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 Your Hey Mercedes weblog. The Cast: Robert Nanna Damon Atkinson Todd Bell Michael Shumaker Dan Keehn Chris Bickert Norman Arenas Ryan Snyder 
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March 10, 2001
dan: cheers to rebecca for putting a great show together, I only wish I could've stayed and had some beverages but the thought of driving was not good, plus I had to work this morning...bOO! I'll talk to ya'll later..
Robert: 297 The One with the Tambourine - American Football More to come today. Stay tuned. Don't touch that dial. March 9, 2001
dan: if i had a letter to continue my word then i'd be takin care of.. dittos to mark for the thrilling yet troublesome story..i feel for ya...I once was called bitch lips in the corps.. and that's scary man..
dan: WHITEWATER its gonna be rapids when we're done don't tip the conoe................ I'll tip it.....I'll even stand up in it.. rock land mine memories purple ink secrets gonna give gotta let go wanna know no.! xxoo
Robert: Here is an interesting article on Subway vs. a local vegan restaurant in Grosse Point, MI - courtesy of Ren... Also, I'd like to state that we SHANT be playing our Guided By Voices cover (whatever song it may be) on this upcoming tour. It would only give us one practice to learn it well enough to play it, people! We also will not be doing any Devo, Happy Mondays, or Midnight Oil covers. Ditto for Run-DMC, Kenny G, and Color Me Badd.
mark: Hello.It seems as though I have been neglecting my duties as a Blogger.Alas,this is true.But,in defense of ...me,I must inform you that some of us have jobs that do not provide Blog-capable technologies(unless someone can come up with an internet ready espresso machine)So ,to make up for my absence,I shall now relate to you ,Oh faithful reader,a truely miserable story from my childhood. Picture a "husky" short dopey looking kid,add a bit of a foul mouth,mix liberally with rejection,and season with a complete lack of sporting ability,push him around for a few years ,and you get a kid who only takes so much.Of course,ther's nothing he can do about it when he boils over,but that's all that matters (according to my Dad,I just shouldn't let them "get to me") So,on the bus ride home ,a girl (Laurie Equitz) stated in on me.I told her to go fuck herself,she went crying to her older brother (Scott Equitz)who got off at my stop with her.He had to wear one of those Scoliosis braces around his neck and shoulders.For some reason,I thought it would hamper his ability to pummel my fourth grade ass.I think he was at laest an eighth grader,and outweighed me by ,well...probably not much.He starts to push me around and I tell him to "quit!!"and then,out of nowhere I hear myself say"oh yeah,well fuck you!!I'm glad you have to wear that brace!! (I wasn't)It seems that he was a bit touchy about it,and my comment got me upgraded from a little verbal abuse to first class ass whuppin.Oh,the beating I received at the hands of ole Scotty.I seem to recall him smashing my face,then working over my stomach,then throwing me in a muddy ditch to wallow in my own snot and blood.I also seem to recall not being able to find any of my books,or my lunchbox.I think I layed there for about a 30 minutes,crying,and bleeding.I went home and got yelled at for ruining yet another shirt.Then it was on to the "why didn't you defend yourself? Um... because you said fighting is never the answer?I don't know.I was too busy marvelling at how fast my mouth can operate completely without one shred of help or advice from my brain.Many years later I still notice my Mach 4 mouth getting me in some hot water,but I've got a pretty good handle on it now(hope)So,if you ever run into me ,dear reader,and I'm all bloodied up you know what happened. I'm sorry for posting my version of Paradise Lost,but I've got the day off.I now leave you to dine at Beans and Barley.Lunch for one is served.
