Originating out of the hazy banks of the Pacific Northwest, garage psychedelic outfit Transient Songs (vocalist-guitarist John Frum and bassist Jimmy Andrews) and their five-song debut, Plantation to Your Youth, offer up a sublime resin-filtered journey through smoke-enshrouded byways and chiming guitars trails far beyond the lo-fi, burnout ethos of their basement origins. With enough jangly guitars for the Pavement/Magnet mag crowd and shimmering sheets of Jesus and Mary Chain-esque guitar squall and feedback, the release conjures up forlorn vistas, cinematic undercurrents and world-weary narratives ("Living with a ghost downstairs/And everywhere is never as green as it was back there") that navigate to the doobie-littered altars of Pink Floyd and the Byrds. Bleary, exquisite and wholly transcendental. - Mean Street Magazine
Like the best psychedelic music, this stuff works like a new drug. It's disorienting and maybe disturbing at first, but then it becomes addictive. The duo apparently doesn’t tour and doesn’t seem part of any scene (although it carries on the tradition of garage sounds emanating from the Northwest). Still, the music got under my skin, largely because of the songwriting skills of Jimmy Andrews and John Frum.
Plantation to Your Youth is an EP that gets better the more you listen because more things bubble to the surface. - Prefix Mag
Froman: Which of your songs would make for a good porn soundtrack?
Transient Songs (in the words of John Frum): Southern City Saturdays. It’s about someone having real feelings for a stripper in Tijuana. I guess I would like to play that song for her and film that person watching her listen to it. Is that porn?
Froman: Is it true for the guitarist if the audience can’t see your c*ck it isn't rock?
TS: I sit down when I play cause I have bad scoliosis so it definitely would not be considered rock (cause my guitar is in my lap). Oh yeah, I really only play in my basement so there’s no audience to see it anyhow.
Froman: If you could add one member from any band who would it be?
TS: Wow that’s a tough one. I guess Britta Phillips (the bass player from Luna) because she’s beautiful and seems so damn cool. By the way have you read Dean Wareham’s Black Postcards? Great book. Anyhow, in a prefect world, she instead of playing bass, she plays drums since we don’t really have a drummer. Our old drummer Ballard Bob jumped off the Aurora Bridge and is dead. Second to that I would have to say Lemmy because he would be a fucking riot to party with every night and toughen my wimpy ass up. But you asked for one and I said two so sorry about that.
Froman: Drum solos...only good for other drummers or audience pleasing?
TS: Great for drummers to show off their skills and great for the rest of the band to take a shot and have a smoke. Great for the audience if you’re at a Motley Crew concert and Tommy Lee is spinning above your head on his magic drum rotisserie.
Froman: Record companies. Need them or want them?
TS: I would really like to have one offer me a contract so I could spend real time just writing but that probably ain’t gonna happen. I can’t pull a crowd together like Justin Fenderline or whatever his name is and I won’t sing stupid words and dance. I also won’t sing with a lilt and have a girl playing an oboe and I’m not cute so fuck no, I don’t need em but one thing is true, we need more filters these days to help weed out the good and bad and they are there like the blog Dave Allen from Gang of Four keeps (Pampoose) and Delusions of Adequacy.
In the old days the labels and the radio were the filters and in the 60’s and 70’s they got it right sometimes. Then the Indies like SST started really digging in and then Matador and of course Sub Pop and things were really changing beautifully and the people were consuming and being part of something, etc, etc. They went out and got it. Getting a new release was a pilgrimage of sorts that had a physical, aural, and emotional payback. So all in all, I think the label machine isn’t (and wasn’t) so bad but really, it’s dead. People are not going to pay for music much anymore so you have the labels taking a cut of the concert draws and that’s just pretty fucking sad. Leave a fucking crumb after dinner in the soup kitchen for the cook at least right? Songs are a commodity and only the true lover of music will sit down and spin an album for the feeling it brings – not the casual listener. I mean come on; bands are trying to sell their songs to fucking TV commercials and Scrubs for forms of remuneration. Yes its great people can get their music out easily but it has serious drawbacks also. The internet is a great forest littered with trash and sometimes I just want to find a couple nice flowers to look at. If a bear shits in the woods does anyone really smell it?
But one thing is true, this form of art is reverting to a very old time in a pure sense in that those that really love it and do it for the love of it will thrive because the reasons they are doing it are very pure. The greatest reward is the act of creating, not making virtual and viral friends. Fuck that.
Froman: Do you all have equal say in songwriting?
TS: So far I’ve written everything for Transient Songs but Jimmy keeps me in check. He has a great ear and is a damn good tunesmith and will tell me if something is out of whack. I’m very responsive to his input.
