I don't have cable or satellite TV hence, when ART FEIN sends me a tape of some of his recent shows, we're on it like mud on a pig. The show is always something of a revelation to me and some of the people I subject to it. This is the equivalent of somebody showing conversations with footballers or rugby players to me, I know. But the guys that Art has on there have, to me, really lived. It is the opposite of dull on a grand scale. The most recent VHS has a double header with IAN WHITCOMB and JIM DAWSON on it and, t'is inspirational. It also reminded me that Art must be in the need of some PG Tips... e-mail him and ask how the heck you can get in on the POKER PARTY action.

Brother Randall, I just heard that Tejas has been taking a battering from the elements. Hope all is as well as it can be when an "act of god" is in full swing. Can't find your e-mail address, please check in, as and when...

At the opposite end and beyond of the musical rainbow is the Robbie Fulks produced Johnny Paycheck tribute "TOUCH MY HEART". A staunch collection of the man's songs by the like of one-time Girl Trouble Go-Go Girl Neko Case, Dallas Wayne, Dave Alvin, George Jones and Mavis Staples to name but a few. Beautifully curated and performed with a whole lotta heart and soul, coming at you on August 10th from the Sugar Hill imprint.

Seems like there's a "Glam" thing goin' on. What with these great RPM comps and glitter beats on Goldfraap and even Rachel Stevens records, the 70's teen sound that fueled the Punk explosion is definitely in the water. Anyway's that allows me to segue into a link for an animation clip to an ATOMIC SWINDLERS song that also recalls that era. Takes me back...

The always up-to-date S.J Bink was kind enough to point out yet another festival in Rotterdam: the Rotterdam Rumble 2004, featuring ao: the Ghetto Ways and the YumYums.

In amongst today's inbox full of how to steal passwords, boaby enlargement and the usual pharmaceuticals was this RADIO CAROLINE blog you may care to check out.

"It's time for the Nitwitz to do our yearly show in in our homecountry Holland PLUS throw a release party for not one, but TWO releases !. July 31st, MELKWEG AMSTERDAM. With UK street urchins SICK ON THE BUS, the RIOTS and the REMAINS".

"More punk than anything you can name this side of 1978" was the verdict of J. Hammer Esq., a man more than qualified to make it after witnessing The Rigbys (Hazel and Amy) shake down Otto's in New York. "Endearingly Scrappy" said The Scotsman review of their short set in Glasgow recently. Amy Rigby's recently completed latest UK visit saw many highs and lows with one of the highs being Hazel getting a snare drum to use by one Dee Generate (of Eater) in (I think) Wellingburgh - (where dat? I dunno). Anyways, those who did turn out to the shows were trated to the usual high standard of songfare which included the mother/daughter Domino (Big O,Cramps), I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts (X), Mannequin (Wire) and having finally got the chance to hear Amy's Joey Ramone song, I think we can safely conclude that the big guy will be diggin' it up there. Photo of Hazel and Amy in action at the "Meet The Folks" do in London by Tony Thewlis.

LICORICE TREE records is peddling a fine volume entitled SHAKIN' IN MY BOOTS: A Texas Rock'n'Roll Compilation. Following on from their debut release by THEE FINE LINES, SIMB is chock full of a broad church of garage action which includes known felons juch as Jesus Christ Superfly and 00 Spies alongside combos which are new to me such as The Stepbrothers (with Mike Mariconda), The (Mariconda produced) Hotrails, The Crack Pipes and The Sunday Drunks. It also features a cut by The Ka-nives, a group so savvy that it brought Jack T outta retirement to issue a 45 on Lance Rock. McLemore Avenue's "A Toy Robot" is a stand-out on what is a very strong prospective roster. LT could be on their way to becoming the Texan Estrus.

Hey, I should state at this point that I can't seem to operate at the rate that I'm expected to. That I expect to. What's that Nick Lowe song? "Lately I've Been Letting Things Slide"? Well that would appear to have become my fecking theme song. I'm not sure why this is exactly because there's no tangible excuse apart from the curveballs of life but I'm hoping it's just a (long-ish) temporary glitsch. Tell you the truth, at the minute I feel pretty much at the "Sod it" stage. E-mail, listening to stuff, watching stuff, it's all taking a hit and it's bloody pathetic. Normal service then, whatever that is, may or may not be resolved in the fullness of time. That's about all I can tell ya...

