Psycho Depot Issue 399 Nov 26, 2004 Current # of subscribers: 189 (daily and digest) Subjects in this issue: Cincinnati Post 'dots article RE: Psycho Daily: City Beat Staff Pick Canal Street Nov 24, 2004 ++ psychodots ++ Date: Wed, 24 Nov 2004 23:49:49 -0500 From: Mary Bosken Subject: Cincinnati Post 'dots article Cincinnati Post November 25, 2004 http://www.cincypost.com/2004/11/25/dots112504.html The 'dots together again for show By Rick Bird Post staff reporter It's the eighth annual reunion for one of the area's most beloved power pop trios as the psychodots, take the stage Friday at the Southgate House. The group of Rob Fetters, Chris Arduser and Bob Nyswonger again dust off their infectious and searing tunes for what has become a Thanksgiving weekend gathering of fans that have followed the band's music for almost 25 years dating back to pre-'dot configuration of the Raisins. But Fetters prefers to call the annual show a "workout" rather than a reunion, since the band never really broke up. And maybe it's a bit of a chance to prove -- for these middle age guys -- one is never too old to rock 'n' roll. "It's a physical and mental workout for the band to make sure we are still rough and ready for anything that might come our way," Fetters said. "The first rehearsal is always rough, like remembering how these songs go -- how'd we play that?" said drummer Arduser about the annual show. "We have to get back into being 'that band,' because we all do such different stuff now. "To be a three-piece power pop band is sort of to get that machine going and revving it up a few times. Then all of a sudden it starts to play by itself." While the psychodots stopped performing regular gigs several years ago, the three have also stayed busy the last couple years hooking up with Northern Kentucky native Adrian Belew to reconvene The Bears for the first time since the late '80s. Arduser says that reverting from the Bears quartet to the high-energy 'dots is always a challenge. "A power trio is always different. Everyone has a real clear function. "You sort of feel like you have to make a little extra bit of noise." Ironically, the 'dots configuration came when the first go- around for the Bears ended in the late '80s after two critically acclaimed albums, a national label deal, a national tour and promising reviews from Rolling Stone magazine. Indeed, their eclectic power pop revival would envision what was to become a trend in the '90s. Then Belew decided to leave the outfit to pursue his solo work and return to his earlier collaboration in King Crimson with Robert Fripp. "The 'dots emerged when the Bears stopped playing," Fetters explained. "We found ourselves in abject poverty, without a record deal. We started playing as a trio and just went back to being The Raisins. "Then it became clear The Bears weren't getting back together, so we changed to psychodots and madly wrote songs." What followed were three excellent psychodot albums in the '90s, almost a continuation of The Bears' experimental, but still catchy, power pop. Fetters laughs that for this year's show the band promises plenty of fan-friendly numbers. "Our mission statement this year is we are playing all the hits, which immediately necessitates the question: What hits?" Of course, local fans who have followed these musicians for a couple decades know they have plenty of songs that qualify as "hits," perhaps the best Cincinnati band that never got discovered nationally. Their catalogue of first-rate songs includes such tunes as "Master of Disaster," "Stella" "Big Love Now," and "Moaner." While the 'dots may only do a gig or two a year, they remain plenty active on the local music scene. Fetters writes and produces jingles and multi-media presentations at Sound Images. Arduser is the drummer for the Bluebirds and fronts his group the Graveblankets. Nyswonger is a real estate agent playing with Lee Rolfes' Bucket and Tickled Pink with guitarist Scott Covrett and in the Graveblankets. And they have all been back in the studio during this year with Belew recording a new Bears' album. "It's 90 percent done," Fetters said. "There will be an album in early '05." ++ psychodots ++ Date: Thu, 25 Nov 2004 22:05:52 -0500 From: "Nick Carrico" Subject: RE: Psycho Daily: City Beat Staff Pick Show was excellent... could have done w/o some of the political banter but... they at least made it kinda funny. about feel out of my seat twice... they did STELLA on request! and you could tell... hehehehe At least they did it though. I haven't heard them do that in yrs. they also did "Drag the lake" an old favorite of mine. Rob's son was in the audience and you could tell he was proud of Dad. Kinda cool >From: depot@psychodots.com >To: nick_carrico@hotmail.com >Subject: Psycho Daily: City Beat Staff Pick >Date: Wed, 24 Nov 2004 17:04:33 -0500 (EST) > >Date: Wed, 24 Nov 2004 09:18:38 -0500 >From: Mary Bosken >Subject: City Beat Staff Pick > >FYI, on City Beat's mainpage today, the 'dots Canal show is listed. >After clicking on a listing of tonight's shows, the 'dots gig has a red >star by it. "Red star = staff pick." > >That's impressive - it's an out of town show! > >Just thought you'd all like to know.....Happy Turkey Day everyone.... > >Mary > ++ psychodots ++ Date: Fri Nov 26 12:34:11 EST 2004 From: depot@psychodots.com < Mike Brown > Subject: Canal Street Nov 24, 2004 This was among the best, if not the best, psychodots show I've seen. Looking forward to part II tonight! Mike - Depot Exaggeration Sad Little Monkey Artichoke Terminal Boulevard Big Love Now Know Your Crime I See Thru You Playing Dead Rabbit Manor You Will Never be Satisfied Drag the Lake Death Ranch Moaner I Hope it Works Out Master of Disaster Livin' in a Lincoln I Didn't Want to Kill You Joy & Madness Less Blue Don't Worry No More Stella History Human Bean The Great Communicator Mattress Disposable Man Enough Fear is Never Boring ++ psychodots ++ End of Psycho Depot 399 Nov 26, 2004 Comments, suggestions, postings, and administrative or the switch between digest and daily versions of the Depot (or be on both!): Mike Brown depot @ psychodots.com To order psychodot merchandise: contact Stan Hertzman of Umbrella Artists and Strugglebaby Records shertzman@cinci.rr.com 513 871-1500 Voice 513 871-1510 Fax and Hal Bernard Enterprises, Inc., 2612 Erie Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45208 For back issues (2 ways): Email: Tony Nowikowski tony@nowikowski.com or Web Site: http://home.insightbb.com/~p-dots/ Check out the psychodot Home Page at: http://www.psychodots.com Check out the graveblankets Home Page at: http://graveblankets.com Check out the Bears Home Page at: http://www.thebearsmusic.com Check out the Ricky Nye Home Page at: http://www.rickynye.com