I know we’re all getting pretty tired of the endless debate — you know the one: “since I have a discriminating ear, I prefer the Nirvana version” versus “you fucking fools can’t see the Meat Puppets for the gods they are.” Lately, however, one YouTube denizen who calls himself “Dullsville” has been putting his money where his mouth is, posting whole swatches of classic live performances for the whole world to see.
One show is from Phoenix in February 1985, and features pre-release versions of tracks from “Up On The Sun.” The band appears in characteristic dress: Curt in a blue tee-shirt and prescription sunglasses, looking every inch the popular high school preppie gone wrong that he was. Cris is in a suit jacket no doubt foisted upon him by his girlfriend. I’m wearing my beloved “GOAT” tee shirt, which I got from a fan but lost somewhere along the way. A simple statement of Satanism made properly palatable for the REM generation. Dullsville gets my highest commendation for bravely ignoring the crumbling quality of his video. The tracking errors are so 20th century.
Another from his collection, a show from the early 90s, is a typical example of the sublime offhand pyrotechnics we could produce when inclined. I’m pretty sure the performance is from McCabe’s in October of 1994, though the lack of gratuitously enthusiastic recognition from the audience when we play “Backwater” would seem to peg it from before that single was released. Also included among the standard fodder is our version of Neil Diamond’s “Longfellow’s Serenade.” Always the crowd pleasers, these guys. The footage also offers a very brief glimpse at the red boxer shorts with yellow polka dots I had on that night.
Along with the band footage is Dullsville’s own video artistry in the added title sequences, though on occasion he dares to add effects to the live footage itself. But the effects only add to the overall atmosphere of stoney fandom exuded by the collection. Get yourself a grabber and download these files to your video iPod quick, before your next road trip. You won’t want to leave home without them.
The Dullsville Collection (This account was deleted.)
The Dullsvillain Collection (Long live The Villain!)
Hats off to Count Dullsville
Wow, my favorite so far is the “Plateau*Seal Whales*Animal Kingdom” clip from ‘85. Nice!
I do, however, need to step away from the computer before these vids suck up the rest of my evening.
Left by G on January 21st, 2007
I’ve got the same favorite as G above here, mainly because Animal Kindom and Plateau are probably my favorite MP songs.
It’s so entoxicating to see these live performances, it seems like such a lively and enjoyable happening. Thankfully the internet (along with the Alive DVD) is here to compensate for my failing to see any gigs.
Left by Shade on January 22nd, 2007
I think my favorites are the “Hot Pink” and “Six Gallon Pie” from 1994. I like in “Pie” how Curt loses his place for a second in the middle while fiddling with his settings, then nonchalantly comes back in during the “drop out” break, right on cue. “Pink” just has some great fills.
Left by Derrick Bostrom on January 22nd, 2007
Umm, yea, those all suck. Kidding of course. My first foray into YouTube, and wow, that is some good stuff. They are all great. Nice to see the Up on the Sun stuff played so eloquently. Before my time of seeing shows (first one wasn’t until 88) but I have seen the old SST tour thing with Husker Du, Minutement etc. Not a very good video, but oh well. I just remember the Puppets kind of sounding really bad and sloppy, which is certainly not how I remember their shows. I guess it has something to do with rehearsing.
As fo King Bostroms favorite- I always loved Six Gallon Pie live, especially when they opened with it. I seem to remember Curt screwing that one up about every single time at least a little bit, but always covered it nicely. It was a weird opener because it is fairly complex to play and before Forbidden Places version, it had a real weird start and stop sound to it. The up and down run is very tricky, I guess even to Curt. Great stuff.
