For wathever reason I was in some kinda Glam mood over the past few days, and diggin' around on the web for info came across A Chronological History of English Glam Rock! (baby), both funny and informative and well worth a visit.

Henkie V. was kind enough to point out that The Scientists will be touring Europe once again in October/November. More info and dates can be found at i.b.d booking.

I did a stupid thing. I was hairing about this cyberdoodah and came across a link to garagepunk.com from the Licorice Tree site. So in me goes and I find a whole bunch of people kvetching about the Little Stevenfest bill. In particular they're getting in about The Spangles and I rushed to their defence. I'm always signing up for these "forums" and almost instantaneously regret it. One reason is that I don't actually have the time to be farting about like that. There are more serious/important issues to be dealing with but I like to look after my own y'know? All very honourable of course but ultimately pointless as these cliques are basically set up as conduits for a bloody good whine anyway. I have yet to fathom as to whether any of these detractors have actually seen the band and will endeavour to find that out. Or will I?

The 5678's have just woo-hoo'd into the UK singles chart at #28. Who coo-hooda thunk it?!

Sean from The Battlecats wrote inviting us to their show at the Lit Lounge in NYC on July 12th. Unfortunately it's not possible but maybe you can cut along? Joey and Nick from The Star Spangles dj at yon place too from time to time so it might be a hoot. Here's how the B'cats bio goes:

"The Battlecats are raw, unironic, and irrepressibly catchy. Their take on bubblegum garage-punk can be simultaneously—belligerent, exuberant, and naive. And they’re for real. Frontman Jimmy Jude is a star in the making. A prancing tornado attacking guitar, bass and microphone with wreckless bravado. Drummer Kelley Kat pounds hypnotic Moe Tucker beats while staring holes through the ceiling; guitarist Sean Beirne grins and roams the stage, while traces of the Kinks, vintage Stones and Richard Hell and the Voidoids litter the speakers. The Battlecats have taken the New Haven music scene by storm. Their new cd Made from Scratch “features seven tunes of hook-laden guitar pushed garage pop that is-no shit-catchier than the plague” says the New Haven Advocate. The disk is called Made From Scratch because it literally was—each of the initial covers were unique and hand-drawn by drummer/artist Kelley Kat—a cool reminder of what rock ‘should, or used to be’."

Well no Reigning Sound heading for these parts but what can ya do? However, The Right Raving Rev. Dan Penniman has offered the scoop on where to score the new Wreckless Eric album well prior to it's official release. Not in that illegal downloady way you understand, no - from the Goulden guy himself. Here's the info:

"Preview copies of Wreckless Eric‘s incredible new album Bungalow Hi are available at the Southern Domestic On-Line Factory Shop right now at The album is not released officially until September, so this is your chance to be the hippest scenester on the block..."

Dan also reminds us that "Amy Rigby is appearing this Sunday July 11th for free around 6pm at the Come On Down & Meet The Folks Club at the Fiddler’s Elbow, 1 Malden Road (Corner of Prince of Wales Road), London NW5. Chalk Farm Tube."

Indeed Amy is all over the UK this coming week so go see her and say howdy if you get a chance. She's had a pretty rocky start to this visit so it's your duty to go convince her that it's a good idea to be on this sceptic isle. Hit the sidebar entry and find out if she's playing near you.

"You're Brian Eno. You're a little reclusive maybe, a little quieter than most people... But man, who needs outside entertainment when your brain is like KABOOM all the time? You are innovative, creative, and intelligent. You dress flamboyantly, gravitating towards large feathers and tinsel. Everyone respects you, and looks up to you. We are not worthy, we are not worthy..."

Which rad old school 70's glam icon are you? (with pics)
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"You're Lou Reed. God, you are cool, can I touch you so the magic will rub off? You are perceptive, witty, and badass. You wear cool shades, even at night, and probably wear black more than most people. You don't give a fuck what other people think, but you are also very sensitive in the way that you pick up on things that others don't. Sometimes you come off as an asshole, but that's what makes you cool. You are a poet, and you embody New York City. You will still be hip when you are old, and artists love you..."
Which rad old school 70's glam icon are you?
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The Cramps upcoming release will hopefully cut a swathe through all these bloody bootlegs which have accumulated and come around in 7 year cycles like Walt Disney movies. Seeing as J added the info from the Mordam site, I figured that there was no need to keep the link to it. Let's hope that there's a dvd in the works maybe too. The band should be capitalising on its assets right about now and nobody could put it together better than them. I might not be down with their recent album but I know that they still have GOOD taste!

