What the discerning punter will be after this RSD...

A roots rock-flavoured RSD song by Ted Wulfers
(Thanks to Bryan Thomas for flagging it on facebook)

Breathtaking Friday night music recoded midweek in LA (Thanks to DA via facebook).

It’s RSD eve. If any of you folks want any of the overpriced swag that’s been struck to commemorate it then let me have your requests "by close of play today". How heinous is that expression on a scale of one to very? It’s common in the workplace as an adjunct to the equally barf-worthy “I can see where you’re coming from” that is also prevalent. Anyway, with the exception of the alleged scarcity of the Hold Steady and Flaming Lips things most of this landfill should be available.

Day two of the volcanic hoo-hah. This could be used as an excuse for all kinds of nonsense over the foreseeable future. Safety is of course important but jobsworths will have a bloody field day and then there’s all the knock on Health and Safety considerations. Of course by considerations I mean bollocks.

And if petrol goes up much further then Shanks’ pony could well become the transport mode of necessity. As Judy Tenuta once famously said, “It could happen”.

Still, it’s that time on a Friday when nothing much will bring me down. Plenty of scope for that after teatime on Sunday but for now it’s (mostly) good.

This airport thing today is a bit of a to-do. The level of disruption caused by what I’m sure insurance companies will call an “act of god” is pretty much unprecedented. Even in these days of alerts and security hitches. I know that Saturday is some way off but I hope that Wooden Shjips are making their way to the UK by ferry rather than flight that day because they’re talking about this lasting into the weekend.

Volcanic ash? First Iceland stick the boot into the economy and now this. Well, you’ve got to try and laugh at least although I imagine that for anyone caught up in it that might not be entirely possible. Hopefully normal service will be resumed soon. And then there‘s the first of the 3 US-style political debates on TV here tonight. Don’t know why they just don’t open up the voting there and then and just get this over with.

It’d probably get a bigger turnout because that’s how the plebs like to do things. The £1+ per call charge could be donated to the national debt. No wait, sorry, what am I thinking. 50 quid (Hi Nick!!) won’t make much of a dent will it. Have you seen the expected viewing figures? Total fiction. "Election debate" - The new rock'n'roll? Doubtful but it'll be interesting(ish) just how slidey the whole thing gets. After all, these blighters are competing to see which one gets to take us off the cliff altogether. And I ain't talking that bloke that sings "Wired For Sound"...

Not sure if it’s the temperature and pressure fluctuations or the lack of air in the day prison but the headache that descended upon me yesterday is still providing me with the gyp. Not as bad but still irritating enough. There could be the aspect of sitting in front of a screen for too long too. With the best will in the world, it’s hard to break concentration when you’re in the middle of something. And come to think of it, it’s not just the waterbeds on legs that appear at the slightest sign of good weather. The gardeners set about disturbing the pollen and some of us know better than others what that means. I’ve even made a small start out there myself and have made an inner pact to try and do something every day with regard to that score.

In Mr Zaremba’s latest blog posting over at Busybuddy, he intimates the commitment that such a pursuit entails. My faltering attempts at updating every day are being hampered by several things not least of which is trying to attend to some stuff regarding home maintenance. Trying to drag the old hovel into some degree of good condition. There may even be some paint fumes that could get added to the mix at some juncture.

So excuse me while I shuffle some papers around but those of you in the US – Midwest/East Coast can rejoice that Wreckless Eric and Amy Rigby shows are coming together. Brother Randall and Sister Donna will be pleased to note that they’ll be heading for Dallas. Anyway, check the dates here and under no circumstances miss them. Attendance, where possible, is mandatory.

I was interested and intrigued by Brother Patrick’s response to my facebook status this morning. With regard to the art of being positive, even if it’s just to provide a good example. In his case, he bears all the hallmarks of someone who genuinely radiates such energy. To his credit, the attitude to life that this guy portrays is that of the ultimate role model. Me on the other hand, I explained that I wasn’t very good at kidding. There’s much that hacks me off and generally I don’t care who knows it.

Lately though I’ve been getting to think about trying to draw off some of the bile. I see you smirking, maybe even breaking into a laugh, but it’s true. I’ll never stop being angry but that anger needs to be channelled into something less self-destructive and more, for want of a better word, positive.

I’m not talking about having more faces than the town clock and merely acting out a role. There are plenty who do that. That couldn’t be true to their school even although their pissant existences depended on it but conspire to pull whatever fabric over our eyes to conceal their true colours. We’re right it the centre of just such a panto as so-called politicians jostle for centre stage. It’s very hard to be positive when you’re dealing with this calibre of scum.

On a lighter note, I think I’m going to can “twitter“. Such as it is. And as it is, I don’t. Regular blogging and burning time on fb takes up enough of this most precious of resources. So if you’re on there and expect to see anything from me then you probably won’t soon, I doubt you’ll notice. F'book seems to have at least some uses but “friend” numbers fluctuate up and down. I don’t understand why but the fact that I spotted this suggests to me that perhaps there are other more prudent aspects to my daily routine that could do with an overhaul. Still – no point in mithering unduly – maybe I’m just hyper –observant. Er....aye...

And what about “obese”? That being the word which incidentally rhymes with “Grease” a word of a previous era as opposed to the substance that pours the pounds on the sensitive little dears. It’s not to be used in relation to kids and I agree sort of because I always preferred the term “fat” and its companion “fatty”. The O word is not to be used because it might hurt them. Aw, diddums. Is it just me or is this country the most pampered, lily-livered place on earth?

So yeah, being positive. It’s just about possible when you discover something like this...

It’s always a bit bumpy on the first day back after a baby cow (or Wee Calf as we say here). The time went past in a blip and several things conspired to end yesterday on a downer. Still, I believe there’s still no means of unscrambling eggs so one just has to deal with damage limitation and attempt to make sure that such events are not repeated. The learning curve of existence is quite possibly something that no-one can manoeuvre without the requisite scrapes.

What is it now? Three weeks on Sunday until the big Hammersmith do? Who’s going, what show, that kind of thing? I have two standing tickets for the Monday that I’m trying to shift for a friend overseas that can’t make the scene. I’m not sure that show is sold out yet but I think the downstairs is. Face value, £30 a pop. I have the tix in my custody so they’re not imaginary.

There’s a facebonk campaign going to make “Anarchy in the UK” # 1 during the week of the election. They’re doing it for Malcolm. I think he’d prefer Bucks Fizz’s “Making Your Mind Up” myself. Were they any less manufactured than the Pistols? Perhaps not. The whole country will be in the full throes of a closing down sale the week afterwards anyway. That bumpy I was talking about before is poised to get a whole lot bumpier.

Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co. returns this week to the honky tonkin'est joint in town, the Rodeo Bar -- accompanied by our special guest singer, Rosalie Morris! Cold beer, Tex-Mex cuisine, and all the peanuts one can eat, you betcha... WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14th / RODEO BAR / 375 Third Avenue (at the corner of 27th Street) in Manhattan /Two tax deductible shows, from 10pm sharp until 12:30am / No cover!

Plus, in a rare Quaker State road trip, we'll be in Philadelphia on Saturday, April 17th, at the Fire -- as guests of our swingin' pals Delco Nightingale!

Sincerely yours,
Michael - Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co. "Ballads, Boogies & Blues"

This time next week it’ll all be over. Record Store Day that is.

I don’t imagine that there’ll be too many of you folks that won’t partake in one way or another? If there are “events” in your airt then let me know and I’ll post ‘em.

My own feelings about the day outside of the communal, social aspect is that it’s being used to flood the stores with overpriced, alleged collectables by an industry in tailspin. The business that it brings for one day needs to be the rule rather than the exception. But how do you educate those who never grew up with the experience and joy of a record store? Maybe you have to teach it in school?? Anyway, I don’t mean to bitch. In essence it’s a good thing although I’m more drawn to the home baking these days than the music. (KM – this means you!).

If my homies overseas need any of the UK stuff then let me know and I’ll try to fix you up. Can’t promise but I’ll do my best. I have it on sterling authority that there are plenty of MC5 and Stooges 45’s from last year still going too incase you missed out on those. There’s the heinous Ebay market to consider too. Vinyl touts will scoop up these already expensive artefacts and peddle them to people who almost deserve to be taken.

This revenue needs to be directed at the surviving store coffers, not some greedy bastards beer voucher fund. So please attend this event and make sure that you visit your most local emporium at least once a week from there on. I realise I’m preaching to the converted to some degree but you never know. It is Sunday morning, the perfect time for a sermon after all.
Plus I’m a little on edge, last day of the holidays and all that. All good things, turning back into a pumpkin, that kinda deal.

Here’s a list of what’s on offer as far as I know. I would urge you to buy something you want rather than something that will appreciate in value. There's a lot of cool, second hand stuff lurking in (some of) these places too so check out some of that action too.

Don't amble into chainstores or their affiliates. Support good old fashion(ed)- endangered species stores only - end of public service gab.

Update at 10.43am... here's a link to what's happening internationally locationwise.

Several small achievments have been made today. Nothing earth-shattering but still. You might recall my repatriating some signed photos of the musical group "Wild Horses" with fans in recent weeks. This is not to be confused with Bill and Ted's Wyld Stallyns. Anyway, I co-pro'd a show by then here in the dark mists of 1978 and couldn't for the life of me remember when it was.

The person who did the show with me had no recall that we ever did it at all so that was little help. So, that drove me to do something that I should have done at the start. I went to the library and looked at the local paper microfiche.

The result is here. My brother Iain shed further light by remembering that the openers were "Brody" and that they could have well have had ideas above their station in wanting a soundcheck. I remember nothing of the show whatsoever. Nada. But I never dreamt it so that's the important thing.

What I would say is that the library is a goldmine of information and today's experience made me appreciate the job these places do. And the staff were very cool and helpful. Greater world take a leaf out of their book please.

More "mimed performances" like this please... inspired by the Marc Campbell facebook thread that started off this morning with Middle of the Road's "Soley Soley" and also Kim Warnick's shout out for Montrose.

Flipside is back. This link (courtesy of Tim Stegall via fb) takes you to a downloadable PDF.

Great story, great song. 'nuff said.

RIP - Kenneth McKellar

A message from Murray...

The only covers band that I've ever really liked was the Ramonas - an all girl Ramones tribute. The New Edinburgh Dolls asked me if I'd like to put together a similarly styled tribute band and although my initial thoughts were to say no I thought "I'll get my pal Lizzy to be Izzy Pop and put together an all girl stooges band !"

The all girl bit didnt materialise, but come see us play some good songs badly at bannermans tomorrow, we've got two guitarists and a sax player so its going to be a big bad sound and visually should be a lot of fun, we'll be onstage at 9pm, followed by the New Edinburgh Dolls comeback and farewell show - this will never be repeated so if you're out on the town tonight (Friday), pop in, its only 3 quid !

Bannermans gigs now always finish at 11pm so dont toddle along at midnight thinking you'll just catch the N.E.D.'s !

I miss Borders books. And of course prior to that, Tower in Glasgow. Where you could go in and graze all the new magazines are gone. Oh, I bought stuff too and my attic is a testament to having kept print sales alive in my time. So enough with the huffing and puffing. Yesterday, on my way to Stereo - I was reduced to WH Smith and got a little depressed when I picked up and N*E for the first time in forever. Mainly to check out the new "design". I'll be hornswaggled if it hasn't got all the hallmarks of a Sunday supplement. Dearie me and not a snip at £2.30 a go. And what a great idea, make it available with 10 different covers each featuring an artist that I would take a big detour to avoid.

And the Uncut CD this month is a "Punk before Punk" compilation. A dear friend remarked to me via text from Sweden last night that "we're getting old" after hearing about Malcolm. I am for sure.

Anyway, enough of that... here's something to read that recalls the golden days of rock writicism... Don Waller on The Stooges and The Runaways.

The past has haunted me a little this past week. Furthest back was when I walked to the place that the Blood Donation bus on Wednesday. I was just sending an e-mail to Amy Allison about the “Glasgow overspill” and remembered that I walked past the area where my parents got their first house, a flat, where I lived with them. We moved when I was 9 or 10 maybe.

This is significant because it was here that I got my first real taste of pop culture. A rumour went out to the effect that Davy Jones of The Monkees was to visit his “aunt” in the next building. Of course it was bollocks but the crowd that showed up is something that I’ll never forget. It got a little ugly too as I recall when it was obvious that it wasn’t happening. I was only wee but recall that I could read the situation and got the hell out of there. The flats are still there but “the pipes” a play area where the youngsters used to gather are gone. That’s where we started to hang out with girls as teenagers. Listening to T. Rex on “cassette” a new format of the time.

Anyway, I was dropping off a Wild Horses photo on my way to the community centre and did so. As it turns out, when the lady opened the door – her son works but doesn’t live in the town – I recognised her immediately. She worked at the same stalag for years. Small world. From there to the blood letting and it was the place where we kids eventually ended up attending a Sunday night disco. That’s if your parents would let you go. And if they didn’t, you snuck there anyway. Of the many memories I have of that time, hearing “Please Stay” by The Cryin Shames is the most pertinent. I also recall partaking in an early form of “headbanging” to Deep Purple’s “Black Night” there. I walked around a lot of old parts of the town both coming from and going to the garage to pick up the car. It was in for a radiator replacement and somehow I was compelled to wander past and through areas of onetime significance for one reason and another.

