“Everybody doesn’t like something, but nobody doesn’t like Sara Lee.”
Listen: Eric Wareheim of Tim & Eric’s old emo-hardcore band
Eric Wareheim, one half of the comedy duo Tim & Eric, alongside Tim Heidecker, played in several Philadelphia area bands, including the new wave punk band Twelve Tone System, of which Tim was also briefly a member. Eric briefly played backup guitar for the duo Adam and Justine in the 1990s. Eric was also the principal songwriter for The Science Of and had been a member of Elements of Need, I Am Heaven, and briefly with the Vampire-themed punk band Ink & Dagger.
Here’s a rarely-heard clip of I Am Heaven’s EP.
Rough Trade’s “High School Confidential” Trailblazes into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame
The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (CSHF) is pleased announce the song induction for the breakthrough hit, High School Confidential, written by Carole Pope and Kevan Staples, founders of the band Rough Trade. Written as an anthem to teenage hormones, it was the song’s openly gay and sexually explicit lyrics, paired with their captivating live shows and a controversial television moment, that propelled Rough Trade from the underground Toronto club scene to the national spotlight. High School Confidential ushered in a new era of sexual openness for LGBT and women artists.
As one of the first openly gay Canadian pop stars, Pope was confident in her sexuality and pushed her provocativeness on stage and off, incorporating bondage and overt sexuality in their performances, and penning lyrics with songwriting partner Kevan Staples that were unapologetically explicit and unabashed. High School Confidential was originally written for a male lead to sing, but Pope decided to take on the song herself, recalling, “I didn’t think it would be a big deal that I would be singing about a woman. But when I sang it, it was full of innuendo — a lesbian love song. Quite frankly, we were surprised at how successful we were.”
“Carole Pope and Kevan Staple’s High School Confidential was ground-breaking in so many ways – empowering a generation to express love and sexual desire, no matter what orientation – and turning the tables for women to sing about sex, in a way that only men were allowed to at the time,” said Vanessa Thomas, CSHF Executive Director. “Our mandate at the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame is celebrate the songs and songwriters that have not only contributed to the Canadian musical landscape, but that have also influenced the cultural zeitgeist.”
Pope and Staples first collaborated in the ‘60s, with Carole on vocals and Kevan on guitar (and later keyboards), performing at clubs in Toronto. They quickly gained an underground following of fans who flocked to see their avant-garde performances; and eventually caught the attention of record producer Jack Richardson, and signed with Bernie Finkelstein’s indie label True North Records in 1980 to release the sophomore album “Avoid Freud.” Rough Trade recorded High School Confidential at Toronto’s Manta Sound studio and borrowed its title from the 1958 film; which like the film, is fraught with teenage hormones and jealousies.
True North released the single despite concerns about its very explicit lyrics. CHUM radio’s music director called Finkelstein to ask if the band could record an edited version to remove one particularly over-the-top lyric: “It makes me cream my jeans when she comes my way.”
Finkelstein remembered, “I took the idea to Carole and Kevan and although they were somewhat reluctant, they were willing to give it a shot.” After some experimentation, they simply bleeped out the offending words.
CHUM aired this edited version, and as Finkelstein explained, “The phone lines lit up. For a while, it was the most requested song on the station. The ‘bleep’ was like honey to a bear.” Listeners rushed out in droves to buy the album in order to hear the uncensored version, driving album sales to platinum. Pushed by the controversy, the single rose to Top 10 on radio stations RPM’s Top 100.
Rough Trade infamously performed High School Confidential at the 1980 JUNO Awards, when Pope, on live national television, made a gesture to touch herself that was considered obscene. The impact was felt across the music world. Staples later told the CBC that “The appearance on the JUNOs was a life-changing moment.” Her performance garnered praise from fellow female artists, and trailblazed the path for the likes of Michael Jackson and Madonna to take risks on live mainstream television.
At the 1982 JUNO Awards, Pope and Staples were nominated for Composer of the Year and Single of the Year for High School Confidential; with Pope winning Female Vocalist of the Year in 1983, following up her Most Promising Female Vocalist win in 1981. The song was recognized by the CBC as one of the 1980s’ 50 Best Songs; and was re-recorded for TV’s Queer as Folk. In 2017, High School Confidential was honoured with a SOCAN Classic Award.
