GobsmackedGal @gobsmackedgal - Tumblr Blog

How far along did covering "This Is Pop" for the XTC tribute album make it before scrapping it and switching to "25 O'Clock"? In an interview you once said that This Is Pop "proved to be too difficult for us."

JF: What was difficult was translating the "eep!-OPP!-ooh!-APP!"--new wave vocal hook in a way that felt powerful. It was like a tripwire for us. In retrospect we should have just played it on a guitar or keyboard as a lead-line and not fretted over it as a vocal.

tmbgareok

This is my very tame request that you perhaps consider playing Ana Ng this Friday at Woodstock? It's one of my favorites and the only song I have yet to hear live after half a dozen concerts. This is my brand-new Ana Ng tattoo that hurt a lot!!!

JF: consider it done!

gobsmackedgal

Hooray!!!

tmbgareok

I get to see you for the first time this November, I’m very excited after discovering yall in middle school a good while ago.

I wonder do you have a vague idea of what kind of folks your main audience consists of these days?

JF: pretty hard to sum up, but there is a lot of camaraderie and good feeling.

gobsmackedgal

This is so true, so much good feeling and camaraderie

tmbgareok

today is homestuck, tomorrow is tmbg

.

tmbgareok

It is extremely terrifying how literal “Kiss Me, Son of God” has become these days…

Anyhow, thanks for the new music to help combat the despair of this day and age; you guys remind me that despite all the pain and suffering today, perhaps the world really is… to dig.

tmbgareok

Do you ever look at linnell and think "GOSH this guy is so CUTE!" or is that just me and almost everyone i know...

JF: well... not really!

zarfcup

what an insanely weird, parasocial thing to ask a real human being. grow up dude, jesus christ. this is so creepy.

gobsmackedgal

THIS!!! The physical recoiling from the cringe that happened when I read that question was insane. Some tmbg fans really need to learn boundaries and what is or isn't appropriate to say to/about musicians that are real people with families in their 60s?!

seaintothelandem

tmbg fans in 2026: the world is to dig's cover is fucking terrible tmbg fans in 2001: i can't wait to listen to mink car! wait what did you say about the twin towers tmbg fans in 1971: that was a good movie

gobsmackedgal

Do ppl... Not like the new album cover ?

tmbgareok

"Dig" as in enjoy? Or is the world a hole?

JF: as in explore, which could be physical or mental.

gobsmackedgal

I love that omg

tmbgareok

Do you like Star Trek?

JF: everyone likes Star Trek!

sketchabear

FOR EVERYONE WHO ONLY JUST ARRIVED

A QUICK SYNOPSIS

gobsmackedgal

#baller

tmbgareok

Thank you John F for all the political repostings, keeping us updated on the extremely troublesome fascist tendencies that have been occurring in our country. I think it's so important that we all work together to keep each other a prized of the nuance in the situation. Many people may wish the band to remain politically neutral, but I for one am grateful for the information. Knowledge is power. Thank you for your continued vigilance on this, it's so important. It speaks to your character.

JF: well, thank you. I wish all people could handle the notion that a person can be a performer and a citizen. But it seems to go along partisan lines--like if everyone agrees, fine. If folks disagree, please ask that musician to shut up. With so many folk speaking so casually about our rights just being nullified, it seems like the moment to speak one's mind.

To be candid, I would love to far more strident as I find this administration to be an abomination on every level. Immoral, corrupt, and cruel. A day doesn't go by that I don't read an article and want to jump on line and start raging in all caps...

But I get a hold of myself and carry on, and leave the critique for times I feel thoughtful.