GOD JUL!

Christmas Eve and you don’t want to be going out anywhere really? Do you?? Bollocks to that, you want to be firing up the computer and tuning into OH NO IT'S CHRISTMAS with a couple or three of what constitutes your tipple of choice. It’s on Swedish Radio P3 at 8.30 GMT and for that additional, practically radioactive glow, you should listen as it goes out. Don’t fret though because it’ll be available for 30 days after if you insist on going someplace and features...

Annika Norlin, David Sandström, Britta Persson, Adiam Dymott, Robert ”Strängen” Dahlqvist, Jonna Lee, Salem al Fakir, Veronica Maggio, Markus Krunegård and Ison & Fille (whoever the heck they be?).

Ha en KUL JUL!!

(Extra special bumper Christmas cheer to Ms Nenne Z)

Made it to the finish line. It was looking dicey but the old perseverance went into autopilot. I even made it into work today saving 1 whole annual leave day, a very valuable commodity, particularly in the long stretch to March. The days are fair drawing out again but it ne'er got semi-light until at least 9am today. At one point this afternoon, it looked like summer outside.

Need to attend to supplies and then I think I'm gonna baton down the hatch and treat myself to a Twin Peaks-a-thon. That's the semi-plan, provided I don't succumb to the shivering and shaking as so many people are. It's un-naturally mild and therefore the wee viral beasties will be continuing their field day.

I'll be back and forth electronically. catching up on posts and just generally not having to drive anywhere for more than a week. Only thing on the horizon is that I might try to catch Fangs this coming Sunday at Tuts and of course hooking up with the Rt Hon Oslo ambassador, the Rev. Peter Tjolsen. So, all tolled, the mood is reasonable, might be different when I get back from the supermarket but that's a chance I'll just have to take. Actually, sod it - i'll strike bright and early tomorrow, before the greedy bastards get out and about to scarf up everything as though the shops wouldn't be open for a month. It may come to that in 09 but let's get this one over with first shall we...

As much as I would like to see The Rezillos tonight it looks unlikely. Having not been stricken with the lurghi that's been doing the rounds for weeks now, it looks like somebody called my number. Order has kind of been restored to my cd storage over the weekend though so I imagine that punishment is due. That's how it works, right?

With regard to the impending madness, I'm bodyswerving the subliminal guilt trip that certain sections of the media are peddling. That we've got to go to the shops and spend what we (or I certainly) don't have on what nobody needs. The economy is flatlining and yeah, reports of people queueing to get into stores are going to make ME want to join in...

A valiant (really) attempt to find stuff for a select few hit the rocks last weekend. I don't want (and will not) give or send people, shite that can be gotten anywhere in the world.

On top of all this, I started backing up some stuff from the computer this morning. To make some space - thinking it might improve the running speed, etc. 2GB leaner and there's no tangible proof that it has made one shred of an iota of difference. Very frustrating but not altogether unexpected in this half-empty world. I possibly sound pretty p.o.'d right about now.

Nothing new there then... McNuggets anyone?

HT on MX-80 Sound.

Video by Bgrrrlie

RIP - Dock Ellis (link courtesy of Griffith)

The Munster festive 45 series continues with this cool little number from The Hi-Risers. You can listen to the A-side here.

The flip will have you "ridin' a toboggan and eggnoggin'", these guys are chock full of the christmas spirit. If you aren't familiar with them then you're in for a treat.

The Rezillos gig scheduled for The Liquid Rooms on Monday will now be in The Picturehouse on Lothian Road. There was a fire in the building upstairs last night so I imagine that any impending shows there will also be moved. If you're headed there then I'd advise you to check.

The e-mail shennannies continue, meanwhile Prof H has located these festive Sonics downloads for your ipod'ing or whatever pleasure. December 16th post.

Here's what the Scottish Parliament is up to... makes you proud innit?!

These things are set to try us, Part 537B.

It has come to my notice (again) that some messages aren't getting through on my e-mainline. Please use the link on the blog here, or my hotmail, facebook or myspace if you've been attempting to reach me and heard nowt.

Same goes for outgoing, I have no idea what gets to its destination or not without an undeliverable message so I'm operating somewhat in the dark here. I'm aware that won't surprise some of you but with the best will in the world, this stinks. I will investigate but have less than no confidence in my ISP but there's no real alternative either so I'm kinda stuck with 'em for now.

Please bear with my having to bear with it.

Professor H just hepped me to this, it's them Wooden Shjips comin' sailing in with a krautrockin' krishmish groove via the good offices of WFMU!

A must for psychedelic psantas and psantesses everywhere!

RIP - Jack Douglas (Alf Ippititimus)

Bobby Lloyd Hicks sent me this a couple of weeks ago and I forgot about it until today... spiritually seasonal and unfettered by brand names...

Been a fraught couple of days and the fucking rain outside is virtually horizontal but that be mattering not a jot now. Why? because I'm indoors for the day and having a cup of coffee in the company of the Tom Morton show. Only one one work day, (maybe two at the most) to go and then it's holidaze time. 12 days off in a row, yowzah!

I also have this Dewey Cox movie to watch because I believe it has a bunch of tunes in it penned by the great Sir Robson Fulks.

So while i'm drying out, getting my bearings, I just discovered this via the BLR list...

RIP - John Byrne (Count Five)

Those of you in Glasgow won't want to miss this festive appearance by thse guys.

John is still recuperating but Jimmy Doak (from The Jolt) is subbing for the big fella.

Update Friday 19/12 - This is postponed but Mickey will be doing a "wheels of steel" thing there tonight rovided the lurghi doesn't get him too.

I did the Glasvegas thing and with that particular itch scratched I can get on with my life. You’ll recall that the album knocked me out. I know some of you are shaking your heads at this point but stick with it (as The Quattros would say).

It’s almost a year ago since I was last in the hallowed environs of The Barrowlands. For The Proclaimers with Wreckless Eric. Opening tape was good to middling, Righteous Brothers, Danny and The Juniors, Dion and the Belmonts, would have been nice to hear a wee bit of Suicide in there just to wet the whistle but anyway. For one fleeting moment when they burst through the intro to “Flowers and Fitba’ Tops” I felt the majesty of the record, a good ripple if not exactly a wave.

However from there it all went a little awry. My favourite thing about them – the drum sound – was intact but I’d like to hear a little more Tony James and a little less of The Edge. Actually, there was enough dry ice to make Andrew Eldritch proud in there tonight and the place went sort of ballistic but not quite. There was plenty of beer flying around but the audience was way less Oasis-like than I expected. This is good I guess but if you ask me “Go Square Go” was no match for The Proclaimers “I’m On My Way”. I remember being out front with Amy Rigby when they played that and the floor action was way more seismic. As they finished their short set, there was virtually no reaction. It was as if their parishioners had ejaculated collectively and altogether prematurely. I imagine that they came back out and did “Daddy’s Gone”. By that time I’d had enough and figured that a wee detour for chips en route to the train was the best idea. Whilst Polmont was on their collective minds at one point, I needed to get to Larbert. Being that's where I left the car....

So can they do it live, I’d have to plump for no. Nae doubt they’ll headline T In The Park this year and that’ll be their captive audience right there. Of course, there’s Edinburgh’s Hogmanay coming up a lot sooner. Isn't it all a bit sweary for Auld Reekie's outdoors? Actually, way more offensive than the cursing, James Allan does a really irritating pointing at the audience thing, neither big nor clever but he does remind me of Midge Ure in Slik. I was hoping for some evidence of a sense of humour but did not register one iota of irony. The guitar and bass dervishes over egg the pudding too. They need to get used to the fact that they’re no I Are Droid in the big sound department. I’m actually pretty disappointed and wanted to be proved wrong quite badly. It's not that any big expectations were harboured going in there but I wanted, needed to be blown away. My perception was of something much more spiritual, seemingly bigger than the sum of it's parts. Me and these rose-tinted gregorys...

By the time I got out of the train and into the car, I put on The Raveonettes “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” and all was right again, partially because of the tenterhooks caused by the news that reached me late this afternoon. Annika Norlin performed that very song, in Swedish, at “ONIC” on Sunday. Stand by for news on how you can hear this magical rendition on Christmas Eve over this thing they call the interweb! And while we’re on the subject, anybody who reckons that Fleet fecking Foxes and Weejvegas (That’ s probably one of Sandy’s although I’m not sure) are better than More Modern Short Stories from Hello Saferide are at best deaf. Possibly delusional. Probably a bit of both.

I’m up again and on the road in a little over 5 hours so goodnight, god bless etc. Over and out.

RIP - Davy Graham

"A suggestion for Music Commerce" via Rockrap, I think it makes some sense, although there are artists who make great music that have no plans to tour or play anywhere. We need to factor them into the equation. Discuss...

STOP THE SNIVELING ABOUT FREE MUSIC DOWNLOADS

Hello:

My name is Jack Ely and I'm the one whose voice is heard daily on The Kingsmen's 1963 recording of Louie Louie, (may it rest in peace) so you know I have some music business experience.

First I'd like to express an opinion that probably will not be very popular but which oozes with truth. In the early '60's when I was recording, records were thought of as a tool to help promote live performances. The live performances were the main revenue stream and the records were just promotional tools to get people to come see the shows. Somewhere this mode of thinking got turned upside down. Consequently in years hence, record companies, producers, et. all, have made recordings, hoping to profit from the sale of those recordings alone, regardless of whether or not the artist could ever pull it off live. This did some things to the music business that weren't very healthy. First it made available to the general public, music of artists who may or may not be good live performers; almost anyone can make a good recording with enough cut-ins and loops. And... it made music by groups of players who never ever intended to perform that music live, and who may or may not have ever been able to get along with each other long enough to really sustain any kind of a road show.

Music is meant to be played for the enjoyment of the audiences. For instance, if I go into the studio with an acoustic guitar and simultaneously play and sing on a recording, people would come to see me perform in that same mode; I.e. playing guitar and singing as a solo act. I don't think they would come to see me expecting a full band. Conversely, if I advertised a 'Night with Louie Louie" people would come expecting to see a rock band that they could dance to, and would be quite disappointed if I showed up with just my acoustic guitar.

The suggestions that recordings are produced today just to sell recorded music is all backwards and the sooner the record companies and producers and artists figure this out the sooner they will all quit sniveling over the fact that the entire world is freely sharing their music digitally and isn't willing to stop; and in fact will do anything to circumvent their efforts to get paid for the recordings alone.

The days of producers and musicians putting bands together just to get a recording deal so they can get paid by the record company for a product that usually never even gets released; those days are over. It's time record companies went back to their roots and became what they started out to be; entities who record working acts in order to 1) capture the performance for posterity, and 2) make a promotional tool to get audiences to the next show.

The solution is to give the world all the free music it wants, but to give the recording entity, whether it be a record company or a producer, or whomever, a cut of every live performance. That will do at least two things and maybe more that I haven't even thought about yet. First it will give everyone involved in the recordings a source of revenue (pay day) for all their hard work of producing and promoting the recordings. Second, it will weed out all the so-called "recording artists" who couldn't, in a live venue, perform their way out of a paper bag. In a down economy the public craves live entertainment, so what better time to get back to basics. The timing couldn't be better for a profitable turn around. So now is the time to get it going.

I send you these thoughts in hopes that just maybe a new/old perspective on the subject of recorded music can be presented to the entire recording world and they can all start making a real profit.

Sincerely,

Jack Ely

I'd ideally be in Stockholm right now. The "Oh No" charabang will be in full swing. It was cool to see "White Christmas" this afternoon but my mind kept drifting. I went into town early, in the hope that I could get a few things but it was a disaster. Jenners food hall is gone! What the chuff is up with that? It's been replaced by a Valvona and Crolla!. Now I like that place fine but not in place of what used to be there. Here is another aspect of change that sucks in full swing.

My other attempts at "shopping" were similarly dismal. Fueled by the fact that I don't think there's anything that isn't available everywhere. I even braved Marks and Sparks only to leave empty handed. I'm really not good at this, never was but have evidently gotten a lot worse.

Anyway, as a closer - I urge you to support your independent cinema and go and catch one of the old films that is playing. The way they look on the big screen is much better than your widescreen LCD whatchamacallit or on your laptop screen. It's like the difference between paste up and photoshop. No comparison. So if you have a "local" that's screening a classic, bodyswerve the multiplex and get in there. I actually felt festive for about 5 seconds until I had to get on the train home with the scumhordes that had been buying up all the shit that they'll pass for gifts this crimbo.

I'm hoping that all you overseas homies will visit the UK in 2009. Our currency is not worth a whole heckuvalot. Time to get your own back and come visit your Uncle L.

It's hard to tell what time it is in the mornings at the minute. Yesterday, it didn't get semi-light until after 9am and it was pretty much the same all day. I have a yearning to be in Stockholm where the Oh No... it's Christmas extravaganza is taking place at Nalen. I think I could get a festive glow on if I was there.

But no, I'm heading for Edinburgh instead and ultimately a Filmhouse friends screening of "White Christmas". I like seasonal films and music but don't care for the other trappings. There are things that need to be got so I figure it's time to bite the bullet. The pre-movie mince pies being the prize that'll tempt me out. How's that on the sad-ometer? It would be way easy to procrastinate on this one, believe me.

Keeping up the festive thing, there's a new version of "It still feels like Christmas" up on Angel's myspace. I can't add it to mine though unfortunately. Hoping that the Ben Vaughn opus from last year might make an appearance too.

It was full on seasonal cadence last night at The Tolbooth in Stirling. Davie Scott’s mulled music extravaganza warmed the souls that came out and for a couple of hours, reality took a backseat. A small army of musicians took to the stage to present a mix of folk and pop that was something that only this guy could pull off. By the time they got to the rafter-raising version of “Snow Plus Christmas”, there was a row of people even older than me (maybe) doing the push along with the D man. So The Pearlfishers were augmented by Duglas Bandit, Karine Polwart, Bill Wells and others. Standout for me was Kim Edgar who I’d never heard before. Some digging/research has pulled up the facts that she’s actually doing a show in Edinburgh tonight with someone who is anathema to me in terms of songcraft and opening for Joan as Policewoman.

But anyway. Kim’s contribution including a whopping synth solo in an uptempo jamboree I can’t recall the name of right now, was really very good indeed and left some of us eager to hear more. Karine Polwart also played harmonium on one song and it was positively ethereal. I love the sound of these things to the point that I might even try to get one. The "Oscar In Venice" animation that accompanied the Morriconesque instrumental that is "Ice Race" was pretty sharp too.

The gist here is that nobody could pull off a stunt like this other than Davie. All the shameful Scots Music that has gained popularity over the years by churning out processed white soul doesn’t even come close to what he can do. You know the stuff and the perpatrators. However if you want to hear finite example of the intersection between Rundgren and Bacharach then look no further, nspired and inspiring at all times. This guys love for pop music in infectious to the point of viral and even in its cheesiest moments, the honesty and love just kills any misgivings.

Tuning up to launch into another song, he looked at Duglas and said “whattaya think, close enough for jazz?” to whit Mr Stewart replied, “Ask Bill”. That, me amigos, is entertainment.

One other thing today, if you find yourself in Edinburgh today and want to keep the hell away from the shopping scumhordes then head for the fine Elvis Shakespeare on Leith Walk. Live music all afternoon and a great spot to browse if it isn’t too crowded. Eagleowl were supposed to play but don’t seem to be on the roster but perhaps they’re one of the "surprises". Hope I didn't spoil it if that turns out to be the case. Really.

The Hound on Christmas. Definitely couldn't have put it better myself.

RIP - Bettie Page

'nuff said...

DAVIE SCOTT'S CHRISTMAS POP SPECIAL

Forget that we're all headed for the U-bend, here's some relief for those in the Stirling area tomorrow evening.

See you in the bar for mince pies at approx. 7pm.

It's a shame about Woolworths. It's still one of the very few stores that I would actually have a browse in. Where am I going to futz around when I'm between Filmhouse and The Cameo of a Sunday avo when Woolies disappears for good? Of course there's all the people who work there to consider, they don't deserve this treatment for chrissakes. More victims of the greedy bastards that paddled us up this particular creek. Not to be confused with those who pochled the odd pick and mix. Which I was never guilty of incidentally.

I remember when Falkirk had its own Woolies record store but way before that my prize score of all time in there was a copy of The Standells "Try It" for 25p (I'm pretty sure it was just after decimalisation) which I still have.

Just heard a news report which says the company reported it's highest daily sales ever. Too bad it was down to the vultures. The way things are going, the UK will be closed soon - not just the businesses that we thought would be around forever.

Good news this cauld winter night, I just had it confirmed that The Wrecking Crew documentary will screen as The Monorail Film Club feature during the 2009 Glasgow Film Festival. Two screenings, at Glasgow Film Theatre (7pm and 9pm) on Sunday 22nd January 2009. Clear your diaries and make that the only date you keep that weekend.

Coming up in that very location this Sunday is the excellent Sling Blade and Who I am And What I Want @ 7pm.

Karl Childers, now a grown man, is released from a psychiatric hospital where he has been hospitalised since the age of 12 for the murder of his mother and her lover. Karl settles in his old, small hometown, occupying himself by fixing motors. Directed by Billy Bob Thornton, this character study of several Southern misfits possesses the remorseless inevitability of a Greek tragedy.

We are also screening short film, Who I Am And What I Want (7 minutes), a David Shrigley and Chris Shepherd animation.

Selected and introduced by monorail's tallest customer, Glasgow-based artist, David Shrigley.myspace.com/shrigley

Just saw this bulletin from Brother Bruce Bennett on Facebook and figured it might perk some of you folks up...

"It's official. We (A-Bones) are gonna back up Roy Loney and Cyril Jordan from the Flamin' Groovies together for the first time in 30 something years at the 9th Ponderosa Stomp in New Orleans in April. I knew I was staying alive for something. Roy and Cyril have already made a set list and since I'm honor bound to keep it a secret (good luck prying anything out of Mim, Billy, Ira, Marc or Lars) all I can say is, well, wow! Hopefully we'll back up Ray Sharpe, too. The last time with Ray it kinda got to sounding like the Bizarro World Yardbirds..."

PONDEROSA STOMP WEBSITE

RIP - Beverly Garland

RIP - Oliver Postgate

RIP - James "Jimmy IV" The Cat

For some reason, yesterday garnered our biggest daily visit ever. For why?

I have no idea but thanks to everybody that drops by. It's not always possible to update every day but generally at some point the terrain is refreshed at least once. This effort will persist and could increase once I go into semi-hibernation here in the bunker over the impending madness.

There's a good possibility I'll be taking an extended seasonal break because of circumstances somewhat outwith my control. An upside to the recession? I'll believe it when I find myself having been spat out on the other side. Meanwhile it's time to hunker down. No time to yabber tonight, more later if anything really urgent shows.

Been catching up on some viewing too these past few days. Let's see, I started off with "Pineapple Express". That was pretty awful really, the highpoints? No pun intended were that Mountain and Humble Pie are in the soundtrack.

Season 1 of "30 Rock" hit the spot though, hadn't caught any of the TV run so it was cool to be able to get acquainted with it in a large chunk. Like a cross between "On The Air" and "The Larry Sanders Show" via "Rhoda", I'm gonna stick with this. There's evidently a lot more to Tina Fey than her Sarah Palin.

Finally, the Spanish horror flick [●REC], been meaning to catch this for a while and it's a pretty wild ride. Wish I'd seen it in the cinema, it'll keep you hooked right up to the end and George Romero fans will find much to get their teeth into here. Closing title music is excellent too but the text was too small for me to read. Tried googling it but it but so far no joy.

Anybody know who it is?

While I was listening to The Fleshtones tear it up on WFMU last night, I was trying to vote for Hello Saferide in the Swedish radio polls thing. I still haven't fathomed it out yet and Martina has been trying to coach me but I don't get it. Being as thick as three (one louder than the usual two) short planks, I can't get a beat on what they're asking me to do. It's not even vote rigging. I am honestly trying to go about my duty and can't grasp what has to be done. There is the wider question of do these kind of things matter? Well, I don't care about that, I just want Annika to win.

Have you seen the lighting in the second part of the "X" video when she mimes the "heart attack" lyric? Sandra Löv has captured a pristine Lynchian moment that combines the twisted 50's look with something altogether futuristic. The whole clip is high art and a reminder of times when it was possible to reach a large number of people through consensus. There's also an alternative version of the song on the HS myspace which is pretty damn spectacular.

So, I’ve been threatening some music coverage for a while now. Somehow the confuzzled nature of my existence at the minute makes it difficult to focus. I guess it’ll either bottom out or it won’t, meanwhile time is marching the feck on.


Hyper Plastic’s debut 10” on Novoton is a pulsating electrock’n’roll chestnut. Kicking in with a tasty little number entitled “Ron Asheton’s Loafers” it contains four songs that tick all of my boxes when it comes to solid entertainment. You can check out this sonic smorgasbord for yourself at the HP myspace. An impressive debut to be sure and a one man crusade against the often soul-crushing grind of what passes for popular music in the 21st Century.

The Nixe were the first Dutch all-girl punk band and their complete 1980 – 81 recordings have been collected on vinyl by the French label, Pollymaggoo Records. A project coordinated by our own Rt. Hon. Jeroen Vedder of this very parish ably assisted by Fenderwoods. J provides an extensive liner note too on these Utrecht girls exploits. He was right there with that able finger on the pulse.

He’s pretty much convinced that this wouldn’t be my bag and at the time it may well not have been. However, as I survey the seams that I often wrote off in pursuit of cheap rock thrills, this comes as a very entertaining surprise. I’d call it more post-punk or DIY buy there’s a certain primal energy that sounds more full-blooded than much of the UK material of this type. Often compared to Kleenex or Lilliput, presumably because of their gender rather than the music they make, The Nixe display a blatant pop edge. I heard Orange Juice’s “Blue Boy” on the radio recently and it actually sounded pretty good. maybe this condition has been caused by the time I've been spending in the Messthetics mines have conditioned my ears. Maybe it’s just been an acquired taste. I think this is limited so check out your favourite vinyl dealer sharpish before it vanishes, Volcanic Tongue definitely had copies. Try contacting Pollymaggoo too, I imagine their stash may be gone by now but it's worth a shot.

So after a shaky start to their UK jaunt, The Mary McBride combo made it North and hit Glasgow last night. It’s always a real gas to meet up with Joe and Springsteen’s oversight of not having him step into Danny Federici’s place is definitely Mary’s gain. So she’s on a bill with The Quireboys. I saw them soundcheck and y’know, in weaker moments I could even like them. That Faces, touch of glam, south of metal stramash is something I have a weak spot for. That’s more than I can usually say for the venue (The Cathouse) but last night was a minor sensation on that front because the sound for Mary and Co was actually very good.

I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I’d heard the tracks on the website and done a bit of digging but possibly reckoned on a more blues rock type set up. In actuality, what she does is very rooted in the pop end of rhythm and blues of the biblical variety, not that sub-disco malarkey. Her voice reminded me of Nicole Atkins and she can really belt it out as pure and clear as I think I’ve ever heard. In the right setting, she could blow people away and I think she made a few converts that will definitely be rousing the rabble for her next visit which will hopefully be soon. I also wasn’t aware that she cut Dan Baird’s “A Bottle and a Bible” before he did. Ms McBride threw us a storming version of that.

She’s a real sweetheart too and called the great Lou Whitney while we were hanging out. One of the relatively unsung rock’n’roll heroes of all time. Keeping up the Skele-quotient, JT did the very briefest snippet of "Trans Am" as they finished their soundcheck. I don’t remember the surnames of the guitar player or the drummer but I’ll clarify that down the road apiece. Bassman, Greg Beshers was in a band called The Pill Crushers that I wasn’t familiar with but their myspace songs sound pretty dandy. Couple of guys talked to him after the set and commended him for the band having done a W.A.S.P. song. He was baffled. Turned out that they meant “I Don’t Need No Doctor”, I think the conversation went onto be even more confusing with said punters thinking that Ray Charles had covered Blackie Lawless too. It’s all in the perspective. Or is it?

So Mary is plying her trade across the rest of the UK for the remainder of this coming week. Check the tour dates and if they’re in your town I think you’ll dig it. Unfortunately their Glasgow set was curtailed a little because Ricky Warwick ex of The Almighty was also on the bill. Robbie Fulks once said that country music is not pretty. That being the case, RW’s brand is downright ugly. He has an audience though and they lap it up. Me, I’m way too old for all that. So, to the Horseshoe Bar for a swift aperitif and it’s all over. A very pleasant evening all tolled and home in the bunker by midnight.

From Randy Haecker in NY...

Hey folks, my buddy Jenny Lens is taking discount pre-orders for her first eBook, and the subject is THE RAMONES. Her eBook will feature over 100 groovy images from the band’s first tour of the West Coast in 1976, most previously unseen by anyone except Jenny! This might very well be the first-ever eBook devoted to rock photography, so be a part of history and pre-order your copy today. You can get a FREE 16-page preview by visting the weblink below.

“GABBA GABBA CHECK IT OUT!”
__________________________________________________________________________

Ramones First West Coast Tour, 1976, Highlights, V1, the first in a series of eBooks from the Jenny Lens Punk Archive. The ONLY way you will see so many rare and large photos! Limited intro $15 sale. BUY NOW before price goes up!

FREE 16 page book sample eBook download

BUY NOW (or for more info)

HELP SAVE the Jenny Lens Punk Archive! My work has been published more than anyone in LA, very likely in all of punk, 1976-1980, in ALL the numerous major books published the last three years.

With YOUR HELP, the archive and my work can survive. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. And please spread the word!

There's also a Jenny Lens photo book available, I saw it in Spain and I would imagine you can get it via Amazon and that sorta place. Looked very cool.

Betty Page is gravely ill. (link courtesy of Brother Duane Sherwood)

Doesn't get much better than this... from the latest So Many Records instalment...

Ernestine Anderson - Moanin (BBB 1967)
Uploaded by soulpatrol

I need to go out into the cold and do a quick Tesco raid but meanwhile, If you're looking for an excuse to sit in front of the computer, check out these links to cool stories on the old days of NYC clubs. H's thing on Ruth Polsky is great. Yesterday would have been her 52nd birthday.

Amy Rigby sent me this link to Andy Schwartz's piece on Tier 3.

Now most of the action has moved to Brooklyn but reading these you'll get a feel of how it can never be again. Not nostalgia, just real reminiscences from the folks who were there.

Sad but inevitable.

RIP - Forrest J. Ackerman

A message from Tom Phobic...

Hi kids,

We are at long last proud to announce our new permanent drummer, Mr Charlie Gurney, who the more observant amongst you may have spotted has been present at our last couple of gigs.

Well, the obligatory ransom demand has been met and blood brother ceremony taken place and charlie is now a bona fide PHOBIC! It is a particularly sweet moment for half centurian (we don't know what the other half is) Tom who is reunited with Mr Gurney, erstwhile sticks man in both Bad Karma Beckons and Helltrain, cult garage legends of the 80's.
Still, the time is now, and in particular next Monday 8th December 2008 the place - the New Cross Innand the event -a true legend of punk rock comes to our back yard,
JOHNNY MOPED!

His reputation, and that of the band is the stuff of legend - go find out for yourselves cos the internet is handy like that.

We will be opening the show then MONKISH hit the stage and helmets and as protection are recommended. Finally, JOHNNY MOPED will assault your senses and sensiblilty so for a manic monday look no further than this gig. Be there or stay in for Watchdog on BBC1...

The western world it is imploding… just heard that Pinnacle Distribution has hit the skids. Blimey. That’s going to fuck things up a bit. And what about all those people that have lost their jobs? It's like a big game of dominoes with no end of the toppling in sight.

It's nearly Friday and I’m looking forward to heading for Glasgow to hook up with Joe. The Mary McBride Christmas album and another set DO feature The Skeletons. I just had that confirmed so you need to be checking those out.

More good news to beat back the glumness of real life is that in addition to the big screen debut of Steve Coleman in The Fleshtones doc on Friday in NY, the super-rockers themselves will be doing their sanity clause thing live on WFMU this coming Saturday. The Cherry Blossom Clinic with Terre T is where this particular action will take place. Thanks to Ben for the info…I hope that when Steve gets his Hollywood call, he’ll remember us little people back here on the ranch.

There was no snow today so it better keep the fuck away until the weekend is over. These are troubling times but there’s nothing else to do except keep the heid doon. Better than getting it shot off innit.

MC5 FLICK CLEARED FOR RELEASE?

Fingers and everything else crossed... (thanks to DD Banter for the link)

This was the ominous but pretty cool looking scene in Stirling this morning. Snow is forecast but I'm skeptical. Can you get a lotion for that? Awaiting the arrival of one Joe Terry Esq. here in Scotchland with Ms Mary McBride. You can download a couple of gratis seasonal songs from her website and I swear one of them sounds like she's backed by The Skeletons where the lady trades vocals with Joe. I need to confirm this but it's good stuff irrespective. Not sure I'll be spending much time in front of this thing tonight... we'll see...

RIP - Odetta

Wow, this coming Friday night in NYC! An early Christmas present and Super-rock celebration!

"Pardon Us For Living But The Graveyard is Full", the story of the legendary new york band, The Fleshtones.

WHERE: New York Film Academy, 100 East 17 Street (2nd floor), NY 10003

WHEN: Friday December 5th, 2008 - 8pm

If you're in the 'hood, then contact the good burghers @ Coldcuts Productions regarding entry via geoffray@coldcutsproductions.com

The brand new Sandra Löv directed video for Hello Saferide's "X Telling Me About The Loss Of Something Dear, At Age 16". It's braw!

This morning I got up and out early. T'was a heavy frost, not entirely as bad as it looked from the window but nippy enough. Tonight I was just watching Venus swing down around the crescent moon from the scullery window. It's a very clear, cold looking sky out there so with all that cosmic stuff in mind, I'm gonna keep this short. There is one important thing you should be aware of if you're in travelling distance of Glasgow...

PROJECT ABILITY MONO EXHIBITION 2008

Monorail Music and Mono are proud to announce this year's Project Ability exhibition. Project Ability is one of Scotland's leading specialist arts organisations and we have a long-standing and happy association with them and love having their artists' brilliant, raw, vivid work on our walls. The opening is on Wednesday 3rd December at 7.30pm with Remember Remember, whose debut set for Rock Action is our album of the month, and The Pastels (dj set). It's a free event and there's going to be an excellent raffle.

Voladoras action this coming Friday in Malmo!!

RIP - Bill Drake

QUATTROPHENIA IN TOKYO!






















Photos from the phront line
by Kjell Magnusson

This is the day we have to get up early and paint blue and white flags on our coupons. It's Saint Andrews day and I've never been able to work out why an act from Dundee gets its own day but there you go. My fair country is also trying to sell the idea of a "homecoming" for 2009 to celebrate Robert Burns birthday. The TV ad is particularly heinous. The mention of Rabbie reminds me of Chris Gaffney so thats a good thing. The actuality of the event is akin to some half-assed corporate Brigadoon.

Anyway Bjorn provided the link above as "The Hives vs Blue Angel", now to me - that's poetry.

Listen to The Raveonettes Christmas EP here. Criminally not available in ultrasonic vinyl or even cd, this knocks the Glasvegas festive offering all the way outta the ballpark...

The new Rezillos single, "No.1 Boy" for your listening and viewing pleasure...

I read in Mojo about the death of Ray Lowry during October. Never heard a thing about it until now. Had some contact with the man during my print days, we shared a fondness for Cyndi Lauper's pre-solo band Blue Angel. He was a nice bloke and a great, great cartoonist.

RIP - Ray Lowry

I also just discovered that Rob Partridge who worked with Island Records passed away during the week. I was talking about coming out there to St Peters Square just last week when the Rev. David Arnoff and I walked by the top of it on our way to The Dove last Sunday. He always had time for me when I contacted him about stuff in my formative years as a young idiot that did a fanzine. Really sorry to hear about this.

RIP - Rob Partridge

A wee bit distracted at the minute so console any jones for new music by entering the wonderful world of Beat Mädchen. It's Friday so rejoice. It'll all be over soon enough...

I like this new Springsteen "single" that was available for a day on Monday gone. Much better than "Radio Nowhere". It even has whistling, must have been checking out some Swedish indie...

So, what have I achieved tonight? Not much. I noticed that Fangs were going to be on one of those terrible "Orange Unsigned" debacles. This digibox thing of mine is pretty temperamental so I decided to just let it play in the background. There was a Pink special on and I have to confess here. I like some of that stuff. It's just the right kind of stupid, like Roxette. Plus I have it on good authority that some of here material is written by Swedes so I must have sensed that.

Anyway, I suffered through the unsigned trough and the aforementioned Glasgow act were on for all of less than a minute. However, they were several leagues beyond anything else which wouldn't have been a stretch even if they'd been total shite. Thankfully they weren't but I don't really understand why an act with this much raw potential is being subjected to this.

Lauren Laverne is somebody I rate and I can tholl Alex James but the alleged A&R guy...? I saw enough here to last me a very long lifetime. That's a good hour that I'll never be able to reclaim. Serves me right? Correctamundo but there's no need to look so fucking smug.

(link courtesy of Mr Bobby Lloyd Hicks)

A high ol' Thanksgiving to wir US readers today.

If you're doing a spot of on-line shopping today maybe you'd like to order this item to your left here...

This is Airthrey Castle in the grounds of Stirling University. You can see it from my office window and it was the scene of the first ever radio show I ever did as a guest of the Rev. Mark Hagen in (I think) 1981. Anyway I think it's a teaching "hospital" now but I'm not sure. There was some weird light going on so I thought I'd snap it.

Otherwise there is stuff going on and much info to impart with regard to that and this but it'll have to wait. there are more pressing matters to attend to. Plus I don't feel like staring at a screen in the hope that I can cough up a couple of paragraphs. Right now, I'm plum tuckered out on the inspiration front. You don't grudge me a night off do you? Those Quattros are taking their considerable tutti frutti pop action to Japan tomorrow. I'm wondering how HS was in Oslo, that kind of thing. Spiritual lollygadding if you will so sayonara and all that. I'm signing aff knowing that I'll be back soon enough...

Screenprinting Dean and Britta from dan rugh on Vimeo.

(Info courtesy of Mr Ulf)

So have I recovered? Have I heck as like but with Weasel Radio back to help me through the immediate future then I’ll live. As I sped back north I was deeply concious that this was my final gallivant of ’08. I already dealt a little with the DWC stint of the Boonaraaathon but it’s always an utter pleasure to see these girls. They’re a cut above most any of the retro-60’s/garage whatever you want to call it groups that are around today. Pure and simple.

The bill started out with some combo called The DeRellas. Shouty punk rock in a deep shade of ’77 UK punk. They didn’t suck but I don’t ever need to hear this kind of thing at my point on earth. The Boonaaas were playing the first show I’ve seen them do with a guy (Rodeo) on guitar. I miss Tine for sure and he did her proud. They were the fastest and loudest I’ve seen them and they swung in a different sense. It was an effervescent dose of everything that makes music go bang. The “No Blokes in The Boonaraaas!!!” lobby was silenced and veritably it worked.

The Madame Cats didn’t do it for me. It was a discordant racket, not without a little charm and if they sounded like they looked then they should have knocked us out. They had the happiest looking drummer I’ve ever seen since Kim Schifino. Less could have been more but they lost me early on. It had been a long day and I was soaking up the pleasure of being among friends.

Saturday started off well and fell away somewhat. A wrong turn, kinda Sliding Doors scenario ensued as the evening wore on. We got stuck in traffic. Central London is a giant car park and please, if you find yourself there then you’ll have to take the train. Then, the bill was swapped. The Giant Robots came from Switzerland and one of them got sick. The Boonaaa girls did the decent thing and gave then the slack to salvage their show but in doing so, I almost missed them altogether. I left the restaurant to get to the CRC for them starting at 10pm and they were almost done. Your scribe felt like something of a complete dumpling but its them eggs and they can’t be unscrambled. Philosophy be damned though, I couldn’t even watch The Robots because it felt like it woulda been some kind of consolation prize. I am fiercely loyal to my sometimes awry sensibilities. What can I tell ya? And there wasn’t a lot of time to hang out. The girls were heading back to Germany early on Sunday so the game was a bogey.

Other than that I had a swell time. Good to see the crew. I’m back at the coal face and it’s a fraught time but what the fuh. These things are set to try us. Despite the doom and gloom that’s reverberating around the world, there are plans afoot to light up 2009 with the odd flare or three. And Ben Weasel has just announced that there’ll be a new Riverdales album so how’s that for an upswing?

www.myspace.com/skydogrecords

I just got back from "the sahf" and am frankly knackered. There's stuff to be taken care of and the prospect of a 5.30am rise so I imagine you'll understand the short and sweetness of this check-in message. Boonaaa report coming soon but not tonight.

Those Boonaraaas!!! were on piping hot form last night. All roads lead to The Corn Rocket Club tonight! Representatives of NBItB (No blokes in the Boonaraaas!!!) had their gas put at a peep it has to be said. We miss Tine but they sure roused the rabble alright. More later or tomorrow or whenever...

Wandering around the corner to the paper shop yesterday morning, I was suddenly - for a second - under the impression that I might be going the wrong way. It was a time/space continuum type feeling and a tad louder on the weirdometer than I'm used to. I should add that there was no medication involved. Memory lapses have been all too frequent recently and reportage in the media suggests that I might be doolally. It's (sort of) official then...

I'm about to embark on an adventure that will take in two shows by one of my favourite combos on earth. This is exactly the kind of medicine that I need. It seems like forever since Spain even though it wasn't. So offsky it is then, out of the radar of the "we're all fucked" stories in relation to the crumbling economies. The greedy bastards have their escape pods but all we have is rock'n'roll. And, for my dwindling money, them Boonaraaas divvy up a mighty fine example of this. Who knows, I might check in here back and forward. Or is that sideways and down.

To the fine climes of Chiswick it is then. Ching ching...

Getting stuff together for the Boonaraaa-rama that's taking place "dahn the London" over the weekend. Also got up to speed with disc 2 of the first Mad Men season and have to say that eps 5 to 8 were pretty damn good. Probably make a wee pitstop here tomorrow prior to the schlep but hope to to see some of you folks in Tufnell Park and/or Stoke Newington.

I left the bunker at 5.50am this morning or therebouts and have been on the batter ever since. Survived a dental appointment and a tussle with Falkirk Bus Station and to be honest, both the flesh and the spirit have baled on me.

All sights are now focussed on hitting up the Boonaraaa!!! action this coming weekend. If you're in or around Brighton or Leicester, Amy and Eric are getting into the home strait with the final two shows of their recent marathon. No need to tell you that you oughtta be there.

I'll bid you goodnight now as there are more episodes of Mad Men to gander at. And very probably pass out in front of. Did I say that I didn't like the titles? No pleasing some people is there??

RIP - Jody Reynolds

The very Rev. Lennart Persson launches his website today and I am more than honoured to have been asked to participate. Based in Malmo (Sweden), LP is one of that rare breed of music journos that has never lost that all important beat. Mostly in Swedish, the site will reflect his missionary work in steering folks toward the right stuff. Folks outwith Scandanavia may be familiar with his amazing Feber compilations available via Bonnier Amigo. Stop by Brother L’s portal. Even if you can’t understand it, you’ll definitely FEEL the vibe.

And in honour of that country let's relight the fire under a couple of favourites here and here.

Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co. gives thanks for our last-Thursday-of-the-month residency at Otto's Shrunken Head -- a week early! All the better to get a head start on the Thanksgiving gluttony, says we, and the only chance we'll have to perform our holiday novelty song, "The Plymouth Rock". Saddle up, pilgrim!
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20th / OTTO'S SHRUNKEN HEAD TIKI BAR & LOUNGE
538 East 14th Street (just west of Avenue B) in Manhattan / Two fully stuffed shows, from 8:00 sharp until 10:00 / No cover!

Thankfully yours, Michael

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

I'm running on fumes here. Been a fraught day, I'm tired, cranky and somewhat fried, not necessarily in that order. I'll be more on form as the week progresses toward Boonaraaa time at the good ol' Boston Arms. If I was in Barcelona this Friday night though, I'd be heading out to catch The Moviemakers.

RIP - Reg Varney

So I watched the first two episodes of Mad Men. People have been raving to me about it and it’s shaping up pretty good. Very stylised and I’m not sure if it suffers a bit from that plus there’s all the smoking, evidently that’s done on purpose. Funny I was telling a young ‘un the other day that it was not uncommon for people to smoke at their desk and the reaction was not unlike claiming to have seen the Loch Ness monster in the car park. I then began to get all nostalgic for the time when it was common to work on Christmas day. Anyway, I’ll stick with it. Anybody who's keen on “The Apartment” will definitely get a kick out of this and I’m interested to see how it develops. So another two episodes later it is then.

Meanwhile, let’s take a break for some music…

I mentioned Eagleowl yesterday and just gave their EP a birl. “For The Thoughts You Never Had” successfully captures the folk-tinged film score atmosphere of the show. No harmonium, but maybe that wasn’t on the radar in March when it was recorded. The double bass bottom end is very Badalamenti. “If I call you motherfucker, would you be offended?” asks “MF” the closing track on this short 5 song introduction. I imagine its not the “radio plug” number then? This comes in a nice DIY package of 500. If you’re from around here go see them and score one. I think you can buy it at Elvis Shakespeare (Edinburgh) and very probably Monorail (Glasgow) as well as from their myspace.

On the subject of themes from an imaginary movie score, JD King and The Coachmen have an as yet unreleased grab bag of groovy tunes ready to go. "Mercy (Can Make You Happy)" is gloriously out of time and space and everything else kilterwise. Is exoticity a word? If not then it ought to be because it’s needed to describe the otherworldly nature of the twisted fidelity that this music is expressed in. Controlling the horizontal and the vertical is not an option when confronted with the free-form axe freakery that is “The Ultra GTO”. Its cousin “Little” was left in the dirt at the starting line.

These are the sounds of worlds colliding to the tune of The Modern Lovers most fried jazz moves. Not entirely soothing but possessed of an electricity far off the beaten path of anything remotely resembling a mainstream. Did someone put Fleetwood Mac’s “Albatross” in a blender? Hopefully this will become available in the fullness of time but meanwhile visit JD’s myspace and check out this indiscriminate sensation for yourself.

Maybe the "Mercy" that everybody is bugging Duffy to deliver isn't her hit single but this opus? “yeah, yeah”…yeah - that would make sense. Possibly only to me but you get my drift here.

The David Sandstrom Overdrive has delivered a popular sucker punch called “Pigs Lose” that reminds me of The Replacements and The Db’s. I’ve said this before and I’m going to have to drag it out again. Where do Razzia find these acts? Is there a more consistent A&R force on earth right now? I doubt it.

Of course those two acts I just mentioned are merely reference points to facilitate an entry trajectory. It’s a fragrant concoction of rock shapes, none of which are instantly recognisable. It’s more an aspect of mood and dynamics. There are a lot of words to digest too, not your verse chorus, make it as simple as possible songcraft. Sandstrom’s voice reminds me a little of Eric Bloom. There’s an element of BOC in the sound too. DSO hail from Umeå, I think there's something odd used in the water purification system up yonder.

