And don't forget Scott is playing an solo show tonight, opening for the Handsome Family, in 'The Tractor Tavern'.
Scott joined the band this week in athens, to record the follow up to 2001's Reveal.
In Rock Cover (click cover for larger version)
In Rock
If you've been following the career of Scott McCaughey, master musician, raconteur and leader of the musical collective/brain trust known as the Minus 5, you'll wonder what well of inspiration "McOi" has been taking slugs from. When he's not pulling down sideman duty in R.E.M., the Young Fresh Fellows' co-founder has hitched his wagon to myriad musical stars - including tour stints with Tuatura, Cedell Davis and most recently the members of Wilco on the Yep Roc release "Down With Wilco". While a new Minus 5 studio album is in the works, Yep Roc is proud to release a new, deluxe version of "In Rock", for which, says McCaughey, he and the band have "dropped two wildly worthy songs and added four new complimentary numbers and a barcode." Which makes "In Rock," originally a printing of a 1000 CDs on the mysterious Book Records, an honest-to-god, bona fida real album. From the Northwest garage-rock grind of tracks like "In a Lonely Coffin" to the Beatle-esque pop mutations of "The Girl I Never Met," this is a classic Minus 5 material, sparkling with the wit, taste and melodic sophistication we've come to expect from this bunch. Essential listening. Standard Jewel Case/Box Lot-30
Item #: CD-YEP-2064
www.firerecords.com
Thanks to Jane for the info
It includes interviews with Peter Buck, a recording of 'Bad Day'(R.E.M.) in Locarno and the song 'Restless' sung by Scott McCaughey during The Bambi Molesters opening show(for R.E.M.) in Wiesbaden.
As those of you know who saw the band live in the summer, the Bambi Molesters are a great instrumental band and (quoting Michael Stipe) "the best surf band in the world". Definitely worth checking out if you haven't already done so!
The DVD includes an hour long documentary about the band. The first half is mainly about their history and includes footage of great shows in small clubs. Also, it includes the story of how they met REM and why they ended up opening shows for REM! The second half of the video is about the 2003 shows and shows quite extensive footage of Locarno, Vienna and Wiesbaden....
Check out www.thebambimolesters.com or post your message on their forum www.surfmusic.be/tbm
If you are interested in getting the DVD (which comes in a combi package with a re-release of their debut CD 'Dumb Loud Hollow Twang' ) please e-mail Dalibor Pavicic of the Bambi Molesters on dalipavi@globalnet.hr . He will be more than happy to arrange a copy for you.
Thanks to Matthijs for the info and screenshot
Scott McCaughey performing 'Restless' with The
Bambi Molesters in Wiesbaden
Jason and I were slightly afraid that the two DJ's at the event would be some sort of techno djs and we'd have to listen to horrible music for two hours. They actually played good stuff, including the Sonics...
Christy was up first with her band the crosstie walkers (I think that's what they were called). I think I may have seen the picketts once, but I'm not sure... and if I did see them I didn't pay attention. All that went out the window last night. Chrisy and her band were fabulous. I generally don't like chick singers, but I'll make an exception... They Rawked. I really don't know any of Christy's songs, but recognized Bed Of Roses as the title of one of her records. I'm going to get them soon. She asked Scott to join her onstage for a song called "Enormities" which they dedicated to their daughter and their daughter's friends... I really can't stress how great they were.
After a brief intermission, where Scott or John tripped over a cable onstage and shorted out the power to the stage. The Minus 5 took the stage. The band this evening was Scott McCaughey, John Ramberg, Jim Talstra on Bass, and John "Spider" Moen on Drums. Scott was playing his pretty black baritone danelectro and John had a nice hollowbody silvertone. They began with Bambi Molestor and then Moved to I'm Alway In Love, by Wilco. Is it wrong that I like the Minus 5 version so much more? We just have to teach Ramberg John Stirratt's part.
After that song, we counted in the new year. I was paying attention to my husband at that point, but I guess Scott tried to kiss each member of the band on the lips and only the drummer would oblige. The band began playing find a finger and two things happened:
1) Scott took off his glasses
2) Christy came onstage and gave everyone a kiss
At the conclusion of the song, Scott announed that his new years resolution was to not wear his glasses anymore. I told him I'm believe it when I saw it. He said it was just too dark in the club and he couldn't see with them on and he kept playing in the wrong key.
John tried to start little black egg, but then the band realized the bartender was standing on the side of the stage. So, the bartender sang a song... I don't know what the title is... but it was fun.
Then came LIttle Black Egg, The Town That Lost Its Groove Supply, Work-A-Day World, and a song I have listed as "MR" -- I'm sure I'll figure out what that is someday. Two Jams followed that song, followed by The Night Chicago Died (Again), I Don't Fit In, and Don't Wait Up For Me.
I should say that a LOT of the people in the crowd knew these songs that I didn't know and were singing along. Most of the front row were musicans: Kurt Bloch, Christy McWilson, The lead singer of Once For Kicks, a guy from Flop, and Ramberg's wife. Christy and Kurt danced together a lot and even got me into the mix. Christy kept singing at me as if I should know the song...
Courage Is the Smallest Bird (whee!) was next followed by One I didn't recognize. You Don't Mean it followed and then Scott broke into the Days Of Wine and Booze. Followed by Dear My Inspiration, Mary Lou, Lies Of The Living Dead, She Cracked, and Please Don't Touch
The band left the stage and Kurt took the stage. He started going on and on... much like Kurt tends to do... I couldn't exaclt make out what he was saying... but it had something to do with "Muster" or "Mustard." The night became Chaotic at this point. John the drummer started taking Kurt's jacket and tie off, after trying to spill beer on his suitcaot and watching it run away. This prompted me to holler "Who needs a band if Kurt is gettin' nekkid?" which got me a "right on" by the guy from Once For Kicks.
The Once For Kicks singer, and the Flop singer, and Christy grabbed Ramberg's microphone from the audience and started yelling "Play the Ones after the line" over and over, referring to the encore break line on the setlist.
The encore was a mass of Chaos... involving sprayed champange and beer, racuous dancing, and great music. It began with I"m Not Bitter, then Roll Another Number (For the Road) -- Jason was very very happy about that.. he loves neil young and they ended with Look But Don't Touch.
after that song, a guy in a tuxedo took the stage and the band left. The guy in the tuxedo was wasted... WASTED. Jason thought he might be on LSD. But he caused the show to end... the management cut the PA on him
-Jane McDonald