We won’t call out some of the obvious one’s in this playlist but we will say this weather channel business is really put the scare in the upper North East. The sheer scale of it has people literally running for the hills to seek higher ground. Anyway this play list goes out to user @daanvanrossum because he asked me what was on my Hurricane playlist and i just told him Idaho’s You Were A Dick was a good rain record and walked away. That was sort of rude but I told him I’d work on it so here it is.
01: Impaler MP3 by Idaho from You Were A Dick (2011)
02: Turn On The Water MP3 by The Afghan Whigs from Congregation (1992)
03: Ocean Rain MP3 by Echo & The Bunnymen title track (1984). Seven Seas on this record is also an amazing song.
04: Thunderstorm MP3 By Buzzkill (NJ) from I Feel Like Myself Again (1994) – Classic debut track from New Brunswick college rock punks who later ended up with releases on Alternative Tentacles.
05: The Sea Is She b/w Water Is Better MP3’s by Bubble/Gum s/t (2004) – Great Jersey Shore duo. If you download anything you never heard of before make it these two tracks from their debut recorded at Technical Ecstasy by Chris Gobo Pierce from Doc Hopper. They were truly a awesome short lived band – like the kin of Pavement & Dinosaur Jr which Gobo the punk rock clown captured beautifully.
06: Tread Water MP3 by De La Soul from 3 Feet High & Rising (1989)
08: Smoke On The Water MP3 Cover by Pat Boone from In A Metal Mood No More Mr. Nice Guy. (1989). This record is a classic collection of big band interpretation. Freak out your friends and slide this in the playlist.
09: Ship Of Fools MP3 by Fucked Up from David Comes to Life (2011)
10: Surf City (revisited) MP3 by Black Angels from Exit EP / Another Nice Pair (2011) This is no Surfin Bird but it’s dark, slow and evil rock so pretty much the opposite.
11: Wet Work MP3 by Q and Not U from Power (2004)- “Keep splashing in the wet work wet work, so they can cash in on the network network” Great buzzy keyboard groove bass part on this one.
12: End Of Days MP3 by Black Wine – From Summer of Indifference (2011) If you like All/Decendents type thumbing & bumping rock. Check this Jersey band out.
13: The World (Is Going Up In Flames) MP3 by Charles Bradley Featuring The Menahan Street Band from No Time For Dreaming (2011) This is new soul and it sounds like old soul. Amazing shit.
Drive is a sonically sound road trip rock documentary with David Gedge and his band The Wedding Present touring North America way back in 2005 which was Directed & Edited by Steve Stone and his company Third Hand Films whom I’ve known the better part of 20 years! Can’t believe it. Anyway, the story goes that Steve sent Gedger an email when he heard they were planning on coming to America and he asked him if he’d be interested in taping some of the shows. After a bunch of red tape, venues collecting taping fees, many emails and miles of editing here’s the end result; a road show which uses video shot at multiple venues in the states and some by the band themselves.
Some of the interviews takes places at The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, PA but unfortunately the concert footage there could not show any of the cool shit there. Other venues include Maxwells to the Roxy in LA. Steve took a few minutes out of his Sunday and came over to play Wii with my daughter and I to drop off a copy of the film. Here’s a few questions I shot over to him after the home screening. [BUY IT ON MVD]
The Wedding Present - Photo by Terri Nelles
RS: You’ve done a lot of videos over the years since I’ve known you for Pegboy and Buffalo Tom. How’d you come to pick David Gedge as documentary subject matter?
SS: I saw that The Wedding Present were about to tour the U.S. after an 8-year hiatus, so I thought that would be an interesting project. I sent my pitch to David Gedge and he said yes. RS: What’s your best memory shooting this road show and being on the road with the Wedding Present?
SS: my best memory was probably having dinner at Maxwell’s in Hoboken before that gig with Peter Mark Craig (a TWP fan from London who I had met 2 nights before in Boston) and my second camera guy, Matt McNamara. It was a real bonding moment. RS: David Gedge is pretty English and from what you told me he wore the same outfit every night. That must had helped with consistency a little?
