Site Update **** 2 January 2009 **** new CDRs & info

Hope you find this site of some interest. Any corrections are welcome. With your help we will continue to update the site every couple of months.

Happy New Year!

Clash Covered by ... 14 track compilation
can anyone supply us this fabulous collection?

1. Know Your Rights - Pearl Jam
2. London Calling - Bob Dylan
3. Tommy Gun - Sleater-Kinney
4. Groovy Times - Billy Bragg
5. Police and Thieves - Buffalo Tom
6. Train In Vain - Manic Street Preachers
7. Paris Calling - Hellboys
8. Bankrobber - Joe and the Mescaleros
9. Clampdown - Strokes
10. Rock the Casbah - U2
11. Guns of Brixton - Arcade Fire
12. I Fought the Law - Green Day
13. Straight to Hell - Joe and the Pogues
14. White Riot - Audio Slave

Downloads/Uploads/Articles
drag and drop via your web browser (click here - direct link)
We have 2 gig of hard drive space available. There are some downloads there. We try to put new and varied stuff up. We also want any scans of - articles - posters - tickets. All help is really appreciated. Just drag your file into the window (in the browser) and let go. It wil upload automatically.

Punk 2009 The

It's all died a death, just like first time around. If you've been wearing out several pairs of slippers nodding off listening to your old Damned records then it's all too late....

Gone are the Ordinary Boys, The Libertines, Dirty Pretty Things. Going nowhere everyone else.

The Paddingtons are still going strong, though now on their own indie label, their second album No Mundane Options released October this year probably one of the best punk albums in a while. Still going strong 3 albums on The Cribs, a Ramones inspired 3 brother combo. Fast, lound, punky, all action. Their new UK Tour sold out in minutes but it's nice to see they kept the venues small and intimate.

You can TRY BEFORE YOU BUY at Last.fm. It is an online jukebox with virtually every song every recorded by every artist, listed in a clear way and with biog, links to similar artists and lost more. The only music site that matters...

The Pigeon Detectives have released in 2008 a disapointing second album. The Kaiser Chiefs continue with their glam pop punk vying for the under 14s punk audience who can play their records with gran in the room. Razorlight have imploded on stadium rock obscureness.

Since 2007 we have seen The Enemy release their debut album, We Live and Die in These Towns. For old farts it might as well be a Jam album. It's good. 4 or 5 excelllent tracks but some average indie filler too. Worth buying.

The View, inspired by the Paddingtons, even rewriting Paddingtons songs as their own (Sorry=Superstar Tradesman, naughty). Their debut album is also very good with several classic punk tracks. Same Jeans, Superstar Tradesman and Wasted Little DJs. A new Album is due early in the new year. Also long quiet and lyrically/politically the best band, The Holloways, have a new long awaited album due New Year.

One band that burnt brightly for a fortnight, if you can get their track you're lucky, it's a killer track, Damn Good by the Playmates.

Since then we have seen 2 more albums from the Killers who are sliding into soft Amercian Rock, too many tracks drifting aimlessly into the next. Worth a buy if yoou have the above two. The Rakes trundle on.

North East Bands, The Futureheads, Milburn and more successfully Maximo Park lumber along with their unique sounds.

ones to think about....

Wannabees, The Twang, The Courteeners, Harrisons, Cazals, Bromhead Jackets play a B-grade indie dad's double garage indie. The Rascals, The Rifles (till ticking along) and Look See Proof a bit better. The pool of B grade wannabees is an ocean, lets see what 2009 brings!

More on the money are Little Man Tate (think Housemartins), One Night Only (commercial indie/Killers without overproduction).

***************************************************

Punk 2007

The music scene here in the UK has been exploding since The Libertines burst upon us in 2002. Like 1977, every band seems to prefix themselves with the affirmative The... and most crank out three chord punk just like mummy used to play to you when you were in your teens. Yeh right, turn that f**king noise down!

