Blogs

For the last couple of months - since this blog began, really - I've been harassing my fellow hard-drinker Tony Patino of Attack of the Giant Squid to leak me some preview tracks from the as-yet-untitled album the band's been working on. If you don't know, the Squid is an improvisational, instrumental, freakazoid, Mars Volta-ish outfit that's about the most exciting band in town right now. But the bastards insist that they're not ready; they've got nothing for me; just wait, and they'll get me something...

But I got tired of waiting, so I've culled this film, scored by Attack of the Giant Squid, from their archives - just to give you a taste. The film is called The Dynamics of Progress, directed by Nick Bain. It seems a bit non-sequitor to me, but then again, so's the Squid's music, so it's a logical match. The new album is due out any time now, keep your eyes on this blog to hear a release date and get your hands on some preview tracks. In the meantime...

I spent last night listening to the punk rock go down at BANNED in Tempe!, listening to DJ's Alvin, Nate Dogg and Cro-Mag throw down the dope shit at the Stray Cat (which you'll be able to read more about in my column in a couple of weeks). Tyler King, local hardcore scenester and contributor to the '06 Pandemic Poll, was rocking the Lynchburg lemonades for me while I caught up with Pat from Bring Your Own Weapon and Nate from North Side Kings.

It was the first time I'd seen Nate since viewing the new NSK video for "Thugcore" off of the upcoming Suburban Royalty album (which the aforementioned Nate Dogg is dropping on vinyl on his May Cause Dizziness Records imprint). The video's pretty hilarious; "Boston Eric" Matthews is seen waking up and smacking his alarm clock, while a grip of hardcore scenesters make appearances as well. Darin and his Feedback Video Magazine crew did a pretty damn good job for what was obviously made on a tight budget. Check it...

I didn't grow up with Xmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa, or any other winter-time holidays - I was raised in a cult, which should surprise very few people that read my shit - but as I've acclimated to the real world with all its mistletoe and trees and menorahs, I've developed a small (rather small, actually) affinity for the music of the season if it's done by the right folks. So I assembled a little package of holiday music, some of it by locals, some by indie rockers, even a couple by Twisted Sister. It'll be playing at the Christmas party over at my pad, hopefully you'll enjoy it as well...

Bright Eyes - "Little Drummer Boy": http://media.newtimes.com/id/272068/

Sufjan Stevens - "Little Drummer Boy": http://media.newtimes.com/id/272069/

Bright Eyes - "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen": http://media.newtimes.com/id/272070/

Sufjan Stevens - "Put The Lights on the Tree": http://media.newtimes.com/id/272072/

Twisted Sister - "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus": http://media.newtimes.com/id/272073/

Scary Kids Scaring Kids - "What a Wonderful World": http://media.newtimes.com/id/272075/

Twisted Sister - "Silver Bells": http://media.newtimes.com/id/272076/

The Format - "Holly Jolly Christmas": http://media.newtimes.com/id/272077/

A Change of Pace - "Christmas on the Coast": http://media.newtimes.com/id/272078/

Bright Eyes - "Blue Christmas": http://media.newtimes.com/id/272079/

Jimmy Eat World - "Last Christmas": http://media.newtimes.com/id/272094/

Death Cab for Cutie - "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)": http://media.newtimes.com/id/272095/

Happy Holidays from Ear Infection to You!

Love,
Brendan Joel Kelley

This from Vil Vodka of Vodka Tonic Media and Hollywood Alley:

Yesterday around 4pm we lossed one of the most important people of the Hollywood Alley staff: Lucy Wincek...or as many of you know her as "Ross' mom".

Tom Reardon said it best Sunday night that many of us would had never performed on the Hollywood Alley stage or enjoyed the many qualities of the establishment if it wasn't for Lucy. It was her vision almost 20 years ago that made Hollywood Alley what it has been known for all these years and has become today. Through good times and bad times she kept Hollywood Alley an indepedent family run business. To this day her son runs the night time faction of the bar, her husband did all the maintenance and her mom runs the daytime kitchen. I think it's been years since she had last peaked in on the Hollywood Alley nightlife since she has worked 6am to throughout the day daily, but Ross often tells me the story of when she first saw a packed house at the Alley in the early 90s and how her eyes were filled with tears being so proud. I also know that she was the type of person who would do anything for her employees. I hear tales of her kindness on a daily basis.

I really don't know what else to say. Compared to the family and the extended family (everyone who worked there that knew her and loved her) I am pretty much a newcomer and barely qualified to make anytype of eulogized statement. I do, however, want to ask that you show the upmost respect for Wincek family and the staff members during this trying time. I know Ross' spirit will drive him to still be the workhorse that he always has been, but please be patient if you are waiting to hear back about a show or an pending event.

