Stuff that Ruled in D.C. this Month
Same fucking intro every time: I sure am a worthless blogger, etc etc. The apology would mean so much more if anyone read this thing, but I suppose people might do that if maybe I bothered to write more often than every eight weeks. Fucking hell.....
So, here's what's been up:
"DCist Exposed" at Civilian Art Projects - OK, so this one came and went in a hurry, but I have to admit that I enjoyed this exhibit. It was a manageable size in a friendly gallery, and an awful lot of the photos were just far enough off the beaten path that it avoided getting mired in the same subjects that always seem to pop up in other local Flick pools. And maybe community- based art isn't really that big of a deal now that the city is getting so much bigger and more densely populated with self-starters, but its still fun to watch stuff like this just sort of spring from the ground....
"RECOGNIZE!: Hip Hop and Contemporary Portraiture" at the National Portrait Gallery - I like hip-hip, even though I could never honestly call myself a fan....I feel like I need to justify that statement, so I'll just say that I know that a lot of it will never really make sense to me, and for that reason, I sometimes feel that it would be senseless to embrace it too aggressively (i feel the same way about a lot of jazz and country as well).
But that said, the visual aesthetic of hip-hop has always been something I've been enamored with: part of it is the street-based fashions; part of it is that much of hip-hop is rooted in rugged, muscle-bound youths in aggressive stances, and all of this probably reflects some sort of voyeuristic leanings on my part.
At the end of the day, though, a whole lot of hip-hop is also a statement of individuality among frequently mitigated, misunderstood, and alienated members of society. And that shit will get my attention every single time.
Plus, I found out a few weeks ago that the exhibition was featuring work by Jefferson Pinder, a guy I went to high school with, and who was one of the single most brilliantly charismatic individuals I've ever known.
As the Thin White Duke once said, watch that man...
Bob Mould at the 9:30 Club -- On another blog that I've since killed off, I mentioned that seeing Mould about two or three years ago was an incredibly emotional experience for me. Last week's show was definitely a highlight of the weekend, but I guess I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that he brought the rock a little more last time; this show was more pop-oriented and featured a few numbers that were much slower (though no less emotive).
That didn't stop me from having fucking tears in my eyes YET AGAIN during "Celebrated Summer." I don't know if I'll ever really understand why that song affects me so deeply, but somewhere between the hyper-aggressive rock, the nostalgic (yet questioning) lyrics, and that completely fucking beautiful fake ending, there's some kind of message to me that angst is forever, even after you've moved on to a more sensible life.
I suppose that creates quite the analogy to the dignity with which Mould has approached his craft in his later years. Honestly, if he just played a show full of Husker Du covers, it probably would have been a whole lot of fun, but I'm not really convinced that I would have left the building having quite so much respect for him for being such a true artist. Thanks for being true to yourself, Bob. (Now if I could just work up the nerve to say hi the next time I see you getting coffee).
And by the way, "Circles" is one hell of a song....
Jury Duty on Thursday - Released at 1:30 PM on the first day of the NCAA Man's Basketball Tournament. This gave me an excellent opportunity to revisit a once-loved (but nearly forgotten) past time of years past: drinking all day and watching sports while I do it. I guess I'm really not as good at this as I used to be, but it was at least good to be able to find out.
AND I finally got to see that Dominion Brewery in the Convention Center....which was, um, just another sports bar. Whatever....
Buying A Home -- Yeah, I'm finally getting there. More on that another time. It's been a crazy experience, and one that I actually had given up on until very recently. Cross your fingers, kids....
Easter Sunday Mass at St. Matthew's -- I suppose it's always been the case in these parts, but so many factors in recent years have made any allegiance whatsoever to organized religion such a blight on one's character. And while I'm no tub-thumper, I think this way of thinking is complete bullshit.
I know all too well that I'm far from being a good person, but I also know that I want to be good. And at this point in time, the Catholic Church is doing more to help me from being any worse of a person than anything else is.
Maybe it's not for everyone, but I'm tired of being looked down upon for it; I've never once pushed my religion on anyone else, despite the myriad assumptions I face when I do admit to anyone (even close friends) that I am a practicing Catholic.
As I get older, I'm beginnging to think that staying steadfast to my faith may be the most punk thing I can do in the face of the self-absorbed, the arrogant and the self-hating who see it as foolish and destructive to believe in a higher power and to embrace a man-made structure for better connecting with Him or Her. (Yes, Hitchens I'm looking right at you. I defend your right to be an atheist, but everyone who has ever seen you stumble into the Wyoming knows that you might do better to look within before chastising those of us who might actually not hurt anyone through our faiths....oh, and screw you Tom Cruise and George Bush and Ted Haggart. That "hurting other people" thing was directed at you all. And, of course, that asshole, Osama).
Anyway, now that I've got that out of my system, I just wanted to point out how wonderful it was to have to wait in line to get into a cathedral the size of St. Matthew's.