If you're still livin in the past then come in from the cold and join the punk party. You'll find it every bit as pumped up as your worn out 7" vinyls. And if your searching the bargain £3 CD bucket for the upteenth 'Punk Explosion' you should consider a new zimmer frame while your at it.

So whose hot and whose not

Punk probably can be divided roughly in to two schools. The 'guerilla giggers' and the 'stage posers'.

The former is where the fun is. Obviously The Libertines (excellent) family which has now spawned Carl Barats Dirty Pretty Things (excellent), and Pete Doherty's Babyshambles (good). The Libertines have triggered a whole new world of Clash/punk inspired bands. Just about every band tipping their cap to Joe and Mick. Check out the artists that played on the recent Janie Jones re-release as an indication of modern Clash influences.

Of those playing on (and not on) the Janie Jones single we would endorse; The Cribs (good), the modern 'da bruvers', who deliver a high octane pure punk pogoing set. New Fellas, their secvond album way the best. The Paddingtons (excellent) just drive one punk anthem after another - fantastic punk anthems. We have had a sneak at the 2nd album and it carries on from where the first left off. A must have when it comes out. Their debut is an andrenaline fuelled debut punk album a must have. Their next album will go top ten.

We have been tipping The View (excellent), until recently they had been supporting The Paddingtons with their punk and more melacholic punk offerings. Their debut LP has gone to No.1 in the album charts.

Hard Fi a cross over punk\kraftwerk band (excellent). Arctic Monkeys (good) offer a more dyschordant stacato indie/punk. Larikin Love (good) with Shamblesesque acoustic indie. Coming up on the rails The Pigeon Detectives (ok) and the Jam inspired The Enemy (ok), The Fratellis (good).

The Holloways (excellent) album 'So this is Great Britain' was another great punk album, full of great tunes, doused in teen politics, released before Christmas. A mix of Clash/Vapors/New Wave. A great album.

Last year saw the release of The Others second album (good after several plays!) to follow up their good debut album. Another punk classic but you'll have to get used to Dominic's voice.

Second tier bands with great singles but not much else include The Rakes (ok), The Futureheads (ok), The Rifles (ok),

The posers are Razorlight (ex Libertines) (good), Kaiser Chiefs (good), a Dickensian Damned like, poppy punk band with plenty of stage show. Jam/punk/ska inspired Ordinary Boys (excellent 1st album - rest ok) who have lost there way with two poor albums following a great debut, though the third is selling well! The Killers (good), some great tunes but really suffers classic american overproduction with layer after layer of guitar sludge. And Bloc Party (poor). Maximo Park (alright).

2008 Update
We said The Enemy, Pigeon Detectives and The View. Debut albums by The Enemy and The View went straight int at No1 and the Pigeon Detectives went Top 10. Hard Fi produced a great 2nd album, much like the first and the Arctic Monkeys, Kaser Chief's and The Killers had okish 2nd albums. Babyshambles produced another reasonable albm this year but the Cribs 3rd album was disapointing.

What to buy first!

This is in no way an exhaustive list but it will get you started. Start with
First Comes First - Paddingtons,
The Holloways - So this is Great Britain,
The View - Hats off to the Buskers
Dirty Pretty Things - Waterloo to Sunset.

4 albums that will exercise your woofer and you can stop playing grandad for a few hours!

The Holloways - Nothing For The Kids

"I'm gonna pack up my troubles in my old kit-bag,
I'm gonna run a mile from here
'Cos the ASBO generation make this a terror nation
full of loathing and fear"

"Who's to blame? The mainstream media?
Our rulers and idols get greedier and seedier
They're an embarrassment, they should be shamed
For misguiding our youth, they're the ones to blame
They sit back and watch the evil grow from the
youth club ruins where the kids used to go
Take parts of Salford in Manchester, dying on its feet
While the players at United get a hundred grand a week
The kids love them anyway, it don't make sense
When you have a go at me for the sake of fifty pence"

The Paddingtons

If you like The Clash, you will embrace the Paddingtons for everything they stand for.

www.blackmarktclash.com, without any inducements, enticements, bribes or cajolement, thoroughly recomends The Paddingtons as the one of the best live bands in Britain right now.

