Hailing from Los Angeles, The CLAWS are described by their record label as running the gamut from swanky, driving Rock 'N Roll to down ‘n dirty Blues Stabbers to country-fused Desperado Rockers that perfectly straddle the line between Saturday night excess and Sunday morning regret. How could you not LOVE such a band?
1) For the viewers of this blog who would not know you, What would you tell about The Claws to introduce yourselves? How long are you guys together as a band? Who is playing what instrument nowadays?
The Claws formed in 2017 in Los Angeles, California. We released our debut EP (out of print) later that year. In early 2020, our debut LP 'No Connection' was released. After a few lineup changes, we have finally landed on the right mix. Chad Cherry : Singer; Gary Martin : Guitar & Vocals; Terry Love : Bass; Mike Gavigan : Guitar; Tony Pacheco : Drums
2) About the full length record 'No Connection', what can you tell about the recording process? Was this a "live" in the studio recording or a track by track recording with lots of overdubs?
We recorded No Connection live in the studio, then added vocal and guitar overdubs as the process went along. Also, we added the organs, piano, harmonica, and percussion later in the process as overdubs.
3) Do you use the nowadays recording technology or do you guys only work with analog machines in analog studios?
It's a healthy mix of analog and digital in our process. We use digital, modern recording software, while using analog, vintage processors and effects. Our gear is all vintage, and we "live-mic" almost everything.
4) Is there a main composer in the band or is everybody involved in one way or another?
I (Gary) am the main composer, but everyone has had their voices heard in the writing department.
After a song is brought into the band, everyone gets a say on their parts etc. Once everyone has stamped their personalities onto a new composition, the song is officially considered "property of The Claws".
5) What is your favorite topic/topic that comes easily when you write a new song?
Probably isolation. I am a private, quiet type who doesn't expose much publicly. This often results in lyrics that can be ambiguous at times.
6) The Claws are sometimes described as a 70's influenced band. Do you agree with this? Are you proud of it or do you consider there is way more than that?
I don't mind that at all, since the 70's were my favorite era of rock n roll. However, I don't want a potential younger who may be unfamiliar with that era to assume we're dated & boring. I do feel that there's more to our influences than just 70's rock. We're all fans of music. Not just one particular era, and not just one genre.
7) Do you have a new video on youtube featuring a track from the latest LP??
We have official videos for 'No Connection' and 'Stumbling Around'. They are from 2020's 'No Connection' LP and you can watch them here.
We will be doing a few videos from the upcoming LP, once it's ready to go.
8) What can concert goers expect at a The Claws gig? Are you playing any famous cover songs during the gig?
Expect to have a great time with The Claws at our gigs. The vibe is always great, plenty of dancing, smiling, boozing (if that's your thing) etc. We haven't done a cover tune at this point. We've discussed it, but we just cannot agree on something to cover.
9) Are there any bands in the USA today you consider yourself close to, musically speaking?
There are bands throughout the USA that we all dig, and we admire for their creativity and efforts. However, I don't think that any of them are very similar to The Claws. We're kinda doing our own thing. We're not trying to resurrect the sound of any monolithic bands of the past; we're just trying to write cool rock n roll songs that represent our lives & experiences in the 21st century.
10) To what kind of music did you listen to as a teenager? What were your favorite bands as a teenager? Name 3 bands that you consider still have an influence on your own work today.
As a teenager, I was a total 80's hard rock/metal guy. Loved it. Still dig some of it for sure. Van Halen comes to mind - their first 6 LPs are still fantastic. Pre-'84 Aerosmith also. My songwriting influence comes from people like Tom Petty, David Bowie, Mick & Keith, Elvis Costello. The bands of my teenage years were mostly badass, but didn't really influence my writing.
11) What are the plans for 2021 as far as The Claws are concerned?
First and foremost, we want to finish our 2nd LP. It's 90% recorded. We've recorded 14 songs; 10 will make the LP. The remaining 4 tracks will either be saved for LP #3, or we'll release them as an EP. Also, getting to play in Europe has been a goal for the band since it's inception. Due to the state of things globally, this may have to wait until 2022, but we'll see. It looks as if gigs will be starting up again around LA this summer. Hopefully we can do a west coast US run sometime this year. And we keep writing..the new material is stacking up!
12) Anything you wanna add?
Yes, please visit www.theclawsrock.com. You can watch the videos, buy the music, read about the band etc.. The new LP is gonna be fantastic - it's a little deeper than the debut; I think you'll dig the progression of the material. Stay tuned! Thanks Eric.
Hailing from Los Angeles and swiping their name from the Iggy and the Stooges classic “Search & Destroy”, The Streetwalkin' Cheetahs are back and released their first album in 20 years. And the good news is that those guys have lost nothing of their bite and energy.
The record kicks major ass!
If you're either a MC5 fan or a Cheap Trick fan (or both, like yours truly) this record is gonna be right up your alley. Time for this blog to talk to Frank Meyer about spending years touring in a van and a sparkling return.
1)For the sake of the argument, let's say that a very young viewer stumbles upon this blog for the first time and doesn't know who The Streetwalkin' Cheetahs are, what would tell to introduce yourselves? How long are you guys together as a band? Who is playing what instrument nowadays? Why did the band break up in 2002?
The Streetwalkin’ Cheetahs are a high energy rock ‘n’ roll band in the spirit of the Stooges and MC5, but with a hard rock power-pop twist à la Cheap Trick. We started in 1995, made a bunch of albums, EPs and singles, and toured the world before breaking up in early 2000s. No real drama around the breakup, we just got sick of working our asses off, living in a van, and not making any real money after years and years of doing it. A decade later we got back together for a one-off tour with our pal Cheetah Chrome of the Dead Boys and have been going strong ever since. The current lineup is original members Dino Everett on bass, Mike Sessa on drums, and me, Frank Meyer, on guitars and lead vocals, plus newer members Bruce Duff on guitar and sax player Geoff Yeaton. We released a 7” single in 2015, and just put out a brand-new album called “One More Drink,” our first full-length in nearly 20 years!
2)About the latest released full length record 'One More Drink', what can you tell about the recording process? Was this a "live" in the studio recording or a track by track recording with lots of overdubs?
