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)