The Misfits - Sunday 13th January at 5pm

This month, the Monorail Film Club is proud to have Tracyanne Campbell presenting The Misfits. Based on an original screenplay by Arthur Miller, this elegiac, beautifully shot modern Western gave his then wife Marilyn Monroe arguably her greatest dramatic role. She plays a divorcee in Reno, Nevada who gets hooked up with a trio of disillusioned cowboys (Clark Gable, Montgomery Clift and Eli Wallach) reduced to rounding up wild horses to sell for dog food.


Introduced by Tracyanne Campbell of Camera Obscura.

Come and join us in the bar afterwards to talk music, cinema and life in an informal and random way. Hope to see you there!

GFT, 12 Rose Street, Glasgow. 0141 332 8128.

We recommend booking tickets in advance.

Happy New Year from the Monorail Film Club

x

Hot on the heels of scoring #1 album here, these results just in from the Swedish Grammi's

Årets Kvinnliga Artist (Best Female Artist)

Säkert! – Säkert!

Årets Textförfattare (Best Lyrics)

Annika Norlin – Säkert!

Stick with us, we know the score! Congrats to Annika and her crew!

The Star Spangles in Spain...

january 10th 2008 - Estudio 27 - Burgos

january 11th 2008 - Boite - Madrid

january 12th 2008 - Sals Beat - Tomelloso

just a quick hit and run...

Ok, so the tickets are on sale now.

If you just want Sonics tickets, Click here!

If you want a pass for the entire Le Beat Bespoke 4 weekender then, Click here!

I suggest you grab them quick. The Forum holds 2110 apparently but circumstances prevail that these will sell out. Don't leave it too late and likewise divnae say you weren't warned.

There is other pressing work to be going on with now. Annika Norlin and Maia Hirasawa are up for Swedish Grammi's tonight. May whatever force they require to be with them weigh in where necessary.

And lastly for tonight, but decidedly not least, dig SPACEACHE while yer cybershopping for tickets...

I'm told that tickets for The Sonics LBB shingig will be available tomorrow. Spoke to someone at the ticket office at 229 The Venue but there was no info available on what time this would take place. If I find out anything before I leave for work then I'll post the info for you folks overseas that are keen to get your mitts on them. That just leaves those of us outside the London to deal with potential engaged tones up the wazoo. Looking forward to that (not). It's not clear that there will be an online booking facility.

It's pitch black outside, the weather is tipped to become nasty and I've had a hellish day. The mail seems to be awry too but apart from that, everything is just james dandy... Meanwhile, I can't stand to look at a computer screen for one second longer so see yers...

Oh yeah, PJ has The Stems at Dirty Water the night before the Pacific Northwest comes to town. Details can be yours by clicking that DWC button to your immediate left.

D.I.Y. and (very) indie post-punk from Scotland, ’77-81

Messthetics’ first Scottish installment focuses on a brief, intense scene of ardently independent bands who got started rubbing shoulders with 1977 punk then paid no attention at all to London after that. (London returned the favor.) The sound was based on guitars of all sorts, ingeniously skewed melodies and unashamed local accents. Naturally, it all fell apart as soon as “The Sound of Young Scotland” became a marketable commodity, but they left behind a rich cache of lost ‘alternative’ hits. Plenty of ‘traditional’ D.I.Y., too…

24 songs on the CD plus nine bonus MP3 tracks. 90 minutes of music.
24-page booklet, lovingly documented with histories & photos galore.

Messthetics #105 features rarities by the Fire Engines, Scrotum Poles, 35mm Dreams, The Exile, Commercials, Fakes, Metropak, Tony Pilley, Visitors, Article 58, Radio Ghosts, Rapid Dance, Strutz, Vertical Smiles, Restricted Code, Brills, Rhythm Method, He's Dead Jim, Paul Reekie, and Friction.

Unreleased first recordings by The Dirty Reds [who became the Fire Engines], 35mm Dreams, Jazzateers, International Spys [pre-Radio Ghosts, Wee Cherubs, Bachelor Pad] and Edinburgh’s legendary Ettes. Plus other never-before-released material from the Scrotum Poles, Commercials, Tony Pilley, Article 58, Radio Ghosts, Vertical Smiles, and Restricted Code…

Mess+Aesthetics. Between 1977 and ’83 hundreds of U.K. bands put out their own records and tapes –on the cheap and utterly without apology. With “D.I.Y.”, Punk and everything that came before it collided gloriously with D.I.Y.’s fresh aesthetic of making and sharing music without any pretension to popular success. There’s no common style: instead these songs are united by wit, enthusiasm, musical risk-taking …and a conspicuous lack of pose.

