Monday, July 21, 2008

The Mekons

Purpose:
Determine a band's leader by analyzing a publicity photo.

Disclaimer:
A band's inclusion on this blog reflects neither an endorsement nor a criticism of its music. This post is merely intended as a spotlight on the inner political workings of a collection of individuals who are in the midst of a cooperative, creative endeavor.

The Process:
You, dear reader, please answer the question, "Who's in charge here?"

After sufficient discussion has taken place, a verdict can then be passed based on a majority vote.

Click on pic for larger image
Band:The Mekons
Genre: Punkity Pop
Website: http://www.mekons.com/

Voting ends on: Monday, July 28st, 9:00am CST (GMT-5)


THE VERDICT (Updated!)

Voting has ended. Here is the tally.

No One - 1 vote
The Dog - 9 votes
The Man Behind The Dog - 1 vote
Shoeless Hopkins - 3 votes
Far Right - 1 vote
The Long-Haired Gravedigger - 2 votes
Woman in Printed Top - 2 votes
Ariana in the Middle - 4 votes
Blonde Chick - 1 vote


The dog?
The dog?!
The dog??!!?!!

Okay, the dog is in charge. woof woof

Click on pic for larger image

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh after much hemming and hawing, I'm going with Spud Mackenzie.

Definitely the Alpha Male

McGone said...

I'm tempted to go with the long-haired fella in the middle, but the gravedigger is rarely the idea man. So I am going with Shoeless Anthony Hopkins, the first on the left. He's confident enough that he doesn't have to be the center of attention (nor does he need footwear), and he is trying to help the guy next to him look cooler by enveloping him in his "Leader Charm."

BeckEye said...

Is this the new cast of The Apprentice??

The devil dog is definitely in charge.

lrousseau said...

farthest right.

the women look like they might be running the show, and shoeless anthony hopkins is my next guess... but i'll have to go with the farthest on the right.

Jared X said...

That dog is going to get everyone's vote when, in fact, he's clearly only the bass player. Have you ever heard a bass slapped with a paw? It's intense.

Vanishing point theorists will have difficulty with this photo because there are two vanishing points and a bass-playing dog is sitting in one of them.

My vote goes to Marty Feldman in the middle. It looks like an "Abby Normal" kind of band.

Blaniage said...

Shoeless is in charge. He's so confident of his stranglehold on this troupe that he doesn't wear shoes. God help the band member that steps on his bare foot. He's not a popular leader though, and a faction is developing around the firm but fair leadership of the bull terrier seated in front. Note the weary threadbare loyalty of the group on the left juxtaposed with the optimistic camaraderie on the right (with the exception of that suck-up hugging the boss, don't get me started). Little does the group on the right know, Boss Shoeless is taking Spuds in for a little genital tailoring next week. Check and mate.

Falwless said...

Definitely shoeless Tony (far left). Though vegan hemp-shoe lady with the tragic Rod Stewart 'do intrigues me. Is that Arianna Huffington she's leaning on?

Hatless in Hattiesburg said...

The dog is the main clue in this pic. Spuds there recognizes the "alpha male", and is resting on his foot. I suspect that the man-in-charge is the one between Geddy Lee & Natalie Merchant, a psychologist posing here with a group therapy class for recovering rock stars...

:D

A Jaded Girl said...

Once again dear splotchy you leave me no odjects. No the dog doesn't count since everyone is gonna vote for him and Im assuming he's alive.

I will cast my vote to the lady in the printed top. Second from the right. Everyone else is wearing basic black, thus making them the followers. She who dons the printed top doesnt follow the norm.

Rhubarb Ranch said...

Spud Mackenzie, of course. Here at the Ranch, we're very partial to dogs. Geddy "Ichabod Crane" Feldman, centerish, would be my next choice, if we have to go with a human leader. Shoeless Anthony Hopkins (left field) is clearly the drummer.

munster. said...

long hair guy, center.

Family Brown. said...

Guinea pig lore says it's the woman in the middle,her chin is highest, she is in charge, also the subservient posture of her friend says so too, I thought the guy being leaned on by the bull terrier might also be it, as dogs do know things.
Looked twice at shoeless man, but I think he just had too much cider with lunch and forgot shoes and how to stand up...so I go with the middle woman.

Daltana said...

My first thought was the bald guy on the far right. Then I realized he looked like he was being held up because of being drunk, and I don't mean with power.

Nobody else in the picture really stood out to me so my vote has only one place to go.

The dog. You ever walk a dog you know they are always in the lead.

Anonymous said...

At first glance this one might appear tricky to the untrained eye. After all, you have two to three distinct groups, and you could argue a leader in each. A closer examination, however, readily divides the band mates into two groups. We'll call them Dog and Not Dog. The Not Dog members stand aloof to the left, cut off from the inner circle, the main pack. These lone wolves may huddle together for comfort, but they are truly outsiders.

Meanwhile, the Chosen Few encircle their leader, their canine mafia don, reclining in all his splendor. They both protect and serve his every whim. You can laugh, my friends, but this dog is in charge.

Besides, he plays a mean upright bass.

Lonie Polony said...

Obviously the dog is in charge.

TheOtherJennifer said...

Is anyone else creeped out by the posing of the distinct groups? Looks like an ad for "swingers" or something. gack

I have to go with the dog. Barring a canine leader, I'll go with hand in pocket trying to look like a British Earl guy on the right.

Angela S. said...

Prior to reading the comments, I had determined the dog was the most likely candidate so I would not vote for him. Though he may well be in charge.

That being said, I will go with the dark-haired woman with her head thrown back and hands on one hip. She appears supremely confident despite the fact that the blond next to her looks as if she might shove her to the floor at any moment in a fit of covetous rage . . . so she's in charge.

JediJeff said...

So many who want to be in charge, but none who are. And what the hell is with David Bowie's beige clunky shoes with the black dress??? So unfashionable.

I agree with most - Spuds Mackenzie.

Gordon said...

I suspect the woman 4th from the left... she looks devious.

Jess Wundrun said...

Arianna Huffington. Her shoes match her dress.

For two weeks in a row I've been profoundly disturbed by the shoes the bandmembers are wearing.

Jillian said...

The Blonde Chick is in charge--She was still in the process of posing the last band member for the photo when this snapshot was taken.

Anna M said...

I'm going with the dog too!

Elisa @ Globetrotting in Heels said...

These people are scary-looking. And aren't there too many of them for ONE band? But I'd go with the short woman with the dog at her feet, second from the right.

Germaine Gregarious said...

I believe this band is made up entirely of the lesser talented siblings of all of the members of "Fleetwood Mac".

In which case all of them are at one time or another, in charge.

Anonymous said...

this was 2 photos merged together
so the people in the middle are really on the edge!