2003  January to June

Date: Mon Jun 30 21:23
Greg H. (gmhaldane@hotmail.com):

One more book for the Snifter - Geek Love.

Date: Mon Jun 30 18:52
james s (J):

I look forward to hearing that, J. Send it on.

Date: Mon Jun 30 18:19
emlahleighlo lastgreatamericanwhale@hotmail.com (James, J, Lars, Bob):

That is cool, James. I know all too well how easilly a weekend can slip away- especially with my current moving activities(not fun.) It's a huge favor you're doing for me so just whenever you can's fine. Lars, I am enjoying the cd's. Perfect timing since I have no money and have that want new music itch. But more on that later, when I get a chance to email ya. And, J: okey dokey to, uh one or more of those things. It's hot here. Hope you all are having a good summer monday. llater. Oh and hi, Bob.(there's actually no Bob; I made him up to entertain myself.)Okay. Bye

Date: Mon Jun 30 17:44
J (We're all busy here):

Glad Lars had a good fest. James.s, I'm constantly busy with 2.5 yr old girlish madness and backshift Stevedore madness. However, against the advice of little j I'm going to do a 4trk thing all over my favourite 3 of of your tracks and mail it to you as a taster... Em, I lost your email too, hear you on the fandango, or get a package out via james. The Blacky estate agent thing ?????? I agree that 'Heartland' is fantastic, the driving force behind my setting up of a lonesome deck to tape sunset summer tunes that have been with me for years. Did anyone else here see Steve Earle and the Dukes back up Green on Red in London all those years ago? That was up there..

Date: Mon Jun 30 16:33
Lars (funny picture before my inner eye):

HA-HAAAAAA!!!

Date: Mon Jun 30 13:07
job (executive horses):

The horses on an executive horse ranch wear ties and shinny shoes, the one on a regular horse ranch wear scuffed boots and no ties.

Date: Mon Jun 30 12:49
james s (J):

Sure, J. I'm up for a four-track jam. I won't have the time until after August 5th or so, but after that.... that might be interesting. Em, the weekend came and went without my getting you CD burned, but I won't procrastinate forever, so worry not. These are busy and hurried times for your's truly.

Date: Mon Jun 30 10:59
Lars (taking a breather):

Ahhh....Roskilde Festival is over. Now I'm recovering (=tired legs and ears) at my parents'. :-) Bonnie Prince Billy was great. The Black Heart Procession too. Daniel Johnston was.....something else. I'm not sure a festival stage (although small) is the right place for him. A very interesting performance, although I still have to wrap my head around it. Don't know what to make of it.....and that's actually cool in a way (how often does that happen?). The last blast Sunday evening was Björk who did a blinding show on the main stage. She really challenged the audience (contrary to Metallica - who apparently did a great and professional show). Well, Björk was superb.....sublime...I was ecstatic. And it was with pyrotechnics on stage and fireworks above - and some new great songs. Grreaaat festival this year. Mike Patton's Tomahawk band was brilliant as well. And Icelandic Sigur Ros too. And the Iranian singer Sussan Deyhim performing with Bill Laswell and Jah Wobble. You European sandies should really drop by some time. Roskilde is back on track! :-) Howe should do a gig there at some point. Giant Sand was there in 1986 or so. :-) #### Thanks for the deadline-update, Em! I'll try and get the real thing done. Oh, and I hope you enjoy the cds by the way. Greets all around! / Lars

Date: Mon Jun 30 10:04
jpr (blacky@ranchette):

burt reynolds?

Date: Mon Jun 30 05:02
SeanT (http://blacky@ranchette.com/ ):

This is a real estate guy in Modesto , isn't that where Grandaddy are from ? I may buy the " Executive Horse Ranch " looks nice . What's the difference between the executive horse ranch and a horse ranch ?

Date: Mon Jun 30 03:41
Tommy Gailer (scrollin`for blacky estates):

Howe, did this huy pay royalties yet? ;-) Go to:http://blacky@ranchette.com/

Date: Sun Jun 29 16:48
em (J yah):

J- This weekend I got an extra clusterrey hearts from a friend in possession of it. Also, Volume Six's almost wrapped up so I'd love to send you that stuff if you so desire it. I had to erase alot of emails due to hotmail weirdness so once again mail me your address and it'd be my pleasure to ship stuff. Other than that, hmm.. Winged Migration.... perhaps I will see this....It's hot

Date: Sun Jun 29 16:33
talullah (blacky@ranchette.com):

ok, blacky is being reborn, which is all well and good. but when is the biggest scandal in american recording history going to be rectified? ie the cd release of 'heartland'.. THE alt.country masterpiece. Move over uncle tupelo and "No Depression" (record and magazine).. "heartland" is the real deal. (still, i'm very thrilled at howe's announcement of the new record.. sounds brilliant)

Date: Sun Jun 29 15:58
J (Murakami):

Tracked down the sheep book. Little j picked it from my library bag as her next read, so I'll have to delay my opinion on that one. I'm left with a make your own instrument book, a T.C. Boyle short story collection, a former farmer Gesh head (Go research it), some sharp tools and a deep seated need for a mountain (stick) dulcimer...

Date: Sun Jun 29 15:54
J (fandango):

Anyone else got one done/in/on it's way? James, fancy a trans continental 4trk jam? You choose the tape speed...

Date: Sun Jun 29 12:35
winged instigation (...):

heavenly resonance between birds and the earth's song of gravitation...yes...go watch winged migration!!

Date: Sun Jun 29 10:12
dave (Movie ):

I heard the documentary "Winged Migration" is pretty cool.

Date: Sat Jun 28 14:13
Archivist (From The Archives - Hour 2 Uploaded):

Hey, just an FYI - hour two (featuring a bunch of Rainer & GS material) is now up in the archive section. Enjoy

Date: Sat Jun 28 11:53
em (complaining):

Hi, Lars!! I hope you are behaving crazilly. The deadline's the end of July. Get yers in dood. It's really hot here. I am dying from it. Hope yours weekends are going well. Movies are the only refuge as they are air conditioned but all the movies out look awful. Does anybody have any idea as far as a good movie playing currently??? Hopefully it'll start raining again. Eeehhhhhhh have a good Saturday. I need to get some money thru a money job soon so I can buy all these cd's(not so I can save it for my bright future:) ) Aaaaaaaalright. bye.

Date: Sat Jun 28 11:03
Lars (festival + fandango):

Hey there (again), dudes and dudesses! Still at Roskilde Festival. The Melvins are booming in the background. Mike Patton's Tomahawk is up next. And later: Daniel Johnston. Tomorrow it's Yo La Tengo, The Black Heart Procession, Bonnie Prince Billy and Björk. And it's steeeaaaaming hot! Pheeeeew!!! Sunblock in great portions on Lars here. ##### About the cover-thing, James....I just bumbed in to the girl (here at the festival) who might do the piano bit on what I have planned. She lives in Aarhus, but travels a lot, so I hope she can squeeze in a bit of recording before the deadline (which is when?). Oh, and it's still Rain Mixed With Parade that I'm messing around with. If that fails I contribute with my weird Howe-not-cover-tune (featuring Howe) that runs a minute and a half or so. :-) And then Mike can do whatever with it he wants. But I hope to get the "real one" ready. Have a nice daaay, folks! (and "get well" all around to those who need it) / Lars

Date: Fri Jun 27 18:21
james s (The all-embracing, absolute Armistice....):

Have a good weekend.

Date: Fri Jun 27 12:25
tHom (at swim two birds):

Sniffer, if you haven't already read it I have a feeling you will appreciate one of the greatest books ever written (and undoubtedly the funniest) - Flann O'Brien's The Third Policeman. The philosophy of de Selby will certainly help you in your hours of enforced contemplation and recuperation.

Date: Fri Jun 27 10:40
Blaine (@work -- RE: RIAA / Inquisition (non-Spanish) ):

Here is the part that stood out in my mind: "The association will use software to find people distributing copyrighted material, identify what service providers they use to connect to the Internet, and then use expedited subpoena procedures granted to copyright holders through the Digital Millennium Copyright Act," The first part seems like a violation of a person's privacy, not that the idea is anything new, (and the fact that I'm doing writing this from work means I may be monitored right now) but the second part really bugs me. "Expedited subpoenas"??? Think about what subpoenas are typically needed for (any episode of a TV crime drama will do for reference) and supersize yr order to expedited. Is yr average joe/josephine at a pc really committing such a noteworthy crime as to scream for an "expedited subpoena"????? Don't we have much more pressing problems tying up out courts today? ...so the convicted serial rapist says to the kid in the horn-rimmed glasses, "what are you in for?" and the kid replies "Downloading songs without paying Seagram's" and the enitire cell block gasps in horror.

Date: Thu Jun 26 23:34
The Chaser (in Code):

RIAA is coming after you and your MP3's...cleanup if you can

Date: Thu Jun 26 21:48
em lah ly (Oh good, James):

Oh good, James. And, yeah all Murakami novels are sequels of sorts. I like the version of Noboru Watanabe in Elephant Vanishes where the narrator describes his bad clothing sense and states that:"..and I certainly didn't want to sit at the same table with a guy wearing such a weird sweater"

Date: Thu Jun 26 21:24
Greg H. (gmhaldane@hotmail.com):

And after many failed attempts I made it through Moby Dick a couple of years ago and I can't get the book out of my mind.

Date: Thu Jun 26 21:21
tom (glue):

lay on back, if tired of laying on back, stand tall. lazarus did the trick once, why not you ?

Date: Thu Jun 26 21:20
Greg H. (gmhaldane@hotmail.com):

That's weird, I just started reading a Murakami novel (Norwegian Wood) because my good buddy Dan reminded me about the fantastic "Wind Up Bird Chronicle." I thought "A Wild Sheep Chase" was groovy but I don't think that I fully understand what happened at the end in the mountains. I'm also recently obsessed with "Under the Volcano."

Date: Thu Jun 26 19:23
PaulK (Suttree):

That's weird, I was listening to an album by Buddy and the Huddle called "music for a still undone movie maybe called Suttree", an imaginary soundtrack for the novel, I should check it out. I'm sute it beats all this Harry Potter shit that's been flying around ( although the kids like it)

Date: Thu Jun 26 17:24
james s (em):

Tape has arrived. and that murakami is "sequel" only in a loose sense (of course).

Date: Thu Jun 26 16:19
james s (emlah):

yup, Dance is something of a sequel to Wild Sheep Chase, though it stands on it's on pretty well, as I guess you know. Still no tape, though today's mail hasn't arrived yet.

Date: Thu Jun 26 15:51
em (stuff):

Hmmph. I've yet to read Wild Sheep Chase. Is the common thread just sheep or is Dance Dance Dance actually a sequal of sorts??? Has my tape found its way there yet?? It's hot here. Glue, Glue Glue. What will Glue do.

Date: Thu Jun 26 15:34
james s (koyaanisqatsi):

True enough, Blaine. Yes, Em, the Wild Sheep Chase, followed immediately by Dance Dance Dance, is a lovely strange trip. We should now return to ignoring Sniffer so that he, while he's being nursed back to health, can enjoy nursing his persecution complex. Just kidding, Glue. Be well.

Date: Thu Jun 26 15:05
Blaine (@work):

Careful James, reading Suttree has been known to put some folks IN the hospital. BoDiddley never fails to cure.

Date: Thu Jun 26 14:31
J (glooey):

'One flew over the cuckoos' nest' Ken Kesey. Great read for the hospital. Have you tried Irvine Welsh's 'Glue'?

Date: Thu Jun 26 14:25
em (for glue and in continuation of james):

Might I suggest Dance Dance Dance???

Date: Thu Jun 26 12:46
panda (harmonium):

"the Sirens of Titan" - Kurt Vonnegut

Date: Thu Jun 26 11:28
james s (also, Glue,):

a period of forced bed rest might be a good opportunity to read Cormac McCarthy's "Suttree".

Date: Thu Jun 26 11:14
james s (www.jamesscarbrough.com):

Glue, I'd suggest a couple of Haruki Murakami novels, some kind of rosary (align the mantra of your choice to your exhalation), a big blank notebook and a couple of good pens, maybe some colored sharpies for illustrations to go with you writing. Maybe you'll get the "rock & roll nurse" that David Johansen and the Dolls sang about back in the early seventies. She's probably much older now, but the pills...

Date: Thu Jun 26 08:32
SeanT (Glue):

Mr Sniffer , sorry to hear about your troubles . Read tons , write if you are inspired , above all get better. Sean.

Date: Thu Jun 26 06:59
glue sniffer (long time no speak):

i am going to hospital. having legs messed. on back summer. self pitty in buckets. not sure what to do with self. would like honest oppions. best one will do. might wright book. might just lay on back. thank you for this time.

Date: Thu Jun 26 04:39
howe (onabout):

oh yeah. dallas good from the SADIES also appears on a couple of songs on the new BLACKY record... and john rauhaus too...plus the danes form arhus on another track. and yep.

Date: Wed Jun 25 19:29
Archivist (..From the Archives..):

So, folks ready for the second hour of the 'From the Archives' broadcast? Stream will be uploaded ASAP (Thurs AM). By the way, Steve Wynn and the Miracle 3 has a new one out - titled Static Transmission (recorded here in Tucson at Wavelab last fall). I will feature it on my morning show 'Your Morning Brew' on KXCI next week as the featured album of the week (each morning at 8:15 am).

Date: Wed Jun 25 19:12
em (whew):

whew. Thanks for the info, PaulK. The Al covers thing should be interesting...

Date: Wed Jun 25 18:52
paulk (Alejandro press release):

Subject: Fwd: [alejandro escovedo] 6/24/03 PRESS RELEASE ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO RECUPERATING AFTER HEALTH CRISIS; BENEFITS AND TRIBUTE ALBUM IN THE WORKS Acclaimed singer-songwriter Alejandro Escovedo is recovering well following his collapse and hospitalization in late April due to complications from Hepatitis C. He is currently at home in Canyon Lake, TX resting and undergoing treatment to alleviate the effects of his condition. Escovedo's health crisis has prompted an outpouring of help from his friends, associates, and fans across the nation. First to respond has been the Austin music community with a two night benefit at The Continental Club on June 25 & 26 featuring Kevin Russell of The Gourds, Beaver Nelson, ex-True Believer Jon Dee Graham, David Garza, Miles Zuniga of Fastball. The Damnations, TX and other acts. Meanwhile, Escovedo's friends at Bloodshot Records are organizing two Chicago benefits at the Abbey Pub and Fitzgerald's, with further benefits to come at The Cactus Cafe in Austin and The Hideout in Chicago. Also in the planning stages are benefits in San Diego at The Casbah, Seattle at the Experience Music Project and in the Raleigh/Durham, NC area at a venue still to be determined. Plans are also already underway for a benefit tribute album modeled on the Sweet Relief albums for Victoria Williams and Vic Chestnutt with an all-star line-up to be announced in the near future. As well, Rykodisc is preparing to re-release Escovedo's With These Hands CD in an expanded version similar to last year's re-releases of Gravity and Thirteen Years by Texas Music Group. Alejandro wishes to thank his many supporters for their generosity and good wishes in his time of need. A trust is currently being established to handle donations with details on where to send contributions to be announced shortly. Escovedo will be taking an extended break from his rigorous touring schedule in order to fully recover and prevent any recurrence of his health problems. His next scheduled concert appearance will be at the 2004 South By Southwest Music Festival next March in Austin.

Date: Wed Jun 25 18:19
dave (soundtracks, Steve Wynn):

Steve Wynn gets mentioned a lot here. Just a heads up that there is a feature article on him in the new No Depression magazine. Soundtracks are hit and miss affairs, sometimes I never play them after I buy them. Sometimes the best soundtracks are for really crappy movies (i.e. Feeling Minnesota) I've not heard of the Two Lane Blacktop one. Let us know if its good. A couple good recent soundtracks I'd recommend are The Slaughter Rule (Jay Farrar, Neko, Malcom Holcomb - excellent tune, Vic Chestnutt, Flatlanders) and Rushmore (British mod stuff from the 60's mainly). Sure wish Giant Sand or Howe would play some of these summer street festivals in Chicago.

Date: Wed Jun 25 17:05
Alan (You Can Never Go Fast Enough):

OK, anyone know much about this "soundtrack" to "Two Lane Blacktop"? (or did I miss/forget an earlier set of exchanges on this??? Will Oldham, Calexico, Wilco, Mark Eitzel, Rosco Holcombe, Giant Sand, Sonic Youth, Cat Power, etc... just bought it, 1/2-way thru cut #1 at present.

Date: Wed Jun 25 16:39
james s (J & others):

It's going to be HUGE. No one is too special to be troubled. Pretty good festival line-up thar in yer neck of the woods, Blaine sir.

Date: Wed Jun 25 16:18
J (james s, amongst others.):

Do you think this thing is big enough to trouble Kylie with? La la la, la la la la la. Climb aboard, Rob S and your unspeakably Turkish bredren.

Date: Wed Jun 25 15:55
em (covers) ((yes)):

yes. ya'll do your thing!!!!

Date: Wed Jun 25 15:48
Blaine (@work):

J - we'll be recording as soon as our drummer get back from vacation. Yes, plan is for "Bible Black", but we may also stab at "The Doors" just cause it's loud. I told Steve Wynn about the cd and suggested he do something under a pseudonym, said he'd been playing "Loving Cup". But last I heard from him he's gotten pretty busy. Ffffffinalllly got some Tucson-like weather here in the land of beers -- minus the fires, hope that stuff runs its course quickly. Eleventh Dream Day played a rare gig in CHI last weekend - anyone catch it? SummerFest -- week-plus music fiesta starts here tomorrow, Wilco, Jayhawks, Los Wolves, the Thorns, Tom Petty, Ben Harper, Sonny Landreth, John Hiatt, Dennis DeYoung, a few Cuban groups, etc.

Date: Wed Jun 25 15:18
james s (movers and shakers):

so you too, mike, are moving. that makes me, you, and mitch, at least. i wonder if the mitchster got moved to the city of angels yet. sorry to hear somebody is ill. good wishes your way. hope you liked the sandfan tracks. come on, lars, get a tape in, dude! gazelle, light up that blue rope. erik, you out there, do a sand tune and send it to mike. glue? graham? come on, folks, be "joiners" just this once. you (mike) should solicite tracks from some biggies, like granddaddy or m ward or vic or dylan, or neil, or cher...

Date: Wed Jun 25 14:18
J (Mike and everyone else):

Glad to see you back, hope the illness is beaten by the afflicted. How many more tracks to go? Blaine, did you folks do 'Bible black'? Always a favourite of mine. Anyone got the balls to do 'Love like a train'? (Apart from Howe , that is.)

Date: Wed Jun 25 10:00
dave ((astonished in Bristol)):

THE SADIES - one of the best live bands ever!

Date: Wed Jun 25 06:50
Lars (www.roskilde-festival.dk):

Heeey folkies! Just a quick greet from the Roskilde Festival....where the rain and heavy wind is on retreat - making way for sun and gooooood music!!! Have a nice day/week/year/life...HEP! / Lars

Date: Wed Jun 25 06:35
mike (sa-wa-ro):

contrary to rumours..... i am still around.... but unfortunately have some family problems (illness) at the moment that seem to be taking all my time up (as well as finding somewhere else to live).. hence all the delays in replying to mails etc. the post today yeilded james' and em's contribution to the sand fan-dango and a trip to the post office brought in j's tape........ so that's five tracks now... 'scorcher', 'artists', 'dusted', 'wolfy' and 'way to end the day'... so how are the others getting on? .......................... there'll be a sandman newsletter out today/tomorrow now that sarah has re-built the database of email addresses and names (thanks love)... and those that have applied to join in the last month will also be getting their branch/leaves details. to answer the loose 'selections' question.. the track is 'heartland' from the 'heartland' blacky album.... and is a preview of the 'early selections' album they intend to release (sometime.... maybe)

Date: Tue Jun 24 16:13
Gustav (The island of rain and thunder):

Even if Howe plays or not Arhus seems like a nice vaccation...Thaks for the great Aarhus accomodation advice Lars

Date: Tue Jun 24 07:13
SeanT (Alejandro benefit gigs):

benefit for ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO Wed June 25 Kevin Russell (of the Gourds) Beaver Nelson Gary Clark Jon Dee Graham Sin Pelo Thur June 26 David Garza Miles Zuniga Lil Cap'n Travis Damnations the Real Heros shows start at 9:00 CONTINENTAL CLUB 1315 S. Congress 441-2444 all proceeds go to Alejandro and family

Date: Tue Jun 24 02:06
J (HEY! I just realised...):

Maybe it's because we are sad weirdos. It's 7.09 am here in the UK and I just got in from work, and am having a beer. Just the 3 mind... Paul the Blacky thing has me all aquiver.

Date: Tue Jun 24 02:02
J (James):

James, same here kind of. I sent my tape to the address on the package that returned slickly and quickly when I sent coin of the realm for down home 2000. Same goes for the Sandman. Alan Gregory are you still here? I'll mail you off site geezer...

Date: Mon Jun 23 18:35
PaulK (click clack):

Loose records website are announcing a sampler (for the price of a single) called Loose selections, due at the end of June with a Blacky Ranchette track on it. No word of what the track is. I must say I am very excited at the thought of hearing our old friend after so many years. i'm with all of you who wish well for Alejandro Escovido, he promised to come back when he played here last and I hope he at least makes it through this. On another note, the reunited Blasters are landing in Glasgow in late July, promises to be a ripsnorter.

Date: Mon Jun 23 14:31
james s (Mike):

I sent mine and em's to the address mike gave me when I sent him one of my CDs awhile back.... I hope that's right. He hasn't responded to my email, or to questions here on the board... I hope there ain't nothing wrong with the ol' boy. I haven't heard from my branch about the new Sand Man yet either. Hmmmm.

Date: Mon Jun 23 09:58
J (Mike?):

Mike I'm now off to the post box to mail my submission for the fandango. I'm sending it to the sawaro ltd PO box in Hook, OK? Can't wait for the Blacky album, still It's not far away I guess...

Date: Mon Jun 23 06:43
Jörg (banjo67@web.de):

This sounds great Howe!! Can't wait... (especially for that Kurt Wagner-parking lot-part!)

Date: Mon Jun 23 05:32
howe (hummmmm):

blacky's been mastered. here in denmark, down in copenhagen. 42:22 minutes of slag heap. and so as with the first 3 blacky records, it will all fit on vinyl nicely. matt ward plays some sweet slide guitar on a song. john rauhaus plays sneaky pete on several. calexico johnandjoe on a song or so. tom larkins too, back on drums for a few minutes. richard buckner helps deliver a song nicely. neko case had a lot to do with it for a few of em. dallas good provided a bliss lead. grandaddy do it and jason duet. kurt wagner sang from a parked car in the loading and unloading zone only. chan marshall even uttered a delightful little line while her van was leaving. i think bugs bunny is in there too actually. ok then...it should be out on thrill jockey in october. "still looking good to me". PS....the very first THE BAND OF... BLACKY RANCHETTE is being released in france from the feller who put it out 20 YEARS AGO this summer. trippy hoo ha.

Date: Sun Jun 22 23:39
Blaine (@home):

Just wanted to drop a line about seeing Neil & the Horse last Thursday. The show is 2 hrs of new material with actors, stage sets, video etc, - called a musical novel. Some grumbling overheard about "when's ne gonna play some old stuff". So beware. Then again it is Neil --like Halley's Comnet -- you will prob never get the chance to see it live in full form if you pass it up. As prev noted, Poncho played an old (real old)Wurlitzer electric pno through out and Neil fingerpicked his gtr for a mostly bluesy tone. The encore in Milwaukee was 5 classics w/Poncho on electric gtr, beginning w/Like a Hurricane that sounded like side 2 of The Stooges. And to turn the tables, the last song was Mr. Soul -- which sounded like Giant Sand!! -- they all took a good bit to turn Satisfaction inside out. (Also saw the amazing Buzzcocks last week - but that's a diff story.) Alejandro is one of the great ones -- he's capable of it all. We should all light a candle for his recovery.

Date: Sun Jun 22 15:52
Guni (for the bavarian scroller):

yep! And numerous "Zeltfestivals" this summer, gell!

Date: Sun Jun 22 13:34
Tommy Gailer (scrolling for Guni):

Finally they all end up livin`in Bavaria ;-) ...maybe you too, Guni, who knows...OK, but you Baden Württembergers have the better live clubs.

Date: Sun Jun 22 11:44
Guni (Jimmy Carl Black, the indian in the band):

Lars, you're right, everything is connected in one way or another. Like the Jimmy Carl Black thing. He actually was "the" or one of the first drummers with the Mothers of Invention, played/acted also in 200 Motels. He's originally from Southern New Mexico but the past years he's been living in Southern Germany. And for a quite long part of this period he actually lived just around the corner from my place. He played some gigs with his old fellows from the Zappa era as the "Grandmothers". But most of the time he played blues/bluesrock together with another guy that came over from the States decades ago and decided to stay in our part of the world. That was the Farrell/Black-Band. They also played in Geislingen's Raetschenmuehle, that Howe might remember quite well. Some years ago Jimmy moved a little further east and lives in Bavaria now. Guess he likes their beer better than ours!

Date: Sat Jun 21 17:50
J (PS, Mike? James?):

Should I send my tape to the sawaro ltd PO Box? It's now redone and very in keeping with my just let it go frame of mind.

Date: Sat Jun 21 17:48
J (Oklahoma by the afternoon, old KC by three):

Alejandro helped to shape me, along with Howe, Dan Stuart, Old Bobby D, The brothers Piucci had a lot to do with it. Steve wynn, Grant Lee, Freedy Johnson snuck in there. See him about to ramble in his posting in his tshirt and his jeans...

Date: Sat Jun 21 15:39
Lars (chadbourne etc.):

Yeah, I've been told by several people to check out Johnston. Also because he apparently very rarely do live shows. I will surely do so. ##### By the way: that Spanien 19 C place is not terribly easy to find. But it's around the corner from the bus station. Then under the bridge there. Onwards past the electrical plant. Till you reach the shop called...eh, Skousen, as far as I remember (it's in big red letters). Just before that shop you go into the parking lot next to it. Continue down a little bit. And there's the house: red/brownish brick. It's a artist's workshop thing they've got going there. But there are great gigs down there from time to time - even though it's not a "real venue" (don't that just make it better sometimes, he-he?). I attended a great gig with local bands Singvogel and Kurve there last night in fact. Singvogel used to be called Vildensky....and they made a record on which Nils and Myrthe from Under Byen supplied the strings. There you go - it's all connected. :-) ### Uh, well, gotta do the last bit of the rucksack packing... Hep! / Lars

Date: Sat Jun 21 15:17
howe (must be home):

hey lars. thanks for the heads up about that chadbourne show. i reckon pat thomas might be the feller that had the little record label in san fran, not certain...but would love to see it. and then you better seek out daniel johnston while you're in roskilde....and speaking of austin, very sad to hear about al. he is one of the few of us still manageing to make his way here by finding the way to cut through the impossible tolls of time and touring. back in 1980 he was the first one to make me dance when he was burning up his guitar with RANK AND FILE. then later on with his brother he was scorching it up again with THE TRUE BELIEVERS. and since then he has managed to just keep making beautiful records (and covering iggy pop) at endless live shows....usually with his remarkable string section. hep c is a true epidemic. it waits for us all, stealing away inside...and then makes itself known 15 or 20 years later. here's to al and his recovery. i know of two people who have recovered from it so far, but it is very serious. so ...god bless alejandro.

Date: Sat Jun 21 14:08
Lars (almost out the door.....):

Uhh, off to the Roskilde Festival tomorrow morning. Sunday next week I'll going through.....Yo La Tengo, The Black Heart Procession, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy and then Björk (on top of all the other great stuff I've been digesting all week). Try checking out the line-up at www.roskilde-festival.dk - do I need to say, that I look forward to this?!?!?! "See" ya next week, folks! Well, maybe I'll get to a computer during the week and send a greeting, ha-ha. Yiiiaaahh! / Lars

Date: Sat Jun 21 12:42
SeanT (Alejandro):

That's bad news , hope he can get through it.

Date: Sat Jun 21 11:50
em (Al):

'advanced cirrhosis of the liver'

Date: Sat Jun 21 06:10
SeanT (Alejandro):

What's happened to Alejandro ?

Date: Sat Jun 21 04:46
Lars (Aarhus note for Howe):

Hey, Howe, just a little heads up on live music in Aarhus soon. Unfortunately I can't check it out myself, because I'm at the Roskilde Festival, but on the 30th of June the following three guys are playing in Aarhus: EUGENE CHADBOURNE, PAT THOMAS and JIMMY CARL-BLACK. I don't know them, but I've been told that Eugene has been here before and done some rather avantgardish guitarplaying and singing. And that Jimmy used to be the drummer in FRANK ZAPPA'S Mothers Of Invention. They play at this liiiittle place called Spanien 19 C down by the harbour. Does anyone here know these three guys better than I? Well, Howe, there you go. Just thought I'd let you know in case it had your interest. / Lars

Date: Fri Jun 20 19:53
Lars (thanks):

Yeah, Gazelle, I'm totally down with that. ;-) And "Howe Home" is even better, eh? :-D Thanks! G'night....slightly buzzed and tired again. Been to another gig - and ears are ringing. / Lars

Date: Fri Jun 20 18:42
gazelle (down home):

yes lars, down home means something in america. it's a term describing something that is very laid-back and comforting. like if you were describing a woman who is very down home, it means she is very easygoing in an almost country sense. she is very hospitable and warm. i would say that howe's music is very down home, very unpretentious and straight-up real music with no frills. does that make sense???

Date: Fri Jun 20 13:50
james s (again):

On a lighter note, and in keeping with some recent posts, Marcia just emailed me and told me that "Cortez the Killer" was playing on the radio when she got out of the truck. Have a good weekend.

Date: Fri Jun 20 13:33
james s (alejandro):

Yes, that's very sad about Alejandro. I lost a dear friend to hepatitis C late last year. He waited and waited for a liver, had long quit druggin', quit drinking, quit smoking, had his teeth removed in preparation for the surgery (to prevent infections), waited and waited, and died waiting. He was poor. I hope something good happens for Alejandro, like getting a new liver!, before the world loses another good soul. I'll certainly toss some prayers out into the cosmos on his behalf.

Date: Fri Jun 20 13:29
vic (barriobean@yahoo.com):

yes, the fires blaze atop the mountains here. 200 homes & businesses lost, not to mention all the little critters needing to find new dwellings. mother nature cleans house in awesome ways sometimes. i think we should trade some sprinkles of rain for some rays o' sun.

Date: Fri Jun 20 13:00
em (sad today ):

A proud man, he hates the idea of folks doing benefits for him Wednesday and next Thursday at the Continental Club. But, sadly, Alejandro Escovedo says the money has stopped coming in and the medical bills are mounting since he collapsed after a concert in Phoenix on April 26 and had to cancel all live shows indefinitely. "My body just broke down," he says, describing internal injuries caused by complications from hepatitis C. Endoscopic surgery revealed advanced cirrhosis of the liver, for which Escovedo has been seeing a specialist in Dallas. Al's former True Believers bandmate Jon Dee Graham, Beaver Nelson and acts to be named later will play Wednesday with David Garza, Miles Zuniga, the Damnations and others providing sweet relief for a true Austin music hero the next night. ...So anybody in the area oughtta attend for sure. Wow.

Date: Fri Jun 20 09:57
SeanT (Greendale):

Sounds good .His solo show in London had a storytelling vibe , between each song Neil told the story of Greendale then did the song , I thought it was greatand can't wait to hear the LP . He also did a short greatest hit set , the highlight being Powderfinger , hair up on the back of the neck etc.

Date: Fri Jun 20 08:19
dave (greendale):

It sounded really good with Crazy Horse. Ralph and Billy were right on top of it. Oddly, Poncho sat at an upright piano that you couldn't hear throughout Greendale. The music worked really well with the absurd "theater" production that was going on around it. The Chicago Tribune likened it to a high school play. I'm anxious to hear how the record holds up without all the visuals. It was like a performance art type thing, really. They played Greendale in its entirety, which included a really cool acoustic song with Neil playing a Martin tuned way down low. They came back for the encore and did Powderfinger, Down by the River, and Rockin in the Free World (with Poncho on Les Paul finally) and came back for a second encore to do Roll Another Number. I loved it, the crowd was really into it and the Chicago newspapers gave it excellent reviews.

Date: Fri Jun 20 06:12
SeanT (Dave Greendale):

Dave how did the Greendale stuff sound with The Horse ? I saw Neil do the album solo and I think it some of his best material in years .

Date: Fri Jun 20 02:59
Lars (www.larsdideriksen.com):

Thank you, "Mr. That's". Always wondered how to spell that. #### Is "down home" a certain phrase in the English language in the sense that they mean something more than just 'down' and 'home'? I just came across Down Home as a name for something in Kurt Vonnegut's "Jailbird" las night, which I found pretty funny (I don't read that many books - and then what are the odds of me bumping in to that?). :-) #### Just read in the news that there are fires in Arizona again? Very hot and dry weather there at the moment or what? #### By the way, I just uploaded some weird mp3s of mine at my website and it's not acoustic "dittys" (-(-ies?), ha-ha, like Em's and James'. It's just weird sketches. / Lars

Date: Thu Jun 19 18:28
J (better go):

to bed now. Nothing to say 'bout the new releases 'cept I can't afford them. Paul K copied me Infiltration ages ago after I missed out on the freebie, and it resonates...

Date: Thu Jun 19 18:26
dave (Greendale):

Saw Neil and the Horse trot out Greendale Tuesday night. I loved it. It was hilarious at times. Nice to see someone with nothing to prove still be creative and willing to challenge an audience. Sorry this doesn't have anything to do with GS, but I always thought there was a similar mindset on this subject.

Date: Thu Jun 19 18:03
Lars that's (a):

Ditty

Date: Thu Jun 19 18:02
J (Sniffadan):

I'd like to check your photos out, am sometimes in London this summer, keep on flyposting

Date: Thu Jun 19 17:58
J (covers and where to send them):

Mike, I lost your address, but might find it in my pile of padded envelopes, can you help me out? J_most-definitely_no-spam_@woodpile.dot.co.dot.uk. Well, I finalised my cover of 'Artists' or as final as it could be. I hate to apologise before I've caused offence, but it sounds kind of like a regression for me. Hurried mixage and reverb drenched distorted hurrying (Think Sisters of mercy bootleg circa '84) I could easily squeeze in a natural 'Steadfast' if there is room... Anyone else apart from James, Em and Lars done anything concrete?

Date: Thu Jun 19 11:47
Lars (dan-fango...dango!....eh, fan....):

Still no word on a definite deadline? Or did I not notice it? I've got the feeling that IF I contribute it would not exactly be a cover song in the normalt sense of the word, but definitely "Howe", ha-ha. A little diddy by the name of "Howecheck"...maybe. Don't know if it fits the requirements... Hm.... / Lars

Date: Thu Jun 19 11:13
james s (mike, etc...):

Packages sent out today to Innis, Robert, Em, and Mike. Mike, the one coming to you has two tracks for the upcoming (I hope) Sand Fan release, Em's "Dusted" (Jellybabies), and my "Way to End the Day." I hope others are getting on it and getting you stuff. I wish I could fly over to see your exhibition, DanOfSniff.

Date: Thu Jun 19 08:38
Glue Sniffer (danthephotographer@hotmail.com):

Hello on monday I am in an exhibition with som other photographers at the assocation of photographers gallery which is by old strreet tube on lenard street. shoreditch area i think. all welcome email if you fancy getting a private veiw thing monday night 6-8 ish open tue - friday 10-6 saturday 12-4 hope to see you there might wear a carnation

Date: Thu Jun 19 06:25
Lars (Aarhus accomodation etc.):

I think there are a few cheapish hotels in Aarhus. But there are also a few nice hostels. Check this one out: www.citysleep-in.dk (text is in English and Danish). Prices look pretty okay and the place is quite nice and in the center of town. All within 5-10 minutes walk of whereever Howe will be playing. Eh, it would seem likely that Howe will do something live over the summer, but I guess we'll just have to see what the man himself says. :-) By the way there is also this hostel: http://www.hostel-aarhus.dk ---- it's in a forest by the sea and still pretty much part of the central part of town. You can walk to where you want to go in town. But there are also easy access busses of course. I hope that was helpful. If you really want to stay at a "real hotel" I can look into it. Greets! / Lars

Date: Thu Jun 19 05:51
gustav (hanö):

Does anyone know when howe will play again in arhus? are there any cheap hostels that is recomended?

Date: Thu Jun 19 03:26
Hankster (Loving Cup):

Great version there, Lars. Thanks for making it available. Great cover art, too. Makes me even more eager to get the new Sandman series release. Mike? hello hello? Speaking of Loving Cup: a while ago, there was talk on the board about a new Blanky Ranchette or an OW OM release of outtakes of the other BR albums. Any news on that? Or on the/a new Giant Sand release with the Dansk guys?

Date: Wed Jun 18 20:27
Lars (a night in Aarhus...):

Don't know anything about the leaves-business. And the cover art is Howe's drawing. Speaking of whom....unfortunately Howe had to cancel the show tonight. So Howe....."lovin' the rain---check"! ;-) Hope you have a good trip to Copenhagen tomorrow (eh, today that is - it's late - went to se Truman's Water instead after the cancellation - Iggy Pop played in town as well tonight...$90 dollar ticket or so). :-O G'night! / Lars (check out the programme at www.roskilde-festival.dk and please envy me that I'm going next week) ;-) (sorry, slightly buzzed by brewskies at the moment)

Date: Wed Jun 18 18:03
PaulK (Sandman7):

Well i got my copy today (thanks chris), all i've got to do is wait for my teenage rebel son finish his fix of teevee (really bad movie with tommy Lee Jones doing a terrible Oirish accent) and then I can listen to the damn thing.And lars, the cover art is great.

Date: Wed Jun 18 16:56
alan (thanks graham):

I, too, was wondering if I was connected to a missing link (in some manner other than the evolutionary kind...). Just got "... Spare Parts..." fun so far, esp. the beginning of the original marble girl (though car noise caused some sonic issues -- gotta try the office).

Date: Wed Jun 18 16:48
Graham (sandman):

Does anybody in the states have the seventh sandman yet? I've heard nary a word--my leaves are contacting me and I have no information at all.

Date: Wed Jun 18 16:44
geoff (sandman series):

Lars, do you know when we as mere leaves will be able to get the new one?

Date: Wed Jun 18 13:59
Lenina (soma):

Was and will make me ill; I take a gramme and only am.

Date: Wed Jun 18 11:55
Lars (oh saaandy....can't you seee....):

Well, there IS a new Sandman out. Don't know when Mike grabs the files I have online and puts them on the GS page. But for the curious....the big files (covers) are still here: http://www.larsdideriksen.com/diverse/howe-sandman-covers.htm ##### And tonight is Howe Night in Aarhus. Yeah! / Lars

Date: Wed Jun 18 10:42
Hankster (?new sandman series?):

Does that mean there is an official new release out and that we can contact the respective branches for our copies?

Date: Wed Jun 18 10:32
Revisionista (marviol@aol.com):

Just got Spare Parts and Infiltration from the store and am in ecstasy. Great to have a document of the most recent tour with the band (heard the Abbey show in Chicago). Love the Goldfrapp cover too. Their new one is a disappointment as are the Black Keys for me. Only have the second record, but need some conceit. Slavish genre replication isn't particularly of interest. Someone tell me what I'm missing. I've seen My Morning Jacket twice in the last month and urge y'all to seek them out when and wherever. Can't really say enough good things and don't want to spoil your joy of discovery so just find them. There is some live stuff archived at KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic website.

Date: Wed Jun 18 07:46
Tommy Gailer (scrolling-for-sandman):

Some advice for swaping/trading the new sandman-series: i just got some packages from my branches and would suggest not to send the blanks incl. the jewel-cases. Just wrap them in paper or thin plastic-bags and put them in small envelopes, not the big ones. Yesterday i got a package from Belgium and i thought the sandfan sent me a book, but it was just 4 blanks incl. jewelcases. You people can save money, that you can otherwise spent in buying Giant Sand/ Howe Gelb cd`s. OWOM will love you for saving money. And please, write your home-address clearly so that we organizers/branches can read it...makes your sandman faster too...good luck!

Date: Wed Jun 18 06:37
Lars (Unlocking a darker door with...? :-)):

Just got the new album "Thickfreakness" by The Black Keys today. Niiice one! But I can't help but feel that the first album maybe was a bit better, more varied and...he-he dirtier - judging from what I have heard on the web (I haven't got the album yet). Anyone here got them both and have any thoughts on the subject. / Lars

Date: Tue Jun 17 23:37
Tommy Gailer (scrllong-for-nina-again):

Sorry, not meant to lock you people out here...maybe some of the people of the neighbour countries can see the german/french ARTE station on TV: today, wednsday 18th at 22:15 they show a prtrait of Nina simone that i watched years ago and i was pretty impressed, although i have seen just the half of that show.

Date: Tue Jun 17 18:27
PaulK (little cubes):

Nice, odd reviews of Downhome, Infiltration and Spare Parts on this webzine, http://www.littlecubenews.com/entertain/entertain005.php Rating scale is pretty cool.

Date: Tue Jun 17 15:18
james s (nina):

i'd like to see that. in the flick, "the dancer upstairs", they play some lovely live nina simone that I hadn't heard

Date: Tue Jun 17 14:50
Tommy Gailer (simone-scroller):

Achtung Achtung! Am Mittwoch (18.6.)abend um 22:15 zeigt der Sender Arte ein einstündiges Portrait v. Nina Simone. Ich konnte es das letzte Mal nut zur Hälfte sehen, war aber trotzdem tief beeindruckt. Schmeißt die Videorecorder an!

Date: Tue Jun 17 13:16
Archivist (re: UofA cellar):

Hey, glad you like the stream. Well, if you mean Giant Sandworms by the letters GS then I do have the UofA cellar show from 1983 in the archives.. Also, in terms of Ninos we have some great Rainer recordings from about the same era.

Date: Tue Jun 17 11:19
Lars (www.larsdideriksen.com):

In all humbleness....I'm currently making a "recommendations" page on my website where I present some of the good music I've come across over the years. A lot of different genres. So far about half the artists have links to mp3s or sound streams. I'm working on links for them all. So if you're curious about new music of (very) different kinds drop by the "personal website" part of the address above....and then "recommendations" under "music". Sorry about this kinda post - it was just so quiet in here (and yes, I know: quiet is nice). :-) / Lars

Date: Mon Jun 16 22:42
az charlie (PHX):

Mr. Archivist - I had no problem on the broadband side of things. Thanks for the Stream...Have been waiting for that for a long time...Hey do you have anthing in the GS Archives from Ninos, Charcters, the Fineline, Backstage Backdoor or the Uof A Cellar in the early 80's? If my memory serves me right I GS play in those venues at various times. Hey I even saw Black Flag with Rollins in those infamous black "Dolphin" shorts at the U of A Cellar. Thanks Again

Date: Mon Jun 16 15:58
tape (em):

yay!

Date: Mon Jun 16 14:28
james s (em):

tape arrived.

Date: Mon Jun 16 14:18
/todd (Howe shows / live radio?):

Just got word last night that Howe is playing Edmonton, AB w/ support act Mark Davis of Old Reliable. Sunday July 13th...He may even have a show in Calgary. There's an old piano at ckUa radio that needs playing. Perhaps I can set something up.

Date: Mon Jun 16 12:01
james s (nope and paypal):

Nope, Baby Jelly Emily, still no tape. The mail hasn't come yet today, so i'm holding off on my trip to the post until i see if'n it arrives. seanT, Pay pal. "pay pal" sounds like some kind of platonic same-sex escort service for lonely souls. You just need a pal to talk to, go have a beer with, watch the game with? Call 1-555-PAY-4-PAL. Outcalls only.

Date: Sun Jun 15 19:28
em (Lars Dood):

Yup, I love it:)

Date: Sun Jun 15 17:45
finn (three pints later...):

halfway thru confessions of a crap artist! a departure somewhat...

Date: Sun Jun 15 16:29
Lars (www.supertanker.tk):

Thoroughly enjoyed Almodovar's "Talk To Her" earlier this year ### Reading Vonnegut's "Jailbird" now (in Danish: "Tugthuskandidat" - the word almost looks Polish to me, now I think of it). :-) Read Slaughter-House Five earlier and thought it was great. Italian Berliner-DJ Roberta of this board has talked me into reading "The Sirens Of Titan" next, even though I was actually thinking of going back into Philip K. Dick-country. :-) ### Have you got the mp3 downloaded yet, Em? I'm really curious what you think of it. / Lars

Date: Sun Jun 15 15:59
em (confus-ed):

Does anyone know: did Howe Gelb ever actually say 'wearing his heart way too out in the open'?? Or is that just very Gelb-ian??? I'm arguing with a friend who put it in a song. The lyrics pages are not helping. Headache. No tape, James??? Hi everybody.

Date: Sun Jun 15 15:21
finn (again):

Vonnegut... cool.

Date: Sun Jun 15 15:17
finn (henrik's movies):

yep...there are some great Spanish films out there... the aforementioned 'Thesis', by the same director as 'abre los ojos'...and also starring Eduardo Noriega, 'Nadie'(dir. Mateo Gil)...Oh and most recently 'The Devils Backbone'by the director of 'Amores Perros'I think? was gruesome and full of creepy atmosphere! On a lighter (cinematic) note there's 'Torrente' starring Santiago Segura... an outrageous and very funny UN-P.C. comedy...Great! Thank's to my brother hen' for introducing me to these movies... we've been watching alot of Eastern films too, a recent favourite being 'Uzumaki'... anyway...what got me onto this train of thought? Lars' site and the Howe photos...cool!... Been playing 'the listener','dreams','parts' and 'Down Home '00' and getting alot of positive feedback from the customers in the shop I run! Restoring my faith in the great British public... To a certain extent!...err wwhats with this sunny weather...too much red vino!...off to the pub on this fine summer evening! Cheers!

Date: Sun Jun 15 14:57
Lars (scrolling for flix and streams):

Oooh, he's the guy who did the Vanilla-original? Haven't seen it, though. But it's supposed to be mucho better than the Cruise one. ### Mr. Archive, I've got a pretty high bandwidth. Usually not too much trouble. But not even the low bandwidth wants to start. Once the RealDownload has gotten the "mp3"-file it opens the realplayer-fil with Winamp. Which is usually no problem. I wondering why the file I grabbed can't play properly. It's "stutters" all the time. But you were saying they were coming on disc or something? ### Greets from slightly rainy Aarhus. Staying in. No park-bikini-chicks today. Thought I would go there with a nice Vonnegut (not binoculars) and relax, but no. / Lars

Date: Sun Jun 15 14:24
Tommy Gailer (scrolling-for-lars):

I`ve seen only The Others, Abre los ojos, Tesis. And they were very very good indeed. There`s a new version of "Abre los ojos" called Vanilly Sky, starring Tom Cruise, but i haven`t seen the remake yet.

Date: Sun Jun 15 13:55
Archivist (...):

Anyone else that has reports on the ease or difficulty for accessing the audio stream, please post them here. I know that even with the low bandwidth stream, dial up users may have some major difficulty listening to it. How about you high bandwidth users??

Date: Sun Jun 15 07:04
Lars (Scrolling for Tommy - and for Giantstreams):

Well, I've only seen The Others. Which was incredibly good - even though I accidently overheard someone talking about the ending. Doh! :-/ Are his other movies any good? Haven't heard of them. ##### I can't get the Giantstream to work. My RealDownload program downloads this mp3-file which I guess is supposed to trigger the realplayer-file, but nothing happens. I tried downloading the file itself using the dodgy program Streambox VCR (it can grab streams - mostly). I got the whole 59 mb file, but the sound jumps every fourth of a second, though. Better wait for whatever discs are coming, huh? / Lars (not computer-geeky enough, I guess)

Date: Sun Jun 15 06:48
Tommy Gailer (moviescroller):

Hey Lars, i just visited your site and wondered if you know the movies of Alejyndro Amenabar? If you ever get the chance to see the horror flick Thesis, watch it. http://us.imdb.com/Name?Amen%E1bar,%20Alejandro

Date: Sat Jun 14 22:27
Archivist (......):

Hey all, finally added something new in the archive section. Go there and into the 'giant stream' link.. There you will find the first hour of a program that I did back on KXCI in November of 2001 titled 'From the Archives'. It is streaming in low and high bandwidth versions and will most likely turn up in CD format among the live trading circles. I will put up the second hour in a few days. The third hour in a week or so. It was basically a show focusing on the musical evolution of the Giant Sand family of musicians utilizing unreleased and live material found in their own archives (which I am so lucky to be able to take care of). Of course, it is only the tip of the iceberg and truly just some of my personal favorites at the time (in the fall of 2001). Enjoy

Date: Sat Jun 14 19:49
Lars (www.larsdideriksen.com):

Wow, that IS a nice picture, James. Don't think we have that view around here. But maybe I'll see some chicks in bikini in the park tomorrow instead (if the sun is punishing enough). :-) ##### Just spend a few hours on my own website www.larsdideriksen.com - the closest thing I come to your "view" is my impersonation of the last Queen album-cover (or sumthin') on a hilltop in Scotland (in my "photoalbum"), ha-ha. Also uploaded some a load of pictures from the Spot 09 Festival, where among others St. Thomas performed (with Howe in attendance). :-) Oh, and I've tried doing a page with my "music recommendations" as well. Not many links yet, but the albums are there. Greets and g'night-night (it's 2 o'clock here) / Lars

Date: Sat Jun 14 14:59
SeanT (gddkd):

There's that echo again

Date: Sat Jun 14 11:44
SeanT (James s):

Yeah James , but you need the right eyes to see the photo , no ? Do you accept Paypal ?

Date: Sat Jun 14 11:34
SeanT (James s):

Yeah James , but you need the right eyes to see the photo , no ? Do you accept Paypal ?

Date: Sat Jun 14 10:26
james s (Re:seanT):

Wow man, thanks. I'll only charge you six cents per day to use the photo as a desktop, to be billed monthy. Just Kidding. That's a color photo, by the way. Hard to go wrong with a camera when you are standing in the midst (and mists) of such a scene. VIVA SAND!!!

Date: Sat Jun 14 07:03
Lars (to (T)odd):

I didn't take any offense to start with. :-) Got Swerve too the other day (and Purge & Slouch), but I think I already said that. Hm, well I can say that I'm really excited about next Wednesday at Café Mozart. It's a smaller place. Hopefully there'll be mostly fans and people who will listen to the music this time around. :-) And again I wanna record (I'm getting just as "bad" as the Germans here now, ha-ha) ;-) , but I think only Howe's vocals, guitar and (maybe) piano are usually mic'ed at the little café - and not any of the guest players (if there are any?). And my "room mic" is crap. Hmmm, I worry too much. Have a nice day! Greets from a sunny and bird-chirping Aarhus. / Lars

Date: Sat Jun 14 05:52
Todd (another early comment):

so I'm excited I purchased official bootleg 3 and I wonder how long it will take to get up to Northern Alberta. Anyways appreciate this comment board...oh heard the 3rd 'Naked Prey' release on cassette...interesting.

Date: Sat Jun 14 05:17
(T)odd (traded Dad 'Collosal Head' for 'Cover Magazine'):

...hey Lars...sorry bout that 'Plants and Rags' comment...I've been to Arizona once when I was a kid so I have no (adult) experience about the sun setting or rising in that region. I also picked up Swerve, for 12 Canadian bucks...major score.

Date: Fri Jun 13 19:35
SeanT (James s):

James , that pic of the Louisiana lake is stunning , hope you don't mind but it's now my desktop. Sean

Date: Fri Jun 13 17:30
Graham (yer preety face is a-goin' to hell):

Good one, Johnny. Have you gotten Deceleration 2 yet, sir? Outstanding.

Date: Fri Jun 13 16:36
a preety mess (by this one Graham):

just fooling around. -johnny

Date: Fri Jun 13 15:56
Editing (as I go):

pretty, that is. Though "preety" works too.

Date: Fri Jun 13 15:55
Graham (speaking of Grandaddy,):

The liner notes of "Sumday" have a scribbled to-do list with "call Howe" preety prominently displayed.

Date: Fri Jun 13 13:42
Tommy Gailer (buddha-scrolling):

Buddha`s portrait on the giantsand start-site looks pretty scary, doesn`t it? But i know that Steve isn`t scary at all in real life...maybe it`s the red eyes?

Date: Fri Jun 13 12:59
gazelle (GRANDADDY in Magnet):

Hey guys. There's a great Grandaddy article in the new Magnet, complete with the story on how Jason first heard about Giant Sand. Even though I've heard the story a million times, it's a very well written article.

Date: Fri Jun 13 12:52
james s (www.jamesscarbrough.com):

Thanks Greg, come visit anytime. I have the second mp3 working now (didn't realize it was broken). Sean, no offence taken (he growls between clenched teeth). Ha. Getting anymore Sand Fan recording in Mike? I'm mailing you mine on Monday. Did you send me anything yet, Emmmm(mmm)? Have a good weekend and dad day all.

Date: Fri Jun 13 10:26
peter (dandoed):

evan played a fine 2 hour gig last nite here in nyc at the bowery ballroom. played most of hits but not music arcade or rudy. an added treat was Juliana on bass. Finished the set with a string of solo acoustic tunes and was enjoying himself all evening.

Date: Thu Jun 12 21:44
Greg H. (gmhaldane@hotmail.com):

Lars, sometimes the sun lingers on forever and just when you think that the setting can’t get any more beautiful it does just that. Other times it’s just so darn hot you can’t wait for the damn thing to set already! The really amazing thing about Arizona is the unequaled quality of the light. James S. - cool art. I’ll visit your website again soon when I have more time and read some words.

