If you find yourself in NYC this Sunday...

TWO WEEKS FROM THIS COMING MONDAY!

LADIES and GENTLEMEN... The Fabulous REINE LAKEN!

Gry and Hilde

I've not long completed a mission that involved heading south east from Moss Rock City to Risør, a picturesque town “doon oan the watter”. Like Anstruther on steroids. The event was Fyrjam 2016 where Reine Laken (Clean Sheets) were playing after a 5 year hiatus. 

Given my advancing years, I didn’t want to take the chance of not being mobile the next time they might deign to play.

Line

Protestations of not being technically proficient fell on (these) deaf ears. There was a genuine buzz when they arrived on the island - Stangholmen - where the show was taking place. These lassies have a presence and it’s a swell spot. While the means of getting to and from the island might be problematic to a landlubber like me, it’s a skoosh for the locals. And talking about locals, the way that they support this venture could be a lesson to us here in the ‘K. We ain’t united anymore (Toto).

4 gals, 7 songs (all covers). There’s no record to sell but there were some natty t-shirts. They do this for fun and to (seemingly) shred their nerves. Four lifelong friends with genuine chemistry that bonds to make an honest, joyous racket that I will forever take over utter dross like The St*ne R*ses that I genuinely believe couldn’t hold a tune with all the hard drive action in the world.

Ingri

Reine Laken (alphabetically) is Gry Hartvigsen - drums, Hilde Lokander – guitar/vocals, Ingri Østerholt - bass and Line Schibstad – vocals. Hilde’s son Lars joined them for a romp through Green Day’s “Basket Case”. The Laken include two of the most beautiful souls (Gry and Hilde) that it has ever been my pleasure to become acquainted with. When I met the other two girls on Saturday then “I got it”. The fact that they're all old enough to know better makes it even cooler.

There was a story going around that this and the show at Solbakken Fuzzfestival in Arendal this coming weekend (6^th) might be their last but I hope that doesn't turn out to be true because they’re absolutely playing for all the right reasons. Not giving the danger a thought at all, just thinking of the fun.

It takes a lot of bottle to do what they did. And talking about glass vessels, there was also a nifty wee pub called The Peterhead Bar involved. An after-party there led to your reporter being able to overcome a 20 year old phobia.

And he’d do it all again in a heartbeat with quality company such as this.

Stangholmen Saturday Night! - Line, Gry, Hilde and Ingri

RIP - SANDY PEARLMAN

I never met Sandy Pearlman but he played an extremely important part in my formative musical years.

An obsession with Blue Őyster Cult led me to discover a group by the name of The Dictators. The only reason I picked up "The Dictators Go Girl Crazy" was because it was produced by Pearlman and (Murray) Krugman. Integral cogs in the BOC machinery that were flagged up by New Musical Express scribe Max Bell. SP also produced the best Clash album “Give ‘em Enough Rope” by giving them just that to sound less parochial and maybe appeal outside of Blighty. Afficianados of said group will bleat mightily to the contrary and I guess they’re entitled to their opinion however...

Pearlman and Krugman performed a sonic alchemy that created a mutation of metal and what at the time was proper punk rock. Folks of a certain age and persuasion know exactly what I’m talking about. They were able to fuse The Yardbirds, Black Sabbath and the MC5 into something that has never really been bettered. I think I was 14 when I first heard BŐC and they’ve stayed with me throughout the journey. Like they have with many close associates.

Without Sandy and his old tag team partner there would likely have been no way that I’d have discovered Andy, HDM, Ross, Scott and Stu Boy. Without them then you lwouldn’t be being subjected to this. I’d just read a facebook post by Scott Kempner the other day that suggested the prognosis may not be so good.

Condolences to his friends and family at this time and profuse thanks to him for setting me off down this road. 

The Glorious 12th - MIRIAM and NOBODY's BABIES back where it all began!

VULCHER - That's GULCHER with a V!

I'm honoured to be amongst a host of zineage stalwarts here in the debut issue of Vulcher. Not available as a PDF or any of that malarkey. This is a living, breathing slab of print complete with those good old print fumes.

This link will take you right to the place where you can score a copy (or three). Sam and Kelsey will keep you right if you have any questions about ordering. 

It's just 8 bucks with postage within the USA and maybe 15 to Europe. Anyway, please consider supporting Vulcher. That way it can continue. 

