Back Sugery! Bisy Backson!

Tomorrow, i go into the hospital for a minorly invasive back surgery, so i'm leaving things in Meg's more than capable hands (seems like she's been writing circles around me lately anyway). While a successful surgery means less bitchy, whiny mixes on the subject from yours truly, it hopefully does mean more something (like dropping all the weight i've put on since gaining my robo-zombie kidney, re-joining my various hockey leagues and re-establishing my "Soon-To-Be-Middle-Aged-Guy I'd Like To Fuck" premier status). At a minimum, here's to hoping for REALLY good meds for the recovery process.

mp3: Cure for Pain (Morphine from Cure for Pain)

Accidentally at Your Disservice: A Deeper Discussion of the Many Lives of Dana, Jerome and Others

There's nothing i love more than hearing from the band's i love who have read something i've written. (Pre-supposing they'd only write good things, of course.) Following my recent review of the Ever Expanding Waste Band, i received two terribly nice emails from Dana Colley and Jerome Deupree. When i went back and read the review, i realized i had some repetition in there (proving L.L. Cool J's golden rule correct. Again) and a couple of tangential thoughts that never really went anywhere (because my stuff never reads like that, right?), but hopefully i conveyed it was a damn fine show and a damn fine time was had by all, damn it (and i was rather proud of the description of Jerome's drumming, but i digress).

Just prior to the show, i was hanging out with The Missus and some other like-minded chums who had seen EEWB previously. i was pretty sure all the members had been on-stage at one time during last year's Mark Sandman Tribute Concert, but didn't really know how this band differed from others i had seen with Dana and Jerome (and Billy Conway, for that matter). From what i pieced together from some on-line stuff, i was under the impression they'd be playing Morphine tunes, but with a newly added blues slant. One of said chums pointed out i was mistaken, and that the band was doing straight Morphine covers, along with some originals and other covers. "Not covers, originals," a different friend argued, as two of the founding members of the band obviously were still playing the songs.

i thought that to be an interesting and valid point, and in the ensuing review, somewhat carelessly tossed off (snicker) the line, "As with Twinemen, A.K.A.C.O.D., Orchestra Morphine and every other version of the band..."

In that note from Mr. Deupree i mentioned earlier, however, he made a very valid point i now feel compelled to share.

"I have to say, however, that I don't agree with your view of other bands being 'Versions of' Morphine just because they contain one or more former members or have a sound that is in some ways similar. As far as I'm concerned, Morphine ceased when Mark died. The songs and sound will live on, but the band is no more. All of the other bands ( Twinemen, AKA COD, Orchestra Morphine, EWB) are separate projects. They may have very close links to Morphine, but they are not that band."

And you know what? He's absolutely, 100% right. And because i'm such a fiend for all of those bands, i'm going to hopefully set the record straight by taking the time to actually differentiate between the bands these cats have played in/with/for and various other prepositions. Unfortunately, i'm not any of these folks' actual and legitimate biographers, so my facts might be slightly off (hopefully, though, if they are, someone will tell me where i've gone wrong and i'll fix things accordingly), but, hey, i'm a blogger. You get what you pay for, right?

Treat Her Right

This is the band that predates Morphine, and really had a much blues-ier feel than what was to follow. Both Mark Sandman and Billy Conway were in this one, along with the pimpingly named Dave Champagne on axe and Jim Fitting on harp, with all but Conway sharing vocal duties. For the purposes of this specific "History as Told By Your Uncle Terrible," they first came across my radar years after they had formed as a mislabeled track i downloaded from the original Napster. That track was "I Think She Likes Me," and it kicks ass. Definitely for the person who wants everything these folks have ever done, but also a must for fans of garage blues bands. i've since gone back and picked up a couple of CDs myself, and this is some good stuff, kids. Lost gems, even.

mp3: I Think She Likes Me (Treat Her Right from Treat Her Right)

