WHAT’S NEW – Early December

Posted on 01 December 2012

WHAT’S GOING AHN – early December, 2012

Man, these always take me too long to get around to.  Crap!  I really want to do them every two weeks but it ends up being 3, 4 weeks.  I guess there’s so much stuff I want to list for you all that I just get overwhelmed and can’t ignite.

I think I’m gonna try and chunk ’em down from now on and just get them out in a 1-2 week fashion with less.  What do you think?  Let’s give a go!

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One of the things that happened a lot in 2012 was the localized gatherings of power pop oriented fests in Europe and in the United States.  The latest one that I just heard about this week is…PEOPLE FEST.   JOEY MOLLAND of BADFINGER, Two Original cast members of the Broadway production of BEATLEMANIA Mitch Weissman (Paul McCartney), Les Fradkin(George Harrison) and a new Retro styled group, that Sgt PEPPER would be very proud of, called PEOPLEMANIA.  Maybe there’ll be a date in Colorado but read about PeopleFest – HERE

MICHAEL CARPENTER – his videos continue to get better and better. A massive talent I will continue to extol to all(Not Lame Recordings proudly worked on five different projects w/ MC over the years…but he only gets better and better…).  This song you’ll recognize. It comes from the upcoming “Monsters Of Lite Rock” CD – https://www.facebook.com/MonstersOfLiteRock

 

CHRIS STAMEY – Free song from his upcoming album on Yep Roc – HERE

SPINNING JENNIES – their long out of print album, “Stratosphere” is back in print, digitally at FutureMan Records – Listen and pick up at THIS LINK.

MONSTERS OF LITE ROCK – Come up.  Get ready for some kick-ass…LITE ROCK!  You’ve seen nothing like it.  Friend THIS FACEBOOK site now.  The tribute album is coming out in 2013 but the FB page is filled with all kinds of cool information, videos and updates on the project that take well beyond the every day Facebook page that you may ‘like’.

BIG STAR – the upcoming film documentary is coming up here soon.  For me, this is a HUGE event as Big Star was a band that totally changed the trajectory of my life, the day I first heard “Radio City”(January, 10, 1975).  Their music still makes me weep inside its awesomeness.  Check out the latest HERE.

ANDREA PERRY – Launched a Kickstarter campaign two weeks ago.  Make sure you check it out at THIS LINK and also pick up a song that was recently posted inside The Surprise Box – HERE.

Speaking of THE SURPRISE BOXHERE is a direct link to grab the 80+ songs in this area on the PGH site.

 THE THREE O’CLOCK – Wow.  Not much news on this band in..well, at least 15 years.  They’ve been gone for since 1988 or so but go to THIS LINK and read about some very cool news on their music with a rarities projects coming.  Note, that is ‘projects’, in the plural.

 

 

SELF-PROMOTIONAL MESSAGE – My latest book, “Power Pop Prime: A Pop Geek’s Guide To Awesome – Volume 2” was published a few weeks ago.   “Volume 2” is the fourth book in a 9-volume series(that will reach 3,000 printed pages before its finished).  The 9 books covers the history of power pop from 1995-2010, basically running alongside the history of my old label and mail order company, Not Lame Recordings.  Check out “Volume 2” – HERE and the rest of the books – HERE.  The PURE POP PUB write a very nice review at THIS LINK.  (thanks!)

JOE ALGERI’S latest band, THE JAC has a special Christmas release he’s making available for free download.  15 tracks for us all.  He’s Australian and here’s a bit about the project:  “Surely you can’t expect a Christmas album from the southern hemisphere to be normal?  It always seems to confuse Westerners in the northern hemisphere that the festive season in Australia falls in  summer where it’s not uncommon to spend Boxing Day at the beach because it’s so hot. The idea of a white  Christmas belongs in a postcard or a movie here…More than anything to do with religious beliefs or traditional festive messages, this compilation simply chronicles my beginnings in home recording; none of these tracks have been recorded or mixed in professional studios. In  fact the idea of the Brtiannicas, a band the where the members lived, wrote and recorded their parts in separate  countries, was born out these early recordings.”  DOWNLOAD the project HERE.

 HILLY MICHAELS – Now, this session drummer was pretty darn cool for a brief time in the late 70s, playing with Sparks on my personal favorite Sparks album, “Big Beat” but he released two, never-still-on-CD albums on Warner Brothers 30 years ago.  I just came across THIS CD collection on CDBaby.  Does not sound particular what I would want to hear from him and I didn’t pick it up but fans of Michaels(and you are out there on PGH, I know) may find it of interest.

I’m sorry, ROBIN WILLS of the Barracudas has had one of the most FUN and fascinating music blogs for many years.  If you’ve not checked out PURE POP yet, now is a good time to do so.  CLICK HERE to get lost in space.

PARTHENON HUXLEY – Last month, I mentioned his Kickstarter campaign which totally funded so we’ll see a new album from him by the Summer of this coming year.  I came  across THIS ARTICLE on him posted on the POP FAIR blog back in 2008 that you may find interesting.

ANOTHER CHRISTMAS POP PROJECT.  This one from THE JIGSAW SEEN.  I’ve not heard it but I’ve always been a fan of almost everything his band has done over the past 25 years.  You listen to it and purchase it at THIS LINK.

PETER BUCK released a very limited vinyl only, 2,000 piece LP a month ago. I totally heard about it after it was long gone.  Rolling Stone gave it 3 1/2 stars and supposedly it’s got a great garagey pop sound to it?  Does anyone have this?  Please share. 🙂   Read about it HERE.

THE NUMERO GROUP is, arguably, the coolest label in the entire world.  I own quite a few of their releases and they are incredibly power pop friendly and passionate releasing the YELLOW PILLS compilation back in 2008 and the BUTTONS projects.  I mentioned a few months ago about the upcoming SHOES vinyl reissues and they are now seeing the light of day.  Exciting news.  You can read and order them HERE.   There are FOUR vinyl reissues total and when you go the link,  you can listen to samples from every track.  Warning, though:  the web site is one of more unintiutive sites you’ll come across.  But the pay off is huge.

BLEEKER BOB’s, a film documentary on the man. A bit sad(well, a lot) but for anyone who lived or ventured to New York City in the 70s and 80s, it was a mandatory stop as you could swallow up the latest imports and walk out ready for the soup-line in the Bowery because they charged the most insane prices for everything.  “Thank you sir, may have another.”  Check out the film HERE.

 

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