We went into a studio called Kitten Robot in Silver Lake, CA and recorded the basic tracks live over a few weekends with Paul Roessler (The Screamers, 45 Grave) engineering. Then we went to our guitarist Bruce’s Duff studio, ToneDuff, and did all the vocals, leads and overdubs. We rehearsed quite a bit beforehand and had demo’d all the songs, so we were pretty prepared to knock it all out live with minimal punch-ins. We produced it ourselves with Paul’s help.
3)Do you use the nowadays recording technology or do you guys only work with analog machines in analog studios?
I like both for different reasons. I have a home studio and record digitally all the time, as it’s quick and easy and allows me to get my ideas down fast. But if it’s something I’m gonna release to the public I either go into a real studio with a live drummer and re-record it entirely or re-recorded elements of it. There’s nothing quite like a live drum kit in a nice sounding room, or a great sounding amp properly mic’d, and the rich sound of tape. So that’s always preferred, but I embraced digital a long time ago. The ideal situation is to be able to do it all and just use what works best for any given situation.
4)Is there a main composer in the band or is everybody involved in one way or another?
We all write. I probably write the most these days because I’m in a ton of different projects that I’m contributing to (the Cheetahs, James Williamson, Warrior Soul, Blind House, The Anti-Virals, Thor, my solo stuff, my new band with Eddie Spaghetti of the Supersuckers, and more). Plus, I’m always just writing songs anyways, even if it’s not for any specific project. I’ll write it, record it, then figure out what to do with it later. On “One More Drink” everyone contributed. A few tunes like “Warzone” and “Rumblin’ Train” were written out of rehearsal jams, Dino brought the ideas for “The Rejected” and “Scorpio Rising,” Bruce had the ideas for “Bad vacation” and “Switchblade Knights,” and I came up with the rest. It really was a group effort.
5)What is your favorite topic/topic that comes easily when you write a new song?
These days I’ve been writing more personal stuff than I used to. All the songs used to be about car crashes, girls, fist fights, shootouts, sex, drugs and so on. Fun, hedonistic stuff. But lately I’ve been writing material that is more personal. On the new album there’s a song called “We Are The Ones (We’ve Been Waiting For)” that is about my ex-girlfriend, the record store her late aunt and uncle owned where I met her, and her cat Master Minou (“master of the cats,” you can hear me calling him at the end of the song). “Scorpio Rising” is one Dino and I wrote about his divorce. “Bad Vacation” is about an annoying co-worker at my old job. Most of these newer songs are based on real life and not just crazy stories and wild antics.
6)Do you think it was easier to be in a rock'n'roll band way back 25 years ago, when "Heart Full Of Napalm" was released on Alive Records, than it is now??
It’s tougher than ever to play rock ‘n’ roll now At the moment, live music has been down for a year due to COVID and when it gets back up and running, it’s gonna be at less attendance (i.e. – less money for the performer), so much tougher to profit from being on tour. And before COVID it was already rough. Rock music ain’t exactly the voice of the kids anyways these days. Playing rock now is kinda of like being a jazz player in a way. There’s always an audience, but it gets smaller and more selective as time goes on, and the kids move into other genres. And on top of all that, you make like a penny a stream, which is the main way people listen to music these days, so it’s really difficult to make money off digital distribution. You really have to hustle your art on Bandcamp or platforms like that, and try to get a record deal if you can, and play live, and sell merch, and rock your social media. It’s a lot and it’s not easy, but we do it because we love it. I’ll never stop.
7)Do you have a new video on youtube featuring a track from the latest LP??
Since we haven’t been able to tour this past year, we’ve been really embracing making music videos. My job away from music is as a director (award-winning documentary film “Risen: The Story of Chron ‘Hell Razah’ Smith”) and writer (“On The Road With The Ramones,” “From Dude To Dad”, etc), so I just started doing it a lot more for the band this past year. We made a video for “Warzone” off the new album that is kinda political and topical, plus an insane video for “We Are The Ones” with puppets, animation, videogames, drugs, toys, and all around batshit crazy madness. We just shot a new one for the title track that John Easdale from Dramarama (who sings on the song) appears in that will be out by the time you read this.
8)What can concert goers expect at a gig of The Streetwalkin' Cheetahs? Are you playing any famous cover songs during the gig?
We do a mix of older material from the first 6 or so albums, a rare track or two, some songs off the new album, and usually at least one cover. We often close with “Funhouse” by the Stooges or one of our own freakout jam songs that we can get into the crowd and get rowdy to. Our shows have always been very high energy, in-your-face, sweaty, and physical. Not sure how all that will work in this post-COVID world, but we shall see!
9) Are there any bands in the USA today you consider yourself close to, musically speaking?
The Supersuckers are probably the band we are closest with and most aligned with. Eddie Spaghetti and I started a band last year and have our debut album, Spaghetti & Frank, will be out this summer and we’ve toured with them many times since the ‘90s. Next would be Nashville Pussy, another band we’ve toured with many times and are very close friends with. And Fishbone. Those guys are legends, and we are hugely influenced by them in many ways, but have also been longtime friends and I love them as people.
9)To what kind of music did you listen to as a teenager? What were your favorite bands as a teenager? Name 3 bands that you consider still have an influence on your own work today.
Just like now, I listened to everything when I was a teen. I was a metalhead, a punk, a glam rocker and a classic rock aficionado all at the same time. I generally just liked my music to be loud, fast and hard, sleazy yet catchy. Still do. So when I was a little kid in the ‘80s it was Devo, Go-Gos and Joan Jett. Then Van Halen made me wanna play guitar, so I got into hard rock and metal. Then I heard The Ramones and Fear and that shit changed everything. And the Stones and Tom Petty were always big for me, and big songwriting influences. Then I had my Detroit phase of being obsessed with The Stooges, MC5 and Funkadelic. And I’ve always loved a lot of blues and jazz, so my musical taste is diverse, and I like to think (or hope) that my songwriting is diverse. Certainly, this new Cheetahs album is pretty damn diverse for a punk rock ‘n’ roll band.
As far as three main influences, I guess it would be the Stooges, Cheap Trick and Van Halen. An unlikely trio but, hey, here we are.
10)What are the plans for 2021 as far as The Streetwalkin' Cheetahs are concerned?
