Speech, J. Wail and Los Straitjackets

by Lindsay Nelson

The idea of free speech is always more palatable than the practice of it. This is clear on the national stage as well as the local; while we all espouse the notion of freedom in all forms of speech, we seldom welcome the vocal expression of ideas we find repugnant. Whether it’s yard signs or pop songs, we seem to have almost completely lost the ability to hold reasonable discussion of ideas; replaced now by the predetermined screaming, schoolyard-style mashups on cable TV news. With so many slanted news and opinion outlets, nobody is forced to listen to ideas and philosophies that don’t jive with their own. So we all just sit with our arms crossed, knowing we’re right and the other guy is stupid, waiting for the rest of the world to come around.

The worst is when we try to silence the voices of dissent. We saw this on a grand scale around 2003-04, when it seemed every day brought news of a musician, artist, author or entertainer who was boycotted, lambasted and loathed for expressing views on the war, the election or any sort of political/social topic. The message was, essentially “Shut up and ­_______(insert appropriate verb).” Of course, it was OK for people who agreed with what was presented as the prevailing line of thinking to spout all they wanted. Maybe we’re inured to it now, but this sort of thing has only been getting worse. While Bruce Springsteen’s new album might kind of suck, his oblique references to the trials of war and a belief that the country’s headed down the wrong road seem to be the focus of criticism for “Magic.” It’s not good for anyone when certain people aren’t allowed to speak freely because certain other people don’t like what they’ve got to say. And it’s especially bad for the arts and culture scene because, contrary to what some may say, nobody should be told to shut up.

Fortunately, there’s nothing too controversial in this week’s entertainment lineup. It’s a bittersweet Thursday afternoon when the last Ska-B-Q of the season fires up at 5 p.m. Not-bluegrass Durango band Aftergrass will rock out the summer season as the sun goes down; expect a danceable blend of psychedelic jam, bass funk, a little hip hop and the occasional hint of bluegrass instrumentation. Head on over to Ska Brewing in Bodo Park for one last hurrah.

The Summit offers a sweet electronica dance show on Saturday with J. Wail, a DJ-cum-musician performing live instrumental electronica. Not as oxymoronic as it may sound; he uses his talents on real instruments to augment the aural tricks and treats made possible by electronic loops, beats and blends. This “deep organic electronica” is uniquely funky and goes straight to the fast-twitch muscles that pretty much force you to dance or at least thrash about in a trance-like approximation thereof. J. Wail is joined at this show by MO­₂, a young San Francisco group cooking up “fresh, hypnotic breaks and raw, live electronics.” They say they approach music with the mentality of a club DJ and an arsenal of live instruments. Sounds like a match made in dance heaven. If you’ve been itching to get lost in a trance, this is your show, Saturday night at the Summit.

If hip-hop is your bag, you’ll want to

Los Straitjackets

check Aesop Rock, a Long Island-born MC named Ian Bravitz, playing Monday night at the Abbey in support of the new record, “None Shall Pass.” Living in San Francisco and representing the underground urban music and resistance movements, he’s got a lot to say and a sick way of wrapping it up in beats and rhymes.

Should you happen to see grown men in old-fashioned suits and Mexican wrestling masks wandering the streets of Durango next week, do not be alarmed. It’s just Los Straitjackets, a mind-blowingly cool and quirky rockabilly band from Nashville. Here on Wednesday night, they play the Diamond Circle Theatre with Big Sandy, of Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys. Picture if you will a group of guys playing fast and loose with the Western swing, traditional country and rockabilly traditions whilst displaying their bizarre costumery and on-stage antics. Regardless of your musical proclivities, this promises to be a rollicking good show. Tickets are available at Canyon Music and Southwest Sound for the big Wednesday show.

Speaking of being different, be DIFFerent and give of your free time and money for the annual Art of Film fund-raising party for the Durango Independent Film Festival. It’s your chance to get in with the “in” crowd of the film world; for $30 per person or $35 at the door, you get a preview of short films selected for 2008, live music, an art auction and plenty of booze and food, plus that warm, fuzzy feeling of doing something to support a worthy arts endeavor that helps keep free speech alive.

No matter how you get your tunes or which drumbeat you march to, always remember to let a little fresh air into your ears. •

Lindsay_damico@yahoo.com.