Well it's Monday night. What better time to gather around the old family and check out the latest gimmick brought to you by the Skog Blog. That's right - rather than Family Night it shall be known as the night where KG tries to convince you as to which bands or albums you should be listening. I don't ask for much, ok maybe I do with the "Please share you deepest shame" so let me change it to I don't ask you to do much. However, each Monday night I will give you some homework -either a band or album that I love so very much and all I expect is for you to give them a listen at least once throughout the week.
The band that I am going to force feed you all for the last time tonight (No it's not Ben Folds - surprise!) is Gomez. I love Gomez. They may very well be my favorite band currently on this planet. Gomez formed in England (where let's be honest 95% of the best music ever has originated) in 1996. They were just friends in a band without a name. At one of their first gigs they left a sign on the club door that read, "Gomez, the gig is in here." Gomez was the surname of their friend but most of the club patrons assumed it was the band name and the name stuck.
I first discovered Gomez in 1999. I purchased the soundtrack to the film, "American Beauty" in order to obtain the Elliott Smith version of "Because" (see the previous Cover Song Saturday Night) and heard their song "We Haven't Turned Around." The song was not instantly catchy. In fact a lot of their music doesn't immediately grab you. However if you show a little patience the music grows on you and soon you won't be able to remove it from your head. Once I finally started "getting" the song from American Beauty I marched out to Media Play and purchased the album that contained "We Haven't Turned Around" which was titled "Liquid Skin." Turns out this was their second album and it had just recently been released. Slowly but surely, Liquid Skin worked its way into heavy rotation in my personal playlist. I decided to give their debut album "Bring It On" a try and quickly fell in love with that album as well.
Shortly after Wheels and I were married Gomez released the near masterpiece, "In Our Gun." We were poor newlyweds but after enough begging I convinced Elise that the new album was a NEED and not just a want. I loved the third album nearly as much as the first two. It was also around this time that I saw Gomez live for this first time. Elise and I headed down to the now defunct Club DV8 early enough to secure a booth right in front of the stage. Perfect view, 5 feet from the stage. The opener, a pre-fame Jason Mraz, set a perfect tone for the night - fun, loud, and great music. By the time Gomez cramped itself on the tiny DV8 stage my excitement was at a fever pitch. It was at this point that Gomez launched into the classic "Get Miles" and a large fellow crowded the stage and placed himself directly in front of our booth and blocked my once perfect view. I couldn't have this. This was f***** (freaking of course) GOMEZ! Without thinking twice I realized that the red plastic cup that once housed my $7.00 watered down Coke was flying through the air at a rapid pace and bounced off the back of the head of said large fellow. He glanced back to see what had transpired and I gave him a dirty look and motioned for him to move like an umpire throwing an angry batter out of the game. To my surprise or perhaps not, the Goliath moved and the evening proceeded without incident. The strange thing about this story is not that the Gentle Giant didn't beat me down it was the fact that I wasn't afraid of him doing so. My love for Gomez was such that I feared no man. Come on people. Those that know me would describe me as something that starts with "P" and kinda sort of sounds like "Pushy." If a band can make a wussbag like me want to fight a much larger foe then they must be doing something right.
One other comment about Gomez live. I am not a fan of jam bands. I don't get excited about long guitar or drum solos. However, I have now seen Gomez live 7 times and every song at a Gomez concert sounds like the finale at a regular show. It sounds just as good as their album yet they tweak it just enough to make it special and then end with a bang. It's intense, it's fantastic, it's magical. The band also has 3 singers that alternate between lead vocals and harmonies. It makes every song just a little different.
Still not convinced? Well let's listen to a few clips. Some of you might think "If Gomez is so great why haven't I ever heard of them?" Well most likely you have. Their music has been used on Grey's Anatomy, House, and many movie trailers. Here are a few of my favorites:
Here's the first song I ever heard. Again, it's not going to immediately knock you on your behind. However, give it a few listens. I love the vocals by gravelly voiced singer Ben Ottewell.
Second up - the favorite Gomez of the only real convert I've ever had. My boy Flank Steak. This one's for you pal.
Now I'll share a few that are a little more accessible? I'm not sure if that is the right word to be using here so I'll go with, uh, catchy.
