The news of Jeannie C. Riley's passing seems, thankfully, to be untrue.

Apologies for any undue alarm this may have caused.

Lenny Helsing on Sky Saxon, Lenny kindly posted this as a comment on RIP - SS, but just incase you don't look at those...

"Yeah I can only add that Sky was something else indeed, and The Seeds were one of the very greatest combos the rock world has ever produced. It was an honour indeed to meet and befriend the great man when he came to play in Aberdeen, and Glasgow, Scotland a few years ago. The group I play for The Thanes were fortunate enough to be the opening group when Sky and his brand new band of Seeds tore it up at Glasgow's King Tut's Wah Wah Hut. Although I only spent a few hours with him over a couple of days, Sky was a very amiable and friendly guy, full of fun and joy, still wanting the best out of life, and telling us he loved the music we were playing, and taking the time to hang out, ask Seedy questions and generally wanting to put the world to rights. And wasn't the Sky Saxon and The Seeds LP 'Red Planet' just the best thing he'd been involved in since the heady daze of the original SEEDS. Oh yeah I really do think so. I think Sky has now truly found the entranceway to play…may the flower lady and her assistant attend your every need…"

From Duglas T Stewart...

"Hi all,

I'm playing a FREE gig at The Goat this Sunday. The line up is- the ultraromantic sounds of Duglas T Stewart and friends, "organic electronica" from Engine'7 and my fave new songwriter Adam Ross (I think he's really brilliant). The fun starts at 8pm.

Mr. Duglas"

RIP - Michael Jackson

Read Johnny Black's RBP blog posting on this here. I think he puts it pretty succinctly.

Some sad news for sure tonight but let’s accentuate the positive a little...

In the last couple of days I’ve seen two still living, breathing exponents of the arts that have made everything we hold dear responsible. In terms of influence they’re right up there. Giants. Maybe not household names but individuals who pervade every aspect of what I consider to be true culture. I’ve considered the possibility that both can enjoy a level of popularity now because they’re part of the broad canvas that The Cramps taught us. It’s true to say that there was always an aspect of awareness but they piqued an insatiable appetite for cool and crazy stuff. I was just talking the other day to someone about how the landscape would be very different if it weren’t for their direction.

I blew out the chance to see the first two episodes of True Blood in a cinema setting in favour of Wanda Jackson’s first Scottish appearance in, she says, more that 25 years. I think it must be way more than that and would welcome information with regard to when it might have been. It was good to see a decent turnout for this auspicious occasion and two bucketloads of kudos should go to Ms Holly Calder for pulling it off and making it possible.

It’s important to create a proper environment for an event like this and the DJ action (Aaron from All Tore Up and another guy, can’t remember his name) provided the sounds to do that alright. The band that was providing their services to Ms Jackson opened. The Bottleneckers are a first class blues/r&b ensemble with an extensive repertoire. It’s all a wee bit tidy and concise but meticulous with not a grain of excess flab. They opened with “Georgia Slop” which made me think, where is Barrence Whitfield these days?

I’ve seen clips of Wanda with some pretty hokey bands but this wasn’t the case here. This combo swung like nature intended, like she might have had back in the golden days. And what a voice, that was perhaps the most remarkable thing of all. It’s a total hits show and she narrates the story of her career well without the aid or any powerpoint presentation. “Funnel Of Love” was absoflippinlutely amazing. It’s something she’s only recently started to perform again, being that it was considered too risqué for someone so devoutly Christian. I’m please she saw the light. Mr Duff said that this was the best of the 4 times he’s seen her and he knows those onions.

The one downer was the drowning out at some points by a section of gibbering bastards in the audience. These people have no respect for their elders or betters. None whatsofucking ever. It’s time that venues employed quiet police to muzzle these divots. That aside, Wanda appears to have a lot more energy than I do, several years her junior. Keith Bruce's review from The Herald is here.

It wasn’t possible to report in yesterday, I took advantage of the weather to try and keep the immediate area around the bunker in reasonable fettle. “Cutting the grass” isn’t a euphemism incase you wondered.

Yesterday’s movie going was much more successful than that of the weekend. Kicking off with a screening of "The Wild Angels" at 1pm, this was not only the last remaining print of the film – it was also introduced by Mr. Roger Corman himself. Quite a thrill. I imagine that everyone reading this is familiar with the film and to hear Davie Allan blasting out in the pictures is a pretty groovy thing. I’d made the executive decision not to attend the Corman in person thing to see the European prem of “The Missing Person” so this was a real bonus.

I think that this was another good move because “TMP” is simply a great piece of work on every level. I unreservedly recommend it to anybody with an interest is seeing a simply terrific film. It looks great, the story is good and I don’t think that I’ve seen anything this good in some considerable time. Don’t want to give away anything about it in the hope that you’ll catch it when it’s properly released. There are a couple of sequences where the script is just of such a supreme high order I can’t begin to tell you. Plus it includes the fantastic Amy Ryan in the cast and as executive producer. Indeed it was she who put the director, Noah Buschel on to Michael Shannon who looks not unlike Lux.

