I think I'm losing it. Having spent the past few days in darkened theatres, any sense of time and space is mushed. I'm sure the Filmhouse members screening of was supposed to be Sunday but the girl on the counter in the conference centre sez no. A bit like the computer in the Little Britain sketch. Anyway, no matter, it gave me longer to catch up with my old mucker, Mr K. Elder. Another indication of mind meltdown came a little later with the screening of “... A Bude Hůř (It’s Gonna Get Worse)". For some reason, I thought that it was an old film reactivated but no, it was shot last year. Apparently blown up from 16mm black and white to 35mm same, the background is here and you can find a trailer of sorts here. Beware though, it is NOT WORKPLACE FRIENDLY! There's an element of bizarro world Bill Forsyth-ness to the otherwise bleak canvas of being set in 70's Czechoslovakia. The centre figure is almost Jesus-like and his mate Pig Pen (no Grateful Dead relation) looks like Roky channeling David Thomas. Soundtrack is groovy too and includes The Plastic People of The Universe.

A strangely optimistic optimistic piece in spite of the overall mood, every citizen is seemingly disenfranchised from the relentless oppression. Social deprivation? We don’t know the meaning of the word. The singing of “It’s A Long Way to Tipperary” during a funeral scene is definitely odd. Like somebody mistook it for “Auld Lang Syne”.

Had a night off on Monday but Tuesday’s burst of culture came in the shape of “Comrades In Dreams”. A look at cinemas in India, the US, Ouagadougou and North Korea and the people who run them. I think I would have liked it more if it had been edited into four specific sections, the jumping back and forth seemed to make it seem longer than it actually is. It would have made it easier to get a beat on the individuals for sure and would have made the North Korean section even more surreal. “Titanic” is dissected and is also the subject of the strangest homage I’ve seen in a long time. This would be good playing first on a double bill with "Cinemania".

No more movies until Friday, kicking off with the "LYNCH" documentary… lot of stuff to process through the old napper in the meantime though.

Another day, another movie but no time for reportage. Knackered due to over-extension and just plain running on empty. Need to conserve my energies and all going well will be able to bring you up to some kind of peep by this time tomorrow. Need to figure out what I'm going to see on Sunday so I can score the tickets on Wednesday. It's complicated. As, it seems, is everything...

Awrabest to the great Eric "Roscoe" Ambel who hits the big five-zero today. They'll be hoppin' and boppin' at that old Lakeside tonight alright. Have a good one chief!

My favourite part of the EIFF is the documentary section. It's the most likely place to find something that won't end up in the local multiplex within weeks. So Saturday meant I could feasibly squeeze in three screenings. Might even have pitched for $ if I'd known the weather was going to be so crap. Anyway The Monastery is a real find. About an 82 year old man who wants to turn his castle into such a refuge. Seven years in the making, it has all the hallmarks of something that's done for love and not money. The reward is in seeing it. It's out on dvd later on in the year but see it on a big screen if you can.

Billy The Kid has been getting great kudos at similar gatherings across the world. I was kind of hoping for an "American Movie" but it's kind of stranger than that. Finding out that it was shot in 8 days perhaps explains the seemingly contrived situations. There was a lot to get in. It's like a twisted, potted version of The Wonder Years. The subject, Billy Price, is a peculiar little guy who loves AC/DC and Kiss. His urges and demons are in constant turmoil beyond your average teenager angst. There's a bit of an "awwwww" factor that kicks off as pity and works the audience round to rooting for him. It's not staged but the story is actually better structured than most regular features.

Surgically removed from the "Grindhouse" package, Death Proof is good, old-fashioned recycled exploitation coupled with the feel of 70's US TV shows. There was no Mike Post music in evidence however. On the down side, it's too long but there's more than enough in there to keep readers of this thing occupied. On the upside, it has Rose McGowan. Kurt Russell is great as Stuntman Mike and the soundtrack is a shredder. The "second half" is particularly good, like an episode of The Dukes Of Hazzard directed by Russ Meyer and it's all capped off with April March's "Chick Habit" (both french and english versions) blasting over the end credits. Worth seeing a couple of three times probably. Maybe some enterprising local cinema will get together showing it as originally planned when the Rodriguez section comes out. Although getting the "trailers" might be a problem. Anyway, despite some reservations on my part, pastiche has never been so much fun. Forget "The Bourne Bollocks", taste some real high octane daftness.

I was never a Joy Division fan. The early stuff in particular was quite weedy to my mind and all wrapped in that gritty darkness the frankly seemed a bit overdone. In later years, Martin Hannett developed an inherent heartbeat to create an additional dimension and "Atmosphere" and "She's Lost Control" have never sounded better. But anyway, the fact that Ian Curtis was in a group is almost secondary here. It's a cracking looking film and Anton Corbijn says he has no trouble with composition. No shit Sherlock, that's some kind of understatement. This is like a classic English "kitchen sink" drama directed by Jim Jarmusch. Shot in black and white, the stock is so rich, I swear that I could see vivid colour in the monochrome. Beautiful and stark. I noticed ex-EIFF Artistic Director Lizzie Franke in the cinema and it seems she was involved in the production but anyhow. This actually lives up to the plaudits and pretty much captures the Curtis descent into the maelstrom. When it comes out, see it in the cinema. This is one film that doesn't look like it was created to play forever on TV. It was made to be watched in somewhere like the old Scala, The Cameo, Filmhouse or whatever your favourite "indie" is. Presuming you have one. This made me want to investigate the subject and surely there can be no better testament than that. Q&A was pretty good too, compared to the JW fiasco. Why didn't Hannah McGill "chair" that?

Fancy a frank from Nathan’s and a twirl on the Wonder Wheel, friend? Well, then perhaps you’d best join SUSQUEHANNA INDUSTRIAL TOOL & DIE CO. this SATURDAY, AUGUST 18th, for the 2007 CONEY ISLAND ROCKABILLY FESTIVAL! As part of an ambitious four-day event combining bands, burlesque, roller derby and sideshow acts, Saturday’s show is set to run from noon until 8pm
–- with our 45-minute set scheduled for 4pm –- and featuring a lineup that includes The Tombstone Brawlers, The Fury 3, Jason James & The Bay State House Rockers, The Fisherman Orchestra, Sean Kershaw & The New Jack Ramblers, The 56 Kid, The Holy Roller Sideshow, sideshow acts and more.
It’s all happening outside on Brooklyn’s famous Coney Island boardwalk, rain or shine, right in front of Astroland Amusement Park, and it’s free! Sponsored by Deno's Wonder Wheel, Sam Ash Music, The Onion, Coney Island Lager and Cockabilly Records.
See you on the Cyclone!
Yours truly, Michael

