North American Tour, European Thoughts
I'm pleased to say that the traditional end-of-tour "I fucking love you man" type platitudes between me and The Gaslight Anthem were more than just padding: we're heading out on the road again in September, this time in the USA and Canada. I'm very happy about this. The dates are on my myspace / the gigs page. Check them out, come down, have fun.
The album is done now, which is a relief. I feel a massive weight off my shoulders knowing I don't have to stay awake all night wondering if there's anything to be done about a million tiny things, or whether I should just leave it. It's coming out in the UK, Europe and the USA on September 7th this year, with a single / radio play preceding it. Can't wait, personally. Playing at Middlesbrough Music Live yesterday was both a lot of fun and a reminder that playing out with my band is basically the heart of what I do. Getting back on the road is a priority!
I had some thoughts about politics in the last few days; it seems like we're living through interesting times right now, in the UK at least. Much has been made of the BNP gaining a couple of seats. Obviously, that's a bit shit (although given the total irrelevance of the EU parliament, and the fact it's a mere 2 seats, not perhaps terrifying). The thing that's been slightly bothering me though is the reaction from some quarters, particularly on the left. Talk of trying to block the BNP's passage to Brussels, rallying against them, talk of how this represents a "failure of democracy" etc., seems a little petulant to me. They won the votes. That's the system, that's the nature of democracy. I'm deeply opposed to their policies, but more to the point I'm pro a liberal democracy. Saying democracy is defunct (or unrepresentative) just because you don't like the results is like punching the ref at a football game because the other team scored against you. Personally, I'm pro the ref. The people who would out and out attack the BNP are just the flipside of that coin, in terms of their regard for democracy. The pointless battles between the Anti-Nazi's and the NF in the 80's (which basically kept the NF alive) are a case in point. The reason the BNP are shit is because they implicitly threaten a tolerant system. Stooping to their level isn't a sensible reaction. Fuck the BNP, but do it through open, democratic channels. That's my two pence, anyway.
The album is done now, which is a relief. I feel a massive weight off my shoulders knowing I don't have to stay awake all night wondering if there's anything to be done about a million tiny things, or whether I should just leave it. It's coming out in the UK, Europe and the USA on September 7th this year, with a single / radio play preceding it. Can't wait, personally. Playing at Middlesbrough Music Live yesterday was both a lot of fun and a reminder that playing out with my band is basically the heart of what I do. Getting back on the road is a priority!
I had some thoughts about politics in the last few days; it seems like we're living through interesting times right now, in the UK at least. Much has been made of the BNP gaining a couple of seats. Obviously, that's a bit shit (although given the total irrelevance of the EU parliament, and the fact it's a mere 2 seats, not perhaps terrifying). The thing that's been slightly bothering me though is the reaction from some quarters, particularly on the left. Talk of trying to block the BNP's passage to Brussels, rallying against them, talk of how this represents a "failure of democracy" etc., seems a little petulant to me. They won the votes. That's the system, that's the nature of democracy. I'm deeply opposed to their policies, but more to the point I'm pro a liberal democracy. Saying democracy is defunct (or unrepresentative) just because you don't like the results is like punching the ref at a football game because the other team scored against you. Personally, I'm pro the ref. The people who would out and out attack the BNP are just the flipside of that coin, in terms of their regard for democracy. The pointless battles between the Anti-Nazi's and the NF in the 80's (which basically kept the NF alive) are a case in point. The reason the BNP are shit is because they implicitly threaten a tolerant system. Stooping to their level isn't a sensible reaction. Fuck the BNP, but do it through open, democratic channels. That's my two pence, anyway.
posted by frank at 2:11 PM
10 Comments:
Well said
Also, "Turner Hall, Milwaukee" Hah, awesome.
While i cannot wait for the album, its out 3 days after my dissertation is due :( i kinda wish that date was a lot further away!
You're skipping Chicago again??? What gives? Will there be more dates announced?
After many missed chances and fail oportunities I will finally be able to see you. Fucking stoked! Seattle and Portland are going to rule!
Yeah, I'll give you that, sir.
I think there's perhaps a jittery misconception from the left that recession will lead to widespread panic and some kind of default to facism via angry mobs.
Also, technically the BNP (sons of bitches) *are* left, aren't they? They just have a skewed and extremist socialist outlook.
Other countries in Europe are a damn sight more worrying in their drift to the far right, and no doubt the BNP will find sympathy there, but I have faith that the Brits understand democracy well enough to keep some balance, even when we're pissed off at the big three parties.
Welp, time to get back to masterbating.
Hear hear!
I absolutely love you man.. you just get better and better :)
While you're right about demos etc. I've not noticed people on the 'left' reacting any more stupidly than most mainstream people of whatever views. You're just more alert to left failures cos you don't like them/us - but all three main parties, not to mention the mainstream media of all sides, have gone nuts with pseudo panic and hand-wringing about the BNP.
In reality only one party gained a significant % of the vote - the Green Party. The BNP's vote didn't go up much more than 1% and nor did UKIP's - nobody's did in fact except the Greens, who only missed out gaining seats because of quirks in the system. Really, the only big change at all was the collapse of the Labour vote, which dropped by almost 10%, letting in the BNP.
Far more worrying is the decision by Cameron's Tories, who'll probably be the next UK government, to leave the mainstream centre-right EU group and look for allies in the far-right EU groups.
Anyhoo, sorry, as you were. US dates look fucking brilliant, by the way.
I would say 'particularly the left' relates to groups such as the UAF, an undeniably leftist group, who are currently clogging up our mediastreams with psuedo protest shit, helping the BNP get a voice and publicity, whilst also somehow making them seem more moderate (man in suit v hippies is what most people on tv will shallowly see).
The Green Party can do one too.
You know the score sir, you absolute legend. See you in Vancouver, that looks like a fantastic line-up!
A football analogy? my my Frank youre such a lad...
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