2005  January to December

Date: Sat Dec 31 21:44
geoff (year of the dog):

it's the year of the dog right? or will be come sometime in january...makes me think there should be asong about it or something...maybe there is?...anyway, cheers. have a good one.

Date: Sat Dec 31 20:38
OWOM Store (we are working on it.):

2006 resolution.. New store, more products, etc. Happy New Year!

Date: Sat Dec 31 14:55
list '05 (today is winterwonderland):

AAAA. and all that jazz. some David Thomas. plus: smokefree living since 192 days.

Date: Sat Dec 31 13:34
hugh (new year's greetings):

wishing everyone peace and happiness for 2006.

Date: Sat Dec 31 11:04
well (who knows):

maybe you're right...

Date: Sat Dec 31 08:30
Jörg (re: "maybe"):

It says "available to United States only". I'm not from the US. Selling more copies to people interested in this CD would also raise more money for this cause. So what would be wrong with selling a few over the OWOM store, "maybe"?

Date: Sat Dec 31 07:37
maybe? (i think):

maybe you go back to ebay and get your copy there?!

Date: Sat Dec 31 06:18
Jörg (Maybe a couple of copies of this CD can be made available via the OWOM store? ):

http://cgi.ebay.com/Howe-Gelb-Freakwater-The-Ballad-of-the-Tucson-2-1_W0QQitemZ4814316115QQcategoryZ307QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Date: Fri Dec 30 13:30
bob (krattahunter@hotmail.com):

you are so gay so very very gay haha (LOSER) oh and u will never get a girl looking like that

Date: Fri Dec 30 12:09
james s (http://tinyurl.com/7t7ow):

Ran across this on another listserv. "This listing is for disk 1 of 100; disk two will go onsale at midnight tonight; disk 3 at midnight tomorrow night. The rest are all being sold in Tucson, until further notice. ;-) It's a terrific song for a great cause."

Date: Fri Dec 30 10:44
J (james s):

I'm sure you shall my fandango net buddy, I'm sure you shall...

Date: Fri Dec 30 09:27
james s (re: J):

Nice, J. I'm jealous. I hope I get a chance to hear what you do with the PS.

Date: Fri Dec 30 05:13
J (GOT):

myself a pedal steel. Must listen to Blacky when I get up for work in the late snowy afternoon. AAAA has seeped into my brain fully now and I love it. Listened to chore with a lady friend the other night, still totally awesome... Wish we had the Ottawa album today cos it's snowing outside... Lars, an under byen sweater with hood sounds lovely- Discovered via a Danish journo here and linking my love of Howe with that of Ian Browns' band and all music ever... Gis one? lol

Date: Thu Dec 29 08:40
Lars (doh!... forgot the link):

Here we go: www.larsdideriksen.com/underbyen

Date: Thu Dec 29 08:39
Lars (world + competition...win cds etc.):

Thanks for the link, j kay. Not much sound on that website? Odd. With stuff like that one would really like to hear before buying. I'll try and check it out. ### BY THE WAY...those few of you interested in the Danish musical playmates of Howe, Under Byen, there's a neat competition at the "fansite" right now. Just answer the question there the best you can and you can win cds, a bit of merchandise or a very cool vinyl package (which includes all vinyl releases currently available - among them the beautiful re-released double 10-inch vinyl of the debut "Kyst"). The competition closes on January 5th, so don't wait too long if you want a piece of the action. -- Happy new ears, folks! ;-) / Lars

Date: Tue Dec 27 13:32
elkhart (ojo):

once again the knomes and ferries come domn from the mountains drink all yer licker eat all the sweets smoke all the smokables and leave their weird little leather goods and wooden statutes and small animals. happi festivus! where did all my barenjager go?

Date: Tue Dec 27 12:52
j kay (gabba gabba hay):

lars, if you are looking for some wierd world music you might want to check out sublimefrequencies.com . i think that is spelt wright..... it is a label by the indie band the sun city girls outta seatle. personaly, i haven't gotten to the point of buying records on the net so i don't know how they are but the record covers sure do look x-otic.

Date: Tue Dec 27 12:35
Lars (that "world" stuff):

Trying once again. Hopefully I'll get to post it this time. Forgot half of it now. :-) Right, I of course listen to lots of non-US and non-European music. But all in all it's only a small part in comparison. Yeah, I know Fela. Think I saw bits of junior twice at the Roskilde Festival. But never really got fully into it. But I guess my real point is: I wonder what kind of really underground stuff there is out there in the many parts of the world. Not crappy "Thai pop", but the on-the-edge underground music which is bound to be there somewhere. -- Funny thing with those Ethiopique compilations. I never knew that place was a funky hot spot in the 50s or 60s. Who would have thought? Sometimes a little James Brown-sy in places....but then also NOT so. Wonderfully kick-ass odd. :-) -- By the way, just got OOIOO's "Gold And Green" (from Thrill Jockey) in the mail today. Lovely Japanese stuff. You can listen to the whole thing here: http://www.thrilljockey.com/catalog/?id=100216 -- Take care! / Lars

Date: Tue Dec 27 07:43
MACHO KING MUGU (MUGU@MUGU.COM):

I DEY HERE ABEG MAKE UNA KEEP OFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

Date: Mon Dec 26 17:18
thin (the end of de sombre):

mmm....hellish.it may be, I certainly agree sean T. i had a badnight last night..caught some b*****d trying to break into my pad in the early hours. caught the blighter though. red handed..think he may have been special needs...couldn't speak native tongue and was wearing odd bright scarlet tunic c/p white fur trim coupled with white goatee and white side boards, his wellies also creaked a bit(very small size also..about 4). strange that he seemed to have a couple of cds that i been after for a while..anyways catch him I did, banged up under lock and key until I have had time to think what to do with him..might not let him go..anyways guess I'll give the records he left a whirl.shucks...maybe even special odd thieves like rainer and gelb also. strange planet we hang on.eh..hope the same don't happen this time next year.

Date: Mon Dec 26 16:56
Leo (Last of the Independents):

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-nycd26dec26,0,580927.story?coll=la-home-nation I'm going to miss these guys

Date: Mon Dec 26 08:24
Jörg (one more best-of-2005-list, this time songs only:):

HG "Bottom Of the Barrel" # Two Gallants "Las Cruces Jail" # CatPower "The Greatest" # Clem Snide "The Sound Of German Hip Hop" # CatPower & M.Ward "Willie Deadwilder" # Superwolf "I Gave You" # Eels "Trouble With Dreams" # Bright Eyes "Land Locked Blues" # Tocotronic "Aber hier leben, nein danke" # M.Ward "Four Hours in Washington" # Devendra Banhart "Little Boys" # Bonustrack: Giant Sand "Chromosome" ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... Best wishes for 2006 to all you folks!

Date: Mon Dec 26 05:48
SeanT (agghhh.):

Thankfully it's finished . Why is Xmas now just hellish....

Date: Mon Dec 26 01:49
howe (home):

this comment spage clock sez it is already december 26...but i can see on my clock here in tucson we still have 10 more minutes of december 25th left.... so HAPPY CHRISTMAS please ....and may all your hoo ha be hippity ones.....yip, howe

Date: Mon Dec 26 00:16
john (in texas):

some fine choices for high musical moments in 2006. A few more to consider... Mike Nicolai's "god fatigue in the post atom age" (this may be available only through his website); Richmond Fontaine's "The Fitzgerald"; Okkervil River's "Black Sheep Boy"; and Smog's "A River Ain't Too Much to Love." I had really anticipated the new Silver Jews record, and would have expected to be plugging it here, but alas, I just can't seem to hang with this one.

Date: Sun Dec 25 23:28
phil (revised best of 05):

Revised as of purchases last week: Curt Kirkwood: snow; Gary Duncan & Quicksilver: Strange Trim (available internet only); Grateful Dead, Fillmore West, 1969;AAAA; Al Kooper, Black Coffee.

Date: Sun Dec 25 15:20
james s (come on, Lars):

recompose, i know you had some good and appropriate response down. Yes, Ho.

Date: Sun Dec 25 13:56
john (in texas):

happy holidays to all you sandies

Date: Sun Dec 25 12:13
Lars (Oh, man...):

"no mark-up language allowed". Fine. But it doesn't remember what I wrote and it's a lot. Couldn't go back and change it. Dammit! Know Fela, yes. And...aw, can't write it all again. Grrr! ( Lars

Date: Sun Dec 25 11:22
M.C. (Ho?):

Merry Cringle and a toppermost 2006 for all.

Date: Sun Dec 25 02:08
Blaine (Kid Bro):

Lars - you can do no wrong checking into Fela, the late Nigerian Afrobeat superman. Heaviosity grooves, intersting lyics and stories, jams that make the Dead sound like kids in a sand box. That's my plug.

Date: Sat Dec 24 23:58
but everyone likes a merry holiday (shammy):

may yer stockings be full of goodness...

Date: Sat Dec 24 15:28
No one likes being lectured by a kid brother... ("Sometimes I wonder how much good music I'm missing out on from everywhere else in the world - when I'm being fed mostly US and European tones."):

You got no one to blame but yourself, Lars. Get after it and do some homework, for the world abounds with tons of musical wonderment--and it isn't that hard to find, actually.

Date: Sat Dec 24 11:45
Lars (Merzbow etc.):

...saw Merzbow play with Mike Patton AND Sonic Youth at the Roskilde Festival this summer. What a treat. :-) All in all three (actually four) Patton shows and two Sonic Youth...in difference disguises and with various guess (also Mats Gustafsson). I must admit maybe Merzbow's kind of noise is a bit too much for me. Great to see live, though. Like the guy from Aarhus called Ultimate Combat Noise (yeah, a fitting name). My favourite is still Wäldchengarten, though. They're both from Noisejihad. They've also got a weblabel where they release the liveshows they put on. Plenty of interesting stuff. Check it out at www.noisejihad.dk . Wäldchengarten's "Electrical Bonding" is more ambient/illbient and my favourites are "...In Preparation of Machines to Fall" and "Beautyboxer". Good stuff. Go to www.waldchengarten.dk for more on them, if you're curious. :-) / Lars

Date: Sat Dec 24 09:12
Noise (Lars and mothersagainstnoise):

Thanks for the link, Lars. Haven't listened to Merzbow for a year or so. Great idea to put on them old records again...... Merry X-mas!!!!!!!!

Date: Sat Dec 24 08:51
J (Happy xmas):

You lot

Date: Sat Dec 24 08:13
Lars (and eh...):

There really shouldn't be a question mark after "The Americans I am in contact with are beautiful, sensible people?". A typo. :-) / L

Date: Sat Dec 24 08:13
Lars (Crazy Americans):

Of course it doesn't always shine through in writing. But I figured the "crazy Americans" generalization was so obvious over the top and "old-fashioned" that it would slide through with a chuckle. :-) Hell, I'm from "the old world" - or what was it Rumsfeld said? The Americans I am in contact with are beautiful, sensible people? But who are all those others jesus freaks and gun nuts?! So the sensible are "the silent majority". Still got that cuckoo in office, though. Every time Bushie and his likes open their mouths I feel like am being lecture by a young kid brother who of course knows best....uhm, right, folks. ;-) What scares me more is how he so often uses the phrase "the enemy". Did you notice that? He sounds like he's a general in a pre-century world war or sumthin'. Good to hear about the stand-off with the Patriot Act and "intelligent design", guys. Nice with some good news from across the pond - besides the good music. ;-) Sometimes I wonder how much good music I'm missing out on from everywhere else in the world - when I'm being fed mostly US and European tones. Right....chit-chatting now, he-he. Have a nice evening, folks! We Danes open our presents in the evening after eating and dancing around the christmas tree. Tomorrow we just eat. And eat. Waaaay too much! :-) / Lars

Date: Sat Dec 24 07:29
HRH Gluesiffer the 3rd (Christamas message to my people):

Starnge winds hands and chins, cheeks a glow whisky a go toilet pass hummor lines up to meet the king, jolly wobblys and festive filth the premirer of many a grown mans ilk. in short happy new year, espaecaily to mr lee for being a better humman than me and upsetting far more christians. Ho Ho Ho i am off to the absinthine..

Date: Fri Dec 23 21:03
Donald G. Ackerman (DonAck@msn.com):

I've been a huge fan for around 15 years. I would love it if you guys would come to Michigan.(Detroit, Lansing, Grand Rapids, etc.). Hope to see you soon. Don Ackerman.

