David Byrne & Brian Eno have a new album out today entitled “Everything That Happens Will Happen Today” that you can stream right here. Check it out… its a pretty good record for two old farts.I’d write more here about how great this shit is but I’m in freakout-mode cuz we fly out of LA tomorrow for the UK for 6 weeks…. gotta make sure I dont forget anything. Being in England without the proper undergarments is a bummer.
Speaking of england… The Verve’s new record SLAYS! Check out”Noise Epic”… it really kicks in at about 6 minutes.
Just wanted to let you all know that not only have Jubilee posted two new songs (”In With The Out Crowd” & “Pioneers Get Shot With Arrows (Planet Outer Space Version)” from their upcoming second single, but they have also announced a whole bunch of tour dates for a very extended stay in the UK and Ireland. We’re all really excited to “jump the pond”, get back on the wrong side of the road and start rockin’ again. If you haven’t already signed up for the yearly digital subscription club (Topspin) on their website http://jubilee.la/, I highly recommend doing it now. For what Aaron spends on Red Bull for just one day of his life ($19.99), you can have the band’s entire yearly output of audio, video, photos and an exclusive 7 inch only available to members! It’s a fuckin’ steal kids, get it on and bang a gong while you’re at it.
I also recommend signing up for a couple other artists using Topspin’s subscription software… The first being, Imaad Wasif @ http://www.imaadwasif.com/ (the demos are almost better than the actual album) and the second being David Byrne & Brian Eno @ http://www.everythingthathappens.com/ (not only does their record kick ass but the screen saver they’re gonna be giving away is probably the coolest thing I’ve seen since I was 8 and cracked open my first Penthouse).
Anyhoo… back to us… yeah, Jubilee has new songs up and we’re going on tour for a very long time. The funny part is that once again, I will be tour managing, taking photos, film making, selling merch, wearing as many hats as I can and being the most responsible person on the tour (scary right?). So make sure to come say hi to me at the merch table, don’t forget to bring some cash either cuz we’ll have cool stuff for sale. And I’ll pretty much do anything for an extra 20 pounds.
Jubilee have even MORE shows that will be announced really soon in other parts of the world too, so stay tuned for those, it’s gonna be a fun year to say the least! Just wait til you hear the new songs! In the meantime download this b side from their first single “Rebel Hiss” (video after the jump) called “Fuzz Are Down”.
JUBILEE UK/IRELAND TOUR DATES 2008:
August 21st- Club ifor Bach- Cardiff, Wales
August 22nd- Reading Festival- Reading, UK
August 23rd- Leeds Festival- Leeds, UK
August 24th- Westport Bar- Dundee, Scotland
August 25th- Cafe Drummonds- Aberdeen, Scotland
August 26th- The Raigmore- Inverness, Scotland
August 28th- The Cathouse- Glasgow, Scotland
August 29th- Carling Academy 2- Newcastle, UK
August 30th- The Empire- Middlesbrough, UK
September 1st- Duchess of York- York, UK
September 2nd- Roadmenders- Northhampton, UK
September 3rd- Soultree- Cambridge, UK
September 7th- The Leadmill- Sheffield, UK
September 8th- Water Rats- London, UK
September 10th- Moles- Bath, UK
September 11th- Night and Day Cafe- Manchester, UK
September 12th- Sugarmill- Stoke, UK
September 13th- The Forum- Tunbridge Wells, UK
September 14th- Bar Academy- Birmingham, UK
September 15th- Esquires- Bedfore, UK
September 16th- Louisianna’s- Bristol, UK
September 18th- Bullingdon Arms- Oxford, UK
September 19th- Joiners- Southhampton, UK
September 21st- The Cavern- Exeter, UK
September 22nd- The Orange Box- Yeovil, UK
September 23rd- Bodega- Nottingham, UK
September 26th- Auntie Annie’s- Belfast, Ireland
September 27th- Roisin Dubh- Galway, Ireland
September 28th- Savoy Theater- Cork, Ireland
September 30th- Dolan’s- Limerick, Ireland
October 1st- Whelan’s- Dublin, Ireland
October 2nd- Nerve Centre- Dairy, Ireland
Before we take off the band is finishing up their full length debut album, I’m finishing up the artwork for it, the “in With The Out Crowd” single is being pressed as a CD maxi-single/7-inch and we’re all stocking up on underwear, socks and other tour supplies. You can never have enough underwear and socks on tour! Check these vids…
Joey Castillo of Queens of the Stone Age recording with Jubilee
Jubilee - “Rebel Hiss” music video
Aaron North of Jubilee Feeding-Back @ Shabbey Road
PS. If you haven’t heard the Paul Westerberg (one track) album called “49:00″ (which was for sale at Amazon.com for .49 but now says “not availible” some reason) you’re missing out. I’ve been obbessed with that record. And the Dylan song “Up To Me” off Disc 3 of “Biography” (it’s a b side from “Blood On The Tracks”) has kinda been my mantra lately… I can’t stop listening to it. Why it’s a b side is beyond me. Download em both right HERE….
PEEPEES. If you ordered a “Rebel Hiss” print from me, they are being mailed out this next Wednesday with bonus prints for being late. So keep your eyes peeled on your mailboxes.
Here’s the new Oasis trailer… yep, that’s all I got for you. Getting ready to leave on tour with Jubilee for a few months. Until then you can come see me DJ at these places, pick a night of the week.