After recording six albums together and a farewell tour in 1986, Pope and Staples went on to pursue separate and successful careers. Staples continues to compose music for television and film. Pope released solo albums including “Transcend” (2005) and the critically well-received “Landfall” (2011); and published a bestselling autobiography Anti Diva in 2000. Her latest EP “Music for Lesbians” (2015) culminated with a live performance with Peaches on season two of the television series, Transparent.
Video: Ozzy Osbourne tells a story about meeting Oliver Reed who even shocked him
If Ollie Reed was the only person who could make Ozzy into the sensible, sober one, one of you has a problem.
Video: The early test animation for Pixar’s ‘Monsters Inc.’
It’s amazing how similar Mike’s facial expressions, his voice, and his movements are to the final cut. Sometimes, when you get it right, you can just feel it.
Yellowman’s Isolated Vocals For “Zungguzungguguzungguzeng”
Yellowman’s first album release was in 1982 entitled Mister Yellowman followed by Zungguzungguguzungguzeng in 1983 earning instant success. I still can’t believe Word doesn’t know how to spell Zungguzungguguzungguzeng.
Blur’s ‘Song 2’, but every “woohoo” is done by Nintendo’s Mario
So undervalued and genius. Just genius.
Dead & Company Deliver Early Halloween Treats With New Additions To Ongoing Digital Concert Series
ead & Company jumpstarted the band’s “Fall Fun Run” mini tour last year in New York City with sold out shows at Madison Square Garden on Halloween and November 1. With the anniversaries for those shows quickly approaching, Dead & Company will release both concerts digitally on October 23. The group’s cover of Warren Zevon’s “Werewolves Of London” – the encore Halloween night – is available today on digital download and streaming services.
Like the other shows in Dead & Company’s ongoing digital concert series, both live performances will be available through all digital download and streaming services. In addition, the concerts will be offered in Apple Lossless and FLAC formats from Dead.net. Live audio for these recordings was mixed and remastered by Dead & Company’s Front of House Engineer, Derek Featherstone, and the band’s Recording Engineer, Ross Harris.
Halloween is one of the most eagerly anticipated dates on the Dead Head calendar and last year’s show was no exception. Despite the festive mood, however, there was a solemn undercurrent to the occasion as the band performed for the first time since the passing of longtime Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter.
In a deeply moving opening to the show, Grateful Dead band members Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, and Bob Weir took to the stage by themselves while their newer bandmates John Mayer, Jeff Chimenti and Oteil Burbridge waited in the wings. The trio launched into “Ripple,” one of the most beloved songs Hunter wrote with Jerry Garcia, before the rest of the band joined them mid-song. That night, every song the band played – with the exception of the “Werewolves Of London” encore – was co-written by Hunter, a fitting and inspired tribute to the Grateful Dead’s beloved bard.
The following night, the power of Grateful Dead music to transcend generational boundaries was not only evident by the range of ages in the audience, but also on stage, where the band welcomed a surprise guest to the stage, Grammy nominated, 25-year-old singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers. She immediately showed why she’s one of the most acclaimed new artists to have emerged in recent years with her beautiful harmony vocals (and one verse on lead) on another Garcia-Hunter immortal “Friend Of The Devil.” Later, she made a return appearance for the encore to help sing a cover of The Band’s classic “The Weight.”
Dead & Company was formed in 2015 when the Grateful Dead’s Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann and Bob Weir joined forces with artist and musician John Mayer, Allman Brothers’ bassist Oteil Burbridge, and Fare Thee Well and RatDog keyboardist Jeff Chimenti. The result was one of the most successful touring bands of the decade. Since its formation, the band has completed seven tours, playing to 2.8 million fans, and has become a record-breaking stadium act. Having toured consistently since its 2015 debut, the band has grossed $307 million across 152 shows.
Dead & Company has headlined iconic stadiums across the country including Folsom Field, Autzen Stadium, Citi Field, Fenway Park and Dodger Stadium. Additionally, the band broke Wrigley Field’s all-time concert attendance record.
