Friday Ephemera - the Weirdos

A beautiful design advertising a Weirdos gig in Los Angeles, late 70's. Possibly from Slash magazine. Thanks to my friend Paul for this. He & his brother have one of the best collection of ephemera from the punk/new wave era I know of, and I've never really seen it. I know because some of it resides in the Fales Library at NYU. It's astounding stuff.

Here's Life of Crime from a rare live album, Message From the Underworld, recorded at the Whiskey, Oct. 16, 1977:

Daily travels - 30 Saint Marks Place

J.D. Salinger RIP

J.D. Salinger - RIP

Daily travels - from the 17th floor

Howard Zinn RIP

Howard Zinn - RIP

Visit: His website
Read: A People's History of the United States: 1492 to Present

Congrats are in order...

...to Jeremiah's Vanishing New York for being named one of NYC's top blogs in this week's Village Voice.

And also, to our buddy Joly whose Punkcast was mentioned in the article on so called audio hoarders, "On NYCTaper and the Proud, Obsessive Lineage of Local Audio Hoarders."

Pull My Daisy

This is sublime...someone has posted the entire legendary beat film, Pull My Daisy, on Google Video.



"A short 1959 film that typifies the "Beat Generation". Directed by Robert Frank and Alfred Leslie, Daisy was adapted by Jack Kerouac from the third act of a never-completed stage play entitled Beat Generation. Kerouac also provided improvised narration. It starred Allen Ginsberg, Gregory Corso, Larry Rivers, Peter Orlovsky, David Amram, Richard Bellamy, Alice Neel, Sally Gross, Delphine Seyrig and Pablo Frank, Robert Frank's then-infant son.

Based on an incident in the life of Neal Cassady and his wife Carolyn, Daisy tells the story of a railway brakeman whose painter wife invites a respectable bishop over for dinner. However, the brakeman's bohemian friends crash the party, with comic results. Originally intended to be called "The Beat Generation" the title "Pull My Daisy" was taken from the poem of the same name written by Kerouac, Ginsberg and Neal Cassady over the 40's and 50's. Part of the original poem was used as a lyric in David Amram's jazz composition that opens the film."

For more interesting beat related film click here. Hat tip to Tex Edwards for finding this.

Les Yardbirds et Le Who

I Slept With Joey Ramone

I Slept with Joey Ramone: A Family Memoir by Mickey Leigh

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A definite must read for any rock historian types, or Ramones fan. In turns this book is surprising, sweet, angry, forgiving, and loving. It's a wonderful tribute from one brother to another, and I thank Mr. Leigh (with some help from Mr. McNeil) for sharing the story with us.

View all my reviews >>

Jammin' the Blues

Thanks to a wonderful recent series of posts on Boing Boing, I was reminded of Jammin' the Blues which I first saw sometime way back in the early 90's at Film Forum. I can't remember what film I was there to see, but Jammin' the Blues was shown before the feature, and I've never forgotten it. I've owned a copy on DVD for some time now, but for some reason have never thought about finding it on youtube & sharing it.

It's amazing when you discover a film or recording that can match your imagination. Jammin' the Blues is astounding. Buy it here or here. Here it is in it's entirety:

Go fly with him

From the days when movie stars made pictures, and singers did numbers, I strongly suggest you download this recording of Frank Sinatra performing in Monte Carlo in 1958. Thanks to Dino & Princess for the link. Pow!

Just Because - XTC

Just an excuse to run this high quality scan of a classic album with beautiful artwork, XTC's Drums and Wires, released in 1979. I was lucky enough to see them a year later, around the release of the follow up album, Black Sea. They were opening for the Cars at the time, and it would prove to be their last US tour. Life might begin at the hop, but doesn't end there.

You're (not) wondering now

Following the recent announcement of their appearance at this year's Coachella festival, I figured it was just a matter of time before the Specials announced any other US dates. Brooklyn Vegan reports that they will be playing April 21 at Terminal 5. Tickets go on sale January 29.

Jerry Dammers remains persona non grata unfortunately. For his side of the story, see the letters section of the February issue 2010 of Mojo magazine. Also, according to the Brooklyn Vegan report, the Specials have not played in the US since January 1980 - this is incorrect. The last time they played here was in August 1981. I know because the NYC show was at Pier 84. I couldn't go for some reason or another, but my friend Neil went, and he bought me a t-shirt which I wore for many years afterwards...I wonder what happened to it?

On a side note, besides the Specials, other so called 80's bands appearing at Coachella will be Public Image Ltd, Echo & the Bunnymen, Gary Numan, and Devo. Not to mention Grace Jones, De La Soul and Sly & the Family Stone.

Fela! Go see it!

I got to see Fela! last night at the Eugene O'Neill Theater on 49th Street, and all I can say is go see it! It's miraculous that a show like this has even made it to this level, and thank god for it. The politics alone would make it a tough sell, not to mention the polygamy, weed smoking, and the fact that this is no fairy tale. Yes, the music & the performances are that good. I suppose it also helps that Jay Z and Will Smith are the top billed producers. Hats off to both Antibalas for the musical consultation, and Sahr Ngaujah who plays Fela, sings & dances, and also plays sax and trumpet. If he doesn't win a Tony there's a problem.

Here's a clip from the show:


Here's the real deal:


Sony Pictures is also listed in the production credits, so I'd expect to see a movie version of this before too long.

The A&R Guy

Ever wonder what it might be like to work in the music business? This will give you a good idea of what's possible. Warning: contains some language that might be NSFW.

