A Short Account

I remember the first time I saw a video of The Jesus Lizard, it was during an episode of Beavis and Butt-head. I thought they were from Austin, Texas because David Yow was wearing a cowboy hat (come to think of it, the video was footage of a live show in Austin, I think). Before seeing that video I never realized how drunk Yow, the singer, must have been during the recording sessions. He probably watched a lot of murder movies too.

"Get her out of the trunk! Get her out of the trunk!"

The only "record store" remotely close to my home at the time was a Best Buy. I'd often skateboard/bike/walk there. Along the skinny state road to get there stretched a strange gated community to the west and an even stranger pepper field (considering the suburban surroundings) on the east. I was certain there were maniacal immigrant workers living in a makeshift doghouse on that plot of land, just waiting to toss my freshly butchered corpse into the canal nearby. In passing at night I fled as fast as I could past the half-mile, usually with my walkman on full blast. If they were going to slaughter me, I never wanted to hear it.

I used to do a similar song and dance every time I left my best friend, Mike Orrico's house at night. I'd start out with thirty or so brave walking steps until realizing that Jason or Freddie were right behind, in which case I would bolt home. The Orrico's only lived about 10 houses away, but I swear I've never run so fast in my life.

Anyways, I specifically remember the times I bought Dear You and Diary at that Best Buy. Both cassettes were purchased on separate occasions but the flight home those evenings were of equally mesmerizing measure. I also remember buying Bubble and Scrape on CD during a ritualistic family outing. Every Friday night my dad would take me and my brothers to one of two restaurants, Boca Ale House or Pizza Hut (where dad met his current wife). After dinner, we usually went to a baseball card store or Best Buy (after awhile it was only the latter). On the particular occasion I bought Bubble and Scrape, I was so anxious to hear the album but I also had to go to the bathroom really bad (my brothers and I still joke about the real "Buried Treasure" that belongs to "Captain Jack" at the Ale House). As soon as we got home I grabbed a CD player and hit play before settling done to some serious business.

"It's all a matter, of soul and fire..."

I still remember how disappointed I was... I can't say what I was expecting, but certainly nothing that felt or emotive. It was probably only a few days later that I realized what I fool I'd been. Barlow helped me through the rest of that year (and a few after), I'm certain of it... (more to follow)