It just seemed really promising. The mistake had been made before and somehow I did not want to admit it. I don't want to come down too hard on the lads of Negativland but I fear I can't do otherwise. Negativland was listed on a bill with the Hardkiss Brothers. I know the Hardkiss brothers are great. I learned this back several years ago when attending Deep Faith on Thursdays nights to lose myself in their unique ambient dance trance blend was almost a religious ritual. The idea of the rave/techno scene attempting to combine with the experimental noize scene, once again, had peaked my interest. I envisioned Negativland playing their set, packing up their tape loops, and scuttling home, leaving the baggy pantsed raver kids confused and bewildered, before the Hardkiss Brothers took over. I was sadly disappointed.

I arrived in an already overstuffed club (Yes, the Trocadero is beginning to become notorious for their sardine canning methods). The stage was already packed to the gills with equipment and the loops and noize were already pouring out over the masses gathered. I hear the familiar Negativland blurbs and samples that they have been abusing for the past god knows how many years but it was all mashed in with a techno beat. I did have to laugh as it seemed Negativland was throwing us a "greatest hits" collection of their work much in a way that was reminiscent of the Cheap Trick at Budokan album (This one I am sure you all know!). I stood on my tip toes to realize that I had in fact been duped. The Hardkiss Brothers were on stage with Negativland engaging in one big orgy of beats verses loops. I settled in to absorb some of these meanderings and was not completely disappointed. The first 15 minutes was enjoyable. A great balance of the cool beat and cut-up tape loops and familiar samples worked rather well. Their first 15 minutes were up and damn if the whole thing didn't begin to just suck right then and there.

The club was really really hot and there was absolutely no air. I have overlooked this thousands of times in the past mainly because what I was listening to or seeing was enjoyable enough that I was willing to suffer a tad to experience the shows. It was not working this time. Here's the scenario: The Hardkiss Brothers work up a great beat, a killer groove so to speak, and just as it really starts to work - "Wham! Something Jams your Playboy Channel". Got the picture? Negativland repeatedly demonstrated that most white boys from the suburbs have no beat....The radio scans would get louder, the Weatherman babbles mindlessly the same lines he has been babbling for years, and soon the groove fades, the magic is gone.

I kept trying to convince myself, along with my friends, that Negativland would eventually leave the stage and the Hardkiss brothers would spend the final hours of the evening delivering what our souls needed so badly at this point. WRONG! This tag team wrestling match continued for four hours. I think after the second hour I was too stunned to leave just trying to believe that it all wasn't happening.

About 11:00 PM I started to noticed another amazing occurrence. One side of the club was the experimental music scene show-goers. They all stood absolutely still, stared at the stage and watched as if every loop, noize, and rant by the Weatherman was gospel. When the sample rumbled over the PA, "The Loudspeaker spoke up and said...." they all shouted back in unison, "Christianity is Stupid!". This was pretty hard to take (see Cheap Trick comment in second paragraph). The other side of the club was the raver kids. Bless them all. They had taken their X, they had come out to dance and they were dredging the sounds being hurled at them for any excuse to grab a stray beat, hold it tight and dance. Hmmmmm....is this culture jamming????

OK....bottom line. Negativland has done some cool stuff in the past. Over-the-Edge is a landmark in radio history. They are not always perfect but in the studio, and over the radio waves, they have managed to craft several entertaining hours of sound. Live - now that's a different story. They pretty much always suck. This was no exception. They could not even be saved by my heroes the mighty Hardkiss Brothers. I have finally learned....I certainly hope I have learned. Negativland is stupid. I have to blame them because I don't want to admit that I am the stupid one for going to see them live again.

I had left the club after about 4 hours. It all was still going on. I took in my first breath of fresh air in hours. Walking to my car like some creature out of Romero flick I climbed in, started the engine, drove myself home reflecting on the history of negativland and thinking that maybe culture jamming isn't the best idea.