| Author | Message | ||
     Pete Azzopardi |
I was just thinking of how strange it was that in the new edition of David Nichols' book he mentions that the band felt bad about Robert Vickers miming the bassline in the antique shop 'Cattle and Cane' video (see page 135). While I can sort of understand that it may have been a strange thing for Vickers to do, I've noticed that he also plays it pretty much note-for-note on the Countdown version of the clip, as well as live on the 'That Way' video. I'm not trying to exhibit my knowledge of the bands guitar parts (only I could find that interesting), I'm just curious as to why they would find his miming so upsetting. Any ideas? | ||
| Pete Azzopardi |
Well that really started some discussion. Perhaps I should have posted it in the tabs section. | ||
| michael |
Pete, I find this video pretty horrific. Grant's hat for a start is a missfire. It was the early 80s, so we will forgive them. I did wear a beret once for a few days. | ||
| Robert Vickers |
I think, I don't recall this very well, that when the possibility of making a C&C video came up I suggested that I shouldn't be in it as I didn't play on the record and felt a little uncomfortable with it. I don't think anyone paid much attention, it's a pretty dumb idea. The band was now a four piece and had to be presented as such. As to the bassline, I played close to what Grant played (as with most of the early songs). I just added some passing notes to the bars between the riffs and the sort of chorus part to make it bounce a bit live. Of course at the end Grant played his solo on guitar and I played the riff. | ||
| michael |
Oops, sorry about the horrific Robert. Nice haircut yourself in the video. Lindy's drums are amazing in CandC, it would be great to write a song as I have done in a weird time like that and have a rhythym section sort it out. It sounds like something born of time fiddling on an acoustic and waking up with the tune. Did you have to do that with many of Grant's or RobertF's songs? | ||
| Robert Vickers |
I think Unkind and Unwise is in 5/8 or something equally wierd but it came together very quickly and feels natural. There is, however a middle part in Man O'Sea that is in an odd time. It's not in every version we recorded but it was a bit difficult . | ||
| Pete Azzopardi |
Thanks for enlightening me, Robert. Yeah, it does bounce a whole lot more on the 'That Way' video, come to think of it. Don't know if you've looked at it, but I've transcribed your 'Twin Layers of Lightning' bassline which has a definite groove I don't think Grant would have been capable of having he remained on bass duties (but it's silly to hypothesize about those kinds of things). You literally bounced in those early videos too. It must be something about bass players: Adele bops quite a bit on stage, while the others don't so much. James McNew gives Yo La Tengo some much needed bounce also. I was interested to hear you briefly played with them, one of my other favourite bands. When exactly was this and what was it in aid of, if you don't mind? | ||
| Robert Vickers |
I'll take a look at Twin Layers. It is one of my favourites. I played with Yo La Tengo in 1990. We did a few shows in New York, a short tour of Japan and even recorded a couple of demo tracks. I didn't stay with the band though. Ira and Georgia were, and continue to be good friends of mine but Ira really has a big say in what everybody plays in the group and I just wasn't used to working that way. James worked out much better than I would have and they really developed into a great and very versatile rock band. | ||
| cam |
Mr Vickers You were the coolest looking bass player I have ever seen, best line in bopping around. Except the Right Here video which - i'll admit you and Robert F were least guilty - has to be the corniest, most embarrassing thing I ever did see ANyway, I was upset not to see you up on stage at the Barbican... what gives? you would have been a very worthy special guest All the best | ||
| Pete Azzopardi |
Thanks Robert. That's interesting but not surprising about Ira Kaplan. I read somewhere that on the outter wall of the band's rehersal space someone painted the legend "Ira is an uptight fag". | ||
| david nichols |
How delightful. To go back to the beginning of this, I should add I was surprised as anyone that people in the band (as I recall, Lindy, Robert F, Robert V) all independently expressed disappointment that they had put Robert V. in the video. I would have thought it would be offensive to Robert V to keep him out, also quite confusing for people who liked the band. I'm not even sure (though I'm going out on a limb here) that the 3-piece GoBs that recorded Before Hollywood could have played a complex song like Cattle and Cane, live. I didn't mind the Right Here video (of which by the way there are two versions, one sans domestic violence ref.). That's the one where RV holds the umbrella, right? He does it with panache. | ||
| cam |
Aw c'mon It's pure cheese from Grant and what the hell is Amanda Brown doing shaking like that! Obvious answers not required! | ||
| Anonymous |
The right here video is not even ironic, funny things is it reeks of it's time as much as Grant's hat in C & C. I saw it at the Barbican for the first time and my toes have only just uncurled ! It screams "We have have made a video". Compare it to others from the era, say, by REM whose video promo's add to their songs and it's a chance wasted. The Spring Rain video is very cool and I loved the Headful...video. A DVD round up of all the promo's and the Barbican show etc is a must. | ||
| Pete Azzopardi |
I was just thinking of the 'Going Blind' video, which I probably dislike the most out of the lot. I don't know what the hell is going on there! What are those people suppossed to be dressed up as I wonder? Robert looks like he just walked out of an audition as the corpse for 'Weekend at Bernies 3'. |