#so it’s ME i’m choosing to be a monkees fan | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

rodeoromeo · 2 years ago

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3, 9, 10, 13 (since u said u hate 80s....), 23 + 30 for music ask :3

Holy crap an essay prompt!!!!! Okay okay okay thank you ily, here we go!

3: A song that reminds you of summertime

I know it’s right there in the title but… “In The Summertime” by Mungo Jerry! Last summer I had a HUGE moment with this song, which cumulated in me playing it a hundred times on a road trip up the coast of California with a dear friend of mine. We listened to it a lot, laughing at the funny sounds and grunts that are layered in… and then when we got up to Northern California, we were at an antique fair and I was singing it to her in public to make her laugh, and a guy at a neighboring booth came around the corner and said “hey, I have that song on 45”. I still have the record and I still love the song.

9. A song that makes you happy

“December, 1963 (Oh What a Night)” (Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons) makes my heart literally SING with joy and makes me jump out of my seat. It’s like an instant drug of happiness to my soul.

Honorable mention because I couldn’t decide- ever since I was a freshman in college, “Daydream Believer” by the Monkees has been a literal fix it song for me- it’s sharing space on this answer because it’s mainly tied to watching the music video as well. This is WELL before I was the Monkees fan I am today, but my mother was always a big Monkees fan growing up, and encouraged me to look up the video when I learned the song (through wii music of all places). I don’t think she remembered really what happens in the video, but she remembered loving the Monkees as a kid. I must have watched that video 1000x before I even knew any of their names. Every time I felt down or upset it was like shoving some happiness into my brain. Lately I took up a habit of sending my mom “This Just Doesn’t Seem To Be My Day” (also the Monkees) on YouTube whenever I had a rough, hard to deal with day. The other week she responded immediately with a link to the Daydream Believer music video, remembering my ritual of watching it to get happy. It not only cheered me up then, but reminded me to chase that optimism instead of wallowing in the sadness.

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10: A song that makes you sad

Despite my last answer I am a bitch who loves to cry regardless. I mean I literally cannot physically listen to Johnny Cash’s “Hurt” but who can?…. Let me give some representation to my favorite artist, Orville Peck, and his gorgeous song “Let Me Drown”. I don’t think I’ve cried harder to a song in my entire life. It was so cathartic for me but also really shifts me into a melancholy mood when I hear it. I suggested to a friend that I might get the lyric “I’m finding it hard to be kind, while I’ve been lost out here losing my mind” tattooed and she thought I was insane but it is tattooed on my soul.

13. One of your favorite 80’s songs

Okay I feel there is defamation at play here because I never said I HATE 80s music I just said I don’t really like it… I truly used to love 80s music and had a massive 80s phase. I was and am still a massive Styx fan, so I will just choose my old favorite of their work, 1983s “Don’t Let It End”. If you haven’t heard it I do recommend it- it’s fun and emotional and I just love love Styx.

23: A song that you think that everybody should listen to

This is hard because nothing is for everybody. Would this pick to be to get a message across? To highlight an under appreciated song? To choose something lyrically significant? It’s so hard to say. Honestly, I’m going to go with a song I ASSUME everyone has heard that would shock me to my core if they hadn’t although I know many people haven’t. I think everyone at some point in their life needs to be set down and made to listen to Blowin’ in the Wind. I grew up on Joan Baez’ rendition, but Bob’s is lovely as well. People just need to understand folk music and people need to learn to listen.

30: A song that reminds you of yourself

I feel like every other morose mf who has walked this earth but… “I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times” by The Beach Boys. It so succinctly describes how I have felt about myself since I can remember. One of those songs the first time I heard it I was taken aback- how could someone know this feeling without knowing me? I’ve even shared the lyrics with friends who have said holy shit. it’s about you! It’s one that really resonates with me.

Thank you thank you!!!!

If you people want to pry in my brain more, ask me music questions!

#b talks #op #music #ask games #No Beatles songs here I know!!!!#orville peck #the beach boys #joan baez #the monkees #styx

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greensparty · 3 years ago

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Talking with Jon “Bermuda” Schwartz of Weird Al Yankovic’s band

One of the biggest concert tours right now is Weird Al Yankovic. How can you not want to see a Weird Al show right now with everything that is happening in the world? I caught up with Al’s longtime drummer Jon “Bermuda” Schwartz via zoom recently. The last time we talked was in 2020 just before the release of his photo book Black and White and Weird All Over. Jon and the band are currently on the Unfortunate Return of the Ridiculously Self-Indulgent Ill-Advised Vanity Tour, which is a tour of mostly original non-parody songs.

Mr. Schwartz is one of the rare subjects I have interviewed more than once for this site. He was extremely generous with his time and I plan to save portions of our interview for later this year when his next photo book is released, but I’m getting ahead of myself. We caught up on Zoom while Al’s tour was in New England.

Schwartz (second to right) with Weird Al Yankovic (center) and the band at Al’s 2018 Hollywood Walk of Fame Star ceremony

Me: The tour has been going good so far?

JBS: Yeah, so far its going good. 6 or 7 shows in of 133. We rehearse everyday, but we do different songs every night. A different set list every night, there’s about 35 to 40 songs we choose from. And until we have done them a few times and gotten them under our belt, its different than rehearsal. Once we get that settled, we’ll be in a nice groove. I mean we’re already feeling pretty good.

Me: You and the band are currently on The Unfortunate Return of the Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour, which is a tour of mostly original non-parody songs. How did this tour come about?

JBS: We did a version of this in 2018. The differentiation of this and our other tours came about because we didn’t have a new album, so we needed to change it up a little bit. I mean, the fans would’ve been fine with seeing us do the same thing we have done over and over. But what we’re doing on this tour is changing it up and bringing in a lot of stuff - in 2018, a lot of things we hadn’t played before live. Things we had to learn how to play and re-learn how to play. There’s no videos, no costumes, no nothing. Its just the five of us onstage just playing. Al has an accordion he’s playing on almost every song. He’s playing parts he wrote that he’s never had to play before cause we always had it covered, now he’s up there and he has to work along with us. In 2019, we did the Strings Attached Tour, where we did the show again with videos and costumes with an orchestra. Based on the success of the No Frills Tour as we called it, we brought it back this year. We’re doing a lot of the same songs that we did in 2018. Different set list every night. And we also do, every night just a straight cover song: “Smoke on the Water”, “Honky Tonk Woman”, “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting” and a lot of classic rock songs. There’s like seventy-seven of them we did in 2018. This year we decided not to learn, one-hundred-seventy-seven new songs (there’s a lot of dates on this tour). So we pulled a lot of the songs we did on that tour and do them maybe three times on this tour. We do them as close to the original as humanly possible with the instrumentation that we have. The idea of us being like a bar band, if its a Stones song obviously we can pull it off. If its a song with a lot of horns or voices, then it’ll be more of a stripped down version. The other night we did “Glad all over” by the Dave Clark Five, last night we did “Last Train to Clarksdale” by The Monkees, we’ve done “China Grove” by The Doobie Brothers. It’s unusual because you don’t hear Al do a straight cover song the way it was done. Either the words are different or it was intended to be funny. So this is new for us. So far, the shows are selling out. It’s a theater tour, so we’re looking at 1200, 1500, or 1800 seaters. The cool thing is we are ending the tour on October 29 in New York City at Carnegie Hall. We had been invited to do that in the past but due to logistics it wasn’t affordable. It would’ve been very expensive to put on our show. Now we’re coming in as five guys sitting on a stage, so this is our chance to do it. It’s very cool, we’re really looking forward to it. Unfortunately, even though we’re looking forward to it, its the end of the tour and we’re going to be beat. Six months with no breaks, we’re basically doing five shows a week. But wherever we’re at, I think we’re going to be really excited and its going to be a great show.

