F Posterity, issue 41: They Might Be Giants' "Birdhouse In Your Soul"

They Might Be Giants are the rarest of indie darlings, the ones who transcend indie, sign major label, yet maintain all due indie cred and open their career up to doing whatever they want to comfortably. This from a guitar/accordion duo. Clearly they're amazing.

"Birdhouse In Your Soul" is brilliant for its non-sequitur concept and composition. Most feel it's a song about a night light, with the odd reference to the Longines Symphonette, filibusters and Argonauts.

Sounds like a folk song to me.


Download mp3s below by right-clicking on the links.

F Posterity, 2006
52. F Posterity (Getzschman) - May 16, 2007
51. Crazy (Burton/Callaway/Reverberi/Reverberi) - May 9, 2007
50. Persistence of Regret (Getzschman/Ryan/Sahm) - May 2, 2007
49. Breakin' Plates (Getzschman/Ruthsatz) - April 26, 2007
48. Trio for Vocal, Metronome, Wurlitzer (Getzschman) - April 18, 2007
47. She Hates It When I'm Right (Getzschman) - April 11, 2007
46. Beat It (Jackson) - April 4, 2007
45. Mass Ave Strut (Getzschman) - March 28, 2007
44. Let's Fall Asleep Like This (Getzschman) - March 21, 2007
43. 2010 Ain't What They Said It Would Be (Getzschman) - March 14, 2007
42. Three Red Stars (Getzschman) - March 7, 2007
41. Birdhouse In Your Soul (Flansburgh/Linnell) - February 28, 2007
40. Everybody Thinks They're Self-Aware (Getzschman) - February 21, 2007
39. Hysterical Woman (Getzschman) - February 14, 2007
38. Hollaback Savior (Getzschman) - February 7, 2007
37. White Collar (old Philly dollar) (Getzschman) - January 31, 2007
36. Bottle of Blues (B. Hansen) - January 24, 2007
35. Ask Somebody (Getzschman) - January 17, 2007
34. All Time High Score (Getzschman) - January 10, 2007
33. Bury Me In My Jetpack (Getzschman) - January 3, 2007
32. Eggnogg Is The Liquor Of This Household (Getzschman) - December 27, 2006
31. Like Spinning Plates (T.Yorke/J.Greenwood) - December 20, 2006
30. Jack or Jesus (Getzschman/Peterson) - December 13, 2006
29. Runes (Getzschman) - December 6, 2006
28. We Leave Just Like We Come (Getzschman) - November 29, 2006
27. Shampoo! (Getzschman) - November 22, 2006
26. Tomorrow Is A Long Time (Dylan) - November 15, 2006
25. Was That Seriously Your Plan? (Getzschman) - November 8, 2006
24. Understated Explosions (Getzschman) - November 1, 2006
23. Everything Sounds Better On Vinyl (Getzschman) - October 25, 2006
22. Take Heart (Getzschman) - October 18, 2006
21. Pigs (L. Freese, S. Reyes, L. Muggerud) - October 11, 2006
20. Upstart Casualties (Getzschman) - October 4, 2006
19. Troubling (Getzschman) - Sept 27, 2006
18. Tales of Woe (Getzschman/Getzschman/Booth) - Sept 20, 2006
17. Manual Labor Pains (Getzschman) - Sept 13, 2006
16. The District Sleeps Alone Tonight (Gibbard/Tamborello) - September 6, 2006
15. Postmodern Burlesque Review (Getzschman) - August 30, 2006
14. Neverending Love Affair (Getzschman) - August 23, 2006
13. Living On Credit (Getzschman) - August 16, 2006
12. Broke As A Muhfuh (Getzschman) - August 9, 20006
11. Josie (Becker/Fagan) - August 2, 2006
10. Cold Day at the Races (Getzschman) - July 26, 2006
9. Calaveras (Getzschman) - July 19, 2006
8. Narcissist Blues (Getzschman) - July 12, 2006
7. Advice to a Young Jedi (Getzschman) - July 5, 2006
6. God Only Knows (Wilson/Asher) - June 28, 2006
5. Miracle Hubcap (Getzschman) - June 21, 2006
4. A Paycheck Is All I Ask (Getzschman) - June 14, 2006
3. Halfway (Getzschman) - June 7, 2006
2. Summer Crazy (Getzschman) - May 31, 2006
1. Sunday Street (Van Ronk) - May 26, 2006

Everybody loves Fox News

... for its overtly partisan infotainment, not for its news coverage.


