Mr Rhythm Returns!

André gets ready to do NYC in grand style this weekend
"Legend" is a term that's bandied about all too often in our 21st century garage punk circles. How many time have you seen show ads for some totally unknown 60's garage band with one single under their belt being referred as "legendary" ? Or maybe it was a band like the Queers. Famous, yes; Long-running, yes; legendary, no.

The same cannot be said of André Williams, who returns to New York this weekend to promote his latest project, a BOOK of all things. Mr. Williams, responsible not only for "Bacon Fat" but a host of some of the best r'n'b & soul records from the 50's to the 70's, is a legend's legend. Even Ike Turner might look over his shoulder at André. This is the guy behind "Funky Judge"; "Twine Time" and so many other 45s spun by virtually every r'n'b and soul DJ in this town EVERY weekend.

That he is a legend then, is not in doubt, but can he perform? Well, we're going to find out this weekend at 3 separate Norton-backed events to push the book (which Nick Tosches also had something to do with)... In case it doesn't turn out so well, or "Mr Rhythm" gets to that bottle of Bacardi a little too early on, there's plenty of action to be had elsewhere, so don't despair. This first weekend of February bodes well for our next 6 weeks of Winter-- cold outside, but heating up around town!

TONIGHT (FRIDAY):

The action is beginning at the same time all over town, so try (hard!) to be in multiple places at once.

Our suggestion would be to start off with Andre Williams & Nick Tosches reading at St Mark's Church on e 10th St. It's free and should be innarestin' enough.

Then hop the L train at 1rst ave and take it one stop to Bedford. Over at Williamsburg's Spike Hill venue, the live 60's style garage/ye-ye bands Electric Mess & Les Sans Culottes will be putting on quite a show on the narrowest stage in town. Cover is $5 (we believe?) and it's a hop and a skip (not even a jump) from subway.

After that, you've got a choice:
- stay in Brooklyn, heading North on Bedford until it becomes Nassau Ave, turning right at Eckford St and hitting rockabilly dj gig ABC Rebel Night at Greenpoint's Warsaw (FREE)

- get back on the L train, head BACK to Manhattan, and check out Smashed! Blocked! this month with guest DJ Peppermint Twist as well as a live pantomime performance of André Williams. Will this be any good? Will you be able to see André over the heads of the blackberry/trenchcoat mafia? Hard to say, but it's free and at Beauty Bar.

SATURDAY:

Even more to do than Friday!

Starting early, check out 60's soul revivalists the Sweet Divines at BAMCafe in middle Brooklyn. It's free (we think) and at BAM around 9 o'clock. While you're down there (heh heh) head over to Tip-Top Bar & Grill for another André-thon, this time with Dave the Spazz as head DJ. Our guess: a way funner event than the sure-to-be-packed S!B! the night before. No cover here either.

Afterwards, think about Williamsburg (HARD!) -- there's a lot going on up here. Over at Public Assembly, you've got Heavy Trash (Jon Spencer + Matt Verta-Ray) for $13 if rockabilly is what you're feeling. OR you could be a little different and check out an interesting-looking DJ party in Bushwick at the "Wreck Room" (haha) on Flushing Ave. It's called "Space is the Place" and promises 60's/70's psych/soul/garage/punk grooves and is no cover. We're all for NEW nights, so dig!

You can also get freaky at Union Pool on Saturday with Golden Triangle and the K-Holes, the latter of whom are headed south for Mardi Gras. So show your tits and stuff. $?

If on the other hand, you'd like to keep it simple, check out Jumpy's Soul-a-Go-Go night at Huckleberry on Grand St. It's also free, and you'll know how to dance to the usual great grooves.

Well, that's it for me as Marcus has promised to take over Sunday's doings. Expect his post earlier than usual tomorrow. See you out there chilluns!

SHIMMY

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Breathing room

LoveStruck, The Othermen and My Happy Gun
conjure the spirit of Lux Interior
through human sacrifice (and music).

All of the PR guys are gone. All of the label guys are gone. All of the hipster tourists are gone. All related signs of the Apocalypse have abated. And apparently most of the bands are taking a break. It's a slow week for garagepunk once again.

Monday

There's nothing on the calendar for Monday, but if you're a fan the Rev. Vince Anderson and his Tom Waits/Dr. John-esque blues stylings, and can't wait until Thursday, he is playing a free late (11pm) show at Union Pool.

Tuesday

It's Tuesday night. You know that that means!

...

For the two or three of you who don't know what that means, it's time for Hot Dog! at Bar Matchless. Featuring DJs spinning 50's and 60's R'n'B, Doowop, Gospel, Soul, Funk, Garage Rock, Punk, and more. No cover, 2-for-1 drinks all night, from 8 'till late.

Wednesday

This must be the Halloween edition of CopyCat, 'cause it's a tribute to the recently deceased Lux Interior and his legendary band The Cramps. Catch his rockabilly disciples LoveStruck and The Othermen and gothic-flavored rockers My Happy Gun as they play their favorite Cramps songs and their other favorite songs... their own! Oh, and that DJ Shimmy guy is DJing along with DJ Xerox.

If that's not up your alley there is more free stuff Wednesday night. Motor City Bar hosts New York Night Train Wednesdays, its usual Wednesday punk/rock/hard stuff night. Botanica features Mr. Fine Wine's night of classic Soul grooves.

Thursday

Krewe de Soul hosts a benefit for the Abeona House child discovery center in New Orleans at The Bell House. Some great garagepunk bands including The Shalitas and The Mighty Fine and Les Sans Culottes are on the bill. The bill also features The High & Mighty Brass Band, Rev. Vince Anderson, Vic Thrill and Tunde Adebimpe ("of TV on the Radio", which may be a genre at this point).

Now here's something a little different: New York Night Train is hosting its Soul Clap! Dance Off party on a Thursday and in New Jersey. It'll be at Maxwell's (surprise!)

Last minute addition: it looks like The Othermen are playing Don Pedro on Thursday with WLWL, Foster Care, Labretta Suede and The Motel 6.

Marcus

This weekend, it's Halloween deja-vu as we set our clocks back while we're still out partying. Extra-long party night. Nice.

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Baby It's Cold Outside...

the SHAYDES return Saturday!
Well it's a bit chilly out there but check the weather forecast and you'll find warmer temperatures and our old friend from Summer, RAIN, stoppin' by tomorrow. Should be nice on Sunday though so maybe it will be yet another great day for the Atlantic Antic fest in Brooklyn.

WAY too much to do this weekend (bookers, take note: you've fucked yourselves!) so choose wisely, lieges:

TONIGHT (FRIDAY):
9 events listed on the calendar, let's start with Manhattan:

Way up there on Columbus ave & 105th st, there's fun brewing at the Ding Dong Lounge with special guest DJ Lawdy Miss Claudia of Detroit's ultra-garage label NO FUN label plus the local DJing of Linda Rizzo. FREE.

Further down the island, Smashed Blocked! fills its regular monthly dancin' slot at Beauty Bar with special guest DJs Mike Lo & Gregg of Sorceress plus resident Josh Styles. FREE.

Not too far away, New Jersey's psych poppers the Grip Weeds are performing at "The Studio" at Webster Hall (e 11th St). We're guessing... $10?

Farther downtown you'll find Mr Fine Wine of WFMU filling in for Jonathan Toubin at Home Sweet Home with his unbeatable soul sets. FREE.

Hopping the Williamsburg bridge, you'll find Images (LA), Born Loose (ex-Candysnatchers), the Mess Around, and the ExHumans @ Don Pedro. $?

Head further out to Ridgewood, and you'll find Nashville's excellent Cheap Time playing the first of two shows at Silent Barn this weekend.

Grab the L train back to Bedford area and you'll see Pissed Jeans plus Chicago's Vee Dee @ Music Hall of Williamsburg -- WFMU Fest (let's say... $15?)

Finally around the corner you can rest at Bruar Falls where there's indie/garagers Thomas Function, Nice Face and Georgiana Starlington for $10. After the bands, the "Subcultured" party starts featuring Derek of Othermen plus Seanzi Dirtbag and the "Telephone Hooker" (from DC of course!) DJing garage, rockabilly, surf, punk, etc til the wee hours (that's FREE).

SATURDAY (really? you're going out again?)