Some most wonderful improvements have been made in the translation apparatus’ binary transitance modulators, resulting in report generation with improved readability and accuracy. Thank you to readers who have submitted material to the translation device.
U2: Boy/October/War It says: Bono’s powerful vocals– he got his nickname from a shorter form of Bono Vox (Good Voice)– bring immediacy and energy to the album. And he was matched by the Edge’s guitar playing, which he approached like a painter does a brush, using it as a tool to coat the canvas of the song with sound rather than resorting to basic riffs or simple strumming. It means: Sometimes instead of just wiping it off, I draw squiggles with the stuff that spatters on the screen of my laptop.
¡Forward, Russia!: Life Processes It says: It’s the sort of self-centered angst that engages, and almost wins, a war of attrition on your sense of cultural regurgitation.
It means: If only it was possible to follow track bikes on Twitter…
Nas: Untitled
It says: The main difference is that “Channel Zero” risked alienation by confronting its target head on, whereas when it comes to preaching to the choir and picking easy fights, Nas has no problem being the Morgan Spurlock of this rap shit. It means: Well, how could I call him “Arthur Ochs Sulzberger of this rap shit” and keep a straight face? And if you want to split hairs, he’s more of like Chinua Achebe of the rap game.
Thurston Moore: Sensitive/Leathal
It says: Indeed, even with big-time moves like a Sonic Youth compilation that’s available only in Starbucks and a book with his name on it available in Border’s, Moore’s outsider foundations remain conscious, pronounced and, ultimately, very respected: During a photo shoot for Sonic Youth’s recent Rather Ripped, Skinny T donned a Merzbow shirt. It means:“COLLEGE”
We Versus The Shark: Dirty Visions It says: Yet they’ve hovered close to moments of poignancy and relative quietude on the edges of their perpetual stampede, enough to imply that they might use their all their readily apparent ability towards more discernibly pop ends. It means: I cry after sex.
Three Six Mafia: Last 2 Walk
It says: Of course, it’s arguable that no member of the group has ever been a good rapper, though I’ll happily rep for Gangsta Boo and Koopsta Knicca. It means: You heard it hear first, Gangsta Boo and Koopsta Knicca, dreams can come true!
On July 2nd, Natasha Shneider passed away peacefully in her home. On that day, at 11:11 am, cancer took Natasha from us all… Temporarily… Only for her to begin a new challenge and chapter in her eternal existence. This world lost a woman whose intelligence, individuality, talent, and aura was so incredibly powerful, that even if you only ever briefly encountered her, there’s no way that you could possibly ever forget it, or not have it affect you somehow. For those who didn’t have the pleasure and blessing of knowing, or just meeting Natasha in this lifetime, she will surely inspire even more souls once we’ve all met up with her again on the other side.
Natasha was not only undoubtedly one of the most gifted musical talents we’ve ever had the honor to cross paths with, but beyond her extraordinary gifts as a musician, songwriter, producer, etc., with awe inspiring artistic abilities… Such as the most PERFECT pitch that anyone could possibly be blessed with… She was also a vibrant and electrifying whirlwind of inspiration, who blended her outspoken and fearless nature, with a grace and panache unlike that of any other person we ever have… Or ever again will encounter.
Natasha was always able to see the talents and abilities within each of us, that even we were unable to recognize. Whether it was performing before thousands of people in bands such as Eleven, or Queens of the Stone Age… Or producing young, wide-eyed bands such as Wires On Fire in her home with Alain… She never gave any less than everything she had, and made sure that she pulled the same out of everyone else around her. One way or another, Natasha brought the best out of us all.Please, PLEASE, help alleviate the financial burdens accrued over the course of Natasha’s fight against cancer by donating whatever you possibly can to the Natasha Shneider Memorial Fund here: The Natasha Shneider Memorial Fund. Anything great or small is deeply appreciated.
Also, as a celebration of Natasha’s life, Queens of the Stone Age will be performing a show on August 16th at the Henry Fonda Theatre in Hollywood, California. Please don’t miss this opportunity to honor, and pay tribute to Natasha by way of what she herself respected so very deeply throughout her entire life… The beauty and power of song. All of the proceeds from this event will also be donated to the Natasha Shneider Memorial Fund.
Please forward/repost this message, or the link to the Natasha Shneider Memorial Fund to as many people and places that you can. Thank you.
After several years working around the clock in our clandestine subterranean laboratory, I am most happy to reveal a great breakthrough on a secret project of magnanimous import. Through a most rigorous battery of tests and careful, meticulous examination we have engineering a computerized prototype linguistic translation apparatus which can successfully rework the ultimately inscrutable critical writing — the full meaning of which was once only appreciable to an elite tribe of administrative assistants — to a crude, yet comprehensible text for the common reader. Even with the early-stage bugs in the system, we are thrilled to bring these findings to the community at large.
Albert Hammond Jr.: ¿Cómo te Llama?
It says: At a time when indie audiences are demanding more and more esoteric touches like Afro-pop, lo-fi C86isms, or Balearic revivalism, a songwriter like Hammond feels like a well-needed junk food binge.
It means: Dr. Dog needs to offer XXL tees. ism. ism. ism. Quisiera que él me diera bebés!
