recommended gigs

 Thursday 10-28-21 - Agent Orange at the Dive Bar

Friday 10-29-21 - The Psyatics at the Double Down with the Laissez Fairs and Kilfeather

Saturday 10-30-21 - Monster Zero, Dr. Phobic and the Phobic-Tones, the Nuclear Undead, Santa Muerte at the Double Down Saloon for the Zombie Prom

Saturday 10-30-21 - Thee Swank Bastards, the Implosions and the Riflemen at the Bullfrog Biennial at 6:00 pm in Rhyolite, NV

Monday 11-1-21 - The schizophonics, Cromm Fallon and the P200 and the Implosions at the Double Down, presented by Dirty Rock'n'Roll Dance Party

Wednesday 11-3-21 = Franks'n'Deans Weenie Roast with Dr Phobic and the Phobic-Tones at the Double Down

Friday 11-5-21 - Thee Hypnotiques at the Golden Tiki

Friday 11-5-21 - Metalachi Nuclear Undead, Los Carajos at the Space LV

Saturday 11-6-21 - Dirty R'n'R Dance Party Presents Triptides, Trevor and the Jonses, Desert Island Boys, Poets of Mydnight at the Usual Place

Saturday 11-6-21 - The New Waves at the Golden Tiki

Monday 11-8-21 - Teenage Bottle Rocket with the Last Gang, Jerk! and Tightwire at the Dive Bar

Friday 11-12-21 - Shanda and the Howlers at the Golden Tiki

Saturday 11-13-21 - the Meteors at the Dive Bar

Tuesday 11-16-21 - The Rhyolite Sound with Dallas Moore at Soul Belly

Friday 11-19-21 - The Double Whammys at the Golden Tiki

Saturday 11-20-21 - Dirty R'n'R Dance Party presents Mystic Braves, David Turel, Laissez Fairs at Artifice

Friday 11-26-21 - the Souvenairs at the Golden Tiki

Friday 12-3-21 - Dirty R'n'R Dance Party presents Cheap Tissue, Cromm Fallon P200 and Rhythm Ace and the Nu-Tones at the Usual Place

Friday 12-3-21 - Thee Hypnotiques at the Golden Tiki

The Unwieldies at the Las Vegas Book Festival at the 5th Street School, Saturday Oct 23, 3021

 

Of course, I have ranted'n'raved about Las Vegas' favorite acoustic act, The Unwieldies, innumerable times on this here blog and it was great to have a chance to finally see them live again - the first time since the inception of the pandemic! (Really, folks, mask up'n'vax up so we can get past this plague already!)

While most of the songs performed today were from their excellent CD's, I believe there were a couple of new tunes about love'n'loss amongst covers like "Billy Jean", Elvis Costello's heartfelt song about aging and Alzheimer's, "Veronica", and Leonard Cohen's lovely "Everybody Knows" with its appropo line "everybody knows the plague is coming", and a "song about death but with a happy ending" (as Rob introduced it), The Pine Hill Haints' "Never Gonna Die". 

Original highlights included their harmony driven "It's Not Me, It's You", "The Have and Have Nots", "Star Struck", and plenty more. Nicely clever arrangements abound, Danielle's voice is always a sweet pleasure and she compliments Rob's more raw'n'earthy vocalizing, while Richard's dobro and Jack's violin add extra layers of melodic goodness.

Hopefully, we're going to soon get to a point where we can back to some kind of normalcy and we can catch quality live acts like this on a regular basis again. Thanks to the Unwieldies for getting out there again!

recommended gigs

 Friday 10-22-21 - Shanda and the Howlers at Soul Belly

Saturday 10-23-21 - Thee Hypnotiques at the Charleston Antique Mall - 1:00 in the afternoon!

Saturday 10-23-21 - the Unwieldies at the 5th Street School at 12:00 pm!

