That's using your melon

An important missive from Prince Melon Records:

The 4th volume in the limited edition Ed Kuepper live series will be available soon. Recorded live to a capacity crowd at the Forum in Melbourne early 2008 on the Don't Look Back 'Honey Steel's Gold ' tour. It features all the hits and some rarely performed tracks such as 'King of vice' Friday's blue cheer/libertines of oxley' and 'summerfield', as well as the non lp encore of 'Electrical storm'

The Don't Look Back shows were one of the biggest highlights of 2008 for mine with the pairing of Ed and Co with Died Pretty fairly inspired. More info on this one at Prince Melon's myspace.

Binocular Soccer

OK, soccer is not rock and roll but blogs can be indulgent. The new Japanese sport of Binolcular Soccer probably won't catch on in a hurry but is worthy of your consideration:

And it does segue into the fact that the I-94 Bar will be presenting a Japan-Europe Tour Diary from Penny Ikinger in the near future.

No pun, no fun.

Hmm, where to start?

On Friday night there is a special night on at the Tote:

A collective of bands are getting together for a series of gigs to raise funds for an operation for local musician Michael ‘Boof’ Hughes from the band Edward. Boof was in a near fatal car accident two years ago at age nineteen, which has left him permanently paralysed from the chest down. To raise money for cutting edge spinal treatment in India, the first in a series of benefit shows will be held at the Tote.

Which will be followed up toot sweet on Saturday when Sixfthick and Digger & the Pussycats do a two-backed beast of a single launch, with support from Little Athletics and Kretch.
Saturday is a bit problematic, actually- as well as the aforementioned, Dolly Rocker Movement are also doing a launch, just up the road at the Birmingham.



But I think overall I want to see the awesome Beaches launching their self-titled debut album over at the NSC:

I've had a copy for a couple of weeks now and have been playing it constantly. It's another excellent Mistletone Records release, a solid if somewhat late entrant for album of the year in my book.

Walter Lure (2)

A review of that Walter Lure live album is posted at the Bar here. Short story: Rough 'n' ready and rocks pretty well and at 10 Euros a copy it's worthy of investment.

Where did CBGB go?

It ended up in a storage shed according to the New York Times.

King of the Gig Pigs

The I-94 Bar is looking for a live reviewer or two but this seems excessive:

After more than 5,000 gigs over 35 years, rock fan Ray Morrissey can claim to be Britain's most prolific concert-goer. On piles of notebook pages in Mr Morrissey's front room, thousands of gigs are listed, one per line, all with a mark out of 10 circled at the end.

Then again, when you look at Ray's website recording all this it's enough to give you a headache.

Before he was an Oil and a Minister he was a farmer

He might be best known as the singer for agit-rock band Midnight Oil but chrome-domed Australian Environment Minister Peter Garrett was frontman for Farm before that. Farm really were the Oils but peddling different tunes.

Farm allegedly stood for Fucking All Right Mate but I might have disagreed with that, if only on the strength of them playing Focus and Jethro Tool songs. Click the pic to enlarge.

How badly will this suck?

I'm a big fan of the Stooges - both the Iggy-led variety and the Three - so why wouldn't the thought of the Farrelly Brothers reviving the latter comedic trio fill me with dread? Who cares about the global financial crisis - this is seriously bad news. Read the guff here.

Fractured retrobilly boogie?

No, I don't know what it means either, but I like the sound of it:


I'm just pissed off I missed it- going on as I write. Next time, fer sure.
Meanwhile, I am morally and contractually obliged to mention that X are playing at the Espy tomorrow night (Friday) with Dollsquad* and the Sons Of Lee Marvin.

But gig of the week would have to be this:

Assassination Collective, Deaf Wish, Paper Planes, and Graveyard Train, presented by the Afterdark crew. It's an album launch and all, but even so, I think it's free. Or at least cheap. Not as cheap as those Ass. Co. boys, though. Watch out for that one in the pith helmet.

*any record label looking for a kick-arse girly garage rock album to unleash on the public, get in touch.

Another Lost Weekend

Some new "old" songs and a new "new" one will be in the set. Click to enlarge and read the details.

Clash live gets the prole thumbs-up

For an apparent Marxist, this guy has a warm view of the Clash's "Live at Shea Stadium" on major label Sony.

