This side of the millennium but currently not active, Mr Airplane man are a band you should check out if you get the chance.

I saw the Mean Bikini in Camden last month, a very good band.

Adrian Alfonso said:

I think the singer from the Okmoniks went on to form a band called the Manxx:
http://styrofoamdrone.com/2012/02/29/the-manxx-messin-around-7/

sounds like the same singer, I'm probably wrong, still good..

I can't believe I forgot about Bleached too! they're great.

There's a band from London called Mean Bikini who are worth checking out too:
http://meanbikini.bandcamp.com/

With Weirdonia on this one...Bandcamp offer an excellent service....as well as free or fixed price downloads you can set name your own price downloads with or without a minimum figure...(but watch out for PayPal's minimum transaction cost)...you can also bundle tracks into "albums" and include artwork and videos and stuff in the download....

I had a really GREAT time at the Funtastic Dracula Carnival in Spain last year.

Spaniards REALLY know how to throw a party!

The Gories, Go-Nuts, Gravedigger V, Theee Bat, Shannon and The Clams, and Giuda all played, really intense weekend, wildest 3 nights of my life, it started Thursday night, and there were parties going on non stop til Early Monday morning. Great bands, great dj's, great time, best atmosphere there too.

Those guys are hilarious. But , they just call 'em like they see 'em. They're cool people.   They've been accused of things they're not , but , have'nt we all ?  I FEEL MUCH THE SAME WAY , if you don't drink or smoke or do drugs or rub strawberry jam into your belly , or whatever , that's your choice. If you do or don't eat meat , same thing. You don't have to call yourself anything or join a herd as a security measure. Antiseen was recently on chic-a-go go . You can see their appearance on you tube(chic-a-gogo's page). The last time they actuallly did a show in Chicago , though , was 15 to 18 Years ago. In fact , David Allen Coe played the same night , and I was able to go to both shows. A fist full of political incorrectness !
Chris Henniker said:

I longer drink, but I don't consider myself straight edge (even though I don't smoke or do dope, either). Truth be told, It's purely an effective way to keep my weight down because I don't get the sugar cravings you get on the booze. I'm not a veggie or vegan and I love fish, seafood, game and eating the cutesy animals. If you want politically incorrect, look up Antiseen.

I longer drink, but I don't consider myself straight edge (even though I don't smoke or do dope, either). Truth be told, It's purely an effective way to keep my weight down because I don't get the sugar cravings you get on the booze. I'm not a veggie or vegan and I love fish, seafood, game and eating the cutesy animals. If you want politically incorrect, look up Antiseen.

I briefly aligned myself with the Straight Edge thing , when I saw friends kicking drugs and alcohol. But , I was'nt doing drugs or alcohol , anyway . It was a personal choice I'd long since arrived at , not a case of me joining a movement. When most of the people who were calling themselves "Straight Edge" soon got back on the dope and/or booze , it all seemed like a farce. But , later , I heard about the extremists , bombing McDonalds (As if they serve meat.) or beating up cigarette smokers. LAME !! Sometimes , Vegans adhere to their principles , without telling others what they should do. I respect them more for it . As for pro - drug/anti meat types , I don't tell them what to do. I would suggest they shower , but , otherwise..... May I bore you with a story ? Sure I can.           

I went to see a Thin Lizzy tribute band at a local club. Turned out , they cancelled , with a Country band playing in their place. Under the circumstances , the doorman offered to let me go in for a few minutes and decide if I wanted to stay . The Country band was good , I just was'nt in the mood. I looked around , and all these people were attempting to Yobbo dance (All our friends from The UK , including you , Chris , I trust , know what that is.). I did'nt stay long. I had to wonder why all these WXRT (Boring Chicago radio station that appeals to psuedo - intellectuals , fake hippies and "Adult Rockers". ) fans were doing this British Biker standby , and who taught them how?

Turns out , the whole evening was a semi - secret reception for one Chrissie Hynde , who was in town protesting the former Rock'n'Roll McDonalds. Again , they serve GRISTLE. HOW MUCH OF THAT ARMPIT STANK ACTUALLY CAME FROM A COW? White Castles have more beef. But , yeah , it's her right , I guess , to complain about a bunch of minimum wage slaves busting their humps while she had maybe one good album and another that was spotty , and built a lucrative career on that , wrecking Ray Davies' marriage along the way.

