The Soul of a society

By

Chris Henniker

Detroit has the reputation as the soul music capital of the world, but never has its influence ever been associated with anywhere behind the Iron Curtain. There is one exception:  Marta Kubisova. Miss Kubisova’s soul recordings between 1966-70 have been collected in a charming little compilation, “Ne! The Soul of Marta Kubisova”, by Vampisoul Records that captures the mood of Czechoslovakia undergoing dissent. When people wanted society to open up, the popular music captured the feeling by its utter lack of propaganda. Although I only know a few words of Czech, you can’t imagine the principles of Socialist Realism fitting the funky organs and melancholic brass straight out of Oke, Stax or Atlantic studios, can you?

When I bought it, I was unsure what I was getting into. I saw the words “fuzz Guitars” on Rough Trade’s description, which is reassuring, but anything for a fiver I guess. Well? I was expecting Eurovision type dross, but it’s no different to any American soul album. If there were any mods or skinheads behind the Iron Curtain, they would be cutting a rug to this.  Except her version of the Hare Krishna chant is catchy and unexpectedly kitsch. In a society where religion was suppressed, it’s almost Eurovision quality is somewhat defiant in the face of the tanks that rolled through Wenceslas Square. It sounds like those naff nonsense songs you get in the Eurovision Song Contest, like Bim Bong Bombi Bang, but it’s even more challenging given Czechoslovakia was a Catholic country under the yoke of Russian colonialism. The events of the Prague Spring make the psych-folk Ballad of The Soldier and the Girl feels all the more poignant. It feels like a tragic tale of lost love and yearning.  Even the ending feels sitar-like.

The more upbeat numbers like the Beat/Blues number Na Co Te Mam could be  British Invasion classics if English was a Slavic (as opposed to a Germanic) Language. It does feel like it goes into kitsch at times, but the soul influences are far too strong for it to do so. The closer sounds like Astrid Gilberto with its Bossa Nova beats and is ideal for a hot summer’s afternoon in Rio, overlooking Copacapana Beach with a Rum and Coke. Beats huddling for bread in a shortage economy, doesn’t it?

Like I said, it’s a charming compilation that captures the spirit of a time when people wanted change as well as one girl’s talent. She was even tipped for international stardom, until the regime banned her as an instrument of American imperialism. It’s a true document of history, which gives a glimpse behind the Iron Curtain and the soul of a society that wanted to get funky.   

Yeah, that's about right. Have a band like the Fuzzzzzztones come up on your saturday night date chat on what music turns you on and explain their looks and Garage antics and it's FROWN from your companion. Tell them you dig the cute lookin' Black Lips and it's all, AH YEAH SO COOL SO GREAT SO CUTE! GARAGEPUNK IS SOOOOO GREAT!

Nothing against the Black Lips, but one part of why they are making it big, is because they are young and good lookin.

people just have no backbone, that helps them dig the dirt below the trends, they are guided by the iTunes store hot list. And that is shallow territory.

There's a lott of confusion thru "bands" calling themselves garage right now, because kids mistake it for what's hip and don't know the roots. ...The everlasting trouble with trends.

Forgive my short babbling, I'm inna hurry.



John White said:

The term "Garage" is trendy, but I don't think true garage rock bands are trendy. The NFL used garage rock "type" bands for all their ads last year, that helps get the sound out there in the mainstream. I don't think hipsters really know the roots, they just dig the sound and style.

Ha! Thanks for that!
kopper said:

Hell yeah, it's trendy as fuck right now. And it's really annoying. I keep hearing or reading of "garage" sounds or influences in bands that sound NOTHING like garage rock (or "garage punk," for that matter). I think it's just the state of the music scene right now. Bands like the Hives, White Stripes, and Black Lips (amongst others) really put "garage rock" in the mainstream, and then you had labels like Vice Records jump on the bandwagon with lots of money to promote it with the help of corporations like Scion, and BOOM. It's the "next big thing." Problem is, too many of these bands are just plain BORING, and I bet most of 'em wouldn't know a Sonics or Oblivians tune if it hit 'em on their heads.

