Category: Field Recordings of the Future

How the World Sounds

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Dream Baby Dream

I got frantic call from Duane yesterday. He was trying to work with a batch of videos that were sent to him on a pc formatted hard drive and he couldn’t change the permissions on the files to move them to his Mac. While we tried a few work arounds he mentioned that was going to be having dinner with Alan Vega that night when they celebrated Howard Thompson‘s birthday.

I started thinking about the time Peggi and I drove down to NYC after work to see them perform. We were just outside the city at about 10 pm when we stopped for gas. Jimmy Carter was president and the gas crisis was in full swing so we had a hard time finding a gas station that was open. We eventually ran out of gas and slept in our car in a gas station parking lot missing the show. Six months or so later we caught them at Max’s and it was unforgettable. They were so cool, so thrilling and dangerous sounding, they blew us away. We were sitting in one of those little tables up front and I was worried that Alan would pick our table to include in his menacing performance.

Duane posted this video of Suicide to his YouTube channel.

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Long Live Colorblind

The Center for Youth Services on Monroe Avenue provides counseling, shelter and education to homeless kids in the Rochester area. The late Chuck Cuminale (aka Colorblind James) worked there and it is only fitting that a tradition Chuck started twenty seven years ago would be now be a benefit for the Center. Hunu, with core members of the Colorblind James Experience hosts guests performing Bob Dylan songs on or near Bob Dylan’s birthday which was cosmically near Dylan-soul-mate Chuck’s own birthday. I had the pleasure of accompanying Peggi Fournier last night on a rousing version of “She Belongs To Me.” Russ Lunn caught the performance on his cellphone.

June 3rd Correction: I just learned that Saturday’s show was not a benefit. The proceeds from this show pay Hunu’s studio rental for the whole year and allows them to do the big benefit they do at Christmas for the Center.

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Be Here Now

Building on Mohawk River shot from Amtrak train
Building on Mohawk River shot from Amtrak train

There are always high hopes for a Margaret Explosion performance but so much of it is in the cards, the work day, the crowd, the mood. Many factors are beyond our control and improvisation by it’s very nature is hit or miss. We try to stay open and explore the possibilities but you can’t beat a good melody to hang the song on and sometimes that don’t show up.

As a rule we sound best earlier in the evening on a night when very few people are there, we are all fresh and more receptive to each others parts, but the last three months have all been bonus nights (more money if the cash register total exceeds X amount). The crowd noise is an integral part of our sound and we’re happy to provide a soundtrack for stimulating conversations but when the place is full and the crowd noise infringes on the band (remember Ken’s stand-up bass has no amplification) we have learned a pretty cool trick. It doesn’t always work but we pull back the volume. I might leave the snare and just play hi-hat and Peggi or Bob will stop playing. The crowd immediately dials back the din knob and the music comes into focus.

Tonight is our last Little Theater show until September.

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Always Something

"Model From Crime Page" drawing in progess in Fred Lipp's painting class.
“Model From Crime Page” drawing in progess in Fred Lipp’s painting class.

With lots of trial and error in my attempt to get the lines right in the bottom half of the enlargement of the drawing above I wound up with heavy handed clunkers. I played them down and had them thin but too much the same. My third attempt got them right on (as seen in the enlargement) but my painting teacher called me out on them again. I had focused so much on only the bottom half of the drawing that the lines were great but out of touch with the rest of the piece. They “had too much zip.” So I roughed them up to suit the gruff nature of this young lady.

I like this song because you can hear me setting up my drums while Peggi, Bob and Ken played most of the first number without me.

Listen to Sax Object by Margaret Explosion
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Springtime And A Change In The Weather

Jet streaks in the sky over Rochester, New York
Jet streaks in the sky over Rochester, New York

So it used to be sort-of-safe to plant your garden around Memorial Day and now it’s closer to Mother’s Day so we waited for it to warm up a bit and then pounced. We planted tomatoes, spinach, eggplant, red peppers, jalapeños, zucchini, parsley, oregano and basil in our neighbor’s garden. He has all the sun and a big fence to keep the deer out. Plus, he’s an expert on everything.

