Friday, August 19, 2005
The Exit/In - Nashville, TN
Mike Mahaffey Benefit Show
opening acts: the Fluid Ounces, the Katies
______________________

The Beginning
There's a Million Ways to Sing the Blues
The Way It's Meant to Be
Arcata
Darkroom
Exhibit A
Foundation's Cracked
Exorcising Demons
Kari-Ann
Me & the Skirts
Blow It Out*
NEW SONG - Rollum introduced it as "Whip It"
The Gates of Hell
Mosis Ptosis
Hold (You Alone)
Thursday

ENCORE:
Temporary Blues
Circus

*Before this song, Rollum wished Matt Pelham a happy 30th birthday.

I really liked Foundation's Cracked. It was nice to hear that melody again!!! I didn't like the Gates of Hell song as much as I was expecting to. The next album will be incredible!

Did the crowd seem less enthusiastic than usual? It was great to see them again and they sounded amazing as always.

the transition from gates of hell to mosis ptosis is killer. the new songs are definately great but they are playing a nashville show...would it KILL them to throw something in for the "old skool" fans? kind of urks me.

oh and fluid ounces were fantastic. they should hire that matt mahaffey guy.

the katies started strong but kinda fizzled near the middle in my opinion. closing with noggin' pounding was a good call though.

(Edited by SuperElk at 1:24 am on Aug. 20, 2005)

Ahh, as much as I was unenthused by Gates of Hell, I'll admit that the transition to Mosis Ptosis was indeed perfect. Sounded very professional and *gasp "mainstream." I feel the same way about old songs, but I was just as excited to hear the new ones. We NEED another message board request show.

I'll be the first one to admit being clueless to the music scene. Was Matt Mahaffey the one that sang Hey Lou for Fluid Ounces? And isn't he the guy that is Self?

These show reviews are pathetic, people. Give us folks who weren't there something to read, for cryin out loud! Please...

joey: Are you saying that the Fl Oz actually played Hey fuckin' Lou? And that there's a pro-recording of it, oh my god, that's suuuuch good news...And yes, Matt is the Self guy. The show was a benefit for his brother's immediate family. His brother, Mike, died recently and he was the guitarist for Self, as well.

Matt Mahaffey is the Self guy, but he was the one in the green shirt that joined Fl. Oz. early in their set after the Gillian Welch cover. He did Microchip Girl, using Brian's guitar. Then, he played drums for the Fl. Oz's remaining set. They did two more Self songs, Rusted & Used and It All Comes Out in the Wash. The guy that joined them for Hey Lou was Sam Baker, the original Fl. Oz. drummer and the writer of the song. If I'm not mistaken, he's now the drummer for Lambchop. Back in the day, ALL the Spongebath groups did Hey Lou pretty much every show, so it would have been cool if the Features and Katies would have taken a stab at it. I mean, the Features were the only ones to ever put it on album.

Anyway, the Katies were blah, they were always blah. I remember being bored by them eight years ago, and I wanted to take a nap during their set last night.

The Features were great, a standard set though. But for the purpose of the evening, Fl. Oz. stole the show, earning kudos for the Self covers, use of a Mahaffey, and the playing of the traditional Spongebath closer.

Self put Hey Lou on an internet album.

FlOz was pretty good. Enjoyed Matt playing in the songs. It was kind of weird hearing covers when Matt was there doing drums and backups, but at least I've got a Self show to look foward to.

The Katies were good. I've never listened to much to them. They weren't extrodinary and they played a little too long, but it wasn't horrible.

The Features were awesome as always. I just get so excited seeing them. All those dancing people in front of me were driving me crazy, but they started to get wore out near the end and everything started going up hill from there. I always love the Features. Wanted them to throw something in we hadn't heard recently, but it happens, I guess.

It would have been nice if The Features had thrown in GSRNR in the encore. Plenty of people including myself were yelling for it, so one day they will have to bust it out again. i really liked Gatesf Hell and Foundations Cracked. This next album is going to be incredible.

