Irish Eyes Are Smiling for Stiff Little Fingers!

It was July 4, 1976 and the Ramones invade Great Britain!  Shortly after, the Sex Pistols vomit for the queen, during the summer of 1977.  August 16, 1977 was the day Elvis left us. He was a southern country boy that brought black music to a white audience. Rock 'n' roll was an uncontrollable monster that could never be tamed.  With rock 'n' roll's evolution into punk, it got louder and angrier, and was determined to shock the world into examining its inhumanity. 

1977 was about the time that punk rock started flaring up in Ireland.  An explosive Belfast-based punk band Stiff Little Fingers (named after a Vibrators song) had the questionable distinction of being referred to as "the Irish Clash." At the time, it might have seemed like a complement, but it did little to help their career, because of the constant comparisons between the two bands.

August 16, 2011 marked the thirty-fourth anniversary of Elvis Presley's passing. Driving home from work that day, I heard Elvis singing "Danny Boy," and it made me reflect on 1977. As one of the architects of rock 'n' roll ascends to the universe, another is passed the torch. It was the year 1977, that Stiff Little Fingers began its rumblings in Belfast. Thirty-four years later, I witnessed the return of Jake Burns and Stiff Little Fingers to Chicago's Double Door.

 The show began with an awesome band from Chicago's south side called Flatfoot 56. Oh yeah, South side Irish punk rock with a bagpipe and a mandolin. They were a fun bunch of guys that I will definitely make an effort to go see again. Stiff Little Fingers assaulted the stage at 10:00 PM, and to my surprise, it's Mark DeRosa on bass. Mark is a current regular at Double Door, and the bassist-singer for the great Chicago band Dummy.  Stiff Little Fingers stirred up the crowd into some civilized moshing.  Typical of a punk rock crowd, but tonight was uniquely Irish.


Jake Burns of Stiff Little Fingers


Stiff Little Fingers debut record "Inflammable materials" hit the streets in 1979.  After two years of absorbing the new wave of punk that was smothering America and England, a sandpaper voiced frontman named Jake Burns launched a ferocious collection of songs that reflected the anger and despair of growing up in violence-torn Belfast, Northern Ireland. Jake Burns was a political voice, and had an interest in reggae, like Joe Strummer of the Clash. Stiff Little Fingers did turntables justice, at a time when corporate culture had a stranglehold on the music business.



Mark DeRosa of Dummy joins Stiff Little Fingers

 
Punk was a restless child of that monster called Rock 'n' roll. The monster's language was universal and timeless. Old jams like "Alternative Ulster" and "Suspect Device" were in full form. It was a mesmerizing performance that landed two encores. Last night's show was a testament for aging rockers.  It was such a delight to see youngsters dancing with old-school punk rockers. Irish eyes were smiling in Chi-town.

Vee Dee rocks and Chicago Independent Radio Project rolls!

Last night, on Chicago's north side, Whistler club hosted the amazing Vee Dee. It was a benefit to support the Chicago Independent Radio Project, which is a progressive movement to bring a low power FM community radio station to the city. We need to encourage Congress and the FCC to allow more citizens access to the airwaves.

The year was 2004, that I stumbled upon Vee Dee.  At first glance, this trio looked like a psychedelic throwback to the late 1960s San Francisco scene.  Within a few songs, the garage-punk vibes had folks pogo dancing.  On closer examination, they were mixing punk and psychedelia...  acid punk!

Vee Dee is led by chief songwriter Nick D'Vyne on guitar and lead vocals.  I have never seen Nick play any other guitar than his 1966 non reverse firebird.  On bass and vocals is Dan Lang.  His bass is loud, heavy, and intensifying. Nick and Dan do choruses together that have a hypnotic enthusiasm.  Ryan Murphy completes the trio on drums.  He pounds away like it's his last show.

Vee Dee has evolved on their three albums.  They were all over the music map last night.  Some bands like AC/DC, Ramones, and Motorhead did one thing.  They did that one thing so good that they just kept on doing that one thing. We have learned to love them for that one thing.  However, I believe there is plenty of room for bands to experiment with different sounds that bounce all over the music spectrum. I remember seeing Vee Dee when they released their second record, and there was one song that sounded like "Are You Experienced" by Jimi Hendrix.  Another song reminded me of Blue cheer, and then another reminded me of the MC5.  The new record has overtones of Black Sabbath.  It's all good!

I was always annoyed by that stupid notion that pre-punk and post-punk were worlds apart. "Out with the old and in with the new" made no sense to me.  Rock 'n' roll's family tree is a long chain of genres that each added a new coat of  paint to the art form.  In 1977, the punk revolution said "to hell with corporate control of music!" But that did not mean that the roots no longer mattered.  In 2011, I am glad to see that there is a new breed of music fan that can dig it all.

