Sunset Strip comes alive again for one night only...

Like back in the glory days when the stretch from Gazzarri's to The Whisky was littered with hairsprayed frolickin' rockers, 2 shows on the same night this summer in June is as close as we're gonna get to those yesteryears.  Hey, Key Club...you wanna get in on this?

SXSW 2012 Recap

Could SXSW 2012 possibly top itself from last year?  Everytime it’s a spectacle... and for the music industry that’s still suffering, you wouldn’t know it judging from the attendance this year.  It just goes to show that people do want to seek out new and exciting talent.

Highlights were BP Fallon’s performance at the Saxon Pub, Austin’s answer to The Troubadour.  His opening number “I Believe In Elvis Presley” is a swaggering r ‘n r stomp that sticks with you from first listen.  Joined onstage by Nigel Harrison on bass, and Aaron Lee Tasjan from Semi Precious Weapons as his back up band.  Scott Asheton from the Stooges also got up for the last song, a cover of “Gloria.”  This is where BP comes alive as a performer, letting his guard down.  He often appears as the frail poet, which can be enchanting at times, but it’s even better to see him cut loose when he does, and only wish he did that more during his own material than on a Van Morrison tune.

The Biters return to South By with a handful of showcases.  We caught them on their Friday night show at Rusty’s on East 7th.  Just as expected, the band is fully energized, and rips into a brand new tune.

Tipping the hat to KISS with it’s title “Nighttime World.”  Singer Tuk (pictured above) then notices familiar faces in the audience from it’s previous gig, and compares it to that of going back to a prostitute that must’ve felt real good.  Their set only got better as it went on.  Tuk takes off his guitar to jump into the audience to dance with a Biters fan.  A strong asset the band has going for them is that they are a gang of brothers.  When you see all 4 members in the same room together, there’s no denying that they are from the same band.  But what we’ve noticed is, the crowd is also starting to look like the boys on stage, dressing up in their jean jackets and Mick Ronson hair-do’s, and when that happens, you know you’re doing something right.

Other notable showcase highlights was power popster Brendan Benson doing new songs from his forthcoming record “What Kind of World.”

Jonathan Daniel spoke at one of the day panels discussing all the elements involved in breaking a new act these days.  He also reminisced about what he was thinking when Candy first came on to the scene.  “We thought oh we’ll get a following, we’ll get a record deal and then we’ll be huge.  What I realised after 4 record deals was that wasn’t the case.  That’s how I actually started to become a manager.  I was like oh I get it, you need to work, you need to do all these other things, and you need to perservere, and you need to hone your craft, and then if record deals and radio play come into play then it can get bigger & bigger, but getting a record deal should not be the goal.”

SX was not only about music.  A slew of cool films were also making their debut at the festival.  Although Keith Varady of Ruby Slippers may’ve been on track with the story of a transgender, director Jordan Roberts beats him to the punch with getting it to the big screen with Frankie Go Boom, in which Phyllis played by Ron Perlman makes this movie rise with it’s story about 2 brothers, one that has been humiliating the other most of his life by uploading embarrassing video footage of his brother online for all to see.  

Jonas Akerlund returns to US screens with his latest film Small Apartments.  Most known for his video work with Madonna, Metallica, and others, we caught up with Jonas to discuss the new project.  No doubt about it, we did learn Jonas is a “rocker at heart.”  Full interview coming soon on the next GB podcast.

Last of the film screenings was the documentary Sunset Strip, produced by Matt Sorum & Donovan Leitch (Nancy Boy, Camp Freddy).

Hollywood stars Johnny Depp, Keanu Reeves to Tommy Lee and Slash all get screen time declaring the fascination of the Sunset Strip.  When I asked Kim Fowley (who makes several appearances in the film) about what the appeal of the strip and L.A. is, and why so many songs have been written about such, he replied “we don’t have a royal family in America, we have celebrities instead.  Hollywood is the enchanted paradise,  everyone aspires to it because Hollywood, California dictates  technology, fashion, sin and everything else.”

In regard to what the Sunset Strip means today compared to the hair heyday, Matt Sorum tells me “it’s kinda become like a museum in a way because so much has happened in the past.” But sums it up more eloquently by saying “L.A.’s like a girl that you can’t figure out why you gotta keep going back to have seconds with her, she drives you fucking crazy, but she feels so good, so dirty,” he laughs.

Once again SX closes with a bang at Jimmy Quill’s Red Horse Ranch.  The Pig Vicious food truck was on hand serving up BBQ goodness to the party crowd of rock ‘n rollers, artists, foodies, and Texas locals.

Vicky Hamilton’s new band The Art came all the way from Australia for their showcases and performance at Jimmy’s ranch.  

