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=> GENERAL DISCUSSION => Topic started by: ggw on July 19, 2005, 11:07:00 am
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Those who weren't at the Intonation Music Festival (and we'll try not to rub it in too much) have heard the rumors. Those who were got the facts straight from the horse's mouth shortly after the band took the stage. But we, friends, have the juicy details of how Broken Social Scene's Dave Newfeld was allegedly beaten black-and-blue by police officers last week before a performance in New York.
Shortly after Broken Social Scene took the stage on Saturday at the Pitchfork-curated Intonation Music Festival, singer Kevin Drew announced to the audience: "We just decided 20 minutes into arriving in New York that it would be a good idea if we went and bought marijuana. And Dave preceded to get the shit kicked out of him by four policemen, ladies and gentlemen! He got thrown in jail for 24 hours!" And then, amid the jeers, came the kicker: "And now the Broken Social Scene is suing the cops of New York City!"
It happened on Thursday night. As Newfeld was being driven from Canada to New York by a friend to play a gig with Broken Social Scene at Central Park SummerStage, his pal and driver decided to stop off and score some weed...in Lexington Park! It was an episode of Boy Meets World, Shaun Hunter attempting to convince innocent Cory Matthews to do something he knows probably ain't such a hot idea, but, as Newfeld told Pitchfork on Saturday night, when the other dude's behind the wheel, you gotta roll with the punches.
So, our Shaun Hunter exchanges $20 with a dealer in the park while Newfeld stands by watching the events unfold. As Newf tells it: "We walk around the corner, and all the sudden I'm tackled in a football style attack, like a mugger would do, you know? You grab the person and catch them by surprise and they ambush in a football tackle. And then they're like, 'Police, police, police! Fucking put your hands behind you!'" Due to the lax drug laws in Canada, Newfeld says he didn't connect what he assumed to be a mugging with his schwag score, assuming the "police" claim was a ploy by thugs to keep their victims passive for an easy stick-up.
"They started punching me in the face and beating the shit out of me and throwing me on the ground, so I'm trying to get away-- not fight them back, because I'm not capable of that, but just to escape. And then they threatened to break my hand and I'm like, "No, don't break my hand! I'm a musician. I gotta fuckin' play tomorrow! And so I'm really freaking out, and at that point I thought, 'Just take my wallet, whatever. Don't break my hand. My wallet's not worth it.'" By now, Newfeld's pal was cuffed on the ground, and finally decided it was time to break the news: "They're cops! Submit!" Oh, and P.S., whoops!
After being thrown in the back of a paddywagon, Newfeld was left to sit with a handful of shady characters while the 5-0 went around picking up other perps. He was then taken back to the station in pretty poor shape, strip-searched (whuh-oh), and, having been left in a cell for an hour or two, taken to Belleview Hospital to have his beatings checked out. It turned out he'd suffered two cracked ribs. While in his hospital bed, he was given a report detailing the charges against him-- four counts of assaulting an officer and possession-- which still stand as of press time. (Ironically, his pal was let off with no repercussions.) He now plans to launch a lawsuit for wrongful arrest and use of excessive force.
One topic Newfeld and BSS co-frontman Kevin Drew wanted to stress was that not all the officers exemplified extreme hostility. "There was some humanity involved," Newfeld insists, citing the kindness of certain officers at the station. "Some have sadistic impulses and others don't." And, of course, there's a lesson to be learned in all this-- one which Newfeld says applies not only to his personal life, but to his professional life as well: "Basically, I gotta fucking call my own shots." Follow you hearts, kiddos! Until then...uh, fuck the police?
<img src="http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/news/05-07/19-brokensocialscene.gif" alt=" - " />
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/news/05-07/19.shtml (http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/news/05-07/19.shtml)
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I was at Intonation and saw the black eyes that Dave got when he took off his glasses. Hooey - he really did get the crap kicked out of him! You can see a picture of him at the Pitchfork site.
My gut feel is that his side of the story is closer to the truth than anything the NYC cops will say. I also have no doubt that he'll be found guilty and won't be able to travel to the States anymore - and that's probably a best case scenario.
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What, can you buy weed @ any drugstore in Canada???
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Musicians smoke weed?
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Isn't that sort of like me saying their show at Black Cat sucked, even though I wasn't even there?
Originally posted by xcanuck:
My gut feel is that his side of the story is closer to the truth than anything the NYC cops will say.
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No.
Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer:
Isn't that sort of like me saying their show at Black Cat sucked, even though I wasn't even there?
Originally posted by xcanuck:
My gut feel is that his side of the story is closer to the truth than anything the NYC cops will say.
[/b]
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Some do. But I bet they'll think twice about buying in NYC after reading this story.
Originally posted by vansmack:
Musicians smoke weed?
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i thought new york cops didn't really care much about weed
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They don't, unless you look Canadian. Then they rightfully give you the Bryan Marchment treatment.
Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
i thought new york cops didn't really care much about weed
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Serves him right. You know how VIOLENT those pot-heads can get!!
:roll:
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Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer:
They don't, unless you look Canadian.
and what exactly is looking Canadian?
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http://www.mulletlovers.com/regular_men9.html (http://www.mulletlovers.com/regular_men9.html)
Third row down, on the right.
Originally posted by sonickteam4:
Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer:
They don't, unless you look Canadian.
and what exactly is looking Canadian? [/b]
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Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer:
http://www.mulletlovers.com/regular_men9.html (http://www.mulletlovers.com/regular_men9.html)
Third row down, on the right.
thats David Newfeld? or just you filling your daily quota of ignorance?
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Who is David Newfield? You asked me what a Canadian looks like.
