Jim White shares song from Misfits' Jubilee album due in October

Jim White's new Misfits' Jubilee album is out Oct 23 via Fluff & Gravy. Check out "Sum Of What We Have Been" right here.

Check out a preview of Jim's Misfits' Jubilee on Robert Kinsler's Rock 'n' Roll Truth blog.

Happy Birthday Bobby Parker!

 

Remembering the late great Bobby Parker with his classic "Watch Your Step" and "Steal Your Heart Away" from 1961.

Athens art rockers Pylon get deluxe box set treatment

The 4 LP Pylon Box includes Pylon's classic Gyrate and Chomp albums along with their unreleased Razz Tape. 

Here's the scoop...

Seminal art-rock legends Pylon will release Pylon Box on November 6th via New West Records. The comprehensive 4xLP box set includes their studio albums Gyrate (1980) and Chomp (1983), which have been remastered from their original tapes and will be available on vinyl for the first time in nearly 35 years. Pylon Box includes 47 total tracks, 18 of which are previously unreleased recordings. In addition to the remastered studio albums, the collection also includes Pylon’s first ever recording, Razz Tape. The previously unreleased 13-track session predates the band’s legendary 1979 debut single “Cool” b/w “Dub.” Also included is Extra, an 11-song collection featuring a recording made before frontwoman Vanessa Briscoe Hay joined the band, along with the “Cool” b/w “Dub” single (which Rolling Stone named one of the “100 Greatest Debut Singles of All Time” this year), the rare recording “Recent Title,” the original single mix of “Crazy,” five previously unreleased studio and live recordings, and more. Each copy of Pylon Box will be autographed by the surviving members of Pylon: Vanessa Briscoe Hay, Michael Lachowski, and Curtis Crowe. 

Pylon Box includes a 200-page hardbound, full-color book filled with many never-before-seen images and artifacts from the band’s personal archives as well as items now housed at the Special Collections Library at the University of Georgia and at the Georgia Museum of Art, UGA. In addition to an extensive essay written by music journalist Stephen Deusner—which incorporates new interviews with the surviving band members, Fred Schneider of the B-52’s, Danny Beard of DB Records, and many more fans, friends, witnesses, and peers—the book also features testimonials by: R.E.M., Jon King and Hugo Burnham (Gang of Four), Kate Pierson (The B-52’s), Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein (Sleater-Kinney), Steve Albini (Electrical Audio, Big Black, Shellac), Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth), Clint Conley (Mission of Burma), Calvin Johnson (K Records, Beat Happening, the Halo Benders), Sam Fogarino (Interpol), Steve Wynn (The Dream Syndicate), Bradford Cox (Deerhunter, Atlas Sound), Anthony DeCurtis (journalist), Chris Stamey (The dB’s, co-producer of Chomp), Vic Varney (The Tone Tones, Method Actors), Tammy Ealom (Dressy Bessy), Ronnie Barnett (The Muffs), Richard Barone (The Bongos), Andy Butler (Hercules and Love Affair), Linda Hopper (Oh-Ok), and Karen Moline (author of Pylon’s New York Rocker cover feature).

Formed in 1979 by four UGA art students—guitarist Randy Bewley, bassist Michael Lachowski, drummer Curtis Crowe, and vocalist Vanessa Briscoe Hay—Pylon were the first band to connect the local party-rock scene with the art school scene at the University of Georgia. Before they even picked up musical instruments, they were painters and sculptors and gallery tricksters who applied their classroom lessons to rock and roll. After the B-52’s moved to New York, Pylon proved a small Southern town like Athens could maintain an active scene and produce important bands. “We saw them very early, and they were absolutely amazing,” says Mike Mills, bassist of R.E.M., a band that is by its own admission deeply indebted to Pylon. “They were melodic and driving and machinelike in a really good way. And very human. It was all so new to us. Pylon made us want to be better.” The producer and musician Steve Albini stated the band created “a kind of music that hadn’t been made before.” 

Pylon’s first shows outside of Athens were a handful of support dates with Gang of Four, including both band’s New York City debuts. Gang of Four’s Jon King insists they’re “really, one of the best indie bands ever.” The Atlanta-based DB Records released Pylon’s legendary debut single, “Cool” b/w “Dub,” in 1979, with their overwhelmingly critically acclaimed studio albums Gyrate (1980) and Chomp (1983) to follow. Chomp was barely off the press when Pylon were booked to open a run of dates for a hot new Irish band called U2 (after previously playing two arena shows with them leading to the album release). Most bands would have jumped at the opportunity, but Pylon were skeptical. At a critical point in the life of Pylon, they opted to become a cult band rather than stretch their defining philosophy too far. “There were a lot of people putting pressure on us about what we were supposed to do or what we had to do,” says Vanessa Briscoe Hay. “It wasn’t sitting well with us. We don’t have to do anything. It was a good life decision. And it was our decision. We made it together and we went out at the top of our game.” Pylon played their final show in Athens on December 1, 1983. 