Robert: It’s a truly hard issue to deal with. What happens when a musician (or anyone for that matter), that you respect to the nth degree… that you spend long winding drives with, along with good friends… who constantly gives you chills with every sung lyric… and you never actually sat down and figured them out, but you know every single word because you’ve listened a zillion times… who writes the most beautiful songs, worthy of being ranked very very high on some folks’ top whatever lists… whose presence in town creates a mad rush for tickets over a month before the performance… who you’ve waited years to see… who can make even bad metal songs sound gorgeous… whose music is a fitting start to a sad morning and an even better end to an action-packed night… What happens when this musician for some reason or another decides to do something truly despicable? Horrific… What happens? You put the person behind all of the music and it just doesn’t seem the same somehow… It’s a really hard issue to deal with, especially when you have invested so much time and feeling into the product – this person’s art – that has seriously made your life a little easier to deal with at times… Can you / should you just let go? Do you provide another chance? Has this happened to you? I’m going to be babbling a lot today. Certain planets seem to have aligned in the right plane, so to speak… So I’m going to take advantage of it, and I’m not even going to proofread. That’s how punk I’m feeling today. You’ve got 24 more hours to vote on a GBV song for us to cover on an upcoming compilation… Look at the tally and vote, alright? I’m going to be putting them in order of # of votes, so you can get a better idea of what song has the upper hand… Speaking of which, I’m going to have to say that I can not guarantee that the song that gets the most votes will be the one we cover. (I can tell you that we will cover a song on the list). There are a few things we have to take into consideration. For example, I have been informed by several parties that the current front runner, my personal fave on Bee Thousand, “Smothered in Hugs” has already been covered by Local H. “Motor Away,” another voter-favorite has been covered by both Superdrag and the Salteens. Who knew? So we’d have to make the call as to whether or not we want to redo something that has already been redone… So we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. Whitewater. I can’t wait for you. I will pay for the show so I have a chance of winning that Play Station! Would people think the whole thing was fixed?
Robert: 298 All I Want is You - U2 Yawn. It's early. I decided to spend then night in Buffalo Grove and then come back to my horse in the morning before work. I got here an hour before i usually get up, so now it's time to pack... See you on the clock. March 8, 2001
Robert: So I read on CNN, that Sporty Spice has left the Spice Girls. How many are left now? There's Posh, Scary, Baby, Sneezy, and Doc left, correct? Just as long as Doc never leaves, i think the world will be OK... Anyhow, the point of this was: I decided to dive into the newest Spice development, however the link to the story is BLOCKED by Surfwatch. Spice Girls? Blocked? I mean, I could see blocking reviews of Snatch or articles on Dick Cheney, but the Spice Girls? What do they think we do all day here, just sit around on the internet?
Robert: Of course! A car adaptor. I should have known. Technology these days. Leaps and bounds. Did anyone else get this email regarding some controversial comments made by Mark Kozelek in San Francisco? I hate to be mr. gossip, but i'm just wondering what the deal is... I am familiar with the song they reference ("Cruiser") and never took any offense to it... But the comments... Were you at this show? I'm sure it will soon be all over the web, so i won't reiterate the email or the comments at this juncture. Just looking for thoughts...
Robert: It’s snowing out there. Pretty hard, too. I was sure that we’d have this weather far out of our systems by this time. Now, we may be driving icy roads next week. Odd for a nice spring tour. How’s the snow situation up there in Worcester? Could you possibly take care of it before we get there? That would be great. Thanks… I have just been too busy lately. Damon has decided to take on a new roommate, which means that for the many nights that I stay over there, I will be forcefully kicked out of the spare room and onto the pullout sofa bed in the living room. That’s where I was this morning. Tossing and turning. Trying to find the right position opposite the steel poles that web across the bottom frame. There is one spot near the edge, maybe a square foot or so, where there is no support whatsoever. For some reason, I kept hitting that spot over and over, each time believing that the bed was about to collapse… I also sleep better with something heavy on top of me like a thick comforter, a feather bed, or a pachyderm… which added to my frightful weight/collapse issues. I just hope that new roommate appreciates that nice sturdy bed. Tonight, I’ll have to pack the car that I’m sanctioning for use tomorrow to get to the Whitewater show. All of the shirts have got to go, and I’ll be driving the car straight from work-to-show. Working it. Working for the weak. Then, on Saturday, I can hopefully get my guitar worked on during the day… And at night, I’ll be enjoying another show – Get Up Kids / Weezer. It will be good to see the old gang… and we can chat about future touring plans. What? Did I say that? … Actually, no plans have been made, I’m just kidding around… but you never know, you get some beers into those Pope brothers and all hell breaks loose! So we’ll just have to see what happens… I’ve been told that DVDs tend to suck the living breathing energy out of laptop batteries – diminishing their fragile lives from 5 hours to about 2. Now, your usual DVD runs about 2 hours. Our drives on this tour will range from 4-8 hours. I have 2 batteries. Which means, on an average trip, we’d be able to have 4 hours tops of DVD enjoyment, and this doesn’t count any non-DVD activity (bookwork, scrabble, etc.) that will have to take place. I think I may have answered my own question here but should I/we invest in one or more batteries? Yes. We should. I’ll get right on that. We’ll be sending out a mailer this weekend to all on the mailing list. I am not privy to the information contained thereof… and shant be until this weekend. Our lawyers will be contacting your lawyers. Have your lawyer's lawyers draw up a propostition for our lawyers' lawyers so our accountant's lawyers can clear the issues up with your accountant's lawyer's lawyer and of course with the lawyer's accountant's lawyer and the lawyer's lawyers' accountants.
