April 1998 - Sinister - missprint.org

Sinister: San Francisco Croquet
by Joanna Ebenstein 20 Apr '98

20 Apr '98

Hey....... I am a list lurker who has been off-put by the largely euro nature of the listees. But if any of you live in the San Francisco Area (that's in America, you knowand want to meet up and communally swoon over Belle and Sebastian, perhaps over croquet (sp?) or mint fizzes, then let me know. My life is sorely lacking in understanding individuals. --Joanna *********************** Joanna Ebenstein AltaMira Press 1630 North Main Street, Suite 367 Walnut Creek, CA 94596 (510) 938-7243 Fax: (510)933-9720 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- . This message was brought to you by the Sinister mailing list. . To send to the list please mail "sinister(a)majordomo.net". . For subscribing, unsubscribing and other list information please see . http://www.majordomo.net/sinister . For questions about how the list works mail owner-sinister(a)majordomo.net . Listen, this is pish, I think I'll leave -----------------------------------------------------------------------

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None
by owner-sinister＠majordomo.net 20 Apr '98

20 Apr '98

by envy.ph.ed.ac.uk (8.6.12/8.6.12) with SMTP id QAA29495 for <sinister(a)ph.= ed.ac.uk>; Mon, 20 Apr 1998 16:16:50 +0100 Message-ID: <19980420151708.1289.rocketmail(a)send1e.yahoomail.com> Received: from [137.213.252.252] by send1e; Mon, 20 Apr 1998 08:17:08 PDT Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 08:17:08 -0700 (PDT) From: andrew dean <koogydelbbog(a)yahoo.com> Subject: Sinister: candy factory interview To: sinister(a)majordomo.net MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=3Dus-ascii Precedence: bulk Reply-To: andrew dean <koogydelbbog(a)yahoo.com> X-List: Sinister dum de dum, candy factory interview from july 97. Belle & Sebastian are a 7 piece (perhaps by now an 8 piece) from Glasgow, Scotland I was first introduced to this band when I made a tape swap with an English lad last September. I have to be honest when I say that the first time I heard 'The State I Am In," it blew me into the stratosphere. Their careers have also seemed to have recently skyrocketed with a domestic release of their second album "If You're Feeling Sinister," by the moderately sized Enclave label. Look out for new import EPs including Dog On Wheels and enough boring chit-chat... Let's hear what Stuart (vocals) and Chris (keyboards) have to say. CF:=09Hi. My name is Matt. Just who are you guys? Chris:=09You know who I am, so it seems pretty silly telling you. Stuart is here just now, as well. Stuart:=09Hey Matt. This is Stuart Murdoch here. I can't remember what interviews we did with the U.S. [NY Times] . You said that you didn't really know us from that [Editors note: I spoke with them on this interview in a previous email]. If you meet us, then you will know us and you will see that we're pretty straight-forward and are into a lot of the same things that you are into. But in terms of songs and things in our heads, we always try to throw a "googly" which might translate as a "curve ball." . . . we'd rather talk rubbish when it comes to interviews and things. So apologies if we seem not to give you straight answers. We enjoy the interaction though. So to your questions. I'm twenty-eight and have lived in Glasgow most of my life. I started to write songs about four years ago. I persevered on my own for quite some time, and got very engrossed with playing and recording. CF:=09Who in the band picked the name? C:=09Stuart did. 8:=09I wrote a story called =93Belle & Sebastian'' one gloomly summer. I used the name thereafter on tapes I handed out because I imagined that the characters in the story had produced the music, and in essence they had. I met the real B&S one by one in a short space of time soon after. CF:=09What music did you listen to growing up and what do you listen to now? Would you consider any of these bands to be influential? S:=09I grew up listening to Yes. Does it show? C:=09Bad metal when I was a wee rock kid with a mullet but I still love AC/DC, the Stone Roses, and Happy Mondays, the lots of awful early 90's indie rock. Now mostly soul and techno, but that's just today, I go through wee