― Shakey Mo Collier, Thursday, 30 January 2003 18:04 (twenty-one years ago) link
january 10, 2003
a happy 2003 for all. very sad about joe strummer passing from this life, strangely on the same day as d. boon did (december 22), seventeen years later. he will be missed. let me relate a funny thing about me and d. boon when we were younger: as boys, we were way into the who but never realized that folks like them from england in those days sang rock w/u.s. accents. later, when we first heard english punk rockers sing, we were convinced that a cat like joe strummer sounded the way he did cuz he was singing w/a cigarette in his mouth or something. it was a mindblow for us to find out he was actually singing w/the same accent that he talked like. weren't we a couple of corndogs, huh? me and d. boon liked that first clash record, the one w/the green cover and the singles that came out before it. we saw them w/the dils and bo diddly, saw kickboy get hurt by asshole bouncers. I put joe's name in a song I wrote for d. boon back then called "history lesson, part two." bye, joe.
― J (Jay), Thursday, 30 January 2003 18:41 (twenty-one years ago) link
What an exciting band! Firehose plays funky, uptempo music with an infectious spirit of adventure. Funk, folk, prog, (good) poetry, and totally original songwriting are all extant, united only by a an incredibly tight band. And trust me, in the technical department, firehose is definitely one of the best bands I've ever heard. Every groove is perfectly locked in, not like a machine, but like road dogs who have been rehearsing together, night and day, for decades. But this is no wankfest, and Firehose bears no relation to any "jam" band. The songs are intelligent, economic (few break the 3-minute barrier) and sometimes very affecting. Standout tracks: "Locked In","This", and "Things Could Turn Around," which sounds like a stripped down, mournful Yes demo Rating: 9 out of 10
― Squirlplise, Thursday, 30 January 2003 18:56 (twenty-one years ago) link
juist before i went on holiday in december I was arguing with anthony miccio. it was a clash vs minuteman thing.
― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Thursday, 30 January 2003 23:59 (twenty-one years ago) link
― "Chester" McCormick, Friday, 31 January 2003 01:02 (twenty-one years ago) link
Absolutely heartbreaking and mindblowing and smile-inducing. I've seen Mike Watt live a couple times, and each time he's done some old Minutemen tunes. He shook my hand and I helped him load stuff in (I got to the club early, due to miscommunication.) He's one of my heroes.
Search:-"Do You Want New Wave Or Do You Want The Truth?"-"Sickles & Hammers" (awesome instrumental later covered by Sebadoh)-"Cohesion" (also an awesome instrumental)-"Joy"-"Bob Dylan Wrote Propaganda Songs"-"Shit From An Old Notebook"-"History Lesson, Part II"-"Jesus & Tequila"-"Shit You Hear At Parties"
Destroy:-the covers EP, "Tour Spiel"-some of the early stuff (mostly the latter half of the "Politics of Time" comp.) because it sounds like it was recorded with a mic buried under a few inches of dirt.
Classic.
― Ian Johnson, Friday, 31 January 2003 01:15 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Pete Scholtes, Thursday, 6 February 2003 23:06 (twenty-one years ago) link
I never really listened to much Minutemen before, but I spent this afternoon watching We Jam Econo and I think I could definitely become a fan. I wasn't expecting such joyful sounds, what a trip
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 29 January 2013 01:04 (eleven years ago) link
oh man you are in for a treat
― some dude, Tuesday, 29 January 2013 01:09 (eleven years ago) link
I'm excited!
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 29 January 2013 01:23 (eleven years ago) link
― some dude, Monday, January 28, 2013 7:09 PM (15 minutes ago)
so otm
― Dr. Alfred P. Falfa (WilliamC), Tuesday, 29 January 2013 01:25 (eleven years ago) link
srsly
― let's go do some crimes (strongo hulkington's ghost dad), Tuesday, 29 January 2013 01:27 (eleven years ago) link
i wanna watch we jam econo now
that and the fugazi doc always make me want to, you know, go out and do something with my life
Yea, enjoyed Jam Econo and have fond memories of seeing those guys in DC and Baltimore gigs.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 29 January 2013 02:02 (eleven years ago) link
Yeah I think the fact that it's so personal makes Jam Econo really just undeniably cool and inspiring.