Date: Thu Jun 12 18:35
odd (Plants and Rags):

"Black and white...don't come down here looking for the sun boy... black and white...the sun don't shine in the shadow"- Harvey, Ellis

Date: Thu Jun 12 15:29
Lars (Aarhuzonian sun...):

Just out of curiousity: how fast DOES the sun set in Tucson? I figured the best sunsets would be in the desert with cactus all arond (or is that just a cliché?). Or is it just a case of grass being greener elsewhere? ### You should see sunsets from a ferry leaving the Stockholm harbour for Finland. The boat itself zig-zagging for hours trying to get through all the rocky islands there. Now THAT's amazing. / Lars

Date: Thu Jun 12 14:59
SeanT (James):

No offence meant , hope none taken !

Date: Thu Jun 12 13:38
howe (honed):

the 4 hour sun sets here must be better then whatever anti-depressants are supposed to do. it is the best light for feeling just plain good. a shimmer for the attitude. welp, anyway...i like louisianna's notion. it's just impossible to tell at the time of recording what is the best of the best. the odd thing with 'chore of enchantment' is that was the only time i was ever able to live with the pieces of the record for over a year and the end result is what it is. but the record company shelled out way too much money ...more then i will ever see again to record, and i even went broke cause i waited so long to finish it. so ultimately, every recording session has its logistics and that is what you have to work with. but i had no idea "chore" was as good as it was at the time and i was willing to never have it come out cuz i had worked on it ad nauseum and just wanted it to be gone at the end. which is kinda hilarious. anyway, last night cat power played in town here and i have seen her many times in tucson alone playing, but never really talked to her...but last night was a hoot. she gave me the old time feeling of loving rock and roll. she sat up there in command, poised and sluggin jack daniels out of the bottle and makin sure she passed it around to the rest of the band each time. very old school. so i slugged along i guess in my own way...and then by the end found myself up at the piano...but only after she decided to hit the dance floor splayed. somehow it all made sense to earlier days, and i allowed myself the vacated piano only after i could guess by ear what key the band was playing in...and somehow knew the chords too before having to crawl way up there. but it had that moment...where rock and roll is that thing you need to wrap around you. chan splayed out on the floor bansheeing, the band playing on like there was a saloon fight, and getting to just be a piano player without the spotlight, which is the most fun thing. anyway...later....we all entered into that blurry part of the evenings slurry end and thankfully sofie managed to help steer the van back to the hotel, a block from our house. and with the morning a happy sadness of the evening prior, kinda wishing i was in that hungover van driving way too far just to play again and again. -h

Date: Thu Jun 12 13:21
Paul L (Stephen Pastel Rocks):

Oh dear... I saw the Pastels live and really enjoyed it! They did a cover of a Silver Jews song which was cool and had one of the fellows from Teenage Fanclub on bass. Bit ramshackle but that's the way I like it. Was back in 1998 in Nottingham, same venue where I saw Cat Power and a better show in my opinion. Do I need to recalibrate? :)

Date: Thu Jun 12 11:09
james s (Re: sean):

Hmmmm. Well, people have all to often told me I look like someone else, but you are the first to toss up the fleetwood mac bassist. Now I've gotta find a picture of the dude.

Date: Thu Jun 12 08:39
Simon (The winner was...):

The Pastels, with Pearl Jam third. Full list at www.chunklet.com/_vote_results.cfm

Date: Thu Jun 12 06:46
innis (?):

...who came first?

Date: Thu Jun 12 05:12
Simon ((re: Lars)):

I suppose that's the way she deals with it! I've read a couple of things from her where she said she doesn't enjoy playing live. I think when you see Calexico, it's clear that Joey isn't as comfortable being a front man as someone like Howe, but gets away with it. I think when you don't fell particularly comfortable performing live, it's not so easy when it's just you and a guitar. up there. Chunklet magazine recenty had a poll for the shittiest live act you've ever seen, and Cat Power did well to come only second.

Date: Thu Jun 12 04:34
SeanT (James S):

James , a passing remsemblance to the bass player in Fleetwood Mac....Sorry . Liz looks happy.

Date: Thu Jun 12 03:12
Lars (www.supertanker.tk):

"Lying on the floor in the middle of the audience screaming and singing" = "embarassingly shy"...? Hm, oh well. Didn't have the dough anyway. 24 bucks for a piano song with Howe is still too much for my wallet (and I don't know a single Cat Power song). But hey, looks like next Wednesday is gonna make up for it. :-) A band called Truman's Water is playing in town on the same night....but I'll go to Howe's gig. :-) / Lars

Date: Thu Jun 12 02:21
Hans (Scavenger Records) (KH_Horsten@dadlnet.dk):

The first workshop for this year is gonna be on wednesday the 18th of june at Cafe Mozart here in Aarhus Denmark.With ........ ?????????? who ever -:) Howe took the stage last night at Voxhall during the last song Cat Power played He played the piano while the band jammed out with the song Try Me with Chan lying on the floor in the middle of the audience screaming and singing. For all your Rusties. On neilyoung.com you can see untill tuesday the Greendale concert filmed in Dublin on his latest European solo tour. The famous missing 6 with Neil is sone gonna be the missing 2. On the 25th of june comes for the first time ever on CD : On the beach, American Stars `n Bars, Hawks and Doves and Re.ac.tor. You can pre- order them through this e-mail adress. The same counts for Marie Frank latest Cd and Under Byen (there are still some vinyl copys left). Just give me a e-mail. Have a nice day. Hans

Date: Wed Jun 11 19:06
james s (that you glue?):

by the way, if anyone wants to see me smiling like a luv-drunk dork fanboy next to elizabeth fraser of the cocteau twins go to http://www.jamesscarbrough.com/words/journal/2003_06_08_archive.html

Date: Wed Jun 11 18:40
gs (sdfdfsfewqaf):

what the hell you all going on about if you cant see the man dont give a fucwqke then you all been on the tablets too long wake up you fools. i have seen the light it is called turgent frozen waste gang and there ace they try realy hard and dont hand out with loosers and they have better fingers than the lot of you. ps you bunch of hippie stalkers have put the kibosh on ole howe i think you spooked hiom into remision hidoing in a corroner or coriner depending on my ability dont cofuse the disability.the grass is always greener on the genocide

Date: Wed Jun 11 18:32
james s (with a good spirit):

well put, blaine... once gs put out chore, i imagine there were quite a few fans, and new fans, that wanted, expected, to see nothing but consistantly amazing coherent flawless records from that moment on... i wonder what would happen if howe approached making a record in the way lucinda approached making car wheels, i mean nailing down every loose end, working to get every microsound just right, to make a real chore of perfection. could be, would be, great, i suppose. might loose the a bit of the enchantment though, and some of the spirit that blaine's talking about, the openness. might make for a good experiment, but not a good norm. the open approach, even the inconsistancy and even the flaws are an essential part of the gs aesthetic and originality. open music is best appreciated by open listeners. twee in da wind.

Date: Wed Jun 11 17:26
Lars (speaking of good pop):

Yeah.... Aarhus-based label Morningside Records have just released the debut album from Figurines. Rarely have I heard such "summer-like" music which is so well made by a new band. Try checking them out at www.figurines.dk if you want a nice smile on your face. :-D / Lars

Date: Wed Jun 11 16:48
click here ONCE to add your thang (by the way...I heard an album today...):

"a golden record full of soingwriting skills" is a marvellous title for a new giant sand bootleg! Truly marvellous. By the way...just listened to this years best album (so far) the long goodbye by essex green. Pop at it´s best.

Date: Wed Jun 11 14:31
Lars (staying home ----- www.supertanker.tk):

I've also heard bad things about her live shows at the Danish music forum which I also frequent. So I'll give her a miss. Ticket is 24 dollars. The support act is some band (also from the US) called Entrance. Well then, money saved. Maybe Howe'll drop by and teach her some good showmanship? :-D I'll stay home and listen to these two new cds I bought last weekend at the Forma Nova Festival (in Denmark) by the band Berg Sans Nipple. They were amazing. A duo of one French guy and one American. Instrumental with lot of vintage gear. And they looped a lot of it live using a sampler or a chorus-pedal or something. Bottom line: great stuff! = www.bergsansnipple.com ---- Just got Purge & Slouch and Swerve as well. I think the way-back-when kinda Sand will take some getting used to. Lock'n'loll! :-) Also got some nice cds with Monade and Imitation Electric Piano....retro-sound stuff (www.duophonic.com has got streams). Have a nice day, folks! I thanks for responding regarding the cat. Meow! / Lars

Date: Wed Jun 11 14:21
dave (Zappa meets Prince):

Speaking of....If you want a comical combination of those two icons, get Beck's Midnite Vultures.Much fun..Pontiac Slipstream would fit this equation too.

Date: Wed Jun 11 13:40
archivist (...):

Here is the info on Jim Fairchild: ;; http://www.chartattack.com/damn/2003/06/0309.cfm

Date: Wed Jun 11 13:19
Paul L (Cat Power):

Have seen Cat Power three times and yes Chan can be a bit of a pain live... The first time wasn't too bad as she had a backing band including Jim White from the Dirty Three and they seemed to keep her on track. Another time she spent most of the concert moaning that her amp was buzzing a bit (inaudible when she was playing), apologising that things sounded bad and changing the lyrics of her songs to complain about people in the audience getting up to go to the toilet, talking quietly or any slight sound in the room. She stormed off at one point saying 'there's going to be a fire everyone leave!' which might have been something to do with her playing in front of a film of Joan of Arc, but returned when an audience member reassured her that we wanted to hear more. The third time was at the Reading Festival where she was headlining on the Carling stage there was no hope for complete peace as I think someone like the Offspring were on the main stage... safe to say she stormed off after a few songs, never to return. The bad part is that when she does play it is amazing, making it all the more frustrating. Her new album is also magnificent, If I was there I'd probably go despite what I've just said. Could be good, will probably depend on how the audience behaves. Oh cheers to Frank for the info on the Johnny Cash song.

Date: Wed Jun 11 12:52
Simon Ford ((Cat Power)):

I like her records, but would never go to see her live again. She comes across as embarassingly shy.

Date: Wed Jun 11 12:44
peter (save your dough lars):

from what i heard about cat power / chan marshall, she puts on a lousy show and has a bad attitude on top of it. very high strung and nervous. this is based on what i read at tindersticks.co.uk. you could search the threads there if you need corroboration. so if its gonna hurt your wallet, you probably won't regret not going to her gig. i've never seen her myself. she can't be that bad, although the source is fairly reliable. maybe she should try some sessions with howe, like lisa and juliana did.

Date: Wed Jun 11 11:45
Graham (city, country, city):

"A Golden Record of Soingwriting Skill" should be the title of a forthcoming Official Bootleg disc. Is it true that Jim Fairchild got hit by a bus?

Date: Wed Jun 11 11:44
Lars (dilemma):

Cat Power is playing in a few hours here in Aarhus. I can't decide whether to go or not. Funds are VERY low. :-/ But...but...but....hhrrrrmmmm..... is it really that good live or is it just hype? / Lars

Date: Wed Jun 11 10:50
Blaine (@work w/o monkeypox):

The dreaded Zappa syndrome, eh? (maybe he was bit by a prairie dog?) Over the years people have tried to turn me on to various FZ records, but I'm flat turned off because even the music sounds cynical. While Howe's quality control radar may be at times be generous, he puts stuff out in a good spirit. He has maintained a wide-eyed approach. Which makes a huge diff, to my ears at least. And it should go w/o saying that if his/GS music was not good this board would have no reason to exist. Plus, not to slap us on the collective back too hard -- this group has a pretty good grasp on far-ranging music that matters.

Date: Wed Jun 11 07:04
Tommy Gailer (rambling-scroller):

Well, i think everybody could find something to criticize on every Giant Sand/Howe album (maybe except Chores/The Listener/Rock Opera)...but what does "not tryin`too hard" mean? That sounds like a kinda sports event to me.

Date: Wed Jun 11 07:01
louisiana (holmstone@hotmail.com):

I was drunk last night and that doesn´t apologize my stupid comment, but maybe that´s why I had that critic-tone. I´ll never release an album. I leave that to the maestros. "Glum" is the best g.s record in my book. It´s brilliant.

Date: Wed Jun 11 04:13
Lars (too many spare parts?):

I think I heard someone once talk about "The Frank Zappa Syndrome". :-) That is: "I know I'm talented and brilliant, so I'll just put simply everything I do out there and let people sort it out themselves." Which is what Prince has been doing for years. Hm, was is on this board or in a review that someone said, that they just burned their won cd-r-compilations of the best Howe stuff. Picking from the records as we go along. They are both good and bad things about putting out everything. And I can't decide which is more than the other. On the new Down Home "Spun" sounds VERY close to what it sounds elsewhere, I think, but then Bored L'il Devil is very different, so.... Hmmmm, I really like "Confluence", but I think it's a bit "uneven" (what's the word?). "Chore" just holds water all the way through. And "The Listener" as well. I guess Louisiana would like something an album that feels like "a complete work" (?!?) and not "random" pickings (which might be more true about the sea-shell releases than "The Listener" - which very much feels like a whole). Maybe it's a question of "trimming the lawn" before inviting guest for the BBQ) :-D I dunno really. Just rambling a bit on the postings. Sorry. / Lars

Date: Wed Jun 11 03:25
Teddy (RE: Louisana; critics usually are poor creators):

How do you know Howe hasn't tried too hard? And, Louisana, what exactly do you do that puts you on the map? When's your album coming out, I'd like to hear it so I'd know exactly what a someone who's really trying sounds like.

Date: Wed Jun 11 00:05
Conch (soingwriting?):

"Give us a golden record full of soingwriting skill now?" Uh...let's see...wouldn't that be THE LISTENER, my friend? Or perhaps you're thinking of something like CHORE OF ENCHANTMENT? Not too sure what you're going on about, especially when you consider the quantity and quality of Howe's output over the last three years--there's enough there for a lot of people to hang an entire career on. Or maybe you really do mean "soingwriting" instead of songwriting...and if that's the case I guess I agree with you. Not a whole lot of soingwriting on them discs, but plenty of fine songwriting.

Date: Tue Jun 10 22:39
louisana was built on a threshold (holmstone@hotmail.com):

I wonder why mr Gelb can´t make up his mind. A lot of the records (got em all actually, so don´t whine) got great songs, but I just don´t feel he´s trying too hard and that makes it kinda hard for the listener to pay the extra bucks the hard to find record costs.. Give us a golden record full of soingwriting skill now! We deserve that and most of all, you deserve that now! ps. by the way...arizona is way cooler in the winter...

Date: Tue Jun 10 21:59
Phill (delivery of goods):

I just recieved spare parts today. I love (available space)! and being a tom waits fan I like howes twist on his tribute. Howe thanks for making this stuff available. Phill

Date: Tue Jun 10 18:34
Big Brother (you will never win):

dear dear winston seams we might need a little chat about your 'recofiguremnent@

Date: Tue Jun 10 16:15
peter (paying $75 for lou reed licks):

tonight at town hall here in nyc. anybody here seen any of that howe rip-off's current tour gigs yet? i'm looking forward to it myself.

Date: Tue Jun 10 13:15
Frank C (Paul L/ Wo ist zuhause, Mama?/T. Monk):

Hi Paul, the German song is released on "The Man In Black - The International Johnny Cash", a cd compilation of the German record label "bear family" (www.bear-family.de). It´s a collection of German songs by J. Cash and German cover versions by the German Outlaw-wannabe Gunter Gabriel. More funny than good, I guess. And quite expensive. Maybe you´ll find it somewhere 2nd hand. good luck!// speaking of good luck: If anybody´s interested in the Thelonious Monk Boxset "Complete Riverside Recordings" (15 Cds): the German mailorder 2001 (www.zweitausendeins.de)sells it for stunning 25 Euros (but without booklet)!!! Usually, you can buy this nice little collection for about 180 to 300 Euros...

Date: Tue Jun 10 12:41
Winston Smith (**):

If there is hope, it lies with the Proles.

Date: Mon Jun 9 18:33
Lars (return to sander...):

Glad you liked it. It IS somewhat bizarre to hear Cash sing in German. Just as weird as when The Beatles did the same....although they seemed to get the pronounciation more right. Cash has more difficult lyrics, though. I always laugh a bit when I hear it. Must be a "rare curiousity" for collectors, I can imagine. :-) But hey, I'm most certainly no Cash-expert.....so I'll shut up now. / Lars

Date: Mon Jun 9 16:51
Paul L (Return to Sandman ):

Lars, the link was most helpful and the Sandman is back in the stereo at the moment. #7 is a great companion to the Listener, which has recently found a permanent home for itself in my head. Cheers for putting the CDs together is much appreciated. I'm very fond of a lot of the recent stuff (including as you mentioned Trace on #7), really nice and laid back. Does anyone knows where the Johnny Cash song played after Available Space is from? (is also on pedalless) will go on my to buy list as soon as find out. Oh and saw playing should always be encouraged, works well especially on Blood Orange on cd2.

Date: Mon Jun 9 13:37
Greg Haldane (gmhaldane@hotmail.com):

Howe, any plans to have a show in Tucson? Or do I have to travel to Europe?

Date: Mon Jun 9 08:46
Lars (shows in Aarhus):

I AM kinda hoping he'll do something in August at Voxhall, as it has been mentioned here earlier, I think - but that's all up to The Man and I guess Hans at Scavenger Records as well - as he usually sets up Howe's gigs in Aarhus. Well, I'm crossing my fingers anyway. ##### So Howe, are you "loving the rain" (and the thunder) here in Aarhus these days? Wet enough yet? (got a new song title for ya..."Cold"...no wait, you've already done that). :-) ##### Hey, Paul, isn't "Trace" on the new Sandman stunningly beautiful? / Lars

Date: Mon Jun 9 07:31
Gustav Tinghög (gusti110@student.liu.se):

Is Howe going to do any type of performance in Denmark this summer(Århus?)? Does anyone know? Cafe Mozart? since i live in southern sweden i thought a weekend trip would be a nice vaccation

Date: Mon Jun 9 03:37
Lars (to Paul L):

The big cover-files are still here: http://www.larsdideriksen.com/diverse/howe-sandman-covers.htm #### ....until Mike picks them up and puts them on this site. :-) And there are still a lot of Danish Howe-pictures here: http://www.larsdideriksen.com/personal/photos/photo-howe.htm ##### Glad you like the Sandman. Funny "Available Space" with the saw there, right? Enjoy / Lars

Date: Mon Jun 9 00:00
Phill ( Just back from a great concert !):

Just returned from seeing the great Joan Armatrading . What a show, Two and a half hours of all her old stuff and a few new ones. Got to meet her after the show and chat! Great venue 650 seats, sound was amazing.

Date: Sun Jun 8 19:05
finn (sirarthurstreebgreebling.com ):

What a week!!! just back from the Nick Cave gig in Hammersmith... He did Red Right Hand 3rd song in or so...Great, but in the circle so didn't get the intimacy I've experienced at sandy/howe venues!!!...Felt like a big corporate Queen gig!(Sorry Freddie and Nick... Dug both gigs...!) Much prefer the Piano only gig at the NFT when he did 'into my arms'...plus instrumentals to the film 'Passion of Joan of Arc'by Dreyer in '95... Prelude to the amazing 'The Boatmans call'album which, with G't Sands 'Cover Magazine' constituted my sound track of last year... oh and 'End of Amnesia' of course... I'm rambling, trying to watch Micky Ward's last fight against Arturo Gatti...

Date: Sun Jun 8 18:36
matt (some crazy prices):

i saw a sand album go for £36 on ebay about a month ago... can't remember what it was purge and slouch or storm maybe??? anyways i'd got it and wouldnt/couldnt spend anywhere near that much anyway!!

Date: Sun Jun 8 18:28
paulK (ebay goodies):

Lots of sandmen on ebay just now, Stromusfaul going for a ridiculous price but some guy's got 5 cds on offer going for about $7 at http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2536686404&category=1572

Date: Sun Jun 8 17:54
Paul L (ears healing):

Just in case there is any confusion my ears are 'bleeding' from my own efforts not Sandman 7!!!

Date: Sun Jun 8 17:37
Paul L (ears bleeding):

Hello, wondered if there is a link to any information about the most recent Sandman? Folks on my branch have been asking. Any pointers much appreciated seem to remember seeing a link somewhere... Great sandman by the way! On a similar note have just recorded a truly awful lo-fi scuzzed up version of Dirty from the Rain... might try again tomorrow.

Date: Sun Jun 8 04:38
SeanT (Sumday):

Sunday morning , plenty of fresh coffee on the hot plate and Rainer Live at the Performance Centre playing .It is truely one of the best albums ever released .

Date: Sat Jun 7 18:37
peter (alpaca lips now):

happy birthday rainer! just finished listening to alpaca lips. it's so good I'm gonna listen to it again. right after the belmont. Thanks!

Date: Sat Jun 7 11:07
SeanT (Meeting the famous etc):

One of the problems with meeting such likes , is that you think you know them through whatever it is they do , be that music , art , sport etc . And you don't ! Best thing to do is say hello and then leg it , unless you have something useful to give them , like new socks etc .

Date: Sat Jun 7 10:35
gs (nhjob b):

the reason you couldnt speak to mr chesnutt is that your all too woried about the ressesion and reme=ber with those big fingers that you are very concious of and keep thrusting deep into your pockets as if constantly apologising for british weather trasport of weed would make the sun shine. take it from me a consumate pro at meeting and greeting the rich and fa moose just juggle and dsont hide the fingers. people with fat fingers be proud even if you do live near ironbridge

Date: Sat Jun 7 05:53
howe ??? (home ? ......i suppose):

hi rainer. happy birthday. lots of love always.-h

Date: Sat Jun 7 02:31
innis (finn re:vic at union chapel):

I know what you mean...i asked vic to sign a CD for my daughter (the first song she used to sing along to was Replenished)but after that, my tongue was pretty tied! He's a real gent, though. I think it happens to all of us (Howe wrote a nice piece in Uncut a while back, about the time he met Dylan; amongst other things, he wrote "..what can I say to Dylan? What would be the point of conversation? Way too one-sided...") Meeting someone you admire is too loaded - you want to make it count.It's probably best to keep it short, and move on... Course, if you meet someone whose work you don't care about much, there's no problem!

Date: Sat Jun 7 02:11
Tommy Gailer (od`-kid-scroller):

Happy B-Day, Rainer! Today we wil barbieque in the backyard and the two friends who visit me love Rainer`s music too...so the best way for me to celebrate, is getin`the old gettoblaster down and bring his music to the BBQ, and drink one (or two) in his honour....thanks for the reminder right in time, Patti.########Sandman7: for all branches and trees of mine: i will write you on the weekend; had no time left yet, but will now, sorry.

Date: Fri Jun 6 14:37
james s (Re:):

thanks for the reminder, patti. I'll spin the Farm tomorrow and enjoy the man's music on his birthday. Mike, you reckon we'd better make the "dead line" for the sand fan thing the end of July, to give folks a chance to realize we're serious about this and get something worthwhile in? J, the difference between the idea and the reality is often an eye opener. We must not give up, though. Howe, in "Way to End the Day", do you say ..."as the blur bar begins to fade"???

Date: Fri Jun 6 14:17
SeanT (Rainer):

I play at least one Rainer track everyday . My only regret is that I never got to see him play. Still , I have all his cd's , thanks to Patti . So happy birthday Rainer and thanks . Sean

Date: Fri Jun 6 13:55
J (Happy birthday, or as happy as it can be:::):

James/Mike I spent 2 weeks without my family (They were in southern France) And I managed four or five horrible versions of Artists. Now I'm down there too I think I'll forget being clever clever and just sing it and play it one time into my hisser machine when I get home. Failing that I'll apply the same tecnique to 'Loving Cup' Early July works for me now.

Date: Fri Jun 6 13:21
Patti (K):

June 7th is Rainer's birthday. He'd be turning 52 this year had he lived. For the new kids on the block in here, Rainer was Howe's best friend on the planet and a master guitar player. Where is Howe? How's the jet lag? Double wammy jet lag. Happy birthday to Patsy too.

Date: Fri Jun 6 13:18
james s (sand fan):

i've done two horrible versions of "Way to End the Day" thus far. Starting fresh again this weekend. I thought this would be easier. I love all those unexpected chords and changes while listening, but covering... Whew. Hi, glue.

Date: Fri Jun 6 12:50
Todd (covering a Howe... ):

...so I'm curious to find out more about this idea of people/fans doing their fav Giant Sand/Howe tune...format? is the deadline for the end of July?...is this going to be a Sandman? or something different. Selected 'Cold', 'Can't Help Falling in Love', 'Hatch' and 'Shadow of Where a River Was' on the radio this morning...felt right.

Date: Fri Jun 6 10:09
finn (vic):

Vic at union chapel was very enjoyable experience...despite getting DRUNK! And why is it when one meets (well get a tour cd signed)a famous musician that the powers of communication cease on my part?

Date: Fri Jun 6 07:50
tom (finally internet on the working floor, and now i'm gonna quit 'cause i'm bored):

happy birthday anneke !! today's my brother's birthday, tomorrow my beloved ex turns 33. It's like a plot, i'm broke just by bying presents.. And Glue, where are you ?

Date: Fri Jun 6 03:26
mike (@sa-wa-ro.com):

gazelle.......... email above ^

Date: Thu Jun 5 19:25
laying low (love glue):

There is no plot to ignore you, sniffer. You are the light that occasionally shines forth from the darkest void. Heft up the corners of your frown into a smile, wayward drunken child.

Date: Thu Jun 5 19:05
gazelle (happy birthday!):

remember God danced on the day you were born ;OP okay, so here's the lowdown: i'm trying to see if built like alaska will record 'blue lit rope' with me. read more about them on http://urgentculture.com/jaime/ i'm not sure how to contact you mike, but i'll try to figure it out. i'm a very amateur computer user. anyone read _high tide in tucson?_ it's making me hungry for desert adventures....

Date: Thu Jun 5 11:45
an (strong_neck609@hotmail.com):

happy Talulah-B-day! I almost became 32 years and 364 days old. Glad to be 33 today! happy B-day for both of us, Talulah, and a happy day to your dad too!!! dada, anna

Date: Thu Jun 5 07:06
SeanT (Cover ):

Mike , I've enough interest to send in a song or 2 . Just let me know what you want , how etc and we'll get cracking . SeanT

Date: Thu Jun 5 07:06
SeanT (Cover ):

Mike , I've enough interest to send in a song or 2 . Just let me know what you want , how etc and we'll get cracking . SeanT

Date: Thu Jun 5 06:28
SeanT (Sand Cover):

Mike , I've just put the word out to my "gang" I'll let you know .What format do you want it on ? Tape , mp3 etc End of July may be a problem but if they say yes I'll try and kick then into gear .Now what song..........?

Date: Thu Jun 5 03:15
Lars (- the legendary):

DOH!

Date: Wed Jun 4 23:57
Blaine (@home):

James, I'll add the great non-singer Patti Smith (and Tom Verlane & Richard Hell) to the list. Lars, take a breath and dig in -- yr legend now preceeds you. FYI - interview w/Malcom Burn in TapeOp.

Date: Wed Jun 4 22:58
/Todd (Fancover...brokerage fee?):

Hi I've got someone up in Northern Alberta who does a Howe Gelb cover...he's one of the singers for Old Reliable...www.oldreliableband.com...so I'll tell him. Howdy Howe...back on the radio selecting www.cjsr.com...it's decent they have Giant Sand vinyl along w/ Ramp, Purge and Slouch and C-O-T-U on cd so that helps...the Canadian dollar has improved so that means I can go after some official bootlegs...upside dOWn hOMe 02...so the money transfer is about 20 Canadian dollars for one yes I would also buy the new live recording...'Friends of Dean Martinez' is playing the Calgary Folk Festival this year...perhaps you can come and play the Edmonton Festival next year or a show. I'm thinking of selecting Cold, Can't Help Falling in Love, Hatch and Shadow of Where a River Was...'Confluence' has to be one of my all time favorites along w/ 'Dreaded Brown Recluse'...they got so much to offer a listener...nice to have 'The Listener' around.

Date: Wed Jun 4 18:55
em (too much Jellybaby Fun):

I'm in, but what or how I know not. mmm....Dusted. probably. I wanna hear all yours.

Date: Wed Jun 4 18:48
james s (sand fan):

I'm way in, Mike. I should be able to get you something by the end of June. I email you my choice (when I make a decision).

Date: Wed Jun 4 18:40
Lars (fan-sando):

Well, haven't heard much from ya on the fan-thing here on the board, Mike. I'm currently trying to lure a friend of mine to do some piano (and maybe vocals). I'm pretty much set on "Rain Mixed With Parade" (jsut saw that Spare Parts contains a new versions - haven't heard that one). And yeah, put up a form to print out and send along with the cd to you. Y'know with things like: titel, artist/performers, recorded: [city, country, date], "why this song?". Could be cool to see where the contributors come from and maybe know why they did the track they did. Or is it just me with such weird ideas? ### Is the deadline very soon? Thought you'd give us a warning just a bit in advance. :-) Wolfy....industrial disco?!....THAT I gotta hear, dude! :-D I doubt you'll tingle the hairs on my neck the way M. Ward did with HIS "Wolfy", but let's see what happens. ;-) / Lars

Date: Wed Jun 4 18:31
buddha (ha ha):

ha ha ......... found me picture...... ouch...... cheers mike

Date: Wed Jun 4 18:29
mike ((last train to) sand fan-dango):

ok - so there's one song on the way.... thanks dave, 'scorcher'. what's happening with the others? i've only had a couple of mails so far..... blaine... ok, only one other then. what are you others doing? do i need to put up a form to let me know what you're doing?. em...... are you in? james s? lars? me ..... i'm doing 'wolfy'... industrial disco!!! seriously... mail me with your contributions.... lets get this train on the tracks..... in by end of june? july? how long do you need? as scout says....... let's go, let's go...

Date: Wed Jun 4 18:25
buddha (steve.left@virgin.net):

hey... so where is me picture you talk off.... so i finally made it to the comments page.... mike if ya out there, please e-mail me - hope ya well and groovey. back down to earth yet? oh yes, this is me the road buddha....

Date: Wed Jun 4 17:25
james s (Post script):

By the way, I feel like I'm being a bit of a board hog lately. I'm going to lay off for awhile and give somebody else a chance. Come on, people. Post. Keep me entertained! Adios.

Date: Wed Jun 4 17:22
james s (Re:innis):

I reckon most of the folks on my list are brilliant, and some of them are even good singers, just not in the mass-produced standard kind of way. Like Bob says in Don't Look Back, "I hit all those notes." But, ok, I'll scratch Vic, if you insist. I'll add Lou, for sure, and Dan Stuart and Jeffrey Lee Pierce and Kurt Wagner.... So many of the best! All with unusual voices that get better with each listen! Was it David Berman who said, "All of my favorite singers can't sing," or something like that? Anyway, I'm just trying to remove some of Lars' self-consciousness.

Date: Wed Jun 4 16:46
innis (vic):

.....saw him at the Union Chapel last night and he was bloody brilliant! I'm afraid I can't allow you to include him on yr list, James. Howe about Lou Reed.

Date: Wed Jun 4 15:31
james s (good bad singers):

A short and incomplete list of some of my favorite singers: Bob Dylan; Neil Young; Will Oldham (though he came out of the closet as a good singer on Master); er.. Howe Gelb (don't tell him I put him on this list); Dave Berman; I would put Daniel Johnson on the list, but he's too far into bad for even my tastes; did I say Bob Dylan?; Vic Chestnut; Townes Van Zant; etc... Be brave, Lars. Thanks for the comments, em and j. It means a bunch.

Date: Wed Jun 4 08:57
SeanT (Budda):

Ahhh , the penny has dropped . Hail The Budda

Date: Wed Jun 4 05:28
Guni (you're right, em, om):

It's the Giant Road Buddha himself, wonderful Steve Left!

Date: Wed Jun 4 04:19
SeanT (Em):

Em , excuse my ignorance , but who's the Lil' Budda ??

Date: Tue Jun 3 21:10
em (yes):

Aww, Lars you should definately sing!! No such thing as cant sing and can sing..I really can't stand my voice but it's just self-expression, no good or bad. Good and bad lyrics, yes. But not voice(I think). This all(all as in singing talk) reminds me, James, that I'm loving your c.d., by the way.

Date: Tue Jun 3 18:36
Shaun H. ('breasts & cocoa', as we say in the UK):

anyone out there on the East Coast [U.S.A.] caught Mary Prankster? fantastically entertaining. saw her along w/ Dick Dale in N.Y.C. the other night. and for all those Philly Eats tips (thanks!), in my hour or 2 there, i ended up w/ a cream cheese bagel and a cup of coffee at the junction of South Street and 6th. the complimentary fortune cookie suggested "Luck Is Coming Your Way". we'll see................

Date: Tue Jun 3 17:53
Lars (http://www.larsdideriksen.com/personal/photos/photo-howe.htm):

What do you mean I MUST sing?!?!?! What ARE you talking about?!?! :-) You and Em can do it....I on the other hand sound like a wounded albatros on it's way in for a crashlanding. Well, I can't hit the notes right. And I'm kinda shy, so I don't sing very loud....and that just makes it even more difficult to hit the right notes. Maybe I should just lower down my mic from my second floor window to the mosque in the first floor during prayer time. It's sounds pretty neat sometimes. Reminds me of my two trips to Turkey anyway. :-) Hm, this sounds like a midnight rambling coming on....better stop. :-) Greets! / Lars

Date: Tue Jun 3 16:54
james s (Re:::):

No, Blaine, thank you, for I took advantage of your unintended segue first. Nothing wrong with an occasion and subtle propagating of oneself. Wait, I mean propagandizing oneself. Whew. Thanks for the Aimless Blade info. Lars, you MUST sing. Please. I haven't heard anything from my branch concerning the new Sandman release yet.

Date: Tue Jun 3 16:33
Lars (that cover thang):

Gee, the guitar I did (for my cover-attempt) sounds like a real "apprentice stoop strumming away in the bedroom". Not too good. I've been playing for some years by now. Hrmmm.... Anyway, I wish I could do something different with it. So it just wasn't guitar. Hm, and the vocals....don't know about them either yet. I can't sing. Maybe I'll do an instrumental version. :-) ##### Has the new Sandman (Sonisk Postkort) made some way through the tree yet? I must admit I'm a bit curious what people think about it. :-) / Lars

Date: Tue Jun 3 16:05
Blaine (@work):

...thanks for the unintentional segue James -- we have a few non-cringers up at aimlessblades.com on the sounds page if anyone is interested, plus a mileosof music link, I think. Last I heard we were shooting for Bible Black for the cd project. PS-Is naming the new guy/mascot up there gonna be a contest?

Date: Tue Jun 3 14:06
em (om):

LIL' BUDDHA, OF COURSE!!! I have too much time on my hands.

Date: Tue Jun 3 13:45
SeanT (Er ?):

Who's the guy on the front page then ?

Date: Tue Jun 3 12:35
matt (laden with sand):

thanks ow om, just recieved a nice package and some good goodys, only ordered a week or so ago. lookin forward to some sonic pleasures!!

Date: Tue Jun 3 11:36
james s (songs (speaking of which, I have two new ones up as Mp3s at www.jamesscarbrough.com/sounds):

I too am not beyond a severe cringe at past musical incarnations. Hell, I once apparently thought it was a good idea to write and even sing like Robert Smith of the Cure, and I'm a hick from East Tennessee. In retrospect, it wasn't my finest moment. But, at the time, I thought it was. Others seemed to think so too. So, I try to be kind to my previous selves in the hope that my future selves will be kind to me now. The "yearbook" approach to music appreciation isn't the best, for sure, but

Date: Mon Jun 2 23:46
Blaine (@home):

RE: songs -- well the good and the bad are def part of the whole mix. We've almost always worked from the "keep the msitakkes in" way of life. When I hear/play the old stuff somtimes it takes me back in a whiplash to where the damn pup sprung from (for better or worse). Other times I think of long gone gtrs. But I'm gonna reserve my right to cringe when I hear stuff that is immature or too damn derivative. But you keep moving and shedding yr skin. Yearbooks and photo albums are nice, but a lot of time seems like your are looking at another version of you. Any thoughts James & Howe?

Date: Mon Jun 2 18:34
PaulK (Thanks to Oink and Spoink):

Received Down Home and Spare parts today, listening to Parts at the moment, wonderful stuff, Tom Waits cover is excellent and rain mixed with parade is so sublime. Soon I'll spin Downhome with it's attendant Spun, Spin and trace, if reports are requested I'll get back on this...............Spuuuuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnnnnn, nice

Date: Mon Jun 2 18:23
to OW OM (from James Scarbrough):

I sent you a check for $13 back on May 9 for Upsidedownhome 2002. I haven't gotten the CD and the check hasn't cleared my bank. Could you let me know if you received it, so I can decide what I need to do from here???? Thanks!

Date: Mon Jun 2 14:46
Guni (Dear Mitch):

I wish you a good start at your new place, take care in the big city and don't forget to drop a line every once in a while on this sandy board!

Date: Mon Jun 2 14:36
james s (a little more):

I should go on and say that I prefer records of all keepers, that neither Purge and Slouch nor Sandinista are my favorite records from those artists, but that, when you look at it in a certain way, they have have their value for being released as they were recorded as a kind of spontanious song-making experience and I'm turned on by that and that's what I've been up to lately, for better or worse.

Date: Mon Jun 2 14:26
e (mlah ignoring work):

Was it not this Rolling Stone slam that first coined the phrase 'Drunken Bees'??? Is that where it came from??? Hmm.. Interesting

Date: Mon Jun 2 14:19
Archivist (.......):

Hey Mitch, Please Do!

Date: Mon Jun 2 14:13
james s (eggs and keepers):

I can't let myself be too worried about future embarrassment when writing or recording songs. I'm something of a diary keeper, and it's the same with my music (which I've been doing for more than 20 years no, with little improvement, perhaps even with a bit of de-evolution). I look back on old mistakes with fondness, because it's like a document of where I was at that time, like a diary. It's like Joe Strummer said about Sandinista (as I loosely quote): "It might have been better as a double album, or one album, or an EP, but there it is, the document." Howe, too, has been criticized for "releasing every demo". Rolling Stone, If I'm not mistaken, beat up on Purge and Slouch, but there it is, the document! With all it's moments of success and failure, eggs and keepers.

Date: Mon Jun 2 13:42
Lars (www.supertanker.tk):

Good point there, James. :-) Still....I wonder when ones output reaches a level that will not embarras one TOO much years later. :-) Funnily enough, I find myself listening more and more to the SOUND of the words as well now - after getting into Howe's stuff. Neat. :-) Maybe the "dimlit dime deity and the tried and true trim trinity" struck a nerve somewhere in Lars' cerebral cortex, ha-ha. / Lars

Date: Mon Jun 2 13:23
james s ((non)songs):

I've grown fond of the eggs. It seems the harder I try to get a "keeper", the more I feel blocked and discouraged. Besides, one person's egg is another person's keeper. Sometimes.

Date: Mon Jun 2 13:12
em (the like):

For suuuuuuuuuuure, Lars. For sure. But perhaps that means that we all are getting slightly better in a very small way minute by minute. Hey! Maybe I didn't notice it before or maybe it is new...The little face icon on the address strip?? It amuses me.

Date: Mon Jun 2 12:40
Blaine (@work):

Lars re: songs -- as the years get by, I find the ratio is about ten eggs per keeper. There used to be more keepers, but in hindsight they were a lot more hot air.

Date: Mon Jun 2 12:29
Lars (eh, Gary?!?!?):

I do seriously not see anything very lyrical in what I write here. Whaddya mean??? And what I have written "more artisticly" over the years makes me cringe, when I look at it now. And what I wrote in the last month will probably make me cringe too in a few years. :-) Any REAL songwriters (or the like) here have the same experiences? / Lars

Date: Mon Jun 2 11:47
gary glue (dear lars):

i will pay you to start writing poems

Date: Mon Jun 2 08:37
SeanT (J...B):

Just buy them all . SeanT

Date: Mon Jun 2 07:57
Lars (ehh?):

Whoops. Did I read your post wrong? You already got it? Oh well, I'm curious about the intro to track 6. Any thoughts on that? / Lars

Date: Mon Jun 2 07:55
Lars (Down Home 2002):

Well, "Spun" seems to sound like it usually does (right?). "Spin" is a cool and quirky instrumental jazzy/cabaret-ish type-a-thing with muffled trumped and all. And ehm, is "Getting It Made" not a version of "Hard On Things" or sumthin'?! ("Must have been hard last life..."). It sounds like an Aarhus-session thing because the percussion and drums are similar. Nice one. I was particular looking forward to "Trace". What a lovely track. Has the "sound" of the three first Listener-tracks. It's also on the new Sandman in a very nice (and longer) version. "Suite: Arizona" is 8 minutes long with different sections. 'Lounge mellow grooves' that move into noisy guitars later on. AM I THE ONLY ONE thinking that the beginning of "Belly Of Fire" is really cool? It totally changes after a few seconds. Would have loved to see where that intro was going if not into the track that's on the disc. "Bored Lil' Devil" is very different from the faster live version that Howe has done recently. Laid back and with a bit of percussion. Very nice. "Petey's Lid" has got some funny lyrics. Mellow too, but has some rather party-harty old jazz cd blended into it. :-) "Ogle Goggle" and "Wester Front" are two small piano pieces á la Lull. "Motion Detecter" is a another great piano-and-voice-track (8 minutes long). "Caster's Pet" is in the same style although a more lo-fi sound. "Tracing" is piano instrumental with full band. Nice and noisy. :-) I took me a few listens to tell some of the tracks apart. And yeah, they seem like "spare parts". But (as with Down Home 2000) it just grows on me. Which is a gooood, warm feeling. Hope this long rambling was helpful is some way or other. Summer greets from Aarhus! / Lars

Date: Mon Jun 2 04:32
J...B (down home 2002):

Hi, was just wondering if anyone had any comments or thoughts on the latest batch of Down Homes/Bootleg series? I'm especially curious about Down Home 2002? Thanks in advance.

Date: Mon Jun 2 02:20
Conch (uh huh):

Take care, M.C. Your hair piece will be sorely missed. Brazed tofu? You bet.

Date: Sun Jun 1 23:50
Mitch (James S):

Thanks for that, James. Oh, man, that Patti is such a sweet one. Her and her beau (pedel-steel wunderkind Paul) are just too kind for words. Yep, I'm leaving my beloved Tucson by June 11 or so, heading for the fringes of Los Angeles--where I'm likely to flounder within the San Gabriel Valley. Big move for me, big changes ahead...so we'll see how it goes. I've got this incredible surrogate family here in the Old Pueblo--and to say more would make me sound like a name-dropping fool. But I love 'em all bunches, so I imagine the pull back will be mighty strong. In any case, as Patch Gelb said, "You'll be back...they always come back." I hope she's right. Not that I'll be missed all that much here in Sandland, 'cuz it's always Tucson in here...well, it's always Sandland, anyway. Hey, Jim Blackwood...I'm hoping to see you and Celia before I take off...so I'll be in touch soon via the usual route.

Date: Sun Jun 1 18:51
a few from glue (evaisvie men of new hampsihre):

what the hell is going on you sorry pickled girkin freatuless free magazine with a cd bums? I mean its all over for you all go home and rot in your single serving srinkworped mopehead eye shade hole dogs. I herad that neil young beach thing complete shite and the dennis wilson album complete shit what you want is a good bit of slade the nothing engine and the stutterkicks all quailty. end transmison. ps i am aware of the plot to ignor me

Date: Sun Jun 1 18:39
Lars (still here):

Gee, you even notice when I'm NOT typing? How embarrasing. :-) Well, I've got a friend visting for the Spot 09 Festival in Aarhus right now. I have to be a good host. Saw Under Byen perform Thursday (introduced by David Fricke, who hung around diggin' the festival). And last night both St. Thomas and Marie Frank played. And Howe was there checking things out (he didn't perform with them, though). And I bumped into Howe at the bar....literally (sorry, Howe, didn't see you. I'll try an watch my step in future). :-) The weather is getting damn hot here (but not near anything like Arizona, I would suspect, he-he). By the way, Cat Power is playing Voxhall on the 11th of June, Howe. Is that something you like? Greets y'all! / Lars

Date: Sun Jun 1 18:24
spite sprite (somebody):

fix Lars' typin' hand????

Date: Sun Jun 1 17:56
james s (Re:Mitch):

Mitch, I was talking with Patti from "Spiritual Family Reunion" the other night and your name came up pretty quickly. I told her about your planned move. She says, "You mean he's leaving his beloved Tucson? Noooo."

Date: Sun Jun 1 17:51
peter (neil young):

i heard about that stuff coming out for years and can't believe it's finally happening. fantastic!

Date: Sun Jun 1 16:54
johnny yen (on the beach):

Hey, it looks like On The Beach, Am. Stars & Bars, and the other neil albums are finally coming out on cd on june 24th. Am I the only one who didn't know about this?

Date: Sat May 31 17:42
Mitch (almost not in tucson anymore):

Just checkin' in to ask: what's wentin' on?

Date: Sat May 31 11:37
J (Phew, pretty hot in the UK):

Got to finish my cover version, must not lay in the sun drinking beer, must not lay in the sun drinking beer, must not lay in the sun drinking beer. Nice disc, James S, thanks a lot. Hello to little j and b if they drop by...

Date: Fri May 30 19:27
Greg Haldane (gmhaldane@hotmail.com):

Rain. Yum.

Date: Fri May 30 18:56
tio (queso ):

We.... the Burtches... would like to give a happy HELLO to HOWE!!!

Date: Fri May 30 11:19
james s (nashville friday night):

not that anyone here really has reason to be interested, but I have to share my joy... good night for music tonight in Nashvegas, for anyone close enough: early show at Douglas Corner by Tom House (if you don't know him, he's terrific, you can get a sample at http://www.catamountco.com), then a couple of sets at the Family Wash (never a cover!) by Paul Birch, who is not only an important part of the Lambchop orchestra, but has put out a few great country music records of his own, and then... David Berman (Silver Jews) is Master of Ceremonies at a show of many acts at some new room behind a strip joint on 8th that starts at 1 and goes until 8 AM. Whew. I better brew plenty of coffee. Have a good weekend, ye fellow Sandinistas! Let's get some action on this board.

Date: Thu May 29 21:46
dave (and furthermore):

and Petey's Lid sounds like the White Album...Wo ist Petey? An den see...That's the only German I can recollect from freshman year other than the obvious. I wish I knew more.

Date: Thu May 29 09:52
rroberrta (:+)):

hab ich dich meine adresse richtig gegeben?vielleicht hab ich vergessen C/O SCHULZ - -sooo - - danks again! - - mountains of love

Date: Wed May 28 18:26
dave (Fabs):

I agree wholeheartedly about the Beatles Anthology. I missed it too when it aired, but checked it out in installments from the local library a couple years ago. I watched about one hour a week, which was perfect by the way, because I think the critics that panned it must have watched it end to end, which would be a little too much. But it was so nice to watch a music documentary that had songs played IN THEIR ENTIRETY, which is why I am looking forward to the DVD where you can skip around to different performances and avoid the interviews. As a gearhead, its also fascinating to see the guitars George uses on different songs. I was also struck by what an incredible ensemble they were live in the early footage...to sing like that with no monitors...amazing. I would recommend Vol 3 of the Anthology Cd series which has a lot of demo versions of White Album and Abbey Road songs...I was always more of a Stones fan, but the Anthology documentary and the demos really hooked me.

Date: Wed May 28 13:02
james s (speaking of bands not Giant Sand, and of Dr Robert...):

I, having no television, missed the Beatles Anthology when it aired some time ago, but M and I have been watching the DVDs on her computer. They are pretty amazing. At times, it seems a little too unabridged, but there is so much great footage and many good interviews. Too bad there was no John to provide interviews at the time the project was done... Still, it was nice to see the other three sitting around together throwing out reminiscences...

Date: Wed May 28 12:36
stefan (((munich))):

Triestino? Is that you, Dr. Robert???

Date: Wed May 28 09:35
alan ("slender"change an "e" to an "o" -- already executed -- and add a "p"):

rampant miss speling (tori?) on the page... "SPLENDOR" not "slendor"... philly food will not leave you slender

Date: Wed May 28 08:16
alan (swarthmore made me book smart, more political, taught me to play Ultimate, and put me out over the radio waves, but even more neurotic ):

In re: the earlier discussion of food in Philadelphia, here's a review from the new york times... http://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/28/dining/28PHIL.html?8ihah the review refers to "calorific and sloppy slendor".... (Swarthmore College is a small Quaker-founded liberal arts school just south of Philly)

Date: Wed May 28 06:14
Triestino (Re: rroberrta):

Promesso!

Date: Wed May 28 02:37
Tommy Gailer (zep-scroller):

Paul, hopefully i get the Zep Live soon for a good prize...lets see. "The song remains the same" was my first Led Zep album ever.

Date: Tue May 27 22:11
rroberrta (it´s 4 o´clock in the morning and la la la):

hey triestinoo! grazie di avermi consigliato vic chestnut:trovato un cd dove mi soono innamorata di blight(vers elettrica dub)in particolare- hei, delle incisioni live mi copieresti anche amburgo? troppo bello e bello é dire poco. ma davvero me li copi?grazie graziee

Date: Tue May 27 19:09
J (Anne, Frankly):

Hey PaulK, long time no see. Down in aywhere they'll get the message... To war on the board If you've seen the news cutting of (Sir) Cliff pasted in that girls' hiding place then you'll curb your spite sir/madam.

Date: Tue May 27 18:35
Paulk (Misty Mountains):

Tommy, I bought the 3 disc Led Zep today and it is mighty powerful, much better than The Song remains the Same. I saw them in Glasgow around 71 and listening to them today for the first time in yonks brought back many memories of my teeage years.Robert Plant's last album was quite good also, maybe Howe should nudge towards them and way from Sabbath! Awaiting the Down Home and Spare Parts CDs, salivating at the prospect.

Date: Tue May 27 18:28
yeah lets relive events of the second world war (on this board):

you tastefull overeducated arses just keep the money rolling in and dont worry i hate you all

Date: Tue May 27 18:06
...... (.......):

marie frank........... she's in the attic!!!

Date: Tue May 27 16:29
SeanT (The Lyric):

Don't know if anyone else found the Lyric odd . Bland 60's style building outside , lifts up to the bar etc , then beautiful old style theatre inside ? Wierd . Not in the best part of London . Just booked Sparklehorse tickets , Sat 12th July , supporting Beth Gibbons + Rustic Man @ Somerset House London, he's also playing Mancester and Portsmouth .

Date: Tue May 27 15:56
talullah (for howe home about howe away):

howe, saw you in london and couldn't fault a magical night in a beautiful setting. you loved the chandelier.. it certainly cast a special light on proceedings. now i have a copy of the new upside down home and find it has some truly amazing tracks on it to rival its counterparts on 'the listener'... 'getting it made' and 'petey's lid' are right up there. also been listening to 'spare parts' and wonder when those tracks were made..

Date: Tue May 27 13:50
SeanT (Lars , Howe v WW2 heroine.):

Spelling duff , due to boss wondering what on earth Giant Sand is ! Tried to convince her to buy Upside Down Home to no avail . Still , Howe with Anne Frank as back up..... Couldn't even get OW OM right , hangs head in shame. I'll get me coat . SeanT

Date: Tue May 27 12:01
james s (i like trotski a lotski):

Lars, good one (on the name mix up). hey, ow om, you get my check? i don't know if i can stand to wait much longer for my upsidedOWn hOMe 2002!

Date: Tue May 27 10:16
Lars (namely):

The Diary of Marie Frank. :-)

Date: Tue May 27 06:08
Rene (webmaster@buxfix.de):

Hello Howe, thanx for that wonderful and fantastic evening with the listener played 1:1 (but only 2 hours long ;-)) and the other old & new stuff. that was a very special evening and your band fits perfect... hope you liked the m.ward-cd!!!

Date: Tue May 27 05:21
SeanT (Howe):

Howe , thought the London show was one of the best , the Anne Frank backup was perfect . Slide mandolin ! Wonderful . Thanks for taking time out to speak to me and The Sniffer . Wading my way through the new OWWM releases this morning .How many records are you putting out this year ?? Are you trying to catch up with Robert Pollard. SeanT

Date: Tue May 27 04:13
Lars (Sampling without a sampler :-) ):

Gee, I didn't realize that "B 4 U (Do Do Do)" was a rewriting of Bill Withers' "Lean On me".....until Howe played the song on cd at that Munich gig. :-) (http://www.ugcs.caltech.edu/~harel/cgi/page/htmlit?Lean_On_Me.html). I guess I'm too young to make those connections right away. Maybe I have to wait til 2030 when I can "you know son, that there is not a new song, that's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" with a band called....uh, Narvina...". :-) / Lars

Date: Tue May 27 03:35
Lars (Sweet Home Neil Young + lyrics help):

Seems Howe's remembering a lot these days. :-) Even "Sweet Home Alabama" (damn, I really laughed when hearing the Munich recording - "Sweet Home Neil Young"). ### HEY, HOWE, remember "Faithful" and "Frontage Road"? ...wink wink nudge nudge knowhutimean? :-D Good to hear that the gigs are super there in Germany. ### OH, I NEED A LITTLE HELP....two lines from "Rain Mixed With Parade" of Down Home 2000: "Any less you can bour/bore/boar"??? (later it says "Any less now you get bored"), but it sounds a bit different the first time around. I'm wondering. And then there's something that sounds like "Made off with boot smell (...we just want the truth now")....but that doesn't make sense to me. Yes, I KNOW they're Howe-lyrics, ha-ha, but still. :-) Any help for li'l me? Thanks. / Lars

Date: Mon May 26 20:17
Frank C (Howe in Frankfurt, GER):

Here´s another report for the concert files: Saw Howe again in Frankfurt (on Saturday). Took my brother with me who doesn´t know anything of Howe´s work. He liked it but asked me after the show why Howe never finishes the songs he´s playing but starts new ones or cds instead at some point :-). The show was quite different from my first experience in Heidelberg which was more like a solo performance. Now the Danish band was on stage during the whole gig and – most important - they actually PLAYED with him during the whole evening. Seems the chemistry is right now and there´s a good understanding of each other. Beautiful piano playing that evening! Stunning version of „no reply“ as an encore (as asked from someone in the audience). Though there were some odd feedback noises and bored little devils which cut Howe´s guitar strings during BMG it was a very enjoyable show. THX again! We Germans are really lucky that Howe plays so many shows in this area. By the way, tonight I saw Evan Dando playing in Frankfurt, too. He was in very good shape and seemed to enjoy the show - even dived from the stage into the surprised first row! (heard some rumours about the Berlin gig where he stopped playing very early because he was depressed or the crowd was too noisy or whatever...). The set was divided in a solo and a full band part. Both very enjoyable, many songs of his new album. Kinda short appearance, though – about 70 minutes.

