GBV split

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http://www.billboard.com/bb/daily/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000496110

"You can't be the Rolling Stones. You've gotta quit while you're relatively handsome."

― stevie (stevie), Sunday, 25 April 2004 11:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Stevie, isn't this news on a level with "Posthumous 2pac album released"?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 25 April 2004 11:58 (twenty-two years ago)

AM NOT IN THE MOOD FOR JOKING, NED. V V V V V UPSET ABOUT THIS.

― stevie (stevie), Sunday, 25 April 2004 12:01 (twenty-two years ago)

but yes, obviously GBV SPLIT does not mean the end of pollardian rock, or even GBV. However, it does seem to signal the end of live GBV for which i am regretful. Though maybe its for the best, given Bob's age, etc.

Postal Blowfish, the voluminous GBV mailing list i've been a member of for years, is off the meter now.

― stevie (stevie), Sunday, 25 April 2004 12:02 (twenty-two years ago)

However, it does seem to signal the end of live GBV for which i am regretful.

Ah, fair enough.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 25 April 2004 12:03 (twenty-two years ago)

WHA-HA-HAHA???!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
*tears flying everywhere*

...............

"We are the kings of indie rock. When we quit, indie rock will die."
*cracks up laughing teary-eyed still*

― Francis Watlington (Francis Watlington), Sunday, 25 April 2004 12:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Considering that I never saw them live, AND COULD HAVE SEEN THEM THIS WEEK, I am quite upset. Gr...

― John 2, Sunday, 25 April 2004 13:17 (twenty-two years ago)

aw. damn. pollard's idiot king peter pan act always gave me some wierd kind of hope....great band, will be sad to see them go.

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Sunday, 25 April 2004 13:55 (twenty-two years ago)

I could have gone to the show last night. I don't feel that anything was lost, however.

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Sunday, 25 April 2004 14:40 (twenty-two years ago)

One of the top five best shows I've ever seen. Made three of the best underground rock albums ever (in a row, no less). Still, I agree with this decision. Now maybe some of us can finally catch up

― roger adultery (roger adultery), Sunday, 25 April 2004 14:51 (twenty-two years ago)

"We are the kings of indie rock. When we quit, indie rock will die."

I really really really hope this was a tounge-in-cheek statement a la Pavement.

― Serya (Z_Ayres), Sunday, 25 April 2004 15:23 (twenty-two years ago)

I really really really hope he means it and he's right.

― spittle (spittle), Sunday, 25 April 2004 15:25 (twenty-two years ago)

(jus' playin' indie rock, you know i love you)

― spittle (spittle), Sunday, 25 April 2004 15:26 (twenty-two years ago)

So, is this a split like when Cobra Verde became the backing band, and also like the split where Cobra Verde left the band after seeing their eventual demise in a Pollard interview? Or is this a split split?

― donut bitch (donut), Sunday, 25 April 2004 16:23 (twenty-two years ago)

I doubt Pollard will resist the urge to do the "reunion tour" thing. Is he going to stop recording? I can't imagine he'd do that. He's so compulsive about it, and he's not a rich man by any means. He needs the cash - that's why I'm sure this is a temporary thing. When the cash runs dry, he'll do a reunion tour and bust out the "old hits."

I definitely want to see the New Year's Eve show, though. That should be pretty incredible.

― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Sunday, 25 April 2004 16:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Why is everyone getting all "I should've seen them live"? They're touring for most of this year! They're probably going to play in NYC at least two more times, including the "final show."

― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Sunday, 25 April 2004 16:38 (twenty-two years ago)

The time is nigh for my tribute group to form. I need a name though...A Band Called Aerodynamics?

I saw them play for free at the annual music festival on campus around the time of "Do The Collapse". A bunch of us townie hipsters got to hang out with the band afterwards and he was shocked so many of us knew about Wire. They were really nice.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 25 April 2004 16:41 (twenty-two years ago)

We got him to do a high-kick in the diner we were in too.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 25 April 2004 16:41 (twenty-two years ago)

For all the nasty things about them in public recently, I'd still love to see that New Year's show.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Sunday, 25 April 2004 16:41 (twenty-two years ago)

For all the nasty things I'VE SAID about them in public recently, I'd still love to see that New Year's show.