In 2021 we hope to get back to live shows, that’s for sure! In the meantime, we have a new music video out any day now for the song “One More Drink,” a beachy video for “Ain’t It Summer” coming soon, and I’m planning an epic video for the song “Let Me Out” that will be inspired by my favorite ‘80s sci-fi movie, “Trancers.” And we had so much fun making this new album, and have so many other songs written, we’ll likely start on another album by the end of the year. Other than that, keep a lookout for my album with Eddie Spaghetti, Spaghetti and Frank. There’s also a new single by The Dogs called “Under the Coast” that I co-wrote and perform on. You can score our album “One More Drink” on Dead Beat Records on vinyl and CD, or get it directly through us via our Bandcamp page
Hailing from Hull, UK, The Gold Needles are -in their own words- hard to pigeonhole because they wear their eclecticism on their sleeves, fusing powerpop with psych and prog. And they appreciate being compared with The Church, Be Bop Deluxe and The Byrds all rolled in one. It was time for this blog to have a nice chat with keyboards man Mark English.
1) For the viewers of this blog who would not know you, What would you tell about The Gold Needles to introduce yourselves? How long are you guys together as a band? Who is playing what instrument nowadays?
We’ve been together since 2015 but we’ve known each other for many years. Simon (vocals) and Mark (keyboards) we’re actually in a band together way back in 1985!The line up is: Simon Dowson - Vocals and rhythm guitar Dave Burbage - Lead and rhythm guitars Mark English - Keyboards Carl Slaughter- Bass and harmony vocals. For the last album we used Will Jones as our drummer. However, our live drummer is Justin Davidson
2) About the latest released full length record 'What's Tomorrow Ever Done for You', what can you tell about the recording process? Was this a "live" in the studio recording or a track by track recording with lots of overdubs?
We started recording in late 2019 and we had the beginnings of quite a few tracks. We managed to finish BILLY LIAR and HAVE YOU EVER LOVED SOMEBODY? before the pandemic hit. At that point we had to put everything on hold. As things began to ‘open up’ later in the year we were able to meet outdoors so we finished the tracks by recording in the open air, socially distanced. We also managed to record two tracks for the album JEM RECORDS CELEBRATES JOHN LENNON in this manner and actually created three new tracks from scratch. Because we recorded to click track we were able to use a drummer we know, who has his own studio, to put the drums in afterwards. It was a challenge but we managed it and we were really pleased with the results. We even have a track left over for our next album.
3) Do you use the nowadays recording technology or do you guys only work with analog machines in analog studios?
We utilise technology the best way we can. We had to given the pandemic! Fortunately we have our own equipment so we record and mix ourselves before having the final mixes mastered in the USA.
4) Is there a main composer in the band or is everybody involved in one way or another?
We all compose. Mark writes a lot of the lyrics but we all contribute in different ways. Simon tends to write fully completed songs and Dave is great at producing riffs and licks. We always seem to have ideas floating round.
5) What is your favorite topic/topic that comes easily when you write a new song?
There’s nothing in particular although the last album has a theme if time running through it. This was coincidental though. We didn’t realize this until the album was nearing completion and we were sequencing the tracks.
6) The Gold Needles are sometimes described as a 60's influenced band. Do you agree with this? Are you proud of it or do you consider there is way more than that?
We understand this but it’s not something we consciously do. We all listen to different stuff and we have eclectic tastes. I think this is evident in the tracks. We all love 60s music so it’s inevitable that this will find its way into tracks. You can hear lots of other influences as well, from glam to electronic to New wave.
7) Do you have a new video on youtube featuring a track from the latest LP??
This is the title track featuring dancing skeletons, falling robots and flying clocks. What’s there not to like?
8) What can concert goers expect at a The Gold Needles gig? Are you playing any famous cover songs during the gig?
When we can get back together properly we are going to overhaul our live set. We haven’t actually gigged any of the new songs yet so it’ll be fun rehearsing them for live shows. As for covers, we’ve tended only to play our own stuff live but we wouldn’t rule it out. Our covers of HEY BULLDOG/COLD TURKEY and NO REPLY may make the cut but until we all get in the same room again and start playing them it’s difficult to say for certain.
9) Are there any bands in the UK today you consider yourself close to, musically speaking?
There are bands that we’ve gigged with like Candy Opera and Spygenius that we are good friends with and our music complements each other without us particularly sounding alike.
10) To what kind of music did you listen to as a teenager? What were your favorite bands as a teenager? Name 3 bands that you consider still have an influence on your own work today.
As a band we are fans of The Beatles, David Bowie, The Cars, Cheap Trick and Tom Petty as well as a host of other stuff. We still listen to all this.
11) What are the plans for 2021 as far as The Gold Needles are concerned?
As soon as we can we’re going to start rehearsing our live show and hopefully get some gigs in later in the year. We all love writing and recording and I’m sure we’ll be working on new songs and ideas as well. We just recorded a track for our label but we are sworn to secrecy as to what the project is. Hopefully, all will be revealed later in the year.
12) Anything you wanna add?
On the new album the track I GET THE PRESSURE was remixed by synth maestro Larry Fast. Larry played synth on the first four Peter Gabriel albums and also played in tracks by Kate Bush, Hall and Oates and Bonnie Tyler’s epic smash hit. We were thrilled that he wanted to work on this track.
Pleasure Island is now officially released by Wanda Records
in Germany. Therefore the MOM's interview is republished here.
Hailing from Malmö, Sweden, comes this new and very promising young band named MOM (Donny, Luke Frank and newcomer Spike).
Their first full length, "Pleasure Island" is filled to the rafters with crunchy guitars and catchy choruses. It is certainly one of the best debut albums ever released in 2020. Watch out for these guys, they are going to be huge in the years to come. And remember where you read it first!
So it was time for yours truly to have a very interesting and enlightening talk with guitar player Donny.
1) For the viewers of this blog who would not know you, What would you tell about you and your musical background to introduce yourself? Can you also introduce the other members of MOM who participated in the recordings?
