If Christ was a Capricorn, we're all in deep shit: birthday shout-outs and other reasons to celebrate
What kind of rock and roll hootchie mama would let the day go by without saying happy birthday to Elvis, David Bowie, and former Buzzcocks bassist Steve "No, Not The Baseball Player" Garvey? Are you mad? So here we go: many happy returns for Elvis, the King of Rock and Roll - who some say never left the building; David Bowie - the King of Chameleons; and Steve Garvey - the King of Cute. I once met a girl named Wendy whose older sister used to prank call Steve Garvey's parents' house, back in the day when chicks would reportedly try to rip his shirt off at Buzzcocks gigs.
Today's definitely a day to celebrate, though. Tom DeLay has announced he's stepping down as majority leader, but hell, who didn't see that one coming? Did he honestly think he'd be able to keep that post, after all this in? Bitch, please. So hateful. Now he's trying to get the money laundering charges thrown out or sent back to a lower court, but I have faith that my hero, Travis County D.A. Ronnie Earle, will skewer the former exterminator from Houston, roasting him over the coals until he he's crisp enough to flip over on his back and his little cockroach legs writhe furiously to no avail. Sorry, but some of us will just never forgive him for that redistricting fiasco.
Other reasons to celebrate:
Bought my Saint Etienne tickets today, for the Friday, February 17th show at the Fillmore in San Francisco. Row G, seats 201, 202, 203. Saint Etienne is pure pop pleasure. Your ears will love you forever if you haven't indulged already. My introduction to them came by way of Top of the Pops in 1995, three days before I was due to leave England, and there was the lovely blonde and lithe Sarah Cracknell - on stage with her boa singing "He's On The Phone." Christ! Talk about feeling sucker-punched. I fell in love on the spot, took the bus into town the next day and bought the single. Guess I should get off my ass and buy "Tales From The Turnpike House," but now there's the trip to SFO to save for, so it looks like that'll have to wait. There's also a new Saint Etienne compilation on the way, called "Nice Price," which - according to the December 15th newsletter penned by St. Et's very own Bob Stanley - will be out in mid-January. It would've been out before Xmas had it not been for some cock-up with Who Do You Think You Are? (the Debsey vocal version) on the test pressing. Bummer. Looking forward to hearing that demo version of Lose That Girl and the original Burnt Out Car, as well. There's also an alternative vocal version of Nothing Can Stop Us and Sarah's 7 Ways 2 Love - and I'm hope, hope, hoping there might be copies for sale at the show, too. Fingers crossed.
I used to think one had to be from the U.K. or gay to appreciate Saint Etienne, but if you've ever found yourself humming along to the Cardigans or the Beach Boys, drop everything you're doing right now and go out and buy "Good Humor." If Brian Wilson could have produced the 60's girl group of his dreams, "Good Humor" would have been the love child of that blessed union.
Also, on March 14th, We Got Power Films is releasing David Markey's 2004 directors cut of Lovedolls Superstar Fully Realized!!! The 20th Year Anniversary Edition!
Pardon me as I compose myself here. I've never actually seen Lovedolls Superstar. Until this point, I don't think it's ever been released on video, much less DVD. Being ga-ga over Redd Kross, though, I have seen Desperate Teenage Lovedolls, and later on, The Spirit of '76, which also featured the fabulously talented McDonald brothers Steven and Jeff, along with Leif Garrett and David Cassidy, and costume design by the young Sofia Coppola. To be honest, I had my doubts that Lovedolls Superstar would ever see the light of day in my neck of the woods, but thanks to the wonders of the Internet and digitizing, we have arrived!
Lovedolls Superstar just sounds like a comfortable fit for any dedicated fan of the trashy and proud rock and roll flick: girl band rises from the gutter, stomping a few hearts along the way, with a few OD's, an acid-zonked cult, crazed fans, a suicide and a rock and roll assassination thrown in for good measure. And cameos by Jello Biafra, Sky Saxon and former Bangle Vicki Peterson. I can't wait to hear the audio commentaries, either - with Dave Markey, the McDonald Brothers, and Jennifer Schwartz - who plays Patch Christ, leader of the cult and Lovedoll supreme.
If you can ever find a used copy of the "Lovedolls Superstar" soundtrack - originally released on SST in 1986 - snatch it up. While I can't vouch for the film's brilliance, I can vouch for the soundtrack's endorphin-and-ass-kicking factor. Jeezus K. Rist. The first time I heard it was at Danny's shotgun house on Bryan Street, that little den of iniquity where I spent many happy nights passed out and drooling on the sofa. I think I arrived that Friday evening, and the first words out of Danny's mouth were "Sit down. You're going to fucking love this."
As usual, he was right. If my memory serves me correctly, I think we played "Beer N' Ludes" at least five times in a row. To this day, we can recite certain stanzas verbatim:
Fast stardom made me that you were much too lame for me
So I dumped you on the spot
Left you homeless, stole your pot
So I guess that fame can lead to evil
Just like Dio, so medieval...
And how 'bout that bit toward the end, which sounds like it should be a contestant's speech in the demented beauty pageant of my dreams:
My old man hit me yesterday for the last time
Selling mommy's Valium at school
Now I'm crashing on Hollywood Boulevard
Yeah, I'm crashing down real hard
Hanging out on the Strip - waiting for my next fix, man
This is the life for me:
stoned and loose and sweet 16
I grew up fast in Juvie Hall
By the time I was 14, I had seen it all
Bedknobs and broomsticks and that's not all
My boyfriend OD'd on beer and 'Ludes
They found him face down in the bathroom at school
This followed by a hail of blistering guitar, which will make you go gooey and out of your ever-lovin' mind.