Morphine

Well, this is the one that brought me to the table. i first heard them in college, and after a scant few bars into "Good," i already knew this was going to be a band i would be listening to for a long, long time. You had the beat poet at heart, Mark Sandman, on vocals and various few stringed basses and guitars, Dana Colley doing things with a saxophone that good church going folks simply did not do, and Jerome Deupree and Billy Conway both playing the skins at various points in the band's career. The band combined jazz and rock and blues and poetry and various other things that define "hep" and "groovy." Morphine came to an unfortunate end with the untimely death of Sandman, just after the completion of one of my favorite of their albums, The Night. Whereas the band initially had a somewhat minimalist sound (they were, after all, a trio), The Night incorporated a much larger sound, additional musicians and what seemed like a brand new direction, at least temporarily, for the group.

mp3: You Look Like Rain (Morphine from Good)

Orchestra Morphine

If memory serves, Mark was alive for the completion of The Night, but not its release and subsequent touring. A large group of fellow musicians who had played with Mark over the years decided to tour the CD, in memory and praise of the work and the man. i was fortunate enough to see them the three times they came to DC (one two night gig, and then a follow-up some months later). Of particular interest was the inclusion of Laurie Sargent to split vocal duties with Christian McNeill. Ms. Sargent, who i probably have an unhealthy crush on, would come to front Twinemen, the first "post-Morphine" band to record new material for its own sake. I've also had the good fortune to catch McNeill's band, Sea Monsters, but in emails with him, i've come to learn there are no CDs available, and since this post already is the longest thing i've ever written here at LET, i'm afraid you'll just have to follow the link and do some of your own research on that bad assed mutha.

mp3: The Night (Orchestra Morphine from Live on Tour)

Twinemen

This time around, we've got Ms. Sargent, Dana and Billy, their name taken from a cartoon Sandman had drawn. While the sound is similar to Morphine's, to call it identical would be a mistake. While their were obvious themes of loss in their first CD, Twinemen, the material tended to deal with different topics (less talk of bad luck women, more of midgets), and Laurie and Dana splitting vocal duties gave the sound a different nuance. With three CDs currently to their name, i'm not entirely sure if the band is "on hiatus," technically furloughed or what. Here's hoping it's the former.

mp3: Who's Gonna Sing (Twinemen from Twinemen)

Bourbon Princess

Unfortunately, this is the band i know the least about and never saw live, though i've spoken more than once with lead singer Monique Oritz, so i kind of feel like an ass for not knowing more. Along with Ms. Oritz, you've got Dana and Jerome again, along with Russ Gershon (from Either/Orchestra, who Mark performed with, and also Orchestra Morphine), Jim Moran and Jonah Sacks. Monique has a deep and throaty voice, and the sound is somehow darker and earthier. Not for the faint of ear.

mp3: Stretcher (Bourbon Princess from Black Feather Wings)

A.K.A.C.O.D.

Also Known As Colley, Oritz, Dersch. i read somewhere that Mark Sandman once said words to the effect of Dana plays sax like Hendrix played guitar. Here that is more apparent than with any other band with which i've heard him play. He utilizes a number of effects on his horn in this one, using the instrument as any other band would use a guitar. Larry Dersch of Binary System handles their percussive needs here. Monique has since left Boston for greener pastures (Austin, i believe, so she could hang out with my brother if nothing else), so i assume the band is defunct, too, but hopefully such will not be the case forever.

mp3: Happiness (A.K.A.C.O.D. from Happiness)

The Ever Expanding Waste Band

Which brings us to where we are today. Jerome, Dana and "newcomer" Jeremy Lyons, a Delta Blues and New Orleans jazz man. As mentioned at length in my earlier review, they play Morphine songs, originals, some of Lyons earlier works and a blues standard here and there. While the songs may be familiar, the band still puts their own spin on things, and the result is newly breathed life into old favorites. At least when i saw them, a good time was had by all. Fortunately since that review, Dana has graciously given me permission to post a track for your listening pleasure, which i do so now.

mp3: Know (The Ever Expanding Waste Band from Members Of Morphine With Jeremy Lyons)

And that, kids, hopefully sets the record straight, a disservice no longer. i can't say enough how much these bands and their various sounds have meant to me over the years. When and if The Missus and i ever have daughters, i've already informed her we're naming each and every one after a Morphine song heroine. Lilah has been an easy sell thus far, but i might need the entirety of Orchestra Morphine to play at a baby shower or something to get anything to happen beyond that. That aside aside, there's plenty of material out there for you curious kids, so go buy some music and prepare to have your worldviews changed. Barring that, it's great fucking music, and isn't that enough? Take the above as a starting point and go get wet.

