Another Seven Nation Army ‘Sighting’

I’ve argued elsewhere that Seven Nation Army is the only iconic guitar riff of the 00’s. Heck, I reckon it could be the last great iconic guitar riff of the rock era, destined to go down in history along with the likes of Back In Black and Smells Like Teen Spirit. It’s one of the few pieces of music in recent memory to be birthed as indie-cool underground and then morph into an international anthem.

As such, I’ve noticed lately that it is the go-to riff for bands and DJ’s aiming to please. I’ve set myself the task of hunting cases down. The afore-linked-to Rodrigo y Gabriella show was one such instance. There is an excellent mash-up of Public Enemy’s Bring The Noise and Army going around; I first heard it at Fatboy Slim’s Fuji Rock performance in 2005.

And then Thursday night at Red Marquee, I wandered in at the tail end of Japanese Beatboxer Afra’s set. Sho nuff, in the midst of his noodling, he whipped out the Seven Nation in a deep growly baritone, and everyone went nuts, myself included (at least inside. I believe I smirked ever so slightly, indicated I was pleased at this confirmation of my hypothesis. And then bobbed my head to the music in an emotionally distanced and superior fashion, like a repsectable rock critic should, knowing that I enjoy it on a much deeper level than you do.)

(And by the way, all the haters among my “colleagues” can suck a nut-sack flavored lozenge. Tell me the shows where Weezer or Basment Jaxx played anything by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah.)

Afra followed this up with a bit of Sukiyaki, which also justifiably tickles the excitement bones of the Nihonjin. And me. CLASSIC frickin’ melody, man.

-Kern

reported by kern

 

« NEXT | BACK »