The Morning After

“Buying Records in Record Stores is Cool.”  aww, thank you Spoon, you’re cool too.

Spoon’s new one, Transference, is out today and I’m holding the 33 in my hot little hand right now (oh, I mean I’m typing, its beside me).  Funny, I am not listening to the record, I got it going on electronically because Coral is watching TV, so I got to enjoy this music best with headphones on.

No problem, the record is spooky good.  Lots of sounds.  Lots of sounds?  Swa?  Its a record, it better have sounds.  But what I mean is, its weird and mystical sounding in that jangly Spoon “ga ga ga ga ga” kinda way.  Headphones works.

I was excited to get this record today.  I didn’t have time before my radio show to swing by Ditch, so I had to get on my horse after the program to race down to Johnson and sneak in just before the bell.

Read a better review than one I could write: Pitchfork likes it!

Holy moly, how many records has this Austin, Texas band put out since the early/mid 90s?  7 LPs and a bunch of eps?  I have only the most recent three, Transference, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, and Gimme Fiction.  Plus the eps Got Nuffin and Don’t Cha Evah.  One of the reasons I was excited for Transference was because I have so extensively enjoyed previous work.  I was hard not to reckon that anything new would be great.

First listen in, and sure enough… its a good Spoon record.  On the Zone, you might have heard Dave feature “Got Nuffin” and now he is trying out “Written in Reverse.”  If you’re thinking of downloading a couple you might want to start there.  I am also jiving on “Out Go The Lights” which is a bit more ballady for a Spoon cut.  “Mystery Zone” is a good one too.

Today was a big day for all the indie rocking hipsters.  It was the day that the tight panted gods wearing their godly ironic fluorescent yellow sunglasses announced the line-up for this years Coachella Music Festival.  Now really, how many of will be taking off to the desert of California for a weekend in April?  I wish (and fingers crossed some sort of miracle will happen). But this is a great bellwether for the festival circuit as a whole.  These are the bands that want to be active this summer, in front of you, melting your face with sweet licks.  And Spoon is on the list.  SO!  Will Spoon be at Sasquatch this year?  Oh god I hope so… and I hope a lot of other things.  Frightened Rabbit?  SWA?  They are my favourite band of the NOW and they’ll be at Coachella.  Sasquatch is only a month later so I hope that means they could be there too.

Sasquatch is smaller, so all these bands won’t be there.  But some will.  Some is good.  Frightened Rabbit and Spoon?  best!  Last year I died when I experienced Explosions in the Sky.  It would be the cherry on my life sundae to witness a few more all-time faves.

This talk of Sasquatch reminds me that I should book the days off.  Last weekend of May.  The plan on paper has me trying to finagle some media passes.  Coral and I walk on the ferry over to Vancouver.  That is a considerable savings… which we plow into a tank of gas for my old man’s RV and south along the I5 we go… a good full day in advance of the festival.  Some fine cheap US shopping in Bellingham to fill our stocks and then through Seattle.  Maybe a pause to be tourists for a bit, then south-east to Ellensburg then the Gorge.

God smiles, and its sunny and hot like last year.

Coral and I are having a bit of a debate about whether we bring Madelyn of not.  She’ll be over two which is good.  She will be strong like ox.  RV will really help.  There were many kids last year at Sasquatch and when I am away from Madelyn for a few days, regardless of how drunk I am, when I see the families… I think, aw that would be fun.  Coral thought we could get a little inflatable pool for the camp.  Then I thought?  What about bringing a pool into the venue?  Could you imagine?  Madelyn would make a lot of hippy friends if the temperature is in the 90s like last year.

Jury is out on Madelyn.  Nana or Grandma might want to take advantage of a weekend with her, so then we’ll leave her.  maybe they won’t.  We bring her.  I talk a mean game about getting drunk, but the truth is I might enjoy my weekend more if I keep it under control.  So staying sober won’t be a big deal if my baby comes.  And I think she’ll get a kick outta the carnival atmosphere, plus huge savings if I lay off the $9 US Daddy Pops.  Anyways, its cool either way.  We’ll see who wants to be part of the adventure and see what everyone thinks, cuz as they say… it takes a village to raise a kid and if it’ll be more buzz kill than cute attack I’ll beg Nana to have a sleepover for the weekend.

The other thought is pack down my DJ rig and some speakers and generator and fire up a dance party in the camp?  That is an ambitious thought, but would be hugely popular after a day of rock & roll.  The music is king but camp is like… not the king, but really good and with boobs.  Queen?  sure.

I better get off the computer now, Coral wants to play and she’s not supposed to use her cell phone to cruise the net!  Silly Bell and their overage charges.

Go with yourself.