(There’s a bit of flashing lights in the ‘Better Way’ video; please be forewarned. All other videos/photos are okay. Thanks!)

There was a running half joke i kept to myself for years; however, due to the current scenario we are in, i do wonder if there’s truth to it.

The (half) joke was that Metallica initially messed up Iron Maiden’s ‘Run To The Hills’ on their Garage Days EP because they didn’t want to have to pay a bunch of royalties for a few moments of an outro. In the few times they’ve played it live just as messed up though, you can tell that while they still loved the song, they didn’t wanna have to think about the song as an examination on colonialism.

Because see? They don’t wanna have to take a position on anything- get it?

While not mentioning the punchline, i did mention to a couple of people i thought Robert Trujillo (as an Indigenous man) could do the vocals, if Hetfield were uncomfortable with its subject matter… or better yet, they could have switched roles, since the song is from the perspective of both the colonized, and colonizer.
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This most recent course of events (regarding the rise of open ‘apolitical’ thought and multiple artists’ pivot toward the right wing) led me to a Rage Against The Machine (RATM) rabbit hole.

i don’t necessarily talk about them a lot, but i love them.

i have all of their albums, and the one time i did see them live was on the tour for the first album (where Funkdoobiest opened), so the rabbit hole was more to see what reactions others had to their music. As a lyric person, it isn’t the music, but Zach de la Rocha’s delivery of the band’s treatises which primarily keep me listening to them. At the age of 15 i was already a burgeoning anticapitalist (reading some Anarchist theory) by the time of the album’s 1992 release, so the messages resonated with me.

In a society where we are encouraged to be more inclined to focus on the beat (and ignore the messages), it obviously was no surprise that a majority of the reactions were rooted in shock, when they got past their fascination of guitarist Tom Morello’s playing. That said, there were a couple of specific things which saddened me, leading to the long held assertion that the role of ‘education’ in the US (where the majority of the ‘shock’ occurred) is to expunge particular cultural and sociopolitical narratives from the annals of history long enough, where it results in generations of people having absolutely little to no memory of them.

People act like the Heritage Foundation-led Project 2020 initiated these acts of disappearance, via their removal of placards and information boards, replacing them with a sanitized rendition of this country’s history. One of the greatest comments i saw on this phenomenon proves otherwise. The comment pointed out that the US ‘education’ system always points out the ‘what’, but never the ‘why’. We all know there was a ‘civil rights movement’, but how many of us can name the people who were a pivotal part of it, outside of the one or two individuals propped up by the status quo?

How many of us can name figures who led revolts against enslavers (both in the US and the Caribbean), without crediting Abraham Lincoln?

The one thing which saddened me (which, let’s keep it real, is along the spectrum of anti-intellectualism, whether enforced, coerced or willfully done) is that people consistently echoed recency bias to insist that RATM were ‘predicting the future’, instead of recognizing that they, and many bands like them, were speaking to a time which still very much exists. Censorship still exists. Anticapitalist, anticolonial and anti-imperialist individuals, organizations and movements are still surveilled, targeted- and worse. Soft power tactics are utilized to institutionalize this erasure. Focusing (again) on reactions based in the US, there were people i saw who had very little idea of who J. Edgar Hoover, Fred Hampton, Malcolm X or Martin Luther King Jr. were, outside of maybe hearing their names once or twice in class.

Maybe.

One person even said, “They did not give a fuck.” i would argue that they DID, because if they didn’t, they would not have released the songs they did. i know this person implied that the band was not concerned about consequences by releasing this music, but i don’t think that’s the case either. i think the industry knew well enough to know that in the end, most people would see what RATM did as entertainment, and not the call to political education and organization as was intended. The reactions to their music (via platforms like Youtube, as well as social media) prove this, via the shock and disappointment of their ‘politics’.

Perhaps this is less impactful to most; however, the other thing which saddened me was the fairly constant statement of “I didn’t know rock music was political”.

Those who participated in the foundation of rock music have been all but erased in the annals of history, outside of those who know, and follow. Its roots in the blues and gospel traditions have been all but erased, to the the point where rock is seen as a genre devoid of the stories of people who have been marginalized in some capacity. Despite there being a range of rock bands who’ve addressed social injustices till this very day, from the MC5, Living Colour, Oi Polloi and La Armada, right on down to the Muslims and Soul Glo; rock music is still perceived as being created by ‘European men (in particular) who don’t have a need to sing about anything but partying and bullshitting.’ It’s important to remember that intersections of oppression exist even when someone holds particular privileges. Living under capitalism, this is obvious.

