I've been on the go since 5am this morning and the "Dream Weaver" thing has left me a little fried. It was pretty cool though and by the end of it, I hope to be able to put any skills that stick to creating an actual website. Even although I'm a thicko, I think a lot of it percolated into my napper. Spoke to KP and he told me that the M&K show down "The London" last night was an unmitigated riot. "Lessons Learned" came out as a single yesterday and "Grand" will be unleashed upon the UK on June 22nd. They'll be in Brazil later this week. Phew!

They appeared on the Nemone show on Radio 6 today. Interview starts at 2:06.56.

I think I'm just about caught up on e-mail now but my "address book" is in general disarray. This shit happens and it's not entirely the end of the world. It's taking a little longer to attain any kind of equilibrium (or similar drug) than I anticipated. The weekend seemed to disappear in a heartbeat and today's bugbear was a visit to the dentist. Generally I don't need any restoration work carried out on the laughing tackle but a "pizza" in Barcelona last October sealed my fate so that needed filling.

It was the day that Jeroen and I were orienteering. Doesn't seem possible that was eight months ago but anyway I'm home and my gob is frozen all the way up past my left ear. Stop laughing.

It's that kinda numbness where you try to drink something and it all runs down your chin. So until it eases off I better ease off the liquids. Think I'll work on my TV show ideas. One is "Britain Is Populated By Divots", do you think that could catch on? Or what about this? "Big Conniving, Cheating Bastard Brother" I thought it was pretty snappy but sometimes I have a different angle on reality to a lot of folks these days.

Of course, if the gods were smiling on me I'd be in London for the MattandKimathon tonight but sadly not. Tomorrow, the weather - at least in this part of the world - will hopefully cool down a bit because I'm in a "Dream Weaver" course all day. Nothing to do with the Gary Wright song, it's that fancy software that you create web antics with. Good chance I'm too thick to learn much but we lives in hope, innit? So enough banter, I have Amy Allison cds to package up!

Seeyouthamorra...

Amy Allison’s “Sheffield Streets” is her first release on the Urban Myth imprint. It comprises 12 songs that she recorded out on the West Coast (of the USA, not in Ayr daftie) with her old Parlor James bud and seasoned drummist Don Heffington. Putting together a crack squad of LA’s finest, Amy revisits some old material and sets those beside new songs to once again display that she’s one of the best songwriters on earth.

The title track is a hymn to the big town she resided in for some time in the 80’s and it features some authentic colliery band style backing. Country and pop styles abound and by my estimation, “Anywhere You Are” is as good as anything Diane Warren was ever involved with. A big hit in waiting for anybody with ears that can admit they could never come close themselves.

There’s a version of her Dad’s “Monsters Of The ID” that features Mose and Elvis Costello. And “Everybody Ought To Know” as a duet with Dave Alvin. I guess this makes Amy one of the Guilty Women by default. Ryan Hedgecock, Van Dyke Parks and DJ Bonebrake are just some of the individuals that pitched in to make this latest selection. I’d hope that readers of this would be familiar with Amy by now and can recognise her greatness.

She’s set to head back this way to continue work on the album with Sir David Scott they began around a year ago. Listening recently to her back catalogue, it’s only the ignorance of cloth-eared radio producers and pundits that has gotten in the way of her success. Not a predictable, malleable talent, Amy is in many ways like her old man. A complete and utter treasure that just can’t be pigeonholed but that ALWAYS delivers.

Listen to "Why Can't It Be?" at her myspace.

It was my intention to get more done on here today but there have been some obstacles plus my contacts info is in some disarray. My intended schlep to the cinema tomorrow may go by the wayside as a result. My arms bear the marks of a potential self harmer due to the ongoing tussle with the out of control hedge. It was cool to come in and relax to the strains of Bruce Anderson's "The Inherent Beauty Of Hopelessness". More about that later.

It's been unfeasibly warm here today. I don't function well in such conditions. I'd like to, but don't have much practice. In keeping with the regime of not spending hours upon end in front of this thing I'm about to sign off for the evening. Have a blast, whatever you're up to. If you find yerself in NYC, the inimitable Amy Allison is at Banjo Jim's. Onstage at 9pm.

