SOMMS Digest - 23 Nov 1998 to 24 Nov 1998 [ Message/RFC822 8.8KB. ] [ Unable to print this part. ] There are 4 messages totalling 160 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. three strange days 2. too-oo dark 3. "early next year" 4. whoa there cowboy... what's this?? To UNSUBSCRIBE from SOMMS, send email to LISTSERV@MITVMA.MIT.EDU with the following in the body of your message: SIGNOFF SOMMS ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 14:20:18 -0500 From: jenny grover Subject: three strange days Ben: Where are you guys going? Us: We have to leave. They're kicking us out now because we're not with the band. Ben: Well, you're with the band now. I cannot even begin to describe or relate to you just how unreal this week has been. Not only did I and some of my dearest friends witness three totally ass-kicking, soul-ripping shows in a row, but the times we spent after those shows surpassed my wildest dreams. We met all the band after the first show and they befriended us in the kindest and most generous ways. Ben Shepherd and Mark Boquist were like our buddies. Yes, I met Ben, and I got to talk to him a lot, both with my friends, and twice one-on-one we had conversation of a deep and personal nature (and get your minds out of the gutter, there was none of *that* going on with any of us. We were all like pals.) There are moments I will never forget, too many to begin to list here, but I'll relate a few, like getting invited to join them at a bar down the street after the first show, even though they knew two of us don't drink, and Mark Boquist making sure we had nice, cold glasses of water. Or Ben putting us on the guest list at the Showbox, even though we had tickets already, so that we could go backstage. Ben smiling and nodding to us in greeting from the stage, from the foot of a staircase, from across a bar, or coming out to talk to us because we were all still so respectful we felt funny about approaching them too much. Ben gave me a Guiness. I still have the bottle. During the last show, in between songs, he walked right up to Teresa, bent down and said, loud enough for anyone in the area to hear, "Here, I want you to have these. They're for free drinks or whatever," as he handed her some drink tickets from the club. (Of course we didn't use them! We kept them as souvenirs.) Or the beautiful smile and two-eyed wink I got during House a Home. Or the experience of laying a hand of encouragement on Ben's back and encountering the softest black velvet I have ever felt in my life. All the guys were so good to us. They went out of their way for us night after night. Mark Lanegan said to one of our Trees list pals the last night, "When I look out there and see those guys and know they came so far, I feel like it's my family out there." And the shows... what can I say that can possible describe the incredible talents of these guys, the beautifully painful mood of the music, the totally mind-blowing, cathartic climaxes that were reached night after night, all this on a series of stages at the level of my waist, one stage about the size of my living room, and our little group right at the front, right in front of Ben every night, our hands or elbows on the carpet, Mark Olsen playing his guitar solos right above our heads. I seriously wondered at times at the Berbati's Pan show if we would be stepped on by accident if we didn't watch where our hands were, or if Dave Krueger's bow would hit us in the eye during Mike Johnson's set. The emotional power of those shows surpassed even the Pearl Jam show I saw this past summer, and it's pitiful that so few people seem to be familiar with these guys and their music. They are absolutely some of the best there are out there. And any of you whining about how there's no good acoustic acts should check out any and all of Mike Johnson's cd's. Pete Krebs is really good too, although, as he joked to me, "I'm not old and grumpy enough to hang out with these guys." I will just add that I witnessed nothing in the way of any rockstar attitudes. I never felt like we were being handed a line or being dealt with in anything less than a sincere and honest way. They were all so humble and human and utterly lovable. Being with them was comfortable and exciting at the same time. And I will say that I heard, saw, and experienced nothing concerning Ben that I couldn't love, respect, or understand. Next person who calls him an asshole deserves a severe kicking. So, here's to an amazing group of guys, both onstage and off, and here's to you, my dear companions, and the best $3 glasses of water we ever drank! Jen ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 18:11:05 -0500 From: jenny grover Subject: too-oo dark Well, I got my color pictures from the Mark shows done today and they are really bad. Got a few decent ones of Mike Johnson, but Mark just loves to sing in the dark. Got nothing of Ben at all, as he was standing where it was even darker. None of us used flash because we know the band doesn't like it. Pictures are important to us all, but respecting the wishes of the band is more important. There are a few flash pics someone else took up here http://www.bugvision.com/insectus/vinyleyes.html I haven't developed my black and white roll, but I hold out little hope for it either. I may be able to computer manipulate something recognizable, and I plan to put up a review of the shows on my page for December. I'll let you all know when it's done. At least we snagged lots of cool souvenirs. (I also cleaned up good on some SG stuff in Seattle, mostly t-shirts, but also some patches, a hat, and the dog-tag set.) Oh, and maybe it sounds like we just hung out with the guys after the first show. We hung out with them after every show. They were so kind to us. I miss them all, but especially Ben, of course. Jen ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 17:02:41 PST From: rachel reisman Subject: "early next year" Hey guys...I know that there's been a lot of talk about when Chris's album is supposed to be coming out and all that...but as I was online tonite..and I happpened to talk to someone at Silver Management...(they still have something doing over there apparently...)..in any case...I don't think it was Susan...but I asked this person if they had any news on Chris's album..and she said..."Early Next Year".... God I hope so!!! Rachel* (IWIWSS, Mrs. Spackle) ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 23:02:32 EST From: SokJunky55@AOL.COM Subject: whoa there cowboy... what's this?? <> HUH??? okays... i don't remember reading THAT one... hmms... x |~ juss chillin here. anywhoski... MORE chris hoopla... (damn it kim!! i want to gossip about you too!! LOL) but mans... selling out?? oh dennis... please let us not go there. i think i've already been flamed enough about opinions (heaven forbid well should all have different ones on THIS list... SHEESH) of who and who's not "sold out". BUT... ::coffee talk lady voice:: i will disscuss. i have no clue who said or implied the "selling out" business (don't worry for whoever said it, you won't be getting a nice and toasty lil flame from me), but whoever did, could someone explain why they think this?? just a curious headachin person over here... that's all. i'm bored. i'm poopy. i'll chat yall up later!! adios and keep on truckin!! peace, love, hope, faith, soup and s o u n d g a r d e n always groovy, kathleen : )) ------------------------------ End of SOMMS Digest - 23 Nov 1998 to 24 Nov 1998 ************************************************