By then they had already helped shape the Athens scene, inspiring a new wave of bands like Love Tractor and Oh-Ok (featuring Michael Stipe’s sister Lynda). R.E.M. continued singing Pylon’s praises in interviews and even covered “Crazy” for the B-side of their “Driver 8” single (later being included on their 1987 rarities and B-sides collection Dead Letter Office). That, along with their appearance in the 1987 documentary Athens, Ga.: Inside/Out, fed the band’s legend as local heroes even after they had split.

“We fully intended Pylon to be an almost seasonal thing that we were gonna do for a minute and then get on with our lives,” says drummer Curtis Crowe. “But it just never went away. It still doesn’t go away. There’s a new subterranean class of kids that are coming into this kind of music, and they’re just now discovering Pylon. That blows my mind. We didn’t see that coming.”

An exhibit showcasing photographs, artifacts, and other ephemera from the Pylon Collection (which was recently donated to the Hargrett Library) will be displayed in an exhibition at the UGA Special Collections Building from September 18 through December 24, 2020. The UGA Special Collections Building is free to visit, and open to the public Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (with the exception of closure on home football game Saturdays). Pursuant to the UGA policy, all visitors will be required to wear masks inside the building. For more information, call (706) 542-7123.

Pylon Buzz Blend by Jittery Joe's Coffee Roasting Company will also be available in November of this year. Jittery Joe's has been roasting coffee for the Athens music community for over 25 years. Their new Buzz (an original for the original Athens band) is a brilliant mash up of Guatemala, Brazil and Ethiopia coffees with notes of chocolate and fruit. A cup of coffee that's delicious and new wave, it's called Pylon Buzz for a reason. 

Pylon Box will be available across digital retailers and on standard black vinyl. A limited-to-500 Color Vinyl edition is available for pre-order via New West Records right here as well as select independent retailers upon its release in November. Gyrate will be available on compact disc, Opaque Teal colour vinyl exclusively available at independent retailers, a limited-to-300 “Gravity Green” hand-poured vinyl edition via Vinyl Me, Please, and a limited-to-300 Clear Vinyl edition via New West Records. Chomp will be available on compact disc, Opaque Red color vinyl exclusively available at independent retailers, a limited-to-300 “Reptile Red” hand-poured color vinyl edition via Vinyl, Me Please, and a limited-to-300 Clear Vinyl edition via New West Records. 

You can pre-order a bag of Pylon's "Buzz Blend" coffee right here.

LINKS

NPR The Long Tail of Pylon, according to Pylon

Happy Birthday Kenny Dorham!

Remembering trumpet great Kenny Dorham on his birthday with his classic "Blue Bossa" recorded with Joe Henderson. 

 

Whaddya mean you don't know Varis Tombley

Check out Gord Cumming singing two songs with his post-Lawn group Varis Tombley right here.

Watch Blue Rodeo's video for "Me & Baz"

Celebrating Greg Keelor's 66th birthday with Blue Rodeo's video for "Me & Baz"

Happy 100th Birthday Charlie Parker!

Remembering the late great Charlie Parker with a BBC doc and "Mango Mangue" recorded with Machito in 1948.

Teenage Head issue "Drive In" seven-inch for RSD

Universal Music Canada is releasing a 3-song Teenage Head EP on red vinyl exclusively for Record Store Day. 

Here's the scoop...

Available August 29 for the long awaited Record Store Day 2020 is this nice little 7-inch companion piece to last year's vinyl release of the remixed and remastered version of Teenage Head's Tornado album last year.  The classic Beach Boys song "Drive In" on the A side, and a killer B side with a previously unreleased radio mix of "Don't Cage Me In", as well as the Daniel Lanois remix of "Blood Boogie". Once again thanks to Ivar Hamilton and everyone at Universal Music for making this happen. Also many thanks to Ralph Alphonso for his design on the cover and label, always a pleasure working with Ralph. Like most RSD releases this is a limited edition, so when they're gone, they're gone.

