peel slowly and hear

The only reason my one-day-a-year band has made even the slightest blip on the radar screen of popular culture is because a handful of people at WFMU, in the U.S., and John Peel, in Europe, have liked us enough to keep our records in rotation. While we’re played on a few college radio stations, and quite a few people find out about us through the web, WFMU and Peel have always been our biggest, most influential supporters. The thought that Peel, who passed away a year ago, is no longer out there, waiting for our new records, depresses me (not only because it means fewer people will hear our music, but because I genuinely liked the fellow). Fortunately, however, we still feel the touch of his invisible hand. Today, for instance, we received the following note from one of his former listeners:

Your songs are on MP3!!!

I shall burn them to a cd later tonight, which will do me musically for a flight from Manchester to Hong Kong tomorrow.

I shall then return, when I return to England, to buy the 7″‘s.

You guy’s rock. And roll. Thanks to John Peel (RIP) for playing your stuff a long while back and it being on the list of things to do on my fridge: #43: Ring parents; #44: Get rid of that scuzz from behind the fridge; #45: find out more about monkey power trio.

If you need someone to do backing vocals (I only really do “woo-oo”) or play the triangle, I’ll be happy to audition for you.

Cheers,

Keith,

Lancashire, England

I just found that really nice… I like the thought that good stuff is still coming our way thanks to Mr. Peel, who has been dead for well over a year now. (And I like knowing that someone who likes our music can afford to fly from Manchester to Hong Kong. (Hopefully he won’t be flying as a terrorist. That would be terrible PR for the band.)) Anyway, I was just reminded of old Peel and wanted to jot down a note of thanks to him… I always liked sending him our new records best, and he’ll be missed.

OK, if the Monkey Power Trio isn’t your thing, check out this video clip from George Harrison’s posthumous induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Prince does a pretty fucking good job with “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”. Seriously, it’s the kind of thing that could bring tears to your eyes (especially when you know that it’s George’s son, Dani, playing guitar behind him.)… On the subject of George, a few days ago I was walking my dog late at night through the pitch-black park when his song “All Things Must Pass” started playing on my Ipod. It’s hard to explain, but I just had this sense that if I were killed at that very moment, that everything would be OK. I know it’s kind of dark, but it was a really happy thought. I was just reflecting on my life and thinking that if it all had to end right now, I’d still consider it a success… Hopefully the end doesn’t come for a long time, but, when it does, I hope that someone will think to play a song or two by George when they sprinkle my ashes. (If Prince wants to play something, well, that would be fine too.)