Stimulators - Loud, Fast Rules FU's - Young, Fast Iranians Iggy Pop - I Got A Right Electric Frankenstein - Face At The Edge of the Crowd Sham 69 - Hurry Up Harry Business - Harry May Serious Drinking - Hangover Damned - Drinking About My Baby Captain Bedderz - I Want You Professionals - 1-2-3 Double Date With Death - Ride El Cine - Laundromat Kim Fowley - The Trip Runaways - Cherry Bomb Sonic Youth - Bubblegum Meatbodies - Disorder Ed Gein's Car - Cream of Wheat Spits - Trouble OFF! - Void You Out Stiff Little Fingers - Suspect Device Dead Boys - Ain't Nothin' Do Do Cro-Mags - Face The Facts Kraut - Bogus 999 - Nasty, Nasty Clash - English Civil War X-Ray Spex - Genetic Engineering Sex Pistols - (I'm Not Your) Stepping Stone Anti-Nowhere League - For You Anti-Pasti - No Government GBH - Drugs Party in 526 Chron Gen - Outlaw Optimists - Mull of Kintyre Partisans - 17 Years of Hell Vibrators - Dragnet Exploited - Alternative OBN IIIs - Running on Fumes Blind Shake - Old Lake King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard - I'm Not In Your Mind Sonny Vincent & Spite - Disinterested Thee Wylde Fuzz Show - Stunner Cool Ghouls - And it Grows Okmoniks - Locked in the Trunk of Your Ford Blues Godfathers - Gone To Texas
The Jeff of the Future Radio Show will be on the air and the web on Saturday January 17th from 1:00-3:00PM EST. There will be loads of old school, loud and fast punk from both sides of the Atlantic. You can listen at 89.7 WITR-FM in Rochester, NY or streaming live at http://witr.rit.edu
Psychedelic Furs - India Adverts - No Time To Be 21 Generation X - Night of the Cadillacs Rezillos - 2000 AD Double Date With Death - Ride Jagged Lines - Kickin' The Habit Occult Tofu Soup - Rude El Cine - Laundromat Meatbodies - Disorder OBN IIIs - Off The Grid King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard - I'm In Your Mind Wax Witches - Social Introvert Thee Oh Sees - Crack In Your Eye Blind Shake - Go Lie Ausmuteants - Freedom of Information Pere Ubu - The Modern Dance Dirty Looks - Let Go DMZ - Mighty Idy Blue Hearts - Be Nice FOC - In The Back Thee Wylde Fuzz Show - Stunner Mighties - I Hope This Letter Narco States - Lost In Time Loose Pills - Stop Chesterfield Kings - You Better Look Now Syn - Grounded Lyres - Self-Centered Girl Teardrop Explodes - When I Dream Body Futures - Hooks & Eyes Spits - Trouble Sonny Vincent & Spite - Wait Love Me Nots - No Myth Sugar - The Gift Screaming Trees - Change Has Come Salem 66 - Playground Harmonica Lewinski - King Mountain Godfathers - Gone To Texas
Radio What Wave Playlist: Jan 15/2015 Part 1 of The Last Pogo Jumps Again Special
This is part 1 of our special on The Last Pogo Jumps Again and we start with the sounds/bands that were around prior to, that influenced the punk/new wave emergence. We also talk about some of the things that happen during the movie and many things that don't. In other words, lotsa yammering between tunes.
1. The Demics...New York City....from the CD of the same name and this is a live recording from June 1978 at the Cedar Lounge here in London Ontario. Played this as the movie opens with a studio version of this song.
2. Robbie Rox....Reeming Me....from his Construction Site LP. Robbie has a full fledged jazz/rock style of band that plays all original music that attacks modern society and the people in it. With song titles like "I'll Be Fucked" and "The World Is Mad" you know this guy is on our side....that being the wrong side of the tracks!! Robbie has been doing his thing since the mid 70's and continues to this day.
3. Rough Trade...Birds Of A Feather...from the Rough Trade Live! LP that is a direct to disc recording. Rough Trade were a big inspiration to many of the early punk/new wave/art combos as they did all original music and did it their own way. And they combined theatrics and unconventional clothing (leather, whips, furs, etc) for their time period. And there's a few words from Carole Pope (lead singer) as she became a little frustrated with her audience at the Spoke and RimTavern at Western University in the early 80's. And rightfully so....For some odd reason Rough Trade was never invited back to Western University! And there were some comments from Swine Flu about the latest Goddo record around here as well.
