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Pop Talk
With David Segal
Washington Post Music Critic
Wednesday, June 04, 2003; Noon ET
David Segal hails from Rhode Island, where he once foisted himself backstage at an X concert and demanded autographs from all four bandmembers. They happily obliged. The first song he ever loved was a kiddie recording of "Honeycomb, Won't You Be My Baby" and he quickly graduated to Simon & Garfunkel, then Elvis Costello and then the Dead Kennedys, who performed one of the greatest concerts he's ever seen in London in 1982. He hasn't been the same since.
For a few years, he played guitar and sang in a deeply terrible cover band, the Bremers. The highlight of the group's show was a stalker version of "Leavin' on a Jet Plane," which was retitled "You're NOT Leavin' on a Jet Plane." He's been at The Post for going on eight years, first as a Book World editor, then a Business section reporter and finally as pop music critic. He enjoys the work and would like to point out that he is writing his bio, even though it's written in the third person, like someone else wrote it. Segal is doing that so he appears more important than he is, which is hilarious when you think about it!
The transcript follows.
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washingtonpost.com:
Hello folks. We're running a little late. Hopefully we'll get started soon.
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David Segal: Ok, I'm late. What, you've never been late? I had VERY IMPORTANT things to do, alright? Trust me.
Actually, don't trust me. Just ask me questions.
Sorry for the delay.
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Washington, D.C.:
David, what can you tell me about Link Wray? I
know he recorded "Rumble," which sold a million
copies or so in the late 50s, and that he played
around the D.C. area. Have I heard this song? It's
hard to know sometimes with instrumentals.
David Segal: You've no doubt heard "Rumble" because it's in about 100 different movies. It was recorded, I believe, right here in D.C. and it's considered one of the original and great garage rock instrumentals. It's all menage, the song, and really does sound like perfect music for the warm up to a gang brawl. It's simplicity itselt, the chords and everything else, but still powerful after all these years. I believe Wray is still performing and spends most of his time in Europe, where he's much more famous.
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22203:
Ok, the Polyphonic Spree next week at the 9:30... opinions? Should I go?
David Segal: I would. I will, let me say. I mean, what, it's a few dozen men in choir costumes, with a rock band. How can you miss? Sounds a whole like Godspell to me, which is at least unusual.
My colleague Hank is about to publish a profile of this act in the next day or two. Check it out.
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Omaha, Neb.:
Do you think that all the hype surrounding the emo bands coming out of Omaha (this month's Spin, for example) will ultimately drown out the legitimacy of the music these bands are producing? Do you see their work as substantive and relevant?
David Segal: You're not actually in Omaha, right? You're being ... cheeky.
I've only heard a couple of the Omaha bands and I can't say I'm impressed. Mr. Bright Eyes I find really mannered and precious and if he's some young generation's Bob Dylan then I fear some young generation got ripped off. The dude is amazingly prolific but none of this work sticks with me.
Larger question: will hype kill a city's music, or a trend? It can, but remember that the greatest band ever, the Beatles, were hyped to the moon -- press constantly, withering attention, non-stop touring -- and those guys still managed to make "Abbey Road" and you know what else. So hype can be toxic, but not if you've got The Goods.
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Union Station, DC:
Hey Dave -
Going to see Lou Reed at Wolf Trap tonight. What's your take on him these days? I haven't even gone near "The Raven" but I also haven't heard anything from it either.
Not looking forward to "taking a walk on the rainy side" tonight...
Thanks!
David Segal: I'll be there tonight. Look for an Asian man in a water parka and Moose Lodge hat. That's me.
Yes, bummer about the weather. Wear something warm. At the Beck show the other night, I was pretty chilled and it's way colder today.
This new Reed album is heavy going stuff. It's basically a tribute to Poe, and it's much more about the genius of this poet than about Reed. Lots of readings by celebrities and lots of enconiums to Edgar Allen himself. Not something I've gone back to a lot, if you know what I mean.
He also, though, has just released a major retrospective of greatest hits, so he'll be dipping into the back catalogue, too.
Fingers crossed.
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Texas:
David,
I recently read Chuck Klosterman's "Fargo Rock City" after seeing it mentioned in your chat, and I found it to be very enjoyable and laugh-out-loud funny at times. Have you ever met Klosterman? He seems like he'd be a fun guy to party with. (Assuming you like hard rock and metal, that is.)
