Author: whitewolfsonicprincess

on by

Sometimes the minimalist approach is just the ticket. Take one really good idea (just like James Brown said), and run it into the ground. That’s the Jesus & Mary Chain’s 1985 record “Psycho Candy.” They take one really good idea: marry Phil Spector’s reverb-drenched “wall of sound” to icy, distorted, over-driven guitars and disembodied vocals, and run with it. And it’s glorious. You can understand why some consider it a classic record. It’s all monochrome. Black and white. A big, echoey, majestic, sound. It’s also thin, brittle, and edgy. The guitars sound like electric shavers, or rinky-dink chain-saws, or swarms of bumblebees. There’s emotion and thunder, but it’s all bathed in shimmery, doom-laden, echo and reverb. I picked up the “re-mastered” disc ($5.99) at my local used CD store, 2nd Hand Tunes. It’s a great time to be into buying CDs. I’ve been playing the disc pretty obsessively over the last few weeks. It’s a perfect studio creation from another place and time. A hermetic, studio-land of reverb and echo. Edgy and cool. “Just Like Honey.” And at the end, when the sonic daggers get swallowed into silence, you are just left with the after-glow of that sound! – Jammer

on by 2 Comments

We have been working on songs for this Saturday’s “Summer of Love Show.” Songs from 1967. I wanted to write about Jimi Hendrix, but everything I started to write seemed so cliche. Still, I’m sort of stubborn and obsessive, so I’m pushing forward anyway.

So much has been said and written about Hendrix and his music. He was a “boundary-crosser” and a channel. He was a lefty, who played right-handed guitars, backwards and upside down. He always down-tuned a step. The guitar he played was just an extension of his being. Hendrix conducted noise and volume like they were his wild little children. Feedback was always a prime sonic element.  He was steeped in the Blues and R&B, but his musical explorations transcended genre. He specialized in that “high, mercury sound” that Dylan talked about.

Psychedelic always comes to mind when you think of Hendrix, he was kind of a technicolor dream of a being.  And the definition of the word “psychedelic” describes Hendrix’ music quite nicely: “characterized by… distortions of perceptions, altered states of awareness.” The first notes from “Purple Haze,” an ode to LSD, the first single released by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, included the “Devil’s Interval”, the “Diabolus in Musica.”  So audacious and upfront. Breaking open the head with sonic waves!

I can’t say Hendrix was a musical “influence,” I play nothing like the man, but I have always been inspired by his fearless, sonic alchemy and his creative, tear down the walls, trail-blazing. Hendrix was a self-taught original. He played like no one else on the planet. This Saturday we are doing an acoustic version of his song “Little Wing.” It is a stunningly beautiful song. When I listen to Hendrix’ original, I just smile. Always. Always. Just smile! – Jammer

on by

We were invited to play an acoustic duo set as part of the Coyote Arts Fest in Wicker Park last night. We ended up doing a “passionate” set in a really cool artist’s studio. It had a nice old wood floor, with a tin ceiling, and the acoustics were great. There was a small, friendly, and enthusiastic audience. It’s great when people actually sit and listen.  And it’s great when you bring it. We brought it last night. Yes, you need songs, and you need to be tight, and you need to get the sound right.

But what you really need is the invisible, intangible things: passion and energy. And those things can’t be bottled, or manufactured. Or faked. Not really. I mean, I guess you can try to fake it. But I think it shows. So yes, we brought the passion and energy. The Lovely Carla put her whole body into her performance, and I flailed away on my old Hohner guitar with total abandon. Sweat was flying. During “Sad-Eyed Prophet,”  I busted a string (of course!), but I’m getting really expert at re-stringing in the moment, and it didn’t seem to kill the vibe or momentum of the show. We just plunged back in without hesitation. We totally committed ourselves to the moment. And that’s the world baby! – Jammer

on by

I just don’t have the rock and roll lifestyle thing worked out. We played a show last night at a classic Chicago neighborhood bar. It was another thrilling performance for our band whitewolfsonicprincess. It’s funny we thought we were a tight, committed band, but the last shows have shown that there are levels to tightness and commitment. We have entered a new phase, where the tightness, the connectedness have opened to a new looseness and confidence. Exhilarating and satisfying. And the hardcore drinkers at the bar stopped, listened, applauded, bended our ears to tell us how much the enjoyed the show and bought CDs too… definitely some kind of endorsement.

