The year of the rat

You may be asking yourself, self, what's so special about this Thursday, February 7, 2008?? Well, other than the fact that it was just announced yesterday the Subsidies are playing the fricken FineLine at 9pm, downtown Minneapolis that night...

it also just so happens to be the first day of the Chinese New Year. I'm sure as an avid The Subsidies fan, you're interested in increasing your "dude, I'm totally cultured" quotient, so I've taken the time to compile some interesting facts on the holiday:

1. Chinese New Year's Eve is known as Chúxī. Chu literally means "change" and xi means "Eve". INTERESTING, as the candidate for "change," BaROCK Obama mopped the floor with everyone in the MN caucus last night... Seriously, I'll probably vote for him just so I can say "Our president BaROCKs!" It won't get old. Ever.

2. There are three ways to name a Chinese year: by an animal (2008 is known as the Year of the Rat), by number (current year is Year 4705 by the Chinese calendar - damn) or by its formal name (this is the year of Wu Zi). Say it again - "Wu Zi." I love Snoop Dogg.

3. Since the calendar is based on a 12 year cycle, anyone born in the Year of the Rat will turn either 1 or 13, 25, 37, 49, 61, 73, 85 or 97 over the course of the next year. Here at The Subsidies, our new rat resolution is to acquire Myspace friends from all "Year of the Rat" age groups. If you know any senior citizens who wouldn't mind singing "Living on a Prayer" with us onstage at our next gig, contact our drummer, Dave. He's handling all elderly intakes.

4. According to ancient Chinese legend, the "Nián" was a man-eating beast from the mountains which came out every winter to prey on humans. The people believed the Nian was sensitive to loud noises and the color red, so they scared it away with explosions, fireworks and the liberal use of said color. These customs led to the first New Year celebrations, and to the formation of The Subsidies. We wear red and crank it to 11 for a reason. Do I hear a new campaign slogan?!? The Subsidies - Protecting your ass from Nián like it's nobody's business!

So, come out, get your chúxī on, and celebrate the Chinese New Year with us at the FineLine Thursday!

The Subsidies '08,
Grant