Oh, and by the way, I never could stand the Strokes. As far as I'm concerned they were the "Pearl Jam of Garage Rock," a fabricated band, totally fake, with crappy music that might be OK when compared with the rest of mainstream "rock music," but pales in comparison to most of the real garage rock/punk out there.

The term "Garage" is trendy, but I don't think true garage rock bands are trendy. The NFL used garage rock "type" bands for all their ads last year, that helps get the sound out there in the mainstream. I don't think hipsters really know the roots, they just dig the sound and style.

Dave,

I sympathize with your plight to an extent. Here in MN we may be spoiled, but we have our share of rednecks and naysayers on the periphery. Really though: Bands can't be dangerous up there? Being dangerous and being a dick are two different things. Honestly, I wouldn't want some jackass in a band spitting on me either. To me that's not dangerous, that's poseur shit like Green Day and Manson. If somebody spit on me I'd probably want to beat his ass too or at least spit back on him. There are better ways to be dangerous with some good healthy subversive lyrics or an aggressive stance. Trust me, my band Murder Lane played a redneck joint once where everyone HATED us. This was a podunk, honky tonk dive and we were in full face paint singing about "Drinking Redneck Blood": Ya think that went over well? Needless to say, thought we were destined to get linched. We finished our set anyway and hung around for free beer. Did anyone pick a fight? Nope. But I'll tell you what, we were ready to throw down in a heartbeat. Why? Because I'll be damned if I'm gonna let some redneck spoil my fun. Besides, maybe some tough guy rednecks will think twice after they get the crap kicked out of them by a 40 year old punk in Frankenstein makeup.

"Rock 'n Roll is based on revolutions going way beyond 33 and 1/3."

-Jon Trudell- 

dave machine said:

Garage sure isn't trendy in northern British Columbia, which is why bands can't be dangerous up here. It's hard enough getting gigs at the northern folk festivals (and we do like playing them, it's all we have, plus it's a good way to get in free to a three day party). Bands are thrown out for being too rock and roll, sad but true. So no swearing at the audience or spitting whiskey on them - just ask a band called the Turncoats about their Kispiox experience.

I'm curious to know how NoMeansNo did at Atlin or Dawson City a couple years back? (sorry I didn't make it, it's still two days driving north of here) I used to love seeing NoMeansNo and never felt in danger near the stage. Moshing used to be a lot less violent than it is now, and it was fun. Rock and roll should be fun. I totally agree that passion and energy are often lacking, and are a requirement. But after our first gig a few years ago where we almost got into fights with local rednecks at the local pub, we decided that isn't the way to go for rockers in their 30s and 40s. Passion and energy can just mean a good fucking time is had by all.
Rob Wright said:

The thing I can't down with in regards to the new crop of 'garage' bands is they are all so fucking wimpy!  Where's the danger, the excitement, the punk rock?  I like psych, and I like some stoner-y kinda stuff too, but I need some energy and passion and spite and hate in my rocknroll to really get me going.  I rarely feel an element of danger bands live shows these days, it's either straight up 'bug' music (see: The Flintstones) or it's just so wimpy that I can't get behind it.  I don't need a GG Allin show, but c'mon, make me feel like I might get hurt if I get a little too close to the stage, y'know?!  GIMME DANGER LITTLE STRANGER

Show #342: "Bands & Artists Starting With F, Part 6"

Every 3 weeks I do a show where I randomly draw a letter from the alphabet. Then I play all bands & artists in my collection from the 50s, 60s and 70s that start with that letter in alphabetical order. This week I drew the letter "F". This is the sixth time I've drawn the letter "F", so I will start from where I left off (which was with Five's Company). So, tune in tonight (Friday at 10:00pm EST) to hear 3 hours of bands and artists that start with "F" like: Sonny Flaharty & The Mark V, The Flame from Afirca, The Flame from the UK, Flamin' Groovies, The Flaming Ember, The Flamingos, 2 different Flares, Flash, Flash & The Memphis Casuals, Flat Earth Society, The Flee-Rekkers, Fleetwood Mac, The Fleetwoods, Les Fleur De Lys, The Flies, The Flirtations, Flo & Eddie, The Flock, Floh De Cologne, Floribunda Rose, The Flow, The Flower Children, The Flower Pot, The Flower Pot Men, and many many more!!!

