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By: Da Sissop
Date: 12/23/97 1:23:47 AM
# Replies: 59
This kinda counts as netstuff, since now that I'm unemployed and have way too much free time I have converted several Zsu-Zsu's Petals tracks to realaudio format for your downloading pleasure...
Zsu-Zsu's Petals was the greatest local band in the history of Houston music. No, I *didn't* see the Judy's, but that doesn't matter. I am convinced that my assertion is true, even if you told me the Beatles were originally from Houston.
I videotaped four Zsu-Zsu's Petals shows, and truthfully, I didn't capture their best performances. And of the four tapes I made, I accidentally taped over part of the *best* one with a Beavis and Butthead episode. I guess it was kind of a Murphy's Law thing going on, I dunno. Anyway, if you have a RealAudio player, you can click the following links and enjoy the hip hip hip hip sounds of Zsu-Zsu's Petals. If you don't have a RealAudio player, hey, it's FREE, go GET ONE.
Just Another White Rocker. This was occasionally their show opener, and this particular clip also features the Muppet Show Theme. Contains my favorite song lyric of all time, "Don't got dibs on slavery, my ancestors played bagpipes, and the men wore skirts." Recorded at the Mucky Duck, in their "Tribute To Appliances" theme show. Filesize = 2 MB.
Pure Genius. Also from the Mucky Duck show, this song is in no way meant to imply that the members of Zsu-Zsu's Petals had anything but the highest regard for people who live in or about trailer parks. Filesize = 1.8 MB.
Memories of the Great Frog Rain of '48. More from the Mucky Duck. What can I say, this recording had the best sound. Listen for the drummer making croaking sounds. Filesize = 1.4 MB.
The Day. The day that Larry got laid. Worth the download for the Red Hot Chili Peppers' dis alone. Filesize = 1.2 MB.
Sir Rock-A-Lot. At last it can be told, the true story of Camelot. This was usually their show closer, and this particular version was recorded at some fly-by-night downtown club that came and went so fast I forget the name. Some of you may remember this show; this was the one where the club's TVs showed videos of guys fucking llamas. Believe me, if you were there, you'd remember this. Filesize = 3 MB.
Okay, that's it.
Response #1
By: Da Sissop
Date: 12/23/97 2:40:21 PM
I miss this band...
Poster #1 | Poster #2 | Poster #3
Poster #4 | Poster #5 | Poster #6
Response #2
By: Homer The Brave
Date: 12/23/97 3:05:10 PM
Dear God, fang...
Could I PLEEEEZE get ahold of a copy of those tapes?
Response #3
By: Capt. Spastic
Date: 12/23/97 10:32:55 PM
Damn! I saw Zsu's Zsu's Petals, and I thought you were gonna tell me that they were performing again! Fang, do you have the video tape of the INFAMOUS night at Royal Jelly, where we all witnessed the now famous and somewhat legendary Llama porn incident of 1994?
Response #4
By: Capt. Spastic
Date: 12/23/97 10:37:46 PM
Oh, and Fang, teh real audio links don't work. They want to d/l instead of Launch the player. What's up with that?
Response #5
By: Homer The Brave
Date: 12/24/97 4:31:36 PM
fang doesn't have his server set up right for streaming realaudio.
just download the files and listen to them locally. its better that way. no. really. it is...
and just in case anyone happened to be curious, the realaudio web site www.real.com has info on how to set up 'pseudo-streaming' of realaudio.
Response #6
By: Da Sissop
Date: 12/24/97 6:43:38 PM
Well, I don't have a RealAudio *server* because the last time I checked it wasn't available for Windows 95. Just now, in a quest for info on this "pseudo-streaming" Homer mentioned, I see that they *do* have a Win95 server now, and it's apparently FREE... so it's entirely possible that someday soon, perhaps if I get a RAM upgrade, I might set up a server for streaming audio... NUN RADIO!! Wooo!!!
Meanwhile, I didn't find any info on "pseudo-streaming," so just download, and be mirthful.
Response #7
By: Cleotis
Date: 12/25/97 3:37:50 PM
Forget all that, guys. You do NOT NEED a Real Audio Server to stream audio or video anymore.
Trust me on this. My freelance design company recently did (don't laugh) a Mother Teresa Tribute CD-ROM and accompanying web site, that included Real Audio samples.
Fang, all you have to do is this:
First of all, DON'T LINK TO AN .RA FILE. This will cause you to have to download the file in its entirety.
Instead, link to a "metafile". It's a file with an .RAM extension. This metafile is nothing but a text file containing a link to the actual RA file.
The RAM file might look like this:
http://206.109.172.125/ra/cutafart.ra
No tags, nothing else but the URL of the file you want to play.
