MUSIC: Nikki Sudden RIP

Legendary rock n' roll gypsy Nikki Sudden has passed. Very sad news indeed. I was a big fan of the guy...

www.nikkisudden.com/
www.myspace.com/nikkisudden

TV: The Greatest Television Show---EVER!

Was that a classic episode of The Sopranos last night or what? Edie Falco just won herself another Emmy, and it was great to see real life husband and wife Steve and Maureen Van Zandt finally given some significant scenes together. So, like the conversation between Gabby & Silvio in last night's episode, do you think Maureen has ever turned to Little Steven round the Van Zandt household and asked, "So, god forbid something should happen to Bruce, have you ever thought about who would become boss of the E Street Band?" :)

MUSIC: Steve Wynn & The Miracle 3 at SXSW/Caribbean Lights 3/15/06 & The Dog & Duck Pub 3/18/06

The next time someone tells you nothing is happening in American rock n' roll, shut 'em the fuck up by ramming Steve Wynn and his incredible band the Miracle 3 down their throat. I had the pleasure of catching two great SW&M3 shows at SXSW, and both times they walked on water! Really not much to say, you can see my thoughts on their latest album here (scroll down a bit), except that they are one of the greatest bands playing rock music in the world today. DO NOT miss them if they come to your town! And oh yeah, Jason Victor is a budding guitar superstar. Here's hoping Steve can sign him to a lifetime contract...
http://www.stevewynn.net/



Dave DeCastro, Steve Wynn, Linda Pitman, and Jason Victor.



Jason and Steve "goin' there" at the Pop Culture Press party at the Dog & Duck Pub.

STEVE ROCK: Undertow Homecoming Show/Duck Room 3/25/06

Thanks to all who came out to the big Undertow show last night at the Duck Room. Turned out to be a very special evening. All three bands kicked ass, the alcohol flowed, and much love was shared on stage and off. And big congrats to Magnolia Summer’s ace guitarist John Horton, who missed performing with the band last night for the birth of his daughter, Grace.

Ok, time for the Love Experts to head back down Joe Thebeau’s basement to finish recording our album. Meanwhile, keep an eye out in May & June for the release of new albums by Magnolia Summer and Waterloo. I just heard both of them and they’re great!

Mark Ray, Chris Grabau, & Joe Thebeau in dressing room pre-show rehearsal of Big Star's "Ballad Of El Goodo".






Waterloo





The Love Experts with disco ball!









Steve Carosello & Joe Thebeau duet on a couple of tunes by mutual heroes The Mutton Birds.





Magnolia Summer














Last call hootenanny with Grabau, Thebeau, Carosello & Ray.

STEVE ROCK: Steve & Jules at SXSW/Dog And Duck Pub 3/18/06

Here's Love Experts singer and songwriter Steve Carosello with legendary singer/songwriter Jules Shear, at the big outdoor Pop Culture Press thingy last Saturday. Steve had just assured Jules that of the 1300 bands at SXSW, we were probably the only one to have listened to Jules' classic Great Puzzle album at top volume on the drive down to Austin. Jules was thankful and got a chuckle out of it...

MUSIC: World Party at SXSW/Club Exodus 3/15/06

So there I was in the middle of the aforementioned packed dance floor of Exodus, surrounded by limeys, all in heavy anticipation of the return of the mighty World Party. Seems like every conversation I overhead featured a British accent going on about how long it had been since they’ve last seen the band. I hear you guys, seems like decades ago I last saw them in St. Louis. So yeah, we all then had a bit of a collective freak out as Karl Wallinger took the stage, backed only by fiddle player David Duffy and master electric guitarist John Turnbull, and kicked the show off with a devastating version of "Put The Message In The Box"—still the greatest pop song ever written about the act of voting. And a slew of World Party greatest hits proceeded to follow. Everyone in my immediate vicinity knew and sang along to each and every word of every song, including the "woo-woos" on the highly spirited and loose version of "Way Down Now." And during "Love Street" I noticed a steady stream of tears rolling down the cheeks of the very beautiful woman who was standing next to me. Easy to see how Wallinger’s brilliant tunes can have that effect on people.

Wallinger was as charming as ever. His customary and affable between song one-liners were plentiful and dead on funny, and Turnbull’s amazing guitar work nicely filled the absence of a full electric band. Given the time restraints of a SXSW set, the show was just about perfect. As he left the stage, Wallinger promised a new album and US tour in May. Bless you, Karl Wallinger...
www.worldparty.net

STEVE ROCK: Steve 'n' Sue at SXSW/Austin Convention Center 3/17/06

Love Experts singer and songwriter Steve Carosello with Her Majesty Susanna Hoffs.

