Some Quick Thoughts On Peter Ivers
A few days ago I started reading “In Heaven Everything is Fine: The Unsolved Life of Peter Ivers and the Lost History of New Wave Theatre,” by Josh Frank and Charlie Buckholtz (Free Press, $25). I had read something a couple of weeks ago that piqued my interest about Ivers and this book, although admittedly, I really knew nothing about him other than being peripherally aware of New Wave Theatre.
There are a couple of things that so far have really made an impression on me: First is the incredible wealth of talent that came Harvard during that era (the late 1960’s). Ivers’ classmates and friends included Harold Ramis, Stockard Channing. Doug Kenney, and Tommy Lee Jones. And those are just the bigger names that I was immediately familiar with.
The other thing that absolutely stunned me was a title bestowed on Ivers by none other than Muddy Waters. One night in 1968, Ivers and then-girlfriend Channing were at the Cambridge Blues Club in Boston, watching Waters perform. “At one point between songs, Muddy Waters gestured to Peter and began to speak about him,” the authors write. Waters tells the crowd about his previous encounters with Ivers, including times the two had played together. “Looking out over the small but devoted audience in the smoky room, Waters referred to Peter as ‘the greatest harp player alive.’”
A white kid from Harvard was “the greatest harp player alive”? No doubt about it, I wanted to hear this. Ivers’ music is sort of hard to find, even on the Internet. eMusic has a couple of his later albums, but they’re mistitled as being by “Pete Rivers.” After some digging, though, I managed to find a couple of things I wanted to share here. Both of Ivers’ songs here display his harmonica talent, which is quite amazing.
The other two songs are versions of “In Heaven (Everything is Fine),” the song that lent its name to the book I’m reading. David Lynch asked Ivers to write a song for the 1977 movie Eraserhead and “In Heaven” was what he came up with. The first version is the original from the movie; the other is the Pixie’s version, from a BBC broadcast.
I’ve Got a Sex Crush.mp3 Harmonica Solo.mp3 In Heaven (Everything is Fine).mp3 In Heaven (The Lady in the Radiator Song).mp3 Labels: "alternative", books, covers, movies, new wave
Music from My Mailbox
Could I just copy the words to The Sun Also Rises, throw in some fresh adjectives and updated references and get it published as the remixed version? Honestly, I’m so tired of remixes. I go through my inbox and see remix after remix after remix. Are you serious? Make your own damned music if you’re so talented. And not to be hateful, but I don’t even care if you disagree.
So, that said, here’s what I found that wasn’t just someone else’s music with a couple of echo effects and a drum loop thrown in: While this mailbox purge is short on my beloved garage punk, there are still a few interesting things here. The first I want to mention is The Emotron. I’m not sure what’s up with this guy. He lights his pubic hair on fire during live performances and claims to be some kind of synth-punk G.G. Allin, a feat I’m sure no one could really pull off. This song, “Drink A Beer for Me,” sounds more like a novelty song than it does anything from G.G.’s catalogue. See what you think.
There are a couple of reggae-type bands represented: 10ft. Tall Ganja Plant (ha! Like you wouldn’t have guess
they were reggae!) and Indofin. Both are great for a relaxing on a summer evening.
“Neon for You” comes from My First Earthquake’s just released EP
Crush. The disk hearkens back to 80’s pop and is very enjoyable. In a wide-open field, this track is one of my favorites.
As always, follow the links for more information.
My First EarthquakeIndie / Electro / Rock
From: San Francisco, Calif.
Band
MySpaceNeon for You.mp3
10ft. Ganja PlantReggae / Dub / Roots Music
From: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Band
MySpaceBonny & Clyde.mp3 Love Crushed VelvetRock / Alternative / Pop
From: New York, N.Y.
Band
MySpaceLove Crushed Velvet.mp3 Electric Tickle MachineIndie / Alternative
From: East Village, N.Y.
Band
MySpaceHonest Injun.mp3 
Joy IkeIndie / Soul / Pop
From: Pittsburgh, Penn.
