recommended gigs

Thursday Feb 27 - Johnny Zig and the Force at Tiki di Amore

Friday Feb 28th - the Rhyolite Sound with the Bobby Kingston Band at Saddle'n'Spurs
Friday Feb 28th - the Dead Dolls at the Rusty Spur

Sunday Mar 1 - Thee Hypnotiques at the Golden Tiki

Wednesday Mar 4 - Franks'n'Deans Weenie Roast with Fuckface at the Double Down

Friday Mar 6 - the Sheiks of Neptune, the Nuggets, Franks'n'Deans, Decaying Tigers at the Double Down

Saturday Mar 7 - The Swamp Gospel with the Implosions and Fuzz Solow at the Huntridge Tavern

Sunday Mar 8 - Not a Robot, Unique Massive, Crucial Moments at the Double Down

Thursday Mar 12 - the Sheiks of Neptune with On Holiday at Evel Pie
Thursday Mar 12 - TV Party Tonight at the Double Down showing the movie Lenny with live music by the Soldiers of Destruction

Friday Mar 13 - The Hypnotiques at Casa di Amore

Saturday Mar 14 - Thor with the Sheiks of Neptune and Joecephus and the George Jonestown Massacre at Evel Pie
Saturday Mar 14 - Shanda and the Howlers, the Dirty Hooks, If They Love You They'll Kill You at the Sand Dollar
Saturday Mar 14 - the Souvenairs at the Golden Tiki
Saturday Mar 14 - Louis XIV with Cromm Fallon and the P200 at the Bunkhouse
Saturday Mar 14 - the Unwieldies at the Dillinger

Tues Mar 17 - the Double Whammys at the Golden Tiki

Saturday Mar 21 - Dirty Rock'n'Roll Dance Party's Brian Moy's birthday show at the Bunkhouse with the Swamp Gospel, the Control Freaks and more TBA

Sunday Mar 22 - the Lucitones, Dead at Midnite, No Que No at the Huntridge Tavern

Friday Mar 27 - The Psyatics CD release show with the Pine Hill Haints, Fuzz Solow and the Jagoffs at the Double Down

Sunday April 5 - The Hypnotiques at the Golden Tiki

Wednesday April 8 - the Delta Bombers, Cherry Rat, Lady Luck Lexy at Backstage Bar

Friday April 17 - the Unwieldies and Big Like Texas at the Goldmine Tavern

Wednesday April 22 - Jesse Daniel with the Rhyolite Sound at the Bunkhouse

Friday April 24 - The Psyatics with Fur Dixon's WTFukushima, the Implosions and VJ Atomic at the Double Down

Saturday May 9 - The Swamp Gospel  with the Holy Smokes at the Huntridge Tavern

Saturday May 16 - The Psyatics at the Double Down

May 21 through 25 - Punk Rock Bowling

Thursday May 21 - El Vez with Alice Bag, the Zeros, Sean Wheeler and Los Carajos at Fremont Country Club

Friday May 22 - Green Jelly, Monster Zero, De Phobic, Pottymouth at the Dive Bar

Saturday May 23 - Television at the Bunkhouse

What have I forgotten? Lemme know

Stranded in the Jungle - Jerry Nolan's Wild Ride by Curt Weiss

Although he had already played in a number of bands previously, Jerry Nolan rose to prominence as the drummer for the infamous New York Dolls and even more illicitly infamous Heartbreakers. After the untimely drug-related death of the Dolls initial beat master, Billy Murcia, Nolan was recruited away from Wayne County's combo to join the rising stars. Of course, the Dolls were a bit too New York and too extreme in every way for the still fairly conservative, pre-punk, early 70's teen audience. But their legacy and influence has been massive and continues to this day.

Growing up with a fixation on Gene Krupa, which he shared with childhood chum Peter Criss and which continued but grew into a love of rock'n'roll music and its accompanying style. While moving around the country before settling in New York, Jerry played in numerous bands with varying degrees of non-success and bad luck. But, his life was never dull or boring - he dated Bette Midler in her pre-fame days, he played in a later version of the Pleasure Seakers (now called Cradle) with Suzi Quatro before she set off on her solo career and of course, various other combos before backing Wayne County and then joining the Dolls.

