A million thanks to all our fans, friends, and family who came out to the mps reunion at Maxwell's the other night. It was a triumphant night. Cheers to la familia Mejias, the Circle, and the various crews from Philly and New York City (and Staten Island, even) who made this the awesomeness that it was.
If you couldn't attend, get a sampler of the magic courtesy of the Indomitable Phil Ritz, who selflessly took video of some of the songs (see below).
Until next time, perhaps...
50 Bullets
Superman
How Can a Man Be Tougher Than the World?
Jackals
Rivers of Water, Rivers of Mud
Bitch, Why?
Good Thing
Running Away from Melissa
P.S. We love you all.
Posted by Jim Teacher
Monday, November 7, 2011
Friday, October 28, 2011
Media Darlings
Our reunion show is just a week away, and Hoboken's local paper did a neat piece on the band and our Jersey City roots that you can read HERE. The show is next Friday at Maxwell's in Hoboken; show starts at 8:30 PM and is a mere 8 bucks.
Posted by Jim Teacher
Posted by Jim Teacher
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Tiger Lady!
That horror in Zanesville got me thinking...there's a "missing" mps track that few people have out there. Listen to and download a rarely heard track from the rarely-found Weird New Jersey Local Heroes, Villains and Artists compilation--gratis!!
This was recorded during our second session with King Django, maybe around 2004, and would have been the last song on "In Bed." For completists, consider this the final, missing tune from the "In Bed" EP, which you can buy on ITunes.
Tiger Lady! CLICK HERE for the tune.
Posted by Jim Teacher
This was recorded during our second session with King Django, maybe around 2004, and would have been the last song on "In Bed." For completists, consider this the final, missing tune from the "In Bed" EP, which you can buy on ITunes.
Tiger Lady! CLICK HERE for the tune.
Posted by Jim Teacher
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
MPS Reunion Show
This shit is on. We'll be playing at Maxwells in Hoboken on November 4, as part of Fairmont's 10-year anniversary show. Get your dancing shoes out and start saving up those tips for the bartender.
Friday, 11/4/2011
with
Those Mockingbirds
Theodore Grimm
Fairmont
Time: Late-ish P.M. Cost: $Cheap-ish
Posted by Jim Teacher
Friday, 11/4/2011
with
Those Mockingbirds
Theodore Grimm
Fairmont
Time: Late-ish P.M. Cost: $Cheap-ish
Posted by Jim Teacher
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Saturday, July 2, 2011
MPS Tribute Band?
This is the first I've heard of this...seems like a bunch of poseurs from Nutley are trying to put together an MPS cover band. Here's some footage we unearthed of one of their 'practices.' Good luck, fellas.
Posted by Jim Teacher
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
An Interview with David Caldwell, Part 3
By Jim Teacher
JT: Favorite MPS show? Tell it.
DC: Oh man....there have been a lot of memorable shows for a lot of different reasons. shows that we totally rocked, and shows that totally sucked! We had them all!
All the shows down in bucks county were awesome....the first rock and roll basement show we played in bensalem is one that sticks out - was our first show down there, and we met some great folks who just wanted to rock. The shows at sacred grounds were also pretty amazing....again, met some really nice people and were always well-received.
Shows at maxwells in hoboken were also excellent...we always ate for free, and the food was good...and we actually got paid well to play. We opened for some awesome bands at maxwells, and I'll always be grateful for those spots.
I would have to say, though, that the show that I will always remember was down in philly...not sure when it was exactly, I'm not really good with remembering dates....we were invited to play this basement show by some friends, and the place was totally packed. I remember playing through the set, and it was hot as balls down there! we played hard, and folks were dancing and having a great time. then, out of nowhere, I look up from behind the drum set, and who comes down the basement stairs.....NAKED GUY! dude just comes running in completely nude and starts dancing his bare ass off, and then a few minutes later, he was gone! I was like, "holy shit....naked guy!"
....have to say that that's probably the show I remember the most...completely random and absolutely awesome.
JT: Favorite MPS show? Tell it.
DC: Oh man....there have been a lot of memorable shows for a lot of different reasons. shows that we totally rocked, and shows that totally sucked! We had them all!
All the shows down in bucks county were awesome....the first rock and roll basement show we played in bensalem is one that sticks out - was our first show down there, and we met some great folks who just wanted to rock. The shows at sacred grounds were also pretty amazing....again, met some really nice people and were always well-received.
Shows at maxwells in hoboken were also excellent...we always ate for free, and the food was good...and we actually got paid well to play. We opened for some awesome bands at maxwells, and I'll always be grateful for those spots.
