As an alternative to listening to Christmas carols all week...

The Specific Heats bring their garage-psych sound and
their Thanksgiving dinner to Bruar Falls on Tuesday
because even poultry deserves its 15 minutes of fame.

Monday

Glad All Over! hosts a show at Bowery Electric featuring the (cheese-inspired?) heavy rock of Humboldt Fog and the crunchy-like-a-cracker psych-rock of Whooping Crane, with DJ Lupe Loop spinning the platters. Sounds delicious. Not sure how much it will cost, and no the show does not start at 6pm like it says on someone's MySpace calendar (more like 9pm, which is to say, 10pm).

Also on the agenda, DJ Knifefight spins all "pre-Beatles" rock-n-roll at Art Land Bar. Great music, convenient location, free pool all night, and no cover. It all starts at 10pm (which is to say, 9pm, at least the last time I was there).

I saw a webpage for a show this weekend which said that the show "starts at 9pm, doors at 12pm"*. Have we forgotten how time works, folks?

Tuesday

The Bowery Electric has another good show tonight featuring Organs, Love Pirates and Kelle Calco. Sorceress is probably not on the bill, unless perhaps the show was double-booked? That has been known to happen. Their show this weekend featured a comedian in between two of the bands Maybe this time there will be a contortionist or magician or human floor or something?

Did we mention that the Specific Heats are headlining at Bruar Falls? Not so sure about the other bands, but it's a free show, so check 'em out.

As always, Hot Dog! is at at Bar Matchless on Tuesdays. 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. Oh, and it's our friend Tara's 30th birthday party, so you might be able to mooch some free cake.

Wednesday

Time once again for CopyCat at Otto's Shrunken Head. Not sure what they're covering this week, but for the low low price of $0 you get to catch The Bowery Boys and Sousalves. DJ Xerox spins cover songs all night. Oh, and there's free pumpkin pie "while supplies last" (you know it's the holidays when people start offering you dessert everywhere).

If you're looking for a DJ, have you ever come to the right night. DJ Reverend Vince spins Soul, Gospel and R&B at Savalas. Motor City Bar hosts its traditional Thanksgiving celebration called New York Night Train Wednesdays, a night of punk, rock, and other loud musical offerings. And of course there's Mr. Fine Wine at Botanica spinning his finest Soul grooves (you know, the ones on his records).

Thursday

It's Thanksgiving, so go hang with your family!

If your family happens to like going out and partying while listening to Punk Rock, Rockabilly and more (and that don't mean Christmas carols, folks) then may we suggest the No Thanks-Giving party at Bruar Falls with DJs Just Derek and Seanzi Dirtbag. That's where Mommy and I will be. As an alternative, Jonathan Toubin is DJing Thursday Night Thump this week at Enid's, where they have a wonderful apple pie (and some tasty beats no doubt).

Marcus

* By the way, 12pm is actually noon. Yeah, come on in nine hours early to have a "few" drinks before the show. Not sure if that was a little bit of stupidity or a huge heapin' pile of audacity...

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Stress release time.

It is just me or has this month been really stressful? I don't just mean work and personal life stuff, I mean the music has been extra loud and crazy. The Brimstones yesterday, the show at Don Pedro the Saturday before, the show at Don Pedro the Saturday before that, the last few Jadewalkers shows... it has been a wild month!

Now I hereby declare that it is time to chill. Summer is ending. We're all slowing down a little bit. Time to sit back with a carefully placed ice pack or two and just enjoy life.

Monday

Yeah right. Monday and the last day of the month and you think people are putting on shows? If you actually have any money left go catch a movie or something.

Tuesday

Hot Dog!, get 'yer Hot Dog! here! This one's made of the finest ingredients: DJs spinning Garage Rock, Soul and R&B, 2-for-1 drinks, good bar food, and chess hustlers. As compared to real hot dogs, which just contain DJs and old chess pieces. This week and every week at Bar Matchless starting at 8.

Wednesday

All right, we finally know who will be playing at Don Pedro on Wednesday. The lineup will be: Organs, Madam Robot and the Lust Brigade, and Humboldt Fog (but not The Othermen).

If you're in Brooklyn and in the mood for even more variety, check out Living For Kicks at the Satellite Lounge. DJs Popwell and Bunny Punch spin 60s Garage, Rocksteady, R&B, Soul, and even a little VU/Roxy Music type stuff.

In Manhattan, another exercise in contrast with two very different DJ nights. The famously grungy Motor City Bar hosts the punk/rock/hard stuff night called New York Night Train Wednesdays. At the other extreme, Botanica (which is decorated like your grandma's house) is the venue for Mr. Fine Wine's night of classic Soul grooves.

You can pick your poison, but the poison always wins.

