I love your description of your response to that performance.
I was thinking of you the other day when I began reading one of the NY Times recommended books for 2024, Simon Critchley's "Mysticism." In one section called "We Are the Music" he refers to music as "fire and life and dance" and writes:
"When we listen to the music that we love, the world seems reanimated, bursting with sense, utterly alive. The only proof of animism I know is music. When we listen, it is as if the world falls under the spell o f a kind of natural magic. In music, the cosmos feels divinely infused. . . . . By 'music' here, I simply mean the music that you love . . that made you feel most alive when you first heard it and which you cherish for a lifetime."
Further on, he calls music "a godless mysticism . . . sensate ecstasy."
Thank you for sharing this quote, Deborah. I definitely feel "reanimated, my senses bursting, and utterly alive" when I listen to music and when I go see live music. As the musician is creating right in front of you, the very act of live music is so raw, so vulnerable, so honest, and so pure. Imagine stepping into a painter's studio and being able to watch them paint. Yet, that is what musicians do every time they perform.
There is most definitely a godless mysticism about it.
Still slowly working my way through the psych recommendations you emailed me. I’ll push ‘Fever’ to the top of the list for my next psych investigative listening session.
Sometimes those small venues can produce magical musical moments. I remember watching Tricky at a small venue (Numbers in Houston) in August 1998 and having a similar transcendental experience. Although I can’t remember the setlist, I’ll never forget how I was transported to another dimension that night. Young and in love with the woman I’d marry less than a year later, I can still recall the bliss of that evening like it was yesterday.
I'll be interested to hear your thoughts on 'Fever,' Mark.
I rarely see gigs at large venues. I think the last time I did was Radiohead on their 'Moon Shaped Pool' tour. Even The Smile gig I saw in 2022 was at a small-ish venue (about 2500).
Tricky! Are you familiar with Martina Topley-Bird? Tricky produced her fantastic album, 'Quixotic,' and he shows up on a track or two (she also sings on 'Maxinquaye'). They also had a child together, who tragically took her own life a few years ago.
Just watched the live 'Marina' video. It's the real deal, isn't it? It must have been practically like time travel to be at one of their gigs around that time. I'm definitely going to listen to the rest.
I used to love going to shows where I knew none of the bands, only heard some glowing recommendation, or often not even that. As a UCSC alum (in the time of Camper Van Beethoven, who I saw on campus twice), I feel a kinship with Sleepy Sun, without having to hear them. Great trip down your memory lane. Bottom of the Hill in SF used to be a regular hangout, though much earlier than 2009. I’ve seen a ton of bands that would soon play much larger venues. What you describe in your piece I call music magic.
Thanks, Steve! I appreciate you reading and sharing.
Bottom of the Hill is one of those legendary venues that are essential to live music. Thankfully, Portland still has many, but Live Nation is now threatening that landscape. Amazingly, Portland is the last major city in the US without a LN venue. Many local venue owners and musicians in the Portland music scene want to keep it that way and have tried to stop LN from coming to Portland. However, the city, in its attempts to claw its way out of the depths of a downward spiral that happened with the shutdown, and an explosion of homelessness and bad drugs, saw dollar signs and has agreed to let LN proceed with a plan to develop a 3,500-capacity venue. Portland needs a venue of that size, but not one owned and run by corporate greed. The knock-on effect could be devastating for the local scene.
I love posts like this one that capture the power of a commanding singer, the intimacy of a small venue and the magic of the unexpected. Thanks for a great read!
Thanks, Andres! Much appreciated. I love how music is the "cosmic dance" (as Maude says in the film 'Harold & Maude') and the universal language for all of us. No matter what the music genre is, it impacts us differently, yet similarly at the same time.
I remember Sleepy Sun. I remember liking them, but I also don't remember anything about them—and it's likely that's because I found out about them in the later period and they fell into the pile. I obviously need to go backwards.
I recognize ‘Fever’ from the cover. Funny you bring up The Hive, I’ve been hammering terrible words together about one of the best-known records done there, Black Mountain’s first album.
I may have known of Sleepy Sun through Comets on Fire adjacent people? They were also from Santa Cruz. But maybe also from a SXSW? There’s a huge psych rock blur for me during that period, I think my cup was becoming full.
I do believe there is some crossover with CoF and SS. I'm not exactly sure, however. I know Sleepy Sun was called something else before changing their name and Rachel joining.
I saw a pretty cool lineup of Black Mountain, Dead Meadow, and Pink Mountaintops at the same venue where I saw Sleepy Sun (wasn't the main dude in BM also in PM?).
I love your description of your response to that performance.
I was thinking of you the other day when I began reading one of the NY Times recommended books for 2024, Simon Critchley's "Mysticism." In one section called "We Are the Music" he refers to music as "fire and life and dance" and writes:
"When we listen to the music that we love, the world seems reanimated, bursting with sense, utterly alive. The only proof of animism I know is music. When we listen, it is as if the world falls under the spell o f a kind of natural magic. In music, the cosmos feels divinely infused. . . . . By 'music' here, I simply mean the music that you love . . that made you feel most alive when you first heard it and which you cherish for a lifetime."
