I'm an alligator, I'm a mama-papa comin' for you...

#############################

      Indie List Digest!

       October 20, 1995

     Volume 4   Number 42

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Labradford, Chisel, Mt Goats, Squirrel Nut Zippers, et al.
Half-Cocked
Ben Folds Five, Menthol, and other stuff I like...
Destination CLEveland
QUERY: Catpa? Katpa? Cappa?
ANNOUNCE: Carrot Top tour info
ANNOUNCE: Pere Ubu Tour & Web Site
ANNOUNCE: Jaboni Youth...
AD: Contest


howdy:

this would be your latest Indie-List Digest, so read it carefully & 
follow the instructions.

we have received, in the past couple of weeks, some queries about the 
production "schedule" and when submissions are likely to appear.  
here's the deal: if you send us a submission & it doesn't appear in 
the next digest, that usually means we didn't have room for it this 
time.  we try to keep each issue at a certain length so as not to 
break people's mailboxes.  but if you wait for the next digest and you 
still don't see your piece, you might check back with us and make sure 
yr thing was received and didn't, by some horrible error, fall through 
the cracks.

we apologize for any delays, and we really appreciate everyone's 
continued patience with our somewhat erratic publication habits. 
we're trying to keep to our once-a-week schedule, but since we don't 
have regular schedules in our daily lives, this can sometimes be 
problematic. keep writing, please, and we'll keep publishing, we 
promise.

az


In our mailbag....

  A polite plea from PLEASE to tell folks to check out their website 
  at http://www.please.com/ for details on them, their touring, and 
  so forth...

-es


<------------------------------>

  
From: silverst@ils.nwu.edu (Steve Silverstein)
Labradford, Chisel, Mt Goats, Squirrel Nut Zippers, et al.


As if last week's wasn't enough, more reviews of mostly new-ish things 
that I've bought recently.

Labradford--A Stable Reference LP/CD (Kranky/P.O.  Box 
578743/Chicago, IL 60657)--A step forward from their first album with 
the addition of bassist Bobby Donne (x-Breadwinner) and a reduction in 
guitar effects.  Stripped-down, sparser, a lot more "song-like" in 
some sense, but you still wouldn't mistake it for anyone else.  If 
anything, better (though a bit more challenging a listen) than 
Prazision LP.  Their best yet, which should be all you need to know.

Chisel--Nothing New EP #4 12"/CD (Gern Blandsten/no address listed, 
Chisel/P.O.  Box 21365/Washington, DC 20009)--Chisel continue to 
move away (some) from their simple, Jawbreaker-like roots, on their 
latest EP.  Side B is from the same sessions as the Sunburn 7", side A 
is newer recordings with Guy from Fugazi.  Still sound somewhat like 
Jawbreaker, but also like the Jam, Mission of Burma, etc.  The mod 
fashions are right out front (in the pictures on the front cover), but 
they're coupled with simple-ish punk songwriting, melodic basslines, 
the works.  Essentially, not hardcore, not really punk, not mod, very 
catchy, very very strong.

The Mountain Goats and Alistair Galbraith--Orange Raja, Blood Royal 7" 
(Walt/ 89 Fairview Avenue/Port Washington, NY 11050)--To be honest, my 
first reaction was "Yeah, it's good, but..." Then, after a lot of 
listens, I started to get it.  2 songs by each writer (though their 
voices sound REALLY similar, so its hard to tell).  They complement 
each other's styles perfectly.  Simple, melodic pop songs, with really 
intricate arrangements (for a 4-track especially).  Even better than 
you'd expect, if anything, though it does take a few listens to 
totally sink in.

Thee Hydrogen Terrors--The Erotic Adventures of Thee Hydrogen Terrors 
12"/CD (Load/P.O.  Box 35/Providence RI 02901)--Since I'm thanked on 
this one, I'm a pretty un-objective source.  Kind of a more fragmented 
take on Crime, featuring 3/4 of Von Ryan's Express, whose 7" on Sub 
Pop you've probably seen.  Unsurprisingly, I like it, but don't trust 
me on this one.  Recorded in rural Vermont with John Williams 
(x-Volcano Suns).

