"Slowly Screwing My Way Across Europe / They Had To Make A Correction"

January 25, 2009 9:09 PM

R.I.P., Silver Jews. And btw, my dad is the anti-christ. Oh, and come see our last show January 31st. In a cave.

Some highlights (YT):

"Punks In The Beerlight"

"How To Rent A Room"

"Strange Victory, Strange Defeat"

"Smith & Jones"

"Random Rules"

posted by bardic (35 comments total)

Sad; you're the only ten I saw.
posted by gac at 9:12 PM on January 25, 2009

There's a lot of things that I'm gonna miss, like thunder down country and the way water drips.
posted by teamparka at 9:18 PM on January 25, 2009 [1 favorite]

That's not what I call a life
posted by wolfewarrior at 9:30 PM on January 25, 2009

He was a rebel jew.
posted by Curry at 9:30 PM on January 25, 2009

On the last day of your life
Don't forget to die
The things that you do
Will always make your mama cry.
posted by bardic at 9:33 PM on January 25, 2009

Just saw them a couple of months ago. They still put on an enjoyable show after all these years.

.

(Huh. It sorta feels right, though.)
posted by Drainage! at 9:36 PM on January 25, 2009

Sad about the Jews, but hopeful that David will be writing more poetry as a result. I really liked his collection Actual Air.
posted by troubles at 9:38 PM on January 25, 2009

Alternate title: "Like like the the the death (of the Silver Jews)"
posted by Enema Bag Jones at 9:55 PM on January 25, 2009

Punk's not dead.
posted by felix betachat at 10:03 PM on January 25, 2009

When I read this, it made me very glad that I saw them when I got the chance.

I'd like to see him spend more time on his poetry--his book and other pieces he's published since it are quite good--but more than anything, I'm just hoping for him to stay together.
posted by roll truck roll at 10:17 PM on January 25, 2009

The word is that he cleaned up after the low point of "Tanglewood Numbers" and found love with Cassie.

But he's still looking pretty rough these days. Maybe those are just residual effects.

And another vote for Actual Air. Great book.
posted by bardic at 10:26 PM on January 25, 2009

my dad is the anti-christ

see? toldya.
posted by telstar at 10:41 PM on January 25, 2009

Wow, his dad sucks.
posted by Aquaman at 10:59 PM on January 25, 2009

And btw, my dad is the anti-christ.

I was shocked when I found out Janeane Garofalo's dad was an Exxon executive. It's like finding out Beck is a Scientologist. Next I assume I'll find out that Obama beats up old ladies for fun.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 11:01 PM on January 25, 2009

The best thing about him is that he's so bang on. "[My life] is allegorical to the nth."

No shit.
posted by seagull.apollo at 11:54 PM on January 25, 2009

shit one, glad I got to see them live though a few months back. Good luck to the freaky guy.
posted by twistedonion at 2:47 AM on January 26, 2009

Next I assume I'll find out that Obama beats up old ladies for fun.

Dude, election's over. There's no need to pick on McCain anymore.
posted by joe lisboa at 5:27 AM on January 26, 2009 [4 favorites]

Amazing story about the dad. Can't wait to see what he does to fight the devil.

Although the part about his Dad working against PETA kinda puts me on his Dad's side. But just for a moment.
posted by fungible at 5:39 AM on January 26, 2009

.
posted by orme at 5:43 AM on January 26, 2009

The part about his dad is interesting. There's gotta be something more to this story...I got issues with my pops too but I can't imagine being estranged with a family member because they lobbied for political causes I don't agree with. Seems petty, or in Berman's case, cuckoopants.

A world historical motherfucking son of a bitch.

Can't the guy just be a regular SOAB? Why bring Hegel into it?
posted by Potomac Avenue at 5:49 AM on January 26, 2009

I can't imagine being estranged with a family member because they lobbied for political causes I don't agree with.

Berman has fought unions, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, PETA and other watchdog groups in their efforts to raise awareness about obesity, the minimum wage, the dangers of smoking, mad cow disease, drunk driving, and other causes.

I'd disown the fucker, even if he was my own child, never mind father. I've always believed that all that ties family together is blood. We don't get to choose them but we can choose who to associate with.

I'm just happy my family are politics free (unless you believe in freedom for bees, in which case my dad is satan, damned honey thief.)
posted by twistedonion at 6:04 AM on January 26, 2009 [1 favorite]

Man, that's really interesting. I'd love to know more about the backstory - and, yeah, I would definitely be estranged from any parent who was inhumane to that extreme, and I can't imagine someone who could do that by day would be without issues in the rest of their lives.

I'm always happy when a band I like goes out by choice with a solid body of work to their name. Nice one, Silver Jews.
posted by carbide at 6:32 AM on January 26, 2009

Mothers against Drunk Driving is a little over the top, frankly.
posted by delmoi at 6:35 AM on January 26, 2009

I got issues with my pops too but I can't imagine being estranged with a family member because they lobbied for political causes I don't agree with.

It's not just that the guy's lobbied for some political causes he doesn't agree with--it's that the guy is Doctor Evil. The man operates dozens of fraudulent organizations that spread corporate sponsored disinformation throughout the media under the guise of representing grass-roots public interest groups. He's an information warrior for hire who intentionally works counter to the public interest for personal profit.

That's not just lobbying for political causes; that's being a major league asshole. And as others have pointed out, there's a more than decent chance a guy like that brings some extra baggage to his personal life, too.

I'll miss the Silver Jews. The quality of their lyrics put them in a class of their own, IMO.
posted by saulgoodman at 6:48 AM on January 26, 2009

A sad day; Berman's music has been a big part of my life... Like troubles said, I hope this brings more poetry. Actual Air is the kind of book you carry around with you as a guide.
posted by themadjuggler at 7:44 AM on January 26, 2009

How can I love you if you won't lie down er, break up.
posted by zpousman at 8:08 AM on January 26, 2009

So they're playing their final show in a cave 20 minutes from house, and I found this out a month after the tickets are all sold out. :(

Seriously, this is a great place for a small show though. There's a pic of the "auditorium" here: http://bluegrassunderground.com/. Note the chandelier, neat little stage, and the table at where I was turned down for a date in the 7th grade.
posted by Benjy at 8:27 AM on January 26, 2009

I'm afraid I got more in common with who I was than who I am becomin'.

&

Somewhere in the future I'm remembering today.

Are two of my favorite lines ever.
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 8:57 AM on January 26, 2009

Wow. I'm a little freaked out to see Cumberland Caverns mentioned on Metafilter for any reason, much less that a great band is playing their last show there. I grew up very close to there, and visited many times with school, church, and Boy Scout groups. They used to bill it as "America's Second Largest Cave", but I guess it's moved down in the rankings.
posted by vibrotronica at 9:20 AM on January 26, 2009 [1 favorite]

A few clips of Malkmus & Berman together...
posted by anazgnos at 10:14 AM on January 26, 2009

Thanks for those, anazgnos.
posted by joe lisboa at 10:20 AM on January 26, 2009

"I asked the painter why the roads are colored black. He said, "Steve, it's because people leave and no highway will bring them back."

.
posted by thehuskybride at 2:54 PM on January 26, 2009

I really liked the rockabilly direction he was taking. The band was tight. I saw him play here in DC on their last tour. His grandmother introduced him and Cassie and it was very sweet. Strange victory, strange defeat.
posted by princelyfox at 3:02 PM on January 26, 2009

I promise that I'll always remember your pretty eyes
posted by gwint at 5:20 PM on January 26, 2009

Sometimes a man just needs a breather.

.
posted by sy at 7:17 PM on January 26, 2009