Well, I expected DIG! to be a lot funnier than it turned out to be. I also expected The Dandy Warhols to come out of it a lot worse than they do. Wrong on two counts straight away. It’s a much darker piece than I imagined, quite depressing actually. Never having been a fan of the Brian Jonestown Massacre, this sort of underpins all of the shortcomings I figured their records had. Of course there were flashes of accidental sonic brilliance but ultimately this paisley underground with a shot of Altamont never really hit any spot for me. There’s a part in the movie where Anton Newcombe goes to disrupt a DW’s gig wearing rollerskates and a Davy Crockett-type bunnet. He looks ridiculous and he cannae go his skates. Actually he looks like Mike Nesmith on The Monkees. No dis intended. DIG! is worth seeing but couldn’t exactly be filed as entertainment. Jonestown is like Primal Scream with a performance artery bypass. I don’t feel that it’s kosher. Whatever modicum of talent Newcombe possesses, the destructive aspect towers over it. Anyone who has had to deal with an addictive personality will recognise that. The Dandys’ on the other hand went the corporate route and it seems to have worked for them. They’ve enjoyed a little more than the designated 15 minutes. Whether they deserve it is neither here nor there, they put in time at the office and made the compromises. The dying embers of the music industry, desperate to hang on to former glories can be felt choking all through the movie. It doesn’t make pleasant viewing or bode well for its future.

Ok, some stuff that I've come across lately that I think might be worthy of your valuable time,. They certainly diverted me from more pressing tasks...

HAPPY BLUES - great short interviews and stuff. Some with folks very close to our hearts.

This "alleged" phonecall to WFMU is a bit contrived but oughtta tickle you regulars also. It takes a wee while to load but i hope you reckon it's worth it. (Thanks to Mr Ulf for the link).

On the subject of Mr. U, he's got the FEBER and he'll be sharing it come October 19th.

Mr McLean is responsible for the next couple, GRUMPIER OLD MEN is something I'm totally down with and the terminology therein is dangerously close to what passes as reality in the day to day.

Also GLASGOW SURVIVAL, absolutely not office-friendly or for the faint hearted but damned funny.

My SF-based friend Marcos Sorensen designed the iconic Ask Jeeves logo and some pillock wants to can it. Read more about that and badger the idiot in question via the SAVE JEEVES BLOG

While Murray is somewhat flabbergasted by my liking the 'feldy, he was good enough to pass on this RED INVASION link. Nothing you haven't heard before but cool '77 NY punk sounding glam from MA.

So that should keep y'all goggle-eyed for a while. Hasta la eyesight...

In and around the fact that I don't seem to be able to manage my time to any great degree lately, there's been an upsurge in the amount of blog spam that's coming in. Lord knows it takes me enough time to respond to real messages at the minute that shit like this just makes me want to can the comments facility. Blogger has a feature now that can fox the automatic generation of this shit but I know how annoying it is when I'm checking hotmail and that kinda thing kicks in. It's good to receive comment om posts but would you still use it if you had the hurdle of letter and number recognition to go through in order to leave your tuppence worth? Let we know.

WEASELMANIA - out now!

Just returned from the Teenage Fanclub show with the same "bummin' heid" that's been bugging me all day. Also squeezed in a Tesco visit. Shopping is almost bearable when there are just a few people around. Of course there are the little arseholes that race around the carpark playing their alleged "music" at tilt volume but the only ones they're harming are themselves. One can only hope that they'll escape their pointless treadmall existences at some point but most of them appear to be too gormless to even contemplate so radical a culture shock. This is NO FUTURE in action.

But anyway, a busy FTH saw Laki-Mera open the show. I didn't catch much of it but the fractured dance nature of it didn't really come across in such a large setting. It's their third show ever apparently. I'm not sure if this is the first time that Malcolm Middleton has played his hometown but it might be. Full band in tow. I never warmed to Arab Strap but find his most recent solo outing, or what I've heard, to be fairly agreeable in a bleak sense. The third song is full pelt rambunctious folkabilly. Heck it practically rocks. TFC overcame the teeting troubles with the sound to deliver their patented beyond Big Star chimes. I always remember the old 13th Note where they played with Lx and the version of Telstar. It was indescribably mind blowing. But anyway, this was a good show. Norman appeared to be going though a consultancy about his hair with a section of the audience. Not sure what the outcome was. A guy behind me kept shout-mumbling "The Con-sepp". When they launched into it he damn near had a puhleery. A triumphant warm up to the Euro-jaunt which will see the troops travel from Paris to Seville this very weekend. I hope it turns out to be every bit the adventure Gerry expects it to be. There should be a gig in town like this every Friday night. Where people will travel from Glasgow and Edinburgh to a properly curated event like this. It could happen. Or could it?

Falkirk’s WAY TO BLUE festival kicked off last night. This year’s bill is the most impressive to date and infiltrates all strata. It’s a canny piece of organisation given that people in this area are notorious for not supporting live music events. They’ll pay a tenner to get into a disco but somehow won’t shell for a band, well, not often. Anyway, there was a respectable crowd in the Town Hall for this 3 band bill of Aberfeldy, The Pearlfishers (with string quartet) and The Trashcan Sinatras. In the past I’ve seen Alex Harvey and T. Rex there amongst others and to my mind, the place hasn’t changed. Of course there are many more facets to actually just putting on a gig in such a venue these days. The effort involved generally goes by un-noticed and the way that the seating is laid out leaves something of a psychological moat between the performers and the audience. However, in the bar – you can pre-order your drink for the interval. Cannae be bad even although I never took advantage of this facility.

But anyway, Aberfeldy kicked things off and are getting better as they notch up the gigs. The new songs, particularly one called “Hypnotized” bodes well for the second album. The ‘feldy employ a quaint line in banter that is quite possibly unintelligible outside of Central Scotland but adds an extra dimension to their pop thrills in tonights setting. They’re only wee but they’re pretty bloody good and that, as much as anything, could be an obstacle. The Pearlfishers delivered a bijou set complete with strings. A lush assault fused with that patented old school showbiz charm. “Todd is God” conjured up extreme visions of Rundgren and “Your Stars” is a cracking slice of anthemic Scotpop, even in this acoustic setting.

We left two numbers into the Trashcan Sinatras set. I don’t get the pathological fervour that surrounds them. Never did, never will. The singer (Frank Reeder?) made some comment about things being amplified that made me want to vom. Their music is anaemic, a cut and paste pot pourri of other things I don’t care for so ‘tis best in such an instance to leave ‘em to their believers.

Just read this from Ben on the staysick board... RIP - Nipsy Russell

No Bambi Molesters sadly but check out the BIG BIG WORLD roster taking place all over Glasgow. Also note that Soundsfine have John Doe and Peter Case at Brel in Ashton Lane, aff the Byres Road on Sunday November 20th.

Little Steven's Underground Garage Halloween A Go-Go.

With: Gluecifer (Last show EVER!), Rocket From the Crypt (Last East Coast show EVER!), Boss Martians and Special Guests.

Hosted by Little Steven. Go-Go Dancers! Costume prizes!

Friday, October 28, 2005. Doors 8pm, 21 and Up. @ Hard Rock Times Square 1501 Broadway / 43rd St New York City

The big news, just in, them NOMADS will play at the FV fest in Cvetlicarna Mediapark, Ljubljana on December 2nd!

"DJ's Tall Paul Robinson and Angus A-Go-Go are excited to announce The GO-GO will return this October as MONDO a GO-GO! After a short summer break the club will return - but monthly on Saturdays! - at The Venue on October the 8th.

