See you at the fun fun fun fest, and on Monday...�� best thing about True Blood
is EB Farnum !

--- On Thu, 10/30/08, abrasivek@... <abrasivek@...> wrote:

From: abrasivek@... <abrasivek@...>
Subject: Re: [John_Doe_List] Some odds and ends
To: John_Doe_List@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thursday, October 30, 2008, 9:45 AM






I haven't seen True Blood, but I am definitely going to track down this
episode!? I haven't done a very good job keeping up, but has JD been in many
episodes of One Tree Hill?? I remember reading a note about an episdoe a few
weeks back, but can't recall when, exactly.? Anyone been really good at keeping
tabs?? :)

the boyfriend and I are going to Austin next week for the Fun Fun Fun Fest and
then JD and Kathleen on Monday night (Nov 10th)!? I was bummed they weren't
coming to Minneapolis (my home base)?but our last minute decision to go to TX
seems to have been fate with the timing of the shows.

kate

-----Original Message-----
From: Kristi <havens@...>
To: John_Doe_List@ yahoogroups. com
Sent: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 12:54 pm
Subject: [John_Doe_List] Some odds and ends

I was checking out Tim Robbins' official home page-- after seeing him
on _The Daily Show_ a few weeks back, and he lists JD's "A Year in the
Wilderness," as well as X's "Los Angeles" in his top albums (AYITW is
at the very top of the page).

Also, has anyone been watching the HBO series "True Blood," based on
Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampire series? If not, there is an episode
called "Burning House of Love," and it features the Knitter's version
of that song in one bar scene.

Would love to hear from those of you lucky enough to see JD's tour
w/Kahtleen Edwards. Wish it was coming anywhere close to me, but
details would be nice from those that get to go.

Kristi

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


















[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I think he was in three episodes.  His was a fairly central story line with one
of the main
characters (he was in more of the first two episodes than in the third as I
recall).  The
episodes aired in late Sept/early Oct., but they are available on line at
http://www.cwtv.com/shows/one-tree-hill/episodes.

I think the first episode he was in was "Bridge over Troubled Water."

Enjoy the show; I bet its worth a trip to TX.

Kristi

--- In John_Doe_List@yahoogroups.com, abrasivek@... wrote:
>
> I haven't seen True Blood, but I am definitely going to track down this
episode!? I
haven't done a very good job keeping up, but has JD been in many episodes of One
Tree
Hill?? I remember reading a note about an episdoe a few weeks back, but can't
recall when,
exactly.? Anyone been really good at keeping tabs?? :)
>
> the boyfriend and I are going to Austin next week for the Fun Fun Fun Fest and
then JD
and Kathleen on Monday night (Nov 10th)!? I was bummed they weren't coming to
Minneapolis (my home base)?but our last minute decision to go to TX seems to
have been
fate with the timing of the shows.
>
> kate
>
>

I haven't seen True Blood, but I am definitely going to track down this
episode!? I haven't done a very good job keeping up, but has JD been in many
episodes of One Tree Hill?? I remember reading a note about an episdoe a few
weeks back, but can't recall when, exactly.? Anyone been really good at keeping
tabs?? :)

the boyfriend and I are going to Austin next week for the Fun Fun Fun Fest and
then JD and Kathleen on Monday night (Nov 10th)!? I was bummed they weren't
coming to Minneapolis (my home base)?but our last minute decision to go to TX
seems to have been fate with the timing of the shows.

kate


-----Original Message-----
From: Kristi <havens@...>
To: John_Doe_List@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 12:54 pm
Subject: [John_Doe_List] Some odds and ends






I was checking out Tim Robbins' official home page-- after seeing him
on _The Daily Show_ a few weeks back, and he lists JD's "A Year in the
Wilderness," as well as X's "Los Angeles" in his top albums (AYITW is
at the very top of the page).

Also, has anyone been watching the HBO series "True Blood," based on
Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampire series? If not, there is an episode
called "Burning House of Love," and it features the Knitter's version
of that song in one bar scene.

Would love to hear from those of you lucky enough to see JD's tour
w/Kahtleen Edwards. Wish it was coming anywhere close to me, but
details would be nice from those that get to go.

Kristi






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I was checking out Tim Robbins' official home page-- after seeing him
on _The Daily Show_ a few weeks back, and he lists JD's "A Year in the
Wilderness," as well as X's "Los Angeles" in his top albums (AYITW is
at the very top of the page).

Also, has anyone been watching the HBO series "True Blood," based on
Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampire series?  If not, there is an episode
called "Burning House of Love," and it features the Knitter's version
of that song in one bar scene.

Would love to hear from those of you lucky enough to see JD's tour
w/Kahtleen Edwards.  Wish it was coming anywhere close to me, but
details would be nice from those that get to go.

