Desperate Kingdom Of Love

The desperate state of the record industry has lead to the opening of Touch and Go / Quarterstick Records' own digital retail store. The actual official first "bit" load took place Tuesday, June 5. Corey Rusk's mighty lil Chicago indie operation began offering both individual tracks and full albums as DRM-free 256k MP3's. The site is the exclusive spot to find digital versions of out of print material from the label, like material from Bedhead, or Slint's "Spiderland", as well as the exclusive host of all the Shellac and Rapeman albums. For those shunning mp3'z for the lossless world, the innovative Touch and Go digital store has CD quality 16 bit and even above CD quality 24 bit WAV files of Shellac's latest long player, "Excellent Italian Greyhound" up for sale as well.

check it out at http://www.touchandgorecords.com


Many are desperately waiting to find out what the hell is actually going on with that Ozzfest tour ticket fiasco/giveaway Sharon has promised so many...

But I did see that the desperately seeking retirement income i.e remaining members of Black Sabbath looked up lil' devil Ronnie James Dio for some sort of tour celebrating the Heaven & Hell era he was with the band. I must say it did include the fairly great Mob Rules album. Hey, I bought it when it was new, so that makes it great right?
Ronnie James Dio & Black Sabbath - Mob Rules ( Live )

But, I think I may have missed the latest tour... and word is Dio's voice isn't what it was 10 or even 30 years ago like when this track was recorded...



Ronnie & The Prophets ( early Dio ) - Swingin Street

Yep it's Ronnie & The Prophets... his pre-Elf outing, that sounds a lot like Dion & The Belmonts...

And so here's a bit of a remix/cover/tribute of Mr. Dio as done by Tenacious D, taped live at the Roseland in PDX a couple years back...

Tenacious D - Mob Rules / Holy Diver / Dio

And just for f&*k's sake, here's some old Sabbath straight up with Ozzy...

Black Sabbath - Children Of The Grave

And here's sad lil cutesy kudos to one upcoming lil' pop starlet, Lily Allen, who has announced she wants out for now... She's pretty much tired of being hounded, stalked, constantly photographed, speculated & gossiped about although, I doubt she really wants to give up the clothes, career or phat checks that have made her far more notable & richer now that she's well known.

Here's her latest "How Did I Get Myself In This Place?" blog post

"The thing is , im not going to write here so often now . this used to be one of my favourite things to do . I could come on here and vent how i feel honestly and get feedback from you guys . But the tabloid fucks have ruined it . Everything i write here gets twisted and rewritten buy a bunch of lazy fucks who havent got anything better to write about . And the truth is I don't want to be in their fucking stupid magazines and daily fuck rags . Infact I hate it , i dont want to be a celebrity , I am a singer , I write songs , thats it . I don't sleep and take drugs with famous people( i have a boyfriend ive been with for nearly 3 years ) , I don't go to film premieres . I don't go shopping in the paparazzi hotspots , so please leave me alone . Write about something interesting , and that actually needs to be alked about . I don't want to live in a world where the most interesting thing is Paris Hilton and " how shes doing in jail " . Why do we care , seriously ? Guys the world is MELTING , we are KILLING innocent people , so we can steal their oil , killing them. 400000 people are dead and 2.5 million have no home in Darfur .............. but then again Lindsay did work out at the gym this afternoon and thats what really counts ."

A we'll end that with a song that shows the ever changing mind of the confused lil Brit girl at her best...

Lily Allen - Cheryl Tweedy

Aw heck, here's lil Lily joining The Rakes on a cover of David Bowie's Let's Dance...

The Rakes - Let's Dance

and that's that ...we'll never mention her again...until she wants us too...


Lotsa stuff going on in town here in San Francisco this weekend, I'll let folks know the lowdown about the zydeco, and whatnot that I know about in da bay...


This weekend, a member of Zydeco's first family, C.J Chenier and his Red Hot Louisiana Band are in town. He's the turbo charged son of the late Clifton Chenier, and an an internationally acclaimed American performer who fuses an appreciation of rock n roll, blues, jazz, funk into traditional zydeco rhythms. They are performing at Biscuits & Blues downtown, about the only place lately to see a washboard in action in San Francisco.

While his father was well known along the bayou circuit, C.J was actually raised in the same hard scrabble southern refinery town as Janis Joplin was, that being Port Arthur, Texas. He's created music that shows a love of Funkadelic, Miles Davis & Jimi Hendrix along with a respect for the old music made by his father's own Red Hot Louisiana Band.

