Monthly Archives: August 2007

From the new LP “On the Wing Now”
Foreign Born – In The Shape (Mp3)
Foreign Born – Union Hall (Mp3)

From the “In the Remote Woods” EP
Foreign Born – We Had Pleasure (Mp3)
Foreign Born – Escape (Mp3)
(Snap ’em up!)

A blaze occurred this morning (8/30) at the building that houses Dupont Circle’s DJ Hut (and home to TVD’s favorite pizza place, Alberto’s.)

The floor of the store is a mess of shattered glass, water, insulation, and the bamboo that lined the shop’s ceiling. Much of DJ Hut’s stock of LPs are melted or smoke damaged, including the whole of the classics and new singles sections. The turntables in the shop are also ruined.

“All of our store has been pretty much destroyed,” says co-owner Chris Stiles.

A few records appear still playable, including discs by Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth, Bob Marley and, EPMD; what’s salvagable is being carried out by staffers. The box set of Coldplay singles behind the counter “won’t be sold at $120,” says Stiles. It’ll be considered part of our their “fire sale,” he jokes.

Stiles doesn’t have much confidence in the condition of the store’s rarest and most expensive stock, which was kept in a separate room in the back of the shop–that’s where firefighters barreled through in their efforts to stop the blaze.

Still, Stiles is optimistic. He says the store and its stock is insured, and that DJ Hut may move to temporary digs soon, depending on what the damage assessment is. And, he points out, this isn’t the first fire at the shop: it suffered one about a year and a half ago. After that incident, Stiles says, the staff affirmed, “nothing can stop us. We still have that attitude.”

TVD purchased its Stanton deck there and the staff couldn’t have been more knowledgeable and helpful. Here’s hoping they’re back on their feet very soon.
(Source: WCP)

NEW YORK, Aug. 29 It is with deep sadness and regret that we inform you of the death of Hilly Kristal, who died on Tuesday, August 28, 2007 from complications from Lung Cancer. Kristal, 75, founded the legendary rock club CBGB and ran the club for 33 years. A singer and songwriter himself, Kristal opened the club to showcase “Country Bluegrass and Blues”; instead the club became a breeding ground for Punk rock. Among the many acts that called CBGB home were Blondie, the Talking Heads, Television, Living Color, Patti Smith and the Ramones. The club closed in October 2006, but CBGB continues, with a retail store in New York City and worldwide merchandise sales; in addition, there currently are plans to open new CBGB clubs in several locations.

Kristal is survived by his daughter, Lisa Kristal Burgman, son, Mark Dana Kristal, son-in-law Ger Burgman, grandchildren Jenny and Adam Burgman, CBGB, and the thousands of artists and musicians who played the club.

A private memorial service is planned. A public memorial will be held at a later date. Contributions in Hilly’s honor may be made in his name to the American Cancer Society or to the Hilly Kristal Foundation for Musicians and Artists (168 Second Avenue, PMB 207, New York, NY 10003).
(Source CBGB)

Bruce Springsteen’s new album, “Magic,” is expected to be released on vinyl a week before its CD version hits stores in order to qualify it for 2007 Grammy consideration. The vinyl is due Sept. 25 via Columbia, while the CD will arrive Oct. 2; Sept. 30 is the cut-off for Grammy eligibility.

A handful of major releases have appeared on vinyl prior to CD; Pearl Jam released its 1994 album, “Vitalogy,” on vinyl two weeks early, prompting a premature No. 55 debut on The Billboard 200.

The first single from “Magic,” the driving rocker “Radio Nowhere,” is due to hit U.S. radio outlets on Sept. 4 but has begun making the rounds online in the past 24 hours.
Springsteen and the E Street Band are widely expected to play some live shows in the U.S. around the album’s release, but dates have yet to be announced.
(via Billboard)

…with great appreciation to some friends on the net.

Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes – I Don’t Want to Go Home (Mp3)
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band – Growin’ Up (Live) (Mp3)

Sure, DC’s been home for 22 years now, but home for 18 years prior was the Jersey Shore. Big hair, Camaros, thin slice pizza, Budweiser. AND — Southside Johnny and the Boss. (Smell the ocean? I do.)

“I came to realize that, because of him, drumming no longer was just time, it was music.“

Our pal JC points us toward a damn fine link to a damn fine site — Record Store Review, “the worldwide directory for serious music buyers featuring stores from over 600 cities.”

As they explain on the site, “The premise is simple. Most record buyers travel around from time to time and their first concern in a new city is to find where the best stores are. Often, this isn’t even about the records themselves, but the fact that record stores are often located in the more interesting parts of town and are run by people knowledgeable in local fringe interests.”

A search for DC area stores reveals some hits and misses…while they locate the new-ish Red Onion Records, they still have Smash in Georgetown, two (?) listings for the defunct Revolution Records, while there’s no listing for Som Records at all. But, all in all, minor quibbles for such an exhaustive global resource. Cheers to Gunnar Van Vliet for his efforts. Go show him some love and hell, buy a shirt while you’re at it.

