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We first heard of Acrassicauda through a story on NPR, describing the trials and tribulations of these heavy metal band of Iraqi refugees. They were recently hunkered down in Damascus, but got out in the nick of time when Syria started ejecting all Iraqi refugees, and not the group is in Istanbul ... trying their damndest to keep from getting sent back to Bagdhad.
VICE has sort of taken the group under its wing and is organizing fundraisers to keep the band as safe as a band on the run can be. Money raised goes towards travel and survival expenses for the group.
Tonight one of those fundraisers takes place in Chicago, at The Continental. There is no admission fee, but donations will be welcome. Gift packs donated by Hydrahead, VICE, and other parties will be raffled off throughout the evening.
The event is from 10 p.m. until 2 a.m. and will feature DJ sets by members of Pelican, Russian Circles, and as-yet unannounced guests.
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Some one else commented about Chicagoist's same day notice for events policy, what's up with that?
(Its a Don't)
I've been looking for an excuse to venture back to Continental to end my protest after the owners killed one of the best dive/old man bars in the world and a real Chicago institution aka The Pizza Lounge, aka "Packaged Goods" Well to be honest, I've been in there about four or five or maybe six times since then, but always with a knife held to my throat!
Any way had I'd known earlier I would have went as I have always wanted to be a "Do" or a "Don't" in Vice Magazine
".....VICE has sort of taken the group under its wing...."
While a heavy metal Iraqi group does sound interesting, the fact that VICE likes them does not inspire a lot of confidence. VICE, a leftist magazine, is a strictly anti-War, anti-"haves," and pro-sanctimonious.
I wish this group well but I am curious as to why their extensive website does not list any lyrics to their songs...with or without translation. I'd like to know where they stand.
Why would you want an Iraqi band to take a stance on American politics?
I never said that I wanted an Iraqi band to take a stance on American politics. Do you?
VICE a "leftist magazine"? That's ludicrous! Go read In These Times and we can talk.
That said... wait for it...
FIRST!
Kevin, I stand corrected (no sarcasm). VICE is not a leftist magazine. However, I would characterize it as left-leaning.
It's recent series on anti-war activists (the one on war resisters) is an example of the left-leaning nature of VICE. I agree that "leftist" was too strong.
I don't know where I got that idea since you wrote, "I'd like to know where they stand" when you are referencing their lyrics not being translated and complaining that an "anti-war" magazine is touting them, it kinda sounds like you are asking for their stance on something. Forgive me for thinking that what you write is actually what you mean to communicate.
To clarify, I disagreed with the above statement that I wanted them to ..."take a stand on American politics."
What I would like to know, before I donate money to them or attend a fundraiser for them, is what they are singing about. That is not too much to ask. In fact, this lack of information is what is preventing me from giving them a nice donation.
Their words are important and can influence people. I wish them well and hope that they are able to disseminate their words (whatever they are) even if I might disagree with some of them. Heck, maybe their songs are all love songs. If so, it would be nice to know that, too.
Word Up, I'm tired of the Anti War folks too. Bring on Iran and Cuba right? I just wish I had the connections to invest in the military industry. I'm not suggesting this has to do with money or any thing.
Ward Up: You should change your name to "Lighten Up".
I have, among other inappropriate albums in my CD collection, Doggy Style, Appetite for Destruction, and Black Sunday. If all I listened to was music who's lyrics conveyed a message that I thought everyone should agree with, well, I'd probably be as musically borning as Spook.
And now, continuing in the spirit of VICE: I call bullshit. This story was all over the internet years ago. You're really slipping Chicagoist, you hipster Williamsburg motherfuckers. More pictures of hot girls, dammit.
Kevin, those albums on your shelf are not parallels to this band's fundraising. I doubt that Snoop Dog was in Turkey with advocates here in the states asking the public to contribute money to support the Dog Pound.
If I am going to contribute money to a band, I want to know what they are about.
Adding to this concept is the fact that some persons in that part of the world are promoting positions that are just plain hurtful to the well-being of their own countries. I would not want to support the dissemination of such positions with a contribution to the wrong party, be it a band, an organization, or anything. Oh, and "Lighten up"? I feel plenty light.
Isn't buying a CD the same as contributing to a band?
Snoop might not have been in Turkey, but he was selling lots of merch....