Hundred Dolla' Holla' with Naked Raygun

This weekend I am going to be host to a tent party at Riot Fest Chicago.  We are going to be playing video games, raffling off prizes, dousing people in a dunk tank and generally just mixing it up with the masses amidst great music.  A funnel cake or two may also be consumed.  

I also created a promotion called the Hundred Dolla' Holla' Club.  It is an incentive to get people to spend $100 on raffle tickets.

The idea is simple: Join the Hundred Dolla' Holla' Club by spending $100 and you shall receive -

• 80 raffle tickets 
• A CCH t-shirt
• $10 in video game tokens
• A Naked Raygun styled chant performed in your honor by the volunteers staffing the booth.

Guess which part I had a hard time selling to the volunteers I recruited.  

The thing is, I blame the Chicago education system.  Clearly we are not teaching the younger generations about the rapturous call and response opportunities offered through the music of Naked Raygun.  

Elsewhere in the world, they have football vuvuzelas that trumpet your impending hearing loss.  In other areas of the globe, you can wildly scatter in a market square as a full grown bull thrashes about in close proximity.  

These rituals represent a submission of your individual consciousness to the ecstatic mob mentality.  Y'see, mob mentality gets a bad rap as always being negative and it just isn't so. In the words of Maude Lebowski, these moments "can be a natural, zesty enterprise." 

Here in the Windy City, the quickest path to a true Chicago citizenship is to risk a severe bruising as you mingle your sweat with hundreds of others; the easiest way to earn your Chi-town bona fides is to mosh joyously at a Naked Raygun show as you shred your vocal chords chanting along to (at least) these ten songs. 

This is not the result of a poll.  This is based solely on my extensive field experience.

10. New Dreams

This is where it all started. The short chant perforates the Super Ego with the force of its intent.  It boldly declares: "My new dreams are becoming a reality no matter what heretofore unseen steps need to be taken.  WHOA-AY-OH!  WAY-OH-WAY!

9. HOME

For most of the song, it is just blunt primal scream therapy to manage the pain, ("Oh God, I really feel the pain"). but then in the last throes of the song the heavenly choir ascends.  Home again, check the fridge.  

8. Backlash Jack

Hey, I was at this show!  The sound quality on this video is impressive but because of the narrow scope of what I assume was a cameraphone recording, you can't really see the crowd.  

But you can certainly still hear them.  Our presence is best represented by the the kid that shows up 1:15 minutes in to the video.  It seems that in Mishwauka, Indiana at least one family is raising their young up on the classics.  

What is this song about?  Beware of vipers and sycophants.  Or as Joan fucking Jett puts it, "you got nothing to lose, you don't lose when you lose fake friends."

7. Wonder Beer

Hey! I was at this show too!  And I can totally see myself in the crowd.  I pounded the stage floorboards until my fists were black and blue.  

Kudos to whomever loaded this up for putting in the lyric word balloons.  Until just now, I thought I knew the lyrics to this song by heart - but I always heard the line about "too much adrenaline" as being a shout out to Loretta Lynn.  In my defense, this is much less of a logical jump than one would expect in this song that also give props to Lou Reed, Iggy Pop and Roy Orbison. 

This one isn't really a chant per se, it is more like chorus that acts like an Irish toast in the middle of a song about that "sweet Bacchanalian din" (expertly rhymed with two more aspirin).  But it is a prime example of the energy that a crowd of faithful NR fans gives back.  

It is okay to feel a little lightheaded as you sing along to Wonder Beer.  It is perfectly normal to have a pukey burp as you belt this out.  Who is going to judge you?  Surely not the Gods - they are as piss drunk as you and I.  

6. Home of the Brave

I remember listening to an episode of Sound Opinions where Derogatis and Kot struck upon the idea of playing the "quintessential" Chicago song. They gave themselves just one station break to come to an agreement on what that track would be.  

This is the song they came up with in a pinch, and as an instinctual decision it was a pretty astute one.  

Fast forward ahead to 1:50 in to get a POV perspective of what it is like when Jeff Pezzati thrusts the mic into your vicinity.  

What are you going to do?  Stand there like a poseur or answer the Call of the Brave? 

5. Metastasis

I would just like to point out that you can see Riot Mike at the start of this clip, making sure his guys have the proper hydration within arms reach. 

When I started this post, I had no idea that I would discover how many NR shows I have attended that ended up on Youtube, but I here I am in yet another video.  I am hanging just to the right of the taper and his buddy singing along with my good friend Wendi.  

This track has the giddy joy of a football hooligan down pat.  What else but fervent devotion would have you proudly exclaim, "I AM A LOCAL SLIME MOLD OH-OH-OHHH!  HEY-AY! HEY-AY! HEY-AY!" 

And if you are cramming for Riot Fest, be sure to pay close attention to this one as it will be performed as it is part of Throb, Throb which Raygun will be playing front to back. 

4. Rat Patrol

Ok, I surely wasn't at this performance because I would remember that my mother would have had to drive me into the city to be there as I was only 13 years old at the time.  

Rat Patrol is one of the very few reasons I am glad that my old-ass Honda Civic has just a tape deck.  In the seconds of cassette hiss before this song kicks in, I exist inside a Pavlovian predisposition.  

Look at how incredibly PACKED the Metro is with shirtless young men just burning to be a part of "Chicago Woodstock" as Jeff puts it.  As your study buddy, I feel it is important to mention that this is also sure to be on the test this weekend.  

3. Soldier's Requiem

Naked Raygun is a product of the first Cold War.  It is self evident in their album covers and their lyrics.  Growing up in the imminent shadow of mutually assured destruction, you can either curl up in a ball of fear or you can do your best to laugh it off and forge on.  Camaraderie and humor helps to ease the anxiety of forces beyond your control.  

It feels like we have come full circle and Naked Raygun is once again a product of current headlines. 

Oh, I was at this show too.  It was a night I hope I never forget.     

2. Knock Me Down

If you have made it this far and actually watched all these clips, god bless you.

If you saw Guardians of The Galaxy, you know how the character Groot gets a lot of mileage out of his inflection of his only three words of dialogue   throughout the movie?  

Well, Raygun is the same way with just one word: Whoa.  

I want to give you a bit of break from the shaky and frenetic hand held cameras.  

So I present to you the wonder of the Skater Tots covering our #2 entry - Knock Me Down - a great love song for the ages. 

1.  I Lie

I thought long and hard about what should be #1 and this one edged out the formidable competition simply because "I Lie" contains the Whoa-oh-oh-ohs that the crowd starts up with in unison, without the band, when we want Raygun to come back out for an encore.  

It sounds utterly fantastic when the crowd is in to it.  You can hear a little bit of it going on at the start of this clip as the band returns to the stage and takes up the song. They love us and we love them.  

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Well, that is it - 10 Naked Raygun songs no self respecting sing-along enthusiast can ignore!  Maybe next year I can get some volunteers to holla with me.

Are you feeling it?  Do you believe I left a crucial song off the list?  Do you disagree with the pecking order?     

You can post in the comments or take it up with me at Riot Fest. Or better yet, at the Double Door aftershow.  I will be there - just follow the sound of my voice.  

  

Riot Fest Wishlist

Yesterday, Riot Fest made the first lineup announcement for Toronto. 

This has sparked a lot of discussion among my peers - how many of these acts can we expect in Chicago? 

Unlike last year, I am completely in the dark & believe it or not, I am kind of happy about that.  The anticipation is building!  I still get occasional glimpses into all the blood, sweat and tears that pour out behind the scenes of this festival, so I am rooting for the organizers like they are family. 

What I do know about Riot Fest Chicago is what everyone knows, we have one more day than Toronto AND a bigger park which means more stages, which means many more bands.

So let me be clear: this is NOT a post where I am suggesting to the good people of Riot Fest to take my advice and book headlining acts that I just thought of on a whim.  I have to book just one benefit concert a year and I can't stand when someone rolls into my office and suggests I contact Neil Young or Aretha Franklin because, well hey...you never know, right?

Because they do know; they know what they are doing and they know who is "get-able."  So, the major draws are their responsibility because they have earned their reputation and have my respect. 

But they DO have a lot of stages to fill for three whole days.  They are working around the clock to book bands.  So, I have been asking around to friends who they would like to see at Riot Fest and this is what has come up. 

Consider this post to be a festival organizer version of Fantasy Football; how do you round out the team after the several rounds of draft picks have gone by? 

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Dem suggested Future of The Left and the Jim Jones Revue and I gotta say both are great live acts. 

I recently joined Dem to see the Jim Jones Revue at Schuba's and they are amazing performers.  Punk Boogie swagger done to perfection. 



G$ suggested The Spits and Radar Men From The Moon and I have to second those two choices as well.  You give The Spits a 30 minute set and you are going to get a lot of punk rock!



Claire wanted to see the Flaming Lips and since they are on the Toronto bill our fingers are crossed. 

I have a few bands to add, of course:

Doomtree - last year Dessa kicked off Friday at Riot Fest, why not bring the whole fun-lovin' crew?  They have a bit of a punk rock ethos, their fans are fervent and it is short drive from Minneapolis to Chicago.  Last year, fans were treated to the mighty Public Enemy and Saul Williams.  We need some agitprop hip-hop to carry on that tradition in 2014.



Danko Jones - Danko delivers arena sized hooks regardless of the size of the venue he is playing.  In a world of unsalted rice cakes, Danko Jones is cheese fries.  I have dragged a LOT of people to see Danko perform over the years and they all leave the show forever in my debt.  Discovering Danko is like tripping over a briefcase full of cash.  



Yes, that video features the acting talents of Mike Watt and Lemmy!  Not to mention Elijah Wood and Selma Blair.  Danko Jones has a million friends who would probably pretend to be his enemy in a video if he asked them. 

Killing Joke - I know this band has Visa issues now and again and that Jaz Coleman goes missing from time to time.  But hand to God, this band is worth the potential headache because they deliver the goods.  Their sound and schema are as relevant today as ever.  



Is Jaz Coleman batshit crazy or the sole sane man in a world gone mad?  I will leave that up to the listener.  I just want to see him do his Perry Farrell as Frankenstein lurch in front of thousands of people.  

Godflesh - kinda along similar lines to KJ, Godflesh would bring us older people out.  I saw them at the Metro in April and I have no doubt that nearly every person at that show would pay good money to see them again so soon.

  

Beaches - So, when I saw on the Toronto announcement, The Beaches were playing I hoped that it was a typo and that it was this quintet from Australia but that really doesn't make sense. I mean, that shit gets proofread, right?



So please consider Beaches my first entry on the wishlist for 2015 because that would be too cruel to put a band called Beaches on a lineup with another band called The Beaches.  UNLESS they got together and agreed that one group of Beaches would put stars on their bellies so we could tell them apart. Then I am sure that Dr. Seuss would approve.  

Savages - This last one kind of goes beyond the concept of "get-able" because I am sure they are taking a much needed break after touring the globe.  But hey, the title of this post is Riot Fest Wishlist. 

So have you seen this video that came out a couple of days ago?  I realize they played Pitchfork just last year but still...god damn!  They are amazing.  I actually went and saw them the Monday night after Riot Fest last year even though I just wanted to soak in a tub of Ben Gay. Not only do I not regret it that decision, it was one of my favorite shows of 2013.  



Well, this was fun.  What do you think?  Who would you like to see at Riot Fest Chicago 2014?

Doing The Right Thing

When my friend Paul was managing a band, his email signature was a quote attributed to Hunter S. Thompson: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I loved seeing that quote every time I got an email from Paul.  I took it to mean that he was determined to retain his humanity. 

But it turns out that Hunter never really said or wrote this. 

Still, it resonated enough to proliferate right?  

And why should we let something like factual research get in the way of a good gestalt?
 
But in reality, as I have shadowed the music industry in my career for the past 17 years, I have actually come across some real stand up, honorable people. People with principles. It is good to be reminded of that once in a while.

This week I was given a sterling example of how amidst the rip-offs and the screw-overs, you can still find people to admire for their courage and tenacity to do the right thing. 

  This guy - who would probably prefer to be nameless - he stuck to his plan to help out the non-profit I work for even though it meant a LOT of headaches and bullshit obstacles. 

It would have been more expedient for him to shrug his shoulders and say, "at least I tried."  But he dug his heels in and found a way. 

He didn't do it for the glory or the recognition.  He wanted to help out people that many others have forgotten.  He did it because he wanted to stick to his original deal and because he has integrity. 

I would like to take this moment to thank him. 

DES-SAH!

I have no idea what prompted my buddy Riot Mike to book Dessa for Riot Fest but I am so grateful he did. 

If you have not seen Dessa perform live, then I feel sorry for you.  It is a mesmerizing, diamond bright thing to witness.  

Her lyrics are unique - tough but humble - seething with a hunger, wracked with mortality.  Right at the moment that you think she is just trying to be too clever by half she eviscerates herself.  If that isn't the soul of poet then I don't know what is. 

I once read a blog call Dessa, "a very photogenic person of substance".  That is putting it mildly. Her beauty is so severe that it just levels me.  It is bone deep, you just know that she is going to be turning heads well into her sunset years, like Lena Horne or Julie Andrews.  

It is also completely incidental to her career and talent.  I wouldn't even bring it up except that I don't want cynicism to creep in while you look on this picture and think that I just am smitten by her looks.  I mean, I AM smitten, but that is y'know, like I said, incidental.   

I have also never seen an Official Lyrics video done so artfully.  You might want to strap on the headphones and put this one on full screen.  Oh and grab a sweater cuz you might get the chills.