Date: Fri Dec 23 20:53
another (crazy american):

Yes, Lars, indeed... crazy americans. I can begin to explain how weird it is to be from and live in a country that can produce this shit, and much worse, and at the same time, be home to Howe, Johnny Cash, Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Jack Kerouac, Lightnin' Hopkins, Henry Miller, Muddy Waters, Hank Williams, Zappa, Elvis, MLK, Dewey, music and thought so loved by you and me... weird crazy america... god I love it and fear it and hate it and cherish it...

Date: Fri Dec 23 13:59
Blaine (Car trouble):

James S - can you shoot me yr UT address? Can't locate it here. ********** Merry Sand-Mess to all you folk around the universe and beyond, Blaine.

Date: Fri Dec 23 11:36
Frank C (mothersagainstnoise):

Doesn´t matter if the mothers of prevention save the world from the US, Germany, Denmark or Mars. Funny link, Lars! "If your child only has pop records and a Radiohead record, it might not be too late to save them.... please remove Radiohead CDs from their music collection." Too sad that Giant Sand didn´t make it on the list! :lol:

Date: Fri Dec 23 10:10
Jesus (Your Lord & Savior):

You're preaching to the choir, Lars; although perhaps instead of the sweeping "Crazy Americans" generalization, how about narrowing your scope more accurately to "those crazy right-wing fanatics"? And the folks you're really ranting against represent a very small, albeit vocal, faction of this country. On the upside of the argument, a judge in PA recently ruled that teaching "Intelligent Design" in public schools was a violation of church and state (about f*&king time!), and did so with language that was downright uplifting in its condemnation of the not-so-veiled intentions of the Intelligent Design champions. So the pendulum swings, as it should.

Date: Fri Dec 23 08:42
Lars (...adding...):

Now, what's wrong with rebellion?!

Date: Fri Dec 23 08:41
Lars (If you're a bad parent, you can always blame music, of course...):

Crazy Americans....at it again. New enemy, still music, though. www.mothersagainstnoise.org -- my god, where do they come up with this? Weird how it can be both sadly amusing and incredibly annoying (well, I get this feeling with most kinds of ridiculous ignorance). "If you thought Rap, Punk, Heavy Metal or any other past degenerate "music" trend was a threat...WAKE UP!!".... Some soccer moms just have too much sparetime on their hands, haven't they? Well, I did think a few years back that noise would be the new punk. But maybe it was too obscure and avantgarde to really catch on. But maybe not. :-) MERRY X! / Lars

Date: Thu Dec 22 15:23
tingo (good albums2005):

Nice talking to me(spin doctors) Jacksonville city nights (Ryan Adams) The alternative to love(Brendan Benson) AAAA(AAAA) Geromino(Shannon Mcnally)

Date: Thu Dec 22 12:04
james s (edit):

that first sentence should read, Much I have NOT heard, or even heard of. Thank you for your patience.

Date: Thu Dec 22 12:03
james s (thanx all for your "best ofs"):

Much I have heard, or even heard of. Nice Friencs of Dean Martinez article in new No Depression... including a bit of the Tuscon history, though not much. I loved Elm's playing on BBQ, and the way some of the early FoDM tunes were woven into the fabric on that record. Here's a trivia question: I've heard or read that Friends of Dean Martinez started as a wedding band, that it was basically Giant Sand, and that they actually played at weddings. Is this some strange urban myth that I heard or dreamed up?

Date: Thu Dec 22 11:56
james s (re: M.C. "always with you"):

Thanks for that link, M.C... and just in time for Christmas. Diane Robert's told a nice little story (as related to the whole christmas under assault rant going on these days to divert attention away from...) Funny, and worth a listen: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5060356

Date: Thu Dec 22 11:39
Frank C (2005 favorites):

In no particular order: AAAA; Depeche Mode - Playing The Angel; Nine Inch Nails - With Teeth; Madonna - Confessions On A Dancefloor; Josh Rouse - Nashville; Ryan Adams - Cold Roses; LCD Soundsystem - LCD Soundsystem; Wilco - Kicking Television

Date: Wed Dec 21 22:08
phil ((2005)):

in no particular order: John Prine, Fair & Square; AAA; Stones, Bigger Bang; McCartney, Chaos; Spirit, Son of America; Al Kooper, Black Coffee; Steve Kimock Band, Eudumonic

Date: Wed Dec 21 04:38
Tom (scrolling for M.C. (Hazlewood)):

Hey M.C. - you can mail me at: surfingtom(at)web.de would be nice to hear from you :) Thanks

Date: Tue Dec 20 17:06
seanT (I):

I'm at home , and I have have pizza...

Date: Tue Dec 20 17:05
SeanT (Oi , Howe):

Howe , what's your 2005 listings ?

Date: Tue Dec 20 16:25
M.C. (About time we put the Christ back in Christmas):

I didn't know Jesus was the guy from 38 Special: http://members.aol.com/JesusImages/

Date: Tue Dec 20 10:48
Graham (year's best):

Pyramid "The First American," My Morning Jacket "Z," J Mascis "J + Friends Sing + Chant for AMMA," Califone "Everybody's Mother, Vol. 1," Hummingbiird (self-titled), Arizona Amp and Alternator "AAAA," Beck "Guero," South San Gabriel "Carlton Chronicles," Friends of Dean Martinez "Lost Horizon," Robert Plant "Mighty Rearranger." I was also mighty pleased with the John Martyn remasters, "Sunday's Child" in particular.

Date: Tue Dec 20 09:52
matadordesevilla (matadordesevilla@yahoo.com):

Moanin by Mr Airplane Man

Date: Tue Dec 20 06:09
M.C. (Hazlewood):

Tom, hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm... what be your email?

Date: Tue Dec 20 04:21
Tom (That Hazlewood bootleg):

Any hints where I can get a copy of " No Boots: The Lee Hazlewood Collection (Lee Hazlewood) 5-CD bootleg anthology" ? Any information about the set?

Date: Tue Dec 20 00:47
geoff (j-yep):

i am--i just wrapped up giving finals to my class here at UT...but am emerging from the busy-ness now. well sort of. i am animated a fairly labor intensive video now, but i am emerging from the other busy-ness.

Date: Mon Dec 19 23:48
Wondering (Question):

Just curious, but am I the only here who is sick to death of ectoplasm?

Date: Mon Dec 19 18:04
kf ((most gLISTened in 2005)):

frog eyes(the golden river)buck 65 (secret house again)count bass d (dwight spitz) AAAA (AAAA) the delfonics (best of) handsome family (singing bones) joy division (still) the kinks (muswell hillbillies) lou reed (ecstacy) man man (the man in a blue turban with a face) mildred bailey (the rocking chair lady)the natural history (beat beat heartbeat) Okay (high road) archie shepp (fire music) broadcast (ha ha sound) califone (roomsound) the byrds (sweethearts of the rodeo) blues goblins (blues goblins)

Date: Mon Dec 19 17:50
Lars (the best...):

Yeah, Arizona Amp is definitely among the best this year. So are: *** Figurines - Skeleton *** Jana Hunter & Devendra Banhart 12-inch split (new album out by Jana - check it out) *** Lucky Dragons - A Sewing Circle *** Depeche Mode - Playing The Angel *** Deerhoof - Green Cosmos EP *** Deerhoof - Runners Four *** Spleen United - Godspeed Into The Mainstream *** Mogwai - Government Commissions (yes, a lovely selection of great Peel sessions) *** Singvogel & Peter Laugesen - Apparatets Skygge *** Various Artists - Bro Zone *** Probably forgot some. Times moves fast...was gonna pick some, but then saw they were from 2004, my goodness. And I've bought older stuff too. Actually just got the 30th Anniversary edition of Patti Smith's "Horses" with the live cd. Very nice. Funny....it's my first Patti-cd. The 30th anniversary...well. He-he. Bought lots of Talking Heads this year too. Yummy. *** MERRY X-MAS, FOLKS!!! / Lars

Date: Mon Dec 19 16:52
J (not only but also):

Geoff at swerve are you still out there? Dangfandango awaiting. Little j are you looking? Little B needs you x

Date: Mon Dec 19 16:35
J (List):

AAAA, all 3 Ryan Adams, Wide awake it's morning (Unbelieveable arrangements for a young 'un) Justin Rutledge 'No never alone', I don't know about this year, all the late Cash trilogy... Getting my prized sho bud pedal steel after xmas, travel never felt so good...

Date: Mon Dec 19 12:19
glue (Record of the year):

Again no Noose for luke - get with the proggrame children I rock. like some smoothed relatives chin (post waxing)

Date: Mon Dec 19 12:18
glue (interview/review New Harry Potter IGOR KARKAROFF ):

Cult legder Howe Gelb of such groups as The band of Bandy Bendy and Giant Sinus has made his holly wood debut in the Warner Bros. film Harry Potter and the goblet of fire.nice to see howes acting coming along in the new potter flick - as the leader of the northen college the once evil blah blah see's howe take on a childrens book. The normaly noctural howe was lightened to learn that his unique ability to balance caused some concern. Many others is the cast were under his spell as he sang away the long filiming breaks.

Date: Mon Dec 19 11:56
Fritz (my best):

Into The Soap - Taco Varda, The Mad Passion Of Leggy Badden - Colin Unbrunst, The Faint Taint - The Flippin' Dolphins, The Best Of The Coonsters - The Coonsters, 23 Songs & 1 Mistake - Magerndon, Hip Flips & Turnstiles - DJ Kunt, Finally Alice - The Verps, Large Tales & Small Passions - Just Jenny, 8844221...RUN! - Rabbit Run & The Nigerian Backstamps, I'm Disappointed In You - Radar Khadr.

Date: Mon Dec 19 07:25
Lars (soloistic acoustically):

Was listening to "Man On A String" yet again the other day. And then the little hotel bathroom recorded "diddy" from that Acuarela compilation. And thought: wow, how nice it would be with a collection of stripped down solo recordings. I guess those mostly show up on the "officia bootlegs" these days or...? But yeah, an album with just voice and then either guitar or piano. So one can also get a sense of space/air in the recordings and really hear the basic elements of the songs. ....Maybe I'm thinking this, because that's how I first started listening to Howe? At the solo gigs at Café Mozart. Am I the only one longing for a bit of uhm, "Hisser"-like (?!) audible ourpourings? Oh well... :-) --- X-massy greets to ya', one 'n' all! / Lars

Date: Mon Dec 19 03:58
M.C. (Best Of 2005):

Top 10 in no specific order: Arizona Amp & Alt. (AA&A); Blinking Lights (Eels); Devils & Dust (Springsteen); The Sunlandic Twins (Of Montreal); I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning (Bright Eyes); One Man's Treasure (Mick Harvey); Reiko Ike Sings (Reiko Ike)REISSUE; No Boots: The Lee Hazlewood Collection (Lee Hazlewood) 5-CD bootleg anthology stretching from 1956 to 2003, amazing; Thunder Lightning Strike (The Go Team); Broken Flowers (soundtrack). An honorable mention goes to Paul McCartney's Chaos & Creation In The Backyard, as it offers half an album's worth of some incredible songs and production by someone I thought would never surprise or amaze me again (the other half of the album, well...so-so on the songs)--had the so-so material been replaced with the three excellent non-album tracks he's got floating around--"I Want You To Fly," "Growing Up Falling Down," "Summer Of '59"--then Chaos would've been quite a dark, melodic piece of work.

Date: Mon Dec 19 02:26
SeanT (eoyl):

Is it time for the end of year lists yet ? here's mine : Greg Dulli - Amber Headlights Portastatic - Bright Ideas Steve Wynn - Tick Tick Tick Billy Childish - Heaven's Journey John Doe - Forever Hasn't Happened Yet Son Volt - Okemah And The Melody Of Riot The Knitters - The Modern Sounds Of The Knitters Guided By Voices - American Superdream Wow ( Suitcase 2 ) Bob Dylan - No Direction Home Bruce Springsteen - Devils And Dust Kathleen Edwards - Back To Me Bruce Springsteen - Born To Run - reissue Marah - If You Didn't Laugh , You'd Cry Magnolia Electric Co - Trials and Errors / What Comes After The Blues The Fall - Box-set The Arcade Fire - Funeral And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of The Dead - Worlds Apart The Mendoza Line - Full Of Light And Full Of Fire ? - Arizona Amp And Amplifier X - Live In Los Angeles William Elliot Whitmore - Ashes To Dust Peter Bruntnell - Ghost In A Spitfire The Coral - The Invisible Invasion Wire - The Scottish Play Neutral Milk Hotel - In The Aeroplane Over The Sea - reissue. Audioslave - Out Of Exile Cat Power - The Greatest Arctic Monkeys - I Bet That You Look Good On The Dancefloor - 7" Hockey Night - For Guys' Eyes Only - 7"

Date: Mon Dec 19 00:56
Francis Of The Might Big Head & Hands Fit For The Grand Noggin' Of Photon Cuzards...& Frumpets too (Neil good, Daniel Johnston good, Giant Sand good, New Orleans not so good these days):

How's everyone doing out there? The board isn't as lively as it once was.

