So yeah, it's been a funny ol' week. Pre-occupied by the end of a 23 year era which has seen my place of employment shift its collective arse to a new location. Said new location is very scenic but unfortunately the denizens will soon see to that. There goes the neighbourhood on a grand scale. The move itself was/is somewhere well south of a shambles. We'll see how it all unfolds but it's nipping my heid just to think about it. So hopefully I'll get to viewing and listening to a few things this weekend in order that I can post something you might find a little more interesting than my whining.

It feels like ages since I last mentioned some new wax here (not that there were too many discs of worth so far this year), but slowly some goodies are startin' to appear on HQ's doormat. Biggest surprise yet is a 10" LP by Dutch p-rockers the Sack-O'-Woes. Fine, fine wailin' stuff, that avoids all the trappings that spoil so much of the form's output these days, and easily the best Dutch disc of it's kind in ages, and dig their take on "A House In The Country". And speakin'of surprises; how's about a damn near perfect powerpop LP from Japan?. Let me please introduce you to Teenage Confidential, probably the best band to emerge from Nippon since Teengenerate. Even with the lyrics bein' close to incomprehensible (and thus makin' singin' along out of the question), the songs 'emselves are extremely well crafted (think Nerves, Beat, Cheap Trick, Boys, Redd Kross etc), and with a real solid production, this beats just about every powerpop-by-numbers disc put out in the past decade or so (you might wanna skip the first tune tho'). As much as the new Bobbyteens LP is a disappointment due to it's lo-fi sounds, Tina Lucchesi's other current band the Deadly Weapons offer a much better proposistion, solid west coast punk that seriously reminds me of the mighty Avengers. And while we're at it; be on the look out for two new 45s in Norton's Stones tribute series (tho' the Lyres disc contains nothin' new sadly), and a nicely executed double 10" of the Prisoners' TheWiserMiserDemelza with bonus tracks on Munster...

(from thedictators.com) Handsome Dick gets radio gig.
Handsome Dick Manitoba has joined the Sirius Satellite Network. He will be starting a three-hour show, heard nationally, in early May, on Thursday nights, 6-9 p.m. EST. The show is not yet named, so feel free to send in ideas for a name for Mr. Manitoba's radio DJ gig to DFFD123@aol.com.

Some incredible pictures of Roky Erickson and the Aliens from 1976. By Jean Constant Gindreau.
(Link c/o Stephan in Germany).

The itinerary for the forthcoming Fleshtones French Tour is now as near-as-damn-it finalised. Big Beat Sessions are open to all and will be held in:

13 May - Paris; 14 May - Bergerac; 15 May - Lyon; 17 May - Fontainebleau; 18 May - Rennes; 19 May - Brest; 20 May - Amiens; 21 May - Lille; 22 May – Cherbourg

The names of the venues and some of the support bands can by found on the Gigs page over at The Fleshtones Hall of Fame.

And while I was away we lost another bunch o' greats; RIP: Gene Allison, Jan Berry and Johnny Bristol. For obits be sure to check Phast Phreddie Patterson's Grim Reporter columns.

Awrighty!, back from the dead. Yep, I was off-line for about two weeks as my computer drew it's last breath and various parts had to be replaced.
As you can imagine I'm somewhat behind what a lot of stuff, including e-mail etc. So if you're waitin' for a reply from me; I'm workin'on it!.

brother don in frisco writes this report 'bout Magic Christian "forgive me for a sketchy report but i'm exhausted...just got home from great american music hall. most impressive debut for cyril's new band. they really rocked. cyril wore dark trousers, beatle boots and a long sleeve sort of t-shirt. he had his trademark dan armstrong plexi thru fender twin reverb and purple (!) vox ac-30. he had a pretty killer echo sound (rack stuff). alec palao in great check jacket w/velvet collar and black turtleneck played a brand new gorgeous hollow body gretsch bass. they had another guitarist who played a telecaster - but only played occasionally - he also played some keyboard (dx-7). paul - also in black t-neck and checked trousers - didn't play guitar. he belted out the lead vocals and banged on a tambourine. prairie prince - in god save the queen t-shirt- was pretty awesome on drums. they were LOUD and POWERFUL. even tho i've heard a lot of the new stuff i didn't recognize half the songs as these were super new. my fave that they did is called - i think - no time to cry - or something like that. very beatles. KILLER! cyril took a very george solo on it. oh - cyril played mostly without a pick - reminding me of mick green (from the pirates). they did a great version of the spoonful's "my gal" - dedicated to zal. originals i recognized were "too close to zero", and "here she comes". cyril peeled off some great solos -- he was in good form. i met eric and tom - from this list- in the back of the joint afterwards. very cool guys. chas was sorely missed. there were quite a few oldtimers in the crowd including KALX dj (and ex-groovies roadie) marshall stax. (he swiped the set list - as always). also spotted roy loney. cyril was great afterwards, chatting with everyone and posing for pictures during the romantics set. at one point in the show he said, "it's great to be back". and it's great to have him back. in case you're curious...the other bands were very good too -- chesterfield kings before and romantics after. romantics were suprisingly excellent -- they did great versions of the pretty things "midnight to six man" and the kinks' "she's got everything". they were really tight. all in all a great job was done by all - especially our hero. it was a real rock n' roll assault!

