Micro SXSW Review, and more...

If you're the obsessive music-freak that I am (and I can only pray that you aren't) then you're probably glad that people have stopped writing about the infamous South by Southwest Music conference/party/debacle. In that case I'll take it easy on you with my econo-review. I knew that I wouldn't get to see most of the bands I wanted to see, or even most of the bands that it would have been so convenient to see that it was stupid, due to the nature of the trip. I went with my bandmate and friend Chad and his wife Anne for the Roller Derby bout, so any live music would just be an added bonus. I'll admit that I was actually more interested in the music part but I think I was preparing myself for the inevitable dissappointment of being in proximity to SO many legendary, and future legendary performers without being able to see them. This was after all a casual affair.

The Derby itself was entertaining. It was held at the Austin Music Hall, and featured live performances by The Spits (Seattle), and The Motels (Hollywood?) with original singer Martha Davis. I pretty much predicted the way the Spits would come across in this setting...poorly. But that was through no fault of their own. They need to be seen in a cramped, sweaty, beer-soaked club or house to get it done right. They were on a fairly high stage at one end of the makeshift roller-derby track in a relatively empty, medium-sized venue, during the day with bad sound. Most punk(or other) bands would not have faired well under these conditions. I got as close as I could, swilling beer and trying to get into it. I thought to myself that I was lucky to be seeing them at all and consoled myself with the prospect of checking out more bands at Beerland later that day. The Motels played their two and-a-half hits(Eighties light-rock/alternative staples, "Suddenly, Last Summer" and "Only the lonlely can play..." I believe they're called) to a warmer reception after the competition was over. Her voice sounded good but I can't say the same for her band of young, hired-guns with the cliched modern, hard-rock, alternative sound.

I made it to Beerland in time to see the last two bands of the Contaminated Records showcase. I believe the label is run by Memphis musician Alicja Trout of the Lost Sounds and other dark, well-liked bands. I walked in to find out that Human Eye was about to take the stage. I really enjoyed the Clone Defects album but hadn't heard much of the new band, though I knew they were quite a bit more experimental. Timmy Vulgar came out and began to decorate the stage with tropical plants and other items, even hanging some from the rafters above him and the band. They then launched into a set of futuristic, oddly psychedelic, garage-punk, with nods to jazz and all kinds of explorers that would melt your brain under the right circumstances. This is pop-music in some alternate universe...heavily, analog-effects laden rock and roll, with lots of unexpected changes and an extra helping of angst. You'd have to hear it, and for those who might be unaware Timmy looks like a much cooler psych-punk Clint Howard. (Chad seemed to think he looked like a shaved Chewbacca...fair enough)

The Gris Gris came on to headline and even though I was even less familar with them, they( an obviously less-rockin' band in style) had no problem playing after and matching the intensity of Human Eye, albeit in a very different manner. Essentially a psych band with nods to progessive and garage rock, as well as the spooky feel of old scratchy, lonesome blues records the Gris Gris seem to be enjoyable by a diverse group of music fans. Obvious touchstones include the Velvet Underground, and The Thirteenth Floor Elevators but the instrumentation went beyond both of those fine, fine groups in a way. It's interesting to me that the two best bands I saw at SXSW both made use of a vocal effects, and other guitar-effects, and electronics as I have shyed away from that quite a bit in recent years...But the pendulum does swing. The Gris Gris's main accomplishment would seem to be overcoming the faults of many of their predecessors in this well-mined genre. Oh, and they DO rock, and will be performing 4/27 at Rubber Gloves in Denton. (above photo stolen from the Goner Message Board/posted by "Windy"/edited by me...)

One of the main reasons for the delay of this post has been my inability to decide just how personal to get with it. The past few weeks have been stressful, painful, and transitional in nature for my family as well as the families of others in my thoughts. I'll only say that our lives will never be the same but in the end peace and love shall triumph.

...lame links for (and by) the lazy:
Gris Gris
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=44768578
Human Eye
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=10468971
The Spits
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=2602386

SXSW Madness!

The ebb and flow of insanity...