Schwartz in 2021

Me: There’s been a lot of debate within the music community (both musicians and audiences) about whether or not to tour right now. Some concert tours have had to pause their tour due to a COVID case. And there’s also been debate among audiences feeling comfortable in-doors and with crowds. Was it hard for you and the band to decide to tour right now?

JBS: There were bands out last year and you’re right, some of them did cut their tour short. There are a lot of protocols in place both for us and the audience. Regardless of local regulations, they come to our show, they have to wear a mask, they have to show proof of vaccination, or if they defer they have to take a COVID test. And they have to agree to that to buy a ticket, it’s not a surprise. That is what our rule is and the venue has to adhere to it if they want us to play. Everyone’s been great about it. The local crew know that they have to mask up. We’re all masked up. We take COVID tests every day including days off. We’re only about ten days into the tour at this point, but so far nobody has tested negative. But again we’ve been very careful. And we’re not seeing personal guests. It’s a very different tour unfortunately. Days off are basically spent in the hotel room. We’re not going into restaurants and sitting with people. There’s Doordash and other ways to get food to the hotel. On show days we eat at the venue. We’re very careful about what we do and who we can and can’t see and who we interact with. When we’re all onstage that’s almost the only time we don’t have a mask on. We’re masked up the rest of the time and being very very careful. I hope we can keep that up for the length of this tour. I know there are other bands out there who have paused their tour or cancelled dates. We’re doing our best to not have that happen, we have all kinds of contingencies in place should someone test positive. There’s a whole set of rules that govern how we’re going to continue, with the goal being to not cancel any shows if its at all possible. I mean we’re not going to make someone who is sick get up and play if its a band member and compromise the show by doing a poor performance. Or compromise their health by making them play for ninety minutes when maybe they should be in bed somewhere. So we’re all doing what we can to make sure the tour can go forward. So far the response from fans when we look out at the audience, they are masked up because they are right next to each other and that’s another concern. But if someone is that concerned about standing right next to someone they probably won’t come to our show. But so far, so good. We’re sold out. Everyone’s been very cooperative. We’re making it work as best we can. The only negative is we don’t get to see any friends. In my case I don’t get to see anyone from the drum companies that I deal with. I’m not seeing relatives. It’s a very socially austere tour. On the other hand, when I’m in a hotel room all day, I’m getting a lot of work done on the computer. One of my projects is going through old family photos and touching them up so they’re permanently archived. As I’ve done with all of my audio tapes, as I’ve done with all my negatives. Just want to preserve things so when I die my wife can throw out the hard drive and not have to worry about it. So these days off are productive.

Weird Al Yankovic’s 2022 concert poster

Me: With Weird Al concerts, it’s obviously a music showcase, but more than that it is a comedy show. People attend and they want to laugh and have a good time, so in many ways now really is the best time for this tour, right?

JBS: Yes. Definitely, the fans who are there are loving it and they are glad to see shows again. Many of them have written (Al has a fan group on Facebook where the fans gather) that this is the first concert they’ve been to in the last two years and this is their return to seeing a concert. Which is really flattering that everyone would come out. People have been really careful, but they are dropping their guard just a little bit to come see us. As we are to come out and see the shows. So far things have been good with observing the protocols, so hopefully it continues for the next six months. This could be a very good year, as long as we see it through to the end. Especially ending up at Carnegie Hall.

Me: Weird Al hasn’t released an album since 2014’s Mandatory Fun, which went to #1. Any plans for a new album recording?

JBS: Well the plan is whenever Al does want to record something we have the freedom to do it. We have the freedom to do one song and release it, which we didn’t have the freedom to do under the record contract. Labels were not in the business of selling singles in recent years, they wanted to sell albums. You had to have twelve full songs (or whatever it was) to put out all at once. And until you had twelve songs there was no product. Even if we had something in the can for a couple of years we had to sit on it. We couldn’t do anything with it until the whole package was ready to go. Now Al has the freedom to do whatever we wants. He can certainly go to Apple Music, Spotify and all the rest that have him promoted, he is in a position where he doesn’t have to rely on a label to do that.

On the other hand, there hasn’t been anything really new in recent years. That’s not to say we haven’t recorded anything. We have recorded as a band some songs for this biopic that should be out by the end of the year [Weird: The Al Yankovic Story will be streaming on Roku this year with release date TBA]. It’s with Daniel Radcliffe as Al. They got actors portraying the band. No known actors playing us, but in other roles some known actors. Rainn Wilson is in it as Dr. Demento. Emo Philips does as cameo as Salvadore Dali. It’s pretty fun! It’s not a true story by any stretch. A “mockumentary” I guess, with a lot of drama and things that never happened. Band members saying things that we never said and never happened. So we got together a couple of times to record some music for that movie. A few years ago we recorded “The Hamilton Polka”, which was the polka version of a number of songs from Hamilton. That came about because Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote Hamilton, had different artists do Hamilton related songs and he called them Hamilton’s Hamildrops. He released one song a month. He had asked Al to do a polka version of Hamilton songs. Again, not an original song, but that was a new release. There was a TV special of the Hamilton play [on Disney+] and Al took clips from that and he time-compressed them and edited them so they fit the polka version. So there’s a version out there that is approved by Lin-Manuel. Also Lin-Maneul got different companies from the Hamilton productions around the world to sing along to different parts of the polka medley and that was edited together and released. We also did - Portugal. The Man wanted a polka version of one of their songs, so we did two of them and they both got released.

As far as an Al composed original parody, we haven’t seen that yet. When we do, we can knock it out real quick and have it out in hours. It would be that fast. To do that with a record label just is not possible. So when it happens, when the mood strikes, we can get the band together and do something. He has the freedom to do that. In terms of making an album, it would take a lot of those singles to make an album. I don’t know if there will be an album per se in the future. But I don’t know. He might have a really creative streak and knock out five or six songs we really wants to do and put out a mini-album or EP or something. We’re independent now, so that would be his own label. Unfortunately product isn’t really selling now. Part of that is, you put music out to promote the tours. It used to be you went out and toured and people discovered you and went out and bought the album. Then that kind of turned around to you released some songs for streaming, which generates interest for people to see the band live. In our case we have lifelong fans. There are 10-year-olds in the audience, there’s 70-year-olds in the audience. Bunch of 70-year-olds on stage too. I don’t know that we need new product to get new fans, I mean there’s young kids who discover stuff we’ve done and they get it, they understand the humor. And the parents bring the kids to the shows now. Parents who were fans twenty years ago are bringing their 7-to-10-year-old to the show. Album-wise, I don’t know. It remains to be seen.

