I do get myself into some fankles. This often comes as a by-product of not wanting to let people down. Other times it's borne of the reality of "if you need something doing, do it yourself, then you only have one person that you can blame".

Your reporter here excels in both avenues and also in the art of procrastination. Lately I've been seriously considering trying to spend less time at a computer. Being that I achieve the desired reduction at work then this will have to be tackled at home. However, it's proving to be easier to consider than do. I many ways, it's as bad as those who seemed to be glued to a mobile phone. At least I have no truck with that particularly bad habit.

While I have been known to use one, I do so very seldom. My desire to be like a small number of folks who will have nothing to do with such a device is an aspiration that is within my reach. At the same time, I appreciate the necessary evil status when logistics get futzed but then, and only then.

I can guarantee that when we get to the pub or wherever then the bloody thing is switched off. Honest injun. Are you even allowed to say that in this day and age of political correctness. The need to apply that same sort of discipline to my computer habits is where I'm at. Not sure how many steps it takes but I'll get there. Eventually. Possibly.

Lou Molinaro talks to Nick Vahlberg via the interweb...

Update: I just discovered this via The Nomads myspace...

The Things “Some Kind Of Kick” (Nicotine) provides a full on pummel not unlike The Jim Jones Revue album. Their relentless old school teen punk is designed to be played with the volume on tilt. They’ve discovered and forged their own identity. I think I’ve said before that it’s down to the keyboards. The result owes just as much to the first Modern Lovers record as it does to any psychobillious pshennaigans.

They’ve managed to inject a fresh energy into the common or garden take on the garage disease. Plus they have youth on their side. Maybe that will construct a bridge to lure future generations away from whatever the latest dilution of the already fetid Libertines oeuvre toward the original source. Did you watch that Cramps clip I posted yesterday? Tell me one act that you’ve come across lately that even comes close? In terms of excitement, then these Dublin kids at least have a shot.

What The Things are pushing is nothing new but then again what is? Kudos then that they haven’t just reinvented the wheel either and this particular chemistry should provide some high octane thrills for those of you that follow a particular persuasion. I hope they retain this snarl for some considerable time to come. The album closes with a reflective, relatively slow song called “Sandy Tells Me”. It fuses something of Inspiral Carpets with early Gun Club. Let’s leave calendars and time out of it and present you with the fact that that these kids have made a bloody good debut album. That’s enough to be going on with.

Talking about The Modern Lovers, Jonathan Richman has a multiple language album “¿A Qué Venimos Sino A Caer?” out on Munster. A collection of songs sung mostly in Spanish, French and Italian. Recorded at his home in San Francisco and also Tarifa in Spain, right by the Gibraltar Strait, close to Africa. There’s one exception in English, the sublime, acoustic northern soul vibe of “My Baby Loves Loves Loves Me”. As far as I know this is a special edition and what’s more there’s a limited vinyl pressing so you might want to grab that before it vanishes.

Note to self. Go upstairs and fetch the ML debut. A fitting close to an excellent musical weekend just prior to turning back into a pumpkin, or maybe that should be punk-kin?

From: Leee Black Childers c/o Murray Ramone/Shock and Awe myspace...

Rock and Roll Evolution. On the evening of January 30th, I will be appearing onstage in the Purcell Room at The Royal Festival Hall discussing the strange but true source of glam rock and its inevitable bastard children. Through a show of my photography throughout the 1970's, I'll show rock and roll springing from the teased wigs and false eyelashes of the flaming creatures who once walked the streets of New York -- to grow into its true culmination --ANARCHY!!!

Friday, January 30th, 7:45 PM. The Purcell Room @ The Royal Festival Hall.
London, England.

Rupert Smith talks to Leee Black Childers.

Here we go again...

RIP - Tony Hart

I was just trying to figure out when the last Shoeshine Records showcase for Celtic Connections was. I think it was 2000 but I don’t altogether trust anything I think anymore. So something like 9 years down the ‘pike, it was time to do it all again. The ABC in Glasgow is a great venue, the sightlines are excellent I don’t think I’ve ever been at a show there with bad sound. Seeing an act on a proper stage makes all the difference. For everybody.

Boa Morte (from Cork in Ireland) kicked things off with their soundtratmospheric mood music. Lost a wee bit in translation and even in direction in places for me but they have their moments. The fact that they were playing as people were coming in was a distraction and what they do requires some concentration. And silence, because some of it is very quiet. I guess you could call it post rock with an organic twist.

BMX Bandits set only just seemed to begin when it was done. With most of the songs coming from “Bee Stings”, the eight piece line up literally soared. I heard some people in the lavvies complaining that they should have closed the evening. That kind of controversy is what makes the world go around. “Witchi-Tai-To” was equal parts stunning and mesmerising. It left a massive jag of positive energy in the room. Update - bandits interview here.

It was a surprise to learn that Norman Blake and Euros Child hadn’t done the duo thing in public before. This bodes well for the eventual album that will be delivered from the two, possibly later in the year. Their Simon and Garfunkel vs McGuinness Flint stylings were just the ticket for an inclement January nicht. Closing with a song called (I think) “Cave Dance”, this is a real shapeshifter that goes from being Rockpile via The Beach Boys into a Ron Mael staccato prog via Suicide conclusion. They could fashion a whole EP out of this one alone. The have another show, at the CCA next Saturday (24th). Update - I forgot, the did a great version of "Love Is In Motion" by Michael Brown and Ian Lloyd's Stories.

