Saturday, March 27, 2004
Here's my SXSW piece for the paper. It's mostly about the locals, so may be of only middling interest to non-Memphians. (And it was mostly written in the car on the way home.) I'll say no more about SXSW other than to implore anyone who may be heading to Austin in the future to check out John Mueller's BBQ for brisket and Juan in a Million for breakfast tacos -- truly the highlights of the trip.
Thursday, March 25, 2004
Stephen Deusner makes his Pitchfork debut with this sharp Lucero review. I think he's totally on-the-mark, except I'm happy Brian Venable is back in the band.
In another Memphis music note, Peter Scholtes survives an Al Green interview.
In another Memphis music note, Peter Scholtes survives an Al Green interview.
Back from Austin, where I saw plenty of music, both good and bad, spent too much money, killed my feet and back, and discovered the glories of breakfast tacos and brisket. (Yes, fine, I admit it, barbecue doesn't have to be pork.) In lieu of rambling thoughts, I'm gonna rank every band I saw with brief comments:
1. The Reigning Sound -- I've seen them countless times, but I'm not sure if they've ever been better. Greg Roberson essentially told me they were there out of obligation to the record company and didn't really want to be, but you couldn't tell it, other than a moment near the end when Greg Cartwright asked plaintively, "How much longer do I have to play?" But he had a smile on his face when he said it. The vibration started with Roberson and Jeremy Scott's flawless foundation then snaked up Cartwright's spine and through his hands and mouth and out into the crowd. His whole body shook, like all those great records he's absorbed couldn't wait to get out in brand-new form. Four days later, "Stormy Weather" and "Stop & Think It Over" and "Live the Life" are still rattling around inside my head. Appreciate them now because the end is near.
2. The Hold Steady -- Lived up to the hype and then some. Joanna used to hate the record (and Lifter Puller also) but she left the show with a goofy smile on her face too. An Austin Chronicle reviewer claimed the next day that it would be one of those shows people would brag a decade later about being at, but I'm bragging now. Has anyone else noticed the Craig Finn/Peter Sellers connection, or am I crazy? Good job, guys! (a new Hold Steady inside joke)
3. Brother Ali -- Had to split the Rhymesayers set early for work obligations and missed Atmosphere, which made me sick, but Ali almost made up for it. The overweight, lazy-eyed, albino, Muslim rapper (from Minnesota) lived up to all that concept and then some. Came out to Muddy Waters' "I'm a Man" and delivered a set that was incendiary and self-deprecating and funny and smart and combative and passionate.
4. Against Me! -- Their Saturday afternoon set, after missing the showcase the night before. Three guys singing together. Every single kid in the audience singing along. Every song a punk-rock "Born to Run"-style anthem. I understand that some people find this to be a little corny. This unapologetic Rancid fan loved every second of it.
5. The Reputation -- Elizabeth Elmore rocked with a surly, suffer-no-fools demeanor that rivals Chrissie Hynde herself. Can't wait for the new record and am considering driving to Little Rock (no Memphis gig scheduled) to see them again.
6. Junior Senior -- We got a few funny looks when we told people we went to this showcase, but those fun-haters can kiss my ass. They were a blast and I find their enthusiasm for the musical elements they shamelessly steal (the Beatles' group "aaahh" vocals on "Twist & Shout," the deep-voiced spoken-word asides of "Summertime Blues" and "Yakety Yak," Partridge Family pop, DISCO!) to be completely guileless. Plus, bringing Fred Schneider out for "Move Your Feet" was one of the most hilariously awkward things I've ever seen.
7. The Flatlanders -- At the New West day party. A very casual, relaxed, lovely performance. It was amazing to hear that voice coming out of human lips (Jimmie Dale Gilmore, obviously), but the best part was the closing version of the More a Legend Than a Band standout "One Road More."
8. The Old 97's -- Another acoustic set at the New West day party. It was just great to see them together as a band again after Rhett Miller's questionable solo move, and even acoustic they sounded more like the pure pop band of Satellite Rides than anything close to "alt-country," especially on older gems like "Big Brown Eyes" and "Timebomb." Bonus points for spotting guitarist Ken Bethea at the Def Jux showcase.
9. The Ponys -- Garage-rock band from Chicago at the In the Red showcase, but far less generic or predictable than most of their ilk. Great Tom Verlaine-ish vocals, hypnotic guitars, and bass-heavy/cymbal-free drumming to die for. A real find.
