I Just Read About That…

SOUNDTRACK: RHEOSTATICS-The Horseshoe Tavern Toronto (February 17, 2001).

It’s hard to believe these shows were 18 years ago!

This was night 4 of 4 of the Horseshoe Tavern’s 53rd Birthday bash.  It was the final night and one of the longest shows I can recall at almost 3h in length. The Chickens opened the show.

It was hard to find information about The Chickens.  What I learned was that they were originally a band called U.I.C. which was first an acronym for Unemployment Insurance Commission but was later changed to Up in Canada.  They broke up and then years later reformed but as a different band.  From Now Toronto:

Not only do the Chickens boast the propulsive rhythm section of former U.I.C. drummer Murray Heywood and bassist Dan Preszcator along with the devastating firepower of U.I.C. guitarist Fred Robinson, but they also have the megacity’s most exciting microphone mauler, U.I.C.’s Dave Robinson, fronting the band.  That’s right, Exeter’s answer to the Stooges have clawed their way back from obscurity to kick ass with a vengeance. So why the name change? Well, despite the fashion-world dictate, the 80s are over and the Chickens aren’t a nostalgia act.  The songwriting savvy of former El Speedo guitarist Ken Mikalauskas has added a sharper pop edge to the compositions, as can be heard on the Chickens’ cranking new Prepare To Plug In (Egg-cellent) album.  “We went through about a million names and even contemplated going back to U.I.C., but it didn’t click. Ken has contributed so much to our sound that this really feels like a new group. Besides, none of us really liked the name U.I.C. anyway.”

So that’s the opening act.

For the main act, the band plays for nearly three hours.  They played almost all of Night of the Shooting Stars (songs are in bold–excluding “Remain Calm” or “Satan”).  There was a nice intro by Jeff Cohen (which states that The Horsehoe was originally a country club, which makes sense.)

And then they jumped n with six new songs.

“The Fire” which Martin says is “a new song Dave and i are working on.”  There’s some great harmonizing between the two of them at the end–they don’t duet enough.  It’s followed by some short, poppy song: “It’s Easy To Be With You” and “Superdifficult.”  Martin speaks the title through his robotic voice in low and high register and Tim says that thing was in my dreams last night.  It’s such a great but far too short song.

“The Reward” has such a great slinky guitar riff.  It’s another satisfying new song.  As is “Mumbletypeg” although they can’t seem to synch up on the intro to this song.  Dave yells “all together now” and they get going.  The new stuff ends with “Song Of The Garden” which Tim dedicates to Sarah Harmer’s new album.

Then it’s back to older songs.  There’s a soaring “Self Serve Gas Station” which segues into a screaming “RDA.”  They throw in some tags to The Clash’s “I’m So Bored with the U.S.A.” with DB shouting: “I’m so bored with the U.S.A.  I’m so angry at the U.S.A.  I don’t give  a fuck about the U.S.A.”  When the song is over, Dave says,  “We almost sounded like The Chickens there.”

There’s a discussion of music and hockey and The Chickens should be called The Gas Station Island Five since the starting line is the entire chickens band–they’re amazing on the ice.  One of them says “We’re gonna kick The Morningstars ass (Bidini’s team) at the Exclaim Cup.  DB notes: “Different division.  They can’t put us in the same division because there’s always a big terrible beautiful brawl when we play each other.  The Exclaim Cup.  April 13-15–it’s free.  It surprises you that it’s free to watch these guys play hockey?

Tim says they’re going “way back for” “Torque, Torque” which was fun to hear.  Especially since the follow-up the new song “In It Now” has a similar guitar sound.  I love the guitar riff and melody of this song.

They tale a small break to talk about the celebrities they’ve spotted on the last couple of nights, including Dave Reid, from Centennial High, where they performed Harmleodia.

Someone shouts “I’m looking for some fun” (the opening of Fish Tailin’)  DB: “Hey Martin that guy wants to talk to you.”  Martin says they’re playing something else.  When the guy shouts again, DB says, “Perhaps you would like to try another club if you’re still looking  Because we’re cooking.”

They play a great “Junction Foil Ball” during which a fire alarm goes off.  After the song Tim checks, “that wasn’t a real fire, right?  It was just Dave’s riff was too hot.”

They play a long “Dope Fiends and Boozehounds” with a wild drum solo in the middle and loud and roaring ending.   Then they play “Me and Stupid” and Dave forgets the words in the first verse (perhaps the first time I’ve heard him forget a lyric) but he is undaunted and they do fine until the end.  Mid song, Don quotes a poem “High Flight” by John Gillespie Magee, Jr. “and done a hundred things/You have not dreamed of –Wheeled and soared and swung.”  Then Dave quotes Wilderness Gothic by Steven J. Gibson “something is about to happen / two shores away a man hammering in the sky.”   [Both poems are printed in their entirety at the end of the post].

 

Martin’s been nominated for a Juno award for original art work–they’re never nominated for a musical category–the art has always been better anyway.  The Story of Harmelodia is being produced by the One Yellow Rabbit theater company in Calgary.  So up next is “The Sky Dreamed” on which Don Kerr takes lead vocals.

 

Don says he’d like to thank Maureen for “giving me an official Canadian tartan jacket, which means I am now an official Rheostatic.  Martin says Canadian tartan used to be our uniform.  Tim: and our bedding.

 

“Baby I Love You” a goof track from Nightlines Session is requested many times.  Tim says they considered it for Valentine’s Day, but it’s too complicated and doesn’t work without a Fender Rhodes.

 

For “Loving Arms” they are joined by Carmen from a fine band called Check (I guess). She sings backing vocals which sounds very pretty.  I never noticed that the ending melody sound like the guitar for “Here Comes the Sun.”  It’s followed by one more new song–a great version of “P.I.N.“

 

Dave says they played Sydney, Cape Breton where they don’t get a lot of bands and they go crazy.  Somebody sent up shots of tequila and we stopped a song and played “Tequila.”  We kept shouting tequila but nobody was sending up any more shots.  And then all of a sudden there were 48 of them.  We’ve never been the same.

 

Then the bust out a surprise: “The Ballad Of Wendel Clark Part 1 and 2.”  During the song, Dave B talks to Dave of the chickens about what it would be like playing against Wendell.

 

Then it’s time for two Stompin’ Tom songs.  “Horseshoe Hotel” which they learned just for this occasion.  Tom wrote it in 1971 about this hotel where people drank a lot.  Tim follows with “The Ketchup Song.”  people requests “Bud the Spud”, but they have a two song Tom quota.  Plus, no more than one song about potatoes you don’t wanna get to filled up on potato songs.

 

Then comes an amazing trip of a set ender.  A simply beautiful version of “Stolen Car” followed by an intense “Horses.”  The version includes Dave chanting the Talking Heads’ lines from “Crosseyed and Painless” and Martin reciting the Tragically Hip’s “Blow at High Dough” through his computer voice.  The noisy outro of Horses segues into a lovely quiet intro of “The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald” and the crowd goes nuts.

 

It’s an amazing set ender that should satisfy anyone, but the Rheos are not done.  After a fairly long break they’re going to play for about 40 more minutes.  Someone shouts “Saskatchewan” and Dave says, yes, we were gonna do that but we ran out of time.

 

So instead, it’s “Legal Age Life At Variety Store” which features Tim Mech on guitar.  As they start the chords, Dave says, “you’re writing something in your notebook but how do you know which song were doing?  We could be doing “Rockin My Life Away” by Jerry Lee Lewis or “The Swimming Song” by Loudon Wainwright III.  But of course it’s “Legal Age Life” and everyone gets solos: Freddy and Davey from The Chickens and Timmy (Mech) who does a weird solo.   Tim Dave and Fred–the triple threat!

 

Somebody shots “Everybody Knows This is Nowhere,” but Dave says they can’t do it without The Bourbons and the guy shouts “I take it back!”

 

Two more new songs include a rockin “CCYPA” and “We Went West” which seems a weird song for an encore (it’s pretty slow), but it sounds good.  It’s followed by another surprise, their version of Jane Siberry’s “One More Colour.”  Dave says that they have a song on the (incredibly diverse) compilation box set Oh What a Feeling 2.  Proceeds go to charity.  They are on it after Jane Siberry.

 

Then they leave, but they’re not done.  JC comes out and announces that it’s 2:30 in the morning (!).  Do you want to hear any more? No rules tonight.

 

The guys play “Northern Wish” in the crowd acoustic and unmic’d.  The recording is pretty good and the crowd really sings along–great fun there.

 

Everyone assumes they are done, but they’ve got room for one more, a rocking, late night version of “Introducing Happiness,” which sounds like it’s 2:45 in the morning but is pretty awesome, nonetheless.

 

What a show.

 

They played 63 different songs over the four nights.  There were 30 songs that were played more than once.

