It was an eventful few days then. That being that events were attended, not that anything life-changing actually took place other than the fact that stuff that might have been attended to wasn't. The Hot Rods show was pretty great last night and well attended. There was a sociological aspect to it all but hey, Falkirk on a Sunday night with Monday morning on its tail. What can I tell you? Murray sent me a link to a recording of “Do Anything You Wanna Do” from The Citrus Club, Edinburgh on Saturday. Go grab it.

Having OD’d on all that culture, the heid has been a bit woozy today. I’m saying that’s the cause, it probably isn’t at all but I can’t blame it on overindulgence in either alcohol or some exotic narcotic. Just auld age and my coping mechanism of passing out in front of the TV around 8pm of yer average evening kicking my arse.

Looking at last week’s stats, it suggests it was the second highest ever. Just 50 behind the week that Lux passed away. In mentioning that, if anyone is planning any kind of celebration on October 21st then let me know and I’ll pass the word on. With regard to the “viewing figures”. If they are indeed kosher then maybe there was a plug someplace that escalated the visitor traffic. Anyway, thanks and happy trails however the heck you ended up here.

Kjell hepped me to these. I don't think any other explanation is necessary.





Thankyou - goodnight - interwebland!

If you’re in Glasgow, or visiting, then you have to check out the new Trongate 103 facility. They did a great job of creating a base for every facet of the arts. With the exception of a “music” space maybe but the city has plenty of those already. Street Level Photoworks, Project Ability and the Transmission Gallery are just three of the spaces that exist within this newly opened complex.

With the demise of “The Lighthouse”, it was interesting to even feel how much more welcoming T103 is compared with there. I always felt like an invader the few times I went in there.

The event itself was very well attended and brought home to me how much I’m interested in dialogue where culture is concerned these days. Joe Boyd has been affiliated with many happening artists, no more so than The Incredible String Band, who I never got and don’t to this day. That said, it’s great to hear discussion about how such an act affected those who did find an in to appreciate them. And how the influence bleeds into what is happening now. Bruce Findlay’s recollection of the old shop and his first two customers was priceless. All the more so because the gentlemen concerned were there, maybe you can take a guess at their identities?

Another discussion with Jim Haynes, Barry Miles and Jenny Fabian is scheduled for next Saturday between 2pm and 5pm.

And in the wee hours of this morning, insomnia provided a window to watch this great David Simon interview that JD King flagged up a week or two ago. If you haven’t had the chance to catch him in person anyplace, then this is the next best thing.

It’s just gotten light and 'tis therefore time to go get some supplies. The plans I’ve been hatching for today since 5am are already becoming psychologically unravelled but let’s see what happens... Eddie and the Hot Rods tonight is set in stone though. The former ISB labelmates are at Behind The Wall in Falkirk, not a venue synonymous with yer rock'n'roll but just 3 earth miles from The Bunker.

Time to deal with some random stuff here...

I know some of you are sick to death of hearing about The Stooges but this is a great piece. Thanks to Tom and Randy for bringing it to my attention.

They may be bringing the beat to Europe but those kids at Norton checked in with this...

Greetings, Nortonians!

New Fall releases are almost upon us!

Covers for all the new loot n' booty at http://www.nortonville.blogspot.com

Do not miss this news.. our biggest motherlode to date! We are super glad to announce some of the coolest sounds ever set to wax, all from KIM FOWLEY's cranium! Dig a double dose of his rarest and earliest tracks with ONE MAN'S GARBAGE and its bookend ANOTHER MAN'S GOLD, a killer pair (LP AND CD) that will whack you upside the noggin in case you've been dozing and have forgotten to write Kim a letter lately. Do it!

We've got three volumes on LP and CD of SUN RA's early Chicago-era vocal group recordings, including a mess of unished mayhem and an entire set of Muck Muck YOCHANAN and other delights. Copious notes from Arkesta trapsman Michael D. Anderson and the Norton crew, fastidious transfers and mastering, and beauteous packages make these an essential trio for all.

Dig also a superb seven inch spoken word 45 RPM single of Sun Ra!

Kids, the TANDOORI KNIGHTS, the hot n' spicy new stars from Canada have joined the roster, too. Pick up their 45, and also the hitbound JACKIE AND THE CEDRICS 45 Tall Dark Stranger and the A-BONES historically correct Shallow Grave!

Big Big news is that Norton is home to two of our favorite albums ever by our beloved FLAMIN' GROOVIES! Yes, the bigwigs at Sony/BMG have licensed FLAMINGO and TEENAGE HEAD to Norton for footlong release! Hell has frozen over (what, again)! Check the fans attack circa 1978 kicks at kicksville66.blogspot.com! So if you're still wedged into your chair, please take a moment to take a sip of that Diet Coke on the coffee table because we have more news!

KICKS BOOKS has announced a paperback line with the first one due with our wax stacks! See it at at http://www.kicksbooks.com and check back for the whole ballyhoo, up by Monday Oct 5... it's called SWEETS by Andre Williams and it will blow a hole in your gourd, to put it sedately. So, now have we left anything out? Halloween shoppers at the WFMU fair, and ye in the hinterlands, ought to pick up goodie bag essentials like the new adhesive back iron-on patches (yes, we will have an ironing board at the WFMU fair to iron a patch where you need it. We can also iron your hair and unwarp your wax wares.)

And if you need an official Norton Records bag for ya goodies ("Buy 'Em By The Sack!"), pick up the boss new Norton Records canvas LP totes - two styles so people know who they're dealing with when you ring their doorbell and demand Snickers and Mentos. Dig order info and more ballyhoos and know that ship date is Nov. 3 for all the bash-ola that previews at the WFMU fair! Ready now? A-one, a-two... GO TAKE A SNEAK PEEK NOW

soon on the website, too.

Chuck Berry, with support from The Jim Jones Revue, at the O2 Academy in Glasgow on November 23rd. And just £45 + booking fee per ticket. He's having a fucking laugh but not at my expense. Unless of course, The Skeletons are his backing combo. Then I'll pay.

Actually there's more and I can't find it. My desktop is like the bottom of the proverbial budgie's cage. Thanks for your continued support of this disarray.

I’d never been at a show in the revamped Caley cinema, now rechristened The Picturehouse. Had a wee peek in when Mr Graboff was here last December but wasn’t at a show in there since probably The Scientists/Sisters of Mercy – whenever the heck that was?

Word on the pavie has been that the sound in there was a bit guff but not last night. Nope. Got down there a little after 7 and made a pitstop at Filmhouse because the doors weren’t open. My understanding was that St. Deluxe would be on at 7.25pm. Nope. Turns out it was more like 10 minutes early so we only caught three of their agreeable squalls. If they can get the kids to connect then they could do pretty good.

Was never a fan of The Vaselines until the “Dum Dum” album came out and they split shortly afterwards. So I never saw them before but on last night’s showing, it’s been my loss. Augmented by a 1990, the great Stevie Jackson and a bass player I recognised but couldn’t place – they blitzed through a highly entertaining selection. Frances and Eugene trading banter with each other and the crowd. I’d almost go so far as to describe it as charming. And nowhere near as puerile as I figured it might be. My good mate Peter Tjolsen will be smiling and thinking “told you so” right about now. In short, these kids did great. Guess I was wrong. Again.

