A NEW "NEW YEAR" SONG!

Fiveteen Things from Twenty Twenty Four (not including hours to go)

I don’t write much here anymore but an effort to post most days this month has been made. Looked at the ‘stats, there’s been an (alleged) 60,000 plus visits during December. Don’t think that’s translated into landslide sales for any of the artists but one never knows who is looking or listening. Here’s a wee resumé of the past 12 months. In alphabetical order (natch)... 

Coco Bar/Coco Cocido 

During Wurlifest, the chance to get locals and visitors came together at my other home away from home. Coco Bar is my Number One spot to eat in MadToon and the place you can have Tinto de Verano all year round with the best nachos you’ll experience anywhere. I also reckon the pastrami is better than I ever had it in the US of A. I’ll take any truth test you want me to. 

(The Soul of The Fabulous) Courettes 

(Damaged Goods) 

Never got a chance to do anything when the record came out because I was travelling. There was ubiquitous press which was good because anybody that hangs around here is aware of what is going on with the band. The record itself is a giant leap forward out of the garage and into Mark Ronson type territory. It’s not out with the bounds of reason that the vast legions of Amy Winehouse fans might be about to discover their new favourite band. The blueprint is intact but the wall of sound is five dimensional as opposed to your standard 3. They’re already gearing up to yet again take the show to every corner of the world during the course of the impending annum. 

The Dahlmanns 

The kids came out of retirement and released an EP (Lucky) on Snap Records. They also played their first show in almost 7 years at Wurlitzer on the Saturday night of the 18th Birthday Celebrations and it was emotional with many of the gang were in attendance. The good news is that there will be more recording and more shows including Moss Rock City on June 14th 2025. 

The Dictators 

First new record by the new format. You likely have it but if you don’t then rectify that. Now the band is back together, I hope they’ll make it back over the pond. 

The Fleshtones 

A funny thing happened on the way to the Roundhouse. The Super rockers found themselves on a bill with The Damned that blazed across Plague Island. They found themselves back in Glasgow after an absence of 41+ years. It was great to have them here for a few hours. 

Ginebras Madrid Madrid Madrid/Mahou/El Sol 

Four of my very favourite things. The band most likely to dominate the world covered the Agustín Lara standard on behalf of beer brand Mahou. A masterstroke with a great video for good measure that will hopefully come out as a seven inch single one day. Jeroen and I saw them in the best place to see a band I’ve ever darkened the door of. El Sol in the city the song celebrates. 

Loose Lips 

A punk rock power trio of no minor proportions that could equally be labelled a “super group” under current criteria for such a tag One Prize (Nadine), an Unknown, onetime Chat (Josh) and one of the Chubby crew (Ethan). I can’t keep up with their multiple combos but I try. The EP is available as a record from the FOLC imprint, thereby rubberstamping the trademark of quality. 

This Is Memorial Device 

David Keenan’s book became bigger than anyone expected it could. An album of music that might be what the Airdrie post punk canon might have sounded came out and the one man performance based upon it did a victory lap. Most importantly, Alicia visited to catch one of those performances at The Tron. 

The Morells 

Who’da thunk there was a follow up to Shake and Push lurking in the vaults but somehow the stars aligned and Jerker Emanuelson was able to release a CD of this material that sold out in quick time. He’s prepared to do another run so if you missed it then sign up so that you’re not disappointed a second time. 

Annika Norlin/Jonas Teglund 

"En Tid Att Riva Sönder" is probably my most played album of the past year. It doesn’t tidily fit into any pigeonhole and I imagine that the fact that it’s in Swedish might reduce listenability in some quarters. I can’t help you with that but urge that you at least investigate this. And of course Annika’s back catalogue. She has a novel (The Colony) coming out (in English) from Scribe UK books this coming March. 

Redd Kross 

At one point I thought my path would not pass the return of the Kross but the good grace of Saskia (Lightnin’) Holling conjured up a couple of tickets that she and Russ couldn’t use for The Cumberland Arms in Newcastle. The place itself holds less than a hundred and it was rammed. Incredible to think you can see a combo of this stature in such a tiny place. The MacDonalds got the hits and they clobbered us with them one after another. Their book with Dan Epstein, Now You’re One Of Us is worthy of your time. Look forward to the documentary too. 

Amy Rigby 

Amy released her Hang In There With Me album on Tapete and a week after she and Eric moved back to Blighty, she was in Glasgow and Edinburgh for the first time post-plague. The Doublet show in Glasgow was especially seismic and when she did Don’t Ever Change, she reminded us that Scotland was the first place she played that song in Aberdeen. It was 2001, one month after 9/11. This song should enjoy “From A Distance” status. 

Rowdy 

I’ve slightly edited their bandcamp bumf here. “Seasoned rockers dealing a heavy dose of song-forward classic garage punk that sounds like a mixed bag of Joan Jett singing for Teengenerate and Roky Erikson and The Aliens covering Oblivians songs”. Give ‘em a birl. 

D. Clinton Thompson 

An album, Donnie’s Mood, sneaked out under my radar but Jerker had his finger on the pulse. Some of us want to get this guy and Joe Terry to Spain to experience the joy of being in a room with them in the company of a crowd that deserves such an honour. I’ll keep you posted. Meanwhile, get into the mood. 

Ben Vaughn 

I was blessed to be able to take a wee tour with Ben and Francisco (Santelices). We hit up Santander, León and Ourense for solo acoustic shows, meeting people I’d known for lives in real life. I met the person that I’d sold some Human Switchboard records some years ago and was introduced to León-style morcilla.

A MESSAGE FROM MIRIAM, SHE'S HEADING FOR LONDON (ENGLANDSHIRE)

Hey Metrobolists,

I'll be in London for a week with John Mendelssohn and Paul Gorman on a wee press junket for the latest Kicks books-and-fragrance. We have a shindig at the Century Club and two book shop dates immediately following. Watch for a newsflash this week as we prepare for lift off. It's our privilege to bring this small book with fragrant trimmings to you as a memento / souvenir of John's day with David Bowie in 1971 when DB was on his first visit to the states, wearing a man-dress and tossing his locks during a cross-country press junket for his new footlong The Man Who Sold The World, which was a queen-size flop Stateside. 1971 was pivotal for DB (weren't they all). Following the release and said hype of TMWSTW came the recording and release of Hunky Dory and by December, he had shorn and dyed the locks to become Ziggy Stardust. Our righteous little tome celebrates one small spot in time when man met dress and another man met the man in a dress and snapped a roll of film that has remained largely unseen for 64 years. The London junket (including photo show) runs January 23-27 followed on January 31, back in the States by a WPKN mega chat with Trident's Howard Thompson and Bowie collector king Kevin Patrick at the hallowed halls of WPKN - with record party and photo exhibition to follow. Details erupt soon. Working on an NYC location so we are calling in ye troops for a gangbuster blast. Incidentally, the book shindigs are tailgated by an exact replica of the legendary Mr Fish "Man-Dress"! We tried (unsuccessfully) to license a one sided flexidisc - a dynamite '71 demo titled Miss Peculiar but the title also leans toward the logo of Mr Fish's designs, and the line from Space Oddity circa 1969. Oh, and yes, Kicks Books is the only publisher in history to produce a book-and-fragrance line. The fragrance of Peculiar is a unisex dose of old school English lavender. Of course.

x miriam

SOME GOOD ADVICE FOR THE SEASON!

I WAS REMINDED OF THIS YESTERDAY SO I THOUGHT, WHY NOT?

VIBEKE DOES MARIAH!

FESTIVE AF!

"HERE"S HAL'S TOMS HEADED BACK TO THE CODA"...

 RICH STIM sitting in for HT on PURE over at WPKN. It'll be archived until January 3rd so head on over there before then.

FINALLY... A GROOVY NEW SEASONAL TUNE FROM FAMILIAR NAMES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD!

INTRODUCING THE ASHLEYS!

THE ELLA SPEED REACTION

A CLIP FROM THE LOOSE LIPS MATINEE IN "THE LONDON" LAST SATURDAY

ONE NIGHT IN CAMBRIDGE...

HELP THESE FOLC'ERS!!

We don't like to write this message, because it's not with us to cry or ask, but we have been forced to do it because of greater strength, because, for a problem that does not come to the case, we have been thinking of closing the seal and the management agency. But yes, we need money, and since we're not going to ask you for handouts, the best way we can think of is to offer you some huge deals on almost all of our edited and distributed material.

casi The discs edited before 2024 and the ones we have for distribution by other labels we leave them to you at 50%, so, in addition to the discounts we already have, some are almost a gift.

The albums we edited this year before summer, we're giving you 25% discount. To get it, you just have to go to our website:

https://www.folcrecords.es/tienda/

and in cart add codes SOS24-50 and SOS24-25. Both can be used in the same order. If you have any questions, you can consult us.

STARCRAZY, AS RECOMMENDED BY CRAIG BARMAN

DID YOU ORDER YOUR LOS CHICOS RECORD?

THE BLASTERS - OVER THERE... THE WHOLE KABOODLE!

PRIMEVAL CALL

TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SIDE OF GLASGOW!

SUPER ROCK IN the 21st CENTURY!

The Fleshtones made a triumphant return to Glesga last night, a little over 41 years since their last stramash at Night Moves on November 3rd 1983. Ken was but a twinkle in the firmament. They’re on first during The Damned tour. Serving up the Super Rock in venues the size they’d be headlining if there was any justice. However, that commodity is in short supply as we're all too aware and the cause for celebration is to see them in Panavision.

Remembering The Ramones on the very stage Joe and Co burned up on several occasions. The boys did good and the wheel of talent spins toward Manchester today. What a pleasure to spend time these fellas.

THIS IS BETTER THAN ANYTHING ON THE RADIO 6 TIPS FOR 2025 LIST...

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT!

If you're going to see The Fleshtones open for The Damned then please be informed that the Super Rock will be served as the starter. They'll be on soon after the doors open so don't be lollygadding in the pub. You can go back there when they're done.

 

I HAD NO IDEA...

POSSIBILITY OF A SECOND PRESSING - CLICK ON THE IMAGE AND CONTACT THE LABEL

 

TRICIA IS BACK AND SO IS DECEMBER!

HELP SATU REBUILD HIS REHEARSAL FACILITY IN VALENCIA !

RIP - ANDY PALEY

WHEN LOSER"S RULE THE WORLD

My weekend didn’t go the way it was meant to so that gave me the opportunity to get in about Ned Hayden’s Scene Loser. A slim 103 page journal that provides an honest account of his tenure outlining the peaks and troughs as they presented themselves. Grunge, such as it was, seemed leaden and lumpy. The trick was to transcend the dirge and this guy led the charge on having a beat on the calibration required to counter the template as a commodity. 

The Action Swingers were there, for better or for worse. Maybe not for richer but success isn’t always measured in financial terms. I’m humbled at making the cut to appear here as the time the band came to Glasgow and the tour mangler’s dog Herbie went missing is relayed. 

You’ll have to read the book to find out what happened. Click the picture for order details.

JOEY WEARING OUR COLOURS!

EDDIE FLOWERS on ROCKWRIT

IT'S A HIT - FROM HER DEBUT ALBUM...

CHUG IT BACK!

OUT TODAY - THE FIRST SINGLE FROM THE LONG-AWAITED DEBUT ELPEE!

SPANISH TOUR STARTS TOMORROW!

