I don't really have anything much to say today. Went to see "Breakfast at Tiffany's" this afternoon. What a great film. If the cliché of "they don't make them like that anymore" it certainly applies to something like this. "Moon River" has reduced me to rubble for years now and it still does. From the minute that it sweeps into the score with the cab that delivers Holly Golightly to the store.

I'm about three-quarters done with the housework ahead of my guests arriving tomorrow. No time to rattle on, there's still much to be done.

Made it. I miss my Stockholm peeps and the tube-clearing, dry cold climate too. This weekend will be taken very slowly, close to the bunker with the exception of a Tesco run and a screening of “Breakfast At Tiffany’s” along the road. It’s also likely that a visit by two top entertainers will drop in here on Sunday so I’m looking forward to that.

Today, I earwigged at least three individuals come out with the “can see where you’re coming from” line that’s joined “don’t even go there” in irritating Jerry Springer-speak that’s slithered into the language banks. It sounds ridiculous because the Brits simply don’t have the twang for it. In much the same way as African Americans could probably never say “awa’ an’ bile yir heid” properly. It’s all symptomatic of the slide that culture is taking. Pre-programmed guff that phuts out in loops. If they thought for a minute about how retarded it sounds, they wouldn’t do it. Or maybe that’s the optimistic Friday me hoping out loud.

Oh yeah and I just made an important executive decision to attend an important shindig in June. Not one for acting on impulse but have just lately been thinking that the crew is more important than the long green I don’t have.

more info at DFFD

I’ve been out of sorts all day. Not least because I didn’t wake up until 6.15am but that’s just part of it because there had been at least three times during the night where I thought it WAS time to drag myself out of my pit. The effect to the daily routine got thusly knocked out of whack and then I realised that exactly a week ago, I was heading for the airport.

Now there are two things here that disturb me. While the memories are warm and fuzzy (and no, I haven’t peed myself) certain aspects of the days seem drawn out, like they’ll never end. Then I get home and “zip”, it’s time to go to work again. This is also indicative at weekends also. So why does valuable leisure time go in at least three times as fast as the grind? The older I get, the less I can get to grips with that. Really.

There's been a lot of information to process today. Some good and some a little devastating but it's not possible to unscramble eggs as I may have proclaimed before. So, I'm not sure whether I like the trailer for The Runaways movie plus I've been reading Kim Fowley's reaction to it. And there are messages to deal with so I'll get to what's getting posted tomorrow.

Five hours in the day prison then home and we'll figure what gives from there.

Thanks to those that contacted me with regard to errors, dodgy spelling and just plain errata with regard to my Stockholm report. I have no excuses that would be particularly valid plus I discovered a couple more howlers myself. My coping mechanism is a little bit fugged up. Maybe excess ice or something. More likely the something part.

The practice of going away for a wee while for an intensive hit of fun is generally followed by a sobering process. I always go through a period of decompression after a trip. The intensive good time gives way to an extreme jones-ing for more of the same. In stark contrast, the day to day bullshit foisted upon one by individuals that couldn’t run the proverbial brewery piss up just narks you off to the extent that you could quite conceivably “go postal”.

It’s gonna be a short one tonight, here are the Batusis show dates...

Glasgow ABC2 (May 3)
Sheffield O2 Academy2 (May 4)
Liverpool O2 Academy2 (May 5)
London Islington Academy (May 7)
Hatfield Forum - Attic Room (May 8)
Oxford Academy2 (May 10)
Southampton Joiners (May 11)
Bristol O2 Academy2 (May 12)
Birmingham O2 Academy2 (May 13)

You can find the entire lowdown at Uberrock.

And Sir Jeremy remembers the golden age of fanzinery over at Mudkiss. It was very good of him to include some NBT action in there. Gracias an' that.

Amy and Eric have shows in Ireland and Englandshire over the course of the next week. Please check and support these as proximity allows.

It was an early start on Thursday morning and the outbound trip went very smoothly. You hear Ryanair horror stories but I have to say that – despite and even including so long a hang at the airport – it’s one of the easiest schleps I have ever made. Edinburgh airport isn’t such a bad place to have to wait in. mainly because the Wetherspoon’s bar provides a reasonable service that won’t break the bank.

The trip into town from the airport was equally simple. Buses are ready to pick up passengers when the flight arrives and its 80 minutes from there into the City Terminalen. It only took 75 this time though despite rush hour. Some amazing snowscapes and ice formations to see on the way in too amid the odd snow flurry. I have never seen so much of the cold white stuff. Certainly not in a long time and being that it was so cold, it retained its white colour. No giant slurpies to wade about in.