Also, please no rumors. As of right now Hollywood Alley will live forever and continue to exist in Lucy's memory.

A wake for Lucy will be held Saturday morning from 11am to 2pm at Hollwyood Alley.

It's not a record deal or a spot at the Warped Tour (ugh), but Jumping Bomb Girls, a power-pop trio that Perihelion Arts impresario Miss Amy Young drums in has gotten props from the lefty website Salon.com. The Jumping Bomb Girls (whose name was inspired by old school WWF tag teamers the Jumping Bomb Angels) submitted a track, "Delancey," to Salon's Song Search contest - they didn't win, but Salon said some pretty nice stuff about the trio and popped the song up online. The trio's myspace page is worth checking out to get a few more blasts of short, sweet power-poppy love. You can scope out what Salon had to say here (scroll down to the Dec. 8 post to see the JBG remarks). Or you can peep the song (plus a bonus track) right here...

"Delancey": http://media.newtimes.com/id/271765/

"And Then She Said": http://media.newtimes.com/id/271766/

Local knob twiddler Cory Spotts has made quite a name for himself at a young age by producing some of the best edgy acts in town at his Blue Light Audio Media studio. Barely into his mid-20's now, Spotts (who I profiled last year in my column) has a portfolio that includes Job For A Cowboy, the Stilletto Formal, Greeley Estates, the Necronauts, DeSole, and the January Taxi. So chances are you've heard his work.

But you might have missed the fact that Spotts has his own project, a lush rock group by the name Seconds to Breathe. The band's put out a full length album entitled Sirens and a four-song EP called The Listener, each with its songs labeled as chapters rather than tracks. The music is far from the brutalimetal of Job For A Cowboy or the spazziness of Stilletto Formal, but it's good listening on its own merits. Check it...

"Ch. 11 The Life Inside": http://media.newtimes.com/id/271045/

"Ch. 4 Hanging Around": http://media.newtimes.com/id/271046/

Since this Pandemic Poll thing is meant to be democratic, we even let your ordinary average music fan throw in their two cents about what transpired in 2006. This submission is from a guy named Joe Soares, and I have to say, he's pretty goddamn correct about what's overrated in this town. Here it is:

the VIRGINS/ I DONT GIVE A FUCK- one turned into the other and everything
just got crazier. falling apart at the seams chaos. most of my favorite
shows of the year have had one version or the other play them.

GEORGE MOSHINGTON-hardcore doesnt need to be serious to be great. no one has
more fun then these guys when they are on.

LANDMINE MARATHON-metal/grind that falls more on the metal side than i
usually like, but they are just too good for me to complain.

the PHIX-best venue in town. everyone that has been there better appreciate
it while we still have it around. Lee is the man.

seeing CIRCLE TAKES THE SQUARE twice in two weeks time. i dont care if they
are not from phoenix. probably the best two nights of the year for me. just
unbelievable live.

obviously, i lean toward the diy stuff in town. hope its not too biased. my
name is joe, and im not really involved in anything right now due to being a
lazy jackass, ive been involved in the phoenix scene for about 8 years now.
just some context.

endnote: JOB FOR A COWBOY:most overrated thing in town. easily. except maybe
AUTHORITY ZERO. blech!

In case you can't tell by their glowing, serene faces, local brothers Bob and Alan Clark make some absolutely repulsive light pop/adult contemporary songs that ought to be used to torture Gitmo detainees. Consider this post a warning - once their group, snazzily named Eye Talk, releases its latest album Sun and Moon, you might have to suffer through this coming out your mom's stereo, so get her some good CDs for Christmas if you're smart (the first single, "I Can't Fool Myself," hits adult contemporary radio in just a couple of weeks). Ordinarily I wouldn't encourage you to get all masochistic and actually listen to this, but then again, you should know your enemy. And these guys are enemies of all that's good about music - this type of crap is why rock 'n roll was invented. So listen up...

"Stop Pretending": http://media.newtimes.com/id/233747/

"Do You Feel It?": http://media.newtimes.com/id/233748/

Rob Locker of local skateboard/record label/promotion company AZPX does what many folks only wish they could do - release records by great local artists past and present like Junior Achievement and the Smoky Mountain Skullbusters and throw shows by skate rock greats like JFA. Here's what Locker has to say about the '06...

