JULIA MARVEL Newsletter, Vol. 1, Issue 1

 MAY 27th, 2005 (Brooklyn, NY) - JULIA MARVEL recently returned to the studio (specifically their practice studio) to record a new original tune, "Returning Champion," for a "Rebound" themed-comp for the inaugural issue of the upcoming Closet zine. Helmed by ex-Ben Is Dead co-founder Mikki Halpin, the Closet's comp is also slated to include Nada Surf, Jill Sobule, Marykate O'Neil, J-Church (yes!), Cheeseburger, The Brought Low, Jim Loggia, and Hopewell. Jeff Mensch (The Break-Up) ably presided over the recording, an uptempo number in C#. Mixing duties were carried out, as always, within the spacious confines of Studio 2 at Gutknecht's Greenpoint estate. As for the zine itself, "The Marv's" Jens Carstensen (bass) also weighed in with a lengthy article focusing largely on his hatred of Sebadoh. Look for zine and comp to be available in July.


JULIA MARVEL returns to The TRASH BAR for another round of FREE WELL DRINX (from 9-10), FREE TATER TOTS (all the damn time) and loud rock and roll, this time with a double bill of Japanese Rock Attack!! Local transplants The SPUNKS invade your eardrums at 9pm with some loud, uptempo good times. Then, from half-way across the world, AKIMA & NEOS rock you with a T-Rex-ey sound and plenty of eye candy. "The Marv" then bats clean up with some comparatively Occidental craziness. New songs and old favorites! And for you early birds, fresh-faced mood-rockers HOLLIS BROWNE open the show.

And now, for our feature piece
Guest columnist-ed by Mikki Haplin

It was a lovely spring day when I pulled up at JULIA MARVEL HQ to pick up Sticks, Digits, and Snacktime (aka Hans, Dave, and Martin) for our trip to Philadelphia. So exciting—the Marvel's first out of town show! I was particularly looking forward to seeing Digits, because our start time was noon, and this noted nightlifer is rarely seen in sunlight. The previous evening my friends had been musing as to what he would look like in the middle of the day. "I bet he bursts into flame, like a vampire," said Deann. "I think that he will glow like the Christ Child," said Lisa. Others opined that he might be wearing some sort of veiled hat, ala Miss Havisham or Michael Jackson. To my great disappointment, he just seemed like regular old Dave.

After stopping by the rehearsal space to get the axes, we picked up Jens in the city and were off to Philly. Our first stop was Philadelphia University, where my friend Sean is the new dean of the design school. He had put together an exhibition of zines from the late eighties through the nineties, and a bunch of ones I that worked on were in the show. It was really cool—there was one room where they had gone all arty and hung zines in plastic bags from the ceiling, which made them unreadable but looked great. The band immediately saw this as an excellent photo op and requested I take some pictures of them, which I had to do about 9,000 more times throughout the day, despite pretending not to know how to work the camera.

Next we got lost for a while, both in the car and on foot, on a pilgrimage for Philly steak sandwiches. There are two famous places, I guess, which are right next to one another, and they are the ones you have to go to. Being a vegetarian, and also female, I could not have cared less about this, but once we got to the meat, there were smiles all around. I had a spinach hero or something like that.







We walked around the hipster part of Philly for a while, then went to the Palomino for a drink. As I recall, this interlude was notable for the following reasons:

1. (and 1a - ed.) The waitresses were all incredibly tiny and didn't know what seltzer was.
2. We discussed whether it is appropriate to listen to music during sex. (Consensus: no)
3. One of the bandmembers finally noticed what a cute outfit I had on.

Then it was off to the Trocadero!!! This was super exciting for me. The show was a premiere party for Robot Pizza Butler, a movie put together by The Ultimate United Givers of Film, aka TUUGOMP. This crackpot collective includes pals Jesse and Cody Short, Rob, Whorehouse, and a few others I am forgetting. I asked Whorehouse if everyone really calls him Whorehouse and he said yes, then began listing all of the people who call him Whorehouse, including someone's mom who once said, during a meal, "Pass the salt please, Whorehouse," or something like that. It was a very complete answer.

The Troc ruled. It had an awesome old teeny wooden bar and wood paneled walls, and they also sold candy. Then they threw open these doors in the back and there was a gorgeous old-fashioned movie theater, with a balcony and everything. We filed in and watched the movie.

I do not know if my words can do justice to the majesty of Robot Pizza Butler, the movie. It is a cautionary tale, yet also an inspiring and deadly one. As an author, I was chilled to my very soul. There is a lady villain and several other villains, and also sex with fish. Plus two of my favorite things, pizza and robots.

After the movie The Ultimate United Givers of Themes played. They were fucking awesome. I have to admit, I had been slightly nervous of "comedy band" syndrome. For those who don't know, this band provides a valuable service by writing theme songs for movies that need them. But they were not comic rock, they were like a concept band who also will rock you like an really smart funny hurricane. They handed out booklets before the show, which is always helpful. I liked the "Carrie" song the best.

Then Julia Marvel took the stage! The mix was a little noisy, because they didn't have a sound check, but I for one had a wonderful time during their set. I took yet more fucking pictures. No songs were dedicated to me, despite repeated pre-show promises that they would be. Let this be a lesson to you, ladies. They are not to be trusted.

We said our goodbyes, somehow got everything back in the car and headed back to NYC. Sticks let me fall asleep on his shoulder, which was very sweet. Thank you JULIA MARVEL for the super awesome day.

- Mikki


Julia Marvel ... getting married? It's rumored that Greenpoint, Brooklyn resident Julia Marvel, the young lady who unwittingly became synonymous with a certain local rock band of note, is set to tie the knot, and is set to change her last name, as well! Next, to marry off slow-footed Weston, MA 9-year old resident Julia Marvel ... Bottom's up: The band was spied drowning $3 house ambers an aggressively unfashionable Greenpoint local, where their weekly band powwow was occasionally drowned out by gold-chained locals cheering an A-Rod homer on the projection screen airing a Yankees / Tigers mismatch ... Loungin' Around: On Wednesday, May 25th, JULIA MARVEL played their first - and presumably, their last - show at the L.E.S.'s marginally-legendary Luna Lounge, believed to be the last bastion of free shows in Manhattan. "The Marv" shared the stage with Second Lucy, and, of course, the big red velvet curtain that we are all fond of. Look for Luna Lounge to become a Whole Foods or a parking garage or something. Look for The Marv to lament that there's nowhere decent to play in Manhattan anymore ... Happy Birthday to ex- Marvel roommate Josh Johnson (30), Jersey rock - politics flak Tris McCall (35) and Brooklyn Kickball Commissioner Kelvin Dalley (35).

See you at the show!
JULIA MARVEL

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