New York birthed Woodstock. And Ratatat.

Right before I sat down to fake study this morning (it’s about 930) I made a Genius Playlist on iTunes, using Zero 7′s “Destiny” as the selected source target. It wasn’t until I hit #14, passing the likes of Thievery Corporation, Groove Armada, The Chemical Brothers, and Moby in the process, that I revisited an old friend. One I hadn’t seen for about Seventeen Years. It reminded me of when I first got into the New York City duo’s electro/groove sound. I remember listening to them many a times with one of my best friends at the time (Sophomore in High School), Marc, in his beat up Ford Bronco that looked straight out of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Commando. Filled with blunt smoke. If you wanted the window’s down, you had to crank that shit. I can listen to my entire discography on repeat, and it will never fail to put me in my place.  Somewhere inbetween Mogwai and Daft Punk. Yes.

Now, to pay homage to those NYC Kids y’all know as Ratatat (no, not Rattata, who is #2 on the Poke Index. If you don’t know that you obviously had a life). Evan Mast and Mike Stroud first met as students at Skidmore College. Both musicians have had experience with other projects, such as Mast’s E*vax and King Pang and Stroud’s stage work with Dashboard Confessional. Stroud has also recorded with Ben Kweller on On My Way. Ratatat has toured with bands such as Björk, Daft Punk, Mouse on Mars, Interpol, Franz Ferdinand and The Killers. In 2006 they supported Mogwai in Japan, and in 2010, Vampire Weekend on their UK Tour. Infamous for their stage presence and live-shows, Ratatat has accumulated a cult-like following.  Very much like the timeless rock bands of the 1960′s and early 70′s who, along with a socially conscious youth, re-energized the music scene with soulful and energetic live performances you couldn’t hear on vinyl. Driven by an unwillingness to back down to big government, or the resistance to grassroots movements, the youth of this time period (many of our parents-don’t forget!) helped foster a never before seen unification of peoples from all colors, religions, and geography’s with one common goal: to experience good music. In doing so, many described music as an empowering spiritual experience, and seeing it performed, while surrounded by other like-minded individual, was nothing short of euphoric. Music brought people closer together. It’s undeniable. Think about the blatant and unwarranted racism throughout the entirety of the 50′s and even into the mid 1960′s. From the Montgomery Bus Boycott in December 1955, and the student sit-ins in the sixties, to the Selma March in 1965 headed by Martin Luther King and the Voting Rights Act signed by President Johnson in the same year, it could be assumed that relations were moving towards improvement, but I believe live entertainment was also detrimental in that healing process.

Now, if only there was such thing as a (good) FREE festival.  I remember there was that one back in ’69…Instead, developers and capital investors had a different plan. And fifty years later, we have Ultra-Miami. However, there is hope. Introducing West Fest: the Woodstock 40th Anniversary celebration. The free event, which was produced in association with Woodstock co-creator Artie Kornfeld, was held in San Francisco  on October 25, 2009 and drew a crowd which was estimated at over 70,000 people. Thaz whut I’m talkin’ bout!

But that’s not even the best part. The Father of Woodstock 1969, Artie Kornfeld, and artist David Kam, have planned a two-day music and art festival to take place on July 10-11. The IMAGINE concert is set to take place at Downsview Park in Toronto during the Earthship Summit. Musicians and artists from around the world will gather for a rock and roll experience as well as suggestions on how to promote positive change in the world. The Woodstock 2010 celebration will carry the same spirit and ideals as the legendary Woodstock 1969 festival. Music, art, and a list to be submitted to G8/G20 with ideas on how to promote positive social change will all be a part of the festival. Kornfeld and Kam are estimating 350,000 individuals to attend each day as well as 30 million watching from around the world.

This concert will mark the first festival since Woodstock 1969 that Artie Kornfeld has attached his name to and promises to be a hub for social change and contemporary art. Working with some of the largest charities around the world, the IMAGINE concert hopes to get past and present youth generations motivated toward improving their community and the world around them. Artie Kornfeld, the man that helped organize Woodstock 1969 and help define a generation has once again stepped up to the challenge of social strife and will promote peace and well being through the conduit of music.
Ratatat – Seventeen Years
Ratatat – Germany To Germany
Ratatat – Shempi
Zero 7 – Destiny
Mogwai – 2 Rights Make 1 Wrong
Daft Punk – High Fidelity

To all of you, like myself, looking forward to Coachella, minus the ridiculous ticket fee, make sure to self-reflect on why you’ll be going there. Whatever your reason, enjoy it, and all it has to offer.

After re-reading all of this, it’s inspiring me to further contribute to my procrastination and make a homage mix. We’ll see what happens.

<3RAWb