MUSIC: The Plimsouls at SXSW/Club Exodus 3/15/06

Club Exodus. As we knew we'd be heading there for the World Party/Plimsouls show, we joked about the name of the club all day in relation to the Bob Marley song of the same name that features the line, "Movement of jah people..." Well, there was NO movement of people at all at Exodus that night, as they literally packed us in like sardines. It was wall to wall and you couldn't move---the perfect setting for a Plimsouls show. Don't know how I pulled it off, but I was able to worm my way up front to about six feet from the stage, and was perfectly placed to catch one of my all-time favorite bands. A band I never dreamed I'd get a chance to see live again in this lifetime. Seconds before the show started I had a nice and humorous chat with a sweet "kid" in his mid-thirties who was standing next to me. He was in "awe" when I told him I had seen the Plimsouls a few times way back in the day. As a youngster in the '80's he became a fan after seeing the 'Souls in the movie Valley Girl on cable, "a couple hundred times," yet never had the chance to catch them live, as he was far too young for rock clubs then. So as Peter & the boys took the stage, I told the kid to brace himself...

Yep, it's the Plimsouls all right! BAM-BAM-BAM-BAM-BAM! A dose of sixties R&B & British Invasion influenced hard rock n' roll---right between the fucking eyes! They were loose, yet every bit the balls to the wall live force they were in back 1982. The original front line of Peter Case, Eddie Munoz, and David Pahoa intact and kicking out the jams, were backed by a youngish looking drummer who's a dead ringer for power pop afficionado Jordan Oakes. Eddie was particularly "on" this evening. His ace guitar lines punctuated by constant Townshend-esque windmills. And you really have to take your hat off to a guy whom 25 years later can still pull off taking the stage in tight purple pants and bright green desert boots! Big props to Eddie!

And geez, Peter Case is still one of the all-time great singers of rock n' roll! Sure he had some rough vocal moments during the set, but damn, you rarely see rock sung with such passion and soul anymore, as the packed and enthusiastic crowd inspired Peter to keep giving more and more. The set list for the evening was everything I hoped it would be---did they read my mind or something? All the old favorites were delivered hot and hard: "How Long Will It Take?", "Great Big World," "A Million Miles Away," "I'll Get Lucky," and my personal favorite, "Hush." Their traditional set closer, the Kinks' "Come On Now," is a cover they still own, and the crowd brought them back for an encore I certainly wasn't prepared for: The Easybeats' "Gonna Have A Good Time." GEE-ZUS!!! The version was a bit of a shambles, as the stage was complete pandemonium by that point, but so what---a good time is exactly what we were all having!

STEVE ROCK: Big Undertow Rock Show

Just one more reminder of the big Undertow Records show at the Duck Room, Saturday Night, March 25th. Here's the line-up and set times:

Magnolia Summer: 11:30pm
Love Experts: 10:15pm
Waterloo: 9pm

Hope you can make it out, it's going to be a fun show...

MUSIC: The Bats at SXSW/End Of An Ear Records 3/17/06

Ah, the Bats! I've loved them since my friend Fred Anderson turned me on to them back in the '80's, and never dreamed I'd have the chance to see them live outside of their native New Zealand. So I really couldn't believe it when I was standing in a record store off the beaten path in Austin, watching them work the magic that is their wonderful and unique jangly/dissonant pop. They're a genre unto themselves, and super-sweet people to boot. Now run out and buy their latest cd, At The National Grid, cause it's great.

STEVE ROCK: Undertow In The Funny Papers

Annie Zaleski reviews the Undertow SXSW showcase in this week's Riverfront Times, here.

STEVE ROCK: A Brief SXSW Overview...

We came, we saw, we walked around— a lot. I went to SXSW with zero expectations or agendas, just a long list of artists I really wanted to see and a confidence that the Love Experts would do just fine, which we did. Did I learn anything about the current state of the industry? Not really, wasn't really looking to either, but that the old cliche keeps on keepin’ on: The more things change, the more they stay the same.