Bear Family readies massive Bobby Bare sings Shel Silverstein box

The mammoth Bear Family box including 137 tracks over 8 CDs along with a 128 page hardcover book is due October 2.

Bobby Bare sings Shel Silverstein Plus

• Eight CDs with 137 tracks including 25 previously unreleased recordings.
• Bobby Bare's interpretations of more than a hundred Shel Silverstein songs.
• Classic sides from 1972 - 1983 incl. six complete albums.
• Shel Silverstein wrote hits like Sylvia’s Mother and A Boy Named Sue (made famous by Johnny Cash).
• The live album Great American Saturday Night (unreleased at the time) is expanded here with 3 tracks. 
• 128-page, LP-sized hardcover book with a 2020 Hank Davis interview with Bobby Bare about his friendship with Shel Silverstein, complete lyrics transcriptions, and detailed sessions discography. It also includes a new essay by Dave Samuelson about Shel Silverstein and his multi-faceted work.

If most people associate the late Shel Silverstein with his children's literature, others remember his cartoons and graphic travelogues for Playboy. By contrast, relatively few recognize this Chicago native as a prolific songwriter, penning such hits as Johnny Cash's "A Boy Named Sue," Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show's "The Cover Of Rolling Stone," Loretta Lynn's "One's On The Way," and The Irish Rovers' "The Unicorn." He also wrote "Put Another Log On The Fire," Tompall Glaser's memorable showcase on 'Wanted! The Outlaws,' country music's first platinum-selling album.

No artist recorded more Silverstein songs than veteran country singer Bobby Bare. His 1972 cover of Silverstein's bittersweet "Sylvia's Mother" launched a professional relationship that led to an enduring friendship. At Bare's request, Silverstein conceived and composed entire concept albums, starting with 'Lullabys, Legends And Lies,' an exercise in pure imagination from 1974. This two-LP set established Bare as a major album artist and yielded Marie Laveau, the first chart-topping single of the singer's long recording career. A follow-up album, 'Hard Time Hungrys,' captured the downbeat mood of American workers during the mid- '70s recession. A perceptive 'Billboard' reviewer hailed 'Hard Time Hungrys' as "something historians will look back upon." Bare's family participated in the whimsical 'Singin' In The Kitchen,' which included the tender Daddy What If.

During the late '70s, Silverstein shifted his creative focus to playwriting and children's books, but he continued crafting clever songs specifically for Bare. When Bare wound down his major-label recording career in the mid-'80s, the singer had recorded more than 100 Silverstein originals, fifteen of them on the notorious Great American Saturday Night album, recorded in 1977 but shelved when Bare left RCA for a more lucrative contract with Columbia.

Despite their lyrical and historical importance, the Bare/Silverstein collaborations have been sporadically and haphazardly reissued during the compact disc era. In response, BEAR FAMILY has put together Bobby Bare Sings Shel Silverstein Plus, the first comprehensive collection of this material. Accompanied by a 128-page hardcover book, its eight CDs include 137 tracks, 25 of them previously unissued. Six albums appear complete, including integral songs by other writers. The long-unheard 'Great American Saturday Night' includes three songs missing from a recent independent label release.

The box set contains an LP-sized, lavishly illustrated 128-page hardcover book that contains song lyrics and a discography. In a conversation with Hank Davis, Bare recalls his years working with Silverstein, and Dave Samuelson documents the songwriter's multiple creative pursuits.

Often stepping well beyond today's rigid boundaries of political correctness, many songs on Bobby Bare Sings Shel Silverstein Plus reflect an earlier era that understood and appreciated irony and satire. Besides this anthology's vivid sagas about winners, losers, and lonely all-night cafés, listeners will also discover charming children's songs and touching, affectionate love ballads, all reflecting the irreplaceable vision of Shel Silverstein.

CD 1 - Lullabys, Legends And Lies

CD 2 - Hard Time Hungrys plus

CD 3 - Singin’ In The Kitchen plus

CD 4 - Stray Bare Tracks

CD 5 - More Stray Bare Tracks

CD 6 - The Complete Great American Saturday Night 

CD 7 - Down & Dirty

CD 8 - Drunk & Crazy

Kurt Bloch celebrates his 60th with pandemic party album Farewell, Excitement

Birthday boy Kurt Bloch created his own party album, Farewell, Excitement which he's kindly sharing for free today. 

Sez Kurt...