Can you say "wasted opportunity"? Dammit, I just got back from my inaugural EIFF visit of 2007 and I'm not altogether happy. You see, I've been going on about this for weeks. Some folks might even have noticed. The great JW comes to Edinburgh to support this Jeff Garlin directed film of his "stand-up" or whatever you want to call it. I've read some iffy reviews of it but it's pretty great and captures the guy as I believe he is. Sharp as a very sharp tack and vicious. Not so much near the knuckle as indeed up to the elbow. Then comes the much-vaunted Q&A which for want of a better expression did not go well. I've never heard a more disenfranchised, lame affair and who was to blame for this?, the bloody audience. John valiantly tried to steer the ship from running aground several times before thinking to himself, "sod this for a game of soldiers". This should have taken place at The Cameo or at Filmhouse. Not in the soulless portals of sodding Cineworld. Having canvassed hard to put bums on seats for this, I felt a little embarrased. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity with a true genius that was fluffed. And I don't mean that in some double entendre type fashion that the man himself might use. Whoever the guy was that tried to conduct the "interview" was out of his league. Wasn't Mark Kermode available? So, if you're a Waters fan, there's much to dig in the film. Jeff didn't come so that meant no Lar and no Suzie either. What should have been the crowning event of the festival went splat. Let's see how tomorrow pans out...

RIP - Max Roach

It was 30 years ago, etc... but 15 of those past I was in Memphis with Brother Randall and Sister Donna. It was great and then we headed on up to Springfield, more about which later. Seeing that there's a timely new Skele-release on the streets!

Well thanks for asking but in order to have writer's block then you have to be a writer. And that counts me out on a number of fronts...

It was one of those all weather drives to the stalag this morning. The flesh and the spirit were somewhat less willing even than usual. "It'll soon be the weekend" was the message from from Wreckless Eric's "Big Smash" via the cd player. That seemed to be recklessly optimistic given the circumstance but it's a good thing to be reminded that there is light at the end of that there tunnel thing. Amy and Eric stopped by here on their way back south on Saturday night. It was great to see them and they were in fine fettle. I was privileged to get a wee preview of some songs they're working on for a forthcoming release. Grand stuff that sits outside of any pigeonholes either of them are use to being stuffed into. They have a show in France soon so if you’re within range then go catch something very special indeed.

Like I mentioned in my short intro to last night’s late post scramble to get Ben’s Blasters report up, I saw the Hamell show again last night. During the show I got to thinking how hard it must be to focus and do this again and again. It seems like it's more difficult than just belting out songs in a conventional set. There are parts where the tempo of the storytelling and strumming intersect to drive home the message. Is this stuff really based on true stories? Very probably but the way he tells them has an extra edge. It's not comedy but humour comes in many shapes and sizes and when it's as sharp as this you won't even feel the gnashers biting yer arm off. He'll tell you "this isn't for everybody" but I was thinking that maybe it is. That it's exactly the dose of salts a lot of people need. As before, the "fuck it" chorus raised the roof. It was a horrible, wet night in Edinburgh but at that point the feeling of release was palpable. I guess he's halfway through the run now and it seems like the momentum is in high gear. See him. What else would you be doing between 6 and 7pm if you're in Auld Reekie onyhow?

Film Festival opens tonight and hits full throttle tomorrow. The great John Waters is in town, let them festivities begin.

It's kinda late on a school night but lucky for me that Brother Ben has sent this report on the recent visit of Phil Alvin and Co to the Windy City limits... so without any further ado...

The Blasters - FitzGerald's Nightclub, Berwyn (near Chicago),
IL - August 4th 2007

FitzGerald's is a perfect spot for (American) music, where fans go because they love the real stuff. The owners created a wonderful "out of the way" roadhouse, where you can catch a cookin' band and eat some authentic down-home food. The Blasters (as well as Dave Alvin, and countless others) are no strangers to FitzGerald's. In fact, it has a yearly American Music Festival during the 4th Of July Weekend where countless artists gather to show off and have a good time (in the past, you'da find Dave A., The Blasters, Robbie Fulks, Sleepy LaBeef, and other eclectic acts). Good sound, fun atmosphere and affordable booze.

I had some trepidation about catching The B's, minus Mssrs. D Alvin and Bill Bateman, but any concern quickly went out the window once they took the stage and kicked in with the opening notes and chords of "Dark Night". Initially Phil had to battle through an upstart guitar cable but fought through and managed to belt out a Big Joe Turner tune while Billy Davis (their go-to man) grabbed him some new equipment. Phil was in strong form, his voice was full, soulful and without any signs of doing this gig for nearly 30 years. The grimace was there the entire show, it seemed. Those teeth, the sweat, amazing stuff. When this man takes the stage, watch out -- he ain't no redneck from LA, he's every blues shouter, soul singer, harp blower that's come before him. For my taste this night, Phil's capper was a tribute to the Godfather of Soul with a blistering Please, Please, Please. I can happily report that this was one of the coolest and right-on James Brown covers I've ever heard.

And the rest of the band? John Bazz is just...a killer on the bass. Going up and down the neck, rollin' with the beats and bendin' those strings like they were nothing at all. Jerry Angel was also more solid than I had hoped for, and Keith Wyatt played some great leads, emulating Dave's recorded ones while still managing to expand and do different things. Even they would have to admit they have big shoes to fill, and it would be unfair to compare them to Dave and Bill as this point since they've been playing with Phil and John. Are they as good as the original Blasters?

No, of course not because they're different. They make no attempts at being them. These Blasters are a tight unit that plays how they play. And I think it also shows a bit of respect towards the older compositions in mixing up the arrangements a little without taking anything away from them. The set was mostly made up of more recent tunes from 4-11-44 while still kicking out some of their more well-known classics like "Long White Cadillac", "Marie Marie", and "American Music", while also tossing in an old live gem, "Rock Boppin' Baby". The newer tunes, like "The Boneyard", "Rebound" and "It's All Your Your Fault" all sound significantly stronger live. It's my guess that the band has gotten tighter having played consistently again over the past few years. Phil had fun with the audience, joking about baseball (incurring some boo's and minor applause when mentioning Mr. Bonds and The Cubs). He got sweaty, he was exhausted by the end but, like the rest of the band he gave his all. Now I just have to cross my fingers and hope the Alvin Brothers can bury the hatchet again and make it back to Chicago sometime soon...

I wouldn't be holding my breath Ben. I think that's unlikely but who knows. And that's about it from this airt for tonight. Saw Hamell again tonight and then cut across town to meet up with my old mucker Liam on a whistle stop from Belfast. I'm looking at the time thinking that in 8 hours, I gots to get in commute mode. But at the rate the rain is hammering on the windows maybe the roads'll be flooded. To quote the great Al Bundy, "Like I could ever get what I want". All gearing up for John Waters visit to the capital this coming Thursday.

