I love that motherfucking band but it's so hard to get information on them.
anyone?
― pppp, Wednesday, 16 November 2005 05:15 (7 years ago) Permalink
― js (honestengine), Wednesday, 16 November 2005 17:47 (7 years ago) Permalink
― Brooker Buckingham (Brooker B), Wednesday, 16 November 2005 18:13 (7 years ago) Permalink
― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Wednesday, 16 November 2005 18:19 (7 years ago) Permalink
― 6335, Wednesday, 16 November 2005 18:57 (7 years ago) Permalink
pppp
― pppp, Wednesday, 16 November 2005 23:29 (7 years ago) Permalink
― maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Wednesday, 16 November 2005 23:30 (7 years ago) Permalink
― Mugged Outside the Jabberjaw, 1993 (Bent Over at the Arclight), Wednesday, 16 November 2005 23:46 (7 years ago) Permalink
that band could really piss people off in the early days. i remember seeing them for the first time on a skin graft package tour with you fantastic, mount shasta (?), collosamite...i didn't quite know what to think but i somehow was drawn to it...
― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Wednesday, 16 November 2005 23:49 (7 years ago) Permalink
― Mike Dixn (Mike Dixon), Tuesday, 3 January 2006 02:25 (7 years ago) Permalink
just make your bedroom goddamn great
― congratulations (n/a), Tuesday, 1 December 2009 19:19 (3 years ago) Permalink
i didn't really like purple on time when it came out but now i'm loving it.
― Mountain Dewm (M@tt He1ges0n), Tuesday, 1 December 2009 19:29 (3 years ago) Permalink
i was listening to acre thrills through my ps3 (because i don't have a cd player in my living room right now) with the visualizer on and it was like a slideshow of planets and stars and space, it was hilarious
― congratulations (n/a), Tuesday, 1 December 2009 19:32 (3 years ago) Permalink
For all that people dismissed Al Johnson as the most disposable member, I was amazed by how much I missed him when I finally heard the Singer album.
― dlp9001, Tuesday, 1 December 2009 19:37 (3 years ago) Permalink
al disposable??? heresy.
btw, ritman's new thing, D. Rider, is WAAAAAAAAY better than singer
― Mountain Dewm (M@tt He1ges0n), Tuesday, 1 December 2009 19:55 (3 years ago) Permalink
i bought the d. rider album, can't really get into it for some reason :/ the vinyl/packaging is awesomely obnoxious though, it's like turquoise and neon orange
― congratulations (n/a), Tuesday, 1 December 2009 19:57 (3 years ago) Permalink
isn't there another project, not singer or d. rider, but a group w/the other USM guitar player? i can't recall the name of it
― Lowell N. Behold (Lowell N. Behold'n), Tuesday, 1 December 2009 21:13 (3 years ago) Permalink
Miracle Condition.
I really like that Singer album, but maybe I am just willing to cut ex-US Maple guys (and Robert AA Lowe) a decent bit of slack. If anyone has the cd and too much free time, take the insert with the linoleum floor on it, place it over the floorboards on the back of the jewelcase and then stand up the cd booklet on it. It forms...some kinda room. As rad as a Mad Fold-in.
― Robert Necrofrost, Thursday, 3 December 2009 00:18 (3 years ago) Permalink
I went through a period of trying to describe this band to people who hadn't heard them.
― bamcquern, Thursday, 3 December 2009 00:24 (3 years ago) Permalink
I just realized that there is a former member of US Maple (about which I know absolutely nothing) in one of my favorite my local synth groups. Huh.
― these albatrosses have no fear of man (La Lechera), Thursday, 18 October 2012 15:58 (7 months ago) Permalink
US Maple is so good, though super-strange. What is the synth group btw?
This one is great and kinda rocks traditionally for them:
― grandavis, Thursday, 18 October 2012 16:12 (7 months ago) Permalink
Dhalgren -- lots of stuff on bandcamp, and I can recommend it without reservation. They're doing a new recording thing on Sundays.
