Tuff Darts! - You Can't Keep a Good Band Down

(Captain Trip Records)
(REVIEW BY DAVE GETZOFF)

First and foremost, the Tuff Darts! are a great rock n' roll band. They emerged from the 1970s New York City CBGB's/Max's Kansas City scene. The thing I really like about the early New York punk scene is the bands tended to have their own unique sounds. Sure, the New York bands were inspired by earlier rock n' roll bands. However, they usually didn't copy off each other. The Ramones were the Ramones, The Dead Boys were the Dead Boys, The Dictators were the Dictators, The Heartbreakers were the Heartbreakers, Blondie was Blondie, and the Tuff Darts! were certainly the Tuff Darts! In my opinion, they are one of the best of the lesser known bands from the early New York punk scene. There are some great songs on their debut album. "Who's Been Sleeping Here?" is one of the best powerpop songs you will ever hear. "She's Dead" and "(Your Love is Like) Nuclear Waste" are great anti-love songs. The band's best known song, "All For the Love of Rock n' Roll", should have been a hit.

You Can't Keep a Good Band Down, which has been released this year, is the second Tuff Darts! full-length album. It is the long awaited follow up to the band's self-titled debut album released on Sire Records in 1978 (which was re-issued on CD by Wounded Bird Records in 2002). You Can't Keep a Good Band Down is the perfect title for the new album. In fact, although there is a twenty-nine year gap between the two albums, this album sounds as if it could have been released in 1979 shortly after the first album. They haven't lost a thing. The Tuff Darts! continue to do what they do best on this release by combining the sounds of mid sixties American garage and British Invasion bands, powerpop, and early American punk. If you like the first album, you will definitly like this album. I just received it today, and I have already listened to it six times. If you are not familiar with the Tuff Darts! and you like the sound of '77 style punk rock and roll, this band is definitely worth checking out.
Dave Getzoff August 6, 2007

(originally posted on Now Wave Webzine on August 6, 2007)

An interview with The Hangouts
by Dave Getzoff

The Hangouts are a very catchy punk rock band from College Station, Texas. They are made up of husband and wife Niki and Matt S., and their friends Matt W. and Marty. This is Niki's first time singing in a band, and I must say she is a natural. Her vocals fit the style of the Hangouts' music very nicely. The Hangouts have already released a four song split 7" with the band Something Fierce, which is definitely worth checking out. I hope to hear a full-length album from this band in the near future.

Dave: First off, could you introduce yourselves, who is in the band and who does what?

Niki: I sing and talk shit - but in a nice way.

Matt S: I am Atarimatt, and I play power chords.

Matt W: I play the easy guitar.

Marty: I'm Masta Blasta, and I play the drumz spelled with a "z" instead of an "s".

Matt S: Marty's the new guy. Drummer 3. And we love him and his smart ass!

Dave: How and when did your band get started?

Niki: Matt and Matt had been playing together for quite a while already, our friend Manny started playing drums with them, and then they decided they wanted a singer. They convinced me to try even though I'd never done it before - EVER. I think I hid behind the speaker cabinet for like the first 6 practices and no one was allowed to look in my direction because I was so nervous about it. They finally all told me to get over it, and I've been in the middle of this thing ever since. =)

Matt S: Pretty much just like Niki said. And by the way, she's a natural and the kids love her!

Matt W: When bored old people get together, magic happens. This is one of those times.

Marty: The state of Texas brought us together.

Dave: How would you describe your band's overall sound to someone who never heard your music?

Niki: Powerpunk-driving-to-a-show-jump-up-and-down-gettin-sweaty-sing-a -log-super-funness!!! We are all about having a good time!

Matt S: Shortish songs that are simple, catchy, and fun.

Matt W: Old school punk rock goodness.

Marty: Skull rock, shriek beat!

Dave: Could you tell us about Manic Attack Records?

Niki: Matt S. is the guy to ask - I just know that half of our bedroom is used for recording people who might want to be on it! =)

Matt S: I started it as a way to put out Atarimatt CDs. Then I realized that for whatever retarded reason, NO ONE had ever offered to out a record for Something Fierce. So with us being friends, them being so damn awesome, and me having a bit of cash to blow, I told them I wanted to put out a 7" for them. We decided a split would be the coolest, so that's what we did and it turned out GREAT! And now I'm addicted to putting out vinyl and going broke in the most wonderful way. It's worth every penny!

Matt W: We are riding the coattails of the Atarimatt bandwagon.

Marty: Just go buy any book about the history of Texas...you'll find all the info you need in there.

Dave: What is your favorite Ramones album?

Niki: The first Ramones is my favorite - I heard it for the first time when I was 13, and it was sort of life-changing for me at that age.

Matt S: All of the ones that have "Loudmouth" on them. That song is so ruling that it's not even funny.

Matt W: Ramones, Leave Home, Rocket to Russia, Road to Ruin. If you don't like all 4 of those albums equally, then I hope you get a tumor.

Marty: Animal Boy

Dave: What is the current music scene in College Station, Texas like?

Niki: College Station has always had this weird cycle of having a good music scene and then suddenly overnight it disappears. We've really tried to play a part in making the local scene better and have been really fortunate to hook up with friends like Something Fierce, and a bunch of other bands that have been willing to give this town a chance. I think they have always been pleasantly surprised once they play here because the kids are so into it and really show a lot of love - most of the time they want to play here again. College Station is definitely on the upswing, and we hope it stays there!

Matt W: Country, alternative country, singer songwriter country, new country, old country, metal, screamo, The Guns of Detroit, and us. An island of punk rock in a sea of crap.

Matt S: Like Niki said, we've worked really hard to bring it back to life. Back in the early '90s it was really good because there were a couple guys that worked at the local record store that really cared about putting on good shows. Hell, back then I remember playing with Fire Hose and Nomeansno and going to see The Jesus Lizard, Fugazi, and The Descendents. It would be rad ass if we could bring it back up to that level. But also like Matt W. said, there is a huge sea of crap that has to be waded in to get to the treasure island.

Marty: It's about to be scary.

Dave: What are some of the upcoming plans for the Hangouts?

Niki: Well, we just put out our first 7" with Something Fierce, and hopefully we'll be putting out a full-length CD pretty soon. Other than that, we are just going to play a lot of shows and see what happens!

Marty: World domination? 1) Play Houston with Something Fierce2) Record with *NEW* drummer MastaBlasta 3) Hangout! 4) Infect the SW region with our screeches and beats!

Matt W: A little rock, a little roll, and a whole hell of a lot of punk.

Matt S: New songs, new recordings, new shows, new friends!

Dave: What is your favorite format to release and listen to music on? (records, CDs, MP3s)

Niki: CDs and vinyl to release, vinyl and MP3s to listen.

Matt W: MP3s.

Marty: 8 Track!

Matt S: Vinyl is definitely the coolest to release, but everyone can play a CD. I love MP3s and I'm not ashamed to admit that I "illegally download" them as often as I can find what I'm looking for. I can only hope that one day someone will want to steal ours! That would be the coolest!

Dave: What do you think of the current state of punk rock?

Marty: http://www.afropunk.com/First, let's define what we think punk is. Punk is the same as it ever was. Punk hasn't changed since first documented in the Bible, so that would be at least a couple of thousand years. Punk is standing up for something that no one else is standing up for. Punk is not fashion. Punk is going against the grain of society, or going upstream, against the flow of normal. Punk is not nihilism. Yes, punk, in a sense is anti-establishment, the overall behavior of punks is generally selfless, so punk could be called selfless. The prophets of the OT in the Bible would be considered punks, and same goes for Christ, who I believe is the Ultimate Punk. Punk is not a genre, punk is an attitude. So, what is the current state of punk rock? Well, I think any real punk bands these days usually don't last that long for whatever reason. I personally like what Scotland's Voice of the Mysterons ( http://www.votm.co.uk ) are doing. Also, Me Without You are currently doing cool stuff.

Niki: I really don't know .....everybody seems to have their own opinion of what punk rock is - it used to be a very specifically defined genre of music but has become much broader over the last 20 years. I think people get caught up in this weird thing of what they listen to being 'punk enough', or 'real' punk rock, which, I'm sorry, is really lame. There are a lot of really good bands out there, and I want to hear as many of them as I can, I don't care what subgroup of punk rock they have been put into. If you like it, listen to it, but don't label it!

Matt S: Pretty much going with what Marty said, I think that the most "punk rock" music going on out there is nothing close to what the genre of punk rock has come to represent. To me punk rock as an attitude is doing something different and not giving a fuck who likes it and who doesn't. Mohawks, leather jackets, and 3 chords have been done over and over in different forms for the last 30 years. It's extremely mainstream. I think it's these kids like Best Fwends and Happy Sucky, to name a few, that are the new face of punk rock by the terms of my definition. But they don't play guitars and wear Black Flag t-shirts. They sing and spazz out to quirky electro tunes while wearing neon short shorts and wrist bands. That shit is fresh!!!

Matt W: I sure wish we had our own punk rock state.

Dave: What are some of your favorite bands?

Matt W: Bad Religion, The Clash, Good Riddance, Iron Maiden, Danzig, Misfits

Marty: early ScaterdFew, Blaster the Rocket Boy(Man), Eric Dolphy, Anthony Braxton, The Jonx, The Minute Men, The Velvet Underground, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, early Melt Banana, All Hail the Moving Picture Box, The Dreaded Dandylions, Charlie Mingus, Jaco, John Zorn, The Stooges, and Cong Vu.

Niki: The Digits, Blatz, The Hellacopters, Electric Frankenstein, The Candy Snatchers, ALL, Jawbreaker, My Bloody Valentine, in no particular order. The Kansas City Faggots, The Valentine Failures, Looker, about a thousand more...

