That's the Way it Wiggles

October 22, 2010 10:45 PM

Another version (again, live) of a tune I've posted here before, but that time was with jaw harp. This time it's with my diddley bow and stompbox. I love my stompbox. Recorded two nights ago at a joint called the Pink Cow in Shibuya, Tokyo. Video here.

THAT'S THE WAY IT WIGGLES

worm on a hook
he's a sitting duck
it's just how the dice got shook
some real bad luck
dangling in the water
it's cold you know
here comes a fish
what a way to go

that's the way it wiggles at the end of the line

train pulled in
to atlanta G A
forty two dollars
what can you say
everything's closed
locked up tight
the broken heart of town
no one in sight

that's the way it wiggles at the end of the line

papa on his deathbed
stepmother crying
they say you can't take it with you
but he's gonna die trying
off to meet his maker
if there's a maker to meet
little birdy outside
saying tweet tweet tweet

that's the way it wiggles at the end of the line

copyright P & C Samm Bennett - all rights reserved

posted by flapjax at midnite (6 comments total) 2 users marked this as a favorite

The vocal is, as always, top-drawer. Effortless. Soaring. Swooping. What an utter bastard you are Flapjax. I hate you. Pity we can't trade things isn't it? I could borrow your vocal chords for a couple of days and you could have my geetar skills. OK, ok - my geetar skills and $100. $200??

Seriously though - I had the thought listening to this and pondering on your recent output that you're kind of edging towards an almost classical Japanese sound in an oddly refracted, eliptical way. Intriguing - is that deliberate or is it the influence of living and working in Japan? I'm not familiar with the names of Japanese instruments and will probably misquote, but how about you starting to look at using the koto and similar instruments?? While still using the stomp box and other flapjax trademark effects. Seems like a sort of natural progression to me. Just thoughts man, just thoughts.
posted by MajorDundee at 8:27 AM on October 23, 2010


Well, this just knocked my effing socks off. I'm really getting pulled into the lyrics...they're awesome. Your voice is always great, but in this piece you're pulling from some really deep places, it sounds that way to me, anyway. So IMHO this is really a masterful performance. Your diddley bow and box are just deliciously effing dark. This kicks serious ass.
posted by snsranch at 5:51 PM on October 23, 2010


bravo! amazing singing, and I love that didley bow - sounds like a shamisen (?)
posted by facetious at 9:43 PM on October 23, 2010


I love this.
posted by Dumsnill at 10:29 PM on October 23, 2010


Thanks so much, friends, for your kind comments.

...you're kind of edging towards an almost classical Japanese sound in an oddly refracted, eliptical way.

Nothing conscious going on there, in that regard, but inasmuch as Japanese folk music (especially stuff played on the shamisen) has a certain austere and stripped down quality, I can see your point. I do love me some shamisen playing, it's a great instrument, and I can see a bit of a parallel in the sonic character of the shamisen and my diddley bow. I still feel much more directly influenced, stylistically, by acoustic Delta blues, country blues, and primitives of that tradition like Eddie "One String" Jones, Lonnie Pitchford, etc. But lots of influences work their way in and around the corners and crevices of one's music, don't they? Some Japanese folk music (minyo) might've worked its way into mine.

in this piece you're pulling from some really deep places, it sounds that way to me, anyway.

Yeah, this is some stripped-down-to-essence autobiography going on, for sure.

sounds like a shamisen (?)

Indeed, as mentioned above, there is some similarity, I think.

And since I've now individaually addressed 3 comments, I feel I should respond somehow to Dumsnill's as well... Dumsnill, I'm so glad you love this!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 1:23 AM on October 24, 2010


I listened to this a couple of hours ago, and it's really stayed with me. Awesome.
posted by COBRA! at 4:46 PM on October 24, 2010


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