I would have to say, though, that the show that I will always remember was down in philly...not sure when it was exactly, I'm not really good with remembering dates....we were invited to play this basement show by some friends, and the place was totally packed. I remember playing through the set, and it was hot as balls down there! we played hard, and folks were dancing and having a great time. then, out of nowhere, I look up from behind the drum set, and who comes down the basement stairs.....NAKED GUY! dude just comes running in completely nude and starts dancing his bare ass off, and then a few minutes later, he was gone! I was like, "holy shit....naked guy!"
....have to say that that's probably the show I remember the most...completely random and absolutely awesome.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
An Interview with David Caldwell, Part 2
By Jim Teacher
JT: What else have you been up to lately, musical and otherwise?
DC: Haven't been up to much musically, to be honest. I played for a friend's band, Vida Meets the Van, for a little bit and helped them record an album before they moved out to the west coast. Other than that, I've picked up my acoustic guitar here and there to play a little. I haven't played drums in a really long time, aside from playing once or twice with the MPS crew. Both time and space restraints and my recent back troubles prohibit me from having the drums and playing lately. Kind of sucks, but at the same time, I think I'm OK with it. I was just thinking the other day to start an acoustic 80's cover band, and play Pat Benatar's "Hit Me With Your Best Shot", Kenny Loggin's "I'm Free" from the Footloose soundtrack, and also "Cherokee" by Europe. If anyone has other requests, let me know.
I actually just got into listening to music again recently, since my lovely wife got me an IPOD for X-mas this past season. I know what you're thinking....and yes, I was also one of the last hold-out's to get myself a cell phone, and I have only owned my own computer for about a year and change....again, thanks to the mrs.! What can I say? ,,,I'm a bit slow. Getting back to the point, the concept of "shuffle" has blown my mind...it's really given me the opportunity to re-introduce myself to music and fall in love with it again. It's like the best radio station ever without any dumb commercials and dj's.
I've been pretty busy with other things aside from music lately. I graduated with my MA in Counseling in 2008 after spending four lovely years working and going to school....that was fun. I'm working now as a therapist...I like what I do most days. As per the above-mentioned gift-giver, I got married in April 2009 to a wonderfully insane girl who makes my face hurt with laughter and smiles, and creates butterflies still in my belly when my phone rings and it's her...she's really something special - and I mean that exactly the way it sounds!
Someone awesome once said "Life is gay, and I'm a homophobic" ...as much as I love that single lyric, I can't say I can relate to it much these days. Life is good, and I'm happy.
JT: What else have you been up to lately, musical and otherwise?
DC: Haven't been up to much musically, to be honest. I played for a friend's band, Vida Meets the Van, for a little bit and helped them record an album before they moved out to the west coast. Other than that, I've picked up my acoustic guitar here and there to play a little. I haven't played drums in a really long time, aside from playing once or twice with the MPS crew. Both time and space restraints and my recent back troubles prohibit me from having the drums and playing lately. Kind of sucks, but at the same time, I think I'm OK with it. I was just thinking the other day to start an acoustic 80's cover band, and play Pat Benatar's "Hit Me With Your Best Shot", Kenny Loggin's "I'm Free" from the Footloose soundtrack, and also "Cherokee" by Europe. If anyone has other requests, let me know.
I actually just got into listening to music again recently, since my lovely wife got me an IPOD for X-mas this past season. I know what you're thinking....and yes, I was also one of the last hold-out's to get myself a cell phone, and I have only owned my own computer for about a year and change....again, thanks to the mrs.! What can I say? ,,,I'm a bit slow. Getting back to the point, the concept of "shuffle" has blown my mind...it's really given me the opportunity to re-introduce myself to music and fall in love with it again. It's like the best radio station ever without any dumb commercials and dj's.
I've been pretty busy with other things aside from music lately. I graduated with my MA in Counseling in 2008 after spending four lovely years working and going to school....that was fun. I'm working now as a therapist...I like what I do most days. As per the above-mentioned gift-giver, I got married in April 2009 to a wonderfully insane girl who makes my face hurt with laughter and smiles, and creates butterflies still in my belly when my phone rings and it's her...she's really something special - and I mean that exactly the way it sounds!
Someone awesome once said "Life is gay, and I'm a homophobic" ...as much as I love that single lyric, I can't say I can relate to it much these days. Life is good, and I'm happy.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
An Interview with David Caldwell, Part 1
By Jim Teacher
JT: What influenced your musical stylings?
DC: I've always had a love of music for as long as I can remember. I guess my first musical influences came from the little radio that would play in my kitchen when I was eating my cereal before school. My parents would always have CBS 101.1 on, and I would be sipping the sugar-milk out of my bowl listening to the likes of Stevie Wonder, James Brown, the Beatles, the Temps, Cream, and tons and tons of great music.
