I started to put that thing below on Sunday but mislaid a couple of items so couldn't make it "live" until now. In between times, I've been having a bit of an adventure meself that I'm not really up for relaying at the minute.

It's a typically bizarre example of the weirdness that has beset this parish of late though. Being at sevens and eights, one louder than the other type of stamash, there’s some stuff you might care to follow up such as Michael Shelley’s hotly-curated comp of 70’s cover versions put together to show the love for WFMU.

"Superhits" includes The Dahlmanns, Eric and Amy and Yo La Tengo plus a ton of other great stuff in aid of a super worthy cause.

Talking of Amy Rigby, did I tell you her blog had moved? Or that you can get a “Dancing With Joey Ramone” 45 from her while stocks last? Load up on all the other gear you don't have too.

Amy Allison and David Scott’s fantoosh “Turn Like The World Does” is out in download format. Watch this space for good old fashioned CD type release in due course. Maybe even vinyl?? This link is for UK Amazon but it's also available from iTunes and all the other cybermerchants.

Hardly seems possible that it’s been more than a month since dad died.

I don’t have a heck of a lot of stories about my father. He led a crammed life of doing good for people and organisations and one sort of understanding – perhaps never actually uttered – was that we knew we were always there for one another. There were the typical disagreements too but that’s when there was a proper generation gap war to be waged. If one does actually gain any iota of wisdom as they get older then it’s surely that actually, we’re all in this together. Respect is a two way street that needs to be earned. It can’t be expected irrespective of status, family or otherwise.

Anyway, this isn’t one of those “Living Years” scenarios. I spent more time with my father in his final few months than I did in my entire existence. The realisation that this might be equal measures lost between the two of us can only be describes as unscrambled eggs. I do wish that there had been time to hear about his jaunts with the pipe band(s) all over the world. About Russia and the USA in particular but we ran out of time. The fact that we managed to actually have the time we did is something I’m told that is of great value and it feels like there’s at least some truth in that.

There are images here of the badges he brought from the USSR and also the voice phonograph records he sent to me from Australia when he was in the Merchant Navy. They don’t play but it would be cool right now if they did. In these recent days, he told me that he would always have liked to visit the fjords of Norway and Scandinavia in general. I can certainly help him with that in the spiritual context.

Something else that became apparent was the semblance of some of my foibles in his behaviour. This worked as being something of an explanation and a worry, the curse of turning into one or the other of your parents. Yike, both? In our case that might not be such a bad thing in real terms but it’s a scary prospect. I did enjoy hearing him curse this past wee while and considered that very much a positive. I think my favourite swearer, Sir Eric of Goulden might have been impressed also.

Perhaps I had a bagpipe phobia caused by being dragged to competitions as a youngster. My one abiding memory of these jaunts was being in either Dunoon or Oban. A really amazing old school character by the name of Charlie Stewart pretended to have one leg and begged for money in the street. He gave me some of it. Maybe I was 7 or 8.

So never really one for the pipes unless they sound like guitars and vice versa but of course I came to appreciate the playing. So for me it was a big deal, heck it is a big deal, that he was in Casino Royale with what could only be described as one hell of an all star cast. I often wonder what happened to Peter Sellers autograph, maybe we’ll find it but I have a hunch it was thrown out. There was also the time when a plan to go and appear on The Sensational Alex Harvey Band’s album “The Impossible Dream”. Can’t recall why that didn’t happen. The image here is of a Russian 7” that Muirhead & Sons Pipe Band made out in cold war country. I imagine that it’s pretty rare in that neither Kevin Patrick nor Stewart Cruickshank possess a copy to my knowledge.

On those stateside trips, dad would venture into record stores with my list of wants and try to score those titles. I got “Easy Action” by Alice Cooper, “Back In The USA” by the MC5 and a debut, the week of release by an ensemble known as the New York Dolls. Last time he was in Canada – he got my brother Iain, a Handsome Ned cassette. Wish I had those Sam Goody bags these goodies came in. Can you imagine the reaction by the store clerk when this wee Scottish guy walks up to the counter and asked for the Dolls record? Must have been priceless. My folks and grandparents were horrified by the sight and I vividly remember them calling them “he-she’s”. Which I guess was the term for cross dressers then. They would have never used the term “poofs”. Or "pooves".

Life as some kind of highway has a way of just carrying you along. You never think that one day someone simply won’t be there. That’s how we got here. In the past few years it was fun to see my parents become fans of Amy Allison and Laura Cantrell. Dad thought that Jon Graboff was the best musician he’d ever seen and was genuinely thrilled when he and Carissa visited at Christmas one year.

And just recently his bagpipes can be heard on a bona fide punk rock classic, “Going Down” by The Dahlmanns. The CD that he made, entitled “Tunes From The Glen” with Davie Scott was something else he was thrilled with. It’s glaringly obvious that he could have exploited his ability to greater ends but preferred to remain grounded for whatever reason.

It was in early January that he got outside the house for any other reason than to go into hospital, the Sunday morning that I took him up to see his brother’s headstone. It was crisp and cold, early enough for there to be hardly anyone about. It seemed like we should extend the excursion so we made for Bo’ness harbour and a short daunder around there. He told me that he’d never been down there and seemed to be digging being able to take the air. We talked about coming back down to maybe hit up the railway preservation museum but the weather and his illness conspired that this would never come to pass. It’s at that juncture you think you have time for all that when indeed you bloody well don’t. This was the last photo, taken with my crappy phone

It’s just plain odd to consider that he’s no longer with us and now with our mother in serious disrepair also, these are peculiar times. There’s no real time to process the enormity of what has or what is happening. We have to deal with the here and now and return to that when things settle, if such a condition is possible.

It had been hoped that he might make it the Silent Film Festival too so he could have a look inside The Hippodrome but the harbour car par was as close as he got. Perhaps he’ll join us in spirit if he hasn’t got a better offer during that weekend.

Having had no close experience with death up until now, that day when he lay in the room, I asked him to get the heck up and go “Boo!” because we were heading out. You might consider that to be disrespectful but the shell lying there was just what was left of our father. He was already checking in for the next chapter someplace, if there is indeed such a thing.

It was good to fulfil at least one of his last requests for the funeral and have Andrea Boyd play the pipes for him. You see, he was a fan too and it was very cool to hear Andrea call it like that. He went out with an extended family all across this hairy old world. A phenomenon that I enjoy also and I'm telling you, when the chips are down – nothing feels quite like it. So maybe there’s something in this destiny palaver, it’s something that he never took for granted and neither will I.

So that's it. This has been quite difficult to piece together but hopefully I got there. Gracias to those that have sent and continue to send good vibrations as the rollercoaster trip continues.

RIP - Ronnie Montrose

(Thanks to Sandy McLean for the link)

I caught the first of two screenings at the Hippodrome of "Electric Man" on Friday night.

It’s a low-budget flick that describes itself as a cross between “The Maltese Falcon and Clerks” so that’s not such a bad tease. Shot in Edinburgh, it’s a good natured piece full of familiar surroundings including Deadhead Comics where a lot of it takes place. Spotted (Tall) Paul Robinson of The Go Go as one of the shop customers.

The cast includes Derek Dick (aka Fish) – onetime Marillion front man looking a lot like my good friend Lou Whitney of Springfield, Mo. and a female lead that reminded me of Laura Cantrell. It’s a kind of Bill Forsyth take on Kevin Smith. If ever there’s a live action Desperate Dan flick then this DD is a shoe-in. The director and writer both confessed to be fans of the Genesis tribute band that Fish once fronted. Their man couldn’t attend because he was in Poland.

Setting out on a small tour of Scottish picture palaces, the film had its UK debut at the Glasgow Film Festival a week or so ago. It’s really quite charming and possibly exotic to folks watching it overseas. The makers notion that it could actually take place anywhere but it just happens to be Auld Reekie is a fairly wise one but the city has rarely looked so good at the pictures.

"Electric Man" is worth a watch. It does a lot with a little and should resonate with anyone who ever took comic book collecting seriously. It holds together pretty well as a yarn too. Check their website for information on where it might show up.

I can just about remember when I updated this every day, sometimes several times. It would be very nice to report that the reason for not doing so was because I had found a life below the piles of stuff that are accumulating around me but it simply isn’t so. Dealing with what has to be done when someone pegs it is one thing but doing that in tandem with the ailing health of another parent is simply something we didn’t bargain for. There’s all that to consider whilst everything else goes on.

The urge to just hibernate and come out on the other end having found it was all just a rather unpleasant dream is strong but I have a feeling that it’s not. Tis the bitter chill of reality that bites when you get to my age or “our” age if your folks are exceeding in years and are still around.

Saw First Aid Kit on Monday. Really didn’t feel like going anyplace but they’re really good and a definitive exercise in the pacing of a set/live dynamic. The offset of the percussion/drums really adds an extra dimension and those three can redefine power trio in both a quiet and loud sense. The off mic “Ghost Town” (still their best song in my opinion) was really something. The opener, Samantha Crane, didn’t outstay her welcome and joined FAK onstage for the encore. It was a really good show and I never even mention the Redd Kross style hair tossing here and there.

Today, I might get something done. It’s early though and there’s always a frisson of hope before it all goes splat.

RIP - Davy Jones

Heard about this when I was at the hospital visiting my mum. Odd because, next door to the first flat my parents had, when I was only wee - a rumour spread around this peculiar little town. That DJ was coming to visit his aunt that just happened to live next door.

I don't know to this day if these people were related or not but it ended up in a huge crowd gathering and guess what. He never showed.

But anyway, sad news. Seemed like a nice wee bloke.

WFMU - HOME OF THE SUPERHITS...

Mr Percival figures you need to know about this...

KING MOB

Stephen W Parsons (vocals) • Chris Spedding (guitar)
Sixteen (guitar) • Toshi Ogawa (bass) • Martin Chambers (drums)

LIVE AT LONDON’S O2 ACADEMY ISLINGTON with special guests including:

PHIL MANZANERA • GLEN MATLOCK • WILKO JOHNSON • MICK RALPHS

WEDNESDAY 28TH MARCH 2012

As a new year dawns, KING MOB are looking forward to working hard on the live circuit, with dates already scheduled for the UK and the rest of Europe and summer festival dates in the offing. Many more dates are still to be officially announced but KING MOB will play London’s O2 Academy Islington on 28th March with some very special guests including Phil Manzanera, Glen Matlock, Wilko Johnson and Mick Ralphs.

At the end of last year, brand new English beat combo KING MOB released their stunning debut album Force 9.

KING MOB began life when vocalist Stephen W Parsons approached his old friend and ex-Sharks colleague Chris Spedding with the idea of forming a new band. Following a highly successful film and advertising career, Stephen had taken time out for a while and found himself DJ-ing at The Axe club on Hackney Road. Every Friday and Saturday night from midnight until 6am, the joint jumped to Stephen’s old school music in the form of Led Zeppelin, The Doors, Ike & Tina et al. Realising that these pre-1977 sounds were going down a storm with the younger crowd, Stephen’s passion for the sheer excitement and energy of R&B was re-ignited and happily Chris Spedding agreed to come on board to form a new combo of talented like-minded musicians from either side of the generation gap.

KING MOB + special guests
LONDON’S O2 ACADEMY ISLINGTON
WEDNESDAY 28TH MARCH @ 7PM (DOORS)
TICKETS: £12.50
NEAREST TRANSPORT: NORTHERN LINE TO ANGEL

For further information on King Mob head to:
www.kingmob-beatgroup.com
www.facebook.com/KingMobBeatGroup

RIP - Billy Strange

(Thanks to Tony for the link)

RIP - Fritz Van Helsing

(link courtesy of Sandy McLean via facebook)

RIP - Michael Davis



Uh, oh - thanks to Cranny who points out that Michael isn't on this clip. He is on this though. Heid on upside down moment.

As with the Edinburgh gig, I harboured an inkling that I might make it along tomorrow night but it seems unlikely. The last few weeks have taken their toll. Hell The Glasgow Film Festival is on too and I only just glanced at the programme the other day.

It would appear that events which would have been rubberstamped with "priority" are taking a backseat to the heavy dose of reality that we hereabouts find ourselves tussling with.

So check out the Lux thing on facebook and go along if you can. If they creep into the black, the money will go to charity

RIP - Dory Previn

Gerry Love project coming soon on the Geographic imprint...

RIP - Whitney Houston

Always liked this song, sorry about the ad intro...

RIP - Joe Moretti

Just heard about this but can't find a link...

Thanks Kjell...

It’s been a few days since I’ve been on here. There’s a lot going on with my father having exited the theatre and any lollygadding will have to wait. Thanks to all of you folks that chimed in over the past wee while. It’s greatly appreciated. Our mother was just moved into a local community hospital so we’re anxiously waiting to hear what’s happening next with all that. Things are a wee bit bit tense.

The funeral itself went as well as these things can go, even managed to shoehorn a mention of The Dahlmanns and also Elvis into the eulogy. Angela Boyd played a spine chilling “Lament for Mary MacLeod" during the service, a request made to me when I dad-sat on Christmas day. It was cool to be able to grant that particular wish.

Dealing with the aftermath is a one step forward, two back dance formation. It’s not even possible to place an ad in the local rag without encountering regulatory bullshit. We’ll deal with that later. “There’s A Piper Down” could only appear in the listing in italics, at the end. In the online version it looks daft but at least it’s in there.

Close friends and associates will recognise this phrase from “So I Married An Axe Murderer”.

Tonight is my first night off in a long time. I’ll probably be asleep by 9pm.

I guess I’m not ready to write anything on here about my dad yet. Will I ever be?

That’s what I’m asking myself right about now. Well-intentioned people are telling me that we need time to grieve but there’s stuff to be done. My brother and I, along with the family are all pretty pragmatic. We have no interest in what is or is not appropriate. Not really. Some antics that some people think are appropriate are distinctly not so. But we’ll give the guy a send-off and a half if at all possible.

But here’s what I’m grieving about to the point of apoplexy. How could people as good and kind be reduced to what’s happened to both of our parents in recent weeks? My dear, dear friend Amy Rigby wrote a song called “Don’t Ever Change”. It’s more of a hymn that most any actual example of that. It includes a line, “I don’t have religion but I’m trying to pray”.

I’m trying for sure but this proves conclusively that this god business is bollocks. If he (it can’t be a she) exists then let it be known that he’s pissed up my back so payback is coming.

Actually, I do have religion – RAMONES. And let us not forget Lux in all this but until there are churches to celebrate them colour me out.

RIP - Ben Gazarra

RIP - David Hutton

My father passed away after a long tussle with the dreaded cancer on Tuesday afternoon. Iain an I are on a steep learning curve trying to take care of this sad business and it ain't exactly a cakewalk. I'll write something about him later but it's all just a little raw.

So hang tight. There's likely to be a period of inactivity whilst we try to make sense of all this and support one another through the firefight. Thanks to all of you who send good vibes. You know who you are.

I guess I won't in be seeing The Fleshtones at El Sol on Friday after all...

My father's pipe band (nearly) played on this...

Hello,

We'd like to invite everyone to the Monorail Film Club this Sunday when we'll be screening a restored print of Billy Liar.

Billy Liar is the most transcendent of all the British New Wave films, Tom Courtenay's brilliant Billy not so much fighting against, but able to imagine himself out of the limitations of his humdrum life. Trapped by his family, his job, his surroundings and two doomed engagements, his main hope is his own intelligence and Liz (Julie Christie) is idealized sometime girlfriend. Schlesingers direction is fantastic and fun, colliding the optimistic newness of the 1960s with a grim up north realism.

Selected and introduced by Blair Young, video director and co-founder of The Forest Of Black.

The Monorail Film Club is generally on once a month in the GFT.

It is informal and open to everyone. We recommend booking tickets in advance from the box office on 0141 332 6535.

Billy Liar (Schlesinger, UK, 1963)

Sunday 29 January, 7.30pm @ GFT , 12 Rose Street , Glasgow . G3 6RB

Two heads really *are* better than one -- with a pair of Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co. shows this week! Wednesday it's the creepy McKittrick Hotel, following the night's spooky "Sleep No More" performance, and then it's on to Otto's Shrunken Head on Thursday for our altogether ooky monthly residency. Two heads, indeed!

*WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25th / MANDERLEY BAR at THE McKITTRICK HOTEL /532 West 27th Street (between 10th & 11th Avenues) in ye olde Manhattan /10:30 'til 11:30 / Mention "SIT & Die" at the door after 10pm for *free* admission!

*THURSDAY, JANUARY 26th / OTTO'S SHRUNKEN HEAD /
538 East 14th Street (just west of Avenue B) in ol' Manhattan /
Two kooky shows, from 8:00 sharp until 10:00 / No cover!

Doubly yours,

Michael

Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co.

"Ballads, Boogies & Blues"

Feel Presents

Dig It Up! The Hoodoo Gurus Invitational
Celebrating 30 Years of Recorded History in 2012
Tickets on Sale Monday 30th January 2012

Come along as the Hoodoo Gurus invite some of their favourite acts and key influences for a one-of-a-kind tour that celebrates 30 years since the release of Leilani (le Hoodoo Gurus iconic debut 7”) and a career that has delivered more than 30 timeless hit singles (I Want You Back, Bittersweet, What’s My Scene?, 1000 Miles Away, The Right Time et al). Their nine studio albums have also enjoyed critical and commercial acclaim in equal measures and they have the reputation of being one of Australia’s most consistent and powerful live acts.

Invitees include the legendary garage-rock pioneers The Sonics, brothers-in-spirit, Redd Kross and The Fleshtones the moody & compelling Died Pretty, Japanese all-girl legends The 5.6.7.8’s plus a hand-picked selection of local celebrities: Royal Headache, The Lovetones and Hard-Ons among them.

But that’s not all! In a personal celebration of this milestone, the Hoodoo Gurus have announced they will perform Stoneage Romeos (their landmark debut album) in its entirety plus a selection of their other hits. How excitement! Stoneage Romeos is a permanent fixture on various lists of Australia’s top albums including the 2010 book “The 100 Best Australian Albums” and Triple J’s Hottest 100 Australian Albums of All Time in 2011. Stoneage Romeos was also the subject of its own tribute album ‘Stoneage Cameos’ featuring covers by The Living End, You Am I, The Drones and a host of high profile contemporary acts of the day.

But that’s still not all…

As part of the celebration of this momentous milestone in the band’s career, Sony Music will release GOLD WATCH: 20 GOLDEN GREATS, a new Greatest Hits collection covering the bands entire 30 year career including the new single “Use-By Date”.

“Gold Watch” will be released on Friday 16th March.

Tickets for all shows are on-sale Monday 30th January. Sign up to the Dig it Up! mail list @ http://www.feelpresents.com/ for your chance to purchase pre-sale tickets.

Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind celebration: Dig it Up! The Hoodoo Gurus Invitational.

(Thanks to the Rev. Martin Percival for the info)

At last! The details of the 2012 Lux Lives celebration can be revealed.

Ladies and gentlemen,

live at Henry's Cellar Bar on February 3rd 2012,

- The Acid Fascists
- Fnords
- The Z28
- The Bucky Rage
- Dick Dangerous & The Love Bastards
- Fanny Pelmet & The Bastard Suits
- The Charles Randolph Rivers
Slim Rivers Revue
- Lord Rochester
- Sterling Roswell
- And very possibly one or two more!

So that's 9, count 'em, at least 9 super rock'n'roll machines offering you, the discerning rock'n'roll connoisseur, the finest goddamn rock'n'roll treats the Cramps taught 'em.

Yes! And how much would you pay for a wondrous thing like this? Wait! Don't answer, til I tell what else you git!

Not only do you have a full evening's entertainment, but you, the lucky punter, may also take home a souvenir CD, compiled by none other than Kogar The Swinging Ape - compiler of the essential Lux & Ivy's favourites compilations. CD cover by JR Williams!

But that's not all! Get an exclusive, Lux Lives 2012 badge! Designed by the infamous Rick Buzzin'.

All of this, and the satisfaction of knowing that you are doing your bit to keeping the flamejob alive. All for Five (5) of your earth pound notes!

You better duck, if you don't show up!

The Goo Goo Muck!

RIP - Etta James

Clip via Dave Alvin's facebook...

As my family and I pilot uncharted waters – and my own baked and (deep) fried heid - it’s not a conducive time to be pounding a keyboard. Circumstances are out of control and keeping this thing up to date or even regular isn’t really an option. I don’t do the “device” thing because I don’t have the hardware but eventually I’ll drag myself past the pedal powered PC. Just don’t hold your breath.

Meanwhile, here’s more J.O...



I remember being at A + R’s at Ocean beach, SF listening to his (Sunday morning?) radio show. We talked about going up to where it was broadcast from but never did. But what a guy!

RIP - Johnny Otis



(Thanks to Dave Stuckey via facebook)

And on a happier note - Ms Rigby has migrated her diary to Wordpress and asks that you have patience while she gets to grips with it. You know that she's worth it.

Fulfillment is at hand, dear friend, as Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co. returns to the Rodeo Bar this week -- with a new showtime of 9pm! Same salty banter, same unsalted peanuts...

*WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11th / RODEO BAR /375 Third Avenue (on the corner of 27th Street) in Manhattan /Two largely fulfilling sets, now from 9:00 sharp 'til midnight / No cover!

And, in the far flung future of late January:

*WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25th / MANDERLEY BAR at THE McKITTRICK HOTEL /532 West 27th Street (between 10th & 11th Avenues) in ye olde Manhattan /10:30 'til 11:30 / Free admission after 10pm. Simply mentioning "SIT & Die" at the door!

*THURSDAY, JANUARY 26th / OTTO'S SHRUNKEN HEAD /538 East 14th Street (just west of Avenue B) in ol' Manhattan /Two warm and cozy shows, from 8:00 sharp until 10:00 / No cover!

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

RIP - Tom Ardolino



One of the very greatest songs ever.

(Thanks to Mr Ulf for this sad news)

RIP - Ronald Searle

There have been enquiries about the (by now) customary round-up so here goes. Alphabetically, naturally. Google the names and labels to scratch any buying itch in terms of links. This is all quality gear and deserving of your support. It would also be an idea perhaps to go into your local record store or enquire at an enterprising mail order joint. Please sideline the downloading for f-all method where at all possible.

Dave Alvin – Eleven Eleven (YepRoc) A guy who can stand shoulder to shoulder with whoever you reckon is such hot shit. This refers to your Bob Dylans and Neil Youngs (I don’t care who you bring on as HDM once remarked). He’s playing the UK in April and I imagine Europe also. Soon as I know all the dates then you will too.

The Dahlmanns – All Dahled Up (CD - Pop Detective / Vinyl - Screaming Apple) You may well have taken the plunge by now but if you haven’t then this is your “green light”. The Moss-based unabashed pop sensations are gearing up for the next stage of your indoctrination as we mull over the past 12 months here. Something to believe in and a wee bit more.

Death by Unga Bunga – Juvenile Jungle (Spoon Train) Norway continues to inflict great bands upon us and these youngsters actually deliver what The H*rr*rs were supposed to be capable of serving up according to the press. The actual horror of hearing those wasters was underwhelming but happily DBUB are not the emperor’s new clothes, more like a natty set of threads sewn together to make a rather agreeable racket.

Dum Dum Girls – Only In Dreams (Sub Pop) Leaps and bounds better than their debut, “OID” contains some dangerous pop twang of which “Bedroom Eyes” is arguably the most potent but really the whole thing will pep you up like one of those hot towels you used to get at the end of a long flight. And that’s without even seeing them.

Lola Dutronic – New York Stories (Red Star Digital) A genuinely life-affirming take on a handful of standards that includes The Fast’s “Kids Just Wanna Dance” and “Keep Your Dreams” by Suicide. The BPM will massage your vital signs and no mistake. An ideal companion for your copy of ACC’s “I ♥ New York”.

Matt & Kim – Sidewalks (Fader Label) Criminally ignored on this side of the big puddle, these kids are headed for the stratosphere in their homeland. Hit after hit would ensue if there was any sort of decent delivery system in place. The Brit ability to embrace talent is akin to our public transport system.

Säkert! – På Engelska (Razzia) Annika and co deliver a selection of songs in their non-native tongue and moreover, the translations are literal. The fact she isn’t a household name is an ongoing war crime in my estimation however I realise that it’s most likely because whoever racks up yer media hoo-hah outside of Sweden is about as much use as a chocolate fireguard.

Screeching Weasel – Carnival of Schadenfreude (Recess) Ben was pelted with lemons and all manner of vegetables following the SxSW malarkey. He went away, regrouped and came back with this. Hopefully those who threw him “Under The Bus” are to use a phrase my granny used to use “laughing on the other side of their face”. I was never sure how that worked but I hope the actuality is as harsh as it sounded.

Shonen Knife – Osaka Ramones (Damnably) Is there anything better than three Japanese girls bashing out Ramones covers? If there is then bring it on. Their version of “KKK” is sublime and the others don’t slouch none either. Thirty years on, the Knife is still sharp.

Suzy & Los Quattro – Hank (Bcore) A testament to their murdered friend, “Hank” raises the Quattros ante to the level of “Tommy”. I’d venture that it’s better because it’s based on a true story and is delivered directly from the heart with a whole lot of soul.

Wooden Shjips – West (Thrill Jockey) The latest instalment just keeps the groove coming as almost only they can serve it up. Saw a couple of whining reviews when it came out about it not being the “same” but sometimes that’s a good thing. Here’s a case in point. Looking at what I just typed, what does that expression mean anyway?

So there are 11 selections as 2011 disappears, it took me around 6 months to get into any sort of forward notion and the memory of House of Rock still burns bright. I’m looking forward to hearing what’s happening with Version 2.0. Similarly cleansing was my return to NYC for the roll in the thunder that was the Norton 25th Anniversary bash. Two days into “the ‘12” and so far so good – some turbulence is expected but not of the variety that caused the undercarriage to fall off my wagon last time the counter was reset.

That’s as optimistic as I’m prepared to be. Plus blogger hasn't been playing nice during the compliation of this particular post. Temper is flaring, nerves are frayed - you know the drill.

Pretty much what it's all about...

Was trying to get a couple of things together earlier in terms of writing. The flesh and spirit are in cahoots and hell bent on making the formation of sentences difficult to impossible. And then I got to thinking that can’t everybody just hear stuff for themselves these days anyway? I’m not sure what the next set of numbers holds and yes smartarse, nobody does but I could really use a break in all senses of the word. A new kind of kick? Not necessarily new, I’d settle for one I’ve had before just so long as it was one in particular.

However, being that’s unlikely – I do hope that it doesn’t kick off quite so abominably as 2011. There’s one big (fairly) imminent event that I’m definitely not prepared for. In fact dreading is probably more fitting. And in town this morning, the squeals of “happy new year when it comes” made these toes curl as only that expression can bring it.

Still, time is fleeting and if I can throw caution to the wind and try to grab a few handfuls or something or other as I’m flushed around the U-bend of life then hey ho. Hope to see a good many of you before the Mayan lottery comes up. When exactly is that anyway?

Not available on YT in a bigger frame yet as far as I know but you can expand it. All I can say at this point is "Lucky Japan"...

SUZY & LOS QUATTRO - KICK ASS from WAAAU.TV on Vimeo.

Happy holidays from Garth, Jon and Michael, your pals at Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co.! Fare thee well, 2011...

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29th / OTTO'S SHRUNKEN HEAD / 538 East 14th Street (just west of Avenue B) in ol' Manhattan / Two cork popping shows, from 8:00 sharp until 10:00 / No cover!

