SXSW and me
Here's the deal. I'm shooting a commercial in Nac. tommorow, so I can check my mail (I own no Austin computer). I'll be in Austin for SXSW. I'd like to go to the parties, etc. But I don't have a clue where they are. I'd like to meet all you guys (again, probably). Someone help me out. --Matt Cook
Re: Damnations TX vs tired UT sounds
The first time I saw The D-Nation, I had the same feeling. A little too ND for me, but they do it so well that it grew on me. And since then they have branched out a lot. Rob and Keith are so far beyond what anybody in any other country band (except the Gourds, of course) can do for me, it's not even funny. And neither has probably ever heard "New Madrid". But they hear the guy that played that part not play it with The Gourds all the time. The girls love Jay Farrar Superstar and such, but I think they've learned to get somewhat beyond their influences. (Amy should write a song that's not about Jimmy or his ampha!) So has Jeff T., Max, Jimmy, Kev., etc. These are the people to watch. UT is a funny thing. Certain gourds and beebles remember hearing that there was a band from Missouri that was sorta like The Picket Line Coyotes. --Matt Cook (still a little tanked) Matt Benz wrote: After driving around the entire outerbelt searching for an elusive copy of this album, I weaved my way back to the "impeccable indy store" and of course found it. Learnin lessons the hard way here. Anyway, I love the record, but am surprised to hear the tag team of Yates and Weiss claim this stands out from the UT "genre". I hear plenty of overt UT influence on this album. Strains of New Madrid lurk in the banjo strains, etc... Also, do you really think that musically this album stands out? Some of the same loping alt-country shuffling going on, and I dare say that the only differences I hear on some of the tunes are the female vocals: stick a guy wailing away on some of em: same ol alt country rag. Tho maybe not in tune g. Sure, I hear the 60's RB basslines that pop up, that I admit is different, tho not radically so.
Re: Damnations NY
No, they aren't a honky tonk band. Listen to their covers and you'll figure where they are commin' from: Ted Hawkins, Lucinda Williams, X, Minutemen, Kiss, Tom Waits, The Gourds, Carter Family, etc. Keith's a very jazz-influenced drummer, but he's confessed that he used to play Iron Maiden as a youngster. Rob comes straight from post-punk rock (Picket Line Coyotes, with Kev. and Jim 'o' The Gourds, were closer to Husker Du than anything else). He learned the banjo just to play those songs. I'm not so certain about all of Amy and Deborah's influences. I'm pretty sure that before Austin and The Gourds they heard mostly pop and folk (like most of us). The Beatles are, of course, huge. 'Bout the exact same influences as The Gourds, but without the occasional gangsta rap and honky tonk (both from Kev., mostly). --Matt Cook James Gerard Roll wrote: I haven't been following this thread real real carefully, so forgive me if I am re-iterating anything someone else already said. anyway, I find the Damnations to be much more of a 60's soul-oriented band deep down than a country band. I certainly don't hear any Louvins in there at all . . . By soul I mean the chord structure and rhythms are out of the Stax mold as opposed to the Hank Williams mold. -jim
Re: Half Mad Moon
You're exactly right. I am a sad case. Except, I think, you're confusing me with someone with any kind of self worth. Sure, I feel happy when someone praises one of my favorite bands' music, but it has absolutely nothing to do with me. I'm not on those records. I just wish my bud's in Austin could be appreciated the way they should be. I was just trying (poorly, I guess) pointing out that Rob and Keith where getting almost no credit at all. And I tried to tack on an ad for GHOSTS at the end (shouldn't have done that, I guess). I certainly wasn't trying to put down The Damnations. After all, the Damnations are the second best band in Austin. --Matt Cook P.S.-Sorry if I pissed you off. I pissed myself off when I reread my post, it does sound a little like I was putting the girls down a bit. JP Riedie wrote: Because I'm in a bad mood, this whole post really pissed me off. Can it really be that your entire self-worth is predicated on The Gourds and what others think of them? That's pathetic. This is the Damnations shot. How petulant and prissy of you to stomp your feet and hold your breath because the Gourds don't get mentioned everytime somebody praises the Damnations! Lots of people consider the Damnations superior to the Gourds. Though this may never be comprehensible within your sad little worldview, it remains a fact. To sooth yourself in the face of this grave injustice is quite natural. It's just reprehensible to do so by minimizing a great band and grudgingly acknowledging contributions of Deb and Amy as some sort of footnote to the contributions of the men that surround them. It's disgusting and I hope a bunch of female musicians corner your ass someday soon.
