"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!"

Black Lips @ Shangri-La during SXSW

[Tonight] at Sunshine Cinema we're screening our new documentary, New Garage Explosion!!. You might have watched it on your teensy computer screen as we rolled the episodes out on VBS over the last few months, but [if you're not] familiar with New Garage Explosion, ...what we did was pack a bunch of snacks and beer and hit the road to find out what the garage rock scene is like all across the country right now. Among the garage composers we spoke with were the Black Lips, Jay Reatard, Pierced Arrows, Thee Oh Sees, Vivian Girls, Davila 666, and Golden Triangle. And that's just a pube's worth of what's in the whole documentary. We talk to artists, writers, DJs, label owners... basically anyone and everyone involved with the garage rock scene.

Also, following the screening will be a Q & A with Greg Cartwright (The Oblivians) and Todd P (Showpaper).

The screening takes place in six cities, one of which is NYC TONIGHT at 7PM at Sunshine Cinema on Houston St. The Vice/Scion-sponsored screening is free, and first come first served, but you must RSVP to attend.

Flyer for the film, the full list of cities and venues hosting movie screenings (also all free with RSVP), and more pictures from a show the Black Lips played at the Sailor Jerry-sponsored Shangri-La during SXSW (same venue Bill saw the Trouble in Mind showcase at) are below...

Continue reading "Garage Rock documentary w/ Q&A @ Sunshine tonight (and other places), includes Black Lips (so here are some pics)"

Greg Oblivian on stage with the Oblivians at Knit (more by Andrew Frisicano)

"OK, let's get back to the music! We've been hoping that Greg Cartwright might join us at Hanukkah for years now, whether with the Oblivians or Reigning Sound or solo -- the guy wears many hats. Turns out that all we needed to do to coax him north was share a record with him and his newest band, the Parting Gifts (which reminds me -- did I ever tell you that my mom was a contestant on Concentration?). Direct from recording a session for WFMU's Cherry Blossom Clinic, apparently the first time all six of them had ever played together, they sounded great -- who's writing better minor-chord songs than Greg Cartwright? No one. Add a couple of Coco Hames's more country-oriented numbers and their side of our split single, and night 2 was off to a roaring start." [Ira of Yo La Tengo]

The covergence of The Ettes and Reigning Sound happened during three short dates on the East Coast last week (one with Yo La Tengo), as The Parting Gifts (featuring Greg Oblivian and Coco Hames of The Ettes) played Maxwell's on December 2nd and Union Hall on the 3rd. Video from Maxwell's is below. How was Union Hall?

If you missed them, unfortunately there are no dates laid out for The Parting Gifts in the near term, but Reigning Sound is playing the Bell House in Brooklyn on Feb 18th. Tickets are on sale for what appears to be their only scheduled show at the moment

Reigning Sound can be heard on that Nolan Strong tribute compilation called Daddy Rockin' Strong: A Tribute to Nolan Strong & the Diablos that also features contributions from Mark Sultan, Dirtbombs, A-Bones (whose member played with Yo La Tengo this week), Wreckless Eric & Amy Rigby (who both also played with Yo La Tengo this week), Gentleman Jesse & His Men, and others. Pick up a copy.

The Ettes played NYC two days before The Parting Gifts hit Maxwell's, supporting The Greenhornes at Bowery Ballroom on 11/30. The band currently has one upcoming show: January 16 at Pour House Music Hall in Raleigh, NC.

The Parting Gifts videos from Maxwell's and other recent vids of The Ettes and Reigning Sound are below...

Continue reading "The Parting Gifts played shows, Reigning Sound playing one"

Greg Cartwright aka Greg Oblivian has teamed up with Coco Hames of The Ettes to form the Parting Gifts. They, naturally, recently played Gonerfest...

"Their set started with a catchy track, "Keep on Walkin'," from their upcoming album. They sounded great, with Chuck Berry riffs and boogie-woogie piano and awesome, pounding drums provided by Poni of The Ettes. Their music isn't straightforward punk, but soulful, moody garage rock that seems to take inspiration from many decades of intense, heartfelt rock 'n' roll." [Nashville Scene]

That "upcoming album" is called "Strychnine Dandelion", and is actually out now via In the Red and is streaming in full online.

Maybe you caught the Ettes Tuesday night at Bowery Ballroom. They opened for the Greenhornes. Catch the Parting Gifts Thursday (12/2) @ Maxwell's (if you have a ticket since it's the 2nd of eight sold out Yo La Tengo Hanukkah shows), Friday (12/3) @ Union Hall with The Morgues (tickets), and Saturday (12/4) @ Sonar in Baltimore (thx anon).

Seven more YLT openers to figure out. All Ettes and Parting Gifts dates below...

Continue reading "The Parting Gifts are Greg Cartwright & Coco Hames (touring, playing NYC, opening for Yo La Tengo) ++ album streaming"

It's been five years since Greg Cartwright's Reigning Sound dropped their last full-length studio album, Too Much Guitar. Not that Cartwright has been resting on his laurels. The Reigning Sound backed Shangri-La Mary Weiss on her critically acclaimed comeback album, Dangerous Game, which was produced and largely written by Cartwright. The band performed with Weiss on tour, including an appearance on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Cartwright also produced, penned songs for, and played in The Detroit Cobras for a spell. All the while, the Reigning Sound toured the US on and off and released a couple of live albums, yet never managed to get into the studio to record. All the while, Cartwright stockpiled loads of new tunes.

Finally, late last year, the band entered Ardent Studios in Memphis and laid down a bunch of songs. Some months later, they went into Echo Mountain Studios in North Carolina and recorded a bunch more. In the end, the band had more than enough for two albums, and carefully whittled it down to the cream of the musical crop.

Love and Curses (title comes from Memphis TV horror host Sivad) is a return to the sound and style of the Reigning Sound's incredible Time Bomb High School. The band once again features a full-time keyboardist, Dave Amels, and has jettisoned the lo-fi approach used on Too Much Guitar in favor of a bigger, warmer studio sound. As with Time Bomb High School, Love and Curses strikes a balance between soulful rockers and beautiful ballads. The results are a rock 'n' roll album as near to perfection as any one is likely to hear this year. [Midhaven Mailorder]

Love and Curses came out on In the Red Records in August. I also recommend you pick up their new disc "LIVE AT GONER RECORDS" which is also out now. As Goner Records put it includes a "Blastophonic run through some great covers, some great originals from Greg Cartwright!". Greg Cartwright also just put out a live solo record, Live At The Circle A, on September 15th on Dusty Medical Records.

And the group is finally getting around to touring behind these new releases. They play Goner Fest in Memphis this weekend (9/24-9/26), then hit the road in November. They'll be at Maxwell's on November 19th and Southpaw on Nov. 20th. Tickets to both Maxwell's and Southpaw are on sale.

A teaser for the new record, with album art and tracklist, and all tour dates are below..

Continue reading "Reigning Sound - new albums out & Tour Dates announced!"