capitalisthippie.net

So, I have been tasked with writing some things about our band recently, for press kits and to send to particular industry folks.  Our publicist has advised us that we should really let people know why we focus on social and political messages.  For those of you who don’t know…I came up with the following:

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What is The Capitalist Hippie Complex?

The Capitalist Hippie Complex defines the meaning of its name as, “the guilt associated with abandoning your morals in pursuit of comfort.”  Driven by this guilt, their lyricist Joey Flores compensates for his own capitalistic and sometimes outrageous lifestyle by driving home socially and politically conscious messages with nearly every breath.  Founded in spoken word roots, his messages are as well thought out and articulate as they are provocative and, sometimes, offensive.  Make no mistake, for as much as every song has a contemplative message, neither Joey nor The CHC claims perfection in their own social and political offerings.  Hence, The Capitalist Hippie Complex.

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–Joey Flores

The Capitalist Hippie Complex
www.CapitalistHippie.com
http://www.myspace.com/thechc

Why?

He is a hypnotist: because every time he talks I fall asleep.

He is a master of illusion: because, to the untrained eye, it might appear he is answering the debate questions but, lo and behold, the answer is just not there.

He is a wizard: because he has been around since medieval times.

He is a master of the vanishing act: because he rounded up all of the possible VP picks and made their intelligence disappear.

Excerpt from Peace, Love and Cold Hard Cash by The Capitalist Hippie Complex:

So, I’m stackin’ mad cash till they’re sorry
I’ll vote Liberal, and drive a hybrid ferrari
Got a mansion with solar paneled windows
And limos, arriving in style with hemp wearin’ bimbos

–Joey Flores

The Capitalist Hippie Complex
www.CapitalistHippie.com
http://www.myspace.com/thechc

So, lately I have been ranting about all that is wrong with the world, from work to politics and back again.  Tonight, I am instead paying homage to arguably the greatest band of all times - TOOL.

I have been listening to TOOL for about 15 years.  For those of you wondering why I spell their name with all capital letters, it’s because that’s how you spell the name of the greatest band of all time.   Similarly, it is spelled LED ZEPPELIN.

TOOL has figured out music and ruined it for all bands to follow.  Their rhythms are beyond sophisticated, their lyrics are unapologetic and hit every nail right on the head.  On top of that, they are perfect to listen to whether you are pissed off as a mother-fucker, depressed, really happy or just plain want to hear amazing music.  Their guitars scream and, yet, every single note by every musician in the band, is tasteful and purposely placed.

I have seen TOOL in concert 13 or more times.  More than a few times, I have paid stupid amounts of money to go to their shows, including airfare to multiple cities in one weekend (worth every cent).  The one single disappointment I have is that their last tour had almost the exact same setlist every performance.  However, last time I saw them at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles they played an extended, ridiculous verion of Flood, off of their album Undertow.  And, to top it off, invited a guest drummer out to solo battle with Danny Carey for an extended song off of Lateralus.

At any rate, if you know nothing of TOOL, this post will mean nothing to you.  But, I highly recommend you forge a relationship with this band.  They are The Shit.  And, if you are so inclined, with my band…who is also Cool As Shit.  Haha!

–Joey Flores

The Capitalist Hippie Complex
www.CapitalistHippie.com
http://www.myspace.com/thechc

I have been noticing a lot of paradox in politics and society lately and I have come up with the following new rules:

• You cannot claim to be Pro-Life and:
  • Yell, “Off with his head,” or, “Kill him” at political rallies.
  • Support the death penalty.
  • NOT BE a vegetarian.
  • Go hunting.
• You cannot disapprove of Bush after realizing what 7 years of leadership from a religious nut job with no clue about foreign policy can do to us and:
  • Support Sarah Palin.
  • Not support Obama because he is ”an intelligent elitist” and not religious enough.
• You can’t accuse Obama of pulling the race card and:
  • Complain about sexism when your highly unqualified VP is questioned.
• You are not allowed to complain about the cost of Democratic social programs and:
  • Support a $700 Billion bailout of companies who made terrible decisions.
  • Not be outraged about failure CEOs walking away with huge severance packages.
• You cannot support drilling in the ocean or wildlife preserves, poor fuel economy ratings and failure for the US to join the G8 Summit and:
  • Enjoy fishing
  • Go camping
  • Claim to care about the environment