Date: Mon May 26 19:41
glue sniffer (living room change around):

and you still owe me a pint back in a minute my arse

Date: Mon May 26 19:07
howe (home):

seemed to me like the best tour ever. just kept getting better. kept remembering so many old songs...and that never happens... plus, so many new songs too....and for the first time ever...we managed to play the entire current record at hand ...being 'the listener' ...which kind of cracked me up the last couple of nights....just wished london gig would have been at the end of the tour when we were way hotter. sigh. but thanks for all the fine company. now it's time for the 2 step tucson turn-around. =howe

Date: Mon May 26 14:13
tom (mexicanshark@hotmail.com):

yo la tengo and calexico 14th july ,london.......BRING it on....call me sand.

Date: Mon May 26 14:11
tom (mexicanshark@hotmail.com):

yo la tengo and calexico 14th july ,london.......BRING it on....call me sand.

Date: Mon May 26 10:22
J (I'm setting up a mike...):

'Artists' I see Howe played it live lately.

Date: Mon May 26 06:06
Lars (sorry):

Whoops, I hope I didn't offend anyone! (Alanis = Canadian irony?). :-D ##### And Jen, no it's not Dark Water. It's this one: http://www.fjmovie.com/horror/t2/94.html ----- But I guess I'll just have to make do with the VCD. And try to get Hero uncut if it arrives at some point. ##### Still a bit curious about what "fan covers" people are thinking of making. Anyone? / Lars

Date: Mon May 26 05:51
J....B (for Lars):

The Alanis Morrisette form of irony, I think.

Date: Mon May 26 05:46
I-Jen (Kokkuri):

Lars, if the Kokkuri you mention is also Dark Water (aka Honogurai mizu no soko kara) then you can find info on the Japanese DVD version here (it's also available somewhere on a cheaper Hong Kong DVD that might have other subtitles than Japanese): http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=VPBT-15105

Date: Mon May 26 04:32
Lars (on this and that):

Hey, Conch, it's not my forum. :-D Sorry about my "Those Americans"-comment. It was a bit ironic, y'know. Still I always get bothered when "money talks". Miramax have gone the wrong way now. Oh well. #### Hey, I-Jen Chang, that sound kinda weird that it should be the long one (do you have an exact link?). I only have one VCD and the quality is not very good. I was looking for the japanese horror flick "Kokkuri" for years and then found it on eBay. Great to finally have it. But it would be great to have on DVD in better quality, because the movie is a visual stunner. ##### NO WORD ON MULTIPLE APPEARANCES OF "RAIN MIXED WITH PARADE"? Okay then, I'll it my way with no worries. ;-) / Lars

Date: Mon May 26 04:13
I-Jen Chang (Hero):

My personal understanding is that the HERO [2002] [HK 2-DISC SET] is the uncut version even though it is listed as the 98-minute version. You can also find the uncut version on VCD. Internet Movie Database isn't always very reliable I've found.

Date: Mon May 26 04:06
Conch (hur-umph):

No no, Lars, don't wanna rain on your parade. Keep your day job...I'm handing the giantsand.com forum back to you. Run wit it fella...run...

Date: Mon May 26 03:27
Lars (IMDBeeping):

You're doing all the work here, Conch! I'll take a day off then. :-) Thanks for the link. The word (on IMDB) has it that whoever says they're selling the uncut version is lying in order to sell more. Well, your site still says "Running Time: 98 min.", which is the general European release. Americans get an extra few minutes cut out as far as I remember. I guess they might wanna sell the cut version first and then the uncut version. Y'know selling the same thing twice real Lord Of The Rings-style. Doesn't make sense to cut a film 20 minutes shorter if it's just two hours long to begin with. Best not buy it just yet. :-) / Lars

Date: Mon May 26 02:42
Conch (puzzling it together...):

Internet Movie Database...ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh...okay, it's kinda makin' sense now. And apparently Lars was referring to Miramax butchering Zhang Yimou's "Hero"? Is that what it's all about? For those interested, you can find Hong Kong DVD copies of "Hero" intact and complete at www.dvdasian.com. Or am I missing the point altogether. Well, you know...us Americans! :)

Date: Mon May 26 02:16
Tommy Gailer (scrolling-for-conch):

It`s IMDb: (http://us.imdb.com/Find)

Date: Sun May 25 23:35
Conch (Oh, right, I see...):

It's IMDB. My mistake. But what is it anyway. Into Motion Dim Bulb?

Date: Sun May 25 23:34
Conch (tuck it under your belt):

Now now, Lars, confusing Hollywood for Americans is somewhat like confusing Al Queda with the general population of Afghanistan...same country, different worlds. :) And what is IMBD anyway? In My Big Durango? I Might Be Ducking? It's Mighty Beautiful, Dwayne? Innis Meets Bo Diddley? I can't figure it out. Let me know so I can avoid it like the plauge.

Date: Sun May 25 21:48
christine (to Brewer):

Welcome back home Mike!!!! Was so nice seeing you in nature pure down there. hope the dic gave you some. I'll get in touch with you 'couse of the dec.2000 show soon. thx a lot for the game, c

Date: Sun May 25 19:30
J (since it's quiet):

Everyone say helo to little j and little b, cos they're down in anywhere and it is raining.

Date: Sun May 25 14:33
Lars (a sidestep to filmland on the board, ha-ha):

Well, since my last post I've been reading on IMDB. Seems Miramax have butchered the film. That is: cut something like 20 minutes from it. Those Americans! :-/ Still a feast for they eye, though. It just makes me mad to know that I've missed out on something (yeah, bollocks to character development - just leave in the action!). Oh, well... / Lars

Date: Sun May 25 14:15
Tommy Gailer (scrollingforcinema):

Lars, thanks for posting, i am a film geek and hopefuly can see that "Hero" soon. I have the "Crouching tiger..." on DVD and watched it several times.

Date: Sun May 25 13:58
Lars (completely sand-unrelated):

Just back from the cinema. Saw the chinese flick "Hero" (http://us.imdb.com/Title?0299977). While it might now have the characters of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" it certainly is an absolute beauty to behold. Imagine a 100 minute version perfume tv-ad. Y'know, the perfect colours and etheral presence. I just had to say, that I've been blown away. My eyes haven't been so happy in years. Check it out (Miramax is the distributor). / Lars

Date: Sun May 25 13:52
/todd (Giant Songs on board):

Any dates for summertime '03 shows?...'The Listener' was at #10 on cjsr (charts).

Date: Sun May 25 13:37
Big 'Ol J (yup):

!

Date: Sun May 25 13:33
small (!):

oops, I was a bit open with the email there

Date: Sun May 25 13:32
smallj (janemorton@fastmail.fm):

s of france is cloudy today. hope you are recording without us J xxx

Date: Sun May 25 13:05
J (again):

seems I keep odd hours...

Date: Sun May 25 01:02
the cheese who ruled the world ((aka... tio queso)(aka... the drummer from grandaddy's kid)):

Hey Howe. Did I ever give you that picture of your name in japanese with a guitar? It was something like that.

Date: Sat May 24 17:12
J (Oh lonesome me):

Little j checking her sandmail down in anywhere?

Date: Sat May 24 15:49
Lars (weekending):

Very quiet here. Everyone must be out on the weekend then...? Well, just a quick question then: is "Rain Mixed With Parade" on any other release than "Down Home 2000"? Currently playing around with a cover of that one - in a faster version than on D.H. - so I wondered if had been done before (on record at least). Oh, and I'm very curious to hear about the Berlin-gig. Did anyone here attend? / Lars

Date: Fri May 23 20:43
J (james s y'know):

eagerly awaiting your disc by the way.

Date: Fri May 23 20:41
J (foolish madness):

Sniffa, glad to hear you had a good night. I once introduced Howe, whilst p....d to my friends and later embarrassed myself in the car park opposite the mean fiddler, in front of support band 'God's eye'. That was the Fruit child large show? Hello and big love to little j and little b, among others. PS Howe and myself were both younger and longer of lock. It was so long ago.

Date: Fri May 23 18:14
james s (zepp(l)in' for Scroller):

if there's a bustle in your hedge row? My 13 yr old favorite was Black Sabbath, but I did find the cover art for Houses of the Holy to be very interesting. I found the cover art to Presence to be perplexing.

Date: Fri May 23 15:26
Tommy Gailer (zep-scroller):

I know that these news are completely off of the forum`s con(z)ept, but i am a Zep fan since i am 13 or so and just read on amazon.com that there wil not only be a new live-3-cd-set...they release a double-dvd with loads of live footage too! That made my mind. Long live Jimmy Page!

Date: Fri May 23 14:28
inquiring minds want to know (Hey(trey)- Where's my scroatbelly???):

love, Emily

Date: Fri May 23 14:13
glue sniffer (for matt):

dont worry my son when i bumbed into howe on the stairs i just mangaed shake hands mine were wet and then tell him i had justbeen to the toilet and not washed them then as the fool i am i said 'bars open' and left cant quite be sure but weeks later this is my memoery

Date: Fri May 23 12:41
Graham (.):

"Hatch"! Check out "Hatch" on "Too Many Spare Parts". No words do it justice.

Date: Fri May 23 12:25
peter (ahh):

corridor is giant sand's dark star.

Date: Fri May 23 12:08
peter ((mucchio gracias!)):

sounds like i'm in for a good weekend. too many spare parts is finally close at hand, along with down home 2002 and infiltration. checking out sunshine of your love right now. nice oyster shell packs too in blue black and red. keep em coming!

Date: Fri May 23 10:05
Lars (gettin' the Danish goods):

Well, I guess live-boots like the one I send along might spread soon? Anyway, they're available for swapping with folks much like Howe-boots, I guess (although in lesser quantities, of course). :-) As for the actual albums, you might want to scroll down here and find Hans from Scavenger Records. I think I recall him saying that he would help anyone interested in Marie Frank and Under Byen. I think there are plans for Under Byen to be distributed through www.theorchard.com at some point, but it hasn't happend yet. But let's see what happens when they play for a lot of record company folks from the USA and Germany (and...?) next Thursday in Aarhus. Could be cool if they got a deal of some kind in the US (which again maybe could lead to them playing in the US?! Who knows?). Anyway, as I've said before, UB's two albums are sure worth checking out. Stunning tones there. One of the few online shops (besides Hans) selling their cds outside Europe would be www.rillen.dk (rillen@rillen.dk). Have a nice day, folks! (How are the covers coming along?) / Lars

Date: Fri May 23 09:04
dave ((((():

Excellent sound on the Tweedy shows and some fine moments in each show. Thank you so much again!!!That was a great surprise with the Under Byen, since they are unavailable over here.

Date: Fri May 23 08:26
Lars (www.supertanker.tk):

Glad you liked the stuff, Dave (not much Listener-ish? Well, maybe a tad). Is 6 x Tweedy treating you well as well? / Lars

Date: Fri May 23 02:38
Tommy Gailer (scrolling for Matt):

That`s a nice shot of Howe and yourself. My experience is the same: always when i get the chance to talk to my fave musician, i am somehow nervous and no words come to my mind...when i am back home, i remember tons of stuff i wanted to say or to ask. Must be the big respect.

Date: Thu May 22 22:14
dave (a night at the rock opera years):

how did i go without the Rock Opera Years all this time? I got it about a week ago. Chore of Enchantment's evil twin. I'd heard the version of Hard on Things on the Bloodshot Records compilation and Music Arcade on Sel. 1990-2000, but this is like having a live version of Chore. Excellent. Makes me look forward to spare parts or whatever, because i think that Gelb, Burns, Convertino thing is a happening thing...........g. If you don't have Rock Opera Years and you are new to this thang (and liked Chore) Buy it..also, Lars dude, Under Byen sounds great in this beautiful spring weather we are having. Very, very cool. Amen.

Date: Thu May 22 13:55
matt (Ernesto Guevara):

ahhh, i must admit i'm an avid collector of Che, errr, 'memrobilia' (tack is probably a more appropriate word at times sadly) with THAT iconic picture on (i've read most of his diaries too - reccomended) so the opportunity to shake hands with a real life el Che impersonator on Las Ramblas in Barcelona was too good an opportunity to miss!! :-)

Date: Thu May 22 13:06
james s (Re: Matt):

Thanks for the link. I think Howe got the "next tuesday" thing down a little better than you did. I must ask you to give a detail or two about the Che photo.

Date: Thu May 22 12:17
Hankster (Howe on Tuesday):

That's a great picture of Howe! ;-) He looks very refreshed. Almost like in 1994. Thanks for sharing.

Date: Thu May 22 10:04
matt (oh and....):

i spoke to Howe at Leicester, and embarassed myself (a lot) by saying how great he is and asking if i could have a photo with him... he reluctantly agreed (Howe decided we had to "think like its next tuesday" while posing for it!!) anyways if you can bear looking at my ugly mug you can see it on this page: http://www.geocities.com/scuppard/photoz3.html along with photos of me drinking orange juice and meeting Che Guevara (don't ask).....

Date: Thu May 22 09:57
matt (broken arms are no fun.):

"When Howe was in Aarhus last time, I said: cool, you did a duet with Kurt Wagner in Britain, I hear (I think Matt wrote about it here). And he was like: ???" hehe!! yep i was talkin about the tape thing!! sorry if i caused you any confusion Lars!!! :-)

Date: Thu May 22 05:24
Lars (happy ears):

Just heard the Wagner-duet. Hilarious when the airport guy comes and interrupts them. And then there's a small break...and Kurt continues as before. Brilliant. :-D Sounds like it was a great gig there in Munich. And Marie did a very nice opening there. Very nice. / Lars

Date: Wed May 21 20:49
Mitch (Gelb Wagner):

I believe the song is "Paradise" if I'm not mistaken. Recorded live in front of the Nashville airport prior to Howe's departure--in fact, recorded on the spot in the vehicle in which Kurt Wagner was using to take Howe to the airport, at least I think that's right. Hmmmmmmmmm...anyway, it's a great bit of ambient lo-fi, with the added attraction of some airport skycap or security person interrupting the song midway...not sure, but I get the impression it was being recorded at the Departing Flights drop off. Only Howe knows for sure, but I suspect it'll find its way onto a future release.

Date: Wed May 21 19:07
Frank C (Kurt Wagner´s voice):

Well, about Kurt´s appearence on the Howe set: it´s like Lars said. Howe recorded Kurt´s voice during a stay on (Nashville? can´t remember) airport. Kurt sang the chorus of a Howe song - can´t remember it´s name (but I know that one for sure). This tape is played during the band performance of that song and it fits just perfect. More perfect than anything I know of Howe´s tape experiments. Some hiss, breaks and funny irritations included. Has to be on a cd release, for sure. Everyone should enjoy it. As they say on MTV: "I bet you will".

Date: Wed May 21 17:16
sarah (mrs sandman):

james s.... yes you guessed, Howe did try to talk me into going and hearing from the guys now I really wished I had. Unfortunately no-one here at the fort to look after all the troops ! but there's always next time.......

Date: Wed May 21 15:47
Lars (to Graham):

Thanks! Sounds indeed very interesting. Can't wait. As far as I know Howe will bring a bunch to Denmark later this month, so I can buy it here instead of going all the web-motions. I hope. :-) Hey, Mike, you think we could get M. Ward to do Wolfy for the Sandman? ;-D He-he, sorry....it was just so damn good there on stage in Aarhus. :-) / Lars

Date: Wed May 21 15:27
james s (Hey Mrs Sandman):

Are you Mike's better half? If so, don't tell me you've had to stay home and hold down the fort!

Date: Wed May 21 15:11
Graham (tracklist):

1. The Calexico Audition and Failing It 2. The Very Last Blue Marble Girl 3. Goldfrapp Tribute 4. Available Space 5. The House of the Punishing Sun 6. Hatch 7. Tom Waits Tribute 8. The Feel of Original Leather 9. Colder Than Cool Enough 10. The Very First Marble Girl 11. Rain Mixed With Parade 12. Loopy. Now order it!

Date: Wed May 21 15:06
sarah (mrs sandman):

Lars the discography will be updated when Mike gets back from the tour with Howe.

Date: Wed May 21 15:02
Lars (scared li'l devil on ye shoulder):

He-he, about the cult superstar intimidation. Well, it's ridiculous isn't it? And not to sound eh, "badmouthy": but especially ridiculous with Howe. Mr. Down-To-Earth. But I guess he has more aura and presence than those boy bands (of course!) who actually ACT like superstars. Hm, don't know where I'm going with this. Hm, yeah, and what could I stutter and mutter when meeting Howe? = The thing about the Wagner-duet. Ha-ha. / Lars

Date: Wed May 21 14:55
Lars (scrolling for James and...):

When Howe was in Aarhus last time, I said: cool, you did a duet with Kurt Wagner in Britain, I hear (I think Matt wrote about it here). And he was like: ??? Apparently what Howe has, is a recording he made with Kurt in the airport, he said. That's all I know. Which afterwards kinda brought rather bizarre images of airports as places with crowds of eternally airborne guitar-carrying songwriters crossing each others paths on this globe once every few weeks. Like modern nomads. And then Howe would be the kinda guy who'd say: Hey, Kurt, sing into this mic for a sec. And then move on - till they meet again.... :-) BY THE WAY: so what else is on that Spare Parts-thing? It's not in the discography yet is it? / Lars

Date: Wed May 21 14:41
Graham (official bootleg 5):

Anybody else gotten their "Too Many Spare Parts in the Yard Too Close at Hand" yet? Just received mine and spent the last hour entranced. It is really stunning--guitar and feedback of yore tearing through the more introspective songcraft of recent years. "Hatch", "Leather", and "Available Space" have never sounded better--and could anything be cooler than Giant Sand covering Tom Waits' "Invitation to the Blues" as if it was recorded for Rain Dogs? I will probably hear nothing else for the next week. Cheers all the way around for another phenomenal disc.

Date: Wed May 21 13:54
em (cult superstar intimidation):

likewise. Aaaaaaand Good Morning!!! Is it Wednesday??

Date: Wed May 21 13:38
james s (Re: Frank):

Frank, when I met Howe in Chicago, I introduced myself and scampered away. It is intimidating, that little demon on the shoulder saying "you're not funny enough, you're not clever enough, yada yada yada." Now, of course, I feel like an idiot for feeling intimidated. He's a friggin' cult superstar and all, but still, he's just another fellow who probably has a demon or too on his own shoulder saying stupid shit. As for the Kurt appearances with Howe... is Kurt actually skipping about Europe with Howe to do a duet, or is this a tape dub, like the Johnny Cash that showed up at some shows previously?

Date: Wed May 21 12:26
Frank C (Howe in Heidelberg):

Saw Howe yesterday in Heidelberg. Met Mike Brewer and Stefan - and Howe after the show. But I didn´t know what to say that special moment. Being thankful for that beautiful evening? Of course. Being funny? Wasn´t prepared for jokes and small talk in English that moment. Know his voice, his face, his work, almost every song. But, then nothing. Strange moment when you meet your No. 1 musician, isn´t it? Am I alone with that point of view? Everyone else seems to be so cool. Anyway, beautiful set. Seated audience. Howe played „down on town“ and „artists“! Piano was stealing Neil Young licks that evening. Howe even sang like Neil during "felonious". Very funny (though most listeners didn´t catch the joke, I guess). Of course, some new songs. From „steadfast“ to his most recent works - about 25 years of songs and sounds that fit perfectly to my ears. My favorite moment was the guest appearance by Kurt Wagner´s voice. Should be released on one of Howe´s coming cds!!! Bought „down home 2002“ - like it very much, especially the version of „bored lil devil“. Some full band recordings. Who else played there? The information in the discography does n not tell. Will be back on Saturday in Frankfurt to see Howe again.

Date: Wed May 21 11:06
Shaun H. (Bisbee, AZ ):

well thanks for the tips, but my investigations suggest that trains/buses aren't really an option given the time i got. now looking at just grabbbing the greyhound over to NYC and using that as a bookend to a trip up to the Catskills region. again, any tips REALLY would be appreciated, especially in respect of specific accomodation in specific towns. CHEERS!!!

Date: Wed May 21 08:25
Lars (fan-dango):

Sounds great, Mike! I still have to figure out my own tablature. So far I've managed (more or less) to play "Rain Mixed With Parade" and "Superpowers" (don't know about the "bridge", though). Hope to get some funny arrangements going, but so far it's just the acoustic guitar - and that bugs me a bit. / Lars

Date: Wed May 21 07:44
sarah (mrs sandman):

Hankster yes I was wrong Howe just informed me it was taken at an airstream sales park in Tucson. There is a picture somewhere of the guys at shady dell though.

Date: Wed May 21 07:03
Hankster to Greg & Shaun (on Shady Dell):

The owners of the Shady Dell Trailer Park in Bisbee are actually trying to sell the whole thing. Last time I saw it the price was 595.000,00 $... I don't think the back cover of "The Listener" was taken there. There is no such thing as hanging commercials/ads in the area.

Date: Wed May 21 06:21
mike (§§€öü - great keyboard):

hey lars..... thanks for the offer, but lets keep this sand fan dango thing down at home. i'll be back on the 27th, so lets have some emails to me from you folks who are doing covers, letting me know which song you're doing, and on what format. i can get practically any format downlöoaded to cdr. i'll get a page set up on the site for reference and maybe a form or something. if these covers turn out ok, we'll get them properly mastered....... meanwhile, here in heidelbürg, things are going swimmingly (plug for marie)..... really good to meet the guys off the tree (tommy - you must have a real weird imagination!!!!!).... bands playing well, everyones enjoying it..... must go, time on pc running out.......... mike

Date: Tue May 20 20:16
Greg Haldane (gmhaldane@hotmail.com):

Shaun. In Bisbee you should try and stay at the Shady Dell (vintage AirStream trailers). Prices range from $40/night to very expensive depending on the size and model trailer that you choose. Otherwise climb up B hill and find a little nook in the the mountain to spend the night under the Bisbee stars. You could also walk all the way up Brewery Gulch past the houses and find a nice little spot. Mind the scorpions though.

Date: Tue May 20 20:15
Greg Haldane (gmhaldane@hotmail.com):

Shaun. In Bisbee you should try and stay at the Shady Dell (vintage AirStream trailers). Prices range from $40/night to very expensive depending on the size and model trailer that you choose. Otherwise climb up B hill and find a little nook in the the mountain to spend the night under the Bisbee stars. You could also walk all the way up Brewery Gulch past the houses and find a nice little spot. Mind the scorpions though.

Date: Tue May 20 19:22
sarah ((mrs sandman)):

Shaun, check out the back cover of "The Listener" I'm sure that Howe is in the said "Shady Dell". Can also highly recommend "The Copper Queen" Hotel for a good story about drug running on Super Bowl day. Do a good selection of tequilas as well.

Date: Tue May 20 18:46
Lorenzo Daza (to Florentino Ariza):

Don't force me to shoot you.

Date: Tue May 20 18:29
Greg Haldane (gmhaldane@hotmail.com):

Shaun. In Bisbee you should try and stay at the Shady Dell (vintage AirStream trailers). Prices range from $40/night to very expensive depending on the size and model trailer that you choose. Otherwise climb up B hill and find a little nook in the the mountain to spend the night under the Bisbee stars. You could also walk all the way up Brewery Gulch past the houses and find a nice little spot. Mind the scorpions though.

Date: Tue May 20 11:02
Shaun H. (hey treygoba):

errr.....i think you just sold it to me. WOW! & THANKS!!

Date: Tue May 20 10:51
Hankster on Steve Wynn@KXCI (to Blaine@home):

"and a radio bit from KXCI -- that you Mr. Blackwood?" Nope, that's Steve Wynn at Al Perry's famous Clambake Show! Steve Wynn's girl friend videotaped it. The sound is said to be surprisingly good.

Date: Tue May 20 09:07
Graham (tommy gailer / buckner):

Devotion + Doubt preceded Since by a year or so; it's his strongest. Not surprisingly, it features, Gelb, Convertino, and Burns. His quietest, spookiest record, most fully realized. Though they're all worth whatever means necessary to acquire them.

Date: Tue May 20 08:28
treygoba (oz (pining for Cochise County)):

I recommend that you do Bisbee until you're restless---then head over the Chiricauhua Mts. to Portal AZ (almost on the NM/AZ border). It's about 75 min. from Bisbee. Camp at Sunnyside or Idlewild, or if you've a credit card, stay in the Portal lodge for ~$40/night. Portal (population 30) sits at 5000 ft. in Cave Creek canyon. The narrow canyon is lush with vegetation, a gorgeous stream, and flanked by sheer cliffs that rise to 8000 ft. The cliffs are Pollocked with splatters of neon orange and neon green lichens. The entire mountain range is public access, with trails ranging from mellow to frenetic. Fellow denizens include thick-billed parrots, 14 species of hummingbird, javelinas, bears, Dr. Suessesqe plants and insects, the prettiest reptiles and amphibians in the U.S., and the ghosts of Geronimo, Cochise, Victorio, jaguars (may be back), etc. Cave Creek canyon is the most inspirational place I've ever been...seems to be a Mecca for biologist-types and artists.

Date: Tue May 20 06:40
Shaun H. (calling all Tucsonites and fellow Arizon(i)ans):

well i was supposed to be flying out to Philly on Friday to stay w/ a young lady, but err...let's just say things took a little bit of a twist. but i got a £400 return fare from London which it seems a shame to waste, so i'm thinking of getting in to Philly, and then hoofing it straight out to Tucson (Phoenix if necessary), before heading up to Bisbee [as that was recommended to me before as part of a previous trip, but i never made it there]. has anyone done the Philly~AZ trip before? anyone know if i can do it by train?? and Bisbee, that would be a good place for a little reading, writing, contemplation and lots of black coffee, yeah??? any tips would be most appreciated. thanks.

Date: Tue May 20 06:31
Lars (hey, mike):

Is the comments board becoming too long again? Most of January seems to be gone missing down there at the bottom. :-) / Lars

Date: Tue May 20 05:15
innis (tommygailer/buckner):

see him if you get the chance I'd say! A great show,small room, just RB and a guy on pedal steel....excellent voice, songs...he seems to have a fair few records out- any standouts, or should I just work through the lot? (got 'Since' from the merch table,which I believe was his major label debut...some beauties on there..)Support act was excellent too - a fellow called Breadfoot; instrumentals on Dobro, kinda like Fahey. Funny guy too....

Date: Mon May 19 23:51
Blaine (@home):

Just got the new Steve Wynn rec'd (Howe-less) in Tucson w/video footage from the studio, presuambly Wavelab?? and a radio bit from KXCI -- that you Mr. Blackwood? Speaking of Chuck Prophet, anyone know if Chris Cacavas is touring w/Steve -- he's on the album (Static Transmission).

Date: Mon May 19 23:29
Alan (James S/Chuck Prophet):

JS, I'm just jealous you live in a state where folks like Chuck play... much less record! GS played Detroit last time thru and, while it had clearly positive effects on Aiden - in utero -- few other michiganders saw it necessary to attend (and there was no $15 cover, Erik)... (for those with "Infiltration," at least one stop where the audience participation was weaker than Chicago and New York was Hockeytown)... very glad to hear about the pending CP CD. Me, personally, hoping for more guitar, more hip hop influences (been listening to his DJ, Dan the Automator, a bit o' late... ) and more fuzzy mic work. Howe, any interest in the hopper side of hip, or the natch'relness of scratch?

Date: Mon May 19 20:52
james s (james@jamesscarbrough.com):

Welp, there was no package from Ow Om yet afterall, but there was from J and Johnny Yen. Thanks, boys. You folks ought to bug J for a copy of his CD. Sweet.

Date: Mon May 19 19:49
Erik (land o'lakes):

Hey James , thanks for the reply sounds cool sign me up !. I am up here in Minneapolis saw Howe about a month ago w/J.Parish, great show but horribly underattended , felt bad for Howe and all. Maybe it was the 15$ cover!! knowing there is quite a decent fan base up here. Anyways Howe strummed the gretch and kept it simple w/o any toys a tinkerin .

Date: Mon May 19 19:13
im rcording now ((james)):

INNER CALF. ill look for your adress and send you a pic from (ghog)

Date: Mon May 19 19:06
james s (http://www.jamesscarbrough.com/words/journal/2003_05_18_archive.html):

woo double hoo! Package from Ow Om, and from sandfan J, in the mails today!

Date: Mon May 19 12:27
james s (for those who might care...):

Chuck Prophet played here on Saturday night. I stupidly missed it, but my wife Marcia went and said it was great. He has been here recording a new record. Hey "Im Recording Now", on what body part do you (or your friend) have the Giant Sand tattoo? Just curious.

Date: Mon May 19 11:29
Lars (www.supertanker.tk):

Hey, Matt! Vol. 1 goes for around 10 bucks on eBay all the time (some guy in Yodaville, AZ, stocked up plenty - "use the force"?!). And the dollars is really low right now, so go fetch! :-) I just got Backyard BBQ Broadcast today. $15.50 plus $6 shipment. An okay price considering what other G.S. sell for on eBay these days. So yes, reprints of the old albums would be nice, but I would suspect the label trouble you mention. / Lars

Date: Mon May 19 09:36
matthewmatics (hereharehere):

how great would it be if all howe's records were available to buy here all the time - like an online giantsand foundation to keep alive the work of the man! the whole discography connected to the ow om store! obviously there are loads of label switches that complicates things but howe must own a lot of it - it seems a shame that stuff like rock opera years is limited and people may miss out. personally i have most of the stuff (though i could use a bootleg vol 1!) but i'd hate to be called elitist.....

Date: Mon May 19 09:34
matt (no):

you must be very proud

Date: Mon May 19 00:11
im recording now ((glue on you)):

Im no SAND poser! ive stood there ( and even played on the stage.) With H. J. and John. Does anyone know of anyone with a Giant Sand Tattoo? I do

Date: Sun May 18 21:13
job (Hatchmalachy Land):

Early Gelb? Couple come to mind--Bottle Line,composed in the parking lot at work one fine hot summer day; a little ditty called Louie, 'bout a dog gone astray and Another Victim of the Coal Mining Region (sort of a roots thing). Too bad I can't remember but half of any of them.

Date: Sun May 18 20:54
job (Hatchmalachy Land):

Early Gelb? Couple come to mind--Bottle Line,composed in the parking lot at work one fine hot summer day; a little ditty called Louie, 'bout a dog gone astray and Another Victim of the Coal Mining Region (sort of a roots thing). Too bad I can't remember but half of any of them.

Date: Sun May 18 14:28
Lars (cheers, Em):

He-he, I propose a new title for the fan sandman: "17 versions of Yer Robes". :-) Isn't there someone her who really has an ear for getting chords squeezed out of songs? I'll give a handful of them a stab and see what I come up with. / Lars

Date: Sun May 18 12:12
e (mmmmlah):

Hi people. There are a few Giant Sand tabs(though not enough)on altcountrytab.com if that is helpful...

Date: Sun May 18 07:08
Lars (Scrolling for "im recording now"):

Well, as I said earlier: if Mike's too busy I'd love to take up the task of compiling the whole thing for Howe and/or Mike. I suggest we avoid mp3s and get the music to whoever's compiling by regular mail (or alternatively downloading the big wave-files from the net if the cover-artist has the space on his or hers website for that kinda thing). And now would be the time to say: if you got any tablature and "sheet music" for any Giant Sand-song please say so! (Or if you got some good pointers for tracks) ##### Speaking of covers: is M. Ward's cover of "Wolfy" available on cd anywhere? It was so brilliant live the other day. :-) / Lars

Date: Sun May 18 00:32
OWOM (none ):

Fixed it - bad link. All is well now!

Date: Sat May 17 21:04
Tomstoi (howe signed my Down Home thingie):

Thickfreakness is the best retro album i've heard in years. I second mr Gelbs transition to all good old jazzzz men. Miles, Monk,Mingus. And I'm in great favour of the sniffa. the forlast was indeed your best post ever..

Date: Sat May 17 18:39
Todd (checkout error & swerving):

Hi. Trying to purchase 'Down Home -02' and there's this 'Invalid Vendor ID--owom 2002'.

Date: Sat May 17 18:26
Glue Sniffer (do not take the name in vain):

no no i am relaxed perplexed sand fan sounds like a losser or looser or what evver. i am of the oppion that i should vet all entries who wants to listen to 3 cds of ass kissing it would be like a cute baby parade. no no a few good songs one each the more interesting and least giant sand the better. though of course i do realise my opinion counts for little. denial is the first step towards addiction and the last word in smeellls like teen spirit. hello Valentina i think we met on a bird once or was it a phone box?

Date: Sat May 17 17:30
gazelle (blue lit rope):

i still want to cover this one, but i can't find anyone to do it with, but i still have hope, cuz i'll hang on like a BLUE LIT ROPE!!!

Date: Sat May 17 16:10
J (is it you sniffa?):

I imagine it must be the SANDFAN thing that wounded you so deeply

Date: Sat May 17 16:03
Lars (Re: The Black Keys):

Well, "Thickfreakness" is also much easier to get hold of as far as I can see. Most online shops have it. I am right, when I presume that their new album is not as down and dirty as the first one? Seems a little more smooth and better produced (which could be a shame). / Lars

Date: Sat May 17 16:00
Valentina Tereshkova (above Russia half way to the mooon):

I ran lights for Firetrucs at Kirby's Sinlo De My-o tour wanted to tell you about it but ol sniffin horse hooves blocked me out or erased me.

Date: Sat May 17 15:38
matt (~~):

i picked up thickfreakness two days ago and am loving it. thanks to you guys for mentioning them!!!!

Date: Sat May 17 13:51
Lars (Llama-rama-ding-dong):

Is that the band from www.duophonic.com who made the album "Buzzle Bee"? I'm currently thinking of buying it....along with several other titles from that label. Sounds like good stuff they have there: Imitation Electric Piano, Monade, Dymaxion and Minnow. I've taken a liking to their stream-examples on the site. Thinking of getting the discs all the way from the US, though, now that the dollar is low. I still haven't got hold of the first album by The Black Keys ("The Big Come Up"). No online shops who have it seem to be shipping outside the US. But hey, I've gotten in touch with their website now, so there's hope. :-) / Lars

Date: Sat May 17 13:39
Tommy Gailer ((scrollama)):

Sounds to me like "The High Llamas", but seriously, sorry i don`t know it...i am sure someone will help you out on this.*********** I would appreciate to see Buckner live, and we talked about Buckner right after Howe`s concert two days ago.

Date: Sat May 17 13:08
innis (off to see Richard Buckner in a hour...):

...but that's not why I'm here. Anybody recognise these lyrics -"Ohh, sometimes i feel like a goat on a hill, so high up and silly and perfectly still. Or am i a llama what spits in your eye?" etc. Just tryin' to help someone out......

Date: Sat May 17 07:37
Tommy Gailer (soul-scroller):

thanks to Howe and Alex, now i am totally into Bill Withers and don`t know how i could miss this excellent stuff for years and years.

Date: Sat May 17 00:15
im recording now (SAND FANS):

LETS JUST RECORD OUR SONGS FROM THE FANS AND LET ONE OF US COLLABERATE IT. IT WILL BE GREAT! WHY SHOULD THE FOLKS AT GIANT SAND HEADQUARTERS HAVE ALL THE SAY IN WHAT GOES ON THE DISCs.WE SHOULD DECIDE ( TOGATHER AS A TRIBE) IF IT TAKES UP TWO OR THREE DICS THATS OK, PLUS WHY GET HOWE TO WORK ON IT , HES VERY BUSY DOING FOR US / LETS DO FOR HIM. and we will exchange through the tree here.i can print the inserts

Date: Fri May 16 18:57
em (thing):

Count me in too! Yeah!!

Date: Fri May 16 18:55
james s (aka Florentino Ariza):

Harvieux of Erikville, good to see your name pop up! There has been some talk on here on the board of a possible Sandman release made up of covers of GS/Gelb songs done by the folks here and on the Sandtree. Mike is down with it, but nothing definite has been hammered out yet. You'll have to contribute, my friend. Where are you these days?

Date: Fri May 16 18:36
harvieux (@hotmail):

Hey James what is this covers thing all about ? long time no post .Erik

Date: Fri May 16 18:21
em (mr. glue):

Mr. Glue, That may have very well been your best post yet... bravo. I applaud you.

Date: Fri May 16 17:29
Graham (Glue's quote):

Sling Blade--spoken by Vic. "Or tunes, as I like to call 'em."

Date: Fri May 16 17:11
james s (nonsongsongs):

I did mix it on headphones. It sounds better on some systems than on others. I did say it was "lo fi". I'm about finished with my second release, which makes me happy. Have a good weekend, all ye Sandinistas!

Date: Fri May 16 17:11
glue sniffer (waht a weak):

you people musta cursed me or some kind of whichs coven things going on. after a quite piss poor week today somebody reversed into the side of me then tried to claim it was my fault!!!! well i just sort of look dazzed for a while and the insurance is mad and my fine lady who already concered for my monday maddness with the giant crew now thinks i am loosing the rails. ill second the sadniess on june i am always wondering how long ole john has left. thirdly i would like to say that i would like to contribute some tune to your lazer reader and think i should have special privilages. ie glue sniffer and aquantances sing the good ole songs of Hi Ho Howe gleb. all those in flavour especialy strawbeerry say yes. warning my fillibusters are legendery see every other middless post VOTE GLUE ps my song will be called Giant sand love me the best the lyrics will go ' you all smell off poo, when you know that well what can you do?' only thing that raises its head, is a solution that glue said' it goes. Hes the number one son and every one loves his facial hair. all the others are just tossed away. glue he tosses day after day. hurray anyway cant give too much away as youll all be stickin me up and stealing ma tunes. "I come up with the melodies....." name the man and the film £10

Date: Fri May 16 16:52
J (james.s-):

Now given your disc a proper listen, hooked throughout, late night on headphones. Was it mixed through 'phones? I'm doing 'Artists' and anyone who says otherwise better get ready to ssssttttummbble. Can I have 2 tracks? Purleeeeeeze

Date: Fri May 16 16:38
james s (gotta go play "Jackson"):

Sorry to hear of the death of June Carter Cash.

Date: Fri May 16 16:25
james s (Re: J):

I'm down with it, J. I haven't decided on what to cover yet, though.

Date: Fri May 16 16:14
J (sandmanfanthang):

Lars, the thing has to happen, if not we'll go it alone? James? It would have to be the culmination of a music (non) career to be involved in a gelb sanctioned thing. My old music mates thought my guitar technique was strange... If anyone reading this knows Rob.S. formerly of the unspeakable turks and now maybe not online, tell him to get with the program and dust down his 4 track. My dusting down sessions begin a week from today...

Date: Fri May 16 15:59
Archivist - via OWOM (no no no):

Hey everyone, will get a tracklist posted here later today!

Date: Fri May 16 15:31
talullah (message for OW OM):

As Mike's with Howe's tour, could you kind OW OM folks put out a track list for 'Too Many Spare Parts..' please?

Date: Fri May 16 14:05
Tommy Gailer (scrolling for James):

Rumblin? Nah, not really. Sadly, you people can`t see the smile on our faces while picking on each other.;-)#######Lars, i was checking through the "Sonisk Postkort" and it sounds very fine to my ears so far...kinda extended Pedalless...i`ll start to do the first copies before checking out my leaves...

Date: Fri May 16 13:28
tHom (wrong song):

sorry, it was heartbreak hotel, wasn't it?

Date: Fri May 16 13:27
tHom (at elvis's grave):

"yeah, a bit too much f*&%ing perspective" ... the ragga/reggae version of love me tender and the ensuing dialogue - has to be the best scene in spinal tap, surely?

Date: Fri May 16 13:12
james s (scroller / guni):

I feel a rummmmble coming on!

Date: Fri May 16 12:19
Tommy Gailer (not-so-poor-scroller):

Guni, you`re the most suspicious usual suspect ever...bäh!

Date: Fri May 16 11:58
Guni (to the poor scroller-boy):

His Howeness showed up about five minutes after you had left, Tommy. Should have waited a little longer...

Date: Fri May 16 11:47
Tommy Gailer (sonisk-scroller):

Lars, i couldn`t listen to it yet and yes, the concert was taped. Since i changed my job, i am a bit in time-stress, but i could listen to down home 02 in the car.

Date: Fri May 16 11:27
Lars (scrolling for....for....eh, downwards):

So did anyone record THAT one? :-D And Tommy, how's the "Sonisk Postkort"? Alright? Heard it yet? / Lars

Date: Fri May 16 11:17
Tommy Gailer (scrolling for Mike):

What pleasent evening yesterday! Finally i could meet Mike Brewer and Mike Gerfin, and also a lot of the "usual suspects" too. Somehow Mike looked like my own vision i have for years now in my mind and have to say a big "thank you" to the man, who made so much fan releases possible. Not to forget Howe`s help on this ;-) #####i am sorry that i couldn`t meet Howe after the show, maybe next time. Instead i could talk a bit with the bassplayer, Thogar. ##### The club was packed and the crowd was so pleasent: very concentrated on the sound, but enthusiastic by giving the band a hand (forgive me my poor english).######Soundwise the band and Howe are a great combination and i can`t wait to get to hear one of the last shows. The dansk musicians were an enrichment on stage, and put on stage what "the listener" was promising. ###### Down Home 2002 is exactly what i was waiting for, and another gift for me as sandfan that i am.

Date: Fri May 16 05:54
mike (not home but some internet wotsit in munich):

sorry about the links on the store page..... thanks for fixing jim. sandman.... copied five and sarah is sending those out..... tommy gailer has a copy, gave it to him last night, i'll get a post off to everyone later.... not sure when. show last night was great.... good crowd who appreciated howe's humour, and really great to meet all those people i've been mailing for the last three years. 'spare parts' was only received yesterday, so no time to see what's on it yet..... howe only heard it for the first time yesterday at the soundcheck. ok....... off to austria.....

Date: Thu May 15 17:26
Charles (chmwood30@yahoo.com):

Anybody know what's on Too Many Spare Parts...?

Date: Thu May 15 14:36
Graham (spinal tap):

How much blacker could this cover be? None! None more blacker!

Date: Thu May 15 14:23
james s (spinal tap):

When Hans was here calling himself a "bad promoter" the other day, I was reminded of the scene in the record store when the "manager" was bending over saying, "kick my ass. Please, kick my ass."

Date: Thu May 15 14:09
Lars (www.larsdideriksen.com):

Mike got the Danish Sandman ("Sonisk Postkort") a little while ago. Remember we had to remove a few tracks to get the discs under 74 minutes a piece. Well, Mike's touring with Howe through Germany. I don't know if he managed to get anything going before he left (he'd have to be damn quick then). The big cover-files are still at http://www.larsdideriksen.com/diverse/howe-sandman-covers.htm (as well as the "Loving Cup"-mp3 with kicking "saloon brawl piano" by Howe, ha-ha). Hey BD, "the volume turned to eleven" really made me laugh. It's the best scene in the entire movie (just surpassing the miniature Stonehenge). :-) / Lars

Date: Thu May 15 13:56
bd (born to work):

any of you brits or scots have access to norris or speirs smoothing planes or know of qualified dealers selling such. Glum made my nipples erect this morning and my whole body tingled from the volume turned to eleven.

Date: Thu May 15 13:43
OWOM (SPK+CRKY):

Hey everyone, the links have been fixed. All three new CDs are ready and avaliable at the OWOM Store

Date: Thu May 15 13:21
james s (sandman series):

not to mention the denmark sandman that i thought was all together and ready to happen...

Date: Thu May 15 10:36
Lars (so...covers or what/not?):

So what's the news on that "fan cover sandman"? If you're too busy, Mike, I would gladly volunteer to co-ordinate the thing (I've got the time for it). That is receiving the contributions, collect them on whatever number of cds it takes, get all the info sorted and pass the whole thing on to Howe (I suspect I should have somewhat easier access to him the next few months than earlier). :-) I still think this special sandman is such a lovely idea, that it would be a shame if it didn't go anywhere. Greets! / Lars

Date: Thu May 15 09:58
OWOM (...............):

We will check into it!

Date: Thu May 15 04:38
To the OW OM Store owners (problems with ordering):

Howdy Spoink and Cranky, tried to order the new cds from the store. ccnow gave me an ok for Down Home 2002 but neither for the Official Bootleg Series nor for Infiltration of Dreams. It said: contact the webmaster if the error continues. Any chance that this gets repaired soon or does Howe carry all the sonics in this tour? Thanks for letting me know. Hankster

Date: Thu May 15 00:10
Blaine (@home):

"faliure garentees some level of sucsess." .. little did we know a true poet of Dylanesque or even VanZandtian status has been or little secret, nice one Sniff, when you lay a pearl it's a gem. James -- Cajun music in LA was great, bayous and swampland was awesome and the new Stax museum just might stop you in yr tracks.

Date: Wed May 14 19:04
Lars (Life's great, y'know):

Wow! Just back from the gig. Again: Wow! M. Ward just struck like a hammer. He did Bowie's "Let's Dance"....and Howe's "Wolfy"! Hey, Howe, you better watch out - and work hard if you're gonna do "Wolfy" better live that Ward. :-) My god that was beeeaauuutiful! And what a pleasant dude. Bought both his cds and got one of them autographed. He is really the meanest steel-string-guitarplayer I've seen in a long time - if ever. Yo La Tengo played for two hours. Even af few quiet songs while the roadies packed down the bigger gear. A very varied set from them. Sometimes I thought the more traditional rock songs were a bit, eh, too traditional. But they really played a brilliant show. Two new discoveries in one night. Life is grand! M. Ward was the biggest eye opener tonight. I remember listening to the mp3s from this site a long time ago, but they didn't stick. Actually the same happend with Howe. But seing both of them live just changed absolutely everything. Too bad Howe's in Belgium tonight. Would have been cool to see him do a song with Ward or something. :-) Goodnight everybody. Now I lay me down - with a smile on my face.... / Lars

Date: Wed May 14 18:12
glue sniffer (missed the rummble, connected with the tummble.):

some one clever once said never meet your heroes. but I did fancy it. I thought i could be clever charming and funny even impress with a song or quip about living. I did have some things i thought were maybee of interest and other stuff i didnt care. I geuss the problem with all of this, us and you, is that things are rarely as they seem especialy me. Admitidley spending an afternoon in the pub is not great should of been better but faliure garentees some level of sucsess. i guess i am sat back here a 100 miles from anything, pondering and wondering about before. will it ever happen again like that? sometimes a reputation is a terible thing. especialy when it makes you seem so contrived and preconcived. Again i can not live in regret. let me instead wish all and incumbersom a good night let me and the glass return to our hovel. sleep well.

Date: Wed May 14 15:32
james s (lucky lars):

Lars, you are in for a treat. Yo La Tengo are wonderful live, as is M Ward! Sand/Gelb shows on DVD sounds like a good thing.

Date: Wed May 14 15:24
geoff (to sean t):

just noticed you too seem able to to do some trans and burn with the video too...so mike i don't want to try and edge out anyone's offer to help...just think of mine as an additional offer...good luck with it...

Date: Wed May 14 15:21
geoff (to mike re:dvd):

Mike, that mini-dv would be a blast to see...I'm not in the UK...I am in the americas, but if you needed the footage transferred...or depending on what those involved want done with it, and of course time permitting, edited and titled, etc...that is basically the kind of thing I do and I could also burn it to a dvd master...of course it may be easier to work with someone closer to your home...but there's my offer to help anyhow...and there's always the post office for getting across the oceans.

Date: Wed May 14 14:40
Graham (ow om):

Heck yeah! What's the lowdown on the new Official Bootleg Disc--Too Many Spare Parts?

Date: Wed May 14 14:17
Lars (giggin' again):

Yo La Tengo is playing Aarhus tonight - with M. Ward as support act. I've only heard very little of either's music before. Actually mostly known them by name. But as I got hold of a free ticket, then of course I'm going now (couldn't afford it any other way). I would suspect I'm in for a treat or what? / Lars

Date: Wed May 14 12:43
peter (re joes pub):

fantastic show!!! everybody was there howe, will oldham, vic chesnutt,kurt wagner ( the 4 together did a fine version of goodhearted woman at one point.)evan dando was there too. joey and john, additional attractive female back up musicians too. a night worth preserving for sure. should be volume 1 of the sandman video/dvd series.

Date: Wed May 14 11:47
an (brussels by night):

hey howe, great gig yesterday! but if kurt is king, who are you then???!!!

Date: Wed May 14 10:42
Lars (crap snaps :-)):

I've scanned a few photos from the chatter-infested Aarhus-gig (hm, more like "snapshots"). Go here: http://www.larsdideriksen.com/personal/personal-main.htm --- I must warn you, though. The picture quality is crappy. Bad camera, bad angle, bad film etc. But if you're curious then drop by. I've added a few photos from older gigs as well (among others two of Hans' photos from 2000). Enjoy, sandies! / Lars

Date: Wed May 14 05:27
SeanT (Mike dv etc):

Mike , I've spoken with a mate of mine and he can burn it onto a DVD for you , free of charge . Let me know what you want to do . Sean sean.tracey@btinternet.com

Date: Tue May 13 21:48
Bunny Fernandez (writes to say...):

I am loving this thing that is the Howe Gelb music, and what he calls that Giant Sand. Too much is not so bad in this case, no? I thinks I'd like for Senor Gelb to sit in my living like a radio all the time. He can play the great music and I can hand him food on plate, and say to him, "Thank you, Mr. Howe Gelb, for living in my living room with the good music all this time. Do you need another tortilla?" It's this kind of stuff makes my life feel full, you know.

Date: Tue May 13 18:21
james s (Joe's Pub):

That sounds swell. Who was there? Howe, Wagner, Oldham,...

Date: Tue May 13 18:19
mike ([sa-wa-ro]):

well funny you mention a video of the barbican show....... maria actually gave me a copy last night.... but it's digital mini-dv... which i can't play and there's no sound....soooooo anyone able (in the uk) to transfer it to some sort of computer file that i can load up?????

Date: Tue May 13 18:07
archivist (not today):

Actually, no one here (including Howe) has seen any of the Barbican footage. However, we do have rough footage of the Joe's Pub show. I am not sure who was planning on putting that out (if anybody at all).. Professional with a couple of angles of footage.

Date: Tue May 13 17:18
james s (barbicon video):

At the famous Barbicon show, if I remember correctly, there was somebody in face paint moving about videotaping the event. Also, I remember Kurt Wagner mentioning to me, awhile back, shortly before the New York Joe's Pub version of the Barbicon, that Howe was going to send him a video of the Barbican in London show. I never heard anything else about it though. So.... I never saw it. Has anyone? Is it a total expensive pain in the arse to copy and distribute videos through Ow Om? I'd bet a few people would want a copy. Of course, you have all those other artists involved and that might create some stupid legal hassles.... Hmmmmm. Anybody wanna boot me a copy???

Date: Tue May 13 15:17
Shaun H. (you're every-where and nowhere baby....that's where you're AT):

next time Howe, d'you think you could sing the opening lines from 'Hi Ho Silver Lining' in the a Lou Reed stylee.

Date: Tue May 13 14:59
glue sniffer (warmer ):

and of course i should mention that the gig was very good and made me smile. sorry for being incoherant to the lady i was incoherant to and for running off to the bar

Date: Tue May 13 13:34
Lars (just wondering):

No envy from here. Just happy to see that people enjoy the Satiated Expatriate and His Danes. :-) Am I a sicko-nerd or does anyone share this thought with me: "did anyone happen to record this show"? Would really like to hear what I missed a few days ago. :-) By the way, from looking at the venues' website (www.lyric.co.uk) it looks rather...eh...posh...? Or do I see a hint of "tear and wear" on the picture (= ambiance). Well, looks like a great place. / Lars (oh, and yes, I admit it - I DO envy you a little bit) ;-)

Date: Tue May 13 12:50
tom (mexicanshark@hotmail.com):

A superb evening. Fine,fine,fine evening.We ended up in row A ,a fine view point of howe standing over us.Wasnt expecting my call for inner flame to resonate round the theatre so well. God dam you guys were so,so fine.love love love. tom and madeleine. ps ... liked the duet with kurt wagner!!!!!

Date: Tue May 13 11:58
Andy (JACKSONSANDPIPER@aol.com):

Well,well,well chaps,a splendid show by mr Gelb last night at the Lyric Theatre.Nice to be in a venue where you could really listen to the music.Giant Sand at the Ocean in Hackney was spoiled for me by loads of people chatting while the band were playing,no such problem last night.The danes were excellent both as support and backing band I hope I get a chance to see this lot again.Highlights for me (music aside)was the 'king of pop' gag and the wave of apprehension when Howe suggested a singalong.Nothing strikes fear in the London audience more than the thought of ........joining in (the horror..)Anyway he was only kidding folks, or was he.Maybe he should have picked Twist & Shout and delivered it in the Gelb deadpan style, at least I would have known the words. Anyway, I digress, here's hoping we'll see more of Howe soon on these shores. Oh yeah, Marie Frank said that they were travelling light so they could tour by train,who carries the piano.

Date: Tue May 13 09:20
glue sniffer (i am so cold):

after deciding to have `a few` and then realy not knowing who what when or where i was i had to spend the night sleeping in a box at oxford train station you should have seen me laugh like a leppor. i resign

Date: Tue May 13 08:15
Finn ((down home)):

I was in row dee too...AnyHowe thanks for a great(danes) night! Sanj was impressed (especially with Marie) and the going up was worth the coming down...skaal!

