October 30, 1998

For those trekking to New York for the CMJ conference, here's your reminder: Matador's CMJ show is next Wednesday at NYC's Loeb Student Center. CORNELIUS (11:15), CAT POWER (10:30), SOLEX (9:45), ARSONISTS (9:00), LYNNFIELD PIONEERS (8:15), KHAN (7:30). Tickets: $6 (free w/ CMJ badges, $2 with an NYU I.D., $4 with another college ID).....also on the agenda: WHITE HASSLE is playing Thursday night at Baby Jupiter, 8pm.

CAT POWER (Chan Marshall) will be featured on "Wah Wah" on German TV station VIVA 2 on Tues., Nov. 3, at 10 p.m. CET. Videos, live footage and a nice hotel room chat with Chan are all part of the program. (Late night repeat: Nov. 6, 3 a.m. CET)

Got a note here to say that if anyone wants to see the new JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION video ("Talk About the Blues") on cable TV channel "the Box," the selection number is 487.

New links this times: A Cat Power interview - from Canada's NOW weekly cover story. Worth your time. And a Modest Mouse page (speaking of, we'll have more news about recent and forthcoming Matador Europe releases next week).

"We" have been out of commission this week so pardon the two-day delay in getting LIZ PHAIR's New Orleans date up. It won't happen again. promise! I love you people. And this web stuff sure beats fever chills and vomiting... although it *was* a little disorienting coming in this morning and seeing how carried away everyone is about the weekend. Halloween fever has swept the office! Check it out:

Who would've taken Chan Marshall (CAT POWER) to be such a Broadway nut? Here (above left), Chan surprises us all dressed as Rum Tum Tiger from Cats.... not to be outdone, Elisabeth from SOLEX (above right) gives it up for Belgium.

There's Belle and Sebastian. (sorry, Isobell couldn't make it)

And, of course, Chris and Gerard, par usual, celebrating the new direction.

That's it. Stay out of trouble, kids...and don't eat it unless it's wrapped!

October 23, 1998

News: the new JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION video, for "Talk About the Blues," debuts on MTV's 120 Minutes this Sunday (actually Monday morning)....wherein Winona Ryder, Giovanni Ribisi, and John Reilly (Boogie Nights) play....well, you'll see. Let's just say that whenever Winona wants to be with a rock star from now on, she won't have to worry about it being another person. (that joke was Lyle's)...anyway, it's the 11th video, which means it'll be on at around 1 a.m.....and, of course, as mentioned in update 10.9.98, LIZ PHAIR will be guest hosting that episode of 120 Minutes, and will play two of her videos, "Whip-smart" and "Polyester Bride."

And if you're not already eagerly anticipating the new JSBX record, maybe this will work:

Spot 1: RealAudio | .au | .qt

Spot 2: RealAudio | .au | .qt

Spot 3: RealAudio | .au | .qt

Spot 4: RealAudio | .au | .qt

There are also a few online happenings to check out. Later today, SonicNet will premier five tracks from Acme. And next Tuesday, Oct. 20, they'll rebroadcast the rooftop concert that SonicNet Japan hosted last week at a more U.S.-friendly hour. begins 8 p.m. EST. Go here for both.

Monday, Oct. 19, JSBX's new video for "Talk about the Blues" will be on MTV Online in the 20 Minutes section.

And then on the following Monday, Oct. 26, MTV Online will do a feature with live footage from the recent New York show, photos, fan footage, interviews with the band, and old video clips.

Tickets for the Matador CMJ show (as mentioned in update 10.9.98) on Wed. Nov. 4 are available at NYU's Loeb Student Center. They are $2 with an NYU I.D., $4 with another college ID, $6 for everyone else. People with CMJ badges will be admitted as well, although there is a limit to the number we'll let it so get there early. Information: 212-998-4999.

If it isn't enough that CHAVEZ are opening for Cheap Trick and Shellac (two separate gigs, kids), the band was recently name-checked on Felicity (lead guy to gal: "Wanna go see Chavez at Tramps Friday night?") As reality-based as the show is, you'd think they'd know that you can never take a date to Tramps.

New links: Capitol Record's JSBX web page and Hummingbird Mountain (a Bardo Pond fan page).

In unrelated to Matador news: anyone see the Oct. 15 issue of Rolling Stone? A full page ad reads:

"WIN THE ULTIMATE MILK MUSTACHE INTERNSHIP AT ROLLING STONE....Think you've got what it takes? Then prove it by increasing MILK consumption on your campus through an event, ad campaign or any creative promotional idea that showcases your marketing skills--it's up to you. Four individuals who have proven their marketing savvy will be flown by MILK and Rolling Stone to New York City! Winners will receive a two-month internship at Rolling Stone, a weekly stipend and will share an apartment in the world's greatest city!"

