I'm really, really into this record (and by the way the book is brilliant too). Anyone else heard this yet?
― Roger Fidelity (Roger Fidelity), Sunday, 13 February 2005 21:13 (nineteen years ago) link
― Omar (Omar), Sunday, 13 February 2005 21:40 (nineteen years ago) link
― Dave Segal (Da ve Segal), Sunday, 13 February 2005 22:18 (nineteen years ago) link
― Andrew Blood Thames (Andrew Thames), Monday, 14 February 2005 14:10 (nineteen years ago) link
― Mike Dixn (Mike Dixon), Monday, 14 February 2005 17:24 (nineteen years ago) link
― Roger Fidelity (Roger Fidelity), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:56 (nineteen years ago) link
The Howling Hex featuring Neil Michael Hagerty, "All Night Fox" (Drag City) -- Once upon a time, not so long ago, they were called Neil Michael Hagerty and the Howling Hex. The new incarnation of the band, however, has apparently grown up enough to stand on its own. The Howling Hex, now "featuring Neil Michael Hagerty," continues its rock 'n' roll onslaught with "All Night Fox," a welcome addition to the Drag City discography.
"All Night Fox" is a mess of sloppy sounds that are continually scooped into a listenable form by Hagerty and crew. By far the best album from the group under the Howling Hex name, "All Night Fox" sounds a little old, a little new and a whole lot awesome.
The best improvement is the addition of female vocals, supplied by Lynn Madison, who also plays drums, and July McClure, who plays bass guitar. The female vocals add a sexiness to the music that compliments Hagerty's hard-hitting, drier vocals. Peter Denton supplies a tight rhythm guitar that holds it all together. It's rock music done in the best fashion: loud, raucous and over far too soon, leaving you wanting more.
It looks like this may be a cd only release, by the way...
― Mike Dixn (Mike Dixon), Tuesday, 22 February 2005 21:41 (nineteen years ago) link
― Mike Dixn (Mike Dixon), Tuesday, 22 February 2005 21:42 (nineteen years ago) link
That it is. I saw it in two stores last week and was told that same thing, so I didn't buy it. I have four HH LPs, I'm not switching formats for another.
― Vic Funk, Tuesday, 22 February 2005 23:17 (nineteen years ago) link
(ps Mike - the Dredd Foole album on Ecstatic Yod)
― roger adultery (roger adultery), Wednesday, 23 February 2005 01:25 (nineteen years ago) link
― The Argunaut (sexyDancer), Friday, 25 February 2005 18:41 (nineteen years ago) link
― The Argunaut (sexyDancer), Friday, 25 February 2005 18:46 (nineteen years ago) link
― The Argunaut (sexyDancer), Friday, 25 February 2005 18:55 (nineteen years ago) link
― A Viking of Some Note (Andrew Thames), Saturday, 26 February 2005 01:41 (nineteen years ago) link
― roger adultery (roger adultery), Saturday, 26 February 2005 02:17 (nineteen years ago) link
Speaking of DC and weird practices, anybody know why they recalled the Bastro releases? DC's just reissued a shitload of Louisville/Grubbs material (the two Squirrel Bait records, a bunch of Gastr Del Sol stuff, a bunch of Dexter's Cigar stuff, the first King Kong single), but these Bastro albums which they'd been declaring for months would be reissued suddenly aren't.
― Vic Funk, Saturday, 26 February 2005 02:51 (nineteen years ago) link
― n/a (Nick A.), Saturday, 26 February 2005 03:01 (nineteen years ago) link
Also conclusively demonstrates what a flimsy piece of shit that RTX album was/is.
― Yoluka, Saturday, 26 February 2005 07:39 (nineteen years ago) link
I express the skepticism.
― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Saturday, 26 February 2005 07:44 (nineteen years ago) link
― Stormy Davis (diamond), Saturday, 26 February 2005 08:00 (nineteen years ago) link
(and I am a total Beefheart freek-a-zoid)
― Stormy Davis (diamond), Saturday, 26 February 2005 08:07 (nineteen years ago) link
― Yoluka, Saturday, 26 February 2005 08:34 (nineteen years ago) link
― morris pavilion (samjeff), Wednesday, 2 March 2005 17:29 (nineteen years ago) link
― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Wednesday, 2 March 2005 17:43 (nineteen years ago) link
And Roger, yes, Superwolf is on vinyl.It includes a little card extolling the virtues of cannabis vs. drink by Paul Bowles:“Cannabis sativa and its derivatives are strictly prohibited in Turkey, and the natural correlative of this prescription is that alcohol, far from being frowned upon as it is in other Moslem lands, is freely drunk; being a government monopoly it can be bought at any cigarette counter. This fact is no mere detail; it is of primary social importance, since the psychological effects of the two substances are diametrically opposed to each other. Alcohol blurs the personality by loosening inhibitions. The drinker feels, temporarily at least, a sense of participation. Cannabis abolishes no inhibitions; on the contrary, it reinforces them, pushes the individual further back into the recesses of his own isolated personality, pledging him to contemplation and inaction. It is to be expected that there should be a close relationship between the culture of a given society and the means used by its members to achieve release and euphoria. For Judaism and Christianity the means has always been alcohol; for Islam it has been hashish. The first is dynamic in its effects, the other static. If a nation wishes, however mistakenly, to Westernize itself, first let it give up hashish. The rest will follow, more or less as a matter of course. Conversely, in a Western country, if a whole segment of the population desires, for reasons of protest, to isolate itself in a radical fashion from the society around it, the quickest and surest way is for it to replace alcohol with cannabis.”
as well as a liner note dedication by Oldham to "the Sween-dog" that made me laugh out loud. The picture of Will and Matt on the back cover rules as well.
And yes, I'll buy the all-Night Fox cd, and supplement it with the lp if it ever does surface.(Sweet 16 was never issued on vinyl - the only other Hagerty recording given the same treatment (not counting 'Corpse Love')?)
― Mike Dixn (Mike Dixon), Wednesday, 2 March 2005 17:51 (nineteen years ago) link
― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 2 March 2005 17:53 (nineteen years ago) link
Or: any chance at all of snagging the LPs on SSK?
― Deric W. Haircare (Deric W. Haircare), Friday, 1 April 2005 01:44 (nineteen years ago) link
― Mike Dixn (Mike Dixon), Thursday, 28 April 2005 09:25 (eighteen years ago) link
Have you gotten your email blast from iTunes yet? If not, then let us break the news — there’s an exclusive online-only track from The Howling Hex ready for download now! “Sick and Old” is the name — but make no mistake, it’s for the young at heart as well as the sick and old. A song for everyone, could it be true? If it’s coming from The Howling Hex, anything could be true. Neil and co. are capable of anything — and they got the vision to try, too.
Speaking of The Howling Hex, this iTunes exclusive track is a precursor to the next phase — a phase involving more music, a film and even some live shows! It’s only been a few months since the release of the New Border classic, All-Night Fox, but already The Howling Hex are moving on. And why shouldn’t they? Life is short and inspiration is in ample supply. So before the end of the year, look for an all-new Howling Hex album, a DVD package and the wildest concerts you’ve attended in years. The Howling Hex is now a double-digit entity, with a full complement of musicians, actors and artists coming and going under the conductor’s wand of Neil Michael Hagerty.
We’ll have more news on the latest moves of The Howling Hex as soon as their carrier pigeon returns with the details. Stay tuned —
― Mike Dixn (Mike Dixon), Friday, 3 June 2005 14:54 (eighteen years ago) link
― Huk-L, Friday, 3 June 2005 14:58 (eighteen years ago) link
― Mike Dixn (Mike Dixon), Friday, 3 June 2005 15:00 (eighteen years ago) link
― roger, Monday, 20 June 2005 09:10 (eighteen years ago) link
THis is from the Royal Trux yah00 group:The show: When I entered the theatre (evidently the audience was prohibited at thattime), a woman, who I assume is Neil's wife, had taken control of the staff and players in the lighting configuration, stage set-up, so forth. When the configuration was complete, she disappeared, only to re-emerge (to my knowledge) at the end of the set. She had a very hands-off, distanced approach as in "I'll take care of these socialnegotiations and leave the rest to Neil." ~5'6", brunette, old-hipster vibe, drank a bit.Her affect reminded me heavily of Kelly. "I'm free for this moment."
Watched the opening band. Recorded one song. (I did not realize the members would later back up Hagerty). Short set.
HHex: 7-piece band. Hagerty, Mike Saenz, Dan Sylvester, and four players from The Theater Fire. No female vocalists! (Is Hagerty afraid of putting his wife, if she is indeed his wife and one of the vocalists, in the public eye?) Neil performed all of the vocals, save for occasional accompaniment. He would sing, then proceed to duck and conceal himself behind a monitor that he had draped with a painted gunnysack. I thought he was quite successful in his vocal execution, though I have yet to fully grasp the meaning of this act.
