Our good friend Chipotle Frank recently wrote a scathing review of one of Flagstaff’s many generic country/rock outfits, Gravy. You know, one of those bands that play at Charly’s and it pisses you off because you don’t want to see the band because one just like it is playing down the street, but you’ve got to pay the cover just to go upstairs to get a beer at Zane Grey’s, the other bar in the historic Weatherford Hotel. Or, I think, they also fit in well with the type of band you might see playing outside of Flagbrew on the patio, drawing in tourists longing for that fresh-off-the-mountain-good-ol-boy-simple-charm feeling that only comes from cowboy hats, the twang of a western guitar, and lyrics that suggest, “I’m sexist as hell, but I’m too damn ‘country’ to admit that’s a bad thing.”

Then, in response, Ryan Heinsius, editor of FlagLive, the other local arts newspaper, wrote a scathing review of Mr. Frank’s review of the band, referring to The Noise as “garbage” and Chipotle Frank as “obnoxious” among many other patronizing and sarcastic degradations. His basic argument, it seems to me, is that citizens should support anything and everything local, no matter how generic, immoral, or just plain stupid the detail in question might be.

Before I go more into the specifics of Heinsius’ heinous remarks, there are a few things about FlagLive that I should make clear. FlagLive is barely local. A lot of their articles are syndicated. They have a section called “Ask a Mexican,” where people are allowed to be racist and then the paper can respond in a way that points out how funny it is to be racist. Most importantly, though, is that FlagLive operates out of the Arizona Daily Sun office, the major News newspaper in the area. This, of course, takes care of their funding, advertising, and printing. The Noise is independently owned, funded, written, designed, and printed. Those who run the paper, seek out advertising. Stories are written by members of the community, therefore, reflecting issues that every day Joes in town can relate to. Everything in the Noise and everything that makes The Noise possible is local and wouldn’t be what it is without the hard work of local people who care about local issues.

I think Frank’s main concern with band’s like Gravy is the fact that a lot of bands that play downtown sound the same, have the same audience, and musically, aren’t really doing anything unique. Generic rock bands follow a script, it seems, which is reflected in everything from they’re lyrics, to their image, to the timing of their jokes. There is nothing local about that. There are a lot of great bands in town with no venue to play in because of a shortage in all-ages venues. When there are all-ages venues, the greedy owners take all they can for themselves, make the whole event a pain in the ass, and leave virtually nothing for the bands (111 anyone?). But that’s a whole other issue. So here we have a lot of fantastic local bands, each with their own unique sound (in many cases, the music goes to support local important causes) playing in basements, kitchens, and living rooms…..and generic bands that all sound the same, get mullah for playing in bars, and we’re supposed to believe they’re representing the local music seen?

The point is: Heinsius’s article was just lip service. He talked more about how stupid Frank is for spelling “The Byrds” with an “i” instead of a “y.” Heinsius and his generic, syndicated newspaper, made for fans of generic crappy music, simply don’t have a clue when it comes to what is local and what is meaningful.

Frank pointed out The Byrds when describing the sound of Gravy. This isn’t to say the Byrds weren’t good or influential; it is, rather, a commentary on the fact that The Byrd’s were popular decades ago and if the music your town is producing sounds the same as the music thirty years ago, then that’s a problem. What if I started a band that sounded exactly like Pink Floyd. It wouldn’t work. Of course Pink Floyd was good at the time, but good music, produced by individually creative people—reflecting their time and location—will have it’s own unique sound. Most of all, the continuity it will bring will reflect a true local spirit.

There was a quote that I thought was striking and reflective of the mindset we’re up against here: “we who live in Flag don’t need much to get by, we’re a simple breed. We don’t need much, that is, except for each other.” I don’t think Heinsius really lives here. If he did, he would notice that Flagstaff is deeply, intensely divided by race and class. He would also notice the ½ million-dollar mansions and golf courses sproling further and further into the wilderness just a few miles from trailer homes and bungalows. He would notice the homeless who are arrested for sleeping. This whole “we’re a simple breed” mantra is reflective of the bubble in which Flagstaff’s elite reside. Speak for yourself; I happen to consider myself a complex individual with needs, desires, thoughts, and feelings that are unique to me. There are, I think, two major categories in which “local” is understood: One is an illusion, a fallacy, a lie that people living in the bubble tell themselves their community should be like. They fit their expectations of Flagstaff to suite their ideal perception, thus ignoring reality. The other perception of “local” is derived from the people, what the people are into, what the people create, and how these creations make this town unlike any other.

Another quote: “And so, I challenge everyone who reads these pages to become voracious cultural advocates for this town.” To me, being an advocate is not synonymous with supporting everything in town simply because it was produced here. I will advocate, however, that people not let a corporate arts magazine define who “we” are. If you and your other “simple breed” friends want to listen to “simple breed” music and believe you are supporting locality, that’s your choice. I will not advocate, nor be a part of your illusion.

At the end of the article, Heinsius expressed grief towards the imminent closing of Gopher Records. I do appreciate that. What kind of collage town doesn’t have their own independent record store? It is sad, but also very reflective of the way Flagstaff is moving. Independently owned shops are closing and corporate shops are taking their place. If this trend continues, there will be nothing, except the people, that make this town different from any other. Heinsius also mentioned the possibility of a Starbucks moving downtown. I have faith in the people of this town…I have faith that bricks would fly through the windows of that place before it were even open. You can’t support local music, businesses, or spirit if you aren’t willing to support them for their individuality and contribution. Generic bands like Gravy denude this town’s cultural significance in the same way that a downtown Starbucks would. I understand that Gravy’s music represents a genre that fills a niche in this town, but that niche just seems to be getting bigger and bigger, leaving no room for everybody else. Your sentiments reinforce the notion that there is no room for dissenting voices: speak badly about anything in town and your not supporting locality. What’s the difference between that and the idea that if I don’t support the war, I’m anti-American? Break though the bubble, Heinsius. This town is bigger and more culturally diverse than you could possibly know.