So (also) obviously, Hetfield’s comments about “some other entertainers, influenc(ing) you with their bullshit” does not assist in dispelling this myth, or erasure.

Pretty soon after one of my closest friends succumbed to cancer, i traveled to la Ciudad de México (CDMX) to see Metallica in 2024. It was an incredibly cathartic experience. It was also as if everyone and their mama knew they were in town. When asked why i was there, everyone lit up when i told them my answer. Their impact was huge, which is one of the many reasons i feel some kind of way about Hetfield’s comment.

Despite not exactly being underground artists, it was a very different story with Kneecap, whom i went to see on the 15th of October 2026. Given they are not allowed to step foot in the US, i traveled there, and i was not sure if many knew who they were.

In what has since been dismissed, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh (aka Mo Chara) and his Kneecap mates responded to what was at the time a London-based terrorism charge (Clearly an intimidation tactic to coerce other artists from speaking out):

“This is a carnival of distraction. We are not the story. Genocide is,” and “As they profit from genocide, they use an ‘anti-terror law’ against us for displaying a flag thrown on stage. A charge not serious enough to even warrant their crown court, instead a court that doesn’t have a jury. What’s the objective? To restrict our ability to travel. To prevent us speaking to young people across the world. To silence voices of compassion. To prosecute artists who dare speak out.

We stand proudly with the people,” the statement concludes. “You stand complicit with the war criminals. We are on the right side of history. You are not. We will fight you in court. We will win. Free Palestine.”

In light of the (again) much more fervent pivot toward ‘apoliticism’, ‘neutrality’, ‘enlightened centrism’ and right wingerism by numerous artists and public figures over the past 10-15 years, seeing Kneecap was a welcome relief. Most bands i see live either have staunch messaging against capitalist and imperialist violence, racism, environmental destruction, white supremacy, and the varying other types of oppression; or they utilize their platform on stage to relay similar messages. In my 35 years of attending shows, this idea that a concert exists solely or primarily for escapism has very rarely been uttered or insinuated from the stage, save for bands like Metallica. it’s a position i have long held a disagreement with, despite receiving a lot of grief for it.

Whether it IS for escapism; whether it’s for connecting with grief, trauma or joy- or even finding sociopolitical connection in it; an artist should never assume that everyone attending is there for the same exact reason, except that, for the most part, people paid to see the show because the music resonates with them on some level.

Sometimes, people connect for ALL of these reasons, combined. A perfect example of a band whose shows hold this combination is Baltimore, Maryland-based Turnstile, whom after an almost 10-year bucket list wish, i finally got to see on September 23rd of this year. There were a number of ‘Fuck ICE’ and ‘Free Palestine’ signs and shirts, which the venue’s camera focused on during many parts of the show. The band, of course, stated these same messages from the stage.

Even more recently, they held a free show (to a crowd of 60,000) in collaboration with the organization Human Concern International at D.C.s Washington Mall (on the 24th of October- the same day i finished a 5K), raising $270,000+ for Palestine, Sudan and Lebanon, more than the original goal of $150,000. To bring the point home vocalist Brendan Yates said, “We’re so grateful to have been raised by this scene, one that taught us that music not only reflects the artist making it but the people and the world and the suffering and the joy that surrounds it.” It should be noted that this concert echoes the ‘Concert For Justice’ (featuring bands such as Fugazi and Bikini Kill), held on Aug 7, 1993, commemorating the 30th anniversary of the March On Washington.

THIS is the punk and hardcore i was raised on: the type that assisted me on my journey of political awareness and building particular ideological frameworks. To say music and politics are diametrically opposed is not only ahistorical; it also doesn’t align with many of the experiences of people around the world.

It really is not that difficult to have fun at a show AND understand/remember there are larger struggles happening in the world. Some of those struggles may be happening to the very people attending the shows- we may never know.

i’ve been amused for a while now by the fact that Brendan Yates’ pre-Turnstile band is called Trapped Under Ice, where he played drums- If you haven’t heard them, go check them out. This amusement has developed into slight internal chuckling, given that the band (which is also the title of a Metallica song) has members who use their platform in ways Hetfield opposes.

