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Baths: Lovely Bloodflow video
08.24.2010
12:36 pm
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My North San Fernando Valley compatriot Will Wiesenfeld, a.k.a. Baths is currently conquering the music world with his melodically strong and sonically
fascinating tunes. Here’s his first proper video, directed by Young Replicant , wherein a dying samurai is revived by I dunno, the members of Animal Collective ? It hardly matters when the music is this creative.
 

 
Video: Baths: “Lovely Bloodflow” (pitchfork)
 
Previously on DM:
 
BEAT STAR BATHS REMIXES L.A. UNDERGROUND LEGEND BRAD LANER

 
WHO IS BATHS?
 
DANGEROUS MINDS RADIO HOUR EPISODE 1

Posted by Brad Laner
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08.24.2010
12:36 pm
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The tribute band you never thought you’d see: Public Imitation Ltd.
08.24.2010
12:09 am
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I’ve seen and heard of some pretty out there tribute bands in my day. For instance, there was a lisping Elvis impersonator who (literally) sang for his supper in a fast food place. He was quite good, but when he sang “Suspicious Minds” the folks eating at the tables near him got their food sprayed with spittle. (As we watched him sing, Lux and Ivy from the Cramps walked past the place and waved to him).

Then there were the fake Beatles I tried to hire for an event who came with their own Linda and Yoko in tow, who fawned all over their personal “Lennon” and “McCartney”—they even had a manager named Brian whose only qualification seemed to be that he was from Liverpool. And named “Brian.” They kept asking me if I knew of any labels that might want to give them a record contract (“No” I told them, honestly). 

I also saw a Velvet Underground tribute band in Tokyo, complete with Nico (although Moe Tucker was played by a boy!).

But one band that seemed immune to the tribute band treatment was John Lydon’s Public Image Ltd. Until now, that is! A group formerly making the rounds in the UK doing a Sex Pistols tribute act decided to think outside the (metal) box and do a PiL panto as well, morphing in the process from The Sex Pistols Experience to Public Imitation Ltd.!!!

As someone who saw the original PiL line-up (post Jah Wobble, but with Keith Levene and Martin Adkins) in 1983—a life-changing experience for me as a teen (I decided then and there to not go to college)—I was expecting the worst, but this guy can actually do a better Lydon in 2010 than Lydon himself can, take a look:
 

Posted by Richard Metzger
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08.24.2010
12:09 am
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Clap your tits for Bob Log III
08.23.2010
11:41 pm
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I’m new to Bob Log III but I’m catching up. Bob plays a mean slide guitar while singing dirty ass songs through a telephone receiver glued inside of a motorcycle helmet. He also accompanies himself on kick drum and hi-hat cymbals. His set list includes crowd pleasers like Big Ass Hard On, Wag Your Tail Like a Dog In The Back Of A Truck, Clap Your Tits, I Want Your Shit On My Leg and his big hit Boob Scotch. While a cult item in the States, Bob is huge in Japan… I’m not kidding.

Once you get past the shock appeal of his song titles and stage show, the fact is, Log is a mighty fine slide guitarist who’s earned the respect of other musicians, including Tom Waits who describes Mr. Log thusly:

And then there’s this guy named Bob Log, you ever heard of him? He’s this little kid — nobody ever knows how old he is — wears a motorcycle helmet and he has a microphone inside of it and he puts the glass over the front so you can’t see his face, and plays slide guitar. It’s just the loudest strangest stuff you’ve ever heard. You don’t understand one word he’s saying. I like people who glue macaroni on to a piece of cardboard and paint it gold. That’s what I aspire to basically.

With his foul-mouthed humor and grimy blues vibe, Log reminds me of a cross between The Fugs and Captain Beefheart with some R.L. Burnside thrown in.

Here’s a few clips of Bob Log III in action.
 

 
More filth, including the totally amazing Clap Your Tits and some wild footage from Japan, after the jump…

READ ON
Posted by Marc Campbell
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08.23.2010
11:41 pm
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Beloved Invaders: The Ventures in Japan
08.23.2010
06:21 pm
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During the early 60’s, The Ventures were one of the most popular bands in the USA. But their American success was soon overshadowed by the British Invasion. They went from being huge hitmakers to yesterday’s papers practically overnight. So they went to Japan where, for awhile, they were as big as The Beatles. The Japanese nicknamed the group ‘The Beloved Invaders’ and called their sound ‘teke teke’ music. They were the Godzillas of the surf guitar.

I have several theories as to why The Ventures were big in Japan, most of them having to do with the sound of Mosrite guitars, koto music, Zen and radioactive sea-dwelling monsters.

