Muff's Modules & More

MrBiggs

Well not quite my house...

So I discovered Califone a while back and as I've fallen in love with the guitar, looping, fuzz pedals, and slow gnarly overdrive (somewhat at the expense of my modular -- except for the Tyme Sefari and Phonogene), they've become by far the heaviest rotation on my iTunes. I have a "Califonish" playlist with Califone, Red Red Meat, Rex, Loftus, oRSo, and Ugly Casanova, and I think some Modest Mouse, that I just put on all the time, all bands that the members of Califone have something to do with.

So it was announced a few weeks ago that Califone is doing a living room tour in May, and they were looking for places to play in various cities. My living room is too small for such hijinks, but I work every day in an old garage converted to my art studio, and it's perfect. So I sent an email and can you believe it that Califone is fucking PLAYING MY STUDIO on May 7.

The downside is that I have to now clean the place, and the other downside is that it's an acoustic show, so now electronic freak out blues or amps driven hard. But I'll deal.

By the way, if you're in Philadelphia and you want to see this, tix go on sale at 4pm today.
http://www.undertowtickets.com/product/califone-living-room-show-phila delphia-pa-may-7-8pm

pulse_divider · Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 12:32 pm Post subject:

Califone is great, does Brian Deck still have anything to do with them? I love his production. AFAIK he was the Ugly Casanova link and produced the Moon And Antarctica which is a fantastic sounding record.
I was coincidentally listening to Red Red Meat yesterday for the first time in years. I haven't heard any new Califone in 10ish years but Tim is a great songwriter.

pulse_divider · Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 12:35 pm Post subject:

Also, now that I think about it, IIRC Eric from the Fruit Bats was also in Califone and Ugly Casanova at one point. Fruit Bats should be added to your playlist!

RealDudes · Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 12:40 pm Post subject:

thanks for making me hear that godawful song in my head
Dead Banana

MrBiggs · Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 12:41 pm Post subject:

I bought some Fruit Bats just because Deck produced one of their albums. But they're way way poppier than the rest. I listen to them, but not when i'm wanting to hear swampy electro-blues.

Tim posted on Facebook that this tour is partly to help him work out what is Califone, moving forward. A new Califone album is nearly completed and he describes it as if it's really just a Tim Rutili solo album, from what he's posted. I don't know if Brian Deck is still part of the deal or not. I'm told that the tour consists of "Tim and one other guy." I assumed at least it would be Tim and Ben Massarella, but maybe not.

Akron's not too far. Get in the car and come on out. (By the way, I've got a Dirt Transmitter showing up today for which I'm quite excited. Fifth EQD pedal on my board of 12...)

denim dan · Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 4:00 pm Post subject:

tobiaschib · Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 9:05 pm Post subject:

That's super awesome they're playing at your studio! Small world i guess. They're originally from Chicago. Love their music. They've been around for quite some time.

MrBiggs · Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 9:45 am Post subject:

Yeah I came into them late. Just a year and a half ago. I picked up the just recently, which has really changed my listening tastes. I've been discovering a lot of bands that I must have ignored through most of the 90s and 00s. A lot of what I'm listening to these days comes out of Chicago.

MrBiggs · Posted: Wed May 08, 2013 12:27 pm Post subject:

A couple of photos from the Califone show in my studio last night. It was so so so great. It was just Tim and Will Hendricks. Will played some Jazzmaster, some bass, a midi keyboard which I think was plugged into a sampler/looper, and this sweet little chord organ.
A lot of great older songs, some Red Red Meat even, and several new songs off the new album that will be out in September called "Stitches."
Went out for BBQ afterward with Tim, Will and my son and had a nice time.

pulse_divider · Posted: Wed May 08, 2013 12:30 pm Post subject:

That looks like an amazing time, I'm glad it was fun!

MrBiggs · Posted: Wed May 08, 2013 12:37 pm Post subject:

One of the great moments of my life will be having seen Tim Rutili drive by me in a minivan, waving, as he looked for parking. Surreal.

goiks · Posted: Wed May 08, 2013 1:07 pm Post subject:

Spiked Lunch · Posted: Wed May 08, 2013 1:25 pm Post subject:

Super cool

analoglsd · Posted: Thu May 09, 2013 5:52 am Post subject:

Killer!

I was just listening to Jimmywine Majestic a few days ago.
Also saw them on that tour, which is one of the best shows I've ever seen.
Never seen Califone, but I'd love to.
You're a lucky man. thumbs up

Heathfinnie · Posted: Thu May 09, 2013 8:03 pm Post subject:

I saw Red Red Meat too when they opened for Smashing Pumpkins touring for Siamese Dream. Such a good show for both bands...

lvoemachine · Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 2:06 pm Post subject:

such love for this band. I saw a jazz show here in chicago a few months back where part of the old band played with some local sax player who strangely enough used to play with cursive and it was unreal.

Repeater · Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 9:08 pm Post subject:

Sounds like a blast. Great band. Seen 'em a bunch of times. I wasn't wild about Funeral Singers except for the vinyl only bonus track "Lunar H" which is killer. The movie has grown on me a lot though. It's still streaming on Netflix by the way.

analoglsd · Posted: Fri May 17, 2013 2:58 am Post subject:

Thanks for this thread.
Rekindled my love for Califone, and I just bought the very last ticket to their show in San Rafael, CA.
No Guinness ftw!

though, 'cause I'll have to drive.
Rasta-nana

afif0007 · Posted: Fri May 17, 2013 4:02 pm Post subject: St. Ives Bed

YES this is awesome post

St. Ives Bed