Issue Two should be out around the end of the year maybe. 
See that it does.

A Short Film About Suicide

A Short Film About Suicide from Start Productions on Vimeo.

I Remember... RIP Alan Vega

Alan Vega snapped by Howard Thompson on April 20th 2016

I was lucky enough to actually know Alan Vega a bit. My first encounter with Suicide had been via the 1976 Max’s compilation. When the album came out, it polarised anyone that it came into contact with. In the mind of a daft wee fanzine editor, the duo became part of a holy NY quinity – Cramps/Dictators/New York Dolls/Ramones/ Suicide – presented alphabetically, not necessarily in order of merit.

Howard Thompson had licensed “Suicide” for release on Bronze in the UK after being alerted to their existence by Kevin Patrick who’d sent him a copy as part of their ongoing record swapping activity. I met H through Ms Miriam Linna who was working for Marty Thau at Red Star. I’d recently made contact with Miriam via Richie Teeter of The Dictators and had sent her a tape of Simple Minds that she had played for Howard. Anyway, over the years, I got to know Alan via HT and I always found him to be the consummate gentleman. The first time we met, I believe, was the third floor of a place called Danceteria in 1983 and many times over the years after that.

The best New Years Eve I ever spent EVER was at the close of 1990 in a bar close to Alan and Liz’s apartment. It involved HT, Vega and I discussing the best method of preparing a roast. How much more rock’n’roll could it get? We were the only people in there. Everybody else must have been in Times Square or wherever. It felt like the only people left in the city or even the world, aside from the bartender. There was also the time that Alan weighed in to try and save BBC Radio Scotland’s Beat Patrol. Scotland was always amenable to Suicide at the time when many other places were not. Alan was perplexed when the audience at Tiffany’s in Edinburgh attempted to dance to their “music”. I found that baffling is because audiences in that city are not renowned for dancing to anything let alone something as newfangled as these guys were.

Suicide played a show at The Buffalo bar in London a few years ago (June 2007 as a warm-up for their Grinderman opening slot?). HT, Tony Thewlis and I witnessed a sound check that was so mind-blowingly surreal as to make me wonder if it ever actually happened at all. I saw them a good number of times but this was Lynch-like in terms of electricity.

My most recent interaction with him was when Liz kindly put together his recollections of the "Cubist Blues" record for the Light In The Attic reissue. Getting her notes, one perceptive quote really hit me. “We were meditating on sound and time was suspended.” It was so perfect, so Alan. When I sent Iñigo the draft, he freaked out at how succinctly Alan had nailed it. Another thing I recall was my ex-partner being scared to meet Vega and then not being able to believe how nice a man he was “in real life”.

He was and is and forever will be an extraordinary character and inspiration that was locked on a constant trajectory to create. Seemingly unfettered compared to the rest of us. Suicide may might not have set the heather on fire at the time but once the blaze started an eternal flame was lit and those initial dreams burned forever. The world caught up. How did that happen? And then there were his solo records. Always breaking new ground, setting the bar higher and ever higher, visceral one minute, heartbreaking the next. 

An Alan/Liz/Dante project that was previewed at The Barbican is in the pipeline. Recordings that Alan completed with Ben Vaughn and Palmyra Delran will also hopefully find their way into the world over the coming months. It won’t be easy to adjust to a post-Vega world. Who the heck is even close to being as qualified to scream the truth at and for us now? 

Goodbye American Dreamer!

THE COURETTES - BLASTING AWAY THE BREXIT COBWEBS!

ALL IS NOT LOST!

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT!

TOE-KNEE WRITES!

Saw a couple of barbs about the individual that penned this "fan letter" on the facedog. Sounded like he was conducting himself as per usual but by way of light relief, i thought I'd dust off this chestnut. I sent a copy of NBT to NME and it was returned torn up with this threatening diatribe. I guess I hit a nerve. His true colour was evident even then in the shitslinging days. Wish I'd kept the whole package. I could have hired it out to a punk rock exhibit in the portals where it was once villified. The punk rock that is. On IPC letterheaded paper but I don't think he was speaking for the company. For an added dimension, I imagine this thin-skinned charlatan reciting it in his comedy English twang. What a gift. The boy looked at ToeKnee, shook his head and kept walking.

Viva Los Chicos!

