From: owner-fegmaniax-digest@smoe.org (fegmaniax-digest) To: fegmaniax-digest@smoe.org Subject: fegmaniax-digest V10 #85 Reply-To: fegmaniax@smoe.org Sender: owner-fegmaniax-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-fegmaniax-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk fegmaniax-digest Thursday, March 22 2001 Volume 10 : Number 085 Today's Subjects: ----------------- RE: 3/19/01 Fletchers --Tapes? ["Poole, R. Edward" ] Merchandise table at the Soft Boy's show [Carole Reichstein ] RE: 3/19/01 Fletchers --Tapes? ["brian nupp" ] RE: 3/19/01 Fletchers --Tapes? ["Bachman, Michael" ] RE: 3/19/01 Fletchers --Tapes? [dmw ] Hollywood ["Jason R. Thornton" ] Re: Soft Boys In Flame! [Ken Ostrander ] Re: Soft Boys In Flame! ["Jason R. Thornton" ] sf show [Eclipse ] Re: I got the hots ["Russ Reynolds" ] Twink and Zevon [grutness@surf4nix.com (James Dignan)] RE: Merchandise table at the Soft Boy's show [Ry ] DC show [mel@scw.org] SETLIST - march-21-01 - DC - 9:30 club [Bayard ] Soft Boys story from Now Weekly (Toronto) ["Sean Palmerston" Subject: RE: 3/19/01 Fletchers --Tapes? Ah, I was thinking of the Sony minidisc video cameras (nice if you have $2000 lying around). There was someone at the show that had a smallish video camera, probably the sony or canon minidisc, near the stage on the right. I thought it was you. I'm happy to trade you a VHS of my video for a CDR, but if you want me to add your audio to my video the mix will take a bit longer. Whatever your preference. Let me know what you want to do, and we can exchange addresses then. - -ed - -----Original Message----- From: Larry Tucker [mailto:ltucker@town.ci.chapel-hill.nc.us] Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2001 2:01 PM To: 'Poole, R. Edward'; 'fegmaniax@smoe.org' Subject: RE: 3/19/01 Fletchers --Tapes? It'll be an audio only burn, I don't have any video. The only way I could get it to you would be on CDR if that helps. - -Larry |-----Original Message----- |From: Poole, R. Edward [mailto:PooleR@dsmo.com] |Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2001 12:34 PM |To: 'Larry Tucker'; 'fegmaniax@smoe.org' |Subject: RE: 3/19/01 Fletchers --Tapes? | | |Are you burning the audio only, or are you making some sort of |video disc? |Hmmm, we could join forces if either of us was feeling particularly |ambitious, and make up a multi-angle video edit. Any chance |you could dub a |Dig8mm version of your MD? Or, perhaps, some other solution that's not |occurring to me? I'd be happy to work on putting something |together (I use |iMovie 2.0 editing, which is usually up to most tasks), though |it would take |me some time. Any other video or audio sources want to |contribute to this |project? | |-ed | |-----Original Message----- |From: Larry Tucker [mailto:ltucker@town.ci.chapel-hill.nc.us] |Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2001 11:30 AM |To: 'Poole, R. Edward'; 'fegmaniax@smoe.org' |Subject: RE: 3/19/01 Fletchers --Tapes? | | |I got a pretty clean recording except for "Kingdom" and |"Kennedy". My MD had |a problem with songs starting with "K". If anyone can help me out on my |MIAs, please let me know. I hope to get my stuff burned to |disc in the next |few days. |-Larry | ||-----Original Message----- ||From: Poole, R. Edward [mailto:PooleR@dsmo.com] ||Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2001 10:51 AM ||To: 'fegmaniax@smoe.org' ||Subject: 3/19/01 Fletchers --Tapes? || || ||I have a pretty good quality Dig8 video of the show, but the ||sound didn't ||come out too clean (I was too close to the PA). If anyone |has a decent ||sound recording, I'd be interested in pooling our resources |-- I may be ||able to match new sound to the video and get a decent result ||(although the ||synch could be nitemarish...) Let me know directly or through ||the list. || ||-ed || ||p.s. see ya'll tonight at the 9:30! || ||=============================================================== ||=============This e-mail message and any attached files are ||confidential and are intended solely for the use of the ||addressee(s) named above. This communication may contain ||material protected by attorney-client, work product, or other ||privileges. If you are not the intended recipient or person ||responsible for delivering this confidential communication to ||the intended recipient, you have received this communication ||in error, and any review, use, dissemination, forwarding, ||printing, copying, or other distribution of this e-mail ||message and any attached files is strictly prohibited. If you ||have received this confidential communication in error, please ||notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail message and ||permanently delete the original message. || ||To reply to our email administrator directly, send an email to ||postmaster@dsmo.com || ||Dickstein Shapiro Morin & Oshinsky LLP ||http://www.legalinnovators.com || | |=============================================================== |=============This