D Generation/The Biters Live Review-Troubadour, Los Angeles, Ca.
Real. Raw. Messy. Brutal. That about sums up the reunited band’s performance in Hollywood!! This was a highly anticipated show in this city and it was close to a sellout. The band blasted through 20 songs from all their releases, and usually at a live show you remember the beginning and end, the top and the bottom, and DGeneration slammed the crowd at both ends!
Opening the show with Jesse M. shouting, “Has anyone seen my boy?”, the band blasted into the Regan Youth classic “Degenerated”, which hit like a gutter punk rock punch to the chest (much more powerful version than the RY version, but not as macho as the Los Angeles Death Dolls version), and from there it was all up hill!
These guys came out sweating at the first swing, and it lasted through the whole set, as these guys still give it their all on stage, featuring all original members and a simple stage set up, much like their songs. The music is simple but carries a wallop, just like when I saw them a decade before at the Dragonfly. I never saw them at the big gigs with Kiss or Green Day, but rather in their element, where they always shined, in real and raw environments, like small and sweaty clubs. They pulled out their old trick of completely trashing the club with bags of shredded magazines, being tossed around by the band and crowd. (Note: Rebel Rebel “borrowed” this idea when we played out of town or in another country, as a feather pillow is harder for the clubs to clean up, not to mention harder to find! And magazines are plenty in any town, and all you need to carry is a few garbage bags to put the shredded paper in!) It was refreshing seeing a band that puts their all into their stage time, like it may be their last gig, and with this band, it just may well be, although there is a rumor of a new CD and full tour. All heart, energy and emotion.
I personally hope they just go out swinging like at this show, and finish with grace and balls! They closed the show with my favorite song “No Way Out”, and the whole crowd was moshing and singing along, old and young together in a punky and glam unison, proving you can still rock in America!
A quick note about the opening band, The Biters. You must see them live, good full frontal energy and even better songs, straight from the Sweet/Tom Petty/Ramones/Candy/Cheap Trick school of song writing. These guys play twin lead guitars live that are off the chain, not as catchy since Thin Lizzy days, some of the catchiest pop punk trash rock out there. Good haircuts, good threads, good stage moves, good songs = Good Times!!!
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Rebel Rebel "A Rock In The Face" Best of CD on ITUNES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Los Angeles Ca. based shock rockers Rebel Rebel announce the release of their new set of songs, “A Rock In The Face-Best of 1988-2010”, via ITUNES exclusively. Band spokesman and manager, Teddy Heavens, informs that the band has decided to join the digital wave as the decline of CD sales continues and the preferred means of consumers buying music is via digital downloads. The band has been selling downloads of their last two releases, but half the songs from the 20 song new release have never been available for download and are taken from prior releases that are long out of print. The band has decided that since they have released all Rebel Rebel music via their own label FTW Records & Filmworks, that it is only natural to continue the DIY punk rock spirit in this emerging digital age and thus the new battle cry of Join The (digital) Wave or Else …..get left behind!
“A Rock in The Face” consists of 20 songs taken from all the bands past releases, 10 of which have never been available for digital download before and all the songs have all been remastered for the digital release format that ITUNES demands. In addition, the cover artwork (in glorious exploding pink) is a commissioned drawing of the band’s classic four piece line-up that performed the songs on this best of release. For further information feel free to contact the band directly.
Contacts:
TEDDY HEAVENS 818-481-1440
ftwrecords@aol.com
www.rebelrebel.org
www.myspace.com/rebelrebel
www.Itunes.com
www.twitter.com/rebelrebelpunk
FTWRECORDS & FILMWORKS 7510 Sunset Blvd. #174, Hollywood, Ca. 90046
Down To Rock DTR September 2011
DTR September 2011
My name is Teddy Heavens and I’ll be bringing you the latest Sleaze/Glam/Punk and Trash rock and roll news from the Golden State and the streets (and gutters) of Hollywood, California! (and occasionally from the rest of the world) From the Valleys to the alleys, I’ll find the coolest bands to report on and let you know what’s up from the Rock and Roll capital of the world!
I have been traveling the world in the last few months on holiday and business, thus the lack of a DTR column over the last couple of months, coupled with the rather “quiet” Glam Punk rock and roll scene in Los Angeles at the moment! But with that being said, things are looking up in the coming days, especially with D Generation and the Biters live in Los Angeles review coming soon!
Live Review
UNDERCOVER SLUT/Trash Romance Sun. Aug. 7th @ Nambucca Islington, London England
I was looking forward to seeing my brothers from another mother on English soil. I have seen these guys destroy stages from Paris France to Las Vegas Nevada to Hollywood Cali, and it is always a nice treat. O (UCS singer and leader)has a new line up of young studs backing him up that fit the bill to a tee, with an all black glam image that fit’s the new Glam Punk direction of the music. The French invaded London on the night of the riots, perfect timing! I have to say that I was looking forward to seeing what London had to offer in the form of the opening Glam and sleaze bands. Unfortunately, the local bands on the bill failed to light a spark of my Glam Punk fire, as the first two opening bands were non descript and amateurish, especially by local Los Angeles band standards, but the worst was Trash Romance, who were fronted by a chick singer who was trying too hard to be hot, and this band would make even the most inexperienced L.A. posers look like the Black Veil Brides! Shite songs, shite stage presence, shite attitude and a Lurch looking guitar player who could do with some lessons, shit CC Deville sounds like Yngwie compared to this nimrod! Very disappointing. Note to band, it never pays to be rude to people (other bands, fans or possible reviewers!!!)
On to the good stuff, this was not the first London show for UCS, but it was with the new lineup. I was interested in seeing how they tackled the English, and I was not surprised as O has done tons of gigs opening for the likes of the Murder Dolls and other punk legends in Paris. The new players have added a more straight ahead Glam Punk style and approach to older UCS material such as “Darling Darling“, “Jim Jones Was So Fucking Right” and “Daddy’s Little Cunt”, and the new songs sounded similar to Motley Crue on steroids (Salute the Dirt, Flower Bombs, Astral Projection, Chloroform Nation). Even when stripped of their usual elaborate stage show and samples, UCS showed true punk rock and roll spirit. The London riots caused a sparse turnout as the subway and buses were cancelled, but it did not stop the band from strapping up and kicking ass as usual. After the show, as me and the band and other London rock and roll luminaries were heading to the Rock bar Red Rooster down the road, the riot thugs started up down the street and the London cops sent us packing down the road. We ran into Carl from the Libertines, who wanted to continue the party elsewhere, but we were ushered down the road and into the London darkness, a great rock and roll ending to a dangerous night, Undercover Slut style. www.myspace.com/undercoverslut
Live Review
Nashville Pussy/The Dwarves Thur. Aug. 18th Minneapolis MN. @ Triple Rock Social Club
I was in St. Paul, MN. on music business, suing a unnamed record company, and much to my pleasant surprise, I discovered this show was going on! I last saw the Dwarves opening for Hole back in the day at the Coconut Teazer in Hollywood, before either had record deals. I last saw Nashville Pussy when Cory Parks was in the band at the Troubadour in Los Angeles, so I was stoked to see what these bands were up to in the 2010’s.
Nashville Pussy had the place packed out, and I have to say that there is a healthy sleaze and punk scene in this town, and everyone was cool, no attitudes, just rockers wanting to have a good time. Nashville Pussy are road dogs and it shows in their high energy performance, and they have toured with everyone from Marilyn Manson to Rev. Horton Heat, so they know how to deliver a show for maximum impact, fast-loud-dirty. They played fan favorites Strutting Cock, Snake Eyes, High As Hell, I’m The Man and Go Motherfucker Go, as well as a dozen others, with little talking or messing around between songs. The current bassist does a good job on her instrument and reminded of my late friend, Traci Michaelz, in the looks department. This band can go on forever cuz they don’t rely on gimmicks or tricks or a crazy image, just good sleazy songs and high energy rock and roll heart. A must see live band who have not lost any steam in the 10 years since I last saw them jam. www.nashvillepussy.com
The crowd was really there for the Dwarves (on their 25th anniversary tour and in support of the new Born Again release) and they wasted no time in winding the crowd up with their straight to the point and under 2 minute songs, usually about fucking! Blag Dalia is one of the best front men out there in punk rock, he takes the Johnny Rotten attitude and twists it to get the audience really hyped up. Even though He Who Can Not Be Named was not on guitar for this show, the crowd really got into the current band and Blag was motivated enough to stage dive into the crowd, and even managed to not hit the floor once. My favorite quote of the night is when he told the crowd they were witnessing Rock Royalty in the flesh, which is accurate based on the Dwarves staying power and current new CD release. Also, they have the best album covers!!! www.thedwarves.com
Live Review:
Atari Teenage Riot Sat. Sept. 10th @ Royal Resort Las Vegas, Nv.
Again, I had not seen this act live in 12 or 13 years and was super stoked that they were doing a free show while I was in Las Vegas!!! I love bands like Suicide, Sigue Sigue Sputnik and Until December, and ATR mix electronic drums with noise and metal (Speed and MC5 style) guitar and shouting catchy political and socially conscious lyrics, with catchy choruses. The stage set consisted of the ATR banner and an array of electronic gadgets piled up to get a sound that is similar to the Terminator smashing down a door. ATR main man Alec Empire is a great front man who got the crowd going by jumping out to the barrier and shouting and spewing the lyrics right in the crowd’s faces. ATR are very anti government and the crowd was easily riled up due to the current state of the global economy, so there was a big mosh pit with the kids going berzerk. The crowd was made up of punk rockers, glam punk kids and others who had only heard of ATR’s legendary riot gigs, and although there were no riots, ATR did play their most well know songs such as Start the Riot, Atari Teenage Riot and the crowd requested Speed (which the band had to load up in their computer via an old school Zip drive) as well as their new MC5 inspired Black Flag!!! Alec ended the set by going directly into the crowd and singing the last song among the crowd in the mosh pit, which is in line with their way of thinking, by the people for the people! Can you testify!!!!
www.atari-teenage-riot.com
Bands to be on the lookout for!!!!!
SKINMASK- LOS ANGELES, Ca.
