The Eyes Have It: Farewell to Michelle

The Eyes Have It
Originally uploaded by Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com

With great sadness I learned that Michelle Bachmann is out of the race. First Herman Cain, now Michelle. Gone are the comical weekly debates. Gone are the assinine statements and misabuse of the English language. Gone are the "Gotcha" questions and funny mis-facts. Gone are the outrageous claims of this crazy but harmless candidate. Now we are winnowing down the pack to just the serious and boring candidates. This has been a fun season of Republican "eat your young" implosion, and I will relish it for a long time. So goodbye Michelle, and Rick, and Herman. You mad a great summer replacement show, but now it's over.

Henry Rollins - Occupants

Henry Rollins tank - detail
Originally uploaded by giddygirlie

Early 80's punk was like a tornado. It sucked up everything in its vortex. Some people were destroyed. Others were picked up where they stood and spit out, lives forever changed, in a radically different spot. Take the journey of Mike Watt, Bob Mould, Ian MacKaye, Henry Rollins, myself. Henry was sucked into THE vortex. Black Flag. He entered the crucible as a suburban punk like so many of us and was spit out of the beast a full- blown Renaissance Man. Author, writer, photojournalist, humorist, punk. His new book is entitled Occupants, and it is a photo journey across the world with fascinating essays in amongst the pictures. One man's take of this insane world, trying to search for humanity, and seeking an understanding of the people, beyond culture, politics, geography. Henry finds interesting people and places,striking out at the inhumanity and finding the common chord that ties the people together as what we are: fellow occupants of planet earth.
It is tempting for me to see Henry as the Black Flag Henry. Prowling the stage like a dangerous animal. "My War!" Henry of the shirtless, black shorts, vicious early days. "Standing here like a loaded gun, waiting to go off..." The cacophony that was Black Flag stays seared forever in my brain.
Fast forward to the modern Henry. He is an articulate spokesman for we aging punks. We still have the fire, the passion. Passed on to the next generation and those to follow.
Check out Occupants by Henry Rollins. Buy it, borrow it from your library or shoplift it at the Barnes and Noble. Just don't download it on a Kindle. That wouldn't be very punk.

Rhino UK Releases the Complete Smiths!

Morrissey
Originally uploaded by etchasketchist

Yes, I was a punk rocker. Yes I liked the Smiths. No, I was not a mopey teenage girl, but somehow I was drawn to these guys. The interesting lyrics, the great guitar work by Johnny Marr. I now know what I want for Christmas. This compliation includes the studio albums, a live album and the compilations. All have been remastered by Johnny Marr. Just in time for Xmas, as they say...

The State of Jazz in the Crescent City

Just recently spent a couple of weeks in the Crescent City. New Orleans. First of all, it is HOT. I mean like 95 degrees and 80 percent humidity. I ate enough seafood to singlehandedly ressurect the Gulf Shrimp industry. They say it is safe to eat. I hope so. I am counting on it. Anyway, aside from all of the culinary delights, another thing that is great to see post- Katrina is the music scene coming back to life. Katrina forced so many to flee to safety. Musicians included. That would have broken the back of many a city, but the good folks of NOLA have perservered. As tourism has come back, and businesses have reopened now six years on, the music scene is alive and well. I enjoy how "in your face" jazz is in this place. In an ordinary city, the aficianado must seek out his jazz fix. Not so in New Orleans. It will track YOU down... Much good jazz on the FM radio as well. Hey, where else can you hear Zydeco on the radio as well. You can't keep good folks down. From the time you touch down at Louis Armstrong Airport, you will feel the jazz vibe EVERYWHERE. Keep up the good work folks!

The Bastard Son of Johnny Cash: Check this guy out!

His name is Jesse Morris. He appears to be from San Francisco according to his myspace page. He does punk songs in the the style of Johnny Cash. Here is his version of "Six Pack", the infamous old Black Flag tune. I would buy this guy's record if there was one. Black Flag and Johnny Cash both had that "in yer face" attitude to their music, and Jesse mixes them together very well here. I would like to see him tour with Hank III, Wayne Hancock and Big Sandy. Now that would be a great show.

Check out "A Mild Form of Madness" from Rob Rimsky

Madness
Originally uploaded by One Drop

Chicago has a long history of gritty cinema verite style writers. Studs Turkel to name one. Rob Rimsky has just released an interesting book via Walton Street Publishing entitled "A Mild Form of Madness". In the true punk DIY spirit, he took the punk mantra of "start where you are, use what you have" to get this book published. An interesting portrait inside the mind of the one against the many, Rimsky paints a vivid portrait of the sights, sounds and smells of the City of Broad Shoulders. Google it under "Walton Street" or "A Mild Form of Madness". Rob is a free thinker, a free spirit and an excellent wordsmith to boot. Check it out.

Elvis Costello on the Road Again!

So Elvis Costello and the Attractions are going out on tour again. This man has influenced my musical tastes and life in general in ways I cannot describe. My musical directions and taste in eye wear fashion have all been touched my Mr. McMannus. I was excited to hear about his new tour this spring. He will be bringing out the game show wheel to allow fans to spin and choose the songs the band will play. There will be other surprises as well. I have heard rumors of an onstage bar also. There will be 40 possible tunes on the wheel for the band to play. As I sit here on this overcast day here in Louisville and listen to some hot jazz featuring Barney Kessel on some A Train, I look forward to the possibilities of checking out the Elvis tour when it hits Cincinnati (the nearest venue to me). Check out his website for dates and venues in your area!

More Smashed band names you seek, hmm?

Cyclists: Wear a Helmet!
Originally uploaded by Lady Wulfrun

Steve Earle the Pearl Jam

The Billy O'Shins (I always listen to Billy Ocean on St. Paddy's Day).

Mojo Richard Millhouse Nixon

Lorretta Lynnmp Biscuit

The Judds Heath

The Flying Burrito Brothers Johnson

Earth, Wind & Pharcyde

Chet Atkins Diet

Nirvana Stick

Cheap Trick or Treat

Glen Campbell Soup

The Four Tubes Tops

Marvin's Gay

Pink Floyd (Cramer) Tillman

Jimmy "U ain't seen nuthin til ya down on a" Ruffin

Tears for Zamfir (pan flutist extraorinaire)

Belly Idol

Celine Dion DiMucci (Dion sang the Lawyer anthem, "Runaround (n) Sue")

Neil Diamond Rio

Elvis Abbott & Costello

Steve Miller Highlife Band

Vanilla Icehouse

The Who Doo Gurus

WhamBone

Sponge Bob Dylan