I've been even more neglectful of my blog lately. The two rules I try to adhere to are 1) Give the folks a purty picture to look at along with the post, and 2) Don't post unless you have something interesting to share. I would love to add more rules involving posting Mp3's and other tidbits, but I'm not there yet. Needless to say there hasn't been much going on lately that I've felt like sharing. I do feel myself moving into a new, and better phase of my life and that in itself is a double-edged sword. I'm ready to jump in with both feet but there are those pesky "loose ends" that need to be tied-up, and put behind me. I'm having a great time playing with Saddle Tramp, and hanging out with those guys, and it's nice to have some cool new friends with similar interests, and diverse personalities. In fact I feel like I'm getting a much needed creative boost that I plan to channel into my artwork. I can't begin to tell you how guilty I feel about not using my "gift". I hope that doesn't sound cocky, but I just know deep down that I am supposed to be doing some form of artwork. I just need to make it a part of my routine again.

In an odd turn-of-fate, all the members of the band will be in Austin for SXSW this week. Noah is probably already on his way, as he will be attending as a representative of the Dallas Observer, for which he writes about music (lucky bastard). Matt also works for the Observer but he's just going for the reasons's most folks are; to drink beer and watch great, live music. Chad and I are going to accompany his wife Anne to the big Roller-Derby competition which she is competing in. This should be a good one. The Spits are playing for pete's sake! We're going to try to go to a bunch of free shows (no armband/no problem) and be stupid in general. I've always been a little hesitant about attending this monster music conference, but as it grows in size the free shows seem to multiply like viagra-fueled bunnies. I just hope I don't get trampled by the requisite flocks of hipsters from across the globe. I'll let you know what happens...

POISON 13!

 

Off to a good start...

I really can't remember a year that has shown so much promise. It's a bit deceiving as most of the good things that are happening to me were set in motion long ago. But that does emphasize the fact that instant gratification is generally fleeting. But enough with the dimestore philosophy, let me elaborate. I played my first gig ever a couple of weeks ago at the Bar of Soap and I'm a little surprised I haven't blabbed about it sooner. It might have something to do with the fact that I didn't freak out like I thought I would. That's not to say it wasn't exciting, or that I wasn't nervous but it went well without any major flubs and people seemed to dig it. We (Saddle Tramp) did get asked to open again next month by Donny Ray Ford, so I take that as a good sign.

I was the first one there, and I'm not big on going to clubs, or bars by myself but I have spent more than my share of time at this notorious Dallas dive so I was pretty comfortable. I should have brought some laundry. (For those of you that might be unaware, the BOS is a bar/venue/laundromat that used to book really great bands and they are starting to again.) It's the place where people like The Reverend Horton Heat cut their teeth back in the dark ages, so even though I couldn't care less about him now it's still a pretty cool factoid in my book. Some of the best shows I've ever seen have been at this festering, watering hole, including: Gasoline (Japanese, soul-inspired garagepunk), The Briefs, The Riverboat Gamblers, The Marked Men, The Deadites, The Deadly Snakes, and a slew of others. I missed some great ones there too, like: The Spits, The Epoxies, and The Mooney Suzuki when they still seemed relevant. If I never play another gig at least I can say I played this one.

There have been a whole bunch of great lesser-known local bands that have played there over the years as well including (but not limited to): The Loco Gringos, The Potatoes, Stickmen with Rayguns, The Necrotonz, The Kickz, Power Squid (Austin), and many more I should probably remember. Speaking of criminally overlooked bands, I'm going to Austin to see the legendary Austin band Poison 13 in that wonderful town this weekend. They were just another great band featuring modern-day renaissance man Tim Kerr of The Big Boys, Lord High Fixers, and even Bad Mutha Goose fame among others. Tim is Austin punk, and soul incarnate and a real inspiration. From the beginning the Big Boys (R.I.P. Randy "Biscuit" Turner) sought to break down the wall between audience and peformer encouraging extreme examples of audience participation and a "We're the band/You're the band" attitude. They would end every show by yelling, "Now go start your own band!" at the sweat-drenched crowd. Poison 13 was a departure musically from the punk-funk of the Big Boys, and they couldn't have been more different than the other punk bands of the time with their slower pace and obvious blues influence. With covers ranging from Willie Dixon, to The Troggs, and The Animals they created the template for the many garage, and few mis-labled "grunge" bands to come. They obviously influenced a young man named Mark Arm, who would go on to form Mudhoney, and later play with Tim in The Monkeywrench. Keep in mind that this was the mid-eighties, not exactly a hot time for the currently en-vogue garage rock sound. They play a reunion show about every six years and this is the first one I've been able to attend so I'm stoked. The Austin premiere of Pot Zombies is earlier the same night, so I might try to swing by there too.

...I also bought my first decent guitar; a Fender Telecaster, but I won't get all guitar geek on you about it. However, I am extra twangy now!

Cornman Motion Picture Soundtrack!

Life Intrudes...

You know that quote about how "life" is what happens to you while your making other plans? Well, if that's the case then I've been doing a whole lot of "living" lately. This might buy me back some points with you, my "readers", while I've been neglecting my blog. Sh*ts been crazy lately, but not all in a negative way...I'll focus on the goodness. And speaking of goodness, how about the one-two punch of beer and great music which is what I'm enjoying right now. I'm listening to my FAVORITE radio program, on my FAVORITE radio station, MUSIC TO SPAZZ BY with Dave the Spazz on WFMU.( I'm drinking Rolling Rock because it was on sale for those playing at home). Dave is an over-the-top DJ but in the best way, not like those schmucks you hate on the top 40 station with the "radio" voice. He's got a thing for chimps and the best "popular" music ever recorded. Everything from doo-wop, jump-blues, rock AND roll, vintage pop, old country, garage, punk and the occasional novelty tune plus some stuff I'm surely leaving out are represented. Check it out! You should also check out the podcasts at Garagepunk.com as they seem to be taking off like wildfire. They're even doing one that's available starting Thursday Feb. 9th for The UNDER THE COVERS comp. I'm on!

I'm thinking about changing the name of the blog to THINGS I MISSED since a re-occurring theme seems to be my complaining about all the great shows and stuff I somehow didn't, or couldn't make it to. Case in point, I'm not at the Texas Frightmare Weekend right now so I missed the world premiere of POT ZOMBIES in which I appear. Now I saw a rough cut of the thing recently so it's not like I really would have been missing anything other than the intense, gut-wrenching laughter of the crowd but I'll get my chance this Wednesday at the Red Blood Club. Another thing I missed this weekend was one of my only chances to see the Denton/Austin/Ft. Worth based "supergroup" THE HIGH TENSION WIRES at Rubber Gloves. They are a side project for members of The Riverboat Gamblers, The Marked Men, and some other extra-rocking bands. You can probably imagine what they sound like if you have heard the other bands they're in.

I did actually manage to make it MR. PEPPERMINT'S 79TH BIRTHDAY at the Granada Theatre the other night despite being sick. There was a semi-entertaining band called Merry and the Widowmakers or something onstage when I got there. They had been billed as "Soccer Moms do Ramones' Covers" and were comprised of women that looked like real-live Soccer Moms. The only problem was that I didn't hear one Ramones song. They did a couple of White Stripes songs, and some originals that all sounded better than I would have imagined but no Ramones!? Well, the unintentionally funny/lame stage show and banter helped make up for it I suppose, what with the singer throwing a laundry basket full of tube socks on the audience and other shennanigans. The performance by Mr. Peppermint and Muffin, and the Bloopers from his Dallas based children's show PEPPERMINT PLACE were worth the price of admission alone. For those unenlightened to the world of Mr P. he's basically the local Mr. Rogers, and the father of BUTTHOLE SURFER Gibby Haynes, whom helped fulfill a dream I've had since I was barely a teen...meeting him. He was very nice and not particularly frightening either even if he was a little more interested in talking to Kara than myself. But this seems to be the usual routine. The same thing happened when we met Jonathan Richman of The Modern Lovers, and Mick Collins of The Dirtbombs. Mr. P, aka Jerry Haynes, has had a long and successful career in both theatre, television, and the movies since the fifties..not to mention his cool trademark red and white stiped suit, hat and striped cane. The bloopers were a real revelation in that they were mostly off-color often with a sexual element to them. As this show is one of my earliest memories of Dallas you can imagine those seminal viewings contrasting with hearing Muffin, the buck-toothed, backwoods stuffed-bear sidekick say that someone told him that if he ate too much ice cream then his DICK would fall off. Great stuff!

