The next night (December 30th) the Fellows will be playing a show on their own, at the Tractor Tavern, also in Seattle. Opening bands are Girl Trouble and Llama
Thanks to The Electric Bird Digest and sgtmajor.tv for the info
The band is getting some great exposure on some well know music sites about the upcoming release of the record: Pitchfork, NME, Jambase, chartattack and probably a few more.
Meanwhile Scott is going down to Arizona to play on the next album by The Break Up Society.
And thanks to mathijs i have uploaded a few pictures of the spain tour as well as posters and ticket scans.
Minus 5 in Barcelona
(Photo Bob Weber)
Track Listing:
Rifle Called Goodbye
Aw Shit Man
Out There On The Maroon
My Life As A Creep
With A Gun
Cemetery Row
Twilight Distillery
Cigarettes Coffee And Booze
Leftover Life To Kill
Hotel Senator
Bought A Rope
All Worn Out
Original Luke
"The Minus 5" will be released on February 7th on YepRoc records in the US, and on a Cooking Vinyl in Europe
Thanks to Laurence for the tracklist. Write up from yeproc.
After that they took turns at the microphone, Robyn played "Chinese Bone" and then back to Scott, who played a new song of the forthcoming album, Cigarettes, Coffee and Booze, after which he said he has to start smoking before the new album comes out. "Ole Tarantula" was up next, a song about where babies come from according to Robyn who then dedicated it to the Pope. Then Scott played his favourite song, a very moving version of "I Still Miss Someone” by Johnny Cash. “Viva Sea-Tac!”, from Robyn's album 'Jewels For Sophia’ is, according to Robyn, a song about where Scott comes from, and it was well received by the crowd. Scott played another new song, the already classic "Aw, Shit Man". After that someone from the crowed yelled for Higsons, so Robyn granted that request, and "Listening To The Higsons" was played, unrehearsed, but sounded very well.
"Dear Employer (The Reason I Quit)" a song from the ‘Down With Wilco’ album went down well with the crowd mainly consisting of Wilco fans. Last song was done by Robyn who played "Queen Of Eyes".
Definitely a great show, and was glad I made the trip to London for it, think Scott and Robyn work well as a duo on stage.
Too bad the show only lasted for about 45 minutes, would love to see them play for a bit longer and maybe in a much smaller venue.
Setlist
22 November - Shepherd's Bush Empire, London, England
"Red Locust Frenzy"
01.Odds And Ends (Bob Dylan)
02.Mamie Dunn, Employee Of The Month (Young Fresh Fellows)
03.The Days Of Wine And Booze (Minus 5)
04.Chinese Bones (Robyn Hitchcock)
05.Cigarettes, Coffee and Booze (Minus 5)
06.Olé Tarantula (Robyn Hitchcock)
07.I Still Miss Someone (Johnny Cash)
08.Viva Sea Tac (Robyn Hitchcock)
09.Aw, Shit Man! (Minus 5)
10.Listening To The Higsons (Robyn Hitchcock)
11.Dear Employer(The Reason I Quit) (Minus 5)
12.Queen Of Eyes (Soft Boys)
This show was taped by Mathijs who already put it up on dimeadozen.org. Mathijs also recorde the last 3 spanish gig, more info on that here.
Bill Rieflin's Final Report from Spain:
Sunday, 20 November, 2005. 2:51 PM
Once more, here we are, sitt now careens on the serpentine mountain road that takes us from Gijon to Madrid. Last night was the 5th and final night of the Minus 5 World Tour of Spain, 2005.
Once more, music plays from the front of the van, courtesy of our Spanish hosts; Peter is absorbed in his i-Pod listening to Arthur "Big Boy Crudup; John is reading 'Careless Love - The Unmaking of Elvis Presley; meanwhile I'm feebly pecking away on Bob Weber's computer like a stuttering monkey. Our fearless leader and moral compass Scott McCaughey (pronounced "muh-koy," similar to the sound made while being punched in the stomach while eating an egg salad sandwich) is no longer with us. No, he isn't dead, he has simply stayed behind; tomorrow he flies to London where he'll be playing a show with Robyn Hitchcock. It IS possible, the morning after that show, that he'll
wish he was dead. Or, maybe he'll just take a few aspirin.
