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Jan. 22, 2005 Well this year started off to a bang, with a horrible president being sworn in for another term, band of despicable crooks in tow. Not to mention the apocalyptic Tsunami disaster, and the mounting body count in Iraq...but y'all don't read my column for the news...you read it to find out about the latest activities of my two or three favorite bands. And I do not intend to leave you hanging!
Swervedriver - Juggernaut Rides tracklist: DISC 1 1. The Birds DISC 2 1. Blowin' Cool I had to search kinda hard to find something to complain about here, but I wish they had released a complete b-sides collection. Where are "Afterglow," "Zedhead" and "She's Beside Herself?" I guess you gotta take what you can get. 2004: The Year In Rock I didn't make any "best of" lists this year, partly because I didn't hear that much new music that I liked, and partly because I am a cheap bastard who never buys new cds. Here's a brief list of stuff that happened to drift across my transom: The Fall - The Real New Fall LP (Formerly 'Country On The Click') (Narnack) - This is probably the best album The Fall have done in years. I don't have their last few records, but I saw them live in 2002 and they were decent at best. This new collection smokes, with the current lineup augmenting mainstay Mark E. Smith's trademark vocal sneer with tons of memorable riffs and football-cheer backing vocals. Top Gear, mate! Sonic Youth - Sonic Nurse (Geffen) - More old fogeys showing the kidz how it's done. My first reaction was "this could be any Sonic Youth album from the 90's," but it's actually less annoying than a lot of their 90's output. Kim only gets obnoxious on one song, "Mariah Carey and Arthur Doyle," and otherwise provides fairly tasteful vocals. Thurston's songs are fantastic, especially "The Dripping Dream" and "Stones." Sounds great in cars. Comets On Fire - Blue Cathedral (Sub Pop)- This is straight-up psychedelic stoner rock. Pastoral moments float in and out of the murk, and there is a ridiculous piano-led tune that sounds like the Grateful Dead. The band features one guy who just plays the Echoplex. Not appropriate for the straight-edge listener. Autolux - Future Perfect (DMZ) - Los Angeles hipsters hone in on the 90's shoegazer sound and fuck it silly. Style over substance never felt so good. Mojo Filters - S/T (Future Now) - One of L.A.'s hardest working bands finally makes it to disc, with a surprisingly diverse collection of updated soul, funk, and psych riffs. Amen, brother! Sons and Daughters - Love The Cup (Domino) - I saw these cats open for Clinic and they blew me away. Crazy Scottish folk ballads sung over intese, hypnotic rock music. Male/female vocals thick with passion and Scottish accents. Fookin' brilliant! Sloan - Action Pact (Koch) - The Canadian Beatles tighten up their sound and infuse it with 70's riff rock. The results are a beer-drinkin', car-jammin' good time. (Even though this was my favorite album of 2003, it technically was first released in America in 2004.) Dora Flood - Highlands (Elephant Stone) - Spacy psychedelic pop from these San Francisco-based Anglophiles. I am floating on a candy-flavored mushroom! New Planet Trampoline - Curse of New Planet Trampoline (Elephant Stone) - Is it me, or does this album come out every year? No, it's me...while this music has circulated in demo form before, this is the first bona-fide release, and it's like summer '68 all over again. Point me at the sky and let it fly! Firewater - Songs We Should Have Written (Jetset) - An album of covers? Who do these guys think they are? Well, I could probably listen to Todd A sing the new Ashlee Simpson album and love it, but this is seriously good shit. Their interperetations of my personal favorites "Hey Bulldog" and "Paint It Black" took awhile to appreciate, but others were spot on from the beginning. I can't imagine another artist making "This Little Light of Mine" rock so hard, and this has got to be the definitive version of "Fulsom Prison Blues." Hats off to Firewater for turning me on to some great tunes that I'd never heard before, like the 50's ska classic "Storm Warning" and Robyn Hitchcock's "I Often Dream Of Trains." Buy this before The Apocalypse claims your heathen soul! Wilco - A Ghost Is Born (Nonesuch) - Anyone who has a problem with Wilco channeling Crazy Horse and Neu! on the same album can blow me. Sure, there's that one song that ends with the annoying buzz for 10 minutes, but that's why God invented the "skip track" button.
Nov. 9 - With God On Their Side
- Is That What You Call a Dalliance?
Luckily,
it's not all bad news. The
Wedding Present, England's favorite sons of the jangle and clang
variety, have reformed after a 7 year (itch) hiatus. They will be touring
Europe and North America in Spring 2004. This year's model features David
Gedge (guitar & vocals), Terry de Castro (bass), Kari
Paavola (drums) and Simon Cleave (guitar), which is basically
the most recent touring lineup of Gedge's "adult" group Cinerama.