Top 5 Subject: The 5 best live performances of music I have attended this year. I went to a ton of shows this year but there are 5 particular performances that really stood out. Before I get going, I want to thank Mr. BJK for regarding my silly opinions as worthy tripe for his blog....I am pretty sure he assumed I will do a biased SkateRock list...and he is right. Secondly, I wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't for my mentor, MVC aka 'The Professor'-OG bassist for JFA. Thirdly, SkateRock doesn't mean it's a band of skateboarders. SkateRock is a state of mind which propels you to go skate.

I ain't gonna spew no dates 'cause I can't remember them.

5. The Liar's Handshake at the AZPX Records Benefit show at Hollywood Alley. From the ashes of Bullet Train to Moscow came the Liar's Handshake. A whole different, original approach to punk rock and it works. WELL. Please catch these guys when the opportunity arises. You won't be disappointed.

4. Dephinger at Sid's memorial show. The SCABS WITH FORTIES showed up and paid their last respects to Sid with a gut wrenching, alcohol fueled 10 minute set of the most amazing music. The low point was when Josh refused to play naked after claiming he was gonna do it all night. Maybe that's the high point? AndiKrist was in the rarest of forms. Clearly the most underrated band in the AZ.

3. Greenhaven at Chaser's 8th anniversary show. Man, I went to see Nebula that night, they cancelled. I shot over to Chasers to catch Greenhaven's set and was not disappointed! Nebula who? The only band I saw all year where everyone in the 300+ audience knew EVERY word to EVERY song. If these guys don't receive the best local release for 2006 "The Last Powerful Second", I'm moving to New Mexico.

2. Mongoloids at JFA's 25th Anniversary Show at Hollywood Alley. O.K., I'm saying it right fucking now-MONGOLOIDS ARE GOD. There, I said (wrote) it. Care to differ? You know where to find me. Yeah, yeah, I'm biased. I'm biased because Mongoloids leader, Dan Lowe, rides for AZPX Skateboards. But that's not the fucking point here. That night, the EastSide learned they were missing out on the WestSide. They blew minds. These guys showed up with their skate faces on ready to annihilate and that's just what they did. Brian Brannon from JFA pulled me aside and said, "Dude, you said you lined up bands that weren't better than us."

1. JFA at the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation the day after their 25th Anniversary show. "Hey, let's get up at 7am the day after our show, drive 100 miles to San Carlos and do it again." That's just what they did. Even though attendance was a fraction of what it was the night before, it did not matter. These guys were making history by lending themselves to these folks who revered them as heroes. I will tell you this......the pit was the GNARLIEST pit I have ever been in. There were like a dozen skinny white dudes and a bunch of big locals. Running into these guys was like hitting a brick wall. Our native brothers took care of us real well. Much respect to the Apache Nation. The JFA set it self was amazing. All the members were PUMPED to be there. As a bonus, Grant from Grant and the Geezers was there spinning the raddest reggae dub between sets. Oh yeah, we're gonna do it again in '07.

Honorable Mention: West End Crooks vs. North Side Kings @ KY's. R.I.P. Fuck GLAM. Ky's was so fucking packed that night I just stayed outside skating the curbs at KY's. Nothing is better than skateboarding to live music. The dude throwing fire balls out front didn't hurt the scene either. Anyone else who fucks with my boy Danny, is gonna have to go through me first.

Today's edition of the 2006 invite-only Pandemic Poll of local artists and music scene players features the inimitable William Fucking Reed, who carries with him a list of impressive credits: DJ/promoter for both Shake! at the Rogue and Pretty Vacant at Anderson's Fifth Estate, radio DJ for the Last Broadcast on FREE FM, and music editor of Java Magazine. Here's William's take on the year that's almost history...

Top 10 for 2006...

Dirty Pretty Things
Waterloo To Anywhere
Interscope

The quintessential English rock and roll album of the year. Now the
world knows The Libertines' success wasn't all just Pete Doherty.

Babyshambles (tied with Dirty Pretty Things)
Down In Albion
Rough Trade

Pete Doherty is a musical genius and he's tappin' the most notorious
supermodel of today.

The Fratellis
Costello Music
Island

The best indie rock to come out of Scotland this year.

Ratatat
Classics
XL Recordings

Best instrumental album of the year. Hands down.

Every Move A Picture
Heart=Weapon
V2 Records

America's best new disco-punk band of 2006 (and nobody fucking knows it
because their PR camp at V2 Records stinks)

MSTRKRFT
The Looks
Last Gang

The hottest remix duo of 2006, period.

Wolfmother
Wolfmother
Modular

Stoner rock throwback to Sabbath, what's not to like?

The Sounds
Dying To Say This To You
New Line Records

Swedish indie-punkers have created a flawless album that is pure pop but
still rocks.

White Rose Movement
Kick
Independiente

Filling the void The Faint left after Danse Macabre.

