Bourgeois Heroes

Flywheel!

2011-12-12T10:41:00.001-05:00

photo by Big Orange Crayon

Some of our earliest shows were played at Flywheel, an all volunteer run community arts collective in Easthampton, Massachusetts. On the rare occasion we play live, Flywheel is still our first choice of Western Massachusetts venues.

They've been around for over 12 years, but just reopened in a larger space in the old Easthampton Town Hall building on Main St in April 2010. With a small gallery and 230 person capacity room, Flywheel hosts all kinds of events, from local artists to musicians to national acts like Grass Widow, the Elephant 6 Collective and tUnE YarDs.

This year, Flywheel is looking to raise funds for a new air conditioning system, soundproofing in the space and equipment upgrades to support a community outreach project to get local teens involved in learning live mixing skills.

Wilco, Jeff Mangum, J Mascis, Thurston Moore, K Records and others have donated raffle items for supporters. You can check out the full list and make your contribution through PayPal on http://www.flywheelarts.org/support.php. BH supports Flywheel and so should you!

Bourgeois Cloud 001

2011-10-28T17:02:00.000-04:00

Bourgeois Cloud 001 by Bourgeoisheroes on Mixcloud

Shindig!

2011-09-21T09:45:00.002-04:00

Olé/Hola is reviewed in the current Shindig! Quarterly.

New Strange Boys Video

2011-09-19T17:57:00.001-04:00

Elise's dog Fancy makes a cameo around 2:27!

Buddy Holly Tribute Concert

2011-08-13T08:47:00.001-04:00

Olé/Hola available in Japan

2011-06-03T19:37:00.004-04:00

Violet and Claire is now selling our 7" from their website.

Elisabeth Sladen 1946-2011

2011-04-20T11:39:00.000-04:00

Interview with Elise

2011-04-09T13:32:00.002-04:00

Elise talked with Matt Dube about the new single and other interesting things in the Valley Advocate this week.

Behind the Beat: Long Distance Rock Affair

For Bourgeois Heroes drummer Elise Nacca, the when and how parts of the band's origin are far less consequential than the why.

The group formed in New Haven, Conn., but the two principals are now, at least geographically, divided: Nacca resides in Austin while guitarist/singer Jason Bourgeois lives in Northampton.

Nacca took time out recently to discuss the duo's early days, the challenges of remote collaboration, and the release of its latest single, "Olé/Hola."

"It was so long ago now," says Nacca about the birth of BH. "The events seem less important than the memories of being young and adventurous and excited about everything; carrying drums on the train to Manhattan to play a show, drawing posters, being snotty, making 200 copies of our band's first album cover because the copier counter at Kinko's broke, practicing in Jason's tiny efficiency with towels on the drum heads, driving through the night to Memphis listening to Elvis's Aloha from Hawaii over and over.

"I think it just comes down to two people who are good friends."

Since the beginning, Bourgeois has handled the lion's share of songwriting duties. While the two often communicate ideas and critiques back and forth, Nacca says ideas for her drum parts usually emerge during the recording process

She has a distinct mental picture of the tunes' origins. "I have an image in my head of him in rolled shirtsleeves, furiously marking up sheet music at a piano and typing lyrics at a typewriter," she says.

Together, the two create indie-pop confections concerning topics like girls, boys, summertime and dancing.

Against the odds, Nacca and Bourgeois continue to make music together, despite seeing each other only on occasion. "Being 1,800 miles apart is not conducive to being in a band," says Nacca. "Jason is very restless. He needs always to be in some stage in the process. Musicians are like that, I've noticed. For me, if Jason and I never recorded anything but got to play together more often, I would be content."

Are there any advantages to being a two-person unit? Or any disadvantages? "I can't think of any drawbacks to being in a two-person band," Nacca says. "Bands are fun, but they are also really awful. Usually you have two egomaniacs playing guitar who both want to sing, an overweight, unreliable drummer, and a bassist that's in, like, four other bands, and no one wants to pay for the practice space."

Bourgeois Heroes' new single, "Olé/Hola," is available as a vinyl seven-inch record via February Records, as a handmade CD-R through Rub Wrongways Records and as a digital download. Nacca drew the cover, a rendering of the pair's original instruments, purchased in Memphis.