I've also been playing some country music with the fine fellers of SADDLETRAMP, as well as trying to learn the songs in time for next Saturday's show opening for Donnie Ray Ford on February 11th at the Bar of Soap. (Friday night they're showing Pot Zombies...so I'm totally RULING the BOS this weekend!)They play old-school country with a little bluesy influence thrown in comprised of originals written by singer and acoustic guitarist Chad Bennett and some cover songs by the likes of Billie Joe Shaver, Johnny Cash, and Neil Young as well as a few standards. Noah Bailey is on banjo, and lap-steel, Matt Powers plays the electrified bass, and I play the electrified six string. Everybody sings back-up vocals, but I'm just getting started with all that...

Here's the Myspace page for the band.

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=47896432

Oh yeah, I also managed to make some use of artwork I've done for the LOOONG delayed Cornman Comic Book for the cover of the 7-inch Justin is putting out. (see top) And for the record that's me and Gibby Haynes to the left. Until next time, take care my fellow cretins...

Here tis!

Psychotic Infractions and Zombie Dung!

I'm listening to the completed "Psychotic Infractions Volume 1: Under the Covers" disc, that I just happen to appear on, for the first time... fresh from the mailman's hands. I'm about 2/3 through, and I can honestly say that this is a pretty great compilation, especially considering the way it all came together. (for details see previous posts) I'll admit that I've been checking the mailbox, and the thread this whole thing originated in on Garagepunk.com all morning, but morning is relative isn't it? Track 17, by Sir Maggot's band The Maggots is "Tomato Juice", a song originally by The Cardinals, and it's rocking my socks off right this second. The timing for the next song to appear (W.B. Vaughan's countryish take on Bo Diddley's "Roadrunner")is perfect to illustate the variety of musical styles represented here. There's everything from traditional, organ-driven garage-rock, to country/rockabilly, straight-up rock and roll, garagepunk, boogie, and the hard-to-categorize. Sprinkle in some soul, punk and mod-influence and you're pretty close. All done with the spark that's what made us all love this stuff in the first place. Now this isn't to say that every song on here is great, or in a lot of cases, listenable( to most average music fans). But since musical taste is so subjective I'll clarify this by saying that IN MY OPINION this disc holds it's own against many other established comps, and I can listen to this thing straight through and dig it all.

I'd like to eventually do a track-by-track review of the album but for now I'll just say it speaks for itself. The fact that I'm still unable to post audio on this here blog is frustrating since I'd love to share this with anyone who's interested. I'll go ahead and post this link to the thread on Kopper's site so that, if anybody gets the gumption to, a podcast or some other way to get the songs may soon be available...

http://www.garagepunk.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=18835&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=225

Kudos to those who went for an "authentic" '60's garage sound. Some of these could pass for the real thing( from way back when). First-impression standouts include tracks by : atvff (atvff), jprackets (Morey & The Amsterdams), MalThursday (Mal Thursday & the Cheetahs), Carpet Donkey (Trash Stranglers), K.F. (Daytonas), vonghouls (Von Ghouls), Spacerich66 (Spacerich66), Sir Maggot (Maggots), W.B. Vaughan (W.B. Vaughan), and Mr Pharmacist (Betty & the ID). An honorable mention goes to the ultra-raw cover of the Sonics' "Psycho" by rumblemoney (Damn Dirty Apes). Be sure to listen to the one by krakhaus( The Mahow Mahows) just because it's me, and please feel free to comment, complain or say "That only sucked a little!".

And while I'm tooting my own horn you can check out my big(ish) screen debut in Justin Powers' POT ZOMBIES at the Texas Frightmare Weekend horror convention coming up on February 4th and 5th in majestic Grapevine, Texas. My buddy Justin has been crafting this labor of love for a few years now and we finally get to see the results. In addition to portraying a redneck hunter with a weed-jones, and a pot-belly( hey, it was three years ago/no pun intended) in the film, I did some artwork for, and provided some props for this beauty. The convention sounds pretty cool too with appearances from special effects legend Tom Savini, legendary director Herschell Gordon Lewis, movie critic Joe Bob Briggs, Troma's Lloyd Kaufman, scream-queen Linnea Quigley, and a performance from reunited local speed- metal heroes Rigor Mortis among many other notables.

http://texasfrightmareweekend.com/index.html

Here's the Pot Zombies Myspace page...

