All day I had the words "this world over" floating in my head, and only after doing this show did I remember that's a song title on my least favorite XTC record.* So it was left out of this impromptu apocalyptical set.
A few months ago while reading about Kaoru Abe, I learned about his exploitative biopic. At the time, I joked that I should try to get the movie and play it on the air. And then I found the movie, and the Grouse stands by his word. It's a "Sid & Nancy for the free jazz set." The Lady Katie, listening from Shaw, asked if the movie was just sex and crying; and indeed it is. But also a few dust-ups, an amputated toe (for love's sake), and some blistering improv. As far as I can tell, the real Keiji Haino and Fushitsusha play themselves, on and off stage. My knowledge of the Japanese free jazz scene is extremely limited; with the exception of the lead actor, they all looked like real players giving semi-real performances.
The entire movie audio was broadcast on 97.5 FM on 12.20.12. The entire audio is again presented here... because, what the hell. The full video is out there if you're really interested. Good luck finding subtitles! While on the air, I did my best to live tweet some visuals, and I've collected them at the bottom of this post.
While typing these notes, I learned that the director of "Endless Waltz," Koji Wakamatsu, died in October. Let's just pretend, ex post facto, that this whole thing was a belated tribute to a director I'd never heard of. For podcasting purposes, I cannot link to anything above my audio link below. But click on his name in the playlist for the New York Times obituary. Rest in peace, Koji.
The original plan for today was 1:44 to "Endless Waltz," 4 minutes to a late tribute to Ravi Shankar (the appropriate "I Am Missing You"), and 4 minutes for Bird's rendition of White Christmas. I hadn't planned to give in to the zeitgeist and do an end of the world set. But then the Lady Katie requested the Ted Leo track that we open with. I also showed up early for the first time in a great while, so bonus world-ending radio for all!
*It would have made a good segue piece in this set too; from XTC to Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her (the band, named after the XTC song on "The Big Express"), to Kaoru Abe.
Ted Leo & the Pharmacists - "Last Days" (from The Brutalist Bricks)
Talulah Gosh - "My World's Ending" (from Backwash)
Jenks "Tex" Carman - "End of the World" (from Chippeha! (1947-57))
Ohm-A-Revelator - "World's End" (from Windswept Trees & Houses)
Silmaril - "Song of the Apocalypse" (from The Voyage of Icarus)
Grouse introduces this ridiculous episode. And proceeds to screw everything up.
Sun Ra - "Mayan Temple" (from The Singles)
Charlie Parker - "White Christmas" (from Charlie Parker - Archive of Folk & Jazz Music)
"Endless Waltz" (Koji Wakamatsu, 1995)
Ravi Shankar - "I Am Missing You" (from Shankar Family & Friends)
Heading to the @radiocpr underground bunker now. Here's a little preview of tonight's show. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 20, 2012
I believe we're starting in the future, and this is Kaoru and Izumi's daughter. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Izumi is having sex in the bunkbed below her. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
But not with Kaoru, who is apparently watching. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Early in the relationship, these two have a lot of sex. And a lot of naked post-coital hangouts. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Kaoru invades shower time. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Missed this one a bit earlier... Kaoru playing under the bridge. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Dramatic close-up. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
I think that was a comparison to Jimi Hendrix & Janis Joplin? #endlesswaltz
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
This band is playing a set... then Kaoru just walks in from the back of the room. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
And jumps on stage, but they seem to be getting along. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
The other sax player does have this look of "wtf man, this is my set!" #endlesswaltz
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Dude, Kaoru, she's drunk off her ass. Drunk sex is not consensual sex! #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Oh look they're moving in together. That was fast. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Is this look meant to evoke...a drummer I'd have to guess. But he looks like one of my Vietnamese uncles. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
This handsome devil is not your typical alto player. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Hippies. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
What's with the satchel/school boy look? Going for the AC/DC of free jazz or something? #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Kaoru gave this book to some guy trying to sound erudite for a lady after his set. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Hi guy. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Wait, who is this guy and why is he beaten on the floor of their hallway? #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
He's got a story to tell Izumi and the other hippie chick. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
They have a fight, Kaoru runs out to pour his pain into his sax. Eyes rolling back: foreshadowing? #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Oh shit! pre-seizure. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
And post-seizure. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Recovering with some Van Gogh. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Another fight, but now Kaoru's made it up to playing on top of the bridge. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Oh, there was some mutual hair-pulling in that last fight. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Izumi can't stand him practicing in the apt, so she fights back with pop radio, causing another seizure. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
While Izumi's out, Kaoru reads her writing, and she is none too pleased. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
And the row that erupts is loud enough to have the neighbors call the cops on them. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Better times, though they both seem high. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
OH GOD. I THINK SHE JUST CUT OFF HER TOE TO PROVE SHE LOVES HIM. #endlesswaltz
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Face of toe cutting. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
I won't show you the gory fake cut off toe, but here is the aftermath. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Trail of blood. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
passing out from blood loss (Kaoru knocked a bunch of TP down from a cabinet and is trying to clean up) #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Showing the toe to his friends. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Good for you Izumi, kick him out using the same knife you used to cut off your own toe for him. #endlesswaltz
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
I like Kaoru's new musical partner, who's equally abrasive, just a capella. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Oh and it looks like he's in some sort of metal-noise band. Pretty edgy for the mid-70s, huh? #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
aww look at the fat baby. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
for some reason kaoru switches to harmonica for the kid. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
shacking up with another lady, is horrible to her too. twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Now it seems that paranoia is plaguing poor Kaoru. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Time for a nice family stroll on the beach. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Did he bring her some sort of dead bird as a peace offering? #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
basically twice the man that kaoru is, because he can play a bigger sax AND a clarinet at the same time. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
how can kaoru and everyone else resist dancing to this amazing beat? #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
He literally cannot follow them. Bows and walks off without playing. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
uh oh, it's the pills mixed with booze part of the movie. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
which inspires a mean harmonica solo! #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
I thought this was gonna be the big one. Also thought he swallowed his harmonica at first. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Shaky feet. Maybe he's just cold and you should cover them up, Izumi. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Oh wait, that was the big one. And now a reprise of the movie's opening cheesy harmonica rendition of Amazing Grace. #endlesswaltz
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
His funeral has an unholy sounding duet on St. James between a harmonica and a sax. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
I like free jazz, but I feel bad for the people who have to attend this funeral. #endlesswaltz
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Oh, that opening scene... Kaoru wasn't watching her have sex. Imaginary Dead Kaoru was watching in Izumi's mind. #endlesswaltz
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Fat baby is all grown up, and she's all Izumi's got left. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Don't do it Izumi, you've got a daughter to raise! #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Also, who hangs themselves by leaning into a noose? Unless, say a prison door knob is involved #endlesswaltz #dangelobarksdaleneverforget
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012