Newsletter No. 34: OXBOW VS. THE ANGRY, TREMBLING TRANSSEXUAL "That many men were undone by not going deep enough in roguery; as in gaming any man may be a loser who doth not play the whole game."-Henry Fielding SHOW ME YOURS!!! WELCOME TO THE ASS IN THE AIR: DECEMBER 4, THE EAGLE, SAN FRANCISCO, 9 PM, OXBOW & SUBARACHNOID SPACE "Only in America could a promoter, with a straight face, tell a band that their show wasn't a success because the band failed to PROMOTE it."-Greg Davis Indeed. There's Scott Walker on the hi-fi. We pad across the floor, our stocking feet awash in the plush of ivory color carpet. We come to pause in front of the glassed walls and stare out into the evening. Drinks, ice cubes, central fucking heting. It's love. Long and spread across and through all of our everything. And breathing deeply against the accretion of minutes full of minutes like this where it's just the two of you in a thing so heavy that it could break your fucking back. Oh god,oh god, oh god. It's a red cravat. Angora. And a belt of kid leather. It's moments like this that should be appreciated. You know, REALLY, appreciated before you do something like going to jail. At least this is what we tell Eugene as they roll the waon up to his driveway. WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED? NOVEMBER 13, THURSDAY THE METRO, OAKLAND with NED, and THOSE PEABODYS "hello. at this point, my main concern is not the money. it's eugene. his email & attitude after the show was the problem. i cannt understand it at all. and frankly, tone deaf did not address this issue in your email either. that's disturbing. It implies that violence against promoters and women is OK in your book. not cool. threatening someone is not acceptable. In essence, eugen, you committed assault- do you realize that? getting in someone's personal space & intimidating them & thereatening [sic] their physical well-being is assault (legally in california). julia called me crying & very upset after dealing with you, eugene. i you have no remorse or feelings about that, well then- i think we have nowhere to go but to other channels. i don't want that, & i don't think you do either. maybe you should think about stuff like that before speaking opr [sic] pressing the send button.Diplomacy works better than threats- especially with me. i agree that the money is still an issue, however- the band did nothing to promote the fact that they were playing. they did not hold up their end of the bargain at all. i agree that a deal is deal and oxbow broek their end of it long before i brought up changing my end. on my website (& in my email/phone conversations wioth [sic] derek at all for show (who tone deaf was contacted through)) i made it very clear what I expect from bands that play or me- it's all on my FAQ. it's been posted there for years. as for keeping my word, i have always done that & have a great reputation in the bay area. i am one of the few promoters who go out of my way to make bands feel welcome & give great deals. i a not trying to "get out of it" (the guarantee). in fact, from tone deaf's email, it seems oxbow has a hard time doing the businees [sic] side of things & thought all they had to do was show up to pay off bad debt instead [sic] of do the actual work of creting a great show. i feel that oxbow helped to cause the bad attendance situation in the first place. they did not do the promotion work at all. i have already lost hundreds on this show & had a staffer assaulted. i feel that is mostly oxbow's fault (as eadliner who did not promite [sic] & of course, as cause of duress to julia). i created 5000 flyers, they were ditroed [sic] all over the east bay by street team- resocrd [sic] stores, cafes, bars, clubs, in persona at other shows. the show was listed inevery free weekly in the bay area & tickets were annouced [sic] & given away on KUSF & KALX. i did my part- oxbow did not. it's not even on their website fer christsakes! it was never emailed to their fans ( i asked some who are on the list). they never ceated posters or flyers. all they did was show up & wonder why there were no people (duh). looking forward to your response(s). dani" "Hi