From the road, Pt. 2

Back out in the car reading some more comments.... I can't believe that I have to say this, but: this blog is NOT some stupid reverse psychology stunt to support Peter Bjorn and John. I don't doubt that there is some PR company out there that would conceive of such a retarded thing, but that sure isn't me. Maybe I can convince you by telling you more directly my opinion of Peter Bjorn and John's music, which I realize I had perhaps been diplomatic about before. A few adjectives will suffice: manufactured, over-cute, lazy, vacuous. Would a PR blog use those words? And I could go on.

This does raise an interesting point, though: the whole "buzz band" phenomenon, in which indie bands get pumped up by PR people, the media, the labels, etc., has made the fans incredibly paranoid. Any positive (or, apparently, negative) press about a band immediately draws accusations that it was orchestrated by the band in question. The whole idea behind the event on Friday against Peter Bjorn and John is that, after all the ethereal "buzz" and counter-buzz and so on, we will make an undeniable physical statement against Peter Bjorn and John and for other bands.

but I also think that this paranoia, this focus on buzz, is unavoidable when it comes to bands like Peter Bjorn and John, whose music is totally empty and derivative and market-driven. The only way out is to support bands who make art, with serious songwriting and startling vision and painstaking craftsmanship -- the sort of thing that gets derided these days as "rockism," but the fact is it's still how good music is made. And if you agree with us, then come out on Friday and help us stop Peter Bjorn and John.

Ok, went on for too long.... I've gotta get back on the road....