Video: The Airborne Toxic Event, ‘Changing’
Kevin Bronson on
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No matter what you might think of the Airborne Toxic Event’s Modest Mouse-y new single “Changing” – and for FM radio fare, it’s all right – it’s impossible not to squirm in your seat during Jon Danovic’s slickly produced video for the song. The Los Angeles quintet sprinted out of Silver Lake in 2008 on the strength of their supercharged live shows, hyper-romantic anthems and the rock radio hit, “Sometime Around Midnight.” Along the way, they wore their local-band-made-good badge admirably, name-checking (and touring with) other acts from the scene that sprouted them.
When Airborne played Disney Hall in December 2009, they took great pains to involve the community in the concert, and then even greater pains to chronicle their efforts in the documentary DVD “All I Ever Wanted: Live From Walt Disney Concert Hall.” The “little band from Los Feliz” (their words) had become obviously not so little, in case you missed the record-sales figures and the sold-out tours. But it seems nobody was more amazed by the success of the Airborne Toxic Event than the Airborne Toxic Event. After all, the 78th time somebody goes out of the way to tell you how humble they are, you realize they’re not humble at all.
Danovic’s video, which is apparently un-ironic, should relinquish any indie cred the band has left – not that indie cred is going to (or should) affect how much anybody likes TATE’s sophomore album, “All At Once” (due April 25). But the clip’s subtext makes me wish I’d only heard the song: We’re cool – we ride motorcycles, drive vintage cars and weather leather jackets and sleeveless shirts. We’re cool – black people dance to our music. We’re cool – we can take over a dive bar and turn it into a dance party. We’re cool – our music can change the lives of beautiful girls and barroom brawlers alike.
Oh, where does it end? With frontman Mikel Jollett channeling the Boss? With step-dancers? Step-dancers?
Maybe “Changing” is simply a matter of Airborne finally asserting themselves as what they really are – major-label radio stars. If so, we can never hear “little band from Los Feliz” again and move on, making judgments on the strength of the songs and not any spoken or implied mythology. If not, then somebody has some serious ’splainin’ to do.
||| Live: The Airborne Toxic Event plays sold-out shows April 25 at the Satellite, April 26 at the Troubadour, April 27 at the El Rey Theatre and April 28 at the Music Box.
Well well well……..you goin rogue, Bronny?
gots to calls em as i sees em
Great video. Mikel’s arms look very buff in that tank top.
I’m finding much humor in this. And the same ill-shivers I got from KOL’s “Radioactive” video.
I’m going to set an egg timer to count us down to the publication of “TATE’s open letter to Kevin Bronson”.
hmmm…i didn’t think it was so bad, but what’s up with Mikel’s moustache?
Nice to see how they’ve moved on to ripping off Modest Mouse – continuing to rip off Arcade Fire would have been a step sideways. I can’t get past that.
This song makes me happy, whether it’s fitting to mainstream radio or not. They had two singles last year on the radio. They were sad, so no one complained. Cheer up. Happiness should be vogue.
Wow… couldn’t get any cheesier and offensive!
Interesting use of Anna as both a band member and crowd party-er at around the 3 minute mark.
I couldn’t agree more, Kevin. Who *the hell* begins a video with a smug reference to their last hit? “Oh, man; we’re on the radio uh-gainnn? We’re sooo sick of our own song, right guys? Let’s shut this crap off and listen to the hum of the pavement beneath us, shall we, gentlemen?” I mean, could you imagine any other Eastside indie-gone-global or indie-gone-major band doing something like this, like the Silversun Pickups or Everest? Of course not, because they have two magically wonderous things: humility and self-esteem. Seriously – this video is the equivalent of a really hot, smart, interesting girl taking her top off at the office Christmas party and blowing the boss’s assistant. I once heard someone refer to the band as “The Overblown Toxic Event,” and, as an Eastside loyalist, I found it offensive at the time — but after seeing this video, I think they may very well live up to that nickname.
