From: owner-navy-soup-digest@smoe.org (navy-soup-digest) To: navy-soup-digest@smoe.org Subject: navy-soup-digest V1 #46 Reply-To: navy-soup@smoe.org Sender: owner-navy-soup-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-navy-soup-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk navy-soup-digest Saturday, December 19 1998 Volume 01 : Number 046 In This Digest: ----------------- Re: Sarah and her mail [Paul Schreiber ] Re: Sarah and her mail [James McGarry ] Re: Wednesday show ["Julian C. Dunn" ] Re: Sarah and her mail [Steve I ] Re: Wednesday show [Steve I ] Re: Wednesday show [James McGarry ] Re: Sarah and her mail [James McGarry ] Re: Sarah and her mail [James McGarry ] Touring... [Bloo! 8-} ] Re: Sarah and her mail ["Tab Siddiqui" ] Re: Sarah and her mail ["Tab Siddiqui" ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1998 01:08:08 -0500 From: Paul Schreiber Subject: Re: Sarah and her mail I got my Sarah newsletter in the mail today (Thursday). It's so neat! :) And in colour, too. She had way too much fun doing that. (Having too much fun being a good thing.) The show last night was absolutely amazing. Chris Briscoe opened for Sarah, and did a great job. I've seen him three times now. He's very, oh, soulful, bluesyish rock. Sarah started her set with several songs from Universe -- Weight, Universe, Me and Jerome, and the reworked (and absolutely stellar) I Know. They came across as incredibly strong and powerful. Sarah was brimming with confidence the entire evening -- she chatted between sets, told stories, dedicated a song to Hayden, all sorts of stuff. She played several soon-to-be-released tracks -- Narcolepsy Weed, Playing Cards with Judas and Sadie, among others. Sarah told the story behind the latter song, which I don't think I've heard before. (As an aside, I heard the story behind Weight at the Kitchener show.) I recognized 'em right away, especially the mallets. The Reverb was pretty full and the crowd was very appreciative. Sarah did a one-song encore. (James?) Sarah was accompanied by her usual complement of musicians -- Kevin Fox on cello, Mark Mariash on drums, and her "certain je ne sais quoi," Sjanie McInnes [*]. And the famed string quartet, who, as has been mentioned, did a wonderful job with I Know. A couple of snippets of conversation: "I'm a good dish person." -- SS Amanda: Do you know Emm Gryner? Stef: Only what my brother's said of her. Amanda: You've been sitting beside her the whole time. [*] Dug the correct spelling out of navy soup #5. :) As Gian mentioned, it was so nice to run into all these people I knew. I brought along my friends Tyler and Dean and my sister Stephanie (who traveled five hours to get there :). Hello to: Steve, Gian, James, Heather, Emm, Rayanne, Dylan, Kevin, Rannie, Julian, Amanda and of course, Sarah. Tab, ya shoulda been there. :) I got home at 2 AM Thursday morning, with a huge smile still on my face that I've been unable to wipe off almost 24 hours later. Made it to work on time, too. 'tis now one o'clock and I must bid you good night, navy-soupers. :) Sleep well. Paul shad 96c / 3A CS / mac activist / eda / fumbler fan of / jewel / sophie b. / sarah slean / steve poltz / emm gryner / / x-files / buffy / dawson's creek / habs / bills / 49ers / t h i n k d i f f e r e n t. "the best man ... if I'm the best man, why is she marrying *him*?" -- Jerry Seinfeld ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1998 09:50:03 -0500 From: "Siren" Subject: Re: Sarah and her mail - -----Original Message----- From: Paul Schreiber To: Navy Soup Date: Friday, December 18, 1998 1:10 AM Subject: Re: Sarah and her mail >The show last night was absolutely amazing. Chris Briscoe opened for >Sarah, and did a great job. I've seen him three times now. He's very, oh, >soulful, bluesyish rock. Chris Briscoe did a fantastic job. I'd never seen him before and was thoroughly impressed. As for Sarah, I haven't seen her a million times like some of you (although I probably will =), but I have been to a few of her shows and this was by far the strongest. Not only was it the best attended, which was nice, but the entire presentation was first rate. And it was so cute to see Mr. and Mrs. Slean there, as into it as everyone else! >Sarah started her set with several songs from Universe -- Weight, >Universe, Me and Jerome, and the reworked (and absolutely stellar) I >Know. They came across as incredibly strong and powerful. Universe was more than halfway into the show. I remember sitting there wondering if she was going to play it or not. With regards to I Know, I realize that I seem to be the only person who loves the original recording more than the new one. The