Tumgik
#if i had a nickel for the amount of times i restarted this i would be rich
wendinella · 3 years
Text
Tumblr media
‪juke rights!!!! i can't believe it took me this long to draw them smh 🦋🎸‬
3K notes · View notes
daggerzine · 3 years
Text
Stephen Smith of The Morning Line opens up.
I believe that Bay Area musician Stephen Smith began sending me stuff to listen to/review with his band The Morning Line a few years ago. I really like the band’s brand of melodic rock/pop and was curious to know more. I then realized it was the same Stephen Smith who had been in Boston faves Salem 66 many years before. I then wondered what other bands he had been in that I had maybe checked out (or own records by) so I tossed him some questions that he was more than happy to answer. Read on and give the band a listen, they really deserve your time.
Tumblr media
RAWK
Where did you grow up? Was it the Boston area?
North Shore of Chicago until about 14, then high school in the Boston suburbs. I stayed in and around Boston, with stints in New York, L.A., and North Carolina, until I was 25. I was into music as a kid in Chicago, but too young to really be going to shows or anything. Boston was where I really had my musical coming of age. There was a surprising amount of stuff happening in the Suburbs. I saw Husker Du in Concord. The Dead Kennedys in Waltham. And Boston was only about 45 minutes away by train. I remember going into the city and buying records at Newbury Comics, with Aimee Mann behind the register.
What was the first instrument you picked up?
Why I started playing french horn at 11 or 12, I don’t know. It didn’t last. I started playing guitar pretty quickly after that. My first electric was a Stratocaster. I was probably 12 years old. 1979? It was used, so I’m guessing it was an early 70’s one. Got stolen at CBGB while I was loading in in the mid-80’s. Thieves work fast! Let me know if you’ve seen it.
What was the first record you remember buying? As a kid nay band knock your socks off?
My memory is embarrassing, but I recall three early purchases. Singles of ELO’s “Turn to Stone,” and Gary Numan’s “Cars,” and a Beatles comp called “Rock ‘n’ Roll Music.”
Tumblr media
The most recent album from 2019. 
What bands were you introduction to punk/new wave/alternative music?
I remember very distinctly tuning into WLYN (later WFNX) and hearing Gun Club’s “Sex Beat”, and Bush Tetras’ “Cowboys in Africa,” and being amazed. I’ll tell you what, though, high school girlfriends were absolutely key to my musical education. Gang of Four? X? Learned about them through my first girlfriend. The Replacements? Through my second. I’m the great beneficiary of other people being better informed than me. Through these same people, I became aware of what was going on locally, and was turned on pretty early to stuff like Christmas, Volcano Suns, the Proletariat.
Was Expando Brain your first band? If not what?
As a fifteen-year-old, I had a couple bands with friends playing covers (I remember Gang of Four’s “Essence Rare,” X’s “Riding with Mary,” “Brand New Cadillac”). But Expando Brain was the first “real” band. I think I was 16 when we started that. Being that age and getting to play shows (like that CBGB one where I lost the guitar), make a record, and be ever-so-slightly enjoyed by some people, was a thrill. I suppose obviously.
Tell me about your time in Salem 66? Howe did you initially meet those ladies?
I don’t remember how we got together! I’m going to guess it was David Savoy’s doing. David managed Expando Brain for a while. He later managed Husker Du, before passing in early 1987. I think he got me together with them. I was 18-19 at the time. They were all 5-10 years older, so we wouldn’t have been traveling in the same circles.
It was absolutely thrilling for me. They were a great, interesting, band. They had “made it,” in my youthful eyes. Signed to Homestead Records? Come on. Gerard had rejected Expando Brain. So I was gonna be on my favorite label (well, maybe SST aside)! I was only in the band for nine months (I think I was a pretty relentless pain in the ass), but so much happened in that time. I think it was all in 1986. We did a tour through the south, so I saw places I’d never seen. We did another tour as a part of our travel to make “Frequency & Urgency,” so I got to see California, an unknown place that loomed so large in my imagination. We stopped in Needles, on the CA/AZ border, and I skated the pool of the motel we stayed at (very poorly). We made the record with Ethan James, who had recorded one of my favorite records of all time (“Double Nickels on the Dime”). I got my first tattoo while we were in L.A. making the record. It was just a dream for a 19-year-old who wanted to be a musician. In some minor way, I *was*.
