The Walrus Discussing Kurt Vonnegut

One of Matt Embree's most favourable authors is Kurt Vonnegut.
'Blessings Be Yours Mr. V', from The Ocean And the Sun is dedicated in the memory of him.

The Skunk & The Walrus / Skullflower & Stockhausen

Biceratops (Spaceland) - 7/20/10

Matt Embree (The Walrus) & Chris Tsagakis (The Lynx) Perform songs from 'The Ocean And The Sun'

Biceratops

On the 15th of january 2010 Matt Embree (The Walrus) and Chris Tsagakis (The Lynx) played Songs from 'The Ocean and the Sun'

On the 20th of July 2010 they will be performing TSOAF songs again at Spaceland in LA! I hope they play 'Blessings Be Yours Mister V' and 'Uzbekistan' this time.

Further information here.

Uzbekistan

I don't understand French, but if I could,
I would write beautiful songs about horrible things...
because it is said to be the language of love and romance...
and if love didn't exist, there wouldn't be any horrible things.
You must care to cry, love something in order to hate something...
You must have a heart in order for it to be broken.
Many people walk in a dream.
They feel entitled to happiness and feel anger when it is not waiting for them.
I know that the world owes me nothing, yet has given me a great deal.
It is our own perception we get to bend and mold to our liking-
once that is accomplished, the reality we once knew begins to change.
My neighbor may be dark and gloomy, but I find it a perfect day to go outside.
I can knock on his door, but that doesn't mean he will answer.
And I will have to walk away, sad, from his little house
where he sleeps and smokes and drinks all day,
just to escape what he does not yet know.
We find ourselves in little boxes watching little boxes.
We see an edited version of human life, targeted on alienating us as individuals,
to distract us from the seedy underbelly of politics and business.
We are products of a Machiavellian society.
Look at the pretty girl dancing- her hair is so shiny.
I want my hair to be shiny. Look at the man with chizzled features-
use the razor he is using. It will give you the kind of charm that woman crave.
Women will want you. Men will adore you. You will be happy. You will be empty.
Because it is not about the product, but the feeling they try to convey.
And it is not for your benefit, it is for the benefit of the holders of the company.
We must burn our little boxes. We must create dialogue.
We must realize the importance of every moment.
We must turn our boredom to gratitude.
Use your hands, your thoughts, your hunger.
These things are yours and yours alone.

Meeting The Lynx

So, I went to see RX Bandits again and I didn't think it could of been better than the previous gig but it absolutely was. Anyway, I walk into the venue and go up to the RXB merchandise stool and who is running it? The one, the only David Embree*

I knew who he was Immediately! walked up to him and the conversation went (from what I can remember) like this.
Me - "Your not David Embree are you?"
David Embree - "Yeah, whats your name?"
I told him my name and what a fan of his work I was then I said to him;
"I love the work you did with The Sound Of Animals Fighting, they are my favourite band of all time"
Then David Embree said "Mine too"
I was ecstatic, I spoke with him for a good five minutes about himself and his music. He is a very nice guy. I also met Chris Tsagakis (The Lynx) Steve Choi and Joe Troy. I was absolutely Gutted that I didn't get to meet Matt Embree (The Walrus) as he is one of my all time favourite musicians. I did however, get autographs on the 12" LP 'Mandala' of all of them but Matt Embree.

* Music producer, worked on remixes and co-produced 'Uzbekistan' for The Sound Of Animals Fighting.

Awe

Unfortunately (for this sole reason) I live in the UK so only recently have I had the opportunity to see RX Bandits. I am seeing them again in a couple of days! 

But this blog is not about RXB, it's about The Sound Of Animals Fighting. I was lucky enough to be right near the front when watching RXB and during sound check Matt Embree played a tiny bit of Another Leather Lung (I know, holding on to anything ay!) 

Regardless, I knew exactly what it was and was in absolute awe and hearing other people cheer in the audience shows the love for TSOAF. 

I could only find footage in the venue of 'In Her Drawer'

Plucking away the feathers

Recently The Sound of Animals Fighting have changed the appearance of their Myspace page, this is either good or bad. The previous design co-ordinated with the art style of their 2008 album 'The Ocean and the Sun' That is no longer the case and the design has been massively stripped down to appear much like an amateur Myspace page. However, this could mean that Richard Balling and co are working on something new or (and this is very disturbing indeed) that they are stripping it down piece by piece until nothing is left. From the sale on their merchandise earlier this year that would be the more likely of the two possibilities. Still, keep your feathers crossed.

Myspace Page

Sights of Aslan

Although I do listen to them religiously, I had begun to lose hope that Tsoaf will never make music again. Obviously they were only a four year side project but recently Matt Embree and Chris Tsagakis performed songs from 'The Ocean and the Sun' {see videos below}
This gives me hope and makes me very happy! Or maybe a new side project will begin. What ever happens {good/bad} we still have RX Bandits and they continue to show the rest of america how to make real music.

Live @ Alex's Bar {Long Beach}