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 Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Wolfmother howls!
Posted by peter
 The next time somebody tells you that rock is dead, grab 'em by the scruff of the neck and haul 'em over to wherever the hell Wolfmother is playing, and then ask them, politely, "Still think that way, moron?" Resurrecting the psychedelic, proto-heavy metal sounds of Blue Cheer and early Black Sabbath, Wolfmother (pictured at right in an Autumn De Wilde photo) doesn't roll with current musical trends. And yet, the trio of hairy vocalist/guitarist Andrew Stockdale, bassist/organist Chris Ross and drummer Myles Heskett has landed its time machine smack dab in an era where slick hip-hop and American Idol "flavors of the month" rule the charts. What a great time to be alive!  No matter. Wolfmother hasn't let that get them down. Fuzzed-out and trippy, with searing lead guitar, crashing drums, towering rhythms and moody, prog-inspired keyboard movements, Wolfmother brought the music world kicking and screaming back to the acid-rock fog of the late '60s/early '70s with its self-titled 2006 release on the Interscope label. And those that got dragged back loved it. On Tuesday, June 26, Wolfmother landed its time machine at the Oneida Casino in Green Bay, Wis., and torched the place. After struggling a bit through the opener "Dimension" — the pacing seemed a little off, a little slow — Wolfmother collected itself as a unit, roaring through the single "Woman" as the crowd of about 500 people just exploded. Mind-altering, metal-tinged instrumental passages mixed with the folk-rock innocence of "Apple Tree," and "Mind's Eye" and "White Unicorn" offered a mesmerizing mix of power and drama. But, it was the thundering "Colossal" and the white-hots jabs of "Joker & The Thief" during the encore that sent everybody — the band, the audience, security guards ... everyone — into a frenzy. Ever the rock 'n' roll showman, Stockdale had all the '70s arena-rock moves down pat, while the acrobatic Ross abused his keyboards and Heskett smashed his cymbals into kindling. Wolfmother isn't just raping the past, however. Yeah, the band's sound is based in the bluesy, psychedelic metal that was birthed when Generation X was in diapers, and lyrics are drawn from the world of fantasy literature and goddess worship — Led Zeppelin already went there, I know. But, there's something new and fresh in the way Wolfmother presents the past. Think of their music as the sequel to what's already come before it, and while sequels don't always measure up to the original, Wolfmother's zeal and energy prevail — especially live. Wolfmother's current tour is almost done. Visit www.wolfmother.com to see where the band plays next.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007 5:47:15 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00) 
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Friday, June 22, 2007
Hang it all
Posted by Peter
 Just because a band has multiple personalities doesn't mean it's ready for a straitjacket. Though ungodly heavy practically all of the time, unleashing mesmerizing torrents of distorted guitar noise upon tender, unprotected ears, the Burning Brides do have a soft acoustic side. It doesn't come out much on Hang Love (self-released), the band's frightening, ferocious new record, but it's there, like on the triumphant album closer, "And I'm Free," a stinging "Emancipation Proclamation" with Beach Boys-style harmonies and lovely piano moments growing like flowers through the broken, concrete power-chords. Nobody contrasts beauty and darkness better than the Brides. "We've always come from the school of thought that a great rock band is one that can change shapes and change moods at the drop of a hat," says Coats. "Led Zeppelin, the Stones, the Who, even early Aerosmith ... all those great records [they made] are full of really heavy tunes and really sweet acoustic ballads, and we like to show off our range as artists. I think that's what makes for a dynamic story line. I'm still into the art of making an album and how the songs are threaded together and what sort of picture they paint at the end of the day." In a sense, Hang Love, which features a cover with Dimitri's head in a noose, is a rebirth for the Burning Brides. After going through major-label hell and back, all the