Chicagoist: Thax ... Retiring?

kt

Fri, 18 Aug 2006 15:38:45 -0600

for whatever reason (though i think i know what it is), thax took a shine to me and would talk to me whenever we'd run into one another at shows. he passed along the fact that he wouldn't go to shows at the empty bottle anymore because they had the temerity to ask him to pay to get in if he wasn't "performing". WAY TO SUPPORT THE ARTS THAX.

Joel

Fri, 18 Aug 2006 14:21:09 -0600

Haha, thanks to the Trib for pointing this bon mot out...I hope Thax reads this one at his next show. If he really wrote it, it changes my opinion of him: what a fucking loser...a 50 year old dude that can't pay his rent bragging about hanging out with The Redwalls.

Thax Douglas

Thu, 11 May 2006 16:14:20 -0600

a note to you stupid stupid internet fucks- get this straight- bands let me read my poems on stage because they like my poetry and they like me. clubs let me read my poems on stage because audiences like my poetry and they like me. you dorks are jealous because I'm actual doing something creative and while barely making it I am making it while you guys are staring at stupid blogs hoping your boss doesn't catch you. I get into shows for free. I get to go backstage because bands enjoy hanging out with me. I get to read my poems on stage because bands like my poetry. I'm living Lester Bangs' fantasy every night. You cannot say this. You jealous fucks are pathetic. The next time you see me on stage, remember-I am allowed on the stage, not you. I am laughing at you. Keep searching on these stupid music blogs regurgitating press releases and looking for the next hot band, for a whisp of glamour that you will never find because you don't deserve it. When that hot band comes to town they will be hanging out with me, not you. Fuck you, Thax

Thax Douglas

Thu, 11 May 2006 16:12:49 -0600

Anonymous

Tue, 02 May 2006 13:06:08 -0600

I've been around indie rock scenes in other towns (champaign, cleveland) and the hipsters love to "adopt" someone way older than themsevles (and whom they would never otherwise hang around) to have as a "mascot" who shares the stage with bands. Champaign had an old guy named "Chocolate Ice" (sang the blues) and Cleveland had Soupy T (comedy bits). Eventually, (1) the "mascot" becomes enamored with his perceived local celebrity and (2) the hipsters get tired of him. Never ends good.

Anonymous

Tue, 02 May 2006 13:05:24 -0600

Mr. Smith

Tue, 02 May 2006 13:02:19 -0600

...than you are going to shows way too much. Bite your tongue. There's no such thing.

navin

Tue, 02 May 2006 12:58:09 -0600

it's just not poetry Yes and only Beethoven 'is' music...zzzzzzzzzz Whether I enjoy one of his poems or not the brief reading of one of them before some band doesn't bug me. And if you are seeing thax read them so often that it really irks you than you are going to shows way too much.

Joel

Tue, 02 May 2006 12:51:10 -0600

Never enjoyed his poetry but I can't say it really pisses me off or annoys me, either...his invocations are way, way down on my list of things that annoy me at shows. At any rate, it generally lasts about a minute tops.

simakos

Tue, 02 May 2006 12:48:07 -0600

it's just not poetry

Mike

Tue, 02 May 2006 09:02:54 -0600

While the comparison to Ronnie Woo-Woo is funny, a 30-second poem before a show is nothing compared to CUBS WOO, MADDUX WOO, MURTON WOO, LEE WOO, CUBS WOO for hours on end.

Carny

Mon, 01 May 2006 21:42:30 -0600

Indeed, and I doubt Thax is about to apologize for his poetry (nor should he). IMHO, doing something is de facto better than nothing - if we asked everyone whose creative efforts might get hated on (and that IS everyone) to spare the haters and stay home, then there'd be no rock shows to go to. Besides - and think what you want about Thax ... whatever - but if he was really so universally reviled, he never would have gotten in front of the crowds he got in front of.

The Curmudgeon

Mon, 01 May 2006 16:44:16 -0600

King of Zing, that name suits you well. That was indeed a good zing!

