I love record shopping, and I love when I find a previously-owned record that has been branded by it’s original owner. This 45 was purchased in London years ago, and was lovingly branded by it’s owner DON a/k/a DONALD on the b-side. It is an original UK pressing of the single “Supernature” by Cerrone, backed with “Give Me Love.” Amazing double-A! I actually picked up a few records that were Don’s on that trip, but I can’t remember what they were. When I come across them, I will post them as a follow-up.
I am obsessed with this: ambient music playing simultaneously with the New York Police Department radio stream.
Concert 041 Blur | Pulp Thursday, September 15, 1994 Venus de Milo, Boston, MA $12.00
I had been following Blur since their first album, but this was my first opportunity to see them live. The show was supposed to be at Avalon, the biggest club on Boston’s nightlife strip, Lansdowne Street. However, because of poor sales, the show was moved to the much smaller Venus de Milo down the block.
The opening act was Pulp, and from what I’ve discovered researching this concert, this was their FIRST performance in the United States ever. They made quite an impression on me. It was a hot, fresh and tight set. After seeing this show, I bought their latest album His ‘n’ Hers and have been a devoted fan ever since. But I never saw them live again. Here’s a set list I found online…
Lipgloss Joyriders Do You Remember The First Time Razzmatazz His ‘n’ Hers Pink Glove Babies
Blur also exceeded my expectations. I loved their albums, but they felt like studio creations, as their style veered dramatically from Madchester (first album) to druggy arty guitar pop (Modern Life is Rubbish) to a blend of disco and bratty Britishness (Parklife) - all in the space of a few years. So when they took the stage and blasted through a variety of songs from each album, I was thrilled. They were a solid live act, energetic and rough around the edges.
I never imagined that they would become so popular.
Here’s a set list I found online.
Sunday Sunday Jubilee Tracy Jacks Magic America End of a Century Popscene For Tomorrow Chemical World There’s No Other Way To the End Advert Parklife Supa Shoppa Girls & Boys Bank Holiday This is a Low
Here’s a fucked up clip of them performing Advert in 1994.
“and when it feels real, nothing can hold me back”
Shit Robot - Feels Real (Feat. JENR) I just mentioned this song in my last post this morning, and HERE IT IS. Luke Jenner from the Rapture doing his best Bee Gee impersonation over a full on, unabashed disco groove.
“outside french love”
Marcus Marr - Pleasure Moon (DJ Version) DFA is killing it right now. Witness: here’s the b-side to a new 12 by Marcus Marr, a druggy dubby affair perfect for late night voguing. Whisper secrets to the moon as you walk.
Man Tear - Outside Amore I’m not sure if this is a tear (as in I tore it) or a tear (as in I cried it) but either way, tis a delicious slice of franco-fantasy dub with chirps and squeaks to punctuate the clunk and chug of the beat.
And I can’t wait to share the Shit Robot / Luke Jenner collaboration in which Jenner channels Barry Gibb. It’s a scandal. Stay tuned…
PS. Did you see that crazy full moon last night?
Concert 040 Deee-Lite Wednesday, September 7, 1994 Avalon, Boston, MA $15.00
Deee-Lite did a club tour in support of their third (and unfortunately final) album, Dewdrops in the Garden. By this time, Towa Tei had left the group to pursue a solo career, so they were joined by DJ Ani who lent a much heavier techno and jungle influence to their sound.
In the show, Lady Miss Kier was the obvious leader - jumping out there in front of the keyboards and turntables, singing her heart out for a crowd of adoring club kids, heavy on the gay side. Her look was athletic wear on psychedelics: ridiculous platform sneakers paired with glossy Adidas inspired dresses, complete with huge pigtails that only a drag queen would dare wear.
I remember she introduced Ani - “this is DJ Ani - and he is ON E.” which was kind of lost on me at the moment because I wasn’t really part of the whole ecstasy scene, even though it was all around me.
