Never mind the trossachs…

It was an early start on Thursday and everything went according to the open-ended plan. Arriving at the Centralen just a smidge past 1pm, I had just texted (people who know me will be sniggering now) Qina as she was walking toward me. This gal is so organised she’d even found the time to collect Ollekarlsson earlier that morning.

So from there we headed for Björkhagen station and a spot of orienteering around the woods in that hood. Absolutely beautiful, like the Golden Gate park crossed with the Trossachs. Qina was looking after her brother’s dog, Nemi and a more ideal place to walk (er, maybe that should read run) an animal perhaps doesn’t exist. Oh yeah, and I was charged with the responsibility of taking Ollekarlsson to Nenne, which is something of an honour that doesn’t come along every day.

Due to a hectic schedule, this was the only time I got to see Qina this trip. She was headed for the tranquility of her summer house and I was generally headed for the opposite of that which translated into a very fine time. There was a vibe of utter symmetry to the whole entchilada, to the point to being able to meet Nick at the subway station on the way to Jocke and Hanna’s where I was staying.

From there, we headed for Solna for The Nomads show in the park where it all began, back to the source. The great Hans Ostlund still lives in that part of the city and tonight on their own turf, the band provides an abject lesson in rock’n’roll supremecy. As you know, I can bang on about how important this combo is for hours. I even talked to a guy at the airport yesterday that said he’d check them out in light of their being responsible for The Hellacopters. The campaign never ends and never shall. A lot of old faces and family was present and it was a privilege to be there.

Nenne had turned up too and I made the safe transfer of Ollekarllson, with this guy comes great responsibility. I think he was pleased to see her. I was too. Robert Johnson introduced me to Playboy Marse, the man who has joined Punchdrunks and the word on the pavie is that this is perhaps the coolest incarnation yet. Always a blast to meet up with Jens “Ubi” Lagergren and he told me they were just about to start mixing the new Hello Saferide record due in September.

Organised by Black Sheep, this is an annual event that encourages music in the area. The show also provided a platform for the debut public performance of I Are Droid.

So do they deliver? Do they meet the mighty criteria that their album suggests?? Could they???

Well of course, I’m not sure that I’ve ever seen an outright first show by a band before. Probably not. The sound of the PA was unfeasibly good for outdoors as The Nomads had just proven. It was loud and very clear, something that isn’t always in evidence.

And well. In answer to that last slew of questions, yes they do. The guys have a gig on the Friday that may determine a stratospheric rise in their combined stock. The word “agent” is involved and my opinion of that sub species is not altogether rosy. Essentially, if any prospective booker doesn’t grab the potential from the album then perhaps they require “retraining”. It’s not your average rock bluster and the show underlined that, there’s some very specific sonic alchemy at play here. My suspicions that Konie is a genius are confirmed and Peder and Frederick complete the blueprint. They should have been introduced to the crowd at Where The Action Is. Next year they deserve to be shooting up the bill. My opinion?, the Dirty Pretty Things should have been bounced to make way for them. I’m a controversial old hector innit.

So from there, some good old fashioned imbibing of alcohol in the park. Reminded me of going to see Slade and the Sleaze band in the Cally park circa 1971. Good vibes, stellar company. Alright! Saw my old pal Bengtsson too and myspace bud Janne Punk who gave me a minature of Pors Brännvin.

Next thing I recall is looking at my watch and it’s nearly 10. Time to head for Debaser and the Sakert! warm-up for Hultsfred. I’d kind of given up on seeing this in a small venue but the gods (Martina and Mr Ulf) smiled on me and gave me another chance. My excitement was palpable, even in the event of extreme tiredness. It was an utter trip meet the Razzia’s, Martina and Daniel Ledinsky run the enterprise that brought and continue to bring us the music of Annika Norlin. I’m not entirely sure we’re worthy.

The set started way later than anticipated, part of a club night called “Falling And Laughing”. The irony of this isn’t completely lost on me as I’ve never seen the fascination of the Postcard records phenomenon. Anyway, I digress, time lost all consequence when the curtain opened. The audience was 110% in from the start and sang every song like this was their last night on the planet. It was fairly overwhelming to be among it and there was more than a handful of times when I found that I had something in one or both of my eyes. By “Alt Somm Är Ditt”, I was completely overcome with emulsion. Of course you know that Annika is incapable of putting a foot wrong but the band is just so damned together. No ordinary combo in any way shape or form. Their interpretations of these fine, fine songs, sung in a language I have very little command of suggest that I’m only getting a fraction of the overall effect. I’m in trouble if Nenne gets those translations together. My plan to get Sakert! To Glasgow for Celtic Connections starts here and now. World music fused with traditional folk and pop values doesn’t come any more potent than this.

I guess I was grinning like a fool when I went back to the bar. Don’t think I’ve been in greater need of a drink in living memory. It was a perfect end to as fun a day as it’s legal to have. I felt like I’d had as good a time as Kim (of M&K) has when she plays. Off the flippin’ richter scale.

Up bright and early to start again, kicking off with a groovy walk up to Bonnier Amigo to put Ulf off his work for a bit. I really began to get a hang of where I was going without having to consult a map too much. Thought about going to sound pollution but didn’t have time.

We walked to Pet Sounds where I got the new Billie’s album and The Solution cd that came out last year. There’s a print/dvd store called Paper Cut that’s well worth a visit if you find yourself there. Managed to look some stuff that I’ve only ever seen pictures of. Nicely curated place.

Dropped the gear at Mr U’s and headed for Razzia for our historic lunch pow-wow. It was like one of those things that world leaders get involved in. The restaurant also served the finest Swedish meatballs I have ever had or are likely to. And I’ve had my share of those. Martina and Daniel have a very cool thing going on there and deserve to rule the world in terms of popular music and on several other fronts. It was an honour to visit the nerve centre and a pure pleasure to spend time with them over the course of the whistle stop.

Schlepped around a little more and got back to the most exclusive music listening zone in Stockholm. Nick and Eva dropped in during the evening and we were treated to a selection of the finest tuneage that has been created over the years. It wasn’t long until it was time to head for Debaser Medis, the site of the “I Are Debut” release party. Part of the where The Action Is “weekend”. Nice joint, pretty swanky and the room was great.

Their set was delivered in no uncertain terms. Bristling with an intensity that was like Aha if they’d been imagined by Trent Reznor. I’m convinced that their racket will be reverberating through enormodomes before too long. Small venues with little in the way of blast zones need not apply. The viceral nature of what they do came across more directly than it had in the park the previous day. Playing at night with some strategic lighting suits the heights that the material scales. IAD is a full-on rock monolith in waiting.

La Puma kind of drove us out of the building and on to Broderna Olsson and Nenne left us before we rounded the night off at Pet Sounds bar. The good times were persisting and I left Nick and Eva in the little square in front of their place and trundled off toward Jocke and Hanna’s place. They were out of town but heading back on Saturday.

My tour manager called when I was on my way to Konsum. Word was that Pascal might be playing. Turned out to be false but the prospect presented a frisson. Hooked up with Nick and Eva and went with them to pick up their son Vincent at Eva’s mums. She and Vincent had been baking Bullar and I managed to score a bag to bring home. I should have got Pölsa too but wasn’t sure how it would travel. And, just across the road from my friends parking garage, on a quiet street. It's possible to enter a 50's style Narnia called Sivletto. An entire parallel universe. They do mail order too so check out their site. Nice bijou spiral staircase entry opens out into a wonderland of everything you'd need to further the lifestyle. Even a pickup truck!?

Lot of fine food on this trip and the bolgnese pizza at Elies was no exception. I’m always bemoaning the lack of decent pizza and the quality of this went some way to shut my cakehole good and prop. A huge downpour ensued and our thoughts were with those at WTAI. Cats, dogs and plenty other animals would best describe the tenor of the rain.

Having been trounced at Wii bowling by a 6 year old, Nick and I headed for Landet to catch The Dee Rangers at 99th Floor. They should require no introduction to regulars but I’m hoping that folks around these parts might get to see them in Edinburgh. I have to contact Mr Helsing with regard to that. Anyway, it’s a fantastic room in a place that has a kind of Maxwells (Hoboken) vibe. The band hit the stage at 10pm and proceeded to instill their distinctive beat frenzy. Jocke joined Nick and I at the bar where I noticed that you could by a cocktail called a Laura Palmer. I like the sound of that.

Good to see the Vola girls (La Novocia and Doña Tella) there too, hopefully that particular phenomenon will be happening again soon. And not just in Sweden neither (right Patrick?). Spent sometime gabbing outside to some very nice folks. Most of them seemed to be surprised by the fact that I’d come to see Sakert! Mr Ericsson hailed a cab and we were soon speeding toward our final destination. The WTAI after party shindig. I met so many people there at it’s actually a blur. Mona (of The Nagz) was there and I’d completely forgotten that she had been in Glasgow with Voladoras once. I never put two and two together even via myspace and I felt like a prize putz when the penny dropped. She’ll forgive me maybe?, my being a card-carrying member of CRS (Can’t remember shit) these days. It’s an age thing.

So I remember a few beers, lots of cool people – including Nicke and Robert Hellacopter. Always a solid gas to see those guys. When I do though, it makes me think that it should be them that enjoys the stature of something like the Foo Fighters or QotSA. The rest of the world missed the real boat again, settling for burger instead of steak that kind of thing. I’m too tired to think of a veggie equivalent. The other new Punchdrunk was in attendance and PM did me the honour of an introduction to Maria (of Revl9n). I also remember dancing to Sweet Jane with a very nice young lady who wouldn’t take granpaw’s puzzled looks of “me?” for an answer. As we left, the Droid minus Konie had arrived. From there it was off into the Stockholm night in search of a cab. Soon as we got in, the cab light flashed “game over” because that it was.

And that’s just about us. I made it to the airport in half-shut knife mode and home buzzing with the excitement of it all. As total blasts go, this was the proverbial neutron bomb.

My thanks to everyone who made it such a memorable trip, they know who they are. I hope that I can reciprocate the deluge and kindness that was bestowed down the road apiece.

Photos courtesy of Ms. Nenne Zetterberg

Ok folks. I'm back and there are thoughts to be gathered. Meanwhile, here's the first clip I've been able to find from Hultsfred...



It would be great to understand the lyrics but it really doesn't matter. So dig it while I adjust to reality.

Brother Patrick has been talking to an Angel...
actually THE ANGEL!!


Since I discovered this awesome and soulful woman, I enjoy every single or album issued by Ms Andrea Ross, with the help of her accordion and talented musicians like her husband Rich Stim (he was a member the legendary MX-80) and the “flamin’ groovy” Don Ciccone.

The album “Louie Louie” is a tribute to one of Angel’s heroes, Lou Reed. Mostly covers but a few originals, like “Lou Reed’s Hair”. My first questions will be Lurid oriented :

Patrick: Since I got your album “Louie Louie”, I tried to find a connection between Lou and “Louie Louie” (this song was composed by Richard Berry, 1956, and wasn’t even covered by Lou. But I remember Lou saying that one day he’ll be rich with a song based on “Louie Louie” riff played backwards). So Angel, what is the reason why your tribute album to Lou is called “Louie Louie” ?

Angel Corpus Christi: I don’t understand this question but I like the idea of the Louie Louie riff played backwards!

P: Many of his early fans think that Lou Reed is not interesting anymore in (except for his album “New York”) since “Berlin” or “Coney Island Baby”. What’s your opinion about Lou’ more recent works ?

ACC: It’s all good. It’s all great. I could never allow myself to say that I didn’t like any of Lou’s work, recent or not. I am not worthy. He is my hero. All hail!

P: And what’s your fave Lou song ever ?

ACC: He hasn’t written it yet, but I hope he will someday. Its title will be “ANGEL I LOVE YOU”. Ha ha. And he’ll sign my copy “thanks for the inspiration”.

P: What is the origin of your name? Is there a relationship with this city called Corpus Christi where indians live?

ACC : No relationship to the city at all, just another dumb decision on my part. It’s a stupid name! Where to file it? Under A or under C? Is it a metal band? From Texas?

Back to history :
ACC issued a total of five albums between 1984 and 1989, all of them full of nuggets.
Her brilliant debut,”I Love New York” (originally issued on tape), as you guessed, was a tribute to this city, with covers of the Ramones, Richard Hell and Suicide (with Alan Vega – another ACC hero – as a guest) among others.

Then came “Wake Up And Cry” featuring the should have been a hit “Too late For Linda”, then “Dim The Lights”, followed by “Accordion Pop Vol. 1” who features another bunch of more ("Love Me Tender" ...) or less (Rolling Stones ...) oldies; hear these tunes like you’ll never hear ‘em again ...

The last one of this first period is the largely acclaimed “The 80’s”. This album received great reviews :- “The 80's is easy-on-the-ear, low-tech art rock that's a cross between Nico and Jonathan Richman. This gal manages to melt your heart” said the New Musical Express;
- "Maybe the most brilliant female pop/rock artist in America, just because she has the guts and brains to break free so simply and completely." This one was from Sounds.
My personal faves on this album are the fantastic and poignant cover of Alice Cooper anthem ”18”, the magical “Way Out West” and the original “John Cassavetes”, which is Angel's loving tribute to a deceased hero.

P: Your career can be divided in three periods : the 80’s, who saw the realease of five albums on confidential labels / gap / an album on bigger label in the mid 90’s / gap - a few 7” and 12” to fill the gaps / two albums in 2003 / THEN ?
– what about “Accordion Pop Vol 2” ?
- or “The 2000’s as a follow up to “The 80’s” : what songs would you choose to cover (it’s a view of mind – in other words, what are your fave songs from the past two decades).

ACC: Well, for years I’ve been thinking about recording a collection of metal ballads. “Nobody’s Fool” by Cinderella is a great song. “Love Song” by Tesla is a great song. And of course, G ‘n R’s “Sweet Child Of Mine” is a terrific song; the lyrics are beautiful and I like playing the guitar solo on the accordion. And the project wouldn’t be complete without “Eat The Rich” by Motörhead, because I like swearing and cussing in songs. “Bite down on the son-of-a-bitch” !!! Yeah! I’m aware that might scare some people, an accordion-playing female singing a Lemmy song. There’s a Youtube comment about my cover of “Jet Boy Jet Girl”: “Welcome to Hell, here’s your accordion”. Ha ha!!

P: You covered “Never Too Late For Linda”, which is a song written by your friend Don Ciccone for his group. The Trip, at the time (mid 80’s) recorded a mini album that still remains unissued. I have the chance to own this album, which is, to me, almost as good as the Flamin’ Groovies Sire trilogy (Shake Some Action / Now / Jumpin’ In The night). What can you tell us about “groovy” Don ?

ACC: He’s never early, he’s always late, first thing u learn is that u always gotta wait! And, he’s a dynamite guitarist.

P: On “The 80’s” album, there’s this song “Way Out West” that sounds like there has been a magical moment during the session. Do you remember something special happening in the studio that day ?

ACC: Yes, you’re right, something magical and special did happen on that song, and it was Don Ciccone’s guitar playing. He captured just the right feeling and mood and emotion of the song. Especially toward the end, leading to the end, the “outro” (author : Big Star fans, take note). Even to this day, all these years later, when I listen to his playing on this song, it makes me cry. It sounds like he is playing his guitar outdoors, sitting on the hood of his car, parked at the beach. And the waves are there, and the setting sun is there and people are walking by…groovy with a capital G.
(P: I forwarded Angel’s kind words to Don, here’s his reaction : the “Way Out West” session was my favorite moment of all with Angel. Funny thing about that solo was that the engineer couldn't understand it. He said, “you want it to sound like that?”. He kept trying to make it sound "better" but i wouldn't let him. I was trying to make it sound like the Velvet Underground. For any guitarists interested i used an old Gretsch guitar thru a very old Vox ac4 amp - tiny little amp that has a very special sound).

P: Your album “White Courtesy Phone”, issued in the 90’s on a bigger label (Almo, distributed by Geffen) didn’t receive the success that he deserved. But there’s that song “Threw It Away” who was a big success, as covered by Dean Wareham and Britta Philipps. Does this hit record bring you a bigger audience and a little money at the time, or did Angel Corpus Christi remained a “well kept secret” ?

ACC: Ha! For a minute there, it looked like we would make some money with “Threw It Away” when it was used as in-flight music on American Airlines. But it was categorized as a promotional use, which artists are not paid for. And speaking of crying over songs, in the studio recording this song, Hal Blaine cried while he was playing on it. I will never forget this moment as long as I live.

P: So what about Herb Alpert and Hal Blaine ?
(Herb is the famous trumpet player and Hal is probably the most prolific drummer in the r’n’r history; he played with Elvis, Phil Spector ...).

ACC: Oh boy, don’t get me started. Because once I start I may not be able to stop. I’ll tell you what happened in the recording studio during the making of “White Courtesy Phone”. First with Hal. What you have to understand is, I grew up loving and memorizing all the drum parts to all those songs Hal Blaine played on. Of course, at the time, I wasn’t aware of who he was, I just knew I liked that sound, those beats. So imagine the thrill I had in the studio watching Hal unpack his special percussion, which he took out of a big, old, taped-up cardboard box marked “Spector Stuff”! I asked him if this was really the stuff he had used on all those recordings and he said it was. Whoa! I lost it! I realized that this same stuff was gonna be used on MY record and I just lost it! I had to go in the bathroom and splash cold water on me face.
Then with Herb, I had an overwhelming moment when he took out the sheet music we had sent him to the song “Lazy”, and I saw that he had written notes to himself on it, different marks etc., and I understood that Herb Alpert had been at home practicing my song. In the 60s I’d had a crush on Herb and had a big poster of him over my bed. Naughty naughty!

P: For me almost any song by ACC is like almost any song by Roy Orbison or Lee Hazlewood : when you have the chance to hear it, you fall in love with it at first sight – er, I mean first hear, but like love at first sight. The problem for ACC music is that you can hear it nowhere. I’m sure that if someone with good taste had the idea to use one of your songs for a TV ad or a film, you’ll become famous.

ACC: Thank you, that’s very nice. I could never compare myself to Roy or Lee tho. I think I sound more like Alfalfa on Our Gang (Our Gang, also known as The Little Rascals or Hal Roach's Rascals, was a long-lived series of American comedy short films about a group of poor neighborhood children and the adventures they had together. Created by comedy producer Hal Roach in the early 20’s).

P: Ok, but what are your fave songs or albums by ACC ?

ACC: I like my version of Motley Crue’s “Home Sweet Home” (P : featuring on 2003 album “Divine Healer”, among other cool covers like “Eve Of Destruction” or “Hurdy Gurdy Man” and great original songs too) , the slippery slinky mix Dean Wareham did of “You” (Dean also played guitar), and Pete Kember’s mix of “Femme Fatale” (Pete also played omnichord and Britta Phillips played bass). The song sucked until I took out my vocals, then it sounded brilliant! Ha ha! Not a good sign when your song sounds better without you singing it!

P: You already told us about Lou Reed. What about Alan Vega and John Cassavetes ?

ACC: Maybe it’s time to tell a secret. I don’t usually like to say who a song is about, or where I got the inspiration, but the lyrics to the song “Fall”, on White Courtesy Phone, are kind of about John and his wife, Gena Rowlands. It’s surprising, isn’t it, how much we can love someone we’ve never met? I like the way that song turned out. If you listen carefully, you can hear Rich singing back-up parts. And Craig’s guitar solo is genius.

P: About Rich : except MX-80 and playing / composing with you, did he get involved in other projects?

ACC: Rich and I had 2 musical projects prior to ACC. Playette, and Poetraphonics. On Playette, we used this fabulous little mini-synth by Electro Harmonix that I just loved. It had black and white keys, but they were just painted on, to resemble a keyboard. It was kind of modern, but also low-tech. In Poetraphonics, our big moment was opening for Nina Hagen! My instrument in Poetraphonics was an electronic "clapper". No accordion. I just clapped along, quite happily!

P: A word about Alan Vega ?

ACC: Have u ever had the experience of feeling like u were hallucinating while watching Alan onstage? During one of his performances I saw him transform into a kind of giant beetle creature that was encrusted with jewels. I felt like I was seeing the “real” him, that he was only masquerading as a man. That’s my word on Alan Vega! He’s a bug!

P: I saw Alan Vega and Suicide twice, end of 70’s and more recently. I noticed that he “had the “bug”, considering the way he moved / shaked, but not that he was a bug. Probably because men don’t know but little girls understand ...).

P: You live in San Francisco (I just came here for one day, to see the Cramps one year and a half ago, and I fell in love with this city). Can you give us good reasons to visit Frisco – or even live here (I now some guy who’d like to).

ACC: You’ll never see any George Bush bumper-stickers, ladies with mustaches are accepted, and so are men with breasts!




P: Do you like the Cramps, got records, saw them play ?

ACC: I love the Cramps. It’s fun to sing their songs live because the crowd goes kinda crazy and of course, it’s always fun to sing nasty words… “You Got Good Taste” and “What’s Inside a Girl”, “Somethin’s tellin’ me it’s a ‘hole ‘nother world!” (P: please Angel come tour around here - Europe, or at least release a live album : I wanna hear those songs !).

P: You covered Serge Gainsbourg's "Je T'Aime, Moi Non Plus" (I love you, neither do I ? Serge was awesome for playing with words). Is there any other song by him or another French artist you even think to cover ?

ACC: No. Do you have any suggestions? I tried to sing with a French accent once. Unfortunately, I sounded like Pepe Le Pew.

P: Well, I’ll suggest a song that would fit perfectly to your style / class which is my fave Gainsbourg song. It’s called “Le Canari Est Sur Le Balcon” (the canary is on the balcony), a song by Jane Birkin. It’s about someone who has commited suicide by gas and who left a letter with only those words: the canary is on the balcony. A real tearjerker, it features on “Je T’Aime” US album (the one with a blue/pink cover).

One last question : is there a question you've never been asked in interviews that you would like to answer ?

ACC: This is a really good question, for which I have no answer!

Thanks Bro Patrick, a nice interview. I enjoyed it.

I'm about to undertake an important mission and will be incommunicado(ish) for a wee while.

So, while I'm offsky, take a look at this - from the land I'm bound for...

Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co. returns to the rootin' tootin' Rodeo Bar this week for more rootin' *and* more tootin'!

Join us, won't you?

SATURDAY, JUNE 14th / RODEO BAR & GRILL

375 Third Avenue (at the corner of 27th Street) in Manhattan / Three comprehensive sets, from 10:30pm sharp until 1:30am /
No cover -- and free peanuts!

Yours truly, Michael

Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co.
"Ballads, Boogies & Blues"

Step this way for The Fifty Worst Album Sleeves. Link courtesy of Jean-Marc Rimette over in the land of Dutronc.

Very jazzed about my impending Säkert! encounter. Trying to concentrate on that to take my mind off the trauma of earlier today. I was ko'd. Outta action for a good couple of hours. If you have to attend hospital and you're offered a sedative then take it. Regret could well be the order of the day if you don't. I'll leave it right there.

Amidst the distraction, I never got the stuff done that I wanted to but here's a great Ben Weasel thing by Larry Livermore to keep you amused, scroll down to 28th May posting.

Spike Priggen is a guy that I’ve been meaning to hep you folks to for many weeks now. Ever since Innes Reekie sent me “There’s No Sound In Flutes" actually. With it’s Peter Bagge cover you just know that it’s gonna hit the spot. So since then I find out that Spike stayed in Edinburgh for a while in, I guess, the mid-90’s? Anyway, this fact never cut across my radar at all which is a damn shame because I feel like I really missed something.

Since his return to the US, he’s cut three albums. “Flutes” (which actually had a UK release on Re-Action Recordings – there’s a copy in Avalanche, Glasgow for anybody in the locale) and also “The Very Thing That You Treasure” and “Stars After Stars After Stars”. All available from him, in terms of shimmering Big Star/Db’s type pop it doesn’t get more dazzling than this.

He has an “all-star” cast abetting him too which includes Jon Graboff and Mark Spencer, two of the finest musicians currently languishing in NYC or anywhere. Bun E. Carlos and Ivan Julian join in the fun too. I’m not sure what’s on his myspace page but it’s sure to put a smile on your mug.

“Stars” is comprised of cover versions and I’ve no idea what some of the originals sound like. I can’t conceive that they’re anything like this but anyway. Those that are familiar – Ward Dotson’s “Be Married Song”, Chilton’s “Nightime” and Alice’s “I’m Eighteen” aren’t just a casual run through ala tribute band. The Ramones “Questioningly” is reborn as a country standard once again underlining just how great the songs were. “Big Store” is credited to Stephen Duffy. Is that Tin Tin? I don’t recall his output sounding like this but I’ve been known to wear blinkers at inopertune times. Green Gartside’s “A Slow Soul” too… who’da thunk it?

“The Very Thing” kicks off with “Every Broken Heart” which reminds me of the heady heights of TFC’s finest work. Graboff’s 12 string on this is fecking heartstopping. It ebbs and flows in all the right places and then there’s the twang, woof! The Dwight Twilley/Phil Seymour feel is uncanny too and it’s never pastiche or knock-off. This stuff is up there with your favourite albums. No question about it.

“Flutes” is the latest release and takes its name from the infamous Buddy Rich incident. It continues the succession of sublime timeless pop that will never go out of fashion. It may not garner acres of press but when you hear something this accomplished then it makes a difference. The strings on “Hideaway” swathe Spencer’s guitar solo in a setting that just elevates the whole production, like Burt Bacharach conducting Uncle Tupelo. Elements of this remind me of the great David Scott Esq. “Everyone Loves Me But You” should be a 7” single – no question. The Skeletons do The Archies style of “Something” is another surefire hit in an alternative universe where manufactured music is outlawed. A place we’d all rather be where all the bars are like the Lakeside Lounge.

So yeah, I missed the boat on this guy alright but you can’t win ‘em all. Plus I was able to play catch up in the end so all’s well that ends as such. If you get the cd’s then there are “hidden” tracks on there too, I don't imagine those would be involved in any download situation.

All three are fine, fine records. Utterly recommended and certain to become sought after. Not content with making downright groovy music, Spike is also the guy behind this.

RIP - Bob Anderson

It's a Wunderle world!

The very Rev. Billy Miller is on the WFMU Fool's Paradise today with Rex. They'll be presenting a Charlie Feathers tribute between 1 and 3pm EST. Check out the time difference and (wo)man your internet radio portals!

It's Friday evening and time is of the essence. Another week of graft closer to oblivion and there are several hurdles to leap en route to next week's scheduled lollygadding. It's good to glimpse a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. Blimey, I nearly used a word that could have been misconstrued as a racist slur there, must be way more alert than I feel.

To your left there, is the cover of the upcoming Dig It. This issue (#43) includes Brother Patrick's report on the family outing to see The Sonics in London forever ago.

Looking forward to introducing you to two rip-roaring new blogs in the near future but they're not quite ready to go public yet. It'll be more than worth the wait so expect a fanfare soon.

Depending on my flakeability, I'll try to get some review action going but my liner for the upcoming Munster dvd by The Zeros must take priority. It's a belter and one of the extras is an interview with the band's first manager - the great Phast Phreddie Patterson.

Now that the garden refuse bin has been emptied, I'm duty bound to fill it again. The purpose of all good citizens is to at least attempt to keep their place straight, right? Aye. Right...

The most ubiquitous men in Scandanavian music make up half of I Are Droid. A bionic fusion of pre, post and prog fragments brewed cask strength.

Konie Ehrencrona and Jens Lagergren have teamed up with Peder Bergstrand and Fredrik Bergström to create the cool frankenstein that is “I Are Debut” (Razzia). Their influences, according to their myspace - where you can hear the whole album - are listed as "wine, midgets and reversed circus music - in that order".

Sonically, I detect elements of BÖC, (Systems of Romance, pre-Midge) Ultravox!, Big country-esque dynamics and even Franz flippin’ Ferdinand. Some mighty sounding stuff, majestic even - without falling foul of the pomposity that often befalls such a beastie. I can think of no better complement to describe the closing strains of “Before The Fall” than it could have come from “Secret Treaties”.

IAD are packing the kind of sound that could sweep the world. My brother reckons that there’s more than a touch of the Foo Fighters about them. My own opinion is that Grohl’s crew throw great rock shapes but have no songs, the Droid do and they fit the sensurround like a glove. With the chops to turn yer average arena into a church, a sweet lightshow would clinch the deal and make them virtually unstoppable. Like one of the machines they take their moniker from, there's some kind of unbridled electricity running through these collective veins and "I Are Debut" is quite the cattle prod.

Norton News for June.

There goes another one. (Gracias to Mrs Stim for the link)

RIP - Alton Kelley

and another...

RIP - Mel Ferrer

I've been at the pointy end of them horns what be connected to a dilemma for about a week now. Not really one who is given to bursts of spontaneity, I finally folded. Do a hit and run on Stockholm next weekend or not? That is the question or rather was. Key to all this is a "secret gig" by possibly the only band/artist left on earth that I really want to see in a perfect location, i.e. a wee place before they go stratospheric. In addition, there are opportunities to see The Nomads and I Are Droid too. Maybe even The Hellacopters and The Hives but I have no desire to watch the Foo Fighters or QOTSA so we'll see. Most importantly, I get to hang out with friends I see all too infrequently if hardly ever. Add a handy flight from Edinburgh to Arlanda to the mix and we're off. Not exactly flush financially but as they say hereabouts, "you're a long time deid". As is proven by the rash of shuffling off this mortal coil that people have been doing of late.

Plus, as the fuel is running out and there's gonna be no food to speak off - I figure I should make the proverbial hay. While the sun is still visible to the naked eye.

You're in Manhattan tonight? Cut along here...

And coming later this months, cool UK stamps for a change...

BO KNEW...

This is a big one...

RIP - Bo Diddley

RIP - Yves Saint Laurent

RIP - Harvey Korman (I missed this last week, thanks to Ben for flagging it up)

The recent posting of the Jonny Dongel video of “Sorry Simon” precipitated a goodly amount of e-mail thumbs up. Since then, Martin at Gravelsauce has sent me a copy of the album and I’m pleased to report that it’s certain to be right up the alley of NBT regulars who have been seeking solace with the recent Mats Olsson comp and beyond.

It’s so goddamn authentic to the intersection between pub and punk rocks that it should be on United Artists or Stiff. I’m not altogether sure that it’s not Christopher Guest channelling Ian Gomm but there you go. Sometimes the accent is just a little too Nigel Tufnel to be true but all songs are certified belters. Dolly Dongle’s backing vocals remind me of Ellen Foley (and again) too. Sailing this close to pastiche would be dangerous in any other hands but “A Fifth of Nowhere” is just so damn solid. From the outset of “Snocker, Snog and Shag” it’ll have you misty-eyed and pulling out your Ducks Deluxe and Wreckless Eric records. The guitars on the title track are reminiscent of the Robert Johnson that released records on Ensign, not to be confused with the “Crossroads” geezer or Stockholm’s finest. (Thanks for the heads up on "Snocker", Prof)

JD has a knack of penning tunes that dad rockers like Weller and his ilk never came close to. Jonny is quite possibly a virtual pop phenomenon. Ostensibly an ex-pat from Bristol exiled in NY it really makes no difference. This Dongel fella has made an album that’ll have you grinning and turning up the car (or home) cd to tilt.

Just like you do when Tenpole Tudor comes on…

PS - God I love YouTube, more Ellen Foley...



Somewhere in this dump I have an autographed poster, organised by the great HT, the man that brings you the fine Cake internet radio extravaganza...

Jeez, these past few days I seem to be depping for Phast Phreddie...

RIP - Jerry Cole

RIP - Mickey Waller

Blogger appears to be working for now. The south is being ko-ed by rain but here in Scotch-land, the sun is splitting the trees and everything else. It's sub-flaming tropical and I just finished rumping down the hedge that shredded my hands last week. I've had my quota of fresh air with a side of pollen for the day...

This damn thing is acting up... check out Lou Molinaro's encounter with Albert Bouchard while I attempt to figure out what's futzed.

RIP - Earl H. Hagen

RIP - Janine Hall

RIP - Jimmy McGriff

Listening to this new compilation of early Detroit Cobras that's come out on Munster, it's easy to hear just why it seemed like they could save the world. Curating their repertoire from long forgotten and obscure soul nuggets and hopping them up with that garage rock ramalama we like. Rachel Nagy's voice is undoubtedly helped by her fondness for the ciggies and I doubt it's ever sounded better. I'm pretty sure that a nicotine patch wouldn't measure up. She sounds postively obstreperous which of course she is in real life. Available on vinyl (including as a set of 7" singles) and cd, you'll be hooked from "Village of Love". All that's missing is that little shuffle/bop thing that she does onstage and I can see that in me head so I'm sorted.

Had a couple of messages asking about these Tom Waits tickets. The conditions of sale make it all a bit complicated and the tix will be personalised plus you'll need photo id to get in.

These actions are being taken to prevent touting, if you can't go then your ticket really won't be transferable. Perhaps Waitsy will come to your house or at least call you to let you know he was sorry you couldn't make it. Fuck all that for a game of soldiers, wouldn't it be great if a wad of tickets was left unsold?? I'm sure the touts will find a way around it. It's the public that'll get fleeced whichever way. Who would you pay an arm and a leg to see? I'm not talking going overseas or whatever, I mean in your own travelable 'hood? Hey, maybe Tom'll be worth it... here's one critter that will never know.

I saw a rerun of a "Later" show the other day. Nick Lowe was on doing "Lately I've Been Letting Things Slide". It seems like my theme song. In fact, things haven't been so much sliding, they've been going backwards almost. That old Father Time guy must have been attending the gym because his currency is fairly rattling in. I can barely keep up. With anything really. The old ISP is playing up again too because I sent some salient information ahead of myself and it still hasn't made it's destination. Some others have had problems getting a message through too.

The malaise ain't exactly treatable but I'm working on it. There is much going on to be inspired by but the daily grind is like some addiction that addles the urge to do much of anything. At least to me. There's a lot of appropriation going on but precious little creativity. Settling for niche is the proverbial triple bluff. Ripe to the point of downright stinky.

I just read Amy Rigby's blog entry for today and I concur with the "what is it for" considerations. Trying to put something up here every day feels like a chore when it should be fun. If I don't then I feel like I'm letting my regulars down. These people need information. The sensory gratification of some cool new (or old) "thing". It rankles me when I go to somebody's page and it hasn't been updated for a month. I'm going to get around to the scoop on what's lying around here musicwise in between dealing with crap that seems to suggest the bunker is falling down upon my napper. And then there's work...

Album out on CD (Wild Punk) and vinyl (Screaming Apple) any day now.

Show in Berlin tomorrow night (Tuesday 27th) !

In Paris tonight... info courtesy of Brother Patrick. You could probably get over there for the same price as a Tom Waits ticket for Edinburgh. Apparently there are all kinds of restrictions too so I'll use that quaint old Scot's term and say "fuck it". It doesn't seem to be detering some folks though so good luck to them with the impending bunfight. I hope that he's worth it. In case you care, and are further afield, the TW tix go on sale tomorrow (Tuesday).

RIP - Dick Martin

Friday saw a capacity crowd hit up The Tolbooth in Stirling for the first night of the annual Le Weekend shindig.

Kicking things off in the bar was the pastoral stylings of the National Jazz Trio of Scotland. There were at least five of them though including the great Bill Wells so I'm not sure who was responsible for the arithmetic...

Tape (from Stockholm) was first up in the auditorium and whilst they might be OK to listen to in your own immediate environs, I couldn't honestly tell you that it makes much of an impression live. I'm not down with laptops as a viable alternative to the stratocaster, or any other guitar come to that.

Taken By Trees (also from Stockholm) is the new Victoria Bergsman (ex-Concretes and voice on the P, B & J "Young Folks") vehicle. It continues that similar pop furrow and her band perfectly complements the rather fragile nature of her character. That's not to say that they can't cut loose though and by the close of a perfectly formed version of G'nR classic "Sweet Child Of Mine", they were rocking the house like all get out. There was marked increase in volume too which chased the remaining memories of the somnabulist sounds of tape out into the foyer. I didn't know that the album was out on Rough Trade but it is.

Soon it was time for The Pastels. Their set list is up there to your right and much of it may be work in progress but it sounded great. The melding of the brass into their patented rattle is a peculiar formula which shouldn't really provide the tickle that it does. There's a lot of soul in what their doing. It's not black or white or any tangible colour, it's just for real. And never more so than when Katrina is singing. The thing about The Tolbooth is that the sound in that place is always great and crystal clear. The set was practically orchestral to that effect.

Introducing a song called "Secret Music", Stephen said that it was from an album that they'd been working on for "most of their adult lives". As far as I know, any similarities between this condition and Axl's "Chinese Democracy" are utterly coincidental.

"Nothing To Be Done" closed the first Le Weekend instalment of 2008 on a particularly unreachable high. I wouldn't want to be looking down from that altitude.

2 guys, 22 years of DJing, 80 years of great music, 1000's of 45's... 100,000 satisfied customers What you got?

RUBBER BISCUIT - They buy their hats from the same guy as Elvis, caused the MC5 to reform, earned Ray Davies' money (twice), knocked Ron Asheton down the stairs (by accident!), picked covers for The Detroit Cobras, got stood up by Alex Chilton, were fed cigarillos by Dr John, told the NME and Kerrang! to f-off, and got married at Sun Studios (one just watched)...

Steptoe and BigKegShandy play music by people from many lands and decades, all of whom know the magic formula which causes backbones to slip, hips to gyrate, elbows to flap and ears to dance on the sides of heads. Since 1985, they have played the wonderful musics that have been called rock'n'roll, soul, funk, R&B, punk, ska, garage, calypso, boogaloo, voodoo, country, gospel, blues, rockabilly, disco, roots, psychedelia, pub rock, folk-rock, frat rock, glam rock, Dutch beat, high energy, really f-ing stoopid or just plain FUN.

They like it, and so do other people, some of whom you may know, including Arthur Lee & Love, the MC5, Big Star, The Soundtrack Of Our Lives, Andre Williams, The Vines, Dan Penn & Spooner Oldham, The Saints, Tav Falco's Panther Burns, Radio Birdman, Monsieur Jeffrey Evans, The Scientists, The Stooges' Asheton Brothers, Dick Dale, The Detroit Cobras, Wilko Johnson, You Am I, The Dirt Bombs, Jay Reatard, The Fleshtones and James Hunter.

They like to DJ at gigs and clubs. A lot.

Rubber Biscuit @ The Thunderbolt
Bath Road, Bristol

Saturday May 31st 8pm-midnite FREE

Free gig - come along if you can make it, couplae pints doon leith walk and some dancing ? check out the links, its quality stuff

the world famous SHOCK AND AWE are playing with HYPERBUBBLE (from TEXAS) and LAMENS TERMS (from Falkirk/Fife) all 3 acts are appearing as duo's hence the nights title "A trio of duo's" although theres also going to be a special short mystery surprise slot from another duo - come early and find out who we'll be playing with the drum machine so it'll be a lot different from normal, come and check it out heres the spiel, come on down if you can make it, First band on at 9 sharp

EVENT NAME: HYPERBUBBLE - a trio of duo's MUSIC EVENT TYPE: ROCK/POP
DATE: Friday 23rd MaY VENUE: Meridian
ADDRESS: 138 Leith Walk, Edinburgh, EH6 5DT PHONE: (0131) 554 4238
www.myspace.com/meridian_edinburgh
PRICE: FREE TIME 20:00
BANDS: Hyperbubble , Shock And Awe , Lamens Terms

www.myspace.com/hyperbubble
www.myspace.com/shockandawemusic
www.myspace.com/lamenstermsband

Hyperbubble (Texas, USA)

Electro / Glam / New Wave - Hyperbubble are a boy girl duo like a stripped down synthesized Texan Rezillos

Shock And Awe (Edinburgh)

Big guitars, Big Choruses, Big fun. In keeping with tonights theme they play as a duo - "We stole the guitars from the Ramones and the drummer from Suicide"

Lamens Terms (Falkirk/Fife)

Acoustic Guitar Girl keeps the beat and sings her heart out while Electric Guitar Boy paints pictures in sound around her

head down Leith walk and just before the Kentucky Fried Chicken shop you will find ....... THE MERIDIAN !

its free, come along, buy a cd if you like it, tell your friends

The Fleshtones in Amsterdam, May 22.

A great, great night. The Fleshtones took over A'dam in seconds flat... Rock 'n awe... A well deserved tip o' the hat to the Works for makin' this happen...

The EIFF trailer...



I'm going to be out of commish for the rest of the day. You folks in Amsterdam and the surrounding areas, The Fleshtones show is tonight, and you need to go along and support the campaign. Yesterday's ISP problems means I have a bunch of mail to deal with but I'll attempt to deal with that later tonight, after the arrival of leading Swedish diplomat, Mr Ulf.

The Nomads are headed for Spain this weekend...

The Fleshtones for Amsterdam (tomorrow, Thursday! excuse any previous bum information)... (thanks to Steve for the link)

On this side of the water, The Pastels with Taken By Trees in Stirling on Friday.

Saw this new movie "Smart People" and while it's not outright awful, I couldn't really recommend it. If that’s what’s knocking ‘em dead at Sundance then the movie biz be in big trubb.

On Sunday mornings, I'm prone to listening to the religious programmes on BBC Scotland. Semi-related to that, Father John Fitzsimmons presented a greetings programme that was somewhat old school but he came across as an affable curmudgeon. He also appeared a talking head to offer opinions during news, current and not-so-current affairs.

Anyway, sadly he passed away at the weekend there at age 68. He always projected being older and wiser than that less than ripe old age.

The guy was never afraid to stick his head above the parapet, earning himself a controversial tag for the trouble but I always liked to listen to him talk irrespective of the subject. My own considerations of all religion being tosh notwithstanding, Radio Scotland has lost a great character which they can ill-afford at the minute.

My granny used to tell a story about a minister telling her that I’d maybe become a minister. Imagine her horror when that calling came in the form of rock’n’roll but anyway… My sense of spirituality might be a little skewed at times but it’s generally sincere. I think you folks would have dug this guy whether you agreed with him or not. Irrespective of persuasion.

Later today I have the dentist. I’m looking forward to that a bit more than where I’m just about to leave for but a lifestyle has to be maintained. Has it not?

It's Joey's birthday...

I just got back in from Edinburgh and don't feel much like gabbing. Having done a stupid thing this morning by attempting to cut down an overgrown hedge, my hands are a wee bit tender. And this cold ain't for the shiftin' so I'm just about to crash in front of whatever shite is on the telly. If you're in New York then you should be heading for Banjo Jim's to see Amy Allison.

The lollygadding continues... did you catch "Kaiser" George Miller on "Later" with Sharleen Spiteri? The song I saw bore more than a passing resemblance to a certain Shangri-Las number.

And Glasvegas from the same show. Pretty good in spite of my ongoing reservations. Like Midge Ure (circa Slik) fronting The Mary Chain. I actively distrust the hype but there's no denying that "wall o'" sound. Maybe they could cover "Forever and Ever"?

Seeing as the rain was on and I couldn't attack the overgrown hedge, even if I wanted to, it was decided to resort to another major procrastination of recent times. Largely spurred on by not being able to find stuff when M&K were here. So anyway, a clear out of the cd howff has been undertaken and it's one of these "wish you'd never started" situations.

Any plus points like being reminded how fucking great The Eyeliners "Here Comes Trouble" is kind of pales in trying to establish order to an area that is quite frankly overpopulated. The concept of culling some of it is fine in theory but the humming and haw-ing and eventual inability to let go has resulted in me having a coffee as I do this to recharge the old ruthless batteries.

I've gotten to "F" and I'm pretty much busted. Can't shake this cold either. Plus Monk isn't on today. It could be worse but it could also be better, yon big Italian capital wasn't built in a day as the cliche goes. I bet you could build a fair size city quicker than you could make order of the shite I've accumulated over the past 30+ years! There's always the skip option which looks VERY attractive at the minute...

It's sure to be a reasonably big Saturday night on Avenue C this week when SUSQUEHANNA INDUSTRIAL TOOL & DIE CO. takes to the happiest bar in the East Village, TENELEVEN -- joined by that naughtiest of guest gypsy singers, THE BABY MARIA!

SATURDAY, MAY 17th, 171 Avenue C (between 10th & 11th Streets) in Manhattan, NYC

Two bad & bawdy shows, from 9:00 sharp until 11:00 / No cover! / Oh, and not to toot our hillbilly horn, but thanks to New York Magazine for a kind mention this week! "Bluegrass"? Well, they got the moustaches right. And, frankly, my Tool *hasn't* been getting the press it deserves. Fourth blurb down, if you care to peek:
http://nymag.com/arts/popmusic/features/46822/

Always yours, Michael

Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co. "Ballads, Boogies & Blues"

Not sure if I have a cold or hay fever. Probably both but figure it's best not to be spreading any lurghi around at the David Scott/Norman Blake/Vaselines shindig in Dunfermline tonight. It's been a busy old week but mostly cool. Attended a funeral of a colleague that retired from the rat race less than a year ago. Not a good deal by any stretch of the imagination.

Not exactly sure what's gonna give this weekend 'ceptin a trip to auld reekie on Sunday. I really do need to cut down a dirty big hedge in the garden. This cold may well prevent that happening again and one has to be sorted out in time for The Pastels/Taken By Trees double header at Le Weekend next Friday.

RIP - Will Elder

(Link courtesy of Larry Shell)

Matt and Kim’s Glasgow debut was fated to happen on the same night as the European Cup football debacle. As you know this means less than absolutely zero to me. The stage time was pushed back to 11pm and the two detonated pretty much bang on schedule. What you hear on myspace or wherever is purely an approximation of the atomic energy that these two youngsters generate.

Kim pounds those drums like a being possessed and Matt sings something like Emo Phillips channelling Mark Mothersbaugh. His keyboard oscillates in time and space with frequencies that even put a grin on my mug. The fun that these two have playing is practically immoral and most definitely infectious.

They don’t do encores either you get the heart, soul and kitchen sink in the actual performance. It’s tiring to witness because the energy levels never drop below tilt. Even when they claim to take it down a notch.

They’re in Sheffield tonight, Brighton tomorrow and London on Saturday. Check their site for details and see them if you can. By the time they get back out this way in November, tickets could well be in short supply. They’re out to build an M&K army, fan by fan if need be. What they do might not be for everybody but I think that anybody who likes to feel the crackle of genuine electricity would find much to love here. These two, and their tour manager Brian – are an active cell that are out to subvert the terrible careerist bollocks that shite like the NME continues to foist on our pop kids.

From the Please Kill Me mailout...



Update - Go to his myspace and hear more! Pub rock is heading back!!

“This is a Monday night, in Paris!,” announced Peter Zaremba mid-way through the set at La Locomotive at the start of the Fleshtones’ latest Euro jaunt. A near capacity crowd reacted with enthusiasm to an upbeat performance (are they ever downbeat?) as the ‘Tones commenced a two week trip around France that includes “one night only” appearances in Switzerland, Italy, Germany and Holland. Placing the emphasis on material from Take A Good Look, the new album on Yep Roc, the band refused to remain static and used every square metre of the venue for strumming power chords, performing press-ups, and singing a cappella. The audience responded by dancing to current party starters like Feels Good To Feel and Love Yourself, inserting “Hey!” at the appropriate moment, and following the band from one end of the venue to the other. Thank the gods that the ‘Tones can still perform in such a manner and in front of fans that are not inclined to launch beer into the air or wrestle them to the ground. One of the warmest moments of the evening was spotting members of the support band, the New Christs, crowded around the stage door, wearing big smiles and taking pictures of the mayhem. Thirty years down the line and the Fleshtones continue to deliver catchy material with energy and enthusiasm that puts most bands to shame. On current evidence there is no reason why they should not enjoy many more Monday night’s in Paris.

Running at the last mo' here and will be outta commish until at least tomorrow...

Got my EIFF tickets and am ready to roll come June. The criteria was that there would be no "blockbusters" but are there any? Another rule I enforced was "no Cineworld screenings" so my patch is limited to Filmhouse and The Cameo. No multiplex! Let's see how it all pans out.

The recent attempts to find homes for those badges and issues of Mojo magazines have come to pretty much nowt. The buttons did OK but only one Mojo has left the crib. I even left info on the magazine message board but heard not one jot. So maybe they'll be bound for recycling in the not too distant future. I hate that thought but I sure as hell no longer have the room for stuff like that just lying about gathering dust.

One good thing is that I managed to repatriate a bunch of Woodentops badges with the band. I've no idea where they even came from but now they can go to folks that want them. I'm gearing myself up for a huge purge because well, I can't take it with me.

Where am I going? Who the chuff knows but I don't need all this STUFF anymore. Maybe I've grown up?? It doesn't feel like it and I doubt that you'd get certification to that effect. And finally - like that spot on the real news. An alternative to that UEFA action in Glasgow tomorrow night... Matt and Kim's debut show in Scotland...

"Announcing the Glasgow debut of THE BRUTES, the new ex-Grease Monkeys combo. Our world debut was a coupla Fridays back in Edinburgh in the fine company of The Thanes and The Bucky Rage (we were billed as the Buggs 'cos we were called that the week we got booked for the show!) - and even tho' I say so myself, it went rather well. We're on MySpazz at www.myspace.com/theebrutes, if you wanna hit us up - should have some songs on there by the end of the week, just before the gig. Anyways, hope to see y'all at Blackfriars on Saturday - expect cool "old shit" on the decks before & after our "loud garage punk" set - drinkin' & dancin' 'til 3am!!!! " ....Jim

David Lynch considers the iphone...



and also "product placement"...

