Author: Henry Owings

I found this titled "Monk’s Advice 1966".

It’s almost like Thelonious Monk was writing "The Jazz Bible" even two years before I was born!

Cookie Monster eating the World Trade Center in ’76?!

Miles ahead of the curve in the freedom hating department.

Thanks to Ben for this.

So all this talk of The Jesus Lizard reforming next year got me tearing through my mom’s house last week looking for any miscellaneous doo-dads for the reissues happening next year. While I was at it I found a box of various letters, notes and newsletters from around 1988 to 1991 from various bands and labels I was interested in.

I was fortunate enough to see fIREHOSE a lot back in the late 80’s and early 90’s. The most memorable show was at the Electric Banana in the fall of 1990 with Scrawl and local Pittsburgh band ATS. Scrawl were running late and proceeded to tear it up. I had met Watt five years earlier at an REM show that the Minutemen were opening and just walked up to him at the bar after the Pittsburgh show just to thank him for everything. Picture Mike Watt tired, wet and slightly irritable just doubled over a pitcher of Iron City and a 20 year old me walking up to him. After saying something to the effect of him changing my life (not a lie) he just took a puff off his cigarette, looked at me, scoffed and went back to drinking his beer. Ah, Watt. I remember one of the guys from ATS coming up to him afterwards wondering how they should go about getting somebody to put out their records. To quote Watt, "Get out of town, homie." Again, ah, Watt.

However, with that said, Mike was always quick to respond to any of my letters that I wrote him and here’s a couple pieces of evidence.

In honor of fIREHOSE, I’m including a 1988 Peel Session for your listening pleasure. Oh, and while we’re at it, can somebody tell me why SST’s back catalog (primarily Minutemen and Hüsker Dü’s back catalog) sound like absolute dog shit?

fIREHOSE – Peel intro (Peel Session ’88)
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fIREHOSE – She Paints Pictures (Peel Session ’88)
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fIREHOSE – Making The Freeway (Peel Session ’88)
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fIREHOSE – Hear Me (Peel Session ’88)
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fIREHOSE – Choose Any Memory (Peel Session ’88)
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Sure, it’s a set list, but who is it and when was it?

Imagine this is a game (and yes, of course I know the answer).

This was hanging on my wall in college and I found it this last weekend at my mom’s house while sifting through boxes of nonsense.

So I’m going to be gearing up to produce Patton’s new album in February and we’re doing some shows in Georgia to serve as warm ups.

Chunklet hearts Jay Ryan, and Jay hearts Chunklet (and Patton). If there’s any posters left over, I’ll sell ’em here first!

Addendum: And here’s the poster from the masterful Jeff Kleinsmith for the upcoming shows with Les Savy Fav in January! Again, if there’s leftovers, you can nab one here!

Goddamn, I feel like such a lucky boy to have these studs do posters for shows in Georgia!

Just got back from Pennsyltucky and am now going to decompress. This Hawkwind documentary is endlessly entertaining (if only for Lemmy’s comments). It really starts to kick in around the third part….

Check out the entire 9 part journey! Part 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.

I don’t know why it is, but I seem to buy as many singles as I do full lengths. It still always seems to be the first place to find out about new, fresh artists first.

Mayyors – Megan’s LOLZ  (Gomerdome)                                         
Wounded Lion – 7" (S-S)
Sic Alps – Unitled (Important)
Om – Gebel Barkal (Sub Pop Singles Club) [anybody possibly got a spare copy to sell?]
Nodzzz – I Don’t Wanna Smoke Marijuana (Make A Mess)
The Muslims – Parasites (I Hate Rock N Roll)
Obits – One Cross Apiece (Stint)
Double Negative – Raw Energy EP  (Sorry State)
Los Llamarada – Against The Day (Avant!)
The Shitty Limits – Straight Forward (La Vida Es Un Mus Discos)
Carbonas – Euro Tour (Self Released)
FNU Ronnies – 7" (Richie)
Tyvek – Sidewalk (M’Lady)
Wooden Shjips – Vampire Blues (Sick Thirst)
Bukkake Boys – Splendid Thoughs (Vile Minds)
Talbot Tagora – Morning Secrets (Self Released)
Creston Spiers –Yesterday’s Parade (Southern Shelter)

Honorable 7" (or otherwise non-full length) mention:
AFCGT 10"  (Dirt Knobby)

I’m sure a couple of these might’ve come out in 2007, but hey, cut me some slack. I don’t live in some cultural mecca like Park Slope or Berkeley, okay? I live in Georgia. Deal with it.

And while I’m at it talking about Georgia, a special round of applause to Douchemaster, Die Slaughterhaus and Rob’s House for releasing quality seven inch vinyl throughout 2008. In fact, I just got the latest stash of Rob’s House slop in today’s post and it’s already makin’ me a happy camper! (Note: Anything on HoZac from the past year also receives special mention.)

And one last note, the Spooks LP on Die Slaughterhaus has been in heavy rotation. It’s a pity it won’t actually see the light of day until 2009, but at the release party on Halloween, I nabbed a sleeve with a CD-R in it so technically, I can include it in this 2008 list…

In unrelated news, my good friend Joe Peery sent me a link to this woman who does really elaborate hair dressing to her full size poodle to which I say, simply, "whoa!"

And although it’s not my goal to make recent posts all about The Jesus Lizard (although I know a few won’t mind it), I will leave you with this very notable picture of Yow in Memphis. I wonder why that girl behind him is smiling…..

One single in 1976 and that’s it. Chunklet posts two tracks back in April and a subsequent groundswell of interest leads to Drag City releasing a seven song CD/LP in early 2009. You heard it here first folks.

Here’s links to some more info. Here. Here. And here.

Download the original two tracks, bitch! Here and here.

Note: I’ve heard the 7-song release and holy shit, it’s totally captivating! Be warned!

Well, if the adage goes that everybody’s famous for 15 minutes, then I guess it could stand to reason that no great band ever truly breaks up.

Yes, two of the most idolized (and shamelessly copied) bands of the 90’s are reuniting and doing a limited amount of shows next year.

Regrettably, I never got to see the Gories (blame it on geography) but I was fortunate enough to see The Oblivians many, many beer-soaked times. Hell, they even released a live record of a show I recorded and let me put out a 7" of their slop! It’s still all such a blur…

My old buddy (and former Athenian) Debbie Daughtry informed me of these happy developments today along with a link to a live video of the band in Athens in 1996 as part of Trash Bash. Of course, Debbie sent me this link to inform me of the numerous sightings of yours truly throughout the video. I swear, it’s like Where’s Waldo….. As I recollect, this ’96 gig was right after the Oblivians had returned from Europe and they had a handful of hash that we all smoked prior to their set. Later that night, I remember seeing the worst Man or Astroman? set ever and yes, I admit that I was partly responsible.

As I remember, it seemed like there were a lot of regional garage beer bashes in the ’94-’96 era with many of the same lineups (as an aside, the continual inclusion of the Labrea Stompers is still an absolute headscratcher), but any time the Oblivians showed up, I was front and center. Such a brilliant band. Perhaps I should refrain my gushing for another time and just let the jokers at the Goner message board do their thing.

Anywhoozle, I’ve included parts of an Oblivians live show from ’94 using the same equipment that Byron Coley compared to being recorded using "shoe leather" in his review of "Rock N Roll Holiday" which I had taped mere months before. More photos, set lists, posters and other garbage are here at Chunklet HQ. Who knows? I might actually have the energy to dig through them one of these days.

Oblivians – Motorcycle Leather Boy (Athens ’94)
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Oblivians – Jim Cole (Athens ’94)
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Oblivians – No Reason To Live (Athens ’94)
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Oblivians – Love Killed My Brain (Athens ’94)
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Oblivians – Blew My Cool (Athens ’94)
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Oblivians – Some Song (Athens ’94)
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Oblivians – Some Other Song (Athens ’94)
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So Mojo got in touch with me in September asking for my top ten for the year which was a bit surprising seeing as how the rest of the year hadn’t even happened. Regardless, I sent a list in and there’s a few things I’d like to explain. First, Georgia kicked all kinds of ass this year as witness to the fact that half of this list came from here. Second, there’s a lot of nepotism going on in the list too. And you know what? I don’t give a shit. And third? I’m home until the new year so I’m going to hunker down and listen to a mountain of records that I’ve bought and not fully digested yet.

Sex/Vid Communal Living (Dom)
Harvey Milk Life…The Best Game In Town (Hydrahead)
Gentleman Jesse & His Men Self Titled (Douchemaster)
Intelligence Deuteronomy (In The Red)
Liz Durrett Outside Our Gates (Warm)
Vic Chesnutt & Elf Power Dark Developments (Orange Twin)
Deerhunter Microcastles/Weird Era Cont. (Kranky)
Monotonix Body Language (Drag City)
Torche Meanderthal (Hydrahead)
Awake My Soul  The Original Soundtrack/Help Me To Sing: Songs of the Sacred Harp (Awake)

Honorable mentions: Nodzz, Crystal Stilts, No Age, Blank Dogs, It’s Casual and Human Eye.

Top 3 Reissues:
Vivian Girls Vivian Girls (In The Red) (originally by Mauled by Tigers)
Big Dipper Supercluster: The Big Dipper Anthology (Merge)
Sic Alps A Long Way Around To A Shortcut (ADR)

Also, I should add that anything on Siltbreeze, In The Red or Numero Group from 2008 was "the jam."

I’m sure I’ll come up with a couple more top tens between now and the end of the year. But in the meantime? Here’s a photo of Brian Posehn with a shicklegruber.

I never thought I’d see the day…..

Not that I’m going to go set my PiL records on fire, but jesus christ……….

Thanks to Iain for this….

I thought it was a joke, but ATP has never been known to joke about these things.

May 2009. Minehead. I would be there regardless, but yes, now I’ll be there front and center. And Sleep’s reuniting? Fuck me.

I was lucky enough to see The Jesus Lizard A LOT, but once Mac split, I kinda lost interest. My only hope is that The Jesus Lizard’s reunion doesn’t turn into the endless Slint reunion which eventually lost momentum and, yes, eventually bored everybody to tears.

*ahem*

Dear ATP, more bands I’d like you to reunite: Codeine, Bitch Magnet, Bastro, Spaceman 3, Tar, Rapeman, Floor, The Fix, The Necros, The original line up of the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Swans…..oh god, the list is endless…..

While I’m away getting fat in Louisiana over Thanksgiving, let us compile a list of other notable bands that ATP should get to reunite.

And as an added bonus, I’m including a Jesus Lizard radio session from ’91 in Cincinnati. I’m sure Billy will dig this, but the rest of you? ENJOY!

The Jesus Lizard-Dancing Naked Ladies (WAIF, Cincinnati ’91)
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The Jesus Lizard-Pop Song (WAIF, Cincinnati ’91)
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The Jesus Lizard-Zachariah (WAIF, Cincinnati ’91)
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The Jesus Lizard-Nub (WAIF, Cincinnati ’91)
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The Jesus Lizard-Seasick (WAIF, Cincinnati ’91)
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The Jesus Lizard-Monkey Trick (WAIF, Cincinnati ’91)
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So the fourth annual Asshole Santa appearance at Criminal Records was this weekend. Another endurance test for this non-drinking, non-smoking, asocial douchebag.

I think more than a few photos are still missing, but you can check out the photostream here.

Personal highlights? Having Jim Goad’s newborn Zane take pix (and he and his parents were a delight), two bangin’-assed stripper types taking multiple photos with their you-know-what’s in my face, Eagles of Death Metal and meeting a steam punk for the first time which made me laugh!

And hey, we raised money for PAWS Atlanta. Thanks to everybody at Criminal Records (especially Eric and Lillian), Dookie and Crappy the elves, and also to everybody that came out!

So the last month has been pretty busy. I traveled all over the country to promote the book and then came home to various shows I was putting on or arranging and then the odd friend coming into town and then I turned forty on Friday.

There’s an interview with me on the Onion AV Club that I had a lot of fun doing. Of course, I was a smidge excited to talk to Josh and man, the AV Club’s comments section is nothing short of hysterical.

More news shortly including local shows with Fucked Up, Patton Oswalt (!!!!!) and Les Savy Fav (!?!?!??!).

I bring you puppy cam!!!!! Just rocked Baltimore and Philly. Right before that was Chicago, Cincy and St. Louis.

I even got my first craigslist "missed encounter"! While playing Guitar Hero! My wife was so jealous!

Had breakfast with good buddies Pdex and Stephen Sowley in Chicago on Saturday morning while I was on my way to promote the Rock Bible all over the midwest.

I jokingly said I’d run into somebody I knew within an hour. It only took ten minutes and it was former Pennsylvanian and current Blue Man Noah Leger (bad ass drummer from the criminally underrated Hurl and criminally insane Thee Speaking Canaries).

Over coffee, pancakes, bagels, I found out that a certain Chicagoan owns a PT Cruiser which made me bust a gut. Guess who it is and win a Zach/Ted Leo 7". No foolies.

Would you believe I bought barely any records in Chicago, but loaded up with an entire crate in Cincy? I also had the score of the month in St. Louis with a handful of rare versions of Drunks With Guns and Strangulated Beatoffs 7"s. Damien from Fucked Up chatted with me earlier today and said "That was YOU that bought those?". Apparently he was at Vintage Vinyl mere hours after me and was told by the staff that somebody (me) had just cleaned them out. Score!

After putting on my fair share of Mastodon shows over the years, it still is completely exciting that I was able to put them on with Brian Posehn at the 40 Watt as the birthday party for Chunklet. A total rush.

I was able to bring Mastodon up by getting the capacity 40 Watt crowd to whisper "Mastodon" as they came on stage. It was really incredible to do that.

Mastodon‘s entire set was old material in an effort to discourage internet leaks. It’s a real pity as their new record is such a masterpiece.

However, they closed with "The Bit" by the Melvins which I’ve linked to from YouTube. Check it out.

Day 2 was one of the most surreal days of my life. Getting one of my best buddies (Brian Posehn) to play with another group of best buddies (Mastodon) was a dream come true! And at the 40 Watt? One of the best clubs on the planet? Come on. That’s a no brainer.

First up was LA heavy hitters It’s Casual who flew in just for the occasion. I have Billy to thank for turning me onto them, but holy mackerel, were they a blast!

Seeing as how I had Brent for the entire weekend, I had him do a set before  Posehn and it went well. Brian was recording his set to use for his next record and it went super well! The crowd was, for the most part, very rowdy and supportive.

I gave a heartfelt introduction to Deerhunter after the hellish day that I had. My introduction mostly involved my good friend Josh McKay and the call I got from him as I came into Athens talking about the hellish day that HE just had. After realizing that he had the SWAT team come and forcibly get a woman and her retarded son out of his house which they had barricaded themselves inside of, I thought better of my bad day. But so much for that…..

Deerhunter scattered on stage and played a handful of new jams and seemed to have a good time.

After the show I had 3 of the folks from Deerhunter come up and apologize for their performance that night, but I didn’t quite get why they were so apologetic. Sometimes I think they’re getting semi-neurotic about doing anything less than a great show. Oh well.

The festivities trailed over (as they always do) to the owner of the 40 Watt’s house, Barrie Buck, where I cashed my chips in relatively early. I was in desperate need of my facilities for the next night. Game day people were already clogging downtown and with Posehn coming? I wanted to be bright eyed and bushy tailed. Hit the hay in the "Henry & Sarah Commenorative Suite" (aka The Tangerine Dream") room after saying good night to my brother in law, Pete and the various GJAHM and girlfriends who were still burning it at both ends downstairs.

So many of you are probably wondering why it has taken two weeks to get a wrap up of the Chunklet 15th anniversary up on the website. Well, in a nutshell, things have been kinda nuts. In a bigger nutshell though, I had a house full of guests for a week, had 1100 (!!!??!!!) orders to fill and to top it off, we were broken into the day of the Deerhunter show and had 3 attempted break-ins the following week. So let’s just say that things have been "on edge," shall we?

So the first night had my buddy Pete (who was visiting from England) and I mosey up 316 to Athens. In light of the earlier burglary, Sarah decided to stay home with friends and the dogs. Pete and I had dinner with a gaggle of folks from Atlanta including the kids from Gentleman Jesse and his Men. As I scanned the Grit, I realized that there were enough of the Carbonas in the room to do an impromptu set at the beginning of the night. So seeing as how Pete was visiting and had never seen the Carbonas before, I threw the suggestion out to Jesse and 10 seconds later, it was locked in. Bonus!

The Carbonas played sloppy but as fantastic as always. Short set. Possibly 6 songs. 12 minutes (I timed it!). Download their set here. (Thanks, Sloan.)

Gentleman Jesse and his Men were next and are sporting a new line up which means that there are 100% more shirts on the bass player while they’re on stage which is a-ok to me.  Download their set here.

Twin Tigers were great, but I spent most of their set talking to my wife out in front of the club comforting her and making sure that she was okay back in Atlanta. Burglaries do weird things to couples. Trust me on that. Here’s their set. (Thanks again, Sloan.)

Having Brent Weinbach perform was quite a thrill, to be honest. When Deerhunter and I were going through the list of potential comedians to perform with them, Brent was at the top of the list. And you know what? I think it was a perfect fit. His nonsensical and dry delivery went well. Like white wine with duck or some shit. He joins a very distinguished list of comedians (Patton, Cross, Zach, Behrendt, et al) who’ve done Chunklet anniversary shows. Thank you, Mike.

See all the photos here. Thanks, Mike.