For nearly ten years, Schneider has performed a Monday night residency at the Saxon Pub, an intimate and legendary venue on South Lamar, Austin, Texas. Schneider and the members of Lonelyland, the band name that he uses to keep these shows “underground,” are seated on stage as they work through a “live rehearsal” of songs that Schneider calls up from his repertoire of over four hundred songs.
There are always new songs that are played for the first time or new
arrangements of classics that are tested. The show often begins with acoustic, somber and introspective songs and eventually gives way to storytelling, raunchy rock and comedic breaks.
But anything goes…really. And, that is exactly what the audience loves about Schneider.
Schneider's recording career spans some 20 albums, which include eight solo albums and those with his bands, all of which are legendary in the Austin, Texas music scene of the 90’s, The Scabs, Joe Rockhead and The Ugly Americans. There are many peaks within these albums but Lonelyland (2001) and I’m Good Now (2004) stand out at as the “mainstream highlights” while The Galaxy Kings (2002) and Underneath the Onion Trees (2000), are beautiful “artistic statements” and fan favorites.
If you take a journey through this collection of albums you’ll discover an artist with no boundaries. Schneider's repertoire covers a spectrum of musical styles…. mambo, rap, blues, country, Latin, swing, soul, even bluegrass…. all done with the aplomb of a virtuoso of any one of those musical genres.
Many of these genres are explored on Schneider’s album, Tarantula. Tarantula sparkles with songs that reflect a songwriter, artist and entertainer at the peak of his creative heights. It is an apex in Schneider's album catalog and stands alongside Lonelyland and I’m Good Now as one of his best.
Fans will know “['track artist=Bob Schneider]Tarantula” as the name of the song that has been Schneider's live signature for years. It’s the part of the show where the audience jumps to their feet, dances in the aisles, howls at the moon and sings the refrain along with Schneider. Sheer fun.
The song has never been available on a studio album so fans will know right away that they are in for a treat. Those lucky enough to have been at the Saxon the night that the lead single, “40 Dogs (Like Romeo and Juliet)” was debuted knew right away that they were in for something special with this album. There is a beautiful heart-rendering break-up song, “Changing Your Mind,” with Patty Griffin lending even more rue. “Trash” and “Bicycle Vs. The Car” both prove again that Bob is a master of pop hooks, melody and inspired wordplay.
Bob Schneider: At A Glance
He was born in Michigan but moved to Germany when he was two where he grew up attending Catholic school. His father sang opera and his mother taught school. He left Germany as a student to attend art school at the University of Texas/El Paso. He dropped out and moved to Austin where he struggled around as a musician before gaining some national recognition via his punk-funk band Joe Rockhead. He signed to Capricorn Records as the rock n’soul band, Ugly Americans, and nearly simultaneously formed The Scabs with a band of infamous Austin neo-legends known for (and still performing) their outrageous live shows.
In 1999, Bob took a solo turn to explore his introspective singer/songwriter side, and in 2001, Republic Records signs him after Lonelyland, explodes in his hometown and becomes (and remains) the biggest selling album in the history of Austin’s infamous Waterloo Records. A couple of self-released “artistic exploration” albums are released before, I’m Good Now, is released on Vanguard in 2004, and there is another flirt with mainstream chart success with the singles, “Captain Kirk” and “Come With Me Tonight.”
He has built his audience by touring relentlessly and over the years has opened for the Dixie Chicks, Stevie Nicks, Sheryl Crow, Dave Matthews and the H.O.R.D.E Tour, but mostly through headlining club and theater tours. Bob will be on tour in May and June of 2009 playing songs from the new album, Tarantula.
