I don't know Seattle music writer Tizzy Asher, but she must be the biggest sweetheart in the world for including a bit about the little peanut in her Friday column. See the third graph in the "new arrivals" section of her "Club Beat" column. Link and text below.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/pop/181304_club09.html?searchpagefrom=1&searchdiff=3 Friday, July 9, 2004
Club Beat: Bobby Bare Jr. says his strength is in his songwriting skill
By TIZZY ASHER
SPECIAL TO THE POST-INTELLIGENCER
Despite his renowned rowdy onstage antics, Bobby Bare Jr. doesn't take rock 'n' roll too seriously. "I'm in it for the immediate satisfaction for this monstrous ego," he jokes groggily via cell phone from the back of his tour van, which is en route to Washington, D.C., from New York City.
Bare Jr. has had a long time to form his lackadaisical relationship to music, however. The son of country legend Bobby Bare, he was raised in the strict Nashville country tradition, but consumed all types of music as a youth. (He's quick to point out that Pixies records and AC/DC records were available in Nashville record stores.) As a songwriter, he has folded his influences together into a hybrid country that relies as much on punk ethos as it does its yodeling forefathers.
"If you're just doing straight-up country music," he says, "no one's going to be better than Bill Monroe. Or Hank Williams. There's already been that. So not only are you doing something exactly like someone else, but you had a blueprint about how to get there." And for Bobby Bare Jr., the only reason to visit an established musical location is if you're making fun of it.
Take, for example, "Music City," a track off his incredible new record "From the End of Your Leash" (Bloodshot). It's a fairly traditionally structured country song, but he sings sneaky little joke lines like, "The cops carry capos / in case you want to change your key" and "the world's greatest guitar pickers can deliver you a pizza or sell you weed." "Leash" is full of these jokes: horns burst in like a Greek chorus, adding soulful humor, romantic lyrics dissolve into jokey comments about farting.
So, is there anything that Bobby Bare Jr. has reverence for? "Songwriting," he answers, almost without pausing. "The craft of communicating an idea the right way, consistently, where you can hear the words. That's my one strong point." And, judging by the consistently excellent songwriting on his records, he's actually telling the truth.
Bobby Bare Jr. is all over Seattle this weekend: live on KEXP today at noon; at Sonic Boom Records in Ballard at 6 tonight (free); and at Neumo's this evening (9:30; $10 advance at TicketsWest).
Local boys make good
We've been seeing a more aggressive side of David Bazan lately, as the Pedro the Lion frontman and mastermind has been at the forefront of anti-Bush musical activism. He's spoke out for No Vote Left Behind, and has announced that the arts organization Music for America will be at all the band's summer shows to encourage kids to vote in November 2004.
It's a sharp contrast to the aching, melancholy of his latest record, "Achilles' Heel" (Jade Tree). Aided by the capable production and arranging of singer/songwriter TW Walsh, Bazan returns to his simple songwriting roots. Gone are the layers of complex guitars and instead, we get the strummed chords that made the initial Pedro records so charming. He's also toned down the dogma of the lyrics, and the naked emotional sentiments of tracks such as "I Do" seem incredibly candid.
He's playing with a full band tomorrow night at The Showbox (6:30; $10 advance at TicketsWest). John Vanderslice opens. Shows from this tour will be recorded for a DVD to be released in 2005, so look your best.
Speaking of local bands who are shaking the Jade Tree, hard-core outfit These Arms will play Graceland tomorrow in support of its newest EP, "This Is Meant To Hurt You" (8 p.m.; $10 advance at TicketsWest). Produced by Matt Bayles, the record is time-bomb guitars and intricate bass lines courtesy of Botch's Brian Cook. Murder By Death, Paris Texas and Communique open.
New arrivals
Earlier this week, the often-invisible local blues scene got a dose of energy with the opening of the Highway 99 Blues Club. Situated across the street from the Seattle Aquarium at 1414 Alaskan Way, the 250-capacity club promises the feel of classic juke joints and divey Chicago bars without the decades of caked-on grime and layers of cigarette smoke. Owners Garrett Clayton and Patrick Evans have worked to present a diverse yet authentic lineup: Mondays are big band night, Tuesdays feature acoustic and traditional, Wednesdays are Cajun and zydeco and weekends go to large-name touring acts.
In exciting new partnership news, Bop Street Records and New Moon Salon kick off a new showcase of local talent with Seattle DJ Adrian Xavier and San Francisco singer/songwriter Karney tomorrow at Bop Street Records (7:30 p.m.; free).
Another new arrival: Club Beat would like to congratulate Matt Ashworth of Webzine Nadamucho.com and his partner Sybil, who are now proud parents of a baby girl.
And finally, speaking of things that are cute (though Club Beat isn't convinced that other people's newborn babies are really that cute), it's a whole night of unadulterated, uncut pop at Chop Suey on Thursday with Call and Response, the Owls and Bart Davenport (9 p.m.; $8). The Owls' latest on Portland label Magic Marker is a gooey layer cake of female vocals and soft guitars, while Call and Response is only slightly less treacley on its latest, "Winds Take No Shape."