I'm dissapointed that former Weddoes drummer Simon Smith will not
be pounding the skins this time, but alas. The new single sounds pretty
cool based on the publicist's description:
"INTERSTATE
5 is a tough guitar-driven monster of a song of yearning and loss - she
wanted a one-night stand, he wanted more; from the onset it is very intense
and could never have worked under the Cinerama name. It is backed by the
My Bloody Valentine-esque BAD THING, all booze-fuelled disappointing
sex, and the emotionally fuelled SNAPSHOTS, with its soaring anthemic
chorus."
- Stella! Smarmy comedy tricksters Stella (Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter, & David Wain) are on the road again. Opening will be Eugene Mirman, who is fricking hilarious. Check 'em out, but don't piss yer pants like last time.
Stella Tour Dates: Nov 9 - EVANSTON -
Northwestern University (students only) *The Philadelphia
show is on the 17th ONLY. Tickets for either the 15th Oct. 7 "I'll Take A Little Somethin' For the Pain" 'Don't call it a comeback'...what's that from, anyway? I just know it from a Big Black song. Anyway, I decided to update my column because I'm not having sex or doing drugs, and If I watch any more movies I'll go insane. Here are some bands that you should check out, unless you are too busy thinking about politics and pretending you know more than the guy in the adjacent cubicle. I've championed them in the past, but you really should witness the hallucinogenic rock fury of New Planet Trampoline. They are psychedelic in a fuzzy retro garage way, like in a "I'm too normal to listen to Hawkwind" way (except I know them, and they do listen to Hawkwind). New Planet Trampoline East Coast Tour Dates: Saturday 10/9/2004
- Sunday 10/10/2004
Saturday 10/16/2004
10/18/2004 10/29/2004 Meanwhile, Reid Paley is some alcoholic motherfucker from New Yoak who I've never met. He's the sorta guy you wish you were when you've had so much to drink that you've pissed your own pants, but you keep trying to hit on women anyway. Incidentally, straight-edge folks also secretly wish they were him, because he gets more pussy than them. Or, as some crazy Germans said regarding their year 2000 Revival LP, "You can love this album, or you can fear it!" Reid Paley Trio British Tour Dates (blame them for the caps): WED OCT 20 I Swear I Was There @ TURNMILL'S LONDON 63b Clerkenwell Rd, New Cross 0207 250 3409 (with Ian Siegel) THU OCT 21 THE BLUE CAT, STOCKPORT 17 Shaw Rd, Heaton Moor 0161 432 0050 (with BONE-BOX) FRI OCT 22 Snake Drive @ THE ATTIK, LEICESTER 15 Free Lane 0116 222 3800 (with BONE-BOX) SAT OCT 23 Crack @ NIGHT AND DAY, MANCHESTER 26 Oldham St 0161 236 1822 (with BONE-BOX, Treehouse Three, Tricky Nixon) SUN OCT 24 (REID PALEY Solo Set) THE TEMPLE OF CONVENIENCE, MANCHESTER Great Bridgewater St at Oxford Rd 0161 288 9834 MON OCT 25 I Swear
I Was There @ THE NEW CROSS INN, TUE OCT 26 BETSEY TROTWOOD, LONDON 56 Farringdon Rd 0207 336 7326 (with The Eraserheads and Beckett) WED OCT 27 I Swear I Was There @ THE BASEMENT, KENT 22 High St, Lenham, Maidstone 01622 753 041 (with Nelson King) THU OCT 28 THE PILGRIM, LIVERPOOL 34 Pilgrim St 0151 709 2302 (with BONE-BOX) FRI OCT 29 Voodoo @ THE RETRO BAR, MANCHESTER 78 Sackville St 0161 274 4892 (with the Hangmen) SAT OCT 30 Long Live Rock & Roll @ LENNON'S, SOUTHAMPTON27-29 Onslaw Rd 0238 057 0460 SUN OCT 31 Halloween @ 12 BAR CLUB, LONDON 22-23 Denmark Place 0207 7916 6989 (with BONE-BOX) Meanwhile, California's Earlimart are touring the whole goddamn country supporting their new album, Treble and Tremble. Make sure you check these bitches out, especially if you like that indie rock crap. Silversun Pickups, L.A.'s finest (besides my Fall cover band, of course), will also be joining them on the last half of the tour. Earlimart U.S. Tour Dates: 10/8: Night Light,
Bellingham WA The 88 sound a lot like The Kinks circa Muswell Hillbillies, only more trippy, dude! Another amazing Los Angeles band. See them play their magical guitars! The 88 East Coast Dates: Fri Oct 8th Galaxy
Hut (Arlington, Va) 10pm In an erstwhile dimension,
Sleepytime
Gorrilla Museum bring their eclectic blend of ear-splitting mayhem
and friendly hippie vibes to several towns on the American continent.