Nick's succinct tips on how to traverse the city meant that I scored a 72 hour travel ticket (200Kr) and was on the bus to his part of town in a matter of minutes. The familiar sight of Bröderna Olsson meant that I hadn’t got my directions confused. I’ve been here often enough to have a beat on the general bearings. During early visits it seemed like everything was really spread out but it’s actually a fairly bijou cityscape. Of course, if you’re walking you have to build in time. And in this weather it helps to stay well away from the eaves of the buildings less you get iced.

The sharp blue, sinus clearing cold was bracing and if you were layered then it was fine. A hat or two was mandatory also. Conditions underfoot were treacherous here and there but I didn’t land on my arse. Nearly though on a number of occasions and I’m sure the locals were wondering who this daft looking wee “breakdancer “ was.

It was a nice low key start to the visit staying local and visiting a new joint called Babajan. Great to see Joakim, Hanna and Hedwig before they headed off to Portugal. From there it was back to Chez Vahlberg prior to an early night. Friday was shaping up to be action-packed and I was flagging to be honest. Shored up though by the effortless journey which was utterly hassle free. I don’t have many days like this let me tell ya.

Top notch breakfast fortification courtesy of Nick and Eva set me up to face the day, Mr V was working too ahead of the big Debaser event in the evening. I sauntered up to the Amigo offices to hook up with the Executive Director of the big shindig, Mr Ulf. From there we headed over to the Razzia World headquarters via his gaff close by. Martina and Daniel Ledinsky are two of the coolest people I have ever had the pleasure of hanging with. Their unique angle on running a label in this day and age is both refreshing and astonishing. I think their Aussie sojourn done them kids good because they’re limbering up to punch way above their weight. (That boxing analogy is for you, Marty).

From there to Cafe Tranan for the finest meatballs on earth. M & D got me hooked during my last visit and I was keen to see if indeed they were as good as my recollection was. I need not have mothered because they were. Served with lingonberries and mash, honest to the big fella – these things are just the business. I could gibber on and on but it would only make me very hungry and also very sad that I can’t hook up with them very lunchtime for this experience.

Two dangerously cool individuals with their fingers firmly on the pop pulse and outright sweethearts. I think their Australian sojourn did them a power of good and thusly they’re ready to get a whole bunch of new projects rolling. Not least of which is a very important album to readers of this portal, coming in the autumn. No names, no pack drill for now. Extremely gracious hosts and bloody nice people, you don’t get many of these to the pound. If there were more kids like this involved in the music business, perhaps it wouldn’t be going down the pan. Just sayin’.

I would be very interested to get Mr Peter Zaremba’s opinion on these spherical delights...

From there, another saunter back closer to Debaser. Dropped in to the Bengans store which is a lot like FOPP. Met Qina at Slussen and headed uphill to the Old Beefeater Inn where Nenne joined us. It’s always a total trip to hang out with these gals. A couple of refreshments later and we’re headed down to the gig where Anette Voladora is in the small queue. Once inside Debaser it was a huge social event…

So here’s how it all went down… with the lights around about 11pm.

At this point, it should be stated for the record that this event, and indeed this particular vista of Swedish Rock would not exist (particularly for me) if it wasn’t down to the vision of Ulf Lindqvist. And it was he who made this retrospective happen - every which way. We owe him no small debt of gratitude for him bringing us all together and through our friendship, I have an extended family unit out yonder that goes beyond just music. It’s an enormous privilege to be able to be part of all that. Words cannae really convey...

So The Real Cool Night Revisited houseband was assembled by Måns Månsson, the Leonard Bernstein of garage rock and the program was presented in a revue type style with the various “acts” being ably bolstered by Johnny Elfström and Jonas Lundberg. The Crimson Shadows section of the programme cranked forth "Even I Tell Lies" with Indy Neidell (ex-moneybrother) on organ.

Mike of Maryland Cookies ventured up and sang “Don't Lie To Me”. He looked a wee bit like Ricky Gervais. Thomas Söderlind might have been jetting off next day but represented his combo by dropping by to deliver a belting run through “Don't Push Me Around” (Not the Zeros song) with fellow onetime Slammer, drummer Jonas (Lundberg).

