For many people, music and politics are two sides of the same coin. Having done, what in journalistic circles would be called 'not even any basic research', I feel pretty confident claiming that there's never existed a political issue which some nimble-fingered pianist, trombonist or saxophonist hasn't tried to give their two cents (/local currency of your choice) on. From John Lennon infamously confining himself to a bed with Yoko Ono in protest at the Vietnam War to David Hasselhoff standing atop the Berlin Wall, jiving in his leather chaps for the reunification of Germany, to that time Maroon 5 lobbied to bring back the death penalty as a punishment for loitering, musicians have had their fingers in all sorts of political pies over the years.
Well, last night LCD Soundsystem were playing in the Olympia Theatre in Dublin and things between themselves and a party of Fine Gael politicians got pretty spicy. A group of Fine Gaelers were apparently out, for what passes for a 'good time' for politicians, to attend the gig. A photo posted by Meath East TD Helen McEntee showed herself, a group of other politicians, friends and, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar stood huddled in some corner of the theatre, with the caption 'Let's be havin' ya'.
#LCDSoundSystem Let's be havin ya #SomeoneGreat pic.twitter.com/pfdt1U2xQi
— Helen McEntee TD (@HMcEntee) September 29, 2017
I imagine that what Ms. McEntee expected to be 'havin' when she posted this was maybe 'a few drinks', a 'good time' or 'a bit of a boogie' what I'm sure she wasn't expecting was that she would soon be 'havin' one of the oddest clashes we've seen on Twitter with LCD Soundsystem member, Al Doyle.
What kicked off the, what has become known for some inexplicable reason in the parlance of Twitter as a 'spat', was a Tweet posted by Al Doyle immediately following the gig. He said that Leo Varadkar had come backstage but avoided going up to him because, as Al Doyle believes, he was wearing a 'Repeal' Tote bag. His choice of tote a clear sign of support for the 'Repeal marches taking place across Ireland today.
Irish PM Leo Varadkar came backstage. Wore a "repeal" tote bag around my neck in front of him; he walked away. Tosser.
— al doyle (@aldoyletweets) September 29, 2017
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Now, whatever your opinions on the numerous merits of the Repeal movement, I think we can all agree that the best means of igniting political discussion is obviously by flaunting a political slogan embroidered on some canvas, that goes without saying. As Gandhi said, "If your beliefs can't be distilled down to a handy slogan that is worthy of being placed on a bag designed to carry bits and bobs, then you need to question your beliefs"... Roughly, I may be misremembering the quote.
Helen McEntee clearly took umbrage with this Tweet and lept to her colleague's defence, Tweeting:
Wow! You do realise he's the one actually raising the repeal issue when other wouldn't! #GreatGigByTheWay #PityAboutTheBitterness
— Helen McEntee TD (@HMcEntee) September 30, 2017
While it's great to see such a serious Irish social issue being lauded and supported by such a well-known international act, it admittedly seems a rather hasty move to write off a politician's entire stance on an issue because they didn't approach a man with a tote bag. There are many reason people don't approach other people, tote bag or no tote bag, and it seems to be placing a rather undue emphasis on the power of the tote as a means of political lobbying.
Regardless, having Helen McEntee try shoot down the a member of LCD Soundsystem for however a well-intentioned if misguided Tweet is surely one of the greatest political clashes Twitter has borne witness to, and we should all consider ourselves lucky to have lived through a time to see it.
