Allow me to bother you one more time before the month is out. Ya think that those who do these June festivals would hold off another month. Glastonbury got buried in much rain over the weekend but to those who went there probably think it was worth the effort to see Jake Bugg, Jack White, Metallica, The Libertines and Lana Del Ray to mention a few. Over here, no shortage of rain and more fucking rain. The Rhythm and Booms on the lake in Madison actually got done without any rain delays but not me going to the Cedar Rapids Kernels game on Pearson night, having two hamburgers and a hot dog and cussing out the weather as the rains came and stayed throughout the shortened game. Bryan Haas hit 2 home runs and a grand slam and CR won 9-5. Although the rain delay showcase the Kernels having a grand time sliding on the wet tarp and the Kernel Strike Force happily dancing about in the rain, yours truly was not amused of Mother Nature's bullshit of rain and being soaked. I make no bones about how much I hate rain, hate it even more when I go to outdoor events and even more so when it pours for two fucking hours. Stalled fronts and continual heavy rains for the past three weeks makes anybody grumpy. But then again for the past 11 years the world has known how much I hate rain so that's nothing new. Our hope is for July to come around and dry out like it did last year. I recalled a year ago being out in the Arizona sun and fun and having the basement have a fucking river going through it. Which is why I didn't partake into a Arizona getaway this year. If we waterproof the mutherfucking basement and not see no more rain come in that would help. A lot.
http://www.globaldogproductions.info/
I came across this site by accident from a record collecting friend. Global Dog Productions really does a fine job in putting together discographies from labels of yesterday on 45s. More throuough than 45 cat if you can believe that.
The Kings Of The Sun to me were one of the best bands to come out of Australia in the 80s and made two sloppy excellent albums for RCA and a third that may have been their best. Led by Clifford and Jeffery Hoad, Serpentine and Drop The Gun should be playing on the classic rock stations around here. The Hoad Brothers continued to make music throughout the years but Jeff decided he had enough of the rock and roll lifestyle and retire but Clifford Hoad has been working his ass off trying to spread the word that the Kings Of The Sun are still around. Their latest Rock Till Ya Die brings back the energy of the first two KOTS albums of long ago and Cliff has turned out to be a decent vocalist in his own ways but still remains one of the best bad ass drummers out there. One of the very few that ever followed me on Facebook, Clifford spends a lot of time on Facebook and having updates and new pictures and videos. One of the hardest working dudes in rock but hardly anybody around here knows about him. I'm doing my best to get the word out. http://www.kingsofthesunband.com/
While sorting through piles of hoarder shit around here, I found some archival stuff of note. When Cal Menge was reissuing The Sand Rubies stuff on his Contingency label in the early 2000s, he had a list of folks that would submit the year's best and I gave him two lists. The Best of 2000, and 2001. Now in the 14 years since the first one I noticed that some of the best CDs I don't have anymore. Elastica and The Royal Crowns number 1 and 10. For nostalgia's sake the best of 2000
1. Elastica-The Menance (Atlantic)
2. The Backsliders-Southern Lines (Mammoth)
3. Steve Earle-Transcendental Blues (E Squared)
4. Chumbawamba-WYSIWYG (Universal)
5. Bad Religion-The New America (Atlantic)
6. Ass Ponys-Some Stupid With A Flare Gun (Checkered Past)
7. MXPX-The Everlasting Moment (A&M)
8. Big In Iowa-Banging And Knocking (Blue Rose)
9. Randy Weeks-Madeline (Hightone)
10. The Amazing Royal Crowns-Royal (Time Bomb)
Best of 2001
1. Love And Theft-Bob Dylan (Columbia)
2. Green Day-International Superhits (Reprise)
3. Jerry Butler-The Complete Philadelphia Sessions (Mercury)
4. Fresh Young Fellows Vs Minus Five-Because We Hate You (Mammoth/Malt)
5. Blue Mountain-Roots (Blue Mountain Music)
6. Yayhoos-Fear Not The Obvious (Bloodshot)
7. Puddle Of Mudd-Come Clean (Geffen)
8. Elton John-Songs From The West Coast (Mercury)
9. Doyle Bramhall-Welcome (RCA)
10. Stevie Ray Vaughn-Live At Montreax (Epic)
With Elastica and The Royal Crowns I just outgrew that type of music and like the rest of the folks out there donated them to charity. There's not much in documenting of that time either, I didn't have a working blog so therefore the turds of 2000 and 2001 were not considered. I do recall hearing The Strokes Is This It? up in Seattle and wondering what the fuss was all about. And Coldplay and The White Stripes were still under the radar. 3 of the 10 from 2001 were reissues whereas 2000 wasn't. I had a few in mind that would replace the now jettisoned Elastica and Royal Crowns: Best Of Blur and the Best Of John Hiatt the A&M Years. The sore thumb album would be Puddle Of Mudd, their first album I still like to this day although the lead singer has becomed a drug addicted asshole but at that time, he had his Nirvana/Layne Staley influences down pat. Not a substitute for the real thing mind you but it wasn't that bad. Until he repeated himself from thereafter. Chumbawamba, best known for Tubthumping made a much better album with W.Y.S.I.W.Y.G. but the fragmented songs and anti corporation rants turned everybody off waiting for a Tubthumper followup. But taken as a whole, the putdowns of Reality TV really foretold more of the future than it did back then.
For some reason I also listening to a lot of punk pop back then and most of it has dated quite badly years later. MXPX for example carried on the Green Day type of music although the drummer played faster and sloppier than Tre Cool and I don't know if anybody still plays Life In General anymore, their 1996 album that had alternative hits like Move To Bremerton and Chick Magnet. A&M signed them up and MXPX made three albums, the best was The Everlasting Moment which for that brief moment actually topped Green Day's effort and was helped by Dave Grohl on a couple numbers. My Life Story probably their best song ever to which I bopped around town playing at full volume and having oddball looks from people. The record didn't sell and MXPX last album for A&M found them to be second rate Good Charlotte, which guys from that band produced that album. MXPX is still around but the guys are now pushing into their late 30s and have families to boot but still do put out the occasional album from time to time.
For the old farts, Elton John came back with Songs From The West Coast and made his best album in decades. After dinking around with a rewording of Candle In The Wind and the slow and bore of The Big Picture, Elton found some inspiration, partly from the senseless killing of Matthew Shepherd and dealing with his own demons but does help when Davey Johnstone adds more guitar to the mix too. Next album Nigel Olsson returned back to the drums and part of the classic E.J Band reunited (except for Dee Murray who passed). Peachtree Road was uneven, the Captain And the Kid was better but for me the best E.J. record of the 2000s was Good Morning To The Night, a remix album with P'nau.
But I donno. The 2000's became the decade of the most corporate and least essential music ever. With auto tuner, pro tools sucking the life out of the music. And the major labels not even attempting to carve out careers for the starving artists, just forgettable singles that the most of us have forgotten. Or would rather stick with what we grew up with in the 50s on to the 90s. Today's musicians do have their work cut out, you have to compete with whats' out there in the internet that your practically competing against just about everything that has been recorded that you can find. The EDM Bro Country hasn't help either. But I don't think looking at these best of 2000 and 2001 are the demise of the music world. I do play The Backsliders or Bob Dylan or Steve Earle or even Chumbawamba from time to time. 13 years ago things were a lot different than they are now. At least we have record stores in town to go to and Wherehouse Music was still around as well as the overpriced but fun to go into Tower Records. It doesn't make any difference but these archival finds of the best of those years showed that my tastes in music was at and have been altered a bit today.
And so it goes.
Sunday, June 29, 2014
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Notes: Deadshirt, CD Donation, Gary Glitter Pedophile
But first let's talk about the weather. It sucks. Water in the basement again. A tired old tradition that I can do without. I plan to waterproof this motherfucking place but before we do we have to pray for no more rain. To which the forecast for rain chances for the next two weeks. Unfuckingbelieveable. And of course river levels are past flood stage. The Cedar in CR will crest at around 17 and half feet. Not 2008 historic levels but still ranks in the top 28 all time high river stage. Meanwhile out west, the sun continues to shine and the dry winds and lightning continue to burn that part of the country down. BTW The Linn County Fair starts this week, Alien Ant Farm, who was supposed to play last year's canceled Fair (Due to um...too much rain) comes back to play the Thursday show. John Michael Montgomery is the country act for Friday.
Teeny Hodges, one of the cornerstones of the Hi Music Band under the watchful eye of Willie Mitchell and can be heard on the classic Al Green recordings passed away at age 68. Another victim of too much smoking.
Meanwhile Wellmark Blue Shield says no to Obamacare and raises the rates once again. Thus providing that the terrorists picked the wrong places to crash and burn. Yep our country, all for the profit line and not for the working man. CEO can't afford his jet, so somebody's gotta pay for it. That's right, it will be you. My mom says you can tell when a company is full of shit they'll have more commercials on the TV. Kinda like insurance companies. The more they advertise, the more likely they'll deny you when something happens to you.
Another website to tell you about. Deadshirt. I'm still looking for off the wall websites as you can tell. http://deadshirt.net/
Over the weekend, I donated a bunch of CDs and LPs back to Goodwill in a attempt to clean house and make room for the waterproofers to come next month but it doesn't even look like I done anything. A lot of CDs went out the door this time. Candlebox, Wallflowers, Train all gone. Hell, even most of the CDs that I did find and bought at Stuff Etc went back to the donation bin. It's harder getting rid of albums but I think about 40 of them got donated too. I'm sure they'll all be picked up fairly soon.
