Heads up, folks! There is more to come, but if you haven't been paying attention, the Minus 5 is coming on June 8th. People who know me know that I'm Young Fresh Fellows freak from way back. It was actually Paul Westerberg who turned me onto them, saying in a Replacements interview circa Pleased to Meet Me that he thought that the Fellows were very much kindred spirits (maybe this was around the time the Fellows played Westerberg's wedding?). Based on his recommendation, I rushed out to buy The Men Who Loved Music, which was the Fellows' new album at the time. It's never left my collection (in some form or another). I like it easily as much as, or maybe more than, anything the Replacements ever did: it's funnier, fresher, and somehow feels more trustworthy... because while the Replacements eventually tried for the brass ring of SUCCESS, the Fellows never did (least not so's anyone noticed. I forgot to ask Scott if they ever actually got a beer sponsorship! I am assuming that that song was just a joke, but who knows -- turns out kids really did bring zucchinis, that time, so...). And they somehow never CAUGHT ON like the Replacements did, which may be why I'm writing about them like you didn't already know about 'em...
But whether or not you did, the Minus 5 is a Young Fresh Fellows side project that (Fellows freak though I may be) I have paid all too little attention to over the years, that we ALL HERE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT, because they're coming REAL SOON. This is an opportunity not be squandered. This is the band, of course, of Fellows' frontmen/ founder Scott McCaughey (pronounced like Bones' name in Star Trek) and his fellow Fellow Kurt Bloch, but also boasts REM's Peter Buck (on bass?!). The current touring lineup also involves Linda Pitmon (the Baseball Project, another Scott side-project) and Debbi Peterson (of the Bangles!). There is an awesome explainer about the band here (thanks to Tim Chan for pointing this one out)!
And the thing is, their new album -- whatever you might think of the Fellows' output -- is TERRIFIC. Nevermind the Fellows! The Minus 5 doesn't really sound like them at all, these days. Toxic Youth, the newest of the Fellows albums I've heard -- they have a new limited edition thing called Loft, as well -- seems kinda, I dunno, dour for a YFF record; it has rocking riffs, and I'm sure it will grow on me, but it has far less of the playfulness and exuberance that are the band's hallmarks (not putting it down, but "Get Out of My Cave" would not have fit on this record, if you see what I mean). Oar On, Penelope!, by comparison, is VERY playful, VERY exuberant -- and also very weird! (Here's the video for the opening track -- what a way to kick off a record!).
Scott and I did just talk, at some length, on topics from Homer to Phil Ochs, but DON'T WAIT FOR MY ARTICLE TO COME OUT, because I gotta write a Gnash Rambler/ Huskee Dude thing first. If you haven't gotten your tickets to the Minus 5 Biltmore show, do so while you can, because you'll be kicking yourself if you figure out how great this new album is AFTER the show, y'know?
I didn't even mention their work with Alejandro Escovedo, Robyn Hitchcock, or that guy from Wilco! Nor did I rave about the No Ones (they do one of their songs!). Or that Samantha Parton of the Be Good Tanyas is opening!! This is going to be the show of the summer, methinks. At least until Neil Young gets here.
He better not cancel again!
Tickets here! Trust me!
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