Interesting story about Galactic

[MusicRoadMan]

I found this while trolling on Jambands.com (http://jambands.com/News.phtml?newsfile=redesign_news372.html#6-23-27) today and find this both funny and sad.. Here is the story (http://hamptonroads.com/2008/06/charge-profanity-stops-show-norfolks-town-point-park)in the local paper in Norfolk, VA as well as this story I found (http://www.myfoxhamptonroads.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=6832852&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1).

So I went over to the Galactic website and sure enough somebody in Norfolk has posted a rebuke of the band on the forum (http://www.galacticfunk.com/NEW2007/board/index.php?skin=1) and the faithful fans have left their two cents under Norfolk Boogaloo Concert.

Gotta love controversy... Obviously the guys in Norfolk have not listened to their latest album....

Anybody know any of the guys in the band and what their thoughts are???

[Lit]

What a day to lose George Carlin. I guess it should be seven words you can't say on television, or on stage at a concert in a "Navy town."

[sophisticated sissy]

Wow.
Quite a distinction for Norfolk.
Let's all pray for 'em.

[Rossvegas]

I think it would be really funny if every single band that plays that fest next year drops the F-bomb several times during their sets! Hell, we had a band up here in Canada named "April Wine" that used to have a song called "If You See Kay" - what would they do if everyone was singing along to that? These people need to grow up!

[Corona]

Hey Mel, was that you on that last post on the forum? "funkfunk"?
Nice to see those defending the band.....

[Frosty]

This guy owes Galactic big time. Sorry all but the organizers of a festival can decide whether they want profanity at their show or not. This being a public event, I support their decision to call the show at that point. I'm not in agreement with their being police action unless he refused to leave the stage or disobeyed police but they said he fully cooperated. It should have been left at that.

[jazzykeb]

Pretty funny, when I first read your post Frosty, I was like "what? this guy has to be crazy", but then I read the articles.....it was a show in a town park with a lot of families. Gotta use your heads folks.

A good example is when Cowboy Mouth played CFF last year. Fred who often drops the f bomb knew the audience was full of kids and showed restraint. He had a bunch of the kids on stage playing his drums. I can't imagine him cursing in that setting and it wasnt' a town park.

[glinda]

I was impressed with how much John Boutte censored himself and said "lots of kids here today," at the Chicago Blues Fest. His subtle innuendos were still there, and that's even better.

[Michelino]

There is another side to all of this...the controversy about "vulgarity" begin with a large African American festival that celebrated its 25th century anniversary in late May...meanwhile the downtown area hosting both festivals has seen substantial growth and apparent gentrification

http://www.njournalg.com/25-YearOldAfrAmFest.htm

The current festival authorities seem to have been on ready alert for any satanic hip hop involving foul language...expressly so as to make a statement.

What a f****n joke.

[Muffaletta Diver]

Does this mean that if Mich swears again within two minutes we get to remove him from the bored?

[Michelino]

Be careful Mr Diver, I can send in the crabs anytime I need them

[Frosty]

There is another side to all of this...the controversy about "vulgarity" begin with a large African American festival that celebrated its 25th century anniversary in late May...meanwhile the downtown area hosting both festivals has seen substantial growth and apparent gentrification

http://www.njournalg.com/25-YearOldAfrAmFest.htm

The current festival authorities seem to have been on ready alert for any satanic hip hop involving foul language...expressly so as to make a statement.

What a f****n joke.

I'm not sure if you are saying the swearing should be OK because they are African American or that the organizers are a joke for trying to keep vulgar language out of their event? Just because it is an African American event should not mean to expect swearing. And given what I have seen in my lifetime with those who try to host an event for the African American community, swearing is a lot less acceptable than in white events.

[Muffaletta Diver]

Be careful Mr Diver, I can send in the crabs anytime I need them

I've got the pills and cream needed to eradicate them from previous flare-ups. ;)

How the heck are Marcia and yourself? Good summer so far?

[tarheelslim]

I was there on Saturday nite and agree with the festival for booting Boots. He had come out for a few songs and dropped the f bomb, then came back out later and did the same. I assume the fest folks warned him after the first time. It is a family event and agree that he should not have used the f bomb in that situation--got no problem with it in a club, but I am trying to turn my 12 and 7 year old on to Nola music and these events are the way to do it. By the way Trombone Shorty put on a heck of a show all weekend--the kids are digging him now!