Last night's M5 show was my 2nd favorite of the tour: the sound was good, the audience was gooder, and we played goodly. Scott was in usual (free) form between numbers and, typically, songs appeared that weren't on the set-list. Toward the end of the evening the club was attempting to hustle us off the stage in order that, as Peter put it, people could stand around and watch someone play records instead of hearing real live music. Later, Scott managed to further annoy an already cranky club official by practicing a cider pouring technique unique to Spain. Granted, Scott is an amateur cider pourer. Nevertheless, I would think he'd be given SOME credit for attempting to participate in local culture. Instead, Grumpy Gus confiscated the cider bottle with disapproving looks. Scott, the undaunted optimist, was not distracted from his revelry.
This looks to be the final bit of activity from the M5 this year. Already, since the conclusion of the REM tour in July, we've completed recording the new M5 record, begun one with Robyn Hitchcock, and backed up Patti Smith (with Lenny Kaye). This, in amongst our usual Pacific Northwest shows, has kept the M5ers quite busy. And, two tours have already been booked for early 2006 with Robyn H. With loads more other stuff in the works including a record from John Ramberg and more Slow Music with Peter, me, and the rest of the Slow Team.
So, for now, adios from all of us, soon to return. Be afraid.
Be very afraid.
First is the new one "Out There On The Maroon" followed by "Retrieval Of You" and "I'm Not Bitter" from Down With Wilco.
You can see the video at their Blog or at YouTube.(Its about 40 MB of streaming video)
For pictures from to road see this thread at our forum
Friday, 18 November, 2005. 1:25 PM
We left the hotel about 11:30, all stocked up with water and assorted munchies. Today we drive from Barcelona to Durango - a six hour drive, just like yesterday. Our Spanish hosts are in the front seats of the van listening to music; we're in the back either reading (Scott, John, BIll), listening to music on an i-pod (Peter), or sleeping (Bob Weber). Peter has just finished reading the new Beatles book and has passed it on to me. So, it looks like the day's excitement lies ahead of us.
3:53 PM
We're back in the van after a quick rest-stop-leg-stretcher where some refueled variously on coffee, cigarettes, orange juice and flavored bugles Two more hours to go on a drive that while as long as yesterday's, seems longer today. The promise of an excellent dinner awaits us; a restaurant is attached to tonight's venue. Right now, Kevin Ayers plays in the front of the van; I'm returning to the Beatles book...
6:30 ish PM, and Later Still...
After inquiring at a gas station, we finally arrive at the Gran Hotel in Durango where we check in and drop off the luggage. Bob & I then walk to the venue, just five minutes away. The bar/restaurant/venue has a very high stage on one end with steps leading up to it from the front – an unusual arrangement. Soundcheck is a relatively painless affair followed by a delicious dinner of Russian salad (which is not Russian) and turkey stew (which is not Turkish).
Note from Scott: At the club we talked to Jose, an R.E.M. fan whom
we'd met during our great stay in Granada back in May. Jose works
for a clothing company (Loreak Mendian) in San Sebastian and was
kind enough to bring nice new shirts for Bill and Peter and I. Thanks, Jose!
And now back to Bill...
We hit the stage at 10:30 leading off with the world-wide
smash hit 'Ghost Tarts of Stockholm.' At least, Scott told me it was
a world-wide smash hit; I know he would never lie to me. That's what he said, anyway.
Things really started cooking about half-way through and much fun time was had. Unfortunately, something in my right hand twinged on the last song of the 2nd encore cutting short what could have been the longest show of our career (curfew wasn't until 7 AM in the morning). So, while the others were saying hello and signing records, I was in the dressing room with my hand in an ice bucket.
Soon after, Peter and I walked back to the hotel in the brisk early morning air while John and Scott no doubt continued their good deed-doing, earning them a key to the city.
Back to Scott: Yes, good deeds were done as we heard a young woman folk singer in a tiny bar that was adorned with large color photos of imprisoned ETA members. ETA is the radical militant Basque separatist organization, somewhat the equivalent of the IRA. Our Spanish friends decided we should get the hell out of there after one beer!
Photo's by Bob Weber
Click picture for bigger version
hey there folks,
bill rieflin here, writing from bob weber's computer after the minus 5's 3rd performance on our whirlwind spanish tour. Scott mccaughey is looking over my shoulder making sure that i write something nice about him instead of the usual nasty rumors i've been spreading throughout europe. peter is safely tucked into his bed, no doubt in his favorite pjs. john has just waved goodnight. meanwhile, stevie wonder's greatest hits play on.
usually i'm the first one to bed but tonight i am among the last few standing, or, in this case, perched upon the edge of this chair (you know, THIS one). as a result, i've been drafted into writing this.
we played in a lovely old ballroom tonight which seems to have been established in 1903 – according to the shiny lights above the stage. last night's performance in madrid was our favorite so far, but we still tried to equal it tonight - honest. the spanish audiences are excellent. they are also peppered with germans, netherlanders, and the occasional briton. all having a great time. and not throwing things.
the tour is now more than half over (2 out of 5 left). that gives plenty of time for unexpected adventures. for that part of the story i'll make scott do the typing. he's a much faster typer than i. so until then, pray for us.
xx from over here, bill.