4. Simply Saucer.....Nazi Apocalypse....from the Cyborgs Revisited LP. Hamilton combo who were creating what is now considered protopunk, taking influences from Syd's Pink Floyd, Hawkwind, Krautrock and even English folk music to create their own sound. Big Thanx to Bruce 'Mole' Mowat for having the balls to release this record back in 1989 and opening the doors for Simply Saucer to become critical faves!
5. Simply Saucer....I Don't Care....from a demo that singer/guitarist Edgar Breau dropped off last time we had him on Radio WW. Simply Saucer are still active today and recently released the Baby Nova 12" EP recorded in Detroit with Jim Diamond.
6. The Ramones.....Blitzkrieg Bop....recorded live at CBGB's 1976. This was the band that came to The New Yorker Theatre in Toronto on 9/24/1976 and blew the doors wide open!! Rumours have it that all in attendance for the show went out and formed bands, hence the beginnings of the punk/new wave scene in Toronto.
7. The Dishes....Walky Talky....from the Fashion Plates 7" from 1977. Art rocker combo featuring Steven Davey, who persuaded many to get out and perform live and wrote key songs for several Toronto bands. Sadly we lost Steven this past year.
8. Zoom....Massacre At Central High....a 7" that featured a future Diode. Viletone and Secret.
9. The Diodes...Red Rubber Ball...from a 1977 7" on CBS Records. First Toronto punk/new wave band to be signed to a major label, and release an LP. Somewhere around here we had some words from manager Ralph Alfonso, who also founded the legendary Crash'n'Burn Club in Toronto in the summer of 1977.
10. The Diodes....DOA....from the 1998 Tired Of Waking Up Tired CD. This is a best of CD, and DOA is one of the songs that wasn't released until this CD came out.
11. The Dead Boys...Ain't It Fun....live at CBGB's 3/14/1978. NYC via Cleveland band that played Toronto many times including the Crash'n'Bun Club. They were infamous for stealing the girls and taking them back to NYC.
12. The Nerves...Stand Back....from the Live! LP on Alive Records. The Nerves were one of the very first punk/new wave bands to tour the continent and played the Crash'n'Burn Club. This recording was done in Cleveland, the day prior to their Toronto show.
13. The Nerves....Walking Out On Love....as above. The Nerves consisted of Jack Lee, Peter Case and Paul Collins, all of whom have had successful musical careers since. When Paul Collins played in London at Moon Over Marin a coupla years back, he stayed over at our place and we talked a bit about playing The Crash'n'Burn. Paul's most vivid memory was the young girls in short skirts at the show!!
14. The Curse....Somethings You Can't Tell Your Mother....recorded live at Forest City Gallery 11/25/1977. The Curse were one of the very first punk bands to play here in London Ontario. The Ugly, also from Toronto were supposed to play with The Curse, but they no showed and The Curse ended up playing 3 sets....they only had 8 songs and had to mix them up between songs!!
15. The Curse...Shoeshine Boy....from their first 7".
16. Teenage Head....Picture My Face....recorded live at the Spoke Tavern here at Western University and features lots of smart ass comments from vocalist Frankie Venom.
17. Teenage Head....Top Down....from a 7" from 1978 and my fave version of this song due to it's background harmony vocals. Shoulda been a hit!!!
18. Teenage Head....Tearing Me Apart....from their very first 7".
Ran outta time as we had The Viletones all qued up and ready to go, so we'll start next week's show with some live Viletones from 1978...with lots of Leckie verbosage!! And next week we've got Colin Brunton, the man responsible for The Last Pogo and The Last Pogo Jumps Again movies for a phone in interview.
You can find the archived show at:
http://chrwradio.ca/programs/radio-what-wave
Thanx for the emails, facebook messages, facebook comments and all the other kind words!! Glad that so many enjoyed this special and we'll be back at 6PM ET on Thursday Jan 22nd!
1. 905's....Running Full Speed....from the Radio What Wave Sessions 5/16/2013. The 905's were playing The Rivoli the night this show aired and we here at Radio WW really dig the 905's!
2. Dave Campbell...Time Is Now...from the Finding The Real CD. Local and from late 2013 as we play more cool stuff that we came across in 2014. Dig The Faces/soul sound on this track!
3. Mess.... Alcohol...from a download. These guys are from Moscow and must really dig the NYDolls and early Stooges as they have that sound down quite nicely!
