I will be gone, but not forever.
December 30, 2013 10:47 AM Subscribe
Former bandmates of singer-songwriter Jason Molina have announced a string of January tribute shows called "Songs: Molina - A Memorial Electric Co." They will feature the members of Magnolia Electric Co., joined by M.C. Taylor of Hiss Golden Messenger, performing material from throughout Molina's career.
"Before bearded banjo bands like Mumford & Sons and the Avett Brothers rode a folk-rock revival to mainstream success, Mr. Molina was constructing spare songs about 19th-century heartbreak and the despair of blue-collar workers, about loneliness and bad weather and scarred landscapes in a fading Midwest." (from the NYT's obit)
The tribute tour follows the 10th anniversary edition of Songs: Ohia's Magnolia Electric Co, which features a previously unreleased session outtake called "The Big Game Is Every Night". A benefit compilation for Jason Molina's family was released earlier this year.
Molina died in March of this year, after a prolonged stretch of health issues related to alcoholism. (previously)
Samantha Crain and Alasdair Roberts reflect on Jason Molina.
Where to Start with Jason Molina, Songs: Ohia, and Magnolia Electric Co.
Recording Josephine a 70 minute documentary aboutthe recording of the album Josephine
The Road Becomes What You Leave - a 20 minute documentary about a MEC tour of Canada.
We Have Signal a half hour MEC performance from Chicago, IL recorded for Alabama Public Television
"Before bearded banjo bands like Mumford & Sons and the Avett Brothers rode a folk-rock revival to mainstream success, Mr. Molina was constructing spare songs about 19th-century heartbreak and the despair of blue-collar workers, about loneliness and bad weather and scarred landscapes in a fading Midwest." (from the NYT's obit)
The tribute tour follows the 10th anniversary edition of Songs: Ohia's Magnolia Electric Co, which features a previously unreleased session outtake called "The Big Game Is Every Night". A benefit compilation for Jason Molina's family was released earlier this year.
Molina died in March of this year, after a prolonged stretch of health issues related to alcoholism. (previously)
Samantha Crain and Alasdair Roberts reflect on Jason Molina.
Where to Start with Jason Molina, Songs: Ohia, and Magnolia Electric Co.
Recording Josephine a 70 minute documentary aboutthe recording of the album Josephine
The Road Becomes What You Leave - a 20 minute documentary about a MEC tour of Canada.
We Have Signal a half hour MEC performance from Chicago, IL recorded for Alabama Public Television
Thrilled you posted about this, getting tickets now; and it's a great post, besides. You're a gentleman and a scholar, D.O.T.
posted by Maecenas at 11:33 AM on December 30, 2013
posted by Maecenas at 11:33 AM on December 30, 2013
Lovely post, and thank you for the heads-up on those shows. Beautiful accompanying artwork by William Schaff, per usual -- he also made a beautiful 'Molina map,' which accompanies the CD version of the Weary Engine Blues tribute.
Man, I still can't even really think about Jason without bursting into tears. His songs are silvered strands woven through every part of the last half of my life. I still remember exactly where I was the first time I heard "The Lioness," and the awestruck looks on the faces of the half-dozen other people who were standing in the record store with me watching him play it... 13 years ago last month. I ran into him at a Hold Steady show a long while afterward and tipsily told him his music had saved my life, an admittedly maudlin sentiment to which he was moved to doff his baseball cap and raise his half-full plastic cup with bashful thanks. He was humble and wonderful and often notoriously difficult and he terrified me in more ways than one. Too good for this world, that dude.
For those who haven't heard it, the 10th anniversary deluxe edition is worth picking up for the disc of demos alone -- the acoustic version of "The Big Game is Every Night" is utterly devastating, which is saying something, considering.
if I'm all fangs, and all lies, and all poison
if I'm really what they're saying
I don't want to disappoint them...
posted by divined by radio at 11:46 AM on December 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
Man, I still can't even really think about Jason without bursting into tears. His songs are silvered strands woven through every part of the last half of my life. I still remember exactly where I was the first time I heard "The Lioness," and the awestruck looks on the faces of the half-dozen other people who were standing in the record store with me watching him play it... 13 years ago last month. I ran into him at a Hold Steady show a long while afterward and tipsily told him his music had saved my life, an admittedly maudlin sentiment to which he was moved to doff his baseball cap and raise his half-full plastic cup with bashful thanks. He was humble and wonderful and often notoriously difficult and he terrified me in more ways than one. Too good for this world, that dude.
For those who haven't heard it, the 10th anniversary deluxe edition is worth picking up for the disc of demos alone -- the acoustic version of "The Big Game is Every Night" is utterly devastating, which is saying something, considering.
if I'm all fangs, and all lies, and all poison
if I'm really what they're saying
I don't want to disappoint them...
posted by divined by radio at 11:46 AM on December 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
William Schaff does beautiful work. MEC had many good posters over the years, too, including this one by Phineas X. Jones.
Phin is a dear friend but I don't mean to shill for him. Just showing you something cool.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 12:03 PM on December 30, 2013
Phin is a dear friend but I don't mean to shill for him. Just showing you something cool.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 12:03 PM on December 30, 2013
The real truth about it is no one gets it right.
The real truth about it is we're all supposed to try.
posted by cmoj at 12:26 PM on December 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
The real truth about it is we're all supposed to try.
posted by cmoj at 12:26 PM on December 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
Also recommended, A live MEC show from 2007, available for $5 on Bandcamp. Features a lovely cover of Hank Williams' "You Win Again."
posted by DirtyOldTown at 1:04 PM on December 30, 2013
posted by DirtyOldTown at 1:04 PM on December 30, 2013
Molina is on my very short list of strangers whose loss I feel acutely and personally. I don't live near any of these shows and it's bumming me out. Let's give him another one of these:
.
posted by deadbilly at 2:39 PM on December 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
.
posted by deadbilly at 2:39 PM on December 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
Benefit for Molina's family? My recollection is that he died alone in a proverbial ditch, with nobody looking out for him. Who is benefiting?
Hiss Golden Messenger is a great choice to join the rest of MEC, though.
posted by turbid dahlia at 6:39 PM on December 30, 2013
Hiss Golden Messenger is a great choice to join the rest of MEC, though.
posted by turbid dahlia at 6:39 PM on December 30, 2013
You probably do not know anything about what went on in Molina's family.
posted by thelonius at 12:17 AM on December 31, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by thelonius at 12:17 AM on December 31, 2013 [1 favorite]
Since when has knowledge been an impediment to conjecture?
posted by turbid dahlia at 1:29 AM on December 31, 2013
posted by turbid dahlia at 1:29 AM on December 31, 2013
Are any Indianapolis folks going to the January 10 event at Radio Radio?
posted by bluespark25 at 6:36 AM on December 31, 2013
posted by bluespark25 at 6:36 AM on December 31, 2013
The idea that all an alcoholic needs to save them is someone who loves them is one that has broken a lot of hearts, as it has been proven wrong over and over again.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:15 AM on December 31, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:15 AM on December 31, 2013 [3 favorites]
From tonight: "We were Songs: Ohia. But then, many other people could say the same thing."
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:02 PM on January 11, 2014
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:02 PM on January 11, 2014
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posted by box at 10:54 AM on December 30, 2013