Stuart McHugh of Is This Music has the following shows organised, the first three in the Home of The Skids - Dunfermline. The Carnegie Hall is a great venue and should be supported!

Wednesday, August 25th

Saint Jude's Infirmary, Indafusion and Taylor Kane, Dunfermline Carnegie Hall

Thursday, August 26th

Malcolm Middleton/ My Latest Novel/ Flying Matchstick Men with compere Jim Gellatly, Dunfermline Carnegie Hall

Friday, August 27th

James Yorkston and the Athletes/ King Biscuit Time, compered by Vic Galloway, Dunfermline Carnegie Hall

Wednesday August 31st

Flying Matchstick Men, The Aphrodisiacs, Satellite Dub and Calvin, @ The Universal Bar, Glasgow, Sauchiehall Lane. (Part of the MusicWorks conference)

Somewhat alarmed at the fact that tomorrow is August 1st and that the weekend has gone up in smoke again. Achievement in relation to time, even to the extent of replying to e-mail is taking a downward slide. There are realities to attend to that suck whatever green is around for no tangible return but we're all in that boat.

I've had a few senior moments this week. Those where you can't remember names and events the way you used to. Now that might be down to diet but it's more likely to be the onslaught of age. The rapid stepping up of that precious commodity called time. I know, I've harped on about it before but it seems to me that we're trapped doing stuff that is simply no fun as the sands trickle into the lower portion of the hourglass. That said it was good to catch up with Laura and some other folks this week. It could be said that I just need to chill out and let the pieces fall into place but anybody with any experience of being around me will know that homey can't play that logic.

One other plus this past week, was to be able to check out the "work in progress" that will be The Star Spangles "Rite Over Rooftops". The follow up to "Bazooka" has all the hallmarks that today's pop kids could use in their lives if they only just knew it. But how to treat the attention deficit disorder that stands between the band and their prospective audience? Wish I bleedin' knew...

August is shaping up to be a busy time so that's something. Several high profile visitors and a Film Festival will divert what's left of my mind from the numbnuts that I have to tholl in order to eat. Another project is to try and get my turntable sorted out or a replacement because there's a bunch of vinyl here that requires attending to. The remainder of Sunday awaits as do the chores. Catch you on yonder flipside...

Not sure how things are on your end, but over here the festival season is in full swing. I have no idea how many of these things are on this summer, but it seems that even the tiniest dot on the map has it's own fest these days. God knows why people still bother; either you're up to your knees in mud or you get burned alive in the sun. And lets not forget the (overpriced) stale beer, hamburger stench, waiting in line just to take a pee, ugly tattoos, ugly hairdos and ugly people ("non-conformist, just like everybody else"). That, and the wind blowing off the sound of your favorite band in just the opposite direction of where you're standing. Gimme a small place that has trouble gettin' a crowd that numbers above three figures any day.

Some very entertaining MASH-UP action for those who get a kick outta such things.

Just tonight I heard Suicide's "Dream Baby Dream" being used on a trailer for a show called "So You Want To Be A Property Developer". Me no comprendé, neither.

The hastily-arranged Laura Cantrell Fopp instore rounded up a fair turn-out who were treated to the first appearance in Glasgow of Dave Schramm and Steve Goulding.



The short seven-song showcase featured "14th Street", "California Rose", "Letters", "All The Same To You", "Two Seconds", "Wishful Thinking" and "Old Downtown". After that Laura had to scoot up to the BBC to complete the BBC Radio Thrift Shop programmes which start going out a week from today at 8.05pm until 10pm on Fridays. The "Listen Again" facility will of course be available for a week following each broadcast.

