i got my new impossibles dvd (never) say goodbye in the mail last week, and watched every minute of it. yes, i’m one of those guys who watches commentaries — but only on the stuff i really like. i love the impossibles, so of course i was thorough with this one. it made me realize something though which i think needs to be instituted more uniformly across the world of independent rock music: the farewell video. i own two of these now, the other being braid’s killing a camera. interesting that both of them are named after songs of theirs, but that’s not the point.

the point is that if i were in charge, i would make these mandatory for any bands breaking up that have gained any sort of following. you videotape the last big goodbye show, provide interview/behind the scenes footage enough where you get to fully explain your reasons for breaking up along with some off-the-cuff humor and insight, and leave that to your fans as a kind of parting gift. i don’t know if you’ve seen this sort of thing, but i know when i watch either of these, it’s like watching a great tragedy. i get really involved with the characters and experience their excitement and joy, and then in the end feel the real sadness in the finality of the whole event. you get the pleasure of seeing them play their hearts out one last time and the pain of knowing that after that, it’s all over — it’s beautiful! it’s perfect. i honestly think every band should do this. that means you, any bands that have recently called it quits… ahemdplancoughshinersniffleburningairlinescough. plus, they get to make a few extra bucks in the final breaths of their band, right? everyone wins! it’s a glorious institution. vote yes on prop 35b and get a quality send-off from your favorite defunct music groups. the children are our future!

and in honor of this idea which i’m sure will take the music world by storm, i’ve chosen a delightful selection from the aforementioned impossibles dvd for the song of the week. that is to say, they play this song at the last show; but the recording i’m sharing is actually from their first album, not the live version from that night. still, you’d do yourself wrong to have not heard the week of august 1st. listen to it while emailing that special band asking them to document their demise before they fade away.

[now hearing this: ted leo/pharmacists – “the ballad of the sin eater” from hearts of oak. caught them live last night as part of my super-fantastic weekend but that story will have to wait til tomorrow.]