As my good buddy and SXSW "hanging" partner Tom Lunt learned from one of the panels and later touched a bit on his great blog Geezers United, traditional musical artifacts as we know them now may soon be gone, but hey, as hardcore music fans and musicians, we’ve surfed all the various sea changes that the nutty music industry has washed our way before, and we’ve hung ten with them and made it to shore each and every time, so no big deal. Or in simpler terms, the Plimsouls are six feet in front of me and rocking the shit out of me just as they did in 1982, so all is definitely well!

In times like these, when the world of music is supposedly turning upside down again and coming out in some new form, I return to an eternally inspiring quote from The Clash’s Mick Jones. A few years back during one of those "ROCK IS DEAD!" periods that English music journalists always seem to be reviving, Jones was asked his thoughts on the subject, to which he replied: "Rock is dead? Fine by me mate, I’ll see you at the gig tonight..." And year in and year out it always seems to go back to that. So there I was in Austin last week, having a great time bouncing from club to club, mostly seeing longtime favorites who’s records I’ve been pushing on folks for 25 years now, who are still making fantastic music today. And geez, there’s Ray Fucking Davies, 30 feet away from me, pushing that masterpiece that is his new solo record---and all at this advanced stage of his career! How the hell are you not going to be inspired by that? And just as the inevitable fatigue from the week starts to catch up to me, BAM!—four fresh faced kids from Scotland knock me out with a set so great and passionate, I realize I’m smack in the middle of one of those moments. And so it goes . . .

And of course I can’t avoid a mention of the political here as well. Sure, I’ve read and heard a lot about the Mega Church phenomenon currently sweeping across Red State America, but until you’ve seen it up close, you just don’t realize how "mega" it really is! There’s a church the size of the Savvis Center what seems like every ten miles or so throughout Texas. And each one has its own "Christian School" attached to it, so the kids can be duly brainwashed. But fear not. There are kids locked in these schools right now who in a few years are no doubt going to rebel like motherfuckers against the hideous indoctrinations their parents are currently forcing on them. And when they do rebel, it’s a sure bet that some of those kids will wind up as the new sensations of future SXSW Festivals down the road. And whenever they do emerge, you can bet I'll probably be digging their records---or whatever the hell we'll be listening to our music on then...

Over the next few days I’ll post recaps and photos of artists I saw at SXSW. Each recap will come as its own post, making it easier for you to skip the artists you’re not interested in.

POLITICS/RADIO: AL FRANKEN SHOW (FINALLY!) ON ST.LOUIS RADIO AIRWAVES!!!

THE AL FRANKEN SHOW IS ON THE RADIO IN ST. LOUIS!!!

Repeat:
THE AL FRANKEN SHOW IS ON THE RADIO IN ST. LOUIS!!!

One more time:
THE AL FRANKEN SHOW IS ON THE RADIO IN ST. LOUIS!

I can’t believe it either! I never dreamed Al’s three hour daily dose of truth would ever crash the monolithically red state conservative talk radio airwaves of St. Louis, but it has, so time to rejoice. Al can be heard from noon to 3pm, Monday through Friday, on KRFT, 1190 on your AM dial. This is a MAJOR breakthrough folks, so start tuning in when you can and help get the show’s ratings up.

Here's a press blurb on it, courtesy of STLMedia:
03-14-06 KRFT flips Wednesday ... from RadioOnline: Big League Broadcasting is launching "Talk Radio 1190," a new Talk outlet in St. Louis. Beginning tomorrow, Sports KRFT-AM will flip to a lineup of nationally syndicated talk programming, including Don Imus, Neal Boortz, Al Franken, The 2 Live Stews, Jim Cramer and Dave Ramsey. Big League also owns Sports/Talk KFNS-AM & FM (The Fan) in St. Louis. "We are extremely excited to launch a second station in the St. Louis Market, especially with such a dynamic lineup," says VP/GM Evan Crocker. "There is something for everyone, from political talk on both ends of the spectrum to a brand new form of sports talk that brings a new level of energy to the genre. One thing is for certain - Talk Radio 1190 promises to be unpredictable and never boring."

STEVE ROCK: Back From Austin

Love Experts had a great SXSW. Saw some old friends and heroes as well as made some new friends and saw some new heroes---hello the Hazey Janes! We also played two great shows. Only rough spot on the entire trip was a drive home that saw it pour rain for 700 miles from Austin all the way to Rolla, MO., turning the drive into a grueling ordeal. Time to get some rest now, stay tuned for complete SXSW reports and photos later in the week...

