Aimee Mann (w/Jon Brion) - 1996-08-24 - Largo, L.A., CA

Aimee Mann
(with Jon Brion and Dan McCarroll)
1996-08-24
Largo, Los Angeles, CA
"A Blonde and Two Grays"
Audience recording, average sound quality
mps @ 256 kbps

OK, so now we've heard what became of Jason Falkner after his brief stints with Jellyfish and The Grays, but what about Jon Brion, another very talented singer-songwriter-multi-instrumentalist who also was a part of both Jellyfish and The Grays? Well, after The Grays, Jon returned to doing some session work, and also started producing other artists, starting with his good friend Aimee Mann (whom he'd known since their 'Til Tuesday days, producing her first 3 albums, Whatever, I'm with Stupid, and Bachelor No.2), and then an ever-expanding list of artists (including Rufus Wainwright, Robyn Hitchcock, Elliott Smith, Fiona Apple, Rhett Miller, The Crystal Method, and in recent years, Spoon, Keane, Dido, Of Montreal, and even Kanye West). In the late '90's, he also began doing film scores and soundtracks, first for Paul Thomas Anderson (Hard Eight, Boogie Nights, Magnolia, Punch-Drunk Love), and then many others (including Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and I Heart Huckabees), and most recently ParaNorman and Judd Apatow's This is 40 (2012). As for performing, in 1996, he started a sort of residency at Largo, a club in L.A., performing every Friday night. His shows soon became legendary and sold-out every week, as he performed a mix of his own songs and a remarkable array of covers, usually from audience requests. He displays an encyclopedic knowledge of pop tunes (and standards and TV themes, etc.) and an uncanny ability to play and sing virtually any song called out. But more about Jon and his amazing solo shows and career later. As part of his regular shows at Largo, he began bringing by his musical friends and contacts as surprise guests, and also several of his friends began playing their own shows there. And that is what I have here today, A show from Aimee Mann at the Largo, in which she is ably backed-up by Jon Brion (on bass, guitar, piano, and backing vocals, as needed) and Dan McCarroll (also from The Grays) on drums. Thus, this show has been dubbed, A Blonde and Two Grays. Jon starts the show with one of his own songs, then Aimee takes over from there, featuring selections from her early albums, and even a preview of a couple that would not be released for a few more years ('Deathly', 'How Am I Different', on Bachelor). As I mentioned, I will have some more from Jon's solo shows coming up, but for now, here is Aimee Mann with a substantial portion of The Grays. The recording is not that great, but certainly listenable and worth checking out.    

Tracklist
1. You Can Still Ruin My Day (Jon Brion)
2. Banter
3. Time For You To Go
4. The Other End (of the Telescope)
5. Amateur
6. You’re With Stupid Now
7. Deathly
8. Jon’s Ragtime Bit
9. It’s Not Safe
10. Fourth of July
11. I Don’t Even Know You
12. You Could Make A Killing
13. I’ve Had It
14. Old Guys (Mr. Harris)
15. That’s Just What You Are
16. Choice In The Matter
17. How Am I Different

Aimee_Mann_1996-Largo_blonde_and_2_grays.rar
Link updated 08/03/23

The Grays - 1993 - Pre Sham Bo Gig

The Grays
1993
Pre Sham Bo Gig (unknown venue and location)
Audience recording, good quality
mp3 @ 320 kbps

Here's some more from The Grays, a very short-lived Power Pop supergroup, this time with a rare live recording from before the release of their only album (Ro Sham Bo, 1994). Not only does this include songs that were not on their album, such as 'Strings' and 'I Go Astray', as well as 'Oh Nevermind' and 'Blessed' (which were featured on the previously posted rehearsal boot), but this also represents one of the only decent-quality live concert recordings of The Grays known to exist. Unfortunately, I do not have any further info regarding where or when this show took place (but much thanks again to Willard's Wormholes for making this available, and Jay Strange, who originally sent it to Willard). So, once again, here's a chance to hear more from the brief but enticing musical legacy of The Grays. 

Tracklist:
Everybody’s World (7:13)
Same Thing (4:03)
Spooky (5:17)
Oh Nevermind (3:19)
Blessed (4:52)
Strings (3:18)
Both Belong (4:31)
I Go Astray (4:28)
All You Wanted (4:20)
No One Can Hurt Me (10:11)

The_Grays_1993_Live_Pre_Sham_Bo.rar
Link updated (08/03/2023)

The Grays - 1994 - Companion (rehearsals and radio sessions)

The Grays
1994
Companion: Rehearsals and Radio Sessions
Studio and radio recordings, very good quality
mp3 @ 256 kbps

OK, while we're in the realm of quality Power Pop, and in particular, delving into short-lived, neglected, and underappreciated bands, let's move from the 'eighties up to the 'nineties now, and feature a somewhat legendary (in Power Pop circles) but little-known temporary assemblage that was known as The Grays. This very brief, but productive union of three talented singer-songwriters and multi-instrumentalists, Jason Falkner (previously with The Three O'Clock, Jellyfish, and later to go on to an impressive solo career), Jon Brion (worked with Aimee Mann, the eels, and others), and Buddy Judge (?), along with drummer Dan McCarroll, only produced one released album, the highly acclaimed, but sales-challenged and now out of print Ro Sham Bo (1994). Nonetheless, the high quality of their only album together is mind-boggling, it is just a sensational pop-rock album, with all three songwriters sharing, combining, and contributing great songs, wonderful melodies, a great sound, and shimmering pop production. It is quite possibly better than anything else any of them have been associated with (and since that includes Jellyfish and Jason's solo work, that's saying quite alot). Now, I have to admit that I had never heard of them before either (I had previously heard some Jellyfish and Jason Falkner solo (and liked them), but had never heard of The Grays, until just recently, when they were featured at Willard's Wormholes (much thanks, Willard!), and let's just say that I was mightily impressed and wanted to pass them along to you here. Although I can't post their official album release here (but perhaps Willard can help you there), I can post these unofficial recordings, which consist of some studio rehearsals, covers, acoustic takes, and radio sessions, to give you a taste of what they sounded like, and what such a shame it was that they couldn't have stayed together long enough to make more of this music. Still not convinced to give them a listen? Well, how about this enticing description of their music (from their Wikipedia page) as being Beatlesque, but with a harder edge. Yeah, sounds pretty good to me (and the all acoustic takes are wonderful, too).    

Tracklist:
1. Complicated (Rolling Stones cover) (3:13)
2. He’s Frank (Monochrome Set cover) (2:49)
3. Blessed (Simon & Garfunkel cover) (4:27)
4. Both Sides Now (Joni Mitchell cover) (2:53)
5. Oh Nevermind (3:44)
6. Outdoor Miner (Wire cover) (2:25)
7. Very Best Years (acoustic) (3:28)
8. Same Thing (acoustic) (3:42)
9. Nothing (acoustic) (3:05)
10. Both Belong (acoustic) (4:20)
11. KFOG Acoustic Session 1 ('Same Thing', talk, 'Nothing') (13:49)
12. KFOG Acoustic Session 2 (tuning, 'Both Belong', talk) (12:38)

The Grays were:
Jason Falkner
Jon Brion
Buddy Judge
Dan McCarroll

The_Grays_-_Companion_(1994).rar
Link updated (08/03/23)