I hadn’t seen Attic Lights since the opened for the Hacienda Brothers many moons ago. That was the last time I was able to spend time with the great Chris Gaffney so the memory is inseparable. They’ve come a long, long way and the Americana-esque tendencies have given way to distinct west coast (of Scotland) pop. It’s a pretty confident crew that kicks off with their “hits”. Delivering most of their recently release debut album, the presence of a string section (The Cairn String Quartet) really upped the ante. The Lights also performed their take on the Minder theme, “I Could Be So Good For You”, which will grace the new version of the TV show that is about to appear on Channel 5 shortly.

Can’t remember when the last time I saw a four band bill where at least two of them didn’t blow but this thankfully bucked that trend. The icing on the cake was the dj antics of Camera Obscura’s Traceyanne and Carey. Proving that slapping a cd into a desk between sets is an outmoded concept and I know the audience appreciated the human touch. I’d like to go on record at this point to say that I was sold way before they played Arthur Alexander. Andy Dunkley would be proud of you ladies.

You can find photos of all the bands here.

I never saw this before... (discovered via the Staysick board)

I’m listening to North Fork Sound while I attempt to backup and delete stuff from the computer and The Herd’s “From The Underworld” just came on. Always a favourite, the almost never make them like that anymore if ever. But sometimes they do.

The first taste of the Adiam Dymott album is “Miss You” (Razzia) builds on the promise of “Memory Loss” and is structured atop the burundified drum track of Fatboy’s “Born To Love One Woman”. 2 minutes and 56 seconds of unadulterated glitter-rock dynamite and ginchy in the extreme. This is rock’n’roll, not rock and roll, sonically and texturally first rate.

How is it that old parental warning about “the beat” went again? Well it just got very infectious again to the point of tribal. Ladies and gents, the queen of the wild frontier! I wish it could be pressed on 7” black vinyl and the flipside would be the instrumental track. Irrespective of format shortcomings, this is excellent. An utterly caffine-free pick me up.

OK, let's leave that fact that the opening track on Bruce's new album seems to lift the basic components of "I Was Made For Loving You" by Kiss. It's sort of unfortunate but there you go. I know that some of you hate Springsteen like I do Primal Scream and I know of others who detest both. Some were won back by "Dream Baby Dream" recently. Americans (and Germans, another maligned breed) can do irony but maybe it doesn't manifest itself like the Brit versh of that particular commodity and why the fuck should it? It should be stated that I also have a soft spot for Kiss but have become appalled at Simmons in particular. My Kiss are better than The Stranglers routine is, I believe, a firm crowd pleaser .

However, Walmart and the Superbowl notwithstanding - you can't write off a large chunk of his back catalogue. And I imagine that it's this material that will make up the content of the tribute shows taking place in two weeks time at Debaser in Malmo and Stockholm. The info is here if you're in a position to cut along to either of these events.

Mark Hagen's recent interview with the man himself will be broadcast on BBC Radio 2 on January 24th. When he was there, Mark suggested to The Boss that he listen to Hello Saferide. Bruce, if you did that, then as far as I'm concerned you can recycle whatever the heck you like. With bloody bells on. Ha ha.

Update: Mark's Springsteen interview can be read here.

What year is it? Mott The Hoople reunion info...

(Got this from a myspace post by Mr T. Tex Edwards)

Thanks to HT for the heads up!

(click on image to make it legible)

Another one gone, damnit! Can't the grim reaper take a breather or go after the more deserving??

Anyway, it's the weekend and that's something. I have a wee pile of stuff to root through here and am looking forward to that. I'm also mildly pissed at the whining about The Stooges not being inducted into some ridiculous self congratulatory bunfight. There are some good acts in that fictitious shack but not too many and maybe the criteria was a little more pure then. What was once a well-intentioned recognition of art is now way dilapidated. Surely it doesn't matter. The guy who was the missing link between garage punk and most everything since that's been worth listening to, is gone. No corporate do on earth can make up for them apples.

This virtual nursing home ought to be condemned. The real kudos lies with staying out of the Rock and Roll (no 'n's for these people) Hall of Tame. So, celebrate your heroes and heroines, or just your plain favourite music. Having it validated by a bunch of numpties is not necessary because life, as we're learning recently, is too too short and filled with more stuff than there is time to consume.

So there, got that out of my system. I'm off to play Adiam Dymott's debut single "Miss You" abnormally loudly in tribute to Ron A. Toodle fecking pip anatt!

RIP - Sir John Mortimer

Enough with people shuffling off this mortal coil already. As if life wasn't depressing enough.

However, the weekend is in sight and if I can get it together, I'll be attending the Shoeshine Showcase on Saturday evening. Of course I'd prefer to be at P3 Guld in Gothenburg but them's thar breaks. Paris tonight for the Fleshtones would be a hoot and a half too.

Anyway here's a wee taste of what's in store at P3 Guld...

RIP - Gary Kurfirst

RIP - Ricardo Montalban

Despite my best attempts at procrastination, I made a little progress today. Not much but some. In keeping with that, this will be brief. One thing, I have a copy of the version of the "Diamonds, Fur Coat, Champagne" 10 inch by Primal Scream that's looking for a home. Got it for somebody that doesn't require it so let me know if you do.

As you may, or may not know, I have no time for this crew despite their leaders affiliations with acts that form the very basis of the NBT existence. I'm sure there was something else to run up the mast but I can't recall what it was. Just heard that Tory twerp David Cameron on the radio and his voice and slimy persona has given me the dry boke. As Harry Enfield-esque characters go, this one takes the entire box of caramel wafers.

RIP - Patrick McGoohan

He's back to save the world! Wreckless Eric on the Wrecession!

Jonny Dongel goes pop-psyche!