It's been a heck of a day and as much as I'd like to sit here creating links and all, the computer seems to have other ideas. The silly season is approaching full swing and this cold of mine better shit or get off the pot. Feeling like I've been kicked down the stairs might have been a novelty before but it's well since worn off. All part of life's "rich" tapestry. 'til tomorrow or thereabouts then...

I have a blinding headache and need to shut this thing down.

However, The Lemon Tree in Aberdeen is in trouble and they need to raise £150,000 by Tuesday 18th December. That's a week tomorrow. Click here for further details.

Surely the local council won't allow this fine venue to go under? But anyway stranger things have happened - why on earth would they use their coffers for the common good? You can donate via Paypal, etc. so please give this your consideration during this festering season.

Amy Allison gave me the tip on Nicole Atkins when she discovered her via an American Express ad of all things. So far, as far as I'm aware, it hasn't done what ipod did for Feist but if you give "Neptune City" some house room then prepare to be swept out to sea. It's quite an old-fashioned orchestral pop record with some Badalamentiesque overtones in terms of brooding twang. "The Way It Is" is worth the price of entry to this fictional boardwalk wonderland alone.

Turns out that these 10 songs were recorded in Sweden and it certainly has that Scandanavian majesty. Layers of lush, textural arrangements with Atkins great, great voice soaring over the whole shebang. Somebody at Columbia needs to be thinking about getting her on to "Later with Jools Holland" with all the trimmings. Check out this Letterman appearance if you reckon I'm joshing.

"Cool Enough" has a ghostly refrain of The Crying Shames "Please Stay" (see below) about it. The line about "one day I'll feel different" in particular with the backing vocals, recalls that Joe Meek nugget. There's some great sleigh bell fairy dust sprinkled here and there also but be warned, this is a hardy perennial that'll linger way beyond even next Christmas. Much more consistent than Bernard Butler's Duffy project, I hope that Nicole will be bringing these songs to the UK as early in 2008 as the strategy allows.

The Wreckless Wrigby report from Brother D in SF...

"well... lessee... they came on at midnight following first... a guy singing and playing dobro accompanied by a bagpipe player in a kilt (who's headed your way, so look out) and second... a local garage/punk outfit called the flakes. amy and the wreckless one walked in at 11:40pm, tuned up and then began at midnight. started with something about "you can't be a man w/o a beer in your hand" which had the punters hoisting their budweisers.

they took turns with songs but mostly they did eric stuff and the crowd was clearly there to see him. different crowd than amy had across the bay a few years ago. funny how things change... last time they were here (with marti jones), only a handful of people there even knew who eric was. this time they were yelling out his songs all night. (nothing like having your song in a movie!). amy played her gibson j45 acoustic and also what looked like an old solid body harmony eclectric. she also played some keys, most notably some great organ on eric's classic, "reconnez cherie" (always was my fave of his). didn't know she could play so well on keyboard. also didn't know eric was such a good bass player. he played fender bass now and then. but mostly he played his acoustic cutaway. the mix was bad. sound gal (why do all these dives have 20 yr old chicks doing the sound?)

blasted the guitars and you could barely make out amy's vocals. i complained but she said amy wasn't singing close enough to the mic. which was ridiculous. the crowd didn't notice tho cause they were into eric anyway. but amy was having a great time backing him up. and she did belt out a few... "i'm like rasputin" for instance -- that was great. and her songs were very well received. they were both really having a blast. wish eric would've tuned up in between songs now and then. anyways they did one song i wasn't familiar at all with... maybe new... "please be nice to her"... really excellent. they did eric's "semaphore signals" -- another one of my faves of his... and he talked about ian dury starting out as his drummer way back when. i can't remember all the songs... they did amy's "joey ramone" thing and "don't break the heart that needs you". eric did 33's and 45's while amy took a little break. they were having a blast together and kept going on-- finally warned that they only had 10 minutes before 2AM curfew.

they finished up with a sing-along "whole wide world" followed by "take the kash" which literally ended with the sound girl coming over the PA saying, "that's it, we have to close NOW, we love you eddie (sic) but we have to go". and off they went. i gave amy a bunch of guitar strings and told her "for keith" (did you read about that guy on her website?) and she thanked me. wanted to hang out but we had to split as we didn't have our wheels and the bus was coming.

what a night! hope they have as good a time up north. -- don

They could well still be onstage in Portland right now or maybe not even if it runs to the same schedule as SF. However, if you're in Seattle tonight (Sunday) then cancel any other plans and go see them there because it's the final show of this short trip...

Finally heard Malcolm Middleton's "We're All Going To Die" that everybody's banging on about. Should probably become the Scottish National Anthem rather than the Christmas #1. It's not bad but nary a patch on "Vi kommer att dö samtidigt" ("We Will Die At The Same Time").







Actually, there's a whole bunch of Säkert! stuff on YouTube from the shows last week so off down that particular rabbit hole I go. It includes a version of The Wannadies "My Hometown". "Nothing good on TV anyway..."

Well here's something that's making me feel better than any alleged cold remedy. Keeping the snotters and all that unpleasantness at bay... I keep hearing all this Led Zep and to be honest it's souring any postive memories I have. Bustling hedgerows notwithstanding, the TV ads in between Emmerdale and Coronation Street, were the final straw.

I'd rather have the 5 cd Simon and Garfunkel that followed it. However, if it's supreme rock (dude) thrills you're after then Santa will be hard pushed to come up with anything finer than this. From the liner notes to the presentation to the SOUND!, this is Norton delivering you from the fug bigstyle. And when I found myself mentioned in dispatches then that's gotta be the pinnacle and more than a little humbling. Like a R&R Nobel Prize or something, blimey. So anyway, this vinyl is posively smoking and I'd never heard the Bloodbrothers demos before so it's all something of a revelation. Performance-wise I think that all of these trump the "proper" version.

It's like they're possessed on the intersection of MC5 and E-Street Band. I wonder if Southside Johnny ever considered tackling "No Tomorrow"? It's a real thrill to hear the stuff that is familiar sounding so vibrant and not just hidden gems trapped on cassette or undernourished cdr. For full multi dimensional effect, you should plump for the vinyl but if your deck is on hiatus then dig on in to the compact disc. J mentioned before that this is mandatory and all I'm gonna tell you is that "Stay With Me" is flying out of the speakers right now and those guitars are killing me in the best sense of the expression.

Scott, HD and Andy all document the history along with Rich Nesin to complete an exercise that's been a long time coming. In the end, it's all about the songs and sch beasties don't really come any better than these. You can craw about Bobby Dylan and The Beatles but that slop isn't fit to touch the hem of HD's wrestling jacket! Ha, ha. HAH! They made me what I am today so blame them and I'm telling you, if they were to reform and play for you now then you'd be foaming at the mouth. What is that Eagles strapline that they're using lately? "Remember When Music Sounded This Good?" well, it still does if you know where to look and "Every Day Is Saturday" is positively chocka. God bless The Dictators and all they stand for, then now and for all fecking eternity.

RIP - Karlheinz Stockhausen

Friday night, stinkin' cold, throat feels like it has razor blades in it. And razor blades are so very punk rock, right? So listen to this radio thing with Holly George-Warren about Punk 365.
While you do that, I'm gonna crawl off and attempt to head off a full-blown lurghi.

(Thanks to Mr Arnoff for the link)

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
Sunday 9th December @ 7.45pm
This month's Monorail Film Club presents an enchanting bittersweet tale of young lovers (menaced by parental ambition, unwanted pregnancy and the Algerian War), Demy’s dialogue is sung throughout to Legrand’s fabulous score.
Rich pastel colours and fluid cinematography situate the proceedings in a magical territory somewhere between reality and fairy tale.
The ending especially, is unforgettable.
Introduced by Duglas T Stewart.
GFT, Rose Street, Glasgow.

THE PRIMEVALS, THE PRISCILLAS
and THE NUNS

@ the DIRTY WATER tomorrow night...

Friday December 7th...

"Out now on A Fistful Of Records:

THE GRIEFS
Little Dutch Maid 7" e.p.
AFOR 012

A Fistful of Records offer this molten e.p. of The Griefs' own alchemical mixture of Hard Pop/Freakaboogie Rock & Roll. Out of Cincinnati, Ohio, and led by guitarist Eric Stein (former Greenhornes/Holly Golightly cohort) comes this fantastic 4 track wax attack, a sweet companion to their catalog on Spoonful Records. Great fun for any party, dance, orgy or student riot. Don't miss them this time!

Limited to 600 copies, pressed on virgin black vinyl, comes in silk-screened cardboard sleeve, this time not in 3 but in 4 colours! + hand numbered + awesome insert.

HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS - GIRL TROUBLE - 'NUFF SAID!

The PROJECT-ABILITY exhibition for 2007 got underway at Mono in Glasgow last night. The Pastels, possibly getting in a wee practice before their Stockholm show this Friday, and Teenage Fanclub got things swingin' with two short sets to celebrate the event. Kicking off with their version of Yo La Tengo's "I Heard You Looking", the sound where we was standing was really outstanding. Too loud to hear the gibbering twonks that only go to shows for a blether. If you want to see what else they played, go to their messageboard. I will tell you that there was an ear-watering version of "Everything Flows" involved that was bordering on the Skynyrd. Top gear.

If you're on the West Coast USA, my dear friends WReckless WRigby, Amy Rigby and Wreckless Eric are (possibly) coming to your town so make them welcome. Kicking off in LA tomorrow, SF Friday and on to Portland and Seattle. This is quality entertainment, none of your rubbish so like I said, go see them. All going well, General Ciccone will report in to let us know what we're missing.

Heard something about The Lemon Tree in Aberdeen closing? That's not good. More when I find out what the flip is going on.

Well, the gallavanting is over and I don't have time to go into last night's TFC thing so will leave it until later... meanwhile there's this...

NORTON RECORDS • DECEMBER NEWSLETTER

Hey everybody! Now that we’ve started to descend from Cloud 9 (Sonics brain sprainer on November 4), we’re rallying to stay airborne with a mess of wildass shows and stuff! Check out the Sonics on the Norton myspace page—in this dame’s mind, 11/4/07, will remain engraved in memory as PURE BRAIN SPRAINING FLAME-ON SUPERBOSSITY!!!

• NORTON HOLIDAY SHOW & ASST. MAYHEM!
• HELL OFFICIALLY FROZEN OVER! NORTON GOES DIGITAL TODAY DEC. 4!
• BOBBY FULLER ON "20 UNSOLVED MYSTERIES" THIS WEEKEND!

• NORTON RECORDS HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR SAT. DEC. 15 - SOUTHPAW, BROOKLYN!
Join us as Mason meets Dixon as the Reigning Sound (with very special guest Mary Weiss of the Shangri-Las) joins the A-Bones All-Star Revue featuring Roy Loney (original singer of the Flamin' Groovies), Handsome Dick Manitoba of the Dictators, soul legend the Mighty Hannibal, the Great Gaylord (the celebrated Sultan of Squat), the inflammable and chartbustin' Figures Of Light of It's Lame fame (first show in 35 years!) and introducing rock n' roll sensations Luis and the Wildfires making their East Coast debut plus the double barreled soul stylings of the Nouvellas (ex-Dansettes), four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree! This won't be no silent night, baby! Washable duds recommended! All the hep stars will be hawking their records, shirts and assorted sundries at the show so you may want to attempt one-stop lazyboy holiday shopping at the event! We have been told by the club that this show will sell out - GET YOUR TICKETS NOW http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&pl=&eventId=222099

FRI. DEC. 7 - KING KHAN AND BBQ SHOW/LIVEFASTDIE at Don Pedro's 90 Manhattan Ave., Brooklyn. The twin terrors are at it again at Brooklyn’s wettest watering hole yet! Don’t miss these super talented lads as they sing and swing their way into your lobes with their fantastic songs and heart-stopping delivery! Be sure to pick up Norton's latest yuletide single - Black Lips - Christmas In Baghdad/King Khan and BBQ Show - Plump Righteous complete with festive holiday sleeve! http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/46352-black-lips-king-khan-bbq-show-split-xmas-7

SUN. FEB. 17 - THE A-BONES HIT THE WEST COAST!
BOSS HOSS BLOWOUT AT MR. T's BOWL, LOS ANGELES A-Bones attack LA at this fabulous Presidents Day three night (Feb. 15-17) festival featuring the Premiers of Farmer John fame (!!!) plus the unbelievable Flakes, Nikki Corvette (Miriam's teenage pen pal), Haunted George (Norton A&R genius who discovered the U-Turns), Ape City R&B, Rock N' Roll Adventure Kids, Guilty Hearts, Les Hormones… and much mo'! Look for updated info news next time! This is a rare chance to catch the A-Bones as they tear it up on the West Coast!!!

SAT. FEB. 23 - THE A-BONES BAM NEXT MUSIC FESTIVAL, MAGNETIC FIELD, BROOKLYN Back from their surfin’ safari, the A-Bones return to their tip top home stompin' ground hangeroo sporting tans, possibly but not probably!

HELL OFFICIALLY FROZEN OVER! EXTRA! EXTRA!
Direct from the press release:
Norton Records Digital Singles Collection In Stores Now!
Today, Norton Records blasts forth into the digital world with the release of I Hate CDs, a digital-only collection of forty-five 45RPM singles available at the click of a mouse for the very first time. Included in the collection are garage rock luminaries like ? and the Mysterians, power pop progenitors Big Star, distortion-inventors like Link Wray, original Shangri-Las lead singer
Mary Weiss, raunchy hillbilly weirdo Hasil Adkins, and punk rock touchstones the Ramones, whose original 1975 demo of "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" is easily one the collection’s standouts. For a sample of the rare recording, have a listen to a mock radio spot created by Norton, also including tastes of tracks from Herbie Duncan, Incredible Kings, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, Shades of Night.What the press is saying about I Hate CDs:
"In my book, vinyl's not portable enough, and MP3s are barely there, so the CD is a perfect middle-ground medium. Obviously, a fair portion of the music consuming and producing public doesn't agree, including the folks at 21-year-old label Norton Records, who will release I Hate CDs: Norton Records 45 RPM Singles Collection Vol. 1 on December 4. I Hate CDs is a digital compilation of 45 45s from Norton's history, including tracks by the Ramones, Big Star, Screami
n' Jay Hawkins, Link Wray, ? and the Mysterians, Mary Weiss of the Shangri-Las, the 5.6.7.8's, the Sonics, and the Dictators. Okay, I'm convinced!" - Pitchfork

"This 45 track digital-only collection covers roughly 50 years of popular music history in nearly two hours of singles released by Norton in the last 20+ years. It juxtaposes the familiar (Judy is a Punk by The Ramones) with the fun (Readyman’s nightmarish take on Shortnin’ Bread) without neglecting the freaky (Don "Pretty Boy" Covay's ode to wife-swapping, Switchen in the Kitchen) or the basically frightening (Hasil Adkins). I don't care how much music you own,
unless you work for Norton, you are certain to hear something new. Plus, you likely won't have more fun listening to music this holiday season, unless of course you're doing the devil's business and listening to I Hate CDs." – My
Old Kentucky Blog

I Hate CDs: Norton Records 45 RPM Singles Collection Vol. 1 Tracklist:
01. DICTATORS - WHO WILL SAVE ROCK AND ROLL?
02. READYMEN - SHORTNIN’ BREAD
03. LEGENDARY STARDUST COWBOY - I HATE CD’s
04. BUNKER HILL - THE GIRL CAN’T DANCE
05. HERBIE DUNCAN - HOT LIPS BABY
06. ANDRE WILLIAMS - THE MONKEY SPEAKS HIS MIND
07. INCREDIBLE KINGS - THE LIMP
08. SCREAMING JOE NEAL - ROCK AND ROLL DEACON
09. DALE HAWKINS – NUMBER NINE TRAIN
10. RAMONES - I WANT TO BE YOUR BOYFRIEND
11. DON "PRETTY BOY" COVAY - SWITCHEN IN THE KITCHEN
12. 5.6.7.8’s - HARLEM SHUFFLE
13. DARYL BRITT AND THE BLUE JEANS - LOVER LOVER
14. JACK STARR - CHICKEN
15. MARY WEISS - A CERTAIN GUY
16. SCREAMIN’ JAY HAWKINS - I HEAR VOICES
17. WADE CURTISS AND THE RHYTHM ROCKERS - PUDDY CAT
18. KID THOMAS - ROCKIN’ THIS JOINT TO-NITE
19. SHADES OF NIGHT - FLUCTUATION
20. BIG STAR - SEPTEMBER GURLS
21. TRIUMPHS - SURFSIDE DATE
22. JOHNNY CLARK AND THE FOUR PLAYBOYS - JUNGLE STOMP
23. DOUG SAHM AND THE PHAROAHS - SLOW DOWN
24. REIGN - ZIPPERED UP HEART
25. ESQUERITA - ROCKIN’ THE JOINT
26. HASIL ADKINS - CHICKEN SHAKE
27. SONICS - BUSY BODY
28. DANNY ZELLA AND THE ZELL ROCKS - SAPPHIRE
29. JOHNNY POWERS AND THE A-BONES - NEW SPARK
30. MONACLES - I CAN’T WIN
31. LONG JOHN HUNTER – HEY MRS. JONES
32. REAL KIDS - ALL KINDSA GIRLS
33. RAMONES - JUDY IS A PUNK
34. SCOTTY McKAY - BAD TIMES
35. QUESTION MARK AND THE MYSTERIANS - ARE YOU FOR REAL?
36. ROY LONEY AND THE A-BONES - STOP IT BABY
37. STUD COLE - THE WITCH
38. ALARM CLOCKS - MARIE
39. CREATIONS - BETTER WATCH OUT
40. SABRES - MY HOT MAMA
41. HENTCHMEN - HOT ROD MILLIE
42. JERRY McCAIN AND HIS UPSTARTS - A CUTIE NAMED JUDY
43. UNKNOWN GROUP - I’VE HAD ENOUGH
44. NEANDERTHALS - TWINKLE TOES
45. LINK WRAY AND THE RAYMEN – VENDETTA

Go Here To Buy I Hate CDs:

iTunes
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=267268959&s=143441

Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Hate-CDs-Records-Singles-Collection/dp/B000XXU5FO/ref=sr_f3_1?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1196778624&sr=103-1

eMusic
http://www.emusic.com/album/Various-Artists-I-Hate-CD-s-Norton-Records-45-RPM-Singles-Collect-MP3-Download/11109228.html

Check out the nifty radio spot (featuring boss DJ Rex from Fool's Paradise!)
for the set at:
http://www.myspace.com/nortonrecords

BOBBY FULLER FANS! THIS SUNDAY- SUNDAY- SUNDAY!
Hot on the heels of Norton's pair of early Fuller albums (Norton ED-325 and ED-326) comes a TV special on unsolved crimes and mysteries which includes Bobby, among others. Let's see what they've come up with! Check out E! Entertainment television's 20 SHOCKING UNSOLVED CRIMES at the times below: Sunday December 9th at 8:00 PM (ET/PT)
Repeats Wednesday, December 12th at 8:00 PM (ET/PT)
Friday December 14th at 9:00 AM (ET/PT)
Saturday, December 15th at 1:00PM (ET/PT)

FOND FAREWELLS TO A COUPLE OF TRUE STARS....

FABULOUS MOOLAH
By Miriam Linna
Mary Lillian Ellison, known to all of us as the Fabulous Moolah, passed away at the age of 84 on November 2, apparently of complications from shoulder replacement surgery. If anybody’s shoulders needed replacement, they’d be Moolah’s, top womens wrestling champion icon who was known for her savage flying head scissors and flying drop kick. My dear friend Michelle was a great fan of
Moolah’s Flying Mare move, which she practiced routinely on my mane. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Moolah: "A flying mare is when you get a girl by the hair of the head and pull her over your shoulder, then slam her to the mat as hard you can. And I love doing that." We all had the enormous thrill and privilege of meeting Moolah at a Cauliflower Club Dinner in 1997, where she glided about in a sizzling sequined gown, perfectly coifed and preened, a soft-spoken star with pizzazz to spare. Moolah, thanks for showing what a girl can do! PS: One of the original band named considered by the Dictators when they were starting out making a racket, was THE FABULOUS MOOLAH!! Just ask Manitoba!