The Dolls rise'n'fall have been chronicled endlessly, which then mutated into the Heartbreakers for Jerry and Johnny (borrowing Tom Petty's band name since they thought he wouldn't get out of Florida!) who considered such now underground luminaries as John Felice of the Real Kids for second guitar, as well as Rob Duprey from the Mumps, Chris Stein and Jonathan Paley, before deciding on the Demons' Walter Lure. Of course, the drugs overtook the band and Jerry and Johnny became slaves to junk - I have a hard time understanding how anyone managed to deal with them at all, as for the rest of their lives they were defined by smack and never rose above their addictions or overcame its stigma, which lead to lives of struggling to survive with minimal gigs. Of course, the drugs eventually caught up with both Jerry'n'Johnny although their legacy lives on.

It's a sad story of failed potential and one that would make any sane person never want to pick up hard drugs in any way, shape or form. Hopefully, some will learn from Jerry's tough lessons. But, we can still enjoy the power'n'majesty of the work that he did in his life.

The Psyatics - Devil you Know

(I wrote up a "press release" for the new Psyatics LP, which is why I refer to myself in the third person here. I know it's weird to review a record that I'm on, but I think it's a good one and I hope that people give it a listen!)

The Psyatics were ready for a change. After four albums and nearly eight years of sonically sendin’ up dive bars from Vegas to Tokyo as a trio, singer/bassist Rob Bell and guitarist Jack Ball, along with more recent recruit, drummer Mark Bartschi (who replaced original stick man Jimmy Krah a couple of years back) wanted to add to their sound. Saxophone was discussed but no one materialized and so, after some drunken, late night conversations, Rob asked Rich Coffee (of Las Vegas’ The Swamp Gospel) if he would be interested in joining the fray. A fan who had ranted’n’raved about the group for years on his blog, Rich debated whether or not he would be a proper fit for the combo – his previous efforts were a lot more “rock’n’roll”, in general - but eventually decided to take the plunge.

 So now, with veteran rock’n’rollers Mark’n’Rich laying down a more solid groundwork for Rob’n’Jack’s more extreme excursions, the Psyatics retain the Psyatics’ psychosis but remain somewhat more heavily earthbound. After nearly a year of practicin’n’giggin’, the now-quartet entered the recording studio for the band’s fifth album, Devil You Know. While the sonic soundscapes continue – with Coffee adding his version of Crampsian noise and classic rock wahs to the mix – the group’s originals rock with swingin’ grooves, punky energy and added melodies. Rob’s devilish lyrics intertwine with his snakey, rovin’ bass lines, while Mark drives the tunes with his SoCal surf/rock snap’n’bash and Jack’s jazzy/noisy guitar layers over the top of it all, along with Coffee’s six string ranglings.

 With high energy punk (“Fill In the Blank”) sittin’ side by side with mid-tempo rock’n’rollers (“Damn Your Eyes”, “A Crown’s No Cure For a Headache”, “Good Gut Feeling”), mesmerizing grooves (“Hypnagogic Jerk”), a touch of updated Americana (“Here to Suffer”, a revision of a tune from Rob’s previous combo, the Yeller Bellies), a twisted Tex-Mex tale (“Banditos”), some soulful sax from friend Gene Howley adding to the political commentary “Stockholm Syndrome” (and he makes a couple of other appearances throughout), hypnotic rhythms (“Sin Eater”), a demented surf number (“Prints of Darkness”), and even a couple of covers, the Scientists’ “When Fate Deals Its Mortal Blow” and an unrecognizable remake of Depeche Mode’s “Flies on the Windshield”, the proceedings close with the atmospheric, feedback-laden title cut.

 Any fan will absolutely recognize the Psyatics’ sound, but there is a growth in songwriting and playing here while the twin guitar attack naturally adds new stratum to their bedrock. Look for Devil You Know directly from the band or any of the usual options and see the Psyatics live on Friday March 27, 2020 at the Double Down Saloon, Las Vegas for their CD release party/show with a fantastic line up with the Pine Hill Haints, Fuzz Solow and the Jagoffs!

The Psyatics, the Shakes and Working Class Skumbags at the Double Down, Friday Feb 21, 2020

Since we weren't certain until the last minute if last week's DD show was happening (glad that it did - it was a blast!), this fill-in gig came together as a stop-gap measure to make sure we had something happening for February. It's always a good time at the DD and this evening was no exception.

