, crumbling rectangle, and the familiar Williamsburg sights ” stubbly chins, flip-flopped feet, retro sunglasses ” seemed to stretch toward the horizon.
There’s a lot more to thoughtful pop criticism than discussing musical content, so I can fully appreciate that Sanneh felt the need to “set the scene” as it where, as well as discuss the circumstances surrounding a big turnout for “cultish” bands (ie., the show was free).
That said, I do think there oughta be some consistency over at the Gray Lady. Charles Isherwood’s effusive review of Patti LuPone’s performance in “Gypsy” has nary a mention of what ticketholders were wearing. The paper’s critique of Oliver Stone’s “World Trade Center” seemed balanced enough, but I cannot help but wonder how the cinema patrons were dressed.
Likewise, while Sanneh takes great pains to point out that the cultish Deerhoof might’ve only played to a few hundred had they charged, say, $20 admission, why doesn’t the same logic extend to the Times’ coverage of other artistic endeavors. Sure, “Talladega Nights : The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby” is no. 1 at the box office, but why isn’t anyone at the Times willing to point out such status couldn’t have been attained if the tickets were free?
these are good points GC, but i should note that fashion is much more inspiring/interesting/etc than what passes for music these days. if deerhoof had half the chops of ms lupone, mr sanneh probably would have nixed the color commentary.
I guess if Joe Carducci felt like updating “Rock and the Pop Narcotic”, he would have had a field day with this one.
And I dunno, what’s wrong with flip flops?
Dude, if you have to ask, you’ll never know.
oh gerard, let me put the kidgloves on and break it down for mark. i have many feelings on this subject.
the problem with flip-flops is that its wearers often feels it is appropriate footwear for everything: when its 40 degrees outside and walking to econ class, with a pair of jeans for a night out on the town, perhaps to a formal dinner at the white house with GW. however, everyone that has never been a participant in the greek system knows flip-flops are good for only three locales: poolside, at the beach and on the boardwalk — just like the holy trinity of bra colors. [now that’s a “if you have to ask…” situation!!]
but what is the root of this flip-flop problem? i would like to blame celebrities, because they are usually at fault. humanity is bombarded with images of celebs wearing track suits by juicy couture every day, creating a fashionista’s version of the pavlovian response. or is it stockholm syndrome? i can never tell. maybe its both. anyway, the viewer sees this fictional representation of reality and mistakes it as something to mimic. first, its track suits, followed by other accoutrements of leisure time, including the flip-flop.
when celebrities aren’t at fault, the other party to blame is the economy. the rules of supply and demand, the meager earnings of americans, etc means people have to really stretch their dollars when it comes to making clothes last longer. however, repurposing swim trunks as boxers [or wetsuits as longstockings] is the wrong idea. what people are forgetting is that proper seasonal clothing storage will keep their belongings in tip top shape!
there you go. it will become clear when i’ve finished my “blame matrix”, but in the meantime, this should help. also, as a word of advice, forgo romantic entanglements with people who don flip-flops outside of the usual circumstances. just sayin’.
also, a lot of people have nasty feet.
The current look- Flip flops, unshaven, wrinkled clothes, mismatched sunglasses is actually heavily inspired by ABC’s “Lost.” They would not want to admit it, but the parallels would be obivous 20 years from now.
Don