For info on Jon “Bermuda” Schwartz: https://www.bermudaschwartz.com/

For info on Weird Al’s 2022 tour: https://www.weirdal.com/tour/

#jon bermuda schwartz #weird al yankovic #interview #music nerd #comedy #weird: the al yankovic story #hamilton #lin-manuel miranda #portugal. the man

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nakedpersimmon · 4 years ago

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Yesterday afternoon, it was brought to NP’s attention that this post had been made on Michael Nesmith's personal Facebook page. In the post, I (Miss Mini) am called out by name, mentioned as someone instructing others to call the police on Nez, and otherwise painted as a deranged fan who is harassing him and his employees. Further, "Nez" implored his fans and followers to "hurl insults" at me, along with two other women who were also named.

I never wanted to write this post. I never wanted things to get this bad, to where a fandom I once loved so deeply could be in utter shambles, and leave me reduced to tears over an unwarranted and completely baseless attack. But I can't stay silent any longer, nor can I watch as me and others are dragged through the mud and beaten down, with the people doing it using someone I care about as their primary weapon.

Some have said I don't have much in the way of weaponry against these particular individuals. For most people, it would be a daunting prospect, to go up against these people who have become the gatekeepers of the fandom. So I am using the one weapon I do have. The one thing that I have held onto for all these years, and that has kept me sane: The truth.

In 2011, I started talking to Michael Nesmith online. What began as private messaging in Videoranch3D ("whisper," as it's called there) soon became chatting on GoogleChat, and then a few months later, he asked me to Skype with him. I still remember the first time we spoke on video, when he asked me to "have lunch" with him. I remember the Annie Chun Miso Soup bowl I'd microwaved, and how it sat untouched on my desk the entire time because I was too nervous to eat.

I remember defending and passing my Master's thesis a few months later, and Nez being the second person that I told. I remember talking to him for hours, in text chat and over Skype, on topics as far-ranging and wide as God and metaphysics and religion and sex and love. I remember coming home from seeing one of Micky's solo shows at Parx Casino and Nez asking me how it went, eager to know if "Mick" had sold a lot of tickets. I remember having a three-way Skype chat with him and my best friend Lynsey Moon, who was a DJ in Videoranch3D at the time and how--without pretense or prompting--he played music for us.

I remember finally meeting Nez in person in 2013, after one of his solo shows in Somerville, Massachusetts. I remember seeing another show of his later that year in Englewood, New Jersey, and hanging out in his dressing room after. I remember how, again unprompted, he took my hand and held it all the way down in the elevator until we got to the parking lot. I remember another show that same year in Bay Shore on Long Island, sharing laughs and stories with his wonderful band, and how his keyboard player gave me a plate of rigatoni when I said I hadn't eaten, and made me a drink from the bar on the tour bus.

"Gin," I said to Nez as he sat across from me. "So I can say that I went to a sophisticated party where I got a little drunk on gin." He gave me such a pointed, hilarious look, but later insistently asked if I was okay to drive home.

And I remember this comment, in this photo. I'd written about being asked to speak at the United Nations for World Autism Awareness Day, and out of nowhere, Nez commented, and said that he was proud of me.

It was March of 2011. We'd only known each other for two months. He knew me when. And he was proud of me.

I have loved the Monkees since I was 12 years old. I remember watching the show on Nick At Nite's Summer Block Party, and how much of a comfort it was, when I was being bullied so badly in school and already contemplating suicide because of it. The Monkees were four friends that I didn't have then, and who saved my life without even knowing it.

Fifteen years later, one of those men I admired so greatly, who was a hero of mine, told me that he was proud of me.

There just aren't words.

I never wanted to be someone who uses their relationship/friendship with someone to make a point. That is why I haven't talked about any of this publicly, haven't posted endless photos with Nez or video or any of the other countless receipts that I have.

Because I know where I stand with him.

Because at the Chiller Theatre convention in 2017, when I ended up in tears due to a stupid misunderstanding, Nez came over and took my hands again, and asked if I was okay.

Because that is who Michael Nesmith is.

That is the man I know. And that is why I have been heartbroken and worried as I've watched the two women in his employ, one of whom is his assistant, manipulate and use him for their own ends--regardless of what it's doing to his reputation and legacy, and not noticing or caring that all of this is the opposite of everything Nez has ever stood for.

Which brings us to yesterday. To the post that we are meant to believe Michael Nesmith wrote, telling his fans and followers to attack and insult me and two other women. A post that not only does not sound like it came from him, but that is so out of character as to nearly be laughable.

But I'm not laughing.

I know that some people will believe whatever they want to believe, no matter what I say. I know they will believe that I am jealous, because I don't work for Nez, and because the people who do have told them that I am. They can choose to believe that, and I can't do anything to stop them.

I can only say that I have nothing to be jealous of. And I have nothing to hide.

All I can do is share my truth, and that is what I have done. This post is public and will remain so, to be shared freely.

Thank you for reading, and please take care of yourselves and each other.

(This post was originally shared on Facebook.)

#michael nesmith #mike nesmith #the monkees #monkees #sad state of affairs #what kind of fuckery is this?#thank you to those who have sent messages of support #i've been half-numb and in a bit of shock since yesterday #so that's why i haven't responded #this is also not even getting into fanfic and Nez's stance toward it #which still seems to be a point of contention #when it is entirely a non-issue #fandom woes #monkees fandom #public service announcement

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thiscastielhasflown · 4 years ago

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what’s your favorite type of music? also, do you have a favorite song (or maybe band)? 💛

my go-to genre of music is primarily 60′s psychedelic rock/70′s rock in general -- definitely something that might not be too common but something i’ve embraced throughout the years

YES, my favorite band is the beatles -- which i based my username off of one of their songs (norwegian wood (this bird has flown)), but my favorite song of theirs is a little uncommon ditty called this boy which got me through some hard times in my life. for any other beatles fans out there swirling around in the spn-sphere -- my favorite album is revolver, help! is the best movie, ringo is my favorite and cranberry sauce...if you get the reference we should get married

ANYWAY-- this question is hard for me to answer in many ways like when i’m asked what my favorite [book, movie, tv show, etc.] are because i seriously have so many i like to choose from, even though the beatles are at the top there are MANY more that could take the number one spot [the monkees, badfinger, yes, america, the partridge family -- the list could go on and on]

-- surprise me with a question…and i’ll surprise you with an answer 💞--

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carlpalmer · 5 years ago

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@chencake for god knows what reason my asks were disabled, i THINK i fixed it now???? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LETTING ME KNOW and for asking!