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 29 January 2013 02:34 (eleven years ago) link
and I was blown away by the amount of live footage, like did they have friends with a video cam just filming from day 1 or
and Mike Watt's mom is A+
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 29 January 2013 02:35 (eleven years ago) link
they really are just one of the most inspiring bands ever, to me. i should get that on DVD, i only saw it once when they screened it at the black cat in DC.
― some dude, Tuesday, 29 January 2013 02:37 (eleven years ago) link
Streaming on Netflix, if you have that.
― Dr. Alfred P. Falfa (WilliamC), Tuesday, 29 January 2013 02:39 (eleven years ago) link
One of the bands I'm most glad to have seen live (last NYC show, Oct '85).
― saltwater incursion (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 29 January 2013 02:41 (eleven years ago) link
wow awesome
― some dude, Tuesday, 29 January 2013 02:43 (eleven years ago) link
no way! awesome work, morbz!
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 29 January 2013 02:48 (eleven years ago) link
saw them on my 16th birthday in Pomona. I preferred more emo/goth stuff at the time but man did they ever bring it, no-one could deny
― available for sporting events (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Tuesday, 29 January 2013 02:52 (eleven years ago) link
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 29 January 2013 02:53 (eleven years ago) link
most of my classmates saw them a whole bunch of times. they gigged constantly. I never saw the Gun Club, because they never played all-ages shows, which pisses me off to no end.
― available for sporting events (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Tuesday, 29 January 2013 03:00 (eleven years ago) link
if you really cared you would have gotten a fake id, or aged yourself somehow
― let's go do some crimes (strongo hulkington's ghost dad), Tuesday, 29 January 2013 03:02 (eleven years ago) link
perhaps via some sort of ray
― let's go do some crimes (strongo hulkington's ghost dad), Tuesday, 29 January 2013 03:03 (eleven years ago) link
Minutemen were one of those bands that no matter what bill they were on they would not take no for an answer. They just brought it.
One of the most interesting observations I read (or is it in the doc?) noted what a top heavy drummer Hurley was. While his peers would be all bass-snare-bass-snare, he's doing all these rolls and fills and crashes.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 29 January 2013 03:19 (eleven years ago) link
One of my biggest musical regrets is passing up 2 chances to see them in 1985. I was only 15 but double nickels was already a favorite, I don't know what I was thinking or what seemed more important to do those nights...
― Be Glad for the Snorg Has No End (Jon Lewis), Tuesday, 29 January 2013 03:21 (eleven years ago) link
Yeah George was a very melodic drummer
― Be Glad for the Snorg Has No End (Jon Lewis), Tuesday, 29 January 2013 03:22 (eleven years ago) link
xpost yeah that was in the doc. and the way he leans foward, like he's going to propel over the front of the kit - he's a trip to watch!
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 29 January 2013 03:23 (eleven years ago) link
When I saw him a few times with fIREHOSE, he would sort of spin his forelock.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 29 January 2013 03:31 (eleven years ago) link
Cool!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36hSmhQdXeY
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 29 January 2013 03:32 (eleven years ago) link
You can see him spin his hair here!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxCpF5r8QmY
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 29 January 2013 03:33 (eleven years ago) link
okay that's rad
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 29 January 2013 03:46 (eleven years ago) link
how can ed from ohio be old?
― Be Glad for the Snorg Has No End (Jon Lewis), Tuesday, 29 January 2013 04:08 (eleven years ago) link
he looks like mark e smith with Snape's hair.
Always warms my heart reading love for the Minutemen on here. Which reminds me: I'm talking to Mike Watt on Friday! I'll be sure to link to the interview when it's up some time next month.
― wronger than 100 geir posts (MacDara), Tuesday, 29 January 2013 09:55 (eleven years ago) link
what's the deal with his upcoming tour macdara? any idea who he's playing with?