Sebadoh: Bubble and Scrape Deluxe Edition
It says: Plucked from the detritus of 90s independent music, B&S may noy [SIC] be the generational touchstone of Slanted and Enchanted or Exile in Guyville (and if Liz was shadow boxing anything, it was exactly this strain of guy culture), but relegating it to the Indie Rock Era nostalgia ghetto, where a band’s “cred” usually dictated the reception of its records isn’t fair, either.
It means: 158 days until I’m 30. 157 days until I’m 30. 156 days until I’m 30. Northern Exposure.
David Karsten Daniels: Fear of Flying
It says: No one expects a modest singer-songwriter to solve humanity’s basic quandaries in 11 songs, but Daniels could learn something from Oldham: In the midst of death we are in life and might as well live, love, lust, even sin, while we wait for the Reaper’s cart to come around and collect us.
It means: At 13, I tried chewing tobacco once, but swallowed and threw up all over dad’s first edition of Absalom Absalom.
The Botticellis: Old Home Movies It says: The main beef here, if you want to call it that, is the tendency to sometimes lapse into nondescript MOR. It means: Pfffffffrrrrrrrrrt!
Ratatat: LP3 It says: There’s something fascinating about the mercenary nature of soundtrack library music– pay-per-use stuff that is composed behind the simple idea of a generating an aesthetic mood; music designed to make your brand cooler or your TV show more action-packed without having to rely on the pre-existing memories that come with, say, a Who song. It means: Uncle Jim’s golfing buddy touched me and told me not to tell.
Various Artists: Nigeria Disco Funk Special / Nigeria Rock It says: If you’re already a fan of funky West African music, I recommend these sets to you without reservation. It means: Can’t wait to get back to listening to Iron & Wine. Sometimes its weird to be white.
Nachtmystium: Assassins: Black Meddle, Pt. 1 It says: The genre’s focus is usually on Northern Europe, but years after Profanatica, Demoncy, Von, Absu and Judas Iscariot among others proved you could make black metal in New York, North Carolina, Texas, and Illinois, projects such as Leviathan, Bone Awl, Cult of Daath, Inquisition, Ashdautas, and Wrnlrd are creating a uniquely American voice within the genre. It means: Mom! I told you not to come in without knocking!
Nine Inch Nails: Ghosts I-IV It says: Plenty of the individual sounds here are just gorgeous, and Reznor even expands his palette a bit to encompass marimbas, banjos, and percussively Beck-like slide-guitar. It means: Just gorgeous! The despicable dining room rug has to go! Is it too much to get my toes done twice in a week?
Hi, I’m Meathead. I’d like to talk for a minute about something very important. I don’t know if you’ve ever watched TV, but if you have, you’ve probably seen at least one advertisement in which the person pitching the product and/or service claims to be mentally unsound. Whether it’s mattresses, televisions, fireworks, eternal salvation, or mattresses, there’s always that one guy who tries to lure you away from the competition by acting like he’s still in Vietnam and there’s a pretty good chance you’re Charlie in disguise. These shizophrenic salesmen range from the non-threatening “I’m so freakin’ nuts that I want to sell you this Blu-Ray player for a price that’s slightly less than you might find at, let’s say, Circuit City” to “I’m so fucking batshit insane that I want to slather my nude body in piping hot Miracle Whip and then stab you in the neck for no readily apparent reason, regardless of whether or not you buy this motherfucking Blu-Ray player, and if you get the extended warranty, I’ll chug this milk carton full of dog’s blood while masturbating at no extra charge”. This guy, for instance, falls into the latter category:
Crazy Gideon is clearly unhinged, and he probably carries a gun. But at least he comes right out and admits that he’s crazy. Then again, don’t they say that if you think you’re crazy, then you’re really not? Crazy Gideon probably wouldn’t sell as many flatscreens if he went by “Emotionally Stable Gideon” or “Gideon Who Has Never Strangled A Man To Death With His Bare Hands For Simply Clearing His Throat”. I would imagine that a good number of these spokespersons are only faking it, their logic being that if they portray themselves as insane, this will make it seem as if they are easily duped into selling their wares at prices so low that they would actually lose money. Sure, you might end up getting anally raped by a man in a Little Red Riding Hood costume, but if you can score a brand new Sirius radio system for only eighteen cents while you’re there, then who cares, right? Bend over and take one for the team.
Personally, that’s not my thing. I prefer XM radio. Also, I prefer to purchase products from people who probably aren’t registered sex offenders. Maybe that’s not so important to you, but it’s just something I feel rather strongly about. And that’s why I never have nor will purchase anything from Billy Mays, who I’m pretty sure is not faking it. I would bet large sums of money I don’t have that he has at least four or five dead kids buried underneath his basement.