Don Wilson who formed The Ventures with Bob Bogle in 1958 recalls touring Japan:

We played in downtown Tokyo, in a big place that holds 3,500 people. They were lined up around the block, about five abreast. We played three shows, one after the other. People were still trying to get in. We played in Yokohama and Osaka, the big cities. Had I known we were that popular, I would’ve asked for more money!

Earlier this year The Ventures received the illustrious Order Of The Rising Sun Award from the Japanese government honoring their contribution to Japan’s musical culture.

Here’s footage from The Beloved Invaders documenting The Ventures first tour of Japan. After suffering through decrepit looking bootlegs of this film, it was a thrill to come upon some pristine looking footage. And the sound is awesome.
 

Posted by Marc Campbell
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08.23.2010
06:21 pm
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Majela: See if you can guess where she wants you to tickle her
08.23.2010
04:55 pm
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Go on, have a guess!

Thank you (I think) Jose R. Mejia!

Posted by Richard Metzger
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08.23.2010
04:55 pm
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Brian Eno teams with Warp records, new LP coming in November
08.23.2010
11:21 am
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Dangerous Minds patron saint Brian Eno has signed with the revered and generally high-quality UK label Warp in order to bring us a new collection of well, I don’t know exactly since there are no previews or samples, sorry. It’s called, charmingly enough, Small Craft On A Milk Sea. Eno’s last high profile release was 2005’s Another Day on Earth, a fine album that, ahem, I also was lucky enough to contribute to. If this new one is anywhere near as good as that, I’ll be a happy Eno fan indeed. You’ll also note, as is de rigeur for your higher profile artistes these days, that there are a few different and increasingly more expensive/elaborate packages available including the ultimate: a limited edition of 250 LP/CD package which will include a unique, signed by the man screen print and a golden ticket inviting you to visit and eventually inherit Eno’s candy factory (OK, I made that last part up).
 
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Posted by Brad Laner
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08.23.2010
11:21 am
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The Kinks live in Paris, 1965
08.23.2010
05:16 am
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The Kinks live, raw and rocking at Le palais de la MutualitÃ, Paris France April 24, 1965. At this point in their evolution, The Kinks were a killer garage band covering American r&b , The Kingsmen’s version of Louie Louie and mutations of Johnny B. Goode. While back in the States, garage bands were covering You Really Got Me.

The crowd goes nuts.

Posted by Marc Campbell
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08.23.2010
05:16 am
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Jimi Hendrix: awesomely sexy performance of ‘Wild Thing’
08.22.2010
11:41 pm
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This performance of Wild Thing by Jimi Hendrix, from Tony Palmer’s documentary All My Loving (1968), is explosively sexy. Serpent power unleashed! Guitar as an extension of flesh.

When it comes right down to it, for me, Hendrix is the greatest rocker to have lived. He may not have been the greatest songwriter, but as an embodiment of the power, glory and sexuality of rock and roll, he is untouchable.

It sounds like director Tony Palmer played around with the audio on this, adding some sound effects and audience noise, but this clip is all about Hendrix and his body language. I can visualize Hendrix pulling his guitar from his body Videodrome style - a tantric machine.

Posted by Marc Campbell
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08.22.2010
11:41 pm
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Frank Zappa performing at The Mudd Club in 1980
08.22.2010
05:50 pm
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The Mudd Club (did I fuck anybody in this picture?)
 
Frank Zappa performing at New York City’s Mudd Club in May of 1980. From the German documentary Ein Leben als Extravaganza - Das Genie Frank Zappa.

This clip includes a brief interview with Mudd Club owner Steve Maas.

The video quality ain’t great, but it’s rare and and I know of no better quality copies anywhere.

I basically stopped listening to Zappa after the first couple of Mothers albums. But, as someone who spent many nights at The Mudd Club, I consider this a worthy contribution to the history of New York’s downtown music scene.

Posted by Marc Campbell
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08.22.2010
05:50 pm
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Beatnik TV: Milton Berle and Steve Allen as protest singers Monty Mad and Billy Bitter
08.22.2010
02:23 am
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Milton Berle and Steve Allen, as protest singers Monty Mad and Billy Bitter, crack some exceedingly unhip jokes in this goofy TV skit. Spike Priggen of Bedazzled TV dug this rarity up from somewhere. I can’t find any info about it on the internet.

The real thrill in this for me is seeing Lloyd Thaxton. Lloyd hosted a TV dance party in the 60’s that I would devotedly watch every weekday afternoon. Paul Revere and The Raiders, The Byrds, Sonny and Cher, The Kinks, Jan and Dean, the Beau Brummels and dozens of other great bands appeared on Thaxton’s show. It was teenage bliss. It’s weird, but there are no Thaxton videos on Youtube. Spike, you got some? Are they gone forever?

Posted by Marc Campbell
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08.22.2010
02:23 am
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