― these albatrosses have no fear of man (La Lechera), Thursday, 18 October 2012 16:15 (7 months ago) Permalink
Thanks, always interested in what the U.S. Maple folks are doing, though I didn't love Singer or D. Rider as much as I wanted to.
― grandavis, Thursday, 18 October 2012 16:18 (7 months ago) Permalink
Flashbacks! Al Johnson and Mark Shippy were originally in Shorty, a band on the Skin Graft label. They were the first band I saw at the Empty Bottle after they relocated on Halloween night, 1993. I had mutual friends with Pat Samson and Todd Rittman, who were in Mercury Players. I loved that band, but they didn't really take off. I used to have a 7" of theirs but I can't seem to find those records. Another old acquaintance dated one of them for a long time during U.S. Maple years, but I haven't heard anything lately other than Dhalgren, indeed a quality synth band.
― Fastnbulbous, Thursday, 18 October 2012 16:32 (7 months ago) Permalink
Once saw US Maple (who my wife can't stand) play the U of C's tiny WHPK studio. She really had to go to the bathroom but was afraid to walk around the band-in-progress for fear of collateral Al damage.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 18 October 2012 18:49 (7 months ago) Permalink
Are all of their songs that groovy? What else should I listen to?
― these albatrosses have no fear of man (La Lechera), Thursday, 18 October 2012 18:53 (7 months ago) Permalink
This is my jam:
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 18 October 2012 18:56 (7 months ago) Permalink
dead rider (or d.rider) is really good
― i dox in yellow gox dox socks (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Thursday, 18 October 2012 18:58 (7 months ago) Permalink
I like groovy/messy songs with lyrics that are totally unintelligible or just nonsense repeated over and over and over -- will check it out! I feel like I've heard of this band forever but their name was so boring that I never checked them out. My loss!
― these albatrosses have no fear of man (La Lechera), Thursday, 18 October 2012 19:01 (7 months ago) Permalink
...until today
― these albatrosses have no fear of man (La Lechera), Thursday, 18 October 2012 19:02 (7 months ago) Permalink
I like groovy/messy songs with lyrics that are totally unintelligible or just nonsense repeated over and over and over
Me too!
― sarahell, Thursday, 18 October 2012 19:12 (7 months ago) Permalink
u.s. maple is the greatest for realz
― i dox in yellow gox dox socks (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Thursday, 18 October 2012 19:13 (7 months ago) Permalink
sang phat editor is a great, underappreciated album
― charlie the luna (strongo hulkington's ghost dad), Thursday, 18 October 2012 19:20 (7 months ago) Permalink
One of my favorite bands and a hugely important band to me personally. I saw them several times and I cherish every one of those shows.
The greatest.
― chr1sb3singer, Thursday, 18 October 2012 19:54 (7 months ago) Permalink
local noise band Tips for Twat remind me of them a little bit, though slower and shaggier
― there is no dana, only (goole), Thursday, 18 October 2012 20:11 (7 months ago) Permalink
by local i mean mpls for those at home.
i mean, two detuned-ass guitars, it's not rocket science i guess
Ooh Shorty! I have a 7", "Fresh Breath" I think? Did they make an album?
― nice suit (flamboyant goon tie included), Thursday, 18 October 2012 20:26 (7 months ago) Permalink
La Lechera, if you like one or two U.S. Maple songs you will probably like them all. The album "Acre Thrills" is a good starting point, but people differ on which is their favorite. "Sand Phat Editor" is also great.
― grandavis, Thursday, 18 October 2012 21:01 (7 months ago) Permalink
I have liked two so far, so I'll look around for that album. What a pleasant surprise in a day full of not-pleasant not-surprises.