Everything comes full circle eventually. Vee Dee borrows from the past to complete the full circle, and with some twisting of notes, these vibes become new again.  In the mist of Vee Dee's garage-punk attack, they took a turn back to the blues, drifted off into  dimensions of psychedelia, did some head banging, and then finished with some vibes that could only be classified as rock 'n' roll.

Call your member of Congress and ask them to cosponsor the Local Community Radio Act.    congress.org

Write to the FCC and asks them to prioritize low power radio stations programmed and managed locally over "translator" signals that only carry distant network programming.    fcc.gov/contacts.html

Visit    chicagoindieradio.org

Listen to CHIRP Radio now!    http://www.chirpradio.org/

Chi-town nights with TJ Superfan: The Sleepers put the roll back in rock!

Chi-town nights with TJ Superfan: The Sleepers put the roll back in rock!: "

David Johansen and Sylvian Sylvian New York Dolls July 27, 2011
 In these days of 'corporate controlled radio' and lame bands dr..."

Rockit Girl and Ladies & Gentlemen at Double Door

Rockit Girl is back!




Mike

 

Skid Marks



Ladies & Gentleman



Rockit Girl really rocks it!



Kathryn & Gina



John





Gina & Kathyrn

  



The ghost of Keith Moon paid a visit to Double Door last night!

Chad Romanski orders you to rock!



Rockit Girl return to Double Door Friday and what a rock 'n' roll rendezvous it was. Opening the show was one of my longtime favorites. Skid Marks and the Ladies & Gentlemen delivered a great danceable set of retro new wave, glam, and power-pop. They borrow from  early '80s Brit-pop and add a fresh new twist that makes one get down on the dance floor.

Rockit Girl was formed in the summer of 1999 by Gina Crosley (former Emil Muzz front-woman). Power-pop, punk, and a slightly riot-girl attitude was the chemistry of this great two girl-two guy Chicago band that reminded me of that endless "summer of fun." That never ending drive to get out there and play for the fun of it, has always been a part of Chicago's music scene.

Rockit Girl are one of many bands that never really seem to go away. They disbanded in 2006, but no one really thought that was the last show. These bands just go into a moratorium for awhile and when the time is right, that monster called rock 'n roll comes knocking at your door again. Gina, Kathryn, John, and Chad liberated the "land of lameness" from any attempts to keep us from rocking and dancing to that endless summer of fun.

Echos of the Breeders, Sleater-Kinney, Throwing Muses, Hole, Elastica, and the Luv'd Ones reverberated through both doors of the Double Door, and out on to North, Damen, and Milwaukee Avenue of Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood. The special thing about last night, was seeing Chad Romanski on drums again. It's been a couple years since he played drums at the last show for the Dials. It was also great to see Dials keyboard player Emily hanging out. The Dials were one of my favorite bands during the 2000's decade. Chad was asked to join the Dials in 2005, after the passing of original drummer Doug Meis. The late-great Doug Meis, John Glick, and Mike Dahlquist will always be in our memory.

Lawrence Peters Outfit at Burlington on Fullerton

Tonight I went back to one of the roots of the monster. This monster called Rock 'n' roll was born when white country music stumbled upon the black man's blues. African-Americans absorbed European folk music in the 1800's, while chanting gospel hymns on the plantations of Mississippi. The black folks eventually created a distinct American art form called the blues. Jazz, rhythm & blues, and soul would soon follow. This new art form caught the attention of poor white folks, who understood that the blues was not just a style of music, but a state of mind. Rooted in despair and suffering, the blues is an outlet to express the desire to survive.

In 1927, Jimmie Rodgers performed "T for Texas" which was basically his interpretation of the blues. Way up in the mountains of Virginia, the Carter Family was doing their version of the blues. These early recordings became the birth of country music. It was passed down to Elvis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee. At Sun Studios in 1955, these country dudes showed their desire to mix their country roots with the various black styles they absorbed: gospel, swing jazz, rhythm & blues, jump blues, and Mississippi blues. After mixing these vibes, the monster was born! The monster's original name was Rockabilly.

Country roots reverberated the Burlington Club in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood Monday night. The Lawrence Peters Outfit was refreshing to remind me of how much I love old-school traditional country. They did songs that were reminiscent of Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, the Louvin Brothers, George Jones, Hank Williams, and Lefty Frizzell.

Lawrence Peters is currently the drummer for Plastic Crimewave Sound with Chicago music historian Steve Krakow. Plastic Crimewave Sound do some venomous psychedelic acid punk. I remember seeing Lawrence perform with Kelly Kessler and the Wichita Shut Ins. It was during the '90s Americana insurgent country scene. Kelly Kessler was totally doing a retro homage to Maybelle Carter of the Carter Family. Lawrence later performed with Western Standard Time.

The Lawrence Peters Outfit features guitarist Pennsylvania Dave of the Blue Tear Drops and Gin Palace Jesters. Matt Gandurski handles the other guitar in a way that makes it sound like a steel pedal guitar. There was that traditional dual harmonizing that is often called the "high lonesome sound." Unfortunately, current country radio does not play real country music. The Nashville corporate controlled machine has produced some really bad pop music. Much of it is an embarrassment to the early outlaws and fathers of the high lonesome sound.