Getting back to The Monkees thing, I often use the wind-up tactic to the effect of likening the Pistols to them. And sometimes Take That but I consider the former to be half true. The news of Malcolm McLaren was a surprise and obviously his work impacted greatly on all of us having changed the landscape of what would become possible. He was at the amazing Punk Kongress that took place in Kassel, Germany – late September 2004 and trotted out his manifesto like the entertainer he’d become. Even Johnny Lydon has used that description today in his soundbite. 64 though, blimey – and Alx was 59. This is all within my ballpark and it’s screaming at me to get things figured out. Of course, I’m pretending not to hear. Oblivious to the spectre of oblivion.

However, I am aware that I need to connect important factors of past and present and intoning “La la la” loudly isn’t going to fly for much longer. This I know. However, doing something about it is a whole ‘nother entchilada altogether. At this point, I’m more preoccupied with having to go back to work on Monday. Three days away. You don't have to tell me that's pathetic. i am patently aware. I hear pish about never looking back, that you should just look forward. As ever, irrespective of geography, status or social pecking order, I am generally drawn toward limbo.

And I ain’t talking about shimmying below an ever-lowering pole here. Or am I?

The mind dislocation continues with this that I discovered via Marc Campbell's phasebook post...

“Let’s Rock” lived up to its name then. In the subterranean lair that is the venue below the Stereo Bar. The decor is strictly “Owl Cave” after all. An ambitious project to stage 20 years to the day from the original air date and I’m pretty sure that, as Gerry Love remarked, a lot of those present probably never saw it then. Brogues g/f, Jane has NEVER seen it. Can you imagine how great it must be to be in that position?

In addition to the vibe and the music, there was coffee (no milk) – doughnuts/donuts and cherry pie and I can personally vouch that the CP was better than that served up in the Mar T, having been there. The short set by New Shoes (for Leo), thankfully not a Paolo Nutini tribute act hit the spot delivered a very excellent version of “Pink Room” and a twisted “Just You and I”.
I saw Tut Vu Vu before and they’re great. Glasgow’s answer to Oddjob even. They had some technical difficulties and your reporter had to leave for the train before they were done. There was a cassette release by them recently that I keep meaning to pick up.

So an unmitigated success then, kudos to Ms Tara Quinn for pulling off something that was not a tribute but a celebration. Put together with an eye for the all important detail. Bob never showed up as far as I could tell but you know how that one is. And nobody told the penguin joke but that might have been just too, too much.

All tolled, a chickadee on a dodge dart kind of an evening kids. I could maybe have done with Diane sending me some of those earplugs that Coop got to withstand the Icelander antics. Maybe I stood too close to the PA but my head is still ringing but in a good way.

Good practice for Wooden Shjips two weeks from tomorrow I guess.

One of the lines involved with where I've just come from is, "It's happening again". And it is...

RIP - Malcolm McLaren

It can't be a bad thing to get up and find a message like this... so a reminder about the shindig tonight. The prelude to the greatest scene seen on TV in the last two decades. Scroll back a few days if you have no idea what i'm talking about.

"HELLO. I WAS WONDERING IF I MIGHT TROUBLE YOU FOR A CUP OF STRONG BLACK COFFEE AND IN THE PROCESS ENGAGE YOU WITH AN ANECDOTE OF NO SMALL AMUSEMENT".

The latest in consistent static from Moon Duo is this two track 7" on Agitated. Timely as the Electric Eels single of the same name will enjoy a special release (on the same imprint) for the impending Record Store Day. While aspects of this "happening" scream racket at me, the kernel of the idea is an important one. The spirit needs to be sustained for 365 days not just 1. And I don't care how limited The Hold Steady release is, I still don't fucking want one. Thanks though.

So you've got "Catch As Catch Can" and a suitable incendiary re-telling of The Scientists "Set It On Fire". In addition to making compulsive noise they have excellent taste into the bargain. Can't find anyplace where you can stream it or grab an mp3 but really, you need to grab a copy of the single. This stuff is tactile and a "file" simply isn't enough to keep a lid on just how contagious this combo is.

Note to Phil Alexander - This is the best rock'n'roll band on the planet right now because the noise they kick up seeps right into your bones. There's nothing approximating a varnish thin veneer here, this is solid mahogany to the point of mighty oak. A real reason to howl.

Brother Don just sent me this. Way more impressive than anything CGI could ever hope to offer...

Tuesday April 6th. The introduction of a 50% tax rate for high earners (which counts me way out) and also something called the “fit note” replacing the “sick note”. When I heard about that first, I thought it was some token Aberdonian lingo being sneaked into the mainstream but no. It’s another unnecessary pile of shite to contend with in the maelstrom of everyday existence. In addition, it’s widely believed that the general election will be called today. I’m thinking this isn’t Japanese but if it was it would be very apt, considering the members that are involved. At the present trajectory, I think that the UK will be closed from about May 15th.

I mentioned on Fizzogblag yesterday that I saw “Alice In Wonderland”. If you were considering it, don’t bother. It’s rubbish. If it hadn’t been for the tiffin cake, things could have really taken a dive. If you’ve seen the trailer then you’ve seen the best bits. It wasn’t in 3D incidentally but I didn’t relish having to wear another pair of stupid glasses over the gregs that I rely on to see anyway.

However, all is not complete doom and gloom. I’m heading for Glasgow and could well be there for some time. Catch you on the flipside.

It’s a dismal looking day outside. Still I’ve been determined to catch “Alice In Wonderland” at the cuppa showing since I saw it in the programme. I’m curious as to just how Mark Ryden it all is. That’s no convoluted rhyming slang by the way. The price has gone up by 5 bob since my last visit but you can’t really whack a film, a coffee and a cake for £5.25 at the real cool time of 11am.

I really like an early schlep to the cinema because the pond life doesn’t stir until later. Fingers crossed that the “poor weather conditions” will send any such individuals and their troupes in the direction of the malls or anywhere else. Few things to run by you, incase you find yourself on the computer grazing for stuff to pass the time.

I posted this NBT article on facebook yesterday I think but maybe you’d like to see it if you don’t hang out on that particular branch of time-wasting.

JD King has another episode of Metaphors (#19)up. I call them episodes now because it’s like a cool literary TV show. Cinematic with just the one picture. Just in... Ep 20.

Great Mose Allison interview (Thanks Amy)

Pictures of Margaret DollRod from Paris last week. Lucky so and so, Brother Patrick had a version of “Psycho” dedicated to him at this very shindig by this very bombshell.

And news of the imminent new album by Billie The Vision and the Dancers.

On first listen I wasn’t struck. I’m not sure if it was just because I expected something else or on account of the opening cut “Devotional Number One” sounding like a field recording that Alan Lomax might have captured several moons ago. It swells during the course of the track to full sonic strength though.

I’m not familiar with his fellow Austin-ites Okkervil River and I know that there are some Rok zealots out there that aren’t amused. This set is an altogether different beastie to anything he recorded with The Explosives or The Aliens. There are aspects of both and a helping of Texicana (a specific strain of Americana). No demons, ghosts or gremlins with pictures, polaroid or otherwise. “True Love Casts Out All Evil” is quite a peaceful record, completely at odds with the – in my opinion disrespectful – documentary that I’m always surprised anybody likes. There’s no evidence of maelstrom or static, just one of the greatest singers of all time with the chance to do what he was put here to do.

Ambulance chasers may be disappointed as might those who want it to be a little louder or a little more rock. My own particular favourite side of the great man is his Buddy Holly/Bobby Fuller sounding material and this set does reflect this to some degree. So like I said, I was a bit indifferent at first but having spent more time getting acclimatised than I have with any other album in recent memory, the work is paying off. Of course, I’d love to hear him make a record with The Nomads or the version of Evil Hook Wildlife ET he played in NY with a couple of years ago. The thrill is essentially is that he can make music at all. The fact that some of it is so damn moving is an obvious plus.

“Goodbye Sweet Dreams” has been trailed over the past few weeks so I suspect that anybody who cares has heard that. You may be familiar with much of the other material in one form or another but if this introduces Roky to another generation of believers then its fine with me. I don’t really need to hear “You’re Gonna Miss Me” ever again, I can play it in my head at any given second. And this stuff is way better than any of those “Beast Is Coming” plodding blues workouts.

The album feels like a sermon of sorts. “Be and Bring Me Home” has a mournful Sally Army band swing to it. “Bring Back The Past” is more upbeat and ringing with the hallmarks that I mentioned before. “Please Judge” is perhaps the one that sticks most with it’s strange otherworldly fugue recalling “All that May Do My Rhyme” and Lou’s Berlin spine tingler “The Kids” directed by David Lynch. There’s a genuine strangeness that doesn’t involve monsters but I suspect Alfred Hitchcock would have dug it.

“John Lawman” is something that might have fared better in the hands of a more rockin’ combo but it sounds OK. “Forever” gets back to the vibe of the overall piece and guides it all back toward disturbed tranquillity. By the time it gets to “God is Everywhere” we’re back to the detached, pastoral element and it’s all over.

The album April 24th on Chemikal Underground in Europe and on April 20th on Anti- in the USA. I’m hoping that CU might be able to wangle bringing the man to Scotland as part of Celtic Connections next January because there’s a definite folk element to this that could sit under this umbrella. We’ll see.

Well, there goes today... Nick West posted a whole bunch of links on YouTube. Some fine, fine gear. Here's a couple of tasters...





And while it's on my mind, I believe there's a new issue of BoB out.

Two decades since Twin Peaks crashed some of our lives. I had never even considered drinking coffee up until that point. By way of celebration – an evening entitled “Let’s Rock” will take place on Thursday April 8th at Stereo in Glasgow.

Here are a couple of my favourite clips from the series...

De-mob frivolity, or perhaps just plain relief, probably just about covers it. The feeling of not having to go to the salt mines until a week on Monday. While there’s no real means of funding a blow-out, a low key rake about is planned. The "cuppa" showing of "Alice In Wonderland" on Monday for sure. And as always a consideration to try and bring order to the clutter that’s kicking about here, records, tapes, magazines, photos, posters, etc. I’ve a mind to find a cassette of The Dreamboys live at the Hotel International, here in Grangemooth sometine in 1980 if I recall. Their drummer at the time was a chap by the name of Craig Ferguson. I wonder what happened to Roddy Murray? Mr Stim having sent me the audiobook of "American On Purpose" is what prompted this.

With it being easter, the main point of consideration is how Cadbury’s Crème Eggs got to be so small in addition to the chocolate wall being thinner and the fondant filling reduced. No doubt the work of some bean counter (haw haw). It made me think of the deep-fried “Easter Special” that A Salt and battery in NY did some years ago.

I realise that with it being a holiday, you have better things to do than hang about online so off you go. Make good use of your time, don’t do as I do – do as I say. See you Saturday sometime.

The day prison is less than a mile from the place that The Damned played 33 years ago today. I was thinking about that, and how my count with regard to time passed since the ‘zine began might be light because it doesn’t include leap the leap years. The band had made an appearance at Hot Licks in Edinburgh’s Cockburn street that afternoon. We’d made them spraypainted drumkit logo (like the back of the New Rose 45) t-shirts to celebrate their first headlining stint north after opening for T-Rex in 1976.

The Damned were easily my favourite UK punk band at the time and I wrote a letter to Punk magazine to back up that premise. Anyway, as I recall it was an eventful day. There were a lot of skirmishes at the show, just like the press reported happened at “punk rock” events during that time. The notion of there being something happening up and down the country was palpable. It was down to the bush telegraph and things took time to percolate. Not like now with things being over before they properly began.

Were things better back then? Don’t have time to get into that now but TV Smith is at The Citrus Club in Edinburgh tomorrow night (2nd). He’s one of the very few who’s still at it that’s worth seeing because he’s moving forward, not languishing in the kebab in a basket circuit. Even although this takes in some of the same venues.

I was hoping that the story about The L*bert*nes being back “together” is an April fool but I fear not. Another bunch of overrated tosspots out to soak up the cash and time of those that deserve to be taken. Please don’t even try to justify their existence to me because it won’t wash.

Still, I believe that next week’s rail strike has been averted so that’s a good sign. 5 more hours of relative purgatory then “school” is out. If I can shake this cold then I shall consider myself to have won the proverbial watch.

RIP - David Mills

Looking at the stats this morning, I noticed a link from something called feedjit.com and wondered how that ‘f’ got in there? Don’t think I’ll ever get a beat on how all that works and how people end up here. Those seeking drugs and porn must be sorely disappointed. There have even been some typing in “plant food” and I know Amy and Eric played a Garden Centre during their recent UK jaunt but c’mon.

Still battling this cold and reckon that these olbas hankies are making it worse. The elixir itself is good for clearing the heid. These are not but they do paint an amusing looking red blotch around the nasal region. I was out of the game last night. Woke up around 10.45pm and decided that I should probably be asleep. This morning was a bust too and I expected the lurghi to engulf me completely but I dragged myself out and don’t feel quite so gubbed. This has no bearing on whether I’ll pass out again though.

While I’m vertical, I should deal with some e-mail...

And finally... it’s that time again. 33 x 365 (12045 days) tomorrow (April 1st) since a certain half-arsedly photocopied rag modestly christened “The Next Big Thing” made its way into the world. Happy birthday to us.

Friday April 2nd in Athens, Ga.

Watching a snow blizzard blow over what passes for a prairie outside of the day prison window this morning was depressing. After the past few weeks of relatively decent temperatures, it’s cold and insidiously damp. Of the type that seeps into your bones. In addition to this, I’m pretty sure the lurghi is working its magic to clobber me in the coming days. My wee nose is redder than Rudolph’s right now.

Despite the fact that I have a fairly low threshold for “urban” music in general, here’s something that came to my attention at the weekend. Having hummed and hawed about posting it, the video itself is excellent, not least because it was inspired by M&K’s “Lessons Learned”.

In addition to this being their favourite type of music, the clip seizes the style of the Zapruder Kennedy assassination footage as it may have been captured on the technologu of now. In these days of being deluged with “fluff”, this is fairly hard hitting and should stir up a lot of attention. And hopefully stir a whole ‘nother demographic for Matt & Kim.

In the new Mojo, Phil Alexander suggests that anyone who doesn’t think that the JJR is the best rock’n’roll band on earth right now is a fool. If so then I’m one of those, in at least 72pt red capital letters. If they truly believe that statement to be true then we’re doomed and would do well to turn our backs on the form once and for all. Ben Vaughn tried to tell me that r’n’r was dead and I didn’t listen. He even wrote it down for me. I was having none of it.

When I read statements like that, I can almost taste the desperation. It’s OK to buy into that notion but when it’s so blatantly awry then you have to start to think that it could be more than a taste blip. So pity the fool folks, as he breaks into another packet of hankies.

Ah, British Summer Time... The snow is back on the hills and the temperature has plummeted in correlation with the clocks going forward. It’s practically Easter and this time next week I’ve got a week’s pass from the day prison. There are all kinds of practical things I need to do during this period but as always, we’ll see. Still it does prefer a light at the end of the tunnel. One of the things I’ve been putting off forever is making a will and in recent times have been pondering this. It’s pretty tough trying to decide who will be heir to this Dictators “Bloodbrothers” 8-track you know.

Getting back to the white powder, it must have been the right kind of snow though because it’s disappeared pretty sharpish. None of that stuff we had at Christmas that hung about for weeks that stopped us getting about. No point really because the trains and planes not running will see to even greater inconvenience wrought over the next wee while. Speaking as one that hasn’t had a pay increase for a couple of years now, I know how it is with the crawlspace up before the thin end of the wedge. Still, I don’t have the means of bringing the country to a standstill to protest so I’ll just have to tholl it.

It was remiss of me not to mention Ken Fox yesterday when I was assembling this. I actually forgot he was Canadian and was in The Scenics ‘tween 1980 and 1982. It’s a cold, damp evening here and I’m going nowhere both figuratively and physically. Getting to this point has been a minor ordeal in itself. So you’ll excuse me if I don’t feel like prattling on...

Jon Strider' s "Fresh Tracks" (New Sky) is a peculiar beast. I wouldn’t even have listened to it if I hadn’t noticed that it was Swedish. The cover looks like it’s a Chris De Burgh record and not a giant leap from sounding like Don Henley but really not bad at all. Well arranged and played bar-room AOR of an old-fashioned quality that individuals of a certain vintage certainly wouldn’t hate. The lesson here is not to judge a CD by its cover.

Symply Bill's "Sound Experiment" (s/r) - A Kingsport, TN based singer/songwriter. Neither folk nor country, maybe a little of both. That moniker isn’t doing him any favours and there’s a typo on the sleeve that should read myspace.com/symplybill. Similarly not moving me is Lonnie Kjer/Stefan Mork's "13 songs". Angsty Danish folk with a tiny hint of Lynchian twang but little else to recommend it. Tony Denikos is a seasoned Americana-rer based in Maryland. He has a lot of heavy hitters helping him round out his sound on this here “Already Gone” album. These include Warner E. Hodges providing a CCR type shape to the alternate take of “Lauralite”.

There’s a quote by Andrew Loog Oldham to Uncut magazine inside the info booklet of the Born 53 CD that seems to be being associated with the contents. This skews any worthy aspect that this mature country blues ramble might have. “Foreign Accent” is firmly lodged in Knopfler territory but they seem to have a sense of humour and I get the feeling they’re pleasing themselves. Sometimes it seems like there isn’t a generation gap anymore but something like this hammers it home that there certainly is. The skiffle-y version of “Don’t Do It” really made me want to hear The Fleshtones “J-Geils” twist to that very tune.

The Neighbourhood Bullys “What” (Rank Outsider Records) is co-produced by Mike Chapman. They’ve got a kind of power pop Dictators/Cheap Trick thing going on with a side dynamic that recalls The Knack and also Redd Kross. They’re pushing all the right buttons but I’m not entirely sold on the songs, “Sux 2 B U” is every bit as awful as the title suggests. Having said that, give me the NB’s over guff like The Hold Steady any day of the week.

Revolve are a Gothenburg power trio and “Burning Money” suggests what might have happened if Cheap Trick was the template for The Hellacopters instead of the MC5. I’m not a great fan of three piece bands but this one kicks up quite the racket. They’re not exactly breaking new ground but they’re giving it a good bloody pummelling.

Slowman is back. Back where he started according to this new album. That’s somewhere between Stevie Ray Vaughn and Robert Cray. “Southside” bears a bit of a resemblance to “Owner of a Lonely Heart”. I shouldn’t even let on that I recognise that. Imagine what that could do to a guy’s credibility, assuming he had any? More than proficient, at its best, Slowman reminds me of Henning Staerk. Superior veteran pub rock stylings as only the Scandanavians can pull it off. “Don’t Wanna Know” in particular entertains a lyric that chimes with my particular worldview.

Patrick Crowson will appeal to fans of Chris Whitley, Paul Burch and Townes.

The Scenics “Sunshine World” (Dream Tower Records) comprises studio recordings from 1977/78 and it’s plain that the NY underground had a mainline to Toronto. This isn’t punk rock per se, more a Talking Heads/Velvets hybrid with a side of “Adventure” period Television. It stands up pretty good and predates what would have been the Danceteria years in Manhattan where Art Rock and Punk atoms were split never to come together again in quite the same continuum. Arguably the PR that eventually broke in the USA was a co-opted Edgy College Rock. Sure it was diverse but by that time there were corporations involved. Still in Scenics-ville, “How Does It Feel To Be Loved” is their Velvets side given full reign to provide an almost theatre score to an off-off OFF Broadway recon of Lou and Co at Max’s. Recorded between ’77 and ’80 in a stark, live, low tech manner it stands up bloody well and if you close your eyes and squint you’ll hear Lou channel his inner Tiny Tim.

Remember, this was captured in a time before everyone finally woke up and grabbed a copy of the VU debut. The version of “Beginning To See The Light” swings in a Byrds-y fashion while the rendition of “Real Good Time” was recorded when they opened for The Troggs in June 1978. This veers between faithful and straight out liberty taking but somehow it’s a snapshot of a far less cynical time when the notion that “anyone can do it” quite patently did.

Joel Alme’s “Waiting For The Bells” (Razzia) should really be available on a box set of 7” singles. With big hole dinked centres and labels that look like old Spector acetates. The unabashed Righteous Brothers via Pete Wylie pop soul harks back to a time when AM radio would have been all over this like a rash. This sound is so out of kilter with now that it’s practically radical. Shades of “Herd” type brass punctuate the already gospel like nature of these torch tunes. The arrangements are pretty spectacular and I know these things can be created synthetically now this really sounds like they went the whole nine yards. Who cares if “No Class” sounds a wee bit like “Badlands”?

Eleven orchestral manoeuvres with the power to deck you, that may never be heard outside of Sweden. That’s just not right.

And sticking with Scandinavia for the wind-out, Jasmine Kara’s “Blues Ain’t Nothin’ But A Good Woman Gone Bad” ignites some forgotten Chess chestnuts for a contemporary audience. This 21 year old is the polar opposite of the karaoke singers that are constantly paraded before us. This set bridges the chasm between what has become pigeonholed as “urban” and the biblical meaning of “rhythm and blues”. They used to call it soul until that term was co-opted too.

Actually, it doesn’t matter a toss what they CALL it because when you hear it, it’ll knock you on your arse. .In this post-Winehouse environment I think there’s a place for an artist that can belt it out and I’ll be damned if Jasmine Kara doesn’t have a shot at it. One appearance on Jools Holland and the blue touch paper would be lit. The ska-flavoured “Try My Love Again” is a shoe in hit “single” if there still is such a thing. Here’s a project where great songs have been put together with a cracking singer and an ace band. No finagling or delusions in sight.

“Grits aint Groceries” is my hitpick but this is a class act all the way. Jasmine may be no relation to Irene Cara but surely headed for some kind of fame and I’ll be damned if I wouldn’t LOVE to hear her tackle Annika’s “Leaving You Behind”.

It’s “British Summer Time” kids! Rejoice and look out that swimming cossie. If I go out today, I expect to see water beds on legs soaking up the rays. And there are rays at the moment strangely although snow is forecast at “low levels” next week. I guess this is just ahead of the UK closing for business over the Easter break and beyond. The greed of mainstream politics has broken the populace. If one of the karaoke singers from one of these TV shows was to stand as prime minister then they’d probably win. After all, they get much more attention.

The playground antics of our choices to run the country are frankly a bit worrying. Katie Price must be in with a shout. Ever since David Sutch passed on there hasn’t been a viable alternative because I reckon that neither Rory Bremner nor Armando Iannucci would feel comfortable with just how far-fetched supposed reality has become.

There was just a news item on about some “curriculum for excellence” being introduced to the education system here in Scotchland. If anything is guaranteed to raise my hackles it’s the use of the word “excellence”. It’s my belief that such a beastie should be the norm. As soon as the idiots start using the label then you can be sure that “below average” would be more like the outcome. In these times of jumping through hoops and (grimace) “ticking boxes”, actual excellence (in Bill and Ted terms) is a fallacy. Meanwhile “be excellent to one another” and don’t be surprised by just how far down the food chain that Britain will end up over the next few months.

Overseas readers, come visit, fill your boots before the lights go out altogether and there’s no way of getting about this shithole of a country.

On a lighter note, some things you may care to partake of...

The new Dig It! Has the JJR on the cover. You know what I think of them and the mag, as always has the scoop on all the latest r&r action from all over.

The latest release from Red Star Digital is Go!

Robert Barry Francos continues to raid the Ffanzeen vaults with this Gun Club piece from 1983.

Some fresh air is in order, I’ve already done my ironing and having posted this, am heading out of doors. I may be some time and might just keep walking...

RIP - Dr John Ciambotti

(info via Rob Patterson)

A missive from Mr Shernoff (via myspace)

"I'm playing Maxwell's this Saturday, March 27th....1039 Washington Street - Hoboken, NJ 07030-5201... it's an early show - 7:30pm. Songs and stories from the days when sex was safe and drugs were cool!!!!"

Click image to enlarge

This has turned out to be a resume of the week. Folks have been dropping by to read Ben’s piece on Alex so I deliberately held back the flood gates so that they wouldn’t have to wade through acres of me doing my LD bit to get to it. Having stuff like that to put on here is both a thrill and a privilege. You can read it over at the BV site and while you’re at it maybe grab copies of his latest recordings. Everyone a Rambler 65 (as opposed to maserati). Writing of that calibre also makes me forget (briefly) that I was put here for better things than some of the shit I’ve had to contend with over the past few days. I have that Friday afternoon mellow feeling but am aware that this weekend is an hour shorter. That could easily get my hackles up if I dwell on it but at this point, said situation is some way in the distance. Even factoring in the speed at which one’s free time scoots in like the proverbial rocket. So at this juncture, we’re all alright.

Is the browser problem still happening to you? I thought I’d fixed that. Perhaps I need to upgrade to one of these generic templates but don’t really want to.

Tuesday pretty muck sucked part from that. Mainly down to a shenanigan with my trying to renew my road tax. First online, then on the telephone. My insurance details aren’t on their database so they couldn’t process my application. To find this out, I had to go through the automated sequence from hell eventually talking to someone. Only to be faced with “computer says no” indifference. Once I get all of this sorted out, I’m going to tear the DVLA Customer Relations dept. a new one. Via the good old postal system with an envelope and a stamp, the whole nine yards. I imagine that I should just file that under “these things are sent to try us” but it utterly hacked me off and someone must pay.

“It’s just computers” (I swear, that's what she said) and “You’ll just have to go to a post office” were the indifferent statements that made my blood boil when I called the agent with regard to why said info wasn’t coming up on the database. I thanked the person "for being of no help whatsoever” and hung up, stopping just one smidge short of spontaneous combustion. The bisom's tone was what really capped it off. I know computers are a pain in the rectum but I don’t expect the representative of a place I’m paying to provide a service to just fob me off.

The expression curmudgeon applies to me. Guilty as charged. Not being one of life’s bubbly go getters, I hope that I don’t portray a number of faces to suit any particular situation. Having said that, if someone asks me for help, or advice or whatever then I’ll do my damndest to do what I can. An ethic that seems to be in short supply this last wee while. If someone pisses up my back and tells me that it’s raining then woe and at least thrice woe betide them and the tussle with the broker’s representative was one of those. Like a follow on from the DVLA run in from last night.

These droids are not programmed to operate out with a radius of being a dimbulb. Is it too much to expect to get some service? A couple of answers?? I don’t think so and all of this fucked me right off. The start of the week had been pretty reasonable. It never occurred to me that I might be overdrawn at the karma bank.

There was the hooking up of some Wild Horses fans with some 30+ year old signed photos. The catch was that they donate something to a charity of their choosing. Conscience will be their guide. This is perhaps some more of this rock’n’roll ministry practice showing itself or maybe I’ve lost the plot altogether. I had also reconnected with folks that I should have never become disconnected with in the first place. A peculiar twist of fate with an outcome I never expected.

In closing, I will indeed always “go to the post office” in future because there you can get stuff done. The DVLA can jolly well stick their “online” service where the sun divnae shine. Laminated and torn sideways for extra sensitivity.

Anyway, it’s very gratifying to see the press on the new Mose Allison record and also that Amy is being recognised as having made a very cool contribution both on the duet “A New Situation” and her dad doing “Everybody Thinks You’re An Angel”. The people who are writing about “The Way of The World” seem to be blessed with a sense that eludes your average “Americana” or whatever scribe that trots out the generic ignoramus reaction to her instrument. The “Before Mose there was nothing” lobby must be thrilled that this new album is finally out.

Let’s see what else, I’m chuffed to have made Amy Rigby’s diary. I think she’s kidding about the “cheerier film” bit. Also in recent times, I swelled the ranks of The Beat Army so I’m not doing too badly. They’re reporting here today that the price of alcohol is being raised to save lives. Is the government really that stupid? There are sections of society that don’t fucking eat because they’d rather neck booze for whatever reason. So now they’ll eat less. The money will be diverted to the health service or something. Aye. Right. Are you familiar with the expression “shower of bastards”? I dare say you are. I know that the Rev. Thewlis is spitting feathers .

Got a loan of some Bonanza DVDs from a colleague recently and was immediately blindsided by the fact that they don’t start with common theme tune. Is nothing sacred? Guess not.

Thank the lord then for Bucks Burnett’s Eight Track Museum... (thanks to Martin for the link)

RIP - (The other) Jim Marshall

Another link!

Please note - This is the photographer not "The Hound" - Links courtesy of JD King and Steve Hesske)

RIP - Johnny Maestro

(Thanks to Mr D'uff for the info, short obit here...)

RIP - Robert Culp

THE GO-GO will be officially a decade old on Saturday 3rd April.

10th Birthday Bash - 10.30 - 3am, downstairs @ Studio 24, Edinburgh. £7/£5

with two live sets from THEM BEATLES

60s Pop Beat Garage Soul Mod & Psychedelia played by the ever-fresh DJ's Tall Paul Robinson & Big Gus.

Always progressive, Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co. is back at Otto’s Shrunken Head this week – and with a long-overdue return by our special guest singer, Rosalie Morris!

THURSDAY, MARCH 25th / And the last Thursday of every month! /OTTO'S SHRUNKEN HEAD / 538 East 14th Street (just west of Avenue B) in ol' Manhattan /Two modernistic shows, from 8:00 sharp until 10:00 / With special guest Rosalie Morris, plus the usual DJ "Son of Scratchy", salty snacks, and no cover!

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

also on Twitter and Facebook

P.S. For those of you with a bent for beef, we had our fill on Sunday at the Brooklyn Beefsteak. B-E-E-F!

RIP - Marva Wright

I do believe this is a scoop. From the one, the only Ben Vaughn...

REMEMBERING ALEX

I met Alex Chilton in the early Eighties in New York City. We were introduced by our mutual friend Mike. I was just starting my music career and Alex was the guy who produced the Cramps and I needed a producer so I handed him a demo of my songs. He took it, examined it from all angles as if he’d never seen a cassette tape before, looked me in the eye and asked, “Is this original material?” I nodded yes and in a very blasé voice he said, “great” and put it in his pocket. My friend Mike and I shrugged at each other. We assumed the tape would be tossed.

A few years later I had a record deal and was booked by the same agent who handled Alex and he put us together on a tour of the Midwest. At the first sound check in Kansas City, Alex strolled in, introduced himself and told me how much he liked the cassette as if he had just received it and said it was “a gas” to be working with me. I loved the words he was saying but again, the blasé tone threw me off. I was beginning to see why “misunderstood” always preceded “genius” when Alex’s name came up. It was hard to figure the guy out.

We went on to do a few more tours and spent a lot of time together. He wasn’t an easy guy to get to know. He could be silent for long periods and you had to get used to that dead air. But then he could suddenly go off on a two-hour dissertation about the South during Reconstruction complete with exact names, dates, and places. Or recite every one of Lawrence Olivier’s lines in “The Entertainer” from memory. And then, out of nowhere, more dead air. He was “an interesting bunch of guys” as my dad would say.

But we had fun. I enjoyed egging him on about how much I loved Gary Puckett and The Union Gap which always touched a nerve, possibly reactivating a professional rivalry from the Sixties. “Listen to yourself!” he would moan, “Listen to yourself!” One time he pulled the car over and demanded I eject a cassette of Mel Torme’s “California Suite” and throw it as far as I could into the bushes off the Missouri interstate. I had to get out of the vehicle to really give it my best shot and he almost drove away without me. For some reason, the only thing we were able to agree on was that Freddie Cannon still “had it” as a performer.

When not touring, Alex and I stayed in touch, visited each other in our respective cities, and at one point even tried writing songs together though we never really finished anything. In the mid-nineties, I was producing a dark “midnight sessions” blues album by Alan Vega and told Alex about it. He loved Alan’s voice and offered to pay his own way from New Orleans to be involved. We recorded over three nights and called the album Cubist Blues. It was released in the States and in France. We played two shows to promote it, one in NYC and one at a festival in France.

Soon after that I moved to L.A. to score for films and TV. In 1998, I was hired to provide music for That ‘70s Show and the creators wanted the opening of the show to feature the cast singing along in a car to their favorite hit song. After throwing around Seventies song titles like “We Won’t Get Fooled Again” and “Eighteen,” I asked if maybe we could use a song that wasn’t actually a hit in the Seventies--but should have been. “Sure,” they said, “As long as it’s great.” One of the writers was a Big Star fan so I asked him to run down to his office and grab his CD of the first album. I played “In The Street” for the producers and they went nuts. It was a classic Hollywood moment. They jumped up and down and yelled, “That’s our song!”

After a discussion about re-recording it at a faster tempo to sound more like The Who or Bad Company, the business affairs people went about securing a deal with the song’s publishers. I called Alex and told him the news. He was thrilled. He always thought the song should have been a hit. “Better late than never,” he said. And it was good for the show too. They had a quality theme song that was actually written in the Seventies. It was good news for everybody.

Turning it into a TV theme was not easy. Even with the quicker tempo, we had a hell of time fitting the first verse and chorus into the allotted thirty seconds given to us by the network. It was amusing to learn later of the conspiracy theory in the rock world that Fox had censored the line about the joint. Definitely not true! We could hardly fit in the first verse much less the second verse containing the drug reference. But Alex inspired that kind of loyalty among fans and critics. They wanted to take care of him and defend him against the evils of the entertainment business. That’s how it is with misunderstood geniuses.

