I was in Melbourne early March for the Sleater-Kinney concerts at The Croxton, and for Madonna. I regret however that I did not learn of Carrie Brownstein's appearance at the Wheeler Centre when I was there. I would have loved to hear her speak. She is a good writer, very articulate, and definitely a writer with a powerful and distinctive voice. Thankfully, they made the talk available on youtube finally.
Oh my. I think somebody uploaded the entire Sleater-Kinney show at Market Hotel. I gasp, and share. Well, I think I'm only putting it on the blog so I can find it again in future. Still - totally adore the "Whorin' for Corin" shirt that Carrie was wearing. Like she said, her guitar was covering part of it, so it just says "Whorin'". It's the thought that counts, hun.
Hmm. Apparently Carrie kept one guitar throughout the show. Usually she change guitars intermittently.
"It cannot be stated enough that Sleater-Kinney’s impact on rock ‘n’ roll is absolutely essential. They’ve never compromised their sound, politics, or work ethic, using the hiatus to pursue personal projects, each with their various merits. But there is little that compares to the magic that happens when they come together."
- Village Voice, on the Sleater-Kinney New York tour [full essay]
Great article covering Sleater-Kinney's recent New York tour, and the band's set list. [ full essay ] It shows the kind of decision that goes the scene, as the band tries to make it an optimum experience for the fans. It's never just about a band in front of an audience, but almost like an exchange of energy. It's also fun to have them switch things around, so that it rewards fans that follow them every night of their tour.
Sleater-Kinney’s sprint down memory lane ended in a space reminiscent of the tiny, unpolished spots the group played in its early days, Market Hotel, where someone doodled the letters “S K” and hearts on the fogged-out windows behind the stage, and the elevated M train was visible rattling by. “In a way, it was interesting to be in that position again, to be on stage and thinking, ‘Oh my God, I’m going to be deaf after this show.’ It definitely became very scrappy and energetic,” Ms. Weiss said. (Which explains the condition of that night’s set list, pictured above). “I remember those days and I feel like we became a good band in venues like that, but I don’t have to play those venues to prove that we are still true to the music and still raw. I still feel that raw, even in a bigger place. People could just get closer. It was for the hard-core fans.”
Hope everyone is enjoying the lead up to the festive season. I just came back from a two week trip to San Francisco and New York. It was a blast - the climax being the two back-to-back Sleater-Kinney concerts I managed to catch as they are rounding up 2015 with a 5 concert tour in New York. I've been a big fan of Sleater-Kinney for a long time, and was totally heart-broken when they went on "indefinite hiatus". Ten years later, they are back. It's been a long journey, and I am so thankful for the opportunity to see them 'live' in concert - even if that meant long hours standing in line, in the cold, with aching feet and a hot, sweaty frontline gallery later. I am thankful that they never gave up on the music. Thank you so much.
I was at Kings Theatre, Brooklyn when the band did a cover of the Ramones' 'Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)'. Carrie was in that very same dress. It was pretty much just awesome sauce.
Carrie Brownstein, in conversation with Dave Eggers. Overall, a funny and interesting interview. I particularly like how she described the Sleater-Kinney sound. I find it difficult to put my finger on why I love their music so much, and I often am at a loss when I had to describe their music to friends. It is powerful, fast, passionate, extreme, terrible and beautiful all at once> It is not "settled music", as Brownstein explained:
"First of all, Sleater-Kinney is not a band that people usually play at restaurants. For a reason: It’s not settled music, and it doesn’t make people feel settled. It’s not really background music. I’ve realized. Because of that - It’s true: I don’t recognize it.
"I remember being at a hair salon and hearing this really fast song. And I just thought, Wow, this is a really disruptive thing to play while I’m trying to relax and get my haircut. And then I realize it was ‘Dig Me Out’. But, it has a velocity to it, and it’s scary. And it’s unrecognizable. I only recognize it from the inside, I guess. I recognize those songs through playing them. But when I’m hearing them back, I’m unsure of how fearsome they are. They’re very intense.
What I would do to be there!
"Bury Our Friends"
"Entertain"
Looking forward to Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl - Carrie Brownstein's memoir. Coming out Oct 2015.
I'm posting this Rolling Stones interview with Sleater-Kinney here. I was looking for a quote from Carrie Brownstein about the riot grrrl movement earlier:
Brownstein enrolled at Evergreen State College, in Olympia, Washington, the epicenter of the early-Nineties feminist-punk movement known as riot grrrl, where she started a band, Excuse 17, and saw shows by iconic Evergreen acts like Heavens to Betsy, who were fronted by Tucker, and Bikini Kill. The scene was revelatory: "I thought, 'This is the sound my heart would make if I could amplify it,' " Brownstein recalls. "Sometimes, with your family, you're like, 'How can you be so close to me and not see me?' And then, all of a sudden you see yourself portrayed in music, and it's like, 'On the other side of the telescope is someone that sees me.' "
I love it - 'This is the sound my heart would make if I could amplify it'.Sometimes, you come across music that echoes your heartbeat, and this is how it feels.
