Chalkhills Digest Volume 4, Issue 58
Date: Monday, 23 February 1998
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 4, Number 58
Monday, 23 February 1998
Today's Topics:
He's Come A Long Way
Is it me?!
Chock Tock
XTC News / Rifff news
RE: AstroXTCies
us Chalkhillers
no no no, a little more humanity please....
Relph in print
Skylarking Interview disc
me and my random thoughts
More Drums & Wireless, And How Not to Tour the World . . .
Well......
Re: First contrib; Contribs;Burning; DG=Neil Morrissey?
Milcon takes off! IMPORTANT INFO!
I'm just wondering?
I just shook hands with the man!
Comments on comments
What does AETATIS SVAE mean?
Bside request
Paula Cole
Yazbek and a special guest at Arlene Grocery 2/19/98
Re: Go 2 The Chase
Success anyone?
Man Crashing Down
An Englishman in New York
Chalkhills' Children production notes available
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message-Id: <199802190004.BAA00127@mail.knoware.nl> From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl> Organization: The Little Lighthouse Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 01:15:11 +0000 Subject: He's Come A Long Way Dear Chalkers, Our learned friend Amanda posted an interesting question about the future of our Hero, that gentle guitar god and all-round wonderful human being Dave : > I mean, what am I going to be doing ten years from now, > you can't be a sideman in a band that only makes records, I don't > think that's possible." > > Food for thought, and interesting considering that it's been almost > ten years since the 'view was conducted. I wonder........... Mmm... me too. But Dave has since 'branched out' and done many things outside of XTC. So i just hope that has kept him sane enough to stay another decade or two... or three... Funny that Dave considers himself a sideman though; IMHO his part is an absolutely vital ingredient in the XTC recipe. Before I forget: > the quietest member of the group > piercing me with his torrid working-class glare and enquiring with > undisguised sarcasm, "Why, what brings Mr. Lipschitz here?" I was > sure I was witnessing a turning point in history. > > Harrison "A Cellarful of Toys in the Attic" Sherwood Oh Harrison, you naughty boy! You almost had me there - i was just about to cry after reading your gripping tale as i read the .sig! But thanks for your, as ever eloquent, reply to my "excellent question" :) BTW: that glare must have been Terry's, right? yours in xtc, Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse the XTC website @ http://come.to/xtc and http://www.knoware.nl/users/mmello
------------------------------ Message-ID: <31790FAD9CB8D011BD6A0000F877207D38C502@tu-server2.micromass.co.uk> From: Wood Robert MMUk <robert.wood@micromass.co.uk> Subject: Is it me?! Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 08:42:34 -0000 In 4-56 Eric Leidberg (he of the broken apostrophe key! <g>) said: >> That being said, I disagree as well with Robert Woods, and his description of the early XTC. The ONLY thing even remotely and truly 80s-frenetic-spike-haired about the band, was Andys goofy arrow pants on their first cover. XTC had about as much to do with Nick Lowe, and skinny ties as my grandmother. Their early music was lumped, as we all know, into that package because the idiots in the industry didnt know what else to do with them. << I *assume* you're referring to me, Eric? Unless there really *is* a Robert *Woods* on the list as well as me, Robert *Wood*. I am singular (awaits ten tons of abuse for *that* comment!) Now on the assumption that you *are* referring to me, er, I don't remember writing anything *like* XTC being 80s-frenetic-spike-haired or mentioning Nick Lowe and skinny ties! I just said that the music was a more manic around the time of the early albums. In fact I was quoting someone else's use of the word "manic".
------------------------------
From: DBMEIER0@wcc.com
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 03:25:10 -0700
Message-Id: <00044D00.1586@wcc.com>
Subject: Chock Tock
Chockhillians,
At long last my copy of TOCK has arrived! This is truly insanity of
the highest fidelity. I have seldom been jerked around in so many
delightful directions as during the first 8 or 10 listenings of these
well-faceted gems. An impossibly perfect follow-up to Laughing Man.
Big RIGHT-ON to Yazbek for acknowledging our own J. Relph too!
