For The People Who Wonder if AMC is Touring

We are not.

During the reunion in 2005 it was good to play with these guys again - though we had changed a lot in a decade. We made a great record - still we didn’t have a Bruce Kaphan or a Tom Mallon to keep the music focused and cohesive (I’m certainly not the one to do that when my own songs are involved.) We toured a bit, played one show in 2006 (at a Gap store) then I wanted to work more with Vudi and we put together a band in Los Angeles.

Fans want to see a band frozen in that time when the music meant something to them. A particular record, or a particular show that really knocked them out at the time. I do it too. I knew during the reunion AMC would not be the same group we were in 1991 - and that was tough. You want to give fans what they want (or at least I do) and its a bitch when things aren't the same. You just keep going - you just move on.

Whats in a name? Well I came up with AMC in the eighties and used it for 2 completely different bands before I decided that Vudi and Danny and Sluggo were finally it. We changed drummers and bass players quite a bit - and after a lot of work had some success. It was surprising - Especially for us. We were a dysfunctional democracy and a moody lot (yes even me). We never had that "triumph of the will" impulse that so many successful artists have. When we broke up it was about money and ego and an inability to agree on anything. I look back and regret that maybe I wasn't the leader I should have been - though if I had tried to lead the band it would have broken up much much sooner.

The name is a brand and people remember AMC in a certain way - but only Vudi and I are left. We never wanted to use the name. When we split from Tim and Danny I think we were going to call it: The MacArthur Park Music Club but no one would give us money to make a record or tour unless it was AMC. Actually it's still that way - and I would have an easier time if I continued using it for all my projects (never say never) but - for now - no. If Vudi still wants to do AMC I would be on board but part of what makes him great is a disinclination to repeat himself. 

About the crooner act I do with Marc Capelle: honestly its the best I can do at this point. I want to have live shows that are at least emotive representations of the songs. The wall of sound (e.g. AMC) is fun but touring is expensive and I don't sell out stadiums (yet). 

Wall Street Mocks Protesters By Drinking Champagne

Look they are untouchable. The same laws that allow them to fuck the country also protect them. Too big to jail. I love that this is their little counter-protest. Their little fuck you. But why do they bother? They already have their revenge. They've already abandonned the country. It looks to me as if they want people to throw rocks at them. As if they are daring people to. Maybe they get away with too much and no boundaries render things meaningless. They laugh and simper and say fuck you to the middle class kids (the protesters) whose futures they are destroying. Robbing the future is what makes them special and advantaged - Taking from the future is how they persuade themselves they are brilliant. It's so "triumph of the will".

Look at the pigs at their trough. This will lead to a civil war but let it go - they don't care they'll be gone. Like parasites that kill the host and move on.

They are the rats that abandon the ship.

Jimmy Scott at the Echoplex July 22

Watching Jimmy Scott start his set in 1991 with ‘Blue Skies’ changed my life. He walked on stage, a tiny wrinkled older man, I didn’t know what to expect, and he opened his arms and opened his mouth and his voice transformed him into the most beautiful human being. I had never experienced anyone sing like this. It was like seeing the dawn for the first time. It was pure joy out of thin air. All of the pain in his heart came out as gold. 

Mitchell Froom brought me there - and perhaps it was to help me sing a little better - and it is a lesson I am only starting to learn 20 years later. All the songs I’m writing now and everything I am doing now is to sing like this. I am lucky I was able to see him so many times through the years. I mean listen to this beautiful version of Day By Day. He lays across the orchestra as if it was a field of flowers. This record is available here.

Now he is 83 and still starts his set with Blue Skies. Stuck on a wheelchair at the Echoplex he doesn’t have the air to sing like he used to but I think its the joy that keeps him up there. Yeah maybe he needs the money as well, but the legacy of the miracle that comes through him fuels not only the obvious love of his band (the Jazz Expressions), but also kept the audience happy and present. I mean he only played 6 songs - but no one minded - we were all there to celebrate the beauty of this man.

The Rosie O'Donnell Show

I once knew a friend of Joni's who I have (sadly) long lost touch with - but she invited to accompany the Joni Mitchell party for her taping at the Rosie O'Donnell show. I LOVE Joni and was excited and grateful to be there. Joni was a great inspiration. I used to write her love letters when I was 16.

