Art for Spastics v. 165

Sorry, I missed you last week, but I had to catch up with the Terrible Twos in a musty Sacto basement. They were great as expected, and made me less bummed to be born too late to see Dow Jones & the Industrials play live. We'll get to their new record next week finally, but until then, I gotta unleash a lotta stuff on you that I've collected in the last coupla weeks, including a big grip on the latest from the ever-expanding A Frames family tree of bands (see *).

But the real gem of the night might just be courtesy of our friend Doug in San Diego (from Pant Hoots and Anxious Poop). He sent me a copy of surely one of the most obscure proto-weirdpunk 7"es from the mid-90s, the only vinyl document of Trail of Tears Malt Liquor Ice. Google that name any way you want. I can only find it on one nondescript list. But for fans of twisted Tussin-drunk introspective neg-vibe weirdpunk, this is a must-hear!

You can download this week's show AT THIS LINK HERE!
(archived for 10 weeks)

ERKIN KORAY // Hor Gorme Garibi // v/a: Obsession // Bully *new (orig 1972)
DANAVA // One Mind Gone Separate Ways // UnonoU // Kemado *new
HEXLOVE // Smack of Dawn (Mourning Slaps Son Silly) // Knew Abloom (Life's Hood) // Holy Mountain *new
AFCGT * // Old Spy // Bootleg CDR // self-released *new
RODENT PLAGUE * // Autopsy Table // Evacuations // Kill Shaman *forthcoming
EVENING MEETINGS * // Burial // self-titled CDR // no label *new
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL * // If You Find Me I'm Here // forthcoming LP // Sacred Bones *summer 08
DEAD LUKE // Solitary Confines // MySpace mp3 // no label *new
MAC BLACKOUT // Baby Face Killer // self-titled // Dead Beat 2007
TV GHOST // Long Talk (King Matt's Badness Dub) // self-titled // Die Stasi *new
MUTATORS // Forever // split LP w/ Shearing Pinx // Ugly Pop *new
BILLY BAO // untitled/Factory of Repression // Dialectics of Shit // Parts Unknown *new
OVO // Anime Morte // Miastenia // Load 2006
OVO // Mare Nere // Vae Victis // Bar la Muerte 2002
GOSLINGS // Motorcade // Occasion // Not Not Fun *new
BLUES CONTROL // Always on Time // Puff // Woodsist 2007
POCAHAUNTED // Time Fist // split 7" w/ Charalambides // Not Not Fun *new
SLITHER // untitled // split 7" w/ Thurston + Flaherty // Not Not Fun *new
CRO MAGNON // Apple Orchard // Eat Crap CDR // no label *new
THEM, THEMSELVES OR THEY // Seeing // Ribbons & Bows...Angel Dust & Magick Wands 7"+CDR // Malt Duck *new
TOMMY JAY // Fear of Shadows // Tom's Tall Tales of Trauma // Columus Discount *new (orig 1986)
CIRCUIT RIDER // Chinese // self-titled // CR 666 1980
TRAIL OF TEARS MALT LIQUOR ICE // Surfing Mural // only 7" // Enoch Organization 1996?
FNU RONNIES // Normal Citizen // 4-song 7" // Richie/Testostertunes *new
DAILY VOID // Time Stops! // Identification Code: 5271-684346864436-4519 // Dead Beat *new
NOBUNNY // Hippy Witch // v/a: The World's Lousy With Ideas vol 3 7" // Almost Ready *new

AFS v. 164 feat. the Phantom Family Halo

Phantom Family Halo played last week live in Studio A, but it went on too late and had to be recorded for this week’s broadcast. I was expecting something a little bit fancy-free and weirder…not as walloping as the beastly riffs these Louisville sluggers laid down. Hear their stunning set in its entirety just after the midway point.

You can download this week's show AT THIS LINK HERE!
(archived for 10 weeks)

HIS ELECTRO BLUE VOICE // Call // split 7" w/ Nuit Noire // Avant!/Disordered *new
METROPAK // Looking // v/a: Messthetics #105 // Hyped 2 Death *new
CZECHS // Suffocation // v/a: Messthetics #104 *new
DECADENT FEW // Burning Caroline
DIE! DIE! DIE! // Blue Skies // Promises, Promises // S.A.F. *new
DIET COLA // Sick Modern // 1st 7" // Army of Bad Luck *new
SNACKS // B3 // Natural picdisc 10" // Ehse *new
BLACK BUG // I Don't Like You // new 7" // Avant!/Disordered *forthcoming
FNU RONNIES // Meat // demo CDR // no label *new
GOLDEN ERROR // Sad Sad Zelda // unmastered EP // Mind/No Mind *forthcoming
MISS CHAIN & THE HIGH HEELS // Up All Night // 4-song 7" // Sonic Jett/Rijapov *new
THE PIZZAS // Too Popular // Bad Ass Youth 7" // Daggerman *new
PIERCED ARROWS // In My Brain // In My Brain 7" // Tombstone *new
DEAD MOON // Down the Road // Stranded in the Mystery Zone // Tombstone 1991
THE RATS // Defiance // Intermittent Signals // Whizeagle 1981
GUINEA WORMS // I'm a Cobweb // Box of Records 7" // Columbus Discount *new
SAPAT // Krackhouseblooze // Tongue-Tied & Staid 7" // Black Velvet Fuckere 2006
PHANTOM FAMILY HALO // live @ KDVS in Studio A // recorded 01/28/2008
TWINKEYZ // Alpha Jerk // Aliens In Our Midst // Anopheles 1998 (orig 1979) *request
THE DRILLS // I'm Normal // Skull Death 2 7" // Dirty Knobby *new (orig 1981)
LANDED // Osama Oxycontin // split 7" w/ Megafuckers // Kill Shaman *new
TRUTHDEALER // Half-Done // Attack Dog $aving$ 7" // F&S *new
BLUE SABBATH BLACK FIJI // Lazer Saber // Lazer Saber CDR // JK Tapes *new
SLICING PLACENTA // untitled // collaboration // Scatalogical Liberation Front *new

Los Llamarada land in Europe!

One of most fantastic bands on the planet is going intercontinental. The Monterrey, Mexico outer-zoning psych-punk savants, Los Llamarada, begin a short European tour this weekend in Belgium.

On the strength of their incredible debut LP, The Exploding Now on S-S Records (one of my tip-top picks of 2007), Los Llamarada have played just a handful of shows in Austin, Texas, and Northern California. If you follow AFS, you probably already know that this band is very special. I was very fortunate to catch the band twice here in Davis where they riveted nearly everyone in attendance with their deceptively simple mix of skeletal rhythm, vocal anguish, icy keys, and swervin'/snarlin' surfadelic guitar.

In 2007, S-S also released their first 7", The Very Next Moment, and S-S has scheduled their second album, Take the Sky, for an April release.

Here's their Europe tour schedule:

Sat, 2 Feb in Hasselt, Belgium
@ K-RAA-K³ Festival, KC Belgie

Sun, 3 Feb in Den Haag, Netherlands
@ Helbaard @ Den Haag, Netherlands

Mon, 4 Feb in Paris, France
@ La Miroiterie, 88 rue de Menilmontant, Metro Menilmontant w/ Pumice & Minitel

Wed, 6 Feb in Cologne, Germany
@ Kulturbunker

Thu, 7 Feb in Diksmuide, Belgium
@ 4AD

Fri, 8 Feb in Antwerp, Belgium
@ La Campine Bar

Dusted did an excellent feature about Los Llamarada here:
http://www.dustedmagazine.com/features/704

More info at http://www.myspace.com/losllamarada

Art for Spastics v. 163 w/ La Otracina live in Studio A

This week's AFS includes a special live performance of Holy Mountain recording artists La Otracina, on tour now with the Phantom Family Halo. This was some rather rippin' hardpsych spiked with strident moments of metal heaviness, and awesome power. This, I believe is better than their recent album. All-new songs written for this tour.

We caught a set of Phantom Family Halo, too, but it was recorded after airtime and will be unleashed next week on AFS v. 164. Should be pretty tremendous.

You can download this week's show AT THIS LINK HERE!
(archived for 10 weeks)

La Otracina begins a little after the midway point after a few odd moments of silence (sorry!).

