RIP - Bobby Graham

(Thanks to John Trembly a BLR for the link info)

Any plans for gallivanting look to have been right royally creamed for now. An unfortunate realisation but not entirely unexpected and it comes amongst a real urge to take a backseat from everything for a while. No small part of this is that I need to get another computer and just can’t muster the effort to do so. The TV is on the blink too and I’m seriously thinking about trying to wean myself off that particular electronic hearth. Like trying to go for a month without switching it on. There’s plenty more around here I could do with getting on with after all. All these little niggles are manifesting themselves like a big itchy bite. It’s called life.

Anyway, while I sort out some actual info to post here - Brother Liam has seen the light and he's looking to find a new home for some Rockin'Bones/NBT back issues. A lot of you folks ask me if I have this kind of material so maybe you can help him out?

Monte Melnick is heading for Madrid (FNAC Chain Store - 29th September) and Barcelona (FNAC Triangle - 30th September). You kids out there need to go meet this great man and buy the Jaime Gonzalo translated special edition of "On The Road With The Ramones". It couldn't have happened without this guy. Just out on the Munster Books imprint!

(click on the image to enlarge in new window)

Time is fleeting and Amy will be pretty much back in that New York groove by the time I post this. At this point we’ll back up to Saturday night and the BMX show in Glasgow. The Classic Grand is the sharpest venue in town and apart from the seemingly Draconian curfew, it’s a great place to watch music. We missed Randolph’s Leap but got there in time to see Primary 5, a big favourite of Mr Tjolsen of the Oslo parish who was also out this way last week. They make a decent racket and have all the dynamics but the constant tuning didn’t half hamper the momentum. Still, this is the problem with entertainment. The Bandits have regrouped since I last saw them and I imagine that demand elsewhere for St Deluxe makes this a good move. In contrast to the P5 maybe playing a tad too long, the BMX crew could have done with playing a wee bit longer. The newly shorn Duglas is no Samson. He was in top form as was the band.

Sunday was pretty quiet, caught “Genevieve” at the Hippodrome and became depressed at the consideration of having burned a week’s leave in what seemed like an instant. Amy and Davie completed the recordings and now things need to be assembled. Expect a bloody fine album over the course of 2010. Details will emerge over the coming weeks and months and you’ll be able to follow it all here provided I’m around for that long.

Talking of people not being around, it was a bummer to hear about Jim Carroll yesterday. I met him once at the Great American music hall in SF where he did a show with Lenny Kaye. Angel CC and me. I’m thinking maybe 1994 but neither of us can remember when exactly it was so it must have been a good night… We went to a metal club called Terminator with Lenny and I’m pretty sure that the band was Testament. I recall it being like the club scene from The Crow and that we laughed a lot but that’s all the neurons will permit at this time. With regard to JC, my jukebox ate my “People Who Died” 45 and was immediately put out of commission as it has been to this day because I can’t find anyone who might be able to fix it. That’s something I need to attend to. Figure out if it can indeed be restored to working order or get it out of the bunker. I’m really hoping it’ll be the former.

Then I find out today that Patrick Swayze and Keith Floyd have died and I’m not sure either warrants the standard RIP here because neither made much of a mark. I will admit that I don’t mind “Roadhouse” at all as a film but can’t recall seeing either “Dirty Dancing” or “Ghost”. “DD” however took Mickey and Sylvia’s “Love is Strange” to the mainstream so that’s pretty cool. Keith Floyd is being blamed for the advent of the “celebrity chef” in the media today but he seemed fairly amiable compared to an utter tosspot like Gordon Ramsey. I don’t think his memory deserves to be sullied like that.

And that kind of brings us up to the present, there’s all kinds of catching up to be done. I did consider nipping along to see this new “Taking Of Pelham 123” tonight but I think my time would be better spent restoring a semblance of order to the bunker. But not before I turn that godawful "request" show that's taken root on Radio Scotland between 6 and 8pm.

Congrats to Matt and Kim winning a VMA award for "Lessons Learned". If it was down to me they'd have won all of them. And given Kanye a good pummelling into the bargain.

OK, stuff do do. Lot of music to process and information to figure, not to mention e-mails with links to stuff that I'll never hear to delete. Am I sure I want to send it to the recycle bin? You bet.

RIP - Jim Carroll

(Thanks to Ms Karen McBurnie for the link - I'll lay off the "People Who Died" thing)

Greetings "Will Preston"!

Sort of lost the plot and am deeply disoriented but not in a bad way. When I got back from Edinburgh last night to Joachim’s message about my OX column the penny dropped. Priorities have gotten skewed and it’s time to try and get this sucker back on the rails.

“District 9” turned out to be pretty good, took me a wee while to acclimatise to the Harryhausenness of the “creatures” but after that it’s a pretty good yarn. And the main guy is like a Sellers, Rossiter with a side of Astin (Gomez Addams). You have to see it on a big screen. It was cracking red sky night following the first outright warm day in ages. Chips on the walk down to the station was the only way to go, just as the scumhordes spilled onto the streets.
Discovered a group, The Wee Baby Jesuses on the poster outside Henry’s. Wonder if the music can measure up to the moniker?

