Tag Archives: beatles

Sandman Viper Command bring the greasy!

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I have to be honest and say that the first time I listened to Sandman Viper Command, I was not impressed. It was once I heard them live at Le Divan Orange in Montreal that my appreciation for them grew. Their gig convinced me that this band is worth paying attention to. What made me change my mind about them was their great enthusiasm and their ability to create a rich sound for their audience. During their performance, the four boys (Rob Janson, Daniel Reardon, Matt Meyer and Aaron Harvey) proved that they are pretty good at what they do: their instruments were always in harmony with one another, and I could tell that there was an honest collaboration between each member of the band.  By the end of their show, I could even see some similarities between their sound and that of The Rolling Stones. Overall, this is a talented band that delivers songs that are a good mix of garage rock inspired by the 1960s and indie pop.

Q) What is the main message your music tries to convey? Continue reading →

The Edification of Lick And A Promise

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You may have recently read my review of Come Together In The Morning by Lick And A Promise. Well, I have just had a chat with them regarding their formation, influences and instrument choice. They also talked a little about their recent US mini tour and their hopes for a similar tour in the UK.

Q: Can you give us a little more info on how Lick And A Promise came together in 2005?

A: Jochen and Manuel have been playing together in different bands like, forever and recorded their first real album in 2006. A year after they’ve founded Lick And A Promise. The record, which they had to produce on their own after some falling out with the original producer (but he’s a homefuck anyway), was alright, but things just didn’t really work out with the other band members. So the band kinda drifted apart without ever having played a single gig together. Continue reading →

PIGSHIT: In the Bee Gees’ time – A new documentary on THAT band

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2010 marked the 50th (!!) anniversary of the Bee Gees’ career as fully professional all-singing, all-playing musicians, songwriters, and performers.

This January 12 marks eight years since self-styled “man in the middle” Maurice Gibb’s tragic passing. And in this new year of 2011, remaining Gibbs Barry and Robin are actually threatening to continue recording, and perhaps even tour the globe, beneath the hitherto-mighty Bee Gee moniker.

This is a proposition I frankly find quite incomprehensible to fathom, let alone purchase three-figure tickets to witness in person. Though with Messrs. Pete and Roger insisting on conducting business both on stage and off as [sic?] “The Who,” I do suppose anything is possible (if not exactly practical and/or ethical). Continue reading →

PIGSHIT: Borrowed Time

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As we arrive at the thirtieth (!!!) anniversary of that Chief Beatle’s death, I found myself reaching far back indeed within the Pig Archives to exhume one of my very first-ever articles on said subject. Originally published two-and-a-half decades ago in either “Outer Shell” and/or “Inside Joke” Magazine, I believe its drift remains as relevant today as it was back then, scribbled in a fit of FM-powered pique from my childhood bedroom.

Perhaps you still feel the same way too….. Continue reading →

They may best be known for their hit ’80s tune, but The Outfield are back in full force and ready to please again with their upcoming 2011 release

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2011 will mark the return of the original trio behind ’80s pop rock sensation The Outfield – John Spinks (guitar, keyboard), Tony Lewis (bass, vox) and Alan Jackman (drums). The new album, due out in the spring, does not have an official title yet, but there have been rumors it will be “Pennyfields.” Grammy award winning producer David Kahne (Paul McCartney, Tony Bennett, The Strokes and The Outfield’s Voices of Babylon) plays keyboards on two tracks for the new album, “California Sun” and “In Your Company.” All of the new songs have been written by John Spinks and produced by The Outfield with executive production by John Spinks. In addition, Sony Music Group will be releasing a new Best Of: The Outfield as part of their Playlist Series due out in January of 2011, which will include the forthcoming single, “California Sun.” In the meantime, we caught up with the members of The Outfield to find out more about the band – past, present and future.

Q: It has been a long time since we’ve heard from The Outfield, especially as the original trio! How does it feel to be up at bat once again?

Tony: Alan came back and re-joined last year and liked the material we were working on. He wanted to play drums to a couple of tracks and we ended up recording Alan for every track! It’s great having the original trio back. It’s more special this time around. Continue reading →

Tommy James and Shondells’ reissues on Collector’s Choice prove 60′s band more than just bubble gum act

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Tommy James
- Travelin’
- My Head, My Bed, My Red Guitar
- I Think We’re Alone Now
- Gettin’ Together

Hand it to the folks at Collector’s Choice Records for once again finding some obscure musical treasures and bringing them back into the light in such a way as to not only generate notice for a forgotten artist, but also to probably lead rock historians to use the releases as the basis for meaningful re-evaluation of an artists’ career. In this case, rocker Tommy James and his band The Shondells get the reissue treatment as Collector’s Choice has recently reissued a handful of the band’s albums and a James solo album as well. While most modern music listeners probably do not recognize the name, it is safe to say James (and his band) were one of the most successful hit machines ever to grace the latter half of the ’60′s. The band scored first with the garage rocker Hanky Panky, moved on to such oft-covered hits such as I Think We’re Alone Now, Mony Mony, and Crimson and Clover, among many other songs which hit the charts during the end of the decade. The band split up in the beginning of the ’70′s and James went on to have a succesful solo career, scoring several hit singles throughout the rest of the decade. Continue reading →