1. Favorite episode? the devil and peter tork! that episode is art, 10/10

2. Least favorite? the last episode

7. Favorite song? valleri, daydream believer, porpoise song, saturday’s child, as we go along, i wanna be free (fast version), the girl i knew somewhere, look out here comes tomorrow, for pete’s sake, papa gene’s blues, take a giant step, SO MANY

13. What do you think your reputation as a fan on tumblr is? nonexistent

22. Top three favorite episodes? the devil and peter tork, art for monkee’s sake, the picture frame

25. Do you own any of the albums on vinyl? no :(

30.Say I give you a time machine to meet the monkees. When would you choose to meet them? 1968, early hippie peter phase and when micky had the best hair, SOLELY FOR THOSE 2 REASONS

37. Let’s say that you wake up one morning and you’re in the pad, living out your life as a monkee. What’s the first thing you do? i’d wonder what the hell i did wrong in my life and then idk i’m going to look for a job and meet an Evil Guy in there and see what the fuck kinda episode i’d find myself in

48. i look so horrible during quarantine times but when i look better i promise ill record anything u want!!!!!

50. Kiss, marry, kill Monkees edition. there are 4 members and only 3 options what do i do with the other one lmao BUT kiss - mike (and davy i guess) marry - peter kill - micky :(

52. Tag five people you’re glad you met because of the fandom. i didn’t meet anyone specifically bc of this fandom but i do have a mutual active in it and it’s @lemondips and they’re pretty cool!!

55. Are you happy you joined the fandom? idk if i am a part of the Fandom but i’m happy i got into them. another thing to suffer for y’know

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idasessions · 6 years ago

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Famous Muses & Groupies in Rock Music Pt. 41

MUSE: Ann Moses (full name Ann Marie Moses)

Ann was born on February 3rd, 1947 in Long Beach, CA and grew up in Anaheim, CA with her older brother and their parents, where she wrote for her junior high and high school newspapers. When Ann was still in high school in 1962, one of her first jobs was working at Disneyland. Walt was still active around the park then, and she even got to meet the legendary man himself. A couple years later in 1964, she broke through her journalism career as a freelance writer for the local newspaper Rhythm & News, where she got to interview music icons like James Brown and Jackie Wilson. Through this gig, Ann caught the eye of music publicist Derek Taylor who recommended her to the teen fan magazine Tiger Beat, where she was quickly hired. At the same time, she had just finished a year of junior college at Fullerton College and enrolled at San Jose State. But she ended up choosing the writing gig over school when she realized it would be a fulltime position. Ann worked at Tiger Beat for the next six years (1966-1972), and began as their most frequent contributor before eventually promoted to associate editor and eventually head editor. Simultaneously, she was also co-editor and contributor for Monkee Spectacular magazine for its whole run in 1967-68, and also penned her own column for NME magazine from 1968-71. Throughout her career, Ann met and interviewed many popular music acts and also got a few additional perks, like: attending the Monterey Pop Music Festival in 1967; traveling with the Monkees, the Raiders and the Standells; socializing with the Dave Clark 5, the Who, the Rolling Stones, Jefferson Airplane, the BeeGees and Herman’s Hermits; being in the audience for two Elvis tapings; and co-hosting an episode of “Battle of the Bands” with Bobby Sherman in 1969. Ann even helped participate in the clapping heard throughout the Monkees’ 1967 song ‘Daydream Believer.’ One of her close friends back in the ‘60s was famous LA seamstress Genie Franklyn.

Besides being one of the most recognizable women in 1960s music journalism, Ann also became friends with a lot of the popstars she covered back in the day. The band she was most closely associated with was the Monkees from 1966-68, whom she got to regularly interview and profile on their TV sitcom set, in the recording studio and on tour. The two band members she was friendliest with were Davy Jones and Peter Tork. Ann’s said that one of her favorite memories is when she rode around the Monkees set with Davy on his bike. Peter apparently was the nicest bandmate and was always accommodating whenever she was on set. He also occasionally gave Ann offers to try acid with him, which she always turned down. Around the time Peter left the band in 1968, Ann once visited his house where he allegedly opened the front door completely naked and acted like it was no big deal. (#cringe) This was during the peak of his hippie period, and she doesn’t think of it as a metoo type incident.

When Ann and Peter reconnected in 2013 after a concert, she joked about him offering her acid and he supposedly was like “yeah, I shouldn’t have done that,” lol. (She also mentioned that they kissed on the lips that same reunion, which makes me wonder if they were ever ~more~ than friends, buuut that’s pure speculation on my part because they’re so adorable.) Ann was also one of the first media figures to publicly coin Mike Nesmith as ‘the difficult Monkee,’ for always being a pain to interview and generally dismissive when she was around. He even attempted to make her go away once by saying he’d do one of her interviews if they slept together, which made her go ‘uhhhh.’ Apparently after filming the band’s movie Head (1968), Mike told her that he was difficult to help make her a better reporter, but she didn’t believe him, lol. Ann doesn’t have many stories on Micky, but he did ask for her phone number the day she first met the group, but he never called her, heh.

But wait, that’s not all! Even though Ann always refers to herself as a ~friend of the stars, she also went out with a few of these guys. In 1966, she spent 4th of July with bassist Karl Green of Herman’s Hermits, and they made out in front of fireworks at the end of the night (cute). Later that year she lost her virginity to lead singer/drummer Dick Dodd of the Standells, which she considered a disaster (though she still thinks high of him as a person). Ann’s frequently referred to Maurice Gibb of the BeeGees as her first big love when they were a couple in 1968. But then he became her first heartbreak too when popstar Lulu walked up to her at a party and nonchalantly told Ann that Maurice was leaving with her instead of Ann (what a bish). Also kinda funny he left her for Lulu because Lulu dated Davy for a minute a couple years earlier too. Ann also had a ‘platonic’ date with Harry Nilsson in 1967. Oh, and Roger Daltrey once blatantly asked her if she wanted to go up to his hotel room and she naively responded, “what’s in your room?” (lol)

In the early 1970s, Ann spent most of her time covering young stars like David Cassidy and Donny & Marie Osmond before retiring from journalism and leaving Hollywood for the bay area. Since the ‘70s, Ann switched to working in dentistry, married a computer engineer and raised their two sons near the Rocky Mountains. As of 2019, she and her husband live in Gilbert, AZ. In 2012, Ann revived her interest in writing with her own blog, which then encouraged her to pen her 2017 memoir Meow! My Groovy Life. She also occasionally contributes articles for the website Rocksbackpages.com. Mark her down as yet another mid-20th century chick I’m jealous of.

