//concert//
More Crass Than Clash
Anti-Flag
Pittsburgh politi-punks Anti-Flag were against George W. Bush way before you were. Before his first election, even. And they hated Bill Clinton, too. They pretty much don't like any authority, advocating revolution, anarchy and the frequent hangings of upside-down U.S. flags at their gigs to signal widespread distress. That they've been a band for more than 10 years now while the world's just gotten worse doesn't seem to faze them—they're still content with belching out Crass-style hard-fast-loud anthems such as “Fuck Police Brutality,” “Kill the Rich” and “Red, White and Brainwashed.” Dudes want change, and they want it now! Or, well, you know . . . eventually.
“It's not an easy job, especially in punk,” singer Justin Sane told me some years back. “As soon as somebody puts themselves on the line with any kind of message, people want to shoot you down—people don't attack bands who sing songs about girls. But I'm willing to do it. It's so inspiring when we get mail from kids who say that we made a difference for them.”
Anti-Flag with Dead to Me and Intro5pect at the Glass House, 200 W. Second St., Pomona, (909) 865-3802; www.theglasshouse.us. Tues., 7 p.m. $16. All ages.
—Rich Kane
//exhibit//
String Theory
“A World of Puppets: Expressions of Culture”
The history of puppets is long and storied, encompassing all cultures and time periods, from Balinese shadow puppetry to Mr. Hat and Seor Wences' Johnny. The human love of puppetry stems from our ability to both identify with the empty-headed figure, completely enslaved to a fate it cannot control, and with the puppeteer, whose passion it is to manipulate those weaker and less intelligent. At least, that seems like an interesting theory to bring up at this exhibit, since it's being hosted by an institute of higher book learnin'. With about 80 puppets on display from different time periods and countries, “A World of Puppets” aims to express the commonality that exists among all people, at least when it comes to entertainment. Please try to keep the “stick up your butt” jokes to a minimum.
“A World of Puppets: Expressions of Culture” at Cal State Fullerton, Anthropology Teaching Museum, McCarthy Hall, Room 426, 2555 E. Nutwood Ave., Fullerton, (714) 278-3626; anthro.fullerton.edu/museum.htm. Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Through Dec. 15. Free.
—Tom Child
