Soon available on Norton is a set of Dictators rarities and previously unreleased material. These songs have been doin' the rounds among fans for ages (see the DIY sleeve on the left that I found on the web), but it's great to finally see 'm appear legit. The album will be preceded by a 45 featuring the stellar 16 Forever in it's original 1978 incarnation. Demand a rush release here!

Some good things happenin' en France c/o Rockin' Prod. So mark your calenders.
More details on the Fleshtones tour as soon as they come in...

Don't let this be your winter of discontent, friend! Please come join Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co. in December for its final four shows of the winter at Otto's Shrunken Head. Brrrr!

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8TH / OTTO'S SHRUNKEN HEAD /
538 East 14th Street (just west of Avenue B) /
Two BIG shows, from 8:00 until 10:00 sharp / No cover!

Sincerely,
Michael "Ballads, Boogies & Blues"

In a galaxy far, far removed from all the bullshit awards and Hall’s of Fame that plague our daily existence, there are people who really deserve the accolades that these corporate could never understand. Take Feathered Apple Records from Switzerland as an example. Serving up long-lost slabs of sixties beat of the kind that that simply can’t be. The Sevens were from Basel where the label is based. The joins between the covers and their own fare comes together like a cool piece of invisible patchwork comprising fragments of the brit-scene that inspired them. Fairly Animal-istic. The album is available on cd and vinyl, the latter in a neat repro sleeve with a heavy stock poster tucked into the jacket. The reverse of said wall adornment has the liners and some memorabilia and photos, all curated painstakingly to give the group a voice in 2005.

The Jackie Fountains were a Swedish combo that have unwittingly part of The Stranglers Family Tree. However, before you roll your eyes and think – oh god, not those hippie bandwagoning shysters then rest easy, this was way before all of that bollocks. One of the founding members, Hasse ended up in the pre-Burnel version of that band and co-wrote their “Strange Little Girl”. Anyways, the rich seam of Swedish beat proves that country has always been ahead and The Fountains twang resonates as wantonly today as it did when it was cut. If you have the slightest interest in the period then you oughtta be hightailing it over to the FA emporium. Thrills guaranteed bird-flu free.

While we’re on the subject of beatsville ala 60's, don’t forget about The Beatstalkers pre-Christmas extravaganza at The Glasgow Barrowland Ballroom. They’ll be frugging it up with The Thanes and are promising all kinds of surprises on the night. See you down thonder!

NORTON NEW YEARS EVE BLAST!
Make plans for Rockville now to start the new year off with a Rumble, but not before sending this old year off by Crashing The Party here in Brooklyn, USA with MC Mighty Hannibal as the A-Bones and their special guests the Black Lips (insane new album LET IT BLOOM on In The Red label, kids!) blast off on New Years Eve at Union Pool, with the creme of the local disc jockey crew spinnin' their tiny little brains out: WFMU's Dave The Spazz and Rex of Fool's Paradise fame, Crypt Records' Tim Warren and the Little Killers' Andy Maltz. Union Pool boasts a beautacious old bar, excellent bathroom facilities, and a new showroom with all new fabulous sound system, lights, dance floor and full bar-- plus a great big stage with velvet curtains, plus under the stars patio smoke-n-booze patio lounge for huffers, puffers and overheated Booty Greeners! Rumor has it that the Mighty Hannibal will instruct the curious with Fishing Pole dance lessons, and that the Great Gaylord may be squatting to the E! Also, the 24 hour Kellog Diner is a block away for wee hour eggs and grits! Pass the hot sauce! Union Pool, 484 Union Ave at Meeker, Brooklyn NY (718) 609-0484

Black Lips - Let It Bloom (In The Red). The Black Lips were the big surprise of the Rotterdam Primitive festival earlier this year. What with their previous discs only hinting at what was a rather spectacular live set.
With their latest album Let It Bloom they have finally managed to capture their brand of hi-octane rocket fuel on wax. There's a strong Back From The Grave-like feel to the proceedings but without a hint of retro-isms. This is strictly here and now. Great songs and a scope that is way beyond the reach of your average garage band, this is a strong contender for album of the year.

The closing dates for the SAVE THE CAMEO campaign are looming large. If you haven't already done so, please DO IT NOW! Even if you're not from around these parts, if you have time, lodge an objection. The more, the better the chance that the Council will notice the error of this way.

