My mind has been churning over and all roondaboot this past few days and the upcoming short jaunt to Stockholm can’t come quick enough. It should be quite a gathering and a top event. A lot of effort has gone into making it a real cool night (revisited). Three weeks from this coming Friday. Bit of scooting about to be done tonight so this will be brief.

Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co. offers more quick draw Rodeo Bar action this week, pardner! No need to check your shootin' irons at the door, neither...

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10th /
RODEO BAR / 375 Third Avenue
(at the corner of 27th Street) in ol' Manhattan /
Two shiny, silver plated shows, from 10pm sharp until 12:30am / No cover!

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

Very excited about the imminent release of the new album by The Bambi Molesters. Coming this week on Croatia's Dancing Bear label with a Glitterhouse version for Europe coming later (this?) month.

So we’ve been to-ing and fro-ing between Australia and Sweden these past few days. Sadly not physically but that’s the plus of this interweb thing, you can be someplace else in seconds. Heading back down under then and The Soul Movers “On the IN Side” that Career put out toward the end of ’09. This is a superior brand of what The Detroit Cobras are doing. These folks aren’t relying on mining obscure gems.

Their originals feel lived in and Lizzie Mack’s voice is a warm, honeyed instrument that just sits right. She reminds me of Frankie Miller. The Soul Movers count Deniz Tek and Pip Hoyle among their number. This is showing signs of another side of Detroit than what you’re used to hearing them play. I’m not sure what the story is with regard to live shows but I think they were in Spain fairly recently. This stuff would sound pretty damn sweet spilling out of the El Sol sound system for sure.

There are no fancy production tricks just an obvious traction with their roots and it sounds like they had a good time laying these tracks down. If they could somehow get on Jools Holland’s TV show, they’d be on the fast up elevator.

The Intercontinental Playboys (note – not incontinent) “Hymns of the Flesh” is a recent addition to the I-94 Bar canon. It’s unashamedly sixties-ish with a constant Hammond flourish to punctuate that. Fans of latterday Cramps and “Bad News” period Fuzztones will dig these guys. They’re not trying anything fancy and contrary to popular belief, the keyboard motif does not make them sound like the fucking Stranglers. They’re not out to change the world here.

“The Maestro’s Shadow” reminds me of The Johnnys and let me tell you, that’s no bad thing on a Sunday afternoon when the logistics of the next few days are about to descend. The Playboys could easily have been added to “A Real Cool Time Revisited” and passed off as a Swedish combo from the mid-eighties. That’s a compliment by the way.

And finally for your listening pleasure, The Hitmen’s expanded “Tora Tora DTK”. The latest instalment in the Savage Beat resurrection of their catalogue, it includes their “Moronic Inferno” album and a host of extra gear that displays exactly that these guys were the antipodean Dictators. To the extent that Chris Masuak’s “Cowboy Angel” mini album even sounds like The Del Lords. I hadn’t heard this stuff before. “Tora Tora” itself is one of the great live rock’n’roll records. Up there with “On Your Feet Or On Your Knees”.

The band was writing songs that should have swept the world like those of AC/DC. I’m not sure what happened. Maybe there were no videos for MTV or maybe it’s just another case of not being able to see the wood for the trees. “Didn’t Tell The Man” sounds better to these ears than any old Clash bollocks you might care to recommend. They even did a cracking version of Shakin’ Street’s “Solid as a Rock” and also “Shake Some Action” way before it was hip to do so. That Barman, he’s a busy one because there are extensive liner notes here that explain exactly why The Hitmen are an important commodity. They’re another one of the bands that made it possible for you to see The Stooges. They never stopped being “Rock’n’Roll Soldiers”. Not ever. They’re limbering up to play shows around their homeland in April with Niagara. You’d be a fool not to see them.