Walter Lure's new live album

Ex-Heartbreaker Walter Lure toured Europe in 2007 and Italian label Nicotine Records is doing something about it. Here's the tracklisting for the live album:

  1 One Track Mind
   2 Sorry
   3 Never Get Away
   4 Cry Baby
   5 Get Off The Phone
   6 Busted
   7 Let Go
   8 London Boys
   9 Take a Chance
 10 I Wanna Be Loved
 11 Born To Lose
 12 Chinese Rocks
 13 Too Much Junkie Business
 14 Do You Love Me?

Eyewitness accounts (thanks Greg Bowen in France) say the shows were great. Buy it here.

Rock your vote

The Age newspaper's annual EG Awards poll is up and running. It's a closed-ended poll i.e. you only get to vote for one from a list in each catergory.

Elitist hipster scum that I am, I couldn't vote for much as very little of what's in these mainstream voting things reflects what's played around the I-94 Bar.

You might be in that boat too. If so, you can at least vote for the Best Australian Album Of All Time catergory. At the time of voting, "Radios Apepar" was only running at three percent. That's a bit sad - but you know what to do.

Conclusive evidence of Punk's death (if any were needed)

The Bratz™ are hitting the home of punk with the most devastatin’ street styles ever, and they are ready to rock! Available in four collectible styles (Cloe™, Yasmin™, Jade™, Meygan™), these girls are showing everybody how to be Pretty ‘N’ Punk™!

RocknRolla

You might remember an earlier post reporting that Radio Birdman's "Do The Pop!" had been included in this Guy Ritchie gangster movie. Yes it has - but it's barely audible.

The Scientists' "We Had Love" fared a little better, apparently. I haven't actually seen the film - I'm a 'wait for it on DVD' kinda guy these days.

And more.

Yes, there's always more. More more more. Yes please.
On Friday, a big bill at Ding Dong:


The Surrealists haven't played for...oooh, quite a while. This show will also be the last for Witch Hats for a bit, as they will need to find a new drummer immediately afterwards, and mix their just-recorded second album. Pistons Misfire are a new outfit featuring Sam Agostino, from Kamikaze Trio/Digger & the Pussycats.
Or:

A Stax tribute night, for no particular reason I can see. Too many people playing to list- just read the poster, sucker. I like Yah Yah's- the stage is low, the bar is cheap and the bouncers are friendly.
Then on Saturday, after that Oogas gig mentioned previously, there are a couple of choices, like some more filthy garage rock from the Gruntled:

Seems like ages since I was at idGAFF. Note support from Selfish Gene- get there early, if only to see them all squash into the playing area.
While over in Richmond, a revamped Wrong Turn are playing:

I don't know why that came out so small. It's not my fault.

R.I.P. Mitch Mitchell

Gone to join Jimi at age 61. This is him solo'ing in 1969:

The Bar's 2008 Top Tens start rolling in

It's a new look Top Ten this year as we've moved it over to Wordpress to allow interactive comments. Ken Shimamoto (aka Stashdauber) is the first cab off the rank and you can read his entry here - and of course do better yourself if you're not hep to his jive.

Enough said

There are a few things coming up, but I only have time for a quick and dirty post tonight.
The Ooga Boogas are launching their LP "Romance & Adventure" at Mario's Pizza, in Johnson St. Fitzroy, on Saturday. The record is awesome, this show promises to be special. And packed.

The last few copies of the album will be on sale, too. See you there.

Not Another Friggin' List

Ten Best Punk Rock Singers of All Time? Lookee here. The guy from Jawbreaker is one of them? What about Andrew WK while you're at it? Pussies.

Album of the Year? I think so, folks...

It's Johnny Casino & The Secrets Week at the I-94 Bar. There's the Review of the new album ("I Am Who I Am, Not Who You Want Me To Be"), the "Drunk & Disorderly" Podcast, now the Interview and the album and accompanying EP are both on sale in The Shop. And the Sydney launch is this Saturday at The Empire at Annandale (which I'd attend except it's The Barmaid's birthday and she has other plans.).

Musical election fun

This US election parody is too good not to watch.

R.I.P. Nathaniel Meyer

Further to the October 30 post about the lack of coverage of garage soul great Nathaniel Meyer's stroke and planned benefit show, news in from Norton Records that the man passed away in Detroit on November 1. Funeral is Tuesday.

