Notes from the underground.

ON THE LIVE FRONT, just saw the Detroit Cobras and the Reigning Sound twice in two days. Both nights were amazing, although the first night was a little troublesome for the Cobras (it was Halloween, and folks were partying a little hard ...). If you caught 'em on tour, then you know both these bands play soul-drenched music with heart ... Also on the live front, saw the Reatards with Tokyo Electron and the Angry Angles. Oh yeah, and the opening band took so goddamn long to set up and play that the three later bands all had to cut their sets short. Great. All bands were kick-ass, never seen the Angry Angles before (another Jay Reatard project), and Tokyo Electron is some heavy medicine (check out their new self-titled full length on eMpTy Records) ... The Reatards, as always, put it all on the line and went full-bore for their abbreviated set (and they've got a new one on eMpTy as well, entitled Not Fucked Enough, which is another scorcher). Don't miss 'em if they come to a town near you! ... On the small records, you got to check out the Dissimilars Landmine 7" on Plastic Idol Records. It's noisy and a little disjointed, enough to make your parents want to cover their ears but together enough to rock your neck off ... Also on the smaller side, the new Straightjacket 7" Enemy is urgent. I guess it'd fall into what kids these days are calling "street punk," although, it's better than most and avoids the formulaic let-downs associated with the genre. It's on Jonny Cat Records ... The Nervous Pattern's You Can't Change 7" is frantic. Some off-kilter, Gang of Four-ish, party edge-type of stuff, with the second song rendered catchy and toe tapping. Nice to see this kind of stuff, especially from the likes of Jay Reatard and Alicja, who seem to have their finger on the pulse and hands in the cookie jar (and sure you can think of Lost Sounds as a departure point; though, this seems a little more catchy) ... Also touched by Jay and Alicja is the new one by the Original Three, Been Dealt a Losing Hand on eMpTy Records. Lo-fi and crazed, it follows associations you might make with Memphis, is dirty and dirgy in places, and damn it's good listening ... A lot of music scenes become somewhat incestuous over time, especially when there is a shortage of talent. Embracing the incestuous nature of the Arizona scene (Phoenix, Tucson, and if I'm not mistaken, Yuma are all represented) the CD Arizona Incest is a case in point of what too much exposure to the sun will do to your brain, if you're lucky. Tracks by Destruction Unit, the Sexual Slurs, Digital Leather, Tokyo Electron, Mere Mortals, and the Wongs all let you know these folks ain't messin' around, and it seems like everyone involved in these bands has been involved in some of the others at some point as well (hence the incest). It's on May Cause Dizziness Records ... Finally, on the nothin'-short-of-amazing tip, seek and find the Flakes' LP Back to School on Dollar Record Records. Some damn fine stompin', '60s-style garage with a pedigree that even the most jaded should stand up and take notice (if at this point you never heard of Russell Quan, there just might not be hope for you ...). Plenty of toe tappin' covers and some boss originals, got to see the live show.