These guys are rocking the face paint in a Slipknot twist and their music is modern metal mixed with catchy choruses. Think Slipknot mixed with Linkin Park, which is not my usual cup of tea, but I’m a sucker for a good chorus. They are tearing it up around Los Angeles and their stage show features some large Kiss type signs on each side of the stage! A modern day KISS for the useless generation of rock misfits that the internet has bred, check them out for a cool treat!!!
www.reverbnation.com/skinmaskmusic
CEREBRAL BALLZY-Brooklyn, NY
These guys had a buzz going in the UK while I was there and for good reason. If your into FEAR or Black Flag or new punk rock like OFF!, then this will be right up your alley. They just released their debut album and are currently touring the world in support, playing all the big festivals in Japan and Europe. The songs are fast, raw and loud and they can be found at:
www.cerebralballzy.com
FALLING IN REVERSE-Las Vegas, Nv.
This band features the former lead singer of Escape the Fate, they dumped him after he went to prison for drugs and other hardcore crimes, and they are rocking a cool contemporary look with the leather and makeup, etc. like Black Veil Brides without the white face. The music is post hardcore with some catchy choruses, but will appeal to punks or glam kids looking for some danger. They have a debut release out now and are touring in support in the states currently.
www.myspace.com/fallinginreversemusic
P.S. You have to check out the new Alice Cooper record, Welcome 2 My Nightmare, featuring the reunion of the original Alice Cooper Band members!!! Review coming soon.
Revolver Magazine Golden Gods Award Show
Revolver Magazine Golden Gods Award Show and The re-re-resurrection of traditional hard rock and heavy metal!!!!
My reason for attending this awards show was strictly self serving, as the original Alice Cooper Band was playing, which was the first time in Los Angeles in almost 40 years (although they had previously done it at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony, at which they were inducted, finally)!! There was no way I was going to miss seeing this legendary line up, as the record “Killers“ was the first music that I can remember ever hearing as a little kid. My brothers used to blast “Dead Babies“ and “Under My Wheels“ and “Desperado“, as well as my personal favorite “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah“, and that is the first music I can remember moving me in any sort of way.
The cool thing about living in Los Angeles is that you get to see your childhood heroes from music, film or literature, up close and personal, at some point! You either run into them at some restaurant, club, the movies, on the street or at the Rainbow Bar and Grill, or in the case of living in Santa Clarita ,at the gym (LA Fitness), Hello Carmine Appice, George Lynch, Bobby Blotzer, etc, wanna start a band? You get to see most bands that reform for one last comeback, and this was my ultimate opportunity to see the original Alice Cooper Band, the last from my ultimate list of seeing original member bands: KISS, Sex Pistols, New York Dolls, Ramones, The Stooges and Alice Cooper Band.
The awards show was offering the usual for this type of fan/reader picked winners: Comeback of the Year-Murderdolls, Golden God Award-Alice Cooper, Lifetime Achievement-Motley Crue and Best New Band-Black Veil Brides, Etc. I was hoping I would not have to sit through a bunch of crappy heavy metal new school bands before my heroes came out. First up was Fozzy, featuring Pro wrestler Chris Jericho, and most recently of "Dancing With The Stars", doing some good heavy metal covers (they started out doing metal covers and calling themselves Fozzy Osborne), and then to my pleasure, The Original Alice Cooper Band fired up the Fender amps and kicked into “I’m eighteen”, “Under My Wheels“, “Billion Dollar Babies“, and “School’s Out”, complete with Alice throwing out Alice Dollar Bills from the tip of his sword and glitter filled balloons that were bounced back and forth from the audience to the stage, until Alice popped them with his sword, just like in the 70’s! Michael Bruce on guitars, Dennis Dunaway on bass, Alice on vocals and Neil Smith on drums (who was so tall, I thought he was standing up throughout the set), and filling in for the missing Glen Buxton (RIP) was later date guitar player Dick Wagner! I was glad I was there and it was the most rock and roll moment in Los Angeles in all of 2011.
The remainder of the show featured new metal kids Asking Alexandria jamming “Youth Gone Wild“, with Sebastian Bach, Devil Driver doing a Black Flag cover, and Duff Macagan's Loaded with Steve Jones from the Sex Pistols and the singer of Slipknot doing “Electric Eye“ by Judas Priest, and Avenged Sevenfold showcasing their new drummer. But none of it even comes close to matching the excitement of seeing the original Alice Cooper Band play some of their classic tunes, maybe for the last time ever, and I was there to see it!
With all that being said, nothing matches up to the classic heavy metal and hard rock bands that started it all, way way way back in the day. The death of classic hard rock and heavy metal has been greatly exaggerated over the years, and this is very evident by the lasting power of various forces in the heavy rock world. Judas Priest are gearing up for their last tour this year, after forty years of steady releases and tours. The Scorpions are wrapping up their 40 year career by going on a farewell tour that will last several years, putting them to rest at the top of their game. Motorhead are still going strong after releasing their most well known record “Ace Of Spades” in the early 1980’s, with the release of a new album and a DVD/movie documentary celebrating leader Lemmy’s hard knock life. KISS are still able to sell out large arenas and have a profile that is greater now than when they were in their infancy in the mid to late 1970’s, at the height of their merchandising dynasty! Ozzy Osborne is more mainstream than Obama at this point, and he continues to release new music and tour regularly.
Also keeping things moving in the heavy rock world are the various media outlets, such as That Metal Show on VH1, which usually features old school rock legends like members of Anthrax, Judas Priest, Whitesnake, and Kiss. Movies such as The Wrestler and The Fighter showcasing classic hard rock and heavy metal songs from bands such as Ratt and Whitesnake, and various satellite and internet radio stations that pay tribute to the heavy rock world, featuring all the previously mentioned bands! Heavy metal has never went away, regardless of the demise of most of the record companies, the crumbling economy and the indifference of aging hipsters. Long live the metal kings!
By Teddy Heavens
My reason for attending this awards show was strictly self serving, as the original Alice Cooper Band was playing, which was the first time in Los Angeles in almost 40 years (although they had previously done it at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony, at which they were inducted, finally)!! There was no way I was going to miss seeing this legendary line up, as the record “Killers“ was the first music that I can remember ever hearing as a little kid. My brothers used to blast “Dead Babies“ and “Under My Wheels“ and “Desperado“, as well as my personal favorite “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah“, and that is the first music I can remember moving me in any sort of way.
The cool thing about living in Los Angeles is that you get to see your childhood heroes from music, film or literature, up close and personal, at some point! You either run into them at some restaurant, club, the movies, on the street or at the Rainbow Bar and Grill, or in the case of living in Santa Clarita ,at the gym (LA Fitness), Hello Carmine Appice, George Lynch, Bobby Blotzer, etc, wanna start a band? You get to see most bands that reform for one last comeback, and this was my ultimate opportunity to see the original Alice Cooper Band, the last from my ultimate list of seeing original member bands: KISS, Sex Pistols, New York Dolls, Ramones, The Stooges and Alice Cooper Band.
The awards show was offering the usual for this type of fan/reader picked winners: Comeback of the Year-Murderdolls, Golden God Award-Alice Cooper, Lifetime Achievement-Motley Crue and Best New Band-Black Veil Brides, Etc. I was hoping I would not have to sit through a bunch of crappy heavy metal new school bands before my heroes came out. First up was Fozzy, featuring Pro wrestler Chris Jericho, and most recently of "Dancing With The Stars", doing some good heavy metal covers (they started out doing metal covers and calling themselves Fozzy Osborne), and then to my pleasure, The Original Alice Cooper Band fired up the Fender amps and kicked into “I’m eighteen”, “Under My Wheels“, “Billion Dollar Babies“, and “School’s Out”, complete with Alice throwing out Alice Dollar Bills from the tip of his sword and glitter filled balloons that were bounced back and forth from the audience to the stage, until Alice popped them with his sword, just like in the 70’s! Michael Bruce on guitars, Dennis Dunaway on bass, Alice on vocals and Neil Smith on drums (who was so tall, I thought he was standing up throughout the set), and filling in for the missing Glen Buxton (RIP) was later date guitar player Dick Wagner! I was glad I was there and it was the most rock and roll moment in Los Angeles in all of 2011.
The remainder of the show featured new metal kids Asking Alexandria jamming “Youth Gone Wild“, with Sebastian Bach, Devil Driver doing a Black Flag cover, and Duff Macagan's Loaded with Steve Jones from the Sex Pistols and the singer of Slipknot doing “Electric Eye“ by Judas Priest, and Avenged Sevenfold showcasing their new drummer. But none of it even comes close to matching the excitement of seeing the original Alice Cooper Band play some of their classic tunes, maybe for the last time ever, and I was there to see it!
With all that being said, nothing matches up to the classic heavy metal and hard rock bands that started it all, way way way back in the day. The death of classic hard rock and heavy metal has been greatly exaggerated over the years, and this is very evident by the lasting power of various forces in the heavy rock world. Judas Priest are gearing up for their last tour this year, after forty years of steady releases and tours. The Scorpions are wrapping up their 40 year career by going on a farewell tour that will last several years, putting them to rest at the top of their game. Motorhead are still going strong after releasing their most well known record “Ace Of Spades” in the early 1980’s, with the release of a new album and a DVD/movie documentary celebrating leader Lemmy’s hard knock life. KISS are still able to sell out large arenas and have a profile that is greater now than when they were in their infancy in the mid to late 1970’s, at the height of their merchandising dynasty! Ozzy Osborne is more mainstream than Obama at this point, and he continues to release new music and tour regularly.
Also keeping things moving in the heavy rock world are the various media outlets, such as That Metal Show on VH1, which usually features old school rock legends like members of Anthrax, Judas Priest, Whitesnake, and Kiss. Movies such as The Wrestler and The Fighter showcasing classic hard rock and heavy metal songs from bands such as Ratt and Whitesnake, and various satellite and internet radio stations that pay tribute to the heavy rock world, featuring all the previously mentioned bands! Heavy metal has never went away, regardless of the demise of most of the record companies, the crumbling economy and the indifference of aging hipsters. Long live the metal kings!
By Teddy Heavens
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
TSAR Drugboy Tapes CD Review
Tsar-The Drugboy Tapes
Point in fact, Tsar was the best band to come out of Los Angeles in the 2000’s! They are one of the greatest power pop bands to come from the Los Angeles area, ever!!! Period!
