Monthly Archives: September 2006

Friday is a monster that can no longer be ignored.

September 8, 2006 – 11:30 am

Southpaw Jones presents
interesting Friday is a monster that can no longer be ignored.
Thoughts/feelings that just might not matter:
Good morning! I’m celebrating today, because I scored a positive review in the Austin Chronicle yesterday. Will I post it below, you ask? You better-bum-betcha I will! Remember, and remember to tell your friends, that the CD is available at Waterloo, iTunes, and southpawjones.com.

Happy Friday to all. Tomorrow, I have a gig at St. Andrews opening for my friend and hero Ana Egge. Details here. Big game, shmig shmame!

image1914997 Friday is a monster that can no longer be ignored. Now, I’m sure you’ve heard that Katie Couric has begun her reign as anchor of the CBS Evening News, and she’s looking for a sign-off. I jumped over to Letterman’s site to see if he had done a Top Ten List about this, and it looks like he hasn’t. So I’m going to try one. [I did notice a contest, though, where users can submit a Top Ten item on the topic of Other Changes To "Survivor." I submitted "Island replaced by floating torture dome." I could win a mouse pad.]

Anyhoo, here are ten suggestions for Katie Couric:

1. Time to make the donuts.
2. Sorry to be such a buzzkill.
3. But, you know, it’s like, whatever…
4. And I don’t even have a gun to my head pushing this garbage.
5. Our children’s future hangs in the balance. Sleep tight.
6. Hello, hello, hello, is there anybody in there?
7. For the rest of the liberal media elite, this is K.C. and the Abortion Band.
8. Somebody, somewhere, just turned 100. Nice work, big shot.
9. Iraq and 9/11 are linked, and two-term limits are for cheese-eating tote bags.
10. Well, that’s enough of that.

Southpaw Jones presents
another Friday is a monster that can no longer be ignored.
More verbosity with velocity and viscosity:
Southpaw Jones
Bedroom Demos Vol. 1: Zero Demand
Reviewed by BY Jim Caligiuri
Austin Chronicle September 9, 2006

Austin has its share of quirky in all art forms, but when it comes to folksingers, nobody keeps the town weirder than Southpaw Jones. Comparisons to They Might Be Giants, Jonathan Richman, and perhaps Daniel Johnston are apt, yet only Jones writes of pop culture, politics, and that thing called love in a manner that’s painfully clever, clear, and truly laugh-out-loud funny. Equally remarkable is the fact that he’s solely responsible for every note played and all the vocals on Bedroom Demos. While that means a reliance on clunky rhythm machines and the occasional overly naive keyboard track, the chorus of Southpaw’s on “Seersucker Lullaby” and the doo-wop backing on “Man at Home” ranks several wows. By covering topics that encompass self-improvement, X-ray vision, his grandma’s liberal politics, and the memoirs of a sniper’s assistant, the bespectacled lefthander might be a bit overwhelming for those who like their local singer-songwriters in anguish and/or rainbows mode. Bedroom Demos is only Jones’ third album, although he claims to write more than 100 songs a year. Nevertheless, his talent for bold honesty, quick-witted wordplay, and innocent yet ear-catching melodies has grown into a monster that can no longer be ignored.

***

Southpaw Jones presents
Do it With Style
Fun words to say while belching, stretching, or answering the phone:
Quagmire
Liechtenstein
Bar-B-Cue Sauce
Homely Immigrant
Pete Yorn

Southpaw Jones presents
quotopia Friday is a monster that can no longer be ignored.
Freshly-picked quotes from the ol’ reference collection:
The temporary burger insanity defense! Instantly humanizing.

Everything I do is blown out of proportion and it really hurts my feelings. So maybe I was speeding a little bit and I got pulled over. I was just really hungry and I wanted to have an In-N-Out burger.
Paris Hilton

Southpaw Jones presents
fool Friday is a monster that can no longer be ignored.
Silly games for silly times:
Dodge the dot, people! I think it’s impossible, but you may have better luck. I found it right here.

Thank you, come again!
southpawjones.com
E-mail southpaw@southpawjones.com
©2006 Southpaw Jones. All rights reserved.

Comments (6)

Miscellany Photo

Thursday Sue got married not long ago.

September 7, 2006 – 10:00 am

Southpaw Jones presents
interesting Thursday Sue got married not long ago.
Thoughts/feelings that just might not matter:
Good times at Café Mundi last night. Thanks to those who came out, listened, and tipped. Matt the Electrician and I both debuted our fresh “Box of Anvils” compositions. Matt’s rocks. Mine needs work.

Buddy Holly would have turned 70 today, had the music not died in 1959. Here are a few things I know about him:

He died when he was just 22.
He revolutionized music.
He was a bespectacled Texan.
The percussion on “Not Fade Away” was a cardboard box.
The percussion on “Everyday” was knee slapping.
The Beatles chose an insect name because Buddy’s band was The Crickets.
He was the first artist to use orchestral strings in a rock song.

