|
Post by playingmakeup on Mar 15, 2004 18:01:32 GMT -5
Hi, everybody. It's my first time on a messageboard, so I apologize in advance if I do something wrong--I'm not really up-to-date on my messageboard etiquette.
Anyway, over the weekend I was browsing through the latest issue of the Greensboro Review--a funky little literary journal that's put out by the University of North Carolina--and there was a story in it that seemed to be based on the Mats/Bob Stinson. The main character was a zamboni driver, but before he drove zamboni he played lead guitar in a Minneapolis punk band that was known for getting drunk on stage. His name was Danny Fulson (hmmm), his band was called The Next (double-hmmm), and there was even a bit about how he'd sometimes wear a dress when they played (triple-hmmm). Anyway, I have to say I kind of liked it. It was a nice little tip of the hat to Bob.
Well, I just thought some of you might find this interesting. The story's called Zamboni Blues, and it's in the Spring 2004 issue of the Greensboro Review. Like I said, it's a pretty small journal. You might be able to find a copy in an independent (ie, NOT Barnes and Noble) bookstore. I only happened to read it because my friend subscribes to it. Any Mats fans out there living in Greensboro? You might be able to scare up a copy at your local bookstore. Maybe we could start a Mats/literary discussion. Again, just a thought. What can I say? I'm a Mats fan/bookworm.
Thanks for reading. Take care. Have fun.
|
|
zook
Beagle Scout
You be me for awhile and I'll be ewe...
Posts: 1,246
|
Post by zook on Mar 15, 2004 18:08:28 GMT -5
Hey Playing Thanks for the literary tip - sounds suspicious indeed and interesting! No apologies neccesary whenever you're here (even if someone demands one) so post away and we're glad to have you
|
|
|
Post by torethatbridgeout on Mar 15, 2004 18:15:12 GMT -5
Last time I was in Greensboro I drank grain alcohol punch at a dorm party and punched my ticket for one all-night psuedo-deep conversation about the Doors.
In other quasiliterary Mats news, The New Yorker just published a fiction piece called "Long Ago Yesterday" which has no Zambonis or cross-dressing (well, maybe it has cross-dressing), which can only have taken its title from the lyrics of "When It Began." Why? Because I say so.
|
|
|
Post by Placemat on Mar 15, 2004 18:24:30 GMT -5
Welcome to the club playingmakeup. Now get a really big stick & keep it handy.
As for books RE: The Mats...
Two come to mind, "Our Band Could Be Your Life" & "Route 666: The Road to Nirvana". (Sorry, both author's names escape me, but I'm sure someone around here has them handy.)
I found both books to be great reads. Check them out if you get the chance.
|
|
|
Post by elgoodo on Mar 15, 2004 18:35:37 GMT -5
hey playingmakeup, for fiction, check out:
"The Second Greatest Story Ever Told", by Gorman Bechard...
cool book, with lots of references to Paul and The Mats...
|
|
|
Post by GtrPlyr on Mar 15, 2004 18:37:54 GMT -5
hey playingmakeup, for fiction, check out: "The Second Greatest Story Ever Told", by Gorman Bechard... cool book, with lots of references to Paul and The Mats... I tried finding that book awhile ago, but was told it's out of print. Supposedly it will be coming out again soon...but when?
|
|
|
Post by torethatbridgeout on Mar 15, 2004 18:43:21 GMT -5
I thought you could just read it online ....
|
|
|
Post by elgoodo on Mar 15, 2004 18:44:18 GMT -5
hmm.. you could contact Gorman at: [ftp]http://www.gormanbechard.com/[/ftp] I have spoken with him a number of times thru e-mail, and he's a pretty cool cat... I'm actually surprised that he's not on the board... (or maybe he is...)
|
|
|
Post by GtrPlyr on Mar 15, 2004 18:54:11 GMT -5
hmm.. you could contact Gorman at: [ftp]http://www.gormanbechard.com/[/ftp] He has some interesting pictures in his 'updates' section .
|
|
|
Post by elgoodo on Mar 15, 2004 19:00:22 GMT -5
oh yeah, he's a photogapher, filmmaker, and musician as well... (kinda like el goodo)
2nd Greatest Story is a really good book...
