Headed for Glasgow in a wee while to hook up with the Goofenhaus kids. One last huzzah before they go back to NYC. Can't believe that yom month of May is on the horizon. After the election on Thursday (3rd), it's widely expected that Scotchland will be independant. On Friday we'll need passports to go over the border... er. If such a thing was ever to happen then they'd probably whap up a big wall and put a big padlock on the one way in and out. Can you imagine the sheer size of arse we'd make of going it alone? Oy and indeed nor'alf. But maybe I'd be pleasantly surprised? Or proved wrong?? I did think that we could maybe go to see The Pastels but that's in Edinburgh today so I've got my bearings scrambled in addition to the ongoing attrition of circumstances. However, if there is indeed a god, then my mitts will finally connect with the Mary Weiss album via Monorail. A visit to 78 (formerly Stereo) is also on the cards. A couple of things you may like to check out meantime if you find yourself in the hoose. I should add that is not a hip hop reference. It merely means your abode in this case. Apologies to any hipsters who were hoping for the latter...

The Coyotemen celebrating Jimmy's 60th with a surftastic take on "No Fun".

Les Wadbillys.

"Get your advance tickets. The show will sell out!

CINCO DE MAYO SHOWCASE

Saturday, May 5- Jensen Rec Centers
Curated by Ian Brennan
MusicPass accessible; tickets also available at the door.

Saturday, May 5 the Silver Lake Film festival celebrates the rich-history of Chicano rock music in East Los Angeles from Lalo Guerrerro to War to Los Lobos. The evening will feature performances by Dios Malos, Lysa Flores (1997 Independent SPIRIT debut-performance nominee for the film "Star Maps"), Ollin, The Revolts (featuring Jonathan Velasquez, star Larry Clark's "Wassup Rockers"), and culminating with the grand finale of 1970's punk-legend Alice Bag being presented with the MUSIC PIONEER AWARD and her performing a song by The Bags for the first time in decades.

Saturday, May 5: Cinco de Mayo showcase, Jensen Rec Center in Silver Lake, featuring Alice Bag, Dios Malos, Lysa Flores, Ollin, The Revolts. MUSIC PIONEER AWARD: ALICE BAG

http://www.ticketweb.com (put alice bag in the search) (yes, come after the fight!)"

The Black Lips first foray into these parts last night was a short sharp jag. Opening for some guy by the name of Bobby Conn who was a serious mis-match of the kind you hardly ever see anymore. So this meant that The Lips were onstage by 8 and off at 8.30. Their agitated Electric Eels meet The Fleshtones mercybeat is delivered with train-like percussion. Sometimes it swings, sometimes it heads off into outer space. Despite what seemed like the soundguy's best intentions to have it jump the tracks, they made it to the next station. Jed, the drummers big beat, no frills tub-thump really allows the sound to surf over the top. Like a particularly malevolent wave breaking on the shore into fuzzed, psyche shards. It’s all fairly chaotic, much like Cole Alexander's barnet. A Mary Chain by way of the Thompson Twins hedgerow, bordering on being a hair-don’t. They’re at The Classic Grand in Glasgow tonight so cut along and give them some moral support. They’re all over Europe like a rash and back in Glasgow on June 4th. An appearance at the very fine Debaser in Stockholm is coming up on Friday May 11th and also at the Malmo branch the next night. A full list of shows running into June is here. The Munster dvd should also be available any minute now.

Bobby Conn started his set with a movement that approximated a Gibb Brother (you decide which) being accompanied by Hawkwind but the resultant noise wasn't as interesting a canvas as that might suggest. We made it out into the night to grab a couple of haggis samosas, a little fusion cuisine fast food.

Due to continuing stuff and nonsense here, I haven't been in a position to file a report on the Danny and Dusty thing from last week. One of just three shows in the UK on their way to Europe. They do that bar-music pretty good and Dan Stuart has a kind of Hunter S. Thompson doing John Belushi thing going on. Wee bit of Phil Alvin too. Some “hobbit-rock” combo called Porcupine Tree was giving it big licks upstairs in the bigger venue. Every now and again the noise would emerge and try to engulf D&D. “Song for the Dreamers” is one of the great anthems and no amount of prog thunder can halt it. I haven’t heard their new Blue Rose release but the material they did from that sounded pretty good. The whole band was right on the money and sometimes it really soared. If they roll into a venue anywhere near where you are, then head along. This damn thing is still playing up but stay tuned as much keyboard rassling is on the cards.

And how's this for a segue... from Black Lips to Wooden Shjips...

RIP - Bobby "Boris" Pickett (he did the mash...)

There's an ongoing problem here. Some e-mail makes it out and some doesn't. And vice versa. If you've been sending messages and they bounce back or whatever then I've no idea why that's happening. By the time I've sat in front of one of these things day in and day out then the spirit isn't exactly willing to get all square-eyed at home. I don't want people to think that they're being ignored though so please bear with this glitsch. Seems there's no immediate known solution to what might be happening but the contact info via this thing seems to work. I've tried it myself from other terminals. Myspace has been kicking me out again too so it's difficult to get anything done with that flippin' carry on too.

Plus, tonight, I'd much rather be at The Scientists than futzing around here but them's the breaks. Hopefully we'll get a wee report on that. It's bound to be a blinder.

Sign the petition here!

"Psychotic Reaction Films presents
"Ghost on the Highway"
A portrait of Jeffrey Lee Pierce and the Gun Club@The Bernard Shaw, Portobello, Dublin 8
live performances by The Things and Friends
w/ Love Action Dj'sSunday 6th of May 8pm

"GHOST ON THE HIGHWAY"A Portrait of Jeffrey Lee Pierce and The Gun Club"Ghost on the Highway" is the provocative new feature documentary which examines and celebrates the late Jeffrey Lee Pierce in all his puckish, shit-stirring glory. The film is a two-fingered salute in honor of Pierce's legendary band The Gun Club, one of the most notorious and incendiary in the history of American popular music.

"Ghost on the Highway" boasts comprehensive interviews with ex-Gun Club members Kid Congo Powers, Ward Dotson, Terry Graham, Jim Duckworth and Dee Pop, as well as observations and revelations from Pierce intimates such as Dave Alvin ("Blasters"), John Doe ("X"), Henry Rollins ("Black Flag;" "Rollins Band"), Mike Martt ("Tex and The Horseheads") and Peter Case ("Plimsouls"). Lemmy Kilmister ("Motorhead") makes a special appearance with an aim to excoriate the record industry."Ghost" is directed by Kurt Voss and edited by Andrew R. Powell. Voss and Powell also act as producers on the highly anticipated film, which delivers new insights into the volatile psyche of bandleader Jeffrey Lee Pierce, who died at age 37 after a life of self-abuse which was, by turns, both riotous and tragic.Still criminally undervalued, the Gun Club were the first group to fuse punk and blues, thus paving the way for more high profile contemporary acts like The White Stripes.The release of "Ghost on the Highway" marks the ten year anniversary of Jeffrey Lee Pierce's death.This film showing also features live performances by The Things and Friends!!!!! Dont miss it!!!!!!!!!!!"

The Scientists (en route to The Spitz and ATP) will reduce Resonance FM to swampland between 7 and 8pm this very evening. You can listen to the stramash here. Not sure if it would be available as a stream later but y'never know...

"Influential 70’s art-punks, The Skids will be playing a one off headline show at the Glen Pavilion in their hometown of Dunfermline on Thursday 5th July 2007. Celebrating their 30th anniversary, this gig comes just days before The Skids take to the Main Stage at T in the Park. Before splitting in 1982, they released 4 albums and had 10 chart singles including, Into The Valley, Working For The Yankee Dollar and The Saints Are Coming (recently rerecorded by U2 and Green Day). Founding member Stuart Adamson went on to form the hugely successful Big Country before his untimely death in 2001 and Richard Jobson had a successful career as a writer and presenter before moving into film where he’s enjoyed success with films such as 16 Years Of Alcohol which he wrote and directed.

Jobson will be joined on stage by original bass player Bill Simpson, drummer Mike Baillie and Big Country’s Bruce Watson will fill Adamson’s role on guitar. Tickets are on sale today!

The Skids, Glen Pavilion, Dunfermline, Thursday 5th July

BUY NOW! (Please note: Tickets will be limited to 4 tickets per person.) "

For some reason, until I was at the SYLQ show in London a couple of weeks ago, I never heard of The Mockers. Los Mockers, the Uruguay 60’s mob yes, but not the American variety. It’s been my loss. Anyway, “The Lonesome Death of Electric Campfire” is a fine example of the intersection between superior power punk and NRBQ. And of course, the kids in Spain love them. They’re even on the same label as Nice Man and the Bad Boys. But let’s make up for lost time, “Real Enough For Me” chimes in with that guitar thing that does it everytime. “Doin’ Time” really reminds me of Guadalcanal Diary. So much so that I’d swear that Murray Attaway was singing.

This is a prime example of how roots rock can just bubble away in niche markets which of course is a great thing. It makes a nonsense of the “machine” and indicates that profile should never be confused with an actual hard and fast audience, irrespective of location. If MTV had any power any more then “The Emperor Strikes Out” would be all over it like mud on a pig, you can see the video here. Ever wonder what “Ca Plane Pour Moi” would sound like with a Fastbacks type rocket strapped to it’s arse? While you’re at it, check out “Highway Star”, that’s what really tipped me over the edge. You can always tell the calibre of a band by their cover versions and this to me signals the complete and utter genius of this band.

If you’re a long-standing NBT reader and you know what makes this tick then you’ll really get off on this record. They make the kind of noise that saves souls. At least while it’s flying out of the speakers. Teenage Fanclub types will find much to sooth the cravings also. Put simply, this is perfect pop music. The kind that will always be around to help us out of grave situations.

On the flipside of that is a group called The New York Loose that should have been a legend in their lifetime. Thankfully, even although they gave up, they never gave in. “Born To Loose” is a collection of rare and live sides that indicates just how great they were. It’ll hopefully provide those who never came across them with the smarts to petition a reissue of their fantastic “Year of the Rat” album that came out on Hollywood Records many moons ago. Brijitte West should have been a star. She should have been on the cover of all the magazines. However, the various powers that were, blew it. Imagine if The Dolls were The Sweet fronted by Suzi Quatro channelling Chrissie Hynde. Man. This lassie could pout and by all accounts still can. That’s why she’s giving this rock thing another roll of the dice. “Bitch” starts the whole ball rolling with that patented NY skirl that makes our eyes water every time. The kind that very few bands this side of The Star Spangles are capable of wrangling. “We are the monolith kids” goes the chorus of track two and they were so right. “Pretty Suicide” is THE glitter rock anthem in waiting. I could describe them all to you but wouldn't you rather bathe in the glam-deur yourself? There are 19 tracks and an added bonus of video enhancements. “Lord Won’t You Send Me A Devil” sends me spinning back to the Lower East side watching The World Famous Blue Jays bring down that amphetamine country which was much in its infancy at the time. Brijitte also had a band called San Dusky after the Loose called it a day which carried that roots sound into a more contemporary setting. It too should have put the lady on the map but they were gone almost as soon as they started. Look out for NYL shows to tie in with the release, check out their myspace page for details. You can bone up on the history and make like you were into them all along.
It's out May 14th but you can pre-order it here.

Better late than never after all. Just like me and The Mockers.

Sort of wanted to see The Drones tonight but the thought of three bands at Barfly is too much for a school night. Maybe I could go see The Choke on Tuesday instead and leave before Theatre of Hate. That could be a plan? Still smarting at not being able to see The Scientists on Thursday but what's a skint, burned out guy to do. At this point, The Black Lips seem like a poor substitute but let's give 'em the benefit of the doubt. Thinking about it is making my head nip so out into the fresh air I go...

SOS 1st Birthday Bash

Featuring live sets from wacky Stockholm minstrels,
THE MEXICOS and special secret guests,
plus SOS DJs spinning the usual mix of super Swedish pop!

