Who Wrote This Song - April 2021
To those who've not heard from me this year... Possibly a relief from the onslaught of music (and death) last year -- but I needed it and it seems some of you did as well. Anyway I've reached a weird space where I don't feel the need to PRODUCE, daily. But, fear not, I still have plans to continue being a songwriter/musician in the continuing apocalyptic times. Early warning: there will be ph
SAD BOX???
SCOTT THE HOOPLE takes on The Quarantine! Who wins? You, the listener? I had found myself bereft of inspiration, foundering in our world today, unable to write, unable even to read the Sunday NY Times. I had written one new song, that dealt with some plastic singing chickens that Peter Buck had taken to, uh, 'document'ing. Ten days ago I decided that would show me the way... I had recorded
OUR MUSICAL FRIEND BILL
I've gotta say Bill would be amused by all the kind and glowing things being said about him right now. Don't get me wrong -- they are all deserved -- but those of us who knew him, would know also that he saw himself as a cantankerous, not-suffering-fools type of guy. And it's true; Bill could seem difficult, off-putting at first, though he was also weirdly exceptionally polite. He was an amb
Stroke Manor Tour
It's time! This Friday June 14, marks the official release date of STROKE MANOR (for those of you who missed it on RSD), AND the embarkment on a complex month on the road. Why make it easy?? Starting with shows in Eugene and Portland, it'll be Scott w/ Peter Buck, Casey Neill, Jim Talstra, Jenny Conlee, Steve Drizos and Alia Farah, taking the brain songs to the people as best as ca
Stroke Manor, Shows, and a bunch of other stuff going down
It's time! Yep Roc Records and Record Store Day have announced the upcoming Minus 5 album Stroke Manor. I won't tell you the whole story because it's out there to be told, and sold, soon. Let's just say I never saw this record coming, but I'm glad it made the scene. Somehow. And after a year of wonderful local shows, sharing the finest stages in Portland, spending time with the best
THE THERAPY SESSIONS
What are indeed, these "Therapy Sessions", you ask? They are a chance to get The Minus 5 back on the boards, putting a soft foot forward, testing the murky waters as it were. It has been a bit of an ordeal, and a stroke demands itself taken seriously. I have been so fortunate in that I've had the time to rest and heal. SO MUCH HELP has gotten me this far. You all know who I am
NEW CHRISTMAS HYMN
Good cheer to all from the little Dungeon to ye all around the world! Yes, it's been a momentous and tumultuous year, with loss of those we love, and sadness can sometimes pervade our world. And it's hard to imagine on top of all of this, how some leaders relish in cruelty and hatred, in pure service of greed. BUT there has also been SO MUCH wonderful caring and giving from around the world,
Statement from Mary Winzig:
Scott McCaughey, the ever-smiling, sunglasses-wearing front man of the bands The Minus 5 and the Young Fresh Fellows, and side man to countless bands — including M. Ward, The Baseball Project, Tired Pony, and R.E.M. — suffered a stroke while on a West Coast tour with Alejandro Escovedo. He is in stable condition.
M5 joins Alejandro Escovedo again for West Coast sprint
Super excited to reconvene the Burn Something Beautiful band in support of our great pal Alejandro Escovedo, for a quickie west coast jaunt in mid-November. We'll be done with Halloween, and getting hungry for Thanksgiving.
SCOTT THE HOOPLE STALKS IAN HUNTER IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Well, technically it's not stalking. But it sure is exciting to see the strange name of Scott McCaughey listed right under IAN HUNTER & THE RANT BAND, as opening act for a couple shows in the greater Los Angeles area. First appearance will be Tuesday 9/12 at LA's relatively new, and quite smashing, Teragram Ballroom. Our pal Robin will dial in the sound, and well acquainted he is with bo
MCCABE'S PEOPLE
We are headed for Southern California, with a chip on our collective shoulder and a bag of tunes that need airing. Preferably in the cozy confines of McCabe's Guitar Shop, which is a nifty place to spend a Sunday evening (that is, THIS SUNDAY EVENING JULY 30). It says on the website "An Evening With The Minus 5" and I'm going to take their word for it. The good folks at McCabe's haven't once
North to NORWAY!