Date: Sun Dec 18 19:24
That (One):

Iron&Wine/Calexico from Portland just posted on the Dime.

Date: Sun Dec 18 14:29
conch (Neil on SNL):

Nah nah, John, fear not. I think Neil is just doing what Neil wants to do...which isn't always what others want from him but it ain't Vegas by any stretch. Reach your ears back an album or two and you'll find the Neil you're looking for...or just wait until the next album, or the next, and he'll be right there. I didn't know he sang a song about Elvis Costello. Wow. :)

Date: Sun Dec 18 10:25
john (in texas):

Did any of you in the U.S. see Neil Young on SNL last night? I was shocked at how lame it was... esp. the 2nd song about Elvis... has the Neiler become a cheesy vegas act for christ's sake? Say it ain't so.

Date: Sat Dec 17 22:38
M.C. (documentaria musiciananos nah eh uh):

Just wanted to give a heads up to those who might be interested. Recently had an opportunity to check out the documentary THE DEVIL & DANIEL JOHNSTON and really thought it was great. Amazingly well done, and heartbreaking, fascinating, funny, and, as well, oddly uplifting (not in the Steel Magnolia-sense of things, k?). With Jim White's SEARCHING FOR THE WRONG-EYED JESUS and a smattering of other really above-par recent non-fiction films about bands and musicians, I'd rank the DEVIL & DANIEL way up there at the top of the list (some clips can be viewed here at www.thedevilanddanieljohnston.com). Along those lines, does anyone here know when HIGH & DRY will see the light of day? Looking forward to that one as well.

Date: Sat Dec 17 19:54
Stephen M.H. Braitman (braitman@mindspring.com):

A segment of "Drunken Bees" has been included in the latest issue of PASTE magazine's free DVD. It's with the Dec/Jan issue (#19) - Fiona Apple on the cover.

Date: Sat Dec 17 17:58
tingo (the deep woods):

Kristin Hershsh's new band 50foot Wave is giving away their new ep for free at throwingmusic.com

Date: Sat Dec 17 14:07
J (Voting):

Blacky too...

Date: Fri Dec 16 20:45
john (in texas):

yes indeed indubitably some Blacky Ranchette

Date: Fri Dec 16 20:01
M.C. (Archivist):

You know, the SXSW show from 1997 is a good one, with all the seeds of what would then mutate into Friends of Dean M. and Calexico firmly planted into the mix. That said, it'd also be great to hear some or any of the full-throttle Blacky Ranchette rumblings from the last century.

Date: Fri Dec 16 18:41
john ((in texas)):

Jim, I'd vote for one of the shows Howe discusses in the tour diary (if you have any)... it would be cool to match up Howe's own impressions of the show with a recording... not to mention the fun that could be had in creating artwork, using Howe's comments. But that being said, any Howe/GS shows are welcome!

Date: Fri Dec 16 17:29
Archivist (SXSW):

Yes I have that one in the archives (1997 I believe) but is is unfortunately an off air copy to cassette with BAD reception. Anyone have a better copy of this?

Date: Fri Dec 16 17:04
Blaine (Archivist):

How about the SXSW shows? Wasn't there a radio b'cast during one?

Date: Fri Dec 16 16:34
james s (vineland):

Surely, somewhere, there is a band calling themselves The Thanatoids.

Date: Fri Dec 16 16:33
Archivist (No problem! More coming!):

Glad to be of service. The archive is vast and it is cool that Howe lets me share some stuff out of it. Working on some rare tracks to post on the Thrill Jockey site and hopefully we will get another full length show posted on archive.org. Any requests for time/date periods?? Jim

Date: Fri Dec 16 01:50
Lars (some reading matter...):

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051215/ap_en_mu/music_calexico_iron_and_wine

Date: Fri Dec 16 01:40
geoff (j thanks):

geoff(at)swervepictures.com except use the handy at symbol instead of my attempt at not attracting autospams. i really look forward to hearing what everyone has done with the songs. so thanks!

Date: Thu Dec 15 23:42
john (in texas):

been reading the tour journal... even printed it out so's it be portable... last night in hotel room reading before sleep's pull... bleeding into hanging with howe in dreams... now not sure what I read and what I dreamed. Either way, I'm surely diggin this man... as I suppose you are, or you wouldn't likely be reading this. see you in my dreams...

Date: Thu Dec 15 23:27
Erik Johnson (Erik in Portland):

http://www.dougfirlounge.com/calendar.html ................ Sure is great to see Giant Sand playing in Portland soon. I am really looking forward to seeing Howe and the band once again. Thanks for coming back!!! -Erik

Date: Thu Dec 15 21:45
Bennybob (GS_n00b@newbie.co.th):

Just raising my hand as a content (as in happy) lurker and Howe/GS recent convert (with all the zeal that accompanies a new discovery). This forum is a good gang, and forum + Howe's tour diary = part of this nutritious breakfast. Special thanks to Jim Blackwood for posting all the great shows. The Muhle Hunziken (10-15-04) is my current favorite. Be talking to y'allz.

Date: Thu Dec 15 10:44
J (geoff):

Put up an email address and i'll sort you out a copy...

Date: Thu Dec 15 09:23
conch (alan):

Yep yep, tis true.

Date: Thu Dec 15 08:23
Alan (conch):

GS/Howe seeks folks out, it strikes me that regulars here (after having been sought out) decide on their own whether or not to stay, lurk, periodically peruse, or contribute variably much...

Date: Thu Dec 15 03:32
geoff (that cover cd):

speaking of the cover cd...it would be fun to hear for those of us that have been around here a while and just never quite gettin' reached by our tree limbs...but before i ask someone to send me a copy...which i will do later in this post...i'll appologize, in the past my tree forgot me and i have relied on the kindness of someone overseas to send me a copy...most of the time i have remembered to send something fun in return. a couple times i have unfortunately forgotten i fear...so would someone be willing to send me a copy of the covers cd? and if you are one of those i owe a cd to...let me know and i will make good. okay?

Date: Thu Dec 15 02:55
Er (uh):

hahaha. What? Oh.

Date: Wed Dec 14 20:58
conch (newbie):

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm...not sure if this make sense. But I'm somewhat of the opinion that Giant Sand, etc., seeks people out rather than the other way around...not quite like a pimple or, in my case, gray hair...but more like something wonderfully unexpected that arrives on the horizon and gets glimpsed from a distance on a scenic route back road, right at dusk, just as the car rounds a bend. Or a pimple, I don't know.

Date: Wed Dec 14 18:59
PaulK (Howesongs):

not related in any way but thought this was of some interest. Paul http://www.howesong.co.uk/

Date: Wed Dec 14 17:46
Alan (Newbie):

We are the (s)elect, OK self-(s)elected, (bee-)keepers of the flame... hey, did other folks like Ulee's Gold as much as I did... really nice Peter Fonda vehicle... oh, yeah, and speaking of bee keepers, I read Mitch Cullin's book A Slight Trick of the Mind and it was much better than Caleb Carr's The Italian Secretary (which wasn't bad, just no where near as human). Back to Newbie, in the end, its not us, it's Howe and the long and winding road that is Giant Sand, that/who's the key. Some of us have met each other, most haven't, some (_not_ including me) recorded songs for a cover/tribute CD that you can have one of us send you, if you ask nicely, as part of the Sandman Series you can discover about on the front page of the site, some have been at it a decade, some have been listening for a quarter century, Lars... well, he's special, Glue is (perhaps) unstuck, in the end we're all smitten. Welcome. (Oh, yeah, read Howe's Tour Diary, it'll explain everything and nothing.)

Date: Wed Dec 14 17:35
finn (cat stevens...):

is currently being uploaded... next is colin hay, dad is a porter at the airport and his wife gave him this cd! that is cool... and i have subsequently found out he is of 'men at work' fame which we all liked as kids... hmmm also appears on that garden state movie soundtrack that has the lovely miss portman in... err third btl of vino, cheerio

Date: Wed Dec 14 15:34
peasoup (backed by shake my hand blues):

on behalf of the family i'd like to welcome new folks to the circus

Date: Wed Dec 14 14:22
SeanT (NEWBIE):

We are not sure .

Date: Wed Dec 14 12:44
J (Blaine):

Yes mate. Thanks a lot, some v interesting stuff. Gotta dash...

Date: Wed Dec 14 11:49
Blaine (nearing snowbound):

It is the keys to the gate. You just let yrself in and fall. Track down a compilation called The Inner Flame. Jason UK, did the cds arrive?

Date: Wed Dec 14 10:54
Newbie (Newbie):

Who on earth are you people? And why haven't I heard this amazing music until just recently? What is a Giant Sand anyway? Does it/they live under rocks, with a loyal band of crabs keeping it guard? And is this where the crabs reside? I'm feeling crabby myself, and I'm smitten.

Date: Tue Dec 13 18:28
finn (auster):

i have both of those books but haven't read them yet! any way loading up the new ipod w' music is addictive... loads of sandy stuff not least the arizona amp and alternator, like the new loretta inparticular...

Date: Tue Dec 13 12:34
thin (an odd ode toward no particular abode):

Really like the photo perched in the journal pages, nice laurel and hardy panache feel to it, howeaustere & young arcade fire drummer boy, both looking good and wearing that studio palour of joy and wearydome and lack of real sunglare. I been listenin to that latest arcade fire record and it struck that it has a very heavy slant toward vocal harmony and the drums sits in very good and square, then me thunk that I can really imagine that sorta drum style working real well with that gospel record, sorta interseting to muse-on the possibles and interestabilities in this time of cold lovely long hours(my fingies ache on the keyboard, that cold buskin in late autumn chill feel). I been real getting in too the alternator record, think it suit cold kitchen darkness with low light and a big pan hovering toward the boil and cold beers. I keep hearing the word ‘munster’ and it funni how a word/place can change, ive never even been but now when I hear that word I no longer hear ‘munster’..i just grin a one lopsided grin and timages of dark streets and howe posters conjure up. since the days be charcoaled these days I been finding the time to appreciate a couple o works by mr paul auster and in a certain way they have a lovely sand feel to them-straight yet twisty, simple yet subtle and generous in weaviness. I recommend ,new york trilogy’ not the middle story though and ‘leviathan, pushes greatly. long time me not post here..accustoming to new job and wearydom in head and eyes. good rubs to all your wise and curious bellies.

Date: Tue Dec 13 12:04
richard genre (Quiff comb slop rock):

with a hint of cheese. Music to catch fishermen with? one more obtuse is to me as acute is a parrot? oh weelll as its christams disenchantment focus pulling shift soaking line modules of saint gregories pupils parlour.

Date: Tue Dec 13 11:11
conch (genre):

I just call it Fred

Date: Tue Dec 13 06:53
Jörg (genre):

It used to be paisleycowpunkpostpunkdesertrock but now is a genre itself.

Date: Tue Dec 13 04:39
SeanT (GENRE):

I'd say Giant Sand was Deep Death Speed Metal Punk. Howe solo is more easy listening in the Tony Bennett stylie ..

Date: Mon Dec 12 22:42
james s (genre):

It's pure boy band. Giant Sand is my very favorite boy band. I especially like the dance moves.

Date: Mon Dec 12 16:27
Adam (agarlan78@yahoo.com):

Giant Sand is amazing. How do people describe this genre? Kinda like The Gulf (www.thegulfmusic.com from Boston)

Date: Mon Dec 12 15:25
H.longsail (good):

health well gig good on friday. cds made for you all. i rock happy days

Date: Mon Dec 12 14:02
SeanT (hmmm..):

Yeah , don't like it when there are no posts . Is everyone OK ?

