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Flipside Featured Issue #12 Editorials Page
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Al Flipside Sounds off About Madame Wongs Under the guise of a show review of the Bags:
"I", Bags at Madame Wongs Restaurant, Nov.8th
The place got trashed and of course there were those nice, rational people who will say "a few spoiled it for everybody." That's bullshit, that one night was worth all the other nights of just sitting, watching, not participating, we didn't spoil it for anybody. We saved people alot of money and wasted time. Then the announcerhas the nerve to get up and say "The Whisky and Starwood are fucked, if you don't behave we'll hav to close to you also," well, Madamewongs is fucked too, and enough kids know that and sure enough the Bags got the plug pulled on them, but it was FUN, right? It was a great night, but not the last, Madame Wongs will be right back next week, and if the band isn't strong enough we'll sit and watch. Of course Craig got pissed at us and says he wants to play there but we all know inside he knows its a worthless boring place, not fit for punkrockers. (Now wait, punk rock is one thing, but if you're into Gary Valentine, Bates Motel, the Knack, Blow Up, etc.... then Wongs is a great place, if you like to just witness things, fine - sit down). |
Nickey Beat proves he is still a gentleman by offering a chair to the stage, Madame Wongs staff wasn't impressed - but laughed. |
| This night was real interesting because it was one of these rare times when you felt a part of some 'scene' all the kids were moving towards one goal, trash this place! This happened before, like when it was so right to trash the Cookoo's Nest or the Troubador, or even that last Whisky night, the feeling of unity, even though it was for 'mindless destruction. That's the missing element here in LA, no real direction. The music is good enough but it has no end to seek. In the UK there's the RAF and the angry brigade groups of people who violently attack the system, the whole system, that they don't like. But what can we attack? A few clubs every now and then, and only when we feel the need, shit just shit. We should listen to what people like the Dils say lets aim our attacks at the rich! Great idea but who is doing it? Nobody, need better targets, attack anything you don't like, if you don't like what somebody sells, like all those rich faggot art people in Stuff - make it known! Write on their windows, spit, give it a hard time. But you like those assholes ok, then throw paint on ads for John Travolta or Gay Magazines, do anything, and claim it for punks. In LA the police don't even recongnize punks. As potential trouble makers, we at least deserve that recognition! React to things! If they can advertise, you have the right to deface it. Before I get too carried away, I'll just say that the Bags set was good. They're getting more consistently good and their sound is actually getting better after that brief lapse into slowsville. But the sound tonight was thin, but not the Bags fault. "I" sounded better than the Bags, but I think they are very overrated. "I" is on a line between being a punk band (which I'm sure they will resent) and an ordinary r&r band, which isn't bad. They are certainly much more accessible to most people than say the Bags. Their sound is good, and you can see why they are so acclaimed, but for me I prefer a more raw, punk if you must, sound. - Al | |
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"X-8" Sees Something - His Latest Theories
The art movement in
Los Angeles is becoming prominent. Since the opening of Fiorucci's
(although I am not accusing then place), there has been an unofficial
break-up of L.A. punks; street punks vs. fashion punks. This subcurrent
attitude is being unconsciously felt through the L.A. punk scene.
Punk-wise (on the music scene) L.A.'s top bands now see plastic
non-real (with the exception of perhaps the Controllers). There is no
unification. More people are becoming choosy as the 'scene' grows. This
flipoid attitude is present in this issue of Flipside. Put-downs of the
in-crowd are present in the John Denny interview, While he says it is
absolute coolness. Trying to market your band on both sides (the art
crowd street crowd) is becoming very hard to do. I know its bad to peg
and put bands in sockets, but the sockets are becoming very clear now.
The art crowd seems to
have more "action" and connections, while the street bands are
frustrated to say the least and would rather eat their vomit than
change their attitude (for its a big change). Flipside is caught in
the middle. (Although Slash has no problem because they make street
bands like Middle Class and Fear into an art form). It's hard to
directly heart to heart communicate with some bands anymore because
they suspect us either as an art fanzine or a sleezoid street magazine.
As far as the birth of this publication, we are born on the conception
of reflecting a new and better world. A new subculture, etc., etc....The attitudes are
different but not necessarily the music, fast loud and hard music can
be heard on both sides of the border, and experimental music also. But
anyway, in the end I just wanna have fun get fucked up and hear some
power chords. - Editor, X-8. |
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