Private message as opposed to writing out your answer here in public.

An actual book?  I don't know...in this day and age, I think you're better off just making an internet site with a data base as DIY houses and spaces can change constantly.  I don't even think BOOK YOUR OWN LIFE makes a print format any more.  It started becoming a waste of paper as they had to change it every year.
 
John Battles said:

Sorry , I slept about six hours last night , but , to "PM" , what does that mean? I'm sure I'm the only person who was'nt familiar with that expression.  But , I've played at several house gigs , going back to the mid - 80's, long before it was the cool thing to do , and you still , invariably , would get shut down by the cops , while the Frat party next door was going three times as loud , all night. I'd be interested in helping you , if I can.

Sorry , I slept about six hours last night , but , to "PM" , what does that mean? I'm sure I'm the only person who was'nt familiar with that expression.  But , I've played at several house gigs , going back to the mid - 80's, long before it was the cool thing to do , and you still , invariably , would get shut down by the cops , while the Frat party next door was going three times as loud , all night. I'd be interested in helping you , if I can.

I'm starting a book for Microcosm that is focusing on DIY house and basement shows. If you have lived in a house that booked shows, were involved with booking other DIY spaces (i.e., not clubs or bars), are/were in a band that plays in DIY spaces, can you send me a PM if you'd be up for a conversation about these things? Similarly, if you've been involved in a scene for a long time and attended shows at houses very early, and would be willing to chat, please PM me.

My primary focus is the US but I'd be interested in stories about other countries. And although it seems like most houses book various types of punk bands, I am interested in any type of underground/DIY music.

Thanks.

Johnny Throttle - Sick Of Myself - 2010

Great list! I recognize quite a few of those.  I'll see if I can find those during the week.  Thanks.
 
MikeL said:

Here are a few of my choices...

"Forget about the Day" and "Confidential" by Manda and the Marbles. Those songs were released in 2002 and 2004 respectively

"Running with the Wasters" and "Never Been So Sick" by the Takeover UK. Both songs were released in 2009.

"Phantom Channel" and "Married in my Underwear" by the Science Fiction Idols. Both songs were released in 2003.

"Shine" by the Cynics, released in 2002.

"Rock'n'Roll Babe" by the Cocktail Slippers, released in 2003.

"Ain't So Cool" by Les Hell on Heels, released in 2004.

"Casino" by the Gore Gore Girls, released in 2005.

"Top Down" by the Charms, released in 2002.

"Are You Ready For It" by the Holograms, released in 2005.

"Dream" by the Charms, released in 2005.

"Cold Hard Bitch" by Jet, released in 2003. Yeah, I know Jet is not a garage band, but they are still a great rock'n'roll band nonetheless.

"Lets Have a Jam" by the Swingin' Neckbreakers, released in 2000.

"Black Girl" by the Paybacks, released in 2002.

"Sleepwalking" by the Paybacks, released in 2006.

"Soul Stripper" by Prima Donna, released in 2008.

Here are a few of my choices...

"Forget about the Day" and "Confidential" by Manda and the Marbles. Those songs were released in 2002 and 2004 respectively

"Running with the Wasters" and "Never Been So Sick" by the Takeover UK. Both songs were released in 2009.

"Phantom Channel" and "Married in my Underwear" by the Science Fiction Idols. Both songs were released in 2003.

"Shine" by the Cynics, released in 2002.

"Rock'n'Roll Babe" by the Cocktail Slippers, released in 2003.

"Ain't So Cool" by Les Hell on Heels, released in 2004.

"Casino" by the Gore Gore Girls, released in 2005.

"Top Down" by the Charms, released in 2002.

"Are You Ready For It" by the Holograms, released in 2005.

"Dream" by the Charms, released in 2005.

"Cold Hard Bitch" by Jet, released in 2003. Yeah, I know Jet is not a garage band, but they are still a great rock'n'roll band nonetheless.

"Lets Have a Jam" by the Swingin' Neckbreakers, released in 2000.

"Black Girl" by the Paybacks, released in 2002.

"Sleepwalking" by the Paybacks, released in 2006.

"Soul Stripper" by Prima Donna, released in 2008.

What always grabs me most is an attitude.  I don't mind sloppiness as long as an attitude is there but if it's just sloppy, I'm gone.

That's whatI was going on about , but on another thread. I know a LOT of people love it when everything just bleeds together , and  there's no balance  in sound or sound levels.

It did'nt end with Estrus , either......

One thing I do need - dynamics. And I'm not talking about any group named "the Dynamics," either. I just gotta have some variety.

There's a time and a place for distorted guitar, hollering vocals, pounding drums, fast tempos, etc. Don't go speeding up a song that should be midtempo or slow, don't step on the effects box when a clean guitar line will do. Not to sound like an uptight music theory teacher, but I've heard too many neo-garage bands do the noise thing way too much (and most of them seemingly recorded for Estrus Records, but that's another story entirely).

Yep, the BEAT sure is the thing !

The wilder I can shake my ass to a tune, the better I love it !

But what attracts me first, more than a specific sound or instrument, is an emotion. I don't really care about the lyrics, guitar sound or musical ability as long as it makes me shake or scream or laugh or cry or whatever...I just got to FEEL something !

That said, I love chainsaw guitars, screaming distortions, reverb and tremolo, wild'n'possessed vocals, jungle tribal percussions, throbbing basses, haunted organs, bass crooners ala screamin' Jay and Mickey Mouse teenagers ala Ray Hummel III, the sound of wood you can feel with the double-bass, crazy tom-toms, sexual pulsations of an almost erotic beat and so much more... But not necessarily in the same song ! 

And I hate guitar solos !!!

Ain't it the gospel.....IN '86 ,WHEN I HAD A RADIO SHOW IN DALLAS , THE HARDCORE PEOPLE WERE THE BIGGEST BABIES , IN TERMS OF COMPLAINING THAT I PLAYED TOO MUCH GARAGE AND ROCKABILLY FOR THEIR LIKING. THEY'RE PROBABLY TELLING THEIR FRIENDS HOW 'OLD SCHOOL GARAGE " THEY ARE , NOW. TO BE FAIR , I KNEW A GUY WHO LISTENED TO NOTHING BUT HARDCORE , HAD AT LEAST 100 HC RECORDS. ONE DAY , HE BROUGHT AN ELEVATORS LP HOME. I DON'T THINK HE STOPPED LISTENING TO HARDCORE OUTRIGHT , AND NO ONE WAS SAYING HE SHOULD HAVE , BUT , NEXT THING YOU KNEW , HE WAS GROWING HIS HAIR OUT , WEARING 60'S PRINT SHIRTS , AND HE TURNED UP IN A (DESERVEDLY) POPULAR PSYCH BAND. NEVER HEARD HIM PLAY MUCH HC , AS DALLAS DID'NT HAVE ANY HARDCORE BANDS......

I basically agree with what Melissa said below. Can't pinpoint what makes a song "go," but I know it when it shows up.

As for drummers, if the guy is too overbearing or can't carry a groove, then the whole thing just goes down the tubes. I realized this in the late 90s when too many former hardcore drummers started trying to play garage-rock.
 
melissa scott said:

Drummer -- I can put up with average, competent guitar-playing and average vocals, but if the drummer isn't any good, I'm pretty much GORN.

That said, it's not one thing you can put your finger, or should I say, ear on that makes something work.

I only ever saw The Who once , in 1980. I still maintain that Jones held his own. I'm not saying he made anyone forget Moon. But , he did his famous embellishments (LikE on "dON'T gET FOOLED aGAIN" ) CONVINCINGLY , WITHOUT PARROTING HIS STYLE. Maybe he was under the gun , as it had'nt been very long since Keith Moon's death , nor the deaths of those kids in Cincinatti. Believe me , too , there WAS violence down on the main floor , because some douchebags thought what happened in Cincinatti was cool. Some people evencarried signs saying "Let's have another Cincinatti". One genius thought it would be cool to brandish a knife .......It was still a tense time , which , in a fucked - up way , may have added to Kenny Jones' aggression.