RIP - Merv Griffin

Glasgow's Monorail Film Club is proud to announce that Alex Kapranos of Franz Ferdinand will be introducing Joseph Losey's creepy 1963 masterpiece, The Servant on Sunday 19th August, 7.30pm at the GFT. Scripted by Harold Pinter and starring Dirk Bogarde and James Fox, The Servant is one of the key films of 1960s British cinema. It takes a sharp look at British class relations via a dramatic turning of the tables between a dainty Oxbridge twit bachelor (played by a young and dapper Fox) and his contemptuous manservant (Bogarde).

After the screening you can join us for drinks and an informal discussion in Cafe Cosmo. We very much recommend booking tickets in advance.

GFT, 12 Rose Street, Glasgow G3 6RB t: 0141 332 8128.

45 Revolutions (Volume 1, UK/Ireland, 1976/1979) by Mario Panciera (Hurdy Gurdy Books)

Close to 1200 pages, this is the ultimate reference guide to UK and Irish punk, new wave, powerpop, indie and whatchamightcallit 45s from the late 70s. "Insane" is the word that first comes to mind when browsing the pages of this book; 2000+ artists, 3000+ singles and 4500+ picture sleeves and label shots in full color. The skope is amazing; detailed biographies (on every band!), release dates and jaw dropping info on various pressings of discs you thought you knew all about (My Chiswick Records want list has doubled after checking the various entries!) Just get it, that's all I can say, 'cause this truly is the Encyclopedia Britannica for record geeks like me 'n you.
This baby doesn't come cheap tho', with a list price of 85 Euros, but Lost & Found seems to be the cheapest dealer offering 'em for just €60. (heck, I'd gladly pay a months' earning for a US edition!)

A public information announcement from Tom Phobic...

"Hi Kids, get your grubby selves down to the Dirty Water Club on Thursday, August 23rd for a special featuring THE STALKERS (from New York City) and their own brand of mischief and mayhem wrapped up in perfect garagepunkpopsongs. Expect a Star Spangle in their midst on guitar deputising duty making this a unique one off occasion. They're flying over to do the Reading and Leeds festivals but require a little limbering up session beforehand to get their juices going, and it is up to us dear reader, to welcome them with open arms and deep pockets and make sure when then go back home they have a suitcase full of great rock n roll memories (or at the very least some hand luggage), and a maybe a hangover ot two.

To aid & abet them in this quest, THE PHOBICS and THE SWANKERS have been enlisted for their proficiency and expertise in this area. All that is missing is a huge throbbing crowd and that's where you come in....so, come in on Thursday 23rd August or be a boring stopathomebillynomates.

Another date to stick in your diary is Friday 21st September when we play a Swamp Productions gig at The Living Bar. 443 Coldharbour Lane, London, SW9 8LN. This venue has an excellent location, only 200 metres from Brixton Tube so even Moyni will be able to find it.

We are on around 11pm with a triple shot of rising glam punk rock n roll talent, Bubblegum Screw + Rapidfire Radio + Geisha kicking off proceedings and its FREE Yup, FREE! Finally, we might be doing Crossfields Festival in Deptford , but more news on that if it happens. Keep September 2nd free just in case.
tomx"

RIP - Anthony H Wilson

I met Tony Wilson a handful of times over the years and on one of those occasions, at New Music World in Glasgow, I gave him an Angel Corpus Christi cd. He was a very smart man and although I wasn't a rabid Factory fan, you can't get away from the fact that he was a true original. A character and a maverick. And he was only bloody 57, what's up with that?

There's a story that Claude Bessy (of Slash magazine) once made Tony a pirate copy of ET where he tacked the closing credits on right after the little guy dies. Now I'm not sure if that story is actually true but it rattled into my noggin every time I saw Tony Wilson on TV or wherever. I always figured that if I met him again that I'd ask if that indeed happened.

My thoughts are with his friends and family. Some of whom I know stop in here from time to time. Lefsetz tribute here.

This event will make the screening of "Control" next weekend at the EIFF even more intense.

This very weekend!

Wednesday was cancelled. It did sort of exist but not in any tangible sense. I'd spent more time than usual staring at a screen all day and that induced the phenom known as a "nipping heid". One of those where the slightest movement causes considerable discomfort. This happens periodically and is not conducive to even attempting to think let alone blog or anything along those lines. I'm pretty sure I'd have heard a bomb going off in here but maybe it was one of those newfangled - smart - quiet ones. It sure bloody looks like one went off. There's stuff every-bleedin'-where but where to start with the sorting? I oughtta switch on the TV and ponder that.

Duglas Bandit on Lee Hazlewood...

"I wanted to write something here about Lee Hazlewood, who died after a 3 year battle with cancer on August 4th.
I wanted to say something about how his remarkable records were often more like "movies for the ears" rather than just songs, a bit like the Shangri-las but completely different.
I wanted to say how he would live on through the legacy of not just his own recording but the multitude of artists that have made music with clear shades of Lee in them (Johnny Thunders, Belle & Sebastian, Nick Cave, My Bloody Valentine, Dean & Britta, Richard Hawley, The Vaselines, Lambchop, Pulp, Sonic Youth, The Jesus & Mary Chain, Isobel Campbell, Primal Scream, BMX Bandits are just a few).
I wanted to say something about his moustache, about his exile in Sweden, about Duane Eddy's Girl on Death Row, about Dino, Desi & Billy and about the recordings with Suzi Jane and with Nancy.
The first time I ever heard Some Velvet Morning it moved me in a way only a few records ever move you in a life time and it still does "it" for me on every listen.
But somehow I couldn't get together the words to say what I wanted to say about Lee Hazlewood...sorry about that. But never fear I discovered this set of posts from Lee's most famous "musical wife" Nancy that I think say much more than any old words could ever say."
Thanks also to Tony (Ron) Thewlis for also sending that link.

Dean Wareham on Lee from a Dean and Britta myspace bulletin...

Just back from a weekend at the beach, launched my computer and found five different emails about Lee Hazlewood's passing yesterday at age 78. It has been a week of big losses – Bergman, Antonioni, and now Hazlewood. Inspirations all, but it is Hazlewood whose death hits me the hardest. We put "Soul's Island" by Lee on the stereo last night and drank a glass of wine in his honor.

I spent an afternoon with Lee in 1999. I had been given the opportunity to conduct an interview – on the phone – for CMJ magazine. Figuring this might be my only chance to meet in person, I bought myself a ticket to Orlando, FL, where he was living. We spent the afternoon at his house near the airport, drinking white wine, smoking cigarettes and chatting about his records (he also signed my entire Hazlewood collection).