“Treat Me Like Dirt” is an oral history of punk in Toronto and beyond by Liz Worth. It’s an exhaustive tome that goes into the minutiae. It can do this because of the book’s “two column and small font” format. Edited by our pal, Gary Pig Gold – no stone is left unturned. It’s taken me a while to get through it because of the conversational nature of how the various individuals portray what happened. Much of it centres on the destructive nature of The Viletones and in particular Steven “Nazi Dog” Leckie who may have benefited from a good hard kick up the arse at the time. Countered by the more conventional nature of Teenage Head’s relationship with bands like The Dolls and The Groovies, Ontario's scene seemed to mushroom in much the same order as it did in other major cities across the world. Then there was the more avant-rock that Simply Saucer was building. Attempts to acclimatise them to the burgeoning movement were fruitless. I guess it would have been like putting MX80 Sound on at the 100 Club.

In essence, it had more to do with what was happening in the UK than NY per se. This continuum was much more punk. The music was angry and unperturbed by what would eventually become new wave. The Ugly lived up to their name too. I always thought that they were like a proto-oi band but listening to then now, it’s a lot more Alice Cooper/Dead Kennedys. I don’t think that I ever heard The Curse. Some years ago, the Other People’s Music imprint issued a bunch of collections of recordings by some of these bands. I imagine that they’re still available if you scour the web. They don’t seem to be available from that label anymore. The B Girls who also feature, had a similar set "Who says Girls Can't Rock" too.

Anyway, this digest – published by Ralph Alfonso’s Bongo Beat Books – is the best example of its type since Brendan Mullen’s “We Got The Neutron Bomb”. It documents the years 1977 – 1981 in forensic detail with possibly way more information that is absolutely necessary but it’s interesting to read how it chimes with what was happening here for instance.

Don Waller recently, correctly, noted that many of the histories that are becoming available are being put together by people who either weren’t there or that hardly had a ringside seat. This one is the work of people who were in the trenches. They fought in the war that was supposed to put an end to stuff like Muse. Shells raining overhead, the whole nine yards, respect is due above and beyond.

“Treat me Like Dirt” is available in the UK from Proper Books. Or go direct to Bongo Beat.

GLAMROCKSAMPLER

(info via Mark A. Pyskoty's facebook)

This is great. It includes The Dictators and the word "galumphing". Not together I hasten to add.

"my name is john martin and i am putting on art exhibition in mono bar in glasgow on feb 11. the opening night part is on that date and starts at 8pm along with a reggae disco and collection for haiti disaster commitee-free event. the theme is mostly pop art inspired tributes to musical heroes such as ALAN VEGA - POISON IVY - SCOTT WALKER - B.A.D along with early primal scream gig posters (1984-1987) and posters from a mid 80s club called SPLASH 1 where the likes of SONIC YOUTH-23 SKIDOO-WIRE performed-hope you can list this piece of info -much appreciated-thanks john m. "

the address is MONO CAFE /BAR-KINGS COURT-KING ST-GLASGOW

RIP - Sir John (Johnny) Dankworth

RIP - Ian Carmichael

Cork, Dublin, Belfast... look lively!

It had been hoped that today would have been a case of playing catch up. Things however, have not gone to plan and circumstances prevail that aren't entirely conducive to concentration. Shit, like it used to say on Axl's t-shirt, happens.

“Up North/Down Under” is the subtitle of Volume 1 of Bootleg Booze’s “Bootleg Series”. Obviously the contents are not illicit but like a strain of moonshine, it’s damn strong stuff. As the title suggests, Sweden and Australia’s raucous-est upcoming acts slug it out with the liner commentary supplied by Dave Champion and Craig “The Barman” Regan. You’ll be aware that this label only deals in the highest octane sonic firewater.

The common denominator is varying degrees of sounding like they were born in the Motor City. Detroit style rock is very much the order of the day and that’s pretty much a staple constituent of the finest gear from these territories. The Sewergrooves “Easy to Pretend” sound strangely like Franz Ferdinand might if they’d discovered the SRB. It’s difficult to figure what band comes from where, such is the continuity of spirit. There might be a hint of an accent here and there but when the vocals are being screamed rather than “sung” over a consistently boss racket then the lines get a little blurred here and there.

