tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-374472632024-03-13T20:25:36.228-04:00Tremble Under Boom LightsPap and pabulum for the post-modern proletariat.cassdetroithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09743641029214106404noreply@blogger.comBlogger327125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37447263.post-10424830351490938452024-02-29T23:23:00.002-05:002024-02-29T23:24:53.456-05:00Eddy Grant “Nobody’s Got Time”<p><span style="background-color: black; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: white; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: black; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: white; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">Eddy Grant</span></p><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: white; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: white; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><span style="background-color: black;">Nobody's Got Time b/w Where Are You Going To My Friends</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: white; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: white; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><span style="background-color: black;">scum stats: seems like this was a hit, but in a tiny country. who knows!</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: white; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: white; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><span style="background-color: black;">Oh. My. God.</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: white; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: white; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><span style="background-color: black;">This song is so damn good. Was shared with me by extremely great dude of the highest persuasion Chris Schulist (DJ on the Jack White 2022 tour). Sat in my inbox for a month or two before I ever even cracked the message because that's the state of my email affairs these days. </span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: white; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: white; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><span style="background-color: black;">I finally opened about three weeks ago and have not stopped listening to this song since. </span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: white; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: white; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><span style="background-color: black;">There's a simplicity to the groove here, coupled with an unusual heaviness, that puts the overall feel in rarefied air. It's likely the only record I own from Trinidad...and if any more sound like this, I will clearly need to find more.</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: white; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: white; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><span style="background-color: black;">My immediate thought upon grooving to this jam is that I want to play drums to this with Pat Pantano and that's already enough said. The plonky fuzz with the sparse, pick-and-choose bass...it's unmitigated perfection. I do not say that lightly.</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: white; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: white; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><span style="background-color: black;">There's a bootleg 45 out there that's a little more of a recent DJ "edit" with some added effects and shit, which is good too, but I have absolutely no qualms or quibbles with the original here.</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: white; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: white; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><span style="background-color: black;">I have not liked an OLD song this much in quite some time. A nice reminder that there are still gems out there that can connect to the innermost rhythms in our soul. Keep searching them out.</span></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WvihSKfB5OY?si=6SJKkAZOudJEIxji" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>cassdetroithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09743641029214106404noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37447263.post-55826450238908089542024-01-31T23:22:00.003-05:002024-01-31T23:22:35.607-05:00Mary Jane Dunphe "Fix Me" b/w "Seasons"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhU-zZ_2FGYrqf0PUr5M82X9kZIUom5PGLsfYyZfNaXRq4NzMAbdB0L6LvKf5wkWJLLD500XIhD-dv7qAwmcoQlNWmn2zd04L6bTliyW8wblugSvmYGDhp66MulvARp5Lk3v-INM6gp3d3CifN-zuS9WTCfhO4-v6Wmz-MDx3JNuo_C52lc7NQ/s1440/Photo%20on%201-26-24%20at%203.21%E2%80%AFPM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1440" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhU-zZ_2FGYrqf0PUr5M82X9kZIUom5PGLsfYyZfNaXRq4NzMAbdB0L6LvKf5wkWJLLD500XIhD-dv7qAwmcoQlNWmn2zd04L6bTliyW8wblugSvmYGDhp66MulvARp5Lk3v-INM6gp3d3CifN-zuS9WTCfhO4-v6Wmz-MDx3JNuo_C52lc7NQ/w400-h266/Photo%20on%201-26-24%20at%203.21%E2%80%AFPM.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Mary Jane Dunphe</p><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;">Fix Me b/w Seasons</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;">scum stats: limited to 835 copies on clear vinyl</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;">By the sheer titles, I anticipated this being a Black Flag cover as the a-side and a solo Chris Cornell cover on the flip. You never know what you're going to get with the Sub Pop Singles Club and this waxing puts Dunphe on my radar.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;">"Fix Me" has is a catchy melody with propulsive drum heavy backing, prime for singalongs in a guitar focused manner. I don't know anything about Mary Jane, if you told me she's primed to be the next big pop star, shit, I'd believe it.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;">B-side is a little bit more in the feels, light synth interludes that recall bouncing ball marimba (more serious than cheeky) with emotive, heartfelt voicings. The more I sit with these recordings, letting them replay over and over, the stickier they become. I'm more entranced by the drum programming/production of recalling bits of Saint Etienne's cover of Neil Young's "Only Love Will Break Your Heart" with a bit of that early 90's trip hop vibe. I'm also getting the slightest hints of the Limiñanas here, another outfit that just hits that spot with me. Crisp and gritty at the same time.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;">All in all, a promising introduction to an artist I'm stoked to learn more about. Good luck finding a copy of this subscriber only record, so in light of that go and stream the shit out of this one.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><div class="ii gt" id=":682" jslog="20277; u014N:xr6bB; 1:WyIjdGhyZWFkLWE6ci00ODE5NTc0ODgyODMwMDcyMzQxIl0.; 4:WyIjbXNnLWE6ci01ODczMzc0OTEyOTA1OTY5OTI4Il0." style="background-color: white; color: #222222; direction: ltr; font-family: "Google Sans", Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem; margin: 8px 0px 0px; overflow-x: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="a3s aiL" id=":68k" style="direction: initial; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: small; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 1.5; overflow: auto hidden; position: relative;"><div class="adL"></div></div></div><div class="hq gt" id=":68t" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: "Google Sans", Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem; margin: 15px 0px;"></div><iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="352" loading="lazy" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/5PFGLj8Y6EoBePtUmWMAuI?utm_source=generator" style="border-radius: 12px;" width="100%"></iframe></div>cassdetroithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09743641029214106404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37447263.post-72032620426073967252023-12-31T22:59:00.000-05:002023-12-31T22:59:00.811-05:00Watching MrBeast and Drinking Ghost Energy Drinks<p>This</p><p>Is what</p><p>I imagine</p><p>New Year’s Eve</p><p>At age twelve </p><p>Looks like</p>cassdetroithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09743641029214106404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37447263.post-41868649396095046472023-11-30T23:50:00.003-05:002023-11-30T23:50:38.888-05:00<p>There is</p><p>Nothing quite</p><p>Like a new couch</p><p>It’s where life begins</p>cassdetroithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09743641029214106404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37447263.post-82897917017539374012023-10-31T17:00:00.002-04:002023-10-31T17:00:24.587-04:00I Somehow Weaseled An Essay Into The Detroit Free Press<p>If you would've told ten-year-old Ben Blackwell, daily devoted devourer of the Detroit Free Press, that a mere text message to the music editor of the paper, some 31 years later, would get my own writing into the newspaper...I would have asked you "What's a text message?"</p><p>Click the link below to read the whole shebang, I worked very hard on it and am very proud of it and I don't say that too often.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/music/2023/10/15/white-stripes-insider-reflects-on-the-detroit-duos-lyrics-in-new-book/71157626007/">I'm Finding It Easier To Be A Gentleman -OR- Forever The Union</a> </p>cassdetroithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09743641029214106404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37447263.post-77403527852548187842023-09-30T21:32:00.000-04:002023-09-30T21:32:11.459-04:00<p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">To the city employees</span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">On the brush clearing crew</span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">Wearing hi vis vests</span></p><p><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px;">In the elementary school parking lot</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px;">Playing HORSE</span></span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">With a children’s soccer ball</span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">Just letting off steam</span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">One of them legit dunks</span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">And I’m happy this is where my taxes go</span></p>cassdetroithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09743641029214106404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37447263.post-43065935716935213482023-08-31T22:33:00.006-04:002023-08-31T22:37:04.159-04:00Young Losers “All Gone” b/w “Private Affair”<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqC17dowQHSdqS2_jJUoqbuhqUIEyR5YfDKGsYXmn0_OP95T6-fnAYaur0o0CHfxJfXch6kkwLdnw9dP9Dku-FBkpog4XB7AexlvyzdyM6o3_7MCwyWVQJwgrEBpefjncBxyts_PYZNQWeO3Y1HJQYNdvvuMdAj9yZFJQHshVDhkEA7Tspf0nl/s1440/Photo%20on%208-18-23%20at%203.53%20PM.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1440" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqC17dowQHSdqS2_jJUoqbuhqUIEyR5YfDKGsYXmn0_OP95T6-fnAYaur0o0CHfxJfXch6kkwLdnw9dP9Dku-FBkpog4XB7AexlvyzdyM6o3_7MCwyWVQJwgrEBpefjncBxyts_PYZNQWeO3Y1HJQYNdvvuMdAj9yZFJQHshVDhkEA7Tspf0nl/s320/Photo%20on%208-18-23%20at%203.53%20PM.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Young Losers <div> </div><div>All Gone b/w Private Affair </div><div><br /></div><div>scum stats: two variants, the "table sleeve" is the rarer one here </div><div><br /></div><div>Young, loud and snotty with hand-written labels, colored vinyl (blue) coupled with a black-and-white photocopied sleeve and Saints cover on the b-side...was there any other way for a punk single to exist in 1998? I feel on the verge of wistful when I consider that this "style" or "approach" may actually just kinda fade away. I don't see kids doing shit in this manner any more.
