Category: Field Recordings of the Future

Margaret Explosion played last night at Visual Studies Workshop, the first of our four art gigs. We played up on the stage in the auditorium in front of a fifty minute propaganda movie that Rochester Gas & Electric made about the city back in the early sixties. We did the the gig as a trio, just Bob (above), Peggi and me – no bass. Ken was rehearsing with his other band, SLT. They’re opening for Hugh Cornwell from the Stranglers in a few weeks and Blondie’s Clem Burke is playing drums.

The auditorium had some big sound and we took it to some new places but we forgot to turn the recorder on so it will have to live on in our memories.

Here’s Margaret Explosion – Turntable recorded last week at the Little Theatre Cafe.

This detail from a Carrie Levy photo is part of the “The Unseen Eye” at the George Eastman House. Margaret Explosion is playing the opening party Friday, October 21. We have four art gigs this month. Pete LaBonne joins us on piano for Eastman House and Memorial Art Gallery opening. Dreamland Faces will be at the MAG that night as well. We’re at the Little Theater tonight and the first of the four art tour stops is tomorrow night at Visual Studies Workshop where director, Rick Hock, has us performing in the darkened auditorium while a movie about Rochester is projected on their big screen.

I love the new signage above Java Joe’s and the bakery at the Public Market. Looks like it has been there forever.

I’ve always felt that I have some sort of knack for spotting hit songs. I mean I’ll hear a song for the first time somewhere and think. “damn, that’s catchy” and sure enough it becomes some sort of hit. Maybe everybody feels this way but it is not all a good thing. I get stuff stuck in my head all the time, stuff that I don’t want there. We were out somewhere when we heard “Lady” by the Little River Band. Maybe it was dinner at JoJo’s. They had a satellite station on paying Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Matt & Kim, Elton John and maybe “Lady.” Have you ever called your girlfriend or wife “Lady?” This thing is a relic but it lodged itself in my brain for two or three days.

So lady, let me take a look at you now
You’re there on the dance floor, making me want you somehow
Oh lady, I think it’s only fair I should say to you
Don’t be thinkin’ that I don’t want you, ’cause maybe I do

Yesterday we stopped in to Home Depot to pick up a bag of cement. 80 pounds for $3.75! What do you think came on their sound system?

Margaret Explosion plays the Little Theatre Café tonight at 7;30. If I’m lucky I’ll get something else lodged upstairs.

Listen to Margaret Explosion “Juggler” with Jack Schaefer on bass clarinet

We took a walk between rain showers yesterday and spotted these turkeys. They can fly if they have too but they are almost too clumsy to do so. They aren’t the most graceful walkers either. They are still evolving.

We have a number of small jobs that keep us strapped to our computer chairs and one of them is mp3 fulfillment for Pete LaBonne. We’ve sold two copies of his “High Time” release in the last few days and we’re wondering what the flurry is all about. He must be getting some North Country press. Last we heard he was firming up a date at Turning Stone Casino. Pete will be in town on September 2nd to play with Margaret Explosion for the last of this summer’s outdoor “14 Fridays” in the Village Gate Courtyard.
Pete LaBonne “My Clock Stops” from Gigunda Box Set

Vinyl records sound better than cds or digital files. I’m not talking about clean 180 gram virgin audiophile vinyl, I’m talking about dusty old lps and 45s. And there is no question that record covers look much better especially the gatefold spreads weather inside or out. So I’m hanging on to a few and putting the rest in a garage sale next weekend. I offered two boxes of cds to my nephews yesterday, deliberately arranging them so the White Stripes were on top. They looked down at the boxes and giggled as they said no thanks. I asked if they had a cd player and they said no.