Comments on: Urge Overlooked http://popshifter.com/2008-01-30/urge-overlooked/ One Giant Leap for Fankind Sun, 14 Mar 2010 17:19:48 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Popshifter http://popshifter.com/2008-01-30/urge-overlooked/comment-page-1/#comment-99 Popshifter Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:52:57 +0000 http://popshifter.com/2008-01-30/urge-overlooked/#comment-99 Haha, good point. However, I can tell you that Nash is A LOT taller than Zander. And he looks like Christopher Walken. Just sayin'. LLM Haha, good point. However, I can tell you that Nash is A LOT taller than Zander. And he looks like Christopher Walken. Just sayin’.

LLM

]]> By: Mrow http://popshifter.com/2008-01-30/urge-overlooked/comment-page-1/#comment-98 Mrow Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:45:18 +0000 http://popshifter.com/2008-01-30/urge-overlooked/#comment-98 I think I would've had a hard time figuring out just who was Zander, and who was Nash . . . all that stringy blonde hair, they might as well be siblings. I think I would’ve had a hard time figuring out just who was Zander, and who was Nash . . . all that stringy blonde hair, they might as well be siblings.

]]> By: Alabaster Tile http://popshifter.com/2008-01-30/urge-overlooked/comment-page-1/#comment-97 Alabaster Tile Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:51:39 +0000 http://popshifter.com/2008-01-30/urge-overlooked/#comment-97 I never heard this stuff of Eddie's, but I would love to. I am more familiar with Nash's solo outings, having caught the end of him opening for Cheap Trick about seven years ago (and unfortunately missed his cover of the Raspberries' "Tonight", but did see a very somber Robin Zander join him for a set/tour closing duet rendition of "Girl..."). I also remember that around 1996 Nash was in a supergroup of sorts with the singer from Material Issue and others (seven or eight), and the tour was cancelled after the suicide of said MI leader (whose name isn't coming to me right now). I never heard this stuff of Eddie’s, but I would love to. I am more familiar with Nash’s solo outings, having caught the end of him opening for Cheap Trick about seven years ago (and unfortunately missed his cover of the Raspberries’ “Tonight”, but did see a very somber Robin Zander join him for a set/tour closing duet rendition of “Girl…”). I also remember that around 1996 Nash was in a supergroup of sorts with the singer from Material Issue and others (seven or eight), and the tour was cancelled after the suicide of said MI leader (whose name isn’t coming to me right now).

]]> By: Mrow http://popshifter.com/2008-01-30/urge-overlooked/comment-page-1/#comment-96 Mrow Mon, 18 Aug 2008 17:21:01 +0000 http://popshifter.com/2008-01-30/urge-overlooked/#comment-96 Glad that I ain't the only one still rediscovering little nuggets of UO beauty on a regular basis. There's alot a smart guys out there who could probably write a good book about that period: Johan Kugelberg, Ray Farrell, hell even Steve Albini. One oughta appear eventually. Ever hear Eddie's post-UO band, ELECTRIC AIRLINES? They recorded a great full-length album that's remained unreleased to this day - I was able to scam mp3s of it someplace a few years back. It's as heartfelt and rockin' as Eddie's tracks on UO's Geffen releases (though if your looking for camp, Nash and his aura are no where to be found . . . ). Glad that I ain’t the only one still rediscovering little nuggets of UO beauty on a regular basis. There’s alot a smart guys out there who could probably write a good book about that period: Johan Kugelberg, Ray Farrell, hell even Steve Albini. One oughta appear eventually.

Ever hear Eddie’s post-UO band, ELECTRIC AIRLINES? They recorded a great full-length album that’s remained unreleased to this day – I was able to scam mp3s of it someplace a few years back. It’s as heartfelt and rockin’ as Eddie’s tracks on UO’s Geffen releases (though if your looking for camp, Nash and his aura are no where to be found . . . ).