Go see them and educate yourself before your teenage daughter runs off
to join their cult. Hot off the press release: "The new SGM record
comes out on October 24th! It's entitled Of Natural History and
is being released by Web of Mimicry." Sleepytime Gorrilla Museum Tour Dates: 10/8 Toronto ON/The Poor Alex Theatre 10/9 Montreal ON/Casa Del Popolo 10/12 Brooklyn NY/Southpaw 10/13 Washington D.C./Black Cat 10/14 Philadelphia PA/ Northstar 10/15 Knoxville TN/Pilot
Light 10/17 Mt Pleasant SC/Village-Tavern 10/19 Athens GA/Caledonia Lounge 10/20 Gainesville FL/Market St Pub 10/21 Orlando FL/the Social 10/22 Panama City FL/Martin Theater 10/23 Pensacola FL/Sluggos 10/24 Houston TX/Mary Janes 10/25 Austin TX/Emos 10/26 Fort Worth TX/
Axis 10/29 Phoenix AZ/Bricks 10/30 San Diego CA/Casbah 10/31 Los Angeles CA/the Echo w/ Stolen Babies (early show) 11/3 San Francisco
CA/Great American Music Hall w/ Secret Chiefs 3 Finally, if you are planning on voting Democrat in this upcoming election and you live in Los Angeles, put $5 where your Liberal claptrap is and come see Eagle and Talon, Kill Sonic and The Natural Disasters at the M Bar in Hollywood (1253 N. Vine at the corner of Fountain) this Saturday, Oct. 9th at 9:30pm. All proceeds will be donated to the Kerry campaign in the swing states via Concerts for Change. There will also be an '80's Dance-Out-Bush' party following the band festivities. Frankly, that last part sounds downright Reaganesque, but I'm all for the regime change, so expect to see me sweatin' to the oldies in my favorite leg warmers.
Sept. 3 Ryan-O is currently on vacation. He promises many new and exciting updates, just as soon as he returns from his pants. Meanwhile, check this out.
May 26, 2004 - Phrizzle Phried
After a lifetime of rigorous jamming, Phish have decided to call it quits. Bandleader Trey Anastasio remarked that "we have finally made enough money to supply our families with enough kind buds to last the next 100 years." Props to those guys for bowing out at the top, but they'll probably be back for a reunion tour within the next ten years. White people with dreadlocks and baggy pants need not fear, however: 90's slap-bass pioneers Primus have just reformed and are sailing the seas of cheese as we speak. Meanwhile, Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante is recording and releasing one album per month on the Record Collection label. John Frusciante is a freak! One of the albums will feature the side-project Ataxia, which is Frusciante, Joe Lally of Fugazi, and Josh Klinghoffer from Bicycle Thief. Meanwhile, RHCP singer Anthony Kiedis has an autobiography coming out. Now, if it was a book about him coming out of the closet, I might be interested. - Burn Down The Disco San Francisco's Hijack The Disco are hitting the road for a tour of the Pacific Northwest. I don't know much about these guys, but their drummer Trevor was in a cool band called The Cables and another cool band called Fluke Starbucker. Their whole e.p. is available for free, so check it out and decide for yourself. Hijack The Disco
Tour Dates: - The Kids Are On Grass
Congratulations to Cleveland's New Planet Trampoline for releasing their debut album on Elephant Stone Records. No tour is planned at this time, but if you live near Ohio and you like your rock with a healthy dose of lysergic 60's garage flavor, check 'em out at one of their upcoming gigs. Here's a breakdown of cool shows featuring tenuous links to the Elephant Stone/Davenport collective: May 29: The Volta Sound @ Recycled Rainbow (w/ 9 Volt Haunted House), Lakewood, OH June 3: New Planet Trampoline @ Mickey Finn's (w/ The Singles), Toledo, OH June 10: The Out Crowd @ Dante's (w/ Gruesome Galore), Portland, OR June 12: New Planet Trampoline @ The Beachland Tavern (w/ New Salem Witch Hunters), Cleveland, OH
June 19: "Better
Living Through Rock" @ Asterisk Gallery w/ The It Men and
rock inspired artwork by Arabella
Proffer (featuring groupies, hangers on, poseurs, rock stars,
and illusions of grandeur) Tremont, OH
April 16, 2004 Thank you for all the kind words of support. That meant a lot. However, the previous entry was an April Fool's joke, and y'all fell for it! Pfffftttt! Come on, I would never leave Unitshifter. What, give up all the money, fame, and hot bitches I get just by writing this column? No way. - We Want The Airwaves I never thought I'd see the day that Mr. Potty Mouth got political and took up the torch for the Left, but I must say it's a touching moment. Meanwhile, there is finally a liberal voice to combat the incessant whining of bloated talk radio conservatives. Air America debuted last week, with a star-studded lineup including Al Franken, Janeane Garafolo, and Chuck D (?). The station had a bit of a rough start, getting briefly yanked from L.A. and Chicago over a financial dispute, but hopefully it will catch on faster than a California wildfire. -Make Me Smile Stella brings their surreal comedy act on the road this month, with shows in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York. Featuring Michael Showalter, Michael Ian Black, and David Wain of The State/Wet Hot American Summer fame, Stella's live show promises to spill drinks and split sides the way only those silly savages can. -Re-Make/Re-Model Jack Black is set to star alongside Naomi Watts in Peter Jackson's remake of King Kong. Now, I have to give Jackson credit for selling out with style. The Lord of the Rings movies were as good as they could possible be (well, maybe not, but they were pretty cool for big budget fantasy flicks), and he looked awesome accepting his Oscar with that fat gut hanging out. But WHY do we need another King Kong movie? And WHY is Jack Black not playing the title role? Talk about bad casting judgement. Speaking of