It will be a while before i stop mentioning this man’s insinuation (or outright advocacy) that artists using the stage to speak about sociopolitical struggles should be censored.

While writing this piece, i saw a comment which stood out: “And this is why Metallica isn’t relevant.” And while Metallica are one of my all-time favorite bands (for many reasons i’ve written about in the past), the more they actively resist the call for meeting the time, this statement is going to be increasingly accurate. They will most likely continue to accrue a lot of income for years to come; however, outside of being useful to the market (or engineers of capitalism itself), wealth does not necessarily determine cultural relevance.

As the great Bad Religion song states, ‘Everything must cease’.

(i should add that the photo that was recently shared with me of Hetfield locking hands with O’Shea Jackson is not necessarily the progressive message people think or hope/idealize it to be. Both Jackson (aka Ice Cube) and Hetfield share similar, if not the same, class interests, and both- once relatively incendiary artists (especially Ice Cube)- perform ‘centrism’ or ‘apoliticism’ to achieve their objectives. The man who once had songs such as ‘I Wanna Kill Sam’ ultimately had enough faith in his dear ‘Uncle’ to communicate with Donald Trump’s campaign to discuss the ‘Platinum Plan’, which pandered to African communities; he also received criticism for working directly with Elon Musk through the ‘X’ platform- his mama called him Twitter though, so I’ma name him Twitter– via the BIG3, a basketball league founded by Jackson and television/film executive Jeff Kwatinetz.

i guess he’s only true to the game of capitalism at this point, which is diametrically in opposition to where Macklemore stands at this stage of his life: “I’m done playing the game of capitalism and ‘Let me walk the straight and narrow so i don’t offend this person and that person.’ And that was an unlearning.”

There is a particular type of freedom in the unlearning process Macklemore is talking about. It’s a difficult process (and you may lose a lot of people along the way), but it is incredibly freeing.

If Hetfield were pictured to be talking and giving dap to, say, a Haley Williams, someone from Show me The Body, Kneecap, AUS-ROTTEN, Macklemore… someone from Chumbawamba– You know, someone who’s long used their platform in ways he suggests they shouldn’t- then maybe we could say it’s a sign of progress.)

We are seeing who is meeting the time in the midst of struggle in sincere ways- unlike Barack Obama, who now feels ‘safe’ or ‘comfortable’ enough to speak.

In 2012 the centrist Ronald Reagan stan emphatically stated to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), “If, during this political season you hear some questions regarding my Administration’s support for Israel, remember that it’s not backed up by the facts. And remember that the U.S.-Israel relationship is simply too important to be distorted by partisan politics. America’s national security is too important. Israel’s security is too important.” Now that he has long since been removed from his direct role as war criminal/face of the imperial core, he looks at Israel’s crimes as a moral issue.

Let’s not forget this gem: “When one-sided resolutions are brought up at the Human Rights Council, we oppose them.” And: “When there are efforts to boycott or divest from Israel, we will stand against them.”

This is the same president who signed off on a 10-year long, $38 billion military assistance package to Israel (aka the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)), in September of 2016. It was considered to be “the most recent reflection of President Obama’s unshakeable commitment to Israel’s security,” and succeeded “the current $30 billion MOU signed in 2007, which (expired) at the end of FY2018.” This package came in addition to the “over $3 billion in missile defense funding for programs and systems for Israel.”

In Belfast (of all places; don’t worry, we are getting to Kneecap. You’ve never read my writing, have you?), Obama notes that Israel has “ceded moral ground” if they continue to escalate violence against Palestinians. To press this home, he points to Europe as being the center of violence against Jewish people, who “for millennia were oppressed, discriminated against, killed.” This point is quite interesting, given in July of 2009 Obama went to GHANA and said this: “I think part of what’s hampered advancement in Africa is that for many years we’ve made excuses about corruption or poor governance, that this was somehow the consequence of neo-colonialism, or the West has been oppressive, or racism – I’m not a big – I’m not a believer in excuses.”

In Belfast, he continues: “They understandably sought a refuge in a place where they had historic ties. That is undeniable. What is also undeniable is that they took the land of people. They were expelled. And those people understandably said, ‘this is an injustice and i want my land back.'” He adds, “It is incumbent on them to recognize that 7 million Palestinians are not going anywhere… Are you just going to be behind walls and wipe out everybody around you, or are you going to find some just way of defending yourself while still acting in an ethical, moral way?”