The director was on hand to talk about the film and he sounded a little like Billy Miller. An ardent New Yorker, his love for the disappeared aspects of his city just made him all the more likeable. I reckon that he’s going places. My original exec decision was based upon the consideration that Ms Ryan might attend. Yes kids, sad but true, deluded fanboy that I am. The soundtrack includes Freddy Fender and Bud Powell and the closing credits contain what may be a typo or maybe not for a “grahpic designer”.

Walking past Henry’s, I noticed that The Suicidal Birds and Pony Pack were playing later. I hesitated for a moment, thinking I might hang about but remembered that it was a school night. Heading for the train, I passed some hipsters on their way to the ATP event. Some maybe even had their swimming cosies on under those trenchcoats. We’ll never know.

Taking advantage of the excellent weather, I walked, or rather ambled, the 3.3 miles home. Past enough cut grass to make my peepers smart to the extent that sitting in front of the computer wasn’t an option. I have one more film to go on Friday. “Baraboo” by Mary Sweeney. This will provide my customary David Lynch related section of the programme.

RIP - Sky Saxon

I was all set to bring you up to speed with the last couple of days when I caught this news that took the wind out of my sails. Having never met him, there are no anecdotes from this end but few will ever forget discovering "Pushin' Too Hard" via Nuggets in 1972. For anyone who might not be familiar with the band in the UK, you've all seen the Lynx deodorant ad with "Can't Seem To Make You Mine" right? Anyway, another pioneer down.

RIP - Steven Wells

(link courtesy of Innes Reekie)

RIP - Farrah Fawcett

Let's hope that's it for now...

I just got in so a post of any magnitude at all just ain't happening tonight or today depending on where you're dropping in from. The Wanda report and an update on the EIFF will be forthcoming but right now it feels like there's sand in my eyes. Viva the hayfever...

Not sure about you but I am sick to the back teeth of the word "festival". It's been co-opted over under sideways down and in sundry other directions. The term has been rendered meaningless and the original intention of these being a celebration of something or other overtaken by the commercial opportunities that it implies.

I got an e-mail this afternoon offering a 2 for 1 ticket offer for the Joe Dante in person thing which I'd like to attend. Only thing is that it's at 6pm and I'm not burning any more vacation time. If it was at 7.30pm then I bet there'd be much bigger uptake. But anyway, those two stinkers I saw on Saturday kind of tainted my EIFF-going. I’ll be back there tomorrow. But not for the ATP thing although I believe Duglas T. Stewart makes an appearance in the film?



Post rock. Nothing to do with royal mail then? The Picturehouse in Edinburgh will be converted into a makeshift holiday camp for the ATP thing tomorrow. Oh post rock, that'll be a package from Blackpool containing sticks of peppermint and fruit sugar rush fixes? No? what is it then? Mogwai?? That's the wee furry beastie from Gremlins. WTF? Anyway, all of that will be going on but I’ll be up the road at Filmhouse.



It’s unfeasibly hot here today but I’m headed for Glasgow. Members of the opening band, The Bottleneckers are backing Wanda Jackson tonight so it should be pretty faithful to the heyday. I'll try to file a report pretty much upon my return. No doubt I'll have seen some of you there.

Wanda Jackson is at the ABC2 in Glasgow tomorrow (23rd) and not Wednesday as the poster suggests.

I have come to my senses and blown out a previous engagement in Edinburgh and will see you all there.

These Del Lords reissues are available now, replete with extra tracks. Thanks to Scott for the nod. Top gear every one....! Available from all good record stores and online emporiums.

Edinburgh Film Festival "Best of the Fest" announced... if indeed I head for a Picturehouse on Sunday it'll be a screening of "Telstar".

Eric and Amy are on Marc Riley's show tonight between 7 and 9pm en route to Glasto this coming weekend. Check their show dates and see them if you can possibly swing it. Oh, and there's a new Eck podcast available now so you know that's a must.

Good morning campers. I'm not at work today and figured that I might book a couple of tickets for the David Simon event at the upcoming book festival. So having set up an account prior to online booking opening, I figured that it was all set. You know me, I thrive on pessimism but the site has fallen on its arse. I'm on the phone, in a queue but am tempted to hang up because when all is said and done - I'm not sure that I care anymore.

WTF is it with this system of buying tickets for anything? It's not efficient. All it serves to do is aggravate. This condition intensifies when you find fuckers selling tickets on ebay later. Anyway, I'm doing this as I wait. My schedule is screwed now anyway, I should have been at the post office for it opening. Another black mark. Oh, "we're very sorry to keep you waiting" (again).

No you aren't you automated tart...

Update @ 9.46am - Got through, scored the tickets. Was on hold for just nudging an hour...

Brother J had better luck than me at the flicks it seems...

30 years of film festival attendance is a fair old investment of time. A commodity that I’m particularly aware of at the minute but still, it’s a hard habit to break.

