One Way Ticket...the Nerves Story and Show # 194

The Nerves formed in LA in 1976. the group consisted of Peter Case (bass), Jack Lee (guitar), and Paul collins on drums; all three wrote and sang the songs. The band did not last long (1975-1978) and only ever had one release during their time, an EP. The Nerves EP came out in 1976 and only contained four songs, the most notable one being "Hanging On the Telephone". A Lee composition the song was covered later by Blonde for their album Paralell Lines and became a big hit for Blondie cracking the UK top 5 in 1978. The other songs on the EP were equally as good "When You Find Out" (Case), "Give Me Some Time" (Lee), and "Working Too Hard" (Collins).

The band did do a tour and even supported the likes of the Ramones. The band was only around for a short period of time, but are still known (probably due to the excellent cover done by Blondie) and are classified as a power pop band, despite being around at the time of punk. After the Nerves broke up Case and Collins formed the short lived group The Breakaways, then the Plimsouls, and finally The Beat. In 1993, two songs from The Nerves EP were put on a compilation DIY: Come Out and Play - American Power Pop I (1975-1978). In 2005, an unreleased Nerves track was put on a compilation by Rhino Records called Children of Nuggets. In 2001, The Nerves released a compilation containing more previously unheard tracks.

Play List:

1. The Specials - Gangsters
2. The Slackers - Estranged
3. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
4. Elvis Costello & the Attractions - The Beat
5. Strokes - What Ever Happened?
6. Young Canadians - I Hate Music
7. Evaporators - Where's The Butterknife?
8. Modernettes - Celebrity Crackup
9. Unknowns - Teenage Terrorist
10. The Negatives - Echoes
11. The Scabs - Amory Building
12. Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers - All By Myself
13. The Nerves - Hanging on the telephone
14. Diodes - Tennis (Again)
15. The Breeders - It's The Love
16. The Old Haunts - Sister City
17. The Black Lips - M.I.A.
18. Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely
19. Compulsive Gamblers - Stop & Think it Over
20. Sloan - I Can't Sleep
21. Sloan - Ana Lucia
22. Queens Of The Stone Age - Infinity
23. David Bowie - Panic in Detroit
24. Ramones - Bad Brain
25. The Clash - The Leader
26. The Clash - Up in Heaven (Not Only Here)

Here Are The Sonics...The Sonics Story and Show # 193

The Sonics had their beginnings in the early 1960s and were from Tacoma, Washington. The band known for its raw driving garage fueled sound first got its initial start as part of other local bands. After going through some line up changes the classic line-up of The Sonics formed around 1963/64. The classic line up was Gerry Rosalie (Lead vocals), Larry Parypa (Lead Guitar/vocals), Andy Parypa (Bass), Bob Bennett (Drums), and Rob Lind on Saxophone. The bands sound can be described as R & B influenced, but also they took some of their influence from bands such as The Kingsmen, The Kinks, and The Wailers. Gerry Rosalie's vocal style has often been described as a white Little Richard. The band was quite influential on any band in the Seattle area, they were known for their energetic live shows. In 1964 the band released their first single which was the song titled "The Witch". The single was very popular with the local fan base and was one of the biggest selling singles in the Northwest; The song contained controversial lyrical subject matter (as are a majority of their original songs). The song was also considered quite strange by others compared to what was coming out musically at the time.

In 1965, The Sonics started recording their first album with recording engineer Kenny Barton. It would be titled Here Are The Sonics. Recorded in Seattle, Washington the album is known for employing different recording techniques which resulted in the bands unique sound. For the drums the band used only one microphone to capture their sound (usually when recording drum sounds bands use at least three or more mics). The actual album contains many of the bands well known songs which lyrically were very different with subject matter ranging from drinking strychnine in ("Strychnine"), to witches ("The Witch"), and psychopaths ("Psycho"). This was contrasted with more light-hearted subject matter dealing with 60s culture such as girls, surfing, cars, and guitars. The album also contains some cover songs by Chuck Berry and Little Richard as well as other originals that are equally as great such as "Boss Hoss".

The next album would be titled Boom and would come out in 1966. For this album the band reportedly ripped out the sound proofing of the studio they were recording in to give it more of a live sound. Many Sonics fans choose Boom as their favourite album, but the first and second albums are both very good. This time the band came in with more unique original songs such as "He's Waitin'", "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark", and "The Hustler". The album was also balanced out with some covers of R&B classics such as "Louie, Louie", "Hitch Hike", Skinny Minnie", and "Let the Good Times Roll". After this album the band would go to another label (Jerden Records) and go to Hollywood to record yet another album, this time with a more polished, cleaner sound.

Introducing The Sonics came out in 1967, and did poorly. Because of its more conventional sound, it did not do as well; The band would later denounce this album calling it "The Worst Garbage'. After this the band was essentially over and in 1968, the band dissolved. Members of the band would go on to other bands or to school to lead more conventional lives. The Sonics would briefly fade into obscurity. The band reformed in 1972 for one live show and in 2007 the band reunited for the Cavestomp Garage rock festival. The Sonics are currently still together and in 2008, recorded a radio session for BBC 2. The Sonics have been influential on numerous bands, being known as unique garage rockers. The band has influenced the likes of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Eagles of Death Metal, The Dead Boys, The Fall, The D4 and others. They are known for their raunchy, raw, garage rock, punk influencing sound.

The Play List:

1. Buzzcocks - No Reply
2. Sex Pistols - New York
3. Teenage Head - Picture My Face (With Marky Ramone)
4. Gruesomes - You Said Yeah
5. Munks - Long Time Waiting
6. Haunted - Eight O'Clock
7. Painted Ships - And She Said
8. Hammersmith Gorillas - My Son's Alive
9. Standells - Riot on the Sunset Strip
10. Pretty Things - Buzz the Jerk
11. Sonics - Strychnine
12. 13th Floor Elevators - Reverberation
13. Velvet Underground - What Goes On
14. MC5 - Looking At You
15. Modern Lovers - Modern World
16. Stooges - Shake Appeal
17. Generation X - Night of the Cadillacs
18. The Saints - Nights in Venice
19. Ride Theory - Alright
20. Young Rival - Authentic Child
21. Tokyo Police Club - In A Cave
22. Young Knives - Up All Night
23. Only Ones - City of Fun
24. The D4 - Omerta
25. The D4 - Trust Nobody
25. Dirty Pretty Things - You Fucking Love it

The Clash : Live Revolution Rock .. and Show # 192

This week, Sony/Legacy released The Clash : Live Revolution Rock, a new DVD showcasing some of The Clash's live performances. This collection covers the years 1976-1983 and features over 20 live performances from the band playing their unique brand of fiery punk rock in venues ranging from London's Lewisham Odeon to New York's Shea Stadium. If you're a long time Clash fan you've probably already seen most of these performances before (they were previously released on The Essential Clash and Rude Boy DVDs) but there are a few highlights that have never been seen on DVD before. The band's 1981 performance on NBC's Tom Snyder Show see them performing explosive live renditions of "The Magnificent Seven" and "This Radio Clash" that differ from the studio recordings; early 1977 performances of "What's My Name" and "Capital Radio" show them in all their awesome ragged, raw garage punk glory.

The only downside is there could have been much more to this DVD than there is. For example, The Clash played 4 songs on 1980's ABC TV show Fridays supporting their landmark album London Calling, however only one song is featured on this disc "The Guns of Brixton". It would be great if one day a DVD is released that is similar to the Ramones It's Alive DVD or the Led Zeppelin DVD, both great collections that contain way more live material and are more in depth. However, it's great to finally see something of The Clash's live performances released on DVD. They were, after all, one the best rock groups of all time.

