Tell them soul-suckin' preachers to come on down and see

By now, you've all heard this.

It is a great, great time for us, the most distrusted minority. Heh.

Can't help but think of the song, all day yesterday and today... One of my very favorites by Bruce, a Christian...go figure.

Part man, part monkey
(Springsteen)

They prosecuted some poor sucker in these United States
for teachin’ that man descended from the apes
They coulda settles that case without a fuss or fight
If they’d seen me chasin’ you sugar
Thru the jungle last night

They’d a called in that jury and a one two three said
‘Part man part monkey, definitely’
Well the church bell rings from the corner steeple
Man in a monkey suit swears he’ll do no evil
Offers his lover’s prayer but his soul lies
Dark and driftin and unsatisfied

Well hey bartender tell me what’d ya see
Part man part monkey looks like to me

Well the night is dark the moon is full
The flowers of romance exert their pull
We talk a while my fingers slip
I’m hard and cracking like a whip

Well did God make man in a breath of holy fire
Or did he crawl on up out of the muck and mire
Well the man on the street
Believes what the bible tells him so
But you can ask me mister because I know

Tell them soul-suckin’ preachers to come on down and see
Part man part monkey, baby that’s me

Spike Lee still matters and Jodie Foster's legs should be worshipped in a temple of hot

Lucky enough to see "Inside Man" (for free) last night. What a wonderful popcorn flick--I really should say SpikeLeeJoint...!

The way the film opens-- a gorgeous quick tour of New York City proper, done Lee-style, is pure pornography (for those of us who adore NYC, that is). Think more realistic, modern version of that spectacle of an opening of Woody's "Manhattan," with a great, haunting Bollywood song (!?), "Chaiyya Chaiyya" playing behind it instead of Gershwin.

The film has touches of film noir and even a little Hitchcock--brilliant, lovable criminal (the hot, hot Clive Owen. Man, Cynthia was so right about his hotness--he simply smolders on the screen). The cast is just phenomenal. Jodie Foster is this great, unexpected ice queen presence. And, let me tell you something about Ms. Foster's gams: they are exceptionally toothsome, like I want to touch them. They are perfectly toned, atop high stiletto heels, tanned, shiny and oh-so-smooth. Humina. Lee seems to want you to look at them, and who can blame him? The picture above is the closest I could find that shows them off at all...At least you get a peek.

Oh, and then there's Denzel. *He's* not attractive or an amazing actor or anything. Psssh. He is this beacon of justice, realism, hotness and get this: there is this one scene, in its context, where his character totally evoked Atticus Finch. I know, I know--major weight there, but I felt it.

The film is thrilling, funny, clever, surprising and something I really, really want to see again, already. It contains these total clusterfuck moments, where Lee uses paranoia, racism, and distrust to slap you in the face.

Sure, it might be kinda mainstream-y (it's slick and pretty, but still gritty) at times, but Lee's voice is so still *there*. There are themes that echo the distrust of authority and addresses the ever-present issue of "cover up" in affluent/governing level of society.

Some ass character in the movie actually calls Foster's character a "magnificent cunt." How does that taste wih your Junior Mints?

See the way he walks down the street

Gene Pitney died.

He wrote one of my all-time-favorite songs, "He's a Rebel," which I discovered early, by way of getting really into Phil Spector's stuff.

Of course, this brings me back to thinking about Darlene Love--the lead vocalist on that classic song (usually when recordings say "The Crystals," it was Darlene and various back-up singers). She barely got any credit, and Love was one of those (there were many) who was fucked over by Crazy Phil, financially and psychologically.

I always put this one on mixes for dudes. It was *so* punk rock to me, when I was younger.

Darlene's powerhouse, soaring voice coupled with that jangle, those lyrics, it's so happy and hot and defiant and teenage. It still has total attitude and gets me in my gut everytime I hear it, still...


HE'S A REBEL
(Gene Pitney)
The Crystals

See the way he walks down the street
Watch the way he shuffles his feet
How he holds his head up high
When he goes walking by-y-y-y-y-y
He's my guy
When he holds my hand I'm so proud
'Cos he's not just one of the crowd
I bet he's always the one
To try the things I've never done
and just because of that they will say -- Hey!

