Tuesday, August 09, 2005

Primitive Sound System at Maxwells - Mixed Tape Sessions - Tuesday August 9th - 9PM - 2AM

Hello Y'all,
Maybe it is just the heat (because we definitely know it is the humidity) but I began pulling Summer records including records that just remind me of Summer. Some how this culminated in a stack of records including Summer, surf, cars and girls (as the Dictators taught us), mini-skirts and hot pants and finally a handful of records with booty or Go-Go in the title. Ah, Summer. I have a lot of Summer music and it turns out there are a lot of records that remind me of Summer. The thermometer has broke 90 almost 20 times already this year. OK, I'm just throwing that out at you, do with it what you will. I guess what I am saying is; wouldn't it be nice sipping a cold one while the sounds of Summer crash down around you? Come by and remember; if your drinking don't drive; if your driving don't drink and always tip your bartenders... oh yeah, and NO swimming for 30 minutes after you eat.

Primitive Sound System Mixed Tape Sessions and the continuing food stylings of el Diablo Every Tuesday! (9PM - 2AM)

Maxwell's
1039 Washington Street
Hoboken New Jersey
(201) 653-1703

45s:
Supercharger - "Rev It Up" (Bag Of Hammers cat. ?)
The completely incredible Supercharger picked up where The Gories left off... shitty equipment tortured by sloppy, fast, and hard playing but resulting in what can only be described as brilliant. "Rev It Up" speeds along at double time and sounds like it is fighting its way out of a smashed AM radio. If you can even make out half of what is going on you will be sucked into the instantly catchy lyrics and hooks. Like the Minuteman the guitar solo is part of the song no different from a chorus and the whole thing will blow by you if you blink.

Hal Blaine (The Drummer Man and The Cougars) - "Gear Stripper" b/w "Challenger II" (RCA Victor cat. 47-8282)
Come for the stripper but stay for the challenge. "Challenger II" starts off with the sounds of a hot rod launching off the line and on to victory. Twangy, fuzzed out guitar and vibes race Blaine's constant rolls and Go-Go style beat. "Gear Stripper" starts out with the same revving engine but dies a fast death in a corny ass song. I think my kid might like this. (Both sides were produced by lee Hazelwood.)

Syl Johnson - "Annie Got Hot Pants Power Pt. 1 & 2" (Twinight cat. TW151)
Ohs, Ahhs and Koos from the ladies and nothing but the deepest admiration from the guys. Heck Syl's neck hurts just from looking at his ladies style. As best I can tell I recently completed my collection of Syl Johnson 45's on Twilight/Twinight and I look forward to featuring them on an upcoming night. Syl plays guitar with the best of 'em but his talents don't stop there. He has one of the strongest voices that he perfectly highlights on his Soulful Funky songs.

The Phantom "Surfers" - "Banzai Washout," "Oribitron," "Aye Five Gold," "Erotica," and "Surf Rider" (Estrus Crust cat. ES-713)
The Phantom Surfers never disappoint whether it be an entire record dedicated to the grueling sport of slot car racing or pseudo surf tunes ala The Ventures these guys are nothing if they are not the funniest and most entertaining band ever. The music has an authenticity to it that seems lost on other bands just trying to damn hard to imitate their forefathers. The Surfers should teach a class in this stuff. Lighten up people it's only Rock-N-Roll. God I miss these guys... "Hey Surfers, New Jersey has an ocean too! How's about another East Coast Swim?"

Billy Stewart - "Summertime" (Chess cat. 14257)
Anyone who knows me knows that I have a hell of a lot of songs that are "one of my favorite songs of all time," BUT... The actual song "Summertime" regardless of the performer is a flawless composition. Taken fast, slow, mid tempo, funky, soulful, bluesy, Rock Jazz, Latin, etc... it is hard to fuck this one up. Billy Stewart's arrangement with its own brand of vocalese and scat make it a true stand out. I have brought along a few other versions to represent the versatility and brilliance of this song.

Pavement - "Summer Babe" (Drag City cat. DC9)
Something about Pavement makes me think of Summer despite the title on this one. These guys were handi-capable of doing everything perfectly without ever looking like they gave a crap. That feeling that everything could go horribly wrong or just fall apart without warning yet (and sometimes regardless) it all works perfectly and dare I say flawlessly. Here the band grooves through a mid-tempo Pop Hit which is at times is velvety smooth and equally rough at others.

New Crack:
Parliament - "Red Hot Mama" b/w "Little Ole Country Boy" (Invictus cat. Is-9091)
Parliament - "Breakdown" b/w "Little Ole Country Boy" (Invictus cat. Is-9095)
This is the original more guitar heavy version of "Red Hot Mama" (another one of my favorite songs of all time) is a raw burst of emotion and music as physical presence. If you weren't ready for what is contained in these grooves it could easily knock you on your ass and don't expect a hand up when its two and half minutes are up... you're on your own.

"Breakdown" opens with some incredibly steady and groovy drums which are complimented nicely by guitar and Gospel tinged vocals and backing. Like some of the Sly Stone stuff this track highlights the drums perfectly and would seem to be a showcase for them. It's as if the band wanted to show off the talents of the fancy foot and stick work of their very fine man at the traps and all I can say is I am glad they did.