new one is also nice, but I tend to be a firm believer in "less-is-more" and the extra strings don't add any more beauty to the song, in my opinion, than what already exists it its earlier version. >Sarah was brimming with confidence the entire evening -- she chatted >between sets, told stories, dedicated a song to Hayden, all sorts of >stuff. I'm still trying to figure out Sarah's love of Hayden... I don't think I ever will. >She played several soon-to-be-released tracks -- Narcolepsy Weed, Playing >Cards with Judas and Sadie, among others. Playing Cards With Judas is just amazing. I couldn't sit still for one moment of it. I didn't get the impression that Sadie is going to be released at all. Sarah talked about how she'd written it a couple of years ago, and said that her parents are constantly asking her to play it live but that she almost never does. You can tell it's a song she's very emotional about, and I wouldn't be surprised if she doesn't include it. >And the famed string quartet, who, as has been >mentioned, did a wonderful job with I Know. Did anyone else who was there hear one or two bum notes by the quartet during that song? They were great in everything else they played on, but I remember hearing one note in particular during I Know that literally made me wince. I thought to myself "Ouch. Sarah MUST have heard that." >I got home at 2 AM Thursday morning, with a huge smile still on my face >that I've been unable to wipe off almost 24 hours later. Made it to work >on time, too. Yep, that 2 am arrival sounds familiar. =P I was beat, especially since I'd gone straight from my sister's birthday party to the show. Somehow, I ended up getting to work five minutes earlier than usual. Maybe I should be going to see Sarah every night! >'tis now one o'clock and I must bid you good night, navy-soupers. :) >Sleep well. You too. >Paul Siren. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1998 10:30:56 -0500 (EST) From: James McGarry Subject: Re: Sarah and her mail On Fri, 18 Dec 1998, Siren wrote: > Chris Briscoe did a fantastic job. I'd never seen him before and was > thoroughly impressed. As for Sarah, I haven't seen her a million times like I've seen Chris quite a few times now, oddly, his Toronto shows are better than the ones in the Hammer. I'd love to see him with the new band. I first caught Chris at Waterloo's Sounds of Summer Festival about a year and a half ago with his previous band Grace. Its a cool ep if you can find it. I think Chris feels very welcome "in the Soup", so to speak :-) > realize that I seem to be the only person who loves the original recording > more than the new one. The new one is also nice, but I tend to be a firm > believer in "less-is-more" and the extra strings don't add any more beauty > to the song, in my opinion, than what already exists it its earlier version. I don't really think it was the strings... ...it was Sarah. > I'm still trying to figure out Sarah's love of Hayden... I don't think I > ever will. Hayden Rules! Master of the simple melody. He's like our own Lou Barlow :-) I can recall with some fondness one of his appearances on ..oh no brain freeze, Tab, help me here, the show that became RadioSonic... aaa! anyway, Hayden was utterly charming, his vocal chords channelling some wild velveetta vibes :-) > moment of it. I didn't get the impression that Sadie is going to be > released at all. Sarah talked about how she'd written it a couple of years > ago, and said that her parents are constantly asking her to play it live but > that she almost never does. You can tell it's a song she's very emotional > about, and I wouldn't be surprised if she doesn't include it. Sadie is one of Sarah's very early songs. Its good, great even. I think I recall telling me once, at one of the first SS shows I saw that her mom is nuts about it and would play it constantly at home. I'm not really sure its very representative of who she is now or what she's doing musically. I'm hoping _Elliot_ is though, I so want to hear that again! > Did anyone else who was there hear one or two bum notes by the quartet > during that song? They were great in everything else they played on, but I Nope, too blissed out :-) > remember hearing one note in particular during I Know that literally made me > wince. I thought to myself "Ouch. Sarah MUST have heard that." Likely she did. Usually she has a post-mortem with the band and goes over things like that. It helps! She's a good conductor on top of everything else. I've seen critique one of her shows which I thought was quite good and the next night there were things fixed I never noticed. She's very committed to her msuic. Moreso that anyone