Knew It Was A Bad Sign b/w Knew It Was A Bad Sign (live)
scum stats: NOT ON DISCOGS, this is a lathe-cut, couldn't be TOO many copies floating around
So last week I'm sitting in my office when Third Man storefront associate Quinton comes in and tells me "You have a song-o-gram."
He goes on to explain that he's been told it's like a singing telegram, that I could take it in the storefront, in the back portion of the office, or I could reject it.
No way I'm going to reject it, this is clearly a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence, I didn't even know the world still offered approximated singing telegrams (seemed like one of those things that showed up as a movie plot device FAR more than would ever have found real world application for) so I tell him to send them back to the office.
As soon as the singer walked into the room, heavily stylized black eye make-up I knew EXACTLY what was happening and while the initial let down that it wasn't explicitly a singing telegram that someone was sending me.
So this band the Bad Signs had emailed or DM'd me or been in touch some way or another in the past couple of weeks. I'd checked it out and thought that although it was better than most things that get randomly sent my way, I didn't really have any compulsion to reply and didn't think too much about it.
Not too long after I noticed that some Bad Signs posters had been wheat-pasted on a wall next to the Third Man warehouse. No way it was just a coincidence. This was clearly a targeted attack.
And as any guerilla strategist will tell you, convoluted pretense at someone's place of work is the third and final approach to seal the deal. Replete in a workman-like jumpsuit, Samantha Harlow of the Bad Signs gave a little introduction, blew on her pitch pipe, and then sang a strong, impassioned plea to come check out the band at the American Legion Hall in East Nashville where they currently have a Sunday night residency.
Now on previous perusal, the band didn't really float my boat. Going back through the archives, I see that they first emailed me all the way back in 2016. The updated noir take on girl group sound, filtered through a modern dirtied up vibe just didn't speak to me. I feel like the Raveonettes, Dum Dum Girls, Beach House or even Angel Olsen and Lana Del Rey kinda already appropriately appropriated from that cache(t). Via song-o-gram, Samantha's voice definitely broke through and showed legit chops. Her pipes impressed me, even if standing there confronted with it in the middle of my office with seemingly no warning was a little bit awkward.
The best part though...she left me with a half dozen Hi-Fi cookies in a cute pink box, along with three copies of this "Knew It Was A Bad Sign" lathe cut single.
I'm still not sold on the band. I think the theme or approach or whatever you want to call it could possibly work, but that it maybe needs to be tweaked or re-worked, even if just ever-so-slightly. Regardless, I give a two thumbs-up A+ for effort on the balls it takes to roll into a record label and do an on-the-spot singing plug to see the band play live. Also, Quinton has already been instructed to be doubly scrutinous of any future singing telegrams that waltz through the front door. This is a one-time only exploitation, even if it did put a smile on my face.
I'm giving away one of the extra copies of the Bad Signs single here, seemingly unavailable to purchase anywhere, for the best comment posted below. The writing prompt is...when did you know it was a bad sign? You have until the end of the day Wednesday (March 2nd) to post here. Wishing you good luck with your bad signs.
***WINNER HAS BEEN SELECTED***
I knew it was a bad sign when I woke up with gum in my hair. And it wasn’t like Bubbalicious or Bubble Yum. It was that Dubble Bubble garbage gum. Things just got worse. I picked up a note telling me my friend stole my girl’a heart. My girl took my dog. My dog left a turd in my left shoe. Which I found out as I was putting it on to chase my friend, my girl, and my dog down the street. When I got back to my pad, one shoe on, one turd-covered sock on, one note stuck to my hand with the gum in my hair, I decided to get something to eat, but the only thing in my cupboard was a can of lima beans. And I didn’t have a can opener.
I knew it was a bad sign when I closed my eyes and all I could see was him…and only him. A bad sign for a bad choice, love is a losing game.
I knew it was bad sign when she told me she was a Radiohead fan
I’m talkin’ Pablo Honey
On way to a job interview, there was a massive pileup. Made it in 2 hours late. Then went to visit BMG who was that day bought out by Sony- tours… Left and went to BB Kings to see Merle Haggard, But he canceled due to illness. Should have turned around at the pileup….sometimes you should just know it is gonna go BAD
I know it was a bad sign when it had the word “BAD” on it.
I knew it was a bad sign when I was born under it.
In case of engine failure there are no oxygen masks aboard this flight. Please practice steady breathing.
I made this comment coz I thought I could make the record mine!!
Fuck Putin!
I knew it was a bad sign when I saw the writing on the wall.