while dealing with drug problems and relationship issues that could have destroyed them (Dimitri and bassist Melanie Coats — formerly Campbell — are now happily married), the Brides almost didn't survive. Hiring a new drummer, ex-Guzzard stickman Pete Beeman, was a move that helped glue the pieces back together. "We were down and out in L.A., Melanie and myself, and my friend, Aaron North, who plays guitar in Nine Inch Nails, knew we were looking for a drummer — he's a big Burning Brides fan, and he used to be in the Icarus Line, and we toured a bunch back in the day — and he hadn't even auditioned for Nine Inch Nails yet," relates Dimitri. "We were talking about the possibility of maybe putting him in our band as like a crazy sound-texture guy, and he went to see his ex-girlfriend's band play at some small bar here in town and just saw Pete setting up his drums and sort of like taking a couple of whacks at the floor tom, and he could tell just by the way that Pete was setting up his drums that he should stick around and check this guy out. Pete was playing in another band ... and Aaron was just blown away by what he saw. And he went up to Pete and said, 'Listen, my friends in the Burning Brides need a drummer, and you are exactly what they're looking for.' And Pete said, "Really, because this band is breaking up.'" Dimitri eventually called Beeman and set up an audition. "We flew him out, and he just destroyed the competition, and it was love at first listen," says Coats. "And also, later that night, we went out, and it was clear this kid just had a ton of heart and that he was the real deal. And you know, he f**king drives a motorcycle, does wheelies ... he literally would give you the shirt off his back. He's just uncomplicated, and you could set your watch to the guy. He's exactly what a rock drummer should be. He's a f**king oak tree." That's about how strong his new guitars are. Made by Mark Fuqua, known around L.A. as guitar repairman to the stars, the guitars are one-of-a-kind, custom-built jobs (Coats says Queens Of The Stone Age plays Fuqua's guitars) that Dimitri treasures. "I gave Mark an unmastered version of Hang Love, and he just absolutely fell in love with it, started coming to the shows and he's like, 'Listen, I've never built a guitar for anybody before, but I want to take your guitar, I want to find out what you like about it so much, and I want to build a $2,000 version of it — something that will stay in tune, something that you can just beat the f**k out of, and it will do what your guitar does and more, and it might even bring your guitar playing to a new level, and it sure has," explains Coats. It even comes with a special coating. ""It's a super-charged version of what I was getting into," says Dimitri. "I even had him put a drop of blood into the paint of the black one, just to give it a little mojo. It changed the color. It's this weird black that you can't really describe. He called it 'vampire black' and he'll never do it again. I feel like when I go out on tour, I'm going out to battle, you see? And I have my two Excaliburs now." For more on the Burning Brides, visit www.burningbrides.com, and to learn more about Mark Fuqua's guitar business, go to www.motorave.com, or visit his MySpace page, www.myspace.com/motoraveguitars.
Friday, June 22, 2007 7:56:58 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Thursday, June 21, 2007
Return of the Meat Puppets
Posted by peter
 Rise To Your Knees is the first Meat Puppets' album in seven years and trust me, it's one of the best releases of 2007. If only every rock reunion resulted in material this great, the world would be a much better place. Comprised of simple, easygoing melodies, hallucinatory atmospheres, layers of rich sonic tapestries, and exotic instrumentation from the use of a "guit-jo" — a six-string banjo that lends the song "Tiny Kingdom" a lush Americana feel — and Cris Kirkwood's mood-altering keyboards, Rise To Your Knees is a typical Meat Puppets' effort. It's strange and wonderful, and unlike anything you'll ever hear. Its diversity is incredible, offering a range of heavy, moody doses of desert, stoner psychedelia, traces of punk and rich country finery that blend into one another like scenes from a dark, avant-garde movie. It's sort of like its own musical ecosystem, swampy and mysterious, but also trippy