"I still have the drums, but Jason sold the guitar," laments Nacca. "I have no idea why—the sentimental value of that thing was through the roof."

To listen to and purchase "Olé/Hola," visit www.bourgeoisheroes.bandcamp.com. For the band's official website, head to www.bourgeoisheroes.com.

New Single Out Now

2011-03-29T00:09:00.001-04:00

We're excited to announce that Olé/Hola (b/w When You're Dancing) is now available as a vinyl 7" record (via February Records), a handmade cdr (via Rub Wrongways Records) and as a digital download.

Some info on the recording: we played all of the instruments and sang everything. Justin Pizzoferrato produced and mixed the single. Justin also engineered the sessions along with Ryan McGovern Quinn. The front cover features a drawing by Elise.

You can listen to and purchase these tracks from our bandcamp page.

Music Video

2011-03-25T15:39:00.003-04:00

2011-03-04T09:43:00.002-05:00

2011-01-11T13:09:00.002-05:00

February Records has just released a free digital compilation of music from their roster. Bourgeois Heroes has contributed a live track from 2004 called "Elizabeth is Bored". Click here to download.

2010-10-20T22:54:00.002-04:00

2010-07-23T21:18:00.001-04:00

Bourgeois Heroes interviewed on Brill Dream.

2010-07-09T10:57:00.002-04:00

Hello UK friends,

The cd version of our ep is now available to order from Rough Trade's online shop. Thanks, Danny!

2010-07-08T12:37:00.001-04:00

Happy 70th, Ringo!

2010-07-07T12:13:00.000-04:00

S'more press

2010-07-02T12:33:00.000-04:00

Additional reviews have recently been forwarded to the Bourgeois office. We're starting to realize that we may need to have our pictures taken soon. These kind reviewers have been digging up pictures of us that may have been taken by Kathleen Cei about seven years ago.
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2010-06-24T21:30:00.001-04:00

I've just read some very sad news on the Kinks website:

I'm sad to report the death of Pete Quaife, the Kinks' original bass player. Pete died yesterday, June 23rd, of kidney failure after spending several days in a coma in a hospital in Denmark.

Pete was there from the very beginning and played on all of Kinks amazing 60's tracks right up to "The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society". His last session with the group was for the single "Days". He left the Kinks to form Mapleoak, but this band only stuck together for a couple of years. He then retired from music and moved to Denmark and later Ontario, Canada where he worked as a graphic artist.

Pete made one encore appearance with the Kinks in a 1981 Toronto gig and also hopped on stage with the Kast Off Kinks at 2004 show in the Netherlands.

our kind of reference material

2010-06-22T19:04:00.002-04:00

Jason's weekend tour plans

2010-05-26T14:59:00.001-04:00

"Musical Postcards" press

2010-05-26T09:55:00.002-04:00

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and a few funny mentions
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radio play list 5/23/10

2010-05-24T00:58:00.002-04:00

Jeez, my spot on WRSI last night probably was heard by very few. It aired from 9-11 during the series finale of "Lost"! You can get yourself a cassette or two and build your own version with the tracks listed below. The jingles, echo sounds and synth lasers I recorded were pretty funny though... I'll see if I can figure out a way to post them on this site at some point.
-jason

Bored to Death Theme Song- Coconut Records
The Mystery Zone- Spoon
Unfinished-Kevin Ayers
I Wanna Be Nice To You- Bourgeois Heroes
Saturday Night- V/A Ghana High-Life collection
Walking the Dog- Rufus Thomas
Beatles Medley- Bela Fleck & Tony Trischka
Here Tonight- Gene Clark
Cloudy Silver- Sitting Next to Brian
Love Minus Zero- The Walker Brothers
Mr. Bad Luck- Jimi Hendrix
Waltz Across Texas- Alex Chilton
Red Temple Prayer (Two Headed Dog)- Roky Erickson
Number One- Harlem
Poem Party- The Strange Boys
Raised on Love- Justin Hayward
All For the Best- Thom Yorke
Mr. Big Stuff- Jean Knight
The Lady With the Braid- Dory Previn
No Sudden Moves- Spouse
Golden Rings- Leisure Colony
My Doorbell- The White Stripes
Anna Lee- The Salvation Alley String Band
After the Rain- David Hemmings
Dandelion- Charlotte Gainsbourg
The Listener- Canopy
Savoy Truffle- Ella Fitzgerald
The Nazz Are Blue- The Yardbirds
Tame the Lion- Emitt Rhodes
Gonna Get Along Without You- She & Him
On Her Doorstep Last Night- Roger Ruskin Spear

four.