Squirrel Nut Zippers--The Inevitable Squirrel Nut Zippers LP/CD 
(Mammoth)--I think I'm the only person who has heard this record and 
doesn't hate it.  They reproduce a series of styles (jazz, country, 
etc.) somewhat faithfully and, more often than not, unspectacularly.  
But, I think they somehow bring their own charm to a lot of the songs 
that makes the whole better than the sum of its parts.  Brian 
Paulson's engineering is first-rate, as is the packaging on the vinyl 
(with elevated letters).  Not life-changing, but fun.

The August Sons--Plants, Planets and Insects LP/CD (El Recordo)--The 
latest album from these talked-about farm residents from Mississippi.  
Certainly stronger than the one other record of theirs I've heard 
(Sonnets and Parables), and more audible than their live shows.  It's 
really fairly profound music with neat use of electronic drum pads and 
other odd noises.  Sort of like a rural Built to Spill (in terms of 
guitar style and arrangement in some odd way)?  I don't know how 
exactly to describe this, but it's actually pretty interesting, even 
if there are songs titled "Wasp" (the "ambient" one) and "Jupiter" 
(the rocking opening track).  So, for reasons I can't entirely 
explain, I listen to this a lot more often than I'd expect to.

Eggs/Pitchblende--Balls!  Balls!  split 7" (Jade Tree/2310 Kennwynn 
Road/ Wilmington, DE 19810)--Surprisingly, the two sides fit together 
as a coherent whole.  Eggs contribute what sounds like a failed effort 
at a math rock song (failed in a ridiculous and entertaining way as 
you might expect from Eggs) which stops when it shouldn't and changes 
parts when it shouldn't and such.  Pitchblende contribute a more 
successful effort at a math rock song which sounds, uh, like 
Pitchblende, which is a good thing.  I like this 7".

The Vanpelt/Radio to Saturn--Radio The To Vanpelt Saturn split 7" 
(Sudden Shame/2 Cypress Lane/Essex Jct., VT 05452)--NYC's The Vanpelt 
contribute "His Saxophone is My Guitar", which reflects their 
combination of Superchunk, the Poster Children, and a more raw punk 
intensity.  Their live sound is probably better than this track, but 
it's still quite strong.  Radio to Saturn contribute 3 very short 
songs (spinning at 45) of their intricate 3 guitar/no bass rock.  The 
strongest of the 3 is "(She Likes the Part) About Wolves" which sounds 
sort of like an updated Troggs rocker?  Another 7" that I like.

Lambchop--Your Life as a Sequel 7" (Mute America)--Many-piece, usually 
down-trodden, country-influenced band that inspires me to use lots of 
hyphens.  A strong 7" with an interesting pair of songs (the B-side is 
a bit more up-beat) that, while good, doesn't quite capture their 
amazing live intensity.  I don't have anything else of theirs 
(unfortunately) so no comparisons here.

Razor 18--P Street Beach 7" (Popfactory/1010 25th Street NW/Apartment 
706/ Washington, DC 20037)--Not the newest 7", but hard enough to find 
that it's new enough.  DC's Razor 18 (now known, after some recent 
line-up changes, as Cosmo DNA) sounded REALLY dense with 2 very thick, 
effects-heavy guitars, pretty female vocals, and a simple punk-ish 
rhythm section.  I'll leave out some of the obvious comparisons, 
though I think Boyracer is a less obvious one that gives some idea.  
Add female vocals and a sort of "dreaminess" (esp.  on the B-side) and 
you get the idea maybe?

More coming...

-Steve


<------------------------------>


From: "Harris, Terry J." <HARRISTJ@f1groups.fsd.jhuapl.edu>
Half-Cocked

Half-Cocked: The Movie
(or: Okay, Kids! Let's put on a show!)

On a local print-media recommendation of the soundtrack, I went to see 
Half-Cocked, the (new?) indie-rock movie by Suki Hawley and Michael 
Galinski.  The film is a deadpan depiction of all things indie, in 
which a group of indie-kids steal a van full of instruments and 
equipment and go "on tour."

