Much called-for attention has been paid to the corporatization of music (festivals), Coachella often the bright red cherry on top of the conversation. Isn’t that what Occupy Wall Street’s all about? But seriously, if your favorite bands play music festivals and hardly tour on their own (because they can’t afford to or are too tired to), then it makes sense to shell out a month’s rent for a ticket to see (most of) them in a single, drug-fueled, laser-produced weekend. Right?
It’s like everything else. How do we break the cycle of everything vs. nothing? How do we say yes, without saying no to our conscience. How do we tell the world we don’t want corporations to run (everything / the only) creative outlet many working class lovers have left, music? How do we convince our favorite bands (we’re so pleased they made it) they ought to tour in an out-dated fashion, like on a miserable bus, so we can see them at our favorite (God-willing they’ve survived) local venues? How do we ask our friends to please come with us when we have to relieve ourselves in a public portable bathroom in the middle of a set, because we’re afraid we won’t find our way back to them ever again? I mean, music festivals are insanely fun, but I just don’t know if they’re worth the messy glamour, when it means giving up our precious music to corporate maniacs. "What's the definition of love if it's not material things?"
Which leads us to today’s Festival Bands, Man! feature, Wild Belle. A very fashionable band of Chicago siblings, Elliot and Natalie Bergman, usually joined by various talented instrumentalists. I’ve been following Wild Belle’s tumblr for over a year now (I believe they're currently based in L.A.); it’s a beautiful collection of images that reflects their over-all aesthetic: Afro-fuzz-60s-cool-desert-sex-love-and-light. Try ‘em on for size if you like soul singers, Lykke Li, late 60s African instrumentalists like The Movers, and tape-deck Atlantic Island music. It’s easy listening, and beautifully dispatched. Plus, who doesn’t love the bari sax?
On the track, “Happy Home,” from their debut album, Isles, Natalie sings, “I don't wanna be here,/ that's why I'm acting out,/ I wanna flee,/ but I don't know how,” then in the chorus, “Everybody in fancy clothes…But nobody really close,/ Everybody wear what family chose.” It gives the impression artists are as concerned as we are—even though they’re not afraid to bring it up to us, they don’t know how to ask the boss the big questions either. Not when they’re getting paid well enough. Are music festivals the artistic equivalent of the stable desk-job? Just comfortable enough to survive without going broke or totally mad? A cozy cubicle where—at best—we, “ain’t gonna cut [our] hair, even if you say./ I know it’s growing long, but I like it that way.” If growing our hair is still the best we can do, I’d like to insight a protest. Who’s with me?
Band: Wild Belle
Festival: Coachella, California
Venue/Stage: The Outdoor Theater
Date & Time: Sunday, April 14 12:00PM - 12:30PM
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