David Segal: I never met Chuck. After I read his book, I called him. Which is easy because in the edition I have, it listed his home phone number and it said something like, If you don't like this book, call me at home. I called to say I really loved it and then asked him to write album reviews for us, which he did for a while. He now writes really terrific stuff for Spin. Fine piece on Radiohead in there this month.
Glad you liked the book.
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Alexandria, VA:
I can't wait to go see The Jayhawks at the 9:30 Club at the end of June. They're new record "Rainy Day Music" is terrific. What do you think of it?
Their opener The Thorns, sounds pretty CSN to me...They cover a great Jayhawks tune ("Blue") on their new album.
Thoughts?
David Segal: If you like "Rainy Day Music" you really ought to get the earlier Jayhawks albums, a few of which, in my humble, are much better. Specifically, "Blue Earth" which has just been re-released and is really on my top ten list of most played albums. I go back to every year for a week or two and every time I'm amazed by it.
"Hollywood Town Hall" is also excellent.
Not to into the Thorns, Matthew Sweet's latest project. The highlight of that album, for me, is "Blue" the Jayhawks tune you mentioned. They do a note for note cover that doesn't stretch or change the thing in the least. It's note for note. And yes, the band too often sounds like CSNY, though the first track sounds frighteningly like a Tom Petty track.
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Winchester, Va.:
David: Regarding concert and album reviews, I've always had a hard time accepting negative reviews by a writer, when they apparently don't care for (or at least respect) the act or genre to begin with (so far as the reviewers personal musical taste). Obviously it isn't possible to have a reviewer for each genre, or act, but as a fan of the act, or just a curious member of the fan world, I want to hear what the show or album was like relative to what made or will make the act successful. A case in point: the Post's reviewer of Hall & Oates show at the Warner a while back seemed to write them off as an Oldies act, or soul pretenders, who were being well received by doting fans, instead of presenting a great show, deserving of positive reponse. In fact Daryl Hall still is one of the best white soul singers alive. There repetoire contains classics that have held their own to this day. The bass player (T-Bone Wolk) was mentioned in an off hand manner. He was a long time member of the SNL band, a great bass player, and has a place of his own in the history books. The fact that the only place H&O seem to be well received these days is on smooth, or oldies stations certainly reinforces their relagation to a less serious force, but I would hope any reviewer worth their salt would know, and acknowledge the worth of the act from the perspective of their history and of their fans, not a non-fan. Do you think it is better for a reviewer to comment from a fan's perspective, or as an impartial evaluator?
David Segal: I remember that Hall & Oates review and feel like it did a fine job of putting them into context and praising the performance, too. But if you're unhappy about it, we'll fire the dude who wrote.
That'd be none other than my on-line chat producer, Joe.
Joe, sorry dude. But we've got a reader complaint here and you'll just have to find another line of work.
On a more serious note, I've written reviews both as a fan and as an impartial reviewer and I'd hate to have to stick to one perspective. Switching is more fun for me and more honest and probably more entertaining, I hope, for readers. It's fine to be "in the bag" for a band, largely because enthusiasm is a laudable emotion and there are acts that people just don't get that might catch on later. I wrote a favorable review of Vic Thrill the other day and it's safe to say -- as I said in the piece -- that the band bombed. But they were great.
The only thing I wouldn't want is some reviewer to arrive with a prejudice against a band. I was pitched a concert review a few months ago by a woman who said she wanted to write to purge herself of her love for a group she now recognized as stinky. Well, no thanks. If you set out for the night knowing that you hated the show before a note is played, what's the point?
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Gainesville, Va.:
Why aren't more concerts reviewed by the Post? I went to see Big Head Todd at the 9:30 club twice and never saw a review in the paper. Awesome shows, by the way.
David Segal: It's true, we miss a fair number of shows. But we've recently bulked up considerably and I think -- or I know -- we'll miss fewer in the future. That said, we'll never get to them all and no matter how many we do, it aint enough.
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Outside Looking In:
Help! What, typically, is the best strategy to secure backstage concert passes? Is it best to try and go thru the artist's label? Their management? Am I at the mercy of some radio contest that requires me to be caller number 88-1/3 to win? Or should I just give into schmoozing concert security? Since I don't have the "journalist" cred. behind my name, I fear it's hopeless. Can you shed some much needed light? Thanx & love the chats!
David Segal: Hmmm. I've weedled my way into a backstage scenes in my day, by which I mean my day before becoming a critic. But the shows were all pretty small and I managed to get through only because nobody was minding the door. I did it with X, who are coming to town soon -- don't miss -- and with Jonathan Richman, who was just as sweet as he you'd think he'd be, despite my intrusion.