#ann moses #peter tork #Davy Jones #mike nesmith #maurice gibb #michael nesmith #if you like ann check out my monkees fanfic starring her!#@girlknownsomewhere on ao3 #muses #even tho she's not rly a muse #no way i'm labeling her a groupie lol #musesandgroupiesseries

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savenezsposts · 5 years ago

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Michael Nesmith 14th July 2019

9 mins

I'm never sure how much to say spontaneously. Everyone who dresses up looks fantastic --according to some standards -- like stopping traffic. I can't help myself from saying "you look great" or "you are beautiful!" --- but maybe I should bite my tongue.

I especially like seeing the eyes brighten when a young girl or boy get a compliment -- but I am still afraid of getting too personal -- so I don't say anything as many times as I do. For instance it is hard to know what to say to someone who is struggling with a physical or apparently mental problem. I usually choose to say nothing but to try to think good things and give them "real" good wishes.

In any case I can't stop myself from loving those who approach me in these conventions. The tangle of emotions is weird in the extreme -- but the real connection of real emotions is undeniable -- and easy to identify. So if the Spirit moves me -- I move -- and usually to the better for all concerned.

Many times some one will say "Do you hate these things?" -- meaning the conventions -- and they are surprised when I say "I love them!" This is my fifth one -- and it just gets better every time and I LOVE being here.

Thank you Knoxville and all the Monkees fans and First National Band fans and friends for such warm hospitality and good Nature.

#mike nesmith #Michael Nesmith #fanboycon

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sherlockmonkeesstartrek · 6 years ago

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3, 4, 10, 12. choose between monkees and hollies :D 13, 19, 22, 26, 34, 41, 43, 47,

Thank you so much for this ask

3. Favorite color?

Purple. Purple all the way. Either a really deep purple, or a lavender.

4. Dream destination?

Right now, I'd love to go to German, specifically the Nerburgring, the race track. I've heard you can get driven around it by a professional driver. Either there or some castle with a lot of history attached to it, where I can get completely lost in the past and get some inspiration for some stories.

10. Favorite tv show?

The Monkees is one of my favourites, of course. Other than that, I love Sherlock and the original series of Star Trek. Right now though, I could go for my 5000th Horrible Histories marathon!

12. Choose between ____ and ____.

The Monkees. I love the Hollies, but I have more of a sentimental connection to the Monkees, and I think they are just more fun. Like their music and their TV show.

13. If you had to choose one song to listen to for the rest of your life which would it be?

Oh god, but I am so bad at deciding. I guess I never ever get bored of either I'm a believer or Daydream Believer. I think I'd pick the former.

19. What’s your favorite book?

1984 is the first one that comes to mind. It is always the one I tell people to read if they want to get into reading. Its one I could talk about for ages, and I think I have on tumblr before. I think it's a timeless books whose message will never not be relevant.

22. Least favorite book you’ve read?

Probably 50 Shades. God it reads like bad fanfiction, repetitive and boring. I've read all of the original trilogy, and let me tell you, that is an accomplishment I am both ashamed and proud of, because boy was it a struggle. I also hate the way in which it portrays BDSM relationships. It gives it a bad name and a dangerous idea of it for a mainstream audience.

26. Favorite childhood tv show?

Aw probably the same as it is now. Horrible Histories. Honestly, it wasn't until I got to this age and really got into history that I realised just how much I learnt from their show. I know way more than my friends who have never seen it. Things that should be important, things that people should know. And it was impossibly fun. I know all the lyrics to all the songs, I can quote the episodes. It is brilliant honestly.

Other than that, I used to love Lazytown. I don't know if how many people know of it, but it was my childhood. It's about this village or town where all the kids and adults are really unhealthy. Then this girl, the main character, turns up and she loves to be healthy. Unfortunately, she doesn't know how to get the other kids to enjoy going outside and being active. She contacts this superhero named Sportacus and he helps out. It was quite a cool show. I thought so anyway. I used to want to be Sportacus!

34. Favorite superhero?

I used to love Iron Man. I'm also a fan of Falcon, The Winter Soldier, Hawkeye. But if he counts, I have to pick V, from V for Vendetta. I had to study the movie in school and totally loved it. I also then read the comic book and I have to say i love that even more. Or I love them seperately, if that makes sense. I love the movie for different reasons than I do the comic book, and the characters seperately too.

41. Do you want kids?

No, I do not. Call me a horrible person, but I feel like I'm doing the world justice by not having any. I will fuck them up. I just know I will. I can hardly look after myself, never mind smaller versions of myself.

43. Where would you want to live?

I'm not really sure, to be honest. I'm not very good with looking into the future, thinking about what I want to do then. Right now, I want to move out of my home and live on my own, even if I end up in some studio flat, I want to be inderpendant. I don't want to move too far from where I am now, like an hour or two away wouldn't be too bad.

47. What’s your favorite planet?

hmm, interesting question. I don't think I've thought about it before. if I'm going to be silly I'll say Vulcan from star trek, but seriously, maybe Venus. Mosly because it's named after the goddess of love. Other than that i don't have a good reason for picking it.

God I hope these answers make sense. I was half watching something while writing it. Never a good idea. Still ,thank you again for sending me this ask, my luv

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hoppkorv · 7 years ago

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Hi! I was tagged by @rock-and-roll-heaven and @the-clash-fan to do this! Thank you both!!!

Answer these 11 questions, come up with 11 questions of your own, and tag 11 people to answer them.

I hope y’all don’t mind, but I’m going to combine the two I was tagged in because unfortunately I’m not talented enough to come up with 22 questions, 11 is hard enough!

1. what’s the story behind your url? -- Its the logo of The English Beat

2. what’s your favorite song by the beatles? -- She Said She Said

3. which member of the beatles has the best solo career in your opinion? -- George Harrison by a long long shot

4. which rockstar has the best fashion sense? -- Keith Richards (presently) and Brian Jones (previously)

5. the 60s or the 70s? why? -- I prefer the 60s because even though some awful things were happening, it created an incredible atmosphere for music

6. if you could hang out for 1 day with any rockstar, who would you choose? -- Ronnie Wood of course!

7. if you had a rock band, what would be it’s name? -- ¶π (paragraph pi)

8. what movie/book would you like to live in? -- I Am The Messenger by Markus Zusak

9. favorite song with a girl’s name in the title? -- Me & Magdalena by The Monkees

10. favorite album cover? -- Uprising by Bob Marley & The Wailers

11. do you like singing? -- yes!

1) London Calling or Sandinista! (?) -- Ooh tough... I’ll have to go with Sandinista! because it contains Up In Heaven (Not Only Here).

2) What is your favorite and least favorite song from your favorite band? -- Favorite: Sean Flynn. Least Favorite: The Sandinista! version of Career Opportunities

3) If you could go back and experience any decade in music, which one would you choose? -- The 60s!

4) What is the greatest music city in the world? And list 3 bands from it to support your point. -- Los Angeles (and its nearby area). 3 great bands from LA are 1) The Beach Boys 2) Buffalo Springfield 3) The Mothers Of Invention

5) If you could go back and reverse any piece of music history, what would you do? -- I would save Phil Ochs if I could.

