Her stage presence...the looks she gives....that outfit.... incredible vocal delivery...a top 5 front person vocalist for me ... the subtleties are noteworthy... grateful the live sound captures it..
See Baby and Janitor too. Janitor was the original video that I shot, edited, and colorized for them in 1980. I only colorized Baby, bud did not shoot or edit it (At least I don't think I did).
It’s the way she knows how to sing just before the beat comes in, sounds soo good !? And the looks she gives, she isn’t shy, she know exactly what she’s doing !?
Su Tissue is the pseudonym of Sue McLane, who was at college in California in 1978, when she joined fellow art student William Ranson in the post-punk band Suburban Lawns. Su does not want to be contacted or involved in talking about the past. The Suburban Lawns song ‘Gidget Goes To Hell’ takes the idea and fascinatingly twists it away from the daddy-idealization to real girl dark teen fantasy - It’s about bunking off school, stealing Dad’s car, driving to the beach and surfing so well that everyone is in awe of her. But none of the boys stand a chance with her because she’s a bad-ass surfer. The film by Jonathan Demme shows the ending where Gidget is presumed eaten by a shark, with Gidget’s giblets washed up on shore cartoon-style. Sue McLane acts, sings and probably had a significant creative hand in this production. According to band-mate Frankie Ennui, Su was reluctant to have live shows recorded, but this was where she was at her most exciting. “You had to see Su do her thing live and in person, in front of a crowd, to really get the full, mind-blowing impact. So many contrasting ideas and emotions were being transmitted. What Su did was real. She really put herself out there, exposed and vulnerable, but aggressively sarcastic and in your face at the same time. Brave. Amazing. Disturbing.” They played LA venues like Masque and Whiskey a gogo. Having obvious musical skills (She went on to study piano and later released a solo piano album, ‘Salon de Musique’), Su sang, played keyboards and bass in the band. This level of musical flair, remember, was unusual for the time. Many of the women who had been drawn to punk were sparky beginners, and the music press were used to judging women in bands on their attractiveness, sexiness and beauty of their voices. “You see, the Suburban Lawns have this Sue Tissue character that soon joins them on keyboards, a very subdued looking girl with long black hair and a predilection for vinyl raincoats and boots. On keyboards she’s almost invisible but then she borrows one of the guy’s bass and steps up front and that’s when you start realizing that this chickie isn’t no wallpaper and that maybe there’s more to the band than first meets the eye. Not only does she play that borrowed bass with more nerve and mean rhythm than a funk pro but she spits out her backing vocals in a most unsubdued, unbacking manner. Something like tense abandon, except more so. But it’s only a bit later, when she finally decides to do her singing full time, giving back the bass and grabbing the mike stand as a drowning cat claws at a stick you offer it that your lame little heart KNOWS that this here is one of the fuckin’ toughest, most unique, most outstanding performing creatures you’re ever likely to see and hear, here or anywhere. If this sounds like jive to, buster, check it out and then tell me to my face that girl ain’t amazing. She may not be on your list of “in people” yet but you see her once and if you’re halfway alive she’ll make number 1 and you’ll just be another shivering fan before you can spell out Lene Lovich That’s a promise. When Sue Tissue sings, nothing else matters. I don’t even know if she’s got a great voice (their really good single doesn’t quite convey what’s it’s about) or if she’s sexy or anything, all I know is that you can’t keep your fuckin’ eyes off her, so strange is her presence, so surprizing is her way AROUND the songs.” -- 1979 live review in Slash magazine. The second self-released single Janitor features a not-that interesting mix-up between the word genitals and janitor - again attributed to Su Tissue, who coined the ‘Oh my genitals, I’m a janitor’ line that apparently made the song - again with an accompanying film. By 1981, Suburban Lawns had signed to IRS records and recorded an album ‘Suburban Lawns’. The support slots became more high-profile, including supports with Siouxsie and the Banshees, 999 and Bow Wow Wow, opening for U2 at Santa Monica and The Clash at Sacramento Auditorium. In some interviews with other band members, there are hints of disputes within the band where the principles of business and art are pitted against one another. To step up from being a reliable and entertaining support band to being a 1980s IRS hit-making success story always seemed to involve compromises and placing particular demands on women in bands. And not all women were happy to comply with the ‘whatever it takes’ view of musical success. This is where all we can do is speculate. From the outset, Sue McLane comes across as having artistic vision, musical talent and not wanting to compromise her privacy and principles for fame or money. According to band mate Chuck Roast: "Su had a really cool sense of style, unconventionally speaking - like those blow-up pants or a nice three-piece suit with some pumps, with nails driven into the soles … What you saw and heard from Su was unvarnished and uncalculated. It was an extension of who she was; very organic. She had a wicked sense of humor; a reluctant star. She once proclaimed in an interview with the LA Times that “interviews were obsolete”, which I found refreshing due to the fact that is what all bands wanted to do.“ Today, Sue is an attorney in Newport Beach and can be reached by dialing 1-800-INJURED.