Kristi

Dear friends of WWJDD,
     This message could be one word long; VOTE!  That's my main message.
But a bit deeper lies what you're voting for or against.  Someday when
we meet in some night club we'll discuss this at length but right now I
urge you to go to the media, websites, internet blogs, friends & family
to get the facts, however fluid they may be.  You're smart & can
separate the lies from the truth (also fluid) & I'm sure you will vote
for the right guy . . . no, not the one who suspends his campaign every
time there's a dip in his poll numbers or some crisis he must attend
(not really his job), uses falsehoods in adverts or agrees w/ 90% of
Pres GWB's policies.  Please VOTE & vote for someone who can restore our
FAITH & HOPE in this country.  BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT
AS A CITIZEN & VOTE!  THIS MORE IMPORTANT NOW THAN EVER.
     Thanks for allowing me a little soap box time & for your support.
Below is a list of the different state's voter registration deadlines.
yours in solidarity,
John Doe
p.s. get yr slacker friends to register & vote too!




Click here
<http://www.knowthemusicbiz.com/index.php/BIZ-BLOG/What-Would-John-Doe-D\
oRegister-and-Vote.html>   for a list of voter registration deadlines by
state.




If you have a question about music or the music biz just email it to
wwjdd (at) KnowTheMusicBiz.com.




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Been keeping my eyes open for his appearance on the show (not typically
a watcher of the show), and he was on tonight.  Looks like a pretty
interesting character (musician and potential father for one of the
characters-- a bit of mystery).  If you didn't catch it, I think they
rerun the shows on Sunday (early evening, I believe).

Kristi

Hi All - There is a new WWJDD? blog post. You can view it here
<http://www.knowthemusicbiz.com/index.php/BIZ-BLOG/What-Would-John-Doe-D\
oFlatpicking.html>  .  In this installment John answers a question from
Matthew in Liverpool about flat picking.

If you have a question for John about music or the music business email
it to wwjdd at KnowTheMusicBiz.com



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hey Folks

I am having to part with some of my records to help pay for daycare of
my 18 month old twins.  I put up my unclogged LP I bought from the
band at a show here in Portland, OR.  Thought some of you would want
to know about this.  If not, I am sorry to take your time.

Erik

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180283756673

Hi Listers,

Just a reminder that John has 2 gigs this coming week. One on the West
Coast, one on the East Coast.

Thursday August 21st
Levitt Pavillion
87 North Raymond Ave.
Pasadena CA 91103
Free Show
JD / 7:30 PM
All ages


Saturday August 23rd
Concerts In The Studio / Mark Costanza
3 Freehold Terrace
Freehold NJ 07728
JD / 3 PM
Call or write for ticket info: 732.462.4828 or mlcphoto@...
Capacity is only 60... it's sure to be a special show

best regards,


Paul

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

John Doe answers questions about the music business in the WWJDD? blog.
In this post he answers a question from Robert who is interested in
getting his new band noticed by fans and record labels.

Click here
<http://www.knowthemusicbiz.com/index.php/BIZ-BLOG/What-Would-John-Doe-D\
oGetting-a-New-Band-Noticed.html>   to read John's latest WWJDD? post.

If you have a question about the music business for John email it to
wwjdd at KnowTheMusicBiz.com



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

--- In John_Doe_List@yahoogroups.com, "Kristi" <havens@...> wrote:
>
> Best reason to watch a TV show I wouldn't normally watch-- JD's on it.
>
> http://www.buddytv.com/articles/one-tree-hill/one-tree-hill-has
peytons-fath-21646.aspx
>
  The link will only work if you click on the whole thing, and I can't
seem to get it to do that here b/c of the line break.  May work best as
a cut and paste into the address.  Basically, the article announces
that JD has been cast as the character for one of the lead characters
in this popular teen show.

Best reason to watch a TV show I wouldn't normally watch-- JD's on it.

http://www.buddytv.com/articles/one-tree-hill/one-tree-hill-has-peytons-
fath-21646.aspx

SAFARI SAM'S
Dog and Pony Show:
Music Festival proceeds to provide medical assistance to the music
community.

click> http://www.safari-sams.com/

Aug. 30-The Knitters, Tex & the Horseheads, Joe Wood Sings TSOL, Ruby
Friedman Orchestra and Paging Beto;

Aug. 31-Dave Alvin & the Guilty Men, Peter Case, Hacienda Brothers,
the Cold Hard Facts, Slim Cessna's Auto Club;

Sept. 1-The Blasters, Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys, Mike Stinson,
Eddie Baytos & the Nervis Bros, Levi Dexter and Red Meat.

Each day = Presale: $30.00
3 Day Pass = Presale: $70.00

Thanks for the pics - always fun to see concert shots. And what a shirt...

