MOG

I braved two of the things I loathe most today in order to see two things of the things I really enjoy. Loathe: Crowds and the sun. Enjoy: The Decemberists and Barack Obama.

So just what was that yellow bastard doing out here in Portland, anyway?

The sun, I mean. Not Obama.

I woke up a little bit later than I’d planned, so I wasn’t expecting to get in. Little did I know that an estimated 75,000 people showed up, and most of them were somehow behind me. Not sure how that happened. It probably didn’t hurt that I completely and totally cheated when I spotted a large gap in the line (which wrapped all over the city, veering in any direction the shade went) somewhere around the corner of Jefferson and 2nd and took advantage.

The event was held at Waterfront Park along the Willamette River. The set up was a little odd—Waterfront Park is a sloped, grassy hill, and the stage was at the top of the hill, not the bottom. That decision made it difficult to see his Barackness and even more so The Decemberists. I’m guessing that the folks out on their boats had the best view, as long as they brought a pair of binoculars.

The Decemberists played a surprisingly long set, considering the circumstances. They stuck primarily to more politically-charged songs such as 16 Military Wives and Sons & Daughters, which makes a certain kind of sense given the setting. An occasional song having nothing to do with politics or war slipped in now and then, such as show opener The Crane Wife 1 & 2, July, July! and The Perfect Crime #2.

As the gathering was all about togetherness, Collin Melloy worked a lot of audience participation into the show. We wiggled our fingers in unison, waved our arms, and filled in la dee da’s whenever they showed up. During the final song of the set, Sons & Daughters, Obama supporters chanted “Here all the bombs fade away,” and with any luck come 2009, we’re headed to that place.

They also played a new song I’ve not heard yet called Valerie Plame. Here’s a very Blair Witch type recording of the song I’ve uploaded to YouTube (which is unfortunately missing the beginning). Remote Control will not be held responsible for any vomiting. In fact, if watching Cloverfield made you feel queasy, maybe just close your eyes for the first 5 seconds or so. After brief speeches from a community organizer whose name I don’t recall and from Oregon Congressman Earl Blumenauer, Obama and his family took the stage. His family stayed only briefly, and then Obama preached to a bigger choir than he ever has before. Here’s a video of Barack on why he chose to run so young (featuring some girl talking on a cell phone behind me):

Campaign speeches are mostly made up of candidates placing a box in front of you and telling you what the label on the box says without really understanding what the contents of the box are. Let’s say I put a box in front of you that says “CLOTHES.” Useful information, but it doesn’t tell you what’s really inside—there might be a vintage tee-shirt with a kitten painted in glitter puffy paint inside that motherfucker! You never know what you’ll get when you start labeling things without knowing what the hell you’re talking about.

Obama’s speech was decent, as far as stump speeches go. Obama does a pretty good job of unpacking those boxes and telling you what’s inside. That’s what I like about him. Also, his taste in music isn’t half bad.

Barack "I say Democratic, you say Nominee!" Obama

Posted on 05/18/2008