Pop Loser: Macklemore Says Climate Pledge Arena Won’t Host His Free Palestine Tour

Welcome back to Pop Loser! This week, Macklemore says that nine US arenas turned down his Free Palestine tour, U2’s The Edge (reportedly) wrote a sequel to Elf, and Television guitarist Richard Lloyd passed away. Plus, I’ll discuss why I actually prefer Adventure over Marquee Moon. 

This Week in Music:

This week in Strangerland, Dave Segal attended the first annual Baba Obscura festival and covered every band he saw, including Mdou Moctar, the Gories, Zookraught, the Black Tones, and more. 

Macklemore says Climate Pledge Arena rejected hosting his Free Palestine tour. On Friday, the rapper shared that booking shows in the US for his benefit tour has been increasingly difficult, with nine major venues turning him down, including the Amazon-owned Seattle arena. “We received available dates at these arenas through the end of the year. But once they found out these were my benefit shows for Palestine, those dates were suddenly off the table,” he wrote. “The doors were closed. The conversations were all different, but the result was the same. These shows were not going to be allowed to happen in these venues. In over twenty years of touring, I’ve never experienced anything like this.”

RIP Richard Lloyd. Co-founding guitarist of the pioneering New York punk band Television died on Saturday at the age of 75, after a battle with cholangiocarcinoma, a rare bile duct cancer. Tributes celebrating the late guitarist included one by the Smiths’s Johnny Marr, who wrote: “A seeker and finder and a true inspiration with and without the guitar. It was an honour to know him and a blessing to have been a fan.”

New guy just dropped: On Thursday, the French Canadian polka-dotted experimental rock duo Angine de Pointrine debuted a third member at their show in Toronto. The new unnamed triangle-player sports a large rectangular head with gold horns and a long protruding nose. It is unclear if this is a one-time thing or not—the band’s publicist told Pitchfork that they were not sure. 

Apparently, the Edge wrote a sequel to Elf. And no, this isn’t a fake headline I created using Mad Libs. Comedian and actor Andy Richter (who plays a small role in Elf) revealed to Obsessed: The Podcast that the film’s producer was contacted by the U2 guitarist about a script he’d written for Elf 2. “It’s the weirdest story, but apparently it was fully written,” said Richter. “Somewhere in the world there is an Edge-penned Elf 2 out there. I would love for that to make the light of day.” The Edge has yet to comment. U2 is appearing in this column more than I am comfortable with lately, but this needed to be addressed. 

Now, take a deep breath and enjoy…Charli xcx opening for Peaches in 2008.

Music Events Worth Your Hard-Earned Money This Week:

Alex Cameron, Josh da Costa Nov 11, Sunset Tavern, 8 pm, 21+

Armand Hammer Nov 11, Crocodile, 8 pm, all ages

Dogs on Shady Lane Nov 11, Vera Project, 7 pm, all ages

Nat Evans: What Days Are For Nov 12, Chapel Performance Space, 8 pm, all ages

Emerald City Soul Club: 21st Annual Rare Soul Weekender Nov 12–16, various locations

Los Chismosos (Dark Chisme Punk Set), Anthers, Beautiful Freaks Nov 13, Sunset Tavern, 9 pm, 21+ 

Lake City Record Show Nov 14, Shoreline Elks Lodge, 10 am–4 pm, free

Radio Gaza & Wo’Pop Present: A Benefit For Palestine Nov 14, Clock-Out Lounge, 8:30 pm, 21+ 

Uncle Bonsai Nov 14, Kenyon Hall, 7:30 pm, all ages

goldenstar Nov 15, Barboza, 7 pm, 21+

Olivia O’Brien Nov 16, Neumos, 8 pm, all ages

Babehoven, Pileup Nov 17, Sunset Tavern, 8 pm, 21+

Rhye: Joy Tour Nov 17, Neptune Theatre, 8 pm, all ages

Tyla: The A*Pop World Tour Nov 17, Paramount Theatre, 8 pm, all ages

VALÉ Nov 17, Barboza, 7 pm, 21+

The Songs That Keep Me Up at Night:

“Fantasy” by Black Belt Eagle Scout

Before I knew what inspired this new single by Portland-based singer-songwriter Katherine Paul (aka Black Belt Eagle Scout), I could feel its sense of freedom through its pulsing rhythm and carefree lyrics: “Fuck you / Fuck your ideals / Fuck what you have to say / I’m done with you / I just want to be free / And listen to the trees.” Paul began writing the song while transitioning out of a 9-to-5 job in the Native nonprofit world and into making music full time. “I was feeling burnt out and wanted a life where I could spend more time making music and being free outside in the trees,” she shared on Instagram.

“Carried Away” by Television

I always hear people raving about Television’s 1977 debut Marquee Moon (and for good reason—it’s an undeniable classic), but never about their 1978 follow-up, Adventure. Like the respective album covers—the band in stark high-contrast, eyes leveled at the camera on Marquee versus the relaxed, almost soft demeanor of Adventure—the sound on their sophomore album is lighter, breezier, and relieves the tension built up on their debut. Front to back, the album is flawless and includes some of their prettiest, softest moments on “Days,” “Carried Away,” and “The Dream’s Dream.” 

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