[Frosty]

I was there on Saturday nite and agree with the festival for booting Boots. He had come out for a few songs and dropped the f bomb, then came back out later and did the same. I assume the fest folks warned him after the first time. It is a family event and agree that he should not have used the f bomb in that situation--got no problem with it in a club, but I am trying to turn my 12 and 7 year old on to Nola music and these events are the way to do it. By the way Trombone Shorty put on a heck of a show all weekend--the kids are digging him now!

I'm right there with you with my kids. I want to be able to take them to these kinds of shows and not have them full of adult language. BTW, welcome to the board. Stick around as this is the place for all things NOLA.

[Michelino]

I'm not sure if you are saying the swearing should be OK because they are African American or that the organizers are a joke for trying to keep vulgar language out of their event? Just because it is an African American event should not mean to expect swearing. And given what I have seen in my lifetime with those who try to host an event for the African American community, swearing is a lot less acceptable than in white events.

The point was as my first sentence stated, there was another side to the controversy. The amount of vulgarity at the earlier African American festival may have been grossly over-reported in stereotypical fashion. That is the contention of the organization running the May festival and they point to their own experience and a lack of substantive complaints as proof. But because of this, the Cajun festival organizers seemed primed for over-reaction and with the results that Boots was arrested.

This is the obscenity as far I am concerned...not that he was asked to leave...that he should be branded as a criminal for exercising freedom of speech.

[Belle]

I was there on Saturday nite and agree with the festival for booting Boots. He had come out for a few songs and dropped the f bomb, then came back out later and did the same. I assume the fest folks warned him after the first time. It is a family event and agree that he should not have used the f bomb in that situation--got no problem with it in a club, but I am trying to turn my 12 and 7 year old on to Nola music and these events are the way to do it. By the way Trombone Shorty put on a heck of a show all weekend--the kids are digging him now!

With ya on this one tarheelslim....of course mine are now dropping the bombs now and then as they are older. Festivals are different than adults in a bar. Just sayin...

I'm right there with you with my kids. I want to be able to take them to these kinds of shows and not have them full of adult language. BTW, welcome to the board. Stick around as this is the place for all things NOLA.


I second the welcome extended by Frosty! Glad you are here.

[Michelino]

How the heck are Marcia and yourself? Good summer so far?

The devil you say! We are having fun...how are you and all the family, (wife, kids, brother, father etc) doin.

[sophisticated sissy]

Let's face it, kids are going to hear this stuff. A girl from my daughter's Montessori school attended a public Jr. high. Her mom asked if the kids at school cussed. The girl said, "Mom, I hear the word "*uck" everyday more than I hear my own name !"

One of your jobs as a parent is to explain the rules of cussing. Kids don't cuss in front of or within earshot of grown ups is one rule. There are places where cussing is inappropriate, such as school & religious activities, that is another rule.

One other task is to demystify these words and take the power away from them. Kids should learn all the dirty words at home - what they mean, how to use them in a clear and concise sentence, and when it is appropriate to employ them. My mom could never master the art of cussing and it was always amusing to me when she attempted to do it.

If you are ever in any kind of situation with your children that feels uncomfortable, it is your job as a parent to remove your children from the situation. If all these parents at the Galactic show were so offended, they should get up and vote with their feet.

There is the same type of language on cable. I find it strange that parents allow their kids to view all sorts of violence and gore on television, and to participate in it with Game boys, etc., but are unable to digest a 12 letter word in a rap. If it isn't hypocritical, it is certainly inconsistent.

As a society, we've all become a lot more profane. At a funeral a few years ago, I heard a prim little 85- year old lady use the expression, "pi**ed off". It was rather charming. :)


So, I guess you can't use George Carlin's 7 Little Words in Norfolk, VA. I find it ironic that this incident occurred within hours of Carlin's demise. They should wake up and realize that life isn't one big Montessori Picnic.

I hope other artists will boycott Norfolk. Maybe then they will have the talent on their stages that they deserve, like Miley Cyrus, or the Backstreet Boys reunion or Donny & Marie, or Wayne Newton, or ... :)

[sophisticated sissy]

Hell, we had a band up here in Canada named "April Wine" that used to have a song called "If You See Kay" - what would they do if everyone was singing along to that?

I guess that's where T-Bone Walker must've heard that tune! :p :D

[jazzykeb]

And as they mention, the neighbors had complained. I have seen that before....neighbors who don't like the noise, but can't complain during regular hours, but if they hear the slightest curse jump on the chance to complain. So the venue, the organizers and the talent should have all been warned before hand. If they weren't and there was no warning to Boots inbetween dropping the bomb, then it was overkill. If they were warned, then it was perfectly justified.