The Clash Live Revolution Rock Trailer

Play List:

1. The Charms - Gimme That Shot
2. Pretenders - The Wait
3. Blondie - Detroit 442
4. Wire - From the Nursery
5. Pointed Sticks - You Must Be Crazy
6. Spys - Machine Shop
7. Sturgeons - Punk Rock Virgins
8. Fits - Bored of Education
9. Hot Nasties - Secret of Immortality
10. XTC - Science Friction
11. Rezillos - Flying Saucer Attack
12. Klark Kent - Office Girls
13. 4/4 - All Wound Up
14. 4/4 - Systematic
15. Bureaucrats - She's an American
16. Sinners - No Brains Required
17. Tricky Woo - Ring Sweet Mercy
18. Vic Godard & The Subway Sect - Rock and Roll Even
19. Rich Kids - Put You in the Picture
20. Devo - Secret Agent Man
21. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Date With the Night
22. Talking Heads - The Book I Read
23. The Cure - Fire in Cairo
24. Richard Hell & The Voidoids - New Pleasure
25. Television - See No Evil

Dread at the Controls.. The Mikey Dread Story...Show # 191

Mikey Dread (Real name Michael George Campbell) was born in Port Antonio, Jamaica on June 4th 1954. Mikey Dread was a producer, broadcaster, and an artist. He created an innovative Reggae style. In the late 70's Dread got a job being an engineer for the JBC (Jamaican Broadcasting Corporation). Mikey would eventually get his own radio show that would be titled Dread At the Controls. His show focused on nothing but Reggae music at a time when people weren't really playing that type of music in Jamaica. The show would become the most popular show on the JBC, but eventually Dread would quit (in protest) due to the conservative management of the JBC.

Around this time Dread was already well known in Jamaica as singer/producer (working with the likes of The Mighty Two and Lee Scratch Perry) and he started to record his own material too; He is also known for his work with King Tubby and Carl Patterson. Dread would release several albums starting in 1979 starting with Dread at the Controls, followed by African Anthem, Evolutionary Rockers, and Beyond World War III (1981). The Clash would gain interest in Mikey Dread and he would produced the song "Bankrobber" for the band. The song was initially a Ska song, but Dread producing the song would make it more of a dub track. Dread would also tour with The Clash. He also did his own even more dub version of the song "Bankrobber", it was titled "Rockers Galore...UK Tour".

Dread would also help produce and even play on Sandinista! with The Clash in 1980. Initially the band started recording in Jamaica, but would move the sessions to New York. He would also tour again with The Clash gaining a new audience. Dread would continue recording and producing acts after this. He would work again in the radio business and the TV business and go back to school, but he would still perform. Dread has performed live with the likes of The Clash, Bob Dylan, Carlos Santana, and Junior Marvin to name a few.

In 2004, Dread did the soundtrack for the Adam Sandler movie 50 First Dates. In 2004 he would also work with The Blizzard of 78 to make a Clash Sandinista! tribute album; It was titled The Sandinista! Project. On March 15th, 2008 Mikey Dread passed away. Mikey Dread was a unique Reggae artist who started out in radio and went on to influence the UK music scene and others. He was a unique artist with a unique style.

Play List:

1. Neil Young - Revolution Blues
2. Black Keys - Remember When
3. Lime Spiders - Out of Control
4. Fun Things - Savage
5. Radio Birdman - Hanging On
6. The Furies - What Do You Want Me To Be
7. Scissors - Mystery Movie
8. Actionauts - Party Dog
9. Modernettes - Suicide Club
10. Smugglers - Bad Guys
11. Neon Boys - That's All I Know
12. The Specials - Little Bitch
13. The Beat - Whine and Grine/Stand Down Margret
14. The Madness - One Step Beyond
15. Mikey Dread - World War III
16. Beastie Boys - Gratitude
17. Urban Surf Kings - Phantom Riders of the Backlot
18. Clinic - The Witch
19. The Jam - David Watts
20. Bob Dylan - Bob Dylan's 115th Dream
21. Bob Dylan - One Too Many Mornings (Live Royal Albert Hall 1966)
22. Raconteurs - Five on the Five
23. Raconteurs - Carolina Drama

Dready Videos:

Natural Roots
Bankrobber (Live with the Clash)
Choose Me
Money in My Pocket
Rasta in Control
Bankrobber (Live 2004)

Attack of the Killer B-sides...Show #190

A B-Side refers to the second side or track on a single. In the days of singles and when there was no such thing as Compact Discs or digital downloads, bands would release singles on records. The single would be comprised of an A-side and a B-Side. The A side was the song that was meant to be played on the radio and the B-side was the second song on the other side of the single that was not usually on the bands full length album, or LP.

When CD's dominated the music market, the B-Side became less important. Now while records are still available a B-Side refers to any song that is on an an album, or a song that is unreleased or even rare. That being said, this weeks show was comprised entirely of B-Sides. I have even listed for your convenience which single or where the particular B-side came from.

The Following are some interesting B-sides:



The I'm Stranded single was first released in September of 1976. It was first released on the independent label Fatal Records, but it would also be named single of the week by Sounds magazine in the UK. The single was responsible for getting the band a three album deal with EMI. The B-side "No Time" can also be found on the bands first full length album titled, I'm Stranded.

The Kinks - You Really Got Me/It's Alright (1964)

You Really Got Me was the third single by the UK band The Kinks, it was also their first number one hit. The song itself was one of the first songs to feature distorted guitar, which would change rock music forever. The B-side of the single was a song called "It's Alright", a bluesy rock song. It can be found on the re-issue of the bands first album, The Kinks.

Lou Reed - Satellite of Love/Vicious (1972)

Satellite of Love is one of Lou Reed's most known songs. It was actually written and recorded while Reed was in Velvet Underground. A version of the song by Velvet Underground appears on the Peel Slowly box set. The B-side was the song "Vicious" is a song that has clean guitar chords with heavily distorted garagey guitar riffs through out it; It also opens Lou Reed's 1972 album Transformer.

B-Side Playlist:

1. Magazine - My Mind Ain't So Open (B-Side of Shot by Both Sides 1978)
2. Saints - No Time (B-Side of I'm Stranded 1976)
3. The Damned - Sick of Being Sick (B-Side of Stretcher Case Baby 1977)
4. Ugly Ducklings - I Can tell (B-Side of Nothin' 1966)
5. Gruesomes - Things She Does to Me (B-Side of Jack the Ripper EP 1986)
6. The Kinks - It's alright (B-Side of You Really Got Me 1964)
7. Rolling Stones - Off the Hook (B-Side of Little Red Rooster 1964)
8. Lou Reed - Vicious (B-Side of Satellite of Love 1972)
9. Iggy Pop - The Passenger (B-Side of Success 1977)
10. The Clash - Stop the World (B-Side of The Call Up 1980)
11. Elvis Costello & the Attractions - Clean Money (B-Side from Armed Forces 1979)
12. The Strokes - Hawaii (B-Side of Juicebox 2005)
13. Hot, Hot, Heat - Apt.101 (B-Side of Bandages 2003)
14. The Diodes - We're Ripped (B-Side of Red Rubber Ball 1977)
15. The Demics - Blueboy (B-Side of New York City 1980)
16. Forgotten Rebels - Rhona Barrett (B-Side of Tell Me You Love Me 1982)
17. Teenage Head- Teenage Beer Drinking Party (B-Side of Some Kinda Fun 1982)
18. Buzzcocks - Lipstick (B-Side of Promises 1978)
19. Generation X - shakin' All Over (B-Side of Valley of the Dolls 1979)
20. Young Canadians - No Escape (B-Side from Hawaii EP 1979)
21. Queens of the Stone Age - Who'll Be the Next in Line (B-side from Songs For the Deaf 2004)
22. Rage Against The Machine - Darkness of Greed (B-Side of Killing in the Name 1992)
23. Nirvana - Oh, the Guilt (B-Side of Jesus Lizard Split Single Puss 1993)
24. The D4 - North Shore Bitch (B-Side of Ladies Man 2000)
25. The Hives - Hell No! (B-Side of Tick Tick Boom 2007)

Steady, As They Go...The Raconteurs Story and Show # 189

The Raconteurs were formed in 2005 by Jack White and Brendan Benson in Detroit. Being friends White assisted Benson in a song that he was working on. The song would be known as "Steady, As She Goes". White and Benson recruited fellow musicians Jack Lawrence (Bass), and Patrick Keeler (drums); They are both from a band called The Greenhornes. White would become a vocalist, guitarist and Benson would be a vocalist, guitarist, and keyboardist. Since various members were already involved in other groups Jack White being in the White Stripes, Brendan Benson a solo artist, and Lawrence and Keeler in the Greenhornes, the band would record whenever they had the time to do so. The band would record their first album, which would be called Broken boy Soldiers over the course of the year of 2005 in Brendan Benson's East Grand Studio.

The band first released the single "Steady, As She Goes" with "Store Bought Bones" as the B-side on vinyl in January of 2006; It was released on CD in April of 2006. The band then unleashed Broken Boy Soldier onto the world in May of 2006. The album debuted at #7 on the US Charts and #2 in the UK. The album was not like a White Stripes album, which I'm sure some Jack White fans were expecting. Instead it was a mix of 60's rock and pop, that came off sounding like a classic rock album, it has the feel of Led Zeppelin III, but elements from so many other bands such as The Beatles (Rubber Soul-era/Revolver), The Rolling Stones (Aftermath), and The Kinks. The album mixed together the styles of Jack White and Brendan Benson, which created a unique and interesting record.

