i am not afraid of you and i will beat your ass

Wey hey! The iTunes pixie has reminded me of a lovely, lovely thing - this week sees the launch of Yo La Tengo's new LP. Its title, I think, matches - nay, surpasses - in its sheer gallus verve the brilliance of Lloyd Cole's 'Don't Get Weird on Me Babe'. The denizens of Newington in the early 1990s were often treated to the sight of said album title in yellow across my be-t-shirted bosom, until the garment met an untimely end when a Wm Lows basket ripped a hole in it sometime in autumn 1993. I aim to right this wrong by purchasing a YLT shirt when they come to play in London again in exactly two months! That is, if I can overcome the painful memories of my last YLT gig, which I suffered the indignity of attending with a man who not only wore earplugs all the way through, but also managed to siphon every moment of cheek-burning embarrassment of my life into the moment at the bar in Koko when he ASKED THE BAR-STAFF TO SUPPLY US WITH EARPLUGS.

Dear fellow diasporics: I hope that whenever things get rough from now on, you will think of the mantra espoused by Yo La Tengo, and mutter it inwardly, waving your fist in the vague direction of your tormentor - repressed personnel officers at the University of the Soggy Provinces, say, or under-performing glands, or Belgian post office staff. For inspiration, you could visit YLT's video wall: http://www.iamnotafraidofyouandiwillbeatyourass.com/

All together now: I AM NOT AFRAID OF YOU AND I WILL BEAT YOUR ASS!