Thursday, April 18, 2013

Game Theory - Ziggy's, Winston-Salem, NC., 10/12/85. R.I.P. Scott Miller (1960-2013)

Another college-rock legend has departed this mortal coil for the choir invisible.  Although the circumstances have yet to be reported, Scott Miller of Game Theory/Loud Family/Alternate Learning renown passed away this Monday at 53.  Like many of the "yesteryear" indie acts I pimp on Wilfully Obscure, I discovered Game Theory a few years after the fact - but luckily in enough time before their albums (specifically on CD) started going for extortionist prices online.  Playing just about any given G/T disk is invariably a treat - yet for whatever the reason I never quite "immersed" myself in any particular album.  This bodes well for me in the respect that I'm not the least bit burnt out on anything with Scott's name attached it (heck, I still haven't gotten around to some of the later Loud Family albums).  Had my investment in his music been greater, I'm confident I could dispel a far more profound remembrance than this, but alas, most Scott Miller die-hards would deem me as a casual fan.

Scott's slyly offbeat vocal panache wasn't far removed from that of Mitch Easter and the dB's Chris Stamey.  Game Theory's crooked pop muse made for good company with that lot, albeit Scott and Co. were a west coast proposition.  G/T and Loud Family were routinely pegged as power-pop, but their comparatively dense and oblique song arrangements placed them on the left side of that continuum.  The concert I'm presenting here is situated around the era of G/T's first proper full-length, Real Nighttime, which wasn't their most sophisticated work...but they were definitely getting there. Overall, it's a fine soundboard memento from this period, boasting plenty of their early signature songs.

For the time being, pretty much the entire Game Theory catalog is available free for download via the Loud Family website.  In addition you can check out a collection of demos for widely revered Big Shot Chronicles album here. Perhaps more Scott Miller-related goodies are to follow later this year...

01. Gloria
02. I Tried Subtlety
03. Shark Pretty
04. Curse Of The Frontierland
05. Never Mind
06. Linus And Lucy/24
07. Waltz The Halls Always
08. Rayon Drive
09. Where You Going Northern
10. Make Any Vows
11. Here It Is Tomorrow
12. Real Nighttime
13. She's The Sweetest Queen

Hear

10 comments:

Michael Lekas said...

Damn. Bad news. I've been meaning to read the book Music so now I have a reason.
Thanks for letting us know, and turning us on to all his work. I only knew Game Theory.

bglobe313 said...

Loved his music. Really sad. Like you, I came to Game Theory after the fact.

He was a very good music writer, too. Not afraid to present an "uncool" positive opinion stuff rejected by music snobs.

Ace K.

Rev. Dave said...

Something's different about this link... I click on it and Netkups seems to think I'm *uploading* a file, instead of trying to download it?

Gregg said...

I'm having the same problem - all other links work fine for me.

Gregg said...

I'm having the same problem - all other links work fine for me.

spavid said...

Will fix the link by the end of the day. Sorry folks!

spavid said...

Link has been updated!

binkerbo said...

I am getting a cannot connect message.

binkerbo said...

I am getting a cannot connect message.

celeste said...

To honor Scott, please donate to this educational fund set up for his children: http://www.gofundme.com/2nz0vk Peace to all.