Strauss Meets Red Dirt
Okay, I'll admit that I've read and been around too many Straussian types. I sometimes obsess over seemingly innocuous phrases. And that's what happened when I ran across this bit in a (terribly written) feature on Mike McClure:
While with The Great Divide Mike found himself with some songs that he felt did not fit the band's sound. Mike explained, "I just wanted to go into the studio and knock them out myself just to see what came of it. All of them were very personal songs. I was working on Cross Canadian Ragweed's album Purple at the time, so I went in and just rented the studio. Susan Gibson, (who wrote "Wide Open Spaces" for the Dixie Chicks), happened to be playing a gig there in Denton where I was working, so her and the Grobees; which used to be her band; came by & we recorded three tracks. I had a blast. It's just a bunch of messing around, having fun in the studio."Err, that would be Groobees.
But they weren't "her band" -- which makes it sound like they were a bunch of studio musicians who moved to the direction of the songwriter/arranger known as Susan. It wasn't quite that way (indeed, the Groobees existed as a band PRIOR to Susan's joining them). They were a BAND in the true sense of the word, with the two main vocalists splitting songwriting and the guys playing a big role in arrangements. At least they were a band until one of them decided she didn't want to be a part of a band anymore.
And I guess the grating thing about comments like this is McClure KNOWS better. I mean, he saw fit to record a song by two prominent Groobees (Scott Melott and Gary Wayne Thomason) on the Great Divide's last album -- a song that Scott's current band belts out better than TGD. So he knows firsthand those guys were much much more than studio hands. Hell, anyone who's heard both the Dead End Angels and Susan's solo stuff has a pretty good idea who was the force behind the musical arrangements of the Groobees.
Anyway, I wonder about people and their agendas when they make comments like this. Maybe it was innocuous. Maybe not. Hard to say.
What is not hard to say is that I AM very much looking forward to seeing the post-McClure incarnation of The Great Divide, which will be playing The Firehouse (where else?) on 20 September. And opening will be No Justice, an up-and-coming Oklahoma band I've been wanting to see for a while.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 08/28/03 22:01 | Music | Technorati
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Hey, I was just reading this post and thought I'd say something though I don't know what yet. I'll just write and hope it comes out the way I want it to. I am sure Mike does know better and everyone else does too including Susan that she was a member of the Groobees not any other way around. I can say that I know that from our conversations I'm of course a big fan of hers and I also love the guys, especially Scott and Gary. I wish there wasn't such animosity.
Here's what I believe though...they quit her she didn't quit them.... for whatever reason which no one really knows but the guys...anyway, I was just...well I don't know… I just hate the idea that any more anger is being played out of something that is over done with. I respect your opinion but I don't agree that she or The Dead End Angels are better or worse without the other. The Groobees was a great mix of talents that would never had been the same had any one piece been taken away whether that be Susan, Scott or Gary. The right combination makes all the difference. They (the Groobees) wouldn’t have been the same without Gary’s guitar style and energy or Scott’s knowledge and talent or Susan’s unique voice and songwriting style. May they all have brilliant careers is what I say.
Anyway, I guess I just wanted to say that and hope we can agree to disagree because I appreciate your interests, opinions and musical tastes.
P.S. I look forward to hearing what you think of No Justice.
Posted by music lover @ 19:40 on 08/29/03
Disagreement is good! I like good comments.
I suppose who left whom and why depends on who is telling the story. Which is, as you suggest, water under the bridge at this point.
I loved the Groobees, but I do think the split is probably the best thing that could have happened. Susan's making the music she wants to make, which has a strong solo/songwriting component (her strength). Scott's making the music he wants to make, which emphasizes the band and arrangements (his strength). It's all good.
Sorta like the Uncle Tupelo split. Honestly, Tupelo was a great band. But good gawd, Wilco and Son Volt/Farrar have gone on do some fine stuff. Would the stuff have been as good had Farrar and Tweedy stuck it out? Maybe. Maybe not. All I know is I sure do love that Trace CD!
BTW, are you Music Lover TX, whom I know from elsewhere, or a different Music Lover? Just curious. :)
Posted by Kevin @ 20:01 on 08/29/03
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