one of my favorite musicians since i was about 15 years old has been vic chesnutt.
today driving from my sisters house in new jersey to my wife’s parents’ house in long island, around noon, my wife and i started singing as we sometimes do. we sang whats become one of my favorite vic chesnutt songs off his album “north star deserter” called “glossolalia”. one of the most haunting songs i know. kind of a random song to sing on a car ride. then about 5 hours later i found out that vic passed away today, christmas day.
this man has been a real inspiration to me for many many years, someone ive returned to time and time again– the markings a truly great artist. i recently got at the cut on vinyl, another masterpiece. ive been listening to it again tonight since finding out about his passing. it has a great song that repeats the phrase “o death” in a song called “flirted with you all my life” you have to hear it.
anyways here is a stripped down version of the song i was singing his earlier today.
Because we’re going to bring the rock one more time before closing out this year, uh, decade. We’ve been pretty quiet around here. Frankly, I didn’t know how to tell our fans and friends I have cancer, or if I should really, or whatever. Anyway, my prognosis is good, but the treatment sucks, and it’s going to be many months before O’death can embark on a proper tour or record, which hurts us more than it hurts you. Never-the-less, TODAY, we’re bringing it live. 5pm at Brooklyn Bowl for our NYC friends. BE THERE!!!
been a long time! id like to introduce you to a new project i’m working on called blood warrior. we’ve only played about ten shows but are about to play many more. we have a limited edition seven inch that is in hand sewn packaging which we’ll be selling at our upcoming shows. we have a full length that just finished the mixing process which will come out on ernest jenning record co(home of head home in the u.s.).
10.20.09 NY, NY - Music Slut/Sneak Attack Media CMJ showcase @ Piano’s(on at 5:30)
10.21.09 Brooklyn, NY - Ernest Jenning Record Co. CMJ showcase @ Knitting Factory(on at 7:45)
10.22.09 Brooklyn, NY - NYC Taper CMJ showcase @ Bruar Falls(on at 3:30)
10.23.09 Biddeford, ME - Hogfarm Studio Annex
10.24.09 Boston, MA -Middle East Upstairs w/ Beat Circus
10.25.09 Brooklyn, NY - Glasslands w/ Wild Yaks, This Frontier Needs Heroes and Beat Circus
10.27.09 Albany, NY - Valentine’s w/ Paleface, Auld Lang Syne and Barons in the Attic
11.2.09 Washington D.C. - IOTA w/ The Federal Reserve Collective Presents w/ Folklore
11.3.09 Fredricksburg, VA - Fog Haus
11.4.09 Charlottesville, VA - Twisted Branch Tea Bazar w/ Sacred Harp
11.5.09 Asheville, NC - Bobo Gallery w/ CJ Boyd
11.6.09 Athens, GA - Farm 225
11.7.09 Athens, GA - Secret Squirrel w/ Karl Blau, Lake and Casper and the Cookies
11.10.09 Baltimore, MD - The Zodiac w/ Honne Wells and Drink Up Buttercup
10.11.09 Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda’s w/ Drink Up Buttercup
11.12.09 Brooklyn, NY - Union Hall w/ Larkin Grimm, Beat Circus, and Drink Up Buttercup
London’s 100 Club, built atop jazz tradition, seethes blues roots and reeks of rock n’ roll legend. This place reminded me of CBGB’s except not as dirty and twice as old - smelled about the same though.
Well, we’re back out on the road. Not that we were really home.
We just wrapped up our run with Las Claypool. His crew, band, and fans were very receptive and kind to us. It was a real pleasure to work with professionals who’ve been in this game for so long, and we owe them great thanks for letting us tag along through North America.
Personally, I missed about half the tour, but after seeing some doctors, I did make it back for the last two weeks.
We also played the first show for Brooklyn’s newest venue/bowling alley, Brooklyn Bowl. Everybody there is busting their ass to make it the best venue in the Western Hemisphere, and my feeling is that they will succeed.
But enough of the Americas… Now, we are in Germany. Ulm, to be exact. And in honor of our return to the Deutschland, here’s a clip of The Monks performing on German television in 1965
I want to thank all my friends and family who’ve been inquiring after my health and let you know that I will be having surgery to remove the tumor from my left humerus bone upon our return to the States in two weeks. As long as I can get through the next nine shows without fracturing it, I’ll be OK!
Thanks for your thoughts and support, and I hope we’ll be seeing you soon…
Danke Schön!
-David
