Ween Court Tavern, New Brunswick circa 1993 God Ween Satan Era
Ween is the kind of band that you either love or you hate. They originated from the 4-track cassette culture I grew up on so once you get over that hump you are half way there. They created this reality that was inhabited by the entity known as The Boognish. In this head space they played with tape speeds, drums machines and the occasional puff of pot and called each other dude and Jimmy Wilson a lot. I’m not sure they realized when they were in their teens and late 20’s that suddenly this whole hippie culture of college kids would cling on to them. You know burkenstock culture who also like the Grateful Dead, Phish and James Taylor but it happened and kept them alive and working band for over 25 years. Who knows Aaron Freeman (Gener) and Mickey Melchiondo (Deaner) may come to terms once the glory of Aaron’s solo career won’t be able to put asses in seats. We do hope Marvelous Clouds is successful but to not notice the giant conceptual similarities would be deaf, dumb and blind my dear kiddies.
MoistBoyz City Gardens 2nd show 1995 Photo by The Review Stalker
Mickey has had his solo projects and jam sessions with Chris Harford and the Band of Changes, The Jimmy Wilson Group, and recently local New Hope “old farts” Blueballs and of course the notorious Moistboyz. They even did a set with False Front doing Meddle by Pink Floyd end to end.(which was fucking awesome and I was there.) Anyway, the whole musical ‘click’ down in New Hope is fairly close but what’s really humble about Mickey is he runs a fishing charter service, plays in the local softball team and in general is a very un-rockstar in his off time. I guess the point is he found about his band how everybody else did saying “it was news to him” on their ween facebook page. Which is the sort of crap somebody has to deal with when there is substance abuse and recovery involved. He’s been there the whole time while creating moments of brilliance with his buddy and the occasional turd.
So we think this is a low in the bands history and time will tell what will end up happening. Their 30 year anniversary is just around the corner. All fans of the brown can only hope that slight reprieve will be a short blip for some more songs like Dr. Rock, Puerto Rican Power, Coke on my dick, Spirit of 76 and so on. Lets hope; as there is nothing like what they created but for now enjoy the set from their 1993 tour below. Which was ween at their fucking best. When they became a band it opened up things for them which we love just as much. Starting with Kramer (from The Pod) on bass, Claude Coleman Jr(Drums), Andrew Weiss(bass) and Dave Dreiwitz (bass), Glenn McClelland (keyboards) etc. Seeing these guys was like at one point like going to see Led Zeppelin or at least what we envisioned the long jams were like – truly epic. We also can’t forget their long standing sound guy Kirk Miller who always gave them awesome sound. He was the guy fucking with the delays for their in-between rants. Anyway for some other old photos check out ReviewStalker bookface space.
MUSIC REVIEW: Relations EP by the band known as Relations on 100M Records is synth-punk duo from New York City. The guitars on this are fiercely savage in the way Wire or Wedding Present drive you with subtle use of feedback. They got good tone. The bass peddles you around the bases of this EP with somewhat of Joy Division factory influence here which we think you should check out being there is a drum machine employed as part of the backing band. This EP is over before it begins and we’re already looking forward to more. Don’t know a lot other than to wonder why so much black and white art bands? Why??
We’re big Lightouts fans here on the RS music entertainment blog. We like bands who do good covers and here is yet another one by these guys on their latest called The Big Picture single. This is one of many collections they’ve put out in the past year. Consistent quality always catches our ears. They know 80’s and 90’s alternative rock without the hairspray or use of corny keyboards.
Sounds like this: The Baby Screams MP3 by The Cure from Head on the Door Swan Lake MP3 by Public Image Ltd Second Edition Totally Wired MP3 by The Fall from the Rough Trade Anthology
Who could guess that electricity could inspire sound. That’s what some engineers did many decades back and works with the simplest of contraptions to the most complicated machines to make some pretty epic music.
If you love the nostalgia of the Moog you should check out Synth Britannia Documentary from the BBC. Here it is in it’s entirety below. The first time punks and musicians really heard electronic music was via the soundtrack for the film Clockwork Orange where people were getting raped, tortured and beaten-up. Kraftwerk are the parents of electronic rock music which changed the soundscape forever and as the gear became more affordable punk groups started to adopt the instrumentation. This documentary goes into great detail on the evolution with Joy Division, OMD, Human League and many others making their own electronic music machines. Pretty great introduction to a very deep genre of music which takes you places by painting something almost plastic or lonely. Although considered cold this music paints you in there like you were part of a video game.
Most music chooses its own position in terms of your listening to it. Muzak wants to be back there. Punk wants to be up front. Classical wants to be another place. I wanted to make something you could slip in and out of. – Brian Eno
Download: Spectrum MP3 by Wreck & Reference from their new albumNo Youth. We welcome this second release with open arms as they have added another layer to the muck. This is some dark and dirgy music that incorporates snyths with progish drums and down-tuned distorted guitars like godflesh. It’s fucking out there like godspeed you black emperor. Picture guts of oil spilling out from the underside of a run-away freight train moving in slow motion. That’s their sound -errie as all get-out like pins and needles scraping the inside of your head. Get some >>
More music like that sound man: Atmosphere MP3 by Joy Division Hot on the Heels of Love MP3 by Throbbing Gristle Remember MP3 by Air from Moon Safari Just Can’t Get Enough (remastered version) MP3 by Depeche Mode Souvenir (Digital Remaster) MP3 by OMD from Architecture And Morality The Lebanon (12″ Extended version) MP3 by The Human League from Hysteria
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.
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?
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”.
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.
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.
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.
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)
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)
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