This is INCREDIBLY disingenuous. History never forgets, despite the various tools being used to expunge it. Also, when we say there is no difference between Democrats and Republicans… this is what we mean. To this, we will always point to ancestor Glen Ford’s succinctness regarding Obama (and Democrat politicians in general) as being “not the lesser evil, but the more effective evil.”

We can discuss geopolitics under an Obama administration all day- Haiti, Cuba, Ukraine, Yemen, Syria and more; regarding Africa though, the administration not only decided to maintain AFRICOM as an imperialist entity as a means to control the continent’s military, land and resources (despite it being established as Bush was walking out the door); they exacerbated the policies of the previous administration. The US was also heavily in support of the NATO-backed torture and assassination in 2011 of Muammar Gaddafi, the destabilization of the Jamahiriya in Libya, and the Green Resistance. Wherever in the world there’s a socialist and/or anti-imperialist movement, best believe the U.S. will be there to interrupt or outright destroy it, and manufacture consent to the point where portions of the public unquestioningly support it, especially when it comes to the lower half of the map.

So yeah… Don’t blame colonialism, neo-colonialism or imperialism for the material realities existing for Africa, but he could definitely acknowledge that Europe was the root to much of the violence committed onto Jewish people. He’s not incorrect about that last part but again it’s disingenuous, because his actual record as president for two whole terms displays something which is the polar opposite to that sentiment.

And of course, zionists see Obama as being traitorous in his latest turn, because they see anything that isn’t undying and unquestioned loyalty to Israel (which includes billions of dollars in aid) as such. What Obama is doing isn’t traitorous to the status quo or oppressor at all- he’s like many who practice liberalism, where they speaks certain truths when they feel there is no significant risk for them to do so.

(It should be noted that many eyes have been on the elections in Israel (where, as of this writing, it has been reported to be no clear winner). Many are counting on Netanyahu’s loss based on current events; what many are either ignoring or not thinking about is that Netanyahu is not the primary contradiction or problem- the zionist state of Israel itself is. Regardless of who represents the government- Netanyahu, former IOF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot or anyone else, there will be no cessation of genocide of Palestine’s people, or theft of land. The US will continue to throw billions of dollars at Israel, as it is an imperial outpost. What did Joseph Biden say… forty years ago, in 1986? That geopolitics is guided by “naked self-interest of the U.S.,” and that “Were there not an Israel, the United States of America would have to invent an Israel to protect her interest in the region.”

Blaming Netanyahu single-handedly for Israel’s crimes is not unlike how people blame Donald Trump the crimes of the imperial core, when both have been committing violence since their inception. The core of the lament for many is that their personal comforts have been disrupted to the point where they are forced to take time out of their day to say something. People don’t want their brunch disrupted by a genocide they can see. According to some, police terror is tolerable, as long as it’s not committed by ICE.)

The land of the free… for no one on earth but we. And even then, the people aren’t free.

Seeing Barack Hussein Obama in Belfast, Northern Ireland– a place on the map still directly impacted by British colonialism- insinuate from a safe distance that Israel is performing settler colonialism (and that Palestinians are in the right to fight for their land) is not something i’d ever expect to see.

But here we are.

But then again, are we? If we observe a bit closer at what he’s saying, not only was he ‘both sides-ing’ what is occurring, but he also, like many who practice liberalism are want to do, stated that the people who are resisting their occupiers via the only means they have available are doing it wrong.

Calling for things to be resolved through non-violent means, he said that Palestinians could not “outkill (or) outweaponize the Israelis.” Obama, just like anyone else paying attention knows very well that with the billions his, and other administrations have doled out to Israel, al-Qassam (or any other resistance forces) could never ‘outweaponize’ the IOF. “My immediate goal I would like to see right now would be simply relieving suffering, an actual end to violence, and my hope would be at the bare minimum to stop the current ongoing encroachment into the West Bank, alongside helping Gaza to rebuild.”

Again, this is disingenuous.

The biggest mode of projection in Obama’s speech is this: “If the attitude of Israel is, now that we are the strongest army, most technologically advanced in the region, then our security is dependent on us simply doing whatever we please and taking whatever we want and not making any concessions to anyone- that may work in the short term; it is a disaster for you.”

