From: owner-fegmaniax-digest@ecto.org To: fegmaniax-digest@ecto.org Reply-To: fegmaniax@ecto.org Errors-To: owner-fegmaniax-digest@ecto.org Subject: Feg Digest V4 #194 Fegmaniax Digest Volume 4 Number 194 Send posts to fegmaniax@ecto.org Send subscribe/unsubscribe commands to majordomo@ecto.org Send comments, etc. to the listowner at owner-fegmaniax@ecto.org FegMANIAX! Web Page: http://remus.rutgers.edu/~woj/fegmaniax/ Archives are available at http://archive.uwp.edu/pub/music/lists/fegmaniax/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Topics: ------- ------- Goldmine again... Heliotrope Re: Neil Innes (and brief RH mention) breaking out Getting them in the door, or, it only works once Re: breaking out Boston show!!!!! Open Gearheads Anonymous Re: Goldmine again... Re: Open Gearheads Anonymous Re: Boston show!!!!! Re: Open Gearheads Anonymous October 16th Iron Horse. Re: Open Gearheads Anonymous Re: Open Gearheads Anonymous Re: Open Gearheads Anonymous CRD: Heliotrope (I got it!) Re: Robyn in Michigan? i love starting rumors!! It's raining, it's pouring, all of this is boring.... gigs gigs gigs Re: i love starting rumors!! ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 29 Sep 1996 23:02:47 -0700 (PDT) From: Flushing Sure Beats Brushing Subject: Goldmine again... i have just read the thing in full, and have some facinating [sp?] observations that really can't be left unsaid. (1) i find it in particular bad taste to use the same cookie-cutter introductions when writing about artists, e.g. it always takes the stone roses five years to make a record and a million other artist profiles and articles you could write before even reading. this is no different with robyn here, i.e. he's quite normal, but on the other he's a freak intro. at least the whole article does not dwell on this style. (2) overall, the article screams for an editor and tighter grip on explaining the cronology of events. i wish i could hand in papers like this, *woohoo*, degree here i come! also, you could not pick out the (missing) discography from the text. (3) the details of the a&m contract thing could have been more descriptive, or maybe i just want to know an excessive amount of detail about it. (4) the part talking about andy and morris in the post-perspex period shows how great of a band the three of them were. also, the 'talk' of a possible live egyptians album from that period is a fine idea, that. In fact, robyn should set me about on this task near immediately. the portland show of the respect tour was a brilliant example of the egyptians live, i think. i hope that a show, and whole show not just pieced together bits from all over, like that gets released. and, not put out on some poor quality rip-off bootleg scheme. (5) what is there of the discography, is not even complete. sheesh, or as bayard said "dingbats". on the matter of the greatest hits cd... overall, i think the sound quality is better with it being remastered. is this just me or is it true. as everyone noted liner noted are diety-awful. but, by far the greatest sin committed is the splitting of the introduction to OLPOE form the version recorded at mccabes. EVIL. EVIL. EVIL. before i heard it i was feeling a bit down on have bought so much vinyl only a year before this was released, but now i am quite glad i have the stuff. the cd makes all but one or two pices of vinyl still quite valuable, thankfully. over, .chris ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 10:22:01 +0100 (BST) From: M R Godwin Subject: Heliotrope On Sat, 28 Sep 1996, Truman Peyote wrote: > Those of us who still use tabs :) would be mighty appreciative if > any of these made it to the list. Especially "Heliotrope", which I am just > NOT getting at all. I read somewhere that the guitar is tuned to open D, which normally means (bottom to top) DADF#AD. Does that help at all? - Mike Godwin PS On the 'Free Beer' topic, I once did a gig under the name 'Last Orders', and was considering changing the name to "Full Supporting Programme"... ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 10:35:12 +0100 (BST) From: M R Godwin Subject: Re: Neil Innes (and brief RH mention) Thanks to all who responded to my appeal for Neil Innes info. Mojo readers will by now have seen the Ron Nasty interview in this month's issue. I always felt that, if there was a weakness in the original Rutles show, it was that so much effort had gone into the parody (even down to the grainy film for the rooftop concert) that the spontaneity of the humour got rather sat on. 