More about this later... blimey, this jump-started what is left of my recall...

Tickets for Le Beat Bespoke 4 will go on sale on Tuesday 8th January (Elvis's birthday)

Here's the link.

So without further ado, let's get to business...

The Roys – Holus Bolus (In-Fidelity)

Imagine a peculiar intersection between Crowded House and The Gun Club. There’s an inordinately commercial aspect to this album. The title means “all at once” and is something that I remember my old man saying a lot when I was a nipper. Anyway, they kick up a mighty agreeable racket with all manner of musical shards to trade up a broad swathe of appeal. It’s fairly understated in the way it gets under your skin and isn’t too much like anything that I’ve heard in recent times.

“Sabrina” recalls The Johnnys and that’s no bad thing at this point on a driech January Sunday morning. In these days where it’s almost impossible for a band to appear on media radar, The Roys brand of acoustic country blues could undoubtedly appeal across a whole mess of demographic twaddle. A whip-crackin’ hell of a time is here to be had by all. The closing “All I Had” is a great, great song that combines the best country and pop aesthetics to arrive at a something quite timeless in terms of twang.

Klondike’s North 40 – The Straight Path (I-94 Bar)

The esteemed Antipodean info-portal is now a label and what better way to kick off such a venture than with Chris Masuak’s current outfit. I know that most of you folks of a certain vintage are familiar with this guy’s guitar slinging prowess. However, there may be readers that fell by here by accident so let’s address that possibility. Chris is the Australian Ross The Boss and Scott Kempner sort of rolled into one. His work with The Hitmen (Shock has just reissued two sets to prove it) and Radio Birdman is the stuff of legend. Heck, he was even on the Manitoba’s Wild Kingdom album. We’re not dealing with chopped liver here.

Several generations of rock’n’roll kudos are wrapped up in all this. Old and in the way but positively bustling with that trademark stringbending. “Recipe for Disaster” takes place in the good old Four Winds bar. A tale of a bona fide catastrophe. “The Straight Path” is a head-banging example of a man wearing his indulgences well. It might introduce younger folks to these at the same time as it pushes the buttons for those of us who miss those rolls in the thunder. BOC fans will find much to transport them back to their old haunt. Screamin’ dizbuster cocktails all round.

The place where this would work most effectively is presumably in a club, louder than hell in a churchlike environment. The surf/metal cut and shut of “Gershwin May Consider” is a prime example of what is and always shall be the holy grail of our raison d'être here at this cyber rag.


The Maharajas – In Pure Spite (Low Impact)

To Sweden then, and the latest instalment of primo r&r from these past masters of the form. Garage and pub rock hops are brewed in measures only known to themselves. This allows them to pour their hearts and souls out with a gusto seldom heard in these cynical, formulated times. As has been suspected for some time though, there’s something in the drinking water over there. Some strange crystals or something that transforms those who imbibe into authentic purveyors of the music that’ll be around long after the latest fad is consigned to landfill. It’s all about recycling and if you can serve it up like this then there’s surely a nobel prize in the pipeline.

“Suckerpunch” sounds like a lost Hoodoo Gurus nugget. In fact the whole shebang is like some unexploded bomb that’s just gone off. Maybe I should take that authentic claim back, or at least put it into some kind of perspective. It might suggest that this stuff is contrived which of course it isn’t. It’s a concoction arrived at by people who know the form inside out. The knowing refrain of “it’s a buzz buzz buzz” on “Not A New Sensation” is especially great. “the flavour of the month, lasting for a week”. These guys know their product inside, outside and all points between, when you get to digging that then “In Pure Spite” gets even better.


The Friggs – Today Is Yesterdays Tomorrow (Singles and unreleased songs) (Apex East recording)

A collection of gal-punk gold log considered lost to the world. For the uninitiated, The Friggs were the missing link between The Pandoras and Girlschool. An east coast phenom that included the great Palmyra Delran who has been a collaborator with Ben Vaughn in a squad of great North Jersey groups over the years. In fact, Ben produced the bulk of these sides so you know its packing heat. These were previously scattered across Apex, Sympathy and Telstar releases and of corse, these demos have never seen the light of day until now.

This is available now from CD Baby and with the dollar rate the way it is then I’d advise you pick up these 15 songs for the price of a couple of pints. The sounds will intoxicate you and induce a noggin crunch but you won’t feel the worse for wear. In addition , they’ll be there for you to revisit time and time again. What’s not to dig?