Just got back from spending a week in the north-eastern part of Holland with Alice and Bastiaan, where we'd rented a small cottage just outside the middle of nowhere. The peace and quiet resulted in a lot of, apparently much needed, sleep, but I also found time to wade through 'Big bosoms and Square Jaws', the new Russ Meyer biography by Jimmy McDonough (Crown). Having passed on Meyer's way too expensive autobio at the time, this is a welcome, and affordable, substitute, not to mention the fact that this goes beyond Russ' own, uh, chestbeating and delivers dissident POV's as well. The story remains a fascinating one of course. I figure you all know the basic out-line, but this book contains a wealth of new (at least to me) information as well. Besides, McDonough is pretty much on the ball often relating Meyer's work to rock'n'roll rather than cinema, plus his writing style is often funny and always to the point. So yes, this gets both thumbs up, even if the pictures are somewhat undersized. During our trip the carstereo had the Fleshtones' latest 'beachhead' (Yep Roc) on heavy rotation. Maybe not the knock-out punch one would have hoped for, what with their thirtieth anniversary due next year, but still a pretty solid offering. Those expecting something new obviously don't have a clue, but longtime fans will agree that 'Bigger And Better', 'Pretty, Pretty, Pretty' and 'I Am What I Am' will make fine additions to the live set. Fingers crossed that Joe Bonomo's long promised book on the band will be ready for next year's festivities.

SAVE CBGB BENEFIT SHOWS. Advance tickets are available at TICKETWEB.COM

AUGUST

8/2 JOKER 5 SPEED
8/3 RANA, SOUND OF URCHIN, BIG MACHINE [buy tickets]
8/4 CHEVELLE [buy tickets]
8/5 BUSH TETRAS
8/9 APHASIA, SHORTIE
8/10 AGAINST ME, THE EXIT, WORLD INFERNO FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY
8/12 MISFITS
8/13 VANS WARPED TOUR AFTER PARTY
8/14 GORILLA BISCUITS, BLACK TRAIN JACK
8/15 RAW POWER
8/19 LIVING COLOUR
8/20 THE VANDALS
8/22 KID DYNAMITE, GREYAREA
8/26 DEAD BOYS, FLIPPER, PETER AND THE TEST TUBE BABIES, ADRENALIN O.D. ,
FURIOUS GEORGE [buy tickets]
8/27 DEAD BOYS, ANTI-NOWHERE LEAGUE, NIHILISTICS, SFA [buy tickets]
8/28 SHAM 69, FLIPPER, CHEETAH CHROME & THE BLACK ANGELS [buy tickets]
8/29 SMAM 69, THE RADICTS [buy tickets]

ALSO PLAYING IN AUGUST IS YOUTH BRIGADE, FANG, BILLY CLUB AND MORE TBA LATER.

SEPTEMBER

9/1 CONFLICT, VERBAL ABUSE, LOST CHEEREES [buy tickets]
9/2 CONFLICT, LOST CHEEREES [buy tickets]
9/3 TODAY IS THE DAY, CIRCLE OF DEAD CHILDREN, ADOLYNE
9/4 SICK OF IT ALL, FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS, MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD
9/6 DR. KNOW, DAYGLO ABORTIONS, THE ACCUSED
9/7 DR. KNOW, DAYGLO ABORTIONS, THE ACCUSED
9/8 THE EXPLOITED
9/9 CIRCLE JERKS, ADOLESCENTS, D.I. , CHANNEL 3, ZERO BOYS, ELECTRIC FRANKENSTEIN [buy tickets]
9/10 CIRCLE JERKS, ADOLESCENTS, D.I., CHANNEL 3, ZERO BOYS [buy tickets]

That Laura Cantrell in-store will be at 1pm at the Union Street branch of FOPP in Glasgow. Get along there if you can. This'll be the first time that Dave Schramm has played with Laura over here. Ms Cantrell will also be putting the finishing touches to her BBC Radio Thrift Shop programmes which start going out next Friday (7th August?) I think...

Other than that, it's the old "heid-doon, breenge through" the day scenario. Nowt else for it.

Well, I REALLY can't be arsed today and should really be outta here by now. "That Summer Feeling" brought upon by the BMX Bandits on Saturday has given way to something altogether more volatile. Listening to the wireless there, apparently those guys who botched last Thursday's attacks on London weren't just (potential) bombers. No, they were benefit cheats as well! Who knows what evil... etc. So anyway, never one to put off the inevitable, it's time to face the day. Hope to be able to convey some info with regard to a Glasgow in-store between now and Thursday by Laura Cantrell. There is a little light at the end of the tunnel then...

Managed to stay away from this thing for much of yesterday... and am just running outta the door but here's another coupla albums for your consideration...