Out soon: CRAMPS - HOW TO MAKE A MONSTER (VENGEANCE, 2CD). "Reaching into the vaults, The Cramps dug up 143 minutes of previously unreleased rare tracks. Most of this is early demo and live recordings from 1976 and '77. Booklet includes extensive liner notes by Lux and Ivy and rare and unseen photos and flyers from their personal collection. The Cramps will tour the U.S. upon the release of this collection".
Update: from the Mordam site: "Displaying their disdain for the myth of musical progress, The CRAMPS reach back into the clammy womb of their prehistoric past to release HOW TO MAKE A MONSTER, a 2- disc 143 minute frightfest of previously unreleased rare tracks. Thrill to 1st ever rehearsals featuring Bryan Gregory's sister on drums and Lux Interior ripping out a guitar solo! Wonder what substance they abused during a 1982 rehearsal as they stumble through "Rumble Blues" and add an apocalyptic twist to "Lonesome Town". You'll actually hear a dope deal going on in the background during their 3rd ever live gig at Max's Kansas City! All this and more! Stupefying! Includes book with extensive liner notes by Lux and Ivy, themselves, and rare and unseen photos and flyers from their personal collection. All material previously unreleased. 1982 studio demos with the GUN CLUB's Terry Graham on drums. 3rd ever live gig at Max's Kansas City with relentless hecklers. 1 year later live at CBGB with shrieking chaos
(not the name of a band)".

Latest on The Ramones movie from Jim Fields...

Hey everyone,

Ok, here's the latest. "End of the Century: The Story of the Ramones" is going to open in 19 cities in the U.S. on August 20th! Check out www.landmarktheaters.com to see if they have a theater in your city. But if the movie does well enough it will expand to many other cities. So let's spread the word!!!!

Thanks for your support,

Jim

Will have to investigate when it's likely to hit Europe. Soon as we know, you will...

Last night finally brought the Reigning Sound into town, and boy, was it ever worth the wait. Even with a seriously stripped down line-up and a drummer who had spend exactly eight days and eight gigs with the band, this was a show of legendary proportions, no two ways about it. The whole thing that made me like the Oblivians so much, and why I'm so completely gone over the Reigning Sound's last two LPs, was laid out transparent-like in this basic setting, ie; Greg Cartwright is someone who has sponge-like soaked up all the right influences over the years (you know what they are, tho' you might want to ad a bit of Springsteen for good measure) and is able to distill something that is completely his own from just that; the kind of American music one usually associates with the likes of John Fogerty or Jerry Lee but all geared up for the new millennium. High praise indeed, but both as a singer and songwriter you can not mistake Greg for anybody else, whether he takes on ol' Everly Brothers or Lightnin' Hopkins tunes or dips into his own back-catalogue of instant classics. Couple that with a delivery that holds more downright soul than the entire "Urban" section of your local CD emporium put together, and you might begin to get the picture. God knows when they will ever return to these shores (if at all), but given' the chance of catchin' 'em in action one day, don't you ever, ever think about forsakin'.

Tony Slug's roadhog VAN-TALK dictionary.

This month's releases from Ace Records.

A new issue of Terminal Boredom is now on-line.

AIRTIGHT DT01 DISC FLATTENING SYSTEM, I could use one of these...

Lenny Helsing has been spreading the word and music of the garage/beat fraternity forever. One of the outlets he uses to preach this gospel is The Thanes who have just been anthologised (is that a word?) by REV-OLA and you, the kids (of all ages) need to be hep to that. If you never had the pleasure then this'd be a heckuva place to start.