And Mudhoney – 21 years + since that Eurodebut in Berlin and I haven’t been in an Edinburgh audience that “up for it” in a very long time. There was a genuine crackle of electricity and anticipation, the kind of which is generally lacking in this commoditised world. And by this time the band has quite the catalogue to draw from and they do. The thing about these guys is that it all seems so effortless. To my mind, they are to The Stooges what the Hellacopters were to the MC5. They made it directly possible for Iggy to hotwire his old compadres and most importantly make new generations care. It’s when you see a display like this that you figure there might just be hope for this hoary old rock’n’roll after all.

It’s a pleasure to see a band that has kept doing their thing on THEIR terms. There were a lot of youngsters there who quite patently hadn’t seen the band before and were going ballistic. There’s something to there being some time between shows. This isn’t a cash hoover that comes around every 6 months after all. They were good at ATP a couple or 3 years ago but last night was a cut above.

As memory circuits crash and burn, I think that a lot of people will recall last night’s show as a highpoint of their time here on Planet Earth. It never flagged for a second.

My thanks to Mark and Kelly. Also to “Orange Slice (Leafy Green). Grand job fellas.

A hot tip for the wee small hours from Seth Gordon...

I am experiencing some general electronic turbulence this fine Friday afternoon. Pain in the proverbial arse but I don't have time to let it rain on the general parade. meanwhile, I need to hep you to this... happening in Glasgow tomorrow...

Joe Boyd and Bruce Findlay in discussion with John Cavanagh

I’m trying to balance between answering mail, etc and my curfew and making quite the hash of it. October is flashing past and maybe I’ll relent on Saturday and try to catch up some more.

Anyway, as mentioned yesterday – here’s Lenny’s account of his sojourn close to the Thames last week. Seems like those of us who weren’t there missed out on a very groovy thing.

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Mott The Hoople - Hammersmith Apollo October 1st 2009

This was the first time I’d ever seen Mott The Hoople and also my first time at the Hammersmith Apollo (that used to be the old Odeon). Would have loved to have seen them back in the day but was just that little bit too young and didn’t have hip enough parents who would’ve taken me to a Mott show. From ‘Honaloochie Boogie’ onwards I was a fan of their records, tv appearances and the pictures I saw in pop magazines.

Despite the thirty-five year gap since the original line-up played together, this was always gonna be something incredibly special to witness. Not only that but this was also the first of the five gigs. There were even folks at the t-shirt stall and in the bar who said they’d flown in from all over Europe, Australia, Canada and the USA. Wow!

The intro tape played ‘Jupiter’ from the Planets Suite - which apparently was their intro music since '72 or so (thanks to Kris Needs' online Shindig review for sorting that one out, as I thought it was something like the music added to William Blake's ‘Jerusalem’ poem ha ha) and a huge roar greeted Ian Hunter, Mick Ralphs, Overend Watts, Verden Allen, and Martin Chambers - the Pretenders’ drummer who is helping them out due to original drummer Buffin’s frail health. Opening with the Mott album’s Dylanesque slowy ‘Hymn For The Dudes’ set the scene perfectly before changing up a gear into ‘Rock’N’Roll Queen’. After their take of the Velvets’ ‘Sweet Jane’ and the yikes-here-comes-Bad Company-just-around-the-corner hard riff of the mighty ‘One Of The Boys’, it soon became clear that this was something altogether truly great, inevitably woolly and totally wild…all of that and more!

Some unexpected greats too like ‘Sucker’, ‘Ready For Love’, ‘Angeline’ and the heavy stomp of the Hoople album’s ‘Born Late ‘58’ where Watts and Hunter swapped instruments, Overend (in eye-catching white shoes and other loud apparel) took lead vocal. As great as all these songs are, they were always gonna pale a little in stark comparison – electrifyingly so – to the sheer ferocity of attitude and content unleashed in ‘The Moon Upstairs’, that killa dilla cut from their ‘71 Brain Capers platter. This was a pretty deadly rendering for sure with all the elements in place that made / make MTH one of the best rock groups Britain has ever produced. Watts’ thundering bass lines, Hunter’s pre-punk, pure punk vocal sentiment, Mick Ralphs’ incisive main riff and cool economic wailing (read non-noodling) lead and, forget us we not, Verden Allen’s most excellent screeching and skronking via his vintage Hammond complete with a couple o' weighty Leslie speakers. Loved the way Watts was prowling around in front of the monitors like he's really missing being up there on his stage.

This last few minutes of pure unmitigated rock mania led into a quieter, sit-down Mott The (folk) Hoople style interlude, where the Wildlife LP cut ‘The Original Mixed-Up Kid’ and Mott’s ‘I Wish I Was Your Mother’ sat side by side, played out relaxingly on mandolins and a funny wee toy-like keyboard. We were also treated to rousing versions of ‘The Golden Age Of Rock’N’Roll’, 'The Ballad Of Mott', ‘Walking With A Mountain’ and even a minute or so of Dylan’s ‘Like A Rolling Stone’ which was then roughly pushed aside to make way for one of their most endearing ballads, ‘The Journey’.

Fairly rushing along but nonetheless still magical, were interpretations of two of their biggest chart hits ‘Honaloochie Boogie’, and ‘All The Way From The Memphis’. The former’s ‘well I got this friend and he’s a screwdriver-jiver … spider west-sider…’ vocal interjections performed by Hoople’s original pre-Hunter lead vocalist (then given the task of being the group's road manager) Stan Tippins. Woulda been extra extra super zingy had Roxy Music’s Andy Mackay jumped out of nowhere for the sax solo but alas ‘twas not to be… The group’s backing vocalists were also kept in the family and included Ian’s son Jessie, and Mick’s son Jim.

Then it all got really moving with many eyes welling up and a quite a few gasps being emitted, at the site of a pretty frail looking Buffin being led onto the stage. “Terence Dale Griffin - ladies and gentlemen", Hunter informed us, "Buffin over there on the drums…we’ve got the five now” and in faultless unison with Martin Chambers, the mighty Buff bashed his way through ’73 smash hit ‘Roll Away The Stone’. Hunter’s youngest daughter Tracy provided the ‘I got my invite’…and ‘oh will do’ backing vocal responses. With Buffin still there, it was time for the one tune that allowed them in the first place to go from underground raw ‘n dirty rock’n’roll heroes to being a group who slipped into let's say, a more mainstream pop profile. After initially calling it quits back in ‘72‘, yes of course it’s the Bowie-penned and produced classic teenage riot affair, ‘All The Young Dudes’. Mick Ralphs hit a couple of squalling clunkers here but I wouldn’t’ve had it any other way. Very cool, natural and unstudied. Little Richard’s relentless rocker ‘Keep-A-Knockin’, always one of their stage faves back in the day followed and they were gone.

After a few minutes rest, and much baying from the crowd, the group, minus Buffin sadly – but at least he’d done his bit for the big Mott dream – came back on for a sensational ‘Saturday Gigs’, its ‘goo-ood byyye goo-ood byyye’ finale lending itself well to the ending of what was a thoroughly smoking, not to mention a truly mesmerising display. Age/schmage, this gang was pretty spry and seriously up for it. In the words shouted by a fan as soon as the group took the stage, Mott the fucking Hoople! Thanks for a great trip guys.

Lenny Helsing

RIP - Shelby Singleton

A colleague sent me this link today and it quite accurately reflects my own current dilemma. My own particular situation is entirely of my own making. I realise that and take full(ish) responsibility. The vicelike headache that wiped out yesterday evening is gone for the meantime. I’m sure it’ll be back but for now things seem to be OK. I’ve been thinking a lot about the 100 item scenario lately. Every time that I try to retrieve an album, cd, book or whatever. Where the hell did all that stuff come from anyway?

