AshAndBurn.com > "Miami Beach, a sunny place for shady people"

I once had it within reach, but unfortunately the staff (Richie, Spencer, Peter?) at the store had been quickly ordered (?) to pull this particular LP/CD – that day – that moment – just when I had decided to zip down Newbury St. and see if it had hit the Newbury Comics vinyl (yep, “record”) bins yet. I saw it. There it was, behind the counter and within view, a box with ALL the freshly sealed U2/Negativland 12″ (& cd’s?) ready to be shipped - BACK - to the distributors/record label?!?! I think I had made a quick, but useless plea. nada.

The “song” had been getting some local play on college radio, so folk were aware of its release (an it’s humor), and I, for one, was looking forward to it’s purchase (I can be a record-geek sometimes, but nothing compared to some I know). But, the evil powers that exist in the music biz, began to buzz. Word on the street was that the U2′s lawyers/record label were a little miffed that someone would mess around with their (mondo money-making) hit – and went to work quickly pursuing the culprits – Negativland – the folks who had the gall to bastardize their merch!?! Have a wee … listen!

August 20, 1991: SST Records releases a single by Negativland called “U2″, a tape-collage parody of U2′s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” (video here) featuring sampled and scrambled portions of the U2 song itself and a found tape of radio personality Casey Kasem losing his cool. As part of the joke, the CD packaging features the title – the letter “U” and the numeral “2″ – largely and prominently with the attribution “Negativland” in much smaller letters below it.

Saw them play once in Boston (’92/Johnny D’s?) where they had toasters on the sides of the (small) stage, the show began – then someone started to make the “toast”, which started to burn, creating smoke … etc. After that it was just fun seeing them perform the stuff I had listened to on WZBC (and WUNH, KFJC, WVUM, WBUR) during the 80′s.

*Special thanks to Le Spam for procuring this “rare” little item for me and also ending my obsessive search for it.

Saturday, May 5 – A wicked big moon is called …

… a supermoon.

It was quick and looked painful … kinda sad, video here (via MH, who avoided any real story on the place, which made it look like an owed political (hot-potato?) favor. Struggling newspaper “devoid” of that informed local/community coverage angle, no? ugh.)

… Jimbo’s (1952-2012) being torn down – Wednesday, May 2, 2012.
Great memories, people & location.

MIA

… I’m having fun with the new “creative” direction (ripping off old postcards!) for friends, the Spam Allstars.

ORL

YBO

It all – vintage-FL/miami-historic & vibey – kinda, seems to snap into place.

GEN 

*Special thanks to – D. Ser & S. Bramson (who has the largest collection of Floridiana in the WORLD!) – *My new favorite word: Floridiana (Florida Memorabilia). A small sample of some of my other design work, available here. 

Miami, FL – April, 21, 2012 - I woke up to a wet forecast and then had a quick gloomy peak outside, ugh, to confirm. But, with everyone’s favorite “day” being celebrated around the country, I decided to give-it-a-go and head over early afternoon-ish on the ol’ Biria. Just as I was heading out the door, Liam called and enquired about the day’s schedule -a great day was ahead - Sweat Stock! (i.e. Woodstock, get it?) 3rd Annual Sweat Stock - Record Store Day!

Live Music/Food/Vinyl-Record Sale/Etc. the whole shebang! (FREE!) Good to see all the bands I’ve been hearing about on the radio at one event, amongst friends and fellow residents. Laid back, perfect crowd-mix, great foodie selection, pleasant police folk, (semi?) supportive neighbors and various curious onlookers.

DId I mention it was Miami resident Iggy Pop’s birthday today? We quickly discussed the origins of … “a sunny place for shady people”, pilfered from the original; “The Riviera isn’t only a sunny place for shady people.” – W. Somerset Maugham / from - Strictly Personal, p. 156 (Doubleday, Doran and co., inc., 1941)

*very special thanks to Sweat Records … and all the bands/sound/workin’ folk … Schweet!

April 13-15, 2012

Went down on Friday with the Spam Allstars to Key West, FL …

A gig at the Green Parrot – always a good trip.

Good folk, great place. *AJ (Pilot)/Ash (Co-pilot)