SIC ALPS // Dr. Bag & the Pomade Nature Giants // Description of the Harbor // Awesome Vistas *new
LITTLE CLAW // Deer Eye // Moss Has Fangs // Ypsilanti 2006
LITTLE CLAW // Dirt Forest
GLANDS OF EXTERNAL SECRETION // Something Bad in Front of Me // Northern Exposure Will Be Right Back // Starlight Furniture Co. 1995
TURKISH QUEEN // Blood and Gold Dust // Cusp // self-released 2003
ROBERT WYATT // Out of the Blue // Comicopera // Domino 2007
WHITE RAINBOW // Guitars // Prism of Eternal Now // Kranky 2007
HEAVY WINGED // The Wave Crest // Feel Inside // Archive 2007
ALASEHIR // Circius (excerpt) // The Philosophy of Living Fire // Siltbreeze 2007
CRESCENT // Light Will Pour Out From Our Eyes // Now // Planet 1996
LES BEYOND // trk 1 // In a Gemstone // Isolated Now Waves *new
*** LA OTRACINA // live in Studio A (all new songs; all titles pending) ***
FACTUMS // Organ of Self-Esteem // Spells & Charms // Kill Shaman *new
THE PHANTOM FAMILY HALO // Rainbow Can't Grow Where Rainbow Can't Breathe // The Pain of the Honey // First Flower *new

Art for Spastics v. 162: Re-Introducing the Damaged Pop Wave

You could say that for the last couple of years, a new era of "damaged pop" has begun to come back in the underground. With interest in the British DIY "Messthetic," kiwi pop of Flying Nun, and the history of rural American protopunk and weirdpunk through the ages, it's no wonder more people are finding their way to new bands like Times New Viking and Psychedelic Horseshit. Much of what's played on this AFS is what you might call "damaged pop."

You can download this week's show AT THIS LINK HERE!
(archived for 10 weeks)

I REFUSE IT! // Choch Numret // v/a: We Can Do Whatever We Want // BCT Tapes 1986
GRABBA GRABBA TAPE // Domo Arigato, Margarita! // split 12" w/ Margarita // Holy Cobra Society *new
CHILD PORNOGRAPHY // New Neighborhood // She's Got Legs // Deathbomb Arc *new
MODERN CREATURES // Divorce Yrself // Divorce Yrself CDR // self-released 2007
DOXA SINISTRA // Kuomintang's Space Ballad // v/a: Trumpett Days // Enfant Terrible *new (orig 1981-1983)
CHEVEU // Truck // v/a: Hoera! Een Hex Voor Thuis // Hex Grammofoonplaten 2007
NECROPOLIS // Song for a Working Man // Working Man 7" // Columbus Discount *new
GUINEA WORMS // Box of Records // Box of Records 7" // Columbus Discount *new
MANTLES // Trouble in the Streets // Burden // Dulc-I-Tone *new
SIC ALPS // Message from the Law // Description of the Harbor // Awesome Vistas *new
EAT SKULL // Dead Families // 2nd 7" // Skulltones *forthcoming
PSYCHEDELIC HORSESHIT // These Days // Magic Flowers Droned // Siltbreeze 2007
BEWARE OF THE KNIGHT // Space Sores // Third Canker From the Rock // self-released 2007
BEWARE OF THE KNIGHT // I Wrote on Your Crack
J.P. HERRMANN // Dead Water Dead Light // demo CDR // no label *new
J.P. HERRMANN // Labyrinthitis
TALL DWARFS // The Brain that Wouldn't Die // Hello Cruel World // Flying Nun 1990 (orig 1984)
TALL DWARFS // Crush!
SAN FRANCISCO WATER COOLER // Rocker's Escape // self-titled // KDVS Recordings 2007
WINGTIP SLOAT // Waxing Neurotic // Add this to Rhetoric // VHF *new
SERPENTS OF WISDOM // My Dead Cat // split 7" w/ Tickley Feather // Badmaster *new
ROBERT WYATT // Alife // Rock Bottom // Virgin 1974
ROBERT WYATT // Little Red Robin Hood Hit the Road
PAUL REEKIE // Lovers // v/a: Messthetics #105 // Hyped2Death *new
JANET & JOHNS // I Was a Young Man // v/a: Messthetics #104 // Hyped2Death *new
EGGS // Sexual Tension // Sexual Tension 7" // Jade Tree 1993 *request
HENRY'S DRESS // Tree Fort // Bust 'em Green // Slumberland 1995
SKI INSTRUCTORS // Kids on the Street // Kids on the Street 7" // Dulc-I-Tone 2007
SO COW // Five Months, Out in the Wilderness // These Truly Are End Times // Covert Bear *new
SEXUAL MILKSHAKE // Bus to B.C. // Space Gnome 7" // Teen Beat 1991
THE WEEKS // On All is All and // Clipping Wood Paste Adhesive CDR // Big Drum 2005
TOMMY JAY // Lust Honor & Love // Tommy Jay's Tall Tales of Trauma // Columbus Discount *new

Eternal Tapestry live on KDVS

What a hippie bandname if there ever was one, eh?

Yes, but this band Eternal Tapestry is one of the sweetest psychedelic crescendo-crushers this side of Acid Mothers. After a couple CDRs and a tape release, they've got a debut LP on Not Not Fun about to drop any moment, and they come down here from Portland tonight on their way to the Neon Commune festival in L.A. this weekend, which is a big Not Not Fun label showcase that I was hoping to go to, but I don't like to drive to L.A. alone. I've heard an early mix of the LP, and it is great. Kinda sprawling from a sorta Ash Ra Tempel-esque breezy chime to a full-bore AMT-style soaring psych fugue. Their "Vibrations"/"New Dawn" cassette was my co-Top Tape of 2007 (along with Eat Skull's tour tape). That thing really shoulda been released to vinyl.

Eternal Tapestry has brothers Nick and Jed Bindeman, whose first band together was Counterfeit Monsters. What an underrated show they played in 2001 at Espresso Metro! Just when I thought, gee, this sounds like Saccharine Trust, they dropped a rulin' SacTrust cover. Since then, Jed has been in the awesome Heavy Winged who work that same ambient/metal/psych fusion that Blues Control own. Nick has been in Alarmist, Hustler White, Malibu Falcon, Silver Creme, the MVP of the few very great Jackie-O Motherfucker LPs, and master of his own rad solo project called Tunnels. The dude is always one of the very most interesting part of every band he's in.

Few-minute snippets are a bad way to listen to ET's music...
http://www.myspace.com/eternaltapestry
...so you should definitely check out tonight's hourlong Live in Studio A at Freeform KDVS 90.3 FM!
YOU CAN DOWNLOAD IT AT THIS LINK HERE!
(first couple minutes of file is the news, followed
by a couple minutes of silence due to a mishap
involving switching of on-air studios...just FFWD!)

If you're in California, catch them on tour...

Fri Jan 18
San Francisco @ The Hemlock w/ Turks, Hurry Up Shotgun
Sat Jan 19
Los Angeles @ Echo Curio w/ Magic Lantern, Ettrick, Pocahaunted, Barn Owl, Antique Brothers
Sun Jan 20
Los Angeles @ Echo Curio w/ Antique Brothers
Mon Jan 21
Oakland @ Heco’s Palace w/ Oaxacan, Barn Owl
Tue Jan 22
Davis @ Fort Douglas w/ Castanets, Sholi

The friendly Fort Douglass is a house-show place at 918 Douglass Ave in Davis. Shows run early...from 7:00-10:00 p.m. only. Donate $$$$$.

Directions from Sacto...

(1) I-80 west to Davis
(2) Exit at Downtown/Richards Blvd North
(3) merge onto Richards, proceed under tunnel
(4) turn left at 1st light after tunnel onto First Street
(5) Turn right at B Street
(6) Turn left at 3rd light onto Eighth Street
(7) Turn right at Douglass....

918 Douglass is behind 916 Douglass, at the end of the driveway on the left side of 916. Both houses are near the very end of Douglass, on the right side of the street. A Save Mart store is nearby on Anderson and Covell.

Art for Spastics v. 161

You can download this week's show AT THIS LINK HERE!
(archived for 10 weeks)

