recommended gigs

Thursday Oct 18 - the Psyatics, the Jagoffs, El Escapado (from Nashville), No Loves (also from TN) at Evel Pie

Saturday Oct 20 - Billy Strings with the All Togethers and the Riflemen at the Bunkhouse
Saturday Oct 20 - Zombie Walk at Boulder Damn Brewing Co with the Implosions, No Que No, Water Landing and the New Waves

Sunday Oct 21 - LV Blues Festival at 6300 W. Tropical Pkwy with Rick Estrin, Shanda and the Howlers and plenty more!

Friday Oct 26 - Negative Nancys, the Bitters, the Pluralses, Cromm Fallon at the Double Down
Friday Oct 26 - Sheiks of Neptune, Gold Steps, Till I Fall, Jesse Pino at Evel Pie

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

Sunday Oct 28 - Duane Mark and WT NEwton at the Huntridge

Wednesday Oct 31 - Nekromantix, Messer Chups, Los Carajos at the Fremont Country Club

Friday Nov 2 - the Rayford Bros at Clark County Library
Friday Nov 2 - the Meteors at the Beauty Bar
Friday Nov 2 - the New Waves at the Golden Tiki

Saturday Nov 3 - the New Waves live band karaoke at the Mint for Bikes 4 Brats
Saturday Nov 3 - The Dickies and Monster Zero at 172 at the Rio

Thursday Nov 15 - Southern Culture on the Skids at the Bunkhouse
Thursday Nov 15 - Downtown Brown, Thee Swank Bastards, the Bitters at the Double Down

Friday Nov 16 - Billy Gibbons (solo) at Brooklyn Bowl
Friday Nov 16 - The Psyatics, North by North, the New Waves, Cromm Fallon at the Starboard Tack

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

Wednesday Nov 21 - Delta Bombers, Shanda and the Howlers, Cherry Rat at the Beauty Bar

Friday Nov 30 - the New Waves at the Golden Tiki
Friday Nov 30 - 68 (the band) with The Devil Wears Prada and Fit For a King at Vinyl

Saturday Dec 1 - the return of the Holy Smokes with The Swamp Gospel  and No Que No at the Double Down

Friday Dec 14 - the Rhyolite Sound and the All Togethers with Paige Overton at 172 at the Rio

Mon Dec 31 - Tenacious D at the Joint at the Hard Rock

Wednesday Jan 16 - Mustard Plug and the Phenomenauts at the Beauty Bar

Jan 17,18,19,24,25,26 and Feb 7,8,9 - Puddles Pity Party at Cleopatra's Barge at Caesar's Palace

What have I forgotten? Lemme know

RIP Kat Arthur of Legal Weapon

The Death of Innocence: Legal Weapon’s Kat Arthur Passes Away 
---

Haunted Halloween Cruise on the William D Evans paddle boat at the Bahai Resort Hotel, Saturday Oct 13, 2018

Since we came to town for the amazing Jackets/Schizophonics/Loon show on Friday night, we decided to spend the weekend in SD and my amazing wife found this wacky diversion for our Saturday. Put on by the Six String Society, this cruise was a combination of live rock'n'roll music, dancin', drinkin' and costumed mania!

Neither of us had ever taken a paddle boat ride through the SD harbor, so, although we skipped the earlier dinner, we got in line early to catch these festivities. The cruise itself lasted 4 hours, with bands playing simultaneously on two floors, with the top, third level set aside for getting some air, resting your weary bones and watching the San Diego skyline go by.

Four bands played 100 minutes sets throughout the cruise, with opening slots by Casey Hensley, a soul/blues-belter (kinda reminded us a bit of Shanda and the Howlers), who dressed like Jessica Rabbit and was constantly in danger of falling out of her dress! Her backing band was made up of hot-shot players, including an excellent female guitarist and, at times, a wailin' sax player. Fun stuff!

At the same time as Casey, in the smaller, 1st floor room, was the turbaned Farmers (an offshoot of the Beat Farmers was our guess?), who got the packed room twistin'n'boogalooin' to a great set of 60's garage rock. Solid players all around and a really fun list of songs, with obvious numbers like the singalong "Gloria" mixed in with more obscurities and even some blues-y groovers, when they brought up a female friend to belt out a tune or two.