Saturday 10-23-21 - the Souvenairs at the Golden Tiki

Monday 10-25-21 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Thursday 10-28-21 - Agent Orange at the Dive Bar

Friday 10-29-21 - The Psyatics at the Double Down with the Laissez Fairs and Kilfeather

Saturday 10-30-21 - Monster Zero, Dr. Phobic and the Phobic-Tones, the Nuclear Undead, Santa Muerte at the Double Down Saloon for the Zombie Prom

Saturday 10-30-21 - Thee Swank Bastards, the Implosions and the Riflemen at the Bullfrog Biennial at 6:00 pm in Rhyolite, NV

Monday 11-1-21 - The schizophonics, Cromm Fallon and the P200 and the Implosions at the Double Down, presented by Dirty Rock'n'Roll Dance Party

Wednesday 11-3-21 = Franks'n'Deans Weenie Roast with Dr Phobic and the Phobic-Tones at the Double Down

Friday 11-5-21 - Thee Hypnotiques at the Golden Tiki

Saturday 11-6-21 - Dirty R'n'R Dance Party Presents Triptides, Trevor and the Jonses, Desert Island Boys, Poets of Mydnight at the Usual Place

Saturday 11-13-21 - the Meteors at the Dive Bar

Tuesday 11-16-21 - The Rhyolite Sound with Dallas Moore at Soul Belly

Saturday 11-20-21 - Dirty R'n'R Dance Party presents Mystic Braves, David Turel, Laissez Fairs at Artifice

Friday 11-26-21 - the Souvenairs at the Golden Tiki

Friday 12-3-21 - Dirty R'n'R Dance Party presents Cheap Tissue, Cromm Fallon P200 and Rhythm Ace and the Nu-Tones at the Usual Place

Cruel to be Kind - The Life and Music of Nick Lowe by Will Birch

 

As with many people, I discovered Nick Lowe from his Pure Pop For Now People debut solo album and his work with the fab Stiff Records (including producing the Damned's amazing debut album) and have appreciated his career since, although I have never known much about the man, which Will Birch wanted to rectify with this book.

Being the son of a serviceman, Nick moved around quite a bit as a child - some of his father's exploits are pretty impressive - but he had an early love for music and his first instrument was a banjolele! Of course, with the advent of skiffle along with instrumental bands like the Shadows, his tastes grew into rock'n'roll quickly, alongside the rest of the country. After a few bands that did nothing, he hooked up with some new mates, including one by the unlikely name of Brinsley Schwarz, and started playing a bit more seriously.

Tidbits abound, such as NIck's prodigious use of acid, how the band was influenced by an American group that started playing in a local pub to kill time and thus helped start the British "pub rock" scene and how Dr. Feelgood came onto the scene with youth'n'power and made the old pub rock groups irrelevant. Eventually Schwarz disbanded and Nick's manager, Jack Rivera, started Stiff Records ("if it ain't Stiff, it ain't worth a fuck!") and Nick became involved in the burgeoning punk rock/new wave scene. Dave Edmunds appeared on the scene, as well, and after signing with Led Zep's Swan Song Records, began a mutually beneficiary relationship, including the fantastic combo, Rockpile.

Of course, Lowe's career is primarily as a solo artist and producer, and he has had many ups'n'downs over the years, some big financial success (as when a cover of "Peace, Love and Understanding" appeared on The Bodyguard's multi-million selling soundtrack), and lots of lean times, although often accompanied by critical acclaim. He worked with many collaborators, from the famous, such as Ry Cooder, to the unlikely, such as Los Straitjackets, and many others, and often toured as a solo act, to cut costs and to challenge himself. Having reinvented himself as a cult artist, he continues to survive off of his royalties and occasional shows - gigging when he wants and with whom he wants. Not a bad way to live, if you ask me!