Ephemera Friday - UK post punk gigs Pt. 2

1981

Following last week's Ephemera Friday post, here are some more amazing images from Dave at Fruitier Than Thou. I especially love the Wah! poster, and the Teardrop Explodes tour booklet cover for which Dave has been kind enough to scan in it's entirety. I may need to run that sometime in the near future.


1981


1984


1983


1983


1980

No longer empty

Click the image for a closer look. Click here for more info.

Continental reunion Sunday night

Cheetah Chrome before (by Ebet Roberts)

Hat tip to Theresa K. (check out her historical punk photography here) for the news on this.

This Sunday, January 17, there will be a reunion of sorts when the Continental turns itself back into an honest to god RAWK club for the evening. It looks like the headliner will be Mr. Cheetah Chrome, up to visit from his Tennessee home.

CHEETAH CHROME w/Very Special Guests The BLACKHEARTS
1/17/2010 8:00PM
The Continental
25 Third Ave., NYC, New York 10003
(212) 529-6924
Door: $10

Continental Reunion nite! with: CJ RAMONE - LENNY KAYE - BEBE BUELL - SEA MONSTER - THE WALDOS - TRIGGER’S ALLSTARS - THE BULLYS-TWO MAN ADVANTAGE - DRAG CITIZEN - HEAP - CHARM SCHOOL

Cheetah Chrome after (by John Nikolai)


Lastly, for you early risers, Cheetah will also be making an appearance on Matt Pinfield's WXRP (101.9-FM) morning show sometime around 8:00AM tomorrow morning here in NYC.

Teddy Pendergrass RIP

Teddy Pendergrass - RIP. Despite what it's labelled, the track below is actually called "You Can't Hide From Yourself." Ain't that the truth?

It ain't easy - my top 15 for 2009

Not that anyone has asked (other than Mark or Jason), but here is my top 15 for 2009 anyway. I can't say it was easy...with the exception of Fuck Buttons, I've been hard pressed to enjoy music by anyone who hasn't been making records for at least 30 years. I don't know what that might mean. Here it is in no particular order (follow the links for available previews):

01. Kraftwerk - Remasters (Astralwerks)
02. Tom Waits - Glitter & Doom (Anti)
03. Tom Waits - Orphans (vinyl version) (Anti)
04. Charles Mingus - AH UM - 50th Anniversary (Legacy Edition) (Columbia Legacy)
05. James Brown - Singles Series (Hip-O Select)
06. Iggy Pop - Preliminaires (Astralwerks)
07. Various Artists - Daptone Gold (Daptone)
08. Death - For the Whole World To See (Drag City)
09. Stooges - You Don't Want My Name, You Want My Action (Easy Action)
10. Lee Fields - My World (Truth & Soul)
11. Sun Ra - Interplanetary Melodies (Norton)
12. Sun Ra - The Second Stop Is Jupiter (Norton)
13. Sun Ra - Rocket Ship Rock (Norton)
14. Fuck Buttons - Tarot Sport (ATP)
15. Anvil - Anvil: The Story of Anvil (DVD)

Yabby You RIP

Yabby You - RIP. Thanks to Mr. Lee who has a nice post on Yabby here. I have not seen any other news items on this yet.

Tom Waits bonus coverage

An excellent Tom Waits image I found on the 'net...shot live in Prague, 2008. Click it for a closer view.

Upcoming events of note

Just as 2009 left off, we pick right up with a bunch of interesting events taking place here in NYC. Besides the Downtown Pix exhibit (opening next week), here are a few more I found interesting:

Patti Smith
Tuesday, January 19, 2010 7:00 PM
Barnes & Noble
33 East 17th Street, New York, NY 10003

Journalist Katherine Lanpher interviews musician and author Patti Smith, who will read from her new memoir about her relationship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, "Just Kids: From Brooklyn to the Chelsea Hotel, a Life of Art and Friendship."



Tuli Kupferberg benefit
Friday, January 22, 2010 7:30
St. Ann's Warehouse
38 Water St, Bklyn, NY 11201

"Tuli Kupferberg, the influential songwriter who co-founded the Fugs, suffered two strokes, in April and September 2009, which left him blind, confined to his apartment and in need of 24-hour care. He is recovering well—he is able to speak clearly—but has overwhelming medical expenses not covered by Medicare or the very modest publishing/royalties income he earns at the age of 86. A number of his friends and admirers are coming to his aid by performing in a benefit concert produced by Hal Willner, including his fellow Fugs, John Kruth and an all-star band, Lou Reed, Sonic Youth, Pete Stampfel, John Zorn and others who will be announced soon." Tickets available here.



Andre Williams vs. Nick Tosches
Friday, February 5, 2010 10:00
The Poetry Project at St. Marks Church
131 East 10th Street, NYC 10003

To celebrate the first book from Norton Records new publishing arm, Kicks Books, writer Nick Tosches and musician Andre Williams will be reading selections from Williams' new novel, Sweets and Other Stories.

"The first fiction effort from Andre Williams! Sweets is a narrative which takes you for a wild ride from Chicago to Houston, New Orleans, and New York City, as a teenage girl finds herself in a family way, without a family. Forced to fend for herself, she is taken under the wing of a local pimp who entices her into prostitution. The adventures that follow are a free-for-all foray through the fantastic world of pimps and their women, funeral directors, gangs and drug running, with sidebar anecdotes that are guaranteed to appall, alarm and astonish. Extreme entries remain unedited, and none of Williams' raw drawl storytelling style has been tampered with in this standout fiction debut."



May 4th sees the release of I Learned the Hard Way, the 4th album from Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings on Daptone Records.

And lastly, Cheap Trick will be playing at Irving Plaza on Monday, January 25. Sweet.