Notes from the underground.

ON THE LIVE FRONT, DMBQ rolled through town a bit ago. They're a Japanese foursome who play real stony, acidy, '70s-style guitar rock, complete with psychedelic period get-ups. They played an all ages place known more for indie rock stuff and a crowd of young 'uns, replete with Spock haircuts, "danced" spasmodically. "Where are all the stoners?" my lady asked me. "They should be here." And she was right. And I'm on to that band as well. There is no way those guys and gal don't smoke reefer ... By far the best looking record I got this week was by a band called Harry Balzagna and the Teenie Weenies. It's a one-sided picture disc 10" with the other side silk screened. The first two songs are speedy and thrashy (the first an instrumental), but why they put a super long "jam"-type song at the end I'll never know. The song in question has some high points including trumpets (somewhere between the Cows and Sun Ra) and some funk riffs that made me think this could be the new Big Boys, but goddamn, that song went on for, like, 10 minutes ... Got a great DVD the other day: Turbonegro: the ResErection. Besides great live footage that's actually worth watching, the DVD tells the story of the break-up of the band in 1998 following singer Hank's descent into heroin addiction on their last tour. The film follows Hank's sequestering and convalescence in northern Norway, where he worked at a maritime museum. Mundane details about the band's personal lives become interesting as the band's history is played out and the reunion shows begin. The music is Apocalypse Dudes and Ass Cobra era stuff, their best material. Turbonegro may look like the Village People but there is no denying their uncanny ability to rock ... On the soul side of life, a friend hepped me to the Daptone Records label. When I saw the Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings LP Naturally I went for it. I dig older soul, early Motown stuff, etc, before soul got all disco-y and worse, and this fits right into that genre, although the label records current bands. This record's got a classic soul feel, delving into funk at times, and is consistently fantastic all the way through. Picked up a 7" as well, Charles Bradley and Sugarman & Co's Take It As It Come. Leaning more toward the funky, this one swings as well (although the price of admission is steep: $5 for two versions of one song in a beat up, plain 7" sleeve with no art) ... Swimming in the same funky sea is the Diplomats of Solid Sound CD Destination ... Get Down. It's put out by Estrus, a NW label more known for its garage punk stuff (although labelmeister Dave Crider hasn't shied away from soulified stuff in the past). DOSS is all instrumentals, with a Hammond B3 organ up front, giving it a Meters kind of feel (and RIP Jimmy Smith, speaking of Hammond B3s and soul). And they're from Iowa. Quick, name a killer band from Iowa ... besides the Dogs. It's a headscratcher ... Also on Estrus but in a very different vein is the Midnight Evils LP Breakin' it Down. Southern-fried punk rock with more than a tinge of boogie woogie in the vein of early REO Speedealer and Nashville Pussy, or more currently, the Compulsive Gamblers. Total energy, with the Tim Kerr stamp of approval, this one smokes and this band has got to be fun as shit to see live ... Got a great demo the other day by a band called Ready to Rip. Skaterock in the classic, hardcore sense, these guys play heavy and speedy chops with agro vocals reminiscent of the NYHC band Burn. The CD is self-burned but kicks ass if you can find it ...