I'm Heavy Duty!

34 Bands, 4 nights, 5 Clubs! That’s Musique Automatique in Asheville, starting tonight. The band I’m most interested in are those alt-prog-metal-instrumental-video crazies Kings of Prussia. I probably won’t be there because I’ve lost the will to rock, or at least the time and money. Maybe I’ll stay home and play my Gore records instead. Go on without me! Save yourselves!

A recent KOP live video (Thanks, Sarah!):

New Music Monday on W-I-H-Deeeeee… Make up your own jingle.

Thanks to Steven for the tip on this one. Serj Tankian (System of a Down) has a new solo record, Elect the Dead, coming out October 23. The first single and video is “Empty Walls.” It’s heavy thematically and musically, but maybe a tad smoother than SOAD. Tankian’s voice is so distinctive and immediately recognizable that I’m sure most folks will assume it’s SOAD. But those folks would be wrong. Apparently the band members are on hiatus while they pursue other projects. I’m a long time fan of the band. If “Empty Walls” is any indication of what the music from these solo projects is going to be like I think fans have a lot to be excited about.

Serj Tankian — “Empty Walls” video
And if you just can’t enough of that Serj stuff, check out the next video. It’s a whopping, and humorous, nine minutes of Tankian interviewing himself, with cuts from his home studio. There are several characters in the video and they all look familiar.

Various Artists -- Deep Six (Green River, Malfunkshun, The Melvins, Skin Yard, Soundgarden, U-Men)

• Artist: Various Artists
• Title: Deep Six (Green River, Malfunkshun, The Melvins, Skin Yard, Soundgarden, U-Men)
• Year: 1985
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1985 – Where?
• Keeper: Yes

This summary from the C/Z Records site pretty much says it all:

“1985 – C/Z is born (a year prior to the launching of the Sub Pop label) with the release of the DEEP SIX compilation featuring the first available recordings from Soundgarden, Melvins, and Green River (who later spawned Mother Love Bone & Pearl Jam). The record marked the earliest beginnings of grunge. In time these bands are signed and successful.”

The six bands are: Green River, Malfunkshun, The Melvins, Skin Yard, Soundgarden and U-Men. The most noteworthy descendant band not mentioned above is Mudhoney. Singer Mark Arm was first in Green River. Many would consider this the first significant record from the burgeoning 1980s Seattle scene. Some would call it “grunge”, but I’ve read that many of the bands didn’t like being lumped into a single category.

Wikipedia has a good article about Deep Six where you see the song list and the band rosters. Scan the list and you’ll see a lot familiar names sometimes under less familiar bands. These guys moved around a lot.

I was very excited about this music because it was essentially guitar-based rock that wasn’t, for the most part, stupid mainstream stuff from guys with teased up hair and makeup. I suppose it was punk in its own way, but with better riffs.

There were only 2000 copies of Deep Six made. It’s supposedly collectible, and tonight I saw a copy on eBay for $75.

Various Artists -- The Blasting Concept Volume II

• Artist: Various Artists
• Title: The Blasting Concept Volume II
• Year: 1986
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1986 – Probably at Mother’s Records in Hampton, VA
• Keeper: Yes

No camera can capture the intense greenness of this album cover. I enjoyed The Blasting Concept Volume II more than I expected. I forgot how metal-sounding, a high compliment, some of these bands were back then. I have records by most of the