TRIBUTE TO CLEVELAND
June 19, 2009
Dear Matthew & Eleanor,
To be honest with you, I don’t really know how to start this fan letter. I am usually the person that is straight to the point, so here it goes. I extremely enjoy your music and I have seen you guys live before in 2007 in Cleveland. What I specifically like is how open you two are to changing the sound from blues to stuff I can’t even describe. (I was trying to think of a word to define your sound in Bitter Tea, but I really could not.) See, I was 12 years old and in 6th grade when I started listening to the Fiery Furnaces. I have never heard anything like it before and was actually sorta amazed that all these sounds and arrangements existed. In June 2007 when I saw your band perform, I had the opportunity to meet the both of you. I do not know if you two remembered me (I was 13 or so and had red curly hair), but out of the many bands that I met (6), you two were the nicest. I talked to you guys at the merch table. ANYWAYS, now I am 15 and I feel the need to write a letter to show my appreciation. You two probably do not receive many fan letters now that technology has replaced a lot of old-traditional communication (twitter, email, myspace, texting, etc). So, to make this letter extra special, I am going to ask both of you two questions. It’s not an interview. Interviewers can sometimes be snobs and exploit people’s lives just for entertainment.
Questions:
1. What is your favorite Greek dish? Or recipe? I am Greek and I love Greek food. Simple enough. (Ed. Note: There is a very long snake drawn under this question.)
2. What are some places you like to visit or eat at in Chicago? Both of you are from there and I am going to Chicago soon. So that’s that.
Thanks for reading if you did. I’ll see the Fiery Furnaces on July 8th in Cleveland. I will try to talk to y’all (you all) there. Hopefully one of you could write back, but I understand…
Your devoted fan,
S%**(#LKJ@
P.S. Is your band name referencing the Bible story from the Book of Daniel? Props to you two.
1. I have too many favorites to name, but the most recent dish I made for a group of friends is from a cookbook called The Foods of the Greek Islands. The recipe is for chickpea fritters and I serve them with tzatziki. Lots of fresh mint and terrific for summer.
2. One of my favorite places to eat in Chicago is The Weiner’s Circle. The best hot dogs and fries from a city full of great hot dogs. And it’s open very late. 2622 N Clark Street
(between Drummond Pl & Wrightwood Ave)
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 477-7444
P.S. Question:Â Yes, it is a reference to the Book of Daniel
July 8th, 2009 at 6:42 pm
Hello Fellow Fiery Furnaces Fan,
What a nice letter that was. I was not at the show you describe, but I did attend a concert about one year prior, in 2006, in support of the Bitter Tea album. I too was able to say hello to Matt and Eleanor, and I agree that they are nice. They signed my copy of Bitter Tea.
Anyways, I’ll be at the Grog Shop tonight. I’m excited to hear the new album. I just wish the show didn’t start so late! I have to be at work by 8 am tomorrow, and I have a client meeting that I’m probably not going to be able to get out of. I also just got a migraine. I took some Excedrin Migraine, but unfortunately it’s been expired for almost a year, so who knows what will come of that.
Have a good time tonight, I know I will… migraine and all.
August 6th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
Nice call on The Weiner’s Circle. I hope Clevelanders are used to verbal abuse like Chicagoans.