A Choogle and a Postcard

Finally finished off the White Poppies for Remembrance series on Postcards from Gravelly Beach with moments to spare before Remembrance day (being a year since i recorded the content).  Tis a narrative on the go in London musing on the celebratory artifacts of wars gone past.  I enjoyed Remembrance day ceremonies on the Ceeb from a cottage on Sechelt inlet on the Sunshine Coast. Meandering Past Monuments of Remembrance – Postcards #49

And part three of my ongoing documentary of a rock n’ rol trio bound for adventures from their humble base in a distressed logging town (OK that all sounds too dramatic but whatever …), Choogle on rolls out more Numbskulz conversation and more pod-debuts of tracks including a revamped Lifestyles.  The post has heaps of links to bonus Numbskulz media. The Numbskulz Grow Up and Rock Out – Choogle on #55

The Dirty Birds Rock McCoy’s

Olympia Washington’s legendary bar band The Dirty Birds rock the house at McCoy’s Taven on 4th Ave. on Arts Walk evening, Oct. 5th, 2007. Feautures Jimmy on sax and vox, Scott on guitar, Mike on drums and Tim on bass.

Formats available: MPEG4 Video (.mp4), Flash Video (.flv)

Tags: dirtybirds, rocknroll, music, olympia, olywa, mccoys

Levon Helm’s New Album with downloads

Reposted here to encourage the world to get their mitts on the talented Mr. Helm’s new offering

Inspiration from the Delta: Levon Goes Home for Dirt Farmer

Levon Helm’s first record in more than a decade, Dirt Farmer, will be released to the public on October 30, through Dirt Farmer Music LLC in conjunction with Vanguard Records. Levon sings and plays drums, guitar and mandolin on the CD, accompanied by Larry Campbell on guitars and fiddle, and the voices of Amy Helm and Teresa Williams. The record explores songs Levon learned as a boy in Arkansas and others in that style.

“Growing up on a cotton farm in the Arkansas Delta, Dirt Farmer rings true to home,” Levon said. “Amy encouraged me to go all the way back and try to record some of the family songs from home that we always loved best.”

The record reveals the essential beauty of traditional songs like “Little Birds” and the Stanley Brothers’ “False Hearted Lover Blues,” and takes a new look at Paul Kennerley’s “A Train Robbery,” Buddy and Julie Miller’s “Wide River To Cross” and another sentimental favorite, Lauralyn Dossett’s “Anna Lee.”

Levon said: “‘The Girl I Left Behind’ was one of the first songs my parents taught me as a child, along with ‘Little Birds’and ‘Blind Child.’ ‘The Poor Old Dirt Farmer’ is a song that my wood-carver musician friend Michael Copus and I learned together when we worked with Jane Fonda on The Dollmaker down in Tennessee. ‘Single Girl, Married Girl’ is one of my favorite songs of the whole session. It gave us the chance to address a traditional standard with the entire rhythm section using non-electric instruments and a full set of drums. It also gave us the chance to monkey up the rhythm of a traditional country beat.”

1. False Hearted Lover Blues 3:29
2. Poor Old Dirt Farmer 3:52
3. The Mountain 3:35
4. Little Birds 4:41
5. The Girl Left Behind 3:35
6. Calvary 4:53
7. Anna Lee 3:42
8. Got Me a Woman 3:11
9. A Train Robbery 5:28
10. Single Girl, Married Girl 3:18
11. Blind Child 3:26
12. Feelin’ Good 3:31
13. Wide River To Cross 4:52

Help us earn…
…buy, don’t burn levonhelm.com

DOA on DVD with Smash the State

D.O.A. Smash the State DVD release show Sept. 27th The Plaza Club, Vancouver, BC
World renowned punk band D.O.A. is back with the brand new DVD “Smash the State.” It will be released September 25th, 2007 on Joe Shithead’s Sudden Death Records.

This long awaited compilation is loaded with a ton of raw footage shot at four shows in the San Francisco/Bay Area and the infamous Canada Day Anarchist Picnic in Vancouver.

The DVD features D.O.A.’s original line up: Joe Shithead Keithley, Chuck Biscuits, Randy Rampage and Dave Gregg at their best. Smash the State includes 21 classic songs, interviews, newscasts, plus footage of the day anarcho punks took over Vancouver’s Stanley Park on July 1st, 1978.

