Went to the New Yorker Festival "Political Rockers" panel on Saturday. Carrie Brownstein was a no-show, unfortunately, but the event was plenty lively regardless, especially when KRS-One actually said "We cheered when the towers went down, and I say that proudly." He was speaking for some nameless body/demographic the entire time, so I'm not sure who "we" is referring to. Needless to say, he was booed and someone shouted "You've got some nerve!" or something like that. He was booed again when he said he wasn't going to vote in the presidential election. His reason? "We're voting by not voting...as a statement against a corrupt political system." Still not sure who he was speaking for. I was bummed I couldn't stay for the Q&A because I'm sure people ripped into him.

Henry Rollins and Krist Novoselic were great. What stories they have! They spoke about their early punk days and the intertwining of punk and politics, which sounds really boring and trite, but hearing it straight from these punk rock titans, it's riveting. Krist had the air of a politician when he spoke, and although he decided not to run for office in Washington State, he certainly seemed like he still had the idea on his back burner.

Afterwards I went down to New York is Book Country and bought his book Of Grunge and Government at the Akashic table, which was being worked by none other than Johnny Temple himself.
It's a great little read so far:

"It took awhile, but no longer was punk to be despised - it had landed in the mainstream, albeit neutralized by a clever use of semantics. Seattle music was referred to as 'grunge,' but on a national level the new movement was pigeonholed as 'alternative music.' I know we came out of the alternative world, but I believe the moniker of 'alt-rock' was a trap set early on to control the impact of a new breed of rock'n'roll. This way, the new music couldn't displace the status quo - it was simply labeled an alternative to it. The term 'alternative' as a name for a genre of music was an instant anachronism; the name cancelled itself out. By the time alternative landed in the mainstream, the old guard had run its course, and there was no real alternative except stasis." (p. 21-22)

Picked up a course schedule for The Center for Book Arts. Man would I love to take Beginning Letterpress Intensive! I have visions of Independent Project Records dancing through my head...

The season for Pumpkin Ale is upon us! Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale is a clear winner, while Post Road Pumkin Ale is a watery, flavorless disappointment, which makes sense as it's brewed by the Brooklyn Brewery and I am consistantly let down by their beers. And I'm very much looking forward to the Smiling Pumpkin Ale at Heartland Brewery.