Hey, check out Brother Joss having a good ol’ mump over at the Rock Backpages blog. There’s a lot of other neat stuff over there too.
Site visits are on the rise and it doesn't appear to be with regard to Stewart's encounter with "Blackburn's finest" either. The reportage in recent days with regard to YouTube views and that particular phenom makes one think that it's all perhaps a wind up. C'mon, it must be? It makes me wonder about these "hit" statistics and how they correspond with the "hitee" responds to what they find.
Here the mechanics are simple. I want you to check out the material and maybe act upon it as in spreading the news or maybe even buying something or seeing a movie. Website traffic is another tool in the arsenal of the professional snowjob artist as far as I'm concerned. As any attempt to join up any publicity for anything gets more fragmented by the day, it's difficult to get anybody to sit still for any reasonable duration.
I’m just listening to Dave Alvin cover “Dynamite Woman”. I’ll take this guy’s work over all your Dylan’s and Young’s anyday. Hearing him tear through this Doug Sahm tune is a joy right to the jews harp outro.
Let’s see, what else should you be checking out… oh – there’s an exhibit of the sterling photographic work of Stephanie Chernikowski at Morrison Hotel Gallery Bowery, 313 Bowery New York, NY 10009. Recognise that address?
(thanks to Randy and Martin for that info)
And there's The Couple - Pt. 2 over at JD's... (18th April entry). Epic writing. If this guy was properly published then I'd read books!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Two days, two great new videos. Not to mention a stew of amazing scopitones courtesy of Bedazzled TV. Who needs the fresh air when you can stay in and watch stuff of this calibre? Incidentally, the "explicit" here refers to a little swearing although those of a nervous dispoz should note that Adiam is messing about with ciggies and guns during the course of this video...
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
I never met Sable Starr but vividly remember a photo of Lance Loud from The Mumps carrying her. It was in NME around '75/76 I think. I don't like to hear of people that are the same age as me shuffling off this mortal coil. Not because I fear the reaper myself or anything like that, it's just something that saddens me. There are more deserving candidates for some scythe action, surely? I've been hunched over a computer screen all day and don't feel much like a couple more hours of that tonight but I didn't realise that Eric and Amy's Spanish jaunt starts tomorrow.
If you're in the following locales, please go and see them. You won't be disappointed.
April 22nd - ZARAGOZA, Teatro De La Estacion
April 23rd - BILBAO, Colegio de Abogados de Bizkaia
April 25th - MADRID, Cultura Pop Festival (The Quattros are on the bill too!!)
April 29th - VALENCIA, Teatro Octubre
April 30th - TARRAGONA, Groove Bar
Wish I was headin' out that way with them. I'm outta here now... later folks...
Oops, one other thing ... here's the full timetable for Hinterland, Glasgow.
Fangs at 7pm on the Thursday anyone?
Monday, April 20, 2009
"More sauerbraten, please!" Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co. returns to the charming Cafe Steinhof in Park Slope this week for more of that good ol' Viennese home cooking and tasty German brews: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22nd / CAFE STEINHOF / 422 Seventh Avenue (at 14th Street) in Park Slope, Brooklyn / Two teutonic shows, from 10:30 sharp until 12:30 / No cover! / Dining optional, but with a full menu until 11pm!
Plus, next week, on a more tropical note...
THURSDAY, APRIL 30th / OTTO'S SHRUNKEN HEAD TIKI BAR & LOUNGE / 538 East 14th Street (just west of Avenue B) in Manhattan / Two portly shows, from 8:00 sharp until 10:00 / No cover charge!
Auf Wiedersehen! Michael
"Ballads, Boogies & Blues"
At the end of the last episode, you'll remember that your reporter was not in the frame of mind to go to the big rock show. I've seen The Supersuckers a bunch of times, as it happens on occasions I didn't remember until my memory was jogged. They're a great band. Not as Eddie kept telling us, "the greatest rock'n'roll band in the world" but capable of opening a can of whupass when called upon. They've been hauling this particular circus around for two decades now and I'm wondering if Mr Spaghetti is sponsored by Gilleys? How many of those t-shirts does he have exactly? Anyway, you get what they give and the sound last night was horrendous. Worst I ever heard in a place where it's generally good. I have it on legit authority that it was the same in Malmo but that's another story.