They usually put out an album every five years, their debut in 2000 and Band-Girls-Money in 2005 and now this release, The Drugboy Tapes. This release is a compilation of pre-debut demos of 6 songs off the debut record (Afradio, The Girl Who Wouldn’t Die, Ordinary Gurl, Kelly Fong Is The Bomb, I Don’t Want To Break Up, and Silver Shifter) plus a unheard gem and a retitled song and two live cuts.
I always assumed that the songs and production on their debut masterpiece album were a product of the “big” producer and “big” expensive recording studio. The debut record had lush production, killer hook after hook, in the form of cool little guitar riffs and vocal melodies, inventive vocal delays, and memorable chorus after chorus!!! I was dead wrong, these demos (90% of the debut record) show that the singer and guitar player had the songs all ready to go, so it makes sense that they got a record deal and put it to wax, as is!!!! They used drum machines, cheap keyboards, digital delays, and acoustic guitars on rented and returned home recording gear to get their dream rolling, and the song structures are intact, and in some cases more interesting. The amazing thing about these demos is that the riffs and little hooks and sweeteners were already in place, showing just how genius singer/guitar player Jeff Whalen and guitar player Daniel Kern truly are.
The one demo song that did not make the debut, “Son of Light” sounds like it fits in nicely with the rest of the power pop hits on the debut record and the two live songs on the Drugboy Tapes, are taken from the first ever live performance of the classic debut line up, from a live show on KXLU radio station (A local Los Angeles taste maker indie radio station). Only 3 songs from the debut are not represented by this demo release, “Disappear“, “Mono Stereo” and “Teen Wizards” and “The Glower” was renamed “Calling All Destroyers” from the debut record. This release is highly recommended, as well as their Debut record and Band-Girls-Money, and if you are ever in the Los Angeles area, check www.tsar.net for current gigs. In the 2000’s they toured with the likes of Duran Duran and Towers of London and they recreate their catalog of songs live and are very high energy must see live act! Get this release from CD Baby or Itunes.
http://tsarmy.com www.tsar.net www.cdbaby.com/cd/tsar1
If you want me to review your music or write about your event, send it all to:
Teddy Heavens
27750 Firebrand Dr.
Castaic, Ca. 91384
Ftwrecords@aol.com
Point in fact, Tsar was the best band to come out of Los Angeles in the 2000’s! They are one of the greatest power pop bands to come from the Los Angeles area, ever!!! Period!
They usually put out an album every five years, their debut in 2000 and Band-Girls-Money in 2005 and now this release, The Drugboy Tapes. This release is a compilation of pre-debut demos of 6 songs off the debut record (Afradio, The Girl Who Wouldn’t Die, Ordinary Gurl, Kelly Fong Is The Bomb, I Don’t Want To Break Up, and Silver Shifter) plus a unheard gem and a retitled song and two live cuts.
I always assumed that the songs and production on their debut masterpiece album were a product of the “big” producer and “big” expensive recording studio. The debut record had lush production, killer hook after hook, in the form of cool little guitar riffs and vocal melodies, inventive vocal delays, and memorable chorus after chorus!!! I was dead wrong, these demos (90% of the debut record) show that the singer and guitar player had the songs all ready to go, so it makes sense that they got a record deal and put it to wax, as is!!!! They used drum machines, cheap keyboards, digital delays, and acoustic guitars on rented and returned home recording gear to get their dream rolling, and the song structures are intact, and in some cases more interesting. The amazing thing about these demos is that the riffs and little hooks and sweeteners were already in place, showing just how genius singer/guitar player Jeff Whalen and guitar player Daniel Kern truly are.
The one demo song that did not make the debut, “Son of Light” sounds like it fits in nicely with the rest of the power pop hits on the debut record and the two live songs on the Drugboy Tapes, are taken from the first ever live performance of the classic debut line up, from a live show on KXLU radio station (A local Los Angeles taste maker indie radio station). Only 3 songs from the debut are not represented by this demo release, “Disappear“, “Mono Stereo” and “Teen Wizards” and “The Glower” was renamed “Calling All Destroyers” from the debut record. This release is highly recommended, as well as their Debut record and Band-Girls-Money, and if you are ever in the Los Angeles area, check www.tsar.net for current gigs. In the 2000’s they toured with the likes of Duran Duran and Towers of London and they recreate their catalog of songs live and are very high energy must see live act! Get this release from CD Baby or Itunes.
http://tsarmy.com www.tsar.net www.cdbaby.com/cd/tsar1
If you want me to review your music or write about your event, send it all to:
Teddy Heavens
27750 Firebrand Dr.
Castaic, Ca. 91384
Ftwrecords@aol.com
Down To Rock June 2011
Down To Rock June 2011
D.T.R. WITH TEDDY HEAVENS
My name is Teddy Heavens and I’m bringing you the latest Sleaze/Glam/Punk and Trash rock and roll news from the Golden State and the streets (and gutters) of Hollywood, California (and beyond!) From the Valleys to the alleys, I’ll find the coolest bands to report on and let you know what’s up from the Rock and Roll capital of the world!
CD Review
Sister-Hated
This band is the bastard sons of WASP (Kill, Fuck, Die era), and Motley Crue (Dr. Feelgood era)!!! Hailing from Sweden, with origins in straight up glam rock, this band is set to explode onto the stale rock and roll scene in a big way. I only write about music that I enjoy, and I really like this record. It has all the elements that I like; heavy leather and make up image, loud guitars and good songs, mixed with a punky aggressive approach. They started with a 3 song demo, and now they unleash a full length via Metal Blade Records no less, with an 80‘s hard metal sound. Hated is equal parts Murder Dolls/Motley Crue/WASP/Wednesday 13, and it rocks the whole way through, with stand out tracks “Body Blow”, with a Dr. Feelgood vibe that progresses into a MuderDolls sing a long anthem, and the ballad “Would You Love A Creature”, which gives you a nice respite from the rest of the Hated onslaught. Good to see Metal Blade giving sleaze a chance, which last came with the Starwood release. Keep an eye on Sister, they are young, hung and full of scum!!!! www.sisteronline.net
Live Review
Wayne Kramer (MC5) Live
Seeing one of your musical influences live and up close is always a treat, and this is one of the reasons Los Angeles rocks so hard. You get to see your hero in an intimate situation like this, an acoustic show special appearance at a Rhino Records pop up store promotion! Wayne is the guitar player for the MC5, and I had never seen them play, I missed a show in Amsterdam awhile back due to it being sold out, and they don’t play in L.A., but Wayne lives down the street from the record store, so there you have it! He started off with the MC5 classic “High School”, with the audience singing along with the chorus, then he went into a new original “Running From Myself”, which was sung in a Neil Young style. He then introduced the next song which recants a conversation he had with an 80’s hair band member, who was describing his “Great Big Amp”, which Wayne realized encapsulated where he was at mentally! This song was also delivered in a Neil Young style, and he finished his set with the Clash song written about his own jail stint, “Jail, Guitar, Doors”. This is also the name of Wayne’s charity organization that provides instruments to prisons and jails, to allow inmates to have a musical outlet while they are incarcerated, as a form of therapy! Overall, a cool close up look at a man that has helped shape my guitar playing, and I was able to add to my collection of autographed items from my personal influences. I Love L.A. www.jailguitardoors.org
New Bands
The Crazy Squeeze
Los Angeles based glam punk rockers that have been tearing it up regularly at the Redwood Bar in downtown L.A. (the new happening punk rock joint in town) with the likes of Eddie and The Hot Rods, Kevin K., Texas Terri and other trashy punk bands that drag themselves to L.A. For fans of “77 Punk Rock ala Johnny Thunders!!! www.myspace.com/thecrazysqueeze
Dirty Eyes
Los Angeles based dirty punks in the vein of the Heartbreakers and the Dead Boys! They have been hitting the boards around town with the likes of the Mau Maus, The Stitches, The Zeros, Sorrows (NYC), The Billy Bones, The Joneses, Crazy Squeeze, Nikki Corvette, as well as playing skateboard legend Tony Alva's 53rd Birthday Party! Good clean 50’s influenced street GlamPunk, just the way we like it in Los Angeles!! www.myspace.com/dirtyeyesrockandroll
Butcher Babies
Hollywood based shock rockers who are flying the Plasmatics flag!! This band is tearing up stages from the Valley to Hollywood proper, featuring hot naked chick singers and a flashy stage show that almost rivals Rebel Rebel’s notorious stage messes!!! Catch them before they get banned and exiled. Alice Cooper meets Wendy O.
www.myspace.com/butcherbabiesmusic
If you want me to review your music or write about your event, send it all to:
Teddy Heavens
27750 Firebrand Dr.
Castaic, Ca. 91384
Ftwrecords@aol.com
www.myspace.com/ftwmanagement
www.rebelrebel.org
www.myspace.com/losangelesdeathdolls
Monday, May 30, 2011
The Ultimate Rock and Roll Story
THE ULTIMATE ROCK AND ROLL STORY
Rebel Rebel (R2) was born in 1988, when Jet and I moved to L.A. We started off as a Suicide type act, mixed with the Plasmatics. I handled the guitars, sound efx and the drum programs (drum machine) and Jet handled the vocals and mass destruction of TV sets, computer monitors and animals parts (goat heads, chicken feet, etc.). We played porno on monitors as we played and finished the set by setting fire to the American flag, which usually ended in a fight with an audience member and his homies who got offended. Our main point was to offend and make people think and react.
Eventually in 1990, we got Gizmo to drum for us and released our 7 inch single “Fuck The World”, which got us noticed and got rave reviews for it’s Sigue Sigue Sputnik like construction. We destroyed all the L.A. clubs and quickly got banned and a reputation for fucking clubs up, which still haunts us today (we often play under assumed band names) in 2008!!! Through the 1990’s and 2000’s, we continue to play anywhere that will have us.
Our stage show has always consisted of a dangerous and messy element. Smashing things up and setting them on fire, and by the grace of God, no one has gotten hurt at one of our shows. We have been known to throw razor blades, bullets, matches and syringes into the audience. Jet’s latest is his bed of nails routine, flaming codpiece cock and the grand finale of a dildo that shoots flames as he leaves the stage, through the audience and out the front door of the venue!
