Gig flashback - Polysics (King Tut's Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow, 23rd July, 2004)

It's been a while since I posted one of these...but, I was rummaging around in an old image hosting account. These photos are from the summer of 2004, before I even got my first digital camera.

Hmmm...I guess I must have borrowed one from a friend.

Those were the days, weren't they? I realise there is one other happy snapper caught in one of the below photos, but that's ok. There wasn't enough digital cameras around to get annoyed about. No endless sea of little lit-up screens in front of you at every single gig. I know I'm guilty of being "one of those annoying people" at times as well. But, I'm trying to cut down.

I remember being introduced to Polysics by the TV show Adam and Joe Go Tokyo. They were the musical guests in one of the episodes and just blew me away with their DEVO-on-crazy-pills antics. When they announced a Glasgow show, there was no way in hell I was going to miss out.

And while I'm at it, here's a video for their song I My Me Mine...

awesomes...

I watch movies so you don't have to #9 - The Naked Cage (1986) - contains spoilers and a bit of nudity

The Naked Cage (1986)
Directed by: Paul Nicholas
Starring: Shari Shattuck, Christina Whitaker

With a title like The Naked Cage comes very high expectations, but I must say I wasn't disappointed. This movie is awesome! One of my favourite Cannon Productions so far.

It has everything you'd expect from a Women-in-Prison movie. An evil warden and an equally evil guard. And a nice guard. The obligatory shower scenes. Loads of fights! And a RIOT!

I watch movies so you don't have to #8 - Getting Even aka Deadbeat aka Tomcats (1977) - contains spoilers

OK...here we go...another revenge movie. This one has had so many different titles I have no idea what the original was or which one is the "official". The title screen on the copy I watched was Getting Even, but imdb lists it as Deadbeat. However, the only poster art I could find was with the title Tomcats.

Let's start with this title. The dictionary definition of Tomcat is "To be sexually active with more than one partner. Used of men.". That would suggest a film involving handsome men and loads of willing ladies. But, with this actually being a rape-revenge movie, it's just highly inappropriate. And not just that...there's also some hideously misleading poster art.

Seriously?

But, but...anyway...I have no idea how long-lived that title was and as I said, the version I watched was called Getting Even. Sure, that's a really rubbish title, but at least it is relevant to the story of the film.

Soooo....

Getting Even aka Deadbeat aka Tomcats aka Avenged (1977)
Directed by: Harry Kerwin
Starring: Chris Mulkey, Polly King

That's right...Chris Mulkey...you might remember him as Hank from Twin Peaks...or from Mysterious Skin. He's a pretty cool guy.

Let's see what it's all about, shall we...

Allo Darlin' (live at The Lexington, 5th January 2012)

Here are some photos and a video from last night's Allo Darlin' show. The band was great as usual and the new songs work beautifullly live.

So, what happens when you keep your camera in a tote bag, then take it into a really warm venue...

Voila! Homemade hipstamatic! That's what happens.

Eventually, it will thaw...

Here's a video of Allo Darlin' playing The Letter, a new song from their upcoming album Europe, which will be released in the spring by Fortuna POP! in the UK/Europe and Slumberland Recrds in the US of A.

Awesome!

Allo Darlin' will be heading out on a UK tour in February, followed by a massive US tour in April/May. Visit their website(www.allodarlin.com) for details.

I watch movies so you don't have to #7 - Invasion Of The Bee Girls (1973) - contains spoilers and some nudity

Invasion Of The Bee Girls (1973)
Directed by: Denis Sanders
Starring: William Smith, Anitra Ford, Victoria Vetri

Yup, that's right. The title says it all, really. Invasion Of The Bee Girls. Is it a metaphor? It can't possibly be about bee girls, right?

WRONG!

It certainly is about bee girls...but not your average kind. Oh no, we're talking sex-crazed, killing machine bee girls!

First post of the year...it's got to be The Germs

The other day I decided to watch What We Do Is Secret, the glammed-up biopic about Darby Crash and The Germs. To be honest, my expectations weren't especially high. Who could play Darby Crash?

Turns out, Shane West can. Well, to an acceptable level anyway. None of the flaws of the film can be attributed to West. He does a pretty good job.

My main issue with the film is that it just feels so clean and sterile. I just don't think the punk clubs and warehouses of LA in the late 70's were this clean...even Darby's severe heroin abuse comes out looking pretty glamourous.

Just as a comparison...here's a clip from Penelope Spheeris' incredible documentary The Decline of Western Civilisation of The Germs performing Manimal

And here is the equivalent(ish) scene in the biopic...starting at 3:40 into the clip.

In the end it was a fun thing to watch. Nothing more, nothing less. I learnt a bit about the band and it made me curious to find out more.

If you want to see the original Germs in action (and a bunch of other awesome bands), I do highly recommend Spheeris' Decline..., which is available in its entirety to stream on youtube. So, is the biopic actually.