Louisville, Nashville, and Chattanooga are the nominal backdrops for 
the film, but the indie club, record store, and group/band house are 
the actual and fairly universal settings.  In this fictional account, 
our disaffected indie-rocker screen heros are played by real-life 
indie heros like Jason Noble and Tara Jane O'Neill.  (Real people, 
indeed.) Anyway, they sleep on what appear to be real floors.  They 
play to what seem to be real fans.  The soundtrack, which I do not 
have, includes previously released songs by Unwound, Slant 6, Versus, 
Polvo, and Helium.  In the film, the Grifters play themselves, play 
live, and they contribute (I'm told) an unreleased song to the 
soundtrack.

Although obviously amateurish in both production value and acting 
talent, the true-to-life-ness of the existence, at least, kept my 
interest.  With Jarmusch-isms galore, the black and white docu-deadpan 
style worked fairly well for the serio-comic despair of our accidental 
indie-rocker protagonists.  Indeed, the amateur auteurs' film about 
amateurism captures the state of those-darn-kids much more accurately, 
I think, than the other black&white movie this summer with 
real-life-like young actors and a cool soundtrack.

Anyway, I suspect bigger fans of the Louisville/indie scene will get 
more of the in-jokes than I did.  If for no other reason, bigger 
indie-rock fans will probably recognize more people on-screen than I 
did.  Nevertheless, the movie gets one Ebert-sized thumb up from this 
reviewer -- but don't miss a live show to go see it.

terry.harris@jhuapl.edu


<------------------------------>


From: Aaron_Schatz@brown.edu (Aaron Schatz)
Ben Folds Five, Menthol, and other stuff I like...

Hello, I haven't written in a while, so I thought I'd give some 
reviews of bands you may or may not have seen.

The WBRU Birthday Bash was a festival of mershness but there were some 
indie-type bands playing.  Shudder to Think put on the usual great 
show, mostly stuff from Pony Express Record but they played "Red 
House" also.  Suprisingly warm welcome from the BRU crowd.  The new 
band I like the most is Ben Folds Five.  This is a piano-bass-drums 
trio on Caroline, very '70s-influenced in a Jellyfish style.  The big 
single "Underground" is now #3 requests on my station, showing that 
our listeners have some taste.  It's a paean to the indie scene, with 
great falsetto harmonies, happy pop hooks, and lyrics like, "We'll be 
dressed in all black, slamming the pit fantastic." Great great, and 
even better live, where Ben Folds jumps around at the piano, and at 
one point leaps over the piano and lays across the top to play a solo 
with his microphone.

New records I like - Love Jones "Powerful Pain Relief" with the 
leading track, goofy funk number "The Thing." It's on Zoo, okay that's 
a major, I'm sorry.  I love this kind of cheesy stuff.  I picked up a 
CD by a band called Menthol on Capitol Records, but I hadn't heard of 
it anywhere.  This one was produced by Brad Wood at Idful Music in 
Chicago, and I'm beginning to believe that anything he is associated 
with is good - Sunny Day Real Estate, Liz Phair, Veruca Salt.  (Okay, 
I like them, even if you don't).  Menthol is a trio which musically 
sounds a lot like SDRE without all the quiet parts.  The singing is 
much different though, much more upbeat, maybe something like Ed from 
fIREHOSE.  And the lyrics are classic.  For example, from the song 
"Francis Scott Key:"

"Verses collide in the New England sky, lord help the wise men 
exercising their outright melodious reinvent clause our forefathers 
clawed from the jaws of the redcoats ...  The captain looks over and 
screams at the writer, Hey don't stand there idle.  Have you know 
shame?  Get your fanny back in battle!"

I like this album more and more every time I listen to it.

Also good is the new Son Volt, "Trace." these are the other guys from 
Uncle Tupelo, Jay Farrar and original drummer Mike Heidorn, the ones 
who didn't form Wilco.  Typical Tupelo fare, country-folk mixed with 
harder rock.  The rock songs are harder than the Wilco album.  I put 
both of them in my CD changer and let it randomly switch between the 
two, and it was just like an Uncle Tupelo LP.

Okay, I'm going for now.  Maybe next time I'll write about my musical 
explorations in Israel, including great bands like Tipex (7 piece 
ethnic pop) and Machsefot (a lesbian punk trio, Israeli style).