The emphasis here is on rock. Spelled R-A-W-K. Never lumpy, always blazing - of particular note I think the tracks by Leadfinger, Sure Fire Midnights and Rio Grande will tickle you, as will Sator’s take on The Weirdos “I’m Plastic”. It’s more “Hollywood” than Ann Arbor and they were “made to last” alright. The more astute will note the latter straddling the then of yesterday’s comp with the now of “Up/Down”. It’s hardly comfortable on the turntable until it’s time to flip the beastie over.

I realise these things don’t just come together overnight, or from under a gooseberry bush but wonder what’s in store for Volume 2?

I found myself doing the facebook "networked blog" thing yesterday for some reason. Apparently I can "invite" 20 folks at a time to join but I know what a pain in the ass these "become a fan" messages are. Rather than add to any fb stress, I figured that I'd mention it here - like I did on fizzbang yesterday - and if you want to get on board then you can.

I won't be canvassing hard and sending message after message attempting to wear you down. There are people out there that do that. You'd think that after attempt #10 that they'd get with the program. But no.

Here's the link...

I guess it was sometime around 1982 when I got to be aware of the emerging Scandinavian penchant for garage rock. It took a side road off the punk highway and created a strain which matched Australia for passion and authenticity. Often it would pick up on additional influences and styles that would set it aside from just being reconstructed or merely authentic. The people who played this music weren’t throwbacks or wannabe “cave teens”. These kids had a taste for the hard stuff and they played it fast, loud and loose but never necessarily in that order.

This anthology maps the nascent genealogy well and kicks off with The Nomads version of “I’m Five Years Ahead Of My Time”. They were the pathfinders who kicked the stable door open. The cut of their jib was evident seeing as to how their first release was two songs by a combo by the name of The Sonics. Rock’n’roll archaeologist Four-Eyed Thomas resurrected ancient knowledge long considered lost and in putting this project together has brought the cycle back full circle. There have been several generations of solid Swedish sounds and somehow, this is the logical “rattle and roll” follow up to “Searching For Shakes”. A 2-disc (or bundled download) selection of choice cuts that might inspire or just plain re-ignite your faith in what a good old racket (as in noise) is capable of. It makes me think of our departed pal, Lennart.

It hardly seems possible that much of this stuff is more than a quarter century old. It was The Cramps and Panther Burns that unlocked the possibilities and lit the fire. Nuggets, the Pebbles and Back from the Grave series and other comps recycled relics from the past and this continues that legacy. "A Real Cool Time Revisited" documents a juncture when there were no borders. These bands stormed the battlements and their music reverberated around the world.

Sweden has always boasted a far and away more fertile scene that that perpetrated here by the like of Creation. The jangle and twang never came over as studied. You could never stage-manage a force of nature like The Stomachmouths. The Backdoor Men and The Crimson Shadows displayed a fervour that was like Bomp magazine come to life. The Sonic Walthers “No Lies” is like the Hoodoo Gurus channelling Slade. Remember, all of this was happening when the UK was lapping up shite like Bauhaus. “When I Get Home” by The Hijackers is simply one of the great 7” singles by anyone from anyplace. If you haven’t had the pleasure then it’s right here. And they were real teenagers too.

Union Carbide Productions was another combo that wasn’t afraid fly their Stooge flag even when Iggy didn’t. They sounded dangerous then and they could still eat and spit out The Jim Jones Revue who are more or less peddling a much lesser ramalama. The BottleUps gave us the one and only Robert Johnson whose surf and destroy guitar action continues to light up the galaxy. He’s using technology to mutate the form these days but I think his battleplan is pretty much on track. The world will catch up with him one of these days, like they never did with Problem, a big RJ influence. Thinking Wray as opposed to Dale.

"Carry On" by The Public Vein on Garageland Records (from Umeå) always reminded me of Scotlands own Primevals and how they translated The Gun Club’s off kilter blues. Sator’s “Pigvalley Beach (remix)” is The Ramones vs Sigue Sigue Sputnik on a deserted landet wasteland. The Leather Nun’s “Primemover” is no relation to that of Zodiac Mindwarp but it does predate Marilyn Manson by a good many years. I recognise that “can you feel it?” mantra. Ha ha.

