Missed this from a couple of weeks ago (Oct 14, 2016). A radio session / interview with two thirds of Blake Babies. Lightning 100, Nashville:
Juliana Hatfield and John Strohm stopped by the ONErpm studio to catch up with Ana Lee before their show at The Basement East. John gives a personal shout out to Phoebe Bridgers, the history of Blake Babies, and their reunion show. Blake Babies perform an acoustic version of “Waiting For Heaven” and “Lament” live in the studio.
Listen at Lightning 100.
Via JohnnyBarrTunes on YouTube, the above video was taken at the soundcheck ahead of Saturday's show at Basement East in Nashville.
From the show itself, DrNo874's clip of Out There:
Nashville Scene has a short article ahead of this weekend's Blake Babies shows:
“There’s an ease to playing with them, John and Freda,” Hatfield explains. “A chemistry that I don’t have with any other things that I’ve done. So it’s not just going back and getting together and playing the old songs — it’s really trying to use our present energy, who we’ve become as people, taking this new, older, richer, experienced energy and bringing that to the old songs and seeing how they mix together.”
There's also an interview with John at weld for Birmingham.
Furthermore, did we know that there are Blake Babies fans in R.E.M.?
Well worth it. https://t.co/SO0r5RXjqu
— Mike Mills (@m_millsey) October 15, 2016
My pleasure. Still listening to Sunburn. https://t.co/tJHwQoxxnz
— Mike Mills (@m_millsey) October 15, 2016
A reminder of the shows this weekend:
Saturday, October 15, 2016 - The Basement East, Nashville, TN
Sunday, October 16, 2016 - Saturn, Birmingham, AL
Juliana, writing for The Talkhouse:
A few months ago I tweeted, “All Trump footage should be prefaced by a trigger warning.” I was sort of joking, but sort of not. Trump’s lurid omnipresence has been irritating, but you could kind of laugh it off: “Oh, he’s just a clown, he’ll eventually go away. The country that voted for Barack Obama — twice! — will never elect Trump president.” He was unpalatable, but he was still a clown. A scary clown, but a clown.
But it’s not funny anymore. Since the Trump “pussy grab” tapes were released, I’ve found myself wanting to reach for my emergency supply of valium, which I keep mainly for plane travel to ease my visceral fear of flying. These viscera of mine are currently in a state of constant high anxiety. It’s the Trump effect: the sight of his face and/or the sound of his voice tightens the stomach, the heart, the sphincter. Everything’s clenched. Even — maybe especially — the “pussy.”
The venom-spewing from and around Trump is a black cloud hovering over this country. Trump has re-opened the emotional wounds of millions of people. It’s his special talent, apart from self-propagandizing and con-artistry. He stirs up bitterness, hatred, anger; he brings out the worst in people. He does it to people on both sides — all sides. There’s bile all around.
Trump hits people where it hurts, he feeds on bad blood; he’s a viper. Trump hits people where it hurts, he feeds on bad blood; he’s a viper. (“Everything Trump Touches Dies ” read one recent headline quoting a GOP strategist.) He brings back bad memories — memories that have been safely stored away in the dusty basements of our minds.
Juliana goes on to recount such a memory, dating back to the early Blake Babies days.
Read the whole thing.
thetalkhouse.com/trumps-recent-comments-sexual-assault-juliana-hatfield-reaching-valium
Juliana, speaking to Ryan Bray at Consequence of Sound:
Just by choosing the song, that’s tribute enough. You’re honoring its existence by tributing it. Whenever I’m choosing covers, I wonder, ‘Can I bring something of myself into this? Can I add anything to this?’ And if not, then I won’t do it. You have to throw yourself into the mix.
Juliana's cover of Needle In The Hay features on Say Yes! A Tribute to Elliott Smith, due for release this week by American Laundromat Records.
This is the same recording as released in 2014 as part of a tribute to the film director Wes Anderson.
Today's article at Consequence of Sound features further comments from Juliana about writing to Smith back in the Blake Babies era, and her approach to the song's theme of addiction.
Bray also speaks to Tanya Donelly and Yuck's Max Bloom, who also feature on the album.
Juliana Hatfield covers "Needle In The Hay" for "Say Yes! A Tribute To Elliott Smith" due out October 14, 2016. Exclusive pre-order bundles now available from www.ALR-MUSIC.com
In 1986, iconic alt-rock band Blake Babies was born at Berklee School of Music. John Strohm, Freda Love and Juliana Hatfield released a few albums and toured before breaking up in 1991, but their work impacted both the Boston and national alternative music scenes. Despite their short run, Blake Babies helped define what we think of today as an independent band. On the heels of their reunion, we welcome John, Freda and Juliana on the show to talk about their enduring legacy and future plans. Music: "Mind Your Own Business" - Delta 5 "Nothing Ever Happens" - Blake Babies "On" - Blake Babies "Waiting for Heaven" - Blake Babies Produced by Will Watts and Anna McClain. Recorded by Brent Asbury at Beta Petrol.
