Archive for March, 2008
Friday, March 7th, 2008
There was a request for the set list for the Black Crowes show in New Jersey last Sunday. This was the first time most of these songs were ever played live, which was great to be a part of. There was a real energy in the crowd to hear something new, which is something i hadnt experienced before. Most bands test out a few new tunes live they dont force feed you the unknown for over an hour but thats why the Crowes are great.
Goodbye Daughters Of The Revolution
Walk Believer Walk
Oh, Josephine
Evergreen
Wee Who See The Deep
Locust Street
Movin’ On Down The Line
Wounded Bird
God’s Got It
There’s Gold In Them Hills
Whoa Mule
- break -
Poor Elijah - Tribute To Johnson (Medley) Jealous Again
Wiser Time
Rockin’ Chair
- encore -
Hey Grandma
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Monday, March 3rd, 2008
I got my first rejection letter today. I had never before submitted anything for publication and then one day at work having nothing better to do with myself, I started submitting this “thing” i had been working on for a little while. I think I may have sent it to a dozen or so online and print publications, maybe more. I honestly dont remember now. Anyway, i got my first rejection notice today by email almost two months after i initially sent my submission. Two months is pretty good right? Dont these places usually take six months or more to respond?
I want to have mixed feeling about this but i dont. Frankly i dont care all that much. Maybe its because i dont care about the piece, but i know thats not true because i do care very much. I think its because, and i dont want this to sound like a pep talk or some kind of inspirational monologue, Im not going to let Eclectica Magazine tell me that i stink. The following publications can tell me that I stink: McSweenys, The Paris Review and The New Yorker. Paul Auster can also tell me that i stink. Thomas Pynchon can also tell me that i stink but i dont think he would. that guys crazy. I get a rejection letter from any of these three publications i might say to myself, “Tom you need to make some changes in how you go about the business of ‘writing,’” but until i receive such a notice, letter or declaration from one of the above i will continue to create in the only way i know how, which is almost terrible but not quite so awful that i cant see someone else besides myself enjoying my style.
So, like i said, Eclectica Magazine said no way to “Pointed to Horses.” No big deal.
Keep on chooglin’.
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Monday, March 3rd, 2008
This was a weird week for the Villains. First our drummer extraordinaire Bob Rock was sick and couldnt make our show in Bridgeport at Two Boots on Wednesday so I, the bass player, had to play drums. A couple things about Two Boots: the pizza isnt great and the roller girls give off a kind of military occupation vibe, i dont know why, thats just the vibe i got . However the decor is cool and they have a nice stage and sound system so it all blends together to equal a place i have no real feelings for. Anyway, we played with an instrumental surf rock band called the Clams and they were pretty good. they had their own go-go dancers which was a little awkward but neat i guess. Then it was our turn, let me preface by saying that i had never played any of the songs we played that night on drums so my main goal was just to try and remember what Bobby did and copy that as best I could. Much to mine and John Paul’s surprise, the show wasnt a disaster. We got forty bucks and didnt embarrass ourselves which for me means i had a pretty good Wednesday.
That brings us to Friday. We got Bob back to play a show at Cafe 9 with the Black Hollies and Les Sans Culottes, a pretty good bill. It snowed I drank a lot of Pabst, i drove home and picked up some McDonalds which i ate furiously and then instantly regretted. The next day i talked to a few friends of mine who were in attendance and they all said that it was the Villains best show. and i said , “what?” They re-iterated their claim that our snowy Friday show at Cafe 9 opening for two great bands was our best show ever. The Villains have been together for almost 3 years i dont think we ever anticipated having a “Best Show Ever.” I think we always shoot for somewhere between pretty good and not a train wreck. Apparently though on Friday we edged into a place i dont think any member of our band is comfortable being. the place where people expect you to play a good show, the place where someone that isnt your buddy might come out to see you play hoping to hear something great. I believe Friday was a turning point for the Villains, for better or worse. Maybe it was the paisley shirt John Paul let me borrow or maybe it was his rather excellent guitar solos. Maybe it was Bob’s steady but perfect drumming or it could be that was just didnt mess up at all and that the room sounded great. Who knows. Whatever it was the Villains are no longer the little band that could. we are now the little band that wants to take over the world one Psychedelic Lounge Rock fan at a time.
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Monday, March 3rd, 2008
Went and saw the Black Crowes last night at the Starland Ballroom in New Jersey and i recommend to anybody that loves getting musically murdered to check them out before one of America’s last great working bands disappears off of the face of the earth. i dont anticipate this happening soon but it will one day and you will regret it forever if you dont see them now. They are playing their new album “Warpaint” in its entirety and it is an amazing collection of music. I didnt think we needed an updated version of Mississippi Queen but as it turns out we did and it is just a towering rock song. Ive been going to Crowes shows now since 2001 and the one thing that is different and better than it was back then is that they have slowed everything down to this dirty southern boogie with a groove like an undertow that you can slip into and get carried, drowning you in an ocean of guitars and grease. Another interesting things is that they no longer seem interested in playing very much of their back catalog which is fine with me. Last night they capped of a second set of Poor Elijah, Jealous Again and Wiser Time with Rich singing just the perfect rendition of Rocking Chair and that got me thinking: There is no one in music now doing what the Black Crowes are doing and if you point to a band that is doing something similar stylistically they arent doing it as well and they certainly arent doing it with the heart, soul and authenticity that the Crowes are doing it with. They truly are a national treasure and i continue to be confused and amazed that people a) havent heard of them or b) just dont like them. This makes no sense to me. what are you listening to? The record comes out tomorrow so ill review it in depth then but just be warned, last nights preview was so good, it may be in the form of a super gushing sappy mushy love note. I make no apologies.
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