recommended gigs

Friday July 27 - Water Landing, War Twins, Mirror Hollow, Pet Tigers, the Scorched at the Beauty Bar
Friday July 27 - the Implosions, Danger Inc, the Pluralses at the Huntridge Tavern

Monday July 30 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Wednesday Aug 1 - Franks'n'Deans Weenie Roast with special guests the Implosions

Thursday Aug 2 - Dirk Vermin and the Hostile Talent at Rusty Spur

Friday Aug 3 - the Psyatics, the New Waves, Stagnetti's Cock, Scorpion vs Tarantula, Question? NO Answer at the Double Down

Monday Aug 6 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Friday Aug 10 - Jerk/the Pluralses and the Implosions at Evel Pie

Saturday Aug 11 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Double Down
Saturday Aug 11 - the New Waves at the Golden Tiki

Sunday Aug 12 - Smokin' Sundays at the Dive Bar with the Scoundrels and the Psyatics

Monday Aug 13 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Friday Aug 17 - the All Togethers and the Unwieldies at the Huntridge Tavern

Sunday Aug 19 - the Hellacopters play Psycho Las Vegas at the Joint with lots more bands

Monday Aug 20 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Monday Aug 22 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Double Down

Friday Aug 24 - Jack White at the Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan
Friday Aug 24 - the Delta Bombers at the Bunkhouse

Saturday Aug 25 - Lita Ford at the Cannery
Saturday Aug 25 - Cashed Out with the All Togethers at Cornish Pasty

Monday Aug 27 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Wednesday Aug 29 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Double Down

Friday Aug 31 - the Mapes, the Sheiks of Neptune at the Dive Bar

Saturday Sept 1 - the Psyatics, Vigil and Thieves, Analog Law, the MFA at the Double Down

Thursday Sept 6 - Sunday Sept 9 - the Las Vegas Tiki Weekender at the Thunderbird Motel with Thee Swank Bastards, Durango 66, Franks'n'Deans and more

Friday Sept 7 - Hot Tuna at Brooklyn Bowl

Saturday Sept 15 - the Unwieldies, the Riflemen, Whiskey Breath, Lawn Mower Death Riders at the Double Down

Monday Sept 24 - Shonen Knife at the Beauty Bar

Saturday Sept 29 - Negative Nancys, Laissez Fairs, Implosions, Stagnetti's Cock at the Double Down

Thursday Sept 27 - the Psyatics with Ancient River at the Griffin

Sat Oct 6 - The Swamp Gospel, the Implosions, Water Landing, the Psyatics at the Double Down for Nikki's birthday

Friday Oct 26 - Negative Nancys, Shanda and the Howlers, the Pluralses, Cromm Fallon at the Double Down

Saturday Oct 27 - the Gentlemen of Four Outs at the Bunkhouse
Saturday Oct 27 - the Damned, the Darts at House of Blues

Saturday Nov 17 - Ghost at the Joint
Saturday Nov 17 - the Heiz and the Implosions at Evel Pie

What have I forgotten? Lemme know

Swamp Surfing in Memphis - Various Artists

At the time of this 1986 Frenzi Records release, by far the biggest name on this compilation - at least among my circles in LA - was the Panther Burns. I loved the Memphis madness that was Behind the Magnolia Curtain and I'm pretty sure that by this time I had met Tav Falco's then-girlfriend Lorette Velvette and was interested in finding out and her all-femme band, the Hell Cats. Here, those two bands are combined with several other Memphis acts for a crazed garage/blues/punk/mayhem consortium.

The Hellcats start things off right with their take on the girl-power-biker anthem "Get Off the Road" that the Cramps' Poison Ivy later covered to great effect. This is combined with another wild ride in their original "Wall of Death' - both trashy surf/garage/B-Movie classics with tough, girl-group vocals. Excellent stuff! Panther Burns are represented by their version of Otis Redding's swampy "Tramp?" and their own stompin' "Agitator Blues", both sounding like they easily could have appeared on Magnolia Curtain.

Paradoxical Babel's "Middle Class" is a lot more straight-ahead new wave/pop-punk played with tight precision - a big difference from the loose'n'frantic Hellcats and Panther Burns! "Johnny" is an anti-war song sung by a female ("Middle Class" has a male lead singer) with an added saxophone which gives a kinda cool R'n'B-ish tinge to their new wave. Odd Jobs' "Man Overseas" is much more low-fi with somewhat out-of-tune group vocals, trashy, drivin' rhythm and lots of noise.  "Girl From Frasier" is kinda trashy jazz/garage- go figure - with out-of-tune female vocals. Wacky stuff, but kinda catchy in it's bizarre way.

