Music Diary: Gentle Giant, Maneige, Wertmuller Project & Paul McCartney!!!

MUSIC DIARY

The excitement never stops here at the old carnival, and to increase the excitement that little bit more, I present to you the first and (hopefully) not the last one of Harvey Dog's Music Diary!!

Yep - I decided to comment on the last few cds (no matter how embarrassing!) I've listened to on my mp3 player and let the muse guide my fingers over the keyboard.

Gentle Giant: Philipshalle - April 1971 Dusseldorf, West Germany opening for Colosseum. I've been a fan of Gentle Giant ever since I was first introduced to them in high school by JK [aside: thanks JK!]. I don't listen to them as much as I did in my high school daze, but I'm still a fan. This concert has lousy sound, but is the earliest Gentle Giant live show I've found. Still - 38 years later from a portable tape recorder? I'll take it, rabbit, I'll take it! What stood out for me was Gary Green's harder guitar sounds, a really cool sound from the violin, and a bit of a harder edge than the Giants were noted for. *** for fans * for initiates (start with the studio albums!)

ahhhhhh....the dog is looking adorable passed out on the floor beside me...

Maneige: Les Porches (1975) Here's some prog from Montreal in the mid-70s. Only recently heard about them. First listen. Some beautiful stuff here! Worth investigating!!

Currently listening to: 3/3 self-titled lp japan 1973. All I can say is: "Fucking WOW!"

Wertmuller Project - disc 1 of Berlin 2008 at the Quasimodo Club November 2008 with Peter Brotzmann & Keiji Haino!! This is fucking explosive and tore my brain apart...
the mind smiled with delight
as sounds wafted through my body
pushing the pollution
out of thoughts
life
cleansing the soul with some awesome playing by everybody involved here.
Peter Evans tp
Peter Brötzmann tarogato/cl/as/ts
Mars Williams sso/as/ts
Keiji Haino g/voc/electr
Marino Pliakas b
Michael Wertmüller d
death metal free-jazz? That's what BigO has to say and I can see the point...also why the fuck do I want to argue with BigO for?!?! Great site for live downloads and political articles!
I am still in my infant stages when it comes to Brotzmann & Haino, but will continue to explore the mind-fields they create...I must...no...we ALL must explore these musicians...it will make us better people intellectually and that makes us more sexually attractive which will reduce hatred thus eliminating the need for warheads and explosive devices when the only explosive device needed is a cd of this wertmuller project then we can love not hate and prosper and grow in harmony and...

[aside: the above paragraph was written under the influence of 3/3 which is freaking me out and a touch of the mary jane]

Paul McCartney: Red Rose Speedway (1973) Well - this was definitely a let-down after the Wertmuller Project, but let's not be harsh! This was my first listen to this critically despised album, which is bizarre coming from an early Beatles fan. The album was pretty mediocre. McCartney did bounce back with Band on the Run (1973) & Venus and Mars (1975). His renaissance can be foreshadowed from the bonus cuts on this cd edition. I mean "Hi Hi Hi" is a great rock'n'roll song, that must have kicked live!! I'd say **1/2 for the original album & *** with the bonus cuts.

Well, there you have it! I will now go back to freaking out with 3/3...from Japan!
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BC Ferries strikes again!!! Holidays postponed!!!!

Yep...

Looking forward to my 2nd week off in 16 months...time to get a new vehicle - time to shop - Uncut, MOJO, Record Collector!!!! - dvds - clothes - shoes - a haircut!!! yes, a fucking haircut!!! Can't get a decent cut here on the islands - walks through new trails, restaurants - fast food!!!

Then again - MAYBE NOT MOTHERFUCKER!!!!!!

After declaring that the new ship "Northern Expedition" would take it's "service to a whole new level", and offer a "cruise-like experience"...

It Broke.

After 1 week.

The shaft bearing disintegrated. It broke into pieces. That bearing drives one of the propellers.

Fucking hilarious!! We'll go 1st week in June instead. I can still smell the sweet taste of a vacation.

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Back online - Blog Rejuvenation on the way! Holidays!!! Bachman-Turner Overdrive!!!!!

After losing our internet cause our ISP is being sued by the host (i think?) and he scrambled the radio signal leaving us with no internet we're finally back online!!