Thursday February 23 2006 Belly Up Tavern, San Diego, CA
Friday February 24 2006 Coach House, San Juan Capistrano, CA
Saturday February 25 2006 Key Club, Los Angeles, CA
Monday February 27 2006 Slim's, San Francisco, CA
Thurday March 02 2006 Sam Bond's, Eugene, OR
Friday March 03 2006 Doug Fir Lounge, Portland, OR
Saturday March 04 2006 Crocodile Cafe, Seattle, WA
16 November 2005 - El Sol, Madrid, Spain
1. Ghost Tarts Of Stockholm
2. Courage Is The Smallest Bird
3. The Night Chicago Died Again
4. Out There On The Maroon
5. Retrieval Of You
6. I'm Not Bitter
7. Don't Look Back
8. Hillbilly Drummer Girl
9. Creep
10. Where Will You Go
11. The Forgotten Fridays
12. Got You
13. Lyrical Stance
14. The Town That Lost Its Groove Supply
15. Dear My Inspiration
16. You Don't Mean It
17. I Still Miss Someone
18. Aw Shit Man
19. Lies of the Living Dead
20. The Days Of Wine And Booze
21. Mary Lou
22. Over The Sea
------
23. Give It To The Soft Boys (The Soft Boys)
24. In A Lonely Coffin
25. Circle Sky (the Monkees)
26. Strychnine (Sonics)
27. Daredevil Girl (Model Rockets)
We played:
Ghost Dance
Free Money
Pushing Too Hard (The Seeds - lead vocal by Lenny)
Ask The Angels
Like A Rolling Stone
People Have The Power
Dancing Barefoot
Gloria
Patti's daughter Jesse played keyboard on Rolling Stone, Power and Barefoot. Patti seemed really happy with Jesse up there and tried to get her to play more, but Jesse was a bit shy about it maybe. It was great though!
For the encore, Patti and Lenny did a beautiful duet on "Wing", and then we rejoined for the total mayhem of "Rock'n'Roll Nigger", which ended with
Patti going ballistic with Lenny's guitar, and leaving it slightly the worse for wear.
What an amazing night! I feel really privileged to have taken part. And the money earned is going straight to New Orleans to help out where it's truly needed. Patti and Lenny joked that we should come to San Francisco with them, and I asked them if they wanted to go to Spain with us!
We are leaving on a big high, that's for sure...
-Scott McCaughey
Photo's by
Right-On
Click picture for bigger version
Minus 5 joins Patti onstage at the
Crocodile Cafe
Patti Smith live onstage at the Crocodile
Cafe November 11th
8 November - Get Your Minus 5 Records Signed (In Spain)
Signing Records.
Thuesday 15 November!
5pm. to 5.45 pm.
Everybody's welcome!
HOW TO ARRIVE
http://www.jailbirdrecords.com
Robyn with:
Peter Buck - electric guitar
Scott McCaughey - bass and vocals
Bill Rieflin - drums
Friday, January 20 Academy II (£12) Birmingham
Saturday, January 21 Rescue Rooms (£12) Nottingham
Sunday, January 22 Junction (£12.50) Cambridge
Monday, January 23 Komedia (£15.00) Brighton
Wednesday, January 25 Scala ( £16.50) London
Thursday, January 26 Fleece & Firkin (£12.50) Bristol
Friday, January 27 Phoenix (£12/£10 advance) Exeter
Sunday, January 29 Academy III (£13.50) Manchester
Monday, January 30 ABC (£12.50) Glasgow
www.robynhitchcock.com
ABSOLUTELY CONFIRMED!!!
-Nov Tuesday 15th, Valencia (Loco Club)
-Nov Wednesday 16th, Madrid (El Sol)
-Nov Thursday 17th, Barcelona (La Paloma)
-Nov Friday 18th, Durango (by Bilbao, Plateruena Club)
-Nov Saturday 19th, Gijon (Parque del Piles)
Hogan, Morgan Fisher (Mott), Sean Nelson (Harvey Danger/Long Winters), and Colin Meloy and John Moen (Decemberists).
In November, the Minus 5 line-up for its first Spanish tour will be the nucleus that has performed together regularly for the last five years. To briefly reprise the membership...
SCOTT MCCAUGHEY
McCaughey is often scene as an elder statesmen in the Northwest rock scene. While still an elder, he rarely acts it. His longtime band the Young Fresh Fellows are said to be in semi-retirement, but still will perform and/or record on occasion, for the flimsiest of reasons. (They are in fact anxious to return to Spain, to re-live the glories of many past
tours, and attempt to improve on the "Take It Like A Matador" live CD, recorded in Madrid.) The last eleven years have seen McCaughey recording and touring extensively with R.E.M. as a sort of fifth or fourth wheel, depending on the make and model. Whenever time allows, Scott is conniving some kind of Minus 5 recording or live appearance, writing songs, or contributing to the destruction of the efforts of his many patient musical friends.
PETER BUCK
Known to all for his twenty-five years of innovative service with R.E.M., Buck is undoubtedly one of the most under-rated and influencial guitarists in rock. A featured collaborator in the Minus 5 since its inception (even co-writing the entire Lonesome Death Of Buck McCoy album), he has in recent years become the group's stalwart onstage bassist, though still apt to add his famed 12-string Rickenbacker, or mandolin, or waves of feedback, to Minus 5 recordings. With R.E.M. taking a well-deserved break,
look for Peter to be lending his expertise to plenty of Minus 5 activities, as well as undoubtedly doing the same for many others. Peter agrees with Scott that the shows in Spain are often highlights of R.E.M.'s world tours.
JOHN RAMBERG
The incredibly talented singer-songwriter for the Model Rockets, John is known as the Minus 5's "Secret Weapon", on lead guitar and lead and backing vocals. Four studio albums (often smeared with McCaughey's blood, and tambourines) and many tours of Spain (not to mention the "At El Sol - Sold Out" live-in-Madrid release) with the Model Rockets have earned him his own well-deserved legendary status. He has also written, recorded and toured with country chanteuse Neko Case. The first John Ramberg solo album will be released in 2006.
BILL RIEFLIN
While it is certainly true that Mr. Rieflin logged a decade of yeoman service in the clutches of Ministry (and its offshoots like Revolting Cocks, Pigface, etc.), this should not obscure the broad catalog of other work bearing his stamp. The seminal Seattle art-punk band The Blackouts, the solo album "Birth of a Giant", collaborations with Robert Fripp, the group Sweet 75 with Nirvana's Krist Noveselic, and recent stints as both live and studio drummer with the Minus 5 and R.E.M., all feature on his crowded
resume. The Minus 5 is very fortunate to have him!
These will all be The Minus 5 headlining gigs with a local Spanish band opening for them.
Meanwhile Scott will do a solo show at Doug Fir in Portland on October 13 opening for Cabinessence who have their CD release party that night.
At the end of the first set, Wes calls Scott to the stage. Wes told about how he and Scott recorded "twilight distillery" in Portland in April at the Heathman Hotel (read: fancy schmancy hotel). They didn't like that version, so that afternoon they recorded it again at the Econo Lodge.
Scott, Wes, and Kelly Hogan then sang Twilight Distillery.
Other memorable moments of the night included Kelly and Wes dueting on "Papa Was A Rodeo" by the Magnetic Fields, Wes' performance of "Hamlet" and the show closing "Jack in the Green" which the group barely finished due to laughter
-Jane
Sometimes I’ll forget why I do what I do. Owning a small business requires many, many hours of hard work. You think about it all the time and there are always issues to be dealt with and always one more thing that needs to be taken care of. Last night, I was reminded of one of the reasons I love my cafe.
Thanks to some very cool friends of ours (we love you Kris & Jean!), we had the opportunity to host the artwork of Michele Noach this month. Michele is a fantastic pop artoonist and one of the nicest people I have ever met. She also happens to be married to one of my favorite musicians, Robyn Hitchcock. So much talent in one family! They are a perfect match and obviously inspire one another. We had some of the most fun I’ve ever had at Victrola last night at Michele’s art opening.
The cafe was packed with people talking, hanging out and enjoying the artwork. Soon the piano was rolled up to the front, instruments appeared, and we were treated to the music event of year. Robyn Hitchcock, Mike Mills and Peter Buck (R.E.M.), Scott McCaughey, Jonny Sangster, Tad Hutchison (Young Fresh Fellows), Chris Ballew (Presidents of the United States of America), Sean Nelson (Harvey Danger)… playing a killer set of music! At my shop! I think I am still in shock - my jaw hurts from smiling the entire time.
We have some pictures of the crowd and everyone has big grins on their faces! Start with a VU cover of White Light, White Heat, mix in some Dylan add a dash of “Stay in School” from Chris and Tad wearing matching striped shirts and backpacks, a pinch of the Young Fresh Fellows and throw a little Robyn Hitchcock Viva Sea Tac on top and you have one hell of a night. Thanks to Michele for her beautiful artwork, Robyn and friends for the music and everyone who came, enjoyed and reminded me how magical Victrola is and how much I love owning it and bringing people together!
Pictures from tonx.org, more here
Tonight(august 20) was the Minus 5 show. Well, the quick concert review is that it was just incredibly awesome. So very, very rockin'. Also, I nabbed a copy of the setlist, and got it signed by John Ramberg, Peter Buck and Scott! This was really awesome! (I tried to get Bill to sign, too, but I think he left a little earlier.)
Aw Shit Man
Ghost Tarts of Stockholm
A Thousand Years Away
Retrieval of You
The Town That Lost Its Groove Supply
Creep (I'm pretty sure this was one of the new ones -- either that or I am COMPLETELY spacing, because it is 2 in the morning)
Lyrical Stance
Where Will You Go?
The Forgotten Fridays
Cigarettes, Coffee & Booze
On The Maroon
Got You
In A Lonely Coffin
Twilight (Another new one, or again spacing; I'm thinking I'm spacing, though.)
Burned (not sure; New one?)
Lies of the Living Dead
Teenage Kicks
Mary Lou
Strychnine (SO AWESOME)
As you can probably tell from the setlist, it was a really long set -- about an hour, hour 15 minutes. And so very good. "Aw Shit Man" was such an awesome rave-up to start the show, and Ghost Tarts is such a great one to go into next. Scott mentioned they hadn't played 1000 Years in a while, but it was really cool. And, well, "Retrieval of You" (along with "Got You") is one of my two favorite Minus 5 songs, so, yeah. I think "Creep" might be the song that was the Brand New One they recorded today with the Steinway Grand Piano (though this version was on the "beautiful sound of electric guitars" -- speaking of which, Scott was playing the "A Bag Of Poop" guitar from the "Still There's Hope" video!); I really liked this one quite a bit, and it was rather pretty. I'd like to hear the Steinway version -- well, I'm sure I will since it'd probably be on the new record, but, well, you know. (Basically, the more I hear of the new stuff, the more I am anticipating the new record. I really liked the steinway piano one, and I've always loved "Cigarettes, Coffee & Booze", and "On The Maroon" is another New Favorite -- and, well, pretty much all of the new ones I've dug, but those ones especially.)
I really like the Live Minus 5 sound -- it's a really energetic, rockin' version -- even on songs that, on the albums, are a bit more slow. But yeah -- lots of stuff from Down With Wilco and In Rock. And, well, they basically tore the roof off with their version of "Strychnine". I've been really digging that song recently but that was pretty much the best version I've ever heard. WOW. Wow. Wow.
Anyway, afterward, I got to meet 3/4s of the band! John Ramberg was really nice and signed my setlist as "Keep On Chooslin!". I'm not quite sure what that means, but it's still pretty cool. Peter Buck just signed mine, and then I got to talk to Scott! It was during the Makers' set (who were really good, actually -- the first song or two, I didn't quite Get It, but then it clicked, and I was digging them), so at first we didn't get to talk too much (I told him it was a great set, he said he had loads of fun; he said he really dug the Makers and I concurred, and then he complimented me on my Shonen Knife shirt), but then he went out a bit more, and I followed and John sorta pointed him in my direction and I asked him to sign it; and we talked a bit. I told him about this community, and he said he'd check it out! I only made a little bit of a fool of myself this time:
Me: Oh, I do the Electric Bird Digest site!
Scott: Electric Bird Digest?
Me: You know, like the Fellows record!
Scott: Heh, well, I know the Fellows record, I just meant I hadn't heard of the site!
Which was kind of funny..8) Anyway, though, we talked a bit about Universal Trendsetter and stoffel, since we both knew him (though Scott knows him in person and I just know through LJ and email), and I mentioned that I was the one who encoded the YFF videos that he just put up. Anyway, though, then we went back to the Makers' show, and that was that! Anyway, though, wow, that was really great, and I'm about to crash so anyway, I just wanted to get that down before I went to sleep. Which will be in 10...9...8...
-Matt
Enjoy these gems, and thanks again to Matt for making these videos available.