Re: 1st half-ironic cover? (was sucking in the 70s)
Yes I wish I could read Jake's piece too. Can someone respost this in plain mail form so all of us can get a look? Thanks... --jooonyah
Re: Robbie Fulks and covers
Hey there, Ex-Boston Bob, who never goes out in Chicago anymore g Ive heard both Cake and Robbie introduce old covers by explicitly stating something along the lines of 'I think this is a really good song' Cake even went so far as to say 'we're not doing this ironically.' But don't some of these people need to be told, "You're wrong!" Repeatedly and loudly if necessary? I assume you mean wrong about the good song part and not about the 'we're not ironic' part. Well, as I overheard at the Tweedy show, "That's cause Fulks is smarter than everyone else." g The speaker, of course, being ironic, I assume. Later... CK ___ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
Re: 1st half-ironic cover? (was sucking in the 70s)
Junior says: In my mind, it was always the Byrd's version of "The Christian Life." I couldn't understand it any other way than as an ironic gesture at the time Why do you say that? And do you still think so? Dina
Re: Covers: A Follow-up
In a message dated 3/2/99 8:07:14 PM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: If you are a Hot New Country star and you cover a 70's pop or rock hit, you will probably be vilified for it. If you are an alt-country star and you cover a 70's pop or rock hit, you will probably be lauded for it. Not even mentioning the casual listeners who might be drawn into fandom for you because of it, even your most ardent fans will appreciate this cover even more than they do your own songs. She shoots, she scores. Cha-ching! Slim - who now understands.
RE: Robbie Fulks and covers
On Tue, 2 Mar 1999, Jennifer K. Heffron wrote: On the topic of covers, generally, I enjoy the occasional incongruous cover that an artist throws into the set, even the cheese. Especially when the artist can make the cover song sound uniquely "theirs." I guess I like the novelty of it. A song ends and I expect to hear another fabulous original. But no, instead I get "Jet." Fabulous! Hilarious! I'm thinking of the first time I heard The Derailers' cover of Prince's "Raspberry Beret" or The V-Roys' cover of IOU by The Replacements. I guess one could make the argument that the above songs are not really cheese, but I like 'em all. Dang, I wish people would listen to us like that g#. Since HTC is a working club band as well as an alt-country-of-sorts band, we do a lot of venues (VFW's and such) where cover tunes of all kinds are a requirement. It really is amazing how a song you've played to death can gain new life before a different audience. For instance, in spite of the dictum which holds that no band should ever cover "Folsom Prison Blues", we keep on doing it regardless of the "cheese factor" because (a) its fun; (b) people actually seem to like it; and (c) we usually have three telecasters on stage and it makes sense to use them. N.B. Sort of off the subject: Another fun kinda song to do is the obligatory spaghetti western surf instrumental. I was looking for one of those for us to cover not long ago, and last week in this restaurant in Richmond over the background music there comes "The Lonely Bull" by Herb Alpert. Has anyone heard another band cover this recently? -- Geff King * [EMAIL PROTECTED] * http://www2.ari.net/gking/ "Don't let me catch you laughin' when the jukebox cries" - Kinky Friedman, "Sold American"
Fatboy Slim eating MMs and Cake riding on a Jet (minimal twang, if any)
A few weeks back, I actually caught some of 120 Minutes on MTV, and found my self actually intrigued/enthused by the 3 videos I did catch (one, of course, was the new Sparklehorse). The other 2 artists, (I actually wrote their names down to look into) were Fatboy Slim - "Praise You" and Eminem. Now, I hadn't heard either name for at least 2 weeks, then, all of a sudden I'm hearing both of themAnd just last week, I heard that Fatboy Slim is actually a former Housemartin (Norman Cook?), which caught my attention as well (since I've always liked the Housemartins...and thought the Beautiful South was "ok", but never got into "Beats Int'l) Honestly, I doubt I can be sold on the Eminem camp, however, I've noticed jdiva "np'ing" the disc a few times. Fatboy Slim, now there's a different story. Regarding CAKE: I've always enjoyed their radio songs to a point where I'm not sick of hearing them when they are played (maybe because they don't get too much play (or overplayed) around these parts...at least not on the stations I listen to). Although, not on my "short wantlist", I may have to add their name onto my "need to look into" list...thanks Neal. "Jet" covers reminds me of this Jellyfish disc I have where they do "Jet", "Let 'Em In" and "No Matter What" (Badfinger) live. I believe the "Jet" cover is intro'd with "This is the sexiest song ever written"...and then the singer goes on to say, "I think you know what 'Jet' really means..." Ok, I lied, there's no twang in this post. Paul np: Bangles - September Gurls
Re: 1st half-ironic cover? (was sucking in the 70s)
Considering R. McG. ended up doing 700 Club commercials for Pat Robertson I now wonder if there was ever any irony in it. jb
Re: Robbie Fulks and covers
Hey there, Slonedog says: Nirvana were pretentious 90s shits but I guess they were better than Shania. Better how? Jon Weisberger Kenton County, KY [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://home.fuse.net/jonweisberger/ *sigh* Later... CK stupid and contageous ___ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
Re: Robbie Fulks and covers
Hey there, I never thought I'd be glad to hear "These Boots Are Made For Walking" again until I heard Candye Kane reinvent it on her CD. If any song screamed "cheese", this is it, and Kane turned it into a campy cover that I like better than the original. It _does_ have the greatest bass line intro in all of music. Aaand one fine video. Fnar fnar. Later... CK ___ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
Re: 1st half-ironic cover? (was sucking in the 7
jon byrd wrote: Considering R. McG. ended up doing 700 Club commercials for Pat Robertson I now wonder if there was ever any irony in it. I know! While I took it entirely ironically at first, I only learned as time went on that McGuinn and Parsons, each in their own ways, were understanding the gesture in different ways. Still, just to consider that album, it took a lot more moxie to put *that* tune on there than "You're Still on My Mind" or "Pretty Boy Floyd" or whatever To cover a trad song is one thing, but to cover a Christian song like that in 68 or 69, was quite another. It was a pretty strange choice of material and, in their environment, a pretty bold one --jr.
Re: Damn This Old LA Town
Er, what he said. And it sure is ironic to see a post viciously insulting a fellow P2er for an imaginary insult.g Please read more carefully folks, lest you read something into a message that simply isn't there.--don Where I come from using the term "cakehole" as in and I quote here, "...much more creative than whatever spills out of your cakehole" as a "colorful" term to refer to that which someone says or wishes to express is a sarcastic putdown. Also, the foul language is not necessary. It is a posturing attempt to appear "tough" and "cool". Please, let's not degrade this list to the kind of postings which r.m.c.w. is so full of. Tera
Re: 1st half-ironic cover? (was sucking in the 70s)
Considering R. McG. ended up doing 700 Club commercials for Pat Robertson I now wonder if there was ever any irony in it. jb Well, the ironies really pile on here. The one who was taking the song reasonably seriously at THAT time was almost surely future drug casualty Gram Parsons, who brought it up, and was certainly at least serious about wanting to take the radical step of saluting the Louvins' sincerity about these matters...It's almost impossible to see how startling Parsons' country meets rock mission was in 1968 without taking these cultural facts of that moment into account. THAT seriousness about the song--the serious suggestion that it had something to tell us in its unabshed sincerity, was certainly lost in the recording--and I don't recall anybody taking it straight. People who'd cover that version live virtually always did it ironically--lacking the scruples Junior mentioned to NOT do it as an offense to the seriously Christian. (And it's also useful to remember; when country artists attempted to speak to the rock and rollers after Gram, coming from The Other Side, they'd generally do it with vague or specific references to drug use, sex etcI guess this is what we meant by meteing half way. Thgere really was a kind of truce among those in these alt.country circles for a while there. Rock topics with country sounds and country topics with rock sounds are still pretty much among the alt.country staples, no? ) ..Meanwhile, back at the rodeo: .'Christian Life" was one of the Sweetheart cuts replaced by a McGuinn version, and ol' Roger was years away from that Christian Conversion at that time...The song SOUNDS tongue-in-cheek as McGuinn sings it on the released version, always has--and is difficult to hear any other way. (The Gram version has since become available for comparison.) Here are the comments of Johnny Rogan in His Byrds book Timeless Flight, after pointing out that Chris Hillman had brought in "I Am a Pilgrim", which he of course new from his bluegrass background: "The Christian Life" continued to stress the religious theme, and to hear the Byrds celebrating the virtues of godliness seemed, to many listeners, almost ironic. This was one of the tracks that had to be reerecorded with McGuinn replacing Parsons on lead vocal. Roger clearly attempts to imitate Parsons' vocal style and the entire effect is bizarre. What is, presumably, meant to be a serious song, in celebration of the Christian faith, comes across as unintentionally parodic; with McGuinn sounding as though he's mimicking rather than imitating Parsons' vocal phrasing." That McGuinn would later get all-so-serious about these matters just goes to show that ironic training wheels sometimes get dropped... I guess the kind of arguments that have been had here over "ironic" rock takes on twang culture did not start with P2, eh! Barry
Re: steve earle, Jesse Taylor?