6) Favorite newer band of the last 5 years? -- to be honest i don’t really know any bands from the last 5 years, but I think Greta Van Fleet is pretty damn good.

7) Do you collect vinyl? If so, what is your most prized record? -- Yes, I do! My most prized record is my copy of Ronnie Wood’s I’ve Got My Own Album To Do.

8) Do you play an instrument? Would you like to? -- I play flute, guitar, and bass clarinet. I’d learn every instrument if I could!

9) If you could play one song with your favorite band, what song would you play? -- I’d join The Clash for a great rendition of Train In Vain.

10) What is your favorite music related book? -- I really enjoyed Johnny Green’s book A Riot of Our Own: Night and Day with the Clash

11) Is there any band in particular that you would like to see reunite? -- I think we could all use a reunion of The Police

My Questions:

1. What is a song you love that was written by one person but was performed by another person/band?

2. What is your all-time favorite album?

3. Describe your dream car.

4. What is your favorite folk song?

5. What is your favorite painting?

6. What is your favorite plant?

7. What historical event would you have liked to experience/see firsthand?

8. What is your favorite outfit to wear?

9. If you could time travel, would you go to the future or the past?

10. What’s your favorite breakfast food?

11. What song do you think is the best to listen to while watching the sun rise?

I know a lot have you have probably done this already, so don’t feel obligated :), but I’ll tag @alexchiltons, @dalliscar, @neilfinns, @cheapskate-bleeding-queer, @eddiecranes, @control1986, @jeffbecked, @sastrugie, @bilbao-song, @jello-strummer, and @call-me-lightning if any of you would like to!!

#wow this was long!#tagged

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focalwriterworks · 5 years ago

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THE FAREWELL

My affection for this film, which I saw at the 2019 Atlanta Film Festival, and for what I feel is one of the most beautiful films I’ve seen in years, stems from the fact the audience, and the main character’s family in The Farewell, are in on the news that grandma, or NaiNai in Chinese, has been diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. And instead of telling her the sad news the family decide collectively to not tell her. And gather around her, instead, for what could be last visitations, under the guise of cousin HaoHao’s wedding.

The Story: Billi, played by rap artist Awkwafina, hears the bad news from her parents. They are going to China to visit with the family’s matriarch, NaiNai, played with the sweetest humility, and with strong will, by Shuzhen Zhou. Billi is determined to go even though her parents think it’s better if she stays. Billi is saddened by the news, just as all of the family members are, and when they all arrive in China it’s under the pretense of cousin HaoHao’s (Han Chen) marriage to a Japanese girl (Aoi Mizuhara) who doesn’t speak Chinese. To make things a bit more heart-rending, yet also moving in a humorous way, is that NaiNai is determined to coordinate the wedding invitations and banquet for her grandson HaoHao, as she is always beaming with pride, and love, that her grandson is getting married.

The Goods: It’s this pathos and emotional stirring every time NaiNai is on screen demanding the best for HaoHao—the son of NaiNai’s second son—like insisting it is to be lobster on the menu, not crab, at the reception site for the banquet following HaoHao’s wedding ceremony, that makes the film so touching. To see NaiNai so excited, and happy, and thrilled that her family has gathered for the event, that her other son Haiyan (Tzi Ma, who has been in a ton of films and TV since the ‘80’s) has come, with Billi, from America, while knowing she’s dying, and that NaiNai is clueless (or maybe she’s not, it’s understood she is unaware) is such a powerful experience for the viewer that this “user event” in itself, in the theater, makes the film one of the best of the year, regardless of how it all culminates or how it resolves itself.

NaiNai’s joy and grandmotherly instincts with children and grandchildren is so universal. Like well composed songs that find fans everywhere in the world, she oozes a sense of goodness and care, historical perspective and set of rules that all grandmothers seem to have—she will discipline her family members like a mother/grandmother would—with a personal regiment of health tips and what might sound like “old wives’ tales” remedies that come across astoundingly accurate, realistic and true. She even gets Billi up in the mornings to practice her own self-created ‘NaiNai health regime’ that involves stepping around and yelling. Billi handles NaiNai’s routine with a dose of embarrassment, hesitant, but pushed by NaiNai she eventually embraces it if at times losing her composure, in the middle of street outside NaiNai’s high-rise building community, to laugh a bit.

Awkwafina, real name Nora Lum, who told me on the Atlanta Film Festival’s red carpet that though she is of Korean and Chinese decent, grew up in New York, in Queens, speaking only English. She had to brush up on Chinese which family members spoke but she did not. She said she was supported by the crew and cast who all helped her with her lines while filming on location in China. You would never know it. Awkwafina, in a more subdued role compared to her loudish, eccentric character Peik Lin Goh in Crazy Rich Asians (2018), or her cool, collected jewel thief Constance in Ocean’s 8 (2018), or preppy sorority girl Christine in Neighbors 2 (2016), seems like a natural here. Partly too to what Lulu Wang is doing with direction. The film is written and directed by Wang who adapted her own very true story from a short radio episode of This American Life called What You Don’t Know (Episode 585, https://shortcut.thisamericanlife.org/#/clipping/585/110?_k=dc1yj4).

There’s so much of what one senses is realism, like Wang’s radio piece, that the film is like a documentary, at least more so than Lulu Wang’s previous feature film Posthumous (2014). The two feature films are worlds apart and show with striking comparison the tremendous growth and innate talent Ms. Wang has for telling stories with such visual impact while sort of letting characters just be. None of the acting feels forced or rehearsed. And Awkwafina, whose character wants to say something about the deceit, confront the truth, discuss it with her grandmother, but chooses to play along, is a huge part of that. As is Ms. Lang’s real great aunt, Lu Hong, who plays Little NaiNai, the sister of Billi’s grandmother. Wang said that after some takes on set she would ask her great aunt if the scene felt authentic, in which Ms. Hong, knowing the facts of the real NaiNai’s condition, would provide her approval or criticisms thereof.

Ms. Wang’s instinct for camera placement and letting scenes play out while we observe is a comforting feeling. It presents itself as an easy film to involve yourself with. Certainly made in such a way that we too have a place at the table with the family, or in the rooms where scenes take place. Most of the shots are wide, and are master shots. The coverage for editing is simple—it’s not an action film—so capturing the truth in scenes, on location, is easier than forcing it in the editing room. We get to be voyeurs and not feel bad for staring or eavesdropping, but that we also, because we have grandmothers too, feel a part of this family. And since we know that she, the character in the film, and our own grandmothers, are only here for a limited time we should just enjoy our time with them while we can.

