A COLD NIGHT IN HULL... new Amy Rigby diary entry...

The constant media bombardment of what's gone down in Indonesia, etc. is bordering on the ghoulish. The utter devastation and loss is unfathomable and only goes to show what the elements are capable of. In a nowhere near comparable situation, a few years ago in San Francisco, I had something of an altercation with the ocean. Down to my own stupidity granted but the thought or prospect of drowning was accentuated for me that day and let's just say this kinda brings it all back. I was lucky, many thousands in this instance didn't have a prayer. They were snuffed out going about their daily business, not by "the terrorists" that our governments use as bogeymen to jump all over our privacy but by the earth itself. To come back to something I've probably said before, it's never those that deserve such a fate that have to stare it down. Under such circumstances, the prospect of "a happy new year (when it comes)" isn't really an option for the people who have been affected. Now even more than ever, I have exactly nada to whine about.

Anyway, in an attempt to lighten the darkness around us and in answer to several requests, I've put together a small resumé of "mere entertainment" that has coloured my 2004. In no particular order than alphabetical then...

Records...

Dave Alvin - Ashgrove (YepRoc)
Eric Ambel - Knucklehead (Lakeside Lounge)
Boonaraaas - Go Get Goo Goo (Thunderbaby)
Demolition Doll Rods - On (Swami)
Electrocute - Troublesome Bubblegum (Emperor Norton)
Fatboy - Steelhearted (Look Left)
Peter C. Johnson - Soul Sherpa (Hi-n-Dry)
Messer Chups - Vamp Babes (Solnzer)
Reigning Sound - Too Much Guitar (In The Red)
The Scoundrelles - Organic Molecules In Action! (Negative)
The Solution - Communicate! (Sweet Nothing/Wild Kingdom)
Suzy Y Los Quattro - Ready To Go (No Tomorrow)

Live...

CZD/Boonaraaas - Lolitabar, Kassel, Germany
Rocket From The Tombs/Alternative TV - IngSchulze, Kassel, Germany
Barracudas/Nomads - La Maroquinerie - Paris, France
Roy Loney (acoustic) - La Maroquinerie - Paris, France
Dave Alvin and the Guilty Men - Renfrew Ferry, Glasgow
Jerry "The Geator" Blavatt at Bubba Mac's, Somer's Point, NJ

Special Achievement Andy Dunkley Award -
The Sonic Reducer Wrecking Crew on (UK) tour with The Detroit Cobras

TV Moment

Sopranos Season 5 - Uncle Junior watching Larry David on TV and thinking it was him.

Films

End Of The Century
Bubba Ho-Tep
I Like Killing Flies
Goldirocks

New albums comin' atcha in 2005... Amy Allison, Angel Corpus Christi, Hacienda Brothers, Amy Rigby, The Star Spangles, Stereo Total, Voladoras and a ton more I'm sure. The Bambi Molesters will also be touring Europe soon so watch this here infoportal for dates as they become available.

Artie Shaw has left the theatre...



(Photo from www.artieshaw.com)

Whilst clearing up to get to thinking about taking on this upcoming 2005 thing, I came across a bunch of cd’s that are looking for good homes. So I’m offering these up for adoption. One per household, all you gotta do is supply yer snail mail address by sending an e-mail specifying your preferred title via the contact button on yer left there. All the names received up to midnight on Hogmanay (31st December GMT) will go into the tartan bunnett and a list of successful claimants will be published on New Years Day, i’ll pick up the postage tab. Maybe as some kinda gesture you could make a donation to the Tsunami Relief Fund but that’s up to you.

The items that be up for grabs are:

Redd Kross: Show World. - Great record. You should have it already but just incase…

The Bamboo Kids – latest on Get Hip

The Priests – Tall Tales (Get Hip)

Sleepykid – Monday Morning Smile (Get Hip)

It Was 40 Years Ago Today – A Tribute to The Beatles. (Bullseye Canada): A 2 cd set. I don’t like The Beatles and I don’t need a tribute to them no matter how well intentioned.

I Was A Teenage Munster – Great sampler that includes The Gun Club. Real Kids and Demolition Doll Rods plus plenty more.

So there y’go… good luck with making a score…

A concerned citizen from SF, California has just brought this to my attention...

Not One Damn Dime Day" - Jan 20, 2005 (Mark your calendars now)

"Since our religious leaders will not speak out against the war in Iraq, since our political leaders don't have the moral courage to oppose it, Inauguration Day, Thursday, January 20th, 2005 is "Not One Damn Dime Day" in America. On "Not One Damn Dime Day" those who oppose what is happening in our name in Iraq can speak up with a 24-hour national boycott of all forms of consumer spending.

During "Not One Damn Dime Day" please don't spend money. Not one dime for gasoline. Not one dime for necessities or for impulse purchases. Not one dime for nothing for 24 hours. Please don't go to the mall or the local convenience store. Please don't buy any fast food (or any groceries at all for that matter). For 24 hours, please do what you can to shut the retail economy down.

The object is simple. Remind the people in power that the war in Iraq is immoral and illegal; that they are responsible for starting it and that it is their responsibility to stop it.

"Not One Damn Dime Day" is to remind them, too, that they work for the people of the United States of America, not for the international corporations and K Street lobbyists who represent the corporations and funnel cash into American politics.

"Not One Damn Dime Day" is about supporting the troops. The politicians put the troops in harm's way. Now 1,200 brave young Americans and (some estimate) 100,000 Iraqis have died. The politicians owe our troops a plan - a way to come home.

There's no rally to attend. No marching to do. No left or right wing agenda to rant about. On "Not One Damn Dime Day" you take action by doing nothing.

You open your mouth by keeping your wallet closed.

For 24 hours, nothing gets spent, not one damn dime, to remind our religious leaders and our politicians of their moral responsibility to end the war in Iraq and give America back to the people."

Why don't we just roll it all out across the whole damn planet? If you don't agree with these reasons for doing it then just do it for devilment. It'll work better with more currencies involved.

In a (probably vain) attempt to counterbalance some of the excessive food and drink intake during the weekend I went out today for a 20 mile hike, during which I passed Manitobadrive somewhere on the outskirts of town. It doesn't really go anywhere but it is nice to know that some of that Teengenerate spirit rears it's head in cityhall occasionally.

Hot on the heels of the news that she signed with Matador, Radio Scotland will broadcast a segment of the Laura Cantrell show from the Queens Hall, Edinburgh that was recorded last August. It goes out between 11pm and midnight tomorrow night (Wednesday 29th).

Here's something pretty groovy you folks might like to while away yr time with... (thanks for the tip Marty).

The tumbling tumbleweeds are blowing through blogland. There are other fish to fry at the moment but I managed to finish the Suicide book. I think it's pretty good in the main if a tad padded out with peripherals. It's pretty obvious that their influence is everywhere these days and like I said before I'm not down with some of the "scenesters" that've been dragged out as celebrity skin. It could do with more of those who were there at ground zero. It could also do with more photos and posters and the like. I remember back in the days of Simple Minds first rumblings that Jim Kerr was obsessed with Suicide and wore a Red Star badge all the time. Evidence can be found on the sleeve of their first album, Life In A Day. No Compromise might fit the band it covers but there may have been a few of those on the way to publishing. The fact that there is a Suicide book is perhaps enough. I hope that somebody has the chops to publish Joe Bonomo's Fleshtones tome in 2005.

Well here we are. Another Christmas Day and the hatches of the bunker are well and truly batoned down and I expect it to be like I'm the only person here on earth for at least another hour. Coffee and donuts are calling and I'm gonna get to that before I start to type up the "tune info" for my dad's cd album that he made over the course of this past year. It's been quite a project and with the aid of the great Davie Scott, it's turned out pretty good for pipe music. I used to have quite the aversion to the sound of the pipes. Probably because I was dragged to Pipe Band competitions until I was old or savvy enough to opt out. My plan to have him do "Dream Baby Dream" never quite manifested itself but that's another angle for another day. I also have a some great new sonic action to provide the soundtrack to the graft, two tasty comps from Siegfried "Kalle" Kalus and the incredible Vamp Babes by Messer Chups from out there in Moscow where it's probably way colder than it is here right now.

Looking outta the bunker periscope, theres a slight smattering of the white stuff so we're having a (kinda) white christmas. I have no plans to investigate it further than that. There are blizzards just a wee bit up the road but the oil refinery here provides us with a warm glow that keeps the elements at bay (sometimes). To the kettle then... I hope y'all make it outta the other side of today relatively intacto.

Suicide, No Compromise by David Nobakht (S.A.F.).
Ramones (photographs) by Chip Dayton (Omnibus).
The fact that there finally is a book on Suicide has got to be worth something, and after having finished it's last few pages earlier tonight, I can do naught but recommend it to anyone with even the slightest interest in the band. Because, yes, this book tells Vega and Rev's story in detail. Working methods, factual data and a bunch of, at least to me, new facts. And for just that it gets the thumbs up, case closed blippety blah... But one thing really annoyed me here; once again this book is mainly a cut 'n paste job. Besides the quotes from those involved, there's also way too much room for these dumbfuck popstars whose inclusion is either to sell some extra copies or return some of their long lost street cred. And why bother to include a line from every other Suicide review that was ever published?, is it because the writer himself is unable to explain the beauty, importance or whatever of the band, or that maybe he just can't be bothered?. Another thing: the book goes at length tellin' us that there wouldn't have been no Soft Cell, Depeche Mode, Ministry or techo/electro garbage if it wasn't for Suicide, which certainly ain't no compliment from my particular point of view. Hardly, or no mention is made of the Scientists, Spaceman 3 or Chrome Cranks, bands that actually understood Suicide's r'n'r edge. There is a serious difference between the music of Vega and Rev and that which merely serves as a soundtrack for excessive male bonding rituals. Anyway, it's something that infects 90% of all rock books, so it's maybe a bit harsh to single out Nobakht as a main target, but I just had to get that of my chest.
The latest addition to the Ramones' bookshelf really can't be described as anything else but a hackjob. Sure, there some great images in here (all from the 70s), but there's no explanation whatsoever about the who's, why's or where's. Nor is it chronological as Tommy and Marky appear and disappear seemingly at random. If only a bit thought had went into this it could have been so much better and actually worthwhile. But hey, a quick buck is a quick buck...

A typical scotsman limbering up for the impending festivities. Don't try the shortbread trick at home, this man is a professional. Anyways, got a lotta Santa type running about to do now. Have a good one troops...

Holiday greetings, dear friend-

Won't you please join Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co. for a hearty, three-course, bi-borough helping of Christmas cheer to close out the year (in the festive form of our patented "ballads, boogies & blues", naturally)? Think of it as a turkey dinner, just without the carbs that seem to trouble so many. Ho ho ho!

Michael, SITandDieCo.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23rd ~ OTTO'S SHRUNKEN HEAD ~
538 East 14th Street (just west of Avenue B) in Manhattan ~ Two sets, from 8:00 until 10:00 sharp ~ No cover!

MONDAY, DECEMBER 27th ~ PETE'S CANDY STORE ~
709 Lorimer Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn ~ One set at 10:00 ~ No cover!

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30th ~ OTTO'S SHRUNKEN HEAD ~
538 East 14th Street (just west of Avenue B) in Manhattan ~ Two sets, from 8:00 until 10:00 sharp ~ And, yet again, no cover!

Figured it'd be a poignant exercise to stop by the place I worked for 26-ish years up to April there. Took this photo to make into a Christmas card that would speak directly to those who would still rather be there as well as raise a middle digit to those who "love the new digs". It's true, the new place has an amazing view from where I sit. Maybe I'll share it with you one of these days. The brainwashed and the buttlickers (some are both) can often be heard lauding the panoramic vista. It's the party line and it sickens me. I used to like to head for the hills with visitors, etc but now I feel like heading for the metaphorical hills.

Back to my crappy wee office where you could see exactly nothing outta the window but where you didn't have to earwig the most gut-wrenchingly inane conversations. Where you could just shut the door and get on with yer work. Those were the days. As were some of the good times that were had in this old howff. Soon the land it stood on will be awash with new, vastly overpriced houses. Filled with people with more money than sense that never knew the characters who made it bearable over the years. They know who they are, wherever they may be, on this earth or elsewhere. However as Mr Thunders put it, "you can't put yer arms around a memory" and this just compounds the humiliation.

Interested in downloading a recent concert recording by the Fleshtones for free?

eMusic.com has an 18 song live album recorded by the 'tones back in the summer as part of Little Steven's Battle of the Bands in Chicago. The files are in the MP3 format and the track listing runs something like this:

House of Rock; Right on Woman; Do You Swing?; Destination Greenpoint, USA; 10 Dollars More; Ready For the Mountain; Double Dipper; The Dreg; I Want More; I Wanna Feel Something Now; Hard Lovin' Man; Tearing Me Apart; Girl From Baltimore; Love Machine; Burnin' Hell; My Kind of Lovin' / The Crossroads; Alright.

eMusic is a subscription site although there is currently a special offer of 50 free tracks in return for registering your details with them. Please note that you will need to download the eMusic Download Manager (1.3Mb) in order to save the tracks to your PC/Mac.

Are you ready to swing? If so, then head for:

http://www.emusic.com/album/10826/10826737.html

2004: You asked for it...

Albums:
1.Reigning Sound - Too Much Guitar
2.Boonaraaas - Go Get Goo Goo
3.Ghetto Ways - Ghetto Ways
4.Blues Explosion - Damage
5.22-20's - 22-20's
6.Sirens - Sirens
7.Hives - Tyranosaurus Hives
8.Solution - Communicate!
9.The Girls - The Girls
10.Sack-O'-Woes - Sack-O'-Woes

Re-issues:
1. v/a - Super Funk 4
2.Reverend Charlie Jackson - God's Got It
3.v/a - Fort Worth Teen Scene 1-3

Live
MC 5/DTK - Amsterdam
Fleshtones/Metal Urbain - Lille
Nomads/Barracudas/Roy Loney - Paris
Reigning Sound - Utrecht

Been reading the Suicide book which finally arrived. It's pretty good but the Bobby Gillespie quote on the front is typical of his nebby persona. I have never rated Primal Scream but accept that they can "stage manage" an amalgam of the greatest groups which ever existed without going out as an abject "covers" band. Boners tuppence worth is on the book jacket too and doesn't anybody (particularly publishers) get that people don't seem to pick stuff up on the back of recommendations of other folks in groups anymore. If they did then The Reigning Sound would rule the world right now then we really could have a Merry Christmas (right, Joss?). Anyways, Mr Stigliano's view of NO COMPROMISE is available for you in the BTC suite so go check that out. I'll get back to you when I've digested the whole thing.

Meanwhile, Murray R has dug up some stuff that you might like to check out... first the unearthing of yet more STOOGES recorded dirt on Easy Action Records.



A Ramone-related interview with Ricky Bacchus

... and finally, Murray's combo SHOCK and AWE (which could be translated also into Shock an'a' depending on your Scots dialect) is playing in Edinburgh soon and there are also some mp3's for you to check out. Murray is currently recovering from seeing The Rezillos in Edinburgh last night. Gran'paw didn't go because he was washing what's left of his hair...

Actually that's not true. The last time I saw them was at the dreaded Garage in Glasgow and the show, well let's just say it wasn't terrific. Too many new songs with Fay dominating the whole thing. Thankfully they appear to be back on form so we missed out this time. Them is the breaks...

I found out the other day that my Yahoo Group thing has been bouncing back messages. Typical. In catching up I found this from Ben that should be up you folks street. I'm a little so-so on these tribute things but the Girl Trouble and Doll Rod inclusions make it pretty much mandatory.

"UNRECORDING RECORDS is very proud to annouce their debut release.
It will be 2XLP, first 500 with bonus 7'. You'll love it. Thanks."



1. ELVIS' CORPSE REVISITED: sex beat
2. COWBOYS FROM OUTER SPACE: preaching the blues
3. THE COME ONS: promise me
4. BARE ASS MINIMUMS: she's like heroin to me
5. THE COOL JERKS: for the love of Ivy
6. THE MAGNETIX: fire spirit

1. DEMOLITION DOLL RODS with Niagara: ghost on the highway
2. BLANCHE: jack on fire
3. MIGHTY GO GO PLAYERS: black train
4. SPEEDBALL BABY: cool drink of water
5. FLYTRAP: goodbye watermelow johnny

1. DM BOB AND THE DEFICITS: mother of earth
2. THE OUBLIETTES: my dreams
3. THE FATALS: sleepin' in blood city
4. THE DIRTBOMBS: lupita scream
5. GIRL TROUBLE: death party
6. THE JAKES: the stranger in our town

1. SONIC CHICKEN 4: like calling up the thunder
2. ANDY G AND THE ROLLER KINGS: bad indian
3. THE REBEL(aka B.R.WALLERS): devil in the woods
4. SUNDAY ADA: the house of highland ave
5. TEPPAZ ET NAZ: devil in the woods
6. GUITAR FUCKER: your man's feelin low
7. THE DEAD BROTHERS: mother of earth

BONUS45: (500/1000Lp)
Side A: LUCAS TROUBLE: mother of earth
Side B: ULTRALOVE: mother of earth"

The anticipation of the new Stereo Total album comin' out to save the planet is almost too much but the French Fan Site has the skinny for y'all... it also mentions that Brezel has a solo thing going on in...

"PARIS : Stereo Total spend december in Paris. Brezel takes some french course, while Francoise goes shopping. Both of them will be at l'Ile Enchantée, december 23, for a free Brezel solo performance. The address : 65 Bd de La Villette, 75010 Paris. Metro station : Colonel Fabien. Achtung, 21h sharp! You can see the flyer I did on the right, with the Alexanderplatz on a DDR red background. Mister Goering should also has a new solo vinyl coming soon."

Wish we could go...

As the season of faux goodwill really gets to kicking in, I'm sitting here listening to The Bitch Boys cds that arrived today. More about those when they're properly digested. This Slovenian Surf action is just what the doc ordered as a remedy to the piped crap that soiled my lug'oles earlier this afternoon. Yep, The "Best" Christmas Album Of All Eternity was doing heavy rotation in the few stores I dragged myself into. I had a dentists appoinment but the real suffering came in the shape of them terrible tunes that get dusted off each October to December 25th that the scumhordes like to provide the sorry soundtrack to their Nobby Williams infested lives. It powers their pathetic feeding frenzy like an eight pack of Duracells. I know it shouldn't bother me but it does. Why is anybody surprised that internet shopping is up 100% or whatever? Because there's f-all in the shops. Or at least most of them. And who wouldn't rather have their gear delivered to their home as opposed to trudging around a bunch off ill-stocked, impulse buyer traps. Anyways, those BB waves are lapping over me and all is relatively right with what passes for the world. My short dabble in the madness wasn't pretty and the manoeuvres probably aren't over so I imagine there'll be some bobbing and weaving going on over the weekend. Some kicking and screaming and dragging too but we'll see.

Yours aye,

Seasons Greetin' Face, the original Bah Humbugger

Not much time for goofing off in the ol' locale at the minute, what passes for normal service will resume in due course.

"Wir ain" Laura Cantrell is recording an album for worldwide release on Matador Records in Spring 2005.

A chat with the Devil Babe hersel', Isabel Samaras.

Mr Percival has directed we to this excellent Ramones Discography. How complete can too complete be!

The Seasonal Entertainment continues....

If some of you are in Fr.stad, Norway on friday... The Crypt presents:

THE ROKYS (Sweden) + THE MOODS (Oslo, Norway)
Friday 17th December 2004 kl. 21.00 Dis Cafe, Fredrikstad, Norway

Swedish tribute to the great Rocky Erickson with guest artist, supported by excellent Norwegian band The Moods. With member from such great bands as Lust-O-Rama, Peau De Peche and Highrollers, performing their mix of soul, freakbeat and garagerock. So get in the Xmas spirit with some great music. And as alway supries to the first 50 guest and The Cryps excellent DJ¹s spinning disc.

Best, Tom Erik Kristoffersen, Sneakers Records

OK, time to explain my absence on this here NBT blog.; been working on a thing I named the DUTCH PUNK AND NEW WAVE 45s DISCOGRAPHY 1975-1979. Go take a look if you're inclined to such matters, any additional info and/or scans are really appreciated!.

The latest news from Brooklyn is that the Master Plan are currently laying down songs for their next LP in a studio in Williamsburg. Once the basic tracks are done then overdubs will be recorded at Andy Shernoff's apartment. This disc will be a very homemade affair but expect the usual high quality songwriting and a positive attitude. The licensing details are still to be finalised.

The Fleshtones are slated to go into Rick Miller’s studio from January 11th to the 16th. Keith Streng indicates that the idea is to do half of the record with Rick and then do the other half in Detroit with Jim Diamond at Ghetto Recordings. The band start with Jim on March 31st and finish on April 4th. This is once again for Yep Roc Records and the potential release date is set for the end of August '05.

The Crypt Kicker 5 are a punked-up Garage skiffle ensemble from Stockholm that include Joachim Nomad amongst their number. They have a fine cd single not exactly commercially available entitled Redeemer which you privileged folks can maybe get your mitts on via the aforementioned gent. Contact him via The Nomads site (which as you know is on the sidebar there) and expect a quasi-gospel fervour to their sweary rattle and hum that I think y'all would dig.

Hello out there in Rezillo-land... RADIO CLYDE SESSION... The Rezillos Radio Clyde session will be broadcast on Sunday 12th December on the Billy Sloan show (7:00 PM - 10:00 PM). For those in the UK with Wireless contraptions, Radio Clyde is available for your listening pleasure at 102.5 - Listen in on the 'net by clicking here and hitting "LISTEN LIVE". During the broadcast time of course...

Not sure if this stuff is available after the fact but e-mail 'em and ask if you see fit.

These Spanish kids sure have a way with words...

We still watch Top of the Pops. Shocking I know because we could be watching Coronation Street or some obscure dvd or something. We could even be out socialising but bugger that for a game of soldiers. Anyway, we watch it whilst flicking channels whenever something particularly heinous comes on. There's a lot of flicking...

Anyway last night, a group called babyshambles were on there. They include that utter pillock from the equally boke-inducing Libertines that are (allegedly) all the rage. He looks like a gene-crash between Mark E Smith and Jarvis Cocker. As for his band, they're not babies but they are a shambles and not in a good way - so he's half-right. Anyway, in my opinion this waste of space has been copping some Ian Wilson moves. And I'll be darned if the stylist for the guitarist to the left of him isn't going for the Tommy Volume look. I want it noted here and now that when the Star Spangles come back to promote their next album, and some sad sack compares them to Doherty's latest exercise in average, well, there'll be a ruckus. Anybody who is daft enough to want to pay to see these losers in London this week (I think?) oughtta get there early to see The IV's. They've got the beat on how it oughtta be done.

Murray Ramone imparted the news that a lot of you kids have been waiting for. You've read the reviews, now you'll actually be able to see the film countrywide (I hope).

The silly season is comin' in dead stick but hang in there. The scumhordes are polishing up their false bonhomie as we speak but they won't get we. Anyways, I know it's been thin pickin's this week but we'll rectify that in due course. At this point, I leave for the office and it's pitch black. By coming home time it's dark too and the general "darkness" (and we ain't talking that caterwauling dork here) generated during the day has kinda run down my blogging batteries a tad. I'm sure the other guys are equally tied up. So yeah... I guess you get the drift?

Martin Percival coming at you barely functioning after 2 Rezillos gigs and driving 750 miles in the last 48 hours...



The first Rezillos gigs in 21 months were both terrific. Was all the travelling worth it? Definitely! The action started on Friday morning with me picking up the 4 US fans who had journeyed over for the dates (Kitty, Tony & Justin from NYC and Andrew from Chicago) from the 3 different flights they were coming in on at Heathrow. What could have been a disaster from a co-ordination viewpoint actually clicked - much though I hate them, what would we do without mobile phones at times like that?! So by 12.30 we were on the road heading up the M1 to Newcastle.

A journey that should have taken 6 hours max ended up taking over 8 due to heavy traffic and some pretty crap driving conditions. The lights of Newcastle were therefore a very welcome sight as we eventually drove over the Tyne bridges and into Jesmond where the gig was to take place in Archer's, a local music pub. The gig had deliberately been kept low key with billings of "Mystery Action" on Rezillos.com for several weeks and "Insangel" on the local promoter's poster with a 1977 vintage Rezillos live photo for artwork. Clearly the locals had figured it all out though, word had spread and 200 tickets had already been sold for the 150 capacity venue a few days before the gig - oh boy!

I'll not spoil the surprise for the people seeing them in Scotland soon by saying too much about the evenings set but, suffice to say, the 5 very strong new songs plus the cover of Edwin Starr's "25 miles" went down very well as did the appearance of the Pretty Thing's "Rosalyn" in a Rezillos set for the first time since 1977!

The Newcastle gig did suffer from a poor pa, a very over sold venue and, by their own admittance a slightly under rehearsed band but it was still a terrific night and I don't think anyone there will have been disappointed. I met a local guy called Steve who told me he'd been waiting 26 years for the gig!

So the next morning it was up and out to head back to London for the show at the LA2/Mean Fiddler/whatever they call the venue now. Fortunately the journey was straight forward, with even time to sample the delights of the "Selectadisc" record store in Nottingham on the way!

The gig wasn't quite sold out but, on a Saturday night ("there's sure gonna be a fight"....we'll come on to that later!) that also saw the Undertones headlining at the much smaller Garage venue in Highbury just a few miles away, it was a very decent turn out and the venue must have been at least 80% full to capacity. The audience was surprisingly wild by London standards with much crowd surfing and at least 4 or 5 stage invaders, including one guy who Eugene rode like a horse during "Destination Venus" and another who Eugene used as a "demonstration prop" to punctuate the second encore of "Head Kicked in Tonight" - ouch! A wild, wild night! The set was also changed around quite a bit from Newcastle and saw the welcome reappearance of "No". The rough edges of the previous show had been smoothed out at soundcheck and the band were on top form.

Anyone going to Sheffield tonight or the Scottish dates in 2 weeks time should prepare themselves for a real treat! Be sure to take some of your christmas pressie cash with you too as there's a very nice line in t-shirts and other stuff on Willy's merch stall.

So what does the future hold? A recent Radio Clyde session and interview with Billy Sloan should be broadcast very soon and 2005 will see the release of this session together with the bands 2 John Peel sessions from 1977 and 1978 on the Damaged Goods label under the billing of "Rezillos Radio Times". Next year will also see a return visit to the US for another tour following on from the successes of the bands 2002 trip.

Anyone who's a fan of high energy live shows in a rocky/poppy/punk style will still love the Rezillos!

Some time ago now I brought THE BAMBI MOLESTERS Sonic Bullets album to your attention. Not your average bunch of instro toting folks by any stretch of the wildest imagination. And now it seems that the world will be able to catch on to this Eastern European phenomenon, because they’re getting ready to play all over Europe and beyond when Warners unleash their wares upon the world. But who are they? Well go do your homework. I'll try to describe what they sound like but words can’t exactly do their angle on cinematic instrumental music justice. There’s a sense of isolation which infuses the end product with a hybrid vigour lost on many a mere “surf combo”. Those who interfere with the little woodland creature swing and then some.