phases of listening to one particular thing all the time for a few weeks. As you probably gathered from what I said yesterday southern soul is really the big thing for me. The stuff I've listed to has influenced me in different ways, like from the Roses I got interested in radical politics and started reading books about May 68 and stuff . =2E . If It hadn't been for them I probably wouldn't be doing a philosophy degree, even though that sounds really wanky. Musically I'm always trying to play with the same feeling for space as someone like Spooner Oldham, but I guess the stuff we do isn't drawn that much from r n'b so it's more a feeling rather than directly drawing on what someone else has done. Having said that the thing about these guys is that they always played the song, and guess I try to do that too. CF:=09What is life like being in a band and living in Glasgow? Is there really an east coast / west coast competition with Edinburgh? C:=09I really like living in Glasgow . . . all my friends are here, but having said that I'm thinking of leaving, but I don't know where to. There's not really any rivalry between Glasgow bands and Edinburgh bands as far as I know ... in footballing terms Glasgow is totally dominant but there is big rivalry between the two biggest dubs in Glasgow, Rangers and Celtic . . . It is all to do with religion and Northern Ireland... at one point there were more anti-Catholic organisations in Glasgow than there were Catholics so it's not hard to see why Celtic fans have a chip on their collective shoulder... not that we do, but it would be understandable if we did, which we don't. S:=09Glasgow's a fine place to live. Just fine. Come over and we'll make you feel at home. CF:=09In case you haven't realized, you have quite a fanbase over the world. Are you somehow overwhelmed by this, or do you find yourselves taking your popularity in stride? Did you ever think Tigermilk would sell so many copies in such a short period of time? S:=09There were only 1000 Tigermilk, and we gave 600 away! We are not over-whelmed. We are underwhelmed because folk in Glasgow think you are being a cheeky bastard. C:=09Playing live is the only time you actually realize anyone is bothered. Anyway 1000 records ain't that much. CF:=09Do you plan on a US tour in the near future? S:=09See Chris for [the answer to this question]. C:=09Yep. It seems we're headed stateside in August, but its not really much of a tour - just New York, Boston, Chicago and Atlanta... Can't say I'm really looking forward to it but maybe it'll seem more appealing when I'm finished studying. CF:=09Will Tigermilk ever be reissued? Describe the upcoming releases. Will you still do them through Jeepster? S:=09Yes. I'm sure in a couple of years. We are going to compile our upcoming British releases onto an LP for The Enclave called Lazy Line Painter Jane. This is no half-baked plan. This LP is the natural culmination of our winter's work. I ought to send you the story of Lazy Jane some time. C:=09I hope so, I was dead proud of It. The new stuff maybe gets across more of the energy that is there when we play... It was all recorded live... It=92s the first stuff we've done that I've sat at home and listened to by myself. CF:=09Listening to your music, one cannot help but be moved by your lyrics. What inspires these words? Life? Your imaginations? Is the story of "The Slate I'm In" autobiograiplical? S:=09Songs have a life of their own if they're any good so we just leave them to get on with it. CF:=09Do you plan on covering any bands? Would you like other bands to cover you? If so, which bands? S:=09We played "Reel Around The Fountain" by the Smiths at two concerts recently. That was my choice. I think we'll drop the odd cover into our playing in the future. As long as everyone is happy with it. I'd like to play good versions of "The Boys are Back in Town" by Thin Lizzy and "Block Rockin' Beats" by the Chemical Brothers. C:=09We've done the Smith's "Reel Around the Fountain"... not a band I really rate, but everyone else like them. We were talking the other day about doing "Block Rockin' Beats" by the Chemical Brothers but I don't know if that will ever get beyond a drunk joke. There's lots of songs I'd like to try, just for fun, like Left