#hey hey i'm a monkee

[mrswheeldyke]

i may suffer from memory loss but the one thing i can remember is that Head (1968) is a fucking masterpiece and should be treated as such

[takeagiantstep23]

I really shouldn't be watching videos of the monkees at 2:30 am (BECAUSE MICKY AND HIS VOICE MAKE ME WANT TO SQUEAL what am i saying? they all make me want to squeal.) but oh well here we are

[neroushalvaus]

Tumblr in the 60s – deleted posts

Some people requested a sequel to this post so I thought I'd post these drafts that didn't make it to the original. Maybe doing more at some point if the inspiration hits me but I hope these bring you some joy.

🚀 starrfleet Follow

HEY GUYS!! We're buying The Beatles so John and Paul can finally get together!! Who's in

🎹 nixonsafascist Follow

Call that... Beatles for Sale

🚀 starrfleet Follow

Dude this is serious. We want to free them. Why is homophobia so very funny to you?

🎶 mclennstarrison Follow

Didn't The Beatles start managing themselves after Mr Epstein died? So you plan to buy them... From themselves?

🚀 starrfleet Follow

Oh so the george harrison vampire mpreg blog is going to preach to us now.

92 notes

📻 lesbianbobdylan Follow

"Let men have short hair!!" "It's okay to not agree with the civil rights folk" "Don't let tumblr tell you that serving your country is bad" You are all so chronically online and convinced your little hippie bubble represents the world that you have the worst takes. Conservatism is alive and well, us hippies are the fucking minority. The outside world is perfectly okay with all the anti-mlk short-haired men who are happily getting drafted. You are not counterculture.

15,5 t. notes

☁️ ankin-vaimo Follow

Tumblr is so US/UK centric. Scrolling through this site you'd think there were no other tv shows than star trek and no other bands than the monkees and that the stonewall riots were the only meaningful political activism that has ever happened. There's so much great culture elsewhere. I bet you have never even heard of Tapani Kansa.

🇻🇳 shirellesofficial

#shhh don't tell Tumblr that other countries exist #they couldn't even admit Please Mr. Postman was originated by black women (tags via @marvelettesofficial)

peer reviewed tags

#sorry for going through your tumblr marvelettesofficial #you're just so funny #hope i'm not annoying you

54 notes

🌼 andpeoplesaywebeatlearound Follow

People really like to pretend us Beatles girlies hate Y*ko for being asian and a woman like she didn't literally make John cheat on his wife and leave his young son

🪕 prostitutesandlesbians Follow

don't talk like us beatles girlies are all the same, i personally want to fuck her on a canvas while we're both covered in menstrual blood, creating modern art by making love

✝️ jesusrevolution Follow

Op is this you? ↓

🎶 mclennstarrison Follow

Also like, "made John cheat on his wife and leave his young son", did John himself have nothing to do with that decision or..?

🪕 prostitutesandlesbians Follow

do you guys think she and john do mommy play

🎶 mclennstarrison Follow

I appreciate the input @prostitutesandlesbians but we're trying to call the op out for being a racist misogynist

🪕 prostitutesandlesbians Follow

sorry

346 notes

🤪 thekinkykinks Follow

Why is there even discourse about this... Yeah, the folks at Stonewall could have been more respectful towards the police officers who were just doing their jobs, but why are we acting like throwing some pennies at the police officers and calling them "Lily Law" is the worst type of oppression

🥿 trustnobutch Follow

You know what? No. Fuck you. I'm tired of you all talking about these people like they were your poor little meow meows. Have you read about this at all? The raid did not happen because the police "hates gay people wah wah". Stonewall Inn was run by the mob. The. Fucking. Mob. Would you rather have the police not protecting us from criminals, huh??? And the rioters were nothing but a bunch of attention seekers. I heard that a guy from the fucking Mattachine Society phoned newspapers and took pictures of the riot. I'm so disappointed, that was the only gay group that seemed to care about looking respectable in the eyes of the heterosexuals. People who were there made us all look bad and set our movement back like 50 years. Fuck you for supporting them.