Ian, Thanks for the story. As I suspected, Jesse doesn't go unnoticed or unappreciated! Kate. [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I had the pleasure of seeing him perform a few years ago up in Glasgow, Scotland, with 'Don McAlister Jr. and his Cowboy Jazz Revue'. Jesse Taylor is a big, strong man, and he could alternately thrash the hell out of the acoustic guitar when the song required it, while, in the next second, switch to playing with the most amazing delicacy and tenderness. Beautiful to listen to, and to watch. That same night, he was wearing black from head to toe, but had on a very nice vest: black (again), but covered with lots of brightly coloured pictures of electric guitars. From first sight, it was clear that the guy meant business ...
Re: Robbie Fulks and covers
Bob wrote: Ive heard both Cake and Robbie introduce old covers by explicitly stating something along the lines of 'I think this is a really good song' Cake even went so far as to say 'we're not doing this ironically.' If that's referring to their cover of "I Will Survive," I remember a friend being annoyed that they *werent* playing it ironically. She insisted on some rule that I had never heard of written somewhere in the Geneva convention or the vehicle code that since the original was so campy, it could not be played seriously by anyone else. It's sorta like the Ramones taking a very bad novelty record like "Surfin' Bird" and turning it a pretty great rock n roll song. Will Miner Denver, CO
Re: The Christian Life (was ironic covers blah blah blah)
Barry says: The song SOUNDS tongue-in-cheek as McGuinn sings it on the released version, always has--and is difficult to hear any other way. I would agree with this and with Junior's thoughts. The arrangement and the affected singing are so exaggerated that it's hard to hear serious intent in the performance. But I'd also like to say that I don't think you necessarily need to view this song strictly as a Christian song. An alternate way of looking at it is that it's about sticking to your guns, standing up for your principles and not caring what other people think about you. Which would make it doubly and unintentially ironic when someone performs it with the attitude that Will describes: I personally dislike the pop smugness of "Hey, here's a good song but we're too chickenshit about what you might think if you thought we really took it seriously, so we're going to fuck it up a little and have a good time stomping all over it." Dina
RE: Dusty Springfield
Reply to: RE: Dusty Springfield Wednesday March 3 6:46 AM ET Singer Dusty Springfield Dies At 59 LONDON (Reuters) - Dusty Springfield, the 1960s British pop star famous for her husky voice and blonde beehive hairdo, has died at the age of 59, her agent said Wednesday. Springfield, who had fought a long battle against breast cancer, died Tuesday night at her home in Henley-on-Thames, west of London, agent Paul Fenn said. Her cancer had first been detected in 1994. Born Mary O'Brien in London, she teamed up in the early 1960s with her brother Tom to form the Springfields, which became one of the country's top pop and folk acts. Once described as Britain's finest white soul singer, Springfield's 1963 solo debut ``I Only Want To Be With You'' is now a pop classic. Worldwide success came in 1966, with ``You Don't Have To Say You Love Me,'' which sold a million copies to become her only British number one hit. In 1968, she moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where she recorded ``Dusty In Memphis,'' regarded by some critics as one of the decade's finest albums. At the same time she released her classic single ``Son Of A Preacher Man.'' After disappearing from the charts, Springfield let slip in a 1975 newspaper interview a veiled admission that she was bisexual and moved to Los Angeles. She recorded little, preferring to spend time with tennis star Billie Jean King and campaign for animal rights. In the 1980s, she found renewed success when she teamed up with Britain's Pet Shop Boys, who persuaded her to duet with them on their hit single ``What Have I Done to Deserve This?.'' The group also wrote the theme song to ``Scandal,'' the film of one of Britain's most notorious political scandals of the 1960s, which also became a hit for Springfield. In May last year, Springfield announced a financial deal in Los Angeles under which she would get millions of dollars in exchange for future royalties from her hits. Just two months ago, Springfield was honored by Britain, being granted an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire). KATIEJOM wrote: Hi folks, along the lines of "see 'em while you still can" and "smoke 'em while you got 'em," very sad news this morningaccording to various radio reports, Dusty Springfield passed away at the age of 59 after battling breast cancer. For those wanting to read about Dusty and her career, there is a pretty good site at: A HREF="http://www.isd.net/mbayly/contents.htm" http://www.isd.net/mbayly/contents.htm/A It's worth a visit for the pictures alone!! Kate.
Re: Fatboy Slim eating MMs and Cake riding on a Jet
Paul, Come to Dee-Troyt, and you will quickly tire of Cake, Fatboy Slim, and Eminem (a Motor City native), which are all overplayed on our narrow-playlist radio modern rock radio stations. I'm getting sick of all three. np: Bangles - September Gurls Did I ever tell you the time I got thrown off the stage at St. Andrews for kissing Susannah Hoffs? Mitch Matthews Gravel Train/Sunken Road np: Angels' Visits (Vocal Music of Victorian America)
Re: Fatboy Slim eating MMs and Cake riding on a Jet
On Wed, 3 Mar 1999 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Did I ever tell you the time I got thrown off the stage at St. Andrews for kissing Susannah Hoffs? Good thing it wasn't Mark Farner...then we'd never know. g -- Geff King * [EMAIL PROTECTED] * http://www2.ari.net/gking/ "Don't let me catch you laughin' when the jukebox cries" - Kinky Friedman, "Sold American"
Re: 1st half-ironic cover? (was sucking in the 7
The first half-ironic cover was Elvis Presley doing a Bill Monroe song called "Blue Moon of Kentucky." You wanna know why, ask Weisberger. g## -- Geff King * [EMAIL PROTECTED] * http://www2.ari.net/gking/ "Don't let me catch you laughin' when the jukebox cries" - Kinky Friedman, "Sold American"
Re: Dusty Springfield Dies of Cancer
Awful news. One of the best female singer ever. RIP. -Original Message- From: Jeff Sohn [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: passenger side [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Wednesday, March 03, 1999 9:07 AM Subject: Dusty Springfield Dies of Cancer I was real sad to hear this news this morning. I know Dusty's name came up once or twice around here- or maybe that was just me comparing her sultry voice to that of Lucinda's on songs like "Right n Time." Anyway this is from AP. March 3, 1999 Web posted at: 6:47 a.m. EST (1147 GMT) LONDON (AP) -- Singer Dusty Springfield, whose husky, white soul voice fueled such 1960s hits as "Son of a Preacher Man" and "Wishin' and Hopin'," has died after a long battle with breast cancer. She was 59. Springfield died Tuesday night at her home in Henley-on-Thames, about 30 miles (45 kilometers) west of London, said her agent, Paul Fenn. "She was one of the icons of the music industry," Fenn said. "She was one of the most talented female singers of this century." Springfield's first hit was 1964's "I Only Want To Be With You," followed by a string of smashes, including "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself" and "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me." In the 1990s, she resurfaced with another hit, teaming up with the Pet Shop Boys for the single "What Have I Done to Deserve This." Springfield's breast cancer was diagnosed in 1994 shortly after she recorded her most recent album, "A Very Fine Love." She underwent extensive chemotherapy until 1995, when she was diagnosed as being clear of the disease. But the cancer returned the following year.
Re: Fatboy Slim eating MMs and Cake riding on a Jet (minimal twang, if any)
I must say, I think that Fatboy Slim song "Praise You" is pretty darn great. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: passenger side [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Wednesday, March 03, 1999 12:31 AM Subject: Fatboy Slim eating MMs and Cake riding on a Jet (minimal twang, if any) A few weeks back, I actually caught some of 120 Minutes on MTV, and found my self actually intrigued/enthused by the 3 videos I did catch (one, of course, was the new Sparklehorse). The other 2 artists, (I actually wrote their names down to look into) were Fatboy Slim - "Praise You" and Eminem.
