We love the Archers of Loaf around these parts. I’m not sure if Indie Rock as I knew it would have any real meaning without Icky Mettle. Seriously, the record is wholesome college noisy indie rock with just the right amount of grit and sing-along to make it a true college radio break-out. They got weirder as they went breaking boundries staying under the radar from major airplay. Meaning no top 40 hit but all hits on every record in their own right. So it’s about time they did a reunion show. Don’t get me wrong big fan of Eric Bachman’s post AOL band Crooked Fingers which was more neuvo folk with a huge following all on his own but there is no denying the Loaf. I’ll have to find out more about this show and if there are any more shows planned? The past year there has been a bonanza of reunions…
Archers Of Loaf Live Maxwells -IckyMettle Tour
Here’s a live show from 1998 that Captain’s Dead posted last year. The pic above was 1994 or so I think. I don’t remember that era as it was a total blur of some amazing music coming out every month that it was hard to keep up. Also, nice live review of the show on Sunset in the Rearview; apparently some nut from Jersey traveled down to North Carolina based solely on a rumor AOL was going to be playing.
Cue up the tape to the right spot as I remember playing a Sunday night show at the old Brownies around 2000 in the loweast side with Aviso’Hara and for some odd reason (really fucking stupid actually) I left my bass at the front of the stage so I had to return the next night to pick it up right before the Monday night show. The door guy let me in and thank g*d it was there hiding in the shadows. I think we actually got the club a noise pollution ticket and then they became a old hipster disco. Anyway, Then on my way out I run into Joe from Plug Spark Sanjay and a couple other Hoboken friends who had shown up to see Mr. Backman play a solo set with just him and his guitar with a bunch of effects. So I stayed and was blown away and have been a fan ever since hearing and seeing this reimagined style of folkish indie rock. Music is about accidental discovery sometimes and that night was one of those instances. [Get some back catalog Archers]
Crooked Fingers Live Shows:
Jan 21st The Grey Eagle, Asheville NC
Feb 19th The Bell House, Brooklyn, NY
SUPER EXTRA JUICY BONUS:
3. Hit it nowMP3 by Plug Spark Sanjay from Regular Pinto (1999). We’ll have to revisit this record and band properly very soon (actually I think I lost this record so need to get a burn from somebody – help!?) but if there is anything new you’ve never heard of and this is it; you should download this right now. Don’t pause for even a second. It’s the opening track to their debut and it’s a #1 hit and it’s catchy as all get out.
4. Accidental (Moron) MP3 by Aviso’Hara from Our Lady of The Highway. Recorded at The Pigeon Club in Hoboken, NJ by Wayne Dorell. More Our Lady by Aviso’ this way »
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
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.
7 Inch Friday: I remember hearing “You Don’t Love Me Yet” on WFMU and then stumbling on the 7″ in a west village record shop so many moons ago and recall thinking this music is so some crafty stuff even if they were both covers –what a way to do it. Bongwater was Kramer and Ann Magnuson (actress) and were always backed with some great musicians and song writers David Licht and Dave Rick plus a bunch of others. This record like all of the other Bongwater tunes were produced and engineered by Kramer at his studio Noise New York. He would later move recording studio to New Jersey and record bands like Ween, Mars Needs Women and False Front. One of the many shows I caught at cbgbs in 1991 was Bongwater. Magnuson was already a redhead but came out with all this super long wigs wearing some crazy boas and sexily vocalizing with her spoken wordish ways.
If these are the first two songs you hear by underground legends Bongwater they are great ones but if can find it pick-up Double Bummer first which contains some of the early releases and then work your way to Power of Pussy, Too Much Sleep or the The Big Sell-Out from their discography. I hear there is a bootleg I need to try and find but anyway. For many years after the break-up the two did not get along over some shady business dealing that ended in Kramer’s label Shimmy disc going under. Everybody was ready to sell-out in those days with no fear of prosecution. They were a great musical pair in a very new york hip sonny and cher kitchy kind of way. Kramer would play his Hoffner (Beatles bass) up into his gut with out a strap and she would rant about celebrities any where from Bowie, Nick Cave or Lenny Kravitz. One way to think about them is a pre-curser to the band She & Him but the rated X version. Half their set were covers built on soundscape assaults interwoven with Magnuson’s spoken word dream journal and super sexy burlesque outfits. The music painted a picture in my imagination alright that would be soundtrack to many a night. Magnuson still acts and lives in Silverlake and Kramer has moved himself to Florida still offering his reverb mixing services.