🍊 kissmemissoklaholma Follow

Yeah. I heard someone threw a brick.

✌ draftdodgerdyke

??? Nobody threw bricks, where the fuck do you get your information ??

#they should have tho #chilling at the stockholm airport finding the weirdest takes

998 notes

🧸 teddyboyfemme Follow

i'm sharing a joint with this cute ass butch with the cutest curliest hair ever guyyyyssss I think i'm falling in love

🧸 teddyboyfemme Follow

she plays the harmonica for me i want to fuck her to the mattress

🧸 teddyboyfemme Follow

i don't have any idea what she's singing about but i think she likes the rolling stones too, we have so much in commonnnn

🧸 teddyboyfemme Follow

So it turns out that was Bob Dylan.

70,9 t. notes

[numberonenat]

i asked chat gpt to make a playlist based on my candy love characters...

here's part 2 and 3: others / dateables ul + chani

here's what it gave me:

castiel:

"make me wanna die" by the pretty reckless

"ignorance" by paramore

"welcome to the black parade" by my chemical romance

"bring me to life" by evanescence

"sugar, we're goin down" by fall out boy

"i write sins not tragedies" by panic! at the disco

"sk8er boi" by avril lavigne

"boulevard of broken dreams" by green day

"dirty little secret" by the all-american rejects

"i hate everything about you" by three days grace

"numb" by linkin park

"so cold" by breaking benjamin

"gasoline" by halsey

"the kill (bury me)" by 30 seconds to mars

"i miss you" by blink-182

nathaniel:

"fix you" by coldplay

"fireflies" by owl city

"hey, soul sister" by train

"how to save a life" by the fray

"i'm yours" by jason mraz

"all of me" by john legend

"love song" by sara bareilles

"banana pancakes" by jack johnson

"you're beautiful" by james blunt

"the way i am" by ingrid michaelson

"thinking out loud" by ed sheeran

"bubbly" by colbie caillat

"say something" by a great big world

"make you feel my love" by adele

"count on me" by bruno mars

lysandre:

"supermassive black hole" by muse

"personal jesus" by depeche mode

"sweater weather" by the neighbourhood

"mr. brightside" by the killers

"do i wanna know?" by arctic monkeys

"intro" by the xx

"shake it out" by florence + the machine

"summertime sadness" by lana del rey

"creep" by radiohead

"running up that hill" by placebo

"closer" by nine inch nails

"only happy when it rains" by garbage

"1979" by the smashing pumpkins

"sour times" by portishead

"teardrop" by massive attack

kentin:

"good vibrations" by the beach boys

"walking on sunshine" by katrina and the waves

"don't stop believin'" by journey

"good time" by owl city

"here comes the sun" by the beatles

"happy" by pharrell williams

"sun street" by katrina and the waves

"shut up and dance" by walk the moon

"i'm a believer" by the monkees

"africa" by toto

"i'm gonna be (500 miles)" by the proclaimers

"dancing queen" by abba

"mr. blue sky" by elo

"all star" by smash mouth

"on top of the world" by imagine dragons

armin:

"video killed the radio star" by the buggles

"don't stop me now" by queen

"bohemian rhapsody" by queen

"take on me" by a-ha

"livin' on a prayer" by bon jovi

"sweet child o' mine" by guns n' roses

"every breath you take" by the police

"another one bites the dust" by queen

"don't you (forget about me)" by simple minds

"eye of the tiger" by survivor

"we will rock you" by queen

"don't stop believin'" by journey

"sweet caroline" by neil diamond

"boys of summer" by don henley

"hotel california" by eagles

i actually like this a lot lol

this is always so fun to make even if they don't make sense so yeah qskjvfhdjw

i'll make a part 2!!!

[cataclysmiceuphemism]

listening to the Monkees KDWB recording and one of the weirder Dolenzmith elements to it is how strangely negative Mike is about Samantha Juste.

Mike starts introducing Secret City, and Micky steps in which leads to this exchange :

Mike: Hey, now. Thanks a lot, Mick. I was going to give you clues on how to get out here (To the Secret City broadcast where they were recording in the hotel).