Re: matt cook -- performance artist
James Gerard Roll wrote: Admit it Matt. You are not really a Gourds' fan at all, are you?? C'mon?? I like The Gourds. Enough to make a movie about them. I have the sneaking suspician that, in the grand tradition of Andy Kaufman, et al. you have decided to deconstruct fandom by creating the absolute most obnoxious fan you or anyone can imagine. How am I obnoxious? I really wanna know. 'Cause in real life I try not to be. On the internet and in my other writings, I'm not sure that applies. The narrator is not always the author. Your real genius (c'mon admit it) is that you have exploited the internet and become the first ever virtual performance artist. You aim to make those of us who are still salvageable - aware of the absurdity of identifying with a band or any musical movement and you have chosen our humble little cult to beging tyhe Cook Revisionist movement. I do say things on here I would never say on public (unless completely plastered). And I know I probably shouldn't. Identify? What does that mean? I could never make music like The Gourds, and I would never try. I like it, though. Those guys have helped me a lot in a lot of ways. I salute you good sir. Matt Cook. You have captured Beatlemania (lightning in a bottle!!) and thrown it back at another generation in a brilliant stunt and stuffed history back in its black whole. The Beatles were a great band. Their fans don't really enter into that fact in my mind. gourds. gourds. gourdS. gourDS. gouRDS. goURDS. gOURDS. GOURDS. GOURDS!! ha ha. oh Matt, please let us in on the joke. The joke is all at my expense, believe me. I've spent a year of my life on this movie, and it's not finished yet. I know you won't. But breathe easy for we are one step closer to freedom from bondage. Matt Cook. Performance Artist. Liberator! I hope that there are more people as stupid as I am. --Matt Cook
Re: SXSW Saturday
This always happens. That's happenin' opposite The Gourds, GBV, and T. Waits (or Iggy Pop) outdoor showcase deal. I'd love to see my homeys in The Bottle Rockets play at the Lunch, but The Gourds playing a much bigger show means me and my camera. --Matt Cook Chad Hamilton wrote: Someone mentioned the lineup at Liberty Lunch on Saturday evening. Here is what the SXSW website says: 8:00 Johnny Dowd 9:00 Reckless Kelly 10:00 Road Kings 11:00 Robbie Fulks 12:00 Bottle Rockets 1:00 Meat Puppets Damn wedding.
Re: SXSW Saturday
That's what I figured. But there was a chance (he's on a movie during SXSW). Iggy Pop's not bad. --Matt Cook William T. Cocke wrote: On Wed, 17 Feb 1999 16:28:53 EST [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Well I gotta say, I can't imagine seeing *anybody* but Tom Waits if the opportunity arises. Um, yes. Tom Waits for no one, so they say.
