The Mae Shi “Miss Philistine” (Live on KXLU)

For balance, another retelling of the Samson-Delilah affair by the Mae Shi. (Disclosure: dudes are friends of mine.)

This comes from their set at KXLU a couple years back and used to be available free on their Web site. “Miss Philistine” rides a nicked classic-rock verse riff through an account of Samson, lion-slayer and horny teenager. It’s one of my favorite songs by these guys, and it’s too bad this never jelled enough as a recording to make it to official release. “Philly girls ain’t got no sense of pride,” indeed.

I have a distinct memory of hearing this whole set live over the radio. Their KXLU appearance fell on the day of California’s recall election. I was parked outside my polling place with the radio blasting.

An Austrian muscleman actor most famous for catch phrases and his movie’s high bodycounts was on his way to being elected governor. Some wiseguy had requested the DJ play “California Uber Alles.” It felt like another seal of the apocalypse was about to be opened.

The Mae Shi make perfect party music for the endtimes. If the subcompact Japanese automobile’s a-rockin’ don’t come a-knockin’.

And I voted for the porn star, for what it’s worth.

Heartbeeps at Newbury Comics. (and at iTunes.)

Here are 13 of my 16 favorite songs from 2004. You’ll note the long dry spell before and after. This is officially incomplete and unpublished before the mid-06 PCR blog switchover.