Sequined Camel -Toes

So, I trekked on over to the New Daisy Theater last night, happily anticipating the Spoon show that was to take place there. I knew there was some opening band that had the name diamond in it, and that was the extent of my concert knowledge. Upon entering the Daisy, procuring a beer, and meandering down the venue to the stage, I discerned that something was amiss. Why is there a fat dude in a fake wig and moustache, wearing a gaudy, sequined tux, on the stage singing and dancing a rendition of "Hey, Ya" with several scantily clad women gyrating in accompaniment? His performance was actually kind of entertaining; I actually laughed out loud a few times, not knowing that things were soon to get much worse.

Next up was some comedian dude who was quite funny. His material mainly consisted of talking about porn, gross but entertaining. Then there was some hula hoop act with another scantily clad woman, who, when she first came on stage, I thought might be a drag queen. Then it was time for "Dirty Little Secret", a burlesque type show involving four women dressed in sequined and glittery lingerie, who danced provactively on stage, not once, but throughout the entire evening. I'm not a prude or anything, but when women objectify themselves it makes me uneasy. That's when all of the other crap around me started to come together. The "tatoo parlor", the "Chapel of Lust", the craps and blackjack tables, the V.I.P. roped off area (known as the "pleasure lounge"), the weird moustached man, go-go dancers shaking ass on platforms, etc. ad naseum. What the hell is this? It was the Camel "Sin City Tour", apparently a brand new marketing campaign where Camel hosts indie rock shows and subjects unknowing music lovers to their crude Las Vegas style "entertainment" before letting the audience see what they came and paid good money for.

We were literally held captive by a Las Vegas freak show/cigarette company. If I had known the Spoon concert was part of a Camel marketing blitz, I most likely wouldn't have come. I resent underhanded campaigns like these that attempt to co-opt the culture of their target demographic. It may increase their sales for the 18 to 34 market or whatever, but it tarnishes what should be an enjoyable event. Once Spoon finally took the stage, the sequined Camel freaks left, but I was still left with a nasty aftertaste of what I had been subjected to. The lead singer sort of apologized saying, "We do not condone anything that happened before us on this stage. Spoon went for the dirty money tonight." Oh, it was for the big cigarette money. I hope it was a lot of fucking money, because Sin City sucks ass.

And I'm pretty sure none of the advertisements and listings for what was supposed to be a Spoon conert made any mention that it was a Camel sponsored event. No, they cleverly wait until they have your money and you're safely in the venue enmeshed in the glittery mess. It's so disgustingly shady. Fuck you Camel! If I ever start smoking again I'll be sure not to buy any of your cancer sticks.