OK, the MC5 thing rumbles on. Dennis has posted a response on the site in the link from my post of the other day. Today, I went on to Amazon to see if they were pre-selling the DVD and they have it listed as True Testimonial and are offering it for $11.89. Nobody's gonna be getting very fat off a retail price like that. But anyway, it's all very disappointing and ugly and I hope it all gets sorted out fairly and squarely in the very near future. Surely BMG should put up the requisite licence money if they want to release it and everybody involved should get their slice of the action, particularly the musicians and their families. Being cited as a legend or being seminal doesn't pay them bills. So screw the noggins there troops...

Keeping up the theme of "returns", all hail the second coming of Kentucky's finest NINE POUND HAMMER

Ex-Mono Men Leader Returns With The Dt's - "Once the leader of America's best mid-'90s garage rock combo, the Mono Men, Estrus Records owner Dave Crider has been quietly woodshedding in his hometown of ..." Michael Goldberg - NEUMU

The other side of the story... As far as I'm concerned all I want is for people to be able to see the film. To see that it was all there, fully formed in 1969 and it's seldom, if ever been bettered. DKT/MC5!

Check out this MC5 SHOCKER! and please explain to me exactly why this could be happening? Maybe Brother Wayne meant it as an early April Fool's jape but somehow I don't think so. In these days of ever dwindling returns for artists, how could such a fine piece of film-making and indeed vehicle for the band be referred to as "unlicenced" or "bootleg"? It's rockin' time kids, we need to help David and Laurel "kick 'em out".

A bulletin from Craig at the I-94 Bar... The Morgan/Royale Soulmover tag team is on the loose!

The mighty new issue of PSYCHOTRONIC VIDEO is in the racks now!

Senator John Kerry's Rock-Star Past: The Story Of The Electras

The Witchdoktors - Saturday 27th March, The Verge, Kentish Town, London

What with all of these Punk Rock documentaries on BBC Radio 2, one could be forgiven for thinking that "punk" has now become the brass band music of the 21st century. But what the hey! Last Saturday afternoon panned-out pretty nicely what with a trip over to Reckless Records in Islington and "must have" discs by the Nomads (Showdown #1), Flamin' Groovies (A Bucket of Brains) and a couple of Dr Feelgood (Gypie Mayo era) finding their way into my paws. For sure the bank balance is running close to red and pay-day is not till Wednesday but what the heck when such mighty grooves are up for grabs. Thinking that life does not get much better than scoring a vintage Feelgood's record complete with a press kit, I remembered that those other doctors, namely the Witchdoktors, were playing in the pub at the bottom of the road that night. Truth be told I haven't heard much from these guys for a good while and so it was damn pleasing to recently learn that they have a new disc, "Robots Rayguns Rock'n'Roll", in the shops. And so, after deciding to miss another rockumentary on BBC Radio 2, I ventured into the Kentish Town night to find the Doktor. Though surgery hours are out-of-hours, the practice remains: "Pinball" Geoff on turbo-charged whack, Zig C on the Fender Precision bass, Andy Last on lead howl, and guitar, and Tony Majors on guitar, harp and Roger McGuinn shades. Yes, fight fans, the Doktors' superpunkrock (tm) ethos remains undimmed by the passage of time and the arrival of many a Johnny-cum-lately. Memorable riffs, catchy choruses, a positive attitude to the punters, and a "let's have some fun" vibe. In other words should the 'Tones, Dictators or Nomads step onto these shore then the Witchdoktors would make one hell of complimentary opening band. Imagine the tribal vibes that would be generated? Hell, I have not smiled so much at a gig for ages as such skull-cracking tuneage as "Doctor John", "Neck Tattoo", and "I'm Sick" bounced off the walls. Okay folks, better hang onto the pipe and slippers 'cause I'm gonna dig out the new CD by the Witchdoktors and those other "old fart" platters. Grown-men making rock'n'roll music: Yes, please.

This just in from the Rt. Hon J. D. King! Press Release March 29, 2004

Chesterfield Kings on the Sopranos & Jimmy Kimmel Live

Psychedelic/garage-rock band The Chesterfield Kings will be making two national television appearances this weekend. On Friday April 2nd, the Rochester New York band will perform live on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live, and on Sunday, April 4th the band will appear, as themselves, on the critically acclaimed HBO series The Sopranos. The band is currently on a west coast leg of a national tour, with the Romantics, in support of their new album, The Mindbending Sounds of the Chesterfield Kings.

The Mindbending Sounds Of... The Chesterfield Kings (Sundazed Music) finds the legendary band turned loose on the world once again with a snarling new album. After 20 years of leading the pack, the Kings are still the hands-down heavyweight champs of today's bubbling psychedelic/garage world.

With production help here from the scene's preeminent big daddy, Little Steven (who accompanies the guys on their new single, "I Don't Understand"), Rochester, New York's bad boys have indelibly scorched into tape 14 brand new Farfisa 'n' fuzz-laden killers. The Romantics and the Chesterfield Kings, two bands that were pioneers of the early 80's rock & roll revival, are together proving to be the powerhouse double-bill of the year. This weeks west coast dates include: Wednesday March 31st, 2004 - Modesto, CA

It's official - All My Crushes will be the next single taken from MAGIC DIRT's
fourth album, Tough Love. It's a swoon-worthy song, that can keep us youngsters daydreaming for hours about that 'cute guy' or 'cute girl'. The song was almost lost for good after being put aside at an early demo session. Later the band remembered the catchy riff and decided to finish writing the song, to be included on Tough Love. All My Crushes will be released on April 12th, with three extra tracks; Sarah May, Tough Love (never heard before!) and All My Crushes (the demo version).