and scary in some parts, and comfortably melodic in others. To Curt Kirkwood, it feels more like a proper followup to the Meat Puppets' classic Meat Puppets II. In a recent interview with Goldmine, Curt compared the two records. "Yeah, I think so, for sure," says Curt. "It has a cool variety of styles, which Meat Puppets II had. Other albums became more consistent after that — like Up On The Sun. In terms of like track to track, it's an album, but those songs tend to run together more than the ones on Meat Puppets II do to me. And I think that was the concept we were looking for, trying to find some uniformity, because we found ourselves to be kind of thinly spread sometimes, and we'd look at other bands and go, 'How did you do this? How do you make this happen?' That's what people seem to like, that the band is recognizable." In essence, the Meat Puppets are still trying to find their identity. "We really just didn't know what we sounded like," says Curt. "We try to do it like ... I think we felt that only certain people could get it, and if we didn't do things a little more ... just try to make it more of a whole as an album. We just weren't really sure, and we still try to experiment, and we would up with an album that just didn't have the sonic variations. And there's also the spirit thing. I think there's a good, strange kind of buzz to an album that reminds me of it a lot of times. Although it sounds kind of vague, it is a vibe thing, it's like it has a similar electricity." To read more about the Meat Puppets return to glory, check out the upcoming issue of Goldmine, dated July 20. The Meat Puppets' new album streets July 17. Check it out. And to learn more about the Meat Puppets and their label, Anodyne Records, visit www.meatpuppets.com or www.anodynerecords.com.
Thursday, June 21, 2007 6:44:53 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Reno rocks!
Posted by peter
 So ... Janet Reno wants to rock. I guess issuing dull, dry legal opinions and scaring young children doesn't have the allure it used to for the former U.S. Attorney General. Well, she'll learn quickly that politics is a lot more forgiving than rock 'n' roll. I mean, the music business eats its young. If you make a mistake in Washington, you do some sort of penance and get a high-paying job as a lobbyist. It's pretty easy to bounce back. But, what if you make a stinker of an album? You might wind up living under a bridge or something, that's what! Actually, Reno isn't actually recording or playing in a band or anything (thank God!). What she's done is help put together a three-CD set of songs titled Song of America that serves as a sort of history lesson for those that never passed high-school civics.  Among those contributing tracks are the Blind Boys of Alabama, Devandra Banhart (photo at left by Galen Pehrson), the Black Crowes, Andrew Bird, Danielson, Jim Lauderdale and John Mellencamp. Due out Sept. 18 as a joint (she never inhaled!) release between Split Rock Records and 31 Tigers (through RED Distribution), the collection aims to take listeners on a journey through time from 1492 to the new millennium. Running the gamut of folk, rock, R&B, country, classical, blues and even hip-hop, the set is the brainchild of Reno herself, who enlisted her niece's husband, blues-punk phenom Ed Pettersen (for a review of his new album, check out http://www.goldminemag.com/Default.aspx?tabid=825&articleid=6367&articlemid=
4972#4972Articles), for assistance. "The historical detail of the songs fascinated me and I suggested that Ed (Pettersen) record a whole album of songs focusing on key periods in American history, in order to tell our story to young people who might find joy in learning history through music," says Reno, in a press release. Now, I sincerely hope that it works out for Reno and that the collection does lead children to a greater understanding of history, but really ... are kids going to sit still long enough to listen to John Wesley Harding doing "God Save The King?" The complete track listing for Song of America is as follows: Lakota Dream Song Earl Bullhead Once More Our God Vouchsafe to Shine Julie Lee Let Us Break Bread Together Blind Boys of Alabama God Save The King John Wesley Harding Young Ladies In Town Elizabeth Foster The Old Woman Taught Wisdom Malcom Holcombe The Liberty Song Ed Pettersen Yankee Doodle Harper Simon Jefferson & Liberty The Wilders Hail Columbia Steven Kowalczyk-Santoro Star Spangled Banner Take 6 Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child Beth Nielsen Chapman Peg and Awl Freedy Johnston Sweet Betsy From Pike BR549 Trail of Tears Will Hill and Jehnean Day Washington Declaration Of Sentiments Minton Sparks and Pat Flynn Go Down Moses Fisk Jubilee Singers Dixie's Land Mavericks featuring Thad Cockrell John Brown's Body Marah Battle Hymn of the Republic Joanna Smith Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye Janis Ian Thousands Are Sailing to Amerikay Tim O'Brien The Farmer Is The Man Otis Gibbs Home On The Range Joni Harms Stars & Stripes Forever Jake Shimabukuro Over There Jen Chapin How You Gonna Keep 'Em Down On The Farm Andrew Bird Lift Every Voice And Sing Karen Parks Happy Days Are Here Again Danielson Brother Can You Spare A Dime? Andy Bey Seven Cent Cotton and Forty Cent Meat Jim Lauderdale Deportee Old Crow Medicine Show Rosie The Riveter Suzy Bogguss Reuben James Folk Family Robinson Apache Tears Scott Kempner The Great Atomic Power Elizabeth Cook and The Grascals Little Boxes Devandra Banhart The Times They Are A Changin' The Del McCoury Band Get Together Kim Richey Say It Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud The Dynamites/Charles Walker Ohio Ben Taylor What's Going On Anthony David I Am Woman Martha Wainwright Youngstown Matthew Ryan Streets Of Philadelphia Bettye LaVette Wave Gary Heffern/Chris Eckman The Message Shortee Sleep, My Child (Schlof Mayn Kind) Judith Edelman/Neilson Hubbard Where Were You When The World The Wrights This Land Is Your Land John Mellencamp
Tuesday, June 19, 2007 9:21:39 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Thursday, June 14, 2007
Flashbacks
Posted by peter
 In case you haven't heard, it's the 40th anniversary of the Summer of Love. Goldmine will be celebrating the three-month long period of musical exploration, liberation and flower power with a special issue dated Aug. 17. Now, I wasn't even born until August of that year, so, obviously, I don't remember much from it. Some of you, though, did experience that magical time, though you may not remember much from it either. Drugs can have that effect. If you care to jog your dormant memory, the organizers of Hippiefest have an offer for you: The Turtles, Felix Cavaliere's Rascals and The Zombies (pictures live at right) are headlining the second annual tour event. Other acts slated to appear include Mitch Ryder, Mountain, Badfinger, Country Joe McDonald, Iron Butterfly, Denny Laine and Melanie. "This festival is for people who weren't around in the '60s and '70s, or were and just can't seem to remember," says tour creator Toby Ludwig. "Bring your parents, your grandparents and your kids. Come be a hippie for a day!" For more information on Hippiefest, you're going to have to do some Google searching. Tour dates: Wednesday, July 25 Toronto, ON / Molson Amphitheater (The Turtles, Felix Cavaliere's Rascals, The Zombies, Mountain, Mitch Ryder, Badfinger, Country Joe McDonald) Thursday, July 26 Brooklyn, NY / Seaside Park (FREE SHOW) (The Turtles, Felix Cavaliere's Rascals, The Zombies, Melanie, Denny Laine, Country Joe McDonald) Friday, July 27 Wallingford, CT / Chevrolet Theatre (The Turtles, Felix Cavaliere's Rascals, The Zombies, Mountain, Mitch Ryder, Badfinger, Country Joe McDonald) Saturday, July 28 Vernon, NY / Vernon Downs (The Turtles, Felix Cavaliere's Rascals, The Zombies, Mountain, Mitch Ryder, Badfinger, Country Joe McDonald) Sunday, July 29 Farmingville, NY / Brookhaven Amphitheater (The Turtles, Felix Cavaliere's Rascals, The Zombies, Mountain, Mitch Ryder, Badfinger, Country Joe McDonald) Monday, July 30 Vienna, VA / Wolftrap (The Turtles, Felix Cavaliere's Rascals, The Zombies, Mountain, Mitch Ryder, Badfinger, Country Joe McDonald) Thursday, Aug. 2 Hollywood, FLA / Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (The Turtles, Felix Cavaliere's Rascals, The Zombies, Mountain, Badfinger, Country Joe McDonald) Friday, Aug. 3 Atlanta, GA / Chastain Park (The Turtles, Felix Cavaliere's Rascals, The Zombies, Mountain, Badfinger, Country Joe McDonald) Saturday, Aug. 4 Wichita, KS / Cessadium Stadium (The Turtles, The Zombies, Mountain, Iron Butterfly, Mitch Ryder, Badfinger, Denny Laine, Country Joe McDonald) Sunday, Aug. 5 Grand Prairie, TX / Nokia Live (The Turtles, The Zombies, Mountain, Iron Butterfly, Mitch Ryder, Badfinger, Denny Laine, Country Joe McDonald) Tuesday, Aug. 7 Cape Cod, MA / Melody Tent (The Zombies, Mountain, Mitch Ryder, Badfinger, Country Joe McDonald) Wednesday, Aug. 8 Cohasset, MA / South Shore Music (The Zombies, Mountain, Mitch Ryder, Badfinger, Country Joe McDonald) Thursday, Aug. 9 Philadelphia, PA / Mann Center (The Turtles, Felix Cavaliere's Rascals, The Zombies, Mountain, Mitch Ryder, Badfinger, Country Joe McDonald) Friday, Aug. 10 Champion, PA / Seven Springs Resort (The Turtles, Felix Cavaliere's Rascals, The Zombies, Mountain, Mitch Ryder, Badfinger, Denny Laine, Country Joe McDonald) Saturday, Aug. 11 Liberty, NY / Bethelwoods Amphitheater (The Turtles, Felix Cavaliere's Rascals, The Zombies, Mountain, Badfinger, Denny Laine, Country Joe McDonald) Sunday, Aug. 12 Gilford, NH / Meadowbrook Farms Amphitheater (The Turtles, Felix Cavaliere's Rascals, The Zombies, Mountain, Badfinger, Denny Laine, Country Joe McDonald) Thursday, Aug. 16 Temecula, CA / Pechanga Resort & Casino (The Turtles, Felix Cavaliere's Rascals, The Zombies, Mountain, Mitch Ryder, Badfinger, Country Joe McDonald) Friday, Aug. 17 Lemoore, CA / Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino (The Turtles, Felix Cavaliere's Rascals, The Zombies, Mountain, Mitch Ryder, Badfinger, Country Joe McDonald) Saturday, Aug. 18 Phoenix, AZ / Dodge Theatre (The Turtles, Felix Cavaliere's Rascals, The Zombies, Mountain, Badfinger, Denny Laine, Country Joe McDonald) Sunday, Aug. 20 Saratoga, CA / The Winery (The Turtles, Felix Cavaliere's Rascals, The Zombies, Mountain, Badfinger, Country Joe McDonald) Tuesday, Aug. 21 San Diego, CA / Humphrey's By The Sea (The Turtles, Felix Cavaliere's Rascals, The Zombies, Mountain, Badfinger, Country Joe McDonald)
Thursday, June 14, 2007 8:31:48 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Direct Hit
Posted by peter
 Contrary to the title of its new album, there's nothing complicated about Art Brut. And despite the band name, which refers to the outsider 20th century art movement that encapsulated the work of mental patients and other artists that specialized in trespassing beyond established artistic boundaries, there's nothing pretentious about the group either. The U.K. art-punks just bang out quick, three-minute songs that are fun and catchy, but with angular riffs that seem to come at you from everywhere, like a squadron of fighter planes. The band's sophomore album, It's A Bit Complicated, is due out June 19 on Downtown Records, and so far, it's a chart buster. Powered by the deliriously infectious single "Direct Hit," It's A Bit Complicated debuted as the #1 Most Added Album at the CMJ Top 200. Nice. A lot of you might know some of this from the pimping of the new record I did in an earlier blog. But, there's more news about Art Brut to tell you about. First off, the band is going to be touring the U.S. this summer (keep checking www.artbrut.org.uk/ for more information as it becomes available) and you should go out and see them. And there's more. Art Brut will be performing on Late Night With Conan O' Brian on July 11 and playing an exclusive New York City show with Goldmine favorites, White Rabbits on July 9. In addition, Goldmine plans on running a feature story about the band in its July 20 issue. Art Brut's cheeky master of ceremonies Eddie Argos talked recently about his group's live performances, which reportedly are the stuff of legend. To them, it's all about showmanship. "We played live so much now," says Argos. "We played live nearly every day of last year I think. We left Germany and went to America and back to England. No time off, hardly, and everybody's a big show-off." Along with the bristling energy and gripping hooks of the new album, Art Brut employs a horn section in certain areas, fleshing the band's highly caffeinated sound out in more soulful ways. Will they be brought on tour? "If we can, but I think it might be quite expensive," laughs Argos. "No, for special occasions I think. We're thinking of getting them for a few shows. I'd love to have a horn section though all the time, but I don't think it's financially viable. Maybe I should learn the trumpet. That's something I might do. Maybe I could play the horn section then." Dates across the U.S. will include opening act Maximo Park.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007 9:00:28 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Calling all writers
Posted by Peter
 Do you think reviewers always get it wrong about your favorite albums? Do you feel like your prose measures up to the great Lester Bangs (pictured at right)? Well, here's your chance to prove it. Goldmine is looking for writers to supply us with fresh content in the form of features or reviews for our web site, www.goldminemag.com. If you're interested, write to me at peter.lindblad@fwpubs.com, send me a few clips of your work, and we'll talk. Now, these are not paid positions at the moment. Let me repeat that. THESE ARE NOT PAID POSITIONS. I know what you're going to say. "Well, what's in it for me?" For one, you'll get free CDs that are yours to keep. That's perk No. 1. Secondly, getting your work published is the first step to possibly getting a paid job writing for us or some other music rag. Everybody's got to start somewhere. I wrote reviews and features for an online music site for three and a half years and never saw a dime from it. In essence, this is a labor of love that could vault you into actually becoming a professional music journalist. It's a great opportunity! I look forward to hearing from you.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007 2:44:49 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Fishbone, Bad Brains and Living Colour? Make it happen
Posted by Peter
 All right, everyone. I want your undivided attention. Fishbone, the energetic, stage-diving, ska-metal-funk-soul-jazz circus that burned down concert venues and aurally intercoursed with your ears with its fiery sonic assault in the '80s and '90s, is back ... with a vengeance. Featuring original members the manic Angelo Moore on saxophone, soulful lead vocals and general mayhem, and bassist Norwood Fisher (pictured at right, courtesy of soundincolor.com), a man who can negotiate both the light-speed rhythms of punk and the fat grooves of funk, Fishbone, new lineup and all, is wilder and heavier than ever on its new record, Still Stuck In Your Throat (see http://www.goldminemag.com/Default.aspx?tabid=825&articleid=6395&articlemid=
4972#4972Articles for review). Part of the reason is the molten, metallic riffs and subtle jazz stylings of former Suicidal Tendencies' guitarist Rocky George. I dare you to find anything hotter this summer than the crazed, all-out sonic blitz of "Let Dem Ho's Fight" or the tight, ska dance-party "Party With Saddam." You might remember this band's t-shirts more than its music, which would be a damn shame. In the movie "Say Anything," a young Lloyd Dobber, played by John Cusack, wore the instantly recognizable skeletal fishbone t-shirt while wooing Ione Skye. No strangers to movies, Moore and Fisher also appeared recently in the OutKast imaginative, if flawed, movie "Idlewild' and the David Arquette movie, "The Tripper." Anyway, Goldmine recently chatted up Fisher about the new record and his thoughts on Sly And The Family Stone, Parliament-Funkadelic, Jimi Hendrix and Tom Waits, of all people, for a feature story on the band that will appear in a future issue. One of the interesting things Fisher touched on was a desire to have Fishbone tour with two of its contemporaries: the godfathers of reggae-punk, Bad Brains, and Living Colour — considering that both bands have either mounted comebacks or are plotting returns as we speak. Fisher hinted at the possibility that Living Colour would come out with a new album next year. And Bad Brains, the band that perhaps unleashed the most fury of any American punk act ever, have a new disc titled Build A Nation due out June 26 that's produced by none other than the Beastie Boys Adam "MCA" Yauch. "We've been talking about it for years," said Fisher. "Maybe 2008 is the time it becomes reality." People, let's make this thing happen. Write your congressman, do a petition drive, sell your blood for money ... do whatever it takes to get these three bands together. That would be one of the hottest concert tours ever.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007 9:33:02 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Monday, June 04, 2007
Feels like the first time
Posted by Peter
High atop my summer reading list is "My First Time — A Collection of First Punk Show Stories."
Edited by Chris Duncan, the book is essentially a clutch of essays from journalists, musicians and other punk faces in a crowd about their initial forays into the sometimes violent, but usually fun as hell, counter-culture world of punk rock. Included among the writers are Jawbreaker alum Blake Schwarzenbach, the Queers' Joe Queer (see our story on the Queers in the April 27 issue of Goldmine) and Big Takeover editor Jack Rabid (if you don't already, get a subscription to this magazine. Outside of Goldmine, of course, it's one of the best out there)
The book is due out this summer and a review is in the works.
Having read through half of it, the book got me thinking about popping my own punk cherry, as it were. Now, most everybody started out seeing some unknown band in a basement or a dirty, fetid club. For me, my first time was seeing the Clash at a hockey rink.
It wasn't just any hockey rink. It was the home of the NHL's Minnesota North Stars, who, sadly, transferred to Texas, a place that shouldn't even have hockey of any sort. Anyway, this was my second concert ... I think (I might have seen Rush first), and it was a pretty big deal for me. It wasn't that often that I got the family car to go the Twin Cities, and, being from a small, unincorporated town in western Wisconsin, this was a show that both excited and scared the hell out of me at the same time.
Up till then, I had never had any dealings with punks of any kind. There just weren't any in my school. Or so I thought. This girl I went with to the show was kind of a closet punk, like me. My friend, Dave, also went along. He was not a punk; he just dug the Clash.
So, we drove to the big city to see the mighty Clash. Now, this wasn't the real Clash. Yeah, Joe Strummer was still in the band, and so was Paul Simonon, but Mick Jones had been fired and replaced by Vince White and Nick Sheppard. This dubious move was supposed to return the Clash to its punk roots and while it did that, it also resulted in the worst album of the band's career, Cut The Crap. Strummer and company were touring to support it. Soon, Strummer and Simonon would bury the Clash, one album too late as it turned out.
But I didn't care, and the people I went with didn't care. This was the Clash, and it was going to be amazing. Live, they were still a fantastic band, tight as hell and furious. But for me, the crowd was the more interesting show. Mohawks, safety pins, leather jackets, colorful hair — it was eye-opening for a teen from the sticks. And I was terrified by the them. I could have sworn I saw two slam-dancers pull switchblades on each other, and because the show was in a hockey rink, there was no seating. The crowd was left to its own devices on the floor, and they were pretty violent. We found ourselves in the middle of it, being jostled about by something called a mosh pit.
I left feeling thrilled by the experience but also petrified at what I would find in the parking lot. I thought for sure I was going to come out to the car my dad had lent me and find it smashed up and sitting on cinder blocks. It was a station wagon, and when we left the building, we did see a station wagon on fire in the parking lot — no joke. But, it wasn't mine.
I saw punk shows after that, but none, except for a Social Distortion show that broke out in a skinhead riot, compared to that one.
Let me know: What was your first punk concert like? Or, if you prefer, let me know what your first concert experience was. I'd love to share more memories with you.
Monday, June 04, 2007 10:51:52 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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