Hi readers! Thanks for picking up this zine. I'm Granny Anarchy and I write for Metro Library's UMAmi. Often my articles run long and I have extra zinesized pieces that supplement my work in the "official" zine. I've also completed some personal zines that are multifeatured (rather than focusing on just one issue, they have many different articles in them, but they are my personal interests and don't represent any organization.)
I've had several, ah, issues (haha pun haha) lately and haven't had time to wrangle the slightly larger focus and formatting I expect of "AnGrr!!" so I'm putting out a more loosely formatted zine at the moment. I've named it Feral/F3r@L. (I was
actually going to write more about my emotional owies, but I do have to stick to some shortness. Here's #2. I hope you enjoy it!
A GIG IS A GIG IS A GIG
By Granny Anarchy
If you are a performer and you are slotted - paid or not - to play somewhere, what do you call your booking?
If you travel in entertainment circles or venture out to see a lot of artists, how do you define their performances - particularly in smaller venues?
Whilst general audiences might go see “shows,” many musicians tend to use the term "gig."
But just what is a “gig?”
If you read any other article about this word's etymology, and that article presents origins as a fact, that article is likely inaccurate. There is no clear origin. The history of “gig” is murky at best.
No one knows when or where it actually originated.
The oldest incarnations of the word “gig” may have been something that whirled or turned, such as indicated by the Middle English word ghyg(spinning top, whyrlegyg , from the mid-15th century.)
There are also references to dances, such as the energetic baroque French couple’s dance the gigue , the quick-moving Italian giga , and the rapid Irish (and English) cloggy solo jig(16th century,) which may - in turn (pun possibly intended) - have had its name applied to the spinning wheels of a horse-drawn carriage.
English Elizabethan clown Will Kempe dancing a jig from London to Norwich in 1600 via Wikipedia
Similarly, those dancing might have heard a fiddle or violin called
a geigein German. In Scandinavia, there was some reference of a gigeor gigja/gigje , a simple stringed instrument played with a bow. Some texts indicate gigjaprobably had mandolin-like rounded backs and were similar to, if not the same as, the medieval rebec or kleingeige.
Rebec im Syntagma musicum von Michael Praetorius, 1619 via Wikipedia
There's speculation that the word "gig" derived from the early 1900s, when African American jazz musicians in the South (specifically New Orleans) traveled by horse and cart and may even have used those “gigs” as a stage (would they have been strong and steady enough?) to avoid police persecution - as otherwise they might have been arrested for loitering or standing on the street. However, this is conjecture.
There are also stories about musicians using cart “gigs” to move quickly from booking to booking.
Stanhope Gig circa 1800s via Wikipedia In addition, there are apocryphal tales that calendars were marked with "GIG” - an acronym for “God Is Great” – on paid booking days, as a sign of thanks. And, of course, there is still the theory that “gig” could have come from an old, spinning dance.
According to Eubie Blake, (American ragtime/jazz pianist ,and composer), jazz bandleader, James Reese Europe used the term “gig” to mean booking as early as 1905, and the term was widely used among jazz musicians in the 1920s. (Note: non-jazz jobs were referred to as hamesor day
gigs.)
Information via Robert S. Gold, AJazz Lexicon(1964)
Some documentation regarding the first use of "gig" in the sense of a musical booking includes:
1926 MelodyMaker , Sep., p. 7. “One popular “gig” band makes use of a nicely printed booklet.”
1931 MelodyMaker , May, p. 369.
“Bill Henry and his orchestra were responsible for the undoubted success of half the local gigs.”
via Robert S. Gold, AJazzLexicon (1964)
— 1950: A. Lomax, Mr. Jelly Roll p. 204
“If I ask you to go out on a gig, it's thirty-five or forty dollars for that night.”
1954 Satchmo, My Life in New Orleans, L. Armstrong, p. 100 “Cornet players used to pawn their instruments when there was a lull in funerals, parades, dances, gigs and picnics.”
— 1954 Satchmo, My Life in New Orleans, L. Armstrong, p. 141 “Kid Ory had some of the finest gigs, especially for the rich white folk.”
1958: “Life is a Many Splendored Gig,” song title via Harold Wentworth & Stuart Flexner, DictionaryofAmericanSlang(1960)
As a summation, The Oxford English Dictionary says the origin of “gig” is unknown, and various scholars and texts on etymology and linguistics haven’t been able to search out much detail.
