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THE INDIE ROCK BLOG
The Indie Rock Blog is a collection of Sugartune Artist News and entries from our friends at the Rock and Roll Report. If sweet, sugartunes are stirring in your soul, keep your soul stirred with a subscription to our news feed. 
Coleman launches inquiry into RIAA’s piracy crackdown
Could it be that “The Industry” might be trampeling on your rights? Nah, impossible. “The Industry” care about you the consumer and you the artist too much to do that. (You may now turn off your sarcasm alarm).
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I just read an interview with one of my all time rock and roll heroes, Peter Buck of R.E.M. on Murmurs (an excellent R.E.M. fan site) and was struck by his comment that, compared with the ‘80s underground that existed when R.E.M. first started out, he feels that there are “more bands but less originality” today except for some of the new “alt-country” bands gigging around. Who am I to argue with Peter Buck except to say that “originality” is an extremely subjective term. A lot of music that I like some people would consider to be “retro” or worse (from, Sloan to the High Dials to Oasis to….R.E.M.) but is that a lack of originality?
Now, if I had a comments system for this site I would be hoping to get some feedback from anybody reading but I don’t (yet, stay tuned..) so let me know what you think here. Are there in fact more rock and roll bands but less originality? In fact, what do you consider to be “original?” Enquiring minds want to know.
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The wheels are in motion for a BMG Warner merger
Wonderful! Now the “BIG 5″ become the “BIG 3″! When will this madness stop?
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BILLBOARD
I love Rhino Records! This will be a perfect companion to the 2 Nuggets boxed sets that they have already put out. So much music, so little money!
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One of my favourite past times is searching out cool record labels. Yes they do exist! As a matter of fact, they have reinforced my belief that there is a ton of great music being made today that we never get to hear about because of the current “BIG 5” record label monopoly (that is not to say that there is no good music made on the BIG 5, there is and I’ll talk about it, it’s just that it is often hidden in the far corners of the BIG 5s catalog with little or no support behind it, just ask Wilco). Not only is there great music being made now, there was some great stuff being made in the past that you might never have heard about. Until now. Part of the reason for starting “The Rock and Roll Report” as you may have guessed by now, is sharing these discoveries with whomever might stumble across this little niche on the ‘net. And there is no better example than the Dionysus Records “Empire.” I have talked about Orange Sky Records in a past post but I want to bring you up to speed on the rest of their offerings. They include Dionysus Records, the Bacchus Archives and Hell Yeah Records. Offering everything from records from bands that “sounded like they walked out of a mid-60s time warp” to “over-the-edge modern punk” Dionysus offers a real treasure trove of great sounds and cool fun. Jump in and buy, buy, buy! There will definitely be something there to tickle your fancy. Let the adventure begin!
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Good times roll
It was an event more than a concert but overall I think that the “really big shoow” that has been dubbed “SARS-stock” was a great success for everyone involved and hopefully the money raised will help those health care workers and their families most affected by SARS. No matter how you look at it, for $21.00 bucks Canadian a ticket, it was the deal of a lifetime. TV coverage sucked but when has TV coverage of any Rock and Roll concert really worked out (remember Live Aid?). Let’s hope Toronto has turned the page on this unfortunate part of their history. If you really want to help out, visit Toronto! It’s a great city.
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Rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Sam Phillips dies
A sad day indeed. The man who founded Sun Records and signed Elvis has passed on. All fans of Rock and Roll should bow their heads and give a moment of silence in tribute to a man who was one of the architects of Rock and Roll. Thank you Sam Phillips. Rest in peace.
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You know, I still love the Rolling Stones. What you say? Those old farts? Ah, they’re just in it for the money you scream. Then you use that famous line that drives me bananas: “They’re just not relevant anymore.” Hoo boy I hate that statement, proclamation, opinion or whatever you want to call it! They are relevant to me and the approximately 470,000 people crowded into an old air force base in Toronto that’s who. What do you expect Keith Richards to do? Retire? The guy would die if he couldn’t tour anymore. And Charlie Watts? Coolest man in rock and roll. I think that this article, though written in 1997, puts everything into perspective perfectly. Read it and show some respect. You never know when you might run into Keith Richards and it’s rumoured that he carries a switch blade. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
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From the amps behind The Beatles to Brian Jones’ teardrop shaped guitar. From the organs that propelled countless American garage bands to the ubiquitous AC30 amp that shapes the sound of guitarists like Peter Buck, The Edge and Tom Petty today, Vox musical instruments and amps have shaped the sound of rock and roll over and over since the early sixties. That glory is on display at the great website The Vox Showroom. A real treat for Vox enthusiasts, it features tons of information on Vox amps, guitars, basses and effects like the famous Vox wah wah pedal used by some guy named Jimi Hendrix. Very cool. It should make you want to go out, grab an AC30 and blast away to rock and roll glory yourself. Go ahead, make your day.
