| - April 2008 - |
DAVID E. WILLIAMS LIVE
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Sometime after 8PM
Temple of Eris
602 S. 52nd Street (at Cedar)
Philadelphia, PA, USA
A CAVALCADE OF
COMPILATION
CONTRIBUTIONS!
“Erlkonig”
(cover of song by Franz Schubert
and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe) on
OEC 100 / Old Europa Café
A man of frequently-criticized vocal skills, David audaciously accepted the challenge of singing this classic of 19th century German Romanticism. With help from an internet MIDI file, he also transformed the original piano accompaniment into a driving electronica, prefigured nearly two centuries earlier by the relentless ostenato of Schubert’s original composition.
Based in both Danish and German folklore, Goethe’s lyric tells the story of a little boy travelling by horse with his father. The boy is haunted by an Elf King who tempts him to a land of flowers and song (not to mention the Elf King’s dancing daughters!) As any good child would, the boy tells his father about this Elf King character, but the father dismisses him with talk of fog and rustling leaves.
Since you’re on this website, you probably already know or have figured out that by the end of the song, the father is left holding a dead child.
OEC 100 celebrates the 100th release and 25-year anniversary of Rodolfo Protti’s Old Europa Café Records with 101 artists on this 7-CD box set. Wow!
Order from http://www.oldeuropacafe.com/main.php?nav=pd&prdct=8470
“I’m in Love with the Ambulance Driver
(1987 4-track demo version)” on
A Taste of Lapin / Disques de Lapin
From Disques De Lapin: “Celebrate Spring and reincarnation in style with this delightful Disques de Lapin compilation. Whether it's the 1987 cassette demo of the David E. Williams hit "I'm In Love With The Ambulance Driver", a rare old O Paradis track, Miss Moonshine's take on the standard "It's Only A Paper Moon", or one of the other 13 outstanding numbers, you'll be choking on this chocolate rabbit for decades.
Other acts include: cosmic internationally unknown windchild Stavo Craft, time-travellers The Universes, Barcelonan dance-hall gods Comando Suzie, guitarist extraordinaire Jerome Deppe, depressing creeps Thomas Nöla et son Orchestre, erotic trumpeteer Eric Dahlman and the well-dressed Shiva the Destroyer. Also introducing promising new acts Oval Portraits, The Puntice Reflection and Polly Eurothane...and more? Hear them now, idolize them later.
This release is a silk-screened CD-R in a vintage 45 sleeve with artwork and treats inside. No two are alike. “
Order here: http://www.eskimofilms.com/atasteoflapin.html
“Heart-Shaped Box” on
Montage of Heck: A Sinister Tribute to Nirvana
DIY project on several indy labels
with free download at
http://www.divshare.com/download/3632964-004!
From Mr. Williams: “If you ever wanted to know how I sound doin’ the Cobain blues, you are hereby informed that I just covered “Heart-Shaped Box” for Montage of Heck: A Sinister Tribute to Nirvana. Organized by the fellow from Selbstmorder, this release is available from a number of labels, distributors and even as a free download for all you kids who weren’t even born when that mythic shotgun married that mythic skull.
As for me, I had just turned 30 when Kurt (OR SOMEONE ELSE!) pulled the trigger, and I was having a bit of a breakdown myself: every time I looked at another human being, I automatically envisioned them with their entrails exposed. Seriously. It was a real problem and you can verify it with people who knew me at the time.
I remember being slightly irritated when I read that a contributor to Kurt’s depression was the fact that his loser punk rock friends in Seattle made fun of him for buying a Lexus with his newly earned dough. My advice would have been to drive over them… forward, back… then drive over them again.
Well, a lot of people have written a lot of songs. And some of them are good. I guess I have to sing as many as possible since I’m the voice of a generation.
For now, I really do “wish I could eat your cancer when you turn black.”
ONLINE REVIEWS OF
THE APPEAL OF
DISCARDED
ORTHODOXY:
A TRIBUTE TO
DAVID E. WILLIAMS
Judas Kiss by Lee Powell
http://monkeyhouse-recordings.co.uk/JK2CMS/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1108&Itemid=30
Judas Kiss by Simon Collins
http://monkeyhouse-recordings.co.uk/JK2CMS/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1069&Itemid=30
Compulsion Online by Tony Dickie
http://www.compulsiononline.com/news86.htm
The double CD was also named one of two compilations in the “Best Works Anno 2007” by Occidental Congress!
http://www.occidentalcongress.com/best_works/Playlist2007.htm
$25 postpaid in U.S. and Canada
€25 postpaid in Europe and elsewhere
NOLA/ WILLIAMS
LOVE PARADE
CONTINUES UNABATED!
Thomas Nola’s performance DVD, En Vivo, includes great audio and video of D.E.W. singing lead vocal on T.N.'s piano version of "Sandra Lindsey", as well as the lads singing a duet together on T.N.'s "Henry Pelham". The recording is from Nola's October 2007 appearance in Philadelphia at Germ Books.
Buy the DVD here:
http://www.eskimofilms.com/envivo.html
D.E.W. SET LISTS FROM
BOSTON (JANUARY 25) AND
PHILADELPHIA (FEBRUARY 5)
Boston, January 25, 2008
Jacques Cabaret Underground
1. Sandra Lindsey
2. in sickness and in sickness
3. Sarah’s Booted Boy
4. The Ballad of Bob Crane
5. Beautiful Brownshirted Man—lead vocal by Jerome Deppe
6. Bad Day Anyway
7. Here Comes the Cold Narrator
8. Gossip Séance (Séance Gossip)
9. Grey Balloon Masquerading
10. Kill Yourself in Cape May
11. White Noise – a song from Jerome’s solo project! He sang lead vocal.
12. Hymn to the Genius of Idi Amin
13. Pumpernickel Crust – Jerome and David duet
14. Summer Wasn’t Made for You and Me
15. I’m in Love with the Ambulance Driver
Jerome Deppe played electric guitar on 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11 and floor tom on 8 (our audience participation number). Yet another new version of “Bad Day Anyway” has arisen: vocal, piano and a kind of shimmery noir guitar part.
Pre-recorded synth tracks were used on 1, 2, 3 and 13. David used Thomas Nola’s Yamaha piano on most of the others, a synth organ on 10 and a synth choir on 11.
Philadelphia, February 4, 2008
The Balcony at the Trocadero
1. in sickness and in sickness
2. Sandra Lindsey
3. Sarah’s Booted Boy
4. The Ballad of Bob Crane
5. Beautiful Brownshirted Man—lead vocal by Jerome Deppe
6. Bad Day Anyway
7. Here Comes the Cold Narrator
8. Gossip Séance (Séance Gossip)
9. Grey Balloon Masquerading
10. Kill Yourself in Cape May
11. White Noise – a song from Jerome’s solo project! He sang lead vocal.
12. Hymn to the Genius of Idi Amin
13. Pumpernickel Crust – Jerome and David duet
14. Summer Wasn’t Made for You and Me
15. Wise Up—David’s cover of Aimee Mann song from the movie Magnolia!
16. I Was a Fool in Love
17. I’m in Love with the Ambulance Driver
Instrumentation was similar to Boston, except that Jerome brought along an acoustic guitar for 9, 10, 11.
WHAT’S GOING ON IN MAY???
www.myspace.com/davidewilliams
| - January 2008 - |
Somewhat in honor of his new tribute CD, Mr. Williams will once again reunite with longtime guitarist and backing vocalist Jerome Deppe for two upcoming concerts.
Not counting their participation in the Germ Books’ Jennifer Bates Requiem, David and Jerome will be performing together for the first time in close to two years (their last gig as a duo was in New York City as an opening act for Death in June). And if memory serves, February 4 represents their first Philadelphia show since the Spring of 1998, when they accosted “Rittenhouse Squares” from the outdoor stage of HMV Records!