The Flaws: Curiously, there is a little bird that appears in Billi’s apartment, after she hears the news of her grandmother, when she returns to her apartment in New York after coming home from being out. Billi asks, “where did you come from, how did you get in here,” then she opens a window and lets the bird out. I get a strong sense the bird is exemplary or symbolic of NaiNai, or of Billi, or simply of life in general, action oriented flapping winged bird landing and wondering what its own situation is, compared to Billi’s, to ours. It’s nice. It’s sort of poetic. But it happens again when Billi gets to China, and it’s the same bird. Identical. As if maybe the bird followed Billi. And Billi doesn’t comment on it. The coincidence doesn’t become an issue with her but I think it is with the audience, because it’s not addressed. I’m distracted by it mostly because there is no explanation or character exposition enlightening us to something potentially special, and maybe supernatural, that has occurred here. And without a sense of a motif being established—like the magpies in the third season of the British TV show The Detectorists (what a random comparison), or any film or creative work where birds are a metaphor for the characters, or experience, in the story—we are sort of left wondering why the bird makes another appearance. Sure we can contemplate it all we want but it doesn’t do anything to help Billi or NaiNai’s situation. Or ours for that matter. Taking that second to process it distracts from this realism Ms. Wang has lovingly presented.

And there are traits of a music video, as a sort of denouement to the film, after HaoHao’s wedding and after the family members sort of part ways back to their corners of the Earth, leaving NaiNai with her sister, and live-in male friend, Mr. Li (who is comic relief in the film). Briefly, the family come back again in what seems like a “flashback” moment; as a collective they all walk down the street with strong steps, sort of like The Monkees, or The Beatles, something from a Richard Lester film, playfully, with vaudevillian moves and serious looks on their faces as they stare out of the screen at the audience, reminiscent of choreographed music videos from the likes of Britany Spears, or Michael Jackson, and virtually every music video in their wake, as if to say, here are the players in this play, these were the performers in this play—in this conspiracy—of family members living with the fact they lied and hid the truth from the family’s matriarch.

It’s a wonderful piece to the film but doesn’t exactly fit. And if there were other moments in the film similar to this then sure it would be more fitting. Or maybe even if it were over credits at the end of the film. Could be there are behind-the-scenes details that maybe production wise something didn’t go as planned, like if Awkwafina who is known for her rap music, if maybe she had a song for the film which Ms. Wang chose to not include. But the sequence itself, the music video moment, it’s a flaw in the sense it removes us from the realism of the film. It’s formalism and it’s noticeable at that. Coming at the end of the film however is the sequence’s saving grace.

Additionally, I did feel a sense NaiNai at times, in Billi’s conscious, is like Father Karras’ mother in The Exorcist (1973). There is a scene where Billi envisions her NaiNai in the subway, in New York, after Billi first hears the news of her grandmother’s diagnosis. I saw the similarity, and later in a Q & A after the film’s screening, Ms. Wang confirmed that she did incorporate traits from the horror genre. Smart, because those closed camera compositions and some of the centered character placements in rooms, combined with subconscious audible room tones, add a complexity to the emotional impact of some of the more serious or dramatic scenes where death is a true, hidden, ghostly antagonist. That NaiNai appears in Billi’s subway is almost too on the nose to William Friedkin’s mother Karras in The Exorcist. If you’ve seen that movie previously you’ll know it, and you’ll feel it, not as homage, not as a rip-off either, but as an accidental, subconscious placement by Ms. Wang that might slightly undermine her own original characters and story.

The Call: Spend the ten. The Farewell is a beautiful film regardless of very minor flaws. The sheer enjoyment of connecting with a family that is certainly yours as well as mine as well as Billi’s is a powerful achievement for Lulu Wang. The concept—a family who chooses not to tell their grandmother she’s going to die of cancer—is strong, script and production wise, even if some of what appears to be scripted may have been authentic cinema verite of Ms. Wang’s real family collaborating with actors. And as a wedding proceeds, what is usually a quirky, fun, family event in films—from the wedding film genre—it does so under false pretenses that are every bit bitter, corrupt and, conversely, the sweetest moments you’ll ever see. A perfect set-up for a lovely character to charm us out of our daily grind and give us back a sense of heart and soul if only for a few hours. And if NaiNai’s in on the news, knowing she might die, well that just shows how much courage she really has. Just like a grandmother, putting her family first before herself.

The Farewell is not yet rated. Running time is 98 minutes. A24 is distributing. In theaters July 12, 2019. Nationwide August 2nd, 2019.

#awkwafina #lulu wang #the farewell #atlanta film festival #atlff #nai nai #gold open #tzi ma #best of 2019 #movies #film #art

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nakedpersimmon · 6 years ago

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You guys do realize that Melodie, the woman you say is “so evil”, has been receiving death threats because of the slanderous crap you post, don’t you? Or are you willing to just look past that?

Okay…a few things. First and entirely foremost: Death threats are not okay. NP does not condone them, has never sent them, and will never send them to anyone. So if someone is sending such threats, they are not under NP’s auspices and certainly do not have any approval from NP.

That being said, when information is shared online–be it by NP or any other number of individuals who have spoken up about Melodie–there is no way to account for or control how people choose to respond to it. A cornerstone of NP as a social media entity/blog has been honesty and straightforwardness in talking about issues that affect the Monkees fandom, and NP has always taken careful steps to ensure the veracity of any information we share. Yet NP is not and cannot be responsible for how people choose to respond to that information.

But everything you’ve just said is grounded in a deeply flawed fundamental idea, Anon: That what NP has posted is a lie. In point of fact, everything NP has ever posted about this situation has been the truth, gleaned from multiple firsthand sources, all of whom have come forward to share their stories. So what people are responding to–if they are responding in the manner you’ve intimated–is the truth.

There actually seems to be some ongoing confusion about what slander (or, since it’s in writing, the correct term would be libel) actually is, and this was addressed in a response to one of Lynsey Moon’s posts from a few weeks ago. As mentioned above, what NP has posted is not libel. Would you like to know what is libel, though? An Instagram created several months ago to specifically to attack and harass NP by spreading lies. (This is one example. Here is a second one.)

A number of baseless and false statements were repeatedly made by that account, which targeted not only NP, but me personally. And that’s where your vile, contemptuous argument fully falls apart, Anon. NP is an easy target, and always has been. A “Big Blog”–as labeled by some–and therefore fair game for the deriding. But there is a person behind the name, one who happens to have been told to her face to kill herself, and it is for that very reason that I will NEVER threaten someone with death, or accept someone threatening someone else.

At the end of the day, I have been spat on, threatened, trashed, and vilified in this fandom more times than I can count–both before and after starting Naked Persimmon, no less–and it is for that very reason that I will NOT be silent. I care too much about the Monkees, the fandom, and the fans in it, and I’d rather you come after NP than them any day of the week. Even if it’s only convenient because you don’t have to think about the human being behind the blog when you do it. So that’s my answer, Anon. That’s my response to NP being accused of facilitating death threats, which is an insane sentence to even contemplate in the first place. I’m done, because there simply isn’t anything else to say…

#ask np #anonymous #naked persimmon #michael nesmith #the monkees #sad state of affairs #there is a reason why every post about this has been tagged with #all you will find here is the truth #no words #oh god can this be real #monkees fandom

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markwatkinsconsumerguide · 6 years ago

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Consumer Guide / No.83 / Canadian singer-songwriter Suzie Vinnick with Mark Watkins.

