Woah, I imagine this clocks in as being Monday now in blogtime? I'm running on fumes here and just don't have the energy to file a report at the minute. Some of us have to work tomorrow and the Swedish cultural attache returns to Stockholm. Wish I could figure out some way to make a swop but somehow I don't think I'd pass for him and would be rumbled sharpish. Just got back from the last night of Le Weekend and will ponder that and get back to you in due course...

Robbie Fulks played a thrill-packed 2 hour show last night at the ABC2 in Glasgow. If you're anywhere within a hundred mile radius of The Cluny in Newcastle tonight then get yourself down there. All 360 degrees of entertainment and then some await those who enter...

Short and sweet today... just a reminder that Robbie Fulks is in Glasgow tonight at the ABC2.
Nothing much else to report except that all doing well, I'll pick up my Hello saferide 7"'s today and not having to schlepp across to the stalag is deffo a bonus. Divnae plan to be back in front of this thing until at least the wee small hours but you never know...

The latest news courtesy of Mark Hagen...

ALAN VEGA

Live at the Roundhouse 16th June

New album – Station - out now
The legendary Alan Vega plays a rare UK solo date on June 16th at London’s Roundhouse.
There cannot be many artists about whom it can be said that, after 37 years on the musical frontline, they are making their most vitally impassioned and fiercely radical music to date. Such is the case with Alan Vega and his new solo album, Station. Five years in the making, Vega’s 10th solo release is a blistering statement of intent from a rock’n’roll shaman whose work has always stretched parameters, managing to defy expectations at every turn.

As Vega himself says, “Station represents a kind of culmination point for me. It gathers up many of the elements that have been in my previous work and takes them all the way. In some ways, it’s my most truthful record in that I’m now at the age where it’s easier for me to listen to my own heart-beat and act on it creatively.”

Vega presents Station Live at Roundhouse Freedom Room, Camden, London.
£7 - No Advance tickets
8pm - 11pm
Support from HTRK & Special Guests + DJ's

Not much time to blog tonight. Too busy trying to get things in order for the arrival of the Swedish Cultural Attache tomorrow. However, Mondosean has two spare tickets for the Roky show in London and is looking to hook them up (No Evil Wildlife pun intended) with someone who hasn't scored theirs yet at face value. Located in the front section of the upper stalls, state your intentions to Sean via trashisneat@yahoo.com

BEN VAUGHN... TONIGHT IN LA

05/22/2007 - 9:00PM sharp! 21+

Town & Country Tuesday@ EL CID in Silverlake 4212 Sunset, Silverlake
Ben Vaughn's Desert Classic/The Neighborhood Bullys/Jay & Bosco from 50 Cent Haircut

06/09/2007 - 9:30PM

BRENNAN'S PUB4089 Lincoln Blvd.Marina Del Rey, CA 90292(310) 821-6622
Ben Vaughn Desert Classic

EVERY FRIDAY!

WEEKLY WEVL RADIO SHOW... THE MANY MOODS OF BEN VAUGHN

Listen to 89.9FM WEVL in Memphis, TN.& LIVE ONLINE www.wevl.org
7:00-8:00PM EAST COAST (online only)6:00-7:00PM CENTRAL TIME (89.9fm WEVL & online)5:00-6:00PM MOUNTAIN TIME (online only) 4:00-5:00PM PACIFIC TIME (online only) CLICK HERE to access the audio archive & playlists!

Today started off badly and maintained a plateau until approximately 4.30pm. I was ready to get up at 5am but for some reason fell back asleep. This meant that my customary guddle about with e-mail, breakfast, etc. was unceremoniously truncated. In amongst not being entirely awake I was bemoaning the unavailability of The Animal Five's "We Will Die At The Same Time" by any other means than download.

Whilst I may relent and get it that way, it's still a pain and marks the first real break with tradition. Not that I care about cds but at least that was a vessel. A track itself is not and no matter how fandabbi any particular song is, the way to really have it hit home it to provide some kind of tactile information with it. I don't want that on a computer screen to print anything out on my home printer. I hear a whisper of "well, sod you then". You see, I don't have an iPod or a phone that doubles as one. I do have a walkman mp3 player but that's about it. Or I can play music over the crummy speakers from my desktop but neither of those would do it the justice that a stereo could. The quality of a download is not up to scratch, even at the high end. Sonically it doesn't cut it. It's OK as a guide, to cajole you into wanting it but it doesn't follow through. These buggers that tell you these "docking stations" are great have a vested interest. Or maybe they're deficient in the lug'ole department? I'm old, cranky and I want the sensory gratification of the hardware. It's the only tangible nod to landfill that I'm willing to make so let me head off into the sunset harbouring these beliefs.