Only one Manhattan event for tonight: Unsteady Freddie's great Surf Nite @ Otto's featuring bands and the man himself on the decks. FREE.

Back in Brooklyn, more choices:

Down in Central Brooklyn we've got the return of the FANCY! Video Clips party at the (what the...?!) resurrected Bait & Tackle bar in Red Hook. It's FREE and features all kinds of newies, so check it out.

Get in the car (and get your teetotaller GF to blow into the breathalyzer) on your way to Union Hall in Park Slope for a triple threat garage bill: the Above, the A-Bones & the Fleshtones... surely orchestrated by Mr. Lee, sounds like fun. $?Go NORTH young man to find yourself back in the same old shitty triangle of dive... on the far East side in Ridgewood/Queens, you'll find Cheap Time wondering why they're at Silent Barn for a second night in a row this time with local punks Uzi Rash. $?

Speaking of Far East, check out Jonathan Toubin's new Todd P-promoted digs: 171 Lombardy Street in "Greenpoint". Most of us will know this area as "Where the fuck is that?" but it's technically Greenpoint, score 1 to TP... Toubin puts on his next HAPPENING tonight with bands-- Ian Svenonius's Chain & the Gang, Preacher & the Knife and ... Fiasco. (really? not Fiasco & the Confidence or something?) There's DJs, Anna Copa Cabanna dancing, all sorts of clubbiness. It's $10 plus the car fare either way (face it, you're not walking there).

In case a tour of Ridgewood and "Greenpoint" aren't in the cards for you on this night, you might head over to real Greenpoint and Tommy's Tavern for the world's premiere lampshade band, the Shaydes plus 70's powerpunks the Totallys.

Or you might find yourself once more at Bruar Falls on Grand St for the Choke's LP debut / goodbye party with Images (from LA), Foster Care (possibly the most fun band in NYC right now) and Burlesque dancers. It's only $6.

Even better, inject something else besides maximum rock'n'roll into your veins at Huckleberry, on the South Side of Grand St, where Jumpy and Girlsoul will be dishing out all fast 60's soul tunes all night. And it's deliciously FREE.

SUNDAY:
Supposed to be the nicest day of the week. Skip Church and check these thingies out:

Atlantic Antic street festival on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. Walk by the shuttered Magnetic Field and shed a tear or head over to still hoppin' Last Exit where for the umpteenth year in a row, Les Sans Culottes will blast out their fake 60's french ye/ye thing and later on when you're good and drunk (especially off the "bucket" at that one place with all the Schlitz and PBR.. what's it called? it's got bace ball) you'll settle in there for a DJ set by Mr. Lee. FREE.

Later on you've got your Chain & the Gang @ Mercury Lounge... and of course Andy M / possibly Dave the Spazz DJing at Union Pool.

WHEW. Done! October is giving us carpal tunnel. Coming soon is the clusterfuck of CMJ and the WFMU record fair. Stay tuned!

SHIMMY

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This Week's Specials

It's the hottest month of the year. Hell, it's probably the hottest week of the year right now. Get the feeling there's somethin' cooking, and it's you?

Now, it's easy to get lazy and hang out at home when it's hot enough outside to make your flask boil over. Resist that temptation... and please enjoy these other temptations:

Monday

Closed on Monday. GaragePunk religious holiday (the "Feast of the Passouter").

Tuesday

The Bowery Electric is quickly becoming one of my favorite venues. Their daily special is a primo three-course meal featuring tasty garage-rockers The Dirty Shames, old-fashioned rock-n-rollers Charlie and the Crybabies, and the punk/garage/rockabilly brew of LoveStruck. Starts at 9, $5 cover.

On the budget menu for the evening (meaning no cover and 2-for-1 drinks) we've got Hot Dog! at Bar Matchless. Different DJs every week spinning Garage Rock, Soul and R&B. Starts at 8, goes till late. Oh, and they have good bar food there too.

Wednesday

More great rock-n-roll on tap for tonight. If you're over in New Jersey or know how to get there you can catch the Electric Six from Detroit at Maxwell's. They're backed by faux-French rockers Les Sans Culottes. If that's not your thing, maybe Atlanta's Gringo Star will satisfy your palate? They're at the Mercury Lounge, and will be backed by local rockers Des Roar among others. Both shows are a bit pricey ($10 for Gringo Star, $15 for Electric Six), but surely it is worth it for top-shelf stuff like this?