Left by Rob on January 22nd, 2007
I wish i could travel back in time, get on stage and sing Up in the Sun pre-release from the top of my lungs. That would have freaked u guys out huh?
great vids. thanx dullsville
Left by Beni on January 23rd, 2007
Greetings from DULLSVILLE! (a suburb of my own device )
Oh man! Thanks for this blurb about my burb! I am flattered into mindless idiocy. What a lot of fun, that these old VHS tapes can rock out in cyberspace after living quietly on my shelf for over a decade. Here in Dullsville, the reality of TV was really such a Doomsday trip.There needed to be an alternate channel, populated with desert daydreams and ancient blocks of sound, …where everything just**f floats aroundd**
As luck would have it, You Tube …an open space… appeared on the net . It was all set to be a nauseous “Americas Lamest Videos” repository, before music collectors hijacked the starship!
I was blown away, by long lost clips of great rock bands piping into the Tube from all corners of the Earth. I knew, just who, I was going to be uploading into the global jukebox! Road trippin’ music for the information super highway…Meat Puppets. Awash in stoney fandom, I diligently began to build” M.P.TV “, knowing it would be treasured by the cult of tasteful Tubers.
So anyway, when I saw this this article I was relieved that you enjoyed thePuppeTube, Derrick. I was a little worried that some of the clips did not showcase the Pup’s sonic prowess
and that there was a chance, it was all sort of annoying to the band. Whew! I’m so happy that it turned out to be long -lost home movies for you! That is great. I was a bit taken back by this tribute..so rather than immediately commenting , I responded with what you all want from me……MORE MEAT!
I JUST UPLOADED ANOTHER FORTY MINUTES OF VINTAGE PUPPETUDE
Whee!
Oh Me… I’m such an eye- strained insomniac …..video editing is a bore.. my Enchanted Porkfist needs a siesta.
So, go see! I’ll bet that some of these clips are your new favorites. They were uploaded last night, so you may have to look in my “Dullsville”channel video set ,or my Meat Puppets playlist (now with 66 clips ) on the last page where the newest additions appear.
Hope there is more new-to-you flickerings for you, Derrick
(^^^Got too much more, ^^^too much more ^^^!! )
Thanks again
E-ya
Left by DULLSVILLE on January 23rd, 2007
Thanks for the great work Dullsville!
Kevin (Pungeon on youtube)
Left by Kevin on January 23rd, 2007
Keep up the good work you YouTubers.
Damn good version of “Away” with the slower beat.
Left by keith on January 24th, 2007
oh wow, I know I’ll be on the computer for a while.
Swimming Ground is fantastic, as usual
Left by Mitch on January 25th, 2007
I saw the pups in 85! In NJ. and every year hence up to 95.
I really dug the “Alive in the 90’s” video.
It looks like with the help of folks like Dullsville there can be a video called ” Alive in the 80’s” but I sugest a better title, something like “the 80’s reliv-vid-ed!”
A real rock and roll band , imaginitive, grass routs, D.Y.I. that’s the puppets of yester and present & future. Love ‘em!
Left by Thomas on January 26th, 2007
i have been enjoying those videos too. hours of entertainment for meatheads.
robin
Left by Robin on January 28th, 2007
As I recall, the infamous “GOAT” shirt made it into People Magazine, where a picture of the band appeared alongside a review of Up On the Sun in the “Picks and Pans” section of that particular edition. I don’t remember specifically what was written, but I think the reviewer raved about the record.
Never expected to read a Meat Puppets record review while waiting to get my hair feathered at the local beauty shop.
Left by Peter N. on January 29th, 2007
Well???…….” This past Saturday at a show in Austin, TX, Army of Anyone was joined on-stage by the Meat Puppets’ original lineup or Curt Kirkwood, Cris Kirkwood and Derrick Bostrom. Together the bands performed the Meat Puppets tunes “Attack by Monsters†and “Lake of Fire.” It was the first time the Meat Puppets have performed on-stage in 11 years. What’s the feeling?” How’d it go? You Itchy? I’m just gonna go ahead and assume that you didn’t post anything about this on accounta your busy practicin’ for a spring tour. Sure do miss you guys.
