Excerpts from Electric Degeneration, Degenerate Press' semi-weekly e-zine, free and ad-free. A full episode contains sections for music reviews, upcoming events, blasphemy, classifieds, and anything else we feel like saying. If you'd like to subscribe just contact us.
You can surf the entire archive.
5/13/2002
EAR PLUGS
Saturday we arrived at the Star Bar as Artimus Pyldriver cranked up.
We got close to the stage while they pounded out some seriously loud, hardcore
metallic noise. Unfortunately the lead vocals were utterly drowned out by the
impressive guitar work and all we got was the occasional AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA as
the lead singer broke in with a scream. I thought it was either bad mixing or
bad singing, but I think it was a bad wire or speaker somewhere because if you
headed to the back of the room the vocals were audible, if not legible. They've
got talent, so if you're into serious metal without much to differentiate itself
from so many other acts in that genre check them out. They work hard and take
themselves (maybe a little too) seriously.
The Immortal Lee County Killers got on stage, sporting suits that made them
stand out from the jeans and t-shirt crowd. But what really made him stand out
from the crowd was the show. The drummer stood on the drum kit and said they
were there to entertain us, and entertain they did. Chet's furious guitar work
rolled out into the room, a long, fuzzy roar of vaguely-bluesy rock, like his
hero, John Lee Hooker, in a slow-mo explosion. The minimal vocals came through
the speakers fine, so apparently whatever technical problem the Pyldrivers
suffered was repaired, but the vocals in the Killers' material are more
punctuation than the focus of content. Somewhere in the set, Chet parted the
crowd and lay his humming guitar against the amp so he could do a dance down the
middle of the floor, reminding me of a bit from Soul Train. But his kicks and
splits are nothing compared to his guitar chops, and goddamn he can lay those
down.
Everyone had been telling me Dixie Witch was something to see. Even
Joel, the sound guy at the Star Bar and leader of Bully, said, "It's the best
rock act I've heard. And I've heard a lot of rock!" So when the three piece
cranked up, with the drummer providing the vocals and a familiar face on lead
guitar, all in front of a towering wall of amps, my expectations were high. But
somehow Dixie Witch couldn't meet them. Good, technically speaking, but it all
sounded so familiar. Very synryd-esque, complete with vocals that go from growls
down to a clean voice and plenty of "oohyeaaaahbabynow", but with a bit more
metal edge on guitar and a bit more ferocity on the drums.
The good ol' boys I went to high school with would've loved this stuff, but for
me it lacked something. My compatriots agreed and we beat a retreat sometime
after 2 AM.
Last episode generated a response from degenerate
JH:
I thought RVI's response about jazz and it's influence was right on target.
Don't know if you care to keep the debate going anymore, but here's my two
cents. I would not characterize myself as a jazzhole (as some would), but there
is some jazz I like. Not a lot, but there is some. As far as the avante garde, I
see a parallel with the art world, where there is a similar dynamic. Somebody
does something that to me is joke, and all the artsy-fartsies fall all over
themselves to say how great it is, but they don't really know any better than
you do. I don't care if it is "genius" or whatever, if it moves me, i think it's
great art. If it doesn't, i move on.
Jazz in its earliest incarnation was made by hard partying cats from New Orleans
and New York and Chicago, and it was all about staying out late, drinking,
dancing, chasing women and smoking dope, and I say amen to that. The
establishment was scared to death of that shit.
But everyone dug it and there was nothing to be done (not unlike the emergence
of rock and roll).
Modern jazz evolved after everyone had gotten on the bandwagon and all the white
guy bandleaders were playing "popularized" (read "boring") versions of the
originals and the purists wanted to be out on the edge again, so they went down
the be-bob road and got all intellectual and sophisticated and shit. For me, I
like jazz (or any kind of music) that hits me in the groin as much as the brain,
or that creates a certain mood, be it sad, ecstatic, angry, reflective, yes,
even relaxed. but for lots of people, jazz makes them feel bored. and that ain't
what its all about. so, if jazz doesn't move you, it doesn't move you. See you
at the next ILCK show!
By the way, you might put in your calendar that next Thursday, Jim Mathus and
His Knockdown Society are playing the Star Bar with the
Bonaventure Quartet (which features Amy Pike doing her jazz thing, as opposed to
her country thing with Last Cold Beer).
And despite the fact that Mathus was behind that whole Squirrel Nut Zippers
thing that got everyone excited about jazz again (ugh!), his new band is much
more gutbucket blues than jazz, very R.L. Burnside with a nod to the standards
and gospel and such influences.
Degenerate JH
And another from degenerate CM:
RVI, you truly have an eloquent way with words...and I will agree to respect
jazz at a distance. Just like I'd respect a rabid dog at a distance, but....I
think that your are giving credit to jazz for influencing modern music
(apparently most forms), when I would argue
(without any 'facts') that music originating from African slaves, southern
'spirituals', Blues, etc... has had a much more profound impact on music. Would
the music of today be the same without jazz?
No, I'm sure there have been good musical ideas that were spawned from a jazz
song somewhere.
