So, I've always had issues with the overusage of the term "sell-out." Usually this seems to refer to bands who have signed to a major label or perhaps had their song used in an ad. I never really ageed with this, I see no issue with playing the game a little bit, and when you are subsisting on Top-Raman and living in a crappy studio apartment you could the extra dough from Clairol using your song in an ad for mousse.
No, the two options above aren't selling out, I've now truly witnessed selling out and it was ugly. So, just who are these sell-outs, just who is sucking at the large breast of corporate Amercia? The Faint are, that's who, and it was an ugly scene Saturday night at Bogart's in Cincinnati as I attended their concert as part of the "Sin City" tour. What I thought was an unamusing tour title actually meant that this tour was a traveling cigarette ad aponsered by Camel. That's right, not only did the FAint, Omaha indie-synthrockers, join up with a company for their most recent tour, they joined up with Big fucking Tobacco. Way to set a good example. This wouldnt have been so bad in my eyes if there would have just been a couple camel ads, some flyers, a few packs handed out here and there; that sort of behavior happens everywhere. No, Camel took it upon themselves to make this into a mock-casino, complete with gambling where the only prize you could win was cigarettes, and scantily clad go-go dancers shakin their shit onstage and on strategically placed dancin platforms. It was an ugly smokey scene, and even i felt like i was doing something wrong paying for the ticket. If I would've realized it was sponsored in this sense I may not have attended. The Faint should be ashamed of themselves.
To add to what made it rediculous was that they were obviously using a backing track the whole concert. So basically instead of live music you were just watching them dance around spastically to a mix CD of their own music played really loud. Way to go, gents. Connor Oberst should kick your asses of his label for more or less breaking every and all "what not to do as an indie rocker" rules. Their preformance was wooden, unspontaneous (for obvious reasons) and moronic. And to think, I was actually sort of looking forward to seeing them. I have a feeling we can look forward to seeing the Faint on Mountain Dew's "Xtreme Snow Job 2006" tour. XTREME!!!
All is not lost though, since it's a lot easier to say mean things than nice, I have an extra paragraph about Sufjan Stevens. All you need to know about this is that it was amazing. The sound was great, the fake cheerleader schtick was amusing without being obnoxious, and everyone was in pretty good spirits. He mainly played stuff off the new album but that wasn't all that dissapointing considering they were dressed in costumes for doing so and also due to the fact that the album is amazing.
Final verdict, avoid the Faint, follow Sufjan everywhere he goes.
Love,
John
P.S. I'll put some actual music up eventually. I'm just busy lately.
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