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=2942537

Oh yes, and DVDs are available!

F**k-in' Freeman!!

John Freeman. One-man Rock Assault!

An extremely late Merry Freakin' Christmas to all you unwashed masses! And Happy New Year while I'm at it. It's about time I paid tribute to a man that you are probably famliar with if you live in the DFW area, and pay attention to local undergound music. If you don't live here you might have heard of some of his bands, and since relocating to New York a few years back he's taken to spreading his disease there as well. He's had a buncha these "groups" but some include: The Dooms U.K., The Dutch Treats, The Meat Helmets, The Cockouts, The Psychos, Duck Duck Annihilation, Telethon, Danza, Alan Parson's Projectile, The Delicious Bulls, Pink Mistake, The Golden Vipers, and The Thrilling Chilling Sounds of the Haunted House. John Freeman (also known as Johnny Murder, Uncle Sloppy, etc.) started out as simply "The Dooms" when he wrote a set of songs about Emmanuel Lewis, Patrick Swayze, Chewbacca, and other noteable subjects to be performed with his own guitar accompaniment at a friends's party in Denton, Texas. He soon had a band that seemed to start out with the intention of being a "rap and roll" band (mind you this was the early '90's). They quickly evolved into a more experimental beast that came to full fruition with the release of the now classic album Greasy Listening. Though truly a band, it is widely accepted that John was the "brains" behind the group, writing the lyrics and forging the direction in which they would head. His songs inhabit a world I can truly relate to; equal parts Bad T.V. and Pop Culture, Dungeons and Dragons, Punk/Metal, Extreme Sarcasm, Ernest Borgnine and a encyclopedic knowledge of Rock and Roll both good and bad. The word genius gets tossed around a lot these days so let me throw this fools name into the ring. (Robert Wilonksy said nearly the same thing in this weeks Dallas Observer, but I wrote this before I saw that rag.)

In addition to making music this Super-Nova is a cartoonist, writer, actor/voice over dude and Nanny to the stars. His comics are really funny, and drawn in his trademark jittery style, and though I'm most familiar with his writing via his song lyrics, what little else I've read was very well done. I have witnessed a "performance" of one of his plays, and the name escapes me but it took place at a science fiction/comic book convention in the '80's. Needless to say...It was a gut-blasting riot. Watching him perform live is the best way to get a feel (if you know what I mean) for his whole shtick, as he is an amazing improvisational comedian. I guess a large part of his appeal is that he is literally one of the funniest people ever to grace this world, and I can't undertand why he isn't at least as well known as any of those Blue Collar Comedy tour guys or Ruth Buzzie. I didn't make it up to Dan's Silverleaf in Denton for his only DFW appearance this year last night but I can only imagine there were smiles, and lots of bodily fluids all around.

I'll never forget the time I was treated to a very intimate solo performance of "Waterfalls" by TLC in my truck during a run I took John on to retrieve his guitar to play some keg party, or the time he scared an army of zoned-out hippies by opening the Fry Street Fair with the song "Hippies". (basically a rallying cry for the death of that type of hairy person.) The Dooms U.K. realeased one more album enititled Art Rock Explosion which documents the later Dooms fairly well. I love both discs for different reasons, but if you want a little taste you can check out some of these links:

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=11841340
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=9543087
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=40928900

Some of his comix, as well as those by other local peeps can be found here:

http://www.polypop.com/index.htm

O.M.F.G.!!! Birthday Suits, Hideo of B.S., Rubber Gloves Grafitti, Marked Men

A homecoming of sorts...