MUSIC: What's On In the Car, Vol. 2

Ok kids, time for the second installment of me talking about the six cds currently playing on the cd changer in my car:

1. Tommy Keene—Crashing The Ether (Eleven Thirty)
The eternally classy songwriter delivers yet another brilliant addition to his legendary body of work. Tommy’s pop remains definitively powerful, his trademark sound firmly intact as he continues to easily rise above others working the angle of the jangle. Simply put, Tommy makes outstanding and intelligent melodic rock music. Some may complain he keeps making the same record over and over again, to which I say, "And the problem is?" From where I sit, it’s always been a great record. Tommy’s taken the obvious influence of classic ‘60's & ‘70's power pop and developed an instantly recognized sound all his own, and it’s all on display once again on this new record. Tommy’s resplendent guitar work remains the most formidable weapon in his melodic arsenal. Every riff melodically imaginative, every guitar solo perfect and exactly what you want to hear. And as always, Tommy’s lyrics intelligently rise above the usual sophomoric displays of others in the same genre. This time out they’re even more world-traveled and cinematic, with specific cities and persons name checked. We’ll assume the song "Warren In The ‘60's" is about you-know-who. I’ve loved everything Tommy has ever done, and I certainly hope he continues to forever make records as good as this one.
http://www.tommykeene.com/

2. Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs—Under The Covers Vol. 1 (Shout! Factory)
In which the two pop masters team up and cover every great song from the late ‘60's that you’ve ever wanted to hear them sing. Simply put, it’s all very breathtaking. If you’ve ever loved any of the following classics, listed here, then prepare to be completely blown away. What’s so damn wonderful and refreshing about this record is how the duo let the greatness of the original versions be their guide. We’ve had years and years of artists offering their own various "original interpretations" of these tunes, so it’s fantastic and dare I say quite courageous to hear the fandom and passion Sweet and Hoffs have for this music obviously coming through as they deliver versions faithful to the vocal arrangements, instrumentations, and overall vibes of the originals. Sweet and Hoffs each posses distinct and classic pop voices of their own, which is why I think they were able to stick to the original arrangements of these songs and successfully pull them off so effortlessly. I mean c’mon already, Hoffs was born to sing the Left Banke’s "She May Call You Up Tonight", easily the standout track of the album. And for my money, Sweet’s vocal highlight comes on a devastating version of Neil Young’s "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere"—a version that can teach the alt.country poseurs out there a thing or two. But hey, every track here is a gem, and I honestly think that their versions of the Bee Gees’ "Run To Me" and The Stone Poney’s "Different Drum" could actually be big hits even in today’s fractured commercial climate. I also need to give major props to my old homie Ric Menck’s outstanding drumming on the record as well. Faithful to the originals, yet like the singing on this record, Menck’s drumming is also refreshing and original in it’s own unique way. Ric is one of the best drummers in all of rock, and deserves greater recognition of it. The record also serves as a nice little homage to Sweet & Hoff’s hometown, as seven of the fifteen cuts are Los Angeles rock classics. I just keep playing this record over and over again, as it’s already my favorite album of 2006.
www.myspace.com/sidnsusie

3. Sparks—Hello Young Lovers (In The Red Records)
Our heroes choose various takes on love and lust as the thematic center of their twentieth album. Of course love is never ever easy in Sparks-world, meaning you get songs knee deep in majestic yet bitter irony like "Dick Around" and "(Baby, Baby) Can I Invade Your Country." The overall sound and shape of Hello Young Lovers picks up where their previous masterpiece Lil’ Beethoven left off: A sound so original it can only be described as Sparks, but if you must have something to go on, disjointed-Broadway-show-tunes-on-the-strongest-acid-possible-yet-still- somehow-qualifying-as-rock-n-roll is the best I can do. The rock this time is represented by the increased use of crunchy electric guitar, something absent from their music over the past ten years. You either "get" Sparks or you don’t, and if you do, then you’ll be wanting to run out and get this one. It also features what may arguably be their greatest album cover ever, which is really saying something, given the many classic album covers in their legendary catalog. www.allsparks.com/