Left by Chef Gregg on January 30th, 2007
I wasn’t anywhere near Austin during the time in question. The news outlet that initially distributed the erroneous information retracted it within 48 hours, but that didn’t stop other news outlets from picking it up and distributing it. That’s just the way the media works, I’m afraid.
Left by Derrick Bostrom on January 30th, 2007
Well, thanks for crushing yet another dream. I’ve seen you guys many times, but one night in 1990(?) in Milwaukee was particularaly brilliant. You played pretty much everything that would be considered my favorites. I waited patiently for my all time favorite, but after the encore and good nights it appeared it wasn’t to be. Curt was ready to leave when I pleaded,” I’m not leaving until you play Split Myself In Two”, he and Cris gathered around you, chatted, turned around and LEANED in and said “You asked for it fucker”, and lit it up. It was listed as the best show of the year by the Milwaukee Journal.
Left by Chef Gregg on January 31st, 2007
GREETINGS FROM DULLSVILLE
Just like at Taco Bell,..Meat is squeezing through a Tube here in Dullsville!
I just stopped in, to encourage you to see all the clips posted under “MEAT PUPPETSHOW”
which is a Mirage era performance, at the Ten-O -One club in Indiana. Although a tad dark ,it has rich. colorful lighting and good sound. Probably, some of the best clips of “Too Real “,
” Two Rivers “, ” Bucket Head ” and others, from the period, that will surface. A bunch of nice covers, such as the Who’s “Cant Explain” and the Everly Bros.” Dream ” are in there too.
Enjoy.
Thats cool that you mentioned “keepvidding” to video iPod, Derrick. I just got one, right about the time you wrote this,…..Teeny Meat Puppets, live in Lilliput…..cutest!
Left by DULLSVILLE on February 2nd, 2007
P.S
Oops ! Those Ten-O- One clips are from an earlier tour than Mirage. I got confused ,because there are also some clips “up on the Tube” of the Mirage tour in Indiana ( very dark flick,..that rocks!). I’m a MeatHead not a librarian!( ..But, I’ll try and get things right)
Left by DULLSVILLE on February 2nd, 2007
My records show it being from Nov 21, 1985. That’s when we were doing “I Can’t Explain.” I remember that gig, or rather I remember calling home from a pay phone outside behind the club before the show. Great video!
Left by Derrick Bostrom on February 2nd, 2007
Ahh 1985 …..Okay, I’ll drop that date on some of those clips. I also went back and identified that one show as Mc Cabes, and changed the 1984 date on that Phoenix show to 1985. I was wondering if that might be the Mason Jar club? I also haven’t a clue what the other song packaged in the clip”couple of covers” is (besides “Longfellows…”)?
There is hope, that I can re-post some of those Phoenix clips in slightly better condition. I’m wondering, if the tape was a little sticky as it spooled the first time. The “Two Rivers ” finale seemed free of most of the tracking zigzags.The partying camera man’s work, …that’s a done deal.Nothing beats out- of- focus zooms of Curt’s elbow !
That supper club seating at the Ten-O-One club is funny!
Thanks
Left by DULLSVILLE on February 2nd, 2007
My notes don’t reveal the location, but I actually don’t think it is the Jar. It was some place that was only open briefly, somewhere in Phx. I can’t remember any more.
The other song is “Your Angel Steps Out Of Heaven,” which we learned off a George Jones record.
Left by Derrick Bostrom on February 2nd, 2007
hey derrick,
was reading some Frost and found a surprising similarity between the poem “desert places” and your “Forbidden placeS”…..check it out, especially the last 4 lines
keith
Desert Places
by: Robert Frost
Snow falling and night falling fast, oh, fast
In a field I looked into going past,
And the ground almost covered smooth in snow,
But a few weeds and stubble showing last.
The woods around it have it–it is theirs.
All animals are smothered in their lairs.
I am too absent-spirited to count;
The loneliness includes me unawares.
And lonely as it is that loneliness
Will be more lonely ere it will be less–
A blanker whiteness of benighted snow
With no expression, nothing to express.
