Saturday, August 02, 2008

"Have You Heard About The World?"
The Lost Crusaders (Everlasting Records)

Michael Chandler is born again. For a guy that’s been to the furthest reaches of the burny fire, he’s sounding damn chipper. Having opened a case of cans containing industrial grade whuppass on said demons, I don’t think he’s ever been in better voice recordedwise. And that’s saying something.

Taking a perennial r&b gospel blueprint, he’s rallied a crack squad of volunteers to assemble a rock’n’rollin’, soul salivating, countryfried octophonic spree. In the liners, Mike Edison states that this crew exist to “lead the stranded mojo-hungry hordes out of the barren desert of contemporary “rock” music”. That seems accurate to the nation of understatement.

The music is anything but understated. This 12 chunk, redemptive, righteous barn-storming hymnal is yours live by. If you’re ready to testify then step into the confessional. It’s an all-star cast including wir ain Laura Cantrell taking lead vocals on a couple of tracts. These aren’t tracks, brothers and sisters, these are oozing the kind of energy that ain’t trapped too often these days. These days, the Chandler rasp is prime Doll period Johansen whilst retaining that trademark shout factor. Keith Streng and the Heavy Trash fellas (playing Stereo in Glasgow on September 28th) are also part of the party. The rhythm interplay with the keyboards is mesmerising and could well have you gabbing in tongues out of the traps. Rolling this holy comes from deep within. Chemistry this explosive is destiny, not premeditated. Spiritual to the point of ablaze.

“Whose Name Will I Call?” is like a cool, lost Wizzard stomper and “It Don’t Worry Me” is like a sick twist on something from the Godspell musical. Chandler has put together a revue that will lay its collective sonic hand upon you to cast out any rogue spirits that made you settle for third best. He’s been to the wilderness, did his penance and has come out the other side with some serious fire in that belly.

As visionary things go, this is rabble rousing stuff. Live it’s liable to cure whatever ails anybody anywhere. Preaching it like he feels it, Mike is a bona fide soul survivor. Find The Lost Crusaders and let them in. I’ll leave you with Rev. Edison’s sign off… “Their message is simple – live, breathe, dance, sing, shake. Get with it.”

The LC program is an equal opportunities program. Operators are standing the f-word by.
So I finished Season 4 of The Wire. Exemplary TV in every sense of the word and now I have to wait until the end of September to see the final run because of the fact it won't be available for rental until then. I took a long time to get around to seeing it to but after making the time I was hooked. So many strands, so complex but quite traditional in some sort of way. Great characters too, I can't wait to see how it all ends.

It’s a fucking sin that most people who would eat this stuff up will perhaps never see it. When the big global jukebox of culture that downloads straight to your abode so you never have to leave the house becomes available it could well be too late.

There’s so much stuff. It’s difficult not to be swamped and just roll with what you’re fed. How to prioritise? You have to or you drown, simple as that.

It helps to be inspired and gear like The Wire and Mike Edison’s “I Have Fun…” certainly give me a shot of much needed cultural adrenalin. I finally finished the book this morning and really, it’s like if there was an NBT syllabus then this tome would be on there with a bullet. It’s a testament to everybody involved in getting it out there, shit – it could even be a series itself one day. I’d sure love those characters to come to life on some kind of screen.

And then there's the Eric and Amy album, life-affirming gear all the way but I can't give anything else away just yet. "The Downside Of Being a Fuck-Up" is the soundtrack of our lives.


Thanks to Don for this link... New album out October 20th...
NORTON NEWSAUGUST ACTION! (and beyond!)

SATURDAY AUGUST 2 – KING KHAN AND THE SHRINES (MERCURY LOUNGE NYC)
The King brings his big revue back to town one mo’ time! Dig LiveFastDie warming up – last chance to see Aaron in action before he goes back to alphabetizing doo wop LPs at Norton!

SUNDAY AUGUST 3 - BLACK LIPS, KING KHAN AND THE SHRINES (MCCARREN PARK POOL, BROOKLYN) No explanation necessary – see you there!

