From The Dictators website...

HDM TO TOUR EUROPE WITH DKT/MC5

Handsome Dick Manitoba will join the DKT/MC5 tour of Europe from Feb. 18 through March 5. Also appearing with the group will be guitarist Gilby Clarke (ex-Guns N' Roses) and singer Lisa Kekaula (BellRays). Following are the dates of the tour so far (subject to change :

February 2005

18 Lisbon, Portugal
19 Barcelona, Spain ..... Razzmatazz 3
20 Madrid, Spain ..... Sala Arena
21 Bordeaux, France ..... 4 Sans
22 Brest, France ..... Vauban
23 Lille, France ..... Aeronef
24 Brussels, Belgium ..... Ancienne Belgique
25 London, U.K. ..... Royal Festival Hall
27 Turin, Italy ..... Hiroshima
28 Treviso, Italy ..... New Age

March 2005

01 Zagreb, Croatia
02 Belgrade, Serbia
04 Athens, Greece ..... Gargarin 205
05 Salonica, Greece ..... Mylos

Onetime Raunch Hand and erstwhile Devil Dog (not to mention his brief tenure as an A-Bone), Mike Mariconda is back with THE STEPBROTHERS. Take equal parts anglo-verging on pub rock, a quasi-glam streak and a whole quart of soul and you're getting a beat on what "Baby It's Over" entails. The opener ("Very Last Time") recalls Status Quo's "Caroline" and folks outside of the UK may well wonder why that would matter. Well that group is something of an institution here and that might cloud the issue in some would-be hipsters books. I saw the Quo in their heyday many times and am not ashamed to admit a softspot for their daft boogie antics. Supreme drinking music, The 'brothers shimmy in no uncertain fashion with a "Faces"-type abandon. I can't recall exactly, but I think it's "Baby It's Over" that sounds like Stevie Winwood dishing up J'taime in a Booker T stylee. (I don't have the record to hand as I type...) Rod Stewart should make a record with these guys instead of trotting out those lame "standards". It'd make ol' John Peel smile, I'm sure. They've dragged that 60's beat frenzy bang into the 21st century, losing zip in the ramshackle translation.

A fine debut then, which lives up to the promise of their cut on Shakin' In My Boots (also on Licorice Tree). If you've seen 'em live, let me know if they're as smokin' as this suggests they be. Nice silk screened cover insert too fellas...

Well, I divnae ken much about art but I know what I like, and Ms Samaras delivers the goods every time... check this...



"You have clamored (well somebody must've clamored!), and Copro Nason Gallery has listened -- for the first time ever one of my paintings is available as a fine art print.

I just finished signing a short stack of gorgeous full color Giclee prints of "The Lily". The paper (Arches archival) size is 20 1/2 x 17 inches, image is 17 1/2 x 14 and they're only going to be $100 (plus S&H). The color reproduction and level of detail is *excellent* -- I'm pleased as punch with these things.

The edition is *very* small, only 30, so if you're interested I would suggest contacting Gary at Copro Nason as soon as possible.

Gary Pressman
Copro Nason Gallery
310-398-2643
bippo55@hotmail.com

Rock on with yer bad selves, Isabel"

Some entertaining clips here for ya, all kindsa musics... courtesy of PUNKCAST.

BOSTON ROCKERS HEAT UP LAS VEGAS JAN. 25 - 27 Cowboy Mach Bell

"Willie "Loco" Alexander, Steven Silva and Miss Lyn will be among the army of Boston rock'n'rollers blazing across the bigscreen as the documentary THUNDERTRAIN - I GOTTA ROCK is previewed non-stop at the fabulous Mandalay Bay Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip this week. The worldwide television industry attends their annual NATPE conference on January 25-27, 2005 under one roof at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Convention Center in Las Vegas.

The global television community (10,000 strong) will be the first to experience Thundertrain - I Gotta Rock. The documentary includes fierce 70's action shot at The Rat in Kenmore Square, recent band footage lensed in the deep south and reaches a roaring climax asThundertrain shakes New England once again in 2003. The Vegas crowd will see scads of Boston rock notables on screen. Drummer Matt Burns (Kenne Highland and his Vatican Sex Kittens), Miss Lyn and Paul "Blowfish" Lovell (Boston Groupie News), bassist Danny Hargrove (Joe Perry Project), indie record producer John Visnaskas, Pam Green (in a brief dancing cameo), teen terror Nathie (Slick Pig), and even big daddy Willie "Loco" Alexander will all be there."



Get all the latest Thundertrain - I Gotta Rock info **PLUS** Thundertrain MP3's, Rare Photos, Our exclusive forum, interviews and TT HotLine News.... Coming soon - MACH 5 onstage in Boston!....GET IT ALL @ THUNDERTRAIN WORLD HEADQUARTERS

The matter of “office-friendly” links came up as a result of J’s C14 post yesterday. Dealing in the type of hootch that we do then there is always the possibility that some of the images which might pop up could cause alarm to the uniniated.