Billy Mays has appeared on television pretty much every single day since the late 1940’s, at approximately 2:15 a.m., selling any and every product your feeble human mind can possibly comprehend, as well as several it can’t. He’s sold citrus-based cleaning products, car wax, earrings, razors, earrings with razors on them, hand grenades, health insurance, and unflattering photos of your sister getting it on with the cast of According To Jim, and he’s done it all simply by yelling. That’s all he does. And if he doesn’t get what he wants, he’ll simply yell louder. This guy manages to move products off shelves and into your closet by screaming at you until you finally give in and send him your credit card information just so he won’t break through your television, knock your teeth out and then touch your wife in a familiar manner. Thankfully, thus far I’ve managed to grab the remote and frantically change the channel in a cold sweat before he got to me. But I know someday he will. I can’t hide from him forever. He knows I’ve yet to purchase a lifetime supply of Easy Off Bam!, or the Samurai Shark knife sharpener, and it’s eating him up inside. Sure, he may be smiling underneath that spray-on beard, but it’s not a “Hi, I like you, let’s eat some liverwurst and talk about our feelings” kind of smile, it’s more of a “Hi, I want to put my evil inside you with the Gopher reach extending tool” smile. You know what I mean? Can’t you see the hate in his eyes? Look carefully:
I could be wrong, but I have a sneaking suspicion that Billy Mays may enjoy a little bit of the nose candy. And when I say “a little bit”, I mean as in “Al Pacino snorted a little bit of coke in that scene from Scarface.” And while most cokeheads I’ve encountered have had their lives pretty much ruined by the stuff, Billy Mays was lucky enough to land a job that asks for nothing more than to A) yell constantly, B) appear convincingly enthusiastic about things like car wax and lint brushes, and C) have a beard, or at least something that sort of resembles one when you squint. In exchange, he receives vast sums of money. Let’s be honest, has there ever been a position more perfectly tailored for a cocaine addict? It’s practically a job requirement.
It just kind of blows my mind that people actually say to themselves, “Well, I didn’t think I needed an electric sock straightener, but Holy Christ, this guy really looks like he believes in it, so let me just go ahead and charge four easy monthly payments of $19.95 to the ol’ MasterCard.” Companies that invent useless shit hire Billy Mays because, somehow, he actually sells said useless shit. I guess on some level I’m just jealous. I wish I knew what his secret is. Why I can’t I scream at people and make them give me money? Then again, I’ve never tried drawing a beard on my face with a Sharpie. Maybe that’s the trick.
Someday, in the relatively near future, Billy Mays will start his own suicide cult. Seriously, I’m not kidding. I am absolutely certain of this. All he has to do is say “Hi, Billy Mays here for the Billy Mays Death Cult. Have you always wanted to know what it’s like on the other side? Well now you can!” Then, about five days later, it’ll be all over CNN. I mean, honestly, what does he have to lose? He obviously has no soul. And when it finally happens, you can say you heard it here first. Thankfully, Zorbeez absorbent towels can handle any mess, even copious amounts of blood! Then just pour on some Orange Glo and you’re good to go.
To help make this blog post somewhat pertinent to the topic of music, and therefore justify its existence on Buddyhead.com, here is a picture of Jim Nabors:
“America has lost a great public servant and true patriot today,” a White House spokesman said, after learning of Senator Jesse Helms’ death on the Fourth of July.
Yes, we will truly miss this great man, who was a champion for the interests of rich, white, heterosexual Christian males everywhere. He’s with Jesus now, hanging out with Jerry Falwell and waiting for Billy Graham and Pat Robertson to show up. We at Buddyhead (well, me, at least) would like to pay tribute to Mr. Helms by sharing some touching remarks made by the late Bill Hicks:
Also, here is a beautiful song by MC Hawking that sums up this great man’s life much more eloquently than I ever could.
Happy Monday! Here’s a present, Buddyhead readers: The Verve just posted a new “non-album” track on their website called “Mover.” Click here to download it from them, or skip that horse shit and download it from us below. Either way, you win.
I wasn’t too impressed with the slightly dorky, sample-heavy single they thew out on the internet last week, “Love Is Noise”. But I can’t complain because I’m glad to have them back together. Plus, since I’m the one who actually got the band back together via “The Secret” I’m taking full responsibility for this one. So here is your new guitar-based Verve track “Mover,” which might not blow minds, but destroys that other single. At least we know Richard still “can’t sleep at night.” (Yo dude, it might be the cocaine.) Thankfully, he isn’t gotten arrested for trying to work with the children while he’s way too high lately…
Buddyhead needs a little help from our friends….. that means you talented people!
As I mentioned a little while ago, we once again have something of a staff here at Buddyhead. Some of them are old school names you might remember from the classic days, like Nate Cavalieri, and some are fresh and exciting new ones, like Meathead and Sonny from GSL. We’re going to start putting together monthly, bi-monthly or whenever-the-fuck we-feel-like-it “issues” of Buddyhead, kinda like we used to do back in the day. Yes, we’re building a time machine. In addition to a bunch of features and interviews, we’re gonna give you, the way-back readers of Ye Olde Head, what you’ve been asking for: Gossip. (Cue soaking of panties and popping of nerd boners.)
Since love is a two way street, here’s where you come in: We’re recruiting foot soldiers in the multi-media empire of tomorrow. Particularly, we’re seeking the following.
– People who shoot, edit or produce video
– Web designers
– Accounting and record label managers (Fred’s heading back to France)
– Rock journalists with good taste
– Someone to sells internet ads
– People who can make fine baked goods, who want to promote events, who do odd jobs (like groom the hair around Aaron’s weenie) and who love music, art, film, cool shit and like to write about it.
If you read the above and think “Shit, they’re talking about ME!” send an email to nate@buddyhead.com, and copy travis@buddyhead.com and meathead@buddyhead.com. Explain why you wanna work for Budyhead for free, what you think you can offer and some samples of your work. We don’t even have money to pay ourselves at this point, so if you’re looking for a paycheck, look elsewhere. Hopefully this comes off the right way: the vibe we’re going for is PMA (Positive Mental Attitude) and we want to be very up front and make sure all possible helpers know about our financial situation: its a kinda scrappy now, but we’re sure to lighting cigars with burning C-notes in the days to come.