"Since I can’t have a birthday party this year, I chose to make a party album instead. Following the lead of Scott McCaughey, I’ve quarantined a spinning doozy that you can download for free (for at least a while), or if you wish for a CD, a minimal charge... a mere pittance! Songs by yours truly, as well as Derv Gordon, Dave Dee, Andrew Cashen, Scott McCaughey, Pretty Things, usw… have a gander and I hope you dig it in the spirit in which it was created! Hang tuff, fellow RAGERS! xxxxxxxxxxx" - Kurt

You can get Farewell, Excitement right here. Listen to the title track below. 

 

The Victims resurface with Horror Smash EP and Anthology

Dave Faulkner has some unfinished business with his Perth punk crew The Victims. Check the Horror Smash EP and the Anthology. 

 

One For The Weekend: The Melvins

Here's The Melvins cover of the Tubes classic "White Punks On Dope" from the new singles B-side comp Hostile Ambient Besides. 

Happy Appearance Day Alice Coltrane!

Remembering Alice Coltrane with a 1970 doc from 1970. her Berkeley Theatre show from '72 and her recording debut from '57.  

Thee Oh Sees morph into Osees for Protean Threat

The Osees' Protean Threat will be issued by Castle Face on Sept 18th followed by a Levitation Live Session Sept 26th.

You can pre-order the Osees new album Protean Threat directly from Castle Face right here. Get a ticket for the Osees' Levitation livestream right here. Find out about the status of upcoming shows on the Osees site over here. Then watch the clips for "If I Had My Way" and "Dreary Nonsense" followed by the track listing for Protean Threat. 

Also worth noting, the Osees mainman John Dwyer has just released a 70s Euro-prog fusion-style album via Castle Face under the name Bent Arcana with drummer/vocalist Ryan Sawyer, bassist Peter Kerlin, saxophonists Joce Soubiran and Brad Caulkins, keyboardist Tom Dolas, guitarist Marcos Rodriguez, violinist Laena "Geronimo" Myers-Ionita, percussionist Andres Renteria and some dude named Kyp from TV on the Radio – remember them? No? Didn't think so. 

 

 

Osees - Protean Threat  

  01. Scramble Suit II

02. Dreary Nonsense

03. Upbeat Ritual

04. Red Study

05. Terminal Jape

06. Wing Run

07. Said The Shovel

08. Mizmuth

09. If I Had My Way

10. Toadstool

11. Gong of Catastrophe

12. Canopnr ’74

13. Persuaders Up!

Matthew "Doc" Dunn joins forces with Jay Anderson for Stonegrass

Here's the scoop...

Let it go. Let it flow. Let it grow. When Matthew ‘Doc’ Dunn and Jay Anderson finally reconnected after the fall of their previous project, The Spiritual Sky Blues Band, that was the M.O. Barely using words to communicate, their instruments became highly charged positive ion conductors for a natural telepathy between these two local burnouts. On board was Tony Price, manning the controls, with the results, of what you have here, their FRIED AS THE SKY debut LP. Its overcooked and burnt to the CORE, but once cooled, these jams come LEAKING out of your mind hole like an unholy baptism of PEACE. Rough and frayed like yr mind, but comforting like yr old Uncle Billy’s drug rug. Ask the peyote coyote, he’ll tell you its no easy ride, but enlightenment never is. So take it EZ or just TAKE IT. With more volumes to follow, Stonegrass will be touring this summer all over your mind. Let it burn. LET IT BLOW. 

If you happen to live in Toronto, you can grab a vinyl copy of the Stonegrass album at Rotate This or Grasshopper Records while supplies last or get it online right here. Also, check out Grazing In The Stonegrass, a Spotify playlist of songs that influenced Matthew & Jay's Stonegrass project.  Have a listen to the Stonegrass album below. 

Watch McCoy Tyner live at the Molde Jazz Fest '75

McCoy Tyner is joined on stage in Norway by Azar Lawrence, Juini Booth, E. W. Wainwright and Guillerme Franco. 

 

Kelley Stoltz's Echo & The Bunnymen salute gets deluxe vinyl treatment

Here's the scoop from Kelley Stoltz...

This Saturday (August 29) is record store day and for the first time I'll have something in the shops! My version of Echo & the Bunnymen's "Crocodiles" which I recorded in 2001, will finally be available on LP… brought to you by the good folks at Nine x Nine Records in Liverpool 

"Kelley Stoltz’s track for track covers album of Echo and the Bunnymen’s Crocodiles is available for the first time on vinyl this Record Store Day via Nine x Nixe Records. Originally recorded in 2001, the album was only available on CD. Stoltz took up the mantle of rhythm guitar in the Bunnymen in 2016, largely because of this album. Pressed on 180 gram colour vinyl, with original artwork and new sleeve notes from Bunnymen guitarist Will Sergeant and Scott Kannberg (Pavement), there’s never been a better time to discover this gem from Stoltz’s back catalogue. Remastered by Mikey Young. Bonus 7” E.P. features 3 early demos of 14 year old Kelley’s band "Distorted Reality". These are the earliest known recordings of Stoltz’s Bunnymen covers. This EP is exclusive to the RSD release and will not be available with any subsequent reissue." 

