WHAT THE FUCK ARE THEY YELLING?
BIG SMOKE: This installment sees us waving a strong armed goodbye to Oxbow. If you made it to one of the shows this tour, the words - 'broken, glass, strangulation, extreme fighting, brawling, growling, masturbation and making-out' will probably spark some flashbacks. At this stage it's probably wise for us to thank your personal therapists, who may be helping you through this period of recovery. We'd also like to thank all of y'all that came to the shows, and the marvelous folks that booked 'em. Brave folks, one and all.--http://come.to/bigsmoke
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
The Oxbow CD from last year on Neurot is one sick puppy. If you like Jesus Lizard and US Maple, there's not much chance you will hate this. It might not like you back, though.--http://www.hippriest.net/
MAELSTROM:
http://www.maelstrom.nu/issue14/frame.php?resource=interview&number=5
http://www.maelstrom.nu/issue14/frame.php?resource=live&number=6
http://www.maelstrom.nu/issue14/frame.php?resource=live&number=1
http://www.maelstrom.nu/issue14/frame.php?resource=live&number=7
PROFILES IN COURAGE
Oxbow Fan Tag & Release Program Unveiled
By Gabriel Ferreira
Conversations overheard at the soul-crushing OXBOW Acoustic Gig at Trouble w/KID 606 two days after OXBOW got back from Europe:
30's Something Man Under The Influence Trying to Maintain Composure: Hey, do you know if Oxbow is playing... Wait a minute. Are those Vans checkerboard slip-ons? Those are not Vans checkerboard slip-ons!
20's Something Grandson of the White Guy with the Afro on ëRoom 222': Fuck, yeah, man! Aren't they rad?
20's Something Girl in Recently Popular Ill Fitting Denim Ass Manglers: Didn't you think it odd that they were playing the Smiths at that liquor store?
30's Something Man Under The Influence Trying to Maintain Composure to Get Laid: It does seem an odd choice for what I'm sure are some very nice people trying desperately hard not to look Arabic.
20's Something Girl in Recently Popular Ill Fitting Denim Manglers with Screwed Up Face: ...
30's Something Man Under The Influence Trying to Maintain Composure Who Will Not Be Getting Laid: I don't suppose I could have one of those cigarettes?
30's Something Man Under The Influence Trying to Maintain Composure: Hey, do you know if Oxbow is still going to play tonight?
Josh, Owner of (wherever the fuck that was on Mission Street the other night): Yeah, they're supposed to go on at about 1:00. It's only going to be acoustic, though. There was some snafu with the airline and their equipment got held up.
30's Something Man Under The Influence Who Knows Better: Is that what they told you? Ha, ha. I mean, yeah, that seems to happen to them a lot. I'm sure it has nothing to do with any malfeasance on their part. Hey, look at that. My ride's here.
WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU LOOKING AT?
1) Follow this link to find photos of Oxbow at Dour: http://live.dourfestival.be/
2) "Hello, I put pics from your great concert in Dour on www.photorock.com
Best Regard from Lille,
FrÈdÈric Loridant
http://www.photorock.com/î
MAIL SCROTUM
"I read Eugene Robinson's getting-beaten-up article in Vice magazine a few months ago, and since then I have been trying to find some of Oxbow's music online. Finally, this past weekend I found the entire An Evil Heat album on Kazaa. Let me tell you that I liked it so much that I went and bought the album the next day. In the past two days I have listened to it probably ten times through. Either I'm not paying attention, or you have produced an album that is exempt from the principle of diminishing marginal returns. This is the music I have been looking for: bluesy, raw, dark, heavy, fierce, dynamic, alive, indescribable. You guys rock, and I hope to see you in Austin someday. Peace, Cliff Harrison, former twisted ball of misery
"As a registered owner of one or more Oxbow albums, I appreciate this remarkable gesture of ongoing support from the Oxbow organization. I enjoy every issue and constantly wonder why Eugene is not running the country. Thanks.--Pete Johnson, Producer of Captain Beefheart's Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller)
"I just finished reading your tour diary , and I found it very interesting and pleasant to read. actually i thought i would just read a few lines , since I'm at work and it wouldnt be prudent to spend too much time fucking off , but i got roped in and read the whole thing. now my eyes hurt really bad. i suppose its the orange background. I'm imagining what it might feel to have a dry , flaky rash actually ON your eyeball, and I'm guessing its possibly not entirely unlike what I'm feeling right now. I'm not sure how I happened across your website , probably a link from somewhere. I got King of the jews , and then "balls", many many years ago , and thought you guys may have just dropped off the face of the earth , but low and behold , you are still working. fan-fucking-tastic. I look forward to hearing some of the newer records, as I plan to acquire them soon. You might consider putting the tour diary stuff in print , on paper i mean , its very entertaining. Thankyou.--brian buscemi.
