December 15, 2003

Sorry seems to be the hardest word...

Yeah, so I let this blog go dark again for a little while there. It's not so much that I've been that much busier than I've been during many of those times when I have been able to keep up with it; it's more like the blogging frame of mind and the post album/tour preparation mode are, for me, contestants for the same little block of mental energy. Sometimes a day of fretting about the ins and outs of what you need to do to try to prevent your already-finished album from flopping unnecessarily upon release can leave you with a free evening, yet incapable of doing much with it other than to watch cartoons. Sorry. That may be the crummiest apology you've ever heard, but it will have to do.

I'll be back with more details on tour plans, band activity, album news, etc. In the meantime, here are a few scraps: We've got our San Francisco record release show on Jan. 31st at Slim's (bill to be announced), and a full-on US tour in Feb. and March. Rebekah has recently started updating her celebrated, massive MTX Starship page. Lookout Records is running a contest for a "MTX prize pack," the first of several contests, I believe. (That's item #2 on the news-- I can't figure out how to link to the individual pop-up. You know, I'm all thumbs when it comes to this stuff.) The CD, artwork, and enhancements all got finished up somehow and I'm told we'll see actual pre-release promos soon. (Weirdly, the CD ended up being quite "bloggy"-- it has more of those studio photos, interlinear guitar chords/"tabs", the studio journal entries from this blog, and a dedicated comments/discussion routine for each individual song. These last and all the journal posts comments should be live links-- it'll be interesting to see what kind of comments we get. If any.) The release date is still Jan. 13, but if you want you can pre-order it from Amazon.

Meanwhile, we're trying to learn as many of our own songs as we can, with an emphasis some of those that have rarely or never been played live. Usually, this involves coming up with entirely new arrangements, since many of those on the records quite often, let's be honest, tended to suck. Also because, as I've written several times, live playing and recording playing have nothing to do with one another, and in a sense any set in the end amounts to playing an hour's worth of covers of your own songs. At its best, this process can result in an opportunity to right the wrongs of history, correct the mistakes of the past, free an otherwise fine tune from its previous inept or ill-conceived low-budget-recording prison, or to rediscover the kernal of coolness that presumably inspired you to write the song in the first place. Essentially, you smash the song apart and then try to put it back together with all new tools and materials. Or words to that effect.

Anyway, I'm open to suggestions on which songs to run through the destruction-regeneration machine, though I can't promise anything. Leave a note here if there's some song other you're dying to hear live for some reason.

Posted by Dr. Frank at December 15, 2003 04:01 PM | TrackBack
Comments

Play Deep Deep Down. Please?

Posted by: Peaches at December 15, 2003 04:25 PM

I Believe In You. What a fantastic song...

Posted by: djramone at December 15, 2003 05:31 PM

Is there even the smallest chance that you'll be playing in Canada next year?

Posted by: Lynn at December 15, 2003 05:42 PM

I Believe in You

Posted by: Matt Riggle at December 15, 2003 06:09 PM

I have 5 requests.
Please play some foggy mountain top, because I want to hear you yoddle.
Please play I don't need you now. I'll even bring my tamborine.
Please play I love you but you're standing on my foot.
Please play 2 min itch.
please play a Ramones cover... please... no body does it better.

Posted by: Peaches at December 15, 2003 08:17 PM

The History of the concept of the soul.
Yeah.

Posted by: Wooster at December 15, 2003 08:18 PM

Play swallow everything.

Posted by: Me. at December 15, 2003 08:19 PM

I Love You but You're Standing on My Foot.
And 2 Minute Itch.
And Reactivate Your Heart.

Posted by: Bal at December 15, 2003 09:12 PM

We hate all the same things!!!! Play We hate all the same things!!! Ahem...

Posted by: Danny at December 15, 2003 09:33 PM

You gatsta play she alright.

Posted by: Max at December 15, 2003 09:34 PM

It would be nice to hear See it now.
***Swallow everything***
You you you.

Posted by: me again at December 15, 2003 09:37 PM

When I lost you.

Anything from Road to ruin.

Posted by: Jonny at December 15, 2003 09:42 PM

Fucked Up on Life...it's a fucking great song. Have you ever noticed there aren't many GOOD pop songs with the f-word right in the title? I hope Ted's guitar part is nice and jangley (think Byrds meet the Rutles) to match my head version of the song. Honestly, I completely trust the band to pick a rocking set list...and I trust Bobby to wear the snuggest fitting trousers he can find. January 31 won't come soon enough for the working class.

Posted by: J. Francis at December 15, 2003 11:01 PM

I'm glad that Rebekah has started updating again. Her page was always my favorite. Marissa's newer page is great too though.


