The Key To Total World Domination

People are easily manipulated—if you can find their weaknesses. And there are plenty of weaknesses that we all share.

VH1 has been exploiting one of those weaknesses for years. Ever heard of I Love the 80s? (don’t everyone yell out at once, now.)

Well, a band in Durham, North Carolina (seriously folks—this place is on fire, musically) has the keys to total world domination.

The Midtown Dickens is an anti-folk duo made up of Catherine Edgerton and Kym Register. They’re a dynamic duo with a stage presence that will charm you out of your last dollar—so if you happen to wander by a free show where they ask for donations, watch out! (though come on, if you’re going to give away money, the Midtown Dickens is a good place to put it)

So why is it that they have what Pinky’s friend Brain never discovered? How are they going to take over the world when Brain couldn’t?

Just ask the band’s label (307 Knox Records) owner, Melissa Thomas. Thomas, a well known musician herself–will answer with a very pointed answer.

“Have you heard ‘Tetris’?” she’ll ask you.

If you have heard the song, you’ll know exactly what she’s talking about. For those of you who haven’t heard the song—you’d better check it out at the end of this blog. I will post it here and you’ll love the song. I promise. ‘Tetris’ is the perfect ode to the old-school Nintendo game. The lyrics are witty, the song is impossibly catchy and the harmonies are delightful. Once you’ve heard the song—and you only need to hear it once—you’ll have it stuck in your head forever. But believe me, you’ll love every minute of it.

The best thing about this song is that you don’t have to pull on your nostalgia to love it. My 10-year-old sister has never played the game, but she knows its reputation. When she heard the song, she loved it as much as I do. (I think it might’ve been lyrics like “I like playing Tetris in the shower/but sometimes it makes me cower” and “Though I like playing Tetris naked and nude…sometimes it makes me electrocuted—oh ouch.”

But of course, like all good bands, there’s more to the Midtown Dickens than ‘Tetris.’

In May of this year they released their first album on 307 Knox Records, “Oh, Yell.” The album is the perfect sonic picture of the Midtown Dickens. Throughout the album you see examples of the witty lyrics that characterize the Midtown Dickens as well as more serious songs which can’t help but to strike chords. The duo is unrelentingly humorous, thoughtful and poignant.

In addition to being brilliant lyricists, Edgerton and Register are talented musicians who excel at several different instruments. The Midtown Dickens is not a band that’s going to be happy with just the basic instruments: guitar, drums, bass.

Oh no.

 On a typical Midtown Dickens show you can expect them to pull out a variety of instruments—musical saws, ukuleles, banjos, trumpets and even chairs.

For a long time, the Midtown Dickens proved to be one of Durham’s well kept musical secrets. Their fans were small in number, but they were loyal—they made sure to be at the shows, be they in Durham, Chapel Hill or Raleigh. But by the “Oh, Yell” CD release party in May, it was clear the Midtown Dickens were no longer a secret. While the show featured the band, it also included several other local bands. Each band got a good number of folks from the audience, but it wasn’t till the Midtown Dickens came on that night when the entire audience assembled—about 170 in a space that not long before had seemed relatively big.

Though Edgerton and Register have known each other for over ten years, they didn’t start playing music seriously until about 2 years ago. From bonding over Janis Joplin, they’ve been learning how to play their own instruments and putting on shows that audience members won’t forget any time soon.

Shayne O’Neill, a musician from the local band Future Kings of Nowhere, has collaborated with the Midtown Dickens (he plays trumpet on “Airplane”) noted how their friendship comes out on stage

Because they are such good friends and because they are relaxed about letting their vulnerabilites and mistakes show when they are performing, the audience feels like they become a part of the “success” of the evening. Everyone is rooting for them to make it through their set, in the same way that people can get behind an underdog sports team.”

The best way to experience the Midtown Dickens is through their live show. In addition to playing their infectious music, they include the audience in their playful banter in between songs. Throughout the coming months the band will be playing throughout the south–mostly in North Carolina, but there are a few shows elsewhere-so check their myspace site for tour dates! and if you can’t see them any time soon, stop by 307 Knox Records and buy the album!

 

p.s.: All pics were taken by yours truly at the MtD CD release party back in May!

There is no gray in rape

As you may/may not know, Cosmo has a “tell your story to cosmo!” which is asking women if they’ve ever had the experience where they may/may not’ve been raped…a term they’ve coined “gray rape.”

