Locals should note tomorrow night's Bump 'n Grind party at db's featuring; Les Deux Larmes, The Anomalys, and special guests Hipbone Slim & the Knee Tremblers. db's is at Cartesiusweg 90A, 3534 BD Utrecht, Phone 030-2938209. Damage is 7 Euros and doors open at 21:00 hr.

From Brother Patrick over yonder in France…

"Anybody who never saw Margaret, Christine and Dan live can’t imagine how sexy and full of soul their shows are. But the next best thing to catching them in person is to grab these two great DVDs.

Demolition Doll Rods Live at Fortune Records is, without doubt, one of the coolest concepts for a recording I’ve ever witnessed - my friend Sean reckons “it’s so cool, you could keep beer on it”. It goes like this : the group drove down to the old Fortune Records shop/factory. Well in fact, the place where Fortune used to be: a wall with open door and windows and playing songs by Dr Ross, John Lee Hooker, Nolan Strong & The Diablos … to the delight of the public (2 passers by and a dog !). The band also proudly show their original copies of the records they covered.

Perhaps this indicates the direction that DDR music is taking. I wouldn’t be surprised to find some of these songs from this on their forthcoming album (please DDR, maybe consider doing other Detroit soul greats like something by The Falcons or maybe The Ohio Untouchables).

Demolition Doll Rods Live at the Perineum (great title !) is both a retrospective of shows (1993-2003) and a collection of rare songs. Some covers - Velvet Underground (“Heroin”, “What Goes On”), Rolling Stones (“I’m Free”, too bad “Stray Cat Blues” isn’t included, this song fits the band so well) but most of the songs are originals sung by Dan. The quotes on the cover suggest that the material is from gigs that have been recorded by fans over the years. Not professional quality but who cares, this is real rock’n’roll, not prog.

It would be great to see more rare material for sale officially. Maybe that killer show from the Empty Bottle, Chicago, 8/24/2000 or this the Magic Bag shindig from 1998. Here’s hoping…"

Congratulations to French correspondent Jean-Marc Rimette with the birth of his daughter Suzy. Take it easy on spinnin' those Fleshtones discs for her JM...

Big News! Five Morells albums in one year has to be a positive thing - I don't have one yet but I soon will and there'll be more then but meantime... "The Morells Anthology "LIVE" - 101 Songs about Cars, Girls, and Food!!! Nearly 5 hours of Morells Magic from 5 '80-'84 shows on 4 CDs. Limited to 500 hand-numbered copies. 8 page tri-fold booklet. $50 with free shipping in U.S. - add $5 for foreign unless you reside in some weird, expensive to mail to place, like South Korea! Available from Tom Taber, Almeron Records, 344 West State St., Albion, NY 14411 USA, e-mail him forth-blinkin'-with at tomtaber_14411@yahoo.com"

You can listen to practically all the songs at CD Baby. I warn you though, once you hear 'em you'll be hooked...

A company called Orange Production up in Norway has made a documentary about Kike Turmix. Check their site for the trailer...

Siesmologists get ready. I fear for the foundations of the smaller sized venues that are about to have the bejeezus shaken out of them by the pounding soul strains of The Dt’s. This veritable stadium filling sound will be reverberating the rafters of venues in Glasgow and Edinburgh this coming weekend. Showcasing material from their “Nice‘n’Ruff” album on Spanish label GP (Estrus in the US). Mixing up the Booker T with the Foger-T and the Roky E, this is some big-ass-shaking monolith. If Bon Scott had been a wummin, he would have been Diana Young-Blanchard. She might well be possessed by his spirit. Think the Detroit Cobras on steroids. Mighty and unabated. Taking no prisoners and beating all comers into stoner submission. This stuff could easily give you the shakes alright, and a fair degree of yon shivers too.

Just heard from Coyotemen HQ that our pal Kike Turmix has passed away. Can anybody confirm this?

Update at 19.00 hrs...
It’s true then, the big fella has made his exit. Sad news. I knew Kike for what seems like forever but I only actually met him once. He had a tireless passion for rock’n’roll and was absolutely key to the spread of this music as a virus across Spain and indeed the world. Kike got me on board to write the liner notes for his Dictators tribute volumes that came out on Roto and though we weren’t in constant contact, I guess we knew where the other one was should a situation arise. Last I recall was when he needed a copy of Girl Trouble’s "Hit It Or Quit It", which was retrieved from the vault and shipped forthwith because I knew it was going to a good home.

Mr Turmix made a difference and was a pleasure fucker through and through by all accounts, the man lived his short life to the full. Faster and louder than most all of the competition, we’ve lost one of our Generals here. Kike was a real character and the legend can only grow like topsy from here. Wonder who’ll play him in the film?