Had never seen Nashville Pussy but was always underwhelmed with the records. Nine Pound Hammer on the other hand is something I'll never tire of, because they have songs. "This one is about going down" said Blaine C. "Not again" was what crossed my mind. It's all so 1974, but not in a good way. True, you wouldn't fancy the bass player in Black Oak Arkansas but they had hot and nasty down pat. (Of course, I'm talking about myself here, maybe YOU would and that's your beeswax.) I really wanted to be convinced otherwise but it fell a bit flat. A cover of Slade's "Why Why Why" raised the game slightly but by that time, it was too late. NP could be great with a little calibration but I doubt that's ever gonna happen
The addition of another opener was a mistake too because that was beyond awful. It's time the "rock show" as an art form - cut to the chase. Stop fannying about and give us your best 35 minutes. Leave us wanting more for fucks sake, not wishing it was over. Make us believe. It's like people will whoop and holler for anything at this point if it makes them feel like they've had their moneys worth. I saw a guy wearing a leather jacket with Forbidden Dimension on the back. That was pretty cool and there was a girl with some very impressive tattoo work standing just to the left of me at one point. Those shouldn't have been the highlights but they were.
If only Mr McLean's fb message had come in just a few minutes earlier yesterday evening...
THIS JUST IN...
Mr Duff informed me that Roky is playing in London at the HMV Forum (formerly T&C and most recently, Kentish Town Forum) on August 20th and also that the Shjips are at The Borderline the night before. Anybody know who RKE’s band will be?
Had never seen Nashville Pussy but was always underwhelmed with the records. Nine Pound Hammer on the other hand is something I'll never tire of, because they have songs. "This one is about going down" said Blaine C. "Not again" was what crossed my mind. It's all so 1974, but not in a good way. True, you wouldn't fancy the bass player in Black Oak Arkansas but they had hot and nasty down pat. (Of course, I'm talking about myself here, maybe YOU would and that's your beeswax.) I really wanted to be convinced otherwise but it fell a bit flat. A cover of Slade's "Why Why Why" raised the game slightly but by that time, it was too late. NP could be great with a little calibration but I doubt that's ever gonna happen
The addition of another opener was a mistake too because that was beyond awful. It's time the "rock show" as an art form - cut to the chase. Stop fannying about and give us your best 35 minutes. Leave us wanting more for fucks sake, not wishing it was over. Make us believe. It's like people will whoop and holler for anything at this point if it makes them feel like they've had their moneys worth. I saw a guy wearing a leather jacket with Forbidden Dimension on the back. That was pretty cool and there was a girl with some very impressive tattoo work standing just to the left of me at one point. Those shouldn't have been the highlights but they were.
If only Mr McLean's fb message had come in just a few minutes earlier yesterday evening...
THIS JUST IN...
Mr Duff informed me that Roky is playing in London at the HMV Forum (formerly T&C and most recently, Kentish Town Forum) on August 20th and also that the Shjips are at The Borderline the night before. Anybody know who RKE’s band will be?
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Forget the special RSD releases of retread Stooges/MC5 and whatever, the big item of the day has to be Wooden Shjips "Dos" complete with mix cd compiled by the band. The roots of the Shjips are definitely showing on this limited edition. Vinyl is two weeks away but from what I could see, this was doing brisk business meantime. Not sure if the comp cd will be accompanying that. Probably not.Anyway, I think that the leaking of this particular release didn't result in sinking sales. Anybody who heard it was babbling uncontrollably about how damn great it is. Track 5, "Fallin'" is quite simply the most hypnotic groove that I've come across in many moons.
Not much info on the packaging. Once again it's the music itself that's doing the talking. If you're in the market for some space rock with a bite then this is your "man" - man. And I use that term as a greeting to all and every gender. Peace? That's a different story, this is anything but peaceful but the perfect Neu/Suicide melding with a "dusting" (yo Tarq!) of Iron Butterfly, has kind of blown my napper innards. (S)h(j)ips don't lie...
I don't completely agree with this review but infowise it has a neat tempo.
"Muchas garcias" to for Dr H who made it possible to hear this several weeks ago.
Another day, another ISP hassle. No blueyonder this morning but waht's the point of getting agitated. Plenty time for that later as the realisation of burning a weeks holiday kicks in.
Record Store Day was a hit in terms of the social aspect. I'll reserve my more cynical take on it all because even although every day is RSD for some people, it did stir up some very good vibes. I particularly applaud the "home baking" aspect and Katrina Pastel in particular for the scrumdiddleyumptious cheese sticks! I saw a couple of guys from a new signing - The Virgins - at Avalanche. Do the kids really want a new Doobie Brothers? Probably not.