The debut album is a stunner and you can see why we like them besides being the most genuine honest guys in rock right now.

Now like buses, their second album is out. More radio friendly, less punk, more indie, it moves the Paddingtons on. Classic Paddingtons tracks fill the album, Punk RIP, Plastic Man, Stand Down.

And soon a New Years EP which may be released for free. Having recorded some 40 tracks the band are blessed with plenty of material.

Following their recent low key UK Tour the band are off to Italy in January 2009 followed by a UK Tour. Talks of US dates are still ongoing following last years low key US date for super model Agnes Deyn.

http://www.thepaddingtons.net

We have been looking to do some interviews for the site. We keep emailing Jim Donica [so if your out there Jim, get back in touch!]

!!!!! Jim your email does not work, whats your US telephone no. !!!

10 Best Clash Shows EVER!
see also Chris Knowles Essential Clash Boootlkeg Guide for a similar review...

On my neverending quest to make the ultimate Clash live set mixed tape, I've decided to make a list of their greatest shows based off of pure listening experience, not historical relevance (eg 9/76 Roundhouse for example is omitted). This is from the seventy or so shows that I've listened to over the last year or so and there aren't really too many surprises for those familiar with blackmarketclash.com

1. 5/24/80 Scandinavium- Thrilling, energetic, and funny from start to finish. Joe ad libs on pretty much every song, the tempos are accelerated, and the performances are top notch all around. There is even a once performed special treat of an embryonic Charlie Don’t Surf which sounds completely different from anything The Clash ever did, live or studio. The first ten seconds of Clash City Rockers says it all.
2. 2/13/79 Cleveland- One of the few great performances caught and preserved on soundboard and it’s a doozy. The special treat for me are the encores which captures the band at its most furious (which says a lot). Oh and Joe’s intro to Police and Thieves is pretty much the greatest thing ever.

3. 5/21/81 Milan- An uncharacteristically energetic show from this very Sandinista show. Joe is in manic mode throughout, pushing Clampdown to unprecedented heights. Bonus points for being one of the best sounding audience recordings of those times.

4. 6/1/80 Bologna- Skip the first eight or so songs when Topper is MIA and a rich man’s Terry is filling in (excuse the ubiquitous Terry pot shot). This is a lesser version of the Scandinavium show which means it’s a freaking great show. It starts off safe and unsure and by the end it has devolved (evolved?) to a sloppy manic, incredible frenzy with Joe singing and Mick playing with little sense of “right and wrong” notes. There is almost a sense of that if they slow down, they’d die. Or at least get caught. Highlights are Joe and Mick alternately shouting “Murder!” at the end of Somebody (something they inexplicably never did on any other version I’ve heard) and a frightening, atonal beautiful mess of an Armagideon Time.

5. 1/24/82 Shibuya Kohkaido- With an overwhelmingly exuberant crowd, The Clash were clearly enjoying themselves on this one. The energy that they were able to leach from the crowd is quite evident in the 1-2-3 punch of Somebody, Clampdown, and the loosest structured Radio Clash known to man. Also props for containing an Ivan that I can not only listen to, but enjoy.

6. 6/17/80 Hammersmith Palais- The grand finale of their greatest tour. Mikey Dread may have tamed the Armagideon Time nightmare a touch, but his input on Jumping Master is essential and makes this show special. Although Mickey Gallagher’s keys nearly ruin the psychotic London’s Burning, his flourishes on the newer material add a pleasant 4th dimension. Add some rarities and you get a great, entirely unique show.

7. 1/3/79 Lyceum – This is a tamer version of the Cleveland show that would happen a month later. Nevertheless, the band is firing on all cylinders and the playing is tight and intense. Joe yells until his voice is gone and then he keeps yelling for the remaining half of the show. Bonus points for being a dandy soundboard with some hot footage for Rude Boy

8. 5/8/77 Manchester- 1977 in a bottle (or cd). The sound quality is subpar, but the performance smokes with the band playing at 110% fury. Cardiff may have great sound quality, but lord it doesn’t have White Riot or Janie Jones. Speaking of, I challenge anyone to find a faster White Riot.

9. 5/19/83 Wichita Falls- This show earns the award for the most unique setlist and comes in a very clear audience recording to boot. Don’t mind the guy near the mic that has no sense of rhythm in his clapping. Instead, focus on wunderkind Pete Howard and obscure tracks performed brilliantly like “Sound of Sinners”, “Death or Glory” and a great “Lost in the Supermarket” and a Joe in good spirits. Not to mention the only (okay not really) live version of “Crooked Beat”.

10. 2/18/80 Lewisham- I was reluctant to include this show, but all six soundboard tracks (and two videos) to emerge are stellar with a well mixed Mickey on the funky organ. The audience tape is harsh, but listenable on headphones in a quiet room although the organ is a bit more in your face than on the pro mix.

Editors note: thanks for the reference. We would add Glasgow or Manchester 84 as well

P R ES S R E L E A S E ---------November 15th, 2007

For immediate release - Vancouver

The JEM Gallery proudly presents :
2008 PUNK ROCK CALENDAR (1979-1984) photos by bev. davies

In collaboration with legendary Punk Rock photographer Bev Davies, the JEM gallery proudly presents “2008 PUNK ROCK CALENDAR (1979-1984).

The thirteen-month 2008 art calendar is a signed limited edition of 500 that has been lovingly hand assembled. Each calendar contains 15 black and white photographs that are removable and are yours to keep.

We want you to consider the poor empty space on your wall, the one where a calendar could live for a year, covering that blemish, or hole in the wall. We want you to think, PUNK ROCK, loud black and white photos taken by bev. davies from 1979 - 1984 of local Vancouver bands. D.O.A. for January, Pointed Sticks for August, East Van Halen for June, and Subhumans for December. The calendar also contains photos of The Bill of Rights, Buddy Selfish, No Exit, Modernettes, The Dishrags, Death Sentence, Los Popularos, Rude Norton, and the Young Canadians.

http://www.thenervemagazine.com/article_template.php?id=9

Calendars are available at the JEM gallery, 225 East Broadway and select locations. Also available are Smilin’ Buddha tshirts – image from the calendar cover.

For more information please contact the JEM gallery.

the JEM gallery
225 East Broadway
Vancouver BC V5T 1W4
604.879.5366

email thejemgallery@yahoo.com
www.myspace.com/thejemgallery

Gallery hours:
Sun. & Mon. closed,
Tue. – Thu. 1-6 pm and
Fri. & Sat. 12-7 pm,
or by appointment.

WORDS THAT NEVER FAIL US
New t-shirt from Philosophy Football...
Regarded by most fans as the finest of all Clash songs, the closing words from  White Man in Hammersmith Palais make the finest of epitaphs for our remembering Joe Strummer shirt. With part profits going to Billy Bragg's Clash-inspired  www.jailguitardoors.org.uk initiative. The shirt is available in sizes small- XX-large. Plus womens' skinny rib fit. Available from www.philosophyfootball.com

I'm the all night drug-prowling wolf Who looks so sick in the sun I'm the white man in the Palais Just lookin' for fun. I'm only looking for fun." Sleeveprint: Joe Strummer 1952-2002 1977 JoeStrummer

Regarded by most fans as the finest of all Clash songs, the closing words from White Man in Hammersmith Palais make the finest of epitaphs for our remembering Joe Strummer shirt. With part profits going to Billy Bragg's Clash-inspired Jail Guitar Doors initiative. Available in sizes small (36 inch chest/90cms), medium (40 inch/100cms), large (44inch/110cms), X-large (48inch/120cms) and XX-large (52inch/130cms). Gift-wrapping service also available.

Previous t-shirts

Ray Lowry Exhibition

PRESS RELEASE: THE RETURN OF RAY LOWRY

Major retrospective or work by legendary rock cartoonist,
opening September 12, 2008, at

Ray Lowry at the See Gallery and Photographic Studio
Oddfellows Hall, 1, Binns Street,
Crawshawbooth, Lancashire, BB4 8AA.

One of Britainís greatest rock cartoonists is about to make a comeback. With work going back over 40 years, and a brand new series of paintings for a forthcoming book, Ray Lowryís first retrospective show is about to open at the See Gallery, in Crawshawbooth village, near Rawtenstall, Lancashire.

The Clash. 'London Calling',
sketches and final image from contact sheet.

As well as the cartoons that made him famous for his work for the New Musical Express and Punch magazine in the 1970s and 80s, the show also reveals Rayís importance as a painter of urban landscapes, following in the footsteps of his namesake, L.S. Lowry (no relation), and anticipating the work of younger artists like Liam Spencer, who describes Ray as ìA kind of punky, maverick, Renaissance man.î Keen for Rayís work to be given credibility that is truely deserved Liam has taken a personal interest in the unseen oil collection and put his personal endorsement on the exhibition.

See Galleryís exhibition includes many of Rayís well-known cartoons, plus previously unseen oil paintings and fascinating glimpses into his notebooks. Many of the works are for sale. Examples of Ray Lowryís work have previously been snapped up and admired by collectors and celebrities ñ included are the late great John Peel, Damien Hirst, Jon Squire, Patti Smith, Phill Jupitus, Don Letts and many more ñ but this show will enable everyone to make an offer for an original Lowry.

Always a painter as well as a cartoonist, he has recently produced a long series of colour images inspired by the 1960 British tour by American rockers Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent. The tour ended in a horrendous road crash just outside Chippenham in which both were injured, Eddie fatally. On public view for the first time, these psychically-charged images take Ray Lowryís work to a new level, and will eventually be compiled and published in book form.

Ray Lowry at the See Gallery and Photographic Studio
Oddfellows Hall, 1, Binns Street, Crawshawbooth, Lancashire, BB4 8AA.

Starts from Friday, September 12 with a private invitation only event (invitations can be obtained through the gallery)

Press preview, interviews and one to one with the artist can be arranged by appointment and the work can be viewed in the gallery throughout the week commencing Monday 8th September until Thursday September 11th

Exhibition closes 7th November.

US photographer C.A.Vanaria includes seven black and white images of the†Clash in her new hardcover photography book The Boston Years: The Music Scene in Photographs†1979-1986. These shots come from shows in the late 1970s from the Orpheum†Theater, and Harvard Square Theater in Boston, Massachussetts, USA.

While†living in Boston, Vanaria shot bands for various fanzines, and worked at a†black and white film laboratory as a printer. She was given assignments and access by the fanzines, and in turn she rewarded readers with amazing imagery. Her photos capture unique moments in each performer's set, showing quirks of each musician's style and personality.†

The 118 page book contains about eighty of Vanaria's photographs. Other bands include: Anthrax, B-52s, Billy Idol, Bill Bruford, Cheap Trick, DYS, Howard DeVoto, Human Sexual Response, Ian Hunter, Jerry's Kids, Joan Jett, Lene Lovich, Mick Ronson, New Models, The Cars, The Jam, The Plastics, The Shirts, Proletariat, Talking Heads, Tom Petty, X, and XTC.

In addition to the book, C.A. Vanaria also has black and white gelatin silver prints available of the images in the book.

Information on both the book and prints is available at http://www.thebostonyears.com