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L'Shanah Tovah Tengo

Raise your hand if you love  Yo La Tengo.  Well, mazeltov and  Happy New Year.  What better way to ring in 5767 than with the new YLT?  "I'm Not Araid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass."   No, don't go off in a Huffington, that's the name of the album. 
I admit I do  boast about how I was friends with YLT's Ira Kaplan in college, but that's mainly because I enjoy remembering how he introduced me to my first cheese steak. (It was at Philly Mignon on 8th Street, maybe you went there after a Rocky Horror Picture Show down the street at the Waverly.) I admit I was skeptical about the notion of melting cheese on top of grilled steak-this was, after all, the 1970s--s but the day after we'd made our midnight run into the city I realized I couldn't stop thinking about that bad boy.

But Ira also turned me on to lots of great music too, like the Kinks and the Flamin Groovies and now he, his wife Georgia Hubley and "That Skinny MF With The High Voice" James McNew have just put out their 16th (or thereabouts) album of intelligent, shimmering music. They put on generous, exciting shows and are coming to DC on  Tuesday. I'll be there, will you?

Me and Kinky Friedman

I've been a fan of the Kinkster since his days as a touring partner of Bob Dylan, witty singer songwriter and with his band, the Texas Jewboys, performer of such classics as "They Don't Make Jews Like Jesus Anymore" and "I'm an Asshole from El Paso."  He  skyrocketed to success in 1984 with the first of his comic mysteries starring himself, his friends, and a thinly drawn plot. I've borrowed this formula for my novel in progress, Murder in the Propaganda Factory, in which every word is true, except for the parts that aren't. 
Now, of course, Kinky Friedman is running for Governor of Texas in a four way race that, as Dan Rather would say, is tighter than a tick on a jackrabbit..or something like that  Read all about Kinky's campaign here as he runs for the office once held by George W. Bush.  As Kinky likes to observe, if he could do it, how hard can it be?

Got to Revolution, Got to Revolution!

Attended both the Greenfestival (where I met the Ode family and friends of this great magazine) and the March on Washington today.  As a consequence, I got to hear Jim Hightower twice.  (The first time I heard Jim was in 1976, when he was Sen. Fred Harris' campaign manager in his great race for  President.  Do readers recall Harris' great campaign slogan?  "The issue is privilege.")

  I'll try not to be cynical today about the "peace movement" but I will say this:  we need some more songs.  Listening to Steve Earle sing his instant patriotic classic "F*@# the FCC" (as true blue American a song as "This Land is Your Land") was a thrill.  But where are today's Volunteers by the Jefferson Airplane, For What It's Worth by Buffalo Springfield, or CSNY's version of Joni Mitchell's Woodstock?  Steve Earle said it this afternoon, he's said it before:  music can change people's lives and change the world.  What songs would go on your list, either for antiwar impact or just plain activism.  Billy  Bragg, of course...what else?

Have You Heard Hem?

The courtyard at Mass MoCa was the scene of an extraordinary, unforgettable evening of music last night.  Like my other fave raves, Hem has three strong songwriters, but unlike the Fanclub Hem has only one lead singer.  Sally Ellyson's voice haunts, inspires and transports you, and rings true like a bell.

The Berkshire Eagle (or "Beagle") reviewer felt much the same way, although he had some quibbles others might question, not me, I believe in free speech and Bobby Kennedy...

Taking a Break from Politics: A Teenage Fanclub Fan's Notes

"Songs are what I listen to, almost to the inclusion of everything else.  I don't listen to classical music or jazz very often, and when people ask me what music I like, I find it very difficult to reply, because they usually want names of people, and I can only give them song titles.  And mostly all I have to say about these songs is that I love them, and want to sing along to them, and force other people to listen to them, and get cross when these other people don't like them as much as I do."

      Nick Hornby, "31 Songs"
      Chapter 1:  "Teenage Fanclub: Your Love is the Place Where I Come From" 

A Fan's Notes is a great book about being a fan (in this case football, which I know and care nothing about) and so was Hornby's High Fidelity.(If you've only seen that movie --or this one-- read the book(s).)

Teenage Fanclub is one of my favorite bands too --probably my #1 Fave Rave. Norman Blake, Gerard Love and Raymond McGinley each have distinctive songwriting styles, and with Francis Macdonald working up a sweat at the drum kit the band is giving tour audiences this summer some great shows. 

Through the magic of the internet, I joined up with some people who are even more diehard fans of the band than I am for shows in DC and NY.  We started talking about books that get the world of music, bands and fans right.

Fargo Rock City  by Chuck Klosterman was recommended by one of the cool rock chicks in attendance and if it had been about idealistic folk music, which I was listening to in high school instead of heavy mental (that's an old David Johansen line) I probably would have read it before now.