Where to start? Nearly February already and the nights are fair drawin’ out already. It’s practically light when we’re driving home so that seems like a turn up for the books. Then I read Chris Stigliano’s bit on his Blog to Comm about Johnny Carson which was great. On top of that there’s a cd-rom from my Unca Duane with snippets from the recent Suicide show in NY. This serves to remind me that we didn’t even see all of Amy Rigby’s dvd yet, did have to dive straight into her “Dancing with Joey Ramone” opus though and somebody needs to be getting her to perform it at his Birthday party this May 19th. The big guy would have loved this song I’m sure and it’s so heartfelt. Gie’syer shivers an’ that. So yeah, I haven’t dropped off the face of the earth and am somewhat ready to do battle with the demons that make me wish I could. Shootin’ the craw isn’t an option though I guess, at least not for now. On my desk calendar thing the other day it said “Plan out your Future (but do it in pencil)”. Aye, stick it intae me again whydontcha!!? But hey, we went over the 100,000 hits today. How 'bout them (silver)apples??

Fredriks Videos & Burgers is a cool video archive featuring (ao) three songs from the recent Lyres show in Stockholm.

A big Rabbie Burn's day shout out to all you timrous beasties "oot there". Be there not panic "in your breesties", eat your haggis, neeps and tatties - it's good for what ails ya... Still bogged down in admin traffic, think massive snowfall hampering your movements - that's the shape I'm in. New STEREO TOTAL out in the US today, a report will follow shortly...

My compilation, DOUGHNUT NOT MERINGUE has become TOM MORTON's Album Of The Week on his afternoon BBC Radio Scotland. Who'da thunk it? My thanks to the man for this utterly unexpected turn of events. Getting Suzy Y Los Quattro on to our airwaves has to be a worthy occurance methinks...

There goes Johnny... Mr. Carson has left the theatre!

Aye... not had much time for the old reporting this week because essentially other, more pressing matters have come to the fore. I won't bore you or whine incoherently, let's just say that my bahookie has been well and truly felt (not intending to be cryptic or owt) and that the matter(s) are being attended to. One of these is the need for extensive roof repairs which will leave one someone not too far away from here somewhat economically challenged for the next wee whiley. I know there are plenty out there who don't have a roof to stick it to them but unfortunately that doesn't make the broadside too muckle easier to stomach. I'm not exactly complaining, just telling yer why my e-mailing and posting ain't up to speed.

On a more entertaining footing, I just heard this programme on Radio Scotland about HAGGIS which you might get a kick outta on the run up to Burns Day on Tuesday. Click the link and select GRASSROOTS from the listing for all you'll ever need to know about our "national dish". This is your "Chieftain o' the Pudden race" signing aff. As opposed to off.

Up next from Norton:
Chimney Sweeps - Devil Girl LP "UNKNOWN GARAGE MONSTERS UNLEASHED! A DOZEN BASHERS UP FROM DOWN UNDER! INCLUDES PRE-SWEEPS COBWEBS! TWELVE FULL INCHES OF INSANITY! TOO RAW N RAMPANT FOR TENDER EARS! 38 YEARS AHEAD OF THEIR TIME! ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL! For the first time on wax, here's a dozen crude, unissued 1966-67 garage recordings by Australia's answer to the Alarm Clocks, the truly remarkable Chimney Sweeps. These guys never boasted a release during their short "career" (they played maybe 15 gigs tops) and were totally unknown even amongst top Australian collectors until recently. The twelve sides include wild originals like Lies, Lies and the demented Cold Fish ("she ain't no gold fish!") plus three cool covers - their dragged-through-a-ditch take on the Rolling Stones' Grown Up Wrong must be heard to be believed! The big crunch is capped by a '66 stab at the title song by the Sweeps' earlier incarnation, the Cobwebs. Features a full band bio, whacked out group photo (the only one!) and a buzzin' dozen garage killers!"
Arch Hall Jr & the Archers - Wild Guitar CD. "Gargantuan set heralds the mega-cool output of our hero Arch Hall, Jr. and his band, covering his recording career from 1959-1963. Includes massive illustrated bio-booklet packed with info, interviews and flat out eye openers! Combines his singles with unknown studio recordings, movie music from the master tapes plus never released 1962 live Pensacola drive-in theatre show! Wild Guitar, Konga Joe, Monkey In My Hat Band, Twist Fever, Stake Theme, Growing Taller Every Day, Sneakin' Around, If A Man Answers, Archers Theme, Susie Q more!".

Some Suzy Y Los Quattro news from BB his'self, urging you to catch some fun in the (warm?) Barcelona sun...



Photos from MADRID

"Our next gig is with TV SMITH on Saturday, February 12th in Barcelona, at the Deja Vu club. Make sure you post it on your site, remind those brits ultra-cheap flights can still be found for those days! I'd be willing to try and arrange accomodation for anyone who drops me a line at pbarbudas@gmail.com, but they should act quick!"

Unfortunately I can't swing that but maybe YOU can?