A Message from Brian Eno

Sorry to bludgeon you with a political message... but this is getting serious.

In just a few days we will be voting whether to stay in the EU.

Until recently I'd assumed there was no chance we'd vote to leave. However, recent polls seem to be showing 'Leave' and 'Remain' are neck and neck. Some polls even show 'Leave' leading.

You may have made up your mind and plan to vote (in which case ignore this letter), but if, like me, you've been complacent about the issue, it might be time to rethink. What the 'Leaves' have on their side is their unquenchable enthusiasm for a 'Great' Britain that they think we can revive - and several powerful media outlets to propagandise the idea. The Leavers know they can count on their demographic - primarily older people - to get out and vote, whereas the 'Remain' demographic is less reliable (and more complacent). And the Leavers have LOTS of money: seems like a lot of very wealthy people are anxious to get out of the EU.

I wonder why? Is it because many of the constraints on how badly you're allowed to treat workers have been put in place by the EU? Is it because the EU has insisted on environmental legislation which hampers the freedom-to-pollute of corporations and governments? Is it because the EU has established an international criminal court where all those people to whom we sell weapons might be called to account? Is it because the EU has tried to come up with some sort of humane response to immigration other than barbed wire and Trumpian walls?

I have a lot of misgivings about the way the EU is run, but they don't make me want to ditch the whole idea. I feel the EU is one of the only restraints on the kind of neo-liberal market fundamentalism that has seen inequality rising throughout the world. I feel that it has been a net force for good in promoting enlightened social and environmental agendas. It could and should be doing a better job at all these things, but to do any job at all it needs our support.

The only good outcome of this referendum is that it might remind us what the original mission of the EU was, and might motivate us to actually make it happen.

So...please vote. And please ask your friends to do the same.

It's A HIT!

HEY MR DJ!

In my opinion, a better Neil Young song than ol' Neil himself has come up with for years!

THE RETURN OF THE HOUSE OF ROCK FESTIVAL!

A touch over half a decade after the first one, it's happening again...

HOUSE OF ROCK II.0

Chixdiggit (Can)
The Vanjas (S)
Faz Waltz (I)

The Yum Yums / Sugar Louise / 
Baby Dynamite / The Whipshades /
Caroline & The Treats / The Promdates /
For The Love Of Ivy / El Mapache /
The Boogie Traps

They say you'll have to register...

LORD ROCHESTER 20/20 VISION CLIP... It's A HIT!

What's happening? Not much but y'ken...

Sometimes I think I might try and post stuff here more often and then more often than not something else comes up. The will to procrastinate is so strong that any sign of distraction is seen as an excuse. There’s some good stuff around that I should probably try and write about but aren’t you overloaded with information as it is. As guff as my angle might be though, it was never my intention to neglect the blog as much as I have been doing.

Just recently, Eddie Flowers asked me to contribute to the upcoming Vulcher print venture. I asked him if I should handwrite it and he said yes. Being that I hadn’t broken out the pens in a while, that was quite a culture shock. Not least because a semblance of an arthritic condition has crept over me so holding the writing utensil for any length of time was uncomfortable. I’d also forgotten all about the need to blot and not to smudge the ink. That made for some expletive filled outbursts along the way.

Forgetting is another thing I do a lot of. I’ve come to excel at that. Like a whole bank of memory tapes have been erased. Of course, all of this is down to aging. I’m under no illusion about that or the fact that it’s likely to get worse. At this point I’m well in advance of punk rock at 40 – this all of a sudden worthy commodity that some ne’er do wells can wring some cash out of cashing in on.

But what the hey, if someone is buying then they likely deserve to be taken. In the same way that anyone would even consider going to see Springsteen at Hampden fucking Park in Glasgow. Far be it from me to get in the way of what could only turn out to be the polar opposite of a real cool time. And I truly hope that Iggy will have made enough money to retire soon so that he can maybe hit the talk circuit and stop playing that post-Trainspotting gash. 

Now that - I’d pay to see. 

DAHLMANN-IA!

In the interest of full disclosure, I am very close to this release but I’m also very excited about it. This latest instalment by The Dahlmanns is their best yet in my opinion. If ever there was a definition of hit pop smash then these two songs are surely the sonic illustration of such a premise.

