Jean Smith deals with lyrics and vocals. David Lester plays the guitar. On "The Observer" CD Jean also plays piano, keyboard, synth, guitars, percussion and sax.
Influences
Au Pairs, Stiff Little Fingers, Phil Ochs, abstract painters, non-rhyming poets, smiling strangers, well-wishers, whale watchers, trades people, librarians, touring bands, behind-the-scenesters, Poison Girls, Gang of Four, X-Ray Spex, The Clash, The Jam, PiL, UT, Buzzcocks, Joy Division, Scrawl, beat happening, Chris Knox, Can, The Slits, The Kinks, Bob Dylan, Sun Ra, Pere Ubu, Young Marble Giants, feedtime, Fugazi, Minor Threat, Tall Dwarfs, The Velvet Underground, The Clean, Raincoats, Blurt, The Stooges, Shoplifting, Wax Mannequin, Swearing at Motorists, Al Green, Rolling Stones, Lester Young, Meredith Monk, Jimmy Cliff, Ry Cooder, Pretenders, Neil Young, CCR, Yo La Tengo, Xiu Xiu, Robert Johnson, Van Morrison, Eno, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Joni Mitchell, Nina Hagen, friends and colleagues.
Jean Smtih and David Lester started Mecca Normal in 1984. The voice and guitar duo has released 13 CDs on Kill Rock Stars, Matador, K Records, Smarten UP! Records
On Tour in the US in April -- see show listings on MySpace.
New Songs:
Naked & Ticklish
One Man's Anger
This Comforting Thing
Da Da Da Da
The Discussion
Climb Higher
Malachi
Wasn't Said
Any Other Day
In Over My Head
Boom Boom Boom
"The most visionary of punk's political bands, Mecca Normal see things in a different light. Because their tactics are more evocative than provocative, the Vancouver, Canada, duo hasn't gotten as much attention as its fans and colleagues in Fugazi and Bikini Kill. But through seven albums over nine years, vocalist Jean Smith and guitarist David Lester have presented a consistent, evolving and luminous challenge to the reigning social order." – Rolling Stone, 1995
Mecca Normal is paradoxically intuitive and highly stylized. Smith is an extraordinary rock poet delivering compact short stories from her next book. Lester's adventurous guitar playing creates a sonic equivalent to Smith's voice -- a language all his own.
"Arguably the greatest rock band without a rhythm section ever, the duo of acid-voiced singer Jean Smith and guitar hero David Lester must be seen to be believed." Douglas Wolk
The Observer (Kill Rock Stars) was released in the spring of 2006.
Attraction is Ephemeral -- a self-portrait film directed by Jean Smith. The author of two published novels, Jean is editing her next novel "Love Wants You." about online dating. The song is by Mecca Normal (Jean Smith -- vocals and David Lester -- guitar) from The Observer CD on Kill Rock Stars, 2006. Mecca Normal shots by Marilyn Freeman and Thomas Boettner.
"The photos in Attraction is Ephemeral are an extension of an ongoing series of watercolour self-portraits I began in 1973, at age thirteen. I had control over my image when I painted it -- looking, deciding, creating and adding another self-portrait to my collection -- saving versions of myself. I took the photos for my online dating profiles with a similar mindset -- alone, with a tripod and timer." -- Jean Smith
Synopsis:
Middle-aged woman takes sexy photos of herself and puts them on dating website. Man on website says he's intrigued by her. Woman wonders how much recent deception informs her reaction to him. Man likes women who wear fine things. Woman cannot afford fine things. Woman wears slutty outfit -- one dollar panties and a Value Village bra. Man cannot maintain an erection. Man fails to use condom. Man -- 230 pounds -- flops down on top of woman and asks, "Am I crushing you?"
Woman replies, "Sort of."
"Attraction is Ephemeral" -- Live at Union Docs, Brooklyn, May 7, 2006.
Filmed by Joly for Punkcast.
"The Observer" -- Live at Silverlake Lounge, LA, April 27, 2006. Filmed by David Arnson.
The Observer is Mecca Normal's 13th CD. Janis Zeppelin is the twelfth -- early recordings, covers, experimental pieces and a long version of In January -- Janis Zeppelin is on Smarten Up! Records.
"The Gruesome Acts of Capitalism"
(Arbeiter Ring Publishing) by David Lester. Updated second edition. Profit from sales goes to the Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture (almost $2000+ raised so far).
Available in the US through AK PRESS
Mecca....your performance in l.a. was amazing....such a pleasure to finally hear you live and share the stage with you...! enjoy the rest of the tour and see you soon** ~ i
bummer. i'll be away to another country for a wedding and some property issues, which means that i shall miss your precious performance in toronto. do me a favor. rock toronto. rock every place you hit. i love you mecca normal!
Thank You soooo much for such a lovely performance. We are incredibly blessed for having you share with us. Have a GREAT tour and stay in touch; We have some things we want to send you. Thank You, Thank You!!!
Thank you Jean and David for your inspiring, engaging, serious and funny day at Windermere. Thanks for embodying passion for all that you do. Great to see you both, good luck with rest of tour!
Hi Jean...hope your tour is going really well...I can't wait for our show together...! I might head up to L.A. early on the 15th, so maybe we can connect before the gig...! best ~ itai