The big surprise for me on here, just because I did not remember, not that she is out of place, was the inclusion of She Wolf, also known as Jesse Mae Hemphill, who I recently discovered (or, I guess, rediscovered) and have been collecting her music. She is an old-school blues woman, heavily influenced by the likes of John Lee Hooker, and often performed solo, playing tambourine with her foot! When she used other musicians, they were often Junior Kimbrough's rhythm section, with whom she shares a similar sound.The two cuts here ("I'm Glad You Don't Know What's On My Mind" and "Going Back Home") are her usual terrific blues-drone (meant in the best possible way). She has become one of my faves since finding her CD releases and I only wish I had sought her out back at this time, when she was gigging regularly with the Panther BUrns. Memphis must have been wild in the 80's!

Considering how terrible popular music was in the 80's - and probably at least partially because of that - the underground scene had some fantastic bands from coast to coast. This comp shows just how strong Memphis was at this time. My copy is vinyl but this apparently has been reissued on CD so search it out!

Water Landing, the All Togethers, the Psyatics at the Double Down, Saturday July 21, 2018

I'm not getting out as often these days for various reasons, but had a free Saturday and this line-up was too cool to pass up!

In order to stay up, though, I took a nap and missed the opening Phillsy Phillz, which is a new project from Eric of Water Landing with his mom! Sorry that I couldn't see that! Got in as Water Landing was rockin' in their quirky, almost Violent Femmes-kinda way and was almost immediately accosted by Eric as I was trying to get my camera to work! The band was tight'n'rockin' this eve with Ron sound especially good'n'snappy on the drums and lockin' in with Daniel's strong bass lines. Eric was animated as always, the crowd was up'n'dancin' (especially on their funky take on "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'" with Jules singing, which got the All Togethers on the dance floor), Eric pulled out an electric mandolin for one song and overall, the crowd loved 'em.

It had been a while since I was able to catch one of my fave acoustic acts, the All Togethers, but they sounded great here despite some technical issues (four acoustic instruments can be tricky going through a PA). I love their four part vocal harmonies and the instruments work together with lots of dynamics and variety, with Brenna's cello taking a majority of the solos and giving the band a unique sound. Michael sang lead on his own jazzy "Sonata In Whiskey", Cindy took over for some modern rap song that the audience knew but went over my head ("Push It Good", maybe?) which segued into the finale "Hangover Stomp" with Ken finishing up on this ode to the morning after. 

As it happens all too often at the Double Down, the Psyatics played clean-up, but it wasn't a super late night, comparatively, anyway! The crowd hung in for them and were treated to a long set of excellent originals from their four albums ("Bourbon Sway", "Evangeline", "Famous Monsters", "Shake Them Bones") and cool covers from the Banana Splits, Pink Floyd, the Hives, and the Drags. Jack was all over the club (despite having a relatively short cord - dunno how he does it!), Mark was excellent'n'creative on drums, as usual, and Rob's careening bass lines drove the songs as he howled'n'crooned over the chaos. Of course, the lovely Ivana Blaize once again added extra visual accompaniment, as well. By the time it hit 3:00 am, I had to split as Jack turned in his usual Gretsch for a Telecaster for the last few songs. Great time, as usual!

Thanks again to the Double Down and all of the bands for another great and varied night of Las Vegas original music!

My Discography

I came across a box of records that I've appeared on so thought I'd make sure that this was reasonably up to date, just for fun.
 
Discography

Gizmos –

Gizmos EP

Amerika First EP

Gizmos World Tour EP

Re-issue CD

21st Century Gizmos Fans EP

Unclaimed –

Primordial Ooze Flavored – Mini LP

The Rebel Kind Comp – "No Apology"

Thee Fourgiven –

It Ain’t Pretty Down Here LP

Voila! LP

Testify! LP

Salvation Guaranteed LP/CD

Rock and Hard Rolls Live in Europe LP

20^th Anniversary CD re-issue of It Ain’t Pretty Down Here with bonus tracks and video