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31st / McKITTRICK HOTEL / It's a "Sleep No More" New Year's Eve gala, with SIT & Die Co. at 1am! / Strictly for the, um, well-heeled set...

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

Let me tell you about the past.

And how it seems to be fusing with the present and future right now. Seems like I never posted here for a few days and wasn’t even really aware of not having done so. Maybe that’s progress? Who knows, but it's no good looking at me.

Anyway, it’s Christmas day and I’m the only creature stirring around these parts and my thoughts are very much with my dear friend Miriam in the event that her mother passed away. This can be a cruel time of year spiritually away from the feeding frenzy of consumerism. It is about family, immediate and extended because after all the “stuff” is gone then it’s only the dreams and memories that actually keep burning.

The Rezillos Christmas Panto the other night took me right back to the Hotel International just down the road in 1976. It’s good that they’re still rolling in the thunder. It made me think about how these were the people that gave me the copy of “The Way I Walk” when they came back from recording “Can’t Stand The Rezillos” in NYC. The association was that life-changing. The version of “Can’t Stand My Baby” was ferocious in an “it’s behind you” stylee and I look forward to many more years of them doing this positive therapy for kids of all ages.

Opening was George Miller’s new combo, The New Piccadillys. Really great with and an eye-watering beat combo take on “Judy Is a Punk” that will be out as a 45 in early twentytwelve. I’ll keep you posted.

Other than that, I just got a copy of “The Ballad of Mott The Hoople” so methinks I’ll make some coffee and get in aboot that.

Photos by Julie Hayward

RIP - Sean Bonniwell

(Just heard about this and this is the only link I could find)

T’was what? Four? maybe three days before Christmas and I’d been let down with a gift that I was trying to sort for someone. I guess I let them expectations rise a little high. Strange - because generally, I have no such thing. Either that or they are so low as to be as good as none. And here’s another case in point with regard to keeping all that on the DL. Because, in the main, I find that being let down is such a common occurrence that I’m not sure why it should irk me so much at this point.

I’d like to know if there’s a course or a seminar or something – where one can learn the art of letting people down. Oh, I’m sure that I’ve disappointed folks but never knowingly or wilfully. Usually it involves being an arse or just plain stupidity. I really don’t like to let anyone down though to an almost pathological degree. This can go from something that I say I’ll do to something as simple as punctuality. An obsession bordering on a condition.

So there’s the creek, where’s me paddle. Of course, the individual has not a scoob of what was on the cards so no harm done there but they would have dug the no-show a lot better than the M + S voucher they could well end up with.

However all was not lost and I did indeed find something, from a place not far away. And what’s more – the service and level of assistance was utterly exemplary so there are still exceptions to the rule out there in the undergrowth. It temporarily restored something I’m currently lacking, the commodity called faith. Hope and especially charity took off a long, long time ago. More about the source of the “goods” after the coast is clear (Sunday).

Which brings us to farcebook’s latest wheeze – “timeline”.

I rather stupidly jumped in them there rapids and have regretted it more or less ever since. What was I thinking? Well, not much obviously. I never spotted that it did indeed have shades of myspace which I’d forgotten ever existed. But yes, some switched on individuals have indeed twigged to just that. The processor on this PC can’t deal with much of anything anymore and the bugger just seizes up depending on what it’s trying to do. There doesn’t appear to be any means of reverting back to the common or garden farcebag timewaster.

I kvetch about this rubbish but there are way bigger fish to fry. Call it a coping mechanism or a diversion or whatever you want. The only thing that matters is that it’s nearly Friday. Don’t really care for Chrishmish but I’m open to cajoling. I’m not a cynic and prefer to think of my aversion to bullshit as realism. This consideration finds me as always largely in the minority. Colour me Grinch.

The Cramps box will be making its way out into the world right about now and I hope that Ivy will take the existence of such a beast to be the green light to get the archives in gear. I mean, if there’s this much excitement about stuff that’s been available before, imagine the appetite for unseen, unheard stuff.

For my own part it brings closure. I won’t write about the band again unless it’s to celebrate the release of a book or a video comp and wouldn’t ordinarily have been involved with a project like this but it marks the reason why Munster exists and how a bunch of us all met and became lifetime amigos. We’ve stayed sick as the credo suggests but hopefully the turning blue is some way off yet.

I’m off from the 23rd until January 5th. At this point in time, the canvas has a little light pencil here and there but nothing that couldn’t be erased to make way for something else. See you in Auld Reekie tomorrow nicht maybe? Tramline??

So far I’ve managed to suppress the urge to type “let it snow” into google. There have been a couple of times this year when I feel like I’ve "engulfed in indescribable sadness" like the North Koreans to some degree too but all I thought about when I heard of the “dear leader” passing was this video. And of course, South Park.



Will be heading out to see The Rezillos this week so if there are any overseas or wherever individuals that need a copy of the "Out Of This World" 45 – and haven’t ordered from the site – then I’m prepared to assist. It’s a fiver plus whatever postage to your particular corner of the universe. Just let me know by Thursday and we can figure it out.

Hot news from the Rev. Nick V. ...

The original 1983 line-up of the Nomads will perform the first two mini-LP's in Borlänge, Sweden friday december 30...

https://www.facebook.com/events/231188723620671/

If you're in Glasgow then drop in on the What Presence! exhibit at Trongate 103.

Some nice images that include The Cramps, Suicide and The Ramones. And let's not forget The Dreamboys. The Bluebells played a short set with a line up that included Mick Slaven on guitar. those guys came up with some great wee pop songs that certainly stand the test of time.

"Ghostbusters" at The Hip' tomorrow anyone?