[Rossvegas]

I don't know a thing about Norfolk, but I kind of smile every time I see a formerly funky area turn on itself.

We have an area in downtown Toronto that is billed as "the Entertainment District", and the place is packed out with huge nightclubs and loud bars. The developers started marketing it as the "funky" place to live, and before you know it, the hipster doofuses and their yuppie cousins moved into glass boxes affectionally marketed as 'lofts'. Before long, the residents started calling their city councillor to complain about....the noise. Now, when a club closes its doors, it can't be relicensed as a club because they have a moratorium on any new ones. The result is a bunch of boarded up dance palaces along a formerly happening street!

When I read about an African America Fest taking place in this hood for 25 years, and then the residents start complaining about the "offensive language", I can't help but wonder what attracted them to that area in the first place. It's like if a bunch of white people moved into Harlem and then started lobbying the city to ban boomboxes and break dancing...what were they expecting when they moved there?

[Muffaletta Diver]

The devil you say! We are having fun...how are you and all the family, (wife, kids, brother, father etc) doin.

Everyone is well...no profanity issues with any of us.

[Frosty]

This is the obscenity as far I am concerned...not that he was asked to leave...that he should be branded as a criminal for exercising freedom of speech.


Gotcha. Which is pretty much what I said in my post as well.

One final thought. What was the point of the vulgarity? If anyone thinks those words still hold shock value in our society, they are mistaken.

[Michelino]

Gotcha. Which is pretty much what I said in my post as well.

One final thought. What was the point of the vulgarity? If anyone thinks those words still hold shock value in our society, they are mistaken.

If the words hold no shock value as they are part of everyday vernacular, what is the point of arresting performers who use them? Other than to make a spectacle of protecting gentrified ears from the big bad rapper...that is.

Cause if the point is to prevent children from being exposed to cuss words, there ain't enough prison cells on the planet to put all the parents who are going to need a "time-out" each and every day.

[Frosty]

If the words hold no shock value as they are part of everyday vernacular, what is the point of arresting performers who use them? Other than to make a spectacle of protecting gentrified ears from the big bad rapper...that is.

Cause if the point is to prevent children from being exposed to cuss words, there ain't enough prison cells on the planet to put all the parents who are going to need a "time-out" each and every day.

Oh, they still hold shock value with kids. If I walk in to my house tonight and say the word "poop", the kids will giggle for ten minutes.

Like I said, from the info provided, pressing charges seems excessive.

[Michelino]

Oh, they still hold shock value with kids. If I walk in to my house tonight and say the word "poop", the kids will giggle for ten minutes.

Like I said, from the info provided, pressing charges seems excessive.

I would love to hear Carlin explain why "poop" is just so much funnier to kids than most of its four letter synonyms. Maybe it is the ungracious onomatopoeia.

[Staxsun]

onomatopoeia.

Now that I'm older, I do this a lot.

[Frosty]

I would love to hear Carlin explain why "poop" is just so much funnier to kids than most of its four letter synonyms. Maybe it is the ungracious onomatopoeia.

I remember reading an article on this a while back how certain letters and sounds are funnier to us. I couldn't find the opriginal article but here is a brief one on the topic. While this article mentions the letter K, the letter P is also one of those that is deemed humorous. Plus, the OO sound in poop echoes the example given at the end for pleasing sounds.


Some words are simply funnier than others. Your word choice can be the key to creating a successful witty line or a dud. All professional comedy writers agree on the following fact. The sound of certain words can virtually guarantee a laugh. In particular, the 'K' sound in words is the granddaddy of all funny sounds. In Neil Simon's play, The Sunshine Boys, Willy, a main character, gives his nephew a lecture about comedy:

"Fifty-seven years in this business, you learn a few things. You know what words are funny and which words are not funny. Alka Seltzer is funny. You say "Alka Seltzer" you get a laugh . . . Words with "k" in them are funny. Casey Stengel, that's a funny name. Robert Taylor is not funny. Cupcake is funny. Tomato is not funny. Cookie is funny. Cucumber is funny. Car keys. Cleveland . . . Cleveland is funny. Maryland is not funny. Then, there's chicken. Chicken is funny. Pickle is funny."

Someone actually researched why the 'k' sound is funny. It has something to do with the sounds we, as babies, associated with comfort. Like cootchie-coo, cuddle, cozy, etc. Note that these words don't have a 'K' in them, but they have the 'K' sound.

Examples:

Those turkeys over at XYA (remember no Z's allowed) company can't hold a candle to our team of installers.

I'll bet you a cupcake to a cucumber the blue team will outsell the gold team.

[Michelino]

Now that I'm older, I do this a lot.

Get that prostrate checked, brother.

[Muffaletta Diver]

Get that prostrate checked, brother.

Volunteers?

[Frosty]

Get that prostrate checked, brother.

Thread Drift Alert.

[jhjpotter]

The reference to Fred is a good one, shhowing restraint with kids and families around. He did the same in Jackson a few summers ago, and even at fest to some extent. I think back two fests ago to Ludacris. His lyrics typically have expletives three of every five or so words, but he completely tamed his performance at fest. If he can do it on some of his songs, then boots surely could've found a way to tame his one liner. If he wasn't told that he was expected to keep it PG, then perhaps he's not to blame, the concert producers are.

[McGregor]

More recent articles from Norfolk. From today:

http://hamptonroads.com/node/470135
Festevents, the group that organizes festivals and concerts at Town Point Park in Norfolk, will explicitly state in its contracts that bands and singers shouldn't utter profanity while performing on stage. Unfortunately, something that should be common sense needs to be spelled out in written agreements.

The change comes after a rapper ....

So they didn't know beforehand about cursing at the show.

Charging Riley with a crime, however, was as unnecessary as the rapper's monologue.

Rapper cited for profanity takes umbrage at charges
http://hamptonroads.com/node/470158
"I perform at daytime events where I can't cuss," Riley said by telephone Tuesday. "I perform on TV. There was nothing stopping them from changing the performance. All they needed to do was ask.

"My name was on materials that Festevents used to promote the event, so they knew I was coming. They didn't do their due diligence to find out who I was."

[MusicRoadMan]

Hey Mel, was that you on that last post on the forum? "funkfunk"?
Nice to see those defending the band.....

Nope, Lis "funkfunk" is not me, but I amused by the chatter in the forum...

After reading the latest from Boots and others, I would tend to think that the Norfolk people overreacted a bit but I am sure Boots will beat the ticket. Sounds like the Fest people were trying to make an example, but it is their event and they can do what they want. Certainly strong-armed in my opinion....

If they told him to stop after one f-bomb and he continued, then they were justified in telling him to leave. Writing a ticket... I am sure the Norfolk PD have better use of their time.

I am still a Galactic fan. Would prefer Theryl fronting the group than the rappers anyway....

[Lit]

I am still a Galactic fan. Would prefer Theryl fronting the group than the rappers anyway....

I am still a Galactic fan also. I prefer neither Theryl nor the rappers fronting the group.

[funkkjunkie]

I'm with you, lit. INstrumental is fine by me. But Theryl as special guest on the boat was just the coolest, eh, MMR?! Talk about old school. And then Shamarr sitting in just threw that show off the charts. What a great night! Thanks again for donating that ticket to the raffle, Mel. :D

[MusicRoadMan]

I'm with you, lit. INstrumental is fine by me. But Theryl as special guest on the boat was just the coolest, eh, MMR?! Talk about old school. And then Shamarr sitting in just threw that show off the charts. What a great night! Thanks again for donating that ticket to the raffle, Mel. :D

I totally agree Vicki..... Thank God for earplugs......

[funkkjunkie]

Amen, brutha!

[Headless Hornman]

Rapper Cleared Of Profanity Charges

Posted Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 2:10 am

A Norfolk, Va., judge has dropped a misdemeanor profanity charge against rapper Raymond "Boots" Riley after hearing that the state law cited in the charge was previously ruled unconstitutional.


Riley was issued a misdemeanor for using obscenity in public when he reportedly introduced the band Galactic using a variation of the F-word at the Bayou Boogaloo and Cajun Festival in June.

However, city attorney Jack Cloud recently explained in court that the state law addressing the use of profane language in public was ruled unconstitutional by the Virginia Court of Appeals 19 years ago, according to the Virginian-Pilot.

"Why the state of Virginia hasn’t modified its statute I don’t know," Cloud said. "But that occasionally happens, and unfortunately it then lies in the code as a kind of time bomb that unsuspecting police officers sometimes caption."

On top of dismissing Riley’s charges, Cloud suggested the city of Norfolk amend its profanity ordinance, the paper said.

Following the festival incident, promoter Festevents made the decision to insert a no-profanity clause into all future contracts with bands and artists who play the city’s Town Point Park.