Friday, May 11, 9pm to 1am, 4GBP entry

RAFA Club, 27 Ashley Street, G3 6DR, 0141-332 4465

SOS: Sounds of Sweden is celebrating its first birthday on Friday, May 11 and we're doing it in style, with a live set from wacky Stockholm collective THE MEXICOS and special secret guests! We've had an exciting first year, packed with spectacular live performances and fantastic floor-filling sets from both resident and guest DJs. We've played host to a diverse mix of artists in a variety of venues, from Swedish-language crooners Vapnet, who wooed a seated crowd at an intimate Sleazy's gig, to elusive underground electro producer Mr Suitcase, who set the dance floor alight at a packed Admiral Bar. For many of the musicians, it was the first time they had played outside of Sweden, and after the warm reception they received, most are already planning return trips. Founder Stacey Shackford has a nose for sniffing out new up-and-coming talent, and several SOS acts have gone on to be nominated for the Manifest Awards, Sweden's version of the Emmys, including Maia Hirasawa, Hello Saferide, Blood Music, Vapnet and Suburban Kids With Biblical Names. SOS has appeared in several publications and music web sites, both in Sweden and the UK, including a special feature on Swedish pop in the Guardian. We have worked together with other Glasgow venues and promoters (including Out To Play, El Rancho Relaxo, Dolly Mixture, Edinburgh University Indie Society, Pop Theory, Drunk At The Pulpit and The Winchester Club) to facilitate opportunities for Swedish acts we couldn't fit on our bill, and have also helped to build a network of other Swedish club nights across the UK. And we recently teamed up with Stockholm club Starfly to expand - and possibly export! - our operations. We simply love Swedish pop and our mission is purely to help the artists and promote it in any way we can, and to that effect we operate as a non-profit. This year promises to be just as exciting, starting with our birthday celebrations on May 11. We'll be returning to the place where it all kicked off a year ago (Friday, May 12, 2006 to be exact) - The RAFA Club on Ashley Street in the Woodlands area of Glasgow. With their crazy repertoire of cheesy yet genius electro covers of artists like Toto, Bryan Adams and Aaliyah, THE MEXICOS will surely get the party hopping. The Stockholm collective features Mikael Hall, Douglas Holmquist and an ever-changing motley crew of friends, including members of Oh Sweet Music and Suburban Kids With Biblical Names (who will also be playing a gig at Nice n Sleazy two days earlier, on Wednesday, May 9). It will be their first UK appearance.There will also be surprise guests doing their own covers of Swedish songs, and other special treats!

The Mexicos:

http://www.myspace.com/mexicos

additional MP3s: http://themexicos.blogspot.com/

Sounds of Sweden:

http://www.soundsofsweden.com

A full list of acts we have helped bring over in 2006/07:

Elias Akesson (of Elias and the Wizzkids)/Irene/Southside Stalkers/Moneyflight/My Darling YOU!/Blood Music/Fine Arts Showcase/Boy Omega/Suburban Kids With Biblical Names/Maia Hirasawa/
Hello Saferide/Vapnet/The Loveninjas/Bjorn Kleinhenz/Television Keeps Us Apart/Mr Suitcase/Sebastian Fors and the Ones That Got Away/A Smile And A Ribbon/Thomas Denver Jonsson

'BEATSVILLE' & 'Beatsville Records'
present a special launch night featuring

THE WILDEBEESTS
KEITH DOUGLAS & THE CORPS OF DISCOVERY
PRESTON PFANZ & THE SEATON SANDS
Les BOF!
THE ROHYPSTERS
THE FNORDS

SATURDAY 5TH MAY, HENRY'S CELLAR BAR,
MORRISON STREET EDINBURGH 8PM-3AM £7




Edinburgh's Beatsville announces the launch of its own label BEATSVILLE RECORDS.

Our first two releases are both compilations:




On 10" Vinyl 'BEATSVILLE SOUND No 1.' With The Wildebeests, The Thanes, Keith Douglas, The Rohypsters, Preston Pfanz & The Seaton Sands, The Fnords, Harmonica Matt, Les BOF!






