The Jazz Butcher
Press
Monteal Gazette
- May 06, 1992
Published: Monteal Gazette
(Montreal, Canada)
May 06, 1992
Credit:
Paul Wells
Interview w/Conspirator:
Pat Fish
The associated Gig:
1992-05-06
Dicing Expectations
"You know that sort of dreadful rock ritual where they
recognize the songs so they applaud you for playing
something they've heard," Fish says over the phone. "So
we've come armed with this show, which basically takes
your expectations and stabs them to death within the first
five minutes."
The better to further Fish's reputation as an immensely
sardonic, world-weary character of life's little absurdities.
Melancholic and extreme
Fish's alter ego, the Jazz Butcher, has produced a series of
charming tunes wedded to stark, eerie lyrics in a
progression of fringe-friendly albums since the eraly '80s.
His latest album,
Condition Blue
, fits well into that tradition. It's a
cheery collection of hummable ditties about the insanity
that looms when a relationship falls apart.
And though the band does make a point of playing the tunes
differently onstage, Fish says the album's dark mood
translates to live performances.
"What we're doing is melancholic and extreme... With a
show like this you do need to actually listen and pay some
kind of investment before you're going to get anything out."
Not that Fish wants to scare his audience away for the fun
of it.
"I'm not after being deliberately obscure. I don't want
to make music that's just for one generation of
19-year-olds to have as their special little secret."
Music audiences, even those in the alternative crowd
who've been more likely than the suit-and-tie set to buy
Jazz Butcher albums are among the many subjects that
arouse profound skepticism in Fish.
Many young people today "just use (music) as a kind of
fashion accessory," he says.
"You get kids who are pissed
off at their parents because they couldn't borrow the
Camaro or something and they require a big, loud, scary
noise which makes them feel better about not liking their
Dada for a week."
Just another silly name
Not all his fans are insufferable, he's quick to add, and
crowds at the latest Jazz Butcher shows seem much more
interested in the music.
The Jazz Butcher moniker was just one of a hundred silly
names Fish and a friend discussed in a barroom chat one
day, along with gems like Tammy Raviloi and her Jumping
Vermicelli.
But Fish slapped the Jazz Butcher name on a basement tape
that became an album almost by accident, and the rest is
history.
"As long as people realize that we don't play jazz and I don't
eat meat, they'll be all right."
The Jazz Butcher and their guests The Lowest Of The Low
perform tonight at 8:30pm at
Club Soda, 5240
Park Ave. Tickets cost $13.50 plus tax and service charge.
Visitor Feedback
No comments yet for this page
[Add your own]