To pay respect to the old and bring in the new, it was decided to support these changes and the expansion of the playlist - with a slight name revamp. In addition to the popular and ecclectic mix of Sixties that made The GO-GO such an established retro-hideout over the last five years, the club will now also play 60's Ska, and (selected) Punk and New-Wave:

"We're still going to be a Sixties club and the flavour of the dancefloor wont change" said Paul, "but we're adding new genres to give it more dimension and scope."

"We'll still play 60's garage, Nancy Sinatra, The Sonics etc, but can now spin The Cramps, The Fall or the Ramones if it feels right. Its very liberating.

MONDO a GO-GO's first night is Saturday 8th October, in The Loft @ The Venue, Calton Road Edinburgh.

11pm til 3am, £5/4 before Midnight, £6/5 after.

Tall Paul Robinson and Angus will be there to play;
60's, Mod, Garage, Soul, Punk, New Wave, Surf, Psychedelia and Ska.

Guest DJ Vic Galloway (Radio 1/Radio Scotland - 50's/60's/Punk/Rock and Roll)"

It's goodnight from him... RIP Ronnie Barker

From the Austin Chronicle reporting on Roky's live comeback.

Attendance at the following shindig looks pretty damn essential if you live in the Fort Worth area:

Remember the good ole days? "Fort Worth Teen Scene" garage bands, Teen Agogo, Jolly Time Skating Rink, Free music in Trinity Park, the Cellar. Well they're back. Music and Arts Agogo is sponsoring their 2nd annual "Music and Arts Share at Trinity Park".

What you missed: The last concert included reunions by Larry and the Blue Notes, The Elite and Johnny Nitzinger also contributions by Rockin' Chair, Bell Sheep, The Big Galoots, Ed Lively etc. T-shirts, Posters, Raffles for a custom guitar, art and gift certificates to restaurants all benefiting The Tarrant Area Food Bank.

This year we are expecting more of the same including reunions by Sundown Collection, the Elite, Bill Ham, Steve Hill of Bloodrock, Ed Lively and Willie Smith and also Rockin' Chair, The Blues Invaders, Larry and the Blue Notes, The Sleep Walkers, Cellar Bands (Orchrist and Neurotic Sheep) and members of the Mods, Cynics, Nomads, Jades, and more.

Share "Good Times" on Oct.16, 2005 at Trinity Park Shelter House on W. 7th St. near downtown Fort Worth. Time 10am-10pm

For more info contact Rick: rbened9864@aol.com

Our old mucker, Mr David Crider from The Church of Estrus, Bellingham, Wa is bringing the gospel to Europe with his fellow r&r, soul-wielding evangelista,

THE DT’S “NICE ‘N’ RUFF” EUROPEAN TOUR - OCTOBER 2005

SPAIN/PORTUGAL

06 (thur) Valladolid, Spain (tba)
07 (fri) Badajoz, Spain (Mercantil)
08 (sat) Lisbon, Por-tugal (Barreiro Rocks Festival)
11 (tues) Madrid, Spain (Gruta 77)
12 (wed) Burgos, Spain (tba)
13 (thur) Bilboa, Spain (Azkena)
14 (fri) San Sebastian, Spain (Irish Disco)
15 (sat) Vitoria, Spain (Helldorado)
16 (sun) Ulldecona, Spain (L’Ermita)
19 (wed) Barcelona, Spain (Side-car)
20 (thurs) Girona, Spain (La Merce o la Via)

Mr Spence will be providing the UK show details once everything is firm. Watch this space for the skinny on all that just as soon as it's available!

Mr McLean hepped us to this possible alternative to that "bouncy castle" you always thought about for the garden. The link won't work but I'm sure if you "google" Portapub you'll get what you deserve.

It's all pretty humdrum on the East of Scotland front, however Murray Ramone laid the following info upon us. I checked the Calendar and it's the 1st of October 2005 not 1978 so this'll be right then...

John Peel Day - October 13th -
Citrus Club, Edinburgh - Doors 19:30

Line Up/Details:

TV21
Jo Callis(The Rezillos/The Human League)
Malcolm Ross(Joseph K, Orange Juice, Aztec Camera)
Paul Research(The Scars)
Dave Carson(Boots For Dancing)
William Mysterious(The Rezillos)
The Twinsets

Not sure about ticket info but i'll let you know if I find owt out.

"Ignore it, and it'll go away", or at least that's what I figured. My right hand ringfinger had been hurtin' like hell over the past two weeks, so I finally went to down to the doctor's today. Various knifes and hypodermic needles were apparently used (heck, I certainly didn't wanna see what was goin' on!), and because of this my typin ability is down a serious number of levels. Please be patient if you're waiting for a response to your e-mail, I'll get to it, it just takes some extra time...

I have to say that I'm with Angel Corpus Christi on the "I wouldn't Want To Be Bob Dylan" thing. And likewise Bobby presumably wouldn't want to be us either as the lady's song goes. But what about No Direction Home then? Pretty goddamn groovy stuff even for a relative non-believer like myself.

Scorsese did a great job getting Dylan to open up like he did. Great as the way this appeared on TV was, I wish I'd seen it first in a cinema. As iconography goes, and if you dug nothing else about it those old photos and clips indicated what a world of possibilities existed then. Of course, living in it would never have seemed like that but nothing nowadays is ever not stage-managed. Almost nothing that makes it through that "sophisticated filter" to any manner of mainstream appeal that is.

It kinda fizzled out before I expected it to but I guess too much of a good thing would maybe make people think that something like this could happen again. Not many things live up to even the slightest hype but this did.

Howdy Cowpoke!
Please join SUSQUEHANNA INDUSTRIAL TOOL & DIE CO. on FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30TH as we saddle up for the RODEO BAR, nestled in Manhattan at 375 Third Avenue, on the corner of 27th Street (www.RodeoBar.com). Sure as shootin' we'll be playing three sets, at 10:30, 11:30 and 12:30 sharp -- and you bet it's FREE, as are the peanuts.

Your pardner, Michael "Ballads, Boogies & Blues"

P.S. And we return to our Thursday night residency at OTTO'S SHRUNKEN HEAD, starting on OCTOBER 6TH, just so you know.

Would you believe?... Agent 86 dead at 82. RIP - Don Adams (Sad news from Chief Thewlis)

Update at 6.15pm... Couldn't do much earlier but surreptitiously post something from work. I was sorry to hear about Max. When Channel 4 started here they broadcast a whole bunch of the original series. Pretty sure that's where my habit of addressing people as "Chief" came from but anyway, when Tony broke the news to me, I tried to find a story. The BBC ran a small piece but that was all. It's much bigger news in the USA and Australia where they take this kinda culture a bit more seriously. I imagine Agent 99 is fairly devastated right about now... Time to rake for those VHS's.

"Hey hey! 8 years after the sad closing of our beloved record shop in September 1997 we are very pleased to announce the RE-OPENING of COOL & CRAZY!! LPs, 7" singles, CDs, books, zines, etc. Specializing in WILD shit of the 50s & 60s (and recent practitioners of r&r wildness). Julius-Leber-Str 20, Souterrain 22765 Hamburg
hours: Monday to Friday 12 pm to 7 pm RING THE BELL LOUD & OFTEN!!!".

