Thursday, December 11, 2008

PSS and Hank Fischer at D.C.'s (12/4) and PSS at the Jersey City Museum (12/10) for a benefit

Hello Y'all,
"Jingle Bells, Batman Smells Robin Laid an Egg!" Yes, the holler-days are upon yee. So much too do; so little money. Drink until you smile and dance until it hurts... just please no requests. I know my dance card is pretty full this season and hopefully so is yours. First off there is the ghost of Christmas monthly. You know the one. Sometimes two headed shirtless beast spinning joy after joy with reckless abandon. That's right, I'll be setting the bar a flame with some holiday joy along with special guest Hank Mother Fucking Fischer on December 4th at the festive D.C.'s Tavern. You know the place where it feels like Christmas year round from 2AM - 1PM. But don't let that stop you from coming around from 9PM to 2AM for the usual, the unusual and the down right wrong selections made for all those brave enough to come down their chimney. The guests don't stop with those whose sleighs are weighed down with vinyl. Big Red, that's right people, Matt Dolan has returned to our shores and will be pressing the flesh and giving out free hugs. Please stop by, say hello, and have a drink or two. As always be kind, rewind and tip the bartender. See you there.

Primitive Sound System and Hank Fischer
Hank will be spinning some of his favorites from Glam, Oi, "77 Punk, old ska and reggae too!
Thursday December 4th 9PM to Closing
D.C.'s Tavern
505 8th Street
Between Jefferson and Madison
BACK IN BACK
Hoboken, New Jersey
PH: 201-792-5550
http://www.dcstavern.com
http://myspace.com/dcstavern

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On December 10th I have the great pleasure of DJing at a benefit for the fine folks at The Jersey City Museum. Please come by and support the museum.

Dissed and Dismissed: (Cartoons Not Meant for the Ages (and not in good taste, either))
Wednesday, December 10, 2008, 7pm until late
Benefiting the Museum's exhibition and education initiatives (http://jerseycitymuseum.ecrater.com/category.php?cid=383019)
Ticket prices:
$65 for Museum Members
$75 In advance
$85 At the door

Join cartoonists from The New Yorker Magazine as they present uncensored cartoons that were too bizarre, too risqué, or too politically incorrect to be published in The New Yorker!
Featuring: Drew Dernavich and Matthew Diffee
Click here for the latest information on this event - http://www.jerseycitymuseum.org/template.cfm?cid=52
(* Signed copies of the books, The Rejection Collection Vol. 1 and 2, on sale in the Museum shop)

Come early for drinks (courtesy of Bar Majestic) and hors d'oeuvres and stay late for the raffle and hilarity!

Jersey City Museum
http://www.jerseycitymuseum.org
350 Montgomery Street Jersey City, NJ 07302

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- pat.
Primitive Sound System
VINYL RULES!
"Audio Visual Triumphs and Disasters" - http://primitivesoundsystem.blogspot.com

Records:
1910 Fruitgum Co. - "The Train" b/w "Eternal Light" (Buddah Records cat. BDA 130)
Not everyone I know is a fan of "The Train" but it is one of my favorites. That is not what prompted me to seek out this fine little 7-inch. No, it is the beacon shining from the B-side that drew me in. The Kasenetz-Katz crew were nothing if they were prolific. 100's of songs and most of them gems even if they get passed off as Bubble Gum. I have unearthed a few instrumental moments and this is one of them. Opening like the procession at a local Church, a solo organ intros what could be a sister act to Procol Harums anthemic "Whiter Shade of Pale" but nicely this takes a soft turn into a mellow Soulful build that suddenly launches into a very brief Jazzy organ based Rock instrumental complete with funky drumming and heavy bass. Damn, I want to hear this without the fade. Just two minutes and twenty five seconds and oh, so intriguing. Was it truly a studio improv that ended abruptly? Did the stretch this out beyond what would have been an acceptable B-side instrumental? As always the playing is sharp and what almost always sounds deliberate. The Kasenetz-Katz bands always have a "Yup, I meant to do that feel to them.' Blistering and fuzzy guitars, screaming organs, breaking drums, and backward recordings all found under what should be a cliche genre.