Things are way more professional these days in the concert biz and there've been times when I'm SUPPOSED to meet someone backstage and can't because tatooed love boy with a list can't find my name.
Best thing is to call the manager, I guess, and present some very compelling reason that you need to meet Fill in the Blank. Usually, by show time, it's too late.
Alternatively, you can light a friend of yours on fire and bolt for the curtain while people rush to help. Just a thought.
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Dallas, TX:
"... sounds frighteningly like a Tom Petty
track."
Sir, you wound me.
David Segal: I really like Tom Petty. I just don't think Matthew Sweet should be knocking him off, note for note.
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Woodbridge, VA:
I was very sorry to hear the Thorns sound like CSNY; I had hopes for them, as I like some of Sweet's work.
I'm 43, so I wasn't a hippy in '70 when CSN took the world by storm. Therefore, I must ask, did I miss something or do they just BLOW? I always thought their "sweet harmonies" were some of the worst singing, and poorest -integration of voices- that i ever encountered.
Am I wrong? Is there something there?
David Segal: I really like CSNY, and actually listened to the band avidly for a while as a kid. I don't listen to them now, but I don't think I was hoodwinked back then, if you follow me. Those harmonies aren't for everyone and that love the one your with vibe seems a little dated. But they wrote some great songs. "Judy Blue Eyes" still gets me and "Ohio" is one of the only protest songs that's endured the ages.
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Hartford, Conn:
Hey Dave, love your stuff. Reviewing is obviously a subjective thing, so why do you think so many people don't feel validated until they read a review, particularly a positive review, of a show they attended?
David Segal: Thanks!
I imagine the Big Head fan just wants more people to get turned on to some Big Head. I understand the urge. People who love music often push it on others. Some even do it for a living!
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Conyers, Ga:
have you heard the new radiohead and if so, what is your take on it?
David Segal: I've got a few questions on this and the sorry truth is that I don't have the album yet. The label said I'd have it today. I'll write it up for next Weds paper.
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Arlington, Va:
Hey-I went to see Arrested Development at the 9:30 Club on Sunday. I was shocked--the place was nearly 2/3 empty and was basically full of white dreadlocked hippie types. Not that I have anything against them, I just did not ever figure them into AD's primary audience. I cannot believe that the show went on with the place that starkly empty.
On another note, one of the opening acts, the poem-cees, were FABULOUS. Kind of spoken-word, hip-hop, old school vibe thing going on. I cannot believe I never heard of these DC-based guys. Have you seen them? Witty and talented. I was glad to have paid the $15 for AD just to have caught this act!!!
David Segal: Never seen them, but thanks for the tip.
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Virginia:
Daaaaave - More comment than question, I guess, but I've been pleased to see all the box-set-dvd-related Led Zep publicity lately. Junior-high-school guitar fantasies aside, I think they hold up pretty well. Your thoughts?
David Segal: They hold up spectacularly well. I love that DVD concert in the Royal Albert. Just listening to Bonham pound a few warm pounds on his kit before the show starts was enough to get me going. Amazing to think they were dismissed by critics. Including a Washington Post critic at the time. Dude named Carl Bernstein.
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Washington D.C.:
Hi Dave - In all the reviews of the Led Zeppelin live material released last week, they refer to the "surviving" members of Led Zeppelin. But hey- there are three out of four that are still alive; only one dead. I suppose "surviving" is technically accurate, but to me it implies there are fewer members left than lost. Shouldn't something less pejorative like "remaining" be used? This happens a lot with the Beatles too, although there's probably more of a case for it now that it's two and two. But "surviving" was frequently used even before George died. What's your take on this?
David Segal: You raise a good point.
Maybe the critics who use that word mean the band survived the 70s. Or fame in the 70s, which sounds like it was pretty treacherous, which is to say, fun. But you're right, surviving doesn't make much sense. Maybe when a band is down to its last member and they're 80 years old, that'll make more sense.
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Fairfax, VA:
Hope this doesn't bust anyone's bubble, but a friend of mine from NY, who's been a long-time Lou Reed fan, caught his show and said it was the worst show she'd ever seen.
On a lighter note, what the hell is the deal with David Lee Roth? You're "Rabbi of Rock" article made him seem positively schizophrenic.
David Segal: He's pretty entertaining and I hope that came through in the piece, too. A little bit cooky but also, smart and magnetic and delightfully odd. I wish I'd put this in the story: he quoted Sarte to me at one point, IN FRENCH!