― these albatrosses have no fear of man (La Lechera), Thursday, 18 October 2012 21:02 (7 months ago) Permalink
my take:
Acre Thrills is the best starting point IMOSang Phat Editor & Talker are probably the most "US Maple" albums of their discography, Talker is particular is them taking their sort of bizarre weird quiet disjointed approach to its extremesLong Hair in Three Stages is great, but def feels "early", they haven't quite shed the late 80s touch&go type stuff, but i think it's awesomePurple On Time - they changed drummers and came back with a more straightforward "rock" (using straightforward and rock only in relation to their earlier stuff), it felt like a betrayal to me at the time but now i love it and right now it's probably my favorite and i wish they would have continued as a band
― i dox in yellow gox dox socks (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Thursday, 18 October 2012 21:16 (7 months ago) Permalink
Yes to Acre Thrills. Start there for sure.
Mark Shippy stuck a guitar pick to my sweaty forehead while they were playing. Rad night.
― Burgled Hams (Old Lunch), Thursday, 18 October 2012 21:19 (7 months ago) Permalink
haha awesome.
they were something live! man...
― i dox in yellow gox dox socks (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Thursday, 18 October 2012 21:21 (7 months ago) Permalink
Really sad that I never saw this band live. Somehow they just never came near me at the right time. I can only imagine what it was like for people in the audience who didn't know what was coming.
― grandavis, Thursday, 18 October 2012 21:40 (7 months ago) Permalink
didn't they open for pavement at some point? i can't even.
― charlie the luna (strongo hulkington's ghost dad), Thursday, 18 October 2012 21:47 (7 months ago) Permalink
there's also something about the way he speaks in interviews that makes me think it's partly mental illness that's at play. I almost wonder if he avoids reading because of how strongly it affects him.
― michael bolton's reckless daughter (Hurting 2), Thursday, October 18, 2012 3:53 PM (24 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
lol if so...wow....i only saw them on skin graft tours w/likeminded bands and labelmates mostly
― i dox in yellow gox dox socks (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Thursday, 18 October 2012 22:16 (7 months ago) Permalink
hahaha! that's xposted from neil young thread!
goodnatured lols!
― these albatrosses have no fear of man (La Lechera), Thursday, 18 October 2012 22:18 (7 months ago) Permalink
haha C&P errors very much in character i guess
― i dox in yellow gox dox socks (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Thursday, 18 October 2012 22:20 (7 months ago) Permalink
i actually saw US Maple twice! but i never quite "got" them. think i should give it another go.
― tylerw, Thursday, 18 October 2012 22:22 (7 months ago) Permalink
they did, and it was very VERY funny
― stop swearing and start windmilling (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 18 October 2012 22:23 (7 months ago) Permalink
one of the only times I've seen a band in a huge venue (the Fillmore) aggressively antagonize the audience, who were booing and throwing shit
― stop swearing and start windmilling (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 18 October 2012 22:24 (7 months ago) Permalink
Also, has anyone ever seen Bob Odenkirk and Al Johnson in the same room?
― If Assholes Could Fly This Place Would Be An Airport, Friday, 19 October 2012 23:51 (7 months ago) Permalink
Hey, Ian Williams was in High Fidelity toohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppJAkN4m9bY
― Mike Dixn, Monday, 22 October 2012 10:51 (6 months ago) Permalink
wow al johnson totally ripped off his acting
― congratulations (n/a), Monday, 22 October 2012 15:06 (6 months ago) Permalink
Being a midwestern dude, I saw bunches of those Skin Graft/Quarterstick/Thrill Jockey/Touch & Go bands over the 90s etc. but US Maple was a band I never could take a liking to at all. I saw them twice and both times wanted either crawl out of my skin or get an axe handle and flip out. It was just way too annoying, made The Cows seem like a good time, easy listening band. I saw Shorty even a couple times and kind of dug them, but US Maple I couldn't get at all.
I got the time I saw Royal Trux too which I also found to be incredibly out of whack annoying live, but eventually I did hear a record and realize "oh THAT's what they were trying to do."