Date: Tue May 13 04:29
SeanT (The Glue Sniffer v Howe):

So last night I met The Glue Sniffer . Smashed camera in had , which he had earlier boiled , a few pints of Ireland's finest and off we went to The Lyric to see Mr Gelb . I managed to get Glue to meet Howe before the show , no blood was spilled and there was no evidence of solvent abuse. A fine set by Howe supported by a collection of Danes , Howe this is one great band you have , loved the the slide mandolin . Sorry I don't know the names expect for the lovely Marie Frank . So a another good night in a beautiful venue and I came away unscathed from meeting Glue . Howe , I think the grey kinda suits you . SeanT

Date: Mon May 12 23:52
e (m m m m m ):

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, GAZELLE!!!! 28 looks like a good age to me:)

Date: Mon May 12 17:15
gazelle (HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!):

Today is my 28th birthday, and I am celebrated by doing whatever I please at whatever given time. It is a great way to live. I think I will do it every day from now on. If you want to give me a present, vote for my idea at http://ideashappen.msn.com/Default.aspx?EntryIDEmail=16715&IHJump=1 Merci Beaucoup! ;OP

Date: Mon May 12 16:01
james s (www.jamesscarbrough.com):

Mr. Paul Neihaus can add some perty tones to a song with his steel. I like to hear a little (or a lot of) steel behind Howe's music. "She and pedal steel make it better somehow."

Date: Mon May 12 15:50
Lars (www.supertanker.tk):

So was that repackaged "Infiltration Of Dreams" a new Official Bootleg Series or Down Home 2001? Oh well, dudn't really matter, right? As long as the tunes are kickin'. :-) By the way, there's a guy on eBay that keeps having the Official Bootleg Series Vol. 1 for sale - in case anyone is still missing that one. And at a good price. / Lars

Date: Mon May 12 13:45
archivist (not today):

Hey Mike - no problem re: the liner notes on DH 2002... Looks like we have a bunch of work to do on coming up with the details.. The first couple of tracks were recorded at Wavelab in December of 2001 (have the actuall date at home) Probably the 27th and featured additional players including Jellie Kuiper (soundman), Craig Schumacher, and even me (very quietly on vibes/casio).. Martin Wenk and Paul Neihaus were in the room as well as Naim Amor on Violin for the sessions. Anyway, lots of great stuff on that CD and remember DH 2003 we be on the way soon!!

Date: Mon May 12 13:31
Bad Promotor (kh_horsten@dadlnet.dk):

I now i am not a bad promotor it is the way Howe knows me after a little mistake at the Voxhall Aarhus DK show in 2000. (Just forgot to collect our payment for that evening that was all). That is why i sometimes call myself the Bad Promotor. Actually i think it is a pretty good name for a promotor. I just heard the new Marie Frank EP on the radio where she also talked about here meeting up with Howe at those workshops i did with them at Cafe Mozart last summer in Aarhus. Sounds very good . Marie YOU MADE IT IN TO MY SHOP :-) Gonna have some of those for the shop and for you all you SANDIES. Just drop me a line and i will take care of the rest. To all of you in London tonight have a nice concert and please send a review tomorrow in the comments section. Thanks. Hans

Date: Mon May 12 11:08
Lars (a helping hand perhaps?):

Well, IF it's out of the shop, then I know for a fact that Hans who posted her earlier (kh_horsten@dadlnet.dk) has a bunch of Down Home 2000 in his Scavenger Records shop. And he ships music to everywhere in the world everytime I drop by down there. So if there's no other way, there's always Hans. :-) / Lars

Date: Mon May 12 10:49
peter (snoozed and losed?):

ordered both of the new releases but was dismayed to see the earlier down home howe had vanished from the shop. is it really gone? feeling completely incomplete...

Date: Mon May 12 08:53
mike ([sa-wa-ro]):

........and about tonight.... me and sarah are doing the merch, so come and say hello....and you can also buy the new 'down home 2002', 'rock opera' and 'unsungglum' plus the new 'listener' t-shirts and some older 'chore' t-shirts. shaun-h - if'n yer going - come see me as i have a few things for you. s'later.

Date: Mon May 12 08:04
SeanT (London):

Howe , look out , myself and The Glue Sniffer are in row D tonight . Sean.

Date: Mon May 12 07:55
Lars (www.supertanker.tk):

Hey, you're not a bad promoter, Hans! :-) It was just unfortunate circumstances this time around. The Café Mozart gigs and the one at Musikcaféen last year were superb shows. I applaud your effort *clap-clap*. :-) Jacob Faurholt is a local dude-with-a-guitar. Anyone curious can of course check out his website at www.jacobfaurholt.dk (I think there are a few mp3s there, if I remember correctly). Oh, of course there are also www.mariefrank.com and www.underbyen.com . Just curious: has anyone here checked out the mp3s at Under Byen's website? You really should give their two albums a listen. They're excellent. / Lars

Date: Mon May 12 07:55
Frank C ((Rock Opera Years)):

Usually on monday, wednesday, friday (and sunday sometimes) "Rock Opera Years" is my Giant Sand favorite of all time. For the rest of the week it´s "Chore" (sometines vice versa). Perfect sound, perfect songs (e.g. the title track, hard on things, dilemma, seldom matters again, and my favorite on this favorite cd: the version of astonished!!!) - I guess Howe could have released "Rock Opera" officially instead/before/after "Chore". Did I mention it´s fantastic?

Date: Mon May 12 05:40
mike ([sa-wa-ro]):

jeez........ one little typo!!!! been listening to 'bored lil devil' for so long i just presumed it was on the listener - maybe it should have been.

Date: Mon May 12 03:42
bad promotor (kh_horsten@dadlnet.dk):

If there`s gonna be show at Voxhall in Aarhus it is gonna be a sit down concert and it is gonna be in august. Details to follow. The Musikcafeen show from last friday was a good start for the European tour and i was surprised by so many NEW !!! young people at the show, who got introduced to the world of Howe in a pretty good way. So many talking was because of to many friends and relatives attending the show, who made it like a family party and that is a pitty.(That is over now people :-) It is always difficult to find a balance how many people should be able to attend the show. My goal is that the music of Howe should be spread as wide as possible. Special for this premiere gig at his second home in Aarhus. All in all the reviews i got from people attending the show was positve all the way around. Even Jacob Faurholt who did the warming up got possitive reactions. Jacob`s CD`s are available through this e-mail adress and are $ 7,50 + shipment. If there are people out there who want to buy Under Byen, or Marie Frank CD`s drop me a line. Good luck to the band this evening in London. Hans "The Bad Promotor"

Date: Mon May 12 03:07
Lars (to Dave):

Well, Down Home 2000 was one of my first Howe-cds. And I liked it because it was acoustic and reminded me of the shows I'd seen. But yes, all the tracks you mention are absolutely fabulous. Great use of drum machines a few places as well. About The Rock Opera Years: a really good buy. Great alternative takes of Chore-songs (like Dusted, Astonished and Punishing Sun). They sound quite different, but really, really good. Sounds like they had a very energetic session there. / Lars

Date: Sun May 11 23:25
archivist (none ):

PS: The Down Home 2002 disco-page says "Bored Lil' Devil...version on The Listener". That's not right is it?) - -------------- -- No it is not.. That was a solo session by Howe in KXCI's Studio 2A (KXCI-FM in Tucson, AZ)- he was actually the first to be recorded in there. I recorded it - multitrack and Howe did numerous overdubs w/ guit, beat box, cpmpressed air, and trash bag.. Oh yeh, metronome too. I Mixed a bunch of versions and picked that one which was released originally on KXCI's Live From Studio 2A - Volume 1 (avaliable at www.kxci.org). Jim B.

Date: Sun May 11 21:24
dave (brain freeze):

jeez, i said its yer roper cisco twice. did i mention actual desert rose? Must be the forty mile an hour winds around here.

Date: Sun May 11 21:21
dave (lars information network):

Thanks for the running commentary Lars. It's nice to get a first hand report of his live show with a band. You mentioned awhile back something about "Timber Town". When I first found this board I remember seeing poll of Giant Sandies of their favorite Sand releases, and Down Home 2000 didn't score that well. I ended up buying it after the Hideout gig in Chicago last year. For some reason, I seem to throw it on more frequently than others in recent months and it has become a favorite...maybe the spare arrangements sound good in the spring??...but I love rain m/w parade, horses still coming, timbertown, its yer ropes cisco, superpowers, and its yer ropes cisco...I'm looking forward to Down Home 2002, which I just ordered. Does anybody have any comments about Off Bootleg Series, The Rock Opera Years?

Date: Sun May 11 16:40
Frank C (Rumbling with Evan?):

Just recognized that Evan Dando will be on tour in Germany while Howe is there, too. Any chance of seeing you both at the same spot? Another technical question: Does anybody know the concert hall "mousontum" in Frankfurt? They sell 2 kinds of tickets for Howe`s show: one might be the economy class, and one is called "empore", probably with seats. Anyone out there how could give me a sage advice what´s better?

Date: Sun May 11 16:21
Lars (researching on old G.S. rumblings in Denmark):

Uh, nice. A gig at Voxhall? Warm feeling here on top of the mosque on Noerre Allé. :-) Hm, maybe it would be wise to just note that Denmarks largest music festival, the Roskilde Festival, is from the 26th to the 29th of June (and that's just the days where the music is - people arrive days before). Hey, I just checked the site. Giant Sand played there in 1986 it says! I didn't know that. Also on the bill that year: Eric Clapton, Elvis Costello and Metallica. Teehee... / Lars

Date: Sun May 11 14:34
howe (home on the range):

hi. lars thanks for showing me the way to internet land. (and for the cd.) i reckon we will do another show in late june at the voxhall if we can get a date there....but i try and champion the listener's lament at bomblastic audience chatterings....but none of us heard it on stage this time....soooo o o ..i used to kind of like the white noise of a clatter chatter...and then i heard from too many folks that they could not enjoy the show because of it...so these days i jump in there and do what i can to hush em up proper so the listeners can remain listening instead of twiggling from such interception. no problem. i like doing it now. ...ok...well the london show is tomorrow night and oddly i am nervous enough just to want it to be something of lovely evening. aside from the barbican event last year, i have not had a fullfilling giant sand set there in years...and i tend to believe it is because of the way the band behaves these days...with their minds more comprimised from other endeavers such as calexico ...and that is fine, but i can hear them not quite as there as they used to be in yesteryear. fair enough really. so whatever we lack as a band now as howe home, we seem to make up for in attention span...and all these new songs are coming out because of it. ...which we will attempt tomorrow. i am thankful for the privledge and am looking forward to the freak out. yup.

Date: Sun May 11 13:26
Lars (not scrolling....just Sunday peekin' at Wagner-post earlier):

I saw Lambchop at Voxhall in Aarhus last year (Howe performed there in 2000). There were rows of seats and people were quiet. I was on the second row. It was the gig of the year for me. Goosebumps and all - and a tear curlin' up in the corner of my during the first song. Gee, I guess I'll be dreaming of Howe doing the same at some point. His new band is so laid back and groovy. Would be nice to just sit back and just suuuuuck iiiiit aaaaall iiiin. :-D I'm not the kinda guy who has to have total silence to enjoy a show. But when chatter drowns out even the most "basic audible parts" its just so sad. ----- Enjoying a sunny Sunday with bird song here right now (no, not Unsungglum, real birds!). :-) / Lars

Date: Sun May 11 12:48
james s (Lonesomest girl in town):

Don't worry about posting too much, Lars. An active board is a good diversion, and your posts are enjoyed. I went to the movies yesterday and saw "All the Real Girls". In the opening credits, I was treated to a lovely different take of "Even if Love" from Bonnie "Prince" Billy. Later, I got some Sparklehorse. The soundtrack is not the only good thing about it. I recommend it, for what that's worth. You back from your journeys, Blaine? Have a good time???

Date: Sun May 11 12:32
tom (mexicanshark@hotmail.com):

hope you enjoy london howe,see you tomorrow night.Bring it on.

Date: Sun May 11 12:29
tHom (audience chatter):

I went to a Kurt Wagner solo set a few years back at the Water Rats pub in London. It's a tiny venue, just the back room of a bar, and it should have been a perfect setting for that kind of show. But there was so much audience chatter it drowned out most of the hoarse whispery vocals that make him so good to listen to. Maybe when they check your ticket at the door of a venue they should also hand out a little card with the definition of the words "audience" and "performer" on them and check that everyone knows which of the two they're supposed to be for the next few hours ...

Date: Sun May 11 11:55
Tommy Gailer (the-one-and-only-scroller-!):

Hey Lars, you can take over whatever you wanna, but i am the only "scroller" here! Mike knows exactly why.........just doin`fun.

Date: Sun May 11 10:19
Lars (www.supertanker.tk):

Let's get ready to rrrruuuummmble!!! ;-) (and why did I write "everything", when I meant "everytime". I'm not even sniffin' glue! Please take over, Gluey. You write so people can understand it). / Lars

Date: Sun May 11 09:32
glue snifer (coming out of retirment for one last tiraed):

so lars has taken the board from me i will revenge (probably by spelling words so badley knows what i am saying) so there. My dads bigger than your dad.

Date: Sun May 11 08:03
Lars (scrolling once more - this time for Alan):

"Age hits when interest in the new, the creative...". I've seen quite a few who stopped being interested in music once they got a girlfriend/wife. Any pointers on how to avoid that? Or is it just a matter of finding the right one - the socalled "soul mate"? My ex was not terribly much into music. Maybe also one of things (among quite a few) that suggested to me we didn't click. Or maybe it was just because she had to take the opposite point of view on everything just for the sake of it. Including everything I was complaining loudly abot mainstream trash, ha-ha. :-) / Lars "Indie Stoop"

Date: Sun May 11 07:56
Lars (doh!):

ling = long. / Lars - the old duude whu kan't hit his keys rite

Date: Sun May 11 07:55
Lars (scrolling for Shaun):

I've begun buying 7-inch singles again. So what does THAT mean? I'm confused...(that does also come with age, right? Howe quote: "Alzheimers is a relief, y'know. The body knows what its doing. Time for that ling vacation in the brain"). :-) Oh well, wondering if a May completely booked with gigs to go to will make me feel younger og older. Yo La Tengo, two different Under Byen-shows, German punk/rock and a helluva lot more. :-) (PS: The Down Home 2002 disco-page says "Bored Lil' Devil...version on The Listener". That's not right is it?) / Lars

Date: Sun May 11 01:20
Blaine (@home):

Alan, anyone who was at a Young Marble Giants show never has to apologize for anything. I saw Steve Earle & band play a few years back and this woman just would scream and yell. Finally Earle looks at her and says "you are the loudest girl in the world." That did the trick. Saw someone once cure the problem by singing so quietly the audience had to pay attn to hear what he was singing, which he ended w/ "if you'd only stop talking you cold hear me" -- or was that a Dylan bootleg? Once got in trouble by stopping a perfectly good tune mid-stream to offer the culprits their money back if they'd leave. Didn't work. FYI -- I am looking for a electric gtr == Dillion Jazzmaster copy. Anyone seen one?

Date: Sun May 11 00:45
Conch (83'? Hmmmmmmmmmm...):

Alan, was it...possibly...maybe...Duran Duran? hahahahahaha! But seriously, folks, the talking thing seems to be international and worse than ever. Saw Steve Earle a couple of years ago in Austin and heard more mindless chatter than music--didn't matter what part of the room I moved. Saw Springsteen a while ago too, and was amazed at the amount of people talking loudly on cell phones during the show (this, too, after cell phones were asked not to be used during the concert). Unfortunately, the Culture of Rude seems on the up-swing. Sorry about your experience with it, Lars. It really can almost-ruin a great show.

Date: Sun May 11 00:02
Alan (re: YMG, ooops):

Musta been Spring o' '81 for that YMG show... now who was it that I saw in '83 that got me going? Must be a sign of old age. :-)

Date: Sat May 10 23:53
Alan (Lars @ 26 (soon - sorta - to be 27)):

Old because single at 26? Yumpin yiminy man... took me until 38 to get married three years ago tomorrow... deep breath everyone, age hits when interest in the new, the creative, the difference and the growing catches a snag and gets left behind (which does not sound like Lars [or hardly anyone hear] to me.) And, anyway, irritating, non-attentive and talking-despite-performative-brilliance IS old -- MY first instance was a Young Marble Giants show in 1982 and my worst was the Uncle Tupelo show in San Francisco (circa 1993) that Giant Sand had initially been slated to open for. On the other hand, I wish there had been more people talking to distract me from the horror that was Mark E. Smith and The Fall in Boston in 1995... keep up the good fight Lars, shush 'em 'til they drop.

Date: Sat May 10 16:50
Yo Yo Tio (queso ):

GO BENLEONARD.NET!!!!

Date: Sat May 10 15:35
Shaun H. (when someone says single...):

...i still think of 7 inches of black vinyl ~ guess that makes me old too!

Date: Sat May 10 13:16
Guni (Lars, being single at 26? ):

...maybe you'd feel even much older, if you weren't a single! ;-)

Date: Sat May 10 12:40
Lars (scrolling for old geezers):

Thanks! Feel much better now. ;-) Had to answer that on, but I really should be writing less on this board. Howe said to me with a smile yesterday "you have really taken over the comments page". :-) And I went "just wait till I get a job" (doesn't anyone out there need a journalist for anything? I can do band promo work, well, whatever. Not articles in English, I think. I'm not good enough at it). HEY HOWE, DID NILS GIVE YOU THE CD YOU WANTED LAST NIGHT? / Lars

Date: Sat May 10 12:22
Tommy Gailer (cranky-scroller):

Well, Lars, i am getting 39 at AUGUST 10th! So i am really old! Doesn`t make that feel you a bit younger? Go Lions!

Date: Sat May 10 11:31
Lars (checket out the updated discography...):

Uhhh, "Trace" is on the new Down Home 2002! Niiice! That was one of the songs from last years gig at the Musikcaféen that really gave the ol' spine a shiver. :-D Nice and warm feeling, right? Oh, and that exact recording just happens to be included on the new Sandman. ;-) Sit tight for Santa Mike / Lars

Date: Sat May 10 11:24
Lars (I'm gettin' there - no worries):

I'm 27 on the 11th of August (that is still 26 then). But I kinda feel old (does that have anything to do with being single at 26?). And it takes me two to three days to recover from hard drinking these days. Good thing it's not every week. :-) / Lars

Date: Sat May 10 10:55
Tommy Gailer (typo-scroller):

Lars, you`re just gettin`old, that`s all ;-)...by the way, how old are you, Lars? I would say about 30? Too much?

Date: Sat May 10 09:14
Lars (typo):

Gee, how can I misspell "guys" with "guess"?

Date: Sat May 10 09:12
Lars (www.supertanker.tk - somewhat "new" design):

Well, Guni. The Danes are in the "alien phase" at the moment. I guess I should see it as a nice thing that it seems more and more people go out to live shows. Now we have to learn them how to listen as well. ;-) I hope you guess get some good recordings done this month. The band is really brilliant. That bass and cajon thing to Howe's voice, guitar and piano, just makes me...eh, melt. :-) Great new songs as well. Somewhat in the vein of The Listener. By the way, Howe played for around two hours last night. :-D Greets! / Lars

Date: Sat May 10 06:52
Guni (+++ are we the cross you bear... +++):

Lars, this one show I guess Tommy refers to was a normal show in a normal club, part of the audience standing (those in front of the stage) and the other ones up on the gallery being seated. And like Tommy I have the feeling, that quite a lot of people here in Germany get pissed, when people just won't stop talking and chatting during a concert. But a lot will approach those folks and tell them to stop or leave. This took a while though, a few years ago those talkative ones would just stare at you as if you were an alien. Or maybe they were danes (just kidding!) Looking forward to seeing both Howe and Tommy at Munich!

Date: Sat May 10 04:24
Lars (www.supertanker.tk):

Where those German shows sit-down ones? Last time Howe played at Musikcaféen there were chairs. And yes, less people there (this time around it seems a bigger buzz had been created). I think it's important as an organizer to find a balance between making money and still provide the right set-up for a good experience of the show. Marie did a good job, by the way. Even singing "Torque" as a duet with Howe. And doing "Wonder" almost alone. "Warm Storm" and others with her were aldo really good. It just seems she can't shake the thing she did at her previous bigger shows: namemly "perform". Y'know "acting out the words" on stage. Which is okay, but just really a contrast to the laid back music and Howe's "acting out" which so much more underplayed. I feel better now, by the way. Because I had some really great moments on the front row. It's just that I had been waiting for that show for a long time - and in general lack of respect is one of the very few things that can really make me mad. Oh well... / Lars

Date: Sat May 10 02:04
Tommy Gailer (scrolling for denmark):

I am sorry for ya, Lars. That kinda talkin` can really kill the entire evening. I must confess that the german crouds are generally pretty quite at these kinds of concerts. OK, sometimes you have some very few persons that like to get loud in talking, but there are enough around them to get them quiet or back to the bar.######### At Howe solo-shows (2002) some talking was kinda fun too, when Howe`s comments to these people made the whole audiance laugh.

Date: Fri May 9 19:11
james s (Re: Lars):

Lars, the problem isn't confined to your neck of the woods, my friend. Nashville is bad for chatty audiences too (except at the Bluebird, where you'll actually get hushed). It seems like the only way to silence an audience around here is to simply drown them out with a wall of sound they can't possibly be heard over. I love a big wall of sound, but it surely would be nice to be able to hear some of the quieter shows too, without it being merely an accompanyment to every drunken, boring and loud conversation in the bar. Too bad about not getting a good tape.

Date: Fri May 9 18:55
OWOM (SPOINK and CRANKY):

For overseas orders ($17) http://www.ccnow.com/cgi-local/cart.cgi?owom2002_INFIL-EURO_www.giantsand.com/new-files/owom-store-us.htm

Date: Fri May 9 18:54
OWOM (SPOINK and CRANKY):

For Canada orders ($14) http://www.ccnow.com/cgi-local/cart.cgi?owom2002_INFIL-CAN_www.giantsand.com/new-files/owom-store-us.htm

Date: Fri May 9 18:53
OWOM (SPOINK and CRANKY):

For US orders ($13) http://www.ccnow.com/cgi-local/cart.cgi?owom2002_INFIL-US_www.giantsand.com/new-files/owom-store-us.htm

Date: Fri May 9 18:51
Lars (back from the gig :-/):

Lovely lyrics-droppin' there folks. It lightens up my mood. I'm just back from Howe's gig in Aarhus. And even though his and the band's performance was absolutely brilliant and everything one could wish for, I'm sad and angry.... Never have I seen such a lack of respect for a performing musician. 75% of the crowd just talked and talked and talked and talked throughout the whole show. The monitors on stage must have been working, 'cause I asked some of the band if they had heard the talking and they said no. It was horrible. I eased my way to the front row (it was a standing crowd show) and even there I could still hear a LOT of talking. I'm a peaceful person, but I was just about to exploooode with rage. Why the hell attend the bloody concert if you're not listening AT ALL?!?!? I hate Danes. They just don't know how to behave at a gig. Egotistical pricks! Even when one asks someone if they are gonna hear the music or not, they say yes, and just keep on talking. Loud. Imagine what kind of brain activity there must be between those ears when it doesn't even register that they ruining the whole experience for others. This is a very common problem at Danish gigs. But this was the worst I've experienced yet. And Howe was just great. Which makes it even more painful. I hope I feel better tomorrow. Because right now I'm very sad. Well, about the show: Howe had been rehearsing (yes, he said so!) with the band in the afternoon and the days before. And they played a handful of new songs before Howe proclaimed that they would now play the whole of The Listener (so did he stray off along the way? Well, of course he did) :-) A few of the new songs seem to be about cities (a theme for a record?)....Napoli and New York. And there was even a song in French! BUT STAY TUNED, ALL YE GERMANS ETC.!!! You're up for some great shows this month! Tonight was a very laid back affair. I guess when the percussion is a cajon and not a drumkit it kinda goes jazzy and bossa nova-ish. :-) Some nice lapsteel guitar in there too. And mandolin with wah-wah-pedal. And nice and sloppy upright bass stuff. I hope the other European audiences behave better than the Danes. I'm stunned at the moment. Needless to say the recording of the gig is more or less useless, because the sound guy thought it would be better to do it as an audience recording (with the venues' good mics), because he said all the instruments weren't mic'ed up. Well, they looked mic'ed to me! Luckily I at least had some really good moments on the front row (Cracklin' Water was spellbinding), but overall I'm so, so, so dissappointed in my fellow audience members. Even the bar staff was idiots. Why drag a beer-keg acros the bar-floor, when you can lift it? The sound just goes through everything. They gotta let fewer in next time Howe plays in town and then give them chairs! I think that will just help a bit. This way it doesn't work at all. By the way, Howe seems to have become a fan of Scout Niblett. He used her "I Conjure Series"-EP a lot throughout the set. Hm, a lot of word here. Sorry. I'll stop now and go to bed now. Greets and sweets to ya all! / Lars

Date: Fri May 9 18:51
OWOM (SPOINK and CRANKY):

Another new release is now avaliable from the good folks at OWOM records: Down Home 2001 - Infiltration of Dreams - Live (repackaged w/ new cover design) - The appropriate links are posted above and the OWOM store page will soon be updated as well.. Thanks!

Date: Fri May 9 18:00
Alex (thanks gazelle):

Thanks, I'll definitely check that out.

Date: Fri May 9 17:41
gazelle (for Alex):

my friend recorded matt ward's noise pop show onto minidisc. i think some of the mp3's are posted at www.benleonard.net good luck!

Date: Fri May 9 17:35
alan (well, OK...):

"I'm aware there's a world out there, I'm aware there's a world somewhere... But I don't need to go blind... Nothing I need to go find."

Date: Fri May 9 17:03
Graham (.):

"there was liquor if needed"

Date: Fri May 9 16:56
james s (again):

"When folks fall in love, they're delivered to the unknown; fools who never fall, are in love with the safety zone; so you can end up all crippled up, by the crazy seeds you've sown; there in lies the crux of, the sweet flux of, such irristable moan... that's the bottom line man...." Ahhhhh.

Date: Fri May 9 16:21
Conch (two recent favorites):

"Kissing like it was our last meal" and "Walk around like I own the sound of cowboy boots on cobblestone".

Date: Fri May 9 16:12
Graham (.):

"Me, I was at the height of my powers"

Date: Fri May 9 13:35
james s (glumish):

"it's waaaayyy windswept here... young trees end up all broken" Jeez, if I started spitting out all of my favorite Howe lyrics, it would turn into a thickish chapbook.... that verse in Spun that ends with "you're well spun out by this post-modern medieval..." Whew. The man is good with words. It may seem strange to imagine it, but if Howe ever retires or takes a break from his record-making, he ought to pen some playful and strange books for little ones.

Date: Fri May 9 12:26
Alan (Graham's "E-mail Address"):

true, true... though, I guess, there may be things as good elsewhere in various and sundry (and maybe even some other) musicological canons.

Date: Fri May 9 09:30
Lars (Cool):

Thanks, Graham! A bit of a tongue twister there (or a tango with said bodypart perhaps?). Could you actually hear the words or are the lyrics somewhere on the web? Oh well, I guess it helps a bit if English is your mother tongue. And yeah, those four opening tracks are excellent - "Frontage Road" being my favourite of those. "Remain Distorted" and "Faithful" further along are really great too. By the way....when Mike gets the Sandman-covers up on the site, they'll probably be a bit lower quality than my originals. If you want the big ones they're still available on my site at http://www.larsdideriksen.com/diverse/howe-sandman-covers.htm ---- the traclists have been revised for 2 x 74 minute discs now. The "Loving Cup"-mp3 also resides there for a little while longer. Greets! / Lars

Date: Fri May 9 09:17
graham (nothing's better than the opening four tracks from Glum):

"dimlit dime deity in the tried-and-true trim trinity"

Date: Fri May 9 08:42
tHom (the circle line):

Sniffer, a pox on your false eschatology. Pull yourself together man. The world needs you and besides, it ain't over til the fat lady sings and things can only get better and what about the children and - is that enough or do you want more?

Date: Fri May 9 05:24
Lars (it's howeday :-D):

Does anyone have any lyrics for "Glum" (or the "unsung" one)? I'm just wondering about the line "the dimlit di..nety?...di-what? deini-who?" Can't find it in the dictionary. How is it spelled and what does it mean? ..."the tried and true trin-trinity" (or?). Well, it just rolls so elegantly off the tongue. :-D Looking forward to tonight, Howe. Any chance that Henriette will join you on stage this time around? That would be so cool. :-) / Lars

Date: Fri May 9 02:46
Paul (93455):

Thanks Stefan. I'm listening to it now. Last week Matt and Vic Chesnutt put on a great performance at Painted Sky Recording studio in Cambria CA. http://www.paintedskystudios.com/ . The sets were recorded and hopefully will be released. Alex I see that you already have the concert CD that I was talking about.

Date: Fri May 9 01:51
stefan ((munich)):

Hi Alex, check out http://pages.vpro.nl/3voor12/concerts/concerts.shtml?2534202+2584688+2584508+0 and do a search for Matt Ward.

Date: Fri May 9 01:49
Paul (93455):

He did'nt have any last week at Painted Sky gig. I guess his web site will have them sometime.

Date: Thu May 8 21:15
Alex (angelfire.com/wa2/gimmetherock):

Anyone know how or where or who I have to kill to get an M. Ward live or concert cd??? Or anything other than the 4 largely (well, comparitively...) available cds (#2, Amnesia, strangers' voices, vincent)? Heard Grandaddy's cover of Fishing Boat. Very cool...

Date: Thu May 8 20:08
Glue Sniffer (Its all coming to an end ):

I feel this may be my last ever post

Date: Thu May 8 18:50
The Sad Queso (: * ():

Grandaddy only gets to come home for like a day. That is so unfair!! :*(

Date: Thu May 8 12:25
Lars (www.supertanker.tk):

I HAVE to say this, Matt: lucky bugger! ;-) / Lars

Date: Thu May 8 07:48
matt (thankyou for the music):

howe - just wanted to say how much i enjoyed the gig on friday! thankyou!! especially liked that little duet with kurt wagner!

Date: Thu May 8 02:25
Lars (Grrrandaddy-O):

Thanks for that Pitchfork-link! That was a quite well-written review, I think. It made me smile more than once. Hey, Howe, your Grandaddy homies are playing at Vega in Copenhagen on the 15th of June. They don't seem to be playing in Aarhus, though. Gotta give them a miss this time around (the train ticket is four times the ticket price for the gig). Have a nice day everyone! / Lars

Date: Wed May 7 18:22
james s (www.jamesscarbrough.com):

One of my favorite ratty summer t-shirts is one I made myself, stealing the artwork off the cover of "Hisser". Fun with a computer, "iron-on" transfer paper, and an ink jet printer! Don't worry, ye "intellectual property" protectors; I just made one and it wasn't for sale.

Date: Wed May 7 15:01
Graham (new in OW OM):

Hey Spoink and Cranky--will any Giant Sand shirts be forthcoming in the store? Weren't some going out on tour recently?

Date: Wed May 7 14:34
glue sniffer (ill buy the ticket and and a pint and):

saves me the ticket master hastle will email ect.

Date: Wed May 7 09:25
Dru Down (sonofdietmar@yahoo.com):

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/g/gelb_howe/listener.shtml

Date: Wed May 7 06:17
stewart lee (s@l):

Paul It was in Victoria Square. I was only visiting, from the UK. The man who ran Big Star records on Rundle St was a big GSand fan, and put out an album by Al Perry, who was a minor name in the Tucson scene. I'm guessing you know this and are local. Adelaide was great during festival season but quiet the rest of the time. I liked the trams.

Date: Wed May 7 02:11
Lars (www.supertanker.tk):

Oh, will you be bringing the new Down Home-cd to the gig? Gotta have it, y'know. :-)

Date: Wed May 7 02:09
Lars (just two days till the 9th, yeah!):

Welcome back, Howe! I'll see you on friday for sure. :-) Aarhus is bubbling with music this May. I know you'll be on tour most of the month, but you'll be back for the Spot 09 Festival. Try checking it out. Under Byen is playing at Spot. :-) Where, by the way, none other than David Fricke apparently will be introducing the band. C ya! / Lars

Date: Tue May 6 20:22
home (howe):

here im aaaaarhus...

Date: Tue May 6 20:17
Sean T (sean.tracey@btinternet.com):

Folks , I have a spare ticket for Howe in London Monday , Stalls row D . Face value , £18. Any takers ? Mail me at sean.tracey@uk.abnamro.com or sean.tracey@btinternet.com

Date: Tue May 6 18:29
Paul (Considering eating the majority of the pies):

Stewart - I have dreams about the pie cart in Victoria Square (where I'm guessing you purchased your floater). It seemed to mystically appear after a key number of schooners of coopers... okay maybe not but great days.

Date: Tue May 6 12:25
james s (giant woo hoo):

on the up2id3 bomu howe 5005!!!! muchos gracias, OWOM Spank and Croaky!

Date: Tue May 6 12:09
stewart lee (s@l):

I ate a PIE FLOATER very late at night in Adelaide, South Australia in April 1997. I think it was one of the happiest moments of my life.

Date: Mon May 5 21:51
OWOM (...):

FYI: Even though we do not have the OWOM store web page updated yet, you can order the 1st of the NEW releases from Howe Gelb. Upside Down Home 2002 is now avaliable via these web pages. $13 w/ USA shipping is http://www.ccnow.com/cgi-local/cart.cgi?owom2002_DH2002-US - $14 w/ Canada shipping is http://www.ccnow.com/cgi-local/cart.cgi?owom2002_DH2002-CAN - $17 w/ overseas shipping is http://www.ccnow.com/cgi-local/cart.cgi?owom2002_DH2002-EURO - We will update the OWOM web page ASAP! Thanks,,, Spoink and Cranky

Date: Mon May 5 21:51
OWOM (...):

FYI: Even though we do not have the OWOM store web page updated yet, you can order the 1st of the NEW releases from Howe Gelb. Upside Down Home 2002 is now avaliable via these web pages. $13 w/ USA shipping is http://www.ccnow.com/cgi-local/cart.cgi?owom2002_DH2002-US - $14 w/ Canada shipping is http://www.ccnow.com/cgi-local/cart.cgi?owom2002_DH2002-CAN - $17 w/ overseas shipping is http://www.ccnow.com/cgi-local/cart.cgi?owom2002_DH2002-EURO - We will update the OWOM web page ASAP! Thanks,,, Spoink and Cranky

Date: Mon May 5 17:53
Glue sniffer (Hey whos this gary guy?):

hello in a moment of clarity i must see howe in london on monday what do i do is it all seating who do i pay should i wait and buy on the door any advice spar tickets greatly blatently acceped with all major methods of payment availble. STAYING OFF THE SAUCER

Date: Mon May 5 17:48
Garry Snifferosqueie (Hello My EEnglesh Chums):

What lovely finger balms we eat. Please meet road square gig on monday. Is there the chance of Drink or as we say in gushhah FINKYPINKYTINKY i will be street sat with 4pm collecting your spares and changers. Love the site and my sisters a logger with llimmited recycling. dankashun

Date: Mon May 5 16:05
Graham ("to season one's destiny with the dust of one's folly, that is the trick"):

Jsut finished reading Henry Miller's Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymous Bosch, an account of the titular locale and the artists and visionaries who flocked there. Made me wish Miller had stopped off in Tucson on his "air-conditioned nightmare" tour of America.

Date: Mon May 5 14:02
peter (carolina dreamin):

no worries james, glad you enjoyed yerself. obviously i could use some time off myself. oh yeah, i got the new dando but have only listened to it once so far. the songs he does with howe/gs are particularly good, but the others don't really sink in upon initial listening. "The same thing you thought hard about..." is a great song, but the version on live at the brattle is much better. definitely worth picking up if you're a fan. it's short too, maybe 40 minutes.

Date: Mon May 5 12:44
james s (Re: Peter):

Peter, I'm guilty of unintended deception "between the lines". My time on the coast is spent walking the shore, looking for cool shells, meditating, drinking, eating, taking a quick dip and getting out before something eats me... So, no surfing. I did have a very good time though.

Date: Mon May 5 09:46
peter (long bored):

so james, was the swell swell? reading between the lines, it seems you had some good sets keeping you occupied. i gotta get back into shape myself. last time i had a chance to surf was last October in Santa Monica, and I couldn't catch a single wave. pathetic.

Date: Mon May 5 03:47
Lars (www.supertanker.tk):

Got some gooood curry in the house already. My glue is a bit lame, though. Gotta get some new. ;-) / Lars

Date: Sun May 4 22:09
james s (landlocked again):

J, it is blue ink from a linoleum block I carved out (on the disk). I feel well vacated. It's gotta last me for the rest of the year, this feeling of being rested and out of the rut. American employers don't much like providing too many paid vacations to their worker bees. I hear some of you Euro-types have four to six weeks per year. If'n it's true, I'm green. Any comments on the new Dando?

Date: Sun May 4 18:47
glue sniffer (lars):

i am coming to live with you. i feel your boudless energy and enthusiamsm would be good for me. i hope you like pasta and curry. we could sit for evenings singing to the sky.

Date: Sun May 4 16:12
Lars (www.larsdideriksen.com):

Oh, and what's the word on that quite ambitious fan-cover-sandman? Just curious. A few moments ago I tried to do a beat of some sort on my computer. Was thinking of doing something that smelled of "Timbertown" - which I figured I could do, now that I haven't got any tablature. But the beat I made sounded horrible, ha-ha....in that uncool kinda way. Just don't wanna do a guitar-only thing. :-) Oh, the dilemma. Teehee. Yeah, I have a lotta fun here in unemployed Denmark. Greets all around, ye lovely sandies! / Lars

Date: Sun May 4 16:08
Lars (clam-like glee):

Yeeeeaaah! Can't wait. Well, okay, I can. It's only a few days. I'll see if I can muster the courage to actually shout a request if Howe asks. I've expanded my Howeish horizon since last gig around. I've got SOMETHING to shout now. :-) Hm, just heard that new Napoli-song on a bootleg. Very nice one, indeed. (Can I bring my minidisc again, Howe?) ;-D / Lars

Date: Sun May 4 16:03
Scaveger Records (Hans) (KH_Horsten@dadlnet.dk):

There is going to be a show with Howe and Friends on Friday the 9th of maj 2003 at Musikcafeen in Aarhus ,Denmark. Tickets are on sale now, kontakt Scavenger Records at 0045 86 122773 or e-mail KH_Horsten@dadlnet.dk. Cheers all Hans

Date: Sun May 4 15:24
johnny yen (Del Shannon Sings Hank Williams. Really.):

And maybe Howe should cover the entire "Everybody Loves A Nut" album. It runs on pill power.

Date: Sun May 4 13:40
johnny yen (close but no bob seger):

Can anyone out there recommend the band Angst and any specific album that is good, better or best?

Date: Sun May 4 01:02
PHILLY FOOD (Pa. resident):

The best thing , and only thing you not miss in Philadelphia food-wise! IS the feeling of eating at PAT`s .Ask Howe he`s probably had one. it is philly at it`s finest!!! ask anyone who has ever been there. It`s a two hour trip just to get to the great town. and no matter how full I am there is alway`s room for Pats http://www.patskingofsteaks.com/ Long live the GREASE! casper

Date: Sat May 3 20:28
paulk (ditto):

Either I go back to University with those cowgirls or this site gets a spellchecker.

Date: Sat May 3 20:27
paulk (swampthing):

Finally got the chance to see Calexico last night. First time in Scotland. great show, those twangy spaghetti western songs sound great live. A good crowd, several hundred. I despair at this, when Howe played here around 60 people turned up. Oh well, they don't know what they are missing. They played at the University union and going in I saw several cowboys and cowgirls , i thought some people had taken this desert rock texas thing too seriosly but it turned out to be a bunch of students having some sort of themed night downstairs. YeeHaw.

Date: Sat May 3 18:48
Lester Clay (Yesterday):

Here Vic play

Date: Sat May 3 18:09
silver (lake):

good time

Date: Sat May 3 15:49
anna (-lost-):

snooker - what a sport! - enjoy it anyway tom

Date: Fri May 2 20:29
Shaun H. (philly eats):

Adam/Peter ~ thanks for the tips, noted 'em down, but i think i'll have to pass on the cheesesteak Alan. looking forward to a 2 a.m. toasted bagel w/ muenster (grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr............) cheese already though.

Date: Fri May 2 17:49
Alan (went to school near Philly):

Bookbinders, I think, not Bookmakers. Other than that, when in Philly don't you have to get a cheesesteak? Lastly, all mentions of South Philly need to include a reference to the movie "Birdy" - great working class buddies messed up by the Vietnam War film, with the best gotcha at the end of any movie I know of... and it has a young Nicholas Cage and Matthew Modine in it.

Date: Fri May 2 16:01
peter (more on phillyfood for shaunh):

yes ralph's definitely is the best italian, although you couldn't tell by looking at the place. you gotta go there. bookmakers (i think that's the name, very close if not) in center city has decent seafood but is somewhat of a ripoff, still far superior to the other bookmakers way downtown. there's also a good mex food place near rittenhouse square, on chestnut i think, somewhere between rittenhouse park and 16th street. lot's of beauties drinking there too typically, good happy hour scene.

Date: Fri May 2 14:54
Lars (www.supertanker.tk):

There's an interview with Marie Frank about her work with Howe in the magazine Gaffa. It's in Danish, though. But if you can read it, then check out this link: http://www.gaffa.dk/nyheder/view.php?news_id=10621 ----- / Lars - less hangover, but still knackered and struggling...

Date: Fri May 2 12:40
Paul (pie land):

The pie floater is a meat pie served in a bowl of pea soup! Very popular in parts of Australia. My experience, would advise against trying to eat such a thing on public transport. Another culinary curiosity I came across was a savoury slice (flat pie type thing) in a roll (ideally one of those ones with melted cheese on top), ketchup optional. Very filling indeed.

Date: Fri May 2 10:41
Adam (adamnicely@hotmail.com):

This one is for Shaun H., I live in Philly so here are a couple of my favorites 1. Penang - This is definitely my fave place in the city, great service, food, and price, can't beat it. http://www.phillychinatown.com/penang.htm , 2. Vietnam - there are two right across the street from each other at this address both called Vietnam, yeah, confusing, go to the smaller looking one. 222 North 11th Street Philadelphia, PA 19107, Tel: (215) 592-9596 3. Las Cazuelas - This is great for Mexican, not much else in this neighborhood but the appetizer sampler is amazing: http://philadelphia.citysearch.com/profile/11352938/ 4. And lastly, real south philly italian, Ralph's Italian Restaurant, 760 S 9th St., Philadelphia, PA 19147 Phone: (215) 627-6011. None of these are expensive. By the way, I love Giant Sand, my friend Manfred recently hooked me up with a ton of bootlegs, live is how I like my sand man. I recently recorded about 20 songs even though i cant play any instruments. Thinking about submitting something for the cover album. I would not hit any of the rite notes but all is well. bye

Date: Fri May 2 06:13
Lars (...):

Ouch! I'm fighting the worst hangover. That should have said "your track". Jeez, it's bad. I hate myself for drinking those strong beers. / Lars

Date: Fri May 2 06:02
Lars (www.supertanker.tk):

Well, Sarah, I just got the Pet Series sent all the way to Denmark. And I must say that our tracks is one of the best on it. / Lars

Date: Thu May 1 18:02
glue sniffers (Guide to drink mixing):

hope gig went well to celebrate i would recomend a turbo shandy this is 1/2 pint of larger (stella) and a bottle of lemonade flavoured alco=pop like smirnof ice. Also 2 shots of port mixed with a blue wiked bottle tastes like vimto and thats ture. love you all put gin in everything and listen to the circus girls.

Date: Thu May 1 17:49
gazelle (guiness floats):

has anyone ever had one of these? they are sooooo nasty. the taste of sweet cream with bitter beer makes for a bad combination. my sister and friend love them, but that's dilemma for ya!

Date: Thu May 1 16:48
innis (!!!!?????):

A pie floater? I am intrigued. Is that anything like a coke float? Forgot to mention food song 'Two pints of lager and a packet of crisps please' by Splodgenessabounds......where are they now,eh? Or who, indeed.

Date: Thu May 1 16:10
Shaun H. (longing for a packet of pacers):

i ain't ever seen no peppermint chocolate chip milkshake, but what i can recommend is just grabbing yourself some wrigleys spearmints, spend a good 10 minutes of solid chewing, and wash down w/ a chocolate milkshake ~ like liquid Aero! anyone out there in Philly, PA able to recommend some good food joints by the way???

Date: Thu May 1 14:21
Glue sniffer (bloolocksxsps):

tonight whoops tommoro whoops why didnt any one tell me i realy need to know in advance so can i just apologise now for that and say I hope you dont get all unstuck without me. (this is i realise verry unlikely ) Will by any sander joiner or craftsman a drink at the weekend promise. LOve you

Date: Thu May 1 13:52
Sarah Adams (lbjeffriesmusic@hotmail.com):

hi, i came across your board and am really intrigued. i have to admit i was doing one of those searches for my own thing, i am a band called l.b. jeffries and i saw that some comments were made concerning the pet series... anyway, does this just serve for comments about music, etc? where is everyone from... same place or all over? at any rate, greetings from england all the same. sarah/lb

Date: Thu May 1 13:25
Battered (Grease):

The deep fried Mars bar phenomenon seems to have caught on big time, they even exist outside the UK, had a variation (Snickers) in a chip shop in North Adelaide a couple of years back, excellent companion to a pie floater.

Date: Thu May 1 09:09
matt (rumbling with piggy bank):

see you there Mike!

Date: Thu May 1 07:02
mike ([sa-wa-ro]):

just to let those of you who are going to see howe in the next couple of days know...... that he has the new down home 2002 cd with him plus some new t-shirts. i'll be at the leicester show and will have rock opera and unsungglum + some older t-shirts as well..... see you there.

Date: Thu May 1 06:11
Lars (www.larsdideriksen.com):

Been looking through the German eBay. Yes, there are some Giant Sand. But they don't use Paypal - instead a whole range of other kinds of weird payment. And half of them don't even send outside Germany. Doh! "Just don't mention the war".... Well, if they keeping this game up, I will! Grrrr. And on top of that it's really raining here in Aarhus. Oh, well, I guess this weeks three day music festival (www.recession.dk) will cheer me up. Yeah! :-D Greets from here-abouts / Lars

Date: Thu May 1 04:56
SeanT (Mars Bars / Haggis):

The Fried Mars bar is true , I had one in Glasgow . It was the dessert , main meal was deep fried haggis . Not for the faint hearted , looked like deep fried maggotts. Sean.

Date: Wed Apr 30 18:46
Mmmm (mmm...):

I love peppermint chocolate chip milkshakes on a sunny afternoon greengrass hil... mmm

Date: Wed Apr 30 18:27
Mmmm (mmm...):

I love peppermint chocolate chip milkshakes on a sunny afternoon greengrass hil... mmm

Date: Wed Apr 30 12:01
peter (thirsty):

i could go for a milkshake girl right about now

Date: Wed Apr 30 11:38
mistake (sorry):

It should be White PEPPER Ice Cream.

Date: Wed Apr 30 11:37
Other Songs About Food (yep):

Savoy Truffle from the White Album. Beef Jerky from Lennon's Walls & Bridges. White Paper Ice Cream by Cibo Matto.

Date: Wed Apr 30 06:03
innis (PaulK):

....the legend is true; battered MarsBar is also available in my local chippie in Brighton...who knows where else this delicacy has got to (TV cook Nigella Lawson cooked Bounty bars in tempura...classy...)Scotland is noted for it's yellow food (I particularly liked the macaroni cheese pie)On a musical note, songs about food. Discuss. (Vic Chesnutt 'Tarragon','Onion Soup'; Undertones 'Mars Bar'....and lest we forget, 'Temptation of Egg'...)

Date: Wed Apr 30 02:30
J (to Conch):

Thanks

Date: Wed Apr 30 00:40
THE GREAT PUMPKIN PATCH (good to my ear U.S.A):

Love the Listener! And i`m sittin here in a baracuda with a swamp~cooler just askin what song I will put fourth for the C.D. FANNED SAND!!!!!!! ???? Blue marble girl,? stuck,? oh I know*** It`s gotta be either polliticians wife or dreamville new mexico. speeking of witch I`ve created a dreamville T SHIRT. HOWE is in the caddy holdin his hat racin his brother on a mair ,,,(gravel kickin up everywhere) WHERE printed on the back,D.N.M pic on front

Date: Tue Apr 29 22:59
mayor Mc'Queso (deadmonton):

don't squash me Unc I'm just real happy that there's this wire

Date: Tue Apr 29 22:41
todd (Fiend CD 115):

Hey after spending the afternoon and evening w/ 'Storm' I'm wondering which '3 6ixes' version I like better...like the intro on the original and Howe's tone but then there's the H.G's piano and "Loopy"(?) on 'Outside An Angel's Reach'.

Date: Tue Apr 29 22:38
Tio Queso (...):

eye yam 10 feat hi, eye way 500 powndz, and eye yam gonna blo the man down!! LET'S RRRUUUMMMBBLLLEEE!!!

Date: Tue Apr 29 18:43
ddot (FIEND CD 115 ):

it took awhile to happen but I just listened to 1987's or 88's 'Storm'...'Right Makes Right' jumps quickly into my pick for the early selection cd. I traded some old work cds for this import.

Date: Tue Apr 29 18:37
PaulK (Deep fried Mars bar):

According to legend the above delicacy is eaten here in Scotland. I've never come across one. Anyway, Howe, don't you mean "chip butty", nothing better than some French (not freedom!!!) fries in a white bread sandwich. What are you doing at the BBC?

Date: Tue Apr 29 17:25
Lars D (Still "Loving Cup" at www.larsdideriksen.com/diverse/howe-sandman-covers.htm ):

Howe, are you thinking of doing a gig in Copenhagen when you're back in Denmark? I've got people asking about it. They envy us Aarhusians. :-D Hep-diddley, sandorinos! / Lars

Date: Tue Apr 29 15:57
blinky (just rude enough to ask):

okay, just read that doa interview (pretty good) but I have two questions left. one, is that a new haircut? and two, what exactly is the beef with joe burns? I've seen the allusions on this list and elsewhere, like everybody else. cmon man, give it up - what'd he do that was so darn wrong?

Date: Tue Apr 29 09:44
Cheapo de Luxe ((on German ebay)):

"Glum" is there on sale for currently only 1 Euro (can you believe it). Plus if I remember correctly, someone was looking for "Love Songs" which starts at 3 Euro right there, too. Plenty of other vintage and rare GS - stuff is also listed on: www.ebay.de

Date: Tue Apr 29 08:19
zaireeka (holmstone@hotmail.com):

maybe you don´t give a toss, but here´s five albums you really ought to hear: the essex green - the long goodbye (out now on merge records) beautiful pop...maybe it´s retroish, maybe it´s belle and sebastian meets mamas and the papas, but nonetheless it´s astonishing! yo la tengo - summer sun (out now on matador) they´re back and they´re calmer, sweeter and cosier than ever! It´s not the best album they´ve done, but it has enough of exciting things going on to make it to this years top ten albums. songs ohia - magnolia electric co (out now on secretly canadian) it doesn´t sound like neil young ca 1975, but if you like how Neil sounded back then I think you´re in for a treat here. Produced by steve albini and has some great singing by girlie scott niblett. the microphones - "the glow pt 2" (came last year, k records) this is an masterpiece. unique and thrilling lo-fi meets hi-fi production and some killer tunes. sometimes it sounds like neutral milk hotel, sometimes like a dirtier jim o rourke... daniel johnston "fear yourself" (out now on gammon records) yes, he´s back. this time produced and arranged by mark "sparklehorse" linkous. It´s more produced than before, but in a sensitive way. Lovesongs sung by one of the best originals there is.

Date: Tue Apr 29 02:47
Conch (for J):

Well, J...cooler pads go on swamp coolers, and they get wetted with H20 to provide a blast into a homestead of sometimes musky, oddly refreshing air. Best change them out once a year--the pads, I mean--otherwise they get fairly funky and coated with gunk. The swamp cooler is usually found on the rooftops of homes, and is usually in some proximity to the heating system. In dry, hot places like Tucson a swamp cooler is a cheap, affordable form of air conditioning (they're called evaporative coolers elsewhere--but I believe the "swamp" name originated from folks who used/use them in Florida). But come monsoon season, the moisture in the air makes them tough to live with. The walls sweat and the framed posters on the walls get a wee bit curvy. That make any sense? All righty...safe travels, Howe. Look forward to hearing your missives from the road when ya get a chance.

Date: Tue Apr 29 02:39
J (what is):

Cooler pad? I know not. Keep digging at the boy, It's fun. As a mark of respect my covers will contain bass, but no bass players... The unspeakable Turk must feature. Rob S or those that know him are you receiving me? PS James S, haven't had a full listen yet, but when the burner man (who I caught up with today) gets a copy done for you I think it will be a similar thing for us both- love some hate some? Is that acrylic stencilage on the disc? Answers upon your return...

Date: Tue Apr 29 00:12
howe (barely home):

paulk i have 2 words for you: CHIP BUDDY. now with any luck the plane tomorrow will actually get me to the bbc....the last 3 planes i have tried to travel on since last tuesday, on 3 seperate airlines, all had equipment crumblings and were eacha no go. ok then i will probably only be incomprehendably jet laggery. .....and speaking of which i have 2 words for joy burns; exactly how many cooler pads have you ever actually changed with your own hands...? ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha now let's ruuuuuuuummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmbbbbbbbbbBBBBBBBBBBBbbble

Date: Mon Apr 28 19:45
Paul (93455):

Fluffernuter Sandwich http://www.marshmallowfluff.com/

Date: Mon Apr 28 19:10
paulk (fluffernutter):

OK, Fluffernutter opens the first Giant Sand unofficial bootleg, I thought it a fine example of Howian wordplay. Well, imagine my surprise when watching Scrubs the other night one of the cast said he'd supply the fluffernutters for a party. turns out it's some kind of peanut butter and marshmallow sandwich! Do you guys in the USA actually eat this! What does it taste like? Any other examples of Howe's culinary wordplays?