If you haven't yet, BUY, BUY, BUY!! Get one for your mailman, the gas
meter reader, your kids kindergarten teacher, your ex-mother-in-law.
Loved the W.A.R./Yazbek questionnaire too.
Hey David, How about a west coast promotional tour?
Oh yeah, xtc content -- a.p.'s contribution is SWINGIN'
Dan "Burning Like a Pygmy" Meier
Portland, OR
------------------------------ Message-ID: <B9B4268C8F87D11195DC0000F840FABE114C25@DUB-MSG-02> From: Peter Fitzpatrick <peterfit@MICROSOFT.com> Subject: XTC News / Rifff news Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 03:43:25 -0800 First : those people who have been waiting to get their Rifff competition prizes - I have just got off the phone with Paul Bailey (band manager) and he's sending the prizes to me. one or two of them have gone missing along the way but he'll replace the lost ones when Andy get's back to town (he's in New York for a couple of weeks). I'll forward them soon as they arrive. Andy News : Andy is appearing live on stage withYazbek tonight in New York. He'll be playing some of the material he recorded with Yazbek on TOCK (his new album) Album News : Andy is in New York for a couple of weeks - Colin and Dave are working on the album in his absence. The album is more likely for an October release now - June is highly unlikely yes - promotional TV is being planned, he mentioned at least one show that I can't tell you about (he asked me not to) but it would entail an ENTIRE show with the band live (we're talking 45 minutes/ one hour). The only hint I can give is that a certain Mr. Costello did something similar.... yes - worldwide TV appearances are planned, nothing specific known yet. yes - they would like to play live (he joked that maybe Andy will enjoy his appearance with Yazbek and will want to do it again !) please be clear : they aren't planning a tour and it's just the eternal wishful thinking of everyone (bar Andy of course) that they'll play live again A merchandise deal has been sorted out and mailorder T-Shirts & other goodies will soon be available. Old XTC material re-issues : I can't say too much here because it might cause problems, due for release are : tracks written with Llyod Cole, Julian Lennon (yes, I know !), a track written with Brian from the VervePipe is up for inclusion in a major film (can you say "at long last exposure" ? I knew you could !) the Drums & Wireless album is possibly going to be released on Idea (apparently it's reverted to them) They are talking to Virgin about old material & it looks positive. Previously unreleased Dukes material is possible - another Dukes album is possible (please note the words "possible" - nothing 100% certain here) All in all - good news. Peter
------------------------------ From: J_ARTECONA@RCMACA.UPR.CLU.EDU Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 12:30:15 -0500 Message-Id: <980219123015.20e04321@RCMACA.UPR.CLU.EDU> Subject: RE: AstroXTCies To Brian the astroman, two great space songs are Space Wray and Rocket (one of the best unofficial AP songs IMO) both from The Bull With the Golden Guts......I am sure they can be found in this hill of friendly chalksters (myself included) if you haven't heard them yet.
------------------------------ Subject: us Chalkhillers Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 20:03:32 +0000 (GMT) Message-Id: <E0y5cBw-00035d-00@sunx1> From: Mandy Taylor <mandyt@central.susx.ac.uk> Alright? And a hiya to Molly, too. Stick with it, gal, it's not all bad here! We're just *so* into Xtc that we talk about anything and everything, and there's been so much valuable information I've got from being subscribed to Chalkhills (I've recently acquired a mass of demos from a very kind soul who came to my rescue -mucho thanks again mate!; I would never have known about the new album/book/drama going on, or about Guitar Player, or about Go2's original cover existing *and* still lying under some of the copies in circulation -something mentioned quite a while ago but still sends me into a daze when I care to think about it...and oh GOD loads of stuff). >From time to time someone goes "stop it!" when it seems too many people have said they don't like the resonance of a triangle with a bad attitude tucked away on a middle eight on an ancient b-side or whatever, I've done it myself in the past (say "stop it", that is) (I love all triangles with bad attitudes) and then you find all these people agreeing with *you* and it's fab and it's groovy and I don't think you should leave us, -in short. (Did anyone answer your other post concerning Xtc videos? There was "Look, Look" but if you keep rumaging about there's plenty of bootlegs kicking about.) bye then, Mand
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199802192009.AA136938963@bronte> From: Greg Marrs <GMarrs@bn.com> Subject: no no no, a little more humanity please.... Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 15:05:28 -0500 I counted not one, but TWO separate Paula Cole references in the last Chalkhills Digest... Please -- no more! The Crash Test Dummies are bad enough -- at least they're remotely humorous. If Sarah McLaughlin has little or nothing to say lyrically, at least she's got a great voice. An imitation Sarah Mclaughlin is just pointless...