Kelley Stoltz – Crockodiles (NinexNine) LP & Bonus 7"

Side One

(1) Going Up (2) Do It Clean (3) Stars Are Stars (4) Pride (5) Monkeys (6) Crocodiles 

Side Two

(1) Rescue (2) Villiers Terrace (3) Read It in Books (4) Pictures on My Wall (5) All That Jazz (6) Happy Death Men 

Distorted Reality 7" EP

(1) Do It Clean (2) Silver (3) Stumped

Limited Edition Red LP

Bonus 7" 3 Track E.P. of 14 year old Kelley's first ever recordings, 'Distorted Reality'

Limited to 850 copies world wide (500 UK)

Cat: NXN002LPX

Barcode: 5031802063325

For more info, go to Nine x Nine Records right here. Watch a few vintage performance clips below. 

Happy Birthday Keno Duke

Here's a Harold Mabern gem "Too Late, Fall Back Baby" from 1974. 

 

R.I.P. Walter Lure, 1949-2020

Sadly, Heartbreakers singer/guitarist Walter Lure has died from lung and liver cancer. Check out his memoir, To Hell and Back.

 

Happy Birthday Terje Rypdal

Celebrating guitarist Terje Rypdal's birthday with some Min Bul footage from 1970 followed by "Champagne Of Course"

Gary Wilson talks about his early band Lord Fuzz

Gary Wilson recalls the origin of his early garage band Lord Fuzz and their 1967 single "Move On" b/w "The Freak"

 

Happy Birthday John Lee Hooker!

Here are two clips of John Lee Hooker performing solo – "nothing but the best and later for the rest." 

 

Buried Sound Library Treasure: Giampiero Boneschi

Giampiero Boneschi's Moog In Sud-America is very much a one-tracker but "Tierra Arida" is a corker. 

 

The Bats preview their new Foothills album with "Warwick"

The Bats preview their new Foothills album with the intriguing video for "Warwick" directed and starring Conor Bowden(s).  

Here's the scoop....

Spanning the last 38 years, The Bats have clocked nine incredible albums; each one seeing the band evolve with new material from the prolific songwriting hand of Robert Scott. Add to that tally the extra singles, b-sides, EPs, compilations and tribute songs they’ve recorded, creating a succinct setlist is a nearly impossible task. 

Foothills was recorded in Spring 2018 at a country retreat pop-up studio. At that time, 15 songs were captured and immortalised in the Canterbury foothills of the Southern Alps, Aotearoa (New Zealand). Only too well, The Bats know the possibilities, potentialities and sonic vistas that arise when one takes the reins for the recording process in a beautiful place that’s on home turf. 

Robert Scott, on the making of Foothills has said “Time marches on... finally, we found a gap in our busy lives and chose a week to convene. We found a house that is usually inhabited by ski field workers — Kowai Bush, near Springfield about an hour west of Christchurch and of course nestled in the foothills of the mighty Southern Alps. The songs had been written, demo’d and arranged for some time, but still with a little room for trying things out in the studio. Many carloads arrived at the house, full of amps guitars and recording gear, we set up camp and soon made it feel like home; coloured lights, a log fire, and home cooked meals in the kitchen. We worked fast, and within a few days had all the basic backing tracks done, live together in one room, the way we like to do it - it’s all about ‘the feel’ for songs like ours.” 

The Bats must hold a record in New Zealand (perhaps the whole world, once The Rolling Stones throw in the towel) as a band that has survived with the same line-up for 38 years. No split ups, no reforming for nostalgia’s sake. 

So far, half the band have spots in The New Zealand Music Hall Of Fame, vocalist/guitarist Robert Scott (The Clean) and bassist/producer Paul Kean (Toy Love), and it’s only a matter of time before lead guitarist Kaye Woodward and drummer Malcolm Grant find themselves in there too. The four-piece has created twisted wistful folk, psychedelic rock, bouncy twee pop, and everything in between, but whatever the genre, their sound is always distinctively, unmistakably The Bats. 