Bob and I made the treck up to lovely Denton, Tx. to the Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studio to see The Apeshits, Birthday Suits, and Marked Men ply their punk, and/or rock wares Friday night. It turned out to be one of the best shows I've seen in a long time. Having seen the Men only once before their year-long break I was ready for them to move my ass, and they have only gotten better. One of the tightest bands of the rock and roll underground in my opinion, with the added bonus of power-pop hooks played with punk intensity. But you've heard about them before. When we got to the club Austins' Apeshits were on and based on the couple of songs I managed to check out I'd love to see more. They had the same kind of intensity but a wilder , noiseier, and more playful/sloppy attack. I was jealous of the fun they seemed to be having up there. At least one of these cats was in the Carpetbaggers, and since my good buddy "Wild Bill" Ivy digs em I need to delve deeper. (The mans got taste!)

But the guys who blew me away that night were The Birthday Suits. Comprised of two former members of Sweet J.A.P. the Suits have a very full sound when you consider it's just a drumset, a guitar, and an amp turned up really loud for that "natural" distortion we all know and love. I can see how garage and/or punk purists might cringe at what these guys are doing but let them. It's their loss. I was trying to categorize them somehow (I hate labels but they are an excellent shorthand for describing music), and phrases like "jammy-garage" and "space punk/punk space" didn't seem to be sufficient but you might get a vague idea. The drummer did and amazing job of laying a strong foundation(not your typical punk beats but very rocking) for guitarist and vocalist Hideo to alternate between short bursts of structured pop-like intensity, and leg-kicking punk rock and roll swagger. He was flying all over the stage, even running up to the wall and kicking off in a 180 turn all the while continuing to bring the noise. I wish Bobs camera-phone had managed some better pics of any of these bands but we'll have to settle for the really blurry one of Hideo (top/right) and the grafitti from Rubber Gloves restroom( bottom/left) for now. We think it says "I f***ed your Dog" under the tag. I stole the other two pics from various sites.

This night made me remember why I loved living in Denton. I hadn't been there for a show in a couple of years at least and I talked to a bunch of old friends, most of whom weren't even there for the show, and some of whom live here in Dallas. There's this crazy Extreme Wrestling League in Denton that I've got to check out...

Wasted Days and Wasted Nights

Still wasted but now with focus!

This photo was taken a few months back during my trip to Corpus Christi. I include it now because I like the photo, and I'm having a bit of deja vu relating to that period of my life again. And let's not forget Freddy, who loomed large over popular radio when I was a tot. My folks were way into him, and it saddens me that he would never make it in pop music today. His big songs were Wasted Days and Wasted Nights and (I'll be there) Before the Last Teardrop Falls for those of you that might be unfamiliar. His brand of Tex-Mex rock and roll meshed perfectly with that of Doug Sahm when they teamed up for The Texas Tornadoes. I saw him on an endless-loop type infomercial for a Classic-Country cd set on cable at Kara's grandma Judy's place in Claremore, Oklahoma last night so it all ties together somehow.

I basically drove the nearly six-hundred mile round trip to drop her off for about three weeks to help her granny run her gift-basket shop during this busy holiday season. That and the fact that we are both losing our minds due to our nebulous realtionship made this "vacation" necessary . It's hard for me to decide how much to comment on about this so I'll err on the side of caution and just say we'll see what happens. No need to bore you, my imagined audience, with such matters. This ain't no EMO-journal. I did get to listen to some great music on the trip back including a bunch of great, random punk I downloaded off of various Mp3 blogs, and some Sir Douglass Quintet cds, and pretty much the whole Reigning Sound discography in order. Greg Cartwright never ceases to amaze me. He'll fool you with some song you think is kind of a throwaway, and then on a subsequent listening it kicks you in the head with its kickassitude!

I'll probably be posting more regularly as I have much more time on my hands now. And if you happen to pass Buford's Fun and Nut Company in Sherman, Texas (right on I-75 North) stop in and pick me up a post-card. (There was a mildly disturbing mural featuring a "mad hatter" type character out front and the whole thing made me ruminate over the thought process involved in such a venture. "Well, people love FUN and people love NUTS, right?")

Link Wray R.I.P.