"It's the future" my sage old mucker told me when I protested. "Bollocks to the future", was my retort. The master of wit and repartee rests his wobbly, battered case.

Säkert! on Swedish TV show "Stina" performing the new single live. Click on the link that says "Program 8 - Stina!". When the view browser appears, shove or push (whichever you prefer) the wee slider along to approximately the 53rd minute and you're there. (Thanks to Mr Ulf for the link)

BMX Bandits headline day one of NYC Popfest 2007 this coming Thursday... 24 May @ 98-104 Meserole Ave., Brooklyn, NY11222. New album "Bee Stings" out in Japan now on PVline, due for Euro-release on Revola during the summer.

Having a little bother with the motivation at the minute. I’ve been watching Season Two of Entourage and The Sopranos when I should probably be blogging. E2 I got from Mr H as a loaner, what a great show. Still having problems with e-mail and non-delivery or whatever. I don’t have the means of investigating the condition any further. I’m burned out on it. Truth be told I’m burned out on a lot of things but let's make inroads into what’s been happening sonically inside the bunker of late.

Missing The Scientists recent shows around Europe was a bit of a pisser. Still, you cannae always get what you want and all that. I found some solace in the mini-album by Boris Sujdovic entitled "Fuzz Machine" just released by the Basque Country based Bang imprint. If Philip Spector produced the aforementioned Rev and Vega with sundry Scientist and Cramp flavourings then this could have been the result. It out Stooges "The Weirdness" by a muckle mile and beats The Mary Chain at their own game. Absolutely relentless. Doktor Avalanche evidently has a cousin down under yonder and ol’ Boris is David Essex from the darkest side imaginable. Bang has also issued Salmon, a mega-slab of guitar orchestration which should be played loud enough to strip paint.

Hanging in with Australia, Capital City’s “Bad Money” kicks off with a glammish stomp that recalls The Reigning Sound in “Let’s Throw Our Love Away”. This latest In-Fidelity crew tweak all the right nipples and I bet these songs really fly when performed onstage. They’re almost too big for just a tiny cd. “Come On and Work For The Lord” conjures up a Gun Club vibe in a way that you’ll have to hear to believe. Want to hear the ides of “Heroin” turned into a folk-rocker? Then check out “Beggar Please”. The Capital City moniker really hides these folks light under a bushel and they swing with that considerable charm that made Stoneage Romeos so special to us.

My Buddy Moose are from Croatia and their album on dancing Bear was produced by the great Dalibor Pavičić of The Bambi Molesters. It’s like Lloyd Cole fronting Loaded era Velvets channelling some Greg Cartwright sound-craft. There are several folk elements and also accordion also and it all combines to create a somewhat unique yet familiar stew. Any group that has the balls to call an original song “Heartbreak Hotel” and better yet pull it off, has to be doing something right. Check ‘em out on myspace if you feel you’re having your chain yanked. (Thanks to Bigor for hooking me up with this)

The Micragirls “Feeling Dizzy Honey” will feed any ongoing jones for gal garage kicks. It drives long like a three-wheeled jalopy with a primal thrust you just don’t hear too often. Organ charged, fuzzed up and frugging ready for anything – these three Finnish ladies look like butter wouldn’t melt. But, looks can be deceiving and whatever they’re taking to work up this frenzied ruckus probably isn’t available on any prescription. “My My Micraboy” would have made Joey Ramone smile, can you think of a higher accolade? Low on fi but big on spirit and heart, check ‘em out on Bone Voyage Recordings.