As Feministing mentions, the New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault has begun a letter writing campaign to the magazine noting that the term is not only wrong, it’s harmful.

So here’s mine. Please do your part and write your own letters to cosmo@hearst.com

also, Shakespeare’s Sister has a good blog entry about this so called gray rape. check it out, peeps.

 

Dear Cosmopolitan:

As a women’s magazine you should know that one thing women share—regardless of age, sexual orientation or class, is fear. Like it or not, fear is our constant companion. We don’t have to be walking outside walking home late at night to find ourselves confronted by this—we can be at home and the doorbell rings late at night.

Women are told to be safe, walk in groups and carry mace in case we’re attacked by an attacker/rapist.

The danger isn’t always in the unknown, however. Surely you know the term ‘date rape’? Just because we know the person, does not make us automatically safe. If sex is not consensual, then it is rape. If a woman does not want to have sex, but the guy forces her to then it is rape. If her judgment is impaired because he has bought her several alcoholic drinks and she can’t think straight, there’s no consent, therefore it is rape. Sex requires two consensual adults, and where there isn’t consent, there isn’t sex. And it is not ‘gray rape’ either.

The consequences of having been raped are very real and there is no in between. saying something like ‘gray rape’ implies that there is fault on the woman—she was a tease, she wore clothing that meant she would end up in a cheap motel on a bed she doesn’t want to be in with a man she doesn’t want to be with. There is no ‘gray rape.’

I know someone who was in a very real situation of what you say is ‘gray rape.’

It was not gray.

It was rape.

She wanted justice.

But she got none.

Why? because of lack of evidence. Because they’d been drinking.

If you want evidence, you need only to look at the way she felt after the fact—the way any woman feels after being sexually used.

Yes, we live in a culture where hookups happen, and they happen a lot. One only needs to look at the behavior of women in shows like Sex & the City or even the L Word.

Yes, hookups happen. But the difference between a hookup and rape is the factor of consent. If I meet up with a guy and decide to take him home with me and we decide to ‘hookup’ then that is that. I may regret it afterward, but the fact that I consented and he consented makes it a valid hookup. If I go with a guy to his house drunk and unaware of what is really happening around me, and he proceeds to have his way with me despite my slurred protests, then that is rape.

There is a very definite rape culture within our society. Women, despite being the victims, are often seen in a way to make them guilty. Rape is one of the few cases where the victim is guilty until proven innocent. If a woman dresses skimpily, if she is not a pure, untouched virgin, or has a career in sex work, her character is already in question and her case is in jeopardy. For you see, if a woman has such a background, clearly it must be her fault, right?

In addition, it’s interesting to note that there are more animal shelters than women’s shelters. Such a fact is glaringly obvious when you note the outcry that has come over the Michael Vick case. The public is outraged at his abuse of dogs. But if a woman is abused and murdered, where is the public then?

Naomi Wolf, in The Beauty Myth, discusses how media and representations of rape have made rape seem like a natural course of events. rape fantasies are practically encouraged as the showing male:dominance/female:submission. She notes that in such a culture, it may become normal for boys to rape girls, because—well—that’s just the way things go.

She mentions the jogger that was battered and raped by 5 NY teenagers and the questions that came after: was it because of her race? Was it because of her class? No one wondered at the fact that it happened because of how normal violence against women has become.

While there are plenty of things to add to this letter, I will stop here. I am sure you will receive many other letters, many of them more eloquent than this, all amounting to the same thing.

Beware of the terms you use and the meaning they have behind them. think carefully before you try to coin a term such as ‘gray rape’. As I’ve mentioned, rape is a very real thing and there is no gray to being raped. A woman raped, knows it—even if she’s told by her friends/the rapist/or the jury—that she wasn’t. even if her social conscious is telling herself that she wasn’t raped—she knows it somewhere deep down.

 

Sources:

http://www.rainn.org/statistics/definitions.html

The Beauty Myth—Naomi Wolf

 

Thank you for your time.

http://rebelgrrrl.wordpress.com

Into the Night

In addition to being the birthplace of the riot grrrl movement, the 90s also birthed the queer core movement. Bands like Tribe 8 screamed out loud and proud that they were out—and proud of it.

While it faded out, it brought to the limelight many good bands—including Tribe 8, Team Dresch and the Butchies. And it left something for queer musicians to look up to.

