Thursday, December 3, 1998

Taking the Slouch on Sound



Chris von Sneidern
Toiling away at the Pop Gem Factory

As far as I was concerned, the Thanksgiving festivities were going along swimmingly. My brothers were taking turns sitting on me, my parents' Portuguese Water Dogs weren't the subject of every conversation, and we never ran out of red wine.

Then, I happened to mention to Dad that I didn't participate in my company's 401K plan. I said it required going to some meeting that I spaced out on, that I never bothered following up on it. Holy Blasphemy, Mae Hemm! Suddenly, the tables turned. I became the "directionless" kid, the "aimless wanderer", the one with no Goals or Motivation. My laziness was keeping me away from "free money" and that was inexcusable.

Of course, I understand that these things are only a matter of perspective. Why, just last week as I was dropping my pal off at the airport, he said, IN ALL SINCERITY, "Gee, Mae. You own a car. You write a column. You're on The Pill. You're the most together girl I know!" Ah, perspective!

Monday, December 7
He was always this guy I would hear about. Pop genius. Recording wunderkind. Cult following. Skirt chaser. Occasionally refers to self in the third person. And every time folks told me about local singer/songwriter Chris von Sneidern they would invariably adopt that whispery tone of hushed reverence. So, I asked him out for a drink. CVS ended up giving me all his CDs and now I can't stop listening to them. (Can you tell I'm typing in a hushed tone?) Yes, pop fans, I'll substantiate the rumors. There's a bit of the McCartney and the Wilson and the Costello and the Kinks welling within this talented, soulful, foppish von Sneidern. The records are indeed sublime testaments to the Art of the Pop Song. Check out the live show tonight at the Make Out Room (3225 22nd St.)

Bring in 'da noise, bring in 'da tips! (sorry)


Like all good Americans, Mae Hemm has a hobby. Her hobby is seeing bands who are good or bands who are fun or bands who don't think they're the bee's knees every second of the dadburned day. She also likes to play that game where you figure out which famous personalities most resemble Honeybaked Hams.

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