Scoring the Clubs: Swearing at Motorists, Scout Niblett at Spaceland

september 10, 2002 - los angeles, ca - spaceland

from la weekly

Nobody has logged more interstate miles than Swearing at Motorists' front half, Dave Doughman. Since the Ohio native launched his "two-man Who" experiment in 1996 after chumming up with Guided by Voices in the recording studio, he has turned vagabond, touring endlessly in support of three SAM full-lengths. In the process, Doughman has worn out a drummer and developed a cultlike following reminiscent of Elvis Costello's. (His voice even resembles Mr. McManus'.) SAM's fourth disc is entitled This Flag Signals Goodbye, and the promo shots show him posed with the Ohio state banner - a man needs his roots. Joseph Siwinski is the new face behind the skins; he and Doughman share a magical chemistry. Tonight's bill also includes Secretly Canadian labelmate and singer-songwriter Emma "Scout" Niblett, a Joycean lyrical geyser from Nottingham. Her songs recall Joan Baez, and a little bit of your friend who's taking LSD for the first time.

-- Chuck Mindenhall

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