Perhaps God is not dead in this city after all.
So, here's what's been up:
"DCist Exposed" at Civilian Art Projects - OK, so this one came and went in a hurry, but I have to admit that I enjoyed this exhibit. It was a manageable size in a friendly gallery, and an awful lot of the photos were just far enough off the beaten path that it avoided getting mired in the same subjects that always seem to pop up in other local Flick pools. And maybe community- based art isn't really that big of a deal now that the city is getting so much bigger and more densely populated with self-starters, but its still fun to watch stuff like this just sort of spring from the ground....
"RECOGNIZE!: Hip Hop and Contemporary Portraiture" at the National Portrait Gallery - I like hip-hip, even though I could never honestly call myself a fan....I feel like I need to justify that statement, so I'll just say that I know that a lot of it will never really make sense to me, and for that reason, I sometimes feel that it would be senseless to embrace it too aggressively (i feel the same way about a lot of jazz and country as well).
But that said, the visual aesthetic of hip-hop has always been something I've been enamored with: part of it is the street-based fashions; part of it is that much of hip-hop is rooted in rugged, muscle-bound youths in aggressive stances, and all of this probably reflects some sort of voyeuristic leanings on my part.
At the end of the day, though, a whole lot of hip-hop is also a statement of individuality among frequently mitigated, misunderstood, and alienated members of society. And that shit will get my attention every single time.
Plus, I found out a few weeks ago that the exhibition was featuring work by Jefferson Pinder, a guy I went to high school with, and who was one of the single most brilliantly charismatic individuals I've ever known.
As the Thin White Duke once said, watch that man...
Bob Mould at the 9:30 Club -- On another blog that I've since killed off, I mentioned that seeing Mould about two or three years ago was an incredibly emotional experience for me. Last week's show was definitely a highlight of the weekend, but I guess I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that he brought the rock a little more last time; this show was more pop-oriented and featured a few numbers that were much slower (though no less emotive).
That didn't stop me from having fucking tears in my eyes YET AGAIN during "Celebrated Summer." I don't know if I'll ever really understand why that song affects me so deeply, but somewhere between the hyper-aggressive rock, the nostalgic (yet questioning) lyrics, and that completely fucking beautiful fake ending, there's some kind of message to me that angst is forever, even after you've moved on to a more sensible life.
I suppose that creates quite the analogy to the dignity with which Mould has approached his craft in his later years. Honestly, if he just played a show full of Husker Du covers, it probably would have been a whole lot of fun, but I'm not really convinced that I would have left the building having quite so much respect for him for being such a true artist. Thanks for being true to yourself, Bob. (Now if I could just work up the nerve to say hi the next time I see you getting coffee).
And by the way, "Circles" is one hell of a song....
Jury Duty on Thursday - Released at 1:30 PM on the first day of the NCAA Man's Basketball Tournament. This gave me an excellent opportunity to revisit a once-loved (but nearly forgotten) past time of years past: drinking all day and watching sports while I do it. I guess I'm really not as good at this as I used to be, but it was at least good to be able to find out.
AND I finally got to see that Dominion Brewery in the Convention Center....which was, um, just another sports bar. Whatever....
Buying A Home -- Yeah, I'm finally getting there. More on that another time. It's been a crazy experience, and one that I actually had given up on until very recently. Cross your fingers, kids....
Easter Sunday Mass at St. Matthew's -- I suppose it's always been the case in these parts, but so many factors in recent years have made any allegiance whatsoever to organized religion such a blight on one's character. And while I'm no tub-thumper, I think this way of thinking is complete bullshit.
I know all too well that I'm far from being a good person, but I also know that I want to be good. And at this point in time, the Catholic Church is doing more to help me from being any worse of a person than anything else is.
Maybe it's not for everyone, but I'm tired of being looked down upon for it; I've never once pushed my religion on anyone else, despite the myriad assumptions I face when I do admit to anyone (even close friends) that I am a practicing Catholic.
As I get older, I'm beginnging to think that staying steadfast to my faith may be the most punk thing I can do in the face of the self-absorbed, the arrogant and the self-hating who see it as foolish and destructive to believe in a higher power and to embrace a man-made structure for better connecting with Him or Her. (Yes, Hitchens I'm looking right at you. I defend your right to be an atheist, but everyone who has ever seen you stumble into the Wyoming knows that you might do better to look within before chastising those of us who might actually not hurt anyone through our faiths....oh, and screw you Tom Cruise and George Bush and Ted Haggart. That "hurting other people" thing was directed at you all. And, of course, that asshole, Osama).
Anyway, now that I've got that out of my system, I just wanted to point out how wonderful it was to have to wait in line to get into a cathedral the size of St. Matthew's.
Perhaps God is not dead in this city after all.
posted by t-o-n at 5:41 PM
0 comments
