The Living Deadbeats - Evil Hearted Blues 7'' (2012)

Every once in a while things happen that remind me why I do this blog, or things happen to reinvigorate me. A weekend or two ago I received a link out of the blue from The Living Deadbeats giving me the opportunity to get an advance copy of their album and their new single, with permission to share the 7''.

Track 1 from the album.

They manage to stand out from the crowd as they're more in the old style punk mode as oppossed to a million miles an hour thrash; some of which is good, but a lot just melds together. I think they could have been dropped into SoCal in 78/79 and no one would have been suprised. I've lifted the following text directly from their site as I couldn't have put it any better: -

In the spring of 2010, vocalist Lindsay Kasting, bassist Pete Fiend (lead singer of legendary 80s powerpoppers The Finks), guitarist Dirty Swagger (Dirty and the Derelicts) and drummer Nadja (Joyce Collingwood, East Vamps), teamed up with  with the intention of doing something fresh and exciting. 

With eyes wide open, they built an original sound that drew on varied musical influences, yet remained faithful to late-70s LA punk. Finally, having scavenged the best parts of the Stooges and the Detroit Cobras to create a rock n' roll Frankenstein all their own, The Living Deadbeats were ready to take on the world. Or at least the West Coast.

The album is REALLY good; it's one of those that you play and immediately hit repeat. They're on tour now across Canada, so if you're in that neck of the woods I'd suggest a few bucks for a good night out watching these folks. Once again I damn myself for being born in the wrong country...oh well until the time they play the UK I'll just play this album to death....which I have been doing since I got it.

Mediafire

Their website can be found here -> The Living Deadbeats

Track 3 from the new album.

The Damned

A few Damned pdf's kicking off with the Damned Disciples Songbook.

A history of their first year.

Damned Diaries 76 -78.

All 3 here

Brian James - Why? Why? Why? 7'' (1982)

Recorded at the same time, and session, as the 7'' a post or two below. This was in 1979 and included Stewart Copeland from the Police on drums. The others were Alan Lee Shaw, who would be in the Damned 17 years later, and Chris Sol playing bass.

Whilst not quite as brilliant, or insrtant, as the earlier 7'', it's still worth a spin very often.

Link removed thanks to : herve.lemaire over @leakid.com.

If you're after this drop me an e-mail.

Government Issue - Live Series

I've been chatting to Tom Lyle and he told the news that GI will be releasing a series of live shows. He sent me a couple of songs as a sneak preview of a bootleg live series that will eventually amount to 100 live shows. This live series will span the entire bands career.

They'll probably be released in one or two large sections and will be available from a variety of sources in varying kbps, possibly full res. I have around 50 live GI recordings and, quite frankly, most are pants; tinny, distorted or too much crowd noise. The clarity of these, judging by the two songs below, is excellent. I'm gonna have to bang some overtime in work to pay for all these, but I can't wait.

 

Both these songs are from Minneapolis MN, 3rd August 1983 and the line up at the time was: -

John Stabb - Voice
Tom Lyle - Guitar
Rob Moss - Bass
Mark Alblerstadt - Drums

Partyline

Sheer Terror

Sadly it looks like I'll have to wait a long time to see GI live again as the show last year doesn't appear to be leading to anything other than a one-off. Meh! I'd still love to hear GI record new stuff even if they never toured again. Great, great band.

Thanks to Tom Lyle for these files and for something huge to look forward to.

Blondie

I've been reminiscing about the 80’s recently and I had some rare videos back then, not like now-a-days when everything is at your fingertips. This video had John Stabb bouncing all over the place when I put it on. It still does that to me.

Debbie Harry still makes me go weak at the knees.....

Brian James - Ain't that a Shame 7'' (1979)

Back in my Damned obsessed days, still thee best band ever,......I was absorbed by anything Damned related. So after the Damned dissolved and post White Cats (Rat), King (Sensible), Doctors of Madness (Vanian) & Tanz Der Youth (James) this single came onto my radar and I went mental, rushing across town to buy it. Ensconced in a Listen Ear bag I hastened into my house, threw it onto the turn table, set the speed to 45 rpm, and was blown away. 33 years later I'm still blown away by this 7''.
 
It's so easy to forget just how good Brian James' song writing ability was. The first Damned album is, nowadays, often over looked in favour of the 3rd - 5th albums; I do this myself. However, every time I return to Damned Damned Damned I recall just why I got into the Damned in the first place; it was Brian's writing. 

This 7'' is pretty much the peak of his post Damned work for me. He, obviously, went on to the Lords of the New Church, which you can find on MRML. A great band who released some fantastic vinyl and were stellar live. However if you're looking for great power pop from one of the godfathers of punk look no further; this is your one stop shop for audio ecstasy. Enjoy!!!

Link removed thanks to : herve.lemaire over @leakid.com.

If you're after this drop me an e-mail.

Thanks to JohnnyVonNowhere for reminding me why I started this blog. Cheers man.

PIL - One Drop

A new album out in May and a new EP later this month. This is the first track from the EP and it's damned good imo. I can't wait.

Listen Ear

Killing Joke - Radio 1 Rock Show Session (2003)

Continuing the Killing Joke theme.......

A radio 1 rock show session broadcast on the 20th August 2003, hosted by Daniel P Carter, that has not seen a commercial release. I've spotted this being listed as 2004, but sifting through the radio 1 rock show listings it's definitely 2003. It contains 4 tracks all reworked for the rock show: -

1. Requiem.
2. Seeing Red.
3 The Fall of Because.
4. Total Invasion.

While all the versions contain a new weight and darkness about them it's the fall of because that resonates most. The original version, albeit very good, is thin and tinny in its production; however this one is simply staggering in it's power & depth.

Music