THE GROOVERS “Undergroove” on Blood Red is a lithe 13 song proto-garage with 50’s echo treat. Like a fractured Pink Slip Daddy, the opening salvo “Okay Boys!” is a co-write with Ben Vaughn. They’ve captured that twang that separates the wheat from the chaff and tempered it with just enough noise to deliver a thumping torrent. As if The Scientists were jamming with The Fleshtones. These French guys know their onions alright, the “wild saxophone”, er, break on “G/C’mon” is utterly unexpected and all of a sudden we’re in some kinda twisted “Funhouse” situation. There are many strings to The Groovers bow and this is a world class set of songs. The accent of the vocals gives it an exotic quality and recalls the pleasure of hearing a group like The Dogs way back two of those decade things ago. “I’ve Never Realised” has that “What Goes On” shuffle to it. Intense and locked into what else but an ultimate groove. Ploughing a furrow straight in the middle of what’s left of that mind of yours.


Back In Spades is a curious name. Back from where exactly? I know the connotation but it seems like an odd name for this young Detroit combo. At the time of recording, the band included one Jackson Smith. You’ll be familiar with his old fella, one Frederick Sonic Smith? Anyway, Savage Beat in Australia has seen fit to to release this 8 song beastie. That continent has long enjoyed a spiritual and sonic bond with the Motor City. “The Time is Now”, not to be confused with the Moloko hit, would suggest that young J has inherited his dad’s guitarslinging gene. He doesn’t just have the style, he’s adapted it to fit the confines of a 21st Century barrage. There’s a run through of “City Slang” just to reinforce the connection with the ol’ Motor City. B.I.S have a Stonesy feel welded onto a solid chassis and they’re also not afraid to let their Ace Frehley flag fly and you gotta applaud that. There won’t be many an NBT visior that doesn’t flash a big grin across their coupon when they whap this in the tray. It’ll be interesting to see what happens now that Jackson has flown the coop. The powerstance nature of the cover art suggests they’ll take it in their stride.

Finally getting around to putting mitt to keyboard with regard to some recent(ish) releases so here goes...


"Breakin’ It Down" by The Midnight Evils from Minneapolis is on Estrus. They had sonic blacksmith, Tim Kerr nail the horseshoes to their frantic, hopped up fracas. Timeless high octane shit-kicking and punching, simple framework, solid deliverin’ rockin’ which will delight fans of The Lazy Cowgirls, Nine Pound Hammer and any of that which fits between those two (bar)stools. “Party, Party, Party” is nothing but a blatant steal of “Someone’s Gonna Get Their Head Kicked In (Tonight)”. Bravo.


DMBQ’s "The Essential Sounds From The Far East" comes on like Hendrix with jumper cables connected to his entire Experience. There’s a relentless rawk haul going on here that would probably scare the bejeezus out of your conventional metal fan. This Dynamite Masters Blues Quartet deliver a heavy, heavy monster sound. Even at a medium volume, this sucker feels loud. “Mo-Ya, Mo-Ya” sounds like Sabbath only way more visceral. There was an earthquake in Tokyo today, did anybody think to check if these guys were playing last night?


The Meows “At the Top of the Bottom” on No Tomorrow is a soul-kissed rockin’ sensation outta Barcelona and comprising 5 guys that are well versed in what it takes to cut some rug. The most obvious reference could be The Real Kids but there’s an additional dimension to their shindiggin’. If this combo is half as good live as this album suggests then there a lot of bands in a whole heap of trouble. There’s a nice Fleshtonian edge to it too, that super rock swathe that’s not easy to pull off. They’re packing an understated muscle, considering there are 11 original songs here plus covers of Ike Turner’s “This Man’s Crazy” and Sly Stone’s “Don’t Burn Baby” (complete with a raj wee “Pretty Vacant” moment on the close. The Meows are dishing up some incendiary dance music here. It’s a long way down from the dizzy heights this baby’ll take you to.


"Sonic Seducers" by The Intercontinental Playboys is a farfisa-charged palette of Garage flavours with a mix/match ratio that could only be mustered in Australia. There are all kinds of familiar nooks and crannies in their instinctive flair for reinventing that age old recipe. It’s a fun ride. The almost vaudeville aspect of their performance suggests a level of showmanship which could really set these songs off. With the right lighting and the requisite throb, the kids could have their heads turned by something as crafted as this. Their strength is the ability to ham it up without resorting to outright pastiche.