Re: SXSW Saturday
Yeah, but The Gourds, Guided By Voices, and Iggy Pop vs. Sparklehorse or The Bottle Rockets (nothing againgst them, of course)? I know where I will be. At 'the show of legends'. --Matt Cook [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: One of his pr folks said on the Waits list he will not be at SXSW...but who can ya trust? Well, so far, it's his pr folks (was it Tresa Redburn by any chance?) or Matt Cook. You make the call. Guess this opens up my Saturday night again. And I was suddenly panicking that it would be opposite Sparklehorse. NW
Mike Nicolai Tour Dates
This guy is a badass. So, go see him. --Matt Cook Hello folks. Here are my tour dates for February and March. Some I'm doing solo and some with the daring and unflappable human Texan known as "RCHE" bangin' on the drums. PLEASE call the club before you go there to find out when my set-time is, as this varies wildly from town to town. Thanks for your support, I'll see you on the road. FEB w24 CHICAGO IL Uncommon Ground th25 OXFORD OH Buzz sa27 LOUISVILLE KY Rudyard Kipling MAR m1 ST LOUIS MO Ciceros t2 CHAMPAIGN IL Borders w3 CHICAGO IL Lounge Ax th4 AUSTIN MN Buzz's sa6 MINNEAPOLIS MN Lee's m8 FORT WORTH TX PigWhistle t9 AUSTIN TX Cactus Cafe w10 DENTON TX Dan's th11 WICHITA KS Kirby's sa13 KANSAS CITY MO CupSaucer su14 LAWRENCE KS Replay Lounge th18 MINNEAPOLIS MN 400Bar sa20 DULUTH MN Fitger's m22 IOWA CITY IA Gabe's Oasis (tentative) w24 SALT LAKE CITY UT Spanky's th25 BOISE ID Tom Grainey's sa27 SEATTLE WA SubPopMiniMart New 7" available at the shows!! Hopefully!!
Re: baiting matt cook
March 4th in Austin. The 9th for the less fortune rest of the world. --Matt Cook "If you have GHOSTS, then you have ever'thing"--Roky Erickson James Gerard Roll wrote: hey, so does anyone know when the new Gourds' (Ghost of Hallelujah??) is due out?? -jim
Re: SXSW - What is the deal
I haveta back up JC on this one. It's not the runners of SXSW's fault that every band in the world besides about 5 stink. It's also not their fault that the same percentage goes for record labels. It's all for exposure. The 'town' makes all the immediate money. Everyone else is trying to be seen or see. It's not exactly designed for outright fans with no agendas. The Gourds have great friends who work for SXSW, but since they are not looking to sign with any kind of label (because labels are evil), they were gonna aviod this year's festival and tour instead. But they were offered a chance to play a 'showcase' with Guided By Voices and either Tom Waits or Iggy Pop in front of an estimated 15,000 at the outdoor stage on Saturday. They couldn't pass that up, simply 'cause they are fans themselves. So, if that sounds good to you, also, then you should say, "yes" to SXSW. And just try to shut out the bad stuff like you do every day anyway. --Matt Cook Jerald Corder wrote: I won't defend SXSW since I work for a paper owned by 2 of the 3 SXSW owners but I will correct this misinformation. Only one of the four founders of SXSW has left the organization. Louis Jay Meyers now has a festival/conference in New Orleans called LMNOP. He still lives in Austin and is starting a label with Mike Stewart (Gourds producer/manager). Jerald
Me existing
Yeah, Rche was probably telling the truth (he is apt to pull a fast one , however). I do exist. Many on this list can attest to that. --Matt Cook P.S.--I always wear a beard, glasses, jeans, white t-shirt, underwear, socks, and shoes when I'm out of my cage. JP Riedie wrote: So does Matt Cook exist? Or is he a publicist's creation? Every time I see the Gourds at the Electric Lounge I ask soundguy Rche if he's seen Matt Cook. he always says yes, but he thinks Matt left for a bit or he went into the crowd. I want to see this man with my own eyes.
Re: The East Tennessee Contigent Expands (Was: Re: The JudyBats (family tree))
Kevin Russell of The Gourds, too (Beaumont). I wouldn't call that East Texas, though. You gotta go a little further North to the pines (where the sun never shines...). --Matt Cook (from East Texas, much more fucked up than even Vidor) JP Riedie wrote: She's not country, but Marcia Ball's from Vidor too. JXH The towns in question are Vidor, Orange and Port Arthur. Janis Joplin and Marc Chesnutt are from this area also.