"Agile, Mobile & Hostile" in Sydney

Not sure if I'll make it but it looks like the bomb:

Australian premiere of the festival favourite + a live Q&A with Andre himself from Chicago!

8:30pm
Mon 10 Nov, 2008
Greater Union Bondi
Price: $15 / $12 conc.
Rating: MA 15+

"Andre Williams makes Little Richard sound like Pat Boone." Lux Interior, The Cramps

Andre Williams has written and recorded a number of landmark hit songs and has worked with legends of the industry: Berry Gordy, Ike Turner and Stevie Wonder to name just a few. Andre has also struggled throughout his life with addiction, poverty, homelessness and the legal system.

Andre says, 'I'm going to show you the right way, because I've gone so many wrong ways.' With this statement the man known as "Mr. Rhythm" and "The Black Godfather" takes us along a fascinating, funny and distressing journey. Andre doesn't always go "'the right way' and this leads to tenuous relationships with friends, family and business partners, time in jail, eviction from his "old folks home" and subsequent struggle to pay for his room at the 'Hotel 6' where he lives between tours.

From March of 2006 until July of 2007, directors Tricia Todd and Eric Matthies followed the charismatic underground recording artist Andre Williams through his day-to-day existence. For Andre, this could mean rehearsing for a show in Chicago, recording with Jon Spencer in Michigan, performing for enthusiastic fans in Croatia, doing a radio interview in Serbia or marching in a Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans.

Throughout his 72 years, Andre has never stopped driving his creative visions forward, regardless of cost or consequence. The consequences turn out to be severe as Andre's addictive history catches up with him. Ultimately doing the right thing could be the choice between life and death for a musician who is perpetually on the cusp of newfound success.

Agile, Mobile, Hostile is a feature length documentary as told by Andre Williams with input from Jon Spencer, John Sinclair, Don Waller, Johnnie Bassett, Margaret Doll Rod and others.

Popcorn Taxi is proud to present the very first screening in Australia of "Agile Mobile Hostile" followed by a live Q&A with the man himself, Andre Williams, live down-the-line from Chicago hosted by The Naked City's, Jay Katz.

Believe us - this year with Andre will definitely leave you feeling Agile, Mobile and Hostile!

Buy tickets here and watch the promo trailer:

Vale Sonic Smith

Fred "Sonic" Smith died 14 years ago yesterday (my time) or today (US time.) Thanks "bamesjaker" for the heads-up. Wayne Kramer remembers meeting Sonic and the formation of the MC5 in this clip from "A True Testimonial":

Have you heard?

Turn up your speakers and click here.

Dead, warring Ramones should be no election surprise

Hot off the Reuters wires:

Punk rock innovators the Ramones made a joyful racket, but offstage they were rarely in tune.

Band members were known to feud about everything, from their song list to politics. Guitarist Johnny Ramone was a conservative, while singer Joey Ramone was a liberal.

Johnny and Joey are both dead now, but their feud lives on in the presidential race.

You see, Johnny’s widow Linda, using the Ramone moniker, has been campaigning for Republican John McCain, and Joey’s estate is none too happy about that.

“I just want it to be clear that Linda Cummings does not represent the political views of the Ramones,” said Mickey Leigh, the president of Ramones Productions who is also Joey’s brother.

“As for Joey Ramone, the only Ramones song he would sing at a Republican event would be ‘Glad to See You Go,’” Leigh said in a press release.

It’s not the first time Linda has created dischord among the Ramones. She dated Joey but eventually married Johnny, causing the two band members not speak to each other for years, even as they continued to tour and make records.

King Khan & BBQ

This review of a show by The King Khan and BBQ Show last weekend makes me wish I was there. Here's some YouTubeage of their song "Waddlin' Around" to tide us all over:

"I Wanna Hold Your Hand" - The Standells (via The Munsters)

Just to mark the fact that all 16 espisodes of The Munsters have just been released on DVD in the States, here are The Standells in their one and only appearance on the show.

Death of the Cassette Tape

Remember when you had to put the best of your treasured vinyl collection onto cassette just so you could play it in the car? When retail outlets actually sold albums in cassette format to suit people who travelled or moved house a lot and wanted to keep their music collection to a manageable size? When bootleggers recorded to boomboxes and DAT was something that went with DIS?

There's a scuplture at the International Surgical Museum that illustrates the Death of the Cassette Tape. See it here.