One of the LPs donated was Glitter And Gold by Gary Glitter. Once upon a time, I played Glitter a few times, Baby Please Don't Go, I didn't know I loved you till I saw you rock and roll and later stuff like Leader Of The Gang but Gary is in trouble again with the law. Imagine that. Although the charges date back to the 70s the statue of limitations didn't ran out. That said, it should be reminded to those who play his Jock Itch Jam Anthem Rock and Roll Part 2 that everytime they do this, it puts money in his pocket and he can go out and prey upon the young again. A sad part of life, even back then old Paul Gadd looked a bit creepy in that glam outfit he could barely get his fat ass in on that Glitter album. Never again.
record reviews
Chad And Jeremy-Of Cabbages And Kings (Columbia)
They really got weird at the end of the 60s. The guys that gave us A Summer Song and those lush harmonies, later gave way to what Simon And Garfunkel were doing around the Bookends time. I also think that Gary Usher played more of a role too, with the Sagittarius Present Tense thing he did with Curt Boehetter which is a collector's item. Rest In Peace the leadoff track could find a home on Present Tense or Moody Blues for that matter. But there's a standoffish approach from Chad Stuart and Jeremy Clyde that kinda puts me off as well. I'll Get Around To It When And If I Can, if you think it's a droll title, wait till you hear them sing it. Side 2 is the overblown Progress Suite 1-5 which is much ado about nothing. Paul Kantner may have right: Paul Simon could have done it better in a three minute song rather than taking up a whole side of the album. And Simon did, It was called Fakin' It.
Grade B-
Babe Ruth's Greatest Hits (Griffin/EMI)
In short their best moment was The Mexican which got airplay on FM radio. Griffin Records cherry picks 7 tracks from various Harvest/Capitol albums and most of them grate on your nerves. (Black Dog, not the Led Zeppelin version) Jenny Hahn had a powerful voice that's for sure and on Jack O Lantern she sounds like Geddy Lee. As an overview album it's okay but not something I'd listened to a lot. However Jenny and Alan Shlockrock are still around playing from time to time.
Grade B-
The Townedgers-Forthcoming Trains (Radio Maierburg)
The last album 30 was a return to the self-styled garage rock of Town's Edge Rock. Which 30 years ago last year begin a long journey of self-styled garage rock. The Townedgers are Iowa's answer to Crazy Horse without Neil Young, a enjoyable though faceless band that nobody ever heard of outside of this blog or Radio Buzz'd which plays The Townedgers from time to time. Forthcoming Trains, is a more return to the 2000's type of TEs, a mixed blend of acoustic numbers to go with the electric. Leading off with an mellow ballad How Hard It Is, shows the unpredictable side: not too many folks would lead the album off with a slow ballad. And then moving on the unrelenting Midnight Run. Last few albums the Townedgers added more cover versions to the music with mixed results (Country, the 2012 album Soul Biscuits) this time out, they cover themselves with 6 remakes from previous albums. But since practically nobody ever heard the originals versions anyway, I consider them new songs. The major differences between Midnight Run 85 and 2014 is that Rod Smith's drumming is not as radical as it was once was. Three decades ago, he'd find a way to throw a Keith Moon drum roll crash in the mix, this time out, stays more faithful to the guitar riffs. Or Just Enough Love to which more cymbal accents are used rather than full drum rolls. Although Forthcoming Trains could be argued for a repackaged remakes of certain songs, it also addresses the present and the future in typical disdain. The usual love gone wrong songs such as Light Years Away, Smith shrugs it off in the chorus of You cannot lose what you never had, that love is gone and light years away, even if the ex love interest is still trying to find her methadone at the pizza place all these years. The newer Townedger songs, Faygo and Home addresses the lack of musical success with irony. Don't know why I promoting this, nobody is buying it anyway, Smith sings on Faygo. And on Home, it ties the past, present and future with bemused bitterness of lack of success in music. And singing songs in an empty bar that nobody knows, but in my mind I am a star goes one lyric and in the final lines sums up the album and the career with these parting shots: Yes I know I got no expectations, I'm dealing with life's frustrations, the more I try, the more I fail, it's getting old, leave me alone, I'm going home. And in the end result, still falling on deaf ears.
Nevertheless Forthcoming Trains for all the irony and dry wit dark side of humor of Home or Faygo, The Townedgers still have come up with a very good recording and that might rank with the best of their catalog. While the rest of the world contends with Bro Country crap and faceless EDM, The Townedgers continue to do what they do best, economical garage rock and tearing up the back roads at the same time.
Grade A-
2014 is half way through and so far the new music has ranged from great to passable to freaking bad but my favorites of the year are Beck Morning Phase, Drive By Truckers English Oceans and The Strypes Snapshot albums. Black Lips and Against Me also figure into this. But the worst album of 2014 is Lana Del Ray's Ultraviolence and doubt that will change much. Unless I decide upon reviewing the new Love And Theft album; which won't happen.
If the rains hold off there's plenty of things to do around the area. The CR Bar B Q Roundup, a ripoff upon itself that you pay a fee to get in and then play double for the Bar B Q stuff happens this week at the newly modeled McGrath Amphitheater which kicks off Freedom Festival 2014, provided if the Cedar River doesn't spill over its banks. Brook Hoover, Kevin BF Burt, 8 Seconds and The Nadas are part of the local bands providing musical relief from all that Bar B Q. In Madison the first ever Rhythm And Booms Festival makes its way from Warner Park to up and down John Nolen Drive around Monona Terrace and it's going to be a madhouse this week and parking will be scarce. For 10 dollars you can get a upfront view of things from Monona Terrace but if you're cheap like me or finding that your finances went towards parking, there's free admission around certain areas around John Nolen Drive. Fireworks will be seen all along Lake Monona and it should be a fun time. Weather permitting of course. Big Head Toad And The Monsters is the main band. But other local bands will be playing at certain venues. Mr. Zero from Mad City Music X says there'll be some bands playing in the ped mall where the record store is located. Parking will be extremely limited so get there early.
Teeny Hodges, one of the cornerstones of the Hi Music Band under the watchful eye of Willie Mitchell and can be heard on the classic Al Green recordings passed away at age 68. Another victim of too much smoking.
Meanwhile Wellmark Blue Shield says no to Obamacare and raises the rates once again. Thus providing that the terrorists picked the wrong places to crash and burn. Yep our country, all for the profit line and not for the working man. CEO can't afford his jet, so somebody's gotta pay for it. That's right, it will be you. My mom says you can tell when a company is full of shit they'll have more commercials on the TV. Kinda like insurance companies. The more they advertise, the more likely they'll deny you when something happens to you.
Another website to tell you about. Deadshirt. I'm still looking for off the wall websites as you can tell. http://deadshirt.net/
Over the weekend, I donated a bunch of CDs and LPs back to Goodwill in a attempt to clean house and make room for the waterproofers to come next month but it doesn't even look like I done anything. A lot of CDs went out the door this time. Candlebox, Wallflowers, Train all gone. Hell, even most of the CDs that I did find and bought at Stuff Etc went back to the donation bin. It's harder getting rid of albums but I think about 40 of them got donated too. I'm sure they'll all be picked up fairly soon.
One of the LPs donated was Glitter And Gold by Gary Glitter. Once upon a time, I played Glitter a few times, Baby Please Don't Go, I didn't know I loved you till I saw you rock and roll and later stuff like Leader Of The Gang but Gary is in trouble again with the law. Imagine that. Although the charges date back to the 70s the statue of limitations didn't ran out. That said, it should be reminded to those who play his Jock Itch Jam Anthem Rock and Roll Part 2 that everytime they do this, it puts money in his pocket and he can go out and prey upon the young again. A sad part of life, even back then old Paul Gadd looked a bit creepy in that glam outfit he could barely get his fat ass in on that Glitter album. Never again.
record reviews
Chad And Jeremy-Of Cabbages And Kings (Columbia)
They really got weird at the end of the 60s. The guys that gave us A Summer Song and those lush harmonies, later gave way to what Simon And Garfunkel were doing around the Bookends time. I also think that Gary Usher played more of a role too, with the Sagittarius Present Tense thing he did with Curt Boehetter which is a collector's item. Rest In Peace the leadoff track could find a home on Present Tense or Moody Blues for that matter. But there's a standoffish approach from Chad Stuart and Jeremy Clyde that kinda puts me off as well. I'll Get Around To It When And If I Can, if you think it's a droll title, wait till you hear them sing it. Side 2 is the overblown Progress Suite 1-5 which is much ado about nothing. Paul Kantner may have right: Paul Simon could have done it better in a three minute song rather than taking up a whole side of the album. And Simon did, It was called Fakin' It.
Grade B-
Babe Ruth's Greatest Hits (Griffin/EMI)
In short their best moment was The Mexican which got airplay on FM radio. Griffin Records cherry picks 7 tracks from various Harvest/Capitol albums and most of them grate on your nerves. (Black Dog, not the Led Zeppelin version) Jenny Hahn had a powerful voice that's for sure and on Jack O Lantern she sounds like Geddy Lee. As an overview album it's okay but not something I'd listened to a lot. However Jenny and Alan Shlockrock are still around playing from time to time.