***To stream The Metaphysical Circus live, listen to past shows, view playlists, etc…check out my website: eggmanrulez.com/ or wscafm.org (or portsmouthcommunityradio.org) Friday nights at 10pm EST on WSCA-LP 106.1 FM, Portsmouth Community Radio!

Watch my playlist unravel before your eyes LIVE here: wscafm.radioactivity.fm/

Egg

I grew up with a lot of the Madchester and Britpop stuff, like The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, Inspiral Carpets, Suede, Blur, Elastica, Ocean Colour Scene, Kula Shaker, Primal Scream et al. I was wondering if there were any fans of it on here?

I noticed some of the Madchester bands were heavily influenced by Northern Soul and Funk, right down to the drumming and wah-wah guitars (Fools Gold and anything by the Happy Mondays).  

Yeah , and Dan Clowes did ones for The Headcoats , Supersuckers , Victor Banana and others.  Peter Bagge did a 45 sleeve FOR THE LATE , GREAT , THE BROOD , an A-Bones/Girl Trouble split , His own band,  Action Family , and others. He did a T-Shirt for Tad , don't know if the artwork appeared elsewhere , and The Troggs' Tribute comp , "Groin Thunder!". 

Bibliodiscoteque said:

Jaime Hernandez did a cover for The Makers and Sam Kieth did one for the Groovin' Ghoulies

 

There's actually a band , Seduction of The Innocent * , made up of people in the Comic Book Industry , including Bill Mumy , of "Lost in Space" and "Barnes and Barnes" fame.     * The name comes from an infamous book , released in the

50's , that suceeded in getting the Comic Book Industry neutered , as well as slandering Rock'n'Roll and Horror movies , anything that made being a kid bearable.

The Unbelievable Uglies had an INSANE Garage Punker called "Spider - Man" , tho' it sounds like it may be about a monster , not the Comic Book Hero.  Jan and Dean had an (Also Insane) Pop Art - Rock LP about Batman and Robin.

Scotty McKay (Ex - Gene Vincent's Blue Caps) can be seen in the movie "Creature of Destruction" wailin' on a cool groover ( I sound like The Real Don Steele . Sorry) just called "Batman" , with a chorus similar to the TV theme . but far enough from it to avoid lawsuit. I read that he was threatened with one , anyway.

the Liverpool Scene had a very cynical Batman song ("Are you going to get us out of Vietnam....BATMAN ?").

SKY SAXON EVEN HAD ONE CALLED "SUPERMAN 5". It's not one of his better moments.

Donovan referenced Green Lantern . Marc Bolan , Dr. Strange and Silver Surfer. Chrissie Hynde , tho' I'm no fan , Howard The Duck.

Paul McCartney and Wings had one about Marvel Comics' "Magneto and The Titanium Man". Reportedly , Macca attempted to purchase Marvel Comics for $Two Million , a lot of money in The 70's.

I'VE GOT A POSTER FROM THAT Pipettes' song about Archie....BUT , didya know , The Archies were the first group to drop Jimmy Page's name in a song? Don't believe me ? Look up "Waldo P. Emerson Jones" on You Tube. Ron Dante might have known him....   A lot of superhero kiddie records were made in the 60's and 70's that actually have some pretty rockin' studio creations. "The Super Dupers" LP and "The Sensational Guitars of DAN AND DALE - BATMAN AND ROBIN" album come highly recommended. Both were rumored to feature Lou Reed on guitar  . The latter LP , MORE RECENTLY , WAS REVEALED TO FEATURE SUN RA (On organ) , with The Blues Project. Still sounds like Lou , to me.

