4.30.2006
DOMICILE RE-SALE I have accepted an offer on my home and am waiting for it to close. You would think it's a relief to get close to the finish line, but I find it very emotional. This week I've been working on the Jim Protector record, which is something that I started to get involved with in Norway last year...and on it goes...Alex from the the band came to represent, and he & I camped out at the Soundhouse from Sunday night til Sunday morning (as I write it's just after 5am on Sunday and we're making CDs etc. I have to leave for Seatac pretty soon. Once I get the CDs started I'll run up to my house for a shower and change of clothes. I've been sleeping on the studio couch, basically working around the clock, going home in the mornings for a shower...belive it or not, I still managed, in working 16+ hour days in the studio, to play tennis on 3 separate occasions (and do well!), attend shows by the Presets (unbelieveable synth n drums dup from Australia) and Ice Cube (prob. one of the best live hip hop shows I've been to); and go to a party for about 2 glasses of champagne. OK, now it's a few days later, back to the telling of the last night-- I mixed/made CDs/transferred files til 5.30, rushed home for a change of clothes/shower as promised, and was on a 7.25 plane to Ontario CA--by 1 that afternoon I was in the studio working on new music with White Flag--writing, singing, playing bass/keyboards til 1am...when i finally collapsed and slept til noon... Today I was feeling refreshed, I cleaned up and shaved, had my shades on...later, on the way to get some breakfast, I noticed out of the corner of my eye a girl in a car in the adjacent lane checking me out...I was in a convertible BMW (not driving, not mine) with the top down, and I kid you not...she hit the car in front of her...I felt bad, actually. But, I'll take the compliment... Back to work...1am and another song to sing... Love KS Riverside CA
4.25.2006
HOME & AWAY My house had its open house on Sunday. About 78 people went thru it. Hey, Phil Ek, did you take a look? I have some strong offers on it. Nothing's over til the paint dries and the wax hardens and all that. Also, TMF, Belgium's music channel, has made a little show on the Posies, based on An Lemmens' travels with us in Germany earlier this year and will be airing the results thusly: "An Tour" with the Posies will be aired on TMF Belgium : Thursday April 27th at 16.30 and 21.00 Tuesday May 2nd at 16.30 and 21.00 Saturday May 6th at 16.30 ********************************************** SEATTLE 4/16 Out of the way venue, Easter Sunday, $20 tickets, the Posies. Not typically a recipe for smashing success--but, we went for it, and I do believe we played a really great show, for the small crowd gathered. The people running the show and the folks at the Premier Club are all very friendly, we had some nice wine backstage, Dom got to see me rock out. And I debuted my new pedal, that Andy at Savage audio made, sounded like a angry Pete Townshend-enhanced kind of thing. The more I think about it, the more I think, 'hey, we played a superb show'. Afterwards, Dom & I decamped to the fabulous Red Lion hotel at SeaTac...oddly, it had moved next door from its old location, but, the 13 Coins Restaurant (which, the last time I went, was still using the menu with a cover photo of spices, arranged by mom a few decades ago when she worked at a publishing company) is still in the old building, now office towers. ANCHORAGE 4/19 Dom & I took a vacation in Los Angeles. Flew down Monday morning and back late Tuesday night. What we done did: ate many tacos; swam in the pool at our hotel; visited friends at their jobs; met people for drinks at our hotel bar; drove; listened to Deicide, King Diamond and Nana Mouskori; listened to Neil Young's new album as he unveiled it for the Warner Music Staff (inadvertantly, I also ended up peeing next to him in the men's room); slept (a little); lost our table at the bar when Vincent Gallo came in and claimed his reservation (we knew this was going to happen); etc. I flew the next morning up to Anchorage, for the Posies' return to Chilkoot Charlie's. I can't tell you how much I enjoy flying there and back; it's the only time I request a window seat. passing over the San Juans, Vancouver Island, and the mountains and snowfields surrounding Anchorage is inspiring. The muddy indifference of the Cook Inlet is somewhat terrifying. Bays and Sounds and other subdivisions of the ocean in the temperate zones seen friendlier, more manageable... Visiting Alaska is also an opportunity to eat and drink well, somehow I always manage to have an outstanding meal there. Halibut is fresh this time of year, and I have to admit--I never liked eating it really. I didn't see what was so exciting about tasteless white flesh. But...eaten fresh, close to the source--I discovered the fish has flavor and texture that has been missing in my lower 48 encounters with it. I had local scallops and bites of everyone else's food as well. Chilkoot's sound system has improved as well, so our gig was a pleasure to play; my amp sounded good, there was a nice Roland