Life is LONG but time is short. So soak it in. What feels omnipresent or indefatigable is always just a generation away from disappearing. Live it while you can.
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/c_QpxPDZKII" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OB1fBZEx9I4" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><p> </p></div>cassdetroithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09743641029214106404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37447263.post-62702306655484045422023-07-31T22:55:00.000-04:002023-07-31T22:55:02.601-04:00Sponge "Molly (Sixteen Candles Down The Drain)"<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3Rsipw3YPb615hblCJUaLLTj3vYMhBT35RpAHOu-1aR4jRnz9OEOtUqORj041WV_SmtkvEaeVx9fNuLFm3n1kkXQVU25AAdVGlTNsjwpMggyRJsBg3AK3PDijz9HQ_YVpij9Rf0UsfIJPVX_Se69dNihj_HNiKghfFQPrwqwMKY9UDrD4_aw/s1440/Photo%20on%207-21-23%20at%204.07%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1440" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3Rsipw3YPb615hblCJUaLLTj3vYMhBT35RpAHOu-1aR4jRnz9OEOtUqORj041WV_SmtkvEaeVx9fNuLFm3n1kkXQVU25AAdVGlTNsjwpMggyRJsBg3AK3PDijz9HQ_YVpij9Rf0UsfIJPVX_Se69dNihj_HNiKghfFQPrwqwMKY9UDrD4_aw/w640-h426/Photo%20on%207-21-23%20at%204.07%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /><br />Sponge</span><p></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Molly b/w Cowboy Eyes</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">scum stats: limited edition numbered copies on marigold colored vinyl. It's unclear how "limited" it actually is. my copy is #2884</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">When this song was released as a single in 1995, I'm pretty sure I *liked* it. I don't recall anyone in my immediate social circle of 13-year-old boys LOVING it, but as it was played ad nauseam on the local rock radio stations, it penetrated enough so that you couldn't really even ignore it. At worst, you just had to accept it.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="il">Sponge</span> being from Detroit didn't even really seem to make any connection to us either. It's not like we knew them or saw them around. They still might as well had been from Mars for all we knew. My appreciation for local music was still a good 4-5 years away.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">And once that appreciation for local music struck, in the form of the underground garage bands of the late 1990s, my proverbial about-face found me shit-talking <span class="il">Sponge</span>. Like they were an after-thought response to the true rebel artistry of the Seattle bands preceding them.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I held on to that mindset for a good fifteen years.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Then without warning, on paternity leave back in 2016, driving home from Babies 'R' Us with a dresser/changing table in the back of the Flex, I caught "Molly" on the Lithium channel on satellite radio. </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The production still left something to be desired, but more than ever, the WORDS got to me. My understanding is that the song is inspired by a story of an ill-fated professor/student romance, capped off with a suicide attempt. </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Maybe it was colored by fatherhood, or just the warmth of the familiarity of the lyrics after so many years, but the song, despite all its affected guitar and bluster and edge, struck me as so melancholy, as heartfelt, as properly emotional.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I went on a rabbit hole looking through various live versions and acoustic renditions and the feeling not only remained, but intensified. While the attempted rhyming of "glass" and "vase" still irks me, I keep coming back to the vocal melody sung with the pair of lines "don't ask why" and "sixteen candles down the drain." </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The melody is heartbreaking, it is dour, but at the same time, there's a weird underlying glimmer of optimism to it all. <i>I sing this to myself all the goddamned time.</i></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">At the time I made a note to myself that Third Man should reach out to whoever controlled the rights to the <i>Rotting Pinata </i>LP and we should do a big proper reissue of it. I slept on that note, someone else did the reissue and to placate myself I tracked down a 7-inch copy for less money that I spend on a single can of Ghost energy drink.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I've got a quasi-secret plan for this song, I'm not ready to let the cat out of the bag just yet, but assuming I can pull some shit together, it will have made it all incredibly worth it. Stay tuned.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JSxNqSAvkDE" width="320" youtube-src-id="JSxNqSAvkDE"></iframe></div></div></div>cassdetroithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09743641029214106404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37447263.post-26750530882316251242023-06-30T23:02:00.001-04:002023-06-30T23:02:18.126-04:00(untitled)<p>i am throwing up</p><p>in a violent thunderstorm</p><p>singing “Our Secret”</p><p><br /></p>cassdetroithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09743641029214106404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37447263.post-52254294437254575212023-05-31T22:48:00.002-04:002023-05-31T22:48:10.147-04:00Thank God For RADAR - How The White Stripes Began Recording All Of Their Live Performances<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">(originally published 2/17/23 on the Nugs.net blog)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://2nu.gs/ws472003" target="_blank">https://2nu.gs/ws472003</a><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Twenty years ago, give or take a couple of weeks, the White Stripes purchased a Random Access Digital Audio Recorder. RADAR for short. It cost $8000. When recently asked about the impetus behind the move, long-time Stripes manager Ian Montone said…</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-6c827d9b-7fff-29f2-5eaf-025b1c12284d"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Many artists I respected - musically and from a business standpoint - always recorded their shows. Frank Zappa specifically. We wanted to implement something similar given we already owned our studio master recordings. So it made sense to record and own everything the band (and Jack) did moving forward. Live shows included. Because every show was different. There was no setlist. Everything was special. We wanted to capture that for posterity’s sake - hence the RADAR.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In terms of the archival footprint of the White Stripes, the importance of this decision cannot be overstated. Previously, sanctioned live recordings were largely limited to whenever I was there AND the club had a cassette deck wired to the soundboard. With the end result being a static two-channel board recording subject to the whims and preferences of a house sound engineer’s real-time mixing, it left a lot to be desired.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For example…my obligations as a mediocre Detroit college journalism student with a scholarship meant that for the entirety of 2002 (a year the Stripes played nearly 100 shows) I was present for a mere seven performances, two of which were purely coincidental as my band the Dirtbombs were slotted as the warm-up act. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thus, the number of proprietary live recordings from 2002 in the archive? Shit, barely any. I count one, give or take one.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But come 2003 the White Stripes would have the raw masters of their on-stage inputs digitally preserved. This gave the band the ability, after-the-fact, to have whomever they desired to properly and precisely mix </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">every live show they performed,</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> regardless of whether or not I was there to slide the sound guy a tape that night. This was $8000 well-spent.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thank god for RADAR.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The April 7th, 2003 gig in Wolverhampton was the first show the White Stripes recorded with this digital system. More importantly, this show is the kick-off to the </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Elephant</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> world tour, approximately 14 months of whirlwind travel, Whirlwind Heat, sold out shows, not sold out ethics, finger breakings, Grammy takings, global gallivanting and “oh oh oh oh oh ohhhh oh” chanting. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The performance, shockingly, has not been heard in ANY form since the amps powered down that evening two decades ago. I guess no one in Wolverhampton was doing surreptitious audience recordings at the time. Photos of the gig? I found none. Concert poster? I’ve never seen one. Please, prove me wrong. I welcome it. Contemporaneous accounts of the evening? A dumb brief write-up from the NME, one slightly more informative from the Independent and that’s it. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As Jack humbly tells the crowd that </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Elephant</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> hit number 1 on the charts this day…the gig…you’d think there’d be more proof that it really existed. Things here feel big. They seem important. A chance whiff of greatness. The </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">weight</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of it all is palpable on the recording.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So the </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">wait </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to hear this show is most definitely worth it. The first-ever public outing of a clutch of songs off </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Elephant</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is the definition of historic. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The fact that Meg switches to her snare hits late on the first verse of “Seven Nation Army”? I LOVE it. Perhaps the only time ever she didn’t 100% </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">nail</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> that song. Jack’s nerves evident on “In The Cold, Cold Night”? Endearing. The premature ending of “The Hardest Button To Button”? A combo of “wow” and “holy shit” said in wonderment. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">These are by no means the best versions of ANY of these songs. But they are precious for what they presage…the eventual enshrinement of said tunes in the bombastic canon of a band well on its way to their peak form.