X More Fun In the New World & Show # 557

“The New World” opens the album More Fun In The New World by the Los Angeles band X. The song attacks in a dizzying laidback rhythm that has drawn comparisons to The Clash’s “London Calling”. The song bounces with the melodic bass notes of John Doe, the chiming and stop and start guitar parts by Billy Zoom, the in the pocket groove of D.J. Bonebrake and the harmonizing vocal parts of John Doe and Exene Cervenka. The song tells the story in a cinematic, poetic nature as do a majority of the songs on this album. “The New World” probes with a political message wrapped around the narrative of a bum trying to get a drink on Election Day. The song addressed the times of a then recession in the 80s in the Ronald Regan era, but with a message that still can be relatable over thirty years later.

The pace picks up a bit with the second track “We’re Having Much More Fun”, a song that tells a tale of rambunctiousness in Los Angeles and “True Love” where singer Exene rants about love and the devil. “Poor Girl” brings in a subtle rockabilly groove while blending a Bo Diddley style influence. Sung by bassist John Doe, the lyrics build a character sketch of a drunken lover who holds all the cards with lyrics such as “Poor little girl/Run away for good/I try to explain/Why she won’t say a thing” that further adds embellishments to the outlines to this songs character sketch. “Make The Music Go Bang” attacks with a punk rock fury reminiscent of the band’s earlier recordings with Billy Zoom’s crunchy sliding guitar leads and a line that sets the tone for the time and mood of the album, “Bang, bang make the music go bang/Brilliant shining and nasty”. As the album’s fifth track the band cover the song “Breathless”, a song once performed and made a classic by Jerry Lee Lewis. On this track X takes their own off the rails aggressive sound, combined with Exene Cervenka’s passionately charged vocals and apply it to this song to make it their own. This song also made an appearance to the 1983 film of the same name starring Richard Gere. Coincidently, this movie about a French girl and an American criminal in Los Angeles was a remake of a film by French filmmaker Francois Truffant. X created their own “remake” so to speak of the song “Breathless” that ends out the film and it also finds a place on More Fun In The New World. This album was the first in a series of albums where they began to expand their musical borders beyond the scope of punk and this is a shining example of it.

“I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts” is a social commentary by X, which addresses everything from war to the state of punk and radio in America at the time. One of the lines in this song references bands at the time that did not get airplay, but one’s that were and still are highly influential today, the lines “I hear the radio is finally gonna play new music/You know, the British invasion/But what about The Minutemen, Flesh Eaters, DOA, Big Boys and The Black Flag?” filter in at one point in this song adding to its rant, yet also to the musical elements of the song which displays a cleaner sound. The state of finding music was vastly different to our current Internet age where information and songs can be looked up instantly, but at the same time this song brings to mind the parallels of the past and present. While it was most definitely a different time in 1983, there were still challenges being a band and having your voice heard. The same problems exist today, but in a different social construct.

“Devil Doll” attacks with a furious punk sound ala Los Angeles and features what many feel as guitarist one of Billy Zoom’s recording highlights with the band. “Paint The Town Blue’ chronicles a domestic abuse story amongst the same energy displayed on “Devil Doll”, “Hot House” is driven by a roots rock beat, venturing into blues rock territory, while the album ends with the punk funk of “True Love Pt. 2”. This song while it has been compared to “This Is Radio Clash” type funk, seems more influenced by the nervous punk funk concoctions created by Talking Heads. This song ends the album on a very different note addressing music from the 50s lyrically and in the construct of a new wave funk musical sound. The juxtaposition of both brings the past into the present then, which was 1983. But this also can perhaps be seen as the different directions the band would take and in their own solo expeditions as musicians.

With More Fun In The New World, X released their fourth album and their final album to feature Ray Manzarek of The Doors in the producer seat. His role on the first four X album’s including this one, added to their aggressive, wax poetic sound. On the other hand, this album infuses different lyrical observations in the spirit of folk and also features an exploration of sorts out of the confines of punk rock and into perhaps what some view as a drive towards a more commercial sound. The band first started exploring other musical avenues on 1982’s Under The Black Sun. However, More Fun In The New World is just as uncompromising as Los Angeles, Wild Gift and Under The Black Sun. The album’s cover features an 80s MTV look and linear notes that are cut and paste like an old DIY punk zine. This could also be seen as a representation of what to find on More Fun In The New World. There are many textures to the cover’s 80s styled MTV animation, just like some of the songs found on More Fun In The New World. But when you pull out the record sleeve on the inside it shows the band’s punk attitude and spirit.



Saturday Night Play List:

1. Elvis Costello & The Attractions - I Stand Accused
2. Electric Prunes - You Never Had It Better (Live Stockholm 67)
3. The Mummies - She Lied
4. Redline - IRA
5. The Prehistoric Cave Strokers - Stereotypical Blues Tune
6. Sex Pistols - (I”m Not Your) Stepping Stone
7. Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Do The Get Down
8. The Saints - Miss Wonderful
9. The Elwins - So Down Low
10. Tough Age - NIcolas Bragg
11. Turbo Fruits - Show Me Something Real
12. The Pagans - Dream Lover
13. Death - The Times
14. Pow Wows - Going Dark
15. The King Khan & BBQ Show - Alone Again
16. The High Drops - Had To Go
17. Bloodshot Bill - Two-Timer
18. Pokey La Farge - Actin’ A Fool
19. The Ding Dongs - Don’t Ring, Come On In
20. The Razorbacks - Can’t Blame Me For Trying
21. The Sherwoods - El Scorpion
22. The Jesters - Peter Gunn Twist
23. Bob Dylan - Some Enchanted Evening
24. The Spooky But Nice - The Embassy
25. Nirvana - You Know You’re Right (Home Demo)
26. Cardboard Brains - Caesar Drives A Fast Car
27. Igenerents — Wrong Place Wrong Time
28. XS Energy - Imaginary
29. Jared Brown - My Shapeshifter
30. Nothing At All - Busted
31. X - The New World
32. X - We’re Having Much More Fun

To download this weeks program, visit CJAM's schedule page for Revolution Rock and download the file for April 25. Or subscribe to Revolution Rock as a Podcast.

Pedestrian At Best, The Five Bucks & Show # 556

Courtney Barnett - Pedestrian At Best

“Pedestrian At Best” is the first single from Courtney Barnett’s 2015 release Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit. The self-deprecating song showcases Barnnett’s hazy, rambling style lyrics in a song that sounds like a cross between something on Nirvana’s In Utero and something from The Kinks early recordings. This album is also Barnett’s debut full-length album and it follows a series of acclaimed EPs that were combined into one compilation entitled The Double EP: A Of Split Peas. You can find Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit Mom + Pop Music.



The Five Bucks - No Use In Trying/Now You're Mine

Based out of Ann Arbor, Michigan, The Five Bucks were a garage band formed in 1965 from the Ann Arbor and University of Michigan campus. The group recorded their first single No Use In Trying b/w Now You’re Gone (mislabeled as “Now You’re Mine”) in May of 1966 on Afton Records. The single’s A-side is an organ driven garage punk track with a somewhat sneering message while it’s B-side is moody ballad and soulful organ. The single is an example of a lost gem in the realm of garage punk music. The band released two more singles I’ll Walk Alone/So Wrong in November of 1966 (as The Five Bucs) and Breath Of Time/Without You in 1967. The band changed their name to Byzantine Empire following in 1967.



Saturday Night Play List:

1. The Stones - Gunner Ho
2. The Five Bucks - No Use In Trying
3. Christian Bland & The Revelators - Alone In Deer Park
4. No Museums - Mosquitos
5. The Melvins & Hank Williams III - Ramblin' Man
6. Alex Chilton - Free Again
7. Roy Orbison - You’re My Baby
8. Ramones - The Return Of Jackie & Judy
9. The Viletones - Never Feel Sad
10. The Pack AD - Blackout
11. The Jam - David Watts
12. The Specials - The Dawning Of A New Era
13. Courtney Barnett- Pedestrian At Best
14. Pre-Nods - Dirtbag For Life
15. The Noble Savages - Music Will Kill You
16. Paul Jacobs - Never Alone
17. Dead Ghosts - I Want Your Love
18. Suuns & Jerusalem In My Heart - Metal
19. No Age - Neck Escapers
20. Spencer Davis Blues Explosion - R.L. Got Soul
21. The Mighty Swells - Shot In The Dark
22. Bob Vaught & The Renegades - Church Key Twist
23. Neil Young - Wonderin’ (Live)
24. Jerry Jerry & The Sons Of Rhythm Orchestra - The Drift
25. Mission Of Burma - The Enthusiast
26. Flying Squad - Godzilla
27. Nap Eyes - Tribal Thoughts
28. Pointed Sticks - New Ways
29. The Boys - First Time
30. Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers - Born To Lose

To download this weeks program, visit CJAM's schedule page for Revolution Rock and download the file for April 18. Or subscribe to Revolution Rock as a Podcast.

