“At the Bottom” The Clean

This way: At the Bottom

The Clean was a New Zealand indie rock band formed in Dunedin in 1978. They have been described as the most influential band to come from the Flying Nun label, which recorded many artists associated with the "Dunedin sound", and one of the first bands to be described as "indie rock".

Led by brothers Hamish and David Kilgour, the band rotated through a number of musicians before settling on their well-known and longest running line-up with Robert Scott. Their name comes from a character from the movie Free Ride called Mr. Clean.

Hamish and David Kilgour started to write and play music together in Dunedin in 1978, influenced by 1960s pop rock and garage records, punk rock, and psychedelic music. Both brothers were part of a small but growing alternative music scene at the time in Dunedin, which followed the growing American and British punk movements closely through imported magazines and vinyl records. Hamish was friends with Chris Knox through this scene, then-frontperson of early influential New Zealand punk band The Enemy.
 
[Spotify] At the Bottom 

“NOT TODAY” Kim Gordon

This way: NOT TODAY

Kim Gordon (born April 28, 1953) is an American musician, singer and songwriter best known as the bassist, guitarist, and vocalist of alternative rock band Sonic Youth. Born in Rochester, New York, she was raised in Los Angeles, California, where her father was a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. After graduating from Los Angeles's Otis College of Art and Design, she moved to New York City to begin an art career. There, she formed Sonic Youth with Thurston Moore in 1981. She and Moore married in 1984, and the band released a total of six albums on independent labels before the end of the 1980s. It then released nine studio albums on the label DGC Records, beginning with Goo in 1990. Gordon was also a founding member of the musical project Free Kitten, which she formed with Julia Cafritz in 1993.

Sonic Youth released its 15th and final studio album, The Eternal (2009), on Matador Records before disbanding in 2011 after Gordon and Moore separated. After the dissolution of Sonic Youth and her divorce from Moore, Gordon formed the experimental duo Body/Head with Bill Nace, which releasing its debut album, Coming Apart, in 2013. She subsequently formed Glitterbust with Alex Knost, releasing a self-titled debut album in 2016. Body/Head released its second studio album, The Switch, in 2018. Gordon released her first solo album, No Home Record, in 2019. Her sophomore solo effort, The Collective, followed in 2024. In 2025, Kim Gordon reworked her single “Bye Bye” into an indictment against the Trump administration. Now she’s back with a new solo album that similarly takes aim at politicians and the billionaire class; Play Me is out March 13 via Matador. Musically, Gordon is less steely than usual on its lead single, “Not Today,” in which she breaks out her singing voice for the first time in years. 

[Spotify] NOT TODAY 

“See Me” Come On

This way: See Me

Come On weren't nearly as good, and certainly lacked any of the pop hooks that the Talking Heads boasted at least occasionally from the very beginning. David Byrne, appropriately enough, was a supporter of the band and took David Bowie and Brian Eno to see them at CBGB's. Stripped down and tense, Come On's brand of minimalist rock teemed with agitation, sexual frustration, and a wry, dark humor. Compiling the band's two singles, unreleased tracks, and live material from the late 70's, Come On is recommended for fans of early Talking Heads, DNA, Pere Ubu, and Half Japanese. Elena Glasberg (guitar), George Elliott (guitar), Ralf Mann (bass), Jamie Kaufman (vocals), Page Wood (drums). George Elliott (an avant-folksinger music critic) met the Talking Heads trio at a sound check at CBGB in 1975 and was at every show that weekend. Moving soon to Manhattan (tempted by the possibility of joining as a 4th member) he lived next to Ralf Mann, a German film student in the East Village and so began their apartment jams. Ralf's writing partner Jamie, a native New Yorker, began to contribute words to their first sketches "Blue Drink" and "Fly Swatter". Page was a RISD airbrush artist with a spacious rehearsal loft and drumming experience. They met Elena (a precocious high school student) at a holiday party, and these five members banded together and collaborated for the next four years.

