The save No Disco petitionis nearing 1100 signatures and stil growing....
Today's anti-war link is a free mp3 from Zack de la Rocha and DJ Shadow called March of Death. Not usually my cup of tea, but worth a listen anyway.
In a break from all this tonight I'm hoping to see The Embers and Morph play a free gig in QUB - details here
Friday, March 21, 2003
Thursday, March 20, 2003
War-blogs
Talking of petitions, it is worth remembering that the online anti-war petition to the UN raised 550,000 signatures, only to be ignored (in the same way the authority of the UN was ignored) by the warmongers.
There are so many other blogs and livejournals that provide sane, propaganda-free war comment that I don't really feel that I can add very much. By mid-morning all western news correspondents in Iraq were subject to Iraqi state censorship - a minder from the government watched them file all their reports. Bear in mind that they are also subject to British government reporting restrictions and you wonder how much truth you will really hear about this war. Blogs from Baghdad like this one which I found yesterday are as close to what is really happening as you may get. They may not have the resources (or dare I say, the authority) of the major news organisations but they are thankfully free from censorship.
I'm more likely to link to these sorts of things and let the story be told that way.
On a more positive note, I was heartened to see so many students and schoolkids protest outside Belfast City Hall today. Let's hope people are listening.......
Talking of petitions, it is worth remembering that the online anti-war petition to the UN raised 550,000 signatures, only to be ignored (in the same way the authority of the UN was ignored) by the warmongers.
There are so many other blogs and livejournals that provide sane, propaganda-free war comment that I don't really feel that I can add very much. By mid-morning all western news correspondents in Iraq were subject to Iraqi state censorship - a minder from the government watched them file all their reports. Bear in mind that they are also subject to British government reporting restrictions and you wonder how much truth you will really hear about this war. Blogs from Baghdad like this one which I found yesterday are as close to what is really happening as you may get. They may not have the resources (or dare I say, the authority) of the major news organisations but they are thankfully free from censorship.
I'm more likely to link to these sorts of things and let the story be told that way.
On a more positive note, I was heartened to see so many students and schoolkids protest outside Belfast City Hall today. Let's hope people are listening.......
No "No Disco"?
The powers that be at RTE, Irelands national broadcaster, have decided not to renew No Disco, a popular late night alternative music program. No Disco has been an extremely important utility for the local music community in Ireland who now have no other television program on which to show their wares.
If you feel RTE is grossly wrong in cancelling this show, please follow this link and add your name to this online petition
The powers that be at RTE, Irelands national broadcaster, have decided not to renew No Disco, a popular late night alternative music program. No Disco has been an extremely important utility for the local music community in Ireland who now have no other television program on which to show their wares.
If you feel RTE is grossly wrong in cancelling this show, please follow this link and add your name to this online petition
Monday, March 17, 2003
David Kitt vs the shushers
On Saturday I went along to see David Kitt in the Empire in Belfast. I 'm not sure how I had managed to go so long without encountering this guy but I was pretty impressed with his performance, in particular the way he tends to charm the crowd. He played two sets, everything from acoustic material with some backing beats to full band work-outs. I think I prefer the low-key stuff as the final improv-style piece came across as a bit of a poor man's Sonic Youth.
Overall though he has some very strong songs and most of 'the Big Romance' was played, as well as a ton of new material.
The thing that struck me as odd was the audience. The venue was absolutely packed, it cost £12.50 to get in and everyone seemed to be very into the music. With a large crowd like that you do expect a bit of chatter, none of it seemed to distract David Kitt, and in fact at times during the acoustic songs the venue was very quiet. However, just beside us were a gang of aggressive shushers who were on the offensive the minute anyone spoke during a song. I am very against talking during quiet gigs but I thought the constant shushing was actually more annoying at this show.
On Saturday I went along to see David Kitt in the Empire in Belfast. I 'm not sure how I had managed to go so long without encountering this guy but I was pretty impressed with his performance, in particular the way he tends to charm the crowd. He played two sets, everything from acoustic material with some backing beats to full band work-outs. I think I prefer the low-key stuff as the final improv-style piece came across as a bit of a poor man's Sonic Youth.
Overall though he has some very strong songs and most of 'the Big Romance' was played, as well as a ton of new material.
The thing that struck me as odd was the audience. The venue was absolutely packed, it cost £12.50 to get in and everyone seemed to be very into the music. With a large crowd like that you do expect a bit of chatter, none of it seemed to distract David Kitt, and in fact at times during the acoustic songs the venue was very quiet. However, just beside us were a gang of aggressive shushers who were on the offensive the minute anyone spoke during a song. I am very against talking during quiet gigs but I thought the constant shushing was actually more annoying at this show.
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