--- In John_Doe_List@yahoogroups.com, "Wendy" <wildsyd@...> wrote:
>
> In our photos section or click here:
>
> http://tinyurl.com/5hstm5
>

Hi folks,

Please note that the John Doe show this coming Sunday in Freehold NJ
is officially postponed. New date is:

SAT. AUGUST 23RD@ 5:00PM

John's appearance at the Johnny Cash Tribute / River To River Festival
on this Saturday July 26th in NYC is unchanged.

very best,

Paul


+  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +


On Jul 7, 2008, at 1:59 PM, Erika Herzog wrote:

> a little birdie (unofficial) mentioned john doe is up in toronto
> producing the new sadies record. :-)
>
>



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I know...it's a really cool place, and all the performers I've seen
there wax poetic about having discovered Miller.  I'm working my way
through Tropic of Capricorn, although I only get to read in bits &
pieces since I'm always busy.
I've been looking forward to that show for months, and am sad now that
it's over. Luckily, X will be close enough that I can see them 2 nights
in a row in September. But I love me some John Doe solo the best....
<sigh>  I just LOVE him....
Wendy

"Kristi" wrote:
>
> Wow.  Great report.  I am so jealous.  It sounds like a great setting
> in which to see JD.  Plus, I have to say I would love to see a
> bookstore devoted to Miller and Nin.
>
> Kristi
>

Someone on the X board found one for Exene and posted it on
there...they had one for John too.  Kind of interesting reading if you
like astrology:

http://famous-relationships.topsynergy.com/John_Doe/

In our photos section or click here:

http://tinyurl.com/5hstm5

Wow.  Great report.  I am so jealous.  It sounds like a great setting
in which to see JD.  Plus, I have to say I would love to see a
bookstore devoted to Miller and Nin.

Kristi

Just got home from yesterday's solo show in Big Sur, CA.  Seems to be
an auual event for JD to play at the Henry Miller Library, which is a
wonderful little cabin coverted into a bookstore celebrating the
works of Henry Hiller and Anais Nin.  The outdoor stage is rustic and
underneath big redwood trees.  There were about 50 people at this
show.  I was so happy it didn't get canceled... the huge fire there
almost burned the library down.  Signs were everywhere along Highway
1 thanking the fire crews for all their hard work.

Lysa Flores opened, and she was fantastic!  I was not familiar with
her music, but she said she's been playing with DJ Bonebrake for 15
years.  She did a few songs in Spanish, which were lovely.  We spoke
to her for a minute after the show and got her newest CD.

Cindy Wasserman accompanied John onstage and sang harmony with him
for the whole set.  He said he just wrapped a CD he did with The
Sadies, which will be coming out I think next month.  He did one song
from that CD...a fabulous old-timey country ballad.  Songs I remember
off the top of my head:
Meanest Man in The World
White Girl
Forever for You
A Case of You
New World
Lean Out Yr Window
Twin Brother
Golden State
Darling Underdog

His lovely daughter Veronica joined him and Cindy onstage for "Mama
Don't" (She sang backup vocals on the CD version of that song too),
and they had some laughs between them.  The whole show had a casual,
relaxed vibe and the crowd was mellow.  We whooped it up for an
encore, and they came back out and did three more songs until John's
guitar cord started shorting out. Got a chance to talk with Cindy and
meet Veronica after the show, which was a big treat for us. (John
chatted with folks for a minute, but then had to go pack up his
equipment.)  I'll post some photos in the "Photos" section.

Wendy in Northern CA

Whoops!  Inadvertently sent.  Sorry, crew!  I have to be more careful bopping
those email addresses in....BB

To:  john_doe_list@...: bradbolin@...: Thu, 17 Jul
2008 16:01:43 -0500Subject: [John_Doe_List] Kris Out




Bad news. Kris just called me. He is not able to ride. Still cannot put pressure
on foot. Swollen too big for his shoe. Bought larger shoe but still cannot go.
He is totally bummed. He was really stoked to go. He sends his regards and
apologies. And wants pictures. His number is 630-802-6270 if you feel like
consoling him...Bummer!Brad[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Bad news.  Kris just called me.  He is not able to ride.  Still cannot put
pressure on foot.  Swollen too big for his shoe.  Bought larger shoe but still
cannot go.  He is totally bummed.  He was really stoked to go.  He sends his
regards and apologies.  And wants pictures.  His number is 630-802-6270 if you
feel like consoling him...

Bummer!

Brad

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Thanks for the "inside-birdie information"...haha!  I'll keep my eyes
out for that record.
I'm hoping they get the fire under control in Big Sur in time for JD's
concert there in a couple of weeks.  It's heart-breaking what that
community's going through.  And I'm guessing he does this show each
year as a fund-raiser for the library??  So I REALLY hope it will
happen.  Of course for my own selfish reason too because I adore him!

Wendy in Northern CA


Erika Herzog wrote:
>
> a little birdie (unofficial) mentioned john doe is up in toronto
producing the new sadies record.  :-)
>

a little birdie (unofficial) mentioned john doe is up in toronto producing the
new sadies record.  :-)

JUST got a chance to view this a moment ago-
�
They actually recorded 2 records ( obviously 1 of them live... which MAY be the
best piece of material in their catalog) w/o Billy...� On� "See how we are"�
Dave A. didnt really have�much to do w/ that record....�Tony was all over it. My
friend Alvin recorded�the live record �& i was at 2 or 3 of the nights that�were
taped.� 1 of those nights was magical.
�
And, w/ Hey Zeus, Billy had nothing to do w/ that record at all... it was 100 %
Tony.....� it was actually recorded in 92'�� not 93'���� obviously it was
released in 93'� as i can recall the exact date in June of 93' that it was
released...� i happened to be on the road in Buffalo, NY of all places, the day
it was released...�� i recall driving back home to L.A. with 4� 60's era Schwinn
bikes bungie-corded to the top of my rig that i scored along the trip back for
less than 50.00 combined....


