Rock Clip of the Week - Squirrel Bait, Hammering So Hard

In the mid 80s, when I was knee deep into Husker Du and Replacements, these guys Squirrel Bait came out of Kentucky, and I immediately picked up this LP and this is the track that rock a few friends and I pretty hard back then - Hammering So Hard, from Squirrel Bait.



From another YouTube clip comes this info: "Squirrel Bait was a pop punk band that came out of nowhere in 1983 from of all places, Louisville, Kentucky. At first, the Squirrel Bait record released in 1985 by small indie label Homestead, did not cause much of a stir in the music world. But after receiving raving reviews from Bob Mould (then of Husker Du) and Evan Dando (of The Lemonheads) among others in the music press, people began to take notice. Spin Magazine quickly hopped on the bandwagon and proclaimed that lead singer Peter Searcy had the best voice in rock and roll next to Paul Westerberg. Even with all of these accolades, the band was able to only stay afloat until 1988 and release one more record, 1986s Skag Heaven. By then it seemed to be a case of too much too soon for the members of Squirrel Bait, considering that the average age of the band members at this time were an amazing 17."

Morrissey - Throwing My Arms Around Paris

Working the same field of grand, baroque-styled arpeggio-laden rock that has been his stock in trade from some 20 years now, Morrissey sounds better than he looks in this video of the single "Throwing My Arms Around Paris". I think he looks great on the cover of the upcoming CD Years of Refusal, but it looks to me as if he eschewed any makeup for the video - add in the harsh lights, white background, etc and you get a tired looking dandy. But I still like the hook in the chorus!

Morrissey plays Jimmy Kimmel's late night show next week Thursday in advance of his Feb 16th CD release. Godspeed, Stephen Morrissey.

"There are problems in these times, but whoooooh, none of them are mine!"

I added a new Imeem player today in the right column, featuring the lovely late '60s songs of The Velvet Underground. I come back to the Velvets every year or so for a deep flip, then away again. Right now, I'm deep into a VU stage, especially listening to the great double CD compilation GOLD. The sound is way better on this than the old VU at Max Kansas City single LP in my collection. I just can't get enough of their music - riveting, melodic, groovy in a massively cool way. But you knew that already.

Velvet Underground Mix

Vintage video needed for new Bad Brains documentary

Below is a new trailer from a forthcoming Bad Brains rockdoc from Mandy Stein and Ben Logan. Seems the filmmakers are looking for vintage Bad Brains material. Do you have any? Please send, 'cause it looks right now that they have only talking head footage with cool old punkers and Bad Brains footage from their shows in recent years on the boat in the Hudson River and at last CBGBs shows.

They write on their MySpace page.... Official Bad Brains documentary is looking for ANY AND ALL video/film footage (all formats), photos, show flyers, zine articles, audio recordings or various other media relating to the Bad Brains. 

Please contact badbrainsmovie@gmail.com if you have anything to submit, or know of someone we should contact. 

Thank you!!"

Bad Brains_teaser

Was Steven Colbert the fifth Beatle?

Found this from the cool Kinch lads - a great funny interview by Stephen Colbert with Paul McCartney on last night's Colbert Report. McCartney is promoting his 2008 Electric Arguments CD. Definitely worth a view and more than one laugh...

The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Better Know a Beatle - Paul McCartney

Colbert Report Full Episodes
Colbert Report Tickets

Paul McCartney Appearance
More Funny Videos

Two Views of Baby Blue

Baby Blue - Gene Vincent and his Blue Jeans



Baby Blue - White Stripes

International Pop Overthrow Phoenix schedule

The International Pop Overthrow (IPO) weekend music festival comes to Phoenix (well, Mesa, actually, at Hollywood Alley) on March 6-8th. It's the first time this international pop fest has come to the great Phoenix metro area, and this region's garage rockers, powerpoppers and guitar slingers are aligned for a weekend of solid melodic rock action.

The schedule of bands and performers is now up, and I'm thrilled to be part of it, playing Saturday March 7th. I've played IPO shows in NYC over the past few years, and started one set with two covers of songs from The Raspberries (Go All the Way, Tonight). I intend to play another classic powerpop cover again this year, along with all the good Dfactor kicks.

