Hey Amigo...The Havana 3am Story and Show # 233

In 1986 a year after The Clash broke up, Paul Simonon formed a group known as Havana 3am. Taking their name from a 1950s album by Cuban artist Perez Prado, Havana 3am consisted of Paul Simonon on bass, Gary Myrick on guitar, and Travis Williams on drums, and Nigel Dixon on vocals. The band took their influences mainly from Reggae, Latino music, and Rockabilly music. The band recorded an album and released it in 1991. Havana 3am, contained tweleve tracks and the song "Reach the Rock", was a small radio hit. Their album mixed a variety of styles, resulting in an eclectic sounding album. After a long tour supporting the album, singer Nigel Dixion passed away in 1993. Paul Simonon also left the group around this time to have a career in art (which was his first interest before joining The Clash). Havana 3am released one more album in 1996, with a different band line up. Myrick went on the purse a solo music career.


In additon to his paintings, Paul Simonon has designed album covers for Big Audio Dynamite, and The Good, The Bad & The Queen's album cover Herculean. In 2007, Paul Simonon also played bass on the project known as The Good, The Bad & The Queen, which was a side project of Damon Albarn. In 1986, Simonon participated in sessions for the Bob Dylan album Down in the Groove. In 2008, Paul Simonon began having exhibitions for his paintings once again.

Next week I will be doing a show focusing on music that has come from Vancouver, Canada. Every show in February will have a theme. February 10th, and 17th, will be shows focusing on The Clash, and on February 24th will be my third annual Surf music special.

Play List:


1. Howlies - Sea Level
2. The Craft Economy - The Tonic
3. Hooded Fang - Fall Leaves
4. The Magnificents - Ring Ring Oo Oo
5. The Cinch - Mystery Train
6. Joe Strummer - Love Kills
7. 101ers - Letagetabitarockin'
8. Demics - The 400 Blows
9. Teenage Head - Disgusteen (Alternate Version)
10. Vapids - Johnny Ramone
11. Surf City - Records of a Flag Pole Skater
12. Magazine - Sandwiches (My Mind Ain't So Open Demo)
13. Havana 3am - Surf in the City
14. The Good The Bad & The Queen - Kingdom of Doom
15. Ellen Foley - MPH
16. Topper Headon - Time is Tight
17. The Fiends - Gravedigger
18. Carbon/Silicon - Gangs of England
19. Big Audio Dynamite - The Globe
20. Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros - Techno D-Day
21. The Clash - White Riot (Demo)
22. Latino Rockabilly War - Trash City

To download this week's show visit the CJAM archives and select the files 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM on January, 27th 2009.

Havana 3am and other Paul Simonon related videos:

Havana 3am - Reach the Rock (Music Video)
The Good The Bad & The Queen - Kingdom of Doom
The Good The Bad & The Queen - Nature Springs (Live Henry Rollins Show)

Scratches & Needles...The Nils Story and Show # 232

Coming from Montreal, Canada The Nils formed in 1978. The band was founded by Alex and Carlos Soria (they were brothers, Alex being twelve years old). Alex was the singer/guitarist/main songwriter, and Carlos was another guitarist. The band was a mix of punk and power pop, they never did achieve mainstream success, but are often seen as a very under rated group. Their sound is said to be influenced by the likes of The Replacements and Husker Du. The band also took influences from Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Damned, and in fact those early band caused the Soria brothers to start a group. After a series of line- up changes, the group became a three piece.

The bands first EP came in 1985, it was titled Sell Out Young and was released on Psyche Industry Records. In 1986, an EP titled Paisley was released. After the release of two EP's and being featured on two compilations (Something to Believe In (1983), and Primitive Air Raid (1984)), The Nils were offered to record a full length album for the New York independent based label, Rock Hotel/Profile Records; They of course accepted the offer and signed a contract. In 1987, The Nils was released. The album did get the band some recognition, but for some reason they never really took off. After touring in Canada and The USA, the bands label folded. When this happened Carlos Soria, left the group and got a job. Alex formed and played with other groups, but The Nils reformed in the 90's. They did not release anymore recordings (they are said to have done some demo recordings).


In 1996, a retrospective compilation titled Green Fields in Daylight was released. This collection featured 29 tracks, and included material from the bands EP, full length, along with rare and live recordings. The band quit in 1994, Alex went on with the group Chino, who never really took off either. In 2003, The Nils played some reunion shows. In 2004, Alex Soria passed away. Some have called him Canada's answer to Paul Westerberg (of the Replacements), and he has been called one Canada's most underrated writers. More information on the band can be found on the Magwheel Band History website, on The Hour Music Hall of Fame Website, and on The Nils Myspace page.


songs played:

1. Exploding Hearts - Shattered (You Left me)
2. The Pack - Com' On
3. Television - Friction
4. Rock n' Roll Bitches - Wild West
5. Mutators - What Cuts What
6. The Robots - Ride The Surf
7. The Nils - Freedom
8. Gang of Four - Return the Gift
9. Luger Boa - Don't Talk To Me
10. XS Energy - Imaginary
11. Mark Inside - Lime Green Monkeys
12. Relief Maps - The Water Song
13. Relief Maps - Stamp Out Fatigue
14. Action Makes - Buddies (Rough Mix)
15. Wire - Map Ref. 41°N 93°W
16. Nick Lowe - So it Goes
17. Klark Kent - Ritch in A Ditch
18. The Stranglers - Tank
19. Talking Heads - The Book I Read
20. Public Image Limited - Analisa
21. Devo - Freedom of Choice
22. XTC - Science Friction

To download this week's show visit the CJAM archives and select the files 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM on January, 20th 2009.

Nils Videos:
Freedom (Music Video)

Dirty Power...The Story of Luger Boa and Show # 231

In 2006, New Zealand garage rockers The D4 announced that they would be going on an indefinite hiatus. Guitarist and vocalist Jimmy Christmas began working on material for what to was become Luger Boa. Recorded in Auckland, New Zealand and parts of Australia, over the course of approximately 18 months songs began to take shape for what was to become the album Mutate or Die! The material for this album was actually written before a band was put together. For this album the line up featured Manny Bourakis on bass (from the band The Galvatrons), Karl Kippenberger on drums (from the band Shihad) and Jimmy Christmas did the vocals and guitar. The album was also produced by Barry Palmer (who also did some guitar work on the album).

Released in November of 2008, Mutate or Die!, deals with a variety of subjects such as evolution, confusion, isolation, and resolution. Musically the album shows influences of the likes of T-Rex and David Bowie, while keeping true to the intensive energy that was displayed with The D4. The album opens with the song "Please Please", the song chugs along with intensity, a theme that does not disappear on this album. "Mutate or Die!" appears next with a robotic voiced intro, lyrically it portrays elements of evolution, while musically it twists and bends its way into your head, with chunky guitar riffs and one note keyboards.


The dark and melodic "What is Real?" displays themes of confusion and isolation, but is easily one of the most interesting tracks on the album. "On My Mind", is a slow and melodic song, complete with salty acoustic verses and roaring choruses. "1000 Hooks" comes next. Released as a single in the summer of 2008, this was the first song made available to the public. "1000 Hooks" is a catchy rock song, the guitar work is choppy and greasy at the same time. Other interesting tracks on Mutate or Die! are "Only A Moment Away", a catchy attack and release song, "Humans Rule", a song celebrating humanity, and the slightly funky "Don't Talk To Me". Some editions of the album include the bonus track "Dirty Power".

Overall Luger Boa draws in influences of glam rock, some 70's rock and more. It is definitely worth checking out. Currently the line up for the band contains former D4 drummer Beaver Pooley on drums, Ryan Thomas on guitar, Sam Lockley on guitar, and Simon Nicholls on bass. The band has already played live dates around the New Zealand area and plays Big Day Out in 2009, with plans for a more nationwide tour after that. More information on the band can be found on the Luger Boa myspace page.

Play List:

1. Stooges - Lost in the Future
2. Destroy All Monsters - Bored
3. New Race - Gotta Keep Movin'
4. New Order - Rock'n Roll Soldiers
5. Wylde Rattz - Rosalyn
6. 49th Parallel - Things You Do
7. Ugly Ducklings - Hey Mama (Keep Your Big Mouth Shut)
8. Ride Theory - I'm On Board
9. Gruesomes - Ain't Got Nothing
10. Adverts - We Who Wait
11. The Damned - Problem Child
12. 222s - First Studio Bomb
13. The Polymorphines - Constant Reminder
14. Sloan - Waterfalls
15. T-Rex - Jeepster
16. New York Dolls - Trash
17. The D4 - Little Baby
18. Luger Boa - Only A Moment Away
19. Luger Boa - Dirty Power
20. Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers - One track Mind
21. Generation X - Day By Day
22. Nickel Eye - This is the End
23. The Strokes - New York City Cops
24. The Sonics - Money (That's What I Want)
25. Elvis Costello & The Attractions - No Action

To download this week's show visit the CJAM archives and select the files 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM on January, 13th 2009. (Note: My show starts 30 minutes into the first download and the last part of my show can be found by downloading the 12:00 PM file - you will also get part of the show after mine, known as Not in My Backyard.)

NOTE: If you are looking for this show, check the comments section.

Luger Videos:

1000 Hooks (Music Video)
What Is Real? (Music Video)
On My Mind (Music Video)
I Wanna Girlfriend (Music Video)
Red Bull Sessions (What is Real?/Humans Rule/Please Please/I Wanna Girlfriend/1000 Hooks/Only A Moment Away)

Stooges Guitarist Ron Asheton 1949-2009

it is sad news to report that today on January 6th, 2009 Stooges guitarist Ron Asheton was found dead in his Ann Arbor home. At 60 years old, Ron was known for his inspiring guitar techniques that he developed with The Stooges. While The Stooges did not reach commercial success, they have since their incarnation grown in underground/cult status. The Stooges released three albums starting in 1969. Ron Asheton along with drummer and borther Scott Asheton, joined forces with Iggy Pop and Dave Alexander to form The Stooges in the late 60s. The Stooges took a long break after their 1973 album Raw Power, where Ron played bass.

Ron was also involved in various musical projects such as the short lived band he formed with Scott Asheton New Order, Destroy All Monsters, The New Race (which also contained members of the Australian band Radio Birdman), The Empty Set, and Dark Carnival. He also formed a one off side project known as The Wylde Rattz, which contained Mark Arm (Mudhoney), Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth), Mike Watt, and Steve Shelley. This group recorded a bunch of songs for the movie Velvet Goldmine and would be featured on its soundtrack. The Stooges reformed in 2003 for an Iggy Pop solo album known as Skull Ring. In 2007, The Stooges released their first full length album since 1973's Raw Power. The Weirdness was produced by Steve Albini. The Stooges toured heavily through out since their reformation. The Stooges last played live in Moscow on September, 24th, 2008.

More information on this can be found in the following links:

Ann Arbor News
Iggy Pop's Official Website
Billboard

Next weeks program will feature a block of songs featuring Ron Asheton.

Confused Teenagers...The Story of The Hot Nasties and Show # 230

Warren Kinsella (bass/vocals), Pierre Schenk (guitar), and Alan McDonald (drums) formed a group known as The Hot Nasties in 1976; The band would also contain Wayne Ahem on rhythm guitar and Tom Edwards on drums (he would take over for McDonald who would go onto another Canadian punk band The Sturgeons). Coming from Calgary, Alberta, the band originally went by the name The Social Blemishes. In 1977, they changed their name to the Not Nasties, naming themselves after a triple x rated film.

In 1980, the Hot Nasties released their Invasion of the Tribbles EP. The EP was released on Social Blemish Records, Kinsella's own label. The Ep contained three songs, the chugging punk of "I Am A Confused Teenager", the hectic "Invasion of the Tribbles", and the slow and chunky "The Secret of Immortality". The band would release a full length album of songs on cassette (which is extremely hard to find now), shortly after the release of their first EP. In 1981, the band split up.

In 1994, the bands Invasion of the Tribbles EP was featured on the Canadian punk rock compilation Smash the State Volume 1. Besides playing bass in a punk band in the late 70s/80s, Warren Kinsella would go onto become a Canadian Lawyer, author, and politician. In 2005, he formed a new band called Shit From Hell, releasing an album and Kinsella also released a self titled album as well. The Hot Nasties are a short lived Canadian punk band and while they only have had a few releases they are still known as part of Canadian punk rock history.

More information on the band can be found on the following websites:

Hot Nasties History on Wikipedia
Hot Nasties on Punk History Canada

Play List:

1. Sex Pistols - Bodies
2. The Replacements - Pool & Dive
3. The Urinals - I'm A Bug
4. Modernettes - Teen City
5. Zro4 - Give Me Attention
6. Lowlife - Thinking Naturally
7. Animal Kingdom - Tension
8. Essential Logic - Aerosol Burns
9. kleenex - You
10. Siouxsie & The Banshees - Mirage
11. The Ettes - Marathon
12. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Cold Light
13. Love Me Nots - Move In Tight
14. Hot Nasties - Barney Rubble is My Double
15. Stolen Minks - Bring it (6015 Willow Session)
16. Marble Index - All That I Know
17. The Revelers - Hey Hey Hey
18. The Alarm Clocks - No Reason to Complain
19. Velvet Underground - Run Run Run
20. Luger Boa - Humans Rule
21. Luger Boa - Mutate or Die!
22. The Saints - Know Your Product
23. Hoa Hoas - I Saw You
24. Blur - Chinese Bombs
25. Richard Hell & The Voidoids - Oh
26. XTC - Statue of Liberty
27. The Diodes - Noise
28. Ramones - Come On Now

To download this week's show visit the CJAM archives and select the files 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM on January, 6th 2009.