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 V5 #109 Fegmaniax Digest Volume 5 Number 109 Saturday May 24 1997 To post, send mail to fegmaniax@ecto.org To unsubscribe, send mail to majordomo@ecto.org with the words "unsubscribe fegmaniax-digest" in the message body. Send comments, etc. to the listowner at owner-fegmaniax@ecto.org FegMANIAX! Web Page: http://remus.rutgers.edu/~woj/fegmaniax/index.html Archives are available at ftp://www.ecto.org/pub/lists/fegmaniax/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Topics: ------- ------- Re: Chicago show Re: Captain Beefheart connection Chicago/AFTERSHOW REPORT Reeeeelly off the wall question Re: Chicago show Detroit?? Re: Chicago show Re: News from the Chicago Interview Re: Chicago show--go Jay Uhm err... Re: Uhm err... Pop Culture Press RE: Captain Beefheart connection Milwaukee Show Re: Captain Beefheart connection Re: Lyrics: Jewels For Sophia Re: Reeeeelly off the wall question RE: Captain Beefheart connection Re: Reeeeelly off the wall question trying to talk to a gramophone RE: Chicagoans at the House of Blues Shank Hall Milwaukee May 23 Re: Shank Hall Milwaukee May 23 ------------------------------ From: Hedblade@aol.com Date: Fri, 23 May 1997 23:11:10 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: Chicago show << disgusting and offensive. If you are going to go to a Robyn show, > please just report what songs were played and that you had a pleasant > time. There is no need to GLOAT about how "I ate prawns with Robyn" or > other such stuff. Some of the batter about this show from certain > people (aka. Hal, Susan and Jay) is verging of the embarrasing [sp?]. > Frankly, it makes the rest of us feel bad; like were not special. > You're acting without any consideration what-so-ever for our feelings. >> ... Because "The Man" is always poised to hassle! LOL! :) Jay H. ------------------------------ Subject: Re: Captain Beefheart connection Date: Fri, 23 May 1997 20:23:14 -0700 (PDT) From: "Daniel Saunders" > > > 'Trout Mask Replica' has an interesting background. > > > Zappa then got Beefheart to record his > > > vocals without letting him hear the recorded backing track. > > I think this only applies to the track "The Blimp". > Antenna Jimmy Semens recites Beefheart's > new set of lyrics over the phone while Zappa > records it. Zappa later superimposes this over a recording of > the vamp section of FZ's own "Charles Ives". A strange sandwich, indeed! Even the part where he goes "Frank, it's a big hit for Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band! It's the Blimp, Frank! The Blimp!"? This was one of the highlights of the album for me. Daniel Saunders Life is heaven and hell. All else is silence. - Robyn Hitchcock ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 23 May 1997 22:34:14 -0500 From: Hal Brandt Subject: Chicago/AFTERSHOW REPORT Thanks to the efforts of the super friendly Jay Hedblade, here are some observations from the Chicago aftershow on Wednesday: In the room were RH, Tim, Jay, Dave 1&2, Susan, myself and an ex-DJ buddy of Robyn's called Terry. Terry, it seems was the first guy in America to interview Robyn via a phoner back in 1984. Robyn really seems to be loyal to folks that help him out at this level, like Mark Ellen, Mark Radcliffe and Linda Ryan, and he seems very loyal to call letters like WXRT and KCRW. Trying not to be too much of a fanboy/taper geek, I still couldn't help but half interrogate him on points of interest (maybe to only me!) How often does the opporunity arise to chat on a relaxed, informal basis with an artist whose work I love? He even recognized me from saying 'hi' at the soundcheck earlier in the day! So I quizzed away (hoping I wasn't hogging the floor)... I asked about his meeting with the Grateful Dead and about comics, but Jay had already covered that ground earlier in the day unbeknownst to me (see Jay's earlier post). I then asked about the song title "The Feelers Was Everywhere" and Robyn seemed incredulous that I'd even heard it. He said he'd only played it that one time (KCRW 3.18.96, or on Unhatched Crablings II for you tape collectors)! I was asking about the origin of the phrase because it's starting to recur in lyrics (Antwoman's Audrey Hepburn feelers, and also in the new song "Jewels For Sophia") He confirmed that it was thought up while recovering from a New Year's Eve