New York Dolls 'Chatterbox'

A trilogy of clips from the mid 70s. It's interesting to watch this spotlight on Thunders doing 'Chatterbox' - it's easy to see how much he was influenced by Marc Bolan with his onstage antics - this is almost like watching 'Born to Boogie'. This is a strange song - more of a showcase for Thunder's guitar but somehow it works...you don't care about the mundane lyrics and its pace and so forth you just get caught up in the dynamics.

Heartbreakers live in 75

After the Dolls broke up Thunders of course formed the Heartbreakers with Television's Richard Hell. Here they are playing 'Going Steady''Chinese Rocks' and 'Pirate Love'. Low quailty but we are watching a key moment in musical history here so we can excuse the greyness.

New York Dolls - live in 75

Songs are 'Red Patent Leather' 'On Fire' and 'Something Else'. I've been listening to the Dolls on vinyl recently - its great to hear them after a lay off and I also have been playing the Red Patent Leather live album and there's some great songs on there - a lot of them forming the basis of solo sets for the individual band members, although 'On Fire' which is a great song I don't think appeared anywhere else. Maybe it was a co-composition. This clip captures them quite nicely - shame its not in colour but you can't have it all can you?

Johnny Cash 'Committed to Parkview'

This is a dark take on the music business but nevertheless a true one I feel obliged to say. Heard on the Wfmu Ichiban stream.

Serge Gainsbourg & Anna Karina - Ne dis rien

Anna Karina - Sous Le Soleil Exactement

More Serge Gainsbourg this time with the wonderful Anna Karina.We might have a little Anna Karina film season if you behave yourself.

Animals & Men 'Driving Stupid'

From the recent Convulsive 12 inch this uses visuals from Jacques Tati's comedy 'Traffic'(1970)
'Is this the way the world ends? Not with a bang but with the driving stupid'

Voxmobile

Saw this image on the Ichiban blog and thought I'd have to share it with you.

Metal Urbain - Lady Coca Cola/Paris Maquis

Following a French theme here's their most famous punk band and someone who we really liked at the time and still play. Not so keen on the recent stuff they put out but then I am probably getting old. Probably?

Passion Armee get reviewed in MRR

Our favourite French band (sadly now split) have got a rave review at Maximum Rock and Roll.

Nico 'Striptease'

I suppose I ought to choose a few Serge Gainsbourg songs - this is a match made in heaven - early Nico singing a song from the film 'Striptease' - well I am not sure it actually appears in the film but it's from around that time and is connected to the film of 1963.

Serge Gainsbourg biopic

Bea got us free tickets to see the new Serge Gainsbourg film at the Little Theatre. We enjoyed it but then we like Serge Gainsbourg so why wouldn't we like it? Well biopics are usually rubbish and tend to take a person's life and make it ridiculous but not this one...it wasn't a straight forward film as it had fantastic elements and this gave it some originality. The songs are well done. I'd recommend it and that's not cause we had free tickets.

Visit to Stony Littleton Long Barrow

Went to check out the crop circle - see below - and was pleasantly surprised that you can now go in - it being gated for the last few visits. There was a bunch of people photographing the CC.
Red hang out in the depths and got some good photos.

Stoney Littleton Crop Circle

Photo here, Sue's been wondering about this years CC activity and then Fortean Times plops on the mat and there's been one about 4 miles from our house near a Long Barrow. Must pop along and see if it's still visible.

Son House 'Death Letter'

Watched the film 'Black Snake Moan' yesterday with Samuel L Jackson playing a farmer slash bluesman - god that film was crap! There was a bit of Eddie Son House at the beginning and end which kind of lifted it but otherwise it was a thoroughly stupid and insulting movie - what were they thinking? How many cliches can we get into one film?

Roman coin find in Frome

Frome is in the news again as a large find of Roman coins is discovered.

Dancing Ferrets 'All Over Mendip Tonight'

I suppose this is the sort of thing marketing men trying to sell cider want to avoid but I actually like this - it's a particularly faithful and authentic sounding tribute to Adge Cutler and the Wurzels with bango and tuba and all - and Frome is mentioned in the chorus! You know I am gonna like a bit of scrumpy and western if it mentions Frome or Radstock. And the name 'Dancing Ferrets'...well spot on! (Mustelids do dance you know - whether it's to confuse their prey or its just playfulness I don't think anyone knows...)

Thatcher's Cider Ad

This is I think this Somerset company's first tv ad and very attractive it is too - showing the work of bees gets a thumbs up here and whilst Thatcher's Gold isn't my favourite of their ciders I think it is a fine advert and a counter to the heavily marketed Irish cider of a few years ago. Why no regional accent on the voiceover? Somerset accents are used on other adverts at the moment why would they avoid this and go for a sort of middle England idiot?

Susan at Hemington Village Day

Here's an image of Sue holding a hybrid falcon called Ruby at Hemington Village Day. It was a good afternoon out - I picked up a great book 'Family cars of the 50s' for 20p and we had tea and strawberries. Course the highlight for Susan was this bit...

Models 'Man of the Year'

Who remembers this punk oldie? Featuring a young Marco Pirroni on guitar this Step Forward single was I think their only release. Supported the Heartbreakers on their UK tour along with the Killjoys.

John Mitchard's obituary

Is here. Funeral yesterday was moving and appropriate. Lovely to see so many friends and relatives. Anne found some great images in an old suitcase which has photos of him on the front page of the Sun and the Times ejecting Colin Jordan from a Labour Party conference. You KNOW I am going to post these pictures soon!

L'Illusionniste (2010)

New British-French animated movie by Sylvain Chomet from a script by Jacques Tati and set in 50s Edinburgh - we're there dude.