And, on CD 'GARDYLOO - Edinburgh's Detritus 1983 - 2003' an historical 28 track collection of Edinburgh garage rock'n'roll featuring The Green Telescope, The Stayrcase, Rubber Dolfinarium, The Dragsters, The Vultures, The Offhooks, Greathead Briggs and many more.

As this thing was being put through its paces, someone is committing the ultimate EPK to the mail in between slayings. It all looks like computer graphics and very YouTube generation in the way it was rolled out. Like 9/11 looked like "Die Hard". You couldn't make it up. If you did the reaction would be "your arse, that could never happen". Life imitating art imitating life can often seem far-fetched. That this guy was disturbed is simply the tip of the iceberg. Much airtime is being spent on the nature of his operation but ultimately he failed. Little or nothing is ever "remembered" these days except by those that it directly affects. Nothing much really sticks to what is left to the minds of anybody. How can you stop this kind of incident? You can’t. I found this piece (April 19th post)which put a better perspective on what went down than the many acres of press coverage.

During my computerless days there, I learned that a colleague at work knew that there was an election coming up here in Scotland but didn’t know when. And that he probably wouldn't vote anyway. It’s true, people aren’t included but they have to make an effort. There's too much as stake. The run-up is a freak show and not in a good way like the SYLQ song. What was it that Iggy said? "I don't believe in anything, I don't stand for nothin'". It’s all come true. Just like 1969. In the weekend of Jimmy's birthday, he's been born out to be something of a scuzz rock Nostradamus. Pity he made "The Weirdness" and spoiled it. But nothing lasts forever. Far as I can tell. And anything good lasts even less long.

As always, following a period sans computer, I detest the dependancy that comes along with the device and wonder exactly now I can beat this addiction. After all, I have managed not to succumb to the mobile phone menace and also a couple of other blots on the modern landscape that labour under the misinterpretation of convenience. I do have a phone but only for use in an emergency or to make arrangements on the hoof. I ain't never done the "i'm on the train/bus". Nor have I ever wandered along the road staring at a phone screen. My wee, fat sausage-like fingers weren’t made for texting. Seguing into related territory. I'm from Barcelona (T Mobile) and Peter, Bjorn and the other fella (Sky TV) are the latest acts to fall victim of TV advertising. In past times, this might have scored both a hit but with everything fragmentised then all it does is get it into the ears of people who are quite patently over-stimulated.

So hopefully you folks on the eastern seaboard didn't take the predicted hammering? I haven't seen or heard anything on the news. Do you buy into all this climate change/global warming malarky. Granted it has been unseasonably warm here but a clobbering back to winter could come at anytime. Seems to me like this is the latest weapon to beat us with. The double edged sword of the planet going down the pan and "terrorism (TM)". I don't trust anything I see or hear anymore, even when I see and hear it for myself, especially when I see and hear it myself. Last night, I dreamt that I quit blogging. It felt pretty good to the point that I was a little disoriented until I switched on the computer and found out that we were still "broadcasting".

So that’s some kind of convoluted way of saying I’m back. At least for the time being. I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing because I have a backlog of mail and info to dig through that would choke a cyber-horse. And remember, The Choke are at all over the UK opening for Theatre Of Hate. More as I figure you need to hear it, including a Danny and Dusty report from Wednesday’s Glasgow show. Meanwhile here are details of the upcoming Americana weekend in Glasgow. A "pass" ticket is also available for £36.

Kim Fowley, The Rising Storm, Wildebeests and Jacqueline Taïeb all scheduled for the next Primitive fest...

OK, i'm "off the air" now until at least Thursday... them is indeed the breaks.

Check this out in the meantime... (link via e-mole)

RIP - Don Ho

Mr Spence has the follwing information for you...



The Grease Monkeys are comin' visiting some of our English friends this weekend, here's the lowdown...