Date: Mon Dec 12 12:45
Alan (odd):

silence

Date: Sat Dec 10 11:44
james s (Dec, '64):

I was still cozy & warm within the womb as those toots where recorded, nearly two months away from the trauma of being pushed out into the world... it's good that such records were there waiting for me, even though it would be awhile before I dicovered them. I'd have to grow through Burl Ives first... and then my sisters Grassroots and Steppenwolf records, and then through my brother-in-laws Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath records, and then through...

Date: Sat Dec 10 09:33
Frank (S.):

It was a very good year.

Date: Sat Dec 10 09:25
tommy gailer (1964):

Indeed, a good year.

Date: Fri Dec 9 13:41
james s (happy birthday):

A Love Supreme... according to allmusic.com,it was recorded by Coltrane on Dec. 9, 1964. terrific record.

Date: Fri Dec 9 02:55
grog.........ez (hear hear):

we in the future also enjoying journal

Date: Thu Dec 8 10:10
Alan (James S.'s anti-editor/anti-coach, nah!):

Here here. I, too, have been enjoying the diary tremendously. (Greg Haldane, did you land safely where you were headed?)

Date: Thu Dec 8 07:57
glue (H.Longsail) (Noose For luke):

the worlds 4th best glitter band tribute (Always - garry) play on friday at the buttermarket in shrewsbury. they will be covering a giant sand song almost (almost the politicains wife) in the barber shop style with thumb piano backing.Well worth the petrol. P.S thanks to all who have helped me through the truma of strret violence. rock on christain solder.

Date: Thu Dec 8 00:20
james s (tour diary):

really enjoying the diary... and the photos. "maybe I should hire an editor to sit on stage with me. A coach. Someone to stop me on occasion. someone to calculate the odds of demise after such sonic gamble." Nah.

Date: Wed Dec 7 13:47
Lars (Grazie...):

...Mr. Be. :-) Will check those things out. And also nice to know that the Under Byen tracks are in good hands. Although only a handful of the albums tracks. Some of the other are mixed by other people - one of whome I must admit first made me a little nervous - but that's mainly from the things he has produced - not just mixed. -- Anyway, thanks! / Lars

Date: Wed Dec 7 10:05
be bop (about kevin salem):

lars: regarding you wondering about the albums of kevin salem: well. he's almost a genius recoding and mixing other artists, but some of his own things are truly great, too: "Ecstatic" is the name of his best album. Get that one, as it is an understated masterpiece.

Date: Tue Dec 6 21:40
austin (yes!):

yES, hOWE, please come to austin

Date: Tue Dec 6 18:05
big weekend... (12/30-31/05):

12-30-05 Calexico w/ Mariachi Luz De Luna & Nick Luca @ The Temple of Music and Art ---and--- 12-31-05 Giant Sand w/ Marie Frank @ Hotel Congress (outside) - Happy New Year!!

Date: Tue Dec 6 12:35
Dave Woody (dwoody@mail.utexas.edu):

Just wanted to thank Howe for his music. Any chance that Austin could be put on the map for an upcoming show? There's lot's of good folks that would love to see him. Also, I discovered that putting "Lull" on one stereo, and John Zorn's Filmworks 10: "In the Mirror of Maya Deren" on another at roughly the same time lends itself to an amazing experience.

Date: Tue Dec 6 11:33
BIG JULIE (-=Blatant Junction=-):

OFFICIAL HOOPLA: GIANT SAND [WITH ENTIRE DANISH LINE-UP] WILL PLAY NEW YEAR'S EVE AT HOTEL CONGRESS...OUTSIDE....WITH SNOW MACHINE....SPECIAL GUEST MARIE FRANK OPENING AND THE ENTIRE BAND BACKING. TICKETS ARE $15 AT THE DOOR. $12 IN ADVANCE. AND $10 SOMEWHERE HERE FOR THE WEB-SITE FOLKS ... SOMETIME SOON.

Date: Mon Dec 5 00:12
Blaine (blaine117622@yahoo.com):

FYI James, I get a "page can not be found" mssg when I try to submit the info.

Date: Sun Dec 4 19:50
tg (hitman):

Question...got a kick out of hearing the introduction to 'Mope-A-Long' from the archive.org Muhle Hunziken show...what was the decision from the audience? Include the song in the game or leave it out? To quote you Mr. Gelb..."it's a crazy mixed up cosmos you gotta make up yer mind sometimes"...it's true.

Date: Sat Dec 3 13:48
James S (Re: Blaine):

email me at james(at)jamesscarbrough.com so I can have your email address... I had a disk to crash and I lost my old address bk.

Date: Sat Dec 3 13:09
Blaine (?):

James S - can you email yr current address? Thanks, Blaine

Date: Sat Dec 3 13:07
Glue (Physical / Vicitm):

long night not too drunk, but easy going, debating the pros and shouting the cons of corperal punisment. deep in conversation / outside cold dark talking to northen student with pour man hair moustace attempt / suddenly gang of kids come along as we depart start picking on student i ask them to leave it and offer a cancer stick as a polite hint / gesture. walking away consulting murder rate in 1691 compaered to now looking forward to bed suddenly man in a hat attacks me / (this is after earlier saying how i had never been hit or in a fight) I just stand their a bit confused another thump to the limp then comparderes including a teacher trucker, and marine grap man suddenly like ants or even worse "Fame"tm the streets are full of kids chasing after us. i have no natural urge or ability to strike out and am obvisoloy a stiting duck everyone else in bigger tougher and looking meaner i look like paddington bear crossed with 60's campus protest singer. so big skirmish friend ings police talk of screwdriver they all trying to get at me (some of you may see their logic but i had offered no words) we are getting further and further towards town but the kids are gaining i am offcentered to say the least all that yeast. so i am now concused but strangly fine wifes arrive in the batmobile confused and concerened. their is no moral here just to say that if you wanted to hit me dont expect a fight, and as i had no physical part, exept being the landing pad of 2 strikes, was i in a fight? answers on a fist sandwich xxxxx to cheer myself up i spent the day playing experimental music with old men good for the soul. lots of noises and shouting toothbrush jesus xxx

Date: Sat Dec 3 06:43
Lars (Curious - Salem):

Just learned that Kevin Salem will be mixing part of the new Under Byen album. Didn't know the guy, although I felt I had heard the name somewhere before. Well, I found out he produced the New York-session tracks from one of my all-time favourites "Chore Of Enchantment". Yay! :-D Whichever those tracks are...? (Oh, well, they're all great, so...). Anyway, was a bit curious about the guy's own music and maybe other productions. Anyone care to enlighten me? Yes, Allmusic.com has some info...but that do YOU think? :-) Have a great weekend, sandies! / Lars

Date: Fri Dec 2 17:24
doug roberts (whitley):

living with the law was one of those "never heard before" experiences -- it's no wonder that he continued to revisit that source, even to the "cafe de nord" session. RAILROAD SUNSET from 1991 encapsulated the schism he endured between the folk/rock and the punk/rock which he endeavoured to straddle. Newcomers should start with "living with the law"

Date: Fri Dec 2 15:51
Groucho (chmwood30@yahoo.com):

Din of Ecstasy is another great Chris Whitley album (probably his best in my opinion). It's more metallic blues than stuff like Dirt Floor. The world lost its best bluesman BAR NONE.

Date: Fri Dec 2 07:14
antonio (iron and wine) (a@a.it):

i liked a lot the sam beam/clxc record too. except from the 1st song, which is simply a little bit too much. but the whole atmosphere is the best thing I've heard from them since the "black light" era. expecially convertino sounds like the King of Drums he always is. this feeling confirms me 3 thoughts. one: clxc absolutely do their best in backing, and working on atmospheres. two: sam beam is a talented guy. three: don't abuse mariachis, or mariachis will abuse you.

Date: Thu Dec 1 15:42
SeanT (Chris Whitley):

Didn't know Chris Whitley , after seeing comments here bought Dirt Floor- wow..

Date: Thu Dec 1 15:18
J (spoiler):

Don't wanna cause controversy, but the iron and wine/calexico ep is lovely. As is the congress show that i so wish i could have attended... hello family...

Date: Wed Nov 30 08:20
Richard (giant plans):

Hey Howe, When are you gonna come back to the uk? we miss you

Date: Wed Nov 30 06:50
Tucson Fanzine (nothing@nowhere.net):

FWD: SLIT FANZINE & THE TUCSON NEW MUSIC SCENE, 1980-1981 Hello local music fans, My book, "SLIT FANZINE & THE TUCSON NEW MUSIC SCENE, 1980-1981" is now available for sale! So far, you can get it locally at Toxic Ranch, CD City, Rainbow Guitars (with other outlets on the way) and online through my printer, Lulu.com. You can order it directly though my website: http://www.howardsalmon.com/slit.html I became part of the music scene in Spring of 1980. when I was asked to play drums for a new band called "White Pages", made of members of the Pedestrians and The Suspects. When that band broke up after three months (a nice healthy lifespan for a band back then), I channeled all of my energy and enthusiasm into a fanzine, which I called SLIT. I got the title from a Serfers song back then called "Kill That Girl". SLIT lasted as a fanzine for about a year and a half , and was the only press that was dedicated to the scene at the time. Now I've repackaged all seven of those early issues in the form of an oversized paperback for your reading pleasure. What I'm especially proud of is that SLIT remains one of the few cohesive historical documents of what the scene was like back then, and it was created when the action was actually happening. Many of the articles were written by the band members and scenemakers themselves. If you'd like to get the book online, just go to the SLIT website, click on the "Buy Now" button, and set the forces in motion that will bring this labor of love to your doorstep! Order several, and watch as your price per book magically goes down as you average out your shipping cost! http://www.howardsalmon.com/slit.html Thanks for your support, and enjoy. Beware: you may find yourself overcome with nostalgia and giddiness as you relive the controversies of the day, namely: who's a real punk and who's a poseur, which band attacts better "dancers", why certain people's tastes in music matter more than yours, how certain bands had their "plugs pulled" on them, how selling out is actually opting in, how Tucson really rocked when it was the pits, and other exclusive expose's! http://www.howardsalmon.com/slit.html Thanks again. Serfers Rul! Howie "Slitboy" Salmon P.S. Please forward this email to anyone whom you think might be interested. Thanks!

Date: Tue Nov 29 23:56
Krajicek again (jkrajicek@cox.net):

OR... even better... assuming you're recording the show tonight, see if Howe will make it available for a donation to this worthy cause.

Date: Tue Nov 29 23:45
John Krajicek (jkrajicek@cox.net):

Hey Jim B... for those of us not fortunate enough to be in tuscon, why not make the new song available for a $5 donation to the Club Congress benefit? I for one am willing and able.

Date: Tue Nov 29 21:34
Tonight (8:30 PM):

Howe on Club Congress Stage.

Date: Tue Nov 29 18:44
SeanT (Alan - Dimeadozen):

Alan , email me. sean.tracey@btinternet.com

Date: Tue Nov 29 18:05
Stephen M.H. Braitman (braitman@mindspring.com ):

I don't know if anyone cares, other than myself, but the most recent, greatest-album-of-2005 ARIZONA AMP & AMPLIFIER will NOT be issued on LP vinyl!! Unlike all the other previous Giant Sand-related albums, this one will be compressed-digital-bits only. I consider this an outrage. (Of course, I consider many things outrages these days.) [Check me out at www.musicappraisals.com]

Date: Tue Nov 29 16:42
Archivist (Howe w/ new song on KXCI today):

Howe wrote and recorded a new song at KXCI's Studio 2A this morning titled 'The Ballad of The Tucson Two'. It will air a few times today on the station (certainly around 5 PM) to help promote the benefit show at Congress tonight for the actual Tucson Two (Shanti Sellz and Daniel Strauss). This is a night to raise awareness and a little money for the case involving Shanti Sellz and Daniel Strauss. The pair came to Tucson last summer volunteering with No More Deaths, the humaniatrian group at the border. They came accross a few border crossers who were in need of serious medical attention and decided to evacuate them. On the way they were arrested by Border Patrol. Daniel and Shanti now face up to 15 years for the felony charges of transporting illegal immigrants and conspiracy. The trial is here in Tucson on December 20th. Tuesday November 29 - Humanitarian Aid Is Never A Crime - No More Deaths Awareness Show with Chango Malo, The Jons, Tom Walbank, Spacefish, Al Perry & Howe Gelb & DJ-Daddy. There will be some great bands plaing tonight, including Spacefish, Al Perry, Howe Gelb, Chango Malo and The Jons. Suggested donation $5 - starts at 7pm

Date: Tue Nov 29 14:12
Shaun H. (Nik Kershaw):

i have a CD of the Dartford show from last year at the Mick Jagger Centre that Mr. Brewer kindly sent me, which fades out with "Wouldn't It Be Good" over the PA system. figured this'd be the most opportune moment i ever had to mention that.