Grade B-
The Townedgers-Forthcoming Trains (Radio Maierburg)
The last album 30 was a return to the self-styled garage rock of Town's Edge Rock. Which 30 years ago last year begin a long journey of self-styled garage rock. The Townedgers are Iowa's answer to Crazy Horse without Neil Young, a enjoyable though faceless band that nobody ever heard of outside of this blog or Radio Buzz'd which plays The Townedgers from time to time. Forthcoming Trains, is a more return to the 2000's type of TEs, a mixed blend of acoustic numbers to go with the electric. Leading off with an mellow ballad How Hard It Is, shows the unpredictable side: not too many folks would lead the album off with a slow ballad. And then moving on the unrelenting Midnight Run. Last few albums the Townedgers added more cover versions to the music with mixed results (Country, the 2012 album Soul Biscuits) this time out, they cover themselves with 6 remakes from previous albums. But since practically nobody ever heard the originals versions anyway, I consider them new songs. The major differences between Midnight Run 85 and 2014 is that Rod Smith's drumming is not as radical as it was once was. Three decades ago, he'd find a way to throw a Keith Moon drum roll crash in the mix, this time out, stays more faithful to the guitar riffs. Or Just Enough Love to which more cymbal accents are used rather than full drum rolls. Although Forthcoming Trains could be argued for a repackaged remakes of certain songs, it also addresses the present and the future in typical disdain. The usual love gone wrong songs such as Light Years Away, Smith shrugs it off in the chorus of You cannot lose what you never had, that love is gone and light years away, even if the ex love interest is still trying to find her methadone at the pizza place all these years. The newer Townedger songs, Faygo and Home addresses the lack of musical success with irony. Don't know why I promoting this, nobody is buying it anyway, Smith sings on Faygo. And on Home, it ties the past, present and future with bemused bitterness of lack of success in music. And singing songs in an empty bar that nobody knows, but in my mind I am a star goes one lyric and in the final lines sums up the album and the career with these parting shots: Yes I know I got no expectations, I'm dealing with life's frustrations, the more I try, the more I fail, it's getting old, leave me alone, I'm going home. And in the end result, still falling on deaf ears.
Nevertheless Forthcoming Trains for all the irony and dry wit dark side of humor of Home or Faygo, The Townedgers still have come up with a very good recording and that might rank with the best of their catalog. While the rest of the world contends with Bro Country crap and faceless EDM, The Townedgers continue to do what they do best, economical garage rock and tearing up the back roads at the same time.
Grade A-
2014 is half way through and so far the new music has ranged from great to passable to freaking bad but my favorites of the year are Beck Morning Phase, Drive By Truckers English Oceans and The Strypes Snapshot albums. Black Lips and Against Me also figure into this. But the worst album of 2014 is Lana Del Ray's Ultraviolence and doubt that will change much. Unless I decide upon reviewing the new Love And Theft album; which won't happen.
If the rains hold off there's plenty of things to do around the area. The CR Bar B Q Roundup, a ripoff upon itself that you pay a fee to get in and then play double for the Bar B Q stuff happens this week at the newly modeled McGrath Amphitheater which kicks off Freedom Festival 2014, provided if the Cedar River doesn't spill over its banks. Brook Hoover, Kevin BF Burt, 8 Seconds and The Nadas are part of the local bands providing musical relief from all that Bar B Q. In Madison the first ever Rhythm And Booms Festival makes its way from Warner Park to up and down John Nolen Drive around Monona Terrace and it's going to be a madhouse this week and parking will be scarce. For 10 dollars you can get a upfront view of things from Monona Terrace but if you're cheap like me or finding that your finances went towards parking, there's free admission around certain areas around John Nolen Drive. Fireworks will be seen all along Lake Monona and it should be a fun time. Weather permitting of course. Big Head Toad And The Monsters is the main band. But other local bands will be playing at certain venues. Mr. Zero from Mad City Music X says there'll be some bands playing in the ped mall where the record store is located. Parking will be extremely limited so get there early.
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Notes: Platteville Tornado, Casey Kasem
When Casey Kasem died on Father's Day, it ended yet another chapter in the era of radio. Kasem's American Top 40 was one of the more listened to shows on radio back in the 70s and 80s. Kasem did voice overs for Hanna Barbera, him being the voice behind Shaggy. He also participated in the Jerry Lewis MDA telethons as well. The infamous side of Casey was his profanity laced tirade about the death of Snuggles the dog. Negativeland did a cut and paste version of that into a song. I had the CD of that album This Band Is From England And Who Gives A Shit, which the band also does four different takes of I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For. But it was U2's management and SST that put a stop to that and the Kasem radio outtake meltdown. Casey didn't know anything about it till later and although the band said he was gracious and kind, he didn't sign off on the release of that song. Next to Dick Clark, Casey Kasem was the voice of radio and the American Countdown.
What Record World is famous for outside of the now forgotten top ten listings and forgotten bands and album reviews is that we talk about tornadoes a lot here. It's that time of year, where stalled fronts cook us with sun and humidity by day and monsoon storms at night flooding every GD things in sight. By now, you have seen the twin tornadoes that gutted a tiny Nebraska town (Pilger) on Monday, which was the start of the night of the twisters here in this area. While the Elkhart Twins were from the same storm, the Pilger Twins were from separate storms. You can compare them from the photos. Yes this is the famed Paul Huffman photo of the Elkhart double monster.
Which brings back memories of 1965 and the infamous Elkhart Indiana Palm Sunday Twin Tornado. The number is two. As in two tornadoes that hit Clarksville in Iowa and then crossed into Wisconsin where two tornadoes wrecked Platteville, making a mess of UW Platteville and causing havoc along Business 151 aka Junk Food Row where the Shell Station got destroyed and half of Taco Bell got blown to bits. And a half hour later, an EF3 tornado hit Verona, wrecking a school and causing major damage along the northern side of town. Madison had a EF2 Tornado that hit the SW side of town. The Platteville twisters were EF1 and EF2. And then Tuesday night another midnight monsoon caused more wind damage around Sun Prairie which is north and west from Madison. And more storms to come from this stalled front that will continue to play havoc in this area for the rest of the week. Don't we all just love this weather in June? Fuck no.
The bigger headache remains the heavy rain after the storms hit and all across the region Flood watches and warnings are going on. Minnesota has seen 6 to 8 inches of the wet shit. Owatonna got 8 inches of it Monday Night and flooded the low lying areas. Once again the heavy rains are making farmers miserable. Once it starts you can't stop it and the fields are becoming swamps. Good old climate change, it fucks up everybody's plans.
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For new music I haven't noticed it till now but it seems that even I don't know most of the new bands that are up and coming anymore, or what the NME or Rolling Stone is touting. The NME keeps touting Kasasbian but from what I had heard from these guys I'm not impressed. The Bro Country phenomenon sucks and the EDM top 40 is even less. The wave of the future and basically here to stay. So you may as well stab yourself in the ears before going to the hardware store so you don't have to hear Florida Georgia Line or Luke Bryan. But since I mentioned their names, I just put money in their pockets. Suppose I should demand a cut for the promo? But the return to the rock and roll that I remember has gone via the way of Big Band music and Pre War Blues. A curio for the rest of the world but hardly mentioned anymore.
Reviews:
The Big Bang-Best Of MC5 (Rhino) As a mix CD, it cherry picks without much thought. You get side 1 of Kick Out The Jams, a good helping of Back In The USA, poorly recorded and produced by one Jon Landau and throws in the worst song they ever did, Miss X from High Time and the rarities have been on better comps out there (Babes In Arms although that CD was too, poorly recorded and sequenced). The MC5 stand out in my mind for pissing my dad off when he heard side two of Kick Out The Jams and called it the worst crap he's ever heard in life and I'm surprised that he didn't break the record after that. Why Rhino didn't add the single Borderline is beyond me, maybe they couldn't find that record or maybe Wayne Kramer didn't have it. Back In The USA, even in 1970, the bassless recording makes it almost unlistenable despite some great songs on it (High School, Shakin' Street, Tonight) and I still have the vinyl to that. High Time, was the MC5 doing it their way and the jams are wonderful, but Miss X sucks all the fun out of this, even moreso on the best of. They should replaced that POS with Future/Now which led off side 2. And it ends with a track from the Thunder Express album, which was live in the studio remakes of Kick Out The Jams and I managed to find that in the cutouts at the former Musicland in Dubuque. Since the MC5 really didn't have any hits, this serves as a sampler, and Brother Crawford speech at that beginning of Ramblin Rose also sucks the air out of the room before the band comes alive to show they were radicals and great to be seen live. You're better off with the live album and collective Atlantic albums rather than this overview.
Grade C+
The Joe Meek Story (Not Now) I consider Joe Meek in the same league with Jim Gordon, some of the finest people who played and recorded music, but then ended having meltdowns and killing people, Gordon with his mother but way before that Meek offing his landlady and then playing the shotgun crescendo on himself to bloody results. But Meek could make anything sound cutting edge, I can hear it on The Outlaws instrumentals and Johnny Remember Me and of course his maniacal infatuation on Buddy Holly to which 8 years after Buddy's plane went down, Meek ended his and the landlady's lives. The best Meek album out there remains Razor And Tie's now deleted It's Hard To Believe (the Dennis Diken liner notes are worth the price alone) and this overview leaves out the signature hits (Telstar by The Tornadoes, Have I The Right by The Honeycombs) but really provides a more in-dept look at the lesser knowns, the Buddy Holly soundalike Mike Berry, the English actor John Leyton-Meek's answer to Frankie Avalon, The Outlaws, Meek's answer to The Ventures which may or may not have featured Richie Blackmore on guitar, The Fabulous Flee Rekkers, Meek's answer to Johnny And The Hurricanes (which had Micky Waller on drums, one of most sloppy drummers ever, you can hear on Rod Stewart's first three albums). I think this 2 CD set goes a bit overboard on the teenage pop dreck that Meek favored, or the Buddy Holly soundalikes of Berry or Micheal Cox and not enough on the weird side of things. Screaming Lord Sutch's outrageous Till The Following Night which could be the first true goth song ever made and a even more wilder Good Golly Miss Molly which makes Little Richard sound like Liberace. Or Meek's side project The Blue Men which oddball sound effects brings to mind early Pink Floyd, Entry Of The Globbots does sound like Syd Barrett on Pow R Toc H (compare those songs). And then there's Cliff Bennett And The Rebel Rousers, some hard driving piano rock in the style of Jerry Lee Lewis, only wilder. Not enough Cliff and Screaming Lord Sutch. A tale of two different extremes, not enough wild rock and instrumentals and too much pop fluff weirdness that dates itself to 1959. Plus the liner notes aren't that great.