Who the heck booked the Lilac Festival bands? Dreadful. Speaking of dread and warm weather, Kevin Patrick has a perfectly timed reggae post on his site. And the Big O has a James Brown show from ’73.

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Shut The Fuck Up

Wreckless Eric & Amy Rigby at Lovin Cup in Rochester, New York 2013
Wreckless Eric & Amy Rigby at Lovin Cup in Rochester, New York 2013

Wednesday was a funny night. People expected a big band version of Margaret Explosion but Pete was the only special guest able to make the gig. His piano playing was great and worth the free admission. We packed up quickly and drove out to the Lovin’ Cup in Henrietta to catch the the tail end of Wreckless Eric and Amy Rigby’s set. Eric seemed out of sorts and off his between song, free-association game. He kept looking over to the noisy crowd gathered around the bar. Twice he asked if they could turn the tv off. “You don’t go out to watch tv.” The edge added to the excitement for me and musically they sounded better than ever. I love how they trade songs and support one anothers’. I love it when Eric sings high harmonies to Amy’s voice and I loved it when they smiled at each other and kissed in the encore. This is way post punk stuff.

Peggi talked to Amy after the show and Amy told her they felt like they had to do some different material because they’ve played here so often. How many times has it been, six or seven? We’ve been to them all. Eric even did his “Men In Sandals” fashion send up even though Tom Kohn, the one that brought him here, was sitting at the merchandise table in open toe footwear. Their three song encore included a beautiful version of Tom Petty’s “Walls Fall Down.” We learned that before we got the club the bar had a beer tasting and some those idiots stuck around for the show. Eric told them to “shut the fuck up” and someone who had come to the show chimed in only to get thrown out by the club owner.

Watch their brilliant video and see them next time at a better venue.

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Wong Orchestra

Clear View dumpster in Rochester, New York
Clear View dumpster in Rochester, New York

Pete LaBonne emailed that he would be in town this week which means he’ll be behind the grand piano at the Little Theater Café when Margaret Explosion performs tonight. Jack Schaefer sat in on bass clarinet and addition guitar last week and he said he would probably stop by this week as well and then Peggi talked to Rick McRae and invited him to play trombone with us. None of these parties know the others will be there so the whole thing will be really wong, the future or past participle of wing(ing it).

This song was recorded a few years ago. Bob was out of town so there is no guitar. Pete LaBonne played piano and Jack Schaefer played bass clarinet.

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Treehugger

Turkey vulture cleaning up dead ground hog
Turkey vulture cleaning up dead ground hog

We smelled the dead groundhog before we saw it laying upside down in the creek covered in flies and we stayed away from it yesterday by crossing the creek at different point. Today we figured it would be all cleaned up, nature is pretty efficient that way, but instead we found turkey vultures in the trees surrounding what was left of the carcass.

I was wearing my Treehugger shirt and when we got up to the park and someone said, “Oh I see you’re a treehugger” and I wanted to say “Whatever gave you that idea?” but I said, “Someone gave me this shirt.” He said, “I’m a treehugger too.”

We caught Bobby Henrie & The Goners’s at Abilene over the weekend and I was thinking how good they sounded, a three piece with all the essentials in just the right place. Bobby sang two George Jones songs, we danced and we headed home and then we heard the next band, a thirteen piece with Eastman students called “Bitchin’ Kitchen” killed. But they couldn’t have been as good as The Goners.

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Good Cry

In my little book the Rolling Stones are the best rock and roll group, Sun Ra is the best jazz artist, James Brown is the best R&B artist, Bob Marley is the best reggae artist, The Beach Boys are the best pop group and George Jones is the best country singer. His recordings will live on. Goodbye George.

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White Light

Lights in the dentist office
Lights in the dentist office

I guess the Robert Irwin book has gotten under my skin. I was mesmerized by the overhead light in the dentist’s office.