Arrgh, all those dropped words, I'm getting old old old.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Sunday, 25 April 2004 16:43 (twenty-two years ago)

It's funny how he has no editing capabilities on record but always picks the winners for the live shows.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 25 April 2004 16:44 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't know. If you've heard enough GBV outtakes and the weaker non-GBV, non-Pollard solo material, it becomes pretty obvious that he's actually a pretty decent editor of his material. It's clear that he generally reserves the most commercial songs for the GBV records, and keeps some special songs earmarked for his "solo" albums. The more obscure the side project, the more likely it is to be filled with dross.

― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Sunday, 25 April 2004 17:13 (twenty-two years ago)

I doubt Pollard will resist the urge to do the "reunion tour" thing. Is he going to stop recording? I can't imagine he'd do that.

Pollard on comebacK: "Can't leave indie rock alone - the game need me!

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Sunday, 25 April 2004 17:15 (twenty-two years ago)

You have a point, Matthew, I forgot how unbelievably horrible his side stuff can get.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 25 April 2004 17:19 (twenty-two years ago)

what are some good names for a GBV tribute band? The Portable Men's Society? The Alien Lanes?

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 25 April 2004 17:20 (twenty-two years ago)

The Dreadful Crows
Hot Freaks
The Twilight Campfighters

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Sunday, 25 April 2004 17:32 (twenty-two years ago)

I think I'm gonna go with Hot Freaks: A Tribute To Guided By Voices

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 25 April 2004 17:34 (twenty-two years ago)

man, that would be fun...a band from madison called drunk drivers did a gbv tribute set at first ave's cover band contest a couple of times...it was super aweseome...they'd always open with a salty salute.

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Sunday, 25 April 2004 17:38 (twenty-two years ago)

you'd HAVE to open with A Salty Salute. And probably end with I Am A Scientist.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 25 April 2004 18:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Robert Pollard is incapable of not writing songs. There's no doubt he'll continue feeding the cult with new releases.

Bob injured his back while out on tour earlier this year. He was out of commission for a month or so, had to cancel dates. This has happened before. Maybe this subsequent time in traction was what convinced him to end the band. The title of the upcoming album, Half Smiles of the Decomposed, is probably no coincidence.

And Bob's "death of indie rock" statement shouldn't be taken too seriously. Onstage, he often indulges in drunken bravado and likes to talk shit about every other band out there. Even the bands he's friends with. It's just a goof. Remember, Robert Pollard is bascially a midwest jock.

― Ted Koppel, Sunday, 25 April 2004 20:03 (twenty-two years ago)

looks like foax'll just have to make do with the 15 already-released gbv albums.

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Sunday, 25 April 2004 20:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Now Cobra Verde can go back to being a band again!

― AndreNY (AndreNY), Sunday, 25 April 2004 23:25 (twenty-two years ago)

THREE hours? who does Pollard think he is, Badly Drawn Boy?

― Donna Brown (Donna Brown), Monday, 26 April 2004 02:43 (twenty-two years ago)

What's he going to do with all the songs he pulls out of his ass? Are they finally going into the toilet?

― Mark (MarkR), Monday, 26 April 2004 02:45 (twenty-two years ago)

I wish I could say I'm shedding tears. But I'm not.

Might actually check out this last record tho.

― Raymond Cummings (Raymond Cummings), Monday, 26 April 2004 10:57 (twenty-two years ago)

it's about time. and this is coming from a huge fan. he's been in a rut for years, and the live shows have gotten unbearable, as he's slowly but surely turned into a bitter, humorless old man, to go along with his consistent ability to sing so far out of tune that he's almost back in tune.

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Monday, 26 April 2004 15:04 (twenty-two years ago)

The other members of the band can reform as By Voices.

― jack cole (jackcole), Monday, 26 April 2004 15:08 (twenty-two years ago)

a bitter, humorless old man

He was already there. His problem in a nutshell -- his fun hobby on the side gets popular enough that he starts thinking he deserves to be famous by default.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 26 April 2004 15:20 (twenty-two years ago)

"Im the -- hic -- Greatest!"

― jack cole (jackcole), Monday, 26 April 2004 15:21 (twenty-two years ago)

See, if the Crying Your Knife Away show had been the pinnacle of their live work, then that would make sense.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 26 April 2004 15:29 (twenty-two years ago)

...The more obscure the side project, the more likely it is to be filled with dross...

I agree with your assessment that certain type songs tend to be earmarked for specific releases, but as with nearly all things Pollardian polar opposites in opinion exist for every viewpoint. (At least) the last three or four GBV releases are loaded with talus -- in that same time frame the "Faded Captain Series" has offered at least four platters where nary a single track begged for omission.