Thank you so much for this info. I know about the not wanting to be associated with the past and being a lawyer in Newport Beach, but this really fills in the blanks, she is such an intriguing person. Truly B.A.D. (Brave, Amazing, Disturbing), and a major inspiration, I love her. Her solo piano album is heavenly. That Slash review really sums it up well. Much love
In October 1983 I was in Navy Boot Camp Great Lakes, Ill, when one afternoon, with a few brief minutes to myself, I was trying to remember lyrics to a song I had heard before enlisting that had been going through my head, writing drafts in a notebook until I got it right. Later that week I accidentally left this notebook laying on my bed when leaving the building. The Drill Sergent found it. That evening I was called into his office and he completely chewed me out about leaving the notebook out, but even more for the "weird f**king shi*" I had written in it. He actually sent me for a psychological evaluation as a result of having written out the lyrics to "Mom and Dad and God"
Fortunate to have seen a few Lawn shows when I was in high school. I was a little too late (mid '79) to see some of the art punk bands like the Screamers but I saw these guys and they were insanely good. Bought all their vinyl at the legendary Zed Records on 7th street, LBC.
I used to frequent the Deaf Club back then, lived on 15th Street off Market and used to walk there. that club was wild! It was a lot closer to me than the Fab Mab on Broadway but the same punks and the same energy. I took a girl that I worked with there and she got one of her front teeth broken while dancing (slam dancing/ pogo were what the kids were doing then). She was really pissed at me bringing her there and blamed me for the tooth. Found a dead guy outside as we were leaving. We didn't speak much after that. We both worked at Brooks Brothers. ha!
During this era, I lived in the middle of nowhere Texas but records still made it there. No way I could ever see them live. This is the closest I get, I love UA-cam! Everyone keep posting these gems!
I know. Listening to all this new wave stuff back in the day was hard enough let alone thinking of ever seeing them live. I remember filling out stacks of special order slips from my local Musicland hoping the stuff might actually show up. I have stuff in my collection,everything from Exploding Parakeet to Athletico Spizz,I'm still in shock I even have them. Much of my collection is thankful to the ads in Trouser Press and "far away" record stores of Columbus,Ohio at that time when I lived in Marion,Ohio...
I saw them once and I thought this is really what is...the zeitgeist. Or just more freaked out (?) than the normals out there ( we weren't) can stand. See them once and you never stop hearing their music in your mind.
I can't bag-ah your love No, no, no I can't bag-ah your love No, no, no I can't bag-ah your love No, no, no Put it in a bag Put it in a bag Squeeze it 'til you sag Baby in a bag Baby in a bag 'Cause I don't have any sacks that are strong enough And I don't have any liners that are long enough And I don't have any baggies that are big enough To bag your love No, no, no I can't bag-ah your love No, no, no I can't bag-ah your love No, no, no I can't bag-ah your love No, no, no Put it in a bag Put it in a bag Squeeze it 'til you sag Baby in a bag Baby in a bag 'Cause I don't have any sacks that are strong enough And I don't have any liners that are long enough And I don't have any baggies that are big enough To bag your love No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
this band, along with the Minuteman were my favorites to go see locally in Los Angeles in the early 80s. This must be among their earliest performances?
Well, I’m 28 and I only just found this video and band this morning and I’m in love. I feel like I’m a teenager again and having the excitement on finding cool things on UA-cam for the first time all over again 😅
Amazing! Su grabs my attention so much it was several viewing in that I heard what a ripping band this is. Got to see em once. Another great unknown L.A. band like the Fibonaccis, the Deadbeats or Black Randy & the Metrosquad! I don't suppose you have any footage of them back in the day...??
yeah thats what have heard people say for years but i have certainly never seen any proof of that. did she even attend law school? i thought she was going to like the Berkeley school of music or somewhere like that when she recorded her little solo EP. who has time for music school and law school. ive never found any lawyer under her maiden name in Orange County, not that i would ever bother her i just wonder if she is still around.
Listening to this you would have to wonder if dead Kennedys were influenced by them..I’m hearing ‘police truck’ and ‘California under alles’ in this song..anyone else??
Props to the videographer who had the foresight to put this on tape.
For real. This is gold.
Joe Rees, aka Target Video. He got so much good stuff there in SF, both local bands and those visiting like Suburban Lawns here.
Her stage presence...the looks she gives....that outfit.... incredible vocal delivery...a top 5 front person vocalist for me ... the subtleties are noteworthy... grateful the live sound captures it..
...if you catch it / she matches the end chorus turn around with head movements with the rhythmic hits; it's real subtle but it's there ...
Whomever filmed this; thank YOU...great documentation of them all
When I saw them (at CApital Theqater, San Francisco, she wore a black veil..
@@ghostandbell2006 no idea what you're talking about- but any insight helps such an inscrutible enigma
The control is insane, it's really, really rare to see anyone like this.
Tight as a porpoises bung hole
If a band came along that sounded like Suburban Lawns in 2022, I would be just as blown away as I was by them in '79.
Check out CCTV
Snooper - they even do this song.
Check out amyl and the sniffers and iceage
Dry Cleaning?
Listen to black midi
Coolest chick ever..
See Baby and Janitor too. Janitor was the original video that I shot, edited, and colorized for them in 1980. I only colorized Baby, bud did not shoot or edit it (At least I don't think I did).
It’s the way she knows how to sing just before the beat comes in, sounds soo good !? And the looks she gives, she isn’t shy, she know exactly what she’s doing !?
Su Tissue is the pseudonym of Sue McLane, who was at college in California in 1978, when she joined fellow art student William Ranson in the post-punk band Suburban Lawns. Su does not want to be contacted or involved in talking about the past. The Suburban Lawns song ‘Gidget Goes To Hell’ takes the idea and fascinatingly twists it away from the daddy-idealization to real girl dark teen fantasy - It’s about bunking off school, stealing Dad’s car, driving to the beach and surfing so well that everyone is in awe of her. But none of the boys stand a chance with her because she’s a bad-ass surfer. The film by Jonathan Demme shows the ending where Gidget is presumed eaten by a shark, with Gidget’s giblets washed up on shore cartoon-style. Sue McLane acts, sings and probably had a significant creative hand in this production. According to band-mate Frankie Ennui, Su was reluctant to have live shows recorded, but this was where she was at her most exciting. “You had to see Su do her thing live and in person, in front of a crowd, to really get the full, mind-blowing impact. So many contrasting ideas and emotions were being transmitted. What Su did was real. She really put herself out there, exposed and vulnerable, but aggressively sarcastic and in your face at the same time. Brave. Amazing. Disturbing.” They played LA venues like Masque and Whiskey a gogo. Having obvious musical skills (She went on to study piano and later released a solo piano album, ‘Salon de Musique’), Su sang, played keyboards and bass in the band. This level of musical flair, remember, was unusual for the time. Many of the women who had been drawn to punk were sparky beginners, and the music press were used to judging women in bands on their attractiveness, sexiness and beauty of their voices. “You see, the Suburban Lawns have this Sue Tissue character that soon joins them on keyboards, a very subdued looking girl with long black hair and a predilection for vinyl raincoats and boots. On keyboards she’s almost invisible but then she borrows one of the guy’s bass and steps up front and that’s when you start realizing that this chickie isn’t no wallpaper and that maybe there’s more to the band than first meets the eye. Not only does she play that borrowed bass with more nerve and mean rhythm than a funk pro but she spits out her backing vocals in a most unsubdued, unbacking manner. Something like tense abandon, except more so. But it’s only a bit later, when she finally decides to do her singing full time, giving back the bass and grabbing the mike stand as a drowning cat claws at a stick you offer it that your lame little heart KNOWS that this here is one of the fuckin’ toughest, most unique, most outstanding performing creatures you’re ever likely to see and hear, here or anywhere. If this sounds like jive to, buster, check it out and then tell me to my face that girl ain’t amazing. She may not be on your list of “in people” yet but you see her once and if you’re halfway alive she’ll make number 1 and you’ll just be another shivering fan before you can spell out Lene Lovich That’s a promise. When Sue Tissue sings, nothing else matters. I don’t even know if she’s got a great voice (their really good single doesn’t quite convey what’s it’s about) or if she’s sexy or anything, all I know is that you can’t keep your fuckin’ eyes off her, so strange is her presence, so surprizing is her way AROUND the songs.” -- 1979 live review in Slash magazine. The second self-released single Janitor features a not-that interesting mix-up between the word genitals and janitor - again attributed to Su Tissue, who coined the ‘Oh my genitals, I’m a janitor’ line that apparently made the song - again with an accompanying film. By 1981, Suburban Lawns had signed to IRS records and recorded an album ‘Suburban Lawns’. The support slots became more high-profile, including supports with Siouxsie and the Banshees, 999 and Bow Wow Wow, opening for U2 at Santa Monica and The Clash at Sacramento Auditorium. In some interviews with other band members, there are hints of disputes within the band where the principles of business and art are pitted against one another. To step up from being a reliable and entertaining support band to being a 1980s IRS hit-making success story always seemed to involve compromises and placing particular demands on women in bands. And not all women were happy to comply with the ‘whatever it takes’ view of musical success. This is where all we can do is speculate. From the outset, Sue McLane comes across as having artistic vision, musical talent and not wanting to compromise her privacy and principles for fame or money. According to band mate Chuck Roast: "Su had a really cool sense of style, unconventionally speaking - like those blow-up pants or a nice three-piece suit with some pumps, with nails driven into the soles … What you saw and heard from Su was unvarnished and uncalculated. It was an extension of who she was; very organic. She had a wicked sense of humor; a reluctant star. She once proclaimed in an interview with the LA Times that “interviews were obsolete”, which I found refreshing due to the fact that is what all bands wanted to do.“ Today, Sue is an attorney in Newport Beach and can be reached by dialing 1-800-INJURED.
Imagine the law firm getting bombarded by calls from weirdo Suburban Lawns fans asking for "Su Tissue."
Thank you so much for this info. I know about the not wanting to be associated with the past and being a lawyer in Newport Beach, but this really fills in the blanks, she is such an intriguing person. Truly B.A.D. (Brave, Amazing, Disturbing), and a major inspiration, I love her. Her solo piano album is heavenly. That Slash review really sums it up well. Much love
@@23Skeetoo I've tried
she is not an attorney anywhere. I've been in contact with her and her friends. That's a myth
One of my favorite people of all time and I really hope she's doing well so herself she deserves the best
Pioneers ✨
I still play this album regularly. Incredible.
Bought the new vinyl last year. “Big in Japan” is great fun as well!
In October 1983 I was in Navy Boot Camp Great Lakes, Ill, when one afternoon, with a few brief minutes to myself, I was trying to remember lyrics to a song I had heard before enlisting that had been going through my head, writing drafts in a notebook until I got it right. Later that week I accidentally left this notebook laying on my bed when leaving the building. The Drill Sergent found it. That evening I was called into his office and he completely chewed me out about leaving the notebook out, but even more for the "weird f**king shi*" I had written in it. He actually sent me for a psychological evaluation as a result of having written out the lyrics to "Mom and Dad and God"
The irony is that the psychological evaluation should have been in response to joining the military.
You had a Drill Sergeant in the Navy? Interesting.
@@billydecker9396 We have drill sergeants in the Army,, dont the Navy have rdc's and di's??? Think this dude is full of shit.
love to find this whole show
In 2024, what the world needs now more than ever is someone like Su Tissue. We miss you!
you wont get it in this stale world
Fortunate to have seen a few Lawn shows when I was in high school. I was a little too late (mid '79) to see some of the art punk bands like the Screamers but I saw these guys and they were insanely good. Bought all their vinyl at the legendary Zed Records on 7th street, LBC.