'Archaeology' is going to have to be exceptionally funny to justify reviving the Rutles! RH content: incidentally, on another page of Mojo, there is a group photo from VH-1's "25th Anniversary of the Old Grey Whistle Test" featuring Andy Kershaw, Whispering Bob Harris et al, and also including Robyn Hitchcock (check suit, suspicious looking) and Billy Bragg. - Mike Godwin ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 08:40:31 -0400 From: Alex Tanter Subject: breaking out You know, I hope Robyn doesn't find huge commercial success. It seems that when people are huge successes, it changes their music and/or ruins their careers. I like the intimacy of listening to an album and knowing that I'm supporting a fave singer and that the other people listening to the same album appreciate the person and haven't just bought the album because it's trendy. Look what happened to the Housemartins, for example. They were a great group and when they became a major big deal, they no longer "had anything to say." (that's a quote). Fans start to demand more music, more shows and the pressure becomes too much. As much as I like Robyn, I'd rather see him every couple of years when he's ready than have him tour constantly and put out mediocre music just to satisfy the record company and the fans. Hell, look at what's happened to Prince!! :-) Marcy Tanter ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 09:24:32 -0500 From: shmac@ix.netcom.com (Scott Hunter McCleary) Subject: Getting them in the door, or, it only works once In a previous episode of the Fegmaniax Digest, it was written: > I always wanted to form a band called Naked Co-Eds and somehow share a bill > with Free Beer. Now, what do you think the response would be to a marquee > that announces: "Free Beer and Naked Co-Eds, Tonight Only!"? That's exactly why in my college days three other protogeekoids and I named our Devo-meets-the-Stranglers band "Great Hanging Knockers." Unfortunately, the first place we landed a gig changed it to "Knickers" on the marquee (I am NOT, as the man says, making this up). We couldn't stop laughing on stage; 45 minutes later, we announced we were changing our name to "Spanking Machine," and the rest is -- or isn't -- history. Robyn content: I spent the last week at a meeting in Texas in a hotel where they played that sappy pop/country stuff in all the public areas. Imagine my surprise as I set up an exhibit to hear SYTYIL playing over the PA. I started singing along (rather loudly, I'm afraid), only to find several minutes later that a crowd had gathered at the other end of the room and was eyeing me suspiciously. Anyone purchased tix for the 10/13 9:30 appearance yet? ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 11:40:06 -0500 (CDT) From: sdodge@inforel.com (Truman Peyote) Subject: Re: breaking out Marcy Tanter wrote: >You know, I hope Robyn doesn't find huge commercial success. It seems that >when people are huge successes, it changes their music and/or ruins their >careers. I like the intimacy of listening to an album and knowing that I'm >supporting a fave singer and that the other people listening to the same album >appreciate the person and haven't just bought the album because it's trendy. On the other hand....... Imagine this- Screaming pre-teen cuties fainting in the lobby of Robyn's hotel, security guards frantically trying to keep the crowds, hungry to get a glimpse of or a brush with godhead, away from our poor beleagured hero ("I just wanted to touch the lizard shirt! PLEASE!!!!"), not to mention Robyn Hitchcock guitar strings, Robyn Hitchcock tea, a line of Robyn action figurines, Heliotrope flavored koolaid, fuzzy animal lobsters, Robyn's own chain of ladies' hair salons, hearing "Triolbyte" in the supermarket instead of Lionel Ritchie, and the coup de grace, a promotional tie-in with the Bubba Gump Shrimp company that would net him millions and make "Where Are the Prawns" part of the national consciousness..........