It seems like a lot of us are reaching this so-called tipping point lately. I have been giving stuff away but nothing like what I need to. I mentioned the 100 items program before. It was suggested to me by Ulf Lindqvist many moons ago and I really wish I’d taken heed. It involves exactly that number of a certain commodity. If you want to have something new then one of the others has to go. Pretty simple yet so, so hard.

Actually not so hard for movies because I’d always rather go to a theatre these days. The few that I go to are virtual idylls. But music and books and posters and magazines and… well, I’m learning that maybe I can let these things go. With NFS, WFMU and Wreckless Wradio just for starters, I can hear old and new audio sustenance without physically owning a jot. That is pretty appealing. Maybe mp3’s aren’t so bad at all but accessing quality files from a giant global jukebox that accounted directly to the artists/labels would be even better.

There are also individual acts that I’d be happy to subscribe to so they can continue with their art. One thing that’s for sure is that the landfill aspect will have to be bounced. This may cause problems for manufacturers who rely on hungry consumerism but I’ve done my bit and I want off the bus. Prior to it careering over the cliff if possible.

I might be back later, then again maybe not. The A-Bones are in Paris and I'm not there which is a major bummer where my radar is concerned. I'm off into Edinburgh to meet a guy I first saw play in Berlin, October 1988 that the aforementioned Mr Lindqvist attended also. So on that symmetrical note, I'll leave you.

Mr Helsing has kindly supplied a Mott report - anybody got any photos I could run alongside it?

I saw this in a store the other day and noticed it had a chapter on The Dictators and The Runaways. Didn't have a spare 20 quid to score it though.

This post is going to be very short because my head is bursting.

You may care to head over to the Wreckless Wradio page because there's a new show up. Bound to be a beezer!

I was thinking that I might go and donate blood tonight. It’s something that I try to do on a regular basis but I don’t care for the venue that they use here . Also, in recent times I’ve gone to both Glasgow and Edinburgh to do the business, tying it in with other activities there. So I’m not sure if I’ll relent and attend locally or not. This is a common trait (with me) these days. Not being able to make a decision and to stick to it. On top of that, everywhere you go there are people sneezing and coughing or even both at the same time and worse. I don’t want to get any of these viruses that are doing the rounds. Swine oriented or otherwise but my fellow travellers on this bullshit exercise would appear to be eager to share.

At this point in time, I'm still waiting on fate to point me in the right direction. Methinks there's still a fair old wad of indecision to manoeuvered yet...

It's been a day of mixed fortunes. Great to see The Wanderers/Warriors double feature picture show draw a crowd. Events prior where I attempted to "shop" and also afterwards when yours truly got caught in a monsoonlike cloudburst on the way to getting the train weren't quite as entertaining.

In addition, it took an hour to make a 24 minute journey home so at this point, my intention to come in, make something to eat and get another couple of reviews in - ain't happening. Good old Scotrail or whatever they call themselves and their track maintenance makes travelling on a Sunday a total pain in the arse. Whimpering babies installed in carriages at no additional tarriff to the ticket price...

Here are a couple of Boonaraaa flyers for upcoming shows in France, so you lucky blighters out yonder take note.

























Time to pass out in front of the TV then methinks... thanks for tuning in.

The wonky road of musical appreciation has never been more twisty and turny than it is right now. With the appetite for back catalogue the way it is, there’s precious little that isn’t available. Strangely though, it’s taken to until now for Roy Loney’s post-Groovies gear with The Phantom Movers to become available, at least officially. Which seems odd because certainly the Solid Smoke EP and album are fine, fine examples of a guy and his band just letting fly. The way only Roy knows how. Raven Records of Australia have seen fit to brandish this material on a compact disc-shaped document entitled “A Hundred Miles An Hour 1978 – 1989”.

These 28 tracks includes all of “Out After Dark” except strangely the version of “Rockin’ in The Graveyard” and “Trophy”. There’s nothing from “Contents Under Pressure” either. Still, the upside is that it’s all primo Loney that runs up to Norton's “Scientific Bombs Away”. His recent reunion with Cyril Jordan have been joyous celebrations of the healing powers of yer real rock’n’roll. It’s a pleasure to see this guy in action and if you haven’t been able to do that then at least now you can hear a bit more without having to scour ebay or wherever. Icing on the cake is Dave Laing’s liner notes, he’s a guy that knows a thing or three about this kinda hooch.

And with the weather acting up the way it is, more music of the type that satisfies like a hearty casserole is in order and that’s where the Young Fresh Fellows “I Don’t Think This Is” comes in. I first wrote about these guys in something like 1985 or something like that. They’ve been in hibernation but have awoken and mean business like always. “Betty Let The Good Times Crawl” is that rare thing in these faux detail times. This Rock & Roll Inc. version of the album is different from the Yep Roc release, "I Think This Is". Consult the websites for details, that's what those links are for.

“New Day I Hate” could be The Fastbacks and should really get the kids from Spain working up a sweat during the upcoming shows out yonder. The Fellows are archetypal exponents of fine pop music, purveyors of the meatiest beats and swingin-est tunes available in this of pre-packaged 21st century. It’s impossible not to have a dirty big grin plastered across your face when you’re listening to them. I imagine that seeing them play might just be too much for anyone with a dicky ticker. I’m wondering if “The Final Tractor” is any relation to “The Final Taxi” right about now as I know these folks have played with Mr Eric Goulden during his forays into the Pacific Northwest.

Robyn Hitchcock has prepared a perfect power popping crunch and twang marinade. “Lay You In The Ground” sounds like something The Nomads might like to tackle. “If You Believe In Cleveland” is a hymn to an oft-maligned state that’s given us some seriously great art over the years. The Young Fresh Fellows may not be so youthful at this juncture but they’ll show just about any, no make that any, combo of lesser years a clean pair of heels. These fellows are sounding fresh alright. You can take that in the old fashioned sense or the hippity hop appropriation. It’s all good. Wonder if they’ll do “Teengenerate” live?

Back down under for a cracking little 3 track limited edition (of 500) taster EP by Penny Ikinger entitled “Fragile”. Ms I’s credentials put her in the antipodean rock first division. The sitar-centric, Traffic-like take on “All Tomorrows Parties” gives the song a crucial twist out with the generally faithful boundaries that a cover would usually take. Ron Peno’s duet on “Memories Remain” are a wee bit Nick Cave-like but once you hear it a couple of times, that’s not a problem. I’m not a Cave fan so it might just be me.

The title song is not unlike The Hummingbirds with some serious rock action squalling through and around the basic classic chassis. Kylie goes Magic Dirt even. Penny should have someone present it as something to consider for the next album by Ms Minogue. She must be in the market for a good tune that could reinvent her, right?

Just don’t let the manky street preachers anywhere near it and we're sorted.

The A-Bones are headed for Europe!

Ah Friday. The weather may have taken a decided turn for the stinky and technology may well be kicking my arse but such is the price for relative “freedom”. Heard the Mott show was a doozy last night and look forward to being able to post a firsthand report in due course. Provided this thing keeps working o' course.

Under the circumstances, this could also cause a demand for the tribute combo – Nott the Hoople to read the boards again? Not sure how the next couple of days are going to play out. And, Eddie and the Hot Rods are playing Behind The Wall in Falkirk on Sunday October 11th. That should be interesting. Thanks to Murray for the heads up.

At this point I'm going to fire up the gramophone and see where that takes me.

Great news about The Nomads/Sonics show in Stockholm. Not so great that I won't be able to make that particular scene but there you has it. It will be a historic night for sure, being that our Solna friends kept the fire burning these past few decades.

