Scientists at ATP in upstate NY today (I think)...

Also,way closer to home, "Please Give" is at GFT Glasgow Monday 6th - Wednesday 8th September. Yes, next week.

It's a holiday weekend with Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co. -- and then some! Something for nearly everyone with visits to Coney Island, DUMBO, and then ol' Manhattan:

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4th / The 4th Annual "CONEY ISLAND ROCKABILLY FESTIVAL" / On the rooftop of Cha Cha's on the boardwalk, with one SIT & Die Co. set at 6pm! /1229 Boardwalk West (at Stillwell Avenue) in Coney Island, USA .

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 5th / BRUNCH at SUPERFINE / 126 Front Street (at the corner of Pearl Street) in DUMBO, Brooklyn /Three hearty sets, from noon sharp 'til 3pm / Delicious food -- free music! /
Reservations recommended: 718-243-9005

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8th / RODEO BAR / 375 Third Avenue (at the corner of 27th Street) in Manhattan /Two rollicking post-holiday sets,
from 10pm sharp until 12:30am / No cover!

Yours in day labor, Michael
Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co.
"Ballads, Boogies & Blues"

It’s a little pathetic and maybe a test. Instead of embracing the fried modem scenario a shot of freedom, the disconnection from where I spend way too much time looms large and three dozen “what if’s” flooded my headspace. Instead of recognising that I’m actually privileged to have at least a little access never entered my head. I merely paced up and down, Illogically trying periodically to see if there was indeed a fault or if it was rectified. When I called the Virgin Media helpline I got another continent. Earlier in the day, I’d called to renew my facility for the web domain and I talked to a guy called Peter. He understood me and I understood him. Perfect.

But Virgin, that was a problem and this guy wasn’t deviating from his script. He was helpful but fundamentally he had no idea what I was saying to him. Friends overseas or wherever will probably laugh but I do tend to modulate in order to be understood. On the other hand, some English speakers can have problem with my accent. So we’re left having a kick aboot in no-man’s land. It might take 5 days to get a replacement, assuming that the modem is the only problem of course. You’ll be familiar with my ability to take the worst possible outcome and multiply that by 10. This is the point I’m at now.

Tonight I’ll have to tholl the evening without what’s become like heroin to me and I’m hoping that maybe the cold turkey will teach me something. It’s not like I’ve got nothing to do but this alternative electronic hearth won’t be glowing in the corner of the room. Taking for granted the premise that everything will work always is a pretty stupid avenue. My predicament is not unlike that of the way everyone else on earth is surgically attached to a mobile phone. I can rail long and hard on that and often do. At least I’m not likely to bump into you walking along a road, or annoy you on public transport though. That must count for something.

There goes lunchtime...

Great new Swedish combo... I'm on TV (Thanks Christian)

Modem busted. Limited internet access. What can I tell ya?

Click here to listen to the new Matt and Kim single, "Cameras".

Dick Porter's Cramps book is coming out in France (nice cover).

(Thanks to Brother Patrick via Staysick)

While I try to get my act together... The Phobics are at The Phoenix pub in Dartford today if you're about those parts. And if you're elsewhere, check out the one and the only Miriam Linna on Howie Pyro's Intoxica (25th August Episode).

Now I've pretty much seen it all...

From last night, a mixed bag for sure. A spirited disintegration here and there but on the whole, they pulled it off. Rehearsing in public might well catch on...

First up, Lord Rochester... and you'll recognise the other guys. Apparently they're staying in the UK to make a new album after this series of shows. Those Cluny shows in Newcastle next week should be a hoot.

Le Weekend 2010

14th – 17th October @ The Tolbooth, Stirling.

Thursday 14th

Room 1
LW Classic Playback Series – Horace Tapscott/ The Dark Tree
RM Hubbert
Critical Mass – Mats Gustaffson & Agusti Fernandez
Ben Frost
Sten Sandell Hammond Organ Trio with Johan Berthling & Paal Nilssen-Love
LW DJs

Friday 15th

Big Noise Improv Team
Room 2
LW Classic Playback Series 2 – Soft Machine/ Volume 2
Alphabet Dust
Piano Tapes – Bill Wells & Stefan Schneider
Ass – Andreas Soderstrom
Murcof & Francesco Tristano
LW DJs

Saturday 16th

Film Screening 1 – Animal Riot by Mandy McIntosh
The Room 3 versus Junk Music
Film Screening 2 – Patti Smith/ Dream of Life by Steven Sebring
The Music of Alvin Lucier 1
Oceans of Silver & Blood – Mark Wastell & Joachim Nordwall
New String Theory – Rhodri Davies, Lina Lapelyte & Angharad Davies
Claudia Molitor
LW Classic Playback Series 3 – John Zorn/ The Big Gundown
Peter Nicholson – Songs
Marilyn Crispell
Raymond MacDonald
Tetuzi Akiyama + Chris Forsyth
Tarwater
LW DJs

Sunday 17th

Notes From The Underground
The Room 4
The Music of Alvin Lucier 2
Film Screening 3
LW Classic Playback Series 4 – Roxy Music + The Darnely Dinner
John Butcher & Gerry Hemingway
The End of An Ear – All Things Must Pass
LW DJs

Thanks to Rab Buchanan for the info.

