Happy Caribbean Carnival weekend!

Celebrating Caribbean Carnival weekend with a Enrico's Linstead Market mix of vintage calypso and mento. Listen after the clips. 

Listen to Enrico's Linstead Market mix right here. 

LINKS
Toronto Caribbean Carnival 2026 https://torontocarnival.ca/

Happy Birthday James Spaulding!

Raising a glass to alto saxophonist James Spaulding on his birthday with a couple of stellar performances.

Rare 1972 Seattle proto-metal recording by Grand Theft gets reissued

Inspired by Led Zep and Sabbath, Seattle's Grand Theft recorded a one-take session in '72 just issued by Ancient Grease Records.

Here's the scoop from Ancient Grease Records...

Grand Theft was a one-shot explosion of heavy rock madness out of Seattle in 1972. What began as a tongue-in-cheek jab at the bombast of bands like Grand Funk Railroad quickly spiraled into something raw, real, and entirely their own. Dave Baroh’s snarling guitar riffs, Kevin Marin’s thunderous bass, and Phil Klitgaard’s primal yet sharp drumming cut through like a cracking whip on a stormy night.

Their sole LP, recorded in a single chaotic session, captures a moment of unfiltered energy. Tracks like “Scream (It’s Eating Me Alive)” and “Closer to Herfy’s” erupted from caffeine-fueled late nights, inside jokes, keen wit, and a new devotion to abrasiveness. With radio DJ/manager Burl Barer steering the mayhem, the album gained regional buzz, a “dream date” promo contest, and even praise from Lester Bangs.

Live performances were rare—spontaneous, earsplitting blitzes—but Grand Theft’s legend grew long after the band dissolved. What began as a fleeting joke became a proto-metal curiosity, a wild card in the deck of early ’70s rock. Grand Theft remains a testament to rock’s untamed spirit and a primal scream in the face of convention.

Get a vinyl reissue of Grand Theft's ultra-rare private press recording – mastered from the original tapes with liner notes by Steven Krakow on black or sunburst scream coloured wax – directly from Ancient Grease right here. 

Listen to a couple of tracks below along with a discussion of the record on the Vinyl Piper podcast. 

Happy Birthday Geddy Lee!

Cheers to Rush singer/bassist Geddy Lee on his 73rd birthday! We're celebrating with three clips from MSG and some interviews.

B-Side Wins Again: Jo Jo Bennett & The Fugitives

Here's Jo Jo Bennett singing "Rock Steady" on the flip of Keith Lyn's version of "007" for Toronto's obscure Umbrella label. 

Catl rocks the Upper Deck @ Toronto Island Marina, August 1

Don't miss Catl's shack shakin' return to the Toronto Island Marina's Upper Deck for a swingin' Saturday night  getdown! It's free!  

Remembering Mississippi blues great Junior Kimbrough on his birthday

Celebrating Junior Kimbrough's birthday with some live footage, interviews and the excellent documentary "You See Me Laughin'"

Stacey Case's Cheese On Top series for Bell Fibe TV features Bloodshot Bill

Stacey Case's new show about pizza "Cheese On Top" – with guest Bloodshot Bill – streams on Bell Fibe TV. Check it out!

HEY CANADA 🇨🇦

Did you know there's a new tv show all about Cornwall pizza?

Did you know that I'm in every episode singing a song about (u guessed it) pizza?

Its called CHEESE ON TOP and you can watch it on Bell Fibe TV right here.

Its silly, informative, and fun... all from the demented mind of pizza freak Stacey Case

Bon appetit... happy viewing!   🍕🍕🍕

R.I.P. reggae great R. Zee Jackson, 1954-2026

Sadly, roots reggae great R. Zee Jackson has passed away at the age of 72. He'll be greatly missed. 

R. Zee Jackson, 1954-2026

We are sad to announce that our friend R.ZEE Jackson (also known as Esso Jaxxon) has passed away yesterday (July 24, 2026).  

We had the privilege of collaborating with him on several instalments of the Novelty Engine project and it was always a pleasure to share a stage and moments of life with RZee. He was about to join us once again at Ozora Festival in just a few days.

All of our love and thoughts go to his family and loved ones. 

Fly high, RZee, may you travel gently in the infinite light. 

With love and great respect,

Ajja, Tanya & Novelty Engine

O.Z.O.R.A. Festival

Happy Birthday William Eggleston!

Raising a glass to photographer/composer and filmmaker William Eggleston on his 87th birthday... cheers William!  

LINKS
William Eggleston 512
William Eggleston Musik

Watch the video for "Chasing Shadows" by Nubian Twist feat. Fatoumata Diawara

Here's Mali's Fatoumata Diawara singing "Chasing Shadows" with Nubian Twist and launching her new signature Epiphone guitar. 

Watch a Play and Trade Guitars demo of Epiphone's new Fatoumata Diawara signature model SG right here.  

Col. Tom Parker's Swinging Door w/ Alison MacGregor @ The Cameron, Sunday

Don't miss Alison MacGregor singing 'n' picking with Col. Tom and crew at the Cameron House tonight from 6 pm to 8 pm. 

Steve Briggs' Summer Sundays w/ Fergus Hambleton @ Artful Dodger, July 26

Fergus Hambleton (Sattalites, Goody Two Shoes) joins Steve Briggs at the Artful Dodger (10 Isabella) today from 4 pm to 7 pm.

LINKS

It's Psychedelic Baby Fergus Hambleton interview

Listen to "Waiting For The Moon" by Moonfood cut with Bob & Dan Lanois in 1977 right here.

Whaddya mean you don't know Promised Land Sound

Nashville's Promised Land Sound – inspired by the Flying Burrito Bros, Jim Ford & CAN – deserve much wider recognition. 

Here's the scoop from Paradise of Bachelors...

Promised Land Sound, Nashville’s finest purveyors of febrile root-work psychedelia, chose to begin at the beginning; they named themselves after an immortal road-dogging Chuck Berry jam and proceeded from there. For such a young band—though they’re now all in their twenties, some weren’t even of legal drinking age when they released their debut—they’re remarkably attuned to historical precedents. 

The self-titled first album mined the same red dirt/swamp boogie as the Flying Burritos, Gene Clark, Jesse Ed Davis, Link Wray, the Band, CCR, Dennis Linde, Johnny Darrell, the Stones, et al. But For Use and Delight is the album on which Promised Land Sound finds their distinctive idiom, the distilled articulation of their mutable live performances, during which songs expand and contract, guitars flicker, flame, and gutter, and the rhythm section achieves a full-throttle locomotive choogle that locates the common/contested ground between J.J. Cale and Can. 

You can get Promised Land Sound's recordings directly from their record label Paradise of Bachelors right here. Watch a performance of "Golden Child" below. 

MixTO Festival w/ Orbital Ensemble @ Trillium Park, Saturday

Orbital Ensemble's 7 pm set at Trillium Park today will be a highlight of the MixTO Festival which runs from 4 pm to 11 pm.

For more information about this weekend's MixTO Festival, visit their site. Watch a clip of Orbital Ensemble in action here.

Watch a two-part documentary on 60s Nederbeat

This cursory look at the wild world of 60s Nederbeat contains some fab footage 'n' clips of The Outsiders, Shocking Blue and more. 

Larry Hardy & Henry Rollins chat about The Cramps & Vengeance Records

In The Red's Larry Hardy & Henry Rollins discuss the reboot of The Cramps' Vengeance label with Eric Davidson.

Here's the scoop from Eric Davidson...

It's all set and ready to stream -- my interview with Henry Rollins (2.13.61) (Black Flag, Rollins Band) and Larry Hardy (In The Red Recordings), all about their recent reboot of The Cramps' Vengeance Records and its first release, Gravest Gravy!

We dig into some nuts & bolts of the venture, and some greasy stories ya gotta hear to believe! Plus LOADS of Cramps and Cramps-adjacent music! 

Check it out right here at SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/4pygekc/

and/or here at my East Village Radio page: https://eastvillageradio.com/we-never-learn/

One For The Weekend: The Womack Sisters

Here's the Womack Sisters performing their latest single "If I Let You" off their self-titled debut for Daptone out August 14th.

R.I.P. Canadian jazz pianist Oliver Jones, 1934-2026

Sadly, Canadian jazz piano great Oliver Jones passed away in Montreal at the age of 91. He'll be greatly missed. 

LINKS

Jaymz Bee remembers Oliver Jones

Remembering Jessie Hector with short film on Friday

Caroline Catz's film tribute to Jesse Hector will appear on the Ace Records' YouTube site on Friday (July 24) at 11 am Eastern.

This just in from Ace Records... 

Jesse Hector In Memoriam film

On July 24 Ace Records will publish a short film In Memoriam of Jesse Hector of The Gorillas, who sadly passed away in April earlier this year. The film was shown at his West London funeral on July 16 and was put together by Caroline Catz, who in 2014 made the music documentary “A Message to the World…” about the life and music of Jesse Hector and his huge impact and influence as a truly trailblazing rock’n’roll artist.

The film can be viewed on the Ace Records YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/@AceRecordsLtd) on Friday July 24th at 11 am (or 3 pm GMT). 

Obituary, farewells and personal memories about Jesse from some of his close friends can be found at: https://www.acerecords.co.uk/news/2026/jesse-hector

THE FILM:

Raymond Jesse Hector 1947-2026 - In Memoriam

Short film description + credits:

A tribute to the hugely influential British rock’n’roll icon Jesse Hector, Chiswick Recording recording artist of the Gorillas and The Hammersmith Gorillas. The film was shown to friends and family at his funeral in West London on July 16, 2026.

"God Bless, Jesse. May your memory and your rock’n’roll heart keep beating on.” - Caroline Catz, July 2026.

Directed by Caroline Catz

Edited by Luke Clayton Thompson

Executive producer Roger Armstrong

With grateful thanks to Luciano Figueira for sharing the final clip of Jesse performing at the Royal Geographical Society. Also to all the photographers and contributors who generously shared their work in celebration of Jesse and his memory. 

Chris Coole + Tony Allen + James McEleney @ The Cameron, Thursday

Banjo boss Chris Coole and fiddler deluxe Tony Allen revisit their Good Right Arm Stringband days with James McEleney tonight! 

Remembering Khan Jamal on his birthday

Thinking of vibes great Khan Jamal with a brief interview clip along with a few of his stellar recordings. 

Cheap Fix vs. The Cure

Austin's Cheap Fix recently put their own spin on The Cure's "I'm Cold" with snazzy 7" sleeve art courtesy of Olaf Jens!

Cheap Fix's new seven-inch is out soon via Italy's Goodbye Boozy label. Check Cheap Fix's bandcamp page here. 

Happy 85th Birthday George Clinton!

Celebrating the 85th birthday of P-Funk mainman George Clinton with a few clips and interviews. Cheers George! 

R.I.P. saxophonist Plas Johnson, 1931-2026

Sadly, saxophonist Plas Johnson – best known for the Pink Panther Theme – passed away just days before his 95th birthday. 

Watch an interview with Plas Johnson conducted by Mark Rowe in 1996 right here.

Midweek Mixdown: On The Brink, Return Of The Instro-Hipsters

Nick Saloman of Bevis Frond notoriety curated the fab On The Brink selection of groovy 60s UK instro swingers back in 2007.

On The Brink: Return Of The Instro-Hipsters 

Grooviness From UK - Sitars, Organs & Fuzz Guitar Music

On the Brink is a collection of 20 previously uncomped and absolutely superb UK instrumentals from the '60s and early '70s, assembled by legendary psych musician and Psychic Circle label-head, Nick Saloman (The Bevis Frond).

Presenting session men discovering sitars, orchestras getting into the freaky side of things, hip theme tunes, Hammonds, fuzz and brass. Somehow sophisticated and cheesy simultaneously, these acts created their own musical world of Chelsea apartments, mini-mokes, dark velvet bespoke tailoring and the dolliest birds this side of Battersea Bridge. Welcome to the soundtrack of your own unmade Swinging London movie. Artists include: Mike Vickers, Jim Sullivan Sound, the Shock Absorbers, Wynder K. Frog, Rita, Offside, Les Reed Orchestra, David Smith, Keith Mansfield Orchestra, the Dave Davani Four, The Fidd, Ken Woodman's Piccadilly Brass, the John Schroeder Orchestra, Trax Four, the Mike Cotton Sound, Lee Mason and his Orchestra, the Vic Flick Sound, the Chris Barber Soul Band, Brian Bennett and Stanley Myers. Listen via Youtube right here. Check out Mike Vickers' title track below. 

Rick White reunites with Eric's Trip bandmate Julie Doiron for Together

Rick White & Julie Doiron's new album Together is out now via Blue Fog Recordings. 

Writes Rick about Together...

Written, performed, recorded, mixed and painted by Rick. Finished with Julie in April 2026.

As you all may know, Julie and I started a band together shortly after we started dating as teenagers in 1990. That band was called Eric's Trip and we made a bunch of music together over the next 6 years. It all of course fell apart with our young love and we went out separate ways for a while.

In 2001 we decided to get the band back together for one more X-Canada tour, it went great and we got along really well again. In 2006 we played the first Sappyfest in Sackville NB and i started work recording her next solo album "Woke Myself Up." I also played some guitar, bass and drums, it was nice having her out here at my home studio recording with me again. I did her next record as well in 2009, then the "So many days" LP in 2012. Just me and her together for a week, i played all the drums, bass and any guitar tracks besides hers. We worked on it really hard and well together and were really happy with how it turned out.

Then i quit making music for 7 years.