In 1992, we recruited our current bass player from his acting career, Marcello, and the R2 line up has been the same all these years. (Gizmo has been taking a break since late 2006, after which we returned to our CyberPunk roots by using the drum machine and we added an FX/Dialogue guy, Erik, in 2006, and now in 2008 we added new drummer, Jesse Atom, from the infamous San Diego Punk band The Spent Idols)
Highlights over the years have included the release of our own CDs LIFESTYLES OF THE SICK AND FAMOUS, THE BIBLE OF THE 21ST CENTURY, EXPLODE INTO SPACE and our live in Paris, France disc FRANCE COMES ALIVE and our many appearances on the Wally George Show and the Morton Downey Jr. Show. Playing in great cities like Las Vegas, San Francisco and San Diego, and Paris, France-who have shown us much love. Surviving all these years in a town that has banned us from the get go-Los Angeles!!! Appearing on many comp CDs and having music in movies, pornos and on the radio. We’ve been written up in just about all music mags worldwide and have been in some rad books-Hollywood Rocks (and the accompanying CD box set) and Gigs From Hell. FOX News also did a killer story on us in L.A. that blew us up into legends for a while.
Jet would probably say his highlight would be finally getting arrested during one of our shows in 2000 and again in 2007. He dodged the bullet many times; our CD release party for Lifestyles in San Diego at Blue Meannie Records-5 cop cars and our outdoor show at Guitar Center in San Bernardino-6 cop cars. He finally got popped when we were playing the Garage in L.A. He took the stage show out to the street, as he usually does, and the cops were waiting for him. The L.A. Rampart Division got him as he was graffitiing a bus stop bench. People had called the police when earlier in the set Jet had set a baby play pen on fire in the middle of the street, in front of the club. Then he jumped on a TV news van with his glitter canon. Gee maybe they called the Police. On video, it looked like the L.A. riots going on. (The Relax Bar in Hollywood was the scene of the latest arrest in 2007, for causing a stir in front of the Club while we played and basically looking like a freak! And stopping traffic.)
The worst times included the band going head to head with skinheads in Pomona, who took offense to our black road crew and with psycho Nazi’s in Ocean Beach, Ca., who slashed our van tires and broke our windshield cuz they thought we sacrificed animals on stage, at least that’s what the San Diego Reader reported. Rock and roll can be a dangerous business when you’re dealing with numbskulls.
We have been doing our thing for 20 years. Some interviewers ask us why we keep going? I tell them, either we are not that smart, or we really get off on what we do. Shit comes and goes, but the real thing stays gold!! We’re like Rocky, we’ll last all 15 rounds. Our history could take up a whole book (which I’ve already written).
We decided long ago to control our recording masters, music, image, concerts, dvd’s, websites, etc. Sure we’ve been offered deals, but it was never a situation we felt benefited us in the long run. Most bands break up after a major deal, just to get out of it. We still enjoy putting on the war paint and Road Warrior garb, it keeps us young and it keeps our powder dry. It’s great when people come up to me at one of our shows and they grew up seeing R2 destroy places and it really showed them what true heart can be, if you love what you do. At least that’s what they tell me, and that’s R2’s greatest accomplishment to date.
Here’s to another 20 years of never doing what you don’t want to or are told to do. We’re proud of Rebel Rebel and you should be too!!! To our friends we give our hearts….to our enemies, a rock in the face.
www.rebelrebel.org www.myspace.com/rebelrebel
www.twitter.com/rebelrebelpunk
By TEDDY HEAVENS 2008
Rebel Rebel (R2) was born in 1988, when Jet and I moved to L.A. We started off as a Suicide type act, mixed with the Plasmatics. I handled the guitars, sound efx and the drum programs (drum machine) and Jet handled the vocals and mass destruction of TV sets, computer monitors and animals parts (goat heads, chicken feet, etc.). We played porno on monitors as we played and finished the set by setting fire to the American flag, which usually ended in a fight with an audience member and his homies who got offended. Our main point was to offend and make people think and react.
Eventually in 1990, we got Gizmo to drum for us and released our 7 inch single “Fuck The World”, which got us noticed and got rave reviews for it’s Sigue Sigue Sputnik like construction. We destroyed all the L.A. clubs and quickly got banned and a reputation for fucking clubs up, which still haunts us today (we often play under assumed band names) in 2008!!! Through the 1990’s and 2000’s, we continue to play anywhere that will have us.
Our stage show has always consisted of a dangerous and messy element. Smashing things up and setting them on fire, and by the grace of God, no one has gotten hurt at one of our shows. We have been known to throw razor blades, bullets, matches and syringes into the audience. Jet’s latest is his bed of nails routine, flaming codpiece cock and the grand finale of a dildo that shoots flames as he leaves the stage, through the audience and out the front door of the venue!
In 1992, we recruited our current bass player from his acting career, Marcello, and the R2 line up has been the same all these years. (Gizmo has been taking a break since late 2006, after which we returned to our CyberPunk roots by using the drum machine and we added an FX/Dialogue guy, Erik, in 2006, and now in 2008 we added new drummer, Jesse Atom, from the infamous San Diego Punk band The Spent Idols)
Highlights over the years have included the release of our own CDs LIFESTYLES OF THE SICK AND FAMOUS, THE BIBLE OF THE 21ST CENTURY, EXPLODE INTO SPACE and our live in Paris, France disc FRANCE COMES ALIVE and our many appearances on the Wally George Show and the Morton Downey Jr. Show. Playing in great cities like Las Vegas, San Francisco and San Diego, and Paris, France-who have shown us much love. Surviving all these years in a town that has banned us from the get go-Los Angeles!!! Appearing on many comp CDs and having music in movies, pornos and on the radio. We’ve been written up in just about all music mags worldwide and have been in some rad books-Hollywood Rocks (and the accompanying CD box set) and Gigs From Hell. FOX News also did a killer story on us in L.A. that blew us up into legends for a while.
Jet would probably say his highlight would be finally getting arrested during one of our shows in 2000 and again in 2007. He dodged the bullet many times; our CD release party for Lifestyles in San Diego at Blue Meannie Records-5 cop cars and our outdoor show at Guitar Center in San Bernardino-6 cop cars. He finally got popped when we were playing the Garage in L.A. He took the stage show out to the street, as he usually does, and the cops were waiting for him. The L.A. Rampart Division got him as he was graffitiing a bus stop bench. People had called the police when earlier in the set Jet had set a baby play pen on fire in the middle of the street, in front of the club. Then he jumped on a TV news van with his glitter canon. Gee maybe they called the Police. On video, it looked like the L.A. riots going on. (The Relax Bar in Hollywood was the scene of the latest arrest in 2007, for causing a stir in front of the Club while we played and basically looking like a freak! And stopping traffic.)
The worst times included the band going head to head with skinheads in Pomona, who took offense to our black road crew and with psycho Nazi’s in Ocean Beach, Ca., who slashed our van tires and broke our windshield cuz they thought we sacrificed animals on stage, at least that’s what the San Diego Reader reported. Rock and roll can be a dangerous business when you’re dealing with numbskulls.
We have been doing our thing for 20 years. Some interviewers ask us why we keep going? I tell them, either we are not that smart, or we really get off on what we do. Shit comes and goes, but the real thing stays gold!! We’re like Rocky, we’ll last all 15 rounds. Our history could take up a whole book (which I’ve already written).
We decided long ago to control our recording masters, music, image, concerts, dvd’s, websites, etc. Sure we’ve been offered deals, but it was never a situation we felt benefited us in the long run. Most bands break up after a major deal, just to get out of it. We still enjoy putting on the war paint and Road Warrior garb, it keeps us young and it keeps our powder dry. It’s great when people come up to me at one of our shows and they grew up seeing R2 destroy places and it really showed them what true heart can be, if you love what you do. At least that’s what they tell me, and that’s R2’s greatest accomplishment to date.
Here’s to another 20 years of never doing what you don’t want to or are told to do. We’re proud of Rebel Rebel and you should be too!!! To our friends we give our hearts….to our enemies, a rock in the face.
www.rebelrebel.org www.myspace.com/rebelrebel
www.twitter.com/rebelrebelpunk
By TEDDY HEAVENS 2008
Down To Rock May 2011
Down To Rock May 2011
D.T.R. WITH TEDDY HEAVENSMy name is Teddy Heavens and I’m bringing you the latest Sleaze/Glam/Punk and Trash rock and roll news from the Golden State and the streets (and gutters) of Hollywood, California (and beyond!) From the Valleys to the alleys, I’ll find the coolest bands to report on and let you know what’s up from the Rock and Roll capital of the world!
Live Review:
Revolver Magazine Golden Gods Award show
My reason for attending this show was that the original Alice Cooper Band was playing, which was the first time in Los Angeles in almost 40 years (although they had done it at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony, at which they were inducted)!! There was no way I was going to miss seeing this legendary line up, as the record “Killers” was the first music that I can remember ever hearing as a little kid. My brothers used to blast “Dead Babies” and “Under My Wheels” and “Desperado” as well as my personal favorite “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah”, and that is the first music I can remember moving me in any sort of way. This was set to be the show of the year in Los Angeles!!!
The cool thing about living in Los Angeles is that you get to see your childhood heroes from music, film or literature, up close and personal at some point! You either run into them at some restaurant, club, the movies, on the street or at the Rainbow!!! You get to see most bands that reform, and this was my ultimate opportunity to see the original Alice Cooper Band, the last from my ultimate list of seeing original member bands (KISS, Sex Pistols, New York Dolls, Ramones, The Stooges and Alice Cooper Band).
The awards show was offering the usual for this type of fan picked winners: Comeback of the Year-Murderdolls, Golden God award-Alice Cooper, Lifetime Achievement-Motley Crue and Best New Band-Black Veil Brides, Etc. I was hoping I would not have to sit through a bunch of crappy heavy metal new school bands before my heroes came out. First up was Fozzy, featuring wrestler Chris Jericho doing some good heavy metal covers (they started out doing metal covers and calling themselves Fozzy Osborne) and then to my pleasure The Original Alice Cooper Band fired up the Fender amps and kicked into “I’m 18”, “Under My Wheels”, ‘Billion Dollar Babies” and “School’s Out”, complete with Alice throwing out Alice Dollar Bills from his sword, and glitter filled balloons that were bounced back and forth from the audience to the stage, until Alice popped them with his sword, just like in the 70’s! Michael Bruce on guitars, Dennis Dunaway on bass, Alice on vocals and Neil Smith on drums (who was so tall, I thought he was standing up throughout the set) and filling in for the missing Glen Buxton(RIP) was later date guitar player Dick Wagner! I was glad I was there and it was the most rock and roll moment in Los Angeles in all of 2011.