Matt S: Dimension Hatross - Nothingface era Voivod, Electric Frankenstein, The Candy Snatchers for sure, of course The Ramones, and the two best Dallas bands ever, The Valentine Failures and Kansas City Faggots. Looker from Laramie, Wyoming has been wearing the shit out my CD player the last month or so. And I'll probably loose all street cred punk points for saying this, but I LOVE the first two Coheed and Cambria albums.

Dave: What do you like the most about being in a band?

Matt W: The huge stacks of cash...that I still don't have.

Marty: What I like most about being in a band is the collaborative process of writing, recording, and performing live. Of these three, the live experience is my favorite and most personal because I'm sharing with the band AND an audience, and we're all sharing together getting through "this". If it's just for $$$, then my favorite part is getting paid after the show, otherwise I enjoy just the aspect of making butter with my band. Who cares about $$$ when your freakin' face just got rocked off by our powerful riffs and screaching vox?!!

Niki: Playing shows along side my husband and 2 good friends, nothing tops it! Also, all of the people that we get to meet and talk to. I've ended up with some really good friends because of this band.

Matt S: Yeah, Niki and I are married and being in this band with her is the coolest thing ever. I also really like the networking side of it and the fun shit like shows, recording, putting out records, and making t-shirts.

Dave: What do you like the least about being in a band?

Matt W: The huge stacks of cash that I still don't have.

Marty: When attitudes among band members creep in (and they creep in sometimes) and mess everything up. It's hard sometimes to avoid this because we're all just people living our lives in this messed up world. We're all fallen, so it's bound to come up, attitudes that is. The best thing is to not let things get too personal and to have lots of grace with your fellow artists.

Niki: Uh.... well, we're all pretty ADD, so it can be frustrating sometimes... =)

Matt S: Renting a trailer and driving four hours to play a show that gets double-booked and then having your old drummer get so drunk that he almost starts a fight with giant hardcore band dudes, pukes, and then passes out in the car, only to split the scene without playing and leaving said ex-drummer behind to fend for himself with The Pirate.

Dave: What type of places do you enjoy playing shows at the most: all-ages shows, bars, small clubs, parties, etc.?

Matt W: Small all-ages places that don't book 6 bands on a show that starts at 10.

Marty: I enjoy playing everywhere.

Niki: I just like playing shows. I don't care where we are...although I REALLY want to play in a laundromat...or bowling alley...

Matt S: Basement shows up north, back in the early nineties with my old band were probably some of the funnest shows I've ever played. 50 kids crammed into a 20x20 room sweating and breathing up all the air until you think you're gonna pass out...hard to get that shit down here in Texas. But pretty much every show The Hangouts play is fun and enjoyable because we are a fun and enjoyable band. So it really doesn't matter where we play! I've always wanted to play inside a van...just roll up with everything set up inside and open the doors and rock it out!

Dave: Are there any closing comments?

Niki: Yes - if you haven't seen us, you should, we are fun. If you have and like it, buy our 7"!!!!! And thanks for interviewing us!
Dave Getzoff, August 2007

(originally posted on Now Wave Webzine in August 2007)

An interview with Something Fierce
by Dave Getzoff

Something Fierce are an exciting new band from Houston, Texas. They have released their debut album, Come For The Bastards, which is definitely a stand out release in the current punk scene. Inspired by the 1970s punk rock movement, Something Fierce will be touring around the country this year, keeping the spirit of rock 'n' roll alive for current and future generations.

Dave: First off, could you introduce yourselves, who is in the band, and who plays what instrument?

SF: Hello, Dave at Now Wave. We are Something Fierce from Houston, Texas. Steven Garcia holds down the guitar/vocals, Niki Sevven is on bass/vocals, and Andrew "Rocket" Keith brings the pain on the kit...As in he's constantly cracking his knuckles and breaking sticks. We don't let him sing, but we do give him control of the egg shaker while recording.

Dave: When and how did Something Fierce get started as a band?

SF: The band started with Niki and Steven as a two piece in 2005. It would be easy to say that it all "came together" right away, but it took a lot of work before things started picking up. While scouring the city for a drummer, Andrew literally emerged from under our noses. We only knew him as the awesome red afro guy that showed up to all of the parties, so when we found out he was a drummer, our fate was sealed.

Dave: How is the current music scene in Texas? From on outsider, like me, looking in, it seems like there is a lot happening in Texas. What are some of the best cities for bands to play in?

SF: Texas is big, so there definitely is a lot going on. Denton, TX seems to be breeding the best bands in the scene (Marked Men, Riverboat Gamblers, Wax Museums, Maaster Gaiden), and the cool kids there are as nice as can be. There's a hint of elitism in the air, but I think that's what causes the bands to rise above the generic. Austin has always been known for its prevalence in the music world, but playing a successful show there without having immediate connections can be tough. There's just too much competition, but it's still a place bands need to hit on tour. Austin can be a blast. We have some friends, The Hangouts, who are putting on rad shows in College Station, and although Houston has been a third wheel in the Texas scene since we are too far south, we'd like to think that Something Fierce is changing the formula. There is finally some unity developing amongst Texas bands, and we couldn't be more happy.

Dave: That's good to hear. About how far is Houston from Denton and Austin?

SF: Denton is a little over 4 hours away, just north of Dallas, and Austin is only about 3 hours north. That doesn't sound far, but you'd be surprised how often bands opt to skip Houston because of its location.

Dave: What are some of the future plans for Something Fierce?

SF: We've got a lot lined up this year. We should have a split 7" with The Hangouts out this month on Manic Attack Records, another 7" on Bitchin' Riffage due in October, and we've got two tours coming up. Basically, as long as we can afford to keep pumping out records and touring, that's what we'll do.

Dave: Are there any plans on playing shows on the East Coast (Philadelphia, New York, Boston etc.)?

SF: Nothing is set in that area, yet, but we want to hit it up before the end of the year. The tour lined up in July bounces as far east as Atlanta, then we head up to Chicago and come back down central. The tour in October hasn't been fleshed out, but I know we're doing a few dates heading east with Teenage Bottlerocket. After those, we'll likely continue up the coast on our own. Shit, dude, we tried last winter, but booking our own tours is fuckin' hard. Sometimes people are cool, and sometimes they just blow us off...Still, we have to keep trying.

Dave: What kind of topics do you like to write your songs about?

SF: My lyrics always either come off with a disdain for the upper echelon of society, or they will be about heartbroken kids that can't get their lives straight. There's an effort to find beauty in the dark corners of modern life, though. I always loved the way bands like The Buzzcocks could be so dark and realistic, yet so romantic in one sitting. Another perfect example would be The Wipers.

Dave: What were some of the best shows you played so far?

SF: The last two shows have really blown us away. We released that debut album last year, but Houston is notorious for catching on to things slowly, mostly because it's so big and divided. It's taken a lot of work to build up good local support. However, these last two shows with The Marked Men and The Ends have really caused an upswelling in our local fan base. We saw kids that we've never met before singing lyrics to our songs, and that is downright heartstopping.

Dave: Were any members of your band in other bands besides Something Fierce?

SF: Niki played in a band, The Neckbreakers, for a few years with her dad (a true first-wave punk rocker), and Steven played in Gun Crazy/Born Liars for about two years, starting as the bassist, then the drummer, then the guitarist...He even recorded both bass and drum parts on Exit Smiling, their latest release on Mortville Records.

Dave: Wow, that's really cool to hear that Niki played in a band with her dad. Texas had a lot of bands back in the day. Are there any first wave bands from the 1977-1982 era that are still together?

SF: Hrmm, that's a really good question. The first band that comes to mind is The Dicks. Gary Floyd has been living in San Francisco for the last two decades, but they still get together for a few Texas dates once a year. Niki and Steven were lucky enough to catch their last show in Houston at Rudyard's, and Floyd gave them both a big, hairy beard kiss! Other than them, Houston's The Hates are still in full gear, San Antonio's Butthole Surfers haven't called it quits, and even Jeff Walton of the legendary no-fi pop group, The Judy's, recently spoke about re-releasing their old albums and a possible NEW album/reunion tour. Stoked.

Dave: How old are the members in Something Fierce?

SF: At the moment, we're all 22.

Dave: Did you guys release the Come For The Bastards CD yourselves?

SF: Yes, completely and entirely on our own, but with the help of our loved ones. Steven designed everything on the album, and all of the money came from our own pockets. That's probably something we'd never want to do again because we're still paying for it!

Dave: What do you think about the current state of punk rock?

SF: Things will always fluctuate. There will be good bands, and there will be bad bands. There are a lot of exciting changes in the music world, though, like the downfall of the major label. The Internet and MP3 revolution have destroyed the importance of CDs, and records are on the rise again. Hopefully, that shift will make vinyl less costly to produce. Fuck, the Internet is even allowing access to excellent online zines like Now Wave that don't need to worry about advertisers but simply get to focus on CONTENT. Actual content and heartfelt reviews. That's what really matters.

Dave: That is a very good point. It was a pleasure to do this interview with you. I wish Something Fierce the best of luck in the future, and I hope I get a chance to see your band play live sometime. Do you have any closing comments?