Banke stuff or some Northern Soul numbers. I'm in another group called V-twin and we do "All Kinds of Girls" by the Real Kids and "Do I Love You" by the Ronettes. We are the greatest rock'n'roll band on earth . . . the other's out. Belle & Sebastian always come and see us play, it's like having your parents come and see you but I'm glad they like us cos sometimes I worry that my taste is so different from everyone else in the band, but it's not really... I=92ve just come to realize that you can't necessarily put across everything that you're into in one song or something, and it probahly isn't worth trying to do anyway cos then the song wouldn=92t say anything other than what music you like. Oh also me and Stevie play 'Topanga Canyon" off of John PIlillips' solo album... an excellent record - boy it if you ever see it. CF:=09What are your thoughts on the evolution of pop music at this time? How do you feel being a part of its evolution? S:=09[This question] is one that my head is too dizzy to answer just now. C:=09I don't know about the evolution question. I mean we don't exist in a vacuum, but I don't really see us in any particular context, although Tigermilk is next to my other indie records.... I dunno, the contemporary stuff that is really out there is drum and bass or hip hop or techno but much as I love a lot of that stuff I still listen to guitar bands too.... It doesn't matter what genre something is, if someone is genuinely excited by the music they're doing that comes across whether they're using computers or an acoustic guitar. CF:=09how long do you see yourselves working in this band? Is there anything else you guys aspire to in life? S:=09I was thinking last night that it is always a comfort and settling down to something "real" for awhile away from this funny business. Our work is crystal clear for the moment, but in the future, I would love simply to make coffee for people and listen to their problems. How long that would last for is anyone's guess. I'm sure the rest have many different things they'd rather do with their time. They did after all have this little hobby thrust on them more than I. Apart from Stevie maybe. C:=09I don't know how long things will last but I'm getting better at enjoying it while it do..... I would have liked to have been a footbatler but I wasn't good enough. CF:=09Are there any exotic countries you'd like to tour? S:=09I don't know about tour. Visit is a better word. I would like to visit and possibly play in Jerusalem, Brisbane, Sydney, India, parts of China, the Czech Republic. It is presumptuous to imagine that they would want to see us there, but if we could perform a useful task there, it would be a privilege. C:=09[In context to our US tour] I'm more interested in visiting places like Memphis and New Orleans and Nashville. . . . I love the idea of going and playmg our music in places like that have so much amazing stuff and maybe they'd boot us off stage nightly, or maybe they'd think that in our own white Scottish kind of way we had some sort of soul or some sort of realness to us I think we do... at least the reaction somewhere like that would probably be more genuine than somewhere filled with journalists out to see the latest freak show or even worse people from your own record company I suppose I'm just totally inspired by music from the south, Sun stuff, Arthur Alexander all the stuff from Stax, Muscle Shoals, people like Dan Penn, Alex Chilton, that's where it's all from as far as i'm concerned. I'd love to do a record down there too, cos they know how to record a band playing together in a room. CF:=09Thanks for the interview! cheers andy ("a British lad") =3D=3D andrew dean (koogydelbbog(a)yahoo.com) _________________________________________________________ DO YOU YAHOO!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------- . This message was brought to you by the Sinister mailing list. . To send to the list please mail "sinister(a)majordomo.net". . For subscribing, unsubscribing and other list information please see . http://www.majordomo.net/sinister . For questions about how the list works mail owner-sinister(a)majordomo.net . Listen, this is pish, I think I'll leave -----------------------------------------------------------------------