OK , RAY HAD A HAND IN THAT , TOO , but , I heard , from a friend who worked at the club , that she insisted on a Vegan pizza (Which could have been ordered from an actual Vegan restaurant and delivered to said club.) , and gave them specific instructions , having a hissy fit when she learned all their ovens had cooked meat pizzas in the past , shouting at the largely Mexican staff , who did'nt know or care who she was . Seig Hynde !
 
Chris Henniker said:

Funny, as I see the two things having some things in common (specifically the Hardline variety advocated by Vegan Reich, but not what Ian McKaye was a believer in). Both Hardline & Neo-Nazism are dogmatic and controlling, homophobic, authoritarian, intolerant and unable to see other points of view as valid.    

Johnny Lurg said:

It will take me a lot more convincing that this song is a joke, but the band One Life Crew itself is very laughable with their idiotic combination of Neo-Nazism and straight edge/vegan lifestyle:

http://www.youtube.com/embed/u_I2FIw7YEs

Funny, as I see the two things having some things in common (specifically the Hardline variety advocated by Vegan Reich, but not what Ian McKaye was a believer in). Both Hardline & Neo-Nazism are dogmatic and controlling, homophobic, authoritarian, intolerant and unable to see other points of view as valid.    

Johnny Lurg said:

It will take me a lot more convincing that this song is a joke, but the band One Life Crew itself is very laughable with their idiotic combination of Neo-Nazism and straight edge/vegan lifestyle:

http://www.youtube.com/embed/u_I2FIw7YEs

That's right. But , "E.Y.O.B." and The Nip Drivers' uber - silly version of "Rio" (Yes , a case of the cover being better than the original.) were the only songs I really liked , so I traded my copy in.
 
Johnny Lurg said:

"Dachau Cabana" and "EYOB" were actually released on the same compilation, When Men Were Men And Sheep Were Scared.

http://www.discogs.com/Various-When-Men-Were-Men-And-Sheep-Were-Sca...

"Dachau Cabana" and "EYOB" were actually released on the same compilation, When Men Were Men And Sheep Were Scared.

http://www.discogs.com/Various-When-Men-Were-Men-And-Sheep-Were-Scared/release/1858363

I met Eugene and Faye when they DESTROYED in what I firmly believe was their first Chicago appearance , ever (The singer in the opening band insisted they played at the legendary Tuts' to about 15 people , ca. 1978. I was'nt buying it.) , and they could'nt have been more pleasant. "Et was sooch a LARVELY crowd !" - Faye.
 
Tersicore said:

Good cover indeed!
The drums is so straight! remind me a german battle tank, a Panzer, somehow!;) 

Andy Climax said:

Better than the original? More punk definitely. Best of all.... She's Scottish, haha. Amazing stuff

MY FAVORITE VERSION OF THE OFT - COVERED BILL HALEY SONG, SKINNY MINNIE , IS BY THE SONICS. THEY SOUND, AS USUAL , LIKE THEY WERE OUT FOR BLOOD. SAM BUTERA DID A COOL VERSION , TOO.

I believe "SOAPY" was a Lyres original , but Fortune and Maltese bettered it as "Ken Bergland - Action Man" with new lyrics , and I topped neither of them , but , did it all the same , as "Doug Freedman - King of Men". Doug's in the Hideout. You should be honored to be his friend.

The Renegades , Fuzztones , and T.Tex Edwards all did cool versions of "13 Women".

I heard ecstatic field reports about The Hate Bomb's shows , but , I never saw them.

For Covers better than the originals, usually when the Hatebombs covered something it was better than the original...  

Soapy (the Lyres originally I think)

My brother the Man (We The People)

You Burn Me Up and Down (also We The People)

I've Been Thinkin' (Paul Bearer and the Hearsemen)

Stop It Baby (The Heard)

This list could go on and on...  unfortunately mostly you had to see them live as the few recordings they have don't really measure up to them live.

Of course anything the Mummies covered became theirs...  like Skinny Minny, it blows the Billy Hailey originally away...  although Gerry and the Pacemakers did a pretty cool version ....  really I just like to see this to see that awesome Croc Trixon Telstar that the drummer is playing..

http://youtu.be/J3Mihpptg3Y

But I think my favorite cover is the Renegades cover of 13 Women

http://youtu.be/wYsRpPImDS0

(original from Bill Haley http://youtu.be/HP7lIjlJ2I4)

I know this is late and all, but the original for "Come On Up" wasn't The Hugger Muggers it was The Rascals:

http://youtu.be/kliegM-1h_8

I like the Weirdos' original because of the more raw, less compressed production and INCREDIBLE ear-bending, stringbending out-of-tune guitarness, but they are both great. Love the cheesey organ in F.F.L's version. Thanks for posting both!
 
