Gasoline Memories

June 8, 2009

And now, with gasoline on my fingers, I type for you.

Well, you’re here, aren’t you?

–

Speaking of gasoline, it reminds me of the first performance of the nascent Drunken Boat – circa 1986 in Iowa City, Iowa. My brother, Todd, the lead guitarist, Steve Gross, and I (on Tupperware drums and pizza-pan cymbals) performed for an art class at the University of Iowa. Steve made some feedback, I made some rhythms, and Todd chanted in a manner that made the student-audience wonder if they should have either smoked more dope for breakfast, called 911, or let their Iowa-asses loose enough to simply enjoy the show. Here’s what Todd chanted:

Gasoline
Licorice
Nevada.

It was a great show. Giving us the confidence to get another guitar player, a bass player (hey honey, wanna play bass?), and set the whole “band thing” in motion.

Back in the living room, we made some very crude recordings of our post-punk noise-poetry thing and sent it to a few clubs. And, to our surprise, we were booked at Amelia’s, a college-town hot spot that welcomed fellow-Midwestern acts like The Replacements (good Minneapolis boyz).

“Oh shit,” I remember saying, “I need a drum set.”

I borrowed a few hundred bucks to get a cheap kit on the day before our first gig. It was a lot different than Tupperware. But not much better in terms of sound quality.

Whatever. We were post-punks.

Good days, indeed. But now the “leader” of the band, Mr. Todd, turns forty-fucking-seven on Saturday.

But once a punk, always a punk.

The problem is, punk rarely pays.

Damn.

–

In other news, people with power continue to tell you what you need to be worried about.

Get over it.

–

My name is Mike and I am unplugged.

–

But wait, why do you have gasoline on your fingers, Mike?

Well, from fixing the fuel lines on the old mower.

If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em,

Vroooooommmmmm….

–

Wait, this just in: The Vermont media and blogosphere are reporting that next year’s gubernatorial race should be “interesting.” Wow.

Stay tuned.

–

And wait, this just in too: The Democratic hacks are reporting that they’re going to win easily and the Republican hacks are saying the same. But the bland man who reported it (pick one) managed to report all of the above without having his head explode from the nothingness of it all.

Instead, he cashed his check, straightened his smile, and walked happily down State Street humming, “I am me and you are you and we are all the…walrus.”

I didn’t get it either. But I report, you let it slide.

–

Oh damn, this just in too: The Vermont blogosphere is reporting that it, too, agrees with everything that can be agreed with within the confines of Vermont agree-ability. Meaning, of course, that everything is fine, Vermont is still convinced that it is the most different, and that we will all continue to pretend that nothing is strange with the fact that 40% of Vermonters voted for both Bernie Sanders and Jim Douglas.

Common theme: We’re great.

–

Now, back to the gasoline.

Posted by M. Colby | Filed Under blog 

Comments

7 Responses to “Gasoline Memories”

  1. krystal on June 8th, 2009 4:37 pm

    the new website, friends, and sponsors are fantastic or am i just new to the site or have alzheimer’s?

  2. Fearless on June 8th, 2009 8:19 pm

    Vermont is different.
    Just not the people that live here.

  3. Zed's Not Dead on June 9th, 2009 9:15 am

    I share your boredom with the VT press corps fixation on writing the same story over and over and over again. Oooo…I really need another recap of the legislative session. Oooo…How about a story about who is considering a run for governor.

    ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ…. I’m surprised some of these papers aren’t folding up their tents yet. They will be.

  4. Cristi on June 9th, 2009 3:59 pm

    don’t forget playing in my living room on Market Street at some wid ass party we had. I think you got about half an hour in before the cops came. Looking at things on the web re: organic and found your face talking about food irradiation - weird.
    did you & the other Kristy get married?
    wild to think about you and 1986 and yes “where do bad folks go when they die” means something to me :)

  5. M. Colby on June 9th, 2009 6:52 pm

    No, Kris and I did not get married. But we both left Drunken Boat before it sunk. Remind me again about the Market Street gig? Were you roommates with Shannon?

  6. Cristi on June 11th, 2009 2:54 pm

    I was roommates with Teri (blonde chick), Jerry (gay Jerry) and a few other folks. You know, Drunken Boat was almost Cristi’s Lip after that dog nearly took my lip off one night after a Swinging Teens show……..
    anyway…..Shannon - nearly forgot about him and his cool roommates Rich & Bob.
    Somewhere I have a photo of the Boat in my living room. I think you were still on the tupperware. If I can, I’ll dig it up and scan it to you.
    lastly, about your site, gay marriage IS a reality in Iowa! After 12 years of living in San Francisco, my wife B and I moved back to Iowa City in 2000. Life is good here AND, after 13 years of being together we got married for realz last Saturday, in Iowa!
    Anyway, nice to chat. I’ll look for that picture.

  7. M. Colby on June 11th, 2009 3:17 pm

    Wow. I really thought it was someone fucking with me until you just served up all those memories. It’s great to hear from you. And I hope your lip is all healed. Are you sure you didn’t get bit after a Stiff Legged Sheep show? Ah, the memories.

    Rich is in New York City. Shannon’s in Massachusetts. Not sure about Bob, although I think he’s in NYC too.

    Congrats on your marriage. Yes, Vermont is sooo behind Iowa. Just don’t tell that to the self-righteous Vermonters. And send the photo if you get a chance.

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