Foothills is out November 13th but you can pre-order it now right here. Watch the video for "Warwick" below. 

R.I.P. Lou Ragland, 1942-2020

Sadly, Cleveland soul singer/songwriter and sound engineer Lou Ragland has passed away. He'll be greatly missed. 

 

 

One For The Weekend: Lee Hazlewood

Here's Lee performing "The House Song" backed by James Burton, Don Randi and Hal Blaine in 1968

Watch Shirley Collins perform songs from Heart's Ease in Firle

UK folk great Shirley Collins is joined by Ian Kearey at St. Paul's Church in Firle. Heart's Ease is available right here.  

Soul songsmith Dan Penn previews new album with "Edge of Love"

 

Dan Penn's new album Living On Mercy is out August 28th. Listen to "Edge of Love" and Dan's songwriter session Aug 25th.

Whaddya mean you don't know Eunice Collins

Check out the laidback Windy City soul gem "At The Hotel" by the mysterious Eunice Collins from 1974. 

Robert Forster talks about The Go-Betweens after Spring Hill Fair

Robert Forster gets into what was going on behind-the-scenes during the second phase of the Go-Betweens, 1985-1989. 

 

Midweek Mixdown: Toy Box Smoke: A Tribute To Flying Nun

Check out the Toy Box Smoke selection of covers of songs by The Clean, The Chills, Snapper etc. Click on the link below. 

 

Various Artists – Toy Box Smoke:  A Tribute To Flying Nun

Josh Burkett - "Clover" (Chris Knox)

Dire Wolves - "Indigo Blue" (The Clean)

Skyjelly - "Life In One Chord" (Straitjacket Fits)

Landing - "North By North" (The Bats)

New Parents - "Rolling Moon" (The Chills)

Late Model - "The Other’s Way" (Doublehappys)

Plastic Crimewave Syndicate - "Future Shock" (The Gordons)

Pigeons - "Days Of Old" (Look Blue Go Purple)

The Arnold Lanes - "Point That Thing Somewhere Else" (The Clean)

Land, Man - "Swimming Pool" (Toy Love)

Huevos II - "You Forget" (David Kilgour)

The Prefab Messiahs - "Buddy" (Snapper)

Vehicle Jr. - "One Fell Swoop" (Chris Knox)

Archie Moore - "Dan Destiny & The Silver Dawn" (The Chills)

Night School - "The Slide" (Tall Dwarfs)

Listen to Toy Box Smoke on Mixcloud right here. 

Jr. Thomas & The Volcanos release "Sunk In The Mist" on Colemine

Recorded during the Rockstone album sessions, the latest Jr. Thomas 45 "Sunk In The Mist" has that classic rocksteady vibe. 

Happy Birthday Duke Pearson!

Remembering the late great Duke Pearson on his birthday with "The Phantom" and "Stormy" feat. Flora Purim.

Whaddya mean you don't know Charlie Megira

Check out the clip for Charlie Megira's "Alligator Man" and check out Numero Group's fab Tomorrow's Gone comp. 

Charlie Megira - Tomorrow's Gone

Even in this age of near-total Internet accessibility, Charlie Megira is a modern mystery. A casual search turns up little aside from a few cryptic articles. His brief career unfolded during a changing of the guard in the music industry, opening on the death of the compact disc and ending just prior to Spotify’s IPO. For an artist like Megira, living far away from a major music outpost, there was more chaos than structure for his recordings to exist and find an audience. This collection is the first attempt at putting the pieces together, compiling a life’s work of an artist whose spark almost shined unto the world. 

His was a music both familiar and entirely alien at once. It touches on corners of darkness, an isolation both lonely and sweet, all wrapped in a cold glow that draws the listener into each note, each melancholy melody triggering unrecorded experiences. His various projects put out music which began as a junction point between Link Wray’s surf guitar and the theatrical psychobilly of The Cramps, took a turn towards goth-inflected post-punk, and towards the end of his career would sojourn back into his earlier musical fascination with late 1950s and early 1960s rock ‘n’ roll. 

The Israeli guitarist recorded seven albums worth of material in 15 years during his all-too-brief 44 trips around the sun. Numero Group's career-spanning compilation Tomorrow’s Gone collects 24 of these tracks for a double album journey across his career, accompanied by a lavish booklet that documents his tragic existence (currently sold out on vinyl). Armed with only an Eko guitar, a black tuxedo, and his signature wrap-around shades, Charlie Megira was a mold-breaking artist who disintegrated while we were all staring at our phones. Get it digitally right here. 