The remainder of the show featured new metal kids Asking Alexandria jamming “Youth Gone Wild” with Sebastian Bach, Devil Driver doing a Black Flag cover, and Loaded with Steve Jones from the Sex Pistols and the singer of Slipknot doing “Electric Eye” by Judas Priest, and Avenged Sevenfold showcasing their new drummer. But none of it even comes close to matching the excitement of seeing the original Alice Cooper Band play some of their classic tunes, maybe for the last time ever, and I was there to see it!
CD REVIEW
Freight Train-Burnin Down The Station
This band is influenced by bands like Rose Tattoo, New York Dolls, Kiss and Motorhead, so you know I was all over this CD. The guitar player for this power trio is Dirty Al Duncan, who played with the Johnny Thunders Group during the Que Sera Sera era, and who has a great playing style that reminds me of Montrose/Humble Pie/Ted Nugent, and that is blues based, but in a Hanoi Rocks sort of way. The vocals remind me a lot of Zodiac Mindwarp and The Love Reaction and the overall sound of the band is 70’s hard rock sleaze! Sounds good in print huh? Well it sounds just as good on the CD! This release features songs like: “Overdrive” which is not unsimilar to Cat Scratch Fever and the Zodiac Mindward sounding “Doll”, as well as the sleazy sounding “Gotta Keep A Running” and the Montrose-esque “Bound To Fail” and the appropriately named “Fire It Up and Crank It”, which name checks both Motorhead and the Stooges!!! If you read any of my reviews, you’ll know that this style of music is my lifeblood, so if you really dig sleazy guitar playing and booming 70’s style hard rock, you’ll wanna get this release from this San Francisco based band (the real deal). www.freighttrainrocks.com
CD REVIEW
Naked- Double Down
These guys are brothers in arms with Vains of Jenna, carrying the torch for sleazy hard rock that gives a nod to contemporaries such as Buck Cherry and Backyard Babies, with touches of Classic Rock like AC/DC! Hailing from Finland, these young rockers are offering a clean and mean production with good vocal harmonies, quality guitar playing and catchy/hooky breakdowns and buildups.
Double Down offers a good variety of tunes, from the Lit inspired “One More Time” to the Sweet/Hanoi Rocks sounding “I Know”, to the Guns and Roses tinged “Shine A Light”, which is straight up hard rock with wah wah pedal accented guitar, and also features the modern day Pomp Rock “Power Blind“.
These guys are turning up the heat by bringing the show to the East Coast where they are playing dives in NYC and the surrounding area with other like minded acts, which shows that they are willing to go a long way to bring the sleaze! They have appeared with The Killers, 69 Eyes and Hardcore Superstar and have rocked Moscow and Tokyo!!! You can get this release at Itunes or hit the band up at www.nakedonline.net
CD REVIEW
The Biters-All Chewed Up
This band came recommended on the Rock and Roll Geek Show Podcast, so I got going on it immediately, the host Michael Butler usually has similar tastes to mine, so what the shit! Right off the bat, I have to say that this band has the knack for taking their influences and crafting fine and catchy tunes. Now those influences are nice and varied, from The Sweet to The Knack, to The Strokes and the Primma Donnas (the Biters are their gritty twin brothers from another mother), with catchy 70’s glam era vocal hits and killer twin guitar lead lines, very reminiscent of Thin Lizzy. These young ass kids are a good mix of the Knack, Thin Lizzy, The Strokes, Cheap Trick and Tsar-get the picture!!! And they are building up their skills old school style via extensive touring through the USA, and I look forward to seeing them live tear it up with DGeneration in September in Los Angeles (and also in NYC)!
The CD has some great tunes, Born To Cry features a Sweet vibe and Breaking Your Heart showcases the twin lead playing ala Thin Lizzy, and Hold On has The Knack qualities with Cheap Trick overtones. I only mention the influencing bands because these tunes stand toe to toe with any of them and they have their own twist, the band wear their influences on their sleeves, but still sound fresh and exciting Oh Yeah (The Bitch Wants More) displays the band’s like for the Los Angeles band Tsar and Otherside is a definite ode to the lyrics of the long forgotten band the Unforgiven, with Rock and Roll Lover coming off as a straight up lost track from T Rex, and it seems to the Biters that T Rex is more than just a cool T shirt, they really take the band to heart! And that is the Biters in a nutshell, all killer guitar playing and a whole lotta heart (for killer rock and roll). See them at www.wearethebiters.com
CD Review
Vamp Le Stat-BloodLine
This band hailed from Sacramento, Cali., and in the 90’s they released a now much sought after release “Bloodline”, which was in the vein of 80’s style hard rockers Bon Jovi, Bullet Boys, Skid Row and Motley Crue. They are back now with the re-release of that album and featuring bonus remixed tracks. I was aware of the band after finding the original release of Bloodline (and yes my copy was also sold on Ebay for a nice price, after finding it’s way to my Itunes collection) so it was cool to get this CD, currently out now on XXX Records. The CD features some hard hitting songs and the standouts are the Zeppelinesque Swing Child (think When The Levy Breaks type drum beat) and She’s Not in Love, which is a Poison type “I Wont Forget You” ballad. Guns For Hire is a straight up heavy metal burner and Chains Around My Heart is a sleazy Motley Crue Dr. Feelgood era rocker, with some nice slide guitar work. Guitar player and producer Jeff Jones could revive any 80’s band that is struggling, this guy has mad skills on the guitar and Whitesnake or Ratt or Quiet Riot should call him up ASAP! Overall a cool throwback to the 80’s-90’s hard rock scene that is missing from the Sunset strip these days. Get the scoop at www.xxxrecords.com
If you want me to review your music or write about your event, send it all to:
Teddy Heavens
27750 Firebrand Dr.
Castaic, Ca. 91384
Ftwrecords@aol.com
Down To Rock April 2011
D.T.R. WITH TEDDY HEAVENS
My name is Teddy Heavens and I’m bringing you the latest Sleaze/Glam/Punk and Trash rock and roll news from the Golden State and the streets (and gutters) of Hollywood, California! From the Valleys to the alleys, I’ll find the coolest bands to report on and let you know what’s up from the Rock and Roll capital of the world!
CD REVIEW:
NEW YORK DOLLS-Dancing Backwards In High Heels (429 Records)
The New York Dolls go dancing back to the future with their latest release. The Dolls comeback has been well documented, so let’s get moving into the future with this new offering and not expect Personality Crisis II. The obvious news is that they have lost their guitar player and bass player to Michael Monroe’s band, which is significant in the musical direction that David Jo and Sly went with this release. I personally wanted a release that would rock my socks off, and instead was slapped in the face and received a deeper education on a real emotional level, on what really makes David Jo and Syl tick musically. I would support the Dolls and the individual members on any of their endeavors, because I am a true fan. With that being said, this release is truly for the tired and true die hard NY Dolls and rock and roll fan, not the Nikki Sixx and Hot Topic nation!
David and Sly really wear their influences on their sleeve with this set of songs. So much so that Sylvain Sylvain mainly plays organ and acoustic guitar and leaves the electric guitar duties to Blondie guitarist Frank Infante. Infante is replaced for live gigs with David Bowie guitarist Earl Slick, who will be featured on the Dolls upcoming tour opening for, (gulp) Poison and Motley Crue!!! This record is for the rock and roll fan that wants to go way beyond the Doll’s Rolling Stones and Stooges influences, which have obviously died with Thunders, Kane and Nolan (RIP LAMF).
Dancing is comprised of 12 tracks, starting with “Fool For You Baby”, which features vintage organ a la Suicide (NYC scene mates) and 60’s garage Pop vocals, reminiscent of Jesus and Mary Chain crossed with the organ playing from a funeral procession/viewing! Great tune, even if there is no guitar to be found on the track. Next up is the nostalgic “Street Cake’, with cool laid back jangly guitars, organ and 60’s style dreamy vocal harmonies and bass lines, keeping in line with the direction that “Fool” has set, and then David’s fab NYCite rant, street hustler style, to introduce “I’m So Fabulous”, with David Jo proclaiming his NYC shabby chic greatness. This song also includes a tip of the hat throwback to the Buddy Bowzer sax work of the original Dolls run! Good 60’s Garage Pop is how you can describe the next tune, “Talk To Me Baby” which is in the vein of “Rehab” by Amy Whinehouse and the organ driven “Kids Like Me” with sultry crooning by David Jo and trap drumming by Brian D. Sylvain is credited with playing the Farfisa organ (think funeral house) and whistling on this tune!
The second half of Dancing kicks off with “Round and Round She Goes”, which is a Gene Vincent/Eddie Cochran style rocker which brings to mind, “Dance Like A Monkey” from a couple of releases ago. This tune reminds me of something Suicide’s Alan Vega would write for his solo rockabilly project-jungle drums, Farfisa organ, and 50’s style rip roaring vocals with brass accents. Up next is one of my favorite songs on this record, “You Don’t Have To Cry”, which is an ode to Johnny Thunders “Memory” style ballad, which will easily end up in some Indie movie soundtrack. “Sold My Heart To The Junkman” is a Pattti Labelle cover that is done in a Shangri Las style homage, with smooth girl group back up vocals, a “Please Mr. Postman“ for 2011. From Pop to Do Wop to reggae, Dancing explores many styles that influenced David Jo and Syl, like the funky bohemian calypso reggae send up track “Baby Tell Me What I’m On” and the funky Chic style “Funky But Chic“, a solo David Jo hit from ‘78 that Sylvain helped write and that has been resurrected, as it fits into the theme and feel of this new release. Finally, Dancing ends with a straight up hazy Beach Boys sounding “End Of The Summer”, complete with she bop vocals and a smooth reggae beat.