Date: Mon Apr 28 18:01
Lars D (www.supertanker.tk):

Ahhh, back in Aarhus. Thanks for the article-link. The BBC Howe-session will probably be located here in a little while: http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/presenters/gideon_coe/ ----- Greets! / Lars

Date: Mon Apr 28 14:44
gazelle (welcome tio queso!):

so good to have you on board! here in giantsandland, you will find fine feathered warm and fuzzy friends. let's hope we get those songs covered ;OP uncle cheese knows how to blow the man down!!!

Date: Mon Apr 28 04:04
martin (howe on the bbc):

This Thursday on BBC Radio 6 (digital & on-line)Gideon Coe (10am-1pm) will have acoustic tracks from HOWE GELB. DON'T YOU DARE MISS IT!

Date: Mon Apr 28 02:51
AP (DOA):

Here is a link to a massive new Howe interview http://www.adequacy.net/int/gelb/index.shtml

Date: Sun Apr 27 16:25
martin (calexico news):

I have it pretty decent authority that John Peel has Calexico in session on his BBC Radio 1 show, this Wednesday at 10pm. For those around the globe that can't pick up the BBC over the airwaves, check out their web site - you should be able to listen live, and they also archive most stuff for a week.

Date: Sun Apr 27 15:52
tom (@ belgium):

very looking forward to the next transition of mr Gelb in brussels (may 13th), itching to see hear play Karate at some hundred feet from where i live (may 5th), i am ready for Evan Dando (june 4th ?), i have not seen The Kills live yet (i catch Blaine's drift about Suicide/NYC), and there's nothing better than watching snooker on a sunday evening. peace to you and all of your loved ones.

Date: Sun Apr 27 14:19
johnny yen (...(graham, it's in the mail as of thurs. night)...):

Some poor fella has bid a copy of Stromausfall up to $28.00. Guess he missed that whole thing on self destructing cds and reissues. Blaine, I know a guy who saw the Kills as openers for Rainer Maria and was raving about them, but he usually doesn't like rock-type stuff. I think he may relate well to hype. I saw Califone last week, and they were fantastic: the perfect blend of folk music, and drumpounding noise-y-ness.

Date: Sun Apr 27 00:54
Blaine (@ home):

FYI -- saw The Kills last night. Kinda unimpressive. A fair amt of angry energy, and more than a nod to Suicide/NYC, but the music just wasn't there. The hype mentioned the Velvets (it always does) but I didn't hear it. A few interesting moments, but all in all Royal Trux did it way better.

Date: Sat Apr 26 23:17
Alan (Bruce?) ((**"Cover me, how[e]? "**)):

The times are tough now, Just getting tougher, This old world is rough, It's just getting rougher, Cover me, Come on baby cover me...

Date: Sat Apr 26 17:31
Tio (Queso):

gazelle, benleonard, and I might do some giantsand covers. maybe. ;)

Date: Sat Apr 26 15:09
em (James):

** Yes, we will miss you, James. Have a wild time.

Date: Sat Apr 26 09:35
glue snifferq (james miss you ):

send me postcard and some rock. happy saturday woke up got out of bed dragged a comb across my head went down stairs and ....

Date: Sat Apr 26 09:16
james s (wisdom tooth part II):

What I should have said is, will I survive without the Sand Board? Okay, gotta go. Bye. Surf's up.

Date: Fri Apr 25 22:20
Blaine (@home ):

...again

Date: Fri Apr 25 18:05
johnny yen (ø§¦§ø ):

© Å Ð £ ¤ ¥ If you've got the know-how (or microsoft word), you can get some ok shapes outta these US computers.

Date: Fri Apr 25 16:44
james s (wisdom tooth):

Excellent buttons! .~.~. :^:^: (')(') Mine just don't compare. Scratch. I leave for the South Carolina Coast tomorrow. I will be without a computer for nine days. Will the Sand Board survive my absence? Have a fine weekend, comrades. Did I already say SCRATCH?

Date: Fri Apr 25 15:58
em (forgive me):

follicle.

Date: Fri Apr 25 15:57
em ( oh stop):

Oh, stop complaining; You have fancy buttons. Okay. Uhh..Hair follicles

Date: Fri Apr 25 15:32
hmpf (ÖÖÖÖ):

WHAYAYAY only o n e (1) show in faithful austria and NONE !!! IN GOOD OLD V-I-E-N-N-A ???? oh Howe, oh Howe, how could this happen?

Date: Fri Apr 25 13:02
james s (nufff said time for work):

toe

Date: Fri Apr 25 06:28
Lars (holiday on "tried and true trin-trinity!" :-D):

Cruizin' around on southern sunny Zealand in my parents' car with "Unsungglum" blastin', he-he. Can't get enough of "Frontage Road". Listening to all this rockin' a thought hit me: what would it sound like if Howe made some of the more "noisier" tunes like this with Under Byen as backing band? And not just the jazzy, quiet stuff. Would be interesting. 'Cause Under Byen can really make some noise, if they want to. Especially live. Greets, ye all! / Lars

Date: Thu Apr 24 22:39
Queso (Cheese@Queso.com):

I have giant sand playing Blow the Man down on a cd. It's kinda funny.

Date: Thu Apr 24 21:40
glue sniffeer (nufff said time for bed):

finger

Date: Thu Apr 24 20:04
paulK (whatevershebringswesing):

Shaun, some simple pleasures posted to you today paul

Date: Thu Apr 24 17:41
Glue sniffimf (Amendment 1):

The last post should have read. ' I am a fool with no social skills that has been drinking all day in a strange reputation saving atempt' and not as was written. I have no Idea. Band were pretty shite mr vistor was asleep on the bathroom floor. I am Downsizing. love your tollarance xxx

Date: Thu Apr 24 17:30
tom (mexicanshark@hotmail.com):

amigos,i love you.

Date: Thu Apr 24 16:45
Tio (Hrvl@drvl.net):

Howe... you still looking for a fight with someone?

Date: Thu Apr 24 16:25
hiccup (.):

hiccup

Date: Thu Apr 24 13:59
alan (anyone go to):

the EmPtY bOtTle in Chicago last night?

Date: Thu Apr 24 08:26
Guni (a little late...):

...but I hope you had a happy birthday, Mike! And – tata, drum roll and everything – happy birthday, J.C.! I hope at least I'm not late with this one!

Date: Thu Apr 24 04:38
Shaun H. (that wasn't meant to come out like that, but somehow fit):

....

Date: Thu Apr 24 04:37
Shaun H. (answering the morning after the night before Blaineasking me this morning Bla):

NOT Argento red wine!

Date: Thu Apr 24 04:03
Lars (www.supertanker.tk):

Nope. No job. Still just bumming around. Just visiting my parents this week on a "delayed Easter holiday" (hence the quietness from this corner) :-) And thinking of what cover would be fun IF I am to attempt doing one. Currently thinking of "Timbertown" of Down Home 2000 which could be a hoot. :-) Oh, and congrats, Mike! + thanks for a great site. Hope you got those sandy discs sortet out, so the treeclimbing sand people will get some goodies soon. I'll do the last bit of the cover early next week when I'm back at my own computer. Cheerio, dudes and dudesses! / Lars

Date: Thu Apr 24 01:16
Blaine (@home-in need of likewise remedy):

Hey Shaun, what do you suggest for headaches when UPS guys botch a good gtr in shipping. Anyone see the Mighty Wind movie yet??

Date: Wed Apr 23 19:50
Shaun H. (in need of simple pleasures at this particular moment in time):

just ran off a copy of Michael Moore's 'Roger And Me' (was on UK cable last night) for a friend of mine, and as filler tagged on the opening scenes from Jarmusch's 'Dead Man', Gallo's 'Buffalo 66', OP8 live performance for MTV, and currently running is a documentary on my barbers of 20 odd years, albeit not as frequent since i moved to London 11 years ago, Tony @ Chatham Bogs (Kent, U.K.). p.s. may i recommend Argento red wine, courtesy of Mendoza, Argentina. in my experience works very well sipped through a straw direct from the bottle overlooking the boating lake in Whipps Cross/Epping Forest, but equally well waiting for documentaries on barbers who ply their trade in gentlemens conveniences in Southern England to finish!

Date: Wed Apr 23 15:27
james s (speaking of finding jobs...):

Lars has been strangely quiet these days... you find a job, Lars?

Date: Wed Apr 23 14:59
Graham (sandfan disc):

My contribution to the compilation will be my crowd-pleasing cover of "Patsy Does Dylan." I'm practising saying "Bob Dylan" right now, as a matter of fact.

Date: Wed Apr 23 14:24
e (M!):

Okay..HAppy BIRTHday, MIKE!!!!!! Yay For Mike and his Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I am so so glad I actually made it last night..It was a treat of treats(despite the fact that I had to leave early:(). Hope to see you back in NY, Howe!!! I wanna do swamp thing in the fan-covers-compilation. OKay. I oughtta get a job so I can buy all these up and coming cd's...jeez...

Date: Wed Apr 23 12:47
Tommy Gailer (scrolling-for-Mike):

Happy B-Day, Mike, i`ll take a fil in your honour tonight! Welcome back Stefan! If we could meet Mike in Munich at the 5/15 (what a great Who-Song), that would be blast!

Date: Wed Apr 23 12:42
Blaine (@work):

Hey Mike -- Happy Birthday and thanks for all the fine work.

Date: Wed Apr 23 12:38
peter (after midnight at tonic):

so our hero howe finally arrived in nyc to play a very fine show at tonic (fortunately for himself missing the opening muscular [dystrophy?] christians act, who kept calling out is howie here? during their set. sounds like the airline put howe through the wringer this time. good balance of gretsch sierra and grand baldwin tunes, some songs combining both. highlights included duet with special guest kurt wagner (via cd) "it takes all types" i believe it was called, blue marble girl, lots of listener including felonious, blood orange, cowboy boots, jason's list, nowhere, solicited requests (astonished, shiver, wonder, johnny cash)... too tired to remember the rest right now Howe said he hadn't slept at all, but shared some news- blacky is finished, he's got 8 releases coming out this year, possibly 9, john doe and lisa germano are touring together as a solo duo. thanks for dropping by howe, looking forward to the next time!

Date: Wed Apr 23 11:34
Mitch (85718):

MIKE MIKE MIKE...Happy HAPppy HAPPY BiRtHdAy!!! When are you and Sarah heading back to the Old Pueblo???

Date: Wed Apr 23 11:19
james s (Happy birthday, Mike.):

You're still a teenager, right?

Date: Wed Apr 23 07:36
stefan (((munich))):

Yes, of course: Hey Mike, Happy Birthday!!! Looking forward to seeing you in Munich.

Date: Wed Apr 23 02:22
Sarah (sa-wa-ro):

I'm sure everyone out there in "Sandland" would like to join me in wishing Mike [sa-wa-ro] the very best of birthdays

Date: Tue Apr 22 14:57
Irony Alert (www.jamesscarbrough.com):

Glue Sniffer wants to know what the hell WE'RE talking about? Hmmmm. Doesn't that new Dando record hit the stores today?

Date: Tue Apr 22 14:15
glue sniffer (what ids going on here?`):

what the hell are you people tslking about on this board i have little or no idea artists is quality and probably had i not been so engrtosed in my own little tales of love been my song for all. never mind hello to all who care and evemn theose who dont. I am going out now been out all dqay in fair ness as typing shows but lazy going to watch local band THE HOLLOW EARTH THEORY play their stuff realy metal they do a verrion of eat it by waky jacky thats funney so i will laugh a lot love you all cider is the drink of gods. TODAYS POST WAS SPONSERED BY 1, 5 AND THE LETTER G

Date: Tue Apr 22 13:02
Mitch (85718):

Well, maybe not a felony, J. And, James, the film version is churning around out there somewhere. Apparently he's "determined" to get it done, but can't focus his attention on it until the Brother's Grimm project gets wrapped up. So who knows when and if--the whole movie thing tends to be a fairly uneasy road to my mind. Should mention that he also downright loves Lull Some Piano. Anyway, enough of my rabble. Howe is off in the blue yonder as I type and heading to a city near someone here. Em?

Date: Tue Apr 22 12:47
james s (adventures of baron jimson):

Mitch, is the Gilliam/Tideland project still getting tossed about somewhere in this swirl of samsara?

Date: Tue Apr 22 11:37
james s (Re: spanked):

Mitch, I'm only three stories into Bad Behavior, but am enjoying it very much... and I do get the humor. I'm getting a smug smile not so much out of the more extreme behavior in the details, but from getting to watch others walking in shoes not all that different (not all that similar either, thank heavens) from some that I've worn (metaphor)... so some of the humor is coming from a dose of self-recognition in the broad strokes. Who hasn't felt the crunch of an imaginary situation with an imaginary person slamming up against the wall of a real situation with a real person? It's amusing to follow these characters into that wall, even if it stings a bit because you're reminded of something... Glad the CD arrived ok, Blaine. We are both going to be traveling soon... have fun on your Southern journey!

Date: Tue Apr 22 02:18
J (mitch cyber winked @ me. Ooooer):

Thanks for the wink Mitch, it had to be that for myriad reasons. The primary current reason is that my partner little j (the Artist) has done some pastel drawings of our daughter little b, all in blue tones. (The faces wouldn't be blue, they'd be more like you...) that and smashing bodies together. Our local library doesn't have any of your books, is this a crime?

Date: Tue Apr 22 01:58
Tommy Gailer (scrolling-for-Nina):

RIP - Nina Simone +++++++ died w/ 70 years +++++ what a loss +++++ her autobiograpy is recommended

Date: Tue Apr 22 00:28
Blaine (@home on a foggy London night in MKE):

James - got the disc today, gracias. Is there a looming deadline on this fanfuled projectile? Toomany goodsongs to choose from, process of elimination may be best bet at this point. We used to butcher "Soloman's Ride", but did pretty nice justice to "Inner Flame", which got Susan Cowsill teary one night, which we hoped was a compliment. Mr. Compliler aka "Maitre C", can I reserve one song to be named later?

Date: Tue Apr 22 00:24
Mitch (85718):

Ah, James, so glad to hear you're getting liter-ally "spanked" by Mary. She's a good friend, and a mighty fine writer. Hope you find the humor in her work, because sometimes it gets missed by others. By the way, I think the "covers" idea is a lovely idea, and whoever picked "Artists" gets a cyber wink and nod from me. Good pick.

Date: Tue Apr 22 00:07
blue marble (girl):

... I went down to the river to get a peace of mind, and with a pleasant surprise I found my spine a shiver. While sitting on the shore, I found a blue marble. So as the sun went down, I was the blue marble girl, turning the day into the night... m

Date: Mon Apr 21 22:06
BLACKY (AS THE NIGHT):

WILLIAM HICKS ?......HOW CAN I MISS YOU IF YOU WON'T GO AWAY.....?

Date: Mon Apr 21 19:11
tom (mexicanshark@hotmail.com):

www.depravikazi.com saw olie tonight,madeline went on after.biggest round of clapping and so. love to u all ,12 th of may howe, and alt country is a bit like neil young but grunge with a hint of mint ,olives and lap steel,and lots of the late,lamentet BILL HICKS and some elvis,if anyone asks.

Date: Mon Apr 21 15:11
james s (oh, and):

Thanks, Blaine. I met and conversed with your friend, and she gave me the disk. I keep meaning to email you to tell you this, but I seem to only think of it when I'm at work and don't have your email address. So, I'll add to the scroll.

Date: Mon Apr 21 14:34
Mary Gaitskill (www.jamesscarbrough.com):

Tommy is scrolling for a spanking. Sorry, Tommy, but I've been reading the Mary Gaitskill short story collection, "Bad Behavior". It's a spankfest. That movie, "Secretary", was based on one of the stories. But anyway, all Calixico fans should make a point of having Nico Case, "Blacklisted". I remember Mitch was once going on about liking it. I typically jump on anything the Mitchster recommends, cause he's never led me wrong, but for some reason I let this one slide. I picked up the record, finally. If you like David Lynch films, Calexico, Kelly Hogan... check it out. Cheers

Date: Mon Apr 21 06:59
Tommy Gailer (scrolling-for-neil):

Hey Neil, as we know that you are not a crack in progressive arrangements, better let Howe and Co. cover YOUR songs, `cause that makes them more listenable: see "Music Arcade". John Con`s drums on that one is a good example how one can refine a song like that. Now kill me people...

Date: Mon Apr 21 02:21
J (and also sprach the snifferman ):

snifferman, you weird. I'd like to go on the peeve with you, watch you baffle them with your blend of bullshine. here's to a gloriously misspelt liner note thang

Date: Mon Apr 21 02:18
J (coverville fxsto):

Just wanted to stake my claim on 'artists' again. Back down all comers, that baby is mine. Hope to get a local fiddler of great repute involved. I've just finished a bad back shift, during which I resplattered my left middle finger. Hope it's better for last 2 weeks of may, which is my own personal deadline and only available slot recording wise. 'roof is on fire' is another little pup cooking on the back burner. It's 07.19 on a dull wet morning in the UK now so I'm nearly done...

Date: Mon Apr 21 00:14
Neil Young (My My):

Jux to say my possition, I would love to cover some of americas best music.It is not often the ear falls on something so pure as so many have felt. (GAW DERN CLUTCH!)

Date: Sun Apr 20 23:21
Blaine (@home):

Saw a cool & very young Detroit combo called The Sights last night, cool garage/Yardbirds/gospel/raveup w/ Farfisa and gtr guy playing an old Epiphone into a Silvertone amp. Hope thier records do them justice. They opened for Scott Morgan who finale'd with "City Slang" the great, great tune he used to do with Sonic's Rendezvous Band. Total energy and universal A2 strength thru the O-mind. The revolution will not be televiiizzzed, but will certainly be covered by the internet.

Date: Sun Apr 20 22:30
treygoba (renfactory9@earthlink.com):

hey jellybaby...you've climbed back on board. Hurray! I need you to email me your address. I've a cd for you, but doubt it would arrive if I addressed it to "Em" (one of the jellybabies) Brookly NY New Malkmus, White Stripes, and Catpower? Yummy. Now I've to catch up on my Howe fix. Ciao

Date: Sun Apr 20 21:51
phil (phil):

Waited for all the hype to die down and bought the STROKES album. It's great!!!!!!!!!!

Date: Sun Apr 20 19:23
em (Glue):

Oh, okay.

Date: Sun Apr 20 15:55
glue sniffrtr (24hrs later):

not quite ment to sound like that more like this. Dance all nite long be the man with the frongs. disco disco dance like fire. apologies to all concered and conqueredt

Date: Sat Apr 19 23:37
Conch (fortuda):

Something I'm wondering about. Is it possible to do a cover version of one of Howe's unique cover versions? Or does that kinda defeat the purpose of Covering The Sandman? All opinions are welcome and awaited.

Date: Sat Apr 19 18:52
Glue Sniffer (hello doly molly and charlie):

it will cost you (but i am cheap)

Date: Sat Apr 19 17:07
gazelle (jaimeohlsson@lycos.com):

i've always wanted to cover giant sand's 'blue lit rope.' is there a deadline on this though because i'm not very good yet. i'm just barely learning how to sing, play guitar and piano. but i'll do a good job of it! my friend ben will probably want to do 'loretta and the insect world.' it was song of the week on his website: www.benleonard.net a fun site to check out for coverage of the central valley music scene. i'm playing blood orange right now on the radio. what exciting times these are!!

Date: Sat Apr 19 13:50
Stupid Lars (that's me!):

Doh! I screwed up. Just got a mail from Mike. I made the new Sandman two discs of nearly 80 minutes not considering what some people can only burn 74 min. cds. So a bit has been removed to fit those times. Sorry for the trouble, Mike. Well, one of the tracks I removed was Loving Cup (with band) from Café Mozart in Aarhus. I thought that the sound quality maybe wasn't up to scratch after all. But it was such a great performance......therefore I just made an mp3 of that track and put it on my website (no more Groupcare-crap). I just bought myself a website. I hope any traffic won't be too much. Well, there's only one way to find out. So if you wanna hear Loving Cup with Howe doing some very nice piano work go and download the file (3,68 MB) at http://www.larsdideriksen.com/diverse/howe-sandman-covers.htm --- a little "egg" from the Danish easter bunny (or sandbunny? Is that a Arizonian species?) / Lars

Date: Sat Apr 19 11:37
e m (jelly baby fun):

Will the subject matter be all the dramatic goings on of the comment board?? And, yes, Glue is definately the man for the liner notes.

Date: Fri Apr 18 19:38
Lars D (cover fanzine?! :-D):

Oh yeah, Jellybaby fun. Yes, it's gotta be there. :-) Would be very cool. Hm, but ME doing stuff?! I dunno. Well actually I made some tunes with a great female singer today. Maybe I should ask her. :-) But WHAT song to do? Oh my, oh my. Hey, I know that I should put a word out to Nils and Morten of Under Byen if this things takes off (I run into those guys now and then). Under Byen have only made about four covers I've heard of, but the band most certainly have a knack for making a cover song "their own" and doing something incredibly interesting with what they are given. Deeelish! :-D Hm, maybe I should finish writing this job application I'm doing and go to bed. It's half past one here. Yawn! Sleep tight - when the bedbugs come 'round your timezone. ;-) / Lars

Date: Fri Apr 18 18:52
james s ((Giant) Sandinista):

"Would be interesting to see if anyone put the guitar etc. aside for a moment and did something completely different than the originals." Do it, Lars! Nice to see your name pop up on the board, E(mm...). A Jelly Babies contribution to the project will be a must. Those who don't play could perhaps contribute in other ways, like cover art or liner notes. Sniffer could write some killer notes, I am sure. I'm glad the brain poot was well received at least in some quarters. Maybe we could get the call out for ideas and submissions via the email list and the Sandtree. Have a good weekend, all.

Date: Fri Apr 18 17:25
Lars (good tunes and news at www.supertanker.tk):

I must say, that it really sounds like a cool idea! A Sandman release "from the fans to the man" for once, ha-ha. Would be interesting to see if anyone put the guitar etc. aside for a moment and did something completely different than the originals. :-) On another topic, are any of you familiar with the compilation-cd "The Pet Series" (vol. 1) from Sally Forth Records? I downloaded the tasters from www.thepetseries.com and I must say that quite a lot of the tracks sound VERY good (and quiet, by the way). I ordered the cd a few days ago. Can't wait to get it. I really dig the tracks by L. B. Jeffries and Scout Niblett (Diefenback are Danish by the way - track 2). Oh, by the way, if any of you like Pavement, Built To Spill and Modest Mouse try checking out www.figurines.dk - they're a new band from Aarhus. Good stuff. "Have a nice way". / Lars

Date: Fri Apr 18 16:57
J (cheers mike, and how(e)?):

You'll be hearing from me...

Date: Fri Apr 18 16:55
mike ([sa-wa-ro]):

james s + j and all those others out there who have the wherewithall - i think a covers cdr of sand songs is a great idea...... mail me off list with ideas etc... and i'll co-ordinate.

Date: Fri Apr 18 16:30
J (covering fan man (Howe? Mike?)):

Any thoughts on the cover thing (James.S) Or should we go it alone? I was thinking already of dusting down my own 4 trk in may when little j and little b precede me by 2 weeks down to anywhere France. The original plan was an acoustic covers thing for my own pleasure, but now a whole new driven thing is happening... I'd like to take 'Artists' and possibly 'The Replacement' Or 'Seldom Matters' Or 'Loving Cup' Anyone tell me their choices so I can narrow mine?

Date: Fri Apr 18 15:34
Lars (www.supertanker.tk):

Happy Easter, sandbunnies! And good to see ya back 'round, Em. :-) Doing any new music? / Lars

Date: Fri Apr 18 01:24
BLACK (Y):

HOW DO STEPHEN. I KNOW SOMEONE SITTIN ON A BOX OF THOSE 7 INCH WHITE VINYL VARMINTS. AND IN FACT USES THEM FOR 12 GAUGE POLISHIN' PARTIES JUST TO GET THE LEAD OUT. BUT YOU DIDN'T HEAR IT FROM ME, NO SIREE.

Date: Thu Apr 17 22:40
e (mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm):

aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...A brief moment in front of a working computer. Hi everybody. I like the Listener...I am hoping hoping hoping I will make it to this 22nd affair.. And a new Giant Sand cd??? That is comforting. :)

Date: Thu Apr 17 16:09
Stephen M.H. Braitman (braitman@mindspring.com):

Hi, Folks! I write a column for Discoveries magazine called, "The Picture Sleeve Archive: A Monthly Glance at Rare, Unusual, and Plain Damn Strange 45RPM Picture Sleeves." Next month I'm featuring the very first Giant Sandworms record, the 5-song E.P. titled, "Will Wallow and Roam After The Ruin," featuring the songs "Electro-Gospel," "Mexican Eyes," and "Lipstick Criminals." I would love to have responses from people here on this list to write me with their comments about this record. [I've tried to reach Howe Gelb through two different email addresses I have for him, but no response. If you can drop him a message that I'm trying to reach him, thanks!] Please let me know: 1) Have you ever seen this record and PS before? 2) Have you every sold and/or purchased this record and PS, and at what price? 3) What would your estimate be of this record and PS's rarity and value? How many copies do you think exist? 4) How hard would it be for someone to actually find it if they were specifically looking for it? 5) There appear to be two versions of this PS. One is blank with the words "Giant Sandworms" in red at the top of the sheet. The record fits below inside a clear baggie. The other version has artwork printed below the name. Have you seen either or both versions? Relative rarity of each? 5) Please feel free to make any other comments about this record that you wish. Please respond to me at braitman@mindspring.com, NOT through this list. Thanks very much. Please send responses to me as soon as possible. Stephen M.H. Braitman

Date: Thu Apr 17 15:16
mar (prayer):

...yeah, you know.. back in the day illness and war were quite the beasts and took (rumbled) the lives of many .... this age we live in, lets technology be the healer of many and the destroyer of death... so it is normal to feel that this prayer sounds dark and a bit scary... when death is a little farther removed from us every time a cure is found.

Date: Thu Apr 17 15:14
J (Rob? Wight/White?):

My brain is addled with potential Gelb coverage glee

Date: Thu Apr 17 15:12
J (sandinista tree):

Thanks for the postal gift in waiting James s, I didn't see the burner man yet... I'll take a track on that there compilation if I may, just now racking my brains to decide which one. Rob S, if your lurking there on the Isle of wight, dust down the 4 track mate.

Date: Thu Apr 17 13:05
james s (Frank):

It's a prayer. I was taught to pray it every night at bedtime when I was a child, with my mother standing over me there in the dark.

Date: Thu Apr 17 12:44
Frank C (learning English - lesson 2 ):

This goes to those native speakers out there. "now I lay me down to sleep and I pray to God for my soul to keep if I die before I awake I pray to God for my soul to take." , one of my faves of "the listener". Is this a prayer, a traditional lullaby, a folk song or a fairy tale? I first heard it in Metallicas "Enter Sandman" but I guess that´s not the original source... But - on the other hand - I can´t imagine that this could be a lullaby. Kind of scary for a kid ... Any carification available? And James: good idea! There are regrettably few cover versions of Howe out there. David Bowie, Ryan Adams etc. should stop playing the same old Young, Dylan and Stones tunes and turn to genuine Tucson, AZ based song craft instead.

Date: Thu Apr 17 11:46
Guni (james s):

... that's a very cool idea!

Date: Thu Apr 17 11:30
james s (just the bubble of a brain poot):

I've learned, since offering up my own amateur musical doodlings up to the Sand board, that there are quite a few of us out here who play. I was thinking that it might make an interesting Sandman release to compile a Gelb/Sand cover/tribute collection made up of contributors from the Sand Tree and/or the comment's board posters and lurkers. Mike and Howe could listen through the selections and choose the ones they think or the most interesting and imaginative takes on the songs... or you could release the whole collection, put out a triple disk set and call it (Giant) Sandinista. Ha. It's just a thought. J and Blaine, I got to the Post Office today. Sorry for the delay.

Date: Thu Apr 17 05:58
mike ([sa-wa-ro]):

.....mar in nyc, that's my fault.... 22nd is a tuesday and 23rd is a wednesday... don't know how i got that confused - that's my birthday!!!!

Date: Thu Apr 17 01:20
Blaine (-jazz'n@home):

Gluey - self induced: you know the drill. Ma Nature: take her advice. James, I'll play snare. Lars, symbolic/shambolic/cymbalist (Effrimn Zimbalist)? Anyone else for the percussion of post-reconstruction?

Date: Wed Apr 16 22:01
glue sopper (porely):

ill

Date: Wed Apr 16 19:46
paulk (c/o minister of information. Iraq):

regarding Howe's gig with the Muscular Christians, they seem to be an upright band of citizens. Don't know much about their music but they are doing a filmed documentary on the Holy Modal Rounders and have been hanging about with those guys for a while. According to their website http://www.muscularchristians.com/shows.html they don't seem to much about Howe so why not mail them and inform them of his proclivities. i think they would get on swell. Anyway, i now have a few days rest for the Easter holidays, time to get into all these discs lying around and get some order into my life. I'm swimming in the listener just now but an realy realy really anticipating the new Blacky, mellow or not it will be nice to hear him again. We're having a heatwae here just now, time to put the sunblock on and stay indoors, chilling. p.s. Howe, I Rumbled with Link, when is it your turn?

Date: Wed Apr 16 19:13
james s (bull SHITE indeed):

Howe, you'd better work up some yankee foxtrots for them. Don't wanna disappoint anyone coming to hear those fashionable (cf. Yankee Hotel...)tweaky roots. I'll come play a bass drum if you need a backbeat.

Date: Wed Apr 16 18:33
voice (bull SHITE):

HOWE GELB + THE MUSCULAR CHRISTIANS Gelb's time-worn sunburned tweaky roots stylings have finally become fashionable (cf. Yankee Hotel, Yoshimi), although he's never been that ambitious, or even really been able to sustain a backbeat (his bandmates in Giant Sand left him to become Calexico). This show is billed as solo piano, but last year Oldham, Dando, Chestnutt & Wagner dropped in. The Muscular Christians are his polar opposite on the alt-folk spectrum: urbane wisenheimers with the best song about Christgau that doesn't involve his murder. TUESDAY AT 8, Tonic, 107 Norfolk Street, 212-358-7501. (Goldfein

Date: Wed Apr 16 17:34
james s (still waiting on the great tour of the Southern U.S.):

Demanding little creeps, aren't we? I'm back, Blaine. I was off chowing at the Jiffy Squid. I didn't see the King there, but I may have seen him hitchhiking on the drive over... Man, I wish Joe Strummer was still around. Yes, I watched Mystery Train recently.

Date: Wed Apr 16 17:26
mar (newyork):

Howe....I noticed that your show in New York is listed as Monday the 22nd (actually Tuesday) and I'm just wondering if the show is on Monday or Tuesday.....I wouldn't want to miss the houpla for nothing. ---mar

Date: Wed Apr 16 16:41
rana (ranajanney@yahoo.com):

Does anyone have any extra tickets to tonight or tomorrow night's shows of Wilco playing with The Minus 5 at the Abbey Pub here in Chicago??

Date: Wed Apr 16 16:04
Blaine (@work):

..Hey - where'd everybody go? Ramble, Ramble, Ramble -- --I get here and I'm no-w-here. Oh... that was Rumble.

Date: Wed Apr 16 12:46
Lunk (Cracker):

Man, I just can't stomach the new Goldfrapp CD. It's not even too clever for its own good, just vapid. "Felt Mountain" is fantastic, but "Black Cherry" is bitter fruit that makes you cringe and then shoots acid-tainted spikes into your tongue and brain. My advice would be to Donna Summers' Greatest Hits instead, the spikes aren't nearly as painful.

Date: Wed Apr 16 11:59
Lars (www.supertanker.tk):

Wow... Sounds like that would make a nice bootleg recording, he-he. Does it exist anywhere?

Date: Wed Apr 16 11:31
Brian C (owom store .....):

Planning on getting the m. ward duets cd from the owom store and just wondering if its ok to send cash (circumstances don't allow for a credit card).Also heard a track from the transfiguration of vincent album the other day, "sad sad song" i think it was.Sounds pretty amazing. Also any chance of paying us a visit in ireland over the coming months Howe?

Date: Wed Apr 16 11:23
peter (pre-cata-tonic-gig):

howe- the village voice actually singled out your upcoming (solo) show tonic next tuesday as one of the noteworthy highlights in the week's events here in nyc. see: http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0316/shortlist.php not expecting the guests mentioned to show up, but it'd be nice if you brought your guitar for a song or two. or at the very least, that guitar case filled with bootleg series cd's for sale. additionally, todd rundgren is doing a solo show at town hall the next day in case you want to check that out while and if you're still in town.

Date: Wed Apr 16 04:34
Lars (going goldfrappy?):

Just found out that the new Goldfrapp-album ("Black Cherry") is out....from reading a bad review of it. The first, "Felt Mountain", from which Howe covered a few songs is incredible. The new album has more of a rhythmic and "disco"-feel to it. I'm listening right now at http://www.goldfrapp.co.uk/goldfrapp.html#Scene_1 --- it's somewhat different, but I like it - although it certainly doesn't sound as good as "Felt Mountain". It's probably one of the albums I'm gonna buy soon anyway. Glad I could be of help with the essays, Mike! Funny how things just happen and fit nicely sometimes. :-) And Howe, thanks for all the good news. Greets! / Lars

Date: Tue Apr 15 21:57
Piet ((new releases)):

excellent timing howe... by the end of april I should have my tax refund so that would be good time buy some new music... all those new releases and a new volume in the sandman series, that should keep us busy for a little while... does anybody here like the band Bettie Serveert?.. saw an excellent show of theirs at the Casbah in San Diego on Sunday... Chris Brokaw (Come) opened with an acoustic set... have tickets to see Bonnie Prince Billy at the same venue tomorrow... now playing Elephant by The White Stripes.

Date: Tue Apr 15 18:24
dave (making extra space in the record collection):

Most excellent news there Howe...i'm shocked about there being a Giant Sand record this year! Also, in happy related news, I heard a Calexico song on THE RADIO this morning in the car. WXRT FM 93.1 Chicago played the second or third track off Feast of Wire. I'm not familiar enough yet with the names of the tracks, but it was the one that kind of has a New Orleans beat with horns. I was pleasantly surprised. I've never heard any of this bunch on commercial radio. Long live XRT!!!

Date: Tue Apr 15 17:15
Lars (doink!?!):

I just counted to seven. Did you? / Lars

Date: Tue Apr 15 17:10
james s (Re: any questions?):

Let all the Giant Sandinistas rejoice. It sounds like a super sonic year.

Date: Tue Apr 15 16:48
J (down in anywhere):

I also frequent that neck of the pine woods and find myself mellower by the day, looking forward to that slice of country in May/June

Date: Tue Apr 15 16:42
johnny b. (johnnyb.):

aren't we just lucky to be alive in this sweltering english apriltime? ...there's a matthew shipp c.d. for 2 dols. on the henry rollins.com

Date: Tue Apr 15 16:40
blacky (at the small french ranch):

lemme tell ya son...blacky has mellowed out some

Date: Tue Apr 15 16:31
J (1 question):

Is it Ok if I spontaneously combust at the thought of Blacky's re-emergence, or should I wait 'til it's in my grubby palms? Also, James S, I mailed my burner man just now and should get a copy of my disc winging it's way to Nashville within the week. Maybe Howe would like a listen? Hello to my board familiars...

Date: Tue Apr 15 16:17
ho (we):

ok. i am about complete on 4 or 5 ofthese records i thought it would be a good idea to make and attempt to raise 3 kids up at the same time too. official bootleg series volume 4 will be the giant sand live cd that was offered in italy a while back with the music magazine there and will still be called "infiltraiton of dreams". volume 5 will be "spare parts in the yard too close at hand" which will also be giant sand stuff from 5 minutes before op8 to cover magazine. (UPSIDE) DOWN HOME 2002 will be mostly solo parts that were left off of the listener as well as various sessions from the last 2 years that include the extended giant sand/calexico familia. these records will be available on cd only at the live shows and thru the web site by the end of april. the new piano record will be out a little later in the year distributed by thrill jockey and here at the site...OGLE some piano. i am still sitting on a completed drum and bass record with no bass entitiled star crackle gecko pipe ...and is a collaboration tween tom larkins, nick luca and meself. nice for erranding. and i think it might be a good idea to offer up an OW OM sampler of recent workings.....sooooo what this will be is a song from each of the aformentioned cds as well as an alternate mix of a song or 2 from the listener and 5 mini cd rom style videos done by amy harrington as well as an 8 minute interview thing (epk) about the listener. the videos will be of lie there, getting it made (from down home 2002), and 3 piano songs from ogle. all this and i am attempting to finish up the new THE BAND OF ...BLACKY RANCHETTE record before i have to tour again in a couple weeks. not to mention a brand new GIANT SAND record that should be out in november on thrill jockey. did i miss anything ....like my foot ? nope..i am sure i shot my foot somewhere in there...for good luck....its a family tradition. any questions ? ========howe, now

Date: Tue Apr 15 16:16
mike ([sa-wa-ro]):

...well i've been looking for a copy of the 'rock-alt-a-rama' book for quite sometime so i can put howe's bit's up on the site......... so i'll go to lars' link and 'borrow' it...... on the subject of virgin, hmv etc.. check out the hmv 'sale' at present.... picked up ryan adams 'demolition' for 4.99!!

Date: Tue Apr 15 13:26
james s (rolling stone alt rock guide):

Yep, I've got that one at home, Lars. I'm waiting for his tour diary to come out as a book.

Date: Tue Apr 15 13:16
Lars (Howe - the writer...):

So I was surfin' around on the web today. Found out that our quirky-wordy Mr. Gelb had written two essays for a Rolling Stone book back in 1996. I was curious. Asked around on the (Danish) message board I frequent if anyone knew the book. One dude had. And he was a nice one. Transcribed the two texts in the message board thread. Thought it might interest some of you (I don't know if it technically violates any copyright by being in a (dissolving) thread on a message board?!). Here's a link: http://www.svingninger.dk/forum/viewtopic.php?p=39832#39832 --- one of them's about songwriting. Found www.tucsoncitizen.com as well today, where I stumbled (or rumbled) upon...."He has a standing offer from a small press in New York to write something, anything. He's trying to be more careful in collecting the scraps of paper and notebooks he uses as journals when he is so inspired." Interesting. But when would that happen with all those albums coming out? :-D ANY PONDERINGS ON WRITING, EH "NON-LYRICS", HOWE? JUST CURIOUS. Have a great day, everyone! / Lars

Date: Tue Apr 15 05:34
Lars (www.supertanker.tk):

Giggling in Aarhus.....Just listening to the Jeff Tweedy bootleg mentioned earlier. He said: sing along if you want to. And only a few did. And the response: "Wow, the crowd goes mild". Just got me snickering a bit. :-) Interruptus comedicus... / Lars

Date: Mon Apr 14 14:17
Alan (Indianapolis of all places...):

Well... spoiling for a rumble, I took my sociological self off to Indy for a Resistance Management Symposium (darned insects, weeds and fungi just plain won't accept chemical plastering in agriculture!) and, after ordering a spot of Oban single malt and spewing about the much-hated Lakers (at least since Wilt retired), the bar tender offered me a taster of Balvenie 21-yr Port Barreled glory... almost took the rumblification right outta me. Then, happy with my reaction (was he only there to tumble a visitors rumble?), he extended a second taster (of mysterious origin) and suggested a guess (ahah! showing me up! perhaps a rumble was in order never-the-less!)... oh, but what a surprise (like armagnac crossed with single malt--or so I found) and whatawallop! As I tumbled from his rumble in my rumple and onto my rump-le he said it was rum (DEMON RUM no less, egads!) of the Montecristo order. Now, I didn't know the Count could make such a spirit (or that he'd moved to Guatemala, but who was I to argue), only can suggest taking a (s)tumblin' rumblin' should you crumble in such a direction. (Oh, and WHAT, you might ask, is a sociologist doing with buggers, weeders, and fungers... its a long story, perhaps to be told over some nice whiskey, or rum.... um)

Date: Mon Apr 14 12:39
james s (james@jamesscarbrough.com):

Email me, J, with where to send it and send it I will. Em emailed me to let me know that she got hers, and asked me to say "hi" to the board. Apparently, her computer won't let her post comments.

Date: Mon Apr 14 12:28
matthew (knock knock):

anyone else amazed by the new smog album? perfect for lou reed fans vexed at him not writing songs anymore!(rumble?) strangely, it has made me thankful for giantsand.com - there's hardly anything on the net about bill callahan - luckily us sand fans have this good natured little outlet.

Date: Mon Apr 14 11:52
graham (.):

What and when is the next of your 2003 releases, Howe? Or are we gonna have to rumble it out of you?

Date: Mon Apr 14 11:33
Lars (streams):

Oops. Sorry. One of them doesn't work anymore. Only the festival one's alive.

Date: Mon Apr 14 11:30
Lars (www.supertanker.tk):

If anyone of you how'sters are curious about how Under Byen look live there are two video streams from some shows here: http://www.eject.dk/billeder/underbyen.htm --- just a tip for ya'. ;-) Have a nice day. / Lars

Date: Mon Apr 14 10:30
matt (...rumbling record shop mumbling...):

i refuse to pay over £10 for a cd and rarely pay over £7. ok sometimes you have to wait for new stuff but good second hand stores or stores like fopp and of course ebay are treasure troves and the only way to go for me. hmv, virgin et al are serious rip off merchants.

Date: Mon Apr 14 01:45
J (usually got 1 (quite a hot one) (like to get one again) (stumbling backshift freakage)):

Lars, in the UK you can pay upt to £15/16 for a shite cd, or £9.99 or less for a good one in my experience. Let's get ready to humbly mumble, whilst swallowing crumble that makes our stomachs grumble and fumble with the tumble of jumble and stumble. Howe about them apples grumblin' stumblers? Give me free Blacky or I will gluicide snub all local record stores. James S. send me a cd cos Em welched on that bumbling deal and I doubt I will ever get a clusterry heart @ this lifetime. I have lenghthy cd of my stuff to limitedly trade (No burner to call my own)Bye Bye

Date: Sun Apr 13 19:24
Frank C (and, Lars, ....):

The CD prices in Germany are about 14 to 17 Euros (new releases). Take a look at www.glitterhouse.de (you can switch the language to English). They have a very large offer of alt.country-singer/songwriter (..)-stuff (it´s inter alia Rainer´s German record label) and fair prices.

Date: Sun Apr 13 19:16
Frank C ( (preparing for Celebrity Deathmatch?)):

"Good fight. Good night!"

Date: Sun Apr 13 12:57
howe (ho-sah):

i got me a rumblin hangover. . . . . without even drinkin....just too much thinkin....argh. soooooooooo ....since it's sunday.......LETS CRUMBLE !!!!!!!!

Date: Sun Apr 13 12:50
Lars (a question...):

Just curious...what does a new cd cost in your regular music stores around the world? In Denmark it is 150 kroner....which is 22 dollars / 20 Euros / 13-14 British pounds. Somewhat higher than elsewhere I can imagine. But am I right? Well, I've begun buying my music on sale or through the web. / Lars

Date: Sun Apr 13 12:34
Lars (www.supertanker.tk):

Merry Sunday, sandies! It sure is lovely here in Aarhus right now. Sunny and quiet. Mmmmmmm..... Back from a stroll in the botanical garden (= well, a park) and listening to the new Sandman. By the way, have your heard it yet, Mr. Ever-So-Rumbling Mr. Gelb? / Lars

Date: Sun Apr 13 02:54
coco (loco):

....we could really use some rumblin over in our parts, if you know what I mean... come on over and stir it up big cowboy. (*_-)

Date: Sat Apr 12 23:56
away (on vacation):

Howe have you not played at the Rumble Inn? oh mabe that was the Stumble inn.

Date: Sat Apr 12 23:43
away (on vacation):

Howe have you not played at the Rumble Inn? oh mabe that was the Stumble inn.

Date: Sat Apr 12 21:55
Ali Baba O'Riely (Uh...):

was supposed to be "slumped" and not "slumbed"...and change "tonight" to "twilight"...BUT I STILL PRETTY!!!

Date: Sat Apr 12 21:19
ARE YOU READY... (TO RUMBLE????!!!!!!!):

I so pretty, Howe Gelb. I so pretty. I float like a butterfly...I sting like a bee. There ain't no one as pretty as me. You can duck left, you can swing right, but you're gonna end up slumbed...against yer ropes...before tonight!!!

Date: Sat Apr 12 20:48
glue snifferq (hold on horesy (room for one more)):

what the hell.

Date: Sat Apr 12 19:41
whip (timesbold@hotmail.com):

lars....that one's called the gospel of thomas...which is one of those books that got kicked out of the bible....it's pretty great....i think we're being investigated because on that tour i threatned to kill the man upstairs in the states almost every night....lots of .gov's visited out site after that oh well whip

Date: Sat Apr 12 18:03
howe (toinked):

wooooooooooooooooooooo o o o hooooooooooooooooooooooo ooo ooo o oo o we got ourselves a rumble !!!!!!!!!!....hokay gazelle, you bring both sisters and we will rumble like a thunder cloud....looking for any parade to splay on. yepper..... but first a nap. ok. i am back....let's hook it !!!!!!!!!!!*****

Date: Sat Apr 12 17:36
gazelle (RUMBLE!!!!):

Now it's on, Howe!!! I'll kick your arse! No more grumbles, only tumbles and stumbles....Just let me know when and where...I'll bring my geetar and those tunes to make you cringe...You call your people, I'll call mine. They might just be the same people ;P

Date: Sat Apr 12 17:34
Lars (www.supertanker.tk):

Yeah, Whip, nice show there. Singing "Masters Of War" to a crowd of whom the major part had just come straight from an anti-war protest really a nerve. Great. I very much liked your own song with lyrics that were a bit critical of the president (as far as I remember). The name of that song? Steve Wynn plays that same venue on the 27th, by the way. Don't know if I'll be going, though. Haven't got the money and I really don't know his music. / Lars

Date: Sat Apr 12 17:08
whip (timesbold@hotmail.com):

howdy lars...thanks for the kind words about the timesbold show you caught....and to howe....years back i played with you at maxwells on my birthday...i asked you in the bathroom how to battle a chatty crowd and you said "white noise" i think im learnin...tho i think my noise is grey.....so thanks for that -whip

Date: Sat Apr 12 17:06
whip (timesbold@hotmail.com):

howdy lars...thanks for the kind words about the timesbold show you caught....and to howe....years back i played with you at maxwells on my birthday...i asked you in the bathroom how to battle a chatty crowd and you said "white noise" i think im learnin...tho i think my noise is grey.....so thanks for that -whip

Date: Sat Apr 12 16:18
geoff (rumblin' words):

...i don't check the boards for a while and now they're full of rumblin' on return...the fierce french sentiment musta got you going...so sure i'll rumble...just say when and where...and pick a rumblin' tool--cards, words, ideas, rock-em-sock'm robots...whatever. have you ever rumbled in San Antone at Casbeer's?

Date: Sat Apr 12 13:23
howe (hunkered):

wait a minute ...sometimes i need help figuring out what these songs are about too... and then i remember....and then i forget ...and then i think they are about something else ...because the mind is like that ...it is a weather system ...somedays it rains on itself ...other times it sucks like the wind ..yes ...the hot wind ...which blows, and then other times it is a self cleaning oven ...toasty but tasty... and it is a whether system... whether it will be clear today or rich in fog.... so thick i can't see me walking the dog ....so yeah, and there can be a cold front moving in ...a blustery moment of celebration that has no clue of it's instigation ...so SHOULD I START A RUMBLIN' WITHOUT YA ??????

Date: Sat Apr 12 10:03
Frank C (James S - hope it clarifys the statement):

My english is soooooooooooo bad! I can´t even understand most of those strange Howe lyrics. I remember Howes last gig in Heidelberg when I asked him to play „cold“. He asked from the stage „Why do you like it? Do you know what it´s about?“ And I had no idea (blushed, tried to hide under my seat ... ;) simply liked those chords(but he played it anyway). Well, what i wanted to say (but was not able to): „Unbelievable how this man never writes a boring tune.“

Date: Sat Apr 12 07:44
Tommy Gailer (scrolling for frank c):

Frank, i `ll be in Munich for sure, but i think Frankfurt or Heidelberg is too far away for me.

Date: Sat Apr 12 05:10
Teddy (but I already said...):

I'm confused.

Date: Sat Apr 12 04:48
Not so fast (think again):

Apart from when they're lotting the overflowing hospitals... now that's no fun for the sick and the injured is it?

Date: Sat Apr 12 01:57
Teddy (how long can disco on):

I think war is bad, but the looting part looks kind of fun. I'm confused.

Date: Sat Apr 12 01:51
Conch (grumbled):

1. approx' 3 pounds of ground turkey 2. 2 cans of sliced carrots 3. 2 cans of 99% fat free beef broth 4. 1 can of stewed tomatos w/roasted garlic (it exists) 5. half a can of coconut milk. Now, when browning the meat add splashes of soy sauce, black vinager, and just a tad of some chinese cooking wine; plop it all into a big pot with the above contents, add some water...reduce...put in the fridge overnight. Should last four or five days, heat some up and pour it over a bowl of steamed rice. It ain't bad...and...well...it'll get your rumblin' in good order!!! It tastes really good with Star Crackle Gecko Pipe playin'!!!

Date: Fri Apr 11 23:29
howe (my stomach is rumbled):

hey james s....just ploped your platter on the spinner before dinner....and the food went down fine. liked it a lot. maybe i would have used the back cover for the front cover and vice that verse....but then that's just the record company man in me leaking out. nice work......howe: now can we please rumble

Date: Fri Apr 11 18:58
james s (and let me add, Frank C):

That I only know one language, and that just barely, and have nothing but envy and respect for all of you who "multi-language". Adios. Alles das ist.

Date: Fri Apr 11 18:20
james s (looking for clarification):

"Unbelievable how this man constantly fails in writing only one boring tune." Interesting syntax. I think you mean, Unbelievable how this man never writes a boring tune. Or, do you mean, Unbelievable how this man is a failure because he only writes one boring tune? Hmmmm. Just playin' wid ya. Have a good weekend ye Sandsters! Did a Mike, a Howe, an Em get a package from me???

Date: Fri Apr 11 16:30
Frank C (It´s the listener again):

Even if i´m late – got „the listener“ this week by mailorder. Fine als always, unexpected as always. Unbelievable how this man constantly fails in writing only one boring tune. Vielen Dank! Can´t wait to see Howe on tour. Tommy, how about Howe in Heidelberg? (maybe Hamburg or Frankfurt, too). Can we expect „tour only“ stuff again? One last wish (i´ll shout it to the stage, be aware): an accoustic, jazzy whatever version of „satellite“.

Date: Fri Apr 11 16:05
Graham (Blaine gone south):

If'n you're in Oxford, MS on the 25th you could see legendary MC5 conspirator John Sinclair recite poetry with Cary Hudson's Taylor Grocery Band (juke joint gospel country blues) at Two Stick, the town's sushi restaurant. Unless, of course, you're burned out on radical poetry readings with country bands in Asian restaurants.

Date: Fri Apr 11 15:10
Graham (James S.):

Yes, that would be the Dunger. Didn't see any of the shows but his albums are very good. Spare, acoustic country jazz. The reviews you read will make endless comparisons to 1970-ish Van Morrison, and rightly so.

Date: Fri Apr 11 13:19
james s (Re:):

Graham, do you know if Nicolai Dunger has been opening shows for Calexico? I think I heard him play, though I failed to catch his name. It was a nice set, played to a typically rude and chatty Nashville audience (rude, in that everyone in the room was trying to do their networking loudly enough to be heard over the music coming from the stage).

Date: Fri Apr 11 12:49
Graham (more Swedish imports):

Been listening to Nicolai Dunger's "Tranquil Isolation" lately. Excellent stuff. The brothers Oldham--Will and Paul--play prominently on it. Recommended.

Date: Fri Apr 11 12:25
Lars D (www.supertanker.tk - have you checked out this site, Mr. Swede? :-) ):

First Floor Power are cool. They really can't sing that good. Off-key more often than "on-key". But it just sounds cool anyway. What's the word? "Naff"? "Quirky, but catchy". They made a great record. Saw them live in Aarhus a few months ago (a very short gig, though). / Lars

Date: Fri Apr 11 09:17
ringz (holmstone@hotmail.com):

Here comes a frozen swede. First of all: thanks for a great rec, Howe! I´m a listener every day. And you really should come to sweden more often and perform. About the swede you mentioned; lars: christian kjellvander - It´s not bad at all, although I must say that he sound a little bit too much like his hero:richard buckner. More great swedish music: the knife - the sound is 80´s electro but with beautiful popsongs. the isolation years - if "the band" would be young today and living in the north of Sweden (scary thought), maybe they would sound like this. david and the citizens - like a weird mixture between ben folds five, bright eyes and elliott smith. first floor power - two males and two females, just like abba and fleetwood mac (at some stages). But this is some unique pop, someone wrote "if the grandaddy would´ve backed up the shangri la´s this is what it would sound like" bear quartet - a great bandname for a great band. Take care, you all!

Date: Fri Apr 11 05:36
Lars (www.supertanker.tk):

Hey, James, I'm probably going to see Vinyl Dog Joy. But I've been told, that they might not play that song I sent you. Too bad. I'd really like to hear it. On the 15th I'm going to see Swedish "alt.country"-dude Christian Kjellvander here in Aarhus. If you like Oldham and well, folk stuff etc. try checking out www.christiankjellvander.com - there's a few mp3-tasters. He's got a pretty neat voice. The music's pretty straight ahead, not "quirky", but I thought it might interest a few of you. Allihoppa Pippi Longstockings! / Lars

Date: Fri Apr 11 03:31
The Parrot (Hasn't Flown So Far):

Wah-la-tum-ba

Date: Thu Apr 10 18:25
dave (Interstate):

Construction will be the big variable. They are both equally boring thru central Illinois. But if you take I-57 down thru Southern Illinois (it hooks into 55 in the Missouri bootheel) and you're looking for side trips, a good stopping point (if you're into nature at all) is Ferne Clyffe State Park off exit 40. It's in the Shawnee Natl Forest and has some easy trails that have nice rock formations and, yes, ferns. I used to live in the Carbondale area and that is a great, little-used state park just off the interstate. Closer to Carbondale is Giant City State Park, which is very cool and there are decent restaurants/bars and reasonable hotels in Carbondale..6 and a half hours from Chicago, this all makes an ok stopping point, just be aware there is not much between Marion and Sikeston, MO....Further on south, you can't go wrong with a stop at Graceland. The women always dig it..It's really twisted..If you end up taking 55 south from St. Louis, St. Genevieve is a good stopping point.. good architecture. Cape Girardeau has good restaurants and bars down by the river. Happy trails.