CD Review: Doris Brendel “The Last Adventure”

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You know how it is in life, when we have a problem which we struggle to get a grip with or comprehend, we usually talk it through with a friend and get the perspective of another mind on the subject matter. This generally helps us understand by giving us another angle from which to view things, therefore expanding our viewpoint and enhancing the overall picture. Also, we all know and love the feeling that we get as we come across a new sound and discover a new band or artist. That incredible buzz as our synapses spring into life, awakening all of our senses.

Well, back in March, I wrote a feature on Doris Brendel and a couple of months after this I was sent a promotional copy of her forthcoming album, The Last Adventure, which will be released November 11. Up until this point I had listened to clips from each of the songs on The last Adventure, which are all on Doris Brendel’s website.  From this I had a fairly accurate idea of what to expect, but in all honesty, when the CD arrived and I played it for the first time boy, was I ever knocked for six. Some while on from this, that initial feeling has not changed one bit. On many occasions I have had guests in my home and during conversation I simply press play to set The Last Adventure going. On each occasion after several minutes of unrelated conversation my guests pause to look towards the CD player, they then completely forget the original subject matter and ask me many questions about what is being played. This album is a real stunner and engages the undivided attention of anybody who hears it, irrespective of their taste in music. Continue reading →

PIGSHIT: 10 reasons why The Rolling Stones WERE the world’s greatest rock and roll band

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As what remains of the literary world eagerly celebrates the arrival this month of none other than Keith Richards’ long-awaited autobio “Life,” I thought I’d just keep this particular ball, well, rolling with…..

TEN REASONS WHY THE ROLLING STONES WERE THE WORLD’S GREATEST ROCK AND ROLL BAND

1. BRIAN JONES’ HAIR

Not only the longest and the blondest, but the most distinctive coif to come out of the (first) British Invasion – hence his invariably being positioned as the focal point of the band’s publicity photos, not to mention album covers. “Personally, I always make a point of cleansing my hair after every meal,” a young Brian would defiantly inform the press when asked if the band, as their promo boasted, bathed only during months with an “R” in them. Continue reading →

From playing Coachella and The White House, to a chart-topping album and sold-out tour, YGG! prove they’re a musical phenomenon to be reckoned with

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They’ve sung and danced with the likes of Weezer, DEVO, Of Montreal, Hot Hot Heat, The Ting Tings, The Killers (and many more), played at this year’s Coachella fest and received rave reviews (Video), played at The White House, and recently released a chart-topping hit album. Who do I speak of? This may sound surprising, but it’s Yo Gabba Gabba! Yes, the children’s television show that began in 2007 and has since developed into somewhat of a cultural phenomenon. The YGG! crew is no longer solely loved by kids, but also by college students, adults, and hipsters worldwide, who refuse to believe that such a great musical show is not geared towards them. YGG! was created by musicians Christian Jacobs (lead singer of punk rock band The Aquabats) and Scott Schultz, and following a sold-out debut tour, the gang behind the show recently hit the road again, this time reigning over Canada from September 4 – 19.  Continue reading →

PIGSHIT by Gary Pig Gold: I Heard It Standing There

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On the occasion of Sir Paul McCartney’s 68th (!) birthday, let me take you back, as the song still goes…

It is the frigid winter of 1963/64. Extra cold, in fact, in the Toronto suburbs for an eight year old who has a long holiday, all set to spend: “With The Beatles.”

My best pal Paul Davis’ house is conveniently located just one block over. His mother is a piano teacher, and so music – yes, even rock ‘n’ roll music – is allowed, if sometimes in the case of “the louder stuff” only tolerated, on the family hi-fi system. So it was then that, until the following year when I was offered the choice of one 45-RPM record of my very own in lieu of fifty cents’ allowance each week, I had to visit the Davis place in order to fully avail myself of his older sister’s record collection.

And what a collection it was! Remarkably hip in retrospect especially because alongside all the usual ’63-vintage pin-up pop (as in Elvis on down), the elder Davis sister had a slew of beautifully battered seven-inch singles I was allowed to run hog – or should I say “Pig” wild with, whenever over there, ostensibly visiting Paul.

That is how, right after that initial Kennedy assassination, I came across my very first Beatle disc: an authentic orange-and-yellow-swirling Capitol Records of Canada pressing of “I Want To Hold Your Hand.”

So, onto the Davis console stereo it immediately went.

Continue reading →