There’s a lot of confusion over CRASS gigs at the Conway Hall, but in my gig book I have them down for 24th August 1979 (possibly the 25th), supported by Poison Girls, Epileptix and Rubella Ballet, who I seem to recall were a five piece that night? I don’t recall any trouble o n the night either as I don’t think the boneheads were aware of them yet. On a first encounter Crass were mesmerising, especially with back-projected films. Obviously they got pretty predictable fast and after half a dozen gigs I saw no point going but the first time you saw them was really impressive.
Bizarrely that’s all I have gig-wise. Let’s head over to Livejournal.
24 August 2002
AUDRA - Going To The Theatre (Projekt)
Sometimes the greatness is obvious, and the Helm boys, Bret and Bart, are going to be holding us enthralled for many years to come. Keeping it simple, I’d say, as ‘Midnight Mood Swing’ proves, if Bauhaus ever did shoegazing they might rival this, if they were lucky. Nice repetitive guitar is able in an instant to accentuate the atmosphere with a tiny riff, and constant crawling vocals are delicately poised, rather than delicate. It’s all so deceptively simple, and the simplest things are always the hardest to pull off.
‘There Are No Snakes In Heaven’ has beautiful genuflecting guitar, proudly moody vocals and some creepy lyrical imagery, before it all simply melts away. ‘Going To The Theatre’ is feckless and reckless youth exposed, and it’s the way his voice, with a wispy guitar holds centre stage alongside the sordid words of - ‘I’m gonna catch me some great disease’.
When you figure he might make a thing of nocturnal stories, some proper sense comes with ‘All The Ghosts Spend Their Time Alone’, the guitar and bass entwined, as odd keyboards move it along, and mark time, which is fitting for a sorrowful tale, of people as ghosts. So that’s quiet and ‘In A Dark Room’ hints at some aggression with music that buzzes, moth-like holding sway.
Changes enchant for where that’s broad, ‘Face Go Red’ is narrow, scary imagery done in a higher pitched vocal, in a sad story around which sounds hang and linger. ‘A Walk In The Woods’ gets livelier, especially when it swerves around to the vocals. At one point the drawled approach made me think Eldritch had been given an enema, but banish that thought - oh God, banish that thought! - as that’s one Goth comparison too many. They’re nothing like that. Their fragrance may be damp, but they don’t reek. Interestingly, when I was first hearing that song I was laying on the floor, looked up and found I had a small woodlice for company (they sometimes creep in through the catflap). I lifted him on some paper and placed him outside where he momentarily flipped on his back and wiggled. I think he was saying thank you for that song, although he still hasn’t called….
Having got you hopelessly excited they do disappoint with a few of the later songs but expecting perfection right now would only be cheeky. There’s a few too many ordinary moments for this to be a minor classic, bit it’s close. ‘Fearless Peaches’ is, sadly, a stinker, an ordinary lyrical homage to a community ‘character’ and practically a dull, hippyish fable, lame because there’s no shock, sting, or triumph. ‘Cabaret Fortune Teller’ has darker musical redemption, but ‘Another Pretty Lament’ is only a snapshot of resignation
It is a wonderfully compelling album and this blissful clarity is only possible because they share individual quality and the sum is greater than any whole they could ever dig.
One day these boys are going to crate magic.