"To reject jazz out of hand is like saying that
because Sonny and Cher were rock stars, all rock sucks."
Hmmm, since when were Sonny and Cher considered rock stars....pop stars maybe,
but rock? I will agree that not all musicians within a specific genre are
"good", and that fact should not taint the whole for the listener.
"There are just too many things that either are jazz or are
jazz-inspired/influenced to throw all of it out – at least, if you're going to
do so, admit it's a matter of personal taste and severe limitation of musical
imagination in this one area - on your part. Very little good music, especially
the creative, loud and chaotic kind, escapes a debt to the old beatniks of the
50's and artists like "Bird" Parker - or even Frank Zappa at a later stage. You
like Top 40 shit? That's what most non-classical music would sound like if jazz
hadn't been around to give it a run for its money and hold up a higher standard
and outlet for creativity. Sure punk did that, too, but there wouldn't have been
any punk if certain forms of jazz hadn't cleared the way for it in the first
place."
Again, it would seem that there are other forms of music that have had a greater
influence. The ideas that rock and roll in the 50's was a white boy's
interpretation of a black man's blues and that rock and roll was also
'alternative' in the 50's are more valid to me as they appear to have had a much
larger impact.
"And like most things, it's an acquired taste..."
So is eating horse crap, but you won't find me trying to acquire that taste
either.
"...if it all sounds to you like your kid wailing away on a busted harmonica at
7 AM, it might be because you've never made an effort to see what it's up to. "
I have made an effort (admittidly a minor one) to see what it's up to...and I
believe that I said my son's harmonica playing sounded better than jazz to me.
Jazz (especially of the noodle-y variety) reminds me of some fellow students in
art class while in college....they would flip through books, see pictures of
pieces by artists like Jackson Pollock, and be 'inspired' to sling some paint
around. The resulting "Art" had none of the life contained within the inspiring
piece and was completely unsatisfying to behold....
Degenerate CM
BLASPHEMY
Degenerate PK comes back this week with a strong counter attack on the left
flank:
>I've been trying to find some documentary evidence, but as of this writing, I
cannot, so do not take me at my word, but the connections that landed Boortz on
WSB were pure Old Boy Network.
Well, I promised myself that I wouldn't respond to anymore boring empty liberal
rhetoric... but this is too juicy to pass up.
Seems that evil conservatives are not the only ones to blame for usage of the
"Old Boy Network" as JDP calls it... (I believe he is referring to the "Good Ole
Boy Network" as it's more commonly called).
Democrat Tom Murphy is quite the subscriber to this concept (and I have
FACTS to back it up). In March 2002, legislation sponsored by House Speaker Tom
Murphy would increase the authority of his son, a judge, while costing taxpayers
as much as $700,000 or more.
Let me quote Tom Murphy's son, Michael in my charge of nepotism against the
longest serving House Speaker, "Ain't much I can do that the speaker is my
father."
Sounds like quality judicial material, doesn't he?
Only thing holding Michael Murphy back from taking his new appointment is
Democrat King Roy Barnes' approval...
I've not heard the outcome, but I doubt he will object.
As if that's not enough... dig this:
LAKEFRONT LAND FOR MURPHY FAMILY
Georgia House Speaker Tom Murphy, his children and
his in-laws are going to
wind up with waterfront property on a 2,300-acre, state-funded
reservoir planned for his home county if federal officials
grant a permit for its
construction.
(Map shows location of Haralson County Middle
School, Haralson County High
School and property belonging to Tom Murphy, H.P.
Bennett, Harold L. Murphy,
Hurtis R. Bennett and Murphy children)
1 - Tom Murphy: house speaker
2 - H.P. Bennett: brother-in-law
3 - Harold L. Murphy: cousin and federal judge
4 - Hurtis Bennett: brother-in-law
(Source: Tommy Craig, consultant for West Georgia
Regional Water Authority;
staff research)
That means that the new lakefront along Beech Creek likely would raise the value
of the Murphys' property substantially, and the state would pay the landowners
for the property that gets flooded...
AND IF THAT'S NOT ENOUGH:
Murphy does not list the 50 acres on state financial disclosure reports, as
required by law.
It has not been determined how much landowners will be paid for the flooded
property. It's also unknown how much the lakeside property will be worth.
But if it's similar to nearby Lake Harris in Alabama, which Craig said is
comparable, lakeside lots of less than an acre could range from $20,000 to
$85,000. Currently, land owned by the Murphy family is valued at less than
$1,000 an acre.
There's no need for me to rub your nose in it, JDP... the facts speak for
themselves.
>Not wishing to pull a McKinney myself, I will say no more until I can find
something to support it.
heh heh... I doubt that.
The name is Degenerate PK, but you can call me "Daddy"
Take me to Degenerate Press' home page!
There's no place like home... no place like home...
All content on this site is owned by Degenerate Press and cannot be used without our permission. We have lawyers for friends with nothing better to do than cause trouble (no kidding), so play nice. Copyright © 2003, All Rights Reserved