Introducing: The Flying Stars of Brooklyn, NY

That's Aaron Frazer, the drummer for Durand Jones & The Indications singing for The Flying Stars Of Brooklyn, NY.

RIP U.I.C.'s Dan Preszcator, 1961-2018

Sadly, U.I.C. bassist Dan Preszcator passed away Thursday after a battle with an auto-immune disorder. He'll be missed.

Shannon Shaw channels Amy Winehouse on Dan Auerbach produced album

Here's the clip for Shannon Shaw's "Broke My Own" off Shannon In Nashville out June 8 on Easy Eye Sound.

The Soft Moon, Boy Harsher @ Longboat Hall, Friday

Luis Vasquez discusses his new album Criminal, his writing process and favourite film soundtracks. 

Watch Piotr Kamler's Chronopolis (1983) scored by Luc Ferrari

Jimmie Dale Gilmore connects with Dave Alvin on Downey To Lubbock

The great new collaborative recording from Dave and Jimmie Dale is out June 1. They hit The Great Hall September 14. 

Happy Birthday Astrud Gilberto!

Raising a glass to Astrud on her day with a stellar version of Luiz Gonzaga's Baião arranged by Eumir Deodato. 

The Allah-Las vs. The Frantics

Listen to surf-friendly Los Angeles crew The Allah-Las fearlessly take on The Frantics in the battle of "No Werewolf"

Johnny Dowd returns to Toronto for Horseshoe show May 2

Check out Johnny and crew performing "Freddie's Dead" and "White Dolomite" on his current "Feeling Bad" tour.

Numero explores wild world of exotica with Technicolor Paradise anthology

 Numero Group's 3 LP or 3 CD cocktail companion documenting the short-lived 50s exotica scare is due May 25.  

It was a musical cocktail born in a marketing meeting: Two parts easy listening, one part jazz, a healthy dollop of conga drums, a sprinkling of bird calls, and a pinch of textless choir. Serve garnished with an alluring female on the album jacket for best results. Exotica! The soundtrack for a mythical air conditioned Eden, packaged for mid-century, tiki torch-wielding armchair safariers. Be it mosquito-bitten torch singers, landlocked surf quartets, fad-chasing jazz combos, mad genius band leaders, D-list actors, or a middle aged loner programming bird calls into a Hammond, Exotica was always more concerned with what geography might sound like over who was conducting. Numero Group's Technicolor Paradise set, subtitled Rhum Rhapsodies & Other Exotic Delights, presents three albums – or three compact discs – containing 48 (or 54) curious examples of the short-lived genre’s reach, each summoning their own sonic visions of Shangri La, bringing their versions of the Pacific, Africa, and the Orient to the hinterlands of America. Technicolor Paradise is where one makes it, after all. Check out the track list following the preview clip.


Daiquiri Dirges
Chuck “Big Guitar” Ernest with the Satellite Band: “Blue Oasis”
The Sound Breakers: “Marooned”
The Wailers: “Driftwood”
Lenny & the Thundertones: “The Moon of Manakoora”
Biscaynes with Co-Encidentals: “Midnight In Montevideo”
Red Garrison & His Zodiacs: “Chant of the Jungle”
The Palatons: “Jungle Guitar”
Chayns: “Live With the Moon”
Bailey’s Nervous Kats featuring James Mills: “Cobra”
The Blazers: “Sound of Mecca”
The Crew: “Jaguar Hunt” *
The Gems: “Slave Girl”
Jerry & the Catalinas: “The Arabian Knight”
The Jaguars: “Night Walker”
The Voodoos: “The Voodoo Walk” *
The Shelltones: “Blue Castaway”
The Blue Bells: “Atlantis”
Bill & Jean Bradway: “Paradise Isle”



Rhum Rhapsodies
The Melody Mates: “Enchantment”
Don Reed featuring the Voice of Love: “Nature Boy”
The Baton of Andre Brummer: “Tumba”
Darla Hood: “Silent Island”
Martha Raye with Phil Moore Orchestra: “Lotus Land”
Baha’i Victory Chorus: “Nightingale of Paradise”
Carmen: “Isle of Love”
The Monzas: “Forever Walks A Drifter”
Akim: “Voodoo Drums”
Fred Darian with Bill Loose Orchestra: “Magic Voodoo Moon” *
Don Sargent & his Buddies: “Voodoo Kiss”
Joan Joyce Trio: “Captured”
Pony Sherrell: “Tobago”
Darla Hood: “My Quiet Village” *
Jerry Warren & the Valids: “Enchantress”
The Centuries: “Polynesian Paradise”
The Potted Palm: “My House of Grass”
The Castiles: “Enchantment”