keyboard provided; people were genuniely glad to have a band (other than cover bands) come from out of town. The next day I spent in the sleeper-chic hamlet of Girdwood (which also boasts a famed resto--the Double Musky Inn; unf. I didn't get to visit it this time), producing a track for Anchorage songwriter Crystal Hutchens. I played drums, bass and helped arrange some violin/viola parts on a lovely song called 'What We Take'. I had enough ideas to fill two days worth of recording but there was only one day free in my schedule to work. As the session ended, and CDs were being burned of the day's work, a fella dropped by the studio and offered to help me celebrate '420'. Meaning, it had been April 20 that day. Dominique's Birthday...also, the birth date of Joan Miro, Ryan O'Neal...and, unfortunately, Adolf Hitler. But, back to '420' as slang for the occasion to use mary-j, this guy didn't want me to miss out on either candles or a cake for pot's holiday. I don't smoke the stuff, but, he offered me a cookie with additives. It was small, bite-size Chips Ahoy-sized. On the drive back to Girdwood I ingested the thing, and sort of forgot about it. I had worked hard that day (esp. playing drums) and I fell asleep in the car during the 40-minute drive. I was dropped off at my hotel. I checked my email. I brushed my teeth. I gave Dom and Aden a call. I got undressed and went to bed. Some time later I woke up feeling...altered. I could hear tiny sounds of people in the rooms surrounding me, that I would normally tune out. I was acutely aware of the location and function of my respiratory system. If I closed my eyes I saw white, not black. In other words, the cookie had started to take effect. Soon I was seeing rainbow-hued fireworks, I started to hear the normal sounds of the night--passing cars, etc--mutate and warp, and I suddenly couldn't tell what temperature I was. I was sweating and shivering at the same time. I thought after a few minutes that maybe I'd been given something of a stronger class than marijuana butter, and thought that was a dirty trick--and how long would it continue? Would I be able to drive my car the next day? I was getting a bit worried. And then I fell asleep. TACOMA 4/21 Jazzbones is a well run venue with a balcony,tables, good sound (improved from last year), a very helpful staff etc. etc. Occasionally I miss the grittiness of Hell's Kitchen, but you know, this venue is more comfy. No pinball tho. Amazingly Jon was able to laugh onstage about the rather harsh review his album got in the Stranger. I tried to make him laugh a bit more, with loimited success. And then he tried to make us all laugh, with a joke that was, well, sort of not funny. I also found myself lecturing another friend after the show about calling people 'groupies' who are just fans; I drank a few 'Jaeger Bombs'. I was housed by a vrey cool fan named Jill and her dog; they put me in a Hide-A-Bed, gave me a bit of scotch, and burned a Wrens album for me. Bloody good hospitality in Tacoma. BOISE 4/22 I just want to pat myself on the back for driving, the next morning at 8, the 500+ miles from Tacoma to Boise. I stopped for gas/coffee in Union Gap, and then again in Baker City. We all forgot that Boise is in another time zone so we didn't get there as early as we wanted to but it worked out fine. On the way back I drove the whole way with only *one* stop, in Pendleton OR. During the drive I listened to Travis Morrison, Aqueduct, Built to Spill, John Vanderslice, usw. usw. Starlight Mints. Nada Surf. A very Barsukian journey. Our show was at the Bouquet, which seems like the place a band called the Posies should play. A much friendlier situation than the Bourbon St.where we played to about 40 people last year. This time the show was advertised better, we had a big feature in the local paper, support from local radio, and about 300 people at our show. Hey, see what happens when you take the time to do the right things to promote a show? Lee and the rest of the Bouquet folks are on the ball! And we thank you! A kind soul, proud of his local notables, gave me the new Built to Spill album which is superb. The morning after the show, I got up at 8.30 and was on the road by 9.15. And in the studio getting set up for jim Protector that night! Now I'm a day into the mixing, getting up to speed. In the morning I had to go thru the offers on the house, which took up a lot of time. Predictably, I was a bit depressed when I left to go to the studio. There's more letting go to be done. And I missed Pinback last night... Love KS Seattle
4.20.2006
ADVERT CONDITIONS--HOUSE FOR SALE (MINE) I'll do the show reveiews etc. later, but I wanted to announce that my house is officially on the market, you can have a look online here and there's going to be an open house on Sunday. Forward this to anybody looking to buy a home in Seattle--it's a lovely home, a place I have enjoyed living for the last nine years--it's very reasonably priced given the current market conditions; you won't find a better home for the money in this town, this year, as far as I'm concerned you'd be hard pressed to find one better, ever.
