you gonna get it: October 2009

31 October 2009

"Was L.A. cooler back then?" Surely a rhetorical blog post

This LA Times writer poses the question. If it's not a self-evident answer, I don't know what is, even if I haven't been there for six years or so. He got his hands on the Rhino Records box set "Where The Action Is". So should you and me.

You Can't Put Your Arms Around a Memory (but you can swipe his room number)

The St Peter's Guest House in New Orleans has a steady stream of Johnny Thunders fans beating a path to its door, eager to see the room where Mr Genzales shuffled off this mortal coil in 1991. Curiously, the owner has to buy extra supplies of number three and seven nameplates to replace the ones on the door denoting it as Room 37. Talk about anything that isn't bolted down (although in this case the numbers probably are.)

Here's the late Willie Deville talking about the discovery of Johnny's body. Willie was a neighbour (briefly):

30 October 2009

Going out this weekend?

Maybe you need some dancing lessons from James Brown?

Chuck Biscuits not dead?

There's a hoax going around that Chuck Biscuits is dead- apparently he isn't. In the article notifying his death, it states that he died after a long battle with throat cancer at age 44.

He's been one of my favourite drummers, Biscuits drummed for all of em- Black Flag, DOA, Fear, Run D.M.C, The Weirdos, Danzig, Circle Jerks, Social Distortion and a band i wish i could get demos of- The Nig Heist. He's featured on the 1982 Black Flag demos which contain a good portion of the My War songs.

DOA circa 1980
L-R Randy Rampage, Joey Shithead and Chuck Biscuits.

Black Flag circa 1982

L-R Chuck Dukowski, Henry Garfield, Greg Ginn, Chuck Biscuits & Dez Cadena

Circle Jerks circa 1983
L-R Keith Morris, Chuck Biscuits & Greg Hetson

Read the hoax stories about the main man here.

Check out the Punk News article here.

Chuck Biscuits not dead?

DOA circa 1980
L-R Randy Rampage, Joey Shithead and Chuck Biscuits.

Black Flag circa 1982

L-R Chuck Dukowski, Henry Garfield, Greg Ginn, Chuck Biscuits & Dez Cadena

Circle Jerks circa 1983
L-R Keith Morris, Chuck Biscuits & Greg Hetson

Read the hoax stories about the main man here.

Check out the Punk News article here.

29 October 2009

Still Hyman plays Hull

Seventy-two-year-old retired Stone Bill Wyman and his all-star band are playing Hull. OK, it's not Wembley Stadium but he's keeping good company and working. Albert Lee and Georgie Fame are on board for a 32-gig tour and old Bill is not ruling out a one-off show with his old band, should they play Glastonbury.

Of course the old pants man is doing much better than Mick Taylor.

Zep for Glastonbury? You probably care a lot more than me

Led Zeppelin (the real deal - as far as they can be with their drummer extinct) are rumoured to be reforming for Glastonbury 2010. Read the vague rumour here. People always ask what I think of Led Zep, and even if they don't I tell them that I like the idea of the band a lot more than their music.

God knows I've heard enough of the band. I used to flat with a huge Led Zep fan who played them incessantly. Which means A Lot.

I loved the Yardbirds in their various configurations and acknowledge the debt heavy metal, as a genre, owes Page and Co. Just think, no Iron Maiden without these guys. Sheesh.

But I can't stand listening to Robert Fucking Plant and his air raid siren voice. This is coming from a fan of excess - not INXS, stupid - in many of its shapes and forms. Plant's voice is like nails on a chalkboard and overblown to the point of me wanting to say: 'Shut the fuck up, you drama queen'. He's a ham and Led Zep would have been great without him. I wish a groupie had stuck a mudshark down his throat.

Don't get me started on Freddie Mercury or Jimmy Barnes.

