for the first time in years, probably since 2004, i have valid reason to give phish positive praise for something they've done: webcasting shows. it's really a brilliant idea, in all honesty. i mean, put yourself in their shoes: they're already getting more or less $75 per ticket and sell out every show with no problems at all. Why not make $15 more bucks and sell the show on the internet to (at the very least) twice as many people than you're reaching solely in the venue. with the festival streams this summer (hangout, bonnaroo, etc.), shit - now i don't have to pay for over-priced festival tickets, rent a condo, deal with the festivality in all its entirety.
i can't even begin to explain how nice it is to have the following taken away from the "going-to-see-a-phish-show" experience:
- the fucking scuds - i don't have to hear "moooooooolllllyyyyyy" or get hit up for smokes by every anti-showering hippie in the place. as a matter of fact, i don't even have to walk around the entire lot, or park my car, or do any of that shit. i'm on the couch. all the heady bros are at the show sweating it up and brah'in out in their own wookie ass way, and i don't have to deal with even one of 'em.
- this is an extension of point 1, regarding the crowd, and i don't need to explain this any further: "A drug is not bad. A drug is a chemical compound. The problem comes in when people who take drugs treat them like a license to behave like an asshole."--Frank Zappa
- a/c - i'm sitting comfortably in my recliner, drinking old charter, and am comfortable. i'm not fighting over seats, scheming to sneak over the rail when the usher isn't looking, watching out for wookies who are doing just that... and i'm in the confines of my very own home. plus, i have my own shitter to go to when they play "wading in the velveeta cheese" or any other flimsy new song they purport.
- soundboard - i actually get to see the band (which isn't that great now because as cheesy as trey has gotten, with the signs and all and the singing along, i just don't get it). i think the theory that as musical artist get older, they just naturally cheese out - so it seems to be heading in such a direction for phish. i predict that in the next year, going to see a phish show will be eerily similar to watching an episode of espn college gameday, with all the signs and overbearing crowd participation. playing songs that people write on signs - that's not the spontinaeity i'm looking for in such a band. don't take cues from the people in the crowd. please.
- did i mention that i have my very own shitter? just can't beat that.
so, i tip my hat to the boys - the first tip of such a hat in a long time. i'm glad that people are enjoying it, that they're playing the songs correctly (at least - although they're "banging them out" more so than in the past), and seem like they're having fun.
http://thejonspencerbluesexplosion.com/
in the midst of recent boredom of my music collection, i revisited many artists i had previously left behind for some odd reason. the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion is one of those bands that i liked but never loved. until now. funny how time passes and things relapse and old habits become new, but i'm now diggin' them more than ever. maybe it's the fact that i love R.L. Burnside so much and the fact that Jon Spencer had so much respect for him and Junior Kimbrough and the other lesser known blues legends that made me return to great albums like Orange and Now I Got Worry, but it just makes me think also about the fact that music, like books, is something that you can get sick of - but as soon as you let it be, you find yourself thinking right back to it.
i just apprehended the remastered versions of most of the Blues Explosion and i'm enjoying every ripping minute. i remember back when myself, Owen, and the jew saw the Blues Explosion open up for Modest Mouse before they became less modest and too popular. now this was in New Orleans in 2001 or so back when you could do whatever the fuck you wanted to do in New Orleans and it was cool - as long as you didn't stab anyone. now we were all in rare form because it was the jew's birthday and we were raring to get at it. plus, the Les Claypool Frog Brigade was opening for Galactic the next night, so this was just a warm up. without delving into any individual state of being, we were right on time and not expecting much from the show but a good time out, aural and visual stimulation to keep our minds focused, and New Orleans. but i'll honestly admit i've never felt compelled to plug my ears during a show - but Jon Spencer provided plenty of opportunity.
this was during the lesser vivid points in my life, so i'm bereft of detail, but i know one thing: the jew was having issues because the Blue Explosion was getting to him. this is when i know there's a force to be reckoned with. owen partook in less than the rest, but knew what we were seeing and we were both pretty much looking at each other in the most inquisitive way that says mutually, "jesus christ, these guys are fucking rocking my head." the awful girl with big lips from The Real World: New Orleans was there, and i'm very sure we scared her away. not rare form for us, but you can only share with those you respect. you were on tv. congrats. you still suck.
amongst the operative clouds around us at the CAC, no one was really paying much attention to the Blues Explosion; i mean, three white guys, one wearing leather pants who seems to try to sound too much like Elvis, playing "the blues" isn't too much of a draw for most people. but holy shit, these guys were doing for blues what R.L. did once he got Cedric and Kenny Brown behind him and turned up the electric sound. unreal. it was one of those quandaries where you peak after the opening band and the billed band is but background fodder. pretty much because i couldn't hear correctly after Jon Spencer left the stage. just the way i like it.
but i'm thoroughly enjoying my revisitation of the Blues Explosion and am hoping that i can catch them on the road sometime. in all honesty, i found it very strange that their records have been remastered since hardly anyone i know has ever heard of them. but i'm glad. very glad.
i miss R.L. a whole lot and if you ever read any interviews with Jon Spencer, it makes me feel good to listen to someone who literally stood in awe of such a man in his presence. i got chills reading a quote by Jon, regarding his recording An Ass Pocket of Whiskey with R.L. in Oxford, MS:
“It was pretty intimidating to go down [to Mississippi] and record with R.L. since he’s such an idol of mine,” says Spencer, who toured with the guitarist/singer in 1995. “You definitely get the feeling you’re playing for him, rather than with him."
my cousin was tour manager for R.L. and took him to Europe and such and tells me stories that make me appreciate R.L. for the simple man he was. i beat myself up every time i listen to the man regretting the fact that i took him for granted in my college years when he'd play frat house parties and R.L. wasn't the focus for me. fucking regret it every day. i've had the pleasure and luck to hang out with Kenny Brown and Cedric Burnside and relished every minute, i've shot the shit with B.B. King multiple times - but, now, can only imagine the complete awe i would feel to hang with R.L. and hear those stories in person.
these kinds of artists are the ones that never get the fame they deserve, but that's what i love. i don't even think the Blues Explosion wants the fame: they already own it. that's special. they haven't sold out and they won't. that's special. the blues is something special - and i'm not just talking about the Delta blues. there are other facets and the MS hill country blues is something that people like Kenny Brown are keeping alive. and you know what? Kenny doesn't want fame, recognition or anything of the like for himself. R.L. adopted him as his own son, and Kenny plays for R.L. and his family - not for himself. that's special. something you'll never see unless you're at Roosters on a slow night with Sox, drunk as hell listening to Kenny Brown wail on a slide guitar. nothin' like it.
lookin' for tour dates, Jon. play the blues, punk!
