I was asked to write a response-essay to this Rachel Kleinfeld piece in the new issue of Democracy, and today’s the day I budgeted to put together a workable draft. I’m kind of a fast writer, but it’s a bit of a stop-and-start process with me — write a bit, walk the dog, drink more coffee, IM with someone on an unrelated topic, write more, sweep the first floor and vacuum the basement, write more. What’s really helpful during today’s writing assignment, though, is Avail’s 4 a.m. Friday record. When was the last time you gave that one a listen, huh?

Here’s video of Avail playing "Simple Song" that incorporates footage of a show at the Coney — it would have been either 1997 or early 1998 — that I know I was at. You can see Neil Tribal War up front. I think the big yellow head visible during the first verse and chorus belongs to Jesse Cannon.

I’m not kidding, either. Playing this record has helped me come up with a better structure for the piece than the one I initially thought of using.