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RE: Sinister: IMPORTANT: PICNICS
by Mike Gustat 20 Apr '98

20 Apr '98

HEY GUYS! any word on a US release date for the new EP? ----------------------------------------------------------------------- . This message was brought to you by the Sinister mailing list. . To send to the list please mail "sinister(a)majordomo.net". . For subscribing, unsubscribing and other list information please see . http://www.majordomo.net/sinister . For questions about how the list works mail owner-sinister(a)majordomo.net . Listen, this is pish, I think I'll leave -----------------------------------------------------------------------

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Sinister: IMPORTANT: PICNICS
by David & Katrina 20 Apr '98

20 Apr '98

could all the people who are organising the picnics please mail me with all the info that anyone could need to join in, i.e. meet up times, location of picnic, possible duration, how to get there by public transport from the main coach/train stations, events/games that are happening, what to bring (packed lunch? booze? twister?), back up plans if it pisses down, who to contact for more info + their e-mail address, etc. i will then place all this info onto the fan club site and then everyone can use the one location to organise their festivities and find out their local bash. thanks david kitchen if e-mail is inconvenient you can fax on +44 (0)181 560 1815 and then i'll add the details that way, if you need to call me or something, the above number is also a phone, so ring that :) -- ****************************************************************** belle and sebastian fan club mail-outs, IRC chat, lyrics, poetry, fiction, vote, records, artwork, news, merchandise, picnics http://www.totalweb.co.uk/bluesoda/ mailto:d.kitchen@virgin.net or mailto:bluesoda@totalweb.co.uk

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Sinister: strange conversations...and a message for Stuart M.
by Yaz 20 Apr '98

20 Apr '98

The boy brad said: >hello. my name is brad. i was introduced to the belle and sebastians from my mom, who quite fancies krokus and says they sound just like them. for fun, i give blow jobs to football players to give them a little "pep" before the big game. i also have these recurring dreams of a naked and jolly tag frolicking through the garbage dumpster behind the local jack in the box eating, well, slurping, anything he finds and letting it run down his stomach, across his navel, and drip down his well endowed >member. oh, and i have seventeen testicles. I like this man. He makes me laugh. Welcome back mate. BTW David (or maybe HoneyBunney, i'm not sure), do we still get to know about later picnics this summer on the other news list, then? Also, Stuart Murdoch, i have a bone to pick with you. i have recently been having some VERY strange conversations with a friend of mine, who after listening to "If You're Feeling......." forty times a day has decided that she would very much like to "liberate a boy she's never rated". This is true. and disturbing, considering that before she started listening to Belle and Sebastian, she used to be a lovely, sweet girl who liked watching sunsets and Disney films. It is also all your fault. So, what have you got to say for yourself young man? from a slightly worried Yaz ----------------------------------------------------------------------- . This message was brought to you by the Sinister mailing list. . To send to the list please mail "sinister(a)majordomo.net". . For subscribing, unsubscribing and other list information please see . http://www.majordomo.net/sinister . For questions about how the list works mail owner-sinister(a)majordomo.net . Listen, this is pish, I think I'll leave -----------------------------------------------------------------------

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Sinister: Monday Poem
by poetryplace2 20 Apr '98