I'm a product of my dad’s record collection. The apple doesn't fall that far from the tree. He has always had a great taste in music: Dwight Twilley Band, Elvis Costello, Iggy Pop... You name it! I got my first guitar when I was about 13 and I started to write songs as soon as I learned a few chords. Those first songs were kind of crude and childish, but I had a lot of fun. It was a magical time. It wasn't until a few years later that I got to play in a band that I started to take songwriting a bit more seriously. We played a lot of punk, at least it sounded punk, you know. Me and Luke go a long way back. He used to be the tough guy at our school, messing with all the kiddies. As for me and Frank, we used to be neighbors. He lived upstairs from me so I heard all this music blasting through the roof. That's really how the band started: one day I just knocked on his door and off we went! We had a common interest in songs, how they function and why some songs feel better than others. We used to show each other ideas and stuff, sort of a Lennon-McCartney relationship but with a lot less talent. Come to think of it, I guess that we were more like Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons: Just two teenage boys having fun, thinking that we were the coolest thing around. I don’t know, it’s not that long ago, but I certainly don’t see myself as a “Paul Stanley” type of person. Not anymore.
2) About MOM's debut full length album "Pleasure Island", what can you tell about the recording process? Was this a "live" in the studio recording or a track by track recording with lots of overdubs?
Well, we recorded the album with a dude called Harry. I think that he and Luke knew each other from way back. Funny guy, but not much of a talker. Anyway, the album wasn't recorded in a professional studio, but in Harry's cramped basement. He took care of the recording, mixing and mastering. Because we didn't have a drummer at the time (which we have now and we call him Spike!) I had to do the dirty work of playing drums on most of the tracks. I believe Frank played drums on Suzie (Use Me) as well as on our version of The Miracles' "The tracks of my tears" (a single b-side). And because we recorded the album during the summer it was a warm, sweaty and vicious affair! I cannot remember exactly, but some tracks were performed with the drums and bass playing together in real-time to a click-track, but most of the tracks are mostly overdubs. The main reason is that I don't really have the physical prowess to be able to play a whole song all the way through. As I said, playing drums is hard work. Still, we strive not to make too many edits specifically on the drum tracks. Other than that, the album was a bliss to make; we had a few beers and played loud guitars. Luke, being the kind of guy he is, also spent time experimenting with different instruments to, I guess, enhance the soundscape: playing cowbell with a banana, putting kazoos through fuzz pedals, running half-naked around the basement trying to capture the sound of bare skin. Harry happily obliged. Some of it ended up on the record, I think!
3) Do you use the nowadays digital recording technology or do you only work with analog machines in analog studios?
I don't really know, it’s all magic to me. Analog microphones. Analog instruments. Computers. Robotic players playing like machines.
4) How would you describe the music you are playing? If I were to call it PowerPop à la Big Star, would you agree with this label? Are you proud of it or do you consider there is way more than that?
When someone asks, we usually just say guitar-driven pop music. It tends to paint the best picture of what we do. Powerpop, or simply rock ’n’ roll, is probably a good description as well although it certainly is up for debate as to what exactly merits those labels. I mean, something we realized after releasing this record is that people often compare us with a lot of bands we never even heard of. As for the Big Star comparison, we would be thrilled if anyone thought of our music as being similar to Big Star's in any way, but we don't necessarily draw that line ourselves. I grew up with their first two albums (#1 Record & Radio City), and I guess that it sometimes shines through in our music, but it's not necessarily by design, or that I'm aware of it myself. Obviously, the music is sort of centered around hooks; everything from melodies to specific drum fills and arrangement choices. The focus is always on the song and how to put it together. And we never jam! Mostly because we suck at it, but also because we don't have the luxury to spend too much time on an idea that hasn't already been worked through in the privacy of one's lonely bedroom. We live in different cities, you see, so we have to spend our time with care.
5) What is your favorite topic/topic that comes easily when you write a new song? I'm not sure that I have a favorite topic. Songs usually just come to me, and I'm not really in charge of when and how. I'm not really that aware when I write lyrics, but I know that it's more important to get them to sound good rather than what they contain. However, some of the usual stuff that I end up writing about are the same things that any sensible songwriter ends up writing about: Difficult love, loneliness, boredom, having fun, wanting to have fun, etc. But then again, I don't know what topic the next song I'll write will deal with. I have a big heap of new songs that I'm currently working on. Some of them have lyrics, but most of them don't. We'll see, maybe the next album will be all about riding horses and eating ice cream.
6) Do you have a new video on youtube featuring a track from the newly released LP??
Unfortunately no. We made a quick and silly video ourselves for ”Tonight” when we released it but have yet to find someone more professional interested in making a video for us. But it’s definitely something we want to do in the future, probably for a new release. We’ve noticed we don’t look that good on film. Luke can’t seem to behave on set either, he gets too excited. Guess we’ll have to work on that.
7) What can concert goers expect at a MOM's gig? Are you playin' any famous cover songs during the concert?
It will definitely be great fun and, hopefully, loud! All those years of hula-hooping have made me half-deaf. Some of us have been playing together for a long time so I think we sound really tight as a group. Since the world has been on more or less lockdown for a year we haven’t been able to take this outfit on the road at all, so we are very stir-crazy at the moment and eager to play. Those first gigs, once they come, will surely be something you don’t want to miss out on. Because the album is just over half an hour long we feel compelled to take on a few songs to cover, which is fine because there are so many good songs out there - powerpop or not! Maybe we should do one by ABBA, I don't know. We'll see.
8) Are there any bands in Sweden today you consider yourself close to, musically speaking?
To be honest, not really. There are a few good rock bands but they tend to be either more punk or "rock" than we are. Most contemporary pop bands in Sweden play some kind of mellow synthpop, or indie rock, which tends to be either too serious and/or sad for our taste. Still, there are a few good bands out there. We like our pop music to be fun and heavy on guitars. Now when I think about it, the band The Wannadies is probably the closest bet. Catchy tunes, a great look. And fun! Their song "So happy now" is great.
9) To what kind of music did you listen to as a teenager? What were your favorite bands as a teenager? Name 3 bands that you consider still have an influence on your own work today.
Oh man, I listened to a lot of bands that can be considered either shit or awesome. This is a tough one because I got into The Replacements, Teenage Fanclub, and Fountains of Wayne way later, which are the bands that I sort of connect the strongest to nowadays. Other than Big Star I also listened to a lot of Matthew Sweet. 100% Fun is my favorite album by him. I guess that I also have to say Tom Petty. What a guy! Too cool for school. And the songs! Quality stuff. That kind of rock’n’roll music keeps coming back to me and maybe, unconsciously, it influences my own music. You are what you eat. Nonetheless, it brings me great joy.