[READ: February 14, 2019] Mythical Irish Beasts This book is a fun illustrated collection of the historical origins of Irish beasts. Joyce does a lot of research (there’s footnotes!) and mentions many original documents to explain where these myths came from, but it is still a very simple introduction to these stories–a way to pique your interest. He also illustrates every beast in his striking but unusual artistic style.  I really like the look of his beasts, but they are certainly unconventional.  They’re very modern looking, which is interesting for these ancient creatures. There does not appear to be a reason for the order, but I’m going to list all of the creatures just because it’s fun to have some many weird words in print. Aonbárr [Galway Coast] a horse belonging to Manannán mac Lirm, Ireland’s sea god [with a citation from 1750]. The Merrow [Irish coast] The Irish name for mermaid [dating to the 11th century]. Dobhur-Chú [Leitrim] Father of all otters and King of the Lakes.  The name means waterhound.  He kills people and animals and drinks their blood! Suileach [Donegal] a multi-eyed beast of the River Swilley.  It has two hundred eyes on either side of its head (good grief!). The Man Wolves of Ossory [Kilkenney] In a 12th century account of Ireland, a Welsh priest encountered talking wolves.  As late as 1842 it was believed the descendants of the talking wolves lived in Ossory. Muidris or Sinach [Dundrum Bay] a sea monster. Clobhair-Ceann, Clurichaun [Ireland] a solitary faery [those who appeared on their own, as opposed to trooping faeries who appeared in groups].  A cheery red-faced drunken little fellow often found in the cellars of the rich astride a wine barrel.  This creature indicated a speedy ruin for the merchant. Enchantments [Ireland] this books tells of the people who were turned into animals. Dealra Dubh [Ireland]  Fionn MacCumhaill, the Irish hero fought many creatures. Dearla Dubh was the most notorious–it was an evil-minded cloud of death. Liath Macha and Dubh Sainglend [Armogh] These are the magic horses of the Irish hero Cuchulainn who rose from a lake before being tamed. Airetech and his three werewolf daughters [Co. Roscommon] Airetech came from the Otherworld and his daughters could turn into werewolves. Fish with three golden teeth [Carlingford Lough] spotted in Ulster in 1185. Alp-Luachra [Coolavin, Co. Sligo] In 1893 these were described as lean like a heron or hawk with a devouring appetite.  They are like leeches or a tapeworm and lived inside a man’s belly until he vomited them up. Beast Jasconius [Iniskea Islands] from the book The Voyage of St Brendan the Navigator they camped on a large island that turned out to be this whale-like creature. Immortal Crane [Iniskea Islands] this crane lives by itself and has been there since Genesis and will be there until the day of judgment. The Morrigan [Ireland] The Morrigan are three sisters (Bodhbh, Macha and Anand), the goddesses of war and fate. The Serpent of Lough Chraili [Co. Kerry] St. Cuan put a cauldron on the beasts head which is why no one ever sees its face. Cata [Scattery Island] It had eyes flashing flame with fiery breath spitting venom and could discharge balls of fire from its mouth. Kerhanagh/Caoranach or ‘Fire Spitter’ [Sligo, Lough Derg] St Patrick drove out peists, demons and snakes.   He led them to Croagh Patrick to the hollow of demons.  This demon was drying up wells all over Ireland until Patrick defeated it. The Irish Cyclops [Ireland] This myth dates back to the The Pursuit of Diamuid and Grainne. The Swan woman [The Boyne river] The Child of Lir relates a story of magical swans.  It is always thought to be bad luck to kill a swan. Chrom Dubh [Connemara] (translated as dark or crooked one) a pre-Christian god who battled St Patrick (many sites around Ireland are devoted to him). The White Trout of Cong [Cong, Mayo] an unkillable white trout who was stabbed by a soldier–that’s why they have red marks now. The Leanhaun Shee [Ireland] a faerie mistress who seeks out men.  If they refuse her she is enslaved to them but if they succumb they belong to her. King of the Cats [Co. Offaly]  Some say the king of cats lives to this day–to determine if a cat is royal, snip a bit of his ear if he speaks out declaring who he is, he is royalty. The King with Horse’s Ears [Armagh] In St Patrick’s Cathedral there is a sculpture of a man with the ears of a horse.  The story is an adaptation of King Midas. Mechi [Barrow Rover] dating from the 12th century, he had three hearts and in each one was a snake. Gancanach [Ireland] a male faery who seduces women.  He is devoted to idleness and appears with a clay pipe.  He has special affection for milkmaid and shepherdesses. Glas Goibhneann [Ireland] The Grey Cow of Goibhneann was a strong cow who could walk through three provinces on one day and could feed hundreds of people with her bountiful milk.  Why anyone would kill her (as someone did) is a mystery. Dullahan or Dulachan [Ireland] Headless creatures who ride headless horses. Balor of the Evil Eye [Tory Island] a giant with a basilisk eye that can kill at a glance. Li Ban the Mermaid [Lough Neagh] This was a mermaid 195 feet long spotted off the coast of Scotland.  She was the daughter of the King of Tara who was swept to sea with her dog–they survived in an underwater bubble. Lutur [West of Spain] is from a 12th century poem.  He comes from the west of Spain. The Pooka [Ireland] is probably the most famous beast.  It rarely takes human form but is often a goat, horse, donkey, eagle or even a black dog. The Banshee [Ireland] Banshee literally means woman fairy.  She is the death messenger or the spirit of death.  if you heard her cry death was near. Glarcus the Giant [Connaught] Glarcus was a giant.   St Patrick saw his tomb and wished he were alive.  Patrick brought him back to life and spared him from the gates of hell by baptizing him. Monster from the River Ness [Loch Ness, Scotland]  The Loch Ness Monster was first seen in around 704 AD. Fomorian Giant [Ireland] The Fomoroians were a malevolent race of Gods. Ban Naemha [Co. Cork] she could tell the future. Sadhbh [Ireland] is a fawn who was turned into a fawn when she refused the advanced of Fear Doirche, a dark man.  She later married the mythical hero Fionn. Rucht and Fruich [Connaught and Muster] two shape-shifters.  Their tale comes from The Cattle Raid of Cooley and has its origin in the 12th Century Book of the Dun Cow.  They fought each other for two years shape shifting as they fought. Ellen Trechend [Co. Roscommon] a mythical three-headed monster that emerged from the cave of cats Aillen MacMidgna [Magh Meall (mythical island)]  He lived in a magical realm off the western coast of Ireland.  On the island, death did not exist.  He was the fair musician of the Tuatha DeDanaan and every Samain (Halloween) he would visit the hill of Tara playing his music on the tiompan which would magically send people to sleep. Loch Bel Dracon [Co. Tipperary] Cliach, a harp player, was sent on behalf of the king to play to a fairy.  He played for a year until a dragon came out of the earth.  Loch Bel Dragin is the lake of the dragons mouth. The Fomorians [Ireland] Fomrorians in general were a supernatural race of gods or maybe early pirates.  They are a race of giants with goat or horse-like heads, sometime with one eye one arm or one leg. Éis Énchenn [Scotland] a bird-headed woman who commands an army of similar creatures.  She Aldo fought with Cuchulainn. Fear Liath [Ireland] a malignant creature who is often a mist or fog which causes journeymen to fall to their deaths.  He also takes human form where he is over ten feet tall with long arms. St Fursey [Inchogoill, Corrib] a 7th century saint who founded a monastery on Lugj Corrib.  His prayers raised two children from the dead and he had visions of monsters and demons. The Hawk of Achill [Achill, Co. Mayo] The hawk of Achil has been around since the 8th or 9th century.  The hawk’s name was Seabhag (Irish for hawk) and he explained that he had been around since the Biblical flood. Geniti-glinni [Ireland] were ferocious sprites of the valley.  Cuchulainnwas almost bested by them until his charioteer reproached him for his cowardice and he became so enraged that he hacked them all to pieces. The book ends with an excerpt of Ard-Na-G-Cath (The Finnian Hunt of Sliabh Truim) written in 1854, which shows the origins of many of the beasts that inhabit the mountains, lakes and rivers of Ireland (it’s a tough slog of a poem, I must admit). This book was a lot of fun.  It’s wonderful to imagine how many of these myths came to be.  So many of them are based on rivers being red (I assume from rust?), so there’s bloody stories for all of them.  I like that he translates the Irish terms, I only wish he included a pronunciation guide, because Irish words are really hard to say. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The poems from the Rheostatics show: John Gillespie Magee, Jr High Flight 

