The Brixton Riot – Palace Amusements

The Brixton Riot – Palace Amusements

The Brixton Riot Palace Amusements Album Review
ALBUM REVIEW: Palace Amusements by The Brixton Riot on Modern Hymnal Records is a great throw-back to everything that is good about rock music that is missing these days from the island known as Brooklyn. These Jersey guys reminds us of the hooky parts of Jets to Brazil, Ted Leo RX and the more memorable parts of 70’s and 80’s jangly guitar punk. To help them celebrate this release you should get your ass down to Maxwells on Fri March 23rd where they will play with Lieder, Roadside Graves and yours truly Eastern Anchors for some rock schooling.

Eastern Anchors Brixton Riot Roadside Graves Maxwells 2012
I’m not sure there is any irony in a song title like “Hipster Turns 30” when the lyrics sober you up and say ‘get a mortgage and buy a car’. In fact I’d venture to say it’s probably more fandom on the sleeve than anything else. Hard working musicians with 9-5’s doing what they must in order not to drown in the hum-drum doldrums of the working stiffs union. You can tell every note and tone here is plucked just in the right spot and amusement created out of passion. This kingdom of rock is held in the highest of regards like a well crafted champion beer with a pedigree of influences that lends itself to something so familiar you’ll be happy you visited.

Canvas Shoes MP3 by The Brixton Riot [BUY CD]

These sounds remind me of that sound man:
Morning New Disease MP3 by Jets To Brazil from Orange Rhyming Dictionary (1998)
Sometimes MP3 by fIREHOSE from If’n (1987)
Three Girl Rhumba MP3 by Wire from Pink Flag (1977)
Love You More MP3 by The Buzzcocks from Singles Going Steady (1979)

Secret Photos Vs Bodega Satellite

Secret Photos Vs Bodega Satellite

Secret Photos 10th Street Live
So the other night I had the honor of playing a solo show as The Slow Wire with a few bands I really dug Secret Photos, Bodega Satellite as well this other local swamp rock band called Traveling in Stereo. In all a awesome night. Originally the Eastern Anchors we’re supposed to play but either way I’m sure we’ll hook up soon enough as the album is the EA complete. There will always be more shows. What’s actually exciting to me is this new 10th Street live venue is actually book some exciting shit. The rumour that night also is that my pal Andy Diamond may be booking some music The Crossroads in Garwood in the near future (not confirmed yet) but we shall see. I’ve never had two rock clubs so close to since I move out of New Brunswick a decade ago.


Super energetic punk trio with some chops and riffage. Hope you dig them. If a band can sound good live on video it’s not a sound mans trick. No mixing in the world can help. Dig them.

Here’s another song by Secret Photos called jack and the pollock MP3 from their record Luv2Giv
I like the way they switch electronic embryo or power trio. Cool shit.

More videos on the Review Stalker Music Blog channel

Some of this sounds like:
Slow Motion MP3 by Ultravox
Eels MP3 by Built to Spill from The Electronic Anthology Project
You Got It (Keep It Outta My Face) MP3 by Mudhoney from Super Fuzz Big Muff
Think About Carbs MP3 by Hot Snakes from Audit In Progress
Champs MP3 by Wire from Pink Flag (1977)

Glen Matlock former Teenage Sex Pistol

Glen Matlock former Teenage Sex Pistol

Glen Matlock of The Sex Pistols


Glen Matlock was there writing most of tunes on Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols. Maybe not cool or stupid enough to stick around for their run but in post-pistol life he’s cashed in. We know the face of the pistols infamous line-up but most record geeks know he was one of the actual musicians with some song writing skills. Here’s a couple but gotta say not much as changed since the rockn-roll genre was invented but somehow was the intro-drug for most of us into punk because of it’s easy accessibility.

It Takes Time MP3 by London Cowboys with Glen Matlock – good write-up here.

Pretty Vacant MP3 by The Sex Pistols

Some other punk:
Orgasm Addict MP3 by The Buzzcocks from Singles Going Steady (1979)
Queen Of Hearts MP3 by Fucked Up from David Comes To Life (2011)
Rock N Roll MP3 by The Runaways covering a Lou Reed song.
Pink Flag by Wire s/t track (1977)
I’m So Bored With the U.S.A. MP3 By The Clash (UK)

Wire Playing Live on WFMU in 2011

Wire Playing Live on WFMU in 2011


Once punk got started major innovations were happening all over the place as early as it began in the 70’s. Wire were among the musical scientists who experimented with short and long form along with kraftwerk and Gang of Four. On Tuesday April 2011 they will be playing for the first time live on wfmu’s Brian Turner’s radio show between 3-6pm est. Be sure to tune in as they resurrect punk on the airwaves. Their third album 154 is among the trilogy of their break-out experimentation that pushed what art music could be. While Gang of Four were like political mechanics and Kraftwerk the robot space makers — Wire were the sonic mixers making unique pastiches of keyboards and distortion unique from to song to song – some fast some slow. On their first album you were lucky to find anything over a minute long.

It’s So Obvious MP3 from Pink Flag (1977) [Buy]
French Film Blurred MP3 from Chairs Missing (1978)
The 15th MP3 from 154 (1979)


Gang of Four playing Damaged Goods. Live, Atlanta 1980. The guitar riff in this song totally reminds me of “this ain’t no picnic” by The Minute Men.