the bats: C/D

Yes to artwork, but I saw a t-shirt taped to the wall last night with some sort of generic expression on it ("Ooh" or something in big letters, I forget). Not sure if that was a Bats shirt. CDs for $15, vinyl for varying prices.

They encored with "Block of Wood" and "North by North." The strumming and jangling was sublime as were the ocassional harmonies. Before the opener, D.C.'s Dot Dash came on, I was sitting in a diner like booth in the room when a guy asked if he could sit on the other side of the table in the booth. I said sure. He had a manila folder filled with sheets of paper, some of which he took out. Each sheet was filled with columns of words. Yep, it was Robert Scott with his songlists and lyric sheet hints. He had them at his feet during the gig, and grabbed 'em at the end and put them back in his folder. He also sang all night with gum in his mouth. Virtually everyone who was ever in a DC area Slumberland band was in the crowd, along with assorted local scribes and djs.

They said they last played DC in 1992; but I don't remember them ever playing DC nor did someone else I spoke to.

On a Trouser Press forum thread, folks were pointing out that Scott isn't an active, vibrant frontman, not sure you need an Iggy Pop or Springsteen for the type of material the Bats play.

rad, gonna see them in Seattle, last saw him playing solo at the library in Dunedin a few years back.

yeah, the bass player was doing most of the crowd interaction when I saw them, but they all looked pretty happy. and they sounded great!

Wtf is Robert Scott supposed to be doing, other than standing and playing and singing and wearing a hat?

Only occurred to me a couple of weeks ago, actually, that the Bats and the Feelies share a certain DNA. I've always heard a lot of Eno-covering-"What Goes On" in Scott's vocals, which jibes with the Feelies vibe, too.

dang i would love to see them, but they're not coming anywhere near me...
ps bats fans might dig this:
http://osr-tapes.com/images/gw.jpg
Send Away: Gordon Wallace is Robert Scott (the Clean, the Bats, Electric Blood, etc.)
he originally released this album on his tape label EST in 1987
23 songs in a soft style, an early version of "Mastery" by the Bats
what can I say, I really like it. "how many hunters can really shoot?"
artwork by Robert Scott. 60 minutes.
http://osr-tapes.com/

Dear Private Press types,

Stop releasing cassette-only things.

Thanks!

haha, well, you can go download it for free at that link too, which is nice.

Thanks for the tip- I had been eyeing that cassette and debated whether it made any sense to order it.

They were so good at The Bell House in Brooklyn last weekend. So gorgeous and moving to hear those songs live and everyone was so happy. One guy kept on going "I can't believe I'm hearing this guitar sound live" between every song which 99% of the time would be hopelessly obnoxious but came off really sweet and endearing cuz everyone was just flowin' on the good vibes.

ditto

When I saw them in Texas a few years back, I was enjoying the hell out of myself when this dude behind me, caught up in the moment, did one of those crazy two-finger whistles inches from my ear. Pure instinct, I whipped around and yelled "knock it the fuck off!!!" He was really apologetic and I felt really bad, but it was still an awesome show.

Excellent Chicago show last night! Kaye is such a great, subtle guitar player - whole band seemed to be on fire to play and enjoy the moment... Sure hope boot turns out ok.

boot?

Do you think they all work dayjobs when not touring?

I wonder this about almost every single artist I listen to.

Although this doesn't stop me from listening to musicians on Spotify from whom they receive only tiny payments

Pretty sure Paul and Kaye are a) married and b) academics.

They were great last night. Place was totally oversold, though.

Nice piece linked on Wiki: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/music/news/article.cfm?c_id=264&objectid=3515497

Wonder how much cash the bast get for this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD2UP2dZcOs

yeah - totally oversold - which doesn't happen too often for Schubas (small blessings) ... I was back near the door and when they opened it up and the bar noise came in, a bit, I was a little bummed. Then I saw that it was a pretty old couple sitting on stools - they probably couldn't fight the masses inside and the doorguy was just doing them a solid ...

Wow, I just walking home and much to my surprise I heard them sound checking "Smoking Her Wings" from a club I normally don't pass by... I freaked out and poked my head in and got yelled at for trying to take a picture. I have plans tonight but maybe I should try to check this out...

They said they last played DC in 1992; but I don't remember them ever playing DC nor did someone else I spoke to.

― curmudgeon, Thursday, June 6, 2013 6:19 AM (1 week ago)

Possibly? I know they played SF around then with Barbara Manning/SF Seals/TFUL282 opening. In fact, they stayed at Barbara's apartment that night and Robert wrote this (totally awesome) song for her:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsfW6QmL_zc

Huh, I think I'd only heard the Magick Heads version.

Supposedly the last time they'd played Chicago was 20 years ago.

I discovered that a critic I know reviewed a Bats album for the Washington Post in 1993, so he thinks they appeared in DC then.

I think they did "Smoking Her Wings" in DC this time.

they were stellar saturday night in los angeles. crystalline. one thing that struck me seeing them live is that there's an unusually clear division of labor among the four of them, especially the two guitarists. those guitars are wielded as two very different instruments, and they lock so beautifully together.

there's a new 3-disc comp called Volume 1 - early material, eps, b-sides, etc. available on spotify.

tho i had 95% of it already it's been nice having these tracks back on rotation

14 bonus tracks, a nice package for $25!

Just saw "The Law Of Things" reissue at the store the other day. Definitely will get that one soon.

the other day = yesterday, actually

The only album I heard from them was Free All the Monsters. It was a top ten album of the year for me. For some reason I haven't yet explored their back catalog yet, though. I need to rectify that, especially if all their albums "sound the same" as described way up thread. I'll take more of the same from them.

Compiletely Bats is a good place to start. I think the new reissue has a version of Block of Wood on it as well.

2 versions

(2 demo versions i mean)

New Robert Scott album, "The Green House" is very good... but... I feel like I've heard this all before. It's my problem, but I can't help thinking David Kilgour's solo albums are just off-kilter enough to keep me coming back.

I like it a lot. The duets with Hollie Fullbrook add a wonderful distinction. But true, I dunno if I'd be so taken if it were just Robert on vox for the entire lp.

Agreed, the duets are the standouts, especially the opening track. An entire album like that would be killer.

Somehow didn't even know that Minisnap existed, or when they released an album, but it's predictably lovely.

It is! Kaye needs to do more singing.

New album! It's great!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfiO9iqpGoY

I'm as psyched these guys keep killing it as I am with theoretical peers the Feelies.

On the Robert Scott solo tip here but he's been busy this past week on Bandcamp!

https://robertscottnz.bandcamp.com/album/deep-set-demos

https://robertscottnz.bandcamp.com/album/moonlight-potato-robert-scott-gina-rocco

https://robertscottnz.bandcamp.com/album/live-in-m-nster-gleis-22-robert-scott-the-wilde

https://robertscottnz.bandcamp.com/album/live-in-wellington-bar-bodega-2000-harmonic-deluxe

"Red Car," from the new one :')

Wow, a new one! I had no idea. Happy Saturday!

When I got onto the Clean a month ago, a couple of people recommended the Bats. Burned and listened to Daddy's Highway twice in the car today, and yes, quite liked it.

would recommend checking out Couchmaster, and you might also like the Magick Heads records.

also "Smoking Her Wings" is worth hearing if you haven't already - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9D6xqMI3NA