retarded remakes, why are we being subjected to another version of Pet Cemetary? I never saw the first one, but that's because the book SUCKED ASS. How could the movie be any good if the book was terrible? How could a remake be any good if the original sucked donkey dick? You do the math, folks. I predict this is gonna be a shit sandwich. I haven't seen Dawn of the Dead yet, because I had one of those "I'm being eaten by zombies" dreams after I wrote about it in a previous column. Someone leave a message on the board and tell me if it's any good. - Books of Blood Feral House have re-released their book TORTURES AND TORMENTS OF THE CHRISTIAN MARTYRS, featuring ruminations on the gruesome death of J.C. which may have proved useful to Mad Mel in the making of his recent Jesus Christ: Beyond Thunderdome. I have to applaud Feral House for their tastelesness in not only publishing this book back in '89, but busting it out again in a shameless cash-in attempt. Seriously, I actually do think that's sort of cool, even if it's the type of book that Talibano would read for fun. - Press The Eject And Give Me The Tape Too many drunken Klingons in your past? Need an excuse to skip the Science Fiction convention this year? Tape Op magazine is having its annual conference in New Orleans, and if you're a serious aficionado of the art of recording music, you should plop down $350 and go. There are a shitload of cool bands and panelists. In fact, here's a short list: Bands: Panelists: This Sunday April
18, Kennedy
will be performing at Jumbos Clown Room, Mission of Burma are finally doing a legitimate tour to coincide with the release of their new album. I've written enough about these old codgers, so check the dates on their website. -This Is Not A Photograph For those of you who like to look at pictures of things other than nekkid people, check out Brian Ulrich's photography. He tends to bring out the freakish qualities of everyday people, but what do I know...I'm on grass.
It is with mixed feelings that I announce my departure from Unitshifter. My reasons for leaving are complex and, in some contexts, sexual. Since coming on board, I have been subject to constant sexual harrassment from Talibano. It's not the repressed homosexuality that bothers me. It's the fact that I don't like hairy Italian terrorists. Also, he refuses to get drunk with me, owing to some retarded 'straight-edge' affiliation. So, I'm taking my skills and talents elsewhere. Starting next week, I'll be writing a regular column for Sean Hannity's website. So long, and thanks for all the beers... Ryan-O
March 15th, 2004 - Dawn of the Dead Milkmen I'll admit to being more than a little bit cynical about the Dawn of the Dead remake when I first heard about it. I'm still a bit apprehensive, mainly that the film will be infused with really bad "Gen x" dialogue, and character development will give way to repetitive gore. Still, I'm happy to report that not only is Tom Savini (the effects wizard behind the original series, and the guy who played the head biker) appearing in a supporting role, but original stars Ken Foree and Scott Reineger both make cameo appearances. That's a good sign that the filmmakers have at least SEEN Romero's movie. Anyway, this bitch opens on Friday, and there's a good chance you'll see me in the back row, crying like a little girl. Two deaths have rocked the rock world this past week. John McGeoch, pioneering guitarist for Magazine who also served time in Siouxie and the Banshees and P.I.L., died in his sleep last Friday. Although I never liked the P.I.L. stuff he played on (being a huge fan of original guitarist Keith Levene's contributions to the first two albums), it's impossible not to respect his brilliant work with Magazine and note the influence he had on countless "alternative" musicians. On an even sadder note, Dead Milkmen bassist Dave Blood commited suicide on Wednesday. Blood had suffered from extreme tendonitis, which forced him to stop playing bass. The band dissolved in 1995. Apparently his mother passed away in January. It's not hard to see that he was suffering, but it's too bad that he had to resort to suicide. Most people know the Dead Milkmen as a silly band, and perhaps rightly so. Still, I always heard a lot of sadness in their music, which brought out the humor even more. Regardless of what the lyrics were, the band was always in top form, and Dave was truly one of the best post-punk bass players. "Life takes from us the things we love/ and it robs us of the special ones/ and it puts them high where we can't fly/ and we only miss them all the time/ and we sing life is shit, the world is shit/ this is life as I know it" -Dead Milkmen, "Life Is Shit"
March 2nd, 2004 Yeah, it's been a long time since I've updated this here bliggetty-blog. I guess all I can say is, "Sorry. 'I'm the bad guy.'" Face it, no one cares that your shitty indie-rock band was on tour all through February anyway. Just kidding about that last part. Your band fucking rules, and I promise to get those tour dates up in a timely fashion next time. I would also like to apologize for the headings of the following entries, which are fairly obscure references to lyrics from a certain homoerotic biblical rock opera which shall remain nameless. - So Long, Judas
Carl Anderson passed away this week. He had been suffering from leukemia. Haven't they found a cure for this shit yet? How is it that we can develop a million new and exciting ways to talk on the phone, but we can't cure cancer? Some goddamn progress. Anyway, Carl played Judas in Norman Jewison's unintentionally hilarious film adaptation of Jesus Christ Superstar. His performance basically carried the film, leading one to ask, "God, couldn't you have stricken down Ted Neeley instead?"
Los Angeles' Nuart Theater will be presenting JCS as a midnight movie on Friday, March 12. I say you forget about Mel Gibson's bloated Christ package and come see this instead. It's just as Anti-Semitic, and features way more searing funk guitar. Meanwhile, Talibano has been trying to pay me to let him suck me off, but I don't need his blood money. -Rockin' The Cynics
Superchunk released a DVD last month. It rocks. Available on Merge, Crowding Up Your Visual Field features every video released by the band, plus a tour documentary and some live footage. I'll eventually get around to reviewing it. In the meantime I just wanted to mention how kick ass the sound is, and how much better Superchunk was live in the 90's than Pavement, whose DVD is kinda lame compared to this one. Merge is one of the most well-known and long-lasting indie labels, second only to Dischord in terms of notoriety and equal in quality and integrity. Anyone who truly believes in D.I.Y. music-making should own a good "chunk" (sorry) of their catalog.
- My Temple Should Be A House Of Prayer, But You Have Made It A Den Of Thieves! Native American hip-hop artist Litefoot wants Andre 3000 from Outkast to publicly apologize for his headress-and-tee-pee stunt on the Grammys last month. Litefoot wants Andre to appear at the Gathering of Nations Powwow, which will take place in Albuquerque, NM on April 23rd and 24th. Litefoot is pissed at what he views as the hip-hop community's general lack of respect for Native Americans, which also included a recent VIBE photo of Alicia Keyes in a headdress.
Now, I may just be some jive-talkin' cracker, but since when is the hip-hop community known for respecting anything, let alone Native Americans? We're talking about people who routinely diss one another and put down women in their lyrics. They drive around in SUVs, fucking up the environment and shooting one another over pointless Coastal feuds. Now, all of a sudden, they're supposed to be all pc and sensitive towards the Native American struggle? Granted, not all hip-hop artists fall into this stereotype, but most of the major players do. My opinion is that Litefoot is fighting a losing battle by trying to make these people give a shit about anything besides money. If it's publicity he wants, more power to him. I think people should be made aware of the contributions Native Americans are making in the entertainment world. But this kind of whiny bullshit helps no one, except maybe the white corporate fucks who are trying to keep y'all down. I will probably get shot for that last paragraph, so I'd like to will my porn collection to Jesus, my comics to Art Fag, and my sketch comedy collection to Talibano. Also, like most white indie kids, I think that Outkast rules. I'm a walking demographic! Sell me some sneakers! - Fools, You Have No Perception! I didn't watch the Academy Awards, but apparently Lost In Translation lost out to a bunch of goddamn Hobbits. I think Bill Murray deserves an Oscar already, but in reality I only mentioned this so I'd have an excuse to post the following photo of Scarlett Johansson's ass.
January 14, 2004 - Save Us From The Bionic Revolution! I just found out that Urge Overkill have reformed and are touring the U.S.! This is exciting news, as U.O. were a kick-ass rockin' machine in their day, who never quite got their due. Many remember them as "the band who did that song in Pulp Fiction," while others lament their rise from noisy indie rockers to snotty rock star wannabes. The bottom line is that they churned out some great tunes, and we're all getting a second chance to appreciate them. I'll be there in the front row, screaming "Emmaline!" and spilling my beer on your girlfriend. Jan. 15 - The Casbah
(w/Low Flying Owls), San Diego, CA - Paint A Vulgar Picture This Saturday the
17th there is going to be an art show at the Rio Lounge & Grill, 15910
Ventura Blvd. Encino, CA (818 205-9799). The whole shindig is curated
by Nikolai Vivarat-Goodich of Molecular Gallery (and Molecular
band, for that matter). The reception is from 6 to 8.
Rick Price
- Sublime portraits of native people from Israel and Egypt I don't know what the fuck those descriptions mean either, but check out the pretty pictures here. - That's When I Reach for my Credit Card Mission of Burma, one of the greatest American bands of the past 25 years, has signed to Matador (which would be the coolest label in recording history if it weren't for the fact that they've never offered me a record deal). Burma reformed in 2001 after originally calling it quits back in '83. I caught their L.A. show a year ago, and it was amazing. The new album is set to be released in May. Burma have one show coming up on the 17th at Irving Plaza in New York. Opening will be The Roger Sisters. All you New Yoak hipster types better be in the audience taking notes. - Oh, You Handsome Devil Devil In The Woods magazine is having another benefit for themselves. This time the event takes place on the 26th at Bottom of the Hill (1233 17th Street in San Francisco) with The Bronx, 400 Blows, and Two Gallants providing entertainment. The show starts at 9pm, and it costs $7 to get in. The benefit doubles as a toast for the release of the long-awaited "December" issue. D.I.W. hopes to raise enough money to repair the damages to its credibility incurred when they put Jimmy Eat World on the cover five issues ago. - Dead End Street Talibano totally beat
me to the punch on this, but Ray
Davies of The
Kinks was shot in the leg last week while chasing after a mugger
who stole his lady's purse in New Orleans. Supposedly there were 500 cops
in the vicinity when this happened, none of whom noticed the incident.
Ray is alright, but those muggers better watch out. Apparently they were
unaware of Davies' ties to the vicious Village Green Preservation Society,
one of the most ruthless organized crime units in North London. January 7, 2004 - Suicide Is Painless
The Los Angeles coroner (pictured right) decided that he couldn't determine if Elliot Smith's death was a suicide or not. Well, DUH! If you people would just listen to me for once...he was stabbed by some junkie and/or dealer who he owed money to. No one stabs themself in the chest. (Except Talibano, who does it for kicks.) - Watch Me While I Kill The Last Horror Movie will finally be making its way to American soil. Now, don't get your panties in a bunch: that's just the name of the film. I'm sure people will continue to make plenty of bad, unwanted horror movies for years to come. Anyway, this film by Julian Richards was refused a rating by the MPAA, due to excessive violence. Actually, that's not true either. They offered it an NC-17, but the distributors decided to release it in an unrated, uncut version (probably to create more controversy and garner publicity, but what do I know). Anyway, the film is the latest in the reality-snuff genre that also includes Man Bites Dog and, uh...Snuff. It will be playing for all you sick phreaks at the San Francisco Independent Film Festival in February and the Philadelphia Film Festival in April. - Silly Republicans...Tricks Are For Kids! I try to avoid mixing politics with pop cultcha, but it has come to my attention that the Republican National Committee is trying to discredit MoveOn.org by accusing the latter of commissioning television ads which compare Dubya to Hitler. The truth of the matter is that MoveOn invited the public to create their own anti-Bush spots, which were then placed online for same public to vote on (get it, democracy?). MoveOn would then back the top ads to run on T.V. preceding the presidential election. The aformentioned Hitler ads weren't even in the top 100 after the votes were cast, so they wouldn't have made it on anyway. Please try to have an open mind and look beyond the foul tricks of greedy corporate fucks this election season. January 2, 2004 Well, it's been a long goddamn time since we last updated this thing. I guess the format is going to change from the Debaser News Update to Ryan-O's Devil Music Column, so this may very well be the last entry written in third person. We will also be ranting more and throwing our personal opinions around, albeit in the first person, so as not to confuse anyone into thinking we suffer from some kind of multiple personality disorder. - "We're Gonna Watch The Monkeys Do It!" Sleepytime Gorilla Museum are a crazy band of hippie-looking dudes who look like they just got back from Burning Man. We were a bit put off by this, and the fact that they were using big oil drums as percussion instruments, until we remembered that we used to go around beating on oil drums when we were hippies, and back then it was rather "punk" Anyway, these folks from the Bay Area play reel good. We're at a loss as to how one would describe this music, but imagine Bjork jamming with Crash Worship and you might have some idea. Sleepytime Gorilla Museum Tour Dates: January
2nd Portland OR/Nocturnal STGM will also be touring in the spring, including a performance at South By Southwest. - The Heart of Rock'n'Roll Is Still Beating (...In Cleveland) Everything else seems to be happening in Cleveland right now. Here's the latest news via the Davenport Collective, who always have their ear to the ground and their mouth on the bong. January
10 The It Men
- Beachland Tavern January
15 January
16 January
17 January
22 January
23 January
24
November 18, 2003 -Go, Baby, Go! In case we haven't mentioned it enough, you need to go to Shock-o-Rama-a-Go-Go this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (21-23) in Hollywood. In addition to the crazy-ass movies and sexy burlesque dancers (including Slymenstra Hymen from GWAR), such notable bands as all-girl sleaze-punk sensations The Sharp Ease will be playing. Plus, we will be there yelling and spilling soda on people. -He Loves Him Los Angeles indie-cock-rock hero Kennedy is playing a Tuesday night residency at The Scene Bar in Glendale (806 E. Colorado Blvd). The K-dawg just got back from London, where he reportedly regaled Bush protesters with a heartfelt acoustic rendition of "Cold Pussy." Be sure to also check Kennedy's calisthenic cameo as the character Claude in Malibu Beach. -Come On, Kiss the Devil Devil in the Woods magazine is having a benefit for itself in San Fransisco on December 8. Hey, they deserve it for being a damn fine indie-rock music journal. Plus, if everyone goes, maybe they will make enough cash to start paying their writers. A BENEFIT FOR
DIW MAGAZINE -Futureworld If you're looking for some hot club action in L.A., check out Future: Rock & Roll at Vida in Los Feliz (1930 Hillhurst Ave). It's every Friday, it's free, and they have $3 Rolling Rock! That's not bad for L.A. Plus, D.J.'s Mick and Tami spin some mighty hot wax. Think punk, funk, psych, electro, and other things that make the head swim and the booty shake. -Another One Bites the Dust Speaking of booty-shaking, the next time you're cuttin' a rug to "We Are Family" by Sister Sledge, "Le Freak" by Chic, or "Modern Love" by David Bowie, shed a tear for Tony Thompson. The drummer passed away last week at age 48. In addition to playing on the aformentioned tracks, he also worked with Robert Palmer, Power Station, and Madonna ("Like a Virgin"). He was also briefly in Led Zeppelin following John Bonham's death! Considering that fellow Power Station alum Palmer also died recently, we can only morbidly wonder if Andy and John Taylor might be next. Could this be part of the legendary Power Station Curse? -Monkey Gone To Hedwig Now available: Wig In A Box, a tribute album featuring stars performing songs from the film Hedwig and the Angry Inch. If the idea of Spoon covering "Tear Me Down," Frank Black tackling "Sugar Daddy," and Fred Schneider and Sleater Kinney dueting on "Angry Inch" gives you a boner, you're not alone. (We just ask that you love the front of us.) Hedwig writer/director/star/"icon" John Cameron Mitchell played an instore at Amoeba Music in L.A. recently. In addition to performing acoustic versions of "The Origin of Love" and "Two Headed Boy" (by Neutral Milk Hotel), he also confirmed the Pixies reunion rumours. It seems that after both Frank Black and The Breeders agreed to contribute songs to Wig In A Box, Mitchell suggested the reunion and they went for it! We can't confirm that this is true, but who gives a shit. You non-California people need to start sending us some press releases. This is supposed to be nationwide, goddammit! Don't make us do all the work- we're artists! We've got important things to do, like snort coke off Nicole Kidman's ass!
-Sad News Elliot Smith has died of a single knife wound to the chest. The death has been called a suicide, but what we can't help wondering is: who the fuck stabs themselves in the chest? Regardless of the details, it's very sad. Rest in peace, old buddy. -We Got The Neutron Bomb! Original L.A. punks The Weirdos are doing a West coast tour in celebration of their 26th anniversary. Also along for the ride are The Skulls. The Weirdos have a new anthology out on Frontier records called Weird World Volume Two. Weirdos/Skulls Tour Dates: November 28th
@ Berbatia's Pan, Portland, OR 21+ w/The Briefs October 20, 2003 -Praise The Lord! Firewater are on tour in the U.S. If you don't go see Firewater, we will personally find you and kick your ass. On second thought, maybe you don't deserve to be christened with the Firewater gospel. No, we think you do. All sinners repent! Firewater Tour Dates: WED 11/5 CLEVELAND,
OH Grog Shop 18+ -Do You
Like American Music? American Music Club are back together! And they're doing a free residency in December at Spaceland in Los Angeles! AMC are the band that Mark Eitzel used to be in! Don't know who Mark Eitzel is? Fuck you. -We're An American Band (Slight Return) The world's cutest band, Midway, are currently rocking an East Coast tour. Check these bitches before they hit the "buzz-bin," or whatever it's called these days. Midway Tour Dates: 10/18 PLASTOW,
NH - SAD CAFE - w/ A Day At The Fair Sept. 18, 2003 -The Rainbow Connection It looks like Cleveland weirdos 9 Volt Haunted House are going to be one of the featured acts at Recycled Rainbow, an avant-garde multimedia shindig happening October 18 in Lakewood, Ohio. Ohio is so boring that lots of people resort to using tape recorders and old Atari games as instruments, making endless experimental "tape pieces" and broadcasting them over the airwaves on college radio stations during the wee hours of the morning. Not that there's anything wrong with that. -We'll Help You Party It Down In the grand tradition of Pavement, Grandaddy, and other laconic Californian indie-rockers comes The Ship Collective. Two of The Ship's brightest stars are hitting the road, so make sure you check out Earlimart and Pine Marten (who we like to collectively refer to as Earlimarten, since we're so damn clever) when they cruise by in their van. Pine Marten Tour Dates 9/17 - LA,
CA - Spaceland (w/ Rex Aquarium and Vagenius) Earlimart Tour Dates 9/16 - Los
Angeles, CA - Spaceland (w/Lou
Barlow & Apollo Sunshine) Sept. 16, 2003 - We're Comin' To Your Town Imagine a bunch of post-hardcore/screamo kids tripping their balls off and you have a slight window into the Party of Helicopters experience. These bitches from Kent, Ohio are on tour and they might already be at a hotel nearby making out with your little sister. Catch them in action before it's too late. Party of Helicopters Tour Dates 9/18 Chicago
IL The Bottom Lounge w/ The oranges band & Taking pictures Sept. 15, 2003 - Reunion City Three members of My Bloody Valentine (Kevin Shields, Belinda Butcher, and Colm O'Coisog) are reuniting to finish some unreleased tracks for a forthcoming MBV box set. The songs date from the sessions that produced the classic Glider e.p., which was apparently supposed to be a full-length album. If you are a MBV fan, you have our permission to piss your pants now. Also overheard in the locker room: Has the long-standing tiff between Frank Black and Kim Deal finally been resolved? It looks that way, as The Pixies (also including Joey Santiago and David Lovering) are set to reunite for a tour this year, with a possible album to follow. Meanwhile, Lovering continues to dazzle audiences in L.A. with his scientific magic shows (is that an oxymoron?). While Swervedriver are not reuniting, mainman Adam Franklin is taking a full electric band on a tour of the States. This is the closest you're gonna get to seeing Swervedriver, and judging by Adam's last L.A. performance, it's pretty damn close. If you aren't into Swervedriver yet, you need to buy a copy of Mezcal Head immediately. Go! Buy it now! Adam Franklin
Tour Dates The Dead
Kennedys recently played their 25th anniversary show at the Key Club
in L.A. Original front man/lyricist Jello Biafra was invited, but declined
to show up. Diss! - You Set The Scene The Omaha-based Saddle Creek scene may be fragmenting, as The Good Life (led by Tim Kasher, also of Cursive) are planning to relocate to Chicago. Apparently even a wholesome indie-rock scene can't change the fact that there ain't shit to do in Nebraska. Meanwhile, Consafos (led by Stefanie Drootin of The Good Life and Bright Eyes) are gearing up for a tour supporting Azure Ray. I've heard a rough mix of the new Consafos album and it's great, so if you're into this kind of sensitive crap you'd better catch the show when it comes to your town. Meanwhile, in Ohio, local heroes The Volta Sound racked up mucho cool points by covering The Velvet Underground's classic White Light/White Heat in its entirety at a recent show. L.A.-based writer/promoter/record mogul Ben Vendetta is moving his Elephant Stone label to Cleveland, so look for that city to have a creative rebirth of sorts in the next couple of years. That is, unless everyone there gets fed up and moves to Chicago. - We're An American Band Get Set Go are heading out on tour in support of their debut album, So You've Ruined Your Life. If you like catchy pop songs with clever lyrics played by real people, you will love this band. If not, go listen to your John Zorn records, you pretentious fuck. Get Set
Go Tour Dates
If you live in L.A., you need to start going to Free Mondays at The Echo. The bands are great, and you can actually find parking there, unlike at Spaceland. Whiskey Biscuit are doing a residency this month, and Hidden will be headlining in November. Hidden are the most intense and original band we've seen in L.A., but if you'd rather spend your money watching a bunch of trendy hipsters with white belts and whiter afros play at the Silverlake Lounge, that's up to you. If you can't wait for the Pixies reunion tour, go see The Trixies at one of their frequent local shows. They are a kick-ass tribute band, mainly rocking the early (pre-Bossanova) sound. A recent Silver Lake party found The Trixies sharing a makeshift stage with 8-Bit, the world's greatest "robot rap" band. If hip-hop joints about bitches and Nintendo games delivered by a posse of silver robots sounds like your thing, it probably is. Catch these freaks before they get discovered by Dre and start recording duets with Fitty Cent. |
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| This news update is brought to you by Ryan-O, spanking for free since 1993. |
England's
greatest band, 
Well,
I was less than thrilled about the outcome of the election here in the
U.S. Still, you can't blame it all on middle America. My Ohio brethren
put up a good fight, and Pennsylvania and Indiana (or was it Illinois?)
did an awesome job of trying to avoid the corporate takover of the world
for yet another four years. Personally, I've decided to channel my anger
towards something constructive: being a thorn in the side of the Bush
administration, and helping to dispel the flow of lies coming from the
right-wing pundits. And if that sounds like leftist claptrap, you can
kiss my grits!
Also,
if Laura Ballance is reading this: I am currently single, and willing
to travel.
