Muffalicious

What a treat this past weekend to see The Muff's! Kim Shattuck and mates Ronnie Barnett-Bass and Roy McDonald-Drums  put on a swell show (Kim told me she loves the word "swell") at Maxwell's in Hoboken.

I actually hadn't been 'cross the river to Maxwell's since the late 80's. As far as I can tell, it hadn't changed at all- except the beer prices were higher! Thinking back to the shows I saw back then... Redd Kross, The Replacements, Dream Syndicate, and so many more. Why haven't I been back in 20 years? 'Cause I'm white and lazy!

Back to The Muff's... is there anyone more darling and sweet than Kim Shattuck? I think not! She led her band into a playbook of all of their best loved tunes (and no, they did not play their cover of "Kids In America") plus some new ones from their forthcoming unreleased elpee (being shopped around with da labels currently). Kim's duality of sweet wholesomeness and the gutterall growl she can bring forth were perfect with the three chord garage/punk/pop goodness. And plus, she's just as nice in person!

The crowd (sold out) was extremely enthusiastic. And, as a bonus, I even got to break up a fight! Because, now that I look like this guy, no one messes with me.



When Kim came out to sing "Rock N Roll Girl" with opener Paul Collins' Beat (Paul of course being The King Of Power Pop!- and jee-zus, he and his band kicked ass too!), the circle was complete! Paul blushed when Kim hugged him. And the rest of us just stared jealously!

Here's a live Muffs show from the good folks over at Music Ruined My Life. Enjoy it.

Power Pop!

Well, I'm back after a few days in Chicago on business. Lack of sleep due to long hours and a mild case of food poisoning have left it's mark.

But the heck with that!

For a special New Year's gift, I have compiled:

Bleedin Out's Power Pop record!

Yeah, they're mostly pretty obvious tunes, but hopefully they'll be somethin' on it that you don't have in digital format yet.

The ground rules were simple. One song per band and it hadda be a song that you can put on endless repeat... sorta like back in the day when you dropped 45's onto yer rekkid player. And it's a lucky 13 songs.

Hope you enjoy em! They're in one easy to download package.

The songs:

1. The Records - Starry Eyes
2. The Only Ones - Another Girl, Another Planet
3. Superdrag - Sucked Out
4. The Rubinoos - I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend
5. Redd Kross - Lady In The Front Row
6. The Raspberries - Go All The Way
7. Ramones - Sheena Is A Punk Rocker
8. The Plimsouls - A Million Miles Away
9. Matthew Sweet - Girlfriend
10. Material Issue - Valerie Loves Me
11. The DB's- Black And White
12. Cheap Trick - Surrender
13. Big Star - In The Street

Toonage:

Bleedin's Out's Perfect Power Pop