Sparks @ Bodhi (thanks to Madeline for the links)

(Thanks Patrick)

RIP - Eddy Arnold

I interrupt my perusing to bring you the news that onetime Moodist and co-conspirator with Kim Salmon, Mr Dave Graney is at the Voodoo Rooms in Edinburgh tomorrow night.

Too short notice for me but maybe you'd like to cut along...

Second day of unfathomably decent weather for this part of the world, not sure what's going on but it's not unpleasant. With that though comes the chore of keeping the garden tidy and my lawnmower - of the non-human being variety - died during a valiant attempt at the first grass cutting of the year. Anyway, the proverbial ball is burst and I'm not altogether sure what the options are. Not fucking visiting garden centres to research getting a new one, thats fer sure.

So I'll keep this short. I have to peruse the EIFF programme and that might take some time. Documentaries on Patti Smith and Lee Perry are on the agenda though as is the new Werner Hertzog. The fact that the print copy didn't arrive in the mail means I have to do that online, not ideal as my eyeballs aren't fried as it is.

Been looking at the stats on this blog lately and visitor numbers seem to be dropping off. I can't say I blame anybody for clicking on less frequently, it suggests that lives are being led. Ho'ever it would be more of a motivation for me if a wee bit of buoyancy was maintained. I DO TRY to update things at least once a day. It's not always possible but it's not though want of giving a hoot. On the other hand, we'd be exactly noplace without our regulars and appreciate the heck out of you folks that do drop by often. So anyway, to the listings...

The latest two instalments in the Feber series are Mats Olsson's "pubrock" and Lennart Persson's "folk/rock". Each 2cd set is curated and sequenced to give them a mix tape feel. That's their ultimate strength. With so many compilations just being thrown together these days, these are up to Ace Records type scratch. There's no booklet with reams of information but all the salient details are there. You can get the full tracklists here, or here, you just have to put the titles in to access them.

Both come in covers designed by Daniel Novakovic, who also did the Nomadic Dementia comp.


Tomorrow (Wednesday) sees the launch of the Edinburgh International Film Festival programme. Here's hoping that the selection and the switch to being in June rather than August will work. This year I'm not going to screenings of stuff that's due to come out within a month or so of the event.

Tickets go on sale this coming Friday...

monorail film club is one-year old!

Monorail Film Club: PLAYTIME (U)

Sunday 18th May at 3.40pm

Director Jacques Tati

Cast: Jacques Tati, Barbara Dennek, Rita Maiden

France 1967, 2h 4m (French, German and English with subtitles)

Playtime is a Tati masterpiece. Three years in production and dazzling looking, it shows off a futuristic Paris which some of its inhabitants, notably Monsieur Hulot (played by Tati), are struggling to come to terms with. Hulot roams around Paris with a group of American tourists, lost in the maze of modern architecture filled with the latest gadgets.

The film will be preceded by a short (12m) KH-4, a strange film about a Glasgow artist (played by a young Bill Forsyth) who uses the city as a source of inspiration.

The screening will be presented by Glasgow artist, Toby Paterson.

Baskery are three sisters. A Swedish trio that combine a punk-rock skiffle aesthetic with an “O Brother” sensibility to deliver an admirable debut album, “Fall Among Thieves” (Veranda). The cover might look a bit Stevie Nicks but don’t be fooled, nae disrespect to Ms Nicks intended.

Somebody should snap them up for Celtic Connections next January. A little bit country and a whole lot of understated rock’n’roll, recorded live. “Nothing hidden, nothing added”. If the Dixie Chicks were Babes in Toyland but actually much cooler than either then they’d be Baskery. I have no idea what the name means, maybe an alternative to calling themselves, The Bondessons. Which I think would be a pretty cool name but that's my svenskophile side talking.

Hear them at their myspace, “One Horse Down” might be a groovy place to start. If the just a smidge over 2 minute “Why Don’t Ya” is on there, give that one a birl too. “Haunt You” has a cool acoustic G-L-O-R-I-A vibe and I bet it’s plenty loud in person. Quite possibly their set closer.

If it is, then the crowd is going to be baying for more. Wonder how their Irish shows have been going these last few days?

Inspired by hearing Pavlov's Dog on Iain Anderson's show this past Friday night, I pulled out the first two albums. Listening to "Pampered Menial" now, it sounds very rich and not at all dated. When the cd reissue came out, it didn't sound right. The depth of sound on the record had been flattened. Of course, what brought many of us to the party in the first place was that they were produced by Sandy Pearlman and Murray Krugman.

They weren't as far away from Blue Oyster Cult as they seemed back then. In fact, what it sounds like now is maybe Sparks. "PM" rocks more than I remember it and "Natchez Trace" is a classic. As cool as any Led Zep song you care to recite. David Surkamp's vocal was considered something of a novelty and somewhat a little operatic for it's setting but hearing it this afternoon - it brings back memories. It's actually a perfect instrument in the setting of the considerable firepower and orchestral nature of the group. I'm pretty easily distracted at the minute and spinning this instead of some of the newer gear scattered around this place.

Often labelled prog, I don't see them as that at all and these albums stand the test of time. On the other hand, it's pretty far removed from anything resembling punk rock. A version of the band has played in Germany and Greece fairly recently so they're still active. Their myspace site has nothing from "PM" on it but here's the link anyway.

My brother gave me a box of Mojo magazines and in the attempt to de-clutter and to find good homes for them, they're up for grabs.

Gratis. Free, For nowt. All you need to do is cover the postage and packing.

The issues are: 91, 93, 95, 96, 100, 101, 105 - 107, 110, 152 -171 inclusive and 175.

There are also copies of Uncut: Issues 57 and 61.

CD giveaways are NOT included. I think those are already headed for landfill.

YouTube, don't you just love it... You never know what turns up!

Yep, that's me, interviewing The Dickies some 18 years ago...

Säkert! cover The Wannadies "My Hometown" in their native tongue.

I found 6 x Raybeats and 5 x db's badges. 1" diameter buttons from back in the mists of time when said combos played at Valentinos in Edinburgh, courtesy of Mr Allan Campbell.

Anyway if any of you fancy one of these artefacts then send me your snail mail address via the contact function. First come, first served. One badge per application...

When I head that the new Mayor of London was called Boris, I hoped it was my old mate from The Scientists. But wait, he’s in Australia and the reality is perhaps even more absurd. It’s the guy from “Have I Got News For You” or whatever!?

I always thought he was a Matt Lucas character. That could be a thatch, right? But anyway Ken’s out and the big fella has it. Politics eh? You can’t get a decent turnout at the polls but the proles meltdown the phonelines to pledge allegiance in these bloody (no) talent shows and (far from reality) TV travesties. Reports that the contestants for next Prime Minister of the UK are likely to be put through their paces in this format are unsubstantiated but more than possible.

All of this will quite possibly accelerate Scotland's "indie-pendence" and probably the materials for the big fence to go up are on order as I tap away. Labour’s buck is pretty worthless and the concept that the Tories could gain a foothold here is simply mental. Isn’t it?

So that leaves us as a giant haggis and shortbread theme park. But hey, it could be worse...