TVD
(…faster than Madonna’s Malawi adoption and toilet seat safe.)
Pilot – Magic (Mp3)

TVD: Forging Music Snobs One Blog Post at a Time
I Am Kloot – Over My Shoulder (Mp3)
Field Music – Working To Work (Mp3)
Bedroom Walls – In Anticipation Of Your Suicide (Mp3)
Magnet – Little Miss More Or Less (Mp3)
Little Massive – Kentmere Valley (Mp3)

Tony Wilson, co-founder of Factory Records, has died at the age of 57.

Born Anthony H. Wilson on February 20, 1950 in Salford, England, he went on to become a renowned broadcast journalist, band manager, record label executive and night club owner. As the Factory Records boss, he was responsible for signing legendary bands including Joy Division and New Order to his label. Also, as owner of the renowned Hacienda nightclub in Manchester, he played a key role in the Madchester scene of the late 1980s and early 1990s that mixed indie rock and dance music and included artists such as Happy Mondays and The Stone Roses.

The Hacienda, which hosted Madonna’s first UK television appearance in 1983, was forced to close in the late 1990s as it was losing money allegedly because its patrons were taking ecstasy rather than buying drinks at the club. Wilson reportedly became involved in the Manchester music scene in the 1970s when hosting the culture and music programme ‘So It Goes’ on Granada Television. After covering a Sex Pistols performance at the Manchester Lesser Free Trade Hall in June 1976, he described the experience as “nothing short of an epiphany” and booked the band for one of the first television broadcasts of British punk rock.

These aspects of Wilson’s life were later chronicled in the semi-fictional 2002 feature film ’24 Hour Party People’, in which he was portrayed by British actor Steve Coogan. More recently, Wilson was involved in In The City, a yearly music festival and conference that takes place in Manchester and New York City, which he co-founded with his partner Yvette Livesey.

In 2005 he launched F4, the fourth incarnation of the Factory Records label. Earlier this year, the music mogul was diagnosed with cancer and underwent surgery to have one of his kidneys removed. From signing the likes of Joy Division, New Order and Happy Mondays, to being a general support of exciting an innovative music, Wilson established himself as a true indie hero.

…it’s Vinyl Record Day on August 12th, commemorating the date Edison invented the phonograph in 1877.

Per the link, I plan as an INDIVIDUAL to “get together with friends or family and have a Vinyl Record Day party. Everyone who has them brings two or three of their favorite albums. Have fun with it. If you want, have a Twist or Limbo contest for kids and adults Or have someone play DJ, perhaps have dedications, or tell why a certain song is important to the person who brought it, what are the memories (the secrets!), the people, the places associated with the music. You can decorate with a music theme, make it festive with balloons. Or you can just simply play the music, heck move the furniture and make room to dance. Whatever you do, make it a point to celebrate the music you and friends or family most enjoy. There is no other purpose except to have a good time and let our favorite music remind us regardless of national news or personal challenges, life always has its goodness.”

I’ll try to remember that as I “Shout at the Devil.”

(Hat tip to Shark!)

Capitol ST-11395
Released: May 1975
Chart Peak: #25
Weeks Charted: 44
Certified Gold: 5/25/76
The first side of Desolation Boulevard (actually a compilation from two English LPs) is devoted to material written by producers Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn — five reasonably timed, concise and overwhelmingly direct assaults on the senses. The song structures are played with almost military precision with an emphasis on repeated guitar riffs and catchy hook lines. The production is designed to capture the electricity and raw energy of live performances, succeeding quite well in conveying a sense of explosive immediacy during the proceedings. The lyric content mimics some of Peter Townshend’s finest mid-Sixties moments, displaying a remarkable lack of self-consciousness during humorous numbers like “A.C.D.C.” (the story of a bisexual girlfriend) and “I Wanna Be Committed.” The effect is not unlike The Who Sings “My Generation” recorded on sophisticated Seventies machinery.

Side two is devoted to Sweet’s own compositions, reinforcing their tag of “a bubblegum Led Zeppelin.” Guitarist Andy Scott is given much more freedom in the band’s lengthier, more experimental format, bending his axe into bizarre contortions à la the Yardbirds-era Jeff Beck on “Sweet F.A.,” riffing out submachine gun riffs on “Set Me Free” and using intervals to create a full, forceful and effective solo on “Into the Night.” Were the Yardbirds alive today with no change in their musical direction, I’m almost certain this side of Desolation Boulevard is what they’d sound like.

The Sweet has combined two divergent musical styles — the tight, restricted control of Chapman and Chinn and the guitar-based experimentalism of their own compositions — into an explosive package. Desolation Boulevard is decidedly English in tone, decidedly hard rock in approach, and to these ears a decided success from a band with a future a mile long.
(Gordon Fletcher, Rolling Stone, 7/31/75)
Sweet – Fox On The Run (Mp3)
Sweet – Teenage Rampage (Mp3)

I get jokes.
Patton Oswalt – The Dukes Of Hazzard (Mp3)