King of Zing

Mon, 01 May 2006 16:43:03 -0600

Thax is the Ronnie Woo Woo of Chicago indie rock. You freak out when he isn't around, but hate it when he is.

some asshole

Mon, 01 May 2006 16:38:14 -0600

thanks for snark, carny. way to get in the spirit of things. remember that everyone believes their taste is correct, and everyone is right. it's just a question of whether you choose to apologize for that fact. i don't. KD, some people adore my stuff, and some people think it sucks. but either way, i don't go to rock shows to read it. if you're reading poetry at rock shows it had better be so good everyone explodes into glitter at its mere recitation. until this miraculous uber-poet arrives, lets keep the rock at rock shows and the poetry at poetry readings. and lets keep thax's poetry where it belongs: lining the bird cages of this great city. but thanks for your kind words on my "cracklin" comments. i prefer crescent-fresh as an adjective, but this will suffice.

KD

Mon, 01 May 2006 16:06:15 -0600

'BECAUSE I DON'T READ IT BEFORE ROCK SHOWS TO DISINTERESTED CROWDS.' Well then, all other things being equal, I suppose your brave efforts to NOT burden us with your horrible, horrible poetry clearly make you the superior choice. My mistake. ... but, your blog comments are so 'cracklin.' Perhaps you should reconsider and take a stab at it while Thax is taking a break.

annie

Mon, 01 May 2006 16:01:57 -0600

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who can't stand this guy. I wonder if any of his so-called fans would actually pay to hear him read his poetry.

Carny

Mon, 01 May 2006 15:56:08 -0600

I don't know about everyone else here, but when I see 'some asshole' post here, I say to myself 'oh golly! it's some asshole! hurray! Universally valid aesthetic judgement is about to be delivered to us from on high . . . hurray!'

some asshole

Mon, 01 May 2006 15:41:44 -0600

how dare i speak in generalities!!! for shame, me. for shame. obviously some people like the guy or he wouldn't have taken wesley willis' place as the official schadenfraude bitch of the chicago rock scene. but i don't. and i hear more people asking "who the fuck is this guy" than "oh golly! it's thax! hurray." some people like toni morrison. that doesn't mean she knows how to write a good novel.

Michelle

Mon, 01 May 2006 15:37:26 -0600

"Being the guy who pisses off all the people" would it be wrong to ask 'some asshole' to cough up the data on this? Saying Thax has pissed off all the people seems to be a gross generalization considering off the top of my head I can name 10 people who don't mind seeing him up there for the whopping 30 seconds to 1 minute he takes up before a show.

some asshole

Mon, 01 May 2006 15:35:49 -0600

see above. BECAUSE I DON'T READ IT BEFORE ROCK SHOWS TO DISINTERESTED CROWDS.

KD

Mon, 01 May 2006 15:28:48 -0600

really . . . ? Then why isn't anyone getting all blog-pissy about your terrible poetry, 'dude'?

some asshole

Mon, 01 May 2006 15:04:41 -0600

"...accomplish what Thaxter has..." Being the guy who pisses off all the people at the rock show by reading his terrible poetry? Being the guy who has written a couple of unknown, unacclaimed books? Recording a record no one buys? I'd accomplished the last two by the time I was 21, dude. So have plenty of other people. And the first one? I'll take posting blog comments any day of the week, dude.

KD

Mon, 01 May 2006 14:45:24 -0600

Say what you will about his poetry. Like any creative endeavor, it's not for everyone (although I certainly enjoy it, and will miss him terribly). On a personal, level, however, Thaxter is one of the kindest, most sincere souls on the planet. Furthermore, perhaps the naysayers should ask themselves if they have the huevos and dedication accomplish what Thaxter has in the last 7 years. . . . and posting blog entries about other people's work doesn't count.

The Curmudgeon

Mon, 01 May 2006 14:12:14 -0600

Groan... The only reason to applaud Thax at shows is that he's done and the band can actually, finally play. Such rambling, pointlessness, and hardly a barometer of how good a show is going to be.

Mike

Mon, 01 May 2006 14:00:36 -0600

I was at the Canasta show at Schubas last monday...they had a few guest vocalists and one of the guys (can't remember who) read what he claimed was one of Thax' poems. I don't think it was though and it seems like some people are sort of turning against him. I know he and Tweedy had a falling out.

FlowFeel

Mon, 01 May 2006 13:10:18 -0600

Thax is a legend. Recharge and get back soon!

Bill V

Mon, 01 May 2006 12:36:31 -0600

Thax is ok by me, though I must say that he's getting a little boring these days. Maybe he needs more of a hip-hop presentation, or lazer light show :)

some asshole

Mon, 01 May 2006 11:54:37 -0600

thax #2 i for one am very excited his half-baked poetry won't infringe on my rock shows. talking about flowers and sodomy doesn't get me in the mood for watching the wrens, douche.