This begs the question: WHY IS A GUITAR CALLED AN AXE?
AlterNatIves to
SpotIfy
I'm sure you've heard plenty of criticism about Spotify compensating artists, promoting
conservative conspiracies, allowing AI content, and now running advertisements for ICE. CEO Daniel Ek has also invested in an AI-driven military startup.
In the past, artists such as Neil Young withdrew their catalogue from the service to protest fair treatment for content creators in capitalistic culture. Recently, Deerhoof, King Gizzard and & the Lizard Wizard, Young Widows, and other artists have withdrawn their music in outrage over the creep of authoritarianism.
So what are the ethical options to replace a service such as Spotify?
Amazon - Granny has been boycotting Bezos for well over a year and cannot recommend anything Amazon. Although Amazon offers a large catalog, it is complicit in poor worker treatment and artist compensation as well as domineering digital rights management. Although the company owner is an extremely
wealthy individual, he does not share a proportionate amount of his astounding to incomprehensible net worth with charities or on projects which would directly benefit humankind, choosing instead to hoard wealth or spend on vanity projects.
Apple - Many of the same issues as Amazon; the large easily navigable catalog is offset by capitalistic complications. The Democratic Republic of Congo has also filed criminal charges against the company for illegal sourcing of tin and tungsten contributing to war and slave/child labor. Apple helped fund the White House ballroom and CEO Tim Cook personally gave $1 million to Donald Trump's 2025 inauguration fund. Bandcamp - Bandcamp offers direct artist support and seems to be a good solution for content creators and those who wish to support them, but is not the most user-friendly streaming option for those looking for the breadth of
catalog that the less independent experience offers.
Deezer - If you dig deep enough you find that Deezer's parent company is headed by Russian oligarch Len Blavatnik. Blavatnik is on many ethical consumers’ boycott watch due to his contribution to Trump's 2017 inauguration and participation in the 2024 WhatsApp billionaire discussion to influence public opinion against Gaza.
Libby - This library streaming service is owned by KKR. Though there are past reports of environmental violations unethical practices, Ethical Consumer and the Australian Shop Ethical website report no active boycotts of the company.
Pandora - Owned by SirusXM, which is reportedly notorious for poor customer service and benefits from paying artists unfairly. Pandora offers limited customization and is reportedly playing ads for ICE.
Presto - Offers a pay per second model focused mainly on classical and jazz. Unfortunately, this is not my forte and I don’t know much about this option.
Soundcloud - Owned by Raine Group and Temasek Holdings, Soundcloud allows artists to upload and distribute their music directly through their site. Much more indie/emerging artists than mainstream.
Tidal - Founded by Jay-Z and now owned by Block, Tidal possesses a large library. And pays artists relatively high royalty rates. While this originally seemed like an option, Tidal's parent company (Block) is currently owned by Vanguard and BlackRock. These are "global asset managers" which have ignored reports and calls from the UN. They are therefore knowing and complicit, profiteering from genocide and conflict in Gaza.
YouTube - Owned by Google, YouTube's key impacts include
AI's environmental destruction via data centers, selling AI tech to governments that support apartheid and genocide, censorship and data privacy issues, and worker rights. (That said, Granny is currently using YouTube links to introduce readers to new music as they are consumer default quick entries to visual and audio data.)
The main contender appears to be
Qobuz, - a French service which offers similar content/a large catalog, though to my knowledge there is no free option.
Granny’s favorite alternative is: Hardcopy! I use CDs, most people today seem to collect vinyl. But while old school owning your own music ensures protection from digital rights minefields (such as change/disappearance from your collection,) there is the difficulty of storage, portability, and of course discovery.
In the last (first) issue of Feral/F3r@L, I shared pics of the concerts I’d been to up through “The Pixies!” Well, here they are, and the rest!
Pixies Spoon Fazerdaze
Criterion (Originally Scheduled for the Zoo Ampitheater)
September 4, 2025
Fazerdaze is from New Zealand. This was their 1st trip to the US. They were very sweet & said they were enjoying the tour & audiences. I hadn’t heard of them & liked their shoegaze style!.
Spoon started in the early to mid 90s, signed with a major label in the late 90s, and had its (their) big break in the 2000s with “I Turn My Camera On” from
My favorite Spoon song is “Got Nuffin” from “Transference.”
This was originally going to be at the Zoo and I sprang for pretty good seats. 10th row here.
