Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Cream Calendar If Quasi Played Nashville on April 29, Would You Go?
Posted by D. Patrick Rodgers on Tue, Jan 5, 2010 at 3:27 PM
Just last night I was presented with a peculiar and somewhat troubling scoop by a source most familiar with the Nashville rock 'n' roll booking scene. Our source, who typically helps book shows down on the Rock Block, informed us that he was contacted by Quasi several weeks ago. The legendary indie-rock duo (now a trio, actually) apparently put out feelers in an attempt to hit Nashville on April 29 as part of their upcoming tour. They were turned down. Not just once, but by three separate small- to medium-sized popular local venues--some due to scheduling conflicts, some simply because they didn't think Quasi would draw. Seriously.
So who are Quasi? They're Sam Coomes, Janet Weiss and Joanna Bolme, and they're bad-fucking-ass.
Quasi would deserve your attention based solely on their roster of affiliated acts. Both Coomes and Weiss played for Elliott Smith, contributing heavily in the Figure 8 era. Coomes has also played with Built to Spill and was a principal member of Heatmiser. Weiss was a member of Sleater-Kinney and is now in Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks; she has also performed with Bright Eyes. Both Weiss and Coomes have played with The Go-Betweens. In 2007, Quasi added bassist Joanna Bolme, also a member of The Jicks. These three are heavyweights of the O.G. Portland indie-rock scene, not to mention that their catalog is exceptional in and of itself. R&B Transmogrification and Hot Shit! are absolute must-haves for fans of Rocksichord-laden indie-pop jams with wig-splitting, bombastic drums. Weiss just happens to be one of my favorite rock drummers, bee tee dub.
But there is hope. While composing this post, I contacted a certain East-Side venue owner, who (without delay, I might add) expressed interest in booking Quasi. It still remains to be seen whether or not Quasi are still interested in playing Nashville. We might have run them off with our bad vibes--their site lists the last date on their spring tour as April 26 in Boise. But the question remains: If Quasi play here, will you, brothers and sisters in the cult of indie-rock fandom, attend? Am I the only one who thinks it's insane for a small venue to turn down Quasi? And while we're at it, what locals should open?
Quasi's next record, American Gong, will be released on Kill Rock Stars Feb. 23. Here's a song from that album:
Comments (32)
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Sometimes I honestly question if Nashville actually knows anything about music.
It's music, not football. It's okay to support those not on your home team.
I would be there.
I've driven to Atlanta to see Quasi before and it was well worth it. I'd certainly go see them if they played here - despite the last few albums moving away from what I like about them so much (I tend to agree with Tobin on their finest works).
Regardless, I'm there if someone can convince them to play.
So, that's five people who will attend. That covers the guarantee, right?
If I could afford the cover, I'd go in a second. Quasi are excellent.
I miss Elliott Smith.
I heard—simply hearsay, mind you—that Quasi doesn't even have a guarantee. Also, I doubt the cover would be very steep.
I will lend my double-LP gatefold copy of Field Studies to anyone who needs convincing. Janet Weiss is one of my favorite drummers of all time. I saw Quasi in Chicago once and Sam Coomes ended the show on top of his keyboard. Joanna Bolme is the only person in Portland who can beat Malkmus at Scrabble. She can also play the bass, and used to drive a purple Barracuda. Let's make this happen, Nashville.
Yes! I really do hope they end up playing here...this is just crazy, I hope it works out with the 5 spot.
Put me on the attendance list.
As for openers, I'd probably say Ocelots. Mostly because I'm in Ocelots and I feel like we'd be able to relate to Quasi since the majority of Nashville venues also have
concerns about our ability to draw a crowd.
Self-promotion aside, an Umbrella Tree/Quasi bill would be pretty fantastic, wouldn't it?
Wow, I was witness to the exact same Quasi rant by the exact same "rock block" person last night, except at 3 AM. I said he was acting like Kenny Powers and he said: "I'm not an anti-hero." More power to him.
I'd definitely go - as I was just planning to try and catch them while being in SF in March!
i finally got to see them in portland in 2008. amazing! field studies and featuring birds are great, great records! please, bring us quasi.
I need this to happen, people. I have yet to see them live. Janet Weiss must play bad-ass-ed-ly in my hometown again.
It seems silly that you need to make such an inquiry. Of course Quasi should play Nashville! I would love to know who turned them down. Oh, and I would love for Six Gun Lullaby play this show! Janet Weiss is the reason their drummer ever picked up a pair of sticks! Or so I've heard. ;)
Did anyone see ES in knoxville when the giant PA fell on his guitar rack. Sam Coomes yelled into the mic "We're never coming here again!" He was right.
Quasi playing at the end of April would be the best birthday present ever! What else is there to do in Nashville after Akron/Family leaves in February? Answer: See fucking Quasi in April. Seriously. Make it happen!
If Quasi doesn't play here, I will be so embarrassed to call Nashville home.
if its true that quasi is not demanding a guarantee, then they should be booked immediately. if they're asking for anything over a grand, then i think promoters would be correct in passing.
look i hate to piss in everyone's cornflakes here but quasi is a good band that had a cool thing going...but lets be honest its not like they were transcendent heroes of some new revolutionary language of music. its fucking quasi, gimme a break. they got most of their notoriety (outside of portland at least) from the elliott smith/sleater kinney angles. if they play nashville, my chances of going to see them fall somewhere between maybe and probably. but don't vilify me if i end up not paying ten bucks to see a band, past their prime, that was never even one of the best five bands in their hometown.
before you ridicule me, consider:
a. yes, i've seen quasi live. twice. in two different decades. cool band? yes. great band? ummmm.....
b. all you quasi fans sure aren't hitting up the used racks at grimey's, where $6.99 dupes of their cd's notoriously sit in the racks for month after month after month....
I'm not going to ridicule you, we just have a difference in opinions. Also, I buy those cds used and new, and there were none last time I was checked.
Greetings from Nashville, where out of town bands who were never one of the five best bands in their hometown can't get a show!
Janet is my S-Hero and I would totally go if I wasn't running my beloved taco stand on the night. I also agree that Six Gun Lullaby should open and nashville would be better if more bands like this played here.
"a certain East-Side venue" just lost the show because a "certain Cannery Row venue" jumped on the band wagon and took it. Oh well.
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