Count Bishops, Eddie & the Hot Rods. 100 Club, London, Friday Sept 23.
Thirty years ago this line-up would have probably been the hottest ticket in town, while hardly a year later both of these bands lost their place in the limelight thanks to the arrival of the Sex Pistols, Clash and their ilk. Not that they didn't soldier on without any success, but they never became as big they once seemed destined to be. So was it worth flying off to London to catch 'm in action once again all these years down the line you ask?. The answer is a resoundin' "YEAH!". The Hot Rods had only been added to the bill as special guests after I booked a flight to see the Bishops so that was a nice extra, and they certainly didn't disappoint. Even with Barrie Masters bein' the only original member, his current Rods are thus relatively young and still very energetic. Three new songs and a drumsolo stop me from givin' 'em both thumbs up, but with a setlist that included solid renditions of Telephone Love, Teenage Depression, Quit This Town, Life On The Line, and of course Do Anything You Wanna Do there's hardly any reason to argue against 'em. While Barrie & Co. are still somewhat of a going concern, The Count Bishops re-united especially for Ace Records' thirtieth anniversary party. For whatever reason I've been somewhat obsessed by this band for ages, but sadly never caught 'm live in their heyday. So when news of this on/off get together reached these shores all was set aside to make sure I'd be there this go 'round. Up on stage this Friday were Johnny Guitar, Dave Tice, Pat McMullen and a Australian drummer who's name I failed to catch (apparently both Mike Spencer and Steve Lewins were in attendance as well but neither went up on stage. Original rhythm guitar player Zenon de Fleur, who passed away in 1979, was represented by a large photo on top of on of the amps). Any doubts about dropping some serious coin to see these guys were quickly wiped out as soon as Tice opened his gravel throated yapper (Kenny Loggins hairdo or no). And when Johnny Guitar finally shifted into third gear a couple of songs into the set things couldn't have been better. The sound was perfect and there were thankfully no attempts to "update" their sound/looks with lengthy solo's, flying v's and ponytails. Just pure rockin' sounds with Johnny's razorsharp guitar attack bein' the absolute highlight for me. He also took over vocal duties for Train, Train (originally Zenon's tour-de-force), a brave attempt that brought on mucho goosebumps. Other highlights included a poundin' I Want Candy and a powerhouse take on Taste 'n Try. All 'n all this was a perfect night (and let's not forget Dave 'Boss' Goodman spinnin' many a Nugget for the rest of the evening). What with the Bishops spreaded all over the globe these days I don't think they'll repeat these kind o' thing anytime soon, but if so; do make sure you'll be there. In the meantime, be on the lookout for Ace Records upcomin' CD re-issues of the Bishops 2nd and 3rd LPs for some hi-octane Brit R&B.

I have to admit it. I'm no Dylan afficianado. However, I'll be tuned into the Scorsese doc on Monday and Tuesday like everybody else. I recognise his place in the musical firmament and am prepared to be blown away by this event. It's funny, with all the furore around it, this is a real happening. There'll be a huge TV audience all watching the same thing at the same time. That almost never happens anymore and that in itself is something tangibly reassuring. I know some hipsters have viewed the thing already and that the dvd is actually available but simply the notion of folks all tuning into the same item at the same time is huge. Well as huge as anything gets these days. Anyways, re Bob - what I like most about him is that he recognises Dave Alvin as the ace guitar player he is. I like Mary Lee's "Blood On The Tracks" more than I like the real thing. I'm hoping I can be swayed into discovering the secret that the man's rabid followers riff over. There's a piece in the Sunday Herald here today where "important figures" pick their favourite Dylan song. Jim Sclavunos is in there alongside Scotland's first minister Jack McConnell. Odd is perhaps the best word to describe such an undertaking. Have a look for yourselves... I have to split, more Status Quo coming up on Corry.

Last night’s Laura Cantrell show at The Queens’ Hall in Edinburgh was a real triumph, even by her own high standards. Packing the “acoustic” format, the bulk of the set came from the most recent album but there were plenty of chestnuts from the previous two also. The version of “Whiskey” where she had the crowd sing along was positively spine-tingling.

For the extended encore, Frank Macdonald joined his friends onstage to deliver several tunes from the albums he released that put the lassie on the map in the first place. There was a review in the Times on Friday that gave a tepid line on the performance in London but I don’t think I’ve ever seen the show appear so tight whilst retaining that element of loose that let’s things breathe. This wasn’t just a note-perfect run through the material, it was practically countryphonic soul.

Opener, Holly Williams came out to join them for a rousing version of Gillian Welch’s “Orphan Girl”. I was pretty underwhelmed by her own set but this showed off her sizeable vocal talent in no uncertain manner. Laura and Mark Spencer will be back in the UK briefly in a fortnight to appear at the Keeping It Peel Celebration at The Queen Elizabeth Hall on October 12th.

These are busy times for Ms C alright but she’s hitting all the right buttons and like previously intimated, last night took that craft to a whole ‘nother level.

FTC Bars Export of the New MX-80 Release - How American is "American"?

San Francisco -- The Federal Trade Commission has announced its preliminary ruling barring export of the new MX-80 album, "We're an American Band." The ruling, one of the first under the recently enacted "Made in America" Act will remain in place unless the band, or its record label, Family Vineyard, can provide "demonstrative evidence as to the national origin" of band members. So far, the band and its label have refused to participate in the FTC proceedings. Under the legislation, effective June 1, 2005, companies advertising products with the term "America" or "American" must file certification documentation with the FTC and U.S. Customs demonstrating that "all or virtually all" of the product-including processing and labor that go into the product-must be of U.S. origin. In this case, since the band is claiming "We're an American Band," as its album title, the FTC is requiring proof of national origin of each band member. "This is so incredibly surreal," said lead singer Rich Stim, "that I can't even classify it as surreal." Problems developed for MX-80-the eclectic avant rock band based in the Bay Area-when the Family Vineyard label sought a UPC bar code for the new album, scheduled for November, 2005 release. Under the new law, the organization managing bar codes (the Associated Code Council) must report any product names using the words "America," "American," "US," or "USA." Companies then have 90 days to provide certification to the FTC. "Did Grand Funk Railroad have to send in their passports?" asked Stim, referring to the Michigan rock band that popularized the song used as title track of the MX-80 album. "What about Scientific American, American Airlines or American Idol? I find it disingenuous that the U.S. government needs proof of my citizenship in order for me to sell records in Holland. My guess is that they're only going after so-called subversive artists."

The FTC has denied that the agency is targeting artists and claims that enforcement of the new law is mandatory.

A missive from Mr Tom Phobic...
"Hi Kids,
It's that time again....summer has packed it's bags and buggered off somewhere else, it's getting darker earlier, the kids are back at school (or not, according to figures) petrol keeps going up, politicians keep lying and killing and not giving a toss......dontitmakeyafeelsick?
.......afraid we can't offer a cure (or a final solution) but why not forget about your troubles for one night and drag your hides out to our spiritual (and i don't just mean liquor)home in Deptford for an evening of primo guitar slinging punk rock slop served just the way you like it!
As ever, it's FREE and we'll be playing stuff from our "Down and Out In Deptford EP" which is picking up rave reviews here, in Europe, over in the States and OZ, and EVEN in Argentina where we are radio stars! (yeah, we know - most of us have a face for radio!)
Anyway, enough ramble, here's the skinny -

SATURDAY, 1ST OCTOBER:
The Birds Nest, Deptford Church Street, Deptford SE8 FREE!!

9pm onwards, The Phobics play 2 sets - plenty of surprises, guests and the usual mayhem.

Anyone need directions, more info, whatever drop me a line. Tom"

A year ago, this very “noo”, I was attending the Punk Kongress in Kassel. Tis presactly 365 days since I saw CZD and The Boonaraaas in the Lolita Bar in that cool German town. Hopefully there’ll be some news on the next one soon…

Ms Laura Cantrell is back in the ‘hood and has a show at Edinburgh’s Queens Hall tonight. We caught up with her and Mr Jeremy Chatzky for a pleasant evening in Glasgow along with Sir Francis of Macdonald. Always great to catch up but Ms C had some bad news to lay on us. There’s no way to gild this so I’ll come straight out with it.