Ey Marty,

quite the other way around, in the way that some great french Comic artists are making some great new covers for Rock'n'Roll records: Here's a show the comicartist BARU put together, the video's in german but you can get a look at the covers and the music is there too.

Here's the article on french - Including pictures.

The VIDEO won't embed, so here's the link:

 I think Fred Cole would be overjoyed to even be considered in this conversation , truth be known. He was and is a huge Yardbirds fan. A huge early career disappointment was getting the call to go to San Francisco to open for The Yardbirds at The Fillmore on one of their last U.S. tours , if not the last. When he and The Weeds got to the venue  , they were told no such booking had been made.    Pretty much anything Cole has done during , and since , The Lollipop Shoppe/Weeds (Same band.) era comes recommended , though , no , it's not for everybody.

 Julia , I think most people just call it "Brit R'n'B"....Turn yourself on to The Pretty Things , Downliners Sect , Yardbirds , Spencer Davis Group , stuff like that , if you have'nt already. I know these are more obvious suggestions , and other people may have more ideas , at the drop of a hat , that had'nt occured to me . Some of the British Invasion bands started out with more R'n'B leanings , but , went more Pop , like The Moody Blues , Zombies , Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders , Searchers , Manfred Mann . iT'S FUN TO GO BACK AND CHECK OUT WHICH ONES STARTED MORE BLUES OR R'n'B Based , THEN ,WENT INTO SOMETHING ELSE..... Best , John.

Eric Burdon and The Animals was an another setup of a band.. my favourite record is winds of change if you haven't heard that one.. He so friggin good singer..

Maybe not exactly like Animals but british(irish/scottish??) Marmalade has some very good tunes

The Wheels were Them's buddies in the Belfast scene. But they only released one 7"

and finally Mirage were really nice freakbeat-rockin stuff. they covered Tomorow Never Knows very well..

=)

Playlist Sept 22/2011

1. LIght Bulb Alley...Who Do You Love?...from The Sound Of Things CD on Ricochet Sound. A kickass way to start the show as this is easily one of THE best versions of this Bo Diddley tune.

2. The Polymorphines...The Clean And The Dirty...from The Slip CD. These guys were late arrival guests last week on Radio WW but we made up for it with a speedy interview prior to the live show at The Black Shire Pub that evening. The few who braved the rain (WTF, do Londoners not go out when it rains???) know that The Polymorphines can rock with the best! And BIG thanx to The Oily Birds and Wormwood Scrubs for playing as well.

3. Teenanger...Red Eye Station...from the Give Me Pink LP. Teenanger will be playing next thursday at Call The Office, along with catl.

4. Sloan...Give Me That...from their Action Pact CD and Sloan are in London while i'm typing this. Good radio friendly powerpop combo from Toronto.

5. Sloan...The Good In Everyone...from the One Chord To Another CD. If they were from the UK or US, they'd probably be big stars, but we like to keep our Canadian music to ourselves, unless it's Justin Beaver or Ceylon Dionne which you can have...please.

6. Bob Logg III...Boob Scotch...from the Log Bomb LP from 2003 and Bob comes to Call The Office on Oct 2nd.

7. Bradleyboy...Backdoor Man...from the Salt Gun CD. No, this isn't the Howlin' Wolf song, it's an original.

8. catl...Cards...from the With The Lord For Cowards You Will Find No Place LP. catl are coming to Call The Office next thursday night and catl will be checking in on Radio WW prior to the show. Lots of catl news to report, but you'll have to tune in to get the scoop from the source.

9. The Fleshtones...The Dreg...from the Roman Gods LP from 1981. Still remember the first time i heard this song 30 years ago and it still rings true! These guys really are Roman Gods and they will prove it at This Ain't Hollywood in Hamilton Ontario on Monday Sept 26th. I'll be the jackass at the front of the stage jumping up and down!