But the truth is Alex was happy to see “In The Street” finally get the exposure he felt it deserved. Every time we spoke on the phone through the years he would lead off with “How’s our show doing?” I’ve heard reports that that his royalties from the show paid all of his bills from that point on. I don’t know if that’s true but I do know he was paid quite well over the last twelve years. And he seemed more content than ever in the end. When I last visited Alex in New Orleans he was in love with his gal Laura and seemed relaxed and excited about life.

It’s going to take a while for me to realize that he’s gone. Sure, I’ll miss his music like everyone else but mostly I’ll miss his blasé tone and unpredictable nature.

“An interesting bunch of guys” indeed.

Sincere thanks to Ben for letting us have this...

Jeez-o. JD is pitching 'em quicker than I can field the blighters. Does that make sense? I have not a scoob about sports terminology but it does to me. Three more chapters of Metaphors, go get them...

16, 17, 18

and Mose Allison in The New Yorker (thanks Amy)

Everybody knows that the finite format for enjoying popular music is the 7” single. Even something like Radiohead might sound better like that, not that I’m about to listen to that guff on the off chance. And that brings me to a few excellent examples of the breed that I’ve encountered lately.

Caroline Andersen’s “Birthday Suit” on L’Edonista is pressed on hot pink vinyl. As perfect a burst of cheeky (no pun intended, particularly if you’ve seen the sleeve) motorised pop as you’re ever likely to encounter. Brought to you via the good offices of Captain Morten Henriksen, effervescence guaranteed. I think there’s an album in the works so as soon as that is on its way then you’ll be getting the skinny. See what I did there? You’d never think for a moment that I’m sitting here kvetching over how much my car MOT is gonna shake me down for. Caroline has a way of making you forget about stuff like that.

I mentioned Juanito Wau’s One Mouth Band before and his debut 45 is out now on the charmingly monikered I Shit In The Milk imprint – pressed on white vinyl with brown print, very fetching. No matter how broad-minded your mother is she won’t like this. Beatboxers beware as this human (?) hot rod delivers his satanic oral revs in a way that will outright worry Bobby McFerrin fans. I feel a strange affinity with this guy because I used to perform similar noise-making experiments. My excuse is not being able to hold a tune. But Juan can – you betcha. Brilliant and uncompromising, the wildest thing I’ve heard in a very long time. (Cheers Inigo)

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr Paul Collins in Madrid last October and have been digging reinvestigating his excellent back catalogue. This split single with The Beat and Radio Days on Italian label Surfinki is a great example of just how he’s still cutting a dash here in 2010. The PCB side is toting a kind of Skeletons do Billy Joel shindig and RD are operating in a universe not entirely removed from that of Teenage Fanclub. (Thanks Juanco)

The Eruption Organisation has unleashed their first foray into 7” vinyl with a split 45 that features a side apiece by The Bonnevilles and Thee Phantom Herd. The former are Free or Frankie Miller having done some kind of RJ deal with the devil. I was expecting something entirely different but this could have wide appeal and is several light years better than anything I’ve heard by The Raconteurs to drop a name. Other than the fact that I believe said combo knocked out a version of (I think) “Headin’ For The Texas Border”. Thee PH are not without their charm also and I’d venture that this could be how the JJR could sound if they took their hooves off the decibel level. This is swingin’ lowdown dirty bluesmanship. “Lordy” richt enough and will raise you a “have mercy”.

I would hope that you’d all have the A-Bones “Not Now!” by now but maybe you don’t have the 45 of “Shallow Grave”. Written by Andy Shernoff and performed with the gusto you’d expect from the Nortonian royalty. When I spin this it makes me miss them SO MUCH I can hardly stand it. And in addition you get a non-LP cut. What’s not to grab.

Twinning Madrid with NYC is not a new concept. There’s been a tunnel between the two for a long time and The Thunderbolts is a cocktail of two Dictators (JP and Ross) and three died in the wool (The Pardos and Juanco) Spanish rock guns for hire. Japanese label Target Earth has released a JP song “On The Tip” with a cover of the hymn “Stay With Me” sung by Miguel as a shiny black thing that ought to put a bustle in your hedgerow.

Still no word on the car, no news is er, no news

Go Little Hammer!

All the info you need to score a copy of this little beauty can be found here. So don't dilly dally or they'll all be gone.

Stereo Total is something I never tire of. Acts come and go but these folks just plough a unique furrow that just confounds and delights time after time. They embody a rock’n’roll aesthetic that those who concoct a sound out of a modular record collection concept will never ever achieve. A bottomless pit of heart and soul.

Some folks don’t get it, but that usually means that they never saw 'em live. Not that the show is anything like the records but that’s another aspect that sets them apart. For complete satisfaction, I think you need to experience both. Seeing them unlocks a portal and I expect they’ll be on the road to promote their new Disko B release “Baby Ouh” so take opportunity when it presents itself and thank me for the tip later.

“An attempt to record exactly the music that Stereo Total would like to hear on the radio themselves”. And the world would certainly be a much better place if “I Wanna Be A Mama” was on heavy rotation. Much of the lyrics are in French, German and even Spanish. This means that philistines like myself can’t experience what are obviously great lyrics but the joy of the Total is that it’s not necessary. Had I been taught languages at school with this as a carrot then I would be a cunning linguist for sure. Stereo Total’s radioactive electronic discoglam is a refreshing cram of disparate elements. Everything but the kitchen sink but there might be one of those in here too. How else could they have got that sound.

I like to take time out from this fucked world to visit this much preferable orbit. This is no acquired taste and I pity the fools that try to write this combo off. As infectious, top of the line pop music goes there are few greater exponents. Some drongo said to me that they just keep making the same album over and over. And the problem with that is what exactly? Of course, the accusation itself is entirely unfounded.

Yes, there are just two of them. No, they sound NOTHING like The White Stripes. End of sermon.

The very latest instalment of de-clutter is that of some signed Wild Horses photos. This was a band formed by Brian Robertson and Jimmy Bain after they’d just left Thin Lizzy and Rainbow respectively. They played Grangemouth Town Hall sometime in 1978 and Brian Guthrie and I co-promoted that. It was the show that put me off putting on gigs because the turnout – despite the profile of the individuals – was dismal if I recall. I imagine that Brian would be able to tell you who the other bands were and maybe even the set.

Anyway, I discovered a facebook page dedicated to them yesterday and put the wheels in motion for the items in question to canter off to be with folks that might like ‘em. They’ve been stored in a box for 30+ years and will be released into the “wild” very soon.

I think that, in the hubbub of the past wee while I have neglected to mention the vinyl reissue of "Mondo Deco" by The Quick on Radio Heartbeat. T. Tex Edwards posted this timely reminder and yes, it is as good as the guy says it is.