an r.e.m. fan’s bitter reckoning
Everyone who knows me can answer these questions:
- Who is John’s all-time favorite rock band, since he first heard them on college radio in the early 80s?
- Who inspired John to learn to play guitar and become a singer-songwriter and musician?
- Why does John act, dress, and wear his hair that way?
For those of you who haven’t already rung in (or read the title of this story) the answer is: R.E.M.
Here I won’t go into why I fell under their spell, and to this day still love them so much that I perform an R.E.M. tribute show every so often. That’s another story, a shiny, happy one.
Now, would you like to hear a very, very sad story? I thought so.
In 1986-87 I worked at McCabe’s Guitar Shop in Santa Monica, California. I set up for the live shows in “the little concert hall in the back”, and sometimes assisted the sound guy during the shows.
I usually got to meet the artists. It was such an intimate venue that we, the staff, would often hang out with them. People like Doc Watson, Ry Cooder, Jackson Browne, Richard Thompson, and John Hiatt were regulars. Newer punk and college rock artists like Robyn Hitchcock, Peter Case & Victoria Williams, the Minutemen, the Meat Puppets and many more came through McCabe’s to play acoustic sets. For these bands, it was like the original MTV Unplugged.
As it happens, on May 24th, 1987, a Sunday, I decided to take the night off. On the schedule was Texas Records Benefit. I didn’t connect any dots. Figured it was another bluegrass round. I called in sick.
I didn’t show up at McCabe’s that night.
Guess who did?
Oh, just Michael Stipe, Peter Buck and Mike Mills of R.E.M.
And Natalie Merchant.
I have to stop and gather myself every time I think about this.
Michael and Peter played acoustic versions of “The One I Love” (this was before R.E.M’s “Document” album was released in September) and “Maps and Legends”, a song from their 1985 “Fables of the Reconstruction” album.
Kendra Smith and her band Opal (soon to become Mazzy Star) played a set. A bunch of Texas Records artists including Steve Wynn, Russ Tolman, Downey Mildew, and Love Tacos played too. The musicians jammed long into the night, and all who attended had a glorious time.
You can imagine how I felt when I found out the next day.
Orange Crushed.
And, in case that wasn’t enough pain, sorrow, and regret to last a lifetime, later that year R.E.M. released their watershed single “It’s The End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” from the “Document” album.
Guess what the B-side was?
Recordings of the two live acoustic songs from the McCabe’s show.
I have my 1987 12″ vinyl single of R.E.M.’s “It’s The End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” right here in my hands. On the sleeve it says:
Side B.
- THIS ONE GOES OUT (Live)
Cassette recording 24.5.87
McCabe’s Guitar Shop - MAPS AND LEGENDS (Live)
Cassette recording 24.5.87
Texas Records Lawsuit Benefit
It haunts me to this day. I could have been there. I could have met, and even hung out with my heroes. I had seen R.E.M. live in a tiny club in Fresno, California on the “Little America” tour in 1984, but there I was just a ticket-holding crowd-member. At McCabe’s, it would have been beyond epic.
And it was, so I hear.
Watch me in NMB Live’s Songwriters Showcase – Today!
I’ve got some great news! I’ve been invited to play in NMB Live’s Songwriters Showcase – TODAY – Tuesday May 12th at 5:00 pm PDT.
It’s an online concert – completely free to watch. Of course you can tip if you like! :D
Just tune in here: www.nmblive.com/songwriters. The show starts at 1:00 pm PDT, and I go on at 5pm.
I’ll be playing alongside some very talented songwriters, so I am extremely excited and honored.
Hope to see you there in the chat!
Blessings and thanks,
-John
John Kyle – Live Streaming Online Concert TODAY!
Just a quick note to let you know I’ll be playing a full acoustic set live online from my home at 5 pm PDT and YOU are invited to join the streaming party!
For those of you who couldn’t tune in to the online stream at Velocity last week, all the bugs are worked out thanks to the great people at NMB Live, So this is especially for you! I’ll be playing originals and a few covers, and maybe some requests from YOU in the chat!)
Time: TODAY! April 28th, 5:00 pm PDT
Place: www.numubu.com/johnkyle
I’m honored and blessed to play for you!
-John
I Love October
First of all, I want to thank you for being a fan! This is John Kyle Fan News Issue #1, so you might want to keep it in a cool, dark, air-tight place. Who knows what it may be worth in 50 years.
This has been an especially exciting few weeks for me. I’ve been writing and arranging songs for my “debut album” for years, and finally, with the support and encouragement of my Patreon patrons, I recorded the first song, rosemary, and released it on September 30th.
If you are already a patron, I can’t tell you how much it means to know you really want to hear my songs, and are willing to pledge your support. It keeps me moving, believing and creating.
I’m not exaggerating – it’s life-changing to actually release these songs, to take them from “half a page of scribbled lines” (to quote Pink Floyd) and be able to have them out there, to share them with you. I’ve been dreaming about this for so long, and it makes me so happy that it’s coming true.
And so it goes.
October is my favorite month. I love the feeling of the summer passing into winter, the fallen leaves, the crisp, cool air and bright stars, and especially the spooky yet heartwarming celebration of the shadow world on the 31st. I feel more alive in the dark months, just as I do during the night hours.
So, it makes no sense at all that my next song is about April showers. It’s called let’s go outside in the rain, and it’s about love and the end of the world. Last night I recorded a “live” acoustic video demo just for you, my fan news subscribers and my Patrons. You can watch it right now.
I’ll be working on the studio recording over the next few weeks, and when it’s done, you’ll be the first to know.
I hope you have a wonderful Halloween, and thank you for being a fan.
Warm wishes and thanks,
-John Kyle