http://audramusic.com
http://www.projekt.com
August 24th, 2004
THE SOB SISTERS at http://www.sobsisters.com/ look great, with their vintage tunes for modern times - and they’re doing a CD. There will be more on them later, and that’s a promise. You can also have more fun here: http://www.livejournal.com/community/the_sob_sisters/
August 24th, 2005
VELCRA I wonder what it is about Finland which creates a level of commercial success for young bands and an apparent ease of acceptance among other European countries that bigger territories countries don’t seem to find? It’s baffling, but interesting and I am sure someone can tell me. Velcra are a standard modern band in every way. Sneaking into the Metal area by dint of their filleted sledgehammer riffs, backed up by a modern jabbing vocal delivery that comes wholly from the rap side of hiphop, with murky, musky samples creating deceptive trails in their stark rock, they’re a composite. It has attitude and it’s quick. The old days saw rock turn sluggish, where now rock can be serious, which means the fun-free zone of ‘Industrial’, or they can be like Velcra. With a girl singer it means you’re labelled (accurately) as a heavier version of Garbage, and if you’ve got some melodies you’re going to be monitored by major labels who can milk you for five years, after which you’re redundant and fresh musical meat is sought. These bands know their future is not that far away, nor is their end, so they’re frisky and taut with energy which needs to explode which makes even the soppiest track sound starkly succulent. After ‘War Is Peace’ and ‘Water is Getting High’ you’ve encountered a form of music which is Rage Against The Machine led by Gwen Stefani (minus any irritating chirping), and that’s common currency, mate. Heavier guitar turbulence rolls through ‘Our Will Against Their Will’ because buffed up, roughed up Led Zep riffs always come in handy with shorthand vocal punching, and around this sledging vocal chancer you get some sleek bass and coolly sprinkled samples. It’s a work of art and utterly characterless. This isn’t a criticism, as Velcra are a product of their times: these times are vapid, and they After that it’s a simple mixture of the two forms. One is lighter, one headier in its righteous anger at the world. ‘For My Loneliness I Pay’ winks coquettishly, and gets boring as it quietens. ‘Memory Loss’ is grumpier and stocky but overall once you’re past the twinkly opening for any track it’s a lightly turgid rock sound of varying degrees of potency and so well done you can’t help but react to it. ‘I Can’t Tell The Sun From The Moon’ starts with strings and breathy vocals, but they’re kidding no-one, and penitent, munching riffs are welcomed back in, caps doffed. ‘The Bong Song’ is a wobblier shuffle beat with a far sweeter cadence, gradually darkened. ‘Corruption’ (recorded live on Uranus, allegedly) loses pounds of unsightly sonic weight instantly on the Deprived Of Studio Help diet. ‘Hotel Alcatraz’ is a skimpy dancey sorbet that slips on its own intestines during the gutless opening, but the power surges back in with vocals and guitar drilling through your resistance in a punchy triumph, and ‘Wonderland Sunrise’ is a conspiratorial stroll and they’re gone. Once it’s over you would expect that it relinquishes its hold completely, because for all its grimacing glamour it’s utterly vacuous. To their credit I have started taking it around town in the walkman. They may not have anything new to say, and they may say it like virtually everybody else of a corporate hue, but between them the vinegary vigour boils well. The noise is all it’s about, and we can always do with some more of that.
BETWEEN FORCE AND FATE
Drakkar /EMI
http://www.drakkar.de
http://www.workhardpr.com
History Of Guns play a one-off on FRIDAY (26th August 2005) at The Hertford Marquee Club (30-40 mins from London by train)to celebrate the launch of their new DVD, TWENTY SEVEN PACES. The dvd will be available on the night for a special price of £5.00. The lineup is now: Begodden Mists (dark rock/metal) / Dead Heaven (80s/Gary Numan/Synth goth) / BB&LL (punk) /History Of Guns (industrial goth punk) doors open at 7:30pm
http://www.deadheaven.co.uk
http://www.historyofguns.com
http://www.beggodenmists.co.uk
http://www.marqueehertford.co.uk/
LOOK WHAT I WON!!!!!! You can actually wear it, but I plan to get one of those Victorian glass domes to display it in. Lynda did consider wearing it to a Die Fledermaus rehearsal for the masked ball scene (to ‘surprise’ her fellow performers!!!)
(Without a photo I’m not sure what this was any more but I suspect it was an original Uruk Hai face mask which covered the entire head, actually used in one of the films. I put in a cheeky low bid for it on ebay and nobody else bid., The seller then refused to let me have it.)