They cannot scare me with their empty spaces
Between stars–on stars where no human race is.
I have it in me so much nearer home
To scare myself with my own desert places.
Left by keith on February 18th, 2007
Salutations Derrick and Dullsville, and deepest thanks for your parts in the creating/performing/recording/sharing of this stuff. Favourite so far is the smokin’ rendition of Enchanted Porkfist from ‘94…
Maybe I shouldn’t say this – you’ve obviously got your reasons Derrick, and I’m but a meathead-come-lately of 19 years of age – but doesn’t seeing some of this make you want to do it again? Seeing these puppets from decades past, popping back out of the mists of memory, moving around in 2D, must be strange anyhow.
But anyway, thankyou again!
Left by ramblin' man on February 18th, 2007
> doesn’t seeing some of this make you want to do it again?
Not really.
Seeing it makes me want to do things I’ve never done before.
Left by Derrick Bostrom on February 19th, 2007
I see the “Meat Puppets” are scheduled for a show at SXSW this year taking the stage just after the Buzzcocks. What is the current MPs lineup?
Left by AustinTrudge on February 28th, 2007
Curt & Cris Kirkwood – guitar/bass/vocs
Ted Marcus – drums
Left by Derrick Bostrom on March 1st, 2007
Great videos, thanks Dullsville and Derrick!
Very cool in general that you’ve put so much work into curating the Meat Puppets legacy, Derrick. This site is quite the gift!
Left by Mac on March 4th, 2007
^^^GREETINGS FROM DULLSVILLE zzzz
A perpetual plethora of Puppetunes awaits your perusal on the Tube. Enjoy.
I wasn’t originally going to post so much,….but the band is just so damn cool!
You Tube has stopped letting me bookmark favorites,so my Meat Puppets playlist isn’t up to date(500 is the new max-*google me*).The latest clips can be found on my channel or by using the “date added” function when searching. If your new to you Tube, note that, it has a full screen icon under the window, which is great ,if the vid isn’t too rough.You can also use the “Quicklist”function, to line up your fave Pups vids to play in a row(although not at full screen,last I checked)
Say, Derrick …
I was wondering (if you feel like it), if you can identify some more songs? I’m not sure about these titles….
Clip 1 ..posted as…..
Meat Puppets in 1983″In a Car &Bucket head”
(Whistling Song is also in there, along with some quick instrumental runs,fits and starts, that may also have titles?)
Clip 2….posted as…..
“Meat Puppets Live@McCabes”
a two song packet (that I really should know)
If you can straighten me out,I’ll go back and edit the descriptions.
Thanks
zzzzzzzz
Left by DULLSVILLE on January 21st, 2007
Clip 1. – After starting with a quick rock and roll vamp (probably based on some Elvis song like “C.C. Rider”), we go into “In A Car, then “Playing Dead.” “Buckethead” follows (fully formed two whole years before its release), then “Teenager(s)” and “Whistling Song.”
Clip 2. – Starts with Roy Orbison’s “In Dreams,” then “Animal,” a “Too High” era original only available on promo singles or shoved into some soundtracks (see the discography). It’s a song I never mastered because I hated it.
Left by Derrick Bostrom on January 21st, 2007
Why did you crush that guy’s joy with the “erroneous information” blurb? The brothers Kirkwood did open for Army of Anyone (x-STP ). If they play and don’t die, maybe the legacy can fulfill its destiny, that the world will realize that Meat Puppets are the greatest.band.ever. Great video on youTube. Heart racing. Must…tell…every..one
Left by mother.bored on March 9th, 2007
Now dammit, I bought the We Don’t Exist single way back in high school and I LOVED the cover of El Paso City on there. I have no idea what happened to that CD and I think it was a promo-only track, so it’s impossible to find anywhere. Any way you can put up an mp3 of that song or something?
I bought most of your CDs new. With some like Too High To Die and Up On The Sun I had to buy them a few different times (friends borrow some things forever). I paid my loot. Can I get a free song?
Left by Mohammets on March 29th, 2007
I’ll bet you find your CD before I get around to posting it!
Left by Derrick Bostrom on March 29th, 2007
Derrick,
Any shot at a reunion tour??
I just discovered the Meat Puppets, and bought all CDs issued.
I love you guys, and I think there’s are old fans out there who would love to see you guys in concert. I am also sure that there are a potential legion of new fans who would love your music.
If I can help you, let me know.
Left by Jonathan on April 24th, 2007
I found the Backwater promo disk a couple days ago. It has become a cherished piece of my collection, with “White Sport Coat” and “Up On The Sun.” Did “Animal” ever have a different name?
Left by Gavin Matthews on May 30th, 2007
You mean like in its demo form? I don’t think so. It was definitely never released under another name.
Left by Derrick Bostrom on May 30th, 2007
Odd. When I put the disk into Windows Media Player, it used the song identity thing and came up with the name “F*** You” for “Animal.” I guess it was a random glitch, because that does not sound right at all. Are there any other promo disks to look for?
Left by Gavin Matthews on May 31st, 2007
There was a deejay-only promo of “Backwater,” which had “Lake Of Fire” and “Fuck You” on it.
The commercially released version had “Open Wide,” “Animal,” “White Sport Coat” and “Up On The Sun.”
It must be wrong in whatever database Windows Media Player uses. (I wouldn’t know: I use iTunes.)
Left by Derrick Bostrom on May 31st, 2007
Derrick, you’re such a PR Official now that you’ve decided to step away from the band.
You should release your own album of basic beats and rudiments and then become suicidal when it doesn’t catch the public’s attention.
Left by Rance Muhammitz on July 4th, 2007
And…
Like anyone else my age, I first heard of the Meat Puppets because Kurt Cobain was a walking Meat Puppets commercial. I learned quickly to prefer your versions of all 3 songs Nirvana covered on the Unplugged thing. I liked the covers. I liked that David Bowie cover better than the original though. And the Leadbelly cover.
Also, I heard that you’re smarter than books. Can you confirm this statement? If so, what’s your source?
Left by Rance Muhammitz on July 4th, 2007
Depends on the books.
Left by Derrick Bostrom on July 4th, 2007
^^^^* GREETINGS FROM DULLSVILLE *^^^^
Awwwww………
There is……. ” not too much more ^^^^ too much more ^^^
Yes,… it had too happen , your Saturday morning Puppetshow is a bunch of summer re-runs now. The cup of sun runneth dry.
I probably have a couple overlooked clips for later, but the vids are all up on the Tube . I had a lot of fun playing M.P. tv veejay and thanks for all the comments! Can you really watch them all?( they will “leave you happy …..but,… insane”)
I’ll leave you where it began, a pair of clips from the 1983 home rehearsal video. I see that those got respectable view counts and have been a little hit with viewers.
In Clip 1, we see Derrick cross the room carrying a small Peruvian water drum ,and grab the camera for a cameo shot of the real camera man ( I didn’t film anything,and I send thanks to those who did). Derrick then sings ” C.C. Rider ” with Curt on drums.
I could use Derrick’s input on Clip 2 where Curt plays a bit of some song (without a mic), before the band launches into “Round and Round”.
So anyway it was fun loading up the tube with Puppetshows….enjoy. Does anybody have rare old Pups footage to show Me? Also, Peyote Punk rides again and I look forward to seeing your concert cam clips and sprinkling them with You Tube stars!( a big tour is announced on the myspace page)
*******Have yourself a great time at those shows **********
Love
zzzzzzz
Left by DULLSVILLE on July 8th, 2007
It’s “I Love You Because,” from Elvis’ debut LP.
Thanks for the fun, DULLSVILLE!
Left by Derrick Bostrom on July 8th, 2007
Bostrom,
Happy to have stumbled in for the outtakes from the first couple of sessions. Really brings back memories, and what great music you guys made! Write sometime.