One original, one cover. I swear that I thought Line had written “Do You Want Crying” and had no idea it was a Katrina and the Waves song. In that time honoured tradition of picking material – and adding to it – this was a master stroke. “Play It (on Repeat)” is an original that stands up alongside any of your anthems. “Faking unaffected” just won’t cut it. I challenge anyone in radio to programme it as an antidote to that anodyne urban slop that they dole out on a minute by minute basis. 

“... Crying” is a tour de force. When the guitar outro comes in at then all bets are off. The first time I heard it, I was gasping for breath so hard that I almost needed oxygen. And that sensation has continued – on repeat – every time I hear it. The expression “on fire” is often overused but this is an incendiary a guitar run as I have ever heard. And I do mean EVER.

They really upped the ante on an already high-fallutin’ catalogue with this one and yes, there will be a vinyl edition coming down the pike. Meanwhile you can get a CD-ingle or a download (via CD Baby) from those savvy folks at the Pop Detective imprint out in New Jersey, USA. 

WRECKLESS ERIC - The MAKEOUT ROOM - SAN FRANCISCO

Wreckless Eric and Roy Loney

Thanks to a stalled Mission Street bus I was a little late for the show... got there just as he started "Reconnez Cherie" which has always been my fave of his. The joint was pretty well full near the stage so I sidled up to the bar and was halfway down my gin and tonic when I realized Roy Loney was sitting next to me. Roy told me I missed about 4 songs. Eric had an acoustic guitar (which he later told me was an Alvarez) with a ton of distortion and echo on it like the Stones Beggars Banquet sound.  

He sometimes switched to a beat up old Telecaster. These went through an old tube Guild combo amp that I’ve never seen before and didn't know existed. Very big and warm sounding.  He talked a lot between songs as he does (these bits are nearly as good as the songs themselves) and went on about naughty (but "undocumented") things going on in the North London Holloway public loo before performing “Joe Meek”. He did a lot of stuff off his recent album “AmERICa” which is his best ever by the way including “Several Shades of Green”, “Transitory Thing”, “Days of My Life”, “Boy Band”, “Sysco Trucks” and the absolutely sublime closer from the record, “Have a Great Day”.  

Opening band, The Mantles, joined him for “Whole Wide World” and came up and joined him again for “I Wish It Would Rain”. They were excellent and it was just fantastic to hear him with a band.

Eric graciously met and gret afterwards signing LPs and CDs (including my copy of AmERICa).  

Roy waited patiently to say hi while he took photos with fans. I helped him out with the gear and hitched a ride in his Buick Le Sabre up to the entrance of the Bay Bridge. His next stop was Portland but he said he was staying over in Chico.  

Eric really was in great form... I'd say he was as good - if not the best - I've ever seen him. 

Report by Don Ciccone (not pictured) / Eric and Roy Loney Pic courtesy of Bram Balam

The Mantles back Wreckless Eric on Whole Wide World from The Mantles on Vimeo.

So long (Gary) Sperrazza!

I heard today via my friend David Wolin that another old co-conspirator has left the crease.

Does the name Gary Sperrazza! (with exclamation mark) ring any bells? He latterly ran a store called Apollo Records in Buffalo, NY and quite possibly continued to sell records after it closed. We started off as pen/type-pals when he wrote for Bomp! and established a friendship over the years. His zine, The Shakin Street Gazette was a magazine that covered great music before pigeonholes ruined things. If I remember correctly, and this is a big thing – he was the one that introduced me to what was going on down Springfield way in Missouri as well as a host of other things. He was a huge soul fan and I discovered all manner of gems through Gary. 

I may never have hooked up with Lou and co if it hadn't been for this guy.

Sperrazza! was a character and on paper he seemed like a very decent geezer. I went to his home town of Buffalo to meet him during my first trip to the USA with my then wife Gail. Big mistake. That was the end right there because we were treated pretty shabbily. It was the rudeness more than anything else. However, I learned a valuable lesson out of that experience. I learned that if someone takes time to meet with you then one should give him, her or them full attention. To always go that extra mile to make sure they had a good time. It was sad because I really hate to lose friends for whatever reason.

There was a positive outcome however, because after that 36 or 48 hours of relative hell (it was good to see David who really was a youngster back then when he was in The Splatcats), Gail and I hopped on the bus to Rochester and hooked up with my lifelong pals Kevin and Corinne Patrick. That was when I also met the Rt. Hon. Greg Prevost at the fabled House of Guitars too. 

