It's funny: if you go see Lee Ranaldo, there are no Sonic Youth songs. Go see Thurston: no Sonic Youth songs. Go see Kim and, as far as I know, no Sonic Youth songs (I couldn't make her solo show here but I peeked at the setlist after).
But go see Steve Shelley... and guess what? Orcutt Shelley Miller opened their set last night with an instrumental version of "Star Power." Wow! (But that's just the official video; I didn't record them doing it).
Took me about two seconds to note that it was familiar and three more to realize what they were doing and there was this little explosion of joy in me. Thanks, guys, that meant something!
Steve sure seemed to be enjoying himself. Don't think I've seen a drummer smile so much while playing -- he was having so much fun. Nice guys, all three, and holy shit, what playing. Orcutt's fingers fly around that fretboard in fascinating ways, and Ethan got in on the improvs, too. Didn't realize til I looked at my videos after ("An LA Funeral," "A Long Island Wedding") that he plays with a pick.
I do hope they record their version of "Star Power." These songs should not be AWOL forevermore from the repertoire of the artists who originally recorded them (it's off Evol, Shelley's first album with the band).
After Kneejerk's jazzy, challenging-but-engaging opening set, Tim Reinert introduced Orcutt Shelley Miller with a fun bit of wit, saying he was going to answer a question that he'd been asked multiple times that evening already: "The answer is yes... that is the same amp."
If you were around for Bill Orcutt's solo show at the Pearl last month, you laughed. Bill explained after the show to me that he'd just gotten it fixed - a power tube had blown.
Terrific night. I was kind of happy that Tim had seats out in the venue, but also kind of sad, because some of what Orcutt Shelley Miller did was definitely danceable, especially "Four-door Charger" (just a link to the bandcamp, there, too; didn't shoot it). Some of us danced in our seats. It's a bit weird, but it works.
At least three members of Earth Ball (Earthball -- I have forgotten Jeremy's preferred version now) and two members of Shearing Pinx were in the audience (and yes, these groups overlap). Izzy was the most interactive and enthusiastic, calling out at one point, "Did you guys go see Neil Young?" (They did not).
She also got excited when Bill announced that a song was called "A Long Island Wedding" because she heard the word "island." "Are you coming to the island? Come to Nanaimo!" (She's based in Nanaimo. I have explained this to the guys and said they should play the Vault, but it won't be this tour).
Word to Tim: get Earthball to open for a show sometime!
I was happy to hear in the post-show chatting that the guys enjoyed the Indian restaurant I recommended. I had given them directions to avoid the other side of the street, near the Carnegie, which always had seemed a bit rougher to me, but there's been a shift since I last hit the Rickshaw -- the half-block on Hastings between Main and the Rickshaw is now absolutely packed with people, many in real rough shape, though also many running a busy sidewalk market. I was a bit startled, haven't seen that half-block so packed before. I wonder if the guys' cities have similar places? Seattle sure doesn't. Is our fentanyl problem generally worse than other cities? Has anyone read Sam Cooper?
Suffice to say, any touring bands playing the Rickshaw who want to eat in the neighbourhood, there's a good Indian place on Pender and Main, next to the CIBC, but you may have to walk past many people who seem dead or who are living in conditions of extreme misery and poverty. It seems to have gotten worse since the last time I was in the neighbourhood. Maybe it's just because it's summer -- people are happier being outside? Maybe they actually manage to sell some stuff to Rickshaw attendees?
In any case, if it's complicated outside, the vibe was awesome once you got inside the venue. Nice to see John Werner there (introduced him to Ethan: "This guy plays in the Pack with Kirk Brandon!"), said hi to a few other people I knew (ARGH!!, Jeanette, Elliott, Mo). You're right, John: I wrote a review! Can't help myself, wish I could.
Dumb: the only time I saw Elliott (of the Rebel Spell, Freak Dream and formerly the SSRIs), we were taking a piss. He started just after I did, and was still there with his dick in the urinal when I said, "Hey, Elliott!"
For our entire conversation, he was peeing. Sho ga nai, ne? Hope he dug the show!
Having remarked on Ethan's Wrong t-shirt in my previous post, I shouldn't have been surprised when Nomeansno came up when I chatted with him after: Ethan wanted to know if there were any actual physical landmarks that informed Nomeansno's "The Tower." I always just sort of thought, "Tarot by way of the Eye of Sauron," but he wondered if Susto Tower in San Francisco might have been on Rob's mind. I said I doubted it, but would investigate.
I mean, if the moon is in the right place, it is pretty "Eye of Sauron," eh? It's one evil-lookin' tower, even comes with a trident!
Turns out I didn't even have to bug John Wright (currently on tour) to get the answer. The guys on the Nomeansno: We're So Wright It's Wrong Facebook group immediately pointed out that indeed there IS a physical inspiration: the Smith Hill reservoir telecommunications tower in Summit Park. It's really not that impressive unless you shoot it in the right light, but apparently Rob Wright has confirmed this on the NoMeansNo Thing Podcast.
I am thinking since it's a private group, I can't just share a link to the conversation, so I'll steal some of that. Miloš Svirčev (I think involved in the podcast?), seeing my question, shared an old post by Victoria group member Tyler Hodgins with a photo of the Tower, and (definite podcaster) Jordon Flato elaborated:
We do a little podcast about Nomeansno, called NoMeansNo Thing Podcast where we deep dive into all of the songs (ostensibly to find the 'very best one' even though there is no such thing) and some time ago one of our hosts, who is also a Victorian, made this connection with the song. And then in our interview with Rob of a year or so ago, he confirmed this was indeed THE Tower. Sounds like being a hometown boy you already knew this! You should check out the podcast though, if you're a fan, you'd probably dig it!
Coming back to Orcutt Shelley Miller, and speaking of t-shirts, the design for their band shirt was fun... but I better not say more! Stuff has been, how did SY put it, "jacked from the matrix" again (a phrase they used before the Wachowskis had made a single movie, note). But it was kinda fitting that when I got Steve to sign my Sister afterwards, he immediately went for the black space on the front where the mutated Disney image used to be. Which is exactly where I was in the process of pointing.
I wish I still had one of those original covers, but the black space hurts less with his signature in it.
I did tease one more Crucifucks question out of Steve, asking him to resolve a long-standing dispute. I don't think anyone will be interviewing 26 anytime soon, so this will have to do: was "Oh Where, Oh Where?" written about a lost hit of acid?
"I think it was, yeah."
"Damn, I liked it better as just a missing piece of paper." (Any time I've lost an important piece of paper, it's the song that comes to mind).
He said something like "I do, too" or "Me too" in response. Nothing wrong with a hit of acid, mind you, it's just funnier if it was written about, like, looking for a receipt for something you have to return or, like, a scrap you scribbled an important password on or something.
I hope a few people came out and had a great time because of my articles (all of'em linked here). I never know if they make a difference, y'know? The Rickshaw could have been fuller, but at least all the seats Tim had put out were taken (closed balcony, though). You people who did not come: you missed out. Can't say I didn't try my best!
Fuckin' "Star Power," man! Yaaah!