I was really glad to see Matt take the stage with the ounces. Then Sam Baker stumbling onto the stage with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth and screaming Hey, Lou, Over and Over and Over and Over and Over and Over was awesome.

I really enjoyed the Katies. Opening up with Sheseido was a good choice, one of my favorites. Then of course ending with Noggin Poundin.

From my perspective the whole show was awesome, except for the 2 ugly annoying girls in front of me during the Katies and FL. Oz. sets. Then they moved and the skies opened up for the Features. Then The Features proceeded to rock the house full of a hot tired crowd. I would have to say it was the heat that probably exhausted the less than usually enthused crowd.

Oh yes and the Fluid Ounces need to start playing some stuff from their Spongebath releases again.

(Edited by MoreLikeVernie at 11:47 am on Aug. 20, 2005)

Seriously. Mix in some fucking A.C., Exit/In. That was the most hot I have EVER been at an indoor show. And considering Parrish's shirt was soaked with sweat by the end of the first song, I think he might concur.

Oh man, you got me so excited just reading that. Sam Baker singing Hey Lou! My lord. That's about as close to the original version (apparently by his old band, Speak) as you're gonna get.

Does anyone have the Katies' setlist? I'm really eager to know what they played. It seems that the Moore brothers' more recent band, Lighter (a.k.a. When Breathing Stops, which I think was a MUCH better name), merged back into the Katies, so I'm interested as to whether any Lighter songs were played (making that merge official).

So now I've heard people saying that the Katies sucked, were so-so, and rocked the shit out of the place. I can't wait to hear the bootleg to make my own decision.

The Katies not playing "Hey Lou" is no surprise, as they never did a version of it to begin with (though if I'm not mistaken, Gary has a Hey Lou tattoo). It'd definitely be killer to hear their take on that weird song, though...it's so damn good!

And I knew the damn Features wouldn't play any old stuff. But if you're playing a show with the Fluid Ounces, the Katies (esp. when it's their first show in 4 years or so), Matt Mahaffey, and fuckin' SAM BAKER SINGING HEY LOU FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, it's a Spongebath reunion whether you like it or not...and it wouldn't hurt you to play a song or two to acknowledge that!

I really need a bootleg of this show. The Fluid Ounces rocking it with Mahaffey and Baker, the Katies making their grand return, and a Features set sprinkled with new songs...oh lordie. This I gotta hear.

thanks for the kudos guys... we had a great time last night...

as for exit-in and the a/c... I heard that they didn't turn it on since it was a '
benefit' show and they were only making the bar $$$... that's pretty shitty. It was truely hot as hell and thanks to everyone for bearing through it...

When we get the 'pro' recording ready, I'll post about it... the plan is... if it's really good quality, we're going to try to sell it to raise more $$ for Mikey's kids... if it's just OK, then we'll probably just post it online somewhere for download. I'll know more later this weekend once I get to listen to it (once my ears stop bleeding from the Katies and the Features).

also, Jakob...for the official record... Sam's old band was 'Speake'... very close though, I'm impressed that you knew that... ;-)

thanks again to all who made it out and those who really wanted to...

tha b.
fluid ounces

Thanks for the correction...and Speake is a much better band name. I'll have to blame my source, however (some old PiG Publications interview with Matt Mahaffey, I think it was)...I guess they just heard Matt say it and didn't ask about the spelling.

Does any recorded evidence of Speake exist?

You have GOT to be shitting me.

Doesn't really shock me considering the crap I had to go through to get past the "bouncer".

Tell us the story, dude!

It's time once again for TF's random thoughts on Friday night's show...