Dazzling Killmen- unbelievable musicians, records not as good as live.Cheer Accident- tunes & band that could turn on a dime...very cool. Mt. Shasta- saw them at same gig with Shorty and Bloomington band Pencil (who were on Grass records w/ Brainiac before t&g)
― earlnash, Monday, 22 October 2012 22:35 (6 months ago) Permalink
nick of dazzling killmen/colossamite has a new band called Xaddax, good stuff:
― terrell sug (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 22 October 2012 22:36 (6 months ago) Permalink
I connected with an old acquaintance, Scott, for the first time in about 18 years. He recorded what was supposed to be the first Mercury Players album, Damn. I'm hoping I can convince one of the members to Bandcamp that sucker.
Mark Shippy plays in a number of projects, including a band called Miracle Condition along with original Maple (and Mercury Players) drummer Pat Samson. They've put out 68 Degrees mini album in 2009, and a self-titled full-length in 2010. Some great noise/psych/shoegaze. They're playing the Empty Bottle (w/ Grimble Grumble & Whales, $8) on November 15th!
http://miraclecondition.bandcamp.com/
Todd Rittmann has a band called Dead Rider (formerly D. Rider) who are exceptional. Scott said the latest album is one of his all-time favorites. I'm picking up a copy after work! I can't believe I slept on that. Steve Albini didn't -- they opened for Shellac in August, and they are playing at the Shellac-hosted All Tomorrow's Parties at Camber Sands Holiday Camp, UK, Nov 30-Dec 2!
Dead Rider - The Raw Dents (Tizona, 2011)http://cockasnook.bandcamp.com/track/mothers-meathttp://deadrider.us
― Fastnbulbous, Wednesday, 24 October 2012 15:59 (6 months ago) Permalink
Oh, and Al Johnson is the only one not currently active in music. He is now living in my old hometown, Dubuque, IA, havin' a family.
― Fastnbulbous, Wednesday, 24 October 2012 16:02 (6 months ago) Permalink
Wonder what it will be like when the kids see videos of his old band.
― grandavis, Wednesday, 24 October 2012 17:27 (6 months ago) Permalink
man, what's there to do in dubuque i wonder
― goole, Wednesday, 24 October 2012 17:35 (6 months ago) Permalink
Not be in a band for one
― grandavis, Wednesday, 24 October 2012 17:37 (6 months ago) Permalink
i bet the dubuque not being in a band scene is pretty vibrant, yeah
― goole, Wednesday, 24 October 2012 17:40 (6 months ago) Permalink
My friend's parents live there, he could give me some ideas. I think it's mostly mischief, and avoiding East Dubuque.
― ɥɯ ︵ (°□°) (mh), Wednesday, 24 October 2012 17:40 (6 months ago) Permalink
When I was growing up in the 70s and 80s, Dubuque was an extremely depressed industrial town, with massive layoffs from the meat packing plant and John Deere. One passtime I had was throwing railroad spikes at rats down by the Corner Tavern ;) I liked to call it Satan's Taint. It's cleaned up a lot the past decade, given the gambling casinos, new convention center, a winery at the former location of the Star Brewery (where parts of Take This Job and Shove It were filmed, along with F.I.S.T. with Sly Stallone, in which my gramps was an extra). It's also sort of a Midwest tourist destination along with Galena and House On The Rock (which is featured in a great scene in Gaiman's American Gods) with riveting features like the bluffs overlooking Lock & Dam #11, 4th St. Elevator and Julien Dubuque's grave. There's actually a bar that hosts some good touring bands lately called Off Minor at 1689 Elm St.
For some reason, Dubuque is regularly referenced in books, movies and TV, as some sort of mythical Midwestern city that nobody on the coasts have ever been to. It was just mentioned in Elementary last week, the Sherlock Holmes show with Johnny Lee Miller & Lucy Liu.
