I’m tired of the crowd and nonsense self-hype of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hotel’s bar. How did it attract the need-to-be-seen-and-stupid crowd so fast? It’s now added to my for-suckas-only list. Want some photo-tastic proof? Go here (beer bongs?).
Don’t get me wrong, the bands they get are still great, and I’ll still end up there once a week or so.
The New Yorker has a great article about a study done that identifies the lack of copyrights and patents in the fashion industry as a major source of the industry’s continued success. The article is definitely a good read, although I do not know why the author is so stubborn (at the end) in thinking a similar model would not work for all or most other industries.
The article is particularly timely for me, because I have been reading a history of fashion and thinking about the related IP issues. I guess this article and study saves me the trouble of having to write one.
I have made a bit of noise regarding bands skipping DC, often hitting the area via Baltimore, but I am beginning to think I should keep my mouth shut. The main reason is that DC music fans do not bother showing up for incredible shows. For example, how is it possible Thurston Moore‘s show at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hotel this past Saturday did not sell out until well into the show? Keep in mind that (1) it is Thurston Moore, (2) his latest album is perfectly normal and perfectly great, and (3) tickets were only $15? It is almost enough to say what kind of self-respecting music fan was not at the show.
In any event, Moore was a master…including throwing up on his guitar mid-song. If he wasn’t so old, that’d be rock ‘n’ roll. He’s also a master at writing songs with that slow groove I’ve been talking about (to people, not on this blog).