November

November playlist:

1. Ty Segall - The Drag
2. Ooga Boogas - On Safari
3. Bobby Ubangi(RIP) - Another Girl Like You
4. Reatards - Human Race
5. Personal & The Pizzas - I Ain't Taking You Out
6. Tyvek - Honda
7. Thee Oh Sees - Heart Sweats
8. The Gories - Early In The Morning
9. Black Flag - Spray Paint The Walls
10. Questors - Are You A Boy Or Are You A Girl?
11. Useless Eaters - Agoraphobic
12. Quintron - The Beach
13. The Stabs - The Hated One
14. Buzzcocks - What Do I Get?
15. The Black Lips - Body Combat

November

28 October 2009

I could have my arm twisted, I suppose

This should not pass without mention

Last Tram Home goes live

TJ Honeysuckle's I-94 Bar-affliated blog Last Tram Home is presenting shows in Melbourne. TJ is DJ'ing:

27 October 2009

Last Tram Home Presents...

Melbourne man about town and occasional blogger T.J Honeysuckle is hosting the first(and hopefully not the only!) "Last Tram Home Presents". The bands playing are Late Arvo Sons, Crystal Thomas & The Flowers Of Evil and Aktion Unit. Honeysuckle will be manning the dj booth to play some of your favourites and many of his. It's $8 and it will be excellent!

If you haven't seen his blog Last Tram Home, you might need to free up your afternoon.

Last Tram Home Presents...

If you haven't seen his blog Last Tram Home, you might need to free up your afternoon.

26 October 2009

The first "Last Tram Home presents..." is on.

Hmm, not sure I need to say much more. But I will anyway.

After 30 or so years of going to shows in his beloved Melbourne, TJ Honeysuckle finally steps up to the crease and says ''Bite this for a good night out''.

An eclectic selection of bands, pulled screaming from the headlines of his long running and (allegedly) renowned blog, Last Tram Home, will be playing at the Old Bar, 74 Johnson St Fitzroy, every couple of months.

Do not expect clever themed nights- expect a strange but ultimately satisfying mix.

The line up for the first show is now confirmed as:
Late Arvo Sons, probably playing lots of tunes from their excellent debut album ''Letters From Another Alphabet''
Crystal Thomas and the Flowers Of Evil, probably playing lots of tunes from their forthcoming new album.
Aktion Unit, probably making a big sweet sweaty racket.

and I'll be rounding off the evening by playing a heap of old vinyl- mostly Australian. Come along and I'll spill beer on your good boots. Or not.

25 October 2009

This week is rad

Hey dudes, this week is looking pretty sweet for gigs.

Tuesday

- REPAIRS at The Birmy with WASTED TRUTH, SPLITFOOT and WHITE ALTAR. $5

Wednesday

- POOR PEOPLE, FATTI FRANCES and RICHIE 1250 & THE BRIDES OF CHRIST at The Tote. $7

- DOZERS at Pony. Free

Thursday

- ROLAND S HOWARD at Prince Bandroom with KES BAND and THE DACIOS $22.00 + bf. Doors at 8!

- BREAKER MORANT, THE BEAT DISEASE, BEAR HUNT and MR. BLISTER at Pony Bar. Free or cheap, whatever!

Friday

- THE STABS album launch at The Tote with WITCH HATS and THE SADDESTS. $12 (Go early for Total Döughstruction- $5 pints and free pizza with DJ Dagnabbit)

- USELESS CHILDREN (Album Launch) at Northcote Social Club with TRUE RADICAL MIRACLE and THE DIAMOND SEA. $12

Saturday

- LIMITED EXPRESS (has gone?) (Japan) at East Brunswick Club with BEACHES, NI-HAO! (Japan) with ABSOLUTE BOYS. $15 + bf

- LATE ARVO SONS and LOST BURROS at the GB. Free!

see you round-

This week is rad

24 October 2009

Woollen Kits Interview

Here's some of the interview i did with Woollen Kits, it was a lot of fun. It's going to be out in the next Negative Guestlist zine. Go to the NGL myspace for more info at http://www.myspace.com/brisbanefanzine.

L- Leon
TH- Tom H
TR- Tom R
Z- Zac

Z- So how did you guys meet?

TH- Girlfriends.

TR- Yeah, Santa Maria girls. They went to Santa Maria College.

Z- How long ago was that then?

TH- Leon and i met maybe like 5 years ago and then we would have met Tom like 3 years ago or something.

TR- Yeah, all our girlfriends are like best friends. So thats kind of how we met.

Z- So did they set you guys up to be friends as well?

TR- Nah it's just incidental that we started hanging out, it's kind of weird how we play together now.

Z- Are you guys in any other bands right now?

