Last weekend, Alabama Shakes played Saturday Night Live. Their Stax-esque 60's revival songs are belted by the unconventional and badass Brittany Howard.
I first became aware of the Shakes last year when my hipster-est friend identified "these kids from the South about to blow up!" I first became aware of them having played SNL by my mom's casual mention of how unimpressive they were.
But I thought one of the main disses of the Shakes was that "your parents would like them"! Did my mom not watch Brittany kick ass at the Grammy's, stealing the show on "The Weight"? (Link)
After the faith-in-humanity I lost this morning...I'm surprised I didn't hear more jerks letting jokes write themselves about Brittany singing "The Weight".
My friend Erin was driving her teenage daughter to school when she heard some Columbus radio DJ's mocking Alabama Shakes not for their art, but for their singer's looks.
Apparently the DJ's even said that "only hot girls should be named Brittany." So this is it. The year of Our Lord 2013 marks the formation of a crucial council. Henceforth, all women shall line up before two Ohio DJ's, one by one, to determine if their name matches how much they please the peckers of these two peckerheads.
My disappointment is multi-faceted. I'm disappointed that the radio station in question is a major sponsor of a major summer festival that I've played thrice. I'm disappointed that when playing with my band in question, who are quite sex-positive and body-positive, we played behind banners for these jerks.
And I'm disappointed at how the jerks turned me into a jerk.
Because my gut reaction to this story was to sling venom at these two paunchy, ugly assholes behind a DJ desk, with their "weight" probably being being that of multiple divorces, alcoholism, and turning tricks for Clear Channel. (I've spun Harry Chapin's "WOLD" too many times; here.) My reaction to bullying was to bully the bullies.
And deep down I know that's not the answer. Both bullies and the bullied have people who love them and are equally human and don't deserve to be degraded; that's why bullying sucks.
Common humanity is why I can't let go of Jesus, even though I generally am put off by His fan base. I love the idea of a leader whose love and authenticity were so powerful, so earth-shattering, that both tax collectors and anti-government terrorists wanted to follow him (and had to learn to get along). And Christians believe that this Dude abiding was God incarnate, and thus a reflection of the force of love that created the universe. Holy shit.
Some people get "hugs" from Jesus when they're feeling down. (I first learned of this concept from a seminary colleague, incidentally named Brittany, who incidentally would certainly meet the DJs' standards.) But while I've felt God in nature, in friends, and even in the occasional existential meltdown, that wasn't what I went for. I turned up the stereo.
I put on Cloud Nothings' "Fall In", a gloriously snotty, catchy anthem, thrashing drums, angry solo. The music video portrays synchronized-swim-like moves, cheerleaders, and high school gossip. As it played, I thought of my friend Erin's daughter- going off to endure seven hours of school cliquey put-downs, after witnessing those clique-y put-downs continuing in the adult world and even broadcast over the airwaves. "It's such an awful game / they want to play with me."
But there is an alternative. As I listened to Cloud Nothings thrash through their song - a bunch of creative and awkward kids from Ohio, now getting their album on critics' lists alongside the Shakes - my own creative and awkward self felt a kind of release. There's an alternative to the bullshit. It's just as much a part of the universe, just as human, just as God-made. And you can turn it up just as loud, whether it's Ohio lo-fi or even the "underwhelming" Alabama Shakes.
I sometimes question whether I need to be doing more of "God's work" by actually working with teenagers in a church or nonprofit, helping them navigate the bullshit that sadly doesn't end after high school. But maybe playing some rock and roll, and offering others the catharsis that I was offered, is something, too. Tonight I teach my first guitar lesson to a kid wanting to learn Christian rock.
And this is why I sign off with: God Listens Through the Fuzz.
I first became aware of the Shakes last year when my hipster-est friend identified "these kids from the South about to blow up!" I first became aware of them having played SNL by my mom's casual mention of how unimpressive they were.
But I thought one of the main disses of the Shakes was that "your parents would like them"! Did my mom not watch Brittany kick ass at the Grammy's, stealing the show on "The Weight"? (Link)
After the faith-in-humanity I lost this morning...I'm surprised I didn't hear more jerks letting jokes write themselves about Brittany singing "The Weight".
My friend Erin was driving her teenage daughter to school when she heard some Columbus radio DJ's mocking Alabama Shakes not for their art, but for their singer's looks.
Was just in the car with my almost 13 yr old daughter when we heard 2 jackass radio dj's making fun of Alabama Shakes singer on SNL. Not the performance, or the songs, but her "300 lb weight, her "50's style dorky glasses", and her "creepy" way of singing . My daughter got teared up and said "That reminds me of how the popular kids make me feel bad for being myself. At least she's up there trying, instead of just sitting where people can't see you and making fun of everybody." I love my kid.
Apparently the DJ's even said that "only hot girls should be named Brittany." So this is it. The year of Our Lord 2013 marks the formation of a crucial council. Henceforth, all women shall line up before two Ohio DJ's, one by one, to determine if their name matches how much they please the peckers of these two peckerheads.
My disappointment is multi-faceted. I'm disappointed that the radio station in question is a major sponsor of a major summer festival that I've played thrice. I'm disappointed that when playing with my band in question, who are quite sex-positive and body-positive, we played behind banners for these jerks.
And I'm disappointed at how the jerks turned me into a jerk.
Because my gut reaction to this story was to sling venom at these two paunchy, ugly assholes behind a DJ desk, with their "weight" probably being being that of multiple divorces, alcoholism, and turning tricks for Clear Channel. (I've spun Harry Chapin's "WOLD" too many times; here.) My reaction to bullying was to bully the bullies.
And deep down I know that's not the answer. Both bullies and the bullied have people who love them and are equally human and don't deserve to be degraded; that's why bullying sucks.
Common humanity is why I can't let go of Jesus, even though I generally am put off by His fan base. I love the idea of a leader whose love and authenticity were so powerful, so earth-shattering, that both tax collectors and anti-government terrorists wanted to follow him (and had to learn to get along). And Christians believe that this Dude abiding was God incarnate, and thus a reflection of the force of love that created the universe. Holy shit.
Some people get "hugs" from Jesus when they're feeling down. (I first learned of this concept from a seminary colleague, incidentally named Brittany, who incidentally would certainly meet the DJs' standards.) But while I've felt God in nature, in friends, and even in the occasional existential meltdown, that wasn't what I went for. I turned up the stereo.
I put on Cloud Nothings' "Fall In", a gloriously snotty, catchy anthem, thrashing drums, angry solo. The music video portrays synchronized-swim-like moves, cheerleaders, and high school gossip. As it played, I thought of my friend Erin's daughter- going off to endure seven hours of school cliquey put-downs, after witnessing those clique-y put-downs continuing in the adult world and even broadcast over the airwaves. "It's such an awful game / they want to play with me."
But there is an alternative. As I listened to Cloud Nothings thrash through their song - a bunch of creative and awkward kids from Ohio, now getting their album on critics' lists alongside the Shakes - my own creative and awkward self felt a kind of release. There's an alternative to the bullshit. It's just as much a part of the universe, just as human, just as God-made. And you can turn it up just as loud, whether it's Ohio lo-fi or even the "underwhelming" Alabama Shakes.
I sometimes question whether I need to be doing more of "God's work" by actually working with teenagers in a church or nonprofit, helping them navigate the bullshit that sadly doesn't end after high school. But maybe playing some rock and roll, and offering others the catharsis that I was offered, is something, too. Tonight I teach my first guitar lesson to a kid wanting to learn Christian rock.
And this is why I sign off with: God Listens Through the Fuzz.
