Ten Years After

Those are my boys, ten years ago. Unorganized Hancock. The Spare Heir playing the drums was eleven. His big brother was either seventeen or eighteen. They did this whole thing themselves, no input from either my wife or me. I think I might have held a camera, because someone must have, but I don’t remember it.

I’m glad that we have evidence of the passing of time like this. Moving picture family album entries are better than snapshots. But it makes one wistful. They’re out on their own now, and we are adrift ourselves. We’re not on an island, but we’re definitely in the sun here in the Yucatan peninsula, so the song kinda fits.

If there’s still anyone out there who thinks that social media sewers like YorubaTube are actual meritocracies, show them this, and then tell them it got 1,000 views in a decade. Then mention that “Charlie bit my finger” got 897 million views, and was sold as an NFT for $700,000.

I have often counseled my children that in the long run, it’s better if people ask why there’s no statue dedicated to you, instead of asking why there is a statue dedicated to you. That kind of thinking might be thin gruel, I’ll admit, but it’s kind of nutritious, too.

Trick Question: Who Did It Better?

First up, my lads from nine years ago. It’s a flip camera recording from a July 4th celebration in Rumford Maine. Oh Boy!

We’re going to reach way back for some competition. No, not the Crickets. My little Davids can’t be expected to go up against Goliath right off, can they? But if we reach back to 1975, we can find a remake of Oh Boy, straight out of Old Blighty. And the band’s name is Mud, and I mean that every which way.

Whenever some whippersnapper starts in on how much everything sucks now, and how wonderful everything must have been fifty years ago, I’m going to play that video for them. And testify that Mud was about par for the course for the cringe factor of the entire decade.

We’ll See if Anyone Gets the Joke This Time Around

Holy cow, that was eleven years ago. Man, the kids were young. Their cherubic faces belie the facetious nature of the song. It just might be the most subversive Christmas song ever written, accomplished without ever laying a finger on the real Christmas. Enjoy, and Merry Christmas from the Cottage!

Have an Unorganized Christmas

Nine years ago, my kids made a Christmas record. It was back when they were few in number, few indeed, and strangers in the land. It turned out to be the Number One selling Christmas album on Bandcamp that year, for a while, at least. That’s a bit like saying you’re the tallest midget in the circus, but it was plenty amusing enough for us at the time.

You can listen to the whole thing for free in your browser by hitting the play button below, or download the whole thing for a few bucks if you’re inebriated and your credit card and your hard drive aren’t maxed out yet.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good grief Charlie Brown.

Impromptu Unorganized Hancock Reunion

Well, Dudley Dowrong and James Stroumbas were performing at the Wook Nook in Norway last night. That’s Norway, Maine, folks. There’s only so far we’ll travel to see a show. The Wook Nook is a delightful little place. Here’s how local radio station Q 97.9 touts it:

Attention Maine Hippies: This Eclectic Maine Bar is a Must-Visit

It’s telling that “hippies” now refers to young persons, not geriatrics with Deadhead stickers on their Cadillacs. The Wook Nook is lots of fun. The menu is limited, but the food is swell, and the booze selection ranged from New Zealand dark pilsners to PBRs over to drinks with umbrellas in them.

Here’s the band on display:

Devotees of this blog may recognize Dudley Dowrong. That’s him on the right, with Smith Brother James Stroumbas on the drums. They were playing honky tonk songs and making assorted other charming noises. I was getting myself outside of a beer over by the bar.

Then disaster struck. James injured his hand, and couldn’t continue without giving a generous blood donation to the snare drum. Curses, almost foiled again! Luckily, DOD (dear old dad) brought a spare drummer longtime readers might also recognize. He’s been stretched on life’s rack quite a bit, so he’s taller than you may remember him, but he still remembers how to beat the skins. He sat in for the last half of the show or so, and for a brief, shining moment, Unorganized Hancock rode again!

The Wook Nook

Man, I Miss This Stuff

If you’re new around here, those are my kids. They’re not really kids anymore, of course. I think the drummer was twelve and the singer/guitarist was nineteen when they made that video.

The older one is out in the world making his way. He’s performing music again, as a solo act, although I’ve never seen him do it. He doesn’t need dad to carry the amplifiers anymore, or drive him to the jobs, I guess.

Our younger son makes electronic music. Vaporwave, mostly:

Time marches on. You can never put the toothpaste back in the tube. You can never put Humpty Dumpty back together again. The past is another county. Whatever. But I’m sure glad I didn’t forget to have kids in the first place.

Happy Valentine’s Day From the Cottage

Remember to send your wife a spray of roses at her job today. On the card, put, “From your one true love.” If she doesn’t mention them when she gets home, you’ll know for sure that you’re not it. Otherwise, you’re golden!

Who Did It Better? Like Humans Do

Exhibit A: The originator.

Exhibit B: It’s new, it’s improved, it’s old-fashioned.  They couldn’t afford a string section.

Blast From the Past

Every video ever made is a requiem mass. You just don’t know it at the time.

Rockabilly Faceoff

First, from France, the Spunyboys:

And in this corner, from Maine, Unorganized Hancock.

Er, I have a personal favorite for some reason.

The kids have a gig in Ogguster tonight. The drum set is now smaller, and the drummer is much, much bigger and can carry it himself, thank Jeebus.

Tag: Unorganized Hancock

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