Dani, Erik here from Tone Deaf. Sorry we have to meet this way but oh well. I read your email to Derek (no afiliation w/Tone Deaf or Oxbow). It varies quite a bit from the account I have received from Eugene Robinson of Oxbow. Herein follows my reaction to the story that I believe to be true: They (Oxbow) agreed to play for $20, then, after the show your asistant tried to get them to sign some paperwork that would undo our guarantee...they said that the guarantee was not theirs to undo, and I agree. They said they'd sign that you'd paid them $20 to play, but they wouldn't sign to undo the contract since nither I nor Derek were there and we were the ones who made the deal w/you in the first place. Again, I agree fully w/Oxbow. Oxbow saw nothing in the way of ads for this show and no listings in any of the papers. Even if that is not true, and Oxbow dras 12 people when over-promoted (even though I know this isn't true because I have booked them many, many shows and they almost always draw well), you still agreed to pay them $150. Bottom line is: a deal is a deal. It seems to me that Oxbow was willin to be civil, but then your assistant started pulling that pseudo-legal crap on everyone and when Oxbow rightfully refused to sign such nonsense, she started yelling and getting everyone upset and then stormed off. So in the end, this one happens to mea $130 straight out of my pocket, which is more than anyone else had to spend that night. Truly an unfortunate turn of events....so, I must ask for the remainder of the money....we are all "indie" here....but I'm not going to lose out on $130 just becauseyou can't keep your word on a guarantee. They call it a guarantee because it's not supposed to be in question....when you make deals w/people and then go back on your word that is bad business. I'm sure you can talk alot of trash at your barbeques, and fel free to do so as long as you send a check for $130.00 to: Tone Deaf 1545 Haskell Ave Lawrence KS 66044 ....just remember that what goes around comes around, and talking trash won't get you very far in the first place. Regards, Erik Jarvis, Tone Dea" "Since I was the one who was approached to sign after the show, here's my quick picture: About 10 minutes before Ned was to begin playing, Julia came up to ask us if we wanted to cancel the show or to play. At this point, we had already set-up our eqipment and had our "sound check". She explained the cash situation and suggested she/Dani would minimize their losses if they cancelled the show. Oxbow began to weigh the benefits of bagging the show or playing for the 8 people in the house. Meanwhile, hile we went back and forth on this, Julia had to go downstairs and tell Ned to hold on for a minute since they were making sounds and about to start their set. This was the first they heard of any of this, and after the show they were surprised to hear Jlia was thinking at that time of canceling the show. When Julia returned to the discussion with Oxbow, I proposed it was better to play the show since money from the 8 would help offset the losses, and this wouldn't be screwing the people who did come ou for the show. At this point, I was assuming the guarantee was still a guarantee and the Oxbow fee would be paid to Oxbow or Tonedeaf as part of the loss. The idea that canceling the show this late would some how make the guaranteed fee cancelable didn' cross my mind since this flies in the face of the reason guarantees were invented - to make sure the band plays the show and promoter doesn't cancel the show. After the show, Julia came up in a reasonable mood and asked me to sign something which said w agreed to forego the guarantee and instead accept $20. I was uncomfortable signing this and eventually said I would be willing to sign if I could add the words "rather than cancel the show" to Julia's statement. This is when she began to get very upsetand state she felt misled. The difference of view seemed to be due to her belief that canceling the show just before it began would eliminate the need to pay the guarantee to Oxbow vs. my belief that the guarantee was already part of the equation and we jst had to decide