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Beyond that…the first time ever covering Public Nuisance’s “Small Faces.” What a moment! And the extra special treat of what we’ve titled here “Talking Pillow By My Side Blues.” An improvised song done in the “talking blues” style pioneered by Chris Bouchillon, appropriated by Woody Guthrie and yet further popularized by Bob Dylan, “Pillow” is one of the more realized extemporaneous songs to emerge from a White Stripes live show of </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">any </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">era. Which is fortunate to have been captured here, as it never shows up again, anywhere, ever.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thank god for RADAR.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Though I must stress, the method was not perfect. As The White Stripes front of house engineer Matthew Kettle would say “</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Despite being the best thing we could get at the time, the RADAR was occasionally unreliable, and as we weren't carrying a sound desk everywhere at that point, not every show was recorded successfully.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With that in mind, there’s a handful of songs that failed to be recorded in Wolverhampton. “Dead Leaves” and “Black Math” and “I Think I Smell A Rat” seem to be songs from the top of the set lost to the ether on this night. Which isn’t too bad in the grand scheme of things, considering there’s an entire WEEK where Kettle’s best efforts were thwarted by the finicky digital interface and thus, we’re left only with our imagination and collective recollection trying to discern what happened at half dozen shows in June of 2003.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Otherwise the RADAR material was immediately put to use…the accompanying audio to “Black Math” live vid from the Masonic Temple, the Berlin soundcheck b-side recording of “St. Ides of March” and the promo-only triple LP </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Live In Las Vegas </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">are all proper public-facing mobilizations of these recordings. Third Man didn’t even attempt to crack these suckers open for another ten years until prepping the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nine Miles From The White City</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> live LP included in Vault Package 16 from 2013.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At that point, upon handing mix engineer Vance Powell the necessary drives, he audibly winced. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What?” I asked him, perplexed and, let’s face it, ignorant.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“These drives have moving parts. Good luck getting anything off of them,” Vance replied.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To which point I said “You gotta be fucking kidding me.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“No, I’m not,” he said. “These things are ten years old.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I learned a very crucial lesson at that moment…that any digital format is only reliable for a couple years before it’s usurped by something more streamlined and less cumbersome - OR - it just stops working. The need to constantly update and re-archive digital files is downright maddening. There is no long-term, futureproof, failsafe digital carrier. Ever. It would be another five years before all drives were properly transferred to a relatively stable LTO format. And even then, not without RADAR drive “G” requiring a $1761.60 “clean room” recovery to save seven shows that would have otherwise just disappeared.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It sounds comical now, but wearing my “businessman” hat I broke out the calculator to amortize the proposal…deciding with an almost embarrassingly “duh” quickness that $251 per show was a reasonable enough fee to reclaim those ephemeral moments. Because there’s spirit in </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">all </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">these recordings. The unforeseen nostalgia of memories yet to be uncovered. Instances where the power of an assemblage of strangers in a room together can divine a psychically shared experience. Time that mattered to someone. Moments could now last forever, </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of those moments, cast off with barely any consideration, a seconds-long thought formulated into action in a more simple manner, appeared when Jack White signed the venue guest book after the show. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Thanks Civic, you made my day and I shan't forget it.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And because of a wise $8000 investment made nearly a generation ago, you won’t either.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thank god for RADAR.</span></p><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>cassdetroithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09743641029214106404noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37447263.post-51840561915659424372023-04-30T23:07:00.003-04:002023-04-30T23:07:23.659-04:00"It's A Holiday Inn Massacre..."<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TTmpvI38nJY" width="320" youtube-src-id="TTmpvI38nJY"></iframe></div><br /><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;">A few years back I worked an extended period in the Third Man Detroit offices. Through normal conversation, the "Fishbowl" single by Green Wall was brought up.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;">From my memory, the two folks who brought it up could not stop shitting on it. Just HATED the record. It was prominent on their radar when it came out of the Detroit suburbs in 1990, and in some regard, just the antithesis of what was good and worthwhile and noteworthy.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;">From my perch...I just loved it.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;">I sat back and waited for nearly three years now...multiple copies available on Discogs, but ALL of them overseas. I finally bit the bullet and spent more on shipping than for the actual record to get it from the UK.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;">Listening now...I think I love it even more. Swank popped his head in the door with that quizzical "What is this?" look on his face. I asked if he was curious because it was bad...or if he thought it was good. He said it appealed to his teenage "Rats Revenge" sensibilities and I get where he's coming from.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;">I find localized precedents along the lines of the Tulsa City Truckers and (maybe) the Rascal Reporters. But there's a little bit more adolescent naivete present here, bordering on art rock avant garde, that ups the ante in an impressive way.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;">Side note: only upon receiving this copy in the mail did I find out that one of the band members is John Tenney. I sat at the same table as this guy at a wedding like 15 years ago. I was told that he had taken over "Coast to Coast" radio after Art Bell passed, but my googling just now shows me that he's maybe only guested on the program. Anyway, Tenney is considered an esteemed paranormal researcher. Seems about right. </div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;">"Holiday Inn Massacre" is my go-to here. Uncompromising, uncomparable, straight ahead, nonsensical. I can see how the shock of 90's nonsensical stupidity might turn off those who fully lived through it. But for those who didn't get to their first punk show until after Cobain kicked the bucket, there's a whiff of the "so close, I <i>just</i> missed it" grass-is-greener feels of what the cool kids were doing just before you walked through the door. </div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;">These are the ephemeral, difficult to put into words moments I find myself searching out more and more. It brings me joy.</div>cassdetroithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09743641029214106404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37447263.post-83877625078243146632023-03-31T23:49:00.003-04:002023-04-30T23:17:08.614-04:00Star/Time “Like An Owl Exploding”<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=324106247/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 120px; width: 100%;"><a href="https://startime.bandcamp.com/album/like-an-owl-exploding">like an owl exploding by STAR/TIME</a></iframe><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">Star/Time</span></p><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: white;">Like An Owl Exploding </span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: white;">scum stats: I know this is limited. 250 copies? 300? the specifics escape me</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: white;">There is a joy, a pure joy at listening to one of your most favorite instrumentalists.</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: white;">Patrick Pantano, the drummer of Star/Time, is that joy for me.</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: white;">For over a solid decade he sat behind a kit directly to my left as we commanded the backbeat across the globe with the Dirtbombs. He is tight and crisp. Me is sloppy and over-relying on the visual apparel of long blonde hair flying and swirling about to distract from the fact that I often had no idea what in the hell I was doing.</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: white;">While Pat has always had other musical projects, the slow creep of age and his physical relocation to the southern hemisphere makes this all the more bittersweet. I feel like I'm listening to my phantom limb, calling out to be reunited with the rest of its body.</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: white;">Specifically, "Cockroach Bikini" (GREAT title) repurposes the drum pattern that Pat and I had nailed in a syncopated manner whenever the Dirtbombs played "Granny's Little Chicken." Known amongst us simply as "Granny's," that song features a wholesale lift the hook from Ghostface Killah's "Daytona 500" which is just a straight sample of the indomitably funky "Nautilus" bass line by Bob James.</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: white;">The repurposed borrowing of a steal of a sample leaves this guy here smiling and wistful. Artful with intention.</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: white;">Most of these beats I've heard Pat play a thousand times before, he's definitely the groove and playing in the style and intensity that he wants. And doing so with flash.</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: white;">The entire album gives a strong improvised feel and with that comes the bold statement that it really gives the impression that the drums are the lead instrument here.</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: white;">And that's a-ok by me.</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: white;">Skronks of horn here and there, jitty little guitar stabs, some ancillary kitchen sink percussion...this is a groovy, tastefully experimental slice with flashes of weight and sinister underpinnings. Experimental without clearing the room. Funky without sounding white. Atmospheric without seeming like someone just stepped on an effects pedal to make that happen.