SF: Thank you, Dave. Hopefully, you'll get your chance in October, and if any of you readers see us coming around YOUR town, show some love.
Interview by Dave Getzoff, July 2007

(originally posted on Now Wave Webzine, July 2007)

The Ratchets - Glory Bound

(Pirates Press Records)
(REIVIEW BY DAVE GETZOFF)

The Ratchets' debut album isn't just good - it's phenomenal. The album features ten reggae influenced '77 style punk rock anthems. Glory Bound was released last year, and I would say it's definitely in my top five albums of the past two years. I get the same feeling listening to this album as I did hearing The Clash and Stiff Little Fingers for the first time many years ago. A great album all the way through with great mid-tempo catchy songs that really grab me. My former 70-something year-old landlord, who played music for many years, once told me that you know you're listening to a good band when you can hear all the instruments distinctively. The Ratchets are that kind of band. A standout band definitely worth checking out.
Dave Getzoff July 9, 2007

(originally posted on Now Wave Webzine on July 9, 2007)

Now Wave presents:
Greatest Girl Bands 1982-2007
Chapter Two: Screaming Sneakers
by Dave Getzoff

Screaming Sneakers were a female-fronted punk band that came from the early '80s south Florida punk scene. I first heard about this band a few years ago when I heard the song "Violent Days" on the Hyped to Death 22 compilation CD. "Violent Days" was an instantly likeable pop punk anthem that I played over and over again when I first heard it. This was definitely a standout song, and Lisa Nash's vocals were amazing! I was hoping to hear more music from this band, but at first that seemed unlikely. Sadly, they only released one 12" four-song EP called Marching Orders (1982). This EP is very rare and, I would imagine, very expensive. To the best of my knowledge, it has never been re-issued.

So I was very happy to see that someone was kind enough to set up a myspace page for the Screaming Sneakers. It features all four songs from the EP. I still like the song "Violent Days" the best, although the other three songs are pretty decent also. The song "I Can't Help It" is a great melodic song as well; it is actually a cover of the Reactions, whom I have previously written about for this zine. They were another great band from the south Florida scene.
Although the Screaming Sneakers only released one EP, they still seem to be a band that people like today. I have searched around on the web and see that they still get their music played on college radio stations and are talked about in blogs and on message boards.
Enjoy!

Screaming Sneakers were:
Lisa Nash - Vocals
Gary Sunshine - Guitar
Bud Gangemi - Bass
Mark Evans - Drums
Screaming Sneakers myspace page
The Greatest Girl Bands: 1982-2007

(originally posted on Now Wave Webzine in 2007)

An interview with Caron Maso of The Little Girls
by Dave Getzoff

The Little Girls are pop perfection. They are best known for the songs "The Earthquake Song" and "How to Pick Up Girls". "The Earthquake Song" was featured on the Rodney on the Roq Vol. 2 LP, and there was a music video for "How to Pick up Girls" on MTV in the early eighties. The Little Girls are back and will be releasing a new album soon. Here is an interview with Caron Maso of the Little Girls.

Dave: How and when did the Little Girls get started?

Caron: We are sisters, and we used to do a lot of schticky kinds of comedy routines at family gatherings, etc. Sometimes it would involve choreography. We had both taken a lot of dancing lessons, and we both liked music a lot. When I started dating Mick Walker (co-wrote "The Earthquake Song"), Mick thought we were a riot and asked us to put something together for his birthday party at the Sherwood Oaks Experimental College on Hollywood Blvd. It was 1979. We had his band back us up for a parody of "Anarchy in the UK" by the Sex Pistols, which we called "I Wanna Kill My Mommy", and called ourselves "The Sex Blisters". Someone at the party liked it and asked us to call him. His name was Michael Sehnert, and he was a vendor of pinball machines among other pursuits, so we called him "Michael Pinball". He put us in front of a video camera to backing tracks of a band who were friends of his. I wrote "Can't Get Rid of You" and taught it to the band, and they recorded backing tracks and we did videos of "Can't Get Rid of You", "My Boyfriend's Back", "Summertime Blues", and "I Wanna Kill My Mommy". Then Michael named us The Little Girls. At that point, Michele and I were completely into it and I was writing more songs. Michael's musician friends were not hugely interested in backing me and Michele, so I needed to find a band. Peter Laird, who was talking to Mick Walker about managing his band, loved the idea and got some of his musician friends from Ohio to back us up. He and his girlfriend Debbie Fletcher were our first managers. They booked some gigs at clubs like Blackie's and The Hong Kong Cafe and Madame Wong's, made a mailing list, sent out flyers, and that was the beginning of The Little Girls.

Dave: How did recording with Clem Burke and Nigel Harrison from Blondie come about, and what was it like recording a record with them?

Caron: That was in 1985. Actually, our one rehearsal with Clem and Nigel and our one recording session with the duo (basic tracks) both took place in November 1983 (yes, that early: just after Jeff Fair and John Gerlach left the band). Earlier that year, we had released Thank Heaven, which was produced by Liam Sternberg and Ed Stasium. Our current manager at the time was Toby Mamis. Toby had worked with Suzy Quattro, Joan Jett, and Blondie. Toby often said of our relationship: "I got involved with the Little Girls very early in their career - a little too early." But I always believed he was the one to help us become famous. He was very creative and original and quite a personality. His company was called, FTM, which stood for "Famous Toby Mamis". Toby contacted Clem and Nigel to do the next record because we thought it could be a killer mix, our songs with that solid, killer, pop rhythm section, and of course, he was right. I think we did the backing tracks with them in one session. They were very professional and polite and did a great job on the recording. It wasn't a big party or anything; it was just very professional and we were in awe and very grateful for their help!

Dave: What were some of your influences when you first got started as a band?

Caron: My greatest influences were The Beatles and The Rolling Stones and The Who and The Kinks, and my parents' music collection which consisted of Simon and Garfunkel, Joan Baez, Judy Collins, Jefferson Airplane, and a lot of Beethoven, Bach, Brahms, Schubert. We had music playing in the house all the time on my dad's reel to reel and the record player. Michele liked a lot of the same music, but you could interview her for more accurate answers. Kip was really into the Beatles, The Beach Boys, Jan and Dean, The Raspberries, Badfinger. Some contemporary influences were The Plimsouls and The Heaters (another sister band, I used to go to their shows and I loved them). I loved The Pretenders and Blondie, but I would have to say the bands and music I mentioned above are really what made music important to me. I started playing guitar when I was 11 on my mother's guitar, and got my first guitar for my 12th birthday.

Dave: I saw a couple of Little Girls music videos on YouTube from 1982-83. I saw videos for the songs "How to Pick Up Girls", "The Earthquake Song", "Bandana", "Part Time Love Affair" etc. Where these songs used for MTV and other television shows? The "Earthquake Song" video looks like it may have been used on a television show.

Caron: Surprisingly, for whatever reason(s), we never made an official music video for "The Earthquake Song". The "How To Pick Up Girls" video was filmed in early April 1983 at the now-defunct Music Machine rock club in West Los Angeles, and debuted on MTV the following month (May 9). Most of the others were live shows that were taped. Some were aired on TV. One was the USA cable show USA Hot Spots, which was taped live March 29 at the Club Lingerie on Sunset, and debuted on that network the same day as the premier of "How To Pick Up Girls" on MTV (May 9). Another, for an unknown local cable-TV show, was taped April 11th at the Rumbleseat Garage in Long Beach. The YouTube site featuring this rare archival footage (nobleavenue) was put up by our guitarist, Kip.

Dave: How have the recent Little Girls shows been going?

Caron: The recent shows have been fine and well attended, but we have not done a lot of shows. We spent a year recording a new full length LP and have only played select dates. We're looking forward to going on the road in June!

Dave: What are some of the future plans for the Little Girls?

Caron: We're doing a five-night tour of the west coast playing with Nikki Corvette and the Stingrays and new RAMO recording artists, Thee Make-Out Party. The first night is in Los Angeles at the Echo, June 21st with Josie Cotton. Then on to San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Washington, and Vancouver. The Riff Randells will join us in Seattle and Vancouver, and our old guitar player, Steve Sicular, who was playing guitar with Kip in all the videos, will join us onstage for a few songs in San Francisco. Our new LP will be released in the fall, or maybe winter. I hope we'll tour more to support the record, which I think is really good! I'd like to take the group to Europe (Spain seems to be a great candidate for some live shows) and Japan. I'd love to do some more recording.

Dave: Sounds cool, those bands are the perfect type of bands that the Little Girls should do shows with. It would be cool to see your band on the east coast as well. Any plans on playing in Philadelphia, NYC, Boston etc?

Caron: No plans yet, but we have friends in NY and Boston, so I'd love to. We'll see what happens as The Clear Album gets around and when we release the new record.

Dave: What are some of the current bands that you like?

Caron: I'm sure everyone in the band would say different things, but I love the White Stripes, System of a Down, Bad Religion, Queens of the Stone Age, Deathcab for Cutie, The Shins, Veruca Salt, Nirvana (before I heard everything 10,000 times!) The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Peter Case. Kip and Marty like Wilco. Kip likes Morrissey. Michele loves the Beatles too. She also likes girl bands a lot. She loves Veruca Salt, Sheryl Crow. Michele's influences were the Ramones and the Phil Spector sound with all his girl groups. You can definitely hear this in her song "Come Back To Me", which you can hear at sonicbids.com/thelittlegirls . She and I both also love X, Devo, and Elvis Costello, especially his early stuff.

Dave: What bands did you play shows with in the early '80s?