The articles on Sleater-Kinney's return have been coming. This is one of the more recent ones, by Pitchfork. It's no secret that I am a fan. Sleater-Kinney is on my bucket list - "Bands to watch 'live' Before I Die". Yes, some people have Bucket Lists like that. Their music carried me through some bad times. The growls of their guitars, Carrie and Corin with their vocal intensity, the invigorating drumbeats - their music makes me feel more alive.
When they announced the band was on "indefinite hiatus" - it was heartbreaking. Then they came back, sneaking a new single onto the vinyl collection of their old records last year. I was so excited, promised myself I had to catch them when they tour.
Life right now is making it hard to travel, so I will wait. If it is meant to be, it will be.
Then they went and did something like this with their friends, and they remind me again why I totally adore them:
Let's not forget their appearance on David Letterman's. A heart melting moment.
I tend to be the sort that prefers the sad love songs. "Good Things" for me is a song about the failure and futility of love. It's not epic in terms of its lyric, and the song itself concedes as much. But it is the kind of angst-ridden post-breakup songs that you listen to over and over. One can easily identify with the sentiments and slip ourselves into its narrative of angry disillusion that is only possible, because you were once foolish enough to believe in the romance.
All things changes, all things ends. Even love - especially love. How true, these lines: "why do good things never wanna stay/some things you lose some things you give away". Sometimes your heart is broken, sometimes you are the one doing the breaking. Why do we keep making the same mistakes? Why do we never learn? Why do we insist on falling in love in spite of all the pain? Because we need to believe it, we tell ourselves that it will better the next time.
this time it'll be alright
this time it'll be okay
this time it'll be alright
this time it'll be okay
Will it? Will it really be better the next time?
Good Things
by Sleater-Kinney
got this feeling
when i heard your name the other day
couldn't say it
couldn't make it go away
it's a hard place
can't be friends we can't be enemies
it's just too much
feel the weight crushing down on my face
the hardest part is things already said
getting better worse i cannot tell
why do good things never wanna stay
some things you lose some things you give away
broken pieces
try and make it good again
is it worth it
will it make me safe today?
it's a dumb song
but i'll write it anyway
it's an old mistake
but we always make it why do we
the hardest part is things already said
getting better worse i cannot tell
why do good things never wanna stay
some things you lose some things you give away
this time it'll be alright
this time it'll be okay
this time it'll be alright
this time it'll be okay
the hardest part is things already said
getting better worse i cannot tell
why do good things never wanna stay
some things you lose some things you give away
some things you lose some things you give away
This morning I received a message from one of the Facebook groups I subscribe to. It carries with it a bit of unverified news that can really make my day. If it's true. *fingers crossed*
The news is: Corin Tucker (one-third of my favourite band, Sleater-Kinney) may be releasing a solo album this fall. The fangirl in me goes, "YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!"
Meanwhile, here's a few video of Corin Tucker performing her solo at the Reading Frenzy benefit, at Holocene in Portland, Oregon.
Because when all you have are crumbs, you might as well make a banquet out of it.
Carrie Brownstein reads Black Swan Green (David Mitchell. I approve) and enjoys Fleet Foxes, which she has described (to her own chagrin) as "Baroque Shins". [Source]
What?
Of the track, "He Doesn't Know Why" she found it "melodically evoked that precipitous but gleeful fall into love, not to mention one out of every ten wedding ceremonies."
I have to admit, I'm warming to Fleet Foxes. Grand, lush melodies - probably sung by bearded men in flannel shirts.
At least that's how I imagine it.
First, a big thank you to everyone who wished me luck on the interview yesterday. It's done - and I think it went well. They will decide if I am the person they want for the job.
So now we wait.
There is a good chance I might not accept the offer, unless they offer better terms. It is comforting to be in the position to choose our jobs. Many people don't have that choice.
In case anyone has noticed, I haven't been as active with my comments on everyone's blogs lately. I'm still reading your blogs, but lurking more. A new company project suddenly landed on our lap and the workload just multiplied. This - and some pretty lousy directions - is stressing me a little. And our boss assured us it's going to get worse.
So, apologies in advance if I don't reply to your comments as fast as I used to.
I'm still:
Most of all, trying to keep sane under all the pressure. It's manageable. Imagine that. A few years ago I would probably be throwing things around the office.
The stress management was done while listening to a lot of Sleater-Kinney.
"It's insulting to call Sleater-Kinney the best female rock band in the world when they're one of the best rock bands, period." ~ The New Yorker
When you can't watch them "live", Youtube is an alternative - albeit a poor substitute. It must really be something else to watch them in concert. I would have loved to watch Carrie Brownstein rocking the stage like a Guitar God.
[The Crystal Ballroom. Sleater-Kinney's final concert, performing "One More Hour"]
[Sleater-Kinney performing "Jumpers" on The Henry Rollins Show]
[MTV for "Entertain"]
Just found: Tiny Suns Infused With Sour: All the latest news about the ex-members of Sleater-Kinney...
Joined I Miss Sleater-Kinney on Facebook
Heh. It was meant to be:
