CATCHING YOU UP
Good freaking lord! It’s been a month since the last installment of our officially bi– (weekly, people sheesh...) newsletter – where did the time go? There was a daylight savings time in there somewhere, probably...but we can’t have lost a week all at once, can we? Ah, well – whatever – yesterday is gone – again. We’re just going to have to face it – again. With as many things on the boil as we have now, there’s no point in going back to fix what broke just right to begin with, And anyway, you came here for news – so news you will have. Read on, peon!
LOOKING BACK...AT ALL TOMORROW’S PARTIES
We take back that slanderous shit we said above – there were a few things that actually did happen that were also worth reporting over the last four weeks. And one of those things was the All Tomorrow’s Parties, that annual live festival (and occasional event) that they have over there in merry olde England. We’re proud to say had a couple of our own out Cambersands way this year, courtesy of this year’s curating crew, the inimitable Tortoise. Those guys showed both taste and class by inviting both U.S. Maple (that’s the ‘taste’ part of the equation) and, in the role of honorary festival MC, Neil Hamburger (the class half) to appear alongside of...um, all the other fine entertainers (and otherwise) assembled there.
Yeah, we got a few reports back from the front there, and it would appear that it all went down reasonably well. U.S. Maple, with their astonishing new LP still fresh in their own memories (Acre Thrills, more on which further on), showed up lean and hungry, ready to prove themselves. Which they ultimately did, when they took the stage over the weekend. Unfortunately, they stayed lean and hungry throughout the three-day duration of the fest – it seems that food had not been rationed for the Maple chalet (Brit hospitality at it’s best – a concrete bunker with a few luxury touches – such as chairs and a window–hole!). While this lack of food proved nettlesome at first, U.S. Maple responded in true survivor fashion, by raiding the supplies of whoever happened to be on stage at the moment. Eyewitnesses are still discussing the moment when Todd Rittmann strolled past the Tortoise encampment – with an entire chicken under one arm and a garbage bag of salad slung over his back! It was just another example of U.S. Maple ingenuity, and we dig it.
Neil Hamburger went one better – not only was he fed regularly, he was also paid for his contributions (another oversight of the ATP staff on the U.S Maple front – for shame!). According to Neil, this was an even–greater coup in face of his actual contributions – his post-fest wrapup informed us that due to the requests of several of the more humorless ATP participants that he not introduce their acts, he spent a majority of the time back in his chalet, drinking the complimentary claret and watching British football (it’s called soccer too, people – ring any bells? No?). Cheers for Neil Hamburger and jeers to Yo La Tengo and the rest of those bloodless fucks! They couldn’t take the heat. Although another report we received opined that in former times, a fellow like our Neil would have been burned at the stake for talking the way he did in front of God–fearing Brits! Ah, the old Empire...thank God it’s gone forever.
Anyway, so – it was a great time for our boys, regardless of what some of other stupids there thought. And U.S. Maple have already been invited to the domestic ATP scheduled for later this year out in LA – but only on the condition that they get fed (and paid) this time around. Other DC invitees include Smog, Neil Michael Hagerty, and Papa M. It’s gonna be grand – and we’ll see you there.
WHEN IS AN IMITATION ELECTRIC PIANO
NOT AN IMITATION ELECTRIC PIANO?
We’ll get you the answer to this riddle in just a sec – meanwhile, we’re still trying to catch you up, okay? Also in the month since the last newsletter – we prepared a couple of new titles for release. And their official street date is set for NOW – or April 24, 2001, depending on whether you get around to reading this bit of prose in the present or the future. So listen up: go down to the record store and ask them for the latest mind–blowing Drag City releases. And this time, don’t take any of that Drag City who? shit – they know who we are by now. And they probably even dig it too.
Anyway, so we spent last week vacationing in Mexico – well, some of us did anyway – the rest of us were back at the bunker, shipping these immortal new releases all around the world – and one of the new releases was the beguilingly–titled “Imitation Electric Piano” EP – available, as so many Drag City releases are, in both vinyl and CD editions. Now, this is a record that Duophonic offered to us for domestic release (they are taking care of the rest of the world, as part of their World Domination Charter of some years back) and we could hardly say no to this intriguing idea. When was the last time any of us heard the sounds of an imitation electric piano, much less those sounds on a newly released record? Yeah, we were excited as hell – and then we heard the damn thing. Turns out there’s not a bit of that tinkly piano sound anywhere to be found on the whole record! Boy, was our face red – clearly, our priorities couldn’t have been more out of place. But shame turned to “feeling no pain,” as we heard what we actually had on our hands – it’s the kind of stuff that Stereolab fans dream of at least once a week! And as it transpires, Imitation Electric Piano is the musical vision of one Simon Johns, currently the bassist for – who else? Stereolab! But take it from us – this delightful l’il record has many more tangible merits than just sounding like Stereolab. No, it’s colorful, compelling, tuneful, jazzy, fun, experimental, instrumental and new! Plus it's a grower – we find ourselves liking it more and mroe. And since it’s just an EP, it’s more affordable than one of those long-playing records out there – so go buy it. We feel that once you hear this short-play record, you’ll be wishing it was longer – cost be damned!