MONDAY AUGUST 4 – CRYPT RECORDS 25th ANNIVERSARY PARTY
(SANTO’S PARTY HOUSE, 100 LAFAYETTE ST. NYC)
This week marks a quarter century since Tim Warren first unleashed BACK FROM THE GRAVE VOL. ONE. Come celebrate with sets by King Khan & BBQ and the K-Holes (ex-Black Lips)! Great records spinning all night! Huge dance floor! Start your weekend four days early or keep the last one going! MC’d by Mort Todd (GRAVE cover artist)!

THE SONICS ARE TAKING OVER THE PLANET!
Never thought we'd say this, but the Sonics are sell-outs! For real- getcha tickets fast cause their shows sell out instantly! They are THE WILDEST!!!

August 8 - WOW Festival, Gotenberg
August 9 - OYA Festival, Oslo
October 31 - Paramount Theatre, Seattle

SATURDAY AUGUST 9 - MARY WEISS (MONDO HOLLYWOOD, KNITTING FACTORY, 7021 HOLLYWOOD BLVD., LOS ANGELES) Mary will headline this two day event (MC’d by Kim Fowley!) featuring 25 bands including the atomic Luis and the Wildfires! (Note venue change.)

JUST IN!!! ADJUST THE HORIZONTAL!!!

Mary Weiss will appear on the Jerry Lewis Telethon on Labor Day weekend!

WFMU RADIO GREATS WEEKEND!
Friday, August 8 - Sunday, August 10
Legendary WFMU DJs from years past drop by to help celebrate 50 years on the air, August 8-10! Special guests include Danny Fields, Wildgirl, Meredith,David Newgarden, Nicholas Hill, William Berger, Neal Adams, Mark Allen, Douglas Wolk, Stork, Vin Scelsa, Steinski, Hova & Belinda, R. Stevie Moore, Mark Allen,John Schnall, Bart Plantenga plus surprise guests and rare airchecks.We should note that the Hound (or as the late great Hank Ballard called him, “the cold blooded Hound” will make a rare on air appearance on Fool’s Paradise with Rex on Saturday August 9. Listen in to our in-house best-pal ultra-fave legendary superfantastic real-deal boss jock as he demonstrates his powers once mo’ time again! Now, what this town needs is another incredible Hangover Hop with the Hound! May we recommend stompers out there DEMAND a Hangover Hop before the snow flies! There is no other!

DOMENIC PRIORE ATTACKS NYC (IFC, NYC July 25-Sept. 27) Left coast pal comes to town to host a mess of sixties midnight movies as a visual sidecar to his RIOT ON SUNSET STRIP book! Kicks off with Wild In The Streets, closes with The Trip with Psych-Out, Maryjane and other dopus opuses, all on big screen, kool-vent comfort! Also check out the boss doc THE WRECKING CREW which starts there today!

AUGUST 22 – 23 LUIS AND THE WILDFIRES MIDWEST SHOWS
Catch these west coast maniacs as they blaze through the heartland!

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 7 – THE A-BONES/MAGIC CHRISTIAN
AT MAXWELL’S, HOBOKEN, NJ
The A-Bones return to the Garden State to clear your ears for Magic Christian features the mighty Cyril Jordan (Flamin’ Groovies), Clem Burke (Blondie), Eddie Munoz (Plimsouls) and Paul Kopf. We've been waiting for Cyril to grace our coast for many, many moons-- now here he comes! What a bash!

NORTON LABEL RELEASE NEWS!

The insanity officially steps into high gear this month. We don't want to frighten you, but your relaxing days are over!

FIGURES OF LIGHT - SMASH HITS (Norton 336) Gimme Gimme Gimme / Black Cadillac / Seething Psychosexual Conflict Blues / Nothing To Do / I’m So Sick Of Everything / Why Not Knock Yourself Off? / Angeline / I Got Spies Watching You / Gimme Gimme Gimme / Nothing To Do / It’s Lame / I’m So Sick Of Everything / It’s Lame / I Jes Wanna Go To Bed / Ritual TV Smashing Finale / Velvet Touch

They came and combusted as teenagers thirty years ago, now they’re back to retake the two-chord monte in SPADES! Wheeler Winston Dixon wails while Michael Downey cranks up the proto-punk x-factor on this snarling set including their alarmingly faboo first single, newly unearthed live recordings from their first show ever in July, 1970, unheard demos and new NYC live and studio recordings. Essential!