Grade B
Lana Del Ray-Ultraviolence (Polydor)
You know this record is in trouble when Kanye and Kim West say they love this. Since Dan Auerbach decided to produce this mess, I thought I'd check it out to hear the end result and the end result is worse than I thought. At least her debut Born To Die had some interesting songs, all of this album is very slow tempo and Lana doing her best Yoko Ono imitation. Or is it Kate Bush, I don't know. Anybody can hype a album but to hype a album of 50 plus minutes of mundane melodies and mopy lyrics reminds me of a female Morrissey and not in a good way. The only song I can stomach through was Old Money which sounds like a rewrite of A Time For Us (from Romeo And Juliet). She loves to say fuck a lot, she even titled a song called Fucked My Way To The Top. And also a few more F bombs on the lead off track Cruel World. This record may just be the most overblown overhyped record of the year. It's also the worst.
Grade D
Another worthless spam reference site continues to be found in my most view by department, Webchat.Freenode. net #dedicatedpool has been number one in the traffic sources department coming in here at 24 views just today. Whoever the fuck they are. We are not the only one this refer spam site has been visiting. Patrick Boone gives us the lowdown of yet another troublesome website that if you click on it, you'll get more spam and shit that you don't need. I need real viewers not spammers. http://from-the-sidelines.blogspot.com/2014/06/chatty-spam.html
The folks at Campbell Steele which has a retail art shop on 7th Avenue in Marion is ending their retail art sales in favor of a working art studio and music hall at the old Memorial Hall spot a half block down. As well as British type of pub on the first floor. In my younger years of walking in that town when I lived there I always thought that Memorial Hall would be a good place to have bands play at. Campbell Steele is also known for the much missed Liar's Theater, Iowa's version of Prairie Home Companion but with a more emphasis on jazz and pop vocal. To which you can still find Cds from Liar's Theater artist in the cutouts around town. Campbell Steele Art Gallery has hosted regional artists from time to time from Michael (Bluer Than Blue) Johnson to You know Who and the Blue Band to Funk Daddies. Correction: Jeanne and Paul Matthews are buying Memorial Hall and enlisting the Campbell Steele folk to help with the art gallery and have an English Pub in the back of the building and plan to live on the second floor. Good luck to them. The story from the Gazette reads as follows: A business decision by the owners of the Campbell Steele Gallery in Marion has created an opportunity for the owners of a historic building in the community. After 23 years of selling artwork, Craig Campbell and Priscilla Steele plan to transition away from a retail sales gallery to a working art studio and performance venue. Steele said the change will allow her to focus on her artwork. “I will be working up front with my print etching press as well as cultivating the performance end of the business,” Steele said. “Our timeline for this transition is fairly generous. I hope that the artists we have represented will consider transitioning to a gallery that Jeanne and Paul Matthews plan to open in Memorial Hall.” Campbell said the retail art sales will end no later than Dec. 31. Steele is planning four exhibits of her artwork in the gallery through the end of 2014, along with additional exhibits in Cedar Falls, Des Moines, Fairfield and Waterloo. As far as the entertainment side of the business, Campbell said 25 music performances are scheduled at Campbell Steele through Feb. 14, 2015. The venue has developed a reputation for the quality of its light and sound production studio, attracting performers such as Michael Johnson, Bob Dorr & the Blue Band, the George Jazz Group and Funk Daddies. With the encouragement and support of Campbell and Steele, Jeanne and Paul Matthews expect to have an art gallery open in about 90 days on the first floor of the renovated Memorial Hall, built in 1899 at 760 11th St. “The first floor will be divided into two suites,” Jeanne Matthews said. “The gallery will be located in the front of the building where there is premium storefront space and I think we’re turning the back into a British pub. “We plan to live on the second floor of the building.” Matthews has contacted many of the artists who have been represented by Campbell Steele and all but one have expressed interest in moving to the new Memorial Hall art gallery. “Some of the art is so valuable that it will be held by Campbell Steele until we’re able to literally transfer it across the alley to the new gallery,” Matthews said.
What Record World is famous for outside of the now forgotten top ten listings and forgotten bands and album reviews is that we talk about tornadoes a lot here. It's that time of year, where stalled fronts cook us with sun and humidity by day and monsoon storms at night flooding every GD things in sight. By now, you have seen the twin tornadoes that gutted a tiny Nebraska town (Pilger) on Monday, which was the start of the night of the twisters here in this area. While the Elkhart Twins were from the same storm, the Pilger Twins were from separate storms. You can compare them from the photos. Yes this is the famed Paul Huffman photo of the Elkhart double monster.
Which brings back memories of 1965 and the infamous Elkhart Indiana Palm Sunday Twin Tornado. The number is two. As in two tornadoes that hit Clarksville in Iowa and then crossed into Wisconsin where two tornadoes wrecked Platteville, making a mess of UW Platteville and causing havoc along Business 151 aka Junk Food Row where the Shell Station got destroyed and half of Taco Bell got blown to bits. And a half hour later, an EF3 tornado hit Verona, wrecking a school and causing major damage along the northern side of town. Madison had a EF2 Tornado that hit the SW side of town. The Platteville twisters were EF1 and EF2. And then Tuesday night another midnight monsoon caused more wind damage around Sun Prairie which is north and west from Madison. And more storms to come from this stalled front that will continue to play havoc in this area for the rest of the week. Don't we all just love this weather in June? Fuck no.
The bigger headache remains the heavy rain after the storms hit and all across the region Flood watches and warnings are going on. Minnesota has seen 6 to 8 inches of the wet shit. Owatonna got 8 inches of it Monday Night and flooded the low lying areas. Once again the heavy rains are making farmers miserable. Once it starts you can't stop it and the fields are becoming swamps. Good old climate change, it fucks up everybody's plans.
For new music I haven't noticed it till now but it seems that even I don't know most of the new bands that are up and coming anymore, or what the NME or Rolling Stone is touting. The NME keeps touting Kasasbian but from what I had heard from these guys I'm not impressed. The Bro Country phenomenon sucks and the EDM top 40 is even less. The wave of the future and basically here to stay. So you may as well stab yourself in the ears before going to the hardware store so you don't have to hear Florida Georgia Line or Luke Bryan. But since I mentioned their names, I just put money in their pockets. Suppose I should demand a cut for the promo? But the return to the rock and roll that I remember has gone via the way of Big Band music and Pre War Blues. A curio for the rest of the world but hardly mentioned anymore.
Reviews:
The Big Bang-Best Of MC5 (Rhino) As a mix CD, it cherry picks without much thought. You get side 1 of Kick Out The Jams, a good helping of Back In The USA, poorly recorded and produced by one Jon Landau and throws in the worst song they ever did, Miss X from High Time and the rarities have been on better comps out there (Babes In Arms although that CD was too, poorly recorded and sequenced). The MC5 stand out in my mind for pissing my dad off when he heard side two of Kick Out The Jams and called it the worst crap he's ever heard in life and I'm surprised that he didn't break the record after that. Why Rhino didn't add the single Borderline is beyond me, maybe they couldn't find that record or maybe Wayne Kramer didn't have it. Back In The USA, even in 1970, the bassless recording makes it almost unlistenable despite some great songs on it (High School, Shakin' Street, Tonight) and I still have the vinyl to that. High Time, was the MC5 doing it their way and the jams are wonderful, but Miss X sucks all the fun out of this, even moreso on the best of. They should replaced that POS with Future/Now which led off side 2. And it ends with a track from the Thunder Express album, which was live in the studio remakes of Kick Out The Jams and I managed to find that in the cutouts at the former Musicland in Dubuque. Since the MC5 really didn't have any hits, this serves as a sampler, and Brother Crawford speech at that beginning of Ramblin Rose also sucks the air out of the room before the band comes alive to show they were radicals and great to be seen live. You're better off with the live album and collective Atlantic albums rather than this overview.
Grade C+
The Joe Meek Story (Not Now) I consider Joe Meek in the same league with Jim Gordon, some of the finest people who played and recorded music, but then ended having meltdowns and killing people, Gordon with his mother but way before that Meek offing his landlady and then playing the shotgun crescendo on himself to bloody results. But Meek could make anything sound cutting edge, I can hear it on The Outlaws instrumentals and Johnny Remember Me and of course his maniacal infatuation on Buddy Holly to which 8 years after Buddy's plane went down, Meek ended his and the landlady's lives. The best Meek album out there remains Razor And Tie's now deleted It's Hard To Believe (the Dennis Diken liner notes are worth the price alone) and this overview leaves out the signature hits (Telstar by The Tornadoes, Have I The Right by The Honeycombs) but really provides a more in-dept look at the lesser knowns, the Buddy Holly soundalike Mike Berry, the English actor John Leyton-Meek's answer to Frankie Avalon, The Outlaws, Meek's answer to The Ventures which may or may not have featured Richie Blackmore on guitar, The Fabulous Flee Rekkers, Meek's answer to Johnny And The Hurricanes (which had Micky Waller on drums, one of most sloppy drummers ever, you can hear on Rod Stewart's first three albums). I think this 2 CD set goes a bit overboard on the teenage pop dreck that Meek favored, or the Buddy Holly soundalikes of Berry or Micheal Cox and not enough on the weird side of things. Screaming Lord Sutch's outrageous Till The Following Night which could be the first true goth song ever made and a even more wilder Good Golly Miss Molly which makes Little Richard sound like Liberace. Or Meek's side project The Blue Men which oddball sound effects brings to mind early Pink Floyd, Entry Of The Globbots does sound like Syd Barrett on Pow R Toc H (compare those songs). And then there's Cliff Bennett And The Rebel Rousers, some hard driving piano rock in the style of Jerry Lee Lewis, only wilder. Not enough Cliff and Screaming Lord Sutch. A tale of two different extremes, not enough wild rock and instrumentals and too much pop fluff weirdness that dates itself to 1959. Plus the liner notes aren't that great.
