Amy and I interviewed The Bats in August 1993 just before their set at The Fastlane in Asbury Park, NJ. My photographic memory pulls up all sorts of images: when we got to the venue and The Bats were gracious enough to sit down with us, despite not knowing about the interview; walking to the cafe at the Howard Johnson’s nearby; The Bats buying us cokes, because I was just 21 & didn’t drink, and Amy was 20 & so much more!
This appeared in issue #2 of Topsy Turvy Twister Rama. I’m hoping to scan in all three issues eventually. It was Amy’s ‘zine, and I helped with contributions, including some really bad drawings in issue #1. On the cover of issue #2 is a classic photo of Amy & her Mom dancing:
For now, here’s the scan of the interview! Getting to see The Bats again tonight here in DC!
I’m still recovering from SXSW 2011, and will hopefully right up my review soon, but I’m off to NYC for the Big Star Third all star tribute/benefit concert.
In the meantime, here’s a wee video I shot of Admiral Fallow-Four Bulbs:
In August, I got together with some great friends and we recorded the Teenage Fanclub song “Don’t Look Back”
It was for a contribution to the latest Fanclub message board tribute compilation and it marks the first time I’ve had the courage to record my singing voice. Mick, Becker, and Rob were great and we got an initial rough mix in just a couple hours in one night. The rest happened after I had to come back to Virginia and then Ron and John got into the mix.
It was a lot of fun to do and I’m glad I did it. I thought the hard part would be singing and recording it. Actually, it’s finishing it and putting it out there into the world for all to hear. I’ve always had an insatiable genuine love & appreciation for music, but it’s gone to a whole new level.
The entire tribute is dedicated to Tom O’Grady, who was a regular on the board. Sadly, I never had the pleasure of meeting him in person. A donation page is up in his memory that includes a link to download the entire tribute and make a donation to cancer research: http://donateinmemory.cancerresearchuk.org/0000400
here’s another contribution from Wayne James and The Harry Evlar Experience-Sparky’s Dream, with a fabulous video:
I realized that the horror of horrors, I had not shared my R.E.M. review with everyone yet. life has been a whirlwind since then…
at any rate here ya go, written just after I got home: I wasn’t planning on drinking tonight ($8 cups of beer! ugh), but it was such a beautiful day/night, I was giddy like a school girl upon seeing r.e.m. I always revert back to my teens when I see them.
at any rate, we got there early and the guy parked next to us shared some beer with me and chatter. he was a real cool guy, and helped pass the time before the show. then once we got in to our seats (6th row center, fanclub seats), brian was so happy about our seats, he bought me a beer, which I drank down during the first half of Modest Mouse.
The National were incredible!!! I had yet to see them and now I love them. I can’t really get a feel for a band and their music until I see a live show….live they just rock! I never saw MM before either and I was drunk enough to not know if I had any of their stuff on my ipod. didn’t matter that I didn’t know any of the songs, really, except for like one or two, probably the two that are somehow on my ipod….they were also incredible.
incredible set by R.E.M. as well. I am an idiot and forgot to charge my camera battery, I lost my voice from screaming and singing. and I ache all over from dancing my ass off. we expected the political edge to the set with Drive, Ignoreland, Man-Sized Wreath and Mr. Richards (which dedicated to Dick Cheney, whom Stipe despises)
photos up on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bluflower/ photos via my brian’s phone: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rev_bri/
setlist: Finest Worksong Living Well’s the Best Revenge Bad Day What’s the Frequency, Kenneth? Drive Ignoreland Man-Sized Wreath Little America Hollow Man Walk Unafraid Houston Electrolite (Don’t Go Back to) Rockville Pop Song 89 Horse To Water The One I Love Driver 8 Until The Day Is Done Let Me In These Days Orange Crush I’m Gonna DJ
Supernatural Superserious Losing My Religion Mr. Richards Fall On Me (with Johnny Marr) Man On The Moon (with Johnny Marr)
I still haven’t recovered from two nights of rock n roll.
was out at Galaxy Hut on Monday to see The Vestals and Grand Champeen. I hadn’t known about the Vestals until I found out they were playing this show. I checked out some MP3s and both recorded and live were a lot of fun.
Grand Champeen I knew about but never really had the chance to see them before…I’m so glad I could be there and didn’t sit at home all depressed and what not. Because no matter how crappy things are, music can take your mood to different places. thanks to Adam I indulged in a bottle of Bud, despite feeling sick to my stomach!!! but beer and rock must cure what ails me because I had so much fun.
so much so that I wanted to try and find a way to get to the show the next night in Baltimore when GC played with The Bigger Lovers. thanks to Tom, I was able to do just that!
Even with almost falling asleep driving home late tuesday night into wed morning, I managed to drag myself to work with less than 5 hours sleep.