Lots of folks speculate about what he would have accomplished had he lived longer. That’s a scary road to explore, because honestly, he might be performing 5 times a week at “The Peggy Sue Palace” in Branson. Not everyone ages as gracefully as Bob Dylan, and I can’t think of one living 50s rock icon who revels in respect and relevance today.

Buddy Holly gave the world a great deal in a very short time. I’m comfortable simply saying “wow” and “thanks.”

Southpaw Jones presents
Lazy Links
Something way more entertaining that I can offer:Reprinted from http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=979603:

When Los Angeles music journalist Jim Dawson wrote to ex-Beatle John Lennon in 1974, he included a short questionnaire along with his letter asking about the influence that singer-songwriter Buddy Holly and his backing band The Crickets had had on Lennon and other British musicians of that era.

Somewhat uncharacteristically, the often sarcastic and irreverent Lennon returned the questionnaire complete with factual and informative answers, revealing that Holly had greatly influenced him and his writing partner Paul McCartney. To fans of both The Beatles and Buddy Holly, news of this influence will probably come as no surprise, but as a casual listener I had absolutely no idea that Holly had made such an impact on the British music scene.

I have reproduced the completed questionnaire below, and have preserved Lennon’s somewhat erratic capitalization and punctuation.

1. How did you personally react to the Crickets’ tour of England in 1958?

i only saw them on the london palladium (on T.V.) he was great! it was the first time i saw a fender guitar! being played!! while the singer sang!!! also the ‘secret’ of the drumming on Peggy Sue was revealed…live…

2. What effect do you think it had on British musicians?

i only know its effect on me. but i reckon the records had the biggest effect on all of us. EVERY GROUP TRIED TO BE THE CRICKETS.
the name BEATLES was directly inspired by CRICKETS (DOUBLE ENTENDRE / INSECTS etc…)
i think the greatest effect was on THE SONG WRITING (ESPECIALLY MINE AND PAULS)

3. What do you think of Buddy Holly, musically and historically?

he was a great and innovative musician. he was a ‘MASTER’. his influence continues. i often wonder what his music would be like now, had he lived…

4. Do you think his music had any effect on the style of the Beatles? On your own feelings towards music?

see above. we did practically everything he put out. I.E. at the cavern etc, etc. what he did with ’3′ chords made a songwriter out of me!!

5. Other remarks?

he was the first guy i ever saw with a capo. he made it O.K. to wear glasses! i WAS buddy holly.

The questionnaire is signed, “love, John Lennon”.
There’s a bespectacled smiley in the bottom right hand corner.

Southpaw Jones presents
prints Thursday Sue got married not long ago.
Pics of Southpaw, his environ, and his interweb:
An artist’s rendering of what Buddy Holly might look like at 70.
Woody Allen 25126c Thursday Sue got married not long ago.

Southpaw Jones presents
another Thursday Sue got married not long ago.
More verbosity with velocity and viscosity:
The best evidence that Buddy Holly was headed in very interesting artistic directions, lyrics from Learning the Game:

Hearts that are broken and love that’s untrue
These go with learning the game

When you love her and she doesn’t love you
You’re only learning the game

When she says that you’re the only one she’ll ever love
Then you find that you are not the one she’s thinking of

Feeling so sad and you’re all alone and blue
That’s when you’re learning the game
That’s when you’re learning the game

Southpaw Jones presents
quotopia Thursday Sue got married not long ago.
Freshly-picked quotes from the ol’ reference collection:
In spite of the cost of living, it’s still popular.
Kathleen Norris

Thank you, come again!
southpawjones.com
E-mail southpaw@southpawjones.com
©2006 Southpaw Jones. All rights reserved.

Comments (2)

Miscellany Photo

Wednesday wishes world-wide wailing would wane.

September 6, 2006 – 11:30 am

Southpaw Jones presents
interesting Wednesday wishes world wide wailing would wane.
Thoughts/feelings that just might not matter:
Tonight, Matt the Electrician & I return to Cafe Mundi, where we hope to resurrect our weekly title challenge. The title for tonight is Box of Anvils, and no, I haven’t started. I think I’ll go with a ‘help-me-move, all-I’ve-got-is-this…’ kind of theme.

You could learn a lot about the world and your standing therein if you could listen to 5-10 seconds after the end of every phone call. You know, the other person may sigh, or groan, or giggle, or swoon immediately after hanging up with you. It would be valuable to know such things, and I think cell phone companies should offer it as a magical extra service. Here are some indicating expressions you might come across:

“That dolt doesn’t listen.”
“Sorry, girls, but I absolutely adore him!”
“Sorry, girls, he was all blah, blah, blah…”
“Ugh, that’s ten minutes I’ll never get back.”
“Ooo, I wish I could live those ten minutes all over again.”
“…and I love you. Hello? Are you there? Anybody?”
“Where does he get off?”
“Now where were we, snookums?”
“Good riddance, yapper.”
“Jeez, some people…”

Southpaw Jones presents
another Wednesday wishes world wide wailing would wane.
More verbosity with velocity and viscosity:
This just in: a fresh review of Bedroom Demos Vol. 1: Zero Demand from INsite magazine…

SOUTHPAW JONES
BEDROOM DEMOS VOL 1: ZERO DEMAND
FRESHLY PICKED MUSIC

Fifteen gems from Austin’s own folksy funnyman Southpaw Jones make up Bedroom Demos Vol 1: Zero Demand. This is a collection of songs he recorded over the last two years in the privacy of his bedroom. Some of the tracks included are the best-friends-kill-together “Anthony and I,” the what to do with a couple hundred dollars “Seersucker Lullaby,” a wish to see beauty only skin-deep in “X-Ray Vision,” and the pro-cheating “Man At Home.”