The Rakes
Capture Relase
V2

These fashion forward east London hipsters picked up where Bloc Party
and Franz Ferdinand left off. They'll also kick your ass in any
on-stage dance contest.

She Wants Revenge
The closest thing today's' Gen X'ers will get to Joy Division.

Tyler King's been an institution in the hardcore scene for years, with a background (as you'll read later in his Pandemic Poll results) booking matinee acts at CBGB's. Lately you can catch him behind the bar at the Stray Cat in Tempe when he's not booking acts like Witchcraft around town. Here's what Tyler had to say about the '06...

Tim Barry "Rivanna Junction"-
After making a name for himself fronting Avail since 1991, Tim Barry has taken a step back with this, his first solo album. "Rivanna Junction" is a collection of ten acoustic guitar-driven songs of folk, old time country and roots rock, giving nods to such legends as Woody Guthrie and Bruce Springsteen in his "Nebraska" era.
www.suburbanhomerecords.com

Melvins- (A) Senile Animal
King Buzzo and the boys have stolen an entire band aka as Big Business (the band, not the theory) and created an epic thundering LP of double drums, double bass, double guitars, double FUCKING everything to make the thickest loudest sounds ever recorded. Sorta like a drug trip, with out all those bad toxins.
www.ipecac.com

Witchcraft-"s/t"
I swear that if you worship the first Sabbath album and bow to the altar of 70's era Pentagram you are going to freak on this album!! Unbelievably heavy and raw with a true doom vibe this album sounds ironically fresh in today's scene. Guitars are not overly heavy/fuzzed out but it actually makes for an overall sludgy and thick as mud sound! Add some nice Jethro Tull'ish progressive parts and you've got one killer record.
www.candlelightrecordsusa.com

NY Yankees signing Johnny Damon:
Nothing sticks my Boston Red Sox friends like our taking away their beloved Johnny Damon. You could almost hear their lil' Beantown hearts crushing all the way in the PHX. And its not like our D'Backs needed to be watched this year.

CBGBs closing:
Yes thats right CBGB closing is one of the best things out of "06". Now lemme explain, losing a venue should not be viewed as a positive, I know, I know its blasphemy but let the corpse alone already. Being an insider having worked their for almost a decade I witnessed such a lack of concern for nurturing new music, shoddy booking processes, over priced even by NYC prices drinks and door covers, and almost payola like industry events that I'm appalled. Cmon no one gave a shit about that place until they said it would be no more. Now instead of worrying about putting together a respectable event they can just sell their T-Shirts online and in the long run thats all they cared about. I look forward to what that city (or its surrounding areas) can come up with. I look forward to seeing some creativity instead of relying on the same old standard. Isn't that what New Years are really for...

Just received word yesterday afternoon that the Brickhouse in Phoenix on Jackson Street won its battle to regain a liquor license. Here's the missive that went out:

Apperently the (real) City of Phoenix spoke a little louder than the City council.

PEOPLE>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The Brickhouse is back in full swing with booze. Don't try to adjust your computer, you heard it right.

This time is for real.

I can't think of a better way to celebrate than the Holiday bash we had this weekend. Thank you to both shows, the artists, and all who supported the Brickhouse when it was down.

My pledge still remains....

We will change the way people view the entertainment in Phoenix. I only hope the production can keep up with the great talent.

Thanks to all again. The New Year looks bright :o)

From your local Yahoo Roger

Congrats to the Brickhouse; the liquor's not just a necessary profit-device for the venue but a serious draw to folks like me who like to swerve to the music. Here's hoping that amps up the number of quality touring acts that get booked at the spot...

Local manager and impresario Psyko Steve has spent much of the last year touring and managing DeSole, and is currently managing the Stilletto Formal. He got creative with his Top 5 list for the Pandemic Poll (it's open for interpretation like that) and sent over his list of the top 5 most promising locals. Here it is...

Top 5 Most Promising Locals who made a name for themselves in 2006:
(AKA Bands I see big things happening for in 2007)

1) Dear And The Headlights
2) The Cover Up
3) Caecelia
4) Micah Bentley
5) Alcoholiday

Dear And The Headlights
After a year of playing almost every good show in Phoenix Dear And The Headlights have managed to turn from a completely unknown into one of the most promising bands in town by a lot of hard work and playing some amazing music and with a new deal with Equal Vision Recordings and an album coming out early next year soon the whole country will be seeing what we have seen.

