assorted stuff

Well, let me see. It's been a little while since I've posted. Joey Shithead didn't end up coming to town a couple weeks back. I believe he was dealing with a new Ontario agent, who didn't really understand who he was, hence the opening slot on a bill of bands I've never heard of. I was one of the elite Grant Avenue dozen (as Lou Molinaro called us in his blog) that attended the afternoon performance/recording of Pere Ubu a couple weeks back. I thought they did better in the afternoon, when everyone proceeded to get drunk. Then a couple hours off, and back at it again that night. That evening I thought they performed well at the Absinthe, but I was not able to enjoy it as I began suffering the intial onslaught of that terrible cold that was going around.

 

A little more recently I attended Wanda Jackson's performance at the Casbah. It was pretty entertaining. As I mentioned to a couple people, "Nothing like listening to a 70 year old woman sing about having sex all night long".   I hadn't listened to very much of her stuff previous to her show, but was pleasantly surprised (especially by a song done in German!). My introduction to Wanda's music is pretty ass-backwards, but shows how important she is (or how smart the Clash were). I have in my small video library, footage of the Clash performing on television in Japan during their Asain tour, just prior to their Combat Rock release. During these performances, they bring out a female singer named Pearl Harbour ( an Asian- American who I believe was dating Paul Simonon at the time) who leads the Clash through a song called Fujiama Mama. Upon reading the Spectator article I realise that this was an old Wanda Jackson song that hit #1 in Japan. I believe it may also be responsible for the begininng of the Japanese rockabilly scene.  If you read the article in the Spectator announcing her return to Hamilton, then you would also know she had an amourous relationship with Elvis Presley way back when. And that he was the one who talked her into trying her hand at rock 'n roll. I had heard that Mickey DeSadist's comment to Ms.Jackson upon meeting her for the first time was "Have you seen Elvis lately?". At this most recent show, he continued with a couple heckles to the same effect.

 

At the Wanda Jackson show, I also mentioned to Mickey that someone had put up several video clips on Youtube of the Forgotten Rebels playing in London Ontario back in ' 83. I also mentioned I was surprised at some of the cover songs they did during this performance. At the time I couldn't place the song that struck me the most, it is incorrectly labeled "Danger". I have since found out it was "Ex- Lion Tamer" by Wire. Nice one Mickey.

 

I have also recently found out that the Rebels will be playing a show at the Casbah on Friday November 23rd. I know this for two reasons: 1. the Forgotten Rebels are one of my favourite bands, and I will go see them whenever I can. 2. Me and my new band will debut as one of the opening acts! I am excited. I don't try to use this column to expound my own exploits but I believe this might qualify as local punk news. As Lou Molinaro has mentioned on his blog, we decided to end my former band the Sam Lawrence 5 a couple months ago (Look for our last song on the C+C Music Factory compilation, it's called Gary, but it is not about local uber fan Gary Daley) . I have since been working on my new solo project "The Hamilton Kid and his Steeltown Spoilers".  I only just recently got the band line up figured out (Mark Hammer-Mickey DeSadist show and Deadly Romantics, Scotty Vapid and Robo of the Vapids and Horror Biz), but when you get the call to open for the Rebels, you respond  Yes sir!

 

And lastly, I missed the Punk Rods at the Absinthe this weekend because I have just returned from a road trip down to Philadelphia to help out and support the Hammer City Roller Girls all star team. I have driven in London England and New York City, but so far the worst drive I've had to make was the Penn turnpike at night in the pouring rain. They should really invest in some streetlights. Unfortunately, our local girls lost by 20 something points to the Penn-Jersey She Devils. But, in Hamilton's defence, the fact that the American team is coached by a roller derby hall of famer, and that they use an older form of rules, really put us at a disadvantage. Too bad, because the two teams were very evenly matched otherwise.I believe our local girls have one more game in a couple weeks in Fort Wayne Indiana, maybe you should go for a drive.

 

Cheers!

The Hamilton Kid

 

Ps. That cute dark-haired girl who was voted best local yoga instructor and had her face all over the View a couple weeks ago, incurred a spiral fracture to her tibia during the game. But, I figure she should heal pretty fast because she is so loose. Chin up Danger Mouse!

Comments

[Lou]

Ah...

no mention of the double double DP idea from your US trip, eh?