ALAN POUNDS GET RICH // Searching in the Wilderness // v/a: Searching in the Wilderness // Muziek Express 1966
THE GREAT BELIEVERS // Comin' Up Fast, Part 1 // v/a: Acid Visions // Voxx 1966?
SUNN CYCLE // Acid Raga, part 2 // v/a: Aliens Psychos & Wild Things: Volume Fore // Arcania International *new
THE SPECTORS // Oh, How to Do Now // Spectors Meet Monks 7" // OXO 1993
THE MONKS // I Hate You // Black Monk Time // Polydor 1965
NECESSARY EVILS // Flames o' Heat // Spider Fingers // In the Red 1997
NECESSARY EVILS // Pretty White Girl on a Black Death Train
THE MANS // First Love // JC/BC 7" // Boom Chick *new
THE WRISTS // Lights Out/Black Out // MK Ultra 7" // Rijapov *new
THE DRILLS // No More Beer // Skull Death 2 7" // Dirty Knobby *new
DAILY VOID // No One Knows... // Identification Code: 5271-684346864436-4519 // Dead Beat/Boom Chick *new
WAX MUSEUMS // Pyramids // Ancient Structures 7" // Kenrock *new
DAILY VOID // The Man W/o a Face
HEART BEATZ // Bummer Timez // Secret Girls 7" // Going Underground *new
FNU RONNIES // Valley of the Wastoids // 3-song CDR demo // no label *new
DEAD CLODETTES // La Sueur Coule // Flou 7" // Trashmondain *new
MODERN CREATURES // Time to Go // Thick Thick Black 7" // Grotesque Modern *new
KOUNT FISTULA // Florence // Songs from the Big Hair 7" // Scatalogical Liberation Front *new
SLICING GRANDPA // Osage Ryan // Methset 7" // Daisy Cutter *new
SLICING GRANDPA // Fuck It All
BILLY BAO // Jail Logic // Fuck Separation 10" // S-S *new
MEGAFUCKERS // Drugs I // split 7-inch w/ Landed // Kill Shaman *new
MIKAELA'S FIEND // Blanket // split 7" w/ Abe Vigoda // Zum *new
SATANIZED // Purple Pickle // Sickness and Hellth: The Secular Chansons of... // Badmaster *new
SATANIZED // Umami Fever
MINCEMEAT OR TENSPEED // B2 / B3 // split LP w/ Drums Like Machine Guns // Badmaster *new
LES BEYOND // trk 3 // In a Gemstone CDR // Isolated Now Waves *new
AJA ROSE BOND // The Flood // Flying Lion cassette // Isolated Now Waves *new
U.S. GIRLS // RIP KISN (AM 910) // Introducing... CDR // self-released 2007
ZOLA JESUS // Soeur Sewer // MySpace mp3 *new
TICKLEY FEATHER // Natural Natural // split 7-inch w/ Serpents of Wisdom // Badmaster *new *request
THE LAST DANCE // Malignant Love // v/a: Passage(s) // 4AD 1980
TRANSMISSION // C-Out // v/a: Put Out C-Out 10" // Hell's Half Halo 1998
PETER WRIGHT // Magpie Attack on the Back Road to Albert Town // new 7" // Dirty Knobby *new
THE JAGUAR // Where Everyone Is Happy (Component 2) // A Bag of Jag CDR // self-released 2007

Art for Spastics v. 160

So, I didn't hear the new Sic Alps LP until December 31, but I do now declare that it was THEE BEST record of 2007. You can hear the A-side entropic epic this week, but if it's too damaged for you, trust me...Side B gets into some sweet grooves. 2007 was the comeback year for "damaged pop," and Sic Alps and Psychedelic Horseshit are my faves of the bunch.

You can download this week's show AT THIS LINK HERE!
(archived for 10 weeks)

CPC GANGBANGS // Rich Rich Rich // The Broken Glass picdisc 7" // Seeing Eye *new
DAILY VOID // In the Year Zero // Surprise Surprise 7" // HoZac *new
MENTHOLS // The Miracle Ship // The Miracle Ship 7" // U.F.O. Dictator *new
METAL TEETH // Wild Eyes // Wild Eyes 7" // U.F.O. Dictator *new
UZI RASH // Cranes // Paid in Fur CDR // 24/7 Tapes/The Church & the Commune *new
UZI RASH // Abacus
SIC ALPS // Description of the Harbor [Strapping Fieldhands] // Description of the Harbor // Awesome Vistas *new
SIC ALPS // Strawberry Guillotine // Strawberry Guillotine 7" // Woodsist *new
EAT SKULL // Survivable Spaces // Tour Tape // Palto Flats *new
GUARANTEED UGLY // Soup Kitchen // Fire Escape 7" // Hangman's Daughter 1995
HEAD & THE HARES // Lost // Two Tymes 7" // Stanton Park/Moulty 1995
HUE BLANC'S JOYLESS ONES // Frolicked Walk Through Autumnal Bliss // Arriere Garde // S-S Records *new
PIERCED ARROWS // Caroline // In My Brain 7" // Tombstone *new
THE RATS // Radio Pulse // Intermittent Signals // Whizeagle 1981
HUMAN EYE // Self Transforming Machine Elves // Rare Little Creature 7" // Disordered *new
NOTHING PEOPLE // What a Waste // Army of Ideal 7" // HoZac *request *new
THE APPLE-GLASS CYNDROM // Someday // v/a: Get Ready to Fly: Pop-Psych from the Norman Petty Vaults // Ace/Big Beat *new (orig 1969)
RESULT'S OF ADULT'S // Under Ground Purple // v/a: Aliens Psychos & Wild Things, Volume Fore // Arcania International *new (orig 1970)
NAUGHTY WOMEN // Fuck Yourself // v/a: High Road to Obscurity // Grand Theft Audio 1999 (orig 1979)
DESIGNER // Pissing in My Bed // v/a: Accidental Death Through Misadventure & Mayhem 7" // Satan's Pimp 1996
NO TREND // Cancer // Too Many Humans... // No Trend 1983
THE DIPERS // Ponch's Boyfriend // How to Plan Successful Parties // Omnibus 2003
A FRAMES // Weissensee [Neu!] // Crutches 7" // Royal 2003
WICKED AWESOMES // Fighting the Wolf Spirit // Death Cults & Desert Gangs Demo CDR // self-released *new
UZI RASH // Come On [Chuck Berry] // Fatal Rash CDR // The Church & the Commune *forthcoming
BLANK DOGS // You're Dead // Two Months 7" // Florida's Dying *new
WIZZARD SLEEVE // Pterodactyl Meltdown // Mommy's Little Baby 7" // HoZac *new
SOLITAIREN EFFEKTEN // Ein Kleines Stück Erinnerung // self-titled 10" // Enfant Terrible 2007
DR. PHO // Sauerklang mit Elektronische Weiterbildung // v/a: Trumpett Days // Enfant Terrible *new (orig 1983)
SICKDOLL // Little Monsters // self-titled LP // Kernkrach *new
CORPSES AS BEDMATES // Venus Handcuffs // Venus Handcuffs // Dead Man's Curve 1986
NEITHER/NEITHER WORLD // Our Devil's Cave // Sociopathic Pleasures // Majestic Chaos 1992
U.S. GIRLS // Don't Understand That Man // Introducing... CDR // self-released 2007
LABRADFORD // Accelerating on a Smoother Road // Prazision LP // Kranky *new (orig 1993)
SIGHTINGS // The Electrician [Walker Bros.] // Through the Panama // Load 2007
VAPAA // Näky Alas // Hum Hum Hum // Last Visible Dog *new
MIKAELA'S FIEND // Blanket // split 7" w/ Abe Vigoda // Zum *new

Art for Spastics v. 159 w/ Extreme Canadian Content

You can download this week's show AT THIS LINK HERE!
(archived for 10 weeks)

DAILY VOID // (Surprise Surprise) You've Lost Your Eyes // Surprise Surprise 7" // HoZac *new
THE FEELING OF LOVE // The Rape Man // 12 New Tracks CDR // no label *new
LOS LLAMARADA // The Blanket Escape // new 7" // Disordered *forthcoming
LOS LLAMARADA // Against the Day
HUMAN EYE // Rare Little Creature // Rare Little Creature 7" // Disordered *new

WICKED AWESOMES // Brain Dumb // Death Cults & Desert Gangs Demo CDR // self-released *new
LEADERS // Powervibes // Synthesizer Sketchez & 4-Track Demos CDR // self-released 2007
PUSSY PATROL // Forgive My Past // Gry Moussa 3" CDR // Scatalogical Liberation Front *new
SHEARING PINX // Held Under // split cassette w/ Shivers // Isolated Now Waves *new
SHEARING PINX // Speaker // Dissenter CDR // Isolated Now Waves *new
F.M.G. // Smear Test // split cassette w/ Shearing Pinx // Isolated Now Waves *new

F.M.G. // Cold Feet
N.213 // Construction // FuckSexYou CDR // Isolated Now Waves *new
AEROSOL CONSTELLATIONS // Tab Cabby // split one-sided 12" w/ Born Without Bones // Isolated Now Waves/Thankless *new
HENRI CHOPIN // La Plaine des Respirs Vivace Comme il se Doit // La Plaine des Respirs // Tochnit Aleph *new
MR. UGLY // CrraAWWPpX // split CDR w/ N.213 // Isolated Now Waves *new
HERO WOUTERS // Oidipious // Muziek voor Leven en Dood // Enfant Terrible *new
AFTER THE SNOW // Table // Fracture // Enfant Terrible *new
ECHO WEST // untitled // v/a: The Perils of Paradise // Elitepop *new
ENDE SCHNEAFLIET // Der Blöde Hund // Twistin' on the Tombstones 2xLP // Enfant Terrible 2006 (orig 1981-1983)
PUNK SOUL LOVING BILL // Ehrliche Juristen // v/a: Hoera een Hex voor Thuis // Hex Grammofoonplaten *new
WOHNRAUMHELDEN // Liebeslied // v/a: Bunte Bezüge // E-Klageto *new
THE REBEL // American Beauty // Tarskovski's The Snackrifice 12" EP // Emperor Jones *new
PHEROMOANS // Yuppyville // A Few Snippets from Our Chequered Existence CDR // no label *new
PHEROMOANS // Open for Business
DIAMONDHEAD // The Anchor // Street Leaf CDR // self-released *new
CONNCET 9 // Super Wow // Geetu vs Geetu // self-released *new

Art for Spastics v. 158

We are now streaming/archiving at 192 kbps for your optimum enjoyment!

