Some great Garage Rock featured in this Record of the Week. This is The Mono Men out of Bellingham Washington.
This 45 was another amazing find from Lunchbox Records. What initially caught my eye was the Cherry Poptart sleeve, by Larry Welz. I don't think I've ever known Cherry to appear on any vinyl sleeve art, so I had to have it. Fortunately the music in the grooves is also really good.
Cherry Poptart by Larry Welz - The Mono Men - Took that Thing
The Mono Men - Took that Thing - Sleeve back
Cherry Poptart by Larry Welz - The Mono Men - Took that Thing
The Mono Men - Took that Thing - B Side
I couldn't find this record on YouTube, so here's an alternate single from The Mono Men:
Record of the Week is primarily reserved for vinyl, but occasionally I'll also feature a cool release in another format.
I first heard about MC Lars through his association with Jaret Reddick. Reddick is of course the front man for Bowling for Soup. In addition to a tour with Bowling for Soup, MC Lars also signed a distribution deal with Jaret's record label, Crappy Records.
This was also how I discovered the very touching MC Lars song "23". This song is about a college friend that committed suicide. It's a beautiful song that needs to be seen by a lot more people. The video was directed by Heath Balderston and Jaret Reddick for Built By Ninjas Productions
I next heard of Lars when he toured with Wheatus in the UK. That tour led to the show that I saw at the Milestone Club as MC Lars and Math the Band continued their touring relationship by doing a series of shows in the States.
Our current ROTW is the new EP by MC Lars, The Edgar Allan Poe EP. The EP is released on Horris records which is the label founded by Lars. I picked up this CD at his Milestone show and it's indie all the way down to it's handwritten "label". This is the kind of merch I love, music straight from the artist.
MC Lars - The Edgar Allan Poe EP
MC Lars - The Edgar Allan Poe EP
MC Lars - The Edgar Allan Poe EP
MC Lars - Merch table at The Milestone Club
"Flow Like Poe" the official video from MC Lars
I'm not what you would call a rap fan, but I love good music and good lyrics. I have to admit I'm hooked on the stuff that Lars is recording. I'll be keeping up with his career.
Check out both of the videos I've embedded here and check out MC Lars next time he's in town.
'til Lars does a take on Dr. Tar and Professor Feather
Another Awesome Record of the Week featuring Math the Band.
I first became aware of Math the Band through their tour with Wheatus and MC Lars. After the Wheatus tour MC Lars and Math continued with a U.S. tour, and that tour came to The Milestone Club in Charlotte.
Math the Band is Kevin Steinhauser and Justine Mainville. They play a pretty intense set of electronic punk. Actually, that's probably not a good description, you'll just have to go see them to get a good idea of their show. On stage Kevin plays the guitar while Justine plays a keyboard and a drum. To say their show is high energy is an understatement. I'm not quite sure how their instruments can keep up, but I think they must have to perform quite a bit of maintenance.
Watch the video, visit their web page, and check 'em out when they come to your town.
Math the Band - 4 to 6 - Picture Sleeve
Math the Band - 4 to 6 - Sleeve Back
Math the Band - 4 to 6 - A Side
Math the Band - 4 to 6 - B Side
Math the Band - 4 to 6 - Inner Sleeve
A different color of vinyl. Taken from the Math the Band merch store on their web site. Sadly, I don't own one of these.
Math the Band Merch table from The Milestone Club show.
Anybody that has read this blog over time knows that I think the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a crock.
Seriously, they put Abba in the HOF before Rush? That is just plain stupid.
I have a lot of complaints about the membership and maybe I'll get to them all, but I want to start with a big influence of mine, Paul Revere and the Raiders. My musical tastes were heavily inspired by the records my sisters bought. These were the first songs I ever played, and I'll never forget the first time I played a Raiders record. It was the single version of Cinderella Sunshine. That song was garage rock, bubblegum pop, punk rock and all mixed in with a cool fuzz guitar. I was hooked.
Paul Revere and the Raiders - Hungry
During my high school and college years I managed to track down all the Raiders albums which was no easy feat. By the time I started collecting them the original band had disbanded and nothing was in print with the exception of a couple of hits collections.
It's easy for someone to dismiss the Raiders because of their stage show or the revolutionary war costumes, but the real truth is in the grooves of those records. Raider music is some of the best American rock cut during the sixties.
Paul Revere and the Raiders - Good Thing
And as for that stage show with the choreographed dancing? The truth is all of the extras, such as the costumes, dancing, standing on the amps and just plain goofiness was part of the act, and the act was to entertain. At heart these guys were entertainers. This entertainment has never truly stopped. Despite the fact that the classic band ultimately disbanded, Paul Revere has NEVER stopped. The Raiders are always out there playing somewhere. Paul Schaffer of the David Letterman show recently called them the Best Show Band of all Time, and Paul is probably right.
So, why do these guys belong in the Rock Hall?
Just listen to the music.
Hungry, Good Thing, Just Like Me, Let Me, Kicks, Steppin' Out, Him or Me, these tunes were classic examples of sixties garage rock. The Raiders were better at it than anybody, but the big difference is they were also popular -- really popular. You see, that whacky stage show and those costumes were noticed by Dick Clark, and Dick put them on TV.
Where the Action Is was on television five days a week, and with all that exposure the Raiders sold tons of records. Because of television they continued to play up the costumes and that high energy stage show, and there's the rub.
Costumed bands don't make the Hall of Fame. KISS anyone?
The television thing hasn't helped either. Monkees?
With two big knocks against them the Raiders have never received serious consideration.
During 1966 the Raiders outsold Bob Dylan, the Byrds, and Barbara Streisand, combined.
I don't know if this will ever change. Dave Clark finally made it because guys like Bruce Springsteen pushed for it. I don't know if anyone is in the Raiders corner. If there is someone out there I hope they step up soon. Drake and Smitty both died in the last ten years, and it'll be a shame if Paul, Mark, Fang, and Harpo don't get to take the stage during the induction ceremony.
Paul Revere and the Raiders play Steppin' Out
The original Raiders reunited
But maybe I'm just dreaming.
After all I'm sure they'll just induct someone else like Abba. Because you know how hard Abba rocks.
'til Paul Revere and Bruce Springsteem play Hungry on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame stage.
