Tuesday, August 29, 2006
While it was good to be off work for a week, irrespective of the circumstances - there's always the going back and of course the dread that precedes it. However, being that one has to survive it's a necessary evil. I've even been thinking about buying a lottery ticket and that really goes against the grain. Anyway, my tribulations pale in comparison to that of many but it would be good if the Blogger site didn’t fall on it’s arse every time I tried to post something.
Anyway, some good news - I heard today that there’s been a reprieve for The Queens Hall in Edinburgh. There should never have been consideration about 86’ing it in the first place.
And what’s this about Harry Drumdini being “back in” The Cramps?? I could get all very Victor Meldrew but what, pray, would be the point?
Don’t forget – The Nomads, Kim Salmon and The Surrealists, NY Dolls, Big Star, Young Fresh Fellows and many more at Azkena this coming weekend. I heard that Redd Kross weren’t doing it now but it’s still on their site and the festival one. Anyways there are bigger (insert food of choice here) to fry so it’s time I was out of here.
Monday, August 28, 2006
News just in (Thanks Sal!)
Ross & friends close down NYC music venues*
"New York City is losing two of its greatest music venues within a few weeks of each other this coming fall, but at least they'll both go out in style.
For two special shows you'll get to see a *Near-Dictators-Reunion* with Handsome Dick Manitoba, Ross The Boss, JP Thunderbolt Patterson and Dean Rispler (Murphy's Law) to close down these historic bars which will always remain a part of Punk Rock history.
They'll play the last night at The Continental on Sunday September 17th and the last week at CBGBs on Friday October 6th."
Ross & friends close down NYC music venues*
"New York City is losing two of its greatest music venues within a few weeks of each other this coming fall, but at least they'll both go out in style.
For two special shows you'll get to see a *Near-Dictators-Reunion* with Handsome Dick Manitoba, Ross The Boss, JP Thunderbolt Patterson and Dean Rispler (Murphy's Law) to close down these historic bars which will always remain a part of Punk Rock history.
They'll play the last night at The Continental on Sunday September 17th and the last week at CBGBs on Friday October 6th."
Sunday, August 27, 2006
I am sick of this blogging lark. Particularly when you put something up and it doesn't appear. "There Were Errors" it blares but the bloody post appears in the listings. I always interpret such a situation as something that i've done. This all intensifies better times when I seemed to have a life. Just heard a track off the new Dylan album called "Rollin' and Tumblin'", it sounds like Dave Alvin. But anyway - perhaps a greater power is trying to tell me something? It is the sabbath after all... and I have to go back to the real world (work) tomorrow. Guess how thrilled I am about that on a scale of zero to, er, minus 10?
"Hello Friend, Following a summer of reasonable fun and frolic, SUSQUEHANNA INDUSTRIAL TOOL & DIE CO. goes native and returns to Otto's Shrunken Head all tanned and rested -- and ready to make with two solid hours of hillbilly action! THURSDAY, AUGUST 31st/OTTO'S SHRUNKEN HEAD / (And every last Thursday of the month) /538 East 14th Street (just west of Avenue B), Manhattan / Two BIG shows, from 8:00 sharp until 10:00 / No cover! / And, coming up... FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8th / RODEO BAR /375 Third Avenue (corner of 27th Street), Manhattan / Three hours, from 10:30 sharp until 1:30 / No cover! / Pretend you missed us, won't you? Yours truly, Michael, Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co. "
Some more Youtube goodies: Wreckless Eric (note the drummer!), Jilted John, Rezillos, Revillos, Undertones, Slaughter & the Dogs, Dr Feelgood on Dutch TV, Sex Pistols live at the Mafcentrum, Maasbree, Netherlands. (1), (2), (3). Dictators and the Pretty Things live in Holland. And you can't get more "gone" than the Tielman Brothers, R&R insanity from 1960 Dutch TV. Roky Erickson, 13th Floor Elevators. Motorhead, Cheap Trick, Blue Oyster Cult, Suicide,
Saturday, August 26, 2006
The Left snarled outta Hagerstown, Md during the eighties with a sound that was like Radio Birdman having a square-go with The Angry Samoans. They wrote songs with titles like "Fuck It" and "The Viet Cong Live Next Door". "Redneck 7-11" begins with a Skynyrd refrain and goes on to describe this "stupid fucking asshole heaven". So I guess that you never heard their wares on the radio? Bona Fide have collected their entire works (20 songs) and seared these into one of these shiny round disc things. They've done a good job of the mastering too. They sounded like they meant it then and the bile stands. "Jesus Loves The Left" according to the title. What's not to but don't be expecting no picnic. "CD release and listening party for our new Jesus Loves the Left CD on Sunday August 27 @ Lulu's Off Broadway, Baltimore MD. Meet and hang with Bona Fide and the Left at one of coolest spots in Baltimore. Hear the new CD as well as swell George Brigman tunes and lots of surprises. Plenty of CDs and our new "Real Rock, Real Loud!" Tshirts. Drink specials and freebies too! A fun gathering that is not to be missed! So Come on Down."