The album starts off with the bands first single and the song that brought the band together "Steady, As She Goes". A short stop and go song with roaring choruses. "Hands" is the next track. It is a song with heavy ringing rock chords, melodies, and a pop chorus sung by Mr. Brendan Benson. The title track "Broken Boy Soldier" sounds just as the title describes broken, the song sounds like something off of a Led Zeppelin album, it has a strange eerie vibe while Jack White howls over the strange descending chords. "Level" is another interesting song, it has loud choruses featuring odd sounding keyboards during the verses. "Store Bought Bones" is a jagged rocker, that actually started out as an outtake from the White Stripes album Get Behind Me Satan. "Yellow Sun" is a 60's style pop song sung by Benson. "Call it a Day" is another slow, but catchy Benson sung number that drags and scrapes its way through your head with slow verses and heavy attacking choruses. The album ends with "Blue Veins" a song featuring backwards guitar effects ala-The Beatles, while the song is a slow and blues drenched. The album is a short ten track album, that has qualities of, as mentioned earlier classic rock.

The bands second album Consolers of the Lonely was released everywhere in all formats (download, CD, Vinyl) on March 25th, 2008. Prior to the release of the album, the band released a press statement out of the blue that the album would be released to everyone on March 25th, 2008 so that everyone could get the album as quickly as possible. Some have compared this move similar to what Radiohead did with the release of their album In Rainbows. I personally love the fact that the band finished the album and just released it as soon as possible, leaving the fans to make up their minds of how it is, not the critics. Despite the statement the band was trying to make, the album leaked onto the Internet on March 19th, days before its official release from a most unlikely source, i-tunes.

The actual album Consolers of the Lonely contains 14 tracks. The album still has a classic rock feel, but also brings in more elements, at times its difficult to tell who's singing Jack White or Brendan Benson. The album is a mix of loud rock numbers, balanced out with slower pop ballads. The album opens with "Consoler of the Lonely" it is a loud crashing rock song with Benson and White Sharing vocal duties. The first single "Salute Your Solution" is a song that sounds like a sped up AC/DC track, featuring fuzzy bass, and a fuzzy garage rock style ending. "You Don't Understand Me" is a slow piano doused number, while "Old Enough" is an upbeat song featuring organ and and crunchy guitar parts. "Hold Up" shows the band turning up the volume even louder, the song sounds heavily influenced by 70's style Ramones punk. "Many Shades of Black" brings orchestral horn sections into the Raconteurs fold, in the chorus Brendan Benson sings similar to Paul McCartney. "Five on Five' is a dirty twisted rocker, with stop and start riffs, heavy hitting drums, while "Attention" is another loud rock number with catchy keyboards, an excellent track. The album ends with "Carolina Drama" a song that lyrically reflects Bob Dylan, musically it is an acoustic, bluesy song. Overall, the album rocks as much as it pops, it brings in horn sections, more keyboards, synths, and violins.

Some would label the group another "supergroup", but the truth is that The Raconteurs are just a group of friends and music lovers that came together and formed an excellent group. Another interesting fact is that the band called The Saboteurs in Australia. The reason for this is that the band named Raconteurs, in Queensland in Australia refused the offer that was proposed for the use of their name, in hopes of getting more money.

Once again I have to mention the Jammies. Voting is done on April 4th, 2008 so get your votes in by voting here (Hint: Revolution Rock is the name of my show).

Songs Played:

1. Carbon/Silicon - The Global War on Culture
2. Joe Strummer - Island Hopping
3. Marble Index - I Believe
4. Mark Inside - Lost Your Appetite (Demo)
5. Easy Targets - If You're a Planet
6. Misfits - Where Eagles Dare
7. Black Sabbath - Lord of this World
8. The Subways - Girls and Boys
9. Frustrations - Overrated
10. Velvet Underground - The Gift
11. Dead 60's - Last Train Home
12. Ride Theory - Reflecting on a Foggy Day
13. The Government - Flat Tire
14. Neil Young - Dirty Old Man
15. The Horrors - She is the New Thing
16. The Strollers - Let Me Come On In
17. The Wipers - Let's Go Away
18. Greenhornes - Pattern Skies
19. Hentchmen - Carry Me Home
20. White Stripes - Aluminum
21. Raconteurs - Hold Up
22. Raconteurs - Many Shades of Black

Related Raconteur Videos:

Steady, As She Goes (Jim Jarmusch Version)
Steady, As She Goes (Version 2)Broken Boy Soldier
Hands
Level (Live Music Video)
Salute Your Solution
Broken Boy Soldier (Live Jools Holland)
Store Bought Bones (Live Jools Holland)
Blue Veins (Live)
Five on the Five (Live)
Bang Bang (Live Nancy Sinatra Cover)
Crazy (Live Gnarls Barkley Cover)
It Ain't Easy (Live David Bowie Cover)
Teenage Kicks (Live Undertones Cover)
White Light/White Heat (Live With Lou Reed)
The Seeker (With Pete Townshend)

New Traditionalists...The Devo Story and Show # 188

Devo had their beginnings in 1972 when they formed in Akron, Ohio. The name Devo came from a theory of De-evolution that Mark Mothersbaugh, Gerald Casale, and Bob Lewis came up with while in art school at Kent State University. The idea came after reading a book titled The Beginning was the End: Knowledge Can Be Eaten. This book claimed that mankind did not evolve, but devolved from mutant man eating apes, which in turn was responsible for all the problems and dysfunctions within societies. The group developed this idea first as a joke, but took it more seriously after shootings took place at Kent State University in May of 1970. Devo's original band consisted of Mark Mothersbaugh (vocals), Gerald Casale (bass), Bob Mothersbaugh (lead guitar), Jim Mothersbaugh (drums), Bob Casale would also be another guitarist; Alan Myers would take over as drummer in 1975. Devo played at the Kent State Arts Festival in 1973 and 1974, but for the most part spent the early years of the bands incarnation developing their sound.

After having the support of David Bowie and Iggy Pop from the Ann Arbor Film Festival in 1976, the group would get a record deal after their short film The Truth About De-Evolution was seen (and won an award). David Bowie was originally supposed to produce the bands first album, but Brian Eno ended up producing it. The album would be titled Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! While some did not understand Devo's sound and dismissed it, others loved it making it popular in the underground. The album contained songs such as a robotic sounding cover of Rolling Stones "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" and songs such as the punk and new wave fueled "Uncontrollable Urge", and "Gut Feeling/(Slap Your Mammy)". The song "Come Back Jonee" is apparently about president John F. Kennedy, and the song "Too Much Paranoia's" actually contains phrases form 1970's Burger King commercials. Other interesting songs include "Mongoloid", and "Jocko Homo". The album definitely was unlike anything out at the the time. It was a mix of what some would call new wave or post punk, punk, and rock. The band used synthesized electronic instruments as well; Devo also released the Be Stiff EP which was self produced in 1977, it contained songs that could be found on the band first album, but were re-recorded.

Devo would crack the mainstream charts in 1979 with their album Duty Now For the Future. The album further developed their synthesized pop sounds from their first album as well as containing a cover of the song "Secret Agent Man'. The album also contained songs such as "Devo Corporate Anthem" (which showed off their earlier Devo theories) and "Clock Out" (a drum based, more rock oriented song). In 1980, The band released Freedom of Choice. The album would be their most successful album, it contained the hit single "Whip it!". The song would climb to #3 on the singles charts in Canada, #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts, and #8 in the UK. The song is also apparently based on a riff in the song "Pretty Woman" by Roy Orbison. The album itself reached as high as #22 on the Pop Album charts in the US. The album also contained the song "Girl U Want" that has been covered by numerous bands, including Soundgarden.

In 1981, New Traditionalists was released. The album was a perfect mix of rock oriented Devo, and synthesized pop Devo (it in fact contained more synthesized pop than any other Devo album). The album had some minor hits, but the bands popularity would fall to cult status. Some of the albums interesting songs included "Through Being Cool" which was a synthesized, funk oriented track which describes Devo in perfect lyrical sense, "Jerkin' Back N' Forth", "Beautiful World", and "Love Without Anger".