------------------------------ Message-Id: <s4ec1dcf.032@phjw.com> Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 11:55:30 -0800 From: "MARK G. CUEVAS" <MGCUEVAS@phjw.com> Subject: Relph in print A hearty congratulations to our esteemed Mr. Relph on being mentioned in Yazbek's newest - Tock. This is a fine release. Buy it now. Committee for Ubiquitous Chalkhills
------------------------------ Subject: Skylarking Interview disc Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 20:40:12 +0000 (GMT) Message-Id: <E0y5clQ-0003Ek-00@sunx1> From: Mandy Taylor <mandyt@central.susx.ac.uk> It says '1979' on the Skylarking Interview disc in reference to the copyright date of Warner Bros. if memory serves (all my vinyl's at home while I pine for it here at university...Actually) I'm gonna come out of the old brackets here because I've just remembered that last time I was getting a good look at my twelve inches before I had to leave them (bloomin eck what a lovely pair how's yer father doin'?) that I saw an incredibly small white bug crawling across Terry's face on one of them -what was it likely to be? Can I do anything about it? Am I to return home to find Terry's face/my vinyl collection gone? Back to Skylarking, I paid 35.99 pounds for it in Excellent condition. It's whatever people are prepared to pay, really, with values. If anyone hasn't got it and they'd like to then (I know it's said elsewhere in the depths of all this Xtc web surfing stuff) get Record Collector every month and a whole new (expensive, addictive) world of information opens up before you. Alright Libs? Yeah, so..I'm off.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19980219205239.27049.rocketmail@web2.rocketmail.com> Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 12:52:39 -0800 (PST) From: Cheryl <cxtc@rocketmail.com> Subject: me and my random thoughts Hi there Mr. Simon Deane remarked: >Have any British members of this list noticed the >remarkable similarity between Dave Gregory and Neil >Morrissey (Tony) from "Men Behaving Badly"? Not that I'm a Brit, but having seen the show...Yeah! He does look like Dave Gregory, doesn't he?! Never thought of that. On a similar note, I was watching Ivanhoe last year and the evil prince guy looked just like Mr. Gregory...with a bowl hair cut. Just like Mr. Estus I received my CC tapes, both '96 and 97. And I too was knocked out by the talent of these people. I am enjoying these tapes very much. It's neat to be apart of a group with so many talented people. Not just in music, but in all creative endevours. Take care everyone, Cheryl
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19980219230008.23075.qmail@hotmail.com> From: "Steve Stearns" <xteve@hotmail.com> Subject: More Drums & Wireless, And How Not to Tour the World . . . Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 15:00:07 PST Hello all. Some thoughts on posts from the last Digest: ><<Oh, what the hell: obligxtc...I've been listening to "Drums and >Wireless" a lot. Anyone like the "No Thugs" on there better than the >"English Settlement" version? And what about that great piano chord at >the end of "Runaways"?>> > >I've found myself listening to Drums and Wireless more than any other XTC >CD... I'm also especially fond of the "Jason And The Argonauts" on there... Amen brother(s)! I think both "No Thugs" and "Jason" are superior to their ES counterparts. And how about the material from The Big Express and Oranges & Lemons? It's sometimes hard to believe that you're listening to three men and a drum machine! >Imagine if XTC, after becoming commercially successful, had put out "Mint >Car" or "Discotehque". (neither are totally without creativity, but both >are relatively weak when compared to prior material, IMHO) Imagine XTC then deciding to tour again, putting on the "Totally Stupendously Gigantic Inane Tour of the World At Large, Complete with Berlin-Wall Sized TV Screen and Ticket Prices to Match" Thank God for small favors, I'd rather see the guys on the back of a pickup truck any day than pay for the Vegas-style insanity I saw on the PopMart tour. The members >of XTC have sacrificed alot to maintain their notion of integrity, and >they are far more deserving of respect and fame than just about any >other musicians I can think of. They are my heros, both for the beauty >and originality of their music, as well as for the stance they have >taken to further the notion that you should stick by your guns and do >whatever it takes to express your art, despite the consequences. Does anything else need to be said? Can't wait until the weekend comes, Steve