2010-04-28T09:44:00.005-04:00

Well, we've reached the end. It's the last Bourgeois Residency at the Elevens. It's been a pleasure to be able to host these interesting and weird nights for you all. As Graham Chapman once said, "it's truly a real honorable experience to be here this evening, a very wonderful and emotional moment for all of us, and I'd like to sing a song for all.... of you..." So, I've decided to finish things off with a bang (and a pow, in fact) with a night called "Cover Versions". There's zero original music, but plenty of songs from the 1960's you'll know by heart.

However, just before we arrive at the swinging 60's, we begin with an instrumental folk duo called Serendipity. I predict ten minutes of blistering, brazen and brash folk music. Note, my mother will be playing the mountain dulcimer.

Paper Piano will then head to the stage and play a thirty-ish minute set of Kinks Klassics. We've selected numbers from "Arthur", "The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society", "Muswell Hillbillies", "The Kink Kontroversy" and many more. We'll be sloppy and loud (think Fillmore West '69).

Monkees music courtesy of ALOTTLE will close out the night. I've seen these dudes perform Monkees covers before and I know you won't want to miss it.

Stop on by!

III

2010-04-19T14:37:00.000-04:00

This week the Bourgeois Residency at the 11's will be perhaps be at its most eclectic state. This one is entitled "Big Ideas". We'll begin with vibraphonist Jeannette Muzima.

We will then make a smooth transition into a mathematics lecture by my good friend, Dr. Penny Ridgdill.

Finally, we will conclude with the electro, hip-hop sounds of Glitter Guerrilla. This is a new project by Gabe Sullivan (mastermind behind the Thungs, World's Greatest Dad, Ouch & Don't). He is Northampton's finest frontman and never disappoints.

Warning: you will learn something this Friday.

Alex Chilton tribute night

2010-04-17T09:37:00.000-04:00

Saturday April 24th 2010 the Iron Horse hosts "Thank You Friends: A Celebration of Alex Chilton of Big Star and the Box Tops". Featuring performances from Chris Collingwood, Mark Mulcahy, Winterpills, Henning Ohlenbusch, Rick Murnane, Thane Thomsen, Dave Houghton, Lesa Bezo, Sitting Next To Brian, the Claudia Malibu & Paper Piano. Tickets are $10 in advance and $13 at the door. Doors open at 7pm.

Volume II

2010-04-14T13:46:00.001-04:00

There are certain albums that hit the spot any time, any day of the week, whenever, wherever you hear them. The self-titled Velvet Underground album is one of these. I still remember when I bought it and how I felt the first time I listened to it. Whether it's saying something simple ("baby be good, do what you should") or the borderline profound ("between thought and expression lies a lifetime"), whatever Lou Reed and the gang sing on this record just sounds right to me. Amen. All of the noise, the reverb, the rhythms, those killer Sterling Morrison's leads hit that certain sweet spot in my ears which then transfers the following message to my brain: "THIS IS EXACTLY HOW MUSIC SHOULD SOUND!"

When I was thinking about assembling night two of my Elevens residency, I decided that I should find the live performance personification of this feeling... and right away the Claudia Malibu came mind. The Malibu, a group whose name appears on a concert poster gracing John Cusack's apartment wall in "High Fidelity", share a certain Velvet Underground musical aesthetic: they're loud, late (well I can't speak for VU tardiness), sometimes messy and have the most incredible songs.

While I was living in Connecticut, Jimmy Jude & Sean Beirne were members of the Battlecats, my favorite local band at the time. They were jangly, rough and could teach the kids a thing or two about melody and showmanship. These ideals carry over to their new group, Death To New England. Jimmy & Sean with Little & Big Joe can be found ripping it up everywhere they go!

Come hear how I think Rock n' Roll should be played this Friday at the Bourgeois Residency Volume II. It's a free concert that has a seven o'clock start. Notice we have a subheading "aka Paul McCartney Vest Party". An Emily Cappa curated vested Macca slideshow will be on display throughout the evening.