Date: Tue Nov 29 13:36
Jörg (ehem,...):

...should be ANDY Kershaw (BBC Radio One February 1990)

Date: Tue Nov 29 11:53
Jörg (dimeadozen):

Frank, Thomas checked this and the link posted below is for the Nik Kershaw radio session from 1990.

Date: Tue Nov 29 11:21
frank c (same issue...):

should be read: could anybody PLEASE...

Date: Tue Nov 29 11:19
Frank C (dimedozen):

Could anbody tell please me/us which show is available there? I´m not a member of dimedozen and don´t have access. Maybe I don´t need it anyway.

Date: Tue Nov 29 10:33
Alan (it's pretty frustrating never being able to):

become a member of dimeadozen.org

Date: Mon Nov 28 17:45
Paulk (Diary):

Thanks Howe for the entry on Chris Whitley. A sad loss indeed.

Date: Mon Nov 28 04:08
J (TG):

Almost 2 years with nary a jazz woodbine. It can be done... Thought at one time I'd never play or enjoy music again...

Date: Mon Nov 28 00:07
t.g (TIDELAND):

...finished up 'Tideland'. It's gonna be super interesting to see it as a film. Thanks H.G./M.B. for making me aware of this book. It was alot of fun to engage my imagination...I'm sure it was rusty...nice way to get me through and over the hump from withdrawal symptoms from not smoking jazz cigarettes anymore. Deep down I always knew B.M.G was a love song but I somehow twisted it in something else. It's going on three weeks which also marks the time frame since I received a copy of 'Good & Services' & also a copy of 'GIANTBLACKLOWLEAVINGNAKEDRIVER'; they have been like new companions to me and I already had a chance to share em on the radio. Selected Warm Storm (live)-Giant Sand- & What Price for Freedom (live)-Naked Prey- from respective albums. Here's to a good week to all of you that frequent the GS Comment Page.

Date: Sun Nov 27 00:10
Another (show ..):

http://www.dimeadozen.org/torrents-details.php?id=70718

Date: Fri Nov 25 18:10
gazelle (coinkydink?):

i just realized that the title to howe's gospel album 'sno angel is very similar to dido's no angel. hmmmmmm...

Date: Fri Nov 25 15:25
tommy gailer (dont try this at home):

http://members.cox.net/transam57/lights.wmv

Date: Fri Nov 25 04:46
Tommy Gailer (scrolling for tweedy quote):

Uncut asked about the presence of so much songs of "A ghost is born" on the new live album: "One of the things that people have said about our last few records is that they're experimental and weird, and we don't feel that way at all. And maybe playing the songs live illustrates that a little bit better - that they're, y'know, rock songs." UNCUT: "But there's a ton of dissonance." TWEEDY: " I don't think that there's anything experimental about adding noise to rock music - the data is in, and it works." (December 2005)-----------had to think of Howe while reading this line.

Date: Thu Nov 24 08:55
stefan (gs on the radio):

Hi German sandies (or everyone with DLF reception) - tomorrow, Friday 25 November, 21 h, the Deutschlandfunk will transmit part of the Giant Sand show at this year's folk festival in Rudolstadt (2 July 2005).

Date: Thu Nov 24 05:03
tHom (working day ground to a halt ):

Haven't dropped into this site for ages but I just heard about Chris Whitley and my working day ground to a halt. Just wanted to express something somewhere out of respect. I hadn't heard much of his more recent stuff since Dirt Floor; discovered him from the track on Thelma and Louise. Saw him play a solo show in the little cellar called the Borderline in London about 7 years ago. Intense doesn't do it justice. He was utterly committed, so he took you with him. It's been said already but I'll say it again because it is so strikingly true - he was unique, a real individual. He'll be OK ...

Date: Wed Nov 23 19:42
FLYNN (RIP Chris Whitley):

sad news indeed. For the uninitiated, there is a live show from July 05 on CW's website for download. Celebrate the life: http://www.chriswhitley.com/index.php?id=media&&header=6

Date: Wed Nov 23 14:38
Alan (James S):

thanks for the advice to slurp... also no dumbity due to not knowing CW, pure chance that many of us found him... imagine what you know that I/we don't (beyond OCLC classifications)! burp. It's an Alsatian Apple Cake for me tonite... no dough just layers of apples and asian bread crumbs, w/ grape nut ice cream... tomorrow, an alsatian (dry) gewurtz, turkey w/ killer dressing and gravy, various root vegetables, eggless pumpkin pie and a blueberry pie (made from the recipe my mom was making when she went into labor...)

Date: Wed Nov 23 13:27
kurt (recallseven.com):

folks to check out...alive. frog eyes/man man/the quags/the robot ate me happy thanksgiving to all

Date: Wed Nov 23 09:59
Graham (Whitley's masterpiece):

I, too, enjoy {"Perfect Day," but I'd add that his 1998 album "Dirt Floor" is his most powerful. It's 9 songs, 27 minutes long, recorded solo in a barn. Not a wasted note or unnecessary breath. Such unusual chords and strange sense of time. And they are his own songs--not really comparable to anything or anyone.

Date: Wed Nov 23 09:21
james s (feeling dumb):

I'd never never heard (of) CW. I never listened to Elliott Smith until he'd died, but quickly became obsessed with the guy... such TALENT. Please let me know about anyone else I need to check out while still alive. Meanwhile, I'll go and get CW's "masterpiece."

Date: Wed Nov 23 05:13
antonio (chris) (a@a.it):

oh my god. chris whitley? what a sad, sad, sad new. too sad. he was such an intense performer. think I first met him, musically, when he crossed his path with daniel lanois. but I feel that "perfect day", 3 or 4 years ago, was his masterpiece. in my opinion his take on the title track is one of the best cover ever, and the whole album is an underrated wonderful re-interpretation of classics. so intense it stands close to the "american recordings" by cash/rubin, though on a different perspective. if you don't have it, but I doubt, I can surely reccomend it. you'll love it. the rhythm section is the one of MMW, so MW. creative guys. and his dobro is a killer one. I'm gonna play the record today, over and over. musicians have a nice way to fool the death: songs.

Date: Tue Nov 22 20:12
james s (alan):

44? Have some syrup.

Date: Tue Nov 22 18:05
Blaine (out of traction):

Link Wray and Whitley, a bad week. I saw Chris play the tilty theatre in Austin with Giant Sand and Vic Chestnutt once. He could get heavy in a hurry.**I’m just catching up here after some recouperating. Friends, my advice is protect yr rotator and avoid the frozen shoulder. Give it the cold shoulder even. Steven Spielberg might have invented this to get back at his enemies. Stay away from procedures that make yr body “sound like Velcro”.**Antonio seems to have emerged as quite a scholar in the coinflip of gigs. I’ve dragged pals to Howe/GS gigs, and some get it and some don’t. Took my ex-wife to see them at the closing week in CHI some years ago and Howe spent a lot of time arguing w/the discman player. Other nights are pure magic, or a fine mix of magic & chaos. I’ll agree with the Dylan/Neil/Miles comments – Howe certainly shares the maverick mindset with them.You buy yr ticket and ride the ride.**The Ballad of Koko Rosie should be sent to David Lynch or whoever made the movie Afterhours. Does everything cost 200 euros over there? Reminded me of the desk jerk Kafka story from Glum. If you ever find a used copy of Glum give it to someone who needs to hear it. They are out there.**Howe writes in his journal about a place called Matsumotu. Could this be the region where all the great Japanese copies of American guitars were made in the 70s??? Might be Lost Horizon after all. I think the powers that be need to produce a Howe travel show somewhere b/t Michael Palin and Fishing with John.**Speaking of gigs, here in Milwaukee tomorrow night is the annual Nod to Bob benefit – I’m blowing my 10 minutes on Blind Wille McTell and Tell Me Mama. Howe, just out of curiosity, why don’t you have a hardshell case for that old National?

Date: Tue Nov 22 18:01
Blaine (out of traction):

Link Wray and Whitley, a bad week. I saw Chris play the tilty theatre in Austin with Giant Sand and Vic Chestnutt once. He could get heavy in a hurry.**I’m just catching up here after some recouperating. Friends, my advice is protect yr rotator and avoid the frozen shoulder. Give it the cold shoulder even. Steven Spielberg might have invented this to get back at his enemies. Stay away from procedures that make yr body “sound like Velcro”.**Antonio seems to have emerged as quite a scholar in the coinflip of gigs. I’ve dragged pals to Howe/GS gigs, and some get it and some don’t. Took my ex-wife to see them at the closing week in CHI some years ago and Howe spent a lot of time arguing w/the discman player. Other nights are pure magic, or a fine mix of magic & chaos. I’ll agree with the Dylan/Neil/Miles comments – Howe certainly shares the maverick mindset with them.You buy yr ticket and ride the ride.**The Ballad of Koko Rosie should be sent to David Lynch or whoever made the movie Afterhours. Does everything cost 200 euros over there? Reminded me of the desk jerk Kafka story from Glum. If you ever find a used copy of Glum give it to someone who needs to hear it. They are out there.**Howe writes in his journal about a place called Matsumotu. Could this be the region where all the great Japanese copies of American guitars were made in the 70s??? Might be Lost Horizon after all. I think the powers that be need to produce a Howe travel show somewhere b/t Michael Palin and Fishing with John.**Speaking of gigs, here in Milwaukee tomorrow night is the annual Nod to Bob benefit – I’m blowing my 10 minutes on Blind Wille McTell and Tell Me Mama. Howe, just out of curiosity, why don’t you have a hardshell case for that old National?

Date: Tue Nov 22 16:10
Graham (chris whitley):

What a huge loss. Whitley was so prolific and so fiercely independent. A sad day for sure.

Date: Tue Nov 22 14:02
Alan (you know...):

looking back over the discussion of Howe/GS shows there's much to agree with (though, James, I'm always up for maple syrup)... in any event, over the weekend I caught a minute or two of a skeet shooting show on TV and the instructor spoke of shooting uncomfortably ahead of the disk so that either the first, middle, or later pellets hit their mark. It seems to me that, without assuming that Howe/GS is/are the same kinda of pellet every show, the capacity to shift your location in the pellet stream depending on the show/venue/evening is the key... me, I'm just hoping, someday, to hear Happenstance live... don't care how it's played. Tomorrow is 44!?

Date: Tue Nov 22 13:56
Alan (hey Igor...):

jeez, that man could play...

Date: Tue Nov 22 11:05
Igor Mitic (hisser@gmail.com):

R.I.P. Chris Whitley

Date: Tue Nov 22 11:04
Igor Mitic (hisser@gmail.com):

R.I.P. Chris Whitley

Date: Tue Nov 22 10:16
SeanT (Koko Rosie):

so I bought a vinyl copy of Confluence off eBay and once payment was confirmed "View Other Sellers Items" came up , and there it was again Koko Rosie...

Date: Tue Nov 22 09:49
james s (blah on pancakes and maple syrup):

and on madonna, tom cruise, chickory coffee, american television, poorly designed snow flakes, sean hannity, speculations about Cuba after Castro, sentences that contain the word "booty," the crappy production that made so many Townes Van Zant records unlistenable despite the excellent songwriting, Christmas, and the relative lack of humidity in Utah. I like Dylan, though. I don't get much out of Picasso, but don't assume the fault is Picasso's.

Date: Tue Nov 22 08:18
Jörg (yes,):

but only one verse.

Date: Tue Nov 22 07:48
SeanT (Bob versus Joe):

Dylan did a cover of London Calling in London the other night ??

Date: Mon Nov 21 13:00
J (Bob's the man):

And Howe's the word...

Date: Mon Nov 21 12:14
Jörg (Frank - right,....):

...I'm afraid, too, that we keep repeating ourselves ;-), so let's take a break. Meanwhile, back at the farm....

Date: Mon Nov 21 11:21
Frank C (blah on dylan and picasso):

Naw, that was NOT a rumble, just a humble (question), okay! Never meant to judge about Dylan. As I said: I don´t know him good enough. Recommendations for (regular) Dylan live shows or bootlegs are appreciated. // Still I don´t agree completly with this Picasso and Miles talk because I think you can get more than just a glimpse from one single piece of art if it´s the right one and your ears and eyes are open. The concept approach looks like an academic point of view to me that doesn´t give the whole picture when it comes to pop music (given you would call Miles and Dylan "pop"). But I think the different thoughts and arguments about this have been named before. So I´ll be quite now. :-)

Date: Mon Nov 21 10:27
Jörg (re: antonio, frank):

Antonio's song speech: nailed it again! (I know I'm repeating myself ;-)) #### Frank's Dylan rumble: The Dylan-shows around the Hamburg concert weren't very inspired. While the tour now has progressed, this has changed completely. Like Antonio explained, this is the risk of going to live-shows of this kind of guys. Comparing Howe and Dylan may make sense if comparing their approach to performing, songwriting, influences etc. But always keep in mind where and when Dylan began his journey and where and when Howe started his. And comparing them by the number of musical styles represented in one single concert is totally pointless. The casual concert-visiter may not get it - and YES it is the way Antiono wrote somewhere below: you don't get what's great about Dylan if you just get to see one or two shows. You don't get what's revolutionary about Miles Davis if you just listen to one record. You don't understand why Picasso is an uncomparable artist by just looking at one painting. If you're lucky you catch a glimpse of their inspiration (if you happen to see the right show, listen to the right record, see the right painting - for you & in the right moment, that is). But for artists with this rich and influentual bodys of work, you can say "yes, I've seen him" or "I know who it is". But it's not always the case that great art jumps at you, if it's really great art YOU have to work your way at it. But the rewards will be rich.

Date: Mon Nov 21 10:13
antonio (tangled up in bob) (a@a.it):

dylan's mind is a dangerous volcano, and his appearent country folk is a magmatic stuff, with the biggest emotional earthquakes happening miles below the surface. the land could look calm at first sight, but it is not. there's more in the picture than meets the eye. dylan is The Big Punk. the biggest. liquid steel.

Date: Mon Nov 21 09:42
Frank C (dylan // just curious):

Antonio, I´m not an Dylan expert. Saw him only once (last month, by the way) and I know some bootlegs. What I heard from his live shows was nice and sometimes a little surprising. But I wouldn´t compare him with Howe because Dylan´s experimental skills are not so daring and wide ranged. Giant Sand is Jazz, Hard Rock, Grunge, Country, Folk, and Howe knows and displays each style - sometimes in one show, often on one record. Dylan - on record and live - still remains country folk rock (sort of) even if the song structures, melodies and arrangements are rebuilt. Of course, this might seem revolutionary to some fans and critics who would prefer or expect a "greatest hits" show. And the Dylan show I saw was far from chaotic and experimental, it was very static and smooth. That´s my impression of Dylan, but it´s a shallow approach. Am I totally wrong?

Date: Mon Nov 21 05:47
antonio (it's alright ma, we're only rumbling) (a@a.it):

i totally get every opinion, and deeply respect it. the reason of such an heartfelt rumble was that we were talking about an "approach" to art and music and not just about "opinions" about one show. and also an approach can't be really judged right or wrong. dylan and howe share one great thing, between the others: their songs are organic beings. they grow old, they mature, every night and every tour they are in a better or worst shape depending on so many factors, as they grow they got infatuations and change their dress. some songs have grey hair, and some of those also look better with grey hair too. some other maybe don't. but as long as they're in the setlist, means they're still alive and have some story to tell. and I want to be open enough to listen to it. one thing I ADORE about dylan (and for which I have a respect I really can't express with words) is his total, constant refuse to offer a confortable perspective to look his songbook from. he don't let the listener seat. if he's moving, you gotta be moving too. total lack of self celebration. taking all the risks every night. because it's the only way to go sincere. consider that the first 4 artists who changed my view on music forever are: jj cale, bob dylan, howe gelb, marc ribot. pretty unpredictable guys, ain't they?

Date: Mon Nov 21 04:34
Jörg (Link Wray):

RIP. (Nice gesture by Dylan: he opened his show yesterday in London with a short version of Rumble)

Date: Sun Nov 20 20:13
peasoup (at home):

seems to be true what they say, link wray died a couple of days ago at the age of 76 and was at his own will laid to rest at a quiet and very privat ceremony at christians church in copenhagen....the king is dead, long live the king

Date: Sun Nov 20 19:04
PaulK (Link Wray):

There's a rumour going around that Link has died. Can't find any confirmation of this so far but if true a great loss. He was (is) in his seventies but was still playing a few years ago. I saw him and when playing Rumble he held the chord and let the front members of the audience bang his guitar. Got a chance to hit it, my one chance to play a tiny bit of a classic

Date: Sun Nov 20 13:03
Lars (hamburg + getting into it):

Hey, Matt, nice to see ya' on the page here (it's freezing in Denmark too now. Nicely delayed this year, though). ### I was just thinking....all this talk about the Hamburg show....it was in Germany...then it MUST have been recorded, right?! ;-D Would be nice to actually HEAR what the fuzz is about. Maybe a deeper and home-y listen would open it up more? ### And by the way....was presented Giant Sand on album first. In a record shop (by Hans at Scavenger Records, bless 'im). But I didn't like it (it was mostly Confluence, I think, but also a bit of Chore). I guess I hadn't really entered my uhm, "americana" phase at the time. But seeing Howe perform live at Café Mozart made all the difference! Even though it was workshop-y and about easing into the new Listener tracks for Howe. Seeing "the sand thing" live was necessary for me to get what it was all about. And after those gigs all other shows I witness has somehow mean measured by those standards....that is: how much does the artist on stage dare to let go of control when performing. Right....nightnight, folks! :-) / Lars

Date: Sun Nov 20 04:50
matt (freezing in the UK):

Howe - just wanted to post my belated thanks for the gig back in Auckland a while ago, by happy chance just happened to be passing on my world-wide travels (its a hard life), the gig, as always, was a pleasure. My girlfriends' first live Howe experience too. she loved it (reckons you look good too - should i be worried?!) anyways, been a while since i last lurked/posted here; Lars - hope you're doing well, been a long time since i saw you in Denmark. Glue - maybe see you around back home sometime? will keep my eyes peeled for you....

Date: Sat Nov 19 15:19
Jörg (re: James, Dirty Seeds):

The Dirty Three is a trio (violin, bass, drums, no vocals) led by violinist Warren Ellis, who is a steady memeber of The Bad Seeds since the late 90s and also accompanied many 'solo'-performances of Nick Cave.

Date: Sat Nov 19 12:31
james s (qualification of previous post):

but still, risk of flop comes with the terrain, and I wouldn't want the man to play it safe and fall in line with all of the album imitators, no way no way.

Date: Sat Nov 19 11:46
James s (so Frank... and dirty three):

are you saying that the lyric from Chore that says "failing is entertaining too" is not always true? A show gone wrong, or not entirely right, works better as entertainment when the audience gets to see many shows and gets a balance of fabulous and flop, but I can understand someone being frustrated when things don't click on the one show you may get to see in a zillion years. That's not a problem for you Euro people, but the only time I've gotten to see Howe was the one time when I could afford to fly to Chicago from Nashville. It was a swell show, though only an opener (for John Parish, which was also good). Ever play in Salt Lake, Howe? By the way, and this is a change of subject, are the Dirty Three and the Bad Seeds one and the same? Anyone know? What's the connection between Dirty Three and Nick Cave? That last double album of his was GREAT.

Date: Sat Nov 19 09:47
Frank C (access all areas):

Jörg, I agree (more or less). As I said before I´ve been to about 8 shows and I often dragged some people with me who never heard a single sound of Howe before. They were amazed and thrilled in the most cases (even if they didn´t like the records too much) - even when Howe was playing with gadgets and noises. I think it´s not a hidden secret or a sort of science to get access to the Giant Sand universe if the show, the venue and the people are "perfect" and everything fits. But in some few occasions something wasn´t perfect and the show was more controversial because many felt there was no real coherence and flow in it. In these cases, the line between the happy and the disappointed visitors did not separate the experienced insiders from the newbies. The reasons for the not-perfect shows were always related to a bad sound, an uncomfortable venue, a lousy keyboard, a noisy impatient impolite crowd or a jet-lag bedevilled, tired Howe. (Maybe Antonio himself would not have been thrilled there, how knows ;-)). ...Of course, if that´s the price for the great shows we all have experienced (I think this is more or less Antonio´s approach) then it´s worth it.

Date: Sat Nov 19 07:52
Jörg (or is it...):

...Mrs. Blah?

Date: Sat Nov 19 07:46
Jörg (more words) (Mr. Blah: sorry that there are no pictures in this book):

Frank, I can see what you mean - and like I wrote below I always like a little bit of controversy going on in the reception of shows, records, whatever. But I think this insiders/newcomers-thing is not the point here. On one hand - like Antonio and Christoph eloquently pointed out - Howe surely is not the kind of artist who makes a concept for his live-shows with the aim of either pleasing newcomers or some weird 'in-crowd'. On the other hand I think Howe's solo shows in the last couple of years (and especially Giant Sand shows since the Danes have joined) are on a very steady high level, taking his art and concept of non-concept to a stage where it's working almost everytime. Be it in staight rock-shows like last fall or in free-style solo-concerts with a lot of CD-player input. Inspiration was and is always there. This may be a matter of age & experience, or maybe because the competition within the old GS-line-up is history, I don't know. That's why I think nowadays people don't have to be "warned" before dragging them along to a HG-show (like Sean explained below. I used to do this, too). Now they're always a fine experience for both, the casual visitors and the 'fans'. But the Hamburg show was an exception, because of several factors, besides Howe's show (I think the audience and location played no little part in the way things developed). And if my memory serves me well, Howe said at some point in Hamburg something like "This is performance art anyway". He used to explain rather ramshackle evenings some ten years ago with this expression. So Hamburg was like a flashback of the "old times". All that talk about this evening makes me really curious for the recording. Maybe it turns out to be a very entertaining one, and will grow to be a classic & someday ends up as part of the Sandman Series. Maybe this SHOULD be the next Sandman Series release??????? Acres Of Weird Revisited.

Date: Sat Nov 19 03:30
Fred (Fren):

She's gone everyone. She's gone. The sun has been blotted from the sky. She's gone. Oh...look...there's a penny on the floor...!!!!

Date: Fri Nov 18 18:32
amela nicol (amie@amienicol.com):

wow, antonio just read your words down there...you're quite on point. obviously a big admireer of HG & GS like myself!

Date: Fri Nov 18 18:28
amela nicol (amie@amienicol.com):

hey LUV HOWE. & Giant Sand for this matter. is there possibly a show in the Tucson area during the Thanksgivng week? i will be in town from LA Wed-Sun an dam really hoping to catch them live at Plush, or Congress, or wherever they may be!!! signed an adoring SA WAH RO fan....... oxo~

Date: Fri Nov 18 18:21
Frank C (Blah):

Hi blah, new to the forum? Well, hello and welcome!

Date: Fri Nov 18 18:02
Blah (blah blah):

blah blah blah blah...blah

Date: Fri Nov 18 17:58
Frank C (appealing or not):

Antonio, yes I am sure. As sure as we both can be about Howe´s actual state of mind. Pretty unsure, that is. At least, I am quite sure that you can understand the beauty of a Picasso painting without studying his art over a decade and visiting 50 exhibitions (if it´s one of his "good" paintings ;-)). I still find the thought of a show open to all (not only to the happy few insiders) quite attractive and the opposite a bit arrogant ("You didn´t like the show? Ha, you didn´t UNDERSTAND the show, that´s all!"). That´s a question of inclusiveness or exclusiveness. Not of more or less commercial interests! And a show that didn´t appeal to most visitors can be a matter of critizism, communication and exchance of impressions. Be it as it may, in this case - as you can see from the discussion on this comment board - even the Giant Sand insiders have opposite opinions about the Hamburg show. And are thankful about Howe´s impressions and views in response. I myself was a little bit disappointed and I would have loved to see the Münster or Flensburg show. There are shows (and records) which are better or worse than average from a subjective point of view, even if it´s Howe on stage (and in studio), then why not talk about it? It´s not a drama, it´s simple feedback. Christoph, I really do have the impression that many people visit concerts of bands they don´t know very good (at least in Hamburg ;-)). I do it quite often, anyway.