The news about Amy Farris was a little jarring. Just yesterday, I got a poster for the latest Dave Alvin and the Guilty Women shows across the USA from Amy Allison and was wondering how we could pull off getting them over here to play. Bleery eyed, I noticed Gregory Boaz’s facebook post and had to read the link a couple of times. It’s getting to be that every day we hear of someone passing that still has a heck of a lot of living to do.

Having some difficulty firing on even one cylinder at the minute. There’s not enough time to assimilate all the info that comes in to get it on here. And there’s a lot of pish to wade through that I guess comes with the territory of being added to mailing lists without asking to be on them. It’s quite a time consuming practice trying to unsubscribe and, when you do, I’m sure it makes some people more determined that you will remain on there for all eternity. It’s not quite at the level of calls to upgrade my kitchen but it’s getting there. How much would you like to garrotte these buggers that try to keep you on the phone?

I know, the individuals themselves are only trying to eke out a crust. It’s not actually them that should be hurt. It’s the people who run the companies. I imagine this happens everywhere and that it’s not just a symptom of UK desperation. As if anybody would ever do business with a “cold caller”. Must have needed to get that out of my system following a run over this past wee while. My means of call screening are pretty antiquated at this point in time and well, some of you know that I haven’t exactly embraced mobile technology with open arms.

Anyway it's apparently October and, as London goes under the thunder of Mott - here's a few things that are coming up around these here parts...

Black Time at Dows in Glasgow on Saturday October 3rd.

In the other coast, The Go Go.

Sunday October 4th, east coast has a double bill of The Wanderers and The Warriors ar The Cameo. In the west, King Khan and the Shrines make their Scottish debut at Stereo in Glasgow.

Thursday October 8th - The Obits are at Mono in Glasgow. Tickets from Monorail (maybe?)

Friday October 9th - Mudhoney, The Vaselines and St Deluxe at The Picture House, Edinburgh. And finally, for this missive Eddie and The Hot Rods at The Citrus Club also in Auld Reekie. That would seem to be enough to be going on with...

The Nomads and The Sonics in Stockholm (Debaser Medis) - November 27th!

RIP - Amy Farris

If you live in France then maybe The Boonaraaas are playing near you. Please make sure you look after them.

Ron Sanchez posted this link to facebook about NY Record Emporiums with a difference. It includes my old friend J.D. Martignon of Midnight Records. That neatly introsuces another French connection. Gotta split to clear the decks so I can check out the first two episodes of the new season of "Curb Your Enthusiasm". Are you going to the MOBO's in Glasgow? My invite seemed to get lost in amongst all the postal strikes and work to rule. Ne'er mind...

For some reason, it's still possible to get tickets for the Wreckless Eric and Amy Rigby show at The Buffalo Bar down "The London" tomorrow night (30th).

I know, you make the effort to go out sometimes and when you get there you wish you hadn't bothered. Me too. All the time. This won't be one of those, plus it's the show in the UK for this season so give 'em a rousing send-off and buy all their merch. There are "Joey Ramone" 45's to be had....

And to close, here's some political commentary wrapped up in a pretty decent roots rock song...

Born in the Garage
- Bomp! Part II

Book Signing and Release Party.

Sunday, October 11, 2009, 2 - 4PM

Freakbeat Records - 13616 Ventura Blvd.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 (818) 995-7603.

freakbeat@freakbeatrecords.com

BORN IN THE GARAGE - BOMP PART II is a heavyweight celebration of the roots of rock fandom. With eye-popping cover art by the immortal William Stout, this is the ultimate anthology of rock 'n' roll fandom from its inception to its mid/late 1970s heyday. The book includes 300 pages of reproductions from Greg Shaw's pioneering 70s era zines Who Put The Bomp and BOMP! plus essays by Jon Savage, Alec Palao, Ken Barnes, Suzy Shaw and Mike Stax covering 60s garage and beat, surf, British Invasion, girl groups, rockabilly, acid punk and psychedelia, along with obsessively detailed discographies and label listings, plus reams of readers' letters and never before published material.

The sheer volume of historical information is almost mind-boggling. Also included are reprints from Shaw's obscure personal zines, Metanoia and Liquid Love, circulated in 1970-72 to just a handful of friends and fellow writers.

Aside from including a huge selection of Shaw's insightful writing, BOMP! PART II also includes rare early work by celebrated rock scribes like Ken Barnes, Lester Bangs, Lenny Kaye, Richard Meltzer, Dave Marsh, Mike Saunders, Phast Phreddie Patterson and others.

The book also features artwork by underground art legends Jay Kinney, William Stout and Tom Kirk. Appearing at the event will be Ugly Things Magazine editor, musician and writer Mike Stax along with the legendary William Stout (yes the fabulous artist who did all those amazing early TMQ bootleg graphics in the '70s) Ken Barnes and Suzy Shaw who will be bringing her world-famous Bomp Cookies for all to enjoy!

T-shirts will be available too.

"Born In The Garage - Bomp! Part II" - 300 pages, soft-cover,
USBN: 978-09778166205-1595, published by Bomp! and Ugly Things

Thanks to Lee Joseph for the info.

NORTH FORK SOUND IS 3 YEARS OLD!

The “punk rock” awayday could catch on. It might take some work but to my mind it would do the body and soul good if it did. I use the p.r. term as an example here and it should not be construed as the definitive description of what was witnessed. It’s true that a measure was displayed but in essence this is a broad canvas. When it became evident that Amy and Eric’s show would take place in the afternoon, it was that most over-used of descriptions – “a no-brainer”. The train ticket doon Tyneside was duly booked and it was a pleasant choogle down.

Left Polmont at 9.30 am and was in the “toon” just nudging noon. The trundle of overnight cases was a solid rumble toward the station as I was emerging into the bright blue day. Some of the luggage draggers were looking decidedly worse for wear so I assumed it had been a good night. After I found the venue, I took a stroll down to the river where there was a market and the good weather had definitely brought the people out. There was a Greggs the bakers open down there too. I’m not sure that happens further north. Certainly my local one doesn’t. Anyway, it was doing a roaring trade. Came across a record stall that was pretty good and I managed to ward off an urge to buy a copy of “Tooth, Fang and Claw” and made my way back in the general direction of The Bridge Hotel. A very nice old hostelry indeed and one time home to the Jumpin’ Hot Club. Those shows were in the basement. In this case, the venue was upstairs in a cracking old function room with loads of photos of old r&b artists and 78s adorning the walls. It’s a great spot and if there was any justice there would be a place like this in every major town and city and it would form a circuit for us all to catch some good music of a weekend afternoon. It would phase out the ritual of night gigs and leave those to youngsters with the stamina to put up with the bullshit that often comes with that territory. Such as the 3 and 4 act bill. That’s a debate for another time though.

Cutting straight to the chase, no support – the dynamite, dynamic duo took to the stage around 4 and finished just shy of 6. The show was pretty much and exercise in presenting what can only be considered as total entertainment. Which begs the question as to why the fuck the place wasn’t crammed? To be taken for granted is one thing but I’m constantly amazed by just how retarded the public are. You simply don’t see an act of this width and depth every day of the week. Any opportunity to do so should be grasped and appreciated because I’ll tell you something, you’ll miss it when they decide to call it a day. You’ll hear stories about this great little combo about how funny, how moving and just how outright fun these two are but you won’t move your arse and go out to see them. Conversely some will go to an enormadome and gush over The rhymes with white Stripes and their recycled Zep via valve amps, one dimensional racket. What the fuck is wrong with people?

