From: owner-fegmaniax-digest@smoe.org (fegmaniax-digest) To: fegmaniax-digest@smoe.org Subject: fegmaniax-digest V8 #435 Reply-To: fegmaniax@smoe.org Sender: owner-fegmaniax-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-fegmaniax-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk fegmaniax-digest Monday, November 22 1999 Volume 08 : Number 435 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: feg fotos ["Crazy Unca' Nick" ] stop making cheese ["Andrew D. Simchik" ] Re: fegmaniax-digest V8 #433 [Debora K ] Re: Departure Vivid Scene [rebel without a clause ] Re: When reading the news this morning... [rebel without a clause ] got your water wings? [Bayard ] Troubador--mholden666 ["Kim Ranocchia" ] 11/20 [Eb ] Re: Rockin' Robyn in SF ["Crazy Unca' Nick" ] =?iso-8859-1?Q?Pok=E9=2DRobyn=3F?= ["Crazy Unca' Nick" ] Re: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Pok=E9=2DRobyn=3F?= [Ethyl Ketone Subject: Re: feg fotos Carissa wrote: > I got pictures back from Detroit, Chicago and Minne. I think I've mailed them > to everyone in them, with the exception of Dolph and Doc (can't find > addresses). If you have any objections to a photo, speak now or forever have > to look at it on the fegfoto page. Thank you! I would LOVE to have more pictures. If you have funny captions, all the better - it saves my poor underpowered brain from having to think them up. **This applies to all of you who have a few Fegfotos in your collections - not just Carissa! You can send me copies (I'll return 'em if you need 'em) - just ask me for a snailmail address off-list. Alternatively, you can do the old scan and email thing. The higher rez the better - PhotoCD format included (Hint! Susan. :) ) By the way, it's a great idea to get everyone's OK, but rest assured I would *never* put a picture up on the FegFotos page against someone's wishes. So don't worry if you can't track everyone down to get their approval. Send 'em to me anyway - I'll use my discretion, of course - but if someone objects -- it's gone! (Of course, objecting to *someone else's* picture doesn't count! Also, remember this thing is supposed to be a record of Feg-events, not a beauty pageant...) Talking of beauty pageants, I want to thank Eddie for graciously allowing me to borrow his precious stash of photos from his trip (- don't worry Eddie. They'll be in the mail back to you ASAP). I can't wait to hear the story behind some of these. I'm now thinking I may be be able to gather enough material for a sort of "Eddie Travelogue". Robyn's '99 tour as seen through the eyes of our very own Eddie T - -- pictures of the Feg gatherings around the tour, exerts from posted show reports, descriptions of interesting events that happened on the way... What do you think? I may need some help... Your keeper of the FegFotos ~N - -- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Some performers on television appear to be horrible people, but when you finally get to know them in person, they turn out to be even worse" - - H. Allen Smith Find people who are not at all horrible: http://www.njaz.com/fegfotos ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 21 Nov 1999 06:40:05 -0800 (PST) From: "Andrew D. Simchik" Subject: stop making cheese > From: "Russ Reynolds" > members). At least three encores, one of which included a wonderful > improvised spoken word/jazz type piece featuring all the musicians and > incorporating at least two new songs (would make a great live album > side). Funny you should say that. The more I keep hearing about these shows, the more I wish Jonathan Demme had decided to do his little Stop Making Sense II thing with a show on this tour. Of course, he wouldn't then be capturing the "typical" RH live experience, but these descriptions make Storefront Hitchcock sound like a hotel bar performance. > From: Eb > WIRE'S ESSENTIAL COLLECTION DUE IN JANUARY Cool! Drew ===== Andrew D. Simchik, schnopia@yahoo.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Bid and sell for free at http://auctions.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 19 Nov 1999 23:41:33 -0800 From: Debora K Subject: Re: fegmaniax-digest V8 #433 Re: Veggies, Some might say I wouldn't be a likely candidate to subscribe to the meat-free diet, but even as a football watching, beer swillin', heavy metal drummin', raised in the Midwest type of *meathead*, I have a good excuse. I worked in a slaughterhouse for 7 months. I won't get into any of the grisly details but my assigned station was called "The Blood Pit". Apologies to those I may have offended, once again Vincent ___________________________________________________________________ Get the Internet just the way you want it. Free software, free e-mail, and free Internet access for a month! Try Juno Web: http://dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagj. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 21 Nov 1999 11:04:53 -0500 From: rebel without a clause Subject: Re: Departure Vivid Scene when we last left our heroes, Tom Clark exclaimed: >I tried explaining to the fegs in Seattle how I thought Departure Lounge >sounded like a more "organic" version of Ultra Vivid Scene, but I just >got a bunch of glazed-over stares in return. i was kinda skeptical when i first read this, but after digging out the album and giving it a listen (one cool thing about feg is that i'm continually reminded of albums i haven't listened to in years -- i'm usually too lazy to go to the shelf, so i generally listen to the new stuff piled on the desk and nearby floor), i can see what you mean. much more organic, though, and the distance between uvs and the lounge is more than the distance between uvs and kurt ralske's desire to be lou reed. >"Joy: 1967-1990" is one of my all time favorite discs. you know, i don't think i have that one....hmmm... saw ultra vivid scene at maxwell's on a ridiculously hot summer evening in 1991. all i remember is sweating like a pig, even though i was standing up on one of the risers in the back near an open window. the heat delerium enhanced the experience, but i couldn't tell you what, exactly, that experience was like... (strange, my stomach just made a noise exactly like the howling wolves in laurie anderson's "big science") woj ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 21 Nov 1999 11:11:09 -0500 From: rebel without a clause Subject: Re: When reading the news this morning... when we last left our heroes, Thomas, Ferris exclaimed: >Came across this headline: > >Reich To Endorse Bradley > >I was disappointed to find that it was Reich like "r-EYE-sh" like the former >labor secretary.....Then again it would seem that the other Reich would be >more likely to throw their support behind Buchannan. It's still not nearly >as exciting. It is, however, almost as good a headline as SIR VIVIAN FUCHS >OFF TO THE SOUTH POLE. ...but not as good as "BRITISH LEFT WAFFLES ON FALKLANDS". +w ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 21 Nov 1999 11:20:13 -0500 (EST) From: Bayard Subject: Re: Rockin' Robyn in SF > My apologies if hundreds of people have already posted about this since the last > digest, but I've seen nothing yet so I feel moved to speak up. I don't think anyone else has. Thanks for posting! > Island and I'm kinda "hmm" about Eye (the fave of many), but you see, I first > knew Robyn as a Soft Boy, and to my mind it is always in the context of a band > that he shines brightest. Hopefully after this tour, one or two more people > might agree with me. But Unca Nick, I thought you saw him before the soft boys? when he was solo and with a motley crew of irregulars, at the portland arms and such. > > About two thirds of the way through the show, Robyn started to have guitar > trouble. I'm not sure whether part of it was amp related, as he claimed, but > certainly a large factor was the little dangley cord which hang from the mic > which clipped to the soundhole of his acoustic (a big old Guild this time, for > the gear-heads among you). Unfortunately, Robyn kept stepping on this cord and > disconnecting the mic. He was somehow unable to figure out that he was doing > this, despite Jeme's frantic gesticulations from the front row. he very nearly did this in baltimore, and even caused a crunching sound once, but the connection held. it was a bit nerve-wracking watching his boot come ever-closer to the tiny wire... > > onion and athletes coming up through plugholes... the most fun part was Robyn > directing the (obviously perplexed) band to provide sound effects. Robyn: "And > as the dog went up the stairs it sounded like THIS!" Kimberley>... {chris calls from the other room to ask what bayard is laugging hysterically about} > Jeme and I, however, both our SO's rated poor Kimbo as "unattractive" and "in > need of a new hairstyle". i think he looks fine. > the old E-bow-in-mouth-during-solo trick was again in evidence. standard operating procedure for him on that song, i think. > If the show itself weren't brilliant enough, the Feg turnout was INCREDIBLE! > [...] Physically present that makes at least TWENTY-FIVE! this is certainly a tour of records! two hours playing time in portland - 25+ fegs in SF... however many shows seem by eddie... > another, however - I'll see when I get my film developed. Whatever I have - and > whatever you share with me - will be up on the Fegfotos site as soon as I can > get to it. Wonderful! I would also like to say that the "eddie travelogue with pictures " idea is great and i'll help in any way i can (more importantly, i think eddie will) and the world waits with bated breath: did eb make it to the troubadour? =b+ ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 21 Nov 1999 14:28:13 -0500 (EST) From: Bayard Subject: got your water wings? Did I read that New Zealand has fallen prey to torrential rains and flooding? James, you OK? ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 21 Nov 1999 12:23:44 -0800 From: "Kim Ranocchia" Subject: Troubador--mholden666 Just a quick note about the 11/20 show, before I run out for a visit to = Disneyland... An outstanding evening from start to finish. Kototh, his wife, and = I spotted Chris F. and a friend while we were having dinner at a cafe = near the Troubador--turns out it was none other than Eddie T. himself. = After dinner, we got in line at the club and met amoung others, Jason = T., Jeme, Viv, Dave P., Aaron & Darcy, and the just-in-time Eb...maybe = others--I was still a bit ragged from the middle of the night drive from = Phoenix after getting an hour of sleep (worked late on Friday), so = details like names are a bit of a blur. Anyway, to say the least, it was = worth every bit of effort--friendly people, cones, my first chance to = FINALLY see Kimberley in action, and the band just sounded GREAT!! I'm = sure that a set list or two will appear on this edition of the digest, = so I'm not going to strain my brain too much--I'm in vacation mode and = being a lazy flake is about the only thing on the agenda. To sum it all = up,"WOW!!!!" I'm really looking forward to the end of tour "party" at = the Mint on Monday--looks like I'll catch more than one "Armada" show = after all! Way too cool. Later, Marc np--Adrian Belew--The GuitarAs Orchestra ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 21 Nov 1999 19:58:34 -0800 From: Eb Subject: 11/20 Well, let's see. What to say, what not to say.... The Olivia Tremor Control: not nearly as good as the second time I saw them, earlier this year. The band was tight, but the mix never sounded right. Way too much bass, and not enough guitar. The vocal harmonies weren't as impressive, either -- I have a feeling that the players couldn't hear themselves well enough in the monitors. It just didn't gel, somehow. And the band only played 35 minutes. A bit disappointing. However, they went over big with the crowd, which is somewhat surprising given how little Stereolab and OTC have in common, beyond a certain heady college-rock/prog crossover appeal. Stereolab: absolutely amazing. A serious bliss-out for me. Maybe the best show I've seen this year, except for Tom Waits. The highlight was "Metronomic Underground," off Emperor Tomato Ketchup. Remember, that's the one with the octave bassline which sounds *so* much like Can? This piece just *levitated* in concert...wow. It must've lasted at least 10 minutes, and I was really in the zone. When it ended, I actually felt a *physical* rush up my spine, as if several sizeable drags of pot had just hit my system. Whew. Sheer euphoria. Stereolab just excites me so goddamn much. Here they are, arguably *the* most prolific band of the decade (ten albums in eight years, including a double-CD?), and I don't think they've even peaked yet. I wouldn't be surprised if their best album still lies ahead of them. They haven't compromised an *inch* over the years, beyond perhaps singing more in English (and no one listens to Stereolab for lyrics, anyway), and yet they only get more and more popular. It's all on their own terms. The Palace was *packed* -- there were even a few dozen people standing on the stairways in the back of the main room, and I have *never* seen this allowed before (fire marshal regulations, you know). It's really thrilling to see such experimental, ambitious music embraced so heartily by such a wide demographic of fans (many of whom I'm sure aren't even schooled enough to realize just how sophisticated the music is). Despite the complexity of the material, Stereolab didn't lose any of their intensity, discipline or musicianship onstage. I really marveled at how comfortable they were with all those peculiar rhythms and time signatures. It just seems natural with them -- rarely a showoff move. I was particularly impressed with the drummer -- it must be extremely difficult, playing behind Stereolab. Unlike prog-rock, where the weird time signatures are usually determined by the boundaries of repeated melodic riffs, it's all *pulse* with Stereolab. Thorny time signatures, with every beat stressed equally. I would think maintaining the momentum would be really demanding, especially since the even-keel nature of the music forbids most attempts at fills or breaks. The drummer has to be right in the pocket, constantly. He can't ever step out to flash his chops. This requires tremendous focus. I also always get off on Tim Gane, quietly grooving on his guitar in the back with eyes closed and head unconsciously swaying -- he's really the heart and soul of the group. He's totally *inside* the music, in his own little world. Fascinating. One last bonus: During the final encore, an otherwise semi-monotonous one-chord jam, most of the members of Olivia Tremor Control suddenly started dragging instruments onstage. I never would've predicted this, though now that I think about it, I once saw Stereolab and Mouse on Mars do something similar. In any case, onward the Stereocontrol rambled, with two drummers, an extra clarinet and guitars, etc. Ha! Not the most substantial music in the world, but it was neat to see such a rare meeting of the minds. Embarrassing moment of the night: I was standing only about 10 feet from the stage, buried in the hardcore