Date: Fri Nov 18 17:05
glue (so soon):

travel safe

Date: Fri Nov 18 13:35
Fern (Hi):

Take care everyone. I think I'm leaving now. Bye.

Date: Fri Nov 18 11:06
christoph (hamburg again):

Frank - I disagree - 1) I doubt that many people stumble into a concert of GS or Howe or any other band that has been around for 20+ years without having listened to some of the recordings or without an idea of what to expect - 2) it’s well documented, that it’s not among the first concerns of Howe to draw a big crowd or sell a lot of product - if it was he would have been stupid to go the ways he’s gone, avoid the majors, stick to his unpredictability - what use would it be to rehearse a crowd pleasing - or let’s formulate it a bit more positive - the best of all shows and do it all over again………okay, everybody had a chance to hear it, but once or twice would be enough 3) the first leg of the 2004 fall the shows had some variability regarding the setlist, but the versions played were similar, probably due to the fact that the band was not yet long enough together to develop the improvisational abilities of the old lineup - mostly straight rock shows, little experimentation except for the malfunctioning headset - this changed in 2005 - but the solo shows with a small audience are the workshop for some experiments - so what if some things don’t work out right if you get a few magic moments in return (like Stuck, like those 5 songs about marriage, never before performed like that, at least to my knowledge) - if it were not for these unpredictable moments the lunatics taking part in this discussion wouldn’t have to amass that many recordings 4) I did drag a friend to the show - well, he left half an hour before it was over to the tune of “late, early of to work etc.”, point in favour of your argument - but he left with a smile, thought Howe sympathetic - let’s see if he comes again - the gospel tour will certainly be more predictable and harmonic.

Date: Fri Nov 18 10:40
narlus (aphex.tim@gmail.com):

" I see enough live music that is a run through of the new LP , a couple of crowd faves then the 2 pointless encores , dull. Something Howe never is." perfect way to sum up the howe/GS live experience. i've seen various incarnations about a dozen times and it never gets old or stale. on a different front, can anyone hook me up w/ some of the Sandman stuff? i've got #5, and #4 had a crack in the cdr and exploded in my PC drive when i tried to rip it for posterity, killing my drive in the process. any help would be appreciated, and i've got stuff for trade if B&P doesn't suit. thanks.

Date: Fri Nov 18 09:30
Jörg (and once more: respect goes out to antonio the carpenter):

nailafternailafternailafternailafternailafternailafternail

Date: Fri Nov 18 09:13
antonio (appealing) (a@a.it):

it's, again, a matter of goal. are you really sure that spreading his popularity to the newcomer or to the first comer is really one of howe's priority? are you sure howe's music could ever been made (or could ever been really "appealing") for somebody who's giving it a single chance? are you sure you can understand and appreciate picasso if you see one of his pictures once in tv spot? john cage in a cell phone ring? john fante in a two lines quote? some art asks time, and asks attention. then there is also a vibe stronger than all of that, I agree. but the pop speed is a drug we're all not interested in, I feel. just infatuations. easy come, easy go. so: differently from most alternative indie autistic heroes, mr gelb can play, knows the folk roots, knows jazz, knows how to swing and how to play, and can write good melodies. differently from most of the indie alternative autistic heroes, if howe finds himself in a middle of a blues jam, he knows how to come back home. same thing in a jazz festival, in a techno rave, in a dj contest, in a sounscape electonica night, in the grand 'ole opry. basically he got ALL the traditional lexicon under his fingers. in a very deep, solid way. and got great songs. if he wants to play an appealing show in the way most people mean "appealing" he can do it in zero seconds. if he does it differently, there should be a reason. maybe people are surprised. if people are surprised means they think. if they think means they're alive. that's why the subject is slippery.

Date: Fri Nov 18 04:15
Richard (quick question):

i'm doing a little research thingy for something or other about GS and Howe in general i was just wondering if anyone knew what the best selling record howe has ever released is. i'm guessing Chore of enchantment but if anyone knows that would be great. also welcome to the new member.

Date: Fri Nov 18 00:37
Ben (new fan enters the party) (ben@benjaminrichards.com):

I've only recently discovered the enchanted forest of GS and Howe's music. I had bought Chore a while back, and it sat around for a while, and then one day it just clicked. So from there it's been wondrous exploration. I was lucky enough to catch the Atlanta mini-show last month. Just reading the post about what to put on a comp disc to introduce someone "not in the know" to GS. I've prepared my own -- my father being the first test subject. Has this been covered prior to my arrival? I think it's a great idea. Anyway, just wanted to say 'hi' -- I've been reading the tour diary, and this forum, for a little while, and thought I'd make some conversation at the punch bowl.

Date: Thu Nov 17 19:31
PaulK (Ditch):

Phil, spot on with the Neil Young quote, I'm sure the vast majority of us here have had our lives enriched through avoiding the road and encountering various ditch dwellers. Muddied, bloodied and tired but worth it all the way. Beats stadium rock or airport blockbusters.

Date: Thu Nov 17 13:45
phil (true too frank c):

But,that's one reason, why when we went to Dead shows back in the day, we'd go on multiple nights. You never knew when you'd get one of the mind blowing shows or when you'd get a clunker. We didn't want to miss a night when the magic was there. My wife, who would typically agree to go to one show only, after getting more than her share of clunkers (a show being a clunker for any number of reasons, including obnoxious audience members, boring playing, bad setlist, etc.), stopped going altogether. She just happened to be at one too many shows when the magic wasn't happening and concluded it wasn't her thing, period. I do think its better to turn the unintiated onto Howe/GS thru a sampling of recorded music first and then a show. That way they at least have some foundation to build upon. I recently made a GS/Howe mix disc to turn people onto the music, which maybe leans too much to the accessible and recent but I think it does a decent job to incentivize unfamiliar folk to dig deeper into the well and search for more. Here's the track list: Classico (Map);Dusted (Chore);Yer Ropes (Glum);Dirty from the Rain (Chore);Horses STill Coming (DH2000);BMG (Confluence);Faithfull (Glum);Astonished (Chore);Hood (Map);BMG(CM);Classico Reprise (Map);Remote (Map);Classico (Cong.Hotel 9-05)

Date: Thu Nov 17 12:51
Frank C (show and tell):

Just a short addendum: A discussion about the reason of a "wrong" show might be a slippery subject, but - in my view - it was worth the rumble. Now I know what happened backstage, what Howe thought about it and how other people experienced this particular night. And in my humble opinion, Howe´s shows are not only meant to entertain the converted insighters with a lot of inside ( or vice versa ;-) ) like us but are also adressed to those accidental guests who never heard about Giant Sand before. If the show doesn´t appeal to most visitors than maybe something went wrong (on stage or in their heads or both). And then it doesn´t help much if this is part of a gesamtkunstwerk (this word is common in English language, right?) ´cause most people don´t have the chance or the patience to visit more shows then one during a tour.

Date: Thu Nov 17 08:37
Jörg (Convertino):

Antonio, hitting the nail - fine speech again. Agreed. You see, you hear this funny voices in the tower of song.

Date: Thu Nov 17 06:14
SeanT (DOIN'):

Here is a sea of suits , conversations around meetings that have no real bearing on anything other than another meeting . Dilbert land .Nice chill in the air this morning , at last winter has come to the U.K . Next week is good , Marah , Jeff Tweedy , Kathleen Edwards and Steve Wynn are all playing London and I'm going to them see them all . Come Friday my old body will be knackered but it will have been worth it...

Date: Thu Nov 17 06:12
antonio (a@a.it):

I agree for sure. don't want to convert anybody by the way. nor me, nor the converted nor convertino. I also said that your comment was kind and nice. just this: in my opinion, a discussion about the reason of a "wrong" show - expecially if we're talking about howe's show (stream of consciousness of an alien mind) - is a slippery subject. that, again, has a very short term meaning. it is like looking - maybe unconsciously - for a "standard" where "reaching the standard" is obviously the first thing to avoid. it is like trying to format the unformattable. one thing I think I learned from howe about art: the show is just the fact the artist is there. and that he's sincerely communicatin' his being there, in that moment, in those circumstances. playing the here and now without compromises. then we can feel more or less emphaty about the message. and this is also us, not just him. and it is the place too. I can only see howe's music on a wider perspective than the "show". it's about communicating a "vision" on a wider level, I feel. but I might be wrong. I am just payin' my rent everyday in the tower of song. ciaciao a.

Date: Thu Nov 17 05:16
Jörg (re: Antonio, preaching to the converted):

Have to type a few more words on the live show-discussion, started by that Hamburg-show..: Antonio - absolutely right, couldn't be said in a better way! But, I think we're mixing things up here. The people who posted the Hamburg comments below (incl. me) have experienced and heard quite some shows by Howe and/or Giant Sand. But still felt there was something somehow not working right on that particular night (not knowing all the background happenings Howe described in the journal). Yet we still all know about Howe's approach to music, art, playing live, whatever. And LOVE it. That's why we always come back! Antonio, you're writing: "surely one show could be more intense or more fun that the other. but this thing don't really matter a lot. who cares, in the end?" Well, the freaks who are posting here do. That's why we're visting this place and cramming it with our thoughts. Of course this may be ridiculous if put in context of the daily life struggles, but we're visiting here for the love of Howe's music. And out of respect for the music, the recordings, the live-shows this should also be the place for feedback if someone feels unhappy with a recent release or live-show. If it should be a place for praise and adoration only, things would get pretty boring. We could close the comments board with a final comment that Howe's approach to recording and playing live shows makes them all imperfectly perfect. Amen. Live shows and records are received so differently be different people and I'm very interested in other people's view of recent happenings.....................................And Fern: A fine day here so far. Skies are grey and it's raining outside, but that's OK :-)

Date: Thu Nov 17 04:23
Fern (Hi):

How's everyone's day so far? I'm doing great here.

Date: Wed Nov 16 20:41
Fanta Girl (Darn):

I want to get drunk in Japan with Howe.

Date: Wed Nov 16 20:39
Fanta Girl (Tour DVD?):

This is from Mitch Cullin's site: "Well, Chang & I made it back safely from weeks of wonderment in Japan. Now the post-travel ennui has settled in, and L.A. seems wide open and dull in contrast to Nippon's flawless meshing of hyper-modern and antiquity. If all goes well, we'll likely end up calling Tokyo home, but not just yet. As for our travels, we zipped around via bullet train from cities to castles to countryside to nowhere to cities, rode bikes in the rain, shared a public bath with a tattoo-covered yakuza, drank too much, ate too much, got lost in old Kyoto--and, among other things, donated a tile to the reconstruction of a temple in Nara. Chang managed to get some work done, too, and came back with a nice cache of images for the Hisao documentary. We also had the rare pleasure of spending a sake-drenched evening in the company of Howe Gelb, getting gloriously hammered in Kyoto. We also returned home with an "accidental" movie in tow, as we digitally snagged Howe's performance at the Coffee House Jittoku: camera balanced on two ash trays and a beer can, shot with Ozu-like economy. Although no soundboard recording was available, everyone involved is nicely pleased with Chang's edited version--called THIS BAND HAS NO MEMBERS--and there's some talk of perhaps a limited-edition DVD release in the future. Jim Blackwood currently has the audio and is attempting some form of mastering on the sound, so we'll see what comes of that. Watch this space. Otherwise, saunter on over to the Giant Sand website and read Howe's tour journals." This sounds really good. I'd love to see it. Which has me wondering about the Giant Sand documentary we were hearing about a while ago.

Date: Wed Nov 16 16:10
Lars (uhm, that would be a...):

blog....not a block. Hm, same thing, just virtual?