Dancing backwards In High Heels was produced by Jason Hill from the retro group Louis XIV, who was obviously listening to a lot of Jesus and Mary Chain and the Horrors, and who did a great job of capturing the true musical soul and spirit of David Johansen and Sylvain Sylvain. Jason also played all the bass on the record and the basic sound is best described as funky/reverb guitar, funeral organ, jazzy drumming and high harmony vocals, so unless your into taking a new musical journey, this release is best left for die hard Dolls fans. I personally love this release and think that it will be looked at as a great NY Dolls record, but if your looking for junkie rock and brown teeth, then it’s best if you stick to the debut record or any of Thunder’s solo stuff, as this release is all class! Sophia Coppola could use this entire CD to score one of her new films, so do yourself a favor and get it quick, cuz it’s good to support legends that know how to truly survive.
CD Review:
Michael Monroe- Sensory Overdrive (Spinefarm Records)
This release is highly anticipated here in the States and should be out in the next couple of months, so I wanted to get everyone primed that has not yet heard it. The same line up from the live shows and live release are in full effect on this studio effort that was produced by the legendary rock and roll producer Jack Douglas. Sammy Yaffa and Steve Conte jumped ship from the New York Dolls (money was a major issue, I’ve been told) and what the Dolls gave up in balls on their latest release, Michael Monroe gained in spades! This release features a couple of guest appearances in the form of Lucinda Williams and Lemmy from MotorHead and this is the best record that Jack Douglas has produced in quite awhile, so sit back and read the track by track, blow by blow!
The record kicks off with the band doing their best Stooges take, Raw Power era, with “Trick Of The Wrist” which rolls into the first “single”, “78”, which is an arena anthem with a big sing a long chorus and is a battle cry for the cool shit that went on in the seventies, with the spirit and attitude of the Punk movement, and it has a cool Pistols vibe throughout. “Got Blood” is up next with its “Shakedown” type Conte riff and it’s “Stream Of Consciousness” lyrics and vocal melody, which is about giving it your all when you hit the stage, which this band knows a lot about. “Super Power, Super Fly” is a direct ode to Cheap trick style Pop Rock, written by Ginger and vocal styling in the vein of Nazareth’s Dan MaCafferty, which leads into the tune written by the full band, “Modern Day Miracle”, with it’s The Zeros (purple haired version) type opening riff and gang vocals. “Bombs Away” features great “blues Punk” harmonica playing by Monroe and an arrangement by Douglas and “All You Need” is a straight up “Not Faking It” era rocker, with “Later Won’t Wait” being another rocker with a cool Monroe Sax breakdown. “Gone Baby Gone” features a duet with Lucinda Williams and is a nice roots rock song, and a good break from the high energy rock through the release. “Center of Your Heart” is a Ginger/Conte penned tune that bares the most resemblance to “Old” Hanoi Rocks, especially with the guitars playing against each other, “Underwater World” style. The record ends up with a Lemmy written song that was originally titled “MotorHeaded For A Fall” but is now “Debauchery Is A Fine Art” and as expected is another rocker that ends everything with a bang.
Overall, this record will end up being on a lot of people’s top 10 for the year, and it is the type of Rock and Roll record that you can expect from a band that’s really hitting it from the heart! So go out and support a Glam Punk legend and see the band live and buy the CD’s and other merchandise, so that they can keep this powerhouse rolling and firing on all cylinders.
Live Review:
Club Empire @ On The Rox with Semi Precious WeaponsIt was billed as the best Glam Rock/Rock Star club to hit Hollywood since the Scream, and Pretty Ugly Club! The theory behind it was perfect, an image conscious rock and roll band that’s on the biggest world tour in the last 10 years and a famous club right on the world famous Sunset Strip, the setting was perfect. Empire, with SPW playing live, Djing and picking the bands that play in this intimate setting above the Roxy.
I started the evening with dinner at the Rainbow next door and got good and primed for the Rock and Roll elite that I was promised (via the local press) would be making the scene at Empire. Tom Morollo and Jerry Cantrell and Lemmy were all chilling near by and all was looking well. Being a hugh fan of SPW, I was really looking forward to seeing them again in an intimate setting, seeing has they have been playing the biggest venues in the world on Lady Ga Ga’s Monster Ball tour. People often wonder how SPW got that gig opening for Ga Ga. Years ago, SPW let Ga Ga open their shows in NYC, which were Ga Ga’s first live shows ever and this is their repayment for giving her that first break! Not a bad payback, and kudos to Ga Ga for hooking up the homies!!!
After a great dinner at the Rock and Roll spot in Hollywood, I walked across the “last chance Rainbow parking lot” and lined up to enter the glam rock party of the year and prepared to give my name for the approved VIP guest list. I was handed a button with Justin’s face and waved in, which should have been a big clue on how this night was going to go. There was no line and an RSVP was not required, which meant the place was 1/3rd full, and capacity is small. SPW’s bass player was Djing some weird jazz/dance music and the Hollywood Glitter rock elite was now where to be seen. There were Andy Warhol type posters up all around the club along with SPW buttons and party favors scattered about, and I guess that was the rock and Roll decadence I was waiting to view. The opening band was a whack ass dance type “band” miming to a backing tape with a living singer for a total of 4 songs, before they were cut off. The SPW drummer and guitar player (minus wig) were all chilling with the crowd and were cool, but I was there to witness the Rock and Roll majesty and spectacle. I ran into the drummer in the men’s room and asked him when SPW were going on and he informed that they were not playing that night! They had not announced on Twitter (and the announce every move on Twitter) that they were not playing, so I took it that people just stayed home tonight and it looks like it was all hype, and considering that SPW are on the Ga Ga tour, I figured Empire should have been packed and off the chain.
One thing I know, nobody waltzes into los Angeles and takes over the club scene, overnight. If you can survive in this city, you have true grit. Unfortunately SPW are experiencing the “American Idol Syndrome”, which is a lot of high profile fun, but it’s not turning into huge record sales and crowds, without the high profile tenny bopper headliner. I love SPW and their music, and have lived through the Scream, Cathouse, Korova Milk Bar and the Pretty Ugly Club here in the L.A area over the last 25 years, and Empire was a big let down, but I understand that the last night of the club, a couple weeks later, was a packed out hit (according to posts on Twitter from Justin), so hopefully, when the Ga Ga tour ends, SPW will resurrect Empire and give me another chance to Rock (not dance).
Book signing review:
Cheetah Chrome Book signing @ Vacation Records, Silverlake, Cali.
Legendary Dead Boys and current Batusis guitarist recently wrote a book chronicling his life (and almost death) with the Dead Boys in the 1970’s and 1980’s and in NYC, when punk was going full tilt. He recently did a book signing tour with a couple of other Cleveland writers and they made a stop at Vacation Records (a very cool record and cassette store) in trendy Silverlake on a cool weekday night. Being an autograph hound (when it comes to my 70’s TV and music heroes) I made the trek to get my book and promo copy of the Batusis CD signed and see who else showed up from the local Glam and Punk scene. Cheetah read from the book for a couple of minutes and afterwards I ran into Texas Teri, as she was in town for some shows, direct from Berlin Germany, and she informed me that she was there to invite Cheetah to come play Sonic Reducer at her show that week, at The RedWood Bar (the new place for trashy punk bands to play in Downtown L.A.). I didn’t make the shows as that week a Tsunami hit L.A. and it rained like the world was ending, so not sure if Cheetah ever made it, and I didn’t see any reviews of the shows. It must have went well for Texas T., as they added another show the following weekend, or it may have been a make up for the rained out one, not sure.
Anyway, there were about 30-40 die hard Cheetah and Cleveland rock fans there getting their Dead Boys records and the book signed, and it was good to see Cheetah had not mellowed out with age, as I witnessed some guy questioning him about his days at Max’s Kansas City and he grabbed my book and showed the douche bag pictures of him playing there. They were then verbally debating as well whether Cheetah was the writer of Sonic Reducer and Cheetah finally walked away and kept his anger in check. Punkers should have attitude in life and it looks like Cheetah still has it deep in his DNA. If you have not picked up a copy of his book “A Dead Boy’s Tale”, please do so and read about the punk scene in NYC in it’s Punk Rock hey day, from someone who lived through it. The book looks great, comes in a hard cover that is full color and it is well written with killer stories about how the Dead Boys came to be, survived in the Jungle, and his antics at CBGB’s, Max’s and other NYC historic punk spots. He’s candid about his drug and alcohol and sex additions and abuse, and ends with his recovery to a new life, new wife and new band! Another legend does well.
Bands to watch: Contrary to popular belief, the wheels have not completely come off the rock and roll scene in the Los Angeles area!!! Some bands that have been making noise and carrying the Punk/Sleaze/Glam torch in Los Angeles in recent months include:
Just Like Thieves- Four piece hailing from the grimy streets of Hollywood, Cali., This band, who site influences such as Motley Crue, Escape The Fate and My Chemical Romance, have been kicking up dust in tinsel town and first came up on my radar when Nikki Sixx was asking about them on Twitter due to their fans tweeting about them. They have a cool contemporary look with their tight black jeans and leather jackets and trendy haircuts and the music is nice and tight, especially for a young band. Check em out for yourself at :
http://www.artistecard.com/justlikethieves
Black Veil Brides- Not quite a new band and not quite Glam Punk on the music side, but they have a cool old Murder Dolls/Motley Crue look, so the Hollywood kiddies are eating them up, as well as the rest of the world, according to the amount of touring they are doing. They are considered hardcore Glam Emo, or whatever, but I like them cuz they have the best look going right now! I still remember doing some shows in Hollywood where Rebel Rebel played with a Motley Crue tribute band (stop laughing, I know, but you gotta play when and where you can) and BVB’s Ashley Purdy was playing the Nikki role to a T, so it is appropriate that he would continue that with BVB. Definitely the biggest thing outta Hollywood right now, by way of Cincinnati!!! Get the scoop at:
http://www.bvbarmy.com/
OFF!-Best punk band to come out of Los Angeles in a Looong time! Featuring Keith Morris from Black Flag and Circle Jerks and Steve McDonald from Redd Kross and tearing up Los Angeles and the USA as we speak. With songs ranging from 45 seconds to 1 minute and 15 seconds, these guys pack a punch into each song, much like the Ramones, but on warp speed! They put out 4 records before putting them together on one CD available now from their web site. Not a glam punk band but the best punk band out there now, hopefully they will stay away from the WARP tour and keep it real. Get the 411 at:
www.offofficial.com
If you want me to review your music or write about your event, send it all to:
Teddy Heavens
27750 Firebrand Dr.
Castaic, Ca. 91384
Ftwrecords@aol.com
My name is Teddy Heavens and I’m bringing you the latest Sleaze/Glam/Punk and Trash rock and roll news from the Golden State and the streets (and gutters) of Hollywood, California! From the Valleys to the alleys, I’ll find the coolest bands to report on and let you know what’s up from the Rock and Roll capital of the world!