The Democratic Party has allowed Fox to host a Democratic presidential primary debate this summer in Nevada. Now I'm all for fair and balanced, but anyone who watches Fox knows that they're a parody of their own slogan. Watch their "coverage" of Barrack Obama, their "scoops" on his middle name, his father's religion, and the fact that he smokes. And then sign this petition to encourange the Democratic Party of Nevada to have anyone else host the event:

http://civic.moveon.org/foxdebate/?referring_id=-3375554-xa2HwG&taf=1

These United States at the RnR Hotel last fall

Here's some DC indie for the peoples: These United States at the Rock and Roll Hotel last fall. It's a one-camera shoot, but the music's good.

F Posterity, issue 40: "Everybody Thinks They're Self-Aware"

I'm on my heels here, publishing a sort of half-written song. Which I regret, but this one's close. It just needs a few more really thought-over verses, and what it's got now is getting towards what it'll be. 40 out of 52 songs in, I have a whole lot of half-finished songs ready to be done, I suppose as usual, and I suppose that's why I started this project. But I haven't had a ton of that open writing time in which you do nothing but stare at a page until something perfect gets beaten out of your head. I'm kinda glad next week will be a cover song.

This song has occurred to me again and again in seeing people and the world do its thing. The thought that everyone knows themselves, or believes themselves to be self-aware in the scheme of things, and yet it seems so easy for anyone else to take one look at someone's situation and dissect them. Sometimes the most self-evident things about ourselves are hidden to us. And I suppose sometimes we don't want to know them, which is why they remain hidden. But this song, "Everybody Thinks They're Self-Aware" should be reflexive enough to be aware of its own paradox. Obviously I think I'm self-aware. Everybody thinks they are; some would say everybody is. But any of you could fairly well pick apart the things I can't see about myself.

I'm hoping to have a more complete version of this song up eventually.

Everybody Thinks They're Self-Aware

Everybody thinks they're self-aware
The blind, the clueless and the scared
Everybody thinks it's all about them
And nods in disapproval when it's about them

Everyone in LA and New York
Fancies they're the bearer of the torch
The arbiters of relevance and fashion
The flavors of the minute and the has-beens

And everyone in Brownsville and Duluth
Knows the standard honest gospel truth
The arbiters of decency and morals
The keepers of the quaint and pastoral

And I feel qualified to tell
That we only know as much as ourselves
As we know about anyone else

But everybody thinks they're self-aware
The burnouts, the straightedge and the squares
Everybody thinks it's all about me
(If even if subconsciously)

But we can't see the forest for the leaves
Can't hear the chorus for the peeves
Can't find the lovers for the skeeves
Can't believe the things we can't perceive

And I feel qualified to tell
That we only know as much as ourselves
As we know about anyone else

Download mp3s below by right-clicking on the links.

F Posterity, 2006
52. F Posterity (Getzschman) - May 16, 2007
51. Crazy (Burton/Callaway/Reverberi/Reverberi) - May 9, 2007
50. Persistence of Regret (Getzschman/Ryan/Sahm) - May 2, 2007
49. Breakin' Plates (Getzschman/Ruthsatz) - April 26, 2007
48. Trio for Vocal, Metronome, Wurlitzer (Getzschman) - April 18, 2007
47. She Hates It When I'm Right (Getzschman) - April 11, 2007
46. Beat It (Jackson) - April 4, 2007
45. Mass Ave Strut (Getzschman) - March 28, 2007
44. Let's Fall Asleep Like This (Getzschman) - March 21, 2007
43. 2010 Ain't What They Said It Would Be (Getzschman) - March 14, 2007
42. Three Red Stars (Getzschman) - March 7, 2007
41. Birdhouse In Your Soul (Flansburgh/Linnell) - February 28, 2007
40. Everybody Thinks They're Self-Aware (Getzschman) - February 21, 2007
39. Hysterical Woman (Getzschman) - February 14, 2007
38. Hollaback Savior (Getzschman) - February 7, 2007
37. White Collar (old Philly dollar) (Getzschman) - January 31, 2007
36. Bottle of Blues (B. Hansen) - January 24, 2007
35. Ask Somebody (Getzschman) - January 17, 2007
34. All Time High Score (Getzschman) - January 10, 2007
33. Bury Me In My Jetpack (Getzschman) - January 3, 2007
32. Eggnogg Is The Liquor Of This Household (Getzschman) - December 27, 2006
31. Like Spinning Plates (T.Yorke/J.Greenwood) - December 20, 2006
30. Jack or Jesus (Getzschman/Peterson) - December 13, 2006
29. Runes (Getzschman) - December 6, 2006
28. We Leave Just Like We Come (Getzschman) - November 29, 2006
27. Shampoo! (Getzschman) - November 22, 2006
26. Tomorrow Is A Long Time (Dylan) - November 15, 2006
25. Was That Seriously Your Plan? (Getzschman) - November 8, 2006
24. Understated Explosions (Getzschman) - November 1, 2006
23. Everything Sounds Better On Vinyl (Getzschman) - October 25, 2006
22. Take Heart (Getzschman) - October 18, 2006
21. Pigs (L. Freese, S. Reyes, L. Muggerud) - October 11, 2006
20. Upstart Casualties (Getzschman) - October 4, 2006
19. Troubling (Getzschman) - Sept 27, 2006
18. Tales of Woe (Getzschman/Getzschman/Booth) - Sept 20, 2006
17. Manual Labor Pains (Getzschman) - Sept 13, 2006
16. The District Sleeps Alone Tonight (Gibbard/Tamborello) - September 6, 2006
15. Postmodern Burlesque Review (Getzschman) - August 30, 2006
14. Neverending Love Affair (Getzschman) - August 23, 2006
13. Living On Credit (Getzschman) - August 16, 2006
12. Broke As A Muhfuh (Getzschman) - August 9, 20006
11. Josie (Becker/Fagan) - August 2, 2006
10. Cold Day at the Races (Getzschman) - July 26, 2006
9. Calaveras (Getzschman) - July 19, 2006
8. Narcissist Blues (Getzschman) - July 12, 2006
7. Advice to a Young Jedi (Getzschman) - July 5, 2006
6. God Only Knows (Wilson/Asher) - June 28, 2006
5. Miracle Hubcap (Getzschman) - June 21, 2006
4. A Paycheck Is All I Ask (Getzschman) - June 14, 2006
3. Halfway (Getzschman) - June 7, 2006
2. Summer Crazy (Getzschman) - May 31, 2006
1. Sunday Street (Van Ronk) - May 26, 2006

I got called a bitch last night

I'm not a sucker, and I'm not an softie, but I've fallen for the occasional hustle now and then. Usually you can spot a hustler from a mile away, looking for a mark with darting eyes. But last year some time, I was on the E2 bus across DC when a dear old woman asked me about my guitar.

"Are you a musician?" she asked, telling me how she loved music. She proceeded to say she was mortified to be riding the bus, feeling like a beggar asking people for the fare. She said she was a lawyer, and had locked her keys in the trunk of her BMW at work. Could I spare $5 for the metro fare at the end of the bus line?

She was smartly dressed, looked me in the eye, and wasn't asking for a huge sum by any means. So I said sure, and as soon as I opened my wallet, I saw her lean over the seat railing and ogle all the cash money and prizes I had in there.

"It'd be $30 for a cab..."

At this point, the rational mind says, "She just got a look and upped the ante." The compassionate side says, "Give her the benefit of the doubt. You don't want this old woman to have to take the metro too." So I gave her what I could without change, which was two $20s.

"God bless you," she said, "I'll pay you back, just give me your phone number and I'll call you as soon as I get home." She didn't have a pen, but she assured me she had a "good head" for numbers, and she'd remember it. At that point, I knew I'd been hustled. She put her head down like she was taking a leisurely nap and stared at the ground. I think she even kissed me on the cheek when she got off the bus.

Last night I might've had the odd click in my head when I saw the tiny figure of a woman like her at Safeway. It didn't register, though, until my lady and I stepped outside to leave.