--- On Fri, 5/23/08, Erika Herzog <erika_herzog@...> wrote:

From: Erika Herzog <erika_herzog@...>
Subject: [John_Doe_List] clip: Xene Cervenka of the Band X Discusses '70s Punk
and Her Art Opening
To: xlosangeles@yahoogroups.com, john_doe_list@yahoogroups.com,
postcard@..., "bloodshot list"
<bands_on_bloodshot_records@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Friday, May 23, 2008, 10:44 AM






from: http://ftl.nypress. com/blogx/ display_blog. cfm?bid=63571082

Posted to Art
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Xene Cervenka of the Band X Discusses '70s Punk and Her Art Opening

Earlier this month, I spoke with Exene Cervenka, frontwoman of revered L.A. punk
band X, that plays the Fillmore at Irving Plaza on Saturday the 24th on its 31st
anniversary tour. The concert is preceeded by the Friday night opening of Sleep
in Spite of Thunder, Cervenka�s second New York solo gallery exhibit at DCKT
Contemporary (195 Bowery, Ground Floor). Cervenka discussed the much-storied
L.A. punk scene of the �70s, her poetry and visual art, her attraction to
antiquity and the vanishing America that she chronicles in some of her work.

How has X been able to keep the live energy up, especially over these recent
waves of shows?

Exene Cervenka: I guess we love doing it. I love playing live, touring, and
seeing friends. Seeing all the kids in the audience and all the people that have
seen us a million times. It�s pretty exciting up there. I think that makes for a
more exciting show, just the fact that you want to be there. There�s nothing
worse than seeing a band that doesn�t want to be there.

When the band started, how long did you envision that it would last?

Oh, we had no vision of it lasting or not lasting.

Besides enjoying it, what was the spark that got you guys started again? Writers
attribute the return of X to the rise of alternative rock, and that seems
oversimplified.

Oh no. It was 10 years ago, �98. We got asked to do a commercial for the X
Files. They were doing this series of commercials with people saying �I�m going
to watch the X Files this year, aren�t you?� or something like that. And they
asked Billy [Zoom] to do it, not knowing that Billy hadn�t really been in touch
with the rest of the band very much. And he showed up for this thing with me. He
said he would do it if I did it. He showed up with his silver jacket and his
guitar and his amp. And I showed up just being me. They filmed us on the street.
I got along really good with Billy and we decided to get back together after
[Elektra] released an anthology [titled Beyond and Back] and wanted us to do an
in-store and about a thousand people came. It took us a while to decide �should
we be playing, or what should we do?� [Zoom left the band in 1986, and they
recorded one album, See How We Are, with Dave Alvin in his place before
disbanding. X
then reformed with Zoom in �93 to record Hey Zeus! and has toured on a periodic
basis since. -- Ed.]

Now it seems like a pretty casual arrangement with the on-again, off-again
touring -- 2004, 2006, and now. The obvious difference would be that the band is
not the main focal point of everyone�s career. How much of a toll did any sort
of pressures take when this was the main thing you were doing?

It�s a lot easier now. There�s less at stake. We�re not selling a record, we�re
just playing shows to play shows. I think there was more pressure in the
beginning to sell records and we never did, really.

You�ve said that you wish you had appreciated it more.

Yeah. I mean, I appreciated it to some extent, but now I really value it.
Because when you�re young, you just don�t think it�s going to end.

Speaking of appreciating, how much should fans be concerned that this might be
the last time they�ll ever get to see the band?

That�s not true. We�re going to keep playing until we can�t play anymore.

With everyone having done other things over the years, everybody�s grown as
players. How much do you think the music comes across differently or more
seasoned now?

I think we make up for the lack of physical energy. You can�t be 23 again. You
just can�t. But you make up for that by playing better and having emotional
intensity.

And having life experience, one imagines.

If that can come across live. I�m not sure if it does. Maybe the emotional
intensity comes from that.

In the book Forming: The Early Days of L.A. Punk, you�re quoted as comparing the
L.A. punk scene to the hippie generation, and as saying that �it wasn�t about
the bands; it was about people being bohemian even though they didn�t know what
bohemian meant.� -- what�s your take on punk being made now, and what would you
say the equivalent of punk is today?

You�d know more than I would. I�m not real well-versed in what�s happening
around the country in every city, as far as scenes. But I think there will
always be a bohemian underground.

Some people are comparing what�s happening on the Internet to that spirit, like
that community sense has moved online.