It was a fun show with lots of dancing and carrying on. Kier’s voice wasn’t that strong in this live setting, but she more than made up for it with her passion and conviction. Here’s a clip of Kier dancing to Party Happening People…
ps. I know it’s nit-picky, but note the spelling error on the ticket. It’s missing an E in DEEE!
“I ain’t gonna work on Maggie’s Farm no more”
U2 - Maggie’s Farm / Cold Turkey In the mid-80s, Margaret Thatcher inspired many an artist to rise up in protest of her conservative government. Although Maggie’s Farm, written by Bob Dylan in the 60s, predates Thatcher’s rule, various people appropriated it for their cause. Including U2 who not only appropriated it, but mashed it up with Lennon and took it on the road for Amnesty International.
Impossibly pretentious, but it made for good theater.
Concert 038 Shonen Knife 1992 TT The Bears Place, Cambridge, MA Price Unknown
I forgot I went to this show until I found my ticket for the concert below.
TT the Bears is a tiny club in Cambridge. When I got there I immediately ran into my friend Anne from work. What a surprise! We were so excited to find out we were both fans of the band. The show was packed and everyone sang along to all the songs. I didn’t know the lyrics that well, but Anne sang a lot. It was a lot of fun.
Concert 039 Shonen Knife Thursday, May 5, 1994 Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA $10.00
When Shonen Knife came back through Boston in ‘94, they had made quite a name for themselves, having racked up fans in the indie community to the point where there was a Shonen Knife tribute album! I’m pretty sure I went with Anne again.
Here’s a clip of Shonen Knife doing one of their hits, “Twist Barbie!”
“I been holding on…”
Classixx - Holding On Today I left work early to go record shopping and was pleasantly surprised to find a sparkling new copy of the new Classixx single. It’s all disco bliss synth pads on top of a daft punk bass line, as if it knows we’re all waiting for that new DP album. We’ve been holding on… can’t take it anymore.
Also purchased today:
Jamiroquai - Cosmic Girl (Quasar Mix) I already have a platter of remixes of this track, but it didn’t include the Quasar version - which sounds remarkably contemporary for a record that’s 17 years old. Yes, that’s right. This record is old enough to drive, break curfew, apply for college and get knocked up. So if you remember dancing to it in the club when it came out, PS, you’re old.
I saw kd lang twice, but I don’t have the tickets anymore, so…
Concert 036 kd lang and the reclines 1988 Berklee Performance Center, Boston, MA $0.00
Time warp back to 1988. If this were in actual chronological order, this was probably Concert 012.
I had the good fortune to see kd lang and the reclines early in her career. She was scheduled to perform at my college and they offered students free tickets! I think I was the only one of my friends who actually went.
She was insane, jumping around on stage like a wild woman, looking mannish in a long skirt and short cowboy boots. I was enthralled. She played country swing also did some torchy ballads like “Three Cigarettes in an Ashtray.”
Concert 037 kd lang 1992 Orpheum Theater, Boston, MA Ticket price unknown
Of course, kd lang went on to great success in the 90s, becoming a world renowned singer and a symbol of gay visibility in popular culture. Her album Ingenue put her over the top, and it became the soundtrack to our lives for the better part of a year.
Five years on, she had transformed from the goofball I saw in the 80s into a suave and seductive chanteuse. The best part of the show was her rendition of Miss Chatelaine, which she introduced to the audience by confessing to being a “L… L… Lawrence Welk fan!” Then out came a bubble machine and we all screamed! We actually WERE Lawrence Welk fans!
Then of course in 1993, there was this:
Last summer I picked up the new kd lang album, Sing It Loud, and golly it’s good. It came out in 2011, and we had it on repeat on a road trip. Still a stunning voice, and always a lady with integrity.
I am music's bitch.
I am also a DJ. You can hear me spin every Saturday at Nowhere in the East Village, New York City.
Nowhere is at 322 East 14th St.
If you hold the copyright on anything I've posted and want me to remove it, please contact me and I will oblige.