Aside from Redd Kross and The Lovedolls, naturally, the soundtrack includes other offerings from Sonic Youth, Meat Puppets, Dead Kennedys, Lawndale, Gone, Black Flag, and a host of others. So get cracking.
Today's definitely a day to celebrate, though. Tom DeLay has announced he's stepping down as majority leader, but hell, who didn't see that one coming? Did he honestly think he'd be able to keep that post, after all this in? Bitch, please. So hateful. Now he's trying to get the money laundering charges thrown out or sent back to a lower court, but I have faith that my hero, Travis County D.A. Ronnie Earle, will skewer the former exterminator from Houston, roasting him over the coals until he he's crisp enough to flip over on his back and his little cockroach legs writhe furiously to no avail. Sorry, but some of us will just never forgive him for that redistricting fiasco.
Other reasons to celebrate:
Bought my Saint Etienne tickets today, for the Friday, February 17th show at the Fillmore in San Francisco. Row G, seats 201, 202, 203. Saint Etienne is pure pop pleasure. Your ears will love you forever if you haven't indulged already. My introduction to them came by way of Top of the Pops in 1995, three days before I was due to leave England, and there was the lovely blonde and lithe Sarah Cracknell - on stage with her boa singing "He's On The Phone." Christ! Talk about feeling sucker-punched. I fell in love on the spot, took the bus into town the next day and bought the single. Guess I should get off my ass and buy "Tales From The Turnpike House," but now there's the trip to SFO to save for, so it looks like that'll have to wait. There's also a new Saint Etienne compilation on the way, called "Nice Price," which - according to the December 15th newsletter penned by St. Et's very own Bob Stanley - will be out in mid-January. It would've been out before Xmas had it not been for some cock-up with Who Do You Think You Are? (the Debsey vocal version) on the test pressing. Bummer. Looking forward to hearing that demo version of Lose That Girl and the original Burnt Out Car, as well. There's also an alternative vocal version of Nothing Can Stop Us and Sarah's 7 Ways 2 Love - and I'm hope, hope, hoping there might be copies for sale at the show, too. Fingers crossed.
I used to think one had to be from the U.K. or gay to appreciate Saint Etienne, but if you've ever found yourself humming along to the Cardigans or the Beach Boys, drop everything you're doing right now and go out and buy "Good Humor." If Brian Wilson could have produced the 60's girl group of his dreams, "Good Humor" would have been the love child of that blessed union.
Also, on March 14th, We Got Power Films is releasing David Markey's 2004 directors cut of Lovedolls Superstar Fully Realized!!! The 20th Year Anniversary Edition!
Pardon me as I compose myself here. I've never actually seen Lovedolls Superstar. Until this point, I don't think it's ever been released on video, much less DVD. Being ga-ga over Redd Kross, though, I have seen Desperate Teenage Lovedolls, and later on, The Spirit of '76, which also featured the fabulously talented McDonald brothers Steven and Jeff, along with Leif Garrett and David Cassidy, and costume design by the young Sofia Coppola. To be honest, I had my doubts that Lovedolls Superstar would ever see the light of day in my neck of the woods, but thanks to the wonders of the Internet and digitizing, we have arrived!
Lovedolls Superstar just sounds like a comfortable fit for any dedicated fan of the trashy and proud rock and roll flick: girl band rises from the gutter, stomping a few hearts along the way, with a few OD's, an acid-zonked cult, crazed fans, a suicide and a rock and roll assassination thrown in for good measure. And cameos by Jello Biafra, Sky Saxon and former Bangle Vicki Peterson. I can't wait to hear the audio commentaries, either - with Dave Markey, the McDonald Brothers, and Jennifer Schwartz - who plays Patch Christ, leader of the cult and Lovedoll supreme.
If you can ever find a used copy of the "Lovedolls Superstar" soundtrack - originally released on SST in 1986 - snatch it up. While I can't vouch for the film's brilliance, I can vouch for the soundtrack's endorphin-and-ass-kicking factor. Jeezus K. Rist. The first time I heard it was at Danny's shotgun house on Bryan Street, that little den of iniquity where I spent many happy nights passed out and drooling on the sofa. I think I arrived that Friday evening, and the first words out of Danny's mouth were "Sit down. You're going to fucking love this."
As usual, he was right. If my memory serves me correctly, I think we played "Beer N' Ludes" at least five times in a row. To this day, we can recite certain stanzas verbatim:
Fast stardom made me that you were much too lame for me
So I dumped you on the spot
Left you homeless, stole your pot
So I guess that fame can lead to evil
Just like Dio, so medieval...
And how 'bout that bit toward the end, which sounds like it should be a contestant's speech in the demented beauty pageant of my dreams:
My old man hit me yesterday for the last time
Selling mommy's Valium at school
Now I'm crashing on Hollywood Boulevard
Yeah, I'm crashing down real hard
Hanging out on the Strip - waiting for my next fix, man
This is the life for me:
stoned and loose and sweet 16
I grew up fast in Juvie Hall
By the time I was 14, I had seen it all
Bedknobs and broomsticks and that's not all
My boyfriend OD'd on beer and 'Ludes
They found him face down in the bathroom at school
This followed by a hail of blistering guitar, which will make you go gooey and out of your ever-lovin' mind.
Aside from Redd Kross and The Lovedolls, naturally, the soundtrack includes other offerings from Sonic Youth, Meat Puppets, Dead Kennedys, Lawndale, Gone, Black Flag, and a host of others. So get cracking.
posted by No, You Can't Watch at 12:19 AM
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