mob. At one point, I tried to stretch, scratch my back, boogie or *something*, and I felt my left elbow smack into someone behind me. I turned around to apologize, and oops...no person. Huh? I looked down, and aha, *there* she was, some homely little waif who probably wasn't even 5 foot tall. It turns out that I had elbowed her in the *face*...yikes! She seemed remarkably cheery about the experience (and thankfully, unhurt), and even seemed apologetic for getting in my way. Yeesh. If a waitress had been making the rounds through the crowd, I would've bought the girl a drink or something. Further parenthetical note: Natalie's two tinfoil Thoths were onstage on a righthand monitor speaker, the whole night! They did go belly-up partway through Stereolab's set, however, because Laetitia was using the same space to stash her water bottle and knocked them over. Pretty impressive that the Thoths are actually *traveling* with OTC, however...good show, Gnat. Anyway, I was pretty exhilirated/drained after this transcendent set, but as soon as it was over, I dashed out the door, ran up the hill to my car and sped across town to the Troubadour. I was making great time (Fountain saves the day again), but then I hit a big snag on Santa Monica Boulevard because the heart of the busy "gay block" was crippled by road construction and two sets of broken traffic lights. Ouch. *Not* good, on a Saturday night in Hollywood. Thus I turned off, drove north to Sunset and wound around the back, then parked in my usual little no-fee oasis up Doheny (I use the same place to park for the Troubadour, Roxy *and* Whisky). This meant I had to jog a quarter-mile down Doheny to get back to Santa Monica Boulevard, but that's OK with me. Some young girls got the better of me, however. While I was trotting down the street, some snotty teenage girl in a car yelled out "RUN, Forrest...RUN!" at me. Heh heh. OK, she definitely scored a point on me there. :) I got to the Troubadour a few minutes before 11 pm and picked up my ticket, which Jeme et al had left at the window (thanks much!). I arrived inside, literally with just three minutes to spare before Hitchcock's set. This surprised me -- during the drive, I figured that I would be a half-hour late. Maybe Viv's breast-hypnotism ploy *did* successfully incapacitate Robyn until my arrival. I quickly met the gang (I just looked for Chris Franz' formidable presence, and assumed the others would be nestled around him), and then the music started. Admittedly, almost anything would be a letdown after Stereolab. Nevertheless, it was. It was a good show, but it wasn't the almighty revitalization of Robyn which other Fegreviews led me to believe. Yes, it was neat to see Robyn with a real lead guitarist again, and Rew's jittery stage presence was fun, but I don't think he warrants all these extended "Muppet" raves and the like. It just wasn't that notable -- OK, so he makes faces and shakes his body. Fine. But I was expecting a lot more from his playing, based on Fegreviews and the Soft Boys' legacy. There were only two or three times when he really "cut loose." The rest of the band was "capable" -- I can't say much more. The Keegan/Rew vocal harmonies were nice, but based on Keegan's milquetoast stage presence with Hitchcock, I'm not too sorry that I missed the Departure Lounge's opening set. Songs: RH simply didn't play a lot of songs which I really like. And he played a few (most notably, "Alright Yeah" and "Cheese Alarm") which I really *don't* like. I think the highlights for me were "Sleeping With Your Devil Mask" and "Oceanside" (where Rew *did* cut loose). I was hoping for some of that old Soft Boys jaggedness, but instead, the only Soft Boys tune he played (I think) was "Queen of Eyes," which is in that same easy jingle-jangle mode as so many of his later songs. I was hoping for less jingle-jangle, with Rew onboard. No such luck. I was also disappointed they didn't play "Kingdom of Love," as reported elsewhere -- that would've been great. I also thought Hitchcock really missed a trick in presenting "Jewels for Sophia." The handclaps are *such* a strong hook in the recorded version, but this was completely pissed away onstage. Not only did RH and the drummer skip trying to get the crowd to clap (which would've been a great audience-participation move), but even the drummer himself woefully underrepresented the element. Instead of substituting some sort of heavy drum thwack, he merely *clapped* himself. And unmiked, no less! He might as well have done nothing at all. So, I found that song's performance really frustrating. Particularly, because that's one of the few tracks on the new album which truly grabs me. Anyway, it was just the usual Hitchcock otherwise, I guess. He didn't overstress the surreal-ramble thing (good), but I did really grimace during an extended riff about a chessboard and chesspieces which went absolutely nowhere. He did seem genuinely interested in Rew's playing, though -- I frequently saw him look over during Rew's solos, carefully listening to the