]]> By: Alabaster Tile http://popshifter.com/2008-01-30/urge-overlooked/comment-page-1/#comment-95 Alabaster Tile Sun, 17 Aug 2008 20:51:55 +0000 http://popshifter.com/2008-01-30/urge-overlooked/#comment-95 This piece has started me on a 'rediscover UO' kick, and in the course of this, I realize a burned brain cells moment: not Brother Louie (or Stories), but Emmaline, the Hot Chocolate cover in question. So this weakens somewhat the argument of a Stories-UO connection! Glad to have this conversation, Mrow. I would love to see a book written on the early 1990s, a time for me that involved not only UO, but another significant Chicago tragedy-in-the-[un]making, Enuff Z'Nuff. Bit that's a whole other post... This piece has started me on a ‘rediscover UO’ kick, and in the course of this, I realize a burned brain cells moment: not Brother Louie (or Stories), but Emmaline, the Hot Chocolate cover in question. So this weakens somewhat the argument of a Stories-UO connection!
Glad to have this conversation, Mrow. I would love to see a book written on the early 1990s, a time for me that involved not only UO, but another significant Chicago tragedy-in-the-[un]making, Enuff Z’Nuff.
Bit that’s a whole other post…

]]> By: Mrow http://popshifter.com/2008-01-30/urge-overlooked/comment-page-1/#comment-93 Mrow Mon, 11 Aug 2008 05:52:49 +0000 http://popshifter.com/2008-01-30/urge-overlooked/#comment-93 Alabaster Tile: right on, sir. What began on Touch & Go as particularly sly commentary on the indie/underground scene resonated differently once that scene broke alt.nationwide. Sure UO claimed "we've never recorded in the big leagues before" but that was on a Geffen Records release! The Kurt/Axl incident you make mention of is particularly relevant; like UO, it could only have occurred in that weird early 90's poprock/alternative intersection, which a year or two later wouldn't sustain such contradictions. Thanks for your comments - yours have damn near beaten my original post! Alabaster Tile: right on, sir. What began on Touch & Go as particularly sly commentary on the indie/underground scene resonated differently once that scene broke alt.nationwide. Sure UO claimed “we’ve never recorded in the big leagues before” but that was on a Geffen Records release! The Kurt/Axl incident you make mention of is particularly relevant; like UO, it could only have occurred in that weird early 90’s poprock/alternative intersection, which a year or two later wouldn’t sustain such contradictions. Thanks for your comments – yours have damn near beaten my original post!

]]> By: Alabaster Tile http://popshifter.com/2008-01-30/urge-overlooked/comment-page-1/#comment-92 Alabaster Tile Sun, 10 Aug 2008 20:31:57 +0000 http://popshifter.com/2008-01-30/urge-overlooked/#comment-92 Finally read this fanboy piece, very nice. Thank you for your testimony. You got a witness. My own exposure to UO began in 1990/1?, in Vancouver at the Cruel Elephant on Granville. My former musical partner and myself were busking 1970s/80s songs on the streets in those days (8675309, Get Down Tonite, etc), doning matching yellow suit jackets, and brought our show to the Cruel Elephant doors, where my partner met and chatted with Blackie, who was watching our set. Then we caught the show inside (or maybe it was the other way around? can't remember). The all-girl Kreviss, the female answer to Vancouver's Superconducter, opened up, their debut show. Then UO took the stage, back when they played as a three-piece with Nash on bass. The "Brother Louie" cover was definitely a highlight, and indeed, UO occupied a strange point of intersection (musically) between Stories and Hot Chocolate, without the business panache/good sense to distance themselves from the aesthetic and industry of the indie punk world. In a way, UO exposed the contradiction at the heart of indie rock, the 'I don't wanna be famous' line propogated by bands-of-the-day doing their utmost to get their faces out there with just that message. UO just called their bluff, cutting to the vacuous heart of that enterprise with their own nod to vacuity: "We wanna be famous, we ARE famous, dammit", and they paid the price for their audacity/honesty. No saints, to be sure. They lost virtually all their Vancouver cred overnight when stories that their sold out appearance at the Town Pump on the Saturation tour followed an ugly incident backstage between Blackie and the Pump's house cook earlier in the day, when the cook refused, apparently, to prepare Blackie a sandwich. Blackie reportedly hissed, "Fuck you, chink." If true, the incident not only offended humanity, but all us working cooks out there trying to get our own Town Pump shows. The taint of bad vibes continued, right up to and through the Exit the Dragon denouement. But don't forget the STULL ep,. perched between Supersonic and Saturation, a magnificent blend of almost-perfect (and therefore all the moreso) pop and swagger, on a budget. Conceived out of their tour with Nirvana, another important player of the time. In sum, UO was not so much oppressed by the indie-alt milieu as spawned, nurtured, and most especially despised by its host/parasite body. Hard to make a precise distinction. Remember, Eddie's uncle was in Blue Oyster Cult... Truth is, UO was so interesting precisely because they were weaving alterna-pop from this very jagged context. You can hear the jaggedness intersecting into their songs at all points (and thakfully they never ironed them out, as they might have with the Sony development deal following Exit, with only Nash left in the band). Like Kurt Cobain vs. Axl Rose at the MTV Music Awards, UO had a limited artistic shelf life, locked into the juggernaut of reactionary punk/infectious pop, like the snake oroborus digesting its own tail. They would have to run out of steam, or in this case, off the tracks. As a reunited unit, I saw them (again, in Vancouver) about three/four(?) years ago, with a nice sampling of Exit tracks in the mix, but no Stories/Hot Choc. cover in the mix. Too painful to relive, no doubt, the promise locked in the grooves of that high water moment all those moons ago. Finally read this fanboy piece, very nice. Thank you for your testimony. You got a witness.
My own exposure to UO began in 1990/1?, in Vancouver at the Cruel Elephant on Granville. My former musical partner and myself were busking 1970s/80s songs on the streets in those days (8675309, Get Down Tonite, etc), doning matching yellow suit jackets, and brought our show to the Cruel Elephant doors, where my partner met and chatted with Blackie, who was watching our set. Then we caught the show inside (or maybe it was the other way around? can’t remember). The all-girl Kreviss, the female answer to Vancouver’s Superconducter, opened up, their debut show. Then UO took the stage, back when they played as a three-piece with Nash on bass. The “Brother Louie” cover was definitely a highlight, and indeed, UO occupied a strange point of intersection (musically) between Stories and Hot Chocolate, without the business panache/good sense to distance themselves from the aesthetic and industry of the indie punk world. In a way, UO exposed the contradiction at the heart of indie rock, the ‘I don’t wanna be famous’ line propogated by bands-of-the-day doing their utmost to get their faces out there with just that message. UO just called their bluff, cutting to the vacuous heart of that enterprise with their own nod to vacuity: “We wanna be famous, we ARE famous, dammit”, and they paid the price for their audacity/honesty.
No saints, to be sure. They lost virtually all their Vancouver cred overnight when stories that their sold out appearance at the Town Pump on the Saturation tour followed an ugly incident backstage between Blackie and the Pump’s house cook earlier in the day, when the cook refused, apparently, to prepare Blackie a sandwich. Blackie reportedly hissed, “Fuck you, chink.” If true, the incident not only offended humanity, but all us working cooks out there trying to get our own Town Pump shows.
The taint of bad vibes continued, right up to and through the Exit the Dragon denouement. But don’t forget the STULL ep,. perched between Supersonic and Saturation, a magnificent blend of almost-perfect (and therefore all the moreso) pop and swagger, on a budget. Conceived out of their tour with Nirvana, another important player of the time.
In sum, UO was not so much oppressed by the indie-alt milieu as spawned, nurtured, and most especially despised by its host/parasite body. Hard to make a precise distinction. Remember, Eddie’s uncle was in Blue Oyster Cult…
Truth is, UO was so interesting precisely because they were weaving alterna-pop from this very jagged context. You can hear the jaggedness intersecting into their songs at all points (and thakfully they never ironed them out, as they might have with the Sony development deal following Exit, with only Nash left in the band). Like Kurt Cobain vs. Axl Rose at the MTV Music Awards, UO had a limited artistic shelf life, locked into the juggernaut of reactionary punk/infectious pop, like the snake oroborus digesting its own tail. They would have to run out of steam, or in this case, off the tracks.
As a reunited unit, I saw them (again, in Vancouver) about three/four(?) years ago, with a nice sampling of Exit tracks in the mix, but no Stories/Hot Choc. cover in the mix. Too painful to relive, no doubt, the promise locked in the grooves of that high water moment all those moons ago.

]]> By: Pig State Recall « Pig State Recon http://popshifter.com/2008-01-30/urge-overlooked/comment-page-1/#comment-22 Pig State Recall « Pig State Recon Wed, 13 Feb 2008 23:21:22 +0000 http://popshifter.com/2008-01-30/urge-overlooked/#comment-22 [...] next couple weeks. So to keep ya’ll entertained in the meantime, I’ll direct you toward a fanboy piece about URGE OVERKILL by Yours Truly, recently published over at Popshifter mag. Never will I tire of UO’s [...] [...] next couple weeks. So to keep ya’ll entertained in the meantime, I’ll direct you toward a fanboy piece about URGE OVERKILL by Yours Truly, recently published over at Popshifter mag. Never will I tire of UO’s [...]

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