Horribly Wrong “C’mon and Bleed With”
Horribly Wrong C’mon and Bleed With Eradicator Records/Shit in Can Records The Horribly Wrong is a band almost lost to the annals of obscure midwestern punk history. They were active for maybe three years (2002-05), played maybe 20 shows and barely strayed from their home base of Bloomington, IN. They put out a 7” EP [...]
The Mummies at Maxwell’s and SouthPaw
Mummies/Back CC’s June 9, 2009 – (two sets) Maxwell’s, Hoboken, NJ June 10, 2009 – Southpaw, Brooklyn, NY “So why do you think they played here in 2002?” I turned around and saw my friend Jan laughing, as he brought over Maxwell’s and Telstar Records owner Todd Abramson to ask me this. I climbed drunkenly [...]
South X Southwest 2009
“You can hate a hammer but it’s a good tool,” said Pat Todd, owner of independent label Rankoutsider Records (and front man for Pat Todd and the Rankoutsiders) when asked about the good and bad of South by Southwest. I had no idea what to expect from SXSW – how would it compare to lame-o [...]
I Hate New Music: The Classic Rock Manifesto
I Hate New Music: The Classic Rock Manifesto By Dave Thompson Backbeat Books “We need our reprobates, we need our delinquents, we need our antiheroes. Because if we don’t get them, what’s the [Rock and Roll] Hall of Fame going to look like in another 25 years?” – Dave Thompson How many Limeys do you [...]
NoBunny “Love Visions”
Nobunny Love Visions 1-2-3-4 Go! Records I bought this CD after I told myself I need to stop spending money on stupid shit. I’m glad I bought it – you should, too… this will seriously make your life better. Originally released as a limited LP-only on Bubbledumb Records, Love Visions was picked up by 1-2-3-4 [...]
Mike Edison “I Have Fun Everywhere I Go”
Mike Edison I Have Fun Everywhere I Go Faber and Faber, Inc. Mike Edison and the Rocket Train Delta Science Arkestra I Have Fun Everywhere I Go Spoken word CD Interstellar Roadhouse My goodness did he ever! Mike Edison is a rock’n’roller, pornographer, wrestling journalist, hedonist, confidante of GG Allin, Beatles-hater, fierce First Amendment protector [...]
Detroit Cobras At The Music Mill
Detroit Cobras, Those Young Lions, Little Boots and Drusilla Music Mill, Indianapolis, IN December 5, 2008 “Rock and roll is the best job of all time. You don’t get to call in sick.” – Mike Edison, author of I Have Fun Everywhere I Go Well, you do if you’re the Detroit Cobras, most recently evidenced [...]
Replacements Reissues Royale
Royalty Checks for the Replacements – Huzzah! All those damn reissues plus a book! Banner year for the Replacements – eight CD reissues and a book! Looks like they’ll be getting royalty checks for a while – good for them. Also looks like Tommy Ramone (producer of Tim) will be getting some – not so [...]
Jay Reatard – Matador Singles ‘08
Jay Reatard Matador Singles ‘08 Matador Records Who woulda thunk a kid in his 20s would have two collections of singles released in the same year (and these covering only a two year span of his 10-plus year career)? The ever-prolific Jay Reatard keeps evolving his distinct, agitated pop sound. These songs are creepy as [...]
Humpers at Rock Bottom and Red 7
Humpers Reunion Gigs 10/3/08 – Red 7, Austin, TX 10/4/08 – Rock Bottom Tattoo Bar, San Antonio, TX Okay, these shows were nowhere near where I live (Bloomington, IN) but since finding out that one of my all time favorite bands, the Humpers, reunited last year I told myself I would go to see ‘em [...]
Gentleman Jesse and His Men "S/T"
Gentleman Jesse and His Men Introducing… Douchemaster Records I think my friends are getting sick of me talking about this band, but goddamn are they something. I was tempted to type this review in all caps but was afraid to come across as ridiculous (or like that crazy ex-girlfriend who you can’t get a read [...]
Sweat! The Story of the Fleshtones, America’s Garage Band
Sweat! The Story of the Fleshtones, America’s Garage Band By Joe Bonomo I used to live in a small town in New Jersey called Butler. My friends and I used to visit Bill’s Tavern (RIP), a townie bar just down the block from our house. They served Schaefer on tap for only a buck, it [...]
Rock-a-Round’s Wild Weekend Power Pop Festival Wrap-up
Rock-a-Round’s Wild Weekend Power Pop Festival Austin, TX 8/28/08 – 8/30/08 Goddamn, what a way to celebrate my first visit to Austin, Texas. A wild weekend indeed, full of record buying, rock and roll, power pop, glam, garage and my pal Cody, headlined by the Boys, who haven’t played the United States in some 25-plus [...]
Head: The Bungalo Interview Part II
This is the second part of a long ass Head interview conducted by our very own Sal Lucci. Click here to read Part I. How did the split record with Metal Mike come about? Metal Mike knew the guy who was putting out the single, who knew us, and found out that we were fans [...]
Head: The Life In A Bungalo Interview
Part I
Until about a year ago, I assumed Head broke up. Turns out they’ve been pretty busy over the past two years: new LP, new 7″, CD anthology, South by Southwest 2006 in Texas, Insubordination Fest 2007 in Maryland, Gonerfest 2007 in Tennessee… “Who the hell is Head?” some may ask. The greatest band from Seattle—ever. [...]
X Live at Vogue
X / Skybombers March 18, 2008 Vogue Indianapolis, IN I was initially going to skip seeing X in favor of staying in Bloomington for some local bands. I don’t know why–not too many bigger bands come this close to my adopted hometown (seems they generally choose Chicago, about a four hour drive)–and tickets were about [...]
Pat Todd and the Rankoutsiders "Holdin’ Onto Trouble’s Hand"
Pat Todd and the Rankoutsiders Holdin’ Onto Trouble’s Hand Rankoutsider Records Pat Todd is a man that just won’t quit! Barely over a year ago, the ex-Lazy Cowgirls’ front man assembled a new rock and roll troupe and put out a 28-song double-CD (The Outskirts of Your Heart, Rankoutsider Records) of his trademark mix of [...]
B-Movie Rats "Radio Suicide"
B-Movie Rats “Radio Suicide” Rankoutsider Records I have this B-Movie Rats t-shirt that I’ve worn the hell out of for years. I don’t know where it is now, probably lost it in my cross-country move. I got their newest CD in the mail and was surprised. I haven’t heard anything from them in years and [...]
The King Khan and BBQ Show "S/T"
The King Khan and BBQ Show “S/T” In the Red Records This record can be summed up in five words: “Motherfuck! This is so good!” My own laziness astounds me sometimes. I’ve had this record for like three months and am only writing this review now. I don’t know why I waited so long, I [...]
The Joneses "Keeping Up With the Joneses"
The Joneses Keeping Up with the Joneses Full Breach Kicks Chicago, IL label Full Breach Kicks has been quite busy re-releasing the individual EPs and LPs (along with other current RnR/glam punk) the Joneses put out in the 1980s. Last year they gave us the Tits and Champagne 12″ EP and next spring they’ll be [...]
Head "The Complete Discography 1992-1997" and "Spend the Night Alone"/"Killed By Death"
Head The Complete Discography 1992-1997 CD Evil Clown Records “Spend the Night Alone”/”Killed By Death” 7″ Goner Records Man this is my lucky year as far as Head goes! Not only did I find out they put out a new LP (reviewed earlier here on LIAB) and see them live at Gonerfest, but now they [...]
“New Brunswick, New Jersey, Goodbye”
New Brunswick, New Jersey, Goodbye: Bands, Dirty Basements, and the Search for Self By Ronen Kauffman Sub City I picked this book up at a strange time in my life. I moved out of New Jersey a year ago and I’ve been really wondering about my decision to leave the East Coast for the Midwest. [...]
Head "No Hugging No Learning"
Head “No Hugging No Learning”Evil Clown Records I have no idea how long this album has been out. It says 2006 on the back but I only just heard about it. I thought Seattle, WA’s Head completely disappeared after their 1997 The Monkeys LP. Apparently they’ve been around in one form or another (guitarist Giggles [...]
Ben Weasel "These Ones Are Bitter"
Ben Weasel These Ones Are Bitter Mendota Recording Co. I really wanted to hate this album but I guess I don’t. If anyone follows Ben Weasel’s writing (www.benweasel.com) they’ve been forewarned that this album is going to sound different than Screeching Weasel or the Riverdales (his two most noted outfits) and be more “polished” than [...]