("JULIE ANDREWS!!!!!!" :)) I think that would be kinda cool. >Look what happened to the Housemartins, for example. They were a great group >and when they became a major big deal, they no longer "had anything to say." I'm not really a fan of the Housemartins, but of course you're basically right. You can only stretch your talent so far before it altogether snaps, and the system as it it stands does tend to encourage this rather than not. Of course now the Housemartins couldn't sell a record even in their native Hull, probably- which to me is the real irony. Demand Demand Demand Push and then a year or two (and probably a coke habit, though not in the righteous Martins' case, of course :)) later you are no longer "hot" and have to start considering cover bands as a career option. Many people simply are not strong enough to handle this sudden drop, and if they are psychologically frail to begin with, this can have tragic results. Witness an event that really frustrated, angered and hurt many Chicagoans, namely the suicide of Material Issue's talented frontman Jim Ellison. In retrospect, the title of their first album, "International Pop Overthrow", which seemed to me mildly clever at the time of the album's release, strikes me as being morbidly ironic. >(that's a quote). Fans start to demand more music, more shows and the pressure >becomes too much. As much as I like Robyn, I'd rather see him every couple of >years when he's ready than have him tour constantly and put out mediocre music >just to satisfy the record company and the fans. Hell, look at what's happened >to Prince!! :-) Prince did that to himself, I greatly fear. He doesn't strike me as being, ahem, a particularly sensitive plant, in any event- certainly not a Cobain or even a Jim Ellison. Sometimes it actually isn't the biz's fault when an artist puts out mediocre material, sometimes it's their own, and the gilded one is rather famous for his self-indulgence :). As for touring frequency, I think actually that Robyn tours rather a lot, maybe more than he ought to, but touring does seem to serve a valuable role for him as far as refining his songwriting- it's not just climbing on stage and running through the motions for Mr. H. The only person of his stature that I can think of who tours more frequently would be Johnathan Richman (who appears to genuinely enjoy touring and also, if I am not mistaken, to make his primary living off that as opposed to record sales). Yep. You can all sleep now that you know my opinions on these matters :). I think I should just quit apologizing for being long-winded and just have it understood that I apologize for that on every post, ok? :) Susan P.S. Thanks to Mike Godwin for "Heliotrope" help, it is greatly appreciated. P.P.S. To whom it may concern- je me manque de toi! :) J'espere de te parler aujourd'hui ou peut-etre demain. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 13:08:14 -0400 From: Alex Tanter Subject: Boston show!!!!! >Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 13:04:01 -0500 >From: JOHN INNAMORATO >Subject: Re: Orpheum Comments >To: Marcy Tanter > >comment: > Hi. This is a question not a comment. When are tickets for Robyn >Hitchcock, Nov. 16, on sale? Thanks! > . >BILLY BRAGG >With Special guest Robyn Hitchcock >November 16, 1996 @ 7:30pm >All Tickets $20.00, All Ages >Tickets on sale this Saturday, October 5, @ 10am > >-------- REPLY, End of original message -------- > > >-- >John Innamorato >ji@nextticket.com >http://www.boston.com/next >ji@tparty.com >http://www.tparty.com/tpc > ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 10:13:47 -0700 From: Nick Winkworth CC: RxBroome@aol.com Subject: Open Gearheads Anonymous The startling musical revelation recently exposed by the regally inspired Rex , has got me thinking... 1) I read somewhere that RH often uses open tunings (once an old folkie..). Has anyone kept track of which tunings he prefers and which songs benefit from them? (I imagine that it must be hard to TAB something in standard tuning that was played in an open one!) 2) Chorus pedals and Fender Twins... I read somewhere that he recently switched from Tele to Strat on the electric side - does anyone know what acoustic(s) he uses? Other gear? I'd be very surprised if he was into the technology -- seems out of character. But you never can tell. Sorry to introduce such a banal topic to the conversation. I promise my treatise on Robyn's lyrical imagery and the influence of 19th century surrealist philosophers will be finished soon. -Nick ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 12:49:41 -0500 From: "Turbogeek, Baby" Subject: Re: Goldmine again... At 11:02 PM 9/29/96 -0700, Chris wrote: >(4) the part talking about andy and morris in the post-perspex period >shows how great of a band the three of them were. also, the 'talk' of >a possible live egyptians album from that period is a fine idea, that. >In fact, robyn should set me about on this task near immediately. the >portland show of the respect tour was a brilliant example of the >egyptians live, i think. i hope that a show, and whole show not just >pieced together bits from all over, like that gets released. and, not >put out on some poor quality rip-off bootleg scheme. We'd all be partial to the '92 shows we saw, I suppose, but the Nashville one, if recorded, would be a fine choice. Of course we now have live versions of the spendid arrangements of "Heaven" and "Egyptian Cream" as _Fegmania!