Well, I did. And it wasn't pretty.

We were sitting around full from a birthday dinner of which the birthday boy didn't show for and flipping between channels trying to avoid footage of the Republican National Convention when we stumbled across Wilson being announced on the Leno show. "This could be cool," we thought. Nope.

I searched for some video through the many "tubes of the internet" but alas, NBC has that shit sealed up tighter than a Dolphin's asshole. So my description will have to suffice.

Wilson sat, in front of keyboard he didn't play, and "talked" his way through a song (presumably off of his new record) that sounded like BAD children's music while an army of instrument clad morons tried to cover-up the fact that Brian is still as crazy as ever and now also old and boring.

To top it off, he look entirely bewildered and his expressions rotated between false happiness, confusion and mild terror. It was like seeing Roky Erickson with none of the edge. Or talent.

Yuck... here's a song off of Pet Sounds to wash the stale taste from your mouth.

This post has: 1 MP3

So as most of you blog-readers know, we had our twice-yearly Vegas party last week. You probably also know that NO AGE and Thomas Function played. Well, as expected, we had a grand ole time!

The evening started off a little more full than usual and considering we only had two bands this time around we let the crowd simmer in their own juices (read: rum) before having Thomas Function take the stage. After the crowd (and band...) were properly fueled the music began.

Thomas Function took a lot of people by surprise with their "rough around the edges" brand of multi-genre-infused pop music but quickly had the crowd won over. Their set gradually got louder and tighter while steamrolling through a set of songs that surprisingly contained a lot of stuff from their prior releases. All in all a pretty stellar performance from a bunch of wild kids from Alabama.

Thomas Function was done and that meant that it was time to get a drink (or three) and hang out before NO AGE started up and shattered everyone's eardrums.

NO AGE weren't playing on their normal equipment. So, to compensate, Randy took all the amps Thomas Function used, wired them all together and created an astonishingly loud set up with different pedals triggering different amps. Add in a few sequencers with Dean's pounding drums and the whole room felt as if it were shaking through each and every song.

The band blazed through a sort of "career retrospective", playing bits and pieces of all their records and somehow making them sound bigger and better than I'd heard them played live before. We were even treated to a Misfits cover that had people scratching their heads at first but ultimately resulted in the crowd loosing their shit.

After the show, we headed back to our hotel and hit the casino floor. I somehow won $100 on the Blackjack tables but only after being berated by the dealer for lack of knowing what I was doing.

All in all, a pretty great night.

Stay tuned for videos from both bands but for now, enjoy the pictures!

This post has: 12 Images 2 MP3's

Whilst Sir Paul Weller gallivants across the US in his leather suit (see the promo pics) playing Jam classics sprinkled throughout a set of songs that no one (with any taste) gives a shit about, Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler (the original rhythm section) have teamed up with a guy that gives the songs their original, passionate spirit and are touring the land playing the cuts that we want to hear. And doing a better job of it too.

They legally can't call themselves the Jam, so it's billed as "From The Jam". They might as well call it "I can't fucking wait" because that's exactly how I feel.

Here's the dates and some video evidence that these will be some great shows:

This post has: 3 MP3's

Here's a live version of "Bored Teenagers" from the Old Grey Whistle Test. It's loud, sloppy and obnoxious... amazing!!

This post has: 2 MP3's

Although not nearly as recognized as some of the other Jamaican legends, Alton Ellis' songs are as timeless as any classics, regardless of style or country of origin.

Ellis was one of the pioneers of the new sound to strike Jamaica like a bolt of lightening: Rocksteady. The slowed-down beat and heavy Soul influence really gave his music the added punch that helped it stand above most of the other reggae out at the time and go on to influence countless other genres of black music, whether the influence is obvious or not.

I can't hear Ellis without my mood being elevated. It's just perfect, timeless music.

This post has: 4 MP3's

If you want to read about Brutal Knights and how great we think they are go here.

Below is the case is presented that the main riff and structure for BK's awesome album-closer "We Have A Website" is copped almost directly from the Adolescents "No Way" (off the Blue Album).

Let the lawsuit begin!!

This post has: 2 MP3's

The Elastik Band's "Spazz" is the kind of single so strange and uncommercial that it boggles the mind as to how it managed to get released on a big label (Atco). Even by the standards of late 1967, when this came out, it was politically incorrect to the max, its lyrics viciously taunting a spastic, its standard blues-rock-garage verses bracketed by cheesy bursts of quasi-Oriental melodies. Could anyone have been surprised when it failed to make the charts?

From the San Francisco suburb of Belmont, the Elastik Band formed in 1965, and did one single as This Side Up, "Lose Yourself," for Century Records. "Spazz," their second single under the Elastik Band name, was released on Atco (according to the liner notes of the compilation The Elastik Band) after Action Records of San Mateo, CA, took the acetate to New York and the engineer met Atlantic Records executive Jerry Wexler in an elevator. Following its release, the group signed to Kapp, which gave the Elastik Band more elaborate production than they'd had on their previous releases.

The label did record about a couple albums' worth of music with the group, though it put out just a couple late-'60s singles with the band, the first of them ("I Would Still Love You") becoming a regional hit in Arizona. Their final 45, a cover of Jimmy Webb's "Tunesmith," was released in direct competition with a version of the same song by the Bards, with neither version becoming a hit. Universal (Kapp's parent company) then changed the group's name to Dangerfield, recording another album of material, though just one single ("Zig Zag Man"/"Rockpile") was issued.

For many years, the Elastik Band were known only for "Spazz," which gained fame among garage rock and psychedelic collectors due to its inclusion in the first volume of the Pebbles reissue series (getting resurrected again about 20 years later for the Nuggets box). In 2007, the compilation The Elastik Band, mixing released and unreleased material (including, of course, "Spazz"), illustrated that actually "Spazz" wasn't too typical of the group's material, which also spanned psychedelic pop in the spirit of the Electric Prunes, Strawberry Alarm Clock, and Association. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide

This post has: 1 MP3

We just received the a CD of the new Black Jetts record 'Sever the Serpent's Head Before it Strikes'. Based in Las Vegas, NV this garage rock (emphasis on "rock") quartet has been around and kicking for quite sometime now and many of you might of gotten to know the band through their releases on Dead Beat, or their track on the first Sailor Jerry Comp.

This time around the boys have honed their skills and put out a record more akin to the Hellacopters than The Seeds. It's very slick, big and punchy. I don't know what it is but I'm also getting this early Guns N' Roses vibe from several of the tracks. It's probably due to the production and the loose, but nearly flawless playing on the recording. Some will dig the fuck out of that, others will shy away.

Check out the songs below and decide for yourself.

This post has: 2 MP3's

Love City are going to absolutely destroy the Barbary tonight. For the first time in it's (re-opened) existence a real rock n' roll band is going to take the stage and show every sleazeball in attendance what good music is all about.

You know that scene in Rock N' Roll High School where the Ramones bust into the school, the principal gets a guitar in the ass, then the whole place gets annihilated and ultimately blows up?

It's totally going to be exactly like that.

So... I'd just been introduced to this TV show. My girlfriend INSISTED I watch this episode with the Horrors on it. I did, and it's pretty awesome.

Here it is broken into 3 parts. Enjoy!

This post has: 1 MP3

I found out about Cleveland's the Outsiders the same way most people born beyond the reach of the 60's did: Through the Nuggets comp and their track on it "Time Won't Let Me". But to be honest, I never really lost my shit over that song. Especially when compared with all the other great bands/songs on there... it's a little.. "conventional". So I never bothered to track down their stuff.

About a month ago, I stopped at some tiny music/instrument store down the street from my work and while perusing the few bins of records they had found The Outsiders "In" LP for under $10. It was in great shape so I gave it a shop.

A few days later I put the record on for the first time while I was doing some stuff around the house and as soon as the needle hit the grooves of the first song, my jaw hit the floor. It was one of the best songs I'd ever heard.

This song is "I'm Not Trying To Hurt You", which was also the album's single (and was misprinted as "I don't want to hurt you"), and it's been stuck in my head since I've first played it.

Check it out.

This post has: 2 MP3's

From Pollstar.com:

The Stooges had their equipment stolen, including Mike Watt's signature bass guitar, from in front of the Embassy Suites Hotel in Montreal, Quebec, August 4.

"I don't know if it's a syndicate that's targeting bands on the road or what," Fischer said. "But nobody ever seems to see this gear again."

For a full list for the stuff stolen, go to http://hootpage.com/stoogesstolenstuff/stoogesstolenstuff.html

This post has: 1 MP3

As you can imagine, we're all VERY excited. Both bands and been gushed about numerous times on this blog and both bands will be included in many Top Ten yearly lists. I've said it before.. but I'm pretty sure this will be one for the history books.

Get your ass to Vegas for this or you will regret it!

This post has: 2 MP3's

I still remember the first Small Faces CD I'd ever gotten. I was maybe 19 and had been digging the shit out of the first couple Who and Kinks LPs and had read that SF were right up there with them in song writing and ferocity. I'd found the disc in a used bin: 'BBC Sessions 65 - 68'. How could you pass that up?

After digging in and soaking up all the hits like a severely dehydrated sponge, I came across "You Need Lovin'". My immediate thought was "Awwweee... they're ripping off Led Zeppelin...." but then I realized that this totally predated any of J. Page's cock rock.

I later learned that Steve Marriott (SF's main man) had been asked to join Zeppelin as frontman, but the band's manager threatened to break his legs if he even dared to entertain the idea of quiting.

Below is a "mash-up" of both the songs in question as well as the songs in their original forms.

This post has: 3 MP3's

I've had an un-mastered copy of this fine album for a few months. It's definitely going to be one of the, if not THE, best records of 2008. DON'T BELIEVE ME? Just check out the song below!

Here's how Alive Records tells it:

Los Angeles, CA ? July 30, 2008 ? Alive Records has announced the upcoming album release from Nebraska's 60's influenced garage and old school punks Brimstone Howl. The follow-up to their Dan Auerbach produced debut, the band enlisted Detroit's legendary producer Jim Diamond to man the boards for their sophomore effort, We Came in Peace, hitting stores September 2nd.

Led by charismatic singer/songwriter John Ziegler and guitarist extraordinaire Nick Waggoner, with Calvin Retzlaff on drums, the boys traveled to Ghetto Recorders in Detroit for a very productive recording session with the legendary Jim Diamond (The Dirtbombs, The Hentchmen, The Sights, The White Stripes) . Described by NME as "Beatles-headed psych-nerds with a taste for razor sharp snake-rock, We Came in Peace is the follow-up to Guts Of Steel (Alive 2007) an album hailed as "unholy hot-wiring of the Sonics, the Damned and the Blues Explosion" (Magnet) and "cranked lo-fi blues rock from Nebraska's hoodlums" (Uncut).

Despite its cryptic title We Came in Peace is another fun explosion of fuzz and American-gothic chit-chatter, with "weird fictional adventure stories, and beginner blues guitar lessons from mongoloids," as they like to describe it. The album is packed with great songs, including the amazing power punk pop "A Million Years," the Cramps-worshiper "Child of Perdition" or the VU-psych influenced "Easy to Dream".

Brimstone Howl will begin a U.S. tour in August, followed by a European in October with additional dates being added through next year. Currently, the band has been sharing stages with fellow travelers Jay Reatard (who produced one of their first singles) and the Black Lips, among many others, gathering reviews such as this one: "Pumping with hot red blood, they slopped their rock & roll around the room: dirty, gritty, just right. For the finale, the four players became two piggyback stacks. The playing continued as the dueling human towers wobbled about the room, knocking into the lampshades and ending up in a heap of bodies on the floor and a blistering wall of noise. Now THAT'S how you do it." (Orlando Weekly).

The CD version of We Came in Peace includes one bonus track not on the VINYL version. The first LP pressing on purple vinyl is a limited edition run of 500 copies.

Get the CD (with non-LP track) from Alive right NOW!!! by clicking this link right here!

This post has: 1 MP3

Not sure exactly if it's new since it's off the first LP, but according to when it was added to youtube it's been about a month.

Here's the premise: Puppet Khan and BBQ are waddlin' around and stumble across cheeseburgers, flowers and monsters while fighting and puking on each other.

Best video yet??

This post has: 1 MP3

Chicken McNuggets Compilation?

Unreal. In the video below, Chicago's Garage/Psych crooners the New Colony Six knock out a version of "I Lie Awake" to a bunch of dancing children on the regional TV show Kiddie-A-Go-Go.

That's the problem with kids these days... they listen to shit like Raffi and Barney songs. How about some psychedelic rock n' roll, lil' Petey?

This post has: 1 MP3

In 2002 Digital Leather were two young men playing keyboards: DL Mastermind Shawn Foree and Ryan Wong (Destruction Unit, Tokyo Electron, Reatards).

Electronic karate chops and drill sergeant drum simulators created fuzzed out synth punk at warehouse punk shows to punk rock kids that hated keyboards and hated Digital Leather. They then had their faces melted. Several similar shows played a role, directly or indirectly, in shaping an underground music revolution.

Flash forward several years ? and Digital Leather has become a shape shifting force in the new "it" genre of synth punk. With a handful of sold out singles and LPs under his leather jock strap, Shawn Foree is now preparing his magic wand for the masses. He's traded his synthesizer for a guitar, and Ryan Wong for a full band. He's still recording songs himself in a bedroom in Arizona. He brings his band and the a disc of recordings to Memphis, TN for Gonerfest 2, then drops a sonic A bomb of a set at the Buccaneer Lounge in the middle of the afternoon. Luckily it is all captured on multi-track by a crack guerilla recording team. Home recordings from that time become Side A to SORCERER; Side B is the live recording. Layered synthetic sounds come together with stark beats and dry vocals to create a lonely mechanical epic that reminds us of man's impending doom. Chillingly delicate and abrasively aggressive, SORCERER masterfully negotates the spaces between minimal electronic music and ferocious synth punk.

Phazers are set to stun.

The future is here.

Shawn gave me a pre-release of the LP before they went to Europe a month or two ago and I'll just say this: You need to buy this RIGHT NOW.

This post has: 1 MP3

Depending on the mood, yes. With a back catalog as mighty as theirs, there is really no right answer. However, there are plenty of wrong ones.

This is off the Stones' "weird record", 'Satanic Majesties Request'. Sure, it's gets pretty "trippy" but with songs like "Citadel" and "2000 Man" you really can't go wrong. Plus the cover art is AWESOME.

This post has: 1 MP3

Philly's psychedelic, garage punks Love City are playing their first headlining show on Friday, July 25th at Johnny Brendas w/ Mondo Topless and The Fault Lines.

The band have been getting known for their loud and wild performances characterized by flaming guitars, broken glass and tight, powerful tunes. Love City have a few surprises up their collective sleeve for this monumental night so it's not to be missed.

Below is the A side from their soon-to-be-released debut single recorded with the guys that did Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's "Howl" LP (aka: Cobb Studio) on 100% vintage, analog equipment (2 inch tape machine from 68').

Visit Love City's myspace page for more info.

The Slits were one of the big surprises at SXSW: They killed it. I mean, shit, they were probably better than they ever were in the 70's. Plus, for good our bad... Ari Up pulled her ass out!

This post has: 1 Video

So... this is Jay Reatard's first music video. He's not in it, but a guy that freaks out, bleeds, shits, cuts himself, plays guitar and then rubs the aforementioned shit all over himself is.

Got your attention, yet?

This post has: 1 MP3

On a whim, I decided to look up some videos of the Jam on Youtube. What I found was this 6 part Documentary on Paul Weller. The whole thing is pretty interesting, but the first 2 segments (which are all about the Jam) are the best.

These are filled with interviews, promo clips, off-beat footage and some fantastic live stuff, some of which I'd never seen before.

And to top it all off... Mr. Weller playing acoustically throughout.

Watch and learn.

This post has: 2 MP3's

Here's the video for The Buzzcocks' "Sell You Everything." The whole thing was shot in Vegas at one of the big parties we throw every couple of months.

What reminded me of this video was the party we have planned for this August... I'm not allowed to say anything but I'll leave a couple hints. We've got a two-piece band currently tearing the music industry a new asshole and a bunch of boys from Alabama who write and perform amazing pop!

sell you everything

This post has: 1 MP3

A lot of people know about Danelectro ? especially the now-retro-looking electric guitars, which have become collector?s items and have even given rise to that sincerest form of flattery, a company of the same name as the 1940s, 50s and 60s Danelectro, which manufactures reproductions of the original instruments, and another company that also issues reproductions, albeit without the name.

Fewer people, however, know much about Nathan I. Daniel, my dad ? and the genius behind Danelectro. Nor is my father?s contribution to the history of electric musical instruments widely known. He was devoid of interest in fame or publicity, and after Danelectro closed down in 1969, he simply got on with his life. As a result, most of what has been written about Danelectro has focused on the appearance of the guitars, right down to the shape of their heads and the style of knobs, pick guards and tuning pegs.

I hope that for the people who admire, collect and play original Danelectro guitars and amplifiers (or the Silvertone and Airline products my dad also created), this tribute will give a new appreciation for these old instruments, because the essence of the Danelectro story is Nat Daniel?s lifetime of innovation.

Early Years

Nathan ?Nat? Daniel was born in New York City in 1912, a year to the day after his young parents arrived in the United States, immigrants who had come to this country to escape the anti-Semitism of czarist Russia, which then ruled their Lithuanian birthplace. The younger of my father?s two kid sisters, my Aunt Ray, tells how one of their parents? first words in English was ?learn,? and how, when they were children, their parents would take all three of them around to New York?s many wonderful museums, urging them to ?learn.?

Because my father could not yet speak English when he entered school, he had to repeat the first grade. At some point during his second time around, as he later told me, ?it was as if someone turned the lights on one day, and suddenly I understood everything.? A bright, mischievous child, hardly a devoted student, he nonetheless went on to skip several grades and graduated from high school ahead of his contemporaries. (My dad often ignored homework assignments but aced exams, much to the irritation of certain teachers ? most notably a high school math teacher who wanted to flunk him but couldn?t because of his near-perfect score on the New York State Regents Exam.)

My dad developed an early interest in radio, still in its infancy during his teenage years. He built the first crystal radio set in his neighborhood. During the Great Depression, he dropped out of City College of New York and began assembling and selling amplifiers of his own design. It was during this period, in the mid-1930s, that he designed and began manufacturing a push-pull amplifier circuit that eliminated the input transformer that had made it impossible to achieve good high-frequency response. His amp tested ?flat? (i.e., provided equal response across the full range of sound frequencies) to the limit of then-existing equipment. He did not try to patent his invention because he could not afford the expense.

My father?s first ?factory? was his bedroom in his parents? New York apartment. Later he moved his small manufacturing operation ? Daniel Electrical Laboratories ? to a loft in Lower Manhattan. His first big customer was the well-known guitar maker Epiphone, second only to Gibson at the time.

During World War II, Nat Daniel served as a civilian designer for the U.S. Army Signal Corps at Fort Monmouth, N.J. Among the other problems he worked on at that time, he found a simple, economical way to equip military jeeps and motorcycles with shielding to prevent the electronic ?noise? their engines generated from interfering with the reception of critical battlefield radio messages. Protected from the draft by the critical nature of his work, at one point he considered enlisting in the Marines. His boss ? and my mother, Mollie ? talked him out of it. As a kid, I once asked about his work during the war. His response: ?I saved the government a million dollars.? Whatever the exact amount, clearly it was not a trivial sum.

Danelectro

At the end of the war, my father left the Signal Corps and reopened his amplifier manufacturing business in Red Bank, N.J., near Fort Monmouth. He called it the Danelectro Corporation (coined from ?Daniel electric?) and over the next nearly two and a half decades produced what writers Jim Washburn and Steve Soest in the July 1983 issue of Guitar World called ?an impressive number of electric instruments ? distinguished in their design innovations [and] their quality at a budget price?.?

After supplying Epiphone again for about a year...

To continue the story of Nathan Daniel click here to visit Howard Daniel's site.

EXCERPT, REPRODUCED HERE WITH THE AUTHOR?S PERMISSION, FROM A TRIBUTE TO NATHAN I. DANIEL BY HOWARD E. DANIEL. COPYRIGHT © HOWARD E. DANIEL, PEN-FOR-RENT, 2007-2008. MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITHOUT THE AUTHOR?S EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION. THE AUTHOR MAY BE CONTACTED AT INFO@PEN4RENT.COM

This post has: 1 MP3

This is some of the best footage I've ever seen of this incredibly underrated (in the States) Irish band. Off their seminal debut LP, this is one of my top 5 Undertones songs.

Click to read about THe Undertones history and download one of their best singles.

This post has: 1 MP3

Ok. Not really...

The fourth single in Matador's series of limited-editions by Jay Reatard is a split 7" with Atlanta's Deerhunter. The A-side is Jay covering Deerhunter's "Flourescent Grey," and the B-side is Deerhunter covering Jay's "Oh, It's Such A Shame." The cover photo can be seen above. This cute, little puppy will be in stores on July 22.

Get the pre-order

Below are the original versions of both songs.

This post has: 2 MP3's

So this is FAR from News, but we were moronically flipping through the FM dial on a recent car trip. We, of course, didn't hear anything of merit but DID hear this absolutely horrendous cover version of Joy Division's "Shadowplay" by the Killers. I'd heard it before, in retail stores, corner shops etc, but had ignored it. This time I gave it a good listen.

"Shadowplay" is one of my favourite songs by Ian Curtis and crew and with every second of listening it made me more and more pissed off. Nothing that made the original song so vital is contained within this version: It's almost as if the Killers were MOCKING Joy Division.

If there wasn't enough evidence already on the table against this bullshit excuse of a band, there should be plenty after what they did to this classic. Sharpen the fangs all you goth-y assholes, it's time to draw blood.

This post has: 2 MP3's

I think I'm gonna make this Inspiration thing a (somewhat) regular thing on the blog. I mean, everyone rips off everyone else and evidence of this can be found throughout musical history.

Below is The Beatles "Taxman" paired with the Jam's "Start!". "Start!" was a single off (in my opinion) their best LP "Sound Affects" and is a direct ode to the Beatles, if not a complete rip.

The bass line and drum pattern are the most obvious but little hints are sprinkled all over "Start!" that scream "I'm re-writing this song". The flip of the single has the song "Liza Radley" which utilizes the same bass riff used on "Start!"

Both (all 3?) versions of the this basic structure are great, but I must say that I probably prefer the Jam's to the Beatles'. Say what you will, but improvements can be made to even the most famous of songs.

This post has: 3 MP3's

In case you missed the boat on yesterday's crucial ass-kissing of the Okmoniks and No Bunny... you can check it out right

Other wise... dig into these tracks and this animated No Bunny video and get your mouth watering!

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/v/G3W0Immsn3s[/yt]

This post has: 2 MP3's

This show is going to be incredible. I've literally been looking forward to this shit for weeks. To top it all off... most people have off the next day.. so this is bound to get crazy.

Okmoniks are from Tuscon, AZ and blast out raw and poppy little garage seeds that get planted in your head and quickly take root, grow beyond their means and explode through the top of your skull. Can we please get more girls in bands???

No Bunny's (Oakland, CA) stuff is both incredibly inventive and totally purged from the greats all at the same time. The record is lo-fi as hell yet the mixing was done creatively and, combined with the electronic drums, really proves to be something that stands high above the rest of the garage pack (of dorks). Oh.. and he REALLY is a bunny.

And rounding out the bill is Philly's own Love City: "At first listen, L.C.?s gritty organ-based garage rock concoctions sound like relics from Monterey or Altamont (compare ?Crumbling? with the Rolling Stones? ?Paint it Black?.) But a closer listen reveals a cornucopia of influences, from ?70s punk to ?80s new wave and ?90s garage rock revival, all swirled together in a mass of hard-hitting songs."

Videos:

NOBUNNY

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/v/jgIgLjgIk90[/yt]

OKMONIKS

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/v/Y0G4CK0mX8Y[/yt]

LOVE CITY

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/v/U2Qu6u6nTn0[/yt]

This post has: 2 MP3's

Here's the deal: I'm absolutely in love with the first Beefheart LP 'Safe As Milk'. It's weird and totally perfect. It's almost as if bands like Pere Ubu followed Beefheart's formula but never quite made the music quite as polarizing.

The other day while wandering aimlessly on the internet I came across this video of the Magic Band doing "Sure 'Nuff 'N Yes I Do" live in France. I have no clue where this footage came from, but I'm sure it's a safe bet to say it's one of the best live video's from the 60's.

Eat it up!

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/v/hCSPf5Viwd0[/yt]

This post has: 1 MP3

Here's Miss Alex White and the Red Orchestra performing "I Dig History" Live at the February 2008 Sailor Jerry Vegas extravaganza! Alex and the gang absolutely blew people away and the video below gives you an indication why: This band is fucking fantastic in every way.

Enjoy!

This post has: 1 MP3 1 Video

Alabama's most loved sons Thomas Function have taken the aural world by storm by releasing one of the best pop records within recent memory. The mix of influences and styled contained within their debut full-length 'Celebration' make it so that you can't quite put your finger on what any particular song reminds you of because by the time you get close, the song switches gears and you're left pondering about something else.

Read the full review here for more info and mp3s.

Here's a video of them live cut up to the first song on the LP.

This post has: 1 MP3

Did Penny Rimbaud ever NOT look old? Here's a super rare clip of Pen meeting the Beatles. If I remember correctly... he'd submitted a piece to this contest for a laugh and WON.

Later on Penny was able to snag a job teaching art by being able to claim he'd done artwork for the Beatles. It makes one wonder... did Penny introduce the ways of the avant-garde to the Beatles?

This post has: 2 MP3's

On June 14th dark thunder clouds spread across the NY skyline. With them came not only the obligatory thunder and lightening but some of the heaviest rain most had seen in sometime. Yes, Love City had finally arrived in NY.

Amazingly enough the venue had a decent-sized turnout and exceed the initial projection of 10 people many times over. The fact that every band on the bill was not only different, but RAD probably had a lot to do with it. Simply put, it was a fantastic show. Rain or Shine.

Here's a video of Love City performing "Another Girl" while basking in the heat of their red stage lights.

Check out the bands myspace for show info and news on their debut single:

Brimstone Howl are one of my favourite bands in existence right now. They've spearheaded the whole Nebraskan scene and made many think, for the first time EVER in the history of the state, "Wow... Nebraska must be rad!" Fuck, I've even considering moving there, albeit briefly.

If you have any sense you've at least heard their last full length 'Guts Of Steel' on Alive Records (If you haven't you must be living under a rock) and know that "One Quick Moment" was one of the highlights. Below is a video of said song that I've somehow not seen until today! It's as rad as the song is.

When the Howl Boys were in Philly last month we had a crucial BBQ and Beer hang out for Memorial Day. The following day they let me burn a copy of the un-mastered new record and holy shit is it good:

This is the full-length the world has been waiting for Brimstone Howl to make.

Recorded with Jim Diamond in Detroit, this yet-to-be-titled masterpiece finds Brimstone perfecting the sound they've come to be known for on some tracks and then taking what they do to new and hook-filled heights on others. There's just not a weak track to be found.

Some bands like to release the same record over and over. And, sure, sometimes that works. Luckily Brimstone Howl are not one of those bands and continue to grow and challenge not only themselves but the listener.

This record is coming out on Alive once again and will be yet another disc of ammunition for the great music cannon they've become.

This post has: 1 MP3

Stereo Recordings are great. The way you can pan things around really aid in bring forth a deeper and more complex sound and I think overall this format is superior... hence being the most popular.

However, there's a wealth of classic records that were recorded in Mono. Hell, most Kinks stuff wasn't recorded in Stereo: they were one of the bands that lagged behind in the Hi-Fi race.

The thing is, when there's a record released in both formats it's sometimes hard to tell which is better. The stereo, "DELUXE EDITION" of the Who's 'My Generation' sounds considerably better than the original to my ears. The drums aren't buried beneath the vocals/guitar and it ends up sounding a lot more powerful.

But one case for the power of Mono is the Pretty Things' "S.F. Sorrow" and the first track "S.F. Sorrow Is Born" in particular. On the stereo mix, the recording achieves a "trippier" effect, but on the mono version the drums/rhythm is more direct and gives the song a bit more balls (See below for an example).

Both mixes of the song are amazing. Really it's all down to personal taste and this whole post is a little "stream of consciousness" in it's format. Just one of the many pointless things to think about!

This post has: 2 MP3's

Before Iggy Pop ruined rock n' roll for the better with the absolutely untouchable Stooges he was hold up in a Michigan garage bashing out covers of gems like "Slow Down".

If you hadn't already heard, and don't catch the obvious... this is the group that turned James Newell Osterberg, Jr. into Iggy Pop.

This post has: 1 MP3

This is sure to be an amazing show. All the bands are totally different, but fit in some weird stroke of luck. This is also Women's record release show.

Women are one of Philly's newest and best raw punk bands. Their first EP is out now on FDH Records (the same label that's brought you Terror Visions, Black and Whites, Digital Leather and a ton more!) and it's a fucking rager.

The sounds on this 7" platter combine snotty and aggressive punk rock with a leaning towards early hardcore-like rhythms in a fashion not dissimilar to the shit the Reatards were known for. Sounds rad, right? It is.

Check out the first track below. It's ripped from the vinyl.

This post has: 1 MP3

I know it's a few months later, but we're just now digging into the huge stockpile we accumulated at SXSW and getting it out there. Does it really matter when it's from as long as it's good?

Gentleman Jesse and His Men call Atlanta their home and have been quickly winning over fans of punk-tinged power pop everywhere in recent years. Most recently, the Men were featured on a live, split 7" with fellow ATL garage-turkeys the Black Lips and Baby Shakes (who kind-of live in Atlanta?).

Check out the band's myspace page after you watch the video and then go buy their shit. You won't be sorry.

This post has: 1 MP3 1 Video

Hullabaloo's been putting on awesome shows all along the East Coast for a while now. This show will not be an exception.

Saturday June 14th: Hullabaloo at Don Pedro in Fabulous Brooklyn, NY

with...

Thee Fine Lines from Missouri

The Above from NY

Love City from Philly

Violet Vector and the Lovely Lovelies from Chapel Hill, NC

FUN!! FUN!! FUN!!

I said it before and I'll say it again: Mark Sultan (best known for his part in King Khan and BBQ show) has been putting out awesome music since before you knew what the fuck a blog was. It's that simple. He's also one of the raddest human beings on this planet, and that's got nothing to do with music. It makes for a great combination.

This was Mark's first time playing in Philadelphia and although there was some minor trepidation as to turnout it was all squashed when he took the stage by storm to a full room staring in disbelief at what they were witnessing. The show was amazing.

Although video doesn't (and will never) capture the magic (aka vibe) of great show, the video below comes pretty close.

This post has: 1 MP3 1 Video

By now, Jay Reatard should be known to most everyone paying any attention to this whole indie/punk/pop/garage/shitgaze/blahblahblah. Former front guy for The Reatards and Lost Sounds and current solo sensation, the man is nothing if not prolific. After recording his debut solo LP, 2006's Blood Visions, Reatard released a slew of singles and EPs on labels across the globe; all were pressed in limited quantities and now fetch serious coin on eBay.

In The Red is proud to release Singles 06-07--a collection of all his out-of-print material, re-mastered by the Tard himself. It's finally possible to hear these gems in one straight shot, sounding better than ever, without flipping over a pile of seven inch platters.

The CD version of Singles 06-07 includes a DVD showcasing some choice live performances of Reatard and his incredible live backing band, the Boston Chinks and about half of the thing is taken straight from the Sailor Jerry Vaults.

That's right, the infamous "Street Show" is on there in it's (almost) entirety. As well as the Vegas party that took place a few months later.

The vinyl version is a double-LP housed in a beautiful gatefold sleeve.

Watch for Reatard to be touring his ass off all summer long in support of this release.

This post has: 1 MP3

Check out this bit on the Radio Knives in the Boston Globe:

If you've seen the new Mustang Shelby Cobra and its looks hit you right where it counts, it's a sure bet that your knees will also buckle when you hear the Radio Knives , which has a similar effect. Like Ford's entry into the retro automotive sweepstakes, the Boston trio's furnace-blast garage-rock is a retooled update of a bygone era that's now back with a vengeance.

``If the songs aren't catchy, they're not worth playing, because the world doesn't have enough of an attention span to care about me or some no-name band," says Levesque, a former editor at the Northeast Performer music magazine. ``If I have 30 minutes on stage to either win you over or lose you forever, I'm going to try to [win] you."

This post has: 2 MP3's

Yes!! The Fleshtones are still here and, even better than that, are still on top of their game. With a great new album ('Take A Good Look') out on Yep Roc Records, the band has been tearing up stages across the U.S.A. like no other.

Forget about the fact that these guys have been doing this since 1976: The 'Tones can go up against any band, old or new and come out standing, victoriously.

Although never "commercially viable", The Fleshtones are icons amongst the US rock n' roll scene. Go to any of their shows or listen to their records and it becomes clear almost instantly that this is what they do because they love it. Pure and simple.

'Take A Good Look' is one of the best records the Fleshtones have pulled off in a long while and is definitely worth a listen.

Check out pictures of the Fleshtones Live and at the Sailor Jerry store by clicking here!

This post has: 2 MP3's

So the other night, bored with the festivities taking place throughout the city, my girl and I decided to go rent some movies. For some reason I thought I hadn't seen the Ramones Doc End Of The Century so we threw that into the pile, paid the counter person and headed home to watch it.

About 5 seconds into EOTC I'd realized that I had in fact seen it before. Oh well! It's a rad movie and we watched pretty much the whole thing, leaving out the sad bits at the end. After the movie, I got psyched on listening to the Ramones and dug through my records to find not Ramones 1 or Leaving Home, but Road To Ruin. To these ears, Road To Ruin is the Ramones album.

Their 4th record, released in 78', is the sum of all the records that came before and shows just how amazingly tight they'd gotten. With new drummer Marky on board and (original Ramone) Tommy manning the controls, the music contained within the grooves is so powerful it seems like it's punching through the speakers.

The production is flawless but retains the raw energy that we'd come to expect from the band. It's a simple as this, when I think of the Ramones, this is the sound in my head. I know I'll get some purists that will disagree with me on this. But you know what? Fuck you. It's my head. (haha)

I know by now the world's heard this album to death (if only for "I Wanna Be Sedated") but that's not my point. My point is that this is the Ramones album.

I present my evidence below.

This post has: 2 MP3's

I know the blog's been littered with talk of Khan and Mark Sultan lately (and why shouldn't it be?), but after watching that video of Khan and Demon's Claws teaching German kids how to rock I found THIS video. It's King Khan and BBQ performing "Treat Me Like A Dog" at the Funhouse in Seattle.

Hand's down, this is one of the best live videos I've ever seen on youtube. I can't quite put my finger on it, but there's magic in there. It's both intense and playful, and it's the type of thing that when you watch it, you wish you were there.

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/v/lohy4ALYm6I[/yt]

This post has: 1 MP3

The Sonics have (mostly) reunited, Seeds songs are being used in deodorant commercials and Green Day just put out a "garage" record under a pseudonym. 60's rock n' roll is seemingly more popular now than it was during the initial decade. I know a lot of people are up in arms about this, but I'm not.

This shit WAS and IS popular music and it's kinda neat that it's "coming back in style", if only for a split second. I mean, really. Would you rather Nickleback be shooting out of your TV or The Seeds?

Exactly.

With that, here's another "lost & found" classic destined for the next Gatorade TV spots.

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/v/umj1_YqnORE&feature=related[/yt]

This post has: 1 MP3

Yep. Some crazy music teacher seemingly pulled these guys off the street to play for her class after (in their words)..."a long night of dancing around a campfire naked, destroying a backstage with apples, emptying a bar, sacrificing articles of clothing for the fiery tears of St.Laurent. It is 8AM and the heavy psychedelics are still kicking."

The teachers un-hip to the Chart Rippers known as Demon's Claws complain and get the big middle finger: First from the music teacher then, more literally, from the chalkboard.

This video proves two things:

1. You Can't Stop Rock N' Roll

2. German High School Kids Are Lame.

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/v/RCQyAYxLC4Y[/yt]

P.S. Check out the SJ Pea Coat at around 4:43 (yea yea... we're gay)

It's a sad day. This man put the fucking Rhythm In Rhythm and Blues. His legacy can be heard and felt in a thousand bands but yet none of them ever came close to the intensity of the music that Bo laid down seemingly effortlessly. Read the article below and then listen to the songs.

While it's impossible to not get bummed out by this news, the positive is that while some people exit this place without ever leaving their mark and fade away into the sands of time, Bo will never be forgotten. It's just not possible.

Associated Press

By RON WORD ? 1 hour ago

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) ? Bo Diddley, a founding father of rock 'n' roll whose distinctive "shave and a haircut, two bits" rhythm and innovative guitar effects inspired legions of other musicians, died Monday after months

of ill health. He was 79.

Diddley died of heart failure at his home in Archer, Fla., spokeswoman Susan

Clary said. He had suffered a heart attack in August, three months after

suffering a stroke while touring in Iowa. Doctors said the stroke affected

his ability to speak, and he had returned to Florida to continue rehabilitation.

The legendary singer and performer, known for his homemade square guitar, dark glasses and black hat, was an inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, had a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame, and received a lifetime achievement award in 1999 at the Grammy Awards. In recent years he also played for the elder President Bush and President Clinton.

Diddley appreciated the honors he received, "but it didn't put no figures in my checkbook."

"If you ain't got no money, ain't nobody calls you honey," he quipped.

The name Bo Diddley came from other youngsters when he was growing up in Chicago, he said in a 1999 interview.

"I don't know where the kids got it, but the kids in grammar school gave me that name," he said, adding that he liked it so it became his stage name. Other times, he gave somewhat differing stories on where he got the name.

Some experts believe a possible source for the name is a one-string instrument used in traditional blues music called a diddley bow.

His first single, "Bo Diddley," introduced record buyers in 1955 to his signature rhythm: bomp ba-bomp bomp, bomp bomp, often summarized as "shave and a haircut, two bits." The B side, "I'm a Man," with its slightly humorous take on macho pride, also became a rock standard.

The company that issued his early songs was Chess-Checkers records, the storied Chicago-based labels that also recorded Chuck Berry and other stars.

Howard Kramer, assistant curator of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, said in 2006 that Diddley's Chess recordings "stand among the

best singular recordings of the 20th century."

Diddley's other major songs included, "Say Man," "You Can't Judge a Book by Its Cover," "Shave and a Haircut," "Uncle John," "Who Do You Love?" and "The Mule."

Diddley's influence was felt on both sides of the Atlantic. Buddy Holly borrowed the bomp ba-bomp bomp, bomp bomp rhythm for his song "Not Fade Away."

The Rolling Stones' bluesy remake of that Holly song gave them their first chart single in the United States, in 1964. The following year, another British band, the Yardbirds, had a Top 20 hit in the U.S. with their version of "I'm a Man."

Diddley was also one of the pioneers of the electric guitar, adding reverb and tremelo effects. He even rigged some of his guitars himself.

"He treats it like it was a drum, very rhythmic," E. Michael Harrington, professor of music theory and composition at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., said in 2006.

Many other artists, including the Who, Bruce Springsteen and Elvis Costello copied aspects of Diddley's style.

Growing up, Diddley said he had no musical idols, and he wasn't entirely pleased that others drew on his innovations.

"I don't like to copy anybody. Everybody tries to do what I do, update it," he said. "I don't have any idols I copied after."

"They copied everything I did, upgraded it, messed it up. It seems to me that nobody can come up with their own thing, they have to put a little bit of Bo Diddley there," he said.

Despite his success, Diddley claimed he only received a small portion of the money he made during his career. Partly as a result, he continued to tour and record music until his stroke. Between tours, he made his home near

Gainesville in north Florida.

"Seventy ain't nothing but a damn number," he told The Associated Press in 1999. "I'm writing and creating new stuff and putting together new different things. Trying to stay out there and roll with the punches. I ain't quit

yet."

Diddley, like other artists of his generations, was paid a flat fee for his recordings and said he received no royalty payments on record sales. He also said he was never paid for many of his performances.

"I am owed. I've never got paid," he said. "A dude with a pencil is worse than a cat with a machine gun."

In the early 1950s, Diddley said, disc jockeys called his type of music, "Jungle Music." It was Cleveland disc jockey Alan Freed who is credited with inventing the term "rock 'n' roll."

Diddley said Freed was talking about him, when he introduced him, saying, "Here is a man with an original sound, who is going to rock and roll you right out of your seat."

Diddley won attention from a new generation in 1989 when he took part in the "Bo Knows" ad campaign for Nike, built around football and baseball star Bo Jackson. Commenting on Jackson's guitar skills, Diddley turned to the camera and said, "He don't know Diddley."

"I never could figure out what it had to do with shoes, but it worked," Diddley said. "I got into a lot of new front rooms on the tube."

Born as Ellas Bates on Dec. 30, 1928, in McComb, Miss., Diddley was later adopted by his mother's cousin and took on the name Ellis McDaniel, which his wife always called him.

When he was 5, his family moved to Chicago, where he learned the violin at the Ebenezer Baptist Church. He learned guitar at 10 and entertained passers-by on street corners.

By his early teens, Diddley was playing Chicago's Maxwell Street.

"I came out of school and made something out of myself. I am known all over the globe, all over the world. There are guys who have done a lot of things that don't have the same impact that I had," he said.

This post has: 5 MP3's

Mark Sultan, best known for his part in King Khan and BBQ show has been putting out awesome music since before you knew what the fuck a blog was.

After a quick stop at Sailor Jerry, he'll be doing his one-man band magic over at Johnny Brendas with Clinic. Weird match, but who the fuck cares!!! Get your asses down there and show BBQ that Philly digs music.

This post has: 1 MP3

The Subhumans are one of the best and well known bands of the whole anarcho-punk movement of the 80?s mostly due to their appeal outside of the anarchist ghetto. Strip away the ideals and politicking and you?ve got some classic punk rock that just cannot be beat. While some of the other bands of the era got pigeonholed to a certain sound (and sect) the Subhumans constantly evolved musically, incorporating a ton of different elements in their songwriting while maintaining a solid punk background.

But the thing is, you can?t really separate the music from the ideals. And why would you want to? What?s the point of being angry when you?re not sure where that anger comes from? The Subhumans gave a voice to a frustration that countless youth in the UK (and abroad) struggled with and did so in a way that made sense. Dick Lucas? lyrics were never condescending. The band?s stance never feeling handed down from a pulpit. Like any great punk rock band, the Subhumans were their audience and this paints a pretty good picture why their music and ideas continue to speak to people today.

That said, while many other of the anarcho bands faded away the Subhumans carried on, whether it be through their own label Bluurg or the many other bands the members started. To my ears, their isn?t much difference between the Subs? music and that of it?s almost identical twin Citizen Fish. More over, CF is practically the same members and definitely the same message. My point: The Subhumans never really went away.

The band released a new full-length ?Internal Riot? in September of 2007 after touring again for almost a full decade under the Subhumans moniker, another in a long line of fantastic albums, and proves that the band is just as relevant now as ever.

Dick Lucas took sometime to sit (stand) down with us and talk to us about the Sunhumans in 2008.

Check out some live pictures of the band on SJ.com

This post has: 1 MP3 1 Video

I've probably listened to the first 3 WIRE LPs more than any other records and while I've toyed with their later albums none have had the effect of the 'Pink Flag', 'Chairs Missing' and '154' trilogy. There's a reason for that: (For better or worse) Wire's sound continually evolves. Wire will never make another "Chairs Missing", but then again, neither will anybody else. Once you realize this simple truth, the world will be your oyster.

For the reason's mentioned above, I am very excited to announce Wire's 11th studio album 'Object 47' and the first track off released off this record "One Of Us." The record is slated to hit shelves and musical receptacles in early July. Check out Wire's pinkflag.com for more info and other things.

This post has: 1 MP3

So yesterday was memorial day. Initially we were going to have Brimstone Howl play in front of the shop with a big BBQ and tons of fun, but things outside both of our control made that not happen. However, it didn't stop us from having fun.

After a day of beer drinking and BBQing we were talking about bands and I was reminded that recently I came to the conclusion that I hear a big Radio Birdman influence in Brimstones music. Turns out I was right.

Long story short, I've been humming Radio Birdman songs all day and searched around online and found this awesome two part performance/interview that was shot for ABC in 1978. Fucking brilliant!

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/v/zxIjYhLKb7c[/yt]

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/v/WQBXVOBN_G8[/yt]

This post has: 1 MP3

Ah, youtube. I remember a time not too long ago when videos of bands from long ago (and some from even not that long ago) were a commodity, with dubbed VHS tapes being the only way to see any old footage. If you didn't have cool enough friends the stuff just simply didn't exist.

For good or bad, this isn't the case at all now. There's a world of amazing music spanning decades that is seemingly available at the click of a button, so how is it that so many people still have such shit taste in music?

Here's a promo clip of the Prunes doing "The Great Banana Hoax" courtesy of the internet age.

This post has: 1 MP3

I gave a nice little rant on the Eyes last week and included their cover of the Everly Brothers "Man With Money". Then the other night the Griefs opened their Philly show with a cover of the same song.

While I totally dig the Eyes cover (and the Griefs for that matter), I must say that I dig the the original a lot more. Below are both songs so you can decide for yourself.

This post has: 2 MP3's

The Griefs played a rousing set at the Tritone last night. The crowd had thinned a little by the time their played (Tuesday nights...) but those who stayed behind were rowdy and eating up every second of it.

After a quick Eyes cover, the band tore through their numbers one by one and we're begged back for an encore, of which they played 3!

Here's some photos!

This post has: 3 Images 1 MP3

The 2nd and latest in Jay's limited edition single campaign for Matador Records. Each of the 6 records are supposedly getting pressed in smaller quantities with each release and, judging by this record, they're getting increasingly better too.

For this record, Jay brings back the acoustic guitar sound that so polarized his initial fan-base and made countless others realize the songwriting genius contained within that crazy brain of his.

The B-Side ("An Ugly Death") is worth the price of admission alone. It begins with a synth-driven, dramatic intro before it launches into pure-pop heaven. This shit makes me want to have a pillow fight while giggling and knock down old ladies at the same fucking time!

Simply, put. This is one of the best records he's released so far. Get it.

Buy it from Matador Records here

...

And if they're sold out get it from Goner Records.

You should already be familiar with King Khan by now (If you're not, he's a crazy dude from Germany that's been involved with some of the better records of the last 5 years or so. Get with it.) He's probably most well known for his team-up with Mark Sultan (Mr. BBQ himself) but pretty soon he'll be conquering the world backed by the 9 musical terrorists known as the Shrines.

KK&BBQ represent the more stripped down, lo-fi side of things while the Shrines are a completely hedonistic example of excess. The songs are saturated in sound and more layered than a skinny girl in the Arctic, all punctuated by a super compressed production that the listener believe their listening to a a record from years-past that they've somehow never heard.

As with all of KK's stuff it's difficult to pin-point an exact era or style that influenced the song but the quickest way to describe the Shrines sound is a 60's garage record steeped in 70's R&B and Soul.

My one complaint with this release would be that a good portion of the tracks we're already released on the 2007 LP "What Is?" put out by Hazelwood. But, the point of this record on Vice is to get this amazing band heard by more than the greedy few (thousands) that've kept this band to themselves for so long.

This comes out June 17th on Vice Records and you'd be a fool to wait a day longer.

This post has: 2 MP3's

This is easily one of, if not THE, best live video I've ever seen of the Who in their early (best) stage. They absolutely destroy this song. There's really nothing else I can say. Just watch it... and learn.

This post has: 1 MP3

Sweden's reigning rock n' roll drenched punk rock band Imperial Leather are back with a brand new LP. I haven't heard the record in it's entirety but, based on the strength of the band's back catalog and the song below, I'd say it's a pretty safe bet that this LP won't be forgotten any time soon.

Out now on Profane Existence with a limited double 7" collectors copy. Once Dan gets around to sending me a copy I'll do a proper review. For now, scoop yourself up a copy, in any format, before it's too late!

This post has: 1 MP3

This song came on while I was getting ready this morning. While some songs quicken your step and hurry things along, I ended up sitting on the toilet in a towel caught in a daydream that this musical masterpiece helped to create.

Ray Davies is the expert at building other worlds that allow you to crawl into them and interact with all of characters. These alternate universes resemble our own but are more directly to related to a particular feeling, such s sadness, lazyiness, fear, love, etc. All of this is contained (or at least birthed) within a song.

"Shangri-La" is a perfect example of this and also one of the best songs ever penned. Enjoy!

This post has: 1 MP3

What a fucking amazing song. I've already gushed about the Village Green Society record on these hallowed (web) pages before, but this song was absent amongst those I included in the praise.

Although Village Green is pretty "across the board" in terms of variety, this track stands out in it's diversity and weirdness of changes. Not to mention the lyrics. Fucking brilliant. There's tons of great Kinks songs to claim as a favourite, but at this point in time I'm going to say it's mine.

This post has: 1 MP3

The Eyes' "I'm Rowed Out" has buried itself in my skull lately, popping up almost incessantly. It's punchy, catchy and simplistic... all things a great pop song should be. In retrospect, people seem to be confused as to why this band never took off but it seems somewhat obvious given the band's story. Regardless of semantics, the Eyes recorded some damn fine music that has passed the test of time.

Here's what Ready-Steady-Go.org has to say about this somewhat obscure band:

UK 60's Mod/Freakbeat band, The Eyes made one of the most collectable EPs of the sixties era. Today, 'The Arrival Of The Eyes EP' commands a price of over £200! The EP, released in 1966, contained both sides of their first two singles, 'When The Night Falls/I'm Rowed Out' and 'The Immediate Pleasure/My Degeneration'.

In the 80's innovative 60's re-issue label Bam Caruso coined the term 'Freakbeat' to describe a clutch of UK groups who had a hard edged pop sound with a bit of reverb and released a clutch of historical releases from relative unsung bands such as the Eyes. Since then their legend and hundreds of over also-rans have grown.

A CD collection (also) named "The Arrival Of The Eyes" is currently available as well as some reissues of their singles. Go get em!

This post has: 3 MP3's

The Griefs are an amazing 3 piece band that combines the best elements of mid 60's UK beat with the rawness of 60's US Garage. They're records are on regular rotation and if you don't have em', head over to Spoonful Records and get them all.

Better yet, hit up one of the shows on this tour and buy them directly from the band. I mean, have you seen the cost of gas lately?

Here's the dates for the tour (the flier above is for the Philly show) and a couple of tunes to wet your appetite!

May 9 2008 CARABAR Columbus, Ohio

May 10 2008 the courtyard cafe Cincinnati (downtown, ), Ohio

May 12 2008 The Basement Nashville*

May 13 2008 JJ's Bohemia Chatanooga, Tennessee*

May 14 2008 Star Bar Atlanta, Georgia

May 15 2008 Broadway's Asheville, North Carolina*

May 16 2008 The Flat Iron Greensboro, North

Carolina*

May 17 2008 The Boot Norfolk, Virginia*

May 18 2008 Talking Head Club Baltimore, MD*

May 19 2008 OFF somewhere between baltimore & philly, Maryland

May 20 2008 Tritone Philadelphia, Pennsylvania*

May 21 2008 Don Pedro Brooklyn/Williamsburg, New York*

May 22 2008 Cafe Nine New Haven, Connecticut*

May 23 2008 OFF Driving, ALLENTOWN, Pennsylvania*

May 24 2008 The UNION Athens, Ohio

* asterix marks places we will be looking for a place to sleep. if you can put up 3 nice & creepy guys for the night feel free to contact us or whatever.

Visit The Griefs Myspace Page for more up-to date info!

This post has: