Spoon and aMiniature
"Towner on the B-Side"
It's always been very clear there was a connection between these two bands - the most obvious one being the song "Towner". In 1994, San Diego's aMiniature (the "a" is silent) released DepthFiveRateSix. On that record was a song entitled "Towner On The B-Side". Two years later, Spoon released their debut Telephono, and on that record was the cover "Towner". These songs sound nearly identical - both of the angular/aggressive-rock variety that became very popular in the mid-9os.
I remember reading an interview with Britt Daniel in which he stated that he only covers the songs of his friends. Other examples of Spoon covering songs include "Me and the Bean" (The Sidehackers), "Don't You Evah" (The Natural History), and "Decora" (Yo La Tengo). This practice appears to be true with the three aforementioned songs: John Clayton, frontman for The Sidehackers, toured with Spoon and even contributed his bass skills to Girls Can Tell, and The Natural History opened for Spoon during a leg of the Gimme Fiction tour. Yo La Tengo and Spoon have also headlined numerous shows together. So what is the connection between Spoon and aMiniature? I actually don't know the answer.
One thing I do know is that they both appear to be heavily influenced by Wire. This doesn't come as a surprise based on the two bands' sound, but looking more closely, one notices that aMiniature contributed a cover to Wire's tribute album Whore. The song chosen by aMiniature was "A Serious of Snakes". Now this should sound strangely familiar to any Spoon fan... the reason is because Spoon's second LP's title (A Series of Sneaks) was a play on words for this song. I wonder if these two bands, whose origins lie nearly 1300 miles apart, were actually friends and/or played together. Anyone out there know the answer? For those who have never heard the original version of "Towner (On The B-Side)", enjoy.
I remember reading an interview with Britt Daniel in which he stated that he only covers the songs of his friends. Other examples of Spoon covering songs include "Me and the Bean" (The Sidehackers), "Don't You Evah" (The Natural History), and "Decora" (Yo La Tengo). This practice appears to be true with the three aforementioned songs: John Clayton, frontman for The Sidehackers, toured with Spoon and even contributed his bass skills to Girls Can Tell, and The Natural History opened for Spoon during a leg of the Gimme Fiction tour. Yo La Tengo and Spoon have also headlined numerous shows together. So what is the connection between Spoon and aMiniature? I actually don't know the answer.
One thing I do know is that they both appear to be heavily influenced by Wire. This doesn't come as a surprise based on the two bands' sound, but looking more closely, one notices that aMiniature contributed a cover to Wire's tribute album Whore. The song chosen by aMiniature was "A Serious of Snakes". Now this should sound strangely familiar to any Spoon fan... the reason is because Spoon's second LP's title (A Series of Sneaks) was a play on words for this song. I wonder if these two bands, whose origins lie nearly 1300 miles apart, were actually friends and/or played together. Anyone out there know the answer? For those who have never heard the original version of "Towner (On The B-Side)", enjoy.
MP3: aMiniature - "Towner On The B-Side"
(buy Depth Five Rate Six)
3 comments:
We were never friends, though we met once when Spoon gave aMiniature a cassette demo they made with Towner on it. I think it was on a tour to support Depth5Rate6, which Towner on the B-side is on. I think.
It was very cool, indeed.
As for the Wire influence. Yep. At least on aMiniature's end. Hugely influential on the band.
Thanks!
John
wow! John Lee responded. holy shit...
Hey John,
It's an honor for you respond to this post. Thanks for taking time to answer the little guys. I've always wondered, and now I know.
You guys will always rock!
Greg
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