Deaths and Accidents in the Music Industry

On the very sad ‘Music’ side of the title, guitarist Jack Rose died yesterday, December 5, of a heart attack at 38.  More to follow.

On the industry side of the music industry dead, morons the world over collectively paid $250 million for the privilege of resting their sorry backsides in sticky movie theater seats to watch a pathetic, disturbed, decaying, and over-sculpted individual scoot around onstage in white gloves in preparation for a collection of concerts which the public was mercifully relieved of putting up with.  This is only mentioned to specify that the contents in no way resemble music, and that the film in no way deals with a musician, so as to preemptively disperse allegations that this blog had missed or ignored the event.

Ciao My Shining Star, a Mark Mulcahy Tribute Album

I don’t know how I missed this, but I’m not too sorry I did.  A couple of otherwise very good musicians put together a benefit album for the great Mark Mulcahy (of Miracle Legion and solo fame) because his wife, Melissa, died a while ago.  And while it’s…  just okay.  Which is mysterious, because the songwriter is a genius and performers are mostly pretty great.  There really aren’t a lot of opportunities to screw this up.  I mean, the involved parties could probably mumble each others’ songs out of tune into Fischer-Price tape recorders in their bathrooms and produce something better than half of what was released last year.  It will be easier for those who didn’t know enough about it to be disappointed to appreciate, but, even if you know how great it could have been, you should still check it out, as there are a few good moments.

If you’ve been in anything more than a vegetative state for any significant portion of the last ten to twenty years, you’ll recognize Dinosaur Jr, Frank Black, Thom Yorke, Michael Stipe, Mercury Rev, Hayden, and the National, who all make appearances with varying levels of success.

Fugazi Audience Interaction Compilation

The other day, Chunklet’s website put up a 40 minute compilation of what went on between songs on-stage with Fugazi.  I hesitate to say “stage banter” because it really isn’t.  You’ll see.  There’s no music, just talking–mostly interactions with the audience.  If you were there to remember, wish you could have been, or are just interested, check it out here.