Solitary Confinement by Weirdos (1978)

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The Weirdos were certainly one of the unheralded punk bands of rock n' roll's original revolt against itself. In retrospect, most of the attention goes to the Sex Pistols, the Clash, and the Ramones. But there were dozens of other bands that were part of the first punk wave. The Weirdos were right there in the thick of it.

Here is the B side to their big single "We Got the Neutron Bomb".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWkGPxBK1vI

I Think She Likes Me by Treat Her Right (1986)

As mentioned before in this space, my teen years in the 80's were spent primarily listening to classic rock radio stations. My knowledge of then current bands was limited to what MTV was playing. That said, there were some exceptions. Living in the Boston area, I did get to hear some local bands that got occasional airplay on  the pseudo-classic rock stations. 

Treat Her Right, Mark Sandman's pre-Morphine band, was one of those groups getting some airplay. I remember hearing this song and thinking that there was nothing similar to it on the radio. I immediately went out to Caldor's or Strawberries and picked up the cassette. I remember playing that tape constantly for weeks.

"I Think She Likes Me" is just a classic rock n' roll message delivered in a lo-fi bluesy way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8YRh5B_dyI

Her Longing by Taugadeildin (1981)

Man, I really must have been in the mood for some Joy Division. But, I already featured them in this blog once, so I'll do the next best thing. I post a song that sounds exactly like them. Ha! This Icelandic band, whose band name translates roughly as "Department of Neurology" was only together for about eighteen months in the early 80's. They did manage to develop a nice little sound in that time, though. The fact that they sound like Joy Division is completely forgivable in my mind because Joy Division was one of those bands that left us wanting so much more.

Check out "Her Longing" here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sD3f6VN1Riw

Rainbow's Run by King Tuff (2014)

Multi-instrumentalist Kyle Thomas, aka King Tuff, has been making records for the better part of the last decade. Since he is one of the rare "current" bands featured in this space, I will point you to his web page here. Check out his garage, with a hint of psych, sound off of his latest release, 2014's Black Moon Spell.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0DLjBwVIrA

2X4 by Blind Melon (1995)

Blind Melon was largely known for their catchy, albeit tragically overplayed, tune and video, "No Rain" released in 1992. I myself, as a man in my early twenties often found myself humming the song. As for me, that was the extent of my knowledge of the Blind Melon's work until recently.

Three years after their debut album, including their big hit, the band released their follow up, Soup. This is a bit darker of an album which reminds me more of Stone Temple Pilots than the band that created "No Rain".

Unfortunately, only two months after the release of their sophomore effort, lead singer Shannon Hoon would die of a heart attack after a cocaine overdose.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPzoJCcOMF8

Alright by The Groop (1966)

The Groop was one of dozens of garage bands out of Australia in the mid-60's. They managed to put together three albums and many singles during their time together. This particular track finally got a proper release in Vol. 8 of Crypt Records' Back from the Grave series releaased back in 1996.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-JDqLEV7Ks

Stranded by Budgie (1972)

Welsh hard rockers, Budgie, achieved a certain amount of success in Britain in the late 70's/early 80's along with the NWOBHM movement. However, they had been together much longer than most of the other heavy metal bands of that era.

Budgie formed back in 1967 and was much more of a hard rock/progressive band in their earlier days. Here they are from their sophomore 1972 release, Squawk.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9ASTdIidOA

I Hear You Knockin' by Lazy Lester (1959)

There may be no better day for a blues' tune than a Monday. With that in mind, here is a lesser known blues musician who has been playing the blues since the 50's. Lester played on the hip blues' label Excello in the 50's along with Slim Harpo and Lightnin' Slim.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzqVXXJ9KHM

Haunting at 1300 McKinley by The Black Angels (2010)

If you name your band after a Velvet Underground song, you've got my attention. The Black Angels, from Austin, Texas, have been around for over a decade now. I've just started to listen to their stuff. I am definitely getting into their low-key garage sound. Check out this video from their 2010 release, Phosphene Dream.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3e5McLcQoI

Do You Need the Service by Gary Numan and Tubeway Army (1979)

Yes, there's more to Gary Numan that just "Cars". Something about Gary Numan(especially his time with the Tubeway Army) epitomizes all that was right with the new wave movement. His use of synthesizers seems honest and had its own unique feel. This is something that was lost with most synth bands of the 80's.