TR- I'm in Constant Mongrel

TH- I just started playing with Simon from Yama Boy.

Z- Do you have a collective favourite band?

TH- Tyvek would be the most common favourite between us, maybe Eddy Current Suppression Ring.

TR- UV, yeah UV Race is a favourite of ours.

Z- Whats the best Woollen Kits song so far?

TH- Probably Teenage Love

Z- Is that a very personal song?

TH- Kinda, i guess the lyrics sought of are. They all are i guess.

TR- All of them relate to his girlfriend Lori.

TH- It's like how the Beach Boys always sung about girls except for me it's just one.

Z- So if you fuck up, you just write a song and she forgives you?

TH- Yeah pretty much. I always wanted to write a song with the word Teenage in the title. Teenage Lobotomy, Teenage Caveman, Teenage Warewolf.

Woollen Kits Interview

Jem Maloney interview

Hey here's some of an interview i did with Jem Moloney of We Empty Rooms Records and drummer of Firewitch, Fangs of..., Inappropriate Tough Guy Behaviour and Elise & Jem.

The full version is going to be in Negative Guestlist. Go to the NGL myspace for more info at http://www.myspace.com/brisbanefanzine.

J- Jem
Z- Zac

Z- So We Empty Rooms, what is it? Give us the spiel.

J- When Firewitch did our first cd which was in like 2004, i guess that was the first release i put out where i organised every little detail. But i didn't know really what a record label was, so i didn't come up with a name for the label. I remember just thinking "yeah we'll just put it out independently". Then sought of after a while i began to realise a lot of these local labels were really just kind of doing what my band had always done which was putting out your record, you know with varying degrees of professionalism. We Empty Rooms was originally meant to be more of a collaborative effort, like i wanted it to be with this guy that i used to be in a band with- The Union.

I guess theres many good bands that all share something- particularly members. I guess a sought of place they could have to give their records a home. Then it kind of worked out that it was only me that was doing stuff so yeah technically i run the label but i like to take the approach that for every release whoever the other band is actively involved as well. So Jace in Fangs Of... he's pretty involved in that he does the artwork for the Fangs Of... records. He also helps me screen print the covers, fold them and glue them and all that laborious stuff. It's really just a hobby that i happen to be very passionate about.

The ideas just to get music that i really like heard by people that want to hear it. So if it means that a release only needs to have 50 copies if thats as many people that want to hear it then thats fine. I'm about to put out the 11th release and i've come to realise that because i hand make all the stuff, kinda gonna have to stick to limited runs. I can't every week be screen printing new covers it's just so time consuming.

Jem Maloney interview

Late Arvo Sons Interview

Here's some of an interview i did with the Late Arvo Sons, it's going to be in the next Negative Guestlist zine which is made in Brisbane. Go to the NGL myspace for more info at http://www.myspace.com/brisbanefanzine.

F- Frosty
K- Kent
M- Mark
S- Stu
Z- Zac

Z- Where was the first gig?

M- Cobra Bar, in the first week of December 2007 with Pretty Green.

Z- So where did the name Late Arvo Sons come about?

M- We started jamming in March of 07 and didn't do our first gig till November, we figured out the name after struggling for months in about mid October. We had a few names that we couldn't all agree on- in fact i don't think we all agreed on the Late Arvo Sons initially.

I was at work one afternoon and it'd been a hot day, it was getting late in the day and i said to my boss how nice or great is it in the late arvo sun. We were working right on the beach and i just immediately messaged the boys, what do you think of this? and i did a little play on words with the s-o-n-s instead. And it was pretty much that and i dunno i think one or 2 of us weren't into it at first but it just kind of grew on us. We were just like "It suits us enough, and we're at our wits end with thinking of names" and i think we did pretty well really.

Z- So is this the first band for you all?

K- First band-ers.

F- Kent and Stu used to jam years ago a bit.

K- Yeah the first time we jammed was at Mount Buller, when we were living there. Remember that? You used that tobogin for a bass drum and wooden spoons for sticks! And we played Nirvana covers and shit. Then we stepped up to Stu's nan's house before we moved to the shed playing Pennywise covers.

Late Arvo Sons Interview

23 October 2009

Sightlines? No problem!