Dead Boy said:

The Weirdos' original "Life Of Crime" is killer!  But Flesh For Lulu's version is a little better than the original.

The Weirdos' original "Life Of Crime" is killer!  But Flesh For Lulu's version is a little better than the original.

The Golden Earrings were a very versatile group , the kind of Pop music that does'nt make my colon clench. They ruled the Dutch scene for years , even if Outsiders , Q65 , etc. were more hard rockin'. I even like "Radar Love" era EARRING and some later stuff , still. To my knowledge , they're still going at it

I can't beat that story , and , I doubt many of you could either , but , I first saw James Brown in 1991 at Soldiers' Field in Chicago. On his own , James Brown could not have filled such a venue , even with the added spectacle of his then - current tour being a "Homecoming" celebration after his release from jail. BUT , the ads promised Aretha Franklin , Little Richard , Johnny Taylor , Al Green , The Winans , and more. What we GOT was Artie "Blues Boy" White (Doing , as Dan Epstein recalls , teh same set , twice. He might as well have , it was so dull.), The Chi - Lites , and Gene McDaniel doing three songs , Karaoke style , to a recorded backing (And , he was still the best of the three.), not to mention , Al Sharpeton , trying to save the dwindling momentum after a long day of interruptions and no big name talent ( Even the Black attendees were booing him at this point.) by saying "I may be a Preacher , by , tonight , WE'RE GONNA ROCK". But , rock we did , when James Brown hit teh stage . DID HE HIT IT AND QUIT IT ? YEAH !!! His bvoice and his moves , of course , were not what tehy used to be , but , he was STILL The 'mazin' Mr. Please , Please , Please. It was worth all the bullshit.

A few years , later , my friend , Pat , told me of a bizarre promotional stunt. Marshall Fields (I think) was doing a tie - in campaign. If you bought a large bottle of this $60 cologne , you got two tickets to see James Brown get down at The Arie Crown , A CONSIDERABLY SMALLER VENUE. We agreed to each put in our $30 (Which was the going rate for James Brown tickets , then , anyway.) , and buy the damn cologne ( Which was'nt bad. I used to wear cologne , sometimes , but , I'm all better, now.). The only catch was , you would'nt know where your seats were until you got there. We ended up getting  great seats , about 14 rows back , dead center. Not only was James Browns' show better than the previous in almost every way , but , there were some surprises. JB played the organ a bit (He seldom did , at that point.) , and he did a great Jumpin' Jive number , even dancing like Cab Calloway. They also had an amazing psychedelic light show. They'd throw a light on Brown , and multicolored shapes would bounce back off him into the crowd.It was so cool to see The Godfather in more intimate surroundings than The Chicago Bears' crunching grounds.

So , no , I did'nt see James in his prime , but , I saw him , and I'm none the worse for it. Happy Birthday , Soul Brother #1.

The Polkaholics' "Wally" album tells the real - life story of Chicago (And world.) Polka King , Lil' Wally, divided into several parts , depicting events in his life and career , with the careful scrutiny of "Tommy" and the careless abandon of the muddiest mix of "L.A.M.F." you've ever heard on a Radio Shack cassette. One speculatory tome , "If Wally met Johnny Thunders ", brings that point home.

Two punk albums come to mind immediately, although they are only loose concept albums:

• The Makers - Rock Star God (2000)
• Sham 69 - That's Life (1978)

Both are hit-n-miss affairs, in my opinion, and a little dull in comparison to their earlier work. 

'David Comes To Life' certainly is one of the most recent.
 
Alex said:

"David Comes to Life" and it's companion album "David's Town" both by Fucked Up.

How did he die , actually? Seriously , I have'nt heard. I did hear he was once bitten by a rare venomous spider that made his hand blow up far more than it's normal size. My friend called it "The ultimate Heavy Metal injury". There are certainly many contenders for that title , but , I heard nothing about his death being related to the spider bite.   Slayer , I was never a fan. I liked a few of their songs in the 80's when I was briefly listening to some of the then - new Speed Metal bands , but , that does'nt mean I don't feel for his fans , friends and family.

