There is no explanation other than this: God fucking hates Johnny Cash.

I thought I'd heard it all, until someone was blasting the new Sage Francis album, which includes a "shout out" to a "childhood mentor" of Sage's, none other than Johnny Cash. I mean, nothing says "I respect you" like phat beats, (somewhat) clever rhymes, and overweight white dudes who watch way too much of The Wire? Check the lyrics:

Yeah. Holler at ya boy.

Holler at your boy.

Do shit Do remember, Holler at your boy

Go back, a few weeks on this one.

Go way way back

This life aint for everyone, But for some of us.

Yeah. Life is easy.

This song right here, going out a childhood mentor of mine, father John. Holler.

Touched me as a kid, I want you to know, still feeling you.

Life is easyJah didn't kill Johnny.

He had a date with death.

It was a slow train coming.

And we've all got a train to catch.

But Lord, take your filthy claws off the rest of my freinds.

That is, of course, if they ain't already dead.

I make no demands.

I just make amends.

I make my bed and I'm a lie in itBut before I die...please...don't take anymore of my friends.

Please don't take anymore of my friends.

Life is easy. The smoke didn't kill Johnny. The drink didn't kill Johnny.The junk didn't kill Johnny.

And the women didn't kill Johnny. Was it the road? I don't know. Was it rock and roll? I don't think so.

But God, God, God, God, God...would never...kill...Johnny Cash.

He had a train to catch.

He had a date with death.

And we've all got a train to catch.

Life is easy. Holler at ya boy.

Life is easy.

Techincally, Sage, God killed Johnny. I bet he'd kill him twice, just for fun. I'm pretty sure that he killed June, although, I would've killed myself were I her (she was married to Johnny). I can't wait for your next homage. Maybe it'll be to....someone....say, like Hank Snow? or Charlie Pride? I'm sure it'll be touching.

Oh, God if you're reading, please kill more of Sage's friends. As many as possible. I'm talking concentration camp style.

Bring Thy Blood To Thee, or is it Thee Blood To Thy?

The sun-blackened earth. Charred flesh. Kittens with devil horns and a froth of blood on their lips. These are the things I think about (in the shower). Evil will arise and devour the barren land...or something.

And when thinking, I'm listening in the dark:

1. Marnie Stern "In Advance of The Broken Arm"
2. White/Lichens "s/t"
3. Battles "Mirrored"
4. Dead Meadow "Howls From The Hills"
5. Arbouretum "Rites of Uncovering"
666. Grinderman "s/t"
7. Qui "Love's Miracle"
8. Deerhunter "Turn It Up Faggot"
9. The Fucking Champs "VI"
10. Holy Fuck "s/t"

We (The Poison Arrows) are soon to wrap up recording on our first full length, hopefully by the start of what will be a Summer to end all Summers.

Eleven Videos from the Premix album - out August 22 on File Thirteen Records

premix video 1 - we take
the poison arrows + jonah sharp
wmv | quicktime

premix video 2- trailer park
the poison arrows + trs-80
wmv | quicktime

premix video 3 - oneself
the poison arrows + brother el
wmv | quicktime

premix video 4 - citi sno
the poison arrows + brian deck
wmv | quicktime

premix video 5 - what gets sent
the poison arrows + jonathan kreinik
wmv | quicktime

premix video 6 - bad data trip
the poison arrows + slo-ro
wmv | quicktime

premix video 7 - we take
the poison arrows + mike lust
wmv | quicktime

premix video 8 - window seat
the poison arrows + dj? acucrack
wmv | quicktime

premix video 9 - gin hospital
the poison arrows + sterling
wmv | quicktime

premix video 10 - three degrees of separation
the poison arrows + N.LN
wmv | quicktime

premix video 11 - trailer park
the poison arrows + martin rev
wmv | quicktime

On The X

Jesus left Chicago, we left Pittsburgh.

We returned from Cleveland and Pittsburgh with smiles on our faces, and the knowledge that Justin has an unusual ability to down over twenty Airborne pills in one day, making him stronger than the flu. Take that flu-fucker! The shows were fantastic, thanks to the bands and venues - we had a wonderful time.

The iPod shuffle churned the following out more than others on our Eastern bound jaunt, so here's the iPod pile for July 11th:
Unwound/Leaves Turn Inside You + New Plastic Ideas
The Black Angels/Passover
Califone/Roomsound
90 Day Men/Panda Park
DJ Shadow/Introuducing....
Black Flag/Who's Got the 10-1/2?

We have booked some studio time. Be prepared. Or unprepared.

Roxanne, Mandy, David - you are some hospitable wonderful people, and we thank our lucky stars for you. David, you are my favorite alcohol terrorist.

A dark fog of evil,
A

Pink Steam and Ocho Dust....

I've been on a bit of a spree of late - here's what I've been filling my earholes with lately

Mission Of Burma / The Obliterati
(best record of 2006)

Sonic Youth / Rather Ripped
(hard to believe that after 20 albums, they are still one of the more interesting bands around. Haters, shove it.)