It was all getting a wee bit twilight outside and Eric was looking a bit like Dennis Hopper as they went into a version of “The Ballad of Easy Rider”. “Bobble-Headed Doll” is to be the flip of “Teflon Wok”, a single that will come out in time for them touring some of Europe with Yo La Tengo in a few weeks. Not the UK or Scandanavia though. Amy said that it needed a bit of work but it sounded pretty damn good from where I was standing. The sound in the room was great and at one point I truly wished that this was my local and that this could be a regular experience.

Eric and Amy are often augmented in the north by an “installation” that involves two diehard fans –“Wreckless George” and “Wreckless John”. Yesterday they were augmented by a third member of the troupe. Their ability to make it look like they’re very pished is countered with some subtle, impromptu moves that could only be attempted by seasoned veterans. Could they be “The Blue Man Group” sans emulsion? The whereabouts of “Wreckless Paul” and “Wreckless Ringo” are unknown at this juncture.

Another great show in the bag by a treasured act that deserves to be shown considerably more love by the gig-attending public than they are, what are they doing wrong? Why aren’t the gigs packed out. Why aren’t people being turned away?? Because they’re basically stupid is the most obvious reason. Whatever it is, it’s time there was a cure for this particular condition.

Great to see local rockin’ cognoscenti Brian Coyoteman and Dave “Ratty” Campbell there and also to meet original Addis and The Flip Tops drummist, Steve Marshall. It was also a gas to hook up with Rob, who pointed out that I had made it into the Tom Morton Diary in The Sunday Herald along with Katie Price (no ta) and Gina McKee (yes, thanks). Blimey. Thanks also to Mark of noredindian who put the show on in the first place

I was back in the bunker by 11pm, a little shell-shocked and wondering if it had all actually happened. A sure sign of a grand craic.

So far, this limiting of computer usage is working. Heck, this morning, I didn’t even switch it on before I headed for work. My use of “Twitter” is erratic. Check that spelling. Facebook I find useful for some things but the gilt has kinda worn off the gingerbread, although I do have it “synched” with this so I’m not sure if it’s responsible for the hike in visitor numbers. MySpace I hardly use at all anymore, except to listen to stuff that people put up there. I don’t really try to load it much anymore and as a result, the computer seems to work better. Or that could just be a perception. Either way, if any messages are coming via that route, then there is almost certainly going to be a delay in me getting them. There simply aren’t enough hours in the day and what’s more I’m coming to appreciate what remains of my eyesight.

So now I have to figure a fair and reasonable way to foster out these magazines I was on about to new homes following some positive responses. I’d like everybody who got back to me to get something and I have to investigate the carriage ramifications.

Nothing much to report at this hour. I'm headed south but still very much north to the fair city of Newcastle-upon-Tyne to see The Gouldens. Not a bad name for a musical combo that, right?

Anyway, if you're in those parts - get yourself along to The Bridge Hotel for some mid-afternoon tunes. If I'm back at a reasonable hour then maybe I'll let you know how it went later. However it might be tomorrow. On that note, I bid you good day...

Oh, one last thing - on the Mojo front - I've had a few responses and will do my damndest to make sure that everybody gets something.

RIP - Benny Mahan

(My condolences to his friends and family out there in Springfield. I never knew or met him but I believe that he inspired some people that mean a lot to me.)

"Souvenirs – Little Gems of Pop" is the latest release on "Wall of Noise", a division of the Sound Asleep imprint and I haven’t heard such an effin’ effervescent collection of prime power pop in a long time. Pound for pound this pounds any overpriced retread into the dirt. I’m not saying this couldn’t have happened without those exponents, i’m just telling you that – in my opinion – this is better.

In addition to their being 21 great tunes on this bay, it’s also dedicated to the memory of our pal – Lennart Persson and also Duane Jarvis. I haven’t heard Flying Color or Manual Scan in forever and this reminds me how good they were. I’d never heard Choo Choo Train or The Explosives before at all and that’s been my loss. “A Girl like You” by the latter might be my sprightliest discovery since The Shivvers “Teenline”. The original version of “Not The Trembling Kind” by The Decoys is also here, the little number that would eventually be tackled by Ms Laura Cantrell. Todd Newman & The Leatherwoods “To Win You Back” is very “Too Busy Thinking ‘bout My Baby”-like and none the worse for it.

If you need something that’ll hit the spot like Dwight Twilley, Phil Seymour , The Shoes or top-flight Teenage Fanclub then this baby is a must have. Good to hear Philly greats, The Wishniaks again too (Shout out to Mr Snyder!). Whoever curated this deserves a commendation... Jerker – This means you! Bruce Bodeen’s liners are excellent too. The whole thing has put me in the mood to dig out my Guadalcanal Diary albums. That’s what cool music should do, make you feel like you don’t want it to stop. These little gems are right bobby dazzlers! This is a limited edition so don’t hang about.

On the subject of LP, in the Swedish town of Umeå – there’s a monthly happening by the name of Klubb Lennart. It pays tribute to the fine, fine music that the man wrote about and dug, a very worthy undertaking to be sure. The next instalment will include a very cool dj who I’m not at liberty to divulge, incase it’s meant to be a secret.

It’ll be an excellent night though, you can be sure of that!

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in Golden Gate Park, SF - next weekend!

Quite a line-up!!

(Thanks to Art Fein for the heads up)

The A&R Report is online, there goes the rest of the day...

Finally looked at these Mojos and the numbers up for grabs are as follows. I’ve added cover info where I think anybody might care and would like as many of these as possible to go to a good home or homes. If you want any, all it requires is the postage to be covered. So here goes;

9 (Clash cover), 10 (Neil Young cover), 11, 14, 18, 19, 25,26, 28, 29 (Iggy cover), 30, 31, 38, 39 (Nick Drake cover), 40, 45,47 (Glam – Bowie/Ronson cover), 48, 61, 62, 63 (Blondie cover), 69, 75 (Velvets cover), 78 (Iggy cover – there are 2 copies of this), 81 (2 copies), 82, 84, 88, 91 (2 copies), 92, 93 (2 copies), 94 (New Order cover), 95 (100 Punk Scorchers – 2 copies), 96, 97, 98, 100 (2 copies), 101 (2 copies), 104, 105 (2 copies), 106 (2 copies), 107, 108, 110, 114, 115, 116, 119, 120, 138 (Marc Bolan cover), 152, 154, 155, 157, 158, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 166, 169, 170, 171, 174, 175, 177, 178, 179, 181, 182, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190.

There are no cds with them but maybe they could be found if it was really necessary. Some of these things have Beatles covers and all that other crap that allegedly makes them collectible. No? Me neither...

Also Mojo Collections magazine... issues 1,3, 4, 5

In addition, Record Collector magazines...
49,69, 72, 78, 88, 90, 95, 96, 97, 99, 111, 114, 116, 125, 149, 153, 166, 181, 184, 208, 225, 240, 243

So let’s see how we go with these. If there are no takers then they’re going in the big blue bin.

Thanks to Jari via facebook for finding this... and ahead of the Mott shows that will take place over the coming week...

monorail film club is back...

Interiors (15)
Sunday 27 September (7.30)

In Woody Allen’s first serious feature, three grown up sisters struggle to cope with the influence of their unstable mother, Eve. When their estranged father announces his decision to remarry, confusion and tragedy follow, along with an uncertain hope that the characters may find some kind of peace.

Selected and introduced by Caroline Gardiner, film club member/session cellist.
Click here for tickets

October Screening:

American Movie (15)
Sunday 25 October (7.00)

A tribute to a beer-guzzling Mid-western filmmaker and indie spirit this documentary is an ambitious, wildly funny chronicle by Chris Smith that celebrates the do-or-die lifestyle of redneck auteur Mark Borchardt.

