Spent much of this weekend cleaning, sorting and trying to figure out what’s going on with all the framed stuff that’s got to go back up on the walls. Maybe some of it won’t. Anyway, it’s an ongoing project that’ll take some weeks to achieve. Where else is it going to go? Landfill? There’s some pretty nice stuff and I should tag some of it so that they go to good homes when I get hit by a bus or whatever.

In addition to everything else, I feel burned out. Like the constant banging of my head agin a brick wall is beginning to hurt. It feels like the antithesis of that "no pain, no gain" claptrap. I’ve had plenty of the former since 2011 came calling. I tried to listen to some recently received music today – no names, no pack drill – and was uninspired. Do you even like to read about music anymore? After all you can pretty much hear and decide everything yourself. In these “people have The power” times, the power in question is a shift. Do I like writing about music? Not when it feels like a chore or that I feel like I just recycle the same old guff time after time, which I’m convinced that I do.

I wade through what feels like review directories. Where the type is way too small to be processed and think to myself that I really can’t retain any more information. In fact, I seriously need to consider erasing some of what does seem to rattle about the canyons of my napper. I just read about The Ramones lifetime achievement grammy and think to myself what a peculiar world this has become.

“Look out honey ‘cos they’re using technology” never sounded so glib or indeed final. The “technology” in question has robbed us of our attention spans. The future may well be written on handheld devices that will control your mainframe but that doesn’t mean that we should just accept it. Does it? I patently don’t have any answers and generally have to be dragged kicking and screaming into any given situation. I’m not keen on having my comfort zone invaded and reconfigured. The fiscal turbulence will no doubt continue and emerging economies will manoeuvre themselves away from this 45th generation one-time nation.

Or not.

As Chris says... "finally, a proper Ron Asheton tribute show".

My generally mundane idyll has been turned upside down of late. And although the disruption may not be of cyclone or life-threatening proportions, it has blown up a fair degree of disarray in one way and another. I could never be considered a risk taker but I elevated my head above the parapet and well, I shouldn’t have for want of a more full explanation. The reverberations of this are rough and will take some time to process.

Far as I can tell, there’s no "app" to deal with such turbulence. All I can hope is to emerge from the dank tunnel with the spiritual and domestic wreckage in some perspective at least. Contentment not containment, that kind of outcome.

You might have thought that this had become a repository for reporting RIP notices. I’m still considering posting one for the blog but when all is said and done, it’s time to resume sort of activity. I’m hoping that the disenfranchised feeling can be overcome.

I do appreciate the fact that some of you folks are wondering what the heck is going on? If I told you I’d have to kill me. I’m like Cher, looking for the solution of how to ratchet back time. On the more tangible aspect of these past weeks, the bunker has been spruced up and might even be in a position to resume the R&R B&B within a couple of weeks. Way overdue and even further over-budget, I’m having to face the cold hard facts that there won’t be much in the way of gallivanting anytime soon.

Did you look at this Google “art project” thing? All very clever and setting us up for the times when it will be impossible to leave your own midden heid. But you will be able to flounce “virtually” across the planet. People are having a hard enough time trying to differentiate what’s real and what’s not without all this malarkey. How much real is there actually left out there? Not much as far as I can tell. And then there’s the big news that The White Stripes have split. Something that troubles my parish not one iota other than the fact that such an event is considered news. The pulsebeat of the media machine is as weak as those vital signs of the industry(ies) that it purports to represent.

I do tend to be in a minority when it comes to an opinion on the work of Jack White. I preferred him when he was in Goober and the Peas. This new Wanda Jackson project is not a patch on “Heart Trouble”. It was a celebration of the fact the lady could still cut it.

Believe me, I know all about where good intentions can lead.

Thanks Marty... before Lenny and Squiggy there was The 3 Haircuts!

RIP - Gary Moore

Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co. celebrates presidential history this month with an appearance at the Rodeo Bar. Stovepipe hats optional, yet always encouraged.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9th / RODEO BAR / 375 Third Avenue (at the corner of 27th Street) in icy Manhattan / Two log-splitting sets, from 10pm sharp 'til 12:30am / No cover!

Historically yours,

Michael

Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co.

"Ballads, Boogies & Blues"

RIP - Tura Satana

(just read Brother Patrick B's message...)

For your listening pleasure.
And be sure to read Kogar's instructions closely...

To mark two years since Lux headed on out of this world, a charity shindig in his honour will take place at Henry's in Edinburgh tonight. Mr D'uff is the social secretary and he'll be making sure things go with the proverbial bang!

RIP - Maria Schneider

Crispin Glover at Filmhouse (Edinburgh) this coming Sunday (6th)

(Thanks to Adele for the link)

TFC on SVT (Thanks Kjell)

There's an outside chance that perhaps the greatest rock'n'roll doc of all time could get a fire lit below it again. Please encourage all parties to come to a solution for the greater good. Future generations will thank you - provided someone can educate them with regard to the fact that some things are worth paying for. If like me, you've held out and not acquired a "bootleg" then this is a great chance.

"With the aptly titled MC5: A True Testimonial, [director Dave] Thomas captures the taste for revolt in Detroit that inspired the MC5, a desperation that fueled more important pop figures (besides just Motown artists) than maybe in any other city — an outlaw eruption that ranged from Parliament/Funkadelic to Iggy Pop." - Elvis Mitchell, New York Times

“It’s a great document of the band, it’s a great document of life, and it’s a great document of things ... far and beyond the band.” - Jackson Smith, Detroit-based musician son of Fred & Patti Smith

"Music so extraordinary that it transformed the lives of all who experienced it demands the release of a documentary that does the MC5 justice. Few bands have ever seen so much go so wrong so quickly and have been so misunderstood in the process. A True Testimonial represents a belated opportunity to set things straight, put things right. The fans deserve it. So does the band. And so does the music." - Don McLeese, author of Kick Out The Jams (Continuum 33 1/3 series)
___________________

It's now been over 8 years since the last authorized screening of the MC5 - A True Testimonial documentary at the Detroit Film Theatre on October 30, 2003.

http://www2.metrotimes.com/music/story.asp?id=5598

In that time, all the alleged 'copyright infringement' claims made against David Thomas, Laurel Legler and Future/Now Films have been thoroughly litigated, found to be without merit and the film has reportedly been cleared for released, once the various music licenses are secured.

The poll questions are:

A) Do you still care?

B) Would you pay to see it in a theatre?

C) Would you be interested in a legitimate DVD package?

Care to weigh in? Please do, your comments will be appreciated.

Vote here: http://tinyurl.com/MC5-ATT-poll

And, by all means, please share that link with anyone who might find this a pertinent topic.

KOTJMF!!!

RIP - John Barry

Amen to this.

(Lack of) progress report... I spent most of today doing the back-breaking and largely thankless task of pulling up and disposing of old carpet(s). The bunker is in serious disarray and I've established that it's not necessary to get "permission" from any local authority to install laminate flooring in said living space. The TV is disconnected and the only music available is via computer. I should fire up the steepletone but it's all a bit like cooking for one. I'm threatening myself with the prospect of going out for a walk. Actually, I'd go along the road to the pictures but it's that Danny Boyle pish that's on and I have standards. Such as they are...