"Do you know anything about electronic locks?" this slight old woman asked. We told her, we're sorry, we don't, and she launched into a precise story about how she locked her keys in her trunk. And she got aggressive quickly, saying that nobody offers assistance... "I don't mean you, of course." I told her that AAA can unlock the door for her, and she shot back angry that they couldn't with her model of BMW, because the jimmy would sever some important part in the door. Wow, grandma knows her beamers.

At this point, I knew the hustle and I was vaguely recollecting that this may even be the same woman. She made some generalizations about how shallow men were and didn't know anything. As she introduced herself and tried to get cozy with us, I cut off the conversation and said, "well, good luck ma'am."

"Good luck isn't gonna help me! Did you offer any assistance at all?" She was pissed at this point. I knew why.

"No, we didn't."

"That's right! You didn't offer any help. Bitch."

We paused and looked back at her.

"That's right, I called him a bitch." Her aggression confirmed the hustle. I had to call her on it.

"Ma'am, I believe we've met before." She started to move.

"No we haven't! All black people don't look alike, white boy! And I'll beat your fuckin' head in with these cans wah wah wah..."

Yikes. Turns out my roommate has met her on the same E2 bus, and even asked her for a job -- she went so far as to give him an email address, which, curiously, she didn't respond to. But she did ask him for $5, told him she was a lawyer who'd locked her keys in the trunk of her beamer.

At this point, I'm pretty sure I'll run into her again. I'll just act so happy to see her. And ask for my $40 back.

F Posterity, issue 39: "Hysterical Woman"

I was reminded of how powerful and simple the blues are when I heard Jolie Holland on NPR. Really really good, the kind that makes you remember why you started writing and singing. Her music emphasizes that it's not form that makes music compelling, it's the presence and soul of the performance. Be sure to check out "Old Fashioned Morphine".

I've intended to write this song for awhile, a blues in the tradition, and I set down a few takes this morning for publishing today. I'm not settled with the lyrics, so I'm not going to print them at this point. Need to let them percolate a little more, and as is the case with the blues, the lyrics will change as I can drive them closer to the point.

In time for Valentine's Day, the checksum day that really emphasizes a) how much you want a relationship if you're not in one or b) how much you actually care about the relationship you're in, this blues is called "Hysterical Woman".


Download mp3s below by right-clicking on the links.

F Posterity, 2006
52. F Posterity (Getzschman) - May 16, 2007
51. Crazy (Burton/Callaway/Reverberi/Reverberi) - May 9, 2007
50. Persistence of Regret (Getzschman/Ryan/Sahm) - May 2, 2007
49. Breakin' Plates (Getzschman/Ruthsatz) - April 26, 2007
48. Trio for Vocal, Metronome, Wurlitzer (Getzschman) - April 18, 2007
47. She Hates It When I'm Right (Getzschman) - April 11, 2007
46. Beat It (Jackson) - April 4, 2007
45. Mass Ave Strut (Getzschman) - March 28, 2007
44. Let's Fall Asleep Like This (Getzschman) - March 21, 2007
43. 2010 Ain't What They Said It Would Be (Getzschman) - March 14, 2007
42. Three Red Stars (Getzschman) - March 7, 2007
41. Birdhouse In Your Soul (Flansburgh/Linnell) - February 28, 2007
40. Everybody Thinks They're Self-Aware (Getzschman) - February 21, 2007
39. Hysterical Woman (Getzschman) - February 14, 2007
38. Hollaback Savior (Getzschman) - February 7, 2007
37. White Collar (old Philly dollar) (Getzschman) - January 31, 2007
36. Bottle of Blues (B. Hansen) - January 24, 2007
35. Ask Somebody (Getzschman) - January 17, 2007
34. All Time High Score (Getzschman) - January 10, 2007
33. Bury Me In My Jetpack (Getzschman) - January 3, 2007
32. Eggnogg Is The Liquor Of This Household (Getzschman) - December 27, 2006
31. Like Spinning Plates (T.Yorke/J.Greenwood) - December 20, 2006
30. Jack or Jesus (Getzschman/Peterson) - December 13, 2006
29. Runes (Getzschman) - December 6, 2006
28. We Leave Just Like We Come (Getzschman) - November 29, 2006
27. Shampoo! (Getzschman) - November 22, 2006
26. Tomorrow Is A Long Time (Dylan) - November 15, 2006
25. Was That Seriously Your Plan? (Getzschman) - November 8, 2006
24. Understated Explosions (Getzschman) - November 1, 2006
23. Everything Sounds Better On Vinyl (Getzschman) - October 25, 2006
22. Take Heart (Getzschman) - October 18, 2006
21. Pigs (L. Freese, S. Reyes, L. Muggerud) - October 11, 2006
20. Upstart Casualties (Getzschman) - October 4, 2006
19. Troubling (Getzschman) - Sept 27, 2006
18. Tales of Woe (Getzschman/Getzschman/Booth) - Sept 20, 2006
17. Manual Labor Pains (Getzschman) - Sept 13, 2006
16. The District Sleeps Alone Tonight (Gibbard/Tamborello) - September 6, 2006
15. Postmodern Burlesque Review (Getzschman) - August 30, 2006
14. Neverending Love Affair (Getzschman) - August 23, 2006
13. Living On Credit (Getzschman) - August 16, 2006
12. Broke As A Muhfuh (Getzschman) - August 9, 20006
11. Josie (Becker/Fagan) - August 2, 2006
10. Cold Day at the Races (Getzschman) - July 26, 2006
9. Calaveras (Getzschman) - July 19, 2006
8. Narcissist Blues (Getzschman) - July 12, 2006
7. Advice to a Young Jedi (Getzschman) - July 5, 2006
6. God Only Knows (Wilson/Asher) - June 28, 2006
5. Miracle Hubcap (Getzschman) - June 21, 2006
4. A Paycheck Is All I Ask (Getzschman) - June 14, 2006
3. Halfway (Getzschman) - June 7, 2006
2. Summer Crazy (Getzschman) - May 31, 2006
1. Sunday Street (Van Ronk) - May 26, 2006

