Every Saturday, we’ll be posting a new illustration by David Lester. The Mecca Normal guitarist is visually documenting people, places and events from his band’s 35-year run, with text by vocalist Jean Smith.
Mecca Normal began touring soon after we released our first album in 1986. The urge to play live quickly evolved into Black Wedge Tours with like-minded poets and minimalist musicians, but by 1996, we felt like we’d been on the road a very long time. Music industry years are much like dog years. 10 equals 60. Which, regarding the new album: LIVE in 1996, translates to incendiary intensity by three veterans (David and I are joined by Peter Jefferies on drums) of a handful of overlapping scenes including PNW DIY, riot grrrl, poetry, feminist punk, grunge and NZ noise when we headlined this beautiful little theatre in Montréal.
“I’m Not Into Being The Woman You’re With While You’re Looking for The Woman You Want” from The Observer (Kill Rock Stars, 2006) (download):