The masked marauders, the Creepy Creeps have their own brand of garage/frat rock in the style of the Mummies (without being quite as sloppy and aggressive as the bandaged ones), with a wild stage act that includes a coffin-enclosed keyboard being thrown around the stage while being played. Their scantily-clad go-go dancers enticed the gentlemen in the crowd while the band took turns berating the audience and rockin' the crowd!

Back upstairs were the Sleepwalkers, who performed a set of somewhat traditional Mexican standards with a rock'n'roll edge. The stand-up bass and reverbed guitar gave a rockabilly/blues feel to the proceedings, while the wailin' sax added some r'n'b flavor and the drums rocked it all up. The singer was perfect for the job and added percussion on top of the tunes. Really well done, tight, and fun and the room was packed with dancers for their entire time on stage!

This was a truly fun'n'different event that got everyone into the Halloween spirit early. Unfortunately, since we came from Vegas, we didn't bring costumes, although it seemed like some of the tourists staying at the Bahai thought we were in costume anyway! In any case, I understand that this was the first Halloween cruise and it certainly seemed like a swingin' success! Hopefully, they will do more!

The Jackets, the Schizophonics and the Loons at the Soda Bar, San Diego, Friday Oct 12, 2018

When we heard that our pals and fave current band, the Jackets, were once again coming to America from Switzerland, we knew we had to check 'em out again. When we found out that they were playing with equally stunning groups the Schizophonics and the Loons, we made the trek to San Diego for a fab night of garage-laden rock'n'roll!

We got into town with enough time to relax a bit at our great air b'n'b, then have some excellent Thai food in University Heights and off to the Soda Bar! Got there as the bands were just arriving and chatted a bit with everyone until the Loons hit the stage.

Led by SD legend Mike Stax (Crawdaddies, Tell Tale Hearts, Ugly Things zine and much more) and his lovely wife Anja (Diaboliks, Thee Cherylinas, Ugly Things and more) along with superb guitarists Marc and Chris and drivin' drummer Mike, they put plenty of power into their brand of psych rock and got the crowd up front right from the start. Live, they are more hard rockin' than their fine records, with excellent vocal harmonies, dual lead guitars (with tasteful use of effects, including a hip organ simulator) rollin' bass lines and punchy drumming. They songs were pulled from their various albums, as well as a new upcoming 45 and covers from the Chocolate Watchband and the Damned! Amazing start to the night!

We first saw the Schizophonics 3 years ago at a Tiki Oasis room party and were totally knocked out by their brand of garage rock'n'soul and by the insane live show, particularly frontman/guitarist/ vocalist Pat who can't stand still for a second while on stage and is constantly dancin'n'flailin' about like a cross between James Brown and Jimi Hendrix all while singing lead and playing lead guitar! I've seen him a number of times now and still can't quite comprehend how he does it all! I love how he can put his guitar down just long enough to do a dance step and some splits and pick it up again right on the beat! But, he is not just all show - he plays some mean guitar and has a terrific, soulful voice. His lovely wife, Lety (also of the Rosalyns and others), is the powerhouse drummer, and they have gone through a variety of bassists, and I'm afraid that I did not catch the name of the cat who provided the low end this evening, although he was great with them. From the opening "Black to Comm" to the crazed finale, they roared through a set of non-stop rock action with superior originals and hip covers. They are difficult to photograph do to the incessant motion, but I caught some pauses in the mania!

All the way from Bern, Switzerland, the Jackets are just tonight (Sunday) finishing up a short tour of the coasts and knockin' people out everywhere they go. They should be destined for big things! After playing with them last year, they became my current fave live act and I only wish that I was able to see more of their shows! Led by singer/guitarist/performance artist Jackie, who is backed by drummer extraordinaire (and old friend of mine), Chris, and Mosrite-driven bass master, Sam, they blast through a set of energetic and well-written garage classics. While Chris and Sam are rock monsters, Jackie tends to be the lead focus as her guitar bursts out fuzz, tremelo and reverbed riffs, while she screams, croons and dances in mime-like fashion throughout the set. She is truly one of the more unique performers around today and like Pat in the Schizophonics (who is another of the best and most individualistic contortionist/rockers around), she can be difficult to capture on camera (at least for an amateur like me). But, she dances like no one else I've seen, stage dives, crowd surfs and hypnotizes the crowds all while keeping the guitar fuzzin' through the tunes. The songs are stellar garage rockers, as well as a couple of covers here'n'there and the whole band works together to provide a fantastic rock'n'roll machine!