Not intrigued enough? In Boston, Jerome’s son Tristan will play bass guitar on 3 songs! (“Sandra Lindsey,” anyone?)
So come on out for old dances, new dirges, possible covers and even a song from the Jerome Deppe solo project!
That’s a lot of exclamation points, but each of them is merited.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Friday, January 25, 2008, 9PM
Boston, Massachusetts
Jacques Cabaret/Underground
79 Broadway
Cost:$10
with Thomas Nola et son Orchestre, The Universes (ex-Dustmuffin)
http://www.jacquescabaret.com/JacquesUnderground.htm
Monday, February 4, 2008, 10PM
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Balcony at the Trocadero
1003 Arch Street
with The Model and Dead Girl History
CD Release Party for THE APPEAL OF DISCARDED ORTHODOXY,
hosted by a.d. amorosi.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Set List for December 22, 2007
Temple of Eris Winter Solstice Celebration
Philadelphia, PA, USA
1. Not a Gear at All
2. Here Comes the Cold Narrator
3. Kill Yourself in Cape May
4. Bad Day Anyway
5. The Ballad of Bob Crane
6. Beautiful Brownshirted Man
7. Séance Gossip (Gossip Séance)
8. Erlkonig (Franz Schubert/ J.W. von Goethe)
9. Sarah's Booted Boy
10. Teddy Bear Laser Speculum
11. The Girl from the D'n D
12. Altar Boy
13. Hymn to the Genius of Idi Amin
14. Legends of the S.S.
15. Summer Wasn't Made for You and Me
16. I'm in Love with the Ambulance Driver
17. ENCORE: I Was a Fool in Love
David primarily accompanied himself solely on keyboard (mainly with a piano sound, although he used a pipe organ sound for "Legends of the S.S.")
On 1, 8, 9, 10 and 11, he sang and danced and crawled about with pre-recorded backing tracks.
Tonight was the live debut for tracks 2, 3, 7, 8 and 15!
2, 3, 7 and 15 have never been recorded.
"Hymn to the Genius of Idi Amin" has previously been performed live but has never been recorded (except by the group Oneiric Imperium, for the D.E.W. tribute CD).
"Bad Day Anyway"-- a song over 21 years old-- was performed for the first time ever as an "acoustic number" ("piano" and vocal only).
"Erlkonig" was sung in the original German using sheet music. The music is Williams' electronic variation on an internet MIDI file of Schubert's original composition. A recording of this song will soon appear on a multiple CD production celebrating the 100th release of Italy's Old Europa Café Records.
"Séance Gossip (Gossip Séance)" included audience participation, a group clap and/or stomp on the 10th beat of every 12 beat measure.
When encouraged to dance during "Sarah's Booted Boy", the audience responded in a dangerously elegant Dionysian fashion.
The Eris people are great—particular thanks to Kennny, Lora, Red and Matt. Welcome back to Pontifex Maximus Samel.
| - December 2007 - |
The flyer says everything but the city, which is Philadelphia (WEST Philadelphia). Mr. Williams hits the stage around 11PM with a set of primarily piano and vocal numbers—including some new songs about leukemia and suicide! No Christmas carols, but possibly an electronic version of Schubert and Goethe’s “Erlkonig”.
_______________________________________________________
Two generations of post-industrial and neo-folk artists cover songs by America's troubled and troubling troubadour.
All-Star cast highlighted by:
In all, 38 tracks ranging from pure folk to dramatic pop to harsh noise on two disks separated as
"Pop and Folk" and "Contra Pop and Folk."
This long-awaited international tribute, with artists from the U.S., the U.K., Belgium, Germany, Croatia, Greece, Italy and Poland also features:
Aesthetic Meat Front
Albireon
Angel of Decay (Jon Canady of Deathpile)
Artefactum & Horologium
Bleiburg
Circus Joy
Code Viore
David E. Williams (in tribute to himself!)
Dead Man's Hill
Division S
Dogs Hate Monet
David Talento
Der Bekannte Post Industrielle Trompeter
Der Feuerkreiner
Ethel Mermaid
Jerome Deppe
Lark Blames with Rodolfo Protti
Lloyd James
Macelleria Mobile di Mezzanotte
Myoclonic Jerks
Nazi UFO Commander
Oneiric Imperium
Rome
Second Amendment (with Andrew King)
Seelenblut
Spectre
Teatro Satanico
Testing Vault
The Lindbergh Baby
Thomas Nola et son Orchestre
Womb
……………………………………………………………………………….
To order directly from Mr. Williams’ private reserve:
$25 postage paid in United States and Canada
25 EUROS postage paid in Europe and elsewhere
Or send check or money order to:
David E. Williams
P.O. Box 2422
Philadelphia, PA 19147 USA
_______________________________________________________________________
http://www.lazaruscorporation.co.uk/v4/articles/davidewilliams.php
REQUIEM CONCERT OF
“IMPROVISED ELEGIAC AMBIENCE”
WITH DAVID E. WILLIAMS AND OTHERS
Saturday, December 1, 2007, 3PM
Germ Books and Gallery
2005 Frankford Avenue (between Tulip and Susquehanna)
Fishtown, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Jon Canady (Angel of Decay)
Jerome Deppe
John Gibbons (Bardo Pond)
Kennneth (Radio Eris)
David Talento
David E. Williams
| On Saturday, December 1, 2007, six esteemed Philadelphia musicians will gather at Germ Books and Gallery to ritually close the current art show of our founder, the late Jennifer Bates. At approximately 3PM, David E. Williams-- Germ's owner and Bates' widower-- will open the performance on synthesizer with a plaintive melody from one of Jennifer's own compositions. From there, the other musicians will join in an improvised performance of electronic drones, noises and other psychonautic sounds that evoke Jennifer's spirit on the day before many of her paintings leave Germ's immediate family forever to find homes among Germ's extended family. The overwhelming mood is intended to be elegiac, but with the personnel involved, one cannot predict the performance's ultimate direction, length or conclusion. The collaboration will be unrehearsed, with the intent that inspiration be drawn from Jennifer's memory, legacy and irrefutable presence. We hope to see you there. |
| - October 2007 - |
ROCK’IN TOBER
WITH DAVID E. WILLIAMS
October 5 through December 2, 2007
Igni Natura Renovatur Integra:
The Artistic Legacy of Jennifer Bates
Germ Books and Gallery
2005 Frankford Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19125
www.germbooks.com
Jennifer Bates-- Williams’ loving companion of nearly a decade-- was also a fantastic painter who promoted Her pernicious Occult agenda through paintings that combined elements of Surrealism and Pop. (She was also responsible for the CD artwork of Hope Springs a Turtle).
See the work for yourself at:
www.geocities.com/theonetruebates
David ‘s curatorial commentary can be found on his Myspace blog:
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=75298338&blogID=314552043
October 19
World Premiere of Horror Film with Partial D.E.W. soundtrack!
Splitting duties with Michael Perilstein (not to mention Giuseppe Verdi), D.E.W. contributes a portion of the soundtrack to Norman Macera's latest film, Murder Below the Line, which premieres at the
Terrror Film Festival on "Frightening Friday",
October 19th, 2007, 9:15 pm,
at The Ethical Society Building,
1906 South Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Admission is $5.00 for cast, crew, and students; and $10.00 for all others. All proceeds benefit the fight against Breast Cancer. Prior to the screening, there will be a twenty-minute reception with refreshments.
Now here's a sentence you could probably write yourself: David's section of the score relies heavily on strings and piano (with a smidgen of screech) and it generally accompanies the scenes of brutal murder. (Impossible!)
Murder Below the Line tells the story of a small town student horror film auteur who is stalked by a persistent killer with designs on inspiring the final script through videotaped acts of terror and mutilation (real ones!)