Ok…. now I gotta go fill out insurance forms. Party time.
The past week could be summed up with three quotes: “When it rains it pours”, “shit floats” and “Axl Rose has no sense of humor and sent us a cease and desist!”
Fockin’ hell has it been hot! I checked the weather channel at one point last week and it said that it was about 250 degrees here in Los Angeles. Which is really ideal when you drive an old car (like I do) that doesn’t have AC or power steering (it’s a 73 and they invented power steering/windows in 74). To make things even worse some idiot-lady (who was looking at her cell phone and picking her nose) plowed into the back of my car going about 40 miles per hour while I was at a dead stop. Fun times! And this was only three days after I’d gotten it back from the mechanic’s shop where it had been for three months. I must have done something bad… cuz that’s some fucked up car karma. But things could be worse, at least it still drives and at least I didn’t get hurt. Anyways, now that I’ve broken the ice with all this weather and car talk, let’s snuggle up and talk about how two of my favorite British bands have new records on the way! FUCK YEAH!
First off… on August 18th (in the UK), or August 19th (if you’re teeth aren’t crooked and you live in North America), The Verve are releasing their fourth album cleverly titled “Fourth”. It’s their first record in 9 years and it’ll be out on their own imprint “On Our Own” (which happens to be one of my favorite songs by them). Check out the first single “Love Is Noise…
And here’s the tracklisting. If any of you little record stealers out there find it out there on the interweb, email me them shits…
The Verve - “‘Forth” Tracklisting:
1. Sit and Wonder
2. Love Is Noise
3. Rather Be
4. Judas
5. Numbness
6. I See Houses
7. Noise Epic
8. Valium Skies
9. Columbo
10. Appalachian Springs
The Verve Tour Dates:
06.27 Cornwall, England - The Eden Project
06.29 Glastonbury, England - Glastonbury Festival
07.04 Werchter, Belgium - Rock Werchter Festival
07.05 Bobital, France - Bobital Festival
07.11 Balado, Scotland - T in the Park
07.16 Livorno, Italy - Italia Wave Festival
07.18 Barcelona, Spain - Summercase Festival
07.19 Madrid, Spain - Summercase Festival
08.09 Tokyo, Japan - Summer Sonic Festival
08.10 Osaka, Japan - Summer Sonic Festival
08.16 Weston Park, England - V Festival
08.17 Chelmsford, England - V Festival
Metallica high on cocaine talking about Oasis and Blur
Secondly (and way more importantly), on October 7th, I will be running to the record store (if there are any by then) to pick up my copy of the seventh studio album by the greatest current rock band in the world…. OASIS! They’re sticking with the four word title just like the last record and calling this one “Dig Out Your Soul”. The first single, “The Shock of the Lightning,” will be released one week earlier on September 29, 2008.
Noel had this to say… “I wanted to write music that had a groove; not songs that followed that traditional pattern of verse, chorus and middle eight. I wanted a sound that was more hypnotic; more driving. Songs that would draw you in, in a different way. Songs that you would maybe have to connect to - to feel.”
Oasis tour dates (with special guest Ryan Adams)
8/26/08: Seattle, WA - WaMu Theater
8/27/08: Vancouver, BC - GM Place
8/29/08: Edmonton, AB - Rexall Place
8/30/08: Calgary, AB - Pengrowth Saddledome
9/1/08: Winnipeg, MB - MTS Center
9/4/08: Ottawa, ON - Scotiabank Place
9/5/08: Montreal, QC - Bell Centre
9/7/08: Virgin Festival Toronto, ON
9/9/08: London, Ontario - John LaBatt Centre
While on the subject of Oasis and how rad they are… check out this video of Noel Gallagher going through “Definitely Maybe” track by track and explaining each song. In the process he clears up “Digsy’s Diner”…. which is actually “Digsy’s Diner”. Fuckin’ typos man.
Speaking of brit pop… This documentary is worth the hour of your life needed to watch the entire thing…
7 Ages Of Rock : British Indie Part 1
7 Ages Of Rock : British Indie Part 2
7 Ages Of Rock : British Indie Part 3
7 Ages Of Rock : British Indie Part 4
7 Ages Of Rock : British Indie Part 5
7 Ages Of Rock : British Indie Part 6
7 Ages Of Rock : British Indie Part 7
7 Ages Of Rock : British Indie Part 8
7 Ages Of Rock : British Indie Part 9
George Carlin died last week. RIP. Why couldn’t you have taken Carrot Top God? Fuck man!
Bill Hicks is still dead and still one of the most underrated comedians ever.
Somebody sent me six (new?) AA Bondy tracks and linked me to a video of him playing a song called “O The Vampire” on Indie 103FM. Here are two of the songs I was sent, the second one being a Bruce Springsteen cover. Dig it.
Tune into Indie 103FM (or listen here online) sometime around 9am today, because I’ll be on “The Morning Show with Joe Escalante” talking about cool shit like Buddyhead, Jubilee and whatever else Joe wants to rap about. I’m bringing Mike from Jubilee / Queens of the Stone Age with me because it’s so early I need a sidekick in case I’m so tired I can’t remember how to talk. I’ve heard Joe’s show a few times and it’s pretty funny… my favorite part is David Lynch doing the weather with “The Cabin” by Josh Freese in the background.
Update: Someone recorded part of the show we were on and here it is as an mp3, enjoy. Thanks to Joe Escalante, Mark Shovel and everyone at Indie 103FM for all their support.