MORE LOUD SOUND POUNDERS ROUND THE CORNER!CHANTS R&B (Norton 335)
Sixteen raving 1966 blasts from New Zealand’s wildest combo! This vinyl only set features one side of mauling studio recordings (Neighbour Neighbour/I’m Your Witchdoctor) and one side with their legendary live Stage Door recordings (That’s The Way It’s Gotta Be/Don’t Bring Me Down). Thrill to extensive liner notes by the band and a knockout photo filled package, not to the most deranged version of Land Of 1000 Dances ever recorded! AVAILABLE IN SEPTEMBER!

MAD MIKE MONSTERS VOL. 1 AND VOL. 2 (Norton 327 and 328) The wildest 45’s discovered and popularized by enigmatic Pittsburgh hoo-doo DJ during his primo prime years 1964-67, compiled into two sets of instant party mashers! Massive gatefold LP’s tell the story of the Mad One in his own words, complete with tons of memories from his many local fans, while the CD packs deliver the same in a pocket-size format! Absolutely staggering array of sounds from this Norton icon! Keep in touch for release party in the works! Includes Scott Wood “Chicken Rock”, Count Ferrell “Wizard of Ah’s”, the Saxons “Camel Walk” and the Vels “Mysterious Teenage”! All sizzle, no gristle! Big thanks to the original Mad Mike Pittsburgh crew for blab-fests and tours around town in preparation for this superb blasteroo! AVAILABLE IN SEPTEMBER!

UPCOMING 7” TITLES!JOHNNY AND THE HI-TONES – ROCK ‘TIL THE END OF TIME (45-144) Blood curdling unissued 1957 R&B booze savagery! The Figures of Light It's Lame was the Monster If The year for 2006, CJ and the Casuals’ Study Hall was the Monster of the Year for 2007– all hail the new champ! This recently unearthed Ohio acetate is over the top WILD!!! Dig these lyrics, dad – “I wanna cash my check at the liquor store/Crawl into that barroom door/Goin’ to the bar get me a jug of wine…” Savage guitars, pounding drums, this is IT!!!! For fans of Screaming Joe Neal!!!

FLYIN’ SAUCER TWIST: THE NORTHWAY SOUND RECORDS STORY VOL. ONE (EP-145) Four rockin’ 1961-62 guitar instrumentals from rural Michigan's answer to Gaity Records! Tom Carter and the Ramrods Flyin’ Saucer Twist/Twistin’ Boogie, Jerry Lee Trio Banshee, Billy Lee and the Ramblers Trav’lin – cool stuff!

TOM AND THE TORNADOES: THE NORTHWAY SOUND RECORDS STORY VOL. TWO (45-146) Tommy James’ first record Long Pony Tail/Judy – 1962! Pre-Hanky Panky raw rock n’ roll! Includes killer cover pic of the Tornadoes plus the story in Tommy’s words! …mo’ BIG single action to blab about next time!

IN THE WORKS ...I HATE CDs VOLUME TWO Coming this fall, 45 more singles from the vaults of Norton Records. This release, like the first set, is download only and is available from all download outlets – no Goodwill or yard sale action this time, sorry. But it is cheap and easy to grab these babies. By the way, there were some comments that folks wished we provided cover art and notes. If you pick up volume one from itunes, it comes with a detailed booklet!

GARAGE ACETATES We are in the midst of whipping up four LPs worth of unissued sixties acetates including three chord killers from the Blue Embers, Henchmen, Khuns, Thorns and Greenpoint’s own Creation’s Disciple! Utter mayhem!WAX HOUNDS!Norton Records will be making with the big shellac attack at the following shows. Be sure to stop by and let us know how much you love King Uszniewicz…

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 20, ALLENTOWN, PA Allentown 45 show! Get gone with thousands of wild platters!

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 28, BROOKLYN RECORD RIOT! WARSAW, DRIGGS AVE., BROOKLYN
Back for round two hopefully without the disco DJ! Records and kielbasa – what are you waitin’ for?!

FRIDAY OCTOBER 24-SUNDAY OCTOBER 26 WFMU RECORD FAIR, NYC

The big one wraps up the year with the wildest wax weekender yet!

More to yap about but let's let you all digest the aforementional blabberoo!