Cat Club

Roland and Rora:

Bastards

"This was a new breed of rebel. They, of course, didn't have jobs. They despised everything that most Americans pursue -- stability, security. They rode their bikes, hung out in bars for days at a time, fought with anyone who messed with them. They were self-contained, with their own set of rules, their own code of behavior. It was extraordinary."

Bo Diddley is Jesus

Saw Deerhunter last Friday and been listening to them on endless repeat all week cause I'm overworked and stressed out. Even woke up in the middle of the night thinking about this Bo Diddley tribute, recorded at a show in Germany on the day of his death (cracking up about the CAN shirt too).



Another classic Diddley cover while I'm at it:



... and finally, thee black gladiator:

Don't Be A Dummy

Fun little novelty track from my main man John DuCann, best known as the guitarist for Death Walks Behind You-era Atomic Rooster, and the brain behind the lesser-known but equally awesome Hard Stuff, among others. The tale of how he came to sing this is a strange one.

Originally it was the jingle for a zombie punk commercial selling Lee Cooper jeans, sung by none other than Gary Webb (aka Numan), then front man for Tubeway Army. Once he struck the big time, the record execs wanted him to re-record it as a single, but he wanted nothing to do with it. So in steps John DuCann, now working on a solo album described as "Status Quo meets the Sex Pistols," who turns it into a smash hit on the UK singles chart. Here they are back to back.

Maximum Overdrive

Two things:

Boneheaded cyclists are no different than angry drivers.

And passive aggression is truly the worst.

Darkness Descends

Among the sounds of my youth, Dark Angel's "Darkness Descends" cassette occupies a huge place, having spent many hours blasting it in my parents' old Toyota Camry. So it was with great excitement that I finally scored the LP version in Berkeley today.

To commemorate this joyous occasion, I bring you this amazing vid, featuring the unholy fatman himself, Gene Hoglan, and a pre-born again Ron Rinehart (whose post-DA project, Oil, I just learned recorded a live album at the First Baptist Church in Downey, California). He also shares a striking resemblance to Conan the Barbarian. Enjoy!

Crocodile Tears

Distressing piece on the future of a liberal arts education in America:

"In a response to last week’s column on “Howl,” the movie about Allen Ginsberg’s famous poem, Charlie from Binghamton asked, “What happened to public investment in the humanities and the belief that the humanities enhanced our culture, our society, our humanity?” And he speculated that it “will be a sad, sad day if and when we allow the humanities to collapse.”

What he didn’t know at the time is that it had already happened, on Oct. 1, when George M. Philip, president of SUNY Albany, announced that the French, Italian, classics, Russian and theater programs were getting the axe.

It is the job of presidents and chancellors to proclaim the value of liberal arts education loudly and often and at least try to make the powers that be understand what is being lost when traditions of culture and art that have been vital for hundreds and even thousands of years disappear from the academic scene. President Philip cries crocodile tears. Real tears are in order. "