Now for the bad...Just as I was playing The Wrists' cover of a Beex classic, I got a call from listener Doug in San Diego who told me that Christine Gibson, Beex singer and one of the most unique female vocalists of an era, had died just a night ago after battling breast cancer. Crazy coincidence, and such sad news.

You can download this week's show AT THIS LINK HERE!
(archived for 10 weeks)

PIERCED ARROWS // In My Brain // In My Brain b/w Caroline 7" // Tombstone *new
KAWAGUCHI MASAMI'S NEW ROCK SYNDICATE // Oblivion // v/a: Tokyo Flashback 6 // PSF *new
MICHAEL YONKERS & THE BLIND SHAKE // Here's What I'm // Carbohydrates Hydrocarbons // Nero's Neptune 2007
MICHAEL YONKERS & THE BLIND SHAKE // What's Comin'
AINOTAMENISHIS // On the Cross // Live' 418 // Holy Mountain *new
SAN FRANCISCO WATER COOLER // Down in Dry Creek // self-titled // KDVS Recordings *new
OSO EL ROTO // Leche con Chocolate // Mojon Pol Agua // Galerie Pache *new
JOHN THILL // You're Dead // Heart of Grime // Shrimper *new
SO COW // Guilty of Being Cute // These Truly Are End Times // Covert Bear *new

SO COW // Jesus H. Christ/Moon Guen Young
FINALLY PUNK // Primary Colors // Primary Colors 7" // Army of Bad Luck *new
FINALLY PUNK // Environmentality
THE VACANTS // Worthless Trash // Worthless Trash // Beathotelz *new
NIGEL SIMPKINS // Oblique Encounters // v/a: Messthetics #102 // Hyped2Death 2006 (orig 1979)
NICE FACE // Juju for Jenkem // demo CDR // no label *new
BLANK DOGS // Poison Ivy // Two Months 7" // Florida's Dying *new
WIZZARD SLEEVE // Mommy's Little Baby // Mommy's Little Baby 7" // HoZac *new
NOTHING PEOPLE // In The City // In the City 7" // S-S Records *request *new
NOTHING PEOPLE // Army of Ideal // Army of Ideal 7" // HoZac *request *new
HUNCHBACK // Werse Houses // Werse Houses 7" // Sacred Bones 2007
HIPSHAKES // You Make Me Malfunction // one-sided 7" // Show & Tell *new
GAYE BLADES // Don't Get Married // A Visit to the Home of the Man Who Invented Sexual Intercourse 7" // Rob's House 2007
COCONUT COOLOUTS // Head Full of Stones // Pizza Regret 7" // Seeing Eye *new
THE WRISTS // (My Heart Goes) Beat Beat Beat [Beex] // MK Ultra 7" // Rijapov *new
WAX MUSEUMS // Stone Henge // Ancient Structures 7" // Kenrock *new

WAX MUSEUMS // Catacombs
LIVE FAST DIE // Dawn of the VHS // split 7" w/ Golden Error // Mind/No Mind *new
GOLDEN ERROR // Left Hand Path // CDR of unmastered EP *forthcoming?
THE HYPNOTICS // The Quest // Indoor Fiends // Enigma 1982 *request
THE HYPNOTICS // Weird People/Giants Town *request
CPC GANGBANGS // The Broken Glass // The Broken Glass picdisc 7" // Seeing Eye *new
RED NURSE // Truck Stopper // Demos 2006-2007 CDR // no label *new
SLICING GRANDPA // Fuck You // Family Restroom cassette // Strain Theory 2005
KOUNT FISTULA // Florence // Songs from the Big Hair 7" // Scatalogical Liberation Front *new
TWO DEAD SLUTS, ONE GOOD FUCK // Blue Line Homicide // self-titled 3" // self-released *new
BRIGHAM // The Drug Snugglers // Retardinomicon // Scatalogical Liberation Front *new
MOE! STAIANO // Chungking // v/a: Post-Asiatic: Lost War Dream Music // URCKarm *new
REFRIGERATOR MOTHERS // Salic Trip // v/a: Post-Asiatic: Lost War Dream Music

BEST OF 2007

It really sucks if you release a record too late into December, or in the case of the Sic Alps, it sucks if your record was way too limited for me to get my mitts on. It turns out that for the blink of an eye during which their Description of the Harbor was available, I was at home with the flu and not checking the internet. So, while I fully expect that it's another outstanding record by them, that one misses my "best of 2007" list.

Top 20 LP's of 2007

Factums "Alien Native" (Siltbreeze)
Home Blitz "self-titled" (Gulcher)
Hue Blanc's Joyless Ones "Arriere Garde" (S-S)
the Intelligence "Deuteronomy" (In the Red)
the Lamps "self-titled" (In the Red)
Little Claw "Spit and Squalor Swallow the Snow" (Ecstatic Peace)
Los Llamarada "The Exploding Now" (S-S)
Mudboy "Hungry Ghosts!: These Songs Are Doors" (Not Not Fun)
Pink Reason "Cleaning the Mirror" (Siltbreeze)
Plants "Double Infinity" (Paradigms)
Psychedelic Horseshit "Magic Flowers Droned" (Siltbreeze)
Pumice "Pebbles." (Soft Abuse)
Sightings "Through the Panama" (Load)
Times New Viking "Present the Paisley Reich" (Siltbreeze)
Volt "self-titled" (In the Red)
Wooden Shjips "self-titled" (Holy Mountain)
Yellow Swans "At All Ends" (Load)
Michael Yonkers & the Blind Shake "Carbohydrates Hydrocarbons" (Nero's Neptune)
v/a "Hoera! Een Hex Voor Thuis!" (Enfant Terrible)
v/a "Pisspounder" 3xLP (Deathbomb Arc)

20 Best EP's

Billy Bao "Fuck Separation" 10" (S-S)
Blank Dogs "Yellow Mice Sleep" 7" (HoZac)
Blank Dogs "The Doorbell Fire" 7" (Sweet Rot)
Daily Void "Mass Communication Culture" 7" (Boom Chick)
Eat Skull "Seeing Things" 7" (Meds)
Electric Bunnies "Eskimo" 7" (Florida's Dying)
El Jesus de Magico "Funeral Home Sessions" 7" (Columbus Discount)
Factums "See Inside" 7" (Polly Maggoo)
Hank IV "Dirty Poncho" 7" (Plastic Idol)
Human Eye "Spiders & Their Kin" 7" (Cass)
ICK "La Parade des Sans Illusions" 7" (Enfant Terrible)
Dan Melchior und das Menace "The Pink Scream" 12" (Shake Appeal)
Mutators "Paper Words" 7" (The Broadway to Boundary)
Nothing People "In the City" 7" (S-S)
QEK Junior "Wohnanhängar" 7" (Kernkrach)
Slicing Grandpa "Chaos Midnight" 10" (Strain Theory/Scatalogical Liberation Front)
So Cow "Moon Geun Young" 7" (Almost Ready)
Talbot Tagora "Cat Face" 7" (self-released)
Thomas Function "Relentless Machines" 7" (Tic Tac Totally)
Tyvek "Summer Burns" 2x7" (What's Your Rupture?)

Top CDR/cassette ephemera so far

Argumentix "Nightmarcher" cassette (Below PDX)
Catatonic Youth "Piss Scene" CDR (Fuck Jazz)
Antoine Chessex "Silences: 8 Failed Invocations" CDR (Tanz Procesz)
Eat Skull "Tour Tape" (w/ The Wrecks demo on side B) (Palto Flats)
Eternal Tapestry "Vibrations/New Dawn" cassette (Not Not Fun)
Feeling of Love "12 New Tracks" CDR (self-released)
J.P. Herrmann demo CDR (self-released)
Leslie Keffer/Inca Ore split cassette (Cherried Out Merch)
Leaders "Synthesizer Sketchez & 4 Trak demos" CDR (self-released)
Meth Teeth "To My Good Friend" CDR (self-released)
Penetration Camp "The Gooder Book" 3xCDR (Backwards)
Rainbow Jayne/Stab at God "Well, Actually It´s Not Good to Be Home, Well" split CDR (Below PDX)
Soft Shoulder/Shearing Pinx split cassette (Isolated Now Waves)
Superstitions "No One Gets Out Alive" cassette (Red Handed)
Talbot Tagora "Sleepyheads" cassette (self-released)
Tyvek "Fast Metabolism" CDR (self-released)
U.S. Girls "Introducing..." CDR (self-released)
Yves/Son/Ace "No Taboos" CDR (self-released)
v/a "The Fruit Will Rot" vol 3 9x3"CDR (Deathbomb Arc)
v/a "World War Zero" 2xCDR comp (Deathbomb Arc)

Art for Spastics v. 157

To DOWNLOAD this show, CLICK THIS LINK HERE...
(This will be archived for 10 weeks.)

