Friday Music Day

Balloon Guy Day: Sept 23, 2011

31 Comments

First and unrelated, I had a backlog of the past few weeks' City Pages and Onions that I hadn't read. Before throwing them out on Tuesday morning, I quickly scanned through them and saw that on Monday night, Mad Professor played the 7th Street with Twilight Circus Dub Soundsystem opening. I'm quite bummed that I missed that. Twilight Circus (the Dutchman Ryan Moore, formerly of the Legendary Pink Dots) is responsible for what is probably my favorite Dub album, Horsie. If that's not my favorite dub album, then it must be Mad Professor's No Protection remix of Massive Attack. Dang, how often does a bill like that come around? How often does Twilight Circus come around at all?

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OK, now my rambling thoughts on Balloon Guy.

At Edgefest '95, we got stuck behind all of the traffic from Stillwater, at least two hours going the last 15 miles or so. We missed the first two bands (Phunk Junkees and Letters from Cleo) and maybe the third . So I looked at the map in May 1996 and decided that we would cross at Prescott, WI, and come to Somerset from the East. We'd also leave an hour or two earlier to make up for how busy it would be. Well, I overcorrected for the delay and we got there pretty early, and were right up close for the first few bands.

Balloon Guy was the first act, if not, the second. I don't know what Edgefest's capacity was, 40,000? Might have been half-full by the time they played, so 20,000 people there to see them. I assume that was at least a degree of magnitude higher than the sum of all of the people they had ever played for before that day. It might be optimistic by 12 people to say that a dozen people in the audience knew about them beforehand (other than having read their name on the lineup).

There were probably a good two dozen people in front of the stage that seemed to get into it. I think I was the only person from my party. It was partly ironic, but it was also fun. I moshed a bit and just danced a bit. Maybe 3/4 of the people around were disinterested, just claiming close places for No Doubt and Everclear.

I'm not sure if it was before or after their first song, but lead singer Matt Olson introduced themselves. "Hi, we're Balloon Guy from Minneapolis. You're gonna hear a lot of good bands today, but if you take only one thing from today, let it be these three words: 'SATAN!'" with that last word said in a death-metal growl, while cocking his head, rolling his eyes, and giving us the double-bird pointed in.

At one point, they started playing a song and within ten seconds the rest of the crowd started paying attention and dancing. And then they stopped and lead singer Matt, "Sorry, I just wanted to know what it would be like to be cool." Apparently, those were the opening chords to the hit new Everclear single. (Of which I was unaware.)

I know they played "Russell" (I thought that the lyrics were "I thank God, I thank God for Channel Five", picturing Dave Dahl making his predictions about the oncoming rain), "Mister Runs a Lot Like She Does", and "Welterweight".

Finishing up, Matt again spoke to the crowd: "Thank you, you've been a wonderful audience. Always remember to 'SATAN!'"

More than their music, I really loved how ballsy they were given their lack of fans. The band's name became a bit of a punchline among friends, so when I saw the promo copy of their debut album The West Coast Shakes at Ernie November, I had to have it. (I wonder if Warner Brothers will ever contact me and demand that copy back.) I liked it some, it wasn't my favorite, but it had it's wierd charms, and I really did love the song "Russell". To be honest though, I was kindof being ironic. (I actually like the album way better now.)

I saw that they were playing at the Taste of Minnesota, and I think the Rollins Band was too that summer. A friend and I really wanted to go but couldn't find a ride from New Ulm. I planned to watch for their shows when I got to Augsburg for my that fall. But apparently, they had broken up by then.

Years later, I managed to score a used copy of their only other CD, Soundbull, at the Electric Fetus. Other than that, they didn't release much else. Four 7" singles (their final one a double 7"!), and four tracks on compilations. Someone has posted their four singles for download. The link for the a-side of "Scars" appears broken.

Here is their official discography from the archived Generator website. Here is the Discogs.com listing for a Warner Brothers compilation that was not mentioned on the Generator discography and appears to have an exclusive track. That song, "Burnout Trouble", along with "Scars" are the only two releases of theirs I've been unable to track down at least digitally. Free, I know you've made bootlegs of some shows, any chance you taped Balloon Guy? Bootsy, is there any chance you have the "Scars" 7"?