He's a rebel and he'll never ever be - any good
He's a rebel 'cos he never ever does - what he should
And just because he doesn't do what - everybody else does
That's no reason why I can't give him all my love
He is always good to me - always treats me tenderly
He's not a rebel, no-no-no
He's not a rebel, no-no-no - to me-e-e-e

If they don't like him that way
They won't like me after today
I'll be standing right by his side - when they say

He's a rebel and he'll never ever be - any good
He's a rebel 'cos he never ever does - what he should and just because he doesn't do what - everybody else does

That's no reason why - we can't share a love
He is always good to me - always treats me tenderly

He's not a rebel, no-no-no
He's not a rebel, no-no-no - to me-e-e-e (he's not a rebel - no-no-no)
No-no-no (he's not a rebel - no-no-no) (he's not a rebel - no-no-no)
No-no-no (he's not a rebel - no-no-no)

remember

On April 4, 1968, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., 39, was assassinated in Memphis, Tenn.

They didn't save my life. But Beth Ditto makes everything better.

Beth Ditto is one of the nation’s most talented, exciting rock stars, but it’s almost a well-kept secret. She sings in the three-piece soul, punk rock band The Gossip-from Olympia, WA by way of Arkansas. The band played to a packed, all-ages crowd at the Triple Rock on Saturday and it was a real Rock Revival type of show. Life-affriming.

Dark bangs, hanging low–obscuring her eyes in that pure Chrissie Hynde fashion--ripping with soul and sweat, Ditto is a powerful, but totally unaffected presence on stage. She’s gay and she has this great tattoo of an anchor on her upper arm with Elizabeth’s ultimate, favorite term of endearment on it–"Mama." Magic.

Thing is, there just aren’t that many "out" female lead singers around. It’s refreshing when she says things like "You know we love the dykes, right? Well this song is for the fags." She is short and precious–she calls herself "fat," and the woman does have rolls and when she dances, she shakes it and it is captivating, sensual and raw. In the between song-patter, she comes across totally humble, a sweet Southern dumpling. Well, also a strong, beautiful woman that could kick your ass with the sheer power of her fucking voice, that is.

After the show, Jessica and I watched this hilarious Ramones dvd I recently acquired (I in the kick-ass comic book box set). Thinking about what it would be like to actually attend a Ramones show in the 70s. That locomotive rumble they all talk about...I felt that kind of shock and awe it played out before me (RIGHT before me, we were front and center) at the Gossip show–the band just tears right through those 2-minute-blitzes and left us all stunned and speechless--wondering what we just got hit with.(Beth did comment on that, "Y’all are so crazy when we’re playing, but then you get all quiet between songs!" We’re stunned and pleasured, Beth. Give us a sec...

I was worried that there wouldn’t be dancing–after all, the band’s declaration is forcefully clear: "We started a band 'cause we were bored. Our mission is to make you dance, and if you're not gonna dance, just stay at home and listen to the oldies station." But everyone around me was shakin’ their ass. It was a joyous celebration--Ditto’s lyrics are filled with themes of feminism, woman to woman love and longing and betrayal. The fans belted out the words and shook their heads in disbelief when Beth would just...unleash. That’s what it was, too. Totally untamed, unrestrained, her voice soared. Made Jessica (and me) realize, that as great as the records are, the live experience of hearing her voice is far more intense (of course) and more muscular and sultry than the recording. In "Coal to Diamonds," a bit of an angry ballad, Ditto let her soulful, slow-burn side come out and it just knocked the room out.

Oh, and the rest of the band is *incredible.* (All together, they look kinda like the really cool kids in a John Waters movie.) Can’t forget the other two talents. Hannnah Blilie, is the cool-as-a-cucumber, Charlie Watts-style drummer-- clean, militarily attractive, healthy fit looking woman with a mohawk. No contorted facial expressions, never even broke a sweat. She maintained this cool, hard look out to the audience that was part come-on, part fuck you. Brace Paine, the guitarist/bass player (he would change it up, depending on the song) is completely absorbed in the music, but managed to dance–toes turned inward, knees touching. Reminded me of a more "arty" Paul Weller. Or Townshend, even.

Before their encore, Beth talked mentioned it was the second day of her period and how she was feeling a bit under the weather. Days like this, they do something little special. She launches into "Boy, I been watchin’ you/ like the hawk in the sky up high," just *channeling* soul through the 1998 Aaliyah song, "Are You That Somebody." (yep, off of the "Dr. Dolitttle" soundtrack. fuckyes.)

Shivers.

After the show we needed to replenish our sweaty, danced-out bods. We went to Taco Bell, that’s just down the way from the Triple Rock. The chick taking our order said, "So, you ladies going out to the club, then?" I told her where we just were and she gave me this look–straight through me. "I have ‘Movement’," she said. She loved the Gossip and was totally upset that she had missed the show, cuz she totally had to work at Taco Bell.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT? ....Rolling Stone magazine should really do a feature on this band. The kids at the Taco Bell dig ‘em and their songs have a beat–and you can dance to it.