4. Hampton Hawes—northern windows plus (Prestige)
A Prestige two-fer that pairs the jazz piano legend’s 1973 Montreux Jazz Fest live recording Playin’ In The Yard, with the David Axelrod produced funky masterpiece from 1974, Northern Windows. I picked this up after reading an interview with legendary bassist Carol Kaye in which she raved about her playing on Northern Windows as some of the best of her amazing career. ‘Ol girl wasn’t lying either, her playing on Northern Windows is pretty unbelievable. You rock fans out there who love Steely Dan’s Aja will probably find much to like with Northern Windows. Same era, same vibe, similar grooves, same outstanding musicianship all around, with both Hawe’s & Kaye’s respective genius meeting as it’s center. Definitely a document of it’s time, you’ll feel as if you’re cruising LA’s Sunset Strip in the Starsky & Hutch Gran Torino! www.jazzscript.co.uk/extra/art.hawes.htm
www.carolkaye.com/

5. Electric Six—Senor Smoke (Metropolis Records)
I’ve always thought of Detroit’s Electric Six as the bastard punk rock sons of What Up, Dog? era Was Not Was. And like the Was Brothers before them, this combo offers a non-stop melting pot of every great musical style to emerge from Detroit over the last forty years. Everything great about Detroit music is represented here, from the hardcore kick-out-the-jams hard rock to the hardcore R&B grooves, and everything in between—all delivered with the subtlety of a sledgehammer! What I’ve always liked best about Electric Six is their courageous use of good old "four-on-the-floor"disco as their main groove. And what’s so great about it is how effortlessly they make that undeservedly derided beat rock like a motherfucker. Lyrically, new school takes are offered on the old school Detroit "guns, dope, & fucking in the streets" socio-political. Their stance is "The world is fucked, we’re all gonna die, so meet me on the dance floor and we’ll dance our way through the apocalypse," all sung with humorous pirate-like flair and gusto also reminiscent of Was Not Was. Though not quite the full frontal assault of Fire, their masterpiece debut, Senor Smoke is still an impressive follow up. Simply put, Electric Six kicks some major ass! www.electric6.com/

6. Ray Davies—Other People’s Lives (V2 Records)
Though definitely not a Kinks record, it does happen to be one of the best records this man has ever made.
www.raydavies.info/newsframe.html

MUSIC/TV: VU & Beefheart DVDs!

A little something to ease the pain of Tax Day. Read all about it, by way of Harp Magazine.

POLITICS: Molly's 2008 Manifesto!

Are you a Democrat worried about 2008? Well you can count me as one. But fear not, the inimitable Molly Ivins is riding to our rescue with THE PLAN. I’ve yet to hear a better one for 2008, so go forth and start spreading her words . . .

BASEBALL: Jose Can You See?

So, the Barry Bonds scandal. Should he be banned from baseball? Should his records be erased? I say hell no, of course not. As the saying goes, everybody’s got their something, and every Major League Baseball player since the beginning of time has had their own particular "something" to help give them the edge over the competition. And throughout baseball’s history, team owners have always been more than willing to look the other way when it comes to whatever it takes to keep their star players performing at peak levels and putting butts into the seats of their ballparks. Steroids are no different than booze, cocaine, sex, voodoo dolls, hypnotism, etc., etc., etc. The owners have never cared about what a player has used to help give them the edge over the competition, as long as that player delivered the goods on the field. And let’s not forget about speed either—the drug, not the thing that helps you steal bases. "Greenies" as they’re called in the big leagues, have been in use in baseball for over forty years now, and supposedly the percentage of players using speed during games is as high as 95%!

So it was of great interest the other night to see Jose Canseco share his thoughts on the Bonds controversy on MSNBC’s Countdown With Keith Olbermann. Canseco’s persona non grata around baseball these days for his honesty and willingness to name names about steroids in the game. Well it’s vindication time for him now, as events of the last year are proving his allegations to be true. I totally agree with the guy, the players are not the ones to blame here. The owners, general managers, and player agents are.

Here's the video of interview (text transcript is also offered on the page). Get a load of how amazing Canseco looks! I almost didn’t recognize him when he appeared on my televison screen. He’s lean and mean and looks like a 25 year old movie star, as the bulk from his steroid days is long gone. Crazy...

POLITICS/MUSIC: Go Howie!

A definite must read post, here, from Howie Klein's great blog, DownWithTyranny. Some of you old punk and new wavers from back in the day may remember Howie as the founder of the great San Franciso record label 415 Records. Howie went on to become president of Reprise Records, and was universally recognized as one of the good guys in the upper echelons of the music biz---a rarity who was able to keep his initial passion and fandom for music as well as the respect for those who create it intact. Some of that respect for the artist was on display in his appearance in the Wilco documentary, I Am Trying To Break Your Heart. Howie is retired from the music business, and is now kicking ass and taking names writing about politics on his blog. And notice how great minds share the same blog templates... :)

BASEBALL: Kirby Puckett RIP

Bob Costas named a son after him. Future US Senator from Minnesota Al Franken named his Labrador Retriever after him. He was half the punch line of one of Chris Rock's most famous jokes. He was a really good guy and one hell of a Hall Of Fame ball player. Age 44 is a ridiculously young age to die. Kirby Puckett, rest in peace...