4. Legato Vipers...Spy Vs Spy...from their self titled CD and are from the Cambridge area. Shades of Shadowy Men!!
5. catl....Get Outta My Car...from the Soon This Will All Be Gone CD and will be playing This Ain't Hollywood tonite for a video release party.
6. Noble Savages....In The Basement....from their self titled debut CD and they will be playing with catl tonite!
7. The Living Deadbeats....Easy Peasy...from the Not Yer Buddies compilation Volume 4 from Vancouver. The Living Deadbeats featured former Londoner Pete Feend and just recently packed it in.
8. Fleshrag....Bad Attitude....from the Too Fucked Up download. Hamilton Ontario combo that feature a former Mystic and Rocket Reducer.
9. Excelsior....Shut In...from their brand new 7" on It's Trash Records. From London and the have a really cool sound reminiscent of greasy 50's rock'n'roll meets early Dead Kennedys!
10. The Dropouts...Sucker Punch....from their After School Sessions CD that came out in 2005. Rumour has it, that a couple of these guys are now in Excelsioir. The Dropouts were from London and right after this CD came out, they relocated to Vancouver and hooked up with Pete Feend who we name dropped above.
11. The Dropouts...Bored Stiff...from their 2003 debut CD.
12. Flatt and Scruggs...The Ballad Of Jed Clampett....from a 7" on Columbia Records and goes out to Miss Elly May Clampett who is now resting out back beyond the cement pond.
13. The Untamed Youth....Hey Elly May...from the More Gone Gassers LP on Norton Records and from 1990. A dedication to our gal and for those that aren't aware, this is the combo that launched guitarist Deke Dickerson (then called Derek) to fame.
14. Don't Touch The Dancers....Make Me Sick...from the LDN CD put out last year by CHRW. BTW, Don't Touch The Dancers are playing on Friday Jan 16th at Call The Office with Teenanger and TV Freaks.
15. Mother's Children....Talk To Her....from the brand new Lemon LP on Mammoth Cave Records. Ottawa powerpop combo with all the right sounds! Easily one of my fave LP's of 2014!
16. The Real Kids...I Can't Shake That Girl...from the brand new Shake...Outta Control LP on Ugly Pop Records. We've waited way too long for this one and John Felice and Billy Cole still got the songs, sounds and move!! Dedicated to Alpo, The Real Kids longtime bass player who passed away way too soon.
17. The Real Kids....She Don't Take It....so good we had to play 2 tracks. You can pick it up locally at Speed City or most of the record shops in Toronto.
18. Marshmallow Overcoat...Groovy Little Trip....from The Very Best Of double LP. From Tucson Arizona and features vocalist Timothy Gassen, responsible for the recent and essential book, The Knights Of Fuzz, which is a gigantic history of the garagepunk band movement from the late 70's up to the present. There's even a Canuck section from your truly.
19. Flight Reaction.... Falling Through Colour....from their self titled debut CD on 13 O'Clock Records from Austin Texas. The band is from Sweden and features a former member of The Crimson Shadows (one of THE best 80's garagepunk combos) and The Maggots.
20. The Galileo 7...Don't Know What I'm Waiting For....from the False Memory Lane CD on 13 O'Clock Records. G7 come from the UK, and a couple members were in the highly acclaimed The Prisoners in the early to late 80's.
21. Heart Attack Kids....Platonic Love....from a recent 7" on It's Trash/Speed City and this local duo will be playing this Wednesday at Call The Office.
22. SFH....Mayor On Crack....7" on Ugly Pop Records covering Toronto's former (and disgraced) Mayor.
23. Simply Saucer....Low Profile....from the recent Baby Nova 12". Protopunk combo from Hamilton Ontario that is still viable 40 years later. Catch them live if you ever get the chance as live dates are getting fewer.
24. Radio 4....I Don't Wanna Go To NYC....from the compilation cassette, Slippery's Club Hits that came with What Wave 24. You can pick this up locally or contact me for info.
25. Panic....I'm Dead.....from the Bad Fantasies LP. Toronto doom combo whom several have compared to early Pere Ubu.
Thanx for all the phone calls, emails, facebook messages and Heys!! All appreciated as that's what keeps the fires going!
Next week, we start a series of specials on The Last Pogo Jumps Again movie. It's a documentary of the Toronto and area punk scene from the very beginnings up until the Last Pogo event which happened in December 1978. The Last Pogo referred to the end of punk events happening at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto. It was a 2 night closing event and was filmed by Colin Brunton as a documentary, released for a very short time and then disappeared, returning several years back. This new movie covers the scene right up to the event with some coverage of the later scene. We're going to start next week's show covering the bands that led up to the scene and then the early Toronto combos. From there, we'll cover the later Toronto combos, then delve into the Hamilton and finally the London scene. I'll be digging through our archives for lots of unreleased recordings for this series of specials.