FRIDAY 20TH APRIL (Hitler's birthday) at JUNKTION 7, Canning Circus, Nottingham, NG7 3GE; £5; 9pm - 2am
SONIC DIRT proudly presents a Night of Tributes to the World's Forgotten Birthday Boy - Iggy Pop - featuring
THE HIP PRIESTS www.myspace.com/hippriests
THE GREASE MONKEYS www.myspace.com/thegreasemonkeysrock
FERRIDAY FIREBALLS www.myspace.com/ferridayfireballs
www.myspace.com/staticparty

SATURDAY 21ST APRIL (Iggy's birthday) at THE MAGNET, Hardman Street, Liverpool, L1 9AS; £5; 9pm - 2.30am
THE GO-GO CAGE presents
THE GREASE MONKEYS www.myspace.com/thegreasemonkeysrock
BLUE DEMON www.myspace.com/bluedemon13
LADY LUCK'S BURLESQUE BEAUTIES www.myspce.com/burlesquebeauties ...yup, s'right - burlesque dancers!!!
www.myspace.com/thegogocage

Bootleg Booze is a Swedish label that specializes in the rock that only Scandanavia seems capable of rolling out…

The Deadbeats will appeal to those who dig The Hellacopters but with a twist of Thin Lizzy thrown into the mix. “Long Hard Nights” will push all the right buttons because it’s made with a lot of panache. Bringing the finest ingredients of Australian and Detroit to Sweden where it seems to be the perfect environment for it to breed like topsy. A question of temperature indeed. The “Come Clean” EP has 4 tracks, one of them is Cheap Trick’s “He’s A Whore” and you can always tell how cool a band is by the calibre of their cover versions and that famous guitar lick is Dictatorised and as you can imagine that scores pretty much a bullseye around these parts.

Ever consider what Nine Pound Hammer going on “Stars In Your Eyes” as a cross between Mud and The Ramones might sound like? Well, The Accidents are waiting to happen in exactly that holding pattern. To consider that their shows might be a tad boisterous is perhaps an understatement. To be this loud and fast yet retaining that melodic pop edge is some kinda high wire act but they make it across and back time after time with no safety net in sight. "Kings of the Night" is like The Aliens reinventing "This Ain't The Summer of Love". Or even The Clash on the odd occasion when they ripped it up.

The Hangmen Vs The Supersuckers 45 offers “Never Go Home” and “Trouble Man” in an old, loud and snotty demeanour. Rough as a bears arse and flying a rocktastic flag for the sound we veterans will never tire of punching the air to.

The Incubators are from Oslo but suffer the same condition as their label mates. They’ve been sentenced to make the sign of the devil like they just don’t care. These guys remind me of the great b-sides that The Sweet used to bolster their more bubblegum tunes with. Semblance of vintage Alice Cooper in there too. Onetime Gluecifer and Tip Topper alumnus, there’s definitely a bit more glam about this but it swings no less for it. Like Dave Champion sez in the liner notes “Parasite in Paradise sounds like Roky Erickson if he ever got to Scanadanavia”. That scenario is about to happen. Incidentally the Rok is at the Bowery Ballroom in New York tonight. It’s set to be a cold, wet night there. Hold the alligators willya? Final song on the EP is “Vision Express”, crying out to be the theme song of the chain of opticians stores here in the UK. It’s even more reminiscent of our favourite martian and could well be the greatest slice of Norwegian rock since The Tracemen’s “She’s Got A Hard-On”.

Urkke T and the Midlife Crisis are a Scando supergroup with a backyard baby, a maggot, a hellacopter and a maryslim belting out punk rock classics the way only such a crew could. High octane thrills and fun, fun, fun until your daddy wrestles that firearm outta your mitt. They seldom make them like this anymore. Covers of The Users, The Warheads and The Avengers rejuvenated and pogoing harder than the originals ever did.

Mary’s Kids “Destroy” is perhaps the best of the bunch. Like Suzi Quatro fronting Radio Birdman with a chorus worthy of Slade. A rendezvous of sonics and then some. Very sharp revved-up run through of Ike Turner’s “I’m Fed Up” on the flip will make sure you end up anything but. That mood should remain intact just so long as you keep flipping the record over. I can’t legislate for the bummer that might ensue when you stop.

You can check out the sounds and all the info at the BB site, just click on the link back there and get lost in the waves of unbridled rock action.