Date: Thu Apr 10 15:59
Blaine (@work):

Dave -- I lost my map, let me know what you suggest. FYI - former Giant Sand vocalist Lucinda Wms is opening the barn for the horse here this Summer. Heard a few of her new ones on the radio that were cool. The one on tv she was trying too hard - the trouble w/tremolo and the value of vibrato. Anyone hear the whole alb? FYI 2 -- the Neil site has a great live video of "Goin Home" with the old guys just a stompin away.

Date: Thu Apr 10 14:28
dave (Year of the Horse):

The big boys are going to be on the road this summer. Try and see 'um! Billy, Ralph and Poncho aren't getting any Younger ya know...Blaine, are you taking I-57 or I-55 down thru Illinois?

Date: Thu Apr 10 14:15
james s (more dump):

I haven't heard any of their stuff, other than the prince cover record. I should probably check 'em out. Eyes wonder.

Date: Thu Apr 10 13:35
Javier (dump):

Hummm, it´s difficult to get their records over here. The only one i´ve got is "A Plea for Tenderness", which is very good!. Hope to get my hands on the new upcoming one...

Date: Thu Apr 10 13:29
james s (dump):

I kind of like their record of Prince covers. "Skinny Motherf*cker With the High Voice"

Date: Thu Apr 10 13:08
howe (ciao):

what about "dump" ?........one wonders

Date: Thu Apr 10 11:51
Javier (Summer Sun):

Can´t stop listening to the new Yo la Tengo album. They are one of the greatest groups ever: all their albums are brilliant, their concerts are excellent, they´re fun and very down-to-earth... and all this for nearly 20 years!. I can´t wait for their European tour! :)

Date: Thu Apr 10 09:45
p aa nda a (O):

w h o o l e l o o t t a s h a k i n g g o o i n g o o w

Date: Wed Apr 9 17:04
james s (Re: ):

Don't drop your goo snifter, glue sniffer, and don't be a metabore. New Yo La Tengo has no loudness. Very mellow and darkly bubblegum throughout. In the liner notes, they thank certain "individuals" for putting them up in Nashville. Three of the "individuals" they thank are dogs that belong to Kurt (Wagner)and Mary. No mention of Kurt and Mary though. Ha. Funny folks.

Date: Wed Apr 9 16:42
glue sniffer (evening):

what games we play come what may. in roads lead to magic toads whilst tools are working well.just a note to say wooo and i guess that dinners off. may be mext life time folks

Date: Wed Apr 9 16:06
Blaine (@work):

To nearly metaphorically thieve from Howe, "today -- is a good day to drive, that's what they're saying on channel 5" -- I'm headed to Breax Bridge, LA at the end of the month for a Cajun fest. Anyone have any suggestions for side trips along the route??

Date: Wed Apr 9 16:05
johnnyb. (johnnybb.):

stay cool,boy...

Date: Wed Apr 9 16:01
howe (come ?):

i am using metaphor as a metaphor for stumble....and rumble as a grumble tumble fot rumble. not to be confused.....

Date: Wed Apr 9 13:59
james s (rumble):

skin on skin, or knives and chains? or are you using "rumble" as metaphor?

Date: Wed Apr 9 13:36
Conch (all righty then...):

sounds like a plan, Hoop...I'll be down the hill way 'fore dusk and soon enough

Date: Wed Apr 9 13:24
howe (honk):

hey conch....if that is your real name....how's it hangin ? let's get together for beer and bashing whilst i wrestle with teh swamp cooler .....come on !!!...look at the time ...it's rumble thirty

Date: Wed Apr 9 13:11
Conch (all about annie chou-chou):

It's been a while since I've rumba-ed...but what the hell!

Date: Wed Apr 9 12:57
alan (geoff, (Rick?) james):

my-T, my-T? BTW: just got Lulled... man, some piano!

Date: Wed Apr 9 12:45
graham (.):

I'll rumble with you, Howe. What do I bring?

Date: Wed Apr 9 12:34
howe (:)(::()::)(::):():

the hot winds are shovin their way in here this morn.....so....LET'S RUMBLE.

Date: Wed Apr 9 11:32
geoff (my t would be):

texas...though toronto and tennessee are good t's too.

Date: Wed Apr 9 11:08
james s (geoff):

Geoff, would that "UT" be in Texas, Tennessee, or other? Just Curious. I went to U of Tennessee.

Date: Wed Apr 9 07:13
gloe snuffer (ill tired and hungry):

can any one lend me a sandwich ? if not no worry tried my hardest to drink all day yesterday listening to the sounds of children playing in the street realy good band I'm sure some where but not in this case. HOwe old baby how is the world in you ear today? if your coming to tea i need to know if you are a meater some one eles probabl;y knows the answer and your shoe size.

Date: Wed Apr 9 02:03
geoff (the professor this time):

Hi Howe,I gave a guest lecture last week for another prof here at UT...I showed a clip from the Roswell project...an undergraduate approached me afterwards, he was a fan of yours...i think he enjoyed your portrayal (sp?) of Dr. Fortunato...said he goes to this site often, maybe he'll see this post and enjoy it...by mere association with your fine music, I was made that much cooler in the classroom. Thanks Howe.

Date: Tue Apr 8 23:53
howe ()()():

appreciate the notion of a norwester. thinks it wreaks of swell intention. and remembering the mother of reinvention, i recant i can't, if ever in utter filler buster... nor ever will display there amongst the bark of burns in 3 ring calexicorner. (none the less, happy trails.....gluebubba, the next one's on you)- howe

Date: Tue Apr 8 19:37
Lars (www.supertanker.tk):

There's a whole Calexico-show at this adress: http://mapage.noos.fr/calexico.olympia.1/ --- it's from the 3rd of April and in mp3-format - an audience-recording and not super quality. But it'll give you an idea of what they sound like live these days. Tonight I saw Stephen "Pavement" Malkmus & The Jicks live in Aarhus. Great gig. The Microphones (= Phil Elvrum) was support act and he was also really cool. G'night, folks! / Lars

Date: Tue Apr 8 15:10
graham (glue's game):

Perhaps the next album should be played entirely on open strings.

Date: Tue Apr 8 06:48
glue sniffer (this is the most i've wrote on for an age):

Hello friends country men U.Sers and all my dear friends in the highs of eurpoe. Welll the vodka jelly thing went well last night justt had hair of the dog to allow my self the abilty to type and I'm flying. well just hold on a minuete i hear you cry what the hell is this sudden love filled rantting about. it has the typography errors and general style of Mr G. Sniffer but none of the rude abject bloody mindedness of the useual you can all die thingy me bob. for that I am truely sorry. So as a kind of back uped apology for my loins and there spillage i say to all a good night. P.S am thinking of starting a giant sand drinking game every time the open strings are stuck have one drink.

Date: Mon Apr 7 17:29
Mike (mjcwires@hotmail.com):

Hi Howe Glad to see you are doing some shows in the UK. Any chance of making it to the North West (Manchester or Liverpool)? And any chance of doing a three setter (I wish!) as Howe + Calexico + Giant Sand, seeing as Calexico are also here early May? Cheers! Mike

Date: Mon Apr 7 16:20
J (getting ready):

to mumble

Date: Mon Apr 7 15:47
james s (Re: and such):

I saw the Stray Cats play in 82 or 83, and they were a blast of freshness. I've put up three new four-track Mp3s up on my site (www.jamesscarbrough.com/sounds) for any who are interested in taking a listen. Tomorrow, new Fruit Bats and new Yo La Tengo in stores.

Date: Mon Apr 7 15:34
Blaine (@work):

Link Wray

Date: Mon Apr 7 15:14
Graham (.):

Remember the Stray Cats' "Rumble in Brighton"? What a smoking song.

Date: Mon Apr 7 14:33
matt (fog on the tyne is all mine):

what you wanna talk about howe? anyway all this talk of rumbling has reminded me of that classic song by pj and duncan "Lets Get Ready To Rumble" im laughing just thinking about it! (hopefully anyone outside of the uk will be oblivious to the existance of those two! if not you have my commiserations)

Date: Mon Apr 7 14:24
treygoba (Lawrence KS Howe????):

Please??? The Bottleneck??? Pretty pleads??? Quite a venue with a guaranteed crowd...saw Neko there, Lucinda, Blake Babies, even Calexico...but no Howe (come?). Canada to Minneapolis to Madison to Chicago to Columbia (Mo) to Lawrence to OKC (with Flaming Lips) to Texas (Austin). Sounds like a good scour of the middle to me.

Date: Mon Apr 7 14:22
Lars (www.supertanker.tk):

Rumble? So you're in to boxing? Or is that another sport where they say that? :-) Any news on those three albums (?!) that I think you mentioned sending off to the mastering plant at some point? And has Mike sent you a copy of the Sandman? Ahh, just sitting here listening to Under Byen's 12-minute piece "In The Winter". Sooo nice. :-) Oh...eh, as far as I can understand Under Byen will be doing some kinda show for three days mid-May on the harbour in Aarhus. Which suggests to me, that Nils won't be joining you on all the live dates. I've tried writing a little news story on them at the Supertanker site. Greets. / Lars

Date: Mon Apr 7 14:03
howe (couch):

ok...lets talk. you start. unless you want to still rumble ??? ? ?

Date: Mon Apr 7 13:58
howe (homme):

sigh. no rumbles. only grumbles.

Date: Mon Apr 7 11:40
matt (Leicester...):

i can confirm for any one interested that calling the phoenix (01162554854) is the way to go!! my tickets are booked!! :-D

Date: Mon Apr 7 08:21
matt (errrrrr):

hey glue! im back in shrews from uni for a month (although im gonna be away in barcalona/the lakes for a chunk of it), will be in the hop from time to time though im sure.... maybe see you around? you goin to calexico/howe? maybe see you there if nowhere else? im getting somewhere on the leics tickets, try calling the phoenix centre: 01162554854 and they'll tell you the guy with the tickets ain't there but they'll take yer number and *hopefully* call back when he resurfaces....

Date: Mon Apr 7 08:02
Lars (www.supertanker.tk):

www.crunchy.dk .....mmmmm, crunchy. ;-D "If you took the bones out, they wouldn't be crunchy!" - Monty Python / Lars

Date: Mon Apr 7 07:30
treygoba (fuzzled):

White Stripes "Elephant"...mmmmmmm... crunchy.

Date: Mon Apr 7 07:27
The Ilustrated Glue Sniffer (the problem with global drinks):

Hello mat long time no seaweed what ya doing? yes its all true i do live in a tiny pub and would welcome any sand travelers to my world going to be hangin around alot so any body welcome. I don't know about lester but will find him out. P.S am about to make a huge vodka jelly for myself and some freinds to enjoy in the sun shine today i am in banbury so all encompased welcom

Date: Mon Apr 7 06:29
matt (uselessly googling):

((hey there glueboy)) dont spose anyones got a contact no. for gettin hold of tickets for this leicester gig? i can't find anything of any use anywhere...

Date: Mon Apr 7 05:08
glyue sniffer (fun fun fdun in the sun):

yo yo yo am anywhere for drink any time am in oxfordshire this eveninbg but give me a bell

Date: Mon Apr 7 05:08
glue sniffer (sorry):

am about everwher like a non profit traveling salesman. Love the work kids

Date: Mon Apr 7 05:04
glyue sniffer (fun fun fdun in the sun):

yo yo yo am anywhere for drink any time am in oxfordshire this eveninbg but give me a bell

Date: Mon Apr 7 02:46
This Is My Name (And I Don't Like Feta Cheese):

What's the status of the Stromusfall re-issue? I love that disc, and mine has turned to mold.

Date: Mon Apr 7 00:53
Blaine (@homewaitingforsnow):

...not to derail the recent rumblings of this musical train -- but has anyone heard the Reigning Sound? A friend recently gave me the debut cd by them and it's been in heavy roatation here. Very cool melding of probable influences.

Date: Mon Apr 7 00:05
Conch (my lil' sand land):

You know, for a while now I've been driving around four a while now with my own homemade "favorites" Giant Sand compilation, two CD-Rs worth (just couldn't do it on one disc, and it could've easily been more than two discs): DISC ONE: Overture; Center of the Universe; Unfinished Love; Music Arcade; Dusted; Corridor; Chore of Enchantment; Remain Distored; Cracklin' Water; Elevator Music; Glum; Artists; Can't Find Love; Under The Punishing Sun; Shadow To You; Dilemma; Not Good; Square (live). DISC TWO: Rock Opera; Murkey Red Dew; Searchlight (live); Sand; Shiver; Wonder; Left; October Anywhere; Yer Ropes; The Inner Flame; Astonished; Was Is A Big Word; Spun; Seldom Matters Again; Graveyard; Neon Filler; Change Is Now. Keep in mind that I put it together before COVER MAGAZINE came out, so those tracks weren't about yet. Anyone else built their own night? Care to share or compare?

Date: Sun Apr 6 23:57
Teddy (uh huh?):

Que? Uh...huh?

Date: Sun Apr 6 20:58
Cact (ass):

...cause he knows he's too short for all of 'em fairies... that come around tapping on yer shoulder.. asking if theys can follow yahs over yonder... to the land of nudie gals and puzzled soldiers and ketch yellow smoldering bolders...

Date: Sun Apr 6 20:09
james s (outsider):

Oh, Dally, why are you always looking for trouble?!?!

Date: Sun Apr 6 19:44
howe (humdingered):

yes yes yes...morten fell off the band wagon too....it disturbs me to no end....morten played drums on 3 tracks....do do do (b 4 u), now i lay me, blood orange.... for crying out loud ....i shrivel when i fail.....! now put em up and let's rumble !!!! ARRRRRRRRRRRRGH ....

Date: Sun Apr 6 18:21
Mitch (about to get his hairs cut):

Well, Lars, the plural of cactus is cacti...but hardly anyone ever uses the plural, that I know of: seems we just ramble and roam among the cactus. Gotta say, however, there's something oddly appealing about cacti-e. Words is good play things.

Date: Sun Apr 6 17:52
Eune (ianyoo83@rogers.com):

Mr. Howe Gelb, Please play some music in Toronto soon. It doesn't have to anywhere else in Canada 'cept Toronto. We're selfish like that. Thank you.

Date: Sun Apr 6 17:45
rob (for howe):

just wanted to say "the listener" is my introduction to you or giant sand...i cant stop listening to it..every time i put it on i hear something new on it..i cant wait to delve into the giant sand catalog..was wondering if there was any chance of getting the lyrics to the listener..i think your lyrics are something not to be missed...thanx for a great cd..new fan..rob

Date: Sun Apr 6 17:45
rob (for howe):

just wanted to say "the listener" is my introduction to you or giant sand...i cant stop listening to it..every time i put it on i hear something new on it..i cant wait to delve into the giant sand catalog..was wondering if there was any chance of getting the lyrics to the listener..i think your lyrics are something not to be missed...thanx for a great cd..new fan..rob

Date: Sun Apr 6 17:17
Lars (www.supertanker.tk - seems to be working again):

Sorry to bring this up, but did you miss drummer-Morten in the credits too? Oh, well, how does one rumble Tucson-style? Does it involve pick-up trucks and hikes into the desert with Jack D among cactus (how do you spell that plural? Cactie?)? He-he. / Sunday-Lars-With-Nuthin-Better-To-Do

Date: Sun Apr 6 17:09
howe (honed):

that trumpeteer is noah thomas !!!!....his name fell off the credit list at the factory. dang !...i hate it when i suck. ok...let's rumble !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Date: Sun Apr 6 16:00
matt (tour guide(s)??):

(oh and make sure you get in touch if you do come our way!)

Date: Sun Apr 6 15:57
matt (mel@stylethrashing.co.uk):

well i would heartily reccomend it. lots of errr, old buildings, a winding river and maybe even the odd cobbled street for yer cowboy boots!!.....

Date: Sun Apr 6 15:53
johnny yen (trumpet?):

Is that a real trumpet on Jason's List? I couldn't find any credit for it, which leads one to ponder possible synthetic origins. Or maybe it's Noah in disguise. I'm freezing up here in an unheated record store in VT. Send me some heat. -johnny

Date: Sun Apr 6 15:27
howe (hankered):

hmmmm....shrewsbury....i see.... near wales you say. welp me great grand ma was one.....so maybe i should stumble down that pike. hmmm m m m. yep. now let's rumble !

Date: Sun Apr 6 15:22
Lars (www.angelfire.com/indie/lars-kd):

Thanks for all the links, folks! Much appreciated. Smiley face in Denmark now! :-D It's still Sunday here for a few hours. And it's freezing. There was snow somewhere in Denmark today. Hellooo, spring, where are you?!? :-) I've found out that the Aarhus botanical garden and park is great for Sundays, Howe. If you haven't been there, try it when you drop by next time. It's only a two minute walk from Café Mozart. :-) And James, I'll send you an e-mail. I hope the Danish tunes and tones are treating you well? ;-) / Lars

Date: Sun Apr 6 15:17
matt (welsh border landedness):

unless he's moved since i last saw him in t pub he resides in quaint old shrewsbury... you should come visit Howe...

Date: Sun Apr 6 14:48
howe (home):

it's a sunday. anybody want to rumble ? gloo snifter....what town do you fold up into ???

Date: Sun Apr 6 12:35
james s (love songs):

Any chance Love Songs might be re-released at some point? I heard one person say it was her favorite GS record. I've run across most everything else in the catalog, but not this one. Any opinions on this record? Lars, I recently saw Backyard BbQ in a used shop. I'll take a look later and see if it's still there. It was cheap. If it is, I'll grab it and send it your way. No promises, as it may not be there still. Damn, I wish these allergies would leave me alone. Cough cough, sneeze.

Date: Sun Apr 6 12:04
Tommy Gailer (scrolling for half):

Lars, the direct link is: http://half.ebay.com/search/search.jsp?nthTime=1&product=music&query=Giant+Sand

Date: Sun Apr 6 11:51
Mitch (85718):

Lars...did a quick-check at half.com--which is a non-auction site--and the following CDs are available: "Glum," "Chore," "Center of the Universe," "Swerve," "Cover Magazine," "Backyard Barbeque Broadcast," "Ramp," "Purge & Slouch," "Vally of Rain/Ballad of a Thin Line Man"--as well as Howe's "Dreaded Brown Recluse".

Date: Sun Apr 6 09:00
Paul L (paul-linton@beeb.net):

Lars - Try www.cduniverse.com for Long Stem Rant, Swerve and Purge and Slouch. got hold of those from there fairly recently and they seem to be available.

Date: Sun Apr 6 04:53
Lars (home):

Thanks, Mitch! It's still auctions mostly. So the price can go up, up and up. But I guess most old sand-cds would have to be bought that way? I'll try my luck on those sites and eBay. Cheers. / Lars

Date: Sat Apr 5 23:08
Mitch (85718):

Lars...and Paul...you might wanna try www.half.com and/or www.gemm.com...for the stuff that's no longer available. at half.com you can put what you're looking down on a "wish list" if it's not available there, and when someone decides to sell one you'll be notified. Hope that helps.

Date: Sat Apr 5 18:34
tom (@be) (i'm going to wichita):

alejandro escovedo will be playing in brussels in a couple of weeks. never heard or seen him play live before, i am rather looking forward to the event.

Date: Sat Apr 5 17:44
Paul Kerr (p.kerr@ntlworld.com):

Hi there everyone, haven't posted in a while, lurking with good intent.Got the Listener last week, mellow, like having a warm bath, also got Feast of Wire, those guys are growing and i've even heard some tracks on the good old BBC.Anyway, seems to be a lot of talk about some old albums, does anyone know which ones are deleted or otherwise not available? The first blacky ranchette for example came out on new Rose records over here, who could we petition to re-release it? It used to be very hard to find some of Howe's albums, much easier now, but it must be really hard trying to get a hold of the older catalogue these days. Regarding a best of from the early days there's just so much you could cram onto a CD.The Giant Sandwich album was a great intro, where is it now? regards to all. pity me as i couldn't get a ticket for Steve Earle last night, need to get off of my arse and book those Calexico tickets. Paul

Date: Sat Apr 5 16:12
Lars (Looking for a dune of goods):

The Lovesongs cd is about to go for 60 bucks on eBay!...which got me thinking: where can I get my hands on cds like "Backyard Barbecue Broadcast", "Purge And Slouch", "Long Stem Rant", "Swerve" and so on....without having to caugh of ridiculous amounts like that? Does anyone here know any good webshops (or whereever?) where such nice albums can be found? Thanks. / Lars

Date: Sat Apr 5 15:46
Lars (Vic):

I don't know if this is news at all, but I just learned that 19 demos are available at www.vicchesnutt.com --- though it might interest some of you. / Lars

Date: Sat Apr 5 15:23
tom (mexicanshark@hotmail.com):

HOWE,its my birthday. a beautiful day with paris .circa 90 to 2000. Giants sands and a plasma ball .Im ok. el sharkio

Date: Sat Apr 5 10:34
howe (home):

....and no. "jason's list" was only inspired by me calling him (j.ly) and showing off this new melody i had just come up with....and him replying it sounded kinda like his mom calling him to dinner when he was a kid...."jason ...jason...", so that was the only part i took and then made up the rest about a fan needing to get into a show so he could replentish the earth with his girl friend ...maybe.

Date: Sat Apr 5 10:29
howe (home again):

hi. just got back. man. eye opening and ear popping. i think i am a napalitano waiting to happen. i see myself there growing crinkled and crumpled in the final quarter of this life, still laughing about trying to cross the street there (if you stop for a red light you will cause a terrible accident, they are only meant as a suggestion...i am told) and always looking forward to dinner....which will begin mid day and end sometime around 4 in the morning. anyway. ok. i need to tell you that under byen will not be touring with me in europe (as far as i know)... but the line up will be the core of the band on the "the listener" with marie frank opening up and then joing the band....(nils from under byen will be their only member on board for most of it....although they all are welcome to come along). and i think we now have a brussels show at the botanique on may 13. ok....other then that ....not much chance of me hooking up with calexico along the way. hope to see you all soon....love, howe: home

Date: Sat Apr 5 10:08
Lars (www.supertanker.tk):

In case you haven't seen them - a couple of reviews: http://www.citypages.com/databank/24/1165/article11162.asp -AND- http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/folkcountry/reviews/howegelb_listener.shtml -AND- http://www.groove.no/html/review/87245277.html (in Norwegian - very positive) -AND- http://www.musique.it/ArticleView.asp?article_id=780 (in Italian - I haven't got a clue! Uhm, maybe I can guess this one: "La passione per un’atmosfera") -AND- http://www.jsonline.com/onwisconsin/music/apr03/130478.asp -AND a bit of good Under Byen-news at Supertanker (which for some reason loads really slow these days. Those tk-domains are dodgy. I better change it). By the way, the new Black Keys album is out. The whole thing is streamed from here: http://media.epitaph.com/_tmp/streams/The_Black_Keys-Thickfreakness.ram ------- Greets from a Danish hangover....somewhat soothed by "Jason's List" & Co. ;-) / Lars

Date: Sat Apr 5 01:53
gazelle (famousjamus@yahoo.com):

i really like the listener. i was listening to it with dave burtch the other night, and he was wondering if jason's list was about jason lytle. i heard that it was about howe getting bummed because jason forgot to put him on the guest list. dave says that grandaddy will never forget howe. i said that jason and jim remind me of ponyboy and johnny from the outsiders and howe is their dally.

Date: Sat Apr 5 00:26
Mitch (85718...and about two feet from bed):

My votes for the comp are these: "Artists", "Was Is A Big Word", "Unfinished Love," "Can't Find Love," and the live Juxtaposition version of "Searchlight". Man, now that I'm thinking about it...hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...better restrain myself...there's just tooooooooooooo much...and is Blacky material under consideration...'cuz there's some I'd wanna throw in on my choices.

Date: Fri Apr 4 18:00
J (they've got one down China way, last year the Grateful Dead almost appeared here, this year the dead lie where they lay):

Has to be (for the compilation) 'Loving cup' From Long stem rant. Also 'Love like a train' From 'The love songs' Anyone help me out with cd's of the aforementioned albums? I have most Sand vinyl and would happily buy re-releases, but there's a gap in my coming summer listening rota. Mail me if you can help? woodpile99@yahoo.com

Date: Fri Apr 4 16:44
graham (talk about walls...):

My vote for the Loose compilation of 80s Sand stuff: "Paved Road to Berlin." Rob, check out this for a roadmap through the Giant Sand back catalog: http://www.sa-wa-ro.com/GiantSand-Pages/gs-interviews9.htm

Date: Fri Apr 4 15:17
Denis Grandad (den@asteroid.f9.co.uk):

steve wynn Solo dates worth checking out...Chris Cacavas in support. Remember he played with Giant Sand, and the Psycho sisters in the uk in 92, plus Green on Red connection. Super stuff

Date: Fri Apr 4 13:56
james s (head hung in shame):

uh, I mean "certainly". Oh brother.

Date: Fri Apr 4 12:45
james s (OH NO, he's gonna do another strip tease..):

Johnny Yen... uh... I meant to write it that way...ahem. Well, at any rate, as a listener, the record is certianly not a chore...

Date: Fri Apr 4 12:31
johnny yen (editing):

"Choir of Enchantment". I like that.

Date: Fri Apr 4 11:33
graham (.):

First exposure I had to Giant Sand was Richard Buckner's "Devotion and Doubt" record. All the space and interplay, the sound of stuff brewing just under the surface. Looked deeper and found Glum, and, after hearing the moody shuffle broken up by that first hollow snare shot and over-amped guitar break, I was in. It's the unexpected that's so appealing. Innis: check out Charley Patton for more country blues. Harsher than MS John Hurt, but deeper as well.

Date: Fri Apr 4 11:31
james s (for Rob):

The variety in the Howe Gelb/Giant Sand catalog is both wonderful and potentially maddening. You like the Listener. There's really not another of his records that's "like" it. If you run into a copy of, say, Long Stem Rant by Giant Sand and expect to be anything like the Listener, you are going to be let down, at least at first (it may grow on you in a different, a very different, way). I'll second the Choir of Enchantment recommendation. I reckon it's about the best record I've ever heard. You may also like the feel of the Cover Magazine record, even though it's all just covers. The Howe solo record Confluence might also please you. Get on the Sandman tree and get Pedalless, and certianly the new one coming soon...

Date: Fri Apr 4 11:19
Javier (Re: Lars):

Well, Lars, I was talking about Steve Wynn. Unfortunately, it seems like Howe is not playing in Madrid during his current tour :( If Howe was the one playing on the 23rd, and i had to decide between him and my girlfriend... well, i´ve been with her for 3 years but listening to Howe since 1990. I would have my choice pretty clear then ;)

Date: Fri Apr 4 10:30
Lars (www.supertanker.tk):

Well, Javier. Considering the current form of Howe's candlelight-ish output and what has been written on this page before ("...my girlfriend thinks it's a very sexy album") I would think the choice would be an easy one. ;-) You bring your lady along to Howe, pick up a few glasses of good red wine and go "Piaangoooo!". Have a nice day whatever you decide on doing. :-) / Lars

Date: Fri Apr 4 09:36
Javier ((Sean T, Re: Steve Wynn)):

He´s playing in Madrid on April 23th. The same night Real is playing Man Utd. And also, i should be celebrating with my girlfriend our anniversary. This is a very tough choice that has been torturing me in the last few weeks ;)

Date: Fri Apr 4 08:33
Tommy Gailer (scrolling for chores):

Rob, you can`t do anything wrong picking up Giant Sand`s "Chore of enchantment". Never spent more time listening to a record than to this one. I also don`t remember anybody disliking it.

Date: Fri Apr 4 08:19
rob (wolfnwaters@aol.com):

hey thanx lars & james for the sandman info..listener is my first introduction to howe gelb..i cant stop listening to it..can you guys help out on what to get next in the giant sand catalog..also on a side bar for any gourds fans i saw them in new york last night & they were incredible..thanx for listening

Date: Fri Apr 4 06:13
SeanT (Steve Wynn):

Is there anyone on the list that goes to Steve Wynn's solo shows ? I can only say if you haven't been , go . He's on tour in Europe at the moment .He's playing The Borderline here in London on the 9th May , go . Sean.

Date: Fri Apr 4 05:22
innis (@innis.co.uk):

...coincidentally, Steve Wynn wrote the intro to the recent feature on Bruce Springsteen in Uncut (with comments from Howe and JC) ...apparently, a Springsteen show at the LA Forum in 1978 inspired him to form the Dream Syndicate. How about that. Also, thanks for the testimonial there, Tom. www.innis.co.uk is the place....and finally, got a great record recently by Mississippi John Hurt - 'Today' - (Coffee Blues a particular favourite) and found that his playing reminded me of M Ward at times.......anyone have any other country-blues recommendations? Got Skip James.....

Date: Fri Apr 4 00:19
Blaine (@sandhistorycomcentral):

Picked up Valley of Rain shortly after it came out on a friend's suggestion and to be honest it didn't sink in right away. I interviewed Steve Wynn a few times around the demise of the Dream Syndicate the start of his solo caree and he mentioned Howe (who guitarred on one of Steve's albs), which piqued my interest. Around the time of Universe and Glum I made a point of catching them revolving carnivals GS put on at SXSW. ...the rest as they say... --but waaay baack when, a GS article in the mag Bucketful of Brains spoke of a ltd cassette "for the fans". Mr. Archivist, any chance this might make it to the Sandman series?? (For the trivial record one of the top 3 shows I have ever witnessed was the Dream Syndicate's Ghost Stories tour on a snowy Feb night in Milwaukee to about 10 levitating fans.CrazyHorsevsVelvetsvsTelevisionvsDylan. It was church.)

Date: Thu Apr 3 18:41
dave (sands of the hourglass pt 2):

I should add I've never heard any of the pre-1990 stuff or Backyard BBQ or TWR, etc...maybe I'm missing something. On a side note, I noticed recently that my Howe Gelb/Giant Sand records sit between Marvin Gaye and Jimmie Dale Gilmore in my alphabetical record collection. That seems to be significant in some subtle way.

Date: Thu Apr 3 18:35
dave (sands of the hourglass):

I first encountered Giant Sand from the Bloodshot Records 5 Year anniversary compilation (which was a nice double cd I might add) with a version of "Hard on Things". I must admit I was alarmed, kind of the way you're frightened the first time you hear Capt Beefheart. Sand had gotten a lot of mentions in No Depression magazine, and when I saw all the hoopla over Chore, I bought it and have been absorbing the rest over the last two years. I'm primarily a fan of everything from Hisser forward. I liked the Selections 1990-2000 VERY MUCH, but overall feel that Ramp and Glum are spotty as full length albums. Not that anybody asked...

Date: Thu Apr 3 17:41
Lars (www.supertanker.tk - news, info, links etc.):

Thanks for the help, James! Rob, you can see the tracklist for the upcoming Sandman here: http://www.angelfire.com/indie/lars-kd/privat-site/foto-sider/HoweGelb-setlists.htm --- scroll all the way down --- the cover art will most likely change, though. Oh, and about first impressions of things Howe-ish, yes, I was like "what?!" to begin with. Hans from Scavenger Records played Confluence to me in his shop. I didn't stick. Then a bit from Chore. Didn't stick much either. Seeing the man live at Café Mozart made all the difference. Rushed out to get Chore. And very quickly started to like it. I've been listening to that album for almost a year straigth now. I bought "Down Home" around the same time, which gave me a bit of the acoustic stuff I'd enjoyed so much live. Great disc too. G'nite, folks! / Lars

Date: Thu Apr 3 17:00
james s (rob):

Hey Rob, welcome. To learn about the "sandman" go to http://www.sa-wa-ro.com/Sandman/sandman-main.html. There is a link to it on this site. As to the lyrics, I don't know of anywhere you can go and find them written down at this point. The reason Lars said the "sandman" might help, is because there will soon be a live release (via the sandman series) that contains live versions of many of those songs. Hope this helps.

Date: Thu Apr 3 16:32
rob (wolfnwaters@aol.com):

hey lars i'm new at this..who is the new sandman..i really want to get the lyrics for these great tunes

Date: Thu Apr 3 16:00
Alan (hi james s):

Well, for whatever reason I lept right onto the Sandwagon when I first heard The Love Songs... On the other hand, Robert Palmer (in the NY Times) suggested "The Wonderful and Frightening World of..." The Fall around the same time he pushed "The Lost Weekend" by Danny and Dusty (Steve Wynn, Dan Stuart, Sid Griffin, Chris Cacavas et al.) BOTH of those generated "Good god, I'll NEVER like this!!!" Well, Robert knew better than I, now major favorites... and the latter was pivotal in my route in this, our collective (if indiscernable) general direction.

Date: Thu Apr 3 15:40
james s (www.jamesscarbrough.com):

Lars, you wicked flamer! Ha. Oh, and thanks for the pronunciation help. I was listening to Backyard BbQ this morning and I am more impressed with it everytime I hear it. This was the very first Giant Sand record I ever bought and heard. I remember when I took it to the cashier, and this is a very cool indie record store, the guy says, "Giant Sand is an acquired taste." When I first listened to it, I thought the "production" was so odd, and the performance so unlike anything I'd ever heard, that I didn't know what to make of it. I didn't think I'd be spinning it very often. It wasn't until after I heard and became near obsessed with Chore of Enchantment that I went back to BbQ. Now, along with Chore and Glum, Bbq is amont my trinity of favorite GS albums. It's like they were inventing some new musical form in that performance. Did anyone else, who now loves the Sand sound, start out thinking, "what the hell is this?"

Date: Thu Apr 3 15:05
Lars (ever so helpful :-)):

How get the lyrics.... Step 1) Hint: check the title of the record, Rob. ;-) Teehee....sorry, couldn't help myself - just kiddin' around a bit. Well, maybe the new Sandman can shed some light on the words as well. / Lars

Date: Thu Apr 3 12:38
rob burach (wolfnwaters@aol.com):

was wondering if there was a way to get the lyrics for the listener...please let me know thanx...rob

Date: Thu Apr 3 08:54
Lars (larsdideriksen@yahoo.dk):

Give me an e-shout. ;-) / Lars

Date: Thu Apr 3 08:35
dave (Tweedy solo show):

Wow Lars, we were AT the January 9 Tweedy show! I'd love to have the shows. Innarested in a trade??

Date: Thu Apr 3 05:29
matt (happiness):

well i for one can't wait for the Leicester gig!!! :-D

Date: Thu Apr 3 03:20
IanG (notonthetourcircuit):

Dammit, no Scottish date again. 2 days off work required to get to Newcastle, London or Leicester(was a lampshade), not that I have the slightest intention of visiting Leicester, apologies and commiserations to anyone who lives there but, why Leicester for fuc***ke? Moan, Groan etc etc. At least Calexico have included Glasgow in their tour, for that we should be grateful

Date: Thu Apr 3 02:59
Lars (answers x 3):

'Morning, everyone! Here's Quizmaster Lars with todays answers. ;-) JAMES: Yes, I know German, and u with an umlaut ('ü') would be just about right. Same sound as the French word "une". DAVE: There has been some talk about Under Byen might get distributed through www.theorchard.com at some point, which means wide US availability in shops and online, as far as I can tell. But so far only Danes The Raveonettes and Swan Lee are at the Orchard, I think. I have no date on US distribution. It might be far off, I dunno. The band however would love to play in the USA this year, but moving eight people and gear overthere is maybe a bit too expensive. We'll have to wait and see what happens. I haven't heard of any plans other than that they really wanna go. The obvious choice would be New York, so they can't dazzle David Fricke some more. By the way, I just got three solo acoustic shows with Jeff Tweedy. 6 discs, soundbard recording, The Vic Theatre, Chicago, January 6th, 8th & 9th 2003. Haven't heard it all yet, but it sounds nice. Don't know his material at all, though. TOM: Under Byen means "Beneath/Under The City", which is a bit inspired by a book by one of Aarhus' best known contemporary writers Svend Aage Madsen (well, that's what they told me the first time I interviewed them anyway). :-) There you go folks! Yes, I'm "commenting" a lot here. Let's hope I get a job real soon, so I can use my time a bit differently. ;-) / Lars

Date: Wed Apr 2 20:44
tom (on yet another note on photophoto):

check out mr innis. he goes around and comes around now and then :)

Date: Wed Apr 2 20:41
tom (on a different note):

viva dan the sniffer

Date: Wed Apr 2 20:39
tom (( Re : anneke)):

Hoe ist meis ? I love the listener, hope you are doing ok. Lars has been the comments pageman lately, much respect for him, out there in dansk ( what's the translation of under byen, by the way lars ?). further i'm still getting prints of erwin strapped around my doorknob, it's a another way of communication. i really like David Eugene Edwards' tattoos..

Date: Wed Apr 2 19:14
dave (Under Byen - lars & Wilco DVD):

I'm too slow Lars, I haven't even tried to find those websites yet, but I wrote them down and will see what I can make of it...Any chance Under Byen will get any US distribution? Thanks for the info, and I might email..I enjoyed the Wilco DVD. I hadn't seen it in the theatre. I felt a little sorry for Jay Bennett..he seemed to have gone close to the edge there..Kotche is an excellent drummer. I think I'd like to see Tweedy work with some different musicians for a change, maybe a solo record.

Date: Wed Apr 2 18:13
james s (again...sorry) (Re:):

Marcia says, "Ask Lars if he knows German and if the Y is like o-umlaut. Ha."

Date: Wed Apr 2 17:55
Lars (the larsener.......*lol*):

Oh yeah, Em did mention that once. Let's hope she'll be up and running again some time. Right now I'm listening to tracks from the next sandman.....and thinking "Damn, that acoustic version of "Neon Filler" with the Morricone cd mixed in is goooood!" :-D What's the update on that project, Mike! Cobblestony boots and all? / Lars

Date: Wed Apr 2 17:16
james s (Re:):

got an email from Em last week requesting a copy of my CD. She was having computer problems, said it wouldn't let her post comments...

Date: Wed Apr 2 17:14
Lars (trickery of the tongue (or just tango?)):

Pronounciation? That's a tough one. I thought Fricke would have it in his article (http://www.rollingstone.com/news/newsarticle.asp?nid=17177&cf=944), but no. French website Rockomondo writes this: UNA PU-UN - but maybe yours is closer, James. You don't hear the 'd', though. "Unner". The 'y' in 'byen' might be pronounced the same way as the 'y' in ypsilon (but then again - I'm not sure how you pronounce that in English). I remember Howe getting it pretty much right at the gigs, so you might learn it from him at the upcoming gigs. :-) By the way Rockomondo has some nice reviews here: http://www.rockomondo.com/reunderbyen2.htm -AND- http://www.rockomondo.com/reunder.htm ---- Lars

Date: Wed Apr 2 17:01
Lars (larsdideriksen@yahoo.dk):

"then lyric 12th with under byen". Is that with a (support) performance from the whole band or "just" a few of them as backing band? That Lyric Theatre looks absolutely beautiful from the picture on the site. A bit like a smaller version of Shepherd's Bush Empire. I thought "that's a rather big venue for a Howe solo thing", but then went "well, maybe I think that because I've only seen Howe at some of the smallest venues in Aarhus". :-) The Lyric would fit an all-band performance from Under Byen nicely. Any luck with getting their cd's, Dave? Or do you need that translation? And Em, whaddya up to these days? Quite quiet from the Brooklyn front. Greets all! / Lars

Date: Wed Apr 2 16:58
james s (man of many questions):

Lars, or anyone who would know, would Under Byen be pronounced oonder bie-an? Hmmmm.

Date: Wed Apr 2 16:35
mike ([sa-wa-ro]):

....check the tours page now - newcastle live theatre 1st, leicester international club 2nd ..... then to denmark for rehearsals..... paris le duc des lombardes on the 5th.... more rehearsals.... all shows solo... then lyric 12th with under byen... and then germany...

Date: Wed Apr 2 16:07
Denis Grandad (den@asteroid.f9.co.uk):

Howe UK dates. You're right, no dates on this list. I got a nice glossy leaflet thru' from Newcastle Live Theatre with the 1 May date on, e-mailed Nigel Kerr, uk booking agent from this site, who confirmed this date, plus Leicester 2 May, London 12 May. No mention of venues for these two, or what Howe plans to do with his spare 10 days between Leicester & London. It makes me wonder if he might catch up with those Calexico guys and do some Sand dates.

Date: Wed Apr 2 14:36
james s (95-ish):

Do you have many or any unreleased tracks from the the 95-ish period when Bill Elm was with the band? I think the only things I've heard from that period on disk were the live tracks on BBQ and G & S. Did the howe, john, joey, bill line-up do any studio stuff, besides whats on the first Friends of D M record?

Date: Wed Apr 2 11:55
matthew (matics):

cheers for the glum lowdown everyone. what literate bunch you all are - maybe we should deconstruct a different album each week! i shall certainly return to glum tonight now my appetite is whetted. i noticed someone below mentioned the fabled GS/Bill Carter film. anyone seen the fantastic new wilco dvd package of i am trying to break your heart? we can dream and prey for some similar sand related release.......

Date: Wed Apr 2 10:39
Blaine (@work/lostinthescroll):

Graham - thanks for the hint. Please add "The Replacement" and "Barrio" to suggestion for the compilation.

Date: Wed Apr 2 10:05
an (strong_neck609@hotmail.com):

hey tommeke, hoe is't jong? mister geld does a lot of lovely impersonations, indeed... viva the jazzy listener!!! back home, howe?

Date: Wed Apr 2 09:28
james s (glum glum):

Jeez, Glue.... what was it you wanted again? You've been lost in the scroll.

Date: Wed Apr 2 07:26
glue glum sniffer (ok folks i am invisable):

i might wine i might moan i might even be rude to others who i dont even know but realy guys and the ocasonial gall is this any way to treat such a fan. i'll bow my head in sorrow and fill my ears up with sand, 'cause like a caustic ostirich things are out of hand. Thank you

Date: Wed Apr 2 05:16
natasha (nata71@libero.it):

I saw Howe in Rimini a few days ago...! Thank you Howe for being...just you...every time..and in any place! You're great! Ciao..! I hope to see you next time at Urbino Festival! ciao!

Date: Wed Apr 2 04:26
iang ('@'):

Howe in Newcastle on 1st May?????????? Are there any other UK dates?? I don't see them listed on the tour dates page.

Date: Wed Apr 2 01:31
Tommy Gailer (deanmartinscroller):

Saw The Friends of Dean Martinez yesterday in a small venue in Augsburg called Kerosin (saw Howe there for the first time in 95) and must confess, that is a bombastic sound these three sitting men are putting together on stage. Bill Elm ans his sidemen put together some nice covers too and it`s funny to guess the titels of movies and old classics.

Date: Wed Apr 2 00:53
phill (ghog220@cs.com):

Purge & Slouch was my intro to Howe and what was Giant Sand then (time-line 1994)went onto find new Sand , and, then back to early stuff, It`s all so Good,and you can not compare it to anything else. glum and slouch kinda go togather as what I call the new turn on the swerve Howe was going with his spill on Us. Man so much growth in the last 10 years! Gotta say I love stuff as far back as Stuck, Dreamville N.M. and the latest stuff is so different but still so-much Howe, that it`s just kinda like chapters of a book I never hope to finish.

Date: Wed Apr 2 00:24
Tape Burial Specialist (Graham):

according to the loyal order of sandy law ,there is only one way for you to properly part with the tape that has ( always been there when you needed him, and you needed him bad) Heres what you do! Go to walmart or any place that sells plants, Buy a cacti or cactus and take it home, un-root the thing and put your carcus under and replant your GLUM SAWARO. look at it now and then. it will make you want to say things like the word epicenter,plutonium,whipperwill. No matter how worn the cd or tape it can never go out in the trash! simple as that! long live the SAND FAN

Date: Tue Apr 1 20:28
tom (on whatever subject):

I Think Mr Gelb does a lovely Reed impersonation. Viva the listener.

Date: Tue Apr 1 19:44
tom (on whatever subject):

I Think Mr Gelb does a lovely Reed impersonation. Viva the listener.

Date: Tue Apr 1 17:14
Denis Grandad (den@asteroid.f9.co.uk):

Dilemma, Upcoming Howe show in the uk, Newcastle 1 May Calexico play Manchester the same day I live equal distance between both gigs. I have seen Howe, and Sand may times, but not Calexico. Newcastle is a good venue, in which I will be able to take my video camera. What are the chances of this happening? Anyone know if they plan to join forces as the Sand while they're out here? Denis

Date: Tue Apr 1 17:12
Alan (twn-gtr lock):

Fer those interested in a recording that matches Blaine's description of TWR's twin-guitar lock and roll -- recorded at Democrazee, Gent Belgium 28/6/92 (their last live show) -- "The One That Got Away" is a great live 2-disk set. I had a chance to see them on Berkeley's campus earlier that year but passed it up, stupidly sure that I'd get another chance... still makes me sad. Sorta the epitome of that California-based "jeez, we only want to be somewhere near as good as, say, Television, how hard could that be?-thing"

Date: Tue Apr 1 16:38
Blaine (@work):

Graham hits the nail on the head w/"catharsis". Now that it has sunk in I tend to view Glum-ola as Giant Sand's Tonight's the Night in some way (maybe it's the overall vibe). I'd link TWR tangentially, but for me that band was way about twin-gtr lock, very heavy duty. Saw them live once and it was one of the best displays of controlled feedback ever witnessed. FYI -- You all should take it upon yrself and bug James for his Songs cd - pretty cool 4 trk minded stuff.

Date: Tue Apr 1 14:57
Archivist (...):

Yes, there is quite a bit of unreleased material from the Glum sessions (mostly numerous different mixes). Howe and I went through most of the tapes and what was released as Unsungglum is the best of it. Perhaps some individual tracks that have yet to be released may come out on other albums in the future.

Date: Tue Apr 1 14:47
mike ([sa-wa-ro]):

i know there are tapes of the full recordings of the glum sessions.... pre-final editing..... and also other tracks recorded at those sessions that did not appear on 'unsungglum'.... i reckon there'd be another glumness that could be squeezed out.

Date: Tue Apr 1 12:38
dave (Under Byen):

Thanks Lars, I'll give it a go.

Date: Tue Apr 1 11:54
Alan (tommy, thin white rope and glum):

well, I am one of those TWR lovers and can certainly see the parallel Tommy draws with respect to the guitar work... (like Howe, I think I recall, TWR didn't like being overly connected to a desert sound). What I love about glum is not only the sound, a la the Insider, but the space in the mix, there's a massive openness to the sound -- even at its most explosive and full -- that leaves me feeling as if its me, alone in a big room, hall, radio station with my body alternately seeking to fill the space (in search, or pursuit, of a connection with all of the sound) or seeking a purchase to hold as it all washes over me, resonating. On top of all that, Howe's delivery of "too dark" on Happenstance brings a smile every time and the piano and Victoria's vocals on Spun give me shivers... was my first contact with that voice.

Date: Tue Apr 1 11:52
graham (RIP):

The tape player in my truck (yep, still got a tape player) ate my dubbed TDK copy of Glum last week. I'm still unsure of how to properly dispose of the cassette carcass. Burial at sea, perhaps? Or something similarly reverent?

Date: Tue Apr 1 11:49
graham (methinks):

Glum is the culmination of all the albums and ideas that precede it: the feedback/acoustic dynamic was never better (Happenstance, Faithful), the experimentation was fully realized (Glum, Bird Song), reflection (Spun, Left) mixed with catharsis (Frontage Road), the entire mood edgy and combustible. I'd take it over all the albums and go so far as to call it one of the finest albums of the decade. And it's got Howe's best line on it: "Are we the cross that you bear?"

Date: Tue Apr 1 11:35
Tommy Gailer (scrolling for the insider):

To compare Glum with some Thin white rope sounds works pretty good for me too! I know some Giant Sand fans that also are addicted to Thin White Rope.######## The only Giant Sand record i am doin`hard with is "Purge & Slouch" which nobody around me undestands: seems that "P & Sl" is a fave record for a lot of sand fans. Maybe it`s the jammin`-bluesy-not-so-songish-style that doesn`t do it for me that much...i don`t know. Every other GS-Record i can listen to while getting up or going to bed.

Date: Tue Apr 1 10:54
peter (nowhere!):

glum is the most addictive sand album, especially the 1-2 punch of Glum and yer ropes that open the album. Interestingly, it's Paula Jean on bass on those songs, not Joey Burns. as far as an 80's sand comp, that would probably havew to be a double cd, and giant sandwich is a damn good head start for compiling tracks. Must include "October Anywhere," "Thin Line Man" and "Black Venetian Blind," "Death Dying and Channel 5" and there's plenty more where those came from...

Date: Tue Apr 1 10:24
Insider-Sand (oh):

Oh, as regards to Glum pondering below. Glum is a slow grower for sure. It kind of stands in isolation in the catalogue, and it's out-on-a-limb status has been increased by its long temporary absence from buying hands. It's a dark album, often reminds me of Thin White Rope's prarire rock. Yer Ropes is one of the best GS rockers, Spun is downright lovely and the Pappy Allen-led Hank Williams cover is beyond the sublime (arguably in the top ten Sand recordings of all time). Stick with it, more love will come for Glum, if it doesn't, don't force... not every album by our fave bands has to be a personally ordained classic, it doesn't mean we love em any less though....

Date: Tue Apr 1 10:17
Insider-Sand ((:0)):

Loose records in the UK are apparently keen to put out a Giant Sand Selections 80-90 comp, a la the one they did with 90-00. I think the tracklisting is still to be sorted out though, so this message board might still have a chance to influence the tracklist, like we did with the 90-00 comp. What would older Sand fans suggest go on this comp if/when it happens? I'm curious if nothing else, as a relatively recent Sand convert.... Oh and wouldn't it be great if someone could persuade Howe to recut an old old song with a more recent ensemble...how about a smokey barroom version 'Valley of Rain' or a solo 'n' spooky 'All Done In'...the possibilities are mind-boggling! Howe willing of course ;-)

Date: Tue Apr 1 07:34
matthew (matics):

can anyone explain glum to me? i just can't seem to get into it like all the other 20-odd howe/sand albums i have and i don't know why. i generally prefer the song based records like storm, ramp, chore etc but i also love the lo-fi likes of hisser. glum is proving hard to grasp. p.s. doesn't howe look like ming the merciless on the back of the listener?!

Date: Tue Apr 1 07:33
mike ([sa-wa-ro]):

jpr...... i think i know the bit you mean. when i first heard that instrumental part on the 'pedalless' cd's i recognised it but couldn't put a finger on it. first thing that came to mind was a track from john cales' - 'songs for a new society'.... when howe played me the demo's for the listener i said 'i recognise that! where's it from?' he replied 'so do i - i don't know!' ......... - it's very very similar to a track by 'cowboys international' (ken leckie) from about 1980..... but it may also be classically based... any thoughts anyone?

Date: Tue Apr 1 03:50
glue sniffer (Laughing all the way to the bank):

Happy april ladies and genteels and let this fool be the first to fool you. On a more serrious note anybody fancy bying me a ticket for the show could pay you back with play dough?

Date: Tue Apr 1 02:16
Lars (Under Byen - Dave):

I've put some links on the Under Byen-page at www.supertanker.tk ----- Americans would have to buy through www.rillen.dk (maybe through www.theorchard.com later). Europeans have more choices in Danish online shops (like www.cdskiven.dk). James was trying his luck with www.rillen.dk the other day, but a lot of the text in the ordering proces is in Danish. I translated what was needed (I hope). If anyone else needs that translation, just let me know. Send me an e-mail at larsdideriksen@yahoo.dk and I'll mail it to you ----- if anyone is curious about the band be sure to check out their mp3s at www.underbyen.com - and more sound- and videolinks at www.supertanker.tk --- just mail me if you need any help. I'd love to get the word (and sound) out on Under Byen. They ARE my favourite Danish band after all. ;-) Greets! / Lars

Date: Tue Apr 1 01:09
Tommy Gailer (quoting scroller):

BD`s girlfriend: "...my girlfriend thinks it's a very sexy album.". Now that`s maybe the the best quote ever. I`d love to read this quote in every Thrill Jockey advertisment.

Date: Mon Mar 31 18:25
dave (London):

Thanks Sean T. My nephew was on this trip too and he was WAY into the football, as he plays "soccer" in Illinois. He watched on tv in their hotel room. London is great. I asked the Rough Trade dude if he knew anything about the Under Byen record, which he had never heard of...Anybody know how to get hold of that?

Date: Mon Mar 31 16:16
Lars (Ohia etc.):

"Magnolia Electric Co" is growing on me now. I was a bit disappointed to begin with. Have you got the double disc version. The extra demo disc is pretty neat too. Still....Ghost Tropic and Lioness are still my favourites. Hm, Axxess & Ace is good too. Haven't got Didn't It Rain yet. Did anyone check out Scout Niblett's Sweet Heart Fever also from Secretly Canadian. Nice one as well. / Lars

Date: Mon Mar 31 13:54
BD (fire will burn you too ):

Is there an easy way to say how wrong you have been when a size eleven vibram soled hiking boot is jammed in your mouth. The title of the disk must have escaped my early brief attention. "Listener", it is a lush, magical album. I have been thoroughly absorbed with it. I am sorry for shooting off my mouth when I know as well as all Howe fans know. It grows on ya like mold. Beautiful mold that is. I bashed the strings and it's really a vital part to the disk. Oh what the hell I was really wrong. I love this album. Sorry Howe for my big mouth. By the way my girlfriend thinks it's a very sexy album.