― Fastnbulbous, Wednesday, 24 October 2012 18:08 (6 months ago) Permalink
Early Mercury Players tracks. Hope it works, I can't test it here. http://chestfirst.blogspot.com/2010/01/mercury-players-5-songs.html
― Fastnbulbous, Wednesday, 24 October 2012 18:32 (6 months ago) Permalink
That makes me wistful for my industrial midwestern adolescence.
― these albatrosses have no fear of man (La Lechera), Wednesday, 24 October 2012 18:35 (6 months ago) Permalink
xpost. That Dead Rider album is pretty great, and thanks for the heads-up. Interesting because you can hear bits and pieces of US Maple, but it comes off very much as its own thing. The next-to-last track morphs into something that sounds very Bowie (Low/Lodger) that has me hitting repeat a lot.
― dlp9001, Saturday, 27 October 2012 15:37 (6 months ago) Permalink
Ok I have a new favorite -- Total Fruit Warning.
― these albatrosses have no fear of man (La Lechera), Monday, 29 October 2012 20:41 (6 months ago) Permalink
aw y'know that's my #1 mapes track too!i'd recommend the arto lindsay trio's "aggregates 1- 26" to anyone who hasn't heard it & wants maple-wise ticklage. the dry cubist DNA thing gets a bit more fluid, but it's still scratchy / fractured & arto's growly singing voice is clowny no-wave blues-geek hilarity.
― iglu ferrignu, Monday, 29 October 2012 21:43 (6 months ago) Permalink
"whoopee invader" off of purple on time. is another fave. about their live performance, i was surprised at the frequency of rittman's secondary vocals, and how i mistook them for al johnson's vocals on their albums.
― braunld (Lowell N. Behold'n), Tuesday, 30 October 2012 15:22 (6 months ago) Permalink
Man, "Whoopee Invader" is so good. Biggest plus of this thread revive is that I am relistening to Purple On Time for the first time in a long time and it is so cool. It's like their classic rock/glam record, if that makes sense.
― grandavis, Thursday, 1 November 2012 15:52 (6 months ago) Permalink
Thanks, always interested in what the U.S. Maple folks are doing, though I didn't love Singer or D. Rider as much as I wanted to.― grandavis, Thursday, October 18, 2012 12:18 PM (2 weeks ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― grandavis, Thursday, October 18, 2012 12:18 PM (2 weeks ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
this Invisible Things record is amazing -- sadly only three tracks from it are up on bandcamp: http://invisiblethings.bandcamp.com/
― a slow tempo, and existential lyrics with YOLO imagery. (crüt), Thursday, 1 November 2012 15:56 (6 months ago) Permalink
Whoa, thanks crüt. More Mark Shippy! Can't listen right now but looking forward to it.
― grandavis, Thursday, 1 November 2012 16:07 (6 months ago) Permalink
Arto Lindsay album (with Melvin Gibbs and Dougie Bowne?) is awesome.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 1 November 2012 16:31 (6 months ago) Permalink
All my posts today are basically "this is on Spotify" but anyway, Invisible Things is on Spotify...
― dlp9001, Thursday, 1 November 2012 21:26 (6 months ago) Permalink
Cool interview with Al Johnson here.
I’m fascinated with the degradation of language; I am also disgusted by it. Languishing linguistics, slurring, mispronunciations, street-slang, street-code, conversations one can and cannot make out. I love the mumbled death. This is where I pulled from. I continue to do so
La Lechera, is this your favorite band yet?
― xanthanguar (cwkiii), Monday, 5 November 2012 21:21 (6 months ago) Permalink
I can totally tell from their song titles that he's like that. I love the mumbled death.
<3
― these albatrosses have no fear of man (La Lechera), Monday, 5 November 2012 21:24 (6 months ago) Permalink
wow awesome interview....thanks!
― captain angeroo (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 5 November 2012 21:36 (6 months ago) Permalink
I remember two things: chasing a cockroach while eating a Snickers bar outside the venue before the show and then tumbling off the stage in beautiful slow motion.