Thanks to Brother Joss for the tip. Free download of the track available via HAPPENING mag for a limited period so grab it before it vanish-eth. Scroll to December 12th and it's there.

Should be available soon, although the logistics for getting them to Santa might be problematic.

Worth hanging on for 2012 it seems with the news that Sir David Alvin and his Guilty Ones will make a pitstop in Glasgow at The Arches on Thursday April 12th. The Cluny in Newcastle the night previous too. When all dates are available then I'll post them here. Good on young KevMo for making this happen.

Amy's home...

RIP - Billie Jo Spears

The small matter of time going in pretty fast and my not being able to be arsed with writing means that we'll be circling the holidays before we know it. I gave up with the shops and trying to buy stuff. At the same time as a big report on "the demise of the High Street". It is a shame but there's f-all to buy (except records and books but them's not for everybody).

Meant to mention that a Beat Room compilation was screened with "Serious Drugs" the other night. Some of that stuff did not stand up, it has to be said but thankfully there was the odd pearl in there like The Pastels "Unfair Kind of Fame".

I came on here to mention something in particular but have completely forgotten what it is. A mixture of old age and the aforementioned cannae-be-arsedness conspiring to flummox me. If it comes back then so will I but really, don't hold your breath.

Click on the image to enlarge!

Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co. makes merry this week -- with a special hillbilly holiday show at the Rodeo Bar!

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14th / RODEO BAR / 375 Third Avenue (at the corner of 27th Street) in Manhattan / Two holly jolly sets, from 8:30 sharp 'til 11pm or so / No cover!

And, later this month, ringing out the old at Otto's...

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29th / OTTO'S SHRUNKEN HEAD / 538 East 14th Street (just west of Avenue B) in ol' Manhattan / Two bell ringing shows, from 8:00 sharp until 10:00 / No cover!

Yours in Santa, Michael
Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co.
"Ballads, Boogies & Blues"

Not long back from a genuine world – as in never seen before in its completed state by anybody including the person that made it – premiere of “Serious Drugs”, a documentary about Duglas T. Stewart and BMX Bandits.

Four years in the making, Jim Burns took the task on did so because he wanted to get to the bottom of this music that helped him get a leg up to get over the wall of a nasty bout of depression. A one-time psychiatric nurse himself, this is a positive notion of mental health, to the extent that it could be re-titled “The Devil and Duglas T” although Duglas’ demons are maybe different to those of DJ.

“I'm not speechless, I'm still Duglas” said the subject when he joined the Q + A, chaired by Beat Patrol vet Peter Easton, the first man ever to play a BMX Bandits record on air and akin to being the first gent on the moon at the time. Over the shooting time, Jim was granted total access to the twisty, turny Bandit world. The context is fleshed out by bandmates, associates and family. At one point, Duglas’ mum says that he became the singer to prove his dad wrong. She was sitting directly in front of me at the screening and turned to his sister and said “that’s true”.

It was Jim’s family who pitched in on the making of this, the first film he ever made and quite feasibly his last although he did tell me about an idea he has for another that sounds like a hoot should it ever get beyond first base. “Serious Drugs” charts the progress from the early days of twee exuberance to the present. I recall my own reaction to the early BMX output as being remarkably similar to the lambasting Sounds review for “E102” revealed in the movie. It wasn’t until I actually met Duglas that it made any sort of sense and then somehow they got really good around the time they opened for Alex Chilton at Glasgow Tech, whenever the hell that was.

This will hopefully play film festivals and get a few other screenings along the way. Unlike the formula docs that come at us ten a penny, it paints the storyboard of a rather complex character at large in his own Trumanesque tragi-comedy. His always unique worldview reveals a hapless romantic that succeeds and indeed thrives upon swimming against the tide of crud.

You can’t prosecute a man for that, I believe? Not yet at any rate.

I just realised that I never posted about Eric and Amy's show last Sunday in the Jordanhill 'burb of Glasgow. Something happened that kind of threw me off my game. Top venue courtesy of Alan Hendry, quite neatly packed and to put it bluntly, I think this was the best I've ever seen them - and I clocked some blinders from these two.

Clocking in over the 2 hour mark, the masterclass in entertainment provided thrills, spills and everything in between. They brought a show worthy of enormodome value to the function room of a tennis and Bowling club. The set contained everything a contentedly boisterous audience could ask for. Of course, there was a compliment of gibbering bastards that yakked but the volume and velocity mostly put paid to that.

And we had a nice wee pow-wow over some stovies, tea and wine in the small hours afterwards. The three of us even made it to the (Let's go to the) pictures on the Monday morning. Did anyone go to the Malmo show? Would love to hear about that.

Does anyone give much of a damn about anything other than their own "parsnips" anymore?

I'm thinking perhaps not. As we limber up for the transition between another set of numbers - waiting for the hammer to fall - and I'm not talking about the guy that sez "you can't touch this" or the place in Canada or a football team - then I'm well on my way to losing any kind of faith i have in much of anything.

Oh sure there are some people, and things - but I'm talking about the big picture. And morale in general. I consider myself to be pretty fortunate in some ways and utterly destitute in others. No different from anyone else on that score maybe but backbone and fibre seem to be in short supply. Self preservation surely isn't the be all and end all, or is it?

Today is my annual tussle with "It's A Wonderful Life". Part of my ritual, just like "The Apartment" is on New Year's Day. It's around now that one gets to thinking how it would be to have never been born at all and can see several faces lighting up at the very thought of that.

No idea what it is with me and December but it always ends up in a thud, one way or another. I guess it was impossible to sustain the high jinks of the last wee while so perhaps the perspective will make sense eventually. Or most likely not.