Thursday 17 Castellón (Terra)

Friday 18 Tomelloso (Beat)

Saturday 19 Caravaca (Power Pop Fest)

Sunday 20 Granada (Lemon Rock)

Tuesday 22 Burgos (Carmen 13)

Wednesday 23 Valladolid (Cientocero)

Thursday 24 Madrid (Wurlitzer) 

Friday 25 Zaragoza (Zeta)

Saturday 26 Barcelona (VOL) 

Wurlitzer/Zeta/VOL with Suzy & Los Quattro 

EDINBURGH TICKETS FOR AMY RIGBY - GET YOURS NOW!

 

 www.underthewires.org

THE SKELETONS ON LI'L ARTS POKER PARTY

COMING UP THIS WEEK AND NEXT...

AND YOU ARE LUCKY THAT THEY DID... DO THE MATH!

SOLO BEN SHOWS IN SPAIN!

 

DEAR SMASH HITS... CLICK IMAGE FOR ORDER LINK/INFO

 

IT'S A HIT!

AMY RIGBY HEADING NORTH IN NOVEMBER!

 

INTRODUCED TO ME BY ALBERT KLOBBER

NEW COURETTES 45 OUT TODAY... THIS IS THE B-SIDE

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 21st at THE CAMEO CINEMA, EDINBURGH

THIS IS MEMORIAL DEVICE "Soundtrack"

LOOSE LIPS - MELBOURNE MODEL

TURMIX TRIBUTE

JIMMY"S FUNTASY

 

REDD KROSS AT AZKENA THIS COMING WEEKEND!

RIP - JEREMY TEPPER

RIP - Françoise Hardy

HANG IN THERE WITH AMY

FUNTASTIC TURNS NINETEEN

null
 

THE DAMNED ENDORSE SUPER ROCK!

 

BEN VAUGHN QUINTET BACK IN ESPANA

 

END OF TIMES/BANK HOLIDAY LISTENING - THE FINAL MX-80 SOUND ALBUM

IT'S A HIT!

THE DAHLMANNS ARE BACK!

RETURNING TO SPAIN IN AUGUST!

REDD KROSS - IN THE REDD!

AMY'S BACK!

NCC - THE FILM OF THE ALBUM!

SHOWS YOU OUGHT TO SEE (AN OCCASIONAL SERIES)

 

SHOWS YOU OUGHT TO SEE (AN OCCASIONAL SERIES)

 

ALAN VEGA - MERCY

LONG RYDIN' OCTOBER

 

NOT THE DIVINE COMEDY SONG...

LOS MALINCHES NEW SEVEN INCH...

THE MANY MOODS OF DONNIE THOMPSON

RIP - ERIC CARMEN

BEN LOVES THE SIBLEYS... YOU WILL TOO!

STOP WHATEVER YOU'RE DOING AND TAKE AN HOUR OUT!

COMING IN THE SPRING

RIP - MOJO NIXON

FIRST PRIZE OF 2024... WITH THE UNKNOWNS

PETE 'N SID

 

RIP - MARY WEISS

RIP - SUSIE TENNANT (CLICK ON PICTURE FOR SEATTLE TIMES OBITUARY)

To call Susie a Pacific Northwest force of nature is an understatement . This lassie was really something, blessed with next level energy. She'd has gone through several dozen mills in recent years. I met Susie when she toured with The Posies and Flop (1996?). We visited Seattle (1999?) and stayed with her and visited Snoqualmie. Somewhere there are pictures of the gang with "The Great Northern" (Salish Lodge) in the background. There were no devices to record everything but I don’t need that to hear her yelling Zom-bey!! at the top of her lungs as Rob Zombie blasted in the car. Her laugh was infectious and we giggled about Baby Sue magazine stuff that would likely get us cancelled today.

My condolences to Chris, the kids and her extended family across this (wicked) world. Another beautiful soul leaves the crease.

LOOK WHO IS COMING TO GLESGA (PLAGUE ISLAND/EUROPEAN SHOWS ALSO)

 

TIBURONA - OPEN FOR BUSINESS

TOP TEN CELEBRATION!

 

PUNK IN THE 1970s

 Something to read.

WHO THE HELL IS PIERRE DUBOST?