The band performed as a looped video was projected behind them. (I assume this will appear on the forthcoming DVD.) The band performed all songs on ANF, 60m set.The theatre was half full, ~60 people
I have 3m of "beautiful boy" (Allyssa) footage of images projected in sequence on Hagerty's face. The fire of a baked-bean can set ablaze.
____
Intellectually I understood that the project known of Royal Trux had reached an end (at least through the participation of N&J), but the woman's presence and the full band really cemented that fact.
More later.
http://theaterfire.com/albums/NewMexico/acq.sized.jpg(note wedding band. This photo is from the theaterfire.com site.)
― Mike Dixon, Saturday, 16 July 2005 17:08 (eighteen years ago) link
― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Saturday, 16 July 2005 17:41 (eighteen years ago) link
Neil was very accepting of circumstance, not feeling the need to police the quality of playing. (Though he did make the comment, "I can't afford daycare" which was either a slight against the band and/or a preface to "What, Man? Who Are You?!"). The band performed songs 1-6, 8 from ANF in that order ("Cast Aside the False" being a bit personal?). They sang about 70% of the lyrics of each song.
Stereo(?) stage set-up:Stage left: drummer (Sylvester), guitaristStage center: Neil, bassist, trumpet playerStage right: drummer, guitarist (Saenz), pedal steel player(? - my memory)
It took about 25m to achieve a fuller sound. Neil stretched the structure/pacing of the songs very harshly through his actions/antics.
― Mike2, Sunday, 7 August 2005 16:56 (eighteen years ago) link
― n/a (Nick A.), Friday, 19 August 2005 15:15 (eighteen years ago) link
― Outsider Enter Port City (sexyDancer), Friday, 19 August 2005 15:20 (eighteen years ago) link
― gear (gear), Thursday, 25 August 2005 17:18 (eighteen years ago) link
I YSIed the three vinyl-only deals in the Royal Trux thread.
Neil's blog is pretty confounding: http://hhex.blogspot.com/
― Mike Dixn (Mike Dixon), Thursday, 25 August 2005 20:00 (eighteen years ago) link
― Devil Made Me Do It, Sunday, 11 September 2005 01:42 (eighteen years ago) link
― Mike Dixn (Mike Dixon), Saturday, 1 October 2005 14:11 (eighteen years ago) link
― Huk-L (Huk-L), Saturday, 1 October 2005 17:17 (eighteen years ago) link
― Roger Fidelity (Roger Fidelity), Saturday, 1 October 2005 17:49 (eighteen years ago) link
― jon dale, Saturday, 1 October 2005 23:11 (eighteen years ago) link
― Mike Dixn (Mike Dixon), Wednesday, 12 October 2005 16:40 (eighteen years ago) link
nope, the keyboard player did previously play with smog and bright eyes tho.
i could be wrong but i don't think anyone who played these shows (the sax player matt bauder and the bassist josh abrams are the only ones i knew) played on the albums.
― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 12 October 2005 19:06 (eighteen years ago) link
― God Body, Wednesday, 12 October 2005 21:10 (eighteen years ago) link
― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 12 October 2005 21:23 (eighteen years ago) link
― George, Friday, 21 October 2005 06:17 (eighteen years ago) link
― Mike Dixn (Mike Dixon), Monday, 24 October 2005 14:14 (eighteen years ago) link
― Huk-L (Huk-L), Monday, 24 October 2005 14:26 (eighteen years ago) link
― Huk-L (Huk-L), Monday, 24 October 2005 14:27 (eighteen years ago) link
― Mike Dixn (Mike Dixon), Monday, 24 October 2005 16:19 (eighteen years ago) link
― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Monday, 24 October 2005 17:23 (eighteen years ago) link
― morris pavilion (samjeff), Monday, 24 October 2005 21:24 (eighteen years ago) link
― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Friday, 28 October 2005 03:18 (eighteen years ago) link
Will be curious to see what Hagerty fanz have to say about this one ...
― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Friday, 28 October 2005 18:10 (eighteen years ago) link
― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Friday, 28 October 2005 18:11 (eighteen years ago) link
What's wrong with the album, Tim?? Has it leaked?? Spill your guts, hombre!!
― God Body, Friday, 28 October 2005 20:47 (eighteen years ago) link
― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Friday, 28 October 2005 20:50 (eighteen years ago) link
― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 28 October 2005 20:55 (eighteen years ago) link
― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Friday, 28 October 2005 21:04 (eighteen years ago) link
― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Friday, 28 October 2005 21:05 (eighteen years ago) link
― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 28 October 2005 21:08 (eighteen years ago) link
― QuantumNoise (Justin Farrar), Friday, 28 October 2005 21:16 (eighteen years ago) link
― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Friday, 28 October 2005 21:18 (eighteen years ago) link
― Mike Dixn (Mike Dixon), Friday, 28 October 2005 22:07 (eighteen years ago) link
― Mike Dixn (Mike Dixon), Thursday, 3 November 2005 15:58 (eighteen years ago) link
― God Body, Sunday, 13 November 2005 09:27 (eighteen years ago) link
― Mike Dixn (Mike Dixon), Tuesday, 15 November 2005 21:28 (eighteen years ago) link
no-one saw the howling hex recently, did they? i'd got quite used to the album-every-six-months rhythm, i think they're overdue.
― schlump, Thursday, 12 June 2008 20:34 (fifteen years ago) link
According to the Drag City news page, Earth Junk is forthcoming. A little sleuthing indicates a 9/15 release date.
― Mike Dixn, Wednesday, 18 June 2008 20:58 (fifteen years ago) link
woo! alright. and on vinyl again, too. i thought with the last one being only partially hagerty-songs, and the uncustomary delay until this one, maybe they were changing things around a bit. i can't wait, though.
― schlump, Thursday, 19 June 2008 11:58 (fifteen years ago) link
Album cover / track list. I've gotta say that Royal Trux tended to have much better album art than either principal's subsequent work. The 1st NMH solo album, All Night Fox and XI all had good covers, the rest are quite ugly.
― Mike Dixn, Friday, 27 June 2008 19:51 (fifteen years ago) link
UH transmaniacon has fucking amazing art
― 69, Friday, 27 June 2008 19:55 (fifteen years ago) link
I saw 'em about 7 months ago at thee hemlock and it was amazing. XI was a little disappointing tho.
― Shakey Mo Collier, Friday, 27 June 2008 20:34 (fifteen years ago) link
UH transmaniacon has fucking amazing art I disagree! The skulls are merely okay, but the AC/DC font is awful.
― Mike Dixn, Friday, 27 June 2008 21:17 (fifteen years ago) link
Earth Junk is the best Howling Hex record to date. One of the many aspects that make it so unique is that many of the bass-lines are played on an organ. One feels unearthed by the lack of drums making it a very heady record with a strange sense of pop to it. One might appreciate Hagertys familiar fuzz or reverb. So many artists get caught in a web of familiarity with their discography. Many feel that if they stray too far away from their original vision that audiences may not warm up to something completely different. Though the sound on this record is completely unique, it still contains the new border sound found on other records especially NIGHTCLUB VERSION OF THE ETERNAL. The Southern New Mexican sound on the record that is much like traditional ranchero music that is also played in waltz time. This country pop record also reminds some of Mexican Polka music. The Howling Hex continues to challenge listeners and does not acquaint them with what they will expect.
Recorded in Austin in the late winter of early 2008, EARTH JUNK is a ramble in the dappled sunlight of the American southwest, twisted metallic folk-art in the ever changing breeze. Throw EARTH JUNK in your sound trunk - and keep on rolling. The Howling Hex will be there to greet you whenever - and wherever - you arrive.
i'm SO EXCITED about this. mexican polka?, no drums?, organ basslines? it's going to be amazing.
there's some youtube stuff from their last brooklyn show amid the incessant keyboard fumbling that is their website, too.
― schlump, Saturday, 5 July 2008 09:58 (fifteen years ago) link
This is one weird ass record. It most closely resembles the first solo album, but is really it's own thing.
― If Assholes Could Fly This Place Would Be An Airport, Wednesday, 16 July 2008 19:18 (fifteen years ago) link
i wannit. i wanna spoil my appetite. the recent records have kind of cut down on the total sprawl of the earlier stuff, so it's strange to hear a comparison. is it great? are there no drums?
― schlump, Thursday, 17 July 2008 12:35 (fifteen years ago) link
NO drums. Not sure if it's great yet. I really like it after two spins, though.
― If Assholes Could Fly This Place Would Be An Airport, Thursday, 17 July 2008 16:10 (fifteen years ago) link
Crazily, the 'mexican polka' reference in the bio is shockingly accurate
― If Assholes Could Fly This Place Would Be An Airport, Thursday, 17 July 2008 16:11 (fifteen years ago) link
i've been f5-aliving this thread waiting to hear about it, so thanks. i think drums are glorified clicktracks on a lot of music, so that's nice to know. have you got a promo? i don't think it's over the internets yet.