whether to play or pack up and go home. The offer of $20 seemed like all she could pay at the time and I assumed this would come out of the guarantee (unless we were screwed out of this guarantee as so often happens at clubs and shows in America). Thanks, Dan" "Hi All, And one other thing. Just for clarity: I, a scrawny white male, was essentially between Eugene and Julia, or at least arranged as equal points as of a triangle (equilateral). Eugene did nothing threatening or assaulting ther than raise his voice asking Julia to relax as she spooled up into a rage because I wouldn't sign the statement she had written. There was nothing I saw which was abusive. And most of the discussion was between Julia and me. Why is Eugene in the center of this? Also, why the comments about us not holding up our end of the bargain? We were the ones who requested the show go on! It was quite clear Julia wanted to can the show to cut the losses. She wanted to cut the show AFTER NED HAD ALREADY TAKEN THE STAGE IN FRONT OF THE AUDIENCE! This is freakin' goofy. Also, we played a pretty nice set and received quite a few very positive comments from people who came. I heard no one saying we played a half-ass show, including Julia. Based solely on the way this"cancel-or-not" deal was handled by the people who were running the show, I would say the whole affair was well out of the professional and well into the hack. So, let's just drop the pretense of hugeness and admit this was a piddly little show which shoud have been cause for lost money for whatever reason - there were only 9 paying people in attendance. Now, Dani, may I request you stop flinging the offensive self-justifying words and just be content with a small show which happened to be poorly attende and thus lost money? What would have happened it the Peabodies did make the show? Apparently no one changed there mind and turned away after learning they cancelled. This implies they wouldn't have brought in any paying customers, either. Yet they would ave been owed money as well. Would you have tried to cancel and keep their guarantee even though they made the drive from LA? Surely, as a professional in the promotions business, you have had to pay bands and clubs out of your pocket before, so why has tis blossomed into such a big mess? Dan/Oxbow" EDITOR'S NOTE: Eugene's clever and cutting use of quotation marks when referring to the transgendered individual from here on out known as "JULIA" is significant both for the way it gently underscores "her"passage into "womanhood" (as though that were something that could simply be attained by the swipe of a scalpel) and marks "her" refusal to accept his transspeciesism (his oft-mentioned claim of being a badger in the body of a man). That notwithstanding, e feel that the motherfuckers at www.daniland.com are fucking sneak thieves, pimps, and prime examples of life unworthy of life. "Hello, It's Eugene here from OXBOW. I will move through both Erik's email, as well as the distortions and half truths contaned in Dani's email, so that this can end up some place other than small claims court or the much more unreliable court of public opinion...in the off chance that justice will be done. Because fundamentally that's what we're talking about, to whit: one arty paying the other party what they had previously agreed to PAY in both principle and on an actual contract. Please read on. > last night, at 10:30 PM, we almost called the > show. there were only 7 paid people & we could > not afford to pay both th venue & oxbow's > guarantee. > THERE WERE 8 ACCORDING TO "JULIA". > in turns out that oxbow did not promote their > appeearance in any way. it isn't even on their > website. they did not email any fanlists or > anything. > OXBOW ARE MUSICIANS AND INSOAR AS IT MIGHT BE CONSIDERED THAT THEY ARE IN "BUSINESS" THIS IS LARGELY LIMITED TO "PLAYING MUSIC" VERSUS "PROMOTING SHOWS," WHICH INDEED SEEMS TO BE THE EXCLUSIVE PURVIEW OF "PROMOTERS". THAT BEING SAID THE SHOW ANNOUNCEMENT WAS INCLUDED IN THEIR MONTHL EMAIL MAILERS (UNFORTUNATELY TO AN INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE), AS WELL AS THEIR RECORD LABEL (NEUROT