I was first given a mixtape of Lee's songs in 1990, while touring Europe with Galaxie 500, and began looking for his out-of-print vinyl wherever I traveled. Great titles like Requiem for An Almost Lady, Hazlewoodism: Its Cause and Cure, and my personal favorite Love & Other Crimes.

Hazlewood was an American treasure. A pioneering producer of early rock and roll (producing Duane Eddy) – Phil Spector even visited Lee's studio to learn how he made these records sound so great. A wonderful songwriter, from "These Boots Are Made For Walking," "Some Velvet Morning," "My Autumn's Done Come," "Your Sweet Love" (which string arrangement we borrowed for "Night Nurse") on through "The Old Man", the final song on his most recent album, Cake or Death. And a hugely charismatic singer, whose pipes come at you like the voice of God (he explained exactly how he got that effect). Sure, there are more versatile singers, but his was a voice I always wanted to listen to. Many is the night I have laid on the sofa listening to Nancy & Lee's sing "You've Lost That Loving Feeling".

We will continue to do so, but it won't be the same.

Dean, August 6, 2007

Click here for excerpts from my 1999 interview with Lee.

More here..

When I got in last night I fully meant to post a review but when I got the Lee news it kind of bummed me out. I couldn’t find the actual facts until early this morning. Running at the last minute, a part of this am was taken up by mild solvent abuse and I’m still kind of under the influence. I guess the adequate ventilation wasn’t what I figured. Punk bloomin’ rock, that’s me. Out and out.

“Bill Hicks, Hunter S. Thompson and Joe Strummer all rolled into one” might be one way of putting it but I never considered Ed Hamell to be a comedian before. Sure he’s funny but it’s peculiar to consider this show as being outside the rock’n’roll arena. It’s still Robbie Fulks via Lou Reed to Ben Vaughn in a satirical context to me. But this setting is a great twist. One that more “entertainers” should consider and the 6pm start time is perfect. Music has sort of become a cul de sac on the way to the club/disco/call it what you fucking like. Hellhole would be my choice. It’s all gotta be over by 10pm or 10.30 at the latest because the alcopop guzzlers are the one’s that keep the venues that are left, open. But anyway, this guy has more energy than your closest power station. The material that makes up The Terrorism (of Everyday Life) is more observation than outright song but the evangelical nature of the delivery makes it part sermon/part seminar. The latter is when we all get to scream “Fuck It!” at the top of our voice several times. Like bringing a wee touch of the Grande Ballroom to the Edinburgh Festival. So yeah, an hour well spent. He’ll start off by telling you that the show isn’t for everybody but bollocks to that. The world would be a better place if it was.

The show is on all through August (except the 15th) so if you can, get your tail down there. If you want to read his diary blog as to how he rates the shows then you’ll find that here. He’s hoping to shoot a film of the show during this run for release on dvd in early 08. Last night I think he hit full stride, yell for “Kick Out The Jams” if you go. Next time I sure as hell will. Tickets, go get ‘em!

And now I've discovered a whole wheen of Stereo Total videos on YouTube. I might be here for a while...

RIP - Lee Hazlewood

Snag this Hellacopters item at Bootleg Booze before they're all gone!

Brother Ben had the pleasure of attending a service by the very Rev. Roky Erickson on Friday night. Here's his report... (cheers Ben)

Roky Erickson & The Explosives, 8/3/07 @ The Abbey Pub, Chicago

I'm admittedly not a Roky Erickson/Elevators fanatic, but I knew a good thing and dig the stuff I do have. Heck, I think I might even prefer The Spades "YGMM" over the TFE version, but you can blame Brother Patrick for that and it's a discussion for another time... So, when I saw the opportunity to catch the Legend in a small setting, I took it -- I'm not completely stupid. Now, over the last couple of years, he has played in Chicago a couple of times -- but, unfortunately, at festivals (Lollapalooza this year, and Intonation Fest last year, I believe), and I avoid festivals. Not that there's anything wrong with 'em, really -- just, most of the music I won't like and I don't do big sweaty, stinky, obnoxious crowds. I'll leave that for Lindsay... Like I said, I knew I had to catch him, because who knew how long this resurgence and his health would last? I even took a chance since this was an "Official Lollapalooza After Party". But, for $25, it was well worth the experience. Incredibly well worth it.

Not a lot of people showed up, which is their collective loss (my estimate is around 200-400 hundred bodies). My guess is the fans of Roky found the show, and that's what really mattered. Older folks, hippies, garage fans, rock fans, even some mighty square lookin' people were there, so Roky clearly cuts across demographics -- which is a wonderful thing. I did expect that some were there due to the film that was released on dvd recently (which I still haven't caught -- after this show, I think I'll bump it up to the top of my Netflix queue). When I arrived, The Last Vegas were already playing (thank gawd), but they were painfully inappropriate to the evening. I won't go into them much, as I could write a whole review of everything they did wrong, but I can sum it up with this analogy: post-1980 AC/DC teaming up with Motorhead but taking themselves too seriously. Oh, and within 15 minutes of me being there, the drummer broke into a solo........I'll leave it at that.

So Roky took to the stage around 11pm, and proceeded to kick out a tight 45-60 minute set. He was in strong form, with only some "thank yous" between tunes (let the guitarist do the talking). His voice, his playing -- everything was spot on. It doesn't seem possible that the Man would be back up there on the stage...but he was, and is. After everything he's gone through, Roky deserves the accolades he's been receiving over the last number of years. Thankfully, he's been able to pull himself up and I was witness to this magic. That's really what it was, magic. He played the "hits", mostly -- Bloody Hammer, Creature With The Atom Brain, Cold Night For Alligators, Don't Shake Me Lucifer, Starry Eyes, The Beast, Two-Headed Dog, You're Gonna Miss Me -- all dead on. The band was tight, the guitarist nailed some fiery leads, and rhythm section was great (though coulda used more bass in the mix). Roky even blazed his way through a few leads here and there, leading the band through The Beast and a stompin' take on Before You Accuse Me (how appropriate for a Chicago show, eh?). (a note: his son, Jagger, was introduced, since he was skulking around the stage a bit, filming the show with a camera)

If The Beast comes to your town...go, don't think twice, it's not alright. You may never get the chance to catch him again. This is an artist. A survivor of a era that most of us only get to hear about. Give the man your money... he's certainly earned it and can finally appreciate it.

Now if you'll all excuse, I'm off to Berrrrr-wyn to catch The Blasters @ FitzGerald's...look for a resume of that one in due course.

The trawl continues and I came across this from the days when xerox was still pretty much in its infancy. However you'll get the idea and the scary thing is that it's only a couple of weeks away from being 29 bloody years ago. The Rezillos also made an appearance at Orbit, the local record store where I worked on weekends, before the show. Phoney Beatlemania may have bitten the dust but the Rez virus was all enveloping full blown. Expect a further outbreak this coming October...

