A Facebook post about a bar burning in Hamtramck led to conversation about a bar closing in Denver and me remembering this photo of a different bar. I didn't remember anything about this photo but a couple other people did and, of course, the memories are not flattering to me. The guy is Rick, a friend/roommate, and the half-butt is me in 1996.
Blech. I hated that time in my life and just thinking about it makes me feel kind of creepy.
That time makes me think of drinking too much, not eating enough other than cheeseburgers at a stinky bar and then giant breakfast burritos at a hangover diner, trying to fit in with people with whom I was never going to fit and who didn't really like me very much. And Niandra Lades and Usually Just a T-shirt, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion Extra Width and Chocolate and Cheese.
On the brights side, I think that is about the last time I was close to the weight I'd like to be. I could wear those two beautiful dresses I bought in San Francisco Chinatown if I was that size again.
For several months in 1995, I lived in a really crummy apartment with two guys, a doberman, the ugliest yellow stucco walls, and million cockroaches. We didn't have many CDs and every now and again, I'll hear a song and be transported back to those months and the music we listened to over and over. Ween's Voodoo Lady and I'm right back there remembering the good times. Anything from Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness and I feel trapped, miserable and like I have a Jagermeister hang-over again. Or maybe everyone feels that way when listening to that album?
One album though, while I rarely listen to it, often comes to mind when I feel like someone is invading my personal space. In addition to the ugly walls and cockroaches, we also had an annoying landlord. He took forever to unclog a sink or fix a toilet and always made a point to snoop around when he was there. One day when he was over doing something or another, I decided the best way to make him want to leave as soon as possible was to put on John Frusciante.
Last night, I had settled in to read a stack of New Yorkers when my phone rang. My friend B. had a spare ticket to see a Gene Ween, solo acoustic show asked if I wanted to go. I usually don't go too far out of my way to see or listen to Ween but I have seen them twice, have and like Chocolate and Cheese and occasionally listen to a bunch of other albums this same friend has burned for me. Rumor had it that Gene Ween had been opening this tour with Neil Young's I am A Child. B. knows me well: I do go out of my way for most things Neil Young. Not to mention, the show was at Lincoln Hall, a relatively new venue that I've been wanting to see. I decided to throw some jeans and a sweater on and jump in a taxi. Going to a show without weeks of anticipation and expectation is great.
The Lonesome Organist opened and he was great.
We didn't get to hear any Neil Young covers but I did get my favorite Ween, Baby Bitch. The crowd energy was a lot of fun ... like a big sing along of nerds, video gamers, aging jam band followers and kids tripping on mushrooms. I'm a sucker for sci-fi/alternate world type things, so I can appreciate the detailed and silly mythology that runs through Ween lyrics. I especially liked The Golden Eel. The highlight of the night though was the cover of Oh Yoko.
I love a lot of the John Lennon solo material, Working Class Hero is up there with all time favorite songs, but some of the really intimate and vulnerable love songs (and photographs) make me pause. It feels like listening in on a couple having sex or reading love letters that were not addressed to me. There is no attempt or desire to make the song more accessible or universal: it's about a specific, real relationship. A song like Something, on the other hand, is so easy for just about everyone to step inside and understand in the context of their own relationships.
None of that changed for me last night, I was still thinking very specifically about Yoko Ono and John Lennon when Gene Ween sang their song, but the weird context allowed me to hear it with totally new ears. It sounded really beautiful and charming instead of filled with embarrassing, over share. I don't love the goofy voices thing that Gene Ween does in some songs and was glad that this was just a straightforward cover-- no mocking, no irony, just a song he liked and wanted to do.
I'm doing one of my favorite things this morning, it's probably not high on the list for many people though. I've got the Jewel Autumn Harvest Aladdin tea pot full of green tea; a big stack of pots, pans and dishes from last night's holiday dinner with my friend C.; my apron; my purple rubber gloves; and the iPod set to shuffle. I'm going to dive into kitchen clean up after a great dinner and a big mess.
Shuffle has been good for me so far - Christmas Eve started off with The Golden eel (!) by Ween and then launched into Powderfinger.
I'm going to one of my favorite Chicago theaters tonight to see Monsters of Folk. I wanted to do something music this weekend but I have to work tomorrow and have a 15k run early Sunday morning.
(photo from http://www.explorechicago.org)
Bob Dylan and his Band are at the Aragon Ballroom and that would be fun, but I have decided I will not go see Bob Dylan. I never have and made that decision about 15 years ago. If I get a time machine and can go back to the early 70s okay, but other than that I think it would just make me sad. (Who am I kidding, if a bunch of people were going I would go too, I just won't go out of my way and seek it as a musical thing rather than a social one.)
Tomorrow night Roky Erickson is playing at the Bottom Lounge but I think a late night show before a long run would be a bad idea. I saw Roky Erickson last year at the Double Door and it was actually kind of sad. He seemed uncomfortable on stage and spent a lot of the show with his back to the audience. I left hoping he really wanted to be doing the shows and was enjoying the experience rather than being manipulated or taken advantage of by guardian. The documentary about his You're Gonna Miss Me is very interesting and it is worth watching the bonus material section about his mother. Worth watching in a "Grey Gardens" kind of crazy way.
Roky Erickson would be good Halloween music though, and I've been thinking about Halloween music lately. I made cards to send out to friends this year that had a "record player" motif. I made a little LP and wanted to write the name of a Halloween song. I decided they pretty much all stink. When I looked at various playlists people have for Halloween they tend to put a lot of goth and Alice Cooper and songs that mention the devil. I suppose that works but it doesn't seem really Halloween to me. Same with the Rocky Horror Picture Show soundtrack.
Top Halloween songs on many posted playlists are the dreaded Monster Mash, Werewolves of London and Thriller. I'm good with Michael Jackson but Thriller is not my favorite. Love the album, love the dancing, will bow down to the ground breaking video and pop culture milestone of it all. I even love the zipper jacket but I don't love that song. I especially hate that Vincent Price spoken word part.
Bela Lugosi's Dead, Nemesis, and Voodoo Lady would make it onto my Halloween playlist. I'm surprised how many online lists have left off Ministry's (Everyday is) Halloween, I guess the kids today are not into early Ministry. I loved With Sympathy when I was in high school. During graduate school, I supervised a freshman guy who really liked Ministry. But he liked Ministry in 1992, not Ministry in 1983. He was absolutely crushed when I lent him With Sympathy and Twitch to discover that his metal band started out making poncy dance music.
For my Halloween card, I decided that only about 2% of the recipients would remember (if they ever knew) early Ministry (you know who you are!)I made up my own song name. I really, really wanted to include a band name (The Raisinettes) but the space was too small and my writing too sloppy to fit it in. But thinking about it was fun. When I get home from work tomorrow night, I'm going to make a big bowl of pasta carbonara (carb loading!)and listen to my own Halloween playlist. Maybe I'll even get myself a big candy bar -- no little fun sized treat for me.