In some people�s eyes I�m sure that�s true. But it�s not quite the same thing.
You can�t really replace interacting in a place that you�re not supposed to be
-- like a club or a bar or a streetcorner or an alley -- with four or five other
people that you just happened to stumble across who have the same views, sharing
a bottle in an alley because you can�t get into the club, you don�t have the
money. I don�t think the internet can replace that.

As people who weren�t from L.A., except for Donald [drummer D.J. Bonebrake], how
much do you think the band�s take on that city resonated because it was coming
from outsiders� eyes?

It�s Day of the Locusts, that book. It�s about coming here to making it big, and
�going west, young man.� That�s what California�s all about -- arriving there
with rose-colored glasses and having them quickly removed, seeing the squalor.
We had a love-hate relationship with L.A. for sure. But coming there from an
outsider�s point of view was everything, really important for songwriting.

You�ve talked a lot about how superficial the place is, but it�s funny that you
lasted living there for such a long time.

I lived in Idaho for two and a half years for part of that time, but other than
that, yeah, I did live there for thirty years. [Cervenka now lives in Missouri.
-- Ed.]

Reading things you�ve said about how sleazy and superficial it is and how
everybody goes there to �make it,� it almost struck me as the antithesis of the
way the Velvet Underground and Patti Smith were so taken with New York.

Oh yeah, it was the complete opposite of the New York scene, what happened in
L.A. We had a lot of bands in common. But New York embraced its artists. Los
Angeles did not, not initially. Not for five years.

You moved to Los Angeles from Florida with only enough money to pay for gas for
your ride -- like 80 bucks -- to get to your friend�s house. I know you ended up
living above and working at [poetry workshop] Beyond Baroque, but how the hell
did you make that work once you got there?

I got a job right away -- and I kept my job. I worked at Beyond Baroque and then
when I finished that, I worked in a shoe store. How I kept myself afloat was I
just hit the ground running, you know? [Laughs.] It was cheap to live. When I
moved to Venice, it was a ghetto and my rent was 180 dollars a month for a
two-bedroom apartment at the beach. And I was making about two hundred dollars a
month. [Laughs.] I don�t know what I was making -- probably three hundred.

The way you were just talking about L.A. -- go West, and all that stuff. A lot
of Americans almost have like an immigrant experience there.

It is, definitely.

I wanted to ask you about Magical Meteorite Songwriting Device, your book of
collages that came out in 2006. In the preface, Kristine McKenna writes: �In the
end, each piece Cervenka has made is a valentine to a fragile America that's
disappearing before our very eyes.� I know you�ve said that garbage you find on
the street isn�t exclusive to where you are anymore, that it�s all been
homogenized, but what aspects of American life in particular are disappearing?

Well, the past is disappearing. When I started touring in the late �70s/early
�80s, it was almost like the �20s in some places! You�d still go through towns
that were just like neon paradises, with neon signs of people hammering nails
that would move and art deco buildings. Small-town America before WalMarts and
MTV, that�s all gone. Now, you go to Alabama, it looks like Missouri; you go to
Missouri, it looks like Kentucky; you go to Kentucky, it looks like New England.
Not every part of it, but there�s housing developments on all our farmland.
That�s disappearing. I�ve always just been a big fan of the past. I dress in old
clothes, I wear old jewelry, I read old books, I listen to old records.
Everything I do -- my house is old -- is a recreation for me of different eras.

Now, your second New York solo exhibition opens this month. You�ve been making
visual art for like the last 30 years in your journals and stuff. But when did
you start making collages in particular, and what is it about that medium that
has been grabbing you lately?

Well, it�s perfect for me, because it�s a mix of the past and the present.
Everything Americana that I can find that I like, I can make art out of. It�s
perfect. The possibilities are endless. The mixture of coincidence and intent is
just genius, I think. I think the medium itself has got its own genius in it.
Because there�s all this coincidence. You just find something off the street and
you incorporate it in your art and it becomes this running theme. And then you
have this whole new place to go. I�m very creative in Missouri too because
there�s lots of auctions and old things and memorabilia -- what they call in the
art world, �ephemera� -- that I can work with. It�s still a place that has its
history, to some extent. It still has the old way of life. It still has farms,
farmland. And I like it.

Maybe collage is an artform that�s closest to what someone�s actual thought
process is. If you were to take a snapshot of someone�s thoughts and feelings
over a minute, there�d be all sorts of jumbled things in there. As opposed to a
film or something that pulls you into its own tunnel.

I see what you�re saying. I�m telling a story, though. With collages, you�re
still telling a story, it�s just not a very long story sometimes like a movie.
It�s a short, little story. Like, an image of a young girl with a flower in it
can be an entire collage, but if you do it right you�re telling a story about
the girl or the flower. There�s content there.

When can we expect more poetry from you?

It�s not on my list of top-five projects, but I sure would love to do another
book. Right now, I�m working on a kids� book called Bedtime for Punks. It�s
lullabies. That�s going to be really exciting. It comes out next year sometime.
And I�m doing a record for Bloodshot in 2009, so I�ll be recording this summer.

You�ve said that doing spoken-word appearances is harder than being in a band,
and that your poetry comes across better when someone reads it than when you do
a reading. How do you deal with that?