Don't look now, but part of the movie was filmed in David's house. (And pay close attention to the background music in the "record store scene").
Of course, Williams and Macera worked together previously on that other mad mix of horror and comedy, The Strike Zone.
See you there. If you survive until then!
www.myspace.com/murderbelowtheline
October 13, 2007
Do you call it “jamming” when the “jammers” are noir cabaret cum “neofolk” singer-songwriter fellows?
Thomas Nola (of the notorious Thomas Nola et son Orchestre) came to Philadelphia and Germ Books on October 13 to introduce a screening of his film The Doctor. As an added treat, he performed four songs, including vocal duets with Mr. Williams on Nola’s “Henry Pelham” and “Lale Anderson”. Williams also sang the Williams standard “Sandra Lindsey” in an arrangement that Nola had prepared for his contribution to the upcoming David E. Williams tribute CD.
Wait a minute… what was that about an “upcoming David E. Williams tribute CD?”
http://www.oldeuropacafe.com/main.php?nav=pd&prdct=8215
| - August 2007 - |
WILLIAMS’ OUT OF PRINT CD’S
NOW AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD!!!!!!!!
Out of print and officially unavailable for at least half a decade, David E. Williams' debut CD A House for the Dead and a Porch for the Dying (Ospedale, 1994) and his second CD I Have Forgotten How to Love You (Cthulhu, 1996) are now downloadable in mp3 format via SNOCAP in the catalog section of this website (as well as on his Myspace profile page) for only $10 each! Individual songs from these releases are available for only 75 cents each! (surely... a small price to pay to discover the hidden meanings behind "Shadowy Lesbian Pornograph" and "Vaginal Interior Decorator"). It was with these releases that Williams earned such hyperbolic accolades as "the greatest living musical genius to grace these shores since, well, since ever" (from The Black Flame) as well as all those creative comparisons to Liberace, Barry Manilow and Andrew Lloyd Webber in various stages of psychological degeneration. Buy, listen and learn.
TONY WHO? TONY VIOLENCE!
David will play keyboard (mostly organ parts) on a half dozen songs as half of the Tony Violence Trio
at Fishtasticon III
Friday September 7, 9PM
at the “M Room” on
15 East Girard Avenue (between Frankford and Front)
in Fishtown, Philadelphia.
The other half of the trio is David Talento. Although he’s one of Philadelphia’s most heralded experimental electronic musicians, Talento adopts the name “Tony Violence” as an outlet for his silly love songs about Susan Faludi and his lovely silly songs about Joe Pesci. It is rumored that covers of “Bad Day Anyway” and “I’m in Love with the Ambulance Driver” will also be in the set.
Look at all the fun that the Davids had in 2001!
This event is produced by the Positivespace Arts Cooperative as part of Philadelphia’s 2007 Live Arts Festival.
Talento: www.helpwantedproductions.com
Positivespace: www.positivespace.net
Live Arts: http://www.livearts-fringe.org/2007/details.cfm?id=1928
WILLIAMS CONTRIBUTES PIANO, ORGAN, HARPSICHORD AND THROAT TO NAEVUS
Mr. Williams proudly contributes to not one but two tracks on Naevus’ hau-rockin’ new masterpiece The Silent Life. As our hero succinctly commented on Naevus’ myspace page: “If this record isn't the Sgt. Pepper’s of neofolk, then such a thing is impossible to create.” Evoking the spirits of Argent, Manzarek and the guy from Iron Butterfly; David plays a heavily reverbed organ solo on “Castles in Spain”, while his acoustic piano and synth-harpsichord anchor and embellish the driving melodic post punk of “Kill Your Friends”. To the latter track, David also adds a backing vocal, allowing him the resume’ highlight of singing along with the legendary Rose McDowall (albeit digitally from 3000 miles away). PLUS: John Murphy on drums, Matt Howden on very velvety violin and Jerome Deppe artwork on the cover. Why haven’t you ordered yet?? http://www.hauruck.org/ or a distributor near you.
Naevus:
www.myspace.com/naevus
www.naevus.co.uk
WILLIAMS SINGS PATTON FOR BLEIBURG
D.E.W. sings lead vocal on "God of Battles", a track from Bleiburg's mammoth (12 hours/ 117 songs!!!) CD/DVD release Shadows Will Survive. The text for the piece is a poem by American World War II General George S. Patton, the nation's most mythic military figure and arguably one of her most lucid philosophers. Study and learn the poems of "Old Blood and Guts" at: http://www.pattonhq.com/unknown/chap14.html
Conceptualized and realized by Bleiburg's S. Rukavina, Shadows Will Survive also includes contributions by Douglas Pearce (Death in June), Kenji Siratori, The Grey Wolves and nearly two dozen other underground luminaries. Its ambitious length allegedly may earn it a place in the next Guinness Book of World Records, so buy it now and be part of history!! From Old Europa Café, THE ONLY RECORD LABEL THAT MATTERS:
http://www.oldeuropacafe.com/main.php?nav=pd&prdct=389
Bleiburg:
www.myspace.com/bleiburg
http://www.dark-transmission.de/
TO ZAGREB WITH LOVE…
A very insightful interview (e.g. “How much do you really intend to hurt people with your lyrics?”) with USUSUR.org , an online music publication from Croatia.
And you can finally find out what’s better: neofolk vs. goth.
http://ususur.org/tekstovi_finito.php?id=4
FINALLY….
BEWARE AN OCTOBER SURPRISE…
Uh oh, never mind. The secret is out!
http://www.oldeuropacafe.com/main.php?nav=pd&prdct=8215
| JENNIFER BATES, 1961-2007. |
Please join David E. Williams in honoring the memory of Jennifer Bates, his life partner and lover of 9 years, who died on May 17, 2007, after a 20-month struggle with leukemia:
"Her name was Jennifer Yael Bates.
She was beautiful and smart.
She was a painter, musician, designer, scholar, technophile, esoteric retailer, patriot to nation and civilization, and impassioned advocate of an individual's right to keep and bear arms. Those familiar with her so-called "dark persona" might be surprised to learn that she was also a community organizer-- serving as vice president and pioneering member of both her neighborhood arts cooperative and her local Townwatch anti-crime initiative.
She kept busy. She even had a garden.
Her gentle sarcasm never hurt, but softly goaded others into discarding the worst in themselves in favor of the better. She would have made a great teacher or manager, and, ever the Alpha, she assumed these roles de facto whenever the social situation demanded.
In 9 years together, I honestly don't believe we were angry at one another for longer than ten minutes at a time.
We laughed a lot.
I loved her deeply. I know that life is full of surprises, but I really can't imagine loving anyone in this manner again.
Goodnight, Blee.
Our ducks have left the pond.
Love,
David "
APPENDIX AND NOTES:
Jennifer's artwork: http://www.geocities.com/theonetruebates/
Jennifer's store: http://www.germbooks.com/
Jennifer's music was released under pseudonym to a worldwide audience by an independent European record label. At her request, her secret identity as this artist will remain a secret in death.
| - March 2007 - |
DAVID E. WILLIAMS INTERVIEW
ON BRITISH (AND INTERNET!) RADIO
On Monday, March 5 at 11:30PM (GMT -
London time), a pre-recorded interview with Mr. Williams will appear
on Resonance 104.4 FM, "London's first radio art station."
