Washington DC lost a great one. But they'll always have those fantastic half smokes. My last time at Bens Chili Bowl was July 6 this year, just before Sonic Youth played the 9:30 Club. While Patrick and I chowed down on sloppy, not-nutritious goodness, our friend from Seattle downplayed her chili order and claimed Bens was overrated because "it's been around for a long time."
Three weeks later, when I spoke with Steve Shelley, he said that the band had hit up Bens that day as well, and even proceeded to give a brief explanation of the Bowl and its history to my Canadian buddies.
Ben Ali is gone. The Chili Bowl lives on.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
Yes Fuppets
Mighty blog Fuppets has blessed "No Setlist" with a wonderful review. It's the first in-depth review online of the book, and what more can I say, he gets it.
The Summer of Jenn
My West Coast jaunt included seven Sonic Youth shows in six states, meeting both Lee Ranaldo and Steve Shelley (including a two-hour convo with the latter and other friends in a Portland bar), and two emotionally charged incidents registering at the extreme ends of the spectrum. Neither of which, clearly, I am ready to discuss on a public forum.
But I can tell you this...with "No Setlist" a pure hit, it's only inspired me to get my other stuff--my first novel, first volume of poetry--out there. I think it's that time.
But I can tell you this...with "No Setlist" a pure hit, it's only inspired me to get my other stuff--my first novel, first volume of poetry--out there. I think it's that time.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Update
I just acquired an ISBN # for No Setlist, and tomorrow I'll be ordering barcode stickers. This helps my chances of getting the book on actual bookstore shelves and is necessary to sell it on Amazon (awaiting order confirmation).
Taking at least one on my West Coast trip, for Names. Kegmama will have hers by then, and I have no idea if Chris wants one or not. As far as copies for the band...this is why I wish Patrick was going with me. He'd make me approach a member, likely Lee or Steve. He'd make me tell them who I was and what I had done and that's my Sonic Youth book on their Myspace, Facebook, and forum pages.
I don't know what scares me more: approaching them in person about this book, or the possibility they may not really be too concerned about it.
Every artist--and please understand I am not just some bum-ass fan with a hair up her ass, I have dreamt of being a published author since age ten--has fears. But they also need strength.
Taking at least one on my West Coast trip, for Names. Kegmama will have hers by then, and I have no idea if Chris wants one or not. As far as copies for the band...this is why I wish Patrick was going with me. He'd make me approach a member, likely Lee or Steve. He'd make me tell them who I was and what I had done and that's my Sonic Youth book on their Myspace, Facebook, and forum pages.
I don't know what scares me more: approaching them in person about this book, or the possibility they may not really be too concerned about it.
Every artist--and please understand I am not just some bum-ass fan with a hair up her ass, I have dreamt of being a published author since age ten--has fears. But they also need strength.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
No Setlist On Sale Now
What do you do when you see your favorite band perform live 40 times over 11 years? If you're an aspiring author like Jenn Benningfield, you write a book about it. No Setlist is not just a compilation of Sonic Youth concert reviews covering the time period May 1998 to May 2009. It is more than anything else an unabashed love story--of the creative spirit, of friends, of discoveries, of life. Aided and abetted by 44 pages of tremendous color photos (some personal, most shots from select concerts), these journals immerse you into the experience of countless miles on the bus or plane, exploring the sights, and meeting numerous other Sonic Youth fans at home and abroad. No Setlist is a must-have for not only Sonic Youth fans, but also anyone seeking to understand the unique mindset of that beautiful beast, the "hardcore fan."
Visit this site to see more info and place your order.
This is my first book, and I'm beyond thrilled to finally have it out. This has been my dream since I was ten years old.
Visit this site to see more info and place your order.
This is my first book, and I'm beyond thrilled to finally have it out. This has been my dream since I was ten years old.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
A No Setlist Update
I've found an online publisher and am now using Microsoft Word to transfer and modify (appearance only, not the actual text...I have to live with that) my manuscript. Afterwards, I'll create the cover using the provided template and collage photo by one Patrick S.
To elucidate: I've seen 40 Sonic Youth shows since 1998. This book is a journal of those shows and times.
To give you a little insight, here are the page counts of my chapters so far:
ABOARD A LEAKY VESSEL--20 pages
THIS EXPERIENCE BLUE--8 pages
SCENE--5 pages
SHE'S ILLIN'--6 pages
BANANAFISH--6 pages
SO LONG SUCCOR--3 pages
HOT DOGS AND COOL SHEEP--11 pages
NATTY BOHS AND RATTY CLOTHES--6 pages
NOT EXACTLY HUMAN--5 pages
ON DISPLAY NOW--4 pages
PUNCH N TARTS--11 pages
MY MOM THE MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST--3 pages
IGNOBLE CHATS--8 pages
STANDING AND STINKING--10 pages
THE OVERWHELMED UNDERGROUND--24 pages
EVERYBODY'S SWEATIN' AT ME--7 pages
THE FLYING ACE VS. THE 9:30 CLUB--12 pages
KILL TIME--45 pages (damn near a novella)
RARING ROCK--4 pages
LOVE SICK--8 pages
PIPELINE--15 pages
REBOARDING A LEAKY VESSEL--12 pages
YES SETLIST--4 pages
A DAY AT THE FACTORY--4 pages
THE LUCK OF DIRT--6 pages
So that's 247 pages so far...it looks like this will go between 300-320. Fucking coolness.