This is literally the foundation of the U.S., whether it’s Chile, Nicaragua, Iran, Grenada, Panama, México, Guam, Liberia… Whether the Monroe Doctrine, ‘Manifest Destiny’ or the bevy of operations fronted by acronymned organizations; you can replace ‘Israel’ with the ‘U.S’, and thank me later.

We could even discuss Brazil, which ALSO just had an election, resulting in the re-election of Luis Inácio Lula da Silva, winning over Flávio Bolsonaro (who was favored by the U.S., just like his daddy, Jair, who was sentenced to 27 years for devising a plan for a coup). In fact, despite him saying he had no plans to leave, it was reported/alleged/rumored that Bolsonaro and his family were receiving U.S. visas (and flying to Florida) after his loss, despite a Supreme Court order for him to relinquish his passport, due to corruption charges.

There was also a vote which occurred earlier today (as of the date of this piece) at the United Nations General Assembly, where (in its 34th year) 130 countries voted in favor of ending the genocidal blockade on Cuba- and 17 countries (most obviously including the U.S.) voted against it. The U.S. maintains that the exporting of doctors is a criminal act, while this country continues to export weapons to subjugate and destroy whole populations across the globe.

Even with this piece… There are those who have not yet turned away who may be asking, ‘What’s with all of the political talk? I thought this was about music,’ i implore you to read the piece again, and ask why you are resistant to the ‘political talk’, particularly in light of recent events. And also, have you read this blog before?

(Smiles.)

i will always think about how music was a filter and a teacher for me, through which i was encouraged to do research and learn about things happening in the world. Through punk and hardcore in particular, i discovered direct community and alternative sources to the ones capitalism consistently attempts to misinform us with.

There is a particular position i’ve held for a while now, that many reading this may disagree with. It is crucial we stop processing our position on what is happening to Palestinians (or anyone else facing occupation, genocide, theft of resources, and more) as being on the ‘wrong’ or ‘right’ side of history. Like many things, this is an ahistorical position.

History has no moral compass- it just is. If we support the liberation of a people, we should not think of this in terms of rewards, or if history looks upon us positively, especially in light of countless people being magnetized by the bystander effect who, like Obama, wait until things are of little risk to so much as say something, whether it’s due to fear of retribution, or fear of seeming unpopular. The question we must ask ourselves is if we’re supporting particular struggles because it makes us look good, or if we are doing it because it is something that will ultimately benefit all people.

Being a person of conscience requires work, both internally and externally. With ‘Being on the right side of history’, all it requires is the bare minimum of agreeing that, for example, people should not be bombed to oblivion. Even more specifically, there are people who may support a liberation struggle in theory, while committing intimate partner violence (for example). It’s the slight difference between being an ally/being in support of, and an accomplice/being in solidarity with.

i cannot answer any of these questions for you. Only you can. All i can say is, for many of us reading this; a minute of our discomfort cannot compare to the lifetimes those who have faced violence at the hands of the country i reside continue to face.

Obama was in Belfast to opine that a solution between Palestine and Israel could be something akin to the Good Friday (or Belfast) Agreement, signed on 10 April 1998. The agreement, in which the objective was to enact a truce between the Brits and the Irish (after a 30-year period of ‘The Troubles’), stated: A British-Irish Council (BIC) will be established under a new British-Irish Agreement to promote the harmonious and mutually beneficial development of the totality of relationships among the peoples of these islands.

It is ultimately, a ‘two-state solution’ of sorts.

However, we must ask if what ultimately exists is ‘harmonious and mutually beneficial,’ since Northern Ireland remains a colony of the British, just as Palestine would be a colony of Israel/U.S., under this romanticized ‘two-state solution’.

i said all of that to say this- KNEECAP are from Belfast. And if we know anything about Kneecap, they are vehemently opposed to settler colonialism in all its forms, whether it be Ireland, Palestine, the U.S., Australia, Brazil, Aotearoa (New Zealand) or anywhere else.

Of course, i would have said all of that anyway, but still…

“Mexico and Ireland have two things in common- We both have annoying neighbors, and we both love to drink!” i cannot remember whether Móglaí Bap or Mo Chara said this, but i remember the sentence very well, as it was met with roaring cheers.