― a la recherche du tempbans perdu (NickB), Tuesday, 29 January 2013 09:58 (eleven years ago) link
The deal with his upcoming tour: http://hootpage.com/hoot_ilsogno-d-m-labustagialla.html
― Three Word Username, Tuesday, 29 January 2013 10:23 (eleven years ago) link
There's a date for Dublin on 4 March (though tickets aren't on sale yet) hence my contacting for an interview. He's been a very busy man the last few years, hopefully he's happy to talk all about it!
― wronger than 100 geir posts (MacDara), Tuesday, 29 January 2013 11:16 (eleven years ago) link
I should check out that new album with the Italian guys on Spotify. Anyone heard it?
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 29 January 2013 15:31 (eleven years ago) link
It's good, I've listened to most of it, need to give it another spin or two tomorrow. Definitely a mellower experience than the Third Opera.
― wronger than 100 geir posts (MacDara), Tuesday, 29 January 2013 17:20 (eleven years ago) link
Saw them in April 1985 in Providence, eight months before D. Boon died. Amazing night. I remember Boon using duct tape to fix a problem with his guitar — probably something you wouldn’t see The Edge do.
― Jazzbo, Tuesday, 29 January 2013 18:44 (eleven years ago) link
listening to Double Nickel On A Dime right now fyi
:D
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 29 January 2013 18:47 (eleven years ago) link
oops i mean double nickelS on THE dime
(rookie mistake)
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 29 January 2013 18:49 (eleven years ago) link
I never got to hear 'em until about a week or two before Boon died. :( Couldn't find their records in my time, but Muchmusic aired the videos for "King of the Hill" and "This Ain't No Picnic" on their "underground" show.
― Sir Lord Baltimora (Myonga Vön Bontee), Tuesday, 29 January 2013 18:55 (eleven years ago) link
...couldn't find their records in my TOWN. But "time" works too, since I didn't find a copy of "Double Nickels" until nearly a year later.
― Sir Lord Baltimora (Myonga Vön Bontee), Tuesday, 29 January 2013 18:59 (eleven years ago) link
So I spoke to Mike Watt for like an hour-and-a-half yesterday. Man I was nervous as hell - it was my first phoner, and it's intimidating meeting your heroes! - but he was totally gracious and cool, of course. Lots to transcribe but I'll post the link when the piece is done.
― wronger than 100 geir posts (MacDara), Saturday, 2 February 2013 09:12 (eleven years ago) link
― double pickles on the wein (k3vin k.), Monday, July 6, 2009 10:05 PM Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
― manti 乒乓 (k3vin k.), Saturday, 2 February 2013 16:41 (eleven years ago) link
Another typo: The Punch Line, not The Politics of Time.
― Chris L, Monday, 25 September 2023 13:28 (seven months ago) link
not sure if Hellier Ulysses are still an ongoing concern, but they had a slightly more boffin-y take on the Minutemen / Ron Johnson sound
― massaman gai (front tea for two), Monday, 25 September 2023 13:48 (seven months ago) link
Traps PS adapt the Minutemen blueprint in a more dance-punk direction and with more atmospheric production.
― wronger than 100 geir posts (MacDara), Monday, 25 September 2023 15:41 (seven months ago) link
thread reminding me to listen to the bandsplain episode on the minutemen
― that's not my post, Monday, 25 September 2023 18:15 (seven months ago) link
also paper mice's "the funny papers" is more NMN than minutemen but is excellence in a similar vein
― massaman gai (front tea for two), Monday, 25 September 2023 20:10 (seven months ago) link
not so contemporary but ahleuchatistas' "what you will"(2006) is very minutemen-y instrumentals.watt himself with belfi & pilia as "il sogno del marinaio" does very well, espec on their second cd, and also as member of "the hand to man band"
― massaman gai (front tea for two), Tuesday, 26 September 2023 05:36 (seven months ago) link
although the hand to man band is more languid beefhearty red krayola than herky jerk
― massaman gai (front tea for two), Tuesday, 26 September 2023 05:52 (seven months ago) link
Interesting that want for a band like a contemporary equivalent to a band while doingtheir own thing thing. Have had a simiilar question for a new MC5 that would somehow still sound as individual while picking up on a similar array of influences. But can't sound like teh band they're an equivalent to because that would undermine the request or whatever. Minutemen were a product of their times so swept up into hardcore while still being as individual as they were. So had some kind of external influence somewhat directing their sound.Would like to find other bands as original and a few of them did wind up on SST at the same time as the Minutemen. Did the underground/alternative scene factionalise after a point so the subcultural Venn overlap drift apart and you don't get as many bands having a framework sound to mess around with and find their own take on to the same degree. Or are the pistols and the Clash etc still as important an influence outside of generic punk . Like just thinking taht without the presence of a punk scene would these bands have been even more maverick and have wound up just doing their own thing and being completely unknown. Would they have been able to gig and thereby develop their own sound without having a wider movement like that to add momentum and tap into. The band obviously picked up on some current UK bands though probably more Wire, Gang of Four and the Pop Group bands who themselves were cherry picking what influences they picked up from the pool while adding in their own. I think there are direct quo9tes from Pop Group instrumental passages on Double Nickels.
I thought for a moment that maybe the back catalogue was being looked at and hopefully remastered.
― Stevo, Tuesday, 26 September 2023 10:14 (seven months ago) link
You remember right Stevo, there was an Insta post from John Golden over a year ago where he was doing new stampers for Double Nickels, but who knows if they were remasters from the tapes or a refresh of the latter-day ones without the run-out grooves on LP1.
I also get what you’re saying in general and it’s a point that’s been made before: that some artists are so unique (or at least synthesise their influences in such a unique way) that defies future iteration by those it influences. Everyone knows the old saying about The Velvet Underground but there’s a fundamental simplicity there that was easy to pick up on. Whereas there’s an argument to be made that the music (in the style of) of the Minutemen could only have been made by the Minutemen and that specific musical and personal interplay between Watt and D. and George, a ferment of musical and political ideas, the head and the heart, etc.
― wronger than 100 geir posts (MacDara), Tuesday, 26 September 2023 11:58 (seven months ago) link
one element of the band would be its individuality so as soon as it starts sounding like a version of an earlier band it loses that element. Possibly a bit Catch 22 but I think of note.
& yeah may be down to interpersonal chemistry within the band. Might be of note to see the difference between bands picking up on largely teh same influences and see how much the band interpersonal chemistry changes things between bands. Assuming it is a given that different players will pick up on the same influences in different ways and so on.
Hoping that teh process of playing is a process of reinvention. The philosopher Gadamer has a great perspective on tradition taht I'm reminded of there. where what keeps a tradition able to continu8e is the process of continual reinvention of a core idea/set of ideas.
― Stevo, Tuesday, 26 September 2023 12:21 (seven months ago) link
I know it's essentially a question without an answer: "Who is totally unique but sounds like these other guys?" But I was also thinking of the other part of the question, "but still has a similar sense of groove?" They incorporated disparate genres and elements in a way that was jagged and sharp but also loose. I've heard plenty of bands who draw on eclectic influences but end up sounding all over the place (black midi) or like the Red Hot Chili Peppers or Primus. So the question is more, "who has a similarly refined aesthetic?" I know there will be another Watt and D. Boon. There have been some interesting suggestions so far.
― Chris L, Tuesday, 26 September 2023 13:10 (seven months ago) link
I haven't heard a great deal of Parquet Courts but they seem like something that would about fit the bill. Also White Denim
― Stevo, Tuesday, 26 September 2023 13:34 (seven months ago) link
> I know it's essentially a question without an answer:
I think it's not even possible without the fourth Minuteman: President Ronald Reagan.
> "but still has a similar sense of groove?"
But for the death-before-midrange and jazz sympathies between the players, this Kurws album comes the closest for me:
https://kurws.bandcamp.com/album/dziura-w-getcie-hole-in-the-ghetto
― Terrycoth Baphomet (bendy), Wednesday, 27 September 2023 13:24 (seven months ago) link
This is probably cheating but Big Walnuts Yonder:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bfraz58MpI
Nick Reinhart, Mike Watt, Nels Cline, and Greg Saunier
― citation needed (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 27 September 2023 14:26 (seven months ago) link