"The Star Spangles are pleased to announce The Real Kids have been named co-headliners on the September 24th bill at CBGB's. Here's the line-up:

midnight - The Real Kids, 11pm - The Star Spangles, 10pm - Some Action,
9pm - Caged Heat, 8pm - The Rainman Suite

Other news

"Tell Lies" has been permanently committed to tape - yes, tape. It looks like the band will be recording their 2nd album, starting August 24th at Camp Street Studios in Boston. How appropriate is that?"

Truly the web is becoming an even more bizarre repository for rockin' "information".  Thanks to Eric Fusco for forwarding along the following although I ain't too sure that "thanks" is the right word.  Whatever, read on for some pure wacked-out nonsense: Hello, my name is Ulrich Haarbürste and I like to write stories about Roy Orbison being wrapped up in cling-film (aka plastic wrap). If you have written any stories about Roy being completely wrapped in clingfilm please send them to me and I may put them up on the site.  Perhaps Ulrich has finally solved the "Why did Roy alway wear shades?" mystery? RIP, great man.

Tarantula holds an impressive collection of interviews with (ao) Radio Birdman, Can, MC5, Died Pretty, Gene Clark, Love and the Lime Spiders...

Mohair Sweets has a cool interview on-line with Phil King, compiler of various Junk Shop Glam CDs.

Further evidence that the Spanish are insane RnR fans comes courtesy of Nicke, guitarist with the Dee Rangers, up there in the Frozen North: Bandwise we haven't played that many gigs since last we were in touch, two gigs in Stockholm and two in Spain while recording in Gijon with Jorge from Dr. Explosion. I think the stuff will be great. Jorge is a fantastic guy and he took real pride in being the host and showed us the best restaurants and bars. There was of course only vintage gear in the studio, like a Telefunken 60's mixing table (same as Abbey road), Selmer Zodiac Twin guitar amp and Vox amps for Johnny (bass) and Parsley (keys).  Played one gig in Gijon at a jazz/blues place and it was a bad turnout tho we played good. The gig in Madrid was a blast, and if you've heard from a lot of people that the Spanish crowds are crazy and ecstatic, you've heard right! When we'd played our set Parsley and Johnny were surrounded by three-four people each stopping them from leaving the stage. I almost got to the back stage room when a guy got hold of me and pushed me a good 20 meters back to the stage... great stuff, and I hope we'll go back there soon.

I don't really wanna get into this, but how's this thing gonna work out?. Little Steven's Underground Garage Fest. I mean, Pete Best?, Nancy Sinatra?, christ even Top Ten will join the Dictators once again for this one.....
Update c/o Andy Shernoff: "Tell Jeroen this is how it is supposed to work....bands are doing very short sets...some only 2 songs. There will be one big stage encompassing 3 smaller stages. One band stops and the other band starts.... and it will all be filmed for a movie".

In The Garage is a new online resource dedicated to the Edinburgh garage/psych scene of the 1980s.  In particular the Pterodaktyls and Johnny & the Deadbeats.  The site includes an overview of the scene and a poster gallery. 

D4 news: "The D4 have been held up in a secret GEE-RIDGE-HIGH-LEVEL-RAWK 'N'RALL location which due to restrictions SET BY THE NEW ZEALAND DEPARTMENT OF ROCK'N'ROLL we are not at liberty to expose but suffice to say: they have been in London since February and are excited to drop the release of their second album "Don't Know What I Want" onto the mass public. Expect more pop + heaviness very shortly".

MAGIC CHRISTIAN LATEST!

"Sorry for the late report but i was too beat last nite and just crashed after the show. the fellas were great. yours truly got to introduce them. cyril was in great spirits and seemed to have a good time the whole night. they did a short but sweet set - robin has the set list so he can give exact details. but i think they opened with "made my bed" and closed with "too close to zero". in between were the two beatles songs, "anytime at all" and "things we said today". and the
spoonful's "my gal". they also did the beatlesque "no time to cry".
this time paul sang the end part of that. this song's turning out to be a crowd favorite - knew i was right about that one. my other fave is "she's so good" and that went over well too -- a real rock n roller which cyril obviously has fun playing.
cyril played his trademark dan armstrong thru reissue '65 fender twin reverb. he's still playing sans pick. alec palao had his beautiful gretsch bass. prairie prince couldn't make it and so they used the drummer from one of the other bands on the bill. he was okay. paul was under the weather but did a nice vocal job nevertheless.
roy loney got up and joined in on the encore, "i can see for miles".
they were very loose - but in a good way --relaxed. and not too loud. you could hear them. in some ways it was their best gig so far." - don in frisco