Songs of Ordinary Madness – German Mini-LP

"She Shines"/"Be My Lover" single

"Wrong Side of My Mind" – The Deadly Spawn Comp

"Spiders in My Sink" – Garage Sale Comp

"Hang Up" – Sounds of Now! Dionysus Comp

"Love Is Fading" – Dimensions of Sound Comp

"Yeah!" – Battle of the Garages Vol 3 Comp

"Anything" – Ansia de Color comp

"The Reason Why" and "Sorry for You" – Raw Cuts Vol 6 Comp
"I'm Tellin' Ya" - Mister Garager's Neighborhood Comp
"Me on the Prowl" on What Wave Magazine's What's All the Fuzz About? comp

Zebra Stripes

"You Don’t Love Me" – Dimensions of Sound Comp

Zebra Is Her Name LP

Untold Fables

Organ on "It's a Cryin' Shame" on Every Mother’s Nightmare LP

Yard Trauma

Face To Face LP

Must’ve Been Something I Took Last Night LP

No Conclusions LP

Music LP

Takes Off… LP

Retro-Spex LP

"You Don’t Tell Me", "Black and White" – Raw Cuts Vol 6 Comp

The Tommyknockers

Caught Dead Inside – mini-LP

Perception is Reality LP/CD

The Clarity is So Clear LP/CD

"Noisy Beast"/"More to Come" 45

"Have Faith"/"One Too Many" 45

"The End of My Mind"/"Haircut and Attitude" 45

"Snake Lightning"/"Old Enough to Know Better"/"You’ll Find Out" 45

"I Want You" – Abus 16 Comp

"Kill City" – What Wave Comp

"Hot" - Hit By a Succession of Bricks Comp

"We Want the Airwaves" - Gabba Gabba Hey – Tribute to the Ramones Compilation

Lots of unreleased tracks

Alter Egos

Egomania! CD

"Why Don’t You Give It" 45

"She Can’t Be Stopped" – Trash on Demand Comp

"(Gimme Gimme) I’ve Been Good" – A Vital Gesture Xmas Comp

The Egomaniacs

Beat Party Comp

"Gonna Rock Tonight" - Flamin’ Groovies Tribute Comp

The Excessories

Pure Pop for Punk People LP/CD

"In the Flesh" – How Many Bands Does it Take to Screw Up a Blondie Tribute Comp

"Lost and Found" – RAFR Vol 3 Comp

"Punk Rock Boy" – Muga 16 Anos Comp

The Black Widows

Arocknaphobia CD

A Vital Gesture Xmas Comp

Doorslammer

Doorslammer CD

"On With the Show" – Indulgence, Inc Comp

"Shake Some Action" – Flamin’ Groovies Tribute Comp

The Streetwalkin’ Cheetahs

Vital Gesture Xmas Album

Guitars, Guns, Gold CD

The Cheeks

"Little Girl in the Snow" – Weird, Waxes and Wired Comp

Elvis Tribute Comp

The Vital Gesture Xmas All-Stars

"Christmastime Again" – A Vital Gesture Xmas

Lisa Lombardo

Lisa and Her Slaves CD

The Swamp Gospel
"The Devil Got Religion" on  Zia Records Comp You Heard Us Back When

The Psyatics
Guitar on "Two Timing Touch" on Worse Things Happen at Sea

Unreleased:
Beltane

Kings of Oblivion

If anyone can think of anything else, lemme know!

recommended gigs

Thurs July 19 - Moon Darling, Indigo Kidd, Psyatics, Laissez Fairs at the Bunkhouse
Thursday July 19 - Courtney's Birthday Bash at Evel Pie with the Negative Nancys, Jerk! and Shocktroopers

Friday July 20 - Bogtrotter's Union at McMullan's Irish Pub

Saturday July 21 - Shanda and the Howlers at the Golden Tiki
Saturday July 21 - Water Landing with the All Togethers and the Psyatics at the Double Down

Sunday July 22 - Monk and the Po Boys at Saddle'n'Spurs

Monday July 23 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Wednesday July 25 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Double Down

Friday July 27 - Water Landing, War Twins, Mirror Hollow, Pet Tigers, the Scorched at the Beauty Bar
Friday July 27 - the Implosions, Danger Inc, the Pluralses at the Huntridge Tavern

Monday July 30 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Wednesday Aug 1 - Franks'n'Deans Weenie Roast with special guests the Implosions

Friday Aug 3 - the Psyatics, the New Waves, Stagnetti's Cock, Scorpion vs Tarantula, Question? NO Answer at the Double Down

Monday Aug 6 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Friday Aug 10 - Jerk/the Pluralses and the Implosions at Cornish Pasty

