A couple of posts ago, I mentioned history’s longest running avant-metal/punk band, The Melvins.

Not long after, a publicist for Ipecac Records wrote me about a “very special release” from Buzzo & co.

Seems that instead of giving their bitchin’ 1993 disc, Houdini, the standard reissue treatment, the band has instead decided to put out a live version recorded last year. It’s called A History of Gluttony & Lust.

Here’s a taste: “Hooch”

As fans are aware, the band (traditionally a trio)  has a hard time holding on to bassists. The latest casualty is Kevin Rutmanis (ex-Cows) who is replaced on this recording by John Zorn acolyte Trevor Dunn.

Anyway, I love Houdini. I listened to it thousands of times in those strange years before I went legit. It occupies a special place in my heart to this day.

One of the perks of having done fair amount of national freelance reviewing is that I’m on a lot of promo lists. Companies send me their stuff (mostly of the left-of-center variety) all the time, with little more than a promise to give it a spin.

So I have been rediscovering the magic of Houdini (PUN!) and remembering the days when rock music still seemed to have a few unexplored corners.

But wait — there’s more: Going against fundamental universal law, The Melvins recently expanded to a quartet.

Here’s some info:

In early 2006, Dale Crover confirmed rumors of the members of Big Business joining the Melvins. Commenting on adding another drummer, Crover said this about Coady Willis: “He’s left handed, so we want to do this ‘mirror image’ type of thing. We’ve kind of fused our two drum sets together, and we’re going to try and do some crazy thing with it. We’re sharing these big toms in between us.”

Far out!

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Casey Rea was the Seven Days music editor from 2004 until 2007. He won the 2005 John D. Donoghue award for arts criticism from the Vermont Press Association.

3 replies on “More memories!”

  1. Dude, thanks for posting Hooch. Y’know, many dig the Melvin’s heavy guitars and thunderous drums but me… I’m a lyrics guy. They’re a little hard to understand on Hooch, so I’ll post them here:Los ticka toe rest.Might likea sender doe ree.Your make a doll a ray day sender bright like a penelty.Exi-tease my ray day member half lost a beat away.Purst in like a one way sender war give a heart like a fay.Cuz I can ford a red eed only street a wide a ree land.Die-mond make a mid-evil bike a sake a like a ree caste.Cuz I can ford a red eed only street a wide a ree land.On a ree land. Find a ree land. You sink a my swan.Rolly a get a worst in.Maybe minus way far central poor forty duck a pin. Milk maid dud bean.Master a load a head.Pill pop a dope a well run general hash pump a gonna led.Cuz I can ford a red eed only street a wide a ree land.Die-mond make a mid-evil bike a sake a like a ree caste.Cuz I can ford a red eed only street a wide a ree land.On a ree land. Find a ree land.

  3. I sang that song with The Pants once. It was awesome. I’m pretty sure every song except for “Goin’ Blind” and “Rocket Reducer” is sung in gibberish. Someone thinks this is “Joan Of Arc” (an air-drumming song for the ages):Moss in the morning let’s you inIs it a field day make me sinIt’s only warm might let you stayMoss in the morning might be wayChaseLearningFinallyOn your rayMight be beyLucky dayNowHow could you ever morse it downExtra often is not my soundShe’d better hope an you better mindMix me over might left be wide

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