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Thunder Hips and Saddle Bags

A few lifetimes ago. I sit listening to the local college radio station. I've heard of Human Skab but never heard him. I phone in a request. The DJ with the confident, sexy voice tells me she'll try and put him on. I've been let down by DJs before -- and will be many times again -- but I keep listening.

A prepubescent kid with a growly edge to his voice comes on, saying John Wayne is dead. "You think/You think think think think think think think/John Wayne is dead..." He eventually tails off into a tangent. The non-vocal noise sounds mostly like pebbles plopping into mud.

The voice tails off once again and the DJ comes on: "Human Skab there on KCMU." I think the kid came back for one more round before the DJ faded him. The album was released on cassette, and so she had no reliable way to figure out the end of a piece.

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I'd think of the Skab, and the DJ who brought him to me, over the years as I grew up and out and got on with being ground down by the system. I'll never know the DJ's name. But a few years back came wind of this Human Skab CD reissue.

I waited, and waited, and more time went by and at times I gave up hope. Skab, incidentally, was out in the world being a solider, a pimp, a sojourner for peace in the Middle East, a few other things -- all according to this reissue's promo literature. I'd love to talk with him although it hasn't happened yet.

Finally I hold this thing in my hands. The Skab rants, attempts piano and "git-ar," ropes family and friends into the act. I'm happier than I've been in a long life.

Album: Thunder Hips & Saddle Bags (2010)
Artist: Human Skab
Label: Family Vine

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A few lifetimes ago. I sit listening to the local college radio station. I've heard of Human Skab but never heard him. I phone in a request. The DJ with the confident, sexy voice tells me she'll try and put him on. I've been let down by DJs before -- and will be many times again -- but I keep listening.

A prepubescent kid with a growly edge to his voice comes on, saying John Wayne is dead. "You think/You think think think think think think think/John Wayne is dead..." He eventually tails off into a tangent. The non-vocal noise sounds mostly like pebbles plopping into mud.

The voice tails off once again and the DJ comes on: "Human Skab there on KCMU." I think the kid came back for one more round before the DJ faded him. The album was released on cassette, and so she had no reliable way to figure out the end of a piece.

Sponsored
Sponsored

I'd think of the Skab, and the DJ who brought him to me, over the years as I grew up and out and got on with being ground down by the system. I'll never know the DJ's name. But a few years back came wind of this Human Skab CD reissue.

I waited, and waited, and more time went by and at times I gave up hope. Skab, incidentally, was out in the world being a solider, a pimp, a sojourner for peace in the Middle East, a few other things -- all according to this reissue's promo literature. I'd love to talk with him although it hasn't happened yet.

Finally I hold this thing in my hands. The Skab rants, attempts piano and "git-ar," ropes family and friends into the act. I'm happier than I've been in a long life.

Album: Thunder Hips & Saddle Bags (2010)
Artist: Human Skab
Label: Family Vine

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4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
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