10) What are the plans for for 2021 as far as MOM is concerned?
Hopefully, 2021 will be good to us. 2020 was good for us too since we released a debut record on a whim that received way more attention than we might have hoped for starting out. In hindsight we were kind of stupid releasing an album in a year like the last one so first off it would be really nice to be able to do some touring this year. We’ve also got a ton of new demos that we want to do something with. Just what exactly is undecided but there will definitely be new music coming this year, that is all I can say for sure. We’ve also found ourselves a drummer so it’s great to finally be able to rehearse a lot together this year.
11) Do you guys love your Moms?
Of course, we’re not monsters! Although, it does cause some tension having to give 20% of our revenue to them for the copyright of using their names… By the way, is "mom" a title you get? A role you play? Anyways, we adore our moms, even though they always tell us to make our beds!
12) Anything you wanna add?
Yes! We just got Pleasure Island on CD’s available for purchase through our Bandcamp and we’re working on getting it out to record stores. It will also be available on vinyl through Wanda Records in Germany by early March this year. If your readers like our music then buying the album helps out a great deal for planning a future tour. And thanks for the interview!
In 2019, Glenn Robinson who had already released a slew of albums under his own name decided to reinvent himself as PAVID VERMIN. Since then, he has released around 40 songs spread across three full-lengths, each heavily influenced by the Ramones.
A while a go, Madrid based Jarama 45RPM Recs. released "The Beach Boys Never Surfed" E.P on a very beautiful coloured vinyl. The title track is one killer of a song and worth alone the price of admission. Time for this blog to talk to the man.
For the viewers of this blog who would not know you, What would you tell about Pavid Vermin to introduce yourself? Is this one man band the new incarnation of you? And what, according to you, makes the big difference between the solo artist Glenn Robinson and Pavid Vermin?
Hey Eric! Thanks for having me! Yes, Pavid Vermin is a fairly new incarnation of myself that I started in early 2019. I really wanted to make home recording a possibility again because it’s how I’ve always worked best. It brought me back to being a teenager in my parents’ basement, recording what seemed like an album a week of absolutely ridiculous punk songs. It lowered the stakes even further, allowing me to impulsively cherry-pick from the conveyer belt of stupid ideas running through my head.
I think there are a few minor differences between my previous albums and a Pavid Vermin album. One of them being the sound quality of the recordings. I knew for sure that whatever I recorded by myself would not hold up against those solo albums, so it was a good excuse to start something new. There is also something comforting about hiding behind a name. I was never comfortable using my real name and I have no desire to put my face on anything. Using a band name almost feels like there is less ownership of what I’m doing and it allows me to be more spontaneous and off-the-cuff, which in retrospect, is a feeling I think was lost on my older albums.
About the newly released e.p., what can you tell about the recording process? Was this a "live" in the studio recording or a track by track recording with lots of overdubs?
This is definitely a track by track recording process. I record everything myself in my basement on my computer using very limited resources. I have always been a novice home recording “engineer” (I can’t stress those quotations enough) even though I’ve been doing it for 20 years. I never really learned proper recording techniques or invested in nice equipment. I simply don’t have the attention span to understand it, I find it incredibly tedious and boring. I’d rather be banging out more shitty recordings!
I do think a lot of these songs would sound cool with a few people making a dirty “live” studio recording! I’d like to give that a shot someday when this pandemic chills the fuck out.
Do you use the nowadays recording technology or do you only work with analog machines in analog studios?
Nowadays recording technology 100% haha. I admittedly have no idea what I’m doing when it comes to recording. I am not an engineer by any stretch of the imagination. My set up will make most people cringe: I use Garageband, a PreSonus interface for guitars and a Blue Snowball USB mic for vocals. I also use a First Act children’s bass that has decade old strings on it. I don’t have any studio monitors. I use these ear buds that came with an at-home sonogram kit that has white noise automatically blasting through them at all times. It’s a very simple problem fix, but I just got used to it. I didn’t really realize how weird that might be until right now! I get a kick out of how much I can get out of so little. None of this should work, but in a weird way, it kinda does.
Who is responsible for this absolutely FABULOUS cover artwork of the E.P.?
That would be the very talented artist, Mario Feal! You should check out his work on Instagram @mariofeal. He was brought on by Bernardo at Jarama 45.
What is your favorite topic/topic that comes easily when you write a new song?
At my core, I like writing about things that can make me laugh. I tend to lean on topics like self-deprecation and the drag of a 9-5 job, but in a pretty irreverent way. I’m not sure what it says about me, but I like making fun of things. I like to look for an absurd angle and embellish the shit out of it. It works out perfectly that this type of music certainly lends itself to be lighthearted and silly because I am not naturally a heart-on-my-sleeve kind of songwriter.
How would you describe Pavid Vermin type of music? Is this still power pop?
I guess it could be considered power pop! If I breakdown my priorities when I’m writing a song, first and foremost is coming up with a catchy hook. I also like to keep intros and verses as short as possible. I try to keep things quick and concise because nobody has time for a four-minute punk song. So, in that sense, I am primarily writing pop music. I do feel that true power-pop is much more sophisticated than what I write, though. I think in reality, my music fits in with pre-2000s pop-punk, for fans of the Ramones and band that rip off The Ramones.
Do you have a new video on youtube featuring a track from the new EP??
Yes! Bernardo at Jarama 45RPM put together videos for “The Beach Boys Never Surfed” and “Take Me To Your Leader”. Both have a retro, surf-y, sci-fi feel. My favorite.
Do you intend to take Pavid Vermin on the road one day soon and if this happens what can concert goers expect at a gig of Pavid Vermin? Will you be playing any famous cover songs during the gig?
Something I’ve recently come to terms with is that I don’t have much desire to play many shows. Haha. I’ve struggled with that feeling for years because it’s such a vital part of being a musician. It’s where most musicians thrive! I haven’t been on a stage in four years and I very rarely miss it. The people who were in my old band were all great and are some of my closest life-long friends who were all willing and happy to play my songs. That is something that I appreciate to no end. They’re not the issue at all. I just know I’m not a good band leader, and I don’t like telling people what to do or how to play something. I don’t like being the one to book shows or worry about studio time. That’s not fun for me. I love playing music with my friends, but in a more casual setting.
