Head Dress Tattoo blog

It appears that my letter (posted here on 4/6/08) has stirred up some unexpected controversy. The band’s manager found my letter not in his email box, but through a Google search. This could mean a few different things. First, that the manager has made a hobby out of searching the web for posts about his band. Second, that he’s the one with the shovel and bucket, cleaning up after the horses on parade. Judging by his swift action (the first response came about 17 hours after posting my letter), I suspect that the manager has been through this before.

The band’s manager has contended that the name of the song was “F.T.U.S.V.D.,” as in, “Fuck the U.S. Visa Department.” This is a portion of my reply:

“If the band’s goal at the concert had been to criticize the USVD, I would have wholeheartedly agreed with them. But the band would not have an effect on USVD policies by making statements at a rock concert in London, England. The band could have done it more efficiently and responsibly by posting a notification on their web site to be read by fans and the press worldwide.

“However, the band did not make clear that this was their goal. Their intentions at the Shepherd’s Bush concert were simply to vent their angers and rile up the crowd. I was not alone at the concert, and my companion also only heard the words ‘Fuck the U.S.A.’ at the end of Gabriela’s visa story. Of course, the crowd was hollering belligerently by the end of her tale. Even if Gabriela had said, ‘Fuck the U.S.V.D.,’ the boisterous stage context and lack of clarity would have made it prone to unnecessary misunderstandings. Since I agree with the band about the shortcomings of the American government (I made this very clear in my letter), and I empathize with everyone working on their tour and purchasing their concert tickets, I would have applauded stage banter that unmistakably criticized the government. […]

“The point of the letter was to get clarification from the band, not only for their words that night, but also for why they would choose to take retribution in that manner. If you are insinuating that my ‘incorrect information’ holds the band in false light, there are no grounds. I am a journalist, and I hold myself to extreme ethical standards. If Gabriela’s statements were so indistinguishable as to whether they attacked the USVD or America as a whole, then there is a problem. I’m trying to eradicate the problem – as an American, world traveler, former (and possibly future) fan of Rodrigo y Gabriela, and proponent for the positive effects of music. I hope this alleviates your concerns.”

The manager claims that the same story was related to audiences around the world, but for some reason the band completely omitted the tale from their performance at Lollapalooza 2007 – less than three months after the London show.

He also says that he was at the same London show as I, and that Gabriela’s introduction gave perfect context for the song. The context was such that, when Gabriela simply told the crowd that they had recently been touring America, everyone booed loudly. Gabriela laughed at the crowd’s reaction, and continued in a manner that she knew would incite more aggressive responses.

The manager is most concerned about my allegation that Gabriela called the song “Fuck the U.S.A.” I’m saying that there’s more to be worried about than just the song title. If the manager speaks the truth, there is still a clear difference between the denotation and the connotation of what was said at the concert. If the denotation (i.e. – the direct surface meaning) was actually “Fuck the U.S.V.D.,” the connotation (i.e. – what Gabriela’s speech meant to the crowd) was still “Fuck the U.S.A.”

This was evident not only because of my heart-dropping pain, but because of the shrill yells and whistles coming from the crowd as the song started. It was probably the loudest moment of the entire show. Gabriela told the story the way she did that night because she knew that the Londoners would react that way. In other words, the manager is missing the point – but doing so at least somewhat intentionally, because he is distressed about possible backlash from the band’s partners and fans.

It took me almost a year to figure out what exactly about the events of 5/25/07 bothered me so much. Here is the primary conclusion: That night, I felt embarrassed to be an American, even though I was traveling the world in hopes of learning about other cultures and exploring the similarities between all humans. I felt like, if I had revealed my American citizenship after Gabriela’s speech, I would have been pummeled, or at least had a beer poured on my head.

I felt as though I had been grouped with the U.S. government – or the USVD, as the manager specified – as if there was no separation between that government office and me. But in actuality, I have absolutely no control over their policies concerning terrorist control. All I can do is criticize their mistakes – the same as Rodrigo y Gabriela had apparently hoped to do. In my efforts, though, I try to ensure that the only target is the government, and not anyone who is theoretically on my side. In reacting how they did, the band was no more virtuous than the USVD.

In the band’s attempted course of action, they alienated not only fans that loved their music, but also fellow global citizens who are aligned with them politically. The fact that Rodrigo y Gabriela are also global citizens – natives of Mexico living in Ireland – makes the situation even more ironic. I have spent extended time in both nations, and I celebrate their culture and natural beauty.

Frankly, this whole situation has begun to nauseate me. We should never have found ourselves in opposition. I wasn’t trying to establish that the band is anti-American. Even if the song was titled “F.T.U.S.V.D.,” what happened that night was wrong. I paid to see a concert, and for that I was victimized. Of all the aspects of this debacle, it’s most difficult to describe the actual experience of standing in that venue and witnessing what was going on. It was the most viciously angry moment that I’ve had in many, many years. The incident was so blatant that I cannot listen to the band’s music anymore, lest I’ll have flashbacks of terror.

For a short while, I even mistakenly considered that all of London was filled with insular, ignorant buffoons. “Cross-cultural misunderstanding” would be a vast understatement. Luckily, I came to the conclusion that any such thought would be just as useless as the crowd booing at the word “America.” But later on in the show, the mob booed almost as loudly at the mention of Manchester. So instead of generalizing them, maybe I’ll just consider it to be at least a small part of British culture to boo at various things mentioned during public performances.

The manager claims that Rodrigo y Gabriela’s song title was a suitable response to their tour delay. By that logic, it would have been acceptable for me to call newspapers and radio stations when I flew home last June, to immediately share the story of my experience. Instead of feeding them a sensational story, I chose not to. I waited months until I was more certain of the meaning of the incident. No matter what the manager hopes to prove, he cannot disprove the truth inherent in my experience.

Naturally, the manager will continue to argue that I heard the song title incorrectly, and attempt to spin this in favor of his camp. With that in mind, anyone who wishes can consider the original letter a formal complaint from a former fan who was extremely disappointed with the band’s conduct in a sensitive matter. I could have sought vengeance, but I didn’t. I hoped for justice, but apparently there is none to be found. Likewise, I cannot even procure comfort for my ailment.

I can only maintain my grip on the slim chance that this will not happen again. Music is supposed to be a force of unity, and a way for us to overcome the repressive nature of modern society. I wrote the letter because I expect Rothbury to be the greatest event of music culture in Michigan’s history. I want to do my part to make sure that the majority of people there have a genuine interest combining our energy to make a positive difference in the world. I have no control over Rodrigo y Gabriela’s scheduled performance at Rothbury, but I wanted to let them know that I will be in the crowd – documenting as much as possible, searching for the truth, and having the time of my life regardless of any irreverent behavior from performers. At this point, whether they take advantage of the opportunity presented by the festival, and in what manner, is completely up to them.