When I die I want to go out as a Ukrainian. The funeral service for Olga’s father at Saint Mary’s on Saint Paul Boulevard was stunning. The church is gorgeous with white walls, stained glass and a heavy helping of gold-leafed Eastern iconography. We were given a tall, lit candle on the way in and we stood with it through the hour long service while heavenly voices surrounded us, no organ, no sermon, just lots of incense offerings to the icons and this beautiful chanting. What a send off!

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Beautiful Iraq

Cover for Margaret Explosion Beautiful Iraq mp3
Cover for Margaret Explosion Beautiful Iraq mp3

“You can’t reheat a soufflé.” I’ve always liked this quote. It is attributed to Paul McCartney responding to a request for the Beatles to reunite. It is the same reason Neil Young uses first takes on his records. It is never as good as the first time.

Margaret Explosion takes it further than most bands. Every song we do is a first and only take. There is no going back unless someone requests something we’ve done before. Although there are the themes that just keep popping up. Bug Jar Shooting is one. Prom Night keeps coming back when Jack sits in. And then there’s “Beautiful Iraq”, a song from our “Live Dive “cd.

Listen to Bug Jar Shooting by Margaret Explosion
Listen to Prom Night by Margaret Explosion
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Just The Melody

University of Rochester Quad
University of Rochester Quad

Who else would show up for a 2pm talk at the University of Rochester’s Strong Auditorium to hear a talk by the drummer of the Doors but tired bikers and students of “Pop Music of The Sixties?” Both of these groups were well represented but a surprising amount of really young kids got in line at the mics, one stationed in each aisle, to say “I’m a big fan of the Doors” and then ask questions about the lyrics of a particular song.

The UofR’s Junior Ivy League campus is an idyllic oasis on the banks of the Genesee near where the Eire Canal crosses the river. You can just imagine how you could get your life in order if you just buckled down and studied. I was never able to pull that last part off. I did take 8 hours of photography classes here from a great teacher, William Jenkins, and I hung around in Joe Barrett‘s dorm room.

John Densmore had a great, light touch and talked about those magic moments when the band would “just vamp on a drone chord” while Jim conjured spirits. I loved it when he explained how as drummer he was responsible for starting songs but when he couldn’t remember how a song went he would just ask for the melody to be sung to him. Not the tempo or pattern. That is good drumming in a nutshell.

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Greatest Record Ever Made

Record Store Day at the Bop Shop
Record Store Day at the Bop Shop

A fitting Earth Day/Record Store Day celebration would not involve buying more plastic but I got so caught up in the festivities I was tempted to buy a another copy of Charlie Mingus’s “Town Hall Concert” from 1964 with Eric Dolphy. It is the greatest record ever made and they aren’t makin’ em like they used to. We came home with a set of Sir Doug singles in Spanish, a Marlena Deitrich lp and a Vi Redd lp. We kinda fell in love with her in the “The Girls In The Band” movie that played at Rochester’s film fest this weekend.

The Bop Shop was so busy our neighbor, Rick, was behind the cash register learning how to take the cash. An 85 year old Buffalo guy was playing blues on the piano when we left and then a young band was just setting up at the Archive when we got there. We missed “The Fox Sisters” but we heard the manager, Alayna, telling shoppers that they were expecting their biggest day in the history of the store. I find it hard to believe anyone is buying records anymore but my nephew was in line at Needle Drop before they even opened the store. We were planning on stopping by the House of Guitars but the day got away from us.

Bubbles in the Think Tank released a clear vinyl ep for Record Day. It includes this sensational Pete LaBonne track that addresses Record Store Day head on.

Pete LaBonne “Down With It” from “Eponymously Entitled” ep.
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Patron Saint Of Realtors

Realtor shrine in houe on Wisner Road in Rochester, New York
Realtor shrine in houe on Wisner Road in Rochester, New York

Wisner Road used to lead right in to the park. It still does if you are on foot but it used to lead right into Zoo Road back when there was a zoo in Durand Eastman. Two zoos for one city seems rather extravagant but that was then. Some how the residents were able to convince the town to turn their road into a dead end back in the seventies and I’m glad they did. It took all of the through traffic off the park roads. Most of the traffic on Wisner now is people driving their dogs to the park entrance where they let take a dump on park property.