_ bonus tracks, but the Nashville "Heaven" featured a spirited argument between Robyn and Andy over the nature of evolution during Robyn's prairie dog/ cathedral introduction. Robyn contended that evolution could happen all at once, from one minute to the next, and Andy took the more traditional gradualist approach... Later, Miles ===================================================================== My Album of the Year, 1991-95 1991: Nirvana, Nevermind 1992: JudyBats, Down in the Shacks Where the Satellite Dishes Grow 1993: Midnight Oil, Earth & Sun & Moon 1994: JudyBats, Full-Empty 1995: Julian Cope, 20 Mothers Miles Goosens goosenmk@ctrvax.vanderbilt.edu ===================================================================== ------------------------------ From: Terrence M Marks Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 13:52:56 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: Open Gearheads Anonymous > The startling musical revelation recently exposed by the regally > inspired Rex , has got me thinking... > > 1) I read somewhere that RH often uses open tunings (once an old > folkie..). Has anyone kept track of which tunings he prefers and which > songs benefit from them? > > (I imagine that it must be hard to TAB something in standard tuning that > was played in an open one!) I read it, but I doubt it. Why? It's not nice, having to retune w/ every song. Only song remember him detuning for is Heliotrope. I doubt that he switches guitars... Terry ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 14:11:23 -0500 From: kenster@MIT.EDU (Ken Ostrander) Subject: Re: Boston show!!!!! >Subject: Orpheum Comments > >comment: > Hi. This is a question not a comment. When are tickets for Robyn >Hitchcock, Nov. 16, on sale? Thanks! > . >BILLY BRAGG >With Special guest Robyn Hitchcock >November 16, 1996 @ 7:30pm >All Tickets $20.00, All Ages >Tickets on sale this Saturday, October 5, @ 10am the orpheum STILL has "no information" on this show. i call every day, so the woman knows my voice. when i told her about the info above, she laughed and said "that's good to know." i would think that they would know more than a week ahead of time when things are going on sale, but then again who knows where the misinformation comes from? perhaps someone got snubbed or the 'proper channels' were not followed? hmm...maybe someone out there knows where the lapse has occured? ken ------------------------------ From: Chance The Gardener Subject: Re: Open Gearheads Anonymous Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 11:25:01 -0700 At 10:13 30.09.96 -0700, Nick Winkworth wrote: >1) I read somewhere that RH often uses open tunings (once an old >folkie..). Has anyone kept track of which tunings he prefers and which >songs benefit from them? > I know that he has used a 'Drop D' (DADGBE) several times, as well as a 'Double D' (DADGBD) tuning. I don't have my albums around, but I will send references soon. >2) Chorus pedals and Fender Twins... I read somewhere that he recently >switched from Tele to Strat on the electric side - does anyone know what >acoustic(s) he uses? Other gear? I have seen him play a Martin acoustic onstage and in video clips. In San Francisco in 1992, he played an electric 12-string by some company of which I had never heard. It seems to me the name was a German or Dutch name beginning with an 'H' (not Hofner). At his in-store apperance at a record store on Haight Street the next day, I remember him playing a Yamaha acoustic 6-string and a 12-string acoustic that might have been an Epiphone. Sorry if my memory is foggy. Glen 'Gitarzan' Uber ______________________________________________________ "In ten years, humans will fall into two groups: the computer users and the computer abused." --Pedro Bell ______________________________________________________ Glen E. Uber glen@metro.net http://metro.net/glen/ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 14:24:03 -0400 (EDT) From: Eugene Subject: October 16th Iron Horse. It really is true! Robyn is coming to the Iron Horse, which is a very pleasant club. I got tickets today. You can too get tickets by calling 1-413-586-8686. I am so pleased. I wasn't going to be able to go to Boston on