Re: Dusty Springfield Dies of Cancer
Isn't Dusty supposed to be inducted into the RnR Hall of Fame this year? Too damn late IMO. She was amazing. RIP. Slim
Re: Damn This Old LA Town
vgs399 wrote: Er, what he said. And it sure is ironic to see a post viciously insulting a fellow P2er for an imaginary insult.g Please read more carefully folks, lest you read something into a message that simply isn't there.--don Where I come from using the term "cakehole" as in and I quote here, "...much more creative than whatever spills out of your cakehole" as a "colorful" term to refer to that which someone says or wishes to express is a sarcastic putdown. Also, the foul language is not necessary. It is a posturing attempt to appear "tough" and "cool". Please, let's not degrade this list to the kind of postings which r.m.c.w. is so full of. Tera This is comedy, right? This is a Roseann Roseannadanna routine, right? If Lance hadn't been so grossly insulted, I would have thought it was funnier, but he handled himself like a gentleman. This is bizarre. -- Joe Gracey President-For-Life, Jackalope Records http://www.kimmierhodes.com
Re: Dusty Springfield Dies of Cancer
This is not good news to wake up to. Son of a Preacher Man is a great vocal performance. Breast Cancer is a really scary thing. All you girls please don't put off your check ups, and you boys out there, please gently remind us to do so. Nancy
RE: Fatboy Slim eating MMs and Cake riding on a Jet (minimal twang, if any)
Not only is that a great song but the video is one of the funniest things I've seen on MTV in a very LNG time. -Original Message- From: Tar Hut Records [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] I must say, I think that Fatboy Slim song "Praise You" is pretty darn great. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: passenger side [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Wednesday, March 03, 1999 12:31 AM Subject: Fatboy Slim eating MMs and Cake riding on a Jet (minimal twang, if any) A few weeks back, I actually caught some of 120 Minutes on MTV, and found my self actually intrigued/enthused by the 3 videos I did catch (one, of course, was the new Sparklehorse). The other 2 artists, (I actually wrote their names down to look into) were Fatboy Slim - "Praise You" and Eminem.
Re: Kelly Willis Michael Been?
Slonedog wrote: > On first glance, Been, while a great bass player, doesn't seem a > likely choice to play bass on an alt-country album. So my question > is this: how did he hook up with Kelly? Is he spending his > post-Call days as a session player? Is he a friend of hers or > what? Any other fans of the Call out there know the story? Is Kelly Willis is an active Christian? It might make sense from that angle. Been is outwardly Christian, and I know he's done stuff with Mark Heard, Bruce Cockburn, and, I think, Vigilantes of Love and T- Bone Burnett. Despite some of the keyboard sounds being somewhat dated, The Call's best efforts still rock. I saw them do an outdoor show on the riverfront in Cinti. Just as they kicked into The Walls Came Down, a big ol' thunderstorm came rolling up the river. The band kicked into double-time and did a fiery, almost-punk version of their hit, it was awesome. Dave np: John Anderson - Greatest Hits (speaking of covers and such, he covers "Keep Your Hands To Yourself") here *** Dave Purcell, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Northern Ky Roots Music: http://w3.one.net/~newport Twangfest: http://www.twangfest.com
Re: Kelly Willis Michael Been?
Oh, Purcell's back. It's just old home week around here, n'est-ce-pas (as they say down on the bayou). Millenial anxiety, sheer coincidence, or the inescapable lure of twang subculture? You decide. --junior
Re: Kelly Willis Michael Been?
Excerpts from internet.listserv.postcard2: 3-Mar-99 Kelly Willis Michael Been? by [EMAIL PROTECTED] how did he hook up with Kelly? Is he spending his post-Call days as a session player? Is he a friend of hers or what? Any other fans of the Call out there know the story? I don't know exactly how he KW hooked up, but he's still in the Bay Area and has worked with Chuck Prophet, so that may teh the connection. Carl Z. saddened over the Dusty Springfield news
Re: Damn This Old LA Town
Tera wrote: Where I come from using the term "cakehole" as in and I quote here, "...much more creative than whatever spills out of your cakehole" as a "colorful" term to refer to that which someone says or wishes to express is a sarcastic putdown. Also, the foul language is not necessary. It is a posturing attempt to appear "tough" and "cool". Please, let's not degrade this list to the kind of postings which r.m.c.w. is so full of. Tera And Joe wrote: This is comedy, right? This is a Roseann Roseannadanna routine, right? If Lance hadn't been so grossly insulted, I would have thought it was funnier, but he handled himself like a gentleman. This is bizarre. Joe Gracey I agree. Tera, the graceful thing to do, after completely misconstruing someone's language, and viciously attacking him in the process, is to apologize. And the word "fuck" doesn't offend me in the slightest. What brings me down is the vitriol spewing from your keyboard directly into my eyes. While I'm here, here's a question I've always wanted to ask: What's a shuffle? Maybe some examples from contemporary alt-country types would help (since my knowledge of traditional country music is extremely limited). Thanks. Linda [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
RE: Kelly Willis Michael WHERE YA Been PURCELL?
I was thinking it must be time for the annual "Name Dave Purcell's latest band" contest, but I hear he already -yes, that's right- already has come up with a name. Unfortunately, it's not "Cakehole." -Original Message- From: Ph. Barnard [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Wednesday, March 03, 1999 5:07 AM To: passenger side Subject: Re: Kelly Willis Michael Been? Oh, Purcell's back. It's just old home week around here, n'est-ce-pas (as they say down on the bayou). Millenial anxiety, sheer coincidence, or the inescapable lure of twang subculture? You decide. --junior
RE: Kelly Willis Michael WHERE YA Been PURCELL?
Darn, I'd been saving up band names. "We are not the undead but merely indulge in ironic covers..." was a leading contender this year. --junior
Re: Dusty Springfield
Ohh God. *Really* bad news. The only singer we produced who could compare with the Motown greats. If you grew up in the 60s over here Dusty was part of the soundtrack of your life. One of the truly great pop voices. The harmless gaiety of the nations is much diminished. If any of you can find the video put out (by Dave Clark Productions - yes *that* Dave Clark) of the 'Ready, Steady, Go' Motown show you should buy it. Featuring most of the Motown greats live (and James Jamerson's amazing pompadour) it was compered by Dusty and she does a fine duet with Martha Reeves. -- Iain Noble Hound Dog Research, Survey and Social Research Consultancy, 28A Collegiate Crescent Sheffield S10 2BA UK Phone/fax: (+44) (0)114 267 1394 email:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---
RE: Kelly Willis Michael WHERE YA Been PURCELL?
Matt wrote: I was thinking it must be time for the annual "Name Dave Purcell's latest band" contest, but I hear he already -yes, that's right- already has come up with a name. Unfortunately, it's not "Cakehole." Yep, we do. We're Holsum (like the bread company). Our drummer saw it on a thrift-store delivery shirt I wore to practice. We're not really wholesome, so I guess that makes us ironic. Geddit? At any rate, it beat the hell out of the name we'd tentatively booked a couple shows under, which was the Factory Girls (after the Stones song of the same name). Dave np: Mark Lanegan - Scraps at Midnight *** Dave Purcell, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Northern Ky Roots Music: http://w3.one.net/~newport Twangfest: http://www.twangfest.com
Re: Dusty Springfield
Well, anyone who doesn't own "Dusty In Memphis" needs to go to their local record store post haste and purchase this sucker. I think Rhino re-issued it on CD not too long ago with previously unreleased bonus tracks. A marvel of smooth (in a good way g) '60 soul-pop. Kip
RE: Kelly Willis Michael WHERE YA Been PURCELL?