Tumblr media
Waiting for the pizza delivery. 
Was God’s Eye next? If so how did that band begin (and end)?
Yes and no. After getting booted from Salem 66, I went to school. Spent a year at Vassar College. There, I started the first version of God’s Eye with my brother, Tim, who would drive out to Poughkeepsie from Boston now and then to rehearse, and with Ivor Hanson, another Vassar student, who had earlier been in Faith and Embrace (and has gone on to lots of other things, musical and otherwise). I was just writing riffs then, nothing very substantial, and that came to an end at the end of the school year. At the same time, I answered an ad in the Village Voice. A band in North Carolina, apparently signed to a major, was looking for a guitar player. I noodled some notes onto a tape, took a picture, and sent it. I got an audition, then the gig. The band was called the Right Profile and, at the time, they were signed to Arista. ….but no record ever came out. Sort of a roots/American thing before that was a thing. Maybe Petty-ish? I hate to pigeonhole. So I moved to North Carolina. The band was led by a guy named Jeffrey Dean Foster, who is still making great music today. The drummer was Jon Wurster, a name I’m sure you know. For about nine months – again - I played with them. I was the wrong guy for the job though. I didn’t really have the kind of sideman chops they needed. Can’t remember if I jumped or was pushed. Maybe some combination. As an old man, it’s been nice reconnecting with them through the miracle of social media. A year or two after that, I restarted God’s Eye with my brother. In candor, it wasn’t very good. I had decided I needed to sing in a lower register, and it was really just bellowing. Despite that, we had remarkable success. We were managed by Boston dynamo Joyce Linehan, who would later go on to work at Sub Pop, work with Joe Pernice, and work as chief of staff to the Mayor of Boston. She got us much further than we (I) deserved. We made an album, an ep, and a single for Domino in England. The album also came out on Rough Trade in Germany. We got to play some dates in London. Nothing ever came out in the U.S. We had some interest, but it never materialized.
Anything in between that band and your move to the west coast?
Near the end of God’s Eye, I also played a bit with Green Magnet School. They needed a bassist, and I pitched in. Chris Pearson, one of the guitar players in the band, returned the favor, adding a second guitar for God’s Eye. I was lucky to be able to record a single with GMS, the Sub Pop double-single with Six Finger Satellite.
When did you make your movie to the Bay Area and what prompted that?
Frustration with music prompted it. I remember having breakfast with an exec from Stone Roses’ label. Silvertone, if I recall correctly. He sounded so into it! He was gonna put out the God’s Eye record in the U.S.! But it didn’t happen. I decided I needed to have more control over my life, so I bore down, finished college, and moved across the country to San Francisco, sight unseen, to go to law school.
Tumblr media
The latest single from earlier this year. 
Were you in any bands before the Morning Line in San Francisco?
In law school I met a fellow student, Jason Hammon, who was in the midst of a pretty successful rock career. He was in Dance Hall Crashers. We stayed friends and, in 2000 or so, we started a band called My Fellow Astronauts, with his brother Gavin (another DHCrasher) and my friend Scout (Scout Shannon & the Willing Deceivers). We played some shows, recorded some demos, but nothing ever came of it.
Tell us about the beginnings of The Morning Line?