Caron: Billy Idol, The Plimsouls (w/Peter Case), Paul Collins Beat (Case's former bandmate in the legendary band, The Nerves), The Boomtown Rats (w/Bob Geldof), The Pandoras, The Unclaimed, Top Jimmy & the Rhythm Pigs, The Call, Agent Orange, Channel 3, B-Movie ("Nowhere Girl"), Dream Syndicate (w/Steve Wynn), The Pretenders, Doll Congress (w/Sean Penn's older brother, Michael Penn), Bow Wow Wow, Tonio K, The Textones (w/Carla Olson), The Halibuts, Davie Allen & the Arrows, The Kingbees, The Busboys, Felony ("The Fanatic"), Rubber Rodeo, The Heaters, Chequered Past (w/Clem Burke & Nigel Harrison), Naughty Sweeties, Brooklyn Brats, What Is This (featuring future Red Hot Chili Peppers' Flea & Hillel Slovak), Candy (featuring future Guns N' Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke), Boy (Originally called the Nu-Kats, then later Boy Next Door; (in attendence was Boy lead singer Freddie Moore's wife, future superstar Demi Moore), all-girl rockers Vixen and Precious Metal, Lynn Carey, Toni (Childs) & the Movers, Joey Harris & the Speedsters, The Weirz, American Girls (w/Carole King's daughter, Louise Goffin). (Wow! - L.R.)

Dave: Have you been in any other bands or musical projects beside the Little Girls?

Caron: The first band I was in was with our bass player, John Baker, in Broomfield, Colorado in 1975. I don't know what we were called if anything. We only rehearsed, but we rehearsed a lot. I was the rhythm guitar player, and he was the lead guitar player and wrote all the songs. John is a really great singer, guitar player, and songwriter, in addition to being a great bass player. He usually leads his own bands (very different stuff than what Little Girls does). Kip was in Shock, and a band called the Good for Nothings with Neil Weiss, who now leads the band Weed Patch. Marty Rosamond, our drummer, and Kip met in Weed Patch. Marty's been in many bands.
After Little Girls broke up I played a lot of solo acoustic shows. That was a great experience for me, and I still like to do it from time to time. In around 1997 or '98, I put a three piece power trio type of band together which I called CM3P (stands for Caron Murray 3-Piece). I asked John Baker to play bass, and we had a couple of different drummers. Ralph Herrera, formerly of Suicidal Tendencies, did several shows with John and me and recorded several songs with us too. That was very different from the Little Girls and a lot of fun too. I could send you a couple mp3s if you are interested in hearing any of that.

Dave: What do you like the most about being in a band?

Caron: What I like most about being in a band is that I love to get on stage and rock out and express myself through my songs! It's easier and more fun doing that with a band to back you up, but I enjoy the solo thing too.

Dave: What do you like least about being in a band?

Caron: I think what I like least about being in a band is dealing with everyone's different schedules and preferences. I can't just decide for everyone, "We're rehearsing this day or that day and we're doing these 10 songs". It's about compromise and collaboration, and in that way it's a lot like being in a family. There are more personalities and egos, and you can't take anything for granted. That being said, I'd rather consider everyone else's preferences and compromise than be completely on my own. I like family life as opposed to living alone, and I prefer being in a band to doing a solo project. But any of those alternatives can be very satisfying.
Interview by Dave Getzoff, May 2007

(originally posted on Now Wave Webzine on March 2007)

The Queers - Munki Brain CD

(Asian Man Records)
(REVIEW BY DAVE GETZOFF)

The Queers always kept me happy throughout most of the 1990s. Whenever I was feeling down, I could always just pop in a Queers CD. There's just something about their music that seems to always put me in a good mood. On one hand, they can write the catchiest, snottiest, most obscene, upbeat, high energy punk songs that could make your parents head for the hills. On the other hand, they have always had the ability to write some of the most memorable surf/pop, Beach Boys inspired love songs that I have ever heard. In fact, the Queers have enough songs like this that they could probably put a set of material together and play the junior high school dance and the principal would not object. Hell, even my dad once heard me listening to the Queers about twelve years ago and said it reminded him of listening to the Beach Boys in the 1960s. In my opinion, Joe Queer is truly a great American songwriter.

I just picked up Munki Brain , the latest Queers album, last week, and I have been listening to it constantly. The Queers continue to do what they do best, writing great songs in the spirit of the Ramones and the Beach Boys. However, they do this by adding their own sound without straight-out ripping those bands off. If you loved great Queers albums such as Love Songs For the Retarded, Move Back Home, Don't Back Down etc., you will definitely want to pick this album up to hear thirteen more new Queers classics. Even Ben Weasel co-writes and writes a song for this album. It's hard to narrow it down to standout tracks because they are all standout tracks. I love them all! The album ends with a truly appropriate melodic song called "Brian Wilson" with duel vocals by Joe Queer and Lisa Marr.
Dave Getzoff May 27, 2007

(originally posted on Now Wave Webzine on May 27, 2007)

The Speedies - Speedy Delivery CD
(Radio Heartbeat Records)
(REVIEW BY DAVE GETZOFF)

The Speedies were a very popular powerpop band in the late seventies and early eighties. They released two singles back in the day ("Let Me Take Your Foto"/"No Substitute" in 1979 and "Something On My Mind"/"Time" in 1981). A few years ago I heard three of the four songs on popwerpop compilations. The songs "Let Me Take Your Foto" and "Something on My Mind" were featured on Hyped to Death's Teenline Volume 1, and the song "Time" was on Powerpearls Volume 3. I thought that all three of these songs were fantastic and were all so good that it was difficult to choose a favorite of the three. About a year ago, I was pleasantly surprised to hear "Let Me Take Your Foto" in a Hewlett Packard commercial. I cant think of a better song to advertise a printer for printing out your photographs.

Speedy Delivery has been released on Radio Heartbeat Records, those fine people who organized the Radio Heartbeat Powepop Festival in Brooklyn, New York. While I was there a few weeks ago, Speedy Delivery was the first CD I bought on my two day, fifty dollar spending spree on CD and records. I could have easily spent over one hundred bucks on music, but I had to save some money for gas, food, and of course the world's finest beverage, beer!

It is great to finally hear some more music by the Speedies. This CD features ten studio tracks and nine live tracks, which were recorded at the Bottom Line in New York City on April 15, 1980. This is a very nice collection of music. Along with the obvious four songs from the singles, some of the other songs I really like are "1-2-3", "Avid Fan", "Countdown", "You Need Pop", and "Waiting For Your Love".

When retrospective releases of older music are released, they often tend to be named after one of the songs by the band that would make a suitable title for the album. "Speedy Delivery" is one of the Speedies' live tracks on the album. Maybe this was chosen for the name of the album for humorous reasons. It may have taken over 25 years for some of these songs to be reissued as well as a lot of songs being released for the first time. It was well worth the wait. This album is essential for Speedies fans and powerpop fans. It really captures the sound of 1979-81 powerpop very well.
Dave Getzoff April 15, 2007

(originally posted on Now Wave Webzine on April 15, 2007)

The Sidewalks - Rhythm Kids LP

(Rave Up Records)
(REVIEW BY DAVE GETZOFF)

The Sidewalks were an American powerpop band who were together from 1979-1983. They were from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a city that was geared more toward punk bands at the time, although the Shivvers, a well loved powerpop band, were also from the same time and place.
Some powerpop bands tend to have a pop punk influence of distorted guitars in their sound such as the Fast Cars, Carpettes, and the Starjets. The Sidewalks were pure powerpop with a cleaner guitar sound. Although the bigger punk bands of the time such as the Ramones and the Clash inspired them to start a band, their sound was influenced more so by 1960s British Invasion bands and American garage pop bands. At the same time, I also hear a mod influence from the original movement (Small Faces, early Who, and the Kinks etc.) as well as the late 1970s mod revival (Jam, Chords, Circles etc.). I don't think this band would sound out of place on a mod revival or a powerpop compilation album. Rhythm Kids is a collection of the band's recordings from 1980-1982. It contains 14 tracks of melodic tunes with a definite mid sixties feel to their sound. I can hear this influence in the vocals as well as the music. I like the A-side of the record a little better than the B-side because I think those songs are catchier overall, and they also seem to stand out more as memorable tunes. Overall, though, it's great to see a retrospective collection of this band. I think that most obscure powerpop enthusiasts will be pleased with this record. I dig it!
Dave Getzoff
April 7, 2007

(originally posted on Now Wave Webzine on April 7, 2007)

Radio Heartbeat Powerpop Festival:
Nights Two and Three at The Southpaw, Brooklyn, New York (March 30-31, 2007)
(REVIEW BY DAVE GETZOFF)

Josh Rutledge and I recently attended two of the four shows of the Radio Heartbeat Powepop Festival. We had a great time. Here is a review on the great bands we saw over the weekend.

Friday, March 30, 2007

Baby Shakes
Josh and I stopped to eat at a Chinese restauraunt across the street from the Southpaw, so we arrived a little late and I think we missed the first band, The Boys Club. We entered the club and Josh bought us the first round of drinks. At that moment the stage curtains opened, and the Baby Shakes were on. I have heard a few songs by the Baby Shakes before and really liked them a lot. The three young women dressed identically and played a high energy set of rock 'n' roll inspired powerpop. A great start for a great night!

Tina & The Total Babes
Although I had never heard any music by Tina and the Total Babes before this show, I was blown away by their live performance. The band played a really great set. Tina is an incredible performer; she has an amazing voice and really belts the songs out. She looked very confident and comfortable on stage. They played two cover songs that I was very much familiar with, "She's So Tuff" by the Demons and "Tell That Girl to Shut Up" by Holly and the Italians. The rest of the songs in their set sounded as if they could have been written in the late '70s. This band was absolutely incredible, and I am very pleased to have had such a great introduction to them. I bought their CD after the show and the first time I listened to it I distinctly remember every song from the show. Josh told me about the other bands that Tina has been in. I would love to hear more.

The Busy Signals
I have only heard a few songs by the Busy Signals before this show. I really liked their live performance. They played a highly energetic set and really delivered the song one right after another with no bullshit. The Ramones would have been proud.

