Monday 7 June 2010

You're Not Punk, And I'm Telling Everyone...

Keeping up the fine accidental tradition of watching Against Me! for free — gratis ticket courtesy of Georgia.

"Looking for context and perspective,
looking for some kind of distraction.
White crosses on the church lawn,
I want to smash them all."
Against Me!, 'White Crosses.'

Went to see Against Me! again recently and, despite what the insular scene purists posit, they've still got it.

I've watched this band live easily thirty times: from in the pit, from the side of the stage and from across the venue while working and I firmly believe the passionate-but-realistic, confrontational-yet-danceable, operating-outside-of-the-anarchist-bubble, Sire Records, Butch Vig, fuller-sounding, anthemic rock incarnation of recent years is exactly where Against Me! should be.

I don't understand how the 'sell out' accusations carry weight when the lyrics are still as brave and impassioned as ever, yet more mature and literate to boot. Granted, I used to preach from that same hymnbook, but the whole business of whether or not a band has 'sold out' seems so tired now the music industry has changed and I'm not 17.