I’d never heard Dennis Most until a small packet arrived behind the door here recently. Turns out he’s a veteran of the rock’n’roll wars and even had a band called Punk in 1972. So he’s old enough to know better but is still cranking it out. If I’d heard the band back in the mists of 1976 then I would have been an avid supporter. The Dictators/BOC/Dead Boys axis would have snared me for sure and the Captain Trip release which captures Dennis Most and Audiolove at the El Cid at Ludlow, Mass. But as much of a time capsule as that piece is, the real gold is in the most recent recordings with The Instigators which will presumably made available in due course. This literally flies outta the traps and is at once fresh whilst harbouring all the fine old school rawk elements that separate the wheat from the chaff. What’s the point in covering The Stooges “Down On The Street” you might ask? Well if you strap on an AC/DC undercarriage it sounds like a whole new model. Titled “I’m Not Dead Yet”, I hope that someone will put this out on vinyl because that’s where this big fat sound belongs. Along with this, I received an Atomic Buddha disc and there are some good songs on there but the lo-fi ness, particularly after the assault of the Instigators, tends to sound a little blunt by comparison. I think that Keith Grave is the bass player in both groups. So yeah, plenty of air guitar practice to be had in the company of these babies. You may even develop blisters.
So yeah, somewhat rested from the closing bout of this year's Edinburgh Film Festival... I can get to rustling up a few words here. Air Guitar Nation (not to be confused with West coast of Scotland's Ayr Guitar Nation) is a great little documentary that works in spite of the obvious daftness of the subject. We've all done it. We've all caught that mighty riff and made that Townsend windmill at some point. You haven't? Your arse. So anyways, The USA decides to get in on the Annual Finnish World Air Guitar Championships and this charts that journey. Admittedly there are dubious sequences throughout the film which makes it look like a spoof. This Björn Türöque character seems like a "plant" but all turns out well in the end and like it's said. Finland rocks. And so does this film. By the end you'll be grinning like a loon and up for having a go at it yourself. One wee gripe is that they spell Roy Trakin's name wrong twice in the credits but hey, it was a surprise to see him up there. AGN is actually headed for Oulo in September where airaoke may well eat itself but it'll have a whole lot of fun in the process. Would have liked to have stuck around for the Q&A and maybe even the Mercat event but I had to make a quick exit and get to the Cameo for loudQUIETloud: a film about The Pixies. I was never a fan but they had their moments and it seems like Charles Thompson is something of a character. This documentary about their reunion doesn't offer much in terms of a reason why they became so huge but it holds together pretty well, even for a non-believer. Somebody should be writing a treatment for a Deal sisters reality show though. It could well be a new Osbournes. They are something else. Nothing much happens in between playing to packed houses, the old tensions are apparent and that's what probably feeds the urgency of their trademark sound as described by the title. It's probably better that they don't make another Pixies record but who knows. lQl offers up some some great live footage and while it maybe won't convert you, it's a reasonable way to spend a litle under 90 minutes.So let's see, this thing looks like it's working again. It wasn't before I went to catch Air Guitar Nation and loudQUIETloud: a film about the Pixies. More about these tomorrow, I just had the train ride from hell back from Edinburgh. Packed with pissed-up Snow Patrol fans and sundry other divots. Not pretty or clever. And people ask me why I don't like to go out, if you'd have been there then you would have seen a cast iron, maybe even titanium example. Wonder if the poor guy who had to go all the way to Stirling among this rabble and then change for Perth made it? First Scotrail really need to get their act together, the thought is making my neck pop. Time to calm down with some Bilko.
Friday, August 25, 2006
PCL Concerts present the New York Dolls at ABC 1, Glasgow... Thursday 26th Oct 2006 at 7pm - £15 Over 14's, under 16's must be accompanied by an adult.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Did you hear the one about the chemical spill? I didn't. Not until I got up and discovered a message from Stewart Cruickshank about it this morning. Tis said to have taken place yesterday at 4pm or thereabouts but I heard nada. No sirens, nowt. Didn't have the TV or radio either and all of this was going on yards from the bunker here. The person quoted in this news report is my downstairs neighbour. I can see the road closure from my front window.
Divinyl Benzene on the loose allegedly, I thought to myself, isn't he that new folk guy? The one that sounds vaguely Bolan-ey. Hey you say Baloney, I say... no harm done - eh?
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
The very great Yo La Tengo are back in Scotland. Just over a year since they shook Edinburgh's Liquid Rooms to it's very foundations. They play on September 3rd as part of the Indian Summer bill in the Victoria Park. It's a two day event which includes The Fall, CSS and Camera Obscura. Much more of a curated bill than yer average festival line-up. Check out the full rundown here.
When you consider the amount of shite that's reissued week in and week out, can it really be possible that The Distractions "Nobody's Perfect" is out of print in any format? A quick "Google" would suggest that this is indeed the case. Pulled out my vinyl copy and it's a wee bit the worse for wear but it'll have to suffice. What a fine album it is, owing more to the spirit of The Undertones than their fellow Mancs that they're often compared to. Top, timeless pop gold surely ripe for resurrection?
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