Jerry Casale (Devo and Jihad Jerry) on “The Morning Show” (03.07.07)
Speaking of Devo and (their drummer, and everyone else’s too) Mr. Josh “I Don’t Know How To Call Travis Back” Freese… check out his latest youtube creation. Someone please give this man a multi-million dollar budget and let him make a full length feature film. If David Lynch gets to, Josh should too. Anyhoo… we now give you…. Josh Freese Presents: “We Are Devo And We Are Shell Boy”
Later tonight I’m DJing what sounds like it’s gonna be a really cool party down south. The soiree is celebrating the launch of Vestal’s newest collection and is being held @ the Vestal HQ (730 West 17th Street Costa Mesa, CA 92627). Some band that I’ve never heard, called Dark Meat is playing. I’m told they are a 17 piece psychedelic rock “collective”… I tried listening to them on their myspace page but it kept freezing my computer cuz they have so much shit on there, but they did have this photo on there so even if they totally suck balls it looks to be a fun party anyways. Plus I’m bringing Casper Adams and he said that if the party starts to drag and the beach bunnies aren’t into us he’ll whip his dick out and put in the cake. But I have faith that’ll it’ll be a zinger cuz Derek from Vestal told me that doors are at 8pm, it’s all ages, there will be “free absinthe bars and shit”, a preview of the 2008 Fall/Holiday Vestal line and many special guests (which I’m guessing is going to be Oasis)…. plus I’m DJing. Show up if you’re in neighborhood.
Vestal Music Minute Interview: Jesse “Boots Electric” Hughes
Arthur Magazine, one of the only music publications in the modern world that actually doesn’t suck and matters, needs a cool $20,000 or “it will die”. So if you’re a rich guy with bad karma, here’s your chance to straighten that shit out. If you’ve got that kinda coin laying around, sent it over to these hippies so they can keep writing about cool music and art. Good luck dudes! Love, Buddyhead.
Here’s what they posted on their site explaining their situation:
06/26/2008 Arthur Magazine needs $20,000 by July 1 or it will die.
Posted by arthur magazine staffOne year ago I ran up my credit cards and borrowed money from friends and family in order to buy out my ex-partner in Arthur. Since then I have maxed out my personal and business credit cards to service that debt and to start up publication of Arthur again. We have worked very hard with very little resources: some of us could afford to work pro bono, others could afford to work at well below market, still others couldn’t afford to work for Arthur but did it anyway.Still, we have bills to pay, and debt to service. Starting up again costs money. And my credit cards are now maxed out.
On the heels of lower than expected ad sales (although they are trending up), increased production and distribution costs (higher quality printing and paper, higher fuel costs, increased printrun), and an “under-performing non-magazine product” (the Living Theatre dvd, for which we’ve sold less than 25% of the printrun since launch, received zero reviews or notices, etc), spiraling debt service payments (now $2k a month) on startup costs, and most importantly ZERO NEW BACKERS… we’ve finally reached the point where
WE HAVE NO MORE MONEY.
If we don’t obtain at least $20k in the next six days, ARTHUR is done. Our long-term prospects are good, if we are fortunate enough to make it through this rough patch.
Please help. No donation is too small.
Our preferred method of payment is Paypal. It is a free service to buyers, and enables you to pay directly By VISA, MASTERCARD, AMEX, DISCOVER or from your checking account or debit card. You can also convert foreign currency to U.S. dollars. Signing up only takes a few minutes.
Please use PayPal to make a donation to editor at arthurmag dot com
Thank you.
Jay Babcock
Arthur Magazine
Link: http://www.arthurmag.com/magpie/?p=2932
I’m sure if you could spread the word somehow on your blog or whatever, you could REALLY help to get them to pull through, and hence why I’m emailing you about it.
UPDATE: I’m reposting this article/interview for a few reasons. First off I wanted to let you all know that “Pacific Ocean Blue is now out and in stores! So, go buy yourself a copy. It’s a ledgendary record, the “new” songs are killer and the packaging is nothing short of amazing. I also wanted you all to check out this really cool EPK the label put together… hopefully they’ll end up doing a full length feature documentary after this. It’s a great story that needs to be told… plus I’ll direct it! Let’s do this!
Now that the record is out and in store, I re-posted the two tracks I originally wanted you guys to hear. Check out “River Song” and “Under The Moonlight” down below. Oh, and check out the “numbers” this baby has already done… pretty surprising and impressive I think. Congrats go out to everyone involved in this…. Gregg Jakobson, John Hanlon, Jim Guercio, Taylor Hawkins, everyone at Sony/BMG/Legacy and the man himself…. Dennis Wilson. RIP.
# 4 ROCK RELEASE ON AMAZON.COM DAY OF RELEASE
# 8 DEBUT ON BILLBOARD’S CATALOG CHART
# 2 BEST SELLER AT AMEOBA RECORDS IN LOS ANGELES
# 16 DEBUT ON THE UK ALBUM CHART
I’ve got some good news music fans, check this…
On June 17, 2008 Dennis Wilson’s critically acclaimed solo opus, “Pacific Ocean Blue”, will be re-released, expanded and titled “Legacy Edition”! Yes, that was a collective “FINALLY!” you just heard from fans worldwide. Lemme explain a bit, not only have 20 new tracks been added to it but this album has been out of print for almost 20 years now! It’s now considered a “lost classic” to pretty much everyone who’s heard it. My favorite music magazine, Mojo, champions it every chance they can. Example: they listed it as one of “The 67 lost albums you must own!”. You can pre-order the new 2xCD for $23 bucks from Amazon by clicking here. I dare you to buy this amazing record RIGHT NOW. As Rollins might say… “DO IT!”