Band
MySpaceSweeter.mp3 IndofinReggae / Ska / Punk
From: Austin, Texas
Band
MySpaceBluelight.mp3 Imagine DragonsIndie / Pop / Rock
From: Las Vegas, Nev.
Band
MySpaceSelene.mp3 UpstationPop / Indie
From: Moscow, Russian Federation
Band
MySpaceNo More Promises.mp3 
The EmotronPunk / Rock / New Wave
From: West Fuckin’ Philly/Georgia/Pennsylvania
Band
MySpaceDrink a Beer for Me.mp3
Eagle Winged PalaceAcoustic / Indie / Classical
From: The Deepest Darkest Corners of California
Band
MySpaceMovin’ on to Avalon.mp3 ~~~~~
(pictures, top-to-bottom: My First Earthquake, Joy Ike, The Emotron)
~~~~~
As a reminder, there is a little less than two weeks left on my host, so if there is anything you want to hear, you need to act quickly.Labels: "alternative", acousticness, indie, new wave, pop muzik, punk, reggae, rock, ska, soul
Music from My Mailbox
I just realized that the last time any of you heard from me I was on my way out of town to see BugGiRL. For all any of you know I never made it back. But I did. The BugGiRL show was great – they gave it their all despite the small crowd. If you get a chance, definitely you need to see them live.
I’ve really had a lack of posting inspiration lately, so I thought the best solution would be to hit up the mailbox. It turned out there were a few gems hidden there. Straight away I need to mention Long Island’s Roast Beef Curtains. The band’s name alone is hilarious if you realize what exactly a roast beef curtain is. Besides that, there are the lyrics to “5th Base Girl”: “My fifth-base girl likes Diet Coke and glory holes.” I actually laughed out loud the first time I heard that.
The Burnt Ones wear their Johnny Thunders influence proudly, with reverby, echoey vocals and the almost patented Johnny Thunders lo-fi recording style. As a matter of fact, I like these guys so much I tossed in a bonus track, a cover of Motörhead’s “Damage Case,” which was a special Record Store Day download.
A couple of other things: I saw Ke$ha on SNL last night and I wasn’t really impressed. I’m sure she’s this summer’s Kelis. The Clucks’ cover of “Tik Tok” is interesting and at least as good as the original. Also check out garage rockers Thick Shakes for more of that tasty lo-fi rock ‘n’ roll I know you love.
As always, follow the links for more information
Thick ShakesGarage / Punk / Pop
From: Jamaica Plain, Mass.
Band
MySpace(Baby) You’re a Starfish.mp3 Midnite TheoryAlternative / Hip Hop / Other
From: Los Angeles, Calif.
Band
MySpaceAngel On Sunset.mp3 **
now with correct links! **
ClucksIndie / Rock / Garage
From: Seattle, Wash.
Band
MySpaceTik Tok (Ke$ha cover).mp3 
The Roast Beef CurtainsReggae / Dub / Punk
From: Long Island, N.Y.
Band
MySpace5th Base Girl.mp3 The One AM RadioNew Wave
From: Los Feliz, Calif.
Band
MySpaceCredible Threats.mp3 NormanIndie / Folk / Rock
From: Willamette Valley, Ore.
Band
MySpaceHell, If I Love.mp3 
Terese TaylorExperimental / Black Metal / Folk Rock
From: San Francisco, Calif.
Band
MySpaceMy Shine, Doesn’t Shine.mp3 The FutureheadsNew Wave / Indie
From: Sunderland, UK
Band
MySpaceStruck Dumb.mp3 Burnt OnesMinimalist / Psychedelic / Rock
From: Indianapolis, Ind.
Band
MySpaceGonna Listen to T-Rex (All Night Long).mp3 Bonus:
Damage Case (Motörhead cover).mp3 ~~~~~
(pictures, top-to-bottom:
Thick Shakes, The Roast Beef Curtains, Terese Taylor)
Labels: acousticness, covers, folk, garage rock, indie, new wave, pop muzik, rock
'Through Being Cool'
When I was back there in seminary school....
Oh wait, that’s a different story. How about “when I was back there in high school...”