Watch the video for "Alligator Man" by Charlie Megira shot by Brendan Casey, Dan Schmatz and Kyle Day below. 

 

Introducing: The Sumpuettes feat. Mercy DeLorean

The Sumpuettes are actually Steve Wynn and his Gutterball pal Johnny Hott. Hear "Invisible" below.

Here's the scoop from Steve Wynn...

"About 25 years ago, Johnny Hott (House of Freaks, Gutterball, Cracker) and I collaborated on an album-length collection of songs centered around Johnny’s fractured home recordings and lyrics that I wrote in real time as I heard the songs. We made up a story that we had written the songs for an obscure and long-forgotten 60’s chanteuse named Mercy DeLorean who we had met in a lounge somewhere in the Midwest and talked into going into the studio for the first time in decades to sing the tunes. All lies, of course but we took the concept to completion with my then-girlfriend (and non-singer) Brigid Pearson inhabiting the role of Mercy. We called the project and record “The Sumptuettes.” None of the music was ever released although I ended up recording 3 of the songs—“Invisible,” “500 Girls Mornings” and “We’ve Been Hanging Out” on records of mine that followed. But just this weekend Johnny sent me this video he put together for one of the songs so here it is—the world premiere of The Sumptuettes (featuring Mercy DeLorean)."

Robert Plant talks lockdown, Charley Patton, Morning Dew & Digging Deep

Listen to an interview with Robert Plant followed by two enlightening episodes of his ace Digging Deep podcast.

Brazil's Azymuth preview their new album for Jazz Is Dead

Check out "Sumaré" and "Apocaliptíco" off Azymuth's forthcoming album for Adrian Younge's label Jazz Is Dead out Oct 23.

Pre-order the new Azymuth album via Bandcamp right here

Nat Birchall joins Vin Gordon for instrumental reggae set Upright Living

Nat Birchall's Upright Living – a follow-up to Sounds Almighty – is due Aug 28 but you can pre-order it now right here.

Nat Birchall meets Al Breadwinner - Upright Living

1. Man From Jones Town

2. Dub From Manchester

3. Upright Living 

4. Upfull Dubbing

5. Mystical Dawn

6. Wise Man Style/Dub Of The Prophet

7. African Village Dance

8. Village Dub

9. Tribute To The Great Tommy McCook

Credits:

Nat Birchall - Tenor Sax, Soprano Sax, Bass, Melodica, Organ, Piano, Percussion, Hand Drums 

Al Breadwinner - Drums, Guitar, Organ, Piano, Percussion, Hand Drums 

Vin Gordon - Trombone 

David Fullwood - Trumpet 

Stally - Baritone Sax

The Pretty Things take their final bow with Bare As Bone, Bright As Blood

Dick Taylor and Phil May's bluesy acoustic studio set is a fitting final Pretty Things statement. Hear "Bright As Blood" below.

Here's the scoop...

On December 13th, 2018, following a sold-out show at London’s O2 Indigo, The Pretty Things retired from live, electric performances, after 55 years of touring and recording, due to the ill-health of lead singer, Phil May. This was not something that the band, or their fans, wanted, but it was unavoidable, given the circumstances. At the time, there was already a new, electric album well underway, but this was shelved as it was clear that the band would never be able to perform any of these recordings.

At the time of the retirement, some sort of return, possibly in a stripped-down, acoustic format was not entirely discounted, but it was not expected, due to the health issues, surrounding Phil May and also to the general lack of appetite that the bands’ two principals - Phil May and Dick Taylor - had always shown for acoustic performance as a mainstay for their work.

However, during 2019 there was a significant sea change in attitude within the band and, early in the year, the band, together with manager and producer, Mark St. John, returned to the studio and took the first, tentative steps toward the making of a new album, this time in an entirely acoustic format. The album - now completed and entitled “Bare As Bone, Bright As Blood” – is a genuine first for a band that has been knocking down the walls with their aggressive and memorable, electric live performances for more than 55 years.

This record has little in common with their past work, save that, like so many “Pretty Things” records and projects, it is wholly unique and an absolute first. Arguably, this record is as ground-breaking as the band’s seminal Rock Opera and psychedelic masterpiece – “S. F. Sorrow” – which is acknowledged as rock music’s first Rock Opera. The levels of inspiration, imagination, originality and musicality displayed are at an equivalent high; in many ways, perhaps, because the whole record is a totally exposed, stripped down, acoustic project, principally featuring only the two band members. For them, this was an arduous and unfamiliar task, relying solely on their fundamental talents and undertaken without the support, comfort and benefit of the thundering band that had underpinned their work for so many years.