Like swimming. Only different.

Live and Direct: The Ever Expanding Elastic Waste Band, Velvet Lounge, 6-4-10

The latest iteration of Morphine, The Ever Expanding Elastic Waste Band, came through town last night, but i wouldn't be surprised if you missed it. Currently featuring sax man extraordinaire Dana Colley and the man with the silver touch on the skins, Jerome Deupree, from the original Morphine, with Jeremy Lyons taking over guitar/bass and vocal duties, there was little fanfare preceding the appearance. If not for the keen eyes of a friend and mutual Morphine addict, i wouldn't have known about the show myself.

As luck would have it, that aforementioned friend and her clan actually are pretty tight with the band, so much so that Colley actually gave them a shout out from the stage. i only bring this up to point out that they told me the tour was not going particularly well, with the night before's show in Pittsburgh being cancelled outright, i believe for lack of audience interest. Now, as far as i'm concerned, you'd have to be a damned fool not to see Dana, Jerome and a lamp post, but to each, their own, i suppose. So i'm not sure if the band would benefit from a healthy dose of PR (and i know a great agency that would do it for damn near free), but i definitely can say they've chosen better venues in the past.

Last night was my first visit to the Velvet Lounge, and instead of detailing all the problems with that place, i'll just point out that the upstairs "club" is made up of loose plywood. i kept worrying that if anyone so much as farted, the entire room would collapse. But enough of this meaningless background crap, how was the show?

As with Twinemen, A.K.A.C.O.D., Orchestra Morphine and every other version of the band, this one did not disappoint. Colley continues to do things with a saxophone that border on the inhuman, whether its coaxing otherwordly notes or playing two saxes at once, the man is a force of nature. Deupree seems to have a completely different understanding of percussion than most others. He doesn't beat the skins, he tickles and teases them in a manner that is all at once jazzy, ethereal, otherworldly and muddy clean. The two remain masters of the Morphine sound.

Enough of this, the real question is how's the new guy? While Lyons lacks the deeper registers of Mark Sandman, his subdued stylings fit the band to a tee. His Delta blues background seems to go hand in hand with the Bostonian band's ethos.

Unfortunately, the band only got to play about an hour (even though we had been told by the house that they would have at least an hour and a half) due to an ill planned show afterwards at the club. While owning the stage, however, they played mostly Morphine's hits, including "Pulled Over the Car," "Let's Take a Trip Together," "Yes," "Head with Wings," "Fur Bikini," and the obviously appropriate "Thursday." They also did a blues cover and one of Lyon's own compositions, but i don't know his catalogue well enough (yet) to recall exactly which track that was. While the familiar beginnings of the songs had the crowd singing along almost immediately, the band still has recrafted the songs enough to give them a new and different light. And, of course, Colley interspersed his deadpan wit between songs. Most important of all, though, they all looked like they actually were enjoying themselves, even though they were playing to a house of 35 people max in a club in danger of falling down while they played. And for that, the evening was all the more spectacular.

i also picked up a copy of their brand new CD, Members of Morphine with Jeremy Lyons. You know i'd normally put up a couple of tracks for your listening pleasure, but the band requested i don't, so, natch, i won't. i can say it's your loss, though, so get off your ass and pick up a copy for yourself. While the covers and Lyons originals are stellar, it's the instrumental jams on here that will blow wind up your skirt. Seriously, don't sleep on this one, kids.

mp3: Pulled Over the Car (Morphine from B-Sides and Otherwise)

mp3: Thursday (Morphine from Cure for Pain)

The Greatest Good News vis a vis Back Surgery Mix You Will Ever Hear

Saw my fourth back doctor today, only to hear that the previous guy was a quack (his opinion). i immediately trusted the new doc because he wasn't too pretty (previous guy was). Never trust people that are too pretty.

New back doc called the last one's suggested surgery "a bullshit tip." Instead of the multi-day, majorly invasive surgery the last one wanted to do, the new guy will be done in one afternoon. My four month recovery time has gone to "I'll put you on a six week moratorium from doing anything stupid, but I expect you back on your feet within a week." Essentially, he's going to put a tiny pin-like object in-between my vertebrate.

i was delighted to hear this, as who doesn't enjoy a little screwing now and again?

