Sonic Youth has released a series of records on their own SYR label, many of which consist mainly of improvisations recorded in their studio during rehearsals or between and among album sessions. Most if not all of these releases are labeled in languages which are not English. The reasons for this are obscure…
I own two of these releases (#1 and #2, I believe …) and I like them quite well. I’ve had #2 for longer and played it more often, so last night I got out #1 to listen to while reading a short story by Irvine Welsh (which mentions heroin only briefly so sppbt to his reputation … we’ll see how the collection progresses, but so far the writing is really solid good and I would recommend it, the book is called The Acid House).
The Sonic Youth record was mellower than I recalled, pleasantly droning and pulsating, and after a minute or two a little light went on in my brain and I realized it was one of those increasingly-common large-sized 45rpm releases, which I was playing at 33&1/3.
I let it go. It sounded good. I will listen to side two today in the same manner.
It has become typical that I prefer those large-size 45rpm releases when played at the wrong speed. This first came to light during Marc Cantlin’s visit to Los Angeles back in the spring of 2009… said visit documented here:
Right around that time I had purchased a record by Akron/Family called “Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free.” I sat down to listen to it and was really enjoying it a lot, really into it … and it took me half of side one (of four) to realize I was listening too slow. Or rather, the record was moving too slow. Perhaps I was listening too fast.
I returned the album to its intended speed and started over … to my great dissatisfaction. It was weak, lightweight, affected, even silly!* (On the other hand, I had discovered afro-grunge.)
Since that time I have found in my collection also a record by Omar Rodriguez Lopez called, I think, “Please Heat This Eventually” with guest Damo Suzuki which I’ve been playing on the wrong speed for years and never realized. It’s better that way, trust me.
* To be fair to Akron/Family, who are a worthy group, the album sounds pretty good, especially sides 2-4, if you have not just listened to it at the wrong speed first. Contrast is, in this case, everything.
Not so often I get to play with a really good band to a packed room of muy enthusiastic dancing fools. This was a highlight of my musical life, so I’m passing on to you THE ENTIRE SET, in no particular order. If the footage from Boyd’s camera, whenever it turns up, has better sound, I will post that as well (or instead or something). Z took these. Enjoy!
Paul Johnson showed up at my doorstep, banjo in hand … He lives in Austin anymore so I don’t see a lot of him, but we used to play together a bunch when we both lived in Seattle. I introduced him to Amanda Jo while I was at her house trying to remember how to play the guitar so we could do a show (been out of town, minor lapse in personality integrity) … It was a solid connection and the sounds were great, so Amanda invited Paul to sit in for the duration of the next night’s show. He did, and it was a mad blast. Here’s a representative highlight:
Here are all three lengthy video excerpts from this 3+ hour show… Part one includes a few relatively concise tunes from near the beginning of the night. Part two includes the last set of the evening in its entirety: 4 songs, 35 minutes. Part three includes some juicy meat from the middle of the show, featuring the added talents of OZ on the electric stick.
I would say that generally the music gets farther out as you move down the page.
This was beyond a doubt one of the coolest nights of music I’ve ever been involved in. I hope you like it!
Evan Strauss, bass. Scott Keil, drums. 5-Track, guitar and singing. Jym “The Snake” Fahey, harmonica.
Excerpts from the first 2/3 of a single 3.5 hour performance which included guest appearances by Jasper Dickson, Yuliya, Deron Wade, and Oz. Certain guest performances may be viewed elsewhere. “Filmed” by John Boyd, May 23 2009. Thanks to Suzanne and WHERE for hosting this event!!
Songs include: “I Don’t Want To Lose This Moment,” “Galapagos,” others.
Evan Strauss, bass. Scott Keil, drums. 5-Track, guitar and singing. Jym “The Snake” Fahey, harmonica.
This is the final 35-minute / 4-song segment of a single 3.5 hour performance which included guest appearances by Jasper Dickson, Yuliya, Deron Wade, and Oz. Certain guest performances may be viewed elsewhere. “Filmed” by John Boyd, May 23 2009. Thanks to Suzanne and WHERE for hosting this event!!
Songs include: “Trying To Come Back (But They Won’t Let Him),” “Can’t Find The Ocean,” “Blues For Horselover Fat,” and “Exafrical.”
Evan Strauss, bass. Scott Keil, drums. 5-Track, guitar and singing. Jym “The Snake” Fahey, harmonica. Oz, stick.
This set (part of a single 3.5 hour performance which included guest appearances by Jasper Dickson, Yuliya, Deron Wade) features Oz. “Filmed” by John Boyd, May 23 2009. Thanks to Suzanne and WHERE for hosting this event!!
Songs include: “El-Frankian Yuppie Repellent,” “Morning Train,” and “Space Angel.”
…and oh, look, here’s another video from the Breeding Ground at the Tribal Cafe, recorded later that same night (June 3 2009). It’s Greg Franco, Jef Hogan (bass), and Jon Franco (drums), and they’ve been foolish enough to ask me up to jam with them. Here’s the results:
In case it isn’t evident, I had never played these songs before. I do like what we played quite a lot, though - I don’t get to play total freakball on someone else’s tunes nearly often enough! Thanks guys!
And thanks to Volita Pearl for uploading the video - maximum coolness.
This past week, Marc Cantlin (aka The Other Half Of My Brain) has been in town. We have been playing music together since approximately 1992. I get to play music with him about once a year anymore, though that is starting to look like it may happen more often this year at least.
On the day Marc arrived in Los Angeles, we showed up at a jam night called The Breeding Ground which is held on Wednesday nights at the Tribal Cafe in Echo Park. I go there most weeks, if I am not busy elsewhere, and play guitar or bass (or sometimes drums - yikes) with anyone who needs it.
Typically the night is hosted by Jef Hogan and Joe Mullenix, but Joe is in Norway so Marc and I got to play with just about everyone, including John Norwood, Jasper Dickson, Jackie, Yuliya, Rough Church, and a friend of the Rough ones, Volita, who is here from New Zealand.
Greg took video of us playing bass (me) and guitar (Marc) with Volita (and Jon Franco, drums), and here it is:
“filmed” by John Boyd and Mark Engel. John Norwood is standin in the doorway, country-singer style. So much fun to play outdoors in cool places! Thanks to Dan, Will, April, Arna, Rose, Feather and everyone else who made it out and brought the big vibes.
5-TRACK electric guitar, and occasional guest drummer Simon Thomsen,
Santa Fe Cafe / Fullerton, CA Train Station, May 2nd 2009