Released (only a month after I was born) back in August 1977, “Pacific Ocean Blue” made Dennis Wilson (who was known in some circles as the “troubled alcoholic drummer”) the first Beach Boy to release a solo record. Think that hurt a few egos?
Not only was Dennis first but he proved he could make really good records on his own as well. To me, “Pacific Ocean Blue” sounds way more like California than “Pet Sounds” or any other Beach Boy’s record does. It was produced by Dennis and his close friend & writing partner Gregg Jakobson. They co-wrote songs for The Beach Boys in the past including “Forever” (which is on every best of I’ve ever seen), “Baby Blue”, “Celebrate the News” and “San Miguel”. “Pacific Ocean Blue” shot up the U.S. charts and “peaked” at #96 (and was on them charts for 12 weeks). It went on to sell almost 300,000 copies (which out sold all those whack disco records The Beach Boys were putting out at the time) and then it went out of print for about 20 years. I’ve seen the cd on ebay for as much as $250…
Gregg Jakobson and the album’s original engineer, John Hanlon, went back into the studio this past year, brought up all the old tracks and finished what Dennis left unfinished. They are the reason this new re-issue comes with 20 previously unreleased tracks including some that were supposed to be Dennis’s follow up album which he was working on when he died. Here’s what the press release says you’re gonna get when you buy it:
The first disc is the original album newly remastered by Vic Anesini from the 1st generation master tapes, which for whatever reason were not used for the ‘91 CD, and 4 bonus tracks listed below. Disc Two, Bambu (The Caribou Sessions), is a roundup of various tracks that Dennis recorded during his term as a solo artist for Jim Guercio’s Caribou Records. Bambu was to be the follow up album to Pacific Ocean Blue but was never completed. One point I want to make about the unreleased recordings is that we’re not saying this is what Dennis intended to be the finished Bambu album but a compilation of the best tracks he recorded during the POB/Bambu/Caribou period. The truth of the matter is that Dennis recorded constantly during this period and tracks that have been labeled as Bambu tracks over the years were started before and during Pacific Ocean Blue sessions. Who knows for sure what would have ended up on the final album but we do have the roadmap for where he was going. We’ll save all of the details for the liner notes but the bottom line is if you’re a fan you won’t be disappointed. If you’re not familiar with anything I’m yapping about then prepare to become a fan of a great lost classic album by a grossly underrated artist that hopefully will be rediscovered by a whole new audience. Or to put it bluntly as my dear departed friend Nick Venet once said to me, “You either get it…or you’re an asshole”
All of the reviews I’ve seen so far have been really positive (somewhere in the ballpark 4.5 to 5 stars out of 5), but a couple reviews have been questioning why the unfinished demo of “Holy Man” has been finished with the addition of a vocal by Taylor Hawkins, the Foo Fighters drummer. Like this review here from Uncut for example. First, let me admit that when I first heard Taylor finished a Dennis song, it didn’t sound like a very good idea. Man I was wrong (which is a pretty rare thing mind you). After hearing both the version of “Holy Man” on disc 2 and the “London Version” (which will come out as a a single separately and features Brian May & Roger Taylor of Queen singing the chorus, doing back ups, Rog lays down some sick percussion and Brian rips a “face-melting” guitar solo as well) all I can say is that Dennis would be proud of how everyone came together and finished his song in a very tasteful and Dennis-like fashion.
I was curious how they finished a 30 year old Dennis Wilson song without Dennis here? And from reading all the reviews of I could tell allot of other people were also wondering about this “Holy Man” story. So to set the record straight I asked my friend Gregg Jakobson what he had to say on the subject. Here’s what he told me…
“For all of you who are wondering about this Taylor Hawkins vocal on Holy Man…
Here’s the thing. When we first started - Dennis was so inspired. He had met his first Holy Man, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. He couldn’t believe there really was such a person.
The tracks for Holy Man came easy and they were great. (inspired event) We tried and tried on the lyrics. Other people tried. They all ended in the waste basket. It was very frustrating but Dennis always said, “Gregg, don’t worry about it. It’ll happen.” And it did - but -many years later, all at the same time. Maharishi died. (He was the inspiration). Taylor was in town, a fan of Dennis’s. He’s also a family friend and interestingly enough has the same gravely, whisky, smokers voice as Den. They sound very much alike. We were in the studio mixing the Holy Man track, Taylor comes down to the studio, we hammer out a lyric, Taylor sings it. Perfect! It was meant to be. Destiny.
For Dennis, this is what music is all about. He would have been so honored that all these talented people came together to finish one of his pieces.
For Dennis, it was always about brotherhood! The brotherhood of music.”
