Nikki,
Dear Nikki,
Such sad sad news… I’m so sorry for your loss… I have met Chris a few times briefly while he was on tour in the Netherlands with Women, he and the other lovely guys of Women and their music have made a great impact on me (and my friends). He was such a nice and friendly person. It is great you have set up this blog… Much strenght to you, Rena, family and friends.
one photo was taken at the Women/Chad VanGaalen show – VERA Groningen in 2008 by Esther
one photo was taken by me at the incubate festival 2010 in Tilburg.
Hedwig, Groningen the Netherlands Continue reading
Found these – from Primavera 2009, which is where I first met him and the whole crew.
He was on stage with Chad here, in the baking Barcelona late-afternoon sun.
Sounded magnificent, of course.
x
Hi Nikki,
Bequest
When last words ablate and death is exhumed
When harmony collapses on a lifetime in tune
In the closing climax, mind and body quiver
Into one final shudder plunges rhythm’s red river
Tremulous yet unshakably benign
And the celestial dance resumes.
From rhythm’s black hole, a wave breaks away
Sound become matter in physical dismay
But the wave propagates, oblivious to Law
A duality of functions: an aide memoire
Or an agent of change
And often synchronically grey.
In grief’s trough our eyes lose the peak of the wave
Confusing the now with the days gone away
In a subconscious effort to sever the tie
Neurons decay while at synapses vie
For the road to the substantia nigra
By amnesia the road is unpaved.
But at times we are dowsed by a torrent unseen
Just moments before, now revived as a dream
By memory’s lapses retracing synapses
Awake now as rhythm, the memory elapses
A wave weighing nothing and all:
Our matter bequest is our rhythm sublime
Which, as harmony betrays us at the brink of our time
And collapses on the medley of body and mind,
Persists as a wave in a squall.
Filed under words
I have only briefly spoken to Chris on two occasions, but I feel compelled nevertheless to share two memories I have of him.
Firstly is of seeing him recently at Weeds. Before starting, he announced that he was drunk and proceeded to play an otherworldy, powerful and downright impossible set. Part way through my friend told me that it was “transcendental”, and it was true. The fact that it was improv and that he was drunk made the kind of sounds he was creating all the more insane. Jordan is right in saying that Chris is the kind of person who would simultaneously inspire you and make you want to quit music forever.
Another is of seeing Women play at Comrad Sound maybe two years ago. It was the first show to be held there and was billed as a secret. I was set to play my first show ever there at Comrad about a month later and through working out the details of this show I found out about the secret show. Needless to say, Women floored me. While I was maybe 15 and just beginning to get into the scene, I knew at the time that this would have a profound impact on me. This show was my first all ages concert experience and it seems fitting then that Women are now my favorite band.
I can already see Chris’ influence come up in many places and I know that it will only extend further as time goes on. It is clear that we’ve lost not only an incredible musician but a deeply loved person.
I am extremely lucky to have seen him in my lifetime.
Michael
Dear Chris,
You left us approximately one week ago, right now, give or take a few hours. We don’t know exactly what time you left, but our neighbour Sandeep tells us that a meteor crossed the sky at about midnight or one o’clock that night. Apparently there was lightning. We can only assume it was you.
This guy from your Sea Vegetable series now graces my arm. I think you’d dig it; dude did a great job. Jonathon thinks it looks like a turnip, and Mom said it looks like a heart. I just see my brother.
Miss you so much.
Nikki
Filed under images, notes from nikki, tributes, words
Hello Nikki,
I am sure you have your hands full at the moment, but I thought I would contribute yet another memory to this touching collection, and maybe you will find the time to post it. Regardless, it meant a lot to me to take the time to do it.
My name is Daniel, and I met Chris through Mike Wallace in my second year of high school. It was one of the best things that ever happened to me. I had never had friends like that before. Chris was always so passionate about whatever subject he chose to rave about, and he had a delightful and wicked sense of humor I have not encountered again since.
Chris introduced me to so much music. We even made a bit of our own together from time to time. In the summer after graduation, us and a few ol’ boys went on a road trip (my first) to see Radiohead in Vancouver. Some of my fondest memories date back to those days. There was one night at a random campground where everyone fell asleep way too early, and him and I spent hours until daybreak smoking drum cigarettes and talking. I will remember that night for the rest of my life.
The Chad Tape
