Chalkhills Digest Volume 8, Issue 43
Date: Wednesday, 17 July 2002

          Chalkhills Digest, Volume 8, Number 43

                 Wednesday, 17 July 2002

Topics:

                       Hall of Fame
                  RE: Enter the X-sTatiC
                      Random things
      Re: Lurker De-Lurks for Chalkhills Anniversary
                80's alternative comeback?
             Re: punk v. new wave definitions
               What Do You Call That Noise?
                spending time with "fred"
            Jellyfish, Wilco VS. Los Lobos...
                     Burning for Finn
  God's Empty Chair / Becki Live / AVv1 / King For A Day
                    Say hello to FRED
                like music you can taste?

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    Chalkhills is compiled with Digest 3.7d (John Relph <relph@tmbg.org>).

I mix the poisons and the wife don't complain.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Sun, 14 Jul 2002 00:18:57 EDT
From: Jdmack01@aol.com
Subject: Hall of Fame
Message-ID: <48.e4d9561.2a6255b1@aol.com>

In a message dated 7/13/02 11:54:42 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
<owner-chalkhills@chalkhills.org> writes:

> I was just suprised to find out that XTC were even considered. Maybe
> we are in some alternet universe where good bands get on the R&R Hall
> Of Fame?

The choice of who is inducted into the R & R Hall of Fame no longer interests
me.  Apparently, the powers that be have decided to completely bypass the
Progressive Rock era as being worthy of inclusion.   If XTC gets in, then Rah
Rah for Red Rockinghorse.  But to pretend that bands like Yes, Genesis, and
ELP never existed, didn't sell millions of albums, and didn't break the
sell-out records at numerous venues is ridiculous.

J. D.

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 13 Jul 2002 23:03:11 -0700
From: "Jonny Pop" <jbkxtc@ev1.net>
Subject: RE: Enter the X-sTatiC
Message-ID: <008a01c22afc$233646c0$08525d3f@johnjulie>

Wow!

I just read Dan's posting of the upcoming X-sTatiC gig in London on 21
September, and I'm actually going to be in London that night (I live in Los
Angeles)!!!

Dan, I tried to sign up on the website but it didn't work.  I'll do
everything I can to be at the gig and come up and say hello.  In 2000, I got
to go to Swindon, and now I'll get to see XTC songs performed live for the
first time ever.  This could be great.

Also, a big hello to Ken (Herne the Hunter) and it's good to hear XTC fans
are manning the stores, particularly Aron's.  If you live in L.A. and
stopped going to Aron's when Amoeba opened up, I suggest trying Aron's
first.  Except for the hassle of finding a place to park, you're still more
likely to find what you're looking for there than at Amoeba where it's mass
quantities of mostly mainstream stuff a lot of the time.

Out,

John

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 14 Jul 2002 09:15:22 -0400
From: "Tim Kendrick" <tim63@earthlink.net>
Subject: Random things
Message-ID: <000701c22b38$83852820$81b93a41@tim63>

Hi everyone!

Haven't posted in a long time.
Some random things:

1.  Just finished the updated version of "Chalkhills and Children" by
    Chris Twomey.  (Yes, it's now available - my boyfriend picked up a
    copy for me at a rock book shop in London.  I think he said it's
    called "Helter Skelter"?)

    I didn't do a page-by-page comparison with the original book, so I'm
    not sure what exactly was "revised" in the older material, but the
    new chapters are VERY interesting.  It's gives a lot of detail on
    Dave's leaving.

    It also gives the numbers for sales in the US of AV1 & WS(AV2).  AV1
    apparently sold 80,000 units in the US, WS(AV2) sold 60,000.  Andy
    was very surprised and disappointed by this.  He's still under the
    illusion that if you make great records, they'll sell fantastically
    well.  Nowadays if really seems to be the opposite.  The worst albums
    sell the best.

2.  I still can't stop playing "Didn't Hurt A Bit".  I think it's becoming
    my all-time favorite XTC song!  (I don't really know why.)