• Guest appearances by: Keith Morris (Circle Jerks), Dirk Dirksen (Mabuhay Gardens/San Francisco punk guru), JB Shayne (legendary Vancouver DJ) and Zippy Pinhead (Los Popularos, The Dils)
  

Canada’s punk godfather Joe Shithead had this to say: “I really wanted people to see the original version of D.O.A. performing. You know, the completely raw band that went out and took on the world. So I gathered together some of the best footage I could find and came up with Smash the State. Most of the footage is taken from shows in San Francisco and the East Bay. This makes a lot of sense, as San Francisco became D.O.A.’s home away from home in the late seventies and into the eighties.

Our very first show outside of Vancouver was in S.F. I took a train, Biscuits and Rampage took a bus and Brad Kent hitch hiked. When we arrived we had to scramble around to find enough gear to play. But it was great, so from that point on, it just took a phone call like “Hey, can D.O.A. play a show with the Avengers and the Dead Kennedys next week?” Of course we fucking can! So we would hop in any old wrecked vehicle we could find, and headed down to the Bay area to help start a punk rock riot.

The last part of the DVD was our fifth show. It was an anarchist gathering in Vancouver’s Stanley Park on Canada Day in 1978. It was billed as “Anti-Canada Day”. We didn’t have a permit, so the cops tried to stop D.O.A., The Subhumans and Private School from playing that day. Our pal Phil Smith managed to talk a local picnicking church group into lending us their park permit once the picnic was over. This of course infuriated the Vancouver Police, but they could not stop the show. This is documented on Smash the State, there’s even footage of Rampage giving a cop a kiss. Hey, cool shit, but I don’t know if the cop thought so.” – Joe Shithead

For a lot of people all over the world, D.O.A. was either their first exposure to punk rock, or one of their earliest memories of that blistering phenomenon. When you watch Smash the State you’ll understand why D.O.A. has influenced everyone from Green Day to the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Henry Rollins to Jello Biafra, Rancid to Nirvana and NOFX to Bad Religion.

Bread the Producer’s video of The Police May 28, 2007 Vancouver

Bread the Producer edited up this montage beauty of The Police’s epic return to Vancouver with a variety of songs and uncannily good audio quality. The whole gang was there (cosmo, Dingo, Bread, Leezer, Osmosis, Funboy, Toad …) to see a bit of music history as Sting thanked the Squamish nation for use of their Longhouse for rehersal and called Stewart Copeland the best drummer in the world – yup.

No Pandora for Canadians – How about Global Music Enthusiasts (with dual-citizenship)?

I received a message from music service Pandora (if you don’t know about it, here’s the brief: you create your own custom stream by entering in an atist or song you like, pandora then selects more stuff for you which you give a thumbs-up or down to which further educates the service). Me, i have a station rolling a mix of Mudhoney, Gordon Lightfoot, Thelonius Monk and Buffalo Tom – or i did anyhow. Alas, draconian licensing measures mean Pandora is unable to provide content for those (lucky ducks) living outside the United States or Irony and Befuddlement.

Here’s what they said:

Dear Pandora listener,

Today we have some extremely disappointing news to share with you. Due to international licensing constraints, we are deeply, deeply sorry to say that we must begin proactively preventing access to Pandora’s streaming service from Canada. We began blocking access from almost all countries outside the U.S. last week and had originally hoped to maintain access to Canada. However, it has become clear in the last week that we just haven’t been able to make enough progress to continue streaming.

It is difficult to convey just how disappointing this is for us. Our vision remains to eventually make Pandora a truly global service, but for the time being, we can no longer continue as we have been. As a small company, the best chance we have of realizing our dream of Pandora all around the world is to grow as the licensing landscape allows.

We show your IP address is ‘66.119.xxx.xxx’, which indicates you are listening from Canada. If you believe you are seeing this by mistake, we offer our sincere apologies and ask that you please reply to this email.

I’ve found myself unable to comply with the restrictions and am now (fessing up here) using music illegally (shock) via a VPN connection to Zhonka (the finest DSL ISP in WA) and feel justiied since i pay taxes in both countries, purchase music in both (well not *really* but i could if i ever bought RIAA music besides Joni Mitchell) but also as an act of civil disobedience, i am tuning in to say a big “blah” to the haters squeezing the last pennies out of a dying delivery and distribution paradigm.

