Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The Velvet Underground Etc.

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  • Mike O'Connell,

    The old saying that hardly anyone bought it, but everyone who did went out and formed a band is true in spirit, if not in fact.

    Indeed, e.g. Jonathan Richman (and Modern Lovers) who reputedly attended more VU gigs than Lou Reed himself! The Velvet Underground and Nico is an absolute classic - my fav is the Nico-led All Tomorrow's Parties.

    I heard Graeme Hill (Humphreys - Able Tasmans) at a Kings Arms kiwi music night quiz earlier this year relate an amusing anecdote about 'meeting/ John Cale when he was in the Bfm studio, probably on the same day you were there Russell – it didn’t end well!

    By the way, Clinton Heylin’s ‘From the Velvets to the Voidoids’ is an excellent look at the Velvets and others crucial to the the foundation of American punk and there is reference there to that April 1967 Gymasium set. Sister Ray could sometimes come in at 40 min live but that 18 min version is a killer. By comparison, Joy Division’s version is one of their few lesser moments.

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 385 posts Report Reply

  • David Cohen,

    Hardly anyone bought that first Velvet Underground, but everyone who did went on to form a cult. How else can one explain the ongoing enthusiasm for these "recently rediscovered"--ie, this has been lying around for years, but we really didn't think until now that anybody would actually PAY to listen to it--recordings of long-lost shows?

    Brooklyn • Since Jan 2009 • 10 posts Report Reply

  • JacksonP,

    Heard you on the radio this morning. Just like old times. ;-)

    The daughter of a friend just recently released a few tracks under the name Lorde.

    I think it’s kind of fresh, and worth a listen. I hope she puts something on The Audience.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2011 • 2450 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Darlington,

    I reckon there's the most tenderest of tender segues from Velvet Underground to Flying Lotus (experimental art music?) so check out this beautiful, sad, short film for the title track of their new album "Until the Quiet Comes". It's all about death!

    RIP Austin Peralta (son of Z Boy skater Stacy) who also played on the album.

    J Dilla Saved My Life

    Nelson • Since Nov 2006 • 949 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to David Cohen,

    Hardly anyone bought that first Velvet Underground, but everyone who did went on to form a cult. How else can one explain the ongoing enthusiasm for these "recently rediscovered"--ie, this has been lying around for years, but we really didn't think until now that anybody would actually PAY to listen to it--recordings of long-lost shows?

    It does seem to have become a bit silly -- the six-disc set includes a rough mix from an acetate of the album that doesn't really seem that interesting, and the Ohio live recordings are apparently fairly poor.

    On the other hand, the Gymnasium bootleg is great -- I've played it many, many times.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Wow, I can see why that never sold, and also why I've never started a band. I haven't got the patience for 42 minutes of the same baseline.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    Not So Great Music News: Marbecks in Queens Arcade, arguable the best music store in Auckland, will be closing in early 2013.

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to BenWilson,

    Wow, I can see why that never sold, and also why I've never started a band. I haven't got the patience for 42 minutes of the same baseline.

    Dude. That's John Cale you're dissing there :-)

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Mike O'Connell,

    I heard Graeme Hill (Humphreys – Able Tasmans) at a Kings Arms kiwi music night quiz earlier this year relate an amusing anecdote about ’meeting/ John Cale when he was in the Bfm studio, probably on the same day you were there Russell – it didn’t end well!

    Cale was such a curmudgeon, but he actually gave us a lot of his time and I liked him. He was funny.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I'm dissing myself, mostly, for lacking the musical hardness required for listening to that.

    ETA: I could listen to Loopcrew indefinitely, though.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    I'd just like to point out that much as I'd like to link y'all to the somewhat famous bootleg of John Cale's 1983 solo show at The Gluepot, I can't, because it was on Megaupload and the US government has sized the domain name and all the files on the site. Fuckers.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Martin Lindberg,

    You can buy the record and the songs on it every digital whichway now -- not least on this year's six-disc (yes, really) reissue package

    Because I'm a VU fanboy I have ordered this. It will fit nicely next to the five-CD box Peel Slowly and See from 1995.