To elucidate: I've seen 40 Sonic Youth shows since 1998. This book is a journal of those shows and times.
To give you a little insight, here are the page counts of my chapters so far:
ABOARD A LEAKY VESSEL--20 pages
THIS EXPERIENCE BLUE--8 pages
SCENE--5 pages
SHE'S ILLIN'--6 pages
BANANAFISH--6 pages
SO LONG SUCCOR--3 pages
HOT DOGS AND COOL SHEEP--11 pages
NATTY BOHS AND RATTY CLOTHES--6 pages
NOT EXACTLY HUMAN--5 pages
ON DISPLAY NOW--4 pages
PUNCH N TARTS--11 pages
MY MOM THE MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST--3 pages
IGNOBLE CHATS--8 pages
STANDING AND STINKING--10 pages
THE OVERWHELMED UNDERGROUND--24 pages
EVERYBODY'S SWEATIN' AT ME--7 pages
THE FLYING ACE VS. THE 9:30 CLUB--12 pages
KILL TIME--45 pages (damn near a novella)
RARING ROCK--4 pages
LOVE SICK--8 pages
PIPELINE--15 pages
REBOARDING A LEAKY VESSEL--12 pages
YES SETLIST--4 pages
A DAY AT THE FACTORY--4 pages
THE LUCK OF DIRT--6 pages
So that's 247 pages so far...it looks like this will go between 300-320. Fucking coolness.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Live Blogging SY at Primavera Sound Festival
Thanks to WFMU's stream. They are a rare gem.
First hipped to this via the SYG, via one of my favorite people on there, then reminded a few hours later via Dave Markey's Facebook. The Internet helps us play.
The WFMU guys give us all the play-by-play as the band steps onstage. NPR wouldn't do that shit. They'd say Corin Tucker's son was a girl. Which they did. Apparently Corin had a daughter last year though, so it's all to the goodness.
--"Amish Heat", I mean "Brother James"! Steve is high in the mix. Thank Godfrey Jones. Kim just fucking showed every woman who steps in front of a microphone how to tear shit up, including the throat. Goddess.
--These pauses are fucking hot!
--Oh shit, I hear "Sacred Trickster" strumming. It must suck to be an SY fan at these festivals. Too many people, who stink, and the band is still working out the kinks. For these guys though, it's kinda doesn't suck, 'cause Kim just destroyed the planet Venus. I'll miss it.
--"Hey Joni", yes, of all DDN tracks to keep in the setlist, this was a brilliant choice. The new "Eric's Trip"? I sure hope so.
"K-k-k-kick it!" July hurry up. Please. Fuck Christmas.
What year is it really, dude? 2009. Sonic Youth are still so vital it hurts.
--"No Way". I still like it better on record. I remember seeing it in Brooklyn last year, and thinking it was a nice track, could definitely hear the Greg Sage-icity on it. Lee on the chorus with T-bone.
--"Calming the Snake". Also saw this in Brooklyn, and was far more impressed. No idea why they put the echo effect on Kim's vocals on the record. Well for the "chorus" yeah, it works, but totally unnecessary for the verses.
--Lee just put his "Delay King" crown atop his grey head and we go into "Antenna", probably my favorite off The Eternal. A little of the delicacy is lost live. Lee and Thurston sounding good together. Not like when they did "Unwind" live. I don't know what the hell was going on back then.
You know, if I wanted delicacy in my concerts I'd go see Moldy Peaches or some crap.
Lee is outta control.
--I didn't want the intro for "The Sprawl" to end, except I did, 'cause you know. They had the whole rest of the song. Those were the only parts that turned me on.
--"'Cross the Breeze". Sorry I'm not saying much, but I am at an utter loss when listening to beauty such as this. Such as them.
--"Once in a while, the guitars go out of tune."
Greenlight just posted the setlist on SYG. Kills the drama, but the dramas overrated.
"Anti-Orgasm" now and the hummingbird morse code "UH"s sound bliss.
Somebody just fucked up HARD. That whole second verse was anti-climax.
--"Leaky Lifeboat". Love the title, love the song, love Corso. I always called my body a "leaky vessel" after that phrase.
La la la la Thurston's jet-lagged.
Kim is the only one at this point. There she goes. Thurston, it's called DEVOTION, my dude. It's a lotion that Mark Mothersbaugh produces, USE IT ALL OVER YO' BODY.
--Lee's finest moment on the newie, finally. (And no, it's not "Walkin' Blue".)
No Kim on the chorus? Oh come on. I know she didn't sound ideal during the "Jools Holland" performance, oh here she is. Sounding better.
Lee just kinda mumbled that last bit. Haha, remember when Carrie Brownstein would just wing it during "Words and Guitar" at the last ever SK East Coast show? Haha, I'm bringing up Sleater Kinney 'cause that was a great show and they should come back 'cause music is 56% suckier without them. Resurrect the fucking Spells at least!
