THE SKELETONS Live At Euclid Records & On Public Access TV
It’s timely that I’m diving deep into THE SKELETONS catalogue around HALLOWEEN, even if it's entirely coincidental.
Last time around--I shared tracks that are available nowhere else--and I’m doing the same this week--if you count these two performances I found on YouTube and converted into Homemade Records!
Being many folk’s choice for THE WORLD’S GREATEST BAR BAND, the way to experience THE SKELETONS is live. First up is a live set recorded at EUCLID RECORDS in 2011, & an earlier set on Public Access TV. Nineteen sizzling servings of honest-to-God rock & roll with a couple of the musical curveballs the band was known for thrown-in for good measure.
On the EUCLID set, they play a smoky jazzy version of THE KINKS’ You Really Got Me alongside songs by fellow midwestern musical heroes WAYNE CARSON & CHUCK BERRY (who they point out wrote Jaguar & Thunderbird while he was in prison nearby).
Part of their appeal is that they’re a band of obsessive record collectors who record music for obsessive record collectors.
Another thing I’ve learned about them is that they always championed up-and-comers. On a different live performance, they sing the praises of CORNELL HURD before they play a song they backed him on; If You Play With My Mind (You’re Gonna Get Your Hands Dirty). On the EUCLID set they play an AMY RIGBY song that they say hadn’t appeared on one of her records yet.
And like any band who've learned how to hold the attention of an audience that’s drinking, & more focused on fornication, they know how to grab your attention with an obscure cover song. One of their songs that I viewed purely as a way to do so has become one of my favorite songs by the group; The Monkey’s Uncle. A theme song from an ANNETTE FUNICELLO Disney movie! It drives home the other quality any great bar band possesses; great musical taste. They aren't looking to waste anybody's time.
The final ability they possess in spades is the ability to write great songs about subjects no one else has bothered to write songs about. A gift they share with artists they’ve backed on vinyl like HURD, JONATHAN RICHMAN, & ROBBIE FULKS. There are countless rock songs about (girls and) cars, but none like their Gas Money, or Trans Am.
So if you liked THE SKELETONS’ edition of IN THE MIX (scroll down if you missed it), I think you’ll enjoy these live sets!
If you'd like to take your own deep dive into THE SKELETONS/THE MORELLS/THE ORIGINAL SYMPTOMS a friend of theirs started his own label & relleased two different 4 CD sets, and a couple of other single CD releases on his own Almeron Records. You can email him at:
THE SKELETONS are famously on the short list to be THE WORLD’S GREATEST BAR BAND.
ReplyDeleteDownloaders are requested to share a BAR BAND that introduced them to music that became important to them.
In my case, there were two live acts (whose names I’ve forgotten) who turned me onto the music of artists that I love to this day. In each case, I approached the performer during a break to ask about the songs.
The first was a solo act who performed two songs by Delbert McClinton; Giving It up For Your Love, & Goin’ Back To Louisiana. The second was a fairly average hard rock band who managed exceptional renditions of U.F.O.'s Lights Out & Too Hot To Handle. In both cases I bought the original artist’s cassettes, & practically wore them out. Wherever those guys are at, the post is a tip of the hat to them through the mists of time.
The Skeletons Live At Euclid Records 04/11/11 & On Public Access TV
https://pixeldrain.com/u/SrjQEHHG