20 October 2009

Downtown Calling

It's a new film on the New York art and music scene of the '70s, narrated by Debbie Harry. Here's the synopsis:

In the late 1970s, the “greatest city in the world” was teetering on the edge of total chaos. A failed economy, crime and en mass housing corruption gave way to a city in crisis. Yet out of the economic and social strife that held the “Big Apple” hostage, a family of homegrown cultures that would forever change the world began to emerge. Downtown Calling not only documents, in detail, the evolution of New York City’s fertile music and art subculture during this period, but how its collective output continues to play a prominent, driving role in the international fashion, art and music industries today.

There's a preview here which isn't an embeddable clip. Mark the film makers down for that error in the Age of Web 2.0.

I'm not sniffing much underground music content here except for James Chance. It's probably very hip hop focused. I wonder why someone doesn't go the whole hog and document the No Wave movement. Surely there's enough in the way of amateur footage and survivors?

Iggy signs up to The Lamest Marketing Idea. Ever

Holy shit! This is the story:

The "edgy" marketing promotion for a New Zealand broadband provider seeks Kiwi "musicians" via Idol-style auditions at a bar. Their prize will be to go into a studio to re-record "The Passenger" (after a fashion) with Iggy Pop - who'll phone his vocal in via broadband.

First insurance, now broadband. He's entitled to earn a crust but is there no end to what the man will shuck? Remotely, of course, in this instance.

The promoters are putting up a bar tab of - wait for it - 500 bucks to fuel the audition process. That should go a long way - if the contest is held in a phone box.

And the brand positioning of a tightwad broadband ISP aligning with the World's Forgotten Boy is what exactly...? At least Ig won't be duetting with Jet this time out.

Album of the week- the Stabs: "Dead Wood"

Now, this is a fine fine thing. It's been a while since the Stabs hit us with "Dirt", and although they haven't been lazy- they play pulverising live shows pretty regularly, all over the place- it's good to have something new to annoy the neighbours with.
The music here is dark, and thick, with an air of controlled violence and anger. But it's personal, not political. Top picks here are probably "Split Lips" and "No Hoper" , though it'd be hard to call anything weak.
The Melbourne launch date is at the Tote, on October 30th, with Fabulous Diamonds and Witch Hats, not sure about dates in other cities but they are being put together.
I'll post that film clip as soon as it's finished. Been a while since I had so much fun at an inner-city/share house party.

Bad '80s metal band goes viral

You know the headline's going to make you click this.

19 October 2009

New photo of secret 1970 UK Stooges gig

While our 2007 posting of previously unseen 1971 Stooges photos caused a stir, we've unearthed another gem - courtesy of UK label Easy Action and Stooges Fan Club president Natalie Schlossman. Natalie found this stunning evidence of the Stooges playing a secret 1970 show at Wakefield Workingman's Club in the UK - two years PRIOR to their infamous London gig immortalised by photographer Mick Rock on the cover of "Raw Power." We now await Easy Action's CD from a tape of that Wakefield gig.

All The Old Dudes

Never been a massive fan but I can appreciate a lot of their music, so it would be bereft to mention the recent run of Mott The Hoople reunion shows in the UK, especially as I know a few Aussies who made the trek. There's a nice review here.

Late Arvo Sons

18 October 2009

Why John Mayer is a bore, figuratively speaking

If soft cock rocker and alleged bluesman John Mayer uses the threat of sodomy as a media management tool, perhaps it's a clue to why he went out with someone called Jennifer Anuston.

Do you think the interview is real? Is he?

1971

We'll get to reviewing the "1971" Stooges disc set on Easy Action in a week or so but here's some blather from Blog To Comm.

The always erudite Houndblog proffers opinion here.

Aloha Steve and Danno at Summer Bay

The incorporation of icons like Radio Birdman into Australian mainstream life continues at a less than frantic pace. Words is - and I don't watch the show so it's hearsay - last week the band got a mention in a plotline between two characters on soap opera Home and Away.

Summertime Blues

And a belated goodbye to Blue Cheer bassist and singer Dickie Peterson who died last week.

Stooges will take Manhattan (or somewhere close by)

The Stooges dates start being thrown out there. ATP in NYC has them according to this.

15 October 2009

Going for the obvious.