I saw the screamers and the suburban lawns around this time 78/79?. The Screamers show I saw was probably one of their last at the whiskey a Go go.
I used to frequent the Deaf Club back then, lived on 15th Street off Market and used to walk there. that club was wild! It was a lot closer to me than the Fab Mab on Broadway but the same punks and the same energy. I took a girl that I worked with there and she got one of her front teeth broken while dancing (slam dancing/ pogo were what the kids were doing then). She was really pissed at me bringing her there and blamed me for the tooth.
Found a dead guy outside as we were leaving. We didn't speak much after that. We both worked at Brooks Brothers. ha!
During this era, I lived in the middle of nowhere Texas but records still made it there. No way I could ever see them live. This is the closest I get, I love UA-cam! Everyone keep posting these gems!
I know. Listening to all this new wave stuff back in the day was hard enough let alone thinking of ever seeing them live. I remember filling out stacks of special order slips from my local Musicland hoping the stuff might actually show up. I have stuff in my collection,everything from Exploding Parakeet to Athletico Spizz,I'm still in shock I even have them. Much of my collection is thankful to the ads in Trouser Press and "far away" record stores of Columbus,Ohio at that time when I lived in Marion,Ohio...
im with you i was/an in Oklahoma, i found there was this whole 70s San Francisco scene i sort of fell in love with and never had a chance of seeing.
We aren't that old yet.
There’s a band from Long Beach California called self-improvement I think they sound a lot like them.
@@newwavepop You've never visited Tulsa? We had great record stores and bands visited. Do you know that the Sex Pistols played in Tulsa?
I saw them once and I thought this is really what is...the zeitgeist. Or just more freaked out (?) than the normals out there ( we weren't) can stand. See them once and you never stop hearing their music in your mind.
From 32 to 40 seconds the way she looks around to the sound of the music was so cool
that reminds me of early Genesis era Peter Gabriel.. check out him doing this exact move during Watcher of the Skies.. maybe she was a fan?
I can't bag-ah your love
No, no, no
I can't bag-ah your love
No, no, no
I can't bag-ah your love
No, no, no
Put it in a bag
Put it in a bag
Squeeze it 'til you sag
Baby in a bag
Baby in a bag
'Cause I don't have any sacks that are strong enough
And I don't have any liners that are long enough
And I don't have any baggies that are big enough
To bag your love
No, no, no
I can't bag-ah your love
No, no, no
I can't bag-ah your love
No, no, no
I can't bag-ah your love
No, no, no
Put it in a bag
Put it in a bag
Squeeze it 'til you sag
Baby in a bag
Baby in a bag
'Cause I don't have any sacks that are strong enough
And I don't have any liners that are long enough
And I don't have any baggies that are big enough
To bag your love
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
Thanks!
So gooooood. Miss those days. Romeo Void and all the other weirdo bands.
"Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom"
💥 💥 💥 💥
One of the most unique and amazing voices along side Alice Bag
Alice bag had to leave LA racist bitch
I miss those days.
I got to see them Live in 81
wish the album version had this tempo and energy. incredible performance
Dios cuanto amo esto
Iconic
Sue! Where are you? Please come back. It has taken many years but we're convinced now.
That was great. I wish there was more.
Devo Diva ❤️
I grew up in LA but alas way too young to have seen this band when they came out. Great work though
The great disappearing act of Su Tissue.
Su was a beautifully strange Woman. ❤
best thing i ever saw
This is the shit.
I love how fast they played this and how Su augmented her voice for it!
one of my fav songs ever ❤
Forgot all about this Total Gem!!
Just discovered this gem :) insanely stoked
Whoah such a treasure
this band, along with the Minuteman were my favorites to go see locally in Los Angeles in the early 80s.
This must be among their earliest performances?
George the Minutemen drummer is playing with the bassist and guitarist of Suburban Lawns now, called Suburban John!
Her voice is great in this. Great outfit too
1.Wish I Knew about this band way before.
2. Its 2023 and times have definitely changed.
3.this generation would never understand this type of Music.