They played their first show at Copperfields in the summer '77 and continued with subsequent shows at Max's Kansas City, CBGB, Xenon, Hurrah!, Club 57, and Irving Plaza, etc. One memorable show was when David Byrne brought Brian Eno, David Bowie and Bianca Jagger to see Come On play at CBGB. The 30 people in the slow-night audience swelled to 300 by the time the set was over...

Come On befriended Klaus Nomi performing at the New Wave Vaudeville Show (see The Nomi Song), and George and Page figured into his roman candle of a career, even sharing production-management team. These two friends merged with members of Nomi's troupe to form the NY show band Strange Party. The duo released the unfinished opera by themselves and Nomi in 2007, Za Bakdaz. 

Page became a graphic artist in Hollywood, collecting instruments and re-embracing music; Ralf and Jamie were bar-owners in the 1980s; later Ralf became a Texas developer and Jamie moved to New York. Elena molds young collegiate minds and is an expert on Antarctica. George still persistently 'serves the Muse.'

—Thanks Anthony for the tip!

 

[Spotify] See Me 

“I Still Want You” The Del Fuegos

This way: I Still Want You

The Del Fuegos are an American 1980s garage-style rock band. Formed in 1980, the Boston-based band gained success in 1986 with their songs "Don't Run Wild" and "I Still Want You" and appearing in a widely seen television commercial for Miller Beer. The band's fans included Tom Petty, who appeared on one of the band's songs and featured them as an opening act on one of his tours. The Del Fuegos are named after the island of Tierra Del Fuego.

The relationship between brothers Warren Zanes and Dan Zanes, then and now, has been described as being "fractious". Shortly after the band was dropped by Slash Records due to the commercial disappointment of their third album for the label, Warren left the band, as did Woody. After Dan and Tom recruited two replacement members, they released a fourth album with RCA Records. The band broke up within a year of the album's release. Dan later said of the group's demise, "The '80s were over, we were over." 

 

[Spotify] I Still Want You 

“Never a Parade” SLW cc Watt

This way: Never a Parade

SLW cc Watt is an inspired collaboration between prolific singer/songwriter/illustrator Samuel Locke Ward and SoCal punk legend bassist/singer Mike Watt. After the head-spinning fun of 2021's Let's Build a Logjam and 2022's Real Manic Time, on the new Purple Pie Plow, the duo corral guests throughout the record: saxophonist Bob Bucko Jr, along with drummer Dean Clean, and guitarist Joe Jack Talcum from the sardonic punk band The Dead Milkmen. 

Packing in 24 tracks in 40 minutes, the new SLW cc Watt album has 11 brief poetic 'spiels' (voiced by Watt) alternating between 12 charming short songs (sung by Locke Ward, backed by Watt, Bucko, Talcum, Clean). The collaboration happened via the Internet, with Locke Ward sending lyrics to Watt and demo song tracks to everyone to layer on their own parts.

 

[Spotify] Never a Parade 

“People are Machines” Skelephant

This way: People are Machines

One man band from Durham, North Carolina. The artist name is Chad Vickers. Early band was Rubber Zebra. This guy has a great sound of held together with glue and pourpose. 

 

[Spotify] People are Machines 

“Create” LIIEK

This way: Create

LIIEK of Berlin, Germany. They are creating some seriously stringent 3 piece punk music in current day Berlin. All kings of great songs here. Guitars in line, Vocals call out to the rafters. We hear you. 

 

[Spotify] Create 

A Few Live highlights

Live is live and sometimes living and dying. Here are a few highlights from my mind of live performance worth watching.

This way: Willis Earl Beal: Evening's Kiss

Willis Earl Beal on Jools, he transends anything Ive seen of a musical performance on TV. He takes a toothpick casually from his mouth and lays out Evening's Kiss. Half way thru he starts to cry as he sings. So powerful. Never get bored.

This way: London Calling tribute on the Grammys

Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Dave Grohl, Stevie Van Zandt, Tony Kanal & Pete Thomas perform London Calling in tribute to Joe Strummer, February 23 2003. Typically the Grammys is the worst of the worst, terrible categories, uninspired performances, mega-pop high on drivel. But this a standout, Tribute to Joe Strummer after his death. But you'd think they'd engineer more of this type of inspired performing.