</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: white;">The essence of soul here is the confidence and motivation for forward movement. It relieves as much as it causes pauses and invites debate. I need more records like this to magically appear in the world.</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: white;">I highly recommend picking up this record. I feel like it is worth your time.</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></div><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;" /><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: white; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: white; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;">like an owl exploding by STAR/TIME</a></iframe></div>cassdetroithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09743641029214106404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37447263.post-3377984654297738262023-02-22T14:53:00.001-05:002023-02-22T14:53:56.233-05:00Wolf Eyes "Difficult Messages" And How Favors Turn Into Obligations In The Best Way<p>Wolf Eyes played the Blue Room in Nashville a few months back. Was a good time catching up with the band, show was solid, vibes for days. </p><p>Shortly thereafter, John Olson reached out and asked me if I'd do a write up for their new record. I happily agreed. From there on out delay after sickness after whatever other roadblock just blew up every damn deadline I was given.</p><p>By the time I finally tackled it, I maybe spent a half-hour on the write-up. I didn't even know what I was saying. I told John, upon delivering the document, that I wasn't even sure what the intended use was for the write-up. </p><p>Ultimately, I thought I blew it and was just experiencing the quintessential polite Midwestern good graces from the Wolfs.</p><p>So imagine my shock when a rep from Wolf Eyes' label reached out to me saying that he'd pitched the piece to Talkhouse ("<span style="background-color: white; font-family: crimson, serif;">Talkhouse is writing and conversations about music and film, from the people who make them").</span></p><p>I'd admired the website from afar for some time, primarily inspired by Lou Reed's review of Kanye West's <i>Yeezus</i>. This was not expected. Furthermore, as my draft was only 300 some words, they were hoping that I could expand on it to get to their desired 800 word count.</p><p>And they'd pay me $150 for the privilege.</p><p>I was more than happy to finesse the piece even more, draw a lot more of my personality and real life into it, and ultimately, hope that I shine the light on Wolf Eyes in a manner that makes other folks wanna take a listen. Dig it.</p><p><a href="https://www.talkhouse.com/wolf-eyes-difficult-messages-is-a-counter-to-boredom/" target="_blank">https://www.talkhouse.com/wolf-eyes-difficult-messages-is-a-counter-to-boredom/</a></p>cassdetroithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09743641029214106404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37447263.post-32852912665423967132023-01-31T23:30:00.000-05:002023-02-22T14:36:49.497-05:00Spin Art Pizza<p>Yesterday I was at a party that had an assortment of pizzas as food for guests. Each one in a delivery box, the pizzas were labeled as one would expect…cheese, pepperoni, mushroom, vegan, etc. </p><p>The box that really caught my eye said “spin art.”</p><p>I was immediately compelled by the genius (yet simple) idea. </p><p>Take some flattened pizza dough, affix it to a sort of turntable with the ability to rotate at what I’d peg to be ~78rpm speed. Then much in the manner of the mid-20th century carnival art style (later appropriated and upsold by Damien Hirst in the 1990’s) apply different cheeses or toppings or dressings or sauces that without much effort will radiate out in a visually pleasing manner.</p><p>Dare I say it felt deceptively revolutionary and I was kicking myself for not having landed on the idea on my own.</p><p>I opened the box to lay eyes on the masterpiece and was immediately hit with the realization “Oh shit. It’s just spinach and artichoke.”</p><p>So…patent pending.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>cassdetroithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09743641029214106404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37447263.post-24164944857131575572022-12-31T21:54:00.000-05:002022-12-31T21:54:02.826-05:00The White Stripes Live at the Ritz, Raleigh, NC 9-26-99<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKQsOJWrGbbnFKPYaCrcUilm3DBniOzPxm03GHpe-LScSrQ3awB5ZuKJuYt7LW3xBxh5nSu2J8V7-XTdvXp7_J-vIqc2SiPefbYNbdGdnP9QaiYiMPldFO_N2O1X9YljYkKQBKr4r4pPvGzwIzbGeBL_Px92p2RbwrYG2739IvG9iBFB7LPA/s1800/05B15F3F-474F-4CBB-8027-C4F89D456599.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKQsOJWrGbbnFKPYaCrcUilm3DBniOzPxm03GHpe-LScSrQ3awB5ZuKJuYt7LW3xBxh5nSu2J8V7-XTdvXp7_J-vIqc2SiPefbYNbdGdnP9QaiYiMPldFO_N2O1X9YljYkKQBKr4r4pPvGzwIzbGeBL_Px92p2RbwrYG2739IvG9iBFB7LPA/s320/05B15F3F-474F-4CBB-8027-C4F89D456599.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><a href="https://2nu.gs/3uSxa9C">Listen Here</a><br /><div><br /><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">Direct quote from the tour diary "The 'Ritz' is anything but, although it holds about 2400 people + gave us a $10 buyout. The backstage was spacious + clean + for some reason Jack was fascinated w/ the ceiling tiles...Stripes made $70+ in merch and the show was more tempo consistent but there were some more mistakes than last night." </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">Apparently we lied to the front desk of the Comfort Inn on this evening and said that only two people would be staying in the room that night. It was actually four of us in there. The next day we went to five different places in town looking for an A/C adapter (I think for Jack's Whammy pedal) and in the process drove the rented green minivan 20 miles the wrong way. Jack's post-song banter regarding "Wasting My Time" and his dedication of "The Big Three Killed My Baby" to Preston Tucker are both innocently charming here. The impromptu cover of Earl King's "Trick Bag" via the Gories version of the same song is full of swagger and would be one of only two times the Stripes were captured doing the song. I dig it.</span></p><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">This combination of songs, the manner in which they're played, the overall vibe of the whole thing...it is all entirely unique to the three shows that the White Stripes played opening for Pavement in September 1999. The Stripes never really held this vibe previously and would never land on it again. I guess it's a matter of opinion whether or not that's a good thing or a bad thing. The fact it was their first-ever time playing three shows in three days feels significant and as the first bout of anything that could even in the loosest sense of the term be called a "tour" should make us all glad that there would be more of such endeavors. I guess there's probably an alternate reality where these gigs are pure disasters and it scares off Jack and Meg from putting themselves out there, maybe they don't hop in the van a year later when Sleater-Kinney asks 'em to open. The entirety of the White Stripes career is a collection of fortunate opportunities leading to even more fortunate and opportune possibilities. In the end, optimism and positivity tends to win out.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">I was seventeen years old at the time of this show. Looking back over twenty years later my inclusion in the reindeer games seems and feels kind of unnecessary, yet I am insanely grateful I was there. Most importantly, I convinced the sound guy to record the show on a cassette and now we can all enjoy and dissect what went down in that half-empty room so many moons ago.</div></div>cassdetroithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09743641029214106404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37447263.post-7581736506043541552022-11-30T18:51:00.006-05:002022-12-01T18:54:19.726-05:00Beat Happening "Our Secret" b/w "What's Important"<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Beat Happening</span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our Secret b/w What's Important</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">scum stats: could it be more than 1000 copies? hard to imagine</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">As gentle an atomic blast as you could ever imagine. The debut vinyl outing from these godheads, it's just SO perfect, from the hand-coloring on the picture sleeve to the "aw shucks" vibe apparent on both sides. The sound that launched a thousand imitators? Possibly.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Years ago a buddy of mine said, in regards to Beat Happening, "Man....don't you just wish you heard this when you were fifteen years old? Like it'd give you permission (encouragement?) to just go out there and be amateur and unprofessional and out of tune and...it's all ok."</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">While I wholeheartedly agree with all that sentiment, the fact of the matter is that I DID hear this stuff when I was 15 years old and it absolutely inspired me in all of those ways, providing a north star always able to refer to even as I crest into my forties.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I bought a sleeveless copy of this <span class="il">record</span> in a bulk lot of 7"s on eBay back in 2000 or so. I sent an email to Calvin Johnson of the band/K <span class="il">Records</span> and asked if there were any random sleeves that might just be kicking around. In all honesty he said he'd take a look and although he didn't turn up any, the fact that he'd give some punk teenager the time of day (over email) to go and try to scrounge a picture sleeve for a <span class="il">record</span> from SIXTEEN YEARS earlier tells you all you need to know about the magic of taking time, of listening, of not being dismissive of the younger generation that lets this band maintain its relevance nearly forty years after their inception.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">"...I had dinner with her family" as the final line of the a-side is just...carries the weight of a thousand suns both in its intonation and the meaning behind it.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">All the Beat Happening LP's are newly repressed for like the thousandth time and please do buy any/all of them as you cannot go wrong anywhere in their catalog. An American band as equally as important as the Grateful Dead. Go ahead...fight me. </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Eth4P3y3ZUI" width="320" youtube-src-id="Eth4P3y3ZUI"></iframe></div><br /><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div>cassdetroithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09743641029214106404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37447263.post-25094696340188609432022-10-31T16:33:00.004-04:002022-10-31T16:33:45.270-04:00Masalla "Burnin' Feeling" b/w "Simple Words"<p> <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Masalla</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-x0-YWFpHChb_C2VhH1Qph75pwM612aZ8AmpcX44bh-PjnHuXU36TgRaCZrd7MpzBzjKGHBxaJxdP1kS7TnDhw46AeSv9dlk3K_vsqEmx4x4wdYaC_jF-rWxdfQ0Q6VfUepe_ZHbNcwbMshyPagJ7HtpGBvrtbd1KOWZ0z_lA_3FzNWV7yQ/s1080/Photo%20on%2010-28-22%20at%204.39%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1080" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-x0-YWFpHChb_C2VhH1Qph75pwM612aZ8AmpcX44bh-PjnHuXU36TgRaCZrd7MpzBzjKGHBxaJxdP1kS7TnDhw46AeSv9dlk3K_vsqEmx4x4wdYaC_jF-rWxdfQ0Q6VfUepe_ZHbNcwbMshyPagJ7HtpGBvrtbd1KOWZ0z_lA_3FzNWV7yQ/w400-h266/Photo%20on%2010-28-22%20at%204.39%20PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Burnin' Feeling b/w Simple Words</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">scum stats: 100 copies splatter vinyl with screen printed mailer and inserts, 400 copies on black vinyl. mine is black vinyl with the mailer and inserts, go figure</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">If you like Brown Acid obscuro 70's hard rock, this Masalla single is your shit. I first became aware of it back in 2014 when I saw a copy for sale on a Frank Merrill mail order auction list (so archaic) described as "midtempo crude garage, flip VERY heavy guitar, rock psych." Minimum bid was $30. I had NO idea what it was and bid just north of $200. The eventual winner bid well over $400. I have no regrets.