Anyway, the silly season is looming large and two weeks from today, the holidays will kick in. I have the usual intentions of trying to get to grips with stuff that has slipped or lapsed or in some cases both. No promises or contracts will be entered into though. There could be blogging involved somewhere along the line but I wouldn't count on it.

In just three weeks we'll be nudging 2012 so who knows what that bugger has in store. Will the Mayans be proven correct or did they have their fair share of shysters also? Likely the latter. Any way you deal it, there's a cold front moving in.

RIP - Harry Morgan

RIP - Dobie Gray

Serious Drugs?

RIP - Keef Hartley

RIP - Howard Tate

RIP - Hubert Sumlin

Thanks to Rob for this link via fb... see you at the show tonight.

Positive proof that this generation could indeed be our salvation.

Thanks to KP and Duglas T for the timeline antics.

I imagine that a load of you will be heading to see Jack Oblivian in London tonight? There are a lot of shows here, there and everyplace. I'm somewhat out of the loop. Winter has really hit with a bang today although thus far not like last year at this time. I'm sure there are things that I need to bang on about but time is very tight. And the flesh and the spirit are week as one contemplates the seasonal madness.

Wreckless Eric and Amy Rigby in Malmö, Sweden!

Sankt Gertrud, Östergatan 7 on December 7th at
8.00 pm. Tickets at the door.

No time to document my comings and goings at present but Mr Percival ventured out to see King Mob @ 229 The Venue in Great Portland Street, London W1 – 17 November 2011.



Glen Matlock’s career to date has included playing with many of his own personal favourite bands and artistes – ranging from the Faces through to Iggy Pop. His latest venture is King Mob, featuring the Pretenders Martin Chambers on drums, Steve Parsons aka Snips (ex Sharks) on vocals plus guitarists Sixteen and Chris Spedding, with Matlock himself of course on bass duties.

I’d had the band’s debut album for about 10 days before this first London gig and was really looking forward to seeing them. The album has a 1950s classic rock’n’roll sound – packed full of energy, excellent riffs, a raw edge, atmospheric vocals from Snips and some great catchy songs.

As I walked to the venue I realised that it was literally a stone’s throw across the Euston Road from where the Thames Television studios used to be where the Pistols achieved national notoriety on 1st December 1976 when they appeared on the “Today” show hosted by Bill Grundy. Spedding and Matlock go back a very long way, with Spedding having produced the first Pistols studio demos back in May 1976. 35 years on, when many bands are struggling to pull a crowd, it was great to see a good turnout with fans travelling from as far as the Netherlands. The 229 is an excellent venue with a high stage and good sound. The support band, The Bermondsey Joyriders accompanied by the legendary MC5 manager John Sinclair on spoken word, warmed the crowd up nicely.

King Mob took to the stage around 9.45pm for their third ever gig, after shows in Carlisle and Bristol earlier in the week. They went straight into ‘Lover of High Renown’, also the albums opening track. I was amazed at Snips as a front man. Very eye catching with his hair pushed up almost into a bouffant hair do – strolling around the stage and grabbing everyone’s attention. After the third song, ‘Vah Vah Voom’, Martin Chambers left his drum kit to introduce the band with a white towel draped around his neck like a boxer in the ring. This is a band that clearly enjoys each other’s company and playing live as could be seen from the smiles from the whole group.

‘American Slaves’ was up next, written by Snips and one of the stand out tracks on the album with its driving beat, ‘I said hip – hip – hip hooray for the USA’. I can see the band being a big hit in the US, especially if they’re able to dip into an audience with a love of bands like the Stray Cats and attendees of events like the Rockabilly Rave and the annual Coney Island festival.

The set closed with ‘China Waters’, ‘Selene Selene’ and ‘King Mob’ with ‘Who’s Chasing Who’ saved for the encore. All in all a highly enjoyable night – great bands playing in a great venue in front of an enthusiastic audience. What more could anyone want?

My lasting memory of King Mob is of a group of talented musicians playing music that they all enjoy for the fun of it. Exactly how it should be – but so rarely is. Have a listen to the album and go to see them if they play near you; you’ll not be disappointed.

Martin Percival

The Cramps box set of 45's is delayed because a fire destroyed part of the manufacturing plant on Sunday evening. So be patient. Everything comes to those who wait. Eventually. I imagine that old Santa is a bit perplexed right about now as a result.

Cool photo exhibit in Glasgow that includes shots of the band from Glasgow Tech. thanks to Stephen Pastel for the heads up.

The Poets will be on at 10.30pm on Friday night at Stereo according to Holly at EWO. It's gonna be rammed so make sure you have a ticket because it's unlikely that there'll be any within sniffing distance of the door.

Bit of intermittent activity at the moment, somewhat out of my hands but there you go.

Couple of things coming up that you might like to try and connect with…

Eric and Amy continue to campaign across this sceptic isle, finishing in Glasgow this coming Sunday at Woodend Bowling Club.

The upcoming Rezillos shows in December see the advent of a new single – a 7” available at shows and from the website only – entitled “Out Of This World”. Download too for those that dabble with that particular type of malaise. Hear it (and order it) here.

The Babba-RaRa-CuCu-DaDas are playing in Spain this weekend. Info here.

and last but not least (perhaps) - RIP - Ken Russell

I don’t ask for much from you but The Dahlmanns "Candypants" and "I Love You Baby (But I Hate Your Friends)" have both been nominated for "Coolest Song of the Year" on Little Steven’s Underground Garage.

It would be grand if you could chip in and join the campaign to have Dahlmannia sweep the planet. Voting begins on November 25th (Black Friday) and will end on December 23rd. You can put down your cyber X once every 24 hours during that time.