Posted: Sep 30, 2013 12:39 pm
My work schedule was SO jacked up this weekend. I could only get to the opening/closing ceremonies and the Murphy's day party. But lord, did I have a blast.
Before I moved to Memphis 4+ years ago, I barely knew anything about Goner Records. I was in a band that shared a bill with Jay a few times, I had all of Harlan's records up to that point, and I had a few good Oblivians songs on some mix tapes/CDs. That's really all I knew. I got into town and was like oh geez . Look at everyone poking a stick at the corpses of punk, garage rock and rockabilly. Then I join the Goner board and think even more so. What a bunch of cynical and silly "punk" motherfuckers there are on here!
But as I hung around and went to shows and made a few friends, I realized what an amazingly keen eye that Goner has in terms of finding the weirdos out there who bring something new to the table, mixing it all into one boiling hot stew, and then cramming it into your face like a scalding cream pie. The 1-2-3-4-5 Murphy's punch of Manatees, Digital Leather, Harlan's Fuzz, Buck Biloxi, and Spray Paint was such a great example of this. What a euphoric stretch of great jams.
Overall, I think it is awesome that Goner and Gonerfest have actually made me feel LESS cynical about rock n roll, when I initially expected the opposite. Great job and thanks to everyone involved.
I am a bit sad that most of y'all missed the Friday night Lamplighter thing. Time and Limes were incredible. That was the most attentive I've been at a Limes show, and I finally realized what a stellar lyricist Shawn is. And my friends in Timmy & the Tumblers are overdue for a "proper" Memphis gig. Everyone who stuck around was rocked hard and bought a crapload of merch.