Originally posted by sonickteam4:
Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer:
http://www.mulletlovers.com/regular_men9.html (http://www.mulletlovers.com/regular_men9.html)
Third row down, on the right.
thats David Newfeld? or just you filling your daily quota of ignorance? [/b]
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i was at the NYC show BSS/dinojr show, i guess this is as good a place as any for a review
when BSS came on the stage their frontman spent a long time talking about the arrest and the beatings, and how "marijuana got taken so fucking seriously in this city in the last 15 years" ... they were obviously shorthanded because of the arrest, and the show wasn't nearly as good as the last one i saw at the black cat a couple years back (remember that one, rhett? it was fantastic, right!?) ... they almost walked off without playing "kc accidental", but they found out they had 5 more mins to play and launched into KC, which was really really tight
anyway, not the best set, but this is one of the best and most promising bands around
dinosaur jr. was very solid ... mind you, i'm 24 and didn't grow up with them, so i didn't get the full nostalgia factor, but jmascis was just insane on the gee-tar, and the crowd was absolutely loving it, including matt dillon reliving the late 80s/early 90s while drinking beers in a hawaiian shirt and sunglasses
the summerstage setup is pretty cool, they throw down astroturf (to save the grass, i assume), it's not a huge area and it never got too packed ... for anyone going for a $$ show this summer though, don't bother buying a ticket, just get there early and grab a seat on this huge rock right outside the summerstage area, you can hear everything just as well as you can inside, and i saw plenty of people with coolers, beer, etc ... if only i had known better ....
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He was probably used to hanging out at The Hot Box Cafe (http://www.roachorama.com/hotbox/). And he assumed it was still like 1970's NYC where you would only get ticketed for toking up.
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Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer:
Who is David Newfield? You asked me what a Canadian looks like.
Originally posted by sonickteam4:
Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer:
http://www.mulletlovers.com/regular_men9.html (http://www.mulletlovers.com/regular_men9.html)
Third row down, on the right.
thats David Newfeld? or just you filling your daily quota of ignorance? [/b]
[/b]
so its the latter then, i figured as much.
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I got back yesterday from the Hillside Festival in Guelph. What an amazing experience. I doubt I'll ever see/hear the like of it for a long time. It was a top notch collection of the best independent Canadian artists. What does this have to do with BSS?? Hang in there.
Here's who I saw:
Fri - Fembots, The Lowest of the Low, The Weakerthans
Sat - Hidden Cameras, Apostle of Hustle, Sarah Slean, Stars, Arcade Fire
Sun - The Most Serene Republic, Gentleman Reg, Buck 65, Broken Social Scene, Sam Roberts
Additionally, spread throughout the weekend were several workshops with members of Apostle of Hustle, the Low, the Weakerthans, Stars, Broken Social Scene, and others.
Broken Social Scene were easily the highlight of the weekend (a surprise to me, considering what a big Stars and Weakerthans fan I am). I don't think I've heard more raucous joy than when BSS and friends performed Almost Crimes with 18 people on stage, including both Amy Millan and Emily Haines. The semi-erotic lapdance with Amy and Emily was definitely an added bonus. The set was almost entirely new material and it bodes well for this fall's release. I'm SO looking forward to this fall's US tour. Amy is releasing a solo CD too - maybe she'll open for BSS! Dave Newfeld (the guy who got beat up by the NYC cops) was there and looks MUCH better, though you can still see some minor bruising around his face.
I guess I can't really post to this Forum without an obligatory Arcade Fire reference. They played a few new songs and put on a lively performance. Their encore came after the venue's curfew went into effect so they did it (Wake up) acoustic whilst wandering through the crowd. Definitely loses something when unplugged.
The nicest discovery of the weekend was The Most Serene Republic. These kids are around 18-20 and just got signed to BSS label Arts and Crafts. They already show alot of talent, poise, and showmanship. I think they'll be a band to keep an eye on. They're sort of a cross between the orchestral pop of Stars and finely honed songwriting of BSS. Very good sound and lively performers.
One guy that I had never heard before was Halifax white boy rapper Buck 65. Now now...before you start conjuring images of Snow and Vanilla Ice, give the fellow a chance. I'm not much for rap/hip hop but this guy is geniunely talented and deserves the rave reviews he's been getting. Check him out if you're into that kinda thing.
Probably the one act I could have done without was Sarah Slean. I liked her the first time she toured as Tori Amos. Virtually indestinguishable. I took a nap during her set.
We took over 200 pictures (most from the very front of the stage). PM me if you're interested in seeing them and I'll let you know when we get around to uploading them.
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I live in brooklyn, and undercover cops have tried to sell me weed on 2 ocassions in washington square park. (i mean, who comes up to you and asks you if you "need anything?" the notion is ridiculous, especially in a place like NYC) and Lexington?!?! i mean seriously, that was a stupid move. nothing against marijuana, but it IS still illegal.
and yeah, most of the NYPD cops are a bunch of Republican hard-heads who'd like nothing more than to beat the crap out of people on the streets. and THESE people are protecting us from terrorists? thanks a lot Mr. Bloomberg!
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
i thought new york cops didn't really care much about weed
The Giuliani era took care of that. It's no longer New York. Now it's New New York.
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Originally posted by trumpy:
I live in brooklyn, and undercover cops have tried to sell me weed on 2 ocassions in washington square park. (i mean, who comes up to you and asks you if you "need anything?" the notion is ridiculous, especially in a place like NYC) and Lexington?!?! i mean seriously, that was a stupid move. nothing against marijuana, but it IS still illegal.
Isn't that entrapment?
So much for going after the drug dealers!
You know, I was wondering why they concentrated on the buyer and not the one who sold him the pot. They need to concentrate on real crimes, not something like that that the majority of Americans, according to almost every poll, believe should be decriminalized or even legalized. So much for democracy! :roll: