Tim Mitchell - Sonic Transmission (Glitter Books)

A book on the history of Television is something this world could well use, 'cause bein' one of the finest bands to emerge in the 70s their tale is still seriously under-documented. So it's just too bad that Tim Mitchell's attempt is just that, an attempt.
With no direct info from the main players Mitchell has to make do with quotes from other people's work. Sure, the general outline is there, and the author seems to know his stuff by and large, but in the end this book is in serious need of a heart and/or vision, as the text fails to ignite the kind of excitement the book's subject was able to. Besides, overlookin' the release of Little Johnny Jewel is inexcusable, and statin' that Andy Johns produced Goats Head Soup is plain ol' ignorant.
The book claims to be an "illustrated history", but all you get is a handful of gray record/CD sleeve reproductions. Did I mention the "selected discography"? If you wanna know about Television, you'll have to listen to at least a dozen versions of Marquee Moon and Little Johnny Jewel as documented on a pletora of bootlegs to get a sense of the band's mighty improvisational skills, and a guide to these recordings would have been very useful.
Like his book on Jonathan Richman, this is comes in handy, but only until the real thing comes along...

What's that? You say you've been looking for more mid-week, mid-evening, midtown Manhattan amusement? Okay, so we didn't say it either. Yet, Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co. still cordially invites you to join us this Wednesday, June 13th, downstairs at Spanky's BBQ in Times Square for an evening of "ballads, boogies & blues" and all the fixins' -- whether that be merely a cold beer or a full-on barbecued feast. And we'll be joined in the cozy, countrified confines of Spanky's by our special guest singer Rosalie Morris!
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13TH / DOWNSTAIRS
@ SPANKY'S BBQ / FREE! /
127 West 43rd Street (between Broadway & 6th Avenue), NYC / One hour show at 7:30 sharp,
followed by the Rob Ryan Band /
Yours truly, Michael
Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co.
"Ballads, Boogies & Blues"

It was good that J got that Patti thing together yesterday. It made up for my inability to post which was down to my trying to keep away from the computer. That meant a wee stint in the garden and a longer one hunting for stuff. Why the hell have I been horde-ing all this stuff? The first thing would be to hold an ebayathon but I don't really trust that anymore, too many chancers. But what other way is there? Sure there are other "auctions" and plenty of "dealers" but this crap is somewhat specialised and some of it's not actual "crap" but good gear that really ought not to be hiding in boxes and cardboard tubes.

And to add to all this, I just watched the last Sopranos episode and am somewhat dumbfounded. In many ways the ending was perfect but it's over. This will do for Journey what South Park did for Styx. The "music beds" also included "You Keep Me Hangin' On" by Vanilla Fudge, good score. Of course, the perfect song to have rolled over the closing credits would have been Parlor James' "Hell To Pay" but I guess you can't have everything...

Patti Smith @ Paradiso, Amsterdam June 10, 2007

As much as I admire Patti's 70's output I never actually got to see her in action back in the day, 'cause by the time I got aware of her she was already playin' the arena sized places I've always refused to attent. The 80's comeback, the 90's comeback, I never really felt the need. But a couple o' years ago I figured that I had to see her at least once. I missed out on the first opportunity as it was sold out in minutes, but got lucky this time around. Lucky that is, before I found out her latest disc featured nothing but versions of songs by (a.o.) Paul Simon and Tears For Fears... I've been very close to selling off the much in demand ticket at a serious profit, but in the end decided to go anyways and try my luck... Of course I shouldn't have worried, mere seconds into Kimberly and I was caught hook, line and sinker. Six decades on this planet and Patti still commands plenty more stage presence than just about any contender you'd care to mention. Free Money was next, and dealt the fatal blow. The adoring crowd lapped it up without any reservation and for once they were right. From the new album her take on Are You Experienced was the absolute highlight w/ a long intro where she played some fine Coltrane-like clarinet. But just about anything paled next to the stuff we all know and love: Gloria, Set Me Free, Pissing In The River, Ain't It Strange and an absolutely scorchin' Rock & Roll Nigger as a final sign-off. She did two long wordy improvs on Amsterdam's most famous citizens; Rembrandt and Anne Frank, that would have been beyond cheesy in the hands of just about everybody else, but she pulled it off with such a honest to God sincerity I had actually trouble holdin' back the tears at one point... Somewhere in between all this Lenny Kaye got to sing Pushin' Too Hard (that seemed to go over most of the crowd's head) and durin' the encore they were joined by Peter Buck for an unrehearsed Everybody Hurts. She easily captivated the crowd with a set that lasted for well over two hours, w/ no lettin' up... Go and see here if you get the chance, 'cause Patti Smith live is one of those life affirming propositions you can't afford to miss....

You know how it is, you're looking for something specific that you know is around but it doesn't want to reveal itself. Then you find a bunch of other stuff and all of a sudden an hour is gone. Sort of like going on YouTube but better for your vision...

As an ideal accompaniment to this (freak) So Cal weather, The Beat Poets appear as part of the Glasgow West End Festival tomorrow (Sunday 10th). they'll be on the Church Street/Byres Road stage at approximately 2.45pm.

El Rancho Relaxo is at Brel from 6pm so that all sounds like the logical conclusion to the day.

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And talking of California, those in LA will surely be taking in the event at KingKing on June 25th.

"THE BLUE SHADOWS feat: Bill Bateman, Javier Matos, Johnny Bazz & friends. This show is going to be filmed & recorded for an upcoming documentary following the legendary career of Bill Bateman."

The Cramps inability to realise when they're on to a good thing is everybody else's gain...

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Wonder what "Seven Arse Ups of Rock" has in store for us tonight? The latest instalment will cast its less than detail specific eye on the wonderful world of heavy metal. Wish them luck...

As the post Sopranos stress disorder builds, check out "Faller isär" (Falling Apart) on the Säkert! myspace page. Be nice to catch their warm-up show next week in Stockholm for festival season but alas, tis not to be. Did a final Stripes sweep around a bigger radius and was shocked to find that they'd all been scooped up. There are a ton on ebay at prices from OK to utter robbery so I guess it depends on how much you want it. I'm afraid I exhausted all possibilities. Actually looking through NME these days and all the sponsorship and bollocks that go along with their courtship of an act is sickening. Makes the old Smash Hits seem like the last word in edgy journalism. But anyway, that's for the youngsters to fret about. I couldn't give one.

GEARFEST 2007

The idea to post a couple of reviews came to nowt last night. The reason? Why The Sopranos of course. Final episode Sunday night so after that there'll be plenty time to play catch up.

Everything or at least something comes to those who wait. I agree that waiting is a pain but what can I tell you. There's a free White Stripes 45 with NME this week that apparently makes up a double etched set os some such carry on. If any overseas readers want one then then me know and I'll try to scare up copies from aound the local shops. Yours for cost plus postage.

A bit early in the morning for a public service announcement but there you go. Now I have to try and wake myself up.

Update @ 6.41pm:

Scratch that WS 45 thing, I just did a reccy to try and get some and they're all gone. Probably snapped up to be ebay'd. A couple of early birds got lucky but other than that I'm afraid you're clean outta luck. If I do come across any then I'll grab 'em but it's unlikely...

While I drift aimlessly waiting for The Sopranos penultimate episode to turn up. Special guest Metal Mike has something to bestow... (originally a myspace post via The Angry Samoans friends compound.)

Holland's CHIPZ on the dutch TOTP show for One Day When I Grow Up, just last fall 2006 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDXUvnsJhZY (Dutch TOTP, One Day When I Grow Up / CHIPZ, 2006) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gErEAyoR97Q (the original video for the song, also sublimely retarded in a great way)

the TOTP clip = this is absolutely fucking insane, almost dada-esque. the 2 guys in CH!PZ (it's a 2 girls/2 guys pop group that formed barely a nanosecond after the A*Teens broke up, but without any real singer(s) unlike the greatest pop group ever next to ABBA, the duhhh A*Teens) -- are REALLY into it. i mean they're like fucking crazed on pep pills or something. are they gay? straight like the 2 guys in the A*Teens were? (and therefore w/a subtext of hustling or impressing the opposite sex). i now really need to know the "back story" on the personalties on this band. they can REALLY fucking dance, too. my eyes bugged out when I realized this group is doing = a 4-person version of the old MTV Say What Karoke HALL OF FAME ROUND (all seasons' winners, head to head against each other) champions, the greatest MTV SWK act ever, the lunatic LeeJay, Ernesto, & Christine from long beach (two of them executed more or less planned/choreographed stuff, while the third member/second guy just went nuts/crazy like a lunatic, breakdancing or just rolling around and/or making wild movements around the perimeter).

if you do not know who LeeJay, Ernesto & Christine are/were, you know nothing about the highest level of performing arts and you should probably go back to Summer School 101, aka "Rock And Roll = It Was DANCE music!!" but anyway the 2F/ M singing/dancing quartet in Holland's awesomely awesome CHIPZ all DO DIFFERENT STEPS/MOVEMENTS when dancing. and they're reallly fucking good, ie athletic. so it looks WILD (4 people not in one bit duplicating any 1 of the other 3's steps/movements), but at the same time extremely energetic and professional.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5Hmw0gB1RA&mode=related&search= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hFBXyqLnUE&mode=related&search=

(TV clips of CHIPZ, One Two Three) more TV clips of CH!PZ dancing like loopy madmen fucking genius. the guy with the long--ish hair (a beatles haircut) is insane. he is REALLY INTO THIS SHIT, ie the performing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UabqZJhoZm8&mode=related&search= (store promo) should you doubt my "insane" theory, here is a record store promo (on clip) with "Mr Insane" on camera offstage i need to see his astrology chart! need to talk to his mother! his brother! his schoolmates! how did such a one of a kind human male mutant come to exist? oh wait.

HOLLAND. both AQUA (the amazingly great "barbie girl" album AQUARIUM) and their great clone TOY-BOX (the equally great FANTASTIC album from 1999) were based in Denmark. (and Lene of Aqua was a Norweigan transplant) wow, the CHIPZ Greatest Hitz album (16 songs) is not only the greatest pop/dance album of the last umpteen years, and a mandatory item for every pop/bubblegum/bubblegumdance fan ever but it's like Holland's refraction of the old Aqua/Toy-Box precursor and the DJUMBO album JUMP is even better (all their songwriting/production/playing/recording for DJUMBO, is done by a two-man writing/playing/production team = auteur theory at work at its highest!)

their "dancing" is so bad as to be hysterical/cute but that's a different story. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PE0w_UfpNmc (Djumbo Jump video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtIm2umbOKc (the Eyahe single, great hit song when played with full stereo volume)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQCaOEKUtCc (supermarket in-store) omg good lord the dancing is so godawful it's almost cute. skinny white chicken arms flailing -- euros living up to their "worst dancers in the world" rep, yep.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcTTyci3Pa0 (Undercover but not the orig video, a pastiche live-candid thing) all of this pales compared to the coolest pop/rock song ever, a No. 1 hit in Year 2000 Germany http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usSlUG3jvBM Skaterboy / JUNIA (long BEFORE avril dork's song)

-- metal mike 6/ 1 / 2007

Some new blog action you should check out...

The ARChive of Contemporary Music featuring Mssrs Hammer and Phast.

Robert Barry Francos (of Ffanzeen fame) is now online.

Lost-in-Tyme (thanks to Mr H for this link, if you figured YouTube was a rabbithole...)

Time for some air I reckon...

Checking out stuff here and there and keep getting distracted. I'm anxious about how The Sopranos is panning out. I read something that kind of disturbed me which I won't share because it may irk you also. So I put on the Au Revoir Simone album "The Bird Of Music" not expecting much of anything. I saw them when HS was on a co-bill at The Water Rats last November and never really got it. It was too loud and too monotonous in that room, a pity because the soundcheck sounded pretty darn groovy. Plus it's not realistic to expect anyone to follow Annika + co, as you know...

Anyway, this is a cool little summer breeze not unlike an altered Strawberry Switchblade. It's also like Martin Rev programming The ShangriLas. A couple of weeks after that London show they got in tow with David Lynch when he was doing a book signing. This also recalls his "Floating Into The Night" Julee Cruise period. Not as haunting but similarly hypnotic. I can hear now how he'd be smitten. So i'm not sure it works live but I think I'm gonna be coming back to this over the weeks to come. Christ, it might even make it out to the car tomorrow morning...

What was with that "Punk" Seven Ages of Rock travesty that aired on BBC2 last night?

Not only chronologically deficient, the whole thing was just a mess. History being reduced to bite-sized misinformation and yet another example of The Voidoids being mistaken for Television. This series has been "critically acclaimed" but in actuality does the documentary form an extreme disservice. And Charles Shaar Murray, I can't believe that he's indicted in the morass. But anyway, what the heck. It was good to see Joey and Johnny on TV for an instant but not to even mention the Dolls and The MC5 was utter sacrilege. The Stooges got one mention via the Pistols. Dearie feckin' me...

And loosely related to several ages of something or other, I found a tour itinerary book for Television among a pile of other stuff. I didn't realise that the band's first UK show was in Glasgow. I'm fairly sure they hadn't played in London prior to that but could be mistaken.?There's also a Verlaine autograph on NBT paper... I remember him being somewhat obnoxious but he was a punk, right? Ha ha. Also found a couple of Christmas cards from 1979 and 1981 from one Steven Morrissey and also postcards from Jim Kerr as Simple Minds made their way around the world. One from New York and another from Berlin from whence Young Jim claims he drew Noddy on the Berlin Wall with lime green chalk. Now that's rock'n'roll...

Sounds in the Suburbs present

VIC GODARD & the SUBWAY SECT + BRICOLAGE

at

GLASGOW ACCIES CLUB

23 June 2007, 8pm - Helensburgh Drive, Jordanhill, Glasgow, G13 1RR

Cost : £10

Tickets available from Alan -0780 444 7511

Email: soundsinthesuburbs@hotmail.co.uk.

VIC GODARD & the SUBWAY SECT
The 7th of May, 1977: This is the date when everything changed forever, as the Clash’s “White Riot” tour hit Edinburgh. However, it wasn’t the Clash that connected with a bunch of teenage punks in the audience who would go on to form the fulcrum of “the Sound of Young Scotland”; it was Vic Godard & the Subway Sect. Their ramshackle grey-glare/treble-to-the-max guitar sound was THE major influence on Postcard Records’ Orange Juice & Josef K, and Fast Product’s Fire Engines. In recent years, Vic’s output has been more sporadic. 2002’s “Sansend” being his last release. However, a new recording of the tracks that were scheduled to appear on the original debut Subway Sect album, is about to be released. This album was scrapped by Vic’s then manager, the notorious Bernie Rhodes, and has remained in the vaults ever since. In the 1990s, Vic Godard reignited his Scottish connection when he signed to the rescusitated Postcard Records for the Edwyn Collins produced “End of the Surrey People”. This Scottish connection continued when Vic hooked up with the Creeping Bent Organisation in 1999 to release a 7”, “Place We Used To Live”. Vic started working with Creeping Bent outfit The Leopards around this time, this resulted in some of his best recordings and gigs. His 1998 performance at Glasgow’s CCA, where he headlined a Creeping Bent event that also featured Adventures in Stereo and The Secret Goldfish, was truly legendary. More detailed information at http://www.vicgodard.com/

BRICOLAGE
Bricolage released their debut limited edition 7”, “Footsteps”, on the Creeping Bent label in June 2006. Since then, a further limited edition 7”(“Looting Takes The Waiting Out of Wanting”) has been released, this time on the Fantastic Plastic label in March this year. The group is now signed to the Memphis Industries label, July sees their first fully flown single release, “The Waltzers”. Bricolage are the latest in a lineage of Scottish pop groups influenced by the genius of Vic Godard. Live excursions have seen Bricolage support an eclectic array of artists (1990s, Long Blondes, Fire Engines, Sun Ra’s Arkestra), however anticipation in the camp about supporting Vic is reaching fever pitch. www.myspace.com/bricolagetheband

That's this Tuesday coming and a week tomorrow (Sunday)... book here!

So, this seems to be working again... once again dependancy on this sodding box in the corner of my living room has given me cause for concern. On a more upbeat note, my Roky ticket arrived.

Check out this short tribute to BBC Radio Scotland in Queen Margaret Drive by Tom Morton. I think the move to all purpose hell-hole on the south side is complete. I know a lot of you folks that read this have been there, some have worked there and some have some damn good memories from there. There's even a shot of the "Geezer Butler" courtyard but not one of the big studio where they did orchestra recording etc. The first time I was ever in there was in 1967 or something, with my father when he was recording with Muirhead and Sons Pipe Band. I wonder what will happen to that and sincerely hope it becomes a soundstage as was mooted.

The end of yet another era is upon us and Byres Road may never be the same again...

Damn. I can't access the posting page on my home pc but it works here... the investigation will continue but there seems to be no obvious reason as to why this would be.

Anyways, Tom Phobic has kindly supplied the following and I'm off to wreck a computer...

New York Loose - Dirty Water Club London 18th May 2007

"Oh Yeah! Make some calls - I'm going out - put some lipstick on my mouth and if you snub me - well, I don't care you can't tell me where to go, I'll go anywhere - and they say I'm a BITCH - well go on call me a BITCH -I guess I'm a BITCH if you say so.. "

So begins a gig I've been waiting for the best part of a decade for, the memory is spluttering trying to remember. It feels like a fucking decade tonight just waiting for the support bands to get on and off, and, as sometimes happens at the Dirty Water Club, the night overruns to the extent that people have to leave before they get to see the band they came out for. I'm not moaning, I know the drill and the odd hour between friends makes no odds to me. However, bass player Tommy Spencer (ex Yo Yo's) has recently broken up with his girlfriend and has filled the time apparently drinking the entire rider single handedly to ease his broken heart, and coupled with the ever delaying stage time all is not ticketyboo in the NY Loose camp.

A preamble ramble ... The current band comprises founder member and native New Yorker, Brijitte West on vocals n battered white SG and baseball boots, who should need no introduction to NBT readers as Mr Hutton has been flying the NYL flag for some time. On guitar, another former Yo Yo, Rich Jones, whose CV and reputation goes before him. (All you need to know is Rich was a founder member of Canadian Uber Glamsleazepunks The Black Halos). Finally, squaring the magic circle, on drums is the mysterious Laura Fares, 24 years old and all the way from Buenos Aires! Brijitte reckons she's an amazing drummer and that is tonight's understatement!

Those in need of a history lesson should immediately (you can finish this later) click this link http://www.myspace.com/nyloose and check out NYL in their glory, maximum rock n fucking roll guaranteed and a few choice videos to boot. Back to business, BITCH, the debut 45 from the 90's is as fitting a set opener as you could wish for, beautifully bastardized Personality Crisis riffola, smart lyrics (see above) and more attitude than a South London Comprehensive School. Walk Out quickly follows - brave choice as it's a brand new song, but it fits in seamlessly. My first (addled) impression is it tells of Brijitte jumping off the industry image focused rock n roller coaster, tired of LA hogwash and heading for these septic isles for repair. Luckiest Girl is dispatched with gusto and Tommy's availability is announced from the stage, to which he responds by trying to gee up the crowd. Mess of Myself, the second debut of the night never misses a beat and seems a companion song to Walk Out Brijitte writes from the heart and the guts, base emotions and feelings, with and about love, hate, kicks, betrayal, disillusion, confusion, and pain, we all wanna be 16 forever, but sometimes growing up is a box worth ticking. Life's short got that pen ready? Detonator and Broken from the Year of the Rat album ring familiar, and smiles increase in the vicinity, the latter coulda bin writ up in the confession box an a more hook laden toon you’d be hard pressed to find. Tommy is still trying to work the crowd as Long Island Lolita the third and final debutant, chugs out of the PA and the requests come thick and fast. Rip me up does what it says on the label and the band return for Pretty Suicide which, if there was any justice on this planet would have been one of THE biggest hits of the last decayed decade.

Writing this and looking back, I must have dreamed that they played Monolith Kids, but I got the set list from Brijitte and it aint there so blame it on the booze. 9 songs whizzed by, I woulda been happy for another half hour, but for openers this left the punter wanting more, which after all is a good thing. When you take into account the years of ring rust, new line up, late running and poor Tommy's achy breaky heart, tonight the New York Loose were flawed, but not floored! I stole that line from an old review of Johnny Thunders So Alone album by the way, only steal from the best, kids! With a few gig under their collective belts this outfit are more than capable of smoking most, if not all punk pretenders, and I'm fucking glad people are giving due respect to one of the most influential and overlooked bands of their era. NYLoose kicked the doors down for femme fronted classic punkrawk/pop but unfortunately never benefited from it themselves, while a host of inferior watered down copycat bands gained chart success.However, the desperate hopeful can find solace and succor in the long awaited recently released retrospective album aptly entitled Born To Loose which covers pretty much everything you'll need from the first 7-inch singles, the Loosen Up EP, rare tracks and a slew of unreleased stuff. And you DO need this. Get ya card out now and click here! www.fwmusicstore.co.uk

THE GO-GO makes its 4th comeback on Saturday 2nd June, upstairs at Studio 24, Calton Road, Edinburgh. DJ's Tall Paul Robinson and Angus are itching to get back on the decks to unleash as much 60's and retro-riotous-rocking'n'rolling-rippin'it up-records as will fit in between the hours of 11pm and 3am.

Expect 60's garage, mod, beat, soul, ska, sleazy-listening, groovy soundtracks, psychedelia, girl groups, French pop, and punk (Ramones, Buzzcocks, Cramps, Fall - kinda thing).

£5 which also includes entry to Retribution Rock Club