Five Questions with Elzie Sexton of New Ruins & My Werewolf Diary
Elzie Sexton is busy pretty much all of the time anyway, fronting New Ruins and performing solo as My Werewolf Diary, in addition to, you know, working to pay the bills, but even by his standards this Saturday is going to be hectic. He took the few spare moments he had to tell us about his Record Store Day plans, among other things:
FAVORITE C-U BAND, PAST OR PRESENT?
Peninsula. Jim Gorton makes some of the most honest, weird, and beautiful music around here. He is always moving around/touring. He lives his music in a way that most don't have the balls to do. I can't wait until he gets back from tour and is around so we can do some recording together. He is also a really fucking good artist. Damn.
The Tractor Kings and The Chemicals are both king shit in my book. Y'all know who they are.
FAVORITE C-U VENUE?
The Cowboy Monkey and The IMC for rock shows. Bentley's is really cool for acoustic /stripped down stuff, and they always treat the bands really well. Ben Quinn is doing a really good job at keeping music going there.
FAVORITE C-U ENTREE, DESSERT, OR DRINK?
Brunch at Radio Maria is good.
Black Dog kicks the shit out of all other local BBQ, great sauces and they really give a damn about cooking their meat.
Cold Fudge sundae at Jarling's.
Barbacoa tacos at El Charro.
Any Burger at Farren's.
Thara Thai is always awesome.
FAVORITE ALBUM OF ALL TIME (does not have to be from C-U)?
Built To Spill Perfect From Now On
Modest Mouse The Moon and Antarctica
The Knife Deep Cuts
Robert Johnson King of Delta Blues
Roky Erickson The Evil One
Guided By Voices Bee Thousand
Dr. Dre The Chronic
Willie Nelson Red Headed Stranger
Flying Burrito Brothers Gilded Palace of Sin
Fleetwood Mac Rumours
WHY READERS SHOULD COME SEE YOUR SHOW THIS WEEKEND?
My day starts at Parasol Records in Urbana with New Ruins. We will have an exclusive 7" release to celebrate. (Also, exclusive 7"s from: Common Loon, Elsinore, Unbunny, Mazes, and Cameron McGill) It is always a cool environment, so come out and drink some beers and shoot the shit with us. I really love playing in record stores and I get to do it twice in one day.
Next up, Record Store Day at Exile on Main Street. It was really fun last year, so it should be even better this year. There are a shit-ton of good bands/djs so there is something for everyone. The Tractor Kings are playing the same bill with me, I'll be damned. It will be worth it alone to see those old boys.
That night at Bentley's, it should be a pretty damn good show. Tiger Bones and The Runnies are both from Chicago and I don't believe they have played in C-U before, I might be wrong. Both have really good songs up on their myspace pages. It will be a good way to end Record Store Day. I am going to have to pace myself I guess. Come out and see.
Most Recent Music Comments
represent, Matt.
Yeah, I’d agree that Transporter Room 3 is the worst house venue I’ve ever seen.
*slow. clap.* Still offering no threat of intelligence…. I know I said I thought you should just write this whole column yourself next year, Isaac, but now that you’ve gone and taken a “part deux” run at it, I’d like to modify my request: Best Music 2013,…
Actually, it’s kind of nice, the quiet. John Heoffleur’s engaging commentary/dialogue is sorely missed, however. In lieu of someone intelligent saying something, I’ve compiled a list of Honourable Mentions: BEST ROCK BAND: Take Care ::these gentlemen have four completely different sets at their disposal right now (which…
What? Echo! (Echo!) Where’s the dischord and dissent?
That article almost looks like something out of The Onion
Thanks! I’m looking forward to writing even more….
Yay! Love this! Welcome to the family!
that last photo’s a doozie, Chris. good work.
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Most Recent Comments
Did the Crave Truck get a permit to park in city metered spots and city right of way? Or did they just get a permit? The city clerk’s office seems to be a suspect here, but it’s not clear they did anything wrong. Did the Crave Truck…
High-profile whining. AKA Lobbying.
it’s quite choice. looking forward to seeing how it and its patronage grow and develop over the course of the year. could be a neat little ecosystem.
“It was at this point, before he started his business, that working with city employees should’ve raised red flags…” But they didn’t because: 1) The City Clerk’s office originally mis-interpreted the rules, or are indeed re-interpreting them. 2) Champaign’s brick-n-mortar merchants hadn’t yet started whining about The Crave Truck.
Super cool! Excellent track, Excellent band.
Looking forward to trying this place!
I’m in the middle (or the beginning or end, depending on how you look at it) of re-reading Slaughterhouse Five. What a great companion column.
Get yours early. The Rave’s CD will be available at Exile and at The C-U Flea on Saturday. C-U Flea details here: http://www.smilepolitely.com/news/sp_radio_podcast_c-u_flea_arrives/
I don’t know about Gerard and a random police sargeant. My (mild) outrage is based on this: “...he worked closely with Champaign City Clerk Marilyn Banks to make sure he was licensed properly as a transient food peddler, filling out the necessary paperwork and paying a $225…
Local Yocal pretty much nails it here. I suspect there will be merchants who oppose food trucks because they arguably don’t pay their fair share to locate their trucks in high traffic (high rent) areas. The food trucks take away business from rent payers, park in city…
Oh nice! I’d totally vote for Matt Campbell!
“Smile Politely sports writer announces candidacy for city government.”
I also got to visit Big Grove Tavern during the soft open and definitely enjoyed the pork belly the most of all the dishes I sampled. The cheesy grits and the vinegary pickled vegetables were a perfect compliment to the rich pork belly.
The Alan Partridge lookalike on the right in the first small photo has nothing to condescend to anyone about. AH HA!
Snell and the little Hitlers of the neighborhood association need to chill out. Legitimate businesses should have the freedom to exist without having to endure the slings and arrows of ignorant and misguided opposition.
represent, Matt.
Yeah, I’d agree that Transporter Room 3 is the worst house venue I’ve ever seen.
Food trucks are the start-up, small businesses of the future for those unable to afford real estate. No surprise, that merchants who pay rent, utilities, and maintenance on a property would despise the traveling competition. Or developers who build more empty retail spaces would want to close…
Not so much far-right Tea Party as a balanced, moderate viewpoint between letting businesses succeed and protecting society with reasonable regulations. In spite of what the city reps are saying, the interpretation of policy on this issue certainly has changed. Letting a business start up under one…
I think it’s neat that SP has turned rightward, now espousing a Tea Party-style frustration with government regulations & taxes.
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Get yours early. The Rave’s CD will be available at Exile and at The C-U Flea on Saturday. C-U Flea details here: http://www.smilepolitely.com/news/sp_radio_podcast_c-u_flea_arrives/