REVIEW STALKER

The Court Tavern Scene Dominates the Years on 5.19.12

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:56:18 +0000

SHOW PREVIEW: Beware this is celebratory and shameless plug for a bunch bands that used to play The Court Tavern in New Brunswick, New Jersey a whole fuckin’ bunch. Before the Gaslight Anthem & Screaming Females there were these bands who played this juke joint more times than these bands can collectively count. The Court Tavern was our local version of CBGB’s situated in downtown New Brunswick. Forever, this was the venue of choice to see a band live where chromosomes and some DNA floated around freely. Wasn’t too big or too small but basically it was cruel and fair. The sound system was amazing and if you played there often enough the bartenders always bought you a drink or two even when you weren’t playing. That was respect. Anyway, on Saturday May 19th a bunch of the old guard will be playing a show together at The Brook Arts Center in Bound Brooke NJ up against that forsaken Bamboozle fest. So come-out if you live nearby or want to get away from the Assbury crowds. This will be well worth the 10 spot to catch DJ Ed Wong & Lisa Uber spinning songs with some local Art along with music by Aviso’Hara , The Wooden Soldiers, P.E.D, The Blisters, The Stuntcocks and Jigs and The Pigs. Facebook invite is here for directions and details. The doors open at 7:30 and show starts promptly at 8pm sharp.

Dominate The Gears b/w Twilight Twenties MP3s by Aviso’Hara from Our Lady of The Highway

Photo by Alex Saville

Here’s a couple by what we consider the band known as The Blisters. This is punk rock version that Nirvana once invited to open for them in Ohio. There’s a bunch of bands with the same name but these guys are the originals. Used to be bands could call each other out on having put out a release first to claim the name. I suppose we have alternate realities. If you dig the replacements and pop-punk then should be right in the neighborhood of your like meter. Most make-up wearing bands are not worth the recycled beer can their music is made of. This is pure New Jersey rock-n-roll.
I’m gonna take b/w Leaving you MP3s by The Blisters

Next up is P.E.D (post ejaculation depression). Cute acronym right? This is a infamous New Brunswick band that was fronted by Samuel Shiffman from Complex Records who personally turned me onto the Chicago band The Poster Children. He’s also notorious and infamous for the running of the mouth or the lack there of living among us but not seen. He’s a lurker and somehow he’s coming out (not ghey) hole to make some noise with the rest of the rock geezer.

I can say with pure unadulterated glee what a motherfucking miserable sod I was for so long. I can’t say that I was really look back with anything but horror… actually I have to say that I really don’t look back at all…” – Sam 2010

Here’s a whole diatribe from Sam where the quote above was ripped from on Jim Testa’s Jersey Beat.com.

Johnny & J.J. Stuntcock Melody w/ Chris Pierce on Drums!

Also sharing the stage will be The Stuntcocks which have had as many rotating members as any of the above bands.
Johnny Stuntcock has been the steady anchor all this while. The Stuntcocks are New Brunswick institution all their own.

Punk Rock Guy MP3 by The Stuntcocks. This is a classic.

The first band and real reason to get there early is seeing Greg Di Gesu’s band The Wooden Soldiers. His music has gone by different names but has been the corner stone of roots rock meets Nick Lowe on the pot run you just made up from the Everglades. He’s street poet who stories weave in and out of the groovy grooves. Enjoy!
Commercial Ave MP3 by The Wooden Soldiers from hippies, punks and rubber men (1987)
A Thousand Miles Away MP3 from Lazy Man’s Load (1989)

Here’s a video by Jigs & The Pigs who are headlining the event. They were a real early band that played the Court. Sort The Who meets, New Wave meets Iggy Pop. You decide. It’s going to be an amazing night.

Some sounds like these sounds:
Can’t Hardly Wait(live) MP3 by The Replacements from Shit, Shower & Shave
It’s A Long Way Back To Germany B-side MP3 by The Ramones from Rocket To Russia
Dynamite Chair MP3 by Poster Children from Tool Of The Man
The Diamond Church Street Choir MP3 by The Gaslight Anthem from American Slang
Embrace The Sound MP3 by Drag The River from Closed
Birthday Boy (Ween cover) MP3 by Chris Harford from Band of Changes. This is one of my favorite songs in the world. The first time I heard this covered was at the court tavern around 1996 and it was a version like this by Chris. Cool eh?

Related Stories:
More Hub City band MP3s here: The Court Tavern Closes my 20s & 30ths
Hub City Cruel But Fair the show
7″ Friday Archives: Feed Me I love Trash 7 Inch EP

May these singles rock you

admin — Mon, 14 May 2012 22:51:28 +0000

Here’s a couple f songs that have crept into the inbox these past couple weeks reminding me why we keep this blog alive. There are a whole bunch more we just need to find the time to cobble a couple sentences.

The Good Life MP3 by Matthew de Zoete from Colour Film. If you are a fan of the pernice brothers and nada surf this tune will make you extremely happy. He lives on a farm in rural Ontario. While he was recording these songs with Less Cooper he was thinking of them in context of as a soundtrack for a short film. Fairly cinematic at that as they do tell nice pop stories. The full length just came out so we suggest you take a ride over to his site to check it out.

The Storm MP3 by Sonic Hearts Foundation. This one is space rock from Glasgow, Scotland. This is actually a debut non-radio edit of the song. Which we appreciate this and think if you love love dark pop like Joy Division suicidal moody parts then this will fit right in with a goth mix-tape. The B-side “Rolling Tide” is equally as good, a little more on Jesus and Mary Chain side. Friend them on their facebook and other dark stuff.

A few weeks ago we mentioned Black Manila. Here’s the video for the B-side for their tune “England”.

Related articles:
SINGLE REVIEW: Black Manila’s psych drink is called ‘Fiasco’
ALBUM REVIEW: The Bats Pajamas is for Meyer & Kern fans

RIP MCA Adam Yauch of The Beastie Boys

admin — Sat, 05 May 2012 12:39:35 +0000

(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)

RIP (1964-2012): Tibeten Rapper, Father and Beastie Boys Adam MCA Yauch. Rest in peace son. Here’s more Beastie discography with lyric and discography references than you could possibly drink.

“I think every person has the ability to effect change…Every one of us affects constantly through our actions…through our every word, the way that we interact with other people we’re constantly affecting the world.”

Beastie Boys foolin on Japanese TV is not really suitable for work but this shit is funny as all get out.

Some Beastie Boys Magic:
DoeDoLLa Interviews Adam MCA Yauch MP3 (2008)
Fight For Your Right (Beastie Boys Cover) MP3 by ColdPlay, Hollywood Bowl May 4th 2012
Slow Ride MP3 by Beastie Boys from Licensed to ill

Dear Protestors- Can we protest you on Mayday?

admin — Tue, 01 May 2012 22:11:59 +0000

Dear Protestors protesting something:
Get a fucking job already. I don’t care if you flip burgers or take tickets at a theater Do something so you’re not sucking off your parents tit already. Learn a little respect and then once you realize how complicated things really are maybe you will contribute a little something to society. I don’t care if it’s in back-alley or on the corner even that is a service but as the Butthole Surfers say

…it’s better to regret something you’ve done than something you haven’t…

Whatever it is; unless your a farmer you can’t live off the land because even begging takes effort and you are reliant on some other working fools to work. So unless you have mental issue or nobody ever gave you break. Get a Mcjob you can’t intern your whole damn life.

Working stiffs unite and protest the protestors.

Here’s a bunch of songs associated to work:
I Can’t Wait to Get Off to Work MP3 by Tom Waits live in Berlin 1977
Paperwork MP3 by Hot Snakes from Suicide Invoice
Working Girls (Sunlight Shines) MP3 by The Pernice Brothers from The World Won’t End.
Work All Day (Sleep All Night) MP3 by The Creation from We Are Painterman

DJ Red Alert Goes Bazerk – Goodbye Kiss.FM

admin — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:51:41 +0000

I was a white suburban punk who discovered black radio. On our way to the City driving down 1 & 9 on the Pulaski skyway we would always manage to find this music fitting and tune into Kiss FM or BLS. Wherever DJ Red Alert was scratching records live on the spot we would stop on the dial. Probably where we first heard the Beastie Boys. This music got us in the mood for whatever else was to follow that evening. I didn’t even think of recording his set because every Friday night we would find him spinning the latest rap records that we would never hear anywhere else. So it’s very sad for me to hear that Kiss.FM are turning into a sports channel and will be merging with WBLS. After 30 years of serving a community Anyway, when ever I run into a recording from back in the day I grab it so here’s a few of what I have from Boogie Down Production and DJ Red Alert. This is the stuff that when The Clash rolled into the area you know they were listening too because it was just so edgy. It’s sad day for radio but thank god we have of these nuggets to give you an idea what the live experience was like.

DJ Red Alert Set 1988 Live Kiss FM RT18:35
Kiss FM NYC (1994) DJ Red Alert w/ DJ Enuf. RT:37.34
I WANNA ROCK CONNECTION MIX #1 DJ Red Alert. The run time on this one is 10:08. It’s got some classic shit on it in a very short time. This one has got Snoop Dog.

Black Manila’s psych drink is called ‘Fiasco’

admin — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:54:08 +0000

SINGLE REVIEW: We like our jangle garage psyche and this track by Black Manila called “Fiasco” is right in the sweet spot of all groovy things 60′s. Naming their top 5 influential bands as The Velvet Underground, Captain Beefheart, T-Rex, The Stooges and John Lee Hooker. These are some pretty big corner stones that Liam Ramsden, Conrad Armstrong and Gareth Hoskins aka Sun King are taking on but would also say something a little New Wave is ingrained too. This new track by them is less drone than the VU with more of a sculptured song as there is an actual guitar solo to beef it up. Repetition is form in itself and they apply this keenly. We also thought the kids were afraid of guitar explorations, whilst J Mascis he is not (none are honestly) there is enough original guitar slang here to bring this track to the next level. Way above the haze for the acid test. They say this song is about being on a higher plane when imbibed with drink. Been there so we appreciate this so cheers and beers we say to this unsigned band. These grooves will be available 30th April for download & safe keeping with a UK pride B-Side called “England”.

Here’s one from their previous release called Hazy Daze MP3 by Black Manila

Tour & Holiday stops:
4/20 Buffalo Bar, London
4/28 The Finsbury, London
5/16 Capanno Blackout, Prato (Italy)
5/17 Caffe Del Teatro, Aradeo (Italy)
5/18 Villanova, Pulsano (Italy)
5/19 Blue Dhalia, Marina Di Gioiosa Ionica (Italy)
5/20 Chromazone, Atripalda (Italy)
6/4 Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes, London (Gibson showcase)
6/8 Green Door Store, Brighton

Some hand picked songs by Black Manila:
Death Letter Blues MP3 by Son House from The Delta Blues of Son House (Liam likes this)
Hedi’s head MP3 by Kleenex from Liliput (Gareth Likes this)
England Made Me MP3 by Selfish Cunt from English Chamber Music (Conrad likes this noise- thumbs up on this one)

We hear some of this:
Tom Tom MP3 by The Creation from We Are Painterman (1967)
Talking To The Dog (Live) MP3 by Obits Live at the Cake Shop 1/12/08. First Show!
In the Dreamlife You Need a Rubber Soul MP3 by The Clean from Mister Pop (2009)

More articles like this:
New Animal Psych Pop from Atlanta
Stagnant Pools Vs Monks & Melrose

Lil Daggers through my psychedelic heart

Casey Kasem Vs Dick Clark (RIP)

admin — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 22:13:32 +0000

I always confused Casey Kasem (1932-present) and Dick Clark(1929-2012) to the detriment of Richard. Banal music personalities who introduced top 40 to America. Eventually Danny Terrio from Dance Fever did a number on the youth but Dick’s show held on for a long time.

Agreeably Dick Clark America’s Oldest Teenager show American Bandstand initially broadcast from Philadelphia then moved to Hollywood lasted from 1957 to 1987 and was more popular but Casey’s explosive diarrhea moments made him infamous. Here he is sampled in the U2 song “I Still haven’t found what I’m looking for” covered by the California group Negativeland. I suppose you could consider this is a early mash-up. I also did not know Casey did the voice over for Shaggy from Scooby Doo. Anyway, when somebody dies you learn so much about the people around them but in Dick Clark’s words “For now, Dick Clark…so long.” We’re still here at the Morbid Channel so for now be well.

Here’s some songs about your youth.
Teenage Wasteland MP3 by Left & Right from Miss Virginia (2010)
Teenage Lobotomy MP3 by The Ramones from Rocket to Russia (1977)
The Way Gene Would Groove It MP3 by DICK CLARK from JUST BLUES Reflections of the Artistry of Gene Harris
Waving My Dick In The Wind MP3 by Ween from The Mollusk a ode to Jimmy Wilson
Death Of A Disco Dancer MP3 by The Smiths from Strangeways Here We Come
Psychotic Reaction MP3 by Count Five from Psychotic Revelation: The Ultimate Count Five
Chicken Fat MP3 by Dave Clark Five And The Playbacks (Crown Records)

Related Articles:
2011: Gil Scott-Heron televised the revolution
Music by People who died in 2010

Whatever happened I Apologize – Jay Bennett
The Cramps: Lux Interior punk icon dies at 62

The Bats Pajamas is for Meyer & Kern fans

admin — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 19:16:43 +0000

MUSIC REVIEW: The Bats Pajamas from Toronto Canada are a dirt rock party mixing some booze and punk all in one no frills sleepover on their EP Totally. If you like the noisy parts of the Unsane the first track “Breaking Sabbath will resonate with you. The rest is more AM/REP in the vain of the Cows and general sick fun dripped in enough reverb that you will gladly download this Free EP! They do a great job in their single video for the track “Sarai”. This is not your regular Bollywood black and white flick. I would say more Richard Kern fantasy meets Russ Meyer go go fest with some slap stick gore-light thrown in for good measure. This is NSFW because of one nip slip but just click play and you’ll see what we mean. A whee bit cow punk on another track called “Red Scared” which we dig very much with just enough variety to not bore us to death. Thanks and enjoy!

Red Scared MP3 by The Bats Pajamas from the Totally EP [GET MORE]

Some other sounds similar to these sounds man:
How Far We’ve Come Now MP3 by La Sera from See the Light (2012). How do buzz-band morph so quickly into other bands these days? This track is via Katy Goodman from Vivians’s Girls with a side project. Not sure why you would do another take of the same thing when what you were doing sounds the same but anyway. Lets not judge and enjoy the output. This is more like the chic band The Like. Sure to appear in your next surfer girl movie.
Bath MP3 by Unsane (1991)
Black Car MP3 by Black Tambourine s/t (1999?)

Dot Dash Vs Cursive

admin — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 19:57:41 +0000

Dearest bands,
I love you. I’ve been saying to myself and now I’m saying this out loud (again). Where the hell are all the good guitar bands!? Bands I beg you please don’t use a drum machine unless it’s a demo and you’re desperate. So for now say hello to Dot Dash and Cursive (saddle creek) who have actual musicians. These are Bands who know how to craft a song and play said instruments.

Spark> Flame > Embers > Ash by Dot Dash from D.C. sounds like early Psychedelic Furs to be up-front but this only lasts a few minutes. There are some good jangle guitar pop here. At first it’s seem a little off-kilter then I saw the light. This is not their first rodeo with lots of shows coming up. There’s are some mod elements going on here where they are also not afraid to let a whole chord fly with a Pete Townsend arm twirl. No sir. A big nod to all things that were good and fresh for alternative music in the late 1980′s. Dot Dash sound fresh.

Learn How to Fly MP3 by Dot Dash from Spark Flame Ember Ash
Mack The Knife(Kurt Weill Cover) Mp3 by The Psychedelic Furs from re-leased and remastered debut (1980)
If you like these songs you may fancy a band from England called with their track called Still Young MP3 Title track by New Manhattan

I have to be honest (aren’t I always?). I’m mostly familiar with a couple older Cursive songs because they appeared on some emo comps back in the day with Brown Bike and some other crap. I will tell you though there were never any volume issues and I Am Gemini is no exception. Plenty of guitar hooks, etc. No break-out hits and it’s definitely not elevator music. This record simply rocks from beginning to end. Set on repeat. You’ll be fine.

A Birthday Bash MP3 by Cursive from I Am Gemini
The Casualty MP3 by Cursive from Domestica (2000). This is emo at its most melodic.

Here’s some more tracks to add to your Emo compilation:
The Red Bedroom MP3 by the San Diego band No Knife. I found this track on a Dim Mak of all things a comp called Emo Vault I.
Is This Thing On_ MP3 by The Promise Ring from Nothing Feels Good. This is arguable one of three bands that started the emo genre. The melody is a little repetitive but you’ll get the point why it’s teenage anthemic.
Red Letter Day MP3 by The Get Up Kids

With no Regrets,
The RS Music Blog

Glen Hansard’s Rythm and Repose is coming

admin — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 22:01:57 +0000

Glen Hansard is a traveler and I’m not sure he’s ever supposed to settle down. A troubadour since I first met him playing a solo across the country promoting his band the frames in Asbury Park. I was reminded of what real musicians could be. He’s more than just a singer guitar player guy. I honestly hate the genre because all I can think about is JT and the time I fell asleep at a concert. Anyway, Glen has been in living in NY the for the past year and half working on the Broadway version of his movie Once. Yup. good enough for U2 good enough for him. Here’s a song from the Hunger Games soundtrack. His first ever solo record is coming June 19th Anti and it’s called Rhythm and Repose. He’s a personable guy. Here’s a video of him just playing without a mic at SXSW. Which is typical Glen. If you like these few ditties pick up For the Birds. You’ll be mad at yourself you waited this long. We can’t wait for this one. Sometimes performers send chills down your back and you wake-up and say to yourself. “Now, if I could only be 1/10 as good as him”. Try as you might Glen’s one of those inspiring characters. Yet, he’s humble and just puts himself out there with every performance. Part Irish charm but mostly a troubadour of life.

Take The Heartland MP3 by Glen Hansard From The Hunger Games
Suffer in Silence MP3 by The Frames from Burn The Maps (2005)