The originals are quickly leaving us

As I come to consciousness this morning I am listening to Joe Belock's excellent THREE CHORD MONTE radio show on WFMU via the world-wide-web. The music he's playing is the inspiration for this post. He's doing a well-deserved tribute to the father of the power-chord, and perhaps the father of all raw, aggressive electric guitar-playing as well...LINK WRAY. He was buried on November 18th in Copenhagen, Denmark to little fanfare per his request, and most likely due at least in part to the obliviousness of most critics and fans of popular music. Hell, CNN didn't pick up on it until he had been in the ground for 4 days!!!...

http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Music/11/21/obit.wray.ap/index.html

I won't go into detail about this great loss( even if he was only 76 years old for pete's sake!). I will say that Link was influencing my life path before I was even aware of him though. It's common knowledge that Link was the inspiration for Pete Townshend to pick up a guitar, and The Who were in competition only with Van Halen for the title of my favorite band as a kid. Neil Young was also quoted as saying that if he could go back in time to see any band it would be Link Wray and his Raymen. It was inevitable that I was later drawn to the punk rock that Link hinted at with his deceptively simple, beautifully distorted guitar work, and attitude. It's hard to imagine a world in which Mr. Wray never existed, and I don't even want to try. I regret that I just missed getting to see him at last year. I guess I thought he'd be around forever. With that in mind here's the part where I put the link to the second petition to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame that I've posted( The first being Doug Sahm/Sir Douglass Quintet)...

http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?linkwray&851

If you have ever enjoyed a "dirty" guitar tone or believe in any kind of justice take a minute to sign the petition. And then proceed to poke pencil holes through the speaker-cones of every guitar amp that you are in proximity to...

Shake the hand of the man with a hand full of LOVE...

...The one and only Jimmy Carter!

Well, now I've done it. I managed to get my little blog here listed amongst many other blogs that in general seem to kick-ass, especially in comparison to this 'un. Kopper, of Garagepunk.com fame has turned that site into a blog with the requisite large number of links(one of which leads this way). Don't fret though, he still manages the Herculean task of doing a radio show, running a garagepunk and related forum, and probably a bunch of other projects that he's either too modest or busy to gab about. I need some of his focus and energy. It's time to step up to the plate. I'd feel that I had more to offer if I only knew how to post an Mp3 on my site( hint..hint!). I have tried to find out for myself but as I am mostly HTML illiterate I haven't found anything that spells it out well enough. And Blogger.coms own podcast/audio section won't let me register, so for now I will just have to try to dazzle you with bullshit, so here goes...

"This isn't the real America" is the title of a suprising article by former president Jimmy Carter in the most recent LA times. It was suprising to me at least, as it closely echoed my own feelings about the general direction our country has taken, especially in regards to the war. Carter was the first president that I was conciously aware of being in office and his presence was felt strongly even in pop culture at the time. He was a colorful character, with the whole peanut-farmer, big-toothed smile, and drunken brother thing. My Dad still proudly displays his lone surviving can of Billy Beer in his hunting room. I think Jimmy gets a bad rap today, though it's no surprise, just look what they've done to Clinton's image. Check it out, it's a short read and it might give you some glimmer of hope for American politics.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-carter14nov14,0,7164514.story

On a side note the title of the photo and text posts from today are a line from a song called "Jimmy Carter" by the sadly defunct "insurgent country" band Blue Mountain. If you like what is known as Alt-Country, Americana, Ya'llternative, Cowpunk, etc. etc. pick up some of their stuff. I can't recommend the album Dog Days enough, but they are all above average.

It's finally getting cold here, and I'm excited about it. I like cold weather, and snow more than I should for someone that calls the Lone Star state his home. One day I may migrate further North but I would either have to become an expert Mexican-style chef or convince some Amigos to go with me. Yes, I live for Mexican food. Speaking of Tex-Mex, this Friday, November 18th has been declared ( unofficially I assume) Doug Sahm Day in Dallas. What this means other than the fact that Shawn Sahm & His Tex Mex Experience featuring Augie Miers with special guest Eleven Hundred Springs will be playing at The Sons of Hermann Hall in Deep Ellum, I don't know. Shawn is the son of Doug( R.I.P. ), Augie was in some of Doug's bands, and 1100 Springs are as close to old-school country as you can get as well as owing a great musical debt to Doug(this in common with any band that has a twang and is any good) , so the show should be great.

Men of a thousand faces, and as many talents...