WFMU is taking The Radio Thrift Shop off the air. For reasons best known to the programmers of the NJ station, they’ve decided to remove the RTS from the upcoming Fall schedule. If you’ve got a mo’, maybe you could drop them a line and ask what they expect to gain from this plainly daft action. All good things and everything taken into account, this is an open and shut case of them not knowing what they’ve got ‘til it’s gone. I think the last show is on October 10th but I’ll get back to you on that. I think The proprietress is disappointed and maybe bloodied but absolutely unbowed. She’ll take the format to another station mayhap? One that understands the meaning of community in the terms that I always thought the WFMU did. I’m sure there are politics involved but that means less than F all to we - the listeners, it's more like a betrayal, in my er, humble opinion. A worthy programme, Rex's Fools Paradise will be brought forward into the RTS slot but that's not the point. Not having Laura on their roster isn't the sharpest decision that's been taken in Jersey City methinks.

Mr Chatzky, who plays with Ronnie Spector also, tells we that the new album by the lady is due for release soon and it contains her version of Amy Rigby’s oughtta be smash, “All I Want”. Things appear to be shaping up nicely for Ms Rigby who will hopefully be packing a band on her upcoming UK jaunt. More about that as the info becomes available.

On a loose Teenage Fanclub related point and having been out on the town last night, I set the VCR for “The Status Quo” appearing on Coronation Street. Absolutely brilliant stuff which reminds me of how great TV can be but seldom is. A national institution appearing on another national institution. Not quite at the lofty heights of Uncle Junior watching Larry David but pretty darn groovy nonetheless. It made me think about the time that "The Quo" were playing The Fillmore during a vacation in San Francisco and we didn’t go. Of course they haven’t made a decent record in forever but that’s not the point. I saw them many times in their heyday. They always had great support acts too, like Montrose and Savoy Brown to name but two. The memories are flooding back of late, I remember more about thirty years ago than I do about the past month.

Anyway, I’m heading for Edinburgh now. If you’re anywhere about these parts then you should consider a jaunt there also. There are tickets for the Laura gig to be had at the door… treat yourself.

RIP - Willie Hutch

Chris Bailey (The Saints) is guest DJ @ Sonic Reducer this Saturday!

"Hey folks

Our first night at the wonderful Filthy MacNasty's in Amwell St EC1 earlier this month was a great laff, and we collected £130 for the Goner Records Hurricane Katrina Fund. Thanks to yer good selves the dosh is already helping displaced New Orleans-based musicians such as Alex Chilton, Peg O'Neill (Gories), King Louie Bankston, The Persuaders, and many more with rebuilding their lives! So far, benefits in New York, Memphis, and around the US have raised over $4,000 dollars for clothes, food & shelter. Log onto www.goner-records.com for further info.

This Saturday (24th), we'll be honoured to have Saints frontman Chris Bailey along to spin some of his fave vinyl, and have a few swift halves, plus there'll be primo big screen action from the Sonic Reducer archives!

A big shout out to Tim 'Jolly' Rogers (You Am I) & Nick 'Smelly' Barker, whose sold-out gig at the Borderline on Tuesday was a blast and an' arf, to which the Sonic Reducer Tag Team contributed some 45rpm ammo - and gladly!
Dig the boys' new albums, Tim's Dirty Ron/Ghost Songs double set, and Mr Barker's C-Side retrospective, you wont be regretting it ...

Anyhoo, back to the bar ... See ya Saturday? Selah Joss & Joe."----------------------------------

Sonic Reducer At Filthy MacNasty's - Twice A Month - Saturdays - 7-11pm
Free - 68 Amwell Street EC1 - Tube: Angel - Tel: 020 7837 6067

Dates: Sept 24th, Oct 15th & 29th ... More special guest DJs to be announced ...

Just Say Sire: The Sire Records Story, a new box set on Rhino is a bit of a mixed blessing. I don't mind Madonna, and I can forgive the non inclusion of the lable's early Dutch roster. But lookin' at the tracklist I figure I seriously need to re-arange my view on the label...

Mr Wall informs me that this is finally available frae LAST CALL

I can't remember if I posted this before or not but the new season of CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM starts this coming Sunday on HBO in the US.

Something else I found comedywise is the trailer for Sarah Silverman: Jesus Is Magic. She was one of the best things about "The Aristocrats" and shows no signs of letting up. Be warned though, this clip is "age verified" and most definitely not office friendly. Put mildly it could well cause offense to just about anybody, so bear that in mind. Out in November, the film is directed by Liam Lynch, presumably the "United States of Whatever" guy?

"A date for your diaries...

Friday, October 14th 2005 at The Subway, Cowgate, Edinburgh
Doors open 7:30pm, gig over around 10pm when the Subway reverts to its usual glamourous friday night self.

A free gig of short sharp songs from the world famous Shock And Awe to promote their new album "School For Scoundrels" with the bonus of a rare set of multi-media art/punk/disco interface from Scars mainman Paul Research. (onstage 8pm)

Come on down, it's free to get in - if you want, you can buy a cd to help us pay for the night (14 songs!, professionally recorded! with real drums!, available at a special bargain offer price on the night!), tell all your friends and anyone else who might be interested.

Cheers, Murray"

"The SUZY Y LOS QUATTRO website has been updated and here are the tour dates for the LIPSTICK TO JAPAN TOUR 2005:

OCTOBER
10/29 Tokyo - Shimokitazawa MOSAIC
10/31 Saitama - Ohmiya HEARTS (Halloween party)

NOVEMBER
11/02 Aichi - Nagoya SONSET STRIP
11/03 Osaka - Fukushima LIVE SQUARE 2nd LINE
11/04 Ishikawa - Kanazawa VAN VAN V4
11/05 Tokyo - Kichijoji PLANET K

Japanese fans can contact Wizzard in Vinyl for tickets and further details about this tour.

Before heading to the land of rising sun, we'll be opening for our vocal surf godfathers, THE SURFIN' LUNGS at their shows in Barcelona at the incredibly cool Apollo club on Friday 7th October and also at their gig at the Ricoamor club in Castellon on Sunday 9th."

From Gary Gold...

"LITTLE STEVEN'S KEYNOTE ADDRESS RADIO & RECORDS CONVENTION 2005 - JACOBS MEDIA SUMMIT

Date: Thursday, July 23, 2005 Place: Renaissance Hotel, Cleveland, Ohio

Audience: 250 Program Directors

Fred Jacobs introduces 4-minute video bio. At its conclusion the Dovells' "You Can't Sit Down" explodes from the speakers as 5 Go-Go girls come out of the wings surrounding Fred, much to his discomfort. Little Steven enters to thunderous applause. He cuts off the music with a wave of his hand, leans into the microphone and says "Ladies and Gentlemen, Fred Jacobs."

The music returns as the girls exit. A stunned audience applauds wildly as Fred, very uncharacteristically, dances off with them.

Little Steven: Well that was worth the price of admission alone. (more applause and laughter) (paces with the hand held mic for a minute, and then . . . )

I Love Radio! (applause once again erupts) And I feel nothing but love in this room because as I look around, I see only two kinds of people. Our beloved affiliates . . . and future affiliates. (laughter) So now matter what happens in this next half hour, remember what I just said. It's just family talking. And without any further disclaimers let me ask the only important question that is on my mind, and I'm sure you've been thinking about it also, especially lately.

(pause)

WHEN DID THE F*CKING PUSSIES TAKE OVER?

(applause and laughter)

When? Don't you look forward to the day when your grandson is on your knee and he looks up and says, "Grampa weren't you in radio once?" "Yes, Grandson," you'll reply. "Could I ask you something," he'll say. "Of course, my love, anything," you'll say. "Grampa where were you WHEN THE F*CKING PUSSIES TOOK OVER?" (more laughter)

Where were we? What happened? Things are out of line and we're not leaving here today until we straighten it out.