No biggy, it's like when Father Guido Saducci said that our earth has a twin on the exact opposite orbit as us, where every thing and every person is identical to the one here -- except the eat their corn-on-the-cob like this (motions hand-over-hand vertically in front of his mouth).

-----------

With Pollards expandable slide-rule of "hooks" firmly protected in his shirt pocket, i'd hope that eventual releases even-out in quality. Without "the bands" to support (i.e. with a continuous stream of fresh material) maybe more focus will be placed on the cream of the crop or theme-based concepts of yore.

-----------

A good band name "Hot Freaks" is.

― christoff (christoff), Tuesday, 27 April 2004 13:12 (twenty-two years ago)

a bitter, humorless old man

I saw them last year and found RP to be a bitter humorous old man

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 27 April 2004 13:20 (twenty-two years ago)

GBV split - Have Magnet Magazine declared a month of mourning, yet?

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Tuesday, 27 April 2004 13:49 (twenty-two years ago)

I saw "Motel of Fools" in FOPP today for £3 - but that's a crap one isn't it?

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 27 April 2004 13:51 (twenty-two years ago)

I saw them last year and found RP to be a bitter humorous old man

I was thinking much the same. Did Bob wax furious about REM when you saw them?

― DJ Mencap (DJ Mencap), Tuesday, 27 April 2004 13:58 (twenty-two years ago)

No, but he did do a bit about Blair and Bush being like two old cowpokes who'd been out ridin' the range a little too long, if you know what I mean

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 27 April 2004 14:00 (twenty-two years ago)

i haven't heard him wax furious about REM, but i've heard him wax furious about enough other bands to just sound pathetic. it's occasionally funny for a second, but it's usually not funny at all, it's just him ranting. it's bitter and quite often mean -- the humor meant not to soften or deflate his considerable anger and jealousy, but to cover it up. he clearly really does believe his songs are better than anybody else's and his band is better than anybody else's (except of course for every so often when he fires 'em) and he can not for the life of him understand why he isn't a rich and famous hero of the nation's rock and roll youth. and he manages to express all this in an utterly charmless way.

and when he starts ranting about women, then it's just plain ugly.

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Tuesday, 27 April 2004 16:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Have Magnet Magazine declared a month of mourning, yet?

hopefully they'll shut down in solidarity

― Donna Brown (Donna Brown), Tuesday, 27 April 2004 16:59 (twenty-two years ago)

you people are fucking clueless

― saibot mit, Sunday, 2 May 2004 22:28 (twenty-two years ago)

sorry bob

― the surface noise (electricsound), Sunday, 2 May 2004 22:30 (twenty-two years ago)

But cuz, he IS nearly that great.

― squirl plise, Sunday, 2 May 2004 23:10 (twenty-two years ago)

is that the real mr. tobias of GbV 'fame'?

― the surface noise (electricsound), Sunday, 2 May 2004 23:12 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah, tim tobias (TNT) was always my fave bassist.

― aa, Monday, 3 May 2004 00:21 (twenty-two years ago)

they broke up because of THIS THREAD

i have saved civilization obv

― geeta (geeta), Monday, 3 May 2004 03:12 (twenty-two years ago)

civilization thanks you

― Donna Brown (Donna Brown), Monday, 3 May 2004 18:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Another reason why geeta rocks.

― El Diablo Robotico (Nicole), Monday, 3 May 2004 18:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Let there be love. I did actually grab a slew of live mp3s Mike had in his Soulseek folder over the weekend on the theory that live drunk GBV works where the rest really is sorta there. But I'm guessing it'll be about twenty years before I actually listen to them, at my current rate.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 3 May 2004 19:50 (twenty-two years ago)

All you ladies are so not on the guest list when Hot Freaks: A Tribute To Guided By Voices comes to town.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 3 May 2004 20:13 (twenty-two years ago)

My band just recorded a really sloppy 'Big Boring Wedding' for a GBV cover compilation being sponsored by guidedbyrobertpollard.com. Hopefully we'll make the cut.

― 57 7th (calstars), Monday, 3 May 2004 20:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Tim, could you please expand? I just saw GBV at Northhampton a few days ago. Bob seemed to be in good spirits and the show was great! I saw you play with them in Albany '01 and the Siren Fest in NYC. Why do you think he is calling it quits?

― Colin O (kurdtkobain205), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 05:58 (twenty-two years ago)

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