Sonic Bullets is fleshed out by Peter Buck, Scott McCaughey, Chris Eckman and Eduardo Martinez but its the band itself which makes it really tick. When you go to their site there are all kinds of audio and video clips for you to check out which endorse the fact that we’re dealing with something special here. Something that goes an extra couple yards. They’ve also made an album as THE STRANGE with The Walkabouts Chris Eckman which you can investigate on the site also. The moody and evocative “Nights of Forgotten Films” which provides something way beyond themes for imaginary westerns. There’s a sinewy slow burn to their music which stretches a broad canvas before you to pretty much give you free reign to let that mind of yours off the leash for a bit. So let’s hope they come and hit up places close to all of us. The merest chance that they might is enough to make me want 2005 to get its bahookie over here sooner rather than later.

Mr M. Percival Esq sent me a link to the LOWDOWN review of End of the Century but I think we've od'd on those for now. However, this Danish webzine is pretty good and there's a bunch of things on there for NBT readers to have a wee tootle aboot...

Looking for some Christmas Music that won't make you spew? Well our pal Jon Graboff has just the package for you in the shape of FOR CHRIST'S SAKE.

Hey troops... this (literally) just in from Brother Don in SF...

THE VELVET UNDERGROUND PLAY PORTLAND by Ryan Dirks

Subtitled How an Original Velvet Underground Acetate Wound Up in Portland
(And Could Be the Most Expensive Record in the World!)

Watched the Brian Wilson Smile documentary that David Leaf made about the reinvention of the piece that helped tip BW over the edge. It's very good and should warm the cockles of the very hardest heart. Clocking it also reminded me that I hadn't hepped you folks to Neo.



A NY-based project of Marc Silvert who was in The Revelons, responsible for the timeless (The Way You Touch) My Hand - as popularised by those Nomads. Anyways, not only is it a trip for Beach Boys enthusiasts, it also sounds like Todd Rundgren playing cream of Glasgow pop with a little TFC and a lot of Pearlfisherisms in there. Buy this one via CD Baby or contact Marc directly at thyrdeye@msn.com to score a copy.



Talking about The Pearlfishers, their "A Sunflower At Christmas" finds Davie + Co in their own Winter Wonderland on Marina Records. A place where BW, Burt Bacharach and that Ennio Morricone geezer come together to make a sound that nearly only they (and Neo) can.

Playlist: It's been about two months so I figure it's about time for another playlist from this end. Been on a serious Flamin' Groovies bender once again, a re-occurring habit of course, with their Sire-era material gettin' the most frequent spins on the Hi-Fi. Too bad this material is currently hardly available in any decent format, with the Groovies' Greatest Grooves CD bein' a surrogate thingy at best as it omits such eternal faves like Take Me Back and Good Laugh Mun. It's such an obvious job for Rhino to put matters straight here, but maybe they're too busy compiling more Grateful Dead box-sets. Anyways, besides the above two, Between The Lines, I Can't Hide and You Tore Me Down round up my current Groovies top 5. More pop tunes; Chris Stamey - The Summer Sun, Chilton produced masterpiece that works especially well in these dark days before christmas. Pretenders - Stop Your Sobbing, their first and best, with Nick Lowe at the controls they turn this Ray Davies song into a big Spector-ish production job, easily one of the best girl group 45s of the 70s along w/ X-Offender. Bram Tchaikovsky - Sarah Smiles (original 45 version), a minor radio hit over here way back in the day that still blows me away every time I hear it, what ever happened to Bram?. Nomads - Crystal Ball, our Swedish friends at their poppiest , best spun back-to-back w/ the Ramones' Poison Heart. Dwight Twilley Band - Sincerely, genius 1975 psychedelic-pop masterpiece, backwards guitars 'n all. On to the other stuff; Turbines - Wah-Hey, pulled this out after hearin' the A-Bones version again on the recent 2CD set, way big soundin' twang w/ a chorus that's perfect to sing along to when drunk. Blues Explosion - Burn It Off, the perfect tune to get elderly Stones fans out of their self-inflicted coma, would have been a highlight on Exile On Main Street. 22-20s - Devil In Me (see below). Paladins - Follow Your Heart, these guys often get a bit too workman-like, but this early 45 is easily their finest moment. Unholy Trinity - Rise To The Occasion (mini LP), recommended by Mark Giddens in response to my last playlist, I scored a copy of this for 99 cents on eBay. When the Sid Presley Experience split all attention focused to the Godfathers, but the other remaining SPE members came up w/ this pretty solid, but completely overlooked, 6 track disc. Most of the material stems from the SPE setlist if memory serves me right and only suffers from a typically weak 80s production job. Good stuff tho' (thanks Mark!). More general, the followin' have been doin' the 33/45 rounds as well; James Brown, CCR, Boonaraaas, Poison 13, Carl Perkins (nothin' beats his country weepers on Sun!) and in tribute to the recently departed Errol Thompson such long standing reggae faves like Culture's Two Sevens Clash, the African Dub series and Prince Far I's Under Heavy Manners. That's it for this go 'round, more as it happens...