Saturday Aug 11 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Double Down
Saturday Aug 11 - the New Waves at the Golden Tiki

Monday Aug 13 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Friday Aug 17 - the All Togethers and the Unwieldies at the Huntridge Tavern

Sunday Aug 19 - the Hellacopters play Psycho Las Vegas at the Joint with lots more bands

Monday Aug 20 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Monday Aug 22 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Double Down

Friday Aug 24 - Jack White at the Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan
Friday Aug 24 - the Delta Bombers at the Bunkhouse

Saturday Aug 25 - Lita Ford at the Cannery
Saturday Aug 25 - Cashed Out with the All Togethers at Cornish Pasty

Monday Aug 27 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Wednesday Aug 29 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Double Down

Friday Aug 31 - the Mapes, the Sheiks of Neptune at the Dive Bar

Saturday Sept 1 - the Psyatics, Vigil and Thieves, Analog Law, the MFA at the Double Down

Thursday Sept 6 - Sunday Sept 9 - the Las Vegas Tiki Weekender at the Thunderbird Motel with Thee Swank Bastards, Durango 66, Franks'n'Deans and more

Friday Sept 7 - Hot Tuna at Brooklyn Bowl

Saturday Sept 15 - the Unwieldies, the Riflemen, Whiskey Breath, Lawn Mower Death Riders at the Double Down

Monday Sept 24 - Shonen Knife at the Beauty Bar

Thursday Sept 27 - the Psyatics with Ancient River at the Griffin

Saturday Oct 27 - the Gentlemen of Four Outs at the Bunkhouse
Saturday Oct 27 - the Damned, the Darts at House of Blues

Saturday Nov 17 - Ghost at the Joint
Saturday Nov 17 - the Heiz and the Implosions at Evel Pie

What have I forgotten? Lemme know

Jack White - Lazaretto

White's second solo studio album, Lazaretto, is another convoluted piece of the man's bizarre musical heritage. Lyrically based on writings he did at 19 that he re-worked for the record, it is a musical hodge-podge, with blues (his take on Blind Willie McTell's "Three Women Blues"), hip-hop (the title track), Americana ("Temporary Ground") and much more filtered through White's twisted musical blender.

He admits that the album is varied and that he wasn't trying for a single style, which is pretty obvious here. "Would You Fight For My Love?" is kind of a dramatic 70's-styled rock ballad - maybe something someone like the Sensational Alex Harvey Band would do in their stranger persona - followed by "High Ball Stepper", a riff-y, fuzz-filled instrumental, and the poppy blues-stomper "Just One Drink".

He produces a piano pop-ballad with vaguely classical touches in "Alone In My Home" which continues into "Entitlement", "That Black Bat Licorice" is a mix of Frank Zappa and hip-hop, "I Think I Found the Culprit" is sort of updated-singer-songwriter with more rap-rhythms, and the closer, "Want and Able" is another Jack White-styled piano ballad.

White is nothing if not unique, although his varied tastes can make for uneven records. Even at my ripe old age, I prefer my rockers to rock - in their own odd way - and the numerous ballads here keep it from being a truly strong record, although nothing is objectionable. I know that the fans loved it but I find it good, not great.

recommended gigs

Thursday July 12 - TV Party at the Double Down - Heavy Metal (the movie) with Sheiks of Neptune (live)
Thursday July 12 - Goldtop Bob at the Sand Dollar

Friday July 13 - the New Waves at the Golden Tiki
Friday July 13 - the Rhyolite Sound with the All Togethers at the Bunkhouse

Saturday July 14 - the Unwieldies at the Dillinger

Monday July 16 - Messy Jessie's birthday at the Rusty Spur with Chris Moinichen, Brandon Madejek and Seth Turner
Monday July 16 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Thurs July 19 - Moon Darling, Indigo Kidd, Psyatics, Laissez Fairs at the Bunkhouse
Thursday July 19 - Courtney's Birthday Bash at Evel Pie with the Negative Nancys, Jerk! and Shocktroopers

Friday July 20 - Bogtrotter's Union at McMullan's Irish Pub

Saturday July 21 - Shanda and the Howlers at the Golden Tiki
Saturday July 21 - Water Landing with the All Togethers and the Psyatics at the Double Down

Sunday July 22 - Monk and the Po Boys at Saddle'n'Spurs

Monday July 23 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Wednesday July 25 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Double Down