To the only other option out here. The guy I refused to go to originally because his attitude stank and he was extremely rude. I guess I had to whore myself out and since I'm back online - I'M LOVING IT!!!
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I've been a lazy lazy Harvey Dog for the past 5-6 months on the blog.
too much work
too much stress
too much letting work
increase my stress
BUT
we're heading off-island for a week starting on Monday.

Man - I am so looking forward to this -
I could shit...
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The Guru has been surprising me lately with her musical tastes.

Get this.

Mott the Hoople!!!
Bachman-Turner Overdrive!?!@(?!!!!!!
...and I thought she hated rock'n'roll!
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When I get back from holiday, it's time to re-energize this blog and shake the piss outta it!!
ideas are circling the brain
looking for a place to land
...
a detailed ongoing thought process review while watching "All You Need Is Love"
more musical bios
more funny / stupid / ludicrous conversations (imaginary or/and real)
interviews?
all kinds of shit!
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Here's a clip of Keith Moon introducing Bachman-Turner Overdrive doing the classic "Takin' Care of Business" from their prime! thanks RockingHardV3!!

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No Internet at Home!! The Joy of Rural Living!!!

No Internet at home!!!

Get this...

Our ISP guy is getting sued by some group, and he has proceeded to block the radio signals, so now we no longer can access the net. The solution according to the suers? Go to another ISP - oh, that leaves, let's see - dial-up or dealing with a big old jackass who yells at his customers. He's so bad, that I went there first, and he offended me so much, that I refused to business with him.

BUT

now he's the only hi-speed guy around!

What choice? It may take a week...it may take a month...it could take a couple of months. This is the way the guy operates.

Oh well...patience, dear boy, patience...I can access the net at work (which is what I'm doing now - on my break, boss - really!) so there may not be too much action on my blog. Then again, I've been negligent and uninspired, so a rest may recharge the ol' batteries.
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Quick little musical thing - I'm listening to Tony Joe White's "Swamp Music" disc 3, and he's fantastic. I love...I mean, I LOVE his voice!! Great songs...highly recommended!!!!
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Musical Thoughts (from a week ago!!): Rodriguez, Pussy Galore and Styx?!?!?!

Musical Random Thoughts

Rodriguez: Cold Fact (1970) This is quite the find. Recently reissued bringing it the attention it deserves. I had read about Rodriguez in MOJO and Uncut, and he sounded like he was right up my musical alley. A week or two later, I found out that my digital music trading buddy had this [aside: thanks Brant], so I quickly threw in a request, and lo and behold...I WAS right. It is right up my musical alley! Awesome find! Review on AllMusic. A little like angry Dylan on the street corner singing to the wind that is blowing through the trees....

sometimes you love a musician / band right away...then it fizzles....
sometimes the love returns a second time...then it fizzles once again...
then comes Pussy Galore
I had underestimated them until "Live in the Red" blared through small headphones connected to my mp3 player...
and rocked my ears like a motherfucker & I wondered
"why did it take me so long?"
I had loved Jon Spencer's Blues Explosion immediately...then it fizzled...now this has brought back the love...
ya know...it makes ya think...nothings permanent...

oh yeh, now where was I?

The Guru and I had friends over the other night and we did the youtube thing of watching videos seeing who could get more absurd in their selections (Bay City Rollers anyone?), but when someone requested Mr. Roboto by Styx, I think the line was drawn between kitsch and cheesy, and just plain BAD. [aside: I'm not a Styx hater - but, Mr. Roboto??? I mean - they really couldn't have been serious???? Could they?????????????????]

ok whatever...guess there's worse...

then I realized that not everybody is a freak when it comes to music and may not dedicate their spare time unearthing obscure shit that maybe a handful of freaks would care about --

What is their fucking problem????

At this moment in time, I am listening to Status Quo's: Picturesque Matchstickable Messages (1968) and it's sounding suitably dated, psychedelic and a whole lotta fun. I just finished listening to a boot of a 1992 show of New Funkadelic featuring Eddie Hazel. It sounded good, but the lead voice / ceremonies guy was only so-so. It ain't as easy as you would think. Eddie's guitar sounded very nice.
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OK...wrapping this baby up...this was written a week or more ago...I'm so fucking behind on "everything"! I thought I already published this silly little post!!!

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Steve Albini on the music biz in the early 1990s - he's still correct!! youtubes of Kevin Coyne and Mott the Hoople!!!

