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

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

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

RIP - Ray Lowry

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

RIP - Rob Partridge

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

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

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

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

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

(link courtesy of Mr Bobby Lloyd Hicks)

A high ol' Thanksgiving to wir US readers today.

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

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

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

Screenprinting Dean and Britta from dan rugh on Vimeo.

(Info courtesy of Mr Ulf)

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

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

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

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

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

www.myspace.com/skydogrecords

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

RIP - Jody Reynolds

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

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

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

Thankfully yours, Michael

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