------------------------------ From: LadyCPlum@aol.com Message-ID: <592cdf53.34ecdeb1@aol.com> Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 20:38:55 EST Subject: Well...... I picked up a copy of Guitar Player from the library (and was given an odd stare by a three-piecer, apparently wondering why the hell the girl in the freshly ironed shirt, crisp jeans and blazer was reading such a mag.....) and read a bit of the article on British guitarist. Nice little piece about Andy, FANTASTIC picture of him and Dave (that smile could melt polar ice caps.......), but not without a few errors. (Last time I checked, Dear God was released in 1987, not 89.....) Now let's move on to the Canadian guitarists, dangit! But one response this time out, and the lucky winner is...... MOLLY-Welcome to the club, medear, but might I clear the air right quick....The reason some of us are complaining is plain out frustration with the fact that we've seen no new product in the past six years. It's sort of like having your favorite tv series go on hiatus and promise to return over and over again. As much as you love the show, you get a bit bored with reruns after awhile! Tis all for now as far as XTC goes, but I do have one small non-XTC related question to ask (as much as I know how much you guys hate this, I HAVE TO ASK!!!!) As you can tell by my recent posts, I'm becoming increasingly more obsessed with Monty Python's Flying Circus. (Graham Chapman especially, brilliant guy, shame to lose him all that time ago.) What my question is, does anyone know of any major retail places that sell the episodes on video? Are they on video???? Ciao, Amanda XTC song of the day-Chalkhills and Children non XTC song-Harvest Moon-Neil Young Python quote of the day-"I object to all this sex on television. I keep falling off!"
------------------------------ Message-ID: <ZuGwIKAYAM70Ewx3@demon.co.uk> Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 23:28:24 +0000 From: Jon Holden-Dye <jon@jhd-designs.demon.co.uk> Subject: Re: First contrib; Contribs;Burning; DG=Neil Morrissey? In article <65706847FC74D1119E000000F801D38C18F229@NTFS03>, "Deane, Simon" <simon.deane@dgj.com.hk> writes >Pop" over 20 years ago (God , that long). I have to say that I've liked >almost everything they've done except "Mummer" and, altthough there are some >brilliant things on it , "Big Express". "Nonsuch " is truly a great album - >but at the time they came out I was similarly entranced with "Drums and >Wires", "Black Sea", "English Settlement" and "Skylarking" - they were What, no Oranges & Lemons ??!! >5. I've often in the past seen or heard about stuff like Dukes of >Stratosphear albums, Rag and Bone Buffet etc. (and now this demo "release" "Chips from the Chocolate Fireball" (Dukes' compilation) periodically available - check the WWW CD stores (www.cdnow.com, etc.) >6. Have any British members of this list noticed the remarkable similarity >between Dave Gregory and Neil Morrissey (Tony) from "Men Behaving Badly"? >Are they by any chance related? I think we should ....etc. etc. Shurely shome mishtake . . . >7. There's been a bit of talk about XTC's commercial success or lack of it. >Well it's not entirely unknown to them - they've had some pretty major hits >with "Making Plans for Nigel", "Generals and Majors" and "Senses Working >Overtime", all of which I seem to remember made the "Top 3" in the UK >singles charts and I'm sure "Drums and Wires" was a top 3 UK album when it Nigel - highest place #17 Generals & Majors - highest #32 Senses - #10 (highest placing the band achieved - so far !) All courtesy the Guiness Book of British Hit Singles - as my decrepit, old brain can't recall shit these days, as . . . >"letter" I've ever written which at the age of 38 is a rather strange >experience. Just turned 43. Stranger still. -- Jon Holden-Dye "I like to keep an open mind - but not so open my brain falls out." (Anon.)
