Hundreds of bands have sprung from the very ripe boon-dock known as the New Brunswick N.J. Hub City/Rock City scene, even though some of is straight-up emo basement level variety hardcore. ExVegas was one of the more promising urban alternative legends that morphed into another band called Prosolar Mechanics. EV had a double guitar storm featuring Alex(Saville) the sonic reducer and T.Sands on the V2 Rocket which were more Chicago sounding than anything from Chicagoland(you know jesus lizard, rapeman, etc) Their guitar combo was as serious as a trailer truck on biodiesel fuel injected with amphetamines with a starfire voice led by Amy (now married with children to the sonic reducer). This 7″ cover artwork was illustrated by the very talented and sorely missed E.Gun Aka Eric Gundry (RIP) who used to book The Court Tavern in New Brunswick NJ after Tom Crow for awhile in the early 90’s. This music was recorded at Trax East by Steve Evetts (Supultura, deadguy, Nudeswirl, buzzkill) and was pretty damn close to what they sounded like live. Everything is thick and messy sometimes like rock should be.
Fast forward the time continuum and put the date below in your rock calendar in advance because I’m emailing your from the future. Their next show is gonna be spacey if their latest tune that I have “Primer” is any indication of your coming future. Prosolar Mechanics Live March 12, 2011 Maxwells! BONUS MP3’s: The Future of Sex from Kitra Vol 2 Impact Primer from the web release Last song of the Month – Orchestra of distorted noise meets angry mountain of insects yelling and crawling on your skin like a jungle of mites on your scalp is the best way I could describe it with a electronic infusion of something ecstasy like.
DAISYCUTTER SHITHAMMER 45 Rockville
It’s not a secret around these parts were big on the grunge psychedelic scene. In particular when it about the home grown NJ Variety. So here’s Daisycutter from the Jersey Shore noise scene from back in the day when drug references were still cool on the Rockville label. These folks were more big black tribal jam rock. So if your’re a Monster Magnet fan you’ll like it but more than likely if your a Jersey MM fan you know this schwagg already since at one time it featured Ed Mundel on guitar and of course Reg Hogan on drums and Jim Hogan on the slithering bass. Drop in, dope out & do some crimes with the Shithammer. Download MP3s: Pull Glutton (5 mg) Glutton (10 mg)
Happy Christmas and winter solstice. Heres a four song Nirvana bootleg 7″ put out on Teen Spirit Records(001) from a performance on the Mark Goodier Radio 1 Sessions from Nov 1991. The actual vinyl says they are “Groovey Tunes” by a band called Love Buzz, which is an awesome song on their Sub Pop release Bleach(1989) but most hardcore fans know this but you may not have these live versions which is proof positive they were an awesome live band. Fair to say this is out of print. Enjoy.
MP3 Download: Polly Aneurysm Something in the way Been a son
Bonus: Love Buzz Live in Amsterdam from the same tour 11.25.91. This whole bootleg show is actually the Nirvana record I love to listen to the most because it fuckin’ rocks all the way through and captures the Nevermind (Sept 91) grunge spirit right before punk broke and shit hit the fans and the whole world caught on to the band.
Let’ Barbeque (1983) Adrenalin O.D. is Paul Richard Vocals, Jim Foster Guitar, Dave Scott Drums and Jack Steeples Bass. This was released on On Buy Our Records. a few roving members but were one of fastest bands on the planet. Or at least in New Jersey. Side 1 Suburbia, Old People Talk Loud, Trans Am MP3’s Side 2 House Husband, Mischief Night, Status Symbol MP3’s
how the winter was passed 7″(1993) rodanis: Tara Jane Oneil, Jeff Mueller, Kevin Coultas, Jason b. Noble. side 1 drums by jon cook, side 2 drums by john weiss Recorded by Tony French in Baltimore, Maryland. Put out by Three Little Girls Recordings, Louisville, KY
The first time I ever heard of The Posies and sort of figured out who they were is when I received a three CD Poptopia! Compilation put out by Rhino Records with their hit “Solar Sister” which is this amazing pop-gem all unto itself. The comp set is great because it covers tracks from the 70’s 80’s and 90’s. Fast forward to The Big Takeover 30th Anniversary show summer of 2010, some 15 years later and I actually get to meet Jon Auer. He plays an amazing solo set and does a few songs with Jack Rabid and the guy from The Nerves. Later, It’s the end of night and I’m working the camera and I find a drunk Auer saying all sorts of funny things. He was funny in-between songs too which seems to be true to form. Nothing for the record but he did express he was super thrilled to have played the show. Tonight I run into some cover record where he does a Madonna song and Baby Bitch by Ween from Chocolate & Cheese. I hit hypem and find this bizarre blog by this cockled guy named Blair who posted ‘Baby Bitch’ on his blog called Certain Songs and also posted songs in ode to Craig’s list posting. Interesting idea bag there. Kudos.