The big story of the day though had nothing to do with RSD really. It involved the Boyle phenomenon that is seemingly sweeping the earth. True story, you couldn't make it up. A whole lot of you guys are familiar with the Rt Hon. Stewart Cruickshank, and you know his standing in the community not only locally but globally. So 10 years ago, the intrepid and selfless Captain Krunch finds himself in Whitburn Town Hall (look it up) judging a talent show. That was the self-same competition that resulted in this "Cry Me A River" track that's turned up. So there you go - the one and only Stewart Cruickshank gazumped Cowell by several light years.
The situation this woman finds herself in will hopefully provide her with the wherewithall to want for nothing anymore. the way her business has been dragged through te neighbourhood, she deserves it. Don't give me that crap about her sounding like Peggy Lee - she sounds like Lena Martell and I guess that she's taking one day at a time right about now. And it's true, she doesn't look anything like Julie London but as Jaki McDougall rightly pointed out, that's what wee wifie's from that part of the world look like.
Irrespective of the freakshow aspect, there's a John Waters factor here. Ultimately it doesn't matter what her background. Whitburn has been twinned with Baltimore by the sickness of this trumped up version of The Gong Show.
The Sexual Objects played as a duo at Mono and the Tyrannosaurus Rex vs Alex Harvey boded well for a full on electric assault. Would love to have stayed for Peter Parker, soundcheck was great but it had been a long, very cool shift. It's not often that you bump into a guy who's a mate of the great Roger Armstrong that you can reminisce about "Rock On" with.
At this point, I'm pondering whether to go to The Supersuckers/Nashville Pussy show. Not sure.
Elsewhere in Glasgow - Camera Obscura have an album launch in Mono tonight. They're not playing but the considerable djing skills of Traceyanne Campbell and Carey lander will be on display.
Record Store Day was a hit in terms of the social aspect. I'll reserve my more cynical take on it all because even although every day is RSD for some people, it did stir up some very good vibes. I particularly applaud the "home baking" aspect and Katrina Pastel in particular for the scrumdiddleyumptious cheese sticks! I saw a couple of guys from a new signing - The Virgins - at Avalanche. Do the kids really want a new Doobie Brothers? Probably not.
The big story of the day though had nothing to do with RSD really. It involved the Boyle phenomenon that is seemingly sweeping the earth. True story, you couldn't make it up. A whole lot of you guys are familiar with the Rt Hon. Stewart Cruickshank, and you know his standing in the community not only locally but globally. So 10 years ago, the intrepid and selfless Captain Krunch finds himself in Whitburn Town Hall (look it up) judging a talent show. That was the self-same competition that resulted in this "Cry Me A River" track that's turned up. So there you go - the one and only Stewart Cruickshank gazumped Cowell by several light years.
The situation this woman finds herself in will hopefully provide her with the wherewithall to want for nothing anymore. the way her business has been dragged through te neighbourhood, she deserves it. Don't give me that crap about her sounding like Peggy Lee - she sounds like Lena Martell and I guess that she's taking one day at a time right about now. And it's true, she doesn't look anything like Julie London but as Jaki McDougall rightly pointed out, that's what wee wifie's from that part of the world look like.
Irrespective of the freakshow aspect, there's a John Waters factor here. Ultimately it doesn't matter what her background. Whitburn has been twinned with Baltimore by the sickness of this trumped up version of The Gong Show.
The Sexual Objects played as a duo at Mono and the Tyrannosaurus Rex vs Alex Harvey boded well for a full on electric assault. Would love to have stayed for Peter Parker, soundcheck was great but it had been a long, very cool shift. It's not often that you bump into a guy who's a mate of the great Roger Armstrong that you can reminisce about "Rock On" with.
At this point, I'm pondering whether to go to The Supersuckers/Nashville Pussy show. Not sure.
Elsewhere in Glasgow - Camera Obscura have an album launch in Mono tonight. They're not playing but the considerable djing skills of Traceyanne Campbell and Carey lander will be on display.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
It's Record Store Day then... I had a thought, maybe there are some of you folks that don't have access to a real shop. It's pretty sick but I know that's a possibility. I'm not sure what the "limited" aspect of these special releases are but if there's anything you need then let me know before 10am (GMT) and I'll do what I can to hook you up. "Dos" by Wooden Shjips is to be made available today so I'm hoping to come back with that. OK, back at you much later...
Don't bother with the Susan Boyle 7" though. They're all sold out already...
Friday, April 17, 2009
"Malcolm Tucker" onstage in Glasgow, February 2nd 1979.
No idea who took the shot...
... anyway, the subject's new film is out in cinemas today!