Neighborhoods
Sadly, the Neighborhoods only released one single during their early years as a band. ("No Place Like Home"/"Prettiest Girl", 1979). The band didn't release a full-length album until 1984. The only studio songs I have heard were the two songs from the first single. I also heard some songs from live bootleg tapes, three shows from the 1979-80 era. These songs were very good and as far as I know most of the songs on the live bootlegs were never properly recorded in the studio. "No Place Like Home" is definitely one of my favorite 1979 American powerpop songs. This is a real gem that captures what it's like growing up with overbearing parents, it just makes you want to go in your room and crank up some records on the turntable.
As Josh and I were walking to the show, I mentioned to him: "Hey, I checked out some of the Neighborhoods recent live set lists on the internet and it looks like they don't always play 'No Place Like Home'." We both agreed that we could only hope for the best. That night at the show, I remember the band being introduced and then the stage curtains opened. To my amazement the band kicks right into "No Place Like Home". I was blown away; I instantly started pogoing in the air as soon as I heard those opening chords. It sounded so loud and powerful; the sound in the club was fantastic. I was kinda surprised that they opened with that song, but let me tell ya, great music certainly didn't end there. The band played a very powerful and energetic set of their material. Besides the two songs from the single, I also recognized the song "Monday Morning", which I heard on the live bootlegs. The band also covered "Ready Steady Go" by Generation X. The rest of the songs I wasn't familiar with. However, I was glad to be introduced to them. I would definitely like to get some more Neighborhoods records now. The band looked like they were having a blast during their entire set, just like I was.

Speedies
I have heard a few tracks by the Speedies before from various compilations. I really like their songs a lot. I was really pleasantly surprised to hear their song "Let Me Take Your Photo" in a recent Hewlett Packard commercial. It has been a very long time since the Speedies have played live. They were not quite as tight as the other bands. However, they did put on an entertaining show and it was great to hear more music from them as well as the songs I was already familiar with. The band had several boxes of Pops cereal on stage, which they threw out in the audience. It was quite a sight to see the Speedies getting rained on with yellow corn Pops cereal during their set.

Saturday, March 31, 2007

Suspicions
We arrived a little late Saturday night and missed the first two bands, The Felt Ups and Beat Beat Beat. The first band we saw that night was the Suspicions. This was the first time that I have seen or heard any music by the Suspicions. It's kinda hard to base on opinion on them after only seeing one show. They did seem to play a good set of what seemed to be great pop music with garage overtones. It was also cool to hear an unexpected cover version of "Looking After Number One" by the Boomtown Rats.

Yum-Yums
I have never heard any music up until this point by the Yum Yums. They were a blast to see live. They played an entire set of instantly likeable pop punk classics. They were the kind of songs that are so catchy you can sing along with the choruses the first time you hear the songs. It was also an unexpected pleasant surprise to see the Little Girls come out on stage and sing their early eighties classic song "The Earthquake Song" with the Yum Yums as their backing band.

Fevers
I have only heard a few songs by the Fevers before this show. I liked their set a lot. They played a nice set of their originals as well as great cover versions of "All Or Nothing" by the Small Faces and "Roll Over Beethoven" by Chuck Berry.

Pointed Sticks
I am a huge Pointed Sticks fan. There was a rather long wait before their set as there usually is when seeing a great band. The curtains were closed and there was a construction barrier on the stage as a teaser, it said, "City Of Vancouver". After about an hour wait, the curtains opened and the band kicked right into a song off their first single, "What Do You Want Me To Do?". I immediately started pogoing upon hearing the opening chords. The Pointed Sticks played a great set of nearly all of their songs. They were absolutely incredible. They haven't lost a thing and they received a very good response from the highly energetic crowd. I had the time of my life.
Dave Getzoff April 5, 2007

(originally posted on Now Wave Webzine on April 5, 2007)

Mean Streets - demo

(REVIEW BY DAVE GETZOFF)

Mean Streets are bringing the classic punk rock sound that I love so much to Philadelphia and, basically, to southeastern Pennsylvania in general. The new punk band features ex members of Bomb Squadron, Dead Empty, Cranked Up, and The Wars End. This demo features an overall sound somewhere between early Stiff Little Fingers and the Beltones, although adding a tough and yet melodic style that gives them a sound of their own. Bill and Nick alternate on the lead vocals. Bill's vocals are a little on the angrier side, while Nick's vocals are more on the pop punk side. Both sides of the coin fit this energetic punk band quite nicely. I would say that my favorite song on this demo is "About You", an instantly likeable, catchy as hell punk rock classic with a great chorus and backing vocals. I also really like "On My Own", which brings out the more melodic pop side of the band. There is also a great cover version of my favorite band that Steve Jones and Paul Cook were in (well, besides the Sex Pistols, of course!), the Professionals' "Kamikaze". Mean Streets play a really good version of this song, and it almost sounds as if Steve and Paul are singing backing vocals with the band.
This demo is a very good start for this band. I am looking forward to hearing a full-length album as well as seeing the band live.
Dave Getzoff
March 11, 2007

(originally posted on Now Wave Webzine on March 11, 2007)

Lollipop Is Burning Festival DVD
(Lollipop Records)
(REVIEW BY DAVE GETZOFF)

This DVD features five bands playing live at the Lollipop is Burning Festival in Paris, France. These live performances took place on November 12 and 13 of 2004. I am very familiar with the Briefs, whom I have seen live several times and own every album. The other four bands - the Hatepinks, Jerry Spider Gang, Neurotic Swingers, and Petit Vodo - are new to me. So this DVD was a great introduction to the great punk rock that has been happening in France. The Hatepinks played a high-energy set of great, catchy songs. These songs were along the lines of something you would hear on a Killed By Death compilation. The Jerry Spider Band had more of a garage rock sound with energy. Kinda like the MC5 meets the Stooges meets Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers. The Neurotic Swingers totally rocked, and I really liked their song "I'm Just Losing My Soul". Petit Vodo's set was a pretty interesting set of blues influenced rock. Petit plays the drums, guitar, harmonica, and sings. I think that everyone knows about the Briefs, they rocked as always. There were also some interviews with the bands. Unfortunately I was unable to understand anything that they were saying since they spoke in French and the DVD did not feature any subtitles. Overall, I enjoyed this DVD.
Dave Getzoff February 19, 2007

(originally posted on Now Wave Webzine on February 19, 2007)

The Shanks - Cut Me 7"
(Boom Chick Records)
(REVIEW BY DAVE GETZOFF)

The Shanks are from Omaha, Nebraska. This is their first release, and it is good to see that there is some rock n' roll happening there. I bet this band puts on a pretty good live show. The singer's angry sounding vocals are a good match for the band's aggressive mid-tempo trashy punk rock n' roll sound. I think this debut EP is a good start for this band. I think that their next release will be even better.
Dave Getzoff February 11, 2007

(originally posted on Now Wave Magazine on February 11, 2007)

Bored Teenagers Vol. 4:

18 Great British Punk Originals '77-'82 CD
(Bin Liner Records)
(REVIEW BY DAVE GETZOFF)

It continues to amaze me just exactly how many punk, powerpop, and new wave bands etc. actually existed in the UK during the five-year musical explosion of 1977-1982. During this time, hundreds of bands were forming. Some of them started a musical career that would last for the next 30 years. Many of these bands are still performing, touring, recording, and releasing new music today. On the other hand, there were hundreds, maybe even thousands of bands from the era who may have only been around for two years or less, played a few shows, and maybe only released a single or two or just a demo. The Bored Teenagers compilation series specializes in such bands. Bored Teenagers Vol. 4 has recently just been released, and like the first three compilations, they continue to release great obscure British punk rock and introduce punk rock fans to some forgotten gems. Also, each CD comes with a booklet with liner notes and great pictures. I love classic UK punk rock. I always look forward to hearing the latest Bored Teenagers compilation because the vast majority of the bands are new to me.

Bored Teenagers Vol. 4 starts off with a band called the Machines. I have heard the Machines' ultra rare 1978 EP, which appeared on the compilation Bloodstains Across the U.K. Vol. 1. Bored Teenagers features even more rare recordings, two raw and snotty sounding songs, "You Better Hear" and "Racing", which were taken from first demo recorded in October of 1977 and previously unreleased until now.

The Ordinarys are a mod revival/powerpop band who sadly never had an official release. Until now! This comp features four songs taken from an unreleased demo. All of these songs are good, although the song "I Wanna Be An Ordinary" is my favorite. This is a true powerpop gem that no fan would be disappointed by.

The Running Sores never played live; however, they did record two raw punk songs, "I'm A Punkstar" and "Me Brain Done Hurt" featured on this compilation.
Very little is known about the band Low Profyle, who released a single in 1980 with two cover songs on it, "Hangin' Around" by the Stranglers and "Substitute" by the Who. Their version of "Hangin' Around" is featured on this compilation.

Shortly after my favorite song by Public Image Limited, "Public Image", was recorded, Jimmy Pursey of Sham 69 recorded an on the spot parody of the song while in the studio with members of the Pretenders. Not the greatest song on the comp, although it is interesting. The band went under the name Public Pisstake, and the song was called "My Own Creation".

The Cane never had an official release; the three songs on this compilation were taken from the band's 1978 demo. This is raw vintage punk rock the way it was meant to be. The song "School Daze" is an instant punk classic!

The Elevators only have one song on this compilation called "Your I's Are Too Close Together". This is my favorite song on this release. When you first hear the melodic chorus to this song, it is kind of confusing. You would almost think that the band was singing, "Your Eyes Are Too Close Together" as if someone's eyes were literally too close together. The chorus actually states, "Your I's Are Too Close Together". It is a song about a girl who always talks about herself. This song is a real gem! Classic 1980 powerpop gold!