Devo were also known for their futuristic stage uniforms. Some of their outfits included yellow nuclear plastic protection suits, wearing plastic hair dos, and flower pot hats. During the New Traditionalists tour the band performed on treadmills while being surrounded in Greek Roman structures. Mark Mothersbaugh also created an alter ego called Booji Boy, which consisted of a strange baby looking mask. The character was used various times through out Devo's career and is supposed to represent the way in which culture was infantile in American societies. Devo also used to open their shows disguised as a band called Dove, The Band of Love. the band was actually Devo disguised as a Christian rock band. They would perform in suits with old fashioned green accountant visors.

The band is also known for their music videos. The "Whip It!" music video was a popular video in the early days of MTV. The group has made numerous creative music videos and videos pertaining to the band. The band has released several promotional videos such as the mockumentary The Men Who Make the Music and the previously mentioned The complete Truth About De-Evolution. Mark Mothersbaugh would be involved in TV and movie soundtracks after Devo, and Gerry Casale would direct TV commercials and music videos such as Foo Fighters "I'll Stick Around", and Soundgarden's "Blow Up the Outside World".

Devo's last full length album, Smooth Noodle Maps would come in 1990. The band has released numerous compilations and a boxed set in 2000 titled Pioneers that Got Scalped. The set was a collection of B-sides and rare Devo songs, serving like an anthology. Also in 2000, Devo released a double CD set of demos, alternate and unreleased versions of Devo songs titled Recombo DNA; It was a limited release of 5000 copies. In 2001, Devo formed a side project called the Wipeouters. They released an album of surf rock oriented music. In 2006, Devo 2.0. was released. It was a group of kids singing and recording versions of Devo songs for Disney. Gerry Casale also formed Jihad & The Evil Doers. Devo has reformed for numerous live shows and tours; In 1996 they played Lollapalooza, finding a new audience. The band also is also apparently making a documentary about the early days of the band, rumoured to be titled The Beginning of the End. It is to contain new music from the band. In 2007, the band released the single "Watch Us Work It" which was also used for a Dell TV commercial. They are also supposed to be currently working on a new albums worth of material. Devo is a band that developed a simple style of pop, New Wave-synthesized music by stripping music down to its essentials using not only guitar and traditional instruments, but also synthesizers, keyboards, and all sorts of electronic sounding instruments. The music also contained elements of rock too, but also strong messages. Devo are one of the most interesting and influential bands to come out during the late 70's and the 80's.

Also CJAM is still taking votes for the Jammies until April 4th, 2008. Visit CJAM's site to vote for your favourite shows.

Play List:

1. Richard Hell & The Voidoids - Walking on the Water
2. The Cure - I'm Cold (Demo)
3. Public Image Limited - Public Image
4. Diodes - Shapes of Things to Come
5. Young Canadians - Where Are You
6. Gang of Four - Natural's Not In
7. Teenage Head - Picture My Face
8. Bureaucrats - She's an American
9. Animal Kingdom - Tension
10. Devo - It Takes a Worried Man
11. Devo - Beautiful World
12. Devo - Watch Us Work It
13. The Wipeouters - Luna Goona Park
14. XTC - Towers of London
15. XTC - Respectable Street
16. Roxy Music - Mother of Pearl
17. Talking Heads - Crosseyed and Painless
18. Young Rival - Don't Make a Sound
19. Young Rival - Ghost in the Park (Demo)
20. The Pack A.D - Gold Rush
21. Dirtbombs- Indivisible
22. Sloan - People Think They Know Me
23. Police - Nothing Achieving
24. Police - Dead End Job
25. Wire - Feeling Called Love

Devo Videos:

Satisfaction (SNL)
Mongoloid (French TV 1978)
Devo - Friday's 1980 (Whip it! & Uncontrollable Urge)
I Saw Jesus & Through Being Cool (Live Friday's 1980)
Gut Feeling/Slap Your Mammy Down (Live 1980)
Jerkin' Back N' Forth
Jocko Homo (Original Version)
Through Being Cool (Video)
Whip It! (Video)
Girl U Want (Video)

Beautiful World (Video)

That's Good (Video)

Devo as Dove - It Takes a Worried Man

Watch Us Work It

Make You Mine...The Stems Story and Show # 187

Coming from Perth, Australia, The Stems had their beginnings in the later part of 1983. The band started while Don Mariani was in a band called the Go-Starts. He was asked to give guitar lessons to Richard Lane, the lessons would then turn into more of a band situation. Gary Chambers would play drums and Julian Matthews would play bass. After a band was assembled the band recorded some demos and started playing live gigs. The bands first live gig was supporting The Saints and the Triffids. The band would be influenced by 60's garage rock bands such as The Standells, The Easybeats, and The Rolling Stones, they also had some R&B influences as well; The band falls under the categories of garage rock revival or garage punk. The band would continue playing live shows, securing a residency and in 1985 released their first single which was, "Make You Mine" with "She's A Monster" as the B-side. They would also record the song "Tears Me In Two" around this time as well.

The EP Love Will Grow came next in 1986. The EP was produced by Radio Birdman's Rob Younger and was released on Citadel Records. After touring to support the EP with the likes of the Flamin' Groovies, The Stems proceeded to record material that would make up their first full length album. After some complications in the studio and three months later At First Sight, Violets Are Blue came out in 1987. The album did quite well and went to number one on the Australian alternative charts, it even went to number 34 on the mainstream charts. The album was a mix of Mariani and Lane's garage rock and pop influences. The album was also on a different label Mushroom Records. There seemed to be interest in the band the song "At First Sight" was even featured on the soundtrack to the movie Young Einstein. After a tour to support the album and some TV appearances in 1987, they called it quits. The band did quite well for an Australian band that was only around for a short period of time, then released one full length album and a bunch of EP's; They have also been featured on numerous garage rock compilations.

After being in the Stems, Don Mariani would go on to form The Someloves, and DM3. Richard Lane would play with The Chevelles. In 2003, The Stems re-united for a tour and to promote the re-release of their first album. In 2007, The Stems recorded Head's Up, their second full length album.

CJAM is once again having voting take place for it's annual Jammy Awards. My Show (Revolution Rock) has been nominated for best punk/hard rock show. If you're a fan of the show and/or visit this website you can vote for my show (and your other favourite CJAM shows) at cjam.ca or by clicking this link Jammies 2008.

the Play List:

1. Collectors - We Can Make It
2. King Beez - Gloria
3. 409 - They Say
4. Velvet Underground - White Light/White Heat
5. Rolling Stones - Around and Around
7. Standells - Medication
8. Foxboro Hot Tubs - Ruby Room
9. Love Me Nots - Come on Over
10. The Stems - Sad Girl
11. The Stems - Tears Me in Two
12. Pointed Sticks - The Witch
13. Neil Young - After the Garden
14. MC5 - Future/Now
15. The Clash - Stay Free (King Biscuit Flower Hour 1979)
16. The Clash - Janie Jones (King Biscuit Flower Hour 1979)
17. The Clash - Julie's Been Working for the Drug Squad (King Biscuit Flower Hour 1979)
18. Buzzcocks - Harmony in My Head
19. Saints - Run Down
20. The Dogs - Sleaze City (Live)
21. Modernettes - Barbra
22. Constantines - Easy Money
23. The Strokes - Fear of Sleep
24. Compulsive Gamblers - Rock and Roll Nurse
25. Black Keys - Wicked Messenger

Stems Videos:

At First Sight
Sad Girl

Waterloo Sunset...The Story of the Kinks Part One...Show # 186

The Kinks formed in 1963 in the UK. The band is known for being one of the most influential bands that came out during the British invasion along with the likes of The Beatles, The Who, and The Rolling Stones. The band was comprised of the the brothers Ray (vocals/guitar/main songwriter) and Dave Davies (guitar), Mick Avory (drums), and Peter Quaife on bass. The Kinks were originally called The Ravens, but changed their name as they recorded their first single for Pye Records in 1964; They were named the Kinks due to their style of dress onstage which was called "kinky". The single was a cover of Little Richards "Long Tall Sally", it did not chart. The bands second single was "You Still Want Me", which also failed to chart. It wasn't until the bands third single "You Really Got Me" that others started to take notice. The song debuted at number one on the UK charts and helped define the bands early garage rock style. The song also features distortion and a power chord structure at a time when bands were using clean guitar amplifiers and playing songs differently. What happened was Dave Davies sliced the speaker of his amplifier with a razor blade giving his amplified guitar a distorted sound. The song also went to number one in the US. What followed next was a series of awesome hit UK singles and a ban in the USA.