The Groundhogs / Split
(ultra-classic, once forgotten, then remembered - if "Cherry Red" doesn't get your blood boiling, nothing will.)

Matmos / The Rose Has Teeth In The Mouth of The Beast
(fart sounds are always clever, funny, and sometimes, even interesting)

The Black Angels / Passover
(13th Floor Elevators REBORN!!! and they are from Texas, what a pedigree!)

90 Day Men / Panda Park
(what the FUCK Chicago?!?!? Why isn't this band huge?! Pussies - the lot of you!)

Brightblack Morninglight / s-t
(do NOT, I repeat do NOT lick that cactus in the desert.)

The Flaming Lips / At War With The Mystics
(finally they drop the troubled troubador bullshit and start having fun again - their best in years, maybe since 'In A Priest Driven Ambulance')

Free / Tons of Sobs
(another hard to find rocker - and you thought it was all about "All Right Now" heh-heh, you know so very little.)

Children heart lung cancer,
A

The Poison Arrows. Live film score in 3D. Friday, April 28th

Elastic Arts
2830 N. Milwaukee Ave., above the Friendship Chinese Restaurant., Chicago, IL 60622, US

Modern Electric Cinema Presents: "Constructing Deconstruction." Original soundtracks by The Poison Arrows (in 3-D! with glasses provided), Beguile, Beguile, My Love!, and Fear of Empty Spaces performed live to experimental visuals by Michael Betancourt, Chris Collins, Eunson Lee, and Jodi Mack. Doors at 9PM, show at 9:30, $5 suggested donation.

So come on out, grab the 3D glasses and have copious amounts of merrymaking to these phantasmagorical films.

New The Poison Arrows songs now online!

There are some new The Poison Arrows songs up on our Myspace page. 'Clear Cut' which will be on the new record that is currently in the mixing state and 'Frozen Human Satellite' which was recorded live sometime last fall whilst in space on a fantastical journey.

www.myspace.com/thepoisonarrows

Have at it.

SXSW

06 = 2 many people - but worth it:

The Black Heart Procession x 4
Ted Leo + Pharmacists x 3
Headphones
Crystal Skulls
Calla
Double
The Silent League
Odiorne
My Way My Love
Goldrush
Snowden
Micah P. Hinson
Richard Hawley
Of Montreal
Carbonas
Favourite Sons
Nicolai Dunger
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
[plus, accidentally saw Thursday]

Put Your Head Under The Water

Birds of prey? Silly, silly people. My ears are bleeding:
Mogwai/Mr. Beast
Arab Strap/The Last Romance
Orphan Egg/S/T
Motorhead/1916
Rabbit Mackay/"Tendency To Be Free"
Thinking Fellers Union Local 282/Admonishing The Bishops
Pink Mountaintops/Axis of Evol
Errase Errata/new KRS album, July 2006
Led Fucking Zeppelin/II and Houses of The Holy

Evil will overcome,
A

Depends on what your definition of “is” is.

return of the PILE

I am not asleep, just resting my eyes.

PILE, I have missed you (January 12, 2006)
The Black Heart Procession - "The Spell" (new album, Spring 2006)
Robert A. A. Lowe - new NYC demos, unreleased
Make Up "Untouchable Sound" live album
Rationals - "Sing!"
Ris Paul Ric - solo album

Hatred, everywhere.
-A

best of 2005

1. The National - Alligator - Beggars
2. Airborn Audio - Good Fortune - Ninja Tune
3. Headphones - Headphones - Suicide Squeeze
4. A-Frames - Black Forest - Sub-Pop
5. Low - The Great Destroyer - Sub-Pop
6. Boards of Canada - Campfire Headphase - Warp
7. Danger Doom - The Mouse and the Mask - Epitaph
8. The Church - El Momento Descuidado - Cooking Vinyl
9. Tenement Halls - Knitting Needles & Bicycle Bells - Merge
10. Supersystem - Always Never Again - Touch and Go

This is good for cracking nuts. Isn't it?

Pile for December 2nd 2005

Occasionally, some record store employees ain't all that bad.
The Pile for December 2nd, 2005:

The Stranglers "Black and White"
Monk Higgins "Little Mama"
St. John Green "S/T"
The Rakes "Capture / Release"
Mecca Normal "The Observer"
Grizzly Bear "Horn of Plenty"
Roky Erikson "Never Say Goodbye"
Sonny Bono "Inner Vision"

-A

Pants and a Pile (nov 29 2005)

Rest assured, none of the Poison Arrows, will ever wear leather pants. Make sure you read the Q&A at the bottom of the listing.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8335653541

Okay - maybe Justin will...at some point...but that shit better not be assless, and he better have the matching vest and dick-duster mustache to complete the look.

The Pile for today, November 29th, 2005:
Can "Monster Movie"
Sunn O))) "Black One"
Calexico "Garden Ruin"
Blood On The Wall "Awesomer"
The Darkness "One Way Ticket To Hell...and Back"
Pearls and Brass "Indian Tower"
Kate Bush "Aerial"
Jens Lekman "Oh You're So Silent Jens"
Galaxie 500 "Peel Sessions"

Happy Birthday, Kris-
A