That said, it’s all part of the adventure and I don’t think we post stuff that is particularly likely to land the viewer in the chokey. Sometimes, I get a dirty big Sonic Wall – Blocked and Reported to IT Department message on my work pc. In such a case, I’ll just wait until I get home before further investigation. There is the question of should people be reading up on this kinda stuff when they’re working anyway? Whilst I wholly applaud such behaviour then there’s always some twally out there in a position of “power” who is ready to rain on your parade.

Hopefully "anonymous" didn’t get made an example of for clicking on the C14 link. This is all good clean, very occasionally dirty, fun we’re hooking you up with here. Something for all the family even…

GEARCLUB at Debaser in Stockholm



Friday January 14

LYRES (Jeff Conolly and The Maggots)

AND

VOLADORAS

Mike Barbwire & Baby Diamondback Resident DJ's
Guest DJs: Dr. Frankenfuzz (N)[Singles Club] + Jonas Bjälesjö.

Read more

While Lindsay is busy tryin' to keep his "oothoose" from bein' blown into the Atlantic, the silence from this end is down to a severe case of the flue. Bones, head 'n muscle achin', hot 'n cold fever, a tsunami of snot. In short: the works. I occasionally crawl out of bed to press my head against the outside window or try to wrap myself around a radiator in an attempt to re-balance my temperatures, but that brings only temporary relief. No amount of chickensoup or medication has done me much good so far, besides losing about six pounds in three days. I check the computer every now 'n then to see if life out there goes on without me, and apparently it does.

Latest issue of Carbon 14 magazine (issue 25) features (ao) The Fleshtones, Sewergrooves, a Greg Shaw obit by Jeff Dahl plus an overview of the Ramones on film. Also comes with a 25 track bonus CD featuring the Dictators, Nomads, Master Plan and more. Get in line here.

So, I dunno… is it global warming or are ye god(s) just sick of what the collective dufus brigade is doing to the earth. And what is the plural of dufus anyway?…
Anyway, the winds kicked ol’ Scotia’s arse bigstyle overnight I can tell ya. 134mph in Barra this morning and t'wis pretty bloody breezy when I got up to close the “oothoose” door at 3.48am, I can tell ya.

Things are slowly crawling back to what passes for normal although certain circumstances have prevailed that have meant that things here have kinda taken a “back burner” type position. The news will start tricklin’ soon and the torrent ain’t far away. Your hits are important to us… an’ that…

Hey folks,

Hope y'all had a fab Xmess and a gear New Year!

Our pre-Christmas bashment was a gas and a half - with many of you fiiine peoples, plus unexpected guests Andy Kershaw, Ray Davies (again!) and some EastEnders folks (honestly, you couldn't make it up!) showing Santa that they rilly knows how to get down!

Sadly, Mr Bosco Mann of New York nuevo funk legends Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings was a mite too late in confirming as guest DJ for this Friday (14th) ... However, we HAVE got guest spinner Le Gammage - of London's hottest rock'n'roll combo, The I.V.'s - who's gonna set yer ears aflame with some righteous tuneage (zounds, what sounds!) ...

Them testifyin' 'Dap Kings are playing the Jazz Café from 14th-16th, and we'd urge you to treat yer backbones to some SERIOUS live action ... Funk don't come no better ...

As y'all are no doubt aware, come Boxing Day, surf was up in the most terrible way on the other side of the globe, which is why we're holding a Tsunami Benefit night on the 28th, for which there'll be a charity tax of £3 entry. Hands in pockets means food in mouths, folks ... Helping us spread the love will be the one, the only KatManDude ...

As for February, we're pleased to confirm that we'll be moving to Saturday nites! Yes, thas' rite, children! Same Sonic Reducer fun, one night on ...

Dates and special DJ guests to be announced soon ...

But rest assured, each and every Sonic Reducer soiree will guarantee a hip-shakin', butt-tremblin', and backbone-slippin' mix of soul, funk, R&B, garage, beat, punk, soundtracks, mental country, deranged '20s reefer jazz, disco classics, ska, reggae and dub ... Luv & a currant bun

Joss & Joe

Cult! Wild Japan (the follow-up to last years Cult! festival) is a nationwide festival of classic Japanese cult films which will be touring UK cinemas this spring. The festival launches at the Filmhouse in Edinburgh on the weekend of Friday 4th-6th February 2005.

6 ultra-rare 35mm have been imported direct from Tokyo for the event, which also includes 6 UK cinema premieres. This is a one-off opportunity to catch the films that influenced Tarantino, Miike and Woo.

The Wild Japan films are :

Onibaba - Classic Japanese cult horror. Angry, excessive and hynoptic.

Street Mobster - Hyper-kinetic gangster classic from the director of 'Battle Royale'.

Woman With Red Hair - Gritty 'pink film' erotic masterpiece.

Wild Midnight Movie Double Bill -
Shogun Assassin - The ultimate Japanese cult samurai movie. An uncut, rare screening on 35mm.
School Of The Holy Beast - One of the most beautiful nunsploitation films ever made. An insane, demented masterpiece.