Grade B
Lana Del Ray-Ultraviolence (Polydor)
You know this record is in trouble when Kanye and Kim West say they love this. Since Dan Auerbach decided to produce this mess, I thought I'd check it out to hear the end result and the end result is worse than I thought. At least her debut Born To Die had some interesting songs, all of this album is very slow tempo and Lana doing her best Yoko Ono imitation. Or is it Kate Bush, I don't know. Anybody can hype a album but to hype a album of 50 plus minutes of mundane melodies and mopy lyrics reminds me of a female Morrissey and not in a good way. The only song I can stomach through was Old Money which sounds like a rewrite of A Time For Us (from Romeo And Juliet). She loves to say fuck a lot, she even titled a song called Fucked My Way To The Top. And also a few more F bombs on the lead off track Cruel World. This record may just be the most overblown overhyped record of the year. It's also the worst.
Grade D
Another worthless spam reference site continues to be found in my most view by department, Webchat.Freenode. net #dedicatedpool has been number one in the traffic sources department coming in here at 24 views just today. Whoever the fuck they are. We are not the only one this refer spam site has been visiting. Patrick Boone gives us the lowdown of yet another troublesome website that if you click on it, you'll get more spam and shit that you don't need. I need real viewers not spammers. http://from-the-sidelines.blogspot.com/2014/06/chatty-spam.html
The folks at Campbell Steele which has a retail art shop on 7th Avenue in Marion is ending their retail art sales in favor of a working art studio and music hall at the old Memorial Hall spot a half block down. As well as British type of pub on the first floor. In my younger years of walking in that town when I lived there I always thought that Memorial Hall would be a good place to have bands play at. Campbell Steele is also known for the much missed Liar's Theater, Iowa's version of Prairie Home Companion but with a more emphasis on jazz and pop vocal. To which you can still find Cds from Liar's Theater artist in the cutouts around town. Campbell Steele Art Gallery has hosted regional artists from time to time from Michael (Bluer Than Blue) Johnson to You know Who and the Blue Band to Funk Daddies. Correction: Jeanne and Paul Matthews are buying Memorial Hall and enlisting the Campbell Steele folk to help with the art gallery and have an English Pub in the back of the building and plan to live on the second floor. Good luck to them. The story from the Gazette reads as follows: A business decision by the owners of the Campbell Steele Gallery in Marion has created an opportunity for the owners of a historic building in the community. After 23 years of selling artwork, Craig Campbell and Priscilla Steele plan to transition away from a retail sales gallery to a working art studio and performance venue. Steele said the change will allow her to focus on her artwork. “I will be working up front with my print etching press as well as cultivating the performance end of the business,” Steele said. “Our timeline for this transition is fairly generous. I hope that the artists we have represented will consider transitioning to a gallery that Jeanne and Paul Matthews plan to open in Memorial Hall.” Campbell said the retail art sales will end no later than Dec. 31. Steele is planning four exhibits of her artwork in the gallery through the end of 2014, along with additional exhibits in Cedar Falls, Des Moines, Fairfield and Waterloo. As far as the entertainment side of the business, Campbell said 25 music performances are scheduled at Campbell Steele through Feb. 14, 2015. The venue has developed a reputation for the quality of its light and sound production studio, attracting performers such as Michael Johnson, Bob Dorr & the Blue Band, the George Jazz Group and Funk Daddies. With the encouragement and support of Campbell and Steele, Jeanne and Paul Matthews expect to have an art gallery open in about 90 days on the first floor of the renovated Memorial Hall, built in 1899 at 760 11th St. “The first floor will be divided into two suites,” Jeanne Matthews said. “The gallery will be located in the front of the building where there is premium storefront space and I think we’re turning the back into a British pub. “We plan to live on the second floor of the building.” Matthews has contacted many of the artists who have been represented by Campbell Steele and all but one have expressed interest in moving to the new Memorial Hall art gallery. “Some of the art is so valuable that it will be held by Campbell Steele until we’re able to literally transfer it across the alley to the new gallery,” Matthews said.
A
business decision by the owners of the Campbell Steele Gallery in
Marion has created an opportunity for the owners of a historic building
in the community.
After 23 years of selling artwork, Craig Campbell and Priscilla Steele plan to transition away from a retail sales gallery to a working art studio and performance venue. Steele said the change will allow her to focus on her artwork.
“I will be working up front with my print etching press as well as cultivating the performance end of the business,” Steele said. “Our timeline for this transition is fairly generous. I hope that the artists we have represented will consider transitioning to a gallery that Jeanne and Paul Matthews plan to open in Memorial Hall.”
Campbell said the retail art sales will end no later than Dec. 31. Steele is planning four exhibits of her artwork in the gallery through the end of 2014, along with additional exhibits in Cedar Falls, Des Moines, Fairfield and Waterloo.
As far as the entertainment side of the business, Campbell said 25 music performances are scheduled at Campbell Steele through Feb. 14, 2015. The venue has developed a reputation for the quality of its light and sound production studio, attracting performers such as Michael Johnson, Bob Dorr & the Blue Band, the George Jazz Group and Funk Daddies.
With the encouragement and support of Campbell and Steele, Jeanne and Paul Matthews expect to have an art gallery open in about 90 days on the first floor of the renovated Memorial Hall, built in 1899 at 760 11th St.
“The first floor will be divided into two suites,” Jeanne Matthews said. “The gallery will be located in the front of the building where there is premium storefront space and I think we’re turning the back into a British pub.
“We plan to live on the second floor of the building.”
Matthews has contacted many of the artists who have been represented by Campbell Steele and all but one have expressed interest in moving to the new Memorial Hall art gallery.
“Some of the art is so valuable that it will be held by Campbell Steele until we’re able to literally transfer it across the alley to the new gallery,” Matthews said.
- See more at: http://thegazette.com/subject/news/campbell-steele-ending-retail-art-sales-20140620#sthash.mfNq6RcQ.dpuf
After 23 years of selling artwork, Craig Campbell and Priscilla Steele plan to transition away from a retail sales gallery to a working art studio and performance venue. Steele said the change will allow her to focus on her artwork.
“I will be working up front with my print etching press as well as cultivating the performance end of the business,” Steele said. “Our timeline for this transition is fairly generous. I hope that the artists we have represented will consider transitioning to a gallery that Jeanne and Paul Matthews plan to open in Memorial Hall.”
Campbell said the retail art sales will end no later than Dec. 31. Steele is planning four exhibits of her artwork in the gallery through the end of 2014, along with additional exhibits in Cedar Falls, Des Moines, Fairfield and Waterloo.
As far as the entertainment side of the business, Campbell said 25 music performances are scheduled at Campbell Steele through Feb. 14, 2015. The venue has developed a reputation for the quality of its light and sound production studio, attracting performers such as Michael Johnson, Bob Dorr & the Blue Band, the George Jazz Group and Funk Daddies.
With the encouragement and support of Campbell and Steele, Jeanne and Paul Matthews expect to have an art gallery open in about 90 days on the first floor of the renovated Memorial Hall, built in 1899 at 760 11th St.
“The first floor will be divided into two suites,” Jeanne Matthews said. “The gallery will be located in the front of the building where there is premium storefront space and I think we’re turning the back into a British pub.
“We plan to live on the second floor of the building.”
Matthews has contacted many of the artists who have been represented by Campbell Steele and all but one have expressed interest in moving to the new Memorial Hall art gallery.
“Some of the art is so valuable that it will be held by Campbell Steele until we’re able to literally transfer it across the alley to the new gallery,” Matthews said.
- See more at: http://thegazette.com/subject/news/campbell-steele-ending-retail-art-sales-20140620#sthash.mfNq6RcQ.dpuf
A
business decision by the owners of the Campbell Steele Gallery in
Marion has created an opportunity for the owners of a historic building
in the community.
After 23 years of selling artwork, Craig Campbell and Priscilla Steele plan to transition away from a retail sales gallery to a working art studio and performance venue. Steele said the change will allow her to focus on her artwork.
“I will be working up front with my print etching press as well as cultivating the performance end of the business,” Steele said. “Our timeline for this transition is fairly generous. I hope that the artists we have represented will consider transitioning to a gallery that Jeanne and Paul Matthews plan to open in Memorial Hall.”
Campbell said the retail art sales will end no later than Dec. 31. Steele is planning four exhibits of her artwork in the gallery through the end of 2014, along with additional exhibits in Cedar Falls, Des Moines, Fairfield and Waterloo.
As far as the entertainment side of the business, Campbell said 25 music performances are scheduled at Campbell Steele through Feb. 14, 2015. The venue has developed a reputation for the quality of its light and sound production studio, attracting performers such as Michael Johnson, Bob Dorr & the Blue Band, the George Jazz Group and Funk Daddies.
With the encouragement and support of Campbell and Steele, Jeanne and Paul Matthews expect to have an art gallery open in about 90 days on the first floor of the renovated Memorial Hall, built in 1899 at 760 11th St.
“The first floor will be divided into two suites,” Jeanne Matthews said. “The gallery will be located in the front of the building where there is premium storefront space and I think we’re turning the back into a British pub.
