Pop Culture Blows

He said it best. Standing next to me in the crowd, long red hair and matching beard flowing, joint held nonchalantly in his right hand as an aid to his gesticulations, and he says to me, 'all these songs are about getting kicked in the face by love. You and me, we know about that, but none of these fuckers do,' and he gazed around the crowd at the sea of teeny boppers, faces upturned, seeking out the MTV cameras and their chance at fame. And therein was the inherent flaw with the Campus Invasion tour. It was a rock show put on for the sake of the cameras; not for the sake of those of us there for the music. An MC attempting to entertain the crowd between sets and asking for them to pretend to crowd surf so he could 'pad' some camera shots? Welcome to the contrivances of reality. Our world is staged and the best moments, the real ones, go unnoticed.

But despite that, despite the inherent lameness of the whole affair, The Shins still impress. And I say that having been given the distinct impression that they were less than into the show and were thankful that their touring schedule finished that night. Maybe the music's just so good they don't have to be seen to be enjoyed. Or maybe it was because this time I managed to reach the front of the crowd, having watched the last show from the rear. Whatever the reason, I'll jump along happily to 'Know Your Onion' for as long as they choose to play it. But after that, after that is where it all went sour. An ovation like only Austin can give, with sustained chanting for an encore, and instead we get a return of the MC, who tells us, 'the Shins won't be coming back on. I'm going to give you some free CD's, and then you're all going to leave quietly.' Condescending little prick. And I felt an overwhelming sense of shame as my fellows in the crowd who, a moment before had been chanting along with me for the return of The Shins, gave in to the allure of free CD’s and began jumping up and down screaming with joy at the possibility of catching one. And all thought of disappointment at the lack of an encore disappeared. They had been bought, and it sickened me. I will admit that I did leap once in an attempt to catch one. Luckily though it was out of reach. I say luckily because my intention had been to throw it right back at the MC, and he might not have approved of that.

There’s a bitter taste in my mouth that has nothing to do with The Shins. Ah well. There are more important things to think of. Like which brand of coffee to make. And what’s this morning’s paper got to say?

Fuck MTV.