I understand that’s a super lame response! I’m not saying it’ll NEVER happen, I just don’t see myself seeking it out. It could be fun to do a few one-off shows though. As for famous covers; I used to be in a cover band that mainly played famous 90’s alternative songs and that was fun because the stakes were low, and the turnout was high! Basically, I’d rather be a band member who is along for the ride rather leading the way.
Are there any bands in the USA today you consider yourself close to, musically speaking?
Totally! Without thinking too much, I’d say I’m kinda similar to musicians like Geoff Palmer and Mikey Erg, and bands like Jagger Holly and anything Dan Vapid related. When I started Pavid Vermin, I was very inspired by Outtacontroller, but they’re from Canada, I think…
To what kind of music did you listen to as a teenager? What were your favorite bands as a teenager? Name 3 bands that you consider still have an influence on your own work today.
I found out about punk rock when I was twelve years old. I had already owned albums by Green Day, Rancid and The Ramones for a few years, but I was too young to know exactly what I was listening to. I got heavily into bands like The Dead Milkmen, Descendents and most of the Lookout Records catalog. Aside from punk rock, I was, and still am, really into The Cardigans. I’m still a huge fan of most of the bands I listened to as a teenager and a lot of it shows in my music. I could credit my sound to the likes of any of the bands mentioned above.
What are the plans for 2021 as far as Pavid Vermin are concerned?
2020 was probably my most productive year for releasing music. I had released two albums (Throw Me in The Trash and Cutting Corners) before the pandemic. Haha! Later in the year I released an album of covers from Lookout Records artists and then “The Beach Boys Never Surfed” 7”. My plan was to keep that momentum going into 2021.
I took a break from recording two albums simultaneously. One is a straight forward Pavid Vermin album and the other is based around song titles I got from a Death Metal Song Title generator I found online. The idea is to write the most intentionally poppy music to a completely awkward, grammatically incorrect song title. The idea is half-baked, but I plan to revisit it someday.
Aside from that I have a few releases on the horizon. My album, Cutting Corners will be released on cassette this May by Memorable Not Honorable Tapes. Then, I have a very limited split 7” with my friend Marc’s new project called Phenotypes that should also be out sometime this Spring. Lastly, I’m featured on two songs with J Prozac for an upcoming 7” coming out later this year!
Anything you wanna add?
Sure! If you’re not interested in my real albums, you should check out my fake albums on Instragram @obscurestvinyl. There’s lots of silliness going on over there. Also, I no longer have access to the Pavid Vermin Facebook page, so pretend that it doesn’t exist. Thanks again for having me!
Hound Gawd! Records in Germany will be releasing next week "THERE'S PRETTY THINGS IN PALOOKAVILLE", the latest full length effort by PAT TODD & THE RANKOUTSIDERS.
As most of the viewers of this blog might know, Pat Todd & the Rankoutsiders are a Los Angeles, California-based rock band.
The group was founded by Pat Todd, the former lead singer of the Lazy Cowgirls after their break up in 2004.Read all about it here, in a rare Pat Todd interview.
1) Pat, I know you are more interested in the "now" than in the past, but I think it's almost impossible to start this interview without at least mentioning that you were the frontman of the LAZY COWGIRLS for over two decades. Round 2004, however, the Cowgirls came to an end. Did you want a radical change by then? And what, according to you, makes the big difference between the LAZY COWGIRLS and Pat Todd & The Rankoutsiders? Can you also introduce the other members of the Rankoutsiders and tell us what instrument they are playing?
The Cowgirls ended near the end of 2004 after Japanese & USA tours - a couple of the guys were leaving & I had to decide what I was gonna do - I could’ve just replaced them & kept the name but I decided my name should be on it since it’s really always been my band since the start & I liked the Rankoutsiders as a band name, hence Pat Todd & the Rankoutsiders - and I wanted to wipe the slate clean & start again - I’d been thinking about asking Nick Alexander to join the Cowgirls so when that ended I asked him to come on board & then we started looking for people while he & I started learning all my new song in my bedroom - this all started about the middle of 2005 & our first show was in early 2007 - as far as the sound & the music I feel like we just kept on the road that I was already going down - a mix of rock’n’roll roll , punk , blues , country & folk - I just wanted to stay inspired & keep getting better & to find other “ lifers “ like my self who wanted play music , not waste time , & to have a life in music - people who wanted to record & play live as much as we can & to stay inspired & grow , & not care about the world thinks one way or the other - the Rankoutsiders are , me on vocals , harmonica & a little acoustic guitar - Nick Alexander on guitar & vocals - Kevin Keller on guitar & vocals - Stephen Vigh on bass guitar & vocals - Walter Phelan on drums & percussion
2) In 2006, Pat Todd & The Rankoutsiders debut album, «The Outskirts Of Your Heart» came out as a double CD and 10 years later, at the very end of 2016, the German label Hound Gawd! released it for the very first time on vinyl. How come it took so long? Was the time right in 2016 for a vinyl release and not in 2006?
Actually “ The Outskiters Of Your Heart “ cd was released on my label Rankoutsider Records in September 2006 as a double cd - the reason it wasn’t released as an album is because I just didn’t have enough money to do it - it’s the same story for our second cd “ Holdin’ Onto Troubles Hand “ - we didn’t release an LP until our 3rd “ 14th & Nowhere” ( all of these were on Rankoutsider Records ) - we met Oliver of Hound Gawd! Records after that & he went on to release our next “ Blood & Treasure “ & our last one “ The Past Came Callin’ “ - it was Oliver’s idea to release the “ Outskirts “ as an LP ( it’s also planned to release “ Troubles Hands “ as a double LP sometime).
3) About your latest CD/LP "THERE'S PRETTY THINGS IN PALOOKAVILLE", what can you tell about the recording process? Was this a "live" in the studio recording or a track by track recording with lots of overdubs? Can you also explain the choice of the title?