You can hear the archived show at the following link:
This still comes as a shock , even though Fowley had been grappling with Cancer for years.
I met him , once , at The Las Vegas Rockaround in 2004. He actually asked me if I knew exactly what it was he'd been flown in to do. "UMMM.....I think they just want you to introduce some of the bands , and provide some atmosphere.' . Which is exactly what he did , with audacity and flair. In fact , he even introduced Rudy Ray Moore , who did a far - too short comic monologue , then , he , himself introduced what turned out to be Hasil Adkins' farewell performance.
"Can you tell me if there's a catch phrase for this music , now? Do they call it "Punk" , or what?" , he asked my friends and I . " Generally , people call it "Garage" ", I replied . Then , he got down to holding court , answering questions and telling stories , and kvetching at great length , about whatever.
Kim addressed one guy in the group , whom I'd never met , and said "You fucking Garage kids . You just want to jack off and smoke a joint to the new Seeds reissue (His insults no longer had any venom.) . Are you gonna sit there and tell me that if you had teh chance to fuck Brittney Spears ,that you would'nt ?".
"Well ..." , he said , "I might fuck her boyfriend , whoever THAT is at the moment , but , I'm a QUEER !".
Fowley did NOT have an answer to that.
All weekend , Sky Saxon and Kim Fowley went to great lengths to avoid each other. It was plain to see the bad blood spoken of between the two had not simmered down. But , I did'nt think much of it.....Until I got the word that Saxon had sucker - punched Fowley , in front of witnesses , saying something to the effect of " Kim , I'm tired of you running down The Seeds and their fans!" (He HAD made a career of doing that , but , NO ONE saw it coming.). At least six cops arrived , and Sky confessed to punching Kim , unprovoked. Fowley opted not to press charges , though rumors floated around of retribution teh following day . This , of course ,did'nt happen. I hope Sky and Kim are hugging each other , man , I really do.
Runaways producer and notorious L.A. music legend Kim Fowley has died. In recent months, he had been undergoing cancer treatments, though no cause of death has been announced. He was 75.
Charismatic and eccentric, Fowley is best remembered as the record producer for the all-female rock group the Runaways. He introduced Joan Jett, who was 15 at the time, to teenage drummer Sandy West and helped them find frontwoman Cherie Currie, lead guitarist Lita Ford and bassist Jackie Fox. He produced the band's 1976 self-titled debut and co-wrote the band's biggest hit, the punkish "Cherry Bomb," with Jett. He also co-produced the following year's Queens of Noise and helmed the same year's Waitin' for the Night.
Fowley was born in 1939 to Singin' in the Rain actor Douglas Fowley and actress Shelby Payne and grew up in Los Angeles and around southern California. After a bout with polio in 1957, he began a career in the music industry, producing his first single – the Renegades' "Charge" – in 1959. In the Sixties, worked with Paul Revere and the Raiders, the Seeds and Gene Vincent, among others, as well as launching his own solo career; his 1968 LP Outrageous, Fowley's third, was the only one to chart in the U.S. Fowley closed out the Sixties by MCing John Lennon's performance at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival, where he asked the audience to hold up its cigarette lighters, arguably starting the concert fad.
The Seventies found Fowley working with the Modern Lovers, Blue Cheer and Helen Reddy. He also co-wrote songs on Kiss' hit Destroyer and a "Escape" on Alice Cooper's Welcome to My Nightmare. Fowley and the Runaways severed their ties in 1977, after which he set out to find another group he could market as a novelty. Although he worked with a few groups over the ensuing decades and continued to put out his own solo LPs, none reached the success or notoriety of the Runaways.
In the 2000s, he tried his hands at experimental film, and in 2012, he won a special jury prize for innovation and audaciousness at the Melbourne Underground Film Festival for his films Golden Road to Nowhere and BlackRoomDoom. In 2014, Fowley made an appearance in Beyoncé's "Haunted" video.
In September 2014, Billboard reported that Fowley had been receiving cancer treatments and that Runaways frontwoman Currie, with whom he had been in legal battles over royalties over the years, had been caring for him. The pair had been working with Lita Ford that was earmarked for 2014 but has yet to come out. At the time of the Billboard report, Currie said she was optimistic about Fowley's condition, even though he had been hospitalized and was recording a radio show for SiriusXM's Little Steven's Garage channel from his bed.