“We plan to live on the second floor of the building.”
Matthews has contacted many of the artists who have been represented by Campbell Steele and all but one have expressed interest in moving to the new Memorial Hall art gallery.
“Some of the art is so valuable that it will be held by Campbell Steele until we’re able to literally transfer it across the alley to the new gallery,” Matthews said.
- See more at: http://thegazette.com/subject/news/campbell-steele-ending-retail-art-sales-20140620#sthash.mfNq6RcQ.dpuf
After 23 years of selling artwork, Craig Campbell and Priscilla Steele plan to transition away from a retail sales gallery to a working art studio and performance venue. Steele said the change will allow her to focus on her artwork.
“I will be working up front with my print etching press as well as cultivating the performance end of the business,” Steele said. “Our timeline for this transition is fairly generous. I hope that the artists we have represented will consider transitioning to a gallery that Jeanne and Paul Matthews plan to open in Memorial Hall.”
Campbell said the retail art sales will end no later than Dec. 31. Steele is planning four exhibits of her artwork in the gallery through the end of 2014, along with additional exhibits in Cedar Falls, Des Moines, Fairfield and Waterloo.
As far as the entertainment side of the business, Campbell said 25 music performances are scheduled at Campbell Steele through Feb. 14, 2015. The venue has developed a reputation for the quality of its light and sound production studio, attracting performers such as Michael Johnson, Bob Dorr & the Blue Band, the George Jazz Group and Funk Daddies.
With the encouragement and support of Campbell and Steele, Jeanne and Paul Matthews expect to have an art gallery open in about 90 days on the first floor of the renovated Memorial Hall, built in 1899 at 760 11th St.
“The first floor will be divided into two suites,” Jeanne Matthews said. “The gallery will be located in the front of the building where there is premium storefront space and I think we’re turning the back into a British pub.
“We plan to live on the second floor of the building.”
Matthews has contacted many of the artists who have been represented by Campbell Steele and all but one have expressed interest in moving to the new Memorial Hall art gallery.
“Some of the art is so valuable that it will be held by Campbell Steele until we’re able to literally transfer it across the alley to the new gallery,” Matthews said.
- See more at: http://thegazette.com/subject/news/campbell-steele-ending-retail-art-sales-20140620#sthash.mfNq6RcQ.dpuf
A
business decision by the owners of the Campbell Steele Gallery in
Marion has created an opportunity for the owners of a historic building
in the community.
After 23 years of selling artwork, Craig Campbell and Priscilla Steele plan to transition away from a retail sales gallery to a working art studio and performance venue. Steele said the change will allow her to focus on her artwork.
“I will be working up front with my print etching press as well as cultivating the performance end of the business,” Steele said. “Our timeline for this transition is fairly generous. I hope that the artists we have represented will consider transitioning to a gallery that Jeanne and Paul Matthews plan to open in Memorial Hall.”
Campbell said the retail art sales will end no later than Dec. 31. Steele is planning four exhibits of her artwork in the gallery through the end of 2014, along with additional exhibits in Cedar Falls, Des Moines, Fairfield and Waterloo.
As far as the entertainment side of the business, Campbell said 25 music performances are scheduled at Campbell Steele through Feb. 14, 2015. The venue has developed a reputation for the quality of its light and sound production studio, attracting performers such as Michael Johnson, Bob Dorr & the Blue Band, the George Jazz Group and Funk Daddies.
With the encouragement and support of Campbell and Steele, Jeanne and Paul Matthews expect to have an art gallery open in about 90 days on the first floor of the renovated Memorial Hall, built in 1899 at 760 11th St.
“The first floor will be divided into two suites,” Jeanne Matthews said. “The gallery will be located in the front of the building where there is premium storefront space and I think we’re turning the back into a British pub.
“We plan to live on the second floor of the building.”
Matthews has contacted many of the artists who have been represented by Campbell Steele and all but one have expressed interest in moving to the new Memorial Hall art gallery.
“Some of the art is so valuable that it will be held by Campbell Steele until we’re able to literally transfer it across the alley to the new gallery,” Matthews said.
- See more at: http://thegazette.com/subject/news/campbell-steele-ending-retail-art-sales-20140620#sthash.mfNq6RcQ.dpuf
After 23 years of selling artwork, Craig Campbell and Priscilla Steele plan to transition away from a retail sales gallery to a working art studio and performance venue. Steele said the change will allow her to focus on her artwork.
“I will be working up front with my print etching press as well as cultivating the performance end of the business,” Steele said. “Our timeline for this transition is fairly generous. I hope that the artists we have represented will consider transitioning to a gallery that Jeanne and Paul Matthews plan to open in Memorial Hall.”
Campbell said the retail art sales will end no later than Dec. 31. Steele is planning four exhibits of her artwork in the gallery through the end of 2014, along with additional exhibits in Cedar Falls, Des Moines, Fairfield and Waterloo.
As far as the entertainment side of the business, Campbell said 25 music performances are scheduled at Campbell Steele through Feb. 14, 2015. The venue has developed a reputation for the quality of its light and sound production studio, attracting performers such as Michael Johnson, Bob Dorr & the Blue Band, the George Jazz Group and Funk Daddies.
With the encouragement and support of Campbell and Steele, Jeanne and Paul Matthews expect to have an art gallery open in about 90 days on the first floor of the renovated Memorial Hall, built in 1899 at 760 11th St.
“The first floor will be divided into two suites,” Jeanne Matthews said. “The gallery will be located in the front of the building where there is premium storefront space and I think we’re turning the back into a British pub.
“We plan to live on the second floor of the building.”
Matthews has contacted many of the artists who have been represented by Campbell Steele and all but one have expressed interest in moving to the new Memorial Hall art gallery.
“Some of the art is so valuable that it will be held by Campbell Steele until we’re able to literally transfer it across the alley to the new gallery,” Matthews said.
- See more at: http://thegazette.com/subject/news/campbell-steele-ending-retail-art-sales-20140620#sthash.mfNq6RcQ.dpuf
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Notes: Goodbye Long John Silvers, CD Reviews
So much trouble in the world today. We don't know where to begin. First of all the good news. Eric Cantor got defeated in a Virginia Primary. Bad news, he was outed by somebody named Brat and is part of the Tea Party. You get rid of one problem another rises. If Virginia has a decent Democrat running they better get him in. The government craziness is beyond belief. Here we have our own problems, a new GOP by the name of Joni Ernst is running against Bruce Braley and it seems like he's got his work cut out for him. The poll is showing this pig castration-er, gun toting Iraqi war vet has a 2 point lead over Bruce. Let the mud flinging begin. Actually it has, Braley's camp putting together a mud slinging commercial that has been seen and certified not true by the local radio station. I pretty much resigned to the fact that our Governor for Life, Terry Branstad will be back in office for another term.
Politics aside, they're closing down Long John Silver's on the SE side, not sure about the SW one which has better food. Somehow, there was some unheard Bullshit group called Centers for Science in the Public Interest that called their Big Catch meal, the worst restaurant meal of 2013 and sales plummet. Further google reference calls them the food police. Well I guess they haven't been around the local McDonald's of late or the Mount Vernon Hardee's which guarantees either food poisoning or sitting on the can for about an hour. While some people are celebrating losing a few more of LJS stores in this area, I always enjoyed their fish dinner and thought about going this this afternoon before going to Bar B Q This! instead. I guess if I want one last meal I should hit there tomorrow. Otherwise, I'll remember it fondly, or go to where's there still a Long John's Silver (not in Dubuque, they closed that one too). Update: The SW side Long John Silver's remains open but for how long nobody knows. At least we can still get our greasy fish fix.
So far, the ratings of this month are the usual, looking toward 1800 to 2000 views and the usual ones getting traffic and most not. I can't figure the secret to The Dennis Farina RIP blog or Circumstances Beyond Control unless it's a picture that gets accessed to Google but for a music blog, I seem to get more porn words in the most searched department. Why Cocksuckers in Kingman and Black Pussy and Vixxens for such words is beyond me. Unless there's a band called Cocksuckers in Kingman, you won't find anything porn about that. But if you want some Black Pussy, here tis: http://blackpussy.bandcamp.com/
Glad to take care of those requests.
I haven't really done much eye candy posting, I find the returns aren't that great and 99 percent of those eye candy babes don't give a shit about you or me anyway. Ashley Axlesis has a facebook site and usually posts a picture or two with her (or her latest boyfriend), London Andrews hangs out in her tumblr site (spends a lot of time on the net answering questions or posting a few NSFW pics or pictures of her dog and chicks). My favorite remains Ivy Doomkitty the cos-playing dream date. She will acknowledge you from time to time or in my case, favor a tweet or two. Still remains the most fun of the bunch of eye candy that has popped up here from time to time.
Wal Mart continues their amazing shrinking CD section once again, the whole CD aisle is now a half row. They do have the new Led Zeppelin re remasters at 9 dollars a pop but since I have the second remaster and it's all in nice fitting jewel cases, I'll pass. Outside of the Live CD on Led Zeppelin 1, the bonus cds on both 2 and 3 are luxury items and Hey Hey What Can I Do is still not on LZ3. Best Buy likewise, down to four rows but they have managed to at least have 80 percent of the new releases in stock. And managed to get 4 new releases. Of course the new Jack White Lazaretto (Third Man/Columbia) is as weird as the man itself and his vinyl version of it is interesting as well. White knows where to borrow for the blues and Led Zeppelin and even his old band and the recording just might be the rest recorded of the year, it doesn't blare out like the usual OTT new releases. While critics fall over themselves praising everything White does, I tend to enjoy about 60 percent of his music and my fave cut is High Ball Stripper which is the instrumental. Overall, Blunderbuss was a better album, but Lazaretto is more weird and oddball but in a rock sense rather than the White Stripes last couple albums, (I'm looking at you Get Behind Me Satan). But it doesn't overstay its welcome unlike GBMS.
