From the End of Your Leash
I finally reached one of my goals for this website and got my first batch of free CDs for review, thanks to the good people at Bloodshot Records. Don’t think any less of my journalistic integrity if I wind up only writing positive reviews. I’ve long been a fan of the record label and its stable of clever and nervy alt.country artists.
Perhaps the best record that I missed in 2004, “From the End of Your Leash” features the outsized sounds and ambitions of Bobby Bare Jr.’s Young Criminals’ Starvation League. A smart-ass songwriter in the finest Nashville tradition (his pop has dozens of Top 40 country hits to his credit), Bare Jr. is not afraid to let his masterful arrangements – complete with Stax horns and lovely harmony from Carey Kotsionis – compete with his frequently witty lyrics.
“Hey, brother, could I borrow your girlfriend?” he asks in the album’s opening line. “I promise not to ask her to stay.” Elsewhere, he tips his hat to his hometown, where “You don’t even have to sing on key / Producers with computers can fix it all in Nashville, Tennessee,” and plays at puppy love on the title track: “I look cute at the end of your leash / Your adorable beast / As I salivate on your shoes.”
I had the pleasure of seeing him live at Bloodshot’s BBQ at the Union Pool in Willamsburg, during the last CMJ. With his shock of curly hair and large rockstar sunglasses, he cuts a figure not unlike a young Bob Dylan. His warm personality, good humor and unique voice (the prettiest steel-wool-on-chalkboard you’ve ever heard) easily distracted the audience from free hot dogs and Rheingold for 50 minutes.
Bobby Bare Jr. will return to NYC on June 9, when he opens for alt.country’s ultimate smart-asses, the Old 97’s, at Irving Plaza. That’ll be the hot ticket for smart new music.
The good folks at Bloodshot also provided me with an advance copy of the newest Waco Brothers’ disc, “Freedom and Weep,” due out in August. It’s a much more straight-ahead rock-n-roll sound than their last disc, and it’s something to look forward to.
A Brief Return to the Twentieth Century: Gang of Four at Irving Plaza
The Gang of Four returned to New York in great style and form last night, showing no signs of their two-decade gap in performing. They were tight and sharp and ready to take over the world. Darting across stage and frequently switching places, Andy Gill’s jagged guitars sounded every bit as dangerous as they do on those old records while Jon King punctuated his singing by wildly flailing his arms like some sort of spastic messiah.
It felt a bit like a socialist church (the crazy, speaking-in-tongues, big-tent revival kind) as the crowd (a wonderful mix of old-timers and kids) screamed along with lines like “The change will do you good!” and “To Hell with poverty!!!”
The set list was mostly restricted to songs from their first two albums, the only ones that all four original members played on, although the late, Joseph Conrad-quoting “We Live As We Dream, Alone” was a welcome surprise. I understand the band will be re-recording some of their old classics for release on iTunes and perhaps some sort of modified petroleum product (they don’t own their original masters, so this would be the way to make a proper profit for their trouble). This is not unwelcome, but new material would be well worth the wait. This is one reunion that only serves to enhance the band’s legacy.
Brooklyn’s own Radio 4 is opening for the entire national tour. They’re a great band, but their sound is awfully, ah, inspired by Gang of Four, and I feared that they wouldn’t compare well side-by-side, but they acquitted themselves nicely.
Baseball and Hardball
I saw my first Mets game of the season, a terrific 9 to 2 bludgeoning of the Reds. “Value” tickets for last night’s game were just $5 for the nosebleed seats in the upper decks. For $5, one can’t really complain. Actually, I rather prefer it way up there. All the games that I saw as a kid were in the upper decks, so that’s how I learned to follow the ball in play. Those box seats behind home plate are just a little overwhelming.
The Mets have a pretty good team this year. They actually win as often as they lose. All I ask is for a little excitement and suspense.
The next two nights are also “value” days, and tickets will be the same price. Tickets will obviously be much more expensive when the Yankees visit this weekend. “Value” days return on May 31 when the Mets face the Diamondbacks. I recommend organizing group outings for a nice day at the ballpark.
This is a rushed post because I am heading out the door to do some more leafletting at the Staten Island ferry. It’s on the Manhattan side this time, as it is all Tuesdays in May, from 4:00pm until 6:00pm. And, once again, leafletting on Thursdays is on the Staten Island side from 4:00pm until 6:00pm.