― schlump, Thursday, 17 July 2008 16:23 (fifteen years ago) link
still super excited.
― schlump, Wednesday, 30 July 2008 10:44 (fifteen years ago) link
so how is "earth junk"?
― Zeno, Friday, 3 October 2008 08:07 (fifteen years ago) link
pretty good according to the blog, ha-ha.
i'm picking my copy up on friday, because it sold out. i never knew anyone liked the howling hex til i found ilx.
― schlump, Tuesday, 7 October 2008 01:39 (fifteen years ago) link
So P4K gives it 4.5.As far as I'm concerned, I am pretty convinced after 1.5 spin that it is a "grower"
― baaderonixx, Wednesday, 22 October 2008 12:26 (fifteen years ago) link
i like it. i can't wait to have it on my headphones while walking around the city; it's got that hypnotic, breathless, looping thing some of the earlier records have. blood and dust's great, too.
― schlump, Wednesday, 22 October 2008 12:43 (fifteen years ago) link
i'm sort of clueless when it comes to this stuff, but the new one (Wilson Semiconductors) is great. weird, bubbly basslines, wah guitar freakouts, no drums.
― tylerw, Wednesday, 16 November 2011 19:35 (twelve years ago) link
Can't wait for this. Pre-ordered but I guess since Drag City LPs don't come with download codes (grrrr) I'll be hitting up S0u!5eek later on tonight.
― If Assholes Could Fly This Place Would Be An Airport, Wednesday, 16 November 2011 20:13 (twelve years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0Oxzv2uAok
have we discussed how much fun the new hex record is, i love playing it so much, it is built to bumble around an apartment to, half-bopping half-doing stuff
also Drag City LPs don't come with download codes (grrrr) x100000000, i am so bummed not to have this on my walkman
― quick brown fox triangle (schlump), Friday, 6 January 2012 19:55 (twelve years ago) link
dude i dont like it :(
im bummed to feel that way, but it just expands on the last drag city record in the exact wrong way, i think. im still onboard 4 lyfe but this is not a favorite.
― 69, Friday, 6 January 2012 22:17 (twelve years ago) link
rechecked You Can't Beat Tomorrow on a recent roadtrip, that one is still awesome
I like that new track okay, but am skeptical of a whole nother percussion-less album
― The Silent Extreme (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 6 January 2012 22:25 (twelve years ago) link
i love this, i think i maybe mentioned going back to it while we were in the sandbox but it's so strong, i found myself liking a bunch of different stuff instead of the jams i usually gravitated towards. s.c. coward. it's so loose & it has such a great room sound.
aw man i was wondering if you'd heard it! i just; it's just so well done i think, like i am half-listening to the song & half caught up in & sustained by the constant guitar backbeat-jerk; like i do see some links to stuff on earth junk that i liked well enough without wanting more of (the sorta velvets' murder mystery-esque songs like the one called something like arsenic and poison, which is great but sorta heavy), but it's so well put together, like his singing is always cut up into these different spacy registers and places, and there's some nice synthy detail going on under some parts of the songs. obviously if you are not feeling it you are not feeling it, but i've felt good about it everytime it's been on, while i've been cooking or w/e.
is it specifically the 'no percussion = i want out' thing about it that deters you shakes? bc it's very rhythmic with or without
― quick brown fox triangle (schlump), Friday, 6 January 2012 23:39 (twelve years ago) link
still digging this new album -- so weird sounding, but still catchy as hell. lots of neat interlocking parts. getting a beefheart vibe occasionally. anyhoo, thinking about seeing him live next week -- anyone know what the show is like? is it a solo thing?
― tylerw, Friday, 20 January 2012 17:10 (twelve years ago) link
I saw him on the XI tour and they were amazing, played stuff from all over the catalog, trading instruments, just a great vibe. have no idea what his touring act is like at the moment tho.
― “How you like that, Mr. Hitler!” (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 20 January 2012 18:01 (twelve years ago) link
have always been on my list & i've never been in the right place; i would totally go. the last thing i heard about was a new york show, they were a three-piece & played for hours.
― quick brown fox triangle (schlump), Friday, 20 January 2012 19:23 (twelve years ago) link
yeah I saw a really long set too
― “How you like that, Mr. Hitler!” (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 20 January 2012 19:24 (twelve years ago) link
ha, well, last night was *not* a long set -- probably only 45 minutes. and early too! he started at 930pm, which is not the norm for the venue. but fine with an old dad like me. music was awesome -- he had a very straightlaced, 50-something looking rhythm section who just oompahed away endlessly behind him as he tore out wild, fuzzy solos. only one song from the latest record, i think. apparently he lives in denver for the time being, so i think i'm gonna see him a lot in the next year. yay! maybe i can be in his band! i could definitely do what the bass player was doing last night.
― tylerw, Thursday, 26 January 2012 15:53 (twelve years ago) link
oh man that sounds so great. there was an auction of paintings and stuff on the hex site last year, I think prior to him leaving NM. hope you & NMH sync rhythms!
― quick brown fox triangle (schlump), Thursday, 26 January 2012 15:59 (twelve years ago) link
lol after the show i said to him "great show!" and he visibly recoiled. i'm in!
― tylerw, Thursday, 26 January 2012 16:00 (twelve years ago) link
also http://www.howlinghex.com/diary/1477/smokestack-lightning
xp ha ha. idk man, he seems to absorb his environs, so maybe you just have to loudly do your thing in the proximity & he will gravitate towards your sludge rock/high-pitched-voice country songs/whatever project
― quick brown fox triangle (schlump), Thursday, 26 January 2012 16:02 (twelve years ago) link
maybe! also, just looked -- the next show in Denver he's playing with Michael Gira!!!
― tylerw, Thursday, 26 January 2012 16:04 (twelve years ago) link
MG solo? sounds good
― quick brown fox triangle (schlump), Thursday, 26 January 2012 16:31 (twelve years ago) link
think i'm going to go see the Howling Hex again tonight in Denver! Who's with me! Sadly I missed the Gira show last month. Apparently Gira got reallllllllly mad at a chatty audience.
― tylerw, Friday, 20 April 2012 15:30 (twelve years ago) link
THURSDAY! Howling Hex June residency kicks off in Denver! Will go to at least two of them!
― tylerw, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 02:02 (eleven years ago) link
somewhat comically un-revealing interview w/ hagertyhttp://www.heyreverb.com/2012/06/06/howling-hex-interview/
― tylerw, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 19:34 (eleven years ago) link
lol @ dissing albums but not record companies
― retro-shittified (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 19:46 (eleven years ago) link
rad interview
― blossom smulch (schlump), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 20:20 (eleven years ago) link
haha! i actually kinda know the guy who did it. he's a good guy, i'm sure, you know, circumstances.
― tylerw, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 20:21 (eleven years ago) link
i was totally sincere! though i think the build up maybe makes the interview into something of a deadpan punchline.
i'm psyched you're catching this show anyway. these are still the group i wanna catch somehow sometime, i don't really know how. report back.
― blossom smulch (schlump), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 20:31 (eleven years ago) link
yeah will do. totally psyched he's in Denver for the foreseeable future.
― tylerw, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 20:33 (eleven years ago) link
currently uploading a terrible video i took at last night's show! well, the sound is OK, but the venue was incredibly dark. will post! great show!
― tylerw, Friday, 8 June 2012 15:30 (eleven years ago) link
what was the format? how many folks in the band?
― Stormy Davis, Friday, 8 June 2012 16:14 (eleven years ago) link
same band as a few months ago, just a bassist/drummer.
― tylerw, Friday, 8 June 2012 16:16 (eleven years ago) link
man. I was actually toying with the idea of coming out there in a couple of weeks to catch the Hag on Thursday and then Wilco on Fri/Sat at Red Rocks. probably not gonna happen tho
― Stormy Davis, Friday, 8 June 2012 16:29 (eleven years ago) link
DO IT. I'm definitely going to at least one more of these. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1PQ_U4gh88behold my superior videographer skills. the sound is OK anyway.
― tylerw, Friday, 8 June 2012 16:30 (eleven years ago) link
thanks tyler! i actually skipped through mid-solo because fuzz & youtube don't totally fit, but it sounds great. the set-up suits NMH pretty well, i think. i'd love to have seen the theater-fire lineup, but there's something neat about the minimal, repetitive thing they have going.
― blossom smulch (schlump), Friday, 8 June 2012 18:09 (eleven years ago) link
totally going back tonight! woooo.
― tylerw, Thursday, 28 June 2012 18:29 (eleven years ago) link
wooo. this rocked! pretty much the same deal as before, tho he actually played some shorter, punchier numbers. highlight is the epic march he closed out both shows with. forgot to take the camera.
― tylerw, Friday, 29 June 2012 17:06 (eleven years ago) link
only just remembered to check in w/this. sounds good. what'd you mean march? can't figure out if you mean an arkestral troop outta the venue or a shuffly norteno number.