Miranda Lambert's Platinum (RCA/Sony Nashville) is a mess upon itself, as Miranda throws every style she can think of to please everybody and despite it all, it seems to work in the song sequence although the much hyped Carrie Underwood duet is the least interesting track on said album. While I heard critics and fans complain about the title track or Little Red Wagon, I come to like them myself and Smoking And Drinking (with Little Big Town) takes a bit to get used to, but it seems Miranda is spinning her tires on the beginning song Girls. And Priscilla might be a word of warning to her hubby in comparing him and her to the king of rock and roll and the named woman of said song. But the record does get better in the middle and toward the end, especially when she gets help from Ashley Monroe and Brandi Clark although Kacey Musgraves sits this one out. For most of the album she's not working with Ashley nor Brandi but rather Nicolle Galyon and Natalie Hemby, not exactly suitable Pistol Annie replacments. Still, I find the brawdy humor of Gravity's A Bitch fun, she even picks out a Tom T Hall number for the Time Jumpers' western swing of All That Matters. And even does the blues on Hard Staying Sober. It improves over Four The Record, although that album had a couple better songs. If she's thinking of sales of the title of the record implies, she's dreaming, nobody sells that many albums anymore. But this lay claim to the fact that Miranda Lambert's albums may be the most consistent ones of the past ten years. Not bad for a runner up on Nashville Star, whose star outshined the winner of that forgotten show (Buddy Jewel, the answer to that Trivia Q).
Body Count-Manslaughter (Sumerian) 22 years ago, ICE T and company were getting deep sixed from Sire/Warner Brothers when they tacked on Cop Killer on their first album, which caused waves back then but nowadays people shrugged it off. But believe it or not, I bought all of the Body Count albums and the O.G Original Gangster CD, because it was a black musician doing metal. A Body Count album is full of F bombs, MF double bombs, bitches and ho's and smacking people around but Ice T always had a sense of humor in The Count. I found their last album Murder 4 Hire lacking in something (the recording wasn't that great) but this time out, Body Count actually has a drummer that can play speed metal. The fun begins with Talk Shit Get Shot and Pray For Death which Ice T is ready to lock and load and kick ass. And of course he revisits the Voodoo chick on the first album on Black Voodoo Sex (which is about...see title). Jay Z who did the original 99 Problems appears on the hidden track, due in Body Count metal style. If you have been following the antics of Body Count, the songs don't vary much but the my faves are a wild remake of Institutionalized 2014 one of the more funniest (and I can relate to) to which Ice T fights with the internet about not being to get into his email. That's worth the price of the record alone. And if you read this far, this is their best since the first album. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqIp3i1ZBzI
Marcus Hook Roll Band-Tales Of Old Grand Daddy (Parlophone/Warner) Harry Vanda and George Young were part of The Easybeats and by the time they made this album, that band was history. Somebody thought it would be neat to issue this record for the first time in 40 years and the selling point is that Angus and Malcom Young played on a couple tracks before forming their own band. This is the roots of AC/DC but if anything, this sounds more like boogie blues of Savoy Brown although neither Vanda or Young are able to sing the boogie blues. Vanda does remind me of Jackie Lydon who did appear on Jack The Toad. Speaking of Savoy Brown, they did cover Shot In The Head. One Of These Days does show hints of what's to come but if you're thinking of AC/DC rock n roll, you'll be disappointed. Fun Fact; yet another Young brother Alex sits on on saxophone on Louisiana Lady, the first time an album featured all four of the Young siblings to appear on a record although not together. Vanda And Young would become better known as producers before starting up a few years later with the quirky Flash And The Pan. Who made better albums than this.
The Jayhawks-Live At The Women's Club 2002 If you read this far, you will be happy to know that American Recordings are once again reissuing certain Jayhawks albums, 1997's bloated Sound Of Lies, 1999's much better Smile and later on Rainy Day Music on vinyl and bonus tracks. Mark Olson is doing other things but Gary Louris is hitting the road with the guys from the 1997 album including Karen Grotman who back from family life. This bootleg CD, found for 2 dollars at Stuff Etc, actually reminds me of the 2009 Louris/Olson duo who made their way to CSPS and I documented it all for my only No Depression blog (it's out there somewhere). In fact this 2002 show comes when they touring as a trio and Tim O'Reagan being the other vocalist and if he wasn't playing drums, he was playing acoustic guitar. Olson is missed but I should point out that Tim remained the secret weapon that may have kept The Jayhawks going even in those dark times. Given that, Gary remains the lone player on Waiting For The Sun, a song that does cry out for that other harmony vocal sorely missed. Two bonus demos from the Smile album are included.
Grades:
Jack White-Lazaretto A-
Body Count-Manslaughter B+
Miranda Lambert-Platinum A-
Marcus Hook Roll Band-Tales Of Old Grand Daddy B-
The Jayhawks-Live At The Women's Club B+
From the archives: Weird album covers, you can't get enough of them. http://www.buzzfeed.com/daves4/awkward-band-photos
Politics aside, they're closing down Long John Silver's on the SE side, not sure about the SW one which has better food. Somehow, there was some unheard Bullshit group called Centers for Science in the Public Interest that called their Big Catch meal, the worst restaurant meal of 2013 and sales plummet. Further google reference calls them the food police. Well I guess they haven't been around the local McDonald's of late or the Mount Vernon Hardee's which guarantees either food poisoning or sitting on the can for about an hour. While some people are celebrating losing a few more of LJS stores in this area, I always enjoyed their fish dinner and thought about going this this afternoon before going to Bar B Q This! instead. I guess if I want one last meal I should hit there tomorrow. Otherwise, I'll remember it fondly, or go to where's there still a Long John's Silver (not in Dubuque, they closed that one too). Update: The SW side Long John Silver's remains open but for how long nobody knows. At least we can still get our greasy fish fix.
So far, the ratings of this month are the usual, looking toward 1800 to 2000 views and the usual ones getting traffic and most not. I can't figure the secret to The Dennis Farina RIP blog or Circumstances Beyond Control unless it's a picture that gets accessed to Google but for a music blog, I seem to get more porn words in the most searched department. Why Cocksuckers in Kingman and Black Pussy and Vixxens for such words is beyond me. Unless there's a band called Cocksuckers in Kingman, you won't find anything porn about that. But if you want some Black Pussy, here tis: http://blackpussy.bandcamp.com/
Glad to take care of those requests.
I haven't really done much eye candy posting, I find the returns aren't that great and 99 percent of those eye candy babes don't give a shit about you or me anyway. Ashley Axlesis has a facebook site and usually posts a picture or two with her (or her latest boyfriend), London Andrews hangs out in her tumblr site (spends a lot of time on the net answering questions or posting a few NSFW pics or pictures of her dog and chicks). My favorite remains Ivy Doomkitty the cos-playing dream date. She will acknowledge you from time to time or in my case, favor a tweet or two. Still remains the most fun of the bunch of eye candy that has popped up here from time to time.
Wal Mart continues their amazing shrinking CD section once again, the whole CD aisle is now a half row. They do have the new Led Zeppelin re remasters at 9 dollars a pop but since I have the second remaster and it's all in nice fitting jewel cases, I'll pass. Outside of the Live CD on Led Zeppelin 1, the bonus cds on both 2 and 3 are luxury items and Hey Hey What Can I Do is still not on LZ3. Best Buy likewise, down to four rows but they have managed to at least have 80 percent of the new releases in stock. And managed to get 4 new releases. Of course the new Jack White Lazaretto (Third Man/Columbia) is as weird as the man itself and his vinyl version of it is interesting as well. White knows where to borrow for the blues and Led Zeppelin and even his old band and the recording just might be the rest recorded of the year, it doesn't blare out like the usual OTT new releases. While critics fall over themselves praising everything White does, I tend to enjoy about 60 percent of his music and my fave cut is High Ball Stripper which is the instrumental. Overall, Blunderbuss was a better album, but Lazaretto is more weird and oddball but in a rock sense rather than the White Stripes last couple albums, (I'm looking at you Get Behind Me Satan). But it doesn't overstay its welcome unlike GBMS.
Miranda Lambert's Platinum (RCA/Sony Nashville) is a mess upon itself, as Miranda throws every style she can think of to please everybody and despite it all, it seems to work in the song sequence although the much hyped Carrie Underwood duet is the least interesting track on said album. While I heard critics and fans complain about the title track or Little Red Wagon, I come to like them myself and Smoking And Drinking (with Little Big Town) takes a bit to get used to, but it seems Miranda is spinning her tires on the beginning song Girls. And Priscilla might be a word of warning to her hubby in comparing him and her to the king of rock and roll and the named woman of said song. But the record does get better in the middle and toward the end, especially when she gets help from Ashley Monroe and Brandi Clark although Kacey Musgraves sits this one out. For most of the album she's not working with Ashley nor Brandi but rather Nicolle Galyon and Natalie Hemby, not exactly suitable Pistol Annie replacments. Still, I find the brawdy humor of Gravity's A Bitch fun, she even picks out a Tom T Hall number for the Time Jumpers' western swing of All That Matters. And even does the blues on Hard Staying Sober. It improves over Four The Record, although that album had a couple better songs. If she's thinking of sales of the title of the record implies, she's dreaming, nobody sells that many albums anymore. But this lay claim to the fact that Miranda Lambert's albums may be the most consistent ones of the past ten years. Not bad for a runner up on Nashville Star, whose star outshined the winner of that forgotten show (Buddy Jewel, the answer to that Trivia Q).