A huge thank you to Ugly Things and the Soda Bar for this unbelievable night of garage-infused rock'n'roll! Truly one of the best all-around nights of live music I have seen in ages! Check out all of these combos for true rockin' magic!

recommended gigs

Thursday Oct 11 - TV Party Tonight at the Double Down with Los Carajos and the movie Dusk Til Dawn

Friday Oct 12 - the New Waves at the Golden Tiki
Friday Oct 12 - the Rayford Brothers at the Sand Dollar

Monday Oct 15 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Tuesday Oct 16 - Water Landing with Pet Tigers and Bitches in the Beehive at Starboard Tack

Thursday Oct 18 - the Psyatics, the Jagoffs, El Escapado (from Nashville), No Loves (also from TN) at Evel Pie

Saturday Oct 20 - Billy Strings with the All Togethers and the Riflemen at the Bunkhouse
Saturday Oct 20 - Zombie Walk at Boulder Damn Brewing Co with the Implosions, No Que No, Water Landing and the New Waves

Sunday Oct 21 - LV Blues Festival at 6300 W. Tropical Pkwy with Rick Estrin, Shanda and the Howlers and plenty more!

Friday Oct 26 - Negative Nancys, the Bitters, the Pluralses, Cromm Fallon at the Double Down
Friday Oct 26 - Sheiks of Neptune, Gold Steps, Till I Fall, Jesse Pino at Evel Pie

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

Sunday Oct 28 - Duane Mark and WT NEwton at the Huntridge

Wednesday Oct 31 - Nekromantix, Messer Chups, Los Carajos at the Fremont Country Club

Friday Nov 2 - the Rayford Bros at Clark County Library
Friday Nov 2 - the Meteors at the Beauty Bar
Friday Nov 2 - the New Waves at the Golden Tiki

Saturday Nov 3 - the New Waves live band karaoke at the Mint for Bikes 4 Brats
Saturday Nov 3 - The Dickies and Monster Zero at 172 at the Rio

Thursday Nov 15 - Southern Culture on the Skids at the Bunkhouse
Thursday Nov 15 - Downtown Brown, Thee Swank Bastards, the Bitters at the Double Down

Friday Nov 16 - Billy Gibbons (solo) at Brooklyn Bowl
Friday Nov 16 - The Psyatics, North by North, the New Waves, Cromm Fallon at the Starboard Tack

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

Wednesday Nov 21 - Delta Bombers, Shanda and the Howlers, Cherry Rat at the Beauty Bar

Friday Nov 30 - the New Waves at the Golden Tiki
Friday Nov 30 - 68 (the band) with The Devil Wears Prada and Fit For a King at Vinyl

Saturday Dec 1 - the return of the Holy Smokes with The Swamp Gospel  and No Que No at the Double Down

Friday Dec 14 - the Rhyolite Sound and the All Togethers with Paige Overton at 172 at the Rio

Mon Dec 31 - Tenacious D at the Joint at the Hard Rock

Wednesday Jan 16 - Mustard Plug and the Phenomenauts at the Beauty Bar

Jan 17,18,19,24,25,26 and Feb 7,8,9 - Puddles Pity Party at Cleopatra's Barge at Caesar's Palace

What have I forgotten? Lemme know

RIP John Wicks of the Records

John Wicks of The Records, RIP
 ---
"Starry Eyes" is pretty much the epitome of power pop.

And, as always, FUCK CANCER!

The Scientists at the Zebulon, Los Angeles, Wednesday Oct 3, 2018

Guest blogger Rob Bell from the Psyatics made it out to LA to see the Scientists last week. Here's what he had to say about it:

This week, my friend Louie and I set out on a rare mid-week trip to CA to check off some bucket list items:  gigs by the Australian garage post-punkers The Scientists and the legendary Roky Erickson!  How could you not?!  The Scientists, fronted by the prolific Kim Salmon, is actually on their first-ever tour of the U.S. and it looks like Salmon and bandmates Leanne Cowie, Boris Sujdovic and Tony Thewlis (from the 1982  lineup) will also be heading into the studio soon to record a new album for In The Red Records, the group’s first full-length since 1987’s The Human Jukebox.  Boris and Tony have previously played with Kim in The Beasts of Bourbon, so this was not only a can’t miss show, but since the recent loss of Spencer and Brian, you take the chances when you can get them.  

