Limited edition 10" of the Blasters Trouble Bound? Only 1000 copies, available from RAUCOUS.

I know there's people out there into Elvis Sightings, but we here at NBT keep an eye out for H.D. Manitoba, who is alive and well livin' in N.Y.C. and last seen at the opening of 'End Of The Century'.
On a related note: the film's directors, Michael Gramaglia and Jim Fields were interviewed by Dave The Spazz on WMFU alongside original Ramones manager Danny Fields. And there's yet another review of the film in the New York Press.

Announcer who coined the expression, "Elvis has left the building" leaves the building.

Last night’s schlep into Edinburgh for the Film Fest was actually worth the effort. While the event itself seems like something of a damp squib, the documentary “I LIKE KILLING FLIES” was an absolute gem. It’s about a restaurant in NY called SHOPSIN’S which was in the process of losing it’s lease and relocating at the time of filming. This is no ordinary joint though, with 900 items + on the menu and a full set of rules, Shopsin’s is the kind of neighbourhood place that could only really exist in New York. The owner, Kenny Shopsin looks like Michael Moore going to a Halloween Party as Jack Osborne. He rules the roost and cusses everything in his path like a culinary Lou Reed dishing out barrack room philosophies as he goes. The term “character” doesn’t exactly sum this guy up but somewhere deep inside he’s a top humanist. “…FLIES” is a fine piece of cine, it’ll hit the spot guaranteed and I defy anybody who sees it not to want to find a table there straight away. At one point in the movie, Kenny’s daughter Minda is wearing a Rezillos T-shirt. This place certainly rocks and do what you can to see this. Kudos then to the person who brought this one to the table. This is the person who should be running the festival. Check out this New Yorker article and finally the piece de nae resistance, the MENU!

The soundtrack for Victory Tischler-Blue's 'Edgeplay/A Film About The Runaways' is available now from Hip-O Records. According to the press blurb the movie itself has been on the festival circuit since June 29, but after diggin' around a bit I didn't notice more then a couple of screenings in California. What is obviously needed is more a full scale distribution or DVD release. Anybody out there in the know?. (A short review of sorts can be found here). with thanks to SJ Bink for the initial waypoint.

From The Dirty Water Club in London...

"A leading fashion magazine is putting together a music issue and have asked for some photos to illustrate an article on Dirty Water. What we need are photos of you people looking cool and groovy. All the pictures I have are taken digitally for the website and so the resolution isn't high enough. If you have anything scanned please send it to us at this address, 10cm wide at 300dpi, either colour or b&w. Let us know which, if any, name should be used as a credit. Thanks."

If you got 'em, contact info@dirtywaterclub.com

If you're not sick to the teeth of Randall's Island reviews by now, check out this one.

What do you reckon to this 3 band bill carry on then? Hardly anybody has just an opener and headliner anymore. Any more than 2 acts should constitute a "festival". The headliner should do the middle spot because attention spans are way on the slide before the last act comes on these days. Hanging about is pish. At my late stage in these life proceedings I don't want to be standing like i'm waiting for a bus. This is especially annoying when the band or act in question has entirely nothing in common with the main attraction. Whilst I applaud the fact that The Strokes took Stereototal on tour a while back, what could they think that their boneheided following would make of something so outright great. Their reception had to be hostile because they're like oil and water. I like the idea of 10 - 20 minute sets too. How many time have you seen something recently that just doesn't cut it over that? Too fucking often in my case mateys. So let's hear what you think, let's use this comments facility? Life is short and filled with stuff as the great bard Lux of Interior said. So let's cut to the chase. Always.

Caught the 5678's in Barfly, Glasgow last night. Between Tarantino and the Carling ad, the Tokoyo trio has attracted a jam packed to the point of stowed crowd. These shows were booked before the hysteria started and could quite easily have been moved but the deal was honoured. Had to catch a train back so we only caught half the set but their organic to the point of shambling take on this stuff we call rock and roll is pretty intoxicating when they get going. The momentum kind of slips with lengthy between song breaks but if they ever get it together to blast a Ramones type segued set then we're in trouble. I hope this audience will learn from their brush with this and that at least some of them will catch the sickness that the band's records are steeped in. As it is, leaving early on a "school night", did no chuffing good whatsoever as I didn't hear the alarm this morning. This music is evidently a bad influence and it made me skip work today, that - as much as anything, must mean that they're doing something right.

Show openers OBE were woeful. Imagine Franz Ferdinand fronted by one of the Farm to create some kind of baggy, angular take on The Music or that ilk of awful faux cacophonous twaddle. Next up were The Needles from Aberdeen who whilst I don't mind them, they weren't exactly appropriate for the occasion either. What was appropriate though was Neil MacInnes between song disc spinning. I need to find out when his club night is on and post some info on that. If you're in Glasgow to coincide then that'd deffo be worth catching.

A quick update for alla you Dutch readers:
Local heroes the Stilettos have a new LP out soon on Sounds Of Subterrania (CD version later from Stardumb).

Some dates:
Thu 26: Forty-Fives (Utrecht).
Sat 28: The Yum Yums and Ghetto Ways (Rotterdam).
Sat 28: Saints and Green Hornet (Amsterdam).
Mon 30: Ghetto Ways (Amsterdam).

DTK/MC5 at the Paradiso, Amsterdam.
It was close call but I nearly missed this one. But as it is, I made it to the Paradiso in record time by bus, train and taxi. And was it ever worth the bother!.
I missed the first part and came in durin' 'Call Me Animal', havin' seen the 'A True Testimonial' film I didn't need to adjust to Five's current looks and only had to wonder if the hippy guy on stage was or wasn't Evan Dando (he wasn't). The sound was great from where I was standing, and there's obviously no complainin' as far as the songs go; 'Lookin' At You', 'Shakin' Street', you name it. The addition of Nicky Royale was a cool move, he really took songs like 'American Ruse' and 'Gotta Keep Movin'' to another level. Excuse the incoherence here, but the adrenaline is still flowin' as I'm writin' this. 'I Believe To My Soul', 'I'm The Man For You Baby', 'Highschool' and even 'Starship' were beyond believe. Kramer, Thompson and Davis deserve all the credits due to 'm and more.
At one point I realized I was standing next to Lisa Kekaula, who is to join the band for the next leg of the tour, she was groovin', almost casually, to the band, applauding', singin' along, and suddenly I got a hunch that you Brits might be in luck gettin' to see her on stage in the next few days (and this comin' from someone who can't stand the Bell-Rays!).
OK, I really gotta go get some sleep. Final note: got to see the Forty-Fives in the upstairs bar afterwards and they rocked!. They're tourin' Euroland right now, and you owe it to yourself to go 'n check 'm out.

Ok. Just spent a lengthy period trying to sort out my inability to upload pictures and wasn't successful. The attempts will continue...

Coming up this week... 5678's in Glasgow tonight, another movie tomorrow, Laura Cantrell and the crew in the 'hood on Tuesday/Wednesday and a couple of other things all in the run up to The Ramones movie and culminating in the DKT/MC5. Woah... and who knows? Maybe some rest.

It’s a good thing that there’s a lot of other stuff going on because The Edinburgh Film Festival schedule was pretty thin pickings this year. Thursday was the first movie of our schlepp and to be honest I wish we hadn’t have bothered. Calvaire (The Ordeal) was as shite a film as I think I’ve ever seen. Here’s how the blurb went… "Deliverance meets The League of Gentlemen in this chiller from the Low Countries" that's France - Belgium - Luxembourg, "a deranged narrative that manages to be simultaneously horrific, disgusting, genuinely frightening and weirdly funny all at the same time". Bollocks.

It was disturbing alright and so were the audience that was in full “we’ll laugh at an egg boiling” mode. People would seem to be very easily pleased these days and I'll be damned if the guy in the movie didn't deserve what came to him. If he's made that ultimate sacrafice in those opening minutes then the ol' karma wouldn't have caught up with him. Plain as that. Implied bestiality and butthumping notwithstanding this is a dull, dull film. The locations and cinematography were good though. Pity about the stereotypical inbred "locals" that blotted the genuinely bleak landscape. I keep reading positive reviews of this clunker... what the hell is wrong with these people? I know. It must be me. This isn't entertainment. It's premeditated exploitation of the lowest order. And not in a good way.

"The human side of the Ramones" in N.Y. Newsday.

Check out the line-up for the Azkena Rock Festival 2004: New York Dolls, DKT/MC5, Radio Birdman, Flamin' Groovies, Lindsay's faves Turbonegro and plenty more...

On Friday, Aug. 20, Andy Shernoff will perform in the Losers Lounge and the HOWL! Festival presentation THE LEGENDS OF THE LOWER EAST SIDE!!! Featuring music by the Dictators, Blondie, The Ramones, Television, Patti Smith, Talking Heads, Richard Hell & the Voidoids, etc. 2 shows, at 8 and 10pm -- at CBGB.

Computers. What a pain in the ass. I can't post photos because of a firewall glitsch and hope to have this rectified soon. The recurrent e-mail problems are also back so I'm not altogether down with who's receiving what, when or whenever. Normal service as they say, will resume at some juncture...

Elmer Bernstien has left the auditorium...

Over 300 pictures taken at Little Steven's Underground Garage Feastival can be found here.

Another review of the End Of The Century movie can be found in the Village Voice by Robert Christgau.

Apologies for the strange business of the vanishing link to the latest instalment of the Ramone circus. It's not for the faint hearted and it should be pointed out that the Vedder involved ain't Jeroen... TRY THIS!

From the makers of SONIC REDUCER...



Brothers, sistas, and hairdressers!

The DKT-MC5 juggernaut is nearly upon us, thankfully sans Dando, and instead adding The BellRays' Lisa K and the old grave-digger hisself, Dave Vanian! Unfortunately, the absolutely pants Mooney Suzuki have now been added to several UK dates, as has bed-wettingly awful LA scenester Roxy Saint! Weeeel, you gotta take the ruff with the smoove, rite? Anyhoo, us Sonic Reducer boys are gearing up for Wednesday 25th at London Astoria, with the lovely guys at Sub Pop in Seattle even sending us a gratis Radio Birdman vinyl set so we can add some "Yeah, hup!" to the proceedings, by spinning the Oz 45 versh of "New Race", alongside other suitably righteous sounds ... The '5 folks are real excited about taking an exclusive tour of The Small Faces' East End haunts (The J60 Music Bar, Itchycoo Park et al) that's set to be given by KatManDude (whose pop grew up with Stevie M) on the afternoon of Friday 27th, and then Michael D's spinning discs ("Bring lots of Beach Boys") as our special guest DJ at Sonic Reducer that very evening! Phew! What with The Soundtrack Of Our Lives at London 93 Feet East on September 7th, and The Detroit Cobras at London ULU the following night, plus a UK solo tour by You Am I mainman Tim Rogers coming up, it's shaping up to be a great Autumn! As our I-94 brethren would say, see you at the bar!

Selah

Joss & Joe

The Ramones in NY Daily News.

This from Blair Buscareno:

Who: The Miscreants (8:30 PM) and The Anything People (7:30 PM)
What: Rock'n'roll of course! LIVE rock'n'roll!
Where: Magnetic Field, 97 Atlantic Avenue Brooklyn, NY
When: Saturday August 21st at 7:30
Why: You've got an obligation to be cool.
How: $3 at the door gets you 2 mighty fine sets of rock'n'roll.
And: At 10 PM, Dave the Spazz starts spinning!
Be there or be afraid. Listen - Look

Hey Lindsay,

You missed a good one. The long day started with Davie Allan and the Arrows, who were OK but marred a bit by poor early sound. The bands were on a huge revolving stage and for the first six or seven the stage turned as one band finished their couple of songs and the other band started. Of course the stage broke down as the Fondas were coming on and didn't work for the rest of the day causing small gaps between the songs whihc a selction of MCs tried to fill with tedious and embarassing banter - they would have been better leaving a silnce between bands. Celebrity MCs include Kim Fowley - mostly great, carried the show really - Edd Kookie Byrnes - painfully bad ,eemed a bit senile really and BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - FUCKIN' BROOOCE! Oh yeah and some guys from the Sopranos - I don't know what that is about. Highlights were the Richard and The Young Lions with the recently deceasd Richard Tepp's 15 year old son filling in for him, Nancy with Clem Burke on drums, The Dictators who lifted the day out of inteminable three chord garage rock recreations, New York Dolls seemed to be having a genuinely good time and of course the show closers - Iggy & The Stooges. 100 time rowdier than when I saw them in glasgow a couple of months ago, the Stooges were truly awesome. Anyway, I said hi to Handsome Dick for ya, he say take care a yasself. Hope Amy Allison was good too.

Cheers, Colin

NY Daily News Report HERE!.

I'm pleased to report that RAMONES RAW isn't just a padding out of Ramones Around The World. I have a tape of the TV broadcast that aired in the US recently and it's very entertaining both in a knockabout sense and in terms of showing what a gruelling schedule the band undertook. Pluses for me is that there's a fair amount of good Joey stuff and a short sequence with Mark, Joe and Al (Leo Schnauser/Grandpa Munster) Lewis. Footage from a Rome show (Castle of Saint Angelo 1980) is just about the best concert film I've seen of them ever, the sound is incredible and even if it might have been tampered with (I hear strange harmonics on the guitar in particular), it's bloody good. RAW also includes the CBS segment on the opening of Joey Ramone Place and a whole lot more. It paints a very positive spin on the band as a bunch of amiable freaks that should have taken over the world. I guess the evil spirits that were winding up the tensions in the wings and preventing their overground success were on vacation when this was put together. The link above is to Amazon UK who are offering it for just £9.74. Amazon US is $17+. Will have to check out Play.com... just did and it's not listed yet.

Some interesting stuff from this great Sex Pistols site:
"Johnny Ramone and Arturo Vega are celebrating the Ramones 30th anniversary with a gig at the Avalon Theatre in Hollywood, California on 12th September. Steve Jones will be one of the guests. Note, Johnny Ramone will not be performing at the show. For a more extensive list of guests, click on the Cook 'n' Jones link on the menu above.
The movie End Of The Century - The Story Of The Ramones starts Friday 20th August at Angelika Film Centre, NYC.".
Besides that, the site holds some amazingly rare pictures, including several from the Pistols' two visits to Holland.

Apparently Str*kes fans are planning to hit Randalls' Island at 7pm tonight to get a good spot. Blair Buscareno makes a good point that anybody with any semblance of taste will be queuing for the lavvies or something else at that point with a view to being ready for The Stooges. If a further example that this world is going to hell in a handbasket is required, The Ramones "Rock'n'Roll Radio" was used as background music in a fishing show called Trout'n'About on Scottish Television this week. You couldn't make that up, right? All going well, I'll be taking a look at this RAMONES RAW thing tonight and will let you know the score. I have fears that Marky boy has just padded out that Ramones Around The World travesty but we'll see. Looks like I'll be able to make the Saturday screening of END OF THE CENTURY on the 28th in Edinburgh after all. What's that thing about Ramones movies and buses?

"Eric Ambel CD "Knucklehead" from Lakeside Lounge Records. "Roscoe's Gang" and "Loud & Lonesome" deluxe reissues too.

With the release of Knucklehead on his own Lakeside Lounge Records, Eric "Roscoe" Ambel - guitarist for Steve Earle & The Dukes and the Yayhoos clears the slate on 14 years of tracks that have been clogging his iPod. The record features 15 songs with various bands including various Roscoe's Gang configurations, the all Roscoe "Gringoman", the Bottle Rockets, Martins Folly, some pre-Yayhoos and the Yayhoos recording of the Del-Lords "Judas Kiss" with Steve Earle providing harmony. The record features some new Ambel compostions (Stepside, Garbagehead, Hole In My Head), some covers by the Backsliders Chip Robinson, Tom Waits, Neil Young and a previously unreleased Steve Earle tune (The Usual Time).

Lakeside Lounge has also re-issued Ambel's 2 previous solo records. Rolling Stone Magazine called Ambel's 1988 debut Roscoe's Gang "The record Keith Richard should have made". The core band is Springfield MO's Morells with Syd Straw and Peter Holsapple as guests. Loud & Lonesome is Ambel's '94 release featuring songs written with Kevin Salem, Dan Zanes, Dan Baird and Terry Anderson with a very raw 3 pc muscle car band featuring Andy York ripping through the tunes. Roscoe's Gang gets a blistering re-mastering from the original analog masters. All 3 titles are in the deluxe digi-pack format with extensive notes and photos."

You can order all of these fine recordings HERE! There's a special deal if you score all 3 at once.

I would imagine that a whole bunch of you folks would own at lease some of these already but it's worth springing for the set because the packaging and annotation by Roscoe and The Hound is boss. It should be noted that the great RG album includes the second part of the Power Lounger theme that was missing from any copies I ever came across of the original US and UK releases. KNUCKLEHEAD is a great trawl through the backwoods of 'scoe's career and includes The Yayhoos swampoid version of "Judas Kiss". The version of "Shake Some Action" from the final Del-Lords session is spine tingling. The version of "Always On My Mind" recorded with Martin's Folly is utterly haunting and performed with more than it's fair share of soul. K'heid underpins the importance of Roscoes contribution to the canon of rock'n'roll from 1990 - the present.

Springsteen, T and Paulie - now I get the "biblical" bit... if anybody can stop the rain these these guys can... the full running order and timing is HERE!
How though, does a band that hasn't got 10 minutes worth of material end up playing for 50 minutes. Maybe it's an exercise to rumble them... can't wait for the reports to start comin' in...

"Oh dear..." perfectly sums up these BLACK METAL acts. Actually this whole RUTHLESS site is pretty chuffing entertaining, I've just been padding about it for the last half-hour when I should've been on my way to Tescos... Thanks to HT for the tip-off.

Some news updates: The Dictators' Manifest Destiny LP is due for a US re-release by Wounded Bird on CD any day now. Same goes for the long promised Gun Club re-issues on Sympathy, which will also be available on vinyl plus it looks like Death Party will include a bunch of extra cuts recorded live in Switzerland. Ramones Raw is the title of a DVD set for release on Sept 28, for the full scoop head for ramones.com. Fans in the U.K. will have the chance to see Ramones Raw on the big screen at this year's Raindance Film Festival in London--the U.K's largest independent film festival--from September 30 through October 10. And here's the tacklisting for the upcomin' MC5 box-set.

On Wednesday 18 Aug the movie Surfers Are Back; The Barracudas 25th Anniversary will be shown at the Portobello Film Festival in London. The movie features a recent performance by The Barracudas with Chris Wilson and The Surfin Lungs.
"The movie is about 35 minutes long - with over 25 minutes being live footage from their gig at The Dirty Water Club in May. The other 7 or 8 minutes are interviews that sort of provide a chronology. Chris Wilson plays on about half the songs and sings on 'Slow Death.' The Surfin Lungs join in on a couple of tunes.
Its being shown as part of The Portobello Film Festival at Westbourne Studios next
Wednesday 18 August at 8.25pm. The evening is dedicated to music films and these run from 6.00pm onwards. Admission is free. Westbourne Studios is at 242 Acklam Road. London. W10 5YG".

The director of the Underground Garage Movie will be Chris Columbus. It's not clear when LITTLE STEVEN and THE GARAGE DISEASE will hit theatres but when we know then so will you. Look forward to receiving reports from the front line... (Thanks for the info Andy)

HT has just added that the event will apparently be shot in 3D also...

Interested in reading an hilarious if somewhat surreal interview with all four Fleshtones the other night? Chuckle at the sight of Ken Fox's stereo surrounded by plastic monsters and gasp at the tentative title for the band's next project.

The Early Bird catches the (Star) Spangles... a missive from our NY crew...

"hello folks - this is to let you know that The Star Spangles are the fourth band in the running order on Saturday. The show kicks off at 10.30am and we hit the stage at 11.10am SHARP!!! see you there."

Of course, people who live in Madrid are hep to the fabulous Louie Louie bar but just incase any of you globetrotters find yourselves in that fine city, this is the kinda scene in which they specialise...

Anybody got any extra info on the above festival?. Any clues on what line-up of the Saints will appear here?. Answers to the usual address. (thanks to Bink for the tip-off).

While I'm sure that everybody who reads this thing who can will be there, just incase. There's a sneaky wee, shite group in the mix by the name of The Str*kes at the end yonder but other than that it's the bargain of the century. Short, sharp sets will seperate the wheat from the chaff plus Scott is gonna back where he belongs with his bloodbrothers in The Dictators!

Looks like Sire Records is planning it's return as a "hip" label. As a start they're offering a compilation CD with past glories for $5.00.

You Have Bad Taste in Music: "Do not attend this concert, stop listening to bad music, turn off your radio and television!!".

Check out this rumour, culled from the most recent e-mole...

"They're negotiating with none other than Gene Simmons (yes, he of the big
tongue) to sub in on bass for the New York Dolls. I kid you not."

I hope they do something about their drummer wearing "sporty" attire also.

The great JON GRABOFF has activated his portal to y'all and that means you can pre-order his fine Christmas album in plenty time for the holidays.

This month's releases from Ace Records.

An Evening With Plan B: Talking About The White Stripes: Borders, Oxford St, London on Wednesday 18th August @ 6.30pm - Legendary music journalist Everett True (ex-NME, Melody Maker, VOX, author of Live Through This: American Underground Rock Music In The 90s) leads a panel of young enthusiasts and seasoned contributors from his new magazine Plan B through a discussion on the state of the music press. Featuring Dirtbombs drummer Ben Blackwell talking about all things White Stripes.

Sky Saxon at The Dirty Water Club, London, Friday 6th August - Apparently resident in London since the end of his recent UK tour in the spring, it was fantastic to see Sky stood at front of the stage and enjoying the Punkles set of Beatles covers. Though a great idea to tackle the Lennon/McCartney songbook in a 1-2-3-4 Ramones-style, the joke becomes stretched over 45 minutes. I still thought the Punkles were gabba-gabba-fab even if visually they reminded me of some unholy meeting between the Three Stooges and the Rutles. More "beer" than "gear" then. Fact fiends will be interested to learn that Sky's UK band comprise of the rhythm section from the re-actived Barracudas, a chap from the Scoundrelles/Scientists on guitar and two blokes from Spacemen 3 fiddling about on organ, theramin and assorted electronica. To begin with the garageniks kept the acid-niks (inc. Sky) pretty much on course as the band dug out such nuggets as "No Escape", "Evil Hoodoo", and "Can't Seem To Make You Mine". Sky looked and sounded great, although I had no idea what he was singing, as the boys in the band created a fair old noise worthy of the original Seeds. For thirty minutes we were cruising down the strip and digging the acid-punk vibe of Little Richie Marsh, that is until we invited us "Up In Her Room" and the songs became longer and unfocused. Not to worry though, the first thirty minutes were top-hole and one of the best live experiences of the year. Fact: Robin and Jeremy "Barracuda" are so lucky to have those young fellas on bass and drums. As for Sky, look out for a new album recorded over the last few days in London and should you get the opportunity, ask him about the real meaning of "Dirty Water" by the Standells. Clue: It’s about drugs.

RIP RICK JAMES

Before that horrible 80's thing called KING with yon hockey frilla'd freak with the doc martens, there was an altogether more punk-rockin' ensemble by the same name. Agent Heiko laid the details on we...

Christina Agui-bleedin'-lera vs The Velvets. Right here...

Some Barracudas action from Mr Robin Wills...

"It's time for some garagetastic psyched up tuned in and dropped out celluloid action. Yes folks London's own subway surfers The Barracudas premiere their documentary 'Surfers Are Back' as part of the Portobello Film festival later this month. Next year sees the 25th anniversary re release of The Barracudas perfect debut album Drop Out. Renewed interest in the band has prompted Geoff Mann - who released The Barracudas first single 'I Want My Woody back' and Award winning Film Director John Wheeler of Clean Break productions to make this film. 'Surfers Are Back'features a blistering live performance at the legendary Dirty Water Club, behind the scenes footage and interviews with the band. It provides a 100 mile an hour distilled trip around the cult that is The Barracudas. Throw in an appearance from Flamin'Groovie Chris Wilson and you've got an instant police presence. This is a one off screening and seats are limited ( 80 free seats)."