On Wed, 3 Mar 1999, Dave Purcell wrote: Yep, we do. We're Holsum (like the bread company). Our drummer saw it on a thrift-store delivery shirt I wore to practice. Is this shirt kinda like a Hawaiian shirt, with the logo all over it? Or is it more of a traditional delivery kinda shirt? I used to own one of the former kind, bought, ironically enough, at a thrift store. -- Geff King * [EMAIL PROTECTED] * http://www2.ari.net/gking/ "Don't let me catch you laughin' when the jukebox cries" - Kinky Friedman, "Sold American"
Re:RIP Dusty Springfield
What a terrible loss. Dusty Springfield was one of the few white soul singers of her generation who could legitimately stand up to the great black singers. According to the BBC web site (http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid_67000/67646.stm), she had just been awarded the Order of the British Empire this year. Thanks to the discussion on this list, I picked up a copy of "Dusty In Memphis" last year. It's a hell of a fine album, worth owning no matter what. np: Son of a Preacher Man
Dusty Springfield covers
This may seem weird, but there's a gay rock band here who does a completely non-ironic cover of "Son of a Preacher Man". Works really well in their situation. -B "tying two threads together" B-
Re: Damnations TX vs tired UT sounds
On Tue, 2 Mar 1999, Matt Benz wrote: 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? Oops, forgot to reply to this. I can't speak for Neal, but for me anyway, it stands out simply because it's so much better than yer average run-of-the-mill alt-country album -- quality songs performed well, with some of the most deliciously soulful singing that I've heard from an alt-country act in quite some time.--don
Jimmy Day Benefit March 28th in Nashville
According to postings on the Steel Guitar Forum, there will be a benefit concert to help try to pay off some of the hospital bills the late Jimmy Day accumulated during his battle with cancer. It will be held at the Nashville Nitelife nightclub on Music Valley drive, starting at 2:00 on March 28th. Buddy Emmons will be featured on steel guitar, Tommy Alsup and Pete Wade on guitars, Willie Rainsford on piano, Hoot Hester on fiddle, etc. Jimmy Dickens, Lee Ann Womack, Wade Hayes, Toby Keith, Jeannie Sealy, Craig Dillingham, Bill Russell, and others have agreed to perform, according to this post. For more information, visit the Steel Guitar Forum (http://www.b0b.com/forum) or write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Dusty Springfield
On Wed, 3 Mar 1999 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Well, anyone who doesn't own "Dusty In Memphis" needs to go to their local record store post haste and purchase this sucker. I think Rhino re-issued it on CD not too long ago with previously unreleased bonus tracks. A marvel of smooth (in a good way g) '60 soul-pop. Yep, Rhino *just* reissued it with a bunch of extra tracks recorded around that same time. On top of the original album, it includes some great singles (like the swamp-poppish "Laura Willie Mae Jones") and some previously unissued recordings, including -- David Cantwell take note -- a coupla Gamble Huff productions. Rhino also just released Dusty In London, which collects Dusty's British-only releases from that same era (late '60s-early '70s).--don
RE: Damnations TX vs tired UT sounds
I've been listening to the Damnations record as well and I can't really recommend it. The noticeably slicker-sounding "Unholy Train" is a great song but I think too many of the others are flat-out boring. They sort of sound like the Indigo Girls with inferior songs and a banjo. Just my opinion, Slonedog -Original Message- From: Don Yates To: passenger side Sent: 3/3/99 12:02 PM Subject: Re: Damnations TX vs tired UT sounds On Tue, 2 Mar 1999, Matt Benz wrote: 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? Oops, forgot to reply to this. I can't speak for Neal, but for me anyway, it stands out simply because it's so much better than yer average run-of-the-mill alt-country album -- quality songs performed well, with some of the most deliciously soulful singing that I've heard from an alt-country act in quite some time.--don
Re: Dusty Springfield
Excerpts from internet.listserv.postcard2: 3-Mar-99 Re: Dusty Springfield by Don [EMAIL PROTECTED] and some previously unissued recordings, including -- David Cantwell take note -- a coupla Gamble Huff productions. When were these recorded? Are there lotsa cool horns strings on these? curious, Carl Z.
Re: Dusty Springfield
On Wed, 3 Mar 1999, Carl Abraham Zimring wrote: and some previously unissued recordings, including -- David Cantwell take note -- a coupla Gamble Huff productions. When were these recorded? Are there lotsa cool horns strings on these? All of the songs are from the late 60s-early 70s. Yep, there's lotsa cool horns strings.--don
RE: Kelly Willis Michael WHERE YA Been PURCELL?
Geff King wrote: Is this shirt kinda like a Hawaiian shirt, with the logo all over it? Or is it more of a traditional delivery kinda shirt? It's the latter, but I've seen the former on Ebay. They're sweet. Dave *** Dave Purcell, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Northern Ky Roots Music: http://w3.one.net/~newport Twangfest: http://www.twangfest.com
SXSW schedule
Howdy, Where do I find the 1999 SXSW schedule on the Internet? Jerker Emanuelson Sound Asleep Records Sweden np. Bukka Allen-Sweet Valentine
RE: Damnations TX vs tired UT sounds
Slonedog writes:I think too many of the others are flat-out boring. They sort of sound like the Indigo Girls with inferior songs and a banjo. Whoa! I don't hear any of the Girls whitebread folkiness or unbridled (read over the top), er, enthusiasm on the Damnations record. If you've never seen this band live, you owe it to yourself to catch 'em. Maybe the record doesn't do them justice, if you've never experienced them before. Maybe a trip to Twangfest is in order. g Jim, smilin'
Re: SXSW schedule
Jerker, just put "sxsw" into any search engine and the website should come right up www.sxsw.com, I assume? --junior
Re: Damnations TX vs tired UT sounds
[Matt Benz] Now, I need to get back to the Kelly Willis disc. Do you mean listening to the disc or drooling over the cd booklet? marie
RE: Damnations TX vs tired UT sounds
I wasn't referring to the Indigo Girls occasionally pretentious lyric content or their enthusiasm. I was referring to how the Damnations harmonies sound similar to how Amy Ray and Emily Saliers' voices mesh (the Indigos main strength, I think). Anyway, I do want to catch the Damnations live. I heard they were touring with Richard Buckner. Anybody know if the tour is going to come to the East Coast (specifically the DC area)? I'd love to catch Buckner again as well. Peace, Slonedog -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Wednesday, March 03, 1999 12:29 PM To: passenger side Subject: RE: Damnations TX vs tired UT sounds Whoa! I don't hear any of the Girls whitebread folkiness or unbridled (read over the top), er, enthusiasm on the Damnations record. If you've never seen this band live, you owe it to yourself to catch 'em. Maybe the record doesn't do them justice, if you've never experienced them before. Maybe a trip to Twangfest is in order. g Jim, smilin' [Matt Benz] Whoa! Indeed. If I heard anything that reminded me of the IGirls, this disc woulda been flung far and wide. As it is, while not every song is spot on (that "fingerin' the pie" is um.. .fruit filling, IMHO), it's good stuff. Now, I need to get back to the Kelly Willis disc.
Re: Covers and a defense of irony (long)
It's sorta like the Ramones taking a very bad novelty record like "Surfin' Bird" and turning it a pretty great rock n roll song. Will Miner I'm not sure what the story is with the Ramones covering this song, but I'd be willing to bet dollars to cakeholes that it was a self-conscious homage. I think "Surfin' Bird" is one of the great one-hit wonder songs in rock 'n' roll (although, I have to admit, it does get old quick). I believe, though, that bands like The Ramones--especially The Ramones, in fact--owe their existence to songs like this. The idea of a three-chord--at most--rock 'n' roll song providing a template for an entire career was virtually destroyed by bands like The Beatles, who went from these same three-chord songs into worlds of far-out musical experimentation and sophistication. Every band, it seemed, had to do their "psychedelic" album, their "concept" album, and so forth. Well, The Ramones--Joey, in particular--never forget how good it felt to hear simple songs like "She Loves You" on the Sullivan show. And if they took anything from the Beatles conceptually, I guess it would be the idea that four leather-clad "brothers" playing as if The Beatles stopped recording after "A Hard Day's Night" was it. Thus, songs like "She Loves You"--via The Ramones--would, inadvertently it seems, end up providing punk with an important part of its structural and musical foundation. So, that The Ramones would cover "Surfin' Bird"--in this light--seems to make perfect historical sense. And even had it been ironic, let me utter a few words in defense of irony. It would seem that "being ironic" is not something to aspire to, but I believe that the context is vital. Irony--for me anyway--is sort of like marijuana. You might wanna dip into the bag every now and then, but a lifestyle based on it is silly and boring. So, the Mats covering a KISS song can definitely be seen as a socially-connecting device (No way, dude, I bought this KISS album in the fifth grade. WOO-HOO!), but a entire album of KISS songs would be (urge) overkill. This also seems to be the difference between aberrations like the "Cocktail Nation" (Boy, that didn't get old fast, did it?) and the Swing revival, and bands who happen to find genuine, artistically-satisfying inspiration in the Louis Prima/Keely Smith/Sam Butera records. It also seems to be the difference in bands that wrap themselves in the ND-alt.country.com flag, and bands that just happen to find inspiration in Neil Young, UT, and Creedence. Unfortunately, there is no convenient device for discerning between the posers and those who, we might feel, have their hearts in the right place. Add to this, the possiblity that shitty bands can find genuine inspiration in songs we love, and bands we love finding genuine inspiration in irony. Confusing, isn't it. Anyway, I got through this whole post without using the word fuck. Maybe I am growing up. : ) Lance . . .
RE: Kelly Willis Michael WHERE YA Been PURCELL?
On Wed, 3 Mar 1999, Matt Benz wrote: I was thinking it must be time for the annual "Name Dave Purcell's latest band" contest, but I hear he already -yes, that's right- already has come up with a name. Unfortunately, it's not "Cakehole." No, it's not Cakehole but something kinda white bready, kinda all-American, Wholesome/Holsum.something like that! Big G! Best of luck to that hairband in any case. Hey, if Purcell's in the band they have to qualify as a hairband, don't they? NP: Kelly Willis JC
RE: Kelly Willis Michael WHERE YA Been PURCELL?
Boy don't you hate it when people take your original subject line and go off on some weird tangent. Just kidding, Slonedog -Original Message- From: Jerry Curry To: passenger side Sent: 3/3/99 1:29 PM Subject: RE: Kelly Willis Michael WHERE YA Been PURCELL? On Wed, 3 Mar 1999, Matt Benz wrote: I was thinking it must be time for the annual "Name Dave Purcell's latest band" contest, but I hear he already -yes, that's right- already has come up with a name. Unfortunately, it's not "Cakehole." No, it's not Cakehole but something kinda white bready, kinda all-American, Wholesome/Holsum.something like that! Big G! Best of luck to that hairband in any case. Hey, if Purcell's in the band they have to qualify as a hairband, don't they? NP: Kelly Willis JC
RE: Damnations TX vs tired UT sounds
Both, baby! g. And to find out she's playing in Columbus this April, well, smack my hind with a melon rind! -Original Message- From: marie arsenault [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Wednesday, March 03, 1999 1:01 PM To: passenger side Subject: Re: Damnations TX vs tired UT sounds [Matt Benz] Now, I need to get back to the Kelly Willis disc. Do you mean listening to the disc or drooling over the cd booklet? marie
Re: Covers and a defense of irony (long)
On Wed, 3 Mar 1999, lance davis wrote: Irony--for me anyway--is sort of like marijuana. You might wanna dip into the bag every now and then, but a lifestyle based on it is silly and boring. This, my friends, is the quote of the decade. And it's part of a great post as well- way to go, man... Tom np: my heart, beating rather loudly in my eardrums as the Surge *really* begins to kick in...
Re: Dusty Springfield covers
Include Maria McKee's cover of the Dusty in Memphis gem, "I Can't Make it Alone," from You Gotta Sin to Get Saved. OK, technically, this is a Goffin/King cover, but you know what I mean. And speaking of Maria, I just bought her first 2 albums today for my girlfriend, and then, a few minutes later I came to find out that Dusty had passed away. Tragic and weird. And definitely in that order. Lance . . .
Re: Damn This Old LA Town
While I'm here, here's a question I've always wanted to ask: What's a shuffle? Crazy Arms, the #1 shuffle!? Mike Hays http://www.TwangCast.com TM RealCountry 24 X 7 Please Visit Then let us know what you think! Mike Hays www.MikeHays.RealCountry.net For the best country artist web hosting, www.RealCountry.net
Re: Changing Subject Lines
Title: Re: Changing Subject Lines I guess this isn't so much about who's a good alt.country band as who I like these days, but here goes: the Pinetops from Winston Salem - I think that Jeffery Dean Foster (who is NOT JD Foster. he's a youngin') is a vivid, intuitive songwriter and the band that he assembled for his record Above Ground and Vertical is the tops - they're doing what might be called Uncle Tupelo but really they reind me of about 5 of my favorite bands all at once ...I think Beaver Nelson is the male Lucinda Williams - don't fuck up and miss him if you're gonna be in Austin...I love the Yay-hoos and think using Chip Robinson as the frontman is brilliant even if they're calling it the Backsliders...I like the emo-roots of Lou Ford...The new Hazeldine record (as yet without a home due to Unigram hell) is brilliant! Its the ulitmate Chick's Roadtrip Record...Pete Krebs from PORTLAND is the real deal (another great band performing great songs) Sweet Ona Rose coming from Cavity Search Records soon...Little Sue from PORTLAND has the vocal talents of Iris Dement, the spirit of Loretta Lynn and the relevance of Edith Frost or Freakwater...Fernando from PORTLAND is gonna shock you all with his new album (nothing you'd expect if you've heard his other stuff) rootsy psychedelic roots rock - you heard me right...isolated scenes come up with the most interesting stuff - big city clusterfucks don't seem to matter as much to their participants...or something...xoxo -- From: Don Yates [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: passenger side [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Changing Subject Lines Date: Mon, Mar 1, 1999, 6:23 PM On Mon, 1 Mar 1999 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Please divulge, Ms. Jdiva, the names of the really good stuff that's tickling your ear. I'm always one for your passionate opinion and I must confess to being a cynic at this point, not just regarding Tupelo knockoffs but the the whole alt-country (whatever that means) scene as well. Sad to say, but I have so little patience for CDs by guys with acoustic guitars or bands of post-college boys with a few twangy instruments and band names plucked from the twang cliche machine, countless of which are piled up in my office at this moment in time. Earnestness is one thing, finding something fresh to say is another. It's gotta be really something special at this point to make me want to write about it and/or listen to it a million times. The Damnations and Pete Krebs are the two that currently tend to fall into that category. I'm kinda with our LA rock critic on this one. Most alt-country albums are undistinguished, cliche-ridden mediocrities (the new albums from the Damnations and Krebs being two very big exceptions). I suppose you could say the same about any other genre you care to name, but the volume of twang-rock poo seems to be increasing to a dangerously high level. Anyway, I'm also interested in hearing what's got the Austin twang-rock queen so hot at the moment.--don
Re: Charlotte, NC venues
On Wed, 3 Mar 1999 11:38:24 -0800 Owen Bly [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: ...where a country band from San Francisco might play?...Anyone?Bueller? Thx Owen Bly Ranchero Records Oakland, CA The Double Door is pretty cool. I've been to Tremont Music Hall, too, but I thought it kinda sucked as a venue. William Cocke Senior Writer HSC Development University of Virginia (804) 924-8432
re: Changing Subject Lines
Title: re: Changing Subject Lines This should read: ...Fernando from PORTLAND is gonna shock you all with his new album (nothing you'd expect if you've heard his other stuff) rootsy psychedelic rock en espanol - you heard me right...
Weir/Hanson post question
hey, I meant to save that posting on Hanson appearing with Bob Weir but I didn't. (that did appear here, didn't it?) could someone resend it to me or tell me where I could find it? (but don't tell me "where to go") thanks, MichaelBerick
Re: Dusty Springfield
On Wed, 3 Mar 1999, David Cantwell wrote: That's weird. The Laura Willie makes sense, since it was with the same American studios band that she recorded In Memphis with, least as far as I remember. But the Gamble Huff stuff? On the Philly box set, there's a great, great Dusty cut called Silly, Silly Fool. Is that one of them? Nope -- the GH productions are "Cherished" and "Goodbye," both of 'em previously unissued.--don
Re: Damnations TX vs tired UT sounds
Oops, forgot to reply to this. I can't speak for Neal, but for me anyway, it stands out simply because it's so much better than yer average run-of-the-mill alt-country album -- quality songs performed well, with some of the most deliciously soulful singing that I've heard from an alt-country act in quite some time.--don Yeah, but what do you like about it, Don? -- Terry Smith ps that was a joke. Oh yeah, welcome back, Mr. Purcell. You've got some catching up to do, mister.
Welcome back Dave Purcell!