ABE VIGODA // World Heart // split 7" w/ Mikaela's Fiend // Zum *new
MANTLES // Trouble in the Streets // Burden 7" // Dulc-I-Tone *new
THE INTELLIGENCE // Block of Ice // Deuteronomy // In The Red *new
J.P. HERRMANN // Catch The Mouse // demo CDR // no label *new
WINGTIP SLOAT // Yea in the Haystacks // Add This to Rhetoric // VHF *new
O VOIDS // Frying Pan // Record On 7" // Lost Space *new

WINGTIP SLOAT // Beauty [Tall Dwarfs]
HOUSE 1 AND 2 // Peanut Butter and Jelly // Worse Kept Secret in Los Angeles: You Can Buy Heroin on Bonnie Brae Just Off Alvarado cassette // Barf *new
AIDS WOLF // Live // Live Dates split 7" w/ Pre // Sin Raft *new
DIAMOND HEAD // Street Leaf // Street Leaf CDR // no label *new
EVOLUTIONARY JASS BAND // This Is Not the End... // What's Lost // Mississippi *new
THEE OREGON ARTIFICIAL LIMB CO. // tracks 4 & 5 // a-w-t-s-i-i-i-d-e CDR-EP // Jet's Idea/Micronizer *new
RUST IONICS // Side B // Moving/Pictures // Colour Sounds/Outer Limits/Quodlibet *new
WEASEL WALTER // Refraction // Firestorm // ugExplode *new
FLYING LUTTENBACHERS // The Serialization of Cruelty // Incarceration by Abstraction // ugExplode *new
PROLETARIAN ART THREAT // Operation Enormous // The Long Process of Quitting // Shandi *new
TERRORIST OTHER // Get a Life // T.O. CDR // Soundesign *new
MIDWIFE // Black Lungs/We Are Heathens // mp3s *forthcoming??
SHEARING PINX // Hate Rider // Ultra Snake // Isolated Now Waves *new
SECRET SOCIETY OF THE SONIC SIX // Into the Night // 9:00 7" // Touch of Evil 2005
IMIAFAN & VERONICA V. // Someone Else // v/a: Doppel Hertz 2xLP // Kernkrach *new
CHRIS DENERF // Tupperware // v/a: Doppel Hertz 2xLP

SCHIZOPHRENIC HOUSEWIVES // Ardia Girls // The Better You Are The More They Fuck You // Rollo Woody *new
DAILY VOID // Mechanical Teeth // Mass Communication Culture 7" // Boom Chick *new
THE FINKS // The Nomad // Fill 'er Up and Go // Dionysus 1994
THE FEELING OF LOVE // Dad = Eat/Mum = Die // 12 New Tracks CDR // no label *forthcoming???
HIROSHIMA ROCKS AROUND // Geriatric // demo CDR // no label *forthcoming???
BRAINBOMBS // End Up Dead // singles comp 2 // Polly Maggoo 2007
BILLY BAO // Borders of Mass Deception // Fuck Separation 10" // S-S Records *new

Art for Spastics v. 156

This week, you can hear the "Live in Studio A" set of Pink Reason, the remainder of Psychedelic Horseshit's live at KDVS set, and selections from Dan Melchior und Das Menace live at KDVS...plus a slew of new records and unheard demos and a preview of tonight's potentially life-altering event at Delta of Venus.

To DOWNLOAD this show, CLICK THIS LINK HERE...
(This will be archived for 10 weeks.)

PRE // Ride Ride Ride [Half Japanese] // Epic Fits // Skin Graft *new
PRE // Know Your Teachers
XBXRX // In Memory of Our Lives // Sixth in Sixes // Polyvinyl 2006
AIDS WOLF // Put Your Head on a Plate // 4-way split 2x7" // Lovepump United 2006
CELLS // Charles Robert Darwin // self-titled cassette // self-released *new
CELLS // Tape-Snake

SHEARING PINX // Scanner // Ultra Snake // Isolated Now Waves *new
YIKES // Irresponsible // Whoa Comas/Blood Bombs // Kill Shaman *new
FRANCIS HAROLD & THE HOLOGRAMS // I See It All // demo CDR // no label *new
THE MANS // JC/BC // JC/BC 7" // Boom Chick *new
DAILY VOID // Mass Communication Culture // Mass Communication Culture 7" // Boom Chick *new
O VOIDS // Record On // Record On 7" // Lost Space *new
THE LAMPS // Tim Ford // Tim Ford 7" // Hook or Crook *new
DAN MELCHIOR UND DAS MENACE // Please Don't Touch // Live in Studio A, 11/06/07
DAN MELCHIOR UND DAS MENACE // Swamp // Live in Studio A, 11/06/07
WOODEN SHJIPS // Loose Lips // Loose Lips 7" // Sub Pop *new
ALIEN SOUNDTRACKS // Mutant Juke Joint // self-titled CDR // Weatherbox *new

HERO WOUTERS // Flat 1 // Muziek voor Leven en Dood // Enfant Terrible *new
SECRET SOCIETY OF THE SONIC SIX // Locust Daze // Touch of Evil 12" EP // Isolated Incidents *new
FACTUMS // Gold Is... // Alien Native // Siltbreeze *new
FACTUMS // ...the Best Color
PINK REASON // Burnt // Live in Studio A, 11/12/07
PINK REASON // Bloodstains [Agent Orange] // Live in Studio A, 11/12/07 *request
PINK REASON // Motherfucker // Live in Studio A, 11/12/07 (feat. sax from Rich (Psychedelic Horseshit))
METH TEETH // I Got Problems // To My Good Friend CDR // self-released *new
ELECTRIC BUNNIES // Eskimo // demo CDR // no label *new
FEELING OF LOVE // Tong Tattooed // 12 new tracks CDR demo // no label (feat. Seb Normal on drums) *new
FEELING OF LOVE // You Rock, You're 17, You Should Kill a 10 Years Old Kid // Young Jesus 7" // self-released 2006

FEELING OF LOVE // Jordan's Rules // Hand Clap Girl 7" // Rococo *new
PSYCHEDELIC HORSESHIT // New Wave Hippies // Live in Studio A, 11/12/07
PSYCHEDELIC HORSESHIT // Rather Dull // Live in Studio A, 11/12/07
PSYCHEDELIC HORSESHIT // Both Sides Now Live in Studio A, 11/12/07
DAN MELCHIOR UND DAS MENACE // It's a Poet's Life // Live in Studio A, 11/06/07
MODERN CREATURES // Time to Go // Thick Thick Black 7" // Grotesque Modern *new
ROUÉ // Some Future Despair // Totally Fuckin' Totally 10" // self-released *new

AFS v. 155 starring Little Claw / Psychedelic Horseshit / Pink Reason

Three of my favorite bands are my guests in Studio A this week...
Little Claw, Psychedelic Horseshit, and Pink Reason!

To DOWNLOAD the show, CLICK THIS LINK!
(This will be archived for 10 weeks;
Little Claw begins about 46 minutes into
this 2-hour file; Psychedelic Horseshit
begins about 95 minutes in...right up to
the end. Normal programming resumed, but
we caught the end of the set on tape,
including a special Pink Reason set,
and it will air here next week!)

* the first few minutes of Psychedelic Horseshit's set might sound really quiet, but if that's the case, I'll re-air the whole thing at righteously regulated levels next week!

V3 // Girl in a Room // Negotiate Nothing // Ropeburn 1992
JIM SHEPARD // Face on the Factory Floor // The Songs of Kim Fowley 7" // Anopheles 1996
ALIEN SOUNDTRACKS // Ostrich Farm // self-titled CDR // Weatherbox *new
ELECTRIC BUNNIES // This Is the Electric Bunnies Mixtape for Psychedelic Horseshit // Mixtape for Psychedelic Horseshit CDR // no label *new
YANKA // Pree-dyote Vah-dah // Steed e Stram // Moroz 1999
OSO EL ROTO // Queso de Pija // Mojon Pol Agua // Galerie Pache *new
SHADOW RING // Horse-Meat Cakes // Put the Music in It's Coffin // Siltbreeze 1997
THE REBEL // Civilian Rush // Tarskovski's the Snackrifice 12" EP // Emperor Jones *new
DAN MELCHIOR UND DAS MENACE // So Real // Madame Nhu 7" // Plastic Idol *new
JOHN OTWAY & WILD WILLY BARRETT // Real Free // self-titled // Extracked 1977
AXEMEN // You Gave Me the Power of the Gangbusters // Derry Legend // Flying Nun 1987
TELEVISION PERSONALITIES // Look Back in Anger // And Don't the Kids Just Love It... // Rough Trade 1981