else I can think of. > Yep, that 2 am arrival sounds familiar. =P I was beat, especially since I'd 2! Lucky! I didn't make it back until almost 3 :-) James. ========================================================================== James McGarry | jmcgarry@UoGuelph.CA - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- An artist should be fit for the best society and keep out of it. - - John Ruskin ========================================================================== ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1998 13:54:28 -0500 From: "Julian C. Dunn" Subject: Re: Wednesday show Gian wrote thusly: >> A very reworked version of "I Know" expanding on some earlier >>experiments circa, maybe January. > > >This version of "I Know" that she played was as james put it, simply >beautiful, i lost myself in the song, one of those moments that just gives >you shivers. "I Know" has always given me shivers, and I always close my eyes during it, in order to soak it all in :-) But the way she played it on Wednesday night was incredible. Listening to _Universe_ now (actually I am listening to it now, which is what motivates me to post!) I can hear how much Sarah has improved in her musical expressiveness and passion since the disc was made. I cannot wait for the new record (as I am also dying to have a studio version of 'Playing Cards with Judas' that I can play over and over :-) ) 'Sadie' was also a very beautiful number -- a very sad song but touching nonetheless. Time to slay more mail :-( - - Julian P.S. Happy holidays to everyone! [ Julian C. Dunn - jdunn@aquezada.com WWW: http://www.aquezada.com/ ] [ programmer, web designer, unix user, fumbler, writer, and future engineer] [ FuE exfe94 a+++ Ifte/slc lonca r- ps++ bs+ t++/*t C+++$/C! w+++ p7 LF+++ ] [N++/N! cd260 pr++ g+++ S-/S *x++ Fa+++/Fa$/Fa! m1 b+ fc+++/ E>+ rl-- *d s!] [ "... for one human being to love another, that is perhaps the most ] [ difficult of all our tasks" - rainer maria rilke ] ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1998 14:27:17 -0500 From: Steve I Subject: Re: Sarah and her mail At 09:50 AM 12/18/98 -0500, Siren wrote: >Playing Cards With Judas is just amazing. I couldn't sit still for one Way, waaaaaay back, I think even before the website existed, James said to me (paraphrased, of course): You know what would be a great name for Sarah's mailing list (also nonexistent back then)- "Iscariot Poker Club"! It took me a second to figure that one out. Now it's "Navy Soup", which is just as cool. Cooler maybe, because I suppose that makes *us* all "stars". :-) >moment of it. I didn't get the impression that Sadie is going to be >released at all. Sarah talked about how she'd written it a couple of years >ago, and said that her parents are constantly asking her to play it live but >that she almost never does. You can tell it's a song she's very emotional >about, and I wouldn't be surprised if she doesn't include it. She used to play it more often. She also used to play "Elaine" all the time, in the Sharon days... she played it for the first time in many months at C'est What recently which was really cool but I'd like to hear her do it with backup vox again. Forgot to mention that to her Wed night. again. Siren asked, re: "I Know" >Did anyone else who was there hear one or two bum notes by the quartet >during that song? They were great in everything else they played on, but I I was too busy laughing when cellist #2, in her rush to turn the page on her score, whipped the whole thing across the stage. Did the bum note happen then? :-) Steve ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1998 15:09:33 -0500 From: Steve I Subject: Re: Wednesday show At 01:54 PM 12/18/98 -0500, Julian C. Dunn wrote: >Gian wrote thusly: >>> A very reworked version of "I Know" expanding on some earlier >>>experiments circa, maybe January. > >> >>This version of "I Know" that she played was as james put it, simply >>beautiful, i lost myself in the song, one of those moments that just gives >>you shivers. > >"I Know" has always given me shivers, and I always close my eyes during it, I told Sarah that it *used* to give me the shivers, oh, around 20 shows ago. But I haven't felt that way for a long long time, even after she added strings at all the Reverb shows. At least, not until Wed night. That night, for the first time in a year and a half, I got shivers from that song. >in order to soak it all in :-) But the way she played it on Wednesday night >was incredible. Listening to _Universe_ now (actually I am listening to it That reminds me, I wish that I could have a studio recording of every incarnation of the song "Universe", because the way each of Sarah's cellists have played the instrumental part at the end has been completely different and totally amazing. With Sharon it was her pizzicato (unfortunately they never started playing it that way until after the song was recorded), with Mike (was it Mike? I suck with names) it was a really wierd and wonderful wailing sound I'd never heard before from a cello then or since, and with Kevin he's stepped back and played more of a supporting role because now Sarah and Sjanie do those wonderful vocal harmonies. Each successive version has been unbelievable, the song is sooo much better with any one of those endings, I hope Sarah records another version and puts it out as a b-side or something. :-) >now, which is what motivates me to post!) I can hear how much Sarah has >improved in her musical expressiveness and passion since the disc was made. She has grown a lot in her musical expression, yes, but the passion... the raw passion was always there. Could be that it doesn't come through so well in the recording as in the live shows, but anyone who saw her at the Free Times will tell you that she had every bit as much passion then as now. That's what's made all her shows special! Steve ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1998 15:43:49 -0500 (EST) From: James McGarry Subject: Re: Wednesday show On Fri, 18 Dec 1998, Steve I wrote: > different and totally amazing. With Sharon it was her pizzicato > (unfortunately they never started playing it that way until after the song > was recorded), with Mike (was it Mike? I suck with names) it was a really Mike Olson, correct-amundo! He was there Wednesday as well, I meant to say "hi". I miss Sharon, I should ask how she's doing... ...I wish I could've managed to say "hi" to everybody that night... ...Re: the music one of the funny things is, I always get the idea there's not much room for improvement. Then Sarah makes me feel silly. :-) There was something there Wed night, I'm not sure what it was entirely, but Sarah did seem more vital and passionate than ever. Oh, yes, Steve is entirely correct the passion was _always_ there. But something was exceptionally right that night. Good vibes maybe, who knows... James. ========================================================================== James McGarry | jmcgarry@UoGuelph.CA - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- An artist should be fit for the best society and keep out of it. - - John Ruskin ========================================================================== ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1998 15:59:07 -0500 (EST) From: James McGarry Subject: Re: Sarah and her mail On Fri, 18 Dec 1998, Steve I wrote: > Way, waaaaaay back, I think even before the website existed, James said to > me (paraphrased, of course): You know what would be a great name for > Sarah's mailing list (also nonexistent back then)- "Iscariot Poker Club"! > It took me a second to figure that one out. LOL, I can't believe you remember that !!!! :-) :-) :-) I was flipping through my notes the other day and saw it :-) It would've been close to the website creation, but predating it, I think... ...I always pictured us flashing cards at each other as little secret signals :-) > Now it's "Navy Soup", which is just as cool. Cooler maybe, because I > suppose that makes *us* all "stars". :-) I usually feel more like a comet. :-) :-) And in the right light it makes eating Miso soup feel very weird. :-o > She used to play it more often. She also used to play "Elaine" all the > time, in the Sharon days... she played it for the first time in many months Hey yeah, "Elaine", I ways think of the Roxy Music song "Editions of You" (I think), Brian Ferry was very into picture/painting related songs. (And "Elaine" derives from Sarah seeing a painting in her mind.) I'd like to see "Elaine" with an extended bridge... ...and maybe the TSO with Jukka-Pekka Saraste at the helm and a huge chorus. I guy can dream... :-) > at C'est What recently which was really cool but I'd like to hear her do it > with backup vox again. Forgot to mention that to her Wed night. again. Which perhaps begs a question, do we have a definitive repetoire somewhere? I forget things (for those of you who _know_ me this a vast understatement :-) ) and keep misplacing these songs in my mind. > I was too busy laughing when cellist #2, in her rush to turn the page on > her score, whipped the whole thing across the stage. Did the bum note The poor kid, she seemed so embarrassed. James. ========================================================================== James McGarry | jmcgarry@UoGuelph.CA - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I