Date: Wed Nov 16 16:09
Lars (Hitting the nail...):

There was an article some time back that I also thought hit the nail right on the head. I copy-pasted it into my block (credited of course). Can't remember where on the web I found the original. Scroll down a bit on this one http://diddie.blogspot.com TO "Who needs perfection?" --- There's a bit where it goes "There are parents who over-protect their children and there are others who force them to learn according to the old method of `let it stumble, it’ll stand up again´. Gelb is of the latter sort. On stage, many of the songs stand the test. But who cares when one fails?" AND... "His performances aren’t conventional concerts. They’re rather a laboratory open to the public where Gelb, with an unsuspected gift for an entertainer, gives us clues on the mysterious process of musical creation. Clues in an inverse, deconstructive direction which reflect on the limits of the song-format. A lecture on meta-music, maybe somewhat hard to understand for the non-initiated, but absolutely revelatory to his fans." --- Hm, I like that. :-) In short: LET'S STUMBLE IN THE LABORATORY! :-D / Lars

Date: Wed Nov 16 13:26
phil (amen antonio):

You hit the nail right on the head. From people's desert island choices, this is the reason we all listen to what we do. Reminds me of Neil Young's comments re: Heart of Gold. He said the success of that song moved him to the middle of the road so he headed for the ditch. As Neil said, "a rougher ride, but I met more interesting people there." (and from there he put out a succession of my favorite Neil albums) You know, the 1st Blue Marble Girl I experienced live was this marvelous, electric, anthem-like GS thing w/Niko Case and Kelly Hogan on background vocals and the 2d time was Howe solo w/a discman and Miles Davis reincarnated. Both are indelibly inscribed in my brain as great moments in live music. Both were probably sandwiched between some rough and off the cuff stuff, but thats how music that continues to inspire happens.

Date: Wed Nov 16 12:24
Frank C (antonio):

Antonio, I totally agree with your comment. Beautiful words and reflections on that issue. It perfectly describes the beauty of Howe´s sound and vision. That´s why we all just can´t get enough of his music on tape and stage. Should be printed and distributed in front of the clubs when Giant Sand is back in town. And Howe, I hope you don´t mind the rumble too much and visit us Hamburgers again soon. :-)

Date: Wed Nov 16 11:53
antonio again (a@a.it):

by the way: cocorosie are playing here at "strade blu winter" on friday. always check stradeblu.org when you plan a trip to italy!!!

Date: Wed Nov 16 11:39
antonio - italia (a@a.it):

just seen the hamburg review. it is interesting and kind and nice. same feeling lotsa folks have when the first face howe's music. me too. just my opinion: we live in a sad world of formats. tv shows, jobs, everyday life, relationships. music. art. painfully formatted world. less anxiety, maybe. less fun too. sometimes to feel alive we just need the little "wrong info" in this deeply uninteresting perfect everyday Dna chain. because it puts us back in the chaotic, wonderful complexity of feelings and experience. howe's music was surely one of the most intiguing "wrong info" i found in my listener experience. a key to enter a deeper, always surprising, always refreshing sonic experience. it is always deeply revolutionary. always. it is LIVE music. surely one show could be more intense or more fun that the other. but this thing don't really matter a lot. who cares, in the end? the true artist is a man walking in the tightrope, we WANT this risk. the risk to be up and down. if "the song" is the tightrope howe almost kills himself every show. he don't only walk on in. he jumps, eat, sleep, dance on it. so dangerously he still looks insane to me sometimes. we ask music the beauty and the risk of being alive. when you're alive sometimes you're ok, sometimes you got headache or you're jet lagged. so is your music, if it is sincere. if my favourite artists don't suck, sometimes, I start to worry. there's something wrong. if not, the other option is the format. PS - my idea: hiding, deliberately, the most incredibile gems under the most heavy crap is howe's favourite sport in the nights when the energy is just not the right one. it is asking for a reaction, I think. ciaociao antonio

Date: Wed Nov 16 09:55
Alan (dropped a):

comma after Picasa

Date: Wed Nov 16 09:54
Alan (Howe):

I've had a ton-a-luck with google's free photoware, Picasa when it comes to shrinking efotos for email/export...

Date: Wed Nov 16 08:00
howe ( - ):

was that just a cigarette add below me here ? how is that possible ? mike...get out the eraser & erase sir. much obliged. ok....appreciate the hamburg bumble rumble. i will try and post the prevoius show brain drain between japan and switzerland. the tight tour schedual was an effect from having to be back stateside for an important family function. so i attempted to fill up things abit just prior to the 11th, which made it all so thick with road agenda. now i know that's not a good idea anymore. i love taking the train over there. but too many long journeys in a row combined with the slow linger of a japanese jet lag made it all too much of an experiment of dispaly and resource. the show in lucerne, switzerland was also the best show i have ever played. that was with a day of travel from spain just before it, but a no play night too. lots of sleep into the afternoon sealed the assembly of that swiss show i now know. anyhow and anyway, i also think i might have figured out how to dump smaller pictures into the diary muck instead of the all consuming ones i have. right now, i am here in woodstock visiting kate hyman, kevin salem and malcolm burn. the kids meeting the kids. kevin has also mixed 3 songs for the upcoming 'SNO ANGEL cd. ok then. only rumors of trout fishing abound. - howe

Date: Wed Nov 16 04:33
mcity 4 (mcityy@yahoo.com):

Bond 12.99$ / L&M 13.99$ Camel 14.99$ / Marlboro 16.50$ Winston 14.99$ / Parliament 22.99$

Date: Tue Nov 15 14:41
J (never mind a four door maverick...):

Am considering a sho bud maverick. Any musos care to help?

Date: Tue Nov 15 09:32
sammy (pommelos@hotmail.com):

hello howe, it's great about the gospel record. hope to see you soon in paris. the show in GENT (belgium) was great this summer. YA PAS UN BATTEUR FRANCAIS DANS LE COIN?

Date: Mon Nov 14 18:22
Paulk (Dear Diary):

Well, rumble over re the Hamburg gig, Howe wins on points I think. What an amazing diary entry, I think someone suggested that the diaries eventually get published and going by this it would be a fascinating collection. But dear Howe, why such a punishing solo schedule, Kerouacian peripetations with no chance of Satori. Can't your agent get a driver to whizz you around these Euro jaunts allowing some nods and zzzzzzzzzzzzssss in the back seat so refreshed you can play to your heart's content?

Date: Mon Nov 14 16:27
Frank C (Hamburg once more):

Howe, thanks a lot for your comments on the Hamburg show! That´s not too common in the music biz that an artist chats about his show and the things going on backstage. I´ve been to eight Sand and solo shows in the past 5 years, and for me the recent Hamburg gig was quite disappointing. Jörg explained it better than I could do. I have to admit I´m one of the square fans who likes the simple song oriented jazz or rock shows with a lot of jamming more than the experimental ones with a lot of toys, noises and interruptions. One more bad thing about the venue: it was cold as hell where I stood (right in the middle of the room). "Baby, it´s cold inside" would have been an apropriate opener. Anyway, it still was more entertaining than most solo concerts of other artists I know. And I did like the medley, the (too short) version of "derailed" and some other songs and versions very much. Next time, I will try to catch two shows in a row again to get a better picture of the Howe "as is now".

Date: Mon Nov 14 14:38
phil (st. conformity "track"):

When I heard this version at the Chicago show I thought Howe was saying ("trick") as in some wierd Halloween reference (the gig was on 11-2). But as my daughter and I were discussing the show later she cracked up and said: "He didn't say 'trick', he was saying 'track'and that in introducing the tune Howe said something about a race. So much for me being the great lyrical interpreter. But,there was something about using either "trick" or "track" (the new Halloween, greeting "trick or track"!) during that instrumental bridge that made the arrangement real interesting.

Date: Mon Nov 14 13:28
Lars (Hamburgers 'n' roses):

Oh, I think I would have enjoyed that show, he-he. I took a friend to see Giant Sand at Voxhall last time (I think it was) and also giving before-mentioned warning ("anything can happen")...and then it was the most straight-ahead rock'n'roll show I had ever heard from Howe. It was a great show, but I would have enjoyed it more with a little more maybe quiet moments of bonkersness. :-) You guys have heard the recording, I suspect. STILL...I figured the straight ahead rock show was Howe's way of surprising us that night, so... :-D Scout being along for the ride also made it a particular great evening. The Copenhagen show the day before was somewhat messier...and Howe dragged Marie-Laurette Friis up on stage for a completely unrehearsed (but brilliant) "Leather"...and then Henriette for a great "Classico" afterwards (MIKE....please, how did that recording turn out?). ### CocoRosie.... First album: two Brooklyn girlies with a four-track, guitar, harp, a human beatboxer and toys (that make noise) in a Paris loft (great for a press release, right?). ;-) They make use of the pitch shift on the four-track to great effect on a few songs. One sings folky, but also operatic sometimes. The other quite quirky squirrelish soulish whateverish (I like it)...and also Devandra's sweetheart if I heard the story right. Second album: same thing....but in a teepee instead of Paris. Devandra and Anthony (& The Johnsons) are along for some vocals. There you go. I guess the kind of music that "you either love or hate". Me likes, actually. Playful. Not THAT much change on the second album from the first, though. ### Greets, folks! / Lars

Date: Mon Nov 14 13:15
J (Off to snoop in the journal):

Jorg, that legal action thing used to happen a lot, during the era of a certain birdladylunatic...

Date: Mon Nov 14 11:53
howe (ok then):

good. that's what i wanted to hear. thanks for the swift response time too. these things are hard to figure. nature is a flusterer at heart. and the nature of these things are sheer lottery on occasion. i've always liked my times in hamburg, but that night there were elements a foot there that were like free radicals. after reading jorg's review, i think the set was there somewhere afterall.sounded like a certain uniqueness that i might have loved if i didn't know me and happened upon such a set as onlooker and inner ear in taker. but i heard also there was disturbing yellow light on stage badly aimed at the audience? was this the case ? that bit of ambience sounds like a back of annoyance in itself. ok then. and who exactly is this ko ko rosie ? -howe

Date: Mon Nov 14 11:19
SeanT (Shows , etc.):

Interesting reading all the comments and then Howe's diary of events . If ever I take a person to a Howe solo show , I always "warn" them , that I don't know what to expect but whatever happens it will be a evening well spent . I can imagine if you have not seen Howe live , you may get a bit confused by the apparent shambolic? nature of what is going on . But I can't say that I've ever walked out of a Howe show without being inspired and happy . and I've seen him do a support slot where he spent most of the evening reading from Rolling Stone but even that was good. Now I would be dissapointed if I saw Howe/GS , without the uncertanty . If it was just a note for note run through of songs from the LP's . The chat , the use of CD players , headphone attachments , weird mikes etc make it all what it is . I see enough live music that is a run through of the new LP , a couple of crowd faves then the 2 pointless encores , dull. Something Howe never is.

Date: Mon Nov 14 11:14
Jörg (Aaaaaaah....):

...now I know, I used the f*** word. Won't happen again, haha. Mike, please no legal actions against me, I can't afford a lawyer!

Date: Mon Nov 14 11:13
Jörg (Hamburg Part Two):

But in the end I felt rather confused and dissatisfied after the show. (Of the people traveling with me to Hamburg, one was even more dissapointed, the other was over-enthusiastic. A rather casual visitor in Sandland he was excited about your "f*** your expectations I'm doing it my way" - attitude, maybe even more after he noticed the "fans" not beeing too enthusiastic about the performance). The last time I was really dissapointed after a show of yours was in Stuttgart 1994 (we talked about that show briefly last year in Düsseldorf). Only recently I had the chance to listen to a recording of that show & was more than surprised what I heard: a mostly inspired, fine show with lots of complete versions of songs (which mostly were new to me back then), totally different from what my memory made of this show during all those years. Seems I was not ready for that experience back then. Or it has something to do with not seeing/feeling all the stuff that surrounds a concert & which plays a part in the overall experience, too (location, audience, overall-mood, weather, travel etc. ) And so maybe the Hamburg show will be a whole different experience, too, when listening to the recording. But as for the live experience, Münster made it for me the next day

Date: Mon Nov 14 11:09
Jörg (Hamburg Part One):

Howe, thanks for posting the journal of the way-too-short mini-tour. I was in Hamburg (and Münster, but sadly missed Flensburg - having to work again) & was among the ones who were kinda dissapointed. As always it has a lot to do with expectations and what one is longing/hoping for. That evening I was hoping for SONGS, as there are so many astonishing ones on recent releases & in recent shows, even some brand-new ones, as Angelika told me after seeing the Luzern show. But as it turned out, the songs had a hard time in Hamburg, fighting against the pedals, the sound-features of the plastic piano, a few rather impatient folks in front of the stage - and that little punk demon you described in the Melbourne-part of the diary. Maybe because I was half-sick that evening, I couldn't handle too much deconstruction. Usually a certain part of deconstruction is part of the energy that makes a Giant or a solo-show something special - only this time it seemed to me that it's going nowhere, with an emphasis on entertainment rather than trying to spark & inspire.......Everytime a song was building up, somewhere along the way a pedal or keyboard or someone yelling from the audience got in the way. "St. Conformity" for example seemed kind of improvised and played-around-with to me in Hambu