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">"Burnin' Feeling" is everything you could ever hope for. Starting off with an audio snippet warning against the negative effects of drug use (hahahaha....clearly they're joking) the thunderous riff driven vibes just SLAY. Raspy overblown vocals and ripping guitar solo shredding...it's like you can still SMELL these guys 52 years later. Apparently the original was pressed in an edition of 100 copies in Miami in 1970. If this was a Michigan <span class="il">record</span>...I'd probably piss my pants.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The packaging here is exquisite, the Ancient Grease approach with the blind embossed paper sleeve and liner notes booklet and reproduced photo of a pet monkey and the facsimile newspaper clipping glued into the rubber stamped mailer...it is an overall impressive experience. Definitely worth your time checking out anything (everything?) they put out.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DthIQVIBkTY" width="320" youtube-src-id="DthIQVIBkTY"></iframe></div></div>cassdetroithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09743641029214106404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37447263.post-71994603704388793582022-09-30T17:10:00.004-04:002022-09-30T17:10:28.502-04:00Cake "Fashion Nugget"<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj7Zn3F2hNtL_IahKdGh1dkJk-djz9e5KUxe8fj9GHINAW1woGNhawBe3eHTIBf9XGXR6H7vmklKlrEBFVfQCEsoHy8wMyLD5ue6AgbfbOLbCMU6a9Mob1rTtdjtdxNC_LSGcivM8PyiKgDYg8wd986gFQ3JhfbtrF7voDr6YIlszODthzhQ/s1080/Photo%20on%208-19-22%20at%204.21%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1080" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj7Zn3F2hNtL_IahKdGh1dkJk-djz9e5KUxe8fj9GHINAW1woGNhawBe3eHTIBf9XGXR6H7vmklKlrEBFVfQCEsoHy8wMyLD5ue6AgbfbOLbCMU6a9Mob1rTtdjtdxNC_LSGcivM8PyiKgDYg8wd986gFQ3JhfbtrF7voDr6YIlszODthzhQ/w640-h426/Photo%20on%208-19-22%20at%204.21%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p>Cake<p></p><div><i>Fashion Nugget</i></div><div><br /></div><div>scums stats: recent 180-gram black vinyl version...but I would happily trade something of appropriate worth for an original '96 pressing</div><div><br /></div><div>Man, isn't it crazy what was allowed to become a hit back in the mid-Nineties? I've got the framework of an essay percolating in my head about the insanities of true, top of the chart hits from the era. It's all mind blowing. "The Distance" is such a weird song from a weird band that should have NEVER had a chance in the record business world as I understand it. So obviously, I relish in its existence. </div><div><br /></div><div>But it's so damn good. Freshman year of high school me bought the CD stat. And honestly, I've probably grown to the point that "The Distance" is pretty forgettable for me now. I mean, it's alright...but have you listened to "Frank Sinatra"?</div><div><br /></div><div>Damn. For at least 12 years after this came out I would scribble teenaged sounding "poetry" or "lyrics" that was entirely cribbed from the meter and scheme of "Frank Sinatra." To this day, every time I hear it, I still smile and perk up. The muted, understated organ intro...just stellar in every way. </div><div><br /></div><div>Beyond that, my teenaged guitar/drums duo recorded a version of "I Will Survive" in the attic at 1203 Ferdinand back in '97 and just flipping through all these songs, they are all just so solid, timeless really...I mean, is there any other album out there that has covers of Gloria Gaynor <i>and</i> Willie Nelson on it? I don't think so.</div><div><br /></div><div>Whirlwind Heat told me that they decided to record their "Types of Wood" album at Paradise Studios because that's where Cake recorded <i>Fashion Nugget</i> and is claimed to have the best drum sound in all of the studios in America. On top of that, Greg Brown's guitar tone and playing here just stands alone in regards to what was available and accessible to a young kid like me at the time. It sounded...<i>like a guitar should sound</i>. </div><div><br /></div><div>I've never bought any other Cake records (never even seen any of the 7"s culled from this LP...so all have just been added to my Discogs wantlist) and despite the 8xLP boxset going for A THOUSAND DOLLARS on the secondhand market, I think I'm perfectly content just spending my time with this one. <i>Fashion Nugget</i> has yet to bore me or do me wrong.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7xw49Y-bYYk" width="320" youtube-src-id="7xw49Y-bYYk"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div>cassdetroithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09743641029214106404noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37447263.post-18307663185641527602022-08-31T16:50:00.003-04:002022-08-31T16:50:34.509-04:00Calling Out To Ghosts That Are No Longer There: The White Stripes at Sloss Furnaces <p><span> </span>The fact that the word “penultimate” exists exclusively as an adjective for next-to-last situations</p><p>feels almost egregious. I mean, did we really need an eleven letter word to describe this</p><p>scenario when a three-word combination totaling ten letters does the job just perfectly?</p><p><span> </span>Because let’s face it…second-to-last things are kinda just whatever. All the penumbra and</p><p>history and tall tales sprout effortlessly from every last whisper about the LAST of something,</p><p>the finality, the never-again crushing darkness of an abyss of nothingness for the rest of</p><p>eternity.</p><p><span> </span>So for me to roll in and tell you just how good the White Stripes were in their penultimate live</p><p>show…I understand the urge to call bullshit. But honestly, truthfully, with all personal bias</p><p>removed from shading of opinion here…this show is phenomenal.</p><p><span> </span>Visits to an Original House of Pancakes, a record store and some antique shops all replay as</p><p>relatively ordinary for daytime activities. If anything, my memory of the day sticks out as being</p><p>oppressively hot. With afternoon highs in the 90s, temps at Sloss Furnaces - the supposedly</p><p>haunted turn-of-the-century pig iron producing blast furnace turned concert venue - would hover</p><p>into the 80s well into the Stripes performance that night. Factor in the crush of 2400 bodies</p><p>crammed into the rudimentary shed-like structure with unforgiving open air walls and my recall</p><p>of the event is overwhelmingly punctuated by the feel, smell and general annoyance of sweat.</p><p><span> </span>Add in the decrepit, rusted, tetanus-y surroundings of the rest of the campus and the knowledge</p><p>that the number of workers who died there was rumored to be in the hundreds, their falling or</p><p>being pushed into the red hot fires of the furnaces only to be instantly incinerated and the</p><p>unshakable pall that casts on a spot even some five decades after the last flames there were</p><p>extinguished…needless to say it didn’t feel like an ordinary show by any means.</p><p><span> </span>Opener Dan Sartain would play in front of the biggest hometown crowd of his career and the</p><p>highlight for me (playing drums for him on this leg) was his inquiry to the crowd “So…how many</p><p>genuine Alabama rednecks we got here tonight?” After a strong response from the crowd, Dan</p><p>replied “Well, you made my life a living hell for 26 years. Thank you.”</p><p><span> </span>Just…perfect in every way.</p><p><span> </span>The show kicks off with “Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground” and finds Jack taking liberties (for</p><p>the better) in a song where he usually did not. The particularly gnarly first note of feedback</p><p>curves into some choice guitar syncopations. As the most-frequent set opener across the</p><p>band’s career, it feels odd that this would be the last time the Stripes ever started a show with</p><p>“Dead Leaves” as their final gig would begin with a cover “Stop Breaking Down.”</p><p><span> </span>“Icky Thump” rolls into the fray wildly. To hear the assembled crowd, without prompting,</p><p>perfectly nail the patter of twelve “la’s” sung in rapid succession at the end of the second verse,</p><p>all mere weeks after the song’s release…it is a great reminder as to how WIDE this record</p><p>reached so quickly upon deployment.</p><p> Leading into “When I Hear My Name” Jack, particularly chatty this evening, says “Meg and I</p><p>knew we was Alabama bound!” and despite any hammy undertones, it ultimately comes off as</p><p>sincere and heartfelt. Leading out from there, “Hotel Yorba” hits as particularly vivacious, Meg’s</p><p>accompanying vocals both vivid and spot-on.</p><p><span> </span>Jack’s unusual beginning to “The Denial Twist” and the improvised divergent lyrics in the</p><p>second verse, which seem to say “It’s the way you rock and roll!” leave the Stripes’ final</p><p>performance of this song as striking.</p><p><span> </span>While the extended, elegiac intro to “Death Letter” stands strongly as a haunting slice of slide</p><p>guitar, Jack’s improvised lyrics on the third verse delight. Similar to his moves earlier in “Dead</p><p>Leaves”, taking a specific part of a song that, to my memory, was seldom if ever switched up,</p><p>and reworking it on the spot, it all feels significant. Especially in light of the fact that the song</p><p>would essentially run out of its evolutionary runway in another 24 hours. So for him to sing…</p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>It looked like ten thousand</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Women around my front porch</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Didn’t know if I’d listen to ‘em</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Or keep on lookin’ north</i></p><p>I’m just reminded of the fact that no song should ever be considered complete or finished or</p><p>beyond reinterpretation.</p><p><span> </span>Acolytes of St. Francis of Assisi may be surprised to catch Jack’s in-the-moment name drop of</p><p><i>Brother Sun, Sister Moon</i> in the midst of an extended rant toward the end of “Do.” Though it</p><p>may bear repeating that “Little Bird” and its “I wanna preach to birds” lyric is explicitly inspired by</p><p>the 13th century saint, it should require no leap of faith to imagine the 1972 Franco Zeffirreli film</p><p>depicting the life and times of Francis being viewed by Jack as a prepubescent altar boy.</p><p><span> </span>Eschewing his wealthy upbringing for a life of piety and monasticism, Francis would become</p><p>patron saint of Italy, the first documented stigmatic and the creator of the first live nativity scene.</p><p>If there’s a Catholic Hall of Fame, St. Francis of Assisi is definitely a first-ballot shoe-in.