It�s hard. I just did a spoken-word engagement at the local high school, which
was really fun. They responded a lot differently because they didn�t have the
life experience to get some of the references, but they got a lot of it, and
they appreciated it. Something like that is really special, so you just do the
ones that you think are special. Or, if you can do a spoken-word tour with a
bunch of other artists, that�s really rewarding. But just to go out night after
night by yourself and read what your thoughts are? Nah. I write a lot about what
happens in my life, too, and in some ways I don�t want to re-live that every
night. It�s different with songs.

With songs, you can put it in a frame that it�s less emotionally demanding to
step back into. You can ornament it a bit.

Yeah, and plus I have John [Doe, bassist/co-lead vocalist, and Cervenka�s
ex-husband] there to sing with. It makes a big difference. It�s much more fun
when you�re with a crew or a band than when you�re out by yourself.

How do you continue to function creatively with someone after a divorce or a
breakup?

You just do. It�s more important. It�s the most important part of the
relationship, so you don�t throw it away.

How difficult was that for you and John?

It was hard at first. It got easier. It�s easy now. I�m glad we maintain the
connection. There�s only a few John Doe�s in the world. There�s only a few
Exene�s. I�m not gonna meet a guy like that again, so I should hang on to the
one I got.

Posted by Saby Reyes-Kulkarni at 6:53 PM


















[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

from: 
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=83810103&blogID=\
408699505

  Tuesday, June 24, 2008


Winter/Spring wrap-up

No blood, no broken bones, a few flat tires, a few microphones in the teeth, a
leaky "box" on the equipment van, dead battery & alternator, no one got pulled
off stage, a couple radiator boil-overs, no one got sick and the mighty, mighty
audience that helped make it all worth it.


Fifteen fabulous February shows w/ Wilco couldn't have been better. The JD band
was, David J. Carpenter, Bryan Head & Cindy Wasserman, and though we missed the
incomparable Nick Luca, it was a nice, tight rock combo for the Wilco folks.
Though not surprising, it's reassuring to know that a band like Wilco can sell
out 2-5 thousand seat theaters in a matter of hours. What a juggernaut of a live
act, lots of interplay, listening to each other, great songs & J. Tweedy & Nels
Cline soaking up the well deserved spotlight. The band's collective focus was
inspiring & it's understandable why people like to watch that guy sing, lots of
emotion plays across his face. Also should mention & give thanks to their crew
who treated us like we were one of them, very organized & pro. The last three
drives, Houston-Tulsa, Tulsa-DesMoines, Des Moines-Austin, are the stuff legends
are made of, whew!


Dave, Bryan & Cindy went off to other gigs & home & yrs truly started the first
leg of the 13X31 anniversary w/ X . We started w/ three shows @ X's very first
SXSW. Direct TV is still airing one that we taped in the Austin Convention
Center. Then twenty shows through the Great Plains & Northwest in 4 wks wasn't
too crazy but burned us up pretty well. Best shows were; Stubbs, Austin @ SXSW,
Minneapolis, Denver, Portland (that spring loaded Crystal Ballroom floor, dang!
. . . could be the best X show in the last 3 yrs) & of course both nights in
Seattle (love to love ya baby). We came home to a surprisingly triumphant pair
of sold out shows @ the Henry Fonda/Music Box Theater. SOOO nice when your "home
town" doesn't forget you & you get to see family, friends, old & new. The
dressing room on Friday night had more empty bottles than I've ever seen on one
counter & I've seen more than my share. Plus I gotta say that both shows were
pretty smokin'.


Home for a few weeks & then X tour Pt. 2 began. Meanwhile, I played solo @ a
"Dylan Show" @ the Skirball Center in LA. All performers sang songs by Uncle Bob
& Zack de la Rocha & Lucinda Williams proved again why they are such incredible
singers & even better communicators. The entire audience hung on every verse and
melodic turn, truly stunning. So X flies to Detroit & begins a 20 show tour w/
The Detroit Cobras. WOW, those women are bad asses. I could probably take 'em in
a fair fight but most likely they would have a razor stashed in their boot or
some scary boyfriend around the corner. Kidding ! ! . . . sort of. they are an
astonishing band that delivered every night and should be much more famous than
they are. We traveled from Detroit through the east coast & south finishing up
in Tucson four weeks later. For me the stand out shows were in DC, NYC (love
Irving Plaza), Carboro,NC, Atlanta, Santa Fe & Tucson. I would guess at least
10,000 miles worth
  of United States of America. Now we just have to write & record a new record
then we'll be back out on the road next year. But look for us in San Diego in
Sept or Europe in Oct & possibly LA before Xmas. Again thanks to all the
audience members w/ their enthusiasm & generous weed gifts. And thanks to all
our families for understanding that we have to travel to make a living.
See you out there.


Xo,
JD
	 Currently listening :
Stars Look Different from Down Here
By Cosmic Rough Riders
Release date: By 2006-05-29

11:07 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment -

Auctions for the final two shows of X’s 13-31 tour are still ongoing.

Visit: www.e-bay.com/sweetrelief

Still available are two ticketsfor the bands Anaheim The House Of
Blues show Friday June 13 or Saturday June 14.

You will be on the band's guestlist Also included is a personally
AUTOGRAPHED copy of the 2-disc CD set “X The Best Of Make the Music Go
Bang”.

For all the details: www.ebay.com/sweetrelief


X JOINS FORCES WITH SWEET RELIEF TO RAISE FUNDS FOR STRUGGLING ARTISTS

LOS ANGELES, CA - Sweet Relief Musicians Fund is working with iconic
punk rockers X on a series exciting fundraisers offering tickets and
VIP passes along with a CD signed by the band for shows on the
legendary band's 13 �" 31 Tour. Ticket & CD packages will be auctioned
on eBay, and will be-available for bidding 2 �" 3 weeks prior to the
concert date. Each 10-day auction will be posted on eBay at
www.ebay.com/sweetrelief

Sweet Relief Musicians Fund is a Los Angeles-based national charity
providing financial assistance to musicians who are struggling to make
ends meet while facing illness, disability, or age-related problems.
There are many talented artists who will never be rich or famous, but
who play essential roles in the transcendent connection between fans
and music. Sweet Relief tries to redress some of the imbalance between
the few in music who have a lot and the many who struggle; but persist
in their art. For more information about Sweet Relief, please visit
www.sweetrelief.org or their MySpace page at
www.myspace.com/sweetreliefmusiciansfund.

The L.A. punk scene in the late 70’s saw its share of greatness, but
few acts were as talented and durable as X.  They were the
quintessential L.A. punk rockers that have become a world-class live
rock & roll band. Now, X is back out on tour in 2008 with something
really special. The original line-up of John Doe, Exene, Billy Zoom,
and D.J. Bonebrake! X is set to rock again!  The 13 - 31 Tour across
the U.S.A., with stops in Chicago, Denver, Seattle, Los Angeles and at
the famed SXSW music convention in Austin, Texas.

Sweet Relief and X wish the best of luck to all the fans bidding on
these auctions -  Here’s your chance to help this iconic group lend a
hand to the future of rock. Remaining Dates are:

Auctions for the remaining dates are up now at www.ebay.com/sweetrelief

from:
http://sfreporter.com/articles/publish/music-review-060408-bloody-red-eyes.php

  Bloody Red Eyes
By Kyle Eustice

Published: June 4, 2008


It is like prison-yard pointillism. A pin with tightly wrapped string at its
tip is first dipped into a capful of India ink. Then, slowly and methodically,
the pin penetrates the skin until the inky dots begin to take the shape of a
heart and a skull, ingeniously connected to an eight ball by chains.


Prison-style tattoos not shown.


The scene, from Decline of Western Civilization Part 1, the first of a trilogy
of documentaries by Penelope Spheeris, is made worse because I�m watching a
shitty videotaped version. It�s the version I watched repeatedly when I was a
teenager. Before I had ever heard the music of X, this was my introduction to
the band: watching bassist and backup singer John Doe etch a homemade tattoo
onto the forearm of his friend, Top Jimmy, while drinking a forty.

According to her Web site, exenecervenka.com, X lead singer Exene Cervenka
(Christine Cervenka) met Doe (John Duchac) in 1977 at a poetry workshop in Los
Angeles. The pair, who would later marry and divorce, formed a band in Los
Angeles� punk rock and hardcore scene, which included bands such as Black Flag,
Circle Jerks and The Germs.

Almost immediately, X stood noticeably apart from its contemporaries by
inviting the melodic elements of early rock, blues and country into its music.
Instead of relying on minimalist aggression, X explored the nuance of melodies
and rough chords atop careening harmonies. The result is a gorgeously rude, yet
accessible sound. Together with the New York Dolls and Iggy Pop and the
Stooges, X is one of the most important American rock bands that emerged in the
late �60s and �70s; it embraced the punk zeitgeist, but managed to ground
itself outside of mainstream and pop scenes.

X is currently on a seven-week US tour that celebrates the band�s 31 years
together (excepting a brief breakup in the late �80s). The band�s original
lineup�Cervenka on vocals, Doe on bass and vocals, Billy Zoom (Tyson Kindell)
on guitar and DJ (Donald J) Bonebrake on drums�is older and wiser the than the
resilient 20-somethings in Decline.

Doe has since released various solo recordings and had a successful career in
film, including substantial roles in Roadside Prophets and Boogie Nights.
Cervenka, who also is an accomplished author and visual artist, has several
musical side projects, including The Knitters, a country-folk-rockabilly band



X AND THE DETROIT COBRAS

7:30 pm
Friday, June 6

$23-$28

Santa Fe Brewing Company
35 Fire Place
424-3333
she formed with other members of X and roots-rockers Dave Alvin of the Blasters
and Jonny Ray Bartel of the Red Devils.