LITTLE CLAW // Shewolves // Live in Studio A
LITTLE CLAW // PST M. VAM.
LITTLE CLAW // Race to the Bottom
LITTLE CLAW // Basement (Colors)
LITTLE CLAW // Polar Bear
LITTLE CLAW // Feeding You
LITTLE CLAW // Shoplifting Cart
EAT SKULL // Survivable Spaces // Tour Tape // Palto Flats *new
THE CLEAN // Whatever I Do Is Right // Anthology // Merge 1982
84 NASH // Universal Racing Signal // The Kings of Yeah // Rockathon 1997
84 NASH // Roadtrip to Columbus
J.P. HERRMANN // Car Conversation // demo CDR // no label *new
NOTHING PEOPLE // A Really Good Time // In the City 7" // S-S Records *new

PSYCHEDELIC HORSESHIT // C Song // live in Studio A
PSYCHEDELIC HORSESHIT // Echo Rattle
PSYCHEDELIC HORSESHIT // New Song
PSYCHEDELIC HORSESHIT // Bridge Song
PSYCHEDELIC HORSESHIT // Crystals
PSYCHEDELIC HORSESHIT // Bad Vibrations
PSYCHEDELIC HORSESHIT // Country Punk
PSYCHEDELIC HORSESHIT // New Wave Hippies

...& you'll hafta catch these next week along with some Pink Reason songs...
[PSYCHEDELIC HORSESHIT // Rather Dull
PSYCHEDELIC HORSESHIT // Both Sides Now]

The tastemaker of my teen years and arguably the greatest DJ in KDVS history, Karl Ikola, started his Anopheles label to issue the Live in Studio A performance of Aussie psych-punks Venom P. Stinger, and as sealed copies of this scorcher still linger in Bay Area stores, it is Karl's example of how things don't always go right for fledgling labels. His next record would be a sureshot to sell quickly and become a speculator's record to watch--if not to horde immediately--a 7" tribute to Kim Fowley, Jr. by Columbus, Ohio's legendary misfit and master scuzzsmith, who ascended to the throne of finely fucked yet melodic pop perfection with his band V3 in the 90s.

I remember about 12-13 years ago, the major labels were still mining for that next Seattle (or Athens, Georgia), infiltrating local scenes and signing bands left and right. It even happened in Davis. No A&R rep could ever fully camouflage himself at shows at the 3rd & B Teen Center, where bands like You Are My Little Iodine and Chance the Gardener would take the next step into...well...a modest recording advance for a record that would never be released, or maybe just never promoted. The majors' miners came to Columbus, too. Despite Shepard's ace credentials in bands since the late 70s, his V3 was surely one of the strangest stories of the major label's alterna-rock gold rush of the early- to mid-90s. His story's been buried by a buncha dead weblinks now, so the details have become sketchy again. But how a man could go from the freak genius that (along with Mike Rep) provides the glue from Columbus' past as the Electric Eels refuge after Clevo banishment to the 90s zeitgeist of central and southern Ohio's gnarly indie dregs and proto-weirdpunk, and onto a major label contract and into a morgue so quickly....Let's just say that there's a really good movie there. Bands like our three special guests here keep the torch of Jim Shepard's philosophically unimpeachable contributions to rock & roll and its recording aesthetics alive.

With a name like Alien Soundtracks, surely one expects more than a mere passing resemblance to the godly Chrome. This band from SoCal's Inland Empire fuse the aggressive punk crunch, deft Krauty motoriks, expansive psychedelic flourishes, and cold, clamey electronics much like their inspiration did nearly 30 years ago. I really appreciate how they paid attention to getting such a propulsive drum sound out of a kit that obviously cost all of about $100 at the pawn shop. That's what really struck me about Chrome when I first scored Touch & Go's reissue of Half Machine Lip Moves and Alien Soundtracks...that drum production, so ostentatious about its budgetness, yet still so very destructive. In terms of cheapness, the only thing I could compare it to at the time was the first Cure album, but it was immediately rendered silly novelty by Chrome. And maybe not since the mysterious Doppleganger Squid 7" from 1994, no band has gotten this idea of budget drum domination down pat as much as these guys. The CDR is an interesting mix of electronic ambient tracks and bent spacepunkers so that it almost sounds like a split LP with alternating tracks, yet altogether cohesive enough to keep me from skipping ahead. There is room for improvement, but they're on the right path, moving from the right starting point.

I can guarantee you that unless you get in a car with Psychedelic Horseshit, you're not gonna hear this custom-made intro track to the one and only copy of a mixtape (actually a CDR) by Florida's Electric Bunnies. Now, don't you feel special?

And you might not hear this weird folk-psych from Russia that is phonetically pronounced "Yanka" unless you're hanging out with Kevin from Pink Reason. No doubt you've heard buskers on the street spark more curiosity than the first four minutes of this tune, but the last half of this nine-minute opus is like a whole other song thanks to what Kevin describes as "the greatest keyboard solo ever. If you wanna know what Pink Reason is all about, just listen to this song. That's basically everything I ripped off."

Oso el Roto are Chileans now living in Paris. They've made an extremely limited LP in a mangy DIY gatefold of decaying cardboard bound by brads. Fans of cherry merchandise need not apply. Rather, only fans of the rawest, yet most original take on "bluespunk" with the old-timey twang of the Piedmont tradition should hunt this one down. If the thought of another bluespunk band makes you brace for more pointless schtick from fellas with kneepads for Jon Spencer--or even if you're dead tired of needless rehashes of the Oblivians ideals--this record should be very refreshing for its rhythmic twists and turns, intriguing audio bits, and genuine freakiness. I've not heard much of the wilder side of Pacific coast South American rock from the 60s and 70s, but others more in the know say that this reveals some of its lineage to that music, too. I'm guessing that will make this sound very new and bewildering to most of us.

Continuing with the picks from the members of our three guest bands this week, we revisit the Shadow Ring, and not a moment too soon. This may be my most-played LP in the back-catalog of Siltbreeze, but ten years later, I'm still totally amazed at how compelling such unmusical music can be. Oops, I started it at the wrong speed, but it still sounded no more wrong (or right (I'm still confused about which, but I'm still intrigued)).

To Matt's dismay, now we hear something new from The Rebel, or Ben Wallers of Country Teasers fame/infamy. The new six-song Tarskovski's the Snackrifice EP is another hit from the transgressive master. I'd only call Matt out on it if he was lukewarm about Wallers. I welcome all opinions on Ben Wallers except indifference. Some will feel shortchanged by hearing lyrics cribbed from the narration script of odd main character of American Beauty, but the accent makes the words all new in my imagination, and the music is such a menace on the track. It's as if to say, "I am a walking contradiction. Fuck you if you can't take it." Okay, be who you want to be. You're the only person who needs to be comfortable being you. Hey, if I think about that really hard, surely there's something I can learn from that. D'ya think? I feel a calming come over me now. Ben Wallers is a peacemaker, see?

I missed you guys last week 'cos I was hanging out with Dan Melchior und Das Menace, makers of some of the finest EPs and unreleased LPs of the last few years. I saw Dan play a couple of live shows here in Sacto and Davis, plus live to tape on KDVS, which I promise you will hear on next week's AFS v. 156. This gem of a song you're hearing now is the B-side of the new 7" on Plastic Idol, and it's the weirder of the two songs on this perfect single. Somehow I knew that when a master like Dan and a shrewd exactor like Mario of Plastic Idol got together, the results would be perfect. What I didn't know is that seeing Dan play live would be so awe-inspiring because of his masterful guitarwork. I've been a fan because of the lyrical storytelling, the Englishness of the phrases, and the voice. I never realized until the live shows that the guy is seriously a great guitarist. This Das Menace lineup was also tremendous. A much heavier, more solid rhythm section than I expected. Burly American yin to clever English yang.

Rich of Psychedelic Horseshit is a comedian. Seriously, he performs his stand-up during a day off on the tour, this Thursday in San Francisco. He was a little shy to speak on the air this time, though. Let this John Otway tune be his punchline for the night. The Axemen are one of the lesser-hyped Flying Nun bands for sure. They make this Otway-to-TVP's segueway a pretty sweet coctail surprise, I think.

More on the rest later...

AFS v. 154 feat. the Coconut Coolouts

The Coconut Coolouts are probably the best partyband on the planet today, and I'm happy to present them this week as my special guests on this week's AFS. To DOWNLOAD this program, CLICK HERE (archived for 10 weeks).

Music starts about 7:00 into this 2-hour file. The Coolouts set starts about 24:00 in.