Steven J. Gibson Wilderness Gothic

Across Roblin Lake, two shores away,
they are sheathing the church spire
with new metal.  Someone hangs in the sky
over there from a piece of rope,
hammering and fitting God's belly-scratcher,
working his way up along the spire
until there's nothing left to nail on---
Perhaps the workman's faith reaches beyond:
touches intangibles, wrestles with Jacob,
replacing rotten timber with pine thews,
pounds hard in the blue cave of the sky,
contends heroically with difficult problems of
gravity, sky navigation and mythopeia,
his volunteer time and labor donated to God,
minus sick benefits of course on a non-union job---

Fields around are yellowing into harvest,
nestling and fingerling are sky and water borne,
death is yodeling quiet in green woodlots,
and bodies of three young birds have disappeared
in the sub-surface of the new county highway---

That picture is incomplete, part left out
that might alter the whole Dürer landscape:
gothic ancestors peer from medieval sky,
dour faces trapped in photograph albums escaping
to clop down iron roads with matched grays:
work-sodden wives groping inside their flesh
for what keeps moving and changing and flashing
beyond and past the long frozen Victorian day.
A sign of fire and brimstone?  A two-headed calf
born in the barn last night?  A sharp female agony?
An age and a faith moving into transition,
the dinner cold and new-baked bread a failure,
deep woods shiver and water drops hang pendant,
double yolked eggs and the house creaks a little---
Something is about to happen.  Leaves are still.
Two shores away, a man hammering in the sky.
Perhaps he will fall.