And the insurance company is paying.

Not sure if i can go six weeks without doing anything stupid, though.

i think i have a crush on my new doctor.

And you know what that means? That's right. Time for The Greatest Good News Vis-à-Vis Back Surgery Mix You Will Ever Hear.

mp3: Dr. Feelgood (Love Is A Serious Business) (Aretha Franklin from I Never Loved a Man That Way I Love You)

mp3: Good (Morphine from Good)

mp3: Good Day (Jewel from Goodbye Alice in Wonderland)

mp3: A Good Day to be You (MC Honky from I Am the Messiah)

mp3: Good Feelings ft. Sabira Jade (Paper Tiger from Jus Like Music & Apple Juice Break present: Oscillations Part 1)

mp3: Good News (Buddy Guy from DJ Play My Blues)

mp3: Good Things (The BoDeans from Best of Mountain Stage, Vol. 7)

mp3: Good Night, Herr Doktor (Frau Blucher from Young Frankenstein)

Back to the Back: The Greatest "So You Just Learned Your Back Surgery Is Going to Cost You More than Your Last Three Cars" Mix You Will Ever Hear

Spent way longer than planned at the spine doc's earlier today and have a conference call to attend to shortly, so today's post is going to be a George Clinton-style quickie.

Long story short, i just found out that my current backologist is out of my insurance network, meaning that to get my broken parts fixed is going to cost me personally approximately $20,000.

Add in my new house and a new car for The Missus, and it has not been a good year so far for my savings account.

mp3: Cure for Pain (Morphine from Cure for Pain)

mp3: Back to Basics (Kid 'n Play from Funhouse)

mp3: Back Up Against the Wall (George Clinton & the P-Funk All-Stars from Dope Dogs)

mp3: Expensive Whip (J Dilla from Jay Stay Paid)

mp3: Insurance Man (Richard Pryor from Evolution-Revolution: The Early Years (1966-1974) )

mp3: Medicine Man (Bobby McFerrin from Medicine Music)

Mark Sandman Memorial Concert Updates

(Ed. Note: Sorry about the lack of posts this past week. I've been at a work conference this past week, and I'm now officially on vacation for the next week. So I'll probably be posting very little myself until I get home, though I'm sure Ms. Megan will keep you entertained herself. Or use the next seven days to take up a hobby. I understand glass blowing is very fulfilling. I also have it on good authority that nude bungee jumping is a hoot. Either/Or.)

Well, children, the time is almost upon us for the Mark Sandman Memorial Concert, and I've got a couple of updates.

Update One (The Time Sensitive One)

Due to the terrible weather forecast and according to an email I received from Dana Colley, the entire shebang has been moved to the Middle East Club Downstairs. Show starts at 11:30 and runs through 5:30 pm. I have no idea how this affects the dedication ceremony and other planned activities, but I suppose I'll find out for myself in a few, scant hours.

Of course, let's not forget the most important part of this process. While we celebrate the legacy of Mark Sandman, let's also remember give to the cause.

If you happen to see a lumpy bald guy in glasses and a bushy red beard there, ask him to buy you a drink and I'm pretty sure he will. Ladies, my wife will be there with me, so try to keep the panty-throwing-at-yours-truly to a minimum.

Update Two (The Not Time Sensitive, But Still Pretty Fucking Cool One)

There's a new two disc Morphine anthology on the way! Called At Your Service, the drop date is 10/6/09. Looks like we've got a bunch of live stuff, new stuff and alternate version stuff on the way. So we've got that going for us.


Still time to whet the appetites of the masses, though. So here are a bunch of tracks that, to be perfectly honest, come from I don't know where.



mp3: Whisper (Morphine, live somewhere)

mp3: Sharks Patrol These Waters (Morphine, live somewhere, possibly elsewhere)

mp3: Sax and Bass Jam (Morphine, studio, but don't ask me from what; or do, but don't expect an answer)

Mark Sandman Memorial Concert Update

The fine folks with the Mark Sandman Music Project have sent out the first "official" word about the impending Memorial Concert for the late great frontman. And of course, things have changed, so make sure to pay attention. It would have been nice if the date could have been locked down before the initial "heads up" emails (and more importantly to me, before I booked flights and hotel rooms), but what can you do? Obviously, the man and his legacy are worth just about any effort.

