The Citizen's Band

Last week after I did my Oasis post, I started feeling bad about this big Super Furry post I had conceptualized in my head but never got around to write. And no, I'm not going to recount all 20+ times I've seen the band (I honestly couldn't even if I wanted to) or recall the times I've been onstage with them (peep the bottom row of photos, that's me in the green gorilla costume) or recap the multiple weekends I spent with them in the studio while they recorded Rings Around The World or the time they dedicated my favorite SFA song to me in Dublin and they had only played it twice before so Gruff couldn't remember the words or anything like that. I've already done that, albeit briefly. No, the inspiration for this post was touched off by this absolutely amazing article from Under The Radar Magazine (download the 8 page pdf here). It's one of the most in-depth articles about the band I've ever read. Very thorough. I LOVE reading about the Furries (robvs.), they always have something to say. Gruff always comes up with these incredibly vibrant and intelligent quotes that never fail to get me salivating over whatever new release they have coming up. I can't believe their new record isn't due out until August! That's way too far away for me. It seems like a lifetime. But I digress..

In the article, they of course cover some of the songs on the new record. One of them is a song called Zoom, which has been kicking around in one form or another for over four years and the article calls "perhaps the most impressive song on the new album". Of course I, ever the completist, have a live copy of the song from when the band debuted it live in John Peel's backyard on July 12th of 2001. They literally wrote it on the way to Peel's house, so it isn't necessarily a stunner in its early form, but I've always wondered what happened to this song and I'm excited to hear what the final version sounds like. Here it is along with some other live tracks from that performance:

Super Furry Animals Live From Peel Acres
Zoom (MP3)
Nythod Cacwn (MP3)
Run! Christian, Run! (MP3)

Lastly, here is an ultra rare Beach Boys cover the Furries did on a BBC Radio 1 Evening Session in June of 2001

The Warmth Of The Sun (MP3)

Who loves ya?

Also not to be missed is the left over quotes from the Under The Radar piece. Parts of it are pure gold.

On Tom Jones...
UTR: Does [Tom Jones] even speak Welsh?
Guto: Oh, hell no. No.

Too funny.

And be sure to check out the quotes from the fans they interviewed for the article, including the one and only L Boogie (who's first name they got wrong, BTW). Sweet!

Big ups to everyone that came out to bluestate on Saturday. We had a fairly sizeable crowd and it was alot of fun. My setlist (beatmatched, natch) was:

Interpol, "Narc"
Daft Punk, "Around The World"
Arcade Fire, "Rebellion (Lies)"
VHS or Beta, "Night On Fire"
The Cure, "The Walk"
Mylo, "Destroy Rock N' Roll"
Echo & The Bunnymen, "Lips Like Sugar"
Prince, "I Would Die 4 U / Baby I'm A Star"
The Bravery, "An Honest Mistake"
Kasabian, "Reason Is Treason"
The Police, "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da"
Franz Ferdinand, "This Fire (Playgroup Remix)"
R.E.M., "Radio Free Europe"
Bloc Party, "Banquet (Phones Disco Edit)"
The Postal Service, "We Will Become Silhouettes"
David Bowie, "Modern Love"
Lindsey Buckingham, "Holiday Road"
Gorillaz, "Feel Good, Inc."

I know everyone already hates The Bravery, but "An Honest Mistake" sounds damn good over a loud soundsystem, particularly when it's mixed in with some old skool Prince. "Holiday Road" was the super secret 12 inch and it predictably cleared the dance floor. Effing youngsters. We have two, count 'em two, gigs in May so keep your eyes on the bluestate website. Everyone else's set lists will be up soon.

Ladeez and Gents, your Atlantic Division Champions for the 2004-2005 season. For those of you counting at home, this is the C's first division title since Larry Bird was still roaming the parquet.