CD REVIEW:
NEW YORK DOLLS-Dancing Backwards In High Heels (429 Records)
The New York Dolls go dancing back to the future with their latest release. The Dolls comeback has been well documented, so let’s get moving into the future with this new offering and not expect Personality Crisis II. The obvious news is that they have lost their guitar player and bass player to Michael Monroe’s band, which is significant in the musical direction that David Jo and Sly went with this release. I personally wanted a release that would rock my socks off, and instead was slapped in the face and received a deeper education on a real emotional level, on what really makes David Jo and Syl tick musically. I would support the Dolls and the individual members on any of their endeavors, because I am a true fan. With that being said, this release is truly for the tired and true die hard NY Dolls and rock and roll fan, not the Nikki Sixx and Hot Topic nation!
David and Sly really wear their influences on their sleeve with this set of songs. So much so that Sylvain Sylvain mainly plays organ and acoustic guitar and leaves the electric guitar duties to Blondie guitarist Frank Infante. Infante is replaced for live gigs with David Bowie guitarist Earl Slick, who will be featured on the Dolls upcoming tour opening for, (gulp) Poison and Motley Crue!!! This record is for the rock and roll fan that wants to go way beyond the Doll’s Rolling Stones and Stooges influences, which have obviously died with Thunders, Kane and Nolan (RIP LAMF).
Dancing is comprised of 12 tracks, starting with “Fool For You Baby”, which features vintage organ a la Suicide (NYC scene mates) and 60’s garage Pop vocals, reminiscent of Jesus and Mary Chain crossed with the organ playing from a funeral procession/viewing! Great tune, even if there is no guitar to be found on the track. Next up is the nostalgic “Street Cake’, with cool laid back jangly guitars, organ and 60’s style dreamy vocal harmonies and bass lines, keeping in line with the direction that “Fool” has set, and then David’s fab NYCite rant, street hustler style, to introduce “I’m So Fabulous”, with David Jo proclaiming his NYC shabby chic greatness. This song also includes a tip of the hat throwback to the Buddy Bowzer sax work of the original Dolls run! Good 60’s Garage Pop is how you can describe the next tune, “Talk To Me Baby” which is in the vein of “Rehab” by Amy Whinehouse and the organ driven “Kids Like Me” with sultry crooning by David Jo and trap drumming by Brian D. Sylvain is credited with playing the Farfisa organ (think funeral house) and whistling on this tune!
The second half of Dancing kicks off with “Round and Round She Goes”, which is a Gene Vincent/Eddie Cochran style rocker which brings to mind, “Dance Like A Monkey” from a couple of releases ago. This tune reminds me of something Suicide’s Alan Vega would write for his solo rockabilly project-jungle drums, Farfisa organ, and 50’s style rip roaring vocals with brass accents. Up next is one of my favorite songs on this record, “You Don’t Have To Cry”, which is an ode to Johnny Thunders “Memory” style ballad, which will easily end up in some Indie movie soundtrack. “Sold My Heart To The Junkman” is a Pattti Labelle cover that is done in a Shangri Las style homage, with smooth girl group back up vocals, a “Please Mr. Postman“ for 2011. From Pop to Do Wop to reggae, Dancing explores many styles that influenced David Jo and Syl, like the funky bohemian calypso reggae send up track “Baby Tell Me What I’m On” and the funky Chic style “Funky But Chic“, a solo David Jo hit from ‘78 that Sylvain helped write and that has been resurrected, as it fits into the theme and feel of this new release. Finally, Dancing ends with a straight up hazy Beach Boys sounding “End Of The Summer”, complete with she bop vocals and a smooth reggae beat.
Dancing backwards In High Heels was produced by Jason Hill from the retro group Louis XIV, who was obviously listening to a lot of Jesus and Mary Chain and the Horrors, and who did a great job of capturing the true musical soul and spirit of David Johansen and Sylvain Sylvain. Jason also played all the bass on the record and the basic sound is best described as funky/reverb guitar, funeral organ, jazzy drumming and high harmony vocals, so unless your into taking a new musical journey, this release is best left for die hard Dolls fans. I personally love this release and think that it will be looked at as a great NY Dolls record, but if your looking for junkie rock and brown teeth, then it’s best if you stick to the debut record or any of Thunder’s solo stuff, as this release is all class! Sophia Coppola could use this entire CD to score one of her new films, so do yourself a favor and get it quick, cuz it’s good to support legends that know how to truly survive.
CD Review:
Michael Monroe- Sensory Overdrive (Spinefarm Records)
This release is highly anticipated here in the States and should be out in the next couple of months, so I wanted to get everyone primed that has not yet heard it. The same line up from the live shows and live release are in full effect on this studio effort that was produced by the legendary rock and roll producer Jack Douglas. Sammy Yaffa and Steve Conte jumped ship from the New York Dolls (money was a major issue, I’ve been told) and what the Dolls gave up in balls on their latest release, Michael Monroe gained in spades! This release features a couple of guest appearances in the form of Lucinda Williams and Lemmy from MotorHead and this is the best record that Jack Douglas has produced in quite awhile, so sit back and read the track by track, blow by blow!
The record kicks off with the band doing their best Stooges take, Raw Power era, with “Trick Of The Wrist” which rolls into the first “single”, “78”, which is an arena anthem with a big sing a long chorus and is a battle cry for the cool shit that went on in the seventies, with the spirit and attitude of the Punk movement, and it has a cool Pistols vibe throughout. “Got Blood” is up next with its “Shakedown” type Conte riff and it’s “Stream Of Consciousness” lyrics and vocal melody, which is about giving it your all when you hit the stage, which this band knows a lot about. “Super Power, Super Fly” is a direct ode to Cheap trick style Pop Rock, written by Ginger and vocal styling in the vein of Nazareth’s Dan MaCafferty, which leads into the tune written by the full band, “Modern Day Miracle”, with it’s The Zeros (purple haired version) type opening riff and gang vocals. “Bombs Away” features great “blues Punk” harmonica playing by Monroe and an arrangement by Douglas and “All You Need” is a straight up “Not Faking It” era rocker, with “Later Won’t Wait” being another rocker with a cool Monroe Sax breakdown. “Gone Baby Gone” features a duet with Lucinda Williams and is a nice roots rock song, and a good break from the high energy rock through the release. “Center of Your Heart” is a Ginger/Conte penned tune that bares the most resemblance to “Old” Hanoi Rocks, especially with the guitars playing against each other, “Underwater World” style. The record ends up with a Lemmy written song that was originally titled “MotorHeaded For A Fall” but is now “Debauchery Is A Fine Art” and as expected is another rocker that ends everything with a bang.
Overall, this record will end up being on a lot of people’s top 10 for the year, and it is the type of Rock and Roll record that you can expect from a band that’s really hitting it from the heart! So go out and support a Glam Punk legend and see the band live and buy the CD’s and other merchandise, so that they can keep this powerhouse rolling and firing on all cylinders.
Live Review:
Club Empire @ On The Rox with Semi Precious WeaponsIt was billed as the best Glam Rock/Rock Star club to hit Hollywood since the Scream, and Pretty Ugly Club! The theory behind it was perfect, an image conscious rock and roll band that’s on the biggest world tour in the last 10 years and a famous club right on the world famous Sunset Strip, the setting was perfect. Empire, with SPW playing live, Djing and picking the bands that play in this intimate setting above the Roxy.
I started the evening with dinner at the Rainbow next door and got good and primed for the Rock and Roll elite that I was promised (via the local press) would be making the scene at Empire. Tom Morollo and Jerry Cantrell and Lemmy were all chilling near by and all was looking well. Being a hugh fan of SPW, I was really looking forward to seeing them again in an intimate setting, seeing has they have been playing the biggest venues in the world on Lady Ga Ga’s Monster Ball tour. People often wonder how SPW got that gig opening for Ga Ga. Years ago, SPW let Ga Ga open their shows in NYC, which were Ga Ga’s first live shows ever and this is their repayment for giving her that first break! Not a bad payback, and kudos to Ga Ga for hooking up the homies!!!
After a great dinner at the Rock and Roll spot in Hollywood, I walked across the “last chance Rainbow parking lot” and lined up to enter the glam rock party of the year and prepared to give my name for the approved VIP guest list. I was handed a button with Justin’s face and waved in, which should have been a big clue on how this night was going to go. There was no line and an RSVP was not required, which meant the place was 1/3rd full, and capacity is small. SPW’s bass player was Djing some weird jazz/dance music and the Hollywood Glitter rock elite was now where to be seen. There were Andy Warhol type posters up all around the club along with SPW buttons and party favors scattered about, and I guess that was the rock and Roll decadence I was waiting to view. The opening band was a whack ass dance type “band” miming to a backing tape with a living singer for a total of 4 songs, before they were cut off. The SPW drummer and guitar player (minus wig) were all chilling with the crowd and were cool, but I was there to witness the Rock and Roll majesty and spectacle. I ran into the drummer in the men’s room and asked him when SPW were going on and he informed that they were not playing that night! They had not announced on Twitter (and the announce every move on Twitter) that they were not playing, so I took it that people just stayed home tonight and it looks like it was all hype, and considering that SPW are on the Ga Ga tour, I figured Empire should have been packed and off the chain.
One thing I know, nobody waltzes into los Angeles and takes over the club scene, overnight. If you can survive in this city, you have true grit. Unfortunately SPW are experiencing the “American Idol Syndrome”, which is a lot of high profile fun, but it’s not turning into huge record sales and crowds, without the high profile tenny bopper headliner. I love SPW and their music, and have lived through the Scream, Cathouse, Korova Milk Bar and the Pretty Ugly Club here in the L.A area over the last 25 years, and Empire was a big let down, but I understand that the last night of the club, a couple weeks later, was a packed out hit (according to posts on Twitter from Justin), so hopefully, when the Ga Ga tour ends, SPW will resurrect Empire and give me another chance to Rock (not dance).
Book signing review:
Cheetah Chrome Book signing @ Vacation Records, Silverlake, Cali.
