Info:

All of the songs were broadcast on Dutch television. The last three songs of the session were also broadcast on the radio. In the ongoing 2 Meter Sessies cd series, one track of the EELS session (Susan's House) is featured on the album 2 Meter Sessies Volume 7, which is currently out of print. Also Novocaine For The Soul was released. That recording turned up in the 2001 'best of' compilation that had a very limited release. For more info on these sessions, go to 2metersessies.nl (this site is in the Dutch language).

Like a lot of 'alternative' bands that have a day off in Holland, the EELS were invited to do a so called 2 Meter Sessie for Dutch radio and television. A 2 Meter Sessie is kinda like MTV Unplugged, although the program existed even before MTV started doing unplugged sessions. The meaning of the program is to get bands to do stripped down or special versions of their songs. Bands and artists like Nirvana, John Hiatt, Crowded House, Tori Amos, Sepultura and many more have done one or more of these sessions and the results are rather mixed. Some sessions are historical (Sepultura, Tori Amos), others (Nirvana) are complete crap.

The EELS session has to belong in the first catagory. Producer Leo Blokhuis bought a bag of bird whistles for Butch at the local partystore in Hilversum (Butch' reaction: "You are a true saint") and after that the EELS did a stripped down set that is arguably their best session ever. Butch did not have his whole drum kit with him, so he just had to keep the rythm going. For the first (and only) time Not Ready Yet was played without any guitar and it's amazing. During Susan's House E said: "I'm trying to rock dutch television..." Closing song Manchester Girl was performed in one of the most intense versions ever. It's very hard not to be moved by it. If you don't believe us, check it you yourself here:

[video to be found at: YouTube.com]