"Dis-co Sucks!" Disco Demolition Night, Comiskey Park, Chicago, July 12, 1979

What was I doing 30 years ago this past weekend? Well, I was one of the rocked-out teens on the field at Chicago's Comiskey Park taking part in Disco Demolition Night.

WLUP DJ and anti-disco advocate Steve Dahl (and CoHo cohort Garry Meier), Chicago radio geniuses, threw a disco record demolition promotion between the White Sox doubleheader that night. I had been a huge Dahl radio fan, seeing him at live appearances and buying his parody records in the name of stomping out disco.



So many stoned, drinking teens there that night. It was the late 70s! The newsperson asks below "Why did the kids get all hyper"? Um, 30 beers and reefer? Once the records got blown up, lots of us ran on the field getting wacky. We stormed the field "...thousands of youths taking part in an anti-disco rally, swarming on the field."

It was FUN, but would've been a lot more fun if flying vinyl disco LPs didn't start zinging around my head like metal blade frisbees. In the interest of preserving my head for future years, I moved to near the foul lines until security started ramping down on us. Great fun for a white male teen into rock and roll. As the newsman says below "The pungent smell of marijuna was in the air'. Duh.

Here's an in-depth, detail-filled story on that night and its inception by Swindle Magazine.

Here's a bit of news report footage from that night:


Here's Pt 1 of Steve & Garry's next morning's radio show. Funny stuff - lots more at YouTube.


Disco STILL sucks. Long live punk rock 'n roll. :-)

photo above by Steve Mandich

Robert Pollard - Elephant Jokes - August release

Good weekend! My mailbox last night had a copy the upcoming Robert Pollard CD 'Elephant Jokes', slated for August release. Sweeet. I just plunked it on and am rockin' to the big rock sounds. 2nd track, Johnny Optimist, great song. Big chorus. Robert Pollard is alive. More reviewness coming as I get through it...

UPDATE: Here's a bit more on the CD - plus an MP3 from 'Elephant Jokes' below. Robert Pollard's artistry knows no bounds.

First, some promo copy as written by Bee Thousand 33/13 writer Marc Woodworth:

"You want nostalgia? OK, here's some nostalgia. Think music as real and unselfconscious as anything since Same Place the Fly Got Smashed or songs alive with Alien Lanes' aesthetic but even hookier and smarter ('Stiff Me'? Are you kidding? Pure gold!). Music that sounds just like friends playing for the fun of it in the family basement (so the family's grown up and moved away, it's a different house and it's not exactly a basement anyway, but I defy you to hear the difference).

On Todd Tobias' playground, everything's possible, same as it ever was. Ocarina and kiddie chord organ on 'Jimmy' with a drum beat as pared down as Hot Freak's trusty old 4/4? Check. A turn on the guitar by Tim Tobias, GBV '99-'03. Uh huh. A verbal landscape where angels look like hell and Cyclops calls for his perverted eyelash? Did you expect anything less?"

Dfactor sez: Whew. That's some promo copy. I think I remembered just now why I didn't like that GBV 33 1/3 book so much. But nonetheless, I think the point of Woodworth's beer-fueled prose is to get across the point that Pollard's new songs should DEFINITELY appeal to the old school GBV fanboy inside many of us, who always want to hear the "old shit" instead of the 'new shit". And I think he's right.

It's only my first time listening through, and I'm hearing cool riffs with great vocals (Newly Selected Dirt Spots), as well as a classic GBV-styled riff with some of the lowest register Pollard vocals ever on (All You Need) To Know. From wavering melancholy vocals on the new CD's Desiring over tender acoustic guitar to the one verse-one chorus rock brilliance of Hippsville (Where the Frisbees Fly Forever).

The thing about Pollard is that "He Stockpiles Songs for Armageddon" (suggested song title). He is constantly writing songs, recording 'em and filing them away. So this MP3 for the 14th track on the CD - "Jimmy" - which starts a bit like 'Hot Freaks' and has a kooky catchy chorus: "Jimmy hits (it's?) your love, Jimmy get your gun, Jimmy hits your love gun, supersonic love gun" - could've been written and recorded anytime in the last 2-12 years? Who knows? Anyway, it's fun. (Click the link, wait 30 secs for the file, then download - I don't host music files too often, but if anyone has better suggestions, shout 'em out)

Ted Leo Mix

It's been awhile since I made a new Imeem mix - Here's my new one for a guy that works hard at his rock - Ted Leo and his band The Pharmacists. Ted's gearing up for a big NYC Pier 54 Hudson riverfront show at the end of the month.

This mix will also be up on the blog in the right column for about a month, or until I get inspired to select a new artist.

Ted Leo

Rock Clip of the Week - Van Halen, Ice Cream Man

This week's Rock Clip of the Week is Van Halen. Why? Well, this week I've zipped through Ian Criste's 2007 saga of the band "Everybody Wants Some - the Van Halen Saga" (You can read the whole thing at Google Books). It was a fairly entertaining read - Christe is no Azerrad, but he puts all the news items and band highlights together in a friendly, easy read. He favors the Van Halen brothers, and gets digs in at Roth, but overall it's a decent account of the band's history up until right before the reunion tour came together in Fall 07-Winter 08.

Did you know???
- Van Halen is the 20th best selling band/artist of all time with sales of over 56 million albums in the USA
- Van Halen is one of five rock bands that have had two albums sell more than 10 million copies in the USA.

So since I'm in that VH mindset, I thought I'd dig out a classic cruncher from the VH early days - Ice Cream Man for the summer! Enjoy!

D.O.A - Police Brutality (new video) plus new DVD comp

It's like 1982 all over again! Longtime Canadian punk band D.O.A. remains very active, releasing a Best-of DVD with videos and history of the band, touring all over the world, all while kicking out new videos based on old anarchic punk themes that just never seem to go away. Fucked Up Ronnie, indeed! Here is more on the August release of D.O.A "The Men of Action" 30th Anniversary DVD:

"D.O.A., Canada's legendary punks and the progenitors of hardcore punk, have produced an extraordinary DVD that covers the band's 30 year career. It's an essential collection of songs and punk/activist stories.

The DVD consists of 26 songs, 10 that the band produced storyline videos for and 16 that are live productions. There are two ways to view the DVD: "Chaos Program" features the music videos only, while "Anarchy Program" features Joe Shithead Keithley, Canada's godfather of punk, telling the story of D.O.A. and punk in general as the videos play.

The anniversary DVD package also includes as a bonus, D.O.A.'s critically acclaimed new album Northern Avenger, produced by the legendary Bob Rock. The album has received rave reviews around the world. Also included is a 12-page booklet that includes rare photos of D.O.A. On the DVD itself, included are some hilarious hidden tracks."

Here's D.O.A's new video, Police Brutality, from their 2008 CD Northern Avenger.

First (best?) Summer 2009 LP - Elephant Stone: The Seven Seas

You like jangly pop? Chiming guitars? Trippy keyboards? Floating vocals on a cascade of pulsating rhythms? Oh boy, I think you're gonna like the release "The Seven Seas" from band Elephant Stone.

Indiecision wrote (and I'm right there with it): "The first three songs breeze through territory crowded by timeless hits and perennial classics. Heartland rock by Tom Petty, British arena rock a la Manic Street Preachers, and jangly classic rock like the Blue Oyster Cult are some of the reference points that come to mind."
I'd go further and throw the Stone Roses (Elephant Stone - duh!), The La's and maybe the melancholic sounds of 80s Aussie chartmakers The Church too.

Seems the band is the brainchild of ex-High Dials bassist/singer Rishi Dhir, his first record since leaving The High Dials in 2006. Some of the songs display some sitar/Indian influence (their MySpace page calls it 'Hindie Rock'), but I hear classic/indie rock all the way through. You can stream the release at the link above, or download the single "I am Blind". Either way, you win, with summery pop anthems. Sweet sweet sweet.

Elephant Stone at MySpace. Plus, if you have time, read this Vancouver, CA-article about Rishi Dhir, written by his landlord! Ha!

Rock Clip of the Week - CCR, Hey Tonight

When I think of July 4th, I know it's summer. And when I think back of summer days, I always remember my dad driving my brothers and I in the car across the Midwest, listening to the rock and roll radio station. And in the late 60s, early 70s, Creedence Clearwater Revival was the shit all over the radio. Here's one of their corkiest corkers from those sumemr vacation driving days. Happy weekend. Think of your country, then think of something to improve it.

New Harlem Shakes video - Strictly Game

Here's the new fun video from NYC's Harlem Shakes - this fine pop song is edited at the speed of sound - blink and you'll miss parts!



"Technicolor Health was made after and during some tough times (involving serious sickness) for the band. The record captures the weary, hopeful, and sometimes triumphal vibe of that period in their lives. Above all, the album is about surviving abject shittiness. But it's also about what new-wave bands and new-wave revival bands call, "modern life," as lived by five thoughtful men in their early and mid-twenties during a weird, sometimes miserable, mostly thrilling historical moment. Harlem Shakes have been obsessed by pop music their whole lives, and after all the reiterations, they still have great faith in its power to make you and them feel a little better about things, and to say something vital, and God willing, maybe even enduring."

Bruce Springsteen assists The Gaslight Anthem for "The '59 Sound"

Great clip from last weekend's Glastonbury UK fest - Bruce Springsteen kicks out the guitar to assist The Gaslight Anthem
for "The '59 Sound".

the 59 sound - bruce springsteen & gaslight anthem( glasto )
Uploaded by runawaydream. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

Warped Tour - Phoenix, AZ, June 30

Whoo Hoo! I had my first Warped Tour visit ever (I know, I know) yesterday in Phoenix. Nice hot sunny day, full of sweaty teenagers and bikini-clad babes sporting sexy tats. But I was there to learn about bands I know nothing about - the whole AltPress-Warped-The Hills kind of bands, ya know? And I did. I was so excited I didn't even feel the 105 degree heat! Swag and booths and bikinis and rock all around. Excellent. I only saw maybe 10 of the 50 bands that played yesterday, not knowing that arriving at 4:30ish would be more than halfway through the day (Hey, it was a Tuesday!). To the bands!

- Therefore I Am, a Boston postcore band pictured to the left, kicked total ass in front of a smallish crowd (cuz everyone else was watching 3Oh!3 and waiting for Bad Religion). Great energy, amazing riffs and total commitment to the moment. They're backing a new CD called "The Sound of Human Lives" - they LIVED it. Wonderful to see.


- Tempe band The Maine had a huge crowd eating out of their hand. Great frontman John 'O Callaghan with a shirt that read 'Are You on Our Side?' - the band played really well and seemed pretty pumped about everything. I caught maybe half the set then left when 'O Callaghan said they would slow it down. Seems there was a brawl up front, and some kid got whacked bad. So he asked the crowd to hug one another instead of punching. That was my cue to stroll.


- Caught the last wheezes of Aiden's set - singer William looked red-eyed and really kinda scary, but he also said some very heartfelt words at the set's end and seemed to have a huge heart for the kids. After the set, Aiden's booth had a huge long line waiting to speak to him.


- Canadian hardcore band Alexis on Fire put on a fantastic set - full of fire and spit. They are promoting a new CD "Old Crows/Young Cardinals". Great stuff, wish I had more pics. That's the only one that came out decent.

- I didn't know the band 3OH!3 (but recognized some songs of theirs from rock radio here in PHX), and they put on a great show, even if the two front guys Sean and Nathaniel look like 80s-styled fitness gurus onstage. But the live band rocked, the electronic samples soared and the crowd was all over it. I couldn't get close enough for pix.


- Bad Religion finished the night with a excellent, sturdy set that included songs from 2007's "New Maps of Hell" and classic nuggets from their vast catalogue. Greg Hetson's and Brian Baker's guitars roared and snarled, and Greg Graffin was in fine voice, though mentioning some hoarseness. The kids were throwing plastic water bottles and crowdsurfing, and despite the tiredness of everyone who was there all day, the band and the crowd synched great.(Q: Who was the guy next to the drummer onstage just smiling and laughing the whole time?)


All in all, a great afternoon/evening of rock, and way more fuckin' fun than being in a dark club. And I even got to meet and chat with Ramones' creative guru Arturo Vega, who was running the RamonesWorld booth at Warped. Cool. Crazy I lived in Manhattan for a decade and never ran in Vega at any shows, and I come out west and there he is. Nuts.

All my pix from yesterday show with my not great but decent phonecam on at my Flickr page.

DopeSick Radio - Your Online Energy Crank

For all you hardcore, revved-up, fast n' loud kids out there, DopeSickRadio might be your daily dose of rockin' punk excellence. I recently learned about this radio show (made by Brian Bush every Tuesday night 7pm CST and then on iTunes afterwards) and a quick musical listening will get you out racing through red lights and ripping apart locker rooms. Or turning off the TV and picking up a guitar. Or something like that. Be a friend at its MySpace site as well.

AZ Fall Frenzy - Tickets now on sale

Tickets for the Tempe, AZ "AZ Fall Frenzy" rock and roll weekend are available - Buy 'em ($55 in advance, $60 DoS) at the link above or here. "Accompanying the wide variety of musical acts will be water slides, a Ferris Wheel, arts and crafts booths, a gaming center, food vendors, beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and much more."

Here's the lineup:

SEPTEMBER 18
Rob Thomas
Jason Mraz
The B-52s
Gavin Rossdale
Colbie Caillat

SEPTEMBER 19
Blink-182
Fall Out Boy
Slightly Stoopid
Pepper
Anberlin

SEPTEMBER 20
Social Distortion
Flogging Molly
Ben Harper & Relentless 7
The Bravery
The Airborne Toxic Event
Carolina Liar