hangover and it's really no more than a bit of free-association that he, Michele, Tim and Jen came up with that made them laugh hysterically at the time. At this point, I was ribbed by the group for being a bit obsessive with my Robyn tape listening (a fair cop!) and was forced to rush to my own defense, stating my case that Robyn is a prolific artist and I'm just interested in what he does/hearing it all. Luckily, Robyn seemed to sense that I wasn't Mark David Chapman-esque, saying "people that hear everything get a whole different picture" and talked about the enjoyment of haunting record collector shops seeking the latest hidden gems. Musical Easter eggs, if you will. Even Tim Keegan confessed to being a Robynholic, asking whether I knew if the German "Alright, Yeah" flexi was still available in the BOB magazine (it is- in the current issue). I felt better, so I continued asking. I asked if he liked to hear tapes of himself and he said he usually listens to radio interviews afterwords because if he plays a new song, it's a good first demo recording to keep. Concerts? Not usually. Why isn't Portland Arms out on CD? He said the Rhino reissues were his chance to rewrite history a little, and Portland Arms is a bit too silly and "collegiate" for his ears now and besides, it's already circulating on tape everywhere if you want it. Once again, a nod to the taper community! He talked about one day letting fans download demos and outtakes on the Internet, even though he remains anti-computer. It would be a subscription thing and a charge-by-song deal if it ever materializes. It's not soon forthcoming though, he was just projecting into the future. He expressed a bit of concern with this concept though, because he thought it might take the fun out of the aforementioned Easter egg hunt for tracks. I asked about the hard-to find Dylan covers promo CD and how it frustrated collectors. He confirmed that it's a music licensing problem and he seemed to vaguely hint that they may make it available through Antwoman in the future after they clean up the remnants of Mrs. Wafflehead. That's enough. Hope you liked these reports. Use 'em any way you want, woj! Thanks to Robyn and Tim for the memorable music and conversation. Thanks also to those who shared it with me. Now...what happened in Detroit? Anyone? hal ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 23 May 1997 20:40:49 -0700 From: Eb Subject: Reeeeelly off the wall question Do any of you kooks remember the EXACT name of the '70s Saturday-morning cartoon show which featured the Partridge Family in outer space? Futilely searching my memory banks, Eb ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 23 May 1997 22:46:32 -0500 (CDT) From: John Littlejohn Subject: Re: Chicago show On Fri, 23 May 1997, Mississippi Malcolm McDowell wrote: > Well, since Jay is too modest to mention it, I guess I will. He got us > backstage to meet The Man. I'm still trying to figure out how to > shower/wash dishes without washing the Robyn essence off my right hand :). You did just shake his hand, right? The other Emails we've received ("Did I ever mention on this list that there are many and various obscene things I wish to do to and with Robyn") are making us wonder. :) JL -* "Si vous m'obstaclerez, je vous liquiderai" - Churchill -* ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 24 May 1997 00:05:26 -0500 From: John Subject: Detroit?? Hal said: >Now...what happened in Detroit? Anyone? Yeah! Do fegs exist in Detroit? Or maybe someone made a road trip?? And what about tapes of Chicago gig? Do they exist? -jbj /-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-//-/-/-/-/-/-/- John B. Jones e-mail:jojones@mailbox.syr.edu web: http://web.syr.edu/~jojones "Driving Aloud" was originally called "Driving to Portland." -Robyn Hitchcock \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 23 May 1997 23:02:57 -0500 (CDT) From: Mississippi Malcolm McDowell Subject: Re: Chicago show On Fri, 23 May 1997, John Littlejohn wrote: > You did just shake his hand, right? The other Emails we've received ("Did > I ever mention on this list that there are many and various obscene > things I wish to do to and with Robyn") are making us wonder. :) Well, there is always the question of mutuality to be dealt with :). I don't think Robyn looked at me that way at all (oh well!). In fact, he seemed to be