Things
Guided by Voices frontman
Robert Pollard likes:
Eddie Vedder; early Sub Poppers
Cat Butt,
Love Battery, and
Mudhoney; meadows, mountains, and seagulls (which dotted the band's quasi-sarcastic, sentimental opening video); beer, Eddie Vedder, more beer. Things Pollard dislikes:
Jimi Hendrix, fire marshals, security guards, shitty rock, and "that crackhead from
Velvet Revolver and
Stone Temple Pilots." GBV were in town last week to perform a spirited final Seattle show on the band's farewell tour, and a silver-haired Pollard refused to part ways without throwing down more than a couple comical diatribes, which covered all of the above and then some. In between partying through over three hours of the greatest of greatest hits and a couple characteristic high karate kicks, indie rock's most prominent boozehound increased the verbal weaponry the more tanked he became. Of course, he had nothing but loving praise for Vedder, who attended the show, and for Fastbacks/ Visqueen charmer
Kim Warnick (who sang "Teenage FBI" with Pollard). Other targets received lightning jabs, though, including the whole "lo-fi" movement. "We were crowned kings of lo-fi," crowed Pollard, "much to the chagrin of bands like
Pavement,
Sebadoh,
Palace Brothers..." He then changed his tune, though, adding, "How pathetic is it that I'm bitching about lo-fi? The original lo-fi was
Robert Johnson." Pollard set the signature celebratory tone for the evening, which was one of high revelry between the band and their fervent fans and bittersweet farewell (to musicians from whom we'll likely be hearing at some point down the line). Personally, I also was happy to see Portlander
Chris Slusarenko playing bass for GVB--back in high school, I was a big fan of his early '90s band,
Sprinkler. Apparently Pollard became a fan during Slusarenko's post-Sprinkler days in
Svelt, according to Chris' brother and former bandmate Nate, who was also at the show.
Speaking of high school, the flashbacks weren't as strong as I'd hoped last week when Boy George spun a DJ set at CoCA--one of the few local art galleries pushing to integrate the culture crowds with live performances in their warehouse-style storefront. I wish I could say George dazzled the crowd with his vinyl and apparel selections, but the truth is his fashionista fans were more decked out than the former Culture Club frontman. And the music? I'll leave it to my friend Tom, who asked in response to the barrage of bland happy house, "When did we join the gay pride parade?" Earlier in the week, the more agile Futureheads gave angular pop the speed and thrust of a punk band wrapped in a four-piece most likely raised on Madness or XTC. The band members traded droll barbs as well as they did harmonies, coming off in a Who-meets-Franz Ferdinand combo that bowled over the packed room. Next up at the Croc: The quarterly Pop Shoppe Record Swap on Sunday, December 12. To reserve a free table or for more info, check out popshopperecordswap.com.
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