"Jerkface Shipley" and other songs by We Used to be Family
Last night, while surfing around on Aural States, I discovered a song called "Jerkface Shipley" by the Baltimore band We Used to Be Family.
I couldn't help but snicker, because Al Shipley happens to be one of the city's more prominent music writers and bloggers. He writes for City Paper and his excellent hip-hop blog, Government Names. Coincidence? I doubt it. Funny? Undoubtedly ...
Shipley's an incredibly nice guy, and a fair critic. I just wonder what he wrote or said that got the band so peeved. I Googled around some and couldn't find anything. Must have been pretty bad, to inspire the band to call him a "Jerkface." The song doesn't have any words but it doesn't need to.
You can listen to it here.
I called Shipley and the band and left messages, but haven't heard back yet. Stay tuned.
Erik Maza is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He writes for several sections of the Sun paper and contributes weekly columns on music and nightlife. He also writes and edits the Midnight Sun blog. He often covers entertainment, business, and the business of entertainment. Occasionally, he writes about Four Loko, The Block, the liquor board, and those who practice "
Comments
See my new book, "Jerkface Sessa." You know what you did.
Posted by: JTK | May 27, 2010 1:44 PM
Another giggle courtesy of JTK. I can't remember if we met at the last social/shindig or not, JTK, but if Sam ever throws another one, I'm buying you a beer.
Posted by: kateebee | May 27, 2010 2:22 PM
Hey Sam, sorry I missed your call earlier or I would've cleared it up before your post, although maybe it's funnier to let it stay a mystery!
My friend Mat from Mobtown Studios actually just informed me about this song a couple days ago, he's working on the new We Used To Be Family record and asked them about the title -- apparently a reference to a band member's childhood friend, which isn't too surprising considering that Shipley's a fairly common surname in this part of the country (there's a Shipley, Maryland and a Shipley Street in Baltimore). I'd never listened to We Used To Be Family before, let alone written about them, although coincidentally I helped write the press release for the NOVO festival that the mp3 was recorded at! Anyway I like the song and am amused at my new nickname possibilities.
Posted by: Al Shipley | May 27, 2010 4:31 PM
"Coincidence?" Well, yes, apparently. Anyway, We Used To Be Family is absolutely great. Yeah.
Posted by: The Blob | May 29, 2010 8:11 PM