"Kim Fowley is a big loss to me," E Street Band guitarist Steven Van Zandt said in a statement. "A good friend. One of a kind. He'd been everywhere, done everything, knew everybody. He was working in the Underground Garage until last week. We should all have as full a life. I wanted DJs that could tell stories first person. He was the ultimate realization of that concept. Rock Gypsy DNA. Reinventing himself whenever he felt restless. Which was always. One of the great characters of all time. Irreplaceable."
"Kim was a great and often misunderstood individual," Blondie drummer Clem Burke said in a statement. "When Blondie first came to Hollywood Kim was one of the legends we wanted to meet. We did meet him at the Tropicana motel and became friends. I had the privilege of sitting next to Kim at a screening at SXSW of the Runaways film. When it ended, I turned to Kim and told him he was the hero of the film. He seemed happy to hear that."
In a 2012 interview with the San Diego Reader, Fowley characterized his own role in rock music. "It's necessary for a band to have charisma, and it's necessary for a band to have a Kim Fowley in there someplace," he said. "The behind-the-scenes people are as much a part of rock 'n' roll as the guys onstage.... Kim Fowley is a necessary evil."
Ralph Peer, the chairman and CEO of Peer Music was the first to report on Fowley's passing saying, "He and his energy will be missed." He confirmed the news with author Harvey Kubernik.
i TAKE THAT AS A COMPLIMENT ,THAT IT'S LIKE "TOP OF THE POPS".
Personally , I'm glad the kids are so into it, They've had nothing like it , in Chicago , since "Kiddie a Go Go" (66-68.). HOW MANY KIDS COME OUT TO DANCE , IN RATIO TO ADULTS , DEPENDS ON THe ADULTS . A LOT OF PARENTS BRING THEIR KIDS , BUT , DON'T PARTICIPATE , THEMSELVES . SOMETIMES , IT'S THE OPPOSITE , AND THERE'S BARELY ANY KIDS. WE GET A LOT OF HIPSTER GROWNUPS , NOW.
John, I cannot wait for the big reveal. I've seen Chic-A-Go-Go on YouTube, but too many kids on it. Great premise though, showcasing great bands, but it feels like Top Of The Pops. Shame the latter couldn't have The Monks or MC5 on there.
i'll be playing at Bric - A - Brac Records , 3156 W. Diversey , Chicago , Saturday at 5 PM , for
GPH alumni . Lil' Lisa Louise of The Dyes. It's all in the events column.
CHIC - A - GO GO WILL BE TAPING THEIR 1000th EPISODE , SUNDAY AT NOON.
Promontory 5311 South Lake Park , Hyde Park , Chicago . VERY special acts expected.
Note that this IS , assuredly , a child - friendly event , but alcoholic beverages will be served for adults , while special non - alcoholic drinks will be made for the kids.
If I wake up in time to make the long train and bus ride , I'll be there.
IT WAS ALSO JUST ANNOUNCED THAT CHEETAH CHROME AND ROCKET FROM THE TOMBS WILL BE PLAYING , HERE , IN FEBRUARY. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT MEANS CHEETAH IS DOING A SOLO SET AS WELL AS PLAYING WITH ROCKETS , OR WHAT.
DENIZ TEK IS SUPPOSED TO BE DOING A US TOUR , HOT ON THE HEELS OF THE RECENT RADIO BIRDMAN GIGS IN AUSTRALIA . THAT'S ALL I'VE HEARD.
I've got something MUCH bigger than that to tell , but , I have'nt been given permission to announce it , yet , sorry.
Otherwise , I intend to play more shows this year , and to DJ more , particularly at my old stomping grounds , Delilah's 2771 N.Lincoln.