J has been in touch from sunny climes and provided the following links to info on the upcoming HDM foray into the world of literature... Black Book and Amazon...

You know how it is, you're looking for something and you can't find it. However you find a letter from Steven Patrick Morrissey that you haven't seen for, oh at least 20 plus years. By the way, I didn't go which was maybe daft in retrospect but that's the way history tends to crumble sometimes.

Ramones Converse and a ton more other fine things to burn away precious time at Bedazzled!

Break out those Pleasure Seekers and RAK 45's for the Suzi Q book signing tour (links courtesy of Mr Percival).

Some background...

The Herald

The Scotsman

The Guardian

Just sitting here digging a slice of CAKE (just missed Smashed Gladys but I'll dig out "Social Intercourse" an give the neighbours a treat later) , thinking about this weekend's activities. These include seeing Hamell On Trial in Edinburgh and getting this joint in order for several visiting dignitaries.

Talking about Auld Reekie, was sad to hear this morning that Romanes and Paterson on Princes Street was on fire. No, that doesn't mean doing really well, it means bloomin' well burning. Anybody who has been here will maybe know it as the tartan shop that has a nice wee tearoom upstairs where they knock out a pretty decent haggis panini. We're all about the fusion cuisine here y'know. Anyway, I always picked up certain confectionery in there but I guess that's all gonna be knocked on the head. certainly for now. Also thought it was cool how the first part of the name was an anagram of youknowwho and I'm not generally that easily pleased. Here's the link to the story.

Smoke damaged "See You Jimmy" hats anyone?

RIP - Tommy Makem

RIP - Michelangelo Antonioni

Kris Needs ponders Suicide and much more @ Trakmarx

(thanks to Mr Percival for the reminder)

Edinburgh 60s-retro club, THE GO-GO continues with its 4th comeback in 7 years at Studio 24, this Saturday 4th August. Playing garage, mod, soul, ska, punk etc. 11pm til 3am. DJ Tall Paul Robinson said: "All this venue-hopping has actually been quite a good thing in the long-run. Now we're on a 2-for-1 door with a rock club. All the rockers come upstairs to request The Kinks and are amazed to see females wearing primary colours. Some of them even dance to Wooly Bully."

Excuse me, I'm in a modicum of discomfort here having burned the skin off the roof of my fecking mouth and it's smarting like something that's smarting a lot...

So how do you stand on the reported imminent death of the “album”?

I’m not so sure that it’ll directly affect fans of music per se. Maybe the countless thousands on the periphery never gave a hoot anyway? If it stops a bunch of chancers assembling something around one track to milk the hard earned moolah out of folks who are easily duped then bring it on. Been reading a lot of opinion on all this and it seems to me that the end result will be the fall of your Virgins, HMV’s and the like. HMV has reportedly bought some FOPP's and plans to reopen them ASAP but they want to retainthe identity they had. And how's that supposed to bloody work? The megastores gave up on music ages ago anyway. Banishing it to other floors to embrace the dvd so fuck them. They also charge too much but they have to pay their rent somehow I imagine. Wherever possible, I urge you to buy your stuff directly from the artist or from an independent shop. The dust may well settle when these huge outlets finally crash.

While I am prone to downloading a little bit, I can’t see it being the way I enjoy music ever. Not being an ipod or mobile phone receptacle owner, I’m waiting until the global jukebox model hits. This will involve the act registering their material in a huge inventory that will be accessed through a portal such as TV or monitor. The “purchase” of a track or several will then be administered at source and the owner of the material will be paid. Not unlike selling an article on ebay or whatever. These huge stores are just overheads. They serve no social purpose. Which makes me think, I’ve been meaning to watch High Fidelity again. To bring back the (gooder) old days to the rapidly aging, increasingly agitated yours truly.

Having stuck my toe in the fetid waters of ebay once again recently, it wasn't terribly pleasurable. On top of the palaver itself, the way the mail setup here is now means that there are all kinds of whys and wherefores to consider. While magazines seem to pass for "letter rate", everything else (records, cd's etc.) is "packet" which means that they rack up the cost. I think I mentioned before that recent activities by this once proud organisation definitley indicate a trajectory of freefall. On top of that you get nickel and diming with regard to postage. I charge postage at cost, that means if somebody wants recorded delivery then that's what they get. At exactly what it costs to mail. Some people just fire in an inordinate amount to begin with, which doesn't seem to deter buyers. I've paid a couple of quid for something I know was only 34p to ship but that's a symptom of the disease. It's not enough to get all bent outta shape about but it rankles and is the fundamental reason why I try to work the way I do. Most people are fine to deal with. Some of 'em are even a pleasure but it's the fineglars that spoil it. My old practise of actually mailing stuff before it was paid for hit the dust a long time ago. You can just never tell. Oh sure, I want to get rid of the stuff that's gathering dust before I turn to same but is this the best way to go about it?

Angel said to me the other day "you made it".

I did but it's been a bumpy, stuff-festooned journey.

More schniztel, please! Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co. offers a taste of old Vienna this week as we journey to the quaint Cafe Steinhof in Brooklyn's Park Slope. Two big shows are on tap -- not to mention an assortment of Austrian and German beers -- and the kitchen's open late if you're hankering for Viennese comfort food...
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1st / CAFE STEINHOF /422 Seventh Avenue (at 14th Street) in Park Slope, Brooklyn / Two shows, from 10:30 until 12:30 / No cover! /
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Also, later this week and through August...
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SATURDAY, AUGUST 4th / Red Hot & Blue Rockabilly Festival (Montreal, Quebec)
SATURDAY, AUGUST 18th / 2007 Coney Island Rockabilly Festival
THURSDAY, AUGUST 30th / Otto's Shrunken Head (East Village, Manhattan)
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Internationally yours, Michael
Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co.
"Ballads, Boogies & Blues"
http://www.SITandDieCo.com
http://www.MySpace.com/SITandDieCo
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Rebellion festival press release

The biggest punk festival in the world is back on August 9th to 12th for another raucous celebration of the music that refuses to die. Fresh from selling out in Amsterdam in May 'Rebellion' returns to its spiritual home of Blackpool with high expectations. Last year 10,000 people went to the sell out show last year at the Winter Gardens- the venue’s ballroom dancers having to take the weekend off as the punk rockers come to town!
It's fitting that the 30 years after ‘God Save The Queen ‘ was number one that punk can still put on a massive event. All shades of punk from The Damned and TV Smith and The Bored Teenagers to the Adicts from Conflict to the Cockney Rejects, there are big American bands like The Casualties, The Dwarves, hardcore heroes Madball and Leftover Crack as well as legendary groups like Slade and Chas and Dave as well as punk and post punk names like Penetration and the UK Subs as well as some of the scene’s new leading lights like Goldblade. Showing off the variation of styles encompassed by Rebellion is Neville Staple and even Alabama 3 as well as bands from all over the world- a collection of legendary names and a selection of upcoming young bands reflecting the huge renaissance.
‘Rebellion’ attracts people from all over the world with its all ages policy. Reflecting punk’s massive status on the worldwide stage where it has become the main youth music for disaffected Russian youth to Brazilian kids in the favelas to Mexican street kids in LA.
150 bands, acoustic and cabaret stages and market stalls that stretch around the venue. This is the biggest one yet, the most bands and the biggest expected audience, for one weekend, Blackpool gets a riot of its own, a rock n roll riot!