rather pining for Michelle. So yes, I'm afraid two (very erotic, for me anyway :)) shakes of the hand were about it :). Love on ya, Susan who badly needs to -chill-! ******************************************************************************* "The worship of the beautiful always ends in an orgy"- Benjamin Disraeli, "Lothair", lxxvii ******************************************************************************* ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 24 May 1997 00:16:11 -0500 From: John Subject: Re: News from the Chicago Interview >****** >Q: Did you have a hand in editing Storefront Hitchcock? >A: Yes. He and Michelle "waded" through all of the footage and "vetoed" >things they didn't like and "lobbied" for things they did like. Then >Jonathan had his say. In the end, some songs Robyn wanted in got left out >due to Jonathan looking at songs from a "visual" angle instead of a musical >angle. Robyn didn't seem too offended by this- simply a comment. I didn't >get a straight answer as to whether or not the whole film was "in the can" >yet, but reading between the lines it seemed as if it was or at least >conceptually mapped out to the fullest. > >****** Okay, I will stand up and be counted! This was my question. If anyone else asked it too, I will be happy to share my award with you. One week at my house, one week at yours. I asked another question about You & Oblivion and if it was Maisie on there in between songs and how and why, but I'm happy with Robyn answering my one question and take vicarious pleasure in it. -jbj /-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-//-/-/-/-/-/-/- John B. Jones e-mail:jojones@mailbox.syr.edu web: http://web.syr.edu/~jojones "Driving Aloud" was originally called "Driving to Portland." -Robyn Hitchcock \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 24 May 1997 00:47:25 -0500 (CDT) From: donald andrew snyder Subject: Re: Chicago show--go Jay On Fri, 23 May 1997, Mississippi Malcolm McDowell wrote: > You know, when Jay came up to me before the show and told me all about > that, he was so obviously enthused and delighted and amazed that I was, to > quote the Dave Clark Five, glad all over -for him-. It didn't even > remotely occur to me to resent him. Agreed. I don't even think he has mentioned the wonderful memory of Robyn singing "It's a Hedblade." Now that is something to gloat over. BTW, I was at the show and was in the ethical dilemna of whether to escort a friend home or stick around and wait. I think I did the right thing, but I sure felt like a schmuck when I got the news. Still, vicarious living is alright with me. Just got back from the other side of my tastes--the Wilco/Jayhawks show. If you throw in Guided By Voices and Robyn, it's been one of the best weeks of shows ever. Why doesn't everyone just move to Chicago? Take care, Andy ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 23 May 1997 22:57:12 -0700 From: the rubber shark guy Subject: Uhm err... Okay. So blimey, I dropped some toast on me knickers as giddysusan and gushydiamond were oozing poetic about the phalic tendrils of Robyn, this vision was playing with me gulliver as I pondered the quivering, translucence of their realities and considered the terrifying and weird role relationships of fans and their hero(in[e])s. As terrifying as it may sound, I want to have lots of gooeygushyoozy (NOT uzi!) fans. Unless things suddenly change considerably, I think I'm pretty far into the hetero orientation, not that there's anything wrong with that or any other, and don't get secret tickles when I watch him play, but I really am fascinated with the squidlike movements of his left hand, walking from chord to chord in a choreographic motion that is almost indescribable- even in a run-on sentence. My playing seems panicky and hap-hazard when it's done right, while he seems like he has all the time in the world to add a spontaneous passing chord, a walking bass, while making up new lyrics (or forgetting the old ones) and singing them in the song with his breath-like phrasing (he does kind of struggle with standard linear time where every second is as long as the last, but I'm not diss'n' him). Well, I hope you Chicagoans and L.A. types don't suck all the blood out of him before he gets to SF. I guess he's not coming to Santa Carla after all- too many vampires, I think. (I hope that reference is not to oblique.) I hope to see all of the Bay Area Fegs on the fourth. Was Chevy's a good place to meet? It is tempting to go to the GAMH during the afternoon to catch the soundcheck. Whaddya' think? All the best to y'all. Woj doth continue to rule! -Mark Gloster up past my bedtime Which came first, the rubber chicken or those awful rubber eggs? ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 23 May 1997 23:05:59 -0700 (PDT) From: Wet Toast Tweezers the rubber shark guy Subject: Re: Uhm err... On Fri, 23 May 1997, the rubber shark guy wrote: > I hope to see all of the Bay Area Fegs on the fourth. Was Chevy's a good > place to meet? It is tempting to go to the GAMH during the afternoon to > catch the soundcheck. Whaddya' think? i am up for the cxxasual attempt to see the sound check. also, the mill valley show may be a possibility as well. as for meeting places, all i know is that tom has suggested the new century theater; having never been there i am not sure if the food is all that good. tom?? ------------------------------ From: bootlegs@ix.netcom.com Date: Sat, 24 May 1997 02:05:39 -0700 Subject: Pop Culture Press Would whoever found the URL to Pop Culture Press Magazine be kind enough to post it again? Thanks, Peter ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 24 May 1997 10:33:10 +0100 (BST) From: "Stewart C. Russell" Subject: RE: Captain Beefheart connection On 23-May-97 Mississippi Malcolm McDowell wrote: >> I always thought "109's on". > >Uh oh. This is starting to look like another Mucky controversy! And >need I remind everyone that -I- was correct on that one :). I'm trying not to sound like someone who writes dictionaries for a living(*), but if you look at the context, it's clear that Robyn sings: ... but Soft Boys end up with a Dr. Messerschmidt He just-a 109's 'em ... The Messerschmidt Me109 was a WWII fighter plane. Stewart *: which I do. It's more fun than you might expect. -- Stewart C. Russell, Glasgow, Scotland - scruss@enterprise.net "Hang on... This is the real thing... The truth, my friend, and nothing but the truth" - Mervyn Peake ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 24 May 1997 07:33:22 -0600 From: mbrage@surgery.bsd.uchicago.edu (Michael Brage) Subject: Milwaukee Show Fegs, Robyn played Shank Hall in Milwaukee last night. Such a small club!! Maybe 150 people tops at the show. I'll post a set list as soon as I review the tape, but Robyn did perform "Elizabeth Jade". A superb new song. Michael ------------------------------ From: tanter@econs.umass.edu Date: Sat, 24 May 1997 08:47:40 -0400 Subject: Re: Captain Beefheart connection On Fri, 23 May 1997, Mississippi Malcolm McDowell wrote: > Just in case any of you were interested, Robyn was.....smoking Marlboro Lights :). > That disappoints me. Wish he didn't smoke--didn't his father die of cancer? Marcy ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 24 May 1997 09:09:18 -0400 From: lj lindhurst Subject: Re: Lyrics: Jewels For Sophia God, would I love to hear this song! Thank you for going to the trouble of working out the lyrics, Hal. watching the MTV 500 and I can feel myself getting smarter, lj ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 24 May 1997 15:27:29 +0200 (METDST) From: James Isaacs Subject: Re: Reeeeelly off the wall question On Fri, 23 May 1997, Eb wrote: > Do any of you kooks remember the EXACT name of the '70s Saturday-morning > cartoon show which featured the Partridge Family in outer space? > > Futilely searching my memory banks, > Eb Was it Prtridge Family 2001? I think I can find it, if you are desperate, but really, that is just a frightening question. Are the storms of blood and the Whore of Babylon that far off, I wonder... James ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 24 May 1997 09:36:53 -0400 From: lj lindhurst Subject: RE: Captain Beefheart connection >I'm trying not to sound like someone who writes dictionaries for a >living(*), >*: which I do. It's more fun than you might expect. >Stewart C. Russell, Glasgow, Scotland - scruss@enterprise.net Aha! I have always wondered who wrote my name in there, under "preternatural". Who in the world writes dictionaries for a living? Haven't all of the definitions already been written? What do you do now, update slang? (you know, adding "phat" to the p's, and "d'oh" to the d's) Sorry, I just could not resist. If there