</p><p><span> </span>Nuggets like Jack’s borderline goofy drunk introduction of Meg for “In The Cold, Cold Night” with</p><p>“Miss Meg White takes center stage!” belies a truly stellar performance while brief, blink-and-</p><p>you-missed-it riff inversions on both “Astro” and “Little Cream Soda” are delicious little surprises</p><p>to revel in. And I’ll be damned if the organ-driven take on “I Want To Be The Boy To Warm Your</p><p>Mother’s Heart” is a welcome reminder that every last live version of this song is worth a listen. It never</p><p>fails or disappoints. It always satisfies.</p><p><span> </span>But the juiciest plum in this set is the unexpected, abrupt abandonment of “Seven Nation Army”</p><p>a mere ninety seconds into the song. When Jack says “I don’t know if we should play this song</p><p>in America anymore…I guess it doesn’t translate well…lost something in the translation” he</p><p>says so without knowing it’d be the last time that he and Meg ever played the song together.</p><p> I remember this happening that night, but at the time I never mentioned it or thought to bring it</p><p>up.</p><p><span> </span>But 15 years later I had to.</p><p><span> </span>So in an email with the subject line “dumb white stripes question” I reached out to Jack for</p><p>clarity on the situation. His response…</p><p><i>oh i think i was just joking because it had become such a soccer chant at the time and that</i></p><p><i>europeans loved it “more” than americans for a minute there</i></p><p><i>and they weren’t singing any english lyrics just saying “po po po po” in Italy, so i was joking that</i></p><p><i>americans didn’t understand the “foreign language” of “po po po po po po po</i>"</p><p><span> </span>That reads nicely.</p><p><span> </span>But I cannot help being reminded that in 2007 George W. Bush was still in office and folks were</p><p>still wildly pissed about his mere existence AND the ongoing overseas US military boondoggles.</p><p>That year would see a total of 904 American armed forces casualties in Iraq alone, the single</p><p>highest yearly total in the entirety of said occupation.</p><p><span> </span>So in Alabama, I dunno…a bunch of self-identifying, sweat-soaked rednecks chanting along…it</p><p>had just the faintest twinge of jingoistic misappropriation originating from the crowd…that basso</p><p>ostinato chopping along with the sinister Dorian mode overtone. It sounds ominous. “Army” is in</p><p>the title. I mean, it’s not a stretch.</p><p><span> </span>At the time I remember just having half the half-second thought along these confused political</p><p>lines and then literally have not thought about it since. The only contemporaneous review I can</p><p>find of the show, written by Andy Smith, attributes the scuttled “Seven Nation Army” as an effort</p><p>to prevent “the righteous and violent rigor of the lyrics (to) be misinterpreted as condoning an</p><p>unrighteous war.”</p><p><span> </span>So even if we do take Jack at his word here (which I think we should), what he says his intention</p><p>was, it’s worth noting that the perceived notion in the air that night, at least to some, was of an</p><p>entirely different tone. These are the shortcomings of interpretation. They will never rectify</p><p>themselves.</p><p><span> </span>So for Jack to switch the opening “Ball and Biscuit” lyrics to be…</p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Yes I am the Third Man, woman</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>But I am also the seventh son</i></p><p>…to me it reads as almost stentorian “LET ME SPELL IT OUT FOR YOU”-level of painting a</p><p>picture just perfectly clear in light of the supposed confusion or misinterpretation of anything</p><p>earlier in the set. With gusto.</p><p><span> </span>Yet the impromptu lyrics on “300 MPH Torrential Outpour Blues” are deadly…</p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>There’s all kinds of emotions that a phone call ain’t gonna fix</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>You took me to the brink woman, took me everywhere I didn’t want to go but I went anyway</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>I never want you to question where I was headed, yes that’s where my head is nowadays</i></p><p>The complexity and grasp of human condition displayed in an off-the-top-of-the-head</p><p>exclamation, deftly cramming all those syllables into precise meter and landing on the rhyming</p><p>couplet, all while giving off the impression that the severity and pathos contained therein surely</p><p>must’ve been labored over intensely for hours, days, weeks even…well, isn’t that just the way to</p><p>knock us all over?</p><p><span> </span>Ending with “Boll Weevil” just a short trip up I-65 from the actual boll weevil monument in</p><p>Enterprise, Alabama, and some on-mic praise of Sartain is a perfect way to put that specific,</p><p>local, “we know exactly where we are” stamp on the entire evening. When Jack implores the</p><p>crowd to not go looking for any ghosts on the property after the show, you have half a mind to</p><p>respect those wishes.</p><p><span> </span>We in the touring party would not respect those wishes. After the show, a bunch of us (including</p><p>Meg, but not Jack) climbed the stairs, single-file, to a precarious perch overlooking the vast,</p><p>murky stretches of the complex. From above the entirely insufficient artificial light dappled the</p><p>tiniest spots and failed to make a dent in the existentially overpowering void.</p><p><span> </span>Even more dread-inducing was the spectre of a pitch-black decommissioned railroad tunnel.</p><p>From entry to exit, the path we were led to couldn’t have been more than 200 yards at most. But</p><p>I do not exaggerate when I say there was a complete absence of any outside illumination in this</p><p>stretch. Pure, unadulterated emptiness. Cannot see your own hand in front of your face insanity.</p><p>The shit that so many horror film plots are predicated on and has kept the night light business</p><p>booming since the passing of the torch from candle to light bulb.</p><p><span> </span>We got our hands on a single, meager flashlight, yet between the 8 of us (or so) that were on</p><p>the endeavor…it felt wildly inadequate to the point of palpable, impending fear.</p><p><span> </span>But there’s a funny little thing that happened within this little group of friends upon venturing into</p><p>the ghastly, haunted space. We were all still buzzy from the after effects of such a stunning live</p><p>concert in such unconventional environs. Simply put…we laughed our fucking asses off.</p><p>Hysterically. The entire time. What took us maybe five minutes to traverse passed in seemingly</p><p>five seconds. No one seemed like they could even be bothered with being scared. In the face of</p><p>the uncertain, of the overwhelming chasm…one light and each other was all we needed to lead</p><p>the way. To illuminate. To get us to the desired destination.</p><p><br /></p><p><span> </span>In the end, we’re just calling out to ghosts, listening closely for any sign of a response.</p>cassdetroithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09743641029214106404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37447263.post-26991696234336396672022-07-31T23:52:00.002-04:002022-07-31T23:52:48.581-04:00Willie Nelson "No Place For Me" b/w "Lumberjack"<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4GtsBoAg5BLJ5dHCJRPj7HX8y-6jELx1wX8fsRH1Tt2NseLi_MZ-SG_op86JJ3FoD4Z_fhu16y7bEnrG6h5or8TL_2JUFBBcTTxfzNdXuB_YAG37AnRr5n8kw0gfbLg1spz7w4PQz22QxZFLgpEnupbsPSmdBxWT9IB6xX1-cmWAUdf99A/s1080/Photo%20on%207-15-22%20at%202.39%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1080" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4GtsBoAg5BLJ5dHCJRPj7HX8y-6jELx1wX8fsRH1Tt2NseLi_MZ-SG_op86JJ3FoD4Z_fhu16y7bEnrG6h5or8TL_2JUFBBcTTxfzNdXuB_YAG37AnRr5n8kw0gfbLg1spz7w4PQz22QxZFLgpEnupbsPSmdBxWT9IB6xX1-cmWAUdf99A/w640-h426/Photo%20on%207-15-22%20at%202.39%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: white; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;">No Place For Me b/w Lumberjack</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;">scum stats: estimated 300 copies pressed, supposedly 3-5 known in collections</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;">Gotta say I was pretty wowed to find out that Willie Nelson's first record came out of Vancouver, Washington. Not Texas? Not Nashville? I'd known that Loretta Lynn's career had started in the Pacific Northwest, but I thought that was an anomaly, not something that had any parallels.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;">Kinda goes without saying that this single is hard to find. Rumor has it that the disc wasn't even available for purchase back when it was made in 1957. Supposedly people had to write in to the radio station KVAN where Willie was a DJ at the time (Vancouver which is right across the river from Portland, Oregon) and say how much they loved the record and then a copy would be mailed to them.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;">Damn...doesn't that just sound crazy thinking about? It certainly doesn't happen like that any more.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;">The a-side "No Place For Me" feels like a pretty solid, of-the-era country tune, Willie's voice rich and sonorous and strengthened by reverb, buoyed by picky guitar and with some fiddle buried deep in the mix. Before you know it, the damn thing is over in less time than it takes for me to microwave popcorn. That feels a little bit strange, could be good or bad depending on your mood or the day I suppose.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;">The flip is written by another DJ at KVAN at the time, Leon Payne, supposedly written about a local timber faller named Ray Norris. The stop-and-go, gas-and-brakes chug of this song feels pretty remarkable and noteworthy. The verse vocals presented largely without any accompaniment, the heavy-breathing intro and outro...just feels like there's something beyond the "old hat" vibe that most independent, Starday-pressend country singles from this time. Almost bordering on spoken jazz, Ken Nordine vibes. Heady stuff for '57, at least for me looking back 65 years later.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;">While it might be absolutely NO indication of what Willie would do come the rest of his career, man, first records with tales like this behind them just get me excited. Good times and good vibes.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/k5xpCqWjPtc" width="320" youtube-src-id="k5xpCqWjPtc"></iframe></div><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: white; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: white; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"></div>cassdetroithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09743641029214106404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37447263.post-15541877476320544682022-06-30T01:02:00.000-04:002022-07-31T21:17:14.903-04:00The Last Thoughts Of My Thirties<p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">minivan window </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">already down</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Detroit wind whipping</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">my hair against</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">my face</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">the cool</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">interstate seventy-five air</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">chills my cheeks</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">sunburned by baseball</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">just a reminder</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">that I am alive</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Lord,</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I just can’t keep from </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">smiling</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">sometimes</span></p>cassdetroithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09743641029214106404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37447263.post-19721397193741538702022-05-31T18:13:00.000-04:002022-05-31T18:16:15.300-04:00Cybotron "Alleys Of Your Mind"<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tbieq_x7zuI" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