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to David Cohen,

    Hardly anyone bought that first Velvet Underground, but everyone who did went on to form a cult.

    And in Manchester in 1976, only 42 people saw the Sex Pistols live - only for every one of them to form a band or enter the music biz.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Mike O'Connell, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    Buzzcocks, Joy Division...but duds too - Simply Red. Mick Hucknall (supposedly one of the 42) was taken to the cleaners (...coz God 'ates gingers...) by Steve Coogan's Tony Wilson character in 24 Hour Party People!

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 385 posts Report Reply

  • Doug Hood, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Hey Russell, was one of my favourite tours, me on sound,Ken West on lights, touring party of 3.

    Kingsland • Since Oct 2009 • 44 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Doug Hood,

    Hey Russell, was one of my favourite tours, me on sound,Ken West on lights, touring party of 3.

    Do you remember driving to bFM and you put a Clean tape on the car stereo -- and Cale was all "take that rubbish off!" He was totally winding us up.

    I also recall you having a little trouble filling one part of his rider :-)

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • JacksonP,

    This is close to the version of Venus In Furs we saw at Bruce Mason theatre, 15 Nov 2007.

    It worked for me.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2011 • 2450 posts Report Reply

  • Doug Hood, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Forgot that.He wss great when it was just the two of us, especially after a few drinks over dinner.Told me heaps of stuff about Lou,which I've kept to myself.He was pretty bitter about it all.Wasn't anywhere as much fun 2nd time when he was sober.

    Kingsland • Since Oct 2009 • 44 posts Report Reply

  • Grant McDougall,

    Cale's autobiography What's Welsh For Zen ? is a superb read, he's very warts'n' all in discussing himself and there's great anecdotes through out it.

    James Young's account of life as Nico's Keyboardist, Songs They Never Play On The Radio is hilarious and includes a section on touring NZ with Headless Chickens supporting.

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2006 • 760 posts Report Reply

  • Doug Hood, in reply to Grant McDougall,

    James Young's account of life as Nico's Keyboardist, Songs They Never Play On The Radio is hilarious and includes a section on touring NZ with Headless Chickens supporting

    Seem to remember they called her mom

    Kingsland • Since Oct 2009 • 44 posts Report Reply

  • Mike O'Connell, in reply to Doug Hood,

    Mutti oder Muttl vielleicht! That was 1986. One of those 'wish I'd gone to' gigs. As most know, she tragically died in 1988, falling off her bike in Ibiza, precipitated by a heart attack. She may have survived if the diagnosis (sunstroke!) was correct.

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 385 posts Report Reply

  • Barnard, in reply to Martin Lindberg,

    You can buy the record and the songs on it every digital whichway now -- not least on this year's six-disc (yes, really) reissue package

    Because I'm a VU fanboy I have ordered this. It will fit nicely next to the five-CD box Peel Slowly and See from 1995.

    I was enough of a fanboy for Peel Slowly, and actually like the demo on disc1 but 6 more discs without anything really new is just a bit much.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2012 • 72 posts Report Reply

  • Barnard, in reply to Grant McDougall,

    James Young’s account of life as Nico’s Keyboardist, Songs They Never Play On The Radio is hilarious and includes a section on touring NZ with Headless Chickens supporting.

    It was hilarious, although I did wonder how embellished some of the stories were.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2012 • 72 posts Report Reply

  • Martin Lindberg, in reply to Barnard,

    but 6 more discs without anything really new is just a bit much.

    Now now. The new box has the mono and stereo versions of the album.

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report Reply

  • DexterX,

    To treasure that album was to have a certain idea about what music is meant to be.

    I always found White Light White Heat embodied that certain idea – writing great songs:

    This is well worth a listen

    Great songs live their own lives – as part of the legacy of what can be called “the Great American Music Tradition” Mr Stanley’s version sits well alongside The Velvet Underground Second Album.

    Of the work Lou Reed did outside “the confines” of the VU – Berlin is awesome.

    Etc, etc, etc blah blah - My urge to comment has passed so here is some great influential guitar playing.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1224 posts Report Reply

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