RIP: Willem Duyn. Besides bein' responsible for some of the worst music imaginable, Duyn was also leadsinger in the final line-up of the Jay-Jays.

One of the few positive aspects of this past week was to hear from BEN WEASEL. As you know (or maybe don't), Screeching Weasel was a very special beastie indeed which I came to late in their existence. Always way more than just Ramonealongapunk as some lazy bastards with cloth ears might have you believe, their body of work is unreservedly recommended. As is that of The Riverdales, who I found out had a third album out that I never knew about. Check into Weasel Manor and have a ferret aboot. (I couldnae resist that... a wee bit of uncharacteristic levity)

What a combination - a great band in one of the finest bars on earth!

"C'mon - misbehave with Miss Beehives!

I'm pleased to inform that your favourite hair-high ladies' orchestra will be turning five on December 11th. Celebration will run amok in the basement at Garlic & Shots, Stockholm from 9pm. If you can't be there in body - make sure you attend in spirits and raise your glass to us... xxx"

Those VOLADORAS lassies have completed work on their full length debut and it's a stoatir. More about that down the road apiece though...

Flyin' Brian requests it be known that "Newcastles very own('n' unwanted) kings of BUZZPUNKPOWERPOPROCKACTIONDELUXE, THE ILLEGAL MOVERS head out to their home from home in Spain for a lost weekend...

9th December: Madrid - Sala Juglar w/ los suckin' dicks

10th Decemmber: Madrid - Sala Custom w/ los chicos/lascivos (party for r'n'r photo site www.marusheena.com )

11th December: Valencia - Sala Mogambo

12th December: Ulldecona - La Ermita

Fresh swag in the new year will include a split 45 with The Real Losers on Ken Rock(both bands crankin out a home baked toon 'n' a cover of The Zeros "Beat Your Heart Out), a new album (inc. a cover of the 'tators Loyola) 'n' a usa jaunt."

This month's releases from Ace Records.

Hey Brethren,

Well, yer ever-lovin' 'Reducer Tag Team survived a mammoth run of 11 DJ dates during November, despite the combined power of Rachel Nagy's left hook, the world's largest breweries and the vagaries of the British Rail timetable ... Consequently, we're pleased as punch-drunk to reveal that the Sonic Reducer crew have got the festive season sorted for all'a yer drinkin', dancin', and falling-over needs ...

Saturday December 11th will see a special guest DJ (whose fave festive record is Clarence Carter's Back Door Santa) take a turn on the wheels of polycarbonate, while our good pal Andy 'the Perry' Perry makes a hasty return to the fray on the 17th, to help celebrate Joss's birthday (the old scrote).

Dinnae forgit, we're now spinning them platters until 1.30am, and our last sesh was packed-aht, so get there 'Liz Hurley' in the evening, if you want enuff room to let yer backbone REALLY slip.

Much respect to y'all, and be sure to have a ball, cos if you can remember Christmas afterwards, you weren't giving it yer all!

Be good to yer peoples! And raise a glass (or three) for those who have gone...

Selah!

Joss & Joe

The latest edition of the online trakMARX magazine features (ao) Crime, Kris Needs, Billy Childish, Wreckless Eric, Jowe Head, plus a 56 page history of the Damned in PDF format.

Mr Tony Thewlis just contacted me to intimate that KEVIN COYNE passed away last night. No other info at present. Our thoughts are with Rob and Eugene and also their other family members.

However, it looks like circumstances will prevail that we'll be exactly no place. Not even attending The Radio Sweethearts re-grouping at Lauries in Glasgow tha' nicht. Apologies for the lack of posting and general correspondence right about now. Circumstances are prevailing which are somewhat outta my control but as always this'll wane - hopefully sooner rather than yon other option.

However, if I was in Madrid tonight - I'd be here...

Tonight (Dee-zember 2nd) in NYC at Otto's Shrunken Heid...



If I was there... I'd be there.