This is work stripped bare and reflects the frailties and insecurities of gathering age, ill health, painful failure and memorable success. It is a reflection on two long, long lives in art and music that have always been at the cutting edge, and that have always worked as they did at the very start, in their teenage years.

“Bare As Bone, Bright As Blood” does not allow for that luxury. This is not a pair of old rockers, still the oldest swingers in town. This is the work of two, old men, who are acting their age, maybe for the first time ever. If their health and energy is depleted, their skill, insight and experience is not, with the result that they have made a remarkable, exciting, unexpected and thought-provoking record, that is, against all the odds, another singular “first” for The Pretty Things.

It was a very sad day when we said an enforced goodbye to the astounding electric band that was The Pretty Things in December 2018. It is a very happy day to see them back, finally as the old men they truly are, and finally comfortable to release the young men that, for such a long, long time, they were.

“Bare as Bone, Bright as Blood” – the remarkable and unexpected new album by The Pretty Things, still the tainted, dark royalty, banished from the rock establishment.

‘Bare As Bone, Bright As Blood’ will be released on CD, gatefold 2xLP on red vinyl and digitally on September 25 but it's currently available to pre-order right here. Check out "Bright As Blood" below. 

One For The Weekend: Thomas Meloncon

Here's an overlooked folk gem "400 Years" from Thomas Meloncon shown with eighth grader Percy Stevenson.  

Dave Graney & Clare Moore release live set with Malcolm Ross & Georgio Valentio

Pals from their Moodists days, Dave Graney & Clare Moore reconnect with guitarist Malcolm Ross for a swank live recording. 

Here's the scoop... 

Dave Graney & Clare Moore with Georgio Valentino & Malcolm Ross is the second of three “from the vaults” releases from Graney and Moore in the year of our pandemic, 2020. (Follows Dave & Clare's previous live recording In Concert with Robin Casinader which came out in May). 

Songs recorded live in Hull and London in the UK as part of a tour in late 2017. Dave Graney on acoustic guitar and vocals, Clare Moore on keys, backing vocals, drums, Georgio “The Dove” Valentino on bass and Malcolm Ross on electric guitar and lap steel. 

Songs drawn from across Graney and Moore’s career and three songs from Malcolm Ross. 17 Songs delivered live in a performance masterclass from a slow burn semi acoustic pop beginning to a blazing electric raveup to finish with all kinds of side roads along the way. A one off recording from a one off band. 

Dave Graney and multi instrumentalist Clare Moore were in The Moodists from 1978 to 1986. Then the White Buffaloes/Coral Snakes 1987-1997. Then the Royal Dave Graney Show and Lurid Yellow Mist to the mistLY. Malcolm Ross played with Graney and Moore in the latter days of The Moodists and early (London lineup) of the Coral Snakes. Previous to that he had played in Postcard Records bands Josef K and Orange Juice. Georgio “The Dove” Valentino is an international man of mystery who currently lives in Athens. Previously he had worked out of Brussels, Detroit and St Augustine, Florida. 

Recorded at O’Rileys in Hull Oct 9th 2017 and the Betsey Trotwood, London Oct 11th and 12th 2017. 

Mixed at the Ponderosa in Melbourne May 2020 by Dave Graney. 

Get it right here. Check out a couple of performance clips from Dave & Clare's UK tour of 2017 followed by the track listing. 

Dave Graney & Clare Moore with Georgio Valentino & Malcolm Ross

1. Clinging To The Coast 03:52

2. Everything Was Legendary With Robert 04:18

3. A Boy Named Epic 04:39

4. Twilight Of A Villain 06:01

5. Heroic Blues 05:10

6. Happy Boy 04:20

7. You Need A Kleek, Klook 04:45

8. How Long Does the Raunch? 05:14

9. All Our Friends were Stars 04:16

10. Robert Ford On The Stage 04:27

11. My Avenger 03:50

12. We Need A Champion 03:51

13. Night Of The Wolverine 6 05:37

14. I Been Trendy 04:15

15. How Can You Get Out Of London? 04:24

16. As Good As It Gets 05:28

17. Rock n Roll Is Where I Hide 07:00

Most songs written by Dave Graney. Copyright Control except except Happy Boy (Ross/Weddell), My Avenger (Ross, Weddell, Malinen) and As Good As It Gets (Brogan,Clark, Condie, Fowler, Ross).