RECORDINGS) SITE AND ON A POP UP WINDOW ON THEIR WEB SITE PRIOR TO THE SHOW. BUT WE DIGRESS AS THIS HAS VERY LITTLE TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT THERE WAS AN AREEMENT TO PAY AN AMOUNT OF $150 THAT AS OF YET REMAINS UNPAID. > i listed the show,> ON A WORTHLESS HANDBILL THAT INCLUDED SEVERAL OTHER SHOWS. > sent press releases, > NONE OF THE JOURNALISTS WITH WHOM WE'VE DEVELOPED A CONVIVIAL RAPPORT HAD RECEIVE ANYTHING FROM YOU (THIS WOULD COVER THE BAY GUARDIAN, THE SF WEEKLY) >paid for > flyers,> SEE ABOVE RE: WORTHLESS HANDBILLS > had a street team distro them, > HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.... >gave away > tickets on KUSF & KALX, etc.> BEING LOCAL WE WERE AVAILBLE FOR RADIO INTERVIEWS AND DIDN'T HAVE THE CURIOUS PLEASURE OF MAKING YOUR ACQUAINTANCE UNTIL NOW. CURIOUS, THAT. > i paid the venue out > of my own pocket. > VERSUS WHAT? AGAIN THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT SEEMS TO REST SOLELY WITH YOU, THE OVERBOOKED BOOKR, THAN US, THE BAND OF MUSICIANS. > my employee julia, who is a musician herself,> DOES THIS HAVE ANY BEARING ON ANYTHING? > told the two bands that she had a choice for > them: either call the show & everyone goes home & > gets a good night sleep, orthey play to a small > crowd. but we asked that oxbow forgo their > guarantee. > WE WERE ASKED IF WE WOULD PLAY FOR $20. WE AGREED. THIS DID NOT IN ANY WAY INVALIDATE WHATEVER CONTRACT EXISTED BETWEEN THE CONTRACTED PARTIES, BY THE BY. >it was a favor- new local promoter to > a local band.> A FAVOR WOULD HAVE BEEN YOU CALLING US AND ASKING US TO HAND OUT FLYERS IN THE SOUTH BAY OR SAN FRANCISCO. BUT IN REALITY THERE CAN BE NO COMFORTABLE EXCHANGE OF FAVORS BETWEEN BANDS AND PROMOTERS. > we both are inde & should support > one another. > A GOOD STEP IN THIS DIRECTION WOULD AMOUNT TO US RECEIVING THE UNPAID PORTION THAT YOU AGREED TO PAY FOR OUR DULY RENDERED SERVICES. >frankly, afgtyer seeing how little > they do to promote themselves, > FROM OUR ENDWE NOTED ONLY AN EMAIL LISTING OF THE SHOW ON YOUR WEB SITE. A WEB SITE THAT DRAWS SO LITTLE ATTENTION THAT IT DOES NOT REGISTER ON COMMERCIAL HIT COUNT REGISTERS LIKE ALEXA. IN ANY CASE THIS IS AN AD HOMINEM ATTACK THAT IMPUGNS OUR PROFESSIONALISM. WHIC IS ALL WELL AND GOOD (YOU'LL SEE A FEW MORE BEFORE THIS EMAIL IS OVER). STILL DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT THAT MONEY IS OWED. >i cannot > understand what they did to merit a guarantee at > all... > WELL THIS DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT THAT YOU AGREED/CONTRACED FOR SAID GUARANTEE. WHICH YOU REFUSED TO PAY, ARE REFUSING TO PAY, AND HAVE NOT PAID. WHAT YOU UNDERSTAND AND DON'T UNDERSTAND HAS LITTLE BEARING ON MUCH OTHER THAN YOUR GENERAL LACK OF BUSINESS ACUMEN AND/OR MUSICAL SOPHISTICATION. > at that moment,the bands both stated that they > were there for the music and their fans-let the > people who came out have a good show.> "JULIA" WAS INTERESTED IN THIS AS "SHE" WAS NOT INTERESTED IN RETURNING ANY ALREADY RECEIVED FUNDS. > julia > offered them $20 forgas (again, out of my > pocket) & they seemed happy. > OUT OF YOUR POCKET? VERSUS WHAT? OUT OF THE BAND'S POCKET? > after the show (a shorter set), > OUR SETS TYPICALLY RANGE FROM 30 MINUTES TO 45 MINUTES. ON 11/13/03 A SHOW WAS PLAYED THAT WAS CONSISTNT WITH OXBOW'S USUAL SHOW LENGTH. >julia went up to > pay oxbow $20 & they demanded their guarantee.> "JULIA" WENT UP TO US AND ASKED US TO SIGN AWAY TONE DEAF'S RIGHTS TO ENFORCE THE FULL CONTRACT. WE SAID THAT WE WERE NOT DEPUTIZED TO DO THIS AT ALL.ANY CURSORY GLANCE OF CONTRACT LAW IN AMERICA CLEARLY INDICATES THAT THIS IS THE CASE. WE AGREED, HOWEVER, TO ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF $20. > julia was stunned. she stated that they had > misled her > "SHE" SCREAMED THAT "SHE" HAD BEEN MISLED. >& she reierated what they had agreed > upon. it was then that the lead singer of oxbow > PHYSICALLY THREATENED julia. > WHEN "JULIA" BEGAN SCREAMING IT WAS I WHO BEGAN TO FEEL THREATENED. WAS "SHE" IN THE GRIPS OF SOME SORT OF HORMONE INDUCED RAGE? SOME ROID RAGE IS "SHE" GETTING HER HORMONES FROM REPUTABLE PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURERS OR IS SHE BUYING TIJUANA BLACK MARKET? AND MOREOVER, WOULD "SHE" ATTACK AS A RESULT OF STUMBLING INTO A BAD BATCH OF "SHIT"? IN ANY CASE THIS DOES NOT CHANGE THE FACT THAT YOU AGEED TO SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE PRESENTLY HUNTING FOR A WAY TO GET OUT OF PAYING. >he implied that if > she raised her voice (she was starting to get > upset due to the therateneing stance he was > taking- getting close & towering over her), he > would hurther. > TO QUOTE: "YOU NEED TO RELAX. BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T RELAX YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE ME NOT RELAX AND IF WE'RE BOTH UNRELAXED THINGS ARE GETTING TO GET VERY UNCIVIL." MAKE OF THIS WHAT YOU WANT. > that is beyond reason- every step of the way, > julia wa courteous & imformative.> "SHE" WAS TWEAKY, UNCLEAR, AND GENERALLY UNTOGETHER. > she let the > bands know that those peabodys were OK but unable > to make the show, etc...> THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING. > i cannot imagine why any > band wouldwant to be such jerks,> WELL VERY POSSIBLY THIS IS BECAUSE YOU LACK IMAGINATION. EITHER THAT OR WE WERE NOT JERKS AT ALL. WOULD JERKS AGREE TO WALK AWAY WITH "NO" MONEY AS WE VOLUNTEERED TO DO? WHAT "JULIA" MISSED AND WHAT WE MAINTAIN HERE, DESPITE YOUR NCALLED FOR NAMECALLING, IS THAT ANY FINANCIAL DEALING THAT WOULD OCCUR, WOULD OCCUR AS SEPARATE FROM MEMBERS OF OXBOW AND SO-CALLED REPRESENTATIVES OF DANILAND. WE PLAY MUSIC. WE PLAYED MUSIC. YOU BOOK BANDS THROUGH AGENCIES. YOU PAY AGENCIES FOR BANS. YOU STILL NEED TO PAY OUR AGENCY. SO OUR AGENCY CAN PAY US. SIMPLE. > particularly to > a promoter that has always been an advocate for > local music & indie endeavors.> THE WORLD WEEPS FOR YOU. > i cannot imagine > why anyone would physically thraten julia, who > is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. > TRY TELLING "JULIA" NEXT MONTH THAT YOU WON'T BE PAYING "HER"....AND SEE HOW NICE "SHE" STAYS. > so i paid the venue, > STRANGE VENUE THAT. THEY HAD 2 MONTH OLD WEEKLY PAPERS THERE. TH SOUND TECH WAS AN INCOMPETENT ASSHOLE. AND THE REST OF THE STAFF WAS INTOXICATED. THIS IS CLEARLY A PLACE WHERE MUSIC GOES TO DIE. >printing cost, > AMORTIZED THROUGH ALL OF THE OTHER BANDS ON SAID FLYER. >money for the > band > WHICH REMAINS UNPAID. >& hosptality out of my pocket, > THE BOTTLES OF WINE? YES. THESE WERE CONTRACTUALLY REQUIRED AND INSOFAR AS YOU MET THIS PORTION OF THE CONTRACT WE WERE MORE THAN HAPPY TO DRINK THEM. >only to have > a band walk all over me & my employee. > WE WERE MRE THAN POLITE TO YOUR EMPLOYEE. WE HAVE YET TO MEET YOU IN PERSON. THOUGH I IMAGINE IN PERSON WE WOULD NOT FAIL TO BE ANYTHING OTHER THAN THAT WHICH WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN: TOTAL GENTLEMEN AND HONORABLE INDIVIDUALS WHO MEET OUR OBLIGATIONS. >rockstar > atttude will not be tolerated, sorry. > INTERESTING THAT THIS REMAINS THE MOST WITHERING CRITICISM USED WHEN ONE INDIE ENTITY IS TRYING TO DEFRAUD ANOTHER INDIE ENTITY OUT OF RIGHTFULLY ENTITLED CASH. >i promote > local shows for the love of music- > IN WICH CASE WE SHOULD NOT HAVE EVEN ARGUED ABOUT THIS, THIS LONG. >any bands that > act like jerks are promtly discussed at my > semi-regular booker BBQs. > THAT BE IT AS IT MAY, YOUR THREATS DON'T CONCERN US HERE BECAUSE IT MAKES NO SENSE FOR US TO PLAY FR PEOPLE WHO WON'T PAY AND USE ALL MANNER OF SCUMBAGGISHNESS TO CONCEAL THEIR GENERAL DESIRE AND INTENT TO DEFRAUD US OUT OF OUR JUST DUE. > not only will i never book oxbow again, > HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.... >but all > bay area bookers & promoters wil know about this > episode. > I'M SURE THEY WILL. CONVENIENTLY LEAVING OUT THE PUNCHLINE: "AND WE DICKED THEM OUT OF THEIR GUARANTEE...HAHAH....NOW PASS ME A SPARE RIB...." >does the band think that they exist in a > vaccum? we all know, like, & talk toone another!