OK, well, I feel really silly making a post about the Jesus Lizard. Of all the bands that I would consider my favorites -- Unwound, Superchunk, Jawbreaker, Melvins, Gang of Four, Tar, Unsane, Jawbox, Mission of Burma -- I would generally not include JL in that list. But to tell the truth that would probably be a kneejerk reaction to their popularity. Back in The Day, in my world, the Jesus Lizard was just about the most obvious band for everyone in indie rock to like (or claim to like). As in, even frat boys eventually knew about them 'cause they could come to the shows for the mosh pit, which of course meant that my kind would turn up our collective noses at them.
This week JL started a reunion tour (another thing I used to turn my nose up at) and are playing in Atlanta tonight. I bought my ticket as soon as I heard about this, two months ago, and have been practically giddy with excitement ever since.
Touch and Go has rereleased all four of their JL albums (Head, Goat, Liar and Down), remastered and with new liner notes, and they are as stellar as the day my scrawny college ass first heard them. Even better with the liner notes and having now actually read all the lyrics. (that David Yow is not right in the head)
Damn, this is embarrassing! Go on ...
JL were simply the kings of the indie rock world in the early 90's; only Fugazi would be comparable in my mind. A whole generation of dudes will hear the words "I don't know, he's a nice guy, I like him just fine" and know that what must follow is "but he's a mouthbreather" and then commence convulsing to some sound that only they can hear.
The Pure EP debut lacked McNeilly, but produced the perennial live crowd pleasers "Blockbuster" and "Bloody Mary". With the Head LP they burst out of the gate as a full fledged four piece, an entire album at full gallop. The locomotive bass riff for the opening track, "One Evening", has popped into my head at least once a week for literally two decades now.
Goat followed a year later and is the album that contains most of the huge "hits". Opening with the sinewy stomp of "Then Comes Dudley" (and, live, the requisite Yow moves on that one) , it cruises through the triple threat of "Nub", "Seasick" (I can swim! I can swim!) and "Monkey Trick" on the the way to becoming one of most iconic albums of the decade. Picking favorite songs as about as pointless as picking favorite bands, but "Nub" may very well be the best JL song for me, starting with the Duane slide opener, waltzing through typically creepy Yow lyrics and pounded flat by Sims and McNeilly. The first video in the Youtube search linked above is a proper video for the song -- who knew that JL did videos?!
There were albums after that, but I guess I lost interest. Frankly I had perfection in my hands already with Pure, Head and Goat. Sorry guys.
JL are the most pure expression of rock power and abandon that has ever graced a stage. I remember listening to the LPs over and over, but all that was just an appetizer for seeing them live. Checking my old show list just now ... I saw them 7 times in 4 years, meaning I never missed them whenever they passed through town. Duane Denison alternating his iconic Travis Bean (with the aluminum T headstock) between pastoral, chiming runs and stinging, roaring chords, all with that characteristic twang. David Wm. Sims' fearless but workmanlike attack of his bass, doing his spasmatic guitar neck yanking moves. Mac McNeily's from Atlanta so we took pride in seeing our hometown boy make good by punding out rhythm for the most furiously rocking band ever. As Joe Lally says in the new Head liner notes:
The Jesus Lizard is my idea of a perfect band. A classic drum-bass-guitar trio playing a music aggressive enough to drive their front man to physical feats that alter reality and leave witnesses wondering weeks later what exactly happened.
And David Yow is still getting pushed to that limit. I traveled to Chicago in Sept 2006 partially because Yow's and Sim's earlier band, Scratch Acid, was reforming for the Touch and Go festival there. Yow and Sims did their thing there as well as ever that night and I'm looking forward to it tonight. I'm going to be in pain afterwards though, that's for sure.
Hey look, Mac McNeilly wearing a WREK T-shirt!
UPDATE: Services were rendered to my great satisfaction.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sI1mHjzxfo8