When on tour in the USA in 1965, following an incident the Kinks were banned for four years in the US of A. The band focused on songwriting, touring, and releasing songs at an incredibly fast pace. The songs mostly came from the brain of Ray Davies, but there were some songs written and sung by Dave Davies. The bands singles after "You Really got Me" were "All Day and All of the Night", "Set Me Free", "Tired of Waiting for You", "Everybody's Gonna Be Happy", "See My Friends", "Till the End of the Day", "Dedicated Follower of Fashion", "Dead End Street" and "Waterloo Sunset", to name a few. It's simply amazing at the quality of the singles that the band released in such a short time. While being banned in the US did have a negative impact on the band, they would not get the proper recognition and fame they deserved until later on, they thrived in the UK, influencing thousands of bands. The Who's Pete Townshend cites "I Can't Explain" as his attempt at writing a Kinks song. During this time The Kinks also released several albums and EP's.

The Kinks weren't just a loud rock band they had varying styles, which included pop, and acoustic numbers as well. Some of their most interesting albums include Kink Kontroversy (1965), which drew on heavy blues influences while still building on their early sound. Face to Face (1966) which came next, is an album that contains compositions written entirely by Ray Davies. Prior to the recording of this album Ray Davies had a nervous breakdown and seemed to escape within his song writing and story telling abilities within the lyrics of the songs. The album advanced the bands style with songs such as "Party Line", "Dandy" and most notably the excellently crafted song "Sunny Afternoon". The singles released to promote the album were "I'm Not Like Everybody Else", and "Mister Pleasant" (they were later included on CD re-issues of the album).

In 1967 Something Else by the Kinks was released. The album is considered the best album by some Kinks fanatics and critics, despite the fact that when it came out it did poorly. This album contained more Dave Davies compositions than the bands previous albums. "Death of a Clown" was a song sung by Dave Davies, but one that was written with the help of Ray Davies. "Love Me Till the Sun Shines", and "Funny Face" were the other Dave Davies Credited and sung songs. The album also contained the excellent Ray Davies compositions "David Watts", "Harry Rag", "Situation Vacant" and "Waterloo Sunset". The album was produced by American producer Shel Talmy, but the subject matter of the album is heavily English laced. The singles released during this album were "Autumn Almanac", and "Susannah's Still Alive" (an excellent Dave Davies composition). After the release of Something Else, the band explored different types of song writing and lyrical structures with The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society (1968).

The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society, was a concept album. It contained songs such as "Picture Book" (eerily similar to Green Day's "Warning" song), and "Johnny Thunder" which showed off their new style. There was also a single "Days" which did quite well on the charts. In 1969, King Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) was released. It was a rock opera, one of the first. The album is often compared the the rock opera Tommy by The Who, which was composed by The Who's Pete Townshend.

The ban from the USA was also lifted and in 1969, the band would release the song "Lola" which would be a huge hit in the US. The song itself was about an encounter with a transvestite written into a cleverly worded song. The song would be included on the album Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneyground Part One, which was released in 1970.

To read part two of my Kinks history and to see a show I did of all Kinks songs click Here.

Song Played:

1. Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers - One Track Mind
2. Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers - Let Go
3. Count Five - Double-Decker Bus
4. Count Five - Psychotic Reaction
5. The Sonics - The Witch
6. The Sonics - He's Waitin'
7. Gruesomes - No More Lies
8. Gruesomes - Why Me?
9. Ugly Ducklings - Just in Case You Wonder
10. Ugly Ducklings - I Wish You Would
11. Stooges - Loose
12. Stooges - Dirt
13. The Damned - 1 of the 2
14. The Damned - So Messed Up
15. Kinks - Situation Vacant
16. Kinks - I Need You
17. 101ers - Silent Telephone
18. 101ers - Keys to Your Heart (Version 1)
19. Ramones - Beat on the Brat
20. Ramones - I Can't Be (Demo)
21. Teenage Head - Disgusteen (Alternate Version)
22. Teenage Head - Top Down (New Alternate Version)
23. Undertones - There Goes Norman
24. Undertones - Hypnotised
25. The D4 - Running on Empty
26. The D4 - John Rock

Kinks Videos:

You Really Got Me
All Day and All of the Night
Tired of Waiting For You
It's Alright
Everybody's Gonna Be Happy
Set Me Free
A Well Respected Man
Waterloo Sunset
Dead End Street (Video)
Sunny Afternoon
Death of a Clown
The Village Green Preservation Society
Days
Lola

Savvy Show Stoppers...The Story of Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet...Show # 185 (Surf Show)

Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet were a Canadian band that formed in 1984. The group had three members Reid Diamond on bass, Brian connelly on guitar, and Don Pyle on drums. The group mixed styles of surf, punk, and were an instrumental group. Throughout the 1980's the group released a series of EP's and in 1989 one of their songs "Having An Average Weekend" was used for the Canadian TV comedy show Kids in the Hall. In 1990, Savvy Show Stoppers was released, it was a collection of their early singles. In 1991 the band released their second full length album Dim the Lights, Chill the Ham. It offered more variety than the bands previous releases. In 1993 Sport Fishin': The Lure of the Bait, The Luck of the Hook came out. The album was also produced by Steve Albini and once again took the band into another direction, while still having elements of surf. The album had a more diverse sound than the bands previous releases.

In 1996, the group split up and went into different directions. Diamond and Pyle went on to form another instrumental group called Phono-Comb, while Connelly went on to play with Atomic 7 and the garage rock trio The Heatseekers. The group are known for being a great Canadian (from Toronto) surf/instrumental rock band, they are identified as doing the theme song for the TV show Kids in the Hall, but were much more than that. In 1992, the group also won a Juno Award for Instrumental artist of the year. In 2001, Reid Diamond passed away due to cancer. For more information on Shadowy Men, Atomic 7, Phono-Comb, and all their side/after projects visit The Shadowy Site on a Shadowy Web.

This week I did a show consisting entirely of Surf rock style songs. It was the fourth week of the I Am Collecting Beautiful Things variety challenge, which means for four weeks, I was not to play the same artist twice; The host of the show will not play the same artist all year! I previously did a surf rock and garage rock show last February and this February it was entirely surf and surf influenced material. I would also like to mention that I have a new banner that was excellently designed by Greg Maxwell, he has a website called The Ugly Vision. 

Surf Play List:

1. Ventures - Walk Don't Run '64
2. Beach Boys - Moon Dawg
3. The Vistas - Moon Relay
4. Avengers VI - Heartbeat
5. The Phantoms - XL-3
6. Chevells - Riptide
7. New Dimensions - Cat on a Hot Foam Board
8. Goldtones - Strike
9. Tommy & The Hustlers - Diggin' Out
10. April March - Chick Habit
11. Torpedoes - Bustin' Surfboards
12. Spring Break Shark Attack! - Blood Ocean
13. Shadowy Men On a Shadowy Planet - Our weapons are Useless
15. The Beans - Surfs Up
16. Metalunas - Balistic Bikini
17. Atomic 7 - Chock Full O' Notes
18. Ramonetures - Rockaway Beach
19. The Cocktail Preachers - Rudie Can't Fail
20. The Glasgow Tiki Shakers - Garageland
21. Rna - Spanish Bombs
22. Urban Surf Kings - Clampdown
23. The Anacondas - Guns of Brixton
24. The 5.6.7.8’s - Cat Fight Run
25. Challengers - Our Man Flint
26. Bobby Fuller - Our Favorite Martian
27. Lively Ones - Surf Rider
28. Surf Trio - Beach Genius
29. Mach Kung-Fu - Singapore
30. The Chantays - Pipeline
31. Dick Dale & His Del-Tones - Banzi Wash Out

Semaphore Signals...Wreckless Eric Story...Show # 184

Signing to Stiff Records in 1977, Wreckless Eric (real name Eric Gouldon) was a member of the emerging new wave roster on the label (alongside Ian Dury & The Blockheads, and Elvis Costello). Wreckless Eric's musical style was fuelled by the raw power chord punk and pop he produced. In 1977, "Whole Wide World/Semaphore Signals" as released. The song's backing instruments were provided by Nick Lowe on bass, and Ian Dury on drums. Eric's first album was self titled and came out in 1978, but he was known for his drunken antics while on tour, on and off stage. His first album reflected his drunken antics with a certain charm. it was a punk influenced album with pop sensibilities.