It’s all done tongue in cheek. Whether citing Grandma’s liberal agenda or calling voters on the floor during “Ineffectual Election Song” Jones uses humor to drive some pretty big points home. “Good Enough” is probably the song I kept going back to when listening to this disc. Finally a love song that isn’t sappy:
“My girl is good enough for taking home to mom /
She’s also bad enough to sometimes drop the f-bomb /
She’s crazy… enough to hang with me /
and that’s crazy as can be.”

If you’ve not discovered Southpaw Jones, go to southpawjones.com and get acquainted. Then pick up Bedroom Demos Vol 1: Zero Demand and catch him somewhere live.
Grade: A
Sean Claes

Thanks, Sean!

Spike Gillespie presents
A Haiku History of the World [The Lost Episodes]
A look at our past, / seventeen syllables and / three lines at a time:

Polyps Cannot Grow
When Dick Cheney’s Hand is Up
Your Puppety Ass

Southpaw Jones presents
prints Wednesday wishes world wide wailing would wane.
Pics of Southpaw, his environ, and his interweb:
Another David Byrne Tree Drawing, “What is it?”:

7b Wednesday wishes world wide wailing would wane.

Southpaw Jones presents
quotopia Wednesday wishes world wide wailing would wane.
Freshly-picked quotes from the ol’ reference collection:
I don’t get much hope from Democrats these days, a timid and skittish bunch, slow to learn, unable to sing the hymns and express the steady optimism that is at the heart of the heart of the country.

I get no hope at all from Republicans, whose policies seem predicated on the Second Coming occurring in the very near future.

If Jesus does not descend through the clouds to take them directly to paradise, and do it now, they are going to have to answer to the rest of us.
Garrison Keillor

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Miscellany Song

Tuesday has replaced all his sprays with wipes.

September 5, 2006 – 11:30 am

Southpaw Jones presents
interesting Tuesday has replaced all his sprays with wipes.
Thoughts/feelings that just might not matter:
I just had a killer Labor Day weekend, and I hope you did, too. Maggie & I hit up the Kerrville Wine & Music fest on Friday night. We camped waaaay up on top of the hill, so there was a lot of hiking. It was an evening of well, wine and well, music, along with revelry, debauchery, and reunions. We were lucky enough to find a late-night song circle featuring Karen Mal, Frank Meyer, and several other talented Kerrverts. The morning brought us hot sunshine, breakfast, and a great round of four songwriters, including pals Idgy Vaughn & Gordy Quist.

On the way back to Austin, we had some nasty transmission issues, but we made it back alright.
bluth banana Tuesday has replaced all his sprays with wipes.
Saturday night, I reunited with Owen, Henri, and Joe of Cedar Fever for a Boy Band Sing-a-Long at the Alamo Drafthouse. We rocked the house, of course. I got there early enough to poke my head into the Arrested Development Season 3 DVD Release Celebration. I ate a Bluth-style frozen banana. With nuts! Alia Shawkat (Maeby) and Michael Cera (George Michael) were there in person answering questions and showing clips. That show has officially bested Seinfeld to become my favorite television comedy of all time. So there.

Spike Gillespie presents
A Haiku History of the World [The Lost Episodes]
A look at our past, / seventeen syllables and / three lines at a time:

One mushy plankton
says to the other, “Let’s be
sedimental fuels!”

Southpaw Jones presents
iPawed [Live]
Pound for pound, the best sounds around. For free!
Joshua Cain recorded the Cafe Mundi show last Wednesday, August 30. Here is one the songs he captured with Matt the Electrician on cajon and yours truly on harmonica & vocals. The original version of this song appears on Bedroom Demos Vol. 1: Zero Demand Purchase a copy, won’t you?
ipawed Tuesday has replaced all his sprays with wipes. No Bruce Tonight Vol. 1

Maggie hijacks
Stephen Colbert’s On Notice
People, places & things that should shape up or ship out:
onnotice090506 Tuesday has replaced all his sprays with wipes.

Southpaw Jones presents
quotopia Tuesday has replaced all his sprays with wipes.
Freshly-picked quotes from the ol’ reference collection:
Let your boat of life be light, packed with only what you need – a homely home and simple pleasures, one or two friends, worth the name, someone to love and someone to love you, a cat, a dog, and a pipe or two, enough to eat and enough to wear, and a little more than enough to drink; for thirst is a dangerous thing.
Jerome Klapka Jerome