> YOU SEEM TO BE AN ASSHOLE. I FIND IT VERY HARD TO BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE LIKED BY MANY. > frankly, the bay area has a higher percentage of > female bookers than anywhere i can think of, & > violence & threats against women will not be > toleated. > THREATS AGAINST "WOMEN"? YOU SHOW ME A WOMAN THAT I'VE THREATENED AND I'D BE VERY SURPRISED. BUT YEAH, YOU GO AHEAD AND TELL ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD OVERRIDING POSITIVE EXPERIENCES WITH OXBOW...KRISTIN AT NEUROT, QUEENIE TAYLOR, RAMONA AT BOT, AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON, THAT WE'VE SUDDENLY BECOME SEXISTS AND YOU MIGHT FIND THAT THESE SAME PEOPLE ARE INCREASINGLY AWARE OF THE FACT THAT PERHAPS YOUR BEEF AGAINST US IS MOTIVATED BY RACIAL ANIMUS. PERHAPS. WHO KNOWS? > i'll want to hear from obow's agent. can you > forward him this email please & ask him to email > me directly? > > thanks! > DONE. AND NOW THAT I'M FINISHED I'LL LEAVE YOU TO GO BACK TO COUNTING YOUR CASH. CHEERS, EUGENE > daniland consulting: helping artists, performers, and> event organizers with the sometimes tricky "business > side" of their art! > HAHAHAHAHA..."THE SOMETIMES TRICKY 'BUSINESS SIDE' OF THEIR ART!" WELL ONE THING THAT YOU DO WELL." CLOSING NOTE: AS OF YET THE $130 OWED TO OXBOW REMAINS UNPAID TO TONE DEAFBOOKING AMIDST A FLURRY OF THREATS TO HAVE EUGENE ARRESTED. EUGENE, A STERLING LEGAL MIND IN HIS OWN RIGHT, WELCOMES A LONG, DRAWN OUT FIGHT TO SUDDENLY GIVE HIS ERSTWHILE EMPTY LIFE SOME GREATER MEANING. FEEL FREE TO EMAIL DANI AT THE TRANNYSHACK www.dniland.com. AND MAKE SURE YOU TELL HER THAT OXBOW SENT YOU TO PUT SOME SALT IN HER GAME. WHAT THE FUCK ARE THEY YELLING? LIVE AT THE FUTILITY FESTIVAL: WWW.DAREDEVIL.DE "And floating out there beyond After Pelican was a group called Oxbow. Around hre, Oxbow is infamous for their bizarre live shows. Seeing this band live is almost like a rite of passage. The first thing I noticed about the band was their enormous singer, Eugene Robinson, the focal point of the band for the whole show. He is a massiv guy, towering above most people in the room. The stage makes him seem even taller. They started off their set pretty well, the band jamming and the singer twisting and contorting around the stage like a possessed man. It wasn't too long before Eugene strted a striptease, and by the end of the set he was down to his tighty-whities and playing with himself. It seemed that the entire show was dedicated to making the audience as uncomfortable as possible. It worked; it was the first time that night I can reall there not being a group of people willing to get up close and personal. At one point between songs, Eugene asked the crowd to come closer to the stage so he could see the whites of their eyes. That got a few brave people to inch forward, but there wasa still a significant space in front of Eugene on the floor. As for music, Oxbow is like nothing you've heard before, which seemed to be a major theme of the night. Above all else, it's big and it's loud: with a little blues influence, a little hardcor, a little Sabbath, a little noise, and a what seems to be a whole lot of alcohol. Oxbow was one of the most well received bands of the night, and after several encores, it was about 1:30 am. I was getting pretty tired, I knew that it was going to be a ong drive home, and I was pretty sure I would get lost at least once. It was time to go. I missed out on Helio's Creed, which I'm kicking myself for now, but despite that it was an amazing night. If you're ever near Youngstown, drop by Nyabinghi, and if yu live anywhere near Ohio, Futility Fest should be a priority festival for next year!-RS, ON THE RECENTLY RELEASED OXBOW FILM, "MUSIC FOR ADULTS": "I received Music for Adults yesterday and spend the last hour watching your documentary for the first time. I missed it twice in SF last summer -I was in France, Dammit! and couldn't wait for the dvd to be available. My feedback won't be ver interesting in the sense that I've been into Oxbow for a long time and that I've seen oxbow perform live several times. So no surprise for me. I know their music, I know how people react to their music and to their live act -I liked the different interviws with the members of the audience though- and I'm very happy your documentary doesn't focus on the