In 1979, The Wonderful World of Wreckless Eric was released. This album showed that Wreckless Eric had a talent, and a knack for writing pop songs. The album did not do too well, along with he first one; He was poorly promoted on the Stiff label. Another album came out titled Big Smash (in 1980), that was so poorly promoted by Stiff and overlooked that he quite the music industry. In in 1979, The Whole Wide World came out in America only, it was a collection of Wreckless Eric's early singles. It came as a bonus with original pressings of 1980's Big Smash.

In 1985, Eric returned with a new group called Captain's of Industry. The group released one album called A Roomful of Monkeys; the band consisted of members from Ian Dury & The Blockheads. In 1986, he formed another group called The Len Bright Combo who would release two albums before quitting. In 1989, he signed to another record label as Eric Goulden and Le Beat Group Electrique. Since then and throughout the 90's, Eric has toured and released albums and even wrote an autobiography titled A Dysfunctional Success. Eric has since then relocated to France.

Next week I will be doing a different type of show. It will consist entirely of surf songs.

The Play List:

1. Sex Pistols - Holidays in the Sun
2. The Scabs - Don't Just Sit There
3. Subway Sect - Chain Smoking
4. The Skids - Skin of Our Own
5. Generation X - Listen
6. Saints - Wild About You
7. Scavengers - Supported by the State
8. The Jam - Art School
9. Modernettes - Celebrity Crackup
10. Spys - Underground
11. The Demics - The Gray and the Black
12. Teenage Head - Little Boxes
13. The Unknowns - Teenage Terrorist
14. Television - Friction (Alternate Version)
15. Wreckless Eric - Whole Wide World
16. Gun Club - She's Like Heroin to Me
17. Wire - Three Girl Rhumba
18. The Victims - Television Addict
19. Radio Birdman - Hand of Law
20. The Shades - New Clientele
21. Gruesomes - I Need You
22. The Clash - Career Opportunities
23. Ramones - Teenage Lobotomy
24. Buzzcocks - Get On Our Own
25. Undertones - Mars Bar
26. Richard Hell & The Voidoids - the Kid With the Replaceable Head
27. Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers - It's Not Enough
28. The Hives - You Dress Up for Armageddon
29. Soundgarden - Ty Cobb

Wreckless Videos:

The Whole Wide World
A Pop Song
Reconnez Cherie (Live Stiffs Tour 1977)

Destination Venus...The Rezillos Story... Show # 183

The Rezillos Formed in Edinburgh, Scottland in 1976. The group was Eugene Reynolds (vocals), Fay Fife (Vocals), Jo Callis and Hi-Fi Harris on guitar, Dr. D.K. Symthe (bass), Angel Patterson (drums), William Mysterious (Saxophone), and Gale Warning on backing vocals. The band is associated with the 70's punk and new wave movement, but were quite different. The bands image was more glam than other punk bands at the time. During the bands early live sets they were known for playing covers such as The Dave Clark Five, The Sweet, Screaming Lord Sutch, and Earl Vince and the Valiants (Fleetwood Mac).


In 1977 the band recorded the single "I Can't Stand My Baby" (backed with "I wanna Be Your Man" a Beatles cover) and released it on Sensible Records. The single generated interest in the band and the band would sign to Sire records, who had the likes of Talking Heads, and Ramones. The unexpected success was a shock to the band, who didn't take what they did that seriously. As more interest generated in the band, they would would lose three members (Symthe, Harris, and Warning). The band would then begin work on their debut album with a new line-up, minus three members and Mysterious on bass. The bands second single was "Flying Saucer Attack" backed with "My Baby Does Good Sculptures", the single didn't do too well. In 1978 the band would have a top 20 UK hit with the song "Top of the Pops", reaching number 16. The bands album would be titled Can't Stand the Rezillos and came out in 1978. Around this time Mysterious left as bassist and was replaced by Simon Templar. The single and album versions of "Top of the Pops are different. Mysterious is on the album version while Templar is on the single version. Overall the album is classic album in the punk and new wave categories. It also contains a variety of 60's covers "Glad All Over" (Dave Clark Five), "I Like It" (Gerry & The Pacemakers).


The band would release one final single "Destination Venus". Reynolds and Fife left the group just after The Rezillos debut album and formed a new group titled The Revillos (the name change was due to contract reasons). The other members formed a band called Shake. The Revillos released Rev Up in 1980 and continued a longer career as The Revillos in the 80's and went through numerous line-up changes. In 1979 a live album was released by the band titled Mission Accomplished... But the Beat Goes On. In 1993, Can't Stand the Rezillos : The (Almost) Complete Rezillos was released. The album was the bands first album remastered with songs from their 1979 live album, but not all of the songs from the live album (all the songs couldn't fit onto one CD). The Rezillos reformed in 1994 and 2001 for some live shows and are currently still playing together.

This week was also the second week of the I Am Collecting Beautiful Things challenge. The challenge is no to play the same two bands twice for 4 weeks.

Play List:

1. Big Audio Dynamite - Harrow Road
2. Public Image Limited - Socialist
3. Professionals - Mods, Skins, Punks
4. Devo - Uncontrollable Urge
5. The Network - Supermodel Robots
6. Ultravox! - Rockwrok
7. Diodes - Terminal Rock
8. The Action - TV's on the Blink
9. Bureaucrats - She's an American
10. Crash 80s - Thrills
11. Magazine - Because You're Frightened (BBC Session)
12. Pointed Sticks - Real Thing
13. Stranglers - Sweden (All Quiet on the Eastern Front)
14. XTC - This is Pop
15. Elvis Costello & the Attractions - (I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea
16. The Government - Fire Escape
17. Talking Heads - The Big Country
18. The Police - Bring On the Night
19. Gang of Four - At Home He's a Tourist
20. Rezillos - I Can't Stand My Baby
21. Ride Theory - Great White Shark
22. Misfits - Hybrid Moments
23. The Damned - Your Eyes
24. Motorhead - Love Me Like A Reptile
25. Metallica - Free Speech for the Dumb

Rezillos Videos:

Top of The Pops (On Top of the Pops)
Destination Venus (On Top of the Pops)
My Baby Does Good Sculptures (Live on Old Grey Whistle Test)

Flourescent Adolescents... The Arctic Monkeys Story and Show # 182

The Arctic Monkeys are a band that draw in influences from punk, post-punk, and Brit pop creating a unique sound. With a voice similar to David Bowie and influences ranging from The Jam, The Clash, The Police, and The Smiths Arctic Monkeys formed in 2002. Alex Turner took on vocals/guitar duties, Jamie Cook took on guitar as well, and other school related friends Andy Nicholson (bass) and Matt Helders (drums) joined too; Initially Glyn Jones was the first singer he left and then was replaced by Turner. The band came from Sheffield, England and started playing gigs in 2003. The bands audience grew as they continued to play shows and pass out demos they recorded for free. The bands popularity grew even further when the songs started appearing on the Internet via their myspace page and other file sharing programs; A collection of the bands early demos can be found on the compilation Beneath the Boardwalk.

As popularity grew in England, the band released and EP titled Five Minutes with the Arctic Monkeys. The EP featured two songs "Fake Tales of San Francisco" and "From the Ritz to the Rubble". Both these songs would be featured on the bands first album, but were re-recorded. Unhappy with the offers they were getting from record labels (they wanted them to change their sound), the band refused initial offers. In June of 2005, they signed to Domino who gave the band more artistic freedom with their music. The bands first single was "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor", which came out in October of 2005. It went to number one on the UK singles chart as did their second single "When the Sun Goes Down". The bands album came in January of 2005 and was released one week early due to high demand for it and Internet leaks. The album was titled Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not. The title came from the 1960 movie Saturday Night, Sunday Morning; It is also a novel by Allan Sillitoe. The album set the UK record for most sales in one week selling over 306, 000 and obviously going to number one on the UK Charts. In the US it went to number 24 on the charts.

After a tour, the band released another EP in April 2006 titled Who the Fuck Are the Arctic Monkeys? Soon after the release of this five track EP, bassist Andy Nicholson left the group due to the pressures of touring and popularity; He was replaced by Nick O'Malley. A year later in April of 2007 the band released their second album Your Favourite Worst Nightmare. This album was a departure from the bands first album, the sound was heavier, faster, and louder. Examples of this can be heard on their first single from the album "Brianstorm", and on songs such as "Teddy Picker" and "Old Yellow Bricks". The album once again debuted at number one in the UK and number 7 in the US. Currently the band is said to have started recording demos for the bands third album. Some of the song titles are "Sandtrap", "Put Me in a Terror Pocket", and "The Fire and the Thud". The band has also said in recent interviews that they want to move away from the conventional album format and release the album single by single. Alex Turner is currently involved in a side project called The Last Shadow Puppets. Along with Miles Kane (The Rascals), and James Ford (producer/drummer) the band released The Age of Understatement in April of 2008. The Arctic Monkeys are set to record another album with Josh Homme (from Queens of the Stone Age) as producer.

In other news Chris White of the CJAM show I Am Collecting Beautiful Things has challenged other CJAM shows to complete a four week task of not playing the same musical artist twice. He is not going to play the same artist twice all year, so compared to that four weeks or four shows is nothing. This should make the next four shows (including this one) quite interesting. I will be playing a lot of the usual bands, but also some different bands in the process. This was week one of the four week challenge.

The Play List:

1. The Rapture - Pieces of the People That We Love
2. Arctic Monkeys - Old Yellow Bricks
3. Radio 4 - Packing Up Things on the Scene
4. The Quotes - She's Got Me
5. The Checks - Take Me There
6. The Griefs - Whenever You're Around
7. Tricky Woo - Fever
8. Marble Index - Everyone Else
9. The Pack A.D. - Stray
10. Mudhoney - The Straight Life
11. Subways - With You
12. Strokes - Soma
13. Buddy Holly - Ting-A-Ling
14. Dead 60s - Don't Walk Away
15. Action Makes - Charley and the CFF
16. Hot Hot Heat - Get In or Get Out
17. Mark Inside - Blacksheep (demo)
18. The Staggers - Out of My Mind
19. Exploding Hearts - Modern Kicks
20. Green Day - Take Back
21. Carbon/Silicon - The News
22. Libertines - The Boy Looked At Johnny
23. Satelliters - Unknown State of Mind
24. The D4 - Peepshow
25. Franz Ferdinand - What You Meant

I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor
When the Sun Goes Down (Music Video)
Teddy Picker (Live Music Video)
Flourescent Adolescent (Music Video)
Live on Jools Holland (Brainstorm, 505, & Teddypicker)
Take it or Leave It (Live Strokes Cover)

Don't Bring Me Down - The Pretty Things Story...Show # 181

Named after a Bo Diddley song ("Pretty Thing"), The Pretty Things started out in England in 1963. The band was influential on bands such as Rolling Stones, Davie Bowie, and The Who. The band started off by doing a bunch of R&B covers (similar to Rolling Stones) which are seen as being punky and edgy versions of the original songs. The band consisted of Phil May (Vocals/Harmonica), Dick Taylor (Guitar), Brian Pendleton (Rhythm Guitar), John Stax (Bass), and Pete Kitley on drums (he would be replaced by Viv Prince on drums). Another interesting fact is that Dick Taylor was actually in an early version of the Rolling Stones before getting The Pretty Things.

The band became very popular in the UK with their first three singles ("Rosalyn", "Don't Bring Me Down", and "Honey I Need") in 1964/1965. The bands 1965 album Get The Picture? contains their early UK hits as well as songs such as "Midnight To Six Man". This song set the standard for the Mod lifestyle in the UK and is even mentioned in the lyrics to The Clash song "(Whiteman) In Hammersmith Palais". In 1967, the group released the Psychedelic album Emotions, changing their sound. They then released S.F Sorrow, which is seen as one of the first rock opera's proceeding Pete Townshends Tommy. The album itself was recorded at Abbey road studios after The Beatles Sgt. Peppers and Pink Floyd's Piper at the Gates of Dawn. The album was a commercial failure and the band still was virtually unknown in the USA. It wouldn't be until David Bowie covered two Pretty Things songs ("Don't Bring Me Down" and "Rosalyn") on his album Pin Ups (1973) that people in the US even knew they existed. Just after the release of S.F. Sorrow, Taylor would leave the group. The bands next album was Parachute in 1970 and was named the album of the year by Rolling Stone magazine; The album had a psychedelic sound.

The band would keep going. They recorded a bunch of songs for some low budget movies in the 70s and in the 80s incorporated more heavy metal into their sound. They were even managed by Led Zeppelin manager Peter Grant (briefly) and had releases on Zeppelin's Swan Song label. On the album Cross Talk the band added elements of punk and new wave to their music. The band has reunited for live shows/tours and albums since 1990 with and without the original members. The band is known for their early British sound sound that was influential on the likes of the Rolling Stones, as well as some punk bands in the late 70s; Some of the bands early material has been re-issued with bonus tracks.

The Play List:

1. Stooges - I Wanna Be Your Dog
2. White Stripes - Black Math
3. Albert Hammond Jr. - Postal Blowfish
4. Ugly Ducklings - Hey Mama (Keep Your Big Mouth Shut)
5. Kinks - I"m Not Like Everybody Else
6. Phantom Keys - In The Summer Time
7. Standells - Dirty Water
8. Pretty Things - Midnight To Six Man
9. Pretty Things - L.S.D.
10. Elvis Presley - Let Yourself Go
11. Young Rival - Authentic Child
12. Whitsundays - Loralee
13. Ex-Boyfriends - Spanked By Lightning
14. 222's - Hold On
15. Gentlemen of Horror - Overhead Projector
16. Hot Nasties - Get Away From Me
17. Sonic Youth - Hey Joni
18. The Government - Hemmingway Hated Disco
19. XTC - Ten Feet Tall
20. Elvis Costello & The Attractions - No Action
21. Klark Kent - My Old School
22. Wire - No Warning Given
23. Nirvana - Beeswax (Live Buenos Aires 1992)
24. Dirty Pretty Things - Radio Song
25. Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros - Cool n' Out
26. Iggy Pop - I'm Bored
27. Rage Against the Machine - Tire Me

Pretty Videos:

Midnight to Six Man
On Popside 1966 (Can't Stand the Pain, L.S.D., and Come and See Me)

Show # 180 - The Live Show

This week my show consisted entirely of live recordings from some of my favourite bands. This included official live albums, and rare unreleased recordings. Some of the material I played was:



The Bootleg Series Volume 4: Bob Dylan Live 1966: The Royal Albert Hall Concert

After years of being bootlegged, Bob Dylan officially released this live concert as part of his Bootleg Series in 1998. This is the concert where Dylan went electric, causing many of his fans to believe him a sellout. Other interesting facts about this double CD set is that Bob Dylan is backed by a group of Canadian musicians then known as The Hawks. Serving as his backing band, The Hawks would later change their name to The Band.

Sex Pistols - Live in Chelmsford Prison (2002 Sanctuary)

This is a live concert featuring the Sex Pistols live at a prison in 1976. On this CD there are all the Pistols classics such as "Problems", "Anarchy in the UK", "God Save the Queen", and a variety of covers "No Fun (The Stooges)", and "Substitute (The Who)". This bootleg recording sounds better than a large majority of the bands live recordings. Recorded by the bands sound man Dave Goodman, the album showcases an early version of the band featuring Glen Matlock on bass. The actual overall performance of the band has been described as the group not at their best, but it is a good sounding live recordings by the legendary Sex Pistols. Earlier releases of this show, have sound man Dave Goodman adding overdubs to the show, sometimes even singing over top of Rotten making the release worthless. If you want to get this bootleg make sure it is the 2002 Sanctuary version.

Talking Heads - The Name of this Band is Talking Heads

Originally released in 1982, This was a double live album cataloguing the bands career from 1979 to 1981. The title of the album originated from the incorrect pronunciation of the band as The Talking Heads (it's just Talking Heads). The first disc contains live recordings from the period of 1977-1979 and the second disc contains live recordings from the period of 1980-1981. When released on CD in 2004, not only was the album remastered, but also expanded with 15 bonus tracks. The album also contains the song "A Clean Break" which was previously unreleased, and is an excellent track. This is a live album that is just as good if not better than the bands other live album Stop Making Sense.

In other news, on January 11th, Mick Jones and members of Carbon/Silicon played live on stage with none other than Topper Headon (former drummer of the Clash). It was the first time in 25 years the two played together and here are two videos of it:

Train in Vain
Should I Stay or Should I Go

Finally, an article was written for the University of Windsor's newspaper The Lance on my radio show Revolution Rock. If you would like to read it, you can check it out here.