Similarly no frills is Thee Fine Lines “Set You Straight” which sounds like it was made to be blasted out of a transistor radio. Not one of those digital things that are becoming all the rage. Once again, I don’t recognise the comparisons with Billy Childish. There’s not a whiff of the impressionism that pervades much of that guys work. I feel kind like BC is the opposite side of the Paul Weller coin, this 3-piece on the other hand deliver short sharp jolts of primo garage-punk not unlike our own Thanes. Based in Skele-country - Springfield, Mo – they have that extra edge that evidently comes from whatever is put in the water there. Lou Whitney once told me it was “the buckle on the bible belt”. If that’s the case they sure have a way with the devils music. Available now on cd and vinyl from Licorice Tree.

By this time next week it'll be all over. I'm talking about Robbie Fulks visit to Glasgow. Folks in Newcastle can catch him at The Cluny the night after but that's it. The man is flying in specifically to exact "Revenge" on Northern Britain, thanks to Kevin Morris, the man that's flying the "Billy Kelly Services To Americana" flag in these difficult times. The visit will coincide with the release of the man's double live set on Yep Roc. You'll be able to buy a copy from him in person at either show. Provided stocks last of course. Check out Robbie's notes on the material from the record. Hear Cher's "Believe" like you never heard it before! Lumps in the throat don't come any more choking than the version of "The Buck Starts Here" captured here and then there's "Let's Kill Saturday Night", a song that should be raking in airplay royalties in Eagles/Tom Petty-sized vanloads. " I like Being Left Alone" is one of a handful of new tunes that get an airing and looks set to become a crowd pleaser as only RF can stack 'em up.

I don't urge people to do much but don't miss this rare opportunity to catch one of the real greats in full flight. Friday (25th) in Glasgow and Saturday (26th) in Newcastle. Some music really can transcend and this guy has all your bases covered. If you reckon different then you really shouldn't be reading this.

So it's Joey's birthday. Can it really be 6 years + since he passed? Jings.

I'm sure all of the folks that attend the shindig at Irving Plaza tonight will have a high ol' time. An event even more poignant because of his mother joining him earlier this year.

Was going to try and catch the 12.40 screening of Zodiac but can't really find the energy. Maybe tomorrow or then again... might be an opportunity to catch up on what I've been meaning to blog. I'm kind of sick of the sound of my own keypad but we'll see how it goes.

Meanwhile, here are a few links to keep you amused...

Shock and Awe vs Paul Research = Chinese Rocks

Wonder how the NYL show went last night... meanwhile check out the Ferriday Fireball's ("the world's best forgotten boys") shakedown of "Loose".

Ex-Shadowy Man Don Pyle's photo exhibit

Los Coyotemen do The Ramones

Tulsarama (link courtesy of Art Fein)

Every home should have this (link courtesy of Tony Thewlis)

That'll keep you going for now. Some review action coming up sooner or later.

THE STAR SPANGLES will be at Fontana’s, NYC

(105 Eldridge St. between Broome and Grand)

on Thursday, May 24th, 10pm

Tickets: a mere $6

Their second album, “Dirty Bomb” out now on Tic Records

CD available at CDBaby

Downloads available at Amie St. and Myspace

and don't forget the good ol' NY rock of The New York Loose at the Dirty Water Club tomorrow night (Friday 18th) and tell Brijitte + Co we sent you!

Gary Lucas @ Tivoli De Helling, Utrecht 16/052007

Just got back from catching Lucas & Co. playin’ only two blocks away from HQ.
Truth be told it was the “& Co.” part that made me venture outside once again, as Mr Lucas backing band consisted of Jerry Harrison (Modern Lovers/Talking Heads), Billy Ficca (Television) and Ernie Brooks (Modern Lovers).
As for Gary, I’m only familiar with the stuff he did with Captain Beefheart, but just one Google search makes it obvious that the guy has been very prolific over the years.

Upon entry it was sad to learn that Harrison wasn’t there, since he apparently lost his passport and was still stuck in NYC... Still, two out of three wasn’t too bad. Ficca bein’ one of the best skin beaters I’ve ever witnessed, and Brooks fully able to anchor whatever rhythms with his fluid bass playin’. So it was too bad that Gary Lucas turned up his guitar histrionics at least twice as loud as the rest of the band (bad enough for the rhythm section, but there was absolutely no audio on the saxophone guy that seemed to pump a lot of air around durin’ their set) Highlights were few ‘n far between, and generally appeared when Lucas took a break from playin’ as many notes as possible, most notably in their take of Abdullah Ibrahim’s Bra Joe From Kilimanjaro. But I also dug the moment where some Jack Johnson-era Miles Davis tune gave way to Suicide’s Rocket USA via a short twist and that same duo’s Cheree... Anyways, I guess they’d be more organized with Harrison in tow, so Dutch readers might wanna check 'em out in Amsterdam tomorrow night...