-j

Welcome Back Flywheel

2010-04-13T17:57:00.003-04:00

Yes. It's very exciting news. Flywheel reopens its doors at a new location. See Paper Piano Saturday night.

"Musical Postcards" now available on iTunes

2010-04-10T10:45:00.000-04:00

Musical Postcards in the digital world

2010-03-28T17:48:00.002-04:00

You can now download a high quality version of our new ep from Bandcamp for the low price of 3.99. You can also stream all of the tracks for free.
<a href="http://bourgeoisheroes.bandcamp.com/album/musical-postcards">The Boy At The Record Store by Bourgeois Heroes</a>
The stylish physical compact disc version is available from Rub Wrongways Records.

New Performer Added to the Bourgeois Residency

2010-03-24T12:52:00.000-04:00

I'm excited to announce that Jeannette Muzima will be opening the April 23rd show.

Jeannette Muzima, a Massachusetts native, is a self-taught percussionist whose principal instrument is the vibes, also known as the vibraphone.

She fell in love with California and decided the University of California at Berkeley was for her. While participating in the activism and ecstasy of the 60s, she obtained a BA in Dramatic Art. In the late 70s she returned to Boston and founded and led the all women jazz quintet, BOUGAINVILLEA, which flourished for 18 years, playing clubs (The Iron Horse was on our circuit!), concerts, tours and music festivals including the Michigan Women's Music Festival and the Montreal Jazz Festival.

Muzima moved back to California in the mid 90s for several years, and having also fallen in love with Northampton, has become openly bi-coastal.

2010-03-22T16:03:00.001-04:00

I've just received my first royalty statement from ASCAP and I found that I've earned eight cents as a writer and an additional eights cents as a publisher for the 2003 Bourgeois Heroes song "Have You Seen Her Face?". Apparently this number had some radio play in Jamaica in 2009. Thank you, Jamaica!

Alex Chilton passes away at the age of 59.

2010-03-18T14:54:00.000-04:00

When I was 18 or 19, I was given a mix tape that went back in time with Alex. It began with his then contemporary material and ended decades earlier with his amazing work with Big Star. It's probably my favorite and most treasured cassette in my collection.

This is very sad news.

The new Bourgeois Heroes ep out now!

2010-03-15T20:29:00.002-04:00

Hello friends,

I'm happy to announce that the new BH ep is available now from Rub Wrongways Records for a mere $7 (which includes postage). It's called "Musical Postcards" and it is somewhat of a document of our long distance musical relationship.

To celebrate this new release, I've opted for something more exciting that the typical release party. Fridays in April (the 9th-30th) is "The Bourgeois Residency" at the Elevens in Northampton, MA. There will be four musically themed evenings. Death To New England, the Claudia Malibu, ALOTTLE and Glitter Guerrilla are just some of the acts who will be appearing at these shows. You'll also be in store for an interesting mathematics lecture by Penny Ridgdill. More specific details will become available while each show date nears... but for now, have a look at the flyer (designed by Luke Cavagnac):

Hope to see you soon,
-jason

It's all been leading up to this...

2010-03-08T18:26:00.000-05:00

Saturday night I finally had the pleasure of seeing Ray Davies perform. I've been obsessed with the Kinks (my all time favorite band) since my early teens, but have somehow never seen Ray live.

The show at the Webster Theater was mostly a semi-acoustic duo outing with Bill Shanley providing excellent accompaniment. The evening was jam packed with jams old and new with some surprises ("Two Sisters", "Misfits" & "Nothin' in This World Can Stop Be Worryin' 'Bout That Girl" instantly come to mind). The night ended with the opening act, the 88, backing Ray on a flurry of Kinks hits. Emily assured me that she has skills that enable her to get to the front of crowds with relative ease. She wasn't fibbing and we found ourselves right up to the stage as the first snare hit cracked and the customary paper plates soured in the air as the band launched into "You Really Got Me".

Ray was in fine form throughout the night and managed to cleverly name drop Connecticut in the song "Low Budget". Oh, I can't forget to mention that the backing band also brought out Ray's classic stage moves (see "One For the Road" for more details).

God Save The Kinks!

-jason

ps- Stay tuned for my April 30th "Cover Versions" show to hear my friends and I perform a full Kinks set!

Happy Birthday Lesa

2010-01-29T09:12:00.002-05:00

Happy birthday to our favorite rocker girl!