If you want more information please get in touch with John Robb at Johnrobb1@btinternet.com 07940 514 622

We can arrange interviews with any of the bands- the festival makes a great story for TV. Radio and the press.

www.rebellionfestivals.com

"Rock and roll is a pretty egalitarian affair. On any given night any band can be the best band in the world, if for only ten minutes. The amazing thing about the Fleshtones is that every night for the last thirty years they have consistently been the best live band on earth. Year in, year out -- high, low and in between -- the Fleshtones have embodied the very essence of rock and roll. This great book by Joe Bonomo really gets to the heart of who the Fleshtones are, and the price they paid. Now it's up to you to check out the Fleshtones when they hit your town. And in my own defense, that fire that Keith and I started in France was really a very small fire. Not worth mentioning at all. Please."
— Peter Buck, R.E.M.

Jr. Grenadier, as far as I know, doesn't have a myspace page. He seemed to drop off the face of the earth after putting together the six track "What Is A Kiss" cassette in 1986. I just found said tape and hooked up a deck to see if it would measure up to the memory? No problems on that score. It sounds just as good now as it did at the time. Maybe even better in that it was always like it was ahead. So anyway, not a lot is known about the identity of JG. Some clues may lie with the other musicians on the recording. These include Dave Mahoney, Bruce Anderson and one Angel Corpus Christi. It was recorded in San Francisco too so maybe that's another clue and it reminds me a bit of Poetraphonics. Anyways, that outro to the title track sounds like Phil Manzanera doing a Rick Neilsen. And that has to be a good thing. If Junior is out there, and by some twist of fate might be reading this, then I urge him to make these fine tunes available to the ipod generation and whatever is on the cards to follow that. This gear would sound great blasting out of anything, anywhere.

Ben Weasel and his Iron String Quartet –

These One’s Are Bitter (Merdota Recording Co.)
I came to Screeching Weasel relatively late and somewhat by accident. Having had them pegged as some kind of terrible hardcore group. Not sure why exactly but I couldn’t have been more misguided. And it’s fairly clear to anybody with a penchant for rollercoasting pop that Ben may well have been able to save The Ramones. We’ll never know for sure but I reckon that he and Joe King could have been their Leiber and Stoller. So anyway, he's moved on and will always move and shake a good sight faster and louder than any alleged talent that thinks they’ve got something to offer. Shuning the trappings of conventional popularity but toting all the chops to leave the competition, if there was any, in the dust. This guy has nothing to prove to anybody but he’s just made a benchmark album by enlisting the All American Rejects to provide the ballast. The result is 14 tracks that should be lighting up the airwaves if there still were such a thing. The sound is immense, like The Who crashing skulls with The Dickies to create a dynamic that’ll flash up a dirty big dumb grin right across your mush. "These Ones..." is only available as a download for now but it will be available on vinyl and as soon as that happens, you’ll find out where to score one here as close to first as I can muster. The one slow song “In a Bad Place” is a heartbreaker which could pack out a stadium on its own if there was any justice or indeed if the guy who wrote it gave a shit about such hollow trappings.


The Leftovers – On The Move (Rally Records)
A quick google on the name throws up many bands called The Leftovers but this is the three piece from Portland, Maine that we’re dealing with here. Imagine The Smithereens wearing jetpacks and harbouring some Tommy James and The Shondells intent. 13 songs clocking in at just below 29 minutes, looking at them on the cover, you’d never think that three youngsters could kick up such a full-blooded racket. They’ve been abetted in their mission by the aforementioned Mr Weasel and his sequencing has been carried out with precision rock’n’roll action in mind. This is what I expected The Fratellis to sound like according to their press. Superior pop hammered out with a gusto that’s rare in these processed pre-packed, pigeon-holed times. I’m sure that yours truly is well outside their demographic but they’re bloody stuck with me. The sound is as clean as a whistle and that drum propulsion really carries the epic proportions of the “teenage excitement, romance and mystery”. The Leftovers are anything but.

The music will always transcend the T-shirt. Won't it?

(Thanks to Mr Percival for the link)

The Soho Dolls are embarking upon an extensive expedition to take their electro-glam-twang stylings to the highways and bye-ways of the UK. In the olden days, an appearance on TOTP and a cheeky wee Saturday morning TV spot would have been enough to drive the kids out to the record store with their pocket money but things are different now. It's the 21st century apparently. The tour is to promote the album "Ribbed Music For The Numb Generation". Anyway, check out their wares on YouTube and Myspace and get ready for some real old-fashioned future pop.



04.09.07 London Hoxton Bar & Kitchen
13.09.07 Taunton Café Mamba
14.09.07 Crewe M Club
15.09.07 Milton Keynes Pitz Club
17.09.07 Newcastle Cluny
18.09.07 Glasgow Kings Tut’s
19.09.07 Aberdeen Tunnels
20.09.07 Greenock Red
21.09.07 Carlisle Brickyard
22.09.07 Staffordshire University
24.09.07 Leeds Joseph’s Well
25.09.07 York Fibbers
26.09.07 Hull Lamp
27.09.07 Barrow-In-Furness Nines
28.09.07 Liverpool Barfly
29.09.07 Oxford Bar Academy
01.10.07 Derby Susumi
02.10.07 Leicester Charlotte
03.10.07 Bristol Louisiana
04.10.07 Cardiff Barfly
05.10.07 Swansea Sin City
06.10.07 Coventry Colosseum
08.10.07 Southend Chinnery’s



09.10.07 Guilford Boileroom
10.10.07 Brighton Barfly
11.10.07 Plymouth Hub
12.10.07 Winchester Railway
13.10.07 Southampton Lennon’s
16.10.07 Cambridge Soul Tree
17.10.07 Manchester Night & Day
18.10.07 Sheffield Corporation
19.10.07 Doncaster Priory
20.10.07 Wolves Little Civic
23.10.07 London 93 Feet East

(Thanks to Maya for the info)

Suicide are at the South Street Seaport in NYC tonight.