****************
JERRY DALLMAN
by Billy Miller
We received shocking news of the recent passing of Jerry Dallman, the DC area rock n' roll star who scored a solid 1958 hit with The Bug (dig it in John Waters' HAIRSPRAY). It was the A-Bones' long time pal, film director Jeff Krulik (HEAVY METAL PARKING LOT) who'd first hooked the band up with Jerry in 1991. We all became fast friends. Our group backed Jerry up about ten times, usually at the late, great DC Space in Washington DC. Whenever we'd go to DC, the local gang wanted to know if Jerry was making the scene and it was always a huge thrill for all of us whenever he did. I'll never forget Jerry and the Great Gaylord bringing the house down with Don and Dewey's A Little Love at DC Space. We covered Time Machine on our Life Of Riley LP, which was originally done by Jerry's band the Knightcaps. Jerry had an unreal knowledge of early DC rock n' roll and always thrilled us with wild tales of Link Wray, Bunker Hill, Terry and the Pirates and so many others. The A-Bones last backed Jerry at the Link Wray Tribute night in Rockford, Maryland in 2006 and he was, as always, fantastic. Jerry, on behalf of Bruce, Miriam, Lars, Marcus, Gaylord and myself, I thank you for the inspiration, friendship and may you forever rest in peace.

MORE NORTON WAX COMIN' IN JANUARY…

Vinyl reissue of the Dictators' 1977 platter MANIFEST DESTINY complete with original doofus cover and incredible Andy Shernoff anthems like Science Gone Too Far, Exposed, Heartache, Young Fast And Scientific and mo'!

THE BO-KEYS - CONGRATULATIONS/ROYAL PENDLETONS - TELL ME
Our popular Rolling Stones 45 cover series continues with our 19th nervous breakdown, yes the 19th single in the series! This double dip of slow drag burners showcases the Mad Lads lead singer John Gary Williams teaming up with Memphis soul sensations the Bo-Keys on the terrific topside, while Southern slop lords the Royal Pendletons tell us they're coming back to us in grand style!

For More Nortonic Information:
http://www.myspace.com/nortonrecords

The thought of dragging my carcass into Glasgow last night was pretty daunting. I first came into contact with the band Lucero by way of a documentary called "Dreaming In America". Since seeing this, my brother has become a major fan of this archetypal "road band" in the oldest school sense of the word. Drive By Truckers crossed with Uncle Tupelo and a side of Bachman Turner Overdrive or maybe Jason and the Scorchers drizzled in BOC. Anyway, these guys are considerably more able to hold your attention than The (vastly overrated and way over-choreographed for my monet) Hold Steady. Building a following steadily over the years they have a legion of diehards that follow them. Two American couples beside me in the crowd, screamed every word in time and knew every tempo change. It was kind of overwhelming to see something with this much potential to go thermo-nuclear play to maybe 70 people.

It went on a little long for my liking but almost everything does. What can't be said is that Lucero don't give at least 150%. When they really hit their stride, the resultant concussion taking me back to the days in the stalls at the Glasgow Apollo like a battle flashback. Trying to give the bouncers the slip to make it down the front. If you want to rock, then this would be a better place to drop your dough than these upcoming Zeppelin shakedowns.

There is much potential for growth in terms of audience numbers. Next time they'll probably be able to sell out King Tut's or a bigger venue even. Nice'n'Sleazy is a good enough place to play, I just hate the name and the fact that it reminds me of a bunch of punk bandwagoneers that I've actively loathed for more than 3 decades. But anyway, I KNOW some of you would love Lucero. What they deal in is simple, direct, sweaty and straight outta Memphis.

So here we are in the run up to the silly season. I'm still trying to circumnavigate this trapped nerve malarky and might well have to relent and make a doctors appointment. But what's a little discomfort here and there... so the last few days have been something of a blur and not on account of the painkillers. T'was grand to see Captain Graboff who was in the 'hood with Ryan Adams. Along with Captain Kruickshank we sampled the Ashoka take on the dumpakht. Three thumbs up. Perhaps even six.

Another quick hit and run on the DWC on Friday night. Suzy Y Los Quattro were in town for their second show there of 2007. The Pretty Things were playing across town someplace but the real action was being served up here.

So, French trio, The Sonic Angels kicked off the bill in finest swamp psychedelia style kicking out a thick, grungey soup of a sound. Not sure what the recordings sound like, their myspace banjo'd my internut connection, but came across as pretty bloody choice from where I was standing. The band had been the victims of a gear theft earlier in the day but didn't seem to let that get in the way of providing some loud, dirty Panther Burns taking on Hawkwind kinda rock action.

Mark and the Spies from The Netherlands were next. Their grasp on the sixties beat handbook is tight indeed. I have a pretty low threshold for bands that simply copy what they percieve to be the right moves but these guys are truly great. From their matching apparel to their chops, there's a degree of soul involved and an understated sense of perfomance. They're equal parts Rutles to any of the more obvious comparisons that could could be made. Mark and the Spies are authentic but never precious and that's a rare commodity in these identikit, cut and paste times.

And well, Suzy and co are completely sublime. This is a big, big thing getting ready to bust out at full speed. The pop shrapnel will embed itself in anybody who can clock a great tune. Performance-wise it's just total fun and a contagious dousing in the finest rifforama that is available anywhere. A reminder of how it can be away from the constant barrage of unworthy suspects that purport to be popular. Kicking off with a new tune "Delighted To see You", the feeling was undoubtedly mutual. Their new drummer, Yuri, is setting in nicely and can deliver the beat punctuation that is required to propel such powerful pop action. The band is in the midst of preparing the as-yet untitled follow up to "Ready To Go". Four of the new songs were aired and they fit like a glove. Building on the framework that they've made so effortlessly their own. The world could sure use the tonic that they seem to have the recipe for. BB Quattro is shaping up as quite a tunesmith and "H-A-T-E" is a glambunctious stomp which somehow conjures up Le Hoodoo Gurus "Leilani" and "I Wanna Be Sedated" without sounding anything like either. It was some kind of sonic fugue that just collided in the tilt volume. Loud and altogether clear. I know there's no such thing as justice but these kids mean business.

I've no idea what being a proud parent feels like but figure I got an inkling watching and listening to this. And it's all so good hearted. that as much as anything is what makes it special. The means of getting the message out to those who need it most is fraught with bollocks these days. Taking it to the highways and byeways is the onlt certified way to connect.

And boy/girl, do these kids connect. At home in Spain, and in countries like Japan, audiences are way more sophisticated. Their tastebuds are in tune with stuff that isn't a fad. And SYLQ might seem like a simple pop ensemble but they're actually way more. They've taken the Ramones/Blondie axis and skewered it with Dictator-ial guitar licks. Sure, certain aspects might remind you of both of those but only momentarily. This isn't nostalgia. These guys weren't even born when what became to be labelled as "Punk" was born. The way they've joined up the positive musical dots to arrive at their sound is nothing short of a miracle. If it sounds derivative to you then you're not fucking listening. This deserves to go straight to this bridge and the next. When the band launched into "Lipstick To Japan", a very eyecatching girl in black bounded to the front. I hope she was caught on camera but I digress... have a look at this Ray Fury clip from Friday.



Hopefilly, it'll become possible for them to traverse the world and that Suzy will have her own "contact lense roadie" to make sure that events like last Friday won't happen again. Suzy Y Los Quattro are straining at the leash. If they were to make a serious attempt at global domination then I hope you'll all pile aboard the campaign.

BB is all fired up and ready to move mountains if necessary. By March 2008 we should be a little clearer with regard to strategy, so watch this space for further bulletins.

Meanwhile, with regard to the Dirty Water then this coming Friday, Glasgow's "ain" Primevals will be giving it laldie with The Priscillas and The Nuns. By all accounts Fridays' warm up show was some kind of religious experience so you wouldn't want to miss out on a pre-christmas one o' those now wouldyer?

Anybody who is in getting to distance of Brighton should cease what you're doing now and make your way to the Punker Bunker. Suzy and co will be whoopig it up with The Surfin' Lungs and I couldn't make it because of a prior engagement. So I'm looking for some representation there, OK? See you tomorrow...

A guid St Andrews Day to all of you. Celebrations will take place in Glasgow with The Primevals and in "the London" with honorary Scots Combo Suzy and the Fower! Not sure how many kilts will be involved in that. No time to gab, I'm having a saltire tattooed on to my map in about tewnty minutes. Catch you on the flipside, or at the bar in the DWC.

THE PRIMEVALS LAUNCH THEIR NEW ALBUM "THERE IS NO OTHER LIFE AND THIS IS IT" in GLASGOW, TOMORROW NIGHT (30th).

The show is at The Twisted Wheel in Queen Street and the band "should be on at 10pm-ish". Plus it's free, but you'll want to score a copy of the cd, natch. St. Andrew's night might actually go with a bang this time out...