10. Jean Grae -- Rapped over "On My Block" and "Tipsy" and teased the indie-hip-hop crowd: "It's okay to party to underground music. Don't act like y'all don't go out and get drunk and try to pick people up." Very charismatic and likeable.
11. The Lost Sounds -- Locals newly signed to In the Red, but not really garage-rock. A typically fierce set. They just keep getting better.
12. Lucero #2 -- Saturday day show at Emo's Annex. With Brian Venable back in the band, played old nuggets like "Little Silver Heart" and "Kiss the Bottle" with vintage spirit, as well as new standouts like "Hate and Jealousy" and my fave, "Tears Don't Matter Much."
13. The Drive-By Truckers -- Another from the New West day party. Acoustic doesn't really become them, but "Zip City" anytime, anywhere is hard to top. And bonus points for kicking off their set at a lazy, friendly daytime barbecue with the taunting suicide song "Do It Yourself."
14. Aesop Rock & El-P with RJD2 -- A couple of indie-rap stars who have never hit very hard with me (I like more conversational flows, I guess), but they were pretty gripping. Thought RJD2 was the star of the set though.
15. Mr. Lif & Akrobatik -- Slightly disappointed in this since I much prefer Lif on record to Aesop or El-P, but the set was a little too generic hip-hop hype-man kinda stuff. Still more entertaining than most rock shows I saw.
16. Cory Branan #2 -- At MADJACK showcase with Steve Selvidge on guitar for half the set. Much more into it than his lazy set earlier in the day. Nice version of "Spoke Too Soon."
17. Preacher's Kids -- Sock-hop garage-rock from masters of the (limited) form.
18. Micranots: Minneapolis old-timers (I think I saw them at Macalester a decade ago), claiming this was their last show. (Is this true?) Solid.
19. Eric Lewis & Andy Ratliff: At MADJACK showcase. Pitch-perfect bluegrass.
20. Viva L'American Deathray Music: Locals playing opening set at half-empty Emo's on garage-rock night. A perfectly respectable set, but not much energy on-stage or off.
21. The Cool Jerks: More locals, followed Deathray, more conventional bluesy garage-rock, just as solid.
22. Cory Branan #1: Half-hour solo acoustic set at Trade Show day stage before sparse audience of catnappers, laptop clickers, networkers, and a table full of locals who he played for. Great songs only halfway played. Best moment came when he asked Brian Venable what he wanted to hear and Brian deadpanned "Play something off the first record." (Ouch!)
23. Lucero #1: If I'd known how flat this was going to be I would have stayed at the Rhymesayers showcase, work be damned. Poor sound, going through the motions, Ben Nichols shouting instead of singing, playing songs too fast. Just not very good.
24. Mystery Girls -- Garage rock from Wisconsin, named after a Compulsive Gamblers song. Saw them while waiting for the Ponys. Totally generic.
25. Mistreaters -- Garage-rock from Wisconsin, not named after a Compulsive Gamblers song. Saw them while waiting for Preacher's Kids. Worse than generic.
26. B-52s -- Endured this waiting for Junior Senior. Me: "Are we stuck in a Christopher Guest movie?" Joanna: "I'd be okay with this if I was at the state fair." (She wins.)
27. The Hunches --Garage-rock from Portland. Saw them while waiting for the Reigning Sound. A self-indulgent mess.
28. The Dears -- Indie-rock from Montreal. Saw them while waiting for Lucero (and missing some good Rhymesayers action. Boo.). "Atmospheric" and interminable.
29. CocoRosie -- Heard them (briefly) after wandering into the Merge/Touch&Go day party, warbling and screeching sent us fleeing.
1. The Reigning Sound -- I've seen them countless times, but I'm not sure if they've ever been better. Greg Roberson essentially told me they were there out of obligation to the record company and didn't really want to be, but you couldn't tell it, other than a moment near the end when Greg Cartwright asked plaintively, "How much longer do I have to play?" But he had a smile on his face when he said it. The vibration started with Roberson and Jeremy Scott's flawless foundation then snaked up Cartwright's spine and through his hands and mouth and out into the crowd. His whole body shook, like all those great records he's absorbed couldn't wait to get out in brand-new form. Four days later, "Stormy Weather" and "Stop & Think It Over" and "Live the Life" are still rattling around inside my head. Appreciate them now because the end is near.