When Clifton died in 1987, C.J inherited the band and accordian and has taken the rightful zydeco throne while adding some bluesy bluster. His records on the Arhoolie, Slash & Alligator labels have cemented a reputation at festivals around the world including large scale events like The Chicago Blues Festival, Austin’s SxSW, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, San Diego’s Street Scene, and Milwaukee’s Summerfest where he's entertained tens of thousands at a time. He's recorded with The Gin Blossoms and recorded & toured with Paul Simon.

Here's an older track, from the first CD I bought by the man, 1992's "I Ain't no Playboy" on Slash, that brought in a Texas sized rock n roll strut to the zydeco scene, that being a ZZ Top cover of Sharp Dressed Man.

C.J. Chenier - Sharp Dressed Man


Here's one that's from his last Alligator release, "Step It Up", recorded in Maurice, Louisiana...

C.J. Chenier - Turn Around & Say Goodbye

Download "Turn Around And Say Goodbye" (mp3)
from "Step It Up!"
by C.J. Chenier
Alligator Records

More On This Album


I understand that shortly after Katrina devastated the gulf coast, he recorded The Desperate Kingdom of Love, which was released in 2006 on the indie World Village Records. This is a unique exercise from the normally jubiliant accordian player, as he explores some more sorrowful material including fitting covers of Hank Williams, Van Morrison and even this stirring title track originally done by PJ Harvey.

C.J. Chenier - Desperate Kingdom Of Love

If down home bayou bred danceable & desperate Acadian music ain't yer thing, consider heading down to the Great American Music Hall for a more metalloid & bizarre affair...

The Great American Music hall will reverberate Friday with the sinister sounds of Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, the Bay Area based band that isn't afraid to take a female violinist along for the ride into a devilish thrash metal netherworld. These theatrical pros take audiences through the dramatic dungeons of twisted meter and emerge with an omnipotent math rock successor to the typically warped crown of thorny musical hellscapes...

On Saturday Night June 15th - Parkerzalooza IV

Local promoter/bon vivant Parker Gibbs celebrates the continuing saga known as his pointless aging process with a multi band birthday party at 12 Galaxies on Mission St.

Joining Parker in this annual affair will be a slew of bands, each of whom have a unique take on sonic serendipity.

Here's sample of co-headliners Earthless from San Diego, who specialize in a sort of power triaged acid rawk and feature former Rocket From The Crypt drum god Mario Rubalcaba ...

So be prepared to get yer lighters up, and in the meantime check out an MP3 track from their upcoming full length on Tee Pee Records...

Earthless - Godspeed

Tee Pee Records

• Buy at Tee Pee Records
• Buy at iTunes Music Store
• Stream from Rhapsody

More On This Album

After Earthless finishes their set, watch for local trouble crew Hank IV to stumble up and finish this battle of the bands fair & square. Borrowing occasionally from the Jesus Lizard playbook, this band which includes local luminaries like Hemlock booker "not so big" Tony Bedard & freakadelic frontman Bob McDonald will no doubt be juiced, loosed and perhaps suitable to be noosed...

Download "Got Got" (mp3)
from "Third Person Shooter"
by Hank IV

Here's another track from the band's debut disk on Hook or Crook records called "Tonight We Ride"

Hank IV - Tonight We Ride.

(mp3)
from "Third Person Shooter"
by Hank IV
Hook or Crook Records

• Buy at iTunes Music Store
• Buy at eMusic
• Stream from Rhapsody

More On This Album

Also on that endless Parkerzalooza bill over at 12 Galaxies are a few other bands including the Enablers featuring the poetic musings of Pete Simonelli backed by some veteran rocker pals. The band have material out on Neurot records, like this cut from their CD "Output Negative Space".

Enablers - Sudden Inspection

oh and if that ain't enough, I'll be yer onstage bartender...

and there's still more coming yer way as well...

For More info Go To 12 Galaxies website and read all about it, heck buy a ticket in advance even...

12 Galaxies

LA - Paris - Rome - Minneapolis & Holmdel New Jersey

I was in LA this weekend and of course the talk of the town was a certain inmate who'd been freed by a certain sheriff.