Richard Metzger‘s Video for “Power of Pussy.” This song was a super hit except the title would hold it back from any sort of public airplay. It is a cult classic done for $1,000. Great video description and write-up on the Daily Swarm.
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.
So if you rushed to order “This Machine” b/w “Foolish Hand Shake”, by Mr. F (aka Grandpaboy aka PW) the vinyl has sold out but have no fear another pressing is coming. I can’t wait to add to my collection of basement recordings from Paul Westerberg’s alter ego or should I say Wintrope Marion Percival the V! In any case here are a couple older rockers from the ex-replacements front-man. I’d love to be able to stop by his place to hear all tunes he just has laying around. This single came out in 1997 Soundproof and Monolythe records. “I want my money back” swings fast alla early chuck berry or AC/DC – what ever you prefer. He’s a fast talking and guitar picking maniac. If you play it 33 1/3 it does not sound half bad. Lots hootin’ and hollering. With a little precise break where he says “Fuck-it.” It’s a quick throw-down kids. On the flip side is something more country about his shirt giving to him by his sister and maybe you can be the one to help these buttons come undone. Classic Westerberg Lyrics.
I like bands that are born out of boredom the right way vs lost emo kids pretending to be wolves. The Enthusiasts are proud suburbanites brought-up the right way by annoying their neighbors making rockn’roll even gilfy grandmas could admit to liking. We encourage you to help them in their quest to keep their amps fuzzed out, cigarettes lit and their city dreams by getting yerself their IN THE CITY debut 7″ from infirmary phonographic. So what if I’m giving you one of tracks here. it’s much cooler way to impress the girls by spinning the wax. Both sides are great. We particularly like the spaced out jam at the end of My Two Worlds. The A side is about.. well going to the city. Enjoy.
Seven Inch Friday: This little punk rock story is probably one of my favorites although I probably won’t do it justice; it’s funny none the less. It’s the story of how the whole New Brunswick NJ scene got a Buzzov•en t-shirt but first about the music… This here 7″ has three grunge pot smoking epics that came out in 1992 sometime out on the Santa Rosa CA label Kirbdog Records. The band originated out of North Carolina and was led by Kirk Fisher. He was the guy behind the violence. The instigator of sludge metal. Fans of the melvins/eyehategod know exactly who these guys are. They always used horror film samples in-between songs, real smoke and the slower the rock distortion groove the better. After lots of touring and small releases they made it to Roadrunner records and were later promptly dropped. I had the opportunity to see them several times and witnessed first hand their asinine antics of lighting fireworks and kirk pulling a gg allin drawing blood on himself or throwing bottles of bud across the room; then giggling about it like little girls when the victim could not figure out who it was. I thought it was obvious. One time at the Brighton (photo below) Kirk got upset because Sebastian Bach was asked to leave so he wouldn’t get beat up. Sounds funny but apparently he had the good pot. Kirk had his priorities.
