DIRTY THREE: AUSTRALIAN INSTRUMENTAL ROCK TRIO INCITES RIOT IN CHINA
November 2nd 2006 05:00
The true People's Liberation Army of China
During their recent tour of Asia, a riot occurred at a gig the band performed in Shanghai at the Yun Feng Theatre owned by the People's Liberation Army. People’s? Liberation? My ass! How can you claim to be for the liberation of the people and then quash their right to culture and good ol’ rock ‘n’ roll?
After being told that the show was pushed forward an hour to accommodate an acrobatic troupe, the band played their set. But the curtains were pulled during “Sue’s Last Ride”, which like much of their work is an incredibly fluid tune that ascends from fragile beauty to chaotic distorted turmoil. The audience of some 600 people, mostly students, were outraged: seeing this as yet another attempt by their government to repress self-expression and youth culture, after the closing down of many venues and a general low tolerance policy of anything approaching rock.
The Dirty Three’s emotional ferocity combined with the audience’s indignation must have made quite a potent brew, cuz the crowd stormed the stage, forcing the band to hoof it outta there amidst a rabble of audience members, security, and acrobats; all while the audience chanted “Dirty Three! Dirty Three!”
Below is some live footage of the band in Osaka Japan to give you an idea of what I'm talking about. Just watch violinist Warren Ellis's wildman gyrations. As usual, he looks like he's going to saw that damn fiddle in half, and the band tread a fragile balance between catharsis and collapse. Who wouldn't want to riot?
Dirty Three “The Zither Player” live at the Bridge in Osaka, Japan.
Dirty Three “Hope” live at the Bridge in Osaka, Japan.
As emotionally intense as the Dirty Three are, it’s hard to imagine something like this happening in the west, where rock music is taken for granted. I think it’s great that the Dirty Three—who don’t seem like a rock band on paper, but exude more attitude and lowdown rock ‘n’ roll spirit than a band like Jet—could play in China and stir up such fervour. It’s proof positive that true rock ‘n’ roll is so much more than a few power chords and a guy hollering about cars and girls, and that its appeal transcends cultural boundaries and government repression.
If China wants a real People’s Liberation Army, why not recruit the Dirty Three?
***
IMAGES
irty_three1.jpg" target="_blank">Dirty Three *
(photo used under fair dealing)
* images on this page were taken from the following Wikipedia page:
Dirty Three
| 70 |
| Vote |
Subscribe to this blog
Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
you bring the rock, and I'll bring the funk.
Comment by Hellvis
Earache Hotel
Free your mind and your ass will follow.
Hellvis has left the building.