Stereolab (Nov 12 2008, Brussels)

I went to the Stereolab concert in Brussels earlier this month and oh my, what a ****hole the Botanique is: lots of unfriendly concertgoers and when more than 50 people (constantly) ignore the smoking ban inside the concert hall it can only be a sign that the venue itself doesn’t care… oh, and I didn’t like it how some weed-smoking tosser didn’t give a damn about using my coat as a seat when his marihuana-loaded legs couldn’t support his ugly body anymore… so yes, a good concert can be ruined by other people in the venue and it’s especially sad when it’s your favourite band.  So don’t expect a review of that concert. Anyway, after that concert I decided this may be the very last time I’ll go to that venue. Up to November I’d always claimed the Botanique’s concerts were often ruined by the crowd, except for Stereolab’s concerts. Well, I can’t say that any longer.

Instead, I’ll treat you to a video of one of their songs. In this day and age “Ping Pong” seems to be as topical as it was 15 years ago (you can find the track on the album Mars Audiac Quintet) and here are the lyrics to prove my point:

it’s alright ‘cos the historical pattern has shown
how the economical cycle tends to revolve
in a round of decades three stages stand out in a loop
a slump and war then peel back to square one and back for more

bigger slump and bigger wars and a smaller recovery
huger slump and greater wars and a shallower recovery

you see the recovery always comes ’round again
there’s nothing to worry for things will look after themselves
it’s alright recovery always comes ’round again
there’s nothing to worry if things can only get better

there’s only millions that lose their jobs and homes and sometimes accents
there’s only millions that die in their bloody wars, it’s alright

it’s only their lives and the lives of their next of kin that they are losing
it’s only their lives and the lives of their next of kin that they are losing

it’s alright ‘cos the historical pattern has shown
how the economical cycle tends to revolve
in a round of decades three stages stand out in a loop
a slump and war then peel back to square one and back for more

bigger slump and bigger wars and a smaller recovery
huger slump and greater wars and a shallower recovery

don’t worry be happy things will get better naturally
don’t worry shut up sit down go with it and be happy