IT CAME FROM DETROIT - LATEST!

"Excitement is in the air, or should I say "on the air"? On Saturday, our friends Chris Handyside and Greg Siemasz invited us on to their show, Radio Fever on 97.1 FM. We played some tunes, ate some donuts, and promoted our film and upcoming rock show. If you haven't heard already, four awesomely awesome bands are throwing us a benefit show. Rock on! The Gore Gore Girls, Fortune & Maltese, the Cyril Lords, and the Detroit City Council are going to rock their asses off to raise money for our film. It can't get any better than this folks, so don't miss the show: Saturday, January 22 at the Magic Stick. 18+ , $10. Get ready for your close ups because this is your chance to be in the movie! We need your support to finish, so come on down and bring a friend. This is an event not to be missed!!"

‘Le Beat Bespoke’ – A Weekend of Sin? @ The Rocket, London. Easter 2005



Weblink for full programme www.newuntouchables.com

After the huge success of ‘Modstock 2’ in 2004 (also at The Rocket Complex) which drew visitors from all corners of the globe, there was much positive feedback and many calls for a potentially similar but hopefully more regular London-based event. This would, by its very nature, take on board the same quality and diverse demands of the Modernist and wider Sixties Scene. In addition it should be enhanced with more imaginative ingredients drawn from various similar areas and scenes to ensure a top quality ‘Weekend of Sin’, with vintage culture, music, fun and mucho partying over three days and nights in the music capital of the UK!

We have worked hard to bring you an amazing three-day programme of events, details
of which you will discover as you read on. Firstly, being a ‘live music’ led event, we have brought together some legendary names, mixed with some international ‘must see’ newer acts, some Scene mainstays, some all-out blisssssstering outfits, and also some young cutting edge bands that are setting alight the UK ‘live’ scene and music critics as we speak!

LOVE (WITH ARTHUR LEE) INC FIRST UK SHOW WITH ORIGINAL GUITARIST JOHNNY ECHOLS
CHOCOLATE WATCHBAND (First UK SHOW), YARDBIRDS, NINE BELOW ZERO, FUZZTONES,
FRANK POPP ENSEMBLE, BILLY CHILDISH BUFF MEDWAYS, THE LOONS (WITH MIKE STAX),
NEILS CHILDREN, MASTICA, LONG TALL SHORTY, THEE EXCITERS & GAS MACH 5

A truly eclectic and super line-up of DJ talent from all over the world with three, and at times four, rooms of quality rare music covering all major aspects of the
Modernist/ Sixties/Psych/Beat/Garage/Soul Funk/RnB/RnR spectrum with a refreshing perspective. This will give you a chance to check out sounds from around the globe from many people who you have never have heard play before! These DJs are prepared to wear out the soles of your dancing shoes from sunset to sunrise so be sure to bring along a spare pair!

As ever there will be a dedicated ‘Le R&B Room’ and ‘Le Beat Bespoke Room (Garage/Beat/Psych/Classics) for all three nights. NUTs DJs: Dr Robert, Speed, Pid, Chris Dale, Scott Copeland, Bertie & Steve + Micky (Velvet Illusion), Mark Raison (Shake), Roger Banks, PJ (Dirty Water Club), Liam Watson (Toerag) + Global Guests: Tony ’Le Tyger’ Sanchez + Mike Stax (USA) Eneida + Lolo (Spain), Frantz (Italy), Stephan Golowka + Frank Popp (Ger).

+ SPECIALIST GUEST CLUB NIGHTS FRIDAY: ’Le Rockaround Room’ - Hot Rock n Roll from DJ’s Mouse & Cosmic Keith

SATURDAY: ’Where Le Action Is’ - with Gary Crowley & Jim Lahat (BBC Radio London)
+ Paolo Hewitt & Sir Bax (Mono Media).

SUNDAY: Four rooms of clubbing with ’Le Acid Jazz Party’ DJ’s Eddie Piller & Dean Rudland + Guests
*PLUS Manchester’s ‘NEW CENTURY NORTHERN SOUL ALLNIGHTER’ upstairs in Le Main Ballroom, offering the ‘Cream of Northern Soul’ sounds.

Other weekend highlights include BBC Radio London ‘Live Broadcast’, Pip! Pip! lightshow, Go-Go dancers, market stalls, movies, expos, ‘Le Beat Bespoke’ Kult Film premier, record dealers and more.

The Rocket is the perfect venue for this event. With a capacity of 1000+, four rooms entertainment + a courtyard and excellent travel links to all areas of the City. The Rocket is on the A1 road with excellent links to the rest of the UK including airports. Cheap accommodation is available through the International Students House opposite Regents Park as well as numerous Bed & Breakfast and small hotels offering good deals in the King’s Cross, Finsbury Park and Russell Square areas plus the Ibis Hotel in nearby Euston. Try
www.lastminutehotels.com
www.cheaphotels.com
International Student House, 229 Great Portland St, London. W1
(Opp Regents Park) From £12-£33 per person accom@ish.org Tel 0207 631 8310

So come along and join in the fun. We look forward to seeing you all there!