the 16th of November, and thought I'd miss his new tour, now, instead of seeing him in a large Theater (or worse, not seeing him) I'm going to see him in an intamate club. Anyone else going to this show? -Eugene ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tipper Gore said to Lou Reed, "Lou Reed, how can we communicate better with our children?" Lou Reed responded, "We would probably have to sit down and talk about it over a bottle of scotch, and maybe, some crack." It's back! My lovely Humor Home page: http://hamp.hampshire.edu/~ebmF92 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ From: Ross Overbury Date: Mon, 30 Sep 96 15:13:45 EDT Subject: Re: Open Gearheads Anonymous Terry, are you sure you saw RH tune to open D? Or was it dropped D? If you can tell me for sure, before I have a go at transcribing Heliotrope this week, it would help out a lot. If I find I'm tearing the webbing between my fingers, I'll try alternate tunings anyway, I guess. But authenticity is always, well, authentic! -- Ross Overbury Montreal, Quebec, Canada email: rosso@cn.ca ------------------------------ From: Terrence M Marks Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 17:01:14 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: Open Gearheads Anonymous Dunno. I know that he retuned for Heliotrope on the In-Store session. He also retuned for one version of Wide Open Star. WIll chekc what he retuned to. I think he tuned Heliotrope to Open C (EGDgce) (ok...not quite Open, but I think that's what he tuned to. Terry "The Human Mellotron" Marks normal@grove.ufl.edu On Mon, 30 Sep 1996, Ross Overbury wrote: > Terry, are you sure you saw RH tune to open D? Or was it dropped D? > If you can tell me for sure, before I have a go at transcribing > Heliotrope this week, it would help out a lot. > > If I find I'm tearing the webbing between my fingers, I'll try > alternate tunings anyway, I guess. But authenticity is always, well, > authentic! > > -- > Ross Overbury > Montreal, Quebec, Canada > email: rosso@cn.ca > ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 14:40:01 -0700 From: Nick Winkworth CC: Vyrna Knowl Subject: Re: Open Gearheads Anonymous Yes, Terry -- I did indeed have you in mind with my comment; "I imagine that it must be hard to TAB something in standard tuning that was played in an open one"! Terrence M Marks riposted: > > I read it, but I doubt it. Why? It's not nice, having to retune w/ > every song. Only song remember him detuning for is Heliotrope. I > doubt that he switches guitars... Actually, if you have a good ear, it is not so hard to do. Of course you don't do it for every song, but the occasional thing in "drop D" (the tuning Rex described) is pretty easy (I think even I could manage that!). In the folk clubs where I first saw Robyn perform (mid '70's) people used to do this *all* the time. (some of them probably *did* use a different tuning for every song!!). It was considered pretty normal. I suspect this environment may have had some effect on our man. One interesting aspect of all this was that people used to cover their re-tuning by telling stories/jokes etc. between songs. It became the expected thing. I'm sure this is where Robyn's between-song stage banter started. Even if he didn't actually have to retune his guitar he would have followed the format and perhaps, having no jokes to tell, he filled in in his own inimitable style... Just speculating. -Nick ------------------------------ From: Terrence M Marks Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 18:26:55 -0400 (EDT) Subject: CRD: Heliotrope (I got it!) I'd like to say a few things. 1) It's kinda easier to play in standard tuning. 2) The Em7 and Fmaj7 are both definitely the chords in the song. The F, I'm less sure about. But, it's *mostly* right Terry "The Human Mellotron" Marks normal@grove.ufl.edu @HELIOTROPE Std tuning E:-----0-----------1---------0------------- B:----3-3---------1-1-------1-1------------ G:---0---0-------2---2-----2---2----------- D:--0-----0-----3-----3---3-----3---------- A:-----------------------3----------------- E:-3----------1---------------------------- Em7 F Fmaj7 Riff: I play (the bass is right. The rest is just there) G:-----(0)--------------------------------- D:--(0)----(0)---(0)----------------------- A:-2------0-------------------------------- E:--------------3----1--3------------------ (to Em7) Em7 F Heliotrope, my love, her face towards the heavens Em7 Fmaj7 her petals all along her dial Em7 a shadow follows her, it looks like a seven Fmaj7 F Time as