Here's a link to an article on Negativland.com that has Steve Albini discussing the problems of the music industry. This was written during the early 90s, and it still applies to the big labels!

http://www.negativland.com/albini.html
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Ya know - it's been a long time since I've mentioned Kevin Coyne in my blog. Well, it's time to correct that oversight (which I'm doing now) and show a great live version of "Let's Work Together" from 1975. You may even spot a pre-Police Andy Summers on guitar...and Kevin dancing with the crowd...and the major labels ignoring him...thanks RadioMad!

2 cool things about Kevin Coyne:
1) He knew better than to accept The Doors' offer to replace the possibly deceased James Douglas Morrison. Who's want to hang around Ray Manzarek all the time...that's why Jim disappeared!
2) He refused the offer to write lyrics for Mike Oldfield's gazillion-selling "Tubular Bells".


and as a bonus for those looking down here - a link to Mott the Hoople "At the Crossroads" live on German tv 1970. Awesome!!! Awesome!!! Awesome!!!! Embedding disabled but here's the link. thanks stever1957!
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youtubes: Rufus Zuphall, Frank Zappa and The Hated Uncles!!

I was turning the dial on my youtube last night and came across some very cool videos. Here are 3 of em - 1 krautrock, 1 zappa and 1 hated uncle...

1) There is something about krautrock that really penetrates my inner being. It's got the right amount of prog, rock and avante-garde elements that appeals to my creative side. It would be so cool to have a couple of like-minded freaks...get high hi hi and experiment away...get into a state of mind...let ideas flow with no inhibitions...
fuck restrictions
loud quiet
high low
who cares????
no put-ons...no uniforms...
Today, I was listening to Pendragon's "Believe" from 2005. They call it neo-prog on Prog Archives [aside: great site btw] and while there are some ok moments, overall it sure doesn't turn my crank. It's not gritty enough. Too controlled...too earnest at times...a lack of humour. I don't find that with krautrock.
I continue to explore German rock from the 70s, and continue to find some incredible music from that geography and period. A recent fav discovery [aside: for me anyway!] has been Kollectiv, but I couldn't find any vids on youtube of them! So here's another recent fav - Rufus Zuphall: "Portland Town" from 1971 - including kids and war toys! thanks molestik!

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2) When I first started getting high and drunk at 15 we would listen to "Billy the Mountain" constantly (hey - we were in high school!) and I've been a massive Zappa fan since. I have pretty much most of the official releases and tons of live shows (shhhh - don't tell the Zappa Family Trust) and while he released some stinkers in his life (Man From Utopia or Tinseltown Rebellion anyone?) I always feel right at home when Zappa is on my mp3 player or turntable or cd player or just running through my brain for no apparent reason.
Here's a weird one I hadn't seen until last night. Frank Zappa on Australian tv with Norman Gunston - whom I had never heard of before. It's from 1975 and is pretty cool with FZ on acoustic and Norman on harmonica. thanks royism!

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3) JK's been hard at work again and added another Hated Uncles to youtube. It's probably my fav of the 5 he's done yet. It's "A Night in the Alley" and from 1992. thanks jkubu0!

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youtube: The psychedelia of Bruce Haack on Mr. Roger's Neighborhood!

Wow!!! This was a blast. Bruce Haack on Mr. Roger's Neighborhood! Haack was a pioneer in electronic music and his versatility and freedom of expression is inspiring. Here's a neat little bio from allmusic. I have Electric Lucifer and think it's very cool, but am not all that familiar with his other works. Needs some investigating. thanks discoprotection!

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words flow - sometimes they don't

Lethargy is Depression
...sometimes it's not.

brain....
dead

Lethargy grabbed hold of my balls and twisted and twisted and twisted until I screamed at Lethargy to release it's grip...

I crucified the lord of lords
god of gods
human of humans
then lost the nails
now they want to crucify me
but I ain't no saviour
though I savor the good times
the good times
have lost their taste
so I roll around in human waste
looking for some stupid rhymes
and I usually don't rhyme
unless the words flow
then there is no looking
merely receiving
and I try to shake this

LETHARGY

that's holding on to my balls

then as I write these bullshit words
a 12 pound yorkie pom
tells me it's time to take her out
if you want to shake this

LETHARGY

get off your ass
there's a world outside your head
unless you want to remain dead
then you'll be tightening

LETHARGY's

grip...
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Yeh - so - is it time for a holiday?

still alive
cleaning cobwebs
shining
the floor
I roll around on.
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the lack of
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can get you down
don't let it get you down
it's merely the sound
of depression being strewn around
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fuck the sucker fast and hard
before the fucker fucks you.
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amen.

