And the video for "Anna" is here... (Thanks Martina)

Working last weekend knocked my whole routine out of whack. Even although I generally rise at what most people consider to be the middle of the night, the graft aspect perhaps should have been factored in. Anyway, what matters most is that it's Friday now. Can't say I'll be venturing too far from the midden heid but you never know.

One thing I will be doing is tuning in to find out what happens when the E & A show hits the SF area today, September 5th, 2:00 PM Pacific, 5:00 pm Eastern, and 10 pm UK-time. Amy & Eric and will be stopping by KALX for an interview with DJ Mack.

If you're in the San Francisco Beige Area, listen on 90.7 fm. Otherwise online here.

Thanks to Lady Karen McB of the Goofenhaus Estate for the heads up.

FRIDAY 5th SEPTEMBER at

THE TWISTED WHEEL

72 QUEEN STREET

GLASGOW

It’ll be practically 3 years to the day since “Introducing…” was released. Time is flying by but it doesn’t seem like it could have been so long. That album helped me over a particularly fraught period and I’ll state right now that I’m biased, because I owe an enormous debt of gratitude to the music that this artist makes. Without wishing to be a drama queen, it has a lot to do with why I’m still hanging in here.

"More Modern Short Stories from Hello Saferide" (Razzia) contains 12 “chapters”. Top yarns set to exquisite tunes. An object lesson in boardwalk folk complete with soul and countripolitan pop flourishes. Andreas Mattson’s production presents each vignette in a shimmering, understated cinematic snapshot.

In the olden days, it took at least four albums to reach this level of connection. The authoritative nature of the material bestows a providence that in terms of light and shade and space is pretty much unbeatable. The ability to exact such fine detail in such a simple, direct format is rare these days. Annika Norlin's songs are like short films, the narrative is often so compelling that they probably should be. They’re very real on the landscape of a time when (almost) nothing is.

“I Wonder Who Is Like This One” might sound like a Roky Erickson title but it’ll all fall into place when you hear it. The premise is that people are like songs. Which are you? This segues into “2008” which is positive compared to “2006” but still harbouring reservations. It sounds a little festive too. The dynamic of the segue between the first two tracks hit me like a truck. It's not always apparent that pop music can still do that. Not sure that "Can't Get You Out of My Head" is a good fit for the author or not but it certainly describes the feeling you get when you listen to her work.

I’m not going to describe each cut. You need to discover the joy of HS for yourself. “Overall” is perhaps the closest we come to Säkert! in English and incase you were wondering, it has nothing to do with protective clothing. Sparks and Pulp are just two acts that it reminds me despite the fact that it actually sounds like neither. The piano/hammond that forms the bed of “Lund” is perfect and that’s before you get to the warmth of the vocal. Consider Buffy Saint Marie with Roy Bittan and Danny Federici maybe, then you’re getting close (ish).

Remember “Leaving You Behind” (from the now out of print Would You Let Me… EP)? Well, some of “25 days” may surpass even that. I don’t think that I’ve heard the expression “You stupid fuck” expressed with such conviction. And anybody who knows me understands exactly my predilection for cursing.

By now you should be acquainted with Annika’s imaginary daughter, “Anna”. A chip off the old block complete with those “punk rock manners”. “Travelling With HS” may well remind you of Kirsty MacColl and that’s perfectly reasonable. An odd remnant of familiarity adds greater emphasis to underscore that this is as sonically pleasing a set of songs as you're likely to hear. Maybe ever.

As the strings drift wistfully out of “Arjeplog”, there’s pretty much no other option other than just to “press play again”.

And again.

(Don't forget, you can order a signed copy here - they won't last forever. Once the word really gets out then you'll be snookered.)

RIP - Jerry Reed

RIP - Don LaFontaine

If you're in LA then please go along to the Cinema Bar tonight. The entertainers known as Wreckless Eric and Amy Rigby will be there to put a big smile on your coupon.

Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co. again takes to the Rodeo Bar, the honky tonkin’est joint in town -- joined this week by a very special guest in Japanese country music star Tomi Fujiyama! As a mere youngster in 1964 Tomi toured the US and had the honor of singing on the venerable "Grand Ole Opry" in Nashville, TN. And now we are honored that she will be making her first return to New York since that tour, performing with us!

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4th / RODEO BAR / With special guest Tomi Fujiyama! /
375 Third Avenue (at the corner of 27th Street) in Manhattan / Three rollickin' sets, from 10:00pm sharp until 1:00am / No cover -- and free peanuts!

And, for those with a Long Island bent...
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6th / SWING DANCE LONG ISLAND'S "FALL DANCE" / At the Smithtown Historical Society's "Brush Bar" in Smithtown, NY / Three swingin' sets, from 8:00pm until 11:00pm (lesson at 7:30) /
SDLI Society members and non-members welcome!