-Gregg Jakobson
Baba Jake
I also hit up my other friend Taylor Hawkins (who is a bearded surfing drummer just like Dennis) and asked him a few things about Dennis Wilson, Holy Man and Queen. Here’s what he told me:
“I first heard Dennis’ album from Greg Jakobsen who was the father of my girlfriend at the time. The thing that struck me the most was the rawness of it and how it reminded me of John Lennon’s - “Plastic Ono Band”. I was also struck by the childlikeness of the delivery. There was no sort of airs and graces to the lyrics; they were simple and universal, and I believed them. It’s a record that when I listen to it I believe what he is saying. It grew to become one of my favorite albums of all time. Dennis is somewhat of an icon to me, because he was the only real surfer in the Beach Boys and he kind of represents the real California Beach Bum Rock and Roll vibe. It amazes me that throughout the mid to late 70s, Dennis’ music really was the only vital music being made by anyone in the band.
As far as me playing or singing on this song it really came out of me and Greg just staying in touch and they just wanted to finish the track. There is no other connection than that. I wasn’t trying to sound like or mimic Dennis, I just wanted to do him and his legacy a bit of justice.
And as for the members of Queen getting involved, I have been stalking them for years and seeing as the Beach Boys were a big harmony group, I figured why not ask Brian and Roger if they would want to lend their beautiful harmonies, which I sometimes felt were Beach Boys inspired to this loving tribute.”
-Taylor Hawkins
A documentary clip about Dennis…
In case you aren’t familiar… Dennis Wilson was (and still is) to most people, THE Beach Boy. Sure Brian was the genius and the heart and soul of the band as far as songwriting went, but he spent all of his time couped up and tripping out with his feet in a sandbox. Dennis was the one all the guys wanted to be, he was the rebellious one who didn’t really give a fuck, tended to bend and at times break the rules, the one all the girl’s swooned over, the one who drank the most, the one who drove the fastest cars and he was the only Beach Boy who actually surfed! In short, he was the cool one and I highly recommend you buy this newly available album I’ve been in love with for years now.
Al Jardine on Dennis
And I’ll now leave you with a few Dennis quotes:
“All I need is a big surfboard and a piano.”
“They say I live a fast life. Maybe I just like a fast life. I wouldn’t give it up for anything in the world. It won’t last forever, either. But the memories will.”
” I don’t know why everybody doesn’t live at the beach, on the ocean. It makes no sense to me, hanging around the dirty, ugly-as-shit city. That’s why I always loved and was proud to be a Beach Boy; I always loved the image. On the beach, you can live in bliss.”
“Pacific Ocean Blue” Legacy Edition Tracklisting:
Disc: 1
1. River Song
2. What’s Wrong
3. Moonshine
4. Friday Night
5. Dreamer
6. Thoughts Of You
7. Time
8. You And I
9. Pacific Ocean Blues
10. Farewell My Friend
11. Rainbows
12. End Of The Show
13. Tug Of Love (Previously Unreleased bonus track)
14. Only With You (Previously Unreleased bonus track)
15. Holy Man (Instrumental) (Previously Unreleased bonus track)
16. Mexico(Previously Unreleased bonus track)
Disc: 2
1. Under The Moonlight (Previously Unreleased)
2. It’s Not Too Late (Previously Unreleased)
3. School Girl (Previously Unreleased)
4. Love Remember Me (Previously Unreleased)
5. Love Surrounds Me (Previously Unreleased)
6. Wild Situation (Previously Unreleased)
7. Common (Previously Unreleased)
8. Are You Real (Previously Unreleased)
9. He’s A Bum (Previously Unreleased)
10. Cocktails(Previously Unreleased)
11. I Love You(Previously Unreleased)
12. Constant Companion(Previously Unreleased)
13. Time For Bed(Previously Unreleased)
14. Album Tag Song(Previously Unreleased)
15. All Alone
16. Piano Variations On Thoughts Of You (Previously Unreleased)
17. Holy Man (Taylor Hawkins Version Previously Unreleased bonus track)
Also check out Dennis in “Two Lane Blacktop”. A 60’s film that’s up there with “Easy Rider” and “Vanishing Point”.
“Two Lane Blacktop” trailer
Update: Read what Aquarium Drunkard had to say about the Dennis Reissue by clicking here. I love that website. Although I recommending not listening to the Bootlegs they have up if you’ve never heard “Pacific Ocean Blue” or aren’t a die hard Dennis fan… which is 99% of you reading this… even Gregg who produced the album says they’re un-listenable.
Sorry I’ve been a tad AWOL from this site… but I’m just a human, a victim of the insane. And I’ve just been super busy dealing lots of really positive stuff over in Buddyhead / Jubilee-Land. But that’s a whole other post I’ll throw up soon…. (Photo of me taken by Troy Boy)
UPDATED: THURSDAY NIGHT = I AM DJING @ BAR CHLOE (SANTA MONICA)
Tonight June 26th 2008, and every Thursday, I will be DJing @ Bar Chloe with my friend Ian Rogers (Topspin/FISTFULAYEN) from 8PM till Midnight. We’ll be playing our favorite rock n’ roll, bl
I could be wrong, but I have a sneaking suspicion that Billy Mays may enjoy a little bit of the nose candy. And when I say “a little bit”, I mean as in “Al Pacino snorted a little bit of coke in that scene from Scarface.” And while most cokeheads I’ve encountered have had their lives pretty much ruined by the stuff, Billy Mays was lucky enough to land a job that asks for nothing more than to A) yell constantly, B) appear convincingly enthusiastic about things like car wax and lint brushes, and C) have a beard, or at least something that sort of resembles one when you squint. In exchange, he receives vast sums of money. Let’s be honest, has there ever been a position more perfectly tailored for a cocaine addict? It’s practically a job requirement.