Thursday

Big Sandy and His Fly Rite Boys land at Maxwells. Yet another "distracted" air traffic controller? No! Not this time! They're bringing their classic rock-n-roll sound to New Jersey along with country crooner Eilen Jewell. They're also at Southpaw on Friday in case you feel like waiting or refuse to leave the high-sales-tax zone.

Also on the calendar: Brooklyn is the home of Boogaloo Shampoo, a night of Soul music at Beauty Bar Brooklyn, and of Thursday Thump, an evening of Punk, Glam and Psych rock at Enids. Manhattan is the place to catch DJs Mr. Robinson and DosPlatos spinning 50s, 60s, and Soul music at Heathers. Don't panic, you have lots of options.

Take a deep breath.

Now breathe out.

Now keep doing that for the next 70 years or so. Less if ya' feel like it.

Marcus

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Here Comes The Sun!

The Black Hollies deck the Bell House Friday.

Ok it's rained all week but the weekend is here and in case you don't work on Saturdays (you lucky so and so), there's goodly amounts of stuff to do.

Starting early TONIGHT, we've got the Black Hollies opening (can this be?) a show at Brooklyn's Bell House (in the Gowanus canal area). Looks like a bill stocked with non-garagepunk bands, so come early and leave early!

You might follow this up with a trek up to K&M Bar in Williamsburg, just a short stumble from the Bedford L train, where the Vondells and "Girl to Gorilla" (?) are playing. I'm betting they'll be done by 11:30 due to noise restrictions. I think this is a free dealie.

At this point you might get on the L, take it to 1rst ave and walk over to Otto's where the Electric Mess and the Hydes are playing REAL GONE! plus there will be fantastic DJs as always. FREE.

Then you've got two night-ender possibilities: Jonathan Toubin at Home Sweet Home for his Shakin' All Over Sideways Down 60's soul gig, or Phast Phreddie & Josh Styles at the recently relocated Wang Dang Doodle hosted at the Trophy Bar on Broadway back in Brooklyn. I'm in for the latter as there ain't no boogaloo like a Phreddie boogaloo (you'd know that too if you had boogalooed like I dood)... but both gigs are FREE so why not either?

SATURDAY
Tomorrow night is a bit slower but there's still getdown for the throwdown:

Anabolics are rocking an early gig at (downtown?) Brooklyn's Flytrap space around 8:30. $5.

Organs are said to be playing a PUTA! records gig at Matchless. Not sure if this is also Supermodeldeathdive, or what, given that that was supposed to be Friday night but was cancelled? Call matchless, your friends, or frenemies and ask them.

Also Jonathin Toubin is back at Glasslands with his last ever Animal Train! party featuring guest DJ Jon Spencer, live music, hula hooping by Melissa-Anne, dancers the Marmaladies, the usual crew. $7, 10PM til 4AM.

SUNDAY
Head back to the Bell House in Gowanus for an afternoon affair-- the NYC Scooter Block Party featuring the 45 Adapters and GetSet. It's FREE!

Also Free on Sunday is Dave the Spazz and Lil' Killers' Andy DJing at Union Pool.

You get MORE than what you pay for!

Anyway, that's it for me, may the lord have mercy on our pathetic alcoholic souls.

SHIMMY

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Start The Week With Two Bangs

Get ready to be invaded by foreign bands. I see that Mr. Eastwood is ready.

Sunday

Yeah, we already did Sunday, but this particular Sunday is hot enough to do twice. If you haven't caught King Khan and The Shrines yet, they'll be at Santos Party House tonight with Mark Sultan (performing as a 3-piece), France's Magnetix, and other great bands. Don Pedro hosts a fine show as well, featuring Swedish punks The Manikins plus the hot and dirty blues of Organs and local punks The Back CCs (whose name also sounds vaguely dirty) and perhaps (we're not sure) The Jadewalkers. Oh, and let's not forget The Spines, the only punk rock autoharp band ever (how hot is that!) They're playing a free show at the Lakeside Lounge.

Monday

French garage-rockers Magnetix drove good men mad at Lake Johnson last weekend. Tonight they explode at Don Pedro alongside the lo-fi sounds of 999999999 and Oakland's Younger Lovers, plus a "special guest". Considering who the Magnetix have been seen hanging around with lately, that special guest may just be be quite special indeed.

Don't feel like heading to Brooklyn? Then you must be in New Jersey. Don't worry, Maxwell's comes through once again with a show featuring Detroit rockers Electric Six and Living Things. And once again, DJs Captain Heartlock and Professor Z will be spinning Garage and Soul music at the Monday Night Burlesque at Public Assembly.

Tuesday

The Electric Six and Living Things journey to Manhattan on Tuesday for a show at Bowery Ballroom. If that show a bit out of your price range or just not your thing, consider heading to Bar Matchless for Hot Dog!, where several of the top local DJs (according to these guys) will play garage, soul, and more good stuff just for you. And about fifty other people. Or perhaps you'd prefer Lost & Found DJ Night at Savalas, featuring Soul, Funk, and Latin music. Ya' might just be able to dance to that.

Wednesday

Head to Manhattan on Wednesday to catch New York Night Train DJ Night at the Motor City Bar, or Mr. Fine Wine of WMFU fame will be spinning soul music at Botanica, or perhaps a little of both? Who says you have to choose?

Thursday

The legendary British band Eddie & The Hot Rods will be cruisin' into Southpaw this Thursday night, bringing with them Primadonna and one of the several bands called Poison Arrows. Not legendary enough for ya'? Then how about Mike Watt and The Missingmen (yes, featuring the Mike Watt of the Minutemen and more recently the Stooges) at Maxwell's.

If you're more in the mood to groove, check out Mr. Robinson and DosPlatos as they spin 50's, 60's and Soul music at Heathers, Boogaloo Shampoo at the Beauty Bar, Swimsuit Edition at Savalas, and Thursday Night Thump at Enid's. Yeah that's right, "and". Thursday is a long, long night. Take it all in.

We taught the rest of the world to rock. Now they're returning the favor.

Marcus

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Neither Rain, Nor Snow, Nor Hail...

Montreal's Nymphets play Matchless in Brooklyn Friday.Nothing will prevent NYC's garage punkers from drinking, partying, puking and rocking this week/end.

It's awful outside but there IS reason not to lock yourself in your room until March, starting with
tonight's Anabolics show at Otto's Shrunken Head. It's part of a series (every other week?) called Copycats in which a band performs covers of some other band's songs. The Anabolics have decided to take on the Sex Pistols; better yet will probably be their originals.

I believe there's a cover, not sure how much, but it might be worth it just to see if there's any monkey business as there was when Thee Yetis played this night a couple of months ago. Let's just say that they had the plug pulled on them, 'Get Back'-style.

Also tonight in the big ol' city is Mr Fine Wine at his usual perch (Botanica). Fine Wine's DJ sets at last Saturday's Dig Deeper were probably the swinginest of all. As a side note, Dig Deeper was a great party in general-- Hannibal was on form! Check out some insanely watermarked / copyrighted photos by the photog who kept jamming his camera in my face here: flash-movie-so-you-don't-rip-him-off photos by oblivious photoloser.

Also I took some mediocre after party dance photos.

Anyway back to tonight! There's also Jonathan Toubin at Motor City in Manhattan doing his regular NYNT thang.

Next up, Thursday night-- Looks like an interesting show featuring ATL/Brooklyn punks Ex-Humans, Philly's Love City and Brooklyn's longtime 70's rockers Electric Shadows plus 2 more at... ahem... Crash Mansion. Doors are at 7:30 (huh?) and the place looks like a club from 1995, but I'm betting the $2million sound system will do interesting things with these bands' sonics...

Also Thursday we assume Jonathan Toubin's at Beauty Bar with the no-cover-all-soul Boogaloo Shampoo and has his satellite party going at Enid's in Greenpoint.

Friday, not as busy as last week but still some good stuff. Live show-wise, we've got the Back CCs, the most excellent boy/girl-vox punks Nymphets (from Montreal) and the Dirty Shames at Matchless in Greenpoint for Brenda's SuperModelDeathDive party. Brenda will also DJ with guest Jesse "Gasface" who recently provided some extremely entertaining reviews to the new Humanbeing Lawnmower Zine (worth it for the reviews & comics alone).

Also live we've got a performance by new "Hillbilly/Bop/Boogie" band Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co at Phast Phreddie's Wang Dang Doogle gig at Soundfix Lounge (the former coffee shop that's now a band with a small stage). Phreddie will be DJing all 50's all night. No cover on this one either.

AND 60's garage/blues/punkers Organs are at Don Pedro with "Everyone" which, in the very least, is a good band name.

If you're looking for some pure DJ gigs, Melissa-Anne and Jenni return with their 50's/60's DJ night at Legion in Williamsburg called CHICKABOOM! this time featuring guest djs Dave the Spazz (WFMU) and Andy from the Little Killers / Underthings. No cover.

Also going on is Sr. Toubin's Shakin' All Over Sideways Down at Home Sweet Home in the city (no cover).

Saturday... it's a bit of a wasteland, which will help make Jumpy's Soul-A-Go-Go gig at Huckleberry all the more fun. It's soul tunes all night, no cover and some good (if somewhat pricey) food.

See ya 'round suckers!

SHIMMY

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