Billboard.com / Todd Martens, L.A.
Chicago-based roots label Bloodshot Records is plotting a two-disc compilation to celebrate its 10th anniversary. Acts slated to participate range from Ryan Adams and Alejandro Escovedo to My Morning Jacket and the Waco Brothers.
Like most of Bloodshot's well-received compilations, the set combines artists from the roster with artists outside it, including some who used to record for the imprint. The collection, tentatively titled "For a Decade of Sin," is due in October.
It will largely contain unreleased and newly recorded material, Bloodshot co-owner Nan Warshaw tells Billboard. For instance, Bloodshot alumni Old 97's will cover a Robbie Fulks song, and indie rock act the Minus 5 will tackle a song by Waco Brothers leader Jon Langford. (editors note: This is the song 'Sputnik '57' which Scott recorded in january with The Bambi Molesters and Chris Eckman)
"Our first release ever was a compilation, and it was just a snapshot of the Chicago scene at the time," Warshaw says. "We hadn't signed any of those artists when we put that out, so we've never felt the need for our compilations to be a sampler of our artists or even a retrospective."
Other acts joining the celebration include Sally Timms, Paul Birch, Ralph Stanley, Wayne Hancock, Hank Williams III and Crooked Fingers. Warshaw says Bloodshot was able to compile enough material for three albums but decided a three-disc set would be "too cumbersome."
Other bands that will perform during the festival include: Wilco, Queens Of The Stone Age, Drive-By Truckers, Juliette & the licks and many others.
The forum is now located at http://www.universaltrendsetter.org/phpbb2/ .
See you all there again.
The show Saturday was at the newly rennovated Dante's in Portland, Oregon. Dante's is known for its open fire pit, left over from the days when the location was a Mongolian Barbeque. The rennovation took away a large chunk of unused space, opening up the club a bit. Its a nice touch and it no longer looks super sleasy and scary. Just minorly.
I misunderstood the start time of the show and got there way too early. By the time I returned from the bar I was wasting time at, soundcheck was already in progress. They let us in, and we heard Strychnine, Cigarettes Coffee and Booze, Out There On The Maroon, and Aw Shit Man.
So, we had a few drinks, talked to our friends, hung out a bit and at a quarter to ten took our favorite spots at the foot of the stage. Teh band took the stage and played Aw Shit Man. "Hey, we're figuring that out" said Peter. In A Lonely Coffin was next. "I love us, I heart me." Said Scott
The Town That Lost Its Groove Supply and Cigarettes, Coffee, and Booze were next. Scott said Cigarettes would be on their next album and we should look for it in January or February. He also mentioned a title, but I couldn't hear what it was... I'll keep ya'll posted if I find anything out.
Somewhere in here, Scott started looking for his drink. Dante's is really dark and he does wear those glasses all the time. He found his drink, and told us that sometimes people come up to him after the show and say "You know that part where you looked for your drink? And then drank your drink? That was really cool" but they never comment on the music.
Lyrical Stance was next, and Little Black Egg. Scott started hawking the vinyl releases of Down With Wilco and In Rock. According to him, In Rock is on 180 gram vinyl, which is 5 more grams than the 175 gram vinyl. Down with wilco is also on 180 gram vinyl, but there are two records so that's really 360 grams of vinyl. Since 180 plus 180 equals 360, or 180 times two is 360. What he failed to mention, however, was that one could purchase 540 grams of vinyl that night for a mere $20.
Forgotton Fridays and Out There On The Maroon were next. I've now heard "Maroon" about four times. I really like it. Its got this bouncy riff that reminds me of some Beatles song (not sure which, maybe daytripper) crossed with Roadrunner by Eddie Cochran. It'll be a nice addition to the new record.
I"m Not Bitter, Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White, Courage Is The Smallest Bird (yay!) and The Days of Wine and Booze were next. Wine and Booze wasn't on the setlist, and was called out for from a guy in the crowd. The Night Chicago Died (again), Lies of the Living Dead, and You Don't Mean It followed.
I heard Peter mention Twilight Distillery, but Ramberg launched into Mary Lou next. Scott then began talking to Bill about his choice in clothes (a Plain white undershirt): "I have that shirt bill, its nice. I see how we rank, in REM you wear a suit but for the Minsu 5 you show up in your fucking underwear"
They played Strychnine next. Scott mentioned how they'd be their own roadies after the set. I fwe thought they were a great band, we'd think they were great roadies. And they ended with Don't Be Denied, nice two Neil Young Songs in one set.
So yeah, two shows in about 25 hours. I had a great time at both and am looking forward to July when it is rumored they'll be playing in town again.
-Jane McDonald
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The Minus 5 @ Dante's in Portland, Oregon
Soundcheck: Strychnine / Cigarettes, Coffee, and Booze / Out There On The Maroon / Aw Shit, Man
Set: Aw Shit, Man / In A Lonely Coffin / The Town That Lost Its Groove Supply / Cigarettes, Coffee, and Booze / Burned / Lyrical Stance / Little Black Egg / The Forgotten Fridays / Out There On The Maroon / I'm Not Bitter / Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White / Courage Is The Smallest Bird / Days Of Wine and Booze / The Night Chicago Died (again) / Lies Of The Living Dead / You Don't Mean It / Mary Lou / Strychnine / Don't Be Denied
A Note For The Traveller: If you get to the Crocodile Cafe elary enough, you can have dinner (the Tuna Melt is excellent) and hang out before the show. If you're lucky, you can hear the soundchecks too. The Minus 5 checked Cigarettes, Coffee, and Booze. Burned, Out There On The Maroon, Aw Shit, Man (a few times), and I've Got A Lyrical Stance. They sounded pretty good. It also seemed like they were trying to work out a song while soundchecking. It may have been Lyrical Stance, or Aw Shit Man.
The set that night was just the way I like to see the Minus 5. The standard In Rock lineup of Scott, Peter, John and Bill. They were raw, sloppy, and having a great time. I don't know how many times I"ve seen the Minus 5 (a lot, I'd wager). Last night was probabally the best I've ever seen.
The first four songs were a blur. Possibly the most rocking of their catalog, they began with Ghost Tarts (scott forgot some of the words), then In A Lonely Coffin, Courage Is The Smallest Bird ("Featuring Bill Rieflin on drums" quote Scott), and You Say You Don't Mean It.
They slowed it down a little with Cigarettes, Coffee, and Booze. I believe this was the first time this version of the minus 5 played this song. It was rather good. The Forgotten Fridays was next. Bill gave some impressive drumwork, filling every fill to its maximum. After the song, Scott toasted the band and congratulated them on nailing the ending to the previous song. Scott started making jokes about how Bill had a bottle of Gin, as per his personal rider, under the drumset. "Oh! Now you want to get paid? You should have put that in your rider too"
Scott then turned the show over to John to begin Retrieval Of You. Lyrical Stance was next. It wasn't very fast, you could see the band trying to pick up the tempo, but not really getting to the point they wanted it to be at. Scott launched right into the Town That Lost Its Groove Supply next. He made it all the way to "Billboard babies eulogize." Usually there's some space... and some feedback here and then he sings "You'll never know if she's in order." Tonight, however, there was some feedback here... and then some rapid strumming and Scott went right back into Lyrical Stance, up to tempo this time. They played the entirety of this song again (to a sea of some blank faces from the sloan fans), and at its conclusion did the "You'll never know if she's in order" part of Groove Supply and finished that song out.
The new song "Out There On The Maroon" was next. Scott said they had recorded it that day (I think). Its pretty catchy and begins "I had six white russians today, and two of them were people"
I'm Not Bitter was next. Afterward, Scott said that if Dewitt the guitar tech was there, he woud have replaced Scott's pick four songs ago as scott was playing with a cracked pick. Scott began to talk about how crappy it was that he was palying with a cracked pick. As Scott began to fiddle with the cracked part of his pick, Peter handed him a new one. By the time Scott was done with his first pick, the cracked part was at a 90 degree angle from the rest of the pick. Scott said he was going to turn the pick into a souvineer for his biggest fan and handed the pick to me in the front row (to peals of laughter from my friends behind me). He said I could throw it back at him whenever I wanted (and I will, when he least suspects... hahaha!)
Lies of the LIving Dead was next, follwed by The Days Of Wine and Booze. Quote Scott "The other song with Booze in the title... we can't do Booze Party, we should leave that one to the fellows." "We've never played this song before" introduced "Burned" by Neil Young (or Buffalo Springfield... take your pick). Twillight Distillery was next and was pretty rockin, despite the lack of sleighbells.
John ripped through an excellent rendition of Mary Lou. Aw Shit Man was next and the show ended with Over The Sea.
Totally worth the drive to Seattle. I love how the Minus 5 will be in the opening slot but will bring all the energy and excitement that they'd bring for a headlining slot. I love this band
and another note for the traveller: earplugs are a must at the crocodile. I forgot them and my ears hurt 14 hours later.
-Jane McDonald
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The Minus 5 @ The Crocodile Cafe, Seattle
Soundcheck: Cigarettes, Coffee, and Booze / Burned / Out There On The Maroon / Aw Shit, Man / Lyrical Stance
Set: Ghost Tarts of Stockholm / In A Lonely Coffin / Courage Is The Smallest Bird / Cigarettes, Coffee, and Booze / Forgotten Fridays / Retrieval Of You / Lyrical Stance / The Town That Lost Its Groove Supply/Lyrical Stance/Groove Supply / Out There On The Maroon / I'm Not Bitter / Lies Of The Living Dead / The Days Of Wine and Booze / Burned / Twilight Distillery / Mary Lou / Aw Shit Man / Over The Sea
Celebs in the crowd were: Mark, Steve and Dan from Mudhoney, all 4 guys from the Model Rockets, and Kim Thayil of Soundgarden.
-West Seattle Zach
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The Fellows in Action
(Photo by Zach)
Scott giving the best of himself
(Photo by Zach)
© Christophe Claessens 2003-2005. Contact me if you have some news to add.