I’m not sure whatever happened to the dude from Bright Eyes (His Name Was Conor Oberst). I feel like he is either ‘already really rich’ or maybe he is messing around in a less popular genre of indie music now that the sad/post-emo/folk stuff had been weeded out. Maybe he just appeals to that genre of Wilco fans or something, older cool dad alts who want to listen to indie folk music.
N e ways, Arizona did that thing where they don’t want brown people & illegal Mexicans to live in their state any more, so they can kick out whoever they want. It is now ‘cool’ to h8 Arizona, since they are racist ass holes, and every1 is supposed to do their best to boycott all Arizonian products. The goal of the boycott is to try to make their state ‘go under’, and possibly float away into the Pacific Ocean if they don’t have enough local revenue from buzzband MP3 and merch sales.
Seems like it is ‘the alt thing to do now’ to h8 Arizona.
Bright Eyes’ mainman Conor Oberst has been an outspoken advocate for Zack de la Rocha’s Sound Strike effort, joining fellow musicians and artists in a campaign to compel the state of Arizona to repeal its controversial immigration law
Sorta wanna bro down with Zack De La Rocha, rap about some guerrilla governmental anarchist shit, and then jam out with the rest of Audioslave.
N e ways. Conor Oberst seems like he is just trying to ‘ride the wave of memes’. Not sure if he really should care about colored people, because I’m sure 90% of his fans are white, but I feel like ’standing up for a cause’ is a good way to get urself an extra headline meme. There are just so many buzzbands in our modern world that u gotta do what u can to get ur name in the headlines.
He wrote some ‘deep letter’ arguing some points, proving that he is ’smarter than the usual bro in a band.’
Not sure if he wrote this letter to a Congressman, a local mayor, a Governor, or maybe just a local blogger.
Dear Charlie,
I read your letter and I do understand where you are coming from. You bring up valid points. I personally regret any of the collateral damage the boycott is causing you, other like-minded arts promoters and the fans in Arizona. A boycott is, inherently, a blunt instrument. It is an imperfect weapon, a carpet bomb, when all involved would prefer a surgical strike. I agree with you in part, and the radio host you quoted, that the authors and supporters of SB1070 could give a shit whether or not my band, or any other Artist, ever plays Arizona again. The only thing, clearly, that these people care about is Money and Power, that and the creation and preservation of an Anglo-Centric Police State where every Immigrant and Non-White citizen is considered subhuman. They want them stripped of their basic human rights and reduced to slaves for Corporate America and the White Race. They are engaged in blatant class warfare. It is evil, pure and simple.
I have on many occasions spoken my mind from stage. I have offered organizations table space by the merch booth. I have donated a dollar-a-ticket, or the entire guarantee, to different causes. I have registered voters. I have played on behalf of political candidates. Sadly, this time, I fear none of that is enough. If I return to Arizona to pay lip service to a roomful of kids at the Marquee it will do absolutely no good for anyone. What I can do is to help organize, and play my small part in, what I hope is the largest and most effective boycott this country has seen in a long time. To work it will have to involve members from all sectors of society. The Sports Industry, the Entertainment Industry, the Tourism and Convention Industry, other State and City governments, private businesses and individuals from around the country and the world—all of whom, by the way, are already participating in the boycott. Much of the Artist end of the boycott is symbolic, I acknowledge, and no real threat to the economics of the State. But it is an important part none-the-less for awareness and messaging. The Boycott has to be so widespread and devastating that the Arizona State Legislature and Governor have no choice but to repeal their unconstitutional, immoral and hateful law. It has to hurt them in the only place they feel any pain, their pocketbooks.
What I would encourage you to do, if you haven’t already started, is to organize with all the local businesses you can to put as much pressure as possible on your State Government until the Law is repealed. An economic death rattle is the only cry of outrage they will hear.
I realize that the people of Arizona did not vote on SB1070 and I empathize with the anger and frustration you all must feel. I applaud what you are doing with Viva Arizona and do wonder if there might be a way to reconcile both our efforts while maintaining the integrity of each. After all, we are trying to achieve the same thing. But just as you may feel the boycott is an empty gesture, I fear that if we return to business as usual (under the guise of some civic movement) that this will all devolve into the typical grandstanding that is political activism in music. It might make us feel better but won’t do a damn thing to change the minds of the radical, racist minority that seem to have controlled Arizona politics for decades. In short, it will lose its teeth.
Just this past week, the little town of Fremont Nebraska passed a very similar, almost more radical, city ordinance. It was co-authored and championed by Kris Kobach of Kansas who helped write SB1070. I was outraged, saddened and embarrassed for their town and my state. I am already in the process of organizing a fund-raiser for the NE chapter of the ACLU who is suing the town of Fremont. Our situation requires immediate legal action and a campaign for public awareness (there has been very little press on this). Charlie, I promise you, if this Fremont law had been passed Statewide instead of in a rural town of 25,000 people, I would be the first to call for a boycott of my home state. This way of thinking and legislating is so dangerous, and such a threat to our basic ideals as Americans and Humans, that we cannot stand by and do nothing. We cannot play on as if nothing is wrong. This is not just about Arizona. I am not just skipping a tour date. This is not going to be easy for anyone.
Charlie, I consider you a friend and you have always been great to my bands and me. I have played for you many times and I hope to do so again soon in New Mexico or anywhere else. I sincerely look forward to the day when I can return to Arizona and this will all seem like a bad dream. But I can’t come back now. I’m sorry. I hope you will understand.
Your friend,
Conor Oberst
Do u think that bro ‘really means it’ or is his PR agent just trying to get his name back on blogs?
Is Bright Eyes ‘fucking dead’?
Do yall remember when people listened to sad emo indie music where Conor Oberst just cried a lot?
Is Bright Eyes authentic/brilliant, or is it just overglorified indie music from before the modern competitive indie era?
Would Bright Eyes even get ‘blog coverage’ in our modern blogosphere?
Are yall pissed about Arizona?
R u gonna boycott products + buzzbands from there?
Do u feel sad for Arizonian buzzband fans who won’t get to see buzzbands play in their state?
Will New Mexico see an influx of buzzbands in 2k11?
IS Arizona a backwards state, or are they on the path towards creating the ‘best state in the Union’?