Paris Hilton - Stars Are Blind

While that was entertaining on all the tv sets around town, including the sushi bar in Little Tokyo where I grabbed some dinner, other less retarded entertainemnt abounds of course. As I left town my focus was more on the free outdoor street festival on Grand featuring Dengue Fever & Ozomatli, while across town in West Hollywood Joan Jett was tearing it up outdoors at the Pride festival...

here's some sample tracks from those afforementioned musical artists



Ozomatli - April 29th ( sublime cover)

Joan Jett - Hanky Panky

Download
Dengue Fever

"Lost In Laos" (mp3)
from "Digi EP"
by Dengue Fever
M80

• Buy at iTunes Music Store
• Buy at eMusic
• Stream from Rhapsody

More On This Album




Last month when I rolled through downtown area had a free show from The Black Eyed Peas...

here's a special mix from euro mashtress Eve Massacre, incorporating The Bronx, with the Black Eyed peas for all you audio addicts & disco deviants

Eve Massacre - Black Heart Attack

Folks in Minneapolis have reason to rejoice, or at least Prince fans...as the Purple one plans a return for his record release on July 7th, his first show in his hometown since 2004...

Prince - Black Sweat

Prince fan Gwen Stefani's tour has been a bit cursed, first a report of provactive dancing by opening act Akon with young female fans caused controversy, causing Verizon to drop out of it's million dollar sponsorship deal...

Then when Stefani's show hit Holmdel New Jersey, apparently the sh*t was B-A-N-a-N-a-S as fans had a wilder time than anticipated with reports of much underage drinking etc, and suburban police were caught off guard...

Here's some music from that dangerous crowd rousing diva & mom, Gwen Stefani mashed into Miles Davis...

Gwen Stefani - Summatime Girl

and one of her influences

Julie Andrews - The Lonely Goatherd

Meanwhile, speaking of divas Barbara Streisand had to cancel a Rome concert on her first European tour, as Italianns had begun protesting the exhorbitant ticket prices babs and her tour organizers sought. She may wow 'em at Caesar's in las Vegas, but not in Caesar's hometown...

and meanwhile closer to my hometown, a bowling alley has garnered more attention than any big name acts or shows...

sheesh

Frank Black has a new double disc release coming out via Cooking Vinyl this coming week, it highlights the 10 year period from 1993 - 2003. This look at his post Pixies solo career features tracks from the albums he created with his backing band The Catholics and some live material including a cover of the Jan & Dean song "Dead Man's Curve". It also includes previews of material that will reappear on his next solo album as Francis Black. Here's one of the tracks to be featured...

Frank Black - Robert Onion

Download "Robert Onion" (mp3)
from "93-03"
by Frank Black
Cooking Vinyl

More On This Album



that's all for now folks...

Memory Almost Failed...

Tuesday as you may have realized, is Paul McCartney's first as an indie act...




At least since the Beatles were on Vee-Jay briefly stateside in the early 60's...

He even played a record release party at a small-ish 500 head venue called the Electric Ballroom in London to celebrate the occasion

Of course his indie label is owned by Starbucks...so that's not exactly selling discs from the truck of a car...

I was looking around on Emusic today and noticed that they had got on the new Paul McCartney album release bandwagon as well today...

No $16 digi-pack CD , but high bitrate DRM free mp3s, the whole album for about what a drink at Starbucks sets ya back...while I-Tunes is jacking .99 a song, and is not offering this release DRM free go figger...

The album is produced by David Kahne, who brought you Sublime's major label debut 10 years back that had the "What I Got" single. Kahne has also worked on hits for Sugar Ray, Tony Bennett, Cher, Shawn Colvin, Bruce Springsteen, The Bangles, Fishbone, The Strokes, Sean Lennon and got his start as a producer at SF's Hyde Street Studios, and at 415 Records.

My fave Mac track so far was the short lil' howling rabble rouser tacked onto the end

Nod Your Head...

Paul Mc Cartney - Nod Your Head



I got on the bandwagon a bit late for Cheap Trick's 40th anniversary Tribute to the Beatles Sgt Pepper's album...

All the good up front, & box type seats were taken, so here's my bench seat at the Hollywood Bowl this August. I'm sure I'll be fine with it...





I'm really excited to see the Sgt Pepper album performed live, and figure who needs Paul McCartney, when ya got Robin Zander. I'd post some Cheap Trick doing stuff from Sgy Pepper but it looks like I've got them doing Daytripper, Magical Mystery Tour, John Lennon's Cold Turkey and just can't find anything from Rockford's finest from the Beatles landmark psychedelic '67 masterpiece...

so here get these instead...

First my 7 yr old niece singing Strawberyy Fields Forever with the Ventures

Arianna vs Ventures - Strawberry Fields Forever

and a track ya can get off of Amy Winehouse's debut CD "Frank"

Amy Winehouse - There Is No Greater Love

it's a $25 or so import here until Universal gets it issued without import tariffs stateside finally in the fall...

Pssst...If ya want Frank by Amy Winehouse now, I suggest the Canadian import version for just about $12 right now here

oh and don't forget...

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