Ha, the Estrus/Epitaph "house sound"! Epitaph really had that problem, w/ a house producer, even. 

And to James, it's true, variety is much appreciated! There are certain sounds I lean towards, but a whole album of that is too much even for me!

As long as the chemistry is there, it can sound chaotic or clean-ish, I'm not too picky. I heard a story about CRIME that said the engineer was so frustrated by them that he just turned up everything and left the room w/ the reels running! Sounded great!

John Battles said:

That's whatI was going on about , but on another thread. I know a LOT of people love it when everything just bleeds together , and  there's no balance  in sound or sound levels.

It did'nt end with Estrus , either......

Yeh, it's the beat! Did you see that American Splendor comic w/ Harvey and a Nat King Cole fan complainin' about 'todays kids'? The guy was yelling, "They just want the beat! That's all that's important to them!"  :D

And Emotion, yep. Nice reply...

You don't like gtr solos, but what about a good ol' Northwest-style break? "Ok, let's give it to 'em, right now!"

The screamin' Soul Preacher said:

Yep, the BEAT sure is the thing !

The wilder I can shake my ass to a tune, the better I love it !

But what attracts me first, more than a specific sound or instrument, is an emotion. I don't really care about the lyrics, guitar sound or musical ability as long as it makes me shake or scream or laugh or cry or whatever...I just got to FEEL something !

That said, I love chainsaw guitars, screaming distortions, reverb and tremolo, wild'n'possessed vocals, jungle tribal percussions, throbbing basses, haunted organs, bass crooners ala screamin' Jay and Mickey Mouse teenagers ala Ray Hummel III, the sound of wood you can feel with the double-bass, crazy tom-toms, sexual pulsations of an almost erotic beat and so much more... But not necessarily in the same song ! 

And I hate guitar solos !!!

What always grabs me most is an attitude.  I don't mind sloppiness as long as an attitude is there but if it's just sloppy, I'm gone.

That's whatI was going on about , but on another thread. I know a LOT of people love it when everything just bleeds together , and  there's no balance  in sound or sound levels.

It did'nt end with Estrus , either......

One thing I do need - dynamics. And I'm not talking about any group named "the Dynamics," either. I just gotta have some variety.

There's a time and a place for distorted guitar, hollering vocals, pounding drums, fast tempos, etc. Don't go speeding up a song that should be midtempo or slow, don't step on the effects box when a clean guitar line will do. Not to sound like an uptight music theory teacher, but I've heard too many neo-garage bands do the noise thing way too much (and most of them seemingly recorded for Estrus Records, but that's another story entirely).

Oh, allright. I didn't get it at first.  Yeah, a book about the experiences would be great.  I lived in Olympia, WA during the late 80s and early 90s and I thought that scene ruled.  We either found spaces to rent, or someone would put something together at their house either in their living room or basement.  We also had the Evergreen State College and bands would set up in the dorms to play.  It was where people witnesses early performances by Nirvana, Screaming Trees, Fitz of Depression, and Bikini Kill.  It was so much fun.
 
Daniel M said:

PM is private message. I'll sen you a note, John.

I'm not working on a book that is a listing of places (akin to BYOFL or DODIY). Instead, this will be more narrative-focused. If you've read Stephen Duncomb's book about fanzines, that could be somewhat similar or the My First Show book.

PM is private message. I'll sen you a note, John.

I'm not working on a book that is a listing of places (akin to BYOFL or DODIY). Instead, this will be more narrative-focused. If you've read Stephen Duncomb's book about fanzines, that could be somewhat similar or the My First Show book.

Hey, thanks Rod, I'd forgotten about that thing. Just looked it up:

Book Your Own Fuckin' Life

Private message as opposed to writing out your answer here in public.

An actual book?  I don't know...in this day and age, I think you're better off just making an internet site with a data base as DIY houses and spaces can change constantly.  I don't even think BOOK YOUR OWN LIFE makes a print format any more.  It started becoming a waste of paper as they had to change it every year.
 
John Battles said:

Sorry , I slept about six hours last night , but , to "PM" , what does that mean? I'm sure I'm the only person who was'nt familiar with that expression.  But , I've played at several house gigs , going back to the mid - 80's, long before it was the cool thing to do , and you still , invariably , would get shut down by the cops , while the Frat party next door was going three times as loud , all night. I'd be interested in helping you , if I can.

Sorry , I slept about six hours last night , but , to "PM" , what does that mean? I'm sure I'm the only person who was'nt familiar with that expression.  But , I've played at several house gigs , going back to the mid - 80's, long before it was the cool thing to do , and you still , invariably , would get shut down by the cops , while the Frat party next door was going three times as loud , all night. I'd be interested in helping you , if I can.

I'm starting a book for Microcosm that is focusing on DIY house and basement shows. If you have lived in a house that booked shows, were involved with booking other DIY spaces (i.e., not clubs or bars), are/were in a band that plays in DIY spaces, can you send me a PM if you'd be up for a conversation about these things? Similarly, if you've been involved in a scene for a long time and attended shows at houses very early, and would be willing to chat, please PM me.

My primary focus is the US but I'd be interested in stories about other countries. And although it seems like most houses book various types of punk bands, I am interested in any type of underground/DIY music.

Thanks.

my two-year-old and I are jamming the new Ty Segall album right now. He's playing pretend guitar along with it on a frying pan. We both give it a thumbs up.

Nobody will ever be Keith Moon but I never truly thought it was fair to blame Kenny Jones for the band the way they ended up.  He's competent.  The whole thing is like Pete Best in reverse.  But howabout blaming Pete Townshend for keeping all the good songs for himself on Empty Glass and All the Best Cowboys have Chinese Eyes and giving the band crap.  Not a fan of those songs but I'm not gonna deny they have quality.  Even Emminence Front was a solo song that he put on a Who album.  But Jones' drumming wasn't bad.  It was just different.