The night started with the Shakes, a young trio from Henderson who played cover songs, mostly 50's and 60's hits - Elvis, Carl Perkins, Beatles, Kinks, even Cream - as well as 70's numbers like Tom Petty's "American Girl". Good playing all around, fun equipment, and cool vocal harmonies - the Beatles harmonies were pretty much right on - and the guitarist and bassist even switched instruments for a couple fo tunes, even though the bassist played left handed but guitar right handed! Still not sure how they managed that feat! Fairly unusual for the Double Down, but good fun.

24 Beers later never appeared (someone assumed they were on their 25th beer somewhere) so the Psyatics got the 2nd slot of the night. Although the crowd was somewhat sparse - there was quite a bit going on this evening - there were still enough folks to make it fun and we even got some people up to shimmy'n'shake along. Our set mixed old'n'new tunes, as we have been doing lately, and it was a good warm up for our CD release party coming up on March 27 at the DD! (No pix of us for the night, unfortunately).

The Working Class Skumbags came up next and blasted through a set of self described Oi Punk from Babbit Nevada. Not my favorite style of music but they were passionate and energetic and did their best for the remnants of the night's denizens.

As it was late on a work night, I took off as they were finishing their set so I don't know if 24 Beers Later ever did show up but you never know at the DD! Still, a fun time and thanks to the DD for continuing to host good'n'varied nights and to the entire crew for being stand-up characters and all-around good folks!

recommended gigs

Friday Feb 21 - The Psyatics with Working Class Skumbags, 24 Beers Later, the Shakes at the Double Down

Saturday Feb 22 - No Que No, Can U Not Talk, Tarah Who, the Hideaway at the Double Down
Saturday Feb 22 - Rayford Bros and Cherry Rat at the Sand Dollar

Sunday Feb 23 - Lord Dying, Sonolith, Plague Doctor at the Bunkhouse

Monday Feb 24 - the Capsouls and the Van Der Rohe at the Fremont Country Club
Monday Feb 24 - the Reeves Brothers at Saddle'n'Spurs

Tuesday Feb 25 - Thee Hypnotiques at the Golden Tiki

Thursday Feb 27 - Johnny Zig and the Force at Tiki di Amore

Friday Feb 28th - the Rhyolite Sound with the Bobby Kingston Band at Saddle'n'Spurs
Friday Feb 28th - the Dead Dolls at the Rusty Spur

Sunday Mar 1 - Thee Hypnotiques at the Golden Tiki

Wednesday Mar 4 - Franks'n'Deans Weenie Roast with Fuckface at the Double Down

Friday Mar 6 - the Sheiks of Neptune, the Nuggets, Franks'n'Deans, Decaying Tigers at the Double Down

Saturday Mar 7 - The Swamp Gospel with the Implosions and Fuzz Solow at the Huntridge Tavern

Saturday Mar 14 - Thor at Evel Pie
Saturday Mar 14 - Shanda and the Howlers, the Dirty Hooks, If They Love You They'll Kill You at the Sand Dollar
Saturday Mar 14 - the Souvenairs at the Golden Tiki
Saturday Mar 14 - Louis XIV with Cromm Fallon and the P200 at the Bunkhouse

Tues Mar 17 - the Double Whammys at the Golden Tiki

Saturday Mar 21 - Dirty Rock'n'Roll Dance Party's Brian Moy's birthday show at the Bunkhouse with the Swamp Gospel, the Control Freaks and more TBA

Friday Mar 27 - The Psyatics CD release show with the Pine Hill Haints, Fuzz Solow and the Jagoffs at the Double Down

Sunday April 5 - The Hypnotiques at the Golden Tiki

Wednesday April 8 - the Delta Bombers, Cherry Rat, Lady Luck Lexy at Backstage Bar

Friday April 17 - the Unwieldies and Big Like Texas at the Goldmine Tavern

Wednesday April 22 - Jesse Daniel with the Rhyolite Sound at the Bunkhouse

Friday April 24 - The Psyatics with Fur Dixon's WTFukushima, the Implosions and VJ Atomic at the Double Down

Saturday May 9 - The Swamp Gospel  with the Holy Smokes at the Huntridge Tavern

Saturday May 16 - The Psyatics at the Double Down

May 21 through 25 - Punk Rock Bowling

Thursday May 21 - El Vez with Alice Bag, the Zeros, Sean Wheeler and Los Carajos at Fremont Country Club

Friday May 22 - Green Jelly, Monster Zero, De Phobic, Pottymouth at the Dive Bar

Saturday May 23 - Television at the Bunkhouse

What have I forgotten? Lemme know

Patti Smith - M Train

I first knew of Patti through her writings for magazines like Creem and her lyrics for bands like Blue Oyster Cult well before her debut album hit the stands and thoroughly knocked me out with their mix of garage rock'n'roll and highly visual, sexually charged, psyched out poetry. While I have not collected everything of hers by any stretch, I have tried to keep up with her career and after enjoying her Just Kids book a number of years back, Melanie was good enough to include this 2015 release among my Xmas surprises.

Here, Patti talks about her everyday life, but for her every day life includes performing in concert, giving readings, talking at a convention dedicated to the man who came up with the theory of continental drift or at Frida Kahlo's house where she was allowed to handle and photograph personal belongings and recoup from her own sickness in Diego Rivera's bed (among other adventures)! Of course, many days are spent at a NYC cafe sipping coffee and writing or simply daydreaming with nights spent watching her favorite TV shows. But among it all, she refers to writers and artists that she admires and fantasizes about in her own poetic, semi-scholarly way. There are remembrances of her late husband, the great Fred "Sonic" Smith, and their lives together in Michigan intertwined with modern events back in New York. Here, her writing style is quite descriptive, focusing on details that others might find mundane and bringing in her personal recollections and touchstones to the tales. While not exactly poetry, her prose is far more than straightforward story telling and is a delight to read.

This is one of my new fave books - highly recommended! She also references enough other writers and tomes to fill up anyone's wish list - I have several on their way already!

The Swamp Gospel, the Psyatics, Scraper and Cromm Fallon and the P200 at the Double Down, Saturday Feb 15, 2020

This Dirty Rock'n'Roll Dance Party made a special appearance at the Double Down for this show from San Francisco's post-punk Scraper along with 3 locals combos.

Opening the evening, as we do, was the Swamp Gospel, slingin' our own brand of soul salvation and redemption to the masses with an added bit of snake handlin' and strychnine sippin'! A little sloppy mayhap, but the early crowd - and there was a great group of folks there early - shimmied'n'shook and partook in the preachin'. We pulled out some older numbers to mix in with our brand new tunes that we are planning on recording in a couple fo weeks. Look for us to return to the Huntridge Tavern on March 7!

(Above SG pix by Nikki Ruffling)

(above SG finale photo by Brian Moy)

I had double duty at the Double Down once again and joined in with the Psyatics for their set of psychotically-tinged, garagey/no wave, with numbers ranging from their first album through the brand new record due out in mere weeks! With both Jack and myself on wireless guitars, few were safe from the rampaging riffage and noizey mayhem. The Psyatics will return to the Double Down this Friday the 21st!

(Above Psyatics photo by Nikki Ruffling)

Touring post-punk minimalists Scraper plugged in and tore through a set of high-energy, Wire/Urinals-esque punk rock'n'roll that got the crowd up on their feet and tearin' through the club. Simple but clever songs with basic, almost Monks-like rhythms behind fast'n'furious chording meant a bar filled with happy punk rockers! Apparently, the bassist'n'drummer are sitting in for the tour, but the fit in great and really added to the sound (despite some technical issues with the bass amp). I had no idea what to expect from these cats but was pleasantly surprised and even picked up their LP (more on that when I have some time).

Closing the night was local garage rock'n'roller Cromm Fallon with his latest combo, the P200,  backing up his songs from his new Electric Bloom album. Although the emphasis is on 60's styled garage music, there are a lot of other influences as well, from shoe-gaze to psych to jangle pop (Cromm played electric 12 string for most of the set) and the band was ace throughout. Cromm is a dynamic front man - he even puts down his guitar at times to show off some vintage Jagger-isms - and the songs are strong. They got the late night crew up'n'on their feet, as well and were a great end for the evening.

Thank you to Brian Moy and his Dirty Rock'n'Roll Dance Party and to the Double Down for another eclectic night of wild rock'n'roll!

recommended gigs

Thursday Feb 13 - Tacocat, Inidgo Kid and the Negative Nancys at the Bunkhouse
Thursday Feb 13 - TV Party Tonight at the Double Down showing Blazing Saddles with live music from the Pluralses and Battering Ham

Friday Feb 14 - the Unwieldies with Big Like Texas at the Huntridge
Friday Feb 14 - Shanda and the Howlers at Sean Patrick's Pub
Friday Feb 14 - Stagnetti's Cock, Le Dominiki at Starboard Tack

Saturday Feb 15 - the Swamp Gospel, the Psyatics, Cromm Fallon and Scaper at the Double Down

Sunday Feb 16 - the Horror Pops, Franks'n'Deans and the Quakes at Fremont Country Club

Friday Feb 21 - The Psyatics with Working Class Skumbags, 24 Beers Later, the Shakes at the Double Down

Saturday Feb 22 - No Que No, Can U Not Talk, Tarah Who, the Hideaway at the Double Down

Saturday Feb 22 - Rayford Bros and Cherry Rat at the Sand Dollar

Sunday Feb 23 - Lord Dying, Sonolith, Plague Doctor at the Bunkhouse

Monday Feb 24 - the Capsouls and the Van Der Rohe at the Fremont Country Club

Thursday Feb 27 - Johnny Zig and the Force at Tiki di Amore

Friday Feb 28th - the Rhyolite Sound with the Bobby Kingston Band at Saddle'n'Spurs

Saturday Mar 7 - The Swamp Gospel with the Implosions and Fuzz Solow at the Huntridge Tavern

Saturday Mar 14 - Thor at Evel Pie
Saturday Mar 14 - Shanda and the Howlers, the Dirty Hooks, If They Love You They'll Kill You at the Sand Dollar
Saturday Mar 14 - the Souvenairs at the Golden Tiki

Tues Mar 17 - the Double Whammys at the Golden Tiki

Friday Mar 27 - The Psyatics CD release show with the Pine Hill Haints, Fuzz Solow and the Jagoffs at the Double Down

Sunday April 5 - The Hypnotiques at the Golden Tiki

Wednesday April 8 - the Delta Bombers, Cherry Rat, Lady Luck Lexy at Backstage Bar

Friday April 17 - the Unwieldies and Big Like Texas at the Huntridge Tavern

Wednesday April 22 - Jesse Daniel with the Rhyolite Sound at the Bunkhouse

Friday April 24 - The Psyatics with Fur Dixon's WTFukushima, the Implosions and VJ Atomic at the Double Down

Saturday May 9 - The Swamp Gospel at the Huntridge Tavern

Saturday May 16 - The Psyatics at the Double Down

What have I forgotten? Lemme know

The Reeves Brothers - Saddle'n'Spurs Tuesday Feb 11, 2020

A rare live music venue located in the north-west(ish) portion of Las Vegas, Saddle'n'Spurs describes itself as "Las Vegas' LAST remaining Honky Tonk Bar!" and they do their best to live up to that reputation. They have a dedicated clientele who will come out to dance the night away when they know the music is appropriate, as it was this evening. The Reeves Brothers, as I have ranted'n'raved in the past, specialize in old school Country'n'Western music, as played by their father out in Bakersfield in the old days, performed with passion and an excess of talent.

The Reeves Brothers - Matt and Cole - are both terrific guitarists who I would easily watch all night and this evening they were joined by a hot-shot peddle steel player by the name of Caleb (per their Facebook page) along with a fine drummer and long time stalwart, bassist Kelly Bishop. Combining their well-written originals with covers like "Mama Tried" or a random David Allen Coe tune, the 5 members worked together with solid rhythms backing the three guitars playing harmony lines (fantastic interplay between the three men - Caleb is an excellent addition) while both Matt and Cole took turns on lead vocals. I arrived towards the end of their first set and despite the early hour, the house was jam-packed - literally standing room only - as was the dance floor. People were definitely there to dance, as they took to the floor even during the band's intermission to two-step to some odd (to me) country/rap hybrids on the jukebox (also oddly, there seemed to be two juke boxes - one that the dancers kept plying with quarters and one by the bar that was playing classic rock like Thin Lizzy!).

While the somewhat older crowd thinned a bit as the night went on, the Brothers continued to provide amazing country entertainment up until 11:00 or so. A great night for SnS and always great to see the RB's on our side of town! Looking forward to their next record, due out in a couple of month.

Suicide - The Second Album (expanded CD)

I bought the first Suicide album when it came out, as I was doing my best to buy anything that sounded interesting from the new music scene that was happening at the time. I'm sure I had read something about the band but I don't know if I was fully prepared for the oddness of this duo. With just keyboards, drum machine and vocals, the sound did not have the buzzsaw guitar edge that I have always loved, so this would have taken a little getting used to. But Suicide did have their own brand of energy'n'madness mixed with a good dose of 50's'n'60's influences for an intriguing and somewhat frightening new force of nature'n'mechanics. Having already been playing NYC for years by the time the debut was released, there were a few more years before this, their follow up, was able to be recorded'n'released and by then I supposed they fell off of my radar and I never followed up on their career.

I have been renewing my interest in the more unique sounds of this time period and have also been reading a fascinating'n'informative book on the duo (Dream Baby Dream) and have come to realize how many releases - as Suicide as well as solo artists - these two have put out that I have not heard and I am beginning to try to rectify that omission. This sophomore effort, produced by Suicide fan Ric Ocasek of the Cars, is much, much more polished, which I sure was a nod towards commercialism, but I must say that I prefer the rawer edge of the debut. Regardless, there is plenty that is worthwhile here.

"Diamonds, Fur Coat, Champagne", as the title would suggest, is a slick nod to the then-current disco culture and a bit too glossy and not as dangerous as I prefer this band to be. But there are fine pieces of mesmerizing drones, such as the more frantically intense "Fast Money Music" and psycho-sexual sci-fi soundtrack "Harlem", as well as a bit of rockabilly influence in "Be Bop Kid" (Alan apparently did some rockabilly-ish solo work around this time with a full band that I have yet to hear), although there are a number of tracks that kinda slink by without jumpin' out at you, as the best and most abrasive Suicide tracks do. Alan tends to quietly sing throughout, rather than shriek'n'yelp. The bonus tracks include the glossy, slow-disco of their "hit" "Dream Baby Dream" (covered by Bruce Springsteen, of all people, although you can see it in a way as it does sounds like an electronica bastard son of Bruce and Lou Reed) and "Radiation", which is a bit more of a return to form with its ripoff of the "Money" riff and an impassioned vocal performance from Vega.

The 1975 rehearsal tapes, on the other hand, are quite the revelation - menacing in the best way, with its stripped-down sound, other-worldly noises (including random radio signals) and frightening vocal deliveries. Apparently, this is about as close to a Suicide live set from the time as you can get, without the audience abuse! 14 songs and all fantastically maniacal and it actually sounds pretty damn good for an ancient two-track tape!

This set is easily worth it just for the bonus CD, but the second album certainly has enough fine moments, as well. There appears to be a number of other early releases appearing that I will be searching out as this time period for the group is truly fascinating!

Dream Baby Dream - Suicide - A New York Story by Kris Needs

Suicide was/is one of the most extraordinary groups to appear in the 70's - a minimalist duo consisting of keyboards'n'drum machine and an Iggy-esque singer, they literally terrified much of the NYC scene for the decade. They are now cited as the creators of multiple genres, although their own recognition has been eclipsed by those they influenced, while always remaining completely original.

Growing up in and around NYC in the 50's, both instrumentalist Marty Rev and singer Alan Vega were fans of the emerging musical scene, especially the epically NY sound known as doo-wop. Marty was also exposed to various political and racial views by his open-minded parents and cultivated a love for jazz piano, which helped to create the later Suicide oeuvre. He studied the new jazz that was evolving in the city while Alan was fascinated with the first 2 man electronica band, the Silver Apples. They were both involved in the visual art scene - Alan was creating multi-media pieces that included sound from debris found in the streets, which he would return to the streets after his show was completed - but pretty close to simultaneously decided that they wanted to do live music and mutual friends introduced them. There were a couple of different initial line-ups and some instrumental variations but the Suicide opus, while ever developing, was essentially there from the start.

The duo was calling their music punk back in the pre-glam days of 1970 and eventually made friends of the new, ascending combos like the New York Dolls, Wayne County and the Fast, expanding their venues from places like the Mercer Art Center and local art galleries to CBGB's and especially the artier Max's Kansas City. Funnily, Needs mentions a review that Thurston Moore did in Gizmos-related Gulcher fanzine back in the day that Alan still objects to! But, the band was, finally, getting some recognition, even while many still couldn't comprehend their sound - even among the punks. Oddly, to me anyway, Rev embraces disco (and later rap/hip-hop, etc.) as a viable, vibrant new musical style as opposed to the soulless, corporate genre that most musicians think of it, and its drum machine rhythms even influence his work as they prepared to finally cut their first album.

As with most radical artists, they went through some extreme highs and lows - sometimes within hours apart - until their fan Ric Ocasek of the Cars produced their "Dream Baby Dream" - a super slick, quite tame ballad that, while it had a basic Suicide sound, had none of the previous furious fire'n'ferocity. Their product has varied since then, with increasing polish clashing with furious intensity and each of their solo works have seen the variety of influences that have sparked their imaginations. Suicide has continued to perform even after Vega had a combined heart attack and stroke, with the men working to break boundaries and mutant their previous work.

Needs does a fine job with the tale, bringing plenty of detail without any lurid gossip, although leaving open some questions like how did they survive financially during their early years before they started to receive some notoriety and acclaim. In any case, it is an engaging tale of a duo of true artists who continue to expand perceptions of what music can be. A fine book about an incredible duo.

The Swamp Gospel, the Psyatics, the Sheiks of Neptune at the House of Blues, Thursday, Feb 6, 2020

(Photo by Angee Rib)

Local hep-cat promoter-about-town Patrick "Pulsar" Trout is now working at the House Of Blues here in Las Vegas and has started a new series, the All In Showcase, that (mostly) focuses on local bands, giving us a large venue to rant'n'rave in. This evening was the second in the series, with 5 local combos supporting touring Texan act, the Heroine.

As usual, the Swamp Gospel opened up the night with our brand of rock'n'roll salvation. We were pleasantly surprised to find more people in the hall than we had initially expected, as we started at 6:30 on a Thursday eve, so our hopes were not high. But, there were friendly faces filling up the floor (and the Sheiks were kindly supportive and right up front) who were willing to get into the (holy) spirit and join in on the rockin' redemption. Our half hour set co-mingled old'n'new tunes, a bit of preachin' and even a bit of snake handlin'! A soul-savin' good time was had by all!

(above SG pix by NIkki Ruffling) 

(SG pic by Jessie Moinichen)

I did double duty by also playing guitar with the Psyatics for the evening as we went through an energetic set of old'n'new, as well, with several numbers from our upcoming album, Devil You Know. We blasted through our set quickly enough (despite some technical difficulties when Rob unplugged himself while fruggin' to the beat) that we were even able to add our traditional closer, "Gentlemen of Four Outs", in order to close the set with an appropriately crazed noize fest in which Mark pummeled the house drum kit and original guitarist Jack apparently broke a finger! The sacrifices we make for rock'n'roll!

(Psyatics pix by Nikki Ruffling)

The 6 piece Sheiks of Neptune never fail to entertain, with crazed front man Dick Vain's antics, costumes and toys backed by ace musicians - two terrific guitarists, a stellar drummer, pulsatin' bassist and a rockin' violinist! The high energy musical interaction is sometimes almost too much to follow as riffs fly back'n'forth, the beat starts'n'stops, harmonics jump in'n'out and somehow Vain keeps a melody on top of it all while flailin' about non-stop and changing costumes (he came out in a full astronaut outfit) mid-song! Balloons flew, musicians jumped in the audience (no easy feat at the HOB!), fans sang along and smiles were on everyone's faces! The Sheiks are a multi-media spectacle - be sure to see them whenever you can!

 

The Sheiks definitely had the audience of the night, as the place was filled with their fanatical fans who, unfortunately for the following groups, mostly left after their set. We caught a bit of the alt-rock/ grunge-pop of the People's Whiskey before the Thursday night caught up with us and we had to split for some sleep before the next day's work.

A huge thank you again to Pulsar for taking a chance on local acts and letting them get weird at the House of Blues! Hopefully, this experiment will continue to give groups an large, all-ages venue!

recommended gigs

Thursday Feb 6 - The Swamp Gospel, The Psyatics, The People's Whiskey, the Heroine, Mojave Sun and Sheiks of Neptune at the House of Blues

Friday Feb 7 - the Yardbirds at the Golden Nugget

Saturday Feb 8 - the Unwieldies at the Dillinger

Tues Feb 11 - the Reeves Brothers at Saddle'n'Spurs
Tues Feb 11 - the Double Whammys at the Golden Tiki

Wednesday Feb 12 - Johnny Zig and the Force at the Double Down

Thursday Feb 13 - Tacocat, Inidgo Kid and the Negative Nancys at the Bunkhouse
Thursday Feb 13 - TV Party Tonight at the Double Down showing Blazing Saddles with live music from the Pluralses and Battering Ham

Friday Feb 14 - the Unwieldies with Big Like Texas at the Huntridge
Friday Feb 14 - Shanda and the Howlers at Sean Patrick's Pub
Friday Feb 14 - Stagnetti's Cock, Le Dominiki at Starboard Tack

Saturday Feb 15 - the Swamp Gospel, the Psyatics, Cromm Fallon and Scaper at the Double Down

Sunday Feb 16 - the Horror Pops, Franks'n'Deans and the Quakes at Fremont Country Club

Friday Feb 21 - The Psyatics at the Double Down

Saturday Feb 22 - Rayford Bros and Cherry Rat at the Sand Dollar

Sunday Feb 23 - Lord Dying, Sonolith, Plague Doctor at the Bunkhouse

Monday Feb 24 - the Capsouls and the Van Der Rohe at the Fremont Country Club

Friday Feb 28th - the Rhyolite Sound with the Bobby Kingston Band at Saddle'n'Spurs

Saturday Mar 7 - The Swamp Gospel with the Implosions and Fuzz Solow at the Huntridge Tavern

Saturday Mar 14 - Thor at Evel Pie
Saturday Mar 14 - Shanda and the Howlers, the Dirty Hooks, If They Love You They'll Kill You at the Sand Dollar
Saturday Mar 14 - the Souvenairs at the Golden Tiki

Tues Mar 17 - the Double Whammys at the Golden Tiki

Friday Mar 27 - The Psyatics CD release show with the Pine Hill Haints, Fuzz Solow and the Jagoffs at the Double Down

Wednesday April 8 - the Delta Bombers, Cherry Rat, Lady Luck Lexy at Backstage Bar

Wednesday April 22 - Jesse Daniel with the Rhyolite Sound at the Bunkhouse

Friday April 24 - The Psyatics with Fur Dixon's WTFukushima, the Implosions and VJ Atomic at the Double Down

Saturday May 9 - The Swamp Gospel at the Huntridge Tavern

Saturday May 16 - The Psyatics at the Double Down

What have I forgotten? Lemme know

RIP Ivan Kral

Ivan Kral of Patti Smith Band Dies Aged 71 
---
So sad to hear. I loved the Patti Smith Band and got to see them a few times in the late 70's. Ivan's contributions were major.

The Hypnotiques at the Golden Tiki Saturday Feb 1, 2020

The Hypnotiques are a true Vegas phenomenon - a combination lounge act/ jazz band/ surf combo/ and a bit of whatever else tickles their fancy in a tight knit group of superior musicians that fit in perfectly for place like the Golden Tiki. Fronted by the Hawaiian chanteuse Kitty Chow on vocals and ukulele, she is joined by excellent guitarist Brent, stand up bassist Robert and drummer-about-town Clay Heximer. While the sound remains consistent, they will move from traditional Hawaiian tunes to Bobby Darin to Doo Wop (a Vegas lounge version of "I Only Have Eyes For You") to Jazz, surf and even a bit of old school Western (they even cover a Maddox Brothers number). The Golden Tiki was packed on this Saturday night, although much of the crowd considers the live entertainment to be background music (a mistake on their part, in my opinion), but Kitty does her best to interact with the audience and they certainly won over new converts. Check them out for fun, lounge-y coolness!