So all was well that ended well.

Gary was a complicated person and according to reports not always that easy to get along with. One comes to learn that people are people and sometimes they have a reason for acting the way they do. I don't know whether he did or not but I plan to unearth some of the cassette tapes he sent me this weekend and will endeavour to remember him the way I thought he was before we met.

My condolences to any friends and family that might stumble upon this. I don’t know if he had any but I know that you can read some of his writing on Rock’s Backpages.

FANTASTIC FUNTASTIC NEWS!

h

I'd never heard this before Friday!

Do it for JOE!

You can now score Andy Shernoff's ode to Joey HERE!

All Nett proceeds go to the Foundation for Lymphoma Research in the big fella's name.

A Mad-Toon Must-Visit!

Joey's Got The Power!

RUN DOWN LOVE BATTERY!

GRC! GLESGA ROCK CITY...

The folks at Glasgow Music City Tours asked me to put something together for their blog. 

Come visit, let them take you for a wander.

From LAKESIDE by Eric 'Roscoe' Ambel...

REMINDER... ALVIN ACTION THIS COMING TUESDAY!!

Don't forget! The Alvin Brothers and their Guilty co -conspirators are at The Art School, Glasgow on Tuesday next. (19th). 

They'll be on at 8pm and there is no opener. 

Just wall to wall D + P. 

Excellent news!

Tickets here!

Where did that last 15 years go exactly?

To be or not to be is the question unceasingly...

Thanks to Barbara Garcia- Bernardo via facebook.

It's A Hit!

Descent into the Central Scotland Maelstrom...

Radio Birdman. Not in Glasgow. Nor in Edinburgh. The Warehouse in Falkirk on Saturday June 25th.

This is not a hoax. 

It's happening. Join the gathering of the "Yeah Hup" clan.

Details and ticket info here.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS DONUT APPLY - AVAILABLE NOW!

Prior to Mr Cruickshank’s untimely exit, he completed a bunch of recording with his long-time musical co-pilot Wilf Smarties. The first instalment of the reactivated Mowgli and the Donuts oeuvre is available now on CD entitled “Terms and Conditions Donut Apply”. You can order your copy here and it'll set you back £7.99 including UK postage. Overseas folks can enquire via that same portal. Copies can now be found in discerning music emporiums in Glasgow and Edinburgh and hopefully further afield in the not too distant future.

The band grew out of a remarkable friendship struck up at school, between Wilf and Stewart. Formed spiritually nearly 50 years ago in 1967, M + TD started in earnest as soon as they could both play 3 chords. Wilf gravitated to lead guitar, Stewart to rhythm and the two began to write songs soon after.

The band gigged regularly for a decade in various formats and locations, playing sets of original material. Wilf went on to run Planet Recording Studio in Edinburgh during the 80's. He produced Wet Wet Wet and ended up accidentally writing for Kylie. Stewart’s Mowgli moniker was Gilmore Wines in the old days, prior to becoming a producer at the BBC. Post millennium, the two old worthies began to have some very eccentric, off the beaten track adventures and it was mooted that they should record songs for posterity. A little over 3 years ago Wilf returned to Edinburgh and this move kicked off this final phase.

They recruited former Donuts - Keith Froude from our “East Anglian” period (drums) and also Andy Munro aka Mr Boom (drums) and Iain B. Veitch (bass) from the later “Edinburgh” era. The voice of Lorraine, Stewart's widow, is set to be heard on subsequent releases.

The songs are a mixture of the romantic, idiosyncratic, observational and political, in roughly equal amounts, many set here in their native Scotland. Musical influences are broad but the peel of the 60's West Coast sound is most prevalent. Stewart and Wilf grew up in the age of the concept album. They would reverentially listen to an LP all the way through and that’s how “Terms and Conditions” should be enjoyed.

The tracks are not available for download and shuffle play is not encouraged.

RIP - Andrew Loomis

Straight outta MRC - for WFMU!

RIP - Lennie Baker

When Annika Went To Nashville...

FUNTASTIC NEWS!

Listening To Elvis

The Roots of Tap!

Last Saturday Night down at the Moby Dick, Madrid!

PSYCHEDELIC HERITAGE PSOCIETY PSTRIKES!