If you're in the tri-state area then cut along... and while we're on the subject, Mr Percival sent me the following

"Saw this on the Revega Yahoo Groups... Suicide Documentary Film Posted by: "suicidefilm" suicidefilm@yahoo.com suicidefilm Date: Wed Jul 25, 2007 12:15 pm (PDT)
My name's Mike and I work for a TV production company in London called Start. We're just about to commence work on a documentary film on Suicide, which is being made with the full co operation of Alan & Marty. We're really keen to get hold of any personal photos or footage that you may have, either of the band themselves or the venues they played at (particularly the early venues - like the Mercer Arts Centre, Max's etc) - or really anything that you think might be interesting! Please feel free to get in touch either through this forum or by emailing me directly at mike.kerry(at)startproductions.co.uk - please substitute @ for at (am trying to avoid any un-necessary spam). Thanks."

Seems like a worthy endeavour, let's hope it's done for next year's EIFF.

Laura Cantrell shows in NY next week!

with Jimmy Ryan on mandolin, Jeremy Chatzky on Upright Bass and
Mark Spencer on Acoustic Guitar and Weissenborn. (info via Mark Spencer)

July 31st at...

11th Street Bar
510 E. 11th St.,
New York, NY 10009 (nr. Ave. A) 212-982-3929... Free

and...

August 1st at...

Stuyvesant Town Outdoor Series
Stuyvesant Town Oval (enter at 16th street and First Avenue )
6:30pm, co-bill with Christina Courtin and the Running Kicks Free

http://www.lauracantrell.com/
http://www.jimmyryan.net/
http://www.jeremychatzky.com/
http://www.markspencer.us/

So did you hear the news? It's the patio heater that's the culprit in all this climate change kerfuff. Breathe easy you SUV drivers, Chinese and Indian Power Station owners and Airlines. I bet all those barbeques aren't helping the environment much either. Think about that when you're scarfing your burgers and steaks, or veggie kebabs if that is your particular barbie poison of choice. Have you ever heard so much pish? Actually, I imagine you have but really, this is news? And what will it do to Garden Centre profits? Did anybody think about that?? No it's just me, me, me with you people. And as I look out at the sweeping rain I'm thinking, the experts are too late.

The latest mail strike made me think of the days when I spent my entire lunch break at the post office. The sheer volume of stuff that I used to send out was pretty incredible. At the time you would have thought that a business like the PO would always be there, now I have my doubts. The spectre of competition coupled with a marked reduction in quality of service can only suggest that their fate is sealed (no stationery pun intended). The opening hours of the collection office have been reduced to the point of daftness to a slim window of 8am until 12 noon, nae bleedin' use to me. You can't not have some sympathy with regard to the erosion of conditions that workers are facing but that’s happening to all of the great “institutions”. Actually it’s going on across the board, everywhere. It has little or nothing to do with the people who actually work in any given location. It's the greedy bastards at the helm who fear for their inflated existences that are invariably running once reputable ships aground and making off with the spoils in full fucking daylight.

Oh yeah, this is supposed to be about music and entertainment isn’t it? Well I imagine we’ll get back to that at some point. I'm just relieved that I don't have a patio...

I signed up for this facebook thing but have entirely no concept of what it's meant to do or be. Let alone how to operate within it. Maybe I should I enlist in this Second Life carry on also? However, I figure it might be appropriate to try and sort out my so-called existing life on this plane first. That's just a notion mind, it's not necessarily do-able. So if you've contacted me and I've become your "friend" on Faceache then bear with me. I may well never get around to doing anything about figuring out how it works. It's bad enough with myspace which I kind of have a handle on but never seem to be able to establish a permanent link. My ISP sez it's not their fault and to be honest, I don't really care. In the grand scheme, it's really not important and not even in the same postcode as my list of priorities. I just got the The Leftovers "On The Move" today and it's reverberating at a volume that I'm sure is making the neighbours teeth rattle. It's like the anti-Fratellis, god bless 'em so more about that later.

Bunch of info on upcoming shows and stuff to compile for an anticipated bumper post so look out fot that but no holding of breath, OK?

And finally, Sharon Osbourne's auld fella passed away... RIP - Don Arden

Martin Rev... three shows on the West Coast starting tonight in Silverlake... back on the Eastern seaboard on Friday for the South Street Seaport appearance of Suicide.

Still somewhat out of sorts, I saw a movie yesterday called The Chumscrubber. Once again duped by a comparison to Lynch on the poster, it was OK. More post-Donnie Darko or maybe an episode of the OC that Mark Frost could have had a hand in. It was sharing a bill with DD but I didn't stick around for that. A mix of couldnae be arsed tempered with just wasn't up to it, and besides I've seen both "cuts". I'm not altogether sure how much in charge of my own destiny that I am at the moment. Circumstances and situations could be better but on the other hand, worse is always a possibility. Driving to the stalag this morning, it was sunny then foggy then a few spots of rain and then sunny again. All in just under 20 miles. Listening to the radio it was all about the flooding down south. That's where the "could be worse" swings into view. And now it's thunder and lightning. I don't think it's climate change, maybe we're just fucked?

It's as good an explanation as any, right? Certainly this carbon offset scam, "pssst gimme 20 quid and I'll plant some trees to compensate for your flights to all over the shop", needs to be kicked into touch. I mean do you trust anybody to do that on your behalf? Aye thought so.

Was a tad distracted by the new Magic Dirt video on their myspace. Adalita is wearing a Cramps "Bad Music..." T-shirt in it and it's a Motorheadophonic stonker! I may have told you before that this combo should rule the earth. Or at least large chunks of it.

I also have a lot of time for the Soho Dolls. Some synth haters might be skeptical but give 'em a chance, they list Suicide and The Nomads as influences on their myspace domain. Irrespective of that, they're headed your, mine and everybody else's way. The Tuts show in Glasgow is with The Vivians.

RIP - Tammy Faye Bakker

Excellent documentary on BBC Radio Ulster about 70's Northern Irish Punk. Broadcast this morning, it's on the Listen Again feature for a week. (Thanks to Liam for the info)

Mr Rafferty sent me this link from The Guardian site which led me here and here...

Time is of the essence so check out this stuff if you're at a loose end in front of your computer at home, work or wherever. Nothing here likely to cause alarm. It's all good clean fun fun fun.

Chris Wilson website with all kinds of Groovie stuff (thanks to Bjorn and Patrick for the link info)

The Handsome Dicks (Knocking 'em dead in Knewcastle...)