Robert: 299 Paranoid Android - Radiohead Alright, I like that things are picking up in the GBV cover song race. Keep the votes coming. You have approximately 50.5 hours to sway the judges. March 7, 2001
Robert: It could be some kind of supernatural technological occurance, but the big man just emailed me with a vote for "Don't Stop Now." Yes, that big man. I should at least make that count for a few votes, right? ... or as it turns out, it's just a fan who decided to use his name. Hence, the count stands at one vote... I will also register the pope's vote for Cigarette Tricks. It's about time someone voted for that song.
Robert: You’ve got 3 ½ more days to vote on which Guided By Voices song we should cover for an upcoming compilation. Vote. I think people heeded my call yesterday because this morning I got 3 votes in a row for “Surgical Focus” ! If you are reading this and are not a GBV fan, go look at the list and pick your favorite song title… I just don’t want this to be a runaway race for the obvious newer, popular ones. Dig? … Also, a few voters have mistaken this survey for a contest. Although I love love love giving away free stuff, there is only once contest presently in production, and that is the Send-Demon-some-Britney–Spears-merchandise-and-he’ll-send-you-something-nice-in-return contest. He’s only gotten about 5 actual packages as of presstime, so you still have a chance to send him the most stuff and win some grand prize that he has yet to dream up. The contest ends next Wednesday, so at that time, we’ll announce winners etc… Now go vote!!. Some of my faves that have yet to register one vote: My Son Cool, A Salty Salute, Buzzards & Dreadful Crows, The Queen of Cans & Jars, Don’t Stop Now, Drag Days, Dodging Invisible Rays, Cigarette Tricks, When She Turns 50...
Robert: Tonight, I’ll be heading back up to my home away from home, Milwaukee, to practice for the show on Friday. As usual, I’ll be leaving straight from work, going to Union Station, training up, practicing, sleeping in the extra room at Damon’s house, waking up at 5:30, taking a train back to Chicago and a cab back to work. You’ve heard all of this before. Usually, I do that spitfire list with a hint of the old ‘woe is me.’ Never on purpose, though. However, this time I can’t even wait to get on that train. I am so excited to play these upcoming shows, I can’t sleep, I shake here at work (even in decaf mode), I sing quietly as I walk to and from the Merchandise Mart El stop, I’ve got this urgent feeling in all of my muscles… I am so ready and I can’t even wait one second longer… I have got one week left and then we are home free. Until then, I'm sorry, I just can’t think about anything else. And now back to work.
dan: I'm on a coffee hunt..The Hunt for Red Hot coffee..did ya'll know that last sunday was the most progressive day of the year? March 4th... get it?