<p> Cybotron</p><div><br /></div><div>"Alleys Of Your Mind" b/w "Cosmic Raindance"</div><div><br /></div><div>scum stats: at least three pressings...red/white labels with black printing, red labels with black printing, white labels with black printing. Anecdotally red/white labels are likely the first pressing, as those seem to turn up the least frequently. I'd venture the red label is the follow-up pressing and the white labels seem to relatively ABOUND in quantity. At one point 30 years after the fact Juan Atkins claimed that the white label was a bootleg, but I think that's the fog of the decades. Original pressings plated and pressed at QCA in Cincinnati, pretty sure that white label ran at Archer a few months later.)</div><div><br /></div><div>The beginning of Detroit techno. Never mind that it's a wholesale lift of the hook from Ultravox's "Mr. X", all you need to know is that this is the shit.</div><div><br /></div><div>Something shifted on my cell phone in the past week where the first thing to play when I plug into the car is no longer Mike Birbiglia's "Abby" but instead, <span class="il">Cybotron</span>'s "Alleys Of Your Mind."</div><div><br /></div><div>This. Makes. My. Day. Every. Day.</div><div><br /></div><div>I first heard this song on an "Old School Sunday" Detroit radio show...seemingly each one of the R&B stations in town sets up at a local spot with a club (read: not radio) DJ spinning live. None of the tracks get announced or even identified. <br /><br />Anyway, I was driving on Vernor headed west bound at the Gratiot intersection and this one drops. Sounding like nothing I'd ever heard before. Sounding like a BAND, a vibe I'd never thought I could gather from a techno record.</div><div><br /></div><div>And...nothing. No idea what the song was or how to even try to find it.</div><div><br /></div><div>A day or two later a call to dear band mate Mick Collins had the question answered in about ten seconds. Imagine my delight in finding out it was a DETROIT record.</div><div><br /></div><div>In a few weeks one of those white label copies would be procured from People's Records. To later discern the story that Atkins and band mate Rick Davis self-released the record, essentially selling it out of the trunks of their cars and moving roundabout 25k copies in that manner.</div><div><br /></div><div>As Atkins debut release, it's INSANE that the first lyrics he ever unleashed into the world (at a mere 19 years old!) are "Who'll cry for modern man?" I think about this line ALL THE DAMN TIME it's soo stupid good. </div><div><br /></div><div>To hear Mick talk about how it hit in Detroit...everyone heard it...and everyone freaked the fuck out. To the point where EVERYONE was bumping this song and loving the hell out of it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Oh to have been around Detroit in 1981.</div><img alt="Photo on 5-20-22 at 4.40 PM.jpg" class="CToWUd a6T" data-image-whitelisted="" height="307" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=74d3806dbb&attid=0.1&permmsgid=msg-a:r-3674700760249130712&th=180e371e76f01167&view=fimg&fur=ip&sz=s0-l75-ft&attbid=ANGjdJ8LDKzIsPF-d3zNDVNveTn_DqhkS5XfElEtVs-XMeH4i5J1vZpphdH3c5LlwxN2skxb0tv3IRhi8RseznNf7fNNhZO65o3GFtgJC1pqWXQ1bq-sKCWWnc2Hmag&disp=emb&realattid=ii_l3eyuttc0" style="cursor: pointer; outline: 0px;" tabindex="0" width="460" /><br /><div><br /></div><div>I've not stopped loving this record since. The Dirtbombs covered it on our <i>Party Store</i> LP back in 2011 and it's one of my happier full circles having made that happen. </div><div><br /></div><div>I've made a habit of grabbing any copy of this record I ever run into. So I've got some extras floating around here. They are all usually HAMMERED...a sign that a disc was a TRUE party record, getting played all the time, not kept in a sleeve, folks dancing so hard they bump into the turntable. Every copy of this disc has lived a full life no doubt. And that, more than anything, is the sign of the most important kind of records.</div><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div>cassdetroithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09743641029214106404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37447263.post-59811197519031880972022-04-30T20:24:00.006-04:002022-04-30T20:24:27.996-04:00More Trivia Questions<p><br /></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">1.Richard Edson, Jim Sclavunos, Bob Bert, Steve Shelley. All were drummers in Sonic Youth. Match their name with the appropriate description</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Who had a role in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”?</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Whose dad won the Heisman Trophy?</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Who was in a band called the Crucifucks?</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Who plays drums on a Nick Cave and Kylie Minogue duet?</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">2. Spell Fela Kuti. Bonus points if you can spell Anikulapo</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">3. Which one of these people is NOT thanked in the liner notes to Nirvana’s In Utero?</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Quentin Tarantino, Bobcat Goldthwaite, Pat Smear, James Osterberg. </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">4. Produced by Kanye West, “Izzo” by Jay-Z features a sample of which classic Jackson 5 song?</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">5. Which sold more copies in week of release, Use Your Illusion I or Use Your Illusion II? Bonus points, what was the differential between the two within 10 percent?</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">6. Charlie Haden played bass on Ornette Coleman’s “Shape of Jazz to Come”. Two of his triplet daughters were members of which mid-Nineties Los Angeles band signed to DGC records? </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">7. Animal Collective’s breakout album is titled “Merriweather Post Pavilion” after a well-loved concert venue. Which state is Merriweather Post Pavilion located? Bonus points…what city is Merriweather Post Pavilion located?</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">8. What was released first, Radiohead’s Pablo Honey or Smashing Pumpkin’s Siamese Dream?</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Bonus points, name the exact date either of them were released:</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">9. “I’m eating mangoes in Trinidad with attorneys” is a lyric from which 1997 hit that samples both Audio Two’s “Top Billin” and the Bee Gee’s?</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">10. Originally recorded by Solomon Linda in South Africa in 1939 and released under the name “Mbube” which song seems to be resurrected every ten years or so in some movie or television commercial seeming kinda like some bullshit, but, you know, whatever, it’s cool, I guess. Pete Seeger with the Weavers and the Tokens are usually the versions you hear, but Ladysmith Black Mombazo, REM and a duet with Seth Rogen and Billy Eichner are also versions out there.</span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><div class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">11. </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Which was released first…Nirvana’s “Nevermind” or Pearl Jam’s “Ten”? Bonus points, name the exact date either/both of them were released.</span></div><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><div class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">12. </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">The video game Journey Escape features which rock and roll band?</span></div><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><div class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">13. </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">The title track on Spiritualized’s 1997 album “Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space” is the only song on the album NOT entirely written by band leader Jason Pierce. A hit for both Elvis Presley and UB40, what song, originally edited out of the initial release of “Ladies…” was incorporated into this first song on the album?</span></div><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><div class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">14. </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Within 5, what is the BPM of Outkast’s “Bombs Over Bagdad”?</span></div><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><div class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">15. </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">In the chorus of her song “Nude as the News” Cat Power mentions Jackson and Jesse, the names of the children of which of her musical idols?</span></div><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><div class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">16. </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">What is the name of the Harlem Globetrotters theme song?</span></div><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><div class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">17. </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">What is Stevie Wonder’s birth name?</span></div><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><div class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">18. </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">The Black and Brown Trading Stamp Corporation was founded in Oakland, California in 1969, inspired by traditional “green stamp” booklets but instead focused on driving business to black-owned establishments in California. Who was the soul and funk singer who was depicted on the Black and Brown stamps, in addition to being the person who put up the money to start the company?</span></div><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><div class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">19. </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">What year did the Fisk Jubilee Singers form?</span></div><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><div class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">20. </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">According to “7 Rings” what are some of Ariana Grande’s favorite things?</span></div><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">21. </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">What one specific thing do the bands the Fluid, the Melvins and the Jesus Lizard all have in common? </span></div><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><div class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">22. </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">True or false: every member of the Strokes has released a solo album.