HAMMER DAMAGE // Laugh // v/a: Killed by Death #9 1978
GG ALLIN & THE JABBERS // Don't Talk to Me // Always Was, Is and Always Shall Be // Black & Blue 1980
MR. CURT // I'm Going Blind // Write Down Your Number 7" // Euphoria 1978
CAPTAIN 9's & THE KNICKERBOCKER TRIO // I Ain't Takin' No Bath // Sophie's Tiki Lounge 7" // Heartpunch/Burnt Toast 1991
COCONUT COOLOUTS // Headfull of Stones // Party Time Machine // Haunted Horse/Xeroid *new

COCONUT COOLOUTS // Spinaround ~ live in Studio A
COCONUT COOLOUTS // Chocolate Money
COCONUT COOLOUTS // Pizza Regret
COCONUT COOLOUTS // Swim
COCONUT COOLOUTS // Twins
COCONUT COOLOUTS // Spell It Out, Dummy
COCONUT COOLOUTS // I Want to Come Back from the World of LSD
MYSTERY GIRLS // Under My Tongue (LSD Is Fun) // Under My Tongue 7" // Kryptonite 2005
TYVEK // This One or That One // Still Sleep 7" // What's Your Rupture? *new
SUN CITY GIRLS // Esta Susan en Casa? // Horse Cock Phepner // Placebo 1987
BUTTHOLE SURFERS // Rocket to the Moon // Hairway to Steven // Touch & Go 1988 *request
UNNATURAL HELPERS // My Brother's Been Kissing My Girlfriend // v/a: Babyhead // S-S Records 2004 *request
TYVEK // Flashing Lights // Fast Metabolism // self-released 2007 *request
SOCKEYE // Pave the Earth // Barf on a Globe // Mortville 1999
RESINEATORS // Underage Girl (Get Out!) // Don't _____ With the Fantasy // Siltbreeze 2001
LIL BUNNIES // Carrot Belly Bunny Rock // 1st 7" // Moo-La-La 1995 *request
SEA PIGS // Christian TV // Freaktard 7" // Very Small 1993
SCRATCH BONGOWAX // Because I Hate You // Sock It to Me Baby 7" // Scratchtone 1995
PEECOCKS // Pussy Minstrel Show // Pussy Minstrel Show 7" // Arf Arf 1989
BROWNSVILLE STATION // Rockers and Rollers // self-titled // Private Stock 1977 *request
DONNY DENIM // Rock 'n' Roll Love Affair // Hey You! 7" // Radio X 1999 *request
TIGHT FITS // Bulldozer // Full Frontal Attack 7" // Pure Filth 1995
FE FI FO FUMS // Electrofize Me // Electrofize Me 7" // Boom Boom 2004
THE STATICS // Burgers & Fries // Rat City // Rip Off 1994
DER SUBMARINE RACERS // Space Burrito // Space Burrito 7" // Spin the Bottle *new
TRADITIONAL FOOLS // Milk Man // Live at Wizard Mountain cassette // Wizard Mountain Tapes 2007 *request
TRADITIONAL FOOLS // Street Surfin'
HEAD // Tireshreddin' // Street Level Assault // Evil Clown 1994 *request
EVAPORATORS // Stop! Look! Listen! // v/a: Teenage Zit Rock Angst // Nardwuar 1995
THE MANTS // Bow to Your Masters // The Mant from UNCLE 2x7" // Lance Rock 1997
ARMITAGE SHANKS // Punk Tune // I Know What You Need 7" // Hangman's Daughter 1996
ASBESTOS ROCKPYLE // Skinhead Glory // Industrial Religion 7" // Warpt 1984

Art for Spastics v. 153

To DOWNLOAD this program, CLICK HERE (archived for 10 weeks).

Music starts about 6:45 into this 2-hour file.

TYVEK // Frustration Rock // Summer Burns 2X7" // What's Your Rapture? *request *new
J CHURCH // Chemicals (live) // v/a: No Idea fanzine #11 // No Idea 1994
BE BAD // (I've Got No) Positive Vibrations // Vision Correction // Divorce *new
MAGIK MARKERS // Circle // Boss // Ecstatic Peace *new
ALASEHIR // Separate from History // The Philosophy of Living Fire // Siltbreeze *new
AINOTAMENISHIS // Theme // Live'418 // Holy Mountain *new
SHEARING PINX // 7992-XNIP // Night Calls CDR // Isolated Now Waves 2007
TERRESTRIAL // side B // self-titled cassette // self-released *new
JUNIOR MAKHNO // 60.2 Emasculator // The Theatre of the Macabre 7" // Bruit Direct 2007

JUNIOR MAKHNO // Vector Z (feat. the Subzero & DJ Kaissa)
ROTER STERN // trk 5 // L'Afrique Revisited 12" ep // Was Soll Das (recorded 1980-2003)
MYDOLLS // In Technicolor // In Technicolor 7" // CIA 1981
VISIBLE TARGETS // Mechanical Man // self-titled 12" EP // Park Avenue 1982
OLD TIME RELIJUN // Daemon Meeting // Catharsis In Crisis // K Records *new
J.P. HERRMANN // Catch the Mouse // demo CDR // no label *new
J.P. HERRMANN // Dead Water Dead Light
J.P. HERRMANN // Labyrinthitis
TALBOT TAGORA // side B // Sleepy Heads cassette // self-released *new
EAT SKULL // Leave the Universe // Tour Tape // Palto Flats *new
PSYCHEDELIC HORSESHIT // Rather Dull // Magic Flowers Droned // Siltbreeze *new

FRANCIS HAROLD & THE HOLOGRAMS // Mirror of Fear // demo CDR // no label *new
BASSHOLES // Hey OJ // Hey OJ b/w Rout 7" // In the Red 1995
HUE BLANC'S JOYLESS ONES // Obliging Macon Midle // Arriere Garde // S-S Records *new
THE STOOGES // Dirt // Fun House // Elektra 1970
JOY DIVISION // New Dawn Fades // Unknown Pleasures // Factory 1979
ECHO WEST // title unknown // v/a: The Perils of Paradise 12" EP // Elitepop *new

WERMUT // Nicole // v/a: Hoera! Een Hex Voor Thuis! // Hex Grammofoonplaten *new
THE ACTOR // Covergirl // Covergirl 10" // Enfant Terrible 2005 (orig 1982)
SNAKEFINGER // The Model [Kraftwerk] // Chewing Hides the Sound // Ralph 1979

JUBILATION ROCK!

Three shows happened in Sacto this year where I took a look behind me and saw every single face smiling or laughing simultaneously. One was Tyvek at the DAM House with Cheveu, and the others featured the Coconut Coolouts at Fools Foundation in Sacto and at a superfun wedding in Seattle. Seriously, not a single person was left looking bummed or even expressionless. I’m not sure I’ve seen that happen since a Nar show at the Loft about 11 years ago.

It made me wonder what would happen if both Tyvek and Coconut Coolouts played at the same show? Now we can find out because this week, the bands are touring the West Coast together with the very awesome living legend garagepunk duo, Nice Smile.

Catch them near you...

Tue 10/23 in Vancouver, BC @ Pub 340 w/ Defektors and Master Apes 21+
Wed 10/24 in Seattle, WA @ the Funhouse 21+
Thu 10/25 in Portland, OR @ Dunes 21+
Fri 10/26 in Davis, CA @ Delta of Venus w/ the Bananas all ages
Sat 10/27 in Oakland @ Stork Club (Budget Rock VI fest) w/ the Real Kids, the Pets, the Dutchess and the Duke, Harold Ray, Hex Dispensers, Haunted George, and South Bay Surfers (starts at 2:00 p.m.) 21+
Sun 10/28 in San Francisco @ The Hemlock Tavern 21+

Tyvek have made the best 7" (actually double-7") of 2007 so far with "Summer Burns"...you need to get it! Great, catchy and clever songs in the indomitable "messthetic" (British DIY 1977-1980) spirit...think Desperate Bicycles, Swell Maps, and hundreds of awesome unknowns of scruffy/scrappy melodics. People fall in love with this band.
http://www.myspace.com/tyvekmusic

Coconut Coolouts are a phalanx of stand-up drummers, guitar, bass, keys, and partyhardy singsongy songs with ex-Charming Snake folks. Banana suits, maybe? Superfun personalities, cheery dispositions, but rocks out like crazy, too. Seriously, this is one of the premier partybands of recent memory. New CD just out!
http://www.myspace.com/coconutcoolouts

Nice Smile is a guitar/drum duo featuring Seattle legend Rob Vasquez, formerly of awesome bands like the Night Kings, Chintz Devils, Man-Tee-Mans, Gorls, Nights and Days, etc. Adam Stonehouse of the Hospitals told me that Rob Vasquez was his #1 musical influence. Rob really is a masterful dude with clever, yet primal riffing. Some of the best two-man garage since the "budget-rock" heyday.
http://www.myspace.com/nicesmile

And, of course, you all know and love the Bananas, right??!!!

Do you need to see visual proof that this show will rule? Okay...

:TYVEK "Mary Ellen Claims" live @ Passout Records, NYC



TYVEK "Buildings Burning" live @ Passout


TYVEK/CHEVEU tour DVD trailer (see DAM House footage in there!)


COCONUT COOLOUTS "Pizza Taxi" live @ Funhouse in Seattle


COCONUT COOLOUTS "Chocolate Money"


COCONUT COOLOUTS "The Spinaround" live @ JEMA


TYVEK split squad live @ American Apparel

Art for Spastics v. 152

To DOWNLOAD this program, CLICK HERE (archived for 10 weeks).

Show starts at minute 4 of this 2-hour file.

