Dear Friends,
Yesterday was an interesting day. It didn’t turn out the way I thought it would, but it was still a fine day. I had a great breakfast with Dorothy, and we had a wonderful time, as usual discussing many things. We laughed and got a little sad and enjoyed the morning together.
One of the best things about our breakfast was some inspiration to write a short story. Dorothy was telling me about a work situation, and I think it is pretty damn brilliant. I took a note on my phone so I won’t forget. Technology is handy quite often.
I feel for Dot on this one. She’s in a tough spot, but I know she will figure it out. She’s got it like that. She’s a problem solver and that’s one of the things I love about her.
After I got home, I took care of some business here and had a fairly relaxing day. I also watched the last two episodes of season two of Shrinking. Oh my gosh, it was so good. If you haven’t tried the show out, I highly recommend it. That show hits you right in the feelers in all the good and sad ways.
I didn’t get to visit Granny, but I’m going today.
As for the rest of the day, I don’t really have many plans. I think we are going to see Nosferatu and I need to take a trip to Costco. That is the priority stuff. Visit Granny, see a film, get supplies.
Apparently, fireworks are legal in Arizona now. I’m so glad Frank has gone deaf. We would never sleep if he hadn’t. Poor dude used to be so scared on the big fireworks days. People kinda suck in this town when it comes to the loud stuff.
I’m not sure what else today will have in store, but I’m hopeful. I can’t believe the first week of break is over all ready. Too fast, universe, too fucking fast.
*****
The first Butthole Surfers’ record I owned, as well as heard, was Psychic…Powerless…Another Man’s Sac. It was the gateway drug, as they say, and when I heard it in 1988, I was completely hooked right away. There was a new sheriff in town and that was Sheriff Butthole.
Jeff had this record on cassette, if I remember correctly, and he turned me on to it when we started hanging out on a regular basis in the early part of 1988.I had heard of the Butthole Surfers, but I had never been exposed to them. This was another life-changing event for me.
It was also the beginning of an obsessive period where I wanted to have every album and compilation they were on, as well as learn everything I could about them. This period of my life lasted for quite some time.
“Concubine” and “Eye of the Chicken” had my attention and then “Dum Dum,” which is the third track, completely sucked me in. The song is like a religious hymn for me. I can go to a place of utter peace when I hear those double drums kick in.
This is the first record that Teresa Taylor (AKA Nervosa) played on and she and King Coffey sound so great together. I think it is one of the coolest things about Psychic…Powerless…Another Man’s Sac. The record really does take off at “Dum Dum.”
“Woly Boly” reflects the fun side of the band as it is kind of a ‘jaunty’ song. Bassist Bill Jolly plays this kind of rolling bass line while Paul Leary (guitar) and Gibby Haynes just sort of layer the noisiness on top. It always reminds me of having a good time.
“Butthole Surfer” blends their early years as a punk rock scene outlier with their new, advanced weirdo sound. It’s a nice conglomeration. I love Paul Leary’s backing vocals on it. He attacks them with a ferocity that I love a lot.
Those songs make up the first side. It’s a wonderful side of music, but side two is far superior. Especially the first song.
“Lady Sniff” was really the first thing I heard of theirs that just knocked me sideways. “Lady Sniff” has all these strange sounds going on and it just works. There is vomiting, toilet flushing, and some of the most darkly humorous lyrics I had heard up to the point. It’s like they wanted to piss everyone’s mom off at the same time.
“Pass me some of that dumbass over there.”
Side two just explodes from there, too. “Cherub” is one coolest sounding songs, and the bass line is one that I have played many, many times to get warmed up. It’s super simple, super creepy, and super rad.
Another favorite of mine is “Mexican Caravan.” Leary’s guitar is rad and the distortion on Haynes’ vocals sounds great, too. It’s just a cool sounding song and thirty-seven years after hearing it for the first time, it still sounds fresh and new. “Take me, take me, take me Mexican caravan.”
“Cowboy Bob” has always felt to me like Haynes was making fun of Henry Rollins and/or Black Flag a little bit. I’m not sure if there is any validity to that theory, but I’d like to think there is at least a small amount. The vocal effects on it sound cool as hell and the saxophone adds a nice touch.
“Gary Floyd” feels a little different now that Gary has slipped this mortal coil, but that change only makes it seem more loving. I know they loved him. I love the song.
Psychic…Powerless…Another Man’s Sac opened a huge door for me. I wonder what my life would have been like if I hadn’t been introduced to the Butthole Surfers at that point. I don’t like to think about it.
*****
See you tomorrow.
Drank way too much coffee yesterday.
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