Conducted by Will Stone for the program "The Hour of the Apocalypse",
the interview-- with musical interludes-- will also be available…
LIVE ON THE INTERNET VIA MP3 STREAMING AUDIO AT
http://www.resonancefm.com
Determine the time for your local area
at http://www.timeanddate.com
Program details at http://www.resonancefm.com
(scroll down to 23:30)
______________________________
IF YOU'D RATHER READ THAN LISTEN…
Another new interview with D.E.W. is
available on Germany's Neo-Form website:
http://www.neo-form.de/artikel
VISUAL ARTS UPDATES:
JUDITH SCHAECHTER AND
JEROME DEPPE
Fans of the covers of A HOUSE FOR
THE DEAD AND A PORCH FOR THE DYING and I HAVE FORGOTTEN
HOW TO LOVE YOU can now rejoice in the long overdue publishing
of a definitive collection of the stained glass artwork of Judith Schaechter.
EXTRA VIRGIN, published by Free News Projects, is an elaborate
11" x 12" edition with—get this—over 100 color illustrations!
Read more at:
http://www.freenewsprojects
or
http://www.amazon.com/Extra
Meanwhile, the evocative photography
of D.E.W. guitarist Jerome Deppe has recently appeared in two group
shows at Baltimore's Sowebo Arts Gallery. And each time, Jerome's
artwork has graced the promotional postcard.
You might recognize the handsome fellow
done up as Saint Sebastien for The Art of Barter (it's a shot
of D.E.W. circa early 1990's).
And Jerome's image for Nostalgia
for Almost (the one with the mushrooms on the far right)…
…will also appear as the cover art
for Naevus forthcoming SILENT LIFE
CD…
…which has two songs with David on
keyboards! Look for more info on the Naevus CD in future news
dispatches, but for now, you can catch David's crazy psychedelic organ
solo for "Castles in Spain" at Naevus' Myspace site:
OK, that's a lot of info for one sentence
with some pictures in the middle. You probably should go back
and read it again.
"PASS ON AND INFECT HISTORY"
On October 7, 2006, in Philadelphia,
D.E.W. participated in Germ Books' (www.germbooks.com) "Readings from the Abyss", a 215 Literary
Festival Event in which local celebrities read "selected literature
about sinister things". David read two poems about Joseph Goebbels
from W.D. Snodgrass' legendary cycle THE FUHRER BUNKER.
(Before you troublemakers start sharpening your RED pencils, you can learn a little something about
Mr. Snodgrass at http://www.poets.org/poet.php
Other readers at the event included Jim
Knipfel, Mr. Dead Guy, Norman Macera, Mike Walsh, Bood Samel (of Oneiric
Imperium), Jonathan Canady (of Angel of Decay, Deathpile and Dead World),
A.D. Amorosi, David Talento (of Altruistic Suicide, Music for Isolation
Tanks and Tony Violence) and Raymond Spencer.
LATER THIS YEAR…
A VERY SPECIAL
RELEASE !!!
In the second half of 2007, fans of David
E. Williams will receive very special news from Italy's
Old Europa Café record label. It's NOT a new D.E.W. CD. It's
NOT a re-release of an out-of-print classic. It's NOT even a
legendary collaboration with some deceased Gothic icon (Rest in Peace,
dear Rozz).
For now, let's just say it's something
you'll be really excited to hear about.
So be prepared.
| - June 2006 - |
David took part in an unusual event on Saturday, June 10, at the Rocket Cat Cafe in Philadelphia. Local band Jupiter Fly-By celebrated the release of their Soccer Every Sunday CD by soliciting live interpretations of their songs from a wide cast of Philadelphia artists.
As Fly-By-guy Alex Strang pronounced David to be "one of the city's most accomplished and responsible (?) musicians," our hero launched into "Kings of Drone," recasting Strang's lyric to a piano version of the Police's "King of Pain." (Does this count as one of them there new-fangled "mash-ups"?)
With the song's moderately dissonant final chord droning on, David exploited his dark denoument with a litany of Strang/ Sting cliches, his sonorous baritone eerily evoking the cryptozoological climax of the Police's "Synchronicity II".
For a moment, the audience could sense the very presence of the Beast of Loch Ness. And demands for an encore ensued.
"I normally write historical ballads," said David. Faced with choosing an historical ballad about Idi Amin and one about Bob Crane, they opted again for the sad, sad tale of Hogan the Hero of Hedonism-- "meat on the pillow that could have been anyone."
| - May 2006 - |
Olivia Neutron Bomb with David E. Williams
at David Bowie Tribute Night
Rocket Cat Café, Philadelphia U.S.A., April 20, 2006:
1. Kooks (from the album Hunky Dory-- lead vocal by ONB)
2. Heroes (from the album Heroes-- lead vocal by DEW)
3. Wildfire (Encore!!--"not a Bowie song, but he would like it if he had written it"—lead vocal by ONB)
No one better than us understands your need to spend at least 3 hours a day in the photo gallery of davidewilliams.com: David with Rozz, David with Charlton Heston, David with Pat Buchanan, and sometimes just David himself!
But there’s a great big worldwide web out there, and here are four more places to wile away your last remaining hours before every manner of bird and fowl descends upon you like so many Stukas of avian contagion:
www.myspace.com/davidewilliams
Because you need him as a friend…
Jerome Deppe, David’s principal collaborator and the World’s Greatest Guitarist, finally has a site of his own. And wait until you see his visual art!
www.myspace.com/gentlemenobscura
Because you need him as a friend, too…
www.myspace.com/naziufocommander
Because you need to familiarize yourself with the new Overlords.
| - April 2006 - |
Mr. Williams will also assist Olivia Neutron Bomb as keyboard player in their rendition of "Kooks".
Other performers include Kilroy, Micronesia vs. Bilwa, Gemini Wolf, Djo, Barry, A.D.Amorosi, Wes Mattheu and the New Way Down, Zelda Pinwheel and Devin Greenwood.
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For those of you too young to remember David Bowie, he’s the handsome gentleman who judges the modeling contest between Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson in Zoolander. |
Thus ends (well, sort of) Tony Dickie’s review of PSEUDO EROTICA AND BEYOND: 1986-1998 in the online extreme culture zine Compulsion. Read more of his exegesis on our reviews page ( http://www.davidewilliams.com/reviews.html ) or visit Compulsion itself at http://www.compulsiononline.com.
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Meanwhile, just in time for those summer afternoons at the beach… Order your copy of this long-awaited CD directly from Mr. Williams at |
If you live in or near Virginia and enjoy the CD covers of A HOUSE FOR THE DEAD AND A PORCH FOR THE DYING and I HAVE FORGOTTEN HOW TO LOVE YOU, you’ll be happy to learn that cover artist Judith Schaechter has a show at The Visual Arts Center of Richmond between April 7 and May 21, 2006. More details at:
http://www.visarts.org/exhibitions.phpMeanwhile, Louis Pepe— an official "pumpernickel player" as David’s accordionist during the mid-1990’s —continues his climb to the top of the pantheon of independent film. With longtime partner Keith Fulton, he recently co-directed BROTHERS OF THE HEAD, the story of Siamese twins who become glam rock superstars in the early 1970’s. Read up on Lou’s exploits at:
http://citypaper.net/articles/2006-03-30/cover2.shtml| - February 2006 - |
D.E.W. contributes a Bauhausian Arabesque guitar solo (played on keyboard, of course) and a 5/4 rhythm track (run through distortion, so it’s not progressive rock!) to "Mercer is My Name" on Strange Monasteries, the debut release of NAZI UFO COMMANDER on the world’s greatest record label, Old Europa Café.
If that’s not enough to encourage your immediate online purchase, read on from the official press release:
"Strange Monasteries is the initial communication to the fractured hive mind extant on this planet. This is Stage 1: Putrefaction. Only a small percentage of the population is capable of being hardlinked into the Greater Vision and Voice, because only they have had the Eruption of the Unconscious into the Sphere of Consciousness. Transmitting from Neuschwabenland South, Nazi UFO Commander is conjuring out of the chaos of space, radio waves and electronics a catalyst that will reunify the dissociated conscious by re-encoding imprints through sustained and attentive listening. In order to affect this reunification, the CD must be listened to in its entirety. To hear it is to know it. A very strange mix of space-industrial, UFO-radio-communication, beating & noisy alien soundtracks… Professionally printed CDR. Limited and on CD label numbered to 150 copies." For detailed track by track descriptions, go to www.naziufocommander.com.
To order, contact www.oldeuropacafe.com or enter
"Nazi UFO Commander" (don’t worry about the government eavesdropping… if you’re on this site, you’re already f**ked.)
into 
to find a distributor nearer to home.
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Just in time for Valentine’s Day… Order the "world’s greatest love songs" directly from their creator at PayPal |
| - November 2005 - |
"It wasn't like anything I was hearing at the time, or even anything I would normally enjoy. It was clean, well-produced, and electronic. Still, something about it hooked me even before Williams' vocals kicked in. I couldn't tell you why. And when he started singing, I was hooked for good. Not only did David's deadpan voice not sound like anyone else's, he was writing the kind of lyrics I'd been unconsciously aching to hear — grim, hopeless, cruel, occasionally touching, and almost always hilarious (in a grim and hopeless sort of way)... For the first time in recent memory, the music actually excited me." -from the liner notes by Jim Knipfel
Nearly 2 decades after its original release, Williams’ debut EP comes to CD in all its degenerate glory, along with 19 previously unreleased and amazing tracks from the same period of perverse creativity. Hear Williams’ original deadpan lamentations of vomiting dogs, stolen glass eyes, and the rape of the retarded; set against an increasingly sophisticated musical backdrop of classic pop, dreary dirge, industrial, neoclassical and an early form of what would later be known as "dark ambient"! NOTE: Some of these songs were eliminated from earlier releases because of their political and sexual offensiveness. But now their time has come?
16 page booklet includes: |
Just in time for the holidays… Order yours directly from Mr. Williams at |
Playing his 7th show in 14 months, Mr. W. eschewed some of the "greatest hits" and let his freak flag fly with 3 cover songs and the live debut of an upbeat piano number about your favorite African dictator.
1. The Need for Less Sex in the World
2. Wildfire
(Cover of 1970’s Michael Murphey song about a horse that dies in a blizzard.
Guest Vocals by Karen and Heather of OLIVIA NEUTRON BOMB)
3. Hymn to the Genius of Idi Amin
(Stage debut of an unrecorded newer song)
4. The Ballad of Bob Crane
5. Beautiful Brownshirted Man
6. Archangel
(Cover of a Walker Brothers song written by Scott Walker)
7. You Can’t Get to Heaven on the Frankford El
(David Talento on electric guitar)
8. Grey Balloon Masquerading
(David Talento on electric guitar)
9. Legends of the S.S.
10. I Was a Fool in Love
11. I’m in Love with the Ambulance Driver
12. Not a Gear at All
Thanks to a.d., Mark, Needles, Emmett, the Qual posse, Matthew from Virginia (and his friend), Olivia Neutron Bomb, Oneiric Imperium, Tony Violence and Parasite Militia (who recognized "the folly of sound" and limited their contribution to a stunning video loop that played through the evening.) Pour Le’ Merite to David Talento. And all the love in the world to BATES.
| - September 2005 - |
a.d. amorosi presents
GERM AWARENESS NIGHT IIConcelebrated by Germ Books + Gallery of Philadelphia
www.germbooks.com
It is simply impossible to overstate the importance of Jerome Deppe and his Gibson Les Paul to the music of David E. Williams. Whether advancing the theme in orchestral fashion or darkly contradicting a major key motive, his transcendent solos for "in sickness and in sickness" and "That Skirt’s Too Short For a Funeral, Honey" advanced these songs well beyond their pigeonholes of "gothic rock", "dark pop", or "neofolk". On the other hand, the disciplined baritone of his backing vocals often provided (bear with us as we stretch this metaphor a bit) an anchor for listeners cast about in the maelstrom of Williams’ very vocal id.
Before this all starts sounding like an obituary (editor-"too late!"), fans will be happy to learn of Mr. Deppe’s first solo album, a limited edition CD-R entitled The Absence of Light on Old Europa Café (the only record label that matters!) Here’s a semi-official press release: "Combines dreamy, haunting melodies with feelings of abandonment and loss. Post apocalyptic art rock with a touch of film noir and even an ambient version of a popular 60’s lounge song. Crafted and recorded entirely underground to accentuate the feelings of despair and finality."
www.oldeuropacafe.com
The Andrew King performance introduced by D.E.W. on September 4 at Germ Books was an astounding success, probably the most popular event in the store’s history! About 40 people crammed into the store and another dozen or so had to be turned away (although some chose to remain outside on lawn chairs provided by a neighbor). Andrew was in good voice and the proper spirits were properly evoked. Thanks to Philly Fringe, Jennifer Bates, Scriabin, Tristan Deppe, Jerome Deppe, Babs and all who promoted on the web.
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| - August 2005 - |
Scott Walker was a child of America who grew up to become Great Britain’s most amazing "pop star" ever.
Along with 17 other artists (including Naevus, Rose McDowall’s Sorrow, Matt Howden, Spiritual Front and Backworld), Mr. Williams pays homage to this underrated genius on Angel of Ashes, a Scott Walker tribute CD released on Portugal’s Transformadores label. David’s cover of the Walker Brothers’ "Archangel" strives for the orchestral grandeur of the original with a faithful arrangement accented by Jerome Deppe’s stirring guitar solo.
Each artist also contributed artwork and a brief essay to the project; here is David’s:
"To fully appreciate the depth and singularity of Scott Walker, one must consider that he created his timeless odes of despair in a milieu best characterized by the sophomoric surrealism of hippie sex fiends masquerading as "poets of their generation." (the guilty shall remain nameless).
Elements of the dark and forbidden made tentative forays into ‘60’s pop, but Scott’s ‘Archangel’ was at least 15 years ahead of its time with its grandiose suggestions of suicide and apocalypse. Indeed, here is a song where Death arrives not merely as Eros, but as an Eros working the streets! ‘The rent’s been paid, so, hurry, carry me away.’
Dare I slander this masterpiece as ‘the world’s first gothic rock song’?" --DEW
Angel of Ashes is available for your immediate internet purchase from Tesco USA.
Or contact Transformadores directly at:
info@transformadores.pt
http://www.transformadores.pt
But first, if you’ve never heard the real Scott Walker before, run right now to your local independent CD store and ask them for Scott Walker: Boy Child, Best of ’67-’70. If you don’t trust us, study some of the opinions at Amazon
Terrorize this, Terrorizer!Will Stone of Terrorizer, the world’s foremost journal of metal (and increasingly more other forms of extreme music), was kind enough to positively reference a David E. Williams song in his recent review of May 2005’s Death In June/ Naevus concert in London. (Issue #133, page 87.)
While his article is positive on the whole, he calls it "disappointing that they (Naevus) don't play their classic David E. Williams version of 'Less Than Queer', but you can't have it all".
David E. Williams Welcomes Andrew King to the United States of America!"Hello, friends! Williams, here, speaking to you directly and not through the ‘anonymous’ writer of our monthly news reports.
I would just like to invite you personally to a very special event that I’m hosting at Germ Books + Gallery, 308 East Girard Avenue, Fishtown, Philadelphia, USA.
Germ’s September/ October gallery artist is Andrew King, a wonderful British painter of alchemical and classical themes. Some of you might recognize his name from album artwork he did for Current 93 and Sol Invictus, or from musical releases of his own on Athanor and Old Europa Cafe.
He's an amazing vocalist and scholar-- covering ageless tunes by people like the good ol' Knights Templar! -- and he'll be doing an a capella performance on Sunday September 4 at 3PM in the store (FREE admission - part of the Philly Fringe). I saw him perform in London once and it really defies description.