Photo from www.fanfatal.com

The "contraband" new MX-80 album, it's available now via CD BABY and who knows they might be able to get it out to you in some plain brown wrap. I sure hope so because you need this record. Hear samples at CD Baby and see the WAAB video at the MX site.
You know when you read about something and it states that said object/music/movie/whatev is like nothing else going on anywhere else? Well, this is actual proof that art of such a nature does exist. It might be rarer than sasquatch shit but these guys have been ahead of the game for at least three decades and are quite possibly further out than ever. How's about them apples?

You ever hear that “group” Massive Attack? I always reckoned that they should get done under the trades description act. Their music never moved me one way or another but MX-80 is a whole ‘nother enchilada. Their attack is sizeable, perhaps even massive but they aren't into bragging. A lingering, afterburning quasi-rocktastic soundtrack to dark places with a soothing menace that really hits the spot. There’s some nifty musical shape shifting with the metallic shards of that patented guitar wail haunting most every portal.

It’s a foreboding tapestry of subliminal breakdown. Rich in humour and Rich Stim narrating the noisescapes really punctuates the material to make damn sure that the delivery is never what you expect. “No Brainer” opens “We’re An American Band” with a cerebellum-kicking disregard for your noggin from the off. Like a mutant Jeff Beck sustain being applied directly to the front, centre and rear lobes. The MX twist of the Grand Funk tune is a slothlike trawl but still manages to “party down”. Down being the operative word in a totally up sense.

I’m wondering who outside of the US will ever hear this potentially life-changing set of, er, tunes. Sure, I’ll confess to my bias right now. Having been smitten since hearing “Hard Attack” in 1977 and having had the immense luck to have seen them deliver their mayhem in their home port of SF, this twisted avant-rawk has infected my blood, soul and bones. No point in any undue worrying about it.

There’s something oddly satisfying about songs like “Don’t Hate The French” where Rich warns that Wee Bush fella that he’ll “put a frog in his bidet”. This isn’t something that you might derive instant sensory gratification from. It works on many levels. All the way from background music to full volume, room shaking, eyeball searing tilt. This is the kind of slow-burn genius the planet needs right now and you may well be banned from hearing it, as the drawbridge on Fortress America prepares to be raised another notch or three. I’m sure CD Baby and Family Vineyard will take pity on your unfortunate euro-ass. And I’ll bet Volcanic Tongue is making contingency plans right now. The, um, “authorities” can’t keep something this infectious from infiltrating your musical immune system. Can they?

It’s been a weird week. Not in terms of any psychedelic shenanigans or anything like that but I’ve been doing some thinking in between and during headaches. Got a message from Bruce (e-mole) Mowat which saw him renounce his blogging and whatnot and it really struck a chord. I’ve been feeling blogged out and not entirely sure why I feel the need to drag my tuppence worth out to air it online let alone anywhere else. As a vehicle to pass on information it’s fine but in the grand scheme of things, the thought of pulling the plug is never too far away. In amongst these thoughts, there are shards of why I should maybe carry on. The fact that tickets for the upcoming shows by the Hacienda Brothers in Scotland haven’t sold out weeks ago is obscene to me. It might be a question of profile but to me it’s a grave oversight on the part of anybody around these parts that’s supposed to be into good music. Out here in the trenches, it rankles and smacks of outright stupidity (bad stupid not good) but if we manage to connect one lost soul with the majesty of their country soul stylings then my mithering is worth it.

Listened to Laura (Cantrell’s) short set at the Peel thing there just now and tis a thing of great beauty indeed. An amazing performance under a considerable strain of nerves and emotion I imagine. If you think I’m exaggerating hear it for yourself. The version of Don Gibson’s “(I’ll Be) A Legend In My Time” is particularly moving. I remember her performance of it on an early Peel Session, worked up specially for the man after hearing that it was a favourite of his on a tape I’d sent her of his commentary on playing cuts from “Trembling Kind”. She’s come a long way in these last five years and it’s a positive example of being able to watch something grow that’s real and not some lab experiment. I imagine that this short set would have made an impact on all that were there last Wednesday night. Wonder if it was filmed?