was a way to make a big smiley face, bigger than the usual ones, I mean a big one here, I would do it. Your friend, Brian Wilson ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 24 May 1997 09:51:19 -0400 From: lj lindhurst Subject: Re: Reeeeelly off the wall question >On Fri, 23 May 1997, Eb wrote: > >> Do any of you kooks remember the EXACT name of the '70s Saturday-morning >> cartoon show which featured the Partridge Family in outer space? > > >Futilely searching my memory banks, > Eb Was it Prtridge Family 2001? I Wasn't it called "My Life With The Thrill Kill Cult"? ------------------------------ From: tews@vcommons.com (Eddie Tews) Date: Sat, 24 May 1997 01:30:08 -0700 Subject: trying to talk to a gramophone robyn is going to be staying in seattle to work on new recordings?! do we get to have a picnic with him??? really, really bummed out to see that Storefront will not be released until february! i was basically planning on october. this stinks. i guess it's way too late now, but wouldn't it be great if rhino could find a way to put the horns version of Man Who Invented onto UNCORRECTED PERSONALITY TRAITS? is there any way this could still happen. then i could sell my old BLACK SNAKE, the only one i kept after purchasing all the reissues. kind of regret selling decay now, but life goes on. been singing and whistling Take Your Knife Out Of My Back all day long. i know less than zip about computers. but from what i gather (and please correct me if i'm wrong) this so-called streaming technology allows one to play songs over the web without having to wait for the whole damn thing to download. if so, would love to see a Robyn Concert Centre on the intrenet, where people would upload (have i botched any terms yet) tapes of shows, and the masses could point their browsers at the Centre and listen to any concert they wanted to. is this possible? is it legal? the cone museum is a splendid little idea! am definitely going to the mill valley and sacramento shows. nobody wants to go with me, huh? it's ok. i drove around the country for ten weeks and 15,000 miles in the summer of '93 all by my lonesome attending baseball games in various stadia. couldn't have had more fun. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 24 May 97 17:38:12 UT From: "Kenneth Johnson" Subject: RE: Chicagoans at the House of Blues Nope. Nothing but Robyn, a guitar, a couple mikes, and sometimes Tim. Don't forget the plastic banana ~Kenneth ------------------------------ From: babysnakes@webtv.net (Moribund The Burgermeister) Date: Sat, 24 May 1997 14:48:51 -0500 Subject: Shank Hall Milwaukee May 23 Hi all, Thought you might like to know the set list from last nights show in Milwaukee. Tim Keegan opened and was very good. My wife commented it was the best opener she'd ever heard. I'll have to agree with her on that one. Okay now, here's the list. I'm putting a (?) next to the songs I'm not sure of the title. Gene Hackman Balloon Man 1974 Beautiful Girl ----------------- with Tim De Chirico Street Madonna of the Wasps Elizabeth Jade -------------------- I'm Only You (?) I Am Not Me You and Oblivion You're Not There (?) Freeze Only the Stones Remain --------------------- encore: My Wife and My Dead Wife --------------------- with Tim Oceanside Alright Yeah Beautiful Queen ---------------------- encore no.2 The Speed of Things It was an excellent show. Afterwards I talked to Robyn and had him sign my Moss Elixir cd book. Tim signed it too. Robyn mentioned the Chicago crowd was a little noisy at time, but also said our crowd was a bit quiet. We had a great table in the first row in front of Tim. That's all for now. Take care everyone. Moribund The Burgermeister P.S. Also told Robyn to post to this list sometime. Wonder if he will. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 24 May 1997 16:13:47 -0400 From: the woj of noise Subject: Re: Shank Hall Milwaukee May 23 also sprach Moribund The Burgermeister: > Thought you might like to know the set list from last nights show in >Milwaukee. danke! >I'm Only You (?) if this closed an acoustic guitar solo which seemed to always be on the verge of total collapse, that's the title (from _fegmania!_). >You're Not There (?) probably "autumn is your last chance" from _i often dream of trains_. woj ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The End of this Fegmaniax Digest. *sob* .