Job Cleansing, Debts & Controls, the things I dig and youtube: The Leaves "Hey Joe"!!

Fucked Up Beyond Understanding

It's a bleak day, but the sun occasionally sneaks through for a couple of minutes. I pull back the curtains to let in the temporary light. I sigh and think about going back to bed. The racing mind brings a peaceful sleep to a screeching halt.

I'm trying to use this week as a form of rejuvenation, but it doesn't seem to be working well. The life skills job is driving me crazy. Not the clients - the fucking politics. A problem in moving to a small, isolated place coming from the city, is that you're used to a certain professionalism (due to job competition, I guess) and that professionalism is not here. Oh, there are a few people who are true professionals, but too many of the others are out of their fucking minds
don't understand boundaries
don't understand that - it's OK to disagree.
don't understand that there are usually more than 1 way of doing something -
don't understand that not everything is a fucking crisis!

Maybe I don't understand. I want to go do the job to the best of my abilities, and then leave the motherfucking job at the office, come home and focus on the important things to me - the guru, the pets, stirring the creative pot, web site design...but when the motherfucking job follows you home and sets up residence inside your brain...well, that will fuck you up!

and...I don't like being fucked up!!!!
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Debt Debris

Ah well, it's a common story through the ages. The working man's blues. Having difficulty at the job. Not doing what you really want.

And...the debt is coming down, but now we need a car (most likely a small truck for living here) and that will put the debt right back up there.

Ah well, that's become a common story for our day and age. Debts! We're all in debt! The government's in debt, you're in debt, I'm in debt, we're all swimming around in debt.
Debt debris floating in the sea of our lives....
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Control Will Suck Your Soul

Ha - sounding like a frustrated writer / artist above!!
Let's let it out!!!!!!!!!!!
breathe in breathe out
take a deep breath
open your eyes
look around
feed off energy
negative or positive
let it in let it out
feel the love feel the hate
let go of control
control will suck your soul
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Things I Am Digging

The incredible music from Japan thanks to Julian Cope's Japrocksampler.
Finally getting a chance to hear Miles Davis: Complete On the Corner Sessions.
LSD March modern day Japanese freak psychedelic music a modern day Les Rallizes.
Continuing to dig krautrock and discovering just how many krautrock obscurities there are.
Ring of Honor wrestling dvds.
The Wrestling Observer newsletter - thanks Imants!
Going through Mutant Sounds old posts.
The absolute beauty of Haida Gwaii.
The dog, the cat, the guru and my cds.
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Here's something else I dig - The Leaves doing "Hey Joe" probably around 1967. thanks verdiez!

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Freedom with Freeman's Sound, A Mighty Wind and The Spinners do The Rubberband Man!!!!

Freedom!

The freedom to say "Enough! Please, I need a break!" Gotta be smart...take a couple of days now or take a month or two in a couple of weeks?

* sigh *

breathe in
breathe out
let the tension escape
into a vast expanse
of
nothingness

tension cells
disappear
as you set them free
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OK...Freeman Sound: Heavy Trip (1970) just started on the ol headphones and it's heavy fuzziness and druginess appeals immediately. Then the 2nd song starts out rockin' then fades into some weird dialogue from the "Time Man"?!

His house is a clock!!! Then back to some bluesy late 60s rock'n'roll that seems to have nothing to do with the "Time Man"...ahhhhhh, what drugs were capable of back in the days! Then back to talking with some dude named "Unreal"?! This 17-18 minute long "Heavy Trip #70" seems to include everything that makes this era of music so exciting...and occasionally very dated.