Yesterday started pretty early because I decided to go and donate blood prior to my schedule. The centre there was pretty quiet so it was all pretty smooth. The women who work there seemed to be excited about the prospect of being able to score Take That tickets for tonight. At that point I’m thinking that I’m glad I’m not travelling to Glasgow although I do feel a twinge of guilt through not being at the Halt Bar. Anyway, I got the business done and a collapsed vein caused my next couple hours to smart like something that smarts a lot. Bit of a sairo but so far it’s not purple like I expected it to be.

"The Intruder" is the Star Trek episode where Jim gets... oops sorry. I’d never seen this despite it being considered one of Corman’s finest and an early performance by William Shatner. The print screened belongs to Joe Dante and it was in pretty great shape. It’s odd, the subject of racism being tackled like this is something like a vintage Outer Limits episode. The more things change, the more they stay the same and all that, as sung by a Missouri group in more recent times. The film was actually shot in the “show-me” state. This made me want to see the entire Roger Corman retrospective but unfortunately logistics forbid that.

"Elkland" was next, screening with a short film from Mexico entitled “Roma” because this, the only Swedish film in the programme this year clocks in at under an hour. This will probably prevent Elkland being seen by more people here. Not as “black” as the blurb painted, it’s a pretty gentle twisted rural portrait. The cool score by Matti Bye adds to the understatedness. The director, Per Hanefjord comes from the North of Sweden and reflects a terrain that he’s familiar with but he stressed at the Q&A that it’s not a family tale.

"Wide Open Spaces" was a world premiere. With its Father Ted alumnus and generally what would have suggested a good pedigree, I spent most of it wondering why Ardal O’ Hanlon’s character looked so much like Norman Blake of Teenage Fanclub. One of the people involved, could have been the director, and said there were a couple of jokes in it but if we didn’t like it that it was pretty short. Didn’t really feel like it and I missed one of them I think. I’m sorry to say that this isn’t good. Things took an odd twist at the close though when “Planets” written by the aforementioned Mr Blake and our good friend Francis Macdonald played the film out. That was a bit spooky. I hope that the piece does well businesswise so that my friends might earn some royalties but I can’t imagine anybody thinking that this is worth their time.

WOS confused me as to how anybody might have thought it was worthy of a slot in the program and as I wandered down toward Filmhouse for my final appointment, I did consider blowing it out. “Don’t be a quitter” my inner masochist implored. Got there just as the doors to Cinema 1 and "Black Dynamite" went ahead on time, no intro, lights down and bang, well actually, whimper. I hope that the ghost of Rudy Ray Moore is putting the shite-ers up everybody involved in this utter guff. The audience laughed and hooted at this completely lame recon of all that we hold dear about what’s become known as blaxploitation in these post-Tarantino times. It makes “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka” look like high art. Folks diss the Wayans brothers but they’ve never plumbed these depths. Avoid at all costs and get a copy of “Dolemite” or “The Human Tornado”, both of which are several light years ahead in every way. I should have went with my hunch earlier but I imagine that I’d have wanted to see this anyway so better getting it done now and be able to maybe save other people from wasting their money. Check it out for yourself but don’t be snowed by the “authenticity”.

“BD” is working for the man and squealing like a biiiiiii-atch. No disrespect to bi-atches intended.

OK kids, I have a full dancecard filmwise today and here's what I'll see - The Intruder, Elkland, Wide Open Spaces and Black Dynamite. Wish me luck...

Don't want to leave you twiddling your thumbs though so check this stuff out...

Amy Allison interview at Lucid Culture.

It was remiss of me not to hitch you to a link of this Roy Trakin piece earlier in the week. Meant to do it at the same time as I facebooked it. You know how it is when you're trying to keep all them media bases covered...

Just discovered the Rt. Hon Mike Chandler is blogging now too and let me introduce you to the Sgt. Major III .

Enough to be going on with? Good.

June is rattling in at a fair old rate. No what day is it misfires on the noggin front this week and today is most definitely Friday. First day of my EIFF action this year is tomorrow, this is my 30th year of actively attending this event. There was one in recent memory when I boycotted it because the artistic director was a putz but other than that, despite the odd kvetch here and there it is a cool thing. An economic constriction has meant that I can't see the number of films would normally be seen but that said, I'll still see 10 over the course of the week. Depending on the Best of the Fest list, that number could rise next weekend.

If you’re in Edinburgh tonight, the Coyotemen will musically marmalise ya at Henry’s Cellar bar between the hours of 11pm and 3am. The Brutes will also on hand to rough you up. Both acts will be appearing at the ERUPTIONFEST that is taking place at The Halt Bar in Glasgow this weekend. Unfortunately, I’ll be on the other coast. Actually I’m off on Monday too because I have to burn an annual leave day because of the annual bunker boiler check. A necessary evil unfortunately. Blog activity will be erratic over the next couple of days and the weather is forecast to suck. Same ol’ song and dance really...

Kicksville's back!