Pop Renaissance

Labels: Hope Chest

Yacht Rock - Episode 1

Seriously - this is some inspired shit that is just about the funniest thing ever. Methinks Uncanny Canadian would dig this.

My Sweet Alcoholic Baby

UPDATE, UPDATE, SUPER-IMPORTANT UPDATE:

From Marla:

OK we got pay pal set up finally can you post it.

Go to Pay Pal.com
Click the Send tab
put in this email addressquestionmarkdonations@msn.com
put in the amount, continue and follow the rest of the instructions and
...the donations will go directly to Questions account.

PLEASE BUY A SHIRT FROM QUESTION MARK AND HELP OUT A LEGEND

? and the Mysterians. "96 Tears". Quite possibly the best garage song of all time.

Question Mark (yes, it's his legal name) has headed the legendary Mysterians since the mid-60s and has been covered by many people, The Stranglers namely. Well, Question Mark needs some help:

I'm sorry to bother you, but a emergency has just come up. ? & The Mysterians, has had a HUGE tragedy, We need to get the word out to fans and friends. This past Tuesday night, ?'s home in Clio, MI. that he has lived in with his manager and manager's wife, since 1967, burned down taking with it 4 of his 7 Yorkies, his parrot and everything they have ever owned including his gold records, laptop containing all his downloaded material, photos, posters, all his stage clothes, every single thing he owns. He was in the basement doing laundry when he smelled smoke. He ran upstairs in time to rescue three of his seven Yorkies, two of whom are blind, but could not save the others. They are uninsured and living in their tour bus in the yard, next to their barn as they also raise pigs, chickens and a few other farm animals. I would be interested in putting together a benefit for him, but as of this moment I am looking for some help in getting the word out for donations. Winter is finally baring down on us this week and living in the bus with four adults and three old Yorkies is going to be tough. They don't have clothing, dishes, basic needs as of this moment and at his age to rebuild, (he is in his sixties) is going to be very difficult. He is devasted at the loss of his precious pups and I'm just trying to get him by until he can mentally handle the devistation. The fire department told him it was a electrical fire.

Please contact me and let me know if you can put the word out. Something, anything would be appreciated. If anyone would be interested in helping us do a benefit or something, please contact us asap. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Marla Swartz
Eldar Entertainment
517 548 1780
msswartz@chartermi.net

Question Mark also had a few hundred shirts in his van and he's trying to sell them as well. $25 a shirt (includes shipping). Email Marla and she'll tell you where/how to send payment.

I almost died in a house fire once but our dogs woke us up and got us out. We lost practically everything, but no lives or real livelihood. My heart goes out to you, Question Mark.

I'm going to see Brian Wilson at the Paramount at the end of the month! These are his last few shows playing "Pet Sounds" in its entirety and Al Jardine of The Beach Boys will be there too. I am SOOO excited. This ALMOST makes up for not being able to see Morrissey at his L.A. shows.

Hello again.

To quote one of my favorite songs of the 70s, "Well, I've been one poor correspondent...I've been too, too hard to find, but it doesn't mean you ain't been on my mind".

Truth is, I've been under incredible mental strain. Hope Chest is doing very well and LOTS of things are happening: we're very close to getting a couple of major breaks, we're touring the U.K. in May, we've a bunch of talented new members...and everything is on my shoulders. I'm the one creating the possibilities and since it's my band, I must see them through or the "what if?" blame falls squarely on me. All of this has been building for months and when coupled with regular things in life getting in the way, it all lead to a pretty solid mental breakdown last night. All the incredibly sordid details are a bit much, so we'll just say that:

1. Every emotion was experienced to its fullest
2. Beer bottles bounce off of walls surprisingly well
3. I learned how to tie a noose
4. Cats just KNOW shit

This morning I woke up completely lost. No idea of what to do with myself. Having just read bios of Brian Wilson and Syd Barrett was doing me no fucking favors. Though I've been away, I'd kept up with my favorite blogs just lurking up til Thanksgiving when the strain was starting to get to be too much. Today I felt I needed some good company and went 'round the blogs again to find the incredible, surreal, mind-boggling Tucker Carlson / Chuckles saga. To say this brought me out of my mental coma would be an understatement: I haven't laughed that hard in MONTHS. It's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard and it happened to Chuckles The Toilet Destroyer, of all people.

You never know who your friends are until you need them. And this morning I found out how much I really needed my friends. You gave me the shot in the arm I needed and wasn't sure how to find, and for that I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

Here's a link to my new demo. I hope you enjoy it. You'll have to cut-&-paste cos Blogger ain't digging links right now: https://www.yousendit.com/download/EsgNFt9nkY95TA%3D%3D

This weekend marks our 1st anniversary of marriage. Though The Old Lady and I have been together almost 8 years now (!), this is by far the sweetest and most important anniversary we've had. And yes, flowers are en route.

The year has flown by so quickly it seems unreal that a mere 12 months ago I was driving up to Fort Bragg with Paul, both of us hungover in epic proportions. Being someone who previously had completely shunned marriage (my father's advice to me growing up: "Never get married, never have kids. Trust me."), I find myself more in love with The Wife every day, which I never thought possible. To say I'm lucky to have found my soulmate and be married to my best friend would be a total understatement - I've basically won the emotional lottery. There's nothing I cannae do or get through with her there by my side.

We've got a 4-day weekend together and I couldn't be any more chuffed to have my baby all to myself for that time. I hope you all have a fantastic weekend and I'll see you next week.

UGH.

The Old Lady and I have been sick for a week. Damn near everyone we know is sick. And lucky me, being seasonally asthmatic, I've come down with bronchitis. I hope you are all taking yer vitamins and have a stockpile of soup.