Hello Saferide's daytrip to the UK (Reported in the unique Annika Norlin stylee)

Ruff Trade on Brick Lane innit guv... (sorry, I couldnae resist that)

Roky in Dallas (link courtesy of Brother Randall)

Obstacles and the circumnavigation thereof. That seems to be the order of every day in recent living memory. Tractors and roadworks add to the general hindrance. Whatever happened to being able to get from A to fecking B? But anyway, some vinyl, the format of choice in this neighbourhood, to report upon… as the cd hurtles toward oblivion, black (or whatever colour) plastic will always be with us.

Libyan Hit Squad –

Death Metal In Jerusalem EP (Bony Orbit)

A cheeky wee four track 7” from this Fla, outright punk troupe. Think Black Flag via The Samoans with a little touch of, I’m sure unconscious, BOC rifforama. Lead cut is a thuggish Jello-like version of “The Witch” but their own stuff (“sXe punk”, “Mirrorball”, “Sickness”) is all blessed/cursed with a hefty dose of what is presumably themselves. Not an easy task to breath fresh fetid air into this form buy they do. The EP plays at 33 but you can’t have everything.


Phantom – Rockabilly Vampires (Demon)

There’s nothing even vaguely ‘billy about this reggaefied soundscape that evokes Morricone via Strummer. A theme for a twisted imaginary western that’s yet to be made. Flip is a dub version that doesn’t add to the original concept whilst remaining true to the form. This 7” is to be given away with a line of clothing called D.I.E and the label is not to be confused with the Brentford label of the same name.


Various Artists – “I Wanna Punk Rock” –

The Singles Collection (Castle Music)

A 10 single vinyl edition of Step Forward singles with an edition of “Sniffin’ Glue” thrown in to validate the contents. This box contains the formative years of The Fall and the pre-Ant activities of Marco Pirroni with The Models, Mark Perry had a hand in collating this slice of history that also includes The Cortinas, Sham 69 and The Lemon Kittens as well as Chelsea, the latter doesn’t age well at all. I remember being introduced to Gene October once and he was a right obnoxious tube. I can think of another word but let’s keep this office friendly shall we. Anyway, this is also available on cd but if you want this stuff then this is the way to hear it, the way it was.


Salmon – Rock Formations (Bang Records)

A double, none more black, sumptuous vinyl edition in gatefold, embossed sleeveage, limited to 500 copies. Kim Salmon’s Five Guitar/Two Drummer special forces unit coming out louder and heavier than you care to imagine. Rawk orchestration hewn to be enjoyed at volumes hitherto never explored, man I wish I could get along to the show they’re doing in Melbourne on August 2nd. It’s at the East Brunswick Club there. In terms of carbon footprint, this is obviously a monster. The soundtrack to the last night of the poms even. It must take a heckuva lot of energy to run something this monolithic but I can’t think of a better use for fossil fuels. We might as well go down punching the air with bloody big fixed grins, right? Salmon is the sonic equivalent of Godzilla. Go, go with the flow or get stomped - it's your call.


Boris Sujdovic – Fuzz Machine (Bang Records)

Reviewed the cd of this a few weeks ago and as much as that flies outta the trap, this 45rpm footlong provides an additional dimension of thud. It’s a loud, deep cut that emits a paint stripping sound when turned up to tilt. Like with Salmon, this is a limited, numbered pressing of 500. Available from Soundflat, that’s where mine came from and it got here faster than one of them speeding bullets.

FUNTASTIC DRACULA CARNIVAL

¡feliz cumpleaños! Suzy Chain

T h e R e z i l l o s

19th July 2007, 7:30pm (band onstage at 9:00pm)

@ The Corinna Hotel, 44, Atholl St, Perth, Perthshire, PH1 5NN.

Tel: 01738 622201 Entry : £8

A special show in the intimate atmosphere of the "Corinna",

prior to their Scooter Tent headline at the Wickerman Festival the day after.

Honky tonkin', anyone? In our lone NYC appearance for the month, Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co. returns to the Rodeo Bar this week for a whole mess o' "ballads, boogies & blues" (as is our motto) and all the in-the-shell peanuts we can shuck!
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THURSDAY, JULY 19th / RODEO BAR / http://www.rodeobar.com/ /
375 Third Avenue (corner of 27th Street) in ol' Manhattan, NYC

/ 10:00 sharp until 1:00 / No cover! /
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And, coming up in the far off, distant future -- August...
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1st / Cafe Steinhof (Park Slope, Brooklyn)

SATURDAY, AUGUST 4th / Red Hot & Blue Rockabilly Festival (Montreal, Quebec)SATURDAY, AUGUST 18th / 2007 Coney Island Rockabilly Festival

THURSDAY, AUGUST 30th / Otto's Shrunken Head (East Village, Manhattan)
--------------------------------------
Yours truly, Michael
Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co. "Ballads, Boogies & Blues"
http://www.sitanddieco.com/
http://www.MySpace.com/SITandDieCo
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RIP - Kelly Johnson (Girlschool)

Next weekend in Germany - undisputed NBT favourites,

The Boonaraaas!!! and Suzy Y Los Quattro. Blimey!

OK, after an extensive schlep through the EIFF programme, I've come up with a half-dozen items that may appeal to NBT readers. There's plenty more good gear in there if you want to go to the site and have a root about. Some of you who may not have received your printed copy in the post can get on with today's Sunday Herald. I'd like to have the downtime (and the loot) to do the Berlin Alexanderplatz thing but it's not an option...

John Waters: This Filthy World (16th August screening has Q&A)

Comrades In Dreams

Control (The Ian Curtis biopic by Anton Corbijn)

Death Proof (for some reason it's not being shown with Grindhouse but maybe Rose MacGowan will turn up anyway...)

LYNCH

Anita Loos - Retrospective


Saw the Edith Piaf movie yesterday, good film but bloody miserable. She had a hard paper round that woman... time to go into training for spending extended periods in a darkened room. Also on a culture tip, at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival...

Hamell on Trial - The Terrorism (of Everyday Life) ----- Book here

Well, I thought it was next week but this much hyped/furore "Free" Prince cd is available with the Mail on Sunday here in the UK today. Any overseas readers who care should give me a holler before noon (gmt) today, the usual bollocks apply in that I doubt you'd want the "newspaper" anyway. I personally wouldn't thank you for the "musical content" either but each to their own and all that. At least for this time on a sabbath am.

Far more down with my jurisdiction is this. (Thanks to Frankieteardrop)

Suicide appear on July 27th 07 @ South Street Seaport, NYC. Entry is free!(Thanks to HT for the tipoff)

Back later if I can put a lid on this sneezing...

Well, I finally got my mitts on the Edinburgh Film Festival programme. No thanks to the post office being on strike and whatever else. I'm going to have a right thorough rake through it so will get back to you. Hannah McGill appears to have been able to breath new life into what was becoming a tad stagnant. There's a broad church of stuff in there. Back tomorrow...