AUGUST 1998 SUPPLEMENTAL OPINION PAGE
So, at the Sonshine Festival in Willmar, MN, I was watching the band Five Iron Frenzy and checking out the crowd when I had a revelation.
When my dog is outside relieving herself on the grass, she often finishes with a strange ritual. She takes a couple steps forward to put things behind her, as it were, and digs into the grass with all four paws, flipping the grass behind her. Then she trots away.
Anyway(s), as I watched the crowd I made a bizarre connection. That ska dance (called "skanking" I believe) is simply human beings reenacting my dog's behavior. It's a metaphorical dance that says "I am putting behind me the stench of life and I'm kicking a little dirt on it as I go." It's a joyous, celebratory dance of absolution. The only downside is that it kicks up a Texas-size storm of dust, as you might be able to see in the photo.
In other news from that festival, I wanted to tell you about three people.
Firstly, I wanted to tell you about a man whom I'll call The Meanest Monitor Man Employed By A Successful Christian Artist Who Ought To Know Better Than To Have Hired Him Let Alone Keep Him Around. Instead, though, I'll tell you about Bob Po, who organizes the Sonshine Festival. Bob is the kindest, most honest, and generous festival guru I've ever met. (Personally, I really like his hairstyle too.) Bob has been running this festival for seventeen years and treats performers and attendees as what they are: forgiven children of God who cling to the cross.
Secondly, I wanted to tell you about a man whom I'll call The Self-Absorbed Mid-Level Christian Singer Who Saunters And Swaggers And Bosses People Around Because He's Just So Darn Famous. Instead, though, I'll tell you about meeting Steven Curtis Chapman, who turned out to be as interested in people as anyone I've met in recent memory. Mr. Chapman brought along his son and two baseball gloves. He took time to talk to anyone who approached him, and right before he went onstage he and his son slapped each other's hands before he hit the first chord on his guitar. He seems a man with no delusions who appreciates the folks who buy his albums and support his ministry.
Thirdly, I wanted to tell you about a man whom I'll call The Greedy Label Executive Who Takes Bands With A Wonderful Ministry And Tempts Them Into A Recording Contract Which Might As Well Have A Domino's Application On The Last Page Since They'll Be Delivering Pizzas To Make Ends Meet. Instead, though, I'll tell you about a band called Pegtop. These three make some incredible music; they're as unpretentious as any group I've seen (if you've seen the drumset you know what I mean); in a word, they rule! (Well, that's two words, but they deserve it.) If you get the chance to see them, please do--I believe they travel mostly around Minnesota, but I really don't know. What I DO know is that they've remained independent and, therefore, haven't had to work for Papa John's yet. (Pegtop c/o Unity Productions, 4107 Upton Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55412 (612)588-0553--that's the most recent address I have for them, in case you're interested.)
Given all that I've spouted on about here, let me sum up with this thought: When you're facing the Meanest Monitor Man, when you have to pretend to admire a singer who deserves nothing of the sort, when you see successful bands ripped apart by greedy record executives, do what any respectable dog does . . . put on your favorite ska album, put life's stinky stuff behind you, and Skank your little tail off!
george
Read more of George's monthly newsletters.