The most notable of nights happened when they decided to get in a fight with Buzzkill (NOt the uk band) after playing The Melody in New Brunswick. Now Buzzkill (formerly Butthead ) with just Dan and Bruce are 12 1/2 feet tall combined. The smelly pot smoking hippies did not stand a chance. For all their stupidity and getting pummeled they decided after being kicked-out of the party by force to take their vengeance on one of the party goers cars. In the end Kirk ended up in a orange suite for a few days in the New Brunswick lock-up and they left behind a whole box of T-shirts. Anyway, be sure to update your calender Sat Dec 26th 2009 as Buzzkill are playing The Court Tavern for a reunion show along with Prosolar Mechanics and The Stuntcocks. Bring back the 90’s man. Bonus: Mp3 “Rock and Roll Gas Station” from the album UP on A/T Mp3 “This place sucks” Tooth & Sole Mp3 “Dirge” from the debut I feel like myself again
On this rainy seven inch Friday we have “What is the sound of somebody scraping the underbelly of a jumbo jet” which is how Ethan Stein(RIP) from Captn’ Video, WRSU’s Overnight Sensations and his New Brunswick NJ band Leather Studded Diaphram(LSD) once described The Jesus and Mary Chain to me and I’ve been quoting him ever since because he was so damn right. More on him later but he was always good for long music chats till his unfortunate self destruction. This one goes out to you my friend. This is, from I can tell, the first jesus and marychain release that came out in oh god 1981? I need to get a loop out to actually read the 7″ label but I’m going with it till somebody corrects me. This was later to be followed up with the must have PSYHCOCANDY full length debut by JAMC. I discovered them in highschool before going to college and it was one of those life changing bands that basically broke a lot of sonic rules and were a perfect companion to Day Dream Nation and New Day Rising as those type of get-up and go or go to bed and smoke pot records(either way worked). Anyway, this has got all the killer feedback that can make you want to stick a fork in your ears in order to scratch inside the part of your skull. You eventually get used to it when chorus parts kick-in. Enjoy. A Side: Upside Down – BUY JAMC b Side: Vegetable Man(Sid Barret cover)
Before school lets out we bring you North Elementary a hook filled indie rock band from Chapel Hill NC who has a new full length out called Not For Everyone, Just For You on Eskimo Kiss records. NE remind me of grandaddy meets the big rock of Blue Tip in a can filled with dreamy lyrics and reverb. As a limited edition promotion you can get a split 7″ with their friends Pistolero from Atlanta which reminds me of the warmers/cloud cult mixed with something hooky and smartly mod. Dig it. If you don’t have a record player just go to their site as they are giving you the tracks (oh hell linked below for your convenience) for free of course. I love the split tradition. I wish more bands did this more often but it totally helps if the songs are good and herein is the case. Thanks. Keep them coming!
EndlessSummer (NE covers Pistolero) – Great song. Dig the big oasis type bass groove, which then picks up in to this awesome live lou reed jam circa rockn’roll animal machine. Fuzzy TV Delay (pistolero covers NE) Big drum beat and keys layered in a hand clapping pastiche of what is a minimalist nation of Ulysses style all their own.
Throwing a couple things at ya this on 7″ Friday from the grunge and funk variety. First up is a group called Superconductor from Vancouver, B.C. Canada that featured 10 freakin’ band members at times that came out on Scratch and boner Records (catalog number BR30) out of California (same label as the Melvins) in the very early 90’s. On this release they had (7) seven guitar players, (2) two bass players and (1) one drummer nicknamed on the 45 as follows: Dream Whip (G), It’s on You (G), Thighmaster(B), He who is named (G/V), Flying Fist(G), Noise Annoys(G), El Impacto (D,V,bontempi), Sweet Bitch (B), Alan Smithee(G) and Delicious Warm on (G). This particular release was called Heavy With Puppy, produced by Don Gordon and band, engineered by Ken Marshall in Nov of 1991. The photo above is by Mike Ledwidge and group photo below by Mark Critchley from the inside cover. Now I suppose you’re going to find out what this sounds like if like loud raunchy guitar music. I was always impressed how tightly they could play together and not sound like a washed out mess. Then again I never got an opportunity to see them live but always enjoyed their releases when I could find them. Enjoy the noise man.
Printed on baby side it says “Smoking during pregnancy can harm the baby”
The bonus for today is a cover of “Pump It Up”(Elvis Costello Cover) by Mudhoney that was a 7” promo for the movie PCU. The flip is George Clinton doing a track call “Stomp”. Fun stuff. Enough said.
Mp3 – Pump it up (cover) – Mudhoney Mp3 – Stomp – George Clinton
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