bald guy in a blanket

Hey.

Bootleg Series V. 5

Live 1975

That for me is the sh!t.

followed by Live at Budokan

followed by any scratchy bootleg from the early 60's

cool,

Jef

Hey.

Good luck Ben.

Go west young man!

Jef

Cool... I'll check them out this afternoon. This internet thingy is cool.

Jef

Folks,

I find myself in your town for the afternoon.

Just a couple of hours but I was wondering if anyone knew of a good local independant record store.

I like to peruse and such.

Thoughts,

Jef

Quick note.

Apparently the Brittish producer for the musical "We Will Rock You" has backed out.

After the failure of their other musical "Hairspray" they've declared that TO is no longer a viable market.

I'm not sure if this has been announced yet.

I have a buddy that works at Mirvish productions.

"We Will Rock You" won't.

At least not in T.O.

I actually was looking forward to the smoltzy cheese of the whole thing.

Oh well, maybe if we all go and see whatever drivel or drek they want us to pay 80 bucks for we'll be "viable" again one day.

Jef

I have to say...

HOLY sh!t!

Wasn't that Trey guy in some other band before...?

If that's Trey's next touring band I'm a little more O.K. with last summer.

I'm actually way more excitied than I think Phish could have made me.

Two drummers too?

fu©k.

Cool

Jef

I just went through the list at the CBC.

Does anyone even come close to Terry Fox?

Read his history on that page.

Can anyone be "greater" than that?

Don Cherry?

He's a good guy but Fox is a fu©kin superhero by comparison.

Just a thought...

Jef

Hey.

Normally I'd say that you should ask our band

"Uncle Seth".

I'm unfortunately out of town that weekend.

Our singer Tara might be interested in doing a stripped down acoustic thing though. She's got a killer voice.

Ask Mr. Musicface, he knows stuff.

In the future, please keep us in mind. I'm sure we'd love to put together some shows with you.

www.musicface.com/uncleseth

Cool,

Jef

Thought I'd throw my pennies in.

As a "practice" teacher you need to remember only a couple of things.

-Keep your eyes open. If you do you'll learn more the first day then you will all year at teacher's college.

-Listen politely and be agreeable with your associate. This will keep your time under the guidance of someone who is used to guiding children tolerable.

-Ignore the words your associate says to you or writes about you. Try to instead hear the message. Teachers tend to only speak in words they themself understand.

-Don't worry about whether or not your associate likes you. Teachers are weird. Relax. You'd have to do something horrible, very horrible to fail. Try and suck up as much info as possible.

-LASTLY start a band. It couldn't hurt. And I love new music.

Enjoy,

Jef

It's okay Hamilton, I'll say it.

I blame a vast right-wing Brazilian conspiracy for the current lack of public interest in live music....and for the oddly persistent popularity of George W. Bush.

There.

That's done.

Any questions?

Jef

Do you really think that anyone says to themself 'let's go see BNL I read in Rolling Stone that their stage show is particularly engaging'

No. But it's about word of mouth. The mouths of the audience. BNL has sold out their shows for years based on people saying incredible things about the show. This was the case for about a year before they broke the radio in the U.S.. Many would argue that this helped cause their radio success. I think we can all agree that being on the radio doesn't have much to do with good music.

They kicked their audience's ass and then people told all their friends.

By the way, please keep in mind that I do not neccesarily prefer BNL to the DEAD musically.

And Paisley, the Grateful Dead sold out stadiums. The talk at the time was "They aren't the best at what they do, they're the only ones at what they do"

This was said by a promoter but backed up by a blown away audience. The current "DEAD", I don't think could make that famous claim. Certainly not even those that seem to be their biggest fans seem to be to energized by them anymore.

Perhaps a better example of the "performance trumping all else" arguement is the current steady rise of the band GUSTER.

Their songs are good, their shows are awesome. As a result, fans have started to follow them from city to city.

These are just some thoughts I've encountered while assesing the notion of performing music.

jef

Good luck dude!

Wind at your back and all that.

Thanks for your work on the shows.

Jef

Vastly interesting thread.

I've been contemplating this a lot lately. As a musician in a band (UNCLE SETH) what makes the difference? What makes a Barenaked Ladies show a complete sellout at Pine Knob vs. a half empty Red Rocks for The DEAD.

