I’m sick of summer. I’m sick of days when it’s 90 degrees outside but feels like 110 because of the goddamn humidity. I’m sick of my sunglasses fogging up every time I get into my car. I’m sick of wearing shorts.
Once September rolls around, it’ll still be at least 80 degrees where I live, but, apples will be in season, and sweater weather will be close. And, on September 1, Alan Bishop of Sun City Girls will begin his first tour under the moniker Alvarius B. He’ll be celebrating the reissue of his second self-titled double LP (the one from 1998, previously only available on limited vinyl) as a double CD, as well as the digital release of his entire catalog and, more generally, the entire Sun City Girls discography. Plus his comedic music work under the name Uncle Jim!
For 27 years, Bishop played bass in Sun City Girls, whose projects ranged from an incomplete soundtrack to a film about a prehistoric flying reptile to collage-like radio broadcasts to a mind control experiment. They disbanded in 2007 following the passing of drummer, Charles Gocher, and final album Funeral Mariachi (TMT Review). Bishop also started the Sublime Frequencies label, which collects all sorts of odd and obscure music from around the world and has released over 70 records. As Alvarius B., Bishop plays off-the-wall folk tunes, including instrumentals, songs about characters from the underworld, and a reconstruction of the Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows.” He’s been living and recording in Cairo for the past year and might have a few new songs to play at these fall shows, which should be nice and cool. Bring a sweater.
Dates:
09.01.12 - Boston, MA - Tavern at the End of the World
09.02.12 - Florence, MA - Byron Coley’s VFW
09.03.12 - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda’s
09.04.12 - Brooklyn, NY - Union Pool
09.06.12 - Raleigh, NC - The Hive @ Busy Bee (Hopscotch)
• Alvarius B.: http://www.myspace.com/alvariusb
• Abduction: http://www.suncitygirls.com/abduction