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 21:59:50 -0500 (EST) From: "Jennifer L. Geese" <jlg@tardis.svsu.edu> Subject: Milcon takes off! IMPORTANT INFO! Message-Id: <Pine.OSF.3.91.980219215345.25638E-100000@tardis.svsu.edu> Ok folks, the moment you've all been waiting for has arrived. What's that, you ask? The official release of MilCon news, of course! MilCon IS happening, and it is happening March 28 (sorry, Mike). What we need from you now are suggestions as to where we might hold this thing (preferably somewhere where we could play music and eat and drink), and some ideas as to what you might like to do at MilCon. So, your mission, should you choose to accept it is to get your reservation in ASAP so we know how many to plan for, along with any ideas that you have. Simply e-mail me at jlg@tardis.svsu.edu with a "Yes, I can make it" or "No, you stupid idiot, I can't possibly be there that day" and we'll count you in or out as the case may be. Until MilCon. Jen Rush right out and jump on the first Omnibus headed for Milwaukee. you won't be sorry!
------------------------------ From: MFa2707621@aol.com Message-ID: <5f495f95.34ecf3e2@aol.com> Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 22:09:15 EST Subject: I'm just wondering? Chalkers, I think I asked this question before, but I was wondering if the video, Look, Look is still in print, and if anybody's seen it how they like it? Also, are there any chaces they will be releasing any new video cassettes of their videos? The only videos I have of the band are Mayor of Simpleton and Dear God. I would love to see the videos for King for a Day, Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead and Grass (if there was a video for that song). I've seen part ot the video for Senses Working Overtime, and I prefer the later videos. Maybe somebody knows this, but when the heck is Firework supposed to be released? I've read someplace it's supposed to be in September, but I'm not sure if that's true or not. I still think the web site is a good idea. Also I think there should be an American fan club. Maybe somebody can make a web page for the American fans of XTC. I would if I could, but I don't have the time to get one started. I still think if people stop being so negative I'm going to unsubscribe. I don't really want to, but what's the use of bitching and complaining. It doesn't solve anything. That's all I have to say. Molly Buffalo, NY
------------------------------ Message-Id: <34ED0DC6.55D5@condenast.com> Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 00:01:36 -0500 From: Alex McDonald <weasel@condenast.com> Subject: I just shook hands with the man! WooHoo! So, I just got back from the Arlene Grocery Yazbek gig, and while Yazbek was great (as usual) and his band and guest performers were excellent, the highlight of the the show was getting to meet and talk to ANDY on Stanton street for about ten minutes after the Yazbek set. He seemed very well and younger than I had imagined, and was in town not just to see Yazbek, but to speak to W.A.R. and other U.S. distributors about making a deal with IDEA. I mentioned that there were many enthusiastic volunteers on chalkhills that seemed to be happy to develop web sites and do other publicity work to get things cooking not just for XTC, but for IDEA and any other bands they were to produce. I didn't ask him about his thoughts on direct cash infusions to IDEA by chalkhillians, but I did let him know that there was a large crowd that would buy just about anything they wanted to sell, including demo tapes, T-shirts, belly-button lint, etc. Anyhow, I had a great night... just wanted to let y'all know. P.S. Buy the new Yazbek album... it's way cool. * -------------------------- Alex McDonald Conde Nast Publications 212-880-2557 weasel@condenast.com
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 08:07 -0700 (MST) From: Dewitt Henderson <Dewitt.Henderson@mci.com> Subject: Comments on comments Message-Id: <19980220150626.FJXZ452@[166.37.7.10]> Hey amigos - Re: the 'what if XTC suddenly became successful' thread - I agree with both sentiments that I've seen expressed - yeah, it would be great if they had a big hit CD, but realistically, I doubt if it will happen. But we might be surprised. The 'reaching out to fans' thread - Todd, buddy, you and a few others put it best. Why does XTC have any obligation to do any- thing for (or to? :^) us? And I think you could look at it this way too - they may not do 'tangible' things for us, but what about this? I think we've all experienced this: you like a band/artist's music, they're selling piles of albums/CDs, you go to their concert, and they do this 80-90 minute cheapshot concert and say 'see ya, suckers!'. I'm paraphrasing a bit there, but you get my drift: some bands have little or no appreciation for the very people who've made them rich and famous. I get the impression that XTC at least appreciates their fans. Eric Rosen: your email 'signature' is fabulous, man. Too true. Library donation of 'Firework'. Good idea. Mr. Sherwood - your point about what's likely to happen to the list post-'Firework'. Hmmmmm, could be, but then again, most of the real fans are probably already here. :^) Carry on wayward sons (and daughters).