Playlist 05/04/13

Originally posted on my music blog

* Sam Hard and Heavy by Sam Samudio. His real name is Domingo Samudio, but you probably know him best as Sam the Sham, the voice of "Wooly Bully," "Ju Ju Hand" and (even though it's my least favorite Sam the Sham & The Pharoahs hit), "Little Red Riding Hood." Sam was a Chicano-rock icon, a garage-rock pioneer, who, with The Pharoahs blended a Tex-Mex sensibility with Memphis soul.

Hard and Heavy was Sam's attempt in 1970 to establish himself as a serious solo artist. He was picked up by Atlantic Records, which brought in producer Tom Dowd (who'd just produced major records by The Allman Brothers and Derek & The Dominos) and hired musicians including  Duane Allman, Jim Dickinson with his band The Dixie Flyers, The Memphis Horns and even The Sweet Inspirations (Elvis' background singers) for this record.

The result was a horny, soul-soaked, blues-stewed record with Samudio wailing and growling. Shoulda been a hit. It wasn't. And Samudio sank into unjustified obscurity, remembered mostly when his songs popped up on oldies radio.

For those of us who actually bought Sam the Sham albums in the '60s, the musical direction of Sam Hard and Heavy shouldn't be a surprise. Before I actually heard it, I was afraid it woulds be an overstuffed early '70s supergroup fustercluck. It's not.

There's several covers of familiar songs here. -- It's hard to screw up "Lonely Avenue,"  but even harder to make it sound truly fresh. But Samudio aided by The Sweet Inspirations bring out the hidden joy inside this Doc Pomus classic.

Wisely, Samudio's take on "Key to the Highway" doesn't sound like Derek & The Domino's more familiar version. There's a repetivie grating guitar lick and a cool electric organ bouncing off the rest of the band. I'm not sure who's playing the harmonica, but it works.

The best songs here are the longer jams where sam and band get to stretch out. there's John Lee Hooker's "Goin' Upstairs," performed as a Canned  Heat-style boogie. Even better is the urgent, hard-driving "15 Degrees Capricorn Asc." Despite it's goopy hippie mystic title, this is one tough slab of rock 'n' roll. "Come on, push! Come on, work!" Sam commands as the organ, guitar and horns battle it out.

There's a couple of cuts that aren't so "hard and heavy," but are tasty treats. The acoustic cover of Randy Newman's "Let's Burn Down the Corn Field' is soulful and spooky. And the country/conjunto of "Don't Put Me On" is irresistible.

My only complaint here is that a bonus track that appeared on some reissues of Sam Hard and Heavy -- a cover of "Me and Bobby McGee" featuring Duane Allman -- didn't make the eMusic version. Otherwise, this album is a real treasure.

(All Sam the Sham fans should read this wonderful 1999 interview in Salon.)

* Cookin' Up a Party by King Salami & The Cumberland Three. The band's always been called The Cumberland Three, but the album cover clearly shows four guys beside the limboing King Salami. As the late Jonathan Winters might say, "Where's the other two?"

I'll leave that mystery to the numerologists. All that matters is that on this, their second full-length album, the King and his men continue on as one of the best party bands coming out of the British Isles in who knows how long. Admitted devotees of Barrence Whitfield & The Savages, Salami and crew specialize in a frantic, early R&B-infused sound.

Every dang tune here is a moneymaker-shaker. "Monkey Beat" features crazy bongos; "Yosemite Sam" is a spirited tribute to one of the real heroes of the wild west; "Howlin' for My Woman" could wear you out just listening to it.

All those songs are originals. but King Salami does a decent cover of Louis Prima's "She's a Kukamunga."

* Indigo Meadow by The Black Angels. Once again The Black Angels prove that a band can play psychedelic music without sounding campy or even all that retro.

Granted, on its new album, the Austin band certainly employs some sonic tricks from the psychedelic era: lots of reverb, lots of fuzz, some Mideastern/East Indian-sounding guitar licks and melody lines here and there, creepy electric organ — and in a couple of places you’ll hear that electric jug sound pioneered by the Angels’ Texas forebears, The 13th Floor Elevators.

The band’s music is strong enough that it doesn't seem defined by these musical embellishments. ...

Sound familiar? I reviewed this in Terrell's Tuneup not long ago.

Also

* Egyptian Rats by The Paint Fumes. This is a 3-song EP from garage-punk trio from Charlotte, N.C. They were one of my favorite bands I'd never heard of before off the new (free) Slovenly Records sampler. They make The Black Lips sound like The Jefferson Starship.

* "Bluebird" by Leon Russell. Just a song I've loved since it came out in the mid '70s.

 my new band