Motor Primitives Blog

Hi There!

2008-11-17T20:48:00.002-06:00

Isn't this a lovely flyer done up by the fine folks at Dear August HQ!?

High Noon Saloon Tomorrow

2008-09-22T06:30:00.002-05:00

Get up at the crack of evening for an early show at the High Noon Saloon! Come for the MPs (we start promptly at 6pm) and stay for the garage country stylings of the Apologists.

(Another fantstic flyer by Newlow)

Record it!

2008-08-29T08:08:00.001-05:00

We've just learned that Saturday's show will be recorded for future broadcast on WORT's Friday night show "Live & Local!"

Pole Position!

2008-08-23T14:00:00.002-05:00

Our next show will be high speed...

...Low drag.

That's a Protest Song?

2008-08-16T18:01:00.005-05:00

Since a recent article about protest songs came out in this week’s issue of the Isthmus, I’ve had a couple of people ask me about a song the MPs had on the No Camouflage compilation CD. Both friends commented that the song, Play Me, sounds like a break up song rather than a protest song.

Admittedly, it does sound like a “scorned lover” tune but that's not what I had in mind when I was writing it. One of the things that I like about pop music is that, once you write it, arrange it, and put it out there, it’s up for interpretation by the listener and can mean anything at all. That's why I don't tend to explain myself too often.

But, since Play Me is on a “protest album” I suppose I should justify its existence.

I wrote Play Me after listening to an NPR interview of some academic that had just released an analysis of GWB’s rise to power through the Texas State political system. I was only half listening so there may have been a bigger point to the interview than just the part I remember. At one point in the interview, she drew a comparison of GW’s tactics and those put forth by Mao in his “Little Red Book.”

Back in the day, it was widely recognized that GW was drug addled and a craptastic businessman (not to mention an Air National Guard deserter). But then…He was “born again.” Like declaring chapter 11 for the soul he was given a fresh start.

The NPR interviewee (I can’t remember her name), read a quote from Mao in which he suggested that communist leaders would most effectively build a support base by taking their message to people that would be sympathetic. The quote was something like “Find a sea in which to roam.” In other words, find a big group willing to listen to you. Secure their support. Then, cultivate their undying faith in you and your words.

Past sins forgotten, GW began to work the Sunday morning religious shows, bringing his message to an audience that would understand. His cause was to spread his version of good, solid family values across a nation in moral decline. He referred to his crusade as one of caring and love. Compassionate conservatism anyone?

The No Camouflage version of Play Me.

Verse 1
Don't call it caring
Don't call it love
It's more like teasing
I'm thinking of
How you played me
How you made me oh no, no, no, no
Don't call it caring, don't call it love

Verse 2
Don't say it's easy
Don't say it's right
It's cheap and sleazy
And you just might
Know how to play me
How to make me oh no, no, no, no
Don't say it's easy, don't say it's right

Chorus
And now you've found your
Sea in which to roam
When you go down
You'll take us with you
Why should you go down all alone

Bridge
Why don't you put your faith in me?
My truth is all you'll ever need
To set you free

Verse 3
It's about power
It's about life
Eleventh hour
Struggle and strife
And, how you played me
How you made me oh no, no, no, no
It's about power, It's about life

Atwood Summerfest 2008

2008-07-27T22:03:00.015-05:00

It really wasn't that hot! Not like the last time we played there (2006 I believe). Things were running a little behind so we had to set up quickly and didn't get a chance to check our monitor mixes before jumping right into What's the Matter.

There was a good crowd there by 4:30. Plenty of festival goers had settled in, enjoying the music and the scene. Playing the Atwood Summerfest Rock Stage is always a good time. Rökker, from Maximum Ink runs the stage (with co-sponsorship from Ale Asylum...Mmmm, beeeeer!). He's such a great "booster" of the rock scene and his enthusiasm is contagious. His mom caters for the stage so there's always good food and, in addition to Rökker's Mom, I met his dad and brother this year. Super nice folks!

Things were pumping along nicely when, in the middle of the second to last song...