Hey nana!
The Stripchords return to the stage this Friday, May 18th, at Paul Ronney-Angel's massively popular Gypsy Hotel club, situated at Barden's Boudoir, on the Dalston/Stoke Newington borders... The Flaming Stars will be headlining on Friday, dishing up a heavy fug of noir beat exhalations, with The Stripchords party - including hula go-go queens Mizz Lager Shandy & Mizz Stephanie, plus Mr Bishop's saucy flicks - following close behind (as it were)... Fresh from a swing across Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia and Arkansas, our own BigKegShandy will also be dishing up some flighty blues, soul and R&B discs, including Ruby & The Party Gang's immortal "Hey Ruby (Shut Your Mouth)", and Johnny & The House Wreckers' "Johnny's House Party Part II"...
See you at the bar-re-bar?!?!?!?!
Selah
The Stripchords
------------------
The Gypsy Hotel
18 May
Barden's Boudoir
38-44 Stoke Newington Road, Londinium, London N16 Cost : £6.66
Time: 8pm
More info from www.myspace.com/gypsyhotel

Hello Saferide marked the release or the Regal single with two shows in London on Monday and Tuesday. Douglas Firs has filed the following report about Monday night. There are also great photos from the show here.

“Four band bills. Does anyone have the attention span for such a thing? Thinking that Maia Hirasawa was on first I got down there early but found out she wouldn’t be onstage until 9pm. The first lot were ok and harboured some agreeable enough Americana leanings. No idea what they were called though. Second up was Raymond and Maria, not a duo but a group. Also from Sweden even although they look (and sound) like they might come from Glasgow. Very well and good but the kids (me) are getting a jones for the two acts that I’m here to see.

Maia’s set was augmented by her being joined onstage by Jeanette Lindstrom on keyboards and exquisite harmonies. Ms Hirasawa commands a respect that means that people don’t talk when she’s playing. She should find a way of bottling that because it’s a real art. The new single “Gothenburg” was especially hymnal. By the time it got to “And I Found This Boy”, she owned the audience.

Annika Norlin had spent the day playing the role of a trappist monk. She didn’t talk for 10 hours in a bid to save her voice for the show. HS offer a much needed and heartfelt rush of adrenalin to the pop bloodstream. Now I understand what the guy who usually writes on this thing is on about. Even with the lurghi, this girl gives 150% in between swigs of straight olive oil. I mean Peter, Bjorn and the other fella make perfectly good music but this is on an entirely more elevated plateau. Two youngish guys were just to the side of me and they clapped and hollered their way along with the HS express. One was wearing a Blue Oyster Cult T-shirt and the other one a replica of the Pistols cowboys apparel. That made a statement of potential to me as it might to regular readers of this thing. When all is said and done and all the pigeonholes in the world have been nailed up there is only good and bad music. HS deal in the finest quality in times when reality isn’t even real anymore. From rambunctious to stately quiet, this band is capable of it all and they’ve barely started. To become obsessive about them will become compulsory.”

Some guys, like Robert Palmer once said, have all the luck. All of this took place on the day that marked the 31st anniversary of my scoring the first Ramones album at Harlequin in Dean Street. "Introducing Hello Saferide" is capable of inducing similar symptoms albeit in a different format. Annika Norlin's lyrics propelled by this band or just played gently in acoustic mode are equally potent. Hopefully they'll come back to Scotland soon.

Cyberforces are conspiring to cause further problems and I've exhausted all possible avenues of being able to fix it for now. I'm getting e-mail via the blog here from people who are wondering why they never heard from me via the regular channel. The answer is that I have no idea. It's not ending up as junk, the filter is set to medium to try and block as many viagra/stock market messages as possible and it doesn't seem to be bouncing.

If anybody out there knows what the cause and indeed cure might be then please, clue me in.

Check out The Bantams (tip courtesy of JD King)

Dave Davis' Vox Ac30 on Ebay! (Collection only in London)