Caught somewhere between the pre-punk songwriter's dream of reaching an audience, and a post-punk depressive nihilism that isn't sure whether it's worth it, the prolific output of perennial underground figure Jim Shepard oscillates between bracingly acerbic songwriting, harshly corrosive psych-rock, slow drifting drone exploration and seriously lo-fi collage. Tonight Avant Gardening strikes sparks from a 20-year career that ranges from a solitary bedroom practice in mid-70s Florida to a regular touring and membership in the lively Columbus, Ohio scene, and includes the bands Vertical Slit and V-3.
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Playlist:
1.V-3, 'Photograph Burns' from Photograph Burns (1996)
2.V-3, 'Horse Kicks' from Photograph Burns (1996)
3.Vertical Slit, 'Metal or Meat'' from Under the Blood Red Lava Lamp (1986)
4.Vertical Slit, 'Smudge' from Under the Blood Red Lava Lamp (1986)
5. Vertical Slit, 'The Dangling Thread Wraps Around My Neck' from Vertical Slit and Beyond (1990)
6. V-3, 'Bristol Girl'' from Photograph Burns (1996)
7. Jim Shepard, 'Messages from Central Cocoon' from Matter Dominates Spirit (2001)
8. V-3, 'Negotiate Nothing' from Negotiate Nothing (1992)
9. V-3, 'Forever Low Man' from Negotiate Nothing (1992)
10. V-3, 'Guitar Workout/ Treena's Strobe Light Party' from Matter Dominates Spirit (2001)
11. Vertical Slit, '6x4 F#3' from Basement 2215 (1986)
12. Vertical Slit, 'Bag of Whistle' from Basement 2215 (1986)
13. Vertical Slit, 'Cans and Chains' from Basement 2215 (1986)
14. Vertical Slit, 'Doctor Q' from Basement 2215 (1986)
15. Vertical Slit, 'New Thrill New Pill' from Basement 2215 (1986)
16. V-3, 'Russian Roulette Chinese Style' from Russian Roulette (Chinese Style) 7" (1986)
17. V-3, 'V-3 Radio (German Style)' from Russian Roulette (Chinese Style) 7" (1986)
18. V-3, 'The Process and the Details' from Russian Roulette (Chinese Style) 7" (1986)
19. V-3, 'Funky Dance Band' from Russian Roulette (Chinese Style) 7" (1986)
20. V-3, 'Russian Roulette Chinese Style (2)' from Russian Roulette (Chinese Style) 7" (1986)21. V-3, 'Radio Show Fragment from Big Wattage Station that used to play us but now they play the Indigo Grlz' from Russian Roulette (Chinese Style) 7" (1986)
22. V-3, 'Homburg' from Russian Roulette (Chinese Style) 7" (1986)
23. Vertical Slit, '6x4' from Slit and Pre-Slit (1977)
24. Vertical Slit, 'Siren Intro' from Slit and Pre-Slit (1977)
25. Vertical Slit, '6x4 F#1' from Slit and Pre-Slit (1977)
26. Vertical Slit, 'A Day at the Factory' from Slit and Pre-Slit (1977)
27. Vertical Slit, 'Greensleeves' from Slit and Pre-Slit (1977)
28. Vertical Slit, 'Canyon Girl' from Twisted Steel and the Tits of Angels (1997)
29. Vertical Slit, 'Aerial Inventory' from Twisted Steel and the Tits of Angels (1997)
30. Vertical Slit, 'Your move, China man' from Twisted Steel and the Tits of Angels (1997)
31. Vertical Slit, 'In the Shadow of Teena' from Twisted Steel and the Tits of Angels (1997)
32. Jim Shepard, 'A Streetcar Named Depression' from Picking Through the Wreckage With A Stick (1994)
33. Laquer, 'Your Leader' from Evil Love Deeper (1995)
34. V-3, 'Illogical' from Matter Dominates Spirit (2001)
35. Vertical Slit, 'I Remember Nothing' from Under the Blood Red Lava Lamp (1986)
36. Jim Shepard, 'Birthplace of Aviation' from Motorcycle Movie (1998)
37. Jim Shepard, 'Cruel Universe' from Motorcycle Movie (1998)
