Sunday To LET LOVE RULE

August 23rd, 2015 at 4:20pm
Kip Wingerschmidt

The Afropunk Festival, happening this weekend in Brooklyn and October in Atlanta, certainly doesn’t need my help selling tickets — this being the first year that tickets weren’t free, I expected that it might be tough to sell enough to fill the massive outdoor venue that’s been its home for years.

But clearly there is no stopping Afropunk: both days were completely sold out. And for good reason — dat lineup, dat hang, dat VIBE…..it’s a singular, inspiring experience and community.

So I write these words less to hype this awesome organization/festival and more to help spread its message of acceptance and encouragement to be oneself. Banners on either side of the main stage read:

NO SEXISM

NO RACISM

NO ABLEISM

NO AGEISM

NO HOMOPHOBIA

NO FATPHOBIA

NO TRANSPHOBIA

NO HATEFULNESS

…..a-fuckin-men.

I implore all of y’all to be down with this widespread goal of supporting each other no matter what, and do the best you can to incorporate it into your own daily lives.

Everything else is just noise.

Speaking of noise, here’s a quick rundown on a trio of heavy bands I caught at the fest yesterday; two legends and one newcomer…

The 90s hit hard via the brain-teasing math metal of a powerfully reunited Candiria; these Brooklyn boys are most definitely back in a mighty strong way so get pumped.

Going back even further, 80s heroes Suicidal Tendencies delivered a truly kickass set of thrash-groove that frankly sounded more vibrant than ever.

And I can’t say I really know what the hell Death Grips is, but this Sacramento-based trio (with a totally unique/weird combo of drums/sampler/MC, featuring Zach Hill from Hella on ye olde skinzzz) certainly turned heads and got the crowd amped on its glitchy spastic sound.

And now if you’ll excuse me, I’m heading back to the fest to catch Gary Clark Jr. and Lenny fuckin’ Kravitz…

HAPPY HARMONIOUS SUNDAY YOU BEAUTIFUL BASTARDZZZ