Micky: I got the clue. But I had a better clue, Sammy knew.

Mike. Oh, Sammy knew exactly where it was. Thanks a lot. I'll remember this. You know, I pilot the plane down here. You know that, don't you? And I'm going to crash Sammy's seat.

And later Peter and Mike talk about Sam being in the room and Mike says she's "Samantha Juste... Just Samantha"

like look i'm actually not a tinhatter RPS person no matter my ott posts about OTPs... but the digs at Micky's girlfriend seem unrelated to literally anything lol

[poll-position]

Now that the results from all of the 60s Billboard polls are in, let's have a final showdown between the winners!

[billboard-hotties-tourney]

Micky Dolenz (1945-) The Monkees - vocals and drums Songs: "I'm a Believer," "Randy Scouse Git" Defeated Opponents: Lee Hazlewood Propaganda: none

Paul McCartney (1942-) The Beatles - bass guitar and vocals; Wings - bass guitar and vocals; solo Songs: "Hey Jude," "Jet" Defeated Opponents: Peter Tork Propaganda: "Just look at Beatles era Paul and tell me you're not swooning. Actually swooning. I hope you have a fainting couch nearby." "He was referred to as the pretty beatle for a reason" "he's going to get obliterated immediately because Tumblr hates Beatles fans, and they're right to. with that said. *with that said.* Paul IS worth the hype, when you get past all the big loud treatises white men like to write about him. when you dig back to the actual music, the actual vids, the actual guy. he was beautiful, he was rare, but he was also real. watching him in get back just solidified him to me as the Most Normal Guy Ever. he loved being in a band and it shows for every second of the 60s."

Visual Propaganda for Paul McCartney:

[your-queer-dad]

dad dad i have a joke my gf threatened to leave me if i kept singing "i'm a believer" by the monkees. i thought she was joking... and then i saw her face

Hey kiddo! 10/10 joke, dad approved!!!

- dad x

[beemovieerotica]

hey it's me monkees mpreg anon just wanted to let you know i'm rotating pregnant peter tork in my mind today

if he's rotating rotisserie style then is the baby also rotating around and around or is it like a needle in a compass situation where the baby stays facing the same direction?

[imgonnabuymeamonkee]

My First Fanfic!

peter x y/n (you!)

saving peter

davy jones and peter tork were having a fight again. y/n hears them through the walls in the pad. y/n was sitting in the living room with michael and micky before this. then they got up and went to go check on peter! (as they were worried for his safety). y/n puts their ear to the door, to listen to what davy is saying to peter, more cruely than he does earlier in the day.

"davy stop, why do you always get this way?" peter pleaded with davy.

"i need my maryjauna petah! it keeps me mellowed out!" davy sneered at peter.

"it clearly does not! please, you're scaring us!"

This is when you realzied that you had to take action.

"Davy stop! Leave peter ALONE!" you burst in, and knock davy down. he foolishly forgot how little he was by getting embarrassingly high.

"Y/N, whatsa matta? Wha ave I done to yew?"

"Peter is my best friend, and maybe more ! and the nicest monkee!" you say and wink ;)

"Wow y/n I did not know you felt that way about me." peter smiled

"what? nobody would like YEW petah, your the stupid one!"

"hey now davy that's enough. you do have a problem, peter and y/n are right." michael said

"yes davy, you need to behave better than this, like peter who only has small amounts of weed in a fun way." micky said.

"wait guys, stop, davy will learn his lesson after what y/n did just now. i'm going to focus on the hero, not the villain. thank you y/n. you rescued me. i love you, i knew we had something special." peter proclaimed.

"i-i love you too peter... hey, let's just get out of here. peter, and my friends michael and micky, can we go to the beach and play now?"

