SOUNDTRACK: RHEOSTATICS-Mowat Collegiate, Scarborough, ON (1982).
This is (as of June 2017), the oldest Rheostatics show on Rheostatics Live.
And indeed, “Considering it is 34 years old it sounds remarkably good for a show probably taped off of a tape recorder”
This is in their very early days when they were a lot more funk and new wave.
There’s also a big distinction in that the guitar (or maybe keyboard, although I don’t hear any) is played by David Crosby (not that one) rather than Martin Tielli. This was before Tielli joined the band.
There’s a note that this cassette may have been two sets on one night but it seems more likely that it was two different nights. Same set list both sets.
The show opens with a recording of “O Canada” that seems to gets stuck as they launch into “National Pride.” I can’t get over how many bootlegs there are of them playing this song and yet it never made it onto a release. I feel like the ending using a twisted “Star Spangled Banner” is new (or I guess actually old).
This is one of the first occasion I’ve heard them play The Kinks song “Well-Respected Man.” Their version is incredibly different and I wouldn’t have even recognized it except for the lyrics:
And he’s oh, so good,
And he’s oh, so fine,
And he’s oh, so healthy,
In his body and his mind
It’s all funk and slaps and a wholly different melody. The guitar solo is very rudimentary as well–angular and noisy. They also play Sly and the Family Stone’s “Thank You” with their own flavor to it–again nothing like the original. It’s so far from the original that the subtitle is “(Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin).” It feels like every song is pretty much all slap bass –I can’t actually tell who is singing these songs Dave or Tim.
There’s an original “Satellite Dancing” and a cover of “Louie Louie” done in a new wave style with some really high angular guitar chords and a bass solo.
Clark describes “1984 For Those Who Believe” as a political song about “Poland and Russia and the Middle East an all of those fun things that happen in the world today.”
There’s a story that I can’t make out but the end is “We’re the Rheostatics and we’d like you to dance, okay” which segues into a seven minute “Shake Yer Body Thang,” which also has a lengthy funk bass section.
They introduce their “single released three months ago,” “My Generation.” “It’s a dancing song, too.” This song did get official release and it also sounds nothing like the original “Girl in My Magazine” about Nancy Reagan–he keeps it under his bed at night. It’s got a massive ska feel. “Man of Action” funky bass and scratchy guitars (and maybe a keyboard?). It gets cut off before the end.
The second set doesn’t have “O Canada,” but something else as an intro. But they still open with National Pride and in this version you can really hear him sing,”Can’t live in the USA / too many enemies / can’t live in the USA / that place is not for me.”
“We’re the Rheostatics from Toronto, Ontario, this is a song dedicated to Russ Jones.” It’s called “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin).”
“Satellite Dancing” from our single: dance and have fun which i hop you all will. This set seems more fun than the previous one: chants of “dancing!” and a rowdier crowd.
“It’s called ‘Louie Louie’ and its a dance song.”
“1984 For Those Who Believe” is “dedicated to the National Guard, Mr Reagan and all his friends in blue.” I wish I could hear the words better, I, curious what they’re singing about.
“This is called ‘Shake Your Body Thang’ it’s new and everybody dances, alright?” There’s cowbell and other percussion during the funk breakdown. They want to turn the whole building into one big rhythm section–“bang any two things together.” “We’re going to keep doing this until you get it right…you shouldn’t smoke anyways, eh?” It’s hard to tell from this recording if the crowd is into it.
A much shorter “My Generation” it feels like a bratty punk version of the song. “Girl in My Magazine” it’s about Nancy Reagan–he keeps the dirty books in his closet so no one will find them. And once again, “Man of Action” gets cut off.
It’s hard to believe that this band evolved into Rheostatics. I wonder what they’d be doing now if they hadn’t morphed so much.
[READ: September 12, 2016] “Pet Seminary”
This piece is actually four excerpted sections from William’s Ninety-Nine Stories of God.
I have had a real problem with Williams’ stories–they just don’t do anything for me. So having four even shorter ones is not the most exciting prospect.
#29 is a first person account of the narrators childhood in which his class was supposed to visit a slaughterhouse. Cooler heads prevailed and they did not actually see into the abattoir, by the smell was unforgettable. Later they learned of a pig who saved a man from drowning. The owner said that pigs are more intelligent than dogs but are not omniscient. (more…)
I Just Read About That... 