[transmission from... Tyler Sonnichsen]
It's not often that my post titles are so all-inclusive. Not only is Supergrass great, but as I write this, I'm sitting on
my floor, typing on my keyboard (which is also on my soon-to-be-former bedroom floor, as well as my computer, monitor, and
mouse), and looking around at innumerable CDs, old magazines, a bag full of pins, a box of office supplies, and a duffel bag
containing all of the shoes I own, all of which are- you guessed it- on my floor. My current roommate and I are halfway through
moving into a house closer to DC with our friend Jacob, and a vast majority of the process has blown, particularly having
to work at the whim of this juggernaut storm system that's washed out the mid-atlantic and just doesn't seem to want to go
away. But that's okay. We've got most of the bulkiest stuff and that which needed both of us to move in the new place already.
All we've got now is a chaotic mess distilled down from a combined 52 years of material memories boxed up in our soon-to-be-former
living room waiting to get hauled over there tomorrow morning. Well, most of that's his, considering most of my "little stuff"
is spread out in a circle pit of clutter around me.
For this and other reasons, I don't have a lion's share of time
to write at the moment. The fact that I misspelled it "right" and it took me a good twenty seconds to realize it is enough
of an indicator that I'm tired as well. We had a great show Tuesday night on WGTB. Thanks to everyone who tuned in and heard
the future superstar that is Wes Mann do some live in-studio stuff. Once I get my workspace reset up I'll try to mp3-ize the
recordings and get those up here.
One thing I kicked myself for forgetting to mention on the show last night was that today saw the long-awaited release of
"We Jam Econo: the Story of the Minutemen" on DVD. I popped it into my computer the other night as I packed up my room with the intent to watch perhaps the first 15
minutes to tide me over for when I could watch it on a real TV. I could not turn it off. The Minutemen have been one of my
favorite bands for a long time (see my myspace moniker, exempli gratia), and to see this band in such a human context as this
really opened up my eyes.
There is no doubt now, more than twenty years after their dissolution following singer/guitarist D. Boon's death, that the
Minutemen were unquestionably one of the greatest, most influential, most unflinchingly original, most musically gifted, most
clever, and fun American rock bands that has ever existed. Every impression I had ever conjured of D. Boon, Mike Watt, and
George Hurley was affirmed by We Jam Econo, thanks in large part to striking interviews with survivors of the scene that nurtured
the trio as they developed into a powerhouse. Seeing Flea pay lip service to Double Nickels on the Dime (which remains, in
the end, my favorite album of all time) was gratifying in a lot of ways, since the Chili Peppers emulated the Minutemen sound
and took it to the top of the charts. As good of a guitarist as John Frusciante is and as tight of a rhythm section as Flea
and Chad Smith are, D. Boon and Watt/Hurley could annihilate them.
Another aspect of the documentary that I really enjoyed was how Watt, much like myself, has no problem waxing nostalgic and
doesn't care if people think he's too wordy. Well, actually, I care, and he probably does, too, but that doesn't lessen anyone's
admiration for him. The guy still busts his ass at 48 with a weekly podcast, a number of musical projects, and his own
website and
myspace accounts. I try to avoid idolizing anyone, but Mike Watt comes pretty damn close for me. I laughed out loud when he explained how
Double Nickels on the Dime was meant to poke fun at Sammy Hagar's masterpiece of possibly-unintentionally hilarious classic
"I Can't Drive 55."
Some people don't get why most of the music I'm the most passionate about came out before I even knew how to talk. One local
comedian and I have bonded over it, since he's 37 and grew up listening to this stuff. They just don't make many bands like
this anymore. Times and the internet have changed too much. And I think we as a culture should throw the Minutemen on our
pile of worship along with Bill Hicks and other icons that there will never be another one of. We've all got the music, some
have the memories, and nothing's going to fade Mike Watt away, no matter how many diatribes he goes on about how great D.
Boon was, or how many 3-hour-long podcasts he does with people like John Talley-Smith of the Urinals/100 Flowers. Actually,
that one was pretty interesting. Three hours was still excessive, but its fascinating stuff.
Anyway, go to the Laughing
Lizard on Saturday night. Get details on the shows page. Just click on The Duke. It's going to be a great time. Good night,
moon.