Then it was Stefan Kery in his Stomachmouths guise with “Too Much”. I didn’t get a chance to meet him unfortunately. Jan Liljekvist of Shoutless performed “Insane”. During this, if I recall – Eva Voladora and I made our way to the front for the upcoming attraction.

The expression “guitar hero” has been undermined by the computer game in recent years but a proper analog version of this rare breed was coming next. Robert Johnson jacked up the fever by several notches with a shredding “Ramblin’ Wreckless Hobo” and “Bottlebeat”. He told me later that this might just have been the last time he’d ever go onstage. I like to think that was a fib, told for dramatic effect. Sure you’ve seen people play the six or however strings but not like this one. Seriously.

Events took a paisley turn with Per Ahlén and Jonas Engberg of Wayward Souls. “Unknown Journey”. A pre-madchester-tastic taste of pölsadelia.

I’m not sure when the last time Robert Jelinek was on stage but he has presence and charisma to burn. Måns stepped in for the indisposed Hans Ingemansson to do the memory of Backdoor Men proud with “Out Of My Mind” and The Creeps “She’s Gone”. These performances were electric and not just in the fuel sense. And finally… Nick Vahlberg and Hans Östlund brought down “Where The Wolfbane Blooms” and “5 Years Ahead Of My Time”. I don’t need to tell you that those two guys are responsible for bringing this music to the fore and indeed making all of this possible. With 4-Eyed Thomas being their Andrew (Loog) Oldham (Oldjham – ha ha) – everyone in the room had been affected by The Nomads to some degree, some of us beyond the point of help or indeed recovery. Not the kind of kick I would care to go without.

And then it was an ensemble deconstruction of the hymn that is “You’re Gonna Miss Me” before it was all over. The crowd howled for more but there was no more to give. The celebration of the compilation release was always going to be a special event but I think all concerned surpassed themselves. Mans , Johnny and Jonas did a sterling job and I imagine there was some relief when it was all over. The whole thing seemed to jet past in a blip. – somewhat punchdrunk rather than drunk drunk by the close of the night. Or should that be early hours? No point in asking me. It was a particular gas to finally meet Bådde, Ms N’s other half. What a geezer!

And also Tuija Stargirl, it was about time.

I always find it very humbling to run into folks who are familiar with this and whatever else I’ve been doing, to the point of being a bit bashful. It’s simply not possible to list everyone but I sincerely hope they know who they are. Reacquainting with my old pal Gunnar Johansson was a trip too. Some of you will be aware that we fought in the trenches together during the original garage wars back when the material being celebrated at the show was still fresh.

The evening drew to a close around 4am.

Next day, with a surprisingly clear head – I took a bus – over to the other side of town for a rattle around with Mr Ulf. Got a copy of the new release by Uncle Mort favourite, Oskar Schönning entitled “The Belgrade Tapes” at RuntRunt with “unsung lyrics” by one Annika Norlin. That name is probably familiar.

The Robster met us at Nostalgip Alatset and from there it was a quick pitstop at Ritorno, a cake and coffee shop that made no small impression. Very nice place indeed.

Then back to Ulf’s for the customary journey through the annals of popular music where Nick joined us. Some refreshments later, a little Thai food from downstairs hit the spot and we were bidding farewell to our host – who had donned his jammies by this time and was just about to put the cocoa on I think – and made for Bröderna Olsson to hang with the Stockholm massive. Chairman Rob was left in charge around 11pm after we’d had a couple of bloodshots for the road home. I figured it was best not to tie one on with having a bit of a journey looming for the next morning. So that was about that. The end of another stonking adventure in the company of individuals who make a difference.

The daunder home went without incident. To the point that the plane touched down in Edinburgh 25 minutes ahead of schedule. No amount of Dr Marten heel clicking would transport me back so the game was the proverbial bogey.

A real cool 72 hours in every sense of temperature control. No question ‘bout it!

OK, I'm pretty close to filing my Stockholm report but this came up via Psychedelic central on Facebook. An all time classic that always takes me back to a very cool Christmas spent out in NYC at KP's place.

Ladies & Gentlemen,

Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co. kindly asks that you take note of its performance this week at the world famous Rodeo Bar. Thank you for your attention.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10th / RODEO BAR /
375 Third Avenue (at the corner of 27th Street) in Manhattan / Two ribald shows, from 10pm sharp until 12:30am / No cover!