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199802201533.HAA00990@sgi.sgi.com> Date: 20 Feb 98 10:33:54 -0500 From: Charlie Passut <charlie_passut@baseview.com> Subject: What does AETATIS SVAE mean? Inside the cover of the Nonsuch album, Andy, Colin and Dave appear in medieval portraits. There is text on all three of these portraits. On two of them (Colin's and Dave's) appears the words "AETATIS SVAE," and then the numbers 36 and 39, respectively. Also, on Andy's portrait, the words "AETATIS JUE 38" appear. The portraits are also on the Internet at http://chalkhills.org/who.html What does "AETATIS SVAE" and "AETATIS JUE" mean? Is it Latin? (Please e-mail replies to charliep@baseview.com)
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199802210354.TAA12981@mail.rapidnet.net> From: "J & J Greaves" <jgreaves@rapidnet.net> Subject: Bside request Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 19:55:55 -0800 Knowing that the lads read the old posts from time to time I'd like to request politely that the "Dame Fortune" demo be made a bside for one of the new singles, since it won't be part of Firework. I'd also like them to know that the snippet of "Playground" from Rock Over London is getting great reviews from my non-XTC fan friends. One more thing for Andy: Nonsuch was great but this new batch is, IMHO as a fan of the band for 19 years, the best yet! Just do what you do! John
------------------------------
Message-Id: <v03130307b114104ff286@[207.77.25.130]>
Date: Sat, 21 Feb 1998 00:04:35 -0500
From: Ira Lieman <ira@myself.com>
Subject: Paula Cole
>I think that, based on his vocal performance in "Dear Mad(Am)
>Barnum," Ira Lieman could sound like Paula Cole. Don't you, Ira?
No thank you. I don't whine that bad. It's bad enough that she HAS to wait
and can't stop complaining about it! Ack!
If I had to sound like a female artist it would be someone like Lisa Loeb,
I think. Or Michael Jackson.
-ira
< - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >
_/_/ _/ _/ _/_/_/_/ Ira Lieman | Visualize
_/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ ira@myself.com | Whirled
_/_/_/ _/ _/ _/ _/ | Peas.
_/ _/ _/ _/ _/ www.intercall.com/~aym | Stop the Violins!
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 11:17:43 -0500 (EST)
Message-Id: <v01510104b113049f3d96@[128.122.161.36]>
From: vanvalnc@is2.nyu.edu (Chris Van Valen)
Subject: Yazbek and a special guest at Arlene Grocery 2/19/98
Hi Calcium Carbonates,
Had already planned to go to Arlene Grocery last night to see Yazbek. After
all, I always go when he's in NYC. On my way home, I stopped in a record
store and some hairy guy(who looked a little too much like Charlie
Manson)grabbed me and shouted into my face(Ugh-bad breath!)"Where is he?
Where is he? Where is he?" Almost running away, I asked "Who?" Again, he
shouts "Andy! Andy! Andy!" I didn't know what he wanted until I realized I
was wearing a Chalkhills t-shirt. "I gusss he's in Swindon, I dunno..." "No
he's not! He was right in this store today! And you know where he is!" I
finally shook off this guy and explained that I didn't know where he was.
But it set me thinking. Yazbek. CD premier. No, it couldn't be! I got to
Arlene at about 8:10 ad Yaz was outside hangin' out. He gave me a hearty
hello and I told him to have a good show. He said it would be a special
show, he'll have a horn section and a guitarist tonight(instead of the
usual trio). I asked him if you-know-who was coming tonight. He said yes,
but be cool, talk, but don't mob him. I told him that I had met Andy
several times already, so I'm OK. Went inside, ran into Hillian Todd H.,
shortly thereafter Mitch Friedman. A peek out the small window revealed
that The Bespectacled One was outside. He came in, no fanfare, hung at the
bar. I realized that most of the people there didn't know who he was. Cool.