August 24th, 2006
QNTAL I will seem a right grumpy bastard criticising someone for being endlessly beautiful but hearing this you can imagine going to a Qntal gig and they’re giving away limited edition moonbeams. What should have been a quite extraordinary record has, in my opinion, been restrained, forever at arm’s length, by the bizarrely ‘Monsieur’s Departure’ has the usual creamy blend of entrancingly caressed instruments and lush bright singing, so it’s not that the allure is unexpected. Where some Ethereal bands have a dark atmosphere and can still bewitch with dashing vigour Qntal are like a musical vision, where plain percussion and stringed serendipity allow the vocals to dominate without ever being gripping, and that’s odd. If the instruments aren’t particularly forceful nothing sticks. ‘Levis’ does see strings ping and pinched vocals pirouette, all heavily mannered, with the interesting and unusually high notes being used wonderfully as punctuation and that will have you intrigued. In the churchy ‘Falling Star’ the gentle reverberation starts to really waken the glorious delicacy but ‘Von Den Elben’ is a form of Ataraxia lite. ‘Lingua Mednax’ seems related to some of Qntal’s more stirring Renaissance style, and yet this updated flirtatiousness is so polite in its use of energy that it really struggles to become interesting, and no sooner has it reached a fitting level of interest than it ends. A sweet ‘Altas Undaz’ then drifts graciously in and dazzles you with almost unseemly, unceremoniously catchy decorum. ‘Winter’ restores a plaintive landscape in which nothing grows because nothing seems real. At times coming on more like a classical take on folk, this again is quietly hypnotic. ‘292’ allows some eerie pipes and increasing urgency to stir the clear waters and ‘Amis Raynaut’ brings in a smokier essence, with shadowy drums, which makes a nice change. ‘The Whyle’ is again restrained and accomplished enchantment, but it doesn’t draw you deeply into anything, just lets you admire the scintillating surface, and ‘Silver Swan’ is the best and comes last, a spellbindingly simply classical composition with dreamy vocals. Seriously now, if you like your Ethereal gauzy like intellectualised potpourri then this is for you, and it borders of essential it is so exquisitely done, but I prefer to sense there is passion in there, somewhere, rather than bloodless or joyless. It’s as though someone held a loveliness competition and Qntal won. They created an album on a theme of swans, so it figures all will be dignified, but there is such serenity here you do wonder if you’re needed.
SILVER SWAN
Drakkar
http://www.drakkar.de
http://www.focusion.de
24th August 2009
TORPEDOES
JESUS PHOBIA
Mouthy666
I assume this represents a breezy taster for anew album coming soon? They’re one of our cooler dark indie bands, with their flair for twisting grunge sensibilities into a post-punk zestgeist, and they do so again here on these two songs.
‘Jesusphobia’ kicks in immediately with some delightfully scuzzy guitar, and the brisk chomping march forwards with strict, dour vocals as they bemoan the modern world, because some bands simply aren’t content to sit back and write about their favourite knitting patterns. They do a lot of woaooooaaahhh rollercoasting as the drums thump merrily, and there’s a lovely drop down to drums and glammy guitar posturing over some sharp feedback. Classy!
‘Suicide Lullaby’ is a moody bit of punky noise with a shouty chorus, and the singer sings the word baby a lot, with no sense of shame whatsoever.
Bring on the album – we could all do with some noisy fun.
http://www.myspace.com/torpedoesband
Now, any flyers?
1994
FACEBOOKITIS
24 August 2014
My live radio show tonight is going to be fantastic, unless I talk too much for which I can only apologise in advance and then never again! The music is wonderful, with some fantastic new things but also some unexpected gems, including a few things none of you will have heard before.
HOW TO LISTEN? Read on…
This is a the direct link
http://server2.luschaudio.com:9162/listen.pls
MICK MERCER RADIO 10pm UK time, the usual 3 hours but probably a bit stranger tonight.
https://www.facebook.com/events/735706693158505/?context=create&source=49
Chico plays the piano with an apple
Apple or orange? Wouldn’t an apple crush? Snipped from “Go West”.
24 August 2016
Not sure what it’s about but several people tagged me. The rules are :
1. Pick the cover of a great album.
2. No need to explain how great it is, just accept it is.
3. Nominate 6 friends.
4. Tag the person who nominated you.
5. Keep it going.
I nominate Lynda Barrett-Mercer, Barbara Kelly, Sean O’Farrell, Steve Conley, Sheldon Bayley, Jane Goff
Jack Phoenix is going a show tonight based round thew Gothic Rock CD series. Hopefully I’ll see you there as I’ll be in chat. Here’s the info.
If you ever wanted to chat with Mick Mercer , he will be in-chat talking with people during the discussions in the live text feed during my 2 hour set;“Mick Mercer’s “Gothic Rock” !” 8:00 EST,5:00 PST ( 1:00 AM London)
Ritual Noise will be broadcast LIVE via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/DeeJayJackPhoenix) with audio on
24 August 2018
Hehehe
Mick is a good sport when it comes to making Bethesda’s film. This week he got shot and this was the end result.
Xxx
Mick Mercer updated his cover photo.
24 August 2019
Some more ADAM & THE ANTS photos seeking date corroboration. I know these were at the Marquee in November 1978, but they did two consecutive nights. The night I’m there was very dark, so the photos aren’t great and Adam was wearing a kilt if that helps? Would anyone attending both nights be able to narrow it down?
August 24th 2020
PINOCCHIO - Minor Spoilers!