Froman: Strangest thing you've snorted?
TS: Probably the dust from the bottom of a hot and spicy pork rind bag.
Froman: Is there anyone in the band that you have to dress b/c he’s embarrassing?
TS: No but I did have a guy that wanted me to dress in a tennis outfit once. I left shortly thereafter. I would have changed my stage name to John Macaroni.
Froman: What band/artist would you like to beat up?
TS: I’m really pretty mellow and a live and let live type. I also have brittle bones so I don’t wanna go fighting any axe slingers. I mean there are bands I hate but I have no contempt for the people playing it so I would be swinging at sound.
Froman: Ever play a concert where you were almost too fucked up to go on stage?
TS: Someday I’ll have to try it since I’m getting on in years. Being juiced and going on stage go together like cigarettes and alcohol.
Froman: What's the creepiest venue you've ever played? Ever fear for your life on stage?
TS: Well I played a lot of shitholes in Texas but back to the previous question, I was usually gooned pretty good so nothing ever felt that creepy. Once I dreamt I did a gig for John Wayne Gacy for a moral event at the prison he was in but seeing him in hand cuffs and out of the clown outfit wasn’t that creepy either.
I fear for my life yes because when I play a gig I treat my body like it’s the last day on earth. It’s been a while so next time I’m sure I’ll fear for it again.
Froman: Is there anyone in the band that you have to dress b/c he’s embarrassing?
TS: My Mom used to not let me leave the house with sweat bands on my arms and I would cry. I have a little birth mark on my arm and when I was young it was bigger than the moon to me and I tried to use the sweat bands to cover it up. I would even throw jackets on a humid Ohio day out the window so I could cover up on the way to school and she would bust me and make me take it off. You have no idea how that felt.
Froman: Describe your sex: light some candles or lay down the tarp?
TS: Depends on if we are at an acoustic gig or a festival. Someday if I play a festival I’ll definitely tarp diem.
Froman: Who gets the most groupies? Or at least give us a best groupie story?
TS: I had some grouper fish for lunch in New Orleans once that was pretty damn good. Bernaise sauce can make anything taste great. I saw Sinbad at a buffet in Las Vegas once and he had one hell of an entourage. He probably got serviced while eating his pork cutlet.
Froman: Aquanet or paul mitchell?
TS: Aquanet cause it reminds me of being a kid and seeing that can in my grandparents house.
Froman: What’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve seen requested for backstage (aside from 1000 brown M&Ms to fill a brandy glass)?
TS: I once saw Nash Kato ask for two Asian girls and a bottle of 100 year old scotch once and it was delivered. I can’t even imagine what Greg Dulli requests…
Froman: A 17 yr old gorgeous little groupie comes in thru the bathroom window…play ball?
TS: If she has a ball with her I'll go out and the street and play catch with her.
Froman: Any spinal tap moments?
TS: I really liked Rob Reiner as Meathead in All in the Family. That really was one of the best shows ever. Norman Lear was a genius. So anyhow, I’ve had way more archie/meathead moments than Spinal Tap moments.
Froman: The day your band dies, what would u like its epitaph to read?
TS: That would be my actual tombstone so it would be pretty heavy. Something like:
Loving husband who toiled in obscurity with dignity.
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ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: JON FAMOUS CLICK PIC FOR MORE
June Concert Calendar
Manhattan/Brooklyn
6/03 & 6/04: Femi Kuti & The Positive Force
@ Fillmore NY at Irving Plaza
6/03: David Grisman Quintet @ BB King Blues
6/05: Rubblebucket Orchestra @ Sullivan Hall
6/06: Three Legged Fox @ Arlene's Grocery
6/10: Antibalas @ Rocks Off Concert Cruise
6/12: Collie Buddz @ BB King Blues Club
6/18: Spiritual Rez @ Rocks Off Concert Cruise
6/19: The Superpowers @ Zebulon: BK
6/19: Dub War / Distance / Cyrus @ Love
6/20: Sick Of It All / Bane @ Gramercy Theatre
6/23: Bedouin Soundclash @ Mercury Lounge
6/25: 311 / Ziggy Marley @ Central Park
SummerStage (not free)
6/25: Femi Kuti @ Prospect Park: BK
New Jersey
6/03: David Byrne @ Wellmont Theatre: Montclair
6/03: Goes Cube @ Asbury Lanes: Asbury Park
6/05: This Is Hell @ Clara Barton Hall: Edison
6/06: Citizen Cope @ Wellmont Theatre: Montclair
6/07: Phish @ Susquehanna Bank Center: Camden
6/19: Collie Buddz @ Surf Club: Ortley Beach
6/19: Mishka @ Wonder Bar: Asbury Park
6/25: Bedouin Soundclash @ Maxwell's: Hoboken
6/27: 311 / Ziggy Marley @ PNC Bank Art Center
Philadelphia & PA.