... I saw Devo make their network television debut on Saturday Night Live. Although many of my tastes were very white bread and mainstream, I was also drawn toward music that was outside of that box. In the harsh world of high school, those tastes were seldom met with approval.
Such was the case when, the Monday after their October 1978 appearance on SNL, I went to school raving about this band who had quirkily covered “Satisfaction” and had the gall to appear dressed in yellow jumpsuits like some freaks from another planet, while preaching de-evolution. And all this just a week after the Stones themselves had graced the stage at Studio 8H.
SNL was still relatively new and hip then, so everyone watched it and everyone had seen Devo and everyone hated them. Those of you who are still just a few years removed from high school will remember how fear of the unknown and different is a potent virus that pervades every school, everywhere. So of course a couple of weeks later, when I showed up at school sporting a Devo t-shirt, it was greeted with hatred and derision by the cool kids rocking their Mahogany Rush tees.
tl;dr? I’m posting Devo, not Mahogany Rush.
This is a collection of live Devo, recorded at various venues and at various dates, from the 1978 SNL appearance through a 1988 performance of “Girl U Want.” Unfortunately, other than rough dates, I don’t have any additional information on where the songs come from.
(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.mp3 ~ SNL, 1978
Mongoloid.mp3 ~ 1978
Uncontrollable Urge.mp3 ~ 1978
It Takes A Worried Man.mp3 ~ 1980
Gates of Steel.mp3 ~ 1980
I Saw Jesus / Through Being Cool.mp3 ~ 1981
Working In A Coalmine.mp3 ~ 1981
Smart Patrol / Jerkin’ Back and Forth.mp3 ~ 1981
Patterns.mp3 ~ 1982
Girl U Want.mp3 ~ 1988
That’s Good.mp3 ~ 1988
Labels: covers, live music, new wave, TV
'Who Threw That Ham At Me?'
You wouldn’t expect anything less than quirky from the mind behind “Rock Lobster,” so when I heard Fred Schneider on the Howard Stern show yesterday, I figured I was in for something interesting.
Freddy didn’t disappoint. He was on the Stern show to promote his latest project, The Superions. After talking about Fred’s teenage years, how he came to form the B-52s, and whether or not he’d ever wanted to have sex with Cindy Wilson or Kate Pierson, Stern and Schneider got around to talking about The Superions.
The Superions came out of Orlando, Fla., in 2006, a meeting of Schneider’s mind with those of Noah Brodie and Dan Marshall. They released
Totally Nude Island digitally in October 2008, followed a year later by “Who Threw That Ham at Me,” as a digital single.
Schneider was on the Stern show to promote the release today of The Superions’ new, self-titled album. The 7-track EP will be available on CD and limited edition 12-inch vinyl. It includes two new tracks as well as a re-release of “Who Threw That Ham at Me.”
As the title indicates, “Ham” is not your ordinary pop hit. The song is, as Schneider explained yesterday to Howard, a cautionary tale about the serious crime of shoplifting, set to a bouncy disco beat. It’s based on a story Schneider heard about a woman who was trying to shoplift a canned ham, only to have it fall out from under her coat. The woman looked around and, completely unfazed, asked, “Who threw that ham at me?”
Who Threw That Ham at Me.mp3 Labels: new stuff, new wave
Doug Fieger: 1952-2010
I read this morning that Doug Fieger, lead singer for the Knack, had died Sunday at his Woodland Hills, Calif., home after a battle with cancer. He was 57.
In 2006 Fieger had two tumors removed from his brain. He began undergoing chemotherapy in March of 2007 after a PET scan found a possible cancerous growth in his brain. He remained optimistic, saying, “You can't lie down. You can't stop your life.”
The Knack is often maligned as “one-hit wonders” for their phenomenal success with “My Sharona.” Although “My Sharona” was an insane hit, spending six weeks in 1979 as Billboard’s number one song,
Get the Knack itself also became a huge success. The album went platinum in just two months and spent five weeks as number one, going on to worldwide sales of 6 million. It also spawned three other hit singles, although of course, none of them matched "Sharona's" success.