Modified Arts, Silver Platter refresh

Nice piece in yesterday's ASU Web Devil on local arts netizen and businesswoman Kimber Lanning and Modified Arts, the intimate club space on Roosevelt Ave. in downtown Phoenix.

"As the building stands now, Modified Arts is essentially a large, open space that gives free creative reign to the musicians, artists and dancers who put on shows there. I wanted to try to provide a stepping stone where people could start up a dance troupe [or] show a film," Lanning said. "I wanted to create a place for them to perform."

Lanning also runs the newly refreshed Silverplatter.info site, which lists upcoming music shows and more in the Phoenix/Tempe/Mesa/Scottsdale area. It's a great resource for live music junkies to find out what's coming up in this spread-out metropolis.

Terrific Tuesday Tales

Great bits from around the blogosphere to pass along:

- It's Getting Boring by the Sea brings new Flight of the Conchords videos from last Sunday night's episode. Great new songs "You Don't Have to be a Prostitute" and "Sugar Lumps" are destined to be FOTC classics.

- Muxtape has begun to preview its new identity as "a minimalist platform for bands to promote their music and listeners to create mixes."

- Amazon names its "Best 100 Debut Records" - U2's Boy takes top spot. I ask, where's The Sex Pistols 'Bollocks' record??? Especially with The Strokes' debut in the list! And the Clash UK debut at number 38? Sheesh!

- The Guardian UK covers Atlanta band Black Lips' chaos in India, as the band is forced to flee the country to escape jail, and thus ending its tour there.

The History of British Rock in 10 bits

Here's part one - Follow the rest of 'em at YouTube...

Ultravox - My Sex

"My sex Waits for me
Like a mongrel waits Downwind on a tight rope leash

My sex Is a fragile acrobat
Sometimes I'm a novocaine shot Sometimes I'm an automat

My sex Is often solo
Sometimes it short circuits then Sometimes it's a golden glow

My sex Is invested in Suburban photographs
Skyscraper shadows on a carcrash overpass

My sex Is savage, tender
It wears no future faces Owns just random gender

My sex Has a wanting wardrobe
I still explore
Of all the bodies I knew and those I want to know

My sex Is a spark of electro flesh
Leased from the tick of time And geared for synchromesh

My sex Is an image lost in faded films
A neon outline On a high-rise overspill

My sex"

Chuck Eddy, Beach Boys, Weezer, Rivers and you

Rivers Cuomo is writing two books - it's all here in this week's Onion AV Club interview

"Well, certainly the Beach Boys and the early Beatles records were a huge influence on me lyrically. I had been coming from a background of listening to heavy metal, and my way out of metal was through the Pixies, Jane's Addiction, and Sonic Youth. A lot of those lyrics were intentionally abstract and artsy. They didn't necessarily make a lot of sense. They aren't pop lyrics. Then I heard lyrics like in "Don't Worry Baby," where Brian Wilson—in very simple terms, like what a 16-year old would write—is writing about a girl, or bragging about his car to his friends. It sounded so refreshing to me. I think you can hear that feeling of innocence and youthfulness in the lyrics I wrote at that time, like on "Buddy Holly" or "Holiday" or "Surf Wax America." That is very much influenced by The Beatles and the Beach Boys."

McCartney will be backed by Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl on drums

"McCartney will be backed by Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl on drums"


And maybe Tommy Stinson on bass and Slash on second guitar? Oh Yeah!

(sounds like fun, right?)

Franz Ferdinand: Tonight now out

Franz Ferdinand's new CD "Franz Ferdinand: Tonight" is streaming at its MySpace page - I'm gonna try and listen tonight (after drum recordings of my own), but I've got the single below - it's called Ulysses - it's not bad in that FF cool-o way. But I'm not sure I'm totally down with it. It leaves me a bit cold. (and I like Franz Ferdinand - saw 'em live, have both prior CDs, etc.). But the sound of Ulysses is sorta too slow, late night danceclub 3am sound. It lacks some balls, methinks. The Times UK thinks likewise. I hope the rest of it is better. Thoughts on the new CD, anyone? Leave 'em in the comments.

Rock Clip of the Week - The Who, A Quick One While He's Away

And now ladies and gentlemen, dig The Who.... (from Rock and Roll Circus, Dec 11, 1968). Happy weekend!

Robert Pollard - The Crawling Distance

Another week flies by, and I'm still just now getting around to listen to the new Robert Pollard CD "The Crawling Distance", which was released this week from GBV, Inc. label.

Matthew Fiander over at Popmatters has been following Pollard's music closely the last few years and hits upon a theme in his great review of The Crawling Distance that I've also felt over the last few Pollard releases, that is...
"It also helps that producer and multi-instrumentalist Todd Tobias sounds the best he’s ever sounded on The Crawling Distance. Gone is the cheap sounding production and stop-start drumming, and in its place is a very full-band sound. There is no space between Pollard and the music as there has been in the past, and the cohesion and clarity of the sound really lets the songs speak for themselves."

YES! Indeed, someone in Dayton or Kent figured out the sound structure. Tobias' musicianship is unparalleled, but the CDs seem to show a bit too clearly the Bob Pollard MO of singing over the tracks. Here, on The Crawling Distance, everything feels sweet and full. Nice observation.

And Brian Baker at Citybeat (Cincinnati) offers up this wonderful comparison to Pete Townshend: "Like Pete Townshend, Pollard has a generational voice that transcends generations. Unlike Townshend, Pollard has the unique capacity for incredible clarity and universality when he is at his most cryptic and impenetrable. And also unlike Townshend, Pollard has yet to put out an album of relative mush that has to be atoned for on a subsequent release. The Crawling Distance shows Robert Pollard at the top of a game that he is a long way from finishing."

I love "Imaginary Queen Anne" the early MP3 that's been floating about for a few weeks, but the rockers sound cool too. As with a lot of Bob Pollard's songs, it can take a few listen to dig into the goodness. I'm still in that area. Listening and learning. Hearing the beauty. Goodness prevails.

Ben Kweller - New release contest, Letterman next Monday

Pop guy Ben Kweller is using Twitter to tell folks about his appearance next Monday night on The Late Show with David Letterman, as well as his new release "Changing Horses".

Ben the promo man below explains how fans can buy the CD or LP direct from him to win other stuff, including a dinner with Ben. Sounds like fun.

Listening to...

- new AC Newman track 'There Are Maybe Ten or Twelve" at his MySpace site. Big tour coming up soon for AC. Dates there too.

- new Pete Yorn tracks 'Sans Fear' and 'Shotgun' over at Pete's Facebook page. I like 'em both - I think the guitars and melodies are excellent.

- recent track 'The Ballad of the RAA' from the Rural Alberta Advantage (culled from Fred Wilson's music blog) - great vocals in a simple four chord folk dittie that gets ramped up with drums WAY up in the mix.

Pazz & Jop - Top 10 LPs of 2008

The US's best music critics get invited by the Village Voice every year to list out their favorite music from the previous year. It's called the Pazz & Jop poll (a retard on Jazz & Pop, guys). It's best to go one by one throughout the whole issue to see comments and such by each individual rock writer, but the top 10 list gets compiled from all the points cast, and the favored ones are....

1 TV on the Radio, Dear Science
Points: 1744
Mentions: 154
2 Vampire Weekend, Vampire Weekend
Points: 1075
Mentions: 105
3 Portishead, Third
Points: 1058
Mentions: 102
4 Erykah Badu, New Amerykah, Pt. 1: 4th World War
Points: 910
Mentions: 80
5 Fleet Foxes, Fleet Foxes
Points: 907
Mentions: 87
6 Lil Wayne, Tha Carter III
Points: 817
Mentions: 78
7 Santogold, Santogold
Points: 808
Mentions: 79
8 Bon Iver, For Emma, Forever Ago *
Points: 770
Mentions: 75
9 Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!
Points: 687
Mentions: 61
10 Kanye West, 808s & Heartbreak
Points: 603
Mentions: 57

I'm somewhat surprised by the Nick Cave inclusion, but the man *has* been on a roll the last few years...going his own way and leaving his old Bad Seeds compadre behind.

It's All About Bruuuuuuuuuuce

Rolling Stone's David Fricke (who I met and spoke with about a year or so ago - cool guy) interviews the gents in the E Street Band to get their inside take on the Boss, andwhat it's meant to be part of his team for so long. A great read.

Rolling Stone also gives Bruce's new release five mega whompin stars.

YOU be the judge - Stream Bruce Springsteen's new CD 'Workin' on a Dream' over at National Public Radio.

The Most Alternative Couple Alive?

Funny stuff coming your way from the Hipster Runoff, which describes...

- "The Most Alternative Couple Alive never sleeps–they read blogs between 4 am-12 noon searching for the next big trends.
- "The Most Alternative Couple Alive will eventually merge as one epic tattoo mural.
- "The Most Alternative Couple Alive have forfeited their unique personal brands in order to become a mega-Lifestyle Brand. They will launch an online store and music project by 2k9.5."

(Thanks to Graham for the tipoff)

The Beatles - early days at the Casbah Club

Been spending the last few weeks zipping through a few old books about The Beatles and their early days - "The Beatles: The True Beginnings" and Bob Spitz's "The Beatles - The Biography". More on the Spitz book later, as I'm still going through it (1000 pages plus!), but wanted to share a bit about the first one.



"The Beatles: The True Beginnings" is from the family Best, that is, ex-Beatles drummer Pete Best and his younger brother Roag Best (author) along with Pete and other brother Rory Best.

As one Amazon commentator writes, "...this book is truly an incredible document of the Beatles early years at the Casbah Coffee Club in Liverpool." No hyperbole there.

It's a slice of pop history from the early days of Pete, Paul, John, Stuart and George and the 40-odd performances played at the tiny space, either as The QuarryMen or The Silver Beatles or whatever else the Beatles were calling themselves when a promoter's desire needed to be met. There are fond memories by the local kids (now pensioners, no doubt!) plus great memories of and from Pete's mom Mona Best, who started the Casbah Club from the basement of the Best family home.

The Casbah Club reopened a few years back as a Beatles tourist attraction in Liverpool, 50 years on from its humble beginnings. This book is your answer if you can't swing a trip to Liverpool these days.

Watch a cool video montage of early Beatles (w/Best) in Hamburg:

Rock-A-Rama Around the Blog-O-Sphere

A spin around your local Internet dials...

- Two great Fleet Foxes performances from last weekend's SNL - see both clips at Rolling Stone... pretty awesome singing and playing...

- Pitchfork wins best headline with its story about Neil Young: "Neil Young to Release Potentially Batshit Concept Album"

- Yes, there is a URL (affiliated with the cool kids at Brandeis University) called punkrockandroll! Nice.

- The Hold Steady's Craig Finn talks about his old punk and rock faves for MOG.

More Anthemic Pop Wonder clippage (2003)

Still getting through some old video of my old band Anthemic Pop Wonder in NYC - here's another clip below from 2003 in NYC of "Let Go In a Song" from "Rapid Pop Thrills". Enjoy.

It Might Get Loud - Rock Doc

Playing at Sundance this week is a rock doc called It Might Get Loud, featuring an inside look at three of rock's master guitaros - U2's The Edge, Led Zeppelin's The Page and Jack the White.



According to Hollywood Insider, "...the film is set up to let the legacies of the three men swirl together, interspersed with a two-day jam session on a soundstage and educational field trips. See Page play mandolin on the lawn of the mansion where they recorded Led Zeppelin IV! Learn how the Edge uses technology to turn a simple two-note strum into the pulsating riff of "Elevation"! Hear the original guitar demo for "Where the Streets Have No Name," and half the contents of Page's record collection! And though Jack White's largely manufactured backstory makes it hard to explore, the look on his face as he sits two feet away from Page and drinks in the elder statesman's performance of "Whole Lotta Love" says it all."

The doc has been making the film festival circuit for a while, so there are several reviews up on the Web (see here and here. Looks like a DVD view for me down the road. There's also a Q & A from the Toronto film festival from last fall featuring the three guitar guys here.

Future Perfect Radio Launches Tuesday

A new entrant in the Internet radio stream fun comes from the UK - it's called Future Perfect Radio (from AccuRadio). The station writes at its blog: "Future Perfect Radio is loaded to the seams with thousands of great indie artists, both old and new. From The Mountain Goats to the latest from Loney, Dear, Future Perfect Radio will be your spot for all things indie.(Plus) We’ve got over 20 subchannels for you, including genre selections like Post-Rock, Twee-Pop and Lo-Fi, to geographic channels featuring music from New York, Portland, Chicago, Seattle, Scandinavia, the UK and more."

There are lots of streaming Web possibilities out there. Between Imeem, Last.FM, Pandora and so many others, who's got time to sample 'em all? But I'll check 'em out at some point this week....

Love Big Star, Ardent and Memphis?

Then spare the next 8 minutes and take a listen to this from National Public Radio:

"Rock historian Ed Ward considers pop music produced at Ardent Studios in Memphis in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Much of the music wasn't heard any farther than the city limits."

U2 - Inauguration Concert, New Single

In case you missed it yesterday, watch U2 play at Sunday's Inauguration Concert in Washington DC:



And click here for a listen to the band's new single "Get On Your Boots"...with lyrics here.

Boy George

Daddy's Lil' Girl Ain't a Girl No More....

Mott the Hoople Reunion!

Hey, this is wholly unexpected news, but I'll take it. Longtime old Brit rock faves Mott the Hoople are reuniting (reports Billboard) for their 40th anniversary of their 1969 start. Billboard writes "Mott has scheduled two shows, October 2nd and 3rd, at London’s famed HMV Apollo (formerly the Hammersmith Apollo)." The original lineup is said to be set to go.

Singer-guitarist Ian Hunter let the cat out of the bag at his website, writing..."Why are we doing it? I can't speak for the others, but I'm doing it just to see what it's like. Short of war, death, famine etc. ...it's ON."

Guy Stevens was their producer - he later produced The Clash, in short, because of the Clash's admiration for the Hoople.

Watch a short documentary on Mott here:

Rock Clip of the Week - The Damned , Love Song

Just for you, here's a love song from The Damned, lipsynched (but worth it) on German TV way back when. I've always loved this song - great energy, slammin' guitars, fab drum rolls and a perfectly crafted melody hook back into the rash. And all done in two minutes, perfect for those of us 'idiot arseholes' with low attention spans! ROCK!

Anthemic Pop Wonder - Conditions of the Slave Quartet, Live

Been spending a bit of time lately scanning some photos and uploading some audio of my turn-of-the-century band Anthemic Pop Wonder, and finally got around to posting a YouTube clip of a live clip of our old stomper "Conditions of the Slave Quartet" with a mix of photos from 1999-2001. I will likely post more APW songs up when I get around to digitally transfering some old videotape. In due time, I suppose.

In the meantime, enjoy this rocker - we all did!

Dfactor - Rockin' Live, Sunday Jan 18th, Tempe, AZ

Since moving to AZ in 2008, I haven't gotten out much to play live gigs (save for a few mini acoustic sessions here and there). But I'm trying to change that in 2009 - my first real performance is this Sunday, January 18th at Big Fish Pub in Tempe, AZ. I'll be playing some live stuff, some backing tracks songs and new songs from my upcoming EP release in March.

It's the solo showcase part of Kristen's Music Open Mic held weekly there. Kristen's below in the pic rockin' with her own band Miles to Nowhere. The sound at Big Fish is great, the drinks are cheap and the crowd friendly. If you're in and around the Phoenix Metro area next Sunday night, come on out and celebrate the afternoon AZ Cardinals expected win.

New ads, smaller type

Been playing with a few options in my blog, including bringing in advertising elements as well as making the copy text smaller to fit more bits in (still haven;t figured out that whole 'click here for the jump' for the rest of the article thing on another page...maybe one day I will).

In any case, the ads are meant to be 'music' related, but when the ad inventory gets low, they throw in PSA (public service announcements) so you might see a few autistic kids in the ad boxes from time to time. Apologies in advance. I just hope they keep the starving kids off ....

New Pornographers Imeem Mix

I've just uploaded to the right column (and seen below) a new Imeem mix featuring swell tunes from the New Pornographers, a band I have publicly enjoyed in concert on several occasions and privately slagged to pals as 'indie rock's Fleetwood Mac'. Color me contradicted!

Today, I'm digging 'em! So I'm playin' em'! Enjoy.

New Pornographers Mix

Andy Rourke joins Musebox as Chief DJ, er, A & R

This is a little too inside rock and roll baseball, which I don't do too often, but I like Musebox and Nadine (its CEO). Musebox announced late last night that it has hired ex-Smiths bassist Andy Rourke to lead its A & R efforts:

"New York, NY, January 12 – The MuseBox is proud to announce that former Smiths member Andy Rourke will join the New York City and Toronto-based music marketing firm as its Director of A&R."

"The Smiths are a major influence on much of today's music scene, and Andy Rourke was a key player in their sound and success," said Nadine Gelineau, Founder and C.E.O of The MuseBox. "We are thrilled to be taking our lifeline of support for today’s bands to another level of expertise and experience by welcoming an imminent Rock And Roll Hall of Famer into our family. The Boy with the Thorn in His Side Strikes Again!"

"The MuseBox is an amazingly focused, driven and effective marketing firm," said Rourke. "They are in this business purely for the love of music, and that alone makes this a great fit for me. I look forward to working with the team in finding and nurturing some talented newbies, taking them up level by level and helping them achieve their full potential as artists and professionals."

I guess that means Andy will be scouting out bands and talent while DJing in clubs and stuff? Or maybe just hanging out at SXSW. Andy's DJing brought him to Phoenix recently, which was duly noted by Phoenix New Times' music guy Martin Cizmar both before his scheduled appearance and afterwards as well.

Iggy Pop Gives First Interview After Ron Asheton's Death

Iggy Pop Gives First Interview After Ron Asheton's Death

Posted using ShareThis

(I say: Love the old Ann Arbor stories)

Adverts - One Chord Wonders

Adverts - One Chord Wonders (debut single)

I wonder what we'll play for you tonight.
Something heavy or something light.
Something to set your soul alight.
I wonder how we'll answer when you say.
"We don't like you - go away, come back when you've learned to play."

I wonder what we'll do when things go wrong.
When we're half-way though our favourite song.
We look up and the audience has gone.
Will we feel a little bit obscure.
Think 'We're not needed here, we must be new wave - they'll like us next year.'

The wonders don't care - we don't give a damn.
The wonders don't care - we don't give a damn.
The wonders don't care - we don't give a damn.

If Everyone Says the Album Format is Dead...

...then why does SPIN persist in using the phrase "2009's First Great Album?"

Jes askin'...

Bono Opines on Frank Sinatra

"From here, Bono gives us a critical take of what makes Sinatra Sinatra. “Fully inhabiting the moment during that tiny dot of time after you’ve pressed ‘record’ is what makes it eternal,” Bono writes, “If, like Frank, you sing it like you’ll never sing it again. If, like Frank, you sing it like you never have before.” Bono also examines the two different versions of “My Way,” from the triumphant 1969 version to a later version, when 78-year-old Sinatra sings “a heart-stopping, heartbreaking song of defeat.” (from RS)

Bono writes in the NY Times about Frank Sinatra.

Now laugh along with me, as you imagine the words above spoken by deceased actor Bruno Kirby, who played the Tommy the limo driver in This is Spinal Tap,among many other supporting roles. He sings Sinatra's "All the Way" in the clip below, an outtake from the film.

Manic Monday Music Mania

A quick jaunt around the blogosphere on a busy Monday:


- PASTE Magazine has come out with a 'Indie Rock Alphabet' book that's available online. It has fun illustrations of hot indie bands like Vampire Weekend, accompanied by couplets like: "Vampire Weekend is hot,or so we're told, but will they be around when you're another year old?"

- The Daily Swarm has got the latest on Coachella band confirmations and rumors to boot.

- An update from Billboard on Flight of the Conchords show,CD and spring tour.

- Watch young MOR pop hottie Taylor Swift shred her sparkly guitar as she performs 'Love Story' from Saturday's SNL show below.

Merge Records 20th Anniversary Celebration

Merge Records, longtime indie stalwart label for the cool kids, is celebrating its 20th anniversary of existence with a five-day music festival July 22-26 in the indie label's home state of North Carolina.

Mac tells us.... (haha just kidding, we haven't spoken with Mac, but it sounds cool, right?) that the fest is certain to draw many hundreds of chubby, slightly balding white males between the ages of 30-50 who will no doubt bring their girlfriends. These comely, patient lasses will roll their eyes most of the long weekend and retire to their hotel rooms earlier than their partners, who will no doubt stay up late with other likeminded males and relive indie glory days of rock with liquid refreshments and air guitar histrionics. Sounds cool!

The fest will feature several Merge artists, among the likely invitees will be label friends Arcade Fire, Superchunk, Teenage Fanclub, Conor Oberst, Spoon, Buzzcocks and Dinosaur Jr. The lineup has not yet been announced, but it is expected to be revealed in the coming weeks.

Rock Clip of the Week - Deep Purple, Burn

I've always loved "Burn" by Deep Purple - the track just takes off and never lets go. Glenn Hughes sings the bejeezus out of it, and Blackmore's guitar is on fire. Here's the 'official' California Jam clip of the band performing this stellar song.

Maybe this song is about witches - I dunno, I never paid much attention to the words. But today, I'm hearing them - "People are saying the woman is damned, she makes you Burn with a wave of her hand."

Doug Gillard residency - Pianos NYC

(Pic NOT from last night's gig)

Even though I'm no longer physically living in NYC, I still keep tabs on rock fun at old haunts through old pals, bloggers and miscreants. One of these is either the Keith or the Hernandez (can never remember which) over at I'm Keith Hernandez. In any case, my pal went to see the opening show in a four-week residency at Pianos of Doug Gillard, the former Guided by Voices and Death of Samantha guitarist-songwriter. Doug (who's now a living Brooklynite) was supported by Jason Narducy's new band Regal Standard and musician-producer Graham Smith.

Bits of my pal's emailed report of last night's show puts you right in the action - Let's go to the tape!

"Graham was first. I haven't seen him play in years, and this was easily the best show ever. Solo on acoustic, his voice has become so much stronger, and his songs are as clever and well-written as ever. Also, his banter knows no bounds. Admitting he had no tuner or tuning skills, he mutters "I have a tuner on my iPhone but Steve Jobs is dying." He has an incredible song about Arliss which we need to get our hands on for a future IKH post.

Jason Narducy's band went next. Jason has played with both Bobs (Mould & Pollard). Two acoustic guitars and a bass, no drums. Jason had a great singer in tow, and their harmonies were beautiful--nice, tight set, and easily the best sounding one I've ever heard at Pianos. Jason proceeds to move to the main room to get shitfaced.

Doug takes the stage with a full band. It takes a while for the ears to adjust, but I have to admit, I've never heard better sound at Pianos. No one makes music like Doug Gillard does, and I appreciated hearing his new songs live a lot more than I probably would on record. There's a lot of great moments in his set, and he was clearly psyched, so everyone was having a good time. And then...

Halfway through the set Doug calls a now drunken Jason and JONNY WURSTER up on stage and they rip through Pop Zeus! And just like that, gone. Poof!

Doug calls out to the soundman for time left, and Zack, bless his heart, is stationed front and center, right next to Graham and answers "as long as you want." Doug plays another 20-25 minutes, including a Jill Hives b-side he wrote? (I didn't recognize it). At some point I request 'In A Gadda Da Vida'. Doug says he's the only guy in the band old enough to know that song.

For his last song, he starts calling out for Jason and Jon again. I walk out the door, see Jason who is now smashed, tell him that Doug wants him. He walks in, stares at the stage, frowns and walks back out. Doug plays 'I am A Tree'. It is beautiful.

Encore calls come up. 20 minutes in, I spot Jonny Wurster on his own. I run up to him braying "You've gotta play a Stooges song!" He affably tells me that '1969' is somewhere in the setlist. I let him be.

10 minutes later, Doug successfully calls Jason & Jonny back up to the stage. Jon is getting behind the drum kit, wearing his coat and scarf as he sits down at the kit, and I yell out, "Jonny, you're going to wanna lose that scarf!" He agrees and takes it off, and a shit-faced Jason Narducy immediately picks it up and puts it on. And out of nowhere, they rip through a note-perfect version of 'Back of a Car' by BIG STAR with Jason on lead vocals, Doug on perfect harmonies, and Jonny Wurster playing every Jody Stephens drum fill 9 feet away from me. Ooh la la.

Next? Last? Stooges! Incredible version of 1969, all the way through, with Doug playing all of Ron Asheton's parts flawlessly. Song ends, Jason stumbles off the stage. I get in his ear and yell "You're the first man to ever cover a Stooges song while wearing a scarf!" He agrees."

-------------------------
Great post Keith Hernandez, well played.

Indie Music Radio Announcer in NYC?

Any young cool NYC cats looking to score a cozy Web radio gig in NYC?

NEEDED: Indie Music Radio Announcer
Job Location Bronx, NY USA
Job Requirements Extremely rare opportunity...

WHO WE ARE: Brand new NYC radio channel and web site, spinning indie and local music from the Hold Steady to TV on the Radio and many artists waiting to be discovered, from rock to world and hiphop.

WHO YOU ARE: NYC music fan with a huge appetite for new bands and artists. Someone who lives and breathes NY's indie music scene. Youthful sounding, and excited by the idea of sharing cool music with like-minded people on the radio. Someone who knows "it's about the music, not me or my ego." Community or web radio experience, or voicetracking a plus.

If this TRULY describes you, send letter, resume and mp3 sample (10mb limit) to: nycradiojob@gmail.com

Wolfgang's Vault - 1975 Lamb Lies Down on Broadway

This week's Concert from the Vaults (is that what they call it?) is from the Genesis US "Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" tour, with a live recorded show from LA's Shrine Auditorium. (Wasn't this the show that was on the box set?) The site reads:

"This show has been counted among the "Holy Grail" items for Genesis fans, as it's rumored to be one of the only professional recordings made on the band’s final tour with Peter Gabriel. Recorded on the band’s celebrated 1975 Lamb Lies Down on Broadway tour, this show features the entire Lamb rock opera, plus an encore of the band’s classic 1971 opus, "The Musical Box.”

Get your Colony of Slippermen fix right here. (Shame about their image use of a hippie Phil Collins leading the band - that was the next tour!)

IPO Post followup - Phoenix New Times piece

More local buzz for the International Pop Overthrow fest coming to Phoenix for the first time in March. After my post on Monday, the Phoenix local music blog Up on the Sun reposted the info (with a swell old pic of moi) in its blog yesterday. Thanks, guys.

Pop-garage-rock bands, now's the time to get in the IPO action. Deadline in 10 days or so...

Stooges' guitarist Ron Asheton dead

Sad news coming out of Michigan today (via Guardian UK)

"The Stooges guitarist Ron Asheton has been found dead at his home in Michigan. He was 60. Police told Ann Arbor News that the musician may have been dead for several days before he was found. Although unconfirmed, initial signs indicate that Asheton died of a heart attack."

Old school Tommy Stinson - Fast 'n' Hard

I've always loved this smokin' rocker from Tommy Stinson, from his debut solo LP "Friday Night is Killing Me" after The Mats broke up in early 90s. This clip comes from Dave Letterman's show back in the day....

Music Blog Zeitgeist for 2008

You want the best 50 artists, 50 albums and 50 songs from 2008, as judged by the music blogosphere? Well, you need the Music Blog Zeitgeist, big guy! (brought to you by the awesome team at Hype Machine).

International Pop Overthrow hits Phoenix in March

The global International Pop Overthrow (IPO as its known to insiders) is coming to my new hometown of Phoenix for the first time since its inception.

The dates are March 6th-8th, 2009 and all shows will be held at the Hollywood Alley in Mesa, AZ. Bands and interested performaners can put their bids in through this SonicBids page - deadline is coming up in 10 days.

I've been invited to play (as a three-time alumnus of its NYC series in past years), and am looking forward to bringing my own garagey pop, and hearing more local powerpop-garagerock-indie pop in this neck of the woods.

You can also check out International Pop Overthrow at its Myspace page. While you're there, say hello to IPO mainman David Bash, a longtime cool pop guy.

Rock & Roll - CIRCUS style - March 1975

Here's what was important to CIRCUS Magazine editors for their March 1975 edition -
* Genesis and its 'Lamb Lies Down on Broadway' UStour
* KISS - (more sold copies with KISS on the cover somewhere
* Ringo Starr - Goodnight Vienna puff piece
* The Guess Who - 'battles obscurity' is right!
* and from the same issue - an interview with Mark Farner (Grand Funk Railroad)- excerpt below image)

Circus: How big a farm do you have now?
Farner: I have 190 acres.
Circus: What types of animals do you have on your farm?
Farner: Horses, cattle and pigs. Cats and dogs too.
Circus: If you weren't into music, would you be a full-time farmer?
Farner: Oh, most definitely. That's what I'm workin' for, man. When I get out of music, I'm gonna be into farmin'.
Circus: Does rock and roll interfere with farm-life?
Farner: Yeah, it does to a certain extent. But we usually book our tours around the hayin' season. That's when I have to be here. And plantin' season.
Circus: You know if you changed the 'n' in your name to 'm', you'd be Mark Farmer.
Farner: That's right.
Circus: You're literally a rock farmer.
Farner: Yeah, that's about it.