Props to Pandora (read Pandora’s blog) for being forthright about the issues – these folks are clearly (unlike most yacht rock lovin’ big label execs) music enthusiasts whose entreprenuerial endeavours are being twarted by under-educated lawmakers influenced by swindling well-heeled label shills. Enjoy the pablum for now cause time’s they are a changin’! (Note: no royalities were paid to Zimmerman for the paraphrased line – i don’t know who to make the cheque out to).

My advice to the dinosaurs, … Make the licensing systems fair, equitable and easy then podcasters (and even P2P-addicted kids) will ante up – really.

Save Net Radio – Call Congressperson now

Here’s what the Save Net Radio org says:

CALL YOUR CONGRESSPERSON NOW TO ASK THEM TO CO-SPONSOR H.R. 2060, THE INTERNET RADIO EQUALITY ACT.

The future of Internet radio is in immediate danger. Royalty rates for webcasters have been drastically increased by a recent ruling and are due to go into effect on July 15 (retroactive to Jan 1, 2006!).

If thei ncreased rates remain unchanged, the majority of webcasters will go bankrupt and silent on this date. Internet radio needs your help! H.R.2060, The Internet Radio Equality Act was introduced by Representatives Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Donald Manzullo (R-IL ) to save the Internet radio industry.

Please call your congressperson to ask them to co-sponsor H.R. 2060 – here’s what you’ll talk to them about – you know, the talking points.

REMEMBER! Be polite when you call – these are diligent (often young) workers tending to the calls – your rants and angst is better directed elsewhere.

Talking Points:

1) I am a constituent and I’m calling to ask Congressman/woman ________ to save Internet radio by co-sponsoring H.R. 2060, the Internet Radio EqualityAct. 2) The Copyright Royalty Board’s decision to increase royalty rates for webcasters is going to turn off my Internet radio and I do NOT wantthat to happen. Please tell Congressman/woman ­­­________ to co-sponsor H.R. 2060, the Internet Radio Equality Act. 3) I believe that artists should be fairly compensated for the music they make, but putting my webcasters out of business will only hurt artists more. They depend on Internet radio to get their music out to fans and build new audiences. When the webcasters go off the air, so do artists.  Please co-sponsor H.R. 2060, the Internet Radio Equality Act. 4) Internetradio is one of the only bright spots for independent music and diversity. We NEED Internet radio. Don’t turn it off. Co-sponsorH.R.2060, the Internet Radio Equality Act. 5) (Ifyouare an artist) Internet radio enables artists like myself to reach fans throughout the country and enjoy exposure and airplay that we may otherwise have not received. I’m asking you to co-sponsor H.R.2060, the Internet Radio Equality Act.

technorati tags:savenetradio, podcast, radio, intellectualproperty, callyourcongressperson, law, publicpolicy, royalties, theriaasucks, copyright, copywrong

Blogged with Flock

Saint Patrick’s Day Parade Sound-seeing, Vancouver, BC 2007

Sound-seeing audio of dozens of different musical bands including pipe and drum, fiddles and sticks, more pipers, marching bands plus sound-systems and even old Shriners with fezes playing “When the Saints” on Glockenspiels.

Vast variety of musical snippets – plus some gratuitous police motorcycle sirens and horses – generally unedited and without commentary but with natural crowd chatter in stereo.

Come on along by downloading:
Saint Patrick Day Parade Sound-seeing Tour – Vancouver, BC 2007
(23:20, 128K, .mp3, 22MB, stereo)

Subscribe to all Ephemeral Feasthouse podcasts

More Info:

photo of Shriner’s at St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Vancouver
by Frank Dawson (blueshoe on Now Public)

article “4th Annual Saint Patrick’s Day Parade In Vancouver”
by Frank Dawson (blueshoe on Now Public)

Excerpt:

VANCOUVER B.C., Canadaby Frank Dawson

Towntown core of Vancouver goes green today. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade which went down Howe and Granville streets between Smithe and Drake featured 2,000 participants and more than 100 entries went down Howe and Granville streets between Smithe and Drake.

On show where pipers, drummers, dancers, multicultural and community groups, acrobats, vintage automobiles and horse-drawn attractions. Last year’s successful street market again was set up on Granville between Robson and Smithe, with the KidsZone attractions located on Nelson.

Bumrush the Charts – Message from IODA’s Corey Perry

IODA Promonet is a killer music distribution and promotion service which benefits the audience, podcasters, artist and labels. Corey blogs at Nothing’s Shocking and makes a sweet podcast (a mix tape for her friends).

photo by crazywanda of photo by kk-plussign

She is pimping the Bum Rush the charts project thusly …

The Financial Aid Podcast will bum rush the charts and raise scholarship funding all at once. OnMarch 22, New Media Makers from around the world are being asked topromote and purchase one single track from itunes to prove that analternative media campaign can chart a track on itunes. Please readmore details here …and stay tuned. The bum rush is thursday. the band is Black Lab. The buy links will go up on thursday at midnight.

Photo by Scales of me at Northern Voice pontifying for Promonet

technorati tags:ioda, promonet, crazywanda, coreyperry, daveolson, robertscales, nothingshocking, northernvoice, podcasting, music

Blogged with Flock

Spot the Wonder Band

blasts from the past
Originally uploaded by Uncleweed.

A long lost friend from years ago in Logan Utah (the poet, now english teacher, Adam Burmingham) sent along this flyer from a band i played in in SLC circa 1990.

The band only lasted a short while as savnat singer/songwriter/guitar Chris Sullivan went to Alaska to fish (dammit). Bass player Dan Tatomer (Allen) is now the front man for Silver Needle, a glam-inspired rock outfit from LA, Brandon Kiggins in a filmmaker and instructor in NYC and the other drummer Eric, who knows … and me, i am just trying to get along.

D.O.A. and The Furies Rock Richards, Vancouver, Feb 10 2007

Punk Rock Confidential presented by
JEM Gallery and Sudden Death Records

D.O.A. and The Furies @ Richard’s on Richards, Vancouver, BC, Sat. Feb. 10th

www.suddendeath.com

Vancouver’s first punk band, The Furies will play their first show in 30 years!

• All ages show 3 PM-6 PM
• Over 19 show 8 PM-2 AM
  

Canada’s most influential punk band D.O.A. is teaming up with The Furies, Vancouver’s legendary first punk band for two shows at Richard’s on Richards, 1036 Richards St. Vancouver, BC.

The event has been dubbed Punk Rock Confidential and features a blistering cast. The amazing D.O.A. will headline the festivities. They are led by Canada’s godfather of punk, Joe Shithead Keithley, with the help of the legendary Randy Rampage on bass and The Great Baldini on drums.

The Furies started putting on shows at the old Japanese Hall in the summer of ’77. These mind blowing gigs shocked the public as the posters boldly announced “Punk Rock”. Now, The Furies, led by the incredible Chris Arnett along with the help of original bassist Jonathan Werner, are back. These shows will be their first in 30 years.

Rebel Spell will also play. They’re a great new band from Vancouver. Further support will come from First Reign, a good hard drivin’ outfit from Abbotsford.

Tickets are $15.00 in advance and $18.00 at the door. Tickets available at Red Cat, Noize To Go, Zulu, Highlife, Scratch,Bone Rattle and JEM Gallery. Tickets at JEM Gallery have no surcharge and they take phone orders as well 604 879 5366, email; thejemgallery@yahoo.com

For more info, email; info@suddendeath.com
Phone: 604.777.6972
Fax: 604.777.6974

www.suddendeath.com

Punk Rock Confidential is also sponsored by; The Only, Red Cat Records and R and B Brewery

More Tragic Hipness

Amigo Bread posted his snaps from the Vancouver Nov. 7th Tragically Hip show up to Flickr including some great shots of the band and the “atmosphere” inside and outside the venue. Make sure to see TTH Pool too.

Here’s poetic singer Gord Downie vamping and working it like a workingman’s mix of Michael Stipe, Freddie Mercury and Martin Gelinas (plus a tiny bit of Leonard Cohen) as he talks (indeed occassionally argues) with his mic stand and the band rolls their eyes as he forgets/makes up lyrics.

Setlists – Originally uploaded by radiobread

 

This busker was tearing into a Hip tune out front -
nice and loudly through a little amp (I recorded snippet for Choogle on podcast)