Janessa Gans on the John Davidson Show. (UPDATED)

What do you mean "Who's John Davidson?" Um, he's only the host of the John Davidson Show, to say nothing of That's Incredible and a host of other primetime '80s schlock. But this clip is the jewel in his crown. One of my roommates and founder of the Euphrates Institute, Janessa Gans, is featured as the four-year-old fiddling champion of the National Old-Time Fiddlers Contest with two others, among them fiddling star Mark O'Connor. VHS gold:



UPDATE: Janessa Gans became a popular target of conservative ire when she spoke out against Blackwater's involvement in Iraq on national television. Whatever, johnny-come-latelies trying to ride the J-train to weblebrity. I've been down since day one.

F Posterity, issue 38: "Hollaback Savior"

Wednesday caught me off guard this morning, but I put together a song idea I had sitting around with just one line, "hollaback savior". I'd envisioned it as a stomp and tried to write it a few times before, but nothing really stuck, which usually means I don't know what the song's about. I married that to another idea I had sitting around with just one line, a "self-styled messiah". Once I did that, the chorus fell into place, and I found the song was about that odious kind of ecumenical leadership that seems ever destined for a fall from grace.

Hollaback Savior

Hollaback savior, won't you take my hand
And lead us on to the promised land?

Hollaback savior, can't you write my name
Up in the good book at the pearly gates?

Hollaback savior, self-styled messiah
Fancy yourself gonna go and run a mile in his shoes
While knowing knowing nothing nothing really really
Nothing nothing nothing 'bout the truth

Hollaback savior, I'm a touch confused
Did I see your face on the evening news?

Hollaback savior, did you say two things?
One against the other, one against the grain

Hollaback savior, did you do two things?
One for the congregation and one for the demons

Hollaback savior, self-styled messiah
Fancy yourself gonna go and run a mile in his shoes
While knowing knowing nothing nothing really really
Nothing nothing nothing 'bout the dues

Hollaback savior, keep your chin up
Do you think that's what he meant to go and bear his cup?

Hollaback savior, we'll see you again
Just issue a statement, go forth and repent

Hollaback savior, self-styled messiah
Fancy yourself gonna go and run a mile in his shoes
While knowing knowing nothing nothing really really
Nothing nothing nothing 'bout the truth

Hollaback savior, can't you hear my heart?
Don't you know I'm for real but don't know where to start?

Download mp3s below by right-clicking on the links.