Lengendary photographer Bob Gruen was on hand, and if you haven’t seen his New York Dolls book yet, pick it up...  dressed in a pink satin hard cover, documenting killer shots from the vintage years.

GLAMBONE!

GB30 (Doll/Aeriel Stiles & Kery Doll interview)

Hearts on fire, it’s a Valentine’s day episode of Glambone.  Bringing you an exclusive interview with Aeriel Stiles & Kery Doll from L.A.’s once upon a time star attraction, Doll.

You all know the myth, Kery jumping out of a casket, the cages, the flash bombs, Michael Hannon leaving the band, Doll’s repertoire being recorded by Pretty Boy Floyd, the lawsuits, and all that... now hear the legend.  Straight from their mouths.  Kery will tell ya what he felt about Pretty Boy Floyd, listen to the stories he spews about his other band projects from that time including Trust Jesus and Demolition Gore Galore.  Hear about the stage antic that was way over the top.  And the stuff you didn’t know, such as Kery once playing with C.C. DeVille, and auditioning for Lizzie Grey.  It’s all here, as the band celebrates it’s new CD release “Rock N Roll Freak Show,” featuring classic Doll tunes and new material, Aeriel & Kery are back in biz.  Download GB30 for free here

On a side note, those of you wanting to see Keith Varady’s movie Scabbo (of Ruby Slippers fame), as first heard about here on GB19 can now pay per view/order the film through Amazon.com  Click here

GB29 (Lizzie Grey interview)

Glambone comes out of hibernation, the glitter chestnuts have been stored and ready for sharing.  It’s a party in Hollywood, and just having a good time as we kick off the new year with an exclusive interview with lengendary L.A. veteran Lizzie Grey.

Listen as he recounts tales of the early days at the Starwood, and meeting Nikki Sixx for the first time, describing him as a John Waite look a-like with red spikey hair.  In addition to all the heavy hitters Lizzie played with back when... “The Blackie project (London II) didn’t last long, maybe five or six months, nothing really came of it.  It was another step of London slipping down another notch.  And then when Blackie left London, whatever the reason, it wasn’t happening anymore.  So that’s when things shifted, for me anyway.  I said to Blackie ‘you’re great at being a monster, use your devil voice and do your best.’  He took my advice and Wasp was everything that was.”

Lizzie sums up his own career by saying “I gave it everything I had, and I still do.”

Get your free download of the new GB29 episode here

GLAMBONE!

It's A Cat Dragged In

Poison found inspiration for the back cover photography on Look What The Cat Dragged In from none other than 1980's sitcom It's A Living.

GB28 (Tom Werman interview, Myki Lash, Lizzie Grey's Roxy Roller)

“Blessed undercover...blew the world to bits.”  That was the tagline for Ruby Rockets, an L.A. band that was a lil too late on the scene, catching the tail end of the glam days along side Swingin’ Thing and Big Bang Babies.  Ruby Rockets’ image was more on the darker side of

glam, a tinge of goth, kinda like the 2nd incarnation of fellow LA-sters The Brats.

It was only after the demise of Ruby Rockets that singer Myki Lash would try a more pop approach.  Can you blame him for nickin’ part of the title of Lions & Ghosts debut for his own song?  Well... anyhow...

his tune “Velvet Kisses” comes off more like the Soupdragons than anything else, and that isn’t neccessarly a good thing.

How many Tom Werman records are in your collection?  I’m willing to bet you have a handful.  Tom produced what are now considered classic rock albums by Cheap Trick, Motley Crue, Twisted Sister, Poison, Ted Nugent, and a whole slew of others.

I phone him up at his boutique Bed & Breakfast in Mass for a good chat.  While he’s traded in his analog tapes in for linens & things, Tom definitely sheds light on what those legendary recording sessions were like and what he actually thinks of the Steve Albini produced version of his Cheap Trick “In Color” record that’s been floating around the net.

We’ll also hear his thoughts on “Dr. Feelgood,” the Crue record that followed his consecutive 3 Motley releases.

Sometime after the Nikki Sixx incarnation of London, Lizzie Grey put together a band called Roxy Roller with Leslie Knauer, who later went on to Precious Metal.  Taking it’s name obviously from the Nick Gilder song, Roxy Roller had plenty of pop sensibility.  “Ups & Downs” shows off cool character and catchyness... after hearing this track, it would certainly have been interesting to see just what else the band would’ve come up with... but no, Lizzie had to go all METAL and find Nadir for what, a 4th version of London?!  

Download: GB28 

FOR SALE: Demolition Gore Galore 12" vinyl, ultra rare!

From Glambone's private collection, ultra rare vinyl of Kery Doll's obscure L.A. band Demolition Gore Galore.  Bid now by clicking here.