Dollsquad are also from Australia and combine a 70’s powerpop wallop with a penchant for the sixties. Their "Retro Dolls From Hipsville" is somewhat reminiscent of our hallowed Boonaraaas without treading on those ladies Chuck Taylors’. These 4 songs offer respite to anyone with a shine toward the girl group genre in general. Dollsquad swing in a most agreeable fashion and this niftily art-directed CD-EP sets the stage for a full length release, hopefully later in 2005. They should do a short 10” vinyl run of this in the meantime to stoke the fire. Enquire about the Dollsquad action figures while yer at it.


The Diplomats Of Solid Sound are “Ambassadors of Instrumental Soul”.Their “Destination…Get Down” on Estrus is a cool breeze. This Iowa City dwelling, Hammond fuelled delight provide an understated groove that will blow over you like some fine air conditioning. With elements of Booker T and Jimmy McGriff, the Diplomats drag those barbeque jams into fresh territory, blurring the join between when this music was new and making it now. “Loaf and Jug” is not a shopping list, or a London pub but a brand new dance that’s breaking out everywhere these guys play.

Those folks at LONESOME HIGHWAY in Edinburgh have an extensive schedule mapped out until the close of '05 including Ms Laura Cantrell in September and those Hacienda Brothers in October. If you're in and around these parts then get the heck on down. Y'think they organise these shindigs for the heck of it?

Uh oh, I guess THE STEPBROTHERS shows in Spain are over, this coming week they're in Southern Ireland though, check local press for details...

July 28th - Galway - venue: Roisin Dubh

July 29th - Cork - venue: tbc

July 30th - Dublin - venue: Crawdaddy

Three centuries ago, I used to work in a record shop down the town centre here in Grangemouth. This was in times before these out of town megaplex hellholes were invented. Better times for sure. This morning, I spent more time down there than I have in forever because the BMX Bandits, as mentioned earlier, surrealistically appeared in the square like some kinda holographic installation. It made me think about those olden days, before some of the people in this version of the band were even born. What I was thinking was, who could ever have predicted this!? But anyway, it happened and I have witnesses. I even "captured" the songs as mp3's if anybody out there with broadband would like them e-mailed to their in-box. I think one is just over 3mb and the other 1.5mb.

As part of the broadcast, the band did two songs in the first segment and another in the second. Hearing "That Summer Feeling" lapping from the stage at 10.10am on a Saturday morning is something one could get used to, even without Dan Penn to sing his verse like he did on the 45. Incidentally, Sanctuary have just issued SERIOUS DRUGS, a "best of" collection that includes their stellar rendition of that sublime J. Richman chestnut and a host of other songs from their Creation period. Anyway, their latest recruit Rachel MacKenzie adds an extra dimesion to their winsome pop. She'll appear on the soon to come (hopefully) new Duglas T solo outing.



The band is in great form and ripe for discovery by a whole new generation so let's keep our fingers crossed for that. It was all over by 1pm and it may have seemed like a dream or hallucination there are even photos to prove that this really did go down. I wonder if Duglas is in line for a cake voucher with regard to the plugs he gave Greggs on air? Must be worth a couple of "steak bakes" at least.

Dunno if you've come across this James Blunt guy that's storming the UK charts. Good for you if you haven't. He's like a creepy cross-pollenation of Chris De Burgh and David Gray and almost makes Dido seem like Tina Turner. Well, to these ears, for this particularly insidious strain of terrorism, the closing theme from The Incredible Hulk TV show has been copped to sculpt what must be the most horrendous, sickly #1 single in a long time.

Hearing the opening coming from the other room, I thinks to myself - is the TV on? but no, this guy starts to squeal and I'm filled with horror. And so early in the day too. A shock like this could drive someone less balanced into doing something drastic. The whole fabricated "industry" which seems to surround him gives me the heebs and it almost makes a guy want to hear a Keane song. Steady, I qualify that with an "almost" now...

Anyway, there's a bizarre situation going down in Grungemooth town centre this am and I'm aff (a variation on off) to investigate. There could even be some pictures later today. Take that as a threat brought upon by the aforementioned trauma if you're so inclined.

