Posted in music | tour dates on March 17, 2009
Mecca Normal - 25th Anniversary tour dates & lectures
by Andrew Frisicano
The duo of Jean Smith and Dave Lester have revived Mecca Normal, their vocals-and-guitar indie-punk act that, since starting in 1984, has released discs on K Records, Matador, Sub Pop, and Kill Rock Stars - who put out the band's most recent release, 2006's The Observer (featuring the single "Attraction is Ephemeral," video below).
The pair head out on their 25th Anniversary, "How Art & Music Can Change the World" tour - a traveling musical performance/lecture series that'll visit NYC in both forms, first at Cake Shop on Monday, April 20th, then to present their world changing thesis (see video below for a preview) at Bluestockings Books on Tuesday, April 21st.
Jean Smith says...
I wasn't expecting to be impacted by the economic downturn when I was laid off from my retail job at an eco-friendly clothing store. The company decided to close the much-loved, quaint, creaky-old-floorboard store to concentrate on their wholesale and online business. As an almost fifty-year-old (single, debt-free) musician, novelist and painter, I am perhaps better equipped to deal with variations on the theme of employment and income, better than people who felt they had security. Rather than look for a new part time job, I'm hitting the road with Mecca Normal to present "How Art & Music Can Change the World" -- an art exhibit, lecture and performance event in university and high school classrooms, bookstores, art galleries and music venues.The band's back catalogue received a boost recently when the Mecca's Smarten UP! Records re-released two previously out-of-print Matador releases-- 1997's Who Shot Elvis? and 1995's Sitting on Snaps - on iTunes earlier this year.
All tour dates and above-mentioned videos below...
"How Art & Music Can Change the World"
Mecca Normal - Attraction is Ephemeral
Mecca Normal - 2009 Tour Dates
- Vancouver -- March 28 -- The Vinegar Factory -- "How Art & Music Can Change the World"
- Vancouver -- April 1 -- Windermere High School -- "How Art & Music Can Change the World"
- Bellingham, WA -- April 3 -- Underground Coffeehouse
- Seattle -- April 4 -- Vera Project
- Battle Ground, WA -- April 5
- Olympia -- April 7 -- Evergreen State College -- tba
- Olympia -- April 7 -- All Ages Project
- Portland -- April 8 -- Holocene
- Salem, OR -- April 9 -- Cherry City Music Festival
- Salem, OR -- April 10 -- Willamette University -- "How Art & Music Can Change the World"
- Eugene, OR -- April 10 -- Wandering Goat
- Arcata, CA -- April 11 -- The Green House
- San Francisco -- April 12 -- Hemlock Tavern
- San Francisco -- April 13 -- Modern Times Bookstore -- "How Art & Music Can Change the World"
- LA -- April 14 -- CalArts -- "How Art & Music Can Change the World"
- LA -- April 15 -- Knitting Factory Hollywood
- Durham, NC -- tba -- "How Art & Music Can Change the World"
- Durham, NC -- April 18 -- DuoFest III
- DC -- April 19 -- The Red & The Black Bar
- DC -- April 20 -- tba -- "How Art & Music Can Change the World"
- New York -- April 20 -- Cake Shop
- New York -- April 21 -- Bluestockings Books -- "How Art & Music Can Change the World"
- Philly -- April 22 -- Nexus -- "How Art & Music Can Change the World"
- Turners Falls, MA -- April 23 -- Rendezvous
- Providence -- April 24 -- Rhode Island School of Design -- "How Art & Music Can Change the World"
- Boston -- April 25 -- Megapolis Audio Festival -- "How Art & Music Can Change the World"
- Providence -- April 25 -- AS220
---
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Posted on March 17, 2009 3:51 PM
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Comments (29)
"I Walk Alone" is a great song
Posted by Anonymous | March 17, 2009 3:55 PM
hag.
Posted by eeek! | March 17, 2009 4:48 PM
bring Two Foot Flame back, just for Peter Jefferies.
@4:48, being anonymous is fun, isn't it?
Posted by tim | March 17, 2009 4:50 PM
re: being anonymous
no, it isn't fun, actually.
it is depressing.
Posted by re: tim | March 17, 2009 4:52 PM
"hag."
Douchebag.
Posted by TWB | March 17, 2009 5:01 PM
Pretentious.
