Papercuts - "Take the 227th Exit"
At ten in the morning, there's a paper thin line between "already drunk" and "still drunk". This song shows up on your steps, party in full swing, the morning light beating hot against its face, even in the early spring chill. Its wearing a worn leather jacket over a dollar-store tux, and speaks in smiles and slurs. A limo creeps behind, driving at a walking pace behind the stupor, the driver constantly gesturing "get inside, get inside". The marriage goes off without a hitch, though, because the bride's in no better condition, hair still wet from a wake-up shower as she slinks in sunglasses up the aisle. [buy from Gnomosongs] [Papercuts previously on StG from Owen Ashworth]
Spalding Gray - "Monster in a Box" (introduction)
He must have written the best suicide note in all history, if he wrote one at all. Suicide is such a personal exposure, like being a nude model and shitting yourself. It's completely grotesque, base, and primal, but also, to better connote, human. And I imagine that's what Spalding Gray would have done in his note, he would have made his choice seem slick but cold, pitiable but enviable, the rightest wrong choice you can make. Listen how he touches the future with a knowing smile, tells you his plan before enacting it; his life's a goddamn five-paragraph essay. There was never anyone more fit to deliver his own eulogy than Spalding Gray. [Buy]
Posted by Dan at February 13, 2007 3:32 AMI used to watch Swimming to Cambodia obsessively, from which I learned 1) Spalding Gray can sure tell a story and 2) Jonathan Demme knows how to make an unconventional film worth watching.
Posted by Tuwa at February 15, 2007 1:34 AMP.S. I really like this Papercuts song.
Posted by Tuwa at February 15, 2007 11:02 AMSpalding did leave a suicide note.
If you see Stories Left Over to Tell which opens off Broadway Feb. 20 for previews and tours country as well, the note is read out loud.
And who is that reading Monster in a Box on this page??? It's not the voice of Spalding. I'd love to know who is reading it...
write me!
jb
webmaster for the Estate of Spalding Gray
www.spaldinggray.com
Tuwa - you're great, as always.
John - yeah, I heard about that show, it's what sparked the entry, but I had no idea about the note, that's an interesting coincidence. I probably won't be able to get to the states to see the show, but I'll keep my eye out if it comes to Canada.
re: the reader, as far as I know, and I'm a big fan of the guy, that is Spalding Gray doing the intro to the monologue. In fact, as far as I can tell, that's ripped directly from the movie. but if I'm mistaken, let me know, because there's a great impersonator out there.
Posted by dan at February 18, 2007 11:31 PMSaw Papercuts last night with Grizzly Bear. Charming.
Posted by Sean Orr at February 19, 2007 1:53 AMhow does the "webmaster for the Estate of Spalding Gray" not know what Spalding Gray sounds like??
Posted by Safish at February 20, 2007 10:28 AM
and it will begin playing. All songs are also available to download: just right-click the link and choose 'Save as...'