It’s 2004 or so. My friend Marco Baroz (Lucy & the Long Haul) played bass, David Knupp played guitar, and somehow we found David Shollenbarger. Maybe craigslist or something? David had played for awhile with Agent Orange. We were in our late 30’s, and knew not to take it too seriously. But we made some demos, and an album in 2007 (“Stay My Satellite”). We were and are very fortunate to have a friend named Peter Craft, who has a great studio called Boxer Lodge, and great skills. We got to spend a year working on the album, and get it just the way we wanted. We self-released, but got a few reviews and a few fan letters, and that’s all I could hope for. Eventually, the lack of success that comes with being in a band of forty-somethings took its toll, and the band was pretty much dissolved in 2008. But Peter (also a terrific drummer) and I kept making demos. I wrote some stuff I liked in about 2015, so we started recording again using The Morning Line name. “Stephen Smith” is too generic to get the job done.
“Smoke,” from 2017, is a collection of things we did over a few years. “North,” from 2019, was a focused, intentional album project, all recorded with Peter, David Knupp, and Brian Mello (the Bellyachers). That’s the band today. I write the songs and sing, but it really wouldn’t sound like it does without them, especially Brian (I don’t think Peter or David will be offended by that).
I know you just released a Morning Line single. What’s next for the band?
Not sure! I’m still riding the high of getting a couple songs done with all of us in quarantine! We’re talking about putting out a collection of odds and ends: demos, the songs from this new single, some remixes. But I’m not sure. We’ll be putting out a couple of those old outtakes as a Big Stir digital single in June. An album of all new material is probably in the future, but I’d guess at least 18 months out. We’re . . . deliberate.
Prior to COVD was the band actively playing locals shows and or doing any touring?
Not really. We play from time to time, but it’s mostly a recording project at this point. You’d be surprised how little interest there is in watching an obscure group of fifty-somethings peddle their wares.
Tumblr media
A man, his dog and a weird-ass mountain (ok, hill). 
Who are some of your favorite current bands, local or otherwise?
I’ve been oddly incurious about new music the past few years. I just looked at the Outside Lands schedule and was like, “scarypoolparty? What?” I know that’s inconceivable to you. I tend to get excited by friends’ new products. People I’ve mentioned here, like Brian Mello and Scout Shannon, have had things out over the past year or two. My friend Russell Tillitt has something coming out. Jeff Shelton’s Well Wishers. Just off the top of my head. Bigger name stuff? I like the new Besnard Lakes record. The most recent Sleaford Mods. I’d be happy to hear the new Wrens record, which I suspect may never come.
What are your top 10 desert island discs?
You know how hard this is. Every day a different answer, right? Here goes:
Neil Young – Live Rust The Clash – London Calling Wrens – Meadowlands X – Los Angeles Gang of Four – Entertainment Replacements – Let it Be Jesus Lizard – Goat Jam – Sound Affects Teenage Fanclub – Catholic Education Wipers – Over The Edge
Those and a hundred others.
Final words? Closing comments? Words of wisdom?
Thanks for giving me the chance to think about this stuff. It’s fun to do a little reminiscing. As you know, there’s a deep bench of older indie-rock folks out there, still at it, and doing it pretty well. Thanks for giving us some attention.
 BONUS QUESTION: Red Sox or Giants?
60/40 Giants. It's nice to have a team in each league.
 https://themorningline.bandcamp.com/
2 notes · View notes
choicesatnight · 5 years
Text
Restart
Title:  Restart
Pairing: James Ashton x Vivian (MC)
Rating: NSFW and stuff...
Word count:  2,507 words
My disclaimer:  This character is owned by PB, I just enjoy some elaboration. I really love James Ashton and I love Choices fanfics, especially nasty ass stuff but there isn’t much featuring my original bae, James Ashton from The Freshman series
So, I decided to put my amateur ass talent to work and write with James being the *star of the story*
A/N:  * is a separator due to scene change, very very very minor use of Daddy. Super tame.