Nice to have you back amongst the mouthy and literate! Mike Hayshttp://www.TwangCast.com TM RealCountry 24 X 7 Please Visit Then let us know what you think! Mike Hays www.MikeHays.RealCountry.netFor the best country artist web hosting, www.RealCountry.net
Re: Covers: A Follow-up
Dina wrote; Now I just want to be sure my understanding is correct. If you are a Hot New Country star and you cover a 70's pop or rock hit, you will probably be vilified for it. In my book, not if it was a good song in the first place and you do a solid job of it. If it ends up being like almost all of the versions on the Rolling Stones or Eagles mainstream country tributes, then you'll be vilified legitimately, IMHO. If you are an alt-country star and you cover a 70's pop or rock hit, you will probably be lauded for it. Not even mentioning the casual listeners who might be drawn into fandom for you because of it, even your most ardent fans will appreciate this cover even more than they do your own songs. Did I get it right? I just don't think it's that easy, Dina, or complicated-if that makes any sense. At least with me, if it was good song in the first place and the alt.country act does a good job, then yeah, I think your fan base will be happy it was done (e.g. "Bad Time" done by the Jayhawks or "Harper Valley PTA" by Mike Ireland). I think Jake's piece on this was pretty insightful, but at the same time I don't think most fans-alt.country or otherwise-engage in "irony worship" (pre-emptively or not,) to the degree that they'll froth over any cover from their childhood AM memories. I'm sure it happens, but dan bentele
Re: Old 97s blurb
Personally, I'd probably do the same thing with my CD (if it ever gets finished) to one of our local hangouts (although none of them have a CD jukebox). Oh well, I guess I'm outta luck anyways. But the Old 97s rule. Mitch Matthews Gravel Train/Sunken Road
Re: Dusty Springfield and the Pope
The media tributes are coming thick and fast over here. One thing that's been mentioned is when the Pope visited Guatemala last year they played 'Son of a Preacher Man' over the airport PA to welcome him. -- Iain Noble Hound Dog Research, Survey and Social Research Consultancy, 28A Collegiate Crescent Sheffield S10 2BA UK Phone/fax: (+44) (0)114 267 1394 email:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---
RE: Dusty Springfield
Nope -- the GH productions are "Cherished" and "Goodbye," both of 'em previously unissued.--don [Matt Benz] SLAM! - The sound of Dave running out the door and down to the record store.
RE: Covers: A Follow-up
If you are a Hot New Country star and you cover a 70's pop or rock hit, you will probably be vilified for it. In my book, not if it was a good song in the first place and you do a solid job of it. If it ends up being like almost all of the versions on the Rolling Stones or Eagles mainstream country tributes, then you'll be vilified legitimately, IMHO. I dunno, Dan; I don't think I've ever seen anything but dismissals of Garth's "Shameless" or "The Fever," and not because people argued that they were bad jobs or that he didn't do a good job on them. The very *idea* that he was covering Billy Joel and (?) seemed to elicit plenty of vilification all by itself. Personally, I think he made a good country record on "Shameless"; the kickoff still fools me every time g. Jon Weisberger Kenton County, KY [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://home.fuse.net/jonweisberger/
Re: Dusty Springfield
In a message dated 3/3/99 3:28:08 PM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: The box says that was originally off a 1970 Atlantic album called A Brand New Me. david -- that's the gamble and huff record. bill
Jon W, Opry/Clark Family Exp ?
What was that pop/rock song they covered on last week's opry? Wasn't it some Michael Jackson number done with dobro, fiddle etc.? Mike Hays http://www.TwangCast.com TM RealCountry 24 X 7 Please Visit Then let us know what you think! Mike Hays www.MikeHays.RealCountry.net For the best country artist web hosting, www.RealCountry.net
Re: Dusty Springfield and the Pope
That's pretty weird. Carl Z. Excerpts from internet.listserv.postcard2: 3-Mar-99 Re: Dusty Springfield and t.. by Iain [EMAIL PROTECTED] The media tributes are coming thick and fast over here. One thing that's been mentioned is when the Pope visited Guatemala last year they played 'Son of a Preacher Man' over the airport PA to welcome him.
CMT (vomit content) / Twangburgh Question
First off, I'm at The Kettles (pet name for my parents' house) while they're on vacation, doing laundry and stuff there, and flipping cable channels around, and CMT's Delivery Room is on. UNGH! There's this video of a song "Single White Female" (I didn't even bother to check the artist) with the singer(s) on a bus flaunting their braless chests and tight behinds around. My God, Country Spice Girl World. I'm sorry, but I'm no longer a sexually repressed 16 year old into MTV erotica (I'm now a sexually repressed 34 year old into yanking the strings off my Telecaster at the end of a set). Next scan, and the program's still on, this time with Shania Twain (no relation to Mark, Thank God) doing her latest, and the video concept is a ripoff of the Robert Palmer "Addicted To Love" video. Musical appendix burst. And people ask me when they go into my basement recording studio why I have a picture of Shania with the red circle/slash traffic symbol over it. All of the meals that I ate on the Gravel Train mini-tour are now coming back to haunt me bowelly. Now the Pittsburgh/Twangburgh question: Who was the guy that introduced the bands at the Rosebud on Friday night. It's bene bugging me for a while, he just looked like a reject from the Broadway cast of "Grease". Mitch Matthews Gravel Twain (oops, see what happens when I get worked up), I mean, Train/Sunken Road
David Jo/Harry Smiths
From today's NY TImes: David Johansen: A Man of Two Names By JON PARELES David Johansen s career has traveled back through time: from the 1970s protopunk of the New York Dolls to the straightforward rock of his solo albums, and then, as Buster Poindexter, in rediscoveries of old rhythm-and-blues and party songs. (Lately, Buster Poindexter has led a Latin-tinged band, Busters Spanish Rocketship.) Under his own name at the Bottom Line on Thursday night, Mr. Johansen looked back another few decades, strumming an acoustic guitar and singing blues and hillbilly songs that date back as far as the 1920s. His band was called the Harry Smiths, after the record collector who put together the Anthology of American Folk Music, a trove of songs recorded commercially from 1926 to 1934 and released as a collection in 1952; the anthology was rereleased on CDs in 1997. Smith favored songs that matter-of-factly summed up hard lives and grim events, from heartbreak to murder to premonitions of death. Mr. Johansens 30-song set drew a few songs from the anthology and others with a similar stoic clarity: lesser-known songs by Muddy Waters, Mississippi John Hurt and Bo Diddley along with selections from the more obscure likes of Daddy Hotcakes, Dock Boggs, Sloppy Henry, Louise Johnson and Jim Jackson. Mr. Johansen didnt try to recreate the eerie old recordings. Instead, he treated the songs with affection and respect, singing with an avuncular ease that let the songs speak for themselves. He had chosen bleak songs about solitude, betrayal and loss, but like the old singers he refused to make melodrama out of observations like All the friends I ever had are gone or Ive seen better days but Im putting up with these. Instead, he found gallows humor and quiet sympathy in desperate songs like Peg Leg Howells Low Down Rounder Blues, in which the singer fears others and even distrusts himself. When he got around to a few of his own songs as encores, they seemed sentimental by comparison. The band turned the music into unplugged folk-rock, putting an easy lilt behind banjo or slide-guitar lines from the old recordings. They occasionally tried a modernist touch; in Ramblin Thomass Poor Boy Blues while Mr. Johansen sang in unison with Larry Salzmans dobro, Joey Baron on drums and Kermit Driscoll on bass set up rumbles and thumps. More often, they were a supple string band that could handle Celtic banjo picking (from Mr. Salzman) for an Appalachian song or slide guitar (by Brian Koonin) in a ragtimey blues. Until now Mr. Johansen had been nobodys idea of a folkie, but his rockers insouciance was just right for the songs.
Re: Covers: A Follow-up
If you are a Hot New Country star and you cover a 70's pop or rock hit, you will probably be vilified for it. I tend to think that if your a Hot New Country star you should be vilified whether you cover a 70's pop/rock hit or not. NW
Re: David Jo/Harry Smiths
Very interesting. Buster goes alt.rootsy g. The Buster Poindexter live band could be amazingly good, btw. David's really quite a character, if you consider him back through all his incarnations. I mean, from the Dolls to this, via Buster Poindexter. Phew!! --junior
Re: David Jo/Harry Smiths
Excerpts from internet.listserv.postcard2: 3-Mar-99 Re: David Jo/Harry Smiths by [EMAIL PROTECTED] Very interesting. Buster goes alt.rootsy g. Agreed. Has anyone heard this, and might there be a record soon? I'm especially curious to hear this outfit because: Joey Baron on drums and Kermit Driscoll on bass set up rumbles and thumps. are one of the finest jazz rhythm sections in NYC. Carl Z.
Anyone know anything happening is JAX or Gainesville, FL
I'm heading down to North Florida for the weekend. Will be based in Jacksonville but will definitely be roaming. Any good bands playing? Club suggestions? Anything? Thanks, Deb
Re: Hey New Yorkers!
Elena Skye The Demolition String Band will be at 9C, corner of ninth street and Ave C in Manhattan, tommorow night from 10PM on Plenty of guests coming down. We hope to have a real happy homecoming party! Come party with us and say "hey" when you get there! yer pal, Elena Skye
Re: Hey New Yorkers!
Yeah, hey New Yorkers! The night after Elena, you should truly check out Martin's Folly, playing at Arlene Grocery on Friday night - their first show since their record, "Man, It's Cold" came out. I know, I know, I'm the label guy, but these guys are truly a fantastic live band. The few people from the list who've checked them out agreed big time. And even better - it's a free show. Everyone's on the guest list. There will also be Wurlitzer piano rock. We promise.
Generational irony and cover cheeze
I thought it interesting that Jake preceded his piece by saying that he thought Fulks's "Jet" cover was what put the "alt" in his alt-country, as well as Dina's comment about how covers are received from alt-country artists as compared to those of New Country singers. It resonated, of course, but what struck me is that the cheeze-cover syndrome is actually not endemic to alt-country the way it was to post-punk and grunge. What's actually more representative is covering classic folk and country songs, a practice that begins with the 80s roots-punk groups (tho in cowpunk it tended much more to the sarcastic brand of irony rather than the with-a-twist irony of, say, The Pogues, and nineties alt-country) but certainly made its most influential emergence with Uncle Tupelo's version of No Depression and on the March 11-20 album. With the perhaps-exception of Warfare (more a wonky misstep than a deliberately sarcastic cover, in my opinion), the Tupelo covers are definitely tributes, and also attempts to reclaim the material of these old songs as relevant to the post-industrial scene the group grew up and lived in. Likewise with other cases - when Neko Case covers a Loretta Lynn song, or Freakwater does One Big Union, is there anyone who thinks there's any element of mockery there at all? There is irony, but it's irony in this sense: "Ironically, though I'm a young hipster in 1990s America, these defiantly unmodern old songs speak more to my heart and my experience than the glitzy music being produced for the radio in my own time." It's a bittersweet irony at most. Now, I'd say the reason for the contradiction (dare I say irony) that Dina pointed out is fairly simple: while Garth and Robbie Fulks might both love a Paul McCartney song equally well, the context is very different. For Fulks to assert that he's playing "Jet" for the love of it is to make an intervention in the whole alternaworld narrative of irony, not to destroy the irony but to put it behind him, to say, "yes, I know what the cultural war we've been through was, but now I'd like to reclaim something from it." It is, to use an unfortunate term, post-irony. It's to grasp that, as a character in Todd Solonz's Happiness says of New Jersey, we've grown up "living in a state of irony" -- for all the reasons Jake so smartly elucidated in his essay -- and we can only transcend it, not escape. On the other hand, the (very country-traditional) emotional positioning of Garth and most New Country artists doesn't acknowledge the ironic moment to begin with -- the act of covering a Billy Joel song has no relationship to the canonical contest that Jake described. I recently read art writer Arthur Danto saying that in the 1990s, "the art criticism is built into the art," since frequently the only way to affect a jaded viewer is to anticipate the series of historicized responses she'll have and then strategically counter or subvert them. Unlike Garth doing Billy Joel (or everyone and his mom doing the Beatles tribute album), Fulks's "Jet" cover (if it's as good as you folks say) is doing something similar, and that's what puts the alt in his country. Likewise, Tupelo was anticipating that country was not considered cool by their punk peers, and asserting back in their face that it was -- rather than cadging about behind an ironic shield and half-allowing people to think they were kidding. Again there is an irony here, a Mobius-strip half-twist, but it isn't sarcasm. It isn't like Sid Vicious singing My Way. (Incidentally I can't quite buy The Christian Life as having much to do with the kinds of covers Jake was addressing. When I asked what "the first" was, I really meant of the trend he was discussing - I thought it'd be significant to know if there were cheeze-covers that fell squarely into the same position - for instance did Iggy Pop ever sing a Carpenters song? Or what about that Banana Splits cover of the TV cartoon theme?) Now, the question in the context of Jake's essay is, why? Being a few years younger than Jake (or so I gather), my friends and I don't have the same relationship to 70s music that he describes. Yeah, it was the soundtrack to some of our teenage beer-drinking, but so was punk, ska and new wave. Our older siblings loved Emerson, Lake and Palmer; we listened to it for a couple of months, when we borrowed their years-old vinyl, then dropped it and moved on. I was not quite ten years old when punk first arrived in the nearest metropolitan centre; I could hear its faint signals by turning my transistor radio at just the right angle toward the window. Although I've experienced my fair share of feeling crowded out by baby boomers -- and still do -- the 70s were just as much a given part of the culture I came of age in as the 60s. They didn't belong to me, and I'm not especially nostalgic for them. I'm nostalgic for the Replacements. Or, to give an instance of a song a band I
Re: Covers and a defense of irony (long)
Garden variety covers aside, *startling* covers provide wonderful thread fodder because they are so damn rich in ambiguity. Intended or not, they are a test...the question is...which test? Ironic covers: the hipness test I know that you know that I know you know I know that...(nudge, nudge, wink, wink) Non-ironic covers: the zen test I can cast off my cultural baggage and accept the beauty that underlies that which others disdane Quasi-ironic covers: the Miles Davis test I can take a sow's ear (removed from a pig about whom I feel largely indifferent) and turn it into a silk purse through the sheer force of my musical prowess Answers may vary and the decisions of the judges are final. Which "tests" are artistically valid? Hmm, let's see now... Anon...TG
Re: CMT (vomit content) / Twangburgh Question
Mitch asks: Now the Pittsburgh/Twangburgh question: Who was the guy that introduced the bands at the Rosebud on Friday night. It's bene bugging me for a while, he just looked like a reject from the Broadway cast of "Grease". That adorable reject was the amazing Mike Divine of Hillbilly Varmint, King Dapper and now Ukelele UK fame. (a band with 4 ukeleles and a clarinet) from the lovely state of Ohio and the ever fertile ground for strangeness, the Akron/Canton area. Miss Stephanie
Re: Covers: A Follow-up
Now if current altie type bands, rock or country or whatever, were to dig back to my AM listening days, they'd be covering (OK, I'll exclude the Beatles and the Stones): "98.6," "Don't Walk Away, Renee" (God, I love that song), "Snoopy and the Red Baron," "Incense and Peppermints," "Ichycoo Park," a lot of Supremes, and that's all I can remember of those early radio moments, sixth grade or so. Of course, the rest of the time I spent watching "Batman" and collecting Batman cards, with the put-together puzzle on the back. Baseball cards, too. Occasionally, though, I'd accidently rotate the dial to WSLR radio in Akron, and the legendary "Jaybird" would be spinning 60s country. I always rotated back to the top 40 station before I had a chance to notice those dreaded Anita Kerr singers! Anyhow, this is mainly just a sly plea for a modern alt.country band to cover "Don't Walk Away Renee." -- Terry Smith ps does Lee Ann Womack have a new song out, where she talks about doing a lot of nasty things to a female rival, who's "a small target, that skinny little thing" or something like that? It's a great tune, what I heard of it on the radio.