2. The Hold Steady -- Lived up to the hype and then some. Joanna used to hate the record (and Lifter Puller also) but she left the show with a goofy smile on her face too. An Austin Chronicle reviewer claimed the next day that it would be one of those shows people would brag a decade later about being at, but I'm bragging now. Has anyone else noticed the Craig Finn/Peter Sellers connection, or am I crazy? Good job, guys! (a new Hold Steady inside joke)
3. Brother Ali -- Had to split the Rhymesayers set early for work obligations and missed Atmosphere, which made me sick, but Ali almost made up for it. The overweight, lazy-eyed, albino, Muslim rapper (from Minnesota) lived up to all that concept and then some. Came out to Muddy Waters' "I'm a Man" and delivered a set that was incendiary and self-deprecating and funny and smart and combative and passionate.
4. Against Me! -- Their Saturday afternoon set, after missing the showcase the night before. Three guys singing together. Every single kid in the audience singing along. Every song a punk-rock "Born to Run"-style anthem. I understand that some people find this to be a little corny. This unapologetic Rancid fan loved every second of it.
5. The Reputation -- Elizabeth Elmore rocked with a surly, suffer-no-fools demeanor that rivals Chrissie Hynde herself. Can't wait for the new record and am considering driving to Little Rock (no Memphis gig scheduled) to see them again.
6. Junior Senior -- We got a few funny looks when we told people we went to this showcase, but those fun-haters can kiss my ass. They were a blast and I find their enthusiasm for the musical elements they shamelessly steal (the Beatles' group "aaahh" vocals on "Twist & Shout," the deep-voiced spoken-word asides of "Summertime Blues" and "Yakety Yak," Partridge Family pop, DISCO!) to be completely guileless. Plus, bringing Fred Schneider out for "Move Your Feet" was one of the most hilariously awkward things I've ever seen.
7. The Flatlanders -- At the New West day party. A very casual, relaxed, lovely performance. It was amazing to hear that voice coming out of human lips (Jimmie Dale Gilmore, obviously), but the best part was the closing version of the More a Legend Than a Band standout "One Road More."
8. The Old 97's -- Another acoustic set at the New West day party. It was just great to see them together as a band again after Rhett Miller's questionable solo move, and even acoustic they sounded more like the pure pop band of Satellite Rides than anything close to "alt-country," especially on older gems like "Big Brown Eyes" and "Timebomb." Bonus points for spotting guitarist Ken Bethea at the Def Jux showcase.
9. The Ponys -- Garage-rock band from Chicago at the In the Red showcase, but far less generic or predictable than most of their ilk. Great Tom Verlaine-ish vocals, hypnotic guitars, and bass-heavy/cymbal-free drumming to die for. A real find.
10. Jean Grae -- Rapped over "On My Block" and "Tipsy" and teased the indie-hip-hop crowd: "It's okay to party to underground music. Don't act like y'all don't go out and get drunk and try to pick people up." Very charismatic and likeable.
11. The Lost Sounds -- Locals newly signed to In the Red, but not really garage-rock. A typically fierce set. They just keep getting better.
12. Lucero #2 -- Saturday day show at Emo's Annex. With Brian Venable back in the band, played old nuggets like "Little Silver Heart" and "Kiss the Bottle" with vintage spirit, as well as new standouts like "Hate and Jealousy" and my fave, "Tears Don't Matter Much."
13. The Drive-By Truckers -- Another from the New West day party. Acoustic doesn't really become them, but "Zip City" anytime, anywhere is hard to top. And bonus points for kicking off their set at a lazy, friendly daytime barbecue with the taunting suicide song "Do It Yourself."
14. Aesop Rock & El-P with RJD2 -- A couple of indie-rap stars who have never hit very hard with me (I like more conversational flows, I guess), but they were pretty gripping. Thought RJD2 was the star of the set though.
15. Mr. Lif & Akrobatik -- Slightly disappointed in this since I much prefer Lif on record to Aesop or El-P, but the set was a little too generic hip-hop hype-man kinda stuff. Still more entertaining than most rock shows I saw.
16. Cory Branan #2 -- At MADJACK showcase with Steve Selvidge on guitar for half the set. Much more into it than his lazy set earlier in the day. Nice version of "Spoke Too Soon."
17. Preacher's Kids -- Sock-hop garage-rock from masters of the (limited) form.
18. Micranots: Minneapolis old-timers (I think I saw them at Macalester a decade ago), claiming this was their last show. (Is this true?) Solid.
19. Eric Lewis & Andy Ratliff: At MADJACK showcase. Pitch-perfect bluegrass.
20. Viva L'American Deathray Music: Locals playing opening set at half-empty Emo's on garage-rock night. A perfectly respectable set, but not much energy on-stage or off.