“Ohhhh…” James can't control his moaning. His dick between her breasts, he stops thrusting to focus on savoring the feel of her lips around the head of his member. She can't stop moaning either, his dick in her mouth as he runs his thumbs repeatedly over her erect nipples. Her moans are becoming louder and lasting longer each time his dick pops in and out of her mouth. Her appetite for him is as insatiable as his for her and she'd suck his dick all night if he never stopped her. Her lips around his dick is a sensation he’s addicted to feeling though his desire to taste her becomes overwhelming and he immediately moves off of her to lower his face between the thighs he loves so much. No words are spoken before his tongue meets the lips of her pussy, delving inside to find the treasure he seeks. “Daddy" she moans in a whisper, hands on the back of his head, resisting the urge to push his face until its smashed against her pussy. She can feel the vibrato of his baritone groans as he feasts on her center, her limbs writhing involuntarily responding to his tongue until he moves up to speak “This pussy is so damn perfect “ he licks her slit, “tastes amazing “ inserting a couple fingers to play a little before pushing himself up to lie on top of her, aligning his hips with hers releasing a loud grunt upon insertion “Its wetter, warmer than ever before" he starts to thrust “Faster Daddy, harder" and he increases the speed of his thrusts. She likes it rough and being pregnant hasn’t changed that. “Harder, baby I can take it.” James is devoted to giving her exactly what she wants. Bracing himself by gripping onto the couch they're lying on, he thrust powerfully into her pussy causing her to scream his name. He loves the sound of her pleasure scream, especially when she’s calling his name and he continues to thrust until her moan sounds like a balloon that's losing air, a decrescendo, a downward whistle.  Pleased knowing that he has satisfied Vivian, he quits thrusting though remains on top of her, inside of her.
Vivian only smiles before sitting up to kiss his cheek, letting him know to get up so she can get dressed. It has only been a couple of weeks since they’d agreed on a temporary separation that they didn’t seem to be adhering to considering they're still sleeping together. Once her dress is over her head, “James, tomorrow we have a prenatal appointment. I'll call you.”
“I wish you'd just stay. You're carrying our baby. You should be here with me.”
“It’s too hard to live with you and not be with you. Plus, I call you for every single thing. Appointment. Tomorrow. Okay?”
“Of course. Call me when you get home. Or at least text me that you're safe.”
“Okay James “
Without so much as a farewell kiss, she leaves the apartment that was once home to her and drives minutes away to her new place. James is fully aware that a friend helped her with her place though he is unaware that the friend in question is Shaun. He invites himself over all the time. He’s even got a key meant to be used professionally since he is the maintenance man for this complex as well, but he pops in to visit Vivian regardless of business nature. Shaun is walking the hall when Vivian arrives home.
As confident as ever. “Hey, sexy" he flashes his golden smile that usually flusters her thoughts completely.
“Just left James. We had sex.” Stating facts as coldly as she could, hoping to deter Shaun from any flirtation although she left the door open for him to follow after her. Of course, he does.
“I guess I can get why you wanna sleep with your baby's father that you're separated from. There’s still love there, right?” Surprised that he isn’t calling James “money bags” or making fun of him in any other way, she continues talking about James.
“I love him so much and I wish he'd drop this separation bs. I'm pregnant by him. What does he think I'm going to do?”
“This separation won't last long. He won't wanna be away from you or that baby for too long"
“Thanks for listening, Shaun. I didn’t realize I needed to complain."
“Anytime, sexy" that smile. This time Vivian notices his smile and finds herself stuttering when encouraging him to leave
“Um..se-se-see you tomorrow?”
“No question.” He walks out the door, she shuts it behind him and falls on the couch irritated thinking about calling James when she should be lying in bed beside him, she texts him at his request for safety assurance. He responds to the text by calling her.
“I’m glad you’re home safe. You could have been at home if you continued living here.”
He can’t see her roll her eyes at his words, but he can certainly hear the snarky attitude when she snaps back at him,
“End this dumb separation. Let’s just be together and I’ll come right now.”
Silence. She speaks again,
“Exactly. So, shut up about my living situation and I’ll see you tomorrow. “
“Don’t act so innocent Viv. I have trust issues, yes but I also WANT to be with you. Can you blame me for being scorn? Afraid? Cautious?”