Our great American art form has a rich heritage that will make the curious music lover journey back to rock 'n' roll's family tree. There is a special place on that tree for country roots. The best country songs were a reaction to the Great Depression. As our economy falters on the brink of collapse, we need the black blues folks and real country folks to sing the blues again. The Lawrence Peters Outfit will be at the Empty Bottle this coming Friday. Come on out if you want an outlet from your lover's cheating heart.

Black Actress is here again!

Have you heard the news? There's good rockin' tonight! That was a declaration for the birth of a monster. The monster's name was Rock 'n roll. Roy Brown, followed by Wynonie Harris, and then followed by Elvis, the monster set out to infiltrate the lame minds and souls of an uptight world starving for the next great art form. Chuck Berry sounded like a white country boy? Elvis sounded black? Link Wray's "Rumble" was banned from the airwaves and jukeboxes for fear that kids would rumble? White kids screaming for some black dude? Black kids dancing to some white dude? The F.B.I. was put on alert!

Those were the opening salvos of rock 'n' roll way back in the '40s and '50s. The monster is never going away! Those who say that "rock is a thing of the past" should visit the town of Chicago. On any given night, there is some great band completing the full circle of rock. From Blind Willie Johnson, the torch was passed to Roy Brown, who passed the torch to Link Wray, who passed the torch to the MC5. The monster got louder and angrier with the '70s punk revolution. The Dead Boys then pass the torch to Chicago's Black Actress, who tore it up at Chicago's Cobra Lounge Friday. It was the mutilation of wimpdom on the near west side!

Last night they launched another assault on the untrained ears of Chicago's Quenchers Club, tucked away in the north side neighborhood of Bucktown. In the proud tradition of Motorhead, the mutilation of wimpdom continued. They were back with a vengeance! It was a smaller stage, but the mind blowing vibes resonated through the walls and left a stamp of suspicion that the monster is on the loose again in Chi-town!

Bobby, Bryan, Casey, Chris, and Greg were totally in the "kick your ass" zone! With all the bad news about the economy, disturbing tensions, and the overall  stress of this insane world, it's such a relief to escape and chill out at a cool  place like Cobra or Quenchers, where one can get their rock fix with a band like Black Actress. It's great to live in Chicago with its vibrant music scene. In Chi-town, the monster will never leave you alone!

Black Actress is here!

In 2007, I was turned away on the second day of Lollapalooza because their stupid bracelet fell off my wrist. I went through hell to get back in. I will never go to that "capitalist joke" of a music fest again! Instead, last night I witnessed one of the most kick-ass of rock 'n' roll bands. Black Actress are five guys that will force you to rock! Motorhead meets the ghost of the Dead Boys, with a sonic discharge that is in your face!

Black Actress features the wild front-man Bobby Miller. Bobby (Ex-Chopper Chicks) is a modern day combination of Iggy Pop, Stiv Bators, David Johansen, and Steven Tyler. He was all over the room at Chicago's Cobra lounge. Climbing up onto the bar, he made folks get out of his way. Some civilized moshing erupted and he was in the middle of it. It was mayhem on Ashland Avenue in Chi-town. Screw corporate Lollapalooza...this was the place to be!

In one guitar corner, it's Casey Sass (Ex-Thunderwing and the Two+Two) who evokes the timeless attitude and spirit of Fred Sonic Smith. The MC5 comes to life again with their two guitar attack. In the other guitar corner is Bryan Wilkinson (Lust Killers) thrusting out evil riffs that would envision Wayne Kramer's angry revolutionary days which have come full circle in 2011.


Chris (Ex-Thunderwing and the Two+Two) provides a mind-blowing bass rhythm that can only compliment Greg (Ex- Hellelujah) on drums. Together, they were ear-piercing much in the way Lemmy would give it to you. Rock or die! No wimps aloud!

Black Actress are working on a debut release, which will join all the other current bands that have embraced the return of vinyl. They are one of many great Chicago bands that keep that "endless tide of explosive rock" detonating. In a time when there are so many lame bands posing with pretentious ambitions, Black Actress are here to resurrect that monster called Rock 'n' roll. The monster will crush any attempts to bury these vibes. For these vibes will haunt and torment you until you get it!

In 1955, Elvis, Johnny, Carl, and Jerry Lee borrowed from Little Richard, Ike Turner, Louis Jordon, Charlie Patton, and Hank Williams to create this new monster, which busted  down the doors of authority. It sent shock waves that were heard around the world. Years later, when corporate forces thought they had this monster locked up in a cage, it exploded in their face! Out of the garage, came punk rock and other menacing animals like psychedelia, metal, and grunge. So it's 2011, and there will be no sleep until the monster unleashes the total destruction of wimpdom! Black Actress rock again tonight at Chicago's Quenchers.