licks and watching Rew's hands. You don't always see that sort of onstage chemistry and communication with Hitchcock. After the show, there was a bit of a gathering at an IHoP, but it didn't work out very well. I think the best part was a peculiar encounter with some garrulous boxer, who waltzed into the restaurant, stuck his finger in my face and crowed "Have YOU ever met a movie star?" I said, um...well yes, actually. He proudly bellowed, "Well, now you've met another!" Needless to say, he didn't look familar to any of us. After the ever-shy Eddie demanded to know the guy's acting resume, he revealed that he was a former boxer, who once fought for the Medium-Rare Lightweight crown or some such. He was still in good shape, but this seemed like another case of a pathetic has-been who spends his life musing about his brief day in the sun, like Al Bundy with his four touchdowns. Anyway, it was one of those "only in Hollywood" moments.... Eb "Did I write all that?" the Ebster 17) Beck/Odelay ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 21 Nov 1999 21:59:03 -0800 From: "Crazy Unca' Nick" Subject: Re: Rockin' Robyn in SF Bayard wrote: > > My apologies if hundreds of people have already posted about this ... > I don't think anyone else has. Thanks for posting! Just got the digest and saw that Russ beat me to it! Nevertheless, you're welcome. > > ... but you see, I first knew Robyn as a Soft Boy ... > But Unca Nick, I thought you saw him before the soft boys? when he was > solo and with a motley crew of irregulars, at the portland arms and such. Gosh darn it Bayard! There's no pulling the wool over *your* eyes is there? You're right, of course. I was employing a little artistic license there, but even in his folk-club days Robyn was fronting various bands and playing electric and loud. The Soft Boys were absolutely the culmination of that period - and certainly the thing which left the biggest impression with me. > > ... however, both our SO's rated poor Kimbo as "unattractive" and > > "in need of a new hairstyle". > > i think he looks fine. Quite. I just thought it interesting that among these particular two men and two women at least, it was the *men* thought he looked fine and the women who thought he needed a makeover. No idea what that says about *us*... > Wonderful! I would also like to say that the "eddie travelogue with > pictures " idea is great and i'll help in any way i can (more importantly, > i think eddie will) Cool =b! Your assignment is in the mail. ;) ~N - -- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Some performers on television appear to be horrible people, but when you finally get to know them in person, they turn out to be even worse" - - H. Allen Smith Find people who are not at all horrible: http://www.njaz.com/fegfotos ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 21 Nov 1999 22:51:01 -0800 From: "Crazy Unca' Nick" Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Pok=E9=2DRobyn=3F?= Unless you share at least part of your life with some of the more junior members of our species, this will seem even more like the meaningless drivel it undoubtedly is. The latest Japanese merchandising juggernaut is upon us, filling the head of every kid in the land with unbelievable amounts of trivia related to "Pokémon" - hundreds of little imaginary critters who populate video games, comic books, cartoon shows ...and of course, toy stores. Some vaguely resemble animals or insects we know, some inanimate objects, others are just plain weird. I was asking my six-year-old to explain one of them to me the other day. "What exactly is a Togepi?", I asked. "Oh", she says, "It's a walking egg with arms and legs". - Spooky. So, is Robyn really tuned in to the junior set, or are the Japanese toy manufacturers simply huge Robyn fans? Maybe that Robyn action figure is not such a crazy idea after all. Heck, think of all the accessories they could sell... ~N - -- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Some performers on television appear to be horrible people, but when you finally get to know them in person, they turn out to be even worse" - - H. Allen Smith Find people who are not at all horrible: http://www.njaz.com/fegfotos ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Nov 1999 06:57:42 -0500 From: Ethyl Ketone Subject: Re: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Pok=E9=2DRobyn=3F?= At 10:51 PM -0800 11/21/99, Crazy Unca' Nick wrote: >So, is Robyn really tuned in to the junior set, or are the Japanese toy >manufacturers simply huge Robyn fans? Maybe that Robyn action figure is >not such >a crazy idea after all. Heck, think of all the accessories they could sell... Accessories? Think of the wardrobe!!! I would put Barbie to shame... Be Seeing You. "Questions are a burden for others. Answers are a prison for oneself." **************************************************************************** M.E.Ketone/C.Galbraith meketone@ix.netcom.com ------------------------------ End of fegmaniax-digest V8 #435 *******************************