MEOW MIX vol. 6 -- I say "Dirty Deeds," you say "Back in Black"

Our two cats, Vernon & Cheswick, were extremely hostile towards each other for the first few weeks. Gradually, they’ve become fast friends and have even taken up grooming the other, something that appears very gay. But we’re a tolerant people and have no problem with homosexuality human-wise or kitty-wise.

This is the sixth installment of the ridiculously named Meow Mix series. On the mix, you’ll find wonderful tracks from WIRE, Lightnin’ Hopkins (a favorite of the Swan Fungus blog), Tom Waits, The Handsome Family and Elliott Brood. Highlights include a blistering version of “Clouds” by the Jayhawks from a 1995 concert in New York. Elvis Costello performs an acoustic version of my favorite song from 89’s Spike called “God’s Comic.” I heard the Vermillion Sands tune “Mary” on WFMU the other day and really liked it. Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan are on fire with “Fight Fire with Fire.” The best tracks, though, are “Buttons” by Shugo Tokumaru and “Top Drawer” by Man Man…both very unique and catchy.


MEOW MIX vol. 6



1. Everything is Broken (alternate) – Bob Dylan
2. Outdoor Miner – Wire
3. Miss You Know – Elliott Brood
4. The Woman Downstairs – The Handsome Family
5. Fight Fire with Fire – Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan
6. Life I Used to Live – Lightnin’ Hopkins
7. Gin Soaked Boy – Tom Waits
8. Buttons – Shugo Tokumaru
9. Top Drawer – Man Man
10. Clouds (live) – The Jayhawks
11. Mary (demo) – Vermillion Sands
12. God’s Comic (acoustic live) – Elvis Costello


Download MEOW MIX vol. 6



As always, comments are welcomed, as are suggestions.

MEOW MIX vol. 5 -- Silver in the Stars, Gold in the Morning Sun

This is the 5th installment of the ridiculously titled “Meow Mix” series. Typically, I try to work hard to make the mix flow well. Otherwise, it would just be a random collection of songs. Believe it or not, there is a thought process behind the way the songs aligned.

Uncle Vernon is taking a break from music, or so he says. Instead, he’s apparently decided to replace quiet, contemplative listening time with a game called “Hide vomit in the least accessible place for humans to find it.” For example, yesterday we found it under the computer desk, conveniently near an air vent. Don’t tell me he didn’t plan that.

Anyway, what I’m saying is I work hard to arrange the tunes on the mixes, much like Vernon and his hiding of vomit.

This mix is more autumnal, I think, than the previous mixes. In Chattanooga, the temperature is still a balmy 80degrees on most days, but the colors of the leaves are an indication that Fall is here. And when Fall is here, I like to listen to acoustic ballads. Highlights on this edition include “Mississippi” by Bob Dylan (who knew he could write such good lyrics?), “One of Us Cannot Be Wrong,” a cover of a Leonard Cohen tune by Creston Spier’s of Harvey Milk. That one is gut-wrenchingly beautiful. We also have an incredibly catchy, although somewhat irrelevant, song from a band called Pretty & Nice…”Tora Tora Tora.” Finally, “Mingus Eyes” is a great tune by one of my favorites of all-time, Richard Thompson.

Enjoy and let me know if you like it. Tips on how to keep a cat from spite vomiting are welcome as well. I’ve read a few thumbtacks in the food bowl do wonders.


MEOW MIX vol. 5


1. Bicycle Built For Two – John Fahey
2. Mingus Eyes – Richard Thompson
3. I’m Just a Country Boy – Don Williams
4. Mississippi (unreleased) – Bob Dylan
5. One of Us Cannot Be Wrong (Cohen) – Harvey Milk
6. Oppressions Each –Brightblack Morning Light
7. Heavy Water/I’d Rather be Sleeping – Grouper
8. Moons and Cattails – Linda Perhacs
9. Faraway from Cars – Mercury Rev
10. The Gypsies Came Marching After – White Magic
11. Tora Tora Tora – Pretty & Nice
12. Something Fine (live) – Jackson Browne
13. My Little Kookenhaken (live) – Jonathan Richman
14. Old Lady & the Devil – Bill and Belle Reed


Download MEOW MIX vol. 5

Chris Smither: Chattanooga, TN 06-08-2002

Vernon’s Brother, Cheswick, won’t eat and has some sort of stomach bug that produces foul, green-colored diarrhea. He also likes to pee in my piles of dirty clothes. Oh, and vomit. He likes to vomit too. Otherwise, he’s a beautiful, healthy, growing, lovely little cat.

I have for you today a wonderful concert from 2002 recorded at Chattanooga’s “fun” Riverbend Festival. This is an annual event that takes place on the banks of the Tennessee River. Overall, there are five different stages hosting acts as varied as ZZTop, New Order, The Ohio Players, Vince Gill etc. My favorite stage happens to be “Tennessee Valley Credit Union” stage, formerly the “Amsouth” stage, under the Walnut St. Bridge. I’ve seen some wonderful acoustic acts there, but my favorite will always be this solo-acoustic blues set from Chris Smither.

Chris Smither is a blinding blues guitarist. He’s got some songwriting chops to boot. Highlights of this excellent sounding show include a cover of Robert Johnson’s “Dust My Broom,” Bob Dylan’s “Desolation Row” & “Statesboro Blues” by Blind Willie McTell. However, the whole set really shines.

I was a sophomore in college in 2002. I think this was the first time I REALLY enjoyed the blues.



Chris Smither (Solo)
Riverbend Festival, Chattanooga TN.
06-08-2002


1. Hold On
2. Dust My Broom
3. No Love Today
4. Confirmation
5. Love You Like a Man
6. Can’t Shake the Blues
7. Get a Better One
8. Rock n’ Roll Doctor (Little Feat)
9. Drive You Home Again
10. Crash on the Levee, down in the flood (Dylan)
11. Lola
12. Statesboro Blues (Blind Willie McTell
13. Live As I’ll Ever Be
14. Hey Hey Hey
15. Desolation Row (Dylan)
16. Link of Chain
17. Magnolia (J.J. Cale)


Download Chris Smither in Chattanooga

Meow Mix Vol. 1 -- No Hootie Please!

Here’s the first mix-tape for you guys, courtesy of recommendations by Uncle Vernon himself. The first draft included some solo stuff by Darius Rucker. Uncle Vernon gave it a listen and, though he’s a big fan of the Blowfish, he thought I should save my Hootie and the Blowfish acoustic bootlegs (“Blowlegs,” as they’re known among us HOOTS) for another day.

Vernon got to work on the computer, sifting through I-tunes. His Sony MDR-V6 Headphones, though silly on his triangle kitty head, are better quality than mine. I think his musical palate is a bit more refined too. He looked up from the computer and said, “Pere Ubu, The Modern Dance…you heard it? Meow.” I hadn’t, but he assured me our listeners would love it, “especially a tune called “Laughing,” he said, laughing as only a kitten can. I asked him if we could maybe split the mix, each take a half. He responded with a curt “fuck off! It’s my blog. Meow.”

We’ll see what kind of attitude he has when I get the squirt bottle full of water after his ass.

The girlfriend walked in the room and said "stop talking the cat up again." I said, "I've never heard anyone phrase a sentence like that." She flipped me off.

I wasn’t going to post this mix because of his attitude, but it’s actually pretty good. I hate it when he’s smarter than I is.

Let me know what you like and I’ll post more. Live Darius Rucker coming soon! Get pumped!


Vernon’s Mix – Vol.1


1. Black Wings (live from VH1 storytellers) – Tom Waits
2. St. Fiacre – Burt Jansch
3. Blackfly Rag – Carl Spidla
4. She Belongs to Me (Live in 1966) – Bob Dylan
5. New Chevrolet in Flames – The Mountain Goats
6. Autumn Leaves (7”) – Tripod Jimmie
7. Younger Bums – Big Dipper
8. D.O.A. (7”) – Dead moon
9. Laughing – Pere Ubu
10. Black Sheep Boy – Scott Walker
11. Be On My Way – Mark Olson & the Creekdippers
12. Good for No One – Herman Dune
13. Goin’ to Nepal – Monster Island


Download Meow Mix Vol. 1