Straight from the horse's mouth:

Date: September 27, 2009

Place: Pacific Park, Sidney St., Cambridge, MA. About three blocks from Mark Sandman Square, and public transportation.

Time: 1-7 pm. Bring blankets, picnic lunches, and the whole family.

There will be merchandise, CDs, an auction, celebrities, and fantastic music, all to benefit the Sandman Project.

There also will be a lumpy bald guy with a red beard and his adorable Missus in attendance, so if you happen to see those two, either approach them for a beer or run in the other direction. I won't fault you for either.

In case you haven't checked out their site in a while, they're continuing to post FREE mp3s every week. And guess what? This week features none other than Les Claypool of Primus fame (not to mention the seemingly hundreds of other side projects he does) himself!

So get your ass over there, DL some money tracks, and why don't you give a few ducats to this very worthy cause.

Since I know a lot of you cats are in it for the free mp3 love, I certainly am not going to disappoint. Here's the aforementioned Les track plus a little something from my own archives.

mp3: Honey White (Les Claypool with Dana Colley, Billy Conway and Jerome Deupree of Morphine)

mp3: Radar (Morphine, Live Acoustic performance from some radio show)

Receiving = Great, Giving = Even Better

Psst. Hey you. With the face.

Have you been over to get your free Mark Sandman love yet this week? There was a bit of a hang up with last week's posting, but it's up there now. I know we're only two weeks in, but Good Lord and Butter, these tracks are fricking sweet. Not only did we get a history lesson on Harry Houdini last time, but this week we get to hear the dulcet sounds of Orchestra Morphine and Laurie Sargent.

Now get over there, donate a few shekels to the Mark Sandman Music Project and give yourself a big pat on the back for doing something nice for kids by providing young people with opportunities for creative collaboration.

And for you really greedy bastards, here's even more free mp3 goodness for you. You can thank me by getting off your keister and donating.

We thank you for your fine support.

mp3: Houdini (Mark Sandman spoken word)

mp3: You Speak My Language (Morphine, Live, Paris, 7-24-94)

Let the Giving Continue!

You may recall a few months back, we mentioned that the Mark Sandman Music Project had big plans this summer to commemorate the 10 year anniversary of the untimely passing of the lead singer of Morphine. Well, kiddies, the wait is over!

Starting today and continuing through September 20, they're posting exclusive Mark Sandman compositions for downloading in three categories:

• A Morphine or Treat Her Right song as interpreted by local and national artists
• A track of spoken word or poetry
• A "Deep Archive" track- exclusive, never-heard music

Better yet, IT'S FREE!!!

Well, maybe free isn't exactly the way to approach the situation. While those fine folks aren't going to charge you a penny for the privilege of downloading, being a charitable organization and all, they'd be delighted if you threw a few ducats towards the effort. And trust me, from the email conversations I've had with those cats, we've got some INCREDIBLE tunes coming our way. (Did someone mention Les Claypool? Was that Concrete Blonde's name I heard? Um, what?)

So go now, pick up some incredible tunes and leave behind a little sumthin' sumthin' to help out this worthy cause.

(Since we want to encourage you to go check it out for yourself, we're not going to post the first track here, though we admit we may not be able to help ourselves later on. However, to whet that appetite even more, here's a tasty Morphine jam or two from our own deep files. Enjoy.)

mp3: Never Live Twice (Morphine) (Live)

mp3: Birthday Cake (Morphine) (Opium Album)

Zut Alors!: Giving is Nifty

While our main goal here at LET is to talk about the music we love, sometimes we get the opportunity to do slightly more, too. As is no secret 'round these parts, I'm a HUGE Morphine/Twinemen/AKACOD fan, so when I saw the following note for the Mark Sandman Music Project, I thought it necessary to pass it along. This is a wonderful organization and I strongly recommend you drop them a few ducats if you can afford it. I did.

Straight from the horse's mouth:

"Hello to all friends and fans of Morphine, Mark Sandman, HI-N-DRY, and friends and fans of good music and kids.

