Gryffyd Eamonn Dempsey » Music

Treasure

Gryffyd — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 03:18:04 +0000

I was in San Francisco again earlier this month, on a visit with my father. It’s easy to become attached to the city, even if you weren’t born there. Here is a picture I took from Treasure Island:

And just to the left of that:

Earlier that morning we went to visit the Mission Dolores in the city. It’s hard to imagine that time, when the mission was the most substantial structure around. Now of course it’s all urban, and right nearby I came across by a chance a bar immortalized in one of my favorite songs, by Steel Pole Bath Tub, in which the singer lists a series of misadventures that befell him the night before, but he can’t remember any of them:

I don’t remember being on the floor
I don’t remember how it smelled
I don’t remember how they’ve been there before
I don’t remember when I fell

…

I don’t remember why I woke up alone
With no more memory of you
I don’t remember

that we were in love
That’s only one thing that I recall
I was singing at the 500 Club
I don’t remember her at all

Lo, the 500 Club:

Cold Feelings

Gryffyd — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:17:21 +0000

Further to yesterday’s post, yes, every man’s death diminisheth me and I have no personal animus for the man. But just now I finished listening to Social Distortion’s “Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell” and it occurred to me that every song on that album is filled with infinitely more energy and emotion than anything I’ve ever heard from Michael Jackson, and the fact that the latter has sold millions is a terrible indictment public musical consumption. And I say this as a man who has, under the influence, gleefully danced to “ABC”.

Adieu

Gryffyd — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 23:16:21 +0000

In tenth grade, my friend Aykut and I gave a presentation on heavy metal to our French class. I don’t recall much beyond us posing in our jeans jackets with the patches of various bands, thumbs hooked in our bullet belts, boom box playing a few select tunes. I do remember someone asking what we thought of Michael Jackson, and us replying that we couldn’t stand him and would beat him up if we saw him on the street. I can’t recall the French phrases we used, but they seemed to shock our interlocutor. Back then such partisanship seemed appropriate; one of the local French stations had a monthly heavy metal video show, and once when it was pre-empted because of the murder of Marvin Gaye, I was full of puerile resentment.

I’ve learned a few things since tenth grade; among them to not wish harm on others because of differing musical tastes. I still don’t have much appreciation of Jackson as a musician, and who knows whether or not he was a pedophile. I feel largely indifferent to today’s news.

Radicals co-opted

Gryffyd — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:51:51 +0000

So over the weekend I came into possession of a $15 iTunes gift card. Browing through the offerings I looked for some of the more obscure albums I used to own but lost with most of my vinyl collection (entirely due to my own laziness). One of them was We Don’t Want Your Fucking War, a punk compilation from 1984. Lo and behold it was on offer and I promptly bought it. Apparently it was re-issued as a CD a few years ago and I guess that step of digitization ensured it would end up for sale at MP3 sites. Anyway, I’m sure that the few tenths of a cent in royalties that accrue to the Soledad Brothers’ account for their song “Burn the Rich” will make up for the painful failure of the revolution in the intervening 25 years.

Get Up On It Like This

Gryffyd — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 20:18:38 +0000

Lazy, yeh, but I seen it on another bloke’s blog:

1. Put your iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. on shuffle.

2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.

3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.

IF SOMEONE SAYS ‘ARE YOU OKAY’ YOU SAY?

“May This Be Love,” Jimi Hendrix

People quickly learn to avoid me

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF

“Overkill,” Motorhead

over and over agin

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?

“A Lesson in Violence,” Exodus

kinkay

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?

“As I Slither,” Kataklysm

the sexy slither of the female snake

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE?

“Black is Black,” Jungle Brothers

Me and the brothers gonna work things out

WHAT’S YOUR MOTTO?

“Girls Turn 18 Every Day,” The Vandals

It is good to be optimistic

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?

“We Don’t Exist,” Meat Puppets

Fuck ‘em

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?

“Sliver,” Nirvana

parents just don’t understand

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?

“Oh Shit,” The Pharcyde

so true oh shit

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?

“By the Time You’re Twenty-Five,” Sleater-Kinney

See, it’s not just about turning 18

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?