20 Apr '98

Hello boys and girls Still no word from Tag, eh? And just as upsetting: no word from Susannah the Tormentor, currently sunning herself in Cyprus. Do these people have no idea of their responsiblities? I appreciate the Duke sending 5 postcards to make up for their shortcomings. I'm a bit concerned that Keith feels the need to hide his sensitive side, denying the fact that he is organising a PICNIC for his INDIE POP CHUMS. I may be coming over all Julian (or is that Tag's job?), but I feel the need to "out" Keith as the shy retiring type he is... Exhibit #1: When I met Keith in Glasgow recently he was clutching a book of paintings by the noted Abstract Expressionist Mark Rothko. Exhibit #2: Keith played Gregory's sister's boyfriend in the film of "Gregory's Girl". What a sweet lad. Exhibit #3: Keith wears black polo necks so he looks more like his hero, Mr Sensitive, Lloyd Cole. Exhibit #4: In an Edinburgh pub recently, Keith spent the evening drawing in a girl's sketchbook. Exhibit #5: Keith has the largest collection of Winnie the Pooh merchandise outside of Japan. He is especially fond of Eeyore. Well, there is more, but I'll leave it there for now. Unless, that is, Keith continues to try and act "hard" to impress his "big mates". Oh, before the poem, can I tell everyone about the new club/social thingy that David and I are organising? Every Friday from the beginning of May: top sounds and films, kitsch board games and live bands. 7.30-11pm at the Poetry Caff on Betterton Street in Covent Garden. Entrance is £3.50, but if you mention the sinister list you get in for £2.50! This week's poem was commended in this year's National Poetry Competition. It's by Billy Childish, who has knocked around the fringes of the London art/rock/poetry worlds for twenty years now, and apparently is a big favourite with Kylie Minogue. You can check out the winners and all the other commendations at the NEW! IMPROVED! poetry society website: http://www.poetrysoc.com. Trousers xxxxxx Billy Childish A sad donkey and a fat man smiling Speaking as a man who doesnt eat cheese and who paddled into 2nd place in the Kent Schools under-18s Slalom 1975. (Three entrants only) Speaking as a man who doesnt own a television set doesnt read daily papers and the radio remains clicked to off. Speaking as a man with twelve fillings, four verrucas and one O level (Art grade A) Walderslade Secondary School for Boys 1976. Speaking as an artist of dubious merit and the writer of lewd verses. Speaking as a man who caught Paul Wellers plectrum thrown into the audience at Battersea Town Hall, Jubilee Week 19977. (Support group The Boys) Speaking as a man who carved The Reclining Admiral and Van Gogh Without a Moustache. Apprentice stone mason Her Majestys Dockyard Chatham 1976. Speaking as a man who wore second-hand clothes up until he was 33. Speaking as a man who tried to run down Johnny Rotten on the pavement outside The Roebuck Public House, Kings Rd London 1978. (Drunk in charge of a push bike) Speaking as a man with eyes the shape of little fishies, the hands of my father and somebody elses legs, I see that truth only comes staggering up the mountain side like a sad donkey teetering under the weight of a fat man smiling. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- . This message was brought to you by the Sinister mailing list. . To send to the list please mail "sinister(a)majordomo.net". . For subscribing, unsubscribing and other list information please see . http://www.majordomo.net/sinister . For questions about how the list works mail owner-sinister(a)majordomo.net . Listen, this is pish, I think I'll leave -----------------------------------------------------------------------

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Sinister: I know I Need A Small Vacation
by Adam Robinson 20 Apr '98

20 Apr '98

I'm gonna have a bash at my first ink polaroid. (Gulp) This is me and Anna on the sofa in our living room, quite late on Friday night. The big lamp behind casts a golden halo around us and the room is warm and cosy. The reason for my beatific grin is not the empty wine bottles at my feet but the fact that Jimmy Webb is on the telly singing my favourite song "Wichita Lineman", having just performed "The Highwayman". His youthful looks are gone and he now resembles Meatloaf with goofy teeth. He's having trouble with the high notes but that is more than made up for by his ostentatious piano playing. Anna looks on with amused affection at my ability to transform into a grinning buffoon simply by hearing a popular song. On another tack, can someone please explain to me the allure and mystique that seems to exist around the Jasmine Minks in these parts. As a callow youth I bought "Doing It For The Kids" and immediately dismissed them as bog-standard indie-poppers who look suspiciously like Secret Affair in the photo on the back. What did I miss ? I'll go now. Cheers. Adam xx. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- . This message was brought to you by the Sinister mailing list. . To send to the list please mail "sinister(a)majordomo.net". . For subscribing, unsubscribing and other list information please see . http://www.majordomo.net/sinister . For questions about how the list works mail owner-sinister(a)majordomo.net . Listen, this is pish, I think I'll leave -----------------------------------------------------------------------

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Sinister: Seeing other people
by Chris 20 Apr '98

20 Apr '98

Went to see twentyfourseven last night. Good film, if very depressing. Places like Mansfield shouldn't be quite soooo grim in 1997. Anyhow, there's this bit in the middle where these two guys who eventually turn out to be gay are stood at the urinal going 'Oh yeah, I got hundreds of women', and all of a sudden I realised why 'Seeing other people' is called that. That's all. Don't let's resurrect the 'Is he / Isn't he' debate. Finest kind, C. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- . This message was brought to you by the Sinister mailing list. . To send to the list please mail "sinister(a)majordomo.net". . For subscribing, unsubscribing and other list information please see . http://www.majordomo.net/sinister . For questions about how the list works mail owner-sinister(a)majordomo.net . Listen, this is pish, I think I'll leave -----------------------------------------------------------------------