The show, as usual, was rockin'. The usual audience participation
song, "Schmuck in a Vacuum", was wilder than ever. "Black Cowboys on the
Beach" still features the intro from Led Zep's "Ocean". No fish boning
tonight, though. Yaz mentioned that later in the show, they'd have a guest
guitarist. No, it couldn't be! Actually, it wasn't. A horn trio came up for
the last few songs. On one, Yaz said "I don't like to do this one because
it was co-written by Andy Partridge, and I have to split the royalties!"
They even did a Dave Brubeck piece. For the encore, Sean Altman came up to
do backup vocals. After the show I welcomed Mr. P back to our humble burg
and he gave me a hearty embrace. A most memorable evening.
CV
P.S. Ben Folds tonight. Yes!!!
If you have an unpleasant nature and dislike people
this is no obstacle to work. -- J.G. Bennett
Catch "Forever Knight" on the Sci-Fi Channel every
Mon-Thurs at 9PM and 1AM EST. -- Lucien LaCroix
------------------------------ From: CCooli9575@aol.com Message-ID: <2f5da6fb.34eef28f@aol.com> Date: Sat, 21 Feb 1998 10:28:13 EST Subject: Re: Go 2 The Chase Seen today: attractive blonde woman walking out the door of KSV Communications with a shrinkwrapped vinyl LP of Go 2 under her arm. Cool! I wanted to chase after her to compliment her on her impeccable taste(it's not my favorite XTC album, but even knowing it exists is the mark of a true-blue XTC fan), but I didn't want to give her the wrong idea; my wife wouldn't want me seen chasing strange women... Chris
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199802202127.OAA04764@access.tucson.org> From: "J. D. SMX" <jsmelser@access.tucson.org> Organization: Access Tucson Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 14:39:37 -0700 Subject: Success anyone? Hello Chalksters - > If Barbie is so popular, why do we have to buy all of her friends? Because they put out. Mark Stribos asks: >how would we, as their loyal(?) fans, react if Firework would be a >bit of a success and XTC would be catapulted to sudden fame and >fortune? Do you love them because nobody else does or would you be >thrilled if they had a number 1 with a bullet? I think it would be great for the band; but if at their concert, I have to sit next to someone who sings along with their new single so loudly I can't hear the band...I'll be pissed. >Perhaps we could have a secret, second digest. Something along the >lines of the masons. You know-- by invitation only, secret to the >death. Uh... that is... unless you folks already have one... and I'm >not on it. OK, nevermind. We voted on letting you in last week. But we could only allow one more member and we chose Ben Stein. Better luck next time. J. D. SMX Engineering Services Manager Access Tucson jsmelser@access.tucson.org
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199802212317.AAA09359@mail.knoware.nl> From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl> Organization: The Little Lighthouse Date: Sun, 22 Feb 1998 00:28:34 +0000 Subject: Man Crashing Down Daer Chalkers, Last issue Molly said: > I just read the latest Chalkhills, and I'm amazed at what I read. > I subscribed to talk about XTC, not complain about > them. Why can't we talk about how we love the group, instead of > attacking them. Indeed! The rest of the world already hates them or doesn't care one bit about XTC. We should keep the fire burning and spread their gospel wherever we go, whenever we can. So I applaud the suggestions made by several people regarding what we fans can do to promote the new album. If we all succeed in getting them on a radio station or in a magazine or paper we _can_ make a real difference. The key to success in the music industry is not brilliance but exposure and quite contrary to popular belief, hits are not born but made. Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse the XTC website @ http://come.to/xtc and http://www.knoware.nl/users/mmello
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 Feb 1998 22:34:11 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <v03007803b1148881f9e4@[209.86.61.228]> From: Mitch Friedman <mitchf@mindspring.com> Subject: An Englishman in New York Hello Hillies, Let me start off by vigorously apologizing to anyone reading this who is offended by hearing accurate information about what's going on with XTC. I am truly sorry . . . for you. As will be reported by several others, Andy is in NYC this week and was in the audience for another great show by Yazbek on Thursday night. (BUY HIS ALBUM) Also in the audience were ChalkieTalkies Brookes McKenzie, Todd Bernhardt, Chris Van Valen, Alex McDonald, and yours truly (if I've left anyone out I am sorry but I didn't know