I think the Knack happened to come along at an opportune time in music history. They had the classic “two guitars, bass, and drum” line-up and made poppy, new wave music just as that style started to break. But they leaned enough on rock that they didn’t alienate fans who wouldn’t listen to the electronic new wave music that was waiting in the wings. Ultimately, the Knack would become
so popular, they were hit with a backlash in the form of a “Knuke the Knack” campaign. Whether as a result of that backlash or because of weak material, none of the Knack’s five successive studio albums would come near the success of
Get the Knack.
Good Girls Don’t.mp3 I Knew the Bride (Dave Edmunds cover).mp3 My Sharona (demo).mp3 Labels: covers, current events, demos, new wave
'Youth Nabbed As Sniper'
While the Licorice Pizza interns were hard at work on Christmas posts last week, I was busy searching for other things that I thought might entertain you. In my quest, I happened to pick up a couple of pretty cool albums: The first I’ll post from today; one of the others I may get into in a few days.
Plastic Letters, Blondie’s 1978 sophomore release, has never been one of my favorites from the band. Although it does have a couple of decent songs – i.e. “Denis” and “(I'm Always Touched by Your) Presence, Dear” – I’m mostly inclined to agree with the scribe who said it sounded like leftovers from their debut disk.
But here’s why I was happy to get my hands on the 2001 re-released version: It contains “Once I Had A Love,” which is the original version of “Heart of Glass.” Blondie recorded this much slower version in 1975, and would sometimes play it live, but never released it. It wasn’t until
Parallel Lines in 1978, when Mike Chapman would pump up the bass and increase the beats to 120 per minute, that the song was officially released.
This original version is more in keeping with the pop-oriented Blondie songs, while it also looks forward to the funky reggae that would come with “The Tide is High” in 1980.
Once I Had A Love.mp3Labels: new wave, outtakes
Trippin' with Toni Basil
You know how sometimes, in old movies, the credits roll as the film opens? Well, I was watching Easy Rider (1969, my friends – it’s officially an old movie now) the other day and as the opening credits went across the screen, I saw a familiar name: Toni Basil.
I can’t honestly say if I knew she was in the movie and had forgotten, or if it came as a bit of a surprise. While I know she is a choreographer of some renown, to me, Toni Basil is, was, and always will be the “Oh, Mickey, you’re so fine” girl.
In case you didn’t know – or like me, you maybe forgot – Toni plays “Mary” in Easy Rider. Near the end of the film, when Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda finally arrive in New Orleans, they visit a brothel where they meet Mary and another girl, Karen (played by Karen Black). The four of them go to the Mardi Gras parade, and then visit a cemetery, where they drop acid. In your
Mr. Skin moment, there is a little bit of Toni Basil nudity here. There is also an interestingly filmed representation of the group’s trip.
Easy Rider was probably Toni’s biggest role; prior to that she had a few parts where she was credited – if she was credited at all – in roles such as “Dancer” or “Pajama Girl.” She also had a few small roles following Easy Rider, mainly in classics such as Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood; and Angel III: The Final Chapter. I think it’s safe to say Toni found much more success as a choreographer.
But let’s not forget Toni’s musical career. Her 1982 album
Word of Mouth and the smash hit “Mickey” firmly established her as one of the greatest one-hit wonders ever. Something else I didn’t know about Toni Basil until I started researching around: Most of the members of Devo played on the
Word of Mouth disk. If you can believe what you read, Toni and Devo bass player Jerry Casale were dating at the time and Toni had been a long-time Devo fan.
One of the songs Toni chose for her album was “Be Stiff,” which was a Devo rarity. The song was initially released on their 1978 EP,
Be Stiff. Devo wouldn’t officially release the song again until their 1990 compilation disk
Greatest Misses. Toni’s is a fun version, with her pop vocals over Devo’s edgy new wave instrumentation.
Be Stiff.mp3 Labels: covers, movies, new wave, pop muzik
On a 'Mission of Mercy'
I don’t know why, but I thought you good people maybe needed to hear some Motels today. No bonus points if you’re thinking, “Yeah, I don’t know why, either.”
