David Lynch Signature Cup Coffee from David Lynch on Vimeo.

Kid Congo and the Pink Monkey Birds begin their UK/Ireland stint tonight in Leeds.

Check out the closest show to you and get along there...

Early to bed, early to rise? All shows at the Rodeo Bar are now earlier -- including Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co.'s second-Wednesday-of-every-month residency!

Same bawdy banter and near-patented "Ballads, Boogies & Blues" that you've come to expect, but now starting at **8:30 sharp**! Think of how much fresher the complimentary peanuts will be...

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13th / RODEO BAR / 375 Third Avenue (at the corner of 27th Street) in ol' Manhattan / Two prime time sets, from 8:30pm sharp 'til 11:00am / No cover!

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

Though I should probably be out taking in "the rays", I've been getting exasperated trying to list something on ebay for the first time in ages. Just as an experiment. the reason for quitting that bunfight before was down to a couple of run-ins with they type of scum that gives the site a bad name. Most folks are perfectly nice if obsessive but a couple bad apples and you know the rest...

Anyway, I've had to resort to contacting their UK customer service because they're trying to flim-flam the shipping. All I ever did was charge the actual real cost of postage and that's how I call it. But does that fit into their "calculator" and location bs? Try and guess. So maybe I'm going to head down to the glass recycling place and take my chances with the sun. Or then again.

Meanwhile, on the countdown to RSD, here's a tale about a place that will get a few of you misty eyed. Be warned though, it contains the word "dildos".

Figured you'd best be told being that it's the sabbath and all.

RIP - Sidney Lumet

Norton is 25.

That's the label, not Ed (Art Carney) Norton.

A special album from Scotland for Japan will be released via bandcamp on April 11th.

'Love Letter To Japan' has been specially compiled by Duglas T Stewart to raise funds for the Japanese relief effort and to send support to the people of Japan. The album will be exclusively available for one month only. The tracks come from a wide range of acclaimed Scottish musicians.

"Many of us Scottish musicians have received so much love and support over the years from friends and fans in Japan. Now we want to send some love and support back to the people of Japan" Duglas.

The album features exclusive, previously unreleased tracks from BAFTA and Golden Globe winning composer Craig Armstrong, Stevie Jackson of Belle & Sebastian, BMX Bandits, Bill Wells, The Pearlfishers, The Pastels, Snowgoose, Alasdair Roberts, Paul Quinn, The Starlets and Eugenius. The Eugenius track will be their first new recording to be released in 15 years. BMX Bandits tracks was recorded in Tokyo with Japanese group Tenniscoats. Momus currently lives in Japan and was there when the earthquake and tsunami hit the country.

All funds from the release go directly to The Japanese Relief Effort.

1. Snowgoose: Harmony Springs
2. The Pastels: The Pastels: Guest of Honour
3. Hidden Masters: Golden Hair
4. Stevie Jackson: Price of an Education
5. Paul Quinn: Away
6. BMX Bandits (with Yeongene & Tenniscoats): Standing Still
7. Eugenius: Friend or Foe
8. The Pearlfishers: Swan Dreams (live)
9. Bill Wells & Tape: Troublesome Malady
10. Ally Kerr: Could Have Been a Contender
11. Lenzie Moss: Where Eagles Dare
12. St. Deluxe: After the Fire
13. Jo Mango: The Moth and the Moon
14. Alasdair Roberts & Mairi Morrison: Bràdhagair an Taobh Siar
15. Randolph's Leap: Going Home
16. Craig Armstrong: Cherry Blossom
17. The Starlets (with The Andersens): To Make You Feel Brand New
18. Momus: I Can See Japan

Available from: http://lovelettertojapan.bandcamp.com/

For more info please email lovelyduglas@googlemail.com

Thank you.

RIP - Bill Pitcock IV (Dwight Twilley Band)

(via Paul Collins facebook)

It seems as though that scare yesterday was just rumour.

Let’s hope that it stays that way. While I’ve no tangible reason to think there’s

a god lately, this is definitely a welcome development. Meanwhile taking a 180° turn to a worthy combo, The Primevals jaunt to punt “Disinhibitor” rolls South this weekend (London The 229 Club and The Hydrant in Brighton) and on to retrace their steps of several moons ago in France. If they’re headed anywhere near you then please make the effort to see them. There’s no way you’ll be disappointed. No expectations or promises for the coming week. That way, no-one (except me) will be disappointed when I fail to use the time off wisely. It would be good if the cycle of futility could be broken but I’m not holding my breath. Or perhaps that’s the solution? A couple of things that I have tried to organise have failed to materialise so business as usual would appear to be the trajectory. There’s always tidying what passes for a garden/drive but only as a final resort.

And as if things didn’t suck enough, one of the outright worst acts ever to exist is reported to be finally getting back together. Presumably to hoover up a huge mound of cash. I guess that it could just be chalked up to a large swathe of the populace deserving to be taken but pretty depressing nonetheless. However, there are positive things out there if you scrunch up your eyes and peer hard enough.

For instance, the very fabulous Lakeside Lounge on Ave B, NYC is 15 years old tomorrow!

And Dead by Dawn 2011.

Amazingly its 35 years since the first Ramones album came out, 25 years since they last played in Edinburgh, 15 years since they split up and 10 years since Joey died... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1nymlKj5tk

This Saturday 10 bands reinterpret and rediscover those Bowery Beatles, the Fast 4 - The Ramones

Henrys Cellar Bar Saturday April the 9th - Doors open 8:30, first band on 9PM Sharp, DJ's playing suitably ramoniac stuff until 3am - 5 quid to get in

its just 4 Ramones covers from each band and maybe one or two of their own depending on how the schedule runs so it'll be a fairly snappy night, it should be fun. Check the Henrys website for the final lineup

The world famous SHOCK AND AWE will be playing either first or second so get there sharp ! We'll have a special guest guitarist who's never played with us before - come along and find out who it is !

See ye in there if you make it ?

Cheers,

Murray

Scunnered pretty much covers it for the way things are. Possibly in the grand scheme of things, I need to go on some kind of course where one could be taught the “half full” philosophy and how to put it into practice. They’d have their bloody work cut out with me if there were such a thing.

I think that this will numb the pain for as long as the show lasts. Wish the audio on this contraption was better.

CyberSweden here I come... happy new tax year by the way.

RIP - Keith Fordyce

Travelled to what used to be deepest, darkest Leith yesterday evening. No evidence of sunshine by that time but certainly, in terms of gentrification, the area is unrecognisable. The bus service is good too and could virtually be perceived as joined up until you get to Waverley and what passes for a rail timetable. But still, it’s not often that a resident of Springfield, Mo. Comes to town so a certain amount of effort needs to be exercised. I won’t be travelling down there to visit the mall anytime soon that's for damn sure. The Scottish Government offices look like Marineville and I guess that Stingray was out in the forth someplace?

The hastily arranged Auld Reekie debut of Cindy Woolf went pretty well under the circumstances. Hopefully the next one will be subject to a little more notice.

Just about to switch this thing off. I'm doing reasonably well with not firing it up in the AM so a similar experiment for the evenings would seem like a plan. Not that I have anything better to do but it's a test of sorts. Pretty sure I'll fold and jump on again in a couple hours but you never know.

Maybe I have more willpower than I think I do.