Psychedelic Horseshit's Magic Flowers Droned is the album of 2007. Truly the most wild and wonderful lo-fi recording in recent memory...astounding! Wait for it to drop on October 23 or buy it from the band on their November tour. Trust me on this!

THOMAS FUNCTION // Blasphemer's Union // Relentless Machines 7" // Dusty Medical *new
BLANK DOGS // Stay Alone // demo recording/mp3 // no label *new
PSYCHEDELIC HORSESHIT // New Wave Hippies // Magic Flowers Droned // Siltbreeze *forthcoming

PSYCHEDELIC HORSESHIT // Crystals
EAT SKULL // Waiting for the Hesitation // Oct 2007 Tour Tape // Palto Flats *new
SHAYNE CARTER & PETER JEFFERIES // Spark Off a Wire // Knocked Out or Thereabouts 7" // Flying Nun 1992
PETER JEFFERIES // Come Down Easy [Spacemen 3] // Live to Air 7" // Imperial/What Was Music/Blackbean & Placenta 1997
PETER JEFFERIES/ROBBIE MUIR // Catapult // The Fate of the Human Carbine 7" // Xpressway 1989
THE CURBFEELIERS // Bald Electrician // Viking Praire Schooner 7" // Lather 1995
HEY BUDDY & THE PALS // I Want My Hat // Summer Vacation 2k7 CDR // self-released *new
HUE BLANC'S JOYLESS ONES // The Ballad of Soloth Sar // Arriere Garde // S-S Records *new
HUE BLANC'S JOYLESS ONES // My Disdain
THE WIPERS // Our Past Life // 3 CD Box Set // Zeno 2005 (orig 1982) *request
THE WIPERS // No Fair
MICHAEL YONKERS w/THE BLIND SHAKE // Here's What I'm // Carbohydrates Hydrocarbons // Nero's Neptune *new
LUDLOW // Rohypnol // Gold Paint 7" // self-released *new
FESTERING RINYANYONS // I Don't Wanna Know // Flatlander Recluse // Bovine 1995
NIGHT OF PLEASURE // Bitch Pitch // Godard vs. Trufault 7" // Columbus Discount 2007
EL JESUS DE MAGICO // X-mas At Wounded Knee // Funeral Home Sessions 7" // Columbus Discount 2007

LITTLE CLAW // Polar Bear // self-titled // Ecstatic Peace *new
DOGBOWL // (Here Comes) The Man With the Plucked Out Eyes // Blue Fur Bosom Girl 7" // Vital Music 1992
NOTHING PEOPLE // In the City // In the City 7" // S-S Records *new
WOODEN SHJIPS // Losin' Time // self-titled // Holy Mountain *new
YELLOW SWANS // Mass Mirage // At All Ends // Load *new
EINSTÜRZENDE NEUBAUTEN // Armenia // Strategies Against Architecture // Mute 1991 (orig 1986)
EINSTÜRZENDE NEUBAUTEN // Armenia II (orig 1989)
SWORD HEAVEN // Town Hag // Entrance // Load *new
SWORD HEAVEN // Tomb Ark // v/a: Pisspounder 3xLP // Deathbomb Arc 2007
16 BITCH PILEUP // trk 1 // Make Like a Fetus and Abort/Make Like an Abortion and Feed Us // self-released 2005
KEVIN SHIELDS // Motor Hands // v/a: Thrash Sabbatical LP+2x7" // Deathbomb Arc *new

Eat Skull is on Tour!

AFS v. 152 didn't happen this week because I went on an impromptu vacation to Portland and Seattle on the long weekend. On Saturday night, Fuzzbox Flynn and I saw Coconut Coolouts play at the wedding of a couple crazy (and crazy-in-love) friends, Kimberly and Brian, and it was truly the most fun I've ever had at a wedding. On Sunday night, we made it to a PDX house-show just in time to catch Leslie Keffer administer a self-massage via waves of drone (I saw a little drool beginning to break over her lip), and a nice set by Unicorn Hard-on. Thanks to Calamity Janie for subbing AFS this week. My bones were too tired after the ten-hour drive.



EAT SKULL has been a favorite here on AFS since I received their first demo back in May, but I haven't ingrained his into your brain already, they are the ex-Hospitals/Gang Wizard/etc. band with a jangle-pop heart soaked in scuzz. There's a similarity in spirit to Times New Viking, I think (that could also be because Rob from Eat Skull was in Hole Class with Beth from TNV). Fistpumping singalongs, like an amped-up, gnarly version of The Clean or something. You should've already got the first 7"...Too late? Not if you see this band on tour. And not if Davis and Sacto don't wipe the merch table clean first. I think we might do it. That record's pretty good, but wait 'til you hear the 2nd one on Skulltones. "Dead Families" is a song of the year candidate.

http://www.myspace.com/eatskull

Tues 10/9 in Davis on Freeform KDVS, live in Studio A
stream it live: http://www.kdvs.org/ btw 8-10 p.m.
Wed 10/10 in Sacto @ 2309 L Street
house party w/ MAYYORS (ex-FM Knives/Karate Party/Sexy Prison/Sores/etc.)
Thurs 10/11 in SF @ Hemlock Tavern
w/ Scout Niblett
Fri 10/12 in Oakland @ 21 GRAND
w/ Greg Ashley & the Impediments
Sat 10/13 in L.A. @ The Scene
w/ the Lamps and Sic Alps

Eat Skull has special merch for the tour, including a cassette tape and t-shirt. I've heard the tape which has four exclusive songs which are definitely sweet and very vinyl-worthy. As a bonus, the October 1981 demo cassette of Reno's all-girl HC band The Wrecks is included on the B-side with a xerox of the cover photo, songlist, and liner info. You may have heard The Wrecks screech out "I Like to Shoplift" on the legendary Not So Quiet on the Western Front 2xLP. One other song ("Punk Is an Attitude") was comped by Grand Theft Audio onto the High Road to Obscurity CD about ten years ago. Now you can hear these and all the other songs by this amazing proto-riot grrl band...10 years before Bikini Kill, and arguably as good or better. 95% of riot grrl records don't seem to stand up well a decade later, but had this record been released in that era, it would have become iconic, and we would remember it as a shining example of the movement's music. Do not pass this tape up!

The Eat Skull tape cover is also the same as the t-shirt...an outstanding blend of styles between metalhead math-class dropout doodle and prison tattoo art.

Art for Spastics v. 151

To DOWNLOAD this program, CLICK HERE (archived for 10 weeks).

To STREAM this show before October 8, GO HERE.

TAD // Glue Machine // Salt Lick // Sub Pop 1990 *request
CHURCH POLICE // Robots // 7" // Dolor del Estamago 1996 (orig 1982) *request
CHURCH POLICE // Gourmet Cooking // Gilligan's Wings 7" // Skulltones (orig 1982) *new
SNAKE APARTMENT // No Raises This Quarter // Paint the Walls // Parts Unknown *new
CLOCKCLEANER // New in Town // Babylon Rules // Load *new
SIGHTINGS // Through the Panama // Through the Panama // Load *new
MOUTHUS // Century of Divides // Saw a Halo // Load *new

YELLOW SWANS // Endlessly Making an End of Things // At All Ends // Load *new
SWORD HEAVEN // Sights not Long Gone // Entrance // Load *new
KITES // Army Corpse/Superman 2 // Hallucination Guillotine/Final Worship // Load *new
ICK // title unknown // v/a: The Perils of Paradise 12" EP // Elitepop *new
SOLITAIREN EFFEKTEN // Wir Lieben den Tag // self-titled 10" // Enfant Terrible *new
TWIST NOIR // Loneliness // self-titled 10" // Kernkrach *new (orig 1985)
AFTER THE SNOW // Rich in Thought // Fracture // Enfant Terrible 2006
QEK JUNIOR // 1/0 // Wohnanhänger 7" // Kernkrach 2007
FACTUMS // See Inside // See Inside 7" // Polly Maggoo *new

FACTUMS // Inside Out
BLANK DOGS // Housefly // Yellow Mice Sleep 7" // HoZac 2007
BLANK DOGS // Leaving the Light On // Diana (The Herald) 12" // Sacred Bones *new
SPIDER // Spiderlili // Charlie 7" // HoZac 2006 *request
MATTRESS // In Your Pocket // In Your Pocket 7"+CDR // Malt Duck *new
TICKLEY FEATHER // Sex Face // split 7" w/ Bermuda Triangles // CNP *new *request
TALBOT TAGORA // Sleepy Heads // Sleepy Heads cassette // self-released *new
YIKES // Carol Ann // Whoa Comas/Blood Bombs // Kill Shaman *new

MICHAEL YONKERS w/ THE BLIND SHAKE // Don't I Get // Carbohydrates Hydrocarbons // Go Johnny Go *new
EAT SKULL // Dead Families // Dead Families 7" // Skulltones *forthcoming
DAN MELCHIOR UND DAS MENACE // Dog Love // Back in the Village 7" // Disordered/Lo-Fi *new
METH TEETH // Bus Rides // To My Good Friend CDR // self-released *new