Legendary Dead Boys and current Batusis guitarist recently wrote a book chronicling his life (and almost death) with the Dead Boys in the 1970’s and 1980’s and in NYC, when punk was going full tilt. He recently did a book signing tour with a couple of other Cleveland writers and they made a stop at Vacation Records (a very cool record and cassette store) in trendy Silverlake on a cool weekday night. Being an autograph hound (when it comes to my 70’s TV and music heroes) I made the trek to get my book and promo copy of the Batusis CD signed and see who else showed up from the local Glam and Punk scene. Cheetah read from the book for a couple of minutes and afterwards I ran into Texas Teri, as she was in town for some shows, direct from Berlin Germany, and she informed me that she was there to invite Cheetah to come play Sonic Reducer at her show that week, at The RedWood Bar (the new place for trashy punk bands to play in Downtown L.A.). I didn’t make the shows as that week a Tsunami hit L.A. and it rained like the world was ending, so not sure if Cheetah ever made it, and I didn’t see any reviews of the shows. It must have went well for Texas T., as they added another show the following weekend, or it may have been a make up for the rained out one, not sure.
Anyway, there were about 30-40 die hard Cheetah and Cleveland rock fans there getting their Dead Boys records and the book signed, and it was good to see Cheetah had not mellowed out with age, as I witnessed some guy questioning him about his days at Max’s Kansas City and he grabbed my book and showed the douche bag pictures of him playing there. They were then verbally debating as well whether Cheetah was the writer of Sonic Reducer and Cheetah finally walked away and kept his anger in check. Punkers should have attitude in life and it looks like Cheetah still has it deep in his DNA. If you have not picked up a copy of his book “A Dead Boy’s Tale”, please do so and read about the punk scene in NYC in it’s Punk Rock hey day, from someone who lived through it. The book looks great, comes in a hard cover that is full color and it is well written with killer stories about how the Dead Boys came to be, survived in the Jungle, and his antics at CBGB’s, Max’s and other NYC historic punk spots. He’s candid about his drug and alcohol and sex additions and abuse, and ends with his recovery to a new life, new wife and new band! Another legend does well.
Bands to watch: Contrary to popular belief, the wheels have not completely come off the rock and roll scene in the Los Angeles area!!! Some bands that have been making noise and carrying the Punk/Sleaze/Glam torch in Los Angeles in recent months include:
Just Like Thieves- Four piece hailing from the grimy streets of Hollywood, Cali., This band, who site influences such as Motley Crue, Escape The Fate and My Chemical Romance, have been kicking up dust in tinsel town and first came up on my radar when Nikki Sixx was asking about them on Twitter due to their fans tweeting about them. They have a cool contemporary look with their tight black jeans and leather jackets and trendy haircuts and the music is nice and tight, especially for a young band. Check em out for yourself at :
http://www.artistecard.com/justlikethieves
Black Veil Brides- Not quite a new band and not quite Glam Punk on the music side, but they have a cool old Murder Dolls/Motley Crue look, so the Hollywood kiddies are eating them up, as well as the rest of the world, according to the amount of touring they are doing. They are considered hardcore Glam Emo, or whatever, but I like them cuz they have the best look going right now! I still remember doing some shows in Hollywood where Rebel Rebel played with a Motley Crue tribute band (stop laughing, I know, but you gotta play when and where you can) and BVB’s Ashley Purdy was playing the Nikki role to a T, so it is appropriate that he would continue that with BVB. Definitely the biggest thing outta Hollywood right now, by way of Cincinnati!!! Get the scoop at:
http://www.bvbarmy.com/
OFF!-Best punk band to come out of Los Angeles in a Looong time! Featuring Keith Morris from Black Flag and Circle Jerks and Steve McDonald from Redd Kross and tearing up Los Angeles and the USA as we speak. With songs ranging from 45 seconds to 1 minute and 15 seconds, these guys pack a punch into each song, much like the Ramones, but on warp speed! They put out 4 records before putting them together on one CD available now from their web site. Not a glam punk band but the best punk band out there now, hopefully they will stay away from the WARP tour and keep it real. Get the 411 at:
www.offofficial.com
If you want me to review your music or write about your event, send it all to:
Teddy Heavens
27750 Firebrand Dr.
Castaic, Ca. 91384
Ftwrecords@aol.com
Down To Rock March 2011
D.T.R.-(DOWN TO ROCK) with Teddy Heavens
My name is Teddy Heavens and I’ll be bringing you the latest Sleaze/Glam/Punk and Trash rock and roll news from the Golden State and the streets (and gutters) of Hollywood, California! From the Valleys to the alleys, I’ll find the coolest bands to report on and let you know what’s up from the Rock and Roll capital of the world!Contrary to popular belief, the wheels have not completely come off the rock and roll scene in the Los Angeles area!!! Some bands that have been making noise and carrying the Punk/Sleaze/Glam torch in Los Angeles in recent months include:
PRIMA DONNA-Glam/Pop/Punk rockers from Hollywood and fresh from a support slot for Green Day in huge arenas in Europe and Asia. What’s crazy about this band is that they don’t have a label or any big companies to support them, yet they are constantly touring!!! I knew something was up when I was Djing a show with Prima Donna and the Billy Bones at the Relax Bar in Hollywood, and the bass player from Green day was there slumming it. He must of liked Prima Donna cuz next thing I knew, I see on MySpace (when bands were still using Myspace to promote (fuck Facebook, by the way!) that they are opening for a tour with Green Day! That’s a great story of being in the right place at the right time! Check em out at: www.primadonnarocks.com
The ROYAL HIGHNESS- This band features ex. Chelsea Smiles and Bullets and Octane members, and I recently witnessed this Todd Youth (ex Degeneration, Ace Frehely, Glen Campbell and Michael Monroe band) led group opening up for Batusis at the Viper Room. They played some of the better known Chelsea Smiles tunes, but the highlight of the set was a cover of “Dead, Jail, or Rock and Roll” by Michael Monroe, which the crown really dug. They had the place packed out for their set, and the original tunes were reminiscent of Degeneration and Bullets and Octane ,which the singer was a member of, so it makes sense. Follow them at: www.myspace.com/theroyalhighnessband
A PRETTY MESS- A Girl Glam Punk band kicking around Los Angeles for a few years, playing shows in the gutters of Hollywood with punk bands, glam bands, garage bands, Horror Billy bands, any bands they can hook up with!!! More punk than sleaze but give em a listen at: www.aprettymess.com
LOS ANGELES DEATH DOLLS- New Garage Glam Punk band featuring yours truly and Erik and Tim, also from Rebel Rebel!!! We are doing music similar to The Stooges, GG Allin, Sigue Sigue Sputnik and Dgeneration!!! The band likes everything from Punk to Glam and everything in between. We have a single out on Itunes called “Wake Up” (recorded in the heart of Los Angeles) and other songs from our set are on the MySpace page! For fans of Glam Punk at: www.myspace.com/losangelesdeathdolls
and get the single at:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/los-angeles-death-dolls/id410401956
Live Reviews:
Batusis-featuring Sylvain Sylvain and Cheetah Chrome @ The Viper Room
Glam Punk legends hit the rock and roll capital of the world in one streamlined unit!!! Cheetah Chrome of Dead Boys fame and Sylvain from the NY Dolls, backed by Lez Warner on drums (the Cult) and Joan Jett’s longtime bass player, blew into town on a cold rainy night to blow the doors off Johnny Depp’s old haunt!!! They were promoting a new EP that’s out on record and Download (got my record signed!!!along with my Dolls records) and played some NY Dolls gems along with Sonic Reducer by the Dead Boys and some old classic rock and roll standards. The Viper Room was jammed, but not packed, which was a shame, cuz seeing two legends up close of this stature is rare (you gotta love living in Los Angeles!!!) and I got a really good hour long guitar lesson, up close and personal. The crowd was a mixture of old rockers, young punks and glam kids and cool mother fuckers like myself!!! It was a real treat to see two guys from two of my favorite bands of all time, playing some of my favorite songs. For those of you who don’t know the meaning of Batusis, it is a dance that originated on the old Batman show from here in the States from the 1960’s, the era that Sylvain and Cheetah grew up in!!! Also of note, Cheetah Chrome was also promoting his new book “A Dead Boy’s Tale“, which is a great read, with cool stories of his time with the Dead Boys and the filth and aftermath in NYC that he endured. The book can be found on Amazon.com and is highly recommended!!! Sylvain”s NY Dolls will also be releasing a new record Called “Dancing Backwards in High Heels” in March 2011 with new guitar player Frank Infante of Blondie.
Michael Monroe @ The Viper Room
Hollywood has been looking forward to this show for over 20 years!!! The last time Monroe had performed live in the area was during the Not Fakin It Tour. The incredible thing is, he had just as much energy as he did on that tour!! Mike has some new releases to promote, the live record “Another Night In The Sun” and the new CD coming out in March 2011, “Sensory Overload”, and the single, ‘78 (a Big Chorus modern day anthem), can be heard on his Facebook page currently. The Viper Room was packed to the rafters with crusty old punk rockers and young glam hipsters looking to witness history in action! His band consisted of Steve Conte (ex. NY Dolls), Ginger (the Wildhearts), Sam Yaffa (Hanoi Rocks, Jetboy and NY Dolls) and the ex. Drummer of Chelsea Smiles, with both guitar players blasting through full Marshall stacks. The drummer and Conte had just joined the band a few days before, but ended up doing a killer job. Mike remains fit and trim (and is still able to do the splits) and was bouncing around the stage and gave the gig his all like he was playing the L.A. Forum, and he was glammed out in tight leather pants, vest and full make-up. They played all the Hanoi Rocks and Michael Monroe favorite tunes like Taxi Driver, Dead, Jail or Rock and Roll, Underwater World, etc., but my favorite, and the one that had the crowd really bopping, was Blvd. Of Broken Dreams (the gig was so loud it blew out the sound on my Iphone!)!!! Mike is an energetic front man and his voice remains strong and the music was focused, and I would rate this gig the live show of the year as I left this show a sweaty, but satisfied mess. Whoever says Rock and Roll is dead has not witnessed this rock and roll glam machine in action!! No wonder Conte and Yaffa left the NY Dolls, this band is on fire. People will get the chance later this year when the band does a headline tour in Europe in April 2011.
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