Even my crap cell got some good pics!
I HAVE NEVER BEEN THIS CLOSE TO FRANK BLACK & JOEY SANTIAGO!
The Pixies take the stage.
Curr lineup: Black Francis, Joey Santiago, David Lovering, Emma Richardson.
Cecelia Ann/Wave of Mutilation/Isla de Encanta/Head On/Chicken/Motoroller
The Vegas Suite/In Heaven/Death Horizon/Here Comes Your Man/Vamos
Kings of the Prairie/Primrose/Gouge Away/Debaser/Tame/Hey/Caribou
Monkey Gone… /Cactus/Wave of.../Ana/Mr. Grieves/Where is My …?/Into the White
I HAVE SEEN THE PIXIES 3 TIMES TO THE PIXIES (IYKYK)
Wet Leg Criterion
October 7, 2025
Met a (new!) friend who had free tix & kindly put up with my night driving & not finding parking. Stood by sound board so yeah can’t really see Rhian Teasdale & krewe. BUT WAS AWESOME. I’M SO OLD.
“I've always felt on the outside, really.”
Siouxsie Sioux
Negative approach adolesceNts circle Jerks tower theater
october 14, 2025
SUPER IMPORTANT bathroom graffiti
Finally figured out how to get the date stamp off of my phone!
I took my kid (in their 20s but always my child!) to this; I LOVE the attitude & energy of raw, rough punk altho’ I don’t listen to it much.
Before & between sets, all band members wandered about the Tower amidst the audience. You don't GET that at The Criterion! It’s not uncommon for punk, but that's what is so heartening about some of the best punk ethos.
My fave was between songs, when Keith would talk to the audience. Keith Morris, co-founder of Black Flag, seen here with The Circle Jerks, has Stories. And Wisdom. And Kindness. We would do well to Listen to him.
Powdr Ribbon Skirt Wombo Resonant Head
October 23, 2025
I heard about Ribbon Skirt playing at Resonant Head literally less than 24 hours before they took the stage. I didn't even know who they were playing with. I am a fan of some different Native American punk and indie acts, and love Ribbon Skirt's dark dreamy Bite Down , so I traveled (at night! through a thunderstorm! I HAVE NO NIGHT VISION) to an unfamiliar part of town, purchased tickets at the door and..
...I
RS has received critical acclaim, including a shortlist nomination for the 2025 Polaris Music Prize, Canada's annual award for best album.
LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT THE EVENING!. I have social anxiety, I have everything anxiety, I have phobias I haven't told you about, but I made myself small at a side table (because I was skeert) and my clubmates were SO NICE. Then Powdr came on. I will definitely be happy to check out this local band againI dig this type of music; it's one of my jaaammmsss. Well, if you can call sorta shoegaze (indie noise rock) a jam, heh. Ribbon Skirt! From Montreal, Quebec
Anishinaabe Tashiina Buswa (vox, ) & Billy Riley ( BILLY WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME DURING POWDR I DI333)
There were so many people at Resonant Head that looked like my Muscogee aunties! So cool to see (& hear) this draw for Native voices, especially incorporating & expressing themselves with very modern sounds. (Natives & their cultures aren't historical stereotypes. They are still very much alive!)
“Musicians are our real teachers. They are opening us up politically with their lyrics and creatively with experimental, psychedelic music. They share their discoveries and journeys with us. We can’t travel far, no one I know has ever been on an aeroplane.
whatever they experience, we experience through their songs. It’s true folk music not played on acoustic guitar by a bearded bloke but about true-life experiences.”
Then this band I'd never heard of came on. What the heck is a Wombo? WELL LET ME TELL YOU. WOMBO IS A.MAZE. ING . I LOVE WOMBO. Wombo is my new fascination. I picked up their new CD, DangerinFives , and I would have bought their back catalogue if it was available.
I only got two (obviously bad) photos, but I managed to talk to lead singer Sydney Chadwick after the show (and probably put my foot in my mouth, making a fool of myself ack!) My fave songs on the current
album are ST Tilted, Ugly Room, and Neon Bog. I’m also discovering older material, such as Dreamsickle.
More
Currently Reading:
Since summer, I haven't had the capacity to read well, or review things in a way to cogently recommend them. (Why can I come up with a word like "cogent" ["coherent"] but be unable to summarize anything?) Anyhoo!
Here are a few items I looked at which you might not know about:
