We missed a show on May Day but we made up for it this week, haphazardly but with gusto. There are times when it seems necessary to spout views and opinions and this is one of them. Bubble Wrap kicked off with Sonic Youth and closed with Superfonicos, and somehow it all came out right. New music, old complaints, live readings from old books, and a pair of tributes to the gallant Gilets Jaunes. What does this mean? We haven’t a clue.
Calvin Harris – Acceptable in the 80s. But was it though, was it? 😉 Still cheeky after all these years.
Ride. They’re back! They’ve been back! (We missed it). And now a new song from a forthcoming album, not that different from old Ride and surprisingly enjoyable.
Anon – Abu Ghraib, Part I. Remember Condoleeza Rice? yeah.
Basement Jaxx – Where’s Your Head At. Everyone should dance to this once a week. It will straighten you right out. (thank, Fluxblog!)
Stephen Malkmus. I love Stephen Malkmus but I never liked the Jicks. But for the most part, they just seem tame compared to Pavement. This newer tune, from last year’s Groove Denied, is a whole nother matter. It doesn’t even sound like Malkmus which is great. Drony, electronic, but still droll. My favorite Malkmus tune since “Senator.”
Punk Rock. KEXP is celebrating punk rock this month, and we are celebrating along with them. We liked Uranium Club especially. Also got a kick out of Dead Bars, modern ‘mats wannabes that they are, and Squid and Outtacontroller weren’t bad either.
Star Slinger – Choose Yourself. Not sure if I agree with everything he advises but he delivers it with a low-key authority that’s winning. As for pitching your work to the third of people who like you, we’re all for that. We’d go further. Don’t pitch your work at all — let it pitch you. But that would make us rank idealists, which Star Slinger is not.
Mama’s Gun – On The Wire. Great r&b song from Texas with lyrics that are somewhere between an encouragement and an urgent warning.
Gilets Jaunes. The French protest movement known here in the States as the Yellow Vests have been protesting for a full six months as of this weekend. That’s a long time, folks. You have to have grievances to keep it going that long. There have been songs in solidarity and some are better than others. We played a rock hard rap tune by Kopp Johnson of Toulouse and a sweet and cheerful homage from Ti’Crim who appear to reside somewhere in the tropics. Props to all concerned.
And of course, much more….
May 8, 2019
People’s Post
Sonic Youth – Youth Against Fascism
Calvin Harris – Acceptable In The 80s
Iggy Pop – Fire Girl
Ride – Future Love
Blur – Sing
Reading: from The Unreality Industry
Anon – Abu Ghraib Part I
Basement Jaxx – Where’s Your Head At
Stephen Malkmus – Forget Your Place
Uranium Club – Grease Monkey
Reading: The Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Quivers – You’re Not Always On My Mind
Outtacontroller – Trash On (Alt Version) (Tribute to P Trash Records)
Dead Bars – Lucky
Squid – Houseplants
Reading: How To Write by Gertrude Stein
Star Slinger – Choose Yourself
Mama’s Gun – On The Wire
WAND – Thin Air
Eve Maret – Sound of Space Between
Reading: from Solid Geometry
Kopp Johnson – Gilet Jaune
Ti’Crim – Gilet Jaune Song
Altin Gun – Supurgesi Yoncadan
Superfonicos – Tropidelico
Photo credit: By © GrandCelinien – (G. A.) / CC-BY-SA-3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=76314253
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nS-nUEQzDM