It’s no secret that I consider glam to be the last great golden age of outright teenage pop that rocked. True, it was often created by brickies in make up but that gave it an extra edge. Robin Wills “Pure Pop” blog has spearheaded the pebblefication of bringing material back to life that had little or no profile in the first place. We need to thank him for that. In many ways it was punk rock before that kicked in as a catch-all brand. If you prefer Spandoo Bollocks to Mud then well, you simply shouldn’t be here. I don’t mean on earth – live and let live – but not here amongst us.

The content of “Clap Your Hands and Stamp Your Feet”, the Nederglam comp lovingly curated by Prof. Wills and Dutch Special (Rockin’) Forces General, Jos de Groot brings that ruckus back into sharp focus. And, before we get to the contents - this is the sharpest dressed release I’ve seen in a long time. It comes in a bijou hardback book with extensive liner notes and pictures. This might make it a little pricier than your common or garden jewel box but you get what you pay for and this is high art on the proverbial multiple plateau my friend.

Every one of the two dozen selections sounds like it could have been recorded under perfect laboratory conditions yesterday. Big crunching licks and unstoppable choruses. Bonnie St Claire and Unit Gloria are a collision between Suzi Quatro and Abba in a way that could never be pastiche. They mean it chief. Actually they make me want to go and put on a Smashed Gladys record.

Maybe this stuff just hits home because this is the trajectory that I joined the music bug as a teenager. This was punk rock, as was The Groovies, The Dolls, The MC5 and The Stooges. I guess it was all about power then and this shakes some action a whole lot more vividly than much of what came out in ’77. The Heavy Dwarves “Moeder Natuur” actually has a contemporary rave commotion indicating that the sound which baggy approximated wasn’t entirely new either. At some point, I’ll try to explain why I think that Happy Mondays were better than the excrecable Stone Roses. And not just because they covered John Kongos although that was a masterstroke. Anyway, there are precious few comps that are this wall to wall great in excess of 70 minutes. Is Pantherman Holland’s Kim Fowley?

Available now wherever they sell GREAT records and also direct from Excelsior.

Nortonville is open for business. Please drive carefully...

Spent a bit of time catching up on "reading" and deleting viagra offers. It seems that it's a timely return to the ring as things are going a little skew-wiff. That bloody Susan Boyle has even gone punk rock or is it just part of the ploy? You missed that cynicism in your life, right?

I prefer to do stuff live on here. No overdubs. And since things started to go really wrong at the start of the month there just wasn't the will to premeditate stuff to type up and then drop in here. It was some stroke of luck that meant I didn't have to post a "Closed for the Forseeable" notice in this cyberwindow. I might not have all the bells and whistles that I had before but this'll do just fine for now. And besides, I'm doing this in tandem with some landscaping out in the drive. Multi-bleedin'-tasking innit!?

Today is the hottest day of the year so far and the waterbeds on legs are out in force. I think I'll put off any consideration of new specs in that case. Not pretty but pretty good for putting you off your scran. I read that Ben Weasel is on Twitter and I'm inclined to try it myself but not via a phone or anything. However, before any of that there are recent releases that you need to be checking out. I'll be along with some of those in due course over Saturday and Sunday.

Mr Ulf's recco from last week, hitting up Tut's in Glasgow on June 11th and on tour in the UK. Dig that poppy Television sound on "Boy, Boy"...

Great to see that Elton Motello thing but this lassie made the definitive rendition in my book...

So here I am, back from wherever the lack of a computer has banished me these past few weeks. I’m grateful to have been hooked up with a rig to tide me over until I figure out what to do about a new one. I have to say that it’s running pretty sweetly but there may be some compatibility issues with old bumf and the firewall malarky until it settles. I can report that the people at Norton internet security were very helpful too although if Norton Records had that kinda apparatus then I'd much rather plump for that. However it’s early days and just being here at all is something of a relief. Thanks for all the messages and apologies for the no-show replies, etc.

