Elektra, of course, doesn't think it's "do or die" time for Rhett Miller and the boys. Joel Amsterdam, vice-president of press and artist development at the label, says, "Not at all. They've established a great base with the first record, and they have a lot of support here. Of course, we would welcome a jump to the mainstream, but going platinum on this record isn't crucial to the band and its relationship with the label." The forthcoming record, which isn't yet titled and was produced by Andrew Williams (yes, Andy Williams' nephew), is scheduled for release in March or April.
Schwedler also has severed his business relationship with the American Fuse, though they aren't "officially" untangled as of yet. Quite simply, Schwedler says, he is through with the business end of music for a while; he actually wants to start playing again, something he hasn't done since the end of Killbilly. (Schwedler did sub behind the skins during an Old 97's tour last year, replacing Philip Peeples at the Troubadour in Los Angeles when Peeples fell ill. "It was a nerve-racking experience, trying to be the manager who didn't get up there and blow it thinking I was still a musician," he recalls.) To that end, he is actually working once more with ex-Killbilly compadre Alan Wooley (who produced the Old 97's 1994 debut Hitchhike to Rhome). "It sounds good to have a manager," Schwedler says, "not to be one."
Topaz Awards, part who cares
Got a letter last week from Puppy (yes, just Puppy, goldangit), the bassist for Cresta, who says I was way too hard on Jenny Esping for winning all those Topaz Awards a few weeks ago from the North Texas Music Foundation--who, like, Esping works for. Seems Puppy, whose bark is...well, you know...is upset over suggestions that Esping's winning these Plexiglas doorstops--which, I might add, are hardly worth the stink they've caused, because it's not like they mean anything--had something to do with her being on the NTMF board.
"Jenny had nothing to do with the organization of the North Texas Music Festival or the Topaz Awards due to personal circumstances," Puppy writes. "Tragically, Jenny's father became very sick over the summer and passed away. Jenny spent most of her time at his bedside during this period and is obviously still grieving his loss. You really must be desperate to get attention at any cost if you are going to maintain that during this awful time for her family Jenny was concerning herself with exercising some kind of undue influence in order to win some local music awards. While I appreciate the shock value of your column, surely you have limits on the hurt you'll cause in the name of regurgitating gossip." Hey, fair enough. Down, boy.
Scene, heard
I don't get this either, but Captain Audio, the best "new" band in town even if its members are cagey veterans, will preview its forthcoming CD My ears are ringing but my heart's OK on November 20 at Sock Monkey in Exposition Park. (As an added bonus, Sub Oslo will perform.) But the album itself will not even be released till January 12--at the earliest. Sprechen ze tease...?
Talk about your tony gigs: After years of playing with Leroy Shakespeare and Ship of Vibes, pianist Arthur Riddles has himself a new job, performing every Saturday night from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the Pyramid Lounge at the Fairmont Hotel. The lounge is adjacent to the swanky-swanky Pyramid Room restaurant, where, I think, water goes for $134 a glass. Nice work if you can get it, but can you still smoke a blunt during breaks?
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