Tokyo
Bob Schneider Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Golden hair and radiant smiles
And cocaine high oblivion to pain
It made me feel so damn inadequate
And insane for the feel good feeling
High inside their helium trancemade vapor
Feeling grim and grimy
To where I want to be today
But lonely ain't a word with me
Absurd you see in crowded rooms
That's where it hits me
Splits me right in half and out spills the emptiness
And no one wants to talk with someone
Cut in two and blue acting werewolf crazy
And hairdooed and out of control
Would you like some company
No thanks I've had my fill today
Oh Tokyo's not far enough away
Oh Tokyo's not far enough away
I want to ride this party off into the sunset I
T's a mystery to me to see this girl over here
With the beer and the queer and the look
So debonair and she don't care
About this looking so good feeling so fine
Motherfucker that I be cold chilling in the place
Taste yes I've got it plenty any more and I'd be dinty moore
And dental damns and Irish ham and rocket jam I
Oh Tokyo's not far enough away
Oh Tokyo's not far enough away
I don my fake fur feather boa lust like Noah
Tiger skin fucking mackin the clones ain't got no style
Wait a while and you can turn on the dial
And see my face with cuties gettin so much booty I
T's my duty to rock this fucker like Stan getz
Get your paws off my cigarettes
I smoke sherman you german looking vermin
You're squirmin now
Oh Tokyo's not far enough away
Oh Tokyo's not far enough away
Oh Tokyo's not far enough away
The song "Tokyo" by Bob Schneider talks about the feeling of loneliness and inadequacy while being in a place filled with beautiful people high on drugs. The singer mentions feeling grimy and insane for not being able to attain that "feel good feeling". He contemplates how Tokyo is not far enough to escape these feelings, even though it is thousands of miles away. He also mentions feeling split in half and emptiness spilling out of him when in crowded rooms. The singer becomes jealous of others who seem to be able to enjoy themselves without inhibition.
The song highlights the idea of feeling disconnected in a crowded room, surrounded by people but still feeling lonely. The song addresses the societal pressure of trying to fit in and be accepted, even if it means attempting to conform to what everyone else is doing. The repetition of "oh Tokyo's not far enough away" emphasizes the idea that physical distance does not equate to finding solace in oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
I went where all the girls are beautiful
I visited a place filled with conventionally attractive women
Golden hair and radiant smiles
The women had bright, shining hair and cheerful expressions
And cocaine high oblivion to pain
The women were under the influence of drugs and experiencing a disconnection from pain
It made me feel so damn inadequate
Their apparent happiness and beauty made me feel inferior
And insane for the feel good feeling
Their drug-induced high was making me feel crazy
High inside their helium trancemade vapor
The women seemed to be on another level, under the influence of a hallucinogenic substance
Feeling grim and grimy
As a result of the experience, I felt unpleasant and unclean
But lonely ain't a word with me
However, I didn't feel lonely despite being alone
Absurd you see in crowded rooms
It's ironic that one can feel alone in a crowded place
That's where it hits me
It's in those moments that I feel the emptiness most
Splits me right in half and out spills the emptiness
The feeling of emptiness within me becomes overwhelming
And no one wants to talk with someone
Others don't want to engage with someone who appears to be struggling
Cut in two and blue acting werewolf crazy
I feel like I'm divided and acting crazy like a werewolf
And hairdooed and out of control
My appearance is disheveled and I'm not in control of myself
Would you like some company
Someone offers to keep me company
No thanks I've had my fill today
I decline the offer as I've had enough and need some time to myself
I want to ride this party off into the sunset
I want to enjoy the party to the fullest before it ends
It's a mystery to me to see this girl over here
I'm surprised to see a particular girl at the party
With the beer and the queer and the look
She's holding a beer and has a unique, unconventional appearance
So debonair and she don't care
Despite her unconventional appearance, she exudes confidence and doesn't care what others think
About this looking so good feeling so fine
She's not concerned with maintaining a certain image or feeling good all the time
Motherfucker that I be cold chilling in the place
I'm calm and relaxed, just hanging out in the party
Taste yes I've got it plenty any more and I'd be dinty moore
I have good taste in music and partying, and any more would be too much
And dental damns and Irish ham and rocket jam I
I'm listing random items, possibly alluding to the party atmosphere
I don my fake fur feather boa lust like Noah
I'm wearing a fur feather boa like Noah from the Bible
Tiger skin fucking mackin the clones ain't got no style
I'm wearing tiger print and standing out, while others at the party are conforming
Wait a while and you can turn on the dial
Just wait, and you'll see my influence on the party when I'm in control
And see my face with cuties gettin so much booty I
I'm looking forward to hooking up with attractive people at the party
It's my duty to rock this fucker like Stan getz
I feel like it's my responsibility to lead the party and make it amazing
Get your paws off my cigarettes
Someone is trying to take my cigarettes without asking
I smoke sherman you german looking vermin
I'm smoking a particular brand of cigarette and making a derogatory comment about someone's appearance
You're squirmin now
I've made them uncomfortable with my comment
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: ROBERT SCHNEIDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind