R.I.P. Desmond Dekker

I can't even tell you how sad this makes me. He will be missed.

http://www.mp3.com/news/stories/4693.html/

I'm back. It feels good. Slightly. I have been home for almost a week, and still cannot acclimate to well. The trip was amazing. The gigs were amazing. Moz was fucking amazing. I ate well(mostly), drank well, did it proper this time. I got slightly ill in Manchester, but it didn't seem to matter one bit. Nor did it slow me down. Sorry to those I spread it to, but I was not the host. All in all, I had an incredible time, and I am so glad I went. Thanks to those that made the time pass so easily, even though I didn't pay much attention to the time at all. Many nights I can't even remember quite well, but that's just a bit of a testament to my excellent hosts. A big fuck you to the doorman at the Palace Hotel, who wouldn't let me back into my room when I couldn't remember the room number. A big hug to my two girls who made me feel so much better with the late night pep talk my last night in town, when I was feeling a bit a mess. A big "WTF" to The Black Cap in Camden? I mean....WTF? How do I explain the full grasp of the chav phenomenon in Whitehaven to the most clueless Americans? I miss a lot of things, and a lot of people. A few of you I miss immensly. You know who you are. There's always Roma?

Song: Song From Under The Floorboards-Morrissey

OH! And happy birthday Morrissey.

In a few days time, I'm outta here. For a month or so anyways. I've never actually stayed in the UK for that long a period of time, so I'm really trying to figure out what the hell I'm going to eat, in a place like Halifax for instance? What do you people eat over there? What's the weather like in May usually? What should I wear? These questions are driving me mad really. How am I going to survive without Mexican food for so long? How am I supposed to "self-love" with four other people in the room? I hate when the rain flattens my hair.

song: No Side To Fall In-The Raincoats

Can anyone tell me anything about Whitehaven? Like suggest a nice place to stay. I really can't find much more than fuck all about it. Is it a proper town, or one of those carny type places? All I know is it's quite far. Goodbye.

song: Hide And Seek-Lillian Dupree

from seeing Antony & The Johnsons. He was excellent. Truly a voice. I felt like I was a guest at a dinner party, and I mean that in a good way. He's also a very nice fellow. He shakes a lot.

Song: Low Grades & High Fever-Linda Laine

I'm leaving really soon to do a little set at a soul/60's all-nighter party. I literally just decided on what I am going to play, so I'll post the set. Let me know what you think, if there are any other soul fans here...... Hopefully, it will go down pretty well, since it will be about 1am(peak time IMO). Some stuff that's kind of obscure, and some that's not really at all:

Here I Go Again-ArchieBell & The Drells

Needle In a Haystack-The Velvelettes

Nothing But A Heartache-The Flirtations

I Couldn't Believe It-David Ruffin & Eddie Kendricks

My Man's A Sweet Man-Millie Jackson

Be Young, Be Be Foolish, Be Happy-The Tams

I Think I'm Falling In Love-Bettye Swan

Can't You See(You're Losing Me)-Mary Wells

Givin All My Love-Patti Austin

Out On The Floor-Dobie Gray

Bernadette-Four Tops

I Got The Fever-Billy Scott & The Georgia Prophets

Move On Up-Curtis Mayfield

Get Ready-The Temptations

That's When The Tears Start-The Velvelettes

Little Darlin'-The Flirtations

Destination Anywhere-The Marvelettes

Went to see the NY Dolls play Sunday night at the Sunset Junction street fair in Silverlake. They played on the mainstage, which was on Sunset Blvd, ontop an overpass. Their show was great. They played about and hour and a half, I think, and the crowd was very into the show. They seemed to be pleased with the reception they were getting, and how cool it was playing to a crowd in the middle of Sunset Blvd. They also made a dedication to Arthur Kane at one point. The only negative thing was a few people in the crowd. I saw quite a few fights up front during their set, and David even told someone off at one point for getting too crazy. One asshole to my right actually just stared punching people in the face for literally no reason, and then ran out of the crowd. Bizzare. Maybe he was a bit upset from being crushed and figured he'd take it out on the unlucky ones around him.... One thing for sure, the alcohol was flowing that night. They played what they said was a new song, but it has been played before, called We Are All In Love, which was a bit more downtempo, but some some reason got the crowd really going, and increased the crowd surfing. About halfway through, when they played Trash, bodies were flying everywhere. The place went nuts, which was nice. Some of the other highlights were Personality Crisis, Pills, and Subway Train, of course. Jet Boy sounded a bit off for some reason. A friend of mine whom I went with, saw them a few times last year when they played in California, and he said that Sundays show outdid them both. If you aren't doing anything tomorrow night in LA, I suggest you go see them play in Anaheim, especially if you have not seen them before. It was also nice to run into quite a few people I have not seen in a while. We went home a little cut up, and soaked in beer, sweat, and something unidentified, but it was well worth it.....

Song: Putty In Your Hands-Jean And The Statesides

RIP

      LAUREL AITKEN

Er, with summer here, I have decided it is time to do some spring cleaning. Yes, I know, it's not spring. I enjoy cleaning for the fact that I feel that It helps me get my life in order somewhat. Not really, but let me pretend. I like coming across odd things that I had no idea I possessed, until I actually clean the house. The bathroom is another story.

            With the fourth of July fast approaching, and good chunk of time off from work, I am trying to decide what to do. Of course I have plans on the fourth, but not much else. I will probably spend a lot of afternoons drinking beer with pals, and spending money on frivolous things. Maybe go to Satisfaction one night, and take the dog to the beach. If a certain person gets her ass out here that week, I might even take her puppet shopping at some of the most exclusive places. Yes. Puppets.

            I plan on spending a week in Northern California later in July, which is always nice. I will eat a lot of fatty foods, and maybe ride on a boat. Who knows? It will be an excuse to drive through some buttfuck towns on the way, and hit some serious yard sales. You have no idea what treasures you may find on someone's front lawn, in Auburn.

            Speaking of treasures, I found quite a few at Ameoba yesterday, for once. I always go there with a list of about ten specific things in mind, and for some reason, they never have any of them. Strange for a record store the size of Aaron Spelling's house, but true nonetheless. Yesterday, I scored strangely enough. The problem with the place is that I end up spending an absurd amount of time in there, since it is so big. What's even more interesting, is watching the people that come in there. You never know who you might see while browsing the 45's. I don't even have a turntable anymore after it broke, but I still buy vinyl sometimes. I am probably the only person whom does that... Strange things, record stores.

Song: Underwear-Pulp

Not much going on here. I did go to see The Wedding Present play this past Saturday here in L.A. if anyone else is a fan. The show was actually really, really good. It was at The Roxy on Sunset, which is tiny. The Organ opened, which is an all girl band, and I enjoyed them as well. I will probably look for their album. The funny thing was that after their set, they were the ones working in the merch booth. The Wedding Present played a pretty long set(long enough for me to go through about six Sam Adams), and if are interested, here was the setlist that night:

Bewitched
Crawl
Drive
Queen Anne
Go Go Dancer
Starry Eyed
Spangle
My Favourite Dress
Venus
H & E
It's For You
Queen of Outer Space
Careless
I'm From Further North than You
Kennedy
Perfect Blue
Once More
Ringway to Seatac
Dalliance
Dare
What Have I said Now?

Nothing ekse really exciting to report this week, so I'll leave it at that..... Oh yeah, happy birthday Moz!

Song: I Need You Around-Smoking Popes