F Posterity, 2006
52. F Posterity (Getzschman) - May 16, 2007
51. Crazy (Burton/Callaway/Reverberi/Reverberi) - May 9, 2007
50. Persistence of Regret (Getzschman/Ryan/Sahm) - May 2, 2007
49. Breakin' Plates (Getzschman/Ruthsatz) - April 26, 2007
48. Trio for Vocal, Metronome, Wurlitzer (Getzschman) - April 18, 2007
47. She Hates It When I'm Right (Getzschman) - April 11, 2007
46. Beat It (Jackson) - April 4, 2007
45. Mass Ave Strut (Getzschman) - March 28, 2007
44. Let's Fall Asleep Like This (Getzschman) - March 21, 2007
43. 2010 Ain't What They Said It Would Be (Getzschman) - March 14, 2007
42. Three Red Stars (Getzschman) - March 7, 2007
41. Birdhouse In Your Soul (Flansburgh/Linnell) - February 28, 2007
40. Everybody Thinks They're Self-Aware (Getzschman) - February 21, 2007
39. Hysterical Woman (Getzschman) - February 14, 2007
38. Hollaback Savior (Getzschman) - February 7, 2007
37. White Collar (old Philly dollar) (Getzschman) - January 31, 2007
36. Bottle of Blues (B. Hansen) - January 24, 2007
35. Ask Somebody (Getzschman) - January 17, 2007
34. All Time High Score (Getzschman) - January 10, 2007
33. Bury Me In My Jetpack (Getzschman) - January 3, 2007
32. Eggnogg Is The Liquor Of This Household (Getzschman) - December 27, 2006
31. Like Spinning Plates (T.Yorke/J.Greenwood) - December 20, 2006
30. Jack or Jesus (Getzschman/Peterson) - December 13, 2006
29. Runes (Getzschman) - December 6, 2006
28. We Leave Just Like We Come (Getzschman) - November 29, 2006
27. Shampoo! (Getzschman) - November 22, 2006
26. Tomorrow Is A Long Time (Dylan) - November 15, 2006
25. Was That Seriously Your Plan? (Getzschman) - November 8, 2006
24. Understated Explosions (Getzschman) - November 1, 2006
23. Everything Sounds Better On Vinyl (Getzschman) - October 25, 2006
22. Take Heart (Getzschman) - October 18, 2006
21. Pigs (L. Freese, S. Reyes, L. Muggerud) - October 11, 2006
20. Upstart Casualties (Getzschman) - October 4, 2006
19. Troubling (Getzschman) - Sept 27, 2006
18. Tales of Woe (Getzschman/Getzschman/Booth) - Sept 20, 2006
17. Manual Labor Pains (Getzschman) - Sept 13, 2006
16. The District Sleeps Alone Tonight (Gibbard/Tamborello) - September 6, 2006
15. Postmodern Burlesque Review (Getzschman) - August 30, 2006
14. Neverending Love Affair (Getzschman) - August 23, 2006
13. Living On Credit (Getzschman) - August 16, 2006
12. Broke As A Muhfuh (Getzschman) - August 9, 20006
11. Josie (Becker/Fagan) - August 2, 2006
10. Cold Day at the Races (Getzschman) - July 26, 2006
9. Calaveras (Getzschman) - July 19, 2006
8. Narcissist Blues (Getzschman) - July 12, 2006
7. Advice to a Young Jedi (Getzschman) - July 5, 2006
6. God Only Knows (Wilson/Asher) - June 28, 2006
5. Miracle Hubcap (Getzschman) - June 21, 2006
4. A Paycheck Is All I Ask (Getzschman) - June 14, 2006
3. Halfway (Getzschman) - June 7, 2006
2. Summer Crazy (Getzschman) - May 31, 2006
1. Sunday Street (Van Ronk) - May 26, 2006

Crazy

The time and place of this song,
the lyrics and the melody,
and the magnitude of this performance
make me cry.

DC Vote eBulletin covers Indie Roots

Got some love today from the authority on DC voting rights, DCVote.org! Having their support is great, because they know DC voting rights from Adam. Read up:

http://www.dcvote.org/library/bulletin.cfm?bulletinID=38#tvspfeevwa

another Analog Jetpack live cut

For those that missed it on the Analog Jetpack page, here's another live cut from late last year of "We The Freaks", a song that'll be on the album we're creating right now up in Baltimore.