Re: Texans and odd hats
Is this a joke? I shot tons of that show. And I was so high/drunk that I was stuck sitting on that tiny stage about an inch from Claude the whole second set. And I met many P1 and 2ers that night. --Matt Cook Ross Whitwam wrote: You know, when The Gourds played at The Rodeo Bar here in NYC not too long ago I couldn't find any "Matt Cook" either. Strangely enough, though, singer-keyboardist David Paich from Toto -- LA-studio faves in the 80's and Randy Newman's favourite band -- was there videotaping the group. He looked very good for his age. More like 20 than 50. I was hoping he'd jump onstage to lead the band in a Gourdsified version of "Way down in Africa", but he confined himself to filming the band and drinking Bud.
Re: Hankdogs?
I have thought that if I had a horrible ND/Alt-country ripp-off band, I would call it The Sunsetriders. --Matt Cook Matt Benz wrote: Why don't you start one an "alt-country band name generator..." Lonesome Dog Whiskey Blue Rebel etc...
Re: It hasn't died after all (long)
Soon, I'll write it tonight after I get a few down. --Matt Cook Don Yates wrote: On Tue, 9 Feb 1999, Matt Cook wrote: You can add The Gourds' GHOST OF HALLELUJAH to this date (March 9). So where's the promised MattReview of the album?--don
Re: It hasn't died after all (long)
You can add The Gourds' GHOST OF HALLELUJAH to this date (March 9). Best record I've heard in awhile. And for all you Damnations fans, just know that they agree with me on this one. Plus, Rob Bernard (guitar, banjo, singing, songwriting for Damnations) and Keith Langford (drums on HALF MAD and before, he quit their band to join The Gourds) play on the record. And all you ANODYNE, A.M., and BEING THERE, etc. fans can hear what Max Johnston is up to these days. Oh yeah, and don't forget Jimmy, Kev., and Claude, the winds beneath 'everyone's' wings. --Matt Cook March 9:Walter Clevenger The Dairy Kings Love Songs to Myself (w/Kim Shattuck of The Muffs, The Rooks' Michael Mazzarella and former"Brady Bunch" actor Robbie Rist guesting) Joe Henry Fuse Beth Orton Central Reservation Wilco Summer Teeth Monte Warden A Stranger to Me Now
Re: It hasn't died after all (long)
Are you makin' fun of me? 'Cause if you are, I don't think I can take it. Never happened to me before. --Matt Cook P.S.--I had to stop (drinking) prematurely last night so I wouldn't embarrass myself too bad upon my rereading of my gushings today. I think I might catch up tonight. Too bad I don't live in Austin (yet), Max, Jim, and I could drink 96 beers (while listening to the Police) before sundown again. You should hear me talk when I'm thatta way. While, I cannot type so well plastered, I can still talk. And believe me, it's the most profound shit you ever heard. But you can't blame alcohol for your own stupidity. And I've got alla that with or without the poisons. Matt Benz wrote: So where's the promised MattReview of the album?--don E...thsi album are fook gawd shit terrficc n ill stand on fkiing Danzig's coffee table and...I luv the goordds, did issay at? i am drrrunnkkk. jus wait a miunte i errr um arg say i saw some old tuna noodle casseeroolle whachya think bout that??Some dam gud shit on theis rec imean cd is greeattt. Oh..you meant Matt Cook's sorry.
Re: Dylan
For my money the best Dylan live record is HARD RAIN. Every version on that puts a smile on my face. I'm not sure they rehearsed at all. It sounds like they are following an insane yelling Bob's whims on the frequent breaks. "Oh Sister", "Maggie's Farm", "Lay, Lady, Lay", etc. have never been better. --Matt Cook "Lay lady lay...LAY ACROSS MY BIG BRASS BED!"--Bob
Stuff
This is very abbreviated: Just got back from a week or so in Austin. Got some good work on the movie done, etc. In particular, I got The Damnations Tx (the TX will drop some day when the 'limitation', or something, runs out on the name Damnation) playing in front of 3000-4000 people. Then, I got them the next night playing in front of a handfull in San Antonio. Lot's of Gourds, Damnations, Prescott Curlywulf, and otherwise magic last week. I regret missing the Bone at the Hole, but seeing The Gourds finally get "Ghosts of Hallelujah" more than half right was probably worth it. Next up is a review of GHOSTS for you guys. I don't think HALF MAD needs my support. Did anybody else see the most recent PEOPLE magazine? --Matt Cook P.S.-Speaking of hype, what is up with Bare Jr.? Talk about some bad songs (at least what I heard live).
