Every week, 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 39-year run, with text by vocalist Jean Smith.
Song lyrics. Tend to be. All about the same thing. Or. At least. It can seem that way. This is what David’s drawing brings to mind.
During this epic performance of “All About The Same Thing” by a three-piece Mecca Normal (Smith, Lester, Jefferies), recorded live in the very same room I’m still sitting in approximately 25 years later, I kind of wish I’d left more time for the delicate piano and guitar interaction, but, considering my usual m.o., I’m glad I left as much as I did! I must commend these two guys for encouraging me to take up as much space as I needed, not just on that night, but in everything.
It’s funny to be thinking back to those days, when we were rehearsing here with drums and piano quite loudly with neighbors downstairs. There was one night when the buzzer rang, and yes, it was late, like 2 a.m. or so, and I answered the intercom expecting someone to tell me to shut it down. It was a downstairs neighbor asking if we could turn it up a bit! Rock. On!
“All About The Same Thing” from Who Shot Elvis? (Matador, 1997) (download):