Like Turnstile, Kneecap (which also includes DJ Próvaí) have a similar penchant for fun, but also understand they have access to a platform not many others do, so they are going to use it in ways not focused solely on entertainment or escapism. While countless people opine that Rage Against The Machine should make a return given the current state of affairs, we neglect to see the artists currently in existence delivering similar, if not the same, messages: Kneecap, Moor Mother, Rhapsody, Bob Vylan and Carsie Blanton are among many artists who address imperialism, white supremacy, capitalism (and more) outside of a cursory mention or reference.

With a capacity of about 3500, Pabellón Oeste del Palacio de los Deportes is not gigantic, in comparison to other nearby venues. It is reminiscent of a medium-sized airplane hangar. On this night, it was populated with those who donned keffiyehs, shirts with anti-colonial messaging, and fellow band endorsements.

One of the first things i look for when entering an unfamiliar venue is the accessibility.

i tend to show up massively early to venues, so i am able to be up front, as the designated ‘accessible’ sections tend to be anything but. i had very little problems entering the venue; any time i’ve been in México i’ve been able to communicate relatively well (for a person who understands it much better than i can speak it; i know enough to have basic conversations). i usually open conversations with, “Yo entiendo español mas, pero hablo un poquito.” Whether in countries where the primary language is Spanish (or if i’m speaking with someone in the U.S.), every single person i speak with lights up, because in most cases, English is a language they struggle with, leading us to work together.

Depending on what part of the world someone is from, i am able to understand some better than others- and in Ciudad de México they speak quite fast. While most conversations i’ve had there were completely in Spanish, there were a couple of times a bilingual person came to assist, if they saw me struggling- something i have mixed feelings about. On one end i want to get better at conversing without any type of intervention; on another end i understand that people need to keep things moving. In those situations, i did speak some Spanglish.

Overall, it felt good to be and feel understood, mistakes and all.

In both of the times i’ve gone to see a major concert in CDMX, there is a person designated to be with you throughout the night, something that does not exist in the U.S. at all, in my experience. In smaller clubs, there are people who come in and check in on you on occasion (especially if it is a place you frequent); however, they are not hired specifically to do that job. En la Ciudad de México, this designated person logs your information, for liability purposes.

The person i was with gave me the option of being either on the floor or the accessible platform, which is not what occurred the last time i was at a show, where i was relegated solely to the platform, and could barely see a thing. i (obviously) opted for the platform in this case, especially after i saw what it looked like, since i wouldn’t be able to see anything from the floor. It was at the rear of the venue- a common spot i am not a fan of, as there should be accessible spots all throughout, including close to the stage, to present options. The venue was not that big, and it wasn’t totally easy to make out faces; however, despite being in the back, the folks on stage didn’t look like complete ants.

The one nice thing about where we were located is that it was a bit behind the soundboard; anyone who regularly attends shows most likely knows that the soundboard is the most optimal place to be around, because that is where the people on stage are going to sound the best. Despite it looking like a hangar, this venue had some of the best sound i heard in my life.

The other thing i check for (in regards to accessibility) is the bathroom.

Whenever i look at these stalls, i think about people who use anything beyond a basic manual wheelchair, like the one i use. Anyone who uses a larger electric wheelchair with various accessories is going to have a much more difficult time finding a place to do their business, because if the stalls come fairly close to not having much room for my wheelchair, where are they going to go? Not only are the stalls smaller; for a venue that fits a capacity of a few thousand people, having only one accessible stall is curious.

This was one of the better venues of its type, but overall, we have got to do so much better to account for the needs of varying disabilities.

Whenever i travel to México, i always make a new friend; this time was no different, as i met the wonderful Yam. One thing which NEVER happens to me while traveling though, is that i end up seeing an already existing friend at a show.

Jim Ruland (who just released a new novel) and i live on opposite ends of the country, so it was a wonderful surprise to find out a day before the show that he would ALSO be seeing Kneecap. As i was over by the food queue waiting to pay for the palomitas i got, he appeared in front of me. We embraced, and walked/rolled over to the accessible section, where we watched the show. He introduced me to his longtime friend/travel partner John, who brought his daughter with him.

Kneecap’s music depicts the range of human experiences, whether it’s relating to reminiscing over a night of getting fucked up, hanging out with friends, experiencing lust (or love), or stating opposition to colonialism. Those who have never listened to them (and are only familiar with their political stances) observe them as being ‘too serious’, or ascetic in a way.

