Jess was in Columbus yesterday, so with no real plans I decided to get a massage and take myself out to breakfast. I know some people find dining solo at restaurants to be uncomfortable, like everyone at the restaurant is going look upon them pityingly as if they’re some sad loser with no friends. But I’ve always enjoyed it. It’s peaceful, especially when I have a book, which I did. My current read is Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s excellent MEXICAN GOTHIC.
This morning I wrote 500ish words on a short story that has been in progress for a while. I can see how to get to the end now, so I just need to finish it. Maybe later this week. I also figured out a name for it which I think will stick: “Belong to the Night.”
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I really enjoyed this article about Chumbawamba from MEL MAGAZINE. It talks about how the band’s one big single, “Tubthumping,” was a surprise mainstream hit for a band with decidedly anarcho-communist politics and that had, at the time, already released seven albums.
I was, I believe, 15 when “Tubthumping” came out, and I watched the music video daily on TRL. I loved everything about the song, from its brassy, anthemic catchiness to lead singer Dunstan Bruce’s bleached blond hair, which I thought was so cool but, alas, never replicated for myself. I bought the whole album, TUBTHUMPER, as we did back then, and it was good but weird. A mélange of styles encompassing synthpop and punk, and a whole lot of social commentary that went completely over my empty teenage head. Listened to it quite bit for a while, then moved onto the next thing. Probably… Korn?
In the early Aughties, old comrade Nate acquired a batch of Chumbawamba’s earlier albums, which reintroduced me to the band, but with a different flavor, because now the band’s anarchist politics smacked me in the face. I remember really liking some of those albums, especially ANARCHY (notable for having cover art that featured a low-quality but highly explicit photo of a baby being expelled from its mother). Since the article came out a few days ago, I’ve been playing through Chumbawamba’s discography and am really enjoying it. One song I’ve listened to several times now is “El Fusilado,” from their 2008 album THE BOY BANDS HAVE WON. It’s a fucking earworm.
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Gonna close this one out with a picture of Kirby, unhappily watching us while we hung out with his brother on the bed.