Love
KS
Anchorage AK
4.16.2006
I can hardly stay awake. We're to be playing in 3 hours, just under, anyway. There was still a lot of stuff to be done on my house but now it's truly ready to go. Floors, paint, cleaning; staging happening this week and it should be listed on thursday. For the curious, I believe there will be an open house next Sunday. No, I won't be there... Last week I saw a lot of people I know at the 'Queen' show. I had no idea "the Deacon John" wasn't touring with them. I can only say, Brian May looked like he has popped out of a time capsule, he really did the best he could under the circumstances. But the circumstances were trying, for some of us who were there. Most people seemed to eat it up and were genuinely pleased they got the bonus of 'Feel Like Makin' Love'. A grand piano rising out of the stage with Paul Rogers singing 'Bad Company'. Yikes. Brian May singing and playing acoustic guitar, that was excellent. And it was one song. He also did the high bits in 'Under Pressure' which I must admit was a highlight. But, 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love' and 'Another One Bites the Dust' as done by PR, it's as if he heard the songs for the first time yesterday...and he looks like Chuck Norris with that facial hair. Much better in the long-career award was Lesley Gore, who I saw at what can truly be called a night club in Seattle last week. Her voice was in great form and retained many pf the qualities of her 60s vintage singing voice. She turned the songs around a bit, slowing them down, abstracting them, quite clever. I also went to see Band of Horses on Friday, who were superb. I love the 3 guitars/capos/weird tunings thing--from a guitar point of view it's like the Posies meets .38 Special. We need that. Hmm. I might try and work in a disco nap. Love KS the City of Seatac WA
4.09.2006
VACANCY Now I'm really outta here. There. House is painted and prettier than ever on the inside. My last unstored items live on a square of plastic in the garage, covered in plastic. I watched my piano get loaded onto a truck (I know where it lives tho). I've had the piano since I was 9. It's been 3 weeks of emotional reckonings with my-life-thus-far similar to that. Loading up boxes of memorabilia. Selling books, some of them I've carried with me since high school. It hurt a little bit. I saw: Fruit Bats, the singer from Clem Snide as a solo acoustic performer, Kelly Stoltz (who has a great band), the Neil Young concert film 'Heart of Gold' (which is excellent), Joey Waronker who played with REM for 3 years came thru town, etc etc I had some help in the evenings getting thru days that were sort of hard on me. I found myself falling asleep at odd moments, I've been getting up at 7am to get out of the way of the housepainters. But I'm not able to sleep in my house for a bit I can't even go in there on Tusday while they redo the hardwood floors. I was interviewed for a documentary about the Long Winters... Inspirational musics other than the above: Quasi 'No One; Yes 'Time & A Word'; Broken Social Scene 'You Forgot It In People' have all helped this week. The first two are songs (although the Yes song is the title track to an album) and the last is an album. Love KS Bellingham WA
4.03.2006
TREASURES Out there in space there are some things of mine for sale. Maybe you want to know about it http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=7403010943 = a Sears Silvertone amp ENDS APRIL 4 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=8401515745 = Vintage "Big E" levis shirt I wore onstage with the Posies and others. It's a medium, but I think that must be some youth size cuz it's really small, so, girls could fit it well. and it's predominantly pink ENDS APRIL 4 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=9304229153 = Amazing Dolce & Gabbana long men's leather coat. I wore this on the mtv music awards and many REM gigs. ENDS APRIL 4 http://emeraldcityguitars.com/69_gretsch_cg_bass.htm = super cool hollowbody 60s Gretsch bass http://emeraldcityguitars.com/dano_bellzouki.htm = amazing 12 string guitar. I played this on "Will You Ever Ease Your Mind" http://emeraldcityguitars.com/vox_super_beatle.htm = 60s solid state amp head Emerald City Guitars also has, but not on their website, some other guitars of mine A TV Yellow Gibson Les Paul Special that I used on the Lagwagon tour in 1997 and the Posies "Success" tour in the late 90s A gorgeous 1960s Fender Mustang Bass, light blue, in a flight case (also with the orig. hardshell case) that I played for Big Star shows in 2002-3 and was used on "Soft Commands" A Red Fernandes bass from 2002 that I used on the White Flag tours in 2002-3 head for Ebay for the Ebay items and Emerald City for the above items. If you have any doubts these items were mine, email me. Love KS Seattle
4.02.2006