XX
Ganem
Left by John Ganem on August 11th, 2007
Could you do me a favor and put a link to the video of Dullsville’s many many offerings, so we can find the one you are talking about when you say
“Another from his collection, a show from the early 90s, is a typical example of the sublime offhand pyrotechnics we could produce when inclined. I’m pretty sure the performance is from McCabe’s in October of 1994″ [...] The Dullsville Collection is pretty vast, and he needs a huge thank you, but a link to the specific offering you mention would be great. It got harder to find stuff when they choked off his favorites list (oh well.)
Your help would be appreciated…no matter what you were wearing.
~aw
Left by Alison Wild on December 19th, 2007
The 90s show is any of the links up above that don’t have Curt in a blue shirt.
Left by Derrick Bostrom on December 19th, 2007
Yeah…like make it difficult?
Left by Alison Wild on December 20th, 2007
The most confusing aspect, is that when you follow the text link into my video page YT has imposed an abbreviation on all the titles! This means that I have a zillion vids labeled “Meat Puppets…” .The complete title appears when you activate a vid , bypass all this by going to my main channel page and use the prominently displayed Meat Puppets playlist( where the titles appear in full).The playlist features all the better quality postings I could find on YT.
Happy Holidays!
P.S.
I have a timely little clip called “Meat Puppets sing a Christmas Song”
Colorado fans can see the Pups in Boulder on New Years Eve(unfortunately as an opener).
Left by DULLSVILLE on December 23rd, 2007
hey…
i recently ran across two Forbidden Places outtakes, it seems. One, I’m assuming, is called “Wild Life, or Wild Eyes”…the other is, I’m assuming called “Blow Away”…
can ya perhaps confirm the titles…great tunes, btw. I love the fact that you guys were continuing to play the songs that never made the releases…they are great songs. ‘Wish Upon a Storm’, ‘Veils Have to Fall’ and the like…
love and respect..and thanks fer any help ya can gimme!
Left by notsaved on February 21st, 2008
I can’t remember “Blow Away,” though there was a track called “Wind.”
“Wild Eye” is the correct title for the other track.
Left by Derrick Bostrom on February 21st, 2008
Hi folks
It’s Dullsville ( that guy with 80(?) Meat Puppets clips on You Tube )
My cyber town has been destroyed with a stroke on a corporate bimbo’s keyboard!!.
The channel is gone. Over 250 clips ….Meat Puppets,rare psychedelic era concert recordings,light shows , travel vids ,dozens of painstakingly organized music playlists, thousands of comments and letters from cool people……..F*#king GONE. AAAAaaaarrrghhhhh
And without a peep of explanation or any chance to remove a clip and save the ( popular ) channel that had garnered thousands of video views, 360 subscribers and had been up since You Tube was in it’s infancy….Google my tube muthaf*#kahs
Anyway ,I was very proud to offer up Pups clips to you all ,so my heart broken alter ego created a new account called Dullsvillain .I already have a healthy serving of Meat posted here
http://www.youtube.com/user/dullsvillain
I doubt it will ever be as comprehensive. Hell yes!… you should archive them with KeepVid and make them available if this channel goes down too.
Thanks for writing comments on the old collection,thanks for your concert clips of recent shows, and I hope you got to explore what once I had to share.
I will be writing YT a nice pleading letter in hopes of regaining the original archive but I’m not
holding my breath.
I have enough Puppetude coming to keep you busy meantime…
yers
Dullsvillain
Left by Dullsville on October 11th, 2008
What a shame. It’s really sad news. I’m gonna miss it – especially the show from Phoenix ‘85.
Good luck with the channel, Dullsville. Your work is appreciated.
Greetings from a Danish Meat Puppets fan
Left by Martin Hauge on October 30th, 2008
Martin
That show is up again ( “Live in Phoenix ‘85 ” in 7 parts). The popular “Home Rehearsal 1983″ clips are up too.
Thanks
Left by Dullsville on November 22nd, 2008