We were heading back from the park the other day and were just in time to catch an open house on Wisner. The house is made for Mad Men parties with a big sunken living room, big picture widows and a wall of blue stone fireplace. There were a few scented candles burning in the house. I like candles but hate the scented ones and it makes me suspicious as to what scent they are masking. I thought this little shrine in the hallway was pretty cool.

Margaret Explosion “When Saints Were Saints” from last Wednesday at the Little Theater Café.

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Slow Sinuous Spooky

The Democrat a& Chronicle still manages to crank out a daily paper but they are struggling to stay relevant. Last week we got an email from them informing us that the paper delivery may be delayed the next day in order for them to bring us reporting on the Syracuse Final Four game.

They are trying. They gave Jeff Spevak, the music critic, video equipment for his phone and asked him to make a few videos each week for his blog on their site. Only problem is you can’t find his blog. Their search engine and site are close to pathetic. Tucked away somewhere under the “HerRochester” tab is a video he made of Margaret Explosion along with this little blurb. We play tonight and this passage pretty well sums up the drill.

“Margaret Explosion is the Big Bang Theory of bands, only in far less volatile language. It does not rehearse. It merely exists.

Currently holding down a weekly Wednesday residency though May at The Little Cafe, 240 East Ave., the four musicians show up, assemble their instruments and chat amiably with patrons of the cafe, who may have shown up to hear the band, or are merely passing through on their way to a movie. At some point at around 7:30 p.m., the four pieces of Margaret Explosion – saxophonist Peggi Fournier, drummer Paul Dodd, Bassist Ken Frank and guitarist Bob Martin – drift toward the stage after hearing some kind of signal that only they can hear, and appear to be doing a sound check. But no, without any kind of an announcement (“Ladies and gentlemen, Margaret Explosion!”) they are now playing avant-garde jazz.

The music is slow, sinuous and spooky. It is David Lynch soundtrack material. All of the shows are recorded. Songs are frequently uploaded onto the band’s web site, margaretexplosion.com. At this moment, 150 of these Margaret Explosion relaxed accidents are available as free downloads. Most with their own cover art. I am listening to “Great Wall Flower,” with guest Jack Schaefer on bass clarinet, as I type this. I feel like lighting incense and assuming the lotus position on my desk, but that would be abusing company property….” – Jeff Spevak

We are not all “slow, sinuous and spooky” though. Once a year, usually in the Spring we play something in a major key.

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Beautiful Decay

Old Buffalo railroad stop
Old Buffalo railroad stop

Buffalo, like Detroit, knows how to decay. There are so many beautiful old buildings in downtown Buffalo it is sort of unfair to single out this image but there is no denying the city has seen better days. The restored buildings, like the beautiful art deco Hotel Lafayette, defiantly offer hope that the city may someday return to its glory days.

We were reminded that the restaurant we ate at on Chippewa was only blocks form the Continental, a club we played monthly gig at in the early eighties. Back then hookers walked the street and the club got so down the owner, Bud, had some German Shepards living in the building. One of the last times we played there he had someone shovel the shit off the stage with a snow shovel before we setup our equipment.

I’d like to link to the Bootlickers’ “Bus To Buffalo” but I couldn’t find it online.

Here’s Hi-Techs – Screamin’ You Head.
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Got Guns

Paul Dodd photo of Tim Meisenzahl and John Mahoney with toy guns in front of the Dodd's house at 24 Hawley Drive in Webster, New York
Paul Dodd photo of Tim Meisenzahl and John Mahoney with toy guns in front of the Dodd’s house at 24 Hawley Drive in Webster, New York

I think this is from one of my first batches of photos. I used to babysit for these two kids. It wasn’t unusual to have kids running all over the neighbor hood with guns, hiding behind bushes and pointing these things at strangers.