While we can’t look for a resurgence of the movement any time soon, we can look for plenty of music that is all inclusive—no matter your gender, sexual orientation or age.

A band like Durham, North Carolina’s Ex-Members brings that inclusiveness.

They’re fun, rhythmic and when you listen to them it can’t help but to bring a goofy smile to your face and a tap to your toes. I could say I’m living proof of that, as I don’t like to dance—unless it’s to something like the Ex-Members.

Ex-Members is made up of Shirlé Hale (a renowned local chef by day), Melissa York (of the Butchies!) and David K. It’s clearly a match made in rock-n-roll heaven. From their live performance, it’s impossible not to see the connection the band mates have and the fun they are having on stage.

The band is not afraid to speak up—at NC Pride in 2007, the Ex-Members took the stage and spoke up and sang for LGBTIQ rights. In addition, this past summer they toured with Team Dresch—who had decided the time for a reunion tour was right.

Like The Gossip, Peaches, Erasure, and other queer identified bands, Ex-Members isn’t afraid to stand by its community. They support equal rights and a right to happiness.

But they also know how to rock. And in relation to music—that is what matters!

For those of you who live in or around Durham, North Carolina, it’s time to check out the Ex-Members (and while you’re at it don’t miss the Midtown Dickens or Beloved Binge!). And, for those of you who aren’t in the area, bookmark the band’s myspace page and check up for updates on their tour schedule. From the electro pop-dance music to the amazing live performance—they are not to be missed.

An Interview with Ex-Members

*Each one of you have been in bands before Ex-Members (thus, the name of your band!), so I’m curious…what meaningful lessons have you taken from your former bands that you have put to use in your newest venture?

SH: That it’s ok to try new things when writing songs. It’s ok to have the drummer explore her desires and to get off the kit. It’s ok to not play an instrument and just sing.
DK: Communication is key.
MY: I agree with David. Let it all out. Love first play later. Have fun.

*What makes Ex-Members different from your former bands?

SH: That we all are coming from a completely new approach at writing a song. No one single person writes anything unto themselves (except the vocals and lyrics which I write). We are also all on the same wave length with the style/sound we are creating.
DK: The writing process is completely different and as a result the material is darker, sexier and more fun to perform. We’re also working with a producer, who has great ideas and gives wonderful outside advice.
MY: Not taking ourselves so seriously and really letting go of our fears. Realizing that the music isn’t so precious…it can be fucked with.

*How long have you all known each other/how’d this venture (Ex-Members) come together?

SH: We have now been playing together for 2 years …seems like yesterday when I had heard that the Butchies had dis-banded and I sent Melissa an email asking her if she would like to check out what David & I were doing. We had never met before. She came out to a show and saw us playing with a drum machine and liked what she heard. She had always wanted to do more songwriting with electronic beats composing…It was a perfect fit!
DK: This was when Shirle’ and I were in the band Gerty!, we were looking for a drummer, but they had to be willing to play with samples and beats. Melissa “helped us out” for about 6 months playing drums. Then we all fell in love and decided that we wanted to get rid of Gerty! and start writing music together. So, Ex-Members wrote its first song in July 2006.
MY: It’s cosmic really. I had wanted to start playing more dance music for a while. I had especially wanted to play to tracks or a click track live. It’s funny what you wish for cause right about that same time I got an email. And I actually read it. You know how your inbox can get inundated with junk mail…and maybe you trash emails that are actually not trash? Well this particular email was read and I responded! Yay!

*If you were to describe Ex-Members in 3 words or less, how would you describe it?

SH: dark, rhythmic & sexy
DK: Shirle’, Melissa & David K
MY: I can name that song in one note. NAME THAT TUNE!

*What sort of people/bands have influenced you as a band/as an individual?

SH: As a band, I would say, Depeche Mode, B-52’s, good underground 80’s…for me, influences from the groups that are coming out now using similar techniques that we have been using, such as Gossip & Peaches.
DK: I’m an avid music collector, so everything in my collection has influenced me in one way shape or form.
MY: Shirle’s got the band influences down. Personal…Led Zeppelin, B-52’s, etc.

*What inspires you when you’re writing songs?

SH: Mel’s beats for the music end. Lyrically, just things that have happened or dreams I’ve had.
DK: Rhythm…I’ve always been more rhythmic in my approach to the guitar and I love a good groove. I think the phrasing of notes and chords in vintage jazz and reggae records has been a huge part on my personal style as a guitarist.
MY: Trains, Math, Meditation

*how long have you been playing music?

SH: I started playing piano at 4 years old, started guitar at 12, bass at 24.
DK: Singing since I was a little kid and I started playing guitar at 22 and I just noodle around on keyboards and drums.
MY: I started playing flute in 8^th grade (I think?) I moved to clarinet cause I thought the flute was too girly (isn’t that funny?!) then to bass clarinet, then tuba! Yes…TUBA! I always wanted to play drums since I was very little. I grew up in an apartment so there wasn’t enough room for a drum set. I would air drum and then I officially started playing drums when I was in my early twenties. Now I want to actually LEARN piano not just dick around like I do. Actually LEARN it. Ya know?

*You are opening for the band of your dreams–what band is it?

SH: That’s a hard one…ok, I will say CSS because they are so fun and have great energy!
DK: New Order
MY: B-52’s.

*What does it mean to you as a band to be affiliated w/ the GLBTIQ movement?

SH: To support all members of this planet earth, whatever gender they chose to be, whomever they choose to love ,whatever they want to become is an honor and an obligation that we all need to share. I am a proud supporter of the GLBTIQ movement.
DK: A lot.
MY: Life.

*Where do you think the queer music scene is now? The 90s had the queercore movement w/ Team Dresch, Tribe 8 (great piece on them in Angry Women in Rock. made me buy a CD!) and-of course-the Butchies…so where are we now?

SH: It’s only getting better, louder and out front more each year with great bands like Gossip, Peaches and CSS at the helm.
DK: I think the queer music scene is growing in a sense because it’s a lot easier for kids to come out and be excepted than in the ‘90s, There also is support for them thanks to the foundation that was built over the years. With that said, with things like myspace and glee.com and these social networks it’s easier for queer bands to promote themselves and also easier for the kids to find music that is queer-centric.
MY: Hmmm. This is a hard question to answer. I love being queer and I love queers. I was around when the whole queer-core movement was just starting out. It was very liberating. Really amazing. It helped me become the person I am today. So when I think about the queer music scene now I think that it’s not really that big. There are queer bands/musicians out there but maybe they (or the press) don’t label themselves queer. Maybe they don’t want to these days. Maybe they feel it’s not necessary. Which is fine. But I do however know that there are kids today that are having the same experience I had back than and that is amazing. So maybe it’s not dead…? What do you think?

*What part does having a message play in your music?

SH: I mainly write about life experience and try not to box it in to any one gender/meaning. It is open to interpret the way you need to hear it. I write to create a feeling or vibe that goes with the music. If the music is dark and angry then I write lyrics that are dark and angry like with “Big Black Goodbye”. In the case of “Wishes”, the lyrics are positive and uplifting…even ethereal. That’s how I heard the music to start with.
DK: I completely trust Shirle’ to write lyrics that “say” something. My main focus in this group is the music.
MY: A huge amount. The personal is political. Lyrics have to mean something to me. Sometimes I’ll give Shirle a subject. That’s fun.

*What part does living in Durham have on your band? When I interviewed the Midtown Dickens they mentioned that if they had lived anywhere else, the MtD probably wouldn’t exist. Does Durham have the same impact on you? or would Ex-Members be just as feasible in, say, Seattle as in Durham?

SH: We dearly love our town of Durham… but I think Ex-Members could exist anywhere the three us are. I will say this is one of the most supportive scenes anywhere and our peeps aren’t afraid to dance! Yea for Durham!!!
DK: Durham is a great location to be in if your in a band. You can get up North and down South very easily, the housing is very affordable and there is a great arts community. I think we could do Ex-Members where ever we would live but for now location is everything.
MY: I love Durham. Ex-Members are an anomaly in Durham. Don’t get me wrong we get much love here but we are not of the norm. I think we could exist anywhere. BTW… I think MtD could too. They put on a great show. That’s all it is really.

*What is in your CD player right now?

SH: The Knife
DK: Tegan & Sara – The Con & Chromeo – Fancy Footwork
MY: LCD Soundsystem, Ex-Members (HA HA HA!)

*Speaking of CDs–now that you have your e.p. out–when can we expect a CD?
SH: Whenever we find a label who wants to marry us…we don’t put out without a promise ring.
DK: Need a label first.
MY: Like the punkers say… 2 weeks. ; )