The prototype for the Title Trackers was formed in 1962 by William S. Burroughs, Jacques Derrida and Flannery O'Connor. Dubbed the Title Slackers, this comedic/literary "band" reimagined works by Jack Kerouac, James Joyce and William Faulkner, with musical accompaniment by a young Jimi Hendrix, who had just learned to play surf guitar. Their signature achievement was a "Finnegans Fake" that included only every 1,000th word of its source; fans admitted it read much more coherently than the original.
Today's Title Trackers are even funnier. Writing title songs that classic rockers should have put on their records ("Exile on Main Street," "Blood on the Tracks"), core members Andy Hill, David Tokaji and Russell Wiener bring layers of skill and devotion few parodists can match.
On this night, the Trackers unveiled their latest obsessions, Elvis Costello and the Go-Go's. Yes, they essayed some covers, but with twists -- their version of "Our Lips Are Sealed" was a plaintive cello dirge, and their run at "Peace, Love & Understanding" came at us via the grandiose stylings of U2. There were new videos of "Armed Forces" (Tracker Dave with deliberately snaggled English teeth) and "We Got the Beat(les)" (with Fab instrumental colorings). And for the just-created "Beauty and the Beat," guest singer Jessica Littlefield arrived as Belinda Carlisle in towel and facial mudpack, perfectly mirroring the iconic album cover.
Slouching stoned in a white blouse, Tracker Andy displayed his special feel for Jimbo on "Morrison Hotel," this time with a hilariously anguished interpolation of the Go-Go's' "Head Over Heels" that brought new meaning to "Can't stop myself, out of control." When the Trackers concluded with Costello's thumping "Pump It Up," and even referenced Bob Dylan's complaints of theft by deftly inserting a verse from "Subterranean Homesick Blues," we knew we had witnessed genius of a very special kind.
The show was preceded by a Go'stello panel moderated by Trackers mentor Rick Damigella. Journalist Chris Willman vowed to assassinate anyone who claimed Elvis Costello was no good after '85; publicist Susan von Seggern credited the Go-Go's as primary fuel for her own girl power; journalist Greg Burk related a 1979 club scene of Carlisle beating down a stage-charging punk with one crack of a stiletto heel.
Heel over head, if you will. Every day, we write the book.
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PHOTO BY MIKA LARSON PHOTOGRAPHY.
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Tap the Title Trackers here and here.