There’s a rock promoter in Israel feeling very victimized at the moment.
The Pixies, now officially the first touring nostalgia act of the 90s alternative era, are the latest music group to pull the plug on concert commitments in the Jewish State. The band was set to play their first ever gig in Israel on Wednesday (June 9) at a Tel Aviv music festival called Pic.Nic 2010, but axed the appearance in a decision that, according to the band, “was not easily reached.”
Two other high-profile bands also removed themselves from the same festival in the wake of the flotilla raid. Damon Albarn’s cartoon hip-hop project Gorillaz, who, like the Pixies, were scheduled to headline, called off their appearance along with fellow Brits the Klaxons.
The promoter, Shuki Weiss, released statement saying his festival has fallen victim to a form of “cultural terrorism.”
Weiss probably didn’t need to throw out the “t-word” on this one, but it’s hard not to sympathize with his position somewhat, or at least feel like these bands are, if they’re indeed as passionate about the situation as they want to appear to be, blowing their big opportunity.
With the Arizona immigration situation fresh in our minds, the question of artists’ involvement in politics seems to be cropping up in discussion more than ever.
On Monday, news broke that Elton John, who is scheduled to play Israel next week, serenaded vile radio pundit Rush Limbaugh at his wedding. His appearance at this conservative celebration is viewed as a political act in the same way as Frank Blank’s absence is in Tel Aviv.
As local Fucked Up punk and growing political pundit Pink Eyes rightly argued during the Arizona debate, how much positive affect can your absence have on a situation?
To all the bands planning boycotts of Arizona, Pink Eyes counters that it’s the best possible time to go there and present your case.
When Elvis Costello called off his shows in Israel this summer due to his concerns over the treatment of Palestinians, he said it was “a matter of instinct and conscience.” But wouldn’t it be more conscionable to actually go there and speak your case in front on fans, whether they agree with you or not?
In other words, doesn’t it make more sense for the Pixies or Gorillaz to play the festival and speak up and perhaps learn more about the situation by being there and talking to people than by shunning music fans from a far away distance.
As L.A. Times’ Patrick Goldstein points out, Israel is a free society allowing for Costello to meet with Palestinian activists, join an anti-settlement protest or find other ways to express his views.
Ditto for Black and Albarn, who aren’t making much political noise by doing nothing at all.
In the case of Black and his travelling jukebox known as the Pixies, Israeli music fans aren’t going to miss much. That band has been mailing it in for the better part of a decade now. They can save their money for the Diane Krall show at Tel Aviv’s Raanana Amphitheatre scheduled for August 4. Maybe her husband, Elvis Costello, will join her.[rssbreak]