21. The Cool Jerks: More locals, followed Deathray, more conventional bluesy garage-rock, just as solid.
22. Cory Branan #1: Half-hour solo acoustic set at Trade Show day stage before sparse audience of catnappers, laptop clickers, networkers, and a table full of locals who he played for. Great songs only halfway played. Best moment came when he asked Brian Venable what he wanted to hear and Brian deadpanned "Play something off the first record." (Ouch!)
23. Lucero #1: If I'd known how flat this was going to be I would have stayed at the Rhymesayers showcase, work be damned. Poor sound, going through the motions, Ben Nichols shouting instead of singing, playing songs too fast. Just not very good.
24. Mystery Girls -- Garage rock from Wisconsin, named after a Compulsive Gamblers song. Saw them while waiting for the Ponys. Totally generic.
25. Mistreaters -- Garage-rock from Wisconsin, not named after a Compulsive Gamblers song. Saw them while waiting for Preacher's Kids. Worse than generic.
26. B-52s -- Endured this waiting for Junior Senior. Me: "Are we stuck in a Christopher Guest movie?" Joanna: "I'd be okay with this if I was at the state fair." (She wins.)
27. The Hunches --Garage-rock from Portland. Saw them while waiting for the Reigning Sound. A self-indulgent mess.
28. The Dears -- Indie-rock from Montreal. Saw them while waiting for Lucero (and missing some good Rhymesayers action. Boo.). "Atmospheric" and interminable.
29. CocoRosie -- Heard them (briefly) after wandering into the Merge/Touch&Go day party, warbling and screeching sent us fleeing.
Tuesday, March 16, 2004
I'm leaving for Austin tomorrow morning for the South By Southwest Festival. This will be my first trip to the festival (and to Austin) and I'm hoping to have a great time. Of course, my general dislike of both crowds and music biz schmoozing could be working against me this week. So, there won't be any new stuff in this space until next week, but I'll try to post some reactions to the festival when I get back.
When I decided to start this blog I had originally planned to wait until after the festival, but had too much fun playing on Blogger to wait. If there's anyone out there actually reading this, I'm hoping the site will become more active when I get back next week. SXSW, the NBA stretch run, and my recent re-engagement with mainstream country music will be on the blogging agenda. Until then, go waste time on ILM.
When I decided to start this blog I had originally planned to wait until after the festival, but had too much fun playing on Blogger to wait. If there's anyone out there actually reading this, I'm hoping the site will become more active when I get back next week. SXSW, the NBA stretch run, and my recent re-engagement with mainstream country music will be on the blogging agenda. Until then, go waste time on ILM.
Thursday, March 11, 2004
"Maps," "Fix Up, Look Sharp," and "You Don't Know My Name" all finished in the top 50 of last year's Pazz n Jop singles poll, and I was putting the first two on mix discs almost a year ago. But I don't think I saw the videos for any of them on TV until this year, so does that mean I can put them on my 2004 singles list? And while we're at it, does anyone know when Martina McBride's "This One's For the Girls" came out? Because I heard for the first time only a few weeks ago, and I love it.
My favorite thing I've wandered across on the Web lately is this, from Keith Harris. I did the EXACT SAME THING one summer when I was a kid, with "Home Sweet Home" by Motley Crue dominating the charts. I think I lasted about two months before I lost interest, which is apparently longer than Keith could keep it going. A great idea though — I'd steal the notion from Keith and do it again myself if I thought I could find the time and maintain the interest, but I know better. Another reason why I wonder how long this enterprise will last.
Wednesday, March 10, 2004
Hi. I'm Chris Herrington. I'm a writer and editor for the alt-weekly The Memphis Flyer, where I edit the music section and write about music, movies, and basketball (theoretically in that order). I used to freelance quite a bit, mostly for other alt-weeklies, but lately I find I'm too busy. This is something I hope will change.
I'm starting a blog because, apparently, I'm the only one who hasn't, and because I hope it helps me focus my writing and thinking. And because I think it will be fun. We shall see. Alas, I'm such a Luddite that I'm expecting this enterprise to be hindered by all sorts of technical obstacles that I'm entirely ignorant of. Let's find out.
I'm starting a blog because, apparently, I'm the only one who hasn't, and because I hope it helps me focus my writing and thinking. And because I think it will be fun. We shall see. Alas, I'm such a Luddite that I'm expecting this enterprise to be hindered by all sorts of technical obstacles that I'm entirely ignorant of. Let's find out.
