MY MIDNIGHT CREEPS - I FELL INTO A HOLE
Fuzz Club is a musical community for bands and fans belonging to the alternative / indie / punk / rock / garage scene. Together with promoting the bands and keeping the fans updated, Fuzz Club specializing in producing and selling band t-shirts for bands belonging to the scene.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
RADIO MOSCOW
From one american bluesy psychedelic rock band to another. Radio Moscow formed in Story City, Iowa in 2003. Known for their crazy rave-ups and fuzzed out psychedelic guitar. Currently comprising singer-songwriter and guitarist Parker Griggs (who also plays drums on the bands studio releases), bassist Zach Anderson and live drummer Cory Berry, the band has released two albums: Radio Moscow in 2007 (produced by the Black Keys) and Brian Cycles in 2009.
Blue Cheer
BLUE CHEER
A little piece of nostalgia here with the American psychedelic blues-rock band Blue Cheer. They initially performed and recorded in the late 1960s and early 1970s. This cult band has been credited as being pioneers of heavy metal and stoner rock, their cover of "Summertime Blues" is cited as the first in the genre.
Jim Morrison of The Doors called the group, "The single most powerful band I've ever seen." They are also considered a heavy influence to Black Sabbath.
Friday, January 21, 2011
ROKY ERICKSON
Legendary rock n roll pioneer Roger Kynard "Roky" Erickson hails from Austin, Texas. He is, in the words of FUZZCLUB, one of "the unknown but GRATE heroes of rock and roll." As singer, songwriter, and guitar player for the legendary Austin, TX band The 13th Floor Elevators, the first rock and roll band to describe their music as "psychedelic", the Elevators unique brand of heavy, hard-rocking electric blues pointed to a new direction for the music of the hippie generation.
Unfortunately, Roky's struggles with drug abuse and mental illness took a serious toll. His 1969 arrest in Texas for possession of a single marijuana cigarette led to his being committed for three years to Rusk State Hospital for the Criminally Insane, where he was reportedly subjected to Thorazine, electroshock therapy, and other experimental treatments. Most agree he was never the same after his release. Roky has had prolific periods of creativity in the intervening years, but unscrupulous managers and record label executives often took advantage of his condition, leaving Roky to live in poverty while others profit from his music.
His brother Sumner was granted legal custody of Roky in 2001, and established a legal trust to aid his brother. As a result, Roky received some of the most effective medical and legal aid of his life, the latter useful in helping sort out the complicated tangle of contracts, which had reduced royalty payments to all but nothing for his recorded works. He also started taking medication to control his schizophrenia
In an unmedicated state, Erickson began a years-long obsession with the mail, often spending hours poring over random junk mail, writing to solicitors and celebrities (dead or living). He was arrested in 1989 on charges of mail theft. Erickson picked up mail from neighbors who had moved and taped it to the walls of his room. He insisted that he never opened any of the mail, and the charges were ultimately dropped.
Roky Erickson returned to the stage in 2005 and did 11 gigs that year. In 2008 he perform songs from the 13th Floor Elevators catalog that had not been performed in decades with fellow Austinites The Black Angels as his backing band. After months of practices and time recording in an Austin studio, they performed a show in Dallas followed by a West Coast tour. The Black Angels played a regular set then backed Roky as his rhythm section playing 13th Floor Elevators songs and classics from Roky's solo albums. On Black Friday (November 26, 2010) a DVD and 180 gram vinyl titled "Night of the Vampire" of the performance at El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles on Halloween night released. He is to this date still active and the dirty sound of his solo carer is largely influenced by the HORROR FILM SCENE, with titles as the afro mentioned Night of the Vampire, Don't Shake Me Lucifer and Two Headed Dog.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
The Longcut
THE LONGCUT
Best thing to come out of Manchester in years.
"a fractured elegy of love and death and defiance all wrapped in rippling electronics and stadium-sized chord structures which soar across the senses before melting away with a whisper" .. - Manchestermusic.co.uk
http://www.myspace.com/thelongcut
Black Mountain
BLACK MOUNTAIN
These Canadians are worth checking out. Groove dark tunes in the same universe as The Black Angels.
http://www.myspace.com/blackmountain
http://www.myspace.com/blackmountain
The Distortion
THE DISTORTIONS
We will highly recommend this band. From Los Angeles, CA.
Check out their My Space profile. There are some amazing tunes.