OK, I don't think my amp actually started smoking. It just shut down. I nudged it...I hit it...I kicked it...Nothing! The rhythm section played on. Jeff tried checking the wires...Jiggle, jiggle...Nothing!! I yelled over to the stage manager, "Hey, does anyone have a spare amp I can use?" He sorta stared back at me with a pleasant look on his face.

Somehow we got out of the second to last song. I suppose we could have ended it there but that would have seemed like a let down. So I yelled to my band mates, "Let's just do the last song and see what happens!" None of us had any idea what Beautiful Mind would sound like without guitar but, now we know. We also know that I have no idea what to do with my hands if I'm standing on stage without a guitar.

I'll have to work on that.

Photos by M. Barrett
Video by M&P Barrett

Drummer as athlete

2008-07-22T13:31:00.002-05:00

From the BBC
Robin will be the one to pass out at Summerfest
Beer iv STAT!

Next Show Under the Sun

2008-07-19T15:15:00.003-05:00

Come on out and dance around with us. Take in the scene, the sun and the fun. It'll be a hot one on the Maximum Ink/Ale Asylum Rock Stage. We're on at 4:15 followed by the Deadstring Brothers from Detroit.

There's nothin' better than a black stage, in the middle of an asphalt parking lot, in July! Take bets on who will pass out first.

Monkeys' Butts of the World Unite

2008-07-08T20:38:00.005-05:00

Dr. Von Monkenstein seems to like the new CD. You can gander at his review here.

The bad news for you is that the only way you can get your hands on a copy of this CD is to show up at one of our gigs. Too bad, so sad.

Pictures from the Frequency 6/14/8

2008-06-15T17:36:00.002-05:00

Photos by M. Barrett

DIO is nuts for us...

2008-06-09T07:54:00.000-05:00

Live at the High Noon Saloon, 4/15/08!

2008-06-06T18:39:00.005-05:00

In case you missed it, RicksterM01 captured the experience, or part of it. If you go to YouTube and look at his description, you'll find that we have changed our name. We're now "Jeff Muendel and The Motor Primitives". Funny, nobody told me... so what else is new? As always, they'll sound better if you play them through regular speakers, not those little guys on your laptop.

The Model

Beautiful Mind

Sorta Like Very Ultra

2008-05-31T15:59:00.003-05:00

Back in December of 2004 we played a show at the High Noon Saloon. We opened for a couple of kickin' bands. The headliners were Digibot and I remember that their lead singer stood about 7 feet tall and was dressed in a Santa outfit complete with a white beard that obscured his entire face. I've probably walked by him a million times since then and still don't know what he looks like.

The band that played right after us was Tangy. They had this great double guitar attack that was just the right amount of "in your face" and nicely tempered by some great lyrics. We've not played together since that night. Both Tangy and the Motor Primitives have gone through line-up changes and each band's sound have evolved quite a bit.

But, at last, we're together again! We'll be playing a show with Tangy and the August Teens on June 14th at the Frequency. The cool thing about this show is that we might just pull it together and have some CDs available of our most recent recordings...Maybe!

One thing IS for sure, Tangy's got a new album out and will have it available. I'm looking forward to picking up my copy! It's called Sorta Like Very Ultra and you can read a little about it here.

Hertz so good!

2008-05-26T17:43:00.003-05:00

It's been a quite a while since the last MP posting. Various real life events have kept all of us away from the pixilated world of the computer screen. But for the hand full of people that actually read this blog we have a little bit of news.

We'll be playing a new club in town on Saturday, June 14th. The place is called The Frequency and it's located at 121 W. Main (where the old Slipper Club was). The club officially opens next week under the ownership of Darwin Sampson. There's a little article about the club here.

As for June 14th, we'll be the first of three bands starting at 9:30. Tangy is second followed by the August Teens. It feels like forever since we last played.

Go to this show!

2008-05-12T23:00:00.003-05:00

Hey, all you Motor Primitives friends, go see Enter The Haggis at the Majestic Theater this Wednesday, May 14. You'll be glad you did. They rock. Seriously. Awesome bass player.