Yours most truly,
Michael
Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co.
"Ballads, Boogies & Blues"

www.twitter.com/sitanddieco (yes...Twitter)

I'm having trouble concentrating on my Stockholm report. Mainly because the most important organs are still there I think. Either that or there's always the possibility that I just dreamt it. Anyway, I shall give myself a stern shake and will get to the facts as soon as possible. Not tonight though.

RIP - Mark Linkous

Until I can get a beat on being back in what passes for "real life", Stargirl caught some of the Friday night action...

Hello,

We are very pleased to announce this year's Project Ability show in Mono. This exhibition explores nature and the landscape that surrounds us, the physical environment and the memories connected to it.

The opening features live music from Golden Grrrls and Sparkling Shadazz, and dj sets from David Bellingham and David Shrigley.

The exhibition and opening has been organised by Alison Mitchell and Stephen McRobbie of The Pastels and continues the long-standing collaboration between Project Ability, Monorail Music and Mono.

Grounded
Mono / Monorail Music
12 Kings Court
King Street
Glasgow
G1 5RB

Thursday 4th March, 9pm.

Happy Real Cool Time Revisited Release day!

This is going to be very brief because there are chores to be done. These include the extreme rock’n’roll practice of “ironing” and similar outsider activities. So if you have some time then JD King has been busy and the latest chapters of Metaphors are available here.

And also, Wreckless Eric recalls Barney Bubbles.

Overseas folks should consider visiting old Blighty this year. As our currency slides down the proverbial pan, you furryners ought to come and fill your boots before the country is shut down altogether. I thought a “hung” parliament sounded like a good thing before I found out that it wasn’t some kind of public execution apparatus to deal wit’ them what’s been bleeding us dry for always.

Getting my currency for the impending schlep Scandi-ward was something of a shakedown. I don’t think the exchange rate has been so poor in a long, long time. It’s lucky I don’t have a taste for the high life although I’m not ready for it to limbo so low just yet.

This AM, I was out and waiting for the shop to open at 6. Actually I had hoped it would already be rolling when I got there but used the time it did to practice with some very low temperatures. Just as well that the music will provide some incendiary relief then. The cold I can deal with, hopefully it’ll be bright and blue.

This BBC thing is a bit vexing. Instead of playing to their once considerable strengths in some areas – cases in point would be Radio 6 and the reinvention of Radio 2 – they’re morphing into a publically funded commercial broadcaster. Or at least they’re aping that insipid competition and axing the genuinely good things that remain in their canon. It further marginalises their reason for existing. My own small part of the listenership has recently been reduced considerably. Where I would listen past 6pm, I simply don’t now because I can’t abide BBC Scotland’s “request” show. If I wanted to listen to “Real Radio” then I would. I don’t want this kind of shit from someone I’m paying a “licence fee” to.

My good friend, Sir Tom Morton had R*bbie FUCKING Willi*ms foisted on his show recently. He copes well with the limitations placed on him though and there’s little else to do but see out the rank shortcomings of those that call the shots. I am no fan of the fitba’ but do listen to “Off The Ball”, a show that gets booted off FM on to AM regularly, there’s no need for this. The BBC as an entity has to be on the endangered species list because as they sideline the good stuff, more crap will creep in and snuff the life from the organisation.

As has been documented here and elsewhere before, the fragmentation of consumption these days means that there’s no consensus. Plus, when you can listen to WFMU or North Fork Sound or P3 or Sirius or…. – you don’t even need to own a music collection anymore. Not really.

I should take advantage of this decent weather to truck on down (on shanks’ pony) to do some close to last minute “chopping”. Of course, it’s likely that it’ll be left until the actual last minute but you never know. The clocks go forward this month and by that time the days will be well and truly “drawin’ oot”. This means leaving the house and returning in daylight. The older I get, the more I appreciate that. It's still bloody hill-billy though, even in the sun. Word on the Stockholm pavie is that they’ve had the most snow in 20 decades with a minus 17 forecast for Friday.

Always fancied myself as an Arctic explorer, me. Or have I?

Veronica Falls debut 45 "Found Love In A Graveyard" (Captured) is out now. I really liked them when they opened for The Pastels/Tenniscoats toward the end of last year. A post-Velvets pop aesthetic delivers them from the trap that much of “Indie PLC” churns up in the name of art. Additional marks for a great, simple version of the Rok’s “Starry Eyes” on the flip.

Thee Sgt Major III break out a frantic, rug-cutting, short sharp stomp entitled “Ice-Cold 10”. They include the young, fresh Sangster/Bloch tag team and this is a good ol’ pacific northwest twist on The Quick channelling The Fastbacks. Good times. A red marbled 7” on Book Records.

