1980's New Mexico Glam Rockers Girlfriend

GIRLFRIEND BIO

Girlfriend was active in Albuquerque from 1984 to 1988. The band included Jet Jupiter-lead vocals and guitar, Teddy Heavens-guitar, Art Romeo-bass and Roni Michaels-drums. The band can best be remembered for having 2 top requested videos on the local music video program Teletrax. The videos, “You turn Me On Like A Radio” and “Don’t Cry” were highly requested, beating out the likes of Poison, Stryper, Sigue Sigue Sputnik and all the mainstream pop stuff of the time. Teletrax was an innovative call in request video program that was founded by Bob Bottomly on the local public access channel. Girlfriend made numerous appearances on the program live for interviews and specials, and also played a live show on the 25 Live music program on the same channel.

The band was best known for ushering in an over the top glam punk image and sound that was adjacent to Hanoi Rocks, Motley Crue, Angel, Kiss and Sigue Sigue Sputnik and unique for Albuquerque. The band garnered the attention of Producer Jonathan Daniels in Los Angeles, best known for his work with Mercury records band Candy and current big wig manager in NYC, who invited the band to Hollywood to record a series of demos and thus sealing the destiny of the band’s eventual move to the City of Angeles!! The band booked a series of self produced and self promoted shows with a mixture of local bands that were around at the time, such as Lightning Strikes, Rapture, Blonde Voyage and Tarkus, before finally making the move to Los Angeles in the summer of 1988.

The band changed their name and approach and morphed into Los Angeles shock rock legends Rebel Rebel, featuring Jet and Teddy, who still perform in Southern California today!! See them at www.rebelrebel.org Teddy Heavens also leads the GG Allin/Iggy Stooge influenced Los Angeles Death Dolls www.myspace.com/losangelesdeathdolls

Teddy Heavens 2012 ftwrecords@aol.com

Down To Rock Jan. 2012

Down To Rock

Jan. 2012

Top of 2011
. It was an excellent year for rock and roll!!!

5. Cerebral Ballzy- This band is a throwback to good old fashioned punk rock bands like Black Flag. They have been tearing it up all year and their debut release is a must have!!!

4. Nazareth-The veteran band’s latest release, Big Dogz, is a throwback to their classic sound and lead singer Dan MaCcafferty is in fine form with the vocals, amazingly good record.

3. New York Dolls- Dancing Backwards in High Heels, was the release that David Jo and Sylvain wanted to make in the early 70’s. They wear their influences on their sleeves for this release and it is a welcome declaration by the Dolls of who they really are!!! See my full review at this site!!!!

2. Alice Cooper-Welcome 2 My Nightmare marked Alice reuniting with his original band both on this record and on a few live shows. Great production by Bob Ezrin and some good songs, including my favorite, I Am Made Of You!!! Get it now!

1. Michael Monroe-Sensory Overdrive CD and live gig at the Whiskey in Los Angeles. The record is brilliant rock and roll produced by Jack Douglas, so not much more needs to be said and their live show was the best of the year in my book for a club level band (Guns and Roses leads in the Arena size domain). Raw, bloody and brutal!

Live reviews:

Cheap Trick-Mandalay Bay-Las Vegas Nevada
It turned out to be my lucky day in Vegas, I had already missed the Iggy and the Stooges show in Los Angeles due to this trip, but then I read that Cheap Trick were playing a free show down the street from the Aria Resort where I was staying, in support of the Las Vegas Rock and Roll marathon. So I missed one of my favorite groups of all time, only to catch another favorite! 20 to 30 thousand people were out front of the Mandalay Bay casino to participate in the race and for Cheap Trick to get the motors running. I was front and center with a lot of arm room, very comfortable in fact, and with a good sight line and to say that the band played all the “hits” would be an under statement! The guitar player from Pearl Jam even came out to play on Dream Police (he was running in the marathon) even though it looked like he didn’t know the song. Heaven Tonight and California Man were the highlight for me during the 2 hour set. The band looked, played and sounded great and I ended up with a handful of guitar picks to put up on Ebay. I’ve seen this band over the years in stadiums, Clubs, State Fairs, etc. and they never fail to put on a good show. Only bummer is Daxx Nielson (Rick’s son) is still “filling in” for Bun E. Carlos, but he does a great job and this is a must see band before you kick the bucket.