We record live in the studio with me singing , but if we need to redo a guitar, bass or lead vocal we do & then we do the background vocals after - we try & keep it as real as we can , but we’ll do whatever we think is best for the songs - no hard & fast rules - as far as the LPs title “ there’s pretty things in Palookaville “ goes it’s the first phrase of the song “ Read’em & Weep “ & I thought it was a good title , but you probably wanna know what it means to me , well I drive around Los Angeles for my job & you see the everyday world & all its people ( that’s Palookaville ) but if you look closely you can see a few beautiful things there ( sometimes people & sometimes ideas )
4) Do you use the nowadays recording technology or do you guys only work with analog machines in analog studios?
We record digitally - we can’t afford to use tape.
5) To what kind of music did you listen to as a teenager in Indiana and does it still influence your today work? What was your favorite band as a teenager? Name 3 bands that you consider still have a influence on your own work today.
I’ve been a music fan since I was a kid - my mom played records & had the radio on all the time - I would have to say that my main influences would be the last 100 years of music focusing of rock’n’roll, punk , blues , country & folk like I said before ( they’re all the same to me anyway ) - as far three favorites I have to say The Rolling Stones , Bob Dylan & the New York Dolls as I think they all contain all that I mentioned before.
6) As the main composer in the band how do you work? Do you come at the rehearsal with a full prepared song (music and lyrics) or is everybody involved in one way or another?
I usually bring in songs already written, music & lyrics done but not always - I always have at least the vocal idea & the melody & the basic arrangement but everybody contributes - I wanna hear everyone’s ideas, it makes it fun & gets everyone involved - but it all comes down to my decision, I have to like & believe in the song & feel it has some of “ the truth “ in it or I just can’t do the song.
7) When starting to write a new song, what is your favorite topic/topic that comes easily?
Anything & everything - I guess that there's no such thing as “the truth” but I want my songs to have something of the truth to them, some real life in them for lack of better term - anything & everything that I see, hear, feel, read & whatever I’m going through & whatever I see other people going through ... In the world really.
8) Is there any video on YOUTUBE made to promote one of the songs of the "HERE'S PRETTY THINGS IN PALOOKAVILLE" album?
No , we wanted to get some kinda video together for a couple of songs but COVID put a stop to that - maybe next album.
9) What can concert goers expect at a Pat Todd & The Rankoutsiders? Are you playing any famous cover songs? By public request, are you every now and then playing a song from the LAZY COWGIRLS records or is this totally out of the question? When the Rankoutsiders play live it’s a pretty high energy type show - we try to give it all we’ve got - we don’t do any Cowgirls songs - in the Cowgirls we always moved forward & the Rankoutsiders do the same - you’ve got to play the music that you wanna do & not be a jukebox - to me it shows respect for anyone who listens to the band - I think nostalgia is the enemy of any kind of truth & art - the past can be great but I can’t see living in it even though a lot of people want you to do that.
10) In your discography I noticed a similarity between the very beautiful artwork of "Blood and Treasure" and the artwork used for "A little sex and death" CD? Is this by the same artist? Are you particularly interested in Pulp Covers art?
Yes it’s the same artist , but it was a happy accident , it wasn’t planned -& yes I like this kind of art but don’t want it to become something everyone expects from us - both pieces of art just happened to fit the titles of each of those albums - I do like pulp art but I also like all kinds of art, from fine art to low brow.
11) Are there any bands in the USA today you consider yourself close to, musically speaking?
No not really , but that being said I guess we are part of the worldwide rock’n’roll underground ( whatever that means ) & I enjoy being part of that.
12) What are the plans for the rest of 2021 as far as Pat Todd & The Rankoutsiders are concerned?
In 2021 we hope to start playing shows & get to Europe & any other part of the world we can - we’re gonna be releasing a few singles & EP’s this year in England , Spain, Italy , Poland & the USA - we have about 30 songs in the can that we're working on for these releases & for our next album.
In their own words, K7s are a Pop Punk band from Spain. Their sugary sweet, hook laden, power-chords, encompass elements of punk, power pop, and garage rock. Throw a dash of Ramones, a sprinkle of MTX, a touch of Green Day, The Queers and The Muffs into a blender, and you’ll get where they are coming from.
So one day or another these guys were bound to cover a RAMONES album. Read all about the reasons why they picked MONDO BIZAZZO in particular.
1) For the viewers of this blog who would not know you, What would you tell about K7s to introduce yourselves? How long are you guys together as a band? Who is playing what instrument in the band nowadays?
KURT: Hi, I'm Kurt! I've known Luis for many years and we are good buddies. One day he asked me to play some bass on a ton of songs he had written and eventually that became K7s. Normally I play bass, but for the "Mondo" record I just sang vocals because I had leant my bass to a guy I know, and then Spain went into a covid lockdown immediately after so I had no way of getting the bass back until many many months later. Fun story, I know! haha!
LUIS: K7s started as a project I had with Jose Andres (drummer in a well known spanish band, called “Airbag”). We wanted to record some songs together just for fun. I started writing some tunes and they came out very fast so I decided to write some more. When we had enough material I talked to Kurt to see if he could check the lyrics for corrections. He loved the songs and I asked him if he wanted to join the band right away. We recorded the first bunch of songs in 2017 and we were so happy with the result that started sending the songs to some labels (Lou at RumBar Records, Stefan at Stardumb Records and Ryan at Jolly Ronnie Records). That’s how it all started. It all came in a very natural way not having any expectations at all. After “Take 1” was released, I asked Raul Artana to join us as second guitar.
2) About the latest released full length record "MONDO BIZARRO", what can you tell about the recording process? Was this a "live" in the studio recording or a track by track recording with lots of overdubs?
LUIS: It was a track by track thing with everyone recording their parts at home and sending them to me. I had no previous experience producing an album, but we had some much time on our hands ‘cause of the quarantine that I could learn a bit how to do it. I’m so happy with the result. Maybe it was beginner’s luck but I think it sounds pretty good, don’t you think?
3) Do you use the nowadays recording technology or do you guys only work with analog machines in analog studios?
LUIS: Usually, we like to do a mix between analog and digital technology but this particular record had to be 100% digital ‘cause of the situation we were in.
4) MONDO BIZARRO is certainly not the best know RAMONES album. Why did you guys choose to cover this one in particular?