We heard Bill Frisell at Water Street Music Hall tonight in a solo performance. I really liked hearing him this way. He is such a lyrical player and his delicate guitar tone is perfectly suited to a one man band. Besides he is a sly sampler and built some beautiful tracks on the fly to accompany himself with. And he takes enough risks to spin out for the hell of it.

We thought the concert tonight was a benefit for Rochester Contemporary and it was but not the art center. This was for Rochester Contemporary School of Music, a worthwhile cause but it doesn’t seem right that they can borrow the name.

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Stackhouse

Greg Prevost performing with the Chesterfield Kings
Greg Prevost performing with the Chesterfield Kings

Funny that I live so close to the HOG now and I haven’t set foot in there since I bought a snare drum a few years ago. There was a period when I’d go there every week or so to buy music. That round display rack in the front of the store was always stuffed with the newest albums and the singles moved all over the store. They were upstairs with the instruments and out back and then for a while in the mid seventies all the cool stuff (UK imports and American underground stuff like the Cramps and Television) was kept in a locked case at the top of the stairs. They had everything but it was almost impossible to find it. You had to ask for help and Kim and Greg were the best. They would walk right over to an unruly pile and put their hands on what you were looking for.

Kim Torgerson married Dave Mahoney. Dave’s sister, an avid House of Guitars shopper, married Kim from the HOG. Greg got famous in the Chesterfield Kings. We ran into Greg at Spevak’s holiday party and did some serious catching up in the kitchen. Greg has a solo album out now and an action packed bio here.

Listen to Playette – Roomful of Voices. Dave handles the lead vocals and Kim does back ups.

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No Drawers

Passersby rush past Moondog as he stands at his panhandling post in front of the CBS building in Midtown Manhattan
Passersby rush past Moondog as he stands at his panhandling post in front of the CBS building in Midtown Manhattan

With a name like Moondog you would be hard pressed to come up with an album title as good as your moniker. I’m guessing that is the reason there are so many different recordings called “Moondog.” I had one on vinyl back in the late sixties and then in February of 1970 the Sunday Democrat & Chronicle featured Moondog on the cover of their Upstate Magazine. I kept the magazine inside the gatefold lp for a long time, then scanned the article for the Refrigerator. While staying with a friend who was living in Hell’s Kitchen, we walked over to Sixth Avenue where Moondog was holding court. I was a fan and so was his onetime roommate, Philip Glass.

Later I found two of his cds in the downtown library, one called “Moondog” and the other “More Moondog/The Story of Moondog,” both recorded in the mid fifties, with sound collages and poetry and a glimpse through the eyes of a blind man. We were on an Amtrak train coming back from Manhattan in 1999 when we found Moondog’s obit in the NYT. I folded that up and stuck it in Moondog’s “Sax Pax For a Sax” cd.

Hark Pictures from Midlands UK is making a documentary about Moondog and the director found the Upstate article that I had transcribed. She asked if I still had the original article. Good question, I have digitized so much of my stuff over the years. I just bought a new desk for my computer and in keeping with my minimal aesthetic it has no drawers so I filled the trash can three times with old stuff. But I surprised myself and found the magazine squirreled in one of the few remaining hiding spots. The brittle old newsprint cracked as I did 600dpi scans of the pages.

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Time Becomes Space

Ocean Parkway with rust on the wall
Ocean Parkway with rust on the wall

Do you want to feel young? Go to one the Regal theaters when they do their live HD broadcasts of the Metropolitan Opera productions. You will be the youngest person there. We went to Wagner’s Parisfal, his last opera, and were in our seats at noon. The first act ended at 2:30 and the second at 4:30. We had to leave and missed the third act all together but wow, what a spectacle!

The music is heavy, the production almost painterly with white dresses soaking up blood, the story jam packed with the big issues, good versus evil, an exploration of human frailty, a spiritual quest where the pure and foolish are made wise by compassion. The female lead is being punished for laughing at Jesus on the cross while the brotherhood of the Holy Grail bring home the rituals of a high mass. Take of my blood and drink. Take of my body and eat.

If only there was enough time in the day to take in the third act.

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