|
|
|
Post by ILoveBobStinson on Mar 15, 2004 19:03:45 GMT -5
Sounds like the bastard mutant hybrid of the Gear Daddies and the Replacements.
|
|
|
Post by Elizabeth on Mar 15, 2004 19:21:47 GMT -5
I know gorman b. I worked on several of his movies. we had a great time and he was....he's a huge Mats fan, obviously. glad to hear the book is alright. does anyone have a copy to trade for some live recordings?
|
|
|
Post by Kathy on Mar 15, 2004 19:49:03 GMT -5
I tried finding that book awhile ago, but was told it's out of print. Supposedly it will be coming out again soon...but when? Try your local library, that's where I found it when it first came out. It's really hard to find now, I got a copy from someone last year but had not been able to find one on my own. You can try eBay or Amazon's used book section. I found a copy of another out-of- print book pretty easily on Amazon, "The Beaver Papers" - minds out of gutters, it's an homage to the genius of "Leave it Beaver" and the funniest book I ever read, well maybe a tie with "Good Omens": www.phoenixnewtimes.com/extra/dewey/book37.html
|
|
|
Post by GtrPlyr on Mar 15, 2004 20:44:08 GMT -5
Next stop, the Library!
|
|
|
Post by ElegantMule on Mar 15, 2004 21:18:47 GMT -5
Definitely check the local library for 2nd Greatest Story, if they don't have it tell them to Interlibrary Loan it - I know the Wisconsin Library system has it.
I read it but couldn't really get into it. It's like the story either pulls you in or it doesn't. I appreciate the ...cannot think of the world...the creativity of the plot. Better than most fiction books.
|
|
hipcheck
First Class Scout
wiggly-riffic
Posts: 103
|
Post by hipcheck on Mar 16, 2004 14:00:09 GMT -5
Zambonis/Ice Hockey and the Replacements....what else do you need in life.
|
|
|
Post by Elizabeth on Mar 16, 2004 14:02:51 GMT -5
do you mean THE Zambonis? the band from CT that sings songs about hockey (and only hockey).....?
|
|
|
Post by playingmakeup on Mar 17, 2004 1:47:11 GMT -5
Playingmakeup here, the guy who started this thread. Just writing to say thanks for all your responses. Yeah, I've heard of The Second Greatest Story Ever Told. (FYI: You can buy it used on Amazon.com). To be honest, I've steered away from it because I've heard it's supposed to be some kind of farce/allegory, i.e. the daughter of God goes around turing water into Rolling Rock, before eventually meeting the Mats, or something like that. And that's my problem right there--I love the Replacements precisely because they AREN'T a farce. Does that make sense? It's just kind of a pet peeve of mine. I mean, whenever someone writes about the Mats they always seem to focus on the angst-ridden/spokesmen of a generation/beautiful loser-thing. It's too easy. I'm just not a big fan of the whole myth-making thing, the slow "Winoa Ryder-ing" of the Mats and their music. It's probably just me, but I can't help feeling they deserve more than a passing reference in a "farce," be it The Second Greatest Story or, worse yet, Heathers.
That's why I liked the Greensboro Review story in the first place. It was so, well, REAL. It was like you were able to be in Bob Stinson's head for a week. Or at least a fictional character who seemed loosely based on Bob. You got to see the good, the bad, the ugly, the boring, the sad, the happy, everything.
Well, that's all I have to say. Hope I didn't come off too harsh. Hell, I haven't even read The Second Greatest Story yet. I was just sort of thinking out loud.
Take care. And again, thanks for your responses.
|
|
|
Post by torethatbridgeout on Mar 17, 2004 2:00:03 GMT -5
It was like you were able to be in Bob Stinson's head for a week. hey, at least you wouldn't have to look at his haircut
|
|
|
Post by Elizabeth on Mar 17, 2004 11:25:11 GMT -5
guess who gorman wanted to play the daughter of Jesus when he was writing this book and thinking about a movie....it's so bloody obvious (and lame)....he's really not a very good writer...
|
|