My sister was also a pretty big influence, as in the day, she was all about the 80's...R.E.M., the Cure, Duran Duran....loads of stuff that I can't even start to list. I made fun of her for some of it back then, but I now look back and realize that these bands have totally molded the way I look at music, and I have many of the cassettes she had on CD now, so I guess the joke's on me now.
Somewhere in middle school, I started listening to a lot of hip-hop....don't ask me how, but it just kind of happened. Groups like De La Soul, Tribe Called Quest, Pharcyde....pretty amazing beats and a ton of originality....DEFINITELY had an effect on my drumming style.
A few years later, I met some rather unique guys ...yes, I'm talking about the MPS crew, to name a few....and had the opportunity to play drums for about five or six bands. While learning how to play, I was surrounded by various rock influences, with everything from Metallica to Rocket from the Crypt to the Bosstones....so many bands, so many great guitar licks, so many awesome drum fills.
People ask me a lot about my drumming influences..."who's your favorite drummer??".....I guess I can't start talking about drumming without talking about Rush....Neil Peart is amazing....Dave Grohl is also a big influence on me...he played hard, and he didn't make it look easy. I used to get mad at some of the drummers I would see live....drummers who would struggle but still try to make it look simple...drummers that smiled a lot.....don't do that. Don't try and make it look so easy, because I know better.
I think what's been the best influence on my music is not being closed off to different styles. I can appreciate an Iron Maiden guitar solo as much as a Slick Rick break beat. I can zone out to Coltrane one minute and rock out to Weezer's first (and best) album the next. I love music, and I think I take it for granted a lot. Answering this question tells me that, and I miss playing right now more than ever.
JT: What influenced your musical stylings?
DC: I've always had a love of music for as long as I can remember. I guess my first musical influences came from the little radio that would play in my kitchen when I was eating my cereal before school. My parents would always have CBS 101.1 on, and I would be sipping the sugar-milk out of my bowl listening to the likes of Stevie Wonder, James Brown, the Beatles, the Temps, Cream, and tons and tons of great music.
My sister was also a pretty big influence, as in the day, she was all about the 80's...R.E.M., the Cure, Duran Duran....loads of stuff that I can't even start to list. I made fun of her for some of it back then, but I now look back and realize that these bands have totally molded the way I look at music, and I have many of the cassettes she had on CD now, so I guess the joke's on me now.
Somewhere in middle school, I started listening to a lot of hip-hop....don't ask me how, but it just kind of happened. Groups like De La Soul, Tribe Called Quest, Pharcyde....pretty amazing beats and a ton of originality....DEFINITELY had an effect on my drumming style.
A few years later, I met some rather unique guys ...yes, I'm talking about the MPS crew, to name a few....and had the opportunity to play drums for about five or six bands. While learning how to play, I was surrounded by various rock influences, with everything from Metallica to Rocket from the Crypt to the Bosstones....so many bands, so many great guitar licks, so many awesome drum fills.
People ask me a lot about my drumming influences..."who's your favorite drummer??".....I guess I can't start talking about drumming without talking about Rush....Neil Peart is amazing....Dave Grohl is also a big influence on me...he played hard, and he didn't make it look easy. I used to get mad at some of the drummers I would see live....drummers who would struggle but still try to make it look simple...drummers that smiled a lot.....don't do that. Don't try and make it look so easy, because I know better.
I think what's been the best influence on my music is not being closed off to different styles. I can appreciate an Iron Maiden guitar solo as much as a Slick Rick break beat. I can zone out to Coltrane one minute and rock out to Weezer's first (and best) album the next. I love music, and I think I take it for granted a lot. Answering this question tells me that, and I miss playing right now more than ever.
Friday, January 21, 2011
A Review
From our man in Chilltown:
Posted by Jim Teacher
How Can a Man Be Tougher Than the World?
The Multi-Purpose Solution (Mint 400)
Mint 400 is a Clifton-based record label with a roster of some of the Garden State’s most underappreciated and challenging bands (Fairmont and Any Day Parade, just to name two). So it’s a natural fit for the Multi-Purpose Solution, a Jersey City art-punk outfit fronted by a near-madman whose voice sounds like a cross between Tom Waits at his most inebriated and an avalanche in the Appalachians. The label is making MPS recordings — including “How Can a Man Be Tougher Than the World?”, the group’s moody, deranged magnum opus — widely available for the first time. Guitar riffs seesaw, scrape and elbow for position, song sections shuffle, rhythms start and stop abruptly, and the irascible Jim Teacher bellows about Sonic Youth, crucifixion and the Texas border patrol. Initially given a limited release in 2005, this album garnered a cult following among the musically courageous and fans of general Jersey weirdness. At once spontaneous-sounding and as meticulously mapped out as a math-rock set, “Tougher” is the work of true originals — pub crawlers burdened by obsessions and prone to blinding flashes of clarity.
— Tris McCall
Posted by Jim Teacher
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