I believe, from a reliable authority, that the tickets for the Le Beat Bespoke shindig will go on sale next week. As soon as the info is available, it'll be on here.

And don't forget The Nomads are at the DWC in just about 6 weeks. If you can, and you don't attend that, then you forfeit your op to party with the Easter bunny. Well, in a perfect world...

... in Edinburgh tomorrow night, while SONIC BOOM and ST. DELUXE are at the new STEREO in Glasgow. Unlikely I'll be at either the way things are going but you never know...

I'm sure there are things happening all over but it takes some time to get back into any sort of swing. One things for sure, soon as I find out anything hard and fast about tickets, etc. for The Sonics then such info will be posted faster than straight away. Can't say nae fairer than that.

Started the annual grind today so it was cool to come home and (courtesy of Mr Spence) found the new Carbon 14 waiting. That being the case, I'm going to investigate that so I can give you folks the full lowdown in due course.

The only other positive spin I can muster with regard to today is that it's nearly Friday.

Don't feel much like jabbering but I do have a hankering to turn this thing off... a habit I'm keen to embrace here in this much vaunted but thus far more of the same thing called 2008.

In a bid to take my mind off the fact that I have to return to work tomorrow, it seemed fitting to rake in the archives. While I have no tangible resolution to do so, some order needs to be restored to what stays and what goes. Landfill is not an option but recycling certainly is.

Anyway, I found this and thought it might be of interest to some of you folks. particularly in far flung places. The intention to update this at least once a day is still in place although the spirit is oft weak. I'll get back to the actual business of the music soon, but not the music business.

Well, I guess this 2008 beast is well and truly ring-a-ding'd (or is that dung'd?) in. Thanks for the various massages, etc. I've been a right lazy sod today and intend to keep that practice up for the duration. Watched "The Apartment" and then "McLintock" came on so old square eyes is considering how to follow that, possibly with a Twin Peaks-athon after I rustle up a snack. In the meantime, hopefully what you're up to - or have been up to - hasn't resulted in a sorry heid or worse. No resolutions made thus none to break. I can feel the inevitable pumpkin-ness coming on. Normality, or whatever passes for that, is just up over that ridge. Them nights are once again fair drawing oot...

I discovered the joys of The Dollyrots via CAKE and thunk to myself that you folks might be up for a spot of good-natured daft pop this NYE.

So here we are again folks, on the cusp. As always, may the good stuff extend way beyond the confines of merely 2008. We're all awesome, ain't we?

Anyway, thanks for continuing to drop by. Who knows what's in store? That's it for "this one". Catch you on the flipside. That's "hipster" speak for tomorrow... aye, right!

So here comes the backwards glance over 2007…

Säkert! – s/t (Razzia)

This is outright, the album I’ve listened to most this past year. Once a day at least since it rolled up. The fact that it’s all in Swedish matters not a jot and I’m betting that you’ll be smitten too.



The Dictators – Every Day Is Saturday (Norton)

To have all this stuff properly released is like manna from some rock’n’roll heaven. Oh it is from R&R heaven… Norton Records.





The Boonaraaas!!! – 5 Steps Ahead (SoS)

2007 finally saw the follow up to Go Get Goo Goo blast across our bows. Not a second too soon. And also their first live foray into the UK.





The Star Spangles – Dirty Bomb (Tic)

The second album came out and never set the world on fire.
Shame on the world.





Ben Weasel and the Iron String Quartet – This One is Bitter (Mendota)

The undisputed master of post Ramonic punk dropped in with another caché of anthems for every generation.




Upp Till Kamp – OST (Razzia)

Amazing soundtrack to the best thing I saw on the wee screen this year. And that includes The Sopranos and the latest season of Curb. Composed by Mattias Bärjed of TSOOL. Treat yourself to the dvd.




Ben Vaughn – Vaughn sings Vaughn Vol. 2 (ManyMoods)

Do I have to explain this to you? In the unlikely event that you don’t have all his records already then go here and start stocking up. I just found out that there's a Volume 3 now... blimey.




Lola Dutronic – The Love Parade (Bongo Beat)

Includes a sublime treatment of “La Mer”. A welcome diversion off the loud rock path.





Stereo Total – Paris <> Berlin (Disko B)

They still got it, Two people with the ability to rock with the gusto of at least 11. Vinyl 45 of "Plastico" headed your way via Elefant.





Wooden Shjips – s/t (Holy Mountain)

I think it lived up to expectations. Some didn’t. The trick will be to deliver it live to we Euro types. That has to be on the cards?