Finally, on Wednesday, the Writers Guild will be stepping up their public campaign against CBS, outside of Carnegie Hall, where the network is unveiling its new shows for the Fall, from 2:30 until 4:30.
From my friend Marija Kowalski:
Dear Union Brothers and Sisters,We are in a tough contract battle with CBS/ Viacom for 430 employees at CBS News. The affected employees are news and promotion writers, editors, graphic artists, desk and production assistants, and researchers. The company is trying to take many jobs out of the union. This would impact many members who’ve been in the union for decades. The company also wants substantial paycuts (up to 21%), to have automatic elimination of our contract in the case of any mergers, and allow managers to do unlimited amounts of work historically covered by our contract, to practically eliminate seniority protection from layoff, and many other outrageous attacks on our union.
As you know, Viacom is one of the five largest media conglomerates in the nation. We are counting on the support of our fellow union brothers and sisters to help us defend our contract against this giant corporation.
We have two events coming up– one tomorrow, and one next week. We realize it is a lot to ask. We would be very appreciative if even one person from your union came to the action tomorrow (an email about that event was sent out last week) and a larger group of people would come to the rally outside the Shareholder meeting. I would also love to hear from you to get an idea of the turnout. I would also appreciate if you would distribute this email to your lists.
Thank you very much!!
Taking On Viacom: WGAE at Viacom Stockholders Meeting Thursday, May 26 / 1:30 p.m.Join the WGAE on Thursday, May 26th as we tell Viacom that we will not sit quietly as CBS demands pay cuts from writers in order to line the pockets of its top three executives with over 150 million dollars.
All owners of Viacom A and Viacom B stock are entitled to attend and participate in their Annual Stockholders meeting. The Writers Guild of America, East will be there too, inside and outside, demanding that CBS withdraw its regressive demands for pay cuts and the removal of union jobs, and instead start working with us to negotiate a fair contract.
Marriott Marquis
Broadway @ 45th Street
New York CityWe are delighted to announce the New York City Labor Chorus will be performing at this rally.
We hope you will join us!
Working Harder for Les: WGAE Rally Out Front at the Upfront
Wednesday, May 18 / 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.WGAE Rally Outside Carnegie Hall!
This year, CBS shocked the industry by giving unprecedented compensation packages to its top three executives.
Meanwhile, CBS is demanding WGAE news and promo writers, graphic artists, desk and production assistants and researchers take paycuts of up to 21% and lose union jobs.
Les Moonves must be stopped. It’s time we receive recognition for our award-winning work.
For more information, contact Marija Kowalski at mkowalski@wgaeast.org
Carnegie Hall
57th Street & 7th Avenue
New York CityMarija Kowalski
Organizing Coordinator
Writers Guild of America, East
212-767-7808
Terrific Coverage from Staten Island’s Paper of Record
Union members distribute fliers protesting plans for 2 local Wal-Marts
By ROB HART
STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE
Friday, May 13, 2005
A Queens resident who helped derail Wal-Mart’s attempt to build a store in his borough joined union members and volunteers yesterday in protesting the big-boxer’s plans to build on Staten Island.
Shaun Richman, along with members of Local 342 of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, handed out small orange fliers to late-afternoon commuters at the St. George Ferry Terminal
“[Wal-Mart comes] in and all the small shops close down,” contended Richman. “They’re welfare cheats and they produce jobs that don’t pay
enough.”
The retail behemoth is eyeing industrial tracts in Mariners Harbor and Richmond Valley. Either would be the first Wal-Mart in New York
City.
Besides the alleged detriment to small businesses, the fliers accused Wal-Mart of poor labor practices in regard to health care, discrimination against women and the disabled, and tax evasion.
“I don’t think it’s a good thing for Staten Island,” said Michael Santorella of Port Richmond, who was clutching a flier while waiting for the next boat. “They don’t seem to do the right thing, and I don’t think I would shop there.”
Martha Rohman of West Brighton agreed: “This company has a history of discriminating against its workers, especially women. I would be much happier if they never built it, and I’m glad there are people out here talking about how bad an idea it is.”