Always yours,

Michael Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co. "Ballads, Boogies & Blues"

As you may surmise from the time of my first post today, the insomnia is back. The first sign of the seasonal change was also evident with the temperature being quite a few notches below recent highs. The consideration of buying shares in a company that makes woolly jumpers might be a way of counteracting the daily gloom of the media economy coverage. Sales in these are bound to rise, after all nobody is going to be able to turn their sodding heating on, far less up.

I really need to get my eyes tested again too. Talk about being blind as a bat, at least they have some kind of radar. I'm pretty sure it's down to spending too much time in front of a computer. Driving in the dark the other night, some twat was giving it full beam in the opposite direction and I simply couldn't see a thing. Nada. Nowt.

And finally, to compound the ongoing e-mail problems, it seems as though this blog thing is unobtainable at times. I imagine it's a blogger problem but who knows. At the minute I just crack off e-mails and hope that they reach their destination. I never actually know because some of you folks e-mails don't reach me. All very frustrating but I don't have the energy or wherewithal to investigate right now. I'm harbouring a distinct yearning to fall off the face of the earth.

But I can't do that just yet because there’s a couple of three important things that I need to get together. While I’m doing that, here are some recent groovy myspace things that you may care to check out.

From Sweden, Säkert! alumni... 2 White Horses

Also from Sweden, NBT old timers surely remember... The Hidden Charms

Brother Patrick hepped me to Lover! from Memphis.

And HT, the curator of that North Fork Sound introduced me to The Lone Sharks

Something there for darn near everybody...

I saw a bus with the side emblazoned "Rocknrolla" and recalled something that Tony Thewlis told me some time ago. Checked out the website where the soundtrack details are and there it was, The Scientists "We Had Love". The score also features The Hives, The Sonics, Kim Fowley and Wanda Jackson.

I'm not a fan of Guy Ritchie's movies - "Lock, Stock...", supposedly the best of them is awful but kudos to him or whoever was responsible for getting "WHL" through the vetting procedure. Perhaps a whole new generation will discover this stuff?

There's a thought for this time of writing on a Tuesday morning...

Ben Vaughn is headed for Spain. Francisco Munster reckons it may even be with his LA band. Blimey.

12 de septiembre - Lemon Pop Festival - Murcia

13 de septiembre - Four Seasons Sixties Club - Castellon

17 de septiembre -

+ Dj Alexandre Crespo - Sidecar - Barcelona

18 de septiembre - + Dj Eneida Fever! - Sala Sol - Madrid

19 de septiembre - Popxiriapop Festival - Carballo

20 de septiembre - Azkena - Bilbao

(If you live anywhere near any of these then miss this guy at yer peril)

Thanks to Ulla and Francisco for the info.

I've had two 5am rises and two 6am starts this weekend so I feel a little puggled.

Not exactly down with blogging at this point so this'll be brief. If I don't pass out in front of the TV then I might be back later. What I did do since returning home from the stalag is watch Paradise Lost 2 because I believe there's some WM3 activity coming up very soon.

Hopefully justice will be seen to be done this time...

Want to see what "an alien of extraordinary ability" looks like?

Go to one of these...

Both of these clips are great so click play and dig 'em.

You've nothing better to do right?

I have a very early rise (even by my standards) tomorrow so I updated the North Fork Sound logo on your left there and that's it for tonight. Short and sweet.

The auspicious sounds of JD King and the Coachmen are waiting for you at the newly-launched Myspace site. Crack off a friend request, like now!

Ramones post at So Many Records...

Great to hear from my old pal, Michael Weldon. Let him clue you in to what he's up to...

"My Friday Night Psychotronic Radio Show is now available live - throughout the Universe! Go here and click on the radio.

I'm on Friday nights from 8 to midnight. (I imagine that's EST)

The site also has a Youtube clip of me reporting from the old 42nd St."

I just got the new new Fatboy album, "In My Bones" which is out on September 24th. More when I've been able to digest it's charms. And while we're on the subject of charm, the more eagle-eyed will notice that is the same day as the Hello Saferide album. And have you sprung for a signed copy of that via Bengans yet? Procrastinate no longer and do it.

Been a funny sort of a day and there's humdrum guff I need to attend to so this missive will be short. Today there was supposed to be a blitz on people using hand held mobile phones. Too bad I wasn't an undercover polis because I clocked a couple on the way home. Wonder how many points they get for each idiot they snag?

Theres a new Matt and Kim track available for download here, "Good Old Fashion Nightmare" has a GRANDiose chinatown undercarriage on it. Groovetastic.

I think you'll dig the heck out of Hyper Plastic. "Ron Asheton's Loafers" anyone?

And to sign off, here's a version of the song that kicks off "More Modern Short Stories From...". It's a cracker. Not a rock monolith but mighty in many other respects.

Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co. says farewell to summer, dear friend!

First in the faux tropical setting of Otto's Shrunken Head for our last-Thursday-of-every-month residency -- and then on the famed Coney Island boardwalk at the 2008 Coney Island Rockabilly Festival!

THURSDAY, AUGUST 28th / OTTO'S SHRUNKEN HEAD TIKI BAR & LOUNGE 538 East 14th Street (just west of Avenue B) in Manhattan / Two season ending shows, from 8:00 sharp until 10:00 / With salty snacks -- and no cover!

Followed by sand, surf, beer and burlesque...

SATURDAY, AUGUST 30th / 2008 CONEY ISLAND ROCKABILLY FESTIVAL!

Outside on the boardwalk (at Stillwell Avenue) in Coney Island, Brooklyn / Six bands, from 2-8pm, with SIT & Die at 5pm / A mere $5 cover!

Seasonally yours, Michael, Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co. "Ballads, Boogies & Blues"

The ongoing PC problems at this end don't seem to be going away. To that end, I think the contact link here on the blog still works but I can't be certain. Forget myspace, I have no confidence in that because I can only get in there for a few minutes before it collapses. So that leaves facebook and hotmail. If you've sent a message and I haven't replied then chances are I never got it. As far as I know I can mail out but there's some problem with stuff coming in. Possibly to do with the security. It allows in the shite but stops real messages like those bozo doormen in terrible bars you wouldn't want to go in anyway. Way to fucking go.

I'll investigate the situation but don't hold out any hope of it being rectified.

And gordon bennet. Did you see any of that Olympic closing bollocks? What an embarrassment. If somebody had commissioned a presentation to be so toe-curlingly retarded they'd have been hard pressed to come up with anything resembling old Boris waving the flag as a centrepiece. George Dawes with a thatch.

And also the masterstroke double header. Lets get a cherry picker and have Jimmy Page mug along with Leona Lewis on a version of Whole Lotta Love! Brilliant! Then we could haul that donkey Beckham in to kick some footballs into the parade. I think that the Tate Modern image of Myra Hindley is the least of their worries. It was all positively Graham Linehan. Didn't it resemble the Craggy Island fair? I'm making an unfair comparison here... of course it wasn't. The CI scene was much preferable.

A grand start then to something that's destined to be the biggest non-event of all eternity. Just 4 years away. Make your arrangements to leave the country now.

It can only be a matter of time before Great as the word before Britain is replaced by something more apt. Like Poor, or maybe just slot in Ex before the lot. Not that I'm convinced that it ever was but anyway. I'm not sure that a small bag of medals from some dodgy competition is going to make that much of a difference. My flabber has never been more gasted than it was witnessing a few minutes of that debacle yesterday. Makes the Eurovision song contest look like a village fete. We taxpayers should be glad that our hard earned money is going to such a good cause. I guess those KLF guys weren't available to just torch it then.

If the Hello Saferide album hadn't been here to calm me down then I could have jolly well exploded and take out a nearby High Street. It's a fine, fine line...

LOOK OUT AMY, HE'S BEHIND YOU!

(photo by Karen Hibberd)

Wreckless Eric and Amy Rigby are about to undertake a mission. Commencing this coming Thursday in Portland, Oregon - their wagon will be rolling all across the USA and briefly into Canada. Their show is the best antidote to all the election piffle that’s poised to go down between now and November. Readers out there are invited to take a look at this datesheet and make a beeline for the venue that best fits their location .

These two legendary performers are about to release their debut album as a duo. Their worlds were always destined to collide and you better be glad that it did. Out on Stiff this coming September 14th, it was seemingly made in a vacuum by them for themselves so it’s little wonder that it turned out as downright great as it has. Not a lot like either of their individual work this self-titled set brings together the grooviest aspects of both to work some very special magic. “Another Drive In Saturday” evokes Mott being psychedelicised by Joe Meek.

If you lived through that period then you might just get all misty-eyed without being able to figure out why. Whoever nailed these two together did a master craftspersons job. Notice how I didn’t fall into the sexist trap there? Eric’s electronic wizardry sits alongside Amy’s sharp take on the pop aesthetic to create a sound that’s definitely not like anything else you’ve heard in recent times if bloody ever. A proverbial mainline to a great time, minstrels of this calibre are in very short supply. Eric claims that their version of “I Still Miss Someone” is like “the Seekers on substances”.

Check out their commentary on some of the songs, if that doesn’t make you want to hear it then sod off back to whatever fly by night you’re down with at the minute.

Folks in the UK/Europe should head over to The Turkey Zone for the best deal on a copy of the album. Those in the US should attend a show and score one direct. This enterprising couple have gone to great lengths to organise the upcoming jaunt so please show the requisite appreciation by turning out. No matter what night they happen to arrive in your locale.