- I had no idea Brian Rogers could play the drums.
- What happened to Sam Baker? That guy looked rough.
- Matt Mahaffey looked genuinely happy to be playing. When most people are playing on stage, they have these really intense looks on their faces, but Mahaffey had this really big smile on his face while he was playing drums.
- The Fluid Ounces set was great! I wish they could maintain that kind of energy in their regular shows.
- "Hey, Lou" was one of those times for which I'll be proud to say I was there.
- Fluid Ounces seems to be the only one of the three bands that embraces its Spongebath heritage. On the one hand, that seems odd since they left under bad terms. However, to a certain degree, the Spongebath days were the heyday for the band. The Katies and the Features both went on to greater success after leaving the label so I can understand why they wouldn't embrace the past as much as Fl. Oz.
- Wasn't this supposed to be a tribute to Mike Mahaffey? So why was his name only mentioned 1½ times? Pelham only mentioned the bracelets for purchase at the end of the show. There was no mention of the raffle tickets for Mike's guitar. Were there other opportunities for us to give? Why weren't there any stories about the man to whom they were paying tribute? During the Ounces' set, I wanted to yell, "Tell us a story about Mike," but I thought it might be in poor taste. I thought Matt might still be grieving the loss of his brother and not ready to tell stories.
- The Katies were there.
- The Features set was pretty good. I hadn't seen a long Features set in a while. For the most part, I liked the new songs.
- There was sweat literally dripping from Matt Pelham's arms. When he would scream, you could see a cloud of mist come off of his face.
- I've never seen a shirt soaked with sweat as much as Parrish's.
- I wanted to go outside and take a picture of the people lined up around the block to see The Katies. However it was hot outside, and since I'd already bought a ticket, there was no need for me to hang around out there.
- It was nice to see some of you again. I wish I'd seen more of you. JC, I wished we could've talked longer.

I'll have some pictures to post soon.

It's nothing too exciting. My license expired last Jan when I turned 21. I haven't gotten a new one yet because the DMV here in Mboro still hasn't figured out a way to print out a license in less than 2 hours. That was the first problem. On top of that, when I went from my permit to an actual license, I kept the same picture(something I did to expedite the DMV's "process"). So even though I am 21, my license picture was taken when I was 15.

The guy at the door said it wasn't valid because it was expired. I told him that it was still an I.D. and showed that I was "of age". He kept looking at the picture (which looks NOTHING like me) and saying "it's expired." After showing him my MTSU ID, bank card, and reciting my social, he finally just told me to go in. Although he was clearly not happy about it. I guess if I get some fraudulent charges on my bank account, I'll know where to go.

It was a benefit, I dunno why the guy felt the need to be a jerk. It'd be pretty easy to do his job without being an ass.

eh, that guy has been an ass to me before as well. he is a complete jerkass, the jerkass.

1. Guess the life of being a Lambchop rockstar finally took its toll...who cares, though? That guy's the fucking man. He swaggers up to the stage like that after the song has started, whiskey in hand, lights a cigarette and takes a drag, kisses Brian Rogers on the cheek, then proceeds to rock the shit out of the best song to ever come out of Tennessee (or Murfreesboro, if you've got a problem with that). MidTN needs more rockstars like Sam Baker, because even just watching that video I get chills...

His pipes are a little rough too, it seems. Not really a bad thing, though. It suffered a little when he had to hold a note ("Ex-ponen-tiallyyyyy..."), but on the screaming parts, he absolutely slayed it. So awesome.

Was that basically the Fl Oz's old version of the song just with Sam singing, or did they play a different one originally, too? And I really dug the Timbs/Rogers solo, it added a lot to the song that the Features and Self's versions lacked (but are still excellent in their own rights).

2. I think they could easily, if they just kept their sets as concise as that one. And I know it's not quite the same without Baker, but it'd do the Ounces' current live show well to end with "Hey Lou" from now on. There's no way to sing that song without a shout and a big grin on your face, and it's always good to end a show with a bang...keeps a good taste in the audience's mouth as they're going out, to the extent that a few duller moments earlier in the set are easily forgotten/forgiven. (Seriously Ounces, if any of you guys are out there..."Hey Lou" as a set closer. Consider it...)

3. I don't understand it with the Features at all. That was when they were in their youth, both as people and as a band, so I think they'd have a good association with it...and you can diss Rick Williams all you want, but he financed three Features albums without ever getting a chance to get a return on it at all. And I'm sorry, but selling 3000 copies of an EP locally is a remarkable feat regardless of who you are, and the Features should know damn well that they couldn't have pulled that off had it been self-released.

Also, the Katies' "greater success" (I'm assuming you mean their album) was released by Spongebath and distributed by Elektra, as far as I know. Either that or it was a corelease. Either way, SB was very involved with it.

Did the Katies play "Hairclip"? That would've been the smartest thing they could've done.

4. 1 and a half times? That is pretty appalling...I hope he gets his deserved attention on the Sept. 10th show.

5. Mark another one down for "unimpressed by the Katies," eh? Now I REALLY wanna hear their performance...

You'd think that has to be some kind of code violation not to mention it's just plain unhealthy. I was told it was nice and cool during soundcheck. In any respect, I hope the Exit/In saved some bucks.

I've missed you so much. Please don't ever leave me again, TF.

Here is The Katies setlist:

1. Shiseido
2. She's My Marijuana
3. Miss Melodrama
4. Shower
5. Girl
6. Big House*
7. Outer Space
8. Sideways
9. Please
10. Jesus Pick
11. Noggin' Poundin'

*New Song

Decent set, but with the abundance of relatively epic slow-burners ("Shiseido," "Shower," "Outer Space" and especially "Jesus Pick"), I can see how some complained about the length or grew tired of them. I think it would've been wiser to have played a more upbeat repertoire of songs ("Hairclip," "Smile Kick Grip," "Drowner" and "Powerkiss" all come to mind). If they can trim the fat off their sets a little bit I think they'll be sitting pretty.

Although neither of us worked at/with Spongebath at the time, and my information is mostly 2nd hand from those who were involved, I feel like I can safely say that it was largely Rick Williams' fault that Rick Williams never got a return on his money spent on the Features.

And I should probably stop right there.

Man, they're going to have an awesome Behind The Music episode in a couple of years...

alright...finally got in front of a computer...

The show rocked me like a fucking hurricane!

I showed up early to get in line and hang out with some freinds. i got in, bought 2 drinks and found my place at the front. i didn't move the rest of the night....

The Fluid Ounces stole the show. I could have walked away a hppy man if that ahd been the only set of the night. It All Comes Out of the wash just blew my brains out. i love that song and it was a nice surprise....Hey Lou was great. i saw it coming though....but it was fantastic!! watching everyone on stage rocking like that was amazing...truely something special....

The Katies are the reason i can't hear anymore....After the first 3 songs i was exhausted...i was yelling for Hairclip the whole time...i knew they weren't going to play it..but kept on....the drummer broke his snare drum! makes sense...that guy was pounding like a jack hammer on those things!!! i saw some freinds i ahven't seen in a while...we kept singing to each other during the set....

The Features are the reason why neck hurts. i thought to myself..."its hot! so i'm going to rock!" i was drenched in sweat and beer and god knows what else by the end of their set. the girls in front of me got pretty chaotic. i ws moving about so much my body jsut ached....oh but the things we do for rock and roll....its that good kind of pain....plus...what a work out huh??? i think i left 20 pounds lighter...

i bought a wrist band....i had a great time....

If he's intentionally changing his look for professional reasons, then more power to him. Drinking, smoking, taking drugs, and doing ho's are qualities that we all appreciate in rock stars. However, I'm not concerned about "rock star" Sam Baker. I'm worried about the father and husband who openly eschewed drinking and smoking. He didn't look healthy, and I hope he's not compromising his well-being just to so we'll say, "What a f'ing rock star!"

If by "concise" you mean "very brief" and "half full of covers," then I'll have to disagree; I don't think that's a recipe for success. Also, I don't think "Hey, Lou" would be a good closer for them. It'd be much better for them to use one of their own songs. They do OK closing with "Record Stack." I think that closing with "Drought" and leading straight into "Poet Tree" is an awesome way for them to end a set. Both of those closers are very upbeat and leave the audience with a good taste in their mouths. They're also free of the "Hey, remember 10 years ago when you saw us open for Self?" baggage that "Hey, Lou" carries with it.