2010-01-24T18:55:00.003-05:00

Emily caught me making my mix for Friday's Great CD Mix Up. Have you made yours yet?

March will be a great month

2010-01-17T10:58:00.005-05:00

Both She & Him and Robyn Hitchcock have new albums out on March 23rd. I just took a peak at the She & Him tracklist and it appears they're covering "Ridin' In My Car" by NRBQ. Nice!

2010-01-13T11:38:00.008-05:00

Our friend Henning has made a nice recap of his live music adventures of 2009 featuring photos and some video, too. I participated in many of these stellar events. You can read about them here.

One particular show he didn't mention was the Great CD Mix-Up. It was a night that happened about a year ago where we asked all in attendance to make their own mix cd and put it into a special contraption which I believe was called "The Great CD Mixer". Later, all those participating got to reach into the mixer and pull out a homemade disc made by someone else. The one I received looked great, sounded great and turned me on to some new things.

Anyhow, the second annual mix-up (I christened it "Disc Two") will be happening on January 29th and features the Fawns, Nuclear Waste Club Management and Joshua Crane. Not only am I opening the show with a solo performance, Mike McLellan and I are closing the evening with a deejay set.

Okay, get to work!

Facebook event

2010-01-04T17:38:00.004-05:00

There's a benefit concert this Saturday starting at 8pm the Elevens to support the victims of the recent fires here in Northampton, MA. It's a $5 (or more if you choose) donation to get in.

I couldn't get any of my regular groups to play... so, I've assembled an all-star group called The Plastic Higgins Band. It's Justin Pizzoferrato on drums, Mike McLellan on bass and lead vocals, Ryan Quinn on guitar and lead vocals and me on rhythm guitar and lead vocals. Come check us out.

Here's the complete line-up:

The Fawns
The Thungs
School for the Dead
The Plastic Higgins Band
Friends of Yours
Philip Price
Thomas Matthew Campbell
Brandee Simone
Jon Bartlett
Sitting Next To Brian (acoustic)

UPDATE 1/6/10

Here's the flyer. Pass it on:

Jason's favorite albums of 2009

2009-12-30T13:38:00.000-05:00

2009-12-16T10:55:00.001-05:00

Special rub wrongways show

2009-12-02T12:21:00.004-05:00

The Rub Wrongways Caravan of Stars is performing at the Calvin Coolidge Museum at the Forbes Library on Wednesday December 9th. This is a free and all ages show from 7-8pm. We're playing semi-acoustic and we've created some new arrangements for several of the songs. Glockenspiel, ukulele, melodica, harmonica, pedal steel guitar and banjo will be featured!
-j

Say it ain't so!

2009-11-30T15:43:00.006-05:00

Prabir & The Substitutes, one of the most fantastic rave-up groups, is calling it quits. The Novels have had the pleasure of sharing the stage with this band on several occasions and they always delivered fast and melodic rock n' roll music filled with five part harmony. I've seen few acts rip it up the way Prabir and the boys do it.

They're playing one last gig at Gallery 5 in Richmond, VA on December 12th. Sad.

2009-11-25T16:41:00.005-05:00

My friends,

Often I can't find many things of interest on the web (apart from my daily viewing of the Living Rockumentary, Stereogum, The Rushmore Academy, various animal pornography sites & a few others), but this week has been inspirational!

Just watch this:

***Also, remember to come see the Caravan of Stars this Saturday at the Rendezvous***

-jason

Nilsson sings the beatles

2009-11-23T22:19:00.007-05:00

here.

2009-11-23T18:42:00.002-05:00

When you look at this, do you think of me?

-jason

Good Evening New York Cit-tay!

2009-11-23T15:30:00.003-05:00

Last week I picked up a copy of the new Paul McCartney live album that was recorded over three nights last July at Citi Field. I was in attendance on the first night. To illustrate how excited I was to see one of my four heroes (for the other three, please see "the Beatles"), I can say with all sincerity this was probably the best night of my life to date. I'm sure you can see a little tiny white speck with brown corduroy on the dvd if you look into the stands.

So to answer your question, yes, that's me on backing vocals throughout. Jet!