I tried to get the MPs on the bill, but failed most heinously. Maybe next time.

Midweek at the HNS

2008-04-17T17:49:00.004-05:00

Thanks to all that came out to the High Noon Saloon on Tuesday Night for a little Happy Hour gig/celebration!

And a special thanks to all who bought me a birthday drinkie! Thanks Robin, Jeff, Jeff, Eric, Brad.....OK, that's as many as I can remember. Thanks to everyone else who made the kind offered but, five is quite enough.

Oh, and thanks to Barb for the birthday anchovies and to Auggie for transporting Mumford to the show!

Getting a Refund?

2008-04-10T21:31:00.000-05:00

Fuzzy Pixs from the Crystal

2008-03-23T20:30:00.003-05:00

This if from some video shot by Mike at the Crystal Corner Bar on March 15, 2008

Second Time's a Charm!

2008-03-22T15:10:00.002-05:00

The last time we tried to leave town was December 21st. It snowed, then rained, then snowed. We weren't happy. There's been snow covering the ground ever since!

We're going to try it again. This time we've rigged up the van and are prepared to achieve escape velocity.

It's taken us three months to complete the calculations but I think we're on to something...Though, we haven't accounted for drag...

[Wikihow recommends "one takes a course in physics at a higher education facility" in order to get the calculations right.]

Blast off to Waukesha on March, 29th, 2008 to play at the Mainstage. We're the first act at 9:30 followed by Dad the Plow and Subatomic.

Happy Birthday Nancy Wilson!

2008-03-16T02:41:00.003-05:00

You just won me five bucks!

Tim insisted that Nancy was the Brunette. I said, "No way, man! Don't challenge my Slauson Junior H.S. memories of Dream Boat Annie."

I wanted to wager for his soul. In a fine moment of clarity, he said, "No! Five bucks."

Smart man.

The Bifecta!

2008-03-14T15:35:00.002-05:00

This ain't horse racing but we're happy to say that this weekend's show is a "pick of the week" for both the Onion and the Isthmus.

I don't have a copy of the Onion with me but the Isthmus had this to say:

After a lineup change, a renewed Motor Primitievs work up a heavier backing for smoky-voiced singer/guitarist Pam Barrett’s passionate take on Stiff Records-era rocking. Goat Radio and Sigourney Weavers open.

That's funny, I haven't smoked since I was 12.

Goat Radio and the Sigourney Weavers

2008-03-09T15:05:00.002-05:00

We're playing Saturday, March 15th at the Crystal Corner with two very cool bands, Goat Radio and the Sigourney Weavers. Thinking of the two bands together conjures up an interesting image.

Goat Radio's a great Madison band that we've never played with before. This seems strange because members of this band have been rockin' Madison for years. They've got guys from the Randy Cliffs and Sin City Injectors and have been labeled by some as alt-country. I think they sound more like good old southern rock!

We've played with the opening before. The Sigourney Weavers are just plain weird. But, there's nothing wrong with that! In fact, I can honestly say that I like every single member of that band. They don't play out much because they can't seem to get their shit together. But when they do play out...Look out baby!

Happy St. Ides of O'Bunny Day

2008-03-08T17:29:00.003-06:00

This little fella doesn't know whether he wants to celebrate the Ides of March or St. Patrick's day.

"Here comes Peter cotton tail, hopping (or staggering drunk) down the bunny trail."

Easter IS on it's way but first we have to stab Caesar and drink crappy green beer.

Come on down to the Crystal Corner and celebrate Brutus (last of the "no-nonsense" politician) with us this Saturday (3/15/8).

Word (Thing) Association

2008-03-01T15:29:00.003-06:00

What do all of these things have in common with our next gig?

Holy Orange-Julius-Ce[a]sar-Chavez-Romero-Salad-Dressing Batman! It's the Ides of March!!!

Live Again!

2008-02-29T17:29:00.004-06:00

Our homepage was down for a while because of the "foron" traffic generated by a little linkie from the Isthmus Daily Page Forum

So, we sprung for more space and...Weeeeee're baaaaack!!