**********************************************************************
Aaron Schatz                                      Aaron_Schatz@brown.edu
Morning Show DJ                                             P.O.Box 3994
95.5 WBRU Providence                               Providence, RI  02912
The Cutting Edge of Rock                                  (401) 863-5578
**********************************************************************


<------------------------------>


From: ab546@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (J.R. Ellis)
Destination CLEveland

OCT.7 GROG SHOP, CLEVELAND
E.S.O. / UGLY BEAUTY / DAVID THOMAS / CRUEL, CRUEL MOON / 
SWANK MOTEL / MY DAD IS DEAD / GEM / THE VIVIANS 

Ian Hunter once said "Cleveland Rawks", and the Cleveland underground 
hasn't seen a night like this one in almost as long.  All contingents 
were represented, from experi-arty weirdness to blast-the-doors-off-rnr 
for the Cle Magazine resurrection party on Saturday, October 7, at 
Cleveland's finest venue--the Grog Shop.  For those who don't know, 
CLE Magazine was a fanzine published in Cleveland from 1977-1981, 
featuring all the bands of that era--Pere Ubu, Devo, The Pagans, 
Mirrors/Styrenes, Electric Eels, Tin Huey, etc.  They have a new issue 
featuring a 64-minute cd of Cleveland underground bands old & new 
(ab563@cleveland.freenet.edu for info.)

Einstein Symphony Orchestra--featuring Lonesome Cowboy Dave--started 
things off.  Dressed in a hospital gown (plus Cowboy hat) Lonesome led 
the guitar/ bass/keys/bassoon combo through a quirky set including a 
deconstructed version of Simon & Garfunkel's "Sounds Of Silence" and 
The old Clocks' hit "Sex In Another Dimension" (anyone remember 
them?).  The bassoon nicely punctuated what otherwise would have been 
a standard r'n'r sound, and Dave was in fine form with insane 
between-song ramblings (he's done a lot of stuff with Church Of The 
Subgenius in the past.) For those in the Cleveland area who may not be 
aware, E.S.O. have been playing live every Thursday night from 
midnight-1 a.m.  on WCSB 89.3 fm for years, but have yet to release 
anything officially.

Next up was Ugly Beauty.  That's the CLEVELAND Ugly Beauty, in case 
you've heard of another band by that name.  Andrew Klimeyk's 
ever-changing line-up for this show included accompaniment from 
accordian, trumpet, and drums (besides him on guitar.) Always one of 
Cleveland's most poetic songwriters and abstract-expressionist 
guitarists, Ugly Beauty is the perfect name for this group.  Buried in 
the dissonance are catchy melodies, if you listen closely enough to 
find them.  The highlight was his guitar solo using a street sign as a 
slide.

Pere Ubu's David Thomas made the next appearance, backed by the 
Vivians.  David commanded the stage with arms flailing as they did 
"Codex"...  and though he's not touring anymore -- Ubu Jim Jones 
joined the band on stage for "Down By The River" from _Ray Gun 
Suitcase_.  (Their US tour with Tom Herman on guitar starts this 
week.)

Then Cruel, Cruel Moon played a great, loud, Velvet Underground-y, 
garage-punk set.  All I can say is--if you ever get the chance--check 
them out!  They can flip-flop from folky sweetness to bone-crushing 
White Light/White Heat intesity in a snap.  The highlight of their set 
was their track from the CLE cd release "1,000,000 Years"--this night 
with Carolyn on vocals.  Then it was time for the happening Holiday 
Inn sounds of Swank Motel.  Featuring a stand-up bass, the Swank Motel 
specialize in Valium versions of old punk "standards" like "Search & 
Destroy" and "World Up My Ass", lounge-ifying them for aging punkers 
and a frightening number of kids who probably don't remember the 
originals.

After Swank Motel, things cranked up a bit.  My Dad Is Dead opened 
their set with "Chopping Down The Family Tree".  Just back from a 
short US tour to promote their _For Richer, For Poorer_ album, the 
band was tight and well-rehearsed.  With infectious melodies and hooky 
pop tunes, it's hard to believe Mark Edwards has been doing this for 
10 years.  MDID's line-up over the years has included everyone from 
Robert McEntire of Tortoise to every member of the following 
band--GEM--who just released an album called "Hexed" on Restless.  
They opened their set with "Suburban Girl" then played "YeahYa" and 
"Figments." If you haven't heard these guys, I've got one word for 
you--GUITARS.  Big, soaring, blasting, driving, crunching, churning 
GUITARS.  These guys have been in the Cleveland scene forever, playing 
in bands like Starvation Army, Prisonshake, My Dad Is Dead, and Death 
Of Samantha.  (Doug also still plays with Cobra Verde--who have some 
new 7" vinyl out this month on Scat and Sub Pop.)

