When I was in high school I remember I attended a history panel by a famous Italian professor (I can’t remember his name of course…) He was talking about the cultural "bourgeois" revolution that happened after the French Revolution, consisting in the fact that after that event, relevant culture was not anymore commissioned, produced and consumed by the royalty, the oligarchs and the church, but by the middle class. The professor was wondering if in our times a similar but less traumatic event is "transferring" the control of culture to the masses – he called that "pop culture". I think the answer is "absolutely", and even in the "indie" side of music it seems obvious to me that we are witnessing an incredible "poppification" of tastes, which basically means that most bands are focusing more than ever on writing songs that can appeal to a large audience. Where are today’s Jim Morrison and Iggy Pops? The new Dead Can Dance or Nick Caves? Pop songs are great but tragedy is powerful, is that a too negative idea for our times? Like the kings and the oligarchs and the popes did after the French revolution I might be simply reacting to change, undervaluing a new idea of culture. But I still think that music like the one produced by Priestbird (Ex Tarantula AD) should have a place in our lives. You can buy their album with a small donation here.