SS: actually I think (and hope) that he had a few of the same shirts, but it did help with the mix and match editing from the different shows RS: When was the first time you saw twp? Where? Memories?
SS: I first saw TWP at CBGB’s in 1994. my only memory was that everyone was yelling for them to play “kennedy” and they wouldn’t do it. RS: For the uniniciated can you describe their sound?
SS: their sound is very fast, jangly guitars with what i can only describe as very british vocals.
Photo by Terri Nelles
RS: Was it much different than shooting porn stars? I know one of the projects Women in Porn you’ve had on the back burner is still in process. Has that ever going to come-out? Or is there just a flood of that stuff?
SS: Obviously the content was different, but the biggest difference is that when you’re shooting a live concert, you can’t stop if there’s a problem, so you have to be better prepared technically. I hope to eventually finish the porn project, just have been busy with life.
RS: Was it easy to shoot this on next to nothing of a Dixie cup budget? Ever think of having a kickstarter account to fund something?
SS: Budget-wise, all I needed was tape stock and a couple of tanks of gas. The biggest expense was airfare to Los Angeles and a couple of nights in hotel rooms in Boston, D.C. and LA.
RS: What has the WP fan base response been like so far?
SS: One thing I learned from this project is that TWP fans are quite loyal and the overall response from them has been really positive. The film was premiered in London in June of ’10 and the feedback I got from that was really great. But I think the best compliment I’ve gotten from more than a few people was that they felt compelled to clap after each song in the film. That they felt like they were watching a live show.
RS: Seems like everybody and their mother is making documentaries. For instance the One about City Gardens and Randy Now. Would you do something like this again? What would you do differently?
SS: There are definitely a lot of docs coming out about everything under the sun, but that’s just because it’s so easy to do cost-wise and technology-wise these days. I love music and would welcome the opportunity to work on another band film, but as far as doing it differently, the only change I’d make would be shooting in HD.
RS: Any concert or other documentaries of recent you admire?
SS: I really enjoyed the Curt Flood doc on HBO.
RS: What’s in store for Third Hand Films? I know part of the big plan is to move out to LA. Sounds terrorizing to me but how can people reach you?
SS: I don’t know what is in store for Thirdhand Films. If things go according to plan, yes, a move to the west coast in possible. As for reaching me, only if someone has money to throw at me, steve@thirdhandfilms.com
RS: What are your top 10 songs as of recent? Any new bands? I know you’ve also DJ’d any other career you’d choose?
SS: This is the toughest question. I’m so out of the loop with new bands. I really love the alternate version of “Loving Cup” on the Exile on Main Street outtakes. Cant’ say there’s too much that rattling my brain right now. As for another career, I wanna be a dog whisperer. RS: You once dj’d on prb and where else I can’t remember exactly? What are some of the songs you would put in a playlist with twp? Does not have to be current tunes.
SS: i did shows at wrsu, wtsr and wprb, all at different times between ’92 and ’98. songs that I would play with TWP? not so much particular songs but some bands would be new order, my dad is dead, the cure. RS: Anything else you’d like to add? Words of wisdom for people in film school,etc.
SS: Nothing else to add and my only advise to film school students is have a back-up plan because everyone and his brother is making “films” now.
Roadshow play list: Kennedy MP3 By The Wedding Present from Bizarro (1989) Ceremony MP3 by New Order from Substance French Film Blurred MP3 by Wire from Chairs Missing Seven years MP3 by My Dad Is Dead from The Taller You Are The Shorter You Get (1989) A Night Like This MP3 by The Cure from Head on the Door (1985)
This is a cheap trick but somebody will be looking for it. Song for song Earthquake Glue by Guided by Voices Vs. The best twitter and Facebook posts by friends and enemies. I’m sure there are some good ones so put them in the comments! Like these choice best Earthquake tweets.
my Kind of soldier MP3 There was just a 6.0 earthquake in Washington. Obama wanted it to be 3.4, but the Republicans wanted 6.0, so he compromised. @JohnnyFirecloud
beat your wings MP3 – “Everyone in quake area: go to an open area and “Stop, Drop, and Roll.” Not for safety, it’s just funny to watch.” via @pourmecoffee
best of jill hives “SORRY EAST COAST! DRUNK HULK JUST FIND OUT THEY GO FINISH SEX AND CITY TRILOGY! via @DRUNKHULK
dead cloud MP3 “Send me a text and I’ll text back the address that you can donate 10 dollars to my earthquake relief fund. (fund goes towards cocaine)” via @spotastic
apology in advance MP3 ” I just received a phone call from a bill collector in DC. He told me to “rest assured” he was ok. I will rest when he is dead.” via @dressedinblack
secret star MP3 “Timeline went from quake jokes to OMFG SHUT UP WITH THE EARTHQUAKE JOKES in seconds. It’s like no one wants to take *time* to rage anymore.” via @SteveHuff
of mites and men MP3 “Wait, did anyone check on the people who use Google+? They may not know there was an earthquake. #crickets” via @Bookgirl96
As this summer comes to a near close and stages are getting blown down by the mighty winds killing concert goers and Cheap Trick is getting their set shortened to 7 songs in Cooney Island due to crazy lighting; I’d say things are looking pretty grim for music. Natural disasters aside it’s mostly because somebody was hitting the super suck button with music submissions in my inbox. Well until this past week. I was hoping the fall submissions were going to shape-up. I honestly do try and listen to everything that comes over and I try to be fair so I can share better jems with you but if you are feeling charitable please do give to the Red Cross. We only review stuff that catches our ears but any way here’s a few. Enjoy!
Dave Rave - Live With What You Know
Anne-Marie MP3 by Dave Rave from his new release Live With What You Know This is a official Power Pop alert! This brightened my August of inbox releases that were getting smashed and trashed faster than a PABT street walker because before I knew it I streamed the whole record. If done well this genre of guitar rock never gets old. Catch Dave Rave live Aug 20 Hotel Utah Saloon San Fran buy his shit.
Bones Howell - Hair on The Dog 7"
Hair of the Dog MP3 by Bones Howell 7″ If New York grit and burned meat on the grill is your thing then you might actually appreciate this anti-hipster band. This is a Bauhaus cover done at a fast pace that would have a chick running as fast she could in her pair of trampy glittery gold Roman like heels in the meat packing district all away across the bridges. The flip is called “Nephritis” which was remixed by thee Daniel Ash. [Buy]
Talkdemonic - Ruins
Revival MP3 by Talkdemonic from their new one Ruins – Instrumental folk-art with some nice bass noodling mixed with some cello alla hugo largo meets Calexico in a strange alley with just a tinge of dust with the smooth edges massaged by the string arrangements. Hailing from Portland this is the 4th recorded collaboration between Kevin O’Connor & Lisa Molinero. Get the deal over from the fine folks at Glacial Pace.
The Trews - Hope & Ruin
One By One MP3 by The Trews from Hope & Ruin. This track is as about country alternative as I’ll go but I got to say the vocals and harmonies are great on this track. If your a timid Wilco fan or just like the Goo Goo dolls this should be the sounds in-between. Ripe for the plucking into your next playlist. I like the way the vocals follow the guitar riff on this track and electric guitar tethers right underneath the singer yammering on about North Ontario. You can feel the wind-burn on this seasoned band when the slide kicks in alla The Afghan Whigs like a sunrise beaming on the high-way with just a hint of Greg Dulli swagger. They know what the hell they are doing. [Check them out]
North East rock was never so eloquently defined than by the alternative music vehicle known as Big Dipper. I meant this to be a follow-up post on the music from City Gardens Riot on the Dance Floor post but needless to say when a group makes a melodic dent like these guys did it’s worth one of my retro-posts because a lot of the submissions I’m getting just don’t rank. This is though one of those bands I trekked down to Trenton to see opening up I think for Robyn Hitchcock. Way back when my friend A.Rockman went to Lehigh, I used to go visit him weekend night’s he’d have a late night shift on 91.3 FM WLVR. This is where I first heard Dumbtruck which featured guys from Big Dipper too. This is the independent “college rock” I remember best. Spinning their first EP Boo Boo was a ear explosion of melody and rough guitars minus the delay pedal present in bands like Echo & The Bunnymen with the same sing-song sense. The follow-up Heavens delivered even more of the same jangle rock. Straight-up songs that fit nicely with The Smithereens, The Feelies and the more melodic tunes by Hüsker Dü on my mix tapes. While short lived in their 7 year history it was awesome to see them play on the Heavens tour as I remember them being one of the tallest bands in world who seemed almost cramped up against the low ceiling on the City Gardens stage. Check out their Anthology out now on Merge!