There's a tribute to Stewart on the final 40 minutes of the Vic Galloway Show tonight. Repeated on Thursday and available on the i-Player.

Photo by Corinna Kidd

The EL SOTANO incident!

Rock 'n'Roll Radio... including Andy Stewart! Gracias Diego and Francisco!

http://www.rtve.es/alacarta/audios/el-sotano/sotano-dj-lindsay-hutton-22-01-16/3454381/

Flashback...

Tis here! NORTON RECORDS - THE STORE!!!

SUICIDE at Hurrah, NY! 1980

(Via Iňigo Pastor's facebook)

SHOT IN THE DARK!

The photobook daddy of them all, seemingly longer than forever in the making, Shot In The Dark by my esteemed amigo David Arnoff and hits the streets courtesy of the good offices that are Sympathetic Press, the publishing wing of Sympathy For The Record Industry. The UK launch will take place this coming Sunday – 17^th January – at The Islington (E13)  down in "The London".

Tis a door-stop and a half containing images of many your heroes and a few chancers. If you feel the need to browse then you might miss your chance to grab a copy so I would suggest just ordering a copy now. Not sure what the situation is with actual distribution and I wouldn’t want anyone to be repenting in leisure or any other such condition.

Take a look at David’s website should you be unfamiliar with his oeuvre. And, just in case just happened by here by accident, Mr Arnoff is the geezer that shot the covers of The Cramps “Songs The Lord Taught Us”, The Fleshtones “Roman Gods” and Stiv’s “Disconnected”. 

The sumptuous monochrome is a beautiful thing so if you don’t make it your mission to get one then you will almost certainly regret it in not so later life.

Them DEL-LORDS... last night in BKLYN!

Dudes Keep Dropping...

The news about Bowie this morning was a shocker. It really hit me sideways.

It sent my mind reeling back to when it was easy to find US cut-outs, with the cartoon cover, of "The Man who Sold the World". But most especially to seeing him perform “Starman” on Top of the Pops with Ronno and the other guys. These were important notes from space and no-one had seen anything quite like this. Some of us were already Alice Cooper but we wouldn’t actually SEE them until something like 3 months later. 

Forgive me if my recall is sketchy. My granny was disgusted and referred to him as a he/she. My grandmother would also use a coloured pencil to draw in underwear on pin up girls on my bedroom wall. Somewhere I’m sure there’s photographic evidence of this. My formative years converged with what was perhaps the last great proper teenage music wave, Glam.

I worked in a record store during holidays and at weekends and we sold Bowie records every day. We even sold copies of a record called "Raw Power" on import that had some involvement from him. I got the first one and a guy called Ziggy from the auld toon bought the other copy. I can’t recall his real name but he had the haircut and everything. Easily the biggest DB fan in the locale at that time.

I’d say I was definitely a fan of his from “Man” up until probably “Heroes”. "Young Americans" I didn’t really get because it seemed just like a weak take on Philly soul and I didn’t care for that particular “image”. It seemed like betrayal after the supreme rock’n’roll crunch of the previous two albums but in retrospect was just him moving along. Last time I saw him would have been the "Station to Station" tour. Several years later, nearly 20 maybe, I would witness El Vez recreate that album’s incredible opening mood in Tut’s, not far from where I saw Bowie. 

The Aladdin Sane show at the Edinburgh Empire - May 23^rd 1973 - was the first late night rock show I ever attended. The record shop ran a bus. My mate Gordon Mackay missed that and took a cab into the city. It must have cost a small fortune but he didn’t care, he just had to be there. I remember being very excited at the fact they encored with a version of "White Light, White Heat".

You see this was punk rock. Before it was co-opted into whatever it became.

Many folks I know stuck with him though, fine with the shape-shifting, even with Tin Machine. He did exactly what he wanted to do and the guy cannot be prosecuted for that. The bigger impression of all this is the psychological damage of all the artists that played a part of the overall culture disappearing. The loss of characters in conjunction with a sharp contrast of one’s own mortality is something that strikes me as quite sobering. Even although I can’t say I’m overly perturbed. I think it’s the thought of losing yet another connection. In this case not a friend but someone who definitely contributed to the fabric of what one would or had become. However indirectly. 

SEE YOU THERE?

LOLA DUTRONIC - Harley Davidson 2016

Punk Rock - Safe in the Hands of Spanish Youngsters!

PURE POP for PEOPLE WITH EARS!

The Rubinoos are about to hop over the ocean again to spread their power doo-wop-a-pop magic across the parts of Europe where audiences still display taste. To celebrate this positive start to 2016, the Wild Honey imprint has come up with a triple vinyl set that collects the first two studio albums with The Basement Tapes and additional tracks. All topped off by a great liner note by SF scribe and curator of the Catalog of Cool, Gene Sculatti.

All the songs that drove you Beserkley and more - collected like one of those Reader’s Digest-type ultimate collections. “Hurts Too Much”, “I Never Thought It Would Happen”, “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend”, they’re all there. The ‘noos can still pull off their oeuvre and then some. Some people tell me that it can be a little too sweet but truly, if you see them, it’ll all fall into place. Get your copy here but be quick because when the tour starts then it's likely they'll disappear double-quick!

View from December 29th 2015...

I know that overtures are made from time to time about resuming regular posting hereabouts.

These are made with good intentions and then those all go "PHUT!".

Today I feel like it may be possible to extract said digit and maybe at least try to get things moving again but that can so easily go by the wayside. Even if it was just posting a link to something that you could listen to and make up your own mind without my chiming in...

So anyway, there is stuff kicking about that I really should bang on about. And perhaps I will.

But I'm just saying that there's a possibility that I may not even although it's time that I stopped wasting my time. Well it made sense to me when I started to type this bloody thing up.

Rock'n'Roll just took another hit!

COURETTES!

It's A Wonderful Bevvy!

Those fine folks at Grade “A” Fancy have published a wee digest of Cocktail recipes for the seasoned greeter. “Hark! The Radio Bartender Brings” collects the tipples that the Fancies have prepared  on air during Rex’s seasonal Fool’s Paradise shindig over the years.

So for the discerning drinker that won’t just neck everything in sight, start practicing the mixing art that matters. 

American types can get it direct from the Goofenhaus and Europeans can order copies from Herb Lester or pick it up in the swanky La Fiambrera out there in Madrid. 

FRIDAY (Burned) ON MY MIND!

The concept of something coming full circle might often seem like cliché but I think that I like to believe in such symmetry. It’s bitten me on the arse in the past but in recent times there has been a positive aspect to the notion with this past Friday night having been the most mind-blowing of all. Somehow, a seemingly very grand plan came together. 

This was having Amy Rigby come and see The Dahlmanns. If Amy hadn’t written the song that they covered then a large chunk of my existence in addition to lifelong friendships simply would never have come to pass. I think I kept gibbering on about enormity to the point of maybe seeming like a hippie. If there is indeed a state that could be declared as cosmic then it was Friday night in TivoliKjellern in downtown Moss Rock City.

That was the night that Amy performed “Dancing With Joey Ramone” with The Dahlmanns, just as though it was seemingly destined to be. Those in attendance will likely never forget it. The fact there are pictures means that it actually happened. You can’t photoshop fun. The guy upstairs is likely looking over his "little dark shades" as we go about our business.

It was remiss of me not to mention Death By Unga Bunga. I was so carried away with things. This was a local derby with the two hometown sides coming together to create a pre-stupid season Julebord for the discerning rock'n'roller. They've come a long way since I first saw them at House of Rock 1. I was so distracted that I even managed to miss out on meeting Sebastian's dad.

All photos by the fabulous Susanne Arnesen.

STEWART CRUICKSHANK - I salute you sir!

This time last week I was totally unaware that Stewart had been admitted to hospital. And even when I did find out, I figured that I’d likely be visiting him this weekend. But for some inexplicable reason, this was not to be and he passed away in the wee hours of Monday 16^th November.

The soonest I could arrange to go over there and see Lorraine was Wednesday. It was odd getting off the train at Queen Street and heading for Hillhead with the prospect of not meeting up with Stewart. Coming out of the subway beside the Starbucks that used to be the fabled John Smith’s Bookshop, scene of many a good time – it was like some twisted play on “It’s A Wonderful Life” with our guy getting the George Bailey treatment. The west end is littered with markers and walking up the lane on such a driech night it felt like NY maybe did when Joey passed away. There was just something missing. There's a Waterstones where Roots and Fruits should have been for fucks sake.