(applause and laughter)

Now I was going to wait for this but we might as well get right to it since it is all everybody's talking about. I have come to praise JACK not to bury him. (laughter - uncertain applause) The guys at Infinity are friends of ours, as is everybody else, we got nothing but friends you all know that. And I've gotta say I'm proud of these guys for having the balls to shake things up. Things needed shaking up. And history will remember them in a very positive way when looking back at this world changing moment. Having said that...

Replacing 33 year old New York oldies institution CBS-FM with JACK is like replacing the Statue of Liberty with a blow-up doll.

(eruptions of laughter and applause)

But again, change is good. And necessary. With a little bit of luck JACK will last 10 or 12 months because it is obvious people want something different, they are hungry for something, anything. So it could be 6 months before anybody actually listens to JACK. Once they do it is doomed for 3 obvious reasons. At the moment it is replacing oldies formats but it is not an oldies format in the true sense of the word.

It's mostly 80's, some 70's, some 90's. Now it must be said that the oldies format is vulnerable because over the last 5-10 years it has, in a word, sucked. It has sucked for a very simple reason, somebody had the brilliant idea to eliminate the 50's and replace it with the 70's. This was done by somebody uniquely stupid and deaf and ignorant and a bad businessman on top of it all. So naturally, everybody copied it and the 50's disappeared virtually overnight.

Now let's digress and examine this oldies thing for a minute. Assuming you accept the fact that those overseeing the oldies format these last 5 years - 10 years - are, in fact, stupid, deaf, ignorant, and bad businessmen, let's deal with it. As far as stupid, deaf, and ignorant, when it comes to decades that matter, that matter historically, in terms of influence, importance, and never-to-be-heard-again-quality - that is the 50's and 60's. Everything we do, everything we are comes from those two decades.

You're gonna throw one away? You're gonna replace Elvis, Little Richard, Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran, Johnny Burnette, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Buddy Holly, Lloyd Price, and Fats Domino with, all due respect, Donna Summer and the Bee Gees? You're gonna replace primal, vital, timeless, forever cool rock and roll pioneers with disco? Disco?

You wanna know what disco is good for? Disco is for when you're drunk at a wedding with your old lady and you want to act like an idiot and be John Travolta for an hour or two. That's where it belongs. Not on radio.

And to the issue of oldies being bad business - all you hear - I'm assuming from sales people - is we must lower our demo's. The oldies demographic are getting too old - that's the rationale for replacing the 50's with the 70's.

Now if all there was to sell in the world were Fruit Loops, Play Stations,and sneakers - they might have a point. But I got a little secret to share. You know that age group - 35 to 65 - that nobody in sales seems to care about?

THAT'S WHERE ALL THE F*CKING MONEY IS!

(laughter, applause)

I mean ALL the f*cking money.

35 to 65.

Memo to sales team - SELL THEM SOMETHING!

And, by the way, if you want younger people listening, you can get that done. And I mean kids, if you want them.

Who is cooler? Early Elvis or Elton John?

What appeals more to kids, Gene Vincent's black leather attitude, Eddie Cochran's teenage frustration, Little Richard's cry of liberation, and Dion's total Soprano's coolness - or the Eagles?

You want wild? Put together the Sex Pistols, Audioslave, and the Wu-Tang Clan - they aren't as wild as Jerry Lee Lewis in his prime.

But you have to explain that. Show it, illustrate, educate, sell it.

Alright - digression over - so JACK isn't oldies so it must be some kind of classic rock/pop hybrid. But JACK doesn't address the two biggest problems of classic rock. 15 years ago I said we're chasing all the personality out of rock radio and into talk and sports. And the ratings went with it.

We need more personality, not less, and JACK has none.

No DJ's means no personal relationship with the audience. Eventual apathy is inevitable.

The other big issue classic rock must consider is it must start playing new music again.

I've suggested it to my own affiliates and I'll keep saying it every chance I get. We've got a big problem.

Look around. Pearl Jam does some business. Dave Matthews - if he's rock at all - does well. Maybe Oasis breaks this year in the U.S. Maybe Coldplay - if they're considered rock.

But in a real sense, the last big band through the door was U2. That's 25 years ago."

Those good ol' Sonic Reducer boys are on the campaign trail! Part 2 this coming weekend! Click on the photo to read the piece if your eyesight is anything like mine.

Out now on A Fistful Of Records a new 45 by London's Blacktime; I Hate The World And The World Hates Me c/w Sleepwalking and Chinese Mechanics. Lo on the fi, these kids still manage to come up w/ the kind o' racket that not only touches all the right lounchin' pads, but also escapes any obvious comparisons. Hit the above link for ordering info, you won't regret it.

No sooner had I typed the expression "Girls in the garage" then this teaser poster for Dollsquad landed in my inbox from the other side of the world (Australia). Fear not, these ladies are prepared to go further for the party than a couple of dabs of the ol' carbon monoxide for effect.

"Are you ready for the fast action feline frenzy that is DollSquad? Well slide on down to the following boss shows:

Friday 23rd September "Girls in the Garage" @ Pony (68 Little Collins Street) with four killer all girl bands plus the fabulous Man's Ruin Burlesque steamin' up the stage and escape artist extraordinaire Dr El Suavo who will act as the MC for the nite and engage in some impromptu straight jacket antics! Plus a buxotic bevy of gogo dancers, stalls and door prizes.

Saturday 8th October "Kaleidoscope Klub" @ Cobra (Upstairs - The Tote, Johnson St) Pay homage to the heyday of the playboy and playgirl in hedonistic style at Cobra Bar. Dress for the occasion and receive a door prize. The Kaleidoscope Klub features hotter than hot dj''s, live bands, gogo girls in cages no less and grinding burlesque acts.

In other news, DollSquad have finished recording a brand new stack of songs at Preston Studios with Graeme Thomas. We recorded the old fashioned way with all vintage equipment on reel to reel with just two tracks - one for the music and one for the vocals. We were joined by Peter Rechter from the TolPuddle Martyrs and Peter and the Silhouettes (original Aussie garage punkers) on organ!

Been nursing a headache of varying proportions for about a week now. While it's still evident it isn't making me feel nauseous now. I can only assume that's down to the amount of paracetamol that I've popped since last Tuesday. However, needs must and in the area of fighting fire, I thought to myself that some loud music might actually quell the old nip. Not sure about the science part there but it kind of made sense at the time.

Anyway, the soul-tinged stylings of THE SLOW SLUSHY BOYS "LOVE AND AFFECTION" ten inch mini album seems like a good way to start. 10 cuts crammed into this svelt groove with a warmth and grace seldom experienced in recent times. These SSB fellas have their art down-pat and this B-Soul release is something of a revelation. The hammond-fueled antics are as infectious as all get out and like all good hootch, the originals sit effortlessly beside the covers. The title is derived from the Nathaniel Mayer penned "I Want Love and Affection" that kicks this wanton stramash off. Stand out is the unstoppable "Slush Puppy" that would set any worthy dancefloor on fire. Their slide on through Arthur Conley's "I'm Gonna Forget About You" is worthy of The Skeletons themselves. Prepare to get shivers and shakes in equal measures.

LES GODZILLAS appear on that SSB slab but also have their own 250mm (approx) diameter platter available. "GREEDANGELAMENTO" is made up of two group originals and covers of The Seeds, Wanda Jackson, The Pandoras and The Fall (!). The thing that sets it apart from being just another "Girls In The Garage" type thing is its overt Frenchness. It has that Gallic cool which packs a distinct feel to the delivery as opposed to just bashing a songs brains out.

No prizes for guessing where THE DELTABONDS "GOT FUN IF YOU WANT IT" is coming from but it's Fleshtone-powered rambunctiousness short circuits the authentic nature of the garageness. It isn't stuck in the rut of any one era and is somehow recorded as an open ended party invitation. If they can cut it like this live then it'd be quite a hoedown.