Billy Joe & The Checkmates - "Percolator" (Dore cat. 620)
Guitar instrumentals don't get much more amusing than this. Basically an extended version of the Maxwell House theme. There are some points when the guitar gets to be a bit more Surfy but actually the whole thing has a nice flow to it. There are no surprises here except for the slightly aggressive brief breaks. Other than that, this is a smile from ear to ear and of course the caffeine helps keep you smiling long after the pot is empty. Get your caffeinated groove on.

Warm Excursion - "Hang Up" Part 1 and 2 (Pzazz Records cat. 039)
This has always been one of my favorite instrumentals and I can't believe I have never written about it. Few records can stand up to the intro of this monster. This literally JUMPS out of the grooves and into your face like you were talking shit. Just kick drum counting us in and BANG! If I had to describe this with one word it would be "tough." The drums pound from start to finish and despite there being a lot going on every instrument has room to breath. The organ and horns are attached at the hip yelling and screaming all over the place. Sometimes you expect them and at others they sneak up and scare the hell out of you. The bass is heavy as hell and at times seems to push the other players out of the way to get up front and pound you back down. There are two sides of this and I think they easily could have given us more. Side two gives the guitar and organ their moment. Dodging and weaving between the riot the guitar hits us with some very creative soloing. Just when you think it is all over the drums kick it up which seems to inspire a flurry from the organ. No mas!

Oscar Brown, Jr. & Luiz Henrique - "Barra Limpa (Ba-ha Leem-pa)" (Fontana cat. F-1547 (white label promo))
It has been a while since I picked up some new Brazilian music. The vocalist is Oscar Brown but the backing couldn't be any more perfect for his gruff but sweet vocal tone. I have no idea what the title of the song means but from Mr. Browns vocals I assume it is a party. The backing is quick and eventually hits a fevered pitch but some how maintains that bossa sound that is always soothing and relaxing. As the backing speeds up Mr. Brown remains even keeled and never looses his cool. The music is penned by Mr. Henrique who also plays guitar. The combination of the Brazilian sounds and Mr Brown's voice is a perfect one and I can see why they called the LP "Finding a New Friend." I imagine this is the music my parents were going to see in The Village and the early and mid sixties. Beautiful.

Bobby Paterson and The Mustangs - ""Broadway Ain't Funky No More" b/w "I Met My Match" (Jetstar Records cat. JS-111 (Yellow Vinyl / DJ Copy Not For Sale))
Damn, Bobby Paterson was completely amazing. I also love that his records came on color vinyl. Yellow to be exact. How cool is that? "Broadway Aint Funky No More" is about as raw and Funky as he gets and that is pretty damn raw and Funky. This opens with a great little guitar intro and opens up into a thick wall of voices, drums, and especially bass. The whole first half sounds like an extend break and solo from each player. The band is super tight and stops on a dime to let Bobby smile through the chorus. The drums give us a break and then the horns get things started up again. Broadway may not be funky no more but wherever Bobby and his Mustangs go sure the hell is. The "B" is a tear jerker of a ballad but has some aggressive guitar and snapping drums to keep it from being typical.

Harvey Scales & The Seven Sounds - "Broadway Freeze" b/w "I Can't Cry No More" (Magic Touch Records cat. MTA 16001)
Harvey Scales knows how to get the floor moving. He is so confident in his skills that he even reminds us that the amazing "Get Down" was last years groove he has moved on to bigger and better things. Scales name checks his favorite artists and dances all the while he and the band kick it hard and keep things moving. Vocal breaks pop in and out through out but never disrupt the action. The band has a very live sound to them. It isn't just the calls and shouts in the studio giving it a party feel but a connection the players seem to have moving in unison from moment to moment anticipating Scales direction and not letting anyone fall off the beat. Playful yet perfectly executed.