Something I Learned Today

Although the news has now become fairly well braodcast on other outlets I still wanted to take a moment to remember Larissa Strickland. Details are sketchy, but Strickland apparently OD’d on Xanax last month. I didn’t know you could do that, but whatever. Strickland was the lead singer in early 80’s Detroit band L-Seven, but is better known as the guitarist for the Laughing Hyenas. Her unique playing style helped define the Hyenas raging noise/blues post “whatever” sound over the course of a dozen years. Noisy and tortured, yet oddly beautiful. Lullaby and Goodnight, Larissa…

L-Seven - Clear Vision.mp3
Laughing Hyenas - Playground.mp3
Laughing Hyenas - Dedications to the One I Love.mp3
Laughing Hyenas - Candy.mp3
Laughing Hyenas - Everything I Want.mp3

Previously posted - L-Seven, “Public Animal #9″, and Covers - Stolen Tapes 92-94

Other tributes:
Metro Weekly page
Punk Vault (Lots of great comments)
Last Days of Man on Earth
Chunklet

Laughing Hyenas Myspace page

God, it’s been a bad stretch for music blogs of late. First, Agony Shorthand calling it quits. Then 100 Records getting shut down, and now the announcement that Scott is closing the doors at Strange Reaction. I was taken aback with the news, but ultimately not that surprised. It takes a lot of energy and drive to keep one of these sites up, especially for as long as Strange Reaction has been around. Not to mention running a one person show. Once you cross the 1 year mark these things tend to be kept alive on life support (ahem). Strange Reaction turned me on to some good stuff, which I’m appreciative. Scott, the doors are open here for you any time (before I pull the plug on this barely breathing corpse)

So I get back from Denver only to discover that one of my fave music sites Agony Shorthand is closing up shop. I discovered Agony Shorthand about 2 and half years ago, just as I was starting this blog. From the first read I knew that Jay Hinman was on the same wavelength as me, writing about so many of the records and bands that I love in addition to turning me on to new stuff I wouldn’t have found otherwise. The excellent writing style and wit will be missed, along with the spirited debate in the comments. On the off chance that Mr. Hinman is reading this, I just want to say that the doors of SILT are always open if you’re ever inclined to drop some music and knowledge. Thanks

I just discovered via Strange Reaction that Cosmic Psychos guitarist Robbie Watts passed away on July 1 after finishing a gig with the band. He was 47 years old. No other details to be had at the moment. Fucking terrible news. Watts joined the Pyschos in 1990 and played on the bands last 5 albums, including 2006’s Off Ya Cruet! . I never had a chance to see the band, but according to others they were always a rip. A couple of my favorites:

Cosmic Psychos - Dead in a Ditch.mp3
Cosmic Psychos - What?.mp3
Cosmic Psychos - Shut Up.mp3
Cosmic Psychos - Hard.mp3
Cosmic Psychos - Neighbors.mp3
Cosmic Psychos - Guns Away.mp3

Notes:
> Original Cosmic Psychos post from May 2005
> Cosmic Psychos on MySpace
> Cosmic Psychos offical homepage

RIP big man. Not a lot of info, but it’s been confirmed that larger than life Poison Idea co-founder and guitarist Tom “Pig Champion” Roberts passed away January 30, 2006. Odd, people were questioning whether or not Pig and others were still alive over here. Here are a couple of my favorite Poison Idea tracks. For those interested, the Darby Crash Rides Again and Filthkick tracks are here:

Poison Idea - Pure Hate.mp3
Poison Idea - Time to Go.mp3
Poison Idea - Laughing Boy.mp3
Poison Idea - Lifestyles.mp3
Poison Idea - Nothing Is Final.mp3
Poison Idea - Getting The Fear.mp3
Poison Idea - Just To Get Away.mp3
Poison Idea - Crippled Angel.mp3

With everything going as of late it took until today for me to discover that guitar legend Link Wray died November 5, 2005. Wray first began performing in the early 1950’s and continued to record and perform for over 50 years. Virtually ever article I’ve read about Link Wray will credit him with being the father of the power chord in addition to attesting to his influence over several generations of guitarist. Who am I to dispute this? I remember when I first heard “Rumble” - I was amazed that a track so raw and edgy could have been recorded in 1958. My personal favorite though is “Big City After Dark” - a skronky blues number with an absolutely filthy guitar sound.

Wray’s best works were recorded during the years 1958 - 1965 and have been collected many times over. For a quick overview Rumble, The Best of Link Wray is a tight, 20 song collection. Also recommended, the Mr Guitar double disc on Norton.

Link Wray - Rumble.mp3
Link Wray - Jack The Ripper.mp3
Link Wray - Deuces Wild.mp3
Link Wray - Big City After Dark.mp3
Link Wray - Zip Code.mp3
Link Wray - Hillbilly Wolf.mp3

>> Buy Link Wray releases

Given Biscuit’s passing here are a couple of my favorite Big Boys tunes. Nothing more to say, other than the photo was taken from the Idle Time web archive. Idle Time publisher Dixon Coulbourn passed away earlier this month.

Big Boys - Influence.mp3
Big Boys - Red/Green.mp3
Big Boys - Complete Control.mp3
Big Boys - Which Way To Go.mp3

Randy “Biscuit” Turner, vocalist for the legendary Big Boys, was found dead yesterday at age 56. From the frontpage of the Austin Chronicle, who were running a cover story on him:

In the worst form of serendipity imaginable, Randy “Biscuit” Turner was found dead in his home late Thursday afternoon. Close friends had not heard from the local musician/artist for several days when Chronicle staff writer Marc Savlov, author of this week’s cover story on the ebullient Austin icon, stopped by Turner’s house to ascertain his whereabouts. Sensing something wrong, Savlov called the police, who arrived and found Turner’s body inside. As of 11:30am Friday morning, the medical examiner’s initial autopsy report attributes cause of death to “gastrointestinal hemorrhage due to cirrhosis associated with chronic [alcohol] abuse.” Although time/date of death has yet to be determined pending a final report from the medical examiner, it’s believed that Turner, 56, had been dead for at least several days. Needless to say, the entire Chronicle family is shocked and terribly saddened by this news. Pedazo Chunk, 2009 S. First, where Turner’s art installation “Mental Volcano” was to be displayed this weekend, will instead host an informal wake tonight, Friday, Aug. 19, beginning at 7pm.

Here’s a more in depth article from the Austin American-Statesman

Wow - first John Loder, and now Biscuit. A sad week for underground music fans.

so long Johnny, thanks for everything.

Ramones - Too Tough To Die.mp3

looks like the greatest punk rock band ( debate if you want ) is close to being 3/4 removed from this mortal coil. It doesn’t appear that it will be long before Johnny, joins Joey and Dee Dee hanging out at the corner of 53rd&3rd in the great beyond. This has been really sad for me as a long time fan of the band. The Ramones were the first punk rock show I ever attended. I was instantly hooked on the short, goofy, lightning fast ( at least live ) songs and the hollered “1-2-3-4’s” . The first four records are all classics, my favorite being “Road To Ruin” I was always viewed the Ramones as the antithesis of the Grateful Dead. While the Dead would improvise, the Ramones would stick to the known, playing the same 30 song set at each show. The nugget was the random odd song they would pull out of their hat ( my favorite being “The KKK took my baby away“, so surprised to hear that one pulled out ).

It turns out the Mr T. Experience was terribly prophetic - check out “The End of the Ramones”
(away from my home PC so I can only provide lyrics - tomorrow I’ll post the MP3″)