Tizzy Asher welcomes your feedback, comments and juicy gossip. She can be reached at
tizzy@towhomitmayconcern.org.
Friday, July 9, 2004
Club Beat: Bobby Bare Jr. says his strength is in his songwriting skill
By TIZZY ASHER
SPECIAL TO THE POST-INTELLIGENCER
Despite his renowned rowdy onstage antics, Bobby Bare Jr. doesn't take rock 'n' roll too seriously. "I'm in it for the immediate satisfaction for this monstrous ego," he jokes groggily via cell phone from the back of his tour van, which is en route to Washington, D.C., from New York City.
Bare Jr. has had a long time to form his lackadaisical relationship to music, however. The son of country legend Bobby Bare, he was raised in the strict Nashville country tradition, but consumed all types of music as a youth. (He's quick to point out that Pixies records and AC/DC records were available in Nashville record stores.) As a songwriter, he has folded his influences together into a hybrid country that relies as much on punk ethos as it does its yodeling forefathers.
"If you're just doing straight-up country music," he says, "no one's going to be better than Bill Monroe. Or Hank Williams. There's already been that. So not only are you doing something exactly like someone else, but you had a blueprint about how to get there." And for Bobby Bare Jr., the only reason to visit an established musical location is if you're making fun of it.
Take, for example, "Music City," a track off his incredible new record "From the End of Your Leash" (Bloodshot). It's a fairly traditionally structured country song, but he sings sneaky little joke lines like, "The cops carry capos / in case you want to change your key" and "the world's greatest guitar pickers can deliver you a pizza or sell you weed." "Leash" is full of these jokes: horns burst in like a Greek chorus, adding soulful humor, romantic lyrics dissolve into jokey comments about farting.
So, is there anything that Bobby Bare Jr. has reverence for? "Songwriting," he answers, almost without pausing. "The craft of communicating an idea the right way, consistently, where you can hear the words. That's my one strong point." And, judging by the consistently excellent songwriting on his records, he's actually telling the truth.
Bobby Bare Jr. is all over Seattle this weekend: live on KEXP today at noon; at Sonic Boom Records in Ballard at 6 tonight (free); and at Neumo's this evening (9:30; $10 advance at TicketsWest).
Local boys make good
We've been seeing a more aggressive side of David Bazan lately, as the Pedro the Lion frontman and mastermind has been at the forefront of anti-Bush musical activism. He's spoke out for No Vote Left Behind, and has announced that the arts organization Music for America will be at all the band's summer shows to encourage kids to vote in November 2004.
It's a sharp contrast to the aching, melancholy of his latest record, "Achilles' Heel" (Jade Tree). Aided by the capable production and arranging of singer/songwriter TW Walsh, Bazan returns to his simple songwriting roots. Gone are the layers of complex guitars and instead, we get the strummed chords that made the initial Pedro records so charming. He's also toned down the dogma of the lyrics, and the naked emotional sentiments of tracks such as "I Do" seem incredibly candid.
He's playing with a full band tomorrow night at The Showbox (6:30; $10 advance at TicketsWest). John Vanderslice opens. Shows from this tour will be recorded for a DVD to be released in 2005, so look your best.
Speaking of local bands who are shaking the Jade Tree, hard-core outfit These Arms will play Graceland tomorrow in support of its newest EP, "This Is Meant To Hurt You" (8 p.m.; $10 advance at TicketsWest). Produced by Matt Bayles, the record is time-bomb guitars and intricate bass lines courtesy of Botch's Brian Cook. Murder By Death, Paris Texas and Communique open.
New arrivals
Earlier this week, the often-invisible local blues scene got a dose of energy with the opening of the Highway 99 Blues Club. Situated across the street from the Seattle Aquarium at 1414 Alaskan Way, the 250-capacity club promises the feel of classic juke joints and divey Chicago bars without the decades of caked-on grime and layers of cigarette smoke. Owners Garrett Clayton and Patrick Evans have worked to present a diverse yet authentic lineup: Mondays are big band night, Tuesdays feature acoustic and traditional, Wednesdays are Cajun and zydeco and weekends go to large-name touring acts.
In exciting new partnership news, Bop Street Records and New Moon Salon kick off a new showcase of local talent with Seattle DJ Adrian Xavier and San Francisco singer/songwriter Karney tomorrow at Bop Street Records (7:30 p.m.; free).
Another new arrival: Club Beat would like to congratulate Matt Ashworth of Webzine Nadamucho.com and his partner Sybil, who are now proud parents of a baby girl.
And finally, speaking of things that are cute (though Club Beat isn't convinced that other people's newborn babies are really that cute), it's a whole night of unadulterated, uncut pop at Chop Suey on Thursday with Call and Response, the Owls and Bart Davenport (9 p.m.; $8). The Owls' latest on Portland label Magic Marker is a gooey layer cake of female vocals and soft guitars, while Call and Response is only slightly less treacley on its latest, "Winds Take No Shape."
Tizzy Asher welcomes your feedback, comments and juicy gossip. She can be reached at
tizzy@towhomitmayconcern.org.
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