I am in my house, which is empty save for a few clothes, two suitcases, some CDs, and my stereo. And a futon, where or who it came from I don't know, but I vacuumed the dust off and it will be my bed here until I leave. Ok, there's still a piano and an organ and a huge tape machine but they are going soon. It's all going soon. Including the house. I had housecleaners come really clean the place top to bottom, it's looking better than it has in years, the inside finally looking tidy enough to match the organically neat garden. I have moved my characteristic clutter into a storage space, it looks pretty hellish but I hope to weed some of that stuff out soon. I have a LOT of memorabilia, posters, press clippings, etc. it filled boxes and boxes. Funny that I can't find my platinum record award for 'Reality Bites'. I found a gold record award for sales of REM's 'Up' album in Germany tho'. And tons of other stuff. They cleaned out all the ahses from my fireplace so now I can't use it. I had a few fires in the last week knowing it would be the last time. I'm moving my wine into a wine storage place (anyone want to buy my wine fridge? $100 and it's yours--email me at this website. It's a small one, like 36 bottles. A little bit bigger than a hotel minibar or dorm fridge). I gave my mountain bike to my next door neighbors, and I put my bed and many other things in the driveway with a 'Free' sign on them this afternoon, the bed and quite a few things have already gone. I went to Goodwill a hundred times. I filled about 600 cubic feet no problem at my storage place. The front seat of my car has a stack of books in it that I'm selling this week (you have to make an appointment!), held in place by the seatbelt! I gave my Wurlitzer to Jesse Sykes and my piano (that I've had since I was 9) to Blake who was in Saltine. I gave a book to a friend, and I'm drinking some of the less valuable parts of my collection before I have to put it in my car and take it to the storage. I took a bunch of paint, pesticides, and stuff to the Household Hazardous Waste Factility this afternoon. I have an embarassing amount of styrofoam that was packaging for audio components I no longer own. This has to go to the garbage dump and I am very unhappy about it. I am using some of it to box up audio components I own. And cardboard boxes--sweet jesus--the recycling gets picked up tomorrow and there's an outhouse-sized pillar of broken down boxes at the end of my driveway. My receycling bin (a big one) is totally full, and I filled another two boxes with paper, cardboard, metal, and plastic recyclable items. You know, a huge amount of this stuff is comprised of items that people left behind in my house. Thanks a lot. Especially weird were the boxes and boxes of tea bags that I didn't buy (they went in the compost bin, or the food bank, depending on condition) and the fucking 8-12 bottles of white wine vinegar that I certainly didn't buy (what the hell...who...agh, it's not even worth asking). It ain't over yet. I have a dump run tomorrow of styrofoam and some nasty stuff that the cleaners drgedged out of the basement. And the wine has to be moved. I still have a few things in the house to move out of the way of first painters, then hardwood floor refinishers. I have been listening to a ton of music while I've been owkring on this tho--you should check out Solomon Burke's "Don't Give Up On Me", one of the most astonishing soul vocals I've heard. I've been listening to lots of soul, blues and gospel; but also everything else from crappy demos to audio books and spoken word to punk to anything else. I was digging the Deathray Davies' song "Dominique" for obv. reasons, and I really dug the instrumental bonus disk that came with Chris Stamey's "Travels in the South" album. And the 60s band the Action's album "Rolled Gold". Right now I'm listening to a great comp. of tracks from 78s called "Down in the Basement: Joe Bussard's Treasure Trove of Vintage 78s 1926-1937"; a collection of songs of similar vintage (albeit globally more diverse) is the "Hot Women" comp. assembled by R. Crumb from his collection, which I also enjoyed this week. There was a tune on there that really confused Jon Auer when he called me while I was listening to it. Oh, also very enjoyable was an EP by an Australian band called Bergerac, it's from 2001 and there's evil synths and all kinds of good things. I wonder if they still exist? Last week I saw Metric, who played to about 1,000 people on a Monday night; their live show is about as intense as it gets; brilliantly staged, brilliantly executed, incredible playing and singing. They get the 'best band in the land' A.C. designation for 2006. The album "Live It Out" is also excellent, the title track being my favorite at this time. I met them in 2003 at the REM end-of-tour-party in LA. Emily complimented (er, maybe she was kidding tho) a vintage suit I was wearing and we chatted for a second. I hadn't heard them at that point and now do I feel stupid had I known what an important band they would become to me I would have spent a LOT more time talking to them instead of going off and sitting in Mike Mills' hot tub by myself (which wasn't really such a bad choice at the time, however). So...if anyone reads this that knows them...well...I guess ther's nothing you can really say. Except that, I, too have come to love this band's music very much. I also saw, albeit, after a bit too much wine (NEVER order the second bottle), a great set from His Name Is Alive. I found a CD single of REM's "I'll Take the Rain" from the Reveal album; it's a superb song, and I think one of my best keyboard moments (I play about 3 different things on it). The single has a live version of the song "She Just Wants to Be" that I play organ and 'strings' on, recorded at a small show in New York in 2001. I'm going to eat something...and go visit Phil & Jesse of the Jesse Sykes org. and listen to their new album in progress. Then I'm going to come back to my house and sleep on a futon on the floor of my former office. I wish that was a poem. Love KS Seattle
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