Odd being back in the cinema again. We could probably have chosen a far better film. Illogical scripting (unless it’s following a mundane book, I’ve never read it) means it’s irritating. It is sometimes inventive and charming (enjoy the snail and black rabbits) and often strangely unpleasant. The main problem appears to be that Pinocchio himself is a complete wanker.
Haven’t seen the gothdaughter since before my birthday but today Beth gave me a lovely painting she’d done for me.
Last night’s show uploaded. THE TACKS - BLACK ANGEL - INSECLUDE - WEE DISNEYS - FANGS - NIGHT CREATURES - CHAOS BLEAK - JOHNNIE HA-HA - TOYAH - DEADCANDANCE - MERCIFUL NUN - KATE BUSH - PANORAMAS - THE CHAMELEONS - INFLATABLE BOY CLAMS - FLO & JOAN - AKIKO SAMPSON and STORMY THE CAT - WELFARE HEROINE - BLIND DELON - NEW SKELETAL FACES - THE DAMNED - IKON - STARS AND THE UNDERGROUND - THE MARCH VIOLETS - CARNAL MACHINERY - THE FUNERAL MARCH OF THE MARIONETTES - VENIN CARMIN
MICK MERCER RADIO Broadcast 189 - August 23rd 2020
DURING THIS MONTH ... in 1984, 23 SKIDOO seem pretty relaxed.
24 August 2021
Although I am unable to do a radio show this Sunday as we have guests staying it’s important to do a tribute show for OLLI WISDOM (R.I.P.) so I am aiming to do that at 9pm (UK time) on Friday. More later....
24 August 2022
And ... smile!
24 August 2023
SUCHARD vs NANKI in the Cat World Cup 2023! Breath-taking action. Follow https://www.facebook.com/CatWorldCup2023 and never miss a thing.
Including free postage - were they cardboard? And what is ‘childs’, a space-saving alternative to children?)
![May be an image of text that says "TOMBSTONES DIRECT ΤΟ YOU Honor the grave of your lored one with beautiful Reckdale wonuments an Markers. Low cost- guaranteed satisfac- tion or money bark. Send for Free Cata- log and compare our prices. WE PAY THE FREIGHT Reckdale Monument Company Dept. 659, Joliet, II. EASY TERMS $995 AND ANDUP UP CHILDS"](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!o64U!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F615cd15b-e345-41c3-8a71-7077960af794_526x504.jpeg "May be an image of text that says "TOMBSTONES DIRECT ΤΟ YOU Honor the grave of your lored one with beautiful Reckdale wonuments an Markers. Low cost- guaranteed satisfac- tion or money bark. Send for Free Cata- log and compare our prices. WE PAY THE FREIGHT Reckdale Monument Company Dept. 659, Joliet, II. EASY TERMS $995 AND ANDUP UP CHILDS"")
24 August 2025
Tonight’s live radio show offers two hours of musical glory from 9pm (UK time), involving … ALIEN SKIN - ASHES AND DIAMONDS - BEFORE DAWN - BLACKROSE ACCORD – COVEN OF GUILT – DARKWAVE – DEAD MAN’S BONES - DISTANT STARES - GHOSTS IN THE GRAVEYARD - GLARING – HANGING FREUD - HORROR VACUI - IC2 - KEYBOARDS AND RED LIPSTICK - LANTERNS ON THE LAKE - MOTIFS - OCTAVIAN WINTERS - PETER MURPHY - RASKOLNIKOV – SPIRALTEETH – THE METALLIQUES - The XRAY5 - TWIN ION ENGINE and ZETRA
STREAM for tonight’s radio show – http://server3.luschaudio.com:10126/index.html
Hit the black play triangle or click on listen, and consider coming to the event page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/732611236251291
See less
ON THIS DAY ... in 1989 - JUNIOR MANSON SLAGS at the Powerhaus
Can’t actually tell, because the film quality was so poor, who is on drums but my favourite Slags line-up was always Karl and Michelle, Finn (R.I.P.), Des, Gordon and Scratchy as you had a band of total characters. Gradually it fell apart and they were gone a year later, but they left behind them some very cool records, which still deserve a 2CD release by someone like Cherry Red. As with the band onstage so it is with the retrospective online evidence - chaos! They don’t even have a bandcamp page, and Karl isn’t even mentioned on the discogs pager. Someone needs to sort their legacy out!
Superb Finn interview in Fear & Loathing: http://www.fearandloathingfanzine.com/seeds-of-77.html
Here’s some solo Gordon stuff:
https://horseloaf.bandcamp.com/
More tomorrow…
No posts
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.