Doom & Gloom Dispatch #4
Detroit Artists Workshop, Gal Costa, Uncle Tupelo, Sugar, Radio Free Aquarium Drunkard, Meg Baird, Chris Forsyth
You probably know John Sinclair’s name from his status as a legendary Detroit activist and MC5 manager. But he also worked with trumpeter Charles Moore to put on a wide variety of Detroit Artists Workshop shows that highlighted some of the best local jazz talent. This outstanding new compilation gives us a glimpse of what went down over the years — some familiar names here (it kicks off with Donald Byrd playing a marvelously moody version of “Cristo Redentor”) and some less familiar names (organist Lyman Woodard sounds fantastic). It’s all killer and it all hangs together nicely, in spite of the differing styles and eras on display. We’re late in the game, but this one is definitely one of the best archival hauls of 2022. Hopefully, there’s more to come from the Workshop.
Gal Costa e Som Imaginário - TV Tupi 1970
One more RIP — the extraordinary Tropicália pioneer Gal Costa passed away this month. Amazing voice, amazing albums, amazing hair. She was also just incredibly cool, as this wondrous 40 minutes of Gal with Brazilian progressive rockers Som Imaginário ably demonstrates. A bit of a lo-fi transfer and in black-and-white, but give it a minute and its fully technicolor feeling will overtake you. The performance is often breezy and beautiful, but there’s always an underlying intensity and purpose that you can feel in almost every note. However fun and light-filled her music might sound, it’s serious joy.
Uncle Tupelo - Melkweg, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, December 10, 1992
Just about 30 years ago, Sonic Youth and Pavement were traipsing around Europe and the UK, blowing minds at every stop. But how about this similarly timed Euro double-bill — Sugar and Uncle Tupelo?! Yeahhh.
Here we’ve got a lovely soundboard of Tupelo’s opening acoustic set. Not sure if this is the complete performance — it’s just 22 minutes — but it’s a total gem, with some sweet tunes from the then-new March 16-22, 1992 and a few other great selections. The band’s rendition of Hank Williams’ classic heartcrusher “Weary Blues From Waiting” is particularly amazing. Cruel country, baby!
And Sugar? Well, let’s just say that they were not doing the “unplugged” thing. I don’t have the entire set, but what I do have should suffice: an insane, 25-minute version of “Tilted” that gives MBV’s “You Made Me Realise” a run for its money. The band seems to be intent on absolutely laying waste to the audience and venue, pure power, pure destruction. Beautiful.
Radio Free Aquarium Drunkard - November 20, 2022
In case you've missed it, I do a little monthly show on Dublab with the Aquarium Drunkard crew — every third Sunday from 4pm-8pm PST. Always a very fun time, if I do say so myself. This month I put together a kinda/sorta Thanksgiving themed mix centered on (what else?) gratitude. A bit of an eclectic batch of songs — did I pull off the segue from Fairport Convention to James Brown?! — but a good listen via the Dublab archive if you need a Thanksgiving weekend soundtrack. Thank you, friends.
(And hey, you know that you can sign up for the Aquarium Drunkard Patreon, too, right? Keep those servers humming into the new year and beyond!)
Doom and Gloom from the Tomb with Tyler Wilcox: Hayden Pedigo & Nick Jonah Davies, “Be Thankful” ++ William de Vaughn, “Be Thankful For What You’ve Got” (Tom Moulton Remix) ++ Fairport Convention, “Now Be Thankful” ++ James Brown, “Thank You For Lettin’ Me Be Myself, And You Be Yours (Part 1-2)” ++ Jimmy Ley, “Thank You” ++ Rosemary Clooney, “Thanks For Nothing” ++ Hank Williams, Jr., “Thanks A Lot” ++ Luna, “Thank You For Sending Me An Angel” ++ Hugh Tracey, “Shukurani (Give Thanks)” ++ Jon Brion, “Thanksgiving In Sacramento” ++ Samuel Jonathan Johnson, “Thank You Mother Dear” ++ Sly & The Family Stone, “Thank You For Talkin’ To Me, Africa” ++ Brother Theotis Taylor, “Thank You For The Sunshine”
Meg Baird + Chris Forsyth - Third Man Records, Detroit, Michigan, November 1, 2022
Thanks to the mighty Detroit Lightning blog for these tapes of one of the best double bills of 2022 — Meg Baird and Chris Forsyth! Meg has a new one coming out early next year and it is incredible. Just check out "Will You Follow Me Home" which, in a just world, should be a major hit. Chris, of course, just released Evolution Here We Come, another in a long string of masterpieces. You need it.
The rhythm section for both Baird and Forsyth during this tour is worth noting, too — drummer Ryan Jewell and bassist Doug McCombs. Both legends! Throw Charlie Saufley (Heron Oblivion, Assemble Head In Sunburst Sound) into the mix and we've got one incredible night of music. I think there might be a west coast Baird/Forsyth tour in the works for 2023? Keep your eyes peeled.
From The Doom & Gloom Archives
Unreleased Cale! Here are two volumes of rare, mostly live tracks from everyone’s favorite Welshman. Info is scant about exactly where and when a lot of these come from, but the majority seem to be from the Sabotage era (late 1970s), as far as I can tell. Some tunes appear to fully fledged, while others are most likely improvs – on several, you can even hear John shouting out chord changes to his band. Whatever he’s up to, this is a great listen overall, with pummeling “Sister Ray”-style vamps bumping up against surreal balladry. There’s also an underlying lyrical obsession with Cold War/post-colonial paranoia, naturally. Dig in.
Currently Reading: Rhadopis of Nubia by Naguib Mahfouz
I highly recommend the Lyman Woodard Organization album Saturday Night Special (album cover shot by Leni Sinclair).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wUH8vhRdOQ