"That Scott Salzman line [Newsletter No. 29] reminds me of something my college ethics prof would repeat-- NEVER trust ANYONE who says that they don't like music. Sure, they can dislike certain kinds (say, zither chorales), but Jesus, everyone likes a good tune. THIS PARTICULAR PROFESSOR "STUDIED" (READ: "DRANK TONS") WITH JEAN-PAUL SARTRE. So is it Salzman vs. Sartre? I think Jean was having more fun. Plus, Scotty boy neglected to factor in that most music is played in 4/4 ("common time") while a windshield wiper only makes noises twice, essentially making it easier to fit into the beat of most any song you'd bother to put on in the car. Dipshit. I need a nap. ñAmanda, Boston, MA
"Dear Oxbow,
I don't know if the "Oxblow" parody was real [Newsletter 29. Or 28.] or if Eugene wrote it. If the latter, how self-absorbed can you get? If former, I'm jealous of someone (especially someone who doesn't know him that well) being able to skewer Eugene's arch and persnickety tone so accurately. The author must read the newsletters carefully-actually, he might want to get a life at some point. Maybe I should do the same.óSteve, Texas
THE MOST FOOLISH MAN IN THE SOUTH WEST...
"Hi Sarah,
Sorry for not replying to your texts - I didn't get them Until yesterday. Yes, I have recovered from Saturday, but only just. Yeah, looking back on it scary is definitely a word I'd use to describe Oxbow: HE LOOKS LIKE AN INSANE, DRUG-ADDICTED GIANT ñ WHICH MAKES ME WONDER WHY I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO TRY AND PULL HIS PANTS DOWN. I thought he would see the funny side of it, but he obviously didn't when he punched me in the side of the head. I can say that without doubt that is the most foolish act of alcohol-induced stupidity I have ever committed. You live and learn.I can't really remember much else about Saturday after he hit me.--Ben xx
"I saw the trailer for music for adults yesterday for the first time... maybe I'm not hip or down with the kids but THE SIGHT OF SOMEONE WITH THEIR DICK FLAILING ABOUT WHILE HOLDING A MICROPHONE UNSETTLED ME SOMEWHAT... this may well be the only gig I ever promote and don't attend... or at least that's what I'm saying... :-) Fuck me... that's pretty much all I could say after seeing it... I'm gonna pretend one of my mates is Hag for the night so he doesn't get any funny ideas or try to wrestle me.
a nervous,
Hag
"I just saw you guys in Cardiff on Sunday. I really enjoyed! I now just saw your newsletters - hilarious. My band Taint actually did a record with KARL DEMATA last year! It is a split between us and Black Eye Riot. I guess he is a cocksucker motherfucker...óJIM, http://www.taint.co.uk
"Number One of my top 10 Dour gigs (better than last year and better than the Melvins later that night who's my all time favourite band ever since Ozma)!!! And I wasn't the only one who thought that! Maybe that's a comfort for the broken guitar!!!! Thanks guys and come back to a Belgian venue soon! Greetz.--Caroline, clitpunkinvasion@pandora.be
"I saw you perform at the Ashton Court festival in Bristol (UK) in July (2003). Bl**dy briliant! I've been to some intense gigs before (Clutch), but this was something special. Could you please put me on the Oxbow newsletter mailing list? I've ordered An Evil Heat; you should get more coverage. I expect you've heard this all before. Thank you for a brilliant set. All the best Kes Robinson.