Come on... what kind of "savvy" includes devoting time/energy to helping Rolling Stone sell milk to yourself? I mean, you've already lost just by entering! Never trust anyone who puts the words "win" and "internship" together....someone should call Steven Brill (just kidding...he'd probably just point out that the milk mustaches in the ads aren't ACTUALLY 100 percent real milk.)

Anyway, anyone who thinks about this milk stuff gets kicked off this list... either that or Russ will come out to all your homes and take back all of our Brain Candy soundtracks.

Incidentally, SPIN uses the same contest to select its editors (and we'll be back next week to apologize for that).

October 16, 1998

Cornelius - 11:15
Cat Power - 10:30
Solex - 9:45
Arsonists - 9:00
Lynnfield Pioneers - 8:15
Khan - 7:30

LIZ PHAIR was on the television (ours) this morning...on the Rosie O'Donnell show. Her performance was good, but, more importantly, Rosie and Liz have decided to team up as the new Lavern and Shirley. Hope none of you missed it! . . . stay tuned for more television, more Liz. Come October 18, Liz will be the guest host on MTV's 120 Minutes. That's a week from Sunday.

Also, last week we mentioned that Sonicnet Japan will be airing a live JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION show tomorrow (5 a.m. EST, which is 6 p.m. in Japan). Since my ability to read Japanese websites is limited by my inability to read Japanese, I didn't realize that Sonicnet requires that people register with them in order to participate... to get around this, there is now a special Matador page where people do NOT have to register in advance. Just go right here. Also note that, for people on this side of the planet, Sonicnet will be re-broadcasting the event Tuesday, Oct 20, 8 p.m. EST. We'll have the link for you next week.

Lyle Hysen (Matador's publishing guy, a.k.a. the guy from Doormat) is still alive and has in fact completed a news column just for you all. All the latest on Doormat is here.

Good fuck article from the Tucson Weekly.

Mute U.K. - the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion's U.K. label

a new stereophonic sound spectacular

October 9, 1998

Next Saturday, October 10th, the JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION will perform on the roof of the Tower Shibuya building in Tokyo.Sonicnet Japan will run a live netcast of the show at 7 p.m. in Japan, which is 5 a.m. EST (They're planning on re-running the show at a different time later... we'll keep you posted).

The bio for the new JSBX album, Acme, is now in the house. We've put all the info on one handy page. Check back Monday for four tracks (in RealAudio and .au. and quicktime files) from the new album as well.

Alan Licht has asked us to post info about a new project of his so here you go. Alan has stepped down from full-time duties in RUN ON but will probably play with Rick and Sue at some point in the future.

Offsite links: a couple articles from Omaha's Reader: one about Come and one, Yo La Tengo.

And now, ladies and gentlemen, a story:

To: carrie@matador.recs.com
From: johnny@miningco.com
I just took a look at the liner notes of Liz Phair's new LP and noticed that she thanked New Trier High School, our alma mater.

This brought me back to a fuzzy place where I think our paths converged in the summer of 1986 or 87. On a warm summer evening in the dewy hamlet of Winnetka where Ms. Phair and I grew up, my aunt, older sister, and my ten year old self were in an absolute crisis alert. Our mutt Cocoa -- the better half of the duo Cocoa and Candy -- had flown the coop.

Any other dog would enjoy such freedom pissing and humping his way through the suburb, but we knew our animals loved chasing moving cars and if we didn't act fast they'd be seriously injured. (Candy who had been hit twice had already developed a gelatinous tumor at the back of her head after being run over the second time. This tumor had to be drained daily by a tap system our vet had rigged into the back of her skull.) As the screaming match ensued, we recieved a call saying our dog had been found on Cherry St. wounded but alive.

We arrived at a neat brick house near the corner and were led to the garage, Cocoa lay sprawled on a beach towel, panting slowly with dog saliva accumulated about her chops. A small wound was visible on her back left leg. As I moved to approach the dog I noticed a teenage girl watching me from presumably the kitchen. I stored that image in my head.

Since the success of "Exile" I've wondered about that summer afternoon, whether that was Ms. Phair and whether she was the one who saved Cocoa.

Oh and by the way -- Cocoa was let loose as my brother raced to NTHS to get his mug on television as Rock Hudson -- another NT alumn -- had died of AIDS that day. When he returned home I waited for him to ride up the driveway on his bike. At the precise moment I threw a broom handle into his bike spokes and he tumbled into my mother's garden. That night, as Cocoa lay in the animal hospital, we watched the coverage of Rock Hudson's death on TV. Sure enough my brother was doping around behind the reporter. That was the first time I understood AIDS.

Ask Liz about this one if you get a chance.