you were there!) Brad from Crash Test Dummies was also there. I believe at some point in the evening every one of us had the chance and pleasure to speak with Andy. He didn't get up on stage and perform but that's alright because Yazbek did a fine job regardless. The next night I spent some dinner time with Andy and collected the following information (which will in some cases be a description of how certain songs will sound on the album and possibly what order they will be in too -- do not read on if you don't want to know!) : He told me that the new album probably won't be called "Firework" but the other title he really liked "The History of the Middle Ages" (no medieval cover art was to be used in conjunction with this; it's more to do with the bands' ages) was vehemently voted down by Dave because he refused to be categorized as middle-aged. He told me that there will be only one CD which may now only have 16 songs on it (due to running out of money to finish everything they've started and running out of time since they will all probably have to fit on one CD) but the remaining things that don't get finished could become tracks on The Bootleg Album or b-sides. Ideally (no pun intended) the band would have released an album in '93 and another in '95 so it's a shame that great material may have to be nixed from this one album in '97. He described two beautiful sounding packaging ideas which are both too expensive. One was a 3D water cover in which the clear plastic CD cover would have 3D (slightly raised plastic) coincentric ripples going away from the center and the CD that would show through once the booklet was removed would have a fish swimming away and a solitary pebble that would have fallen causing the ripple effect. The whole thing was just way too pricey to produce so it's been turned down. The other idea was to have a very iridescent close up of a peacock feather and the eye looking design in the center of it on shiny aluminium (his pronunciation) paper against a matte white background but how one would mass produce that is beyond him. He described how "River Of Orchids" (which will be the opening track on the album) will start. There will be a much longer intro, almost a minute in length which will start with the sound of individual tuned water droplets and the spaces in between them will slowly fill in with string plucks and cello twangs until eventually it all builds up into the rhythm of the song and then the vocals come in. So in other words going from water droplets to a full "river" over the course of the song. The album will start orchestral and finish electric but no running order has been determined for sure yet because no songs are fully finished. Colin has contributed another new one called "In Another Life" (I think?). Mr. Moulding is already at work on his vocals and Andy will be joining in sometime very soon. The band is scheduled to be at Hayden Bendall's studio for two months to do the vocals and remaining acoustic things and then 2 days at Abbey Road to record a 40 piece orchestra. Andy commented that he thinks he's finally gotten the '60s out of his system but Dave keeps buying him presents like The Best of The Move to make the cold turkey unintenionally more difficult. Andy has written some material with the guy from The Verve Pipe including contributing a song he couldn't finish for XTC called "Blow". Finally, he is fond of "A Nanny in Manhattan" by The Lilys. In case you were all interested, I passed on printouts of several comments about Nonsuch, hearing the demos before the finished album, and some schemes for money making ideas to benefit XTC that we could possibly take up. And to finally end the discussion once and for all, he said "Please do not send us any money!" Buy buy, Mitch
------------------------------ Message-ID: <211D4A0926D2D011859E0060972D88482DDCAB@azmail.rjconsult.com> From: "Miller, Ed" <emiller@rjconsult.com> Subject: Chalkhills' Children production notes available Date: Mon, 23 Feb 1998 10:10:58 -0700 Hi, everyone... The production notes from Chalkhills Children '97 are ready for distribution. They are quite enlightening... not to mention rather amusing. However, they are lengthier than originally anticipated so I won't be posting them to the digest. Please get your copy by doing the following... Send an email to me: emiller@rjconsult.com and, in the subject line type: chalknotes You will receive an automated reply within a few minutes. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I did! Ed
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #4-58 ******************************
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23 February 1998 / Feedback