The Steroid Kiddies are a great band. Great catchy punk rock. This comp features two songs from the band's 1979 single, "Dumb, Dumb" and "Yo Yo".
Last but certainly not least is a band called the Introze. Featured here are two catchy pop/oi songs from the band's 1982 single, "Kids In Uniform" and "The Naggin' Song".

Again, like the first three volumes in the Bored Teenagers series, I really enjoyed volume 4. It is great to see compilations like this being released. I love discovering vintage obscure punk rock recordings that I would otherwise be unlikely to have the chance to hear. It is also great that these bands now have the chance to be heard.
Can't wait to hear Bored Teenagers Vol. 5! Coming soon!
--- Dave Getzoff February 4, 2007

(originally posted on Now Wave Webzine on February 4, 2007)

Chaz Matthews - Amazing Graceless CD

(Full Breach Kicks)
(REVIEW BY DAVE GETZOFF)

As a diehard Dimestore Haloes fan, I've got to kick myself in the ass for waiting this long to buy a copy of Chaz Mathews's solo CD. I am certainly making up for lost time now; I have been listening to this album constantly. Chaz Mathews, the former singer and songwriter for Boston's Dimestore Haloes, continues to write great songs on his first solo album. Amazing Graceless is filled with 13 instantly likeable '77 punk meets '79 powerpop inspired tunes. The album kick starts off with the song "Girl From Detox", which kind of sounds like the New York Dolls on speed. "Holocaust Face" is a really great standout melodic song; it's not hard to see why this song was Now Wave Magazine's Song of the Year for 2005. Additional favorites of mine include "Hate Every Word", "Can't Start Loving You", "Musta Been Drunk", and "Down On Down". Actually, all the songs are great, although my absolute favorite is "Beautiful". This song is truly a masterpiece, a very well written thought out song with great lyrics. Like the Clash, Social Distortion, and the Replacements, Chaz's music grabs my attention, takes me into another world, and leaves a lasting impression on my mind.
--- Dave Getzoff January 28, 2007

(originally posted on Now Wave Webzine on January 28, 2007)

Kevin K - Hollywood CD

(Full Breach Kicks)
(REVIEW BY DAVE GETZOFF)

Kevin K continues to dish out some great Ramones/Heartbreakers style punk ' n' roll on his fifteenth studio album, Hollywood. This album contains everything that makes an album great and interesting to listen to. It seems to have music for every mood, from upbeat punk rock n' rollers like "Life In LA", much darker and gloomier songs like "Final Damnation", acoustic ballads like "Joey and Dee", and high-energy pop punk gold like the amazing "Jennifer Love Song".

You know this is going to be a great album when you pop the CD in the player and hear "Story of a Girl", a great rock n' roll gem and story of a girl that just about any guy could relate to.
"Jennifer Love Song" is possibly the best song on the album. A very catchy song about a sexy television star. Hearing this song always puts me in a good mood. It makes me wanna drive really fast on the highway on a hot summer day and crank the stereo up!

The song "Joey and Dee" is the best song about the Ramones that I have heard since "Johnny and Dee" by the Eastern Dark. The rock n' roll world will never be the same without the Ramones. This well written acoustic ballad actually brought a tear to my eye upon the first listen. But then again, a world without the Ramones is something to cry about. Other great acoustic songs on this album include "Heartbreak Comedy", "Hollywood High", and "Single Girl". I really like "Single Girl"; it is a very peaceful sounding and relaxing song. These acoustic songs add some nice variety to the album.

"The Final Damnation" is the darkest, gloomiest song on the album. It's a blues inspired song with some harmonica playing that fits the song very nicely.
Another great album by Kevin K! There isn't a bad song on the album. A good listen from beginning to end. I probably listened to this album close to ten times in the past two days. Also, Kevin K will be touring everywhere in 2007.
Rock on Kevin K!
--- Dave Getzoff January 4, 2007

(originally posted on Now Wave Webzine on January 4, 2007)

The Makeouts "Worst Band Ever" 7"
(Bachelor Records)
(REVIEW BY DAVE GETZOFF)

This single is the first release from the Swedish trio The Makeouts. It features four songs: three originals and one written by Mark Sultan, former member of the Spaceshits and Les Sexareenos. Overall, this is a pretty decent single. The band plays energetic, garagey, rock 'n' roll influenced punk with good, catchy riffs and standout bass playing. My favorite songs are "Ohh, Ohh" and "She's A Heartbreaker". This band seems to be off to a good start. Hopefully, they will release a full-length album soon.
Dave Getzoff December 28, 2006

(originally posted on Now Wave Webzine on December 28, 2006)

The Insurgence "Lost" 7"
(Flotation Records)
(REVIEW BY DAVE GETZOFF)

This single features the songs "Lost", "Ghost Town", and "Friday Night". "Lost" and "Ghost Town" are both well-written, energetic, catchy, melodic punk rock songs with Fat Mike style vocals. These songs remind me very much of early to mid '90s punk. "Friday Night" is a much more aggressive song with machine gun double bass drumming and screaming vocals (which isn't really my thing). Overall, not a bad single, it's not what I really listen to exclusively, though. I think fans of the Fat Wreck Chords/NOFX sound will really like this band.
Dave Getzoff December 28, 2006

(originally posted on Now Wave Webzine on December 28, 2006)

Reactions – Great Classic South Florida Pop Punk
by Dave Getzoff

About four years ago, my friend Ian Wilkins and I were sitting in my car drinking a beer outside of a bar in Allentown, PA before going to see our friend's rockabilly band, the Roadhogs. He was telling me about a CD-R compilation that his wife, Tina, had just received in the mail that someone had made for her. He said, "Dave, you are going to love this stuff, there are some really great late '70s pop punk bands from Florida on it, you have got to hear this. It is way up your alley." Now, Ian has really good taste in music and he is also well aware of what I am into, so I kinda got the feeling that I was in for a real treat. I was! I borrowed the comp, made a copy, and listened to it over and over. The comp was a four-band split that featured south Florida bands from the late '70s and early '80s. The bands were The Reactions, The Eat, The Cichlids, and Charlie Picket. All the bands were very good, although the Reactions were my favorite. At the time, I had only heard one song by the Reactions called "In Society", which was featured as the first song on the Killed By Florida LP compilation. The only info mentioned in the liner notes was: "This 1980 track is sorta cute except that it rocks so shut the hell up. The only known band dumb enough to have John Salton on bass rather than guitar." I thought that "In Society" was the best song on the Killed By Florida LP, and the other five songs on the comp that I got from Tina and Ian were just as good if not better. I was thinking, "Man, this is top notch, catchy as hell, vintage American pop punk, I'm surprised this band is not more well known." So, I was determined to find out more info on the Reactions and hopefully, more music as well.

So, on and off over the next four years I searched the Internet for more info on this band. I discovered that the band released two four-song singles. The first single was called Official Release, which was released in 1980. On this record, the songs "Tonight" and "Marianne" are among the greatest obscure American pop-punk recordings I have ever heard. These songs are high-energy, raw teenage punk love songs. The second single was released in 1981, and it was called "Love You". The "Love You" single featured a song that wasn't on the disc I got from Tina and Ian. So I was hoping to get a hold of this somehow.

In the earlier part of this summer, I finally found a breakthrough on this band. I surfed in on a website called "The Pete Moss Memorial All-Night Record Shop". This site featured several cd-r releases from the south Florida punk scene. There were two CD-Rs released of the Reactions. They featured both four-song singles as well as two complete live shows from 1980 and 1981. Some people might think that $12 is kind of expensive for a CD-R; however, I was determined to hear more music from this band.

The CD-Rs arrived, and I wasn't disappointed. I finally got to hear the other studio track, "Rebel Rousers" (which is a real gem), as well as two complete shows. The sound quality of the live shows was quite good considering that the music came from tapes that were a quarter of a century old. The 1980 show was taken from a WSHE radio broadcast. The rest of the songs were top-notch vintage American pop punk rock n' roll as well. I would guess that the Ramones, Dickies, Buzzcocks, and the Clash inspired this band. On the 1981 live disc, the band opened up with the Clash song "Police On My Back", and they also played "Pressure Drop". Those songs were not originally by the Clash, but I think that the Reactions were inspired by the Clash's versions. There are also a few reggae/punk numbers in the live set.

It really impressed me that the two live shows featured completely different songs on the two discs. The two shows had 100% different songs without a single repeat. The 1980 show featured 17 live tracks, and the 1981 show featured 15 live tracks. The band easily had enough material to have released two full-length records during their brief year and a half existence from 1979-1981. I think that if this band had toured around the county and released a full-length album, they would have been huge. I have seen rumors on the Internet that unreleased studio tapes exist, although I haven't found any leads on that. Hopefully someday!

The Reactions were:

Isaac Baruch: Guitar
Joey Maya: Drums
John Salton: Bass
Tony Suppa: Vocals
--- Dave Getzoff October 24, 2006

(originally posted on Now Wave Webzine on October 24, 2006)

New York Dolls - One Day It Will Please Us To Remember Even This
(Roadrunner Records)
(REVIEW BY DAVE GETZOFF)

It has been over thirty years since these highly influential pioneering legends of rock and roll have recorded an album. The New York Dolls were definitely one of the bands that inspired the music which would come to be known as punk rock. The band released two albums in the early 1970s, the self-titled New York Dolls (1973) and Too Much Too Soon (1974). After all of these years and only two remaining members of the band, who would have ever thought a new album would be released by this band in 2006? Well, hell yes! It is here, and I really like it. Of course, a lot has changed in the past thirty years. However, this doesn't mean that David Johansen, Sylvain Sylvain, and friends can't dish out one more great record.
Overall it is a great-sounding blues inspired rock and roll record with no filler. There are songs that remind me of the Dolls' early sound, such as "Dance Like A Monkey", "Rainbow Store", and "Running Around", as well as some really beautiful sounding ballads like "Plenty Of Music", "Maimed Happiness", and "I Ain't Got Nothin'". "Plenty Of Music" is one of the most beautiful songs I have heard in a long time. Also, the song "Gotta Get Away From Tommy" is a high energy rock and roll thrill ride from beginning to end. And the song "Dancing on the Lip of a Volcano" features additional vocals from Michael Stipe of R.E.M. If the music industry weren't rigged, this song sounds as if it could be played on the radio!
Lastly, when I hear the song "Take A Good Look at My Good Looks" and hear David Johansen sing, "Take a good look at my good looks and close your eyes, keep the picture in your mind cause I'll be gone", this really makes me realize that life is definitely a wonderful thing. And although it will come to an end for everyone at some point, we should all appreciate the time that we have on this earth.
--- Dave Getzoff September 26, 2006

(originally posted on Now Wave Webzine on September 26, 2006)

The Adored - A New Language

(V2 Records)
(REVIEW BY DAVE GETZOFF)

I saw the Adored open up for the Buzzcocks at the North Star Bar in Philly in June. I was quite impressed with their live show. It was a high energy youthful pop punk powepop blast! This is definitely the type of band that should be touring with the Buzzcocks. It's much better than seeing the Buzzcocks tour with Pearl Jam. In fact, Pete Shelley even recorded some vocal tracks on the Adored's 7 inch single.
The band's first full length album, A New Language, was just released last month. It is a great sounding album filled with 14 songs inspired by late '70s punk and powerpop with a touch of '60s pop as well. I have been listening to this a lot lately, and some of my favorite songs are "Tell Me Tell Me", "We Don't Wan't You Around", "Weak Spots", and "Less I Know". My favorite song on the album is "Savage Youth". It sounds like the type of song that could have been released on a slab of 7 inch vinyl in 1978. As I listen to this song, I can picture in my mind the vinyl going round and round on the turntable as I hear the wonderful sound of pop punk gold blasting out of the speakers. This song has an early Generation X feel to it because it is catchy as hell and Generation X loved to sing about the youth of their time just as the Adored are doing today. Some of the lines in "Savage Youth" that really seem to stick out in my mind are "While we steal cigarettes/ they're stealing our retirement" and also "These days are supposed to be the best of our lives, but we get stopped and checked for knives". I felt this way about two weeks ago when I saw the Germs at the Trocadero in Philly. The people going into the show where checked with metal detectors as they entered the club. Normally they just get patted down. In my fifteen years of going to shows, this was only the second time I have seen this happen. What is this world coming to?
--- Dave Getzoff August 23, 2006

(originally posted on Now Wave Webzine on August 23, 2006)

Buzzcocks - Flat-Pack Philosophy

(Cooking Vinyl)
(REVIEW BY DAVE GETZOFF)

The Buzzcocks are the quintessential pop punk band. They are the band often used to describe the true original classic pop punk sound. The Buzzcocks are one of the five greatest bands of the early UK punk rock scene during the late seventies. I have read more than once that even Johnny Rotten has nothing bad to say about them, considering that they were doing their own thing during the early UK punk years. I respect this band a lot for staying together all these years, and they still manage to put out good albums. Flat-Pack Philosophy is their best album in years. I thought that their previous albums, Modern and Buzzcocks, both had some very good songs on them. However, Flat-Pack Philosophy is awesome from beginning to end. Fourteen tracks of pure pop punk goodness that would not sound out of place even on Singles Going Steady. The songs are very catchy, and they keep me interested all the way through with great sing-along choruses and great melodies. It is definitely the classic Buzzcocks sound. It's kind of hard to narrow it down to the best songs on this album, since they are all very good, but at this point, I think that "Reconciliation" is perhaps one of my favorites. I think that the songwriting partnership of Shelley/Diggle should go down in history with Lennon/McCartney for writing classic pop songs. This album is essential for the true Buzzcocks fan.
--- Dave Getzoff April 20, 2006

(originally posted on Now Wave Webzine on April 20, 2006)

The Bones - Straight Flush Ghetto
(Liquor And Poker Music)
(REVIEW BY DAVE GETZOFF)

I first found out about this band when I heard the songs "Do You Wanna..." and "Not a Lovesong" on a recent Liquor and Poker Music CD sampler. Both of these songs were great! I thought to myself, "If the rest of the album is as good as these two songs, I have something to look forward to." I picked up the 16-song CD recently, and I have been listening to it constantly. Yes indeed, the whole album is as good as those songs I heard on the comp. In fact, this release is a high energy, exciting, punk rock 'n' roll blast from beginning to end. The band seems to have a Social Distortion influence (who are one of my longtime favorite bands), although they do not directly rip them off like a lot of bands do. This band adds their own style to the music, with a strong rockin' sound mixed with a lot of melody as well. This is a great album to wake up to. <>
--- Dave Getzoff March 30, 2006

(Originally Posted on Now Wave Webzine on March 30, 2006)

Black Halos - Alive Without Control
(Liquor And Poker Music)
(REVIEW BY DAVE GETZOFF)

Alive Without Control is the third full-length album by the Black Haloes. Like the first two albums, the band continues to keep the spirit of rock 'n' roll alive by releasing another great punk rock 'n' roll masterpiece. This album includes all of the essential elements that make a band great, such as great hooks, great riffs, standout guitar leads, and catchy sing-along choruses with great lyrics. Another thing I have always loved about this about this band is that the backing vocals complement the lead vocals very well. Some of my personal favorite tracks include "Three Sheets to the Wind", "Last Call at the Toothless Saloon", "Darkest Corners", "Studio Suffering", "Exit Stagefright", and "Unchanged". My favorite song on this album is "Alive Without Control". Actually, this is my favorite song released in the year 2005 that I have heard. This song gives us an excellent view of the rat race of urbanized 9 to 5 city life. This is the kind of song that leaves a visual lasting impression on my mind. There's even a piano track included on this song which fits the style of the song perfectly.
I hope to see this band continue releasing great music and to also help keep the underground rock 'n' roll scene alive. This CD is well worth buying, and to make it even better, when I opened the CD, I was pleasantly surprised to see that it included a free Liquor and Poker Music sampler as well. This compilation CD features 12 bands and 20 songs. That is a great deal: two full-length CDs for the price of one.
--- Dave Getzoff February 23, 2006

(Originally posted on Now Wave Webzine on February 23, 2006)

Epoxies - Stop The Future

(Fat Wreck Chords)
(REVIEW BY DAVE GETZOFF)

I first heard this band from Portland, Oregon about three years ago after I heard their self-titled debut album released on Dirtnap Records. I loved them immediately - great sounding new wavey type punk with songs that were catchy as hell. I went to see them live in Philadelphia shortly after picking up the first album. They were great live as well, and I will look forward to seeing them again. The band's new album, Stop The Future, has been getting constant play on my stereo. It is a dynamic recording from beginning to end. It's just as good as the first album, if not better. They definitely seem to be inspired by late '70s powerpop and new wave, which is very cool. Lead singer Roxy Epoxie's vocals, which are backed by a talented band with very interesting keyboard playing, give this band their own unique sound. Some of the standout tracks are "Radiation", "This Day", "Synthesized", "Robot Man" (which is a cover), "Everything Looks Beautiful on Video", and "You Kill Me". And there is a great ballad type song at the end called "Toys."
I think fans of the Exploding Hearts will like this band, as will fans of late '70s pop-punk, new wave, and powerpop. I hope to see more releases from this band in the future.
--- Dave Getzoff February 8, 2006

(Originally posted on Now Wave Webzine on February 8, 2006)

Adolescents - OC Confidential
(Finger Records)
(REVIEW BY DAVE GETZOFF)

Orange County's early eighties punk rock legends, the Adolescents, are back with a great new CD. I am a longtime fan of the band's self-titled debut album on Frontier records. The thing that I have always liked about this band is that during the early eighties hardcore heyday, they brought a more melodic edge to the music, along with the likes of Social Distortion, Agent Orange, the Descendents, and others. Certain members of the Adolescents also played in Social Distortion and Agent Orange at one time. The new album, OC Confidential, seems to stick with the same format. It is a strong-sounding record with good melody all the way through, perhaps even more melodic than the band's previous records. The band has obviously matured lyrically in 25 years. They went from writing songs like the juvenile classic tale of Mike Ness's apartment, "Kids of the Black Hole" and the song about annoying kids, "I Hate Children". They now have a song about their kids, "California Son", and some political songs as well. I wish I had heard this album previous to seeing the Adolescents in Philadelphia over the summer. I could have appreciated hearing the new songs live much more. This CD is essential for all Adolescent fans.
--- Dave Getzoff February 8, 2006

(Originally Posted on Now Wave Webzine on February 8, 2006)

The Now Wave Guide to Rock Movies
Today's Review: Still Crazy (1998)Directed by Brian Gibson
(REVIEW BY DAVE GETZOFF)
I think that anyone who loves rock 'n' roll or has played in a band will be able to relate to this movie and enjoy it. It is a realistic and humorous look at what it is like for an aging rock band to reform many years after a nasty break-up.