2009-11-12T08:59:00.002-05:00

Later this month

2009-11-02T15:41:00.003-05:00

Cotton only from now on

2009-10-31T19:12:00.002-04:00

Waxpoetics

2009-10-26T18:16:00.004-04:00

Waxpoetics is a fantastic magazine for all sorts of music fans. I discovered it in Chicago last year when I saw an issue with Shuggie Otis on the cover.

With their current issue, they've boasted that they're upping the ante and including groovy extras with the magazine. The Waxpoetics issue shown here comes with a companion 7" single for subscribers. The funky, synth driven track "Black Coffee" by 9dw is also available as a free download from their digital site (click the 45 cover to check it out).

Boo!

2009-10-24T10:11:00.002-04:00

Emitt rhodes

2009-10-21T11:23:00.009-04:00

Emitt Rhodes is one of those musicians that you just cannot believe didn't become a household name. He was originally a member of the psychedelic pop group The Merry-Go-Round and went on his own when they split up in 1969. His first self-titled, solo release came out the following year and features Emitt on all vocals and every single instrument. The album was recorded in Emitt's parents' garage and has the feel of the first McCartney album and a bit of early Todd Rundgren.

I first heard Emitt on the soundtrack to "The Royal Tenenbaums" (apparently, the song "Lullabye" was included in the film from a recommendation by Jason Schwartzman) and I dug around record bins for a while to find anything by this elusive recording artist. Eventually, I came across the self-titled album at Time Machine Records.

Recently, Justin and I were mixing some BH tracks and he gave me copies of Emitt's other three albums. His whole catalog (including some rare singles) is now available in box set form from Hip-o Select. Though he has remained in the music business, Emitt recorded just these four brilliant albums between 1970-1973.

The good news is apparently a documentary called "The One Man Beatles" is in the works and Emitt is preparing new tracks!

Parkside lounge review

2009-10-19T16:16:00.001-04:00

Here.

2009-10-07T12:37:00.008-04:00

This Saturday the Rub Wrongways Caravan of Stars are performing at the Parkside Lounge in New York at 8:00pm. This club is featured on the new HBO series "Bored To Death" starring my man Jason Schwartzman (and it's on the poster shown here). The Parkside is located at 317 East Houston St, between Ave B and C.

2009-09-30T10:57:00.008-04:00

I can recall having a conversation with Ella at one of the first Sierra Grille shows. I had just seen Tim bust through the front door and I was watching him weave in and out of the crowd at breakneck speed (he always had the gate of someone who had somewhere important to be). He was "fist bumping" his friends and acquaintances throughout the bar. I asked Ella, "how does one get on that list?" Moments later he approached us and extended his fist to Ella. She stuck hers out and they both made the motion that their hands had just exploded due to the contact. Because I was sitting with a mutual friend, Tim looked at me and checked if I was game... you bet I was!

Although this wasn't my first fist bump with Tim, it signifies what I'll refer to as the "alpha-bump" which led to a consistent bumping and conversation at local music shows.

Not only was Tim was at every single show I have ever played in Northampton, I happened to see him almost every single day of the week. I work at the public library in Northampton and this location was one of the many stops he would make throughout the course of his busy day. I would often be on the phone at the reference desk and Tim would approach with his print out of local concert listing for that day (sometimes the header of the paper would read "Tim's Concert List" followed by the date) or I would be dealing with a disgruntled library patron and I'd see an anxious, suspended fist inches from my face out the corner of my eye.

Only days since his passing, there's already an enormous emptiness that I can feel in my home town. It's strange to think that he won't fly into the front door of the Elevens ever again, dart into the assistant director's office at Forbes for a quick candy fix or be seen lobbing paper airplanes at three o'clock in the morning. Unquestionably, he was the absolute greatest supporter of our community's music scene and will be missed by all those who ever met him. Tim was an extraordinary personality, a beautiful guy who essentially had a key to the city and I'm glad that he and I were friends.

This Friday the Elevens is hosting a memorial show. Swillmerchants, The True Jacqueline, Rabbit Rabbit, Ray Mason and several others will pay tribute.

2009-09-21T14:27:00.001-04:00

Noooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-09-17T16:27:00.006-04:00

I was just asked to fill in on bass guitar this Sunday with School For the Dead. This should be a really fantastic night of music. If you're in the area, I hope you can attend.