Apparently the "for sale" signs are soon to go up if they haven't already. Dark days for those of us who neeb independent cinema like oxygen.

So, Amy "did" Edinburgh last night and people came out. The show was also louder than the Glasgow set and underlined the fact that this Cabaret Voltaire place will be more than ready to take over from The Venue when it ceases to operate. It's a great space. Ms Rigby and co were blowing a head of steam just two days into the adventure. It really is something to see her front a band and I hope this is the start of a boost to her status here. It's about fucking time is an understatement. During her visit we also became acquainted with the great Wreckless Eric whose "Whole Wide World" makes an appearance in Amy's set. Eric is magnanimous when he says she should change the gender but the girl plays it in the original male perspective. Check the Amy Rigby site and if she's in your 'hood then do yourself a favour and cut along. The wheels are in no danger of falling off this time out.

MOSE ALLISON documentary "EVER SINCE I STOLE THE BLUES" to air on BBC4, December 9th.

Mr Rooney sent a message to the effect that this very Sunday night, 11pm - Kid Congo and the Pink Monkey Birds at The Sub Club in Glasgow. He might even sneak out and go... I just got back from seeing The Damned, it didn't move me and the keyboard player made it sound fairly heinous here and there. Wreckless Eric did the bizzo though, his half hour delivered more vitriol than the Carry On Up The Punk Rock Oldies seem to be able to conjure up here at the close of 2005. The sooner this year is over, the better!

THE WOGGLES
+ Preston Pfanz & the Seaton Sands @Studio 24.
Tuesday 13th December 7:30pm-11pm
Tickets £4 at the door.
24-46 Calton Rd.
Edinburgh. T:0131 558 3758

"All the way from America. Combine a splash of surf, a pinch of rhythm and blues, a few fistfuls of soul, a whole lotta 60's-inspired rock n' roll, and you get the musical phenomenon that is The Woggles. From songs that shake the rafters to shows that tear the roof off, The Woggles are a four-man delivery system for 200-proof butt-shakin' r-o-c-k."

Amy Rigby's first UK show with a purpose built band kicked off last night at The Riverside Club in Glasgow. Considering this was the combo's first public outing it all went off swimmingly. Much of the set was culled from the latest album, "Little Fugitive" but there were also airings of a full-scale "All I Want" plus a groovin' flamey "You Tore Me Down".

By the time these folks get a few shows notched up this is gonna be a nifty outfit. Skewing away from the trad country path and into twang pop brush. Catch the show in Edinburgh on Saturday at Cabaret Voltaire in Edinburgh. It starts at 7pm.

Sad to hear that The Weirdos had to cancel their tour with The Damned because of personal stuff. It was the main reason for going. Also Patricia Morrison isn't with The Damned either. Bummer. Just have to close my peepers and let the ol' soul drift over to Ljubljana where The Nomads will be tearin' it up as only they can.

Anyway, that's the scoop. More later...

It must be St Andrews Day. There's a programme about Harry Lauder on TV tonight.
Don't think i'll bother with the Mel Gibson facepainting today though. Amy Rigby in Glasgow tomorrow, now there's something to look forward to...

Dunno if anyone remembers the Sixties/Indie club Magic Bus that became Scooter in the mid 90's but the man responsible for playing the Seeds and Manfred Mann at such nights, now cloaks himself under the name of DJ Astroboy and guests at MONDO a GO-GO in Edinburgh this Saturday 3rd December. In the Loft at The Venue, Calton Road. 11pm-3am.

Due to Hogmanay the next Mondo will not be until Jan 28th, so its your last chance to catch some GO-GO action of 2005. Admission discounts are available for Xmas nights out with a group of 10 or more, contact the_gogo@hotmail.com

(note the underscore)

Had a lot of communication today about the latest raft of R&R Hall Of Fame inductees, it was even on the Drivetime news. All part of the “corporate hospitality” vibe. Professional form-fillers flexing their committee, er, muscle. It’s maybe good for the acts in question to have a bit of a piss-up but it has less than fack-all to do with rock’n’roll as I understand that condition. The same way as "the best R&B album in the world ever" doesn’t have a morsel of r & bleedin’ b on it. The HOF is like the Queen’s birthday honours list and “awards” in general, these things seldom, if ever, go to deserving parties. If they do, then it’s by accident rather than design. “Ever get the feeling you’ve been cheated” – part 517b.

