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.
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