“I’m not trying to act innocent. I just miss your kisses. I miss being wrapped in your arms. I miss lying beside you. I miss everything about us.”
“Let’s keep working on it; on being 'us' again. For starters, we can converse about the happenings in our lives."
She grabs a bag of Chex Mix to start snacking, munching by the handful. Even eating the bagel crisps she usually hates.
"Well, James, next week I'll officially be two months along. We have an appointment tomorrow.  There’s nothing else going on in my life.” she speaks in a monotone to accentuate her boredom with daily life sans James.
"Don’t underestimate how largely important that is. What I have to say fails to compare with pregnancy but, it's all I've got."
"I'm all ears"
"My parents are having a soiree honoring a partnership my father has made in business.  His business partner Jeff and his wife are relinquishing a good amount of control to my dad. I thought it'd be kind to give them a gift upon arrival. "
"Okay. What'd you have in my mind?"
"They love spending time at the spa. I was thinking of getting them a $1,000 gift card to a spa."
"For $1,000? James. Are you crazy? These people are not special to you.  No. That's stupid. "
"It’s polite. Everything costs so much these days. Spa treatments are expensive. A thousand dollars is like dimes and nickels "
"It’s too much. You wanna be polite? 80 bucks. 100 max. 1,000? James, what the hell? When did you become so dense? You’re the first to remind me that we have a baby on the way to take care of, but you're gonna drop a thousand bucks on a gift for your parents’ friends? Use your brain, James. I can't even deal with you right now. I gotta go " she hangs up the phone without waiting for James’ response. While changing into her pajamas she notices her a low on her phone. It's James calling. She can see his face as the phone vibrates, rolling her eyes while ignoring his call, she gets into bed; James calling again, as she drifts into a sweet slumber.
*
The night passes and Vivian awakens still feeling annoyed with James for being so careless with his money. The idea of talking to him gives her a headache and thinking about their appointment today makes the headache worse. Walking toward the bathroom she hears the clicking of her front door being unlocked and knows its Shaun. She turns directions back toward the living room to meet him,
"You can at least knock as a warning. What if I were naked?"
Shaun smiles. A smile the seems so golden. Like everything else should instantly be in glee after he smiles. "That's what I'm hoping for."
"Whatever perv." and they stand staring in one another's eyes in silence for seconds that feel like minutes. Usually, Vivian can shake this off but this time, she stumbles. Struggling to find words to change the conversation from this silent flirting. Fixing a piece of hair behind her ear she exclaims, "James!” successfully snapping out of her Shaun induced trance.  Shaun's expression of confusion is so pronounced, she would claim she could see the question marks floating around his head until she continues speaking “Um...James kinda irritated me last night."
"What'd he do?"
"He wants to gift his dads’ friend a thousand bucks. I know they’re financially set but doesn’t he know priorities? We’re having a baby and he’s just giving money away. To people he doesn't even know. For his dad!" Her chest bounces and ponytail come a little loose after her animated gesturing when explaining to Shaun
"Damn sexy, why you do your moneybags boyfriend like that?"
"He's supposed to be smart and he’s not my boyfriend. "
It was the first time she denied claim on James and Shaun notices.
"So can you take me to my appointment? I'm going without him. I'll make up an excuse. I don't wanna see him."
"Yes, I'll take you but I'm also staying.  You shouldn't be by yourself if you've got someone around during your pregnancy. Deal?"
"Deal. Let's go."
She begins walking out the door when Shaun puts his arm out to stop her
"You're forgetting something, sexy" he looks at her from head to feet.
"Oh yeah. I gotta shower. Come with?"
"Come on, sexy. Why you gotta tease me like that?" She giggles, appreciating his knowledge of her little joke before she walks into the bathroom.  
Her phone starts ringing, and she sighs seeing James face on-screen Here we go she thinks as she picks up the phone
"Vivian.  I finally got you. So we're on for today, right? I should head over there in about 20 minutes?"
Speaking softly, "No James. I didn't sleep well last night. I rescheduled. "
"Do you need anything?"
"No. I just wanna shower and lie down.”
"Okay, well I--" but she has already hung up
**
Meanwhile, at James apartment, he’s stuck constantly wondering if Vivian is telling the truth about needing more sleep. She seemed adamant about the appointment yesterday, she hurried off the phone and let’s be honest, she simply doesn’t have the greatest record of being forthcoming with James. In an effort to change his thoughts, he opens his laptop to purchase the $80 gift card that Vivian angrily suggested while still thinking of his distrust in her. It feels like an out-of-body experience when he looks up at the screen realizing he has searched private investigators. His distrust in Vivian controlling him as he reaches for his phone to dial the number. Feeling a little shy at first but more confident as the phone rings, James explains exactly what he’s looking for, and gives Vivian's address, they hang up so that James can text the investigator a few photos of Vivian as requested.  With only a smidge of guilt and much more satisfaction, James sets down the phone trusting the investigator much more than he trusts Vivian.
 After completing the transaction with the investigator, James takes the short walk to the library where he sits at his laptop working on his next play.
Beside him is a dark-haired woman on her laptop, reading reviews of Rosethorne Park.
He can't help but to speak to her,
"You saw Rosethorne Park? What did you think?"
He holds out his hand, “I'm James, by the way" she shakes his hand while turning back to her screen "Comfort. I saw the movie, but I’ve heard the movie was loosely based on the play. I also heard that the play is a million times better than the movie. The play is touring small venues in this city only so I'm reading reviews before I buy my ticket."
"I didn't get your name."
"Comfort. I said Comfort."
"Oh, I'm sorry I missed it before.  Nice to meet you, Comfort and I'd argue to agree, the play is better than the movie. The movie kinda sucks."
"In comparison, I can imagine that the movie sucks. Original work is usually better."
Comfort's enthusiasm for James work has an effect on James comparable to Cupids arrow. The magnetism between these two is more than James can comprehend. He wants to kiss Comfort and somehow, he knows she wants to be kissed by him. He and Vivian are separated so it's okay, right?
No, no she's having their baby and he wants to work things out. Guess there will be no kissing tonight.
"So, James, when do you plan on telling me that you are the accomplished James Ashton? The playwright?  The author? That Rosethorne Park was your first play, and this is your first-time touring?"
He sits shocked that she knows this stuff though his expression gradually becomes a grin showing that he is impressed by her knowledge.  And a little turned on. This girl just keeps getting better  
"What gave it away? Was I too interested in the play?"
"No, your interest level was perfect. I simply can't forget such a handsome face and I saw your picture in your author bio to your book, Prescribe to love."
"You recognized me from that? The girl I was dating at the time gave me a mini makeover for it. I don't look like that."
Why did he say that!? He just had to make it known that he's technically single right now.
"James, I'm looking at you. Yes, you do look like that. Anyway, are you teaching these days? I'd love to pick your brain."
“I don't teach, but I'd be willing to meet with you."
She closes her laptop,  
"Let's set that up."
"You closed your laptop. Are you leaving me already?"
James brand of flirting isn't so obvious, nor is it usual though he can't seem to refrain from flirting with this girl.
"Yes, I promised my grandmother I'd go to T.J Maxx with her. But I won't leave before we make our date." They share the same brand of flirting and she whips out her phone going directly to the calendar.  
"Let's not wait long. How about tomorrow?" Even her eagerness is come hither to James.
"Tomorrow is perfect.  Here's my phone number.  Text me your address. I'll come to get you"
He hands her one of the business cards he had previously printed but has never used.
"Okay, James.  What time?"
"Text me and I'll text you back." James smiles feeling suave and mysterious, Vivian not on his mind at all as he watches Comfort walk away.
Teeny tiny tag list:
@zigortega4life
@littlecrookedheart
11 notes · View notes