Jay Reatard on tour with TV Smith

If you're into punk and you get a chance to see this guy on his current tour, do it. He's amazing. I mean, amazing if you're into thirty minute LOUD sets filled with about twenty-five songs and no annoying stage banter. Reatard shouts out the name of the song and his band launches into a super frenzy version of it. And repeat.

He's touring with punk legend TV Smith of the Adverts. Smith opens with a politically motivated acoustic set and it's such a joy to watch this punk rock warlord slam away at a beat up acoustic guitar, giving little stories of in between songs that are funny, moving and smart.

Plus, Jay brought TV out for an encore of four Adverts classics (Gary Gilmore's Eyes, Bored Teenagers, One Chord Wonders and We Who Wait - which Reatard covered on his first LP Blood Visions). It's a lot of fun and Smith looks like he was having the time of his life and it's great to hear these incredible songs live with Smith in the lead.

Also, Jay's band is selling his new record at the merch table (it's not due until August 18th!!!). And it's incredible, showing a lot of growth while still being rootedin his classic punk style. Destined to be near my top of the year.

I love the Matador Singles. It's uneven but it's a singles album. I even love the B sides.

But I think the new one might be his best. It doesn't really sound anything like Blood Visions, but that's just because he's really growing as a songwrither. It's a good thing.

His guitarist? You mean the bass player? They were always a trio whenever I saw them. (Can't watch the video at work).

He's touring again starting...next week, I think. Wonder who he'll get to replace them.

I talked with the bassist quite a bit whenever they came to town (I don't know their names). He was always working the Merch table. Nice guy. He sold me one of their records after a show but dropped sweat on it and was really apologetic. I told him I didn't care and not to worry about it. Nice guy! Sorry to hear about this, but it doesn't change how I feel about Reatard. He does most of the tunes himself in the studio anyway, and the band were competent live, but he was always the main attraction by far.

Also, that peeing video is from Jay's older band The Reatard's (and he claims that no pee actually got on guitarist and that it was all for show and that he was in on it). Looks like he's looking for a new band STAT.

That fucking SUCKS.

I'm guessing this is probably why his band quit. I don't think the dude took great care of himself. I wouldn't be surprised if this was drug related.

Still, I'm tremendously disappointed. The man was prolific so at least I've got a lot of his music to tide me over, but I was really looking forward to having him around for many, many years to come. Not only could he write a hook like the best of them, he was a tremendously talented (and underrated) guitar player and his live shows were exactly what live punk should be. Fast, loud, in your face and mean. I still can't believe he had TV Smith join him for an all-Adverts encore at the last show. I remember after they played three songs that I shouted out for "One Chord Wonder." Jay nodded his head under all that fucking hair and sweat. Dude shouldn't be dead.