If you're looking for a nightcap (or just somewhere to hang) there are plenty of DJ night options tonight. Juke Joint Howl, an evening of 40s, 50s and R&B with DJs Mike Mortician and Mike Decay, kicks into gear at Otto's Shrunken Head. On a (much) louder note, Motor City Bar hosts New York Night Train Wednesdays, a night of Punk and Garage Rock featuring guest DJs every week. All of 'em start at 10pm, and they're all free. And for something with a subtler bouquet. Mr. Fine Wine will bring his classic Soul sounds to Botanica.

Thursday

Try our Boogaloo Shampoo, a night of Soul music and dancing at Beauty Bar Brooklyn! Also check out the link to Beauty Bar Brooklyn ('cause I got it right for once). If your tastes run towards Punk, Glam and Psych rock instead, then may we recommend Thursday Thump at Enids. They're both no cover, so feel free to sample.

Music. You can't live without it. Music. It's like food, only louder.

Marcus

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A slow week a'comin.

Perhaps it had to be this way. This week had to be dead so that next week can be undead. That's right folks, The Mummies aren't playing for another week and a half but the whole garagepunk community already seems to be marking time. In fact we were going to put up a Mummies countdown clock on this very site, but we all have tickets to different shows...

Or maybe everyone's going to see Art Brut? They're playing five gigs, one each night Monday through Friday, all at the Mercury Lounge. They're doing five gigs and The Mummies are only doing three. Capitalism fucks up once again.

Monday

Captain Heartlock and Professor Z return to their usual Monday gig spinning Garage and Soul at the Monday Night Burlesque at Public Assembly. If you're not up for that on Monday, then we cannot help you.

Tuesday

All right folks, if you're a fan of Art Brut then this it the night to see them, unless of course you bought the $50 five-night passes (yes this is a real thing). Opening on Tuesday are faux French rockers Les Sans Culottes. Be sure to show up early 'cause this will be your best chance to dance.

If for whatever reason you feel like skipping that show, why not check out Hot Dog! at Bar Matchless? No cover, 2-for-1 drinks and R&B, Garage Rock, Soul and 60s sounds. Or how about dancin' to Soul, Funk and Latin music at Lost & Found at Savalas.

Wednesday

Check out New York Night Train and their weekly guest DJs spinning Punk and Garage rock at the Motor City Bar, or Mr. Fine Wine as he returns to spin Soul music at his weekly gig at Botanica. Or both. You can go after seeing Art Brut! Or before! Or during!

What's this, a last minute addition? All Hell will break loose as CopyCat throws a Misfits tribute night at Otto's Shrunken Head. Featuring all-girl Misfits cover band Ghouls Night Out and New Jersey "toilet rock" (word of the day material?) band Slaw.

Thursday

Do ya' like the Soul music kids? 'Cause tonight you have options! DJs Mr. Robinson and Dos Platos will be spinning 50s, 60s and Soul music at Heathers (winners of the "most confusing website" award), and the Soul dance galore called Boogaloo Shampoo will be at the new Beauty Bar Brooklyn (not the one in Manhattan). If you'd rather dance to garage, surf and rockabilly music then check out Swimsuit Edition at Savalas. Or hey, why not rock out to punk, glam and psych rock at the Thursday Night Thump at Enids? So many options, and they're all free.

Next week: The Mummies, the Northside Festival, the Detriot Cobras, and a Hullabaloo! at Don Pedro. Next week: actually worth writing about.

Marcus

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Easter Weekend in New York

I hope y'all have today off 'cuz I don't and SOMEbody ought to be having a good time. Thankfully, there's plenty of ways to forget to remember to forget this weekend...

Tonight we've got the 1 year anniversary of the Barf-o-Rama dj party @ K&M Bar featuring Miss January 1963, Dylan "Otto" Bahn and Miss Kitty Beat... 60's garage, soul & other good stuff. FREE.

Also tonight is the return of Jonathan Toubin to Home Sweet Home for his Shakin' All Over Sideways Down party... went last week and I have to say, this joint is actually pretty cool even though it's on Chrystie st (zing!). Also FREE.