So I could spoil the whole enchilada by jabbering on but you’ve seen the tracklist. It was a very male domain back then. I think that the only girl involved is Anna Nystrom who was in The Stomachmouths? Or was there a gal in The Pushtwangers? I don’t recall. Please feel free to correct me or add info in the comments section. This twofer offers a bloody fine ride back in time and it never ever sounds backdated in that “what was I thinking?" sense you get when you tackle “Sandanista”.

Måns, Johnny, L-P and Mr 4-ET himself did a bang up job in assembling this time capsule.

All that remains to be said is that Debaser in Stockholm is the place to be when this will all take human form for an all star revue Real Cool Night Revisited on March 5th 2010.

See you in church.

More Oil City screenings...

Vue Romford 05/02/2010, Filmhouse Edinburgh 5-7/02/2010, Empire Basildon 08/02/2010, Phoenix Arts Leicester 11/02/2010, City Screen Cinema City, Norwich 16 - 18/02/2010, Aberystwth Arts Centre 03- 04/03/2010, Phoenix Arts Leicester 09-10/03/2010, Glasgow Film Theatre 20/03/2010, MacRobert, Stirling 14/04/2010

Kogar's at it again, this time with Slickee Boy Dan. More cool Lux antics.

As I get ready to turn this blighter off for the night, I recall last February 4th very well. Duglas Bandit called me around 11pm and asked if I'd heard what happened. At that point I hadn't but set out immediately on a mission to prove that it wasn't true. As you know, that mission failed miserably and as it turned out, this time it wasn't a rumour or a mean-spirited lie. So yeah, I've been thinking of this post-Lux world a lot today. Life has gone on of course but it's hardly the same. I'm going to watch TIN4 and I'm not answering the phone. Not tonight.

Click on the image and head over to Kogar's. He has something you'll like!

(Thanks to Nimereht via staysick)

OK, here's the info I was tapping away about earlier...

So I Can Remember, What Made A Wreck Of Me

A year ago today, Lux Interior, the singer in a band that quite literally changed the world and changed the lives of so many of us, died aged 63. It’s some indication of the impact that he and the band he created with his partner and paramour, Poison Ivy had, that one year on tribute events in honour of this great man are taking place all over the world.

If you’re in Scotland on February 20th, cut along to Henry’s Cellar Bar in Edinburgh to tear it and get fucked up in the company of nine of Scotland’s premier combos carrying the torch each giving us 2 or 3 songs from the Cramped canon. We won’t tell you what they are, you have to come and find out.

The Fnords
The Primevals
The Rohypsters
The Pharisees
Z28
The Wee Baby Jesuses
Uncle Dad
The Trumpton Radiophonic Workshop

And if that wasn’t enough, there’ll be tunes from Mr Colin D’uff, a raffle for rarities and ephemera, a special memorial CD compilation available for one night only, and a whole lot more…. Don’t push, don’t shove, there’s room for one and all…

Wrong way tickets available on the door (so come early to avoid disappointment) for the pittance just £5.

Lux’s own comments on rock’n’roll and do-gooding notwithstanding, All funds raised go to DEC http://www.dec.org.uk/

SO COME ON AND DO YOUR BIT BY ENJOYING US DOING OURS

last year was a riot.... let's do it all again.... let's get fuuuuucked up!

I'm waiting on the scoop of an event coming up to mark one year of Lux's passing but in the meantime, here's info on a couple of shindigs you may care to take in. Should you be in the immediate proximity of course.

THE GO-GO

Saturday 6th February.

DJs Tall Paul Robinson & Big Gus will be paying a DeeJay homage to Lux Interior and the music of the Cramps.... (ie we will be playing Songs by The Cramps, and songs they covered etc)

60's garage, beat & pop, soul, mod, girl groups, psychedelia.

11pm til 3am.

Upstairs @ Studio 24, Edinburgh
£6 / £4 students and S24 members.
free before 11.30pm.
________________________________________
next date Saturday 6th March

And, in N. Ireland... The Sabrejets are limbering up.