{"id":2750,"date":"2010-04-08T11:19:01","date_gmt":"2010-04-08T19:19:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ibiblio.org\/carrborocitizen\/mill\/?p=2750"},"modified":"2010-04-10T05:28:21","modified_gmt":"2010-04-10T13:28:21","slug":"gimme-five-mc-taylor-of-hiss-golden-messenger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ibiblio.org\/carrborocitizen\/mill\/2010\/04\/gimme-five-mc-taylor-of-hiss-golden-messenger\/","title":{"rendered":"Gimme Five! MC Taylor of Hiss Golden Messenger"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ibiblio.org\/carrborocitizen\/mill\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/Picture-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-2769\" title=\"hiss golden messenger\" src=\"http:\/\/www.ibiblio.org\/carrborocitizen\/mill\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/Picture-1-281x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"213\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ibiblio.org\/carrborocitizen\/mill\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/Picture-1-281x300.png 281w, https:\/\/www.ibiblio.org\/carrborocitizen\/mill\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/Picture-1.png 297w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a>When MC Taylor left San Francisco for North Carolina almost three years ago, it wasn&#8217;t just the city he was leaving behind. Over four full lengths (&#8217;99&#8217;s <em>Venture Whites<\/em>, &#8217;01&#8217;s<em> Bless You<\/em>, &#8217;04&#8217;s <em>Witch Season<\/em>, and &#8217;06&#8217;s <em>Hearts)<\/em> and one EP (&#8217;04&#8217;s <em>Dead Diamond River<\/em>), his band, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thecourtandspark.com\/\">The Court and Spark<\/a>, had explored that eerie space between early country and psychedelic rock to cult reception and critical acclaim.\u00c2\u00a0 Thus, the big move east meant an extended hiatus for that group and a step away from a vibrant local music scene that had been incredibly supportive.\u00c2\u00a0 However, It also meant the beginning of a new chapter &#8212; a spot in grad school at UNC&#8211; and the head space to flush out his newest musical venture&#8211;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.myspace.com\/hissgoldenmessenger\">Hiss Golden Messenger<\/a>, a self-described part-time band and joint venture with fellow former-Sparker\u00c2\u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/scotthirschsound.com\/echomagic\/\">Scott Hirsch<\/a> that stretches country rock infusion beyond the psychedelic and into some ghostly plain inhabited by musical outsiders past.<\/p>\n<p>Conjuring slithering imagery and mystical transmission, the name Hiss Golden Messenger reflects the sound well.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 On the debut, 2009&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/heavenandearthmagic.com\/shop\/country-hai-east-cotton\/country-hai-east-cotton2\"><em>Country Hai East Cotton<\/em><\/a>, Taylor, Hirsch and a curated crew of collaborators set bluesy lamentations to spaced-out grooves, abstract alt-rock fair to dub beats.\u00c2\u00a0 It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a sprawling sound blending ambient texture with country stomp and resulting in a mid-tempo folk-nit jam-roots vibe that mystifies.\u00c2\u00a0 The live translation of all that lackadaisical experimentation ranges depending on the number of sidemen available (for Hirsch is currently homesteaded in Brooklyn) and Taylor&#8217;s mood.\u00c2\u00a0 Most nights round these parts, you&#8217;ll find Taylor alone with an electric guitar, a pedal, and an acoustic set to the side ready for him to pluck a pick-and-grin inspired original or lay claim to some old favorite, like Gary Stewart&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=1_cu7v6VmyQ\">&#8220;Drinking Thing.&#8221;<\/a><\/p>\n<p>And you can catch this version of the Hiss Golden Messenger live show this Friday, April 9 at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nightlightclub.com\/\">The Nightlight<\/a> where Taylor will play as a part of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.myspace.com\/intheyearofthepig\">In the Year of the  Pig<\/a>&#8216;s CD release party.<\/p>\n<p>Now just five questions to wet your curiosity:<\/p>\n<p><strong>1. If your band were a car,  what sort would it be?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Probably one of these: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ibiblio.org\/carrborocitizen\/mill\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/vwvans.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-2755 alignright\" title=\"vwvans\" src=\"http:\/\/www.ibiblio.org\/carrborocitizen\/mill\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/vwvans-300x205.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"264\" height=\"180\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ibiblio.org\/carrborocitizen\/mill\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/vwvans-300x205.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ibiblio.org\/carrborocitizen\/mill\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/vwvans.jpg 359w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 264px) 100vw, 264px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\n<p>Or maybe a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.carcollectorclassifieds.com\/ccselect\/uploads\/internetpics\/Hal0208121751-1-001.jpg\">1975 Lincoln Mark  IV<\/a>, chopped and dropped.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2. When did the idea for  Hiss Golden Messenger come up?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Probably about 2005 when things   were disintegrating <a href=\"http:\/\/www.sfweekly.com\/2007-12-26\/music\/the-court-spark-s-m-c-taylor-re-emerges-as-hiss-golden-messenger\/\">in San Francisco. <\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>3. Describe how becoming  a father has changed the way you think about (or relate to) music.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ibiblio.org\/carrborocitizen\/mill\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/elijah.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-2768\" title=\"elijah\" src=\"http:\/\/www.ibiblio.org\/carrborocitizen\/mill\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/elijah-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"156\" height=\"203\" \/><\/a><\/strong>That would take a long time.  I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m not as keen on traveling anymore, and I spend a lot of times really  fussing with songs to get them right. Babies\u00e2\u20ac\u201dlike songs\u00e2\u20ac\u201dare  unpredictable,  but if you go at them with a little patience, you might could come out  the other side with something really nice and totally unpredictable.  Music is more important than ever at home. Elijah\u00e2\u20ac\u201dwho is  one-year-old\u00e2\u20ac\u201dcan  do a killer dance to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=JT9I1fPmMJg\">Tony Joe White\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Even Trolls Love Rock and  Roll.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d <\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>4.  Who\/what might be a few inspirations or influences that might really  surprise people?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Me and some pals do like to  dig in the bins for records that would fit into one of these  micro-genres  (thanks <a href=\"http:\/\/deathrayboogie.wordpress.com\/\">Brendan<\/a>): honky-conch,   zero hour, boot-cut, illegal vibrationz, shrimp plate, grabass,  turbofocus,  beach weirdo, troll-stroll, stone loner\/brokedown van, Canadian  smugglin\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\/gettin\u00e2\u20ac\u2122  to the gig, damp and wobbly, wink-stink, high stakes, sneaky jams,  boogie-hole.<\/p>\n<p>This basically means late-era   (<em>always<\/em> late-era) <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Merle_Haggard\">Merle Haggard<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Joe_Stampley\">Joe Stampley<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/David_Allen_Coe\">David Allen Coe<\/a>,  <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Eddie_Rabbit\">Eddie Rabbit<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ian_Tyson\">Ian Tyson<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tanya_Tucker\">Tanya Tucker<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Juice_Newton\">Juice Newton<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/John_Conlee\">John Conlee<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jimmy_Buffett\">Jimmy  Buffett<\/a>, and Florabama\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s own<a href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ZasMf2PS5Dk\"> J. Hawkins<\/a>, who has a song on his first  record simply called \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Shit.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d And tons more.<\/p>\n<p>I mention this stuff because  I want to see it in print.<\/p>\n<p><strong>5. What did you dream of  being when you were a kid? (How \u00e2\u20ac\u2122d that turn out?)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I dreamed of being a musician.  It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s turned out fair to middling.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; \u00e2\u20ac\u201c \u00e2\u20ac\u201c \u00e2\u20ac\u201c \u00e2\u20ac\u201c \u00e2\u20ac\u201c \u00e2\u20ac\u201c \u00e2\u20ac\u201c \u00e2\u20ac\u201c \u00e2\u20ac\u201c \u00e2\u20ac\u201c \u00e2\u20ac\u201c \u00e2\u20ac\u201c \u00e2\u20ac\u201c \u00e2\u20ac\u201c \u00e2\u20ac\u201c \u00e2\u20ac\u201c \u00e2\u20ac\u201c \u00e2\u20ac\u201c \u00e2\u20ac\u201c \u00e2\u20ac\u201c \u00e2\u20ac\u201c \u00e2\u20ac\u201c \u00e2\u20ac\u201c \u00e2\u20ac\u201c \u00e2\u20ac\u201c \u00e2\u20ac\u201c \u00e2\u20ac\u201c \u00e2\u20ac\u201c \u00e2\u20ac\u201c \u00e2\u20ac\u201c \u00e2\u20ac\u201c \u00e2\u20ac\u201c \u00e2\u20ac\u201c \u00e2\u20ac\u201c \u00e2\u20ac\u201c \u00e2\u20ac\u201c \u00e2\u20ac\u201c \u00e2\u20ac\u201c \u00e2\u20ac\u201c \u00e2\u20ac\u201c \u00e2\u20ac\u201c<\/p>\n<p>You can check out the not so fair or middling music of Hiss Golden Messenger this Friday, April 9, at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nightlightclub.com\/\">The Nightlight<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.myspace.com\/intheyearofthepig\"><\/a>.\u00c2\u00a0  And by all means, be sure to give MC a high five when you  see him!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When MC Taylor left San Francisco for North Carolina almost three years ago, it wasn&#8217;t just the city he was leaving behind. Over four full lengths (&#8217;99&#8217;s Venture Whites, &#8217;01&#8217;s Bless You, &#8217;04&#8217;s Witch Season, and &#8217;06&#8217;s Hearts) and one EP (&#8217;04&#8217;s Dead Diamond River), his band, The Court and Spark, had explored that eerie [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":2769,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[311],"class_list":["post-2750","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arts","tag-gimme-five"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ibiblio.org\/carrborocitizen\/mill\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2750","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ibiblio.org\/carrborocitizen\/mill\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ibiblio.org\/carrborocitizen\/mill\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ibiblio.org\/carrborocitizen\/mill\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ibiblio.org\/carrborocitizen\/mill\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2750"}],"version-history":[{"count":29,"href":"https:\/\/www.ibiblio.org\/carrborocitizen\/mill\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2750\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2790,"href":"https:\/\/www.ibiblio.org\/carrborocitizen\/mill\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2750\/revisions\/2790"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ibiblio.org\/carrborocitizen\/mill\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2769"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ibiblio.org\/carrborocitizen\/mill\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2750"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ibiblio.org\/carrborocitizen\/mill\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2750"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ibiblio.org\/carrborocitizen\/mill\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2750"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}