{"id":1280,"date":"2012-03-26T10:00:28","date_gmt":"2012-03-26T14:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nowthissound.com\/ntsib\/?p=1280"},"modified":"2014-11-05T22:00:59","modified_gmt":"2014-11-06T03:00:59","slug":"a-good-read-a-good-listen-and-a-good-drink-field-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.nowthissound.com\/ntsib\/2012\/03\/26\/a-good-read-a-good-listen-and-a-good-drink-field-report\/","title":{"rendered":"A Good Read, A Good Listen, and a Good Drink: Field Report"},"content":{"rendered":"

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It’s a simple yet sublime pleasure, and just thinking about it can make you feel a little calmer, a little more content. Imagine: You bring out one of the good rocks glasses (or your favorite mug or a special occasion tea cup) and pour a couple fingers of amber liquid (or something dark and strong or just some whole milk). You drop the needle on the jazz platter (or pull up a blues album on your mp3 player or dig out that mixtape from college). Ensconcing yourself in the coziest seat in the house, you crack the spine on a classic (or find your place in that sci-fi paperback or pull up a biography on your e-book reader). And then, you go away for a while. Ah, bliss.<\/p>\n

In this series, some of NTSIB’s friends share beloved albums, books and drinks to recommend or inspire.<\/i><\/p>\n

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Though his expression in the above photo borders on psychotic, Christopher Porterfield – singer\/guitarist\/songwriter of Field Report – is an exceedingly nice person. And though his hair can break laws of physics at times, he appears utterly normal, friendly, well-adjusted. So connecting this kind, seemingly unaffected person to his heartbreaking, gut-wrenching songs can be a fascinating but slightly mystifying exercise. <\/p>\n

If you’ve been reading NTSIB for a while “Fergus Falls” may strike a familiar chord. It was originally recorded in an earlier incarnation of Field Report known as Conrad Plymouth (the moniker, CP says, outlived its usefulness). Field Report launched themselves officially at SXSW this year (and had Adam Duritz – yes, that one – stumbling all over himself trying to find the right words to describe the power of Field Report’s music) and is going great guns out of the gate, supporting Megafaun on their current tour. So, we’re very pleased that CP could take a little time before hitting the road to contribute to our series.<\/p>\n

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<\/object> Fergus Falls<\/a> by fieldreport<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

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Good Read:<\/b>
\nWill You Please Be Quiet, Please?<\/i> (Raymond Carver)<\/a>
\nI had a ponytailed, Kangoled chainsmoking freshman English professor
\nwho turned me on to Carver via showing Robert Altman’s Shortcuts
\nduring our night class to pass the time. I was into it. He lent me his
\ncopy of Where I’m Calling From; I returned it the next class, having
\npurchased my own.
\nI kept it with me whenever I traveled- I always bring a Carver
\nanthology and whatever else I’m reading. In a very Carver moment, I
\nended up puking on my copy of Where I’m Calling From. Now I carry the
\nearlier collection Will You Please Be Quiet, Please?. I think it might be
\nmore Ray and less Gordon Lish (his controversial editor). All flaws
\nand holes and love and struggle, and the beauty within the negative
\nspace.<\/p>\n

Good Listen:<\/b>
\nKlamath<\/i> (Mark Eitzel)<\/a>
\nA heartbreaking work of isolation by former American Music Club
\nfrontman\/criminally under-appreciated singer, writer, arranger Mark
\nEitzel. It’s all synth and vibes and wood and strings and whispered
\ncroon and brilliant turns of phrase and ache.
\nIndependently released in 2009, I don’t know where you can buy it
\nanymore. I think he burned 500 copies. If you can’t find Klamath,
\n“Invisible Man” or “60 Silver Lining” are great places to start.<\/p>\n

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