The Mark Sandman Music Project needs your help. We are working on a remarkable project that we think will enhance the lives of many young people. Our mission is to help kids play music together by providing space, instruments, programs, and mentoring. We're seeking donations to help fund our pilot programs. We're using a program called Firstgiving. Please visit the page, or our Myspace page, and donate in any amount you can. And if you could tell your friends and family about this program, you would be doing a lot to help us. Its not easy asking for money, so were preparing exclusive new releases available only to donors and friends.
Thanks for your help, and cheers.

Andrew, Billy, Dana, and all at HI-N-DRY and the Sandman Music Project"

Live and Direct: Morphine pt. 2

I realize it probably wasn't fair to only give you half of a kick ass Morphine show, but we had to do something to get you cats to keep scratching at the door, didn't we?

Here now is part two of the Baltimore show. I have to admit, I have no idea what the last two tracks are and I'm not even positive it's from the same show. It might not even be Morphine. But when I picked up the entire show, this was on disc two, so now you can have it, too.

It is also with great pleasure that I inform everyone that saxophonist extraordinaire Dana Colley has formed yet another new band, AKACOD. He's teamed up with the lead singer of Bourbon Princess and the guy that played drums on Morphine's "Like Swimming." They're about to embark on a predominantly East Coast tour and you know I'm going to catch the band when it hits DC on February 16. Learn more about the band and/or pick up their debut CD here.

Without further ado, here's some more Morphine for what ails ya'.

Virgin Bride

Thursday

Potion

Buena

Radar

I Know You pt. 2

Mysterious Track 7

Mysterious Track 8

Live and Direct: Morphine

OK, kiddies, it's time for a new, hopefully recurring addition to the LET line-up. That's right, it's time for "Live and Direct," an on-going series of concerts we've stumbled upon. In some cases, we'll have been at these shows. Other times, it will just be a kick-ass performance we've fortunately found. In all cases, it's going to be a band we hold dear for whatever reason.

I'm going to kick this off with one of my favorite bands of all times, the incomparable Morphine. If you don't know these cats, shame on you. Sadly, the band ended in the late 90s with the unexpected death of lead singer and bassist, Mark Sandman, when he collapsed on stage in Rome due to a congenital heart condition. Two of the remaining members, saxophonist Dana Colley and drummer Billy Conway, reformed with Laurie Sargent as Twinemen, named after a cartoon originally drawn by Sandman.

Morphine's sound is smoky, sexy and hep cat cool. With jazz sensibilities, this was THE college band back in the early to mid-90s. When I first heard their debut CD, "Good," I knew this group was something special. Follow-up "Cure for Pain" cemented the deal for me. With tracks such as, "You Speak My Language," Thursday," "Let's Take a Trip Together," and "You Look Like Rain," the first two albums were critically acclaimed and remain favorites of mine to this day. Their next two albums produced additional songs for the ages, like "Super Sex," "French Fries w/ Pepper," and "Whisper," but then the aforementioned untimely death of Mark Sandman struck. One more album followed, the truly magical, "The Night." This album deviated somewhat from the traditional Morphine sound, going beyond their normally minimalist set-up to incorporate additional players and instruments. Essentially completed before his death, the remaining members put together a tribute band made up of various people who had played with Sandman throughout his career to form Orchestra Morphine.

I was fortunate enough to see Morphine twice, once in Chicago and once in Philly. Ditto for Orchestra Morphine for both of their shows in DC at the Black Cat. I see Twinemen every opportunity I get, a couple of times at IOTA, a couple of times at the Black Cat. And I'll be damned if I don't see them the next time they come through town again.

And now it's time to share the love and magic. For your listening enjoyment, here is part one of Morphine playing in Baltimore on April 13, 1996. I wasn't at this show, but came across it on a Morphine fan site. Sit back, lower the lights, indulge in your favorite intoxicant and get ready to experience Morphine in all their glory.

Have a Lucky Day

I'm Free Now

Honey White

Early to Bed - Sharks

Whisper

Yes

11 O'Clock

Super Sex

I Know You Pt. 3

Candy

All Wrong

Shame

Wishing Well

Cure for Pain