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Underground > Radio & Music >

Who likes Jeffrey Lewis?

Haus of Mystery

21:22 / 26.09.04

So anyone hip to him?

For those ouside of the no he's part of the NY anti-folk scene that also spawned Adam Green and Kimya Dawson of the Moldy Peaches. He's an amazing performer, all warm weird lyrics and spiky acoustic (sometimes electric) geetars. Plus he does comics, and makes his own 'videos' ( a drawing pad which he flips through whilst singing) the best of which is a visual history of The Fall.
If it all sounds a bit twee, it's not. I loathe earnest singer/songwriters, but fans of The Magnetic Fields, Jonathan Richman and The Mountain Goats would be advised to take a glance. He's performed twice at my venue, and both times I was hypnotised. Really, he's great.
Two albums to seek out :
'Last Time I did Acid I went Insane (and other stories)'
and most recently
'It' the ones who've cracked that the Light shines through'
Both ace.

Anyone else feeling him?

foot long subbacultcha

07:41 / 27.09.04

Been a fan of his for a few years now. Love his gigs. He and his brother (and the whole AFNY crowd) are incredibly approachable. He's a talented storyteller, both in song and in comics.

13:55 / 10.11.04

I grew up with him! I had no idea he had this cult following. He wrote a number of those songs while spending the summer alone in shack in the woods in Maine. I wrote a play about it once.

Haus of Mystery

14:14 / 10.11.04

For real? Are you shitting me. He's great. Does that mean you're great too?

14:22 / 10.11.04

I dunno. We have a checkered past. We seem to be pretty cool with each other lately, but he spat in my face once, and once I pushed him down some stairs. Just a little flight of stairs, nothing serious.

I could tell you stories!

14:28 / 10.11.04

His middle name is Lightning. His father was a biker.

Haus of Mystery

10:19 / 11.11.04

he spat in my face once, and once I pushed him down some stairs. Just a little flight of stairs, nothing serious

But he's just a little guy! Seriously how do you feel about his music? I personally think he's one of the strongest singer/songwriters around at the moment - head and shoulders above a lot of the 'antifolk' gang.

13:05 / 11.11.04

Count me in. One of my friends played me his first album a while back, and it sowed the seeds of anti-folk. I started going to university in Hull which, luckily, houses The Adelphi Club a great live music venue that seems to be pretty popular amoungst the anti-folkness.

Wooden Ghost played recently, Curtis Eller (NYC yodeller) is due a week on monday, and I think Thomas Truax is gonna pop through pretty soon.

But, back to the topic, I think Jeff is great, love his music and comics to bits, but I wouldn't say he's head and shoulders above the rest. I'd be hard pressed to say if I preffered Jeff or Kimya.

Haus of Mystery

14:25 / 11.11.04

Nope. Kimya's cool, but her overly cutesy schtick rubs my rhubarb the wrong way sometimes. I actually prefer Adam Green, the acid-drenched Andy Williams of our time...

21:55 / 11.11.04

He's tougher than he looks, you know, real wiry. No, it was kid stuff.

I have to confess that I don't know much about any of them aside from Jeff and that Mountain Goats guy. I've met Kimyah socially, who seemed a little put off that I wasn't impressed. Hey, I'm an ignoramous, whaddaya want?

I think Jeff's writing is very strong and no one does "it" quite like he does, but I find it difficult to say anything about it that doesn't somehow reflect on our history.

Haus of Mystery

08:20 / 12.11.04

Mountain Goats?! Are you trying to show off now?

10:19 / 12.11.04

No! They're friends. I met the Mountain Goats guy (John something? I can't seem to keep it in my brain) and Kimyah Dawson through Jeff, whose G.I. Joe doll (Quick-Kick, specifically) I once stole. I'm not bragging.

Haus of Mystery

10:27 / 12.11.04

Is there no end to your villainy sir? GI Joe theft is a serious crime... As long as it wasn't Storm Shadow.

13:11 / 13.11.04

Damn, as soon as I lose my internet access, somebody has to start a thread on Jeff Lewis.

Don't have much time for a lengthy responce, but suffice to say, his two albums are some of my favourites of recent years, his comics kick ass, he's a terrific live performer, a thoroughly cool dude and generally a hero of all that is good and right in the world.

I'm a real sucker for most of the Anti-Folk stuff actually - it's really inspiring to know all these nice, weird, geeky people are out there writing crazy songs and drawing comic books and goofing around and stuff. It's a 'scene' (or whatever) that I relate to and feel comfortable with - they're just, well, my kinda people I suppose, stupid as that may sound.

Kimya's last album is wonderful and Adam Green's is really funny - I think they've both started to hit their strides in their solo careers after a slow start.

I didn't know John Darnielle / The Mountain Goats had any connections with these guys, but it's spiriting to know he does - obviously goes without saying that IMHO he's one of the best people writing and performing songs in the whole world at the moment - no jive.

And in my last 3 minutes of internet time, I'll also give a shout-out to my idols, heroes and spiritual brothers, makers of some of the most groovy and beautiful music around - the wonderful Herman Dune. Check em out right now, everybody.

Haus of Mystery

16:19 / 13.11.04

Excepting The Mountain Goats, they've all played at the venue where I work in the last year. Lucky me, non?
I hear ya' on the Dune Riz. Last album ruled.

16:51 / 13.11.04

I'll third the Herman Dune vote, saw them with Kimya, they were tall, and made nice sounds. They even did a cover of indian summer.