You'd think that girl + lap steel would add up to some strain of alt. country, right? Well wrong-ola! Megan Hickey is The Last Town Chorus. A sort of apocalyptic, desert-fried Mazzy Star-esque mood music that can be starkly haunting one minute and downright ethereal the next. A beautiful, sometimes brutal soundscape. Her fragile cover of Bowie's "Modern Love" could really open this up to a wider audience but you know how flakey hipsters can be. By the time the album is ready in Spring of next year these songs should be ready to fly. This is sparingly cinematic bordering on church-like.

There's a free show tonight at Mono (8pm) in Glasgow should you fing yrself in that locale. Catch her before the bush telegraph glows red-hot.

I put this together last night and got sidetracked from posting when Larry Sanders came on. Hey now, it can happen…

Porchsleeper hail from Detroit and until my big nee’bur Per of Hagred sent their second album my way I’d never heard of ‘em. They sound like a Southern-fried Replacements channelling NRBQ to come up with a very superior forward-looking twist on the trusted bar band formula. Anthemic, infectious, there was a time when this stuff could have ruled the world and hearing this, it feels like everything is possible. Of course, we know that’s a crock but it’s good to remember from time to time, what it means to believe. Let this Midwestern combo indulge you in some classic American pub rock with a little pedal steel seasoning as heard on “The Rub”. They also reinterpret The Cure’s “Jumping Someone Else’s Train” like you never expected to hear it, indicating that there’s a couple shots of suss bubbling away amidst the suds.


Future Pilot AKA has a two song taster for the forthcoming “Secrets From The Clockhouse” album just out on the Creeping Bent imprint. It’s a timeless pop chestnut that would have lit up Top Of The Pops if that was still a valid showcase. “Eyes Of Love” features Stuart and Sarah from Belle and Sebastian on vocals in it verily snaps, crackles and pops like The Herd Vs Roy Wood on 2-Tone. Heck, this might even be 3-Tone? Recollecting a golden age when the single was all-powerful. Enchanting isn’t a word I’m prone to cough up but this is all that.

The Plaintiffs “La Familia” is the latest release on Career Records outta Bozeman, MT. Headed up by Seattle-ite and Longshot Joey Kline, there’s a sprinkling of BOC sounding fairy dust evident from the get-go that hits my buttons square. “Final Chance” has a metallic twang and a quasi-spaghetti western type storyline. There’s a cool tongue in cheek humour which pervades the songs and keeps them outside of the pastiche farm. These guys had fun cutting this and that feeling is caught here. They’ve got a lot of chops and they’re not afraid to ham them up. “One Eye Open” is Blue Oy-ska Cult and asks the question “what’s that sound?” Fookin’ entertainment mate, remember that? You will if you get a couple of shots of this baby across your bows. “Can I Ever Get Away With Anything” is a 21st Century Gene Pitney with a spot on Phoenix Nights and “Happy New Year” is my pick for ushering in a rollocking zero 6. Let’s hear it for the Pacific Northwest.

Messer fur Frau Muller’s “Triangle, Dot and Devil” on Aerocccp is dressed in a trim little digipak that wreaks of class. This Messer Chups related soundscape is perhaps a little more “commercial” than it’s twisted exoticabilly relation but no less jaw-dropping. These Moscow-based miscreants are making music that will be ahead of it’s time in the next century. These guys know how to score and surely it’s just a matter of time before they get hijacked for a major ad campaign. From the rubber stamp fetishism of the jacket art to the knowing throb of the grooves, it’s hard to convey exactly how entertaining this is. Les Baxter and Martin Denny transported out of this world and into another where the original Cramps blueprint is the only religion. This is instro and it’s mental. In equal measure. (Note - This blogger text doesn't recognise the proper text. Not even copying from word).