STEVE ROCK: Upcoming Love Experts Live Shows

March is a busy month for Love Experts live shows. Catch us if you can, cause you won’t be seeing us the rest of the spring and summer, as we plan to exclusively devote that time to finishing our next record.

Those dates:

Friday, March 3rd:
The River City Yacht Club at Port Cape Girardeau
Cape Girardeau, MO
With Giant Bear (Memphis, TN)

Saturday, March 4th:
Lemmons
St. Louis, MO
With Giant Bear (Memphis, TN) and Brain Regiment (St. Louis, MO)
We go on first (9:30pm-ish), hurray for us!

Thursday, March 16:
SXSW Undertow Records Showcase
8pm
Habana Calle 6 Patio
Austin, TX

Saturday, March 18th:
SXSW KDHX/Twangfest BBQ
Noon
Jovitas Mexican Restaurant
Austin, TX

Saturday, March 25th:
The Duck Room
St. Louis, MO
Undertow "homecoming" show with Magnolia Summer and Waterloo. Order of bands yet to be determined.

MUSIC: Did I Grow My Hair Just To Scare The Teacher?

The deluxe remastered/repackaged cd versions of Mott The Hoople’s All The Young Dudes & Mott were released today. If you know me, then you probably know of my deep love for this band and the profound effect their music has had and continues to have on my life. Their music hooked me at that very awkward and confusing stage/brick wall that most teenagers run into: That time when you dare not speak your most private of thoughts, but you’d give the world to simply have them validated by someone or some thing. Rock ‘n’ roll validated me, and Mott The Hoople really validated me. To a Midwestern kid locked in his suburban bedroom in the mid-1970's, Mott’s music had one VERY LOUD message: “There’s a great big world out there kid, it ain’t pretty, but that’s the best part...”

So as we continue on in the cd age, with a better reissue followed by a better reissue followed by an even better reissue of our most beloved albums, it’s often a little scary when you finally sit down to listen to the latest “best version yet.” Will the remastering bring new illumination to the diamond, or will too many previously unexposed flaws emerge? Well fear not. Two of the greatest rock records ever made are now even better.

You know all the tales we tell, you know the band so well
“The Ballad Of Mott The Hoople”, from the Mott album.

Those of you not familiar with Mott The Hoople’s music and history may want to start here.

You diehards out there, rejoice:

1. The remastering meets the high standards established by Sony Legacy Recordings. I am so beyond knowing every single sound on these records by heart, if I had a dollar for every time I’ve listened to these records over the past 30+ years, I’d be typing this from some island paradise. YES, they sound amazing, and YES, on first listen I heard things in the music I never heard before, like a cute little drum mistake Buffin made toward the end of "Drive-In’ Sister." (They were rocking like motherfuckers, so the take was an obvious keeper.) What comes through sonically is how little Mott sounded like anything else at the time. The production and engineering on these records were forward looking for the era, but the incredible songs are why these records are so timeless. A lot of great ideas were colliding at once on both. Great ideas that all worked and yet never got in the way of the boys and their rocking.
2. Bonus tracks! Seven on Dudes and four on Mott. There’s some cheating, as a few of these cuts are from the 30th Anniversary Edition import version of their live album, but who cares, the live cuts are all kick ass. B-side "Rose" finally makes it onto a cd, as well as the Bowie/Hunter duet version of "All The Young Dudes." But what is of most historical significance here is the inclusion of five fascinating demos. You have "One of The Boys" with a feel reminiscent of the Who’s "Let’s See Action." There’s a version of "Momma’s Little Jewel" called "Black Scorpio," so fast it’s almost punk rock. And there’s a demo of "Honaloochie Boogie" with completely different lyrics! Great stuff all around.

Only minor complaint I have with either cd is the respective packaging. Both sets of liner notes are fine, but they really dropped the ball on the photos. The band had millions of great photos taken of them during the era of these two records, so it would have been nice to see a few more of them included. I also wish they had completed the trifecta and reissued The Hoople (my personal favorite) at this time, but I’m sure that one will definitely be worth the wait.

