What were you doing in 1984? Well hell! Here is something that just popped up on YouTube ... my old band Kubist Tier, from our cassette only release entitled "Demonstration". The band only lasted a few years, from 1983 until probably 1987. The personnel changed quite a bit in those days. Our first club gig was opening for the Deadbeats at the Anti-Club on Melrose down the street from where we lived in Hollywood on Romaine Ave and Gower, across from the Hollywood Eternal Cemetery. We wound up playing on the same bill with bands like The Minutemen, Fishbone, Animal Dance, James White and the Blacks, Jonathan Gold’s Tank Burial, Fat and Fucked Up … on and on and on. Even had a summer residency in 1983 at the old O.N. Klub on Sunset in the Silverlake district. The version of the band on this recording played for the Musiccircus 75th birthday celebration for John Cage in downtown LA, I even shook the great man’s hand. We played a lot of gigs!
In the original band we used this song as sort of our theme song. We started every gig with it, ended the gig with it too! Funny I haven't heard this in years! Eventually, a couple of years later, yet another version of this band would release an album, “20th Letter of the Alphabet”, we’ll get into that another time! Meanwhile here’s a track called … Papa Deluxe … Enjoy!
sidenote: Its completely useless info, but the song title came from my old boss who owned the Saugus Superette in Newhall CA, a liquor store I worked at for some years. He misquoted the band I had at the time, Dada Flex, calling us Papa Deluxe … like I said useless info …
Hell Comes in Time
Well! Here it is! Not only a newly recorded song but a music video as well. 'Hell Comes in Time' was recorded and produced by the Martin Feveyear here on Vashon Island. And the video was written and directed by the Shelley Hanna and World's Smallest Productions. A big thanks to all those who acted in it -- Theo, Sophia, Harper, Kristy, Jonathan and Analeya! Thank you! And of course a big thanks to the Snapdragon Cafe and the Wild Mermaid Market.
Topography, June 28
With a winded whoa and a deep resonating whew … Poodle Session #66 is done and in the books. And we are taking a break. After doing this for 66 consecutive weeks, we’re going on vacation just like normal people. For a variety of reasons. I doubt I could provide the fireworks required for a Sunday the 4th concert, (there’s no John Phillip Souza in my bag of tricks), and my birthday falls on that weekend too, the time is right to unleash irresponsible revelry. Plus, to be honest, our intrepid crew — photographer-videographer/the-funny-one/live-streaming-whiz Shelley Hanna and poodle Rose need a break. Thinking about heading to Montana. I hear its right over there … well just over, over there. A road trip is long over due. Need a change of topography. And its time to visit some old friends.
June 24, 2021
Jazz. To my ear bone, that hammer, anvil and stirrup, tickled under the care of tangled notes, waxes chordal villainy. And melodic reprisals. And a scuttling of harmonies, sinewy at best, but fatty rich at the bone. It is open, it is delicious and will always be mine.
Record Store Day!
June 12, 2021
Record Store Day! It should be a national holiday! Yes, I’m a geek. I got it bad. And how do you fix that need if your broke, behind on rent, out of toilet paper? Well, over the years, I’ve worked at some the very best record stores on the west coast — Atomic Records in Burbank, Top Shelf in East Hollywood (owned by Mike D.), Amoeba Hollywood and Easy Street in West Seattle — so today, historically/emotionally, RSD is a big deal for me. This year, and being unemployed, I couldn’t hit any of the great record stores in Seattle or Tacoma, but … I did go shopping at our local thrift store here on Vashon Island, Granny’s Attic. I did pretty well, buying up a stack of used vinyl, some plenty of cool stuff.
The Phillippe Entremont record is astounding, I looked it up and it’s regarded as one of the most essential collections of Debussy’s piano works recorded. That Deerhoof record! That was a find! So is the Jungle Brother's record in near mint condition, and that Furs record is damn near perfect. Vaughan Williams Lark Ascending is typically voted the most popular piece of classical music in the UK, and it is easily one of my favorites too. Especially this version featuring Iona Brown, violin. And I’ve never come across a Bismallah Khan record before. And yes, a little shehnai can go a long way … but I couldn’t pass it up! Same thing with the Tiny Tim record! And that Herbie Mann record … it’s pretty damn cool. Record Store Day! What the hell … shouldn’t every day be record store day? Yes sir!
Static
June 2021
Static. There’s the problem. And I don’t mean that crackling, hissing din you hear from a radio or TV -- that noise is camouflage for my tinnitus, don’t mind it at all. I mean that sense of inertia … bland, dreary static, lifeless to the touch. As of late, I’ve been somewhat knee deep in this insipid muck. Dithered by some deep-rooted shit. Not long ago during some gig, and after some tepid guitar solo, I knew I’d run out of ideas. A few weeks later, thankfully /hopefully, I came back to life a bit … but still, my efforts came across as somewhat feeble, at least as feeble as all the clichés I’m about to type.
I guess static can be seen as consistent. Rigid and uniform and dreamsville for any fascist. Me, I think of it as the annihilation of all things good … well hell, even the end of all things bad. It explains contentment with mediocrity, settling for a colorless life, lapsing into monotony, balling up into dull, gray dumplings. No salt. No pepper. No paprika. A stagnancy stew. All very dreary and margarine and safe.
What am I looking for? There’s the question. And right now, a direct answer is probably out of the question. What should I do? I don’t know -- choose left instead of right? Say yes instead of no? Invent new improvisations on old uncertainties. I’ve tried them all, and I’ve had interesting results, but, ahh … no thanks. I need real solutions. Actual answers. So here, let’s start with this … I’ll check out more new music. Study. Practice new things. Pilfer new ideas. Book some gigs. Especially solo gigs. Perform more, and maybe a bit of kismet will touch my hands or my nylon stings and spark some motion, ideas. Yes. So now. Right now. A new website. Here we go. Lets go that away …
