A Rock Star that doesn't suck

The music industry - nay - the entire entertainment industry - is chock-full of self-absorbed, moronic nit-wits who, because they've learned a few chords on the guitar or how to memorize lines, believe that their opinion is somehow important and must be pushed down the throats of the sheep who consume their bilge.

However, on rare occasions, there is a diamond in the rough - this week's diamond is Chris Isaak.

Jeffry Gardner, a writer for the Albuquerque Tribune, recently went to Isaak's show in Santa Fe and here is a tidbit from his report:

Increasingly, audiences are being badgered by such brilliant political lights as the Dixie Chicks, Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, and, of course, the queen of Hollywood, Barbra Streisand. Have stage, will preach, eh?

So it was with gnawing dread of having to hear another political manifesto in the midst of a concert that I dropped nearly 100 bones and went to see Chris Isaak. In Santa Fe, no less.

If ever there were a venue ripe for agitprop, I was certain the Paolo Soleri Amphitheatre would be it. But I was unprepared for what Isaak offered.

He came out and put on a dynamite show. He didn't have a politically correct bone in his person. He praised our troops, denigrated our enemies and made jokes about France - forgive my redundancy. He did this in a series of short comedic riffs and with a self-effacing humor that proved it isn't necessary to be suicidally serious to be hip. His short one-liner about the French drew wild cheers. In Santa Fe. Really.

Now, someone's undoubtedly at his or her Mac right now typing away: "So Isaak's political rant is fine, but Ronstadt's wasn't." Save it.

Isaak didn't rant. He didn't stop the show to deliver a message of tolerance uber alles.

Liberals are so accustomed to holding their audiences hostage that it's hard for them to imagine just doing a show. Or delivering a commencement address. Or presenting an Oscar.

That's the difference between an artist with class and a dried-up old hag who went to see Fahrenheit 9/11 and suddenly thinks she's intelligent.

Thanks to J.H. for the tip