MW : How did you find the pros and cons of Crowdfunding?

SV : I have done presales and crowdfunding for every album that I’ve recorded (six solo albums, and a number of collaborative projects). It is a great way to raise money for an album – it brings your supporters together in support of your art and enables them to be a part of making something happen. In a practical way, it also helps us artists keep from going into more debt as when you receive the monies in advance you don’t have to hit up your credit card (well maybe not as much ;-).

There’s not really any big cons; there is some administrative work but it feels good to send all the perks out (CDs, t-shirts, etc) knowing you have all this support for your music and art out there.

MW : Tell me about the tone & texture of the resulting album, Shake The Love Around...

SV : I have released six solo albums and another eight albums with other projects; Shake the Love Around is my latest roots and blues album and it’s a full band album (though I play a big part in the ‘band’).

My last two albums, Me ‘n’ Mabel and Live At Bluesville are both acoustic albums. Me ‘n’ Mabel is voice and guitar with some special guests and Live At Bluesville is just me and my little Larivee parlour guitar. I wanted to do an album that featured my voices – as a singer, as a guitarist, as a bassist and songwriter. I also played some lap steel on a few tunes.

I co-produced the album with my friend Mark Lalama which was a great experience. Mark is really easy going, I could bounce ideas off of him, he’d suggest things to me and we had a lot of flexibility to play with different musical ideas as the album was recorded at his home studio.

We chose songs for the album with as much of a positive message as we could – I had been through a few dark years and it was important to me to try and put some lightness out into the world. The album isn’t all ‘Pollyanna” and has a couple of darker leanings but is pretty positive for the most part. The title Shake The Love Around was named after a friends meal-time grace tradition. They’d have us all hold hands as someone said grace then at the end they’d say ‘shake the love around’ and invite everyone to shake their hands around, kinda like the wave. I always liked how my friends created community through their meal times and I thought that it’d make a fun title for the album.

I played guitar and I tracked the bed tracks along with drummer Gary Craig (Anne Murray, Blackie & the Rodeo Kings, Tom Cochrane). Afterwards, I added bass guitar, acoustic and electric guitars where needed and background vocals. Mark is a keyboard player and added some organ and accordion. Other players that contributed to the album were John Johnson, a Toronto based saxophone player; Kevin Breit and Colin Linden (a couple of my guitar heroes) played solos on a couple of tracks, and two of my album co-writers, David Leask and Dean McTaggart, sang some background vocals on the album.

MW : All your music releases to date are self-released. Is that by choice? Also, what are the advantages of such independence? Would you rule out going with a label?

SV : I’ve managed to have a full time career for almost 20 years as an independent artist. I get to choose what I do, when I do it, I own all of my recordings; there is definitely freedom in the independence.

The flip side to that is that being on a label may offer more support with bookings, promotion and support financially as well, so there might be less admin work and more time to create, perhaps? More show opportunities may come your way with more people working on your behalf.

I wouldn’t –not- consider it, but it would have to be a really good deal for me to consider going with a label.

MW : How long does the buzz last after coming off stage?

SV : I might have a bit of an adrenaline rush for a couple of hours after a show. It really depends how much travel I’ve been doing, how late my nights have been. Sometimes I will crash shortly after a show if it’s been a busy time, if there are time changes from the travel show to show.

MW : How do you usually unwind after a gig?

SV : After gig varies a bit as sometimes I end up heading back home so there’s not a lot of unwinding until we get home and hit the hay. But on a gig where I’m staying in town, after tearing down and packing up the merch I’ll usually head to the accommodations. If we’re being billeted we might sit and have a visit with the hosts or my band mates and have some snacks and a drink (maybe a shot of irish whisky, or maybe just a water lol) ; and, if I’m doing a solo performance and staying at a hotel I dive into my PJs, brush my teeth and cosy up in bed.

MW : Where do you usually shop for groceries? What are your main staples? Treats?!

SV : I buy groceries from the grocery store or Costco Warehouse; we live in the country so I tend to buy more stuff and store or freeze it to save us money and save us from have to drive back and forth to town.

Main staples tend to be fruits and veggies and the treats are chocolate and Chapman’s Vanilla Bean with Salty Caramel frozen yogurt – yum!!

MW : Thoughts on the sad passing of Peter Tork...are you a Monkees fan?

SV : I was sorry to hear of Peter Tork’’s passing. I used to watch The Monkees TV show every once in a while when I was a kid and am familiar with their music. I haven’t followed Peter in more recent years, but I do remember him being pretty funny. I’m originally from Saskatchewan (a province in Canada). I read that his father taught briefly at the University of Saskatchewan Regina campus and that he would come to Regina to visit him on occasion.

MW : List your Top 10 fave albums of all-time in order of merit, saying something about your No.1 choice…

SV :

This is my current list, but it changes…

10 Joni Mitchell – anything by her 9 Paul Simon – Still Crazy After All These Years (1973) 8 Heart – Greatest Hits (1998) 7 Stevie Ray Vaughan – Soul To Soul (1985) 6 Foo Fighters – Greatest Hits (2009) 5 Pink Floyd – The Wall (1979) 4 Rickie Lee Jones – Rickie Lee Jones (1979) 3 David Gray – A New Day At Midnight (2002) 2 Ry Cooder – anything by him 1 Supertramp – Breakfast In America (1979)

I first heard Supertramp when I was eleven; The Logical Song was their single at the time. Not sure why it resonated for me at that young age but I loved it. I was learning saxophone in school band and the music seemed accessible to me. I also loved singing along with Roger Hodgson and consider him a vocal influence.

MW : To round off, tell me about where you live and what’s to see & do...

SV : I live in an 1880's brick church in the Niagara Region of Ontario in the Township of Wainfleet.

When I am off the road touring, I like to go walking in the countryside. There are a lot of farms around here and big skies. It's quite beautiful.

When it's warmer, my boyfriend James and I might head to Lake Erie which is about 10 minutes south of our place and walk the beach or go for a swim and maybe have an ice cream.

There is a little town called Dunnville 10 minutes away where we'll go on occasion to hear live music and occasionally we'll drive to Welland (about 30 minutes away) to catch a film in the theatre.

The cities of Hamilton and Toronto are 1-1.5 hours away so sometimes we'll drive into the city to catch some music or head to a gallery but for the most part we stay close to home.

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atlff19 · 6 years ago

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THE FAREWELL

The Farewell is not yet rated. Running time is 98 minutes. A24 is distributing. In theaters July 12, 2019.

#awkwafina #Lulu Wang #The Farewell #atlff #atlanta film festival #nainai #tzi ma

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focalwriterwriting · 5 years ago

Text

THE FAREWELL

The Farewell is not yet rated. Running time is 98 minutes. A24 is distributing. In theaters July 12, 2019.

0 notes