Author Archives: Moosejuice

About Moosejuice

+Mark Boyd is an avid indie and underground music historian trying to bring attention to unknown and forgotten bands through The Sonic Abyss and Abysmal Radio. He also sings and plays music, is an independentSEO and Internet marketing consultant and enjoys time with his children :D

The Sonic Abyss On the Road – The Fibs @ First Friday in Lancaster, PA (6/4/10)

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Two of my favorite people to listen to playing music are these guys.  I don’t think I know anyone who enjoys playing more than Mike “Alexander” Berg and Ryan “Alexander” Shelley, who call themselves The Fibs.   First Friday at Downtown Lancaster, PA is a lot of fun with art galleries and restaurants staying open late, artists and performers of all kinds on the street…and, of course, music.

This is a couple of videos of The Fibs playing some originals during First Friday this past…well…Friday.  Thanks to Ryan and Mike for the music and friendship over the past 7 years.  Enjoy Abysmally…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HI3AxOAIwfI&hl=en&fs=1]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hpiNaSwQfM&hl=en&fs=1]

Hot Head Show – The Lemon EP

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Hot Head Show 2009

Man, I don’t even know where to begin. I’ve never heard anything quite like this before and I really can’t compare it directly with any one band. Absolutely one of the most fun albums I’ve ever heard in my life.

As esoteric as any Frank Zappa album ever was (albeit with simple guitar/bass/drums instrumentation), The Lemon EP slips from garage to ska to twisted rock to avantgarde effortlessly…with one of the most fun and playful bass guitars I’ve ever heard and sharp British wit.  At times (such as on Whiskey Pocket) they remind me of what The Police might have sounded like had they explored the garage, had too much to drink, and refused all of Sting’s pop songs.   Other times (especially Chopstickabean) they sound like the most brilliant cartoon that needs no animation.

No kidding…this is a fiercely original sound that has to be experienced. Guaranteed to make you smile, confuse and confound you.  And the musicianship is ludicrously top notch.  Just the damnedest thing I’ve ever heard. I’m amazed at how addicting this sound is…and the one-two punch of Whiskey Pocket and The Lemon is classic.

An absolute blast…and the band is kind enough to let you download free through their website: www.hotheadshow.com. The band suggests you download the whole EP and listen to it as one piece of music.   I totally agree.

Check ’em out.  You really have to hear it to believe it.  You owe it to yourself.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Hot Head Show (Are you freakin’ kidding me?)

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Every once in a while a band comes along with a sound so insane (yet so undeniably well done and totally pro) that one’s head just spins in wonderment until you realize you really can do nothing but laugh, enjoy, and go with the flow.

‘Cos that’s undoubtedly what Hot Head Show are doing.  My friend Shorny B just told me about this band as they opened for Les Claypool last night in Atlantic City at the House of Blues.  I can only imagine what they’re like live…must be one of the most fun bands out there.   I just love this stuff.

When I heard the intro to this song, I immediately thought (and this is meant as a sincere compliment) “Well, they’re definitely influenced by Les Claypool and/or Primus.”  But then elements of ska, Zappa and wry British humor enter the mix and…well…

Enjoy Abysmally…

SHOW Hot Head Show SOME LOVE BY CLICKING HERE AND GOING TO THEIR WEBSITE AND DOWNLOADING SOME MUSIC

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yaWYYwc8Dc&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

6-7-10 Weekly Abysmal Video

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This week’s WAV is from Toronto’s indie power-popsters The Pursuit of Happiness, whose 1988 Chrysalis Records debut album “Love Junk” was produced by the legendary Todd Rundgren.

This is perhaps their best known song…witty, hooky, intelligent and fun. And the lyrics are a riot.

Enjoy Abysmally…

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE Love Junk AND OTHER MUSIC BY THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS THROUGH AMAZON.COM

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSDF8VvU13M&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

Urge Overkill – Sister Havana

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Infighting ceased the existence of this band by 1997, but word has surfaced that Nash Kato and King Roeser have reconvened and they’re due for a new album release soon.

That’s great news, as this was a band that never quite got their due in the 90’s alternative boom…despite their cover of Neil Diamond’s “Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon” figuring prominently in the film Pulp Fiction and becoming a surprise hit itself.

This is the first track I ever heard from them…harkening back to my days at 100.7 the Tiger.  It’s from their major label debut on Geffen Records, Saturation. I remember the smile on Dave “In the Dark” Sorge’s face when he first played it on the air…and he simply said “This rocks.”

Still does.  Enjoy Abysmally…

CLICK HERE TO BUY Urge Overkill MUSIC THROUGH AMAZON.COM

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzFlPdHt1Gk&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

Weekly Abysmal Video – 6/2/10

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This week’s WAV comes from one of my fave bands from the early 90’s…with ties as diverse as Robert Plant and Eurythmics.   Singer Toni Halliday and multi-instrumentalist Dean Garcia met through mutual friend Dave Stewart of Eurythmics.  Halliday did guest vocals on Robert Plant’s 1985 release Shaken N Stirred, while Garcia went on tour with Eurythmics.  In 1990 they formed Curve and, while they never rose above cult status, they were a major influence on more mainstream artists like Garbage.

Curve’s early releases were on Stewart’s Anxious Records label and featured some brilliant songwriting along with Halliday’s alternately strong and vulnerable vocals.  This is one of my favorite tracks of theirs, from their 1993 release Cuckoo. Halliday and Garcia both said they all wound up with the flu after the video shoot. Ahh, what we will do in the name of art.

Enjoy Abysmally…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJaiRYnpXMc&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

CLICK HERE TO BUY CUCKOO AND OTHER CURVE MUSIC THROUGH AMAZON.COM

Cage the Elephant – New Video for “In One Ear”

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My apologies to Mr. Bill, Jared and the CTE boyz for not posting this sooner.  I thought I had posted this over a month ago…seriously!

As many of you already know, Cage the Elephant is one of my fave bands and their debut CD from last year is, in my opinion, one of the best discs of the past 20 years.   They have released a new video for the leadoff track “In One Ear,” and while I’m still partial to the original version (c’mon…Matt Shultz hanging upsidedown in a straightjacket and singing is a total riot!) this is a cool video in it’s own right.

Check it out below and prime yourself for Cage the Elephant’s next CD which should be out later this year.  And of course…enjoy Abysmally!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPgWNuUkuA8&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

CLICK HERE to buy Cage the Elephant MUSIC THROUGH AMAZON.COM

The Sonic Abyss On the Road: Tanya & Dorise (5/21/10)

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So my son Mackenzie had been asking about the French Quarter, the Moon Walk, Cafe’ du Monde and N.O. street musicians for months and months and on my most recent visit to Louisiana we finally got to go.   I drove him to uptown New Orleans, parked the car, and we took the St. Charles streetcar into the Quarter.

We were fortunate enough to stop by Cafe’ du Monde for beignets when these ladies, Tanya & Dorise, were playing.  It occurred to me that I could video them and add a new element to the Sonic Abyss.   There are some excellent street musicians in New Orleans, and Tanya & Dorise were a real treat.  My only regret is the street noise on this video, but they were just really avante garde and cool…a prime example of what makes the Quarter such a musical hotbed.   Just excellent stuff with a different sense of style.

Show them some love by visiting their website at www.tanyandorise.com and look for them in the French Quarter when your life travels bring you there.

And of course…enjoy Abysmally…

Weekly Abysmal Video – 5/24/10

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Man oh man this week’s WAV is from a soul-influenced Cincinnati, Ohio band from the 1990’s who managed to influence many grunge and alternative artists while never quite getting the recognition expected for them by so many.   In fact, lead singer/guitarist/songwriter Greg Dulli has the distinction of being the only musician other than Dave Grohl on Foo Fighters eponymous debut CD.  How’s that for respect?

I was first introduced to this band by my friend Mark Mohundro in the early 90’s, right around the time of their “Gentlemen” CD…from which this track obviously comes:)   This is a really tight performance from the Jon Stewart Show when this CD first came out. Enjoy Abysmally…

CLICK HERE TO BUY Gentlemen AND OTHER AFGHAN WHIGS MUSIC THROUGH AMAZON.COM

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBYJl_p-P4E&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

Weekly Abysmal Video 5/17/10

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This weeks WAV comes courtesy of a Dutch rap rock band that formed after what was supposed to be a one-time jam-session at a festival in Utrecht in 1986. Their 1989 debut CD spawned a minor hit “Deeper Shade of Soul,” but the song that got my attention back in the day was this one. Henry Rollins even makes a cameo in the video.

If it’s good enough for HR, it’s good enough for me.

Enjoy Abysmally…

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE Mental Floss for the Globe AND OTHER URBAN DANCE SQUAD MUSIC THROUGH AMAZON.COM

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2a4MPP7zRI&hl=en_US&fs=1&]