Anyway, I find this very public email about how his wife cheated on him and then he sleeps with her sister as revenge but does not tell her and divorces her later. Crazy shit. Which leads me to really appreciating the heart and song writing of Mr. Auer for some reason. He’s a dark guy and an artist who writes about some deep shit like Blair’s post. Personally Baby Bitch is much better song than Beautiful Stranger anyhow Auer drives that home in his performance of it but I digress. Check some tunes out. Hopefully it lead you down a worm hole.
Jon Auer @ The Bigtakover 30th Anniversary Show
Plastic Paperbacks MP3 by The Posies from their new one Blood/Candy. This is a great record. Highly recommended. [Buy] Solar Sister MP3 by The Posies from Frosting on the Beater (1993). Stick this on any pop mix and you’ll be humming it in your dreams. [Buy] Baby Bitch MP3 (Ween Cover) by Jon Auer from 6 1/2 [Buy]
I know how Albini loves digital. In respect i ripped this from the actual 7″. This is Shellac’s first record and first pressing. Each cover is created by hand so each is unique.
I’ll get the artwork scanned if I have it but below are two songs from Bubblegum Thunder‘s third 7″ on Model Rocket Records. Shortly after this came out I joined the band for awhile to play bass. Before that they were a tuned down trio with no bass player. So to make it one lower I came in. Total blast playing with Joseph, Sandor and Brett. This was recorded by Steve Albini winter of 94′ and released that summer. The photo above was from a return trip to record a full length with Albini in summer of 95’ sometime. I remember camping out and drinking some cheap-ass beer in the can on the way there and waking up with a pounding headache like no other. Also got to play the world famous Lounge Ax while we were there. This music will not help cure hangovers that but you will wish you were drunk. It’s pretty rocking stuff if you like the Cows, Poster Children or Don Caballero chances are you’ll dig this. The link above has more.
My old pal David Koslowski has been working on this Alice Donut documentary with Skizz Cyzyk for the past year or so called Freaks In Love. Here’s the very exciting trailer with Jello Biafra, Martin Bisi, Kirk Kirkwood, Greg Werckman, some live footage and band interviews. I had the pleasure of seeing this psychedelic punk band a few times when they were on Alternative Tentacles. One notable time they were one of the highest paid bands to ever play the Court Tavern. Another time they drew like ass and the bar ate it but they still kicked ass.
One of the photos from one of those shows is below. I have a crap load more somewhere but doesn’t matter the events are etched in my mind. The trench coat stunk like BO but the band fuckin’ rocked like nobody’s business. New York does not make bands like this anymore. Not even close. They are above categorization in the same way you need to think twice when confronted by a transvestite that is hot under the bridge. Your mind and loins say wow but there is something disturbingly wrong. You know it is not right. Your brainspace knows it but the words don’t come out. Oh and then they start playing and it makes sense when Jello says in an interview that Alice Donut “are the mising link between REM and the Butthole Surfers” This is just the beginning of the narrative for a genuinely alternative band compared to the bland rock-n-roll your’re used too imbibing these days. Take a deep whiff. That’s your mind melting…
Alice Donut Live at The Court Tavern, New Brunswick N.J.
NJ ROCK SCENE HISTORY: New Jersey has always been a breeding ground for so many amazing bands. The Feed Me I Love Trash record (1990) was put out by the Rodriquez brothers on their Behemoth Records label and is a artifact of the fact. Some of the bands made it out of the pond, some festered and stayed in town while others bred and get out there. The four bands featured on this compilation were Big Nurse, Blisters, Nudeswirl and Leather Studded Diaphram(aka LSD) who unbeknownst to them maybe brought a couple scenes together from New Brunswick and the Jersey shore starting a whole tradition of quality music and cross pollination of sounds and influences on this collectible piece of vinyl. Sure The Smithereens and others were a part of it too but what they all had in common was they played Court Tavern. Here is where they strutted their stuff a club that was open till 3AM on weekends. Those were long nights. All of these bands got drunk in the basement club way back in 1990, destroyed the paneled sealing over and over again and somehow ironically the place is still standing escaping taxes and corporate greed thanks to some serious and devoted music fans. The Court is still in business.
I miss the small back room bar where they used to serve up 16 oz margaritas for $5 bux or shots to candle light while bands blasted the front of the stage. They still make a stiff drink and if luck were a little different folks would be talking about the Hub City Rock City not Seattle but alas it took just one teenage spirit to change an industry that was doing just fine otherwise.
Wow, Jack Rabid has been publishing The Big Takeover for 30 years! Impressive. I must be really old now. F*ck! To celebrate he’s throwing a rockandroll party at the Bell House with all these amazing bands. I don’t remember 30 but please step into the time machine over here:
FRIDAY JULY 30, 2010 THE AVENGERS – Open Your Eyes San Fran ’70s punk legends, featuring Penelope Houston & Greg Ingraham! CHANNEL 3 – Manzanar – Early 80s L.A. manic punk. Like screaming and hollering with tweeky guitars. VISQUEEN – Beautiful Amnesia – Great singing on this track. Female-led Seattle post-punk rockers’ first East Coast shows in 5 years SPRINGHOUSE – Enslave Me – Jack playing his first show with original lineup in 8 years, playing a “normal” set. LIBERTINES U.S. – Bad Memories Burn Are you feeling the nostalgia yet? Reformed Cincinnati ’80s greats first-ever NY show! FLOWER – Empty Head New York postpunk band’s first show in 16 years! I think i have a actual LP lying around somewhere for these guys but I do remember all the bass strumming. Cool sheet alla GVsB. EDP – Wallflower The guitars wrangle and rattle on this one – get your zero T-shirt out and grease the scooter to catch their set. Check out New York’s hard-hitting, Jam-like, mod revival band.
SATURDAY JULY 31, 2010 MARK BURGESS – On The Beach – Get yer ecstasy broker lined up. Manchester England’s Chameleons star. Playing Acoustic and full band! FOR AGAINST – Aftertaste – A little proggy track w/ what sounds like some serious slap back on the snare from Lincoln, NE post-punk legends. Their first East Coast show in 15 years. SPRINGHOUSE – Asphalt Angels – Jack and Co whip out the delay and phaser pedals; playing their second LP, Postcards From the Arctic, start to finish. Spoiler alert this is the opener! THE SLEEPOVER DISASTER – Hold My Tongue This Fresno shoegazer band sounds something like Black Angels and British Sea Power. Come support their first-ever East Coast appearance. DON MCGLASHAN – While you Sleep New Zealand’s ex-Mutton Birds in his only U.S. appearance. STEVE DREWETT – When the Oil Runs Out by Newtown Neurotics main man makes his U.S. debut. JON AUER – The Year of Our Demise Seattle’s Posies star and 17-year Big Star member. THE SHARP THINGS – Now That I’m Back by New York’s acclaimed orchestral poppers! PAUL COLLINS – She Doesn’t Want To Hang Around With You Big starish Poptopia track. Former member of The Nerves and of Paul Collins’ Beat fame. THE CURTAIN SOCIETY – Cave In by veteran Boston shoegazers, also backing Burgess for part of his set. Vocals a little Bryan Ferry a little Sunnyday. Enjoy.
ADMISSION: $25.00 per night or $40 for both LOCATION: THE BELL HOUSE @ 149 7th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215 DOORTIMES: Friday @ 6:00PM and Saturday @ 4.00PM TICKETS ON SALE: www.thebellhouseny.com/calendar.php
Nothing better to raise the holiday spirits than getting a memo from the touch and go folks letting me know that The Jesus Lizard is going to get back together to make some lute on tour from us middle aged punx. As part of the conspiracy T&G is going to re-release Head, Goat, Liar, and Down. Four alternative rock classics from the 90’s. To make the audio attack believable Albini and Weston will be involved in the mastering process. The original line-up of the Howling David Yow, the Denison metalic guitar sounds backed with their back-beat section driving the band with Wm. Sims on bass and McNeilly’s mechanic like drums in this endeavor. If you’ve ever been to a show where it was one big fun swirling mess alla “boilermaker” or “7 vs 8“, you are in for a swell treat. We might break skull or pull a muscle but it’s gonna be fuckin’ fun as all hell.
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