The King Khan & BBQ Show Bad News Boys & Show # 555

Bad News Boys begins with the doo-wop, garage stomp of “Alone Again”, a song drenched in 50s rock ‘n’ roll influences. Sung by this duo’s drummer, rhythm guitarist and main vocalist Mark Sultan (aka BBQ), the song strikes a powerful, yet melodic chord that not only introduces us to King Khan & BBQ Show’s first album in six years, but it is also seeped in 50’s rock ballad drama. During the song’s three minute time frame, lead guitarist King Khan plays his own blend of arpeggio-drunk-a-billy guitar riffs amongst his doo-wop backing vocals and BBQ’s primal backbeat groove. While this song contains the obvious elements of a love song, it also is somewhat symbolic given The King Khan & BBQ Show’s chaotic history. In 2010, the band announced they were splitting up for good following the release and tour of 2009’s Invisible Girl. “Alone Again” evokes a togetherness in contrast to the songs surface message. The King Khan & BBQ Show are alone and together again creating their own brand of musical mayhem.

“Illuminations” follows next. Sung by King Khan, this song shines bright with a gritty 1978 punk groove, while King Khan sings of being a spark in the dark within a world of bright distractions as the chorus tells us “Illuminations/Don’t let them leave you behind”. The King Khan & BBQ Show then re-introduce their dark B-movie style and at times silly/ramshackle lyrics in a mix of salty tambourines and strong vocal melodies in “Kiss My Sister’s Fist”, an element that returns at several points on this album. On “Buy Bye Bhai” the band amps up their soul influences. Despite it’s lo-fi production, this song rises above it’s production techniques with its offbeat, soulful Otis Redding influenced vocal melodies and warped guitar dynamics. “D.F.O” shows The King Khan & BBQ Show flexing their hardcore punk twang in a toilet humoured track that lasts less than a minute and one that breaks up the filthy, but beautiful “Buy Bye Bhai” and the slow chugging melodies of “We Are The Champion”. This song was originally released as a single to prior to the album’s release in 2014.

“Ocean Of Love” brings back the band’s soulful influence, mixed with their brand of doo-wop and in this case, sand dusted, glassy rhythms. “Snacking After Midnight” brings rusty rhythms and cartoonish/B-horror movie lyrics, along with the murky “Killing The Wolfman”. This song treads through muddy swamp verses while the song’s paranoid lyrics conjure up images of “chemical werewolves, moons“ and ends with a howl. “Never Felt Like This” is a nostalgic love song, as with ‘’Buy Bye Bhai”, brings in a strong soulful influence. The song lyrically as with the opening number, could be seen as a reunion of sorts after a long hiatus. Bad News Boys ends with an odd curveball, as we are thrown into the noisy punk assault of “Zen Machines”. This song has obviously thrown off several reviewers, who claim the song is the weakest moment on this twelve-track release. This song is a barrage of fast punk riffs, which references late night talk show host Conan O’Brien and ends as if there is a CD or record skipping. The album ends on a riotous note, one that is perhaps unexpected. This could be a sign of things to come from The King Khan & BBQ Show. Sounds like this were last explored on 2006’s What’s For Dinner? This song shakes things up, making the album less predictable than what some people may predict, while at the same time hitting the notes on the sounds we might expect from The King Khan & BBQ Show.

Initially, The King Khan & BBQ Show stated that they would be changing their name to Bad News Boys, a name that they were going to go by many years ago prior to settling on The King Khan & BBQ Show. Fortunately they kept The King Khan & BBQ Show moniker and instead called the album Bad News Boys. Fittingly, this album treads in the band’s earlier musical territory, while at the same time not taking itself too seriously. Six years is sometimes the entire lifespan of a band, but with Bad News Boys, The King Khan & BBQ Show chime in with their primitive, melodic sounds and an undeniable chemistry together as musicians. The music found on this album is similar to the band’s previous releases, but there are small subtleties that make it different. However, that is not necessarily the point. The King Khan & BBQ Show are a raunchy, sloppy, raw rock ‘n' roll band. Bad News Boys proves that they still have what it takes to entertain the average listener. The bad news for some would be if you expected any different.

Saturday Night Playlist:

1. Jerry Lee Lewis - Wild One
2. Deja Voodoo - Gotta Have Money
3. Just Brothers - Sliced Tomatoes
4. Pere Ubu - Life Stinks
5. Jay Reatard - Screaming Hand
6. Summer Cannibals - Show Us Your Mind
7. C & C Surf Factory - Takeshiesque
8. Surf Kitties - Breaker
9. The Nomads - Bounty Hunter
10. The Dictators - California Sun
11. Pink Wine - Persistent Cops
12. Pow Wows - Surfin’ Dirge
13. Parquet Courts - Ducking & Dodging (Live)
14. The King Khan & BBQ Show - Ocean Of Love
15. The King Khan & BBQ Show - Killing The Wolfman
16. Painted Ship - Frustration (Alternate Version)
17. Pissed Jeans - Half Idiot
18. The Birthday Party - Nick The Stripper
19. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - I'm Gonna Kill That Woman
20. Titus Andronicus - Titus Anronicus
21. Sonic Youth - Burning Spear
22. Andrew Jackson Jihad - No One
23. Diamond Rugs - Motel Room
24. Bob Dylan & The Band - Edge Of The Ocean
25. The Rolling Stones - Complicated
26. The Normals - Almost Ready
27. Strange Attractor - Anything
28. The Cramps - Drug Train
29. The Black Lips - The Best Napkin I Ever Had
30. The Stooges - Down On The Street (Take 13)
31. The Strokes - Take It Or Leave It
32. The Replacements - If Only You Were Lonely

To download this weeks program, visit CJAM's schedule page for Revolution Rock and download the file for April 11. Or subscribe to Revolution Rock as a Podcast.

G Stands For Go-Betweens & Show # 554

Formed by Robert Forester and Grant McLennan while at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, in 1976, The Go-Betweens were a band featuring the two songwriters and a variety of other musicians that were augmented into the band’s line up at different points in the band’s career. “Cattle and Cane” was a song written by Grant McLennan in 1982. The song was composed on Nick Cave’s acoustic guitar in his London apartment by McLennan while Cave was reportedly comatose following substance use. In “Cattle and Cane”, often called a gentle ballad, McLennan created a story in song that he has called “three vignettes of a person, who's a lot like myself, growing up in Queensland, and just juxtaposing that against how I am now." Musically, the song is dominated by acoustic guitar riffs, strong melodic bassline and backing vocals. It is a very stripped down affair that is not plagued by the elements of 80s over production, however, the song does contain guitar and effects that place the song in an 80s indie rock construct. Following the writing of this song McLennan brought it to Robert Forester who also has a co-writing credit on the song and it was recorded in October of 1982 at I.B.C Studios in Eastbourne, UK. Released in February 1983 prior to the release of The Go-Betweens second album Before Hollywood, “Cattle and Cane” is also found on the album as well. A music video was filmed for the song in a barn, featuring dim lighting and a new bass player Robert Vickers. While Vickers was not on the actual recording of the song (McLennan plays bass and provides the main vocals on this track), he did appear in the video and on the single’s B-side “Man O’Sand To Girl O’Sea”. The song and video also features drums and backing vocals by Lindy Morrison, who joined the band as their drummer in 1980. The single went on to become number four on the UK independent charts in 1983 and has since been heralded as a classic. In 2015, G Stands For Go-Betweens – Volume 1, a boxed set that compiles the band’s recordings from 1976-1984 was released via the Domino records label.



Saturday Night Playlist:

1. Ty Segall & White Fence - Crybaby
2. JD McPherson - Head Over Heels
3. Frankie & Jimmy - Got My Mojo Workin’
4. Sonic Youth - Teen Age Riot (Live)
5. The Wipers - No Generation Gap
6. Destruction Unit - The World On Drugs (Live)
7. Silent Movie Type - Cap Guns
8. Young Guv - Dear Drew
9. Flight Of Niko - Depressing Feat
10. The Bureaucrats - Crush You In My Arms
11. The Ugly Beats - Can’t Cut Through
12. Max Pain And The Groovies - Drip
13. The Torquays - Stolen Moments
14. The Odds & Ends - Cause You Don’t Love Me
15. Chips & Co. - Let The Winds Blow
16. The Motions - Big Chief
17  The Mighty Swells - Stampede
18. Los Explosivos - Rocking Heart
19. Actual Water - The Wait
20. The Traditional Fools - Milkman
21. Gentlemen Of Horror - Rough Hike
22. Bonnie Prince Billy - No Match
23. The Byrds - Pretty Polly
24. The Plugz - Beserkertown
25. Chad Vangaalen — It Must Be Alright
26. X-Ray Spex - Warrior In Woolworths
27. The Go-Betweens - Hope
28. The Government - Fire Escape
27. Ricked Wicky - Death Metal
28. Mark Sultan - Livin' My Life
29. The Only Ones - Out There In The Night
30. Simply Saucer - Bullet Proof Nothing

To download this weeks program, visit CJAM's schedule page for Revolution Rock and download the file for April 4. Or subscribe to Revolution Rock as a Podcast.