Date: Mon Mar 31 12:43
graham (play great keyboards of horse's teeth):

James S.--Sparklehorse is Atlanta was good, but not great. An hour long set of mostly vivadixiesubmarine songs, just Mark whispering and Scott playing metronome drums. So you probably didn't miss anything life-changing over in Ashville. M Ward and Vic Chesnutt in Atlanta this Friday. And all should check out the new Songs:Ohia record "Magnolia Electric Co.". Stunning.

Date: Mon Mar 31 11:30
deirdre (deirdrehaugh@hotmail.com):

re the Dublin pubs with families - our version of Disneyland!

Date: Mon Mar 31 07:50
SeanT (Dave re London):

Dave , glad you found Rough Trade and you bumped into Howe ! From your mail I guess you couldn't get into the pubs you saw , that may have something to so with an England football match live on t.v on Saturday or the live England rugby match on the Sunday .England won both by the way!

Date: Mon Mar 31 06:04
Simon (Lisa Germano):

Noticed Lisa Germano is playing London 2 days after Howe on the 14th. Any chance of a mini-OP8 thing happening?

Date: Sun Mar 30 19:49
dave (Met Howe at Charles de Gaulle):

Small world...While taking a first ever trip to Paris and London 3/19 to 3/26, we ran into Howe as we were getting ready to head thru customs. Thanks Howe for spending a couple minutes...I was explaining to my kids that I had seen him perform at the Abbey Pub just days earlier... thanks for the advice regarding a spot near Gare Du Nord. Unfortunately, we didn't make it as we were rushed to catch the Eurostar to London on Monday afternoon..Paris was beautiful and the people we encountered were extremely nice...Thanks to those of you who tipped me about Rough Trade in London. I went to the shop off Portobello road in Notting Hill and had a nice chat with the owner regarding Uncle Tupelo and the Listener. I walked out with Rough Trade's 4 disc 25 year compilation package...We planned the trip many moons ago and it was strange to go ahead and leave with the war as an underlying subplot...The overwhelming sense of contribution the French and British have lent to American culture was apparent to me. I would recommend that anyone who has never been to Paris should try to get there..We probably had "Americans" stamped on our foreheads, but the people were great...PS 1.) Jim Morrison is still dead 2.) If you travel to London with your kids and you've always wanted to see an authentic British pub, you won't be seeing it from the inside! I guess that's not such a bad idea. It's just that a friend had been to Dublin and said the pubs were full of families! Oh well.

Date: Sun Mar 30 08:34
jpr (answering my own questions):

'felonious' - instrumental quote: i guess it's cohens 'famous blue raincoat'. now there's a second piano-and-strings-variation in that song. is that also a quote?

Date: Sun Mar 30 06:16
jpr (listener-question):

hi everyone. 'felonious' quotes a song from ~1:20 to 1:40. but i can't come up with what it is, although i'm sure it's a pretty well-known one... does anyone know what i'm talking about. i like the record. not sure, if i'm going to love it. a bit too introspective, perhaps. but it's growing. strings and saxophone are beautiful.

Date: Fri Mar 28 16:52
james s (johnny yen ):

No, johnny, I missed Frank Black. I'd already seen Calexico and Howe Gelb in that two-week pay period, and I didn't have another 18 bucks to shell out. I'm sorry I missed him. I haven't seen him since the Pixies. I envy you that Califone show.

Date: Fri Mar 28 16:22
johnny yen (two dollars):

Hey James Es, did you end up going to that Frank Black show? Was it long and loud? My musical future seems to hold Cat Power (winooski) and Califone (cambridge). After that, I have to go see some D bands. -johnny

Date: Fri Mar 28 16:13
Blaine (@work):

Did anyone mention this one yet? Pretty good insight -- http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/g/gelbhowe-listener.shtml

Date: Fri Mar 28 14:24
james s (Re:graham ):

Welp, graham, enjoy that Sparklehorse show enough for both of us. It turns out I'm going to have to miss that North Carolina show.

Date: Fri Mar 28 14:22
alan (for sammy):

I have no idea how this actually works, your happiness with burned MP3s rather than other formats, nor do I know how royalties get back to Howe et al., but here is an option where you can download the Backyard Barbecue Broadcast from EMUSIC: http://www.emusic.com/cd/10606/10606534.html ............ THEY SAY ON THEIR FAQ PAGE: "EMusic splits all of the profits from membership fees 50/50 with the label or artist. EMusic is a legitimate downloadable music service that compensates artists and labels for their work, without sacrificing convenience or low-cost." But I don't know what that means exactly: "label or artist" being the key.

Date: Fri Mar 28 13:37
Lars (www.supertanker.tk):

Uuuhh, Mike. You're a poet! ;-) / Lars

Date: Fri Mar 28 12:46
sammy (pommelos@hotmail.coke):

I 'D REALLY LOVE TO HAVE A COPY OF BBQ . But here in Paris no way to find it. Anyone can help me? (using the net?)

Date: Fri Mar 28 12:41
mike ([sa-wa-ro]):

rob...... there's some water that seperates the uk from europe....plus a huge gulf in mind set.

Date: Fri Mar 28 11:06
james s (Todd):

BBQ is a classic, one of my favorites. I like that period too. Bill Elm added some nice sounds to the Sand.

Date: Fri Mar 28 10:42
Rob Berends (rob@paperclip-agency.com):

Nice site! I do not understand what 'UK & Europe' (see your headings for your agents) means. That's like saying 'Mexico & the Americas', isn't it? Isn't the U.K. part of Europe, geographically?

Date: Fri Mar 28 06:44
Marco Caizzi (nihil82@katamail.com):

Howe is the number one!! I just saw him playing live in a small local in Roma yesterday. It was great! I've never seen Howe play alone, He's such a spectacular one-man-band! He was very kind and friendly too, after the show He let me get the unsuglumm's cd at only 6 euro 'cause I have'nt enough money! Remember Howe I owe you 4 euro! The next time you come here in Italy I swear I will give the money back to you!! :) Peace :)

Date: Fri Mar 28 04:23
SeanT (EPK):

I had some success with the EPK , but as with all these kind of things they only really work if you have Broadband / ISDN .It's coming to my area this May , and I can't wait.

Date: Fri Mar 28 03:42
Lars (E.P.K.):

Weird. I've got Real and all. It's starts up the player, but then says "error" and doesn't open anything. It's just snippets from the album or what? / Lars

Date: Fri Mar 28 00:21
Alan (friendly amendment, P?):

"cowboyboot wobble on Aarhus cobble"?

Date: Thu Mar 27 22:18
P (In Pa.):

HOWE about, (dollar store leathered wobble on Aarhus cobble.

Date: Thu Mar 27 19:02
Todd (Edmonton):

Found a copy of BBQ Broadcast...rare find up here. I like this time around the first 'Friends of Dean Martinez' release and the Backyard Barbecue Broadcast. 1995...good on Subpop and Koch. Curious to go back further w/ Storm.

Date: Thu Mar 27 16:58
mike ([sa-wa-ro]):

electronic press kit....... you'll need real audio to play it. www.real.com for a free download.

Date: Thu Mar 27 16:47
Lars (slipped past the front page for once...):

What's an E.P.K. and why doesn't it work? / Lars

Date: Thu Mar 27 12:43
graham (james s...):

I'm driving to Atlanta tomorrow night to see Sparklehorse--can't wait! Saw the Vandermark 5 last night. All Chicagoans who don't check out their Empty Bottle residencies don't know what they're missing. Fierce, amazing free jazz.

Date: Thu Mar 27 12:31
james s (sizzlepony):

I may be driving to Ashville, North Carolina to see Sparklehorse this weekend. It looks like an old band mate of mine from Knoxville will be opening the show. Sorry, I know it's off topic, but I'm a bit excited and had to brag.

Date: Thu Mar 27 09:21
Lars (a bit "lightheaded"?):

Yeah, J, the candle drawing and the guitar case are just begging to be back and front covers. Great minds? Cheers. Anyone up for some new music from Aarhus could drop by www.morningsiderecords.dk and download some mp3s by Larsen & Furious Jane. I just "discovered" them the other day. Quite simple lo-fi bedroom stuff and the like. I've been told that the other band on the label, Figurines, sound like Modest Mouse. Don't know MM too well enough to agree. Anyway, there are some nice things at the label (like The Morningside). And as always www.supertanker.tk is the place to go for info on Danish music, teehee. / Lars

Date: Thu Mar 27 09:11
Lars (www.supertanker.tk):

Well, Mr. Webmaster Mike is looking into some artwork for the cover. Something about cowboyboots and cobblestone, I think. Nice! :-) But we have been mailing a bit back and forth about the title. Apparently spelling "sonisk" with a 'p' looks better graphically = "Psonisk Postkort". But I've been going at him (in a friendly way) for messing up my mother tongue. :-D (I hope I'm not making you mad, Mike! It's not my intention). I just like my language to be written in the right way once it finally makes it out into the world (I guess that's the journalist in me talking). But nuff about titles, it's the music that it's all about. :-) Got the Sandman logo and extra text on the cover now, Mike! Thanks. Greets! / Lars

Date: Thu Mar 27 07:17
Tommy Gailer (cover-sroller):

Lars, i don`t know if my printer would be so exactly. to print both sides on one paper.####### The drawing of Howe as melting candle would be a fine front cover, no doubt.

Date: Wed Mar 26 18:24
Todd (Canada):

Hey Lars D...checked your http address for Sandman Series #7 w/ all the info and pics from the shows. Super interesting to look and read. Noticed on the back cover it looks to be Howe's guitar case with a couple of Old Reliable stickers on it. Found Howe/Giant Sand music through this Canadian connection...www.oldreliableband.com --look for 'Heaven's Train' MP3 which features Howe.

Date: Wed Mar 26 17:57
J (spellerfarker):

that was hello not helle...

Date: Wed Mar 26 17:55
J (coversmaker2):

Lars, great job. Very strangely, I made a cover for a single disc of Aarhus material burnt for me (via your ftp site thingy) By the wonderful P.Kerr. The front featured the candle drawing, and the back the guitar case... Great minds think alike? As for the Blacky disc(s?) They will be a prayer answered. If the re-release thing goes ahead, well, my vinyl copy of Heartland will be archived at last. Re-release everything for those wanting the cd for the 1st time as well as those who have old ruined vinyl. Run a web survey, see who'll buy what? Helle to Howe, Mike, Sandmates known and unknown. Keep your famlies safe.

Date: Wed Mar 26 17:48
Mr G Sniffer (11 longhorn Pass):

Hello, fisrt of all unlike myself big up mikey more at the oscars. secondly mat are going to see the show? have you got tickets? have they sold out. see you about love daniel

Date: Wed Mar 26 12:31
Lars (www.supertanker.tk):

Thanks, Tommy. The covers might change, though. Too many pictures that would be slaughter on your printer's ink cartridge. :-) I'll redo them in some way with less pictures. The pictures are still available at my site: http://www.angelfire.com/indie/lars-kd/privat-site/fotos.html --- do you print your booklets out on two sheets and glue them together or do you put the same sheet through the printer again? / Lars

Date: Wed Mar 26 11:18
Tommy Gailer (scrolling for sandman):

Great work Lars! No doubt, that this will be another fine sandman release. I like the artwork very much. Aarhuzona would be incredible funny.%%%%%%%%These weeks i am only listening to "The Listener" and "Feast of wire". From spin to spin both are growin so much on me, i can`t really tell. Both sound so fantastic too, each in it`s own way.

Date: Wed Mar 26 10:44
Blaine (@work):

Sonisk Postkort from an Aahuruzona Kowboy

Date: Wed Mar 26 05:33
............. (..........following on those lines):

'aarhus - in the middle of our street'...... 'aarhus - is a very very very nice hus!'

Date: Wed Mar 26 05:26
mike ([sa-wa-ro]):

........or how about 'cobblestone cowboy'.... as in the glenn campbell song!

Date: Wed Mar 26 02:49
Lars D (www.supertanker.tk):

Nice one, Piet. Worth considering. By the way, Hans from Scavenger Records once came up with the word "Aarhuzona", which we found rather funny. Don't know if he copyrighted than one, though. :-D Greets all around! / Lars

Date: Tue Mar 25 21:34
Piet (Sandman # 6):

Hey Lars, how about "Aarhus Cobblestones".

Date: Tue Mar 25 18:30
anne (annak178@hotmail.com):

Raw.

Date: Tue Mar 25 16:23
james s (Re:):

Archivist, who is playing in B.O.B.R on that live tape? That'll be a sweet thing to have.

Date: Tue Mar 25 16:10
stefan ((munich)):

Hey Lars, great work!

Date: Tue Mar 25 13:36
Archivist (non needed..):

Mike wrote re; Sandman: blacky ranchette show next from 1990... I found the original master 1/2" multitrack tapes of this show in the Giant Sand archives and would like to plan on remixing the show before it is released. We have certainly an opportunity to improve the quality and mix. Thanks!

Date: Tue Mar 25 10:43
Lars D (www.angelfire.com/indie/lars-kd):

I've uploaded a "trial run" of the covers at http://www.angelfire.com/indie/lars-kd/privat-site/foto-sider/HoweGelb-setlists.htm ------- just scroll down. As said the title still isn't sure plus a few little things here and there. It does look a bit like a postcard, now I think of it. Hm, or well, more like a photo album full of holiday snapshots. :-) Howe's drawing is so cool. Greets! / Lars

Date: Tue Mar 25 09:32
Lars D (www.supertanker.tk):

Thanks, Mike! I'm so glad you liked it. I was really excited about whether you'd like it. Is the sound quality alright? It varies a bit on disc 2. I hope all ye fellow sandies will find it interesting too. :-) The two cafés are Café Mozart and Musikcaféen (and the last one is actually a regular small music venue - not that café-ish). Hey, Mike....any thoughts and changes regarding the artwork (send me an e-mail). About the title, I don't think that "sonisk" is a particular Danish word. I can't look it up in my dictionary. It's an "anglicism" (?!), a Danish word derived from its English counterpart. If I look up "sonic" then I get "lyd", which is the Danish word for "sound". "Lyd" has that soft 'd' that foreigners always have trouble pronouncing. :-) How does "LYDPOSTKORT" (or "LYD POSTKORT") sound? It's rather quirky even in Danish - and not particularly funny in that way. Of course there's still the other title "Satiated Expatriate", which is how Howe described himself concerning his visit in Denmark in that Exclaim-article. The sooner I get a title the sooner I can finish the cover. :-) What about the quote from the article, Mike? Should I remove it (I'll put a source on it, if not removed). / Lars

Date: Tue Mar 25 09:04
chowyunmat (email):

last week i decided hisser was howe's finest hour. this week i think its got to be the listener - it is a truly beautiful album. congrats all round, but why have i had to get it on import in the uk? what happened to the loose distribution? also, if anyone fancies answering questions, are there any release dates for the forthcoming flood of material we've been promised? - and what is it all exactly? sorry, i get confused sometimes........

Date: Tue Mar 25 06:43
sammy (elvis):

you should buy "baby i'm bored" from evan dando, it's really great and natural.

Date: Tue Mar 25 06:33
elvis (pommelos thing):

Howe you were in Paris and you didn't tell me? We would have been to the resto together... bye, sammy.

Date: Tue Mar 25 05:47
mike ([sa-wa-ro]):

yo james..... i do need branches on the east coast and another organiser for that area... and for any budding branches in the uk - getting pretty desperate for those too.... and another organiser in europe wouldn't go amiss either. the list is around 850 people now and is getting a little unmanagable at times.... i'm not sure how reliable it is either. i (well howe and me) have plans for improving the sandman series - nothing concrete yet - but needless to say quality and quick, easy distribution will be of top priority. lars has sent me the two disks he recorded in denmark last year of howe's shows at the two cafe's (names escape me at present) and they're very very good (well done lars) so looks like this will be the next sandman release..... distribution will probably be in the next week...... artwork to follow.... title...hmmmmmmm.. i quite like 'psonic postkort' (but written in danish - with all those squiggly bits)..... anyone else got any suggestions???????? there was going to be a blacky ranchette show next from 1990..... probably when howe releases the new blacky album (which sounds a treat) through the site.... + a re-release of the three previous ones. anyone check out the e.p.k. on the home page yet? let me know your comments..... quality/difficulty/problems/whatever.... that's it for now........ keep safe

Date: Tue Mar 25 04:15
AP (ps):

When it's up, that is, damn my typos!

Date: Tue Mar 25 04:13
AP (uts/doa/cwas/etc.):

Hi, here's a link to my review of The Listener on the Comes With A Smile website: http://cwas.hinah.com/webexclusive/?id=204 .... The quotes at the end from Howe incidentally come from an extensive interview with the man himself to be published on-line for a US webmagazine mid-April. I'll post that link it's up. Bye now

Date: Tue Mar 25 00:07
god i'm so sad right now i just gots ta turn my tv off and stay (off the booze):

cuz its sure pullin me down. i've been feeling this way for quite a while..and well i'm down right sick and tired.... I come home this morning. . yes i found my baby crying... I said lord, have mercy.. what is wrong with that baby of mine. You know it hurts me so bad to see them tears rolling down my baby's face. Don't..... Don't cry baby, you know things is bound to change. don't cry you know things is bound to change.

Date: Mon Mar 24 21:18
james s (mitch):

Yup. Good to hear from you. Twill be mailed within the week.

Date: Mon Mar 24 20:25
Mitch (85718):

Well, count me in, James. Did ya get my email?

Date: Mon Mar 24 18:59
james s (and again, james@jamesscarbrough.com):

and, uh, following Emmm's lead here, if anyone out there would like to receive a copy of a very "lo-fi" cd of my stuff that I just put together, you can email me a shipping address & I'll try to get you one.

Date: Mon Mar 24 18:55
james s (Hey Mike... james@jamesscarbrough.com):

Are you needing new branches on the tree, say in the mid-south-east region (middle tennessee)?

Date: Mon Mar 24 15:34
mon (day):

Hi...I finally got my copy of 'The Listener' and I have to say I'm very impressed. I can really feel you, Howe, because your songs are so real. Your honesty is truly inspiring. Thankyou, m.

Date: Sun Mar 23 11:00
Frank C (Mallorca):

Howe, want to visit Mallorca? Oooh. I hope you can avoid the braindead section of this island where German and British imbeciles show their worst. El Arenal (GER) and Magalluf (UK), for example, are good places to get sick from civilization. But, I guess you know the right spots. And, of course, there are some nice and calm places, too - somewhere between the alcoholics and the celebrity zone.

Date: Sun Mar 23 08:41
an (strong_neck609@hotmail.com):

hell, sure i know françoise breut!!! i even missed one of her concerts about a year ago in brussels, at that same time i searched for a cd of hers, and yep, no one seemed to know her. quite astonishing, how people from overseas didn't seem to know woven david, we don't seem to know our own neighbour... haa, well, guess that will change now you've ran into her! have a groovy gig up there...

Date: Sun Mar 23 08:25
Lars D (www.supertanker.tk):

Homeless? Well, I think one of the reviews read: "Home is where the art is". ;-) Have a nice trip, Howe! I bet France and Italy are nice this time of year. / Lars

Date: Sat Mar 22 16:57
HOWE (HOMELESS):

PARIS WAS GOOD. ran into françoise breut on the street there....odds were 6 million to one. nice. sicily tomorrow....under the volcano....will manage a week in italy then end with lisbon,portugal and mallorca, spain. greece has been put on the back burner for now. ok. stay well. especially you gluey. =howe

Date: Sat Mar 22 07:03
Lars (more):

http://www.dustygroove.com/rockcd.htm ----- http://www.logo-magazine.com/albums/display.asp?AlbumID=1029 ----- oh well, enough for now. Maybe I should go outside and enjoy the sunshine? :-D / Lars

Date: Sat Mar 22 06:48
Lars (reviews):

"Leading the band in the sort of torrid, piano-led salsa fit for the halls of a Mexican brothel" (http://www.iq451.com/music/bindexg.htm) + "Liefert somit den perfekten Soundtrack für eine verrauchte Kneipe in Chicago oder Mississippi" (http://www.music-scan.de/infos/reviews) + Denmarks largest newspaper wrote a short and not very informative review, but gave it 5 out of 6 stars + Danish tabloid paper Ekstra Bladet gave it 3 out of 6 (the reviewer only likes Iggy Pop) - the complaints he had about the album was the exact things that I like about Howe (it's "loose" and playful) + Danish music magazine Gaffa (very youth-oriented) is giving it 4 out of 6 stars. / Lars

Date: Fri Mar 21 15:43
Lars (Danes occupying Germany, he-he):

Any German sandies checking out Under Byen in Berlin tonight? (Venue: Im Licht) Oh well, the show was at 21.30 - ten minutes ago. The band plays in Dresden tomorrow the 22nd (at the Star Club). If you live nearby don't miss them! / Lars

Date: Fri Mar 21 05:17
Lars (www.supertanker.tk):

Dropped, as far as I can tell... The new Sandman are those recordings. / Lars

Date: Fri Mar 21 04:25
stefan ((munich)):

Hi Lars, I'm looking forward to the discs! ;-) By the way, what happened to Scavenger Hans's project of also putting out a CD of Arhus shows? Shelved? Posponed?

Date: Fri Mar 21 04:19
Lars (on the new Sandman):

Hi Stefan. I don't now if "Sonisk Postkort" would be the exact translation. It's a bit quick and clumsy. :-) Well, there's no problem now, because The Listener has been released. But there actually WAS too many new songs on the recordings (half of the songs, I think). But we're over that problem now. And don't worry there'll still be two unreleased songs: "Paradise" (2 versions) and "Trace" (grrreeat song!). I DO have to leave a lot of songs out. But most of the ones left out are also on Pedalless or elsewhere, so no worries. I recorded six shows in Denmark (the first three are not very good quality), so I couldn't put everything on the two disc, you see. But I assure you: you'll be getting the creme de la creme of what was recorded). Here's the tracklist I currently working with (it might change): CD 1 - Musikcaféen, Århus (September 25, 2002): 1. Leather 2. Wayfaring Stranger 3. Neon Filler 4. Felonious 5. Hank Williams & Piano 6. Bored Little Devil 7. Trace 8. Train Singer's Song 9. Morricone Jam 10. Casino Royal Intro/Cowboy Boots 11. Lying There 12. Now I Lay Me Down 13. Blood Orange 14. Wonder 15. Blue Marble Girl.....CD 2 - Café Mozart, Århus (June 26, July 3 & August 7, 2002): 1. Torque (Version 1), 2. Paradise, 3. Lying There, 4. Available Space, 5. St. Conformity, 6. The Pilgrim (Chapter 33), 7. Torque (Version 2), 8. All The World Is Green/Tango Till They're Sore/Tired Piano 9. Loving Cup 10. Torque (Version 3) 11. Paradise 12. Now I Lay Me Down 13. Blood Orange 14. Cowboy Boots..... At Musikcaféen Howe fiddled a lot with a Ennio Morricone-cd and he was really "lucky" that night. It fitted perfectly. At Café Mozart there where many great moments with Howe and Nils from Under Byen (on violin and saw) - and of course with the rest of the Danish musicians. I'm sending the stuff "for review" to Mike first.

Date: Fri Mar 21 03:58
stefan ((munich)):

Hey Lars, „SONISK POSTKORT“ would be a great title. But PLEASE don’t censor anything when you compile the thing, don’t leave any songs out just because you imagine they are not for us to hear because Howe hasn’t put them out officially yet. Unreleased songs were no problem with Pedalless, so I don’t think they will be a problem now. They change all the time anyway, and that way we have a chance to witness early incarnations of songs. And Howe told you anyway, „lars....quick....do whateber you want“. ............... Chip: It’s Howe = how, that’s usually a problem for Germans, many stubbornly insist on saying „Howie“.

Date: Thu Mar 20 18:29
Lars D (www.supertanker.tk):

Just back from Timesbold's gig in Aarhus. Very nice fellas there on the stage. They played that beautiful and very oppropiate Dylan song which goes....."Come you masters of war / You that build all the guns / You that build the death planes / You that build the big bombs / You that hide behind walls / You that hide behind desks /I just want you to know / I can see through your masks." Frank, those two discs will contain much more lovely stuff that was ever present at the "sneak peaks" on that forum. ;-) Peace. - Lars

Date: Thu Mar 20 16:32
Frank C (Next Sandman):

Lars, it would be great if you collect the Danish café stuff on one or two cds! I got the mp3 files from your Danish forum site. The tune I like most is the Tom Waits cover „all the world is green“ maybe because I didn´t know the song before. Hope that Howe will put it on one of his next recordings. However, it sure would fit on the sandman disc. Recently I heard the Waits original which sounds very different - but beautiful, too. By the way, it´s not fair that you all already listen to the new record! Can´t wait till „The Listener“ will be released in Germany. Guess next week ...

Date: Thu Mar 20 16:10
chip donahue (chipashley@aol.com):

www.wxyc.com just played "felonious" I'm so excited. I can't find a copy off the listener anywhere around here. I have to wait till the copy I ordered comes in. That little taste was amazing!!!! Thank you Howe. The announcer anounced the song by "howie home" This brings to mind...is it "howe = how" or "howe = ho" or "howe = howie?" What is the rundown on coming soon gelb stuff and when can I send my cash?

Date: Thu Mar 20 15:34
tom (mexicanshark@hotmail.com):

VERY sorry for my last letter to you guys,i had 4 to many tequilas that made me odd.But im back .Went to work today to get some much needed revenue,to come home to find 2 cds from are beloved branch ,and the good lady madeline had got tickets for my birthday for hammersmith,london,may,front row,howe.i love you madeline .

Date: Thu Mar 20 13:51
james s (Re:):

13 guinnesses? Jeez, your mate is a masochist. I love the stuff, but I can barely get a pint down without feeling like I just ate a loaf of bread. That new M Ward is terrific, and that is Howe playing the piano on "Poor Boy: Minor Key".

Date: Thu Mar 20 13:22
matt (guinnesses or guinni ???):

i care glue sniffa. but did you beat my mates record of 13 guinnesses?? only managed a paltry 7 myself....

Date: Thu Mar 20 12:52
glue sniffer (hello? i have problems):

Dont you care? Don't you love me i thought you were my friends? i could be danish too. ha/ha. love gluey

Date: Thu Mar 20 12:43
Lars (well then...):

SONISK POSTKORT!!! Ha-ha! / Lars

Date: Thu Mar 20 11:47
james s (title idea):

at the abbey pub, in a longish intro to cowboy boots on cobblestone, he talked about returning from denmark with a "sonic postcard", talking, i guess, about the stuff that would become the listener. might make a decent title... or you could skip naming it in english altogether and title it in danish.... just a thought....

Date: Thu Mar 20 10:46
Lars (did I get it?):

So it IS called "Train Singer Song"?! I've Googled the title and it pops up on tracklists for several bootlegs here and there. I just remember looking for the song in the discography once and not being able to find it. Oh, by the way...I've been thinking (hard) about a fitting title following the "tradition" of the previous "Sandmen"....and it's difficult. But I just ran through the Calexico/Giant Sand-article in Exclaim and came across this: "Satiated Expatriate"! And that's my best shot so far. I think it fits the theme of the recordings fine. Any thoughts? English is not my mother tongue, so I don't come up with that many ideas. Peace. / Lars

Date: Thu Mar 20 05:11
Lars (a little help):

Indeed a frustrating day to watch the television. The Danish prime minister is wagging his tail just as much as Tony Blair. And the old propaganda horse is whipped across the plains. Does my head in. Hm, thanks for the Sandman go-ahead, Howe. It'll give me something nice to direct my attention to. One title still eludes, though. As far as I can remember there was a little uncertainty about it on this board when I asked the last time. But I guess the most obvious title would be "Train Singer's Song", but that's not really it, is it? Any help for Lars here? :-) / Lars

Date: Wed Mar 19 21:10
Phil (in IL) (pz123@aol.com):

I sadly had to miss the gig at the Abbey Pub but did pick up the Listener. wonderful stuff. Love the songs, performance & production. Perhaps the only positive world-wide event this week!

Date: Wed Mar 19 21:04
jpr (over and over):

peace to all you good people over there and over here.

Date: Wed Mar 19 20:10
tom (just realised):

it's full moon all over the world

Date: Wed Mar 19 19:43
full moon (night):

*Hello y'all... we are indeed living in intense times. Keep your senses open and connected with the cosmic consciousness. Do not be afraid. Go with your gut feeling... It is very important that we do not rely solely on our intellegence and logic to guide us...but that we also remeber our helper, the feeling manager. Peaceful travels Howe. much love and peace, m

Date: Wed Mar 19 19:18
J (available on the sandtree):

Glad to be reminded of the forthcoming Blacky delights, I need some lonesome country twang to see me and mine through these bright and sunny yet dark days. Hope you touched down in anywhere France OK Howe, I shall be fermenting there myself not too far from now. Hello Paul K, Rob S, Alan T G. My offspring has fire in her eyes that burns as bright as anything I has ever seen, and I wish the same for you kind folk. Peace. (we wish)

Date: Wed Mar 19 18:51
paulk (as before):

Evan Dando was doing a promotional piece on our local radio station on Tueday afternoon ( you can listen to it, go to BBC Radio Scotland Tom Morton show page). Anyway as the interview ended Evan expressed his fears for the children of Iraq which seemed to cause some discomfort for the interviewer (probably some BBC rule about NO POLITICS). Well done Evan.Hope everyone keeps safe during this insane warmongering.

Date: Wed Mar 19 18:12
yorgos kritharidis (georgkrith@yahoo.gr):

There is no confirmation about Howe's concert in Thessaloniki, Greece on April 3rd.

Date: Wed Mar 19 17:54
howe (home not):

i am connecting herein texas ....heading to paris....and it is weird ....even the counter ladyasked me if i had to go ? how do i answer her ?.....that we are notall bush supporters here in the land of the distortion pedal. i dunno....but i am gonna try and keep this page posted on what is really happening out there as i getto see it. ...and of course if my plane is not painted with a big glow in the dark target landing on french soil. maybe diplomacy begins at underground level....with a song hung in the rafters about the dangle of spark. i dunno....expect to know more soon. lars....quick....do whateber you want ......and that song you asked about is called "trace"....and will be featured on yet another cd release soon....actually 2....on the down home 2003 and a cd featuring 2 lo fi videos of listener songs as well as an electronic press kit (epk) ....and a coupls songs on the down home 2003 thing. ......other then that.....bd....grapple your kids and look em square in the eye with that true fire....and when they get oldr they will remember that feeling you instilled and it will shape them. i hope it will mine anyway. they were so fine upon leaving. ok. lets fire up the love.....it burns baby burns.....unlike joe....(kidding....sort of)...ha ha ha h ....ouch....ok...tons of love -howe.....om

Date: Wed Mar 19 15:20
sam (sam):

its just hit me that Its kind of obscene to be talking about concert tickets at a time like this. Let's hope the war will be over soon and as few people as possible are killed.

Date: Wed Mar 19 15:19
geoff (m ward talk for james):

James the M Ward is really quite good. Very similar in tone to the one he has been selling at shows and on the internet (live....voice of strangers). The vocals are turned up a bit more than on the first two albums...and for me, i like to hear ones words...so i like it like that. sounds as though howe shows up on piano keys too...but i'd have to check the liner notes to say for sure.

Date: Wed Mar 19 15:14
sam (sam):

The neil young tickets here in Ireland are 105 euros! Although the venue is superb(its actually called The Venue). I saw Gillian Welch there some years ago.

Date: Wed Mar 19 14:58
Graham (this note's for you...and you...and you...):

What about the Califone--anybody bought it yet? I snagged a copy of the Black Keys' new one (due out next month) and, fellows, it is fierce. Be sure to pick it up. And thanks to all the friends offering Goods and Service service. I'll be listening again in no time.

Date: Wed Mar 19 14:27
peter (tonic):

additional howe dates have been posted including 4/21 nyc at tonic and anudder chicago.

Date: Wed Mar 19 14:09
james s (m ward & noam chomsky):

Anybody heard the new M Ward and have comments? I saw the Japanese Documentary, Power and Terror: Noam Chomsky, last night at the Vanderbilt cinema. It could have been edited better, but who cares. I'd recommend it to anyone who has the opportunity to see it. Yep, Howe, I got off the plane in Chicago and came straight to the club, arriving 7 minutes into your set. I would have enjoyed hanging with you, but I didn't want to add my elbows to the pack that was pushing in to talk to you. It must be a pain to be Mr. Popular sometimes, though I wouldn't know. Some other time though, eh?

Date: Wed Mar 19 12:44
BD (love-a-machine):

nice ending to your message Howe. I look at my children too and feel really anxious for them and want to protect them as much as I can. This whole world is turning crazy on them at a much faster rate perhaps, than it has for us parents. I keep hearing that line at the break in the Butthole Surfers rendition of American Woman, "WE DON'T NEED YOUR WAR MACHINE"

Date: Wed Mar 19 12:16
Blaine (@work):

Lars - Purge was issued as 2lp vinyl with extra tracks. I think Enemy/Brakeout (Sonny Sharrock's label?) had something to do with the distribution. It is an interesting gtr-driven record. Sam - depending on yr wallet Neil solo can be VERY good. Political clime being what it is he may even be better.

Date: Wed Mar 19 11:39
Lars (Neil Young...):

Hey, Sam. What do they cost? In Denmark the show is priced at a horrible 112 dollars!!! (plus a little fee). And the venue isn't really that "nice and intimate". / Lars

Date: Wed Mar 19 11:25
Lars D (whoops, one more - but do they matter at all? :-D):

http://www.catsmusic.com/pages/type2u.asp?StoryID=1597

Date: Wed Mar 19 11:18
Lars D (reviews...):

http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/fridayreview/story/0,12102,913438,00.html -AND- http://www.metroland.net/recordings.html -AND- http://www.allaboutjazz.com/italy/reviews/R0303_037_it.htm (IN ITALIAN) Well, basicly it's difficult to find reviews of "The Listener" as most music reviews have "the listener" somehere in them. Or maybe it's just because the reviews are few at the moment? :-) / Lars

Date: Wed Mar 19 10:19
sammy (sam):

need some advice. Neil YOung is doing some intimate acoustic shows here in Europe in the next few months which is great but for one reason. THe shows are very very expensive. I CAN P[ROBABLY AFFORD It but even so. Might be a once in a lifetime thing. What should I do??????????????????????

Date: Wed Mar 19 08:59
stefan ((munich ... purge and slouch)):

Hi Lars, the European version on Enemy and the Restless version differ. That's why I only heard "Corridor" when "Selections ..." came out, one of the best tracks inexplicably not included on the European version.

Date: Wed Mar 19 08:30
Lars D (www.supertanker.tk):

Sorry to intrude again. But I was wondering: in the discography the "Purge And Slouch" album has some tracks labeled "Restless only". What's that about? A special edition or something? I found a version on the web, but it apparently only contains 20 tracks?!?! Thanks. / Lars

Date: Wed Mar 19 07:04
Glue Sniffer (Worries and Appeals):

St patricks day was in my beliff a big mistake, not for the god loving peopel of irlkand and their kin but for me. I realised the error of my ways when i suddenly was aware that at 10.00pm i was talking to a dog on my hands and knees telling him about the old country and songs to make your mother whore again. This would have been fine had i not then decided to phone my beloved gilrfreind of some distance and tell her what a greatbloke i was. Not my finest moment i have no memory of the times betwwen 8.00pm and 8am cept for afore mentioned dog pep talk (it was a staffordshire bull terryor) i had on my person in the morning a recipt form a 24 hour garage for a cornish pastie at 12.13am. If anyone has any idea what i was up to between these hours could they please let me know. Also on a lighter war edwin stars record sales are going through the roof. which is never good for anyone. I dont need your sypathy but any donations of advice would be greatly ecxepted love you all. hope were here tommro love dan

Date: Wed Mar 19 06:59
Lars (larsdideriksen@yahoo.dk):

So, Howe....what could be a possible title for a new Sandman with only Danish recordings on it? "Bread & Beer", he-he? Would you care to ponder over a title of sorts? Oh, and what about using you cool drawing with the "light-head-man" on a white background for the cover? (and thereby save many sandy printers from using a lot of ink like the previous covers, ha-ha). / Lars

Date: Wed Mar 19 06:05
mike ([sa-wa-ro]):

hey lars - yes.... bundle and post.... mail me for the address. and if anyone's in oxford street tonight (18:00?) at hmv - evan is signing copies of the new album.... you might even meet my missus who's doing the big 'fan' thing.... ever since he kissed her at the barbican.

Date: Wed Mar 19 05:51
innis (paulk/evan dando):

...the new Evan Dando record sounds fine; I especially like 'In The Grass All Wine Coloured' (English spelling there) with Howe on electric, and Burns&Convertino doing their inimitable bit. It's an intriguing lyric - red wine or white, I wonder....Evan played the song at Beyond Nashville in 2001. I think he said it was a song about the civil war, even. Can that be right? Just realised that the cover is not a picture of Evan, but of his wife........feel foolish now. He's playing Brighton on the same night Howe plays London.........

Date: Wed Mar 19 05:43
Lars (larsdideriksen@yahoo.dk):

Thanks for the reply, Howe! I guess "Paradise" would have to wait for another time then and not be on a proposed Sandman or what? The quality of it is pretty good, though. Most of the Mozart stuff is out now on The Listener. There's one particular song from the Musikcaféen gig that has been hauting me though - because it's so beautiful. The first half is instrumental piano, then there's some discman with Ennio Morricone from "The Untouchables" and then the vocals "you can almost see her / waking up and pulling 'round a robe / then stumbling into the bathroom / with her eyes half closed". Is that a new one as well? It's one of the highlights from that gig. Can you remember any of that show, being knackered from the long trip from Berlin? :-) I'll run through the recordings. My idea at the moment: A two disc set with almost the whole Musikcaféen gig and then the best "sketches for The Listener" from Café Mozart. That would be a nice package I would think. The evolution of Torque (among others) through the Danish gigs is very interesting. And "B 4 U (Do do do)" is there as well in a entirely different version (which is excellent, although it's a bit of a "hisser"). ;-) Shall I just put the stuff together and send it to Mike? Then you can see what you think? Greets! / Lars

Date: Wed Mar 19 03:23
JC Brochard (jc.brochard @wanadoo.fr):

To add to the releases already forthcoming : There is a piece of news on Grandaddy's site (www.grandaddylandscape.com)that says that Howe recently met up with the band and they recorded 7 basic tracks together for inclusion on one of Howe's future releases... Can't wait for that, the other releases and especially the Blacky album ! JC (http://perso.wanadoo.fr/vivonzeureux) (http://www.live365.com/300170)

Date: Wed Mar 19 03:01
stefan ((munich ... goods and services)):

Hi Graham, it's relatively easy to find copies of Goods and Services over here in Germany (I mean original cd's). I can look around and send you one, if you like.

Date: Wed Mar 19 02:04
Blaine (@home):

Graham -- drop me a line if you still need Goods, I can dub you a copy if it's not available (I think mine was a German import). Howe -- have a safe journey, nobody would blame you for sticking to Tucson & yr family. There will always be other tours. (FYI -- I gave you the cd in CHI)

Date: Wed Mar 19 00:33
geoff (having listened to itall):

Well thanks back acha Howe. France seems like a civil place to be these days...good luck and good time to you...and having listened to the other 5 tracks, it (the listened to listener) deserves both thumbs up still. I put on the new Matt Ward afterwards...also very good. Tell him congrats too.

Date: Tue Mar 18 22:28
howe (home):

thanks for all the listening. geoff, i just got my mug too. (and then noticed it fit nicely over the coffee stain on the liner notes....very slick of the thrill jockey pards). james s, it was a pleasure to meet you for a brief moment there in chicago, then i realised you must have traveled up from nashville and i wanted to find you and hang....but by then i was incapable of seeking. i was taken with the splender of the parish big band, and the notion it might be their last perfermance. bd, i like your fire. keep it burning. but the record is good, so relax....literally....with it. lars, maybe you are right. i thought the quality of tone and toss wasn't up to snuff on those weekly aarhus shows then....but i do remember the last night being a real fine hoot. so maybe you could take a discerning ear to the entire mess and figure it out and talk it over with mike and hans. blaine, you were in chicago....? should have said yo bro. oddly...i wasn;t that tired this time. but i did have to sneak off 5 minutes before the show and borrow the new cd to learn a few songs. . . because there is no time when i am home anymore. but i have 3 records at the mastering plant...the live one is the 4th. and a subtler quiter blacky record is emerging and 3/4 done. (lars..that one will have the 'paradise without mistakes' song). so. i did also go ahead and put together the 'gecko pipe star crackle' record too...a kind of drum and bass thing with no bass....vintage drums instead of a machine....and i had the dj plop it on there at the 1st avenue club in minneapolis, and the people did not stop dancing...so maybe that will get put out there too. and lastly, the next full band (giant sand?) situation with way more volume and crunch will be out in november of all newer stuff. listen. i am actually going to get on a plane tomorrow ...to france. i am sure it will be an empty flight and maybe a good target. my belly burns when i look at my children and think of the iraqi children. this is the strangest future we have ever been in. advice: be a night light in this dark world.-love, howe.....home

Date: Tue Mar 18 19:40
Geoff (in austin witha coffee mug):

I am only on track 8, but i give the listener two thumbs up too...did anyone else get a free howe coffee mug with theirs? or was that just the way things go out here? speaking of track 8...lean on me seems to have snuck its way in there somewhere i think...made me smile...

Date: Tue Mar 18 19:16
james s (Re:):

Jeez, Blaine. Why'd you have to go and blow my cover, man? J, I believe I recall Howe posting earlier that he was feeling a new Band of Blacky Ranchette record bubbling up in him. Perhaps we'll get some of that "loving cup" feel on that disk.

Date: Tue Mar 18 18:58
Paulk (p.kerr@ntlworld.com):

Not got the Listener yet but to those who carp, and by the way, for a great story go tohttp://www.observer.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,915125,00.html Anyway, remember Howe has a whole slew of stuff he is going to unleash on us, including the return of Blacky, and I look forward to that immensely. Not to live in the past but if I were allowed to choose a Sandman release I would delve and dive and deliver some Blacky stuff, mainly because it is seriously under represented in my Sand box. I see Howe's old sparring partner Evan Dando is out and about, anyone heard the new album?

Date: Tue Mar 18 18:16
Peter (pwbrueggen@hotmail.com):

Definite cool liner notes in the listener, as James noted. stealing Henry Miller licks. I'm sure Howe has a couple of books in him by now. obviously he's typing. still i dig those handwritten ones too, from the earlier albums, and the sketches. graham, i may be able to fix your goods and services skip, drop me a line. ciao howe! when will you be back in nyc?

Date: Tue Mar 18 18:13
J (Don't own the Listener (yet?)):

I still pine for a lonesome Howe bluegrass type Loving Cup vibe. But we all move on, so BD maybe needs to cool down or return his purchase gracefully. Denmark in late summer would make a fine departure for little j and me (sans little b) What are the chances of showage then Howe?

Date: Tue Mar 18 17:53
graham (in the corner on the pouring rain):

Whilst we are on the subject, I'd like to see Goods and Services available again, in some form or another, Sandman or otherwise. My vinyl copy has a minor but un-ignorable skip right in the first lead-in riff of "Lean." If you listen creatively, you would swear it was a deliberate Howe manipulation. I'd gladly trade live shows to somebody for a copy of it on disc, sans-a-skips.

Date: Tue Mar 18 17:31
Lars (larsdideriksen@yahoo.dk):

Hey, James, I'm pretty sure I'll be getting into the "rockier" stuff. I've got Unsungglum and Goods And Services now and think there are some great stuff on there. I'm getting there. :-) And Blaine....a Sandman Series from the Denmark shows would be lovely. I've got it all. Whaddya say, Mike & Howe? The Musikcaféen show is excellent quality (Neon Filler is magic!) and some of the stuff from Café Mozart is really good. YES, HOWE, you don't like everything from Mozart, right? But picking out a few of the best would be cool. The last night a Mozart was smokin' - and the audience recording there was pretty good. Well, anyway, I KNOW I can make a brilliant Sandman with what I've got from the shows here in Denmark. It's just up to Howe (and Mike?), I guess. Just give me my cue, dear SaWaRo-inhabitants. :-) Greets! PS: The song with the line "Paradise don't come without mistakes" is not an old one, right? Thought I was gonna see it on "The Listener". It isn't there. But it IS new, right? / Lars

Date: Tue Mar 18 17:11
Blaine (@work):

Congratulations Howe, early comments on The Listener would seem to indicate you are not guilty of making the same record over and over and over again. That's what you get for sticking around and having a career, you get to evolve. "his Denmark period" sums it up well. It is def of a vibe that conveys a mood. Any bets on what the next one will sound like? The CHI gig was pretty cool and low key, pulling rabbits from his gtr case w/the aforementioned foot-stompin' pno and an onthespot tune about a wobbly fan (ceiling, that is). The battered Gretsch is a wonder. (The John Parish Orchestra had a neat, heavy "I Cover the Waterfront" sound - Glenn Branca+pulp noir??) ...and funny how this internet thing works, it was nice to finally meet James as he is gorgeous, 19 year old blonde super-model. Sandman - -any chance we can get a Denmark show as part of the series at some point?

Date: Tue Mar 18 16:44
airwing (50.50N 4.20E):

hello. i very much like the listener actually. so the strings are played with horsehair this time. yeah? good. but who's playing the brass part on jason's list? it's not john lurie i presume.. ok then.. bye.//

Date: Tue Mar 18 16:17
james s (Re:):

The Lounge Lizards were great, especially when Arto Lindsey was plucking the strings with them. I think the Listener is a fine disk. Howe has been all over the place stylistically throughout his career and it's a lousy mistake to try to pigeonhole him into any of his previous musical directions. He isn't going to make Glum over and over again. I think the very fact that he's still moving in new directions shows that it's not "the end". It's all very subjective, this liking or not liking certain music. He'll piss off some fans, and gain some new ones. I don't think he's been too worried about that in the past, and I doubt he is now. His newer fans, like Lars, may complain that they don't like the older "guitar" stuff as well. Listener is his Denmark record. I guess his Denmark experience wasn't a "glum" one. I hope he continues to put out whatever he feels like and that he keeps it honest. Listener seems like a very personal record, and it sounds gorgeous. I dig the liner notes. I'd like to read more from the tour diaries... Having said all that, I wouldn't mind hearing him climb on his guitar space craft and soar back into some gritty country-tinged INTERSTELLAR SPACE...

Date: Tue Mar 18 14:46
finn (i could get the hang of this):

don't knock the lounge lizards! check out these visual treats, stranger than paradise, down by law, and have you seen fishing with john?

Date: Tue Mar 18 14:44
dave (three stars in my book):

Ouch. That's a little strong, don't you think? Production-wise, The Listener is the best sounding item since Chore. "Lying There" and "Blood Orange" don't do anything for you? I would concede it's a little light in the song department, but it ain't too shabby...One of the biggest positives I get from the record is that it shows he can work separate from you know who and still get a great vibe. I would love to see him do more stuff with Under Byen. The Abbey Pub show was much fun (with cold Pilsener on draft to boot)

Date: Tue Mar 18 14:12
BD (What The Heck):

I want my money back. What Happened to Howe Gelb. Some guy named Howe Home who looks alot like Howe Gelb released this weak lounge lizard disc with crummy strings no less. I wish I could be more upbeat but come on Howe you can muster up something much better then this or are we at the end. I am really serious I feel ripped off! There is nothing remotely interesting here.

Date: Tue Mar 18 14:03
mike ([sa-wa-ro]):

yup - just had it confirmed......... Howe Gelb + Marie Frank 12 May 7.45pm Lyric Hammersmith Tickets: £18, £12 (concessions) Ticket Office: 08700 500 511 (no bkg fees) or www.lyric.co.uk (no bkg fees) or 24 hr bkg through ticketweb 020 7413 3535 (bkg fees apply)

Date: Tue Mar 18 11:28
finn (finnland!):

got my tickets, cheers to simon! eagerly awaiting howe's return since the Ocean gig a year ago. cool venue too intimate, saw the handsomes there last summer!

Date: Tue Mar 18 07:24
Simon (re: Matt):

The London tickets are now on sale for 12th May and the website is www.lyric.co.uk

Date: Mon Mar 17 21:00
james s (http://www.jamesscarbrough.com/words/journal/2003_03_16_archive.html):

It was nice to say a quick howdy to you, Howe, in Chicago... and to meet you, Blaine. Thanks for the record store recommendations Blaine (I picked up an LP of Long Stem Rant and much else besides) and thanks for the Aimless Blade. I put some pics up on my site of the show... three I shot of Howe at Abbey Pub, and three I shot of Calexico in Nashville. They're far from great, but if'n you wanna take a peep, you should be able to find 'em at the above link.

Date: Mon Mar 17 18:22
matt (((uk tourin))):

did a date for the uk get confirmed or was it just rumour and conjecture etc..

Date: Mon Mar 17 16:12
small dinosaur (wish):

Hi everyone...Hi Howe... how'd the first shows of the tour go? I wish you good travels and fantastic performances filled with cosmic inspiration and amazing truth.-- xxxsmall

Date: Sun Mar 16 20:32
Jim McAllister (jdmcallister@blueyonder.co.uk):

There is a very good article on Calexico in the "Uncut " magazine,about the new album,living in Tucson and the number of Mexicans trying to cross the border to escape the poverty of their Homeland. A good read !! It's not all doom and gloom ! Glad to see Calexico are playing Glasgow,Scotland

Date: Sun Mar 16 15:41
Todd (Northern Alberta):

www.exclaim.ca/index.asp?layid=22&csid1=1422

Date: Sun Mar 16 05:48
Lars D (www.supertanker.tk):

Well, Jonathan, my Unsungglum was in one of those round plastic-thingys. Just as Volume 2, which you can see in the discography (yeah, hey Mike, the picture of Volume 3 is missing!). :-) / Lars

Date: Sun Mar 16 00:15
Phill ((((**HOWE**)))):

Can you tell us the date or round-bout time for Bill Carters Giant Sand, Howe Gelb Documentary to be feeding our way ? It is warming up here in Pa. Groundhogs are up and snoopin. It`s a good sign this white winter is leaving (and the small change takith away) Peas, Phill

Date: Sat Mar 15 21:18
Jonathan Reeve (mdareeve@aol.com):

Just wondered if anybody could tell me how Giant Sand's "Unsungglum" and the M. Ward CD with the bonus tracks are packaged? Jewel cases, slipcases, digipaks, something else? Thanks for your help!

Date: Sat Mar 15 07:45
Lars D (www.supertanker.tk):

Piano by foot? He-he. Howe did that in Denmark as well....and remarked: "You need the pointy boots". How true. Howe, the weather's finally looking up here in Aarhus. We gotta a helluva nice few days with sun and all right now. First time out without my winterjacket yesterday. Oh, and by the way, about yer Wynn-fellow....if you need me to be an Aarhus guide of some sorts for him you think I'll be on his guest list at Voxhall? Funds are low. As always. Greets! / Lars

Date: Sat Mar 15 04:20
josh (-*-):

just stumbled on this, which may be of interest to folks hereabouts: http:// www.lisagermano.com/sand.html. op8 video. also good to see that lisa g. is up to some tricks of her own again these days. sorry to hear about the rift in the sand ranks. good show tonight in chicago, howe. piano accompaniment by foot and by hand was quite nice.

Date: Fri Mar 14 15:43
Frank C (ARTE likes "The Listener"):

Some good news from old Europe: The german-french TV channel ARTE (which I think is the most serious and important culture channel we have in Germany - maybe in Europe) features a review of „The Listener“ on their video text presentation, page 264: „... Der Cowboy mit der heiseren Stimme schmeichelt dem Ohr des Zuhörers „The Listener“ mit seinen Country-Jazz-Kompositionen, - das Ergebnis eines sonderbaren Austausches zwischen Musikern aus Arizona und Dänemark. Diese CD, an der 20 Leute und ebenso viele unterschiedliche Instrumente beteiligt sind, ist von beispielhafter Ruhe und Gelassenheit und strahlt nur Ruhe aus.“ To put it in a nutshell: The review is filed under „folk“. ARTE´s favorite tune is „torque“. They think that the blend of folk and jazz („country jazz compositions“) might be a result of the Danish musicians input. And finally, they like the record because of its exemplary simplicity and calmness. Although I personally think that there was some kind of jazz influence before Denmark and maybe "folk" is the wrong word I still can´t wait to get my copy! (Next time on CNN breaking news: The Gelbs follwow „The Osbournes“ on MTV ...)

Date: Fri Mar 14 13:37
james s (gracias):

thanks for the links, Graham, Lars, and Paul. Nice plug there on the Thrill site for Under Byen.

Date: Fri Mar 14 12:37
graham (.):

Interesting write-up and Howe commentary on "The Listener" at Thrill Jockey's news page: http://www.thrilljockey.com/album.html?title=The+Listener

Date: Fri Mar 14 00:47
m.c. (85718):

Was it mentioned that Falling James sang on the cover version of "Get Ready" on Giant Sand's LOVE SONGS?

Date: Fri Mar 14 00:18
Alan (Blaine@home):

Alan -- hear, hear on Falling James. Moons ago. I pretty much wore out a casseted copy of the Leaving Trains alb Well Down Blue Hwy. Great latenight driving music on par with JLPierce & the Gun Club.I think most anyone here would be on the same page, though it was really hard to track down. Here's another link in the chain for you -- didn't Falling James play with Giant Sand for a while or maybe just onthat New Rose thing?? Howe ?? Mr. Blackwood??? Mr. Brewer???

Date: Thu Mar 13 19:06
james s (Matt):

I don't think it was burberry, but I'm not really up on these things. Marcia, who first spotted the jacket, says "kind of plaid, with maybe a red lining... a thrift store jacket, but a cool-as-shit thrift store jacket..." Must be off. My Sierra Club meeting awaits.

Date: Thu Mar 13 19:06
Lars D (Pufft-die-verdamten-kraben-dieder-über-unter-Chaplin-German-ha-ha):

There is some kind of German review here: http://www.triggerfish.de/magazin/home.cfm?p=3392&CFID=476019&CFTOKEN=72228509

Date: Thu Mar 13 18:51
dave (learn something new every day):

Alan, I didn't know falling James was anyone in particular until now...I hadn't checked the board for a little while, so if this is the Alan from the Sandmam series, thanks again for Pedalless. I was just listening to it again the other night and what is cool about it (for you musician types) is that everything (most everything) is in standard tuning...so you can play guitar with it sorta like you're sitting in. Maybe Howe's guitar goes into standard tuning when he goes overseas!! I'm trying to get over to the Abbey Pub tomorrow night. Anybody know if he'll be selling the Listener or other cd's at the show? It would be nice to get a 4 day preview.

Date: Thu Mar 13 18:46
Lars D (boing!):

Just back from a gig here in Aarhus with Mark Olson & Victoria Williams (she mentioned you, Howe - something about getting some bread from the Café Mozart). :-) The band had a lot of sound problems tonight, which was very unfortunate. But it just struck me....no matter what the troubles: Victoria just shines through it all! I was my first experience with both artists (live and recorded). And looking back I would have loved to hear Victoria sing more. She was just amazing on that stage....and I guess a fitting word would be: sweet. It can imagine a solo performance with her would be totally out there where the whole body tingles. .... ...Even though through the first 2 or 3 songs tonight I thought "What IS she ON?!". Once I got past that, she just hit me. They play Copenhagen tomorrow. Greets t' y' all! / Lars

Date: Thu Mar 13 18:23
matt (james s):

was it burberry? i hope not...

Date: Thu Mar 13 17:46
Paul (93455):

Tucson Weekly review of Listener http://www.tucsonweekly.com/tw/current/qscans.html

Date: Thu Mar 13 17:38
alan (oh, and another thing... Urhm, I'll have a.....):

I was joyously listening to "Pontiac" yesterday when it struck me that Howe's recent accidental evening with Mark Lanegan tied up a whole raft of things I'd been thinking about... Howe hinted that Lanegan knew more than he expected about GS and HG, but, heck, it all makes sense to me. Here goes: I was a mere youth playing Pebbles, Nuggets and Boulders on WSRN when Warfrat Tales was released in '83 and the cut I loved more than any other (and there are quite a few good ones on the LP) was The Leaving Trains' "Creeping Coastline of Lights." Well, this is of course a Falling James tune, the one that Lanegan covered on "I'll Take Care of You." A few years later, after 6-7 years of the Fall, Sonic Youth, Green on Red and Thin White Rope and somewhat less of a youth but still youthful, I was programming equally neat but then-contemporary new material on small labels on KZSC when I first ran into Giant Sand (love at first listen). So, to tie it all together, Falling James introduced me to the traditions and bands I now love the most and he has played with my favorite band and has been covered by the lead singer of another once-much-appreciated band who just met Howe by accident in a bar. What more is there is there to do? Has my musical life come full circle? I've had a boy too and appear to have a profession... eeek! Ah, well, at least I have this comments page to keep me on my toes.

Date: Thu Mar 13 17:38
james s (fancy jacket):

Hmmm, looked kind of like a good thrift store find. Dressy, but "tacky" too, checkered pattern. And then there was ol' Lambchop Kurt (who is a prince of a nice guy) leaning against the bar with his cap on, not looking "tacky" in the least. Yes, though, it would be nice to think that C.P. is in town laying down tracks.

Date: Thu Mar 13 17:07
alan (for james s):

Everything i know about Chuck and Stephanie suggests that they'll never move out of the Bay Area... unless real estate prices continue to rise as dramatically as they did in the 90s and practice venues continue to disappear as fast as they did in that decade. It is exciting to hear that he was/is in Nashville, that often means he is recording. Hmmm, fancy jacket, hard to imagine, what kind? -a

Date: Thu Mar 13 12:52
graham (james s...crowd sightings):

hmmm...when I saw Calexico in Atlanta back in November, the Flaming Lips were standing behind me (fresh from their set across town). However, Calexico was not at the Lips show earlier in the evening (unless they were in bunny costumes).

Date: Thu Mar 13 12:40
james s (feeling well spun out in this post-modern medieval...):

Is Chuck Prophet a Tucsonite too? I was surprised to see him standing behind me at the Nashville Calexico show the other night. He was sporting a fancy jacket.

Date: Thu Mar 13 08:25
treygoba (smitten):

Heard a Neko Case feature on NPR "Morning Edition" this a. of m. Nothing too revealing, except that I didn't realize she was now a Tucsonite. SE AZ is turning into a (indie) musician's Mecca it seems.

Date: Thu Mar 13 04:35
Lars D (to Guni):

Timesbold are on my list! :-D But I'll see if I've got the time and money. It's on the 20th. Tomorrow I'm going to see Mark Olson & The Creekdippers (with Victoria Williams) - and local band Figurines as support act. I think it'll be neat. :-) / Lars

Date: Thu Mar 13 04:01
Guni (...more music):

Went to see Timesbold last night and have to admit that I was surprised in a very positive way. Didn't quite know what to expect but it was a nice little concert with a very dense, living-room-like atmosphere. Lars, they'll be in Arhus these days. Go check them out. Maybe not as striking as Woven Hand, but well worth a try!

Date: Thu Mar 13 03:58
Lars D (larsdideriksen@yahoo.dk):

Well, James, I've got some good Under Byen-stuff. Send me an e-mail. Maybe there'll be some new recordings from the band's German shows this month (Hamburg, Berlin & Dresden), because they don't mind people doing soundboard-recordings. Have you checket out their website? www.underbyen.com - there are some mp3 tasters. And there are some links to more excerpts at www.supertanker.tk - Greets! / Lars

Date: Thu Mar 13 01:44
Tommy Gailer (good-day-yesterday-scroller):

Got my calexico-ticks yesterday for Munich 4-13, and also got an advance copy of Howe`s "Listener": well i feel like pulled back to 1999 when i listened the first time to the promo of "chores". Could listen to it twice yet and i am really excited to feel it growin` on/in my mind!

Date: Wed Mar 12 17:42
j a m e s s (Aimless):

Thanks, Blaine. Think I'll save my dollars for the Frank Black show next week. Hope to see you in Chicago at the pub this weekend.

Date: Wed Mar 12 17:14
Blaine (@work):

James, saw Mr. Doe play solo here a few months back. Granted I was not familiar w/the new alb and saw X a few times back in the olddaze, but I was a bit disappointed. (Neko Case was great on the other hand.) Maybe if he has a band, but solo his songs were good stories, but fairly one dimensional.

Date: Wed Mar 12 16:40
james s (Re: Lars):

Howdy..howdy...howdy... is there an echo in here? John Doe (former X dude) is playing in town tonight. Anybody here seen or heard what he's been up to lately? Should I dish out my last few bucks to see him? Hey Lars, you doing trades for this U.B. band you've been pluggin'? I'd sure be interested in hearing them.

Date: Wed Mar 12 15:24
Lars D (www.supertanker.tk):

Well, hi James! :-D

Date: Wed Mar 12 15:04
james s (test test):

Jeez, I can't believe nobody has posted since my post yesterday? I didn't mean to run everybody off. It was a pleasure and a thrill to get J.C. drum last night with Calexico. Man, if only I could just once in my life get to see H.G., J.B, and J.C. all in their G.S. places on the stage, whipping out all the G.F.W.T. (good and free-wheelin' tunes). Sorry, but I was reading an article on BBC news that used W.M.D. to mean "weapons of mass destruction", the mantra of our times, and I was just so amused, in a depressed sort of way... What a world.

Date: Tue Mar 11 16:02
james s (sparkle johnston):

Thank you, KJ, for bringing up the Johnston/Linkous link on the new record. I had no idea. Calexico in town tonight. Woo hoo.

Date: Tue Mar 11 14:07
treygoba (mandatory state testing for my students is akin to constantly weighing the pig but never feeding it):

Speaking of...Anyone have tab or chords to "Loretta and the Insect World"? Duh. I know HG does.

Date: Tue Mar 11 10:38
kj (tobloodmusic@yahoo.se):

Hi! I´m wondering if any of you might know the chords to my favorite g.s song "wonder" which was on "ramp"? If so, please let me know! And by the way, just bought two fabulous albums I´d like to recommend: you are free - cat power fear yourself - daniel johnston (his latest one, and as beautiful as ever...this time it´s produced and played by sparklehorse) Take care!

Date: Tue Mar 11 10:18
Lars (www.supertanker.tk):

To any New Yorkers it might concern: Danish rockband Baby Woodrose are playing tonight (the 11th) at some place called Piano's in New York. And tomorrow night they play somewhere called Southpaw...in N.Y. too. Go check 'em out. Or perhaps check out their site www.babywoodrose.com or their label first (www.badafro.dk/music/index.html). Both sites have got mp3s. It's a kinda catchy psychedelic thing they got going there. Usually a kicking live act. Greets! / Lars

Date: Mon Mar 10 14:41
Madeleine (madeleine_m@hotmail.com):

Hi, can't wait for the new album!

Date: Mon Mar 10 14:32
mexicanshark tom (mexicanshark@hotmain.com):

help howe im or should i say we where listerning to y0u and we have a some . Just be like you . ok . alt

Date: Mon Mar 10 14:14
mike ([sa-wa-ro]):

....just to let you know.... matt ward has a bit of a tour happening in april/may in the us of a...... along with vic chesnutt (dates are on matt's part of this site)...all in aid of the new album "transfiguration of vincent" - which is released on march 18 in the states on merge records and on spunk in australia.... april 28th sees the euro release on matador .... and may on p-vine in japan.

Date: Mon Mar 10 01:45
sweat (bunny):

ªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªª / / ªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªª ( / ªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªª / / / ªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªª / / / ªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªª / I \ ªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªª / \ \ ªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªª / \ \ ªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªª / \ \ ªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªª I \ ªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªª Ixxx \ ªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªoªªªªªªªª xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªª xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªª xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªª xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªª xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªª xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªª xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªª xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªªª xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ªªªªªªªªªªªªª xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ªªªªªªªªªªª xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ªªªªªªªªª xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx \ \ \ \

Date: Sun Mar 9 17:53
sammy (thundercrows@yahoo.fr):

TORNADO sera en concert à PARIS le 13 mars 2003.

Date: Sun Mar 9 13:45
stefan (munich):

Dear Manfred B. in Münster, Germany, sent me an advance copy of The Listener, even though I told him that I could well wait another two weeks. Of course, I listened to it immediately & I think it is another amazing milestone in Howe's discography. Great, in other words. ...... There even is a review of The Listener in this month's The Wire. Not very favorable, but at least they have stopped ignoring Howe's output. The last sentence "It all sounds very loose and off the cuff, but any positive sense of spontaneity is sabotaged by a delivery so careless it borders on the sloppy" is way off the mark. In fact, I can think of hardly anybody who pays such close attention to tone and texture as Howe does. I'm looking forward to the shows in May.

Date: Sat Mar 8 17:38
Mitch (85718):

Ahhhhhhhh, thanks Guni and James. By the way, I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but grab up The Listener when ya get a chance folks...it's absolutely some of Howe's best, and, for me, fits the dusky hours of the day like a glove.

Date: Sat Mar 8 16:09
james s (mitch & "waiting"):

Nope, I haven't read it... but I own a copy now. I saw it in a shop cheap and picked it up on a vague recollection of a suggestion of yours. I just picked up the "animals move" John Parish cd. What I've heard sounds good. There's a little Howe piano-playin' on there. Nice seeing your name pop up on the board again Mitch. I hope those things "more pressing" are going well for you. Send an email my way sometime and let me know what's happening exciting with you lately. Oh, nice job on the Listener logo & design.

Date: Sat Mar 8 15:35
Guni (:-)):

I'm glad you're back, Mitch!

Date: Sat Mar 8 14:51
Lars (oh, the many ways to waster your time...):

Just ran across a funny site: www.googlism.com - which "will find out what Google.com thinks of you, your friends or anything!". I tried searching on my town "Aarhus". And got plenty of "hits". Stuff like "Århus is the second largest town in denmark". But also "Århus is also known to be an excellent environment for musicians" and "Århus is very beautiful with its cobbled streets" (which will make sense once you get hold of The Listener). ;-) Googlism also talks gibberish ("Århus is now finished and in production" and "Århus is the lack of rented accommodation for foreign post"....what?!) and stating the obvious ("Århus is not new york"). And I'm amazed it got this one: "Århus is clean again and the population of the city can drink the tap water". Which is also true. :-) Have fun! / Lars....walking around on the cobblestone owned by a sandy Arizonian.

Date: Sat Mar 8 00:58
Mitch (85718):

Uh...that'd indeed be "Waiting" by Ha Jin, James. Have you read it? :)

Date: Fri Mar 7 17:40
james s (ph ot og hr ap hy etc ...):

Glue, do you have any shots on the WWW? Got a URL? I just finished putting together a horrible CD of twelve (non)songs recorded on a four track cassette recorder. I need to find a cheap bass guitar to add a little bottom to my second "release". What a lot of fun! As Patti Smith once sang... "this is the era where everybody creates..." Oh, an excellent DVD to see is "The Clash: Westway to the World". Cheers.

Date: Fri Mar 7 14:35
Glue (For all off yuo):

hello sorry for lack of information. the exhabition is in the asotiotion of photographers galleery near the old street tube. Its between the 22 and 28th of june a monday to a saturday and if you want you can come to the private view on the monday night?

Date: Fri Mar 7 10:41
did you notice "sand" means courage... (in the ny speak circa 1860's? (gangs of) - how(e) appropriate):

From citypaper.net, phipladelphia: Burns admits Calexico put a strain on relations with Giant Sand's singer-guitarist Howe Gelb, but quickly denies that the band is doomed. "I just saw him play last night solo, he was amazing and funny, true and great," he says. "It was nice to see his face; I've had to look at his ass for all these years."

Date: Thu Mar 6 18:58
tom (photosniffer):

i got some great pictures of Howe, David E. Edwards, Will Oldham, John Convertino, Joey Burns, Mark Linkous, Polly Jean, et. al. and they were all made by a hay fever friend of mine. maybe he'll have his own website, maybe not. i'm off to london. glue, where's your exhibition at ?

Date: Thu Mar 6 16:43
tom (mexicanshark@hotmail.com):

Had a very fine day,got the Lady madeliene out of bed and went shopping.Got the new calexico album,some elvis fridge magnets,sunglasses,and a most worn in pair of cowboy boots.All of which fit like a glove.One of those days.Viva mexico and all her sharks.xxxx

Date: Thu Mar 6 13:11
philip's friend (there):

Hey all of you who are NY-area types: don't forget that tomorrow night John Parish and band are playing at the Bowery Ballroom...

Date: Thu Mar 6 07:10
innis (@innis.co.uk):

morning, everybody. Just got the latest Uncut mag in the mail, and aside from a long feature on Calexico, there's a big piece on the 40 greatest Bruce Springsteen songs, featuring many a pertinent comment from Howe, and John Convertino too...(among others) though sadly no HG/GS cover versions on the free CD. And how could Highway 29 not have made the list? I like the thought, incidentally, of GlueSniffer scaring Partons in a lift.......

Date: Thu Mar 6 05:24
Lars D (www.supertanker.tk):

Thanks for the link, Paul. A really well-written piece there. But I guess we'll have to wait a bit for the reviews. I found another one nevertheless: http://www.galleryofsound.com/pages/type2u.asp?RFMTID=387847 --- in which it says "Some of those tunes recorded with Danish musicians rank among Gelb’s finest ever, with or without Giant Sand". Greets! / Lars

Date: Thu Mar 6 05:07
glue sniffer (will come to gig):

i have been ejected form lyric theatre for drunkard ness long long ago when a friend or feind worked behind the bar. aperently had i not been riding the lifts and scaring partons i could of met chers daughter. to stand on the roof of that place is nice i just remenbered

Date: Thu Mar 6 00:33
Blaine (@home):

Paul - thanks for the link. Great help in sorting out the wonderful sonic mess w/o scorching the players.

Date: Wed Mar 5 19:53
paul again (bbbbbbbbbb):

that should read "long may they make their music"

Date: Wed Mar 5 19:51
PaulK (p.kerr@ntlworld.com):

Hi all, thanks to those who expressed condolences for my dad, life goes on and all things must pass. Anyway, haven't checked if this has been mentioned previously but here's a link to some stuff on John, Joey and Howe. Long mat they all make their music. http://www.exclaim.ca/index.asp?layid=22&csid1=1422 p.s. reprimanded for not putting in my address?

Date: Wed Mar 5 17:33
peter (waiting for shiver):

looks like Mike's the real santa. the shop will soon be stocked with the italian cd, howe tour dates in a couple of hours... my two cents re Joey & John; music has a mind of its own and can't be restrained. so the now side project becomes a main project until who knows what happens next. meanwhile maybe howe seems/feels stranded, especially since glum, confluence, chore were so terrific and obviously the joey/john vibe is irreplacable, just like rainer. anyway, i'll always be eternally grateful to calexico because it's through them that i discovered giant sand and howe and all the rest of the giant sand heritage. they've all made some wonderful music together. i'm sure joey and john will realize more than most that without howe there's something missing in their music too. and if not, don't worry, it's a fertile desert wherever howe treads.

Date: Wed Mar 5 17:02
Paul (93455):

What's the latest on the Santa?

Date: Wed Mar 5 16:19
Shaun H. (Howe & Joey - a red wine-soaked viewpoint):

well not soaked, but mildly lubricated. if Howe chooses to pass comment on this board then it's difficult to deny him, of all people, the opportunity, and unless it's something that's technically arguable, then surely that need be the final word. for others to join in on speculation would, at the politest, be deemed unnecessary. i probably wouldn't have joined in but for the fact that i just stuck on QUATTRO having received the single via Glitterhouse, and something about it stuck in my head as i was cooking up some pasta in the kitchen, "shit, what's that song it's reminding me of", a drop of olive oil or 2 later it seeped through, it was the Rainer/Giant Sand version of INNER FLAME. seems to me it's all just variants of what we love. w/out Giant Sand, Calexico (at least in the form it is) would most probably never have existed; w/out Joey & John quite possibly Howe woulda found that he didn't have the right continuing outlet which eventually brought us to CHORE.. this year promises so much in terms of great music from a collected or otherwise collective, just enjoy it.

Date: Wed Mar 5 15:51
mike ([sa-wa-ro] back @ home):

jeez...... i haven't looked at the comments page for nearly two weeks....and look at what i'm missing!! first off... joe's been a real gent to me and i'm glad to call him a friend. second.... howe just sent some confirmed dates which will be up on the tour page tonight.... i'll be mailing nigel for any other confirmed shows...(how come i'm usually the last to find out these things????)... and the italian cd has arrived and will be up on the store soon, distributed from the uk and usa... as will 'rock opera' and 'unsungglum'.... and tommy.... isn't this great.... it's like being at a party and over-hearing all these disjointed conversations.

Date: Wed Mar 5 15:18
Lars D (www.supertanker.tk):

I was wondering about the same exact thing the other day! :-) For the same reason. Those pictures from C.M. / Lars

Date: Wed Mar 5 13:37
peter ((fore!)):

played me some cover songs last night and got me to wondering about something...Howe, do you play golf too?

Date: Wed Mar 5 12:47
Si ((confused as well)):

Yep Sean you're not the only one. As far as I could see it Howe posted a very cryptic message implying that Joey had done him wrong without really saying what he had done that was so terrible, other than leaving to concentrate on Calexico! Then a few people jumped on the bandwagon and said they'd always known that Joey Burns was a rotter by the look in his eye. I think the whole thing was a bit unsavoury and sad to be honest.

Date: Wed Mar 5 05:30
SeanT (John and Joey):

I've missed something here , what's the story with the John , Joey and Howe ? Confused Sean.

Date: Tue Mar 4 13:27
dave (I Am Trying To Break Your Cello):

That would be the title of the new Giant Sand docu-drama,(ha-ha), based on the musings here lately...I agree with "cowboy boots" and "friend of joe, howe and john"....It's about the music. Enjoy this Fat Tuesday!

Date: Tue Mar 4 11:49
santa (the grotto):

Any effigy of me (particularly if manufactured by a soft drinks corporation) is a breach of copyright and will earn you a minimum stretch of seven years hard time in sing sing or the penitentiary of your choice.

Date: Tue Mar 4 05:17
Javier ( ):

Had the chance to see Ira Kaplan live in Madrid last night. Unannounced concert in a small club, 40-people crowd, 1 hour solo acoustic set. Very special. He played a couple of songs from the new coming record, "Summer Sun", some covers and old Yo la Tengo stuff. For those of you having the chance to make it, Primavera Sound festival in Barcelona, May 23-24th is going to have a fantastic line up: YLT, Sonic Youth, Belle and Sebastian, Teenage Fanclub, Folk Implosion, Television, John Parish..... http://www.primaverasound.com/english/ Only Howe is missing from my favourites. He played there last year, but unfortunately i couldn´t make it :-( Howe, are there plans for a concert in Madrid/Spain anytime soon?

Date: Tue Mar 4 00:03
Paul (93455):

What is the minimum bid?

Date: Mon Mar 3 21:47
Kay Murray (njrkmurray@yahoo.com):

In the years of late 1930s or early 1940s 7 up sent a 4ft santa to a lot of stors in Denver Co. We have one and would like to see what it is worth. We owned a liquor store and they were sent to permote 7-up I hope you have something on it. Always Kay

Date: Mon Mar 3 19:56
em (ha ha):

Then we could go to the video store and help him with his video selections! And also help him when buying produce and canned goods! Good idea, James. You have conjured up a funny image. I'm gonna try my best, Lars to make the Southpaw show...Permitting I am at my actual home then, it is from walking distance from where I live:) Give me alittle more cd time, though- ALITTLE MORE...

Date: Mon Mar 3 19:12
Lars D (Attention, Big Apple folk!):

Ahoy, new yorkers! Go and check out Danish rock band Baby Woodrose at Piano's on March 11 and Southpaw on March 12. I don't know the venues myself, but they're in New York somewhere. Southpaw rings a little bell though. Don't know why. Have a listen at www.babywoodrose.com - their style is all out catchy rock'n'roll in that ol' psychedelic kinda way with guitars, good howlin' and tambourines (and the occasional organ). Greets! / Lars

Date: Mon Mar 3 19:11
james s (nah nah nah nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah nah, hey jude):

Yes, ideally, this site could/should provide a wealth of insider, as well as official, dates and information about each and every Gelb appearance as soon as such an appearance is confirmed... that could/should include appearances at the grocery store, the burger joint, the video shop, etc.... Ok, perhaps only musical appearances (as guest and/or headliner) as Howe, cult muzak star. At any rate, it could be updated regularly.

Date: Mon Mar 3 18:39
em (tour dates):

nah nah nah, Tour Dates; Nothing is posted yet..We are just finding out as Howe says stuff. But there is a tours link that will hopefully be providing info soon. Okay.

Date: Mon Mar 3 17:07
tour (dates):

...feelin left out over here...how do all you folks know when howe's shows are? Is there another website I don't know about?

Date: Mon Mar 3 16:52
Tallulah (le@pingw@ter):

Looking forward to seeing you in Hammersmith, Howe.. with your Viking horde. Will you be arriving by longship down the Thames?

Date: Mon Mar 3 15:47
erin (waifstar@hotmail.com):

so what is the exact release date of the listener? or is it just listener (does it matter, really?)? looking forward to the minneapolis show on 3/15....

Date: Mon Mar 3 15:08
phill (Pa):

Howe, is there any chance of a Philadelphia show this year? Sorry to hear about the loss of your step sister.

Date: Mon Mar 3 13:46
howe (humming):

dear mexicanshark. london will land under us around may 12th i hear. i think at the lyric theatre in hammersmith. looks like a nice place for a band of danes. we'll see. -howe

Date: Mon Mar 3 12:27
Tommy Gailer (sorry-sroller):

i am not drunk...but i type badly like never before.

Date: Mon Mar 3 12:19
Tommy Gailer (scroling at 03.03.03):

Sorry Guni, i couldn`t come to Vic Williams...had some familiar problems to solve first.********To the classical Giant Sand set-up: made me remember of the fantastic 2000`er concerts in spring, autumn and winter here in germany. The extended line up with Nck, Saholy, Luaralyne and Matt was the cream on the cake. I wish so much i could see them in that condition again.

Date: Mon Mar 3 12:15
tom (mexicanshark@hotmail.com):

Howe,i saw you at the guilford festival last summer,a most wonderful afternoon.But my lady Madeline was asleep in the tent at the time.She is a big fan now and lull is a influence on her music,but she is still kicking herself for that foolish nap.Will you come to England this year and play,not just for the common good,but for my beloved.

Date: Mon Mar 3 00:27
howe (here and there ):

i took my daughter to the queens of the stone age show last night. fun for a parent/child thing to do. the place was sold out. i tried to leave after a while, the kids having sorted a ride back, guessed it was time for me to go but happy with what i heard. i crossed the street to the hotel congress. had a couple with miguel. the bar was mostly full of folks from a wedding going on in the hotel. yaqui and tohona o odhom marriage between the nations. then the place filled up with concert goers after the show. packed. the lobby overflowed. tried to get out to get some air. went out. came back in. in my hand were some homemade brownies not laced with anything, just chocolate, a friend had given me for the family. walking in i felt like leaving again. then a fellow came gliding over through the mob who thought he recognized me, but looked like no one i have met. he said his name was mark and i realized it was lanegan. heard about him for ages it seems. has that voice. saw him in the show singing with the queens, but from way in the back of the theater. he knew too much. it was a pleasure to talk. sat a while. ended up listening to some music. he gave me some 'newbury' music. around 2 AM i found my way home. paul, i am sorry to hear about your father. last week it was my step sister. it will all seem like a blink of an eye in the end i bet. in the meantime maybe some mickey newbury.

Date: Sun Mar 2 23:48
friend of Joe, Howe ,John (center of the universe):

The music made while Giant Sand was Joe ,Howe and John and all the others is great stuff in the middle of what is Giant Sand! I just hope i can see the three of them again in a live format! On stage they are MAGIC to us fans and even though they might have some areas they dont agee on too much or to little , The three of them on stage and in what ever home or studio the were in is importantant to us fans.We eat this stuff.!Peace to all on the board. long live Rainer

Date: Sun Mar 2 19:57
Paul (P.kerr@ntlworld.com):

Hi all. (James S, thanks for missing my occasional posts), I've been busy dealing with the death of my father 2 weeks ago, not unexpected but still a blow. Anyway, as things go, on coming home after he passed away I found a disc sent by Shaun with Howe doing Can't Put Your Arms Around a Memory. I was kind of lost at that point, 5 am and not sleepy and all jangled inside so I listened to that song for the next hour or so and did have some tears to myself. I figure that sometimes Howe just hits that spot inside with his voice,playing and general zen like attitude and this is what I love about him, he was there when I needed him, in a Happenstance synchronistic sort of way. When it comes to Calexico, i wouldn't presume to intrude on the dynamics between these guys but I know that Howe was Howe and the Sand band was the Sand band before john and joey and will be after if that's the way it goes. I wish all of them well and hope to see Calexico in May on their first visit to Glasgow. Now maybe Howe could get back here also???????? Besat wishes and keep well everyone. Paul

Date: Sun Mar 2 18:23
johnny yen ((graham, I'm still trying to decide...)):

Hey, the remastered Eraserhead DVD is finally available from davidlynch.com. $40.00 .. ergh. there goes rent.

Date: Sun Mar 2 17:15
high ho silver liner (love to love you and all that glue jazz):

Feel the love machine working the room. just listed to you version of the weight you were better when youy were rock than country do an ac dc tribute album

Date: Sun Mar 2 13:45
whoops (for mamas):

hey friend... thanks for socking it to me... you really are right on, and I do appriciate the insight.

Date: Sun Mar 2 12:56
e (m):

Okay, Glue Sniffa. YOu have a nice day. Hi to everybody. Yes.

Date: Sun Mar 2 11:47
matt (()......sniffa.....()):

utter madness. are you gonna go see calexico in manchester (may 1st) d'ya reckon....?

Date: Sun Mar 2 11:39
cowboy (boots):

Eloquently put "Philip's friend." The relationship between Burns and Gelb is intriguing for us to observe, but it's not really for us to dissect or take sides. Let's leave them be....

Date: Sun Mar 2 07:14
Glue sniffinertiger (ho ho ho):

good morning miss can i help you son? sixteen today and up for fun? love to love you baby.smile.

Date: Sun Mar 2 07:04
Lars D (www.supertanker.tk):

Hey, Howe, I see Steve Wynn is playing at Voxhall. It's on his tour plan on his site. There's no mention in Voxhall's program yet, though. I must admit I think I've only heard a few of his songs. I guess Hans is the fan around here. :-) Actually Wynn did an "in-store" at Scavenger Records a few years back, as far as I remember. But I'll be as helpful as I can. And if my luck with getting a job continues I'll have all the time in the world in April (it would be nice if I didn't have that, of course - this unemployed limbo is getting quite boring by now). + THANKS FOR THE LINK, PAUL! I just made a mention of it on the Supertanker-site! Greets all around! / Lars

Date: Sat Mar 1 21:22
james s (what a day):

"Philip's friend", very well said, amen amen. I hope my earlier comments didn't give the impression that I don't like what Calexico does... I'm going to get to see them on the 11th, for the first time, and am really looking forward to it... and I'm hoping to catch Howe in Chicago on the 14th with Parish and Gardner... Hey Howe, any chance of a Polly appearance at that one??? I may be stating the obvious here to most of you, but in case you don't already know, the Jim White album, "Wrong-Eyed Jesus", is pretty wonderful. Have a good weekend.

Date: Sat Mar 1 20:51
philip's friend (whoops):

maybe whatever's between howe and joey might be none of our business, and who's to say who should be whooped and who shouldn't other than the people involved in any whoop-like behaviour. if you don't know joey personally, don't make judgements about his need for punishment... and even if you do, you don't know everything that's gone on between him and howe... no one does but the two of them. maybe they misunderstand each other. and in any case, the music can be taken differently than the people who make it... it's interesting to know about the lives behind the music, but in the long run, these recordings and the moments of live influx are entities unto themselves, and can be taken as such by those of us on the outside, i.e. the listeners... you can like calexico and giant sand both, in different ways, for their differences and their similarities, common threads and disparate elements... joey has still been a part of the giant sand music you've loved all this time, not to mention john con, so maybe there is something valuable for you in their other stuff. and if you just really don't like anything at all about calexico... welp, don't listen. basically, these are all insanely talented musicians and we're lucky to be able to hear such a great variety of musical construct from the lot of 'em. personally, i'll take as much as i can get from any of them. sorry for the long (ahem) rant

Date: Sat Mar 1 20:32
peter (amused in nyc):

yep, that's a mighty fine happenstance indeed that howe and josh met and got along. the queens make some exciting music and keep things very interesting. now you've got me musing about howe grabbin the old gretsch and crankin out with josh and nick on their next album for a song or two. sumthin "can't find love"-like. some queens for the sand age. they already have excellent taste in musical guests, e.g. Mark Lanegan,Grohl. so mebbe we can get a feel good hit of some summer by the queens of the sand age. and in the long meanwhile before the listener, i'm listening to the fine guitar touches of lightning hopkins.

Date: Sat Mar 1 20:26
peter (amused in nyc):

yep, that's a mighty fine happenstance indeed that howe and josh met and got along. the queens make some exciting music and keep things very interesting. now you've got me musing about howe grabbin the old gretsch and crankin out with josh and nick on their next album for a song or two. sumthin "can't find love"-like. some queens for the sand age. they already have excellent taste in musical guests, e.g. Mark Lanegan,Grohl. so mebbe we can get a feel good hit of some summer by the queens of the sand age. and in the long meanwhile before the listener, i'm listening to the fine guitar touches of lightning hopkins.

Date: Sat Mar 1 18:57
howe (homme):

just met a feller named homme....josh homme....a fine feller, with ties to joshua tree as well.....nice...a real queen.....(of the stone age apparently). meanwhile, em...i will be around nyc in mid april now i think.....and lars, when steve wynn plays arhus in april, you have to work up the gumption to meet up with him and show him around....he has a day off the folllowing day, and i informed him that you would help him there ....and please take him to cafe l'estragon....thanks. james s....i like what you said....but yeah...i am worn out.....feeling it more every day....but then that is how this planet goes ....i always wondered how we stayed around so long as a band....there are so very very few bands still around from when we started....specifically at this level of cult popularity. so ....i am now baring witness to a demise of some sort....as well as realizing it's time to start all over again in some way.....but the back hurts every morning....the children beckon at every turn.....and finding sonic inspiration is ridiculously difficult...most of it sounds familiar of another by gone decade....but today i did find me a slice of delightfulness in cd form: ray charles and betty carter duets....deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-lishhh ---howe

Date: Sat Mar 1 17:41
OWOM (...):

We are workin on it and hope to have a bunch of new material avaliable before summer comes (and it comes quick here in AZ). We will keep everyone posted!

Date: Sat Mar 1 17:41
Paul (93455):

Lars, check out this URL for LA Times article on the Raveonetts http://www.calendarlive.com/music/cl-et-kuipers1mar01,0,3531875.story?coll=cl%2Dmusic%2Dfeatures

Date: Sat Mar 1 16:28
Giantrust (xgiantrust@yahoo.co.uk):

Apologys if this has been discussed recently, but dispite making the OW OM store a lot more assessable to us in the UK there seems to be a distinct lack of merchandise available, is this situation likely to change any time soon?

Date: Sat Mar 1 14:43
Lars (www.supertanker.tk):

Daaamn! Life is good. I've been to nine gigs in February. And only one sucked (and they had a great support act). The suckees were the Subsonics out of Atlanta. I just didn't get 'em. Last night I witnessed the most extraordinary gig with French duo Chevreuile (who have made a brilliant Steve Albini-produced album). One drummer and one guitarist....in the middle of the room...with four amplifiers pointed inwards....then the (small-ish) crowd around. The guitarist used 3 guitar-sampler-pedals and a distortion pedal....made his little melodies and looped them, and then made new stuff....played on top of that...and so on. It all seemed to "anachistic" but still they were so tight. I was blown away. Second cool French band for me in a week. :-) Mmmmm, life IS good! / Lars

Date: Sat Mar 1 13:53
em (hey):

Hey!! When we gonna know when you is coming to New York, Howe??? I gotta PLAN myself around it so I am not out of town or having a party then. I am a very together person like that...Okay I'm not but WHEN YOU COMING???

Date: Sat Mar 1 13:43
Tommy Gailer (to Mike B. the master):

Mike, can you now understand my former visions of a board where differnt threads can be bundled, and i don`t have to scroll through every private discussion?

Date: Sat Mar 1 12:33
mama (sita):

I know we all are ready to stop talking about Calexico... I just want to say that it's a damn same that Joey burns the man that lit his flame. As a musician I know it's hard to deal with people's egos, but when it comes to my man Howe, you gotta give respect. Joey just needs I good whoop.

Date: Sat Mar 1 02:14
Blaine (@home):

Any truth to the rumor that the great Ray Davies is recording w/Yo La Tengo?

Date: Sat Mar 1 00:31
terry (oh):

oh okay, sorry about that. have a shiney lights comin' outta ya night.

Date: Fri Feb 28 22:29
terry (oh):

oh okay, sorry about that. have a shiney lights comin' outta ya night.

Date: Fri Feb 28 22:17
philip (?):

i think you just called youself a tarface, tartface. shut up your lame commentary

Date: Fri Feb 28 22:14
terry? (?):

did you just reference me as tarface?

Date: Fri Feb 28 22:12
terry (tartface):

exactly!

Date: Fri Feb 28 22:11
philip (meep):

fact...uality?

Date: Fri Feb 28 22:11
terry (cakewalk):

a robot full of facts.

Date: Fri Feb 28 22:08
philip (point taken):

wait, are you some kind of robot?

Date: Fri Feb 28 22:07
terry (spatula):

philip- what in the hell are you talking about? how did you know about the troglodyte? anyway, this is a giant sand website. that's too far off-topic. i'll email you and we can talk about the trogs privately.

Date: Fri Feb 28 22:04
philip (tapoca@hotmail.com):

wait, who said anything about a troglodyte? or was it choglodyte?

Date: Fri Feb 28 21:33
Patti K. (wow):

I thought I'd check in and say hi to the gang.....whew.... all I can say is that all this Joey talk brings up a very strong memory of a time long ago. Rainer's bass player Nick got into some trouble and had to go away for a couple of years. Rainer played solo for a couple of years. Thats loyalty and devotion. Could teach these whipper snappers a thing or two. Times are strange watch six feet under. Love to all. patti

Date: Fri Feb 28 18:21
johnny yen (baby I'm bored):

I'm glancing over the Koch new release mag just now. Shows the new Evan Dando album. Says Howe Gelb is on it. Also says "John Convertino and Joey Burns/Giant Sand" are on it, separate from the Howe entry. What? Didn't Koch do BBBQB? I guess it goes w/ that statement "inaccuracy makes for fine companionship when the announcement of new offerings". Anywhichway, yeah March 18 is going to be a good day. -jy

Date: Fri Feb 28 17:53
james s (me again):

Mitch (if you are looking in these days), did you once recommend the novel, "Waiting" by Ha Jin? Also, to whom it may concern, new Califone (Quicksand: Cradlesnakes) hits the shelves on March 18, the same day new Howe does. What a good day! Also, new Yo La Tengo (Summer Sun) comes out on April 8th. Does anyone here keep up with the Sparklehorse goings on? Anything new happening there, soonish???

Date: Fri Feb 28 17:11
james s (guni in da clubhouse):

Yeah, i'm a bit uncomfortable with the burning of Burns too. But! I've been in a situation with friends/bandmates/ex-bandmates not unlike the situation that I THINK Howe is in, and it's hard not to feel burned. It's a burn that can only come from love, love for the chemistry that was there in the music, and in the friendship. You hate to see it fall into the past. If you have an artistic vision, and you are fortunate enought to find the PERFECT people with whom to express it, and you happen to really like them as buddies to boot... It's too bad perfect things can't last forever. I'm sure that Howe will continue to find ways to express his unique approach to music, and his work will continue to be interesting, challenging, and worthwhile. Calexico will go on being Calexico, which is always fun. Still, I don't understand how anyone who isn't just wornout can walk away from whatever it was that created Giant Sand at it's better moments. Chore is something I don't think Calexico can ever hope to equal. It is truly a great record, the best one (by anybody) that I've ever heard. It seems to me that when you reach the heights that I think Chore reached, you don't walk away, even if the creation of it hurts like hell.

Date: Fri Feb 28 11:31
One of the Listeners (spreading the word:):

Bertold Seliger just published Tourdates for Germany in today's email newsletter. There, it is stated that Howe will be touring with a band, "a real band" and they quote Howe: „It is important that this solo project take steps to become the pimary touring and recording set-up...” Shows will follow a certain pattern according to Seliger: Support Act will be Marie Frank (BMG) from Denmark (she sings on the beautiful "Blood Orange" on The Listener) who will appear in a duo and then join Howe's new Band (quote!). Then, Howe will play a short solo - set followed by a band - show. Street Date for "The Listener" will be March, 18th. Tourdates (not fully confirmed): 15.5. München, Orange House / 16.5. A-Ebensee, Kino / 18.5. Köln, Kantine / 20.5. Heidelberg, Karlstorbahnhof / 21.5. Düsseldorf, ZAKK / 22.5. Berlin, ColumbiaFritz / 24.5. Dresden, Star-Club / 25.5. Hamburg, Fabrik

Date: Fri Feb 28 09:45
Graham (worth a million in prizes):

Johnny Yen: you recently mentioned fixing a Califone live show. Game to trade it? I have an exhaustive list of live music, gold dubloons, animal pelts, and cliched pleasantries I'd be willing to swap you for it. grhsmith@hotmail

Date: Fri Feb 28 09:20
Talullah (CONFESSION):

Alright Howe, I admit it's a nickname.. but one I'm very fond of. By my reckoning it means 'leaping water' too.. very soothing for Burns.

Date: Fri Feb 28 07:36
Guni (back to the club, james s):

Hey, be sure that I watch this board regularly, james s. But I'm not much of a comment writer anyway. And I do have to admit that I'm slightly irritated by this "BAD BOY BURNS" thing that's been going on here the past few days. Did I miss something? Maybe it's just because English isn't my native language. So Howe had been working with a jerk for all these past - what? 10 years? - and John is even willing to keep up with this traitor??? I guess all these statements about Joe must be based on some mean inside information beyond the fact that things are changing constantly, people are moving forward (or backwards, or in circles). Anything other than that would leave me even more ...... astonished!! * * * * * *And yes, I also miss Mitch's remark here very mucho! And I'm looking forward to - hopefully - meeting the scroller tomorrow, cause at least Victoria Williams in concert should be able to distract him from the wilco board! See you there, Tommy!

Date: Fri Feb 28 07:12
Lars (www.supertanker.tk - nice news for nice people!):

Hey, Howe! St. Thomas is playing at the Spot 09 Festival in Aarhus late May. What was it you called him? A "younger Neil Young" or something? :-) Plenty of other great bands at the same festival. Spokane and Calla are playing at the RECession Festival early May (also Aarhus). / Lars

Date: Fri Feb 28 05:46
SeanT (Rough Trade):

The manager of Rough Trade is Nigel and he is a music fan .Get talking to him you could spemd all day there and go home with armfuls of records you've never heard and never intended to buy . Normally they're all good .What a proper record shop should be like .

Date: Fri Feb 28 05:24
e_- (50.50N 4.20E ):

TALLULAH maybe derived from greek "thallein" meaning "to blossom". in greek mythology she was the muse of comedy and pastoral poetry. or from hebrew TAL, meaning "dew". in gaelic / keltic "tuilelaith" meaning "lady abundance"....

Date: Fri Feb 28 02:27
inked (HUMMINA HUMMINA):

http://www.urbandictionary.com/ hours of pure enjoyment. you can submit your definitions of terms/word`s also check out some funny stussz

Date: Thu Feb 27 21:52
howe (home some):

question to tallulah....if that is your real name ....do you know where it comes from...???...(besides you parents)....we found out that it means "leaping water " in chocktaw .....and it is also a river in georgia....welp ???

Date: Thu Feb 27 15:03
Lars (to the travelling):

So was that an invitation for us Europeans to suggest some nice European artists? Hm, that are NOT available in the States?....I gotta think a bit. I would suggest Under Byen of course, but I guess they won't be available in London or Paris (yet). ;-) Hm, Danish pop band Mew are creating a buzz right now in the UK. They DO write nice pop tunes "with a twist" (www.mewsite.com). :-D / Lars

Date: Thu Feb 27 14:09
dave (record shops):

Thank you very much for the record store info. I really appreciate it! This is my first trip to Europe, so I'm hoping to duck into a cool shop and find something you can't get in the States. Blaine, you're right, "The Missing Years" is an excellent record. What a shame about Howie.

Date: Thu Feb 27 10:13
Talullah (johnny can do no wrong):

Lars, there's nothing about Howe in Mojo.. just a name at the bottom of a list headed by the estimable Mr Johnny Cash. (I didn't think he was particularly unsung. Howe, of course, IS!)

Date: Thu Feb 27 09:49
jamesa ((more spillings on london records)):

yup, there are a few fopps. i'd like to third or fourth rough trade @ talbot road. record and tape exchange at camden has a lot of second hand stuff you'll never find elsewhere. they have brand new listeners too. reckless records at islington is pretty decent if you're around those parts. as for paris, there is an excellent little store in jussieu. and as for the listener...it's a smokey flowing drifting thing. a beautiful flowing drifting thing.

Date: Thu Feb 27 09:28
matt (~~~):

is there a 'FOPP' in London at all? ive only been in the one in Sheffield but they usually have a great (and well priced) selection of stuff....

Date: Thu Feb 27 09:19
Lars D (got no mojo :-) ):

I can't seem to find Mojo here in my corner of Denmark this time around. :-/ Bad timing. This time I thought about buying it. Even though the price is more than double the US price around here. So what do they write Mr. Gelb then? / Lars

Date: Thu Feb 27 07:46
tHom (london records):

I'll second SeanT's recommendation of the Rough Trade record shop. They'll talk for hours and play you all kinds of stuff, going off at every musical tangent. you can while away an afternoon, no problem. They also stock back copies of Bucketfull of Brains with free vinyls of GS etc. And yes, Lars, Beano's is still there. I recently got a RFTC cd there, signed by every member of the band, for less than a new one.

Date: Thu Feb 27 07:46
Talullah (good news):

Howe, you're the tenth best 'UNSUNG HERO' in Mojo magazine! Or, should that be 'UNSUNGGLUM HERO'?

Date: Thu Feb 27 06:06
Lars (London by memory):

Aren't there about a handful of nice independent record shops on Berwick Street? / Lars

Date: Thu Feb 27 05:45
SeanT (Dave re London):

The best record store in London is Rough Trade in Talbot Road near Notting Hill.The one in Soho Lars mentioned is called Selectadisc , pretty good too but Rough Trade is by far the best , I think. Sean.

Date: Thu Feb 27 03:11
Lars D (forgot a bit):

That big second hand store in Croydon is called "Beano's". And if it still is in the same spot, it's in a little alley of from the pedestrian street. Around the corner from a post office and a pub called Yates' (don't know if it's still there though. Much has changed since 1997. They've got a tram-system now, I've heard). Well, ask around. ;-) / Lars

Date: Thu Feb 27 03:08
Lars D (to London-bound Dave):

When I was hanging out in London back in 1996 and 1997, I found many a cool record shop on Berwick Street in Soho. But be careful, if you walk too far down that street you'll end up in the rather dodgy red light district (hm, depends on which way you're coming from I guess). And of course there are plenty of cool shops in Camden. Just grab the underground to Camden Town on the Northern Line on the weekends. The place was buzzing way back then. Probably still is. Takes a while to find all the little shops. And Europe's (apparently) largest second hand store is in the "suburb" of Croydon (where I lived and worked). About 20 minutes by train from Victoria Station. I guess it would still be there. Plenty of hard to find expensive rarities as well as very nice bargains. Three levels of cds and vinyl. Well, Dave, that's ONE way of staying clear of the Megastores. Although the big one on Oxford Street seemed to have just about everything (but was it a nice store to BE in? No). Happy hunting, dude! And have a nice trip. / Lars

Date: Thu Feb 27 00:31
phill in pa. (blain):

True! the scraping of the toast seen is Great, also when Howe throw`s the hat at the end, The coolest ! but to say the words he`s gonna be missed in the same line as the word (HOWE). jinx GOD what would we Sandies do ? he will alway`s be here centered in the EPICENTER.

Date: Wed Feb 26 23:37
Blaine (@home):

re: Howie -- I play with some folks who grew up and played w/Howie back in his MKE days. They always had nothing but nice things to say about him. Making it to the big time couldn't have happend to a better guy. Talented as a musician and producer (JPrine), but with huge demons. He's gonna be missed.

Date: Wed Feb 26 21:55
j y (oops):

there's an extra e that really doesn't need to be in related

Date: Wed Feb 26 21:53
johnny yen (unreleated like usual):

The AM oldies station is now playing songs from the 80s. Can they do that? When the crap did 80s songs become oldies?

Date: Wed Feb 26 19:44
dave (questions and speculations):

I'm fortunate to be going to Paris and London soon. Anybody know any cool record stores in those vicinities? Please don't direct me to the Virgin Megastore. In noticing ex-Heartbreaker Howie Epstein's passing, I was reminded of a great show I saw in '82 or '83 at a small club in Granite City, IL. Petty and the Heartbreakers played a sold out Kiel Opera House in St. Louis on a Saturday night. They played an impromptu club show at a little place in Granite called "Stages" on Sunday night and a buddy of mine scored some tickets. What a show. People were passing pitchers of beer and Jack Daniels and Coke to Petty onstage, and he was sipping away and jamming on things like "Hang on Sloopy". What was REALLY cool was that the opening act on this tour was one of my faves - Nick Lowe - with his band at the time "Noise to Go", which featured Paul Carrack, Martin Belmont (ex-Rumour) and Nick's wife at the time, Carlene Carter. They blasted out all manner of cool sh*t that would've these days been described as "roots" or "alt-country". It was just goooood. Anyhow, it occurred to me some years later that Petty had a new bass player for this album and tour. One Howie Epstein.....and Carlene Carter was on this tour...and Howie Epstein....HEY, wait a minute?!!! Maybe it's not a good idea to take your wife on tour... RIP Howie. Bless you.

Date: Wed Feb 26 19:30
Me and my crew (b flusies & rubies):

...I rock the party that rocks the party... you rock the party that rocks the party...

Date: Wed Feb 26 18:24
james s (the club):

good to see your name again, Jim B. Now, if we could just get some posting action from Mitch, Rob Stanier, Ian Gillan, Sammy, Frak, Greg Haldane, Geoff, JC Brochard, Guni, Paul Ker, Patti, and BD. Also, I would like to see more from EmmmMMmmm, Mike Brewer, and Scroller (if we can distract him from the Wilco board). Whew.

Date: Wed Feb 26 17:36
Archivist (not needed):

Jim B here... Haven't fallen off completely. Actually, busy working the OWOM store and dealing with about 20 jobs right now - all simultaneously. Plus, my family is growing almost as fast as Howe's! Will try and get some new MP3 tracks up on the 'archive' section of the site soon and keep the comments coming your way as well.

Date: Wed Feb 26 16:28
Graham (and you can't forget...):

...running through the pedal steel riff during the rehearsal of "left" or Indiosa (is that right?) coloring on stage at Congress? Rolling Stone says, "drunken bees!"

Date: Wed Feb 26 16:19
Blaine (@work):

Lars -- drunken Bees is worth watching for 3 great scenes: Rainer's disappearing kid; the Neil Young/Mook rock scene; and the all too short GS live footage of Howe's gtr pedal-footage. It's really a charming little slice of life. ... oh yea and don't forget the drifter on the doorsteps scene.

Date: Wed Feb 26 14:36
tom ((re : Lars)):

You can get that video directly from the lady who made it at : drunkenbees@hotmail.com, i think she even has it in PAL format. I haven't seen it yet, but if i remember well it's some sort of documentary, rockumentary ?

Date: Wed Feb 26 14:12
Lars (eBay):

Well, as long as the stuff on eBay is not limited or promos, it can be neat. I have found some nice bargains there lately. Including the "Official Bootleg Series Vol. 1". ;-) What's that "Drunken Bee" VHS with Giant Sand floating around there? Well, I can't watch it anyway, because it's NTSC-format and not PAL. Just curious. / Lars

Date: Wed Feb 26 13:40
talullah ($$$$$$$):

Feat of Wire is hot but The Listener burns brighter.

Date: Wed Feb 26 13:35
howe ():(:):(:):():

ebay is toasty mostly

Date: Wed Feb 26 07:20
Lars D (The Listener):

Oh, the greedy promo vultures are already circling on eBay. Bid on The Listener for TWENTY dollars (or buy it straight away for JUST $55!!!). Well, I dunno about you, but I can wait the extra three weeks. Jeez! / Lars

Date: Wed Feb 26 05:20
Glue Sniffer (hipp hipp horay):

well forfilling my job role of being the social life of this board i am pleased to report that i have been out been drunk been out been drunk almost manged stoned but fell asleep before it made its perfumed way to me last link in the chain. Been busy playing base in a pretty weird fugazi like band never realy been in to all this full on moshing head banging but its fun. i get to make a rock out fool of myself and roll around on the floor. Played a gigi in selly oak birmingham lastnight weird an old man with long hair and long tales kept telling me he'd been here before and how he used to work in a band and how nobdy would listen untill he learnt to play covers. He sujested we play yellow submarine. he was quite rude and drunk so we bonded nicley having both thinks in common. at the end though strangley of 1/2 an hour of noisey bababababa he came over to tell me i was ace and that i should keep it toghether he then opened the door was sick in the car park and wondered off into the night. beautifyul

Date: Wed Feb 26 00:07
howe (on the range):

yeah

Date: Tue Feb 25 22:04
ann (in sonoma):

What happened to this Archivist? Jim B. has he forgotten about the Giant Sand page? Where are you? KXCI? Calexico Page? What gives?

Date: Tue Feb 25 21:47
j (am):

What is Spitfire AO? Id like to know.

Date: Tue Feb 25 19:14
tom (davis and coltrane playing monk):

Straight, No Chaser. now there's a tune. still wondering how photoglue is doing. where's the exibition, heading off to London i a couple of weeks, listening to David E. Edwards' - "i've been to Nebraska, it reminded me of Spain - 'Strawfoot', etcetera.

Date: Tue Feb 25 17:37
alex (SpitfireAO):

Your website sucks like *hit!!

Date: Tue Feb 25 15:29
Talullah ((cheer-up Howe)):

Ten songs for Joe: Memory Burns (Mick Hart), It Burns (Nocturne), Babylon's Burning (The Ruts), Burning Bridges (Glen Campbell) Senor Burns (The Simpsons!), Bugger Burns (Spider J. koerner), Burning Bush (16 Horsepower), London's Burning (The Clash), Disco of Burns (Teriyaki Asthma) and of course.. Burning Desire (??????). Late entry.. I'd Like to Teach the World to Singe.

Date: Tue Feb 25 15:28
james s (how e):

howe, penicillin may help with that... oh, and I cast a vote also for that South tour...

Date: Tue Feb 25 15:25
Lars D (oy!...OY!!!....OY, YE GERMAN SANDIES!!!):

Well, if any of you sandies south of the Danish border are in any way curious about why Howe selected the backing band for The Listener he did, then get a load of this: UNDER BYEN are doing shows in Germany in March. Here are the dates.....March 20: In-store at Rekord, Hamburg (15:00), March 20: Logo, Hamburg (21:30), March 21: Am Licht, Berlin (21:30), March 22: Star Club, Dresden (with Swedish band Logh) (21:00). This news has been provided to you by www.supertanker.tk --- he-he-he... ;-) Go check 'em out. They are absolutely stunning. They're my favourite Danish band and what they do is amazing. What do you say, Howe? Good music, right? See www.underbyen.com and the Supertanker site. Greets to ya'!/ Lars

Date: Tue Feb 25 15:20
Graham (a