The Cover Up
Most people reading this may not be into the scremo crazy that is all the rage with the kids but kids all over the country have been noticing the Phoenix scene with bands like Greeley Estates, Scary Kids Scaring Kids and now Bless the Fall making quite a name for themselves nationally. The Cover Up are poised to become the next in that line, and they are the best out of the lot. With Hour Zero, the local promotion company/label that launched all of the previously bands to the national level as well as Lydia, now behind the Cover Up it looks like 2007 will be a great year for them.

Caecelia
Caecelia are probably the most unique out of these bands. They are three piece from Flagstaff, acoustic guitar, cello and samplers. Kind of like a Postal Service only a little less dancy and a little more singer songwriter. They are currently one of 8 bands in Fuse TV's "unsigned band contest" (also featuring AZ's Oh Doctor). Like The Cover Up they are also now under the wing of Hour Zero. They are hard at work on their first release that's should be exploding in 2007.

Micah Bentley
Micha Bently is one part singer songwriter and one part rock band. Although it is definitely Micah's band, it is still a band. Through a few line up changes over the last year Micah has finally has the best line up to date. With the release of his "the impossible ep" next week (release show this Friday at The Garage in Peoria) you should be hearing a lot about this man in the next year.

Alcoholiday
Braden McCall & Bryan Yazzie make up Alcoholiday (one of the neatest band names around in my opinion). You may remember Braden as one of the original members of Before Braille. Although Braden has played in some projects over the last few years, for the most part we have not heard from him. Now he is back with a solid project and some great new music.

(Note The Stiletto Formal and DeSole were excluded from this list because of my involvement with both bands)

So Much Silence is an awesome little music/mp3 blog run by a guy named Kevin Murphy, who seems to have pretty goddamn good taste in music. He also does some pretty nifty shit, like putting together a mix of the "Essential Q-Tip Mix," side A of which he posted today. He's also got a tight-ass Four Tet remix by Jay Dee (R.I.P.) up on the site to look for. Anyway, though he sent over a top 3 list rather than a top 5 list, he sent mp3's along with them so it's easily forgivable. Here you go...

Here's a few words on my top 3 hip-hop albums (with some label mp3s in there) ... hope you enjoy:

After a down year in 2005, hip-hop rebounded with one great release after another. These three happened to hold my attention the most at the exclusion of other memorable discs: Ghostface's "Fishscale"; the Roots' "Game Theory"; the Coup's "Pick a Bigger Weapon" and Plastic Little's "She's Mature."

3. Murs, Murray's Revenge (Record Collection)
Hands down, Murs is one of the best storytelling emcees, a guy who always sacrifices the obligatory rapper bravado for vulnerable street tales. 9th Wonder holds down the production again, and Murs opens himself up, bravely balances humor ("Dark Skinned White Girls" in which he name-checks the Cure and Morrissey) with sincerity ("Love and Appreciate").

"L.A.": http://media.newtimes.com/id/179555/

2. Cadence Weapon, Breaking Kayfabe (Upper Class Recordings)
In an era of name-brand cameos to sell records, it's an accomplishment in itself that Edmonton's Cadence Weapon spits every verse here, save for a secret track at the end. No filler, friends. His production is synth-heavy grit and his lyrics are grounded in reality: "You must think and wonder / why I drink 40s and memorize bus street numbers / well I don't have a license / but I'm trying to gain prominence / because I'm living in a house with a fridge full of condiments."

"Sharks": http://media.newtimes.com/id/179556/

1. Oh No, Exodus Into Unheard Rhythms (Stones Throw)
Using samples derived solely from the work of Galt MacDermot (Hair composer), Madlib's little brother puts together a concept album of a different sort with a guest list of great emcees (De La Soul's Posdnuos, Vast Aire, Murs, among others). At 22 tracks, it threatens to become bloated, but Oh No's production holds it all together.

"Smile a Little Bit" w/Posdnuous: http://media.newtimes.com/id/179557/

I'm fighting bouts of nausea (some sort of stomach bug I caught from my nephews Caden and Torin, I'm assuming) and trying to get my ass well enough to hit up the rock shows this weekend. Tomorrow evening, if all goes well, I'll be off to Angelo's Lounge at 16th Street and Osborn to watch An Aesthetic, whose name I've made fun of here in the blogosphere, play with Telomere Repair from Long Beach along with Mercury Pose, Slab City, and strangely enough, some hip-hop DJ's and live painting. Sean Wilkes Booth, guitarist for the An Aesthetic trio, sent over a couple of songs to whet my appetite, little of it as I have right now. Sean writes, "This one is called "The Stigmata Lambada." That's right, a forbidden Brazilian dance executed while exhibiting the wounds of Christ." "The Stigmata Lambada": http://media.newtimes.com/id/179543/

"(Couldn't Help But) Wonder": http://media.newtimes.com/id/179547/