KURT: It might not be the best known RAMONES album, but for me it's definitely one of their best records. It doesn't have much filler, if any, and SIDE B is just flat out awesome. The songs, the performance and the production is top notch. I think this album doesn't get the respect it deserves because it was one of their later albums and probably a lot of folks considered the RAMONES "past their prime", but the irony is that they actually made one of their best records in the 90's, not the 70's! Well, that's my opinion at least. I think we all agreed that this would be a great album to cover because 1. We all love this record and 2. Nobody had recorded a tribute to it yet to our knowledge.
LUIS: MONDO BIZARRO is an amazing album. The albums the RAMONES released in the second part of the 80s weren’t as solid as their previous efforts and then, when nobody was expecting anything from them (remember Dee Dee had left the band by then), they released Mondo. Amazing songs, great sound and new energy coming from the “new guy”, CJ Ramone.
5) What is your favorite song on this Ramones album?
KURT: That's a tough one. It's a toss up between "I Won't Let It Happen" and "Strength to Endure". Or Maybe "Poison Heart", or "Tomorrow She Goes Away". I hate these types of questions, lol.
LUIS: “Posion Heart” would be the obvious choice as it is one of my favorite Ramones songs, but I also love “Censorshit” and “I Won’t Let It Happen”. But it is so hard to choose ‘cause I think it is a perfect album.
6) To what kind of music did you listen to as teenagers and does it still influence your today work? What were your favorite bands as a teenager? Name 3 bands that you consider still have a influence on your own work today.
KURT: ABBA, Cheap Trick, The Beatles. I loved those bands as a teenager, and I still love them today. Extremely influential to me.
LUIS: I started really appreciating music listening to The Beatles when I was 10. I started to search for similar bands from the 60s like The Kinks, The Who or The Beach Boys. A couple of years later, a friend of mine gave me a cassette tape with Ramonesmania on it. That moment changed my life.
7) Do you have a new video on youtube featuring a track from the LP??
KURT: I'm not sure we do. If anybody wants to make one for us that would be cool!
LUIS: It is so hard for us to get videos done. We all live so far away from each other. Jose is in Malaga, Kurt in Madrid and Raul and I in Castellon. When we get together we record or play shows, no time for promo stuff, but we will find a way to work it out in the future.
8) What can concert goers expect at a K7s gig? Are you gonna play this covers album in full.
KURT: Is there such a thing as a "Concert Goer" in 2021? Hahaha. I'd like to meet them! But seriously, in the past when we've played live, our shows are fun, fast and full of energy. Pogo time! It would be really cool to do "Mondo" live in its entirety! Someday! Fingers crossed.
9) Are there any bands in the Spain today you consider yourself close to, musically speaking?
LUIS: The problem in Spain is that the english level is not very good. So bands mostly sing in spanish and that way it is hard to be heard outside the country. We have some great bands like F.A.N.T.A. I’m pretty sure if they sung in english they’d be a huge band internationally. The Budweisers release a great album on 2020 and they do sing in english.
10) What are the plans for the rest of 2021 as far as K7s is concerned? Are you preparing a record of your own songs?
LUIS: Yes, we’re working hard on the follow-up of “Take 1”. We already have a lot of songs but need to write some more so we can choose the best of them. It is a long process but I think the more songs you leave out, the better album you get. And that’s what we’re trying to achieve, a great album.
Regarding live shows, I don’t think we’ll be able to do anything until 2022. A punk-rock show can’t be done with social distancing so we’ll wait until we can do it properly.
11) Anything you wanna add?
KURT: Keep on rockin'! Thanks!
LUIS: Thanks for your time, buddy! Oh, and also, “Hey Ho, Let’s Go!”
Spanish label Snap Records recently released the aptly titled Split LP "Scandinavian Flavor".
The LP features two of the finest bands from Northern Europe's rock'n'roll scene covering old favorites mostly dating from the area 77/83.
On one side, you have Swedish veterans Psychotic Youth. On the other, you have Denmark's best known one man band, Tommy and the Rockets. Tommy was kind enough to answer a few questions regarding this particular album. 1) For the viewers of this blog What can you tell about this split record with PSYCHOTIC YOUTH? Who came up with the idea? The bands involved or the label?
The initial idea was Jörgen's (singer from Psychotic Youth). He also got the label and the cover artist on board, so all credit goes to him :-)
2) How did you get in touch with Lucy who is singing the Kim Wylde tune "Chequered Love" with you? Did you actually meet her or was it done remotely?
Geoff Palmer who mixed my side of the split had done some stuff with Lucy, and it was his suggestion to get her to sing on the song. I'm not even sure how her vocals were recorded, but I can only assume she recorded them in London where she lives. Geoff lives in the US, so...
3) Did you record your side of the record at home or did you go to a recording studio?
I recorded everything but the drums here at home. Mike from DeeCracks recorded the drums in a proper studio (Elephantwest Audio) in Austria.
4) After the 2018 record "I Wanna Be Covered", people gonna start to believe that TOMMY and THE ROCKETS are ONLY specialized in covers. What are you answering to that?
Haha yeah, that might be true. I've done a lot of covers lately. I've always been a huge fan of cover songs, and I'm not ashamed to admit it, haha. But don't worry, new original stuff is being worked on as I type this.
5) Are there any songs left over that you had prepared for this record and did not make it to the record?
None that were mixed, no. I did record some raw demos, but I sorta gave up on them early on. Maybe I'll re-visit them another time. Starry Eyes by The Records, I Found A Love by Phil Seymour, Take It As A Man by The Yankees, just to name a few.
6) What are the plans for 2021 as far as you're concerned? Are you working on a new album with personal songs?
As I mentioned above, I'm working on a bunch of originals. There's a new full-length in the pipeline and some other releases I can't elaborate on just yet.
7) Do you have a new video on youtube featuring a track from the split LP??
Just a video with the song itself. I haven't really dipped my toes into the whole "proper" music video production world yet.
8) Are you gonna put a band together and perform this album on the road?
I'd love to! Maybe when the world gets back to normal.
09) Anything you wanna add regarding this particular split album?
Fun fact about all the nationalities involved with the making of this album:
2) About the full length record 'No Connection', what can you tell about the recording process? Was this a "live" in the studio recording or a track by track recording with lots of overdubs? 
