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frank_black_francis
= Cult of Ray =
Canada
895 Posts |
 Posted - 01/02/2007 : 05:31:11
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I just wonder to what degree "They Might Be Giants" had influence on Frank's music. When I listen to the Orange album and TOTY, I'd have to say that much of the sound and subject matter in writing the songs share a lot of parallels.
I know that he played live with them here and there. I wonder if anyone has any insight into this? |
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kfs
= Cult of Ray =
USA
889 Posts |
Posted - 01/02/2007 : 06:18:23
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| I have a TMBG sticker that looks a LOT like the cover of the Orange album. I'll try to find it... |
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mrgrieves1971
= Cult of Ray =
USA
544 Posts |
Posted - 01/02/2007 : 06:59:07
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| They also provide the horns on Tossed. So TMBG are actually on the album. |
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mrgrieves1971
= Cult of Ray =
USA
544 Posts |
Posted - 01/02/2007 : 07:12:10
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| And one of them directed the Los Angeles video. |
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matto
= Cult of Ray =
USA
954 Posts |
Posted - 01/02/2007 : 07:44:43
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i wonder did flansburgh direct more than just the 1 los angeles video?, or did FB do hang on to yer ego? well, they were labelmates on elektra, weren't they?
also also, FB is in the TMBGs documentary, and I think expresses right there their influence on him.
sminki pinki |
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fbc
-= Modulator =-
United Kingdom
4903 Posts |
Posted - 01/02/2007 : 09:20:04
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John Flansburgh speaks:
This last fall, as many of you are aware, we did the first big swing through the States supporting "John Henry." I also had the distinct pleasure of touring with my friend, Mr. Frank Black.
Frank has a very different attitude than most musicians about touring. He really likes the parts most people hate. He loves the physical act of driving, and is always willing to explore what's out there on the road, even if it means blowing off sound check. He always drives his own car instead of being on a tour bus, or in a van with bandmates. Consequently, when you tag along in his car you're in his world, and leave the touring party and all its obligations very far behind.
Frank and his significant other, Jean, have traveled extensively across the states on Pixies and Frank Black tours and have acquired an impressive knowledge of most cities' cultural oddities and culinary treats. They travel with a radar detector and a CB, and are always down for stopping in the all-night truck stop to pick up some budget cassettes of some unknown singer. Frank never got out the police radio on this tour, but I've seen him use it in LA.
I first ran into Frank back when he was working under the name Black Francis in the Pixies in the late '80s, around '87 I guess. They Might Be Giants were on one of our first tours after the release of the first Bar/None album. We were doing a show with them in a bar in Boston called Green St. Station. I remember their sound check and Frank singing in Spanish, and the excitement the Pixies were feeling as they had just been signed by 4AD in England. I regret I didn't get to see the Pixies show that night. What I did see walking in was the third act on the bill|one of the more disturbing pieces of performance art I've ever witnessed|right before I saw my parents in the audience.
Later They Might Be Giants did a press tour in the UK where I got to spend a few days hanging out with Frank at the Columbia Hotel. The Columbia is one of those places that actually lives up to its reputation as a "Rock Hotel." The bar is open very late, which is unusual for London, and it is often populated by a cast of characters directly reflecting that week's NME cover. Frank and I commiserated over the odd set of concerns one has doing interviews all day, and exchanged phone numbers.
Over the years we made a point of checking in with the other in New York or LA, or if our tours crossed paths. We finally had the chance to work together when he asked me to direct the videos for "Los Angeles" and "Hang On to Your Ego" off the first Frank Black album in the beginning of ®93. Our bassist, Tony Maimone, came off of our tour and joined his, and John and I ended up performing "Spy" on stage at the Academy in New York with the Frank Black band. A very rough version of the song got recorded with them for a live radio broadcast at Electric Lady.
It might have seemed inevitable that Frank and TMBG would end up playing together on stage while he was doing his solo show opening for us. He occasionally sat in for "Spy," but we never really mixed it up as much as I thought we might when this touring package came up. Through an odd set of circumstances They Might Be Frank was finally realized, however, in Memphis just before Christmas. The TMBG tour was to end on the 18th. Linnell booked a flight to spend the holidays overseas, but then this radio festival got confirmed without our knowledge for the 20th. Frank bailed us out by coming back from rehearsal in Rhode Island for his next European tour to do a special set with Brian, Tony, and me. We were billed as They Might Be Frank, and performed a bunch of his current songs, "Los Angeles," "Headache," and "Czar" along with a new, very cool song he wrote called "Jumping Bean," and some Giants regulars "Spy" (which Frank conducted the improvisational portion of) "Dig My Grave," "The Sun," "Istanbul" and a Bo-Diddleyized version of "Particle Man" with Frank singing and playing the clarinet line on the guitar. We also covered "Duke of Earl," which to my surprise (but not Frank's) had the audience chanting along almost right away.
After the show we drove to Graceland and looked at the Christmas decorations and did some late night souvenir shopping.
Hope you had a great New Years. See you in the conga line in February or March.
