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December 27, 2005
One Minute Tink’s Year End, Last Minute Reviews
So this summer of 05’, I went two events: History of South Bay/San Pedro Punk Exhibit in San Pedro, CA. and the Cruise to Catalina with Pennywise.
History of South Bay/San Pedro Punk Exhibit was held at the Angels Gate Cultural Center
in the Angels Gate Park in San Pedro, CA. Angels Gate Park is part of the Fort MacArthur property.
It‘s also location of the Marine Rehabilitation Center and the Korean Friendship Bell. The exhibit featured many local artists and/or musician, particularly San Pedro’s own firehose.
I thought the exhibit was a bit bare. They did have a big mural of gig flyers from throughout the years. Featuring shows at Sacred Grounds, Warner Grand and Harbor College with bands like firehose, Social Distortion, the Germs, The Ramones, Black flag and so much more.
I still have some of those flyers to this day.
I happened to walk through the gallery’s gift shop and found this CD Sampler put out by S.A.D and Recess Records called Triskaidekaphobia: A San Pedro Soundtrack (Triskaidekaphobia means a morbid fear of the number 13 or the date Friday the 13th). Features the Skanks, the Rolling Blackouts, 400 Blows, No Comply, We Go Speedro, Toys That Kill, Hardball, Pigsty, The Jag Offs, Second To Last, Rig, The Leeches, Iambic Pentameter, Consumers, Organized Noise, Loiter, Fishcamp, Female Chauvinist Pigs, Barton Hill, Full Blast, Elvis Knievel, Farmers, and Beer Drinkin’ Whether
The songs that stood out for me were: We Go Speedro Down On the Street (Another project brought to you by Mike Watt), Second To Last Shaboingy, The Leeches Where In The World is Taylor Kramer?, Female Chauvinist Pigs Sick Of It All, and Elvis Knievel Frying Pan.
Next event was the Cruise to Catalina with Pennywise. Here is the review of their latest record Fuse.
Even though, I have seen Pennywise play a couple of times and have been keeping up with their latest singles via KROQ (Finally! I could never understand why KROQ would not play Pennywise singles until like a good five years ago. I always thought that Pennywise was perfect for KROQ to play. Now Bro Hymn is like on rotation), this is the first time I have ever sat down and listen to a Pennywise record.
I don’t think I have missed much. They still have the same integrity and sound from the beginning. They have not bowed down or change to conform to make a few extra dollars. The songs are still about social problems and relationships. The band has worked hard and it looks like it has finally paid off for them.
Posted by Tinkinator at 10:36 PM
December 22, 2005
Best of 2005 (and the end of 2004)
I hate "Best of" lists. They're always wrong, and they always leave off something essential that the reviewer was too stupid/lazy/tasteless to review. My fans have asked for it, though! They regard my opinon as sacrosanct, and really want to know what I, Wanda, consider the best of 2005.
As I reviewed the albums of 2005, however, I noticed that a lot of my favorites were really from the later part of
2004, so I'm including a belated Best of 2004:
Blasters - 4-11-44 (Rainman) - it's the Blasters, need I say more?
Neko Case - The Tigers Have Spoken (Anti) - a good live album, which is a rarity
Dusty 45s - Devil Takes His Turn (self) - I love this band! This cd confirms it.
Buddy Miller - Universal United House of Prayer (New West) - My new favorite artist (and my mom's).
Buddy & Julie Miller - Love Snuck Up (Hightone) (reissue of duets on prior albums) - Too romantic, in a "you done me wrong" country kinda way.
Split Lip Rayfield - Should Have Seen it Coming (Bloodshot) - their last album as a four-piece. Subtle, but a good one.
Dexter Romweber - Blues that Defy My Soul (YepRoc) - You will not want to take this out of your cd player.
VA: Hard Headed Woman - a tribute to Wanda Jackson (Bloodshot) - A tribute to my namesake from great artists.
(in no particular order, listed
alphabetically)
Best of 2005
Gene Autry - Essential Gene Autry (Columbia/Sony) 2-cd set - A must-have for country fans.
Scott Biram - Dirty Old One Man Band (Bloodshot) - An amazing one-man band with a fondness for chicken.
Heavy Trash - Heavy Trash (YepRoc) - Jon Spencer is HOT.
Hillstomp - One Word (self produced) - two albums in one year. This band is amazing!
Hillstomp - The Woman That Ended the World (self)
Cari Lee & the Contenders - Scorched (Star-Tone) - wonderfully swingy!
Lucky Stars - Stay Out Late (Fate) - Finally! A new album!
Red Stick Ramblers - Right Key, Wrong Keyhole (Memphis) - their first is my favorite, but I like this one too!
Posted by DJWanda at 3:36 PM
December 11, 2005
Shooter Jennings @ The Troubadour: December 8, 2005
Shooter Jennings is one of those superbly talented musicians who suffers from the simultaneous blessing and curse of being the offspring of one of the legends of country music (see my review of Holly Williams). He grew up in Nashville, but then moved to LA to explore the possibilities of rock, only to return to his roots in country. Nevertheless, there's no denying the influence of rock in Shooter's work, even though it's just as country as could be. As demonstrated by his sold-out show at The Troubadour last Thursday, Shooter's got several songs that walk right down the middle road of country/rock. His first single, "Fourth of July," a song about a road trip to Willie Nelson's Annual Fourth of July Picnic, includes references to Ted Nugent and George Jones, but his next single, "Steady at the Wheel" is clearly a rock song. On the other hand, "Lonesome Blues," which was very well-received by his very enthusiastic audience, is a country song at it's best, and Shooter appropriately paid tribute to his father with a traditional rendition of "Lonesome, On'ry, and Mean." The Troubadour is a simply fantastic venue; there's not a bad seat - er, place to stand (it's a standing room only venue) - in the house, and although it can sometimes get very loud in that small venue, Shooter and his band never sounded better. Here's hoping that Shooter comes back to LA very soon!
Posted by darlin at 8:38 PM
Reckless Kelly @ The Viper Room: December 1, 2005
The last time I got to see Reckless Kelly perform live, I drove all the way out to Las Vegas (poor me!) to see them open for Dwight Yoakam. That, much like the sets I've seen them perform in their native Austin, was only a forty-minute set, hardly enough time to satisfy the hard-core Reckless Kelly fan. Fortunately, they FINALLY made an apperance in the So Cal area on December 1 at the legendary (err, perhaps 'notorious' is a better word here) Viper Room on the Sunset Strip. The boys put on their usual spectacular show, playing all the expected Reckless Kelly favorites, but dropping their normal rustic sound on a few songs for a more rocking groove - catering perhaps to the less twangy LA scene? Regardless, a great show from a great band at a great venue.
Posted by darlin at 8:31 PM