e-mail message and any attached files are |confidential and are intended solely for the use of the |addressee(s) named above. This communication may contain |material protected by attorney-client, work product, or other |privileges. If you are not the intended recipient or person |responsible for delivering this confidential communication to |the intended recipient, you have received this communication |in error, and any review, use, dissemination, forwarding, |printing, copying, or other distribution of this e-mail |message and any attached files is strictly prohibited. If you |have received this confidential communication in error, please |notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail message and |permanently delete the original message. | |To reply to our email administrator directly, send an email to |postmaster@dsmo.com | |Dickstein Shapiro Morin & Oshinsky LLP |http://www.legalinnovators.com | | | | | ============================================================================This e-mail message and any attached files are confidential and are intended solely for the use of the addressee(s) named above. This communication may contain material protected by attorney-client, work product, or other privileges. If you are not the intended recipient or person responsible for delivering this confidential communication to the intended recipient, you have received this communication in error, and any review, use, dissemination, forwarding, printing, copying, or other distribution of this e-mail message and any attached files is strictly prohibited. If you have received this confidential communication in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail message and permanently delete the original message. To reply to our email administrator directly, send an email to postmaster@dsmo.com Dickstein Shapiro Morin & Oshinsky LLP http://www.legalinnovators.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 11:27:19 -0800 (PST) From: Carole Reichstein Subject: Merchandise table at the Soft Boy's show I'm enjoying reading all the dispatches from these great SB shows. Someone said there were t-shirts for sale. Was there anything else of note at the merch stand? CD's? Cones? Stickers? Crabs? Carole ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 14:37:17 -0500 From: Larry Tucker Subject: RE: Merchandise table at the Soft Boy's show |-----Original Message----- |From: Carole Reichstein [mailto:carole@technical.powells.com] |Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2001 2:27 PM |To: fegmaniax@smoe.org |Subject: Merchandise table at the Soft Boy's show | | |I'm enjoying reading all the dispatches from these great SB |shows. Someone |said there were t-shirts for sale. Was there anything else of |note at the |merch stand? CD's? Cones? Stickers? Crabs? | |Carole Didn't pay any attention on whether the new UM reissue was on sale but they did have 3 different t-shirts if I recall correctly, and 3 or 4 different 1" pins. That's all I saw. - -Larry ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 15:06:57 -0500 From: "Poole, R. Edward" Subject: RE: 3/19/01 Fletchers --Tapes? You know, I wondered about that myself and I just decided to be obvious about it -- I brought the camera in my leather shoulder bag (no one even looked, I could have had a bottle of Jack Daniels and a knife -- not that I would, but the point is no one even looked). I think that part of the equation was up to the club management. However, I stood 10 feet from the stage, right in front of Matthew Seligman, just to the right of Robyn. Both of them looked right at me several times, and I held the camera up pretty high (I'm already pretty high at 6'5") to get a minimum of peoples' heads in the shots. I mean, I was really obvious -- I figured if they didn't like it, they'd tell me to stop or maybe take my tape. No one cared. Some clubs might have a policy, but really it is the band that matters -- they are the ones who, potentially, are "getting ripped off" by bootleggers (never mind the fact that everyone I know who does this kind of thing does it because they obsessively love the band they are taping, never sell the product, only trade, and don't forgo buying commercial products in favor of bootlegged products, but only ADD to their commercially available collection with the live stuff. I rant. I'm sorry.) I'm cc:ing this response to the list, because I think the old-time regulars (you know who you are) may be able to offer some insight. Hey, the Minnesotans may even be able to tell you what the venue is like (is it First Ave? they are, shall we say, a more "professional" club that lowly Fletcher's. that _does matter_. Metro (Chicago) just won't go for it. I had a friend, way back in the day (1988-90) who was REALLY tight with a lot of touring bands, and none of them minded if he taped their shows (he would ask first). Metro's manager said, essentially, I don't care what [X band] says, you can't do that in my club. One night my friend ignored said advice, I think for a Jane's Addition show, was caught and told never to return to Metro. Silly, right? That's how the club mentality part comes in. SPEAKING of which, anyone know what the 9:30 Club's policy / attitude is towards video? I was thinking of bringing the camera again tonight, but on the other hand I may not want to hassle with it so I can enjoy the show better. Still, I'd be interested if anyone else has had an experience at 9:30. hope this helps. - -ed - -----Original Message----- From: leahyc@tsainc.com [mailto:leahyc@tsainc.com] Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2001 2:54 PM To: Poole, R. Edward Subject: Re: 3/19/01 Fletchers --Tapes? hello. since you were obviously allowed to video tape the show i thought i'd ask whether or not it was a hassle to get your recorder in. is allowing them a decision made by the soft boys or the venue? i have a canon gl1 and would love to get video of the minneapolis show if at all possible. i'm travelling from nebraska however, and don't want to tote the camera if it's not likely that i'll be able to grab some footage. any insight would be helpful. thanks. :) chad "Poole, R. Edward" Sent by: owner-fegmaniax@smoe.org 03/21/01 09:50 AM Please respond to "Poole, R. Edward" To: "'fegmaniax@smoe.org'" cc: Subject: 3/19/01 Fletchers --Tapes? I have a pretty good quality Dig8 video of the show, but the sound didn't come out too clean (I was too close to the PA). If anyone has a decent sound recording, I'd be interested in pooling our resources -- I may be able to match new sound to the video and get a decent result (although the synch could be nitemarish...) Let me know directly or through the list. - -ed p.s. see ya'll tonight at the 9:30! ============================================================================ This e-mail message and any attached files are confidential and are intended solely for the use of the addressee(s) named above. This communication may contain material protected by attorney-client, work product, or other privileges. If you are not the intended recipient or person responsible for delivering this confidential communication to the intended recipient, you have received this communication in error, and any review, use, dissemination, forwarding, printing, copying, or other distribution of this e-mail message and any attached files is strictly prohibited. If you have received this confidential communication in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail message and permanently delete the original message. To reply to our email administrator directly, send an email to postmaster@dsmo.com Dickstein Shapiro Morin & Oshinsky LLP http://www.legalinnovators.com ============================================================================This e-mail message and any attached files are confidential and are intended solely for the use of the addressee(s) named above. This communication may contain material protected by attorney-client, work product, or other privileges. If you are not the intended recipient or person responsible for delivering this confidential communication to the intended recipient, you have received this communication in error, and any review, use, dissemination, forwarding, printing, copying, or other distribution of this e-mail message and any attached files is strictly prohibited. If you have received this confidential communication in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail message and permanently delete the original message. To reply to our email administrator directly, send an email to postmaster@dsmo.com Dickstein Shapiro Morin & Oshinsky LLP http://www.legalinnovators.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 16:13:02 -0500 From: "brian nupp" Subject: RE: 3/19/01 Fletchers --Tapes? >From: "Poole, R. Edward" I had a friend, way back in the day (1988-90) who >was REALLY tight >with a lot >of touring bands, and none of them minded if he taped their shows (he would >ask first). Metro's manager said, essentially, I don't care what [X >band] >says, you can't do that in my club. One night my friend ignored said >advice, I think for a Jane's Addition show, was caught and told never to >return to Metro. Silly, right? That's how the club mentality part comes >in. Good info indeed! I'll well conceal my recording device there! As I would anywhere...by the way does anyone know if they are cool at St. Andrews Hall in Detroit? I'll be careful none the less! Nuppy _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 16:43:25 -0500 From: "Bachman, Michael" Subject: RE: 3/19/01 Fletchers --Tapes? Brian, Don't know about St. Andrews staff. But speaking of Detroit, are we getting together before the show like we did before the November 1999 show in Ferndale? Any suggestions for a downtown Detroit pre-show feg gathering? Michael - -----Original Message----- From: brian nupp [mailto:bnupp@hotmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2001 4:13 PM To: PooleR@dsmo.com; leahyc@tsainc.com Cc: fegmaniax@smoe.org Subject: RE: 3/19/01 Fletchers --Tapes? >From: "Poole, R. Edward" I had a friend, way back in the day (1988-90) who >was REALLY tight >with a lot >of touring bands, and none of them minded if he taped their shows (he would >ask first). Metro's manager said, essentially, I don't care what [X >band] >says, you can't do that in my club. One night my friend ignored said >advice, I think for a Jane's Addition show, was caught and told never to >return to Metro. Silly, right? That's how the club mentality part comes >in. Good info indeed! I'll well conceal my recording device there! As I would anywhere...by the way does anyone know if they are cool at St. Andrews Hall in Detroit? I'll be careful none the less! Nuppy _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 17:21:17 -0500 From: "brian nupp" Subject: RE: 3/19/01 Fletchers --Tapes? >From: "Bachman, Michael" Brian, > > Don't know about St. Andrews staff. But speaking of Detroit, are >we getting together before the show like we did before the November >1999 show in Ferndale? Any suggestions for a downtown Detroit pre-show >feg gathering? > >Michael Meeting with fegs for a pre-show gathering is always something worth while! Others should decide besides me on a meeting place for 2 reasons: 1. I know little of Detroit. and 2. I work till 5 or 6 and might barely make it. Also the longer the pre-show event for me = a much drunker version of Nuppy, and I wanna be coherant enough to record the show and not do anything stupid! Nuppy _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 17:40:37 -0500 (EST) From: dmw Subject: RE: 3/19/01 Fletchers --Tapes? On Wed, 21 Mar 2001, Poole, R. Edward wrote: > SPEAKING of which, anyone know what the 9:30 Club's policy / attitude is > towards video? I was thinking of bringing the camera again tonight, but on > the other hand I may not want to hassle with it so I can enjoy the show > better. Still, I'd be interested if anyone else has had an experience at > 9:30. I have never tried to video tape a show there, but in my experience they are extremely hostile to taping of any sort. - -- d. - - oh no, you've just read mail from doug = dmw@radix.net - get yr pathos - - www.pathetic-caverns.com -- books, flicks, tunes, etc. = reviews - - www.fecklessbeast.com -- angst, guilt, fear, betrayal! = guitar pop ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 14:40:05 -0800 From: "Jason R. Thornton" Subject: Hollywood Hey! Does anyone know what night the Soft Boys show in beautiful LA really is? The Knitting Factory and Robyn Hitchcock websites have it listed as being on April 10th, whereas www.UnderwaterMoonlight.com and Pollstar both have it down as the 9th. By the way, I called the Knitting Factory this morning, before noticing the discrepancy, and ordered myself a ticket. I don't remember mentioning a date. Who else is going to this show? Confused, as always, - --Jason "Only the few know the sweetness of the twisted apples." - Sherwood Anderson ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 18:09:27 -0500 From: Ken Ostrander Subject: Re: Soft Boys In Flame! >On the McCartney tribute thing, yes, they have recorded Let Me Roll It. anyone heard it? >What *is* the deal with Robyn and wimpy, late-period Roxy Music? ...I saw "Over >You" and thought "Oh no...it couldn't be! Not my least favorite Roxy Music >song *ever*! apart from 'goodbye maurice or steve', 'over you' is my favorite of the songs that i hadn't heard. i don't have any roxy between _siren_ and _avalon_; so i can't speak to the virtues of the original. all in all i think that the _and how it got there_ disk is great, although the preponderance of "old pervert" bits may not stand the test of time. it was worth buying this album for the third time for the third disk and the seven-inch. i believe that i found the only copy in boston. oh yes, the poster was there. >Zip Zip sounds kinda cool at 78 RPM. how old is your turntable? the last one i had that played at 78 was a winnie the pooh model. >Oh, and careful listeners will note that Robyn is in fact singing >"Mucky the pig" in the song, not "Lucky," "Chucky," or "Plucky." of course, they don't need the live mp3 to find that out. >Sean Lennon, Oasis, Midnight Oil, Marianne Faithfull, Black Box >Recorder and World Party. oasis was a big disappointment for me, especially since i got there late and missed travis. i'd love to see sean play with cibo matto. marianne and black box don't really do much for me; but the other two would be great. seeing the oils or world party would be fabulous. ken "gimmie the meat" the kenster np the queers ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 16:02:34 -0800 From: "Jason R. Thornton" Subject: Re: Soft Boys In Flame! At 06:09 PM 3/21/01 -0500, Ken Ostrander wrote: >i'd love to see sean play with cibo matto. I've seen Cibo Matto twice, the second time with Sean Lennon on bass. I don't think he necessarily added that much to the performance, although it was nice to hear him on backup vocals. I also literally bumped into him before their set while he was hanging out near the bar watching one of the opening acts. Unintentionally, of course. I have a little bit more appreciation for his debut album than Hal (obviously) or possibly even Eb. And, for some reason, maybe Julian's track record, I was expecting to completely hate it. I didn't even buy it until I heard that his girlfriend Yuka Honda was on it. I just phoned up the Knitting Factory to doublecheck the Soft Boys date, and they informed me that it is indeed on April 10th. - --Jason "Only the few know the sweetness of the twisted apples." - Sherwood Anderson ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 16:39:23 -0800 (PST) From: Eclipse Subject: sf show yesterday i got my tickets for the sf show, and i can't wait! i'll be bringing a friend who's willing to go despite her total ignorance of the Soft Boys (though she does know some RH) - my husband has less than zero interest in going, if that's possible. are any fegs meeting before/at the show? any plans? patiently, Eclipse np: Jeff Buckley, Grace - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Eclipse | eclipse@best.com If this is not what you expected, please alter your expectations. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 20:27:32 -0800 From: "Russ Reynolds" Subject: Re: I got the hots jmbc: > BUT SURELY THE * BURNING* QUESTION IS, WHY HAVEN'T THEY PLAYED 'I GOT THE > HOTS...'? DAMN good question! This has always been my favorite UM track, and now it looks as though they're avoiding it for some reason. I would think they'd skip "You'll Have To Go Sideways" before Hots. It just ain't right. They damn well better do it in SF. I'm reasonably sure Hitchcock played it at one of his solo gigs in SF a few years back, so what's the problem??? - -rUss nd: soy milk ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 22 Mar 2001 17:34:18 +1200 From: grutness@surf4nix.com (James Dignan) Subject: Twink and Zevon K questioned: >Isnt Twink dead? no, but it's looking very pale... Mark opined: >I've noticed a couple of references (by K perhaps?) of late to the >work of Warren Zevon on the list. I've always been a big fan of his, >but I've been listening to his stuff a lot lately. Most people think >of "Excitable Boy" or "Werewolves of London" when they hear his name, >but I think his work in the last ten years is his best. I think he's >one of the best songwriters from this or any other country. > >Some ditties to chew on: >Splendid Isolation >Play it All Night Long >Susie Lightning >Lawyers, Guns and Money >Indifference of Heaven >Detox Mansion >Things To Do In Denver When You're Dead you betcha - his old stuff is pretty excellent too. Add to your ditty list: "They moved the moon", "Networking", "Accidentally like a martyr" and "I'll sleep when I'm dead"! Then again, don't play "Carmelita" and "Desolation Row" back to back... James James Dignan, Dunedin, New Zealand. =-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-= -=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.- .-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=- You talk to me as if from a distance -.-=-.- And I reply with impressions chosen from another time =-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-. (Brian Eno - "By this River") ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 22 Mar 2001 03:07:19 -0500 From: Ry Subject: RE: Merchandise table at the Soft Boy's show We have, Two different Soft Boys T-shirts (M, L, XL): One has a pink crab in an oval on a dark green t-shirt The other is a bright green crab on a navy blue t-shirt We also have a bright blue with orange trim Baby-T with the crab logo on the front Soft Boys Solo Project CDs: Robyn Hitchcock - A Star for Bram Matthew Seligman - Snail Morris Windor - The Gliders Kimberley Rew - Tunnel Into Summer Underwater Moonlight Reissue CD (Occasionally we will carry the vinyl also) 3 different Soft Boys pins Cones will also show up periodically at the Merch Booth (As today some lucky person got one entitled Yoko Cono) I hope everyone is enjoying the shows as much as The Soft Boys are playing them! Your friendly Merch Booth Operator, Ryan At 02:37 PM 3/21/01 -0500, Larry Tucker wrote: >|-----Original Message----- >|From: Carole Reichstein [mailto:carole@technical.powells.com] >|Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2001 2:27 PM >|To: fegmaniax@smoe.org >|Subject: Merchandise table at the Soft Boy's show >| >| >|I'm enjoying reading all the dispatches from these great SB >|shows. Someone >|said there were t-shirts for sale. Was there anything else of >|note at the >|merch stand? CD's? Cones? Stickers? Crabs? >| >|Carole > > >Didn't pay any attention on whether the new UM reissue was on sale but they >did have 3 different t-shirts if I recall correctly, and 3 or 4 different 1" >pins. That's all I saw. >-Larry ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 22 Mar 2001 08:21:44 -0000 From: mel@scw.org Subject: DC show oh my god that was good. just highlights will let someone else do the full report they keep getting better and looked like they were having much fun did the usual + rock and roll toilet YFF did a truly amazing version of Give it to the Soft Boys they looked like they were having much fun got to meet fegs Scott, Dave, Bayard, Eddie, Chris, Woj, Carissa apologies if I've forgotten anyone and got to borrow a raymond hitchcock book :) that's all for now melissa ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 22 Mar 2001 03:33:02 -0500 (EST) From: Bayard Subject: SETLIST - march-21-01 - DC - 9:30 club you'll have to go sideways kingdom of love he's a reptile old pervert my mind is connected to your dreams (formerly noted as gimme a part of rock n roll) underwater moonlight queen of eyes i wanna destroy you evil guy leppo and the jooves sudden town insanely jealous only the stones remain (first encore) human music rock and/or roll toilet the bells of rhymney mr kennedy (second encore) give it to the soft boys (morris with the young fresh fellows) city of shame where are the prawns? __ another fan-fucking-tastic show. i am amazed. many thanks to dave derosa for the great chili, whiskey, and LP record. =b ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 22 Mar 2001 07:22:15 -0500 From: "Sean Palmerston" Subject: Soft Boys story from Now Weekly (Toronto) WHEN WHERE THE SOFT BOYS at the Horseshoe (370 Queen West), Wednesday (March 28). $17.50. 416-870-8000, 416-598-4753.< Soft Boys in style Time finally right for Britpop savants By Tim Perlich like many important cult art- ists, the Soft Boys' influence stretches far beyond what their meagre sales might indicate. Peter Buck will tell you that the Soft Boys were a much bigger inspiration for REM than the Byrds. And if Paul Westerberg had his way, Soft Boys idea man Robyn Hitchcock would've produced the Replacements poorly realized Tim album. The Boys' largely overlooked recordings, like 1980's Underwater Moonlight album (just reissued by Matador in an expanded two-disc set), continue to be musicians' favourites and consistently pop up on critics' all-time-greats lists. The Soft Boys were a witty and creative bunch of over-educated fools who plowed ahead with whatever felt good in spite of popular taste. Underwater Moonlight's timeless tunes are well constructed and passionately performed -- they could just as easily have been cut in 69 or 89 as 79. It sounds cool now, but during the punk era few things were less fashionable than the paisley-print psych pop the Soft Boys were revisiting. "I couldn't relate to much of the stuff going on in the late 70s," admits guitarist Kimberley Rew, who rejoins the Soft Boys on tour to present the songs from Underwater Moonlight. "Coming from the 60s, we all loved the Beatles and Kinks, of course, but we were into the Velvet Underground, too, and, retrospectively, Chuck Berry. "The whole punk thing was something we had to contend with rather than something we belonged to. In hindsight, you can see that what we were doing was really out of step, but at the time I didn't look beyond the fact that I was the guitarist in a good band that was making a record." And it's the construction process that becomes the focus of the fabulous new re-release of Underwater Moonlight. The accompanying disc of previously unheard studio rehearsals offers a revelatory glimpse of crackpot genius Hitchcock dribbling his way through Pythonesque word-association football while guitarist Rew, bassist Matthew Seligman and drummer Morris Windsor fumble around with boisterous blues-rock blather. Wang Dang Pig? Who knew? "Robyn would come up with the melody and lyrics, he'd walk into the studio singing and playing, and we'd join in with the appropriate musical backing. "Some of what he was singing sounded a bit oblique to us, but it was more or less left that way. We didn't demand explanations, because if we did we knew the response we'd get from Robyn would be even more oblique than the songs." That they weren't able to parlay their press attention into a label deal might've been a huge disappointment at the time, but recording the album in the raw with producer Pat Collier proved very advantageous in the long run. Free of gimmicky circa-79 new-wave effects, Underwater Moonlight sounds nowhere near as dated today as most every major-label recording of the period. "It wasn't like we were trying to avoid trendy sounds; the technology just wasn't available to us. We were operating on a 4-track concept, recording everything together instead of each instrument separately. "If we'd had a big label deal, we definitely would've made a more produced album. And I've got the feeling that if we had, we probably would've gotten it wrong." timp@nowtoronto.com NOW | MAR 22 - 28, 2001 | VOL. 20 NO. 29 ------------------------------ End of fegmaniax-digest V10 #85 *******************************