One of my teachers referenced this song the other day. I pointed at him and said, "...Trip Shakespeare?" He had no idea how to react to me knowing lmao.
I just got home from a weeklong camping service trip at Voyageur Outward Bound School south of Ely, the leaders of my work group played this in the car and I swear I haven’t had my eyes opened up to the MN music scene this much, ever. Love it. Thanks a million for posting. From St Paul
I was around Mpls in the early 80s and saw these guys a bunch- great band always put on a good show- plenty of vitamin A back in the day, just sayin....
I was lucky enough to see Trip Shakespeare three times in Lawrence, Kansas, at the Bottleneck, in the late eighties. I absolutely loved them. They were glorious and beautiful! It was obvious from the first song that they were celebrating the innocent good news of bright, clever, energetic life-affirming music in a way that harked back to something that seemed to have been forgotten or mocked into silence, and was now returning defiantly and joyously to reclaim its territory in our hearts. Sadly, there were negative energies afoot in popular culture, and I sensed that the purveyors of a much more sulfurous and infernal aesthetic were going to drown out the sprightly frolics of Trip Shakespeare somehow. Even in that Kansas college town, by that time, the malevolent, nihilistic sensibility had already come to the fore, and while some Lawrencians may attack me for saying this, the hardcore punk bands who played at the Outhouse (a music venue soon to be made somewhat more famous by an upcoming documentary) were representative of the worst of that, and were the reason that the Trip Shakespeare aficionados were often derided and marginalized by the cloddish and sociopathic slubberdegullions who required an ethos of destruction and a grand guignol spectacle to be aroused, and who would usher in grunge and worse. If there were ever a proof that all people who play music are NOT all involved in the exact same humane endeavor, and that they are not all merely laboring pacifically as brothers and sisters on a benign continuum of the musical experience, it is that contrast between those two opposing directions in popular music of the last fifty years or so.
Dude, i was at those shows, too! Loved when both KLZR and KJHK played some really cool music. Also saw R.E.M. at "Off The Wall Hall" or "The Outhouse"...my old memory is failing. Trip Shakespeare playing Toolmaster is an Epic Band playing a truly Epic Song! Really miss that time in Lawrence.
i agree on points, but i do not recall a rabid contentiousness in Lawrence then...it is like that now, but still with great, creative bands...why it never exploded like Seattle, Austin, or Athens, is still beyond me. i know personally that R.E.M. loved Lawrence...it was a chance to visit our dear departed Mr. William Burroughs.
***** I worked with a guy that made his meals. that was as close as I ever got other tan loving his work. RIP - William S. Burroughs - - you made me think, thank you P.S. Does anyone remember the character DiskMouth? Thats WSB Peace
Thanks for posting this up. I haven't heard this tune in years. It takes me back to a time when life was so much much less complicated. Once again; thank you.
The only copy of this song I ever had was recorded off of WUEC-FM in 1990. Man, I miss good college radio. Fortunately, I got to see them perform this live at least once.
does anyone know where I can get a copy of this and Applehead man live? I heard it on the Rochester MN college station back in the early 90s but haven't been able to track down the versions they played.
Just wanted to let everyone know there's a better sounding version of this on UA-cam now, posted by Warner Music. ua-cam.com/video/NaCx5I3Q_xw/v-deo.html
Played this at my wedding reception dance near Brainerd… it stole the show.
One of my teachers referenced this song the other day. I pointed at him and said, "...Trip Shakespeare?" He had no idea how to react to me knowing lmao.
If you know the connection between this song and Mystery Science Theater 3000, you win at life. Trufax.
I just got home from a weeklong camping service trip at Voyageur Outward Bound School south of Ely, the leaders of my work group played this in the car and I swear I haven’t had my eyes opened up to the MN music scene this much, ever. Love it. Thanks a million for posting.
From St Paul
Welcome to the club, bra. Fom now on, you will only date or marry women named lulu or elaine. Ditch all others. Your fate is in your hands.
Tuning in from outside Ithaca NY where this would receive *warm reception* 🤩😍🤑
Toolmaster Jef Maynard!
Nice nostalgia moment. I saw TRIP SHAKESPEARE in Minneapolis is the early 90's some time. What a great band.