dan: busy busy busy, I haven't been wearing a wire..cause I've been movin' too fast..'ruby' is a loittle lonely listen to me..I'm starting to yodel..eeyodel you who who..eelady yodel hodel hay he he...sing it out loud..it's funny.. lemme hear YA!!!! keep it real-
Robert: 300 A Kid Who Tells on Another Kid is a Dead Kid - Nation of Ulysses In the morning, in the evening, ain't we got fun. I'll meet you at work. March 6, 2001
Robert: Note on the GBV poll: Do not vote for a song on the merit that it is in the lead and/or has a good chance of winning. If you want us to cover "Cigarette Tricks," for example, than vote for "Cigarette Tricks." ... This all seems oddly familiar, doesn't it? As if "Cigarette Tricks" will get some sort of special funds if it gets 5% of the total vote... Hell, if I had a blog and my favorite GBV song was "When She Turns 50," I would make a plea to all of the non-GBV-fan-readers to email me and get that number up for "When She Turns 50". It only makes sense... And I want to make things interesting. Challenge us. Don't Stop Now. Keep the votes coming. Power to the People. Remake the Young Flyer. Decide now!
Todd: So, I'm always creating these little debates at work, I'm always starting some kind of 'know-it-all' contest or guessing game. I won a dollar from my co-worker Sarah last week debating over who sang "walk the dinosaur", her guess being Morris Day (possibly with 'The Time') and mine was Was Not Was. Yes! I won a one dollar! Yee haa! Todays game was what year did UHF come out? Everyone pitched in 5 bucks.. Damons' guess was 1986. Mine was 1988. Other in the posse pitched in. Guess of 85, 87, and 84 where filled. The IMDB says Weird Al's blockbuster film came out in 1989. So I was closest but noone hit it dead-on, so, no winners yet.. The contest continues and the pot moves on.. What will the next debate be? Only time will tell.. I think everyone loves a contest, no? That's why we here at hey mercedes like to keep you all involved, which is a reminder, you have until Saturday March 10th @ noon to pick a GBV song for us to cover... Email Bob with your requests!
Robert: I am enjoying a tortellini and artichoke salad from the bakery downstairs. I am making pointless computerized entries into the air. I just mailed off 3 T-shirts. One to Appleton. One to Rockford. One to England. The one to England cost $7.55 to mail. I do not have enough change in my pocket to purchase a Sprite from the vending machine down the hall. I demand an answer for this sudden rash of cold weather and snow. I will be starting a two ½ week east coast tour starting on Friday. I will be leaving work on Wednesday. I enjoy record shopping, watching movies, blogging, writing songs, singing, bowling, and eating yellow curry soup. My favorite animal is the penguin. My least favorite animal is the pigeon. The first movie I ever saw at a theater was Pinnochio. The first concert I went to was: The Monkees – Rosemont Horizon – 1986. The first punk rock show I went to was Naked Raygun – The Riviera – 1989. I played my first show in 1990 at Club Blitz (then home of Tony Victory) in a band called Slaphappy, opening for Amenity and Kingpin. We got paid $11. 11 is my favorite number. I grew up in Chicago at 5111 W. Deming Place in the Cragin neighborhood of Chicago. I went to St. Stanislaus B & M grade school and played White Cap little league baseball across the street at Hanson Park. Once, while riding a newly won (selling candy) 10-speed bicycle through Hanson Park, I was pushed off of it and watched it ride away with 2 larger children. I walked home in shock. Alternating in my CD player here are Radiohead “OK Computer” and the first stage of demos for the upcoming Hey Mercedes album “Everynight Fire Works.” I am 90 pages into Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace. I have yet to defeat the computer (at expert level) on Scrabble. Tomorrow I will watch “Manhattan” on the way to Milwaukee. There is a Stone Temple Pilots song wafting over to me from a neighbor’s desk. And who is bored?