3.  Some have been complaining about the cost of the "official" XTC
    T-shirts from the Idea website.  Remember a couple of years back
    when we were all thinking of contributing a donation to the band to
    help them financially?  Well, just think of buying a T-shirt as
    giving a donation - and you get a free T-shirt thrown in!  I mean,
    the money is going directly to XTC, not to some huge corporation.
    How do you think they are going to afford to make a new album?  (I
    got my O&L T-shirt - it's great!!!)

4.  I saw Elvis Costello in concert.  It was a FANTASTIC show!  Although
    I have to admit I'm not crazy about his new album.  Only a couple of
    songs on it do anything for me.  The best album so far in 2002 is
    Tom Waits "Blood Money".  One of his best ever!  (And he's had many
    brilliant releases.)  I highly recommend it.

5.  1977-2002.....25 years of XTC.  I know there's a gathering in the UK
    coming up.  And Ben mentioned something about a Northeast US
    gathering.  Wouldn't it be great if we could organize a full-blown
    XTC convention, like the one in Princeton, Illinois ten years ago?
    (I'm willing to help out if someone else gets the ball rolling!)

Stay stupidly happy!!

             Tim Kendrick

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 14 Jul 2002 10:54:24 EDT
From: BrainiacsDaughtr@aol.com
Subject: Re: Lurker De-Lurks for Chalkhills Anniversary
Message-ID: <20.2bc22665.2a62eaa0@aol.com>

>>I work at Aron's Records in Los
Angeles.<<

Hey, I shop at Aron's.  Its not far from where I live.  Although I admit I
now split my time between there and Amoeba.  Nice to know there's an XTC
connection there though.  I'll have to ask for you next time I'm in.

Laurie

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 14 Jul 2002 18:00:59 -0400
From: "James Campbell" <jquatz@hotmail.com>
Subject: 80's alternative comeback?
Message-ID: <F121tEqWC77DhmfkT1800010738@hotmail.com>

I know this phenomenon is gaining momentum around the country,
but I just found that in Salt Lake City, they've revived the old
KJQ (@ 103.1) and are spinning "Utah's Original Alternative".
It is an all 80's alternative format. This including,
of course, XTC.

I heard "Grass" on Saturday morning while listening over the
internet.  I know there are numerous other internet streaming
real audio sites playing alternative 80's format, but you may
wish to check them out at:

www.kjq.com

At any rate, its a great trend to see.  I hope someone in D.C. gives
the format a shot.  Anything to spare us from the WHAS in the
very near future would be greatly appreciated.

BTW, Todd, great interview with Terry.......I hate you...;^P

best,

-- james

btw, I thought after hearing "Mayor of Simpleton", oh I don't know,
maybe 10,000 times, I thought I knew every nook and cranny in that
track!  But, has anyone every noticed the bass drum line that is
played?  The detail on that song from every noisy contributor
in general is simply exhaustive....

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 14 Jul 2002 23:14:47 -0500
From: "BRUCE HAUSTEIN" <hausteinb@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: punk v. new wave definitions
Message-ID: <F71oNRC81mGxdwAnN5g00015802@hotmail.com>

As I recall from my ancient history in the music industry, the "punks"
couldn't play their instruments.  Once they learned to play (and count),
they were labled "new wave."  Either way, some were fantastic and some were
merely fanatic.  As an old (dead?) American Jazz recording artist once said,
"If it sounds good, it is good."  Use your ears, friends.  They're there for
more than holding up yer spectacles.  Such labels are merely marketing
gimmicks used to divide rather than unite.  Good music can be found all over
the spectrum.  Music is in the ear of the beholder.  Be a beholder.

All the best,

R. B. Haustein

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 15 Jul 2002 00:59:54 -0400 (EDT)
From: "" <radiosinmotion@iwon.com>
Subject: What Do You Call That Noise?
Message-ID: <20020715045954.3932227C6E@email.iwon.com>

Great post Harrison. I would also like to add, that groups known as
being "New Wave" like Devo, Sparks, Oingo Boingo and many others were
doing things long before punk came out.