THE BLACK DELTA MOVEMENT - THE TRIP THE TAMRONS - WILD MAN FELIX AND HIS FABULOUS CATS - HEY TIGER! HOLLYWOOD HURRICANES - HAVE LOVE WILL TRAVEL THE TRAITS - NOBODY LOVES THE HULK EARL GRANT- HOUSE OF BAMBOO THE WHEREABOUTS - DON'T BRING ME DOWN THE WHEREABOUTS - ROADRUNNER THE KINKS - GOTTA GET THAT FIRST PLANE HOME ADRIAN LLOYD- LORNA THE SHIVAS - RIDE ON STEVE DAVIS - SHE SAID YEAH THE ALLAH-LAS- NO VOODOO JIMMY RABBIT - MY GIRL THE FIREBALLS - BULLDOG OBLIVIANS - HEY MAMA, LOOK AT SIS LOS OVNIS- INFINITO TEDDY GREEN - GIVE ME YOUR HAND THE ROAD - YOU RUB ME THE WRONG WAY FELIX AND HIS GUITAR - CHILI BEANS FRANKIE STEIN & HIS GHOULS - MUMMYS LITTLE MONSTER
BO DIDDLEY - MAMA DON'T ALLOW NO TWISTIN' RAY ELLSWORTH - THE ROCK AND ROLL SHOW DANNY KROHA & THE DEL TOROS - DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT YOU DID THE MODS - YOU GOT ANOTHER THING COMIN' THE MODS - I GIVE YOU AN INCH ROD MCKUEN - GET THE HELL OUTTA MY WORLD
This isn't the French Power Pop band from the 80s or that flashy rap group from the 90s. They look like the Hives, might be the only non-black metal band from Oslo (i kid) and the singer sounds like "Richard Butler meets Nick Cave". Having banged out two previous albums (Set Yourself On Fire And Follow The Smoke - 2012 and The Tears Are Voodoo - 2014) they straddle the line between garage rock and alternative rock yet have not broken the glass ceiling under either genre.
"Don't Let Me Down" kicks of the album with an urgent anthem that pulls equally from the the gutter rock of the Lords of Altamont and the Hives radio friendly garage rock circa Tyrannosaurus Hives. The strengthof the band though is in their post punkish tinged gems. "Stay Away from Her", "Anything You Don't Regret", and "Reduced to Existence" They mine deep catalogue of organ driven garage rock that The Horrors used to play (while they were playing to any crowd that would listen) on "I Don't Wanna". "Something That Bleeds", and "Why I Lie".
The whole record finds a nice balance even though the band can't decide what it wants to be (new wave post punk vs. primal garage tinged rock). The gospel/ preachy elements confuse especially on the track "Those Blackouts" which is equal parts "CW" show background music and Hives Black and White-era.
Regardless of what how this band see's themselves genre wise they put together a nice album and at least have piqued my interest to take look back. Hopefully this is enough or you to take a look.
Saustex Records Announces "Ballsier" by the Grannies
CD out January 20th - LP out February 17th
Bay Area Shows - East Coast Shows with the Upper Crust
Saustex is pleased to unleash “Ballsier”, the latest full length album from Bay Area cross-dressing, geriatric superstars The Grannies, out January 20th (CD) and February 17th (Vinyl). The new set picks up where 2011’s “For Those About To Forget To Rock” left off with an arthritic and defiant middle finger raised high above a squalid rawk’n’roll soundtrack. Lead singer Wizard Sleeves wails hard won lessons about dodgy friends, gentrification and love to the chaos while producer Jack Endino (Nirvana, The Gits, High On Fire) aptly synthesizes the band’s well-fermented bile and grungy, virulent twin-guitar attack on tunes like “Soviet”, “Wade in Bloody Water” and “Modern Medicine”. The CD edition of the album features remixes of “The Corner of F*ck and You” by Ben Addison (of UK acid jazz legends Corduroy) and “Glittersh*tter” by German producer, DJ and sound designer Matt Flores. Tour dates in the Bay and on the East Coast are listed below...the spring/summer will see them head for Texas and Europe.
The Grannies story began on a hot July night in 1999, as five grown men dressed as old ladies crossed 11th St in San Francisco and hit the stage at the Paradise Lounge. 15 years, 8 Jack Endino-produced albums, 3 European tours, more than a few beer soaked house dresses, some delighted fans, some not-so delighted soundmen, an 8’ x 5’ oil painting by German artist Frank Bauer (that sold in Cologne for $25,000), some good press, some bad press; and these self-proclaimed “Masters of Quality Edutainment” are still at it. Still. Saustex label boss Jeff Smith has dubbed them “The hardest working ladymen in rock’n’roll”.
Featuring former members of Ain’t (SF), Black Furies (SF), Hollow Heyday (Boston) and Hullabaloo (Boston) The Grannies have released albums on their Dead Teenager and Wondertaker labels and now unleash their full-length debut for Saustex. “Mixing the frantic three chord riff rock of G.B.H. with the in-your-face danger of the Dwarves and add in Divine's fashion sense for good measure -- and voila, you now have the ingredients for a Grannies' cocktail.” says Greg Prato of All Music Guide.
These five are mild-mannered career and family men by day, occupying jobs ranging taxi driver to architect that allow them to don nothing but the latest in thrift store fashion on stage, “looking like a dystopian nightmare vision of glam”, notes Ken Shimamoto of The Stash Dauber. The San Francisco Bay Guardian says “this bunch of moldy old punk rockers, whose history consists chiefly of dressing up like old ladies, getting f*cked up and f*cking things up while decent folk look on in horror are a definite must see.” and Musicdownload was prompted to this bit of pith: “The band members look like Nick Nolte's mug shot if he had been dressed as the lady from ‘Mama's Family’...” But we’re getting too tangled up in visuals because it’s really the music that matters, right?
While schtick gets The Grannies to the altar, the music ties the knot. Unbeknownst to most, the band has maintained the same five members for over a decade, but each has the unusual habit of changing their stage names from album to album. So, while you cannot count on consistent album credits beyond mainstay Seattle producer Jack Endino (Nirvana, Mudhoney, Murder City Devils, High On Fire) you can bet there will be some furious, juvenile and belligerent punk rawk and roll lurking within the packaging walls of any release by The Grannies. Sleazegrinder had this to say about the band: “...Best of all, regardless of what mode they’re in, whether it’s sincere rock revivalists or snotty, tranny-granny punk rock assholes, they lay on the hooks and the howls and the c*ck-rockin’ guitar solos like…like they’re not even dressed like arthritic 70 year old broads at all.” And Seattle weekly The Stranger beams “The Grannies assault your ears with something mean, something dirty and something completely rock‘n’roll.”
THE GRANNIES LIVE:
Saturday February 28 San Francisco, CA Benders Noise Pop Afternoon Happy Hour
Friday March 6 Oakland, CA Golden Bull
Saturday March 14 San Francisco, CA The Knockout Afternoon Show
East Coast dates with The Upper Crust
All shows are with The Upper Crust & White Dynomite
Thursday April 23 New York, NY Bowery Electric
Friday, April 24 Somerville, MA Cuisine en Locale
Saturday, April 25 Portland, ME
For more information on Saustex visit www.saustexmedia.com and learn more about the band at www.thegrannies.com
Thanks for trying, John. There are two ways to listen. Radio Free America http://www.radiofreeamerica.com/station/ksfr is sometimes spotty. Then there's http://www.ksfr.org (upper right ), where you can listen through iTunes, Window Media Player etc. As long as I'm turning this into a plug, Sound World is on 10 pm Mountain Time Sunday. My show from last night can be found at Radio free America.
...I wonder if Michael Weldon knows that The Electric Mess's video has an early Psychotronic , prominently displayed? I'm sure he'd get a kick out of it. Steve , I listened to your show , the other night , but , it kept cutting out on me , unfortunately. John.
Two of my favorite new ones are relatively new bands that haven't received much discussion in here but seem to be anchored in garage and punk. One is Benjamin Booker, a kid in his early 20s whose stated influences include The Gun Club (and Blind Willie Johnson). Then there's The Bloodhounds, East LA Chicanos who owe a lot to The Yardbirds (and have a weird jug band fetish. )
Also I absolutely love The Electric Mess, a NY band I first met here in the Hideout.
I recently posted my 2014 Top 10. http://www.garagepunk.com/blogs/6614/5954/terrell-s-tune-up-s-top-10-albums-of-2014
I have'nt been buying alot of new stuff....Danny Amis' (Los Straitjackets) new CDS is great , in a Ventures/John Barry /HENRY MANCINI STUFFED IN A PHONEBOOTH KINDA WAY.
Fleshtones' last album was great (Boy , who could have seen that coming?). Reverend Horton Heat's last one is pretty strong , just not as good as their ignored previous effort , "Laffin' and Cryin'". The Fuzztones' SELF - TRIBUTE ALBUM , with help from many true Garage legends , is killer , even if you don't like The Fuzztones. Gonn's last release makes an ass of anyone who fancies themselves "Garage Bands"....
I would also pick Thee Oh Sees Drop from 2014 as a favourite. Also worth checking out, Teenanger's EPLP (its more garage/punk), The Black Lips - Underneath The Rainbow and Parquet Courts Sunbathing Animal.
Haven't heard the Real Kids reissue, will have to check that one out.
Cool. But , of course , I meant The Real Kids. This is and event. So was their last EP and 45 , which was almost 20 years ago....I don't think the propsed live album on REAL o Mind (I think.) came out , either, just teh 45. Thanks for the info.
Here are the two most recent episodes of Revolution Rock.
January 3rd Play List:
1. 999 - I’m Alive 2. The Tomboys - I’d Rather Fight Than Switch 3. The Len Bright Combo - You’re Gonna Screw My Head Off 4. Young Rival - Elevator 5. Acid Baby Jesus - Who’s First 6. John Otway - Baby’s In The Club 7. Wazmo Nariz - Tele-Tele-Telephone 8. Queen’s Rug - Like A Plague 9. AKA & The Charlatans - 634 Dog 10. Little Richard - Keep A Knockin’ 11. Jack Scott - Midgie 12. The Gestics - Invasion 13. Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet - Theme From TV 14. Davie Allan & The Arrows - Blues Theme 15. CJ Ramone - Last Chance To Dance 16. Fifth Column - Like This (Brave New Waves Session) 17. The Animals - Don’t Bring Me Down 18. Tire Swing Co. - Time Away 19. The Black Angels - Molly Moves My Generation 20. Sonic Jesus - Lost Reprise 21. The Electric Vomit - Treasure Hunt 22. Elvis Costello & The Attractions - You Belong To Me (Live) 23. The Government - Telephobia 24. Ty Segall - It’s A Problem 25. Actual Water - Waldo Jackson 26. Dead Ghosts - Summer With Phil 27. Dead Ghosts - Cold Stare 28. Roy Orbison - You’re Gonna Cry 29. Roy Orbison - I Never Knew
Download/listen to this podcast here: http://cjamlog1.cjam.ca/mp3dirnew/36-Revolution_Rock-20150103-1900-t1420311600.mp3
Check out my blog post on Roy Orbison's Rock House here:http://revrock.blogspot.ca/2015/01/roy-orbison-at-rock-house-show-541.html
December 27th Play List (Best of 2014):
1. Parquet Courts - Instant Disassembly (Sunbathing Animal - What's Your Rupture? 2014) 2. Parkay Quarts - Content Nausea (Content Nausea - What's Your Rupture? 2014) 3. Guided By Voices - Planet Score (Motivational Jumpsuit - Guided By Voices Inc. 2014) 4. Sam Coffey & The Iron Lungs - Hold Me Close (Gates Of Hell - South Paw Records 2014) 5. Paul Jacobs - Waking Up (Do It Again - Self Released 2014) 6. James O-L & The Villains - Late Night Drive (On The Banks Of The Detroit River - Famous Last Records 2014) 7. Ought - Weather Song (More Than Any Other Day - Constellation Records 2014) 8. White Lung - Just For You (Deep Fantasy - Domino 2014) 9. Ty Segall - Connection Man (Manipulator - Drag City 2014) 10. Mac DeMarco - Blue Boy (Salad Days - Captured Tracks 2014) 11. Ariel Pink - Nude Beach A Go-Go (Pom Pom - 4AD 2014) 12. King Tuff - Magic Mirror (Black Moon Spell - Sub Pop 2014) 13. OFF! - I Won't Be A Casualty (Wasted Years - Vice 2014) 14. Chad Vangaalen - Leaning On Bells (Shrink Dust - Sub Pop 2014) 15. The Black Angels - The Flop (Clear Lake Forest EP - Blue Horizon Records 2014) 16. Kestrels - Wide Eyes (The Moon Is Shining Our Way EP - Noyes/Sonic Unyon 2014) 17. Ty Segall - Manipulator (Manipulator - Drag City 2014) 18. St. Vincent - Birth In Reverse (St. Vincent - Loma Vista/Republic Records 2014) 19. Iceage - Forever (Plowing Through The Field Of Love - Matador 2014) 20. Perfume Genius - Longpig (Too Bright - Matador 2014) 21. The Black Lips - Dorner Party (Underneath The Rainbow - Vice 2014) 22. White Fence - Anger! Who Keeps You Under (For The Recently Found Innocent - Drag City Records 2014) 23. Swans - A Little God in My Hands (To Be Kind - Young God/Mute Records 2014) 24. Sun Kil Moon - Pray for Newtown (Benji - Caldo Verde Records 2014) 25. Teenanger - Sky Saxon (E P L P - Telephone Explosion 2014) 26. Thee Oh Sees - Drop (Drop - Castle Face 2014)
Download/listen to this podcast here:http://cjamlog1.cjam.ca/mp3dirnew/36-Revolution_Rock-20141227-1900-t1419706800.mp3
Check out my blog post featuring my favourite ten releases of 2014: http://revrock.blogspot.ca/2014/12/2014-highlights-show-540.html