I'll be off djin' and drinkin' at a private birthday party at a country manor house deep in bushwick, I'm sure I'll see some of yooz there. In case I don't there's always:

SATURDAY

Hullabaloo! returns to Don Pedro with Fancy! videos all night plus the trashrock of the Shaydes, Ohioans Black Elevators' NYC debut, blues stompers Edison Rocket Train, the Lost Crusaders (great nodepression article) and finally the Brimstones who are bringing go-go dancers with them and filming their show! Come on down to Don Pedro in Brooklyn, $7 at the door, $2 well drinks til 10. It's a hangover in the making, so don't you wanna join us?

Also Saturday you've got your Black Hollies and your Nouvellas at Glasslands plus the lovely ladies of the soul cloth DJing 'til late late. Cover$?

Furthermore, there's faux french poppers Les Sans Culottes at Southpaw in Park Slope for a Coney Island Benefit with burlesque dancers. Cover $?

UND If you're more into the FREE end of ze spectrum, head on over to Huckleberry on Grand St for Jumpy & Lo's Soul Habit Night. Packed full of only the most danceable tunes, it's a good time.

That's it for the weekend stuff, but as Charles ably pointed out, we have some wonderfulness
at Cake Shop on MONDAY night. NOBUNNY is back in town and I expect each and one of yous to come down to Cake Shop to find out why we'd ever put on a show the Monday after Easter!

hoppy easter!

SHIMMY

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Garage Punk Spring Hath Sprung in New York!

It's finally happened. February is over, thank the gods, and March has arrived-- with the usual long tail of bands pulled through town by Austin's SXSW festival.

There's really too much to do this weekend so the choices will be hard but persevere, friends, and thou shalt find the getdown.

Tonight we have a relatively quiet warmup to the maelstrom with New York Night Train's regular soul dj night at Beauty Bar (and possibly the satellite party at Enid's in Brooklyn).

Tomorrow it begins for real:
FRIDAY
Live Gigs

The Shalitas, Les Sans Culottes, The Lost Crusaders @ Public Assembly, Williamsburg, $5. I'm DJing this event which is the first for the rockin' girl group Shalitas in months. There will be Go-Go Dancers, new Shalitas outfits & songs (and backing band members) plus the great tunes of Brooklyn Faux-Frenchies 'Culottes and the excellent gospel garage rockers the Lost Crusaders. For my part, I'll be debuting my recent mega stack of Chattanooga-bought R'n'B, Doowop, Gospel & Soul 45s plus some Las Vegas Grind-style sleaze to provoke the dancers into doing something they'll regret.

The Reigning Sound, Davila 666 @ Southpaw, Park Slope, $12adv/door. One of our favorite bands returns to New York finally after a very long absence. Greg Cartwright has promised virtually an entire album's worth of new material. If that isn't enough, excellent Puerto Rican Garage Rockers Davila 666 open. This is the first of two area shows for the RS (second is on Sunday at Maxwell's). Might sell out so get your tickets early!

The Stick-Ups @ Rockwood Music Hall, LES, FREE. If you're looking for recession-friendly action, check out Dave "Uncle Heavy" Luther's great 50's style R'n'B band at Manhattan's Rockwood Music Hall. This is a weekly residency and the show begins at 1AM by which time you should be properly soused because this music is made for drinking & dancing. Think SAX and "10 inch.... records!"

DJ Gigs
If you're looking for a little dancefloor action, head over to the monthly installment of Smashed! Blocked! at the Beauty Bar with Josh Styles and special guests Billy & Miriam from Norton Records. Free.

Also happening is Jonathan Toubin's 60's dj night at Home Sweet Home... and Cowboy Mark's RIP Lux Interior party @ Motor City with go-go dancing and rockabilly DJs.

SATURDAY
Live Gigs

Surf bands @ Unsteady Freddie's Surf-Rock Shindig @ Otto's, Manhattan - Freddie's back in his usual spot at Otto's in the backroom.
Hullabaloo! Demon's Claws plus four more @ Don Pedro, Brooklyn, $7 -- It's me and Charles's epic return to Don Pedro to kick off the 2nd anniversary week of Hullabaloo! This time we've got a great bill of punk bands headed by Montreal's excellent Demon's Claws. Plus we've got the frenetic punkers Turbo Fruits from Nashville, a new find in Ryan Pits from Indiana with their British Invasion meets Treble Overdose sound, Mississippi's John Barrett and his Bass Drum of Death and his crashy blues punk and local "pinky" rock stalwarts Another Saturday Night. If that doesn't sound like a mouthful, there's me and Charles DJing the best of the best all night. Doors are at 9PM.

DJ Gigs
Lynne K & DJ Honky return to Union Pool's back room to spin soul & funky stuff. It's free and starts around midnight.

SUNDAY
Live Gigs

The Reigning Sound, Davila 666 and Turbo Fruits play Maxwell's in Hoboken. Looks like $12 on this one too.

The Homosexuals are at Mercury Lounge, $8.

Whew! If this weekend doesn't kill you, check out next week-- Atlanta's finest return when the Black Lips invade Bowery Ballroom and Music Hall of Williamsburg (Monday & Tuesday).

I'm off to Hamburg on Sunday for 12 day trip, so come by tomorrow or Saturday and tell me where I can stick it!

SHIMMY

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WEEKEND UPDATE!

Well, it's Thursday and if your week was anything like the rest of the world's then you're in need of a 12 pack and a carton of smokes. Luckily there's a spot for you to call home tonight.


Head on over to Boogaloo Shampoo at Beauty Bar hosted by the DJ Jonathan "Busy Body" Toubin, with special guest James "MOTHER FUCKING" Chance! Expect to hear lots of soul stompers and foot grinders. These dudes have the 45s that'll make you shake a tail feather and do the camel walk. The party starts around midnight, so be prepared to stumble in to work on Friday still drunk and nurse your hangover over lunch. Oh yeah, it's FREE and it's JAMES CHANCE!!!!



As for Friday, you've got a long list of fun filled adventures to tackle. At Cake Shop you can see Violent Bullshit, Cerebral Ballzy, K Holes, and The Jadewalkers. This is obviously a beer chugging, chest pounding kind of night, so if you like your music loud and fast and your people happy and hyper, you'll fit right in over here.

Over at Don Pedro's they're serving up a melting pot of bands ranging from rockabilly-ish garage, punk rock, and indie. If you hate going to a show that has bands that all fit in the same genre then you'll probably enjoy this. Organs, Fatal Erection, 7 Ton Hand, The Men, and Autumn People. It's got something to please everyone.

Over at Fontana's you can mod it up with the long running Subway Soul Club. This month they have three incredible DJs: Phast Phreddie(resident DJ), Jamie Kozyra(of The Nouvellas), and Gaylord Fields(of WFMU). If you're a fan of non-stop dancing with like minded folks and looking sharp even though you're hammered, then you've probably been attending this event from the start. Phreddie is one of the top ten best DJs in the world, and that's not an over statement. Don't believe me? Take a month off work, travel to the major cities of the world, attend dance nights that spin music from the 50s and 60s, come back to New York, then think it all over. He won? That's what I thought.

If you're in the mood for more of a leather jacket and greased hair night then head over to Otto's Shrunken Head for Rebel Night. Otto's isn't the biggest bar so it gets elbow to elbow packed FAST on this night. The Japanese truly do know how to be Rock'N'Roll in a way no other country can comprehend. I recommend getting there early and ordering a scorpion bowl and grabbing a table up front before the masses arrive.


If you're still able to stand on Saturday then I highly recommend going over to Zebulon to catch The Mighty Fine and Les Sans Culottes for a Mardi Gras celebration. I've seen Mighty Fine perform a bunch and they always put on an amazing show. They're a perfect mix of Punk and Soul. High energy and always right on the money. Sans Culottes is not only hilarious but rockin'. If Austin Powers was called Jean Puissance and took place in 1960s Paris instead of London then these guys would have supplied the music. The night is being DJed by Mr Mikey of Daptone Records, so you know it's going to be good.


-UPDATE!-
I just received word that The Underthings will be performing at Union Pool this Sunday! Dave the Spazz and Andy Maltz will be DJing this event, as well. It's FREE! Starts at 8:00, and it's in the front room, not the back room. GO!

-Charles

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