I sometimes think that The Features (especially Matt Pelham) look back on those early Spongebath days with a bit of sheepish embarrassment, the same way I feel when my mom pulls out the videos of me in sixth grade when I was chubby, had spiked hair, and wore jams. When the EP was released, The Features were a totally different band. They were heavily influenced by Don Sergio. They wore bunny suits on stage and had choreographed dances to some of their songs. When I consider where they are in life today (both musically and personally), I think I can understand why they don't often remind their audiences of those days.

(By the way, I realize that I was the one who originally asked why The Features don't embrace their past. The preceding paragraph reflects the best answer I could come up with after further thought.)

I stand corrected. I didn't realize that The Katies' release on Elektra had anything to do with Spongebath. I assumed they'd moved on from the label to bigger and better things.

On a different note, I think success has been kind to The Features. It looked like they had some spiffy new gear. I saw Roger pushing a nice trolly with all of their guitars, and Matt had a shiny new Ampeg rig.

Also, I think I'm going to start wearing ear plugs to the bigger shows.

1. Well, I doubt anyone would make an effort to degrade their own health so they could get rockstar points while singing one song with an obscure local band for a night...I too wish good health for the man. But either way, the cigarrette and whiskey was damn classy. This is coming from someone who's never drank or smoked, but you know what I mean.

2. Good point. I'll admit I have a hidden agenda: I love that song and wish it hadn't died. And I do suppose that if anyone could give it a proper burial, it'd be the lineup that was on stage Friday. It's just such a fun song, though, with or without the Baker/Mahaffey, it's gonna have the whole room screaming...

wow... you guys sure can dissect some shows...

thanks for the advice on our future sets, although I can assure you that they will not end with either Hey Lou or Record Stax very often... Drought would be fun though... we'll have to get the new rhythm section to learn that one...

I don't think that Sammy is doing the 'rock star' thing... rather he's just getting older like the rest of us and that's just him...gotta love him... I'm not aware of him cavorting with 'hos' or doing drugs or even drinking that much... he does smoke ciggies though and I guess that's bad enough... heh heh

it was a surprise to us that he come on stage... that wasn't really planned. but it was a nice surprise.

thanks again to everyone for rocking out to us so much and especially the guys down front... it's always a blast to pretend that we're popular at shows like that...

unfortunately (or fortunately?) Fluid Ounces will never be a major label band nor will we likely ever sell out a show on our own... without having to open for sElf or The Features... but we will continue to provide the best songs that Seth can write and maybe at least the musicians in the bunch will enjoy that... hahhah

the audio for the show will be made available very soon for free with a button for donations to Mike's kids' fund... please do the right thing and donate something if you download the songs... the whole purpose of this show and the others in the future is to help his family as much as we can.

thanks again for the support.

tha b.
fluid ounces

hear hey lou now at http://www.myspace.com/fluidounces

hey i just gotta share some news...

the new features song that was reported as "Whip It", I think they said it is called "Winded" - I listened to it about 10 times and I am pretty sure, though it is there on the audio when it comes out so you can judge for yourself...

just wanted to pass that along

I can't remember if I posted here or on another board about wishing that Fluid Ounces would put that much energy into shows (I'm a whore, I know). I'm not talking about Self covers (I won't go into my mixed feelings about Self). I as thinking of how I heard the three of their own songs. They poured more energy into those than I had seen since Seth returned from LA. I know a big, enthusiastic crowd helps, but I hope that we can see them get that excited about their own stuff in the future. And then close with Drought.

PM me and I'll e-mail an .mpeg to anyone who wants to see.


And Jakob, I think that people's feelings about the Katies' set was probably more based on how their pre-conceived notions. I've never been a fan of dude's warbly voice, so I wandered around Exit/In trying to find a cooler place to wait for the Features. There wasn't one.

(Edited by YaDaDaDa at 5:57 am on Aug. 23, 2005)

As promised, I've posted my pictures from the show. Check 'em out!

The Hey Lou shots are incredible. I also like how the only pic of the Katies is Jason or Gary's ass.

Does Matt Mahaffey have a fauxhawk?

Indeed he did. (I've also heard it called an emo-hawk.) You can see it better in some of the reject pictures that I didn't post.

Maybe I'll wear one to the Self show...