From: owner-jinglejangle-digest@smoe.org (jinglejangle-digest) To: jinglejangle-digest@smoe.org Subject: jinglejangle-digest V6 #49 Reply-To: jinglejangle@smoe.org Sender: owner-jinglejangle-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-jinglejangle-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk jinglejangle-digest Wednesday, September 3 2003 Volume 06 : Number 049 Today's Subjects: ----------------- [MLL] MLL Busking Seattle [Nadja Dee ] [MLL] Mary Lou in Seattle Pt. 2 [Hanson Ho ] Re: [MLL] Mary Lou Article! ["Journey Bear" ] [MLL] MLL at CMJ, October 25 [Rachel Kramer Bussel Subject: [MLL] MLL Busking Seattle I had the extreme pleasure of spending pretty much the entire Bumbershoot Labor Day weekend much in the company of Mary Lou. She is exuberant, strong and beautiful...as you all already know. But after everything she's been through, I think of her only something this side of a Phoenix who has risen from the ashes. But all this Phoenix stuff aside, the power of myth...Mary Lou Lord just keeps amazing me. She played 3 days at Seattles Bumbershoot Festival 2003 on this new stage they called the Busker Stage. I think she thought it was pretty silly to be called the busker stage, as to have an actual "stage" at a scheduled time really isn't the true spirit of "busking" so much as it is simply just a concert. But, since it was the smallest of the smaller stages at the festival, with no canopy to shade her not from the Seattle Town rain, but the blazing hot Seattle sun in her eyes, it did have the feeling of being less rehearsed and more improvised. Its amazing how this "backyard" environment seems to give people the carte-blanche to yell out things they wouldnt dare yell at the REM/WILCO concert. (But I digress) What was amazing was that MLL not only played 3 days of 45 minute sets, she then took to the street outside the festival walls and played every night from anywhere like 7pm to 1am on average! Again, like in many years past, it never ceases to amaze me that she continues to recognize approach me first, before I even begin to spot her out in the crowd. That in itself speaks volumes for Mary Lou. The woman just gives and gives it seems. Now, most of you have already read accounts of her great story telling, and in-between song banter. She was in great form again this weekend. She seems to get better and better. She told this hilarious story about how she watched the Jerry Lewis telethon (By the way, Is he still doing those?!) and one of the guests was Charo...you know the "coo-chi coo-chi" woman? Well, apparently MLL was amazed that she was an exceptional guitarist! Who knew? We all thought she was only known for the shake and coo-chi hip movement. It created a funny moment. Back to the busking part. On day one, I asked her if she still gets nervous, before playing before a new audience? (You know after all these years?). She told me, "Oh yes are you kidding?" Again, its so refreshing to know someone who is so frigging honest like that? And more than that, its reassuring, it helps me know that it's all alright. I mean, Im human too and if someone who I respect and admire like Mary Lou still gets the butterflies, then hell...its going to be alright. (More on how this relates in a minute...Im building a story here people!) So, day 1, she played the usual suspects in the set list, some old (Lamest Flame, 13, Vincent Black Lighting...you know the list) and a few new...from the soon to be released (Either Jan or Feb...more likely Feb 2004 according to MLL), full length album of new songs "Baby Blue," or something like that title. Her new songs (if I can remember the names of some of them) are "Ron" "Stars Burn" and another song, about the country music scene (Which MLL prefaces, "I know absolutely nothing about") called a Long Way From Tupelo. The new songs are AMAZING. Catchy and witty both...great lyrics. One of her favorite lyrics (which please Lord forgive me if I butcher this one up....and I mean both Lord and LORD, you apply the meaning) is something about how a pompodour swept across your brow might hide the Mississippi sun but your a long way from Tupelo now..." and since it is 3 in the morning, and Im going on little to no sleep, I can that that oh crap I totally butchered that one...sorry. Anyway, you will just have to buy the new album when it comes out to see how great a lyric it really is. (corrections welcome please!) So, she continued busking into the night...and on Sunday drove down to Olypia, WA (1 hour away) and played yet a 2nd set, before taking to the street under the big BUMBERSHOOT FESTIVAL sign facing spiders and warming the crowd with her infectious music. As usual, she took many many requests. She dedicated a few songs to Pink, a few to Ron and guys like Ron, to all the buskers and future buskers in the world... Now, on a more personal note, I had been talking a big story that MLL was one of my main inspirations. Which is true actually. Yet, I was too chicken shit to ever play anything for anyone. So on night two, when she asked if anyone wanted to pick up her guitar and play, would just say so...I sat there as quiet as a churchmouse with a mouth full of cheese. One day 3, she asked me, "Nadja why didnt you say anything?" She figured that it must have been because I got too nervous to play in front of a crowd. (She was right) So with a little prodding, I told her that on night #4 that I would brave the microphone. So, home I ran, and played and practiced till my fingers were about blistered. So about 9:30pm, I found MLL in the same little spot outside Seattle center, with a crowd of about 25 people. (Some devout fans some new). I brought her a hot coffee and she said, OK, Im going to play a few more and then youre going to play...OK? (Gulp) I just nodded. A few songs and a few fulfilled requests later, she called for me. She even gave me an intro. I borred her guitar (new to me...its not a Martin or that Guitar Center borrow she toured with a few months ago...but a K...something brand). Placing a capo on the 4th fret, I began to play. Thank goodness, that MLL has as small hands as I do...because her guitar was a dream to play. Shes so funny, anytime someone plays a song, she is like a faithful roadie and will tweak the Crate Limo setup for optimal sound quality. I just love her. So, she watched and really supported me. I played a song I wrote called "Not funny at all" about how jokes and being funny is actually a mask that is easy to hide behind. Amazingly, I got a nice applause at the end, and even a few donations thrown into the basket! Holy cow. I tried to see if the audience wanted me OFF STAGE...someone grab the hook or hit the dang gong...but nope. In fact, even one girl said that I played well. So, with encouragement, I went into a second song, a cover of the Clash, "Stay Free" in honor of Mary Lous cover of Straight To Hell. (sort of). I apologize for going on so long, but I gotta tell you that if it were not for Mary Lou, I never would had picked up that guitar in the first place...AND...I wouldnt have had the most amazing night of my life tonight. I feel like I owe her so much. Simply for making it REAL and keeping it on a level that makes me believe that its attainable. That I too can make beautiful music. Mary Lou has given me that, she has helped me to grab that brass ring...and she has shown me over and over again, thats its not just for those SUPERSTARS who get to make music, and have the perfect life..but to make your own life beautiful and just get out there and create. I will end this story now, and hope that you all, if you got this far in the story, were able to feel a bit of the love and magic that she has given me...that she has given us. Love, Nadja Tanaka Seattle, WA September 2nd, 2003 Nadja Dee http://www.weirdedout.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 02 Sep 2003 12:20:38 -0700 From: Hanson Ho Subject: [MLL] Mary Lou in Seattle Pt. 2 Like Nadja, I too was in Seattle this weekend enjoying Mary Lou's busking. Since she beat me to the punch and describe Mary Lou's weekend at Bumbershoot, I'll just post the setlists that I've transcribed. This was the first time I've seen her play in 6 years of listening to her, so I was beyond excited. Hehe.. and oh, what a baptism -- 3 days, 5 sets, and about 90 songs, many of them I've never heard. It was absolutely wicked :-) Anyway, here they are: Day 1 Bumbershoot Set (Seattle, 8/30/2003) - -Western Union Desperate - -My Own Worst Enemy - -Aim Low - -Some Jingle Jangle Morning - -Hard Road - -Ron (new song) - -He'd Be a Diamond - -His ND World - -I'm Farming It Out to You (new song) - -Vincent Black Lightning 1952 Day 1 Busking [8:00pm - 12:00am] (Seattle, 8/30/2003) - -This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody) [ Talking Heads cover ] - -Sayonara - -Straight to Hell (Clash cover, of course) - -Camden Town Rain - -You're A Long Way From Tupelo Now (new song) - -I'm Farming It Out to You (new song) - -Blimps Go 90 (Guided By Voices cover) - -Not Half Right - -Racing in the Streets (Bruce Springsteen cover) - -Beeswing - -My Own Worst Enemy - -Romeo & Juliet (Dire Straits cover) - -Down Along the Lea - -His Lamest Flame - -Lights Are Changing - -Love at First Feel (AC/DC cover) - -Thirteen - -Ron (new song) - -On the Avenue (Jimmy Bruno cover) - -His Indie World - -New Thing Now (Shawn Colvin cover) - -She's Still Bewitching Me (Green Pajamas cover) - -She Turns Me On (Green Pajamas cover) - -Hey Antoinette (Lois cover) - -She Had You - -I Don't Wanna Get Over You - -Sunspot Stopwatch - -Eternal Circle (Bob Dylan cover) - -Looking For A Love (Neil Young cover) ** - -Turning of the Tide (Richard Thompson cover) - -Some Jingle Jangle Morning - -Used Cars (Bruce Springsteen cover) - -The Bridge - -You're A Long Way From Tupelo Now (new song) - -I'm Farming It Out to You (new song) - -I'm Talking to You - -Hey, Man (a cover?) - -Hard Road - -Ron (new song) - -Sayonara - -Stars Burn Out (new song) - -New Song ("look me" repeats) - -You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go - -Straight to Hell (Clash cover) - -See How We Are (X cover) - -Thunder Road Day 2 Bumbershoot Set [Seattle, 8/31/2003] - -Western Union Desperate - -I'm Talking to You - -Hard Road - -Ron (new song) - -Stars Burn Out (new song) - -My Own Worst Enemy - -You're A Long Way From Tupelo Now (new song) - -I'm Farming It Out to You (new song) - -His ND World - -Some Jingle Jangle Morning Day 3 Bumbershoot Set [Seattle, 9/01/2003] - -Western Union Desperate - -Stars Burn Out (new song) - -Camden Town Rain - -His ND World - -I'm Farming It Out to You (new song) - -Some Jingle Jangle Morning - -Ron (new song) - -He'd Be a Diamond - -My Own Worst Enemy - -Hard Road Day 3 Busking (partial... 9:15-ish to 10:15ish)[Seattle, 9/01/2003] - -Ron (new song) - -From Galway to Graceland (Richard Thompson cover) - -My Own Worst Enemy - -Helskini - -His ND World - -Looking For A Love (Neil Young cover) ** - -Powderfinger (Neil Young cover)** - -Stars Burn Out (new song) - -Hard Road - -Racing in the Streets (Bruce Springsteen cover) - -Quebec, Ontario, and Me ** These two songs aren't on Carsten's covers version list (Powderfinger and Looking For A Love). So yeah, I might post more about this later. It was just so, so cool to finally see her play! I was on a high all weekend :-) Hanson - -- "Oi with the poodles already!" Synapse to Synapse 2.0: http://www.sfu.ca/~hwho/ My Indie World: http://myindieworld.blogspot.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 02 Sep 2003 15:27:32 -0400 From: "Journey Bear" Subject: Re: [MLL] Mary Lou Article! There's a precedent for this, in Maura Kennedy (of The Kennedys - http://www.kennedysmusic.com). She too has an affinity for vintage clothing, mostly 60s and 70s. She had a booth on the midway at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in 2001 (I think) selling her clothes, even though she and Pete weren't even booked to play. They still wanted to be in the thick of things, and not miss a year at this great event. Naturally, with all their friends there who were playing, they managed to find their way on stage from time to time. But she sure had a lot of fun with the booth, and made a fair profit too. Kate McDonnell appeared at the showcase wearing something she'd bought from Maura, and excitedly exclaimed, "Maura Kennedy dressed me!" So good luck and have fun with this new venture! Journey Bear >An ear for music, an eye for fashion: Singer opens secondhand clothing >store, >while preparing for new album > _________________________________________________________________ Get MSN 8 and enjoy automatic e-mail virus protection. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2003 13:38:15 -0400 (EDT) From: Rachel Kramer Bussel Subject: [MLL] MLL at CMJ, October 25 Mary Lou will perform on October 25th at Pianos in NYC on the Lower East Side as part of CMJ. More details when I get them and thanks for the lovely Bumbershoot reports! I say it every year but next year I really, really want to go! Rachel ------------------------------ End of jinglejangle-digest V6 #49 *********************************