Check out their My Space profile. There are some amazing tunes.
http://www.myspace.com/thedistortions
*The Distortions have truly stepped up with what can easily be considered one of the standout records of the year so far, and it stands to set them among some of their greatest peers like Doves & Black Rebel Motorcycle Club... a remarkably subtle and nuanced album ... -Andru Aesthetik, Post-Punk.com
"Galaxies Rearranging" conjures up images of The Byrds raised on The Jesus & Mary Chain... UK Music Search
*Dark, distortion-laden pop mixed with trace elements of goth and 1980s alt-rock (you can practically see the sunglasses and leather jackets). It's enough to make your inner angst-ridden high school student mope for joy. "HiFi Pick" -Jason Morehead Opuszine.com Lincoln, NE
SPACEMEN 3
SPACEMEN 3
Spacemen 3 were formed in 1982 in Rugby, Warwickshire, England, by Jason Pierce, also known as "J. Spaceman", and Peter Kamber, usually known as "Sonic Boom", who had originally met at art college. Both Pierce and Kember were guitarists, keyboard players and vocalists, so added bassist Pete "Bassman" Bain (or Baines), and drummer Natty Brooker. They played together for a couple years, with extensive jams and rehearsals, but played only low-key, local, concerts, before releasing their first album Sound of confusion in 1986. This first album was in a relatively mainstream garage rock sound, but their second The Perfect Prescription (1987) showed a marked change towards the minimalist psychedelia for which they became known. By this time Natty had left and the drum stool was taken up by Sterling Roswell, known as Rosco.
Bain and Rosco left to join The Darkside, and Will Carruthers joined on bass, but they had no official drummer when they recorded Playing with Fire. Released in 1989, the album expanded on the psychedelic and drone music themes of the earlier albums, and included the single, “Revolution”, which reached #1 on the UK independent chart. Jonny Mattock joined on drums and they spent most of 1989 touring their minimalistic "Anti-Show" around the UK and Europe. These were the last public concerts they would play, as their scheduled US tour had to be cancelled as they could not get visas, due to drug convictions. The band played their last live show at the 1989 Reading Festival. Drug problems and intra-band tension (notably between Kember and Pierce) began to break the band apart. Recurring, released in 1991, was their last official album, and reflected the split between Pierce and Kember as each recorded their own side of the album in different studios, with a cover of Modhoney’s "When Tomorrow Hits" to separate them. Recurring was their most popular album, but by its release Kember had already formed Spectrum and Pierce, Carruthers and Mattock were performing as Spiritualized. For the final few shows, Mark Refoy joined the band, but the final straw was Pierce's decision to release a cover of The Troggs' "Anyway That You Want Me" as the first Spiritualized single, which Kember had been wanting to cover for years. The band split in 1991.
The group’s minimal sound was characterised by droning, distorted guitars, feedback, softly sung/spoken vocals and sparse or monolithic drumming. Many of the numbers they played live, were jams, slowly developing with minimal changes in chords, tempo or key, producing a trance-like mood, in accordance with their motto “Taking drugs to make music to take drugs to”. Their minimalism included their stage show, where they sat down to play, illuminated by the spinning colours of a cheap psychedelic light show, so their stage “act” was very anti-performance.
Spacemen 3 - Revolution
Spacemen 3 also covered and shared their influences. Song titles, lyrics and interviews were peppered with references to artists they believed shared their “minimal is maximal” aesthetic. The Velvet Underground, The Rolling Stones, The Stooges, the MC5, Captain Beefeart, free jazz musician Sun Ra, the Silver Apples, krautrock bands Kraftwerk and Neu!, 1960 garage punk such as the the 13th Floor Elevators, Red Krayola, and the Electric Prunes; the Beach Boys, Jan and Dean and other surf bands; 1980s rockabilly groups the Cramps, the Gun Club, Tav Falco; blues and gospel acts like Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, the Staple Singers and john Lee Hokker; and the production techniques of Joe Mekk, Brian Wilson and Delia Derbyshire were just some of the names mentioned by the band.
In the years following the split, appreciation of the band's output has grown significantly then during their operation period.
In 1998, a tribute album was released on Rocket Girl, which included tracks by Mogwai, Low and Bowery Electric. In 2004, US journalist Erik Morse published his account of the band’s life and work, Dreamweapon: Spacemen 3 and the Birth of Spiritualized.
Their style influenced the shoegazing movement and groups on both sides of the Atlantic.
Many modern day artists have credited the band as an influence, including Primal Scream, MGMT, Mogwai, Arab Strap, Stereilab, Tortoise, The Flaming Lips, Yo La Tengo, Hot Chip, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Pavement
Most members of the band have continued to produce music either collaboratively or in solo projects :
Sonic Boom / Peter Kember
Having previously released a solo album under the title Spectrum, Kember turned the project into a full live band, signed to Silvertone Records, and released the albums Soul Kiss (Glide Divine) and Highs, Lows and Heavenly Blows. With a changing line up Spectrum toured the world playing shows with the likes of Yo La Tengo, Robyn Hitchcock,the Flaming Lips and provided main tour support for the 2009 reformation of My Bloody Valentine. Kember continues to occasionally tour under the Spectrum name.