Far too many of us are conditioned to see things as binary- whether it’s gender or perceptions of music; we are never encouraged to recognize divergence or nuance. Nothing is static, and this includes the human experience.

The set design was fairly basic, yet extremely effective. Besides the DJ deck (and the table where the deck was placed on) displaying Palestinian and Irish flags, there were the screens. Despite being at the back of the venue, i was able to see everything clearly; in fact, what was happening on the screens made the stage look larger than life, proving that one doesn’t need an enormous venue for things to work.

In the middle of the set, a woman (who, if i’m not mistaken was Nadya R. H. Rasheed, the current ambassador for the Palestinian Embassy in México) came out to say a brief speech, then lead a chant of, “¡Palestina Libre!” My heart felt so warm to be surrounded by thousands of Mexican leftists who didn’t feel like they were too cool to let loose, who enthusiastically chanted throughout the night, and who clearly understood the messages, even if speaking a different language than the band they came to see. Many actually understood well enough to sing along.

You very rarely see this same energy at all for larger shows in the U.S., save for bands like Turnstile.

The rise of the use of Gaeilge among young people (which i would have no doubt Kneecap contributed to) is something that’s been in mainstream conversation as of late. Having been to Ireland twice- Dublin and Belfast, it was wonderful to see Irish signs everywhere.

Kneecap use a combination of Irish and English in their music, and on a few songs they flashed quick translations on the screen.

After an amazing set (which consisted of many crowd favorites, and banter which connected Éire to México) another heartwarming moment was seeing almost everyone stay, crowdsurfing and all, as the international antifascist anthem ‘Bella Ciao’ played, treating it as another song on Kneecap’s set.

THIS is the kind of show i always want to be at.

THIS is why México is beloved by many, when it comes to shows.

THIS is why James Hetfield (as much as i love his band) is incorrect in his position, and deserves all of the smoke for it.

Gracias, Ciudad de México, por invitarme.

After being booted from Ed Sheeran’s tour, Macklemore kept it pushing and saw the experience as an opportunity, making the move to formulate a ‘Free Palestine’ tour, in which all three dates (in Dublin (IR), Paris (FR) and London (UK)) immediately sold out. According to Macklemore, Kneecap (along with Hozier) immediately said yes to the call.

Bisan Owda opened the concert (in Dublin, fittingly) with a virtual message: “Today, I have one important word to tell you, from me and my people,” followed by a beautiful montage of ‘Welcomes’ from the people of Palestine, from youth to elders. She then closed the montage by saying, “Welcome to ‘Free Palestine’ tour!”

Those of us (including myself) know the time and work it takes to coordinate a single show. For Macklemore to coordinate THREE shows (which sold out immediately), ensure all logistics and collaborations are solid within ONE to TWO WEEKS, then having those shows be a reality within ONE MONTH is pretty incredible. The show included artists such as Beoga (Ed Sheeran’s accompanying band who dropped out in solidarity) and dead prez.

This is certainly proof of the understanding of what’s at stake- not only for artists, but in relation to people facing occupation and violence at the behest of our tax dollars.

All of the footage i saw was filled with massive amounts of joy- not the anger that activists, organizers and protest artists are perceived to consistently have by the ‘It’s not that deep’ crowd. For those folks i would ask, ‘Why aren’t you angry?’ And also, ‘anger does not symbolize eternal unhappiness.’ As the highly contradictory John Lydon once sang, ‘Anger is an energy.’ Utilize it in productive ways.

If the majority of people who stay in these parasocial relationships with celebrities practiced the same levels of militancy around liberation as they do for the people they don’t even know, we’d be in a much better place.
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To connect everything together and to close this out (finally, right?), i will post a portion of an interview ancestor Che Guevara did with Seán Egan, of Ireland’s RTÉ News, from 1964. Felima Archer acted as an impromptu translator.

It is crucial to remember that our struggles are aligned, and we must practice international solidarity, in order to ensure this planet’s survival.

Saoirse Don Phailistín, an lá ar fad, gach lá.

¡Cuba Sí! ¡Bloqueo No!

&

El pueblo unido jamás será vencido… ¡Venceremos!

Bella ciao, camaradas. Un abrazo a todos (si los aceptáis).