Hmm, haven't been keeping my ear to the ground this week, so I think I may just go for something obvious:

Not that this would be a bad choice. Butcher Birds are playing a few shows around town this weekend, in support of their excellent new album- Saturday night at Yah Yah's, with Ouch My Face and Mother & Father looks like the place to be.
Although all things being equal, I'll have another distraction.

I wonder if I can slow my reading speed down enough to make a copy of this last all weekend?

Nobunny loves you!!!

Nobunny's alleged "WORST SHOW OF 2008"! live at Lauren and Gavin's wedding shower, 2008

Nobunny loves you!!!

Nobunny's alleged "WORST SHOW OF 2008"! live at Lauren and Gavin's wedding shower, 2008

Woollen Kits new 7" and Launch

Melbourne's Woollen Kits are putting a 7" out on Friday October 23rd, here's the flyer

Super Wild Horses
School Of Radiant Living
Constant Mongrel

Here's the 7" cover

"Teenage Love"

A1. Tasman
A2. By A Lake
B1. Haircut

B2. Teenage Love

Woollen Kits new 7" and Launch

Melbourne's Woollen Kits are putting a 7" out on Friday October 23rd, here's the flyer

Super Wild Horses
School Of Radiant Living
Constant Mongrel

Here's the 7" cover

"Teenage Love"

A1. Tasman
A2. By A Lake
B1. Haircut

B2. Teenage Love

YIS

Hey there sports fans first up at the Pony we have Melbourne's JJ Symon & The Monochromes take on Eltham's The Thod followed by a post game show by the Melbourne Yis.

Then on Saturday the 31st YIS play at the Tote in the front bar which means, it's free!

Check out the YIS blog

YIS

Hey there sports fans first up at the Pony we have Melbourne's JJ Symon & The Monochromes take on Eltham's The Thod followed by a post game show by the Melbourne Yis.

Then on Saturday the 31st YIS play at the Tote in the front bar which means, it's free!

Check out the YIS blog

The Stabs new album Dead Wood

The Stabs have just released their second album entitled "Dead Wood", it's out on Spooky Records. Really excited to see it finally come out.

They've got their Album launches real soon, which are also Witch Hats EP launches for Sydney and Brisbane.

Melbourne Album Launch 30th of Oct @ The Tote w/ Witch Hats + The Saddests

Brisbane Albums Launch 13th of Nov @ The Clubhouse w/ Witch Hats

Sydney Album Launch 20th of Nov @ The Sandringham w/ Witch Hats

Then Spooky Records' 10th Birthday Patrty @ The Tote 28th of November

29 Nov @ THE NATIONAL HOTEL Geelong with Lightning Bolt and Grey Daturas

The Stabs new album Dead Wood

The Stabs have just released their second album entitled "Dead Wood", it's out on Spooky Records. Really excited to see it finally come out.

They've got their Album launches real soon, which are also Witch Hats EP launches for Sydney and Brisbane.

13 October 2009

The UV Race - The UV Race

The UV Race have a new LP out on Aarght! Records here in Australia, pick it up at your local's Missing Link or Repressed Records.

The UV Race - The UV Race LP review in Releases : Mess+Noise

The UV Race - The UV Race

The UV Race have a new LP out on Aarght! Records here in Australia, pick it up at your local's Missing Link or Repressed Records.

The UV Race - The UV Race LP review in Releases : Mess+Noise

12 October 2009

Guess that's official then

Three shows only. Maybe next time will be with Niagara.

Album of the week- Rowland S. Howard- "Pop Crimes".

Well, here it is. Rowland's first new album since 2000's "Teenage Snuff Film".
At first glance, it may seem that there's not a lot to it- only eight tracks, two of which have already appeared on a recent single. But repeated listening brings out an astonishing degree of subtle depth. From the unapologetically intelligent lyrics, to the way a single chord or slight tempo change lifts whole songs, this collection has some real class. The closing two tunes, "Ave Maria" and "The Golden Age Of Bloodshed" are a perfect pairing of opposites- one a love story, the other a compelling reading of (bad) omens.
Launch dates in Melbourne & Sydney later this month. Oh, and yes, it'll be available on vinyl as well as CD.

My Disco, Beaches, Your Animal and Brain Children DJs

My Disco with Beaches, Your Animal and Brain Children DJs.

Saturday 17th October at The Forum.

More info here