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Rush busy, not hurried
You know, for all four of you reading this blog, you must think that being into garage type, no frills just do it DIY rock and roll that I wouldn’t like a band like Rush, but you would be dead wrong. Remember my rant about rock and roll being about The Moment? Rush have given me more moments that I can remember, especially during those “fun” years of high school. Sure they are complex, sometimes kind of wooden on stage and by their own admission anal but they make great songs that actually say something interesting that you can chew on and digest, or just rock out to. “The Spirit of Radio” is, in my opinion, the perfect summary of what is wrong and what can be right about radio and music. That’s why I’m looking forward to their new DVD “Rush in Rio.” They put on a concert spectacular without forgetting why they make music. They care. It’s all you can ask for of any musician. Give ‘em a whirl. You just might be surprised. It’s all part of the rich pageant we call rock and roll.
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pOoTer’s pSycheDelic shAcK - psychedelia, acid rock, garage, 60’s punk and other fine items….
Sometimes your marmalade skies are just a little dark and you can’t see Lucy in the sky with diamonds because of that massive thundercloud. On those cold and dreary days, head off to Pooterland where the acid drenched sounds they recommend will perk you up and let in that sunshine of your love. Excellent (much tenting of fingers)!
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Gates open up at Stones show
Despite the fact that I chickened out and passed on this show due to personal safety issues (I would have probably passed out due to dehydration or Justin Timberlake), I still think this will be a cool event and kinda regret not being there. Rock on kids.
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The Register
Ahh, makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside knowing that the big boys are looking out for the artists best interests doesn’t it now?
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Check out soma fm, a listener sponsored, commercial free radio station out of San Francisco that considers itself to be “underground/alternative.” “Indipop Rocks” is just one of 6 shows broadcasting. Another struggling webcaster trying to bring diversity to cyberspace. Listen and support them if you can.
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Borderline publishes 4 very cool books that are also accessible on line. “The Tapestry of Delights” covers “British Beat, R&B, Psychedelic, and Progressive Rock” from 1963-1976. “Fuzz, Acid and Flowers” pulls together “American Garage, Psychedelic and Hippie Music” from 1964-1975. “Dreams, Fantasies and Nightmares” takes care of “Canadian, Australasian and Latin American Rock and Pop” from 1963-1975. Finally “Adrift in the Ether” deals with “The Current State of the British Underground.” Click on the cover of any of these books and prepare to get lost in rock and roll esoterica! Let the good times roll.
UPDATE! As of approximately the beginning of May 2004 the site for Borderline Books has been down. The owners are aware of the situation and are working to fix the problem. Just keep checking. It should be back up soon.
UPDATE #2 Unitl they get their site back up you can use this alternate link (http://www.soybomb.com/BorderlineBooks/).
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I was never much of a Beatles fan in high school or college. I was more of a Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and Rush kind of a guy, although I did like slapping on “I Saw Her Standing There” from Live at the Hollywood Bowl in the middle of our drunken college beer parties for a change of pace. It was only in my late twenties after picking up “The Complete Beatles Chronicle” by Mark Lewisohn that I really started to dive in and appreciate what everybody was fawning about (a bit too much sometimes if you ask me. It seems like some people forget that there ever were bands like The Kinks, The Yardbirds, The Pretty Things and The Small Faces raving it up at the same time, not to mention The Creation and The Move). Of all the things that I have read about the Beatles, none has captured my peace and love warped imagination as much as their attempt to buy a Greek island and turn it into some kind of an elite hippy commune. You have got to be kidding me I thought when I first read about it in one of the countless Beatle books I have read (how many Beatle related books are there anyways?). Well the proof is out there thanks to Her Royal Majesties Government. In a very interesting (and decidedly non rock and roll web site), this link offers up copies of the documents confirming both the request to use British Pounds to buy the island as well as the names and descriptions of the land (actually one main island called Aegos and 5 offshore islands). The plan was apparently to build one central building and 4 separate Beatle houses where the Mop Tops could get away from it all with their families and selected friends like Bob Dylan. They wanted to build a recording studio, school and I suspect a Beatle Hospital and Beatle Bank. Needless to say, once the acid wore off that little scheme was quietly forgotten but the power these guys had at the time was truly like, mind blowing man. And don’t forget to check the next page which offers quite a detailed list of the drug paraphernalia that was found in the flat of Brian Jones during a June, 1967 arrest so that you too can live the life of a randy ‘60s era rock star. Oh do behave.
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The mind of Carson Arnold has produced two excellent sites that I recommend for your reading enjoyment. H(ear) is subtitled “Music Writing by Carson Arnold” and is such a fun and involved read that after about an hour you need to take a break, think about the things that he wrote about before diving back in to see where he winds his way next. Simply put, this guy can write and it is a joy to read, although I ended up printing out a bunch of his stuff and then curled up on the couch with no distractions so I could really sink my teeth into it. Track are his music reviews and again the writing really flows with a format that is familiar yet quite original. He makes you think while you read so take your time to enjoy it. Great original stuff so check it out now. You won’t be disappointed and you can subscribe to receive his weekly missives so you’re guaranteed not to miss any of the fun. Thanks Carson.
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Music services jump on iTunes bandwagon | CNET News.comAs a follow up to this morning’s post, let’s see which one of these services is around this time next year. Bets anyone?
Later.