2009-09-16T11:02:00.006-04:00

Mark Mulcahy has been a friend of Elise and I for some time now and his music means a great deal to us and many others. Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs of Mark Mulcahy is available on iTunes now. This collection features our friends School For the Dead, Spouse, Winterpills, the Butterflies of Love as well as Thom Yorke, Michael Stipe, Dinosaur Jr. and Frank Black. The cd version will be available on September 29th.

09.09.09

2009-09-09T15:27:00.010-04:00

"I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did'."
-Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

Radio recap

2009-09-02T12:42:00.004-04:00

Last Friday Henning and I played live (by the Serio's Market produce section) on the Bill Dwight Show. The following afternoon, Brian, Henning and I recorded an hour long session with Oliver and Beth that aired on WMUA. You can listen to that show for a limited time here.

Residency

2009-08-19T13:50:00.002-04:00

Each Tuesday in September is Rub Wrongways Night at the Elevens in Northampton, MA. This series is appropriately titled "Wrongways Tuesdays". All the nights will begin with a Rub Wrongways duo (very short three or four song set) and followed by a full set by a Rub Wrongways act. The night will conclude with a featured performer not on the roster.

Also, doors open at 7pm for these, end by 9:30 and are FREE!

Check out night one's line-up:

Goldwater

2009-08-19T10:24:00.003-04:00

Thane Thomsen is one of my favorite songwriters in the Valley. He writes honest, simple songs with memorable lyrics. This Saturday at the Elevens Thane will be debuting his new group, Goldwater. This band also features an impressive backing line-up: Brian Marchese on drums, Henning Ohlenbusch on bass, Matt Cullen on lead guitar and Scott Hall handles the keyboards. New Radiant Storm King, Golden Bloom and Mike Flood are on the bill as well.

Gilberto gil

2009-08-17T15:49:00.003-04:00

I read a really fascinating interview with Brazilian musical legend Gilberto Gil in the latest issue of Wax Poetics. In the article, Gil reflects on the extreme censorship in Brazil in the mid to late 60's, his forced exile and his own recent political life. He also revealed that you can listen stream nearly all of his recording from his official website. Have a listen!

2009-08-01T13:22:00.000-04:00

2009-07-27T18:54:00.006-04:00

Cosmic american night

2009-07-22T11:59:00.003-04:00

August 1st at the Elevens, I'm a part of a concert that Los Hijos Unicos have set up which will feature the country side of the Byrds, the Rolling Stones, Michael Nemsith and others. I'll be performing one of my songs and also two songs from the Lee Hazlewood album "Cowboy in Sweden". Things are starting at 9pm. Also peforming are Brian Marchese, The Sixty One Ramblers and the Lonesome Brothers.

Bastille day festivities

2009-07-14T13:18:00.003-04:00

Tonight at the Elevens in Northampton, I'm playing a set with my all-star band (Ryan Quinn, Brian Marchese and Henning Ohlenbusch) called the Hallucinajasons. Also on the bill are Tasha Yar (sleezy, electro fun with Bowie-esque vocals), Zachary Cale (ramshackle, twang delight) and This Frontier Needs Heroes (family folk at its best (photo by Bek Anderson above)).

It's a free show that starts at 7:30. There will be cake, bread and cheese.

-jason

2009-07-13T19:33:00.002-04:00

Read about it here

The caravan heads north

2009-07-13T14:19:00.002-04:00

2009-07-08T13:34:00.001-04:00

I think I owe Tony an apology

2009-07-07T13:13:00.008-04:00

I remember about ten or so years ago my neighbor Tony had an extra ticket to see the Moody Blues at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut. I had absolutely no interest in going, but eventually attended the concert after a series of pleas and cash bribes.

The whole ride there I complained and most likely stated that I would much rather be watching television. I may have continued with "Tony, why do you take it into your own hands to ruin my life?" This was and still is typical fare. And though I may have conceded that I enjoyed the performance afterward, I still was intractable when it came to my views on the Moodies on the whole.

I'm rather disappointed in my younger and completely ignorant self now as I come to the realization that the record "In Search For the Lost Chord" is one of the most beautiful albums I've heard. On the "Lost Chord" and the five or six albums I own, the Moody Blues create a perfect marriage between the psychedelic and the romantic worlds. With their classic 60's & early 70's line-up, each player wrote for the band, many sang and drummer Graeme Edge served as poet or narrator on their records.