Still Crazy is the story of a fictional British rock band called Strange Fruit. The band was formed in the late '60s, peaked in the mid '70s, and broke up in 1977. The original lineup of the band featured brothers Keith (lead vocals) and Brian (guitar). Keith died of a heroin overdose and was replaced by a new singer named Ray. The rhythm section included Beano (drums), Les (Bass), and Tony (keyboards). The film begins with the band performing at the Wisbech Rock Festival in 1977. By this point there were many internal conflicts within the band. Brian was following in his brother's footsteps as a heroin addict. There is also a lot of tension between Ray and Les also. After Keith died, Les was going to originally fill in as the band's frontman. The band didn't think he made a good frontman, so they hired Ray as the lead singer. Les is unhappy with Ray as the lead singer and feels he is inferior to Keith. The band members are utterly disgusted with each other, they break up, and go their separate ways after a bolt of lightning strikes the stage.
Twenty years go by, and Tony, the keyboard player, discovers that younger new audiences are discovering rock music from the 1970s, and he realizes that there may still be some hope for Strange Fruit. He decides to round up the band members and reform the group. He contacts Karen, who was Brian's former girlfriend. She agrees to help track the band members down and manage them. Tony and Karen start rounding up the band members. They discover that Les, who is still haunted by the past, is now married with children and is running a roofing business. He claims he doesn't miss the band (well, that's at least what he wants his wife to believe). Beano is now working in a plant nursery; he has now moved out of his mom's house, and has moved into a small trailer in her yard and still goes home for his meals and laundry. Ray is a recovering alcohlic and a struggling musician recording solo projects. The band gets together, and they have a meeting about reforming. At the meeting they discover that the band's guitarist, Brian, is missing. Karen is unable to track him down and is not sure if he is dead or alive.
Despite being unable to track Brian down, Strange Fruit begins rehearsing with a much younger guitarist named Luke. He is possibly less than half the age of the other band members. At the reheasals, there is still tension within Ray and Les from twenty years ago. It seems as if the time has not passed - it is like the next day after the break-up of twenty years earlier.
The band is reunited with their former soundman, Hughie, who supplies them with a tour bus, and the band heads out for a European tour. As the band starts playing gigs again, it is obvious that things have really changed in twenty years. They were once a stadium type band performing for thousands of people. Now, Strange Fruit is playing in smaller dives for much different and smaller audiences. They are not well-recieved by the audience at first. They appear to be washed-up has-beens, and the hatred between Les and Ray certainly doesn't help them out live. Ray and Les are constantly arguing with each other on and off stage. This leads to Ray returning to drug use after years of sobriety and nearly dying in an accident. Les feels guily about this and apologises to Ray for all the shit he said to him. Now that they are getting along, the live perfomences are better also. The band attracts a following and gets a record deal, and they are on the way to playing the Wisbech Rock Festival again. Shortly before the festival, Ray sees a British music television show where Les and Beano trash-talk him and say that Strange Fruit is not the same without Keith and Brian. Ray gets so pisssed off that he is restrained from violence and quits the band. It will take a miracle for the band to reunite now. Will Stange Fruit be able to resolve the conflicts and perfrom at the Wisbech Rock Festival once again? Will they ever find out what happend to their original guitarist, Brian? To find out check out the movie, Still Crazy.
Dave GetzoffMarch 17, 2006

(Originally Posted on Now Wave Webzine on March 17, 2006

An interview with Nick Jones of The Pointed Sticks
by Dave Getzoff

The Pointed Sticks are one of my favorite Canadian bands. They were originally together from 1978-1981. Their sound is a combination of pop punk/powerpop/new wave and rock n' roll. After a twenty-five year break up, the Pointed Sticks have recently reformed and toured Japan, played shows in Canada and performed at the Radio Heartbeat Powerpop Festival in Brooklyn, New York. Josh Rutledge and I had the great pleasure to see the Pointed Sticks live there, as well as a lot of other great bands.

Here is an interview with Nick Jones, the singer of the Pointed Sticks. We talked about the past, present and future of the Pointed Sticks.

Dave: What was it that made you guys want to get back together and start playing shows again?

Nick: About two years ago, Sudden Death Records re-released Perfect Youth. A contact of Joe's in Japan, in fact his distributor, asked him if we wanted to go there to play. He said he would ask us, and of course, not having played (and in some cases, not having talked!!) with each other in 25 years, we ridiculed the idea. However, he was very persistent, and by the time the offer got to the point where there was no financial risk for any of us (i.e., he paid airfare, hotels, food, and equipment rental), we decided to give it a shot. The first practices were very slow and awkward, but by the time we got to Japan (July 2006), we were doing a fair approximation of the Pointed Sticks, so, we'll give all the credit for the reunion to Toshio from Base Records in Tokyo!!

Dave: Are the more recent shows as fun as playing back in the day?

Nick: It's more fun than ever. Nothing to prove, no need for any 22-year-old attitude problems (mostly me, but the others as well to some extent!!). Also, how many bands ever get a second chance to do this? And we all have a lot of love and respect for each other, and how and why we came to be here now.

Dave: How did you guys end up in the movie Out Of The Blue?

Nick: We were the hip and now band in Vancouver at the time, and Hopper was coming up to rescue the movie from bankruptcy when Perry Mason/ironsides pulled out. We asked him (Dennis Hopper) at one point to see some kind of script so we would know what we were getting into. He told us it was all in his noodle. I think those were Dennis's very dark days; there was a lot of cocaine floating around the set. Our scene was shot totally live at a free gig on Vancouver's downtown eastside, which, if you've ever been there, you will know is definitely the wrong side of the tracks. By the way, we got $1000 for appearing, which our manager spent on god knows what, and I've never received one cent in royalties from the two songs in the movie. Fuck, we don't even get credit at the end!!

Dave: Have you played other places besides New York and Japan in the past two years?

Nick: We also played 2 shows in hometown Vancouver, which were awesome, and one in Toronto.

Dave: Have you been in any other bands besides the Pointed Sticks?

Nick: I played rhythm guitar in a rockabilly band called Buddy Selfish and his Saviours (with Ian, who WAS Buddy Selfish) from '81-'83, then had a sadly unappreciated alt-country (before such a thing existed!) band called The Hunting Party. We put out one cassette, which is impossible to find. That was from '85-'87. Then nothing really 'til now, except a part-time covers band (Slim Whitman, Zager and Evans, Trini Lopez, anything that we wanted, really) called The Frank Frink Five.

Dave: Is there any possibility of recording a new Pointed Sticks album?

Nick: We've already recorded a new 7" vinyl single, which should be out any day on Sudden Death records. It's called "My Japanese Fan" b/w "Found Another Boy". We decided to stick to what we've done best in the past, which is to make little records. There are a few reasons for that, first being the general disposability of digital music. We felt that a vinyl record demands more of the listener's involvement, i.e. getting it out of the sleeve, putting it on the player, moving the arm, flipping it when it's done. All of the effort involved combines to focus the attention on the music. Also, circumstances (work) dictate that we can't be touring and playing all the time, and making little records 3-4 times a year keeps our hand in. We have the songs written for the follow up single, and a few more besides. Eventually, when we've done a few of these, we'll collect them with a few bonus songs and put out an LP/CD.

Dave: Do you like any newer bands? Who have you been listening to lately?

Nick: Don't really keep up on the current music scene, although I like the Baby Shakes, from NYC, and Rammstein. Too much music out there, what I learn mostly comes from my kids.

Dave: What was it like touring in Japan?

Nick: Japan was amazing. The audience (mostly 20-35 years old) knew all the songs, all the words, had the old singles and other amazing stuff, like street posters you would put up with flour and water that were 25 years old. It's also a very gentle, respectful culture with some of the world's best art, food, gardens, and oh yeah, beer. We really had the best time, and hope to be able to go back again next year.

Dave: Did the Pointed Sticks tour a lot back in 1978-81? Where did you guys play back then?

Nick: Best guess is that we played somewhere around 150 gigs, all up and down the west coast as far as San Diego, across Canada as far as Montreal, and even played 6 gigs in England when we went there to record the ill-fated Stiff album. But not New York until this year!!!

Dave: How did the shows in England go? What bands did you play with there?

Nick: Shows in England were very up and down; the small shows (we played some colleges) were great, playing to an open-minded crowd. The high visibility shows in London were a bit rough; we were nervous, and the crowds were mostly too cool hipsters who weren't too impressed with a bunch of colonials. Mostly the gigs were headliners, but we did open for the Soft Boys, and also the Psychedelic Furs, neither of whom wanted anything to do with us. We vowed that we would never treat anyone who played with us like that!!

Dave: What are some of your most memorable moments of the Pointed Sticks?

Nick: Great moments in Pointed Sticks history...When we won a battle of the bands in Vancouver against a bunch of Foreigner/Hall and Oates/Boston clone bands and got the recording time to make our first single. Building our local audiences up to the point where we could draw 1000 people in Vancouver and 300-500 in halls all up and down the west coast. Playing with so many great bands of the time including the Avengers, the Ramones (the very best punk band America ever produced), Devo, Wreckless Eric, the Buzzcocks, Dead Kennedys, D.O.A., Young Canadians, Dishrags, on and on...Playing to 10,000 people outdoors at a rock against radiation gig in Vancouver, being in Out of the Blue, getting signed to Stiff and going to England, and last, but not least, reuniting to play in Japan and for the first time ever...NYC!!!!!!!

Dave: Is there anything else you would like to talk about?

Nick: Just the fact that now that we have reunited, we're planning on sticking around for a while, and that I honestly think we are capable of making records as good, or better than what we did in our earlier time.

Interview by Dave Getzoff, May 2007

(Originally posted on Now Wave Webzine, May 2007)