Subtle Bluntness

First, I’ll give you the good sound quality version.

Now I’ll give you the version from “Punk in London”, which reveals X-Ray Spex lead singer Poly Styrene isn’t just a cuddly little singing mutt, but a full-blown twitching, shambling force of nature.  There’s a reason that little Anglo-Somalian girl put The Fear into Johnny Rotten.  Something that scrawny shouldn’t be able to wail like this.  Nor should sax sound so good when combined with late 70’s punk rock buzzsaw guitar.

I’ve been sitting on this post for awhile today, trying to come up with the energy to write a whole big thing on working for Whitey AKA The Man and how there have been days this week where I’ve just been begging for someone to pick a fight with me, but it’s not worth it.  It’s over, it’s the weekend, etc.  Plus this is going up at like 10:30 on a Friday, so nobody’s going to read it.  Not that I blame you; for us probloggers the weekend is Mark All Read territory.

Oh bondage, up yours.

try and tell us our future’s at stake
we’re gonna slam dance on your grave
cause we don’t give a shit about tomorrow

you say we’re a bunch of lazy bums
we just wanna act stupid and have some fun
cause we don’t give a shit about tomorrow

hey suburbia [x3]
we’re in love with you

we won’t end up like you want us to be
but so what ’cause we’re always gonna be happy
cause we don’t give a shit about tomorrow

tell us we’ll regret the things we did
but we’re just gonna give you a big wet kiss
cause we don’t give a shit about tomorrow

hey suburbia [x3]
we’re in love with you

For a song called “No Fun,” they all seem to be having a pretty good time hanging out and playing it.  Especially Iggy, which requires a quote from Trainspotting.

Tommy:  Useless motherfucker, that’s what she called me.  I told her, I’m sorry, but these things happen.  Let’s put it behind us.
Spud:  That’s fair enough.
Tommy:  Yes, but then she finds out I’ve bought a ticket for Iggy Pop the same night.
Spud:  Went ballistic?
Tommy:  Big time.  Absolutely fucking radge.  ‘It’s me or Iggy Pop, time to decide.’
Spud:  So what’s it going to be?
Tommy:  Well, I’ve paid for the ticket.

Lots of wonderful people are having issues with their employment.  They’re not happy with it, they might be losing it, they’re looking for new work, they’re stressed out and irritated and grumpy.  In this economy… hell, in this world, I can completely empathize.  People aren’t happy all over.

I’m not sure this is a happy song, but it’s got kind of the defiant spirit that I think you need to take the work day beating of a job  you hate day after day after day.  You know the kind.  Someone tells you to do something fucking stupid and pointless, so you smile and nod, a little part of you dies, and you think to yourself:  “Fuck you, you’re worthless.  All you do is suck up and make my job harder while trying to make yourself not as expendable as everyone else.  Eat shit and fucking die.”

They might think they’re better than you because they make more money or have a title, but they’re not.  I know it, and you should know it too.  You guys are awesome.

Especially Ginger, because she’s the ringmaster of the FGF circus and digs up all the links for people who are too lazy to do it (like me).

I love this song, and I wish Black Flag would reunite their 5-man lineup and come to my town. I know they’re all old and don’t get along now, but it’s not like I’d be giving them a choice. It’s my fantasy, after all, so I’ll make them do whatever I want.

This is kind of a melancholy FGF, because this is my favorite local band, I’ve seen them like 20 times, and their last show is September 13th. It’s sad when things like this happen, but at least I’ll know to get down to Headliners and catch their last performance, no matter what. (They played on my birthday, but I didn’t go. D’oh!) It’s only $10, so I have no excuses despite my mild distaste for the venue of performance’s lack of parking.

Yes, I am in the video. Repeatedly. Mostly it’s my back, though, because I’m a moron. Still, that’s me in the BrooklynHookers.com teeshirt (black, lettering in a circle, fat guy… you can’t miss me). This video was one drummer and two or three rhythm guitarists in the past, so probably about 2003 or 2004. Just my best guess.

I saw these guys live at the old Pandemonium before it closed, and before they broke up. They’re the best band to ever come out of Nashville, Tennessee. That’s all I’ve got to say.