The film is preceded by short film Heavy Metal Jr by Chris Waitt (24 minutes)

The screening will be introduced by Stuart Braithwaite from Mogwai.
Click here for tickets

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm not around for "American Movie" but if you've never seen it then it's a must. Definitely a top tenner for me. Who can forget the night Mark and Mike came to Edinburgh? Nobody who was there - that's for sure...

RIP - Rhino Records?

Jings, this takes me back...

Dammit! now why did I think this was in October??

John "Hoppy" Hopkins in Glasgow... tomorrow (26th September)

To quote a favourite songwriter of mine, “Today’s word is dejected”. However it’s Friday and that brings tacit relief for a wee while at least. A conversation I had about stuff and the hoarding thereof the other night has made me think that the recycle bucket will be receiving a hearty feed over this period. It’s more likely that I’ll find a bunch of stuff that will drain up the precious time but you never know. I will do the Mojo thing though so stand by for the word on that. Is the general malaise something to do with the ongoing Mercury retrograde or just par for the course?

I'd become a communist and drop the hell off the map if I could pick the commune.

Anyhoo, I just saw Brother Patrick report to Staysick that The Sonics will play Paris on December 7th.

I keep meaning to post a link to Chuck Miller's great Cramps blog.

Something else that I've been meaning to do is make you aware that Play Loud! could really do with some folks ordering The Monks dvd and other stuff direct from them so that they can keep making quality gear in the future. Lucia and Dietmar have fallen victim to the occupational minefield of a distributor going down the pan. DO NOT download their wares from any of these bit torrent sites or wherever, make an effort to prop up these stalwarts of cool popular culture out yonder in Germany. If you don't then you won't get to see their Martin Rev dvd...

And getting out of here but remaining in that fine country, the lady in question that penned that opening line back there is in Munich tonight and Hamburg tomorrow. Hello Saferide is one heck of a night out and could well reaffirm your faith that it's worth plodding on.

I'm going to attempt some reviews over the next few hours. Some of them will be very short in line with the average attention span these days. Mine included.

This is going to come over as one of these “it’s not you , it’s me” scenarios. Following last night’s JJR show in Glasgow, I need to file this report. Some will agree, others won’t.

Firstly, to my mind – the show was woefully promoted. I’m pretty sure hardly anybody knew about it. Hell, Monorail didn’t even have advance tickets and I’m pretty sure that some of their clientele would have been at least interested. Maybe if they’d played with The Primevals or another local rock’n’roll ensemble? Maybe that would have made some kind of difference?? But anyway, there go those scrambled eggs again. It was an opporchancity wasted. There was no support, which in another way was a good thing. When we wandered up, they were still soundchecking and it sounded pretty good. A good eal better than the soup of Madame JoJo’s. You could even hear the “piano”.

They went on about 9.45pm and there were maybe 40 people there by that time. Not bad considering it was such a well kept secret but way short of how many it should have been. It further gave further grist to the mill of the notion – why bring a decent band to Glasgow, or Scotland even? But that’s a debate for another day, or the comments if you feel like it. If you ever tried to “promote” a show here then I imagine you know what I mean. The JJR were very loud and sounded better than my previous encounter by a long shot. They work hard. They pummel. They have all the moves and the shapes and they look like a band. Did I mention that you could hear the “piano” for chrissakes. The efficiency from where I was standing though seemed that for all the high energy, even with the illusion of volume that was sometimes disorienting, the net result wasn’t particularly deadly. It was mentioned that they’re better than the Blues Explosion. Maybe so, but they’re nothing like them. The ingredients are all in place and my own tuppence worth is that they should be playing to youngsters up to the age of 35. They should have played Sleazy’s where the room would have better suited their oeuvre at this point. It’s all a bit Alanis that they’re belting out “Meat Man” in a vegan restaurant.

Irrespective of what I think, the JJR deserved a better reception on their first visit up here than they got. It won’t put them off but this wasn’t a great advert for a country that often lays claim to have the best audiences in the world. This is assuming that there is an audience.

The JJR do have the firepower to sock it to you but in essence, they leave me cold. It’s not them necessarily, it’s most likely me and I’m not sure this relationship will ever work. So I respectfully wish them every success and head in the opposite direction feeling pretty old and tired. It would be great if the youngsters could get on board their rocket but I’m not holding my breath.

Moon Duo is where I’m at right now, what can I tell you?

RIP - Sam Carr

(Thanks to Mr Duff for the info, Goner Board for the link)

The MO at the moment seems to be that I’ve come in for a bout of turbulence as caused by the minutiae of bullshit. I don’t take kindly to this but it’s an occupational hazard – it would seem - that is keeping me from more important matters.

Off to catch The Jim Jones Revue in Glasgow now, I think it’s their first foray this far Nort’. Hopefully it’ll be better than the Madame JoJo’s show earlier this year. For a start, Bobby Gillespie is unlikely to be there so that has to be an improvement. All will be revealed in the fullness of time he typed hoping that it won’t be a last train (not tram – hey TJ!) home situation. 10.48/11.18pm I could just about live with on a school night.

As my peeps know, I'm not somebody who is at the cutting edge of gadgetry.

I thought I'd lost my bog standard mobile phone this morning. I remembered charging it up and was pretty sure it never left the house. When I called it, it went straight on to voicemail. People who try to call me by that method know that it’s almost only ever switched on when I’m making or expecting a call. A trait, I'm reliably informed, that I share with Mose Allison. It’s not something that could be realistically perceived to be a tracking device. I never walk down the street or sit in a train staring at it. That said, I miss it because I HATE the thought of having to get another one and this little blighter had so much left to give. But thankfully, the device showed up on the floor of the car. God only knows how but I'm relieved to have been reunited with it. Even although it's seldom used.

I have some artwork and stuff to do so I'm off to see what kind of progress can be made on that. Don't forget that The Nomads are headed for Norway this weekend - if you can make that it'll be high in entertainment protein. The Wildebeests and Les Bof will also be out in those climes. Sadly I'll be UK bound with a reprieve on Sunday for the matinee show in Newcastle by Eric and Amy.

RIP - Arthur Ferrante

(info from Donna Lethal via facebook)

Before I begin, Mr Duff reminded me that The Lost Crusaders are at The Corn Rocket Club in London tonight. I've no idea who is joining Mike for these euroshows but you should cut along if you can. It should get pretty nuts in Ryans Bar a little later...

But I digress, some progress was made with regard to getting rid of stuff this past weekend then. A sizeable pile of The List, Uncut and Premiere were launched into the recycle bin. The next chore in that line is to list the issues of Mojo, send them to the smattering of folks that expressed interest and despatch those accordingly. This includes unwanted issues into the hungry jaws of the aforementioned receptacle. Slight inroads were made into a cd cull also but I need to apply the same level of ruthlessness as I have done with the printed matter. Records could well be next but that will be a more difficult matter. I can’t even begin to consider cassettes and VHS tapes at this point and never really caught the dvd bug. Still preferring to make the effort to go to the cinema, at least that habit hasn’t died although the logistics can be fraught sometimes.

The only thing I’m interested in seeing is the new “Curb” episodes that started to air in the US last night. This season apparently centres around the prospect of a “Seinfeld” reunion and by all accounts the first show was great. I did watch some eps of "True Blood" and found it kind of irritating in its post Twin Peaks style. Buffy via American Gothic with added raunch but not as good as either. The theme tune is good in a Chris Isaak/Fatboy vein (you see what I did there.. haw haw) and I think I heard Eleni Mandell in the background of one?