Kember also worked on several solo projects, including Experimental Audio Research (EAR) alongside Kevin Shields and played as a formal member of Stereolab during their Emperor Tomato Ketchup period. Kember recently toured with Gruff Rhys, and produced Congratulations, the latest album by MGMT.
Jason Spaceman / Jason Pierce
Pierce was persuaded by Mattock, Refoy and Carruthers to join Spiritualized, which inherited the newly signed Spacemen 3 record deal, with Dedicated Records, by default. Pierce remains the only constant member of Spiritualized, who have also toured the world to acclaim.
Pierce has also worked on various solo projects, including the remixing of singles by LFO, Global Communication, and the 22-20's.
Albums
- Sound of Confusion (June 1986 Glass Records / Taang! Release / Fire Records UK)
- The Perfect Prescription (August 1987 Glass Records / Fire Records UK)
- Playing with Fire (February 1989 Fire)
- Recurring (February 1991 Dedicated Records; Arista Records; Space Age Recordings Reissue
-Translucent Flashbacks - The Singles (1995)
The Heads
THE HEADS
The stoner rock band The Heads formed in Bristol, England in 1990. They have released seven albums, numerous EPs and singles. They recorded 3 Peel Sessions between 1995 and 1999.
Originally formed in 1990 by Hugo Morgan, Simon Price and Dave Spencer (guitar) from the remnants of Bristol bands Quinton and The Spasmodics respectively. They were joined by Wayne Maskell a few months later and played music somewhat influenced by Loop, Spaceman 3 and The Stooges. This line up lasted for 2 years, playing support slots to bands such as Babes in Toyland and Swervedriver, but without any record releases (although an early version of Spliff Riff appeared on the Sessions 1 7" released by Rocket records in 1999).
After a few months with a guitarist called Jim, who then left to be replaced by Paul Allen (aka ROCKPROF) in 1993, the band took a slightly more rock route more inspired by bands such as Monster Magnet. Their first single was released in 1994, entitled The QUAD EP. This has become a collectors item with its Russ Meyer inspired sleeve and initial copies including a packet of cigarette papers with the name of the band printed on the front.
The band recorded 3 Peel Sessions between 1995 and 1999 as well as a session for Mark Radcliffe.
The Black Angels
THE BLACK ANGELS
"Illness, insanity, and death are the black angels that kept watch over my cradle and accompanied me all my life."
The Black Angels released their fantastic debut album Passover in 2006. Creating an atmosphere and a dark quality that has become their trademark ever since.
With their debut album and the follow-up Directions To See A Ghost, The Black Angels have been gorging on great sounds from American psychedelia, heavy blues and modern shoegazing. References like 13th Floor Elevators, Velvet underground, Spiritualized and The Jesus & Mary Chain are often mentioned when describing the band’s music.
Formed in May 2004, the band's name derives from the Velvet Underground song "The Black Angels Death Song".
In 2005, the Black Angels were featured on a dual-disc compilation album of psychedelic music called Psychedelica Vol.1 from Nothern Star Records. This, along with the growing popularity of their MySpace page, gave the band a big jump in popularity in the underground scene.
On Friday, August 5, 2007, they played at Lollapalooza in Chicago. Among other venues, they have also played at SXSW 2006 & 2008 and All Tomorrows Parties 2008. Touring partners have included the blues rock blues bands The Black Keys, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Warlocks, Roky Erickson, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Queen Of The Stone Age, The Raveonettes and Wolfmother.
The Black Angels performing "The Return" from their album Directions To See A Ghost
The group's debut LP Passover was generally well received in the underground independent rock community and was noted for its dark tones and lyrical content. A review of Passover described them as "Walking in the shadows cast by Spaceman 3 and Spiritualized mastermind Jason Pierce" and compared them to The Warlocks and Black Mountain, also invoking "dirges" reminiscent of both The Velvet Underground and the 13th Floor Elevators. Passover included a quote in the liner notes from Edvard Munch; "Illness, insanity, and death are the black angels that kept watch over my cradle and accompanied me all my life."
Between October 28, 2008 and November 2, 2008, the band performed as Roky Ericksons backing band on the West Coast; future plans between Roky and The Black Angels are in the works. The band featured on Unkles May 2010 release, Where Did The Night Fall, collaborating on a song called "Natural Selection".
On April 23-25th, 2010, the band presented their third annual music-and-arts festival, Austin Psych Fest 3. Bands topping the 43-band bill included The Raveonettes, Pink Mountaintops, The Warlocks, The Gaslamp Killer, Warpaint, Night Beats and vintage psych legends Silver Apples.
The band's third album, titled Phosphene Dream, was released on September 13, 2010 in the UK and September 14, 2010 in the United States by Blue Horizon. This is the first album the Black Angels have released with their new label, Blue Horizon Records, having previously worked with Light in the Attic Records. The album debuted in the US at #50 on the Billboard Top 200 Charts.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
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