Shows…

Suicide – Soundcheck at The Buffalo Bar, London
Roky Erickson – Royal Festival Hall, London
Suzy & Los Quattro (twice) – Dirty Water, London
SohoDolls – King Tuts, Glasgow
Stereo Total/Fangs – The Admiral Bar, Glasgow
Teenage Fanclub/Pastels – Mono, Glasgow
The Primevals/The Thanes – Henry’s Cellar Bar, Edinburgh
Robbie Fulks -ABC, Glasgow
Amy Rigby/Wreckless Eric – Bein Inn, Glenfarg
The David Scott Ensemble – Willow Tea Rooms, Glasgow

Not music but quite a trip… David Lynch at the GFT

And that’s your lot, enough with the looking back. Plenty stuff coming up in 2008 to make your eyes and ears water. Feel free to list your preferred booty in the comments dept...

The Cannibals will warm up in London before heading to Japan in January 2008!

Check here for details. I see my old bud Hiroshi Sekiguchi is djing too...

Sounds like a top night out...

I hope to make some inroads on the Boonaraaas!!! thing for Dig It magazine today but you never know. Well there is one thing that I know, the world has to be fucked when the singer in Jethro Tull makes the New Years Honours List. And then there's Weller with Primal Scream just there on Janice Forsyth - utter guff although she has just redeemed things by following it up with The Red Hot Chili Pipers version of "Smoke On The Water". But now that's broken ito something more trad now too. Bollocks.

Anyway, yesterday was weird. Thought I was sickening for something but it seems to have backed off. I'm hoping that 2008 will see an upswing in all our fortunes. Been fannying about with a top gear for '07 listing, it might even make it on here before Monday but then again...

A message from Theresa Kereakes...

"I'm bringing my Vintage Punk Rock photo exhibit to the Field!!! Free party - Phast Phreddie, the Boogaloo Omnibus will be spinning... There will be all kinds of rare, behind-the-scenes kind of photos as well as popular favorites... like THE CRAMPS!!! Kid Congo!!!

The tour site is at: http://unguardedmoments.INFO

Its called UNGUARDED MOMENTS: Backstage and Beyond... pretty self-explanatory. This tour started in October of this year in Oxford, MS and has beenbuilding momentum on its stops at Memphis, Houston, Los Angeles andAtlanta... Sold out of prints everywhere I went - so - YOU CAN PRE-ORDER /PRE-BUY your favorite print... seriously... folks in Houston were outraged that one guy came early and bought ALL the Cramps pix... details on the pre-order are at http://punkrockgiftshop.com

8x10's are $25 and if you want 16x20 portraits of The Cramps, Jeffrey Lee Pierce or Stiv Bators... those are $100.

If you're out of town and want em, you can add shipping and I'll send em to you...

See you at the Field... January 10 (2008)."

Brother Patrick kindly sent me this mag a couple or three weeks ago and I just remembered that I hadn't mentioned it. The advancing years seem to be ramping up up the memory loss, what can I say... so yeah, Rock Hardi is all in French and it comes with a cd that includes The Sonic Angels and The Fleshtones. It also has Ivy on the cover and I know that'll be enough for some of you to be reaching for the trigger.

Nowt much else to report. Heading out to hook up with The Rt. Hon Peter Tjolsen so no time for the jibjab right now. I did have a fusion breakfast which involved haggis and coca cola, which seemed like a reasonable idea at the time. Those old Andy Shernoff commandments are a hard habit to break.

It's all pretty quiet in all, 'cept for the weather which sucks but when I don't have to venture out to the stalag, that's really not a problem.

Happy holidays, dear friend, from your dapper friends at Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co. And, to keep things merry, for your consideration we offer up a festive trio of shows this week -- featuring a rockabilly revue with our Ropin' Records pals Ace Brown & His Ohio Valley Boys (Cleveland, OH) and Johnny Carlevale & The Rollin' Pins (Providence, RI)!

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27th / OTTO'S SHRUNKEN HEAD / 538 East 14th Street (just west of Avenue B) in Manhattan / 8:00 sharp until 11:30 / No cover!

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28th / HANK'S SALOON /
46 Third Avenue (at the corner of Atlantic Avenue) in Brooklyn / 10:00 sharp until 1:00 / No cover!

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29th / RODEO BAR & GRILL /
375 Third Avenue (at the corner of 27th Street) in Manhattan / 10:30 sharp until 1:30 / No cover!

Season's greetings! Sincerely- Michael
Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co.
"Ballads, Boogies & Blues"