“Don’t Fall Asleep on the Subway,” Less Than Jake

hate this band

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?

“Suckerpunch,” The Wildhearts

love this band

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?

“Leech,” The Melvins

fuck ‘em

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?

“Work,” Victims Family

So true ha ha

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?

“Chaos B.C.,” Sepultura

also commies

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?

“In a Rut,” The Ruts

fairly obvious innit

WHAT DO YOU WANT RIGHT NOW?

“Victims of a Bomb Raid (Anti-Cimex),” Napalm Death

to comfort them

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?

“Mine Are the Eyes of God,” Corrosion of Conformity

lovely people one and all

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?

“Get Up On It Like This,” Chemical Brothers

how rude

Quod Christi morte deletum est

Gryffyd — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:35:53 +0000

Tomorrow is Epiphany. And, perhaps because I’m listening to it right now, but I just had the epiphany that my favorite song is “The 500 Club” by Steel Pole Bath Tub.

Aw shucks

Gryffyd — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:51:46 +0000

A couple of times I have mentioned Lucinda Williams on this hyeah web log (blog). I never expected to attract her attention thereby, but now comes news that on her new album she covers AC/DC’s “It’s a Long Way to the Top”.

I think it’s pretty obvious Lucinda is sweet on me.

Corruption

Gryffyd — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 22:54:31 +0000

Earlier this month Mrs The Fyd and I witnessed Weezer bringing the rock music. I write now not to praise Weezer, although they were most definitely praiseworthy that evening. I write to mock the second opening band, Angels & Airwaves. We arrived after the first opening act was finished, so I cannot legitimately mock them, but I won’t believe they could have been as bad as A&A. Music like a bad Simple Minds tribute band, stage show like a third-rate Vegas spectacular, lead singer moving like a retarded mime. It’s unkind to criticise anyone daring to show their creative side in public, but they were that crappy. Mrs and I could not understand how they were teamed up with the Weez.

Speaking of crappy, I remember that after the previous time we saw Weezer, when they co-headlined with the Foo Fighters, the local paper’s next-day review was down on =w= and high on FF. De gustibus and all that; on that night of the tour Weezer played first and we left before FF started, them being a band I had no interest in and I wouldn’t carp on anyone for having reciprocal taste. In my case I doubt I would recognize any of their songs so I can’t judge them. The problem with that particular reviewer however was that it was exactly unfamiliarity with Weezer that seemed behind his dissing of their performance. In particular he singled out instances in each act’s set where the singer traded places with the drummer. In comparison he had Dave Grohl being far more impressive than Rivers Cuomo. Fair enough, but the point was not for Cuomo to show off this drum skillz; it was for Pat Wilson to show off his guitar playing. And he is an excellent guitar player.

Which brings us back to A&A. Mrs and I wondered who chose them for the tour. Were they pushed on the band by management or their label? Now I know who was behind that decision; I just discovered that the drummer for A&A is Atom Willard, who of course is pals with Pat Wilson and played in his band, the Special Goodness. Who I saw play at Dante’s back in the day, and about whom I would never have guessed that such a talented drummer would end up in such a crappy band. At least when he was with the Offspring he wasn’t embarrassing himself. Some of the time.

Next up is a Thompson Twins cover

Gryffyd — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 20:56:36 +0000

Thirty years ago AC/DC used a set of bagpipes in one of their songs. That accomplished, they promptly ditched innovation with grim resolve, such that listening for the first time to their new album, Black Ice, I just now found myself asking, “Is that a freakin’slide guitar?” And answering, “Yes. Yes it is.”

A fan’s notes

Gryffyd — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 16:44:59 +0000

AC/DC is coming out with a new album next month. The release date is the day before my birthday, which would seem significant if I really thought the world revolved around me. However, as proof that it doesn’t, it appears from the concert dates posted online that the band will not be stopping in Portland in the forthcoming tour. I feel spurned.

Perhaps I shouldn’t. I think that for the last album they passed Portland by in the first leg of the tour, but came through on the second. I hope that is the case; they may be hecka old but they put on a great show, despite its being as predictable as last year’s underpants.