We did a Brothers And Sisters episode about seven years ago, so here’s a companion piece about families. I had a lovely birthday with my family a few days before recording this episode and was minded to construct this setlist.
Sometimes there’s a track I really like but it’s off-brand for SF. Such is the case with Family Life by The Blue Nile. I had another listen to it to see if a point could be stretched, but decided it’s probably just the wrong side of the fence, coming as it does from one of the more mainstream later BN albums. I did once play Downtown Lights by the band, again from about seven years ago, on the Glasgow episode. Still, good track and worth a listen.
A lot of new artists on the episode. Generally I like mixing things up with the new and the relatively familiar. There are a handful of bands that have featured multiple times – I’m sure you know which they are. Sometimes I’m left with a dilemma of choosing a great track from a band I love when it’s on-message, but also one I’ve played fairly often quite recently. Or a kinda 7/10 track from a debutant outfit. With a slightly heavy heart, I tend to opt for the latter option. Part of the problem with a really prolific and excellent band - ahem, The Fall – is there might be up to 500 tracks to choose from in the band’s repertoire. So something somewhere will be on-theme.
This selection has an international flavour. In addition to the usually suspect countries, there are representations from The Organ (Canada), Pip Blom (Amsterdam), The Venopian Solitude (Malaysia), Nico (Germany), and, ahem the French Drops.
And behold the family tree you can construct from this episode: grandmother, father, mother, wife, husband, brother, sister, half sister, little sister, daughter, son, family tortoise.
Finally, a very touching tribute from Pinko Fowler, an SF listener, former guest host, and good friend of Steve Albini, the tribute subject in the previous episode. Thanks, Pinko, much appreciated, and you really summed up your old pal beautifully.
Tracklist:-
Look at little sister, The Sonics
Brother, The Organ
Daddy issues, Pip Blom
Husbands, Savages
Mother nature and father man-made, The Venopian Solitude
Gary Ashby, Dry Cleaning
Half sister, Emma Kupa
Little sister, Nico
My brother, the racist, Steven Adams, The French Drops
My dad’s black polo, T Shirt Weather
Steve Albini Tribute, Pinko Fowler
Young wife, Julie Byrne
Should have known better, Sufjan Stevens
A better son/a better daughter, Rilo Kiley