But anyway, I made my way to their place and Lorraine was dealing with everything in that classic, stoic West of Scotland manner. I’m sure the enormity hasn’t hit her yet, nor has it dawned on most of us. We know he’s gone but we’re hoping it’s actually just a nuclear Cruickshank wheeze.

If you ever tried to leave a show, pub or restaurant with Stewart, you were in for a long wait. He had to say goodbye to everybody he knew. And that meant he had to say goodbye to everybody. It was the same on the Byres Road or indeed everywhere else in town. The landscape of Scottish Music would be entirely different were it not for him. Pure and simple. He struck all manner of blows against the BBC Empire to keep programming at BBC Radio Scotland at the forefront. He was responsible for successful show after show. That included his most recent stint with Iain Anderson and he should have been on points commission for coining the term Celtic Connections.

In terms of people skills, this guy was the master. His attention to detail is unsurpassed and he forgot more about music than any of us ever knew. No one ever came away from an encounter with Stewart unaffected by his enthusiasm. There’s not one person that would tell you otherwise. And even if they did, then they’d be lying.

So many adventures, too many recount but a friend reminded me of the time we dj’d together at The Nomads 20^th Anniversary show in Stockholm. Segueing” Donald Whaurs Yer Troosers” with “The Faith Healer” was a masterstroke. The night we got back from that trip was when Joey died and we swapped stories and played Ramones records all through the night.

He was also obsessed with trains and well, heavy machinery in general. I recall there being an open day in the then BP oil refinery here and we took he and Lorraine along there. It was like a kid wandering into Disneyland. Much of it has been demolished now but in those days it was like a Blade Runner set. Just this morning, I went for a walk along to the Railway Preservation place in Bo’ness. Last time we stopped by there on our way to a screening of "The Party", he was reciting the histories of the steam trains that passed below us and it went on. And on some more. I was rolling my eyes but that says more about me than it does him. Sometimes I think he did that for devilment. Our trip to Madrid was something that really fired him up. I thought he was actually dead the day after the Dahlmanns show at Wurli because I couldn't get him to bloody answer the door of his room or the phone. I think he finally surfaced around 4pm. Which when I think about it was actually the time zone he operated in anyway but I was frantic.

One of the most excited I ever saw him (and anyone who has been with Stewart knows that atomic Duracell bunny mode all too well) was meeting Pirate Radio pioneer Ronan o’ Rahilly after the MC5 film premiere where he interrogated the guy as only he could. Another cool memory is when Amy Rigby was playing Glasgow and she brought her daughter Hazel with her on this particular trip. They stayed with Stewart and Lorraine and Hazel was so taken with Stewart that she wrote a short story titled “Crookshank” about him. If I ever find it and it's OK with Hazel then I'll post it. Those Rigby women are sharp.

Kathryn Ross, the lady that performed the Humanist service did a great job with material supplied by Lorraine, Richard (Bull) and Stewart’s oldest friend, the one and only Brian Hogg. Ian Anderson did a recitation of “Remember” by Christina Rossetti. It was a rollercoaster of emotions. The place was rammed. In the car back to the “aftershow” we posed the question, is there a fire limit in a crematorium? I still don’t know if everyone got in there. I sure hope they did.

So his crew shared stories while songs were sung and tunes were played. Phil Cunningham’s “On the Edge of the White Rock” air hushed the house. Someone has to record that. The moment I really lost it was when Amy’s “Don’t Ever Change” came on. That one reduces me to rubble in any normal situation but here it was too much and I went into full plotz.

There are plans and schemes taking shape for when the dust settles. That could take some time but there will be much celebration of the old bugger in 2016 and beyond. This was a wake-up call to each and every one of us who ever came into contact with him. Though we’ll never get the hang of the concept of “Cruickshank Time”, I think that everyone is resigned to try and carry on a little of what we thought would be around forever but for some reason was snatched away way too prematurely. I am genuinely sorry for those of you that never went under the thunder of Stewart Cruickshank.

Photos - Top to Bottom

Crunch's Half Century Blaw Oot (Stewart, Lorraine, Jim Bloomfield in background)

Busting moves to the Ben Vaughn McCombo in Maryhill Arts Centre

Beat Patrol HQ with Avy Carroll, Eva Vahlberg and Nick Vahlberg (1996 I think?)

Something to look forward to...