Group dynamics catharsis vortex. I
April 11, 2002
Group dynamics catharsis vortex. I was in the group dynamics catharsis vortex. In a good way. The vortex allows you to laugh at the way you’re laughing at yourself while others around the world laugh at you. Don’t you get it? I’m now in my bunk on the bus as we head from Washington DC to Wallingford CT. We all sat in the front lounge and watched the DVD of the last tour with its optional audio commentary by the troupe and special guests like Andy Richter, Trey Parker & Matt Stone, Mike Myers etc. For a good hour and a half I watched the Kids in the Hall watch a documentary about the Kids in the Hall while they took the piss out of themselves on a voiceover track. We were laughing at their commentary about a movie about their triumphs and troubles and they were making new jokes about their overdubbed wisecracks which were aimed at their original jokes or problems. How many layers of meaning were in there? That’s laughing at yourself laughing at yourself while others laugh at you too. In all the tough parts where the troupe really shows their inner tensions...they made fun of each other more intensely on the audio commentary track and laughed harder at themselves. I guess it stands to be pretty expensive therapy if you’re going to have to go on tour, film and edit a full documentary, release it, make a DVD, get together to make a bonus “commentary” track fro the DVD, go on another tour and then laugh at your previous troubles in order to get through any new troubles. How did they know it would work? At times my head was spinning because I couldn’t believe that people could say what they were saying about each other and have it still only result in laughter. What doesn’t pull a stomach muscle makes you stronger.
I think the DC crowd had fun tonight. The Daughters of the American Revolution Constitution Hall is about as American sounding a place as I can imagine. Its right beside the White House. What with all the goings on I can’t believe they let so many Canadians get so close. I know we’re all in this “new war” together but how soon the Secret Service forgets that we burned down their White House in 1812. I guess the dossiers don’t go back that far. There are always bigger problems than “that ol’ Canadian Problem”. In the interest of diplomacy and ease of travel at airports I point out that these last few sentences are a “JOKE”. I think it may even be illegal to make a joke about this stuff so I tread lightly and hope that the internet is, at the very least, still a safe haven for borderline behaviour. When you write something you never know how its going to read. If you are a border guard or INS agent and you didn’t find my comments whimsical or funny then please read it again and imagine my patented sleepy smirk (see photos on home page) and understand that, “some of my best friends are American.”
I had time to squeeze in a run around the monuments and took a walk through Georgetown with Bruce (McCulloch) before soundcheck. This “theatre” routine seems much more dedicated to preshow togetherness than the rock experience can be. We’re all at the venue before dinner and stay til the show. That doesn’t happen as often in rock. I like feeling like everyone is there and prepared as a unit instead of some straggling in 3 minutes before stage time and others hanging out and obsessing over whether those absent will be late. This is much better. The costume preparation forces this issue. Note to self: invent elaborate costumes for the next band gigs in order to force togetherness. I’m thinking cloaks, mime makeup and stilts might add weight to the music. At least it would seem slightly continental.