Rob Bailey & Bazden (Pip! Pip!), New Untouchables 2005

Wolfed down wir tea and ventured out into the blizzards tonight to catch the Ray Charles bio-pic, RAY. It's not bad in a "What's Love Got To Do With It?" kinda way. It's a funny old time, Elvis at No. 1 and Brother Ray at the Mongoplex... what exactly is the world coming to? At 2 and a half hours it's a tad overlong but there's no doubting Jamie Foxx's uncanny morph into the man himself. Decent Sunday afternoon viewing then as opposed to the ol' attention span deficit of a "school night". I kept thinking that I'd like to hear The Del-Lords "Saint Jake" for most of the movie...

Up next from Crypt Records: The Ikon Records Story. 180 gram 2LP set in full-color inside & out GATEFOLD sleeve! INSANE package: 29 tracks (22 originals and 7 cover versions) of never reissued 1964-1966 garage punk, surf instros, frat stomp and folk-punk from 20 teenage bands recorded at Sacramento's IKON STUDIO. These 28 cuts, culled from the to-be-simultaneously-released 60-song double CD on the FRANTIC RECORDS label, are the result of FRANTIC RECORDS Joey D and ACE RECORDS Alec Palao having spent the last 6 years tracking down every band, almost every master tape, and (often without luck!) the impossible-to-find 7" singles released on Ikon. This vinyl version is housed in a deluxe full-color inside-and-out gatefold jacket crammed with color and b&w photos, label shots, and extensive liner notes. After 27 years of extensive reissues of 60s garage punk rarities, ONLY ONE Ikon track has even made it to a reissue - WHY? Because almost NOBODY even owns any of the original Ikon 45s.

Our cub reporter, Brother Duane of Sherwood files the following info from NYC...

Stop Presses... Suicide docu-biography released... Book signing & live show held...

Jan 15, 2005

Release of "SUICIDE - No Compromise" was marked by a book signing the Deitch Projects gallery, under the glow of 2 wall mounted light sculptures by Alan Vega.

The festivities continued at the Knitting Factory where SUICIDE played to a packed room, unveiling several new songs and some reworked versions of classics.

The highlight of the show was the unexpected encore of Frankie Teardrop. Not a dry eye in the house.

2 photos filed.

It all adds up...

Just yesterday, after my pal Jos 'n me spend half the day at one of those big fleamarket type of events, I was spinning some Joan Jett 45s I picked up there, 'n was kinda amazed at how well they were produced; powerful and commercial, plus we're talkin' 80s here, so this is no mean feat. "Kenny Laguna" is what I told Alice after she shared my opinion on the production end (tho' she's sadly hardly ever impressed by my knowledge of names 'n facts in these cases). Anyways, I gave the guy's name a spin at Google, and boy, was I ever impressed with the results. Not only was he responsible for those great Joan Jett discs, but his credits also included the Barracudas' Summer Fun and Susan's Day by Dutch powerpop legends the Rousers. And Check the "bands played in" section: Tommy James and the Shondels, Music Explosion, 1910 Fruitgum Co., Ohio Express, Archies, Derek, Shadows of Knight, Kazenetz-Katz Orchestral Circus, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Darlene Love and The Blossoms. How's about that for a cool CV?. Read all about it (and more) here.

Ace Dutch punk combo the Sack-o'-Woes will be headin' over to the UK next week for a short tour, and your attendance is required. Dates are as follows:

Th 20-1: London (Stoke Newington), Ryan's Bar (with the Ulcers)
Fr 21-1: Leeds, Fenton Pub.
Sa 22-1: Liverpool, Heaven & Hell.
Su 23-1: Southhampton, Eagle Pub.

Please check local listings for exact times etc.

THE SAINTS are at King Tuts in Glasgow on March 3rd. They're also gonna be all over Europe so check their site for your nearest pummelling...

RESIST THE THINGS YOU CAN FIND EVERYWHERE... That's The OPTIMO motto and methinks it's a code to follow. While you're at it, check out this KILL THE DJ mix-thing!



I have to tell you folks that I haven't actually been there. It's on too late for Gran'paw here but these guys have been fighting for the right to educate the masses to a broad base of music forever now. I just found out (2 months late) that I missed Kid Congo and Khan again so have signed up to their newsletter. I suggest anybody who is headed for Glasgow at any point should do that too.

It might look like like a no frills slab of rockabilly but underneath that simple exterior beats a heart of pure, slap you about the kisser, hilbilly pride! I guess that's where the title comes from. Featuring such fine numbers as "You're Black, I'm Blue" and "Don't make Me Kick Your Ass This Christmas", Mack Stevens and The Red Light Boys have made themselves a modern day classic. If there can be such a beastie. There's a wee Willie Nelson-esque warble to this guys holler and the subject matter isn't for the faint of heart or spirit. Not for fearties or bleeding hearts then. Available for now on On The Hill Records of Japan but ripe for a release in France, contact the man himself for availability.