I only ever saw The Who once , in 1980. I still maintain that Jones held his own. I'm not saying he made anyone forget Moon. But , he did his famous embellishments (LikE on "dON'T gET FOOLED aGAIN" ) CONVINCINGLY , WITHOUT PARROTING HIS STYLE. Maybe he was under the gun , as it had'nt been very long since Keith Moon's death , nor the deaths of those kids in Cincinatti. Believe me , too , there WAS violence down on the main floor , because some douchebags thought what happened in Cincinatti was cool. Some people evencarried signs saying "Let's have another Cincinatti". One genius thought it would be cool to brandish a knife .......It was still a tense time , which , in a fucked - up way , may have added to Kenny Jones' aggression.

Dat's it, in a nutshell!

James Porter said:

1965-68 = essential Who

1969-78 = still good, just not great

1981 onward = terrible

Johnny Throttle - Sick Of Myself - 2010

Great list! I recognize quite a few of those.  I'll see if I can find those during the week.  Thanks.
 
MikeL said:

Here are a few of my choices...

"Forget about the Day" and "Confidential" by Manda and the Marbles. Those songs were released in 2002 and 2004 respectively

"Running with the Wasters" and "Never Been So Sick" by the Takeover UK. Both songs were released in 2009.

"Phantom Channel" and "Married in my Underwear" by the Science Fiction Idols. Both songs were released in 2003.

"Shine" by the Cynics, released in 2002.

"Rock'n'Roll Babe" by the Cocktail Slippers, released in 2003.

"Ain't So Cool" by Les Hell on Heels, released in 2004.

"Casino" by the Gore Gore Girls, released in 2005.

"Top Down" by the Charms, released in 2002.

"Are You Ready For It" by the Holograms, released in 2005.

"Dream" by the Charms, released in 2005.

"Cold Hard Bitch" by Jet, released in 2003. Yeah, I know Jet is not a garage band, but they are still a great rock'n'roll band nonetheless.

"Lets Have a Jam" by the Swingin' Neckbreakers, released in 2000.

"Black Girl" by the Paybacks, released in 2002.

"Sleepwalking" by the Paybacks, released in 2006.

"Soul Stripper" by Prima Donna, released in 2008.

Here are a few of my choices...

"Forget about the Day" and "Confidential" by Manda and the Marbles. Those songs were released in 2002 and 2004 respectively

"Running with the Wasters" and "Never Been So Sick" by the Takeover UK. Both songs were released in 2009.

"Phantom Channel" and "Married in my Underwear" by the Science Fiction Idols. Both songs were released in 2003.

"Shine" by the Cynics, released in 2002.

"Rock'n'Roll Babe" by the Cocktail Slippers, released in 2003.

"Ain't So Cool" by Les Hell on Heels, released in 2004.

"Casino" by the Gore Gore Girls, released in 2005.

"Top Down" by the Charms, released in 2002.

"Are You Ready For It" by the Holograms, released in 2005.

"Dream" by the Charms, released in 2005.

"Cold Hard Bitch" by Jet, released in 2003. Yeah, I know Jet is not a garage band, but they are still a great rock'n'roll band nonetheless.

"Lets Have a Jam" by the Swingin' Neckbreakers, released in 2000.

"Black Girl" by the Paybacks, released in 2002.

"Sleepwalking" by the Paybacks, released in 2006.

"Soul Stripper" by Prima Donna, released in 2008.

OK , this is the movie some folks were talking about , earlier ......I don't know , it seems the parties involved can't miss , but , it DOES look like what might have happened if Anthony , Jr. had stuck with his drums. Whatshisname (SORRY , i ALWAYS FORGET) FROM "RAYMOND" AND "GLEASON"  WAS'NT IN "THE SOPRANOS " , BUT , HE COULD HAVE BEEN.....Good to see him breaking out of the sitcom mode. Is it just me , or do some of the characters seem to be making the jump from 1965-66 TO 68 , ESPECIALLY THE PROTAGONIST? Maybe that's the idea , I don't know...If it actually makes it to my neighborhood theatre , I'll be there.

Steven Van Zandt of E Street Band/Sopranos/Underground Garage fame, has reunited with The Sopranos creator David Chase and star James Gandolfini for Not Fade Away, in a movie about a garage band in the 1960s.

http://www.alancross.ca/a-journal-of-musical-things/2012/12/19/sopranos-creator-david-chase-makes-a-music-movie.html

Good to know! I love Norton - I was so sad to hear about the damage, though it's really inspiring how much people are helping them to rebuild and such. I want to hopefully head down and help soon, myself.

i THINK sOME Kinda Nut contains everything Link did with "The Moon Men"  , which , I tthink was just the latter day Raymen UNDER ANOTHER NAME....mAYBE THEY DID SOME OTHER SIDES ....I forget. I got those Missing Links LPs 20+ years ago , whenever they came out , tho' they're all great , esp. vol . 4 , I have'nt listened to them in eons. If you order anything from Norton , now , you might want to list alternate choices , in case they don't have copies of the album you want , at this time.....

Norton's Some Kinda Nut - Missing Links Volume 3 has 2 moon men songs. I've had the other 2 volumes as well, and they are smokin'! Plus, if you order from Norton, you'll be doin' them a huge favor, since Sandy pounded their warehouse.

The Half Beats - Should I -> Cheater Slicks - Should I (Half Beats cover)

Yeah!!!

I'm with you there man, but if you haven't already, check out rockandrollradio.org where R. Fink/Michael continues his R 'n' R mission.
b0nes tra5hyf said:

I miss Rock n' roll suicide as well