Hey, cool! That Generator archive has two tour diaries! I haven't had time to read them yet, looking for signs of the imminent breakup.
Part 1.
Part 2.

Here's a little something about the design for the sleeve art for their debut/finale.

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I searched the Google for info and couldn't find any, so let me put down what I can remember.
I bought a T-shirt from Edgefest '95. Here's who played:
Ramones
Collective Soul
Bush (played but didn't get listed on the T-Shirt)
Faith No More
KMFDM (was there, didn't make the T-Shirt, and didn't play because the rain threatened to ruin their gear)
Sponge
Our Lady Peace
Dink (I totally do not remember them a bit)
Wax
Monster Magnet
Face To Face
Phunk Junkeez
Polara
Letters to Cleo

That's pretty much the reverse order they played in, although I think I did see some of Polara (sounded like Sonic Youth) but missed Letters to Cleo and the Phunk Junkeez.

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I didn't get a T-Shirt the next year, but here's who I can remember playing at Edgefest '96:
Candlebox
Iggy Pop
Korn
Garbage
Everclear
No Doubt
Goldfinger
Poe
Balloon Guy
Some gal that was supposed to be the "Next Alanis", and I got one of her promo tapes, but it was unplayable due to having been thrown into mud.

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Now, you can share your random ten in the comments. Please include your favorite Balloon Guy song as a bonus track!

31 thoughts on “Balloon Guy Day: Sept 23, 2011”

  1. If you want to start talking about the Edgefest/Ozzfest concerts in Somerset, my urge to kill may start to rise. The only lasting memory I have is of being stuck at the DQ in town until about 4 am.

    01. Withcery - "The Hangman", Restless & Dead
    02. Metal Church - "Wings Of Tomorrow", The Weight Of The World
    03. Hammerfall - "The Templar Flame", Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken
    04. Death - "Zero Tolerance", Symbolic
    05. Halford - "Sun", Crucible
    06. Nevermore - "Next In Line", The Politics Of Ecstasy
    07. Testament - "Legions Of The Dead", The Gathering
    08. Primal Fear - "Soulchaser", Devil's Ground
    09. Opeth - "Credence", My Arms, Your Hearse
    10. Armored Saint - "Human Vulture", Raising Fear

    1. This was when Edgefest was for the Alt Edge radio station, not the Metal Edge radio station that replaced it.

  2. My best musical purchase this week/month/autumn has the twin tribute albums to Buddy Holly - Rave On Buddy Holly and Listen to Me: Buddy Holly. Here's Brian Wilson's version of "Listen to Me":

    httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpCKljyqH2I

    The list of others on the albums covers the gamut: Lyle Lovett, Patti Smith, Graham Nash, Jeff Lynne, Fiona Apple, Paul McCartney, Nick Lowe, My Morning Jacket, Cee Lo Green, The Black Keys, Modest Mouse, Chris Isaak, Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, and more Indie types that mean less to me than they probably do to others. Definitely worth checking out if you're at all inclined.

    1. Elmo Hope - Minor Bertha / Elmo Hope Trio
    2. Oscar Pettiford - Jack the Fieldstalker / Oscar Rides Again
    3. System of a Down - She's Like Heroin / Hypnotize
    4. John Lee Hooker - Bus Station Blues / Newport Folk Festival: Best of the Blues 1959-1968
    5. Henry Thomas - Fishing Blues / Anthology of American Folk Music

    6. Bob Dylan - It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry / Highway 61 Revisited
    7. Booker T. & the MGs - Something / Stax Profiles
    8. Miles Davis Quintet - So What / Live 'Trane: Underground
    9. Lyle Lovett - You've Been So Good Up To Now / Joshua Judges Ruth
    T. Son House - Death Letter / Father of the Delta Blues

    1. I've had the Rave On disc for a couple of weeks now and have been enjoying that. I'm checking out Listen to Me on Spotify this morning.