The Barracudas in 'Surfers Are Back' the 25th Anniversary
Wednesday 18th August 2004 @8:25 @ The Portobello Film Festival
Westbourne Studios, 242 Acklam Road, London W10

"August 9 is the release date for Shock Records’all-killer 2CD set called THE ROCK’N’ROLL DISEASE!. With 47 tracks and over two and a half hours of rockin’ noise, the album places the best of the new generation of hip rock’n’rollers side by side with many of their biggest influences. The list of artists reads like a Rock’n’Roll Who’s Who, and includes JET, THE DATSUNS, THE MC5, VON BONDIES, RAMONES, IGGY & THE STOOGES, HIVES, DONNAS, BLACK KEYS, YOU AM I, EASYBEATS, RADIO BIRDMAN, SAINTS, BIG STAR, BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB, VELVET UNDERGROUND, SPAZZYS, CRAMPS, MUDHONEY, SLADE, SUZI QUATRO, ALICE COOPER, HELLACOPTERS, NEW YORK DOLLS, BO DIDDLEY, POWDER
MONKEYS, TURBONEGRO, WARLOCKS, DIRTBOMBS, YOUNG HEART ATTACK, FLAMIN’ GROOVIES, ROCKET SCIENCE, PAYBACKS and many more. Lavishly packaged with a 24 page full-colour booklet, artist-by-artist liner notes and a whole bunch of rare photos and memorabilia, the album was put together by former Dog Meat Records boss Dave Laing, who a couple of years ago was behind Shock’s super successful collection of ‘70s and ‘80s garage and punk rock, ‘Do the Pop!’. A celebration of rock’n’roll’s return to prominence, a calculated cash-in on a recent popular trend, or an excuse for a crusty old rock fan to finally put all his old favorites together on a comp? You can be the judge of that. But whatever you call it, ‘The Rock’n’roll Disease’ is a high energy blast of fun from start to finish, and anyone who loves rock’n’roll will dig it."

The 5,6,7,8's on the cover of The Sunday Herald Festival review and also inside. Who'da thunk it?

Flushed with success at breaking into the thing called "THE CHARTS" with The 5,6,7,8's, SWEET NOTHING records continues to kick back the frontiers of rawk. As you know, Simon has had the good graces to bring down the wrath of many combo's upon an unsuspecting and often uncaring UK bound rabble. This missionary work has been carried out on behalf of THE HELLACOPTERS and a band that should similiarly rule the planet called MAGIC DIRT but as you know, the "kids" are too stupid to bite. Anyways, not content with having put out THE SOLUTION's COMMUNICATE in recent weeks, here's some more SN booty you should keep a shredded eardum out for.



THE STARLITE DESPERATION ep VIOLATE A SUNDAE could do much to rid the world of the sell by date way up Strokes. Their sinewy, undulating not unlike The Scientists spacerock is gloriously non-retro and as anthemic as this kind of fare is ever likely to get. Part of the Southern Ca Smog-Psych movement (according to Skyscraper Magazine), methinks these blighters and their Conga Line could catch on.



LION FEVER, who take their name from a non existant ailment are in comparison, a more tame proposition but only in the sense that it has a kinda grounded smokey basement element to it. LUSTRE is the most outright punk-related of these three products with the singer Jennifer pearl sounding like both Patti Smith and Grace Slick but neither. They get extra points for covering The Gun Club's "For The Love Of Ivy" and can muster a fair ol' ramshackle groove. There's a mention that they were influenced by The Stranglers on their site but I won't hold that agin 'em.



"If Exuma, Blue Cheer, Albert Ayler, Mitch Mitchell, Nanjo and the zombie of John Cippolina all met on the blue highway, wasted on golden whiskey and cocaine, there they would throw on Field Recordings From The Sun on a trashed boombox while shooting pistols at their tracers. This is West Coast Psychedelia, hang onto your eardrums". That's how the Alternative Tentacles blub goes for Santa Cruz, Ca's COMETS ON FIRE,'s FIELD RECORDINGS, add a cut and shut between Hawkwind and MX-80 via MONTROSE (the band not the Scottish seaside resort) and some vibes beamed up from the underbelly of Detroit to that pot and you'll be no closer to describing the ugly yet strangely satisfying web of sound they've fashioned. Free-form freak outs seldom come much more entertaining than this. Available in Europe via Sweet Nothing, AT in the US. Photo from AT website.

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?
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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...