Boingo was doing more theatrical stuff, but the music was still
original for the 70's. Devo was recording in their basements in Ohio
in the early 70's, and Sparks put out some things before the arrival
of punk.

At any rate, great points. You should send that to the editor of the
magazine.

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 14 Jul 2002 23:53:47 -0700
From: becki digregorio <ziglain@earthlink.net>
Subject: spending time with "fred"
Message-ID: <B957BE61.1CB6%ziglain@earthlink.net>

chalkhills folks,

i must concur with todd bernhardt in the last post about mitch friedman's
new cd titled "fred."  i've only had a chance to hear the album through
once, but so far the two songs that stand out for me are the same ones todd
mentions.  "i wish i was a kid again" is truly a great song -- clever
lyrics, an infectious melody, an upbeat and fun and toe-tappin' masterpiece.
i mentioned to mitch that andy and company should do their version of the
song and put it on their next record.  dave's contributions to mitch's
"brother nature" are superb, so tasteful and surreal, adding to this
haunting and trippy tuneage.  i'd heard this song a few years back, just
vocals and guitar, and even then it made an impression on me.  to hear it
now, fully fleshed out and arranged _and_ with dave's additions only
enhances an already groovy tune.

way to go, mitch!~!

--becki digregorio

"Sometimes we're attached to our bodies for very good reasons."

--William S. Burroughs

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 15 Jul 2002 10:23:44 -0700
From: "Thomas Vest" <tvtwo@hotmail.com>
Subject: Jellyfish, Wilco VS. Los Lobos...
Message-ID: <F204nccYTjr8cU6xfPT00011a03@hotmail.com>

Hello Chalkers!

Some responses to recent posts:

Sughosh Varadarajan said:

<"Since there has been some discussion about Jellyfish lately, I thought I'd
put this question to the forum : How good an album is Bellybutton?">

It is such an under-rated album.  When it was released 12 years ago, most
people could not get past the goofy coolness and somewhat irritating
single/video for "the King is half-undressed".  There is SUCH MELODY on this
cd.  Their influences are are certainly worn on their sleeves (think Beatles
and Beach Boys) but not in a bad way.  Sughosh, please run out and pick this
up.  You will not be disappointed.

<James Michael Isaacs and others have written about the greatness of Wilco's
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot>.

I have enjoyed their other albums and I am salivating to pick this one up
after all the good press I have read about it.  Many people already say this
is the album of the year.  Well, until I pick up my copy- my vote goes to
"Good Morning Aztlan" by Los Lobos.  This album kicks some major ass and was
produced by John Leckie with whom we should all be familiar with.  If you
like this cd you should also check out "Kiko"- which is generally considered
the best Los Lobos album released.

while we are talking current album of the year, the Flaming Lips are
releasing "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" on Tuesday the 16th.  The press
is already saying this album is fantastic and a strong contender for one of
the years best.  I enjoyed  their previous album the "Soft Bulletin" and
just picked up "hit to death in the future head".  Any other Flaming Lips
fans out there?  What others should I look into?

Finally, I have had the extremely good fortune to pick up the 7" Flexi disc
of Looking for Footprints, CD3 of Mayor of Simpleton and the Bootleg LP of
the Black Sea Tour of '81 this weekend.  I could not believe my luck!

---Still no record player, but I am salivating over some of the vinyl XTC
gems that I have bought over the years.

Current listening>>>

Yo La Tengo -  and then nothing turned itself inside-out
flaming lips - hit to death in the future head
tosca  -  different tastes of honey

That's all for now.

Thomas

PS>  Looking for Bobby Guthrie--- are you out there Bobby?

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 15 Jul 2002 11:16:12 -0700 (PDT)
From: Wes Long <optimismsflames@yahoo.com>
Subject: Burning for Finn
Message-ID: <20020715181612.55596.qmail@web14905.mail.yahoo.com>

Kidz -

I owe some of ye a few discs, my burner and PC bit the
dust some months back, and I'm now able to burn once
more... contact me.

Also... I'm very interested in getting some Neil Finn
boots, if anyone is interested in some swaps.