Gotta hand it to these French kids. They've been beavering away at rock'n'roll's coal face for years. There was a time when the only place that a US band could get arrested would be in France. Since those days, Spain has come along to offer refuge to the real mccoy in terms of similar mania but if it wasn't for our European brothers and sisters, real music - like real ale - would be in serious trouble. It might well have become extinct by now.

Be a putz and reckon that the UK is the place to be if you want but it's all happening just over yonder horizon. The LARSEN department is ready to help you with your requests for their timeless catalogue staples. A fine place where familiarity could never be construed with contempt.

Ooh wee, old school hip-hop posters 'n Party Flyers.

45s 'n 33s
In these days of MP3s, podcasts and whatnot, it's good to see the 45 is still around, the ultimate quick-fix when it comes to diggin' new sounds.
Slovenly Recordings outta Reno has a nice pair of 7 inches available by the Black Lips! from their first ever recording sessions way back in the year 2000. Good, good R&B influxed garage sounds w/ wailin' harp. By the time someone rounds up their best stuff for a comp, the world is gonna wonder why it never investigated these guys in the first place. The D4's 6Twenty LP is one of the finest full-lengths in recent years, holding up easily along such classics like L.A.M.F and Saturday Night Fever. So yeah, yeah, yeah, I was really lookin' forward to their follow up. What I Want is the first 45 taken from their second album Out Of My Head and it's, well, OK-ish. And that's about all I can say about it. One of these days I'm gonna give OOMM a spin (it's been waiting next to HQ's hi-fi for weeks) but judging by this it still might take a while. NYC's Astralwerks has put out a great twin spin with archive material by Joe Strummer's 101ers. Both tunes (Letsagetabitarockin' and Motor Boys Motor) have been around before but this band's stuff works surprisingly better in short doses. Do I give a shit about the latest Rolling Stones 45? Well, in fact I do. At least in the flipside that is tho'. Rough Justice is as good a Stones tune as you're gonna get these days. Dig Keith's slide parts! From Warner come two very authentic lookin' Stooges singles with material taken from the recent CD re-issues of their first two LPs. John Cale's original mix of Real Cool Time and the original mono 45 mix (w/ organ) of Down In The Street are the main attraction here and deserve whatever amount it takes to nail 'em. The good news is that double-disc vinyl sets of the above mentioned CDS will be out anyday soon. So there you have it. And to round things up, here's a couple o' longplays to be on the lookout for.
1. Reigning Sound - Home For Orphans (Sympathy)
The long promised acoustic set and serious contender for disc of the year. (and while you're at it, don't forget the new Live At Maxwells, less essential, but would you wanna be without any of their stuff?
2. v/a - Soul Power (Trojan/Sanctuary)
Amazing set of early 70s English/Jamaican funk/reggae. Get in the groove!
3. v/a - Return Of The Funk Soulsisters (BGP)
Mucho anticipated follow up to the initial Funk Soulsisters full o' top drawer material once again.

Lez Zeppelin? Read all about 'em.... maybe they'll consider next year's Edinburgh Festival?

Actually, sticking with the "memory-man" theme, I drove past Grangemouth Stadium and the fence there has been replaced by one of those fantoosh jaggy type impaler deals. You can see straight into the grounds and on to the area where I worked in the Record Tent at the Grangemouth Pop Festival. I seem to recall this being in August 1972 or thereabouts and that Uriah Heep didn't turn up amongst other things. Anyway, I can remember selling alot of copies of the first Roxy Music album too for some reason. And Lindisfarne's "Dingley Dell" getting some kind of advanced availabilty specially for the event. Anyway, it was possibly the most ill-conceived bill ever put together in terms of appeal. I remember Billy Connolly, Sunshine, Lindisfarne, Status Quo, The Everly Brothers and Beck, Bogert and Appice. The Average White band may have been involved as might The Sleaze Band. Anyway, there's not much on this worldwide web beastie to help me jog those fried braincells but I did find the very entertaining FALKIRK MUSIC SCENE portal which will whisk anybody who wishes to be back to certain points and persons in the history of this area's "scene". It comes right up to date and offers current happenings too so it's not just a place for daft auld duffers like me to "fouter aboot" in.

As my memory gets more fragmented by the minute, I'm prone to bursts of recall. While these don't happen as frequently as I'd like - one of these flashbacks came to me this afternoon. I don't think that I intimated that the long running rock and roll bible published in Toulouse, France put out DIG IT 34 some months ago.

Though they publish in French, the spirit is very much international and Gildas and his crew have been flying the flag for fine music for longer than any of us possibly care to remember. They are tireless and passionate and if you "reada da lingo" that can only serve to make you enjoy this print more. Like J was saying a wee while ago, there aren't many printzines left. We need to support folks like this crew that are prepared to go that extra mile.

Ben (Gart via the Staysick Board) flagged up the problem of having been connected to a blackjack/poker site when he tried to visit us yesterday. Far as I can tell things are all operating fine now but it's hard to keep up with all the "rapidly spreading threats". If you were in the same boat then apologies but I "divnae ken" what happened but will keep an eye on it. This kind of bollocks makes me hark back to better times when communications were less prone to the interference of fuckwits who basically exist to put a spanner into whatever works that they can. Several recent occurrences have made me consider just retiring from the whole shooting match. If it weren't for Jeroen and Steve then I probably wouldn't be in this virtual fracas anyway but it is fun. Sometimes. Particularly when you make contact with a long, never heard from amigo, or when you discover something really great that you just have to share. But with all that, there's the spam and similarly irritating pish to contend with. All sent to try us I know, but when you consider how far down the pan the human race is in general, isn't it feasible that enough people would realise that and at least attempt to pull us out of the whole big tailspin. Wouldn't it be great if you heard on the news that there were no suicide bombings today anywhere? Anyway, it's not likely and that kind of optimism has been sparring with my mostly dark mood of late.

I'd like to take this opporchancity to wish the great Long Ryding Sidney Griffin all the best for his impending half-century. More geezers with that sorta chutzpah if you please. If you're in London, go help him celebrate...

Been a quiet few days hereabouts, taken advantage of that to keep the mitts off the old keyboard, and the peepers "aff" the screen. Maybe if I stay away long enough I'll get my eyesight back? Then again...




Euro-based Dictators afficianados should be able to score VIVA DICTATORS via the Escapi Distribution network. It can also be procured via the band website for $15 along with back catalogue cd action for just $10 a pop. So if you've been holding off on giving that vinyl of yours some respite, this is the time. And if you're feeling flush you could direct some of those savings to a worthy cause.

For a limited period, order a copy of AMY RIGBY's LITTLE FUGITIVE album direct from SIGNATURE SOUNDS and you'll get a limited edition 45 of "Dancing With Joey Ramone" thrown in with the deal.

If you already have the album and need to score the 45 (flip is a cover of Wire's "Mannequin" performed live with Hazel) then contact Amy via her website and she might be able to hook you up.

If ever a song deserved to be in that good ol' 45 format then it's this one.

"Hello Friend, The lads of SUSQUEHANNA INDUSTRIAL TOOL & DIE CO. cordially invite you to join them on THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15TH for the company's lone date this month at OTTO'S SHRUNKEN HEAD, located at 538 East 14th Street in Manhattan's Eastern Village.

Why, it promises to be a fine night of entertainment, what with our special guests ROSALIE MORRIS and DJ REX DOANE of WFMU -- plus, as is the custom, a free raffle! Two shows are on tap, beginning at 8:00 and 10:00. And you betcha it's all FREE.

Sincerely, Michael, SIT & Die Co., "Ballads, Boogies & Blues"

THE SAINTS are back for a short UK tour in-between re-conquering their home soil of Australia this autumn.