X is the type of band that makes you question musical categories and what
constitutes its boundaries. From its powerful 1980 debut Los Angeles to 1993�s
Hey Zeus, their last full-length studio album, the band vacillates between the
gritty ferocity of early career tracks such as �Nausea� to radio-ready mid-�80s
tunes such as �Burning House of Love.� I ask Cervenka if she agrees with X�s
classification in the ambiguous field of punk rock.

�That�s kind of a question for the musicians in the band. The background of the
band is kind of roots-oriented. It�s American music for the most part,
everything from gospel to big band, R&B to punk rock; its all mixed up in
there,� Cervenka says.

And because late �70s and early �80s punk rock was such a fruitful era in
music, the question automatically leads to innovation. Usually, amid the
maelstrom of music scenes and trends, there are a select few musicians who
exist and thrive beyond the hype.

�I think we are innovators on some kind of level because of the sounds that we
brought together, like rockabilly and punk rock. I think that was kind of
innovative, and the harmonies too,� Cervenka continues.

And harmonies are what best identify X. It�s pointless trying to describe what
Cervenka and Doe sound like when they sing together. Technically, they lack
pitch and tone. Spiritually, they pierce through you like heartache.

�You just kinda fool around until you get something that sounds about right.
It�s a feel thing as opposed to an intellectual thing,� Cervenka says about
singing with Doe for the first time and hearing the harmony they would sing for
more than 30 years.

Two years after watching Decline, I moved to Los Angeles. The only good memory
I have of that lost summer is watching X play with Fishbone and Primus in
Universal City. When the band ripped into its song �Los Angeles,� I remember
thinking about that scratchy videotape and bands like X whose band members
seemed hopelessly lost, living in squalor and tattooing themselves in the
middle of the night. It wasn�t an epiphany; it was only a realization that
simple is always better, not unlike those tattoos or bar chords that never seem
to fade.

John Doe is the founder of the seminal Los Angeles punk group X, a solo
artist and actor. John answers questions from the  KnowTheMusicBiz.com
community members in the WWJDD? blog.



A Question from Amanda in Indianapolis

Hello John,

I have been writing songs for some time now and it's been a dream of
mine to record my own record. The local recording studio near my house
gave me a handwritten price quote of $2000.00 to record, mix, master my
recordings and cover the costs of a couple of session musicians. It
seemed like a lot of money but the people there seemed to know what they
are doing and I wanted a professional recording of my material. Now that
the recording process is over a couple of things happened that have left
me confused and upset. The person in charge at the studio helped me with
melodies on two of my songs, now he says he wants 25% ownership of those
songs! He never told me that his help would give him part ownership of
MY songs. If I had known that I would have stuck with my original
melodies. Additionally he is now asking that I sign a producer agreement
that gives him 3% points on my sales. Shouldn't these "agreements"
happen before I started recording, not after? I have already paid for
the recording session in full but now he is won't give me the masters
until I sign his agreements. Are artists always treated this way by
people who offer "help" in the music industry? What would John Doe Do in
this situation?

With much respect,

Amanda


To read John's response in the WWJDD? blog click here
<http://www.knowthemusicbiz.com/index.php/BIZ-BLOG/What-Would-John-Doe-D\
oAn-Unscrupulous-Producer.html> .

If you have a question about music or the music business email it to
wwjdd [at] knowthemusicbiz.com




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

forwarded message....



It's always cool when a band gets behind a cause, and
that's just what iconic punk rockers X have done for
Sweet Relief. The original line-up of John Doe, Exene,
Billy Zoom and D.J. Bonebrake is touring the country
and Sweet Relief has tickets! Ticket packages for the
band's 13 - 31 Tour include an autographed copy of the
2-disc CD set "X The Best Make the Music Go Bang," and
are up for bid on ebay. For more information, and to
see current auctions, please go to
www.ebay.com/sweetrelief

Acutions for the following tour dates are up on

www.ebay.com/sweetrelief and closing soon!

Tucson
Santa Fe
Houston
Austin
New Orleans
Tallahassee
Atlanta
Asheville
Carrboro

Anaheim CA will be up next week.


Thanks,
Greg DaPonte
Auctions Director Sweet Relief
auctions@...


Sweet Relief is committed to helping musicians
suffering from a full range of illnesses, disabilities
and health conditions. The Fund was founded by
singer/songwriter Victoria Williams and other members
of the music community when, in 1993, she was
diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Top recording stars
including Lou Reed, Pearl Jam, Lucinda Williams and
Matthew Sweet banded together to record an album, the
proceeds of which partly went to form the Fund. Since
then, Sweet Relief has grown to be one of the leading
entertainment industry charities, helping musicians of
all types through their hard times. Throughout
history, musicians have lead uncertain lives, often
sacrificing financial security and health in order to
serve the muse within. Sweet Relief provides a safety
net for artists who are facing illness, in real
financial need, and have nowhere else to turn for
funds. Grant recipients include recording artists,
club and session musicians, composers and songwriters
from across the country. Sweet Relief also provides
assistance to older musicians, regardless of medical
condition, for basic living expenses.

--
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