"The Thanes - Evolver (CRREV 69) Here it is..just when you thought it was safe to listen to failed biker bar bands who've noticed The White Stripes have sold a few records..(you know who you are)..the complete history to date of Scotland's premier Garage/Beat group....nothing less than that!Whilst influencing a whole generation of bands making up today's hit Garage sound, they made (and continue to make) a series of remarkable and acclaimed records....all collected here for the first time on one great CD....the classics, the driving-collectors-mad rarities, their latest and perhaps greatest recordings.....anyone with any interest in the driving Garage Punk sound that's sweeping the world cannot miss this essential release!...It's the real deal, Lucille! Their greatest recordings right up to date, and LOUDER than ever! Check out the menu -
In God I Trust / Antenna Surprise / That's The Story Of Your Life / Static / Before I Go / Wonder If / It Can Never Be / I've Seen Darker Nights / Gone Away Girl / Please Don't Cry / Lazy Bones / Thrown Away The Key / Don't Let Her Dark Your Door Again / She's A Robber / Hey Girl (Look What You've Done) / Shipwreck / I'll Rest / Lost Or Found / Buzz Buzz (Yeh Yeh) / Baby Come Back / World Of Stone / None Of This / Girls / Who'll Be The Next In Line / Days Go Slowly By / Never Make Me Blue / It's My Pride "

THE LONG RYDERS breezed back into old Glasgow toon on the day before the 4th July. No matter what the State Of The Union is in their homeland, here’s another American band that can still very much shake it down. “We’re the MC4” said Sid to the mature gathering. Stephen McCarthy had already been out to join GREG TROOPER close his opening set with a song he co-wrote with John Seiger (who if you've being paying attention recently made a record with THE SKELETONS). Trooper does credit to his namesake. A native NJian who lives in Nashville now with a nice line in songs and patter. He must be unstoppable with a band. Anyways, “Run Dusty Run” opened the Ryders set and brought down the hammer on the Strathclyde side. It was a fine set and by the time they get this baby to Madrid then they’re really gonna fly. The whole thing was as good an example of the perfect show as it comes these days. I can’t imagine how anybody there coulda been disappointed with the choice of songs or performance. Even the odd wee fluff here and there just added to the atmos. “Lights of Downtown”,“You can’t Ride The Boxcars” and “I Had A Dream” all reminded us of how good a catalogue these guys put together in their short existence. Added to that there’s their version of one of the greatest pop songs ever recorded, NRBQ’s "I Want You Bad" (dedicated to Teenage Fanclub) and an absolutely tingling sweet version of The Groovies “I Can’t Hide”. Now, even a jaded cynic and three quarters like me kinda gets a frisson when there 300+ people in a room that seem to be able to appreciate what is patently good music. Their psychedelicisied rendition of Dylan’s “Masters Of War” was well received in the aftermath of Wee Boaby Dylans visit to the city just the week before. If you get a chance to see them then take it. I would guess that individual schedules would point to this not being something that will run and run. That said, it certainly deserves to. This was the best I ever saw them, 20+ years after the fact. We had to leave for a train during a spirited run up the flagpole of “You’re Gonna Miss Me”, once again buoyed by the fact that people were digging it. Now how come we can’t have an audience like this at every show. Now you come to think about it how come that we can’t have much of an audience at all. I'm gonna wake up wondering about that for sure. I guess Amsterdam will be good but I really wish I could take in the Spanish shows. That could be the last truly rock’n’roll country on earth and when that rickenbacker-driven intro to “I Can’t Hide” kicks in there, then the fireworks will really begin.

Is there no end to the humiliation?... it'll be Riverdance in Bin-liners next... (info from Imants Krumins via e-mole)

Just got back from the third (and last) night of the Primitive festival in Rotterdam. Reports of the first two night were positive enough with only the Von Bondies gettin' the thumbs down from just about anybody who saw 'em. Got in early and only missed the first part of the Firebirds' set, but as much as I dig 'em; they're not an opening band, these guys need time to work their crowd, and preferably somewhere around midnight at that. But it was good to see 'em in action once again anyway, even tho' they got somewhat confused at just which three chords they needed to play Florian Monday's 'Rip It Up'. Next up was the Neder-Bietels, who seem intend on preserving obscuro Dutch beat tunes. As righteous a course as any, but with the sound bein' somewhat muffled and the singer's voice hoarse, they failed to ignite any kind of response. No sparks were flyin' either when the Remains took the stage. Good as their songs are, whatever fueled their engine way back when has obviously run dry. At that point (right in the middle of 'All Good Things Come To An End'!) a quick return trip home suddenly materialized, and even tho' I would have loved seein' the Chesterfield Kings save the day, gettin' home three to four hours earlier than expected was too temptin' a proposition to resist. So yeah, it was a bit disappointin'', but the idea for these kinda fests is A-OK with me, and this will hopefully be the first of many to come...
Besides all that it was good to shake hands once again with a number of people who I rarely see otherwise. You know who you are; Cheers !.