  3. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers -- It's Good To Be King
    Collin Raye -- In This Life
    Green Day -- Basket Case
    John Fogerty -- Joy Of My Life
    Stevie Ray Vaughan -- The Sky Is Crying
    Garth Brooks -- Don't Cross The River
    Hank Williams -- Your Cheatin' Heart
    Roger Miller -- Engine, Engine #9
    Phish -- Free
    Tom Fogerty -- Goodbye Media Man

  4. .
    .
    The Black Keys - "Aeroplane Blues" Rubber Factory
    The Foo Fighters - "Times Like These" One By One
    Wilco - "Let's Not Get Carried Away" Sky Blue Sky EP
    Arcade Fire - "No Cars Go" Neon Bible
    Li'l Wayne - "Mrs. Officer" Tha Carter III

    The Buzzcocks - "I Don't Mind" Singles Going Steady
    Spoon - "The Underdog" Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
    Franz Ferdinand - "Take Me Out" Franz Ferdiand
    The Black Keys - "Midnight In Her Eyes" Thickfreakness
    Flogging Molly - "Death Valley Queen" Drunken Lullabies

    As big into them as I was just 3-4 years ago, Flogging Molly may be subject to the Great Purge of 2011. I just don't, and really can't, listen to them anymore.

  5. Skillet -- Forgiven
    The Afters -- Forty-Two
    Thousand Foot Krutch -- Forward Motion
    Relient K -- Forward Motion
    Bleach -- Found You Out
    2NU -- Frank's Chair
    Hawk Nelson -- Fraud
    Stryper -- Free
    Switchfoot -- Free
    DC Talk -- Free at Last

  6. Beulah "Gene Autry" The Coast Is Never Clear
    Arcade Fire "Modern Man" The Suburbs
    Cody ChesnuTT "My Women, My Guitars" Headphone Masterpiece
    Destroyer "Spring Cleaning" Ideas for Songs
    Hold Steady "Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window" I'm Not There
    Mates of State "Halves and Have-Nots" Our Constant Concern
    Belle and Sebastian "The Ghost of Rockschool" Write About Love
    Harry Chapin "Old Folkie" Bottom Line Encore Collection
    Dr Dog "The Rabbit, The Bat, and the Reindeer" Fate
    Rilo Kiley "Portions for Foxes" More Adventurous

  7.  
     
    1. “army of ancients” – dr. dog – fate
    2. “spill the wine” – eric burdon & war – eric burdon declares war
    3. “the naming of things” – andrew bird – andrew bird & the mysterious production of eggs
    4. “we all, us three, will ride” – palace music – viva last blues
    5. “temptation” – tom waits – franks wild years
    6. “mariel’s brazen overture” – margot & the nuclear so and so’s – animal!
    7. “hey fat boy (asshole) – ween – pure guava
    8. “all dolled-up in straps” – the national – cherry tree
    9. “small world” – ani difranco – not so soft
    10. “commonplace streets” – the jayhawks – blue earth

  8. All of a sudden I have much less to do today. Getting abducted by aliens will do that, I guess.

    * It Could Be Sweet - Portishead - Dummy
    * Street Fighting Man - Rage Against the Machine - Renegades
    * Can You See Me? - The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced?
    * Basket Case - Green Day - Dookie
    * About a Girl - Nirvana - MTV Unplugged in New York
    * Keep the Streets Empty for Me - Fever Ray - (self-titled)
    * Whale & Wasp - Alice In Chains - Jar of Flies
    * A Song for Arthur Russell - Victoire - Cathedral City (M. Mazzoli)
    * Take, Take, Take - The White Stripes - Get Behind Me, Satan
    * Pigs in Zen - Jane's Addiction - Nothing's Shocking

  9. 1. Plastikman “Dubfunk (John Peel Session)” Arkives 1993-2010: Sessions (Disc 7)
    2. Zomby “Riding with Death” Dedication
    3. Stan Getz & João Gilberto “Para Machuuchar Meu Coração” Getz/Gilberto
    4. Steve Reich “WTC 9/11: III. WTC” WTC 9/11
    5. Low “Witches” C'Mon

    6. Panda Bear “Afterburner” Tomboy
    7. Katy B “Power on Me” On a Mission
    8. Young Man “Just a-Growin'” Boy
    9. Plastikman “Tom Tom” Arkives 1993-2010: Arkived (Disc 12)
    T. Titus Andronicus “Breed” SPIN presents Newermind: A Tribute to Nirvana

    B. Balloon Guy “Full Figure” Soundbull

    1. #4 -- I've gone back and forth on whether I want to get this or not. Reviews have been really, really good, but I can imagine that I'd have trouble enjoying/appreciating it in light of the event it's referencing.

