Say What You Will Clarence....Karl Sold The Truck.

“ ...there's a ringing in my ear that's heaven sent...”

- Soul Asylum, “Cartoon”

good show last night, and as a bonus, an up and coming Milwaukee band, The Championship, was tapped as opener.

I haven't seen SA since they headlined at the Marcus. They still had original member Karl Mueller on bass then; our seats were way off to the side. It didn't compare to the early days, when I saw them on the Hang Time tour, all rambling and raucous.

Last night did compare, quite well. The band has a new album out, Silver Lining, that I think may be even better than Grave Dancers Union (I've always preferred the two previous albums). Dave Pirner, who moved to New Orleans, had a few things to write about so 'he got the band back together'

Unfortunately, Mueller had been diagnosed with throat cancer. Although he recorded most of the album, he regrettably died before they could finish. They debated putting out the album at that point, but new drummer Michael Bland said “I won't be part of a band that puts out something like this.” So they tapped a friend to fill on bass and finished it.

Good thing, too. It's got some brilliant stuff: Standing Water, Stand Up And Be Strong, Lately. Fearless Leader. Much of the excess has been stripped away, and Murphy's guitar is back in the mix; the vocal harmonies are back. I once read a review that said that Murphy and Pirner's voices harmonize 'like fallen angels after a three day bender.' And their guitar interplay is the best since Television.

The band was loose and playful. New bassist Tommy Stinson (rescuing fellow Minneapolan from Guns n Roses) was his usual, grinning self; at one point he said 'this sounds like a band'.. My understanding is that this is a permanent arrangement; I hope so. playing in a post-punk band is what he was meant to do. he wasn't available for the album due to a GnR tour.

Michael Bland, the new drummer, was phenomenal. Previously, after the original drummer quit, they had filled in with Sterling Campbell, a session guy, which was OK. But Bland has such power, such presence. Playing just a small kit, he filled in every song effortlessly. The rest of the band seemed to be trying to impress him. His drum kit has a picture of his smilin mug on the front; one of the tour shirts featured a Family Fued style display of the faces of the three drummers, with all but Bland's face X-ed out. Kind of a Spinal Tap homage, I guess.

we rocked right up to the front of the stage when they started; the sound may have been a little less crisp, but the immediacy makes up for it. The band even brought the guitar techs out to play on Runaway Train; The young techs emphasized, just for one song, the age lines in the rest of the guys faces.

Soul Asylum. 20 years on, they still kick like punks.


[EDIT] Another packed musical week; Yo La Tengo on Thursday, and then the Musical Box on Friday and Saturday (2 Different Shows!) The Musical Box re-creates Gabriel era Genesis shows, down to the costumes and instruments. Friday they will be doing the Foxtrot tour show, and Saturday the Selling England By The Pound show. A couple of years ago, they did The Lamb, in it's entirety. I went twice.

I added that about the Musical Box just to rub it in, so Zelmo will comment. He can't make it. <Nelson Muntz> HAH-ha! </Nelson Muntz> As a matter of fact, he has had “Other Priorities” each of the FOUR previous times they played here.