This weekend, I hope to catch up with a few things whilst utilising my newfound ability to take some time away from the front of the screen. I’m not sure that can be construed as multi-tasking but who the hell knows what goes anymore. Not me. So this is my first post on the new (to me) set up. Let's see where it takes us.

Nothing is ever simple. I could whine for paragraphs about this computer situation but there’s no point. It’s a right royal pain in the arse. Economics preclude the ability to just shell out for an all singing, all dancing replacement at this time. Sorting out something to bridge the gap has also been fraught with logistical pitfalls and that precious commodity known as time is taking the piss and showing no sign of letting up.

Aside from that and being backed up to Jackson Heights with a ton of stuff, everything is peachy. The punishment continues unabated and 25 minutes doesn’t provide much time to keep you in the manner to which you’ve become accustomed.

Meanwhile, here’s another great story from JD King…

Just heard that the next issue of Plan B will be the last. Shame because it was good mag. (thanks to Martin for the info)

Great line up including the first Scottish appearance of Los Lobos along with Booker T on the same bill one night! (Thanks to Colin for the reminder)


And don't forget, The Quattros are in Paris tonight. Make them welcome!

MALCOLM MIDDLETON, DANNY SAUNDERS, TENNISCOATS, RICHARD YOUNGS

We are extremely pleased to announce the launch of the wonderful new Malcolm Middleton album, Waxing Gibbous. It will take place in Mono on Sunday 31 May from 7.30pm. Malcolm will be playing a few songs, as will Danny Saunders from Correcto. DJ is Noj. The album will be on sale from midnight and the event is free.

Tenniscoats, the enchanted folk-pop duo from Tokyo, return to their other HQ, Glasgow on Thursday 4th June for an unmissable show in Mono with Richard Youngs (songs, acoustic guitar, music stand), and The Apples Of Energy from Croy. Tickets for this one are available from Monorail for £8.50 plus booking fee.

We are once again supporting the excellent Le Weekend festival and will have a stall in the Tolbooth on the Friday and Saturday with Early Songs, Carla Bozulich, Drew Mulholland & Adrian Utley and the amazing Eddie Marcon amongst others. Friday 29, Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 May.

Our next film club takes place on Sunday 21st June at 7pm when photographer, Neil Davidson introduces Christopher Petit's British road movie, Radio On. As ever, we recommend booking tickets in advance. Glasgow Film Theatre.

FRIDAY 29th May.... BUBBLEGUM BOOGALOO presents.....

THE FIVE ACES at The Voodoo Rooms Ballroom, Edinburgh.

Rockin kickin 60s r'n'b stomp type stuff

Not only is it their first gig this side of Scotland this year,
it's also Lenny Loves 60th Birthday shindig - how can you miss it?

Doors 9pm - First set at 9.30pm. FREE ENTRY.

Groovy retro tunes from DJ's Tall Paul (The GO-GO) until 1am.

Wanda is heading North... tickets here!

An epistle from Mr Spence...

FRIDAY 29TH MAY at the HALT BAR, Woodlands Road, Glasgow; 8pm; FREE ADMISSION

BLACK MEKON

THE BRUTES

THEE PHARISEES

BLACK MONOLITH (-some kinda mutation of Black Mekon!)...a very rare visit North by BLACK MEKON - spawned in Birmingham's legendary COLDRICE club, and featuring a member or 2 of the fantastic COPTER.

Support comes from the two premier local practitioners of garage punk 'n' rock 'n' roll, THE BRUTES, and THE PHARISEES. Don't be a dummy - be there... it's FREE & gonna be shitloads'o FUN!!!!

A VAN OEKEL-LIKE MOMENT...

While I figure out what to do with regard to getting this show back on the road, there’s nothing much to report. It’s what you might call a slow news day and there’s no real means of scaring up a story with the limited resources that are available right now. So instead, I'm just gonna use this time to catch up on my favourites. If anything shows up then the necessary will be done...

Oops... So Many Records has a new billet. Bookmark that right now!

