If you’re a Cat Power fan, and you go see them on this current tour, be sure and give a shout to my boy Colemen, who’s playing in the band. Nice one, Coleman!
Chan (Cat Power) and Coleman, as well as Rob Mallard and a few other folks, are some of my idols and friends from the whole Cabbage Town down ‘n’ dirty scene. They are some of the nicest folks you’ll ever meet and were encouraging, supportive and just generally fun to be around back when I was a young musician in a new town (Atlanta).
In another Coleman-related item, if you ever watch the film Benjamin Smoke you can see some genuine Coleman action and dialog, including a little narrative in which Coleman describes himself as an “alien.” I especially like the scene where he and some other boys (including, I think, Rob Mallard) are slam-dancing on stage during the Smoke/Patti Smith show at the Variety Playhouse. There’s also a pretty cool scene where Brian Halloran drives the camera around Cabbage Town, giving a nice little narrative:
“Somebody busts the lights out of this tunnel every once in a while. Not sure why.”
6 responses so far ↓
1 tim // Mar 12, 2003 at 1:02 pm
And don’t forget Will Fratesi on drums. As well as currently playing in Hubcap City with the great Bill Taft, Will was also in the Go-Devils, a late, great Atlanta band.
When I first moved to Atlanta in 1993, I worked with Will at Frijolero’s restaurant on Peachtree. I didn’t realize he was playing with Cat Power until this post, Scott. Pretty cool. Although, I won’t be seeing Cat Power any time soon. That girl shouldn’t play live.
2 Scotty The Body // Mar 12, 2003 at 2:04 pm
another thing I liked in that movie was the little studio scene, in which the band performed. That was Rob Mallard’s Cabbage Town studio where a lot of really cool stuff went down: from Molly’s photography and art exhibtions to Gavin Dougan sleeping on the floor; from Taung Child demo recording to listening to “Hog Sonata.” Unbelievable stuff when I think back on everything… just a flood…
3 trav // Mar 13, 2003 at 9:24 am
I hate to admit how much I like Cat Power, because every single one of her fans piss me off. They are the most sanctimonious horde of effetes I may have ever encountered at a rock club. Ever.
4 allan // Aug 17, 2004 at 2:57 am
hey,
there are some songs in the smoke documentary that don’t appear on either of the albums. does anyone know if there is anyway of getting ahold of recordings of these songs?
5 stephen aka ursula // Nov 8, 2004 at 12:07 am
Man , Is there anyone out in this land that remembers the days of DIRT,MAGIC BONE,OPAL FOXX and the other wonderful bands circa 89-93 ? Somewhere there is video of performances ? Anyone have any info ?
6 nyckitty // Jul 18, 2005 at 10:04 pm
hey aka – yeah, there’s someone else out here who remembers all those wonderful horrible years. I came up in ATL in ‘88 and made it ‘til ‘93-ish before I had to leave. loved those bands and those guys. allen neal page, RIP. still send xmas cards to his mom. and bye, deacon. and bye, benjamin. hey, lots of us made it, though.
I have no video (talk to the eternally sexy, brilliant will f.). lots of pix. lots of writings.
just wanted to give a “hello out there” and say yeah, I remember those days (breaking down on the way to shows in athens… being in love with will and marc and everyone). glad to know someone else still thinks of those years and those amazing people from time to time. what a time it was with all the beautiful, poignant, ear-shattering music.
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