Watch New Wave Theatre and you'll discover gems like this. For example, Subjects.
@@azhbaha yes Subjects and Rayonics!!!
And, the Unknowns!
@@progrocker666yeah!!!
Well, I’m 28 and I only just found this video and band this morning and I’m in love. I feel like I’m a teenager again and having the excitement on finding cool things on UA-cam for the first time all over again 😅
This is fucking cool as hell.. she is a original like no other.. she is dope..
This is FIRE
Not a fire…this is Fantastic.
Such great footage
Brilliant.
Wow this is really one of the few actual concert vids of this band I've seen, and it is excellent.. Thanks.
A gem....punk Art.... Devo... etc
Wow! 🙂Amazing to find this! And she looks even more awkward than I expected! 🙂
Su is so pretty!
Forgot it, remember It, love it.
Always great to see more S.L.
Joe Rees's name should be mentioned more in the Rock world. He recorded many many awesome gigs.
Great
im in love with su tissue
Amazing! Su grabs my attention so much it was several viewing in that I heard what a ripping band this is. Got to see em once. Another great unknown L.A. band like the Fibonaccis, the Deadbeats or Black Randy & the Metrosquad! I don't suppose you have any footage of them back in the day...??
such a one of a kind
Awesome
Thee greatest!
Nice
Gold!
Just wow...
Genius.
oh so good
Saw them at Temple Beautiful in SF '79- killer
fantastic
thnx 🙌🖤
Oh man. Thanks so much for finding this! Over and over.
Great post 🖤
i love Su's voice so much and believe she could have been one of the great front people, its a shame she left music and sort of disappeared.
that’s just how it went back then
she's a Lawyer in Orange County, CA
@@ChitakuPatch yes
@@ChitakuPatch false information
yeah thats what have heard people say for years but i have certainly never seen any proof of that. did she even attend law school? i thought she was going to like the Berkeley school of music or somewhere like that when she recorded her little solo EP. who has time for music school and law school. ive never found any lawyer under her maiden name in Orange County, not that i would ever bother her i just wonder if she is still around.
Incredible find!I have 2 copies of their 7 inch still. Thanks for posting. Any more videos from the Deaf Club?
bless you for posting this - Su where are you....
I remember same bands from 10th grade,,,the sound was full,,bass and good,,,don't let these old copies dissuade
I did see them live.
🔥🔥🔥
One minute and a half songs just like the Ramones.
Lene Lovich minus the art school pretence.
Su Tissue has exactly the same look in her eyes as Ian Curtis.
Sheer genius!
Suburban Femmes
💯👏🎸👍
Very cool! I think she was just a couple of years older than me- this was my scene for sure. Does ‘bag your love’ mean what I think it means?
🥳🥳🥳🥳
If I hadn't already been dating Madonna in the early 1980's. I would of been chasing Su Tissue. That's a fact!
Dude when were you dating Madonna? I was banging her from 1983 to 1985.
LOL.
Listening to this you would have to wonder if dead Kennedys were influenced by them..I’m hearing ‘police truck’ and ‘California under alles’ in this song..anyone else??
Oh my janitor. Played with Plomi
Thank you so much for posting. Do you have the rest of the show?
Guitarist had a mullet years before anyone else had even thought of the idea.
Her looks and demeanor remind me of early Gary Numan
Wow, thanks for posting. Is there anymore footage?
Ele parece muito fofinha aqui mesmo que esteja tentando parecer rebelde
Should of been massive!
i never realized snooper covered this
is there any more footage of this show?
Is this San Diego in the background (Fiesta Island)?
yesterday's Black Midi
I wonder where Amyl and the Sniffers got their sound?
HAIL SUE TISSUE!
This is great. Is there any more footage from this show?
obviously not
@@iansmith8263you don’t know that. it could be sitting in some random basement that no one’s aware of. who knows. I’m just being hopeful.
WHERE THE HELL IS SUE TISSUE?
Not here.
Alive and well and living in Argentina. Oh wait.
You had to live this time before 3o to understand it.
where was "Deaf Club" in SF?
530 Valencia St. There's a wikipedia article about the Deaf Club too if you want to go down the rabbit hole.