Wee Rock Records is a Springfield, Mo based label which has recently put out The Gentleman Callers “Don’t Say What It Is”. A quality selection of garage punkin’ tuneage that should appeal to those who recognise that the trick of serving this stuff up in 2005 is to inject a healthy dose of themselves into the soup. Sometimes authenticity just isn’t enough and I can report that these gents seem to have given up a couple of their souls to retain a sense of identity. A snotty, swirling primordial groove. “If You Want Me To Love You Again” was recorded for Kopper’s St. Louis based rock’n’roll radio show “The Wayback Machine”. And who the chuff cares if “Square Peg” is just a reconstituted “I Can Only Give You Everything”. At this juncture on a Friday night? Not me.

asteroid b-612’s “Reading Between The Lines” has been revitalised and reactivated by No Tomorrow Records. In keeping with that stable’s services to the R&R community, they’ve cut and shut this collection to prove in no uncertain terms that this combo weren’t just another bunch of antipodean stoogealikes. “Lines” plots an arc of stratospheric rock action. There was a lot of light and shade amongst the bombast and the slow burners like “Still Waiting” are arguably more potent than the straight-out faster and louder songs. In a sort of Reigning Sound sense. The bonus tracks include covers of 19th Nervous Breakdown, Brother Roy’s “Second Cousin” and a Mirror Blues/Final Solution wind-out. An old legion rock spectacular paying homage to some roots that didn’t often show.

That's yer lot then. Charabang leaves for the superfugginmarket in 10 minutes. Don't forget The Last Town Chorus shows in Edinburgh (tonight) and Glasgow (tomorrow). Of course, I'd love to be tearin' up with them Nomads in Helsinki tonight but 'tis not possible. Stand by for news on a public meeting regarding The Cameo debacle this coming week - but later, OK? A haggis breakfast awaits...

Still futzing around with this e-mail trouble I've been having for over a week now. Can't seem to get to the bottom of it at all so the whole system may have to be zapped and reinstalled. Before I do real damage and necessitate such action anyway. Not an appealing consideration but needs must, etc. Blogger at least allowed me to upload images this morning so that's something. The icy arctic blasts we're promised in this part of the world along with everything else make hibernation an option. Further north, they're taking a real pasting. In this period of inefficiency, it's certainly an attractive proposition.

Add a couple of dollups of the severe "cannae be arsed" virus and you'll get an idea of where I'm at circa November 25th 2005. Hopefully our US friends have had a good ol' Thanksgiving bash or two over the pond there. If it gets as cold as they're predicting we'll be able to skate over there in a week or two maybe... or then again, perhaps no'.

THE DIRTY WATER CLUB
in The Boston Music Room
178 Junction Road, Tufnell Park N19

FRIDAY 25th NOVEMBER


THE PRISCILLAS
These girls graduated with honours from the Rock’n’Roll High School (old boys including The Ramones, of course) and then spent a salubrious term at the Academy of Tragic Melodies (the Shangri-Las‚ finishing school, in case you didn't know). Looking like they’ve just stepped out of a Russ Meyer movie, these four girls with big boots, big hair and very small skirts rip through a handful of punk charged sixties go go groovers, delivering a mix of punk and garage rock with pop hooks and attitude a plenty. This is fun with a capital "F". Their last gig of the year so don’t miss it!

THE CHOKE
Despite being been formed for a mere five months, they are already the hottest band in New York. Coming across sounding like sixties girl groups and Motown, filtered through the attack of garage rock and anthemic punk'n'roll they've got the songs and the attitude to take on the world. Catch 'em early before the real hype starts as they take on England this November.

SPOOKEY
Yes! Another all girl combo! From Japan! These teenaged garage pop rockers hail from Hamamatsu and have been described as The Shangri-Las meet the Ramones with a healthy dash of the Clash (and, it goes without saying, truckloads of cuteness!). Formed in 2002, they came to the UK for the first time last year after a British group on tour saw them and persuaded them that they had to come over here. On that first visit they toured with the Priscillas and became firm friends. So who better for them to play with this time around?! On their more recent visit earlier this year they toured with the Briefs and won over a legion of new fans, including Captain Sensible (who invited them to support the Damned on their Japanese dates later in the year). This gig coincides with the release of their debut album on Killer Records. www.spookey69.com

THE RANDOM HEROES
Formed in 2002, the Heroes mix the melody and song writing of Screeching Weasel and The Queers with the speed of late period Ramones. After spending a year or so playing locally, honing their set, they released their debut EP, "Bigger Than Jeebus", and then toured throughout the UK. Their debut album is out in the summer of 2005 on Killer Records.