Here's how I tried to describe it for the Fringe Festival catalog:
‘War and Plague dominate this a cappella exploration of occult themes in the British Traditional folk song. For over a decade and under the auspices of institutions like the British Library, baritone Andrew King has worked to preserve the authentic folk-ways and achievements of British vernacular culture.’
More details at www.germbooks.com or telephone 215-423-5002. See you there!"
| - July 2005 - |
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On June 18, 2005, Mr. Williams opened the first (annual?) Fishtasticon multimedia arts event at the Manhattan Room in Fishtown, Philadelphia, USA. For the first time in over 7 years, he was joined on stage by clarinetist Ken Brune (formerly saxophone) on three waltzes and a saloon number, the four songs (see below) best exemplifying David's cabaret influences.
Meanwhile, electronics whiz David Talento contributed evocative guitar synthesizer to "Grey Balloon Masquerading" and the ever popular "You Can't Get to Heaven on the Frankford El" (the show took place mere feet from one of the El's busiest stations).
Talento also sang along on two selections, and minutes later Williams returned the favor with improvised synthesis during Talento's set of ambient guitar.
Other performers that evening included jazzy improvers Pro Viso (who included an excerpt from Stravinsky's "Firebird Suite"), video artist Waiting for Cable and Philly's newest Industribal Chaos Buzz Group, Parasite Militia (who performed a 30-minute space opera crossing violent power electronics with martial beats, Khalid Muhammad samples and a surprise ending that rivals Planet of the Apes. Don't miss 'em!)
SET LIST:
| - June 2005 - |
| - May 2005 - |
Happily reunited with guitarist Jerome Deppe, Mr. Williams served as an opening act for the legendary Death in June at New York City's Pyramid Club for two Sunday afternoon shows on April 10, 2005. (Also appearing-- in their debut live performance-- was Dead Fly Ensemble, featuring Lucas from Cinema Strange).
Thanks to Polina and Alex of NYDecay, Jane Elizabeth of Tesco-USA, Dead Fly Ensemble, Douglas P. and John Murphy.
SETLIST:Photos by UFO666OK
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Check out a review of the "surprisingly austere" Mr. Williams at Germ Awareness Night:
http://www.magnaphonemagazine.com/April05/live/live-review-david-e-williams-bombs.html. . . www.malsonus.com announces two more compilation releases featuring power electronic collaborations between David E. Williams and Jon Canady.
From Mr. Canady's website:
ALUMNI REPORT: JUDITH SCHAECHTER"The long awaited 2 CD comp called "At The End of the Rope" is now available from Chondritic Sound. (http://www.chondriticsound.com/) It's a very good release featuring power electronics and harsh noise focused on sexual asphyxiation. It features an exclusive DEATHPILE track that was recorded just before G.R. In my opinion it was probably one of the best 'songs' DEATHPILE ever did.
L-White (http://www.lwhite-records.de/) will soon be releasing a multiple band split called ALLIANCE - United in Death (CD lim. 500 / special package). It is a 'new power electronics and noise compilation with contributions by following bands: DEATHPILE (USA), CONTROL (USA), ATRAX MORGUE (IT), HENTAI (DK).' I think there are a couple more bands that will be on it as well. The two DEATHPILE tracks were recorded live in 2003. This release will probably be the last appearance of DEATHPILE on CD. I think I would like to keep the rest of my out of print DP material in the vault unless an offer comes along I can't refuse."
| - April 2005 - |
David E. Williams has just been added as an opening act for two shows with Death in June and Dead Fly Ensemble (Cinema Strange side project) at a special location in New York City on the afternoon of Sunday, April 10, 2005. For tickets and additional details, go now to: http://www.nydecay.com/nydecay.htm HURRY! VERY FEW TICKETS REMAIN!!
BLACK FLAME KEEP ON BURNIN'These and other questions are answered by Mr. Williams in "Catholics, Goering and Charlton Heston"; an interview conducted by Joshua Buckley in the "Music and Art Interview Issue" of THE BLACK FLAME International Forum of the Church of Satan.
Copies are available from the Church of Satan Emporium (http://www.cosemporium.com/customer/product.php?productid=114) as well as your local Tower Records. OF COURSE, if you live in Philadelphia, you are hereby ordered to get your copies exclusively from the one-stop occult book shop, GERM BOOKS + GALLERY, 308 East Girard Avenue in Fishtown (215-423-5002)!
THE PILE OF DEATH THAT KEEPS ON DYINGDeathpile's posthumous FINAL CONFESSION CD (a collection of classic cuts and rarities on Pain Compliance Records) includes one track with D.E.W. in his familiar role of orgasmic noise creator (Triton synth variety). "Slaugherhouse Pornography" was recorded at David's house during rehearsals for the final Deathpile performance in Brooklyn, New York, in March of 2004.
Pick one up and/or read about Jon Canady's latest foray into analog dark ambience at
www.malsonus.com
ENHANCING AWARENESS OF GERMOn a rainy Monday night in Philadelphia, GERM BOOKS took its Weltanschauung on the road for a mixed media presentation at Bar Noir, just off fancy Rittenhouse Square.
The evening's free events included DJ Wrong's posthumous collaboration with Orson Welles, the live debut of Jon Canady's dark ambient Angel of Decay and atmospheric video-screenings of UFO footage as well as two of the greatest films ever made, THE NIGHT PORTER and OMEGA MAN.
Ironically, Mr. Williams brought along some germs of his own for his first Philly club gig in over 6 years. With a raging fever and terrible nasal congestion, he nevertheless barreled through a well-received 13-song set that often lent credence to those early 90's condemnations of his voice as "David Bowie with strep," "Andrew Eldritch with throat cancer," etc. Occasionally, his tortured larynx exploded into cookie monster growls more befitting of Norwegian black metal! (e.g. - the finale of "Hello Columbus")
Still, the sicker he got, the more the audience applauded, an object lesson in Williams' perpetual metaphor of the human spirit's triumph over disease (and/or vice-versa, actually).
And maybe one day you'll see it on DVD!
Thanks to a.d. amorosi of the Monday Night Club, Mark of Bar Noir, Needles Jones of the one and only Needles Jones, and Jennifer Bates of GERM BOOKS + GALLERY.
www.germbooks.com
| - March 2005 - |
Present Mr. Williams with proof of attendance at March 27's Blood Axis concert in New York (http://bloodchanges.tesco-distro.com/main.html) and receive a free copy of TRIUMPH OF THE WILLIAMS, his 7" EP released on Michael Moynihan's Storm Records!
JEROME DEPPE ART SHOW!
Speaking of GERM Books + Gallery, the surreal religious photography of D.E.W. guitarist Jerome Deppe will hang there from April 1 through May 29, 2005, with an opening reception on Friday, April 1, from 5-7PM. GERM is located at 308 East Girard Avenue (3 blocks EAST of the Frankford El) in the Fishtown neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Further details can be obtained by calling 215-423-5002 or at www.germbooks.com. The following is excerpted from the press release:
LIVE FROM ITALY...NOW ON CD!!"Bernard Jerome Deppe's stunningly grotesque depictions of the Stations of the Cross follow in a long tradition of holy barbarism that winds its way through Medieval Germany to the current cinematic excesses of none other than Mel Gibson. But while Gibson strives to make the fairy tale 'real,' Deppe digs deeper to depict the Christ 'not as a deity but as a common man (or woman) battling the conflicts and temptations of mortal life.'
Deppe's work is a chaos of universal order, with multiple layers of injury and bondage rendered even more complex by his obsessive manipulations in the dark room. They include lots of blood and fish oil and art school models who get a little more out of the deal than they bargained for. And what's that figure burned ever so subtly into the background. A shadow ? Or is it, you know, THE SHADOW ?"