Saints - All Times Through Paradise (EMI, 4CD Set).
I was happy as a pig in shit late last week when, thanks to my "connections in the industry" (hah!), a review copy of the upcomin' Saints box-set landed on my doorstep; just what I needed, more CDRs and a inch thick stack o' Xeroxes!.
But Really, I hope I don't have to spell this out; the early Saints were one of the finest combos of the mid/late 70s. Punk rock before it had a name, their first two LPs are part of life's essentials. Great goddamn p-rock w/ actual "soul" 'n the kinda words that still make sense almost 30 years down the line. Besides all the originally released material from their harvest years (three LPs and a handful of 45s), there's a truckload of extras included here, like outtakes, demos 'n live stuff, just the kind o' smorgasbord us Saints fans have been waiting for, tho'God knows why they ever figured the original mix of the Hope'& Anchor tapes to be unsuitable?. But that's really my only complaint, the guitars should've been kept up LOUD on those recordings. OK, I'm nitpickin' here, just you blast this stuff at 11 and LEARN!.(Note to Jan Kooi: you may include 'Eternally Yours' in your list).

Martin Percival just sent me this link to a Mike (Ike Knox) Metoff interview you may care to peruse...

Here's a right old bloody quandry... THE RAMONES: END OF THE CENTURY
will be screened as part of the Mirrorball section of the Edinburgh International Film Festival. The screenings are on Friday 27th August @ 10pm and Saturday 28th August at 5.30pm. Both at the Cameo Cinema in Home Street, further details as they become available. Tickets went on sale today. However, I'm out of fecking town that weekend ain't I so can't attend. Guess who's wearing a big boo-boo face right about now?.

Sonic Reducer News courtesy of BKS

"Surprise visitor to Sonic Reducer - could we be more honoured?

Yus, me lovelies, the first Sonic Reducer was an unmitigated success, with a packed venue, enthusiastic crowd, copious drinking, and much rock-a-rolla action, including airings of tunes as diverse as Fats Waller Esq's The Reefer Song, KOTJ, The Ideals' Gorilla, Norma Dean's Barb Wire, and The Reatards' Youre So Lewd! However, the real surprise of the evening was a totally unexpected visit from local icon Mr Raymond Douglas Davies, who popped in to check whether London's top drinking hole, Gerry O'Boyle's The Boogaloo, did indeed have a copy of his superlative Village Green album on its wonderfully-stocked juke... The answer: YES! Mr Raymond Douglas Davies stayed around for a coupla hours and chatted with yours trulies, and was generally lovely... As you can imagine, BigKegShandy was overcome, so much so that he gave Mr D his prized copy of Tea Pad Songs Vol. 2, much to the delight of our honoured visitor, who exclaimed "This looks great, are you sure?!" ... Mr Raymond Douglas Davies even intimated that he'd love to come back and spin some 45s with us! So stay tuned to NBT for a date! So, brethren, it's FREE fun and frolics with the Sonic Reducer crew at The Boogaloo, Archway Road (Highgate tube), London N6, on Friday 23rd July, from around 7.30-11pm ... Come along and get yer lugs singed, and yer backbone well & truly slipped!"

As Brother Thewlis exclaimed... "bollocks". Arthur Kane. has left the theatre.

More info here.

After the surprise appearance of H.D. Manitoba in NYC, the recent MC5/DTK show in San Francisco featured a spot by Roy Loney (!), while those down under will get the extra bonus of Deniz Tek on guitar. More details can be found here.

This looks kinda interesting: PUNK! Kongress 2004 in Kassel (Germany) with lectures, forums, films, shows etc. Some of the names involved: Rocket From The Tombs, Andy Shernoff, Marty Thau, Mark P., Jayne County...

If you're in NY or yon immediate area...

"The word is out. The town is a-buzz, not to mention a-flutter and just plain agog, with reports of hi-pressure hillbilly boogie at Otto's Shrunken Head, 538 East 14th Street just west of Avenue B. Thursdays between the hours of 8:00 and 10:00 the Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co. deliver the finest in ballads, boogies and blues and get this children; it's all for free!

Come on down this Thursday, July 15, for two sets starting at 8:00, and see what all the fuss is about. SIT & Die Co. welcomes special guest star Bill Gerstel joining us on drums for this date. If this show fails in anyway to satisfy, either aesthetically or morally, Michael will eat his plantation tie in Macy's window. So you see you just can't lose."

After a tip off from Cap'n Sandrew McLean, a bit of digging found that the great BILL BATEMAN has been drafted in to supply the big beat for The Cramps. This would constitute a major increase in firepower methinks... we didn't dream it, it's right HERE.

