my darlings,
just saw yazoo re-unite and play a show at the (most lovely) paramount theater this week, and was delighted not only by the performances (alison moyet can belt out a tune like none other, and vince clarke’s new arrangements left me breathless) but by the crowd’s reaction to the show, which was overwhelmingly enthusiastic.
i have seen hundreds of live shows in my time, and it takes a lot to get a (somewhat stoned/jaded) bay area crowd moving. not this time. the crowd was on its feet right away, screaming as loud as they could for as long as they could.
there was just the two of them on stage, but there was plenty to look at – what seemed to be levolor blinds in the background (how very 1980’s prince!) transformed into screens onto which were projected lovely bright new-wave graphics.
lots of gay boys and girls in the audience who, like me, were clearly raised on this stuff. i remember sneaking into my older sister’s room (who was at the show too – i love you, julie) and discovering the two yazoo records and playing them until the grooves wore out. didn’t they bring my love down? all night.
all night long i keep on getting overwhelmed and emotional (like during mr. blue) because when these records came out, i was in high school. and this music kept me company until i could find a date. alison’s voice is so lovely, and so plaintive, and vince’s music is so perfectly angular and spare. compare this music to any recording by ac/dc and remember why it seemed so revolutionary. those were the two choices.
for those of you who don’t know yazoo, here’s a little snippet from their upcoming (remastered and remixed) box set. turn it up and get out of your chair.
Bring Your Love Down (Didn’t I)
x, m
hello, i just wanted to say thank you because i enjoy your blog so much. it’s very kind if that makes any sense at all. just visited with some great santa cruz gals and told them of the funny janet fine connection when i found your blog. ate 2 avocados from janet’s tree. (that’s a boring fact!). anyway, i read the whole story about your sister and her healing. what an incredible woman and community surrounding her. i shed a lot of tears while reading it. thank you for sharing this with the world and with a gal like me that you don’t even know.
your writings are the best. Thanks! Janice from Eugene, Oregon
oh, and I’m taking silkscreen for the first time this summer. I’m a tidy painter and I’ve never had so much ink all over. It’s way fun
dear janice,
thanks so much for the kind words. my life feels very full and happy right now, and i guess that comes across in the blog. i haven’t been writing nearly as much as i used to. i used to spout off about all sorts of stuff – was a time when i would have made a mockup of jesse helms’ grave and then made a video of myself tap-dancing on it. nevertheless, thank you for visiting. let’s be internets pals!
janet fine is one of the finest creatures on this blue and green world. she is a constant inspiration and a lovely, sweet person. when will she get some work on the internets? i might need to sit her down with flickr.
roma is incredible. really, really incredible. if you’re feeling flush, send her some bucks.
and now i’ve gone and asked for money from a complete stranger…
be well, janice!
xm