If you want to check out this crazy psych gem they got it at Lost in Tyme. They do a killer version of "16 Tons"...heavy HEAVY HEAVY!!!! HEAVY!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Watched "A Mighty Wind" last night and loved it even better the second time. Some absolute classic performances! I appreciated Eugene Levy's performance better this time (Harry Shearer was also awesome in his performance!) and also the lyrics (did ya know that Mighty Wind is "blowin' you and me"?) of the songs. More subdued than Spinal Tap, but that's appropriate given the genre of music being parodied. Get more hilarious details here.
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I seem to be in a silly mood, so here's a silly funky video that leaves you wonderin': "What did I just watch?" It's The Spinners "Rubberband Man" live on Burt Sugarman's Midnight Special in 1976. Ah yes, the disco era rapidly approaches! Get out those Rubber Bands and do the Rubberband Man!!!!!

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This Blog Ain't Going Nowhere and Kawabata & Michishita provide the acid!!!!

Multimedia Harvey

It finally came in and I'm learning the ins and outs of a lp/cassette/cd player that can burn cds from lps & cassette! Also set up the vhs/dvd recorder that can burn dvds from videos!!!

Yowsa!!!

It's taken a couple of false starts, but I think I got the cassette to cd function finally down. First order of bizness is some old Hated Uncles stuff that needs to be transferred. After JK's incredible box, I'll be happy to contribute what I have left from those days. Cassettes of Dec. 3 & Dec. 1oth/1987 at Teaser's, May 3/1988 at Bannister's also Summer 1998 near the end of The Uncles at the Gown & Gavel. Also the Uncles "Variety Show" & Bad Etiquette's sole cassette. A cassette of Paul, John, Rich and me having a jam session from probably 95-96.

Right now?

Copying "I Like to Hurt People" from video to dvd. Gotta get the most important videos done first!
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Man!!! I cannot lie!!!!

I am burnt out!!!
fried
toasted
wiped
exhausted
too many 1 day weekends lately
1 week off
in the past year
and i am the
moasted
toasted
friedest
i've been a while...can't even think...dudes...
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Ummm...got some great recommends from Imants...looking forward to LSD March!
got dreamweaver cs3 and not spending as much time as i'd like on it...
ummm...

ya see!!

Time to give it up! This blog ain't going nowhere!!!!

oh - The Sheik is beating the shit out of Terry Funk! That's always a good time!!
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To have something worthwhile here's Kawabata (Acid Mothers Temple) & Michishita (LSD March) on 10/8/2007 going freakey-eyed psychedelic-like crazy man ya gotta luv this shit!!! thanks holgerregloH

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Oh No!!! No Internet!! Working on Weekends!!!! ....Sucks, dude....

Yeh, here I am working on my blog at work.

Lost my internet connection - but will be back in the next day or two - hopefully. And had another 1 day weekend...but, my last one for a long time...No more - time for a break...

WHO CARES?????
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youtube - The Guess Who: Tin Soldier 1968 & The Turtles: Outside Chance 1965

youtube late 60s TV Pop Delights

I've always loved this song...here's the late 60s Canadian version done by The Guess Who. thanks 69Lovett

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Since we're in a "classic" pop mode, here are The Turtles doing "Outside Chance" from 1965. A very very early Warren Zevon song. Check out "Battle of the Bands" (1968) & "Turtle Soup" (1969 - and produced by Ray Davies of The Kinks!) for some tasty listening pleasure. thanks joehilllouistwo

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Karuna Khyal's "Alomoni" is a CLASSIC!

Karuna Khyal: Alomoni (1976) this album gave me one of the most enjoyable and pleasurable listening experiences i have experienced in awhile...

i mean....

goddamn!!!

this is entrancing

hypnotic

demonic beefheartian vocals

that blows the mind apart and re-assembles the shattered pieces into a picasso jigsaw...

no info on this group?????

same people as brast burn??????

this is incredible! what a rewarding obscurity!!!

another japanese mid-70s psychedelic underground avante-garde experimental krautrocky bluesy disc that will reward innumerable listens for tired ears ready to explore something a little "out there"

go for it!!!

this and Magical Power Mako have been my 2 fav discoveries in my recent exploration of the japanese underground in the 70s...and if you have any passing interest in the phenomenon of the music listed in Julian Cope's Japrocksampler then i highly recommend you dive in head first

shake your locks off

look at the sun in a different way

and dig this:

you'll be a whole bunch better person than you were before

some reviews of karuna khyal & brast burn

progarchives review

prog not frog discusses karuna khyal and provide a link to give a listen.

Check out: Julian Cope's Japrocksampler!

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