MON 17TH OCT - STEREO, Kelvinhaugh St., Glasgow:

JAWBONE

THE GREASE MONKEYS

DEM/HOBO record players
£4/£3 conc. 8 -til- 12

"JAWBONE: Jawbone is a one-man band, that man being Bob Zabor of Chicago, who plays harmonica, guitar, and drums (well, bass drum and tambourine) and sings. Although starting as just stand up harmonica in coffee houses and cafes, in a desire to play r'n'r shows Bob has become a raucous blues racket from the Bo Diddley/Lightning Hopkins tradition. John Peel of course adored Jawbone and played his debut "Dang Blues" on LOOSE Music (a totally home made album) tirelessly. He is well aware of fellow primitivist Bob Log III and like him, is no purist. This is hard and fast rock'n'roll stomp with heavy slide guitar. Check him out at... www.dangblues.com

THE GREASE MONKEYS: Definitive local rock and roll whoopers. Prime rump tunes that sizzle in a pan of international punk rock fat ...tasty. (...nice one Tom!)

...well, hopefully see yers down there - failing that, we gotta coupla gigs in Mono
comin' up: Sun 23rd Oct supporting the DT's; and Halloweennight (Mon 31st Oct).
Rock On! ...................Jim & the Grease Monkeys"

Since I'm still somewhat disabled as far as typing goes, here's only a (very) brief update on what's doin' the RPM's on HQ's hi-fi. First 'n foremost it's the various Stooges re-issues; the 2LP editions of both Elektra LPs not only offer some splendid extras, but easily blow any previous issue I own outta the water fidelity wise. Mentioned the accompanying 45s earlier on, but please be also on the look out for Sundazed's re-ish of the Search & Destroy/Penetration 7". It's such a blast the finally be able to spin S&D on this format. Was there ever a better intro? Rhino's Children Of Nuggets box-set also holds a lot of amazing material. And surprisingly plenty I'd never heard before. Long time NBT readers might find a lot of the inclusions rather obvious, but like the original Nuggets sets, this one can't be beat for shear start-to-finish playing pleasure. Sure, there's stuff I'd put on there if I was in charge (the Gun Club, Screamin' Blue messiahs, Scientists, New Christs etc. come to mind). But then again, with 5 hours of good, good music to enjoy; who's complainin'? Current day nuggets are supplied by the Reigning Sound. Hot on the heels of the fab-o Home For Orphans disc, comes the equally fine (but totally different) Live At Maxwell's on Spoonful. Liner notes by Miriam Linna should be all the recommendation you need...

I was gonna head into Edinburgh tonight but a bursting napper suggests perhaps not. I'm pondering taking some of the fantoosh new medication that's supposed to quieten said nip but I found that it made me woozy last time out. It's one thing being spaced out at work but fuck that for a game of soldiers in my own time.
So we'll see, maybe easy and quiet will work just as well. Brother Joss dropped some dvd comp action on me the other day so perhaps I'll just have a swatch at that instead?...
Also managed to get my hands on the "not for export" MX-80 "We're An American Band". Their discriminating noise might just kill or cure me and either would be fine at this juncture. Time to blog off...

Spend some time at the Boijmans Van Beuningen museum in Rotterdam today, and was absolutely floored by the work of Olafur Eliasson. The basic collection is very much worth your while, but Eliasson's water 'n light projections really stood out. Unexpected beauty...

It's THIS FRIDAY - clothing is optional, but advisable

Friday October the 14th 2005. The Subway, Cowgate, Edinburgh

doors open 7:30, gig over by 10:00 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, the gig is 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

more details, mp3's etc here... Shock And Awe

I wish Mr Vedder all the best with his investment program and hope that this credo will serve the ol' modus op accordingly. Meanwhile here, the UK awaits the arrival of the heavy, heavy monster soul sound of The Dt's. They'll be landing in a week to give their big rawk'n'soul rave up to you with both (double) barrels. Bringing their Nice'n'Ruff Hard Soul Hits down on your ass following their haul through Spain.

Mr Spence has seen fit to organise these shindigs to give those eardrums of yours a wee testdrive the like of which I'm sure they haven't been subjected to since Zen Guerilla last blew though.

====THE DT'S - NICE 'N' RUFF UK TOUR - OCTOBER 2005====

Sat 22nd - EDINBURGH - Cafe Royal Bistro, Rose St.; £4; doors 9pm;w/ the Grease Monkeys & Denghis

Sun 23rd - GLASGOW - Mono, 10 Kings Court, King St.; (0141 553 2400); £4; doors 8pm; w/ the Grease Monkeys

Mon 24th - LIVERPOOL - Heaven & Hell, Fleet St.; (07743 343 056); £4; doors 8.30;
w/ Red Panda & the Dry Retch

Tues 25th - BRIGHTON - Polo Bar, Queen St.; £4; doors 8.30;
w/ Social Disorder

Weds 26th - LEICESTER - Charlotte, Oxford St.; (0116 255 3956); £4;
doors 8pm; w/ the Dry Retch

Thurs 27th - LONDON - Brixton Windmill, 22 Blenheim Gardens, SW2; (020 8671 0700); £5; doors 8pm

Fri 28th - NOTTINGHAM - Junktion 7, 6 Ilkeston Rd., Canning Circus; (0115 911 6959); £5; doors 7pm; w/ Gods Chosen Dealers & the Kull

Sat 29th - BIRMINGHAM - Academy 3, Dale End; (0121 224 7707); £5; doors 10pm

THE HACIENDA BROTHERS are heading North...