― xanthanguar (cwkiii), Monday, 5 November 2012 21:42 (6 months ago) Permalink
He has an impeccable ear for detail, that's for sure.
― these albatrosses have no fear of man (La Lechera), Monday, 5 November 2012 21:43 (6 months ago) Permalink
poor Adam Vida was on clean-up crew that night;_;
― these albatrosses have no fear of man (La Lechera), Monday, 5 November 2012 22:53 (6 months ago) Permalink
magic job!
― passion it person (La Lechera), Wednesday, 19 December 2012 19:05 (5 months ago) Permalink
Hell yeah. One of the few U.S. Maple songs you can say has a killer groove. Really fun walking down a city street listening to U.S. Maple, especially songs like "Magic Job".
― grandavis, Wednesday, 19 December 2012 20:24 (5 months ago) Permalink
I know I can't resist spinning some classic Al Johnson moves when I do that
― Master of Treacle, Thursday, 20 December 2012 01:36 (4 months ago) Permalink
Really sad that I did not see this band live. Which I already said upthread. But shit, I wish I had seen this band!
― grandavis, Thursday, 20 December 2012 02:59 (4 months ago) Permalink
More accounts of the Pavement tour would be great
― Master of Treacle, Thursday, 20 December 2012 03:33 (4 months ago) Permalink
Seconded. I assume that at least someone in Pavement was a fan, as otherwise that would have been crazy.
― grandavis, Thursday, 20 December 2012 16:21 (4 months ago) Permalink
So I was reading about larva trapped in amber that was discovered in Spain that carries trash to camouflage itself, and the phrase "dense trash packet" reminded me of US Maple. Can I be an official fan now?
― passion it person (La Lechera), Saturday, 29 December 2012 16:40 (4 months ago) Permalink
good mental association imo
― mh, Saturday, 29 December 2012 17:20 (4 months ago) Permalink
"Dense Trash Packet" would certainly make a good U.S. Maple song title, so yes, you are an official fan!
― grandavis, Sunday, 30 December 2012 15:38 (4 months ago) Permalink
For some reason I just remembered the MC Paul Barman line, ”I almost threw up when I saw you at US Maple”
― Andrew WKRP (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Tuesday, 8 January 2013 01:17 (4 months ago) Permalink
Some recent Al in Dubuque:
― grandavis, Friday, 5 April 2013 20:02 (1 month ago) Permalink
wow thanks for sharing. that's the most i've ever heard Al speak.
― ums (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 8 April 2013 17:19 (1 month ago) Permalink
It's pretty cool for sure, interesting mix of approaches!
― grandavis, Monday, 8 April 2013 17:22 (1 month ago) Permalink
also reading maple lyrics, crazy!
― ums (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 8 April 2013 17:22 (1 month ago) Permalink
Yeah, I loved that bit. So weird without the music. I have never had to memorize lyrics, but I imagine that I would need to remind myself of a bunch of them (or read them) if I did this kind of thing.
― grandavis, Monday, 8 April 2013 17:24 (1 month ago) Permalink
First album is getting reissued on vinyl w/metal sleeve and the bonus track. Nice.
― dlp9001, Friday, 12 April 2013 15:01 (1 month ago) Permalink
original is super expensive now so that's cool
― ums (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Friday, 12 April 2013 19:55 (1 month ago) Permalink
oh word? pretty sure both mrs. a & I have our copies from our chicago days
― not feeling those lighters (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Friday, 12 April 2013 20:06 (1 month ago) Permalink
http://www.discogs.com/buy/Vinyl/US-Maple-Long-Hair-In-Three-Stages/22249499?ev=bp_titl
― ums (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Friday, 12 April 2013 20:12 (1 month ago) Permalink
whoa
― not feeling those lighters (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Friday, 12 April 2013 20:20 (1 month ago) Permalink