seriously
― waterbabies (waterface), Thursday, 17 April 2014 14:58 (ten years ago) link
Great piece, tylerw! As for the gear, maybe Lou's guitar was the insanely hot-rodded Gretsch Jonathan Richman described in Up-Tight. Other than that, they were probably using Vox amps, but dunno if it was US or UK Vox (huge difference).
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Thursday, 17 April 2014 15:00 (ten years ago) link
In that Jonathan Richman interview for Lou's birthday earlier this year posted on another thread, he said he was pretty surprised at first to discover that the Velvets didn't use off-brand guitars but the the same makes and models as everyone else.
― When I Get To The Borad (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 17 April 2014 15:13 (ten years ago) link
yeah! also hilarious to hear jonathan talk about how quiet they actually were (at least compared to the volume of bands now). i dunno, i was listening to that guitar amp tape and the dudes sound fucking loud. like, crazy loud. but i guess in terms of actual wattage, they were limited.
― tylerw, Thursday, 17 April 2014 15:16 (ten years ago) link
hmm as I think abt that tape anecdote, isn't he talking abt Jamie Klimek of Mirrors? iirc he was the dude who taped all those Cleveland VU shows.
― sleeve, Thursday, 17 April 2014 15:19 (ten years ago) link
(Xp)Truth be told I kind of wanted more detailed anecdotes about his extensive interactions with them but, Jonathan being Jonathan, it was really more about him reiterating how much he loved them and was influenced by them and still can't get over them, which was still something I guess.
― When I Get To The Borad (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 17 April 2014 15:20 (ten years ago) link
xp i believe so, him and mirrors guitarist jim crook. in fact, i found this while i was researching:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVLlSdO539gpretty sure klimek is at least the guy who taped that later La Cave show with Yule. there are rumors of other tapes, but they might just be rumors.
― tylerw, Thursday, 17 April 2014 15:21 (ten years ago) link
There was some good stuff about Sterling though: "People talk a lot about Lou Reed, Jonathan, but what they don't realize is that nothing goes on in this band without my say-so."
― When I Get To The Borad (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 17 April 2014 15:23 (ten years ago) link
haha yeah. i thought it was pretty touching when Richman talked about seeing Lou in the 90s -- when Lou said he was proud of him, Jonathan cried! A perfect anecdote. i do think Richman should write a memoir of some kind, though that might be the last thing he'd ever want to do. i don't know, he's an interesting guy!
― tylerw, Thursday, 17 April 2014 15:25 (ten years ago) link
I would buy that instantly.
― ▴▲ ▴TH3CR()$BY$H()W▴▲ ▴ (Adam Bruneau), Thursday, 17 April 2014 16:16 (ten years ago) link
me too. even if it was comprised primarily of lists of his favorite organic grocery stores and long ruminations on slack key tunings
― How dare you tarnish the reputation of Turturro's yodel (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 17 April 2014 16:18 (ten years ago) link
i'd be ok with that. he's just interesting because he really doesn't fit into any narrative that I can think of (even tho he's tangentially related to a lot of different things).
― tylerw, Thursday, 17 April 2014 16:22 (ten years ago) link
At this point if the "real" Jonathan stepped out from behind the persona, it could potentially be hugely disappointing if not horrifying. We've had a long time to get used to the Jim/Iggy split. Cf "Wakefield" if not Flitcraft.
― When I Get To The Borad (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 17 April 2014 17:14 (ten years ago) link
The journey kicks off with the band (most likely just Cale, Lou Reed and Sterling Morrison; drummer Maureen Tucker isn’t audible here) chugging steadily, slowly over a spare, spidery riff.
Now unless my ears deceive me, when Cale starts up on organ, you have Lou + Sterling on guitars and there is definitely a bass guitar there too (not bass pedals, as far as I can tell, and I'm not sure Cale played those anyway) so I can only assume Mo was playing bass!
― A frenzied geologist (Tom D.), Tuesday, 22 April 2014 07:56 (ten years ago) link
i thought it was pretty touching when Richman talked about seeing Lou in the 90s -- when Lou said he was proud of him, Jonathan cried!
Hey, he's an emotional guy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7mHg0H6sy8
― A frenzied geologist (Tom D.), Tuesday, 22 April 2014 12:20 (ten years ago) link
Wonder if Donald Fagen was around to witness that.
― Kid Creole Meets Señor Coconut at a fIREHOSE Show (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 22 April 2014 14:03 (ten years ago) link
Put Jerry on your shoulder.
― Harper Valley CTA-102 (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 16 September 2018 21:07 (five years ago) link
Andhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slaAGS7f0LU
― Harper Valley CTA-102 (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 16 September 2018 21:10 (five years ago) link
hey it's the hideout!!
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Sunday, 16 September 2018 22:55 (five years ago) link