I eventually started back up, and ever since i've thought about writing an album for Julie and i to record together. In early 2026 i contacted her about it and we finally made plans for her to come up and get it done. I collected a bunch of songs i thought would be appropriate, and wrote a few more just for this project. We had a great week together hanging out, reminiscing and recording. We didn't wanna do a folky adult kinda album, we kept it peppy and heavy and tried to retain some of that youthful magic we had originally created together. It all turned out awesome and we're very pleased with the results. I hope you all dig it too.

You can order a nice vinyl copy from our blue fog recordings big cartel web store right here. Comes with a download code for this bandcamp digital version. You can also get Together via Bandcamp right here. 

Los Straitjackets with Nick Lowe @ The Mod Club, July 21

Los Straitjackets are joined by Nick Lowe at The Mod Club on Tuesday at 7 pm. Check out a few performances and interviews. 

Tickets for the Los Straitjackets & Nick Lowe show at The Mod Club on Tuesday (July 21) are $66.25 and available here.

Play It Loud! star Jay Douglas plays Blues Mondays @ Union Station, July 20

A soul-stirring performance by Jay Douglas will be the highlight of Blues Mondays at Union Station today at 5:30 pm.  

Happy Birthday Chris Houston!

Cheers to singer/songwriter and story teller deluxe Chris Houston – still kickin' in the Hammer! Check the clips below. 

LINKS

Listen to Chris Houston's albums via Spotify... "Evil Twang" right here and "One Mania To The Next" right here.

That time Billy Butler & Andre Williams worked on a tune for Sheryl Swope

Windy City soul greats Billy  Butler & Andre Williams conspired on "One Moment" for Sheryl Swope on Duo.

R.I.P. Jennifer Finch of L7, 1966-2026

Sadly, Jennifer Finch, longtime bassist with L7, has passed away far too soon at the age of 59. She'll be greatly missed. 

Nichol Robertson & Kelsey McNulty @ The Cameron House, Saturday

Kelsey McNulty (Carlo, Great Lake Swimmers) joins Nichol Robertson for a delightful duo set at the Cameron from 6 pm to 8 pm.

Oakland Hiero heroes Souls Of Mischief @ The Phoenix, Saturday

Bay Area hip hop legends Souls Of Mischief make a rare T.O. appearance at the Phoenix tonight – get tickets right here. 

Happy Birthday singer/songwriter Evie Sands!

Raising a glass to Evie Sands on her birthday with a few vintage clips and an appearance on Art Fein's Poker Party. 

One For The Weekend: The Huns

Chicago garage-rockers The Huns are in Steven Krakow's Secret History feature for the Reader. Check out "Destination Lonely"

Writes Steven Krakow...

Once again VERY EXCITED to present the tale of a band I SO DIG in the new Secret History of Chicago Music in the Chicago Reader. The Huns told me a lot of their snotty/sublime garage-rockin’ story for the first time! Their suburban history is tied into the legendary club the Cellar AND The Nuge! (Plus opening for Buffalo Springfield and Strawberry Alarm Clock, aka pure gold in my world). 

Their lone 45 "Destination Lonely" b/w "Winning Ticket" is coveted by collector-types, but it’s a DOOZY of primal fuzzed angst and Mersey-like beauty! The legendary Cheater Slicks covered the A-side. 

They’re reforming for a show at Hey Nonny Arlington Heights on Aug. 1 and I WILL BE THERE OR BE SQUARE! 

This will be in the big Aug print issue too, thanks Philip Montoro for doing some heavy lifting while sick, hero!  Read The Huns story in the Chicago Reader right here. Listen to both sides of The Huns single below. 

 

LINKS
Garage Hangover  The Huns "Destination Lonely"

Nichol Robertson y Los Falsos @ The Cameron House, Friday

Nichol Robertson, Vivienne Wilder and their Los Falsos compadres bring a Latin swing to the Cameron tonight at 10 pm. 

Adrian Younge takes aim at dance floors with Afro-Disco Makossa

Adrian Younge launches his new dancefloor assault with "Feel The High Life" off "Afro-Disco Makossa" – time to get down!

Here's the scoop...

What would a Ghanaian producer in ‘76 have made if he set out to create an American disco record for his hometown? Adrian Younge finally answers that question.

The latest single from Afro-Disco Makossa, “Feel the High Life” is out now. Afro-Disco Makossa the first Linear Labs record built purely for the dance floor. Afrobeat, funk, and disco, recorded to tape. Built for the DJ of any era. Get a copy of Afro-Disco Makossa on vinyl from Linear Labs right here. Listen to "Feel The High Life" below.