Thanks,

wesLONG

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 16 Jul 2002 09:02:36 -0500
From: "Richard" <rjpa1@attbi.com>
Subject: God's Empty Chair / Becki Live / AVv1 / King For A Day
Message-ID: <07e101c22cd1$70d3a220$04081fac@verisity.com>

Becki diGregorio's new CD, "God's Empty Chair" is out and I got my copy last
week.  The wait has been punishingly long but the final product is better
than a 1977 Fonseca Port... and a hell of a lot more intoxicating!  It has a
spicy edge and a lot of subtle nuances.  It is sweet without being cloying
and there are more layers than a San Francisco fashion show.  Nicely crafted
songs carry you through optimism, chaotic rationalization, almost empty
danceable rock, into the depths of a personal hell, loving resolution, zen
purification, 60-ish sunbeam psychedelia (Pictures of Matchstick Hurdy Gurdy
Man), moiri trippiness, stoned blissful realization and one song is repeated
in it's acoustic guise to provide a tantalizing perspective of a song's
simpler origin (to be issued soon with acoustic versions of other songs).
My wife Valerie and I really love this woman's art and we wanted to help her
get her CD out a few years ago (blame our inability on Lucent's stock price)
but it is here now and it, to paraphrase Becki, bathes my heart and makes me
warm again.

Oh yeah... it is also easier to obtain, much more affordable and will last
much longer than the aforementioned bottle of port.
(email her at ziglain@earthlink.net  -  coming very soon:
www.beckidigregorio.com)

It also makes me laugh that the song for her brother, Brett, has no drums.
Brett is a drummer!

Semi-disclaimer:  I have no vested interest in Becki's product or career.
She has become a close friend and I simply wish her well.  Additionally, I
strongly feel that her music should be heard and that she needs to find some
business arrangement that will bankroll her recording and distribution so
that she can make more!

Becki: If you read this...  I've only one bottle of '77 Fonseca left which I
think I'll save for your visit!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

I recently went to California for some family business (John, sorry I
couldn't hook up but my schedule was clogged up with family stuff - I only
saw Becki for about an hour!).  This trip was made special by two things...
seeing Becki play live and finding a long lost CD.

The first night there I was able to see Becki diGregorio perform live in San
Jose.  The guys that comprise her "back-up" band, John Wedemeyer, Randy
Hayes and Endre Tarczy (collectively called "WHaT"  - Wedemeyer, Hayes and
Tarczy) were performing at the famous blues pit known as "JJ's" and Becki
jumped on stage to run through several numbers.  Very big cool!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

I lost my autographed copy of Apple Venus Volume 1 over three years ago.  I
simply forgot who I loaned it to and asked the people that I thought might
be equally forgetful.  No luck.  I gave up about two years ago.  Ouch.

The rental "car" we were driving was a Pontiac Aztec (what a bizarrely ugly
car but it drove nicely and had plenty of cargo space for shopping for
California wine).  I asked my nephew (21 y.o. with Black Sea, Skylarking and
Upsy Daisy in his collection) if I could borrow a few CDs for use while
driving.

While digging through his collection I found a copy of Apple Venus Volume 1.
_MY_ Apple Venus Volume 1!  I cautiously inquired about it hoping that he
wouldn't say, "Oh yeah, you gave that to me years ago."  His response was,
"Oh yeah, you loaned that to me years ago."  Mystery solved!
WOOOOO-HOOOOOO!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

KING FOR A DAY
The final few tracks will be going to mastering soon.  We had a few snags, a
few setbacks and I have been busy with a different project, so it simply
didn't get my full attention (actually close to zero).  The printing is
scheduled.  The lawyers have been handled (more like fondled).  There was
one change that had to be made to the text.  I am awaiting my final
(final-final-final) proof copy and then it will run and ship to me.  That
should be somewhere around July 25.  Depending on how busy Peter is, he will
have CDs to me in a few weeks and I will begin to assemble the final master
disc.  Then dubbing will start (anyone in the Dallas area want to have a
"booklet and traycard folding party" while previewing the tracks?).  When I
have a sufficient stock to keep dubbing and packaging from being a full time
job, I will announce their availability.  It really will happen.  Honest!

