With digital home recording becoming commonplace, and websites like CD Baby and other pay-per-download outlets allowing bands to completely cut out the record companies, the definition of "garage" is becoming very blurred. The misconception that garage=lo-fi doesn't help. The sixties garage bands records were only  lo-fi because that's all they could afford. How much different would garage music be today if the bands of the sixties had the home recording opportunities that we have now? Just food for thought.

Well said !

Shtbird said:

Real garage is raw, full of soul, and fun as hell. It pays homage to the passion of the late greats, keeps a solid rockin rhythm, and is immune to whatever bullshit wave of popular music is influencing the masses.

There IS danger, there IS passion, there IS an interactive and  dancing crowd because the music itself is addictively accessible. It's Rock 'n Roll, in it's purest, unrefined form. 

Just because you use a lot of distortion, just because you label yourself as garage... it doesn't make you garage. If the crowd ain't swingin with the beat, you just don't got it.

And fuck what the music critics say! The wankers are just trying to redefine genres because they're not creative enough to figure out something accurately descriptive. Garage rock is the essence of cool, but any attempts to capitalize on the art are missing the point. 

Well said !

can i write a song with " genitals have heart too" as a title ??

Thee Genitals 4 said:

Hey, genitals have heart, too...

At least, mine do, and, dare I say, soul...

That's what it's all about. That's where the joy comes from.

Real garage is raw, full of soul, and fun as hell. It pays homage to the passion of the late greats, keeps a solid rockin rhythm, and is immune to whatever bullshit wave of popular music is influencing the masses.

There IS danger, there IS passion, there IS an interactive and  dancing crowd because the music itself is addictively accessible. It's Rock 'n Roll, in it's purest, unrefined form. 

Just because you use a lot of distortion, just because you label yourself as garage... it doesn't make you garage. If the crowd ain't swingin with the beat, you just don't got it.

And fuck what the music critics say! The wankers are just trying to redefine genres because they're not creative enough to figure out something accurately descriptive. Garage rock is the essence of cool, but any attempts to capitalize on the art are missing the point. 

My god! Nothing makes me angrier than that '09 pitchfork "surf-revival". These lo-fi dream/pop reverb heavy bands may be surfers, but that does NOT make them surf.

Fritz said:

I beg to differ...... people are just as quick to toss around the "surf" label these days as "garage"..... read some reviews of indie rock bands like the Wavves, Best Coast, Surfer Blood, Sundelles, Beach Fossils..... just cuz a band uses reverb and has tunes about the beach doesn't make it "surf" music. ugh.

TeenFink said:

by the way, i totally get the joke about playing surf music. good one! it's ironic how garage & surf were so connected or intertwined and almost interchangeable 10-20 years ago, but now you rarely ever hear anyone talking about surf in the "garage scene" or whatever. surf got left out.

Many years ago...

Formal/Pseudo Formal wear usually does the trick. Ideally, you're rockin so hard the shirts have to come off.

they havent been released yet but probly will be reasonably low

THEE DIRTYBEATS said:

Cool - was unaware of The Vox Apache: http://www.voxamps.com/guitars/apache/

What do they go for?

A few observations, right off the bat:

The VOX Apache teardrop has no whammy bar, nor third bridge; but it does have the VOX name and styling, plus an onboard amplifier (!), onboard effects (!!), and onboard speakers (!!!).

The latter three features certainly open up some busking possibilities, e.g. garage rock on a subway.

-A

THEE DIRTYBEATS - maximum vintage garage
http://theedirtybeats.bandcamp.com

dying slowly said:

the new vox apache reminds me of that

THEE DIRTYBEATS said:

Hi Ben,

Have you checked out the KAPA Minstrel? There are 6 and 12 string models, both with a whammy. The one I play in THEE DIRTYBEATS (see attached photo) is a 1967 KAPA Minstrel 6 string with a whammy bar. I got it on eBay for around $300.

*Great* guitar. KAPA was a tiny musical instrument company near DC in the 60s. They designed the bodies, manufactured them locally, and assembled the finished product using hardware, electronics and necks from Hofner and Harmony. KAPA guitars played reasonably well; more significantly, they were far cheaper than Fenders, Gibsons or Voxes, which probably explains their popularity with garage rock bands of the day.

These days the KAPA Minstrel is appreciated by postrock bands for its unique tone, vibrato system, and generous "third bridge", the stretch of strings between the bridge and tailpiece, from which one can elicit chiming harp-like effects. (e.g. SONIC YOUTH's Lee Ranaldo occasionally uses a 12 string Minstrel: http://www.sonicyouth.com/mustang/eq/gtr11.html)

-A

THEE DIRTYBEATS - maximum vintage garage
http://theedirtybeats.bandcamp.com

Cool - was unaware of The Vox Apache: http://www.voxamps.com/guitars/apache/

What do they go for?

A few observations, right off the bat:

The VOX Apache teardrop has no whammy bar, nor third bridge; but it does have the VOX name and styling, plus an onboard amplifier (!), onboard effects (!!), and onboard speakers (!!!).

The latter three features certainly open up some busking possibilities, e.g. garage rock on a subway.

-A

THEE DIRTYBEATS - maximum vintage garage
http://theedirtybeats.bandcamp.com

dying slowly said:

the new vox apache reminds me of that

THEE DIRTYBEATS said:

Hi Ben,

Have you checked out the KAPA Minstrel? There are 6 and 12 string models, both with a whammy. The one I play in THEE DIRTYBEATS (see attached photo) is a 1967 KAPA Minstrel 6 string with a whammy bar. I got it on eBay for around $300.