Best Coast is an LA lo-fi ensemble that trades in a primitive girl-group sound approximation. This EP, on Group Tightener, is just one of a bunch of 7” format releases spread across several imprints. Possibly related to the universe of the Vivian Girls and other groups that have taken up the baton of the Shop Assistants, this sounds like it came out of Glasgow circa 1985 and would make no sense at all on anything other than pristine black vinyl.

Pretty Fuck Luck is a Spanish phenomenon in the exploration of blues explosion. “King Loser” is a ramshackle, lolloping deconstruction of The Stooges playing skifflebilly on toy instruments with a savage bottom end. The "Thirteen Knocks” EP on Alehop! also includes “Raven Strip”, a bumpin’ grind but not as you may be familiar with.

Felon Y Su Mierdofon is another Alehop! release that fuses the concept of the primal blues with an electronic ska type program loosely based on a bizarre world version of The Specials. Actually that’s bollocks but it’s pretty far out beyond the more extreme moments of Stereo Total. Elements of some kind of spazzed techno jolt approximating Vic Mizzy are also evident. It all makes some kind of cohesive sense when it’s flying out of the speakers even although it really shouldn’t. Pretty far out is not over egging this particular pudding.

There’s a fair old bit of short circuiting going on inside my napper I think. It’s a kind of one wheel on my wagon type feeling that’s hard to describe. However, that’s something I’ll hopefully get the better of. My boarding passes are printed and I’m looking forward to hooking up with the Stockholm massive. The countdown is on, can you hear the quiet engine hum?

Fuzzbook tells me that I’ll no longer receive notifications if I don’t do something that I’m really not clear about. Is this preparing a way for charging do you think? Why do they have to keep fucking about with what is actually a useful tool provided one doesn’t get embroiled in all the app bullshit or the quasi-second life type nonsense.

I have enough problems dealing with the one I have without springing for all that avatar guff. Somewhere in this disarray, I have some 7" single reviews to post but I also have to scan the sleeves and stuff like that and I'm not sure that's going to be happening this evening. Partly because there's other gear to deal with before taking my leave. Maybe's I'll fold, maybe's I won't.

The Lux tribute night was going full pelt when I left for the train at 11.30pm last night. I played some sympathetic sounds and caught The Fnords and The Primevals. The short sharp set of the latter defining the future of popular music and leaving the audience wondering what hit ‘em. The Fnords version of “Sheena’s in a Goth Gang” hit the spot despite the sound “behind” the band being barely audible as anything other than a buzz buzz buzz.

For anybody that cares, here was the playlist. Not in order of appearance I hasten to add.

Funnel of Love – Wanda Jackson (from Heart Trouble w/ Lux and Ivy) (USA)
Rocket True Temper 20oz – Robert Johnson and Punchdrunks (Sweden)
Swampland – The Scientists (Australia)
Tutti Frutti – Pascal (Sweden)
Party – Pascal (Sweden)
Peter Gunn – Poison Ivy (USA)
(I’m) Out of It – The Nomads (Sweden)
He’s Peculiar – Vibeke Saugestad (Norway)
Lonesome Town – The Legendary Tigerman with Rita Redshoes (Portugal)
Light Me Up Twice – The Legendary Tigerman w/ Claudia Efe (Portugal)
Radio & TV Blues – The Legendary Tigerman w/ Cais Sodre Cabaret (Portugal)
Motorcycle, I Love You – Moon Duo (USA)
Bend Over I’ll Drive – The Cramps (USA)
It’s Mighty Crazy – The Cramps (USA)
8 Piece Box – Southern Culture On The Skids (USA)
Chaotica – The Bambi Molesters (Croatia)
Delinqente – Wau Y Los Arrrghs!!! (Spain)
Demoliçion – Los Saicos (Peru)
Hook Rug Dance – Angelo Badalamenti (USA)
Drive In – The A Bones (USA)
Mr Wild Guitar – Kare and the Cavemen (Norway)
Graveyard Line – The Forbidden Dimension (Canada)

I have no aspirations or delusions about being a DJ. It's good to be able to play stuff out and in the spirit of the great "Living Jukebox" Andy Dunkley. OK, things to do. Sadly can’t make the GFT scene but sometimes it isn’t possible to be everywhere you need to be. I’m operating in a peculiar fug at the minute and hope that the way below zero climate in Stockholm next week will restore some kinda equilibrium.