Or, why don’t you just write more about R. Kelly, because he deeply affects my life here in Flagstaff 2007.

From Flagstaff Activist Network (check out their new site!)

Comments are needed right away to help stop a huge grab at some of the last Remaining Old Growth trees in Arizona. Tell the Forest Service to ditch the whole project.

The North Kaibab Ranger District is hoping to open the North Kaibab National Forest in the area of last summer’s Warm Fire to “salvage logging.” This sensitive region, which is in close proximity to the Grand Canyon National Park, ought to be permitted a natural restoration rather than an unjustified and destructive logging project. The Forest Service decided to let the fire burn naturally as a tool for wild land restoration and quickly lost control of the fire. Now they would like to “address restoration needs” by turning this area over to logging interests in order to “recover the economic value from the burned timber.” This irresponsible proposal allows for the removal of 84.5 million board feet on over 9,000 acres of forest.

With the exception of hazard tree removal adjacent to roads and structures for legitimate public safety goals, there is no ecological recovery value to be obtained by salvage logging in the Warm Fire area. In fact, there is a substantial body of scientific evidence to indicate that salvage logging impedes recovery goals, and is counterproductive to the Forest Service’s work to stabilize the area, lessen the risk from flooding and erosion, and prevent the invasion of noxious weeds.

The North Kaibab Ranger District is seeking public comment on this issue.

Take Action: Comments needed by January 26, 2007.

You can do this through the FAN website.

Early December:

A former National Park Service employee hell-bent on getting motorcycles off the lower slopes of the San Francisco Peaks is waging battle with a bulldozer and a chainsaw.

Activist J.D. Protiva is taking Coconino National Forest rangers on tours of the trees he’s logged without permits and areas he’s closed without permission, begging to be tried in court on all counts.

He is trying to protect the Mexican spotted owl from motorcycle noise by closing a trail. The Coconino National Forest’s wildlife specialists lack data on whether the noise bothers the birds.

The county attorney building a case against Protiva calls him “our own live Edward Abbey” — complete with monkey-wrenching.

More recently:

Protester J.D. Protiva arrived in federal court in Flagstaff on Tuesday to hear six charges against him, including illegal construction in the forest, illegally logging trees, damage to trees and harming the forest by using a small bulldozer off-road.

He is facing up to three years in prison and fines of up to $30,000 if found guilty on each of the six federal counts and sentences him to the maximum penalty.

most recently:

Protiva told Coconino National Forest law enforcement officers he put up cables, built berms and logged trees in an attempt to keep motorcycles away from Mexican spotted owl habitat.

One motorcycling duo noticed one of the cables before hitting it. They stopped and took the cable down.

Protiva would face five to 15 years in prison if convicted on the aggravated assault charge alone.

He has yet to be tried on federal charges in connection with a case of illegal construction in the forest and illegal logging. Those charges could add up to three years in prison and $30,000 in fines if he’s found guilty on all counts.

The Coconino County Attorney’s Office also charged Protiva with threatening and intimidating on Dec. 14.

Trials will not start until next year.

Protiva has said he was closing a trail he viewed as illegal. He views this trial as an opportunity to prove the Forest Service is not sufficiently protecting its land as legally required.

The district ranger for the Coconino National Forest has called the trail legal but unauthorized.

I’m assuming these are the guys Protiva is also taking a stand against. Frankly, I think he has a point. I go hiking and camping a lot and I hate running into motorcyclists and four-wheelers. As soon as they buzz by me on the trail, I know there isn’t a chance in hell that I’ll see any elk or deer. Granted I ride my bike in the woods but there is very little to compare here. Motorcycles are loud, inefficient, smelly vehicles that tear up the countryside and ruin the experience of nature for others.

This video is the kind of shit I’m talking about. The question becomes: what does the natural world mean to you if this is how you see it?

Sithe Global & DPA are proposing to build the Desert Rock power plant, a 1,500 MW Coal Fired plant in the Four Corners area on the Navajo Reservation. This is an area already polluted by 2 other major coal power plants. Local Navajo residence and community members oppose this project for many harmful reasons!! This Desert Rock power plant is still in the environmental review process and has NOT yet been permitted.

However, Desert Rock company trucks have began moving onto the backyard of Alice Gilmore, an elderly navajo woman, and her family on wednesday to begin drilling efforts. Desert Rock officials and police have not shown any documents or permits to the local residents stating their purpose or permission to be there. Dine supporters and community members have joined Alice and her family to blockade the road. They are elderly women and youth, and they have been camped out on the road over night since Tuesday! Desert Rock trucks have repeatedly rushed them and have almost run-over people a number of times as they attempt to get by. Desert Rock power company is violating the lease rights of the local Navajo residences and is harassing elderly Navajo women and youth! This is an urgent time and support is needed!!!

more info!

The Bureau of Reclamation today announced it will begin to develop an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the implementation of a Long-Term Experimental Plan (LTEP) for operational activities at Glen Canyon Dam and other management actions on the Colorado River.