So Apparently This Is A Thing...

And I might just finally succumb to it.  

September 7, 2013 is Cassette Store Day. 

I have not understood the minor resurgence in cassette tapes among the experimental music fringe.  It felt like they were just being contrary for no good reason.  

I mean, you lose on artwork, audio fidelity, collector value; I really can see no upside...and yet...and yet...

Right now cassettes are all that I can rock in my car!  And I am getting a little tired of being stuck at least ten years ago as far as my musical choices. 

Exactly one store in Chicago is participating.  A place I have never heard of prior to this post but is brand new and operating out of an old Currency Exchange/Payday Loan place.  It looks very junk drawer-ish from their FB page. 

So now Cassette Store Day is also an excuse to check out a new record store...enticing...worth considering...

Hold the phone - here comes the 411 to seal the deal.  One of the releases is from Pulled Apart By Horses.   

Dem turned me on to this band a few years back and I like their moxie.  Their very first record was "Live At Leeds" and they even swiped the album cover.  



There is really no other way to close out this post except with this video.  You are welcome. 

The Taxpayers

My good friend Dem told me I had to do what I could to spread the word about this band - The Taxpayers - and their latest release.   

Dem wrote an article about the band HERE with some assist from his cohort Becky- it is the first music article he has written in almost four years.  One listen to the music below and it is clear why The Taxpayers demanded a return to the computer keyboard.   Like he mentions in his article, these guys have an authentic edge about them.  

This is a jazz punk concept album that swings with ferocity.  Henry Turner was a pitcher for Georgia Tech in the 1970s but he threw his arm out before he made it to the big leagues.  He lived much of his life homeless.  

That might lead you to believe that the album is a monochromatic downer but it isn't.  It packs a lot of emotions and it is gloriously messy.   

The songs all work as individual tunes but overall I guess I would say that it is very humanistic body of music.   

Most depictions of homelessness in music fall into two distinct camps:

The "homeless as magical" myth variety -- Arrested Development's "Mr. Wendell", Los Lobos's "Angels With Dirty Faces", Roger Miller's "King of The Road", etc. 

Or the "Pity these poor wretches" variety -- "Another Day in Paradise" by Phil Collins or Elvis singing "In The Ghetto" are two examples. 

The Taxpayers have deftly avoided these broad stereotypes.  They knew this guy and they are honoring his life by presenting it straight up. 

As Dem writes - "Henry Turner. Was he simply a misfit? Some of us are. Was his life one of misfortune beyond his control or missed opportunities that he chose to ignore? Was he an asshole or was asshole-ism his defense? None of that is important. Henry Turner was a person and his dignity as a person is revealed in the course of these songs." 

The Taxpayers have such songwriting elan that I hope that my few loyal readers will give this record some serious time and attention.  It will be rewarded.  

Relief from Election tension...

I saw Future of The Left at the Bottom Lounge last night with Dem and while I don't have any in-depth analysis I think I should say that THEY KILLED IT. 

I can completely see why they are Dem's favorite band.  Frenetic and witty - they completely energized the Monday night crowd and on this tour they are the opening band! 

We were even treated to two McKlusky songs!  Before going into "Lightsaber Cocksucker Blues," Falko introduced the band as Coldplay and said this next song is called "Yellow."  The Welsh have a great sense of humor.

 

Also after last night I am totally crushing on the band's newish bassist - Julia Ruzicka.  She could really hold down the groove.

 

When I looked her up on Twitter I learned that Dave Grohl will be playing on the new QOTSA record which gives me some hope.