And finally as seen on Grey's Anatomy - Here's one for the ladies...
Alright. Give them a chance. It's all I ask. I've already done enough and my conscience is clean because as the good book says, "If it so be that ye should labor all your days and bring save it be one soul unto Gomez, how great shall be your joy." I got you Flank Steak. I will always love you for that. However, how great shall be my joy if many of you are converted unto Gomez. As for me and my house we shall choose Gomez. Except for Wheels she can't really stand them.
Monday, August 25, 2008
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16 comments:
KG - Before I listen, please tell me...Is Gomez the kind of band that is so good you would throw a drink at anyone obscuring your view of them at a concert?
I would throw a drink at my own mother (Sorry Crazy Sue) if she obscured my view of sweet Gomez.
And sorry Vanwarmer I didn't count you as a true convert. However, leaving after the Zutons (even though they kicked almost as much ass as Gomez that night) was unacceptable.
If only that Grey's Anatomy clip could have been of Dr. McDreamy, I would have declared Gomez my all-time favorite band. Since it wasn't, I will simply have to admit that their music is pretty damn good and that I just downloaded several more songs (legally, by the way :).
First off, McDreamy? Really? He'll always be Ronald Miller to me. And you LEGALLY downloaded them? You are as big of a sap as Kim.
Actually I'm all for supporting Gomez. Please everyone follow Corbie's example and PURCHASE their music. I can say that I've purchased their entire discography myself and that's saying something. If that isn't a recommendation in and of itself I don't know what will convince you all.
I actually don't like them as much as I used to.....
And I actually don't like Flank Steak as much as I used to. What the hell man you marry some artsy fartsy girl and you give up Gomez? Shame on you man. You should have saved that for Fri Night confessionals.
No, he shouldn't have saved that for Friday night confessionals because Friday night confessionals are supposed to bring us all a little closer...you know, bridge the divide...that confessional just put a Grand Canyon size wedge in the family brotherhood. Good thing he likes you dude...I couldn't get away with that kind of blasphemy. But I do see an upside here...maybe I can get KG to profess some U2 love in retaliation.
Corbie - wise words. Friday nights are supposed to be safe and without judgement. You are very right. My mistake. However, it would take a lot more by Flank Steak to cause me to profess any U2 adoration.
Flank Steak also told me that Elliott Smith was a dumbass and that Ben Folds sounds like a muppet. Oh, and let me not forget his whole 'someone should give the bird to Flight of the Conchords'. How about now?
See Corbie, you go from wise words to that crap. I'll tell you what I need to do is punch you AND Flank Steak both in the mouth and then ban you from the Skog Blog.
Then who would admit to eating spray on cheese? You don't want to do that KG. And I didn't say any of that - it was Flank Steak. So, heard any good U2 lately?
I'll first give some big props (on the first 3 videos) to making a video of the non-usual 'band playing in a small room with fish eye lens'. I can't stand that type of video and I like to see creativity like those.
Second, I'm not converted yet. That doesn't mean I don't like it, it just means i am not ready to download any albums and listen to it while I mow the lawn just yet. Don't take any offense KG. I never really bothered with the Cold Play song 'Fix You' until I saw it on a Pride Fighting highlight reel. it was then that I saw the coolness of that song.
It will happen sooner or later KG. I'm just waiting for the right mood.
Spammon - I appreciate the honesty rather than the lies like Corbie and Flank Steak. They didn't immediately grab me either. Just keep giving them a listen every now and again. The love will come.
Bite me, KG, bite me.
Gomez is one of many bands that reminds of a specific time and place. You say "Gomez" I say I say "inventory". That was a dirty job but done in the company of friends and a new found love for a band called Gomez. I can admit now that in the 15th hour of counting my mind wandered and I was more focussed on lyrics than keeping count so I just started making counts up and crossing my fingers I was close... it was my way of sticking to the man and putting music before taxes. Gomez is good.
Things a straight male should not say "sticking to the man". It was my first attempt at commenting and I screwed... err... messed it up.
*hangs head in shame and repeats the phrase "sticking IT to the man" 10 times only to realize it doesn't sound any better*
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