DANCING AROUND THE MAPLE
Also new – very new – is the new opus from those grand guys, U.S. Maple. If you don’t own it already, or you somehow haven’t heard, it’s called Acre Thrills and it’s got thrills galore for all your discerning ears out there. It’s one of those wonders of the world, the way U.S Maple continue down their unique path, coming up with fresh takes of garbled, otherworldly rock and roll. For fans of the group, Acre Thrills is another angle, a reenergized assemblage, the sounds of a jangling, effortless paranoia, smoothed suddenly by a creeping calm...or as some fans are putting it, the U.S. Maple love album. Could it be – the long-awaited U.S. Maple vulnerable sessions? Hell, yes. These boys are lovers – and Acre Thrills displays a laundry list of passions that, if unfurled, would stretch over several acres! All delivered on the white-hot edge of a cluster-bomb that will shred even the most fortified listening posts! Top that, peers and contemporaries. Actually, now that we mention it, could U.S. Maple actually be compared to anybody anymore? They’ve got their own niche, they make their own kind of music – face it, they’re the most original band in the country today. And they’ll rock ya, too. Make sure you have a copy of Acre Thrills memorized in time for their forthcoming tour – and if you’ve got any sense of art at all, you’ll make sure it’s a vinyl copy – because, as we’ve said before, the Acre Thrills LP is one of the most impossibly beautiful things we’ve ever seen – in any format!
FUCKING CHAMPS TOUR ALREADY FUCKING UNDERWAY
Yeah, even as we speak, they’re out there on the road, blowing them away at every stop. But If you’re a Fucking Champs fan and you live in the great American southwest, you’re fucking out of luck already, dude! They did L.A, they passed through Tempe or Phoenix or wherever it way, and they may have put Texas behind them already, depending on when you’re feasting your eyes on this. It’s a show you just shouldn’t miss – so end the suspense right now and check those Fucking Champs tour dates out for yourself – on a page conveniently located close to here! The Undisputed Masters Tour awaits you!
ALSO ROAD–BOUND
When not looking for The Fucking Champs, keep your eyes peeled for other tours currently coming to a head – tours involving such household names as Neil Michael Hagerty, U.S. Maple and, get this – a two-fer for the ages: Smog and High Llamas! These guys will be rolling around together on this summer, seeking to entertain. Don’t you miss ‘em.
GALACTIC ZOO DOSSIER
It’s not just a rumor – more and more copies of our latest venture into multimedia awesomeness are flying out of the warehouse each and every day! And this time, it’s ‘cos people are buying into the wonderfully attentive rearview-mirrorisms of Mr. Plastic Crimewave, whose take on the music and culture of our very own Golden Age (we’re still in it, people!) is an infectious one. Before you know it, you too might not be able to live without those rare artifacts from The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band, The Smoke, Kaleidoscope, The Idle Race and all the rest of the fascinating characters profiled in the new issue. And you certainly won’t be able to live without the Damaged Guitar God Trading Cards – spotlighting the contributions of such under–appreciated talents (in some circles, anyway) as T.S. McPhee, Randy California, Roy Wood, Randy Holden, Eddie Hazel, and 49 others! And did we mention the compilation CD? There’s just not enough hours in the day (nor days in the week) to go over all the positives in the new Galactic Zoo Dossier! If you don’t know what we’re talking about, then get thee to your informed local retailer...make this piece of history a part of your own personal his- or her-story today.
WHAT NEXT?
As we mentioned above, we’ve got great new records out now! But what of the future? So many of you faithful have waited patiently all these weeks, hungering for news of more. And so, here you go slated for release in our immediate future (aka this year) are new records from Edith Frost, Cynthia Dall, A Drag City Supersession, King Kong (the demos record), Moikai artists Orton Socket (Rob Mazurek) and Triangles (Triangles), a Blue Chopsticks–sponsored resurrected collaboration between Derek Bailey and Noel Akchote, a book from Alan Licht entitled An Emotional Memoir of Martha Quinn, King Kong (the new record), plus two titles on the Streamline label (Nurse with Wound and Little Annie), and more!
And we’ll be here to tell you about them – on a bi-weekly basis for sure this time, we promise.