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Washington, DC:
One person's SWEET is another's sour. I actually think The Thorns' harmonies blow CSN's outta the water. But, you're right - it ain't for everybody. For those who prefer Matthew Sweet's more traditional power pop fare, please do yourself a favor and seek out his brand new, Japan-only album "Kimi Ga Suki Raifu" I grabbed a new copy off Amazon's marketplace for $30. It's his best work since "Girlfriend"...
David Segal: You're good! Thanks.
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Washington, DC:
The weather has turned me anti-social and grouchy, so I've been using my Discman on the bus to work so no one will talk to me. I've been listening to all the old REM albums and just listened to "Monster" this morning. What happened to these guys? "Life's Rich Pageant" gave me chills the other day...and then I think of their latest efforts. Have they just run out of gas or what?
David Segal: It's hard for any band to release great albums over the span of decades. I can't really name a single act that's pulled it off. The Beatles recording career lasted, what, 8 years? And REM has been at it for almost three times as long. I've said this before, but I think the gift of pop song writing is like a muscle and it withers over time. I was very unmoved by "Reveal," the band's last album, but there was some stuff on "Up" that I enjoyed a lot and "Mulholland Drive" is one of their best ever, for my money.
I'm hopeful about their next album. They're last one sold so poorly that maybe this one will be good. Ok, I don't know why that makes sense, but I need a reason to hope and I'm going with that one.
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Orange, Virginia:
I was listening the new Zepplin live stuff the other night on a radio special and was struck for the first time how some of Pearl Jam's tunes emulate their sound. Is that a fairly common opinion or was I just suffering from heat stroke after a long day on the golf course
David Segal: Tons of bands soaked up the Led in their childhood. Pearl Jam is definately one of them.
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Somewhere, USA:
I see the Dixie Chicks are in another controversy. Helping or hurting them more? Country music fans seem to be a bit narrow-minded, and giving new meaning to the term "politically correct," but the DCs sure don't seem to mind. Any chance they'll move closer to pop and rock, where fans may be more welcoming (most country music is essentially pop, anyway)?
David Segal: Well, I saw a chart of their album sales since they dissed our Fearless Leader and the lines plummet in the weeks after the comment, mostly, I'd guess, because radio play dropped off substantially. But I think this will really blow over for the band. The war mentality that made an utterly benign editorial comment seem toxic is fading already. And I think the Chicks are kind of pop band already. When i saw them a year or so ago, the audience was just a bunch of regular old 21 year old women. Or mostly so. Not the people you see at a George Strait concert. Now, if that dude ever crossed the President, he'd have lasting trouble.
The Chicks, I think they'll be fine.
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SW, Washington, DC:
Hi David,
I can't believe that I missed last week's chat- the Kinks AND Liverpool all in one. I was an exchange student in Liverpool in 1993-94, so enjoyed reading about your trip. I hope while there you made it to the Roman Catholic Cathedral- the coolest building in the city, albeit non-Beatles.
From a former U of Liverpool student
David Segal: Missed that building, sorry to say. I was too busy staring at George Harrison's childhood house and the pubs that the Beatles frequented. It was all Beatles all the time.
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Apple's new Music Store:
Have I missed something? Have you made your
thoughts on the new Apple iTunes Music Store public
on these chats?
Curious to hear your take!
David Segal: It's about time. The record industry could have saved itself a lot of heartache and a lot of money if they'd done something like this a few years ago. They're playing catch up now and with a few million fans who are now accustomed to getting it for free on other sites.
And even this move isn't as nervy as it sounds, because Apple represents about 1 percent of computer users in this country. It's a pittance and numbers wise,even if sales continue at the same pace, which has been brisk, the revenue from Apple won't save the biz. They've got to get it into the Windows world and fast.
Also, get the Beatles on there, dudes!
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Hey Dave, :
Is there anything funnier than the cruise line relentlessly using Iggy's seriously sleazy "Lust for Life" in its ads over images of kids snorkeling. Is it that they don't listen to the tunes, figure no one in their target audience does, or that they simply don't care?
David Segal: A fine question.
I hate hearing a song I love in a commercial. So much so that I flip the channel and break out humming whenever that Nissan ad with the Who's "Bargain" comes on the air. Damn you Pete!
By the way, I was listening to Little Steven's radio show the other night and he said this: "You know who's better in concert than Iggy Pop? No one. That's who."
Pretty funny.
Alright, party people. Our week here is done. See you at Lou Reed or the Spree or any number of other shows in the coming two weeks. I'll be back here, on time!, in two weeks.
Till then,
Oh....you know.
David
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