10. The Fleshtones...The Leather Kings...from The Fleshtones vs Reality LP...played the shit out of this record when it first came out and it still sounds great 24 years later!

11. The Fleshtones...Bite Of My Soul...from the latest LP, Brooklyn Sound Solution with Lenny Kaye (Patti Smith Group, Nuggets, etc).

12. The Fleshtones...Girl From Baltimore...from the Up Front 12" EP from 1980. You can never have too much Fleshtones...give this clip a look see as this is The Fleshtones the last time they came to Hamilton last year....jackass at the front jumping up and down!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jySWdfiKZQs

Thanx to Aldo Edric for the great video and putting it up on Youtube!! To Be Scene!!

13. The Hook Up...Minstel Boy...from the brand new Garagepunk Hideout compilation CD, Noises From The Hideout! with cover art by our good pal Darren Merinuk. The Hook Up will return to London Ontario Nov 5th, Brennan's Beer Bistro.

14. Sunday Sinners...It So Lonely...from the Sweet Jam CD from a couple of years back. Montreal based combo who came to The Black Shire Pub back in the early summer of 2009.

15. Lene Lovich...Lucky Number...from the Stateless LP from 1979 and a request.

16. The Zellots...Soldiers...1981 demo and The Zellots story is in the latest edition of Mongrel Zine which you can pick up locally at Grooves Records.

http://www.mongrelzine.ca/

17. Phil Ochs...Pretty Smart On My Part...from the Rehearsals For Retirement LP and goes out to John K who gave me a stack of his old records, of which this was one. Great sarcasm/satire on this tune.

18. Lords Of London...Time Waits For No One...7" on Apex and as above. No connection with London Ontario as The Lords were from Toronto.

19. The Paupers...Magic People...from the LP of the same name and Skip Prokop drummed on this one prior to his fame in Canadian classic rockers Lighthouse. And now Skip resides in London Ontario, or at least that's the rumour.

20. Scott Drake...Your Secret Face...from the latest Garagepunk Hideout, Noises From The Hideout CD. Scott's voice may sound familiar as he was in The Humpers for many years.

21. 63 Monroe....Bad Bad Rock'n'Roll...7" from London Ontario veterans.

22. The Regulators...That's Right, Nothing's Left...7" from 1979 from London Ontario.

23. The Boojies...Maddy...from the August Garagepunk Hideout Download called Hidden Tracks. Toronto combo, some of which are in a brand new band who will be joining The Hook Up and The Fine Print on Nov 5th at Brennan's Beer Bistro.

24. Wormwood Scrubs....Too Late To Go Home...from their self titled CD and from Guelph Ontario. They played with The Polymorphines last week in London and were quite good!

25. Midnite Snaxxx...A Guy Like That....brand new 7" on Total Punk Records.


That's it, thanks for all the call-ins, and all those people asking weird questions. Had several weird calls, that i had no clue about. And thanx for all the email, facebook, garagepunk hideout requests!

Next week we've got an interview with catl scheduled...prior to their show at Call The Office that evening.

And finally, here's the link to listen to the show...one week only and then it's gone for good:

http://chrwradio.com/podcasts/.. 94-9CHRWThu1900.mp3

Allin was influenced by Hank Williams, as well as the Stones, the New York Dolls, Alice Cooper, The Stooges, etc. I wonder what he could do with a Smiths song (and I'm a Smiths and occaisional GG fan)?

John Battles said:

Axel , It sounds like they mean they would like to hear The Ravonettes cover it...."Die When You Die" actually IS a cover song , of sorts. It's taken directly from "You're Gonna Die" by Destroy All Monsters. He changed it a bit ,  of course , the words are his. He did the same thing with "Scumfuc Tradition" ("Family Tradition" by Hank Williams , Jr.) , "Outlaw Scumfuc" ("Longhaired Redneck by David Allan Coe.) and even "Blow Jobs" ("She Got a Nosejob " , a Mad Magazine record !!!!). YES , I DO NEED TO GET OUT , TONIGHT.