--Thurston is about to pass out. Was that "fuck for honesty"? I hope so. They've played "Tom Violence" 900 times and dude's blanking! Oh well.
--"Pink Steam" is interesting to bring back out. I'm on record as loving this song, and I do...'till Thurston starts in with that "lovely lover" shit. He won't forget these lyrics, trust. The instrumental passages though? Shiiiiiiit.
Wow, I don't recall "PS" being so...brash before. Thumbs skyward.
--Kim Gordon is ready to pounce someone. Thurston better hope it's him.
--Neil Young didn't give WFMU permission to broadcast his shit? What, you're better than them? You ain't even better than David Crosby, per Jim O'Rourke.
--Naomi just texted me. Just in time for "Bull in the Heather"!
--And now we're talking during "Expressway". Jealous much, bitch?
First hipped to this via the SYG, via one of my favorite people on there, then reminded a few hours later via Dave Markey's Facebook. The Internet helps us play.
The WFMU guys give us all the play-by-play as the band steps onstage. NPR wouldn't do that shit. They'd say Corin Tucker's son was a girl. Which they did. Apparently Corin had a daughter last year though, so it's all to the goodness.
--"Amish Heat", I mean "Brother James"! Steve is high in the mix. Thank Godfrey Jones. Kim just fucking showed every woman who steps in front of a microphone how to tear shit up, including the throat. Goddess.
--These pauses are fucking hot!
--Oh shit, I hear "Sacred Trickster" strumming. It must suck to be an SY fan at these festivals. Too many people, who stink, and the band is still working out the kinks. For these guys though, it's kinda doesn't suck, 'cause Kim just destroyed the planet Venus. I'll miss it.
--"Hey Joni", yes, of all DDN tracks to keep in the setlist, this was a brilliant choice. The new "Eric's Trip"? I sure hope so.
"K-k-k-kick it!" July hurry up. Please. Fuck Christmas.
What year is it really, dude? 2009. Sonic Youth are still so vital it hurts.
--"No Way". I still like it better on record. I remember seeing it in Brooklyn last year, and thinking it was a nice track, could definitely hear the Greg Sage-icity on it. Lee on the chorus with T-bone.
--"Calming the Snake". Also saw this in Brooklyn, and was far more impressed. No idea why they put the echo effect on Kim's vocals on the record. Well for the "chorus" yeah, it works, but totally unnecessary for the verses.
--Lee just put his "Delay King" crown atop his grey head and we go into "Antenna", probably my favorite off The Eternal. A little of the delicacy is lost live. Lee and Thurston sounding good together. Not like when they did "Unwind" live. I don't know what the hell was going on back then.
You know, if I wanted delicacy in my concerts I'd go see Moldy Peaches or some crap.
Lee is outta control.
--I didn't want the intro for "The Sprawl" to end, except I did, 'cause you know. They had the whole rest of the song. Those were the only parts that turned me on.
--"'Cross the Breeze". Sorry I'm not saying much, but I am at an utter loss when listening to beauty such as this. Such as them.
--"Once in a while, the guitars go out of tune."
Greenlight just posted the setlist on SYG. Kills the drama, but the dramas overrated.
"Anti-Orgasm" now and the hummingbird morse code "UH"s sound bliss.
Somebody just fucked up HARD. That whole second verse was anti-climax.
--"Leaky Lifeboat". Love the title, love the song, love Corso. I always called my body a "leaky vessel" after that phrase.
La la la la Thurston's jet-lagged.
Kim is the only one at this point. There she goes. Thurston, it's called DEVOTION, my dude. It's a lotion that Mark Mothersbaugh produces, USE IT ALL OVER YO' BODY.
--Lee's finest moment on the newie, finally. (And no, it's not "Walkin' Blue".)
No Kim on the chorus? Oh come on. I know she didn't sound ideal during the "Jools Holland" performance, oh here she is. Sounding better.
Lee just kinda mumbled that last bit. Haha, remember when Carrie Brownstein would just wing it during "Words and Guitar" at the last ever SK East Coast show? Haha, I'm bringing up Sleater Kinney 'cause that was a great show and they should come back 'cause music is 56% suckier without them. Resurrect the fucking Spells at least!
--Thurston is about to pass out. Was that "fuck for honesty"? I hope so. They've played "Tom Violence" 900 times and dude's blanking! Oh well.
--"Pink Steam" is interesting to bring back out. I'm on record as loving this song, and I do...'till Thurston starts in with that "lovely lover" shit. He won't forget these lyrics, trust. The instrumental passages though? Shiiiiiiit.
Wow, I don't recall "PS" being so...brash before. Thumbs skyward.
--Kim Gordon is ready to pounce someone. Thurston better hope it's him.
--Neil Young didn't give WFMU permission to broadcast his shit? What, you're better than them? You ain't even better than David Crosby, per Jim O'Rourke.
--Naomi just texted me. Just in time for "Bull in the Heather"!
--And now we're talking during "Expressway". Jealous much, bitch?
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