It’s been quite the week for anniversaries of people shuffling off this mortal coil.
Wednesday it was 8 years without Joey (Ramone), Thursday it was Johnny Thunders (18 years!) and today, it’s exactly a year since the great Chris Gaffney went to the great roadhouse. 49 today since Eddie Cochran. It occurs to me that this is worth mentioning...
Some shows this weekend...Firstly, Shock and Awe in Edinburgh tonight.
"the world famous shock and awe are playing at henrys tonight - at the moment its a bit uncertain whether we're playing with our stand in drummer Barry Ands or our stand in drum machine Debbie Suicide, or you if you fancy it ! either way its going to be different from the gig we played the other week Either way we are on at 9pm sharp, so plenty time for a pint and a chat after - henrys cellar bar, morrison street at the lothian road end, I'll probably be playing my silver sparkly guitar because I broke my other one while kicking it round the stage the other week also performing tonight in a ear pleasing punk rock new wave frenzy are THE AXIDENTS + PLASTIC ADULTS + CHATEAU GREYSKULL + UGLY BABY so 5 bands for 5 quid and a free cd from me if you want onesee ye there ? Cheers, Murray"
Girls on Top in London and a reminder that The Phobics are in action dahn there also...Tom, you want to take it from here?
"Call yourself my mates? - Further to my earlier begging missive, I STILL have tickets for our gig at the Dirty South in Lee High Road this coming Saturday 18th April and they are slower moving than the veg in a kebab. Come on guys and gals, 4 bands plus us for six quid - a recap - You will be entertained by: CATFIGHT / WONK UNIT / THE PHOBICS and THE BERMONDSEY JOYRIDERS featuring Garry Lammin from Cock Sparrer and Keith Boyce from The Heavy Metal Kids and - playing a rare London gig - PETER AND THE TEST TUBE BABIES. (Haud me back! - ha ha) Doors open at 7:30pm is and the bar is open til 2am so come early, stay late and spend Sunday saying hello to God on the big white telephone - you know it makes sense - It'll cost more on the door so act now save money and help the desperate old punk rockers - it's the gift that keeps on giving!! Thank you for your kind indulgence. TIGHTWADS!"
If you need to get in touch with Tom to take up his kind offer then do so via The Phobics myspace.
Record Store Day Happenings here and there…
Reverse the trend of driving the record stores into extinction. Stay the fuck away from your iPod or whatever on Saturday April 18th. Embrace the concept of leaving your billet and visit a record store. Here’s an example of what’s happening but if you go to the RSD website then you can zoom in on what’s happening near you.
I’ve already heard griping about it being an opportunity for record companies to cash in by releasing special items. Wake up you diddies! – there’s a full blown crisis going on. In these times, when the populace is more likely to vote for a crap singer or some drongo that puts their pants on their head during a so called reality TV show (because it's in the script) – instead of who runs the country then y’know, that concerns me a little.
Listen to what Joni said. “You never know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone”. I think that was a prediction of what might happen if the record stores vamoose.
So in Glasgow for starters…
Monorail Music just had a big Norton Records trove arrive…
Sir Sandy McLean in The Herald today on the subject with details of wha’appen in Dundas Street.
Avalanche Glasgow schedule for the day (could be subject to chopping and changing over the course)...
FRAN SCHOPPLER : 1PM
ROSS CLARK: 1:30
DANANANAKROYD DJ SET: 2 PM
THE VIRGINS: 3 PM
WE WERE PROMISED JETPACKS: 3;45
VERTICAL BUTLER SCHEME: 4:30
THE BRAKES: 5 PM
ALISTAIR ROBERTS 5:30
In Stockholm – A Rawk slant at Sound Pollution!
In Rochester, NY – New Math Now are doing an instore at Record Archive!
I bet that Plato in Utrecht are doing something and don’t forget the big bash that’s going down at the Record Fair there on behalf of NederGlam!!
If anything particularly tasty rolls in then I’ll post that later. If you want to blab anything special that’s going down on your watch, then send an e-holler. Operators are standing by...
With all the reportage of the vinyl single reaching a ripe old age recently and the fact that sales of these things are up, let's just keep these "special editions" out of the hands of the tossers that are out to fleece you on ebay. Let's flush those blighters out of the system. Re-live the days when you used to spend that well-earned pocket money on a shiny black thing that would provide hours of repeated pleasure.
Something you had to interact with that wasn't a mobile phone. It may take some convalescence but you can do it!
This just in from Mr McLean... (click on image to enlarge).
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