Last.fm - The Last Online Music Station
This could be a biggie! Check out Last FM for a really cool take on online radio. One of the creators is the guy who created Audioscrobbler. Very cool summary about Last FM’s potential can be found at Rockbites. Very, very cool.
Later.
New Napster gets set to rock and roll | CNET News.com
It will be interesting to watch the battles this fall between Napster 2.0, iTunes and whatever Microsoft have cooking but if they want to tweek my interest they better include a good selection of indie rock labels.
Time will tell who figures out how to best take advantage of the future of music distribution on the net. I just hope it’s not Microsoft.
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So as I was driving into work with my wife awhile back when the local radio station CHOM FM played a cut from the new David Lee Roth covers album Diamond Dave. It was a re-recording of Ice Cream Man, a cover originally recorded for the once great Van Halen’s first album (check out this site for all the info on their slide into ignominy). And you know what? The old fingers were drumming like a madman on the steering wheel. It was great! Recorded a few years ago and performed by a core band consisting of Nile Rodgers, Omar Hakim and Edgar Winter, this version has got a kinda big band feel that works for me. And it got me to thinking about Roth’s autobiography “Crazy From the Heat.” Love him or loath him, we all know that Roth should be taken with a grain of salt the size of Rhode Island but believe it or not, the guy can write and this book is a scream. He actually writes with wit and intelligence and the stories of his travels to exotic ports of call with the “Jungle Studs” are quite fascinating. Consider Roth to be the Rock and Roll version of Paul Theroux. Even if you don’t like the guy, pick up this book (it cost me $4.99 at a Barnes and Noble in Chicago) and enjoy. Underneath that sun burnt, balding head lies the fried brain of a half decent, though slightly hyperactive, writer. A perfect book for the beach. Bring on the sequel!
Later.
So as I was driving into work with my wife awhile back when the local radio station CHOM FM played a cut from the new David Lee Roth covers album Diamond Dave. It was a re-recording of Ice Cream Man, a cover originally recorded for the once great Van Halen’s first album (check out this site for all the info on their slide into ignominy). And you know what? The old fingers were drumming like a madman on the steering wheel. It was great! Recorded a few years ago and performed by a core band consisting of Nile Rodgers, Omar Hakim and Edgar Winter, this version has got a kinda big band feel that works for me. And it got me to thinking about Roth’s autobiography “Crazy From the Heat.” Love him or loath him, we all know that Roth should be taken with a grain of salt the size of Rhode Island but believe it or not, the guy can write and this book is a scream. He actually writes with wit and intelligence and the stories of his travels to exotic ports of call with the “Jungle Studs” are quite fascinating. Consider Roth to be the Rock and Roll version of Paul Theroux. Even if you don’t like the guy, pick up this book (it cost me $4.99 at a Barnes and Noble in Chicago) and enjoy. Underneath that sun burnt, balding head lies the fried brain of a half decent, though slightly hyperactive, writer. A perfect book for the beach. Bring on the sequel!
Later.
Telstar Records
This is a very cool label who according to their web site feature bands that “embrace the elements of garage, r’n’b, soul, surf, punk and more that once made music so enjoyable, and put their own unique individual stamps on it to come up with something new and exciting.” Great stuff!
Later.
Wired News: How to Tell if the RIAA Wants You
My thoughts on music downloading are pretty simple:
1. Artists need to get paid.
2. Downloading music is here to stay.
3. The record companies better get their act together and give the people what they want at a price they can afford and soon.
In that light, I offer you this link to a Wired article that all you peer to peer fanatics may find helpful.
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While on vacation this week I had managed to avoid most forms of electronic information and only glanced at a newspaper for a couple of minutes so all in all I stuck to my rule of family first, everything else second (although I did drag the July issue of Uncut with me to the beach on a couple of occasions, great article on Neil Young). Ironically enough, while making a campfire one evening, the paper that I was using to start the fire happened to be a copy of the Toronto Sun from a few weeks past and within that issue I noticed the headline “Does Pearl Jam Matter Anymore?” in reference to their upcoming gig (at the time) in Toronto. This is the kind of hack navel gazing I can’t stand. Kinda like “Is Rock Dead” or “Altamont: The Death of the Sixties.” Does Pearl Jam matter? To whom? To the musicians? I would certainly think so. To the 16,000 fans expected at the concert? Most definitely. To the millions that buy Pearl Jam albums? Of course. The point about rock and roll in my opinion has always been that it’s not about social revolution. It’s not about being “the voice of a generation” or the “sounds of rebellion.” Those are all byproducts of the music, not the reasons for making it. It’s all about the moment. The moment that you spend with headphones on in your room listening to a great tune that always sends chills up your spine. The moment when you are screaming your lungs out at a concert to your favourite song with a bunch of your friends, oblivious to anything but that moment in time. The moment when you finally figure out the chords to a song you’ve always wanted to play or finding that rare single by “The Haunted” that you had been searching for for years at a record swap meet. Good rock and roll is fun. Great rock and roll can transport you to another place, if only for a moment but hopefully time and time again. That’s what it’s all about. You and the moment. Nothing else should matter. At least for that moment.
Later.
Creature
Moonshine Orchestra
The Snitches