Further on, he calls music "a godless mysticism . . . sensate ecstasy."
Sounds like you know exactly what he means.
Thank you for sharing this quote, Deborah. I definitely feel "reanimated, my senses bursting, and utterly alive" when I listen to music and when I go see live music. As the musician is creating right in front of you, the very act of live music is so raw, so vulnerable, so honest, and so pure. Imagine stepping into a painter's studio and being able to watch them paint. Yet, that is what musicians do every time they perform.
There is most definitely a godless mysticism about it.
Thank you, as well, for the restack!
Still slowly working my way through the psych recommendations you emailed me. I’ll push ‘Fever’ to the top of the list for my next psych investigative listening session.
Sometimes those small venues can produce magical musical moments. I remember watching Tricky at a small venue (Numbers in Houston) in August 1998 and having a similar transcendental experience. Although I can’t remember the setlist, I’ll never forget how I was transported to another dimension that night. Young and in love with the woman I’d marry less than a year later, I can still recall the bliss of that evening like it was yesterday.
I'll be interested to hear your thoughts on 'Fever,' Mark.
I rarely see gigs at large venues. I think the last time I did was Radiohead on their 'Moon Shaped Pool' tour. Even The Smile gig I saw in 2022 was at a small-ish venue (about 2500).
Tricky! Are you familiar with Martina Topley-Bird? Tricky produced her fantastic album, 'Quixotic,' and he shows up on a track or two (she also sings on 'Maxinquaye'). They also had a child together, who tragically took her own life a few years ago.
This is phenomenally infectious enthusiasm even though I have not yet heard the music. I can't wait to listen and will report back. Very exciting!
Thank you, Phil! Start with 'Fever!' I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Just watched the live 'Marina' video. It's the real deal, isn't it? It must have been practically like time travel to be at one of their gigs around that time. I'm definitely going to listen to the rest.
It's so good, and both 'Marina' and 'Sandstorm Woman' videos really capture the energy I saw just a few months later.
I used to love going to shows where I knew none of the bands, only heard some glowing recommendation, or often not even that. As a UCSC alum (in the time of Camper Van Beethoven, who I saw on campus twice), I feel a kinship with Sleepy Sun, without having to hear them. Great trip down your memory lane. Bottom of the Hill in SF used to be a regular hangout, though much earlier than 2009. I’ve seen a ton of bands that would soon play much larger venues. What you describe in your piece I call music magic.
Thanks, Steve! I appreciate you reading and sharing.
Bottom of the Hill is one of those legendary venues that are essential to live music. Thankfully, Portland still has many, but Live Nation is now threatening that landscape. Amazingly, Portland is the last major city in the US without a LN venue. Many local venue owners and musicians in the Portland music scene want to keep it that way and have tried to stop LN from coming to Portland. However, the city, in its attempts to claw its way out of the depths of a downward spiral that happened with the shutdown, and an explosion of homelessness and bad drugs, saw dollar signs and has agreed to let LN proceed with a plan to develop a 3,500-capacity venue. Portland needs a venue of that size, but not one owned and run by corporate greed. The knock-on effect could be devastating for the local scene.
Sounds great! I'm impressed by your skill at recalling this event.
Thanks, Richard. It was such a brilliant performance that it is definitely etched into my memory.
I love posts like this one that capture the power of a commanding singer, the intimacy of a small venue and the magic of the unexpected. Thanks for a great read!
Thanks, Andres! Much appreciated. I love how music is the "cosmic dance" (as Maude says in the film 'Harold & Maude') and the universal language for all of us. No matter what the music genre is, it impacts us differently, yet similarly at the same time.
I remember Sleepy Sun. I remember liking them, but I also don't remember anything about them—and it's likely that's because I found out about them in the later period and they fell into the pile. I obviously need to go backwards.
I definitely recommend listening to 'Fever' and 'Embrace,' Jamie. 'Fever' was recorded and mixed up in Vancouver at The Hive. Do you know it?
I recognize ‘Fever’ from the cover. Funny you bring up The Hive, I’ve been hammering terrible words together about one of the best-known records done there, Black Mountain’s first album.
I may have known of Sleepy Sun through Comets on Fire adjacent people? They were also from Santa Cruz. But maybe also from a SXSW? There’s a huge psych rock blur for me during that period, I think my cup was becoming full.
I do believe there is some crossover with CoF and SS. I'm not exactly sure, however. I know Sleepy Sun was called something else before changing their name and Rachel joining.
I saw a pretty cool lineup of Black Mountain, Dead Meadow, and Pink Mountaintops at the same venue where I saw Sleepy Sun (wasn't the main dude in BM also in PM?).
And by terrible I just mean that I can't seem to put word together right now. I love that Black Mountain, it has a very special place in my heart.
Live music is good for your soul and most of my favorite live music events - the crowds are 100s not 10,000s. Small venues are so important!
100%! I couldn't agree more, Chris. Thanks for reading!
Thank you for your thanks. Have a brilliant Monday