Re: Stuff (Bare Jr.)
Well, the crack in my head may have had something to do with it, but I didn't like it too much. At that in-store they were at their best when they were loud and 'crappy', and the songs didn't getin the way. But I haven't heard anything else besides that tape they gave me, which has a rip-off song Mint says is a hit (oh brother), and another boring rant. You and Gaines seem to love their stuff. But I'm not quite sure who's crack is bigger on this one (Gaines has one of the biggest, and best). --Matt Cook P.S.-Their bass player has a perm. Jennifer Sperandeo wrote: crackhead! xojns -- P.S.-Speaking of hype, what is up with Bare Jr.? Talk about some bad songs (at least what I heard live).
Re: Kevin Russel (Gourds) solo record
I think you got that wrong. I'll see him today, and I'll ask him. There is one between The Gourds and Picket Line Cyotees, but to my knowledge has never been pressed. But Boscoe owns it, not Kev. Steve Earle had interest in it this time last year. --Matt Cook Jim Fagan wrote: Waterloo is stocking a Kevin Russell solo record. Has anyone heard it yet (Matt Cook?). Any reviews? -- Jim Fagan| AIX Build Architecture and Integration | [EMAIL PROTECTED] T/L 678-2458 | Austin, Texas | fagan@austin
Re: FW: our boy Ryan
Maybe, he's gonna actually have some melodies on this record. Incidently, that (memories fuckin' you up) is exactly what GHOSTS OF HALLELUJAH means. And for the record, I definitely think he's correct in his critique of himself. Hell, I don't see what's so funny (and I 'can't stand' his other records). --Matt Cook [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: In a message dated 1/29/99 9:54:15 AM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Ryan Adams says of the new music in statement. "I'm backing off more now and letting the music convey the emotions I used to depend on the lyrics to spell out. That way I can get closer to capturing the moments that tear me up those terrible, nostalgic things I'm always arriving at, maybe a bit late due to excessive verbiage." Hoboy!! An album of guitar feedback. That's original. Slim
pppphhhhhh
Whoa Oh yeah i like the beer and the whiskey If it's gone then so will my badass --Mat t Coko
Re: pppphhhhhh
Matt Cook=the dumbest person in the world --Matt Cook
Ghosts
Go here for a little preview: http://www.thegourds.com/ghosts.html --Matt Cook
Re: cryptic messages in old vinyl numbering systems
You've missed some great Neil Young, then. --Matt Cook "Splendid isolation, I don't need no one"--Warren Zevon Geffry King wrote: I recall a Neil Young album of some kind that had "Hello Waterface" etched into side 1 and "Goodbye Waterface" etched into side 2. Don't ask me which one - the last Neil Young I heard was on a Warren Zevon album.
Re: CD Reviewing ethics
Who knows? If you think you have a good (objective, I guess) grasp of what's going on, then do it. I have no moral problems criticizing my friends' works of art. In fact, many of them ask me for my opinion more than I would (when the positions are reversed). Different people do things differently (of course, only a few do them the right way). It's up to you. Can you do it? I wish I knew a shitload of cliches, they're always right. --Matt Cook [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: So, would it be wrong of me to review this CD? I have no financial interest, no involvement business-wise, etc.
Re: Watermelon Records
All this Watermellon talk... If they still are listening... Pay The Gourds. They still haven't gotten any royalties. --Matt Cook