I'm headed for Glasgow now. Ultimately ending up at the Classic Grand. Maybe see you there?

I'm not long in and figured I'd jump on here quickly and remind you folks about this show tomorrow night. Cue Atomic Rooster.

For those who expressed an interest in being in Glasgow last night. I wasn't but the intrepid Duglas T Stewart came up with the link to the first clip on fb. I wasn't there either but will be at BMX Bandits Classic Grand shindig tomorrow (all going to plan)...

Been reading about the Kurt Cobain Guitar Hero hoo-hah and also got a message from my pal Bon Von Wheelie out there in Tacoma. It made me do try and find some Girl Trouble on YouTube and there are only two versions of the "My Hometown" video on there. This is particularly pertinent because it features a certain Neko Case who, if all goes according to plan, I will see in Edinburgh tomorrow.

So here's the GT clip, it can't be embedded unfortunately. The embed one has a banner ad thing at the top. The best band that Sub Pop ever had and one of the greatest rock'n'roll combo's of all time. And following yesterday's discovery, here's a Fastbacks clip I never say before. Again not embedabble but great to see another Pacific Northwest staple that wiped the floor with the originbal subject of this post. I never rated Nirvana. Not really. Neither Kurt's or the old Island Records Folkies. Just incase there was any confusion.

Need to move before I seize up, pushing that lawnmower is more exercise than I'm used to.

Teenage Fanclub and Edwyn Collins in Glasgow tomorrow night anyone?

Info courtesy of Jock'n'Roll...

I wonder how the post-punk conference is going? Good I hope and furthermore – maybe it’s been exposed as the utter bollocks that much of what touts itself as that is. I heard the GO4 on the wireless last weekend and was not impressed. Neither do I give a fuck about PIL reforming, this is something your humble scribe reckons to be akin to a YES tour. Or am I getting mixed up with post-prog or something else. The only thing I can be sure of at all anymore is the getting mixed up part. Out on a limb as ever, this box set/computer game/download fleecing that’s going on as of today does nothing except irritate me. Football tonight? I’m looking forward to the roads being deserted when I go to pick up Ms Allison. It’s an ill wind...

Let’s see, I was looking at Everett True’s blog and he wrote about a combo called Visqueen that I never heard of but will be double darned if they don’t sound like the late-lamented Fastbacks. This, to my mind, is a very good thing and exactly what today and yesterday's pop kids need.

Mr Edwards also hepped me to some sad but inevitable news about two great London institutions. I wish both parties nothing but top vibes.

Mr Macdonald sent me the link to this and it ties in with the fact that Paul Morley who fronted a wee film about this band on C4 recently is at the aforementioned PP extrav being pummelled by Messrs Coleman and Kiszely.



And finally, I posted the first 4 episodes of "Svengali" the other day and #5 has just been unleashed so here it is.



And that should all keep you sweet for a wee while at least. More later? You never know.

I hadn't seen the dates for the ATP - Raw Power shows but just saw the info on James Williamson's site after reading this article that Tex flagged up. Maybe you already have your tickets?

Feeling a little woozy this morning and looking out the window doesn't make the immediate prospect any brighter. Craig Barman suggested a "hair of the dog" via fb but then I found this.... Blast it as loud as you can.

Good to hang out with Peter in Edinburgh yesterday afternoon. Here are details of a big event that's happening out in his locale in a couple of weeks...


Haven't been to Europa Records of Stirling for a wee while so after I drop Amy off at the station, Mr Percival and I will be heading across there for a wee rake about.

I've been considering posting these links for a few weeks now. I see there's another episode coming soon so figured what the heck. It is pretty funny despite my allergy to some of the individuals and acts that it involves. Also, it gives you something to look at while I attempt to get my house in some kind of order. Mostly metaphorically...

One of the greatest publications of all and any time is bound for the internut...

Ladies and gentlemen... I give you... THE A&R REPORT!!

It's a holiday weekend of sorts here. In the olden days, all roads led to the Blackpool Illuminations but not so much anymore. It's been a productive day so far but the old blogging has suffered a bit. Earlier, the foundations of a long plotted project were put in place and as the winter nights draw in some flesh will be hung on these aural bones if all goes well. No statute of limitations but the longest journey and all that bobbins.

I nipped along the road and saw "Moon". Not bad but no great shakes to my mind. Reminiscent of a bunch of things but nowhere near any of them. Style over substance maybe and a tad Gerry Anderson in places. Time to switch this off and go attend to some culinary action for later. Me ironing won't do itself either but ain't convinced that I won't get sidetracked from that and besides, I'm on staycation after all... it'll keep.

Thanks to Kjell for flagging this up via facebook.