I don't know. I suspect it has more to do with the excitement and vitality of the performance in question than us artists would like to think. (Ironically I was blown away by the DEAD this year at BONNAROO) Music is music, it is listened to...performance is experienced with multiple senses (ask Gallagher). It is more than just music.

Now the example I gave was a little outside the current point as both those bands are unqualified Rock Stars, but the theory holds. BNL has always been interested in making their show a high energy, witty, musically satisfying conversation with its audience (once described by a reviewer as "watching fire") while the DEAD only succeed at that elusive audience connection infrequently at best. When they do it can be argued that they transcend most other music acts out there, but it can't be counted on. Not by a consumer in a competitive marketplace. The same holds true of our "scene". There's some great, even fantastic, music. But not too many great performers.

One person I know said that the problem with most young bands is that their perfomance is merely an imitation of established rock stars. An established rock star does not have to earn the audience's respect or attention. Most newer bands don't know how to do this.

I know I'm breaking my back trying to learn how.

Worse, most people (and I obviously don't mean those who frequent our fine board here) seem to think going to see live music is a boring option. Like charity for a struggling artist or something. Too many lackluster performers have had quite an effect on the public over the years. This is not the core of the problem, though.

Even worse than a tired community, many artists (myself included) get huffy and whiny about the "scene" when their shows don't go well. Like this "scene" owes them not just a break, but loyalty. If your audience is not paying attention or is bored...be less boring!!

I think this applies to promoters too. If your audience is apathetic...find something that is interesting...even electrifying, believe me the audience will show up, there's not that much "great" out there. As you can see from this board, there are a whole bunch people just dying to be inspired.

It's not impossible, just rare, to find great original music being performed like one's life depends on it.

Remember that in selling anything (even a $5 cover at a bar), it all starts with product.

That's us. The musicians.

I think we've got to get our sh!t together and learn our job.

Jef

Hey.

Anyone who's looking for a place to be and a space to be it in this Saturday night, UNCLE SETH is playing at the "Oasis" at that particular time.

UNCLE SETH

Oasis, Toronto Ontario

Satruday August 28 2004

with Chris Patheiger & Friends

10pm

$5 at the door

It really should be a thing.

Cool,

Jef

Sunset in that valley is something else.

I'll see you Saturday.

Jef

I refer you to my post in the "Bonnaroo" thread.

Punching in the face is a bit harsh though.

Maybe just steal his stash and tease him while he jonses.

Jef

Hey,

After wanting to punch Trey in the face down in Tennesee this weekend I bought it because I was hoping it would suck.

It doesn't though.

I can actually hear them refining a sound.

If you listen to the sort of busy, slightly more alt than country music while more than one voice sings the lead sound of a good chunk of this record...it sounds like the logical songwriting extension of their live sound. Maybe this is why it takes more than one listen, people often say that about Phish's shows.

It sort of sucks that the sound won't get much more work. If you watch the DVD you get a real sense of how much a shock the whole breakup thing was. It seems like a look to the future.

Of course...

if you listen to the lyrics for Crowd Control you get a better sense of what's in their heads.

Jef

Hey hey.

I'm also home from the 'roo.

Great review.

A couple things though.

Too many people.

This being my third time I have a little perspective.

The first year circumventing the site was easy, this year moving was annoying.

15 thousand less people would make things way more comfortable.

As it turns out...it might even save lives.

Some music things though.

Ani FUCKING DiFranco.

She kicked 12 kinds of ass with mostly new material and just a bass player at her side.

A goddess. Listen to her.

Dave & Friends.

No single act had this much fun on the mainstage in the three Bonnaroos that I've seen. Just a party. Pretty solid renderings of Dave tunes, but the covers (The Band, Peter Gabriel, Stevie Wonder and more) just smoked. Acoustic medley of Everyday and Bathtub Gin anyone?

I know a lot of Phans (of which I am one) wont want to hear it but if Trey could get over himself to have this kind of fun with Phish the band wouldn't be coming to an end.

The Dead.

The first set was short. Sure, but it was good, damn good. Holy crap. Don't forget this is a band that is famous for sucking in the spotlight. Besides, the second set was great. St Stephen>>The Eleven and Dark Star>>Shine on>>Dark Star AND Help>>Slip>>Franklin's all in the same set? It's like they had something to prove. Warren Haynes was the perfect addition ( I actually do miss RB a bit). I've seen the Other Ones and the Dead and I own a lot of tapes and video of the Grateful ones...

this current band is the shit.

That being said,

I left when Phil sang Box of Rain.

Trey.

I think I echo a lot of the folks who were trudging around in God's diarrhea that day when I say this...

Trey, you are an egotistical, sucker of cocks!

And I'm actually a fan. To capture thousands of people in the mud and make them listen to his own personal wet dream while they vainly hope that it will get good enough to not leave a glorious wekend with an anti-climax is proof that he is actually out of touch with the reasons for his own success.

The people who see you need a personal connection, Trey.

They need to be let in on the joke. Phish is great not just because they're genius, but listening to a show made you feel like you were a part of genius. Listening to these great songs (poorly) arranged for chamber orchestra at a rock festival made feel like I was ankle deep in shit. The second set didn't matter. He fucked it up too far.

The next thing you know he'll break up Phish.

Oh.

Best Mainstage Show of the weekend: The Dead

Runner Up: Dave & Friends (a close second too) with Mule a close third.

Best Other Show: Ani Difranco

Runners up: Mike Doughty's Band and a suprisingly ass kicking venture from Guster

Cool Suprise that made the weekend:

Maceo Parker leading the Super Jam. He showed up just in time to prove that he (and his contemporaries) invented this whole scene 40 years ago. I swear to shit if you can not dance while he leads a band through a 20 minute "Shake Everything You Got" then you are stronger (and a considerably less funky) person than I.

Jef

Have y'all seen this?

From MUSICTAP.net

"The Grateful Dead Movie is coming to DVD.

Fans of the Dead are familiar with this rock n roll classic and will be ecstatic to get a DVD copy. Here's whats in store:

2DVDs with over 4 1/2 hrs of concert and backstage footage.

24 page booklet w/ photos and new essay.

New interviews with Weir, Kreutzmann, Godchaux (Donna Jean), Parish, and Guiterrez.

Jerry Garcia's Dolby Digital 5.1 of the original theatrical audio mix and mixed from master multi-tracks.

A New DD 5.1 mix from the original multi-tracks.

New DD Stereo from original multi-tracks.

Visible lyrics on the screen.

DVD Special features that will include:

90 minutes of never before seen concert footage that includes Uncle John's Band, Sugaree, and more with all bonus songs transferred from the original 16mm camera negative.

DD 5.1 mix on all bonus songs and from original masters.

DD Stereo mix

Visible Lyrics option for all bonus songs.

Making of the DVD documentary.

TV commercial for Mars Hotel album from 1974.

Demo of multi-track audio mix.

Photo gallery with tons of stuff.

This collector set will be available on November 9. It's plenty of time to save your pennies for this $29.95 SR DVD."

Cool, no?

So that "alt-coutnry" thing was true?

Not "alt-country"...avant guard-country.

Think Willie Nelson covering Bertolt Brecht.

"To all the girls I've deconstructed before..."

Rock on.

Jef

Hey all.

Jeff from Seth here.

If you're looking for a fun show in T.O. tonight, this'll be the ticket.

We've been finishing a CD and rehearsing a bunch. The band sounds, and looks, a bit different now.

It's sort of a whole new direction for us, not that the old direction was breaking much ground or anything.

Anyway, we're pretty excited about it.

It'll be nice to share the vibe with folks.

Cool,

Jef

P.s.-I've also been told to expect blistering sets from

Grassy Knoll & The Magic Bullit and Vanderpark

I went to the first two, and I 'll be heading to the fine town of Manchester again this June.

It's like a Star Trek convention for music fans.

Some people even dress up.

I saw a tonne of music both years and had an amazing time. I know people though who barely saw any music and are going again for the sense of being around folks who "get it".

I also know one guy who spent the weekend dealing with some mushrooms while half-conscious in the film festival tent for a whole weekend who says he had a good time---I don't think he remembers though.

It's a great place to go to remember, or realize, that the world is actually full of real people who are into real music despite what the recordng industry would like for us to believe.

Jeff

I Touch Myself --by the Divynals

It'll make you laugh...and cry.