Womack, shuffles
ps does Lee Ann Womack have a new song out, where she talks about doing a lot of nasty things to a female rival, who's "a small target, that skinny little thing" or something like that? It's a great tune, what I heard of it on the radio. Yeah, that's a dandy called "I'll Think Of A Reason Later," by Tony Martin and Tim Nichols. It's on the new album, which is pretty fair all the way round. BTW, whoever was asking about shuffles: there's a great one on this album called "If You're Ever Down In Dallas," written by Womack and her ex. A shuffle is a mid-tempo tune with a heavy backbeat and a walking bass line, 1 note per beat. If it's got 16 measures and the bass plays "square" notes, it's a country shuffle; if it's got 12 measures and the bass plays a syncopated pattern, it's a blues ones g. Jon Weisberger Kenton County, KY [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://home.fuse.net/jonweisberger/
Re: Generational irony and cover cheeze
I would like to make one last point about irony, because Carl sums up much of what I would certainly agree with. If there was one thing that I do see a bit differently is the idea of irony as a '90's development (of course, if you weren't suggesting that, Carl, please call me out). In point of fact, irony seemed to be a fundamental part of punk the moment rock came down with its case of arena-goggles. Developing in (self)-conscious opposition to the Bic Rock of the late 70's and 80's, punk bands like the Mats could drunkenly stumble their way through BTO and Zeppelin--and still be punk--because by reappropriating the rock from the arena, they were unconsciously (in every sense of that word with the Mats!) commenting on their own inability to have a piece of the commercial pie. (And Carl, this sounds like what you were saying.). Add to this list of commerical lepers, bands like Redd Kross, the Circle Jerks, the Butthole Surfers, Sonic Youth, and even early REM, all of whom were so defiantly non-mainstream, that their appropriations of the mainstream could only be seen as them laughing at themselves as well as the objects of their derision. All of these bands could be ironic AND punk because they were so far underneath mainstream's radar, their irony only served as a reflexive afterthougt. And then there was Nirvana. No longer could punk react against a mainstream to which it was now most definitely a part. Like rap (the other punk meat), the early 1990's brought with it, no simply commercial viability, but a re-evaluation of its once "sacred" values. Phrases like "sell-out" were bandied about with relative ease, and groups like Fugazi werer held up as "beacons of integrity." It was around this time that irony became a very prevalent marketing strategy of record labels (not to mention MTV). We all know that irony had become a PR staple because that music that had once been called punk had gone mainstream, and in so doing, emerged anew as: Alternative. Alternative to what? you ask. Precisely. Practically anything that didn't sound like Garth Brooks or Dr. Dre was tagged alternative, and to all of us who had been "punk" for any length of time, we felt like we had been felt up by a dirty old uncle. sincerity had become the new alternative, and into that vacuum stepped alt.country. In many ways, this music's development in opposition to the mainstream is very reminiscent of punk, and that shouldn't be surprising. Many of the rock 'n' roll elements of this "movement that dare not call itself that" have grown up as fans of Black Flag, Dinosaur, Husker Du, etc. The funny thing is, when--or if--this music breaks into the mainstream we're all gonna be humming to ourselves about the newcomers: "He's the one, who likes all them pretty songs, and he likes to sing along, but he knows not what it means." Lance . . . PS--If Nirvana's Nevermind album cover doesn't sum up this decade, brother, nothing does.
Re: Covers and a defense of irony (long)
Anyway, I got through this whole post without using the word fuck. Maybe I am growing up. : ) Lance . . . Grow up, Lance, please. You cakehole. Anyway, around here they say "piehole". -- Joe Gracey President-For-Life, Jackalope Records http://www.kimmierhodes.com
RE: Covers and a defense of irony (long)
Shut yr goddamn mouths all of ya. Sorry - just practicing for my trip to New York later in the year. Junior "Can you tell me the way to Staten Island or should I just go fuck myself now?" Walker -Original Message- From: Joe Gracey [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Thursday, 4 March 1999 12:51 To: passenger side Subject: Re: Covers and a defense of irony (long) Anyway, I got through this whole post without using the word fuck. Maybe I am growing up. : ) Lance . . . Grow up, Lance, please. You cakehole. Anyway, around here they say "piehole". -- Joe Gracey President-For-Life, Jackalope Records http://www.kimmierhodes.com
RE: Covers and a defense of irony (long)
The other Junior writes: Sorry - just practicing for my trip to New York later in the year. Junior "Can you tell me the way to Staten Island or should I just go fuck myself now?" Walker A common misconception is that if you stop a New Yorker on the street and ask a question, the response will be rude. This is not true. New Yorkers love to talk. They especially love to give opinions, whether you asked for them or not, and they will gladly tell you why their way of getting to Staten Island is the best way, and why you shouldn't listen to what the other guy who has walked up to join the conversation says about how to get there, and how nobody in New York can give directions properly anymore anyway, because they're all from, y'know, Idaho or someplace, one of those Midwestern states. Except that Staten Island is a bad example to use, because though most New Yorkers know how to get there, they'd rather not, and they don't understand why anyone else would either. New Yorkers may be seething with suppressed rage, but they're still friendly, or at least talkative. --Amy
Great Lakes Twang is up and running!
OK, GLT is out of the womb, but needs nurturing and maturing. This is where you all come in. Some of the pages are nothing but "under construction" statements. But you will get the jist of what this site is about as you browse. Not much is there, but if you have newsworthy info, mail it along. I'm trying to stay away from a lot of show listings, instead trying to get this to lead into linking to band pages which should have that info. Thanks in advance for your help. A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/Nashville/Stage/9596/gltwang.html"Great Lakes Twang/A Mitch Matthews Gravel Train/Sunken Road
RE: Covers and a defense of irony (long)
Hello Amy, No offense to New Yorkers meant - everyone I've met so far has been a gem (and a funny one at that) which is kinda why I'm going there if you take my meaning... I think I'm gonna love NY, long as I don't get mugged... Junior "New York City's got a lot to do with it" Walker -Original Message- From: Amy Haugesag [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Thursday, 4 March 1999 13:18 To: passenger side Subject: RE: Covers and a defense of irony (long) The other Junior writes: Sorry - just practicing for my trip to New York later in the year. Junior "Can you tell me the way to Staten Island or should I just go fuck myself now?" Walker A common misconception is that if you stop a New Yorker on the street and ask a question, the response will be rude. This is not true. New Yorkers love to talk. They especially love to give opinions, whether you asked for them or not, and they will gladly tell you why their way of getting to Staten Island is the best way, and why you shouldn't listen to what the other guy who has walked up to join the conversation says about how to get there, and how nobody in New York can give directions properly anymore anyway, because they're all from, y'know, Idaho or someplace, one of those Midwestern states. Except that Staten Island is a bad example to use, because though most New Yorkers know how to get there, they'd rather not, and they don't understand why anyone else would either. New Yorkers may be seething with suppressed rage, but they're still friendly, or at least talkative. --Amy
Re: New Lou Ann Barton (sorta)
Lowell Kaufman wrote: But the last 30-40 minutes of this record are top notch and killer. Reminds me of the days I snuck into some dives in Miami to hear some great bar bands when miami had an interesting music scene in the early 80s (not blues like this, but the raw spirit is the same). And you get Lou Ann singinging Teena Ne Na Nu not once, but twice! Anyone else know about this record? Yeah, and I second all of your comments. The quality is super poor--in fact, it took me awhile to even get to those last 30 minutes, but my reaction was like yours: if I'm in the mood for greasy, unkempt bar blues, this is the bomb. I remember buying "Old Enough" when it came out on vinyl in 1982 on the basis of a Rolling Stone review (I remember buying Lou Reed's "The Blue Mask" at the same time) and just being absolutely, totally knocked out by that voice. And I still am. Dallas
Re: Old 97s blurb
An Elektra spokesman who doesn't want to be named says the label isn't too thrilled with Fight Songs showing up "months ahead of time" on the jukebox. "You try to coordinate an effort to make an impact at once, and when it goes out piecemeal, it can lessen the impact," he says. "Even though this may seem minor, it's not, because every little thing like this adds up. It keeps happening and happening." Oh for goshsakes, is this all these guys have to worry about each day? How do I get one of these jobs??! Sheesh-this ain't like it's on an MP3 site with free downloading. dan "I think someone from P2 oughta drive down there, secretly tape it to DAT and then we'll set up a tape tree!" bentele
Re: CMT (vomit content) / Twangburgh Question
Miss Stephanie cites: the lovely state of Ohio and the ever fertile ground for strangeness, the Akron/Canton area. For those who know me, this explains a heck of a lot about my childhood. g Hey, that reminds me, I still haven't listened to that Hillbilly Varmint CD. Mike Divine himself told me it was unlistenable, so I, um, put it aside. --Jamie S. [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.wavetech.net/~swedberg http://www.usinternet.com/users/ndteegarden/bheaters
Don Walser
For Chad Cosper, who inquired about Don Walser's health a week or so ago (am going thru the digests). Don was on Jovita's marquee last night. I saw him the previous tuesday and although he was walking with help and spoke somewhat carefully, he was singing well and was completely charming to everyone who came up to speak with him between sets. What a nice man. Tom Smith
Re: CMT (vomit content) / Twangburgh Question
Jaime sez: For those who know me, this explains a heck of a lot about my childhood. g Hey, that reminds me, I still haven't listened to that Hillbilly Varmint CD. Mike Divine himself told me it was unlistenable, so I, um, put it aside. Jaime- Don't listen to him! The man makes his living selling rubber novelties. Get that Varmints' CD on right now! How can you go wrong with 31 songs on a single disc? Hits such as "Pork Rinds and Moonshine", "Grandma's Dead", and "(I Got An) Itchy Pussy" don't come along everyday. We're all hoping that Mike and Julia will moving to Pittsburgh soon. The fun will never stop. Tom Moran