Robert: 301 Radio Radio - Elvis Costello Well, i finished up all my work on the demos last night. Tonight as I rest comfortably in Chicago, the boys will be doing a bang up mix of the thing. Then I go back up on Wednesday for practice... and then a show on Friday. It seems like we haven't played out in such a long time... Speaking of which, I now have some help for those in need of directions to the Whitewater show... but i have to check my email and get you the link. I will do that directly. I'll be back and forth all day, but you'll see me... In the meantime - we need to know which Guided By Voices song to do for an upcoming compilation. We can't decide. What is your vote? Check the tally - updated often... March 5, 2001
Todd: Is it just me or did the blog seem a little thin this weekend? Our apologies, we've been working really hard all weekend on the demo, also, I had to work on Sunday!? What the heck? Should'nt the sabbath be spent sleeping in? Anyways, work is just getting worse by the day, today was terribly busy and stressful... Is it because leaving for tour is right around the corner and inevitable, or, is my job really going sour? Hard to tell, but I'll bet on the latter.. Spent 20 minutes in line @ the post office after work today, all I wanted to do was go home.. Bob, I feel your pain.. Glad to be off work and home now though, resting before finishing up on the demo tonight, catching up on Emails that have been stacking up and listening to Donovan. Things are a-ok. Saw the mexican last night. It was really good, thumbs up. Can Brad Pitt be in anything bad lately? Not likely.. Also nice to see Gene Hackman making an appearence, I had no idea.. Man, I'm really looking forward to getting out and playing on this upcoming tour, excited about all our new songs and anxious to see old friends that've been getting in touch. See you all soon.. Superman or Green Lantern ain't got nothin' on me..
Robert: I might as well make it public. I think I know why I didn't sleep much last night. It's because I was thinking of the demos that we've been working on (they will be finished tonight). I am just unbelievably psyched about the whole "Everynight Fire Works" project, and I can't wait to get out and play all of these new songs live and then... record them all. I think it was Marc who made a blanket statement at Panaphobic expressing disdain over having to wait until August to hear the album. Marc, I couldn't agree more... The waiting is the hardest part... I solemnly swear to post the release dates for the single and the album as soon as i get the word. I'll even do a countdown... Thanks to everyone who is taking part in the GBV game. There are a few frontrunners but we still have 4 1/2 long days of voting to go. Just like the Springfield Aqua-cars... Keep em coming!
Robert: 302 Fortunately Gone - The Breeders The heater in my room makes three distinct noises. The first sounds like a horrific bagpipe solo. It can get grating, but i usually imagine the pipes being played by a young kid/relative, like a little cousin or brother. Then it becomes cute and charming and i can usually fall right asleep. The second is like a crackling fireplace. Warm, homey, easy on the ears and the mind. The third sounds like a record when the needle has reached the matrix and just skips back and forth there. That's another sound that I truly love. I know these vividly because last night, for the first time in over 3 years, i couldn't sleep. At 3:30 or so, I woke up wide awake. I got up, drank some water and went right back to bed. Laid there, eyes wide open for 3 hours. I know cause i kept checking the clock. At 6:45 or so i could feel myself starting to drift... just in time for the most annoying alarm clock in the world to start screaming: 6:53. And here I am. It will be a bad blog day at work, i can feel it. Also, I'll be going back to Milwaukee to finish up some vocals... but i'll try. I promise. In the meantime, pick a Guided By Voices song for us to cover. It's still any one's game... March 4, 2001
Robert: OK. Here is the survey (and i'll repeat it tomorrow for the weekday wire-readers)... There is a very good chance that Hey Mercedes will be a part of a Guided By Voices cover album. Now 3/4 of us are big fans and each has a certain song that he thinks we should cover. The bottom line is: there are so so many and so many good ones that it's just impossible to come to a consensus on one. So over some pale ales at the Cactus Club, we came up with this plan: Do a survey on the blog for a week. Whatever GBV song gets the most votes is the one we'll do. So there you have it. Which song is your favorite? Or better yet, which one do you think we could do best? Pick one from any album /single or whatever... I'll keep a running tally here and i'll keep it going until SATURDAY (March 10) at NOON. That night, we'll proclaim the winning song and then rush to learn the damn thing! Thanks for doing us such a huge favor. Direct your emails to me!
Robert: 303 Cotton Tail - Ella Fitzgerald Gotta run (again), so i may have to hold off on the survey until tonight... |