Transmissions From The Molinaverse - July 24th
A regular update on all things JM
Bloomington CD Exchange, 1999
Hey everyone,
Hope you’re all keeping well.
Back with you today for another little collection of some interesting Molina-related news, memories, and more; all those various bits and pieces that we’ve been enjoying lately along with some new happenings we’ve been working away on. There are release anniversaries and show memories, unseen tour photos and stories, news on a special festival screening, and more besides.
As always we hope you enjoy reading, and if there is something you want to share here you can reply to this email or get us at Molina@secretlycanadian.com.
S&D x
Jason Molina x End Of The Road Festival, UK
Marking 15 years since Jason Molina's last UK festival appearance in September 2009, Secretly Canadian and Deeper Into Movies have curated a special showing of 'Farewell Transmission' later this year at End Of The Road Festival, UK.
An archival video mixtape celebrating Jason's life and music, the film will be screened as part of the festival's 2024 cinema programme with an introduction by Darcie Molina, plus acoustic performances of Jason's songs by EOTR artists.
You can find more information on the festival here: https://endoftheroadfestival.com/
On that note, we’ve had lots of folks asking about other potential screening opportunities / viewing options for this in the U.S. and elsewhere, which is something we’re slowly exploring at the moment. As always, we’ll endeavour to keep you all updated here once there’s any movement on that.
Tour memories
Thank you to The Secretly Society for sharing these memories and photographs we’d never seen before:
"In June 2005, I toured Spain opening the concerts of the admired MAGNOLIA ELECTRIC CO. by Jason Molina. 19 years later, I still find refuge in his songs and lyrics. It was very strange and very inspiring to share a van and conversations with one of the most important artists in American music in recent years. Thousands of people continue to miss him. I didn't remember having these photos here in Hamburg. The image of everyone involved in that tour is incredible"
William Schaff test-pressing artwork
Thank you to William Schaff for sharing this totally one-of-a-kind album artwork he created for Songs: Ohia / MECo drummer Jeff Panall’s test pressing of The Magnolia Electric Co. Incredible!
Background/story from William here:
"This was a very special project for me. Jeff Panall, the drummer who performed on the album, Magnolia Electric Co., and I met for the first time this year. He and his family stopped by the Fort and we talked for hours. It was a joy I do not have enough characters in this forum to explain. Suffice to say - Jeff had a test pressing of the Magnolia Electric Co. album and asked me to create a one of a kind cover (front and back) for this test pressing. Through our conversation, I decided to approach this the same way I approached it for Jason, more than 20 years ago. Thus - THIS IS NOT AN ALTERNATE COVER! This is Jeff’s cover. The album art we all know is what I made for Jason. What you are seeing here, is what I made for Jeff. This is the album art I made for the drummer. The drummer is different than the singer/ songwriter. I got to visit this album in a way I haven’t in over 20 years. I am so grateful I got to do this trade with Jeff. Thank you, Jeff. In so many ways, I live a lucky life."
This month in Molina
Here’s a little look at July over the years, highlighting a few releases and show anniversaries from years gone by….
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July 21st, 2009 - 15 years ago this month, Magnolia Electric Co. released ‘Josephine’ via Secretly Canadian. It’s an album held dearly by ourselves and so many others, and it’s pretty easy to see why that’s the case. The sheer quality of Jason’s vocal at this point in his career never fails to astound us, not to mention the overall musicianship and togetherness of the band who are on real form here. And of course, who could forget the production wizardry of the dearly-missed Steve Albini.
Here’s another link to the ‘Josephine’ recording documentary on the off-chance you haven’t checked it out - a real nice insight into the creative process of making the record.
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July 2nd, 2014 - This month also marks 10 years since the release of ‘Journey On: Collected Singles’; the Songs: Ohia singles and rarities collection. An 18 track compilation of early singles and various rarities/splits that were initially released via very limited pressings, this collection brings lots of small but special moments together in one place.
One such special moment is ‘Soul’ - for us a real highlight from the collection:
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July 13th, 1997 - Jason performs 'Greenbrier / For You' during a solo Songs: Ohia set at Green St Grill, Cambridge, MA. As far as we're aware, this is some of the earliest Songs: Ohia live footage in existence.
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July 22nd, 2017 - Six years ago this month on July 22nd, 2017, Jason's former bandmates and friends came together to in celebration of his life and music at the Hideout in Chicago. Here's Songs: Chicago performing 'Old Black Hen' with Lawrence Peters on vocal duties.
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July 15th, 2009 - 15 years ago on this date, Magnolia Electric Co. played The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh PA with support from The Donkeys. Here’s the screenprinted poster for the show by strawberryluna.
A contact sheet via photographer Christopher B. Bennett taken from an early photoshoot with Jason in 1998
Would love to have a pay to stream option on the Farewell Transmission video mixtape. Thanks for all the beautiful curation of info here.
Thanks so much. Great read