LIKE A ROLLING STONE....

A mix of thanks on a dreary Thanksgiving eve before I herd myself into the masses riding the mass transit.

Thanks For The Music Mix:

Devendra Banhart-Owl Eyes clip

Nick Drake-Saturday Sun

Devendra Banhart-Pumpkin Seeds clip

Nick Drake-Which Will

Iron & Wine-Sunset Soon Forgotten

Bob Dylan-Alberta #1

Spencer Davis Group: Every Little Bit Hurts (Live)

Sufjan Stevens-Sister

Yes-Sweetness clip

French Kicks-Close To Modern

TV On The Radio-Wear You Out clip

Cat Power-Wonderwall (Live on the BBC)

Joan Of Arc-Me And America Or The United Colors Of The Gap

Kings of Convenience-Failure

Procol Harum-Whiter Shade of Pale

The Velvet Underground-Oh Sweet Nuthin'

Rock Photo:

Original Caption:
"'Richard Pryor and American Flag'

Comedian Richard Pryor picks his nose in front of an American flag in a photo session. Pryor is satirizing America's perceptions of itself and African-Americans. Richard Pryor in the sixties and seventies was one of the most preeminent comedians and perceptive commentators on America, the African-American community, and racial relations."

Taken by Henry Diltz in June 1968 for CORBIS.

And though my eyes were open/They might just've well been closed-S.

”Your high school girlfriend’s best friend hates you. And your future wife’s brother loves you. And the kids you might have someday have friends who think you’re a joke and you may have grandchildren who think you’re a sage. And they’re all just disparate points on a long line that starts with your birth and ends with your death – and ignores who or what you were, are or will be for the next 10 billion years after you’re gone. Which is why we want to know each other now (or pretend to), before there’s nothing left to know but dust and soot and the hint of our reflection in our kids’ kids who will no doubt forget about us. And it’s also why people make art. To know and be known by others. To express what we’re like. However imperfectly. However ephemerally. However bounded by the distortion of that reflection in memories, words on a page and the intractable march of time.”

-Mikel Jollett, “Dreaming Out Loud: Björk And The Man On The Bus: An Interview”. Filter #12.

So it’s been awhile. You may wonder why I chose Jollett’s words to start this machine up again after such an absence (aside from their inarguable brilliance). Suffice it to say I’ve had a rough couple of months, and have been approached by such existential phenomena like generations and death and life and the privilege of being born. And when I read that paragraph in last month’s Filter, it rang true. And truth is hard to come by these days, especially in seas of red.

I didn’t think about LARS at all these past months. In mid-November, it occurred to me that it might be prudent, considering my circumstances, to just pull the plug. I mean, let’s face it, this isn’t rocket science or the pursuit of the AIDS cure. This is just another mp3 blog written by a music snob who wants the world to be a better place, musically and otherwise (though mostly musically).

But I don’t think I’m going to. Not yet. Music is me. I breathe it, live it, and crave to know everything about it. And when it gets me, really stones me cold, I like to write about it and spread the word. And that’s where LARS comes in. It’s done alright so far, and I think it has at least a couple more months to kick out some jams. So it’s been awhile. But I’m back. For now.

It’s going to take time to bring LARS up to snuff, so bear with the Events Calendar. But I’m going to go ahead and tell you about a band that you might have missed this weekend. CAUSE CO-MOTION played Lit and Tommy’s this past Thursday and Friday, and I’m certain both shows rocked. I have become a huge fan of this young and promising band based solely on a burned copy of the band live. You see, trolling the aisles of Rocks In Your Head pays off in more ways than one. I was busy chuckling at the vintage John Travolta album I’d found in the Country/Western rack when I realized that the entire time I’d been in the store, my toe had been tapping to this groovy rough rock coming out of the speakers. Upon asking the clerks who the band was, the lovely gentlemen proceeded to give me the CD, along with this web address: www.causeco-motion.com. And thus, based on a 13-track live CD, I fell for this great Brooklyn group. Parts of it have heavy British influences, with stuttering three-chords and one sole voice of reason in a lead guitar. The vocals are distant and a bit cockney-ed, reminding me of the Television Personalities’ Dan Treacy with his characteristic mixture of snide confidence and endearing familiarity. Other bits and pieces have their own CCM flair, with sing-along melodies and jittery drumming. One thing that remains constant though is CCM’s utter lack of the crescendo. Which is, of course, awesome. In the tradition of many others before them, they simply plow through the songs with fluid energy.

I think they’re going to be on the radar soon, but for now, you need to hear these guys and see them live. I mean, a band that played Barnard with Blood On The Wall and Tunnel of Love can’t be that bad.

Cause Co-Motion: “This Time Next Year” Live

Cause Co-Motion: “Have It Your Way” Live

Television Personalities: “14th Floor” clip

Television Personalities: “Where’s Bill Grundy Now?” clip

Blood On The Wall: “Black Rats And Top Hats”

Tunnel of Love: “I’m Dead” Live

Now, let us speak briefly of a place where untold wonders can be found. The Coney Island of music (circa 1912 of course), the cornucopia you’ve been waiting for….its BURN MY EYE, a television show about rock and roll. They have all 12 episodes on their website for your downloading pleasure, and feature such artists as ERASE ERRATA, THE LOCUST, LES SAVY FAV, and DEERHOOF. Now, we all know I’m a Deerhoof fanatic. I can’t get enough of this band. But after seeing this video of their performance, I know now that I can’t possibly be a true fan without having seen of these mind-blowing shows. The drummer alone has enough raw energy to nuke a nation. Truly amazing. See it here:

Deerhoof on BME, spliced with arty in-betweens

So much more coming up, including why slowly but surely, Inouk and Devendra Banhart are separately working to better our world.

Rock Photo:

Original caption: “The New York Dolls are one of the first rock bands to come out of New York City since Andy Warhol unveiled the Velvet Underground in the mid-1960s. Left to right are: Arthur Kane, Sylvain Sylvain, David Johansen, Jerry Nolan, and Johnny Thunders.”

Taken for Bettmann/CORBIS on February 10, 1974 in Dallas Texas.

Welcome back/Your dreams were your ticket out-S.