"absolutely!" michael and micky say

peter smiles at y/n "absolutely"

[pisshandkerchief]

how do i begin to understand the monkees lore. i know a small amount about them bc im into the beatles but i basically only know that they had a tv show. but all of this stuff sounds fascinating do you have any suggestions as to where to begin (if not no worries youre just the only monkees person i know of to ask)

I was about to write you a whole entire essay about Monkees history (which is why this took so long to reply to), but then I found this YouTube video and it's a good breakdown so I would recommend watching this instead because I'm not great at explaining things. If you don't want the TV show spoiled for you, go to the timestamps in the description and skip the two season breakdowns in favor of the history segments. As someone who has been interested in the Monkees but also 60's culture in general essentially since I was born, I can't help but notice that this girl is a little bit of a beginner when it comes to the history but she has her basic information right and this is a really good starter breakdown to get someone started if you're not very familiar with any of it!

after you watch this, start the TV show! It's all available on archive.org as said in the video, and a majority of the episodes are also up on YouTube. Or, you could just skip all that noise and watch Head (1968) which is also up on YouTube for free. But I do recommend watching the TV show because it is very fun and I love it (however. do keep in mind that it was made in the 60's and as such has some horrifically offensive shit in it. there's some pretty atrocious racism in there, the episodes Monkee Chow Mein, Son of a G*psy, and A Nice Place To Visit are some notable examples of this). There's also some actual good political messaging too though (because it's the 60's and hey we may still think cultural appropriation is cool but at least we know the American government sucks and is fucking us over)

As for the music, my favorite Monkees album is probably Headquarters followed by Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn, and Jones. So check those out!

And if you're looking to get a more in depth look at the history, I recommend the book The Monkees, Head, and the 60's, as well as the book Monkee Business. Good luck on your Monkees journey and keep me updated!!

[gamesucks]

i just sent in the last ask but realized i could just. give you a list based on the gatsby numbers.

22, 25, 26, 49, 100, 13

6 whole songs 💥 (you don’t have to do all of em if you don’t want djcbd)

the ultimate tism ask on this joyous holiday... thank you my friend

22: the first gatsby song for the first gatsby number ! how silly

25: also fitting for u lol

26: oh hey a normal song...

49: i have nothing to say abt this one. u know how normal i am abt this particular band

100: im genuinely surprised this ones only 100??? ig i listened to it more on youtube

13: aaand back to the gatsby songs <3

[rainydawgradioblog]

Top Ten Songs that my Roommates Hate:

If I’m good at anything it's being obnoxious. Here’s ten songs that I love, but drive my roommates up the wall.  Ranked from their most to least tolerable.

10.  “Bangs”- They Might be Giants

Starting off very tame, “Bangs” has the signature TMBG geeky sound and whiny vocals. The song conjures imagery of pocket protectors and protractors. With lyrics like "royal flyness" and talk of concordant angles, “Bangs” is likely a big hit in the math department. Hey at least they've got taste.

9.  “Billy Don't Be a Hero”- Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods

What's better than mass manufactured 70s bubblegum pop hit about the Civil War? A cover of the Paper Lace ‘classic’, “Billy Don't Be a Hero” tells a story of a soldier killed in combat, in the most catchy, kitschy way possible. It’s a very addictive song, so please listen responsibly.

8.  “Xanadu”- Rush

“Xanadu” by Rush is not to be confused with the 1980 Olivia Newton John film of the same name, though both are pretty polarizing. The only critique I can offer is that at only 11 minutes, “Xanadu” is entirely too short. Who wouldn't want to " To stand within the pleasure dome, decreed by Kubla Khan” with Geddy Lee. Sounds pretty cool if you ask me.

7. “Motorcycle Mama”- Harpo

Everyone knows that a truly great musician is defined by their references to other, better musicians. Unlike the other songs on this list ( with the exception of Gaucho) this is a bad song, but it's a blast. Harpo’s so caught up in trying to string Ravi Shankar and Fritz the Cat together that he entirely forgets to pay any attention to the rest of the song.

6.  “Be True to Your School”- The Beach Boys

Clearly, my roommates are lacking some serious school spirit. Just wait until some loud braggart tries to put them down. They won't know what hit them.

5. “Your Auntie Grizelda”- The Monkees

I'm a big fan of the Monkees, but even I have to admit that “Your Auntie Grizelda" is an annoying song. There is a definite reason Peter Tork wasn't placed on vocals, but I think there's a certain charm to having a singer who can't really sing.