Check out this track, issued as a bonus with the 1997 re-issue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjZ_uB6LDyc

Peace Frog by The Doors (1970)

These days, it is definitely not cool to like the Doors. It is a "go-to" band for hipsters to reference when making fun of dorks who like classic rock. Even a lot of musicians of the the classic rock era don't have many nice things to say about the Doors(I'm looking at you David Crosby) Even my hero, Jerry Garcia, made a point of expressing his disdain for the music of the Doors. Maybe the lack of fondness for the band has to do with Jim Morrison's drunken obnoxiousness or his self-proclaimed status as a "poet" instead of a songwriter. I'm sure it all contributed.

For me, though, they created some great music. Beyond the big hits, there were a lot of great tunes. My favorite is represented here off of the band's fourth album. The intro to this song is as distinct as Satisfaction to my ears.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRJKOtM-onM

Dutch Connection by Jaguar (1983)

Coming along a little late to the NWOBHM(New Wave of British Heavy Metal) phenomenon, Jaguar pulled together their first full length effort for 1983's Power Games. Were they Judas Priest or Iron Maiden? No. But they have some quality hard rockin' tunes. Check out Dutch Connection.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwUoqdQAMb8

The Eagle Laughs At You by Jackie Lomax (1969)

Big fame just wasn't meant to be for Jackie Lomax. His first full album, Is This What You Want, was produced by his friend George Harrison, was released on the Beatles' label, Apple, and featured musicians Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Billy Preston, Nicky Hopkins, and the aforementioned George Harrison. Still, the album barely broke into the charts. Listening to the album today, it does have a distinct 60's sound, that is not as timeless as some of the classics of the day. Perhaps it is the heavy use of horns that kept this from being a bigger release. Who knows?

Nonetheless, Jackie managed to keep a career going, off and on, through his death in 2013. Here is the single of that first album, The Eagle Laughs at You.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0WMIGnfzX0

Church of Anthrax by John Cale & Terry Riley (1971)

Since leaving the Velvet Underground in 1968, John Cale has made over 30 albums of delightfully weird, unapologetically obtuse music. I have not nearly listened to them all, but from what I have checked out, I need to hear more.

Here finds John collaborating with classical/jazz musician, Terry Riley to make some instrumental gems. This is the title track off their album, Church of Anthrax.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHv7M0o_OL8

Wild Thing by X (1984)

X's Wild Thing video is a perfect encapsulation of an early 80's punk or rock video made on the cheap. It includes all of the perfect elements. It has historical footage of real life destruction or chaos(wrecking ball going through building). It has manufactured destruction for the video(blowing up a tv). It has some sort of everyman storyline(guy takes girl to a show). And they intersperse the video with concert footage of the band.

As for 14-year old me watching/hearing this for the first time, I was into it. I liked the sound of female lead singers covering songs originally sung by a guy. 14-year old me also enjoyed Bow Wow Wow's I Want Candy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1uqusMLpOU

Refuse/Resist by Sepultura (1993)

Back in the late 80's/early 90's, Sepultura was just another heavy metal band name that didn't interest me. I just wasn't into that music at the time. Years later, I was watching some Youtube videos and someone had linked a video of some young kids covering a Sepultura song. Check out said video here. They're pretty good. But more than the novelty of youngsters playing death metal, I kind of liked the song.