Bonus tracks: Celebrated Summer Strangers When We Meet MP3 by The Smithereens from Especially for you (1986) Stars Grow Colder MP3 by Dumptruck from Lemmings Travel To The Sea (2001) I need to burn something from Positively Dumbtruck which is the correct era unless somebody can swing that my way? On the Roof MP3 by The Feelies from the Good Earth (1986) The Killing Moon MP3 by Echo & The Bunnymen from Ocean Rain
City Gardens Riot on The Dance Floor film skate deck
As hard as we may try to write about new music the past keep coming up again and again like unwanted overgrown hair and reminds me just how truly awesome things were way back when the slang “that was so 10 minutes ago…” never crossed our minds because the landscape of haircuts were so diverse from band to band and scene to scene. We were constantly consuming so much great music at such a rate that personally I think you’d be a fool to stay affiliated to any one genre of music but lets just say punk and alternative music encompassed everything. Including the Skinheads, Skate punks, Ska fans, hardcore fans and metal kids all under one roof.
From about 1986 through 1995 or so I used to go to as many shows as I could at City Gardens in Trenton, NJ which was as dangerous as Newark. A couple times my friends and I showed up to a $5 show like Fugazi and it was just sold out with a line still wrapped around the 1,100 capacity cinder block club. This was pre-internet so the only way you’d ever know about a show in my area was by word of mouth or from a flyer. The best part was the diversity of bands that Randy Now used to book anywhere from The Ramones to Robyn Hitchcock to 24/7 Spyz. This club is where I stage dove for the first and the last time to Fishbone. I got kicked out of the club after falling on my back then paid my way back in again to see the rest of the show from the sidelines. Luckily it was raining and I convinced the door guy it was not sweat but I was just wet. I still think my back cricks from that fall but regardless it was so worth being part of historic venue and experience of really being in the mix at a live show.
There are a little under 5 days left to donate anywhere from $25 to as much as you want to become either a Crowd Surfer or attain Club Owner status over on Kickstarter page to help bring the story of City Gardens and Randy Now to the screen in the flick Riot On The Dance Floor. The more dough the better the soundtrack will be for this movie which; will help Director Steve Tozzi bring this film truly to life. Anyway, here’s some bands I can remember seeing and as I write I keep thinking of more bands I saw play there.
Some bands I saw at City Gardens: good clean fun MP3 by Descendents from I don’t want to grow up Knock It MP3 Fishbone from In Your Face (1986) I Just Want Some Skank | Beverly Hills MP3 by Circle Jerks from Group Sex The Godfather MP3 Dag Nasty from Wig-out at Denko’s (dischord) Turned Out MP3 The Rollins Band from Lifetime (1988) My Wife and My Dead Wife MP3 by Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians from Fegmania! (1985) Waiting Room MP3 Fugazi from 13 Songs Monkey Trick MP3 The Jesus Lizard from Goat Ocean Size MP3 by Jane’s Addiction from Nothing Shocking Hands All Over MP3 by Soundgarden from Louder Than Love We Care A Lot (Slash Version) | Epic MP3 by Faith No More from This is it These two songs pretty much almost demolished the building. I remembering back at the bar trying to get drink and then running right into the mosh-pit when they played Epic. Fun times.