[post dedicated to Vovat - the long lost TMBG fan] |
Edited by - fbc on 01/02/2007 09:23:42 |
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Carl
- A 'Fifth' Catholic -
Ireland
11546 Posts |
Posted - 01/02/2007 : 11:12:44
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Thanks for posting that, Soren, interesting stuff! 'They Might Be Frank', heh!
 Merry Christmas! |
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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 01/02/2007 : 11:15:42
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quote:
Originally posted by Carl
Thanks for posting that, Soren, interesting stuff! 'They Might Be Frank', heh!
Merry Christmas!
just admit you're jealous that you didn't post it |
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Carl
- A 'Fifth' Catholic -
Ireland
11546 Posts |
Posted - 01/02/2007 : 11:18:31
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| Alright, alright, I'm pissed I never found that! Now I'll have to find some rare interview with Steve Albini where he admits Surfer Rosa is his favorite slbum! |
Edited by - Carl on 01/02/2007 11:19:09 |
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stymie
= Cult of Ray =
385 Posts |
Posted - 01/03/2007 : 16:22:00
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| I saw him open up for TMBG in '94 twice. Solo acoustic I met FRANK before the show. I flew from INDY to Cleveland. I requested Duke of Earl and he dedicated it to me. How great. I've had a few moments in concert when he mentioned me. I have reordings for all except that cleveland fall show and the one two days later in chicago. Can anyone help? |
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stymie
= Cult of Ray =
385 Posts |
Posted - 01/03/2007 : 16:25:09
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| Yeah, i met him outside the venue when he parked a ford taurus next to the tour bus. Sorry, just read that interview. |
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cellar_door
- FB Fan -
Canada
74 Posts |
Posted - 01/04/2007 : 09:48:12
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Woah the part about Frank doing all his driving is wild. Does anyone know if he STILL does that ? That's so exhausting with the schedule he has. Wow.
I was a hawk and I just flew...yeah
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kfs
= Cult of Ray =
USA
889 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2007 : 00:45:10
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prozacrat
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1186 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2007 : 03:21:36
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I would love to drive like that myself. But I don't know if he still does. I don't believe he did on the recent Pixies tours, as there's plenty of footage of him being cozy on the tour bus. But I wouldn't be surprised if he still did it every now and then. Especially recently with his family.
And I've read, in a few different places, the profound effect TMBG's "Flood" had on Frank in the early 90's. I'm sure some of that bled into his early works, and still might here and there. My two favorite bands are Pixies and TMBG, so every time there's a bit of a crossover I tend to hear about it somewhere.
http://www.prozacrat.com
www.myspace.com/prozacrat |
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trobrianders
> Teenager of the Year <
Papua New Guinea
3302 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2007 : 18:03:53
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I hear a Madness influence on the Orange album. Chunky keyboards though no sax I think. The only sax I ever liked. Jon Tiven take note.
Charles should get Suggs, Chas Smash & Co to do his next video. Their videos were nutty.
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Ed is the hoo hoo |
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darwin
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
USA
5454 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2007 : 18:13:07
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quote:
Originally posted by kfs
Well that doesn't help resolve the orange/yellow debate. |
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billgoodman
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Netherlands
6213 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2007 : 00:36:45
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I lost my copy of John Henry. I have the case and booklet, but where's the disc?
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God save the Noisies |
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kfs
= Cult of Ray =
USA
889 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2007 : 07:48:20
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quote:
Originally posted by billgoodman
I lost my copy of John Henry. I have the case and booklet, but where's the disc?
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God save the Noisies
Destination...Moon |
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prozacrat
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1186 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2007 : 16:16:14
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It's somewhere on Apollo 18, whose destination happens to be Moon.
http://www.prozacrat.com
www.myspace.com/prozacrat |
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billgoodman
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Netherlands
6213 Posts |
Posted - 01/12/2007 : 00:37:19
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I wish it's destination was home...(www.myspace.com/surfacenoisepage)
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God save the Noisies |
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prozacrat
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1186 Posts |
Posted - 01/12/2007 : 07:09:22
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Did you check the flowers? It could be sleeping in them.
I fell asleep to John Henry last night, and my roommate's dog just woke me up early, so I'm trying to fall asleep to it again now. I hope you find it!
http://www.prozacrat.com
www.myspace.com/prozacrat |
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Superabound666
- FB Fan -
USA
23 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2007 : 13:02:35
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Frank said during one of times he hosted MTVs 120 minutes that TMBG is his favorite band. Among other interesting things on that show Frank plays a video of TMBG's cover of Istanbul (Not Constantinople).
That was 10 + years ago I think. I'll watch the recording I have of it this weekend to get the correct date. |
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VoVat
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
USA
9168 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2007 : 20:17:25
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quote:
I lost my copy of John Henry. I have the case and booklet, but where's the disc?
You mean you'd like some help in putting it back in its snail shell?
"If you doze much longer, then life turns to dreaming. If you doze much longer, then dreams turn to nightmares." |
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Topic |
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1993 - TMBG Influences?