"I thought last night was outstanding. I got a txt this morning, ëThat crunched mediocrity with a sledgehammer. In a beautiful way, thanks Nendie for a devastatingly inspiring show. One of the most compelling things I've ever seen.' I like the thanks Nendie part of that, I did help Greg tune the drums ha ha. That was from my NY friend who's doing a split with The Locust (gig idea????). I thought Fozzy looked like a cute kitten. Or possibly a punky animal from Sesame st (late night).óNendie Pinto Duschinsky
"Just saw you play the london underworld show last night. fucking crushingly DEVASTATING! Absolutely brilliant. That's the best I've seen you guys... the sound from where I was standing couldn't have been better. Fucking electric show of the year no doubt. It was fucking mind blowing!! thanks!!--
craig, TODD
"Enjoyed the gig, even the Queensbury interlude!î--Jay, Extreme Records
"Wow what a show! Behind the thrash 'n noise ( a good thing) all that musicianship /composition/passion was really appreciated. Just what I needed when I was getting really tired of the steady, 4 to the bar predictability of most bands at the fest. Many thanks. Keep the passion, and the interest ( all those dynamics / timing changes).--Graham
"Yeah I'm glad your guys shows went well this time around, it's good to see you guys get your dues. It's a far cry from last year, when you were rolling into towns and not even knowing if the show was on, and playing random bars to 10 people and all that!óKeith, Cardiff
"was talking to a couple of people who went to the show in nottingham the other night... like, they're normal people... but, a couple of days after the show, they're finding themselves transfixed every now and again with images from the show and they can't seem to shake them... as in, finding themselves, in work, mouths open, mesmorised, drooling... then snapping themselves out of it... apparently, it's like a really weird drug made up of images, that's they way people are describing it...îóBBS, Dublin
http://www.thumped.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=7538&page=1&pp=30
OXBOW INTERVIEW, DUBLIN, IRELAND WEEKLY
EG: Hi Eugene, Just going to whack you off a couple of questions in the dark.
Eugene Oxbow: Whack me off, eh? Well I'll just leave that alone and not even address the possibility of getting a hand job from a journalist.
EG: So I'm not too familiar with Oxbow but will be by the show.
Eugene Oxbow: Well peruse http://www.theoxbow.com at your leisure. It may help. Will probably definitely hurt.
EG: Sorry for the vagueness of the questions but you should know my purpose is try and get people down...
Eugene Oxbow: Okey dokey.
EG: So for those unfamiliar with the band, describe the Oxbow experience?
Eugene Oxbow: Imagine, if you would, coming home to discover my cock inside of everything at your house that you hold dear. Your mother. Your cat. Your car. And you know you still wouldn't even be very close.
EG: You hail from San Francisco?
Eugene Oxbow: Well we all hail Caesar.
EG: What's been your recording history?
Eugene Oxbow: Records, mostly.
EG: Tell us about the art collaborations you've been involved in?
Eugene Oxbow: Well we've hit the hustings with everyone from Lydia Lunch, Marianne Faithfull, Jarboe from The Swans, the dear and departed Kathy Acker, Steve Albini, Richard Kern, the Rova Sax folks, and the list goes on and on and not nearly so significant for what they actually contributed as to the fact that they're minds were where our minds were at for that moment in time.
EG: We hear there's extreme fighting involved, which is a new sport to us? Any chance you could explain it?
Eugene Oxbow: Well there are lots of cool fighters over in the UK...Mark Weir, Ian Freeman...it's called alternatively No Hold's barred fighting...submission fighting, mixed martial arts...ultimate fighting and it involves boxing, wrestling, jiu jitsu, kick boxing, all mixed up...I suggest you see the next event in your area as it's like nothing you've ever seen before.
EG: Are you looking forward to the Dublin show?
Eugene Oxbow: Yeah. Actually not having been there since we recorded over at windmill lane with Marianne, well yeah....
EG: Should the audience bring anything in particular?
Eugene Oxbow: Drugs. Poison mushrooms. Sharpened screwdrivers. And the boys should bring their girls. And the girls should bring condoms. That's all I can think of.
NEXT MONTH: AH, GO FUCK YOUR MOTHERS.