I ended up checking out some of the Brazilian metal giants work. More good stuff that I initially ignored. Here is the true version of Refuse/Resist.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zn8ndJOIEsI

Too Fast for Love by The Donnas (1999)

The Donnas often got criticized for trying to be the next Runaways. While the bands had some things in common(Both were all female teenage rock bands from California), there are differences too. First of all, the Runaways sound was much more arena rock, while the Donnas were more of a garage band. Also, and more importantly, the Runaways were the pieced together by Kim Fowley in a very Monkees-esque fashion, where the Donnas all met in 8th grade before starting the band.

In any case, Runaways-level success was not in the cards for the Donnas. However, they did put out a bunch of quality albums over the last twenty years. While I like a lot of their original songs, I find my favorite Donnas' songs are covers. I love their version of REO Speedwagon's Keep On Loving You and Ace Frehley's Speedin' Back to My Baby. Another one of my favorites is this version of the Motley Crue staple.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYu3fvQ1CFg

Go Fish by Cub (1993)

How about some alt-pop low fi from 1993? Okay, then. Here is Vancouver's Cub from their first album, Betti-Cola. They had a distinct sound that was good for setting a laid back hip vibe. The band would go on to release three more albums in the 90's before calling it quits.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBAWgU_JMz0

Alcohol by Gang Green (1986)

Back when I was in high school in the Boston area, I remember hearing about a local hardcore punk band called Gang Green who were supposedly the most outrageous band to see live. At the age of fifteen that didn't happen for me. Although many classmates of the same age claimed to have seen their live show. Maybe they did, who knows.

I, myself, got a hold of a bootleg cassette of their current album, Another Wasted Night. I would listen to it on my walkman while working as a stockboy in my local Cumberland Farms. Good times. Here was one of my favorites.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cz3GmHferlQ

Holy Wars...The Punishment Due by Megadeth (1990)

I was never a big speed metal fan back in the day. In the 80's, I was into 60's music and by the 90's, I went straight into being a grunge fan. Over the years, however, I did start to gain an appreciation for some of the speed metal greats. Specifically, I bought all of Metallica's stuff through And Justice For All and bought the early Slayer albums. I never really experimented too much with Megadeth because, quite frankly, I didn't care for Dave Mustaine's vocals.

Recently, though, I saw a funny Onion article espousing, tongue-in-cheek, the artistic merits of Megadeth's 1990 album, Rust In Peace. With some subsequent encouragement from a friend, I decided to download the album and I thought it was great. Check out the opening track...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9d4ui9q7eDM

Touch Me I'm Sick by Mudhoney (1988)

I know, I know, Mudhoney fans. This is hardly a deep cut by the band. Still, it is largely unknown. Even when Grunge was taking over the world, Seattle rockers' Mudhoney still did not get the kind of press afforded to Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Alice in Chains. That's a shame because this is one powerful band.

This tune was released in 1988 on the Superfuzz Bigmuff EP. In many ways it seems slightly ahead of it's time. What do you think?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nGsT_qFMBs

Hard to Be by The Vaughn Brothers (1990)

I was never a big fan of Stevie Ray Vaughn. There were a few songs, like the Sky is Crying, that I thought were good. But, if I was in the mood for that kind of music, I would normally just reach for some Hendrix.

Still, this 1990 song recorded with his Fabulous Thunderbird brother, Jimmie Vaughan, just had an infectious hook that I've consistently turned to over the years.  Check out this lead track from their 1990 album, Family Style.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NMSZt0EdG0

Keepers by Jerry Garcia and Merl Saunders (1973)

I can't believe that it's been twenty years since Jerry's passing. I've already played some Grateful Dead in this space, so to commemorate Jerry's legacy, I will play something from another of Jerry's many live ensembles.