Guns N Roses- Los Angeles Forum- Los Angeles, Ca.
The return of the Mack!!! Axl blew into his hometown like the king of rock and roll that he is!!!! There is a reason why GNR are playing arenas and Slash and the rest are playing small clubs, and Axl and the rest of his band showed everyone why! The place was sold out from the time GNR hit the stage until I left the venue at 2am. But first, everywhere else on the tour is getting Dgeneration, Buckcherry, Sebastian Bach, etc. and L.A. gets Steel Panther, which the crowd showed total apathy towards and I actually saw some people had fallen asleep during their long ass set. I’m still trying to figure out how a “joke” band is signed to a major label and opening for Motley, Def Lep and GNR in arenas. Go figure, but the joke definitely did not go over well in a big arena as L.A. is a rock and roll town and this Guns crowd was all real rock and rollers, so Steel Panther failed to get ‘real” Rock and rollers to laugh at themselves. These guys need to stick to rocking hipsters at the House Of Blues (oh yeah, that’s how they get the major breaks, those same hipsters are now running the labels and booking agencies!)

The intermission music was provided by DJ’s the Crystal Method, who again failed to “rock” the crowd. Play rock and roll at a metal concert, not some thumping noise, please. GNR finally came out At 11pm and played all the hits, well over 3 hours of solid radio hits rock and roll! Axl looked and sounded great and the crowd was on their feet from start to finish and highlights for me included keyboard player Dizzy Reed playing Won’t Get Fooled Again for his solo with the full band kicking in towards the end, and guitarist Bumblefoot doing Another Brick In The Wall, ending with the full band and Axl at the Grand piano and the entire arena singing the chorus. Everyone I talked to that went to the show was amazed at how good it was and that Axl was still the King! A must see show when it comes to your town.

Spiders and Snakes-Key Club- Hollywood, Ca.
The return of the Glitter and Glam to the Sunset Strip! The new and improved SNS hit the Key Club in support of the original Bullet Boys, and the new lineup features Chris Sheridan from Sweet Savage on guitar and a keyboard player along with veterans Timmy Yasui and Lizzy Grey and bassist Phil. These guys are continuing the tradition of Slade and Mott The Hoople with their catchy sin-a-long tunes: Glamour Girls, LA Jets and Party In Hollywood, as well as an excellent cover choice of the Bay City Rollers “Yesterdays Hero”. They closed the set with the Lizzy Grey/Nikki Sixx penned Public Enemy #1, and having seen these guys play numerous times over the years, I was glad to see that they are still rocking at full force and the club was packed to see them. Maybe Timmy will bring back the Glitter and Glam fest nights he promoted back in the day at the Coconut Teazer, god knows this town needs it!

Hollywood 77-On The Rox-Hollywood, Ca.
This band is the Glam Punk answer to Steel Panther, they play covers of the Stooges, Lords of The New Church, Dead Boys, Johnny Thunders, etc., all the cool punk and glam stuff. Featuring vocalist Freekshow and backing vocalist Lenka, these guys had the crowd at this Club Plastic show (put on by famous groupie Lexxa Von of the Plastics) pogoing and singing along, and they brought up Brides of Destruction vocalist London Le Grande for Sonic Reducer by the Dead Boys, which the crowd really dug. Always a good time in Los Angeles with Hollywood 77.

New bands to look out for:

Wildside Riot- Great new trash sleaze band featuring vocalist Rocky Shades from English Glam Rock legends Wrathchild!! Currently independent but whoring on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/Wildsideriot

Dagger Dates- Straight out of France and sounding like the Lords of the New Church meets Bauhaus! Good Trash N Roll band at: http://www.reverbnation.com/thedaggerdates

Marvel-A cross of Kiss and Turbonegro with a new record out now Warhawks of War, get to them at: http://www.marveltheband.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

DGeneration Live Review from Hollywood, Ca.

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!!!

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. 7^th @ 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. 18^th 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 25^th 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. 10^th @ 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

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