Be wary Mr. Bronson! These gents and gal really don’t read their own press that much and don’t really take reviews very seriously. In other words, expect to receive a 15 page essay from the band in the next day or two explaining to you exactly why this is a brilliant video and how incredible their own song is and how you’re probably racist for not liking it. The fact that the video seems to be a cross between Rumble Fish, Smooth Criminal and a Hennessy ad but without an ounce of humor is besides the point. Modest Mouse-y? That’s a bit generous. This is Mom rock. But alas all the moms will probably buy this at Best Buy and it will be filed under “alternative” and someone will become wealthy. Why is Kurt Cobain still dead? Unfair!
the only thing suspect here are people who EVER considered airborne toxic event a credible indie band. they’ve always been a bro rock / teeny slush / cringe factory. star 98.7 to the bone.
the joke is on us for paying attention.
this is probably the only time i’ll ever side with pitchfork. thanks for callin’ em as you see em
LOL this video. Way to use black folks as window dressing!
This video is offensive to the bone. TATE to world: “BLACK PEOPLE LOVE OUR BAND.” I’m at a loss for words. This is worse than the Matrix 2.
wow. that video was certainly something.
It seems like it would’ve been safer and more environmentally conscious of them to all ride together in the vintage muscle car to the mystical bar-of-many-black-people, rather than caravan with the car and two motorcycles. Also, motorcycle insurance is so expensive these days!
Commentator’s note: I wanted to construct a joke about “another indie enterprise that I love from Los Feliz,” to which the punchline is “Jamba Juice,” but I just don’t have the energy right now.
Isn’t this a Levi’s commercial?
This is utterly horrifying.
And don’t forget the nice touch of their playing their previous “hit” single on the radio as the video opens. Get it!!?!?!
@Boy wonder..haahhahaahahaha perfect.
[…] not interested in decoding what the video “means”. (Bronson covered that, with classic dry wit.) I dread the hordes of doubters from the beginning who will take the […]
holy shit, this is their “African Child”! i swear i’ve never made a blog comment in my life and this inspired me! thanks, “TATE”! i quit music.
Ignorant, that all I have to say, people it just a music video. They could do whatever they want, its their music not yours. No one forced you guys to watch. Have you been to one of their concerts? They rocked every one of those fucking shows. You can even ask the people who come out from both their soldout LA/NY Tour and see. When do you a band take time after a show and greets every single fan? Racist? A point-less article with brain dead bloggers.
[…] what you want for a promotional video for your first single off the new album? Kevin Bronson of Buzz Bands addresses (rips into) the video’s imagery, and what follows are comments from people who come […]
Dear Chris,
Thank you for speaking my mind.
Really~ This is totally out of line.. to call this band/people racist is so offensive. I think you are the Racist. The fact that they are smiling, singing and dancing… maybe you prefer everything to be dark and somber. Have you ever been to one of their concerts?? Have you ever seen them interact with their fans?? Cool??? That is the indictment??? the fact that they drove a vintage car and a couple of motorcycles in a “video” which is for entertainment… Wow….Airborne is one of the most exciting, talented bands to come around in a long, long, time… Let’s not try to undermine one very hard working, talented, genuine band. There are much more important things to focus on….. They are Fantastic!!! Go to a show… oh… you can’t because they are all sold out!!
And people care about your opinions why? I have never heard of you and definitely won’t be visiting your blog again. Not that you care, blogs don’t rely on actual, loyal readers, do they? Oh, wait..
The “Sometime Around Midnight” reference seems to be noting the extraordinarily different sound of this single. Perhaps less self-indulgence than self-awareness?
“Changing” and “Numb”? Kinda sounds like when Aerosmith did “Crazy” and “Crying.” I’m just “Saying”.
I can’t believe a band would blatantly rip off another song “Float on” (modest mouse). Pitchfork sucks but they sure hit the nail on the head with this band. I never comment on bands and am always supportive but this is like watching a band gang rape a song with big smug grins on their faces. One member fish-hooks the song as another takes a picture to post and tag them in it. I read their letter to Pitchfork (we cut our teeth at Spaceland etc.) they make it sound like Spaceland is an open mic. Get raped TATE.
The only thing I find particularly conspicuous about this video is the play on the idea of “Race Relations 101”; it’s as if they’re saying, “Hey, look at us! We get along well with black people! We’re cool!”.