Gathering of The Juggalos? WTF?
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August 2, 2009, 5:54 pm
Filed under: Uncategorized
Filed under: Uncategorized
The IP still can’t remember how he found out about these people; it was probably a random blog that had a link to the below promotional video. At first The IP thought it was a parody, like a foul-mouthed SNL short, but it’s real.
Before you watch it -and you most definitely should watch it, at least to know that these people exist in larger numbers than you might at first think- here are a few things you should know about these “juggalos:”
They are almost entirely White; it’s not that they are like the KKK, but it seems that juggalos are very aware of their Caucasian heritage. This does not preclude several Black “artists” performing at their “Gathering.”
They wear a self-conscious mantle of being “misunderstood,” and they relish it.
They identify with the cheap soft drink Faygo.
They heavily borrow their music and language from urban black and hip hop culture, even though it seems many of them are from exurban and rural areas of the country.
They have a posture of being really tough and mean, but it seems clear that this is indeed just a posture as their annual “gathering” does not result in violent riots; and face paint is a pretty tame (and lame?) form of expression.
They have affiliations with pro wrestling “stars” and employ midgets of that breed as well.
They have a very colorful language that makes extra use of classic swear words, with “shit” “fuck” and “bitch” and all their variants sprinkled throughout. Even the below, must-watch cultural education video has a very professional-sounding male announcer who earnestly intones
“If you’ve never been to The Gathering, this is the mother-fucking year to go, bitch boy.”
And in the middle of the video, a juggalo and juggalette walk the viewer through what to expect at “The Gathering.” As juggalette “Sugar Slam” says“Everywhere you look there’s different shit poppin’ off.”
They even have a late-night comedy show at The Gathering. The IP hears that Upchuck The Clown has really stepped-up his themes this year.
OK you pithecanthopin’ bitches! Here’s the juggalo promotional video for their “Gathering.” Please watch as much of it as you can and send your comments. Do you like or hate the juggalos? Are they a symbol of cultural decline, or just a healthy expression of contemporary tribalism? Is the music at least “interesting,” or is is total crap? If The IP gave you a bunch of free tickets, would you actually go to “The Gathering?”
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Well, no, I wouldn’t go. But I wouldn’t go to Bonnaroo or any big festival. I have attended The Acoustic Cafe in Hayden, AL, and that was bad enough in terms of providing the comforts that those of my age prefer. Like being able to sleep at night, even if it’s in a tent. This is for younger people who want to be part of something sort of like themselves but “bigger than themselves.” I had heard of the Insane Clown Posse before, on some documentary. The whole thing is kind of anti-standards. Maybe they embrace it because they can’t live up to many standards (grades, salary, appearance, etc.) That’s great for them. I hope they don’t drink too much or sniff too much glue. Because that means their babies will require extra care, and we just don’t HAVE the money. But hey, no matter what standards you think you’ve finally lived up to, there are always MORE. Ordinary Americans can’t win in the arenas that have been kindly provided for them by the “kulture” and the “korporations.” So this is just an attempt to create a World of Their Own, but of course it can’t disentangle from the “kulture” and “korporations,” so it’s problematic. I wish them a GREAT time at the Gathering, and I hope they remember to take photos of the best face paintings.
Comment by Marlone August 2, 2009 @ 7:57 pmno
Comment by tomitron August 2, 2009 @ 10:22 pm“Like being able to sleep at night, even if it’s in a tent.”
I think we talked about this before. There is NO WAY anyone should go to one of these things and expect a nice, quiet night. If one can’t sleep at “The Gathering,” he obviously hasn’t gotten drunk, stoned, wasted, or whatever, enough. I’m speaking for those that would go, not myself.
I think the whole “Gathering” thing is kinda quaint.
Comment by tancred62 August 3, 2009 @ 12:58 amI guess nothing else I said was very interesting.
Comment by Marlone August 3, 2009 @ 2:59 pmI remember Faygo as being an outside brand I only saw on the railroad tracks after the work cres had done some rail-welding, tie-replacement, or ballast-cleaning work.
The empties stood out as unfamiliar on the walk to school which crossed the tracks. Plus we usually didn’t litter pop/soda bottles by walking them up the tracks 50 yards, we’d just huck ‘em nearby.
Faygo – the soda for tired thirsty railworkers from several states away – and juggalos
Comment by Kenneth Buttercup August 3, 2009 @ 6:05 pmFree tickets?
Comment by Kenneth Buttercup August 3, 2009 @ 6:05 pmThat free tickets thing was just a hypothetical question.
Comment by IP August 3, 2009 @ 7:30 pmYeah, the whole ICP rabid fan thing is nationwide — even here in PDX where we have an embarrassment of riches in terms of local music. Whenever there is an unflattering article about ICP in the weekly rag, it results in weeks of angry letters to the editor from hardcore fans.
I didn’t know Faygo was low class. I’ve been getting Red Pop down at the local sandwich shop thinking I was enjoying something exotic. And I’ve been paying, like, $2.75 a bottle.
Comment by Neederlander August 4, 2009 @ 5:44 am” I’ve been getting Red Pop down at the local sandwich shop thinking I was enjoying something exotic. And I’ve been paying, like, $2.75 a bottle.”
Living in Portland with all those hipsters has made you soft, bro. Maybe you should stop listening to Belle & Sebastian and start listening to ICP. Buy your Red Pop at a gas station, not some wheat-grass tofu sandwich shop.
Comment by IP August 4, 2009 @ 12:56 pmWHEAT-GRASS TOFU SANDWICH SHOPS ARE CAPITALIST BASTARDS, TOO!
Comment by PROTEST EQUALITY August 4, 2009 @ 9:19 pmI find it hard to believe nobody has mentioned the bromanticism (read: homoerotic) aspects of Faygo, “bitch boy,” and The Gathering which seems primarily male.
Comment by Kenneth Buttercup August 4, 2009 @ 9:26 pmBut many never mentioned such things to the faces of the members of the high school football team either.
If they can have their fun without bothering others too much and it’s safe and sane (ICP notwithstanding) who gives a flying fuck?
Other than those who join and those who market to them.
“I find it hard to believe nobody has mentioned the bromanticism (read: homoerotic) aspects of Faygo, “bitch boy,” and The Gathering which seems primarily male.”
I don’t know, Kenny. Not all male bonding rituals are “homoerotic.” But, as a species, we are gregarious, and The Gathering provides a place and rituals for that attribute. And for many of the attendees, it might be one of the few events that they can REALLY look forward to; even better than Christmas. I’m all for it. And God knows Pauley Shore and J.J. Walker appreciate the opportunity to make some cash. By the time I finished watching that promo, I said to myself “That actually could be a fun time.” Someone should let Owen know that “they have magicians all up in that bitch.”
Comment by Atlhand August 4, 2009 @ 10:06 pm“Maybe you should stop listening to Belle & Sebastian and start listening to ICP”
Priceless!
Comment by Neederlander August 5, 2009 @ 1:26 amWHOOP WHOOP i had a great time cant wait for next year naked bitches,good weed and great music what more could a guy ask for except for the police to quit harassing juggalos on the way in and out but that wont happen they probably get tired of counting cows down there
Comment by juggalo 4 life August 18, 2009 @ 3:55 am