The Grand Ennui

Woof, I'm so out of practice with this, just like I'm out of practice in talking to actual live humans I suppose, like, I've always had a bit of a hard time with people, chit chat (especially strangers), and almost any one on one situation, but now I'm just like, nope, get the fuck away from me, I can't do it. Ha! Maybe it's just some classic version of getting older and approaching the "go shit in your hat" Junior Soprano gives no fucks phase of life or maybe it's some unfortunate quarantine exaggerated version of the real me. I dunno. Maybe it's part of a post-Trump realization where while we'd long feared that everyone and everything was awful, we'd managed to hold on to some faint wisp of hope that we were wrong, whereas now it seems like it's all worse than even our worst nightmares. Again, I dunno! It's so hard to be positive. Fortunately I greased the wheels of this update with a truly feel good reunion! The Monkees! Well, my two favorite (and coincidentally, two living) Monkees, the ever entertaining showman Micky Dolenz and the great, nearly mythical, terminally underappreciated Papa Nez. If you know me you know how I love the odd career arc of The Monkees, how I enjoy the tv show, a lot of the music, and think Head is a misunderstood gem of a movie. And you know I love Michael Nesmith, particularly the three First National Band records and his pretty fascinating life (The Council of Ideas!) so it seemed right that I go see this show. Yes, Davy and Peter are no longer here, but still. Yeah, it was a play the hits reunion show and all that, but, as a fan, it was great (I even actually missed Davy during "Daydream Believer"!). Like they get to take one last victory lap, ya know? It was also a little sad. Nez has had some well documented health problems the last few years and he looked every one of his 78 years. Sitting most of the show, singing a beat behind here and there, and sadly not playing guitar, although he proved to still be a witty raconteur between songs. But to see him in such a diminished state, seemingly well into his story’s last act only a month or so after seeing my own dad’s rapidly failing body losing touch with its dementia clouded mind drove home the harsh reminder that it's coming for all of us. We’re not getting younger. The parents, the heroes, the idols of our youth are slipping away. Let's not be strangers. Share some love. And love yourself too. Our time here is finite. Yeah. One other show, Mdou Moctar at Mississippi. This dude rips. I love that sound, whatever it’s called, that repetitive, dreamy, sub-Saharan thing. He’s a magnetic performer too. This is the second time I’ve seen him, I think I’ll go see him anytime he comes through. So good. I randomly saw High Fidelity recently, or at least most of it, and on top of it being mostly still quite enjoyable, I got all hepped up on top 5 lists, with a Top 5 All Time Live Bands list percolating around in my head. I thought about it for a bit, there are a number of bands I could include, but it's such a squishy thing based on time and place and all that that I decided not to carry on with it, at least for this. But I’d encourage this as a fun exercise if anyone wants to run with it, especially in person! (And, really, everyone’s fighting for second place cuz Pharmakon.) Anyway. Shit’s happenin'! Crap, Sea Moss played at Kenton last Friday? It really is time to start paying attention again. Motrick, Fri 10/8, No Fun. Local band, I don’t really know anything about them, but I’m pretty sure someone told me to check them out (like, in the before times). The Mistons, Fri 10/8, High Water Mark. Sean Croghan’s newish band. I will likely be at this. I’m actually not a huge fan of his catalog, at least from what I’ve heard, for instance I don’t get the whole Crackerbash thing (maybe ya had to be here), but he’s a Portland mini-legend and sounds like a good dude and I love High Water Mark and some of you are old time Portland peeps who really wanna see this so let’s goooooo! Yo La Tengo, Mon & Tues 10/18 & 19, Wonder Ballroom. I feel like Yo La Tengo might be really good, but I’ve never listened to them. Could barely recognize a single song probably. Not that I dislike them, I just missed them somehow even though I’ve known lots of people over the years who’ve dug them. Rebirth Brass Band, Wed 10/20, Revolution Hall. Classic New Orleans brass band but modernized a bit. That sounds cheeseball, I know, but they’re super good, particularly live. Tinariwen, Sat 10/23, Aladdin Theater. More sub-Saharan sounds. Been around for a long time, kind of the same vein as Mdou Moctar, but a mellower, folkier, sit around the campfire vibe. So good. This show’s a little pricey (to my mind at least), but I might just buy tix anyway. Tiffany at The Aladdin? Strange times, strange times. Sleigh Bells, Tues 10/26, Wonder Ballroom. Can someone remind me what they sound like and why I feel like 8 or 9 years ago they were popular in my social circles? Am I confusing them with someone else? Dan Deacon, Fri 10/29, Wonder Ballroom. Baltimore’s electro pop magician. I don’t remember if any of you have seen him, but his goofy get the audience involved thing sounds so stupid, but its somehow so super fun. Yes, I said that.

Black Dice, Sat 10/30, Holocene. Black Dice seem like they’ve had a few different lives and eras and I don’t even know what they sound like anymore. Shit, its been 20 years (!) since the two EPs that I (still) love were released, 2000’s Number 3 (AKA Untitled 10”) and 2001’s Cold Hands. Those early hardcore noise records were sooo good. Even by the time the first full length came out (Beaches & Canyons in 2002) they were starting to lose me just a little. There’s a flickering, possibly flawed memory, in the deep recesses of my brain that says I believe I saw them a million years ago in Providence- with Sonic Youth and Lightning Bolt! Yeah, holy shit, that’s a bill. Anyway, I’m gonna dial up some new stuff and see if I want to check this out. That’s it for now. Let’s try and get back to the (semi) monthly check-ins, shall we? I bought tix for La Luz at Wonder in November (right after my bday in case any of you fine people have been waiting for an excuse to buy me a drink) and tix (twice- don’t buy tickets late at night after drinks!) for Ty Segall at Crystal in February. Should I buy tix for The Black Angels in November at Rev Hall? Anybody going to that? Ok. Its a school night, need to wrap this up. As always always, additions, corrections, and/or subtractions welcomed. DW

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cYb4sOAp6A