Editor's note: Sorry not to have posted much lately..work has been killer...but I have some time off soon and will have lots of time to write! Apologies to all Duff Guide to Ska readers!
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A preview in the Village Voice for The Slackers' upcoming shows at The Knitting Factory Brooklyn has a surprising amount of coverage of their crappy relationship with Moon Records for something that went down ages ago. The piece also has elicited a rather angry retort from Slacker Dave Hillyard, who was so pissed off at how the band's sound was described that he needed to post his comment twice. (He also takes an unnecessary swipe at The Toasters--any excuse to lash out at Bucket over past grievances, I suppose.)
While I have to agree this may not be the most flattering article on the band (read it yourself and cringe--or maybe just check out the photo essay "Bathroom Portraits" on the sidebar--NSFW indeed--who knew this could be waiting for them...all I ever find in club crappers are overflowing toilets and piss-soaked floors), but one should always remember that all press (no matter how backhanded the compliments) is good press, kids...
Hell is being completely ignored.
You know, I typed a bunch of stuff to say about the Slackers and what they fail to comprehend, get over and fess up too, but it's really not worth the amount of time it took me to type it...
ReplyDeleteSometimes it's just best to let bygones be bygones. (Though I still clearly remember some of the crap that went down...)
ReplyDeleteWow, quite the venom towards the Toasters. I guess a show together is out of the question then? j/k...
ReplyDeleteThe Toasters are still #1 in my book.
Dave
That really is a horrible article. I don't blame Dave for ripping the author apart.
ReplyDeleteAnother example of how the American media is doing the overall ska genre no favors. Honestly, I'd like to know what it is that we can do to convince the media to shake off all the ska stereotypes. Most writers give the same sort of broad stroke picture of ska music. Instead of singing that same tune in every obligatory ska column and article, why can't music journalists do their homework and discover its relevance in today's music world? Surely, the Village Voice has a writer in its staff that knows and follows The Slackers, right? I mean, they are BASED in NYC!
ReplyDeleteCourtney:
ReplyDeleteSad to say, but many music journalists (particularly those who write for daily or weekly papers and are on tight deadlines) don't bother take the time to do much research. It's easier to trade on stereotypes, etc. than roll up your shirtsleeves and do the actual work that will attempt to convey some sort of reality/truth...
And the Village Voice's coverage of NYC ska over the years has been pretty poor and dismissive (however, I think I remember Richard Gehr doing a few nice show previews, but that's about it). Plus the Voice has gone from being a pretty good alternative weekly (in the 80s and 90s) to an irrelevant rag.
Later.
Steve
I still can't believe all the crap that gets thrown the Toasters way. They're the flagship American ska band and a hell of a good band too.
ReplyDeleteIt kind of pisses me off to be honest. Where's the respect? WHAT A GWAN!
Although Dave Hillyard obviously does not respect the Toasters in any regard, I'm going to play devil's advocate and say you can respect their body of work (personally they lost me after enemy of the system and even that one is pushing it for me) and still throw some e-crap their way.
ReplyDeleteAlso, as "the flagship American ska band" shit's gonna come flying in their direction, it's just how it is. When you are the seemingly indestructible force that is the Toasters there are going to be people saying bad things about you on the internet. I don't know Buck like some other people who are commenting on this do, but I'd be willing to bet he's not going to lose sleep over what this (awful excuse for an) author or Dave Hillyard said about him on the internet.
I'm not a Slackers fan, but I have to admit that the article was both poorly written and slanted beyond belief. It seems the author just wanted to bash them for what went down with Moon - but, cmon, that was 15 years ago! The article comes off like a personal, petty grudge - which is fine on a blog, but as an assignment for a band spotlight or new album review, it's completely inappropriate.
ReplyDeleteThat was a piss poor article for sure. At least now I know what they were referring to at the shows when they kept talking about the Village Voice, and 1965. Not being from NY, and not reading the VV, I had no clue. Not that it really mattered anyways.
ReplyDeletehaha i didnt feel like takin a 3 hour public transportation adventure so i didnt end up at either of those slackers shows but i think its hilarious that you say they mentioned it on stage and such. i wish i coulda heard that banter
ReplyDeleteWell, let's just say that is not just some random isolated people in the ska world who do not enjoy The Toasters... I'm sorry, but they are not exactly a cult band for the cultivated around the world.
ReplyDeleteDidnt you ever hear anyone into ska say that the Toasters are not very good? With all due respect, of course. And that is not to say that I dont like them, but...
Hey Duff, how about a Best In Ska list for 2009, and maybe a piece on what you'd like to see in 2010!
ReplyDeleteFor 2010, more Rush, Adam, much more Rush!
ReplyDelete