Sword Of Doom - Dark, thrilling, bleak samurai masterpiece with stunning fight sequences.

Female Prisoner 701 - The biggest influence on Tarantino's 'Kill Bill'. A lean, taut, brutal exploitation epic.

Pale Flower - Exquisite, existential gangster film masterpiece. A lost classic.

Further information

One chance to taste the madness!....

Found out about this Morning 40 Federation combo whilst rooting aboot The Star Spangles site this morning. Go to the music and download "Stinky". Sounds like The Pirhanas on Morphine... a stone(d) groove!

Also Mr Percival points we in the direction of the UK based Ramones Movie website which includes places you can catch it.

No excuses, if you're in and around Hollywood (as opposed to Holyrood) - this is the place to be today...

Art Fein's yearly Elvis show goes from 4 til 9 sharp, at Henry Fonda Theater, Hollywood & Gower in Hollywood.



The lineup so far:

Kevin Banford, Blasters, Ray Campi, Count Smokula, Justin Curtis, Levi Dexter, Keith Joe Dick, Dusk Devils, Doug Fieger, Lisa Finnie, Glen Glenn, Groovy Rednecks, Carlos Guitarlos, Austin Hanks, Pearl Harbour, Barry Holdship, Travis Howard, James Intveld, Merle Jagger, Linda Kay, Marcy Levy, Rip Masters, Rod & The Tonemasters, Evie Sands, Tommy Sands, Russell Scott, Fur & Steve, Ian Whitcomb, Young Jessie...

Vamp Babes (Upgrade) by Messer Chups, a "combo" from Moscow has been on heavy rotation here since it's arrival on Christmas Eve. It’s a rip roaring, theremin packed soundtrack to the sickest, screamin-est sci-fi vampire flick around. Like Angelo Badalamenti jamming with The Challengers but also much more. The disc also features two videos which furthermore rams home the fact that these critters have got it nailed.



Whilst we’re on the subject, Jimi Hendrix was talking out of his big overrated ‘froed bahookie when he said you’d never hear surf music again. The Bambi Molesters, from Croatia, take that basic blueprint and knock seven shades out of it. I take this opporchancity to (once again rabidly) recommend their Sonic Bullets set which will be reactivated with the rest of their back catalogue when they embark on an invasion of Europe in Spring ’05. These lads and lassie know a thing or two about shooting tunes that’ll make your hair curl irrespective of length.



Staying with the “surf malarkey”, The Bitch Boys from Slovenia are further proof that there’s something in the water out there. Seemingly more straightforward than the aforementioned but still twisted. Their "Eminem Vs The Ventures" on "Walk Don't Run Mr Eminem (aka Ziggy Zaggy)" is a masterstroke and takes the well worn surf instro into new (perhaps even contemporary) territory.

Eastern Europe would appear to be harbouring "the future of rock and roll" in all shapes and sizes. A major pipedream of mine is to get the heck out there this year.

In the meantime though. check out the wares of all these folks on line from the comfort of your own billet. If the rain here keeps up like it has this past weeek then I'll be surfing doon to Tesco today instead of taking the car. Cowabunga an' that...

Could be quite the blaw-oot! Info courtesy of Captain Crunch...

"On (Friday) February 25th at London's Royal Festival Hall, DKT/MC5 members Michael Davis, Wayne Kramer and Dennis Thompson will perform for the first time in nearly four decades with The Sun Ra Arkestra Directed by Marshall Allen.

DKT/MC5's special guests will include Handsome Dick Manitoba (Dictators), Billy Duffy (Cult, Colorsound), David Thomas (Pere Ubu, Rocket from the Tombs) and newly Grammy-nominated powerhouse Lisa Kekaula (BellRays, Basement Jaxx).

"There is no other band that has affected me to the degree Sun Ra and his Arkestra has. They opened the door to the New Music," says Wayne Kramer, who considers this long-awaited event, "an expansion of the work started by both groups nearly four decades ago."

On June 18th, 1967, in Detroit's Community Arts Auditorium, poet John Sinclair organized a performance by Sun Ra. Opening was a local group of young men with a peculiar vision who called themselves The MC5. Wayne continues, "Performing with Sun Ra and The Myth Science Arkestra that night, and on so many nights that followed, fundamentally changed my understanding of what music is about. They are the most important band on Planet Earth, although I'm not sure they are actually from this Earth."

Solid, reliable and tactile. That's the spanking new issue of PSYCHOTRONIC VIDEO magazine. Mr Weldon has seen fit to roll us another one so I suggest you smoke it. Hours of endless pleasure, filled with great writing about films we can only dream about catching one day. A tireless and passionate obsession along the lines of Norton Records in terms of international, nay intergalactic, importance.

Same old shit, different year. One week into this new one and verily it doth blow... anyway The King woulda been 70 tomorrow... uh huh, uh? The kids from Spain (Madrid Division) can take in this shindig...