http://www.lockportjournal.com/local/local_story_0880098415.htmlTAXES: Musicians entertain tax protesters
Rock band, Rapper delight dozens at the Buffalo Tea Party
By Erica Allen
E-mail Erica
Lockport Union-Sun & Journal
BUFFALO —It was an afternoon full of teabags, tax anger and tunes at Club W yesterday in downtown Buffalo. Grunge metal newcomers Il Eagles and Canadian-born hip-hop sensation Chuggo dazzled a larger than expect crowd of approximately 75 tax protesters who gathered at the bar to vent their frustration at President Barack Obama’s tax policies.
Participants in what was dubbed the “Buffalo Tea Party” demonstrated genuine enthusiasm for the event, and the late announced musical accompaniment of Il Eagles and Chuggo only helped to add a sense of excitement for those who came.
“Club W serves the best chicken strip appetizers in town,” said Tony Marceski, 58, of Hamburg. “I don’t know if it is the cornflake breading on it, but once I heard this tea party was going to be held at Club W, I knew I had to be here.”
First on stage was the rock band, Il Eagles, a Missouri based act who the St. Louis Riverfront Times once described as having a “bluesy-funk sound” and heralded as “possibly being the next Oasis.” Mustachioed Il Eagles lead singer Tom Moran came fully dressed for the part, sporting an American flag bandana, sunglasses and a tee-shirt of his hometown baseball team, the St. Louis Cardinals.
Moran and his bandmates wasted no time in jumping into their eight minute jam titled, “Radio Lady and the Tamale Children,” which Moran described as being an allegorical tale of a small business forced to shutter its doors after being hit with crippling unemployment compensation taxes. After striking his last chord of the song, Moran directed his anger at the 44th President. “Since when do taxes solve any of our problems, President Obama? Get a brain!” Moran shouted as the audience cheered.
After Il Eagles cleared the stage, the much publicized rapper Chuggo, a native of Toronto, took over the proceedings. Flanked by six City of Buffalo police officers (assigned by the city upon the tea party organizers’ request to control the crowd of nearly 100 anti-tax protesters), the bald-headed Chuggo appeared with his trademark golden skull staff and immediately launched into a monologue decrying wasteful government spending.
Chuggo then treated the audience to his never-before heard single, “Kudzu”, much to the crowd’s amazement. Upon finishing the song, Chuggo stopped for a moment and took the time to address the topic of the day.
“The American taxpayers are like a duck that has been duct-taped to the wall by the U.S. government,” Chuggo said in an uncharacteristically hushed tone. “Well, I’m here to say that we as a people are not going to stand by the sticky restraints of high taxes. President Obama, free the duck!” Clearly, Chuggo’s statement riled up the passions of the audience, as chants of “Free the duck!” soon enveloped the entire club.
Still, despite the plethora of musical talent patrons of Club W were treated to that afternoon, those in attendance were not forgetful of the true reason for the gathering. “I cannot think of one single thing that my hard earned tax money does to help me or my family,” said Deborah Boyle, 39 of Tonawanda. Boyle said when she learned about the tea party, she immediately rushed over to pick up her daughter Susan, who was participating in a science fair at Tonawanda High School, where she is a student.
“I would have been here sooner but for having to pull over for that fire engine on Interstate 290,” Boyle said. “It’s important for both me and my daughter to speak out against being forced to pay taxes when we are getting absolutely nothing in return.” Boyle and her daughter were unable to attend the march to Niagara Square, as she had to go visit her father in the VA nursing home in Batavia.
Those who did stay for the march, however, were joined by Chuggo himself. Chuggo, wearing a suit and a tie but carrying the golden skull staff by which his fans have come to know him, was reflective on the day’s proceedings. “The fact is,” Chuggo said, “You pay your taxes, and what do you get? Nothing but an empty wallet.” The 5-foot-1, 37 year old self-described “populist rapper” became somewhat choked up with emotion as he continued.
“You see, the people are it. That’s how I feel.”, Chuggo said, Chuggo shook his head in disgust as he boarded the Buffalo Metro Rail to take him back to his hotel, and then on to his next cause celebre. “Why is this country forcing its own people to pay taxes only to see that money go to projects that don’t do anything for the common man?”
Contact reporter Erica Allen
at (716) 357-2127
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