The gig was at a cool little venue, The Zebulon in Los Angeles.  There was a great turnout for a Wednesday, and the second of a two-night stay for The Scientists.  The opening acts, The Lamps (sweet dream pop from OK) and The Lavender Flu (a jangly, psych folk band from OR) fit the bill and were entertaining, but the soundmen were still dialing in, and most vocals were completely buried in the mix.  And then came The Scientists…

Tony strolls out to an apparent soundcheck with squalling feedback and dirty slashes to his guitar, a semi-hollow body Tele thin line.  Kim walks on stage to join in a deconstructed version of Rev Head!  …and then bliss.  From the western tinges of ‘Perpetual Motion’ and ‘Swampland’, t0 the Crampsy ‘When Fate Deals It’s Mortal Blow’ and ‘Blood Red River’, the crowd was captured.  The tone and dissonance of The Scientists, with looping bass lines like the Birthday Party stylings of ‘Set It on Fire’, and the dirty, post-punk fuzz guitar of songs like ‘Solid Gold Hell’ and ‘We Had Love’ has been a huge influence on my own band, The Psyatics, and they didn’t disappoint.  Kim was in fine form, joking about the dreaded ‘new’ songs that reformed bands tend to write, and then just killed on two new In the Red Songs, ‘Braindead’ and ‘SurvivorsKills’!  With nods to The Cramps, Gun Club, Birthday Party and Stooges, these guys commanded the stage, cementing a legacy that tends to be overlooked, but cannot be underestimated.  They are not to be missed, if you get a chance to catch them on one of the few remaining US dates.  We still have Roky Erickson to see in Tustin, but this night we revel in the post ring of the show, feeling lucky to have caught a legendary band, not bringing nostalgia but fire and fury…and in Kim’s words, when describing Tony’s playing, “dissonance, flash and Alchemy”!  

Robt Bell- The Psyatics

The Scientists- The Zebulon LA, CA (Wed. October 3^rd) setlist:

1. Rev Head (deconstructed)
2. You Only Live Twice
3. Perpetual Motion
4. Set It On Fire
5. Solid Gold Hell
6. Leadfoot
7. When Worlds Collide
8. When Fate Deals its Mortal Blow
9. Braindead (new)
10. Atom Bomb Baby
11. SurvivorsKills (new)
12. Blood Red River
13. Swampland
14. Band introductions
15. We Had Love

ENCORE

1. Murderess in a Purple Dress
2. Nitro
3. Burnout
4. Shine

2^nd ENCORE

1. Last Night
2. This Is My Happy Hour

            

The Swamp Gospel, the Implosions, the Psyatics, Water Landing, VJ Atomic at the Double Down, Saturday Oct 6, 2018

Every year, woman-about-town Nikki Ruffling celebrates her birthday with some of her favorite bands at the Double Down Saloon, and this year the Swamp Gospel was honored to participate as our first show in 6 months. We had a fine time selling our soul salvation and it seems like we gained some new members to the congregation (although some remained sinners, I'm afraid). Thank you Nikki for letting us join in the festivities!

(SG color photo by Nikki)

(B&W SG photo by Clay Heximer)

Up next were the hottest new band in town, the Implosions, with their Vegas-themed rock'n'roll that combines bits of punk rock, Crampsian overtones and just cool rock. They keep getting better'n'better with each show (as a proper band should) and the audience always digs 'em the most. Adrienne is a super front person with a great voice, Clay'n'Denise keep a solid backing with a number of different tempos while Dave provides a variety of guitar tones as the songs require. Super fun group - see them when you can!

Our pals, the Psyatics, followed with their own style of noisy, no-wave-y garage rock'n'roll. They were good enough to have me play guitar on their cover of the Hives' "Two Timing Touch" (off of their fab new record) and then they blasted through a set of their various originals from all of their records as well as some wild covers, including a new Depeche Mode tune for Nikki's birthday. As usual, the lovely Ivana Blaize added to the visual enticement, to the pleasure of the crowd. Super set and excellent response from the assorted crew of revelers!

I am sorry to say that we missed our friends Water Landing, but we understand that they put in a fine set, as well, VJ Atomic continued the festivities late into the evening.

Thank you again to the Double Down and Nikki for a great party!