RIP - Long John Baldry

also Michael "Mick" Smith.

Like the great bard says... "Everybody's dying, what's going on?".

Mama Kangaroos is the latest project to come out on Mike Villers Genus imprint out of Philadelphia. A hefty labour of love with perhaps a touch of obsession, you may recall the Jim Carroll tribute ("Put Your Tongue to the Rail: The Philly Comp for Catholic Children") that the label previously put together. This one is subtitled “Philly Women sing Captain Beefheart”, MK offers a gamut of female interpretations from the songbook of Uncle Don with solid results. They might not all hit your particular spot but then you wouldn’t expect them to.

The opening cut, “Where There’s Woman” by Sweetie starts off fine but went all trip hoppy on me but the clatter is over soon enough. “The Past Sure Is Tense” by Winterbrief drags things back on track and even just two songs in, it’s obvious that a broad church such as this wasn’t gonna be instant. Repeated plays uncover new aspects as does the mood you’re in while you’re trying to digest it. Some attention is required, it doesn’t really play out as wallpaper.

I can’t claim to be an expert in Beefheart but I do recognise that these readings perhaps inhabit a more conventional universe than the original versions. It’d be interesting to hear if this Captfest inspires anyone who hasn’t already heard these songs to go back to the source. There is a reverence and a bounce to the sequence that might make no sense at all on “shuffle” but I think this is programmed like an album running order. Curated even. My consistent favourites go something like this. “My Head Is My Only House Unless It Rains” is given a Countrypolitan flavour by Nancy Falkow. I should mention right now that’d I’d heard of exactly nobody on this comp except for Amber DeLaurentis who plays on what for me is the standout, Janet Bressler’s “I’m Glad”. A transcendant slice of Philly Soul. Pure and simple. “When I See Mommy” by Tintinabulus sounds like a crash course in MX-80iness while Thorazine’s “Frying Pan” is a shouty, rooti’, tootin’ rabble flummoxer.

So then, to sum up, Mama isn’t your average tribute-ary. Given due care and attention there are dividends to be found in these 20 tracks. Some may confound, some may drive you “aff your heid” but I doubt if you’ll be bored. The proof of the pudding and all that…

Out there in Slovenia, the action shows no signs of abating. Tim Kerr has been out there working his magic on various projects which includes the next CRAZED FARMERS instalment. However, that's down the road apiece, for now check out THUNDERBABIES. A three piece with a swell line in '77 Lower East Side swing to their raunch. Brane Thunderbaby reckons that his combo provides "real raw and fresh r'n'r music" and he's not wrong. Sending a solid, simple cattleprod-like jag up the arse of what tries to pass itself off as the real deal on this end. These T'babies beat their material until it's a thick paste that's pretty bruising but in a good way. "Don't Try To Shut Me Down" sounds like a Nomads title strapped onto a garage AC/DC lollup. Yep, these three kids kick up quite the racket.



HIC ET NUNC are a tad more sophisticated bordering on contemporary. Their (fifth!?) album, "Burn Fat Old Sun" is produced by Bambi's collaborator and Walkabout, Chris Eckman. Theirs is a soulful maelstrom that burns (no pun or owt else intended) with a sinewy brightness constructed from many shards of popular music history. It's a Died Pretty-ish intensity that burns to bond the tracks. This stuff could really travel. A record like this could start the bush telegraph buzzing with "Llubljana is the new Seattle" type bollocks. The title track channels Joy Division through Radio Birdman to arrive at a destination that our airwaves could use right about now. "Innstant Self Knowledge" (it has two 'n's' on the jacket) is positively Roy Wood-like. BFOS is a really excellent album that deserves a wide audience.

Frank Macdonald just contacted me with the bad news that the great John Herald died.

Update at 6.54am 21/7 : It was confirmed by John's agent, Sarah. No more details at present but when any news comes in I'll let you know. I had the pleasure of meeting John and seeing him play during his many trips to Scotland. He made a record with The Radio Sweethearts called "Roll on John" which was released on Spit and Polish. One of the original folk troubadors, his work with The Greenbriar Boys is exemplary and he deserved much more than the cards life dealt him.