Released today, here's a 53 minute long show featuring interviews with all 3 Blake Babies by Kill Rock Stars president Portia Sabin for the radio / podcast The Future Of What.
The first 30 minutes features John in conversation touching mainly on his involvement in the music industry both as artist and lawyer.
The second part is Juliana and Freda interviewed together on the Blake Babies history. It's great to hear Juliana describe Earwig and Sunburn as 'timeless'. She's rightly proud of the band.
Juliana goes on to confirm that they have new material planned with songwriting either imminent (in Juliana's case) or having already started (John and Freda). Fabulous.
You can listen right here from the embed above or subscribe to the podcast via the links at killrockstars.com/thefutureofwhat.
Thanks to Anna McClain who produced the show for getting in touch.
Juliana, at her official site:
I am liquidating the Ye Olde Records CD back catalog, so now is your chance to stock up on my music at a huge discount. I am offering, for a limited time, a 7-CD package for $25 plus $10 shipping (and packaging) to anywhere. There are 83 songs in this package. The titles are “How To Walk Away”, “Made In China”, “Wild Animals”, “Juliana Hatfield” (cover songs), the “How To Walk Away” demos (all solo albums), plus “Whatever, My Love” by The Juliana Hatfield Three and “Sittin’ In A Tree” by Juliana Hatfield and Frank Smith. Get ‘em while they’re hot/before they’re destroyed!
Announced today on Juliana's twitter:
i'll be the musical guest (coupla songs) at this sunday's judge john hodgman (live) at the wilbur theater in boston! https://t.co/bL8wykmW7L
— Juliana Hatfield (@julianahatfield) September 14, 2016
Video uploaded to YouTube by Michael Gill from Saturday's Blake Babies show at Pop Allston.
Update: Most of the show is also at Vimeo in 2 parts, by Steve Gatzos:
Blake Babies played an outdoor event yesterday for Allston's Awesome Christmas. It looks like it was a lot of fun.
Thanks as ever to David Young for these excellent photos of the show.
Juliana, for the The Talkhouse:
In late 1990, my band the Blake Babies set out on tour. We were young. I kept a diary. We were doing shows with Firehose, Mike Watt’s band at the time. These pages describe the scene one night, from my point of view, after we’d finished our opening set in Northampton, Massachusetts — plus what it was like to talk to Watt.
A 4 minute clip via PledgeMusic with snippets of last month's Blake Babies shows at Q Division. Includes a Q & A clip where all 3 are asked what they are up to now.
Blake Babies have been announced as headliners for Do617's Allston's Awesome Christmas event at Pop Allston, 89 Brighton Avenue, Allston, MA which, despite the name, is scheduled for Saturday September 10, 2016.
The event is free to attend via RSVP on Do617's site.
Photo: David Young
I think we can call it a bona fide reunion now.
After the release of the 1980s Earwig demos and the semi-private shows last month for PledgeMusic subscribers, Blake Babies today announced a couple more shows in John’s “hometowns”:
October 15, 2016 - The Basement East, Nashville, TN
October 16, 2016 - Saturn, Birmingham, AL
Support at both shows is Phoebe Bridgers.
Tickets are on sale Friday, August 5, 2016 at 10am CDT.
Magnificent.
Since we'll be close, we are open to booking a house concert within approx 200 miles of Nashville on Friday, 10/14, details tbd. Hit us up!
— Blake Babies (@blakebabies) August 4, 2016
Regular visitors here will be familiar with David Young's excellent live photos. He has kindly provided us with another exceptional set from the Blake Babies show at Evanston, IL yesterday.
David has sent a different photo set to the band too so look out for them should they be posted across the official accounts.
This is the setlist from Saturday's Blake Babies show at Space, Evanston, IL:
Thanks for spiketop for sharing the info and for the video of Rain above, taken from a YouTube playlist with 6 other clips.
With thanks to spiketop, here's the set list from the 2 Blake Babies shows on July 9, 2016:
From a Blake Babies interview at chicagoist on the subject of future plans:
STROHM: Nothing specific, but we’re generally feeling good about the way things are going. I can only speak for myself, but I would love to find a way to do more with Freda and Juliana.
LOVE: Not yet, but I hope we play a few more shows. We are also discussing the possibility of reissuing our back catalogue.
HATFIELD: As far as the Blake Babies go, we are not really looking past this Chicago thing. We have no solid plans for anything else but the Boston shows were fun and I hope that at some point we can maybe try and do some more.