Old Europa Café has announced the release of 1 Congresso Neo Pop 'n' Folk, a limited edition CD-R documenting the October 2004 concert of Spiritual Front, Ain Soph, Naevus, and DAVID E. WILLIAMS in Pordenone, Italy. Fans of Mr. Williams will delight in arrangements of songs that differ greatly from their studio versions. Deconstructed to an organ and vocal number, "Legends of the S.S." assumes a sepulchral decadence while 4 other songs come alive with the vocal and acoustic guitar contributions of Lloyd James from Naevus. For additional info or to purchase this CD, please contact Old Europa Café at www.oldeuropacafe.com.
"LITTLE SACS OF BLOOD WITH TISSUE IN THEM"On the afternoon of February 6, 2005 (Super Bowl Sunday in the USA), Mr. Williams participated in an anniversary celebration of the late, great Expresso Tilt Magazine held at Philadelphia's Nexus Art Gallery and sponsored by the folks at www.missioncreep.com. David's contribution to the party was a spoken word performance (first ever as far as we can remember!) of Jon Longhi's "untitled", a poem first encountered by David in the magazine about a decade and a half ago. While humor dominated much of the event, David conspired with publisher Mike Walsh to turn those smiles upside down. And here is what they used: www.missioncreep.com/tilt/longhi.html
WEBSITE NEWS: SEE PUNDITS GRAPPLE FOR CONSENSUS!After years of benign neglect, the review section of our website (www.davidewilliams.com/reviews.html) has been updated to include critiques from the new millennium. Click over to check out new opinions of HOPE SPRINGS A TURTLE and ACCEPT THE GIFT OF SIN by such glossy stalwarts as INDUSTRIAL NATION, GOTHIC BEAUTY, NEW YORK PRESS and others. And while you're at it, don't miss our newly organized photo section! (http://davidewilliams.com/gallery/)
| - November 2004 - |
With guitarist Jerome Deppe incapacitated by injury (send "get well" wishes to DeWms@aol.com and we'll forward them accordingly), David E. Williams flew alone to Europe on the eve of Ramadan, 2004.
There had been some consideration of canceling these performances, but "the show must go on" fits no entertainment endeavor quite so well as it does the Theatre of the Absurd.
Thus went forth our 21st century Estragon with his Roland RS-50. . .
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Photos Courtesy of www.disturbing.org.uk
As far as he could remember, DEW had never performed at an event with designated areas for dungeon play, but even the most elementary of critical thinkers can see the connection between David's lyrics and the sadomasochistic ethos as it applies to its most logical extremes of political doctrine and, shall we say, "personal hygiene."
Carnival of Souls X was a goth fetish event meticulously organized and gorgeously executed by Church of Nightbreed (http://www.churchofnightbreed.com), the world's first exclusively online Gothic record label.
David attracted his usual crowd of listeners. With an estimated 500 would-be doms, subs and goths in attendance at the club itself, perhaps only 20 or so clustered more passionately about the stage for an hour set of 18 songs of particularly cold nastyness (bereft as they were of Deppe's conciliatory guitar warmth and overall friendly demeanor).
Lloyd James of British dark folk group Naevus performed exceptionally well on background vocals as well as the lead vocal of "Beautiful Brownshirted Man" (not to mention the "Kumbayas" on "Altar Boy").
Before the event, it was oddly rumored in darker (drunker?) corners of the club that DEW was a former member of Christian Death, was perhaps Rozz Williams' brother, or might in fact be Rozz Williams himself!
Either way, thanks go out from Mr. Williams to Trev, Estelle, Mark and everyone else with Nightbreed; Mark the sound guy; the head security bloke; the security chap who found David earplugs; all the other bands; and most of all Lloyd James and Joanne Owen (without whom, literally, the appearance would not have been possible).
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Set List: 1. Restraining Order 2. Legends of the S.S. (solo organ accompaniment) 3. The Curious Pediatrician 4. Sarah's Booted Boy 5. Me and My Girl and the Cold Grey World (Lloyd James on backing vocal) 6. Teddy Bear Laser Speculum 7. The Ballad of Bob Crane (solo piano accompaniment) 8. Beautiful Brownshirted Man (solo piano accompaniment and LJ on lead vocal) 9. The Need for Less Sex in the World 10. First Time Offender 11. Altar Boy (solo piano accompaniment and LJ on "Kumbaya" vocal) 12. Second Chorus of "Xanadu" by Rush / The Dead Hymen (solo piano accompaniment) 13. The Girl from the D'n D 14. Listen Somewhat Awkward 15. Hello Columbus 16. Pumpernickel Crust (duet vocal with LJ) 17. Not a Gear at All 18. I'm in Love with the Ambulance Driver (solo piano accompaniment and duet vocal with LJ) |
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Photos courtesy of Occidental Congress.
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Color Photos Courtesy of Joanne Owen of Naevus
As a great admirer of Visconti and Bogarde's cinematic interpretation of Mann's DEATH IN VENICE, Mr. Williams happily spent 3 days in the City of Canals with the UK band Naevus before training up to Pordenone on Saturday, October 23. These were happy days of pizza, wine and caffeine — marred only by the occasional need to adjust the orthotic in David's left shoe.
At the gig itself, David received what was probably the most enthusiastic crowd response of his long and illustrious career!
Cameras flashed and shouts of "Bravissimo!" greeted the introductions to songs like "Legends of the S.S." ("this is a song you might remember from 60 years ago or so") and "Sarah's Booted Boy" ("dedicated to my favorite Italian film director. . . Lilliana Cavani").
Lloyd James once again proved indispensable, expanding his duties with solo acoustic guitar accompaniment on "Less Than Queer" (recently covered by Lloyd's band) and "Grey Balloon Masquerading".
Somewhat of a challenge arose during "Pumpernickel Crust," when Simone of Spiritual Front mysteriously leapt on stage and handed David a banana. David rose to the occasion, de-skinning and devouring the tasty fruit while not missing a single word of the lyric!
After his own set, DEW sat in on keyboard (piano setting) with Naevus for a rendition of their song "Don't Boil". DEW is responsible for the keyboards (the piano part as well as a noisy synth solo) on a version of this song from Naevus' new CD, PERFECTION IS A PROCESS (www.oldeuropacafe.com).
There is some discussion that much of the Congresso will appear on an upcoming CD from event sponsor Old Europa Café. If so, this release should generate quite a bit of interest, as it will include not only DEW, Naevus and Spiritual Front, but also Italy's legendary Ain Soph and the massively popular Der Blutharsch (who performed a surprise Aktion of uncharacteristically folky arrangements, as opposed to the Riefenstahlian epicality for which they are reknown.)
Thanks for this event are extended to Rodolfo and his staff at OEC, another excellent sound crew, and whoever was responsible for the band buffet of prosciutto, mortadella and pizza.
Finally, Mr. Williams wishes to thank his support team back in the states: Jill, Beth, Susanna and a lonely but productive Blee.
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SET LIST: 1. I Have Forgotten How to Love You 2. Legends of the S.S. (solo organ accompaniment) 3. Sarah's Booted Boy 4. Beautiful Brownshirted Man (solo piano accompaniment and LJ on lead vocal) 5. Altar Boy (solo piano accompaniment and LJ on “Kumbaya” vocal) 6. Less Than Queer (solo acoustic guitar accompaniment by LJ) 7. Grey Balloon Masquerading (DEW on organ with acoustic guitar accompaniment by LJ) 8. Pumpernickel Crust (duet vocal with LJ) |
DEW has contributed an exclusive track to a compilation CD-R honoring (sic?) Philadelphia's Frankford Elevated Commuter Transit Rail Line. Seven Fishtown musicians cover the campfire ditty "You Can't Get to Heaven on the Frankford El" in versions that range from comical karaoke to psychedelic musique concrete' to terrifying industrial ambience augmented by samples of George C. Scott. The other participating artists are Olivia Neutron Bomb, Bilwa, Flying Saucer Salesman, Sid Hook, Altruistic Suicide featuring David Talento and UFO666OK. Mr. Williams' contribution relies heavily on analog synths, dense drum machine patterns and his very odd accent. This song will not appear elsewhere.