Body Count-Manslaughter (Sumerian) 22 years ago, ICE T and company were getting deep sixed from Sire/Warner Brothers when they tacked on Cop Killer on their first album, which caused waves back then but nowadays people shrugged it off. But believe it or not, I bought all of the Body Count albums and the O.G Original Gangster CD, because it was a black musician doing metal. A Body Count album is full of F bombs, MF double bombs, bitches and ho's and smacking people around but Ice T always had a sense of humor in The Count. I found their last album Murder 4 Hire lacking in something (the recording wasn't that great) but this time out, Body Count actually has a drummer that can play speed metal. The fun begins with Talk Shit Get Shot and Pray For Death which Ice T is ready to lock and load and kick ass. And of course he revisits the Voodoo chick on the first album on Black Voodoo Sex (which is about...see title). Jay Z who did the original 99 Problems appears on the hidden track, due in Body Count metal style. If you have been following the antics of Body Count, the songs don't vary much but the my faves are a wild remake of Institutionalized 2014 one of the more funniest (and I can relate to) to which Ice T fights with the internet about not being to get into his email. That's worth the price of the record alone. And if you read this far, this is their best since the first album. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqIp3i1ZBzI
Marcus Hook Roll Band-Tales Of Old Grand Daddy (Parlophone/Warner) Harry Vanda and George Young were part of The Easybeats and by the time they made this album, that band was history. Somebody thought it would be neat to issue this record for the first time in 40 years and the selling point is that Angus and Malcom Young played on a couple tracks before forming their own band. This is the roots of AC/DC but if anything, this sounds more like boogie blues of Savoy Brown although neither Vanda or Young are able to sing the boogie blues. Vanda does remind me of Jackie Lydon who did appear on Jack The Toad. Speaking of Savoy Brown, they did cover Shot In The Head. One Of These Days does show hints of what's to come but if you're thinking of AC/DC rock n roll, you'll be disappointed. Fun Fact; yet another Young brother Alex sits on on saxophone on Louisiana Lady, the first time an album featured all four of the Young siblings to appear on a record although not together. Vanda And Young would become better known as producers before starting up a few years later with the quirky Flash And The Pan. Who made better albums than this.
The Jayhawks-Live At The Women's Club 2002 If you read this far, you will be happy to know that American Recordings are once again reissuing certain Jayhawks albums, 1997's bloated Sound Of Lies, 1999's much better Smile and later on Rainy Day Music on vinyl and bonus tracks. Mark Olson is doing other things but Gary Louris is hitting the road with the guys from the 1997 album including Karen Grotman who back from family life. This bootleg CD, found for 2 dollars at Stuff Etc, actually reminds me of the 2009 Louris/Olson duo who made their way to CSPS and I documented it all for my only No Depression blog (it's out there somewhere). In fact this 2002 show comes when they touring as a trio and Tim O'Reagan being the other vocalist and if he wasn't playing drums, he was playing acoustic guitar. Olson is missed but I should point out that Tim remained the secret weapon that may have kept The Jayhawks going even in those dark times. Given that, Gary remains the lone player on Waiting For The Sun, a song that does cry out for that other harmony vocal sorely missed. Two bonus demos from the Smile album are included.
Grades:
Jack White-Lazaretto A-
Body Count-Manslaughter B+
Miranda Lambert-Platinum A-
Marcus Hook Roll Band-Tales Of Old Grand Daddy B-
The Jayhawks-Live At The Women's Club B+
From the archives: Weird album covers, you can't get enough of them. http://www.buzzfeed.com/daves4/awkward-band-photos
Centers for Science in the Public Interest
Centers for Science in the Public Interest
Centers for Science in the Public Interest
Centers for Science in the Public Interest
Saturday, June 7, 2014
Steve Earle Acoustic Show
The weather sucks.
That said, getting to Iowa City in a driving rainstorm made me wonder if this was worth the trouble. I've been in a pissy mood, wasting Wednesday Night at the Bacon Jam, thinking I could sit in on drums and not getting that chance after hearing some of them drummers trying to play Keep Your Hands To Yourself and couldn't figure out the beat. And missing out on the bacon that the waitress was giving to patrons, even though I did tip her 2 and half dollars for the meal. But I was watching the weather and counting the days to Saturday, which we had a 70 percent chance of thunderstorms and heavy rain. Friday Night the Iowa City Arts Festival had the Indigo Girls and they had ideal weather but I am not a fan. So I passed.
While trying to wait out the rainstorm I wasted an hour at Coral Ridge Mall (no more FYE and Barnes And Noble is barely hanging on) before the rains stopped and I made my way, though about 20 straight red lights to downtown Iowa City and managed to even get a up close parking spot. Last year's Richard Thompson show and the year before that Los Lobos I parked way out by Highway 1, about 5 blocks away. The rains did postpone a lot of the art festival festivities which made me even wonder if anybody was going to play. Till I heard the opening act, a bluegrass band named Barefoot Movement. and they were fairly good. The female bass player was playing an large acoustic bass that was bigger than she was! I managed to catch their last song Wade In The Water before an hour wait and Steve Earle would take the stage.
And then we had to wait while being subjected to the excruciating shit of the overplayed classics. I absolutely hate Piano Man. It was worse trying to deal with the fucking gnats as well. Thankfully when the sun went down the gnats called it a day.
However, I did manage to see him in a cowboy hat, an unbuttoned flannel shirt but having a Led Zeppelin T shirt underneath it. The good news was that Earle was going to play but the bad was The Dukes wouldn't. Due to all the rain they didn't think it was worth putting all the electric stuff up and having it short out due to the wetness on the ground. And basically Steve Earle had to put up with the technicalities of a wet cable that cause the guitars not to be heard on Tarry Town and a couple others. While others may have gotten pissed off and stormed off the stage, Steve took it in stride and even made a profanity laden comment about the SOB not connected to the MF. Everybody got a laugh out of it, and Steve would tell stories about the songs and places that he been too and use a F bomb or two. I didn't mind it, but a few folks left disgusted, particularly a woman dragging her 7 year old son halfway through the set, upset at such vulgar language. Her loss.
For most of the 2 hour and 3 minute show, Steve Earle made great use of his acoustic albums over the electric stuff (The Mountain, his bluegrass classic with Del McCoury had at least 3 songs from that and Train A Comin as well), and managed to break out the mandolin on a couple songs, one that he talked great length about his 4 year old autistic son John Henry and did the song Remember Me dedicated to him. Earle mentioned that he would like to live long enough for his son to graduate from high school (or college). He got the crowd to sing along to Galway Girl before picking up the guitar to do Copperhead Road, to which one of his guitar strings broke toward the end but he kept playing on. Like a trooper. But he did go over the 11 o'clock curfew and The Mountain ran about 5 minutes long. But they didn't pull the plug on him.
For the encore he did Guitar Town and finished with The Mountain. Steve did take a few pot shots at the Republicans and those who try to extract every last drop of oil out of the ground, but for the most part it wasn't as charged up as when Bush Jr was messing things up a decade ago. He did shout out Thanks after the ending of some songs and he did pay tribute to Pete Seeger in doing Lay That Hammer Down (can't think of the name of the song). He did a good job eying the crowd and even shot a look or two (or three or four) my way.
Due to the rain, the crowd wasn't as big as it was with Los Lobos or even Richard Thompson but the area did filled up once the rain stopped. Still, Steve Earle delivered a very good show and it does close the first part of his tour. He mentioned about a upcoming duet album with Shawn Colvin, a blues based album with The Dukes later in the year after going to Europe, but he says he's looking forward to go back home to New York City and take it easy for the rest of the month. He promised that he'll be back.
I'm sure that he will.
P.S. Once again the photos that I posted, which were by me have disappeared from here. Which is getting to be a pain in the ass since after posting the pics I deleted them from my camera after thinking they would be here forever. So I guess we'll have to live with the memories and picture it in your minds.
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Doc Neeson RIP
This is it folks, over the top.
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/blogs/alternate-take/over-the-top-remembering-australian-rock-legend-doc-neeson-20140611
Bernard "Doc" Neeson passed away this morning from brain cancer. He was the voice behind the classic hits from Angel City, known as the Angels down under and made three albums for Albert Productions before Epic cherry picked the best songs for the 1980 Face To Face album. Regarded as AC/DC smarter band, Neeson's songs were more story telling than the other band, The Angels never did catch on in the US although Dark Room was a worthy followup. Night Attack didn't sell enough for Epic to release it in the US so it remained import only. My favorite Angel City record was the bleak 1984 Two Minute Warning (later reissued for a month via Metal Blade) that MCA put out. With underground hits like Small Price and Underground Ashley Howe gave it the right metallic sound. However MCA didn't seem too interested in promoting it so the record died. The 1988 half studio half greatest hits remade Beyond Salvation was their final US release. While Mushroom Australia kept the record in tact, the meddling Chrysalis/EMI label had them redo some of their older stuff (I Ain't The One, Am I Gonna See Your Face Again to name a couple). The remakes are that bad actually, although Brett Echoles' drums are mixed way up front. The last proper Angels album was Skin And Bone in 1998 via Shock Records (Produced by Rick Brewster and mixed by Kevin Shirley (Joe Bonamassoa, Black Crowes, John Hiatt).
Doc Neeson's vocals were one of a kind, a growl one minute a manic scream next and he always seem to know when to scream out certain words before the Brewster Brothers lead guitar break. It is just a shame that he never got the praise that he really deserved. I consider Doc Neeson one of the all time top ten vocalist of rock and roll. Now forever silenced, unless you put on a Angels record.
RIP Doc
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