      1. I downloaded just the title piece a few weeks before the album was released. They were shorter tracks... I thought they were just long samples, but the whole thing really is only 15 minutes long.

        It sounds a lot like a starker "Different Trains", but not as strictly tied to the method.
        To me, it's much less focused and resolved than "Different Trains", which frustrates me a bit, as Reich typically has a very clear idea of what he's doing and what the music is doing. But maybe that's his idea. It was less than a decade removed from the WTC attacks, while he was 40 years removed from the Holocaust, which he also didn't experience that.

  10. Sheenie and I bought tickets to go see Macklemore and Ryan Lewis at the Varsity in December. This will be our third time seeing them perform in less than a year - guess that makes us groupies or something.

    Anyway, for anybody interested in good, indie rap they put on an excellent show. And of course, they also wrote the best baseball song of the past couple of years.

  11. swamped at work, so no random 10, but this track came up from the Paprika soundtrack and got me started off in a good mood this morning
    httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMsQ7K78CKE

    1. Thinking about Japanese film-score composers, do you listen to much Ryuichi Sakamoto?
      I have his scores for Love Is the Devil and Snake Eyes (yes, the Nic Cage and Carla Gugino disappointment).
      And I've got mp3s of his "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence" theme and a song he contributed to Appleseed. (I thought I had more.)

      Just looking at those four, there's a YMO-style synth-inspired song (MCML), a traditional score (SE), an modern-classical artsy score (LITD), and a techno-noise song (Appleseed). Quite the variety there. I also have his solo classical album Discord, which falls somewhere between the two scores.

        1. Yeah, but he runs the whole gamut from Rhubarb_Runner guest DJ week to Daneeka's Ghost's Guest DJ week. So his name is little indication of anything that might be up your alley. But he's quite the renaissance man: Pop Musician (he came to fame through Yellow Magic Orchestra), Actor, Model, Film score composer, Electronic musician. He's quite prolific, too. I'd say he averages at least two albums a year and another collaboration a year.

          I also have his album of solo piano pieces BTTB (for "Back To The Basics"), which I've played a lot for non-intrusive background music for reading and when guest come over. Here's the first song on it:
          httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btyhpyJTyXg

          While I was looking for that, I played his solo piano version of YMO hit "Tong Poo", and AJR really liked it:
          httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRpihmon8kg

  14. 'Down Under' - Men At Work Business As Usual
    'Flying High Again' - Ozzy Osbourne The Essential Ozzy Osbourne
    'Hold On Tight' - ELO Strange Magic: The Best of ELO
    'The Beat Goes On/Switching To Glide' - The Kings
    'Loving Cup' - Rolling Stones Exile On Main St.

    'Flight of the Passing Fancy' - Squirrel Nut Zippers Hot
    'Sweet Child O Mine' - Guns N' Roses Appetite For Destruction
    'Turn The Page' (live) - Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band Live Bullet*
    'Sell Out' - Reel Big Fish Turn the Radio Off
    'You Could Have Had It So Much Better' - Franz Ferdinand You Could Have Had It So Much Better

    * I recently purchased this album and I think I have to vault it into my top 5 favorite live albums. The band is tight, Segers vocal are powerful, the 70 minute cd (would of been a double album if I had the vinyl) breezes right by.

    1. I hope this person is wrong. I don't want to rely on an iPhone or connectivity to the cloud for my music.
      What I want is a 60-to-100 GB iPod Nano with a click wheel and not a touch screen. And if anyone made one, I would own one right now.

  16. No list, but I did want to share my favorite tune from the new St Vincent record:
    httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9mDlBABSGI
    (5 listens in, the whole record is really starting to click with me. I'm psyched for the show on the 2nd.)

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