Los Abandoned To Vapor

Vapor Records has signed "Los Abandoned". The band is currently in preproduction for their Vapor debut.

"Los Abandoned are leading the new wave of pomo, post-punk, Latino LA. Summoning the mighty ghosts of Los Prisioneros, Romeo Void, and Selena all in the same breath, they do an electric, art-school mash-up of SoCal and Chile, English and Spanish.

Tiny Tim beware: they have a ukulele and aren't afraid to use it."

-Josh Kun, columnist, SF Bay Guardian/Boston Phoenix

"I like to play stuff..."

Jonathan Richman on Morning Becomes Eclectic

2 April 1997 realaudio 27:13

via happyweasel

Jonathan talks briefly about sports, being buff, his Epiphone archtop guitar, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, audience response in SoCal and Japan and Europe, playing with Tommy Larkins, Neil Young, Andy Paley, the film Starmaps, film scores, Mexican cinema, the film Liar Liar, authors T.E. and D.H. Lawrence...

The piece starts off with "French Style" from Surrender to Jonathan, and Jonathan performs great versions of "Rooming House on Venice Beach", "My Little Girl's Got a Full Time Daddy Now," and "Surrender" live in studio.

vintage 1996

From: Jonathan M
Date: Mon, 17 Jun 1996
Subject: Jojo & Neil

A few folks have been pondering the unlikely association between Jonathan Richman and Neil Young. Consider the following.

Both came to fame as members of groups, Buffalo Springfield , The Modern Lovers, before embarking on solo careers.

Early collaborators have gone on to the big-time: Stephen Stills, Jim Messina, Nils Lofgren, Rick James (pre-fame "The Mynah Birds") with Neil; Jerry Harrison, David Robinson with Jonathan.

Both have crossed musical genres, sometimes infuriating their own fans. Neil has released rock, country, blues, rockabilly, grunge & technopop albums. Jonathan has been a punk influence, recorded a country record and been influenced by musical forms as varied as surf, children's music, and foreign language ballads.

Both play either acoustic ('unplugged' if you prefer) or electric shows.

"Roadrunner" was performed by the Sex Pistols. Johnny Rotten has been mentioned in a Neil Young song.

Both have performed unaccompanied and with a band.

Both have said they do not do drugs.

Unlike many bandleaders, they both play lead guitar.

Both have had label problems. Jonathan had his well-known run-in with Warner Brothers early on, and has had trouble finding a label. Neil has been sued by his record company.

In the spirit of a recent request for a little controversy, I will mention that Jonathan & Neil both took stands on Ronald Reagan's Central American policy. Jojo against & Neil (this may surprise you) in favor.

Forgetting the above factoids, both have produced great original music without bending to the music industry's trends of the moment.

-- Jonathan M

###
Note: This is a vintage post from the old base.com list.

Christmas with John and Jonathan

John Waters portrait by Greg Gorman

The Fillmore (San Francisco) Wednesday, 14 December

Rio Theatre (Santa Cruz) Thursday, 15 December

this blurb from Rio Theatre:

a John Waters Christmas LIVE!
featuring special guest Jonathan Richman

Legendary filmmaker John Waters (“Pink Flamingos””Hairspray””Serial Mom”) performs a very developed one-man show at festivals, universities, and clubs across the world and has since the 1970’s. In it, he details his groundbreaking career in a rapid-fire stand-up comedy format (akin to high-brow comics and monologists such as Spalding Gray, Janeane Garofalo, and Margaret Cho) plus conducts a Q & A afterwards. He is also available for special VIP meet-and-greet sessions beforehand.

The show has played to sold-out audiences in Boston, San Francisco, Tucson, Pittsburgh, and beyond.

As a director, actor (he is featured in the new Halloween “Chuckie” horror film), graphic artist with showings at galleries across the country, creator of the wildly successful Broadway musical “Hairspray”, Gay/Lesbian role-model, author of numerous books, and even his being immortalized as a character on “The Simpsons”-- not to mention being the man who catapulted Johnny Depp from pin-up idol to critical acclaim-- Mr. Waters is a renaissance man of almost unprecedented cultural influence.

Jonathan Richman has been writing songs, making records and performing live for most of his life, winning fans and making friends around the world with his guileless honesty and playfully catchy compositions. He's revered by countless fellow artists, and has built a remarkably loyal international audience through his tireless touring. His deceptively straightforward songs embody timeless qualities of humanity, optimism, emotional insight and a boundless sense of humor, untainted by cynicism or transient notions of hipness.

Jonathan will play solo this evening.

Links:

New Line Records: A John Waters Christmas: Eccentric Christmas Album Curated by Legendary Film Director Readied For Holidays

John Waters tells Terry Gross about his Christmas CD on NPR's Fresh Air

John Nova Lomax muses on Christmas music

A John Waters Christmas at Amazon.com (reviews and song samples)

ps. Happy anniversary to Dreamland News!