There is nothing worse than an undetermined person.
My ex-husband, who is a musician, used to do a bang up cover of Sub Space Biographies by Guided By Voices. I don’t listen to them much anymore (for reasons too obvious to mention) but I dragged this song out today because it is our friend Nate’s birthday and he hates Guided by Voices (other than this one song) and I feel like it is my duty as an American with good taste in music to passive aggressively argue with him about this particular issue on the internets in honor of his 30th birthday. And I love this song, despite its being tangled up in some embarrassing emotions. Feelings are uncomfortable making.
I saw Guided By Voices at Berbati’s during their final tour and it was probably the best live show I’ve ever been to - save for seeing Duran Duran when I was 10 at the San Diego Sports Arena which doesn’t really count because I was pretty straight edge at the time, other than the odd cheeseburger or coke bump. Anyway, GBV fans are rabid, but rabid in a nice Joss Whedon-y way, where they hug you while singing along and make sure you have a beer in your hand and that no one hurts you with their imitation Robert Pollard high kicks. I think because Robert Pollard is such a rocky roll fan boy himself, he usually buys the crowd a bottle of whiskey and a case of beer and then lets them sing into the microphone with him. He gets just as wasted, if not wasted-er, as his audience and although he is dangerously close to breaking his hip while in high kick mode, he WILL NOT STOP DOING IT. For Portlanders, A GBV show is like when someone is doing the best karaoke you’ve ever seen at Chopsticks and everyone runs up to dance and like five guys are all hugging each other and singing the words really loud and breaking glasses on the floor…only 800 times better than that. And without the creepy staring dudes. Also, Bob Pollard has the softest hands I’ve ever felt on a man. I can only assume he moisturizes vigorously for some reason. Over and over again.
Anyway, what I am trying to say is Happy Birthday Nate, Happy Unofficial GBV Day Pip/Robert, and Happy Embrace Your Uncomfortable Emotions Day to everyone (okay me). Now, everybody better back the fuck up because I have some microphone twirling to do. WHAT? I work from home. ALONE.
Subscribe to my RSS Feed
13 comments
that song is pretty good… but seriously, when you write a song like Game of Pricks, there’s no reason to have any other songs. Truth be told, I like most of Alien Lanes and can occasionally groove on Bee Thousand.
I find that GBV is like the Cure and Joy Division to me, in that I like their *songs* but don’t like they way *they* play them. Covers rule!
I am *OLD*
Happy Birthday, Nate! I don’t know you, but welcome to the dark side.
Yeah, “Game of Pricks” is one of the greatest songs ever written, hands down. Before I clicked through to the YouTube video I knew it was going to be the Amoeba performance of that song, since that’s the only worthwhile one up on the interwebs. That song alone is enough to ensure Bob’s genius status.
i think i’m gonna back the fuck up because you have crotch rot.
btw, 30 is the new 20.
Yeah!
What he said.
First, never could get into Guided By Voices. Good friend of mine loves them. Same guy’s a big Modest Mouse fan. Don’t like them, either. I don’t know why we’re friends.
Second…
Being old and out of touch, I’m not sure if this is still the case, but it seems like shows at Berbati’s Pan are always a blast.
I saw Tenacious D there several years ago… 1999, I think? Maybe earlier…
Anyway, great venue for that. And I got to meet and drink a beer with Jack Black and Kyle Gass before the show. Would have ended up at a post-show party with them, too, if my roommate/designated driver hadn’t been so drunk that he fell and broke his wrist. Selfish bastard.
Crotch Rot!
There.
I said it too.
GAH!
Nate - I am OLDER. Ok, fine. And I will admit to liking The Hold Steady. Just this ONCE.
Melissa- Omg…it is dark, isn’t it? By 40 we’ll be black. What?
Rob- Game of pricks is an aweosme song but my favoritest is Striped White Jets
Ken- NOOOOOOO. You have infected my blog with that term. YOU SIR, are the one with the crotch rot. Right? ( Internet, none of us have the crotch rot. We are all too beautiful).
Kristen - Yay! I’m 24!
Justin - You shut it about Guided By Voices. They are delicious. But you can talk to Dane about Tenacious D.
Kristen - NOOOOOOOOO. I HATE YOU (with love).
BOP BOP BOP! BOP BOP BOP BAAAH DAH
This post gave me shivers of wonder and excitement. But of course, I do have to point out, that Subspace Biographies was played by GBV live a shitload, but it was only released on Robert Pollard’s solo album “Waved Out,” where the famous live “bop bop bops” were replaced with guitar.
And happy birthday, Nate.
Get an awesome free live version of this song at this webpage:
http://www.gbvdb.com/bughouse.asp
Better than the album version!
Also download the Psychic Pilots Clock Out. In fact, download the whole damn thing. It is amazing. And free.
Mariah Carey > GBV
That is all. Well, maybe not. Since I know how you like comments about the AIDS…
beer > AIDS
I’ve never heard of GBV.
Clearly, I’m not Indie enough to hang on your blog.
Robert-Thank you, I will! It’s high time I reclaimed some GBV in my new life.
Nels- No. Just no.
Chris- You do not have to be indie, you just have to hang…which you do. I insist that you do.
Leave a Comment