Dat's it, in a nutshell!

James Porter said:

1965-68 = essential Who

1969-78 = still good, just not great

1981 onward = terrible

Saw The Who on 1971 tour with Wishbone Ash.  They were killer, played over 3 hours.  But, after Moon was gone, for me so was the excitement of seeing The Who live or listening to them on LP.  Entwistle was still solid as hell on bass, but Kenny Jones just couldn't pull his weight on drums.  Townshend's guitar and Daltrey's vocals remained constant but it was Moon and Entwistle that drove the band and without Keith they were running a little bit short on energy.

1965-68 = essential Who

1969-78 = still good, just not great

1981 onward = terrible

I stilll enjoyed their set , last week on TV. Most people agree it was Best of Show. Them , and McCartney. But , I AGREE , WHOEVER THE BASSIST IS , HE'S NOT VERY DISTINCTIVE. Not bad , but , no one's going to just walk into Entwistle's shoes like that. At least Daryl Jones adds something to The Stones' sound , today.  He has'nt REPLACED Bill Wyman , but he's a well above average sideman. They do still sound fresh. Unlike The Beatles , The Who , and even The Stones , have a shitload of great songs most people have never heard.

OK , this is the movie some folks were talking about , earlier ......I don't know , it seems the parties involved can't miss , but , it DOES look like what might have happened if Anthony , Jr. had stuck with his drums. Whatshisname (SORRY , i ALWAYS FORGET) FROM "RAYMOND" AND "GLEASON"  WAS'NT IN "THE SOPRANOS " , BUT , HE COULD HAVE BEEN.....Good to see him breaking out of the sitcom mode. Is it just me , or do some of the characters seem to be making the jump from 1965-66 TO 68 , ESPECIALLY THE PROTAGONIST? Maybe that's the idea , I don't know...If it actually makes it to my neighborhood theatre , I'll be there.

Steven Van Zandt of E Street Band/Sopranos/Underground Garage fame, has reunited with The Sopranos creator David Chase and star James Gandolfini for Not Fade Away, in a movie about a garage band in the 1960s.

http://www.alancross.ca/a-journal-of-musical-things/2012/12/19/sopranos-creator-david-chase-makes-a-music-movie.html

Good to know! I love Norton - I was so sad to hear about the damage, though it's really inspiring how much people are helping them to rebuild and such. I want to hopefully head down and help soon, myself.

i THINK sOME Kinda Nut contains everything Link did with "The Moon Men"  , which , I tthink was just the latter day Raymen UNDER ANOTHER NAME....mAYBE THEY DID SOME OTHER SIDES ....I forget. I got those Missing Links LPs 20+ years ago , whenever they came out , tho' they're all great , esp. vol . 4 , I have'nt listened to them in eons. If you order anything from Norton , now , you might want to list alternate choices , in case they don't have copies of the album you want , at this time.....

Norton's Some Kinda Nut - Missing Links Volume 3 has 2 moon men songs. I've had the other 2 volumes as well, and they are smokin'! Plus, if you order from Norton, you'll be doin' them a huge favor, since Sandy pounded their warehouse.

Does anyone know of any re-releases or comps of Wray's material with the Moon Men? I found this on Youtube and it's nasty as hell! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vR4SxLWY2w

The Half Beats - Should I -> Cheater Slicks - Should I (Half Beats cover)

Yeah!!!

I'm with you there man, but if you haven't already, check out rockandrollradio.org where R. Fink/Michael continues his R 'n' R mission.
b0nes tra5hyf said:

I miss Rock n' roll suicide as well