tom gabel and why music is so special.

whelp, now that the news has had some time to set in for everyone and i spent a good week listening to against me! like they broke up or one of them died.....i have a lot of thoughts on the situation that i would really like to put to paper.  i have always been very vocal about against me! and the things they do, but over the past year or so, i have discovered a new unwavering love and respect for them, regardless of any animosity i may have had in the past.  and i don't think that will change any time soon.

now do i have any objection to tom's desire to express himself?  absolutely, positively not.  but does it make me think a bit differently about the times we live in?  absolutely, positively yes.

i am very torn when it comes to things such as this.  i have no problem with gay people, bisexuals, or anything of the sort.  my motto has always been "as long as it doesn't directly effect my life, then i have no problem with it."  and the reason behind that motto is that it's not a lifestyle i chose to partake in but it doesn't negatively effect my life at all, so why condemn it?  there's no reason to.  and people who do are fucking foolish.  now, i know tom is not gay or bisexual, as he's said so himself, and is staying with his wife.....but the fact of the matter is still the same.  people who condemn someone for such a thing is foolish because it does not directly effect their life.

however, it's made me think a bit about my own life.  i may be a bit old fashion in some of my values as i do not openly SUPPORT such a thing.  i very often say that if i grew up in the 50s, i would have been much happier.  this has to do with a lot of things, social issues, sexual issues, political issues, and god damn, technological issues.  for the sake of being brief, i HATE how dependent we are on technology and i think it is dumbing us down as a race.  now, did things like what's happening with the frontman of one of my favorite bands NOT happen back in the 40s or 50s or any other time period?  i'm sure they did.  they are just a bit more in the news now.  and it just makes me think that i myself, not society as a whole, would be better off in a different generation.

i've seen a lot of people who have never really bothered to concern themselves with against me! come forward and take a stance on this issue.  many have brought their opinions to me as they know i've been a long time fan.  and the overall resounding opinion of the people who don't know the band has been the same.  "oh good for him/her."  again, i do not think it is an issue that directly concerns ANY of us, except for the people who tom gabel is directly involved with.  so saying it's a giant victory for whatever culture.....i just don't know if i can get behind that.

it's a personal matter.

people worry too much about the celebrity craze and what other people are doing with their lives and i wish people would focus more on their own lives.  and that is why i will re-state my opinion again, and that's that i have ZERO issue with his desire to more openly express himself.  it is NOT my business.

if people were openly bashing him, i would have a much different stance, and i would say it's bullshit that people are doing so because by doing so you are not only meddling in affairs that don't concern you, but you're being a bigot to someone who has no effect on you.  but at the end of the day, the only thing i am truly concerned with, and the same concerns are shared with the fans of the band that i've known for years, is what's going to happen to the music.

white crosses is my least favorite against me! record.  it has some great tracks, but all in all, it's their weakest.  the new songs they've been playing sound amazing.  and if the record is amazing, then against me! will still fucking be against me!  if tom's voice changes, i might be a little taken aback by the issue, but he claims it will not.  so, therefore, as long as their production stays consistent and their live shows are as bad ass as ever, then against me! will always be against me!

tom gabel is someone who stopped a show to dive off a stage onto a bouncer who was pulling me out of the show in rochester, ny.  there will always be a soft spot.

and ya know what?  if the music does change, or this causes against me! to break up, or whatever other terrible thing might happen that i don't even want to think of....it will only matter to an extent.  because the great thing about music is it's timeless.  it will always be there.  as the eternal cowboy is one of the greatest punk records ever made and in 10 years, it's still going to sound the same.  you record music and it marks a time in your life.  and when you listen to that music, it marks a time in your life.

music to me has completely shaped my life.  most major memories i have, i can recall what was on my stereo at the time.  music is timeless, and no matter what direction a band goes in, you will always have the music you fell in love with.  if you hate new green day, dookie is always still going to be there.  for me, "...cowboy" will always still be there, "fluent in stroll" will always still be there, "the devil and god" will always be there....and every other important album to me...it will always stay the same.

and that is what makes music so special.  it can serve as more of a landmark emotional timekeeper than any other picture or place could.  to quote a country artist, "every time i hear that song, i go back."