Ok you old Sea Divers, time to run out and pick these up. After all these years, Mott The Hoople continues to tell Chuck Berry the news.

Rock ‘n’ Roll’s a loser’s game, it mesmerizes and I can’t explain
The reasons for the sights and for the sounds
The grease paint still sticks to my face
So what the hell? I can’t erase
The Rock ‘n’ Roll feeling from my mind
"The Ballad Of Mott The Hoople", from the Mott album.

TV/POLITICS: If It's Sunday

A great Eric Alterman commentary on the Media Matters Sunday talk show study.

POLITICS: Best Cheney Joke Yet

"At least when Clinton shot a load in someone's face, no one had to go to the hospital. "

From guest blogger Michael Anderson, on B.A.'s Weblog.

STEVE ROCK: Love Experts At SXSW

Ok, we just got word where we're playing at this year's South By Southwest Music Festival in Austin, Texas. We're on the Undertow Records showcase, here's the line-up and venue:

Thursday, March 16 - Habana Calle 6 Patio (709 E 6th Street):
Love Experts - 8pm
Waterloo - 9pm
Steve Dawson - 10pm
Magnolia Summer - 11pm
Milton Mapes - 12am
Jay Bennett - 1am

Habana Calle? Wonder if that's anywhere near Cuba Street?

And our Irish Undertow homeys The Amazing Pilots are currently scheduled to perform at Soho Lounge on Friday, March 17 at 8:00 p.m. And they really are amazing...

TV/MUSIC: Cartoons "Do It" Better

Last night I was knee deep in rehearsals for upcoming Love Experts live shows, so I wasn't able to get to my dvr of the Grammys until this morning. Only got to watch the first half hour or so, but man, I totally loved that Gorillaz/De La Soul/Madonna show opener! Anyone out there besides me catch that hilarious and oh-so-obvious heroin induced nodding off from the cartoon drummer of the Gorillaz as Madonna took the stage? As the English say---BRILLIANT! Leave it to the cartoons to get past the censors...

I had no beef with Madonna's lip-synching, as singing live would have just gotten in the way of her fabulous dance routine. And as we all know, dancing is the only thing people really care about on these shows. But she was just wonderful, and "Hung Up" remains one of the greatest "old school disco" songs ever.

POLITICS: Don't Trust Him, Don't Trust Him, Don't Trust Him

You know I get asked all the time by folks from all sides of the political spectrum, "What do you think about John McCain, would you ever vote for him?" My answer is always the same:

1. Aw hell no, I don't see any scenario possible that would ever lead me to voting for McCain, even if it was a choice between him and Joe Lieberman. And I really hate Joe Lieberman.

2. What do I think of McCain? I say don't trust him, don't trust him, don't trust him.

Daily Kos provides an amazing example, here.

POLITICS: You Tell 'Em, Sparky!

The latest from the greatest: This Modern World by Tom Tomorrow.

POLITICS: SOTU-A Pox On Both Their Houses

Bush's State Of The Union address, as well as Tim Kaine's embarrassing Democratic Response sickened me. I'll forgo the laundry list of horrors, but will point out that I found Bush's sly swipe at homosexuals being the supposed cause of the country's moral decline to be particularly vile, yet of course, no surprise. If Karl Rove's 2006 campaign strategy could be likened to the programming of a classic rock radio station, then terrorism fear mongering would be Dark Side Of The Moon, and gay bashing would be "Stairway To Heaven".

But the most shameful of all last night were the six, count 'em, six lines of absolute nothingness devoted to Katrina recovery, with Kaine's words on the subject every bit as empty. Here's the deal people: NEW ORLEANS HAS VANISHED AND YOUR GOVERNMENT COULD GIVE A RAT'S ASS ABOUT IT!!! But what about that 85 billion? It's just an allocation folks, and more and more it's looking like no one is actually interested in ways to effectively spend it---especially if you're looking for a plan to help the dispersed poor folks of New Orleans move back home.

The Democratic Response left me ashamed to be a Democrat. We had Bush set up like a bowling pin, and we threw a gutter ball.

TV/POLITICS: All Hail The Daily Show

The Daily Show is not only the funniest show on television, it is now arguably the most important. This video clip, courtesy of Crooks And Liars, is another of the endless examples why. Scroll down to the heading, TDS: Oprah vs News.