The Vivians closed out the night with one of their inimitiable 
in-your-face performances.  Still one of the coloest Cleveland bands 
around, this was their last performance for awhile as Michele and 
Steve will be touring with Pere Ubu for the next 7 weeks.

All in all, a great night.  Eight bands packed into 4 hours, and not a 
weak set in sight.


<------------------------------>


From: vjakushe@ra.abo.fi (Valeri Jakushev)
QUERY: Catpa? Katpa? Cappa?

I heard a very nice song here on John Peel programme for Radio Mafia 
(Finland) last Tuesday, 26.9.95.

The song was Rocket by a band called somehow Cappa or Catpa or Katpa I 
couldn't figure out.  It's from their debut album.  The band suppose 
to be from N.Y.  The CD J.Peel was playing was released in Italy.

This song was great, basically guitar rock, female vocal (suppose to 
be a standard for success;-)), but still it turns on.

Does anybody knows something about it?

Thanx

Regards from the land of Leningrad Cowboys ;-)

Valeri


<------------------------------>


From: patrickm@mcs.com (patrick monaghan)
ANNOUNCE: Carrot Top tour info

Alright.  This is it.  The Coctails are hangin' it up after their 4th
Annual New Year's Eve show at Lounge Ax this year.  This is their last
tour, and is more than likely your last shot at seeing them prove that no
record that they've released even comes close to how cool they are on
stage.  GO SEE THEM!!

The Coctails Go East One Last Time

[various dates deleted because of the production schedule... -es]

Sun 10/15       New York        Knitting Factory   w/Flowchart
Mon 10/16       New York        Mercury Lounge  w/Mekons
Tue 10/17       Providence, RI  Met Cafe
Wed 10/18       Philadelphia, PA        Nick's
Fri 10/20       Carrboro, NC    Cat's Cradle
Sat 10/21       Atlanta, GA     Star Bar

Out now: Samarai Celestial-Isis Sun CD.  Drummer for the Sun Ra 
Arkestra.  Cosmic music from the next millennium.

patrick monaghan
carrot top records, inc.
chi il us


<------------------------------>


From: obo@hopf.dnai.com (Bo Orloff)
ANNOUNCE: Pere Ubu Tour & Web Site

Thought folks out there in Indie-List land might like to know that 
indie pioneers Pere Ubu (who are officially an indie band again, 
having just released their latest album, _Raygun Suitcase_, through 
Tim/Kerr Records) are celebrating their 20th (!) anniversary as a band 
with a tour and a new WWW site.  The Web site can be found at:

        <http://www.dnai.com/~obo/ubu/>

Tour info is as follows:

The tour band is:
David Thomas vocals, melodeon, musette
Tom Herman guitar
Michele Temple bass
Robert Wheeler EML synthesizer, theremin
Steve Mehlman drums

This is the first all-Cleveland touring Ubu band since 1979, a weird and
unsettling trivia point for when they add the Pere Ubu category to Trivial
Pursuits.

Dates are as follows:

UBU TOUR DATES IN AMERICA

[ production schedule bites again... -es]

Tue, 10/17, Philadelphia PA, Upstairs At Nick's
Wed, 10/18, Washington DC, 930 Club
Thu, 10/19, Toronto ONT, Velvet Underground
Fri, 10/20, Cleveland OH, Agora Ballroom
Sat, 10/21, Chicago IL, Elbo Room
Sun, 10/22, Madison WI, Club de Wash
Mon, 10/23, Indianapolis IN, Patio
Tue, 10/24, Minneapolis MN, First Avenue
Fri, 10/27, Vancouver BC, Starfish
Sat, 10/28, Portland OR, Berbatis Pan
Sun, 10/29, Seattle WA, RKCNDY
Tue, 10/