Apparently Season 2 is better and to be honest, I’m not sure that I’ll get that far. We’ll see. An hours de-clutter per night should see me done with it all by about 2015 or thereabouts.

Some other stuff I just discovered that I hadn’t passed on that’ll be coming out over the next wee while. I had scribbled and copied links on to a list but I’ve lost that. This is fairly typical of the situation that is ongoing hereabouts. The other aspect is that what you don’t know or never knew is unlikely to trouble you. That’s a positive note, right? The e-mail and file thing is in many ways worse than physical clutter, I’ve never really been able to fathom a systematic way of storing files. The backup discs to the left of me here are just a further example of what will eventually become landfill. Or maybe I’ll just make arrangements for them to go to one of the places that claims to recycle cd material. I guess I don’t have to make my mind up about that right athis instant.

The Rev. Mike Mastrangelo tells me that tehre's another round of Gun Club re-issues ("Miami", Death Party and The Las Vegas Story) coming in October via Cooking Vinyl. Nothing on the site yet but I'll keep you posted.

Need something to read as the nights are drawing in? Joe Bonomo's tome on The Killer, Jerry Lee Lewis - entitled "Lost and Found", this could well be what you're after… I wonder what happened to those tracks The Radio Sweethearts worked on sone time ago??

John Cavanagh's Pirate Radio is on at The Arches this Tuesday and Wednesday. Be there prior to 8.20pm on either night.

The Jim Jones Revue are at Mono on Wednesday. £8 on the door, no advance tickets.

For the forseeable, one hour in the morning (provided I can get up as these dark mornings creep in) and another one in the evening will be my interweb activity for the foreseeable future. These heavy manners are necessary to pursue other avenues of what passes for an existence. I shouldn’t grumble but I do. All part of the charm. Kerfuffle’s and conflicts with regard to time off. Plus it’s not physically or fiscally possible to attend every shindig that I’d like to. Still, I shall be missing in action with regard to blogging between 22nd and 26th October .

Maybe J could be cajoled into interrupting his real life for a couple of day? However, I think you'll live if this thing isn't updated daily. Or even weekly come to that...

Let’s head out to Sweden this Sunday afternoon (GMT) and hit up some spots that might be of interest.

Theodor Jensen’s previous release went under the moniker of The Plan but this one sees him revert to his namesake. As “Walk For Gold” experimented with sophisticated pop shapes, “Tough Love” follows on from that and pushes the envelope marked grandiose even further. It reminds me of “Forever Changes” in some ways without actually sounding anything like it. Orchestral would best describe the fixtures and fittings and the sound is very ornate and off kilter. A little Calexico battling with the Spiders from Mars. That piano on “Bapada” is decidedly Garson-esque. I hear a wee Steve Harley type inflection in his voice too I think but that’s as far as the comparisons go.

It’s an unusual blend of styles with an ebb and flow of real drama. The print on the cd sleeve is too small for me to read even with my gregory’s so I can’t tell you who is actually playing on it but it’s printed on very nice paper. I understand that some of it was recorded at Konie’s Studio Cobra. There’s some skewed blue-eyed soul alongside equally twisted world music. A little like Scritti Polliti but way less po’ faced. “Side by side” is the best example of this particular aspect. I sense a folk aesthetic subplot going on with the instrumentation. That’s what hints at genuine oddness and ends up sounding all the more captivating. It’s not rock’n’roll but it’s good to head off the beaten track into relatively uncharted territory every once in a while.

And those Hemifrån hits just keep on comin’...

“The Power Of The Lord Will Set Us Free and we will be.... Trailerpark Idlers” isn’t the name of the band like “And You Will Know Us By Trail Of Dead” or however that goes. Bible bashing Sunday morning brimstone coming down or just interpretations? It’s hard to tell but by the time you get to “We Need a Lot More of Jesus and A Lot less Rock’n’Roll” the outcome is more obvious.

The gospelness can be taken with a pinch of salt, a rattle of the beads or however you get your faith jollies. Or not. What I’m trying to say is that, even if you’re not a god botherer these folks definitely have their moments of are they/aren’t they. And blow up quite a head of steam in the process. A fun combo then whose next project is a Jim Reeves covers album. I’d love to hear them do an Amy Allison song.

Citizen K is Klas Qvist and his “Meet Citizen K” album comes in packaging that looks not unlike Jackson Browne’s “Saturate Before Using”. This is something of a clue to what the contents sound like but there’s more than a hint of Richard Thompson present too which gives it a folkie edge. That Pinball Wizard guitar on “That Same Old Sun” displays that there’s more to this than just pastiche. Very nicely recorded and while it won’t necessarily grab you, there’s that undeniable Swede-pop element that’ll just creep up on you. I could tell this would be good because of the quality of the sleeve material. This is a guy that gives a hoot about presentation and I for one appreciate that sort of effort.

Jump4Joy ’s “Tasty” is some of that nostalgic rock’n’roll that sits someplace between The Refreshments and The Skeletons more cabaret type moments. It’s a little clean and clichéd even but quite charming nonetheless. Some toe-curling lyrics, the text speak nature of the name and the fact that one of ‘em would appear to have a ponytail can’t contain the fact that they can probably shake up a hostelry some.

Not that I would know anything about that culture whatsoever...

Post #4400 - Things don't get much more ridiculous than this... thanks to Sigrid Jakob via staysick for the link.

The Barman talks to James Williamson. He seems to have his head screwed on. Nice one Craig.

I was talking to Kaptain Krunch last night and he told me that I had to watch “Later”. The sequence in question was a performance by a group who recently professed an interest in penning a Bond theme, an act that had Mr Thewlis apoplectic earlier in the week. The whys and wherefores of that particular angle won’t impinge on my world at all. After all what could possibly follow that Jack White/Alicia Keys atrocity better?

I watched aghast for as long as I could take as these utter numpties trawled through something that sounded a little close to call like a certain well known theme tune by the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. I’d be interested to see the publishing credit on that if I could stomach looking at a cd jacket. But the piece de resistance was the final number that surely trod on the “Queen” brand template with a little Yorke thrown in to snag all the lovers of what has killed music stone dead this past few years. There are other similarly heinous perp's doing the rounds - you probably have your own particular "favourite" for the high jump come the revolution. Or at least something. All the talk about dinosaurs during the punk wars? Selective memory or what??

Caterwauling Florence (or Horace as the Kaptain calls “her”) and her machine were on too. But don’t worry folks, I fast forwarded through. No real lasting damage was done as far as I can tell. But like damp cold, this stuff is insidious. It gets to your bones. Those bloody gears of what used to be a rockin' machine. There's plenty of WD40 out there, it just takes a little effort to find.

FYI - The Wreckless Eric/Amy Rigby show in Newcastle next Sunday (27th) is a matinee.

You should be at The Bridge Inn for 3pm or thereabouts to catch all the action.

RIP - Henry Gibson

(Thanks to Ben for the info)

I am effing flabbergasted. Now here's a dilemma I didn't see coming...

It’s been another braw, bricht autumnal day hereabouts. A week now without rain which must be some kind of record. Not a cd. Or a cassette. I’m looking at a wee pile of the former that I need to tackle out of the side of my eye as I type this. Lately I’ve been thinking that just about everything that needs to be said has been written about music. Certainly by me. Of course that doesn’t cover the act of actually convincing someone that they would want to hear something. That filter is still relevant. Sometimes I think about just adding a link with a sentence. That might assist both of us with the passage of that most precious commodity. Time.