Watch this video below of Justin Hayward's classic "Voices in the Sky".

2009-06-29T18:27:00.010-04:00

Thanks to JP Boneyard and Mike Swiatlowski, I finally returned to my favorite place to play: Palmer, MA! Brian & Henning joined me for a set of hits, near misses and soon to be classics. Six songs in all. Though I was experiencing some head/brain/dizziness issues at the show, I still felt comfortable performing. It was great to see some familiar faces and some pals from back home (special thanks to Lesa, Debbie, Karen, Mark & Emily for making the trip).

Diamond Junction's wonderful interior color scheme and lay out, which I haven't encountered in ages, recalls various rolling skating rinks, bowling alleys and arcades from the mid 1980's. Birthday parties from the distant past flooded my memory.

After my set and those by the great Eric Hnatow and the also great San Serac, candlepin bowling commenced:

Lastly, I'd like to mention that I'm on the look out for a (and I don't remember the name of the brand) plastic hip-hop dog by the name of "Sassy". This bitch is part preppy and a whole lotta pimp. She was the one I had my eye on, but it wasn't in the cards. Below are the dogs that I randomly purchased from the dispenser at Diamond Junction. If I had $80 in quarters, they would've all gone into this machine:

Ahhhh, I wish all shows were like this one...
-jason

2009-06-25T13:10:00.002-04:00

Seasonal music

2009-06-22T14:21:00.005-04:00

I realized last weekend that I had a strong, burning desire to listen to some Smiths albums... and after I had got them out, I tried to remember the last time I put anything of theirs on. This lead to a discovery that the Smiths fall into the category of what is know as summer groups. They just happen to work the best for my ears in the summertime.

Jonathan Richman is another character whose music is certainly comfortable with a warm, sunny climate and those sticky summer nights. Also, I generally listen to Robyn Hitchcock throughout the year, but I feel as though I'm turning to "Eye" & "I Often Dream of Trains" mostly when fall approaches. Those albums in particular go well with leaves changing colors, brisk evening breezes and yes, the feeling of decay in the air. The winter, oddly enough, is the time where I need the Beach Boys the most. I go to "Holland", "Friends" and "Pet Sounds" late at night for quiet headphone listens.

Are there people who you find yourself playing at certain times of the year?

-jason

2009-06-19T14:09:00.001-04:00

2009-06-08T18:12:00.003-04:00

mmm...

2009-06-08T14:08:00.002-04:00

Last month Lesa & Henning from the Fawns performed this marvelous cover version of a BH song as a part of the Spouse residency at the Elevens.

Soundtracks & me

2009-06-03T14:14:00.000-04:00

My friend Dylan suggested I look into the music from "Valerie & Her Week of Wonders". I've yet to see this Czech New-Wave, lesbian vampire film, but I can't get enough of its haunting soundtrack lately. It's a rather difficult album to classify, but one might file it somewhere between "Rosemary's Baby" and "The Wickerman".

Another recent addition to the Jason library is the soundtrack to Jacques Tati's "Trafic". In this score, Charles Dumont bounces between three or four themes where there's an interesting push and pull between a lively whistled tune and full out French psychedelic jams.

"Rushmore" certainly tops my all time soundtrack list. The British Invasion cuts and the sleigh bell jangling, swinging baroque sounds from composer Mark Mothersbaugh is a constant inspiration to my songwriting and arranging. That Wes Anderson sure has immaculate taste (click here to see a poster from my Wes Anderson Soundtrack Night)! Others that I constantly revisit are Jon Brion's "I Heart Huckabees", "2001: A Space Odyssey", "A Clockwork Orange" by Wendy Carlos, Curtis Mayfield's "Superfly", "Blow-Up" and "The Squid and the Whale". I feel the greatest film score of all time might just be "The Third Man" by Anton Karas. Did you know that the theme was released as a single and spent eleven weeks at the top of the Billboard Charts in 1950?

Are there soundtracks or scores that you really love? Please share.

-jason

ps- Does "A Hard Day's Night" count?

2009-05-29T11:07:00.000-04:00

I visited the new Goodwill in Northampton and found a green corduroy jacket with elbow patches and also this cassette for fifty cents. I'm delighted to say that I now own a Led Zeppelin album.

2009-05-24T19:55:00.000-04:00

This was sent to me with the subject "hey, it's you."