To order, send check or money order for $9 (in U.S.) or $11 (outside U.S.) to David E. Williams, P.O. Box 2422, Philadelphia, PA 19147 USA. Or make appropriate Paypal payment via the links below. Proceeds benefit POSITIVESPACE Artists Co-Op.
| in U.S.A. |
| outside U.S.A. |
| - September 2004 - | |
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1. Sandra Lindsey 2. in sickness and in sickness 3. The Curious Pediatrician 4. Sarah's Booted Boy 5. Teddy Bear Laser Speculum 6. The Ballad of Bob Crane 7. Beautiful Brownshirted Man (with Jerome Deppe on lead vocal) 8. Listen Somewhat Awkward 9. First Time Offender 10. The Girl from the D'n D 11. Not a Gear at All 12. I'm in Love with the Ambulance Driver |
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| - August 2004 - |
D.E.W., with guitarist Jerome Deppe, joins over 60 bands and
DJ's appearing at the Drop Dead Festival II, organized by NY
Decay Productions as a 3-day, 3-floor celebration of Deathrock,
Grave Punk, Gothic Rock, Psychobilly, Monster Surf, Garage
and the "horror music lifestyle". It's anyone's guess where Mr. W.
fits into the aforementioned list, but those in the know recognize
that this show is David's first U.S. performance of solo material
in nearly 3 years.
Tickets for the entire festival are $65 in advance, while single
night tickets cost $35.
Other notable performers at the event include the U.K.'s Ausgang
and Skeletal Family (in exclusive reunion appearances) as well as
America's Cinema Strange, Holy Cow, Cult of the Psychic Foetus,
Theatre of Ice and The Empire Hideous.
For additional information on the festival (including schedule and tips
on travel and lodging), head on over to:
Or contact the venue through:
www.knittingfactory.com/kfny |
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Meanwhile, check back next month for updates on David's
October 2004 European tour among "The Coalition of the Willing":
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Sunday, October 17, in Britain at the CARNIVAL OF SOULS (www.carnivalofsouls.co.uk) in Derby |
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Saturday, October 23, in Italy at the I CONGRESSO NEO POP 'N' FOLK in Pordenone, the home of Old Europa Café Records www.oldeuropacafe.com |
Tired of living in a place where no one knows the meaning of taxidermy tragedy?
There's now a live web journal community devoted strictly to your avatar, D.E.W.
Why haven't you joined yet?
http://www.livejournal.com/community/dewms/
A statement from David E. Williams: "I wish to express my deep sorrow upon the
death of Gretchen Worden, Executive Director of Philadelphia's Mutter Museum.
Of course, when we grieve for another, we're always grieving a little bit for
ourselves, and my mind drifts nostalgically to the many significant relationships
forged inside the Mutter during my early days in Philadelphia. For a few years
there, Gretchen and I lived in the same neighborhood and often rode the bus
together. When I moved to another part of town, I missed our early morning
conversations about the plastination of corpses, the disposition of Napoleon's
penis and the treatment of Union prisoners by Jim Knipfel during the American
Civil War. Rest in peace, Gretchen. May you and Dr. Mutter keep four or more
eyes on us eternally from above."
Read another memorial to Gretchen Worden at:
http://www.nypress.com/17/33/news&columns/%20JIMKNIPFEL.cfm
| - April 2004 - |
Gotterdammerung
The Final 13 Minutes of Deathpile
Brooklyn, New York · March 26, 2004
Jon Canady abdicates the Throne of Hate while David E.
Williams adjusts the cutoff frequency and resonance.
Deathpile may be gone, but Canady and his future
projects live on at www.malsonus.com
BUT LIFE GOES ON (AND LIVE!)
Those of you celebrating the remission of "David's dread
noise folly" will also no doubt delight in learning
that Mr. Williams' more melodic side returns to the
live stage (with guitarist Jerome Deppe) at the upcoming festivals:
DROP DEAD FESTIVAL-New York, NY
Knitting Factory, 74 Leonard Street
Labor Day Weekend, September 3- 4- 5, 2004
www.dropdeadfestival.com
CARNIVAL OF SOULS-Derby, England
Destiny And Elite, Colyear Street
October 16-17, 2004
(Specific details and times of David's performances will
follow in the coming months)
ANOTHER TOP 10 LIST AL ITALIA!
Hope Springs a Turtle scores another "Best of 2003" list
in Italy-this time on the Occidental Congress website of industrial
neo-folk culture and "underground militaria." Here's the list in its entirety:
http://www.occidentalcongress.com/best_works/Playlist2003.htm
GOING DOWN TO SOUTH PARK!
Finally, if you've ever wondered what David E. Williams
would look like as a South Park character, consider this
creation by artist Paul Haupt:
You can create YOUR OWN South Park character at:
http://southparkstudios.com/games/create.html
| - March 2004 - |
| - February 2004 - |
NOW AVAILABLE:
the First Full-Length David E. Williams Solo CD
in Eight Years!
Hope Springs a Turtle
Your favorite singer-songwriter unveils his most dynamic
and challenging musical arrangements to date in a dark
feast of arty pop, neoclassical minimalism and avant-garde
electronics.
15 songs of the hostile Schadenfreude that made him a household name!
Lyrics now available at www.davidewilliams.com/lyrics
Featuring Jerome Deppe on Guitar and Backing Vocals
Cover Artwork by BATES
http://www.geocities.com/theonetruebates/
Released on Old Europa Café
www.oldeuropacafe.com
Europe's Premier Music Label
$14 POSTAGE PAID
Or send check or money order for $14 to:
David E. Williams
P.O. Box 2422
Philadelphia, PA 19147 USA
In other news. . .
D.E.W. is once again collaborating with filmmaker Norman Macera, this time on the soundtracks to two separate films: Lunacidal (currently in edit) and Murder Below the Line (currently in production). According to rumor, the latter movie also features D.E.W. in an acting cameo, playing the role of "Hit and Run Driver."
The trailer to Murder Below the Line (including excerpts of D.E.W.'s score) can be viewed at http://homepage.mac.com/m_3/MBTL.html
D.E.W.'s "Hello Columbus" and "Not a Gear at All" appear on an eclectic new compilation CD-R released by the POSITIVESPACE arts cooperative of Fishtown, Philadelphia, USA. The release-- which features handmade one-of-a-kind original artwork on the cover of each copy-- also includes the music of UFO666OK (Faustian cyberpunk), Bilwa (spacey dub), A.M. Endeavors (ethereal indie pop), Roachhowsen (computer-manipulated sonic architecture) and Paul Aston Group (jazz, baby). If interested, send $12 (postpaid in U.S.) or $15 (postpaid internationally) via Paypal or check/ money order to David E. Williams' postal address (see above). Mr. Williams will personally choose one of the scarier CD covers for you. Proceeds benefit POSITIVESPACE (yes, we know it's an odd name for a group that lists D.E.W. as a member).
| in U.S.A. |
| outside U.S.A. |
| - September 2003 - |
The twisted biography of the "Green River Killer" on a new CD
of brutal power electronics and sinister death industrial.
Korg Triton Synthesizer by David E. Williams
Lyrics, Vocals and Moog Prodigy by Jonathan Canady
 |  |  |
| "G.R" | "D.E.W." | " |