Scott and associates are descending on Norway NOW to play songs from new band The No Ones as well as M5, Baseball Project, Peter Buck, etc. June 16 - Bar Moskus, Trondheim (acoustic) June 17 - Big Dipper Records in-store, Oslo (acoustic) June 18 - John Dee Club, Oslo (full band plus guests) June 23-24 Sun Station Vadsø Fest, Vadsø (everybody doing everything!)
Upcoming Shows + Other Bits And Bobs
Hello, Texas! Looking forward to another (albeit truncated) jaunt with Alejandro Escovedo and the Burn Something Beautiful Band as we've dubbed our ourselves. Next week we hit Dallas, Houston, and Austin, at some very nice theaters, with the Minus 5 doing the opening honors once again. See tour dates for ticket links. Also thrilled to announce a summer show at one of our favorite place
Yep Roc Charity Auction, Lowe Beats and more
Yep Roc is auctioning a few nifty autographed test pressings for charity - including a copy of the Dungeon Of Horror box set, signed by Scott and Peter. Check it out the items, and learn all about test pressings, here! Meanwhile, down in the actual Dungeon Of Horror, rumor has it that glowing tubes are attempting to warm one corner of the room, with many a track being laid down for various
NEIL NIGHT #4 !!!
Super-psyched to have the Minus 5 take part in another three-album celebration of that noted Man of Mystery, the one and only NEIL YOUNG. As usual the other acts will be LEWI LONGMIRE & THE LEFT COAST ROASTERS, and THE DON OF DIVISION STREET. The M5 will be yet another all-new line-up of pure talent, committed to delivering the masterpiece RUST NEVER SLEEPS to the best of our ability. Ch
Burn Something Beautiful Tour In Review
January 2017 ran us all through the wringer, and I was fortunate to spend it out on the road with a van-full of great friends and musical compatriots. Alejandro Escovedo took the BURN SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL BAND across the eastern half of the land, with John Moen (and/or Linda Pitmon), Peter Buck, Kurt Bloch and Scott McCaughey doing double duty as THE MINUS 5, opening combo platter. We kicked
BATTLE HYMNS PRESS RELEASE - Inauguration Day 2017
Battle Hymns is a compilation album created in direct response to the current political situation in the U.S.A - it is a protest record! It will be released digitally on inauguration day in opposition to the incoming administration. The album is available pay what you want at www.quasiband.com with all proceeds divided equally between Planned Parenthood, the ACLU and 350.org. Battle Hymnsf
ON TOUR EXPRESS
The Minus 5 on tour! Yes, really. Cleverly disguised as the mighty Burn Something Beautiful band - you may have just seen us on Austin City Limits -- we will open each show of Alejandro Escovedo's upcoming January tour. So you'll get Scott McCaughey, Peter Buck, Kurt Bloch and John Moen (replaced on the drum throne by Linda Pitmon at the first four shows) presenting a brief retrospective of
Friday, Oct. 7, Secret Society, Portland
We love THE MINDERS because they are great and right now there is a new album to cerebrate! The Minus 5 will play some new selections from their recently refurbished and relinquished OF MONKEES AND MEN platter. It's TWO records for the price of ONE HALF. Come join us, at The Secret Society, you know where it is. www.secretsociety.net Minders ON at 9 p.m., Minus 5 thereafter. Klaus
Hey Hey It's The Flywheels!
Ladies and Gentlebirds -- It's with the utmost love and respect that I direct you to Kickstarter, in order that you may see and hear a little bit about the Flywheels. My long-time friends Kim and Eric, who might be familiar to the exhalted few of you who hail Jimmy Silva as a songwriting icon, made a record last year, and it's going to see the light of day, dammit! This will be the one
The Reviews Are In
... and the pundits are calling Of Monkees And Men a certified smasheroo. Blurt (thanks, Fred!), England's Uncut, Rolling Stone Australia, Popmatters, the esteemed (by me, now) Michael Doherty's Music Log etc. Yep Roc has already sent out word that this puppy has shipped gold. We are not surprised. Not surprised at all.
TROUBLE BOYS - THE BOOK
Hey Portland! This big bad book reading just got even better, with the news that Peter Jesperson (the "5th Replacement"; the "Man Without Whom"; etc.) will be joining author Bob Mehr and me as we sit back and discuss THE REPLACEMENTS. If you haven't read Mr. Mehr's superb, authorized but un-sanitized account of the band's trainwreck existence, it's time to come down and pick up a copy.
Baseball Project To Score Big In Midwest
The BBP (Scott, Linda, Steve, and Mike) take on the midwest, in midseason form. Apparently the Hamm's bear is involved.
Of Monkees And Men Update
Yep Roc Records is pleased to announce the release of The Minus 5's Of Monkees And Men on LP and CD August 19. The album is available for pre-order now, which includes free shipping. What can I say, this album is a MASTERPIECE. Yep Roc also captured this old Monkees fan going on about the group, and the Minus 5 album, and even strumming a few tunes in a bike shop, on the latest editi
M. Ward Summer Tours
I'm feeling very fortunate to be playing bass in the swingin' M. Ward combo this year. Hope you've had the chance to check out his latest More Rain -- I was fortunate enough to play on some tracks (along with other Minus 5 cohorts such as Peter Buck, Adam Selzer, Mike Coykendall). The music is brilliant and the company is wonderful. We head to St. Louis this weekend to kick off a midwest run.
April Comes She Will
April is burning away like the clouds in the climate-controlled Portland sky. It's been a bang-up job so far. Just finished two weeks at Type Foundry Studio with our good pal Adam Selzer (you may know him from such instructional films as "How To Compress A Dog"), making the long-awaited next ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO album. We finally pulled together the Peter Buck group, who had toured backin
The Ides Of March
How'd it get to be Now, already? I haven't even digested half of Then, and I'm not talking about The Walking Dead flashbacks. So much has already gone down in 2016 and not a word has been printed. I guess it's like Pee Wee's Big Adventure - I've been too busy living it. At this point I'm going to save most of the details for my memoir (nope, not writing one), but I will say: M.Ward/Seattle
A Pint Of Plain For Jimmy & Eric
Well, it's that time of year again, dear listeners. No, I'm not talking about breaking out Phil Spector's Christmas Album (though that's never a bad idea - even in July). I'm talking about 6 p.m. December 23rd (name your time zone), when stalwarts scattered the world over raise a pint of Guinness (or acceptable beverage of one's own choosing) to Jimmy Silva, the great friend and songwriter who
Last Time I Saw P. F. Sloan
Very sad and surprised last night to hear of the passing of Philip "Flip" Sloan, songwriter/guitarist/singer extraordinaire. I'd just been speaking of him a few nights ago in Norway, when Mike Mills queried me about the authorship of "In The Ground", apparently confused by my stage introduction to the song at one of the Ice Station Vadsø shows, when I announced it, quite seriously I guess, as:
Clown-Car Shrimp Po' Boy, Armadillo Eggs, and More Condos Than When We Left
New Orleans always beckons, and often the price of submission is great. And worth it. Our shows at One Eyed Jacks and Euclid Records, before crowds of the most discerning listeners (operators of the nation's best indie record stores and all-star music pals local and otherwise) were an absolute blast. Let it be said that the McOi/Ramberg/Giblin/Adragna "YR15" line-up once again brought the r
The Days Of Down With Wilco
Yes, it started 14 years ago. We got together at Soma Studios to try to make something eerie and beautiful, and have some fun while doing it. September 10 was awesome! The next day things went apewire, to say the least. It was hard but somehow we decided to carry on - what else could we do? We got through it together. I'm super proud of what Jeff, John, Glenn, Leroy, Michael and I did th
Spain Capers in Blurt!
Fred Mills, world-renowned scribe and connoisseur of all worthy musical endeavors, got his hands on a copy of the limited Spanish tour CD and even somehow saw fit to write about it. Right HERE. Very very cool, thank you, Fred and Blurt! By the way, if you are in search of a copy, there are still a few to be had. Just write us c/o of the contacts page here and arrangements will be made...
Ice Station Vadsø
Perhaps this is now slightly less mysterious... But still somewhat.
Spain Capers
Nope, not talking about those tiny pickled green condiments, though they would make a terrific garnish for this new CD.
Onward, Rocinante!
As we gird our loins for an M5/BBP double header in Harrisburg PA, and a triumphant Baseball Project tour-closer at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, the solo tour of Spain looms ever larger in the fore-view mirror. Get in your song requests now. Alles ist möglich, nichts ist verboten. Wait, wrong language...
Weekend In New Jersey
After The Baseball Project wraps up business tonight at the hallowed Garcia's in Port Chester NY, we'll be dragging the Minus 5 into the fray, first with a semi-last minute warm-up set at legendary The Saint in Asbury Park on Friday May 8, and then a big twin bill at Monty Hall in Jersey City on Saturday May 9. You'll see Scott McCaughey, Steve Wynn, Linda Pitmon, and Josh Kantor all doing d
So Low In April
Now that the Tweedy tour, the Baseball Project Grapefruit League run, and the YFF/Replacements epic shows are in the near rearview mirror, it's time for an experimental run of solo 'concerts'. The SCOTT MCCAUGHEY brand needs a little dusting up, so here we go. Talent show. First a Seattle/Portland swing with my pal Willy Vlautin and his non-Richmond Fontaine country soul outfit The Deline
The End Of The Affair
Saturday night saw us bid joyously sad farewells to Tweedy & Co. Jeff, Spencer, band and crew could not have been better to us and we send heartfelt thanks and love as they play their way back home to Chicago. The gorgeous Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver was the scene of our last stand, and both bands rose to the occasion, like the giant retractable light fixture in the center of the mile
March Saturday in Portland, Part 2
Strange to be back in Portland for the second Saturday in a row, yet still be on tour. The Tweedy/Minus 5 caravan rolled through Oregon and California with wheels on fire, destinations known and unknown. Eugene was a wonderful show, thanks to all who listened so attentively and enthusiastically. San Francisco offered a North Beach ramble, stealth sightings of Tammy Shine, Rockin' Roy Loney and C
Bountiful Portland
Bozeman, Missoula and Seattle treated us like the queens we are. Stellar evenings all. Lots of miles between and many of them bringing eyes from phone to front - mountain light over amber waves of dirt, granite skyscrapers set to crush us, clouds that were epic films. The Barbers of Smelterville. A Louvin Brothers guitar (photo by Spencer). Good to hang with Ron Sanchez, the high commandan
O.U.T. Spells OUT
Tuesday March 10, Miles City, Montana. DUNGEON GOLDS is released on a very suspecting world. Still people go on eating their breakfasts and waiting in long lines to have their cars washed. Silly, silly people. There's no wait at the Yep Roc store or at your local purveyor of quality recorded musics. Not to be outdone, our wonderful pal Annalisa Tornfelt releases her beautiful new album today as
Wisconsin Dells
Rolling through Wisconsin Dells reminds me of 30 years ago with the Young Fresh Fellows. Tommy Bartlett and the original Dungeon of Horror... There's a lot more new crappy stuff around there now - Great Wolf Lodge and more huge water parks. I'll stick with the original and its quaint charms. But no time to hang around today. We are busting it from Chicago to Minneapolis for the second show of our
The Town That Lost Its Groove Supply video
Video by Scott Ferril of Rent The Sky Films with animation and art by Chris Mars.
Emperor Of The Bathroom video
Video by Scott Ferril of Rent The Sky Films.
Live In Brooklyn, August 2014
The Minus 5 - this time Scott, Peter, Steve, Linda - opened up the Baseball Project show at the very nice Rough Trade Records venue in Brooklyn last summer. Mike Mills and Jason Victor joined the fray. It was a great night! Thanks to Ross Obley (http://rossobleyphoto.com/) for the swell photos.
Little Black Egg video in 3D
Video by Scott Ferril with animation by Chris Mars.