Veteran San Francisco band The Size Queens recently contacted Style Weekly with the opportunity to premiere a song they recorded that, as member Adam Klein tells me by e-mail, would be “perfect for this governor’s race, since it was written with the current governor in mind. While it’s not explicit, I do think that listeners, especially your readers, might be tickled and frightened by the song.”
So if you’re on the fence about which candidate to vote for on Election Day — the bad one or the horrible one — go ahead and check out this evocative new song, “The Governor’s Estate.” Maybe it will help. It certainly can’t hurt. Don’t let the name fool you, the Size Queens are gentle here.
From the e-mail:
“San Francisco’s The Size Queens urge Virginians to take their IDs, proof of residence, dental records if need be, medical insurance cards (as long as it doesn’t mention the ACA), bribe money, faux Tea party shirts — whatever it takes to get past the gatekeepers in this modern democracy, and VOTE!
The Governor’s Estate was written and recorded long before the race grew national, but the allegations of Governor Bob McDonnell’s theft of cutlery at the Governor’s Mansion brought about a particular loathing for Grinch-like hoarding during the recession. The song is, of course, about serving the powerful, which I suppose we all must do. But for The Size Queens, this election began to take on other aspects of the state apparatus, from incarcerated labor to minimum wage laws. Hygiene (women’s) and lilacs just seemed to weave their way into the song, inorganically, of course. We hope the stateliness of the harpsichord and strings will evoke a sense of dainty servitude in the big house.
The Size Queens began writing and recording with long-term, rotating band members. After the untimely death of long-term collaborator and drummer, Tim Mooney (American Music Club, Toiling Midgets, Sun Kil Moon), they took on Wally Sound as their new producer. “The Governor’s Mansion” from the forthcoming CD, “Save The Plant!” was written by Adam Klein and Michael Mullen. Mullen plays piano, strings and harpsichord. Adam sings. Wally Sound plays bass and aerosol sprays, while Ethan Gold plays drums. Other members of The Size Queens include Danny Pearson (American Music Club); Hannah Marcus (known for solo albums Black Hole Heaven and Desert Farmers, as well as her work with The Wingdale Community Singers [ed. note: which also featured novelist Rick Moody]) Carlos Forster (Family Trees produced by M. Ward and former songwriter for For Stars); John Murry (of The Graceless Age) sings and plays guitar) bass by Mike Carnahan (The Green Door) and Ari Gold on drums.”
The Size Queens have worked with a number of literary magazines to premiere songs and videos over the past couple of years and their forthcoming CD is due out in December. Klein is also the editor of a new anthology of Afghan authors, “The Gifts of the State: New Afghan Writing” from Dzanc Books.