Diamond Rugs Cosmetics Interview & Show # 553

What do Deer Tick’s John McCauley, Robbie Crowell, Ian St. Pe (formerly of The Black Lips), Hardy Morris of Dead Confederate, Bryan Dufresne of Six Finger Satellite, Steve Berlin of Los Lobos and a trash bag used as an instrument all have in common? You can find all of this on Cosmetics, the sophomore album by the band Diamond Rugs. The term supergroup is tossed around in articles about this band that seems to focus on all the outside elements that make up this band and while that is important, it is the songs themselves and their content that make this album and band so striking. Building on 2012’s self-tiled fourteen-track release, Cosmetics adds more groove, soul and chemistry to Diamond Rugs aesthetic. The album opens with “Voodoo Doll” a song that starts with a lone raunchy guitar riff, drum count in and a sneaky laugh before brassy horn sections come in. Trying to explain the instrumentation of this song by itself could give you the wrong impression of what to expect on Cosmetics. The chorus of the song brings in organ and synthesizer, used in such a subtle way it adds to the song’s make up, not getting lost in the groove of the actual song. Drawing comparisons to The Replacements “I Don’t Know” from 1987’s Pleased To Meet Me, “Voodoo Doll” sucks you in with its inexplicable groove.

“Thunk” comes in next echoing a similar raw garage-soul vibe as the album’s opener. Sung by Hardy Morris in between horns, piano and crunchy guitar riffs, as the lyrics evoke a story about someone that doesn’t quite know why they are involved in a certain situation, but still remain there. With lyrics such as “I never thought I’d be your problem/By the way/The way you talk I should be long, long gone” this point is proven more so. Additionally, there are some guitar lead lines that seem to reflect the influence of the Los Angeles punk band The Plugz, perhaps best known for providing the soundtrack to Alex Cox’s 1984 film Repo Man (but more on that later). “Thunk” and “Voodoo Doll” both share the same undefined charm. An interesting side note on The Plugz, Steve Berlin was also featured as a guest musician on the band’s second album Better Luck in 1981.

“I Couldn’t Help It” brings in a different type of vibe with pulsating basslines, acoustic guitars and McCauley’s vocals, which deliver a song with many melodic, mellow moments. “Meant To Be” brings in a laidback melody in a fuzzy, swampy, blues garage romp, “Live and Shout It” features vocals by both Ian St. Pe and John McCauley within its playful dynamics, loose jangly rhythms and a “believe it if you say it” message. “So What” attacks with a garage-punk aesthetic, walking basslines, swelling synthesizers and witty lyrics that state “I love you/So what”, while “Ain’t Religion” brings in smooth grooves and melodies. The acoustic guitars, drums and subtle basslines dominate the verses of this song. Lyrically, the song is as guitarist Ian St. Pe said in a recent track-by-track article with Relix “not all set in stone. But it is love that two people share and perhaps that does come from above.”

The chorus of “Ain’t Religion” provides a guitar line to the song, soaked in reverb, one that is reminiscent slightly to the song “Reel Ten” by The Plugz. This song was used as part of the soundtrack and score to Alex Cox’s 1984 film Repo Man. In the film the main character Otto finds himself amongst a collection of troublesome characters in a world that involves car repossession, aliens and punk teenagers. There is also a search for a car that has a high reward attached to it. In the film the car floats supernaturally away at one point, just like the guitar lines played here in this song’s chorus. “Ain’t Religion” searches and floats with a hard to define, unexplained, yet effective melody. This song’s lyrical and musical content ride to a degree in a Repo Man-like spirit, as it cruises its way in at track number seven on Cosmetics.

“Blame” bounces with a countrified rhythm, drawing comparisons to Gram Parsons musically in some reviews. Lyrically the song with its sharp witty lyrics such as “Say what you will/But I blame me on you” also help to drive this song in a be careful what you wish for type tale. “Motel Room” sung by John McCauley, ends the album in a collection of soulful horns, distorted guitars, murky bass rhythms and sleazy tongue-in-cheek lyrics. Some say it is the best of the eleven tracks found here, but this song along with the other ten tracks all add to Cosmetics, well sequenced, no frills approach.

While many may have thought that Diamond Rugs were a one-time thing made up of musicians from other successful bands in their own right, they are not wearing anything to cover up themselves on Cosmetics. Diamond Rugs mix all the right musical chemical compounds and a boozy six-pack charm to construct a sound and album that can make you feel good. There are many different kinds of cosmetics out there, but Diamond Rugs Cosmetics are the kind we should all get behind.

Check out the interview I did with Diamond Rugs bassist Robbie Crowell here:



Saturday Night Playlist:

1. Bipolaroid - Supernatural Beauty
2. Threads Of Fybre - Believe Me
3. Prefab Messiahs - Bobb’s Psychedelic Car
4. Of Montreal - Virgilian Lots
5. Feral Trash - Dead Weight
6. Pink Wine - Can’t Get Out
7. Paul Jacobs - That Feeling
8. The Cynics - Born To Lose (Live)
9. George Jones - If I Don’t Love You Baby (Grits And Groceries)
10. Deer Tick - Main Street
11. Diamond Rugs - Thunk

Robbie Crowell Diamond Rugs Interview

12. Diamond Rugs -Blame
13. Los Lobos - Kiko And The Lavender Moon
14. Matt Mays & El Torpedo - Rock Ranger Record
15. What Seas What Shores - Twice, Twice, Twice
16. The Nervebreakers - Why Am I So Flipped?
17. Average Times - Popsicle
18. King Creep - I’m No Good
19. Sam Coffey & The Iron Lungs - East Side
20. The Paupers - If I Told My Baby
21. Indian Wars - Windshield Wiper Blues
22. Bloodshot Bill - Gee Whiz
23. Blimp Rock - Let’s All Stay In Tonight
24. Active Dog - Nothing Holding You
25. The Scissors - Mystery Movie
26. The Pointed Sticks - Real Thing
27. Nick Lowe - Burning
28. Television - Friction (Alternate Version)

To download this weeks program, visit CJAM's schedule page for Revolution Rock and download the file for March 28. Or subscribe to Revolution Rock as a Podcast.

Mystery Train: The Song, The Book, The Film And The Myth & Show # 552

When referring to Mystery Train, it can be looked at in three ways. There is the song covered by Elvis Presley that was first recorded by American Blues musician Junior Parker in 1953, The 1975 book by Greil Marcus often cited as one of the best books written about pop music and finally the 1989 film by Jim Jarmusch. The film delves into the myth of Elvis and early American music through three stories and characters.

The song “Mystery Train” first appeared under this title in 1953. It was recorded by Sun Records American blues recording artist Junior Parker as a follow up to his single “Feelin’ Good” which charted on the Billboard R&B charts at number five. The genesis of the song itself has been said to come from a few sources. “Mystery Train” was based on The Carter Family’s “Worried Man Blues” released in 1930, which itself was based on an old Irish Celtic folk ballad. The song has since been covered by numerous artists and there are many versions of the song that exist, but it is perhaps best known as being performed by Elvis Presley.

In August of 1955, “Mystery Train” was covered and reworked as the B-side to the Elvis Presley single “I Forgot To Remember To Forget”. For this version of the song Presley changed some of the lyrics, which in turn changed the song’s original somber tone put forth by Junior Parker to a more confident mood and feeling. Musically, guitarist Scotty Moore blended country and blues elements to create a galloping locomotive rockabilly rhythm that echoes the influence of the Merle Travis song “Sixteen Tons” from 1946 and also features a guitar riff from Junior Parker’s 1953 song “Love My Baby”. The changes made to this song also continues the folk tradition and trend in which Junior Parker originally used to create his version of the song in 1953. Despite all the versions recorded of this song, Presley’s version still is consistently considered one of the best versions released.

In 1975, the book Mystery Train: Images of America in Rock ‘n’ Roll Music written by American author and music journalist Greil Marcus was released. This book, which celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2015, contextualizes and explores the image of America used in rock music, it’s evolution and impact on our culture. The book as previously mentioned is considered one of the most provocative books written about rock music. Marcus places eight songs by American musicians in comparison to the literary models of Moby Dick, The Great Gatsby and Stagger Lee.

In 1989 Jim Jarmusch released the movie Mystery Train. The film separated in three parts, explores the myth of Elvis and its impact on the characters in the film and their lives, taking the myth analyzed by Marcus and the aura created by the song itself to another level. The movie features several musicians placed within acting roles in the film’s narrative construct. Musicians Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, Joe Strummer and the voice of Tom Waits all appear in the film. While there are many ways to look at this song and its influence on American culture, the song, the book and the 1989 movie by Jim Jarsmusch all add to the many factors surrounding the Mystery Train title. The title itself in the context of the song has never really been explained and is mentioned nowhere in the song’s lyrics. This is perhaps representative of the myth that it creates. It has been analyzed, discussed and been used to create different art forms, but there still is for lack of a better term a “mystery” surrounding it. The ideas put forth by Mystery Train may be forever “coming around the bend” as it still draws us in no matter which track it takes to get to us.

Saturday Night Playlist:

1. The Slit Plasters - The Dung Fly
2. Moon Duo - Zero
3. Vietcong - Continental Shelf
4. BA Johnston - What A Wonderful Mediocre Day
5. Wavves - King Of The Beach
6. Dave Arcari - Devil's Left Hand
7. The Locusts Have No King - Last Night In My Favourite Bar
8. Tom Waits - Bad As Me
9. Junior Parker - Mystery Train
10. Harmonica Frank - Rocking Chair Daddy
11. Robert Johnson - If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day
12. Daniel Romano - A Losing Song
14. The Hives - Blood Red Moon
15. Joel Plaskett - Broken Heart Songs
16. James O-L & The Villains - Cross Country Canada
17. Chris Crossroads - Lost In The 13th Dimension
18. Sly & The Family Stone - Time
19. Randy Newman - God's Song
20. Elvis Presley - Mystery Train
21. Unrelated Segments - Cry Cry Cry
22. Pow Wows - You Haven’t Got Me Yet
23. Teenanger - Singles Don’t $ell
24. Ramblin' Ambassadors - Lungbucket
25. Nirvana - Hairspray Queen
26. Pluto - Million And Two
27. The Lurkers - Hey You

To download this weeks program, visit CJAM's schedule page for Revolution Rock and download the file for March 21. Or subscribe to Revolution Rock as a Podcast.

Rocket Trash & Show # 551

Rock ‘n’ Roll Monkey & The Robots first album Detroit Trauma was released in 2005. This three-piece band from Detroit, Michigan, was started by bassist/vocalist Craig Campbell originally to finish some unreleased material at the time. The result was a band that blended elements of garage, R&B, punk/new wave and well crafted songwriting skills. In January 2014 the band released their fifth album Rocket Trash/Strings & Traps, which is an LP comprised of two 45-RPM EPs. This vinyl only released also displayed elements of what could described as trashy new wave-meets-surf with a dash of folk, Mersey beat and pop. The following two videos are animations done by Sam C. You can pick up a copy of Rock ‘n’ Roll Monkey & The Robots 12 inch record Rocket Trash/Strings & Traps over at their bandcamp page.





Saturday Night Play List:

1. The Rezillos - I Like It
2. Private School - Science Fiction
3. UJ3RKS - Eisenhower and The Hippies
4. Gang Of Four - Broken Talk
5. Ex-Cult - Dripping Mouth
6. Silent Movie Type - Mannequins
7. The Secret V’s - Waiting For The Drugs To Take Hold
8. The Breakaways - One Way Ticket
9. Flamin’ Groovies - Him Or Me
10. Twerps - White As Snow
11. The Missing Links - Where Were You Last Night
12. King Beezz - Found & Lost
13. The Stray Cats - Jeannie, Jeannie, Jeannie
14. Paul Westerberg - High Time
15. Kim Gray - On Top
16. Fil Spectre - Homesick Party Kids
17. Apollo’s Apaches - Cry Me A Lie
18. The Illusions - Wait Till The Summer
19. The Roots - It’s Been A Long Journey
20. The Gories - There But For The Grace Of God
21. Rock ’n’ Roll Monkey & The Robots - I Really Like You
22. Rock ’n’ Roll Monkey & The Robots - Checkpoint Charlie
23. Lost Patrol - Rescue Me
24. The Squires - Aurora
25. The Sons of Hercules - Bad Time
26. The Diodes - Lost In The Dark
27. The Zeros - Hungry
28. The Dils - Class War
29. Elliot Smith - Needle In The Hay
30. Parquet Courts - Vienna II (Live At Third Man Records)
31. Parquet Courts - Always Back In Town (Live At Third Man Records)
32. The Black Lips - O Katrina!
33. The Damned - Neat, Neat, Neat

To download this weeks program, visit CJAM's schedule page for Revolution Rock and download the file for March 14. Or subscribe to Revolution Rock as a Podcast.

Pow Wows Broken Curses Interview & Show # 550

Pow Wows highly anticipated second full-length Broken Curses was released in February 2015 on Get Hip Recordings. This album follows the 2011 release Nightmare Soda, where Pow Wows first displayed their garage punk psych and R&B twang in a greased lightning fashion, and a series of recent singles in 2012/2013. Recorded and mixed by Steve Major in Toronto at Verge Music Lab and mastered by Jim Diamond at Ghetto Recorders in Detroit, this ten-track release contains the same intensity that was first displayed back in 2011. The press release for this album states that the songs are “tales of dystopia with a back beat. Party rock for end times” and that couldn’t be more accurate.

“Fire Song” starts off Broken Curses with a burning intensity. As the song progresses we are engulfed by fuzzy garage riffs, clanging guitar chords, steady, driving basslines and a shower of drums that attempt to cool the heat put forth in the opening moments of Broken Curses. “Rebel Stomp” first appeared on the limited edition live cassette Bent Out Of Shape in 2013, but comes in second on Broken Curses as we are taken through a series of guitar riffs that sound like the Yardbirds being assaulted by a gang of 60s garage nugget bands. As the chorus hits we hear lyrics that seem to rally a call for independent thought amongst the minutia of opinionated boring daily life. “Car Cemetery” attacks with a locomotive-like rhythm echoing elements of Davie Allan & The Arrows, The Cramps, The Gun Club and features a breakdown that fuzzes with the influence of the 13th Floor Elevators. To add to all this there are even motorcycle sounds added to the mix.

With “I Can See But You Don’t Know” Pow Wows take on a song by The Equals as The Clash did with their version of The Equals “Police On My Back” for their album Sandinista in 1980. This song is almost unrecognizable as an Equals song and it fits Pow Wows sound and style perfectly. It is a song that they have made their own. “You Haven’t Got Me Yet” is a hidden gem on track five on this ten-track album, this song is notable for its stop and start guitar and bass groove as subtle psychedelic reverb sounds reverberate in the background of the verses and choruses. Amongst these rhythms, reverb soaked guitar riffs hook you in as lyrically the song broadcasts a message for not giving up when the metaphorical deck of cards are stacked against you.

Other tracks on this album include the organ and fuzz driven “Surfin’ Dirge”, “Hidden Future” and “Going Dark”. This track has a cleaner guitar sound in the earlier parts of the song mixed with darker or dirtier sounding lyrics. The chorus seems to reflect 70s punk influences as elements of The Gun Club slide in throughout this track. The song’s lyrics seem to portray the struggle of being a musician in the modern age in this modern day garage punk blues romp. The last two tracks on Broken Curses bring in a different type of groove and feeling, but one that ties the record and its lyrical themes together. “Traces” is the longest song found on this album clocking in at over four minutes. It is a somber track with a slower groove and riotous eruptive choruses, while lyrically the song paints the picture of a modern dystopian world. “Lost Sunset” ends the album calling for understanding when you have gone past the point of no return. This hazy track juxtaposes with the opening track “Fire Song” as it smolders with the reverb drenched sounds of 60s surf.

In 2011, Pow Wows served up a potent fizzy cocktail with Nightmare Soda. In the mix we found the ingredients were made up of garage, punk, surf and R&B influences. 2012 and 2013 brought singles to quench our thirst, but with Broken Curses Pow Wows have shaken things up yet again. The fizzy cocktail that was once served to us in 2011 has now exploded in a ten-track blast. Like a dried up soda that has crusted over, this album offers a new grittiness in the spirit of the cyclic fuzz driven sounds of Davie Allan & The Arrows, garage, punk and surf music all in a modern context. With Broken Curses, Pow Wows provide us with their own unique garage noir lyrics and musical style in ten tracks that has a dizzying cohesiveness to it.

Listen to the interview I did with Pow Wows bassist/vocalist Ryan Rothwell here:



The Play List:

1. The Honeycombs - Can’t Get Through To You
2. The Angels - Get Away From Me
3. Demolition Doll Rods - Lil Darlin
4. Pearls Mahone - Blow Your Top
5. The Delmonas - I Did Him Wrong
6. The Z-Rays - Number Nine
7. The Cramps - Domino
8. Pow Wows - Fire Song
9. Pow Wows - Car Cemetery

Pow Wows Ryan Rothwell Interview

10. Pow Wows - Rebel Stomp
11. BA Johnston - You Can Love Someone And Hate The Things They Love
12. Dum Dum Girls - Yours Alone
13. X Ray Spex - Obsessed With You
14. Diamond Rugs - Voodoo Doll
15. Brat Kings - Good Drugs (Pinball Session)
16. Paul Jacobs - Pop Can Ashtray
17. The Curse - No More Ice Cream (Live)
18. The Dishrags - Can’t Wait
19. Colleen Green - I Want To Grow Up
20. Sleater-Kinney - A New Wave
21. A Place To Bury Strangers - Straight
22. Ricked Wicky - Guts
23. Alex Chilton - Just To See You
24. JD McMpherson - It Shook Me Up
25. Ty Segall Band - Slaughterhouse (Live In San Francisco)
26. Ty Segall Band - Skin (Live In San Francisco)
27. Ty Segall Band - Standing At The Station (Live In San Francisco)
28. The Replacements - Seen Your Video

To download this weeks program, visit CJAM's schedule page for Revolution Rock and download the file for March 7. Or subscribe to Revolution Rock as a Podcast.

The Challengers Surfbeat & Show # 549

The story of the surf band The Challengers first began with the formation of The Bel-Airs from South Bay, Los Angeles, who broke up in 1963. Out of the ashes of this instrumental surf rock group several bands were formed. Guitarist Paul Johnson would later go on to join Cat Mother & The All Night Newsboys and be involved in a variety of other musical avenues. The group’s other guitarist Eddie Bertrand formed Eddie & The Showmen. Another interesting note is The Bel-Airs first drummer was Dick Dodd who later went on to play with the garage rock band The Standells as a drummer/vocalist. It was the band’s second drummer Richard Delvy (who replaced Dodd) that would go on to form The Challengers. The Bel-Airs were known for their 1961 single “Mr. Moto”, which is notable for being one of the very first surf instrumental songs recorded. The band split in 1963. Apparently an argument about the use of heavier reverb in their sound led to their split. At the time, The Bel-Airs and Dick Dale were both very popular in their regions, Dale in Orange County, The Bel-Airs in South Bay. These two factors are important because the bands formed out of The Bel-Airs and Dick Dale’s music would strongly influence popular culture and the surf music genre. When Delvy formed The Challengers in 1962, the band was made up of Glenn Gray (lead guitar), Don Landis (rhythm guitar), Randy Nauert (bass) and Nick Hefner on saxophone. Additionally, Jim Roberts (from The Bel-Airs) was added to the line-up on keyboards.

After earning enough money to enter a recording studio, The Challengers recorded the album that would be known as Surfbeat in a 3 ½ hour session at a jazz recording studio owned by World Pacific Records. The songs recorded were basically the band’s live set, but the selection of songs that were recorded for this release were mostly covers. This set included covers of songs by Duane Eddy, The Fireballs, an instrumental version of The Beach Boys song “Surfin’ Safari” that was released just a few months before The Challengers album and a nod to future surf icon Dick Dale with covers of “Let’s Go Trippin”, “Miserlou”. The band even re-recorded The Bel-Airs hit “Mr. Moto” and two songs on this album are actually recordings by The Bel-Airs (“Kamikaze”, “Vampire”).

Surfbeat was originally released on Vault records in January 1963. The album was one of the very first all instrumental surf albums. Dick Dale & His Del-Tones had released a surf album prior to this (Surfers’ Choice), but the album had songs that contained vocals. Surfbeat sold 200,000 copies and would go on to become the best selling surf album of all time. This album also featured electric bass. Prior to this recordings were made with mostly stand-up bass. With the electric bass, it contributed to a harder more driven sound. The Challengers Surfbeat also helped to bring surf from the West Coast into the mainstream subconscious and popularize the genre in other parts of the US and the world. This in conjunction with the reverb drenched ramped up versions of rock and surf instrumentals helped to lay the foundation of surf music. Reverb may be what have broke up The Bel-Airs, but it helped to propel The Challengers and surf music to new volumes. And while 1963 may have been decades ago, the Surfbeat lives on.

This year's Revolution Surf program featured a guest segment from "Hollywood" Derk Brigante of the Surfphony of Derstruction 2000.  He helped me out on this episode with a selection of sleazy surf instrumental tracks.  If you're looking for a good selection of surf music check out his podcast the Surfphony of Derstruction 2000.  You can hear his podcasts over at his Surfphony of Derstruction blog and also like his page on Facebook.  

Revolution Surf Play List:

1. The Metalunas – X-Minus One (X-Minus One - 1999)
2. The Marketts – Other Limits (Outer Limits! - 1964)
3. 9th Wave – Time Tunnel (Time Tunnel - 2003)
4. The Nation Rockin’ Shadows – Anesthesia (Diggin' Out - 1997)
5. The Newport Nomads – Blue Mallard (Diggin' Out - 1997)
6. The Goldtones –Gutterball (Diggin' Out - 1997)
7. Jan Davis - Snow Surfing Matador (Jungle Exotica Vol 1- 1997)
8. The Urban Surf Kings – The Phantom Riders Of The Back Lot (Bang Howdy Partner - 2008)
9. X-Ray Cat Trio – I Was Cruel To You (Medium Stop) (Bloody Deeds - 2014)
10. The Orions – El Don Compressor (Always Clean And Fresh EP - 2012)
11. Les Fanatics – The Spotnick Theme (Portuguese Nuggets Vol 3 - A Trip To 60's Portuguese Psych, Surf And Garage Rock - 2007)

Surfphony of Derstruction 2000 Segment:

12. Langhorns - Awesome (Langhorns - 1998)
13. The Majestics - Big Noise From Makaha (The Surf Creature - 2000)
14. The Original Surfaris - Ghost Riders in The Sky (Surfs Up! At Banzai Pipeline - 1963)
15. Pastel Six - Take it Off! (The Cinnamon Cinder/Bandido - 1963)
16. Fathoms - Groovy Boots (Fathomless - 1996)

17. The Twilight Stringers – Pale Face Twist (Sleazy Surf Vol 1 - 1995)
18. The Telstars – Topless (Sleazy Surf Vol 1 - 1995)
19. The A-Jacks – Fury (Sleazy Surf Vol 1 - 1995)
20. The Mockers – Maledona (Sleazy Surf Vol 2 - 1995)
21. The Zombie Surfers – Zombie Drums (It Came From The Garage Vol II - 1987)
22. This Machine Kills Robots – Salty Wave (This Machine Kills Robots - 2011)
23. James O-L & The Villains – Kill The Devil (On The Banks Of The Detroit River - 2014)
24. The Revels - Six Pack (Intoxica!!! The Best Of The Revels - 1995)
25. Ramblin’ Ambassadors – Standoff At Califobe Bridge (Ramble On - 2012)
26. La Luz – TV Dream (Brainwash/T.V. Dream - 2013)
27. The Challengers –Kamikaze (Surfbeat - 1963)
28. The Challengers – Ramrod (Surfbeat - 1963)
29. The Challengers – Surf Beat (Surfbeat - 1963)
30. The Echo Tones – Lowdown Guitar (Inland Surfer/Lowdown Guitar - 1963)
31. The Pharaohs – The Friendly Martian (The Friendly Martian/Unknown Planet - 1964)
32. Davie Allan & The Arrows – Sulkin’ (Cycle-Delic Sounds - 1968)
29. The Plugz – Reel Ten (Repo Man: Music From The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - 1984)
30. The Traditional Fools – Layback!!! (The Traditional Fools - 2008)
31. Dead Ghosts – Tea Swamp Rumble (Can't Get No - 2013)
32. The Huaraches – I Guano Rock (The Huaraches Steal Second - 2014)
33. The Sentinals – Big Surf (Big Surf! - 1963)
34. The Torpedoes – The Snake (Good For The Country - 1996)
35. Jim Messina & The Jesters – Yang Bu (Bustin' Surfboards - 1996)

To download this weeks program, visit CJAM's schedule page for Revolution Rock and download the file for February 28. Or subscribe to Revolution Rock as a Podcast.

Bob Dylan & The Band The Basement Tapes Unravelled & Show # 548

After the hectic and controversial live shows during his “Dylan goes electric” phase in which Bob Dylan switched from a one man acoustic folk artist to an artist with a full out rock and roll combo, everything came to a halt after an incident in 1966. In July 1966, Bob Dylan was said to be involved in a motorcycle accident, which in turn caused the cancelation of scheduled live shows and a step back from the public eye that seemed to be watching his every move.

Prior to the incident with his motorcycle, Dylan was playing a series of live dates with his backing band The Hawks, he was working on a manuscript for a book entitled Tarantula, he was assisting with the direction/editing of a documentary of his 1966 world tour entitled Eat The Document and there were recording contract/publishing issues that Dylan was dealing with. To add on top of that Dylan also welcomed the birth of his son, Jesse. Following his accident in July of 1966, Dylan sought solace in West Saugerties, New York and from roughly June-October 1967 The Basement Tapes Sessions were recorded.

The Hawks sans drummer Levon Helm, who was working on an oil rig, were recruited for the Basement Tapes Sessions. For inspiration, Dylan looked to music from the past, which would in turn influence the present in a time when the world of music was dominated by a kaleidoscope of psychedelic music. The sessions featured rearranged traditional folk songs, blues, country and several roots rock songs as starting points. In addition to covers, original material presented itself and those songs were also recording during these sessions. The sessions were recorded with no expectations. The recordings that were made during this time were not initially meant for release officially and for many decades they were not. Garth Hudson, The Band’s organist, recorded the sessions although at the time they were not yet referred to as The Band, they were still The Hawks. It was also during this time that the once raucous R&B driven Hawks began to develop the foundation for the music that would be created by The Band.

In October 1967, fourteen Basement Tapes songs were made available so that other artists could cover them. The result was a series of successful covers of these songs by other artists, but it was during this time that the mythic quality of these songs grew in status. People wanted to hear the real thing. As copies were distributed, reports began appearing in a variety of music magazines, which added more of an awe and interest in the music that was created with Dylan and The Band during this time.

In October, Dylan began work on a new album featuring stripped down acoustic performances that would become known as John Wesley Harding. Around this time The Hawks drummer Levon Helm returned and joined the Basement Tapes Sessions. Additionally, It was also during this time that The Hawks began to really find their own voice and they would eventually settle on the name The Band. They would take their newfound style and release their album Music From Big Pink in 1968. An album named after the location where a large majority of the recordings during The Basement Tapes took place. It was also in 1969 when what is considered the first rock bootleg became available to the public. The Great White Wonder spearheaded the bootleg music industry and featured material from The Basement Tapes Sessions, material recorded by Dylan in 1961 and on The Johnny Cash Show.

In 1975, The Band culled sixteen tracks from The Basement Tapes reels and overdubs were added. Additionally, eight original Band recordings made specifically for this release were added to the mix. The Basement Tapes from 1975 featured a rough, yet more concise representation of the songs made in 1967 with Dylan. But even though a greater picture was presented, it still added to the desire to hear the original recordings from 1967 in a larger context. Bootlegs appeared in a variety of forms throughout 1969 up until about 2001 when the A Tree With Roots: The Genuine Basement Tapes appeared. Several songs also appeared on Dylan’s own official Bootleg Series releases. In 2014, all of the surviving and salvageable recordings from these much talked about months in 1967 were put together as The Bootleg Series Volume 11: The Complete Basement Tapes. The recordings were made available in a six CD box set and in other more abbreviated collections.

Despite withdrawing from the public and keeping a lower profile during this time period in his career, a mythic like quality was built up around Dylan at this time. It only helped to add to the ever-changing character of who Bob Dylan was. Never one to follow popular trends, Dylan always did his own thing and in 1967 his music changed again. Now even with the tapes being released officially, the songs created during this time, which “summon sea chanteys, drinking songs, tall tales, and early rock and roll” as stated by Greil Marcus in the 1975 Basement Tapes liner notes are like a ubiquitous musical text or document. However, that mythic quality that first presented itself decades ago still remains. This triumph led Bob Dylan down a different path in the road. It was a path that was not predictable to others, one that could change direction at any time and one that he is still riding.

The Basement Tapes Play List:

1. 900 Miles From My Home (The Bootleg Series Vol. 11 - The Basement Tapes Complete - 2014)
2. One Too Many Mornings (The Bootleg Series Vol. 11 - The Basement Tapes Complete - 2014)
3. Bells Of Rhymney (The Bootleg Series Vol. 11 - The Basement Tapes Complete - 2014)
4. Under Control (The Bootleg Series Vol. 11 - The Basement Tapes Complete - 2014)
5. This Wheels On Fire (The Bootleg Series Vol. 11 - The Basement Tapes Complete - 2014)
6. Open The Door Homer (Take 1) (The Bootleg Series Vol. 11 - The Basement Tapes Complete - 2014)
7. Tears Of Rage (Take 1) (The Bootleg Series Vol. 11 - The Basement Tapes Complete - 2014)
8. Tupelo (The Bootleg Series Vol. 11 - The Basement Tapes Complete - 2014)
9. Kickin' My Dog Around (The Bootleg Series Vol. 11 - The Basement Tapes Complete - 2014)
10. See You Later Allan Ginsberg (Take 1) (The Bootleg Series Vol. 11 - The Basement Tapes Complete - 2014)
11. See You Later Allan Ginsberg (Take 2) (The Bootleg Series Vol. 11 - The Basement Tapes Complete - 2014)
12. I'm Your Teenager Prayer (The Bootleg Series Vol. 11 - The Basement Tapes Complete - 2014)
13. Song For Canada (The Bootleg Series Vol. 11 - The Basement Tapes Complete - 2014)
14. Don't Ya Tell Henry (The Basement Tapes - 1975)
15. Don't Ya Tell Henry (The Bootleg Series Vol. 11 - The Basement Tapes Complete - 2014)
16. Apple Suckling Tree (Take 2) (The Bootleg Series Vol. 11 - The Basement Tapes Complete - 2014)
17. Lo And Behold! (The Bootleg Series Vol. 11 - The Basement Tapes Complete - 2014)
18. Sign On The Cross (The Bootleg Series Vol. 11 - The Basement Tapes Complete - 2014)
19. Belshazzar (The Bootleg Series Vol. 11 - The Basement Tapes Complete – 2014)
20. You Ain't Goin' Nowhere (Take 2) (The Bootleg Series Vol. 11 - The Basement Tapes Complete - 2014)
21. Bonnie Ship The Diamond (The Bootleg Series Vol. 11 - The Basement Tapes Complete - 2014)
22. Million Dollar Bash (Take 2) (The Bootleg Series Vol. 11 - The Basement Tapes Complete - 2014)
23. Odds & Ends (Take 2) (The Bootleg Series Vol. 11 - The Basement Tapes Complete - 2014)
24. Instrumental Jam (Even A Tomato) (A Tree With Roots - The Genuine Basement Tapes – 2001)
25. I'm Not There (The Bootleg Series Vol. 11 - The Basement Tapes Complete - 2014)
26. I Shall Be Released (Take 1) (The Bootleg Series Vol. 11 - The Basement Tapes Complete - 2014)

To download this weeks program, visit CJAM's schedule page for Revolution Rock and download the file for February 21. Or subscribe to Revolution Rock as a Podcast.

Actual Water Calls 4 Fun & Show # 547

Toronto’s Actual Water released their most recent full-length album Call 4 Fun in the summer of 2014. Like the band’s previous efforts it offers something different, some say this is their most realized effort to date. On Call 4 Fun, Actual Water fills an album of nine tracks with power pop sounds from the 60’s, 70’s and also attaches elements of punk, garage rock and 90s Halifax oriented rock ala Thrush Hermit and Eric’s Trip. The album is not a carbon copy of the aforementioned influences, instead they serve as reference points throughout this twenty-three minute trip. Lyrically, the album operates on a completely different level at times, but more on that later.

“Take The Stairs” opens Call 4 Fun with its jagged power pop punk complete with smooth melodic rollicking basslines and strong vocal melodies. Lyrically the song is a witty comment on overweight North American societies as the lyrics state “When you go anywhere/I bet you never ever, ever take the stairs/You can be whatever you please/But you gotta workout you gotta bend your knees.” The album’s title track “647-445-1141 (Call 4 Fun)” draws melodies and riffs reminiscent of the sounds of 90s Halifax bands Thrush Hermit and Eric’s Trip, without the 90s sounding production, while a song like “Fire On George St” ignites the listener with a Jam meets Exploding Hearts-like pop mod glory. Lyrically the song portrays the anarchy of Toronto’s troubled George St amongst the stop and start riffs and guitar leads and solos. Another song found on Call 4 Fun, is equally short, under two minutes packing pop and punk influenced potency too, it is titled “Three O’ Clock Kids”. As the song develops we hear of disillusioned youths “eating McDonalds” and staying up all night amongst Paul Simonon sounding basslines and garage rhythms. “Power Pop Radio” features loud chunky windmill guitar riffs, while lyrically the song seems to be identifying with some form loneliness.

Elsewhere on Call 4 Fun, we find the songs “Latoya” and “Waldo Jackson”, two characters within the album’s lyrical and musical construct. “Latoya” first appeared in more frenetic form on the B-side of the 2012 She’s A Priest single, a song about Toronto’s The Burger’s Priest establishment. The theme of Toronto and different parts of it appear scattered throughout Call 4 Fun as well. “Latoya” appears here in a steadier, more refined groove. The song tells the story of summer love, driving and a sense of undefined freedom. Musically the song features tambourines, jangly guitar, power chords in a Big Star meets Guided By Voices fashion. “Waldo Jackson” seems to pull from the sounds that Actual Water experimented with musically on their previous album, The Paisley Orchard. The songs lyrics tell the story of Mr. Jackson who seems to be stubborn and so stuck in his own sense of self worth that he prevents himself from having any actual fun. The band does this with their own sense of reverb-drenched satire, as they do throughout the nine-track Call 4 Fun release. The music video for this song features a discussion between the band members Anthony Price and Gary Arthurs as they discuss rock n’ roll music in a different philosophical context.

On Call 4 Fun, Actual Water’s two chief collaborators Anthony Price and Gary Arthurs construct what some might call a power pop, party rock album. Musically there is a blurry, undefined line somewhere between Nick Lowe, Thrush Hermit and garage rock. The album’s cover provides even more clues as we see images of Ringo Starr, The Strokes, a Lou Reed 8-track cassette, Paul Weller, Bob Dylan and a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey, among other paraphernalia. On the surface the album’s lyrics seem to convey the simplicity of a party atmosphere, but there is also a certain mysteriousness that seeps into the songs found here. To coin a term from the “Waldo Jackson” video there are many different verbal arpeggios found on this album. Underneath the surface for those that listen a bit closer there could be another message entirely for listeners to discover under the album’s nine-song guise.

Saturday Night Toronto Play List:

1. A Neon Rome - The Magical Summer Of 85 (New Heroin - 1987)
2. Cardboard Brains - Living Inside My Head (White EP - 1977)
3. Death From Above 1979 - Black History Month (You're A Woman, I'm A Machine - 2004)
4. Sam Coffey & The Iron Lungs - Get Pumped Up (Gates Of Hell - 2014)
5. Supreme Bagg Team - If You Could Read My Mind (The Supreme Bagg Team - 1989)
7. PONY - Somethin’ About You (Somethin' About You - 2013)
8. Mexican Slang - Double Trouble (Twerp EP - 2013)
9. The Secrets - Crying Over Her (Wyld Canada Volume 1: Crazy Things - 2005)
10. Canadian Squires - Leave Me Alone (Wyld Canada Volume 3: Endless Dream - 2005)
11. Bobby Kris & The Imperials - A Year From Today (She Belongs To Me/A Year From Today - 1966)
12. Buddy Burke & The Canadian Meteors - That Big Old Moon (That Big Old Moon/Street Of Sorrows - 1957)
13 Jay Sad - Noodle & Egg (Jay Sad Goes - 2009)
14. Papermaps - There Are Wolves (Interior Ghost EP - 2012)
15. Change Of Heart - There You Go (Smile - 1992)
16. Actual Water - Floorboard Speculation (Double Negatives - 2008)
17. Actual Water - Brighton (The Paisley Orchard - 2010)
18. Actual Water - Take The Stairs (Call 4 Fun - 2014)
18. Actual Water - 647-445-1141 (Call 4 Fun) (Call 4 Fun - 2014)
19. Actual Water - Waldo Jackson (Call 4 Fun - 2014)
20. The Viletones - Screaming Fist (Screaming Fist EP - 1977)
21. No Hands - Conquerors (Conquerors/Dirty Water - 2015)
22. Leather Uppers - Carne Mysterioso (Carne Mysterioso - 1993)
23. Arson - Coho Coho (Smash The State: Volume One - 1994)
24. The Government - Flat Tire (The 33 1/3 EP - 1979)
25. The Fits - Bored Of Education (Smash The State: Volume One - 1994)
26. The Diodes - Tennis (Again) (Tired Of Waking Up Tired: The Best Of The Diodes - 1998)
27. Teenanger - Frights (Frights - 2011)
28. Pow Wows - Hidden Future (Broken Curses - 2015)
29. The Ugly Ducklings - Hey Mama Keep Your Big Mouth Shut (Somewhere Outside - 1966)
30. The Underworld - Love 22 (Unreleased Single - 1968)
31. The Ardels - Piece Of Jewelery (Wyld Canada Volume 2: Shake Yourself Down - 2005)
32. Handsome Ned - One Hundred Miles Of Open Road (The Name Is Ned: Anthology - 2000)
33. Hooded Fang - Too Late Night (Album - 2010)
34. The Poles - CN Tower (CN Tower/Prime Time - 1977)
35. Zro4 - Gimme Attention (Punk History Canada Presents: Only In Canada, Eh 77-81 Volume 1 - 2005)
36. Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet - Zombie Compromise (Savvy Show Stoppers - 1988)

To download this weeks program, visit CJAM's schedule page for Revolution Rock and download the file for February 14. Or subscribe to Revolution Rock as a Podcast.

Chuck Berry Maybellene & Show # 546

When Chuck Berry released his first single Maybellene on Chess Records in July of 1955, North America (and the rest of the world for that matter) was a very different place. Colour TV was still a relatively new thing and not many people owned one. The culture was also a very different place, there was no such thing as a Compact Disc, computers were large over-sized contraptions, the internet was not even in existence yet, America was dominated by fast car counterculture and it was in a state of transition.

After playing in local bands in St. Louis, Missouri most notably the Johnnie Johnson Trio, Chuck Berry had a chance meeting with one of his musical influences when he took a trip to Chicago. Chuck met Muddy Waters who in turn suggested he go see Leonard Chess. After recording a demo tape, the song “Ida May” was seen as potential commercial hit at the time. The song was loosely based on the song “Ida Red” which was one of the many songs Berry had played prior to this and was best known at the time for being recorded by Bob Willis & His Texas Playboys in 1938. This song had roots in country as well as featuring Berry’s R&B dynamics. This was something that set Chuck Berry apart from others in those early days in the mid fifties, he mixed elements of country and western music with blues that appealed to audiences. The song’s lyrics were adjusted and its title was changed to “Maybellene”. Its title was rumoured to have come from either a discarded mascara box laying on the floor of Chess studios or from a cartoon cow that Berry remembered from a third grade reader. Regardless, “Maybellene” became a sensation being played across radio stations in the US and jukeboxes alike. It also charted on the rhythm & blues and pop charts of the day. Maybellene sold one million copies by the end of 1955.

The B-side of this single “Wee Wee Hours” was a blues track that showcased a slower blues groove with smooth vocals provided by Chuck Berry and piano work by Johnnie Johnson. It should also be noted that although this bluesier track was released on this single for Chess Records who were known for their blues recordings, Leonard Chess was more interested in the fast paced A-side “Maybellene”. The single tapped into the popular culture at the time as it moved along with a locomotive rhythm doused in country and western and blues influences. The lyrics told the story of a young man chasing his unfaithful girlfriend around in his V8 Ford. This song helped to lay the foundation of rock n’ roll music, Berry is one of the pioneers in this sound. Just as new technology was on the rise and would soon be featured in every living room in America, Chuck Berry helped to start and establish the wild beat of rock n’ roll music that would influence music for decades of the future generations to come.



Saturday Night Play List:

1. Chuck Berry - Reelin' And Rockin' (Alternate Version) (Five Classic Albums Plus Bonus Singles And Rare Tracks - 2012)
2. Chuck Berry - Thirty Days (To Come Back Home) (Thirty Days/Together - 1955)
3. Otis Redding - Satisfaction (Otis Blue - 1965)
3. T-Bone Walker - You’re My Best Poker Hand (Midnight Blues - 2014)
4. Robert Petway - Catfish Blues (Catfish Blues/Ride 'Em On Down - 1941)
5. Robert Johnson - Me And The Devil Blues (King Of The Delta Blues Singers - 1961)
6. Muddy Waters - Big Leg Woman (Folk Singer - 1965)
7. Andre Williams - I Still Love You (Jailhouse Blues/I Still Love You - 1958)
8. Joe Weaver & His Blue Note Orchestra - Cool As A Cucumber (Going Back To Chicago/Cool As A Cucumber - 1956)
9. Joe Tex - You Said A Bad Word (I Gotcha - 1972)
10. D'Angelo And His Vanguard - 1000 Deaths (Black Messiah - 2014)
11. Prince - Partyup (Dirty Mind - 1980)
12. Tricky - Black Steel (Maxinquaye - 1995)
13. Clancy Eccles - Bangarang Crash (Bangarang Crash/Deacon Don - 1968)
14. Charlie Parker - K.C. Blues (The Essential Charlie Parker - 1992)
15. Matana Roberts - Was The Sacred Day (Coin Coin Chapter Two:  Mississippi Moonchile - 2013)
16. Jelly Roll Morton - Winin' Boy Blues (Winin' Boy Blues/Honky Tonk Music - 1938)
17. The Marvelettes - Locking Up My Heart (Locking Up My Heart/Forever - 1963)
18. The Gories - Charm Bag (House Rockin' - 1989)
19. Death - You’re A Prisoner (... For The Whole World To See - 2009)
20. Staff Benda Bilili - Je T'aime (Tres Tres Fort - 2009)
21. Chuck Berry - Viva Viva Rock and Roll (San Francisco Dues - 1971)
22. Chuck Berry - Johnny B. Goode (Alternate Take 2 & 3) (Johnny B. Goode:  His Complete Chess Recordings - 2008)
23. Chuck Berry - I Wanna Be Your Driver (Chuck Berry In London - 1965)

To download this weeks program, visit CJAM's schedule page for Revolution Rock and download the file for February 7. Or subscribe to Revolution Rock as a Podcast.

Waterloo Persuasion & Show # 545

The Black Angels - Waterloo Waltz

“Waterloo Waltz” is a heavy psychedelic track recorded by the Austin, Texas band The Black Angels for inclusion on the Riley Hawk: Northwest Blow Out EP. Released for free download by Scion AV, the tracks on the EP will accompany an upcoming video series by skateboarder Riley Hawk. Titled Scion X Riley Hawk: Driven, the video series will feature Hawk and The Shep Dawgs visiting their favourite skate parks in the Pacific Northwest. Download the EP for free here.

R.E.M. - Pretty Persuasion

“Pretty Persuasion” is a song from the 1984 album Reckoning by Athens, Georgia band R.E.M. The song displays slow melodic post punk influenced basslines amongst Peter Buck’s jangly guitar rhythms and darker lyrical content from vocalist Michael Stipe, which seems to dominate this release. This album was recorded over the course of sixteen days in December 1983-January 1984 at Reflection Sound Studio in Charlotte, North Carolina. Mitch Easter and Don Dixon, who produced R.E.M.’s first album Murmur, produced this album in a way to capture the band’s live sound. Binaural recording techniques were also used during the recording process for this purpose. Additionally, a short film was made entitled Left Of Reckoning by Athens filmmaker James Herbert. The short film covers the first five songs on Reckoning in a non-traditional style featuring slow motion footage, close-ups and the use of rephotography that was utilized during the edition process of the film.

Saturday Night Play List:

1. The Raevins - The Edge Of Time
2. The Nocturnals - Detroit
3. The Black Angels - Waterloo Waltz
4. The Go-Betweens - Lee Remick
5. Reverend Horton Heat - Bales Of Cocaine
6. Run Coyote - Stranger (In My Own Home)
7. Peter Doherty - Broken Love Song
8. Muelkik - Savage Company
9. Energy Slime - Bustin’ Up
10. Nocturnal Projectors - Moving Forward
11. Five Pound Snap - I Tell Myself
12. Buzzcocks - Don’t Mess Me Around
13. Guided By Voices - Fly Into Ashes
14. REM - Pretty Persuasion
15. Reigning Sound - Falling Rain
16. The Prehistoric Cave Strokers - Make You Mine
17. The Velvet Underground - There She Goes Again (Live)
18. The Pointed Sticks - My Little Red Book (Live 1980)
19. The Gruesomes - Cry In The Night
20. Johnny & The Canadians - A Million Tears Ago
21. Light Bulb Alley - Roll Over Hang Over
22. The Bell Peppers - Rhinestone Rock
23. The Unusuals - Saving My Best
24. Jets - Original Terminal
25. The Dark - John Wayne
26. Subway Sect - Watching The Devil (BBC Session)
27. The Cramps - Beautiful Gardens
28. The Damned - Melody Lee
29. Richard Hell - You Gotta Lose (Live at CBGB 1978 with Elvis Costello)

To download this weeks program, visit CJAM's schedule page for Revolution Rock and download the file for January 31. Or subscribe to Revolution Rock as a Podcast.

Coming Up On Revolution Rock in February 2015!

February is theme month once again for Revolution Rock. I will be doing a different themed program for each of the four weeks in February 2015. Each program will air on a Saturday from 7-9 PM and can be streamed/listened to online via www.cjam.ca or on the FM dial at 99.1 FM in the Windsor/Detroit area.

Here is the scheduled line up:

Rock & Roll Music: Revolution Rock Celebrates Black History Month
February 7th, 2015
7-9 PM
CJAM 99.1 FM (www.cjam.ca)

As with every February, Revolution Rock celebrates Black History Month. This year the program will delve into genres that are not always played on the program such as jazz, reggae, funk, blues, R&B, as well as a mix of some garage and everything in between. Join Dave Konstantino and co-host Adam Peltier for this program that will also feature a focus on the music of Chuck Berry. Being a pioneer of rock music, the program will showcase a selection of Chuck Berry recordings from 1957-1979.

Toronto Then and Now
February 14th, 2015
7-9 PM
CJAM 99.1 FM (www.cjam.ca)

Toronto’s Actual Water has been releasing music of differing genres since 2008. Revolution Rock will feature a selection of recordings from this band’s catalog which spans the genres of noise pop, post punk, post-rock, paisley garage jangle pop and most recently the band's foray into power pop on their album Call 4 Fun. In addition to music from Actual Water, the show will also showcase music from Toronto, Ontario’s past and present with garage rock and punk as a main focus.

Unravelling The Basement Tapes
February 21st, 2015
7-9 PM
CJAM 99.1 FM (www.cjam.ca)

In 1967, Bob Dylan and a group of musicians that would eventually be known as The Band began recording what would be known as The Basement Tapes. The sessions, which ran from approximately May - October of 1967 occurred after Dylan had withdrawn himself from his Woodstock home and following his motorcycle accident in July 1966. Recorded in a house known as Big Pink, songs from these sessions would be bootlegged for decades. Join Dave Konstantino and co-host Adam Peltier as they dig deep into the recently released Bootleg Series volume 11, which compiles a plethora of previously unreleased and greatly sought after recordings from the legendary Basement Tapes Sessions that Bob Dylan recorded with The Band in 1967.

Surfbeat: Revolution Surf (The 9th Edition)
February 28th, 2015
7-9 PM
CJAM 99.1 FM (www.cjam.ca)

The February 28th edition of Revolution Rock continues its tradition featuring a program composed entirely of surf music. This year’s program will feature another guest segment from Derk Brigante of The Surfphony Of Derstruction 2000 as we feature selections of sleazy surf tracks. The 9th edition of Revolution Surf will also feature a focus on the album Surfbeat by LA’s The Challengers. Recorded in a whirlwind 3 ½ hour session, Surfbeat was originally released in January of 1963. This album is notable for its historical importance of helping to bring surf music from the west coast into the mainstream subconscious. It is known as the best-selling instrumental surf album of all time.

Viet Cong & Show # 544

Preoccupations’s debut album Viet Cong starts off with “Newspaper Spoons” featuring distorted pounding drums, while reverb vocals penetrate the listener’s subconscious. As the song picks up we hear an icy fuzz pedal that provides a stinging intensity to the song. Towards the end of this track, a synthesizer creeps in and ends the song on a beautiful, somewhat celestial note. The band’s sound has been described as having a post-punk influence and while that is obvious, the remnants of the sounds of Gang Of Four, The Jesus & The Mary Chain, Wire, The Pop Group, This Heat, Joy Division and New Order creep in among this album’s seven-song landscape. Cited as a “winter” album, Viet Cong also takes on an almost industrial aesthetic.

“March of Progress" starts off with an electronic sounding drum pattern, echoing the distorted rhythms of the album’s opening track before a strong melody creeps in with stereo bouncing guitar arpeggios that sound as if they are being played on unplugged instruments. The song shows glimpses of melodies that until this point seem lost amongst the jagged, iced rhythms. Vocalist/bassist Matt Fiegel pours out an impassioned vocal melody near the song's end in between a propelling bassline with lyrics that state “What is the difference between love and hate/We build the buildings and they’re built to break”. This is somewhat appropriate because with each track found here, Viet Cong literally builds and then deconstructs their sound.

“Bunker Buster” appears here in an array of jagged post-punk guitar riffs that bounce back and forth between your speakers in stereoscope. The sounds on this track could be described as Gang Of Four meets Station To Station-era David Bowie. “Continental Shelf” was the first single released for this album back in October 2014. This menacing track could perhaps be best described by the visuals provided by the music video created for this song. In the video a man in a space suit travels through a building as a silver suitcase looms with mysterious smoke pillowing out of it. 80s styled navigation graphics cut in and out, as the character gets closer, the suitcase reveals itself to be rather like a more extreme version of what was found at the end the film noir Kiss Me Deadly. On the surface, some may see Preoccupations’s Viet Cong album as just that, another album by a band that delves deep into their influences. But when you look closer the contents of this album prove to be mysterious, alluring, dark and at times explosive.

“Silhouettes” attacks with up-tempo venom, downplayed with darker sounding bass and vocals as the lyrics “There is no connection left in your head” reverberate within the song's instrumentation. “Death” ends the album appropriately, but in epic proportions. This song is fitting in terms of the subject matter found throughout this release, but it is also notable for melding a series of the band’s influences. This song progresses like an automobile moving through a tunnel on grainy film. It combines the band’s post punk, industrial soundscapes and pop influences all in one. The song ends in a series of aggressive attacks, smooth melodies and dissonance.

Viet Cong is different than its predecessor. The seven song EP entitled Cassette released in 2013, displayed elements of the sounds that would be found on Viet Cong, but on a smaller scale. This album also sets Preoccupations apart from their past. Prior to this album, two of Preoccupation’s members (Matt Fiegel, Mike Wallace) were a part of the band known as Woman. After releasing two albums, Woman split in 2010 and the band ended ultimately with the untimely death of guitarist Christopher Reimer in 2012. When looking at the image on the cover of Viet Cong, we see what appears to be scissors cutting a wrapped up bandaged hand. With seven songs, Calgary’s Preoccupations exposes us to something new as the other hand is revealed.

Saturday's Play List:

1. Dee Dee Ramone - Bad Little Go-Go Girl
2. The Jam - Set The House Ablaze
3. The Fall - Mr.Pharmacist
4. Blitzen Trapper - To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High)
5. The New Pornographers - Another Drug Deal Of The Heart
6. Mike Watt & The Missingmen - Up To My Neck In This
7. Manic Street Preachers - Revol
8. Paul Jacobs - Sharp Dress
9. The Missing Lynx With Lloyd J - 13 Reasons
10. Crododiles - Picture My Face
11. James O-L & The Villains - The Old And The New
12. Silent Movie Type - Souvenirs
13. Orphan Choir - Gene Tierney
14. The Lemonheads - Pittsburgh
16. Viet Cong - Silhouettes
17. Women - Locust Valley
18. Chad Vangaalen - Leaning On Bells
19. Viet Cong - Newspaper Spoons
20. The Government - Portrait
21. The Radiators - Contact
22. The Adverts - My Place
23. Sleater-Kinney - No Anthems
24. Iggy & The Stooges - Till The End Of The Night (Detroit Rehearsals Spring 1973)

To download this weeks program, visit CJAM's schedule page for Revolution Rock and download the file for January 24. Or subscribe to Revolution Rock as a Podcast.