The Pop Fop

Shriekback - Into Method 12” (Planet Mix)

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Freestylers Feat. Soul Sonic Force - We Rock Hard

This early track predates their chug riff and fascist 808 march sound that they would become known for. While I dig that sound too, I find that it has become rather standardized within the industrial rock cannon. Apparently, Jourgensen claimed that the record company forced them to adopt a synthpop sound while other sources state that Jourgensen simply hadn’t been exposed to more caustic acts at that point in time. Whatever the reason, I think Jourgensen should give himself more credit because this track is top notch.

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The Dead Rose Music Company - Bad Desire

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The Pop Fop Drop On White Pop (Or, How To Be A Music Journalist)

Last night I went to see Tennis play at the Brighton Music Hall. The venue used to be called Harper’s Ferry and though I knew nothing had changed there aside from the name, I kept half expecting to find myself in a scene from Quadrophenia with Mods and Rockers clashing on the boardwalk. The fact that J had promised that this would be, “the whitest show you will ever attend” didn’t help matters.

My friend J won over an initially disinterested bartender by ordering a stout infused with coconut. His choice was quite apropos as Tennis is a husband/wife team who formed the band after a seven month sailing expedition down the Eastern Seaboard. A bit of tropical flavor is always welcome in an otherwise staid Northeast affair.

As J and I sipped our beers and discussed David Lynch along the wall, Falling by Julee Cruise started playing through the speakers. Was somebody listening to us? My paranoia quickly subsided as the opening act, Hospitality, came to the stage. The crowd quickly lined up in front of the stage, leaving a wide corridor for patrons who want to access the bathrooms. How very polite.

This group was fronted by a short 20something woman with a Beastie Boys shirt tucked into a her skirt. The lead guitarist looked like the downy guy from Trailer Park Boys. About three songs into their set, J turns to me to describe Hospitality’s sound as, “methadone garage pop”. I can’t disagree.

As my interest in the show was more from a cultural perspective than a musical one, I spent most of the night people watching. This was for the best as both Hospitality and Tennis weren’t really musically memorable. Here’s what I saw: two guys wearing L.L. Bean duck boots (pants tucked into the boots), a guy wearing Nantucket Reds, and two guys dressed a bit like Ian Brady (I described them as, “postwar Mancunians” but J didn’t understand).

Meanwhile, Alaina from Tennis made requests of the sound guys in the polite tone usually reserved for servants. All through their set a pubescent looking skinny guy with a mustache that looked glued on danced with an Asian girl wearing one of those high waisted dresses that work best on a chubbier physique. J remarked that white guys with Asian girlfriends are actually whiter than a full crowd of 100 proof Anglo Saxons.

Our friend T had joined us midway through Hospitality’s set. He gave us updates on when his child is due. He also told me that his wife had waited until marriage to have sex with him. I responded honestly and enthusiastically to this information. It’s important to have values.

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Wednesday Night Playlist

Simple Minds - Premonition

Death In June - Carousel

David Bowie - Weeping Wall

Arsgard - In the Realm of Asgard

DJ Muggs - Advance Pawns (Instrumental)

Austra - Woodstock

Simple Minds - Sweat in Bullet

Iggy Pop - Isolation