Cheers,
Richard

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 16 Jul 2002 23:20:39 -0400
From: Mitch Friedman <mitchf@mindspring.com>
Subject: Say hello to FRED
Message-ID: <v0300780eb95a92b46850@[165.247.38.104]>

Folxtc,

Say hello to FRED. FRED is the title of my brand new cd. It's the smarter,
slightly less silly, more well dressed older brother of my 1999 cd "The
Importance of Sauce".

Once again I wrote, performed and recorded everything myself with the
very notable exception of a song called "I Wish I Was a Kid Again" which
I am still excited to have co-written with the great Andy Partridge.
He set my lyrics to his music and then left me to record it. Upon hearing the
finished version he said I did a "sterling job" and deserved "a gold star for
that, man!" I hope you like it as much as he does. If that's not quite enough,
I also got the godfather of home recording artists Mr. R. Stevie Moore to
play and sing on it as well.  Between the three of us that's over 75,
count 'em *75* years of tuneful musical eclectism experience jammed
into one pop song.

Then there's "Brother Nature". This recording of a song I wrote during
a 1998 week long songwriting course taught by Ray Davies of The Kinks,
features six stringed wiz Dave Gregory on all sorts of guitars,
basses and other items that need to be tuned. Thankfully he did a great
job tuning them and and even better job playing them. To refresh your
memory, he's the guy who shredded, swooped and soared all over
"Simplication" from "The Importance of Sauce".

Like "The Importance of Sauce" this cd sounds as if 15 different musical
artists from all different genres and time periods recorded versions of
songs I wrote and then invited me along as a guest vocalist.

FRED's got something for everyone. Punk swing, orchestral bombast,
dark folk strumming, sci-fi rock, breakneck power pop, a pat on the
Bacharach, romantic waltzing, underwater psychedelia, Britpop
stomp, violent skiffle, a sea chanty, a winsome tourism jingle,
semi-pretentious art rock, Indian spiced etherea, and even
some country twang.

FRED also features some very colorful, cartoony artwork by Anne D.
Bernstein.

As a special added bonus, FRED introduces a new innovation called
"interactive artwork". You the listener can actually alter the way FRED
looks by removing the ugly "Made in Canada" sticker on the back. If you're
feeling guilty about all those years you've listened to Neil Young or watched
SCTV, you can stick it back on . . . anytime and anywhere you want!

Wanna see what FRED looks like? Wanna sample a few song clips?
Wanna get your hands and ears on a freshly shrinkwrapped copy?

Go to:

http://www.cdbaby.com/mitchfriedman2

(CDBaby is a great organization that helps thousands of independent
musical artists all over the world make their music available to the
masses. They accept credit cards, have reasonable prices, secure
transactions, ship out orders immediately and I believe will even
send you an additional free cd of their choice if you order from them
a second time.)

or (in a few days or so) http://www.amazon.com

Just $10 at each site.

If you're squeamish about using your credit card over the Web
or would rather get a copy directly from me, let me know.
(Hint: You'll have to write out a check for $12, address an envelope,
stick on a stamp and go to a mailbox.)

Let's say you'd like to hear a few tracks in streaming realaudio?
http://www.mp3.com/mitchfriedman is the place to go.

Thanks for everything and I hope you like it.

Mitch

p.s. Coming soon . . . www.mitchfriedman.com

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 17 Jul 2002 06:16:54 -0700 (PDT)
From: Kai Chambers <kai_chambers@yahoo.com>
Subject: like music you can taste?
Message-ID: <20020717131654.26716.qmail@web14406.mail.yahoo.com>

Come an take a bite on a N.S.W band about to explode
http://www.toneorange.com  .!!!

Just as the name suggests "TONE ORANGE" has a sound all of its own and
a taste that is unmistakable...For more info on the guy's check out
their web-site... www.toneorange.com

	[ I let this spam through because Kai Chambers is the
	  son of Terry Chambers -- John ]

------------------------------

End of Chalkhills Digest #8-43
******************************

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