Friday July 27 - Water Landing, War Twins, Mirror Hollow, Pet Tigers, the Scorched at the Beauty Bar
Friday July 27 - the Implosions, Danger Inc, the Pluralses at the Huntridge Tavern

Monday July 30 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Wednesday Aug 1 - Franks'n'Deans Weenie Roast with special guests the Implosions

Friday Aug 3 - the Psyatics, the New Waves, Stagnetti's Cock, Scorpion vs Tarantula, Question? NO Answer at the Double Down

Monday Aug 6 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Friday Aug 10 - Jerk/the Pluralses and the Implosions at Cornish Pasty

Saturday Aug 11 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Double Down
Saturday Aug 11 - the New Waves at the Golden Tiki

Monday Aug 13 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Friday Aug 17 - the All Togethers and the Unwieldies at the Huntridge Tavern

Sunday Aug 19 - the Hellacopters play Psycho Las Vegas at the Joint with lots more bands

Monday Aug 20 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Monday Aug 22 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Double Down

Friday Aug 24 - Jack White at the Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan
Friday Aug 24 - the Delta Bombers at the Bunkhouse

Saturday Aug 25 - Lita Ford at the Cannery
Saturday Aug 25 - Cashed Out with the All Togethers at Cornish Pasty

Monday Aug 27 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Wednesday Aug 29 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Double Down

Friday Aug 31 - the Mapes, the Sheiks of Neptune at the Dive Bar

Saturday Sept 1 - the Psyatics, Vigil and Thieves, Analog Law, the MFA at the Double Down

Thursday Sept 6 - Sunday Sept 9 - the Las Vegas Tiki Weekender at the Thunderbird Motel with Thee Swank Bastards, Durango 66, Franks'n'Deans and more

Friday Sept 7 - Hot Tuna at Brooklyn Bowl

Saturday Sept 15 - the Psyatics, the Riflemen, Whiskey Breath, Lawn Mower Death Riders at the Double Down

Monday Sept 24 - Shonen Knife at the Beauty Bar

Thursday Sept 27 - the Psyatics with Ancient River at the Griffin

Saturday Oct 27 - the Gentlemen of Four Outs at the Bunkhouse
Saturday Oct 27 - the Damned, the Darts at House of Blues

Saturday Nov 17 - Ghost at the Joint
Saturday Nov 17 - the Heiz at Evel Pie

What have I forgotten? Lemme know

The Ventures - Walk - Don't Run, the Best of

Everyone knows the Ventures as the premier instrumental, surf rock'n'roll band from the early 60's, so what can you say about any album of theirs? You know it's going to be filled with great playing, reverbed guitars, steady, swingin' beats and cool riffs. Any "best of" collection can - and will - have the song choices eternally debated, but this is pretty solid, with a mix of the hits and the lesser-knowns. The licks come fast and furious, the drums are snappy with plenty of machine gun rolls, and the unheralded bass locks it all together.

The band wrote the blueprint that every surf/ instrumental group uses to this day. The songs are well written, have creative rhythms, and utilize real melodies - something that too many of today's instro combos neglect. The interplay between the individual musicians is essential to the sound, as well - they work together for the song and don't showboat, as bands should do!

You'll probably discover some of your favorite instrumentals here, as almost every surf band has covered something by these guys. Maybe you'll find learn the name of that elusive tune, too! In any case, this is a good collection with 29 cuts, including an interview and a couple of radio spots. How can ya go wrong?!

T. Rex - T.Rextasy

As with a majority of Americans, I first discovered Marc Bolan and T. Rex when "Bang a Gong" became a smash hit in the States. I'll admit that I wasn't hip enough to know about his previous British releases, but I did my best to remedy that with whatever I could find in the States, starting with the terrific Electric Warrior album. I was excited to find out that he would be appearing on TV's In Concert, but I was somewhat disappointed in the show - their sound really did not transmit to a live performance. This 2-CD live set also pales in comparison to the studio output for the same reason - the sound is a bit thin, the guitar is too loud (a rare complaint for me, but Marc just could not pull it off on his own), Mickey Finn's congas are the only other instrument that is clearly heard, and the overall recording is sorta sub-par.

Still, it is an engaging document of T.Rextasy at its prime - Marc and the band was fanatically loved in the UK, where they had multiple hits, unlike the States. The set list is aimed at this audience, naturally, with some of what I would consider his lesser known songs and some drawn out, over-indulgent jams that, again, Marc, gawd love him, really shouldn't have attempted (13 minutes' worth in "Elemental Child"!). There are technical difficulties that Marc complains about through the mic and he berates a fan for coming on stage and demands that the person be removed. Marc does perform some tunes alone ("Spaceball Ricochet", "Girl"), he goes into a long monologue and starts'n'stops "Rip Off" a couple of times before moving into a long "Deborah" instead and disc one concludes with a solo (Finn eventually joins in) "Cosmic Dancer".

"One Inch Rock" is one of my fave semi-obscurity, but the mix is basically mush here, there's a wah-wah "Instrumental Jam", an electric "Ride a White Swan", an unexciting, monotone-ish and long "Thunderwing" followed by a more fun "Baby Strange", further excess in "Jewel", a rockin' "Jeepster" (that got a rousing ovation), "Hot Love" is pretty cool and is buoyed by audience participation - clapping and singing along - which leads into an, unfortunately, pretty murky "Bang a Gong" and then a fairly raucous "Summertime Blues".

Really just for major fans - the sound quality and long jams will most likely turn off anyone else. It is an interesting souvenir of the times, though.

RIP Steve Ditko

Steve Ditko, Spider-Man Co-Creator and Legendary Comics Artist, Dies at 90
 ---
Not a musician himself, but he certainly influenced any rock'n'roller who grew up with comics.

The Psyatics, Sheiks of Neptune at the Beauty Bar, Thursday July 5, 2018

I appreciate that some local clubs are getting hip to the idea of early weeknight shows. Those of us with day jobs can't stay out until 2:30 am or later to see a headliner on a regular basis. Thank you to the Beauty Bar for the reasonably timed rock'n'roll!

The Sheiks of Neptune kicked things off at a highly respectable 9:00 and played to a good sized crowd (for a Thursday) of rabid fans and newtimers alike. The band is somewhat flashy in their matching outfits and the lead singer is a human pinball, bouncing throughout the stage and club, singin'n'shoutin' and passin' out/throwin' out a variety of toys of various sizes. The musicians are all superior players, with lots of triple leads (two guitars plus violin), riffing off of each other and harmonizing in an almost Zappa-esque way, while the rhythm section propels them, and the audience, into spasms of punky vibrations. The sound was a bit off this evening for some reason (I've seen the same sound men do an excellent job before), so I still don't think that I have really heard their songs properly. Fun stuff, though!

You guys already know that I'm a fan of the Psyatics - I've ranted'n'raved about them numerous times here and this night they were as wildly rockin' as ever! Opening with their cover of the Banana Splits garage-rockin' "Gonna Find Me a Cave", they blew through a good variety of tunes from their various records - the post-punky "Psyatic Nerve" (wait a minute, is that the title? Gotta look that up!), the moody "Evangeline", the ever-relatable "Bourbon Sway", their twisted take on Pink Floyd's "Pigs" and the closing rhythm rocker "Gentlemen of Four Outs". Always terrific post-punk/garage with cool riffs, spot-on drumming, and wall-of-noise guitar work. Visual accompaniment provided by the lovely and lascivious Ivana Blaize for those who would rather not dwell on guitarist Jack's gyrations! (Love ya, Jack!) Always worth the trip!

Thanks again to the Beauty Bar for an early night (I think I was home by about 11:00!) and for hosting groovy local acts! (I did miss the touring fish-themed Joy Division cover band, Koi Division, although I'm told they did amuse'n'amaze.)

recommended gigs

Thursday July 5 - The Psyatics, Sheiks of Neptune and Koi Division at the Beauty Bar

Friday July 6 - Killian's Angelsat Balliwick

Sunday July 8 - The Scoundrels and People's Whiskey at the Dive Bar

Thursday July 12 - TV Party at the Double Down - Heavy Metal (the movie) with Sheiks of Neptune (live)
Thursday July 12 - Goldtop Bob at the Sand Dollar

Friday July 13 - the New Waves at the Golden Tiki
Friday July 13 - the Rhyolite Sound with the All Togethers at the Bunkhouse

Saturday July 14 - the Unwieldies at the Dillinger

Monday July 16 - Messy Jessie's birthday at the Rusty Spur with Chris Moinichen, Brandon Madejek and Seth Turner

Thurs July 19 - Moon Darling, Indigo Kidd, Psyatics, Laissez Fairs at the Bunkhouse
Thursday July 19 - Courtney's Birthday Bash at Evel Pie with the Negative Nancys, Jerk! and Shocktroopers

