18. ΧΑΛΚΙΝΗ ΕΠΟΧΗ
Bronze Age
It’s difficult to write to you today. The old shadow has fallen again, and it’s been hard enough since the turn of the year by the roman calendar to slither out of bed and do the dishes. I spent a day last week trying to understand who the Bronze Age Pervert and the Raw Egg Nationalist are, how they are relevant to what is happening, and where it’s going. I still have no idea. It made me less inclined to face the music and the new year. A thing I did find interesting was this idea of strength, order and purity as ballast to society in a way harking back to ancient times. The ultra masculine, hierarchical and violent tenor of their position is reminiscent of the undemocratic romanticised view of Ancient Sparta. I am confident that these men really really love the film ‘300’. Curiously, these men of the internet seem to fear and wish to denigrate women, as was not the case in Ancient Sparta, where women had more status than in almost all other city states. Almost as if picking cherries from an imaginary tree. Concurrently, a group of similarly emotionally stunted computer programmers usher in the potential and acknowledged destruction of the species in the name of progress, with all dissent being put down to a desire for constriction on freedom. How these two groups intersect into a perfect hellhole is reminiscent inversely of the confluence of the Futurist and Fascist movements here in Italy in 1919. Similar appraisals were made at the time of Mussolini, another rapist who had been sent by God to liberate a nation.The only sure thing I am confident of with this MAGA totem is it will not lead to greater prosperity for all. The case for progress as a good without predicate seems farcical in the light of such rhythmic repetition. Quite evidently, here as there, the technology is only as good as the spirit who wields it. So I’ve been mostly in bed. It’s good to be up and about now.
In good news, We will play some music between February and April, in a number of different places across the UK, Europe and North America. Laura Groves will join us in Europe, and Otto Benson in North America. In better news, I will not be speaking at length about any of these things at the concerts. There is a spirit of violence in the air which will not be welcomed during the shows. It’s good to remember that outside of the screen there are breathing things which desire to give and be given. Come and share if you can.
02/15 - Dublin, IE - Opium $
02/18 - London, UK - Village Underground $
02/19 - Manchester, UK - Halle St Peters $
02/20 - Bristol, UK - Bristol Beacon $
02/22 - Brussels, BE - Botanique - Rotonde $
02/23 - Paris, FR - La Maroquinerie $
02/24 - Amsterdam, NL - Tolhuistuin $
02/26 - Berlin, DE - Theater im Delphi $
02/27 - Prague, CZ - MeetFactory $
03/16 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl %
03/17 - Raleigh, NC - Kings %
03/19 - Washington, DC - The Atlantis %
03/20 - Philadelphia, PA - The Foundry %
03/21 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg %
03/23 - Boston, MA - Sinclair %
03/24 - Montreal, QC - Fairmount Theatre %
03/25 - Toronto, ON - Great Hall %
03/27 - Chicago, IL - Sleeping Village %
03/28 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street %
03/30 - Denver, CO - Ophelia’s %
04/01 - Salt Lake City, UT - State Room %
04/03 - Los Angeles, CA - Sid The Cat Auditorium %
04/04 - San Francisco, CA - Rickshaw Stop %
04/06 - Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios %
04/07 - Vancouver, BC - The Pearl %
04/08 - Seattle, WA - The Sunset Tavern %
$ - w/ Laura Groves
% - w/ Otto Benson
It’s a new year for some of us and I was asked yesterday on a call if I had any new years resolutions. I have never been able to keep one before, and haven’t made one for a long time. It feels like the best resolution currently is to remain resolute. Love to you see you soon.