― blossom smulch (schlump), Sunday, 1 July 2012 23:22 (eleven years ago) link
guy's blog is both amusing & coherent right now. weird rountable w/commenters going on about romance.
― , Blogger (schlump), Thursday, 9 August 2012 19:14 (eleven years ago) link
new album in feb. called "the best of the howling hex" but is indeed new material -- seems to be the stuff he was playing this year in Denver. sounds amazing.
― tylerw, Wednesday, 28 November 2012 22:45 (eleven years ago) link
hope it's better than wilson semis FWIW
― 69, Wednesday, 28 November 2012 22:53 (eleven years ago) link
awesome awesome awesome& great title. it was kinda longer, dirgier jams, right?
― absurdly pro-D (schlump), Wednesday, 28 November 2012 22:53 (eleven years ago) link
aww. i don't have my copy of WS with me so i can't spin it, but i have affection for it.
i really like wilson semis, but i think this one is better. last track is 24 minutes! so yeah longer, dirgier.
― tylerw, Wednesday, 28 November 2012 22:55 (eleven years ago) link
i really loved earth junk, but WS kind of was just a blah retread imo
― 69, Wednesday, 28 November 2012 22:56 (eleven years ago) link
this is p cool, incidentally:http://www.howlinghex.com/diary/1625/rehearsals-are-ongoing
whoa, tyler you have charmed NMH & gained access to his stack of tapes. i think i speak on behalf of everyone outside of your state when i ask if you can quietly post this to your blog.
― absurdly pro-D (schlump), Wednesday, 28 November 2012 22:56 (eleven years ago) link
ha, i just posted that & was like don't antagonise 69 about hating on wilson semiconductors again, let it lie. it's cool. some of earth junk i still love, other parts of it just aren't super enjoyable listening for me, including some of the best stuff on there. it reminds me of murder mystery by the velvets a little, like that. all this makes me wanna listen to WS, though, so. btw 69 i am for real missin your radio show, i hope you are on air again sometime.
― absurdly pro-D (schlump), Wednesday, 28 November 2012 22:58 (eleven years ago) link
xp haha, no, drag city just sent me the promo...
― tylerw, Wednesday, 28 November 2012 22:59 (eleven years ago) link
oh whoa & there's this too:
Navajo Rag: long form psychedelic mixing by Neil Hagerty and the Howling Hex, with mixing by Harpoon Forever & artwork by RAFTAR. 44 minuteslisten to the first couple minutes at soundcloud
http://soundcloud.com/osrtapes/the-howling-hex-navajo-rag
― absurdly pro-D (schlump), Wednesday, 28 November 2012 22:59 (eleven years ago) link
ha, okay. keep working toward that anyway. you're into it? i thought it was interesting the thing neil said about not really caring about records so just sending stuff to DC & letting them decide what to do with it.
― absurdly pro-D (schlump), Wednesday, 28 November 2012 23:00 (eleven years ago) link
first jam on the record for those not sitting around in smoking jackets supping cognac & talking pedals with NMH every week:
http://www.rockdelux.com/noticias/p/the-howling-hex.html
― absurdly pro-D (schlump), Wednesday, 28 November 2012 23:03 (eleven years ago) link
― absurdly pro-D (schlump), Wednesday, November 28, 2012 10:58 PM (6 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
awww u can antagonise me anytime. and thanks for the nice words about the show -- too busy with work stuff this week to do it today, and there's definitely been a lag in putting the links up on the archive page. did you see the link to the show ian and i did the other week when i was in NY? it was really fun!
― 69, Wednesday, 28 November 2012 23:07 (eleven years ago) link
aw no! i didn't, i am missing stuff, i'll go check it out. you guys are a dream team. the last thing i heard was you co-presenting with my buddy BN, i had no idea you guys knew one another, it was so lovely. on another note, i bumped this thread in yr direction a while ago: THE PIANO CHOIR
will keep lookin out anyway.
this new hex jam is good. not a zillion miles away from the last record.
― absurdly pro-D (schlump), Wednesday, 28 November 2012 23:12 (eleven years ago) link
should be noted that the final track is about 10 minutes long (with an unlisted bonus track tagged on there).
― tylerw, Wednesday, 28 November 2012 23:19 (eleven years ago) link
how is this? it's kinda expensive at the store & i can't jump right in right now.
― schlump, Wednesday, 27 February 2013 22:59 (eleven years ago) link
"traschan bahamas" song of the year so far imho
― reggie (qualmsley), Tuesday, 9 April 2013 14:00 (eleven years ago) link
http://osr-tapes.com/http://osr-tapes.com/images/hh.jpgNavajo Rag: long form psychedelic mixing by Neil Hagerty and the Howling Hex, with mixing by Harpoon Forever & artwork by RAFTAR. 44 minutes[free download]
― tylerw, Tuesday, 9 April 2013 14:53 (eleven years ago) link
tyler you rule. thanks
― reggie (qualmsley), Tuesday, 9 April 2013 18:09 (eleven years ago) link
haha, you're welcome. it's basically like an extension of the weirdo remix thing at the end of the new album.
― tylerw, Tuesday, 9 April 2013 18:17 (eleven years ago) link
NMH followed me on twitter. i guess he's on team follow back.
― congratulations (n/a), Tuesday, 13 August 2013 17:56 (ten years ago) link
what's his handle?
― tylerw, Tuesday, 13 August 2013 21:48 (ten years ago) link
@thehowlinghex
― congratulations (n/a), Tuesday, 13 August 2013 21:52 (ten years ago) link
Neil Hagerty @TheHowlingHex 9 Jul7 hot dogs, 8 buns...smdh
― tylerw, Tuesday, 13 August 2013 22:00 (ten years ago) link
howling hex are opening for bill callahan in denver this fall, totally psyched. show of the year.
― tylerw, Tuesday, 13 August 2013 22:02 (ten years ago) link
hey they're finally putting all night fox out on vinyl!
i already drowned him in a shallow stream but my younger self could have died happy hearing this
― love mike love (ko komo) (schlump), Friday, 6 December 2013 18:21 (ten years ago) link
ps tylerw still mad at whatever you had for dinner that kept you from the hex show
― love mike love (ko komo) (schlump), Friday, 6 December 2013 18:22 (ten years ago) link
i'm still mad too. i'm going to make up for it -- they're playing next week. holiday party with the hex!
― tylerw, Friday, 6 December 2013 18:23 (ten years ago) link
oh killer! forgiveness is in sight.i still find it hard living in a universe without periodic-frequency hex records, some kind of scheduled howling hex party would probably make up for this. lemme know what it's like.
― love mike love (ko komo) (schlump), Friday, 6 December 2013 18:26 (ten years ago) link
what did you think of the smog show btw? i felt less uniformly positive seeing him this time, maybe just compared to everybody else's matt-kinsey-shredding-effusiveness.
― love mike love (ko komo) (schlump), Friday, 6 December 2013 18:27 (ten years ago) link
it was great, though not as good as the last time -- i think my expectations were too high this time around! no real complaints about it (aside from the early start time!), just not as revelatory as the apocalypse tour.
― tylerw, Friday, 6 December 2013 18:48 (ten years ago) link
yeah. same i think. i feel like how elemental the last one was really fit with just like what the function of deep voiced bill callahan was. it's sorta harder to get that when it's interspersed with more like shredding & ornate instrumentation for me. but yeah. good times.
― love mike love (ko komo) (schlump), Friday, 6 December 2013 18:50 (ten years ago) link
I hadn't heard any of this aside from the Jefferson Airplane number, but it's worth a listen. Sort of what I'd expect a NMH mix tape to sound like after following the Howling Hex the past few years.http://kitrecords.com/guest-mix-neil-hagerty/
― Mike Dixn, Sunday, 15 December 2013 17:31 (ten years ago) link
yeah that mix is pretty interesting! show on saturday was great -- it is weird, i really do think they come across better live than on record, not sure why exactly. same general approach and rhythm section, but hagerty had switched up the guitar action a bit, heavy on the wah pedal now. wish it had been twice as long.
― tylerw, Monday, 16 December 2013 15:42 (ten years ago) link
http://www.dragcity.com/products/fool-s-watch-b-w-lord-gloves
whoopb-side soundin good
― schlump, Monday, 26 May 2014 06:33 (nine years ago) link
New "supergroup" Dan'l Boone
http://www.dragcity.com/news/2014-06-25-from-somewhere-comes-dan-l-boone
― Immediate Follower (NA), Wednesday, 25 June 2014 17:26 (nine years ago) link
sounds innaresting. there's this too (which I guess has the two tracks from the new 10-inch) - http://thehowlinghex.bandcamp.com/it's a steal!
― tylerw, Thursday, 26 June 2014 21:56 (nine years ago) link
does anybody have a translation for the drag city press release
― schlump, Friday, 27 June 2014 00:35 (nine years ago) link
Dan'l Boone playing their first two shows today and tomorrow in Chicago, thinking about going to tomorrow's show even though I haven't heard the album yet
― Immediate Follower (NA), Thursday, 25 September 2014 16:08 (nine years ago) link
http://www.howlinghex.com/ has been good lately.
― Mike Dixn, Friday, 12 December 2014 08:39 (nine years ago) link
In a 'why would NEIL HAGERTY bother making a jpeg of THAT?" kinda way.
― Mike Dixn, Friday, 12 December 2014 08:40 (nine years ago) link
Like, what the hell is this? http://www.howlinghex.com/post/99785237020
― Mike Dixn, Friday, 12 December 2014 08:43 (nine years ago) link
fao uk hex fans: https://twitter.com/TheHowlingHex/status/583338662626258945
― tender is the late-night daypart (schlump), Wednesday, 1 April 2015 19:05 (nine years ago) link
some US dates too, though these are being billed as neil michael hagerty shows?
http://www.dragcity.com/tours#neil-michael-hagerty
the hagerty-toth band LP coming out on three lobed soon is KILLER.
― tylerw, Wednesday, 1 April 2015 21:25 (nine years ago) link
oh yeah? what's it like? i am kinda phobic of RANGDA-wave wailing combo groups
― tender is the late-night daypart (schlump), Wednesday, 1 April 2015 23:26 (nine years ago) link
man I really wish people wouldn't give that guy (toth) any props here, his posting history is stuffed full of reasons to ignore/ridicule him
― sleeve, Thursday, 2 April 2015 00:33 (nine years ago) link
toth posts here? ha, i did not know...man i think i love RANGDA-wave wailing combo groups but this isn't really like that. it's pretty song-based actually. some oddball boogie, some weirdo sidetrips, new age mutterings. 18+ minute title track is super trippy.
― tylerw, Thursday, 2 April 2015 19:25 (nine years ago) link
Hagerty-Toth LP is wonderful. Bright weirdo jams; get some Television/Dead vibes. That guitar line on Sunset Dust is burnt into my mind. The interludes remind me of Joe Frank.
Streaming on the bandcamp and there are a few copies left in the Wooden Wand bigcartel.
― Tomás Piñon (Ryan), Sunday, 19 April 2015 05:02 (nine years ago) link
the track included w the Pfork review is great! After the letdown of Earth Junk I haven't been paying much attention, but this seems like promising
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 29 April 2015 15:53 (eight years ago) link
so cute that the guy who started this thread is now collaborating with hagerty.
― mizzell, Wednesday, 29 April 2015 16:02 (eight years ago) link
wait what
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 29 April 2015 16:10 (eight years ago) link
yeah this is a really fun record, would love it even if i had no idea who these dudes were
― tylerw, Wednesday, 29 April 2015 16:11 (eight years ago) link
Roger Fidelity = James Jackson Toth, iirc
― mizzell, Wednesday, 29 April 2015 16:13 (eight years ago) link
― sleeve, Wednesday, April 1, 2015 7:33 PM (4 weeks ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― Immediate Follower (NA), Wednesday, 29 April 2015 16:20 (eight years ago) link
huh I had no idea
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 29 April 2015 16:22 (eight years ago) link
yeah neither did i... what was the deal? old times ILE bust ups?
― tylerw, Wednesday, 29 April 2015 16:27 (eight years ago) link
i think he had some libertarian tendencies. don't remember specifics.
― mizzell, Wednesday, 29 April 2015 16:35 (eight years ago) link
this is a weird thread altho he's not entirely wrong about Kerry, who was a terrible candidate and m/l loathsome: Because why not: Roger Fidelity's own election day thread, one to the public
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 29 April 2015 16:41 (eight years ago) link
I vaguely remember people accusing him of being racist but when I search I only find people calling him racist but not what instigated those remarks.
― Immediate Follower (NA), Wednesday, 29 April 2015 16:41 (eight years ago) link
I agreed with him on this one!"Continuing coverage of the death of Anna Nicole Smith"
he was a weird poster. The Ann Coulter fandom is inexplicable. otoh there are plenty of jerks with tastes I don't share who made/make great music so who cares, basically
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 29 April 2015 16:44 (eight years ago) link
shudder to think what hagerty would be like on a message board tbh
― tylerw, Wednesday, 29 April 2015 16:46 (eight years ago) link
haha yup
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 29 April 2015 16:47 (eight years ago) link
Anyone plan on catching Hagerty on tour? Starts up May 1 in LA with Follakzoid. There's a flyer for a May 10 date in Seattle at the Black Lodge, but it looks like it was pulled off the site, though that may be because it's a DIY space.
― Tomás Piñon (Ryan), Wednesday, 29 April 2015 16:49 (eight years ago) link
NMH is pretty great on Twitter.
― Immediate Follower (NA), Wednesday, 29 April 2015 16:51 (eight years ago) link
haha, yeah he is pleasingly random on there. go see him if you have the chance! as you'll see in this thread, i've loved his live show for the past few years (though i have no idea what his current show/material is).
― tylerw, Wednesday, 29 April 2015 17:00 (eight years ago) link
wow! he is playing my town, I will totally go see NMH. this is the most I have ever seen him tour afaict.
― tender is the late-night daypart (schlump), Wednesday, 29 April 2015 17:02 (eight years ago) link
also dang this sounds funi take back everything i said
― tender is the late-night daypart (schlump), Wednesday, 29 April 2015 17:03 (eight years ago) link
Cancelled Seattle show. Some sort of beef with the promoter; saw Hagerty getting pretty livid with some folks. Super bummer.
:(
― Tomás Piñon (Ryan), Monday, 11 May 2015 06:06 (eight years ago) link
https://36.media.tumblr.com/a3d2216a23059dcc3806fefd6ec67939/tumblr_no7hecWMj51rkya77o1_540.jpg
Saw the show on Friday in Portland. It was pretty great. Seemed kind of like a mix of the polka stuff that he had been doing with the Hagerty-Toth Band stuff. Rambling spoken interludes. Tiny drum sound. His dizzying, hypnotic guitar work. Very happy I went. Haven't ever seen his solo live show before.
― Non-Stop Erotic Calculus (bmus), Monday, 11 May 2015 22:37 (eight years ago) link
nice. haven't watched yet but there's some video of them here: http://pressuredrop.tv/artists/the-howling-hexso there's no bass player in this lineup?
― tylerw, Monday, 11 May 2015 22:46 (eight years ago) link
No bass player...or at least not at the Portland show. It definitely lacked that propulsive "kick" but, as far as I can tell, Neil hasn't seemed too interested in that lately.
― Non-Stop Erotic Calculus (bmus), Monday, 11 May 2015 22:50 (eight years ago) link
...there's some video of them here: http://pressuredrop.tv/artists/the-howling-hex
That video is a pretty apt description of what I saw on Friday. The "Game of Dice" song (featured in the video you linked to) was one of my favorites of the evening.
― Non-Stop Erotic Calculus (bmus), Monday, 11 May 2015 22:56 (eight years ago) link
hmm maybe i should try to get word to hagerty that i am available to be the hex's new bass player
― tylerw, Monday, 11 May 2015 23:08 (eight years ago) link
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ca8XNgCUMAAHM0A.jpg
― tylerw, Thursday, 11 February 2016 15:19 (eight years ago) link
New album?
― Wimmels, Thursday, 11 February 2016 15:27 (eight years ago) link
yeah!DENVER OUT ON APRIL 15TH, 2016! Neil Michael Hagerty leads the Howling Hex back out into the sunshine with a new full length, their first since The Best of the Howling Hex back in 2013. This direction, explored in a pair of limited-edition singles released over the past two years, reaches a populist zenith on the new album, Denver, in which an entire community and geographic region are tapped for their energy, the celebratory pulses of which feed the new music of Neil Michael Hagerty and The Howling Hex!
The deeply principled, forward-facing manner of The Howling Hex is based in the now-ancient ways of rock and roll alchemy- the modding-up of ethnic idioms from regional traditional American sounds and the refitting of these rhythms with expressions of new youth, reckless within the contemporary lifestyle! Coupled with the beats, Neil's howling guitar sounds elevate themusic of Denver to an ecstatic communal expression, the likes of which will no doubt massage pleasure centers in the make-up of modern popular music listeners.
The music, when combined with the high-energy reflections of the city life and mountain scene that emanates from Denver, gives The Howling Hex their most powerful, accessible iteration, driven by the rhythm and accelerated by the gnarl of Neil's classic guitar playing. Travel to Denver with The Howling Hex on April 15th!
Neil Michael Hagerty and The Howling Hex are also headed to Europe in May for a gigantic tour! Catch them on the dates below and look out for more to come:
May 06 - in Ghent, Belgium at VOORUITMay 07 - in Rotterdam, Netherlands at ROODKAPJE SUB May 08 - in Brighton, UK at PRINCE ALBERTMay 09 -in Cambridge, UK at PORTLAND ARMSMay 10 in London, UK at MOTH CLUB May 11 - in Leeds, UK at HEADROWMay 12 -in Glasgow, UK at BROADCASTMay 13 -in Preston, UK in CONTINENTALMay 14 - in Brighton, UK at EXCHANGEMay 17 - in Hamburg, Germany in ASTRA STUBEMay 18 - in Copenhagen, Denmark in JAZZHOUSE May 19 -in Oslo, Norway in REVOLVERMay 20 -in Gothenberg, Sweden at FOLK May 30 - in Bologna, Italy at FREAKOUT CLUB May 31 -in Rome, Italy at FANFULLAJune 01 -in Genova, Italy at TEATRO DALTROVEJune 03 - in Barcelona, Spain at PRIMAVERA SOUNDJune 07 - in Geneva, Switzerland at CAVE12June 08 - in Paris, France at INSTANTS CHAVIRÉS June 11 -in Porta, Portugal at NOS PRIMAVERA SOUND
― tylerw, Thursday, 11 February 2016 15:33 (eight years ago) link
of course there's no denver date
LOL perfect
― Wimmels, Thursday, 11 February 2016 15:57 (eight years ago) link
hahahaha
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 11 February 2016 16:29 (eight years ago) link
he hasn't played in Denver in almost two years, i think! even though he obviously LOVES it here.
― tylerw, Thursday, 11 February 2016 16:34 (eight years ago) link
300 DAYS OF SUNSHINE
― tylerw, Thursday, 11 February 2016 16:36 (eight years ago) link
anybody seen this current tour?
― global tetrahedron, Wednesday, 7 September 2016 16:54 (seven years ago) link
Proof of lifehttps://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-howling-hex-with-special-guests-tickets-84999181841?aff=efbneb
― Mike Dixn, Thursday, 19 December 2019 00:02 (four years ago) link
I checked out his website/Tumblr recently for first time in a while; looks like he's selling homemade board games.
― I'm off Twitter, and high on life! (morrisp), Thursday, 19 December 2019 00:13 (four years ago) link
They're like download/print on demand type things but yeah. In the NMH tradition they are conceptually oblique and probably impossible to play.
― Mike Dixn, Thursday, 19 December 2019 01:07 (four years ago) link
I wonder if it is true that he has recently recorded three albums that haven't been released (as he said in one of those weird RTX interviews this year). I would love to get new Hex music at some point!
― I'm off Twitter, and high on life! (morrisp), Thursday, 19 December 2019 18:58 (four years ago) link
Hey, I just discovered (on my local streaming service) a HHex track I wasn't aware of... on this 2013 album. It's good!
― I'm off Twitter, and high on life! (morrisp), Thursday, 19 December 2019 19:05 (four years ago) link
Any other heads out there prefer Denver: Approved for Indica Mix to the original alb?
― I'm off Twitter, and high on life! (morrisp), Thursday, 19 December 2019 19:21 (four years ago) link
Gee I wonder who at the Denver Brunch game company was responible for this game?
JUNKY BINGOWin big to be the first to lose it all and win!NOW EVERYONE CAN PLAY BECAUSE EVERYONE CAN PLAY BINGO! You must battle to be the master of the bingo parlor while dodging drug lair dangers & murderous lies in your everyday life. Careful with that pizza money, choose wisely how it is spent. Who will be the perfect zero in J-U-N-K-Y BINGO?
NOW EVERYONE CAN PLAY BECAUSE EVERYONE CAN PLAY BINGO! You must battle to be the master of the bingo parlor while dodging drug lair dangers & murderous lies in your everyday life. Careful with that pizza money, choose wisely how it is spent. Who will be the perfect zero in J-U-N-K-Y BINGO?
https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/junky-bingo
― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Thursday, 19 December 2019 19:34 (four years ago) link
xp i dont prefer it, but its great, i play them just about equally
― warn me about a lurking rake (One Eye Open), Thursday, 19 December 2019 20:02 (four years ago) link
I'm assuming the "Denver Brunch game company" is a one-man operation
― Paul Ponzi, Thursday, 19 December 2019 21:01 (four years ago) link
B/c I'm bored, here's a quick & dirty ranking of the main Drag City albums (not counting the three released under the NMH name; and with 1-2-3 subbing in for the three Ltd. LPs):
Best OfAll-Nite FoxNightclubXI1-2-3DenverWilsonEarth Junk
― I'm off Twitter, and high on life! (morrisp), Thursday, 19 December 2019 21:01 (four years ago) link
?!
where is the best one, You Can't Beat Tomorrow?
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 19 December 2019 21:05 (four years ago) link
Whoops - forgot YCBT. Slot it above 1-2-3
― I'm off Twitter, and high on life! (morrisp), Thursday, 19 December 2019 21:05 (four years ago) link
Ha ha!
nmh is the only person who retweets the dumb memes i retweet on twitter. his tweets often make no sense to me. he seemed pretty upset about the recent rtx thing. i went hot and heavy on xi for a while - should give some of these other records a listen.
― ingredience (map), Friday, 20 December 2019 06:09 (four years ago) link
I agree with that ranking pretty much. Nightclub Version of the Eternal took about a decade to sink in. I kind of wrote it off as a perverse exercise in audience punishment, but at some point, the cd ended up in my car and I played it a few times and it clicked. Good album, subtle in it's own unique way.
A while back on one of his websites, he teased a couple new bands - The Vicksburg Occupation, City in the Country - and an "all new line-up" of Dan'l Boone. I can't find anything official online now (Neil is a prolific deleter of content), but there are traces if you're willing to go back through the Zonk! backlog.
Zonk! is Neil's youtube / podcast thing.
― Mike Dixn, Tuesday, 24 December 2019 14:50 (four years ago) link
I’ve never even heard of Zonk! But I stopped tracking his online activities a while back...(Totally forgot about Dan’l Boone; will have to revisit that one. I liked the album he did with Toth.)
― The dead speak! (morrisp), Tuesday, 24 December 2019 15:30 (four years ago) link
Best Show related comedy thing headlined by whatever The Howling Hex is now
Surprise! This is tomorrow night at Baby’s All Right. Comedy + @TheHowlingHex Come by if you’d like 👌🏼 pic.twitter.com/geBpUQVuoe— Pat Byrne (@1800PATBYRNE) December 29, 2019
― Mike Dixn, Sunday, 29 December 2019 18:20 (four years ago) link
Wish I could be there!
― Mike Dixn, Sunday, 29 December 2019 18:21 (four years ago) link
Eager to hunt down footage. Wonder what he played. New Hex imminent?
― trux tracker (edges), Monday, 30 December 2019 22:02 (four years ago) link
^Yes, turns out it is!:
https://www.fatpossum.com/5140-2/
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/howling-hex-knuckleball-express-947428/
― dad genes (morrisp), Friday, 7 February 2020 18:52 (four years ago) link
(gotta say, I don't love the new song)
― dad genes (morrisp), Friday, 7 February 2020 18:53 (four years ago) link
Ok, I guess it’s kind of a jam...Still, it’s in sort of a “funny“ style, esp. in light of this section from the RS interview:
”Rock and roll is what’s missing in bands these days that take a generic approach to playing that’s almost machine-like,” he adds. “We don’t need that anymore because machines can actually do it. I don’t see what the difference is between a precise human drummer playing to a click track and EDM. There’s some weak dad-rock stuff being distributed now by people my age, so I’m just trying to up the ante. I get on stage and say all the words I believe in my daily life. Not every dad can do that.”
― dad genes (morrisp), Saturday, 8 February 2020 05:36 (four years ago) link
reading between the lines: Malkmus, Callahan & recently Oldham are now fathers.
― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Saturday, 8 February 2020 08:20 (four years ago) link
Well, so is Neil... and I doubt he’s dissing those guys!
― dad genes (morrisp), Saturday, 8 February 2020 16:54 (four years ago) link
I like the new track, dunno if it "ups the ante" (lol) but it rocks well enough
― turn the jawhatthefuckever on (One Eye Open), Saturday, 8 February 2020 17:13 (four years ago) link
I know, right? lol
― dad genes (morrisp), Saturday, 8 February 2020 17:16 (four years ago) link
The Best Of... still sounds so great... his playing, the arrangements, everything just smokes. "Green Limousine" is one of my favorite traxx ever -- it's brain-melting, I can't play it loud enough!!
― Mocha Sauce (morrisp), Tuesday, 11 February 2020 21:39 (four years ago) link
wooooooooo
― i am a horse girl (map), Tuesday, 11 February 2020 21:46 (four years ago) link
Surprising development, to me at least. I figured Howling Hex releases would be Bandcamp or Patreon deals after the break with Drag City.Speaking of which: https://www.patreon.com/howlinghexI wonder that maybe sending Neil Hagerty $360/year might actually be worth it.
Also, I've assumed that Trux is broken up again, but that Rolling Stone thing is the first thing that I've seen that suggests so.
― Mike Dixn, Sunday, 16 February 2020 22:46 (four years ago) link
Thx for the Patreon link; good to see he’s ramping up & doin’ stuff.
― You have seen the heavy groups (morrisp), Sunday, 16 February 2020 22:55 (four years ago) link
He's uploaded a new track called "TILT2" to the Patreon acct. The mix is pretty weird -- his vox are way upfront, the music buried in the background, and he pounds on the mic for emphasis a few times(?) -- but, y'know, it's cool!
― tamagotchi revival artist (morrisp), Monday, 2 March 2020 18:56 (four years ago) link
The 2nd Patreon upload is a weird/random video filmed on a phone... (he's already on that tip, lol)
― Panic! At The Costco (morrisp), Monday, 9 March 2020 22:07 (four years ago) link
Did anyone else who pre-ordered the new Howling Hex album just receive a refund from Fat Possum with no explanation? I'm guessing given that the pressing plants aren't operating that this release and many others have been postponed indefinitely.
― Paul Ponzi, Friday, 27 March 2020 16:10 (four years ago) link
I didn't even know there was an album available for pre-order!
(Nice tune - https://www.patreon.com/posts/sailing-on-by-35459094)
― morrisp, Thursday, 2 April 2020 17:29 (four years ago) link
Guess MP3s will be available on 4/17: https://store.fatpossum.com/products/knuckleball-express
― morrisp, Thursday, 2 April 2020 17:51 (four years ago) link
https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/the-howling-hex-knuckleball-express/
“'Lies,' the most immediate yet least satisfying track on Knuckleball Express, is a slice of heads-down Southern boogie"
I dare anyone to find anything remotely "southern" or "boogie" about that track
Dear Pitchfork: please stop writing about rock music
― Paul Ponzi, Monday, 20 April 2020 11:36 (four years ago) link
Jeez - no kidding
― I eat fast foods (morrisp), Monday, 20 April 2020 13:29 (four years ago) link
I think I will wait to listen to this until I can listen to it “for real.”
― I eat fast foods (morrisp), Monday, 20 April 2020 13:36 (four years ago) link
Is there going to be a "for real"? Even on Fat Possum's website, the only option is mp3 download - is this even getting a physical release?
― soaring skrrrtpeggios (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Monday, 20 April 2020 15:12 (four years ago) link
Yeah, I dunno, it’s not looking good :/
― I eat fast foods (morrisp), Monday, 20 April 2020 15:19 (four years ago) link
are pressing plants even open?
― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Monday, 20 April 2020 15:38 (four years ago) link
It'll be a shame if this doesn't get an actual physical release because it's really good (and despite what the Pitchfork review says, none of it sounds like fucking Belle & Sebastian, jesus christ). Some of it actually reminds me of some of Westerberg's low-stakes solo stuff, which I wasn't expecting
― Paul Ponzi, Monday, 20 April 2020 17:36 (four years ago) link
Hagerty’s records are difficult to review; I’m not sure I’ve ever read a review that made me think, “Yeah, this gets it.” A lot of them tend to fall back on the usual RTX/drug/etc. references (though, to be fair, so do the press releases).
― I eat fast foods (morrisp), Monday, 20 April 2020 18:03 (four years ago) link
Also, I’m glad Howling Hex albums are still getting reviewed at all. The Trux reunion may have been short-lived, but seems like it probably did “boost interest” a lil’ bit?
― I eat fast foods (morrisp), Monday, 20 April 2020 18:05 (four years ago) link
the new one makes me think of cate le bon a bit, in terms of song structure/melodies. obviously the influence probably runs the other way.
― na (NA), Tuesday, 21 April 2020 14:53 (four years ago) link
gave it a couple listens yesterday and thought it was really strong, I think I like it a lot
― turn the jawhatthefuckever on (One Eye Open), Tuesday, 21 April 2020 15:02 (four years ago) link
Finagled some headphones, listening now... sounds great!
― I eat fast foods (morrisp), Friday, 24 April 2020 19:54 (four years ago) link
I think these songs are the most “mainstream” he’s ever done, and it’s really working for me
― I eat fast foods (morrisp), Friday, 24 April 2020 19:59 (four years ago) link
"If you wanna die / believe in lies" : anthem for the Lysol Injecting Era
― turn the jawhatthefuckever on (One Eye Open), Saturday, 25 April 2020 00:15 (four years ago) link
"Heavy Curtains" is the closest thing to a Trux song that he's ever recorded on his own.
― I eat fast foods (morrisp), Tuesday, 28 April 2020 04:24 (three years ago) link
Some... interesting remarks from Neil in this Patreon post: https://www.patreon.com/posts/story-of-broken-36841876
― I eat fast foods (morrisp), Friday, 8 May 2020 18:23 (three years ago) link
Any summary? It appears only patrons can view it.
― soaring skrrrtpeggios (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Friday, 8 May 2020 18:30 (three years ago) link
Oh, sorry, I thought the pages were public:
"Story of A Broken Heart" by The Howling HexThis is from a bootleg rough mix that someone gave back to me from the rehearsals for my last record. There is no rights owner, I am not the rights owner of this. It's just one of those things everyone tapes on their quality recording devices at rehearsal. This is the end riff for 'Share a Name'-- a song on the last chance, last call, last album I make for crackers ever. They had a portland boy mix the studio recordings to clean it up and remove the forbidden from it for their "audience". I want showcase the two guitar thing I was trying to work up that wasn't allowed to happen as evidence. This band was shot in the heart and you are to blame.NMH: guitars, synthsNicole Lawrence: guitar (the clean leads throughout)AS on the official release, ethan and ken are the rhythm section, bass/drums. They were locals I could find but they are moving on to other things since they both do serious music not rock and roll. There are no good white rock and roll musicians in Denver, unless someone from elsewhere who just lives here and doesn't work in town. Ken & the Big E helped out but they do not want any part of what I do for a living. They have lives like me.Personal Note: If you dispute my claims, you are in luck because duel-ing between white people is BACK so knives at the appointed hour in CHESS-MAN PARK. That's the new name of that park full of graves, not the stupid one you use---> because american cheese is disgusting.ps: the howling hex is wrecked and is retired/done as a name, I am sad I sacrificed such a good name that some dope picked from a list of 10 I made up for a she·nan·i·gans cracker OP but that's how much I cared about them, got to give people a chance to not believe in lies just 1 time, right. AT least in baseball, anyway.
This is from a bootleg rough mix that someone gave back to me from the rehearsals for my last record. There is no rights owner, I am not the rights owner of this. It's just one of those things everyone tapes on their quality recording devices at rehearsal.
This is the end riff for 'Share a Name'-- a song on the last chance, last call, last album I make for crackers ever. They had a portland boy mix the studio recordings to clean it up and remove the forbidden from it for their "audience". I want showcase the two guitar thing I was trying to work up that wasn't allowed to happen as evidence. This band was shot in the heart and you are to blame.
NMH: guitars, synths
Nicole Lawrence: guitar (the clean leads throughout)
AS on the official release, ethan and ken are the rhythm section, bass/drums. They were locals I could find but they are moving on to other things since they both do serious music not rock and roll. There are no good white rock and roll musicians in Denver, unless someone from elsewhere who just lives here and doesn't work in town. Ken & the Big E helped out but they do not want any part of what I do for a living. They have lives like me.
Personal Note: If you dispute my claims, you are in luck because duel-ing between white people is BACK so knives at the appointed hour in CHESS-MAN PARK. That's the new name of that park full of graves, not the stupid one you use---> because american cheese is disgusting.
ps: the howling hex is wrecked and is retired/done as a name, I am sad I sacrificed such a good name that some dope picked from a list of 10 I made up for a she·nan·i·gans cracker OP but that's how much I cared about them, got to give people a chance to not believe in lies just 1 time, right. AT least in baseball, anyway.
― I eat fast foods (morrisp), Friday, 8 May 2020 18:36 (three years ago) link
(it's a nice jam; almost Pavement-y, I guess. I don't know what to make of the comments, tho he's been getting elliptically soapbox-y on recent posts.)
― I eat fast foods (morrisp), Friday, 8 May 2020 18:38 (three years ago) link
<em>last album I make for crackers ever</em>
― Mike Dixn, Tuesday, 12 May 2020 21:14 (three years ago) link
^^ At first, I read "crackers" as "peanuts", but now I think he means it in the racial/ethnic connotation. I think I posted in the Royal Trux thread that I hoped Neil wasn't biting the hand or whatever regarding 'who the fuck but Drag City would put out Howling Hex records". The answer apparently is 'not anybody, actually'.I pay for the Patreon, and kinda felt like it was a ripoff, but Neil seems to put stuff up in chunks. Last week he posted a few musical pieces, a one act play, a self-help coloring book, a harsh assessment of The Wire, and some state of the Hex updates. Worth it, imo.
― Mike Dixn, Tuesday, 12 May 2020 21:23 (three years ago) link
and *at first* kinda felt like..**Actually** worth it.
― Mike Dixn, Tuesday, 12 May 2020 21:25 (three years ago) link
FYI for those who aren't Mike: Neil's little essay on The Wire -- the acclaimed TV show, not the magazine -- also featured very pointed digs at white people.
― I eat fast foods (morrisp), Tuesday, 12 May 2020 21:26 (three years ago) link
(He also recently suggested that a motivated fan might want to update his Wikipedia page.)
― I eat fast foods (morrisp), Tuesday, 12 May 2020 21:27 (three years ago) link
The one-act play basically reads like an extension of the little skits in the You Can’t Beat Tomorrow DVD (though it’s very up-to-the-minute; involves “Covid-90”).
― I eat fast foods (morrisp), Tuesday, 12 May 2020 21:36 (three years ago) link
Soon as I get some income again, I'll subscribe. NMH is prob the one living *celebrity* I'd most want to meet
― doktor forstus (Drugs A. Money), Wednesday, 13 May 2020 01:34 (three years ago) link
He just uploaded a track labeled - "Return of The Rusted Sled" by The Vicksburg Occupation
New band name(?)
― Inadequate grass (morrisp), Wednesday, 13 May 2020 04:43 (three years ago) link
Looks like he's used the name for something: https://vicksburgoccupation.yolasite.com/
(that site's metadata includes a ref. to "www.denverbrunchgamesco.com")
― Inadequate grass (morrisp), Wednesday, 13 May 2020 04:45 (three years ago) link
It's really something -- this increasingly baroque insularity ("the howling hex is wrecked and is retired/done as a name"), blended with fresh stabs at outreach (the Patreon; "I noticed the wiki looked thin (no surprise) so if anyone wants to fuck around with it, say whatever you want. Just spell my name right...").
― Inadequate grass (morrisp), Wednesday, 13 May 2020 05:03 (three years ago) link
https://i.ibb.co/pnfWQbT/Screenshot-20200514-060417-Patreon.jpg
― Mike Dixn, Thursday, 14 May 2020 11:06 (three years ago) link
Remember when he sprays the phone in that longform RTX video? Dude was ahead of his time.
― Inadequate grass (morrisp), Thursday, 14 May 2020 14:36 (three years ago) link
His twitter is chockablock with the most random, inscrutable musings. Like reading replies to questions that you never got to hear from someone else's conversation. I sometimes worry about Ol' Hag.
― InternationalWaters, Thursday, 14 May 2020 19:17 (three years ago) link
Nahh NMH is as usual using the message to skewer the medium
― doktor forstus (Drugs A. Money), Friday, 15 May 2020 01:07 (three years ago) link
neutral milk hotel rules at twitter, are you kidding me? if you can make a twit like "beisbol is the sport not crakerball [cannon v hammer, 1817]" and have it not have any hearts, comments, or recycles at all, yet still maintain 2K+ followers, then you're playing games and you're winning
― the burrito that defined a generation, Friday, 15 May 2020 03:29 (three years ago) link
Aesthetically, I feel like The Best Of was already sort of the “final” Howling Hex album, bookending the project that began with All Night Fox. Denver felt like something different — it didn’t really feature the New Border Sound any longer (of course, Neil hasn’t lived near the border for years now anyway). The new album is, similarly, a return to more straightforward rock ‘n roll (though you could point out that XI also fit that description, and you’d be right).Neil has also slowed down, output-wise, which adds to the sense that the old throughline has fallen away. His concerns seem more local and specific now (though no less idiosyncratic) — he’s getting older, we all are.
― Inadequate grass (morrisp), Friday, 15 May 2020 11:48 (three years ago) link
Lol @ "recycles"
― doktor forstus (Drugs A. Money), Monday, 18 May 2020 13:12 (three years ago) link
Neil Hagerty
May 18 at 5:20am
Unlocked
BEISBOL
**working out some place sketches & maybe have an origin story [not wholly fact] by Tuesday
BEISBOL USA
The game many of us grew up playing [& it is a game a person can play into their 80s] was known as “Beisbol”— I learned it in southern california, southeastern atlantic coast, Florida, urban townhouse suburb areas, military housing areas, public schools, central summer league. It differs from Cracker Ball (steam hammer versus electric torpedo) in a few general, gentle ways.
For example:
1 Ball is used for the entire 9 inning game. Ties stand. Ranking by pts.
2 pitching changes per team.
2 non-injury substitutes. Subs cannot be removed once placed, barring injury.
Advancing as a runner from bases may only occur with the standing runner(s) beginning the play with 2 feet touching the bag.
No steals or other between-pitch live ball action.
The outfield wall is deep, 450ft. minimum recommended. Home runs are rare.
Pitching mound and home plate are the standard distance.
The typical backstop should be close to the plate and rounded. Passed balls &c. advance runners 1 base and then are dead balls.
Balk rules are loose.
Infield fly = strike (incl. 3rd.)
Double if ball passes wall NOT on fly.
Foul balls are strikes, even 3rd strike.
Most the rules of Base-Ball are intact if not mentioned.
― Mike Dixn, Tuesday, 19 May 2020 01:31 (three years ago) link
If you want to die, believe in lies.
― the burrito that defined a generation, Tuesday, 19 May 2020 01:36 (three years ago) link
I was listening to a Silver Jews live 7” from a rate early gig, I guess it was some sort of Drag City showcase. Berman says something along the lines of “before the gig we were playing monopoly with Royal Trux, and they had an interesting strategy. They bought Baltic Avenue, put one house on it and quit.”.
― Cow_Art, Tuesday, 19 May 2020 02:03 (three years ago) link
In the Patreon, Neil shared a pretty heavy story about his childhood, and how the incident shaped his character. I guess I won’t repost it here (even though he gave his blessing to the sharing of audio files and stuff), out of an abundance of caution.
― Inadequate grass (morrisp), Thursday, 21 May 2020 23:55 (three years ago) link
Oh snap — his latest upload (from “the cassette vault”) is a 1986 track from the mythic Jet Boys of N.W.!
― Charging for Brewskis™ (morrisp), Saturday, 30 May 2020 21:39 (three years ago) link
(...sorry, Jet Boyz)
― Charging for Brewskis™ (morrisp), Saturday, 30 May 2020 21:58 (three years ago) link
(...) I must now go all the way back to the first band I had back in DC, Jet Boyz of NW— the band that I put on hold so I could do 1 tour and 1 record with another band— but one thing after another and now it’s decades later. The band name comes from a NY Dolls song with our local info attached; it was a great name because crackers would think it was some “gay” thing when to others it was a dig at private school kids. And everyone always finds it easy to dismiss and gain pleasure from dismissing “rock and roll” so it was a very uncool name, lots to clown with.In Denver I LIVE in NW so it all fits, and the same kind of folks still plague me personally and professionally— so the mission is ongoing. We will see what the future brings. My only other next move after PATREON is playing on the street, if the city has a system to let musicians do that. If that happens I’ll be painting the Jet Boyz logo on a guitar and getting out there, hopefully get a band together that way. After all the false starts and dead enders I can finally get back to where I started and do it right. (...)
― Charging for Brewskis™ (morrisp), Sunday, 7 June 2020 16:14 (three years ago) link
Cross-ref from the RTX thread:
(....)1 year ago, after they torpedoed the trux thing fat possum came back and said they'd let me do a record to come out in the fall of ’19 and they would back the record up with tour support and so on. They buried the record this may I think and still owe me 17K in unpaid invoices for travel, show expenses, sessions, musicians, artwork. The publishing company offered me 0$ for it. That’s 0$ I came away with for all the songs I wrote for the trux record and the solo record.This is the work that I do and I don’t get to choose the 2 bosses who i work for but if things go bad they blame the musicians & listeners have no sympathy. Things get contorted. All I know is to stay on the path my father set me on, keep working to get very good at a few things, don't listen to white lies, you can't go wrong with a song-- no one else ever had better advice for me.
This is the work that I do and I don’t get to choose the 2 bosses who i work for but if things go bad they blame the musicians & listeners have no sympathy. Things get contorted.
All I know is to stay on the path my father set me on, keep working to get very good at a few things, don't listen to white lies, you can't go wrong with a song-- no one else ever had better advice for me.
― Charging for Brewskis™ (morrisp), Friday, 12 June 2020 17:37 (three years ago) link
A friend had an extra copy of the Hagerty-Toth record that he gave to me this weekend and totally killed me. Singing a little wonky in a few spots, but awesome guitar and fun grooves.
― Mom jokes are his way of showing affection (to your mom) (PBKR), Tuesday, 11 August 2020 01:10 (three years ago) link
^I was just thinking about that record the other day - would like to revisit it...
― r u rolling pop 2021 (morrisp), Wednesday, 7 July 2021 20:02 (two years ago) link