The Play List:

1. The Clash - Jimmy Jazz (Live From Here To Eternity II)
2. The Damned - New Rose (Live Paris Theatre 1977)
3. Sex Pistols - Substitute (Live Chelmsford Prison 1976)
4. Teenage Head - Little Sister (Live 1978)
5. Teenage Head - Ain't Got No Sense (Live 1978)
6. Young Canadians - Poison of Thought (Live No Escape)
7. Saints - Untitled (Live London 1977)
8. Saints - Nights in Venice (Live in London 1977)
9. Gang of Four - Return the Gift (Live Ann Arbour, Michigan 1981)
10. The Jam - And Your Bird Can Sing (BBC Session)
11. Bob Dylan - Tell Me, Momma (Live Royal Albert Hall 1966)
12. Sloan - The Lines You Amend (4 Nights at the Palais Royale)
13. Sloan - Iggy & Angus (4 Nights at the Palais Royale)
14. Generation X - King Rocker (Live Sheffeild 1978)
15. Neil Young - Sedan Delivery (Rust Never Sleeps 1979)
16. Pearl Jam - Fuckin' Up (Live Toronto 2006)
17. Modernettes - Rebel Kind (Live on the Vancouver Show 1983)
18. Smugglers - What Do You Want Me to Do (Live Growing Up Smugglers 1998)
19. The Clash - Hate & War (Live Something Else 1979)
20. Buzzcocks - Fiction Romance (Entertaining Friends 1979)
21. Talking Heads - Don't Worry About the Government (The Name of this Band is Talking Heads)
22. Dead 60s - Liar (Live i-tunes Music Festival 2007)
23. The Hives - List of Demands (XFM Session 2007)
24. Ramones - Let's Dance (Live at the Roxy 1976)

Tangled Up in Plaid...Story of Queens of the Stone Age and show # 179

Coming from the remnants of Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age were called Gamma Ray and were a group of revolving musicians that included Josh Homme, Matt Cameron (Soundgarden), and Mike johnson from Dinosaur Jr. They released a series of 7 Inch singles before changing their name and band members. Changing their name to Queens of the Stone Age, Josh Homme (singer/guitar) and Alfredo Hernandez (ex-kyuss drummer) released Queens of the Stone Age . Josh Homme covered not only the guitar and vocals, but the bass as well. The album was a departure from the sound of Kyuss, it was more riff oriented. Josh Homme described it as "Robot Rock", but critics described the music as stoner rock, which is something that Homme doesn't endorse. After the release of their first album, Nick Ovliveri (Kyuss/Dwarves) joined the group as bassist, Dave Catching also joined as second guitarist around this time.

In 2000, Rated R was released. By this time drummer Hernandez left the group two drummers contributed to the album Gene Trautmann and Nick Lucero, Mark Lanegan of the Screaming Trees also contributed vocals to the album. Rated R was an album that showed off Homme and Oliveri's style, the album is a riffy mix of Black Sabbath type rock and elements of punk, but more so on the metal Sabbath side. The album opens with the track "Feel Good Hit of the Summer", a song in which the chorus is a list of drugs. The song was to be seen as a joke by fans, it was a hit in Europe but not released in the US. The song is used by the Colorado Police Department as the song in their instructional video about the consequences of drunk driving. The second track on the album is "The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret" is easily one of the catchiest QOTSA songs. The song is a mix of a mellow verses and loud dragging chorus' with the lines "What Would You Do, Don't Tell Anyone" repeated over and over. Another interesting track is "Monsters in the Parasol", a song written after an LSD experience; the song came from The Desert Sessions Volume 3 & 4 (Desert Sessions are songs written by a group of musicians that includes Homme, Oliveri and others). Despite getting good reviews, the album didn't do too well commercially.

In 2001/2002, QOTSA began work on their third album, but were once again without a drummer. Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters took the job, post-poning his work with the Foo Fighters, even touring briefly with QOTSA. A Perfect Circle member Troy Van Leeuwen joined as second guitarist, Mark Lanegan once again appeared on the album. Songs for the Deaf showed a step up in song structure from the band. "No One Knows" was the first single, it went to number one. It featured the hard-hitting drumming of Dave Grohl along with heavy QOTSA riffs and a bass solo from Oliveri. "Go With the Flow" was another single, that did the band good. The music video features the band riding on the back of a truck and silouhettes of the band. Other interesting songs include "Hanging Tree", "The Sky is Fallin'", and the southern watery sounding "Another Love Song". Overall, the album is a mix of metal, and garage rock. The band also got another drummer during the touring of this album (because Grohl was involved with Foo Fighters), Joey Castillo (drummer of Danzig) took over the job. Songs for the Deaf was the bands biggest commercial success since its beginnings, it went gold.

Homme got involved in a side project in 2004. The band was called Eagles of Death Metal and Homme played drums. The band was formed with friend Jesse "The Devil" Hughes, their first album was called Peace, Love, and Death Metal. In 2006, they released Death By Sexy, and in 2008 a new album is supposed to come out titled Heart On. The band is not a death metal band, they are a mix of garage rock with bluesgrass slide guitar.

In July of 2005, Oliveri was fired from the band. The band got a new bassist Alain Johannes and released Lullabies to Paralyze in March of 2005. The album showed off the bands new wave and punk side, along with a little Black Sabbath thrown in. Songs such as "Medication", "Everybody Knows that You're Insane", and "Skin on Skin" showed off the bands punk side. Other great tracks include the cowbell dominated, and crunchy guitar riffed "Little Sister" and "Burn the Witch". The song featured Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top and Mark Lanegan on backing vocals and Homme on bass. "In My Head" is a slower, "Go With the Flow" type track. Mark Lanegan can be heard on the opening track "This Lullaby", he no longer tours with the band. People that were expecting another Songs for the Deaf type album were thrown off, the album did not sell as well as it's predecessor; The album debuted at number five on the US charts.

Coming out in June of 2007, Era Vulgaris was the fifth full length album from Queens of the Stone Age. The album once again took the band and fans into a different direction. It was a more dark album, sounding like a mix of Rated R and Lullabies to Paralyze mixing elements of punk, new wave, metal, and rocking out like Songs for the Deaf. "Sick, Sick, Sick" was the first single. It a fast punky rocker featuring guest vocals by Strokes singer Julian Casablancas. Mark Lanegan once again contributed vocals, to harmonies on the track "River in the Road". "3's & 7's" is another punk influenced rocker, along with the climbing "Battery Acid". Other great tracks include the long, but hypnotising "Misfit Love", "Suture Up Your Future", and the heavy hitting "Run, Pig, Run". Finally, the album contains the heavily pop laced track "Make It Wit Chu", a song that came once again from a desert sessions. Overall, the album threw off fans, but it is just as interesting as any QOTSA release; It debuted at number 14 on the US charts.

The Play List:

1. Rezillos - Flying Saucer Attack
2. Plasticines - Shake (Twist Around the Fire)
3. Pointed Sticks - Somebody’s Mom
4. Diodes - Coma
5. Carboard Brains - Can Stress Kill?
6. Strollers - Let Me Come on in
7. The Griefs - Board Out of My Gourd
8. Gruesomes - No More Lies
9. Tricky Woo - Hot Kitty
10. Marble Index - All That I Know
11. The Strokes - The End Has No End
12. Stooges - I Got A Right ! (Alternate Version)
13. Queens of the Stone Age - Monsters in the Parasol
14. Queens of the Stone Age - Tangled Up in Plaid
15. Queens of the Stone Age - Needles in the Camel's Eye
16. Roxy Music - All I Want is You
17. Only Ones - Lovers of Today
18. Subways - City Pavement
19. Ultravox! - Frozen Ones
20. Compulsive Gamblers - I’m That Guy
21. Ride Theory - Alright
22. Ride Theory - Can’t Get it Right
24. Redwalls - Modern Diet
25. The D4 - Out of My Head
26. The D4 - Feel It Like It
26. Carbon/Silicon - What the Fuck
27. XTC - Statue of Liberty

Download Part One of Show 179
Download Part Two of Show 179

QOTSA Videos:

No One Knows (Live 2002)
Monsters in the Parasol (Live 2007)
Go With the Flow (Music Video)
Another Love Song (Live)
Little Sister (Music Video)
Burn the Witch (Live on Leno - Featuring Billy Gibbons)
Sick Sick Sick (Music Video)
3's & 7's (Music Video)
Misfit Love (Live Henry Rollins Show)
Battery Acid (Live Henry Rollins Show)