loaded as a gun Em7 Fmaj7 she worships the sun Em7 Riff she worships the sun I lie beneath her crown my eyes are unseeing my name is gone from all the files the tombs are shimmering deep into her being it could be lethal but it's fine she worships the sun she worships the sun she worships the sun She's full of happy grins no shadow within her your paranoia makes her smike and when the cat's head grins it's ready for dinner you know you're gonna be the one she worships the sun she worships the sun she worships the sun she worships the sun she worships the sun I said now, she worships the sun ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 17:06:06 -0400 (EDT) From: Eve Subject: Re: Robyn in Michigan? Hey Fegs, Just a quck question...would any Michigan, or US Midwestern fans contact me re: when Robyn may possibly be in the Michigan/Illinois area? Thanks! Eve ------------------------------ From: "jeffery j vaska" Subject: i love starting rumors!! Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 16:54:26 -0700 hi gang! when robyn came to seattle in 94' he played a top secret show at the crocodile cafe the following evening (viva seatac!). it was billed as something like "the jelly sandwich experiment" or something - you know what i mean. anyways, this year (oh crap, my speaker just blew out!) there is a show at the croc with john doe (isn't he of xtc fame?) and minus 5. i have been told that minus 5 is a side project with mr. buck and mr. mccaughey (however it is spelled). i am hopeful that robyn will make an appearance. anybody have some inside dirt? oh yeah, robyn has no scheduled shows for this evening (nov. 7). ta-ra!...jv ____________________________________________________________ ethnic/world music director, kzuu 90.7 fm @ washington state university u.s. correspondent, brasil 2000 103.7 fm - sao paolo, brasil vaska, jeffery | jvaska@mail.wsu.edu ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 21:23:44 -0400 From: Alex Tanter Subject: It's raining, it's pouring, all of this is boring.... The Iron Horse show in Noho Mass has been changed. Well, actually the date is being changed. To what? Who knows. Tickets are temporarily unavailable and those who bought tickets will be notified of the new day. Is someone playing games with us? Marcy Tanter ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 22:24:37 -0400 From: sister ernestine Subject: gigs gigs gigs also sprach kenster@MIT.EDU (Ken Ostrander): > the orpheum STILL has "no information" on this show. i call every >day, so the woman knows my voice. when i told her about the info above, >she laughed and said "that's good to know." i would think that they would >know more than a week ahead of time when things are going on sale, but then >again who knows where the misinformation comes from? the guy who sent marcy the information is affiliated with the orpheum's web site, so one wuold think that he might know. however, they do not list the bragg/hitchcock show on their schedule yet. hmmm. i sure hope that iron horse show is rescheduled to a weekend. i decided to skip it when i realized it was on a wednesday (it's a four hour drive and -- though i've done it in the past -- it's not fun). the iron horse is a great venue for folks like robyn (i haven't seen him there, but i have seen jane siberry and tori amos, amongst others, there). and they have a decent menu too (though i wish they would wait until everyone was done eating before starting the show). anybody want to buy me a ticket for the 9:30 show? if anyone needs tickets for the maxwell's gigs, please e-mail me by tuesday afternoon. i'm making a ticket-run to hoboken tuesday evening. woj ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 22:28:37 -0400 From: sister ernestine Subject: Re: i love starting rumors!! also sprach "jeffery j vaska" : >anyways, this year (oh crap, my speaker just blew out!) there is a show at >the croc with john doe (isn't he of xtc fame?) and minus 5. i have been nope, of x fame. >told that minus 5 is a side project with mr. buck and mr. mccaughey correct. they released a pretty decent record earlier this year? late last year? i forget when. >(however it is spelled). i am hopeful that robyn will make an appearance. >anybody have some inside dirt? none yet, but it seems like a reasonable prediction. >oh yeah, robyn has no scheduled shows for this evening (nov. 7). and he's in seattle the night before (and in san francisco the night after). woj ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The End of this Fegmaniax Digest. *sob* .