This way: Prince, Tom Petty "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"

Prince, Tom Petty, Steve Winwood, Jeff Lynne, Dhani Harison -- "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction for George Harrison. Is there a better guitar solo Prince? What a showman that Prince, everyone else on stage is asleep. And then boom, guitar is gone like magic.

 

This way: DEVO on SNL in 1979 "I Can't Get No Satisfaction"

This was the wakeup call. Devo came to TV allaccross America all at once. Were you in or were you out? I was emphatically in!

“Saturday Soldier” Auditorium

This way: Saturday Soldier

Auditorium is the project of Los Angeles-based musician Spencer Berger. This track from 2011. 

 

[Spotify] Saturday Soldier 

“Physical Climber” aMinature

This way: Physical Climber

aMiniature was a band that was formed in the 1980s in San Diego by first generation Korean-American John Lee. By 1990 Lee had established the name aMiniature. The band's name was inspired by a poster hanging in the office of Lee's father that showed miniature bulbs. The "A" in the title is not pronounced, but was added to distinguish the group's name from a jazz ensemble with the same name. 

Over its lifetime the band went through many lineup changes, with Lee and Colin Watson remaining as consistent members. The group disbanded in 1997.

 

[Spotify] Physical Climber 

Charming Live: Physical Climber (Live at the Casbah)

“Pretty Paracetamol” Fischer-Z

This way: Pretty Paracetamol

Fischer-Z are a British rock group and main creative project of singer, guitarist and poet John Watts. In 1982 Watts temporarily dissolved Fischer-Z and started a solo career under his own name. John Watts has gone on to release both solo and Fischer-Z projects. The original line-up consisted of Watts (vocals, guitar), Steve Skolnik (keyboards), David Graham (bass) and Steve Liddle (drums). 

The band's name is pronounced /fɪʃə ˈzɛd/ ("fisher zed"), a pun on "fish's head" with the "h" dropped, as is usual in many British regional accents. The pun also relies on leaving the "r" unpronounced as in common British non-rhotic accents.

Fischer-Z found success across Europe and sold more than two million albums. Joint recordings were made with Peter Gabriel, Steve Cropper and Dexys Midnight Runners. Fischer-Z performed alongside James Brown in East Berlin and toured with The Police and Dire Straits. They also toured the US and Canada and were on the bill with Bob Marley on his last festival tour of Europe. John Watts has released 26 albums and played around 4,000 concerts so far. Fischer-Z continue to release new music and tour all over the world to this day.

This track from 1980 . . . .

 

[Spotify] Pretty Paracetamol 

“What in the World” David Bowie

This way: What in the World

Low is the eleventh studio album by the English musician David Bowie, released on 14 January 1977 through RCA Records. The first of three collaborations with the producer Tony Visconti and the musician Brian Eno that became known as the Berlin Trilogy, the project originated following Bowie's move to France in 1976 with his friend Iggy Pop to rid themselves of their drug addictions. There, Bowie produced and co-wrote Pop's debut solo studio album, The Idiot, featuring sounds the former would explore on his next record. After completing The Idiot, sessions for Low began at Hérouville's Château d'Hérouville in September 1976 and ended in October at Hansa Studios in West Berlin, where Bowie and Pop had relocated.

An art rock record influenced by German bands such as Tangerine Dream, Neu!, Harmonia and Kraftwerk, Low features Bowie's first explorations in electronic and ambient styles. Side one consists primarily of short, direct avant-pop song-fragments, with mostly downbeat lyrics reflecting Bowie's state of mind, and side two comprises longer, mostly instrumental tracks, conveying musical observations of Berlin. Visconti created the distinctive drum sound using an Eventide H910 Harmonizer, a pitch-shifting device. The cover artwork, a profile of Bowie from the film The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976), was intended as a visual pun, meaning "low profile".

Iggy Pop does backing vocals on this track from 1977. 

 

[Spotify] What in the World 

“This New Years Day” Dead Gwynne

This way: This New Years Day

A Few Years back Carl and I wrote a song for New Years Day.

Here's to a great '26.

Please enjoy responsibly!

[Spotify] NO!