Been a woolly few days, some heady highs and some way down lows - all part of the rich travesty, sorry – tapestry, of my existence. If you were to plot a graph it would certainly be a largely downward trajectory with a little rally here and there.

Still, a jaunt to “the Madrid” is on the cards so that’s always a tonic. Tonight my spirit has shot the craw to Stockholm and the Razziathon that is underway as I tap.

The weekend will bring much blogging maybe, or at least a little. I have flyers for Eric and Amy to guillotine tonight. It’ll be like going to the gym.

Thanks Martina...

We've been asked at the very last minute to play with the Tango Rhums in the ballroom at the Voodoo Rooms (the big room upstairs in the Cafe Royal) this MONDAY the 30th of August. Tommy Shock cant make it so I've drafted in his bass brother Big Wullie Shock and Stephen StAndin is back in the drumstool for this one - if you enjoy a bit of jazz, you'll love this gig ....3 bands, 5 quid, first band on at 8 all over by 11

Also coming up is the return of Wreckless Eric And Amy Rigby - Thursday September 16th - this time they are playing at the Citrus club, expect them to be on for a full set between 8 and 10 with no support from the acoustic shock and awe this time sadly, but I'll be there to see them anyway - but dont panic,

we've got an EXTRA SPECIAL acoustic gig coming up in October - more details of that nearer the time!

Thanks for reading, see ye when I see ye ? Murray

Anyone out yonder looking for an old Revox A77?

There’s a man in this neck of the woods that has one for sale. It`s in perfect working order with 2 empty reels and was last used about a year ago. Let me know and I’ll hook you up.

DRINK! DANCE!! SHOUT!!! FALL OVER!!!! GET A HAND UP!!!!! AND REPEAT!!!!! ....COME ON OUT THIS SATURDAY IN GLASGOW FOR ERUPTION's SPECTACULAR 2ND BIRTHDAY BASH. WITH THE CARPET SELLERS FROM PARIS AND BRUM'S SWAMPMEAT AND A CAST OF THE CREAM OF LOCAL ROCK'N'ROLL TALENT!

DIXY BLOOD TO DEBUT
By Dixy Bliss

“Go tell ma, go tell pa, go git sis outta that mud, we’re gonna go see Dixy Blood!”
-unknown

Dixy Blood is a new/old area quartet who specialize in classic country ‘n’ western themes played with a rawness, intensity and attitude that suggests a sneering punk aesthetic. No surprise, as the group is comprised of members of The Sickidz, a local mainstay since the original Hot Club era. Dixy Blood, however, constitutes a striking new direction south.

But no Hee Haw jokes, Buckaroo, ‘cause this here ain’t no laughing matter.

“We exhausted The Sickidz,” explains lead singer Clarence “Mick” Cancer, “and I had absolutely no impulse to do anything musical. But we reformed, in a truncated version, to perform a Lux Interior/Cramps tribute. It was a satisfying experience and the line-up presented intriguing possibilities.”

The line-up being Cancer’s eternal cohort Rockin’ Richie Lustre on guitar, Drummer Moe Jo, and rising diva Ms. Bettyloo Gee providing lead vocals and hay bales.
Cancer has long harbored a deep appreciation of country and it recently developed into another full-blown teenage obsession.

“I always loved songs like “Please Help Me I’m Falling” and Leroy Van Dyke’s “Walk on By”, all that old hillbilly and honky tonk stuff, the Gram Parsons ethos,” states Clarence, “and over the last few years listened to it almost exclusively. I swallowed the genre whole.”

“After the Cramps show,” continues Mick, “I began to think that this outfit could potentially concoct a unique and also valid approximation of that style.”
But this is no mere alt-country escapade.

“My heroes are guys like Webb Pierce, Wynn Stewart, Floyd Tillman, Mel Tillis, hard-core trailer park honkybilly.” exclaims Clarence, “and our material is drawn from that vast source. Country music often reflects bleak, damaged lives and some very twisted, stark situations. We try to play it accordingly.”

So what exactly are the aspirations of these honkybilly punks?

“I suppose we’ll play out somewhere,” speculates Clarence, “and hopefully we’ll record it, document it, you know, in a room, live, one take, put it out on cassette and listen to it at home someday.”

Nonetheless, during their existence as Sickidz, the band frequently played with some of the artists they most respected such as The Cramps and Iggy Pop…

“Oh sure, you bet, “enthused Mick, “we wanna open for Merle, Paycheck, Coe, Jamey Johnson, The Dixie Chicks, whoever else is left alive. I mean, why the fuck not!”
Hee Haw indeed.
________________________________________

Tritone, 1508 South St, Philadelphia, PA

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2010

DIXY BLOOD – 10 PM
PALMYRA DELRAN (with The SlotCars) – 11 PM
JUKEBOX ZEROES – 12 PM

Lord Rochester will open for New York Dolls in Edinburgh on Friday night. I believe that David and Syl will also be stopping at The Lemon Tree in Aberdeen in addition to the Inverness show.