Excerpt from Miseduation by The Capitalist Hippie Complex:

I’m sick of excuses, scapegoats and copouts
They’ve got an answer for everything, pulling all the stops out
It’s got me rich in education for a highschool dropout
Block out propaganda, get these questions knocked out

–Joey Flores

The Capitalist Hippie Complex
www.CapitalistHippie.com
http://www.myspace.com/thechc

I think back to four years ago - Middle America, oh, what were you thinking?  And, although I wish we could reverse your decision to re-elect the worst president of all times, I am grateful that, after four more years of the worst leadership and greatest corrpution this country has ever witnessed, at least 70+% of Americans have realized that W stands for Worthless.  However, the following only reminds me that, many Americans, particularly those who claim most to represent the core values of this country, are violent, bigoted people with no tolerance or acceptance, and no sense of decency.  And, furthermore, that Republicans would rather energize their base through anger than work to unite the country.

MSNBC,in regards to McCain and Sarah Palin rallies over the past week:

“They’re making it personal, against the Democrat. Shouts of “traitor,” “terrorist,” “treason,” “liar,” and even “off with his head” have rung from the crowd at McCain and Sarah Palin rallies, and gone unchallenged by them.”

On top of that, riding on the backs of Diebold machines and Supreme Court takeovers of our country, the following make me realize that many Americans do not care about corruption so long as it perpetuates their agenda.

MSNBC reporting on a “typo” on NY ballots:

“In an upstate New York county, hundreds of voters have been sent absentee ballots in which they could vote for “Barack Osama.”  The absentee ballots sent to voters in Rensselaer County identified the two presidential candidates as “Barack Osama” and “John McCain.””

Quite frankly, I am nauseous from the news I’ve read over the past week (and the Grey Goose, Beer and Wine I had tonight).  As will be the theme on this blog from now on, here is a quote from one of our songs…

Excerpt from Ignorance and Fear by The Capitalist Hippie Complex:

Murder rates on the rise, and there’s people tuning out the truth
Bombs bringing blackened skies, they don’t want to know we’re killing youth
Whole nations terrified, and they’re persecuting friendly groups
Won’t admit leaders lied, that won’t justify our fallen troops…

I am currently watching Zeitgeist: Addendum.  For those of you who don’t know, this is the sequel to the film Zeitgeist, both of which are about the control of society by major, multinational organizations, from religious institutions to corporations - most of them American.

According to the logic outlined by this film, it matters not who you vote for in November.  The country and world are controlled by corporations and other institutions.  Clearly, McCain and the Lipstick Pig will only accellerate the downward spiral into greed-based globalization.  Obama, whether part of this tyrannical system or not, will either bend at the will of these organizations or be taken out by groups supported and cultivated by them.

Excerpt from Brainwash for Profit by The Capitalist Hippie Complex:

Corporate America, the land of corruption,
Of forest destruction, of HUMMER combustion,
All about the dollar, not the town’s you’re crushin,
Never ’bout the nuclear waste your dumpin’,
Gotta beat the Germans, the Japs and Russians,
Gotta be the best, no interruptions
We live in the land of the NOTHING IS FREE
You and me?  Controlled by fear and TV
They gotta do research and see
How to make us brainwashed by three
From products made by GE, to the propagods at Disney…

–Joey Flores

The Capitalist Hippie Complex
www.CapitalistHippie.com
http://www.myspace.com/thechc

Work Sucks - A M-F Daily Diary

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iCElyyvTu-n83BfiuYuLTaLzBF3AD93IJ9KG0

Work Sucks - A M-F Daily Diary