This isn’t easy stuff to pin down. The blueprint is evidently tattooed on the perpetrators mind and the cards are being played close to his chest. Where did he come from? Where is he going? I have no idea but my hunch is that “Pigs Lose” will sound very good blasting from your choice of music dispenser. “Songs That Maybe Won’t Be Forgotten” is like Randy Newman fronting “The Lovin’ Spoonful”, you have to concur that can only be a good thing.

I have been hopelessly remiss in reporting that The Scoundrelles “Atomic Batteries To Power” (Bang) has been available for a wee while now. While I know that some of you folks are aware of its existence, it seems that it hasn’t gone gold yet. Of course, such justice is not something one can take for granted. In terms of timeless pop marinated in a rumour of glam goes then this is your combo. Captain Thewlis’ one man take on “Rocket USA” is something else entirely. When most people are taking in a Coronation Street/Eastenders medley, this is the kind of artistic statement that he’s getting down to. Worthy of a commendation surely?

Anyway, this is a fine collection. The vinyl is probably all gone now but check in with Lutz at Soundflat, if anyone can help you then that guy can. Recorded in London and Memphis and comin’ at you via the Basque Country, exquisite gear.

So let’s close this particular strand with the news that The Things have a new “single” single "Set Me Free" on Psycho Sound Records out as a taster to their impending album "Some Kind of Kick" on Nicotine Records. (Hey we're back on the smoking thing again - entirely unplanned).

These rambunctious Dubliners have really come a long way in carving their own sonic stamp in recent times. “SMF” is an infectious organ-toting rave up that should have you frothing and no mistake. A limited number of cd copies are available for 3 euros a pop.

Boonaraaaaction in Blighty over next weekend, DWC (Friday) and CRC (Saturday).

Miss 'em at your peril.

Record Envelope - the little library of factory sleeves!

(found via So Many Records...)

Sunday already? Somebody has made off with a good few hours of mine and I want 'em back. So if that person would just like to leave 'em outside my front door then we'll say no more about it. Got a lot to do before I head south for the Boonaraaas this coming week.

"Well get fucking on with it then" comes the voice from the gallery. Easier heckled than done my friend. I could go into a long whine at this point but what would that achieve? No, heid doon - hope to come out the other side is the only way to go. You could almost chalk that up to a kind of twisted optimism, couldn't you?

If you're in Camden this evening, Chris Wilson, Robert Coyne, Jeremy Gluck and his Yohawks wil all be kicking it at The World's End. A bit of a hole but the music will more athn make up for that. It would ahave been ideal if it could have been happening next weekend but ye cannae have it all ways. Or at least I can't. Uh oh, slipping back into character there. More from me later then. Probably.

Photographer Max Natkiel shot thousands of pictures @ A'dam's Paradiso in the late 70s/early 80s. Not the performers, but the crowd... As fine a documantation of those bygone days those pics are, movie director Marc Geerards recently took things a step further. He located people in the original photgraphs and filmed 'em for a couple o' minutes as they are today.

No comments, just the visuals. The results deliver on various levels (just check the promo vid here) and should be able to connect on global level... First screening is at the Paradiso on November 26th... Well worth your time I figure...

I caught the “Audrey sings Nico” show at The Voodoo Rooms in Edinburgh last night. This was just the second time out for this celebration and if you’re down with the material then you’ll be aware that it’s not an easy thing to pull off.

It takes a certain amount of style in addition to a great voice and Audrey Redpath has those qualifications on stage. I know she was nervous about it but at certain points in the performance, it became even stronger because she was letting her own voice punctuate the material. The end of “Secret Side” was particularly strident to the point of being jaw dropping. This is a work in progress that will be extended into a full production as time goes on. As it stands this is a capsulation of an important canon of work. While the audience will undoubtedly be familiar with “I’ll be Your Mirror” and “Femme Fatale”, this short set really whets the appetite for more.

Audrey’s band is Brian Banford (bass), Mike Nolan (keyboards) and Alistair Wilson (drums). Whenever more shows are planned, you’ll hear about them here.

Eagleowl opened the evening’s entertainment with a dark, dreamy minimal Espers type folk portfolio. Always good to hear a harmonium thrown into the mix too. I picked up their cd ep and will report on that in due course.

Didn't stay for St Judes Infirmary because I'd been up for about 19 hours by that time. It was time to head for the train but I ran into Olaf Furniss of Born to be Wide on the schlep out.

The proceedings took place in The Voodoo Rooms as I previously stated. I always liked that room but the refurbishment has made it one of the best venues in town. Situated atop the Café Royal, it’s in a great location for the station too.

My pal Jon Graboff was in Edinburgh yesterday too. It’s always a pleasure to see him. His dayjob as guitar slinger with The Cardinals saw him play The Picturehouse, Auld Reekies newest venue. Very swish it is too. The town needed a decent sized place to entice larger acts. Not that there’s been anybody there since it opened that I’ve been down with seeing but in it’s (previous) day, REM, The Scientists and The Sisters Of Mercy all played there. The Picturehouse is like a bijou version of The Academy in Glasgow and acts would do well to consider two nights here as opposed to schlepping out to the Corn Exchange.

I didn't manage to post yesterday for a number of reasons. I was out clelebrating the 34th anniversary of Lynyrd Skynyrd's Scottish debut. Or was I?? Anyway, I found this via Kjell, who will have the pleasure of seeing The Quattros in Japan next week. Lucky so and so. Finally the gods have delivered him some rock'n'roll... I'll be back later but meanwhile, feast on this...

It's nearly Friday and not a moment too soon. There's no time to get into a legthy blog post tonight. There's stuff to do and tomorrow I'll be meeting Cardinal Jon Graboff for a couple of snifters in The Oxford Bar. On Saturday I plan to knuckle down and get on with some reviews, the goalposts could well be moved but I have the best of intentions.

This time next Thursday, I'll be getting ready to head south for The Boonaraaas!!! London raid. DWC (Friday 21st) and Corn Rocket Club (Saturday 22nd) - cut along to either or both should you have the requisite opportunity.

Of couse there's the maximum headnip of making it through to next week. I'm thinking about postponing a dentist appointment. Not because I'm a feartie you understand but it's fucking with my logistical feng shuey. (I spelled that incorrectly on purpose incase you're feeling comment happy). Ching ching until tomorrow (ish).

RIP - Mitch Mitchell