All these bands that get compared to the MC5 these days seldom end up as worthy of being mentioned in the same sentence. THE HELLACOPTERS on the other hand are pretty much the exception to the rule. These guys are honoraray denizens of the motor city sound and it is fitting that Nicke will be joining the DKT/MC5 ensemble in this part of the world. Why they don't rule the world is beyond my conception but that's a bugbear for another day. The Hellacopters are to the '5, et all, what Teenage Fanclub were to the resurrection of Alex Chilton's career. Prepare then to see, hear and fall headlong for THE SOLUTION for they and only they have the chops to save your sorry soul. Scott Morgan and Nicke Hellacopter have made a record that deserves to be so massive that I boggles the mind to try and use mere words. I wanna see a sea of hands fork over their hard earned for the upcoming album on the WILD KINGDOM label in Sweden and SWEET NOTHING in the UK. Visit SCOTT'S WEBSITE for US availability. Doubters and believers alike can take a look at the video for "I Have To Quit You" here in the news section.

Just received this report on the latest MAGIC CHRISTIAN gig in SF and figured I'd share it... thanks Don.

"just got back from the parkside show...they had a different drummer-- mike. looks like ginger baker. he was pretty good. in fact considering the tiny venue in a way i was glad prairie prince wasn't playing. he's just so powerful the band has to play super-loud to compete. with this guy they were turned down and you could hear things better than at the music hall show. small but spirited crowd. roy loney was in attendance. cyril played his dan armstrong thru the pod and into his reissue fender twin reverb. alec palao played a gretsch hollow body bass thru gallien kruger amp. paul sang and shook a tambourine. they did some new originals and a couple of beatles tunes. here's the set list: (which i'll save for mr stax)

made my bed
till i looked in her eyes
anytime at all
ride the light
my gal (the spoonful classic, "for roy loney")
things she said
no time to cry (for yers truly...thanks paul)
things we said today
right back
she's so good
too close to zero
encore: i can see for miles

the place was tiny with just a foot high "stage" and not the greatest PA but like i said, i could hear them better than at the first gig. cyril played without a pick like he did last time. mick green style. he's got a very bright, overdriven sound these days which he describes as being like keith on "street fighing man". and that's a very apt description.
new songs were good. i still love "no time to cry" - that's killer. but i also like "she's so good". i think they ought to move that one up in the set. great monkey beat song.
all in all a very good 2nd show. next one is sunday at the haight street fair. they should go on around 3 in the afternoon. haight and stanyan. see ya there -- don in frisco"

Saw THE MOONEY SUZUKI at a fairly busy King Tut’s in Glasgow on Wednesday past. I haven’t been convinced by their records but harbour a great deal of respect for their line in pastiche of a Grand Funk Railroad sleeve, right down to the board Electric Sweat was printed on. So anyways, if there’s some kinda kudos in throwing rock shapes then the MS are right up there. In terms of energy and the ability to put on a great show they don’t slouch either but I just don’t hear any songs. Spectacle-wise they have it down and I can’t believe that anybody seeing them wouldn’t warm to the effort. However, is that enough? It seems that in this day and age it can be and I wish them well for that 15 minutes or so. They don’t have a Tommy Volume though…
On the subject of the MS, UK visitors can log on to the Sony Music website to score a copy of a 7” that features tracks that won’t be on their “Alive and Amplified” set due in August. The were sharing the bill with a band called Lowfive who were competent to fair at best, the title of their debut single kinda summed them up, "Too Much of Nothing". Headliners were YOUNG HEART ATTACK who Gran’pa here had never heard of. Turns out they have an album on XL and have supported The Darkness etc. They’re perfectly acceptable for 10 or so minutes and then it all gets very conveyor belt. They’re actually more like Slade than AC/DC and if the lead guy is looking for a career after this then he can do a bloody good Noddy Holder. YHA are better than The Dorkness but only just and their pantomime rawk is typical of the triumph of style over substance that seems to be finding favour with “the kids”. I knew it was time to leave when thoughts of when my Nine Pound Hammer album might turn up to blow all this fluff away crept into my noggin plus it was a school night. The moral here is, by all means see The Suzuki. If they were playing festivals then compared to most of the other alleged entertainment, they’d take your head off. They can blow a head of steam alright but they need some hooks to supplement all the trouble they go to in projecting.