Readers of Rock NYC will be aware that I have gone on the record as calling Titus Andronicus the only band that matters. There is a searing integrity, a feeling of not simply “us against them” where we are part of Titus’ “us” but, just as importantly, a us and them where them is Titus and they are for us. It is community, integrity, decency as we head right into a new great depression.
And I haven’t mentioned the music yet. Though I have written about TA’s punk via Bruce anthemic shout in the face of darkness so often, I guess you can take it as read.
So, with their newbie The Monitor, on the horizon, I reached out to my friend Paul Finn of Odessa Records and Kingsley Manx. Titus covered the Finn – McGee song “Waking Up Drunk” for daytrotter. The song, and Titus cover of it, is, with the possible exception of a Haggard here or a Charlie Daniels Band there, the best song ever written or sung by any one about hard drinking.
Paul’s a great guy and got in touch with Patrick for me.
And Patrick’s a great guy and got in touch with me but mostly I got silence. The reason was pretty simple. He was about to release the new album and was setting up a huge tour. I eventually emailed him back and said maybe when the tour is over.
This was Patrick’s reply which I got this morning:
“Iman, I feel bad. Yr right that I am up to my neck in it, what with trying to get everything sorted for this record coming out and the ensuing tour and trying to wring the last bits of domestic bliss for all that they’re worth. I also know, though, that of all the people who say stuff about us on the internet, you are probably the kindest to us, and seem to get what we are going for as much as anyone, even though yr review of our show opening for Vampire Weekend has provided us with a long-running joke at practice wherein anytime our keyboardist Dave does something wrong, we all say, amazed, “Really? Keybs?” Good fun. Really though, I do appreciate yr adovocacy, and you seem to understand what we are after as well as anybody. Maybe you have notice I quote you and yr bit about “the antithesis of nihilism” on our MySpace page. You really hit on the head with that one. What’s more, you speak well of Spider Bags too, and any friend to them is friend to me. So, with that in mind, if you feel like coming by the Bowery Ballroom tomorrow, I’d be happy to answer whatever questions you might have. I might not have the ideal amount of time to go into super elaborate detail, but I can do my best. Our soundcheck should be over by six or so. You can call me to coordinate further, if you are interested. If not, no big deal! Sorry for being a big flake this whole time. My time management skills are close to zero, as will be evidenced on Monday when I scramble around looking for clean socks. So yeah, let me know!
Yr friend,
Patrick
So I am going to the concert tonight anyway and going in time to see the opening act which is how I came to hear Titus Andronicus in the first place -opening for Los Campesinos. The show is sold out so congrats to all, and will try and coordinate an interview for Rock NYC.
Two other things: I have been on their myspace a lot lately (streaming the new album) and never noticed that, indeed, they did pull my quote. Here it is: “Titus are a comunal band. Because they discuss depression and discuss existential crises in their songs they are misappropriated as antisocial. This is social music, it is shared miseries. Singing about nihilism is the antithesis of nihilism.” – Rock NYC Live and Recorded
The other thing? Some guy who loves the band has emailed me about how much the band means to them. I’m sure the band hear this all the time because, honestly, Titus Andronicus are the only band that matters.
Titus Andronicus Forever