Yesterday evening, I did a dummy run on my “no TV” thing. I survived. No jones. Not so far anyway so I may go for two in a row. Nothing good on the sucker anyway. I did get a new "remote" control today though so I have to at least see if it works. This weekend will have started by this time tomorrow and I’m brimful of good intentions right now but let’s just see how this will manifest itself. There shall be updates one way or the other because there are no plans to venture far. However there are cool things happening in other airts… so Mr Spence supplied these with the following proviso - "The Brutes have another rockin' South of the Border raid this weekend. We'll be rampaging in Liverpool on Friday (18th Sept) and ransacking Leicester on Saturday (19th Sept). Details in attached pretty pictures!

























While we're on the subject of "pictures", lets get a bit twisted fine art on your tucus and NYC welcomes the great Isabel Samaras and you can get all the info here.

On the culture wagon, JD King has another wee story ready for your perusal.

Ever wanted to know what might have happened if Lindisfarne covered The Ramones? Well have a look at this that Iain just sent me the link to...



This Just in from The Cameo... "Sunday 25 October sees a very special event. From 6pm we will be screening DAWN OF THE DEAD (1978) followed by an in-person Q&A with Ken Foree and then DAY OF THE DEAD followed by an in-person Q&A with Joe Pilato. Every audience member will get a merchandise goody bag and a signing will follow the event.

Tickets priced at a bargain £10 Full/£8 Concession will go on sale at 11am on Saturday 26 September via the booking line on 0871 704 2052 or in person at the box office. There will be no online sale of the tickets. Demand is likely to be very high so early booking is recommended to avoid disappointment.

This event is in association with
Arrow Video www.arrowfilms.co.uk
Cult Fiction www.cultfictionmovies.com "

So have fun with that, I'm off to catch what's left of the daylight and when I get back there are big decisions to be taken which will undoubtedly be put off but we'll see. It sounds cryptic right? Well it is. You need to believe that.

RIP - Mary Travers

RIP - Bobby Graham

(Thanks to John Trembly a BLR for the link info)

Any plans for gallivanting look to have been right royally creamed for now. An unfortunate realisation but not entirely unexpected and it comes amongst a real urge to take a backseat from everything for a while. No small part of this is that I need to get another computer and just can’t muster the effort to do so. The TV is on the blink too and I’m seriously thinking about trying to wean myself off that particular electronic hearth. Like trying to go for a month without switching it on. There’s plenty more around here I could do with getting on with after all. All these little niggles are manifesting themselves like a big itchy bite. It’s called life.

Anyway, while I sort out some actual info to post here - Brother Liam has seen the light and he's looking to find a new home for some Rockin'Bones/NBT back issues. A lot of you folks ask me if I have this kind of material so maybe you can help him out?

Monte Melnick is heading for Madrid (FNAC Chain Store - 29th September) and Barcelona (FNAC Triangle - 30th September). You kids out there need to go meet this great man and buy the Jaime Gonzalo translated special edition of "On The Road With The Ramones". It couldn't have happened without this guy. Just out on the Munster Books imprint!

(click on the image to enlarge in new window)

Time is fleeting and Amy will be pretty much back in that New York groove by the time I post this. At this point we’ll back up to Saturday night and the BMX show in Glasgow. The Classic Grand is the sharpest venue in town and apart from the seemingly Draconian curfew, it’s a great place to watch music. We missed Randolph’s Leap but got there in time to see Primary 5, a big favourite of Mr Tjolsen of the Oslo parish who was also out this way last week. They make a decent racket and have all the dynamics but the constant tuning didn’t half hamper the momentum. Still, this is the problem with entertainment. The Bandits have regrouped since I last saw them and I imagine that demand elsewhere for St Deluxe makes this a good move. In contrast to the P5 maybe playing a tad too long, the BMX crew could have done with playing a wee bit longer. The newly shorn Duglas is no Samson. He was in top form as was the band.

Sunday was pretty quiet, caught “Genevieve” at the Hippodrome and became depressed at the consideration of having burned a week’s leave in what seemed like an instant. Amy and Davie completed the recordings and now things need to be assembled. Expect a bloody fine album over the course of 2010. Details will emerge over the coming weeks and months and you’ll be able to follow it all here provided I’m around for that long.

Talking of people not being around, it was a bummer to hear about Jim Carroll yesterday. I met him once at the Great American music hall in SF where he did a show with Lenny Kaye. Angel CC and me. I’m thinking maybe 1994 but neither of us can remember when exactly it was so it must have been a good night… We went to a metal club called Terminator with Lenny and I’m pretty sure that the band was Testament. I recall it being like the club scene from The Crow and that we laughed a lot but that’s all the neurons will permit at this time. With regard to JC, my jukebox ate my “People Who Died” 45 and was immediately put out of commission as it has been to this day because I can’t find anyone who might be able to fix it. That’s something I need to attend to. Figure out if it can indeed be restored to working order or get it out of the bunker. I’m really hoping it’ll be the former.

Then I find out today that Patrick Swayze and Keith Floyd have died and I’m not sure either warrants the standard RIP here because neither made much of a mark. I will admit that I don’t mind “Roadhouse” at all as a film but can’t recall seeing either “Dirty Dancing” or “Ghost”. “DD” however took Mickey and Sylvia’s “Love is Strange” to the mainstream so that’s pretty cool. Keith Floyd is being blamed for the advent of the “celebrity chef” in the media today but he seemed fairly amiable compared to an utter tosspot like Gordon Ramsey. I don’t think his memory deserves to be sullied like that.

And that kind of brings us up to the present, there’s all kinds of catching up to be done. I did consider nipping along to see this new “Taking Of Pelham 123” tonight but I think my time would be better spent restoring a semblance of order to the bunker. But not before I turn that godawful "request" show that's taken root on Radio Scotland between 6 and 8pm.

Congrats to Matt and Kim winning a VMA award for "Lessons Learned". If it was down to me they'd have won all of them. And given Kanye a good pummelling into the bargain.

OK, stuff do do. Lot of music to process and information to figure, not to mention e-mails with links to stuff that I'll never hear to delete. Am I sure I want to send it to the recycle bin? You bet.

RIP - Jim Carroll

(Thanks to Ms Karen McBurnie for the link - I'll lay off the "People Who Died" thing)

Greetings "Will Preston"!

Sort of lost the plot and am deeply disoriented but not in a bad way. When I got back from Edinburgh last night to Joachim’s message about my OX column the penny dropped. Priorities have gotten skewed and it’s time to try and get this sucker back on the rails.

“District 9” turned out to be pretty good, took me a wee while to acclimatise to the Harryhausenness of the “creatures” but after that it’s a pretty good yarn. And the main guy is like a Sellers, Rossiter with a side of Astin (Gomez Addams). You have to see it on a big screen. It was cracking red sky night following the first outright warm day in ages. Chips on the walk down to the station was the only way to go, just as the scumhordes spilled onto the streets.
Discovered a group, The Wee Baby Jesuses on the poster outside Henry’s. Wonder if the music can measure up to the moniker?

I'm headed for Glasgow now. Ultimately ending up at the Classic Grand. Maybe see you there?

I'm not long in and figured I'd jump on here quickly and remind you folks about this show tomorrow night. Cue Atomic Rooster.

For those who expressed an interest in being in Glasgow last night. I wasn't but the intrepid Duglas T Stewart came up with the link to the first clip on fb. I wasn't there either but will be at BMX Bandits Classic Grand shindig tomorrow (all going to plan)...