The Bopst Show - Episode 9
June 15, 2008 - 21:45
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This installment (like Episode # 8) of the Bopst Show for Rva News doesn’t contain any vocal utterances that the small minded would consider upsetting. Well, that’s not entirely true. On the opening bit by William Burroughs (the sadly still timely, “Say No to Drug Hysteria”), he uses the word, “piss” and later on Tom Waits (0n, “Clap Hands” taken from his 1985 masterpiece, “Rain Dogs”) utters the blasphemous phase, “god damn”. Considering the liberal use of questionable content and frank language that have appeared in previous shows I have done on this fine site, this Bopst Show is wholesome family listening for family’s, and this is important, that do not suck.
I’ll never forget the first time I heard, “Rain Dogs”. I had just returned to Richmond after spending Christmas in Northern Virginia at my Mother’s house and bought the record after reading a favorable review of it in the magazine that never steered me wrong (in the 80’s when Scott Becker was in charge), OPtion. I was well acquainted with his music as my father had many of his albums. He was alright, but I found his, “the piano has been drinking” beatnik jazz kinda boring. The review I read said that he had ditched that tired persona for a left field junkyard soul that defied categorization. Having some access cash in my pocket after the Christmas holiday, I stopped by Plan 9 and picked up a copy of it before I headed home to my apartment on Boulevard and Monument.
Before I had left for the holiday, I did something that I never did. I cleaned my room. When I got home, I naturally assumed that my room would be in the same tidy condition that I left it in. Sadly, that was not the case. When I opened the door, the place was a mess. Shit was everywhere, my records were strewn all over the place and the balcony door was wide open so the room was freezing. As you might well imagine, I was pissed. In my rage I didn’t notice the large semen stain on my previously spotless bed until I was half way through cleaning up the wreckage. I later found out that my idiot roommates had been using my room as their entertainment lounge and my bed was soiled because they had run a train on a girl in my absence. It was a good thing that neither one of them was home at that time because I would have killed them both on the spot if they were (years later, one of these assholes drank and drugged himself to death and the other one has spent the last 20 plus years in and out of jail). By the end of January, neither of these pricks was sharing living space with me.
It took me about three rage filled hours to make my room inhabitable again. Once the room was cleaned up, I put on Rain Dogs and laid back on my freshly washed sheets eating a can of hearts of palm drowning in rice wine vinegar. I can safely say that that moment was one of the single best listening experiences I have had in my life. I listened to that record over and over again that night convinced that Tom Waits was a genius. I still feel the same way today. As most artists cling to rehashing their most marketable attributes as they grow older, Tom Waits got weirder and, to these ears, much, much better than he was in his youth. He is the rare artist that proves that advancing age doesn’t have to be a hindrance to artistic growth. As I said before (and as evidenced by his most recent release, “Orphans”), he just seems to get better and better.
I hope that is my fate as well.
On this week’s episode, you’ll hear the timeless rockin’ pop of Wreckless Eric, the outsider country of the the late great Porter Wagoner, the impossibly sweet vocal harmonies of the Paragons and other essential music makers that make your listening life a more wondrous experience. Also this week, I have to give full throttle shot outs to my longtime friends and comrades at Dischord Records and Punk Direct for posting links to this this music loving podcast. Check out those sites because they are people you can trust.
And if anyone ever asks you what type of show the Bopst Show is, tell ‘em it’s a punk show. No other description is needed. And never forget that punk is whatever you want it to be.
The set list for this week’s show is posted on my MySpace page. Previous show set lists are on my blog.
As always, I hope you enjoy the show.
Until Next Time:
Stay Clean,
BOPST
Bopst Show Request Line: (804) 767-2550
I fucked up. Tom Waits doesn’t sing, “God Damn” on Clap Hands. He sings, “Son of a bitch”. Sorry about that misinformation…
ahhhhhhhhhhhhh! that tongue twister just blew my face off! somehow Frownland is oddly calming after that.
Captain Beefheart is always soothing…
too true
Chris I think you should rekindle your bass playing days
maybe your drums feel the same way…
nope, come to my house the 28th, 1/2 hr set of 2/3 complete done tunes
1/2 hr set of 2/3 complete done tunes? What the hell does that mean?
lol, I am English challenged. let me rephrase.
a trio I started utilizing drums, bass and keys will be playing. none of the tunes are polished as they are all new, thus 2/3rds complete or so. I’m playing drums and written roughly 1/2 the parts so far. sent you an invite. would love to see you. beer. music. drums.
btw sorry for hi jacking the thread. kind of rude. but then thats me. kind of rude. selfish. don’t ya miss me?
btw agreed about the Wreckless Eric tune. Undeniably fantastic few minutes of song.
Im not so sure about those german operas waits did with his wife. Have you heard those Chris? I mean Closing Time and Heart of Saturday Night are way way way better
I like the older stuff, I just don’t like it as much as the work he’s done over the last 20 years. “The Black Rider” (which I saw in San Francisco starring Marianne Faithful) is one of my favorite things he has done.
I was refering to Alice and Blood Money which tom did with his wife cathleen breennan(good sp), did your eardrum vibrate to those tones? if so what is your analysis. I have to check out black rider, i love burroughs, is there a video of this anywhere thats good?
Listening to episode 9 at work, as I usually do, both cuts by Wiats and Wreckless Eric brought back fond memories of slacking around Austin, TX, from 83′ to 86′. Austin is where I met good folks (still freinds with many) with excellent taste in music. As always, I enjoy the show, and tell everyone to listen. Surely you have played a songs by Tav Falco, but I have not been listening at those opportune times. Hereby requested…a favorite Tav Falco cut. Cheers!
Duly noted Mr. Day. One of my favorite Austin bands of all time is the Big Boys. They were a less sleazy more organic fusion of punk and funk than the Red Hot Chili Peppers who liberally ripped them off (at least initially) on their rise to fame and fortune. If you haven’t checked them out, you should here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Boys
One of the best shows I have ever seen was the Minor Threat (last show), the Big Boys & Trouble Funk at the Landsberg (sp?) Community Center.
And another Austin, Texas alumni from that era, Daniel Johnston, is playing this Monday at the National. You be fun…
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