For wathever reason I was in some kinda Glam mood over the past few days, and diggin' around on the web for info came across A Chronological History of English Glam Rock! (baby), both funny and informative and well worth a visit.

Henkie V. was kind enough to point out that The Scientists will be touring Europe once again in October/November. More info and dates can be found at i.b.d booking.

I did a stupid thing. I was hairing about this cyberdoodah and came across a link to garagepunk.com from the Licorice Tree site. So in me goes and I find a whole bunch of people kvetching about the Little Stevenfest bill. In particular they're getting in about The Spangles and I rushed to their defence. I'm always signing up for these "forums" and almost instantaneously regret it. One reason is that I don't actually have the time to be farting about like that. There are more serious/important issues to be dealing with but I like to look after my own y'know? All very honourable of course but ultimately pointless as these cliques are basically set up as conduits for a bloody good whine anyway. I have yet to fathom as to whether any of these detractors have actually seen the band and will endeavour to find that out. Or will I?

The 5678's have just woo-hoo'd into the UK singles chart at #28. Who coo-hooda thunk it?!

Sean from The Battlecats wrote inviting us to their show at the Lit Lounge in NYC on July 12th. Unfortunately it's not possible but maybe you can cut along? Joey and Nick from The Star Spangles dj at yon place too from time to time so it might be a hoot. Here's how the B'cats bio goes:

"The Battlecats are raw, unironic, and irrepressibly catchy. Their take on bubblegum garage-punk can be simultaneously—belligerent, exuberant, and naive. And they’re for real. Frontman Jimmy Jude is a star in the making. A prancing tornado attacking guitar, bass and microphone with wreckless bravado. Drummer Kelley Kat pounds hypnotic Moe Tucker beats while staring holes through the ceiling; guitarist Sean Beirne grins and roams the stage, while traces of the Kinks, vintage Stones and Richard Hell and the Voidoids litter the speakers. The Battlecats have taken the New Haven music scene by storm. Their new cd Made from Scratch “features seven tunes of hook-laden guitar pushed garage pop that is-no shit-catchier than the plague” says the New Haven Advocate. The disk is called Made From Scratch because it literally was—each of the initial covers were unique and hand-drawn by drummer/artist Kelley Kat—a cool reminder of what rock ‘should, or used to be’."

Well no Reigning Sound heading for these parts but what can ya do? However, The Right Raving Rev. Dan Penniman has offered the scoop on where to score the new Wreckless Eric album well prior to it's official release. Not in that illegal downloady way you understand, no - from the Goulden guy himself. Here's the info:

"Preview copies of Wreckless Eric‘s incredible new album Bungalow Hi are available at the Southern Domestic On-Line Factory Shop right now at The album is not released officially until September, so this is your chance to be the hippest scenester on the block..."

Dan also reminds us that "Amy Rigby is appearing this Sunday July 11th for free around 6pm at the Come On Down & Meet The Folks Club at the Fiddler’s Elbow, 1 Malden Road (Corner of Prince of Wales Road), London NW5. Chalk Farm Tube."

Indeed Amy is all over the UK this coming week so go see her and say howdy if you get a chance. She's had a pretty rocky start to this visit so it's your duty to go convince her that it's a good idea to be on this sceptic isle. Hit the sidebar entry and find out if she's playing near you.

"You're Brian Eno. You're a little reclusive maybe, a little quieter than most people... But man, who needs outside entertainment when your brain is like KABOOM all the time? You are innovative, creative, and intelligent. You dress flamboyantly, gravitating towards large feathers and tinsel. Everyone respects you, and looks up to you. We are not worthy, we are not worthy..."

Which rad old school 70's glam icon are you? (with pics)
brought to you by Quizilla

"You're Lou Reed. God, you are cool, can I touch you so the magic will rub off? You are perceptive, witty, and badass. You wear cool shades, even at night, and probably wear black more than most people. You don't give a fuck what other people think, but you are also very sensitive in the way that you pick up on things that others don't. Sometimes you come off as an asshole, but that's what makes you cool. You are a poet, and you embody New York City. You will still be hip when you are old, and artists love you..."
Which rad old school 70's glam icon are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

The Cramps upcoming release will hopefully cut a swathe through all these bloody bootlegs which have accumulated and come around in 7 year cycles like Walt Disney movies. Seeing as J added the info from the Mordam site, I figured that there was no need to keep the link to it. Let's hope that there's a dvd in the works maybe too. The band should be capitalising on its assets right about now and nobody could put it together better than them. I might not be down with their recent album but I know that they still have GOOD taste!

Out soon: CRAMPS - HOW TO MAKE A MONSTER (VENGEANCE, 2CD). "Reaching into the vaults, The Cramps dug up 143 minutes of previously unreleased rare tracks. Most of this is early demo and live recordings from 1976 and '77. Booklet includes extensive liner notes by Lux and Ivy and rare and unseen photos and flyers from their personal collection. The Cramps will tour the U.S. upon the release of this collection".
Update: from the Mordam site: "Displaying their disdain for the myth of musical progress, The CRAMPS reach back into the clammy womb of their prehistoric past to release HOW TO MAKE A MONSTER, a 2- disc 143 minute frightfest of previously unreleased rare tracks. Thrill to 1st ever rehearsals featuring Bryan Gregory's sister on drums and Lux Interior ripping out a guitar solo! Wonder what substance they abused during a 1982 rehearsal as they stumble through "Rumble Blues" and add an apocalyptic twist to "Lonesome Town". You'll actually hear a dope deal going on in the background during their 3rd ever live gig at Max's Kansas City! All this and more! Stupefying! Includes book with extensive liner notes by Lux and Ivy, themselves, and rare and unseen photos and flyers from their personal collection. All material previously unreleased. 1982 studio demos with the GUN CLUB's Terry Graham on drums. 3rd ever live gig at Max's Kansas City with relentless hecklers. 1 year later live at CBGB with shrieking chaos
(not the name of a band)".

Latest on The Ramones movie from Jim Fields...

Hey everyone,

Ok, here's the latest. "End of the Century: The Story of the Ramones" is going to open in 19 cities in the U.S. on August 20th! Check out www.landmarktheaters.com to see if they have a theater in your city. But if the movie does well enough it will expand to many other cities. So let's spread the word!!!!

Thanks for your support,

Jim

Will have to investigate when it's likely to hit Europe. Soon as we know, you will...

Last night finally brought the Reigning Sound into town, and boy, was it ever worth the wait. Even with a seriously stripped down line-up and a drummer who had spend exactly eight days and eight gigs with the band, this was a show of legendary proportions, no two ways about it. The whole thing that made me like the Oblivians so much, and why I'm so completely gone over the Reigning Sound's last two LPs, was laid out transparent-like in this basic setting, ie; Greg Cartwright is someone who has sponge-like soaked up all the right influences over the years (you know what they are, tho' you might want to ad a bit of Springsteen for good measure) and is able to distill something that is completely his own from just that; the kind of American music one usually associates with the likes of John Fogerty or Jerry Lee but all geared up for the new millennium. High praise indeed, but both as a singer and songwriter you can not mistake Greg for anybody else, whether he takes on ol' Everly Brothers or Lightnin' Hopkins tunes or dips into his own back-catalogue of instant classics. Couple that with a delivery that holds more downright soul than the entire "Urban" section of your local CD emporium put together, and you might begin to get the picture. God knows when they will ever return to these shores (if at all), but given' the chance of catchin' 'em in action one day, don't you ever, ever think about forsakin'.

Tony Slug's roadhog VAN-TALK dictionary.

This month's releases from Ace Records.

A new issue of Terminal Boredom is now on-line.

AIRTIGHT DT01 DISC FLATTENING SYSTEM, I could use one of these...

Lenny Helsing has been spreading the word and music of the garage/beat fraternity forever. One of the outlets he uses to preach this gospel is The Thanes who have just been anthologised (is that a word?) by REV-OLA and you, the kids (of all ages) need to be hep to that. If you never had the pleasure then this'd be a heckuva place to start.



"The Thanes - Evolver (CRREV 69) Here it is..just when you thought it was safe to listen to failed biker bar bands who've noticed The White Stripes have sold a few records..(you know who you are)..the complete history to date of Scotland's premier Garage/Beat group....nothing less than that!Whilst influencing a whole generation of bands making up today's hit Garage sound, they made (and continue to make) a series of remarkable and acclaimed records....all collected here for the first time on one great CD....the classics, the driving-collectors-mad rarities, their latest and perhaps greatest recordings.....anyone with any interest in the driving Garage Punk sound that's sweeping the world cannot miss this essential release!...It's the real deal, Lucille! Their greatest recordings right up to date, and LOUDER than ever! Check out the menu -
In God I Trust / Antenna Surprise / That's The Story Of Your Life / Static / Before I Go / Wonder If / It Can Never Be / I've Seen Darker Nights / Gone Away Girl / Please Don't Cry / Lazy Bones / Thrown Away The Key / Don't Let Her Dark Your Door Again / She's A Robber / Hey Girl (Look What You've Done) / Shipwreck / I'll Rest / Lost Or Found / Buzz Buzz (Yeh Yeh) / Baby Come Back / World Of Stone / None Of This / Girls / Who'll Be The Next In Line / Days Go Slowly By / Never Make Me Blue / It's My Pride "

THE LONG RYDERS breezed back into old Glasgow toon on the day before the 4th July. No matter what the State Of The Union is in their homeland, here’s another American band that can still very much shake it down. “We’re the MC4” said Sid to the mature gathering. Stephen McCarthy had already been out to join GREG TROOPER close his opening set with a song he co-wrote with John Seiger (who if you've being paying attention recently made a record with THE SKELETONS). Trooper does credit to his namesake. A native NJian who lives in Nashville now with a nice line in songs and patter. He must be unstoppable with a band. Anyways, “Run Dusty Run” opened the Ryders set and brought down the hammer on the Strathclyde side. It was a fine set and by the time they get this baby to Madrid then they’re really gonna fly. The whole thing was as good an example of the perfect show as it comes these days. I can’t imagine how anybody there coulda been disappointed with the choice of songs or performance. Even the odd wee fluff here and there just added to the atmos. “Lights of Downtown”,“You can’t Ride The Boxcars” and “I Had A Dream” all reminded us of how good a catalogue these guys put together in their short existence. Added to that there’s their version of one of the greatest pop songs ever recorded, NRBQ’s "I Want You Bad" (dedicated to Teenage Fanclub) and an absolutely tingling sweet version of The Groovies “I Can’t Hide”. Now, even a jaded cynic and three quarters like me kinda gets a frisson when there 300+ people in a room that seem to be able to appreciate what is patently good music. Their psychedelicisied rendition of Dylan’s “Masters Of War” was well received in the aftermath of Wee Boaby Dylans visit to the city just the week before. If you get a chance to see them then take it. I would guess that individual schedules would point to this not being something that will run and run. That said, it certainly deserves to. This was the best I ever saw them, 20+ years after the fact. We had to leave for a train during a spirited run up the flagpole of “You’re Gonna Miss Me”, once again buoyed by the fact that people were digging it. Now how come we can’t have an audience like this at every show. Now you come to think about it how come that we can’t have much of an audience at all. I'm gonna wake up wondering about that for sure. I guess Amsterdam will be good but I really wish I could take in the Spanish shows. That could be the last truly rock’n’roll country on earth and when that rickenbacker-driven intro to “I Can’t Hide” kicks in there, then the fireworks will really begin.

Is there no end to the humiliation?... it'll be Riverdance in Bin-liners next... (info from Imants Krumins via e-mole)

Just got back from the third (and last) night of the Primitive festival in Rotterdam. Reports of the first two night were positive enough with only the Von Bondies gettin' the thumbs down from just about anybody who saw 'em. Got in early and only missed the first part of the Firebirds' set, but as much as I dig 'em; they're not an opening band, these guys need time to work their crowd, and preferably somewhere around midnight at that. But it was good to see 'em in action once again anyway, even tho' they got somewhat confused at just which three chords they needed to play Florian Monday's 'Rip It Up'. Next up was the Neder-Bietels, who seem intend on preserving obscuro Dutch beat tunes. As righteous a course as any, but with the sound bein' somewhat muffled and the singer's voice hoarse, they failed to ignite any kind of response. No sparks were flyin' either when the Remains took the stage. Good as their songs are, whatever fueled their engine way back when has obviously run dry. At that point (right in the middle of 'All Good Things Come To An End'!) a quick return trip home suddenly materialized, and even tho' I would have loved seein' the Chesterfield Kings save the day, gettin' home three to four hours earlier than expected was too temptin' a proposition to resist. So yeah, it was a bit disappointin'', but the idea for these kinda fests is A-OK with me, and this will hopefully be the first of many to come...
Besides all that it was good to shake hands once again with a number of people who I rarely see otherwise. You know who you are; Cheers !.

Grahame Bent's frontline report detailing THE STOOGES assault on Glasgow Green's DOWNLOAD anti-bill for those of us who wouldn't stump up the 40+ quid.

Mr Vahlberg also observes that Sympathy are to release all the unavailable GUN CLUB action in October. Always down with providing the best in public service, you are urged to visit the SFTRI site as provided in the sidebar here.