4. “Schlock Rod Pt. 2”- Jan and Dean

“Schlock Rod Pt. 2” is nothing if not unique, it's an obnoxious conversation between two men, complete with constant voice cracks. Set to a tune consisting of clanging metal and sputtering car engines, it's satire, and I’ll defend it till the end. Think this one is annoying? Check out part one.

3. “Gaucho”- Steely Dan

I apologize in advance to all the Dan Fans out there, but damn this song sucks. Listening to “Gaucho” is like being transported to your grandpa’s pontoon in the 80s, and when a song mentions ponchos more than once, there’s a fundamental issue lyrically.

2. “Sally MacLennane”- The Pogues

The best way to listen to any Pogues song is at an ear-splitting volume, though the people I live with might disagree. If you have too many friends, this will either take care of it (especially if you listen at strange hours of the morning) or you’ll meet the best people you’ll ever know. Rest in peace, Shane MacGowan, you are a legend and a genius.

1. “Strap on That Jammy Pac”- Ween

Recorded on a four-track cassette while both Dean and Gene Ween were supposedly huffing Scotchgard (they probably weren’t) and had mono (they probably did); “Strap on That Jammy Pac” is the first track off of The Pod, which is easily one of the best albums of all time. Shout out to Ween for this much needed addition to blues-country history.

-Parks

[chiimeramanticore]

Part of the Band - Chapter 16 - Back to the Music Store

Chapter summary: Beach Bear and Dook return to band practice for the first time since Beach Bear's accident.

A/N:

watch how long I can write a fanfic about a band without actually writing anyone perform music bc I don't know how to write it without it sounding awkward lmao god how long's it been since I updated. feels like ages. I'm back! and I'm gonna (try to) upload two days in a row to make up for it! we have a little downtime plot-wise rn as we shift gears a little. beach bear's character arc is starting to wrap up, and that leaves us with dook to explore :] I've done a lotta thinking on the guy lately and I'm excited to see where his arc takes us (it's gonna be sadddd) that's all I got today i think! see you tomorrow (probably)! enjoy the chapter!

Chapter word count: 1,172

<- Chapter 15 - Chapter 17 ->

Read it on AO3!

"Y'know we don't have to do this," Dook says.

"I want to," Beach Bear insists. "We already missed band practice last week. I don't want us to fall behind just because of me."

Dook pushes Beach Bear's wheelchair down the street toward the music store. With his car still gone and Beach Bear himself out of commission, they had to take the bus. At least it's got a wheelchair lift, Dook figures. It was a bit of an ordeal getting Beach Bear in and out of Fatz' car the other day. With time, and physical therapy, though, things should get easier.

"What're we gonna fall behind from?" Dook mutters, more of a statement than a question. "We haven't even gotten any gigs yet."

"Yeah, 'cause we don't have a full set list yet," Beach Bear says back. "We need to write more."

"What, you wanna do all original stuff?" Dook asks. " 'S not gonna hurt us to have a few covers. 'Specially if we're just startin' out."

"I guess," Beach Bear says. "I just feel like we can do better."

The two enter the music store, heading into the back room.

"We can take it easy today, though," Dook suggests, leaving Beach Bear by the couch. "Maybe we just play around for a while."

"We always do that," Beach Bear complains. "I wanna get serious."

Dook looks at Beach Bear. He knows him when he gets antsy like this, and it's usually because of something other than the thing he's actually complaining about. But before he gets the chance to ask, the door swings open again.

"Beach Bear!"

"Mitzi!" Beach Bear's face lights up upon seeing her. Mitzi runs to him, giving him a hug. He groans, the force of her body hitting him rough on his still-healing chest. It doesn't stop him from smiling at the sight of her, though.

"I'm so excited to see you here," he says. "We've been hurting for a singer like nobody's business."

"I'm excited too! I wanna sing Monkees," she says.

Beach Bear falters a bit. "N– No, Mitzi, we're not gonna do the Monkees," he says. "We're trying to focus on original music now."

"C'mon, Beach Bear, it's her first day," Dook says. "Ease her in with some Monkees if she wants."

Beach Bear looks between their two expectant faces. "...Alright," he relents. "But just for today."

"Yes!" Mitzi bounces excitedly.

The door opens again. "Morning, everyone," Fatz says.

"Morning, Fatz," Dook says.

"Hey, Fatz," Beach Bear says.

"Hi Fatz!" Mitzi says.

"Mitzi!" Fatz reaches out for a high five, which Mitzi happily obliges. "It's good to see you here."

"We're gonna sing Monkees," she tells him.

"Yeah, it was Beach Bear's idea," Dook teases.

"Hey, now," Beach Bear complains. Then, "Dook, pass me my guitar, would ya?"

"Hi everyooone!" Looney Bird calls, following Billy Bob into the room.

"Heyyy," Dook says back in the same cadence, reaching for Beach Bear's guitar. "We're gonna do the Monkees."

"Yeah, it was my idea," Beach Bear says. Mitzi laughs.

Dook hands Beach Bear his guitar. "How've you two been?" He asks Billy Bob.

"Oh, fine," he says. "Just the usual."

"Billy Bob set the kitchen on fire last night," Looney Bird butts in.

Billy Bob laughs loudly and awkwardly, trying to brush off the comment without inviting any further question. He isn't questioned outright, but does get a questioning look from Dook and Fatz.

"...Well, gee, it wasn't the whole kitchen," Billy Bob finally says. "I left the stove goin' too high!"

"Yeah, and the stove was on fire!" Looney Bird says.

"Ain't a stove supposed to be on fire?" Fatz says. "How're you supposed to cook the food otherwise?"

"It's supposed to be a little on fire," Billy Bob adds.

"Not that much," Looney Bird says.

"Dook," Beach Bear interrupts. He's sitting with his guitar held awkwardly and uncomfortably. "Can we talk outside for a sec?"

"Yeah," Dook says. He helps Beach Bear leave his guitar on the couch and follows him outside the room.

"I can't do this," Beach Bear admits.

"Aw, don't get yourself down so quick," Dook says.

"No, I mean, I literally can't play my guitar," Beach Bear says. "It's–" He makes a vague motion with his hands, trying to illustrate a point and failing. "I can't get it to rest on my lap right 'cause of the damn wheelchair."

"Oh. Well... What if you sat on the couch instead?" Dook asks. That's where he usually sits, anyway. "I don't mind helpin' you."

"Even if I did, I..." He looks down at his right arm, still in a cast. "I'm kinda restricted right now."

"Oh," Dook says. He doesn't have an easy fix for that one.

"I should've thought about this before I started saying I wanted to do band practice again," Beach Bear says. "I don't know how I didn't realize I wouldn't be able to play music."

"Well, now you really are gettin' down on yourself," Dook says. "We can figure somethin' out." What else can he do, though? It's not like Beach Bear plays any other instruments...

"...Hey, uh, Beach Bear?" Dook starts.

"Yeah?"

"Y'know how I said no more secrets between us?"

"...Yeah?"

"I, uh, I have a confession to make," Dook says. "Last time you went out to the beach, I was doin' some cleaning, and I, ah... I found that disc you didn't want me to hear, from a while back. And I played it."

"Ah, geez," Beach Bear says, cringing. "That's embarrassing. It's not even close to finished."

"B- But," Dook continues, "I thought you were fantastic! I think you're a great singer. And if you can't play guitar, maybe..."

"...I can't," Beach Bear says.

"Why not?" Dook asks. "There's nothin' wrong with your voice!"

"It's not my voice, I..." Beach Bear glances toward the door, toward everyone waiting inside. "...I've got, like... stage fright, I guess. I can't sing on the spot, y'know? I've never been good at it. I need time to prepare."

"...Oh." Dook isn't sure what to say. This explains a lot, he realizes. "I... I guess you don't have to, then. I just thought–"

"No, I understand," Beach Bear says. "I appreciate it, really." He smiles at him. "You really liked it?"

Dook couldn't overstate how much he liked it. " 'Course I liked it."

Beach Bear seems to think on that for a moment. Then, finally, "Alright. I'll try."

"Y- You sure?"

"Yeah," he says. "What's your favorite Monkees song, Dook?"

"Uhh–" Now Dook feels on the spot. He skims through every Monkees song he can think of off the top of his head– "I guess, uh, 'Pleasant Valley Sunday,'" he finally offers.

Beach Bear grins. "Alright. I'll sing that, then."

Dook feels his face heat up, and he prays it's not visible. Beach Bear turns and re-enters the practice room without him, smiling the whole time. He's still running laps around him, even like this... Dook follows him inside. At least he gets to hear him sing again.

[mama-qwerty]

I love seeing you on my dash and how your completely unapologetic about the fact you're not 22. Showing that being married and having kids doesn't mean having fun and enjoying stuff doesn't end when that happens, as much as young kids try and push that idea. Love ya so much Qwerty!

Awwwww, Ames!

I can safely say that 22 is just a teeny blip in the rearview at this point. But ya know what? Who cares. I'm doing what I enjoy doing, throwing out any thought I have about a certain echidna or darkling or hedgehog that tumbles through the hole in my brain, sharing any writing that manifests because I can't stop thinking of Situations and Shenanigans, and just flat out enjoying media that appeals to me because I can.

I'm a dork. I always have been. I get obsessed with things that others may find stupid or ridiculous and it's happened plenty of times before--The Monkees, Hey, Arnold!, The Simpsons, Rugrats, MLP: FIM, Fairly OddParents, etc, etc, etc. It'll likely keep happening until I'm pushing up daisies. 'Cause that's the kinda gal I am.

And these hyperfixations/obsessions are the perfect excuse to make me write! I write to entertain myself, and others seem to like it too, so bonus! I get a built-in audience who gives me a good ego boost and encourages me to continue and maybe try things in my writing I hadn't before. Makes me smile when people enjoy what I create. And I like making them smile, too. (And cry. I love when I move people to feel things. hehehehehe)

Anyway, blah blah blah blah blah. I ramble too much.

Ames, you are a joy to know, you're always popping in and making me smile. :) Thank you so much, and love you too!! ~hugs and smoochies~

[doomandgloomfromthetomb]

Damon & Naomi - Best Video Film & Cultural Center, Hamden, Connecticut, May 12, 2023

Following up Powers / Rolin, we're keeping it duo-y this week with a fabulous tape of Damon & Naomi in the "almost pretty" state of Connecticut earlier this year. D&N were playing Best Video Film & Cultural Center, a nonprofit venue/community gathering space that honestly seems like one of the coolest places in the entire Nutmeg State. "I don't know why we haven't played a video store before," Damon marvels, later noting the unexpectedly excellent acoustics that a wall of VHS tapes provides.

And yeah, he and Naomi are wonderful as always, playing several tunes from their latest/greatest A Sky Record along with some welcome dips into their rich back catalog, which now stretches back over 30 years. I especially enjoy the songs in which Naomi picks up her bass — such a unique and absorbing sound. In the first issue of the highly recommended new zine Head Voice (more on that soon), Ben Chasny and Elisa Ambrogio go deep with Yang about that sound. "[I]f you play really low all the time, the club starts to vibrate and everything falls off the shelves. It's like a seismic sound, all those super low notes. But I think I really started playing higher up because I always write the bass lines by singing them, so that is where my voice is. I also just thought it sounded pretty and it cut through."

The laid-back setting also encourages banter, so we get to hear about D&N's newly adopted cat, misadventures on the Merritt Parkway and Tim Buckley's appearance on The Monkees. And hey, there's even a majestic rendition of the old Galaxie 500 chestnut "Another Day" ... though I'm also going to suggest you check out the radical version of this song from around the same time with Meg Baird and Charlie Saufley. (Oh and then maybe you can dig the quartet's radical Popol Vuh cover???)

In case you haven't guessed yet, this recording is another dig into the Alex Butterfield Archives, which have given us untold treasures over the past several years. Go dig through the tapes! Thank you, Alex!