sex/provocation/race thing too much, but more on how being in a band becomes the most important thing in your life, how touring affects your mental and phsical health. The most interesting part is Eugene saying that he can't live without live shows, when he is himself. He is such a great entertainer and a wonderful actor, singer and storyteller and to see him off stage thinking about his band is truly cativating. Too often people only see the shocking parts of an oxbow performance and can't see the music behind it, can't see that it's part of the music. Your documentary makes the extra step. You depicted a remarkable image of what the band is onstage, sot some great live moments and your documentary is very representative of what being in a difficult, obscure and non-commercial band is. I really hope a lot of my friends back in France will order the dvd, I already need to order another copy from you son. I posted a review on my old bandmates website: www.tantrum.ws/forum/ and will review the dvd on my future website. I wish you good luck with Music for Adults, and once again, congratulations for having the balls to release a dvd on an important band n one seems to care about.-Cyril, SAN FRANCISCO THE MAIL SCROTUM JAMES JOYCEAN JERK JOB "balls... for you / a prediction. i wrote a song about masturbation. here it is: one hand is warm the other is cold sweat cant stop the winter breeze my bedhas always been the warmest place in the house my aim is like a sniper im a cold blooded killer i could kill everyday theres nothing better then a dead man lying on your bed or several so much evidence im not a very good killer but in my mind im te best in my mind there are so many options to choose from i cant help but pick the rarest ones i shoot to kill everytime where's my fucking glass of water? Derek Gaines-Connecticut IS IT OUR FAULT THAT THE WORLD DOESN'T CARE ANYMORE? "Fellaz-- amn, that is the shortest newsletter I have ever seen. I think maybe you are taking the "short and sweet" esthetic a bit too far, as the November letter was not sweet in the least. More like a mean tease.-Steve" CHICAGO: THE CITY OF DESPERATELY NEEDEDMURDER "I go to Chicago for shows fairly often. Although I missed your show. I'd just like to say you hit it on the head [NEWSLETTER NO. 33]. That place is full of dummies and squares dressed up like hipsters. As always the newsletter is pure genius. Tim" AND KARL DEMATA REMAINS A MOTHERFUCKER "Hi Eugene, Good, glad you'll be doing the book. If you come over for a spoken word tour, let me know and I can book a date in Swansea, Wales for you. Something that may raise a slight smile for you. Afte seeing you guys in Cardiff, Wales, I emailed to say how much I enjoyed the gig. I had also read some past newsletters on the site and was struck by the 'Karla Tomata' piece [12/08/02 Newsletter No 22: IS "KARL DEMATA" A MOTHERFUCKER?]. You may remember y mail - I was agreeing that, yes, Karl Demata was in fact a 'cocksucking motherfucker'. My reasoning wasn't so much a solid one though, it was more a flippant way of sharing a joke with you lot. He released a split album by my band and I suppose I thouht it was my god-given right to put him down just because he's 'an evil label guy' or some such. So, little was I expecting to see my faux slandering sent back to me, and everyone else on the Oxbow newsletter, including Karl Demata. It wasn't until abot two months later though that I received an email from him. My full message to Oxbow was quoted along with the simple question of "Did you write this Jim?". Of course I replied, admitting my looseness of tongue and explaining that it was just my cocky wa of sharing a few words with Oxbow. I've heard nothing since. Now I'm not exactly heartbroken by all of this but I guess it's kind of funny to see that a)it is a small world b)I've got a big fucking mouth and c)no matter how big or small your moves, etering the world of Oxbow is an unforgiving place. Damn, where is THIS message going to end up?! Oh well... Cheers, Jimbob.--http://www.taint.co.uk NEXT MONTH: WE FUCK YOU AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. FOREVER. UNTIL YOU DIE. [ Newsletter ]