21st October - Glasgow - The Carnival Arts Centre

22nd October - Edinburgh - Cabaret Voltaire

23rd October - Newcastle - The Cluny

Tickets are available now and I strongly advise that you get your tail along to one or all of these shows. If you caught Mr Gaffney on recent visits with Dave Alvin then presumably you have yer tickets already...

FLAMINGO SWING

JUEVES 13 DE OCTUBRE --- 23:30 H.

Guest DJ
JB ZYCLONE -The Swingzine-

Fabulosos Cocktails -Top DJs – Exotic Dancers – Burlesque Acts

"Hey folks

Yup, the last Sonic Reducer was a real whap-dang'n'doozy of a night, thanks to the capacity crowd, who dug mightily the tunes that guest DJ Chris Bailey (The Saints) was picking-to-click! From The Runaways to Bobby Bland, Mr Bailey had the crowd eating outta his hand! He sure do know his pro-duct ...

But now (sweet lord!) it's time for THE SONIC REDUCER BADGES FOR BOOZE DEAL!

At Sonic Reducer on Saturday October 15th, you'll be able to pick up your exclusive SR badge, which will entitle you to a FREE shooter (hic) with each pint ordered at future club nights, between 7-8pm!

That's right, folks, FREE booze - all you gotta do is get down earlier in the evening, wearing the badge, starting with the 1am-closing Sonic Reducer Hallow'een Special on October 29, and simply start digging our righteous mix of Dixie Fried garage, R&B, blues, beat, punk, funk & junk!

Our guest DJ this time around is THE gentleman photographer of rock'n'roll, Mr David Arnoff, who not only made the wee wee hours much more fun with his own Xfm show, but also gave the Manson girls a lift once, and lived to tell the tale.

Plus there's gonna be choice music footage from the Sonic Reducer archive on the big screen!

ALSO ... stay tuned for our Hallow'een Special on October 29th - late license until 1am, creepy flicks, hairy monster hands, and a chance to win one of FIVE copies of Ace Records' fiendishly brilliant new horror rock'n'roll compilation: These Ghoulish Things!

Are we good to ya, or wot? See ya Saturday ... at the bar!

Selah, Joss & Joe"

Sonic Reducer At Filthy MacNasty's
Saturday October 15th - 7-11pm
Saturday October 29th - 7pm-1am
Free
68 Amwell Street EC1
Tube: Angel
Tel: 7837 6067

That's how Punk I am.

"I'm not payin', I'm investing".
My best excuse yet for droppin' way too much cash on wax. Came up with this after realizin' I picked up over 50 LPs in the past three weeks. No way am I ever gonna find the time to listen to it all...

Tomorrow is John Peel Day in the U.K. The BBC has put up a great online archive of everything Peel: Videos, music, picture galaries and a very detailed archive of all the Peel Sessions.

The Beatstalkers are back...Scotland’s No.1 Beat Group

"The Beatstalkers are back {all original members}. This legendary band from Glasgow will be taking to the stage for a one off reunion concert at the Barrowland Ballroom in Glasgow on the 23rd December 2005. It will be their first time on stage together since their heyday 35 years ago when they caused mayhem wherever they played. They were famed for their riotous shows, selling out venues across Scotland, which attracted thousands of screaming fans crammed into venues such as The Barrowland and Dennistoun Palais to hear their authentic brand of r’n’b, soul and psychedelic sounds. During a lunchtime concert in Glasgow’s George Square they whipped their audience of 7000 fans into such a frenzy they caused a riot which brought the centre of Glasgow to a stand still. They also had a residency at the famous Marquee Club in London and appeared on Ready Steady Go. The Beatstalkers reached Beatle-like "superstar" status in their homeland becoming the first Scottish pop phenomenon. The support bands will be "The Thanes" and Figure5 plus Special Guests. They've been revered by fans and collectors over the passing decades, with only snatches of the group's material trickling out on compilations aimed at the '60s beat-mod connoisseur. Finally after years of fruitless waiting, Ika Records released the first ever anthology on CD in June this year. Due to its success, this lead to endless calls for the band to reform and play live. Read more about the fascinating times of The Beatstalkers."

Ms Fancher has tipped me off that THE WEIRDOS are headed for the UK in November/December.

FURTHER INFO!

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.