But anyway, up late and up early too. If I was totally rock and roll I’d sleep to noon for sure. But it seems no matter how late I stay up, I’m up early, brewing my coffee, checking out the internet, (this Hula Cam from Burning Man 2012 is amazing)… and listening to music too.

This morning I’m listening to Lou Reed and John Cale’s tribute to Andy Warhol, “Songs For Drella.” It was released in 1987.  I have no clue why it took me so long to finally buy it and listen to it. Maybe I read a bad review or something. New resolution – never fucking listen to a reviewer! The disc is just so beautiful, touching, amazing. I picked it up yesterday at the used CD store, and I’m so glad I grabbed it. I’m listening to it now, second time through this morning… it’s just such great, thrilling work. Love it. Sad too. Funny too. A great, great set of music… and oh yeah, I’m such an admirer of Andy Warhol… one of the greatest artists ever… so inspiring… I miss him too Lou! “All that matters is work.” – Andy Warhol – Jammer

on by

“I’ve been falling so long it’s like gravity’s gone and I’m just floating.” – Mike Cooley, Drive By Truckers

Will I Miss the Sky?
Good morning existential crisis, your arrival is like the punch-line in a good joke. Things happen. We live in a little community where you see the same people all the time, you know the shop-keepers, neighbors and resturant owners, for good and bad. You say hello to the passing scene, spark up little conversations about this and that. Then one day something happens. A fluke accident. Death. Death, you are now a stranger, one day you will be a close friend. You try to remember the face, the laugh, you hear lines like “Will I miss the city lights? Will I miss the snow? Will I miss the laughter? Will I miss the jokes? Will I miss touch? Will I miss love? Will I miss you?”  – Yoko Ono

Time on your side. vs. Time on my side.
I look through Fashion magazines all the time (it’s sort of part of my day job), a line from an advertisement sticks in my head….Time on your side….. music comes swirling in, cuz that’s what’s going on inside my head… (music, colors, visions) next thing I hear is, “Time is on my side, yes it is. Time is on my side, yes it is.” The Rolling Stones. The mind makes funny connections. Time on your side, time on my side – I realize that is a very different thing.

Saturday morning.
I’ve embraced this existential crisis. Today I have it with yogurt and tea. I discover that Antony and the Johnsons have a new live album, “Cut the World.” I see the Secretly Canadian logo in the corner of the ad. (We sent 10+1 to them, along with many other labels.) I see a little ray of light. I look foward to hearing this new piece. I am inspired by the creative work of others. The way someone runs a little community business, the way we support one another in life, or the way a fellow aritst creates a new surprise. I remember the face, I remember the muse. I see our project taking flight and opening doors to new worlds. Then incoming: “Man gets tired, Spirit don’t, Man surrenders, Spirit won’t, Man crawls, Spirit flies, Spirit lives when man dies.” – Mike Scott, The Waterboys

— Carla

on by

Yes, it’s always time to choose. If you are for peace, someone is for war. If you want to “save the planet,” others want to drill, and cut, and burn. John Lennon & Yoko Ono showed us how to mix art and politics. Lennon was the biggest pop star in the world, and he fell in love with Yoko, and together they became very high-profile conceptual artists, and promoters of peace. A perfect example of how to mix art and politics. And yes, once John was dead and buried, then everyone wanted to make him a saint. But he was no saint. He was a man, a charismatic, talented and committed artist; a “heart on his sleeve” kind of guy. Whatever he was doing, being in a band, or being a “house-husband,” he was always fully committed. “Power to the People” was probably a better slogan than a pop single, but John’s heart was in the right place. Today we all need to choose sides too. There is no middle ground. We can choose to live with love and heart, we can choose a progressive politics where we value science and the planet, and human rights, and women’s rights, and gay rights, and immigrant rights, and a social safety net… or not.  But we must choose, and if we don’t, that’s a choice too. So yes, we choose to wear our politics on our sleeves too. Obama/Biden 2012!– Jammer

