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Twin Town High (vol. 8) |
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Round the Dial
Wednesday 22 January @ 12:19:48 |
 by Tom Hallett
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “I actually wrote out the words to Hank Williams’ ‘Lost Highway’ last night. The whole life of sin seems like a million years ago- but it’s still waiting. It’s a monster, a deadly beast waiting out there for me.”
-—Paul Westerberg, 2002
SONG OF THE WEEK: “Black Soul Choir” -
-—Sixteen Horsepower
*For those of you who missed last week’s column, your humble correspondent is currently operating at half-speed due to some minor surgery, so I’ve put together a couple week’s worth of “lazy” columns while I deal- this time out, we’ll look back at some of my favorite letters from readers. Enjoy!
This one’s in response to my review of the Kev’n Kinney album Broken Hearts And Auto Parts, which actually generated quite a stack o’ mail. The author is commenting on how I tied the album in with some of my life experiences that reminded him of his own...
Tom,
I had plenty of roaches then, and now I’m kinda short, so...
As a guy who recently lost his car and wife (and house and kid), I appreciated your story in Pulse. From now on I’ll remember, maintenance. Thanks, you gave me a good laugh and more.
Jim
This one just came out of the blue, but I got a kick outta it...
Tom,
As a long time friend and as the former publicist for Perfect, I was asked by Tommy Stinson to pass along this message to you:
In response to some of Paul Westerberg’s statements in a news story entitled “Replacements Mull Reunion,” which ran on 3/29/02 on Rolling Stone On-line, Tommy had this to say:
“Although I find it funny and flattering that Paul asked me to play some Grandpa Boy shows, I cannot take credit for playing or singing on his new records. The fact is, I haven’t seen Paul Westerberg in well over four years. I am currently committed to Guns n’ Roses, which would also make any Replacements reunion a one-man reunion at best. But thanks for the laughs.”
Tommy Stinson
The following is a little note from singer/songwriter Matthew Ryan. The story behind this one is that I wrote a scathing review of a show he did at The Quest’s Ascot Room a few years back that never ended up making the paper, and he was eager to get back up here and give ‘er another try. Oh, it wasn’t a scathing review of him, or his band, but of the audience, who turned out to be some of the snakiest audience members to attend a live show since Dylan went electric. Someday I’ll print the review. Matthew only saw it because I forwarded a raw copy to his pal Ryan Adams, who shared it with him...
Hey Tom,
How’ve you been? I’m coming up there in May to the 400 bar on 5/22. I wanted to invite you. If you’re gonna come out let me know. I’ll put you on the list. I’m looking forward to revisiting the scene of the crime.
All the best,
Matthew Ryan
This one came from a former Twin Citian currently living in Ireland- commenting on a column I’d done about rock in the movies. I was, to put it mildly, blown away to know that people living in foreign lands were reading my goofy weekly bull%@!#$&. One of my favorites...
Tom,
Concerning rock movies: Any thoughts on “This is Spinal Tap” or the more contemporary “Almost Famous?” Also, I %@!#$&ing adore your articles; always have. I’ve been living here in Ireland for many months and whenever I need a little bit of home (rock on, St. Paul/Mpls!) I throw a MN band into the CD player, crank it up loud enough to scare the %@!#$& out of the wanker sitting next to me (no
one in Ireland has even HEARD of MN, let alone most of the music) and get online to read an article or two from Pulse, City Pages and even good old Jim Walsh over at the Pi Press. So thank you for writing about the music I love, and the places I miss (bars, record shops). I’ll head over to the pub now and reduce myself to more of the Euro-pop %@!#$&e I’ve been forced to listen to since I’ve left the states. (sigh). Ah, well—sometimes I almost don’t mind it after I’ve had a few pints.
Missing the MN music,
Megan
Here’s an example of one of the many great letters I receive from grateful local bands who appreciate a little ink...all I can say is, if you reach me through my billions and billions of albums, you must be pretty %@!#$&ing good. And that goes for every band I’ve ever given a nod to in these pages. Thank Shiva for ya’ll, or I’d HAVE NOTHNG TO WRITE ABOUT!!
Hi Tom,
Hey, I read your listings this week and all I can say is I’m floored. It’s truly flattering to have you pick Wood and Wire as one of your fave local cd’s of 2001. I also dug your listings in the rest of the paper. You named a bunch of my fave local bands, all of which are worthy of a best of 2001 cd, in my opinion. There’s a lot of talent in Twin Town again, it seems to go in 3-4 year spurts.
Talk to you soon, and thank you for your appreciation, it means a lot.
Rock on,
Aaron Pruitt, The Rakes
Here’s one of a stack of letters I received after I reviewed Kentucky rocker Tommy Womack’s excellent album, Circus Town...hey, Tommy- thanks for the private Kinks concert backstage at the Turf Club- you rock, man!!
Hello Tom,
Susan from Burnside/Sideburn Records here. Just wanted to thank you for the more than cool article you did on Tommy / Replacements track. Tommy passed the article e-mail on to me as I do the press/publicity gig at the record label. Have to say that your article made me laugh right out loud, nice vivid writing. I especially loved the Britney Spears descriptions.
Thanks again!
Susan Stewart
Burnside/Sideburn Records
And one more on Tommy Womack, from the owner of his label, no less...
Tom
Thank you very much for the great piece on Tommy Womack. As owner of Sideburn Records as well as Music Millennium, the retail store Paul (Westerberg) played at on street date of his new album,(and yes, I’m a Replacement fan) this piece hit me hard..in a very great way! I was a fan of Tommy’s Checkered Past album “Positively Na Na” when I decided to read the book (The Cheese Chronicles, Tommy’s super-cool tale of his life in a rock n’ roll band) on vacation. I was so inspired, I called Nashville information the first day I got home to get his phone number and call him up to make a record. Three months later he went into the st udio.
Best regards,
Terry
Here’s a recent one from a local who dug last week’s Maurice Gibb tribute column...
Tom,
I was so glad to see your column cover the pre disco Bee Gees. So many people don’t have a clue about that era of their career. Thank you for admitting that you appreciate them. You mentioned quite a few of my favorite songs from their early years and you were so right on about “To Love Somebody”. I must admit that when my boyfriend played the album with that song on it to accompany some tender moments, he won a very special place in my heart. I truly believe it was a sincere gesture and not at all premeditated. He’s just secure enough to have a tender side and appreciate the Bee Gees of the 60’s. Very cool! You didn’t mention the 1970 vinyl “Cucumber Castle” not a hit but really great! If you’re not familiar with it you should check it out, country, rock, gospel, ballads, and theatrics. It’s one of my favorites, especially the songs:
-I Lay Down and Die
-Sweetheart
-Bury me down by the river
-Turning Tide
-Don’t forget to remember
I’m glad you didn’t forget to remember the early Bee Gees.
Kim
And last but not least, an anonymous note from a reader who dug my long-winded review of the Beatifics’ latest album, where I riffed off 3,000 words about my adventures with a couple of characters named Charlie and Nanita up in Fairbanks, Alaska before mentioning the actual album I was reviewing- hey Chris, I really did like the record, man.
Tom,
Just wanted to let you know that the Nanita and Charlie story was amazing.
That’s it for this week. Until next time, make yer own damn news.
If you have local music news, gigs/events that you’d like to see listed in this column, or you’d just like to complain that I wasn’t long-winded enough (har har) when I reviewed your album, send replies to: TMygunn777@aol.com.
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