Mai Tai Mambos
Five Glow Tones: “Quiet Village”
Modesto Duran & Orchestra: “Silent Island”
Ross Anderson Chorus & Orchestra: “Tambu Theme”
Bobby Christian: “Caravan”
Bruce Norman Quintet: “Arabian Rhythm”
The Slaves: “Hari’s Harem”
Arnie Derksen & Chise: “Similou”
Three Bars featuring Nicky Roberts: “Caribbean Cruise”
Robert Drasnin: “Chant of the Moon”
Blue Jeans: “Moon Mist”
Artie Barsamian: “The Enchanting Melody”
Eddie Kochak & Hakki Obidia: “Jazz In Port Said”
Gene Sikora & the Irrationals: “Tanganyika”
Bobby Paris: “Dark Continent”
Walter Bolen: “Lion Hunt” *
Jimmy McGriff: “Jungle Cat” *
Chico Jose: “Locura (Madness)”
Clyde Derby: “Lost Island”
* – CD only tracks

Woodhawk w/ Mountain Dust, Hawkeyes, Low Orbit @ The Bovine, March 30

Happy Birthday Rufus Thomas

Raising a quart-sized bottle of Pink Pussycat Wine to entertainer deluxe Rufus Thomas on his day.

Watch Radio Birdman kick out the jams in Sydney

Rob Younger and Deniz Tek have still got it. Yeah hup!

Whaddya mean you don't know Ernie Hawks

Fab Finnish flautist Ernie Hawks steps forward from the ranks of The Soul Investigators with a funky fresh LP for Timmion.  

Steely & Clevie vs. Sugar Minott

The Browne Bunch were actually Steely & Clevie and "We've Got A Good Thing Going" is a Michael Jackson cover.

Curtis Harding, Un Blonde @ The Velvet Underground, Sunday

Don't miss Curtis Harding performing songs from his Face Your Fear album co-produced by Danger Mouse.

The Slits documentary Here To Be Heard hits Toronto May 14

The much-anticipated film about iconic UK post-punk group The Slits screens at The Royal Cinema on May 14. Check the trailer.

One For The Weekend: F.U.K.

Here's a 1977 ripper from Roger Miller's pre-Mission Of Burma band F.U.K. (Fucked Up Kids). Pre-order it right here.

You'd better stay out of Tami Neilson's business

"Stay Out Of My Business" is off Tami Neilson's forthcoming Sassafrass! album out soon on Outside Music. 

Whaddya mean you don't know The Original Black Sheep of The Family

Check out the super funky "In The Forest" by The Original Black Sheep of The Family.

Happy Birthday Solomon Burke

Remembering the great Solomon Burke on his day with the title track from the Cool Breeze soundtrack.

Watch Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers rip through "No Problem" in Paris, 1959

That's Lee Morgan and Wayne Shorter on the Jazz Messengers frontline for Duke Jordan's soundtrack gem. 

B-Side Wins Again: Mighty Joe Young

Here's a an excellent clip of Mighty Joe Young performing Suffering Soul, the B-side of Something's Wrong.

Ricky Nelson vs. Roy Orbison

Besides owning a better bike, Rick Nelson also had the advantage of having James Burton on guitar for Move On Down The Line.

Wild Zeros celebrate 10 years with a rippin' new EP

Wild Zeros started in Bordeaux in late 2007 - first gig in December of that year. Just a bunch of friends (ex or current members of Magnetix, Pneumonias, Mean Things, Skeptics, Wylde Tryfles) who wanted to play Garage Punk music together and pay a tribute to their long time favourites such as The Troggs, DMZ, Penetrators and way more. They’ve been touring all over France playing with bands such as The Zeros, Sonic Chicken 4 or Jerry Spider Gang and releasing a 7’’ and a 10’’ on Frantic City Records as well as a split 7’’ with The Baxx Sisi’s from New York on Brooklyn-based Chickpea Records before taking a long break.

Five or so years later the same Chickpea Records is putting out an ‘Early Recordings’ tape as well as organising a release party in Brooklyn and the band is hitting the road again, still with the three original members – guitarist Bart de Vraantijk, bassist Adrien Preuilh, drummer François Jouvenaux – commemorating their 10 year run with a new recording session done with none other than Trash Master Lo’Spider in Toulouse. Now here are four brand new Wild Zeros tracks for your own listening pleasure on Nerve Centre Records, the sensational new punk rock label from Falmouth, Cornwall! Three Wild Zeros originals and a cover of The Cigarettes' "Damage Your Health" wrap up this choice punk rock artifact (out now) that’ll most likely make its way onto Killed By Death 2048.  Have a listen below.

Whaddya mean you don't know the Richard Brothers

Here's a fab Detroit blues rocker by the Richard Brothers on the rarely seen Fortune subsidiary Strate 8.