Author Will Birch has an impressive resume - he was a member of the power pop masters, the Records, a producer of many hip band, including Dr. Feelgood, Rockpile's Billy Bremmer and the Long Ryders (!), and he co-wrote "A-1 on the Jukebox" with Dave Edmunds! And he has known Nick since the 70's, giving him an intimate viewpoint for his fine story telling. He does a fine job on his subject and keeps the book reasonably riveting throughout although, as usual for me, the 60's and 70's are the most interesting parts of Nick's career. Definitely one for the fans and those who want to learn more about this multitalented geezer!

recommended gigs

 Thursday 10-14-21 - TV Party Tonight showing Death Proof with live music by the Negative Nancys at the Double Down

Friday 10-15-21 - the Double Whammys at the Golden Tiki

Saturday 10-16-21 - Thee Swank Bastards, Stagnetti's Cock, the Rhumones at the Double Down

Saturday 10-16-21 - Shanda and the Howlers at the Sand Dollar

Monday 10-18-21 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Friday 10-22-21 - Shanda and the Howlers at Soul Belly

Saturday 10-23-21 - Thee Hypnotiques at the Charleston Antique Mall - 1:00 in the afternoon!

Saturday 10-23-21 - the Unwieldies at the 5th Street School at 12:00 pm!

Monday 10-25-21 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Thursday 10-28-21 - Agent Orange at the Dive Bar

Friday 10-29-21 - The Psyatics at the Double Down with the Laissez Fairs and Kilfeather

Saturday 10-30-21 - Monster Zero, Dr. Phobic and the Phobic-Tones, the Nuclear Undead, Santa Muerte at the Double Down Saloon for the Zombie Prom

Saturday 10-30-21 - Thee Swank Bastards, the Implosions and the Riflemen at the Bullfrog Biennial at 6:00 pm in Rhyolite, NV

Monday 11-1-21 - The schizophonics, Cromm Fallon and the P200 and the Implosions at the Double Down, presented by Dirty Rock'n'Roll Dance Party

Wednesday 11-3-21 = Franks'n'Deans Weenie Roast with Dr Phobic and the Phobic-Tones at the Double Down

Friday 11-5-21 - Thee Hypnotiques at the Golden Tiki

Saturday 11-6-21 - Dirty R'n'R Dance Party Presents Triptides, Trevor and the Jonses, Desert Island Boys, Poets of Mydnight at the Usual Place

Saturday 11-13-21 - the Meteors at the Dive Bar

Tuesday 11-16-21 - The Rhyolite Sound with Dallas Moore at Soul Belly

Friday 12-3-21 - Dirty R'n'R Dance Party presents Cheap Tissue, Cromm Fallon P200 and Rhythm Ace and the Nu-Tones at the Usual Place

The Devil Makes Three

 My pal Rob just turned me on to this acoustic combo who, once again, has essentially no information on their FB page or website, so I can't tell you anything about them other than what they sound like, which is a melodic, harmony driven trio playing various acoustic instruments in the manner of Las Vegas acts like the All Togethers and the Unwieldies, or Virginia's Gallows Bound, or even a (far) less demonic Bridge City Sinners. 

Things start off with a bouncy, quick-paced pirate-themed tune about "The Plank", that highlights their fine use of harmonies, followed by a quiet, finger-picked, cleverly melodic ode to alcoholism, cheerily titled "Graveyard", then the chunky-rhythmed "Beneath the Piano", once again, relating the troubles of tippling, while "Ten Feet Tall" is purely foolish bravado but with some melodic finger pickin', and once again, drink takes front'n'center in the happy-go-lucky "Shades", this time the need for them while day drinking (nicely sung with cool harmonies, though, with a hip, old-timey feel). "Old Number Seven" is an homage to Jack Daniels (I'm sensing a theme here!) and its amnesia-inducing properties, "Chained to the Couch" has more purty pickin' as the singer tells a tale of livin' his life in recline, more staccato rhythms accent "To the Hilt", "The Bullet" is a fast-paced, truly catchy paean to the end of our worldly sufferin', and the closer for the original record sounds like a honestly heart-felt song "For My Family" that kinda reminds me melodically of a Red Hot Chili Peppers ballad, of all things, although I have no idea which one came first!

This CD has four bonus tracks though, beginning with "Nobody's Dirty Business", which is essentially an bluegrass/hillbilly update (backdate?) of the old tune "Ain't Nobody's Business If I Do", while "Dynamite" is a peppy, well written tune that has a fine, memorable melody and terrific harmonies, the live "Fun Has Just Begun" is almost circus-like in a demented way and the finale, "Oceans Cold", also cut live, is another quick moving crowd pleaser.

Kinda hard to describe these folks if you don't know the bands I listed above - kinda Americana, kinda 20's/30's-ish, kinda country, kinda hillbilly jazz, but all totally hip'n'cool, with great songwriting and vocalizing. Recommended! 

Chrissie Hynde - Reckless, My Life as a Pretender

 

Like everyone else, I first discovered Hynde and the Pretenders when their debut album exploded onto the scene as a smash hit, complete with Top 20 singles. I thought that record was pretty great, but I didn't really stick with them over the years and while Hynde would be on the musical radar now'n'again, I didn't follow her career in detail. But, I respected what she did and loved the fact that she was from Akron and then moved to London for the beginning of the punk scene there, so I knew that she had stories to tell!

Here, her memories'n'impressions are jumbled, random and not necessarily chronological but then so were the times. She does elicit a strong feeling of the 60”s even if it might not be exactly true - or maybe it’s just the acid’s version of truth. She was engrossed, enthralled and immersed with music, to the exclusion of pretty much everything else - including boys, for a time - except getting high. She was never much for schoolwork but went to Kent State - and was present during the massacre there - while listening to records, getting high, watching local bands like the James Gang (!) and doing her best to have a good time and not worry too terribly much about the future.

She sees lots of amazing groups, travels as much as possible (even briefly staying in both Canada and Mexico), and relies on the kindness of strangers, which often, but certainly not always, ends in frightening ways. To get away from it all she took a chance and without any real plan, moved to London - a fortuitous move, as it turned out. She fell into the right crowds fairly quickly - stumbling into Nick Kent at a party, began writing for NME, then worked for Let It Rock and then headed to Paris!

More traveling ensued, including a depressing trip back to America, before returning to London and, after a few abortive attempts with various musicians (including playing guitar in a pre-Brian James Damned), the Pretenders were formed - named after the doo wop number, "The Great Pretender". Fame'n'fortune came fast'n'furious, with its highs'n'lows, including hooking up with Ray Davies (and, incidentally, Iggy Pop!), among many other adventures. Drugs'n'alcohol were used'n'abused in the extreme, and, after two successful albums and world tours, both her guitarist and bassist died of overdoses. Too much, too soon, indeed - even Johnny Thunders, of all people, warned her about her lifestyle!

She leaves us there, with a postscript saying that she continues to make music, she has a family, although she remains single, and she finds her happiness where she can, as is the best any of us can say.

As I said, this starts off a little jumbled, mostly just impressions, but she ends up with a fairly coherent storyline, although some of the worst situations are left fairly vague. But still, despite her abuse of drink'n'drugs, which causes the problems that she has, she lives a fairly extraordinary life, and I always love hearing from those who truly experiences the best of the 60's and the 70's. Not particularly light hearted, but enjoyable, none-the-less. Certainly recommended. 

recommended gigs

 Friday 10-8-21 - the Dickies with the Queers and the Sheiks of Neptune at the Dive Bar

Friday 10-8-21 - the Souvenairs at Tiki di Amore

Saturday 10-9-21 - the Double Whammys at Taverna Costera

Saturday 10-9-21 - daytime LV Blues Society Jam at Soul Belly

Saturday 10-9-21 - daytime - Thee Swank Bastards at Atomic Motors

Monday 10-11-21 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Thursday 10-14-21 - TV Party Tonight showing Death Proof with live music by the Negative Nancys at the Double Down

Friday 10-15-21 - the Double Whammys at the Golden Tiki

Saturday 10-16-21 - Thee Swank Bastards, Stagnetti's Cock, the Rhumones at the Double Down

Saturday 10-16-21 - Shanda and the Howlers at the Sand Dollar

Monday 10-18-21 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Saturday 10-23-21 - Thee Hypnotiques at the Charleston Antique Mall - 1:00 in the afternoon!

Monday 10-25-21 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Thursday 10-28-21 - Agent Orange at the Dive Bar

Friday 10-29-21 - The Psyatics at the Double Down with the Laissez Fairs and Kilfeather

Saturday 10-30-21 - Monster Zero, Dr. Phobic and the Phobic-Tones, the Nuclear Undead, Santa Muerte at the Double Down Saloon for the Zombie Prom

Saturday 10-30-21 - Thee Swank Bastards, the Implosions and the Riflemen at the Bullfrog Biennial at 6:00 pm in Rhyolite, NV

Monday 11-1-21 - The schizophonics, Cromm Fallon and the P200 and the Implosions at the Double Down, presented by Dirty Rock'n'Roll Dance Party

Friday 11-5-21 - Thee Hypnotiques at the Golden Tiki

Friday 12-3-21 - Dirty R'n'R Dance Party presents Cheap Tissue, Cromm Fallon P200 and Rhythm Ace and the Nu-Tones at the Usual Place

Friday 12-3-21 - Thee Hypnotiques at the Golden Tiki

The Writhers - In One Gulp

 This is last year's release by the Writhers (i realized that Ghastly Reminders was recorded in 2019) and this one has the same essential features as the previous - including more hip artwork - but it also appears to be a concept record opening with "Devilmask Approaches" and closing with "Devilmask Defeated?", so maybe the "good guys" win?

Appropriately, it starts off with some sorta Misfits-ish punk rock mixed with Goth/punk that segues into 70's-styled, Damned-like (or is it Vom that I'm hearing?!) chant-along punk rock for "Rot Rot Rot", then a tale of UFO's in the accordion-led, call'n'answer punk of "What Is That?", there's some really clever rhythm'n'timing in "Pulp" (wherein lies the title "i'm going to eat you In One Gulp!") and, again, the accordion gives it a unique sound, "Cold Day" once more reminds me a bit of the Damned for some reason (maybe cuz I was just listening to them?!) but with plenty of other influences, as well, and the finale is a bit cinematic in its Gothic-ness as is reveals that the narrator has survived being swallowed alive before being able to recount that "Devilmask is defeated"!

The sound is really well done throughout, polished but without losing its edge. I do think that there is a progression in sound and songwriting, as well as performances, from the previous record and all for the better. Glad I picked this up!

The Writhers - Ghastly Reminders

 I caught the Writhers at the end of the night at the Double Down this past Friday and had a fun time during their set, but due to the lateness of the hour and the ingestion of liquid intoxicants, I could not really give a coherent review of their sound, other than that it was energetic punk rock with a bit of visual style and flair. I picked up two of their CD's to give a more well-rounded listen and I believe that this is the earlier one (chronologically) and it is nicely packaged with hip artwork by their singer, Robert Writhe.

Opening with a touch of mournful accordion, the opening "Pink Twilight" is a dramatic, cinematic horror theme that moves into "Down My Spine" that has driving bass (Iggy Death Ripper) and drums (Rikk R Treat) plus wiry guitar sounding somewhat like a cross between Wire and the Dead Kennedys, with spooky vocals. "Kill the Monster" is more pure punk rock with Robert as the monster that the world will not accept while "I Like To Leave Marks" is an ode to sado/masochism (or is it vampirism? It's a bit vague) done in a semi-lounge-singer/gothic style that picks up in a heavier mode about halfway through. The finale, "Point Pleasant 1966", is a bit of garage/horror-movie/punk rock'n'roll with buzzsaw guitars (courtesy of Chewy Morsel) that ends all too quickly - as it did for the protagonist's girlfriend in the song!

Somewhat silly, but enjoyable'n'thematic punk rock'n'roll. Definitely a band to experience live!

Prophet Greene, The Psyatics, The Holy Smokes, the Writhers at the Double Down, Friday Oct 1. 2021

Live shows are still a little weird here in Vegas, at least for me, but I ended up doing double duty at the Double Down on Friday for a super fun show with our pals the Holy Smokes and, added on later, San Diego's The Writhers.

I started the night off in my Prophet Greene guise, running through my interpretations of old blues songs, ala Howlin' Wolf, John Lee Hooker, Robert Johnson, Willie Dixon and more. This was my first time doing this set at the DD and with my "regular" guitar amp, so my not-always-so-trusty drum-machine-pedal had a hard time keeping up with the volume and I had to make several adjustments, but I'm told it worked out in the end. I'm still shakey in this persona, but it is fun to try something different and I appreciate the chance to appear at the DD!

(Prophet photos by Ron Hudy and Nikki Ruffling, respectively - thanks you two!)

Of course, I couldn't take any photos of the Psyatics, but we had a super fun set - we all thought it was our best since coming back from Covid - with good stage sound and with a mix of some brand new songs along with those from our last album (Devil You Know) and some older numbers. There was a good crowd of appreciative rock'n'rollers throughout our set - we always appreciate the feedback! We will return to the DD on Friday Oct 29, so come on back, everyone!

One of my fave local bands, who unfortunately, do not play all too often, is the reformed Holy Smokes. With their unique mix of garage and blues, they are a good time, rockin' party band with great musicians - Luke from the Howlers on bass'n'vocals, Jeffrey on wailin' harp'n'vocals, Joel tearin' up his Tele and Turbo poundin' out the backbeat. The set mixed songs from their two CD's with what sounded to me like brand new originals and hip covers like Bo Diddley's (by way of the NY Dolls) "Pills". Always love seeing these cats - hope they do more soon!

I was having a bit too much of a good time by the time the Writhers hit the stage and didn't take any notes (but I did buy their two CD's, so more on those later) but had a good time with their crazy high energy show, visual hi jinx, accordion, dramatic presentation and somehow I ended up wearing a dunce cap with them! Fun stuff!

Once again, sorry that my phone takes such lousy pix in low lights (guess I need to remember to set the flash sometimes, especially as the DD seems darker than ever lately), but thanks to the DD and all the bands for a great time on a Friday night!

The Last Man - Mary Shelley

 

Of course, like any horror fan of my age, the Frankenstein tale and, naturally, the classic movie, has always resonated with me. Having seen the movie before reading the book - the same as with Dracula - the film is my preferred version, but the novel is a part of my life, as well. I never did explore any of Shelley's other works so when I discovered this, a dystopian, pandemic-themed story, I was interested in finding out how she would tackle this theme.

Interestingly, the story is set in the future - later this century, in fact - but there is little in the narrative that alludes to any time other than Shelley's period. They travel by horses - occasionally by hot air balloon, the one concession to a different future - and live in castles and battle with swords. It's somewhat odd that the woman with the imagination to create Frankenstein's monster could not contemplate any type of future innovations. This combined with her old fashioned dialect does not lend itself to futuristic fantasies.

On top of this, half way through the book there is still no indication of the plague that is the basis for the tale. The story is basically a soap opera of relationships - not bad in any way, but again, not the "advertised" story line. By the second "volume" of the book the plague is introduced, along with increasing weather disruptions - shades of climate change! Funnily, in this fantasy, the wealthy work hard - literally they help till the land - to help those in need in the times of pestilence with food and shelter, unlike our current times. Of course, as the ravages continue, times are increasingly harder - although food continues to be plentiful due to the decrease in population - and the survivors try to decide what is a proper course of action, if any. The plague continues to run its course until there is only one, 'the last man".

Certainly a compelling theme and Shelley brings up some intriguing points throughout the story (when there are only a handful of people left, it actually doesn't sound so bad to be able to travel with your friends wherever you want, to have plentiful food and to be able to sleep in palaces and enjoy works of art at your leisure), but again, the antiquated language tends to make the reading slow and the futuristic setting was essentially unnecessary.