6/02: Grizzly Bear @ Trocadero
6/03: Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad
@ Zeno's Pub: State College
6/04: Three Legged Fox @ Swingin' Summer
Thursday: West Chester
6/05: Three Legged Fox @ Cafe 210 West
State College
6/06: Pony Pants @ Best Fest (in Clark Park)
6/06: Rubblebucket Orchestra /
Blue Method @ World Cafe Live
6/06: This Is Hell @ Punxsutawney
Community Cntr.
6/07: BioDiesel @ Silk City
6/07: Darkest Hour / Summer Slaughter
Tour @ TLA
6/12: Paint It Black @ First Unitarian Church
6/13: Strike Anywhere / This Is Hell
@ Championship: Lemoyne
6/18: Three Legged Fox / Can't Hang
@ Millcreek Tavern
6/18: Phish @ Post Gazette Pavilion:
Burgettstown
6/21: Nightmare Of You @ North Star Bar
6/26: Femi Kuti @ World Cafe Live
6/26: Bedouin Soundclash @
The Note: W. Chester
6/30: 311 / Ziggy Marley @ Penn's
Landing
6/30: Mad-Sweet Pangs @ The Fire
Washington DC.
6/01: Grizzly Bear @ 9:30 Club
6/03: Wale / UCB / Tabi Bonney @ 9:30 Club
6/04: Gregory Isaacs / Easy Star All-Stars/
Lionize @ 9:30 Club
6/05: Subatomic Sound System / Emch/
Paul Zasky /
Jahdan Blakkamoore @ Comet Ping Pong
6/05: A Place To Bury Strangers / Caverns
@ Rock N Roll Hotel
6/06: Denali @ Black Cat
6/08 & 6/09: TV On The Radio @ 9:30 Club
6/09: The Detroit Cobras @ Rock N Roll Hotel
6/10: Exit Clov @ Black Cat
6/11: The Dillinger Escape Plan
@ Rock N Roll Hotel
6/11: BLK JKS / The So So Glos @ Black Cat
6/12: Meshell Ndegeocello @ 9:30 Club
6/13: Joe Lally / Glorytellers @ Black Cat
6/13: Meat Puppets @ Rock N Roll Hotel
6/14: Sunset Rubdown / Witchies @ Black Cat
6/19: Nightmare Of You @ Rock N Roll Hotel
6/20: Collie Buddz / The I-Ternals @ Zanzibar
6/20: Frodus / The Van Pelt / Guiltmaker @ Black Cat
6/20: Major Lazer feat Diplo & Switch @
Rock N Roll Hotel
6/22: Vieux Farka Toure / Elikeh / Farafina Kan
@ Rock N Roll Hotel
6/25: Patterson Hood & The Screwtopians
@ Black Cat
6/27: Femi Kuti @ 9:30 Club
6/27: Bedouin Soundclash @ Rock N Roll Hotel
6/27: Appomattox / Lemonheads @ Black Cat
Baltimore & MD.
6/02: Goes Cube @ Talking Head Club
6/03: Easy Star All-Stars @ Rams Head Live
6/05: Darkest Hour / Summer Slaughter Tour
@ Sonar
6/05: Medeski Martin & Wood / The Wood Brothers
@ Rams Head Live
6/05: Noah D / Hot Pink Delorian / Computer Club/
Smash Gordon / Hyx @ Hour Haus
6/06: Starscape / Noah D / BioDiesel / Chase
and Status@ Starscape
6/06: A Place To Bury Strangers / Dirty Projectors
@ Metro Gallery
6/12: Three Legged Fox / Can't Hang @ 8 x 10
6/14: This Is Hell @ Talking Head
6/16: Collie Buddz @ Castaways: Ocean City
6/17: Mishka @ The Quarter at Bourbon St
6/18-6/21: Summer Solstice Projekt Festival/
Shpongle/
Brothers Past /The Egg / Skream / Sub Swara
@ Hawkwood Farms: Harmony
6/19: Steppin Razor @ Bull on the Beach: Bel Air
6/20: Three Legged Fox @ Thirsty Turtle:
College Park
6/22: The Movement / SOJA @ Seacrets:
Ocean City
6/27: Mad-Sweet Pangs / Caleb Stine @ 8 x 10
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