</span></div><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><div class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">23. </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Buju Banton, Louis Farrakhan and Ramadan are all mentioned in which Fugees song? </span></div><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><div class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">24. </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Based on the gameplay of Terminator 2: Judgement Day, Revolution X is a 1994 video game “starring” which rock and roll band? </span></div><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><div class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">25. </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">True or false: The chorus of Vanilla Ice’s “Ice Ice Baby” originates from the signature chant of the African American fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha? </span></div><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><div class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">26. </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Europe, Alabama, Boston, America, Kansas - which one of these bands was not formed in the place where they took their name from? </span></div><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><div class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">27. </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">How many times has John Frusciante joined the Red Hot Chili Peppers? </span></div><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><div class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">28. </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">The band Toto backs Michael Jackson on which song from his Thriller album? </span></div><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><div class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">29. </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Ravi Shankar has two successful musician daughters. Name them. </span></div><p class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></p><div class="s3" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 36px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: -18px;"><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">30. </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">In 1997 Jimbo Mathus of the Squirrel Nut Zippers released an album titled “Play Songs for Rosetta” as a means to help raise funds for his childhood nanny, Rosetta. Who was Rosetta’s father?</span></div>cassdetroithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09743641029214106404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37447263.post-56400289580594933952022-03-31T18:18:00.000-04:002022-03-31T18:18:05.330-04:00You Like Trivia Questions?<p> <span style="font-size: 12px;">Round One:</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">What is the b-side to Nirvana’s first single?</p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">A copy of which album, numbered 0000001, sold for over $790,000 at Julien’s Auctions in December 2015?</p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In which city was Aretha Franklin born?</p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Whose 1979 album “Pink Cadillac” features two songs which were the last music ever produced by Sun Records founder Sam Phillips?</p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Who played the guitar solo on David Bowie’s song “Let’s Dance”?</p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Everyone knows Lou Reed, Mo Tucker, Sterling Morrison and John Cale. Name anyone else who was a member of the Velvet Underground.</p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Pitchfork’s review of the 2006 “Shine On” album by rated 0.0. There was no written review, instead, just a link to a 10-second YouTube clip of a monkey peeing into its own mouth. What band released “Shine On”?</p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">An RIAA “diamond” award signifies album sales in what amount?</p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Only two songs from Disney animated films have reached number 1 on the Billboard hot 100 chart. Name either of them.</p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The band named MC5…what does “MC” stand for?</p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Round Two:</p><p class="p1" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Jake and Jamin Orrall are best known for their group Jeff the Brotherhood. What was the name of their band before Jeff the Brotherhood?</p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Eric Stefani is an original member of No Doubt as well as Gwen Stefani’s older brother. Name one of two different television shows he worked on after leaving the band.</p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">What is the name of the Hannah Montana theme song?</p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Sun Ra plays on a 1966 album dedicated to what crime fighting duo?</p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Who currently owns Hank Williams 1941 Martin Acoustic guitar?</p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Who released an early single of the songs “Zoot Suit” and “I’m The Face”. What was the band name credited on that single?</p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Church of John Coltrane is located in which city?</p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Pink Floyd derived their band moniker from the names of two different blues singers. Name either of them.</p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Kurt Cobain shares songwriting credit with Dino Valenti on one song. Name that song.</p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">What song starts out with “Fuck all you hoes…get a grip motherfucker”?</p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Round Three:</p><p class="p1" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">There are two proper nouns mentioned more than once in LCD Soundsystem’s song “Losing My Edge” name them both.</p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">What country is William Onyeabor from?</p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Who is the only person to have played in both Nirvana and Soundgarden?</p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Which one of these groups has not released a single on Sub Pop - Beach Boys, Melvins, Shonen Knife, Smashing Pumpkins, the White Stripes?</p><p class="p1" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Brendan and James are brothers. Brendan played in Fugazi and James played in the Make-Up. What is their last name?</p><p class="p1" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">What is the name of the founding female member of Os Mutantes?</p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Under what name was Jandek’s first album “Ready For the House” originally credited?</p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Properly spell “Les Rallizes Denudes”</p><p class="p1" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">What country are Boards of Canada from?</p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Beyonce, Allison Krauss, Henry Mancini or John Williams. Who’s won the most Grammys?</p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p>cassdetroithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09743641029214106404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37447263.post-9539921185518979272022-02-25T18:26:00.000-05:002022-02-25T18:26:02.638-05:00My Briefest of Interactions With Mark Lanegan<p>I'm pretty sure I said "hi" to him backstage at the Queens of the Stone Age gig at St. Andrew's Hall on September 13th, 2002. But that's inconsequential.</p><p>August 20th, 2004 the Dirtbombs played the Pukkelpop Festival in Belgium. We took an overnight ferry from Brighton, UK where we'd performed the previous evening. We arrived on the festival grounds pretty early. I set up my drums as soon as I was allowed so I could go and check out Joanna Newsom's even-earlier-than-ours set on the other side of the grounds. Her opening with an a cappella, not even singing through a microphone version of "Yarn and Glue" in the middle of a mostly empty tent in this empty Belgian field still sits with me as one of the most unafraid performances I have ever witnessed.</p><p>Anyway, our set time was during a very un-rock and roll daylight, we're not a big draw and there's not too much of a crowd watching us. But the stage was HUGE...maybe the biggest one we'd ever play. With tons of overhead space, room for Troy to stomp around with a festival length cable...I mean, it really felt like we were probably just a little too small to be included in such an affair but we were going to our damnedest to make sure we took full advantage of our inclusion in such reindeer games.</p><p>We played hyper fast and found ourselves walking off stage with 10 minutes still left in our allotted time slot. As a total anomaly, bad form even, we say "fuck it" and go back to do an encore. Bands our stature do not garner festival encores. According to my hand-written tour diary "...at the end of <i>By My Side</i> I did a headstand on my bass drum, stood on it, then started tossing shit like it was salad. I noticed Greg Dulli stage right mid-set and was trying to see how close I could get the drums to him. Troy swears the rack tom was twenty feet in the air. I threw the bass drum over my head backwards (not before a quick cursory saftey check" and snapped bits off the rim."</p><p>Looking back 18 years later and I still feel the adrenalin rush in my chest reminiscing. It felt unhinged in the best way. Throwing and destroying equipment is 100% patently dumb and played out...but it is <i>so fucking fun</i> and the crowd eats it up <i>every damn time</i>.</p><p>I am being completely honest and serious when I say that I must've thrown my bass drum at least twenty-five feet from where I was situated on the drum riser. Never before and never since would I be given an opportunity to so wonderfully transform potential energy into kinetic energy via the destruction of the tools I needed to make money.</p><p>When I finally walked off stage, I was hit with an instant wave of feeling like I needed to vomit. I had pushed myself SO hard that it only caught me the second I stopped doing it. Right at that moment, a guy walked past me and said "Good show, I grabbed one of your sticks!" to which I had to awkwardly ask for it back, as I wasn't sure if I'd be able to find the exact ones in Europe and it was still the beginning of the tour.</p><p>Soon thereafter Greg Dulli came by and said of the five times he'd seen the Dirtbombs, this had been the best. He then introduced everyone standing around and my mind was blown when it became clear that the guy who'd grabbed my stick, whom I'd assumed was just a rabid fan, was actually Mark Lanegan. He and Dulli were playing later in the day as the Twilight Singers.</p><p>We'd see Blanche and the Kills and the MC5 and Franz Ferdinand and the White Stripes the next night at the festival and my overwhelming take away from it all was that I just felt so lucky to even be there. As a fan, this was just about the most fun I could ever ask for. And the fact that, even if only for a second, it seemed like Lanegan was a fan of what I was doing, all these years later, is still humbling.</p>cassdetroithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09743641029214106404noreply@blogger.com0