Category Archives: More Cool Stuff

PIGSHIT: “A” IS FOR APPLE, “B” IS BIZARRE

Posted on by
Reply

As hard as it may seem today to fathom, there was a time, in the not too distant analog past, when starting up a record company required more – much more – than just a domain name and the nearest GarageBand™ software.

Yes, there was a time when starting up a record company required actual brick and mortar (or at least some office space), telephones, pens, pencils, typewriters and reams of 20 lb stationery (plus desks to put them all on and, ideally, a staff of people to use them) not to mention, in the case of at least one of the two record companies mentioned below, a full Cordon Bleu kitchen staff equipped with a £600-a-month-at-least liquor allowance.

Continue reading →

“Ever since I was a young musician…” A look back at JUNO Week 2012

Posted on by
Reply

Ever since I was a young musician, I dreamt of being at the JUNOs and one day walking on stage to the applause of thousands to receive an award.

Now, that being said, I have not chosen a career that would lead to this dream, but I have chosen a career that still lead me to be in attendee at this year’s JUNO Fest and Awards.

24 hours a day, seven days a week, I’m a full-time music publicist and an occasional freelance writer. With the honor of attending the 2012 JUNOs as spectator and writer, I truly got to experience the JUNOs and the Canadian music talent it celebrates.

Continue reading →

PIGSHIT: Mr. Mojo Risen

Posted on by

According to press releases, the latest YEAR OF THE DOORS officially kicked off on Monday, January 9, 2012 at noon EST when, and I quote, the iconic rock band officially debuted their first new song in 40 years, "She Smells So Nice."

New song? But I thought…

Jim Morrison?

Yeah.

Gary Pig Gold here, from The Rock and Roll Report.

Hey! Good to talk to you. How're you doing?

You know, you were surprisingly easy to track down, I must say.

Well, I'm not that hard to find. In fact, I'm surprised this doesn't happen more often.  [pause]  So anyways, what'd you want to talk about?

Continue reading →

PIGSHIT: Ten reasons why the New York Dolls are STILL lookin’ fine on television

Posted on by

1. The fully, perfectly B&W action kicks straight off down some desolate roadside with a dusty, yet meticulously trashy-as-ever Dolls being asked "how you, um, guys got together." "I met Arthur on MacDougal Street," says Johnny. "Na na na, that's not how it started," complains Sylvain, as nearby twigs 'n' cigarette butts suddenly become airborne. And? We're off !!

2. Vintage "Lookin(g) For A Kiss" performance footage is expertly intercut with shots of our not-yet-ready-for-celluloid heroes as they walk down Hollywood Boulevard, checking out the neighborhood novelty-slash-porn shops, cruisin' Frederick's, and catching David JoHansen actually experimenting for perhaps the first time with a terrifyingly great big proto-Poindexter coif.     

Continue reading →

Feb 18 – Blankfest Quebec IV – It’s About The Homeless; Nothing More, Nothing Less

Posted on by

In the cold they sit and in the cold they wait. Montreal's homeless never have it easy as the city streets they live on are notorious for having brutal winters, with temperatures well below zero. For that reason, year after year, Montreal's music community comes together to help keep warm. Blankfest Quebec is proud to announce its annual return for its 4th year in support of one of Canada's oldest and largest homeless shelters, the Old Brewery Mission. 

Continue reading →

PIGSHIT: Dexter Romweber’s Freedom of Night

Posted on by

Very late one evening in the very late 1980s, my oldest pal Doug and I were dejectedly roaming the Canadian television airwaves when we suddenly chanced upon footage of these two guys playing music out on someone's porch.  

Our collective jaws – to say nothing of the remote – immediately dropped. 

It seems we'd stumbled upon a movie called Athens, GA: Inside/Out. The two guys playing the incredible music turned out to be Chris "Crow" Smith and, on starry Silvertone guitar and vocals, Dexter Romweber. When a graphic across the screen reading "Flat Duo Jets" eventually appeared both Doug and I realized, among several other things, that we had a New Favorite Band. 

Continue reading →

PIGSHIT: “MACH SCHAU, PEEDLES!”

Posted on by

Every Sixties recording artist seemed to have ‘em:  There were the Beach Boys’ Hite Morgan tapes, the Stones’ IBC demos, the Byrds’ notorious Jet Set sessions, and even the Velvet Underground’s attempts at becoming East Coast studio stringers for Gary Lewis and the Playboys (…just kidding about that last one) (I think).

As a brand new collection called The Beatles with Tony Sheridan: First Recordings, 50th Anniversary Edition more than proves, even the almighty Fab Four were not immune to this pre-fame plague of skeletons-in-the-audio-closet. For you see, when not binging on Chuck Berry, Preludins and Schnaps in Hamburg’s red-light district throughout their, um, formative years, our heroes also served as in-studio back-up band to one of Britain’s then very biggest rock stars.  Continue reading →

Star Anna and the Laughing Dogs “Alone In This Together”

Posted on by

You only have to listen to the powerful voice of Star Anna one time to get sucked into her music. There is magic in that voice from the Washington State musician. With a sound that could easily remind you of the late Rock Hall Member Janis Joplin, Star Anna has that same strong character in her singing style that Joplin’s voice once had. It is that powerful voice and Star Anna’s ability to write strong songs that are the main reasons why the young singer-songwriter has finally been getting attention. Continue reading →

Show Review: Bat Sabbath @ Les Foufounes Electriques, Montreal

Posted on by

In the case of some music fans, the word ‘cover’ may elicit any one of a number of negative reactions. Well, it’s time to change all that.

If you fall into this category (and you know who you are) let me assuredly tell you that Bat Sabbath has the power to change your mind and make you a believer in the magic of covers. If you don’t fall into the above-mentioned category, let me still tell you that Bat Sabbath can make you a believer in the magic of covers. Continue reading →