The first time I heard the Motels was on a TV show that used to air late night – either Friday or Saturday, I forget – on one of the non-major networks in Los Angeles. This show, which was only on for maybe a season, ran pre-MTV videos from new wave and punk bands. I remember seeing things from bands like the Buzzcocks and wondering why the radio wasn’t playing this stuff.
Anyway, that show was my introduction to the Motels. I think the song was probably “Whose Problem,” from the band’s 1980 debut disk,
Careful. I can tell you for sure I was fascinated with Martha Davis, the Motels’ singer. She seemed to put out a femme fatale image that, at the time, totally captivated me.
As the 80s rolled on, the Motels became more new wavy and less edgy. By the time of their last album, 1985's
Shock, the band had become almost an electronic pop-dance band (Richie Zito, of Giorgio Moroder fame, produced it). I bought that album and ended up promptly giving it away.
The Motels’ biggest selling album was
All Four One, released in 1982. The story behind
All Four One is that this was actually a re-recorded version of an earlier album –
Apocalypso – the band’s label wouldn’t release. Wanting to stretch the limits as to what they could do artistically and musically, the Motels recorded darker and heavier music than what was on their debut. The results were mixed: While arrangements on some tracks were outstanding, others were too experimental and not as well produced (guitarist Tim McGovern was also handling some of the production chores). When they turned the tapes over to Capitol, the label rejected the album, saying it was “not commercial.”
McGovern left the band shortly after, and the Motels returned to the studio with Val Garay. He was able to reform the material into something more viable to Capitol, and on April 5, 1982,
All Four One was finally released.
Mission of Mercy.mp3 Labels: new wave, rock
I'll be your gun, Sharon...
I’m working on gathering things together for a long overdue “Music From My Mailbox” post, but in the meantime, I wanted to share something kinda cool that I got a few days ago.
The Ropes are a two-piece band from New York. In a variation of the usual guitar and drums theme, they have a singer/bassist (Sharon Shy) and a “multi-instrumentalist” (Toppy, who will often play the drums with a guitar hanging around his neck). Following the success of their debut,
What They Do for Fun, which was chosen as number 15 on ABC News' 50 Best Albums of 2008, the Ropes have just released an EP.
The new three-track disk,
Be My Gun, came out last month. The title track is eerily catchy and I found it stuck in my head after listening to it a few times. That’s not to say it’s necessarily upbeat or sunny, though. It seems to be about finding some motivation to live up to your potential, whatever that potential may be: “I'm a bullet / Will you be my gun?’
Check this song out; I think you’ll like it.
Be My Gun.mp3 The Ropes’ albums are available through the usual: iTunes, eMusic, etc. Get to the duo’s
MySpace for more info.
Labels: indie, new wave
"Are We Not Men?"
I read this evening that Devo are going to be performing their classic debut album,
Are We Not Men? We Are Devo! in its entirety, for the first time.
The show, unfortunately for those of us in the U.S., is going to take place in London. It’s scheduled for May 6 at the London Kentish Town Forum. I suppose we can always hope that if it goes well, Devo may pull some repeat performances.
It’s been 31 years since
Are We Not Men? was released. At the time it got a mixed reception: A
Rolling Stone reviewer said of the album, “There's not an ounce of feeling anywhere.”
Over the years, though, it has come to be considered a new wave classic.
Rolling Stone eventually changed their minds and placed the disk on their list of the Top 500 Greatest Albums (at number 447).
So what is Devo? The name Devo comes “from their concept of de-evolution',” according to the band’s official
bio. “The idea that instead of evolving, mankind has actually regressed, as evidenced by the dysfunction and herd mentality of American society.”
In honor of this upcoming performance – and in hopes there are some repeat performances – I offer up a couple of songs from
Are We Not Men? We Are Devo!: “Jocko Homo,” which seems to explain all things Devo; and their one-of-a-kind version of the Stones’ “Satisfaction.”
(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction (Rolling Stones cover).mp3 Jocko Homo.mp3Labels: new wave
“If we can’t afford to buy antiques, we’ll just copulate”
This is one of those beautiful posts that’s guaranteed to offend someone. I hope.
I got an email the other day telling me about the new album from a band called Jesus H. Christ and the Four Hornsmen of the Apocalypse. I’ve mentioned before that I am a sucker for an interesting band name so I knew right away I had to see what these New Yorkers are about. Here’s what I learned (bio mostly swiped from the JHC&TFHotA
Web site):
“Jesus H. Christ and the Four Hornsmen of the Apocalypse are an eight-piece rock/pop/metal/psychedelic/cabaret band – sometimes all in the same song. Likened to B-52s meets X-Ray Spex meets Weezer meets Blood Sweat and Tears, the JHC ‘difference’ is horny, thinking-person's, emotionally-bare lyrics protectively cloaked in hard candy pop.
Poignant, laughable, awash in sound and fury, signifying almost nothing, but saying everything that no one usually dares to say, JHC&TFHotA are really just eager to be held and loved. At which point they'll become distant and forget to buy toilet paper.”
JHC&TFHotA’s new album,
Happier Than You, will be out October 28. You can preview tracks and buy the album at
CD Baby. To sort of whet your appetite, I have a couple of songs from their 2006 self-titled debut album, which
The New Yorker called, “One of 10 CDs of 2006 worth a second listen.”
Connecticut’s for F*cking.mp3 Nipples.mp3 ~~~~~
(
NOTE: I found that if I use the Ethernet cable at this hotel, I can get around a little faster than with the wireless connection. So, I’m going to hold strong to my promise of trying to post this week. And I also promise to resume the Zeppelin series once I get back home.)
Labels: "alternative", indie, new wave, pop-punk
The Rock - this Thursday
I was looking through some of my messages earlier tonight and saw that some northern rock bands are going to invade Miami this week.
Say When, a quintet out of Boston, and Plastiq Passion, from the New York / New Jersey area, are both scheduled to play Tobacco Road this Thursday night. So as not to alienate the locals, Super Sam will be representing the 305.
I can’t say much about Super Sam; they don’t have any music up on their MySpace and I’ve never seen them play live. I can, however, vouch for Plastiq Passion. These five ladies refer to themselves as “new wave,” and cite influences such as The Cure and Joy Division. In some situations that could mean an automatic turn of the dial, but maybe I’m getting soft. I gave a listen to the music they have streaming on their
MySpace and decided I liked it.
I’m old enough that when you say “new wave,” I think skinny ties and Flock of Seagulls. Plastiq Passion’s new wave seems a little newer, along the lines of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs or the Strokes (also influences). All things considered, and since no one’s paying me to do PR, I can say that of the bands appearing Thursday, Plastiq Passion appeals the most to me. If I’m able to make it out to Tobacco Road, they’ll be the band I’m looking to hear.
“Plastiq Passion is an all-girl, new wave/rock band made up of members from the NYC/NJ areas,” C.W. Ross wrote in the Indie Music Stop. “These girls aren't just ‘eye candy;’ they kick ass with their music. This is an up and coming band that you should keep your eyes on.”
Tonight’s music comes from Plastiq Passion’s EP
I Can’t Wait.
Better Run.mp3 If you’re in the Miami area this Thursday be sure and check out the The Rock Thursday at Tobacco Road (626 S. Miami Ave / 305-374-1198).
The fun starts at 9 p.m. There’s a $5 cover and you gotta be 21 or older for entry.
Labels: indie, new wave, upcoming shows
There are a couple of things that so far have really made an impression on me: First is the incredible wealth of talent that came Harvard during that era (the late 1960’s). Ivers’ classmates and friends included Harold Ramis, Stockard Channing. Doug Kenney, and Tommy Lee Jones. And those are just the bigger names that I was immediately familiar with. 
The other two songs are versions of “In Heaven (Everything is Fine),” the song that lent its name to the book I’m reading. David Lynch asked Ivers to write a song for the 1977 movie Eraserhead and “In Heaven” was what he came up with. The first version is the original from the movie; the other is the Pixie’s version, from a BBC broadcast. 