There are bunch more bands of lesser status but none-the less of same level of importance so maybe I’ll do a follow-up post of tunes. I know I’m leaving out a few or at least ones I know I saw!
He heard what he heard and wrote what we wrote about his experience in a shuttle airport van in Barcelona about the artists known as Odd Future. Steve Albini is a bluesman by trade and a engineering purest by profession. For all intent and purposes he is not a starfucker. You won’t find him remixing shit. He records things as he hears them and uses the tools at his disposal to capture the noise in the room. Clearly though the internets loves some good gossips. Personally we find nothing redeeming about Odd Future just some kids making a rukus but remixes and mash-ups are not so bad – we respect the “art” form in a cultural sense. We do think Tyler The Creator and his gang should make as much money as they can now and put it away for their future because it’s not going to last. Here’s a direct quote from Albini’s always more than entertaining old school Electrical Audio message boards that started the war of words. Enjoy!
“The whole trip they complained about not being at a McDonalds and repeatedly shouted for the motherfucker to pull over so they could get some fucking McDonalds nigger. Interspersed with the McDonalds requests were shouted boasts about how often they masturbated and fucked bitches nigger and got paid like a motherfucker fifty grand like a motherfucker. They continued complaining that the trip was taking too long and insisted they be fed immediately all the way to the airport, where their minder presumably fed them.”
“I am quite happy none of them engaged me directly, because at least one of us would have regretted it.”
We admit this is a cheap trick and we’re adding to the noise because we actually like some of the indirect output.
Odd Future Mash-Ups:
This first one of these is the best one of the two mash-upsbelow but download both and compare for yourself. King of Assmilk Flowers MP3 by Gnarlo (Neutral Milk Hotel). Communist Future MP3 Neutral Milk Hotel vs. Tyler, The Creator by Cyclpsrock MP3 (Aka Rob Duffy) Prayer to God MP3 by Shellac from 1,000 Hurts This is not a mash-up but would love to hear somebody make one with the song below. The Admiral MP3 by Shellac from At Action Park
Shellac shows:
8.20 Echo Lounge, Los Angeles, CA, with Autolux
8.21 Echo Lounge, Los Angeles, CA
8.22 Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA
8.23 Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA
8.25 TBA, Portland, OR
8.26 TBA, Portland, OR
8.27 The Vera Project, Seattle, WA
8.28 The Vera Project, Seattle, WA
9.30 Asbury Park, NJ (all tomorrow’s Parties) w/ Chavez!
Ah man you haven’t heard of Matt Pinfield? What’s wrong with you? You must of been really stoned in the 90’s or your’re from Canada. The music industry in the world of DJs and VJs was pretty much catered and curated by him all the way from with his early College Radio days in the mid 80’s to today. If there is a up and coming act Uncle Matty knows about them — no researcher tells him. He just listens and literally gives them a spin. One of those place was the old Melody Bar on French Street in New Brunswick, NJ. He was involved with music from his early days on 99.7 on WRSU as the youngest DJ ever on the air, to 106.3 WHTG Program Director down the Jersey Shore, and recently was on the now format changed RXP in NY. The Music Business is relentless indeed so what’s one to do? Companies buy companies without though of any cultural repercussions.
"Hi I am Matt Pinfield and this is 120 Minutes"
“It’s about going past the mainstream and showing you that there was other great music out there that you might not know. And always presented with passion, rather than hipster cynicism.” – Uncle Mattnj.com
The bad news he’s off the radio right now but still somehow the good news for the music industry is that he’s back in a big way nationally and globally for that matter on MTV2 at 1-A-freaking-M in the morning but then streaming on the hive when-ever we want. What makes him a sonic alternative music godfather is he really gets so much respect from bands from Oasis to the Foo Fighters to all the up coming indies because they themselves found influence in the bands he picked out of the record bin and spun. It’s not fake and it’s not an act. He’s a real music fan in the same way Jack Rabid is. He reads the liner notes, knows the record producers, seen the bands live countless times, knows their history and has interviewed just about everybody there is to know I think.
His presence on MTV2 is the one thing that is right today,even though NY radio is a total horrible fucking mess right now; is that Uncle Matt is now hosting 120 minutes again . Not the current faux-reality MTV bullshit but a monthly show where they show some pretty “edgy” music that’s not your run of the mill auto-tuned boring-ass pop or whatever it is that is being played in clubs these days. The stress of it all and rewards have made his life a disastrous roller-coaster for sure dealing with his own demons through the years but in this debut episode he plays videos by bands we’ve been talking about recently here on the RS Blog like Joy Formidable and Black Angels and he also digs in the vault with something off The Bends where we see Thom Yourke as a punk. So tune-in the last Saturday of every month for 2 hours of rock history and check out some new stuff.
Alternative Playlist circa 80-90’s for Junkies & Alcoholics: Cigarettes & Alcohol MP3 by Oasis from Definitely Maybe (1994) That’s Entertainment MP3 Jam cover by The Wonder Stuff off Never Loved Elvis (1991) Aneurysm MP3 Live Nirvana cover by Local H (1997) Beetlebum MP3 by Blur s/t (1997) I Am One MP3 by Smashing Pumpkins from Gish (1991) Flavor MP3 by Jon Spencer Blues Explosion Live Tuscon
SINGLE REVIEW: Record store geeks are aware Tame the Sun kills amps and vinyl stock from Male Bonding’sEndless Now. This is a virtual high-five over to magician/producer John Agnello, or at least until I see him at the Mercury Lounge show this coming August, 29 2011. This track first leaked via Spin and it’s pretty awesome. Sub Pop’s Male Bonding have all the right ingredients and hooks in this tune. Starts-off with a dirty-gritty ampeg bass and just takes off to outer space from there. The vocals have a my bloody valentine mix and execution approach but just up enough and double tracked with swirly oohs and ahhs further adding fuel to this brash pop with a very fine balance of guitar monster riffage. Where’s the previous release Nothing Hurts hid all the details right under the hiss of the cassette at times making us shove our ears to the speakers to imbibe what was going on. From the first melody this one sails you through the tune as the guitars swing and thrash to the end as not to compete to their no frills indie rock and is exactly what I’d hoped for as follow-up. Check it out!
They are fans. We are fans. So you’ll dig it if you like: Come in Alone MP3 by My Bloody Valentine from Loveless (1991) Dare MP3 by The Wedding Present from Seamonsters (1991 The Second Foundation MP3 by The Ergs from Upstairs/Downstairs (2007) Lost in the Woods MP3 by Pete & The Pirates from little death (2008)
ALBUM REVIEW: There are a lot of fuzz-o-gistics going on with Black Wine’s Summer of Indifference from their familiar So Cals sounds at times that are mixed with some Mission of Burma and then there are these epic zen-arcadian moments that just rip up the planks. There are also dark pop gems like “Maycrowing” with Miranda their drummer singing who’s narrative like storytelling style evens out the Milo-esque keel in this vessel. In earnest all the vocal melodies drive this underground popish outfit. It’s a very fine roast of 80′ and 90’s pre-punk homage and alternative nostalgia mixed together with great song writing effortless care. If Pretty Girls Make Graves made kin with any of the above this is what’d you get. More band name dropping here than F-Bombs on an episode of the Real House Wifes of New Jersey I know; but it’s true. Listening to this album’s summer soliloquy makes this writing thing actually exciting with a band that has so many songs worth listening to in a row. They are champions as they conjure up Olympic rock anthems like well toned athletes can find their pace song after song. The influences and DNA is all in here — they are naturals which may come from their local jerz pedigree perhaps; featuring members of Full of Fancy, Hunchback and The Ergs shinning in full here– This band is realized. Where as their first self-titled full length was charming and rocked well. Jury is still out on their Ian Anderson Jethro Tull cover. This one is mighty and a very strong follow-up not to be left in the bin as it’s already in our top 10 for 2011. That’s All!
Recent Comments