Backstage I was given the option to sit in the audience and leave the green room - which I did - as the green room was filled with stuffed shirts and I had no conversation or interest in them. I was really thrilled to be in the audience because I LOVED Rosie at the time. I laughed when it said laugh and applauded when it said applaud - at least I think I did.

You know how she used to fling foos balls into the crowd? Suddenly during the second segment I noticed that they were all aimed at me. Honestly. She was pitching foos balls at me. I would pick them up and give them all to the excited people around. It got kind of scary. In the next commercial break there was a heated conference with the director and Rosie. Then the house comedian came up to me and asked the crowd to 'Cheer Me Up! Come One Everyone Cheer Him Up!" Honestly and before God I don't remember looking so glum. It was embarrassing and actually pissed me off. I guess I was on camera briefly because Rosie's brother was sitting next to me - and some how I was not smiling enough. Ha. How could that be?

Anyway I left with the crowd and got back to the green room. Rosie loves Joni and we were all ushered back to her dressing room for a grin and grip and a photo. I stayed in the background as this was not my party. Rosie took pictures and smiled and there was general happy talk but near the end Rosie saw me in the doorway - charged up to me and said: "So who are you?" I said Mark. She stared for a couple minutes and without any ceremony kicked us all out. I have no idea what I did to offend.

This is a great music video

I've got nothing against the star of this video. I really don't know her or her music though I saw Hole do an amazing show on the 'doll parts' tour.. This is a little video about dissipation and the death of belief. She made a document of her own dissolution. Like the photo of a ghost. Characters like this always exist in the twilight. The queen drifts through the room and her minions remind her of her dread duties. A guitarist gets her to rehearse, another disappears into his cell. As if it was hard to breathe in the room. She sings the song indolent and bored as some minion films. Like songs can't touch her. She puts her make up on and sings 'Look me in the eyes and tell me that I'm satisfied'. Beyond all care. The death dance of vanity must continue because otherwise it falls apart. Beyond irony. Beyond it all, fixed in the amber of her importance. Like leaves rustling in the chamber of a mausoleum. Another show to give, another appearance to make, yawn.

Ha. Made my day.

My Schedule At South By Southwest

Wednesday March 16

Spider House 1pm-1:30pm
2908 Fruth Street, Austin, TX 78705

Noise Pop party at Red Eye Fly 5:15pm-6pm
715 Red River Street Austin, TX 78701

Thursday March 17

Treehouse Diddly Party at Cheers Shot Bar 3:45
416 east 6th street, Austin Texas, 78701

Home Slice Party 5:50pm
1415 South Congress Ave.
corner of South Congress and Elizabeth.

Friday March 18

Merge Showcase Parish on 6th Street -10pm

Saturday March 19

The Yard Dog Party - 1:30 PM
1510 S. Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704, 512-912-1613

St David's Bethell Hall on Saturday - 10PM
301 E 8th St Austin, TX 78701-3280

ME

I did some of the music on this movie with David Spelman. I hope everyone goes out and sees it!

Tower Records

I was part of a mass facebook message from Richard Flynn who is the president of Tower Records. He was lamenting how music has become something to dismiss. It doesn't matter now - but at one time songwriters ruled the world. Music was prophetic. Sad that no one buys it anymore. Not just because I make no money - but because music has become something that literally has no value. Wallpaper. The Internet Ocean has gobbled up everything and there it sits, invisible, drowned, boutique, worthless. The only ones who make $ off of it are the ISP's and the computer manufacturers who need to give people a reason to buy their shit besides porn. Music was never something you could hold in your hand but the process of buying it and loving it was very human. I know I know the good and bad reasons, blah blah. Old marketing models versus new models blah blah blah. I just like record stores. There you are in public saying that you actually like this music. You walk to the snotty clerk and put your money where your mouth is. There you are when your friends come over and they see what you spent your goddam money on. It was important. Human. There was a deep story when you bought a record and its all gone. This is what Mr. Flynn said:

"For many of you that have worked with me know, my mission revolves around how to make music enjoyable again to a large audience. Thanks to various “improvements” in the industry music, especially with the younger generations, music is now background, white-noise. The majors only get behind the latest fad – content about an artist and the effort they put behind their art is lost."

Yep. That's about it.

Save KUSF

I understand that universities all over the country are selling their college radio stations for extra funding. These frequencies were given to them for free so that they could serve the communities they are in. But now they are a resource and an embarrassment to a country that is falling into fascism. The millionaires that rule us are smart. They kill the open society by de-funding it. Its like being shot from behind. You can't reason with it - you can't fight back. Like George Wills (the conservative spider) said about the re-election of George Bush; "The Age Of Enlightenment Is Over" He said it with glee. Ha fucking ha.

There is one slim chance to save KUSF and that is to write a letter to the FCC. Because SF is influential perhaps winning this will also encourage other universities to keep their college radio stations. I know only a few read this crap pot blog - but what the hey.


Save KUSF

Kath Bloom at The Henry Miller Library Jan 31 2011

I was in Big Sur anyway to celebrate the glass half full as it were and we saw a poster Kath Bloom was playing. Excitement. We booked another night at the hotel and at 7:30 sharp we were at the Henry Miller Library Highway One in the big dark. I love this place and reserved German guy who seems to run it. I loved that I was able to see Kath Bloom play and it was being recorded and I could be there. The opener was young and had a great smile and a great voice. She had songs about trees and dogs. She was so pleased with herself. No. God bless her but...

Kath Bloom floors me as a songwriter. I loved seeing her live. The story's flowed out of her. She is the kind of performer that even though the songs are dark the whole event is joyous. Every song was a fucking hit. Honestly I was a fan before but to see her perform live was great. I didn’t know it but this was a collaboration and a jamboree and soon gentle young people started to play with her. At first it was cool but she performed 5 of her songs and then the gentle young people took over. A shame. I wish I had drunk from the same koolaid as everyone else because this kind of pissed me off. The band was lead by a young man and they were ok - but when he thanked the the crowd - “especially the people who paid” I thought: Fuck you. I didn't pay 15 bucks to endure inoffensive songs about trees and girls. Kath performed with them and smiled and loved it so bless her perhaps these kids give her new life and that is how that works but my patience ran out when they invited the people recording the event to do their own song (in the spirit of sharing and giving). Kath performed two songs at the end - the first about ‘a little flower’ but managed to make that about murder and the crowd brought her back for a shy and unwilling encore. Gosh I hope these sweet gentle cow-like neo-hippy folk kids bring her into some kind of success so she can play a set of her own songs solo without them. Then I will pay again.

I Like Writing Dumb Songs

I went for a walk around in the twilight. The sky was still blue, translucent, like glass. Commuters buzzing by on the raised freeways in three directions. Beautiful.

Today I wrote a song called "Costumed Characters Face Dangers While On the Job" I suppose its a throwaway for the record. It began as a facebook comment I didn't want to leave because I am too serious and don't wanna be 'serious guy' on the thread - (I never have very witty things to say)

There is a hipster bar in the mission called the Royal Cuckoo and they are experimenting with having a live organist instead of a sound system. It is a cool idea but my friend was put off by how seriously the organist took himself - especially resenting the 'no video' policy. My friend is one of the coolest people alive - and I think what he was really saying is that the organist needs to be a complete ham if he is going to be in that position. Nothing worse than a self important entertainer (I know about that first hand!!) Now while I have never seen this organist and I agree with my friend - I have to say I celebrate the No Video policy. Nothing worse than grinning drunks standing in everyone's way holding up their phones mocking and ironic and think they have a right to 'capture' you. It is so distracting, and cold. I hate that shit.

Addendum: I finally saw said organist and its cool - but yeah its kinda humorless. He should encourage interaction with the crowd in any way possible. Maybe get an old 'organ' drum machine.

Anyway I like my little song - it is also a slight homage to Quentin Crisp who I spotted once on the street in New York many years ago. It was as exciting as the time I spotted Bukowski in a bar in LA (I was afraid to talk to him but I gave the bartender a 20 to cover his drinks).

Another Light Goes Out

For 30 years KUSF was San Francisco's only college radio station. Last night (at the time I'm writing this) the Jesuit run university disclosed that the frequency was sold for 3.75 million. They shut it down and locked out the staff with no warning and say that KUSF will be internet only. Out of sight - out of mind. The new tenants of 90.3 FM are a station that plays the greatest hits of classical music. They used to be KDFC. I think I may have been the only one in SF that ever listened to them. Now some classic rock station takes over their frequency - and KDFC takes over KUSF and their much weaker signal. What is going on here?

Tonight the USF president spoke at a meeting open to the public. It was incredibly emotional for the people who attended. I was surprised that the University President stood there for so long to repeat the same empty reasons for the death of KUSF in the face of such disdain. I've never heard a priest called a douche-bag before (but it seemed right). There were cops just in case things got out of hand.

I guess they took the first offer that crossed their desk. They signed it without discussion or trying to bargain for more money.  The community was completely shut out. They were never given the chance to save the station. I think USF were overjoyed that KUSF was finally gone.

They did the wrong thing.

It was obvious to me as the priest (the president of the school) had been waiting to get rid of the station for years. He (and all those that pretend their lifestyle is a divine avocation) hated KUSF. Instead of trying to alter or tweak the format to suit their medieval beliefs - they just killed it off.

He wanted to manage public opinion by not announcing it because he knew there would be an outcry. He must have known that no one in SF would have advocated the loss of another free form community radio station.  He just wanted it gone. 

Conservative ideas darken the horizon. Perhaps the priests that run USF have realized that their myth is irrelevant and want to close the door to the world. The trouble is all the outlets that speak to a community are disappearing - and they are all owned by people who are irrelevant except for their money. Everything we see and experience in the public sphere is managed. They talk of freedom of choice but that is only true now if you are rich. (I loved the kid who spoke at this meeting. He was a DJ and is locked into paying 50,000 a year tuition at USF and felt SO betrayed) Of course there is freedom on the internet - but that’s not broadcast to the community for all to hear. It is not a shared experience.

KUSF had its problems but essentially it was a collection of good people volunteering to bring new things to the world. No matter How much the DJ's annoyed me - or how the music made me want to crash my car (yes it almost happened) I loved KUSF and the opportunity it gave musicians like me. I loved it for giving The City a chance to hear new music and media that is not managed. This is the death of something great.

That this happened at a Catholic university is more proof that religion is not a cure - it is a symptom of a greater disease.

The Bill Is Due

I am making a record called 'The Bill Is Due'. It is taking a while because I keeping writing new songs for it - and throwing old songs away. So far there are 13. I think it is great. I am proud. My plan is to make an acoustic album. Just guitar and vocal. Maybe one other instrument or a backing vocal. I know the world needs another 'acoustic' record like it needs a hole in the head - but I listen to a lot of random stuff and most of it is noise. Remember the signal to noise ratio? I want to be all signal. I am working with the engineer who shares the space where I work. His name is Ron Macleod and he is very decent and kind. He leaves me alone mostly - he sets up fancy mics and and lets me go.

I don't have a record label for this yet though I have a couple of ideas. I know that what people want is an AMC record - and so do I - but honestly I have to make some money now and this is the only way I know.

From Success To Succes I Climb

My friend Marsha Vdovin got a facebook update about me. Apparently one of my 4 fans from Paris spotted me at the Trader Joe's near the studio where I work and he expressed disappointment and commented to the order of: ‘never see your heros’...

So dear fans, I would like to use this forum to say that I absolutely understand and need to apologize not only to this fan but to ALL the fans that have invested their love, passion, and occasionally their hard earned cash towards my music. It is true that I have gained a beard and a couple of very casual,  friendly pounds. It is also true that my demeanor at this Trader Joe’s is often less than magical. In fact as soon as I enter TJ’s all my pixie dust pops off in a small (but noticeable) - uhm - puff.

This poor young French Man learned an awful lesson there in that tragic TJ - about how dreams die, about aging, decrepitude, and disappointment. But. To said Frenchman I would like to say for the record: Nothing in this neighborhood beats a 3.99 Chicken Salad for dinner. Nothing.