SUNDAY - SEPTEMBER 25TH, THE UNDERWORLD, LONDON

TUESDAY - SEPTEMBER 27TH, JOSEPH’S WELL, LEEDS

WEDNESDAY - SEPTEMBER 28TH, ROCK CITY, NOTTINGHAM

FRIDAY - SEPTEMBER 30TH, THE CROFT, BRISTOL

Now slimmed down to a fiery three piece (Marti is taking a holiday) THE SAINTS hit the road to re-establish their reputation the one of the premier punk bands still at their peak. Re-promoting their album “Nothing Is Straight In My House” (Cadiz) and new single BANG ON available on Itunes/HMV Digital and Virgin Digital. They'll be ably supported by Billy No Mates (featuring Dominic Redmonds from Snuff) on all dates. Beyond Reasonable Doubt on all dates except for Bristol and Mr Shiraz in Leeds.

"The Shooting Gallery & Tiki News magazine present "Tiki Art Two: The Second Coming of a New Art God," a group show of new work inspired by Tiki including Bosko, Kirsten Easthope, Niagara, Isabel Samaras, Shag, and more.

Tiki Art Two

Opening: Friday, Sept. 16, 2005 - 7pm - 11pm, 839 Larkin St., San Francisco, CA 94109

This unique array of neo-primitive images is also captured in a 112 page full color catalog available opening night!

Images: “Gone Native (Joseph Vialetes de Mortarieu)" and “Gone Native (Princess Albert de Broglie)”. Oil on wood -20 x 16 inches (each) by Isabel Samaras.

GONERFEST

RIP - Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown (link provided by MT)

From Barney Hoskyns...

"Hi there, Forgive the shameless advance (self-) promotion, but I wanted to let you know that my new book, HOTEL CALIFORNIA: SINGER-SONGWRITERS & COCAINE COWBOYS IN THE LA CANYONS 1967-1976, is being published in the UK in November by Fourth Estate. US publication by Wiley & Sons follows in the spring.

The book is about the Los Angeles music scene after the Monterey Pop festival and before punk, focusing on the relationships between the artists represented by managers/label-owners David Geffen and Elliot Roberts: Neil Young, Crosby Stills & Nash, Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, JD Souther, the Eagles, Warren Zevon, Judee Sill and others. Simon Reynolds was kind enough to write the following:

"One of our finest pop historians reappraises a neglected and often maligned milieu, the soft-rock and singer-songwriter superstars of Southern California, that FM radio aristocracy who dominated almost the entirety of the 1970s. Barney Hoskyns deftly evokes not just the decadence but the sense of discovery, rooted in Sixties idealism and fostered by a gaggle of record industry mavericks who for a brief period managed to make art and business co-exist."

BMX BANDITS are at MONO in Glasgow tonight at 9pm and it costs exactly no money to enter those hallowed portals. And whilst we're on the subject of Bellshill... Davie Scott's excellent programme on TEENAGE FANCLUB's BANDWAGONESQUE is on Radio Scotland's LISTEN AGAIN feature for the whole of the coming week from today. Just click on the Classic Scottish Album feature and follow the wee audio (star) sign beside the title...

Join Pat Todd & The Rankoutsiders as we Rock San Diego & Long Beach

Where: The Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101. The Woggles, Pat Todd & the Rankoutsiders (ex-Lazy Cowgirls), The Loons, DJ Tony the Tiger!!! When: wednesday, Sept. 14th 9:00pm. How Much: $8
AND we'll be in Long Beach the following Friday, Sept 16th: Where: Que Sera/Club Strychnine 1923 East 7th Street (at Cherry Avenue), Long Beach, CA 90804. Pat Todd & The Rankoutsiders will Rock Out Long Beach Yet Again!! w/ The Loons & Harbortown Saints (ex-Humpers/Lords of Altamont)

Mr Vahlberg kindly sent me the heads-up on whats happening ala ROBERT JOHNSON and PUNCHDRUNKS. The soon-to-be released "Taste The Whup At Old Dog" is quite a departure from the futuristic surf. This is more a polysymphonic spree kinda like John Carpenter getting it on with Yellow Magic Orchestra while they figure out some Joe Meek chops. The electronica-fied programmed drum throb might be alarming on first entry but stick with it. The pulsating backbeat isn't as much of a jump as the initial jolt would suggest. There are only two members in RJaP now and they've got 14 different producers on the 14 cuts that make up the album.

The cinematic sweep of the sound makes me wonder if this'll ever be performed live. I can't see these guys hamming it up amidst a battery of stadium lighting like The Chemical Brothers or Orbital. Robert is too steeped in rock'n'roll for that, to my mind. When I visited their site, I saw there was a 2cd collection of previously released material available with plenty of rare and unreleased gear on there too. Having had the privilege of witnessing the raw power of RJ in action, I've got the bug. I could see where this new direction could flummox people. However, when the surprise - or even shock - has quelled, this bold jump is oddly satisfying.

There are obvious Kraftwerk and Suicide comparisons to be made and lazy bastards might be inclined to write off "Old Dog" as such. However, there are many subliminal riches in these seams and aided/abetted by serious volume - there's a lotta life in this strange twist in the road that our Swedish chums have taken.

Dirty Water and Club for Losers get together for DIRTY LOSERS - TONIGHT! It's at Clockwork, 96 Pentonville Road, Islington (five minutes walk from Angel, seven minutes from Kings Cross) with live sounds from:

TITS OF DEATH – Five women, two bass guitars, two synths, one guitar. And the dirty box! T*ts of Death was borne out of not much more than the simple desire to jump around and act out the deepest, darkest, most Spinal Tap-esque of rock fantasies. And yet the beast has grown to become the dirtiest, s*xiest girl rock’n’roll group in town. If you’ve been wanting a band with the Runaways/Suzy Quatro/Girlschool kind of spirit then this is the group you’ve been waiting for!

BONAR LAW claim that "...in these bitter climes of boring, two dimensional, cut and paste pretension the eclectic nature of Bonar Law and her offspring of intense modern pop songs threaten to bring all adversaries to their knees or sweep them off their feet. One more aphrodisiac for the road!"

Doors open at 8:30pm, just a fiver to get in. Three for a fiver on some lines of bottled beers, draught beers also available. DJs till 3am.

Anybody who can, oughtta make it a priority to get to the shindig in Brooklyn tomorrow. Details below. Great people getting together for a great cause who will get the funds raised directly to the people who need it.

It's been a quiet week in terms of anything happening around here. Our old mucker, Mr David Snyder has made the hop from from Philly to Glasgow for a few days so we'll be hanging out with that wildman. He'll have copies of his new BOB pamphlet with him so if any of you folks want one then just let me know and I'll mail you one. At no cost to your bad self.

Those Boonaraaas are heading for the studio this weekend somewhere in Germany to start work on the follow up to Go Get Goo Goo. That made me wonder what's happened to the Voladoras album. Isn't there a label out there that needs some primo gear to release instead of the slop that's served up on a daily basis?

Just heard a great song by someone called Linda Cumbo on Brian Matthews so I'm off now to track that down. It's on a President Records comp.

Nothing to do with Wee G I imagine, so we're all set...

From Mr Spence... fresh from his tussle with those DRIVE BY TRUCKERS...

"Greetings Brothers, Sisters, and relatives of varying/dubious degrees of separation!
It doesn't look like the promoters for these shows have done much promotion (the
Edinburgh one has a poster advertising the show for Tuesday!) ...so I'll do it for them! There's a coupla impending kick-ass shows in Glasgow & Edinburgh....

