Well, Andy has said that the band didn't officially get out of the red and break even until around 1997--supposedly mere days after finally getting out of the Virgin contract.

The "official" reason for their not touring is Andy's stage fright. But almost invariably, when asked about why they don't tour, he spends five seconds on the stage fright and five minutes on how the concept of a live show is ridiculous, as you've presumably already bought the records and they sound much better and don't have screw-ups and so on.

If he just doesn't like to do concerts, I wish he'd be honest about it.

he spends five seconds on the stage fright and five minutes on how the concept of a live show is ridiculous, as you've presumably already bought the records and they sound much better and don't have screw-ups and so on.

Yeah, but those two things aren't mutually exclusive. They feed on each other.

Yeah, but those two things aren't mutually exclusive. They feed on each other.

. . . hmm? Do you mean that he's getting stage fright from his feeling that performing live is pointless? 'Cause I've never gotten that impression at all from reading about it.

Mmmmm... more that if you have stage fright, you're going to have more screw-ups and not be able to add that extra something that can make live shows so special (see general live show discussion upthread). And the screw-ups and poor performances will feed the stage fright.

Huh. cathy's cat Drusilla received her CD manufacturers settlement check. Way to stick it to the recording industry, kitty!

Hey, I have a potential interview with Jon Langford set up during SXSW, and Pop Culture Press has declined my write-up. David, do you think that Scram might be interested in something like this? Anybody else have any good ideas?

Hey, I have a potential interview with Jon Langford set up during SXSW, and Pop Culture Press has declined my write-up. David, do you think that Scram might be interested in something like this? Anybody else have any good ideas?

Hmmm, maybe so. I'll check with Kim. Mekons aren't right down the middle of Scram's interest zone, though she's covered everything from Townes Van Zandt to The Go Betweens to the Divine Comedy to Radio Birdman (Dennis Tek is contributing to the book, if I haven't mentioned it. Also, Jim O'Rourke - not a birdman, but a musician of some renown.)

Huh. cathy's cat Drusilla received her CD manufacturers settlement check. Way to stick it to the recording industry, kitty!

Yeah, she's pretty happy, but our other cat, Masha, was none too pleased that her check has not yet arrived.

These people do NOT want to know the wrath of Masha. It better come today.

Thanks, David. I wasn't sure whether she'd be interested, but figured it couldn't hurt to feel out. And great news about the Radio Birdman and Jim O'Music Geek contributions to the book.

Kim's got a longstanding relationship with Dennis Tek - she was pimping Birdman back in the late 80s.

Here's the Scram website, btw if you folks haven't seen it. If you scroll down to the Bubblegum Ball of 2002 you can see me dancing to Teacher's Pet, a band that perfectly nailed a mid 70s Power Pop By Way Of Glam repetoire (and had pink stars on their pink spandex pants). You might catch a glimpse of Jengod skating on the rink, or my friend Josh who did the "David Smay!" song.

See the cover of Scram #18? That's the artist doing our interior illos, Tom Neely, and (I hope!) our cover artist for the book.

Don't Teacher's Pet look amazing?!They were incredibly good too - had that Sweet/Raspberries sound down perfectly. That's me in the white shirt/red sleeves Coke shirt in the second picture down on the right.