The e-ma(i)lady lingers on… Friday pm to Monday am with nada computer access would ordinarily have resulted in trauma but recent events tempered that somewhat. Was progress made in other directions? Well not entirely but it did provide time to watch a couple of things that I might have missed otherwise. One was wretched – the Bobby Gillespie/Irvine Welsh thing. This allowed me to vent and fizz in equal measure and underlined why I don’t rate the work of either.

On the other hand “The Night James Brown Saved Boston” was/is an amazing. It’s still on I-Player and I urge anybody that can, to watch it . Detailing events the day after Martin Luther King was shot and how that particular city was saved from the decimation that went on in other locations, a really top notch exercise in the art of documentary.

Later on Saturday, I received my first houseguests of the 2009 season, Aira and Zack of the parish of SF. Headed into Glasgow to catch the Stag and Dagger appearances of St Deluxe and BMX Bandits at Stereo. Watching St. D, I was transported back to Berlin 1988 and that debut performance outside of the US by Mudhoney. They have that sort of dynamic and in terms of noise shapes, it’s all good. Not so sure about the songs to be honest but the band is still in relatively short trousers. No – they don’t wear cut-offs – I mean that they’re only starting out. When they begin to infuse this hooch with their own identities then the fur really could fly.

This Bandits was Duglas and Davie plus the St. D guys. All the D’s in terms of alphabet, but straight A’s in terms of delivery. There was a decisive raunch to the proceedings and an air of the Dolls/MC5 to the outcome. Duglas was in great form and Zack took some photos that will appear here at some point. I’ll have a look to see if there’s anything on youtube too because you really should have been there.

The Aliens (some former Beta band members) followed and embodied everything that blows about the perception of popular music in 2009. Imagine a rave ELP (that’s Emerson, Lake and Palmer) cut with Oasis and Primal Sheep, they’re not as good as that desc. might suggest but they think they are and unfortunately some other people in the room do too so we headed for The Pot Still and left the deluded fools to it. I imagine that the Optimo kids restored some order later on via some of their patented sonic fumigation.

After A & Z left on Sunday, I mithered about whether or not to go into Glasgow for the MFC screening but couldn’t muster the energy being that I’ll have to shell for a new computer set-up in the no’ too distant. I hope that whatever you got up to, and I know that a bunch of you are on holiday today also, went swimmingly too. My efforts this week will be toward restoring to some order to what passes for an existence around here of late.

Meanwhile, here’s some stuff you might care you partake of…

Start your summer season in tropical tiki style as SUSQUEHANNA INDUSTRIAL TOOL & DIE CO. returns to OTTO'S SHRUNKEN HEAD this week for a last-Thursday-of-every-month hillbilly hop! THURSDAY, MAY 28th / OTTO'S SHRUNKEN HEAD TIKI BAR & LOUNGE /538 East 14th Street (just west of Avenue B) in ol' Manhattan / Two balmy shows, from 8:00 sharp until 10:00 / No cover charge! And next week, across the mighty East River... WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3rd / NORTH FOURTH / A swell new Brooklyn venue! /160 N. 4th St. (between Bedford & Driggs) in Williamsburg, Brooklyn /One SIT & Die set at 9pm -- with The Dirty Teardrops at 8pm and JB Beverley & The Wayward Drifters at 10pm, plus DJs! / $6 cover / Sincerely, Michael

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

The Eastern Dando? (Thanks to Bill Gibson for this link)

The Rt. Hon Duane Sherwood is caretaking So Many Records… let him clue you in…

Hi, Just a quick note to let you know that for the next week or 2, I'll be manning the helm at the blog known as "So Many Records, So Little Time". normally run by Kevin Patrick, it takes a different 45 rpm single each day & presents the song as a file to listen to as well as the story behind the record, sometimes personal, sometimes historic.

While Kevin keeps mostly to the rock & roll side of things, I'll be doing strictly Jamaican singles from the '50s - 70's for my stint. It starts tomorrow (Monday) and continues until he wants it back, that could be 2 weeks max. I'll be sick of this by then anyway...

Hope you have a chance to check it out. Regards, Duane

With all that to contend with, and another instalment of Kicksville 66 up, you won’t be missing my piffle one iota.

1976 wasn't too bad either...