Transmissions From The Molinaverse - March 3rd
A regular update on all things JM
Photograph by Steve Gullick
Hey everyone,
Hope all’s well with you all this Sunday.
Once again, here’s a little chance for us to share with you some interesting Molina-related things we’ve stumbled across or rediscovered recently - archive photos and videos, artwork from the vaults, old footage, new music we’ve been enjoying and more.
We hope you enjoy reading and listening.
Until next time,
S&D x
25 years ago this week
25 years ago on March 1st, 1999, Songs: Ohia released ‘The Ghost’.
Limited to just 500 copies, the album was pressed to be sold on Songs: Ohia's east coast US dates with Drunk in the spring of that year, followed by the European tour that summer. 'The Ghost' was made in just one day at Jason's home in February, on a day off from work. Remarkably, the album was recorded to his boom box with the tiny microphone that came with it, with no additional frills or studio trickery. The lo-fi hiss and hum that dominates the recording only adds to the brooding sense of darkness and isolation, marrying perfectly with Jason's unique voice and guitar playing.
Here’s ‘Ruby Eyes In The Fog’ from the record:
From the archives….
We’ve been digging through our archives once again and rediscovered some more beautiful Molina-related artwork from William Schaff.
First up this wonderful illustrated lyric sheet he made for ‘The Big Game Is Every Night’:
We also love this next one, a hand-drawn map gifted from William to Jason - "to guide him to better times":
You can find out more about William’s work and how to support it via his website
This month in Molina (Pt.1)
Looking back, there’s a lot going on in March over the various years of Jason’s projects. Tours, release anniversaries, and more besides. So much to dig into, in fact, that we’ll likely continue this roundup later in the month.
Aside from the release of ‘The Ghost’ as mentioned above, over the years Jason released a number of other records in March, of course including those Songs: Ohia classics ‘The Magnolia Electric Co.’ and ‘Didn’t It Rain’.
There’s more to come from us on those next week including part 2 of Stephen Deusner’s excellent oral history of the latter (find part one here), but for now please enjoy some excellent March live footage via Songs: Ohia Video Archive.
March 8th, 1998 - Jason plays a Songs: Ohia house show in Bloomington, IN
March 11th, 1999 - Jason plays ‘Love Leaves Its Abusers’ at New Brooklyn Tavern, Columbia, SC
Recommended listening….
Brown Horse - ‘Reservoir’
Lately we’ve been really enjoying this great debut record from Norwich, UK based alt-country sextet Brown Horse, which arrived via Loose Music earlier this year in January. The songs are well-written and rooted in country-rock tradition, while the band have acknowledged an indebtedness to Jason’s output along with various other turn-of-the-millennium and nineties sounds like Uncle Tupelo, Silver Jews, and Lucinda Williams.
You can support Brown Horse via Bandcamp here
Will Johnson covers ‘Blue Factory Flame’
Someone recently pointed us to this live footage of a recent Will Johnson set from Denton, TX. Currently touring, lately Will has been closing out his sets with this excellent cover of ‘Blue Factory’ flame in all its 9 minute glory. We love it.
Hiss Golden Messenger joins MECo members for ‘Hold On Magnolia’
Not a recent one, but we remembered this beautiful moment from back in 2014 and felt the urge to share it again. Here’s MC Taylor (Hiss Golden Messenger) joining the Magnolia Electric Company live members for a heartfelt rendition of ‘Hold On Magnolia’.
Magnolia Electric Co. in Paris, 2009
Photograph by Romain Sylvestre
I have that second picture framed and on my wall