Posted by Anonymous | March 17, 2009 5:20 PM
douchebag fucks
Posted by Anonymous | March 17, 2009 5:31 PM
honestly, i saw them open for unwound and yo la tengo- 2 different occasions-
some of the worst songs i'd ever heard
Posted by Anonymous | March 17, 2009 5:47 PM
wow both videos are pretty unbearable to watch
Posted by Anonymous | March 17, 2009 5:56 PM
Walking the streets of Brooklyn... Looking to take back our culture from the hipsters who ruin and exploit everything that is unique to the place.
Posted by crooklynvegan | March 17, 2009 6:59 PM
looks like most people agree, this sucks.
Posted by crooklynvegan | March 17, 2009 7:00 PM
When did Jean Smith turn into Susan Saradon?
I agree, 2 Foot Flame was awesome.
Posted by Anonymous | March 17, 2009 7:10 PM
most people may agree that it sucks, but just because a lot of people agree on something doesn't mean they're right. look at all the people who bought baha men cds or voted for george bush. like them or not, mecca normal at least have integrity and are in it for art instead of to make a quick buck.
Posted by ben | March 17, 2009 8:30 PM
this sucks balls.
hey, at least i listened!
Posted by sorry but | March 17, 2009 8:31 PM
most people may agree that it sucks, but just because a lot of people agree on something doesn't mean they're right. look at all the people who bought baha men cds or voted for george bush. like them or not, mecca normal at least have integrity and are
Posted by hhy | March 17, 2009 10:02 PM
I saw them open for Fugazi WAY back. They might have been one of the worst bands I have ever seen. Her delivery was so prententious it gave me douche chills. To each their own, I guess.
Posted by shodan | March 17, 2009 10:31 PM
All I got to say is, let's hope your girl looks that foxy when she's older.
Posted by Regular reader | March 17, 2009 10:52 PM
How could you NOT like this?
Posted by Anonymous | March 17, 2009 10:59 PM
fine breasts
Posted by Anonymous | March 18, 2009 7:39 AM
this is the crowd that likes limp shit like antony and the johnsons. gimmie a break. learn some history you turds.
also, the sexism on this blog is fucking astounding. and consistent.
Posted by Anonymous | March 18, 2009 9:01 PM
i can write lyrics like that...
"watermelons on a summer day,
laughing voices that cannot be heard,
I am driving into your soul,
whether or not my engine can take it.
fountains of time spring forth,
bathing us in endless ages,
but the fires still burn bright in heaven,
and i retreat into you."
fin
Posted by Anonymous | March 19, 2009 9:58 AM
there is a raw honesty in mecca normal that is missing today. they are brave w/o pretention. beautiful in everyway.
Posted by Jonathan | March 21, 2009 10:27 AM
susan sarandon - minus cleveage and a current unretouched william hurt - with an axe. spare us.
Posted by Anonymous | March 22, 2009 8:09 PM
wow - everyone's a star in an anonymous comment corral. too bad many who downplay will never experience the insight and motivation that this duo proffers. they have inspired many and their individualistic projects remind us that we shouldn't wait. create - do it now and love the sloppy, painful process.
art rules ignorance drools
Posted by alison | April 23, 2009 2:04 PM
"this is the crowd that likes limp shit like antony and the johnsons. gimmie a break. learn some history you turds.
also, the sexism on this blog is fucking astounding. and consistent"
wow... antony is more punk rock than you will ever be you stupid fuck. this is all very sad. all you straight edge hardcore vegan hipsters running 'round with arrows in your hat. i wish i could be there in a few years when you realize just how uncool you really are. and for the record, "this sucks balls" is not an effective argument for anything. even if you don't like mecca normal at least they're out there doing their thing. which is more than can likely be said for any of you. it's not easy to create something so personal and put it out there for the rest of the world. you people are the reason there are jandek's in the world. you are the reason the jeff mangum's and j.d. salinger's of the world stop sharing their art with us - because fucks like you don't deserve it.
Posted by RaySuzuki | May 28, 2009 8:51 AM
I came here via the link on Carrie Brownstein's NPR site.
Not my cup of tea. But there's no need for the hate.
Jay Bennett RIP!!
Posted by Rick rude | May 28, 2009 10:46 AM
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click-me
Posted by fgb | June 3, 2009 12:22 PM
I met Mecca Normal on this most recent tour and regardless what you think about the music, they are some of the nicest musicians you will ever meet. Everyone is entitled to their opinions on the music but personal attacks are too much
Posted by Cliff | June 5, 2009 5:52 PM
THANK YOU FOR THE USEFUL INFORMATION
Posted by AVC CONVERTER | January 28, 2010 3:44 AM