DEAD & COMPANY: MADISON SQUARE GARDEN FALL 2019
10/31/19 Track Listing
- “Ripple”
- “Shakedown Street”
- “Bertha”
- “Loser”
- “They Love Each Other”
- “Tennessee Jed”
- “Terrapin Station”
- Oteil Rhythm Devils Induction Ceremony
- “Playin’ In The Band”
- “Truckin’”
- “Uncle John’s Band”
- “China Doll”
- “Eyes Of The World”
- Drums
- Space
- “The Wheel”
- “Standing On The Moon”
- “Sugar Magnolia”
- “Werewolves Of London”
11/1/19 Track Listing
- “Cold Rain And Snow”
- “Hell In A Bucket”
- “Row Jimmy”
- “Ramble On Rose”
- “Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo”
- “Mr. Charlie”
- “Friend Of The Devil”
- “Bird Song”
- “Scarlet Begonias”
- “Fire On The Mountain”
- “He’s Gone”
- “Smokestack Lightning”
- “China Cat Sunflower”
- “I Know You Rider”
- Drums
- Space
- “Althea”
- “Morning Dew”
- “The Weight”
- “Brokedown Palace”
1-minute tip for artists: Listen to an album. But not THAT album.
Music gives us a different perspective on life, so go listen to something different.
Edmonton’s Chart-Topping Motown-Surf-Punksters BAD BUDDY Unleash the “Hunters” With New Single
Motown-inspired surf-punksters Bad Buddy unleash the “Hunters” with the release of their newest single to land from this year’s self-titled breakthrough album — available now!
“At the time of Bad Buddy’s inception, we were all thoroughly fermented in folk music,” Bad Buddy vocalist and guitarist Emily Bachynski recalls, most especially of their Edmonton, Alberta base. “The scene was dripping with it.
“I bought into this,” she continues. “I had been convinced that, if you were going to be a solo artist — especially a female artist — you just sort of had to play acoustic folk tunes until you choked.
“I didn’t even listen to folk music, but I sure wrote and played a lot of it through my shitty solo project that I weakly tried to pound into something remotely palatable. It was so unnatural for me, and Bad Buddy is the polar opposite. Nothing against folk music, it’s just not meant for me.”
“Bringing ‘Hunters’ to our first rehearsal felt like a big stretch after a long, cramped car ride. We all met up in my basement as ‘not exactly strangers’ but also ‘not quite friends.’ I think I played the song once through for everyone before we all looked at each other as if to say, ‘alright, let’s fire this baby up and see what she can do.’”
“That first rehearsal I was kind of nervous, wondering what I had gotten myself into,” guitarist and vocalist Andi Vissia adds. “I had never played electric guitar, and any acoustic performances were reserved for campfires and at kitchen parties. Playing in Bad Buddy really gave me the room and confidence to be creative on a brand new instrument, in a brand new genre, and “Hunters” was the kickstart of it all.”
“Hunters”, much like the rest of the release, is gritty, primal, dissonant, and unsettling, a stark juxtaposition to the tight-as-can-be three-part harmonic explosions. It is the song Bachynski, along with bandmates Andi Vissia, drummer Geoffrey Hamdon-O’Brien, and bassist and vocalist Alex Vissia credit as Bad Buddy’s inaugural foundation.
“‘Hunters’ seriously captures the long-lost spirit of The Pixies, and just has this menacing, predatory, ‘evil grin in the dark’ (thing) going for it,” the Edmonton Journal says. “To be honest, Bad Buddy scares the hell out of me, they’re so electrifying; comical and fierce, a total confidence machine with thrash-y pop songs so infectious, you’re still banging your head to them six months later. Easily one of the most exciting bands (right now).”
“The song definitely holds a place near and dear in my heart,” Bachynski says. “It’s simple, but it unleashed a fury in each of us. It was so satisfying to not have to sing ‘pretty’ or be ‘pretty’ or be… Anything for anyone but ourselves.”
Hitting #1 on Earshot!, their eponymous debut 13-track LP was released earlier this year, and was preceded by EP, The Sneakie Peakie.
“Hunters” and Bad Buddy is available now.