Here is Jerry with keyboardist, Merl Saunders, from the Keystone in Berkeley, CA and their funky little number "Keepers".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r2tTG0-muU

I'm Looking for Someone to Love by The Riverias (1964)

Every once in a while in this space, I look for a good palette cleanser. Something to remind us of how it all got started. So, with that in mind I present South Bend, Indiana's finest performing a Buddy Holly classic in the sunset of America's domination of rock n' roll.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HmTYWXRsWk

Pressure Drop by Toots and the Maytals (1969)

Frederick "Toots" Hibbert and the Maytals have been doing it since 1963. It doesn't get much more authentic than these guys. They played reggae before reggae was a thing. I like a lot of songs by this band, but Pressure Drop is my favorite. This tune just has a way of melting away stress when heard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rb13ksYO0s

Not That Social by The Von Bondies (2004)

When the Detroit garage rock sound was getting ramped up in the early 2000's behind the success of the White Stripes, I started checking out other Detroit bands, such as the Soledad Brothers, the Detroit Cobras, and the Von Bondies. I remember liking the early work of the Von Bondies and then I kind of forgot about them.

Checking in on them now, I see they broke up about four years ago. Oh well. Here is my favorite tune from their 2004 release, Pawn Shoppe Heart.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5_7XJMlbXE

First I Look at the Purse by J. Geils Band (1972)

Yesterday, I posted about a performer that was a rock star who later had a successful radio show. Today, the opposite is true. Peter Wolf, lead singer of the J. Geils Band, was a high profile DJ for WBCN in Boston during their rise to prominence in the late 60's. Soon, though, Peter turned his attentions to his band. The J. Geils Band would go on to have a great career throughout the 70's and into the mid-80's.

The keys to this band's success was their high energy live shows and their charismatic lead singer. Both are on display here on their cover of the Smokey Robinson penned "First I Look at the Purse"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ark4ew5Szjk

Strangered in the Night by Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (1976)

I had never been a big Tom Petty fan. I mean, I liked Refugee okay. And, when I was in college, "Even the Losers" became a theme song for a group of friends. Then, when Silence of the Lambs came out, I gained an appreciation for "American Girl". Yet, I didn't go out and buy any of Petty's albums. I guess I was a peripheral fan at most.

Over the past couple of years, though, I have been listening to Petty's "Buried Treasure" weekly radio show on Sirius. Regardless of whether or not you like his music, you should check out his radio show. He is funny, has strong musical opinions, and has great taste in music.

Being a fan of his show pushed me to check out more of his own work and there are some real gems that never got airplay back in the classic rock radio era. Check out this track from his first album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_QoI-ROkdk

Ca Plane Pour Moi by Thee Headcoatees (1997)

In the early 2000's, I was a big White Stripes fan. Enough so, that I bought all of their CDs up through the then current release of White Blood Cells. I then purchased 2003's Elephant as soon as it was released. I remember listening to that entire album and loving each song as I heard it for the first time. The last track on that album, "It's True that We Love Each Other", was a quirkly little number that featured singing from Jack and Meg White, along with someone named Holly.

I immediately had to find out more about this Holly. Of course, now I know that was Holly Golightly, formerly of Thee Headcoatees, which formerly backed up Billy Childish's Thee Headcoats. I went and downloaded a bunch of Headcoatees songs and discovered this kickass garage band of the 90's.

Here finds the band in 1997 covering Plastic Bertrand's classic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyKCXAN7EyM

Goatman by Goat (2012)

Swedish Afro-beat psych rock doesn't get any better than Goat. Never mind the lack of comparables in the genre. This band is making good music in an age where it is harder to find. Check out their Facebook page for more info about the band. You can also check out their website if you like a challenge.

Here is Goat from a few short years ago off of their first album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BihUCqQp-Rs

McCloud by Estus (1973)

In the days after Dust, but before his time in the Ramones, Marc Bell(aka Marky Ramone) was in another band called Estus. This band was closer to Dust than the Ramones. They only lasted together long enough to release one full album, the self-titled work illustrated in the link.

Today's short selection sounds a lot like it could be an outtake from Led Zeppelin I. See if you agree.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySkPH2R_2uU