Saturday July 21 - Shanda and the Howlers at the Golden Tiki
Saturday July 21 - Water Landing with the All Togethers and the Psyatics at the Double Down

Sunday July 22 - Monk and the Po Boys at Saddle'n'Spurs

Friday July 27 - Water Landing, War Twins, Mirror Hollow, Pet Tigers, the Scorched at the Beauty Bar
Friday July 27 - the Implosions, Danger Inc, the Pluralses at the Huntridge Tavern

Wednesday Aug 1 - Franks'n'Deans Weenie Roast with special guests the Implosions

Friday Aug 3 - the Psyatics, the New Waves, Stagnetti's Cock, Scorpion vs Tarantula, Question? NO Answer at the Double Down

Friday Aug 10 - Jerk/the Pluralses and the Implosions at Cornish Pasty

Friday Aug 17 - the All Togethers and the Unwieldies at the Huntridge Tavern

Sunday Aug 19 - the Hellacopters play Psycho Las Vegas at the Joint with lots more bands

Friday Aug 24 - Jack White at the Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan
Friday Aug 24 - the Delta Bombers at the Bunkhouse

Saturday Aug 25 - Lita Ford at the Cannery

Friday Aug 31 - the Mapes, the Sheiks of Neptune at the Dive Bar

Saturday Sept 1 - the Psyatics, Vigil and Thieves, Analog Law, the MFA at the Double Down

Thursday Sept 6 - Sunday Sept 9 - the Las Vegas Tiki Weekender at the Thunderbird Motel with Thee Swank Bastards, Durango 66, Franks'n'Deans and more

Friday Sept 7 - Hot Tuna at Brooklyn Bowl

Saturday Sept 15 - the Psyatics, the Riflemen, Whiskey Breath, Lawn Mower Death Riders at the Double Down

Monday Sept 24 - Shonen Knife at the Beauty Bar

Thursday Sept 27 - the Psyatics with Ancient River at the Griffin

Saturday Oct 27 - the Gentlemen of Four Outs at the Bunkhouse
Saturday Oct 27 - the Damned, the Darts at House of Blues

Saturday Nov 17 - Ghost at the Joint

What have I forgotten? Lemme know

Fantastic Negrito, Fuzz Solow at the Bunkhouse Friday June 29, 2018

I found out about this show due to Vegas' premier one-man-blues-band, Fuzz Solow, being the opening act. I figured if he was on the bill then the headliner must be interesting so I did a little research on Fantastic Negrito and decided to see what all the hub-bub was about. Being an early show made this all that much more appealing.

Fuzz started the night off to an appreciative audience that were smart enough not to be late arrivers - the club was actually pretty full right from the start. He did his set of funky blues songs about turtles, rivers, and smoke mixed with covers from Howlin' Work, Robert Johnson and Jimi Hendrix (who he was named after). With a splitter/octave pedal filling out the guitar sound, his feet keepin' a drivin' rhythm and Fuzz's natural, bluesy growl of a voice, you really don't miss any other musicians and he has a natural rapport with the crowd, engaging them right from the start. People who whoopin' along and shakin' it up to his blues power! See him when you can!

Fantastic Negrito is another new, mixed-race, soul/rock fusion band, kinda in the style of modern greats like the Heavy and Black Joe Lewis. I had only seen a video or two on You Tube previously so I wasn't sure what to really expect from this combo. The band - guitar, keys, bass, drums - came out first a created a funky groove with a smokin' hot guitar solo and then Negrito arrived, only to immediately have issues with his acoustic guitar. There was a brief problem with the keys, as well, but then things settled into funky jams with plenty of dynamics and semi-Curtis Mayfield-styled vocals on top. Negrito enjoys his monologues, whether they be vaguely political or intensely personal, although lyrically, the songs sometimes miss their mark with me a bit. But overall, the fantastic band - excellent rhythm section, keys that jump from electric piano to Hammond B3 sounds in a second, and guitar that could be funkily clean or hard rockin' heavy - really brings it all home. There were plenty of audience sing-alongs (he does have a good knack for melodies) and they even did a soulful version of the old country folk tune "In the Pines"!

The show was quite enjoyable and they are fun'n'funny, but I didn't leave the show with any of their songs goin' through my head nor with a newly purchased CD. I will keep an eye'n'ear out for them though and see where they go from here.