‘I’m Gonna Smash Your Face In’: ‘60s bubblegum meets proto-punk on this obscure 1973 single
Wow, have you heard the 1973 single credited to a group called Grudge? It’s totally wild! These glamtastic tunes simultaneously recall previous eras and one…
Music Archives: 11/2018
Tiny Tim, the Cleveland Browns and a bear made a sword and sorcery movie
As an answer to “The Super Bowl Shuffle,” the 1986 Cleveland Browns released this short fantasy film on home video. It co-stars Tiny Tim and…
The fascinating world of tribute bands
I’m fascinated by the subculture of tribute bands. The groups that are serious work hard to replicate whatever act they are paying tribute to, and…
Van Morrison abruptly releases long-sought-after ‘Catacombs Tapes’ on iTunes UK
Yesterday was a good day for Van Morrison completists. Van Morrison’s Astral Weeks is one of the most important and most special albums of the…
‘Manifesto’ or new sounds for a new decade: Roxy Music live in concert, 1979
1979: After a four-year break between studio albums, Roxy Music regrouped and recorded their sixth LP Manifesto. The question was not whether it would be…
Nirvana, Mudhoney, and the audience battle shitty security guards during Sub Pop’s ‘Lame Fest,’ 1989
Sub Pop is one of the most important and influential American record labels. Started in 1988 by Jonathan Poneman and Bruce Pavitt, and based in…
RIP Hardy Fox, ‘primary composer’ and ‘co-founder’ of the Residents
Hardy Fox, 1945-2018 (via hardyfox.com) Almost nine years ago, I was interviewing Hardy Fox, the president of the Cryptic Corporation, by Skype. He was telling…