Thanks for the comments. I just thought it was a travesty that this song wasn't on UA-cam so I figured I'd do something about it :)
I was around Mpls in the early 80s and saw these guys a bunch- great band always put on a good show- plenty of vitamin A back in the day, just sayin....
saw these Dudes in DC at a club called The Roxy back in the day . Flashbacks fo sho !
I was lucky enough to see Trip Shakespeare three times in Lawrence, Kansas, at the Bottleneck, in the late eighties. I absolutely loved them. They were glorious and beautiful! It was obvious from the first song that they were celebrating the innocent good news of bright, clever, energetic life-affirming music in a way that harked back to something that seemed to have been forgotten or mocked into silence, and was now returning defiantly and joyously to reclaim its territory in our hearts. Sadly, there were negative energies afoot in popular culture, and I sensed that the purveyors of a much more sulfurous and infernal aesthetic were going to drown out the sprightly frolics of Trip Shakespeare somehow. Even in that Kansas college town, by that time, the malevolent, nihilistic sensibility had already come to the fore, and while some Lawrencians may attack me for saying this, the hardcore punk bands who played at the Outhouse (a music venue soon to be made somewhat more famous by an upcoming documentary) were representative of the worst of that, and were the reason that the Trip Shakespeare aficionados were often derided and marginalized by the cloddish and sociopathic slubberdegullions who required an ethos of destruction and a grand guignol spectacle to be aroused, and who would usher in grunge and worse. If there were ever a proof that all people who play music are NOT all involved in the exact same humane endeavor, and that they are not all merely laboring pacifically as brothers and sisters on a benign continuum of the musical experience, it is that contrast between those two opposing directions in popular music of the last fifty years or so.
I don't agree with your thesis, but I'm giving a thumbs up to your language.
Dude, i was at those shows, too! Loved when both KLZR and KJHK played some really cool music. Also saw R.E.M. at "Off The Wall Hall" or "The Outhouse"...my old memory is failing. Trip Shakespeare playing Toolmaster is an Epic Band playing a truly Epic Song! Really miss that time in Lawrence.
*****
Whoa, when is this documentary coming, and how did i not know?
i agree on points, but i do not recall a rabid contentiousness in Lawrence then...it is like that now, but still with great, creative bands...why it never exploded like Seattle, Austin, or Athens, is still beyond me. i know personally that R.E.M. loved Lawrence...it was a chance to visit our dear departed Mr. William Burroughs.
***** I worked with a guy that made his meals. that was as close as I ever got other tan loving his work.
RIP - William S. Burroughs - - you made me think, thank you
P.S. Does anyone remember the character DiskMouth?
Thats WSB
Peace
These guys were the best. I had the privilege of catching them live in Cincinnati back in 1991 r 92. They ROCKED the house!
Thanks for posting this up. I haven't heard this tune in years. It takes me back to a time when life was so much much less complicated. Once again; thank you.
🎶 Toolmaster Jef Maynard!!! 🎶
Reminder that Trip Shakespeare is basically semisonic before Semisonic.
I am homesick for Brainerd.
I saw a great show at Mabels in Champaign Illinois in mid 90s. The rocked!
The only copy of this song I ever had was recorded off of WUEC-FM in 1990. Man, I miss good college radio. Fortunately, I got to see them perform this live at least once.
loved them in the day. followed them. knew them
I was at that show - I want to see them play at the Buckeye Creamery - do you remember the stud Drummer ? WOW! She rocks
Many Thanks for posting this, and making things right again, Mr Bawelser!
Great great song!!!
Jeff Maynard. Just saying.
I knew this had to have something to do you MST3K.
-sunmask- waif what
*wait what?
Always loved Trip Shakespeare then semisonic and of course Dan Wilson prevails. Matt is a master but faster
My vote for the most hilarious song title.
Thank You!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think the live version was on the "Crane" EP. Look into that.
I listen because Paul Rudd likes
does anyone know where I can get a copy of this and Applehead man live? I heard it on the Rochester MN college station back in the early 90s but haven't been able to track down the versions they played.
I win at life :3
Just wanted to let everyone know there's a better sounding version of this on UA-cam now, posted by Warner Music. ua-cam.com/video/NaCx5I3Q_xw/v-deo.html
Wow I just moved away from brainerd. But I hadnt heard of this song til now. Lol
kinda like full house
Wow, the lead singer sounds like Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane!
Given the MST3K connection, I expected a better song.
ua-cam.com/video/pWdd6_ZxX8c/v-deo.html