on by

Just watched a video of The Flaming Lips performing Pink Floyd’s complete “Dark Side of the Moon.”  What might be a weird pipe-dream idea, turns out to be an exhilarating work of mad genius. What a perfect match. The stoic, oh so British, Floydians meet the funky, shaggy-headed, Oklahoma freaks, the Lips. Pink Floyd’s great, diamond-hard songs stand the test of time, and The Flaming Lips make it a party, a celebration, and a profound cosmic adventure. It’s a religious ceremony of ecstasy and humor.  Instead of bread and wine, it’s confetti and balloons, with dancing girls and cheap, space-age costumes. It’s over the top and cheesy and oh so life-affirming. And the cheesiness is not a flaw, but part of the allure of the whole funky experience. The Lips’ incredibly charismatic front man, Wayne Coyne, oversees it all with a benevolent, glad-handing demeanor; he wears these over-sized bear paws, and he walks over the audience in an enormous plastic bubble. Wayne is just the best. He’s the leader of some weird, intelligent, cosmic cult. And all it takes to join is a pair of ears and a beating heart open to love. And The Flaming Lips have the chops to pull it all off.  Steven Drodz and his burned, beaten and battered Fender Jazzmaster will win you over as he alternates between guitar and keyboard.  The Flaming Lips are funky and cool. Pure, sonic, r&r, love! – Jammer

on by 5 Comments

We played the Elbo Room Saturday night (8.25.12). One of the great rock clubs in Chicago. A very photogenic scene. They have a real-deal stage with a professional back-line. We blasted through a 40 min set, a nice mix of originals and covers, although we’re thinking fewer covers and more originals next time. The sound guy did a fabulous job. Smiles all-around. Jammer debuted a new hat, which he has decided to immediately retire… a little bit too Fat Albert. Carla’s voice was in fine form: strong, entrancing; and Tim and Rich (bass & drums) proved again they are one of the best rhythm sections in the business. Are we in the business? The never-ending city tour continues… – Jammer

photo by Karen O’brien

on by 1 Comment

This portrait of the Lovely Carla, whitewolfsonicprincess’ lead singer, came out of a working session with the inspiring and gifted photographer Michael Doubrava. We enlisted Michael to take some photos of the band, and this “out-take” emerged from one of those sessions. The strange twinning of  images seems so gothic and spooky. For some reason it makes me think of Edgar Allan Poe and Lenore. Black & White Cool! Thank you Michael! – Jammer

on by

If you know our band, whitewolfsonicprincess, you may also know Black Forest, our edgy, on the fringe theater company. Think: “rock and roll theater!” For the last 14 years or so we’ve performed at the “Abbie Hoffman Died For Your Sins Fest” which is hosted by Rich Cotovsky and his Mary Archie Theater Company. Abbie Fest is just like the famous Woodstock music fest of 1969, except probably, a little less mud, and instead of music, it’s a festival of plays, comedy, performance, etc. It’s always the third weekend of August, (this year Aug. 17,18 & 19).

Black Forest performs a new piece called “The Dogstar Raves On,” on Saturday, August 18 @ 6:55 p.m. It’s a waring-blender of a performance piece with scenes, monologues, mayhem and music. We are excited to have all the members of  WWSP join us onstage for this performance. We also are very honored to have a wonderful guest performer: dancer/choreographer Sara Zalek collaborating with us. The lovely and multi-talented Hannah Frank is doing lights and sound. It is always great to be a part of the Abbie Fest! A one-day pass for the fest is $10.00 and weekend pass is $25.00. Check it out! – Jammer