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Sinister: Splatford to Wobbly Wheel
by Adrian Evans 20 Apr '98

20 Apr '98

Introductions agogo. But first this....... >Tim Hopkins wrote : >List, it was horrible. >And he *has* got childbearing hips. And they sing horrible songs about him >at Exeter City away fixtures. >Be warned:-) I've always wondered where my musical hips went on Saturday afternoons Tim...moonlighting at ECFC away fixtures....I would never have guessed !!! And stabbing me in the back like that as well ???? Bastards. Next time you see them could you kindly ask them to come home. Well then you pesky kids, after my character has been suitably defamed (It's all true I might add) here goes my intro : I'm Adrian/Adey-Suit/Twat. I'm 26 years old believe it or not and I suck everyone's will to live. I read Sinister Digests for a living in between pretending to be an accountant. My mum thinks it's painful to listen to Belle and Sebastian...it will be if she keeps slagging them orf. Regional folklore suggests I should spend my whole life drinking copious amounts of cider. I spend my whole life drinking copious amounts of cider. I do not have my own website...I am not cool. FIN. -- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I have not got child-bearing hips.....alright ? Adrian Evans ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- . This message was brought to you by the Sinister mailing list. . To send to the list please mail "sinister(a)majordomo.net". . For subscribing, unsubscribing and other list information please see . http://www.majordomo.net/sinister . For questions about how the list works mail owner-sinister(a)majordomo.net . Listen, this is pish, I think I'll leave -----------------------------------------------------------------------

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Sinister: Picnics/Pam Berry/Portobello Beach
by Keith Watson 20 Apr '98

20 Apr '98

Hello Chums, first of all a bit about the picnics. We're all set for next Saturday (1 o'clock outside Fopp in Byres Road). I've dragged a few of my friends along too, so there should probably be around about 15 to 20 people coming along. Incidentally, we'll be off buying some stuff to eat before then, so I need to know how many of you only eat rabbit food so's that I don't buy too many sausage rolls. Can you mail me please if you are vegetarian. Sorry to all the people who couldn't make it but wanted to, we will indeed have another one later on in the summer, probably in Edinburgh this time inspired by... Myself and Paul and Linda's visit to Portobello beach on Saturday where I was able to continue my strange obsession with the sea and we were all able to indulge in a game of "Spot the power station". We had a lovely meal in a little sort of greasy spoon cafe just off the promenade, and drank tea for hours. Bear in mind anyone who comes up to Edinburgh in the near future from the list and meets us is liable to be whisked away to such a place, or indeed further afield, to like Elie or someplace like that. Pam Berry : Talked to Andrew Tulley on Saturday night and I was telling him about list stuff and all that and you and he says that should you write to him at the shop, he'll get a load of stuff together and send it to you. So here's the address of the shop if you're interested. Andrew Tulley, Avalanche Records, West Nicholson Street, Newington, Edinburgh. (It's not the most accurate address I know, but it'll get there). Nice to see Mr.Tall Git, Stuart Gardiner is back on after the easter break - Which brings me on to another thing, I've knocked up a big document which is essentially a concatenation of most of the B+S stuff available on the web. It's in Word 97 format and it's available for download from Paul's website, although Paul will have to remind people of where it is, since I don't think there's a link there yet. If people are interested enough, I can convert the file to Word 95, or indeed RTF which most programs will be able to read, although the pictures will have to come out - simply because the file increases in size to about 10 megs if it's not in Word 97. Excellent, I'm off down the town in a bit to get the new Massive Attack album. Cheers, Keith. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- . This message was brought to you by the Sinister mailing list. . To send to the list please mail "sinister(a)majordomo.net". . For subscribing, unsubscribing and other list information please see . http://www.majordomo.net/sinister . For questions about how the list works mail owner-sinister(a)majordomo.net . Listen, this is pish, I think I'll leave -----------------------------------------------------------------------

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