The browser will download the tiny text file, and since it has an RAM (Real Audio Metafile) extention, the browser will handle it accordingly and begin streaming the audio.
This is the exact same way you do it as with a Real Audio Server, except if you have a server, you replace the http:// with "pnm://". The PNM is Real Audio's proprietary streaming format which is supposedly more robust than HTTP, but for our purposes (or Mother Teresa's for that matter), what's the difference?
Since you promised not to laugh, real-world examples of this are at the site: http://lioncommunications.com. The site is not finished yet, but will be by the new year in case you decide that you MUST OWN the "Momma T Tribute".
Oh, by the way, if you want the sound files to be playable on older macs that do not have a floating-point processor, you'll have to encode with the OLD 3.0 Real Audio encoder. Otherwise, download the new 5.0 beta encoder. It uses a different extension for its files (I think it's "RM" for Real Media instead of "RA"), but the usage is the same - just make sure your RAM (or is it RMM now?) file is correctly linked. The 5.0 player, by the way, will also allow you to encode and stream video as well. Watch out! Here come the Llamas!!!
And remember - streaming eats bandwidth like crazy. If you're connected via ISDN, you can only stream 4 28.8 streams before choking if using http.
Umph!
Response #8
By: Da Sissop
Date: 12/25/97 4:59:02 PM
Uhm, okay, sounds good so far, but as to the encoding, do I have to encode the original .ra files to the lowest common denominator, i.e. 14.4kbps?
Response #9
By: Da Sissop
Date: 12/25/97 4:59:59 PM
Or, umm, I guess I could do multiple links or something...
Response #10
By: Cleotis
Date: 12/26/97 9:27:06 AM
The answer would be a resounding... Yes.
The "good stuff" quality would only be accessible to those with fast enough connections - unless they download the whole thing first and play it from the hard drive.
Most Real Audio on the web is encoded to 2.0K Per second (stereo), or 1.6K per second Mono. This is what they recommend for average-joe users with 28.8 modems.
Response #11
By: Ralf
Date: 12/27/97 9:34:50 AM
Re: Bandwidth
Fang's got the equivalent of a T1 -BUT- he's sharing it with everyone in his apartment complex. So actual available bandwidth might soar from wonderful to dreadful.
I prefer to download 'em like Homer says. Then they can be archived for later repeat performances.
Fang: You got Cupid's Uzi in there someplace?
Response #12
By: Cleotis
Date: 12/27/97 1:22:12 PM
Hey - I have ALL of The Judy's stuff on CD (transferred from record).
Remember those dudes?
Oh, and that one album from The Dishes, too!
Maybe I'll get around to putting that Culturecide record up on the web one day, too.
Response #13
By: Homer The Brave
Date: 12/28/97 9:24:30 AM
I was searching for the text file I'd kept on 'pseudostreaming' (sounds vaguely nasty) and couldn't find the specifics. Thanks Cleotis for having just that information, tho there was something else about mime types for the .ram metafiles. however, most browsers nowadays will just ask the user what the HELL application this GODDAMNED application/x-real-audio mime time belongs to
Anyway. As far as bandwidth is concerned, downloading a 3 meg file to a web browser (and thus to the hard drive) isn't all that much different from downloading a 3 meg file to a realaudio app.
Response #14
By: Ralf
Date: 12/28/97 10:33:38 AM
Actually, it is.
If you can't consistantly maintain a 2k/second throughput (for instance) then the audio will be choppy and nasty. The RA player will spend most of its time in recovery mode, refilling its buffer.
On the other hand, you can download a sound to your harddrive from even the slowest site and play it back later with full quality.
Instant vs. delayed gratification!
Response #15
By: Cleotis
Date: 12/28/97 7:00:40 PM
You got it, Ralf.
Of course, if I decide to break down and get a cable modem, then that won't be an issue for me! Woo hoo!
For Tennessee to have such a redneck rep, we've got all the cool toys! ISDN for $35 a month, or cable modems all over Nashville courtesy of Intermedia! It's only about $15 a month more than I'm paying for access now, and the downloads average 30 megabits per second. Now that's speed!
Only thing is, I'm not so keen on a toothpick-chewing buttcrack shining cable guy opening up my development machine to put a NIC in. Maybe I should do -that- meself.
Response #16
By: murkymoon
Date: 1/2/98 2:51:49 AM
Downloading is the only way for me, unfortunately... Here's a (probably stupid) question... You can't *download* the file if it's .ram, right? I'm still trying to figure all this out. Hey, does anyone know of a site with some good 80s-music-stuff .ra files?
Response #17
By: Tess Trueheart
Date: 1/2/98 11:10:27 AM
I get shivers just reading the song titles..
So do you think we could find the singer guy and buy him another cup of coffee? Maybe he would be moved into doing a solo!!!
Response #18
By: Da Sissop
Date: 1/2/98 11:46:27 AM
Welcome, Murky!
I don't actually know that much about RealAudio, other than I've *heard* that the RealPlayer PLUS (the one ya gotta BUY) allows you to save some of the streamed audio. But I think that depends on whether or not it was encoded in a way to *allow* you to save it. I think. I could be wrong, though.
Tess: I did a Yahoo PeepleSerch for all the band members, just in case I could entice any of 'em thisaway... didn't find any of 'em though. I think maybe they've all gone into the witness protection program or something.
Response #19
By: Homer The Brave
Date: 1/2/98 10:27:40 PM
I was talking with Marco (Mfactor) about zzp (he performed the guitarist's wedding). Marco has a tape! Recorded in a studio and everything! He lent it to me, and it'll be easy to pull them into the digital domain.
Response #20
By: Da Sissop
Date: 1/2/98 10:52:34 PM
Yay! Pull them in, d00d!
And say hi to Marco!
Response #21
By: Tess Trueheart
Date: 1/4/98 9:47:01 AM
Homer: Smooch to FactorBabe..So do you have to have permission to pull someone in without their expressed consent?
Ooo! Warm Shipley do-nut holes for Wonder Lance The Sleeping Pig Dog!
Happiness is a warm hole..ummm hmmm..
Response #22
By: rorschach
Date: 1/4/98 8:27:46 PM
now thats a saying to remember!
Response #23
By: Homer The Brave
Date: 1/5/98 1:30:13 PM
As soon as I remember to bring the tape deck up from the ground floor and hook it up to my computer, there shall be ZZP aplenty. I'll have to figure out where to put it, tho, so folks can get at the files.
"Happiness is a warm hole/Cut, fry, fry..."
Response #24
By: Da Sissop
Date: 1/5/98 2:39:14 PM
Email 'em to me, dood.
Response #25
By: Ralf
Date: 1/5/98 5:32:29 PM
Yeah! Email! Email! That'd RULE!
{Beavis mode = ON}
Response #26
By: Homer The Brave
Date: 1/6/98 4:11:05 PM
Okily Dokily, neighbor.
Response #27
By: Gowan McGland
Date: 1/7/98 8:40:03 PM
You could put them on my web server at work. I have an area already set up in the ftp area.
If'n ya wanna, you can put it there.
Oh, hey, wait, maybe we need a Nunz Filez area!!
ftp.nunz.com
Response #28
By: Tess Trueheart
Date: 1/11/98 8:57:20 AM
Just make sure it prompts you for a password..hehehe
Response #29
By: Homer The Brave
Date: 1/13/98 8:57:13 PM
Anonymous FTP: A Way Of Life.
Now that I'm back in WA, I shall get to work on the files. Whee!
Response #30
By: Mycroft
Date: 3/24/98 6:39:44 PM
God, nothing makes me feelas young, or as suburban, or as damn stupid as a discussion of ZZP. I saw them once, and loved it. and they have never performed live again. I need that tape.
Response #31
By: Ralf
Date: 3/24/98 8:40:46 PM
Yeah! More ZZP!
Response #32
By: Da Sissop
Date: 3/25/98 7:33:29 AM
Hmm.. maybe a video capture board is in my future...
Response #33
By: Jay
Date: 3/25/98 10:56:23 AM
all Zuzu Video - All day
Response #34
By: Loki
Date: 3/25/98 2:34:41 PM
Ok, ROLL CALL.....
Who was at the Zuzu Petals reunion show at Royal Jelly... you know, the place that looked like it was decorated by Satan... in...gosh, it was either '93 or '94? Probably '93. This is just a "great minds run in the same little circles" experiment, OK? I wasn't on the net then... I didn't know ANYONE in this group then... I just curious...
Response #35
By: Da Sissop
Date: 3/25/98 4:58:36 PM
Me. I was up front. I had the camcorder.
Response #36
By: Homer The Brave
Date: 3/25/98 9:01:52 PM
Me too.
That was the llama-fucking episode.
Response #37
By: Da Sissop
Date: 3/25/98 9:50:40 PM
I wasn't involved in that.
Response #38
By: Da Sissop
Date: 3/25/98 10:14:58 PM
Okay, Homer was there... Jay was there... I know Capt Spastic was there....
Response #39
By: Jay
Date: 3/26/98 11:43:31 AM
I think Rick was there too
Response #40
By: Homer The Brave
Date: 3/27/98 2:27:45 AM
BTW, I have video capture hardware built into my vastly-superior Macintosh, so therefore, you should send me a tape.
And then I'd make a 10 gig quicktime and you'd get to serve it from your apartment, fang.
Response #41
By: Da Sissop
Date: 3/27/98 1:07:43 PM
I have one VCR. I sold the camcorder in Georgia. So I have no means to dub a tape. I guess maybe I could rent a VCR from blockbuster or something.
Response #42
By: Jay
Date: 3/27/98 2:03:02 PM
hey professor why not make one out of some coconuts, vines, and transistor radio...I'll peddle for power...
Response #43
By: Gowan McGland
Date: 3/28/98 3:26:17 PM
I can make dubs for you if you'd like. I have a number of VCRS and access to professional quality tape machines if need be.
Response #44
By: Mycroft
Date: 3/29/98 4:12:05 PM
Uhm, I was there. Grin was there... There are a few others I'm forgetting.
Response #45
By: Homer The Brave
Date: 3/29/98 8:58:27 PM
All the cool kids were there.
Susan (from the Houston Press) was there...
Response #46
By: Jay
Date: 3/30/98 11:40:24 AM
Susan hates me
Response #47
By: Mycroft
Date: 3/30/98 1:50:46 PM
susan hated that show too, as i remember.
Response #48
By: Homer The Brave
Date: 3/30/98 3:35:27 PM
But....
A few years later, when I ran into her at some coffeehouse or something, she gave me the Zsu-Zsu's Petals reunion poster she said she had been keeping for me. The sucky part is, I CAN'T FIND IT NOW. I got scanner, and I thought, gee, I should scan that poster... And I went to where it should be, and it wasn't there! Ooof!
Anyway. Blessed be Susan.
Response #49
By: Da Sissop
Date: 3/31/98 12:22:54 AM
She writes for Houston Sidewalk Dot Com now, as do a lot of former Houston Press and Houston Post folks. Blessed be Microsoft.
'Course she doesn't publish her email address, so I haven't been able to invite her thisaway. But we've got plenty of Susans already, I suppose. :)
Response #50
By: Ralf
Date: 10/18/98 12:39:14 PM
Okay, I'm experiencing a SERIOUS ZuZu's jones. Anyone have a digitally remastered version of Cupid's Uzi?
Response #51
By: Seventh of Seven
Date: 10/18/98 1:47:14 PM
so everyone's always talking about zsu zsu's petals, and i'm thinking maybe i should be in on this. what's a good first album to check out? (or homer, how about if i trade you panic for a zsu zsu?)
Response #52
By: Homer The Brave
Date: 10/18/98 4:41:51 PM
zzp didn't ever release anything.
Somewhere around here there's a tape of studio work they did, tho. I'll have to look.
BTW, I have assembled some scans of ZZP posters at http://www.freaks.net/mile23/zzp/.
Response #53
By: Da Sissop
Date: 10/18/98 4:43:13 PM
There were no albums. Only piss-quality bootleg videos.
Actually, can the term "bootleg" even apply if there is no "official" merchandise?
Response #54
By: Seventh of Seven
Date: 10/18/98 8:03:15 PM
if you can put it into your boot, then it applies.
Response #55
By: Ralf
Date: 10/19/98 7:23:38 AM
Homer: Studio quality recording, you say?
Listening again to this stuff -- about 10 years old, lovingly recorded with a crappy VCR microphone -- it's amazing how good it is. I wish these boys would reunite and put together an album.
CD mastering is no longer the black art it was in 1989...
Response #56
By: Homer The Brave
Date: 10/19/98 5:02:31 PM
The Weasel ate my URL in that post.. I've edited it, but I'll repeat it here for redundancy's repetitive sake.
http://www.freaks.net/mile23/zzp/
Response #57
By: Ralf
Date: 10/20/98 9:08:47 AM
Sniff. Bawl. I am awash in nostalgia.
Thanks, Homer. Any chance for some new MP3's soon?
Response #58
By: Cleotis
Date: 10/20/98 9:37:29 PM
I was at a used record shop here the other day, and came across a CD from Zsu Zsu's Petals.
Then, there's this cheezy Christian band that's going around hawking their warez under the same monicre.
When I had a band, I wanted to name it "Devo". It was catchy, ya know, but I had the good sense to do a little research and find that the name was already in use!
Accept no substitutes!
Response #59
By: Ralf
Date: 10/21/98 7:33:51 PM
Cleo: Heard of a band called Servotron? Dead ringers for Devo.
Or, what devo *might* be doing in 1998 if they were still together.