*Great* guitar. KAPA was a tiny musical instrument company near DC in the 60s. They designed the bodies, manufactured them locally, and assembled the finished product using hardware, electronics and necks from Hofner and Harmony. KAPA guitars played reasonably well; more significantly, they were far cheaper than Fenders, Gibsons or Voxes, which probably explains their popularity with garage rock bands of the day.

These days the KAPA Minstrel is appreciated by postrock bands for its unique tone, vibrato system, and generous "third bridge", the stretch of strings between the bridge and tailpiece, from which one can elicit chiming harp-like effects. (e.g. SONIC YOUTH's Lee Ranaldo occasionally uses a 12 string Minstrel: http://www.sonicyouth.com/mustang/eq/gtr11.html)

-A

THEE DIRTYBEATS - maximum vintage garage
http://theedirtybeats.bandcamp.com

I thought they looked alright

Andy Trash Freak said:

there's a couple of Hutchins Brian Jones Teardrops on ebay uk at the mo... £199.  Duno what theyre like tho.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRIAN-JONES-TRIBUTE-TEARDROP-GUITAR-/2307...

there's a couple of Hutchins Brian Jones Teardrops on ebay uk at the mo... £199.  Duno what theyre like tho.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRIAN-JONES-TRIBUTE-TEARDROP-GUITAR-/230744440727?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item35b970bf97

the new vox apache reminds me of that

THEE DIRTYBEATS said:

Hi Ben,

Have you checked out the KAPA Minstrel? There are 6 and 12 string models, both with a whammy. The one I play in THEE DIRTYBEATS (see attached photo) is a 1967 KAPA Minstrel 6 string with a whammy bar. I got it on eBay for around $300.

*Great* guitar. KAPA was a tiny musical instrument company near DC in the 60s. They designed the bodies, manufactured them locally, and assembled the finished product using hardware, electronics and necks from Hofner and Harmony. KAPA guitars played reasonably well; more significantly, they were far cheaper than Fenders, Gibsons or Voxes, which probably explains their popularity with garage rock bands of the day.

These days the KAPA Minstrel is appreciated by postrock bands for its unique tone, vibrato system, and generous "third bridge", the stretch of strings between the bridge and tailpiece, from which one can elicit chiming harp-like effects. (e.g. SONIC YOUTH's Lee Ranaldo occasionally uses a 12 string Minstrel: http://www.sonicyouth.com/mustang/eq/gtr11.html)

-A

THEE DIRTYBEATS - maximum vintage garage
http://theedirtybeats.bandcamp.com

still to much

Johnny Duo Jet said:

Have you looked at www.phantomguitars.com?  More reasonable than the actual Vox guitars.  I've never heard one, but you might check out youtube.  Also keep an eye on ebay.  There's currently a teardrop shape guitar for $299.

John

Yeah sad but true" Rudi Protrudi "ndeed !

But I still like the early stuff...

Si mon

Well that's why I had to say something. I didn't want people thinking we were all like that. Jason is also a great guy.That show we billed as The Phuzztones.That was so much fun. I remeber someone up front gasping, Holy Shit Rudi, what have you been eating! lol!! (those not in the know, Gary was a big dude)

lol! We broke up onstage at the Marquee in London & never had a farewell show in LA, so we did that for closure. We only played covers that night, so what the hell, we have as much right to play Screaming Lord Sutch & Sonics songs as anyone.
 
Gringo Starr said:

It's easy to crap all over the Fuzztones because of Rudi. I just gotta say here that I always had a cool time and easy friendship with you John as well as Jordan and even Mike. You guys were always really cool. Remember when Gary Wylde sang with the doppleganger Fuzztones in Hollywood and everyone thought it was Rudi?!

Melbourne always has a wealth of good bands playing live.

My current fave though has to be The Toot Toot Toots

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NnBdg7KywU

I live in Hamilton, Ontario: "The Home of Teenage Head". Recent cool bands:

1. Mystics

2. The Magic Shadows

3. TV Freaks

4. The Noble Savages (when we get a bass player)

pardon, my mistake...

kopper said:

I take it your comment has nothing to do with the original post...

Rami LTX said:

well, this is not excactily a punk song, but its been haunting me ever since first time saw movie ghost world. its not on the soundtrack, but in a movie there¨s one dude with nuncha sticks just outside the crosseries, and he play th song so loud that the owner runs him out of the store...other songs in the film are excellent too, but i wonder why leave this crazy rock killer out????

who is dat paul mcartney d00d?! and y are you guyz even talkin bout him? hes hella old. also who da hell is bonny bear?

LOL!  Sorry, I know this really is rather sad, but I still find it funny.

Paul Mcartney was that comic book character who was knighted for slaying dragons

Yeah that definitely rustled my jimmies.

But the great thing about being ignorant is that you still have the possibility of learning

Although not knowing the Beatles is a pretty inexcusable. You'd think parents would take a little more initiative in jump-starting a kids taste.

The good folks at The Last Annual Fest Still Worth a Damn have just announced their intentions to direct their activities into other , related , activities , and wait until the Fall of 2013 to put on another festival.

Official info here -  www.offbeat.com/2012/02/15/ponderosa-stomp-takes-the-year-off

John.

I'm super excited about the Oblivians, but I think I'm even more excited about Vengeance records getting that Cramps stuff back in print.

The Beatles are cool to hate (oh, so edgy!),  but they are definitely not rubbish. There are some really solid tracks (devoted fan or not).

But is it Garage Punk? No. 

Could one cover a song and make it so? Most definitely.