R.I.P. Plugz drummer Charlie Quintana, 1962-2018

Watch the Archie & The Bunkers video for "Looking"

"Looking" is the flipside of Emmett & Cullen's single for Norton. Watch for their debut LP on Dirty Water. 

Happy Birthday Fred Neil

Remembering Fred Neil on his day with a performance of "That's The Bag I'm In" at The Bitter End.

One For The Weekend: Sag War Fare

Here's a rare Florida soul swinger from Sag War Fare cut at Orlando's Bee Jay Studios back in 1971. 

Happy Birthday Lightnin' Hopkins

Remembering blues great Lightnin' Hopkins on his day with a couple of fantastic performances. 

Watch Gordie Tentrees perform "Craft Beards & Man Buns"

"Craft Beards & Man Buns" was composed by Gordie and his pal Fred Eaglesmith. 

Earthless, Kikagaku Moyo, JJUUJJUU @ Lee's Palace, Wednesday

Air drummers have been lining up to flail alongside Earthless on their current tour with Kikagaku Moyo. 

Soul Jazz readies Studio One Dub Plate Special box for RSD 2018

For those who didn't score the super limited 12" dub plates, Soul Jazz is releasing a Studio One 7" box on April 21.

Soul Jazz Records is releasing Studio One Dub Plate Special, an exclusive Record Store Day collectors 7" box set featuring ten amazing Studio One tracks. Originally released as an extremely limited edition of hand-etched, one-sided 12" dub plates, only available to Soul Jazz Records subscribers at Sounds Of The Universe in London. This 7" box set brings together all eight of those exclusive dub plate cuts, plus two more never before released alternate cuts. Featuring Alton Ellis, Cedric Brooks, Brentford Road All Stars, Jacob Miller and more! Listen to "Soul Eye" by Cedric "Im" Brooks, "Go Ahead" by Carey Johnson and "Don't Know What You're Doing" by Alton & Zoot below.

Record 1
A: Alton & Cedric – Black People
AA: Cedric Brooks – Soul Eye

Record 2
A: The Officials – Distant Drums
AA: Cedric Brooks – Power To The People

Record 3
A: Soul Brothers – Skitting Day
AA: Carey Johnson – Go Ahead

Record 4
A: Alton & Zoot – Don’t Know What You’re Doing
AA: Brentford All Stars – The World Is A Ghetto

Record 5
A: Jacob Miller – Westbound Train (Alternate Version)
AA: George Philip – One One (Alternate Version)

RIP Ventures guitarist Nokie Edwards, 1935-2018

Sadly, guitar great Nokie Edwards died Monday from an infection following hip replacement surgery. He was 82.

Happy Birthday Blue Mitchell

Remembering trumpet great Blue Mitchell with a swingin' performance of Señor Blues accompanying Horace Silver. 

Phora and Trippie Redd open for G-Eazy @ Rebel, Tuesday & Wednesday

Expect Trippie Redd to join Phora for "Boss Up" (see below) while opening for Oaktown's G-Eazy at Rebel. 

Watch Vivien Goldman's 1981 video for Launderette

Vivien Goldman's post-punk classic "Launderette" features Keith Levene, Vicky Aspinall and Steve Beresford.

Happy Birthday Tim Kerr!

Austin musician, producer and visual artist Tim Kerr has been keeping busy since his Lord High Fixer days.

Watch The Limiñanas new video for Dimanche feat. Bertrand Belin

The Limiñanas new album Shadow People is out now. Check out the Laurent Garnier remix of Dimanche after the video.

One For The Weekend: Beaver & The Trappers

Happiness Is Havin'... a Beaver & The Trappers picture sleeve single on coloured wax. 

Tyra Jutai & friends @ 120 Diner, Saturday

T.O. rising star Tyra Jutai hosts an evening of live art, music and dance at 120 Church St. on Saturday from 9 pm. 

Watch Yamantaka // Sonic Titan's new video for Yandere

"Yandere" (ヤンデレ) is off Yamantaka // Sonic Titan's forthcoming DIRT album out March 23rd on Paper Bag.

Listen to Jennifer Castle's new song "Crying Shame"

"Crying Shame" is off Jennifer Castle's new album Angels of Death due out May 18. You can pre-order it right here.

Chip Taylor @ Hugh's Room, Wednesday

Years before penning "Wild Thing," Chip Taylor (aka Wes Voight) was well on his way to rock 'n' roll teen idol status. 

Happy Birthday Townes Van Zandt

Remembering the late great Townes Van Zandt on his day with a stellar performance of Snowin' On Raton.

Midweek Mixdown: Tim Warren (Crypt Records)

Enjoy two hours of Crypt head honcho Tim Warren selecting vintage garage punk gems on KVMR back in 2013. 

Tune-Yards @ Danforth Music Hall, Tuesday

Nate Brenner & Merrill Garbus set their discourse on white privilege to house and disco jams on their new album.