Axel Björnsson said:

are you talking about they have already cover it or you like to hear them cover it? (don't find it on youtube)

Axel , It sounds like they mean they would like to hear The Ravonettes cover it...."Die When You Die" actually IS a cover song , of sorts. It's taken directly from "You're Gonna Die" by Destroy All Monsters. He changed it a bit ,  of course , the words are his. He did the same thing with "Scumfuc Tradition" ("Family Tradition" by Hank Williams , Jr.) , "Outlaw Scumfuc" ("Longhaired Redneck by David Allan Coe.) and even "Blow Jobs" ("She Got a Nosejob " , a Mad Magazine record !!!!). YES , I DO NEED TO GET OUT , TONIGHT.

Axel Björnsson said:

are you talking about they have already cover it or you like to hear them cover it? (don't find it on youtube)

I'd love to hear them cover it.

Axel Björnsson said:

are you talking about they have already cover it or you like to hear them cover it? (don't find it on youtube)

Hey , Mike. You might be thinking of "Hated in The Nation" , which was a ROIR cassette comp of various studio recordings , inc. the ones with Wayne Kramer and Dennis Thompson - or some of 'em - and the very Bubblegum Punk of "Gimme Some Head"  which I thought WAS the guys from The MC5 , but I guess was J. Mascis on Kramer-ish guitar - all spliced together with aggravated stage banter from the "Legendary" Twilite Room , Dallas 1985 show ( Which I was at.). It was later released on vinyl , and probably CD.

Retraction : Maybe you mean one of a few reissues of his first album , "Always is , Always Was , and Always Shall Be". I had a chance to buy it once , when Allin was virtually unknown beyond The East Coast. It is , as others , here , noted , truly innocent compared to what he put out in later years. I thought he LOOKED too innocent to be this monster I'd read a little bit about in Trouser Press....Little did I know...that , and the fact I could probably ask three figures for it , today , if I had bought it , then.

Mike said:

Only saw GG once. Way late. Maybe early to mid 90's up in San Francisco. I wasn't impressed. Just watched him do his poo thing and chase people around the club. Musically, it was boring and pretty generic sounding. With that said, I do like the two singles I have - 'Gimme Some Head' & 'No Rules' which it seems alot of people I know don't like. There was a CD that came out around '99/2000 that had most of his early stuff on it. i really liked it but can't find it now. Anyone know what it was called?

are you talking about they have already cover it or you like to hear them cover it? (don't find it on youtube)

"Die When You Die" is a good song, but I'd to hear The Raveonettes cover it with more menace and at a slower tempo. "Expose Yourself To Kids" is pure gonzo comedy at its most fuckwitted.

Axel Björnsson said:

I love "Die When You Die"

I love "Die When You Die"

I'm happy that this thread exists.

 I don't think it's "Dead" , but , since Honeyboy Edwards passed , about a month ago , I DO feel The Blues is dead. Had a good run . I live in Chicago , where anything that has nothing to do with The Blues gets passed off as the real deal. Some people get close to it , but Honeyboy , and this is just my opinion , was the last of the greats.

As far as Punk Blues is concerned , I think it still has some life left in it , tho' I'm not crazy about some of the things I've heard.....Tijuana Hercules , who've been based in Chicago for at least 10 or 12 years , still play out on occasion , and they've got it. They are the missing link to that Axis of Evil - Howlin' Wolf , Captain Beefheart , Jim Dandy and even Tom Waits (To some degree.).  In the 80's ,I was wondering when someone was going to make the connection between Punk and Blues.

I did'nt know , yet , that Msr. Jeffrey Evans and The Gories , the primary founders of this stuff ( Along with Jack O' Fire , a little later.) , were just around the corner , or , to be fair , that Hound Dog Taylor was "Punk Blues" 25 years before people started talking about it.... 

stronger than dirt.... the mummies....