You should play Hello, Kitty Menendez. She's from my hometown.

Posted by: Lauren Godzilla at December 16, 2003 12:40 AM

Chalk up another request for 'I Believe In You'

Posted by: Nate at December 16, 2003 01:36 AM

Please Play Boyfriend Box.
I hear it at a solo experience show in LA, and also got to see Frank being all cutsie with his now wife while she sang along.
I hate people like them.
Great song.

Posted by: James at December 16, 2003 03:29 AM

Leave to me to come up with unpopular requests. Actually I Believe In You was my #1 pick, but I think it would be awesome for you to play On the Team, it's my favorite off Big Black Bugs record. Also, frank, if you're having trouble getting a show booked in DC please email me, cause One: you cannot skip DC. and two: I could probably set something up, depending really.
Chach

Posted by: chach at December 16, 2003 03:36 AM

Also... get in touch with me anyway because I would really like my new band to open for you all, if there's an opening. I formed my old band the Mallstars and I would have been happy breaking up that band after getting a chance to open for you, but you only came through once between 99-2001. So we broke up on our own merit.
Chach

Posted by: chach at December 16, 2003 03:42 AM

Songs that really need to happen:

She's My Alcatraz
Semi-OK
Tapin' Up My Heart
Gilman Street

Posted by: mike at December 16, 2003 02:43 PM

I always want to hear anything off of Alcatraz, especially We'll Get By. Oh, and if you're planning on any shows in Arizona, don't forget about the little band stuck in Tucson. =)

Posted by: Amy 80 at December 16, 2003 02:54 PM

Love American Style

Posted by: adam at December 16, 2003 03:22 PM

I just found your blog, so here's one fan that's not mad you've neglected it: looks shiny and new to me!
Requests for the show(s?) are going to have to include:
With My Looks and Your Brains, and
Gilman Street.

Posted by: Gaby at December 16, 2003 06:45 PM

i promise i would not eat pork
i would not eat it with a fork
i'd pass the chance to see bjork
if you'd only play KING DORK

Posted by: teresa at December 16, 2003 07:05 PM

Play "I'd do anything for you", please!

Posted by: Beppe (Italy) at December 16, 2003 07:34 PM

Damn:
I Believe in You
Dustbin of History
Hello Kitty Menendez
Parasite

Posted by: Bill at December 16, 2003 07:37 PM

please schedule a Baltimore show!!

Posted by: Hulka at December 16, 2003 08:23 PM

NOT BALTIMORE! DC! GROOVIE GHOULIES SKIPPED DC TWICE THIS YEAR FOR BALTIMORE! I WAKE UP AT 6 AM TO BE AT WORK! okay. done.

Posted by: chach at December 16, 2003 09:58 PM

Love American Style

Posted by: jeff at December 16, 2003 10:39 PM

haha, wow. lots of requests. I'll go easy on you and say "I Fell For You" ;)
(Although "Knock Knock..." would be quite a suprise!)

Posted by: Mike at December 16, 2003 11:27 PM

You should definitely play

I Love You, But You're Standing on my Foot
You, You, You
Pig Latin
She's no Rocket Scientist
Velveeta
and I Was Losing You All Along

Posted by: Lauren Godzilla at December 17, 2003 01:54 AM

Velveeta and Concept of the Soul!

Posted by: Jonathan London at December 17, 2003 02:39 AM

Please play one of my favorites: "You Today."

Posted by: DSE at December 17, 2003 03:41 AM

"i'd do anything for you"

Posted by: tristan at December 17, 2003 03:03 PM

Actually scratch what I said, You You You! Please do You You You. Also it would be really rad with some organ in it. Just listening to it today actually.

Posted by: Chach at December 17, 2003 06:21 PM

Coming to san diego?

Posted by: You know who at December 17, 2003 06:50 PM

All the songs are great but here are my favs

1.Master of the Situation
2.Book of Revelations
3.Swallow Everything
4. Love American Style
5.Leave the Thinking To the Smart People
6. Ba Ba Ba Ba ...Just kidding I know you're so sick of that song that you almost hate it.. LOL

Posted by: Channon at December 17, 2003 07:51 PM

Chalk up yet another vote for I Believe In You. And let me add the following:

Up & Down
I Just Wanna Do It With You
With My Looks & Your Brains

I'll leave it at 4 song requests; that's selfish enough for one day. See ya in NY.

Posted by: Mike at December 17, 2003 10:02 PM

Yes, I second the request for "Book of Revelations. That's an MTX classic. Well, that and "T-Shirt Commercial," but I suppose you can't really do that one anymore...

Posted by: DSE at December 17, 2003 11:37 PM

And another one for "I believe in you." It still gets me everytime I hear it.

"You you you"
"Your looks, my brains."
"Swallow everything."


Posted by: pjdangerous at December 18, 2003 12:57 AM

I don't remember when or if I have ever heard this song live, but I'd love to: "Now That You Are Gone." Each time I listen to this song, I think of all the people I would leave off my suicide note.

Posted by: Rose at December 18, 2003 02:46 AM

dear dr. frank,


i would like to hear "personality seminar" and "leave the thinking to the smart people".

thanks,

ted

Posted by: ted at December 18, 2003 05:19 PM

Anything off Alcatraz, especially Tomorrow is a Harsh Mistress and/or We'll Get By.

Posted by: JB at December 18, 2003 10:37 PM

velveeta! in chicago! write this down, don't forget. i'll give you a kiss on the lips if you do ;)

Posted by: raedy at December 18, 2003 11:04 PM

i'm going to make some requests, you're probably going to come up with a polite and reasonable explanation why you can't do them, but i've been bugging Ted and Bobby about getting you to do these since they joined the band. i stopped by their house on the way home from work and heard Ted practicing a lot of earlier material so perhaps there is a chance i may some day get to get reacquainted with the more clever and complex tunes that i always took for granted and never saw past the pop punk charm and grace to catch a glimpse at the well thought out and carefully planned nuances that are so subtly scattered through out your previous work. i mean, seriously, i never realized how fucking hard "Book of Revelations" is to play until i saw Ted doing it (which he of course makes appear very easy whilst to most everyone else after fumbling through the first few bares would leave them frustrated and annoyed). Even "She's No Rocket Scientist" is pretty complicated. Be that as it may, i would still really like to hear "I Was Losing All Along". After hearing "Yesterday Rules" i really think Ted and Bobby could do this song justice and not just "pull it off" live, but really make it work. Whether or not the crowd will embrace it, well that's another story. "King Dork" was a pretty fun song to hear live and i think the addition of two new singers and the extra guitar and casio could make it a crowd favorite. i'd also like to hear you break out "My Looks and Your Brains". Sure it was a "goofy" "novelty" song, but damned if it wasn't well written. But so long as you continue to play "Shinning" and "Jill" (with the electric guitar "lead(s)" that have been oh-so missed since the last Slims show [hard to believe that was already almost a year ago]) i think i'll be pretty content. As much as i enjoy MTX's back catalog, i think this new record is your master piece.

Posted by: Bobby M at December 19, 2003 12:42 AM

I would greatly enjoy hearing More Than Toast, I Believe In You, She's Another Thing, and As Life Goes On You Get More and More Out of It, which is my favorite play on words ever.

Posted by: Patrick at December 19, 2003 07:20 AM

My requests:

Swallow Everything
Book of Revelation
Hey Emily
Danny Partridge Got Busted

Or you could rewrite Now We Are 21 to be Now We Are 41. Nothing like a little self-deprecating humor.

Posted by: joeyjazz at December 19, 2003 09:18 AM

I know this is not a MTX song, but me and my friends would love to hear "Lickitung" when you come by Pittsburgh. I'm sure everyone else would love to hear it as well. Thanks.

Posted by: John A at December 22, 2003 07:23 AM

please please please play itching powder in the sleeping bags. i would kill to hear it live. ill be at the chicago show, rockin out hard! ive been waiting for an MTX show for like 6 years

Posted by: jody c at December 24, 2003 06:27 AM

i'd absolutely love to hear you guys play "you today" i think that's just a great tune or "lastime i listened to you" either one would be a totally neat to experience live and i hope i get the chance to :)

i'll see you in brooklyn... woo hoo!

Posted by: barbie at December 25, 2003 08:31 AM

of course, you'll play Even Hitler Had a Girlfriend, right? goes without saying. but i will say it nonetheless. and Will You Still Love Me (When I Don't Love You)- best song based on a book by M.E. Kerr EVER!
hehe. these requests are for chitown. i saw you guys five, six years ago and it was a joyous occasion. please play these songs! (i am guessing you won't do Dumb Little Band, which is a shame, cuz i love it. but what can you do.)

Posted by: donni at December 27, 2003 05:33 AM

Please play "You Alone" at your Baltimore/DC shows!! :)

Posted by: Ellyn at December 27, 2003 11:04 AM

FLYING JELLY ATTACK!!!!!!

Posted by: Lee at January 1, 2004 11:29 PM

In chicago, play sackcloths and ashes.

Posted by: Nate at January 6, 2004 07:04 AM