SUN 11th SEPT - NICE'N'SLEAZY, GLASGOW doors - 8.30; £7(?) admission

THE IMMORTAL LEE COUNTY KILLERS 3 - Auburn, Alabama's finest exponents of the essential fucked-up blues return w/ a new LP to punt called "These Bones Will Rise to Love You Again" on Funhouse Recs. Check 'em out at...
www.leecountykillers.com

BLACK DIAMOND HEAVIES - tour support 3-piece from Nashville ...dunno much
about them - but if the 'ILCKs rate 'em, they should be good! More info at...
www.blackdiamondheavies.com

MON 12th SEPT - THE SUBWAY, EDINBURGH doors - 7.30; £6 admission

THE IMMORTAL LEE COUNTY KILLERS 3
BLACK DIAMOND HEAVIES (...see above for web-pages)
THE GREASE MONKEYS - well, you know what we do!

....if you can't make it along, please still spread the word - 'cos no-one else is, and the ILCK3 are a damn fine band. Hope to see y'all there.

All the Best..................Jim & the Grease Monkeys"

Somebody shoot 'em; Scam 69: " Playing all the classic Pop, Punk & New Wave top twenty hits from 1977 - 1982". (Link c/o Michel Fenderwoods)

Hey Folks,


Big benefit for victims of Katrina this Sunday in Brooklyn!!! Know that the money raised at this event will go directly to people from the rock and roll community who are in need...

Sun 9/11

at Magnetic Field - 97 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn

$10 cover (more if you can afford it!)

Doors 4PM

Bands start at 6PM, DJs all day and all night long!!!!

Bands to play:

A-BONES (Norton Records)

KID CONGO and the PINK MONKEY BIRDS (ex-Cramps, Gun

Club, Bad Seeds)

INSOMNIACS (NJ Mod-Garage Rockers)

SPITTOONS (Brooklyn 50s and 60s rock n rollers)

Plus DJs all day and and all night long:

TIM WARREN (Crypt Records)

TODDOPHONIC TODD (Telstar Records, WFMU)

KARI KROME (from the Runaways!)

DAVE THE SPAZZ (WFMU)

THE GREAT GAYLORD (WFMU)

JOSH STYLES (Smashed Blocked)

THE THING WITH TWO HEADS (Penetration Party),

PADDY BULLOCKS (Penetration/Shop Fronts)

TOMDASH (Dot Dash)


Raffles from: Crypt Records, Sympathy for the Record Industry, Get Hip Records, Telstar Records, Norton Records, as well as local merchants and community members!

Baked Goods for Sale, Special CD comps for Sale

All proceeds will go to The Rock n Roll Community Fund and New Orleans Musicians Clinic. For more info on these funds, please see below...

Since this was done on the fly, please spread the word!!!

The rock and roll community fund

This fund was put together to aid members of the garage and punk rock communities who have lost everything due to Hurricane Katrina. Most recipients identified are currently in Memphis and Austin, however we are taking names of those in need from wherever they have established temporary homes. Thanks to DJ Paddy Bullocks, whose father is a minister there, funds are being administered by Trinity Parish Church. Due the high concentration of those in need who have fled to Memphis and Austin, funds are being distributed by Goner Records in Memphis and Rocks Off Records in Austin.

Trinity Parish Church Episcopal Discretionary Fund, 200 N Elm St, Searcy, AR 72143-5271 put Katrina Fund in subject line of check, paypal to: trinityparish@yahoo.com

New Orleans Musicians Clinic (NOMC)

This is a fantastic hands on organization who has the names and addresses of so many great musicians because they have them all coming to their FREE health clinic all these years and now, they are the ones who are tracking down the local musicians and finding them shelter. They are the New Orleans Musicians Clinic and know the whereabouts of the local musicians down there.

Send donations to:

NOMC Emergency Fund

funds will be distributed by:

SW LA Area Health Education Center Foundation, Inc.

103 Independence Blvd.

Lafayette, LA 70506

desk: 337-989-0001

fax: 337-989-1401

Contact: Kathy Richard directly at 337 989-0001

email: finance@swlahec.com http://www.swlahec.com/

musiciank@swlahec.com

The New Orleans Musicians Clinic is determined to keep Louisiana Music Alive! We want to relocate our New Orleans musicians into the Lafayette/ Acadiana community where they can remain a life force! But most of them have lost everything... we must help them rebuild their lives.

(Thanks also to Buzz Nutter and Eric for forwarding this info also...)

(From 60sGarageBands.com). "Coming soon - finally - is the long awaited release of an official and legitimate compilation by Question Mark & the Mysterians. ABKCO has announced a 27 song Best Of featuring all their best known songs ("96 Tears", "I Need Somebody", "Girl [You Captivate Me]", "Can' Get Enough Of Your Love") and at least one previously unreleased track, an alternate version of "Midnight Hour". ABKCO has announced multiple titles since the release of the Cameo-Parkway Story boxed set, but so far this is the only one that will interest regular readers to this website".

Gilligan is gone... RIP: Bob Denver.

Friday 11th November, Chris Wilson & his Groovin' Flames at the Dirty Water Club.
"Chris Wilson joined The Flamin’Groovies to replace the departing Roy Loney as lead singer and spearheaded their proudly Anglophile masterpieces, including Shake Some Action, Flamin’ Groovies Now! and Jumpin’ In The Night before going on to form The Sneetches. Bringing things up to date, Chris has now moved to London and joined the resurrected Barracudas. With appreciation for the Flamin’ Groovies as high as it’s ever been, Chris figures that there are enough people out there wanting to hear the songs he recorded and played on during his time with the Groovies. So with the most rabid of fans on board, including members of The Scientists, Barrracudas, Scoundrelles and Silver Chapter, be prepared to hear note (and attitude)perfect renditions of such favourites as the aforementioned, as well as Slow Death, You Tore Me Down, Between The Lines, When I Heard Your Name and many more classics besides".

I just had somebody reply to my wee rant about Bush that called me a “gloating euro-leftie”. I was speechless for a few seconds then replied. Never realised that I could pass myself off as such a beast, maybe a career in identity theft beckons? Or maybe not. Sometimes US friends apologise for their president but they don’t need to. He’s not their fault. Like Blair isn’t mine. The blame culture is in full swing and that’s what’s wrong with our countries'. The finger pointing, the need to apportion the albatross of “It wis him/her mister/missus” clouds everything. I think the people at the coal face should be helped irrespective of who fucked up at this point. Having said that, that little smirking goon just constantly acts out in "That's My Bush" style. Are Trey and Matt directing him. He can't look sincere as far as I can tell. What happened to that show anyway? Why hasn't it come out on DVD?? Let me bask in my "authority" willya? When faced with pish like that, I wonder to myself - what is the point?

The South of the place they call North America has taken a bit of a pasting this past week or so. First its cultural capital is practically wiped off the face of this sorry earth and then The Dukes of Hazzard movie came out. Daisy Duke was never a skank like that Jessica Simpson? – Discuss. Anyway, that section of the country has gotta rise again and with representatives like The Drive By Truckers then they’re in with a shout.

Monday nights’ packed to the rafters show at King Tut’s in Glasgow was evidence of a combo on the upward trajectory. Even when the sound took a turn for the hairy, the sheer power of their ouvre came in loud and clear. They made the very mature audience very happy and it’s unfortunate that the auld Glasgow Apollo can’t be rebuilt to host the next time they breeze though these parts. Though it harks back to a specific niche, the delivery never comes across as being dated. It’s a testament to their sickness that it transcends parody to become a moonshine-embattled enclave in this world of shite we have to tholl. Like the Mike Rep and George Brigman sounds, the honesty of their toil shines like a stream of bat’s piss. No crappy support bands, just two hours plus of what people paid to see, it stretched my attention span a wee bit but I wonder if that concept could catch on? Mr Spence commented on the way out that it was “a bit Jon Cougar Mellencamp” . Ah, these spirited young punk rockers…

The winner of the Mercury Music Prize was the indescribably awful Antony and the Johnsons, sheep will now score said album and wonder WHY? Dinosaur Mahaffey will be sharpening his literary pitchfork when he finds outs about this methinks…