THU 11/03 FELIX Y LOS GATOS 8PM • $8-$10 FRI 11/04 ANTIBACTERIA CAFETERIA PRESENTS 8PM • $10 SAT 11/05 JIMI PRIMETIME SMITH BOB CORRITORE BLUES BAND 8PM • $12 SUN 11/06 MINKA SIGNIFICANT OTHERS, FAIRY BONES, THE MAY 8PM • $10 Notes from p 33 your poise and get a little bloodthirsty to boot. KARI LAKE: ‘SONGS FOR EXTREME POSITIONS’ Napoleon XIV, ‘They’re Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!’ There are few songs that are as surpris- ingly creepy as this one. Even without any snarling guitar or lyrics referencing bloody and/or dismemberment, it strikes at a fear some folks harbor: not only are they being watched, but they’re powerless to do anything when those “others” finally decide to do something about it. Not that the Lake campaign is self-aware enough to really know that — and this song instead stands as a commentary for their own acceptance of the most ludicrous conspiracy theories in the name of perceived victory. If we’re all truly lucky, someone just might send them to a padded room after all. Charlie Louvin, ‘Must 34 YouThrow Dirt in My Face’ The Louvin Brothers all but invented the notion of the lovable loser in a lot of their songs from the ’50s. Charlie Louvin, later in his life, revisited some of these songs, and his age and corresponding sense of wisdom turns tunes like this one into an utterly devastating ballad. So, then, what does Lake and company know about or have to do with such profound heartache? Nothing, really — it feels more like the public speaking to her campaign about the continually upsetting and confounding ways they’ve lied and manipulated to get this far. It’s an anthem for people who’ve been spit on, and who somehow still hope that goodness and decency can win out in the end. Twisted Sister, ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It’ This is an interesting addition to the Lake playlist. Earlier this year, Lake’s campaign started featuring the ’80s rock classic — to which point frontman Dee Snider responded in the same way he has to almost every silly Republican candidate who co-opted it: “Knock it off.” Eventually, he relented, and seemed to be just fine with the song’s continued use amid Lake’s specific rallies and/or other events. And to that we say, good. Everyone knows that candidates like Lake don’t think too deeply about even their song choices, and so this one should be a constant reminder of the kind of tone-deaf campaign she’s run this whole time. Johnny Cash, ‘Dirty Old Egg Sucking Dog’ Here’s a song that works on so many amazing levels. Is it a little funny? Sure, it’s a powerful example of a great ’60s novelty song, and that energy means it could make a proper playlist and never raise the alarm. Which is great, since it would only take one half-hearted listen before someone realized its double-sided purpose: 1. it’s a diss track for any slow-witted pain in the ass and 2. the mere act of playing it in public automatically makes anyone look even a little silly and/or asinine. A song like that is rare, and this one deserves to be associated with Lake and other misshapen political fiends. Van Halen, ‘Runnin’ With the Devil’ I get because of the song’s name, most GOP-ers wouldn’t pick this rock anthem in a million years. But I’d make an argument that, like the aforementioned Twister Sister and Heart songs, this one is an ’80s classic dying to be blared at one of those giant stupid rallies. It’s got the sweet hooks and the sleek, sexy energy that make said Kari “We’re not gonna” Lake it. New Times photo illustration. Lake photo: Gage Skidmore crowds go wild. But, of course, there’s also some great subtext to the song, and it’s either about freedom and/or living exclu- sively in the present. That’s the perfect song for Lake’s campaign: no depth, no larger context, and perhaps no true or discernible future. Aerosmith, ‘Dream On’ This underrated Aerosmith song actually has a bit of history that’s perfect for Lake. Her political hero/idol, Donald Trump, actually used the song during several election-centric events — until the band demanded he promptly knock off said unauthorized use. So, Lake utilizing the song at her own events as well as various promotional campaigns seems like a perfect way to both pay tribute to her orange-colored BFF while showing her own rebel status. The fact that the song’s refrain of “dream on” ad infinitum would also make for the perfect moment upon her possible defeat is just a nice little bonus for the rest of us. Charles Bradley, ‘Changes’ If you haven’t heard or seen Charles Bradley (before his untimely death in 2017), “Changes” may very well be his signature song. Either live or on LP, his performance drives home the song’s core themes of grap- pling with life’s endless ups and downs and trying to come out the other side a better person. Is Lake capable of either such deep introspection or self-awareness? No. So then let this song stand as a reminder of her own changes, from mostly accepted local anchor to another alt-right politician playing to everyone’s baser instincts in order to win. The fact that the song might lend any depth is purely coincidental. Read the full article on phoenixnewtimes.com/music. NOV 3RD–NOV 9TH, 2022 PHOENIX NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | FILM | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | FEATURE | NEWS | OPINION | FEEDBACK | CONTENTS | phoenixnewtimes.com
