photos by Jessica Amaya

The Black Lips / The 5.6.7.8's

King Khan joined The Black Lips on stage at Bell House on Thursday, 11/10, the first night of the four-night celebration of Norton Records' 25th Anniversary at the Brooklyn venue. The Black Lips, who headlined Webtster Hall two weeks earlier, were a late, surprise addition to the already-sold-out bill. King Khan was a surprise addition to their set. The show also included The 5.6.7.8's from Japan (who played Mercury Lounge two nights later), Alarm Clocks, Phantom Surfers, Dex Romweber Duo, and The Nor-tones.

Here are some pictures, and video, from that whole night. They continue below...

Continue reading "Norton Records 25th Anniversary --- night 1 in pics & video (Black Lips, King Khan, The 5.6.7.8's & more)"

photos by Chris La Putt

Theee Bat @ Mercury Lounge

Garage rock enthusiasts had a lot to keep them busy this weekend. Not only did Norton Records celebrate at the Bell House for four nights in a row, with related shows at Maxwell's, Japanese bands The 5.6.7.8s and Theee Bat got together with The Back C.C.'s (aka The Baxx Sisis) for a wild party at Mercury Lounge on Saturday. Here are some pics from that show.

Coincidentally (if you want to call it that) funk band "Here Come the Mummies" played Gramercy Theater in NYC, Manhattan even, that same night. I call it a coincidence because every time I think about "Here Come the Mummies", I think about the original The Mummies who you may remember reunited to play some shows in 2009 including one at Southpaw with The Back C.C.'s who played the Mercury Lounge show with Theee Bat who covered The Mummies and who did so for an EXTREMELY limited 7".

The 5.6.7.8s also played the Bell House on Thursday. More pictures from Saturday below...

Continue reading "The 5.6.7.8s, Theee Bat & The Back C.C.'s played Mercury Lounge Saturday (pics)"

You might know the all female Japanese trio The 5.6.7.8.'s as the band who performed in a Tokyo Club in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill Vol. 1. They've also been recording garage rock records since the early '90s, which are sung almost entirely in Japanese but feature several covers of American rock songs notably including the 1950s song "Woo Hoo."

The band came to NYC this week for the Norton Records anniversary shows at The Bell House, where they played the first of four shows on Thursday night (11/10). Pictures from that show are on the way. They'll be sticking around NYC to play their own show at Mercury Lounge on Saturday (11/12) with Theee Bat and The Baxx Sisi's. Tickets are on sale.

The 5.6.7.8.'s recorded a live session for Jack White's Third Man Records on October 22, 2010. The session was released on Third Man earlier this year as a 12" vinyl and features Jack White's guitar playing on the song "I Walk Like Jayne Mansfield." The 12" is available to purchase and listen to samples at the Third Man webstore.

Videos are below...

Continue reading "The 5.6.7.8.'s playing a 2nd NYC show while in town for the Norton Records Anniversary"

"The Sonics? Wow!" - Anonymous | May 15, 2009 9:52 AM

Classic NYC garage rock label Norton Records will celebrate their 25th Anniversary over the course of four nights at The Bell House (Nov 10-13). The shows feature some pretty incredible artists, including most notably The Sonics, whose 1965 garage rock classic Here Are The Sonics is regarded by some as the first punk rock album. Norton Records reissued the album in 1999. The Sonics headline the last night (11/13) of the run. Tickets are on sale now for all four nights.

Tickets are also on sale for a daytime Sonics show happening November 12th at Maxwell's. You can hit this show and still not miss the show later that night at the Bell House. Sunday during the day is the Brooklyn Record Riot at Warsaw.

The Sonics need no introduction, but those not familiar should consider that Kurt Cobain said in a Nardwuar interview that "They got the most amazing drum sound I've ever heard. Still to this day, it's still my favorite drum sound. It sounds like he's hitting harder than anyone I've ever known." The White Stripes call them the "epitome of '60s punk," "harder than The Kinks," and say that "life becomes better after buying a Sonics record." Newer band Japandroids love them too, and say, "When you listen to it, even at low volumes, it sounds like it's blasting. And I like how you can feel they would melt your face if you saw them live." Don't sleep on catching them live. Last time they were in NYC was 2007. Who saw them at Warsaw? How was it? Check out videos from a December 2010 KEXP appearance below.

Fellow '60s garage rock vets ? and the Mysterians, best known for their 1966 single "96 Tears," headline the night before them. Other noteworthy bands include The Real Kids, led by John Felice of the The Modern Lovers, and The Randy Fuller Four. Randy Fuller was part of his brother's group The Bobby Fuller Four in the 1960s, who recorded the first successful version of the single "I Fought the Law," popularly covered by The Clash. Folllowing Bobby's untimely death in 1966 at age 23, Randy took over the group, which he renamed The Randy Fuller Four.

Reigning Sound, Mark Sultan (BBQ), The Condo Fucks, A-Bones, Flamin Groovies.... there are so many people on these bills, it's too much to list. Full lineup and some videos, below...

Continue reading "Norton Records anniversary shows happening at the Bell House, two Sonics shows too!"