am tired of empty sound that leads nowhere. An orchestra should sizzle with energy" - Jukka-Pekka Saraste ========================================================================== ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1998 16:51:48 -0500 (EST) From: James McGarry Subject: Re: Sarah and her mail Note James is very behind on his mail; so much so he's talking about himself in the 3rd person. :-) On Thu, 17 Dec 1998, Bloo wrote: > *applause* Oh my goodness James. That was simply wonderful. Over the Why thanks Brian :-) :-) > last year or so I have begun to feel less and less worked up over the > whole 'live experience', if simply because I have seen so many artists I'm in the same boat, I've seen a _lot_ of bands in the last couple of years. It takes more and more to impress me and our little Sarah has done so, consistently. Its odd, you get a real feel for things around band 200, the lay of the land so to speak... at 350 just mostly tired ;-) (I've become the NapMaster.) > I am really happy to hear the performance was so wonderful. How much > does an apt. in Toronto cost? Maybe I could commute. 8-} About as much as one, in, um... Igloolik :-) :-) James. ========================================================================== James McGarry | jmcgarry@UoGuelph.CA - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Lyin' in bed, just like Brian Wilson did..." -BNL(Sorry, couldn't resist) ========================================================================== ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1998 15:27:07 -0800 (PST) From: Bloo! 8-} Subject: Touring... So far that I have been paying attention, it seems like Miss Sarah has not been straying far from the Toronto area. Is this the norm? I am wondering if Sarah, management, fans, anybody knows whether there is any intent for the range of the touring to be increased in support of the new disc. I'd travel a few kilometres or more (;-}) to go see her. Maybe more US shows? 8-} Just curious, - -Brian Brian Wilson --------------------------"Those aren't Sex muffins! -Coach bloo@blooberry.com ---------------------Those aren't Love muffins! http://www.blooberry.com ---------------Those are just BLOOberry muffins!" Creator of Index DOT Html: http://www.blooberry.com/html/intro.htm ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1998 16:57:49 PST From: "Tab Siddiqui" Subject: Re: Sarah and her mail Brian wrote: >*applause* Oh my goodness James. That was simply wonderful. Over the >last year or so I have begun to feel less and less worked up over the >whole 'live experience', if simply because I have seen so many >artists live. And descriptions never seem to do the experience >justice. Until now. Agreed wholeheartedly. :) I also have been to a seemingly endless parade of shows this past year, and until a bunch of shows in the past month or two, had begun to feel kinda burned-out, that the experience of live music wasn't really working its magic for me, either. But ever since the wonderful weekend of the Emm Gryner show here in Toronto when a bunch of folks from this list and others got together for a little show in support of some wonderful new talent, plus Emm's bravura performance later that evening, I've seen so many great shows and people at those shows showing their sheer love of music that it's renewed my faith. :) The lung-busting enthusiasm at Barenaked Ladies' joyful homecoming gig a few weeks ago, the understated yet thoroughly enjoyable double-bill of 2 of Canada's finest songstresses, Jann Arden and Melanie Doane (with surprise guest Chantal Kreviazuk, no less!), plus a host of other small club shows in early December (Duncan Sheik, others)... Let's just say I can't wait to do it all again in '99. :) Thanks for the eloquent words, James - they said a lot more about music that just that one Sarah show. - - Tab :) ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1998 17:02:57 PST From: "Tab Siddiqui" Subject: Re: Sarah and her mail James wrote: >Hayden Rules! Master of the simple melody. He's like our own Lou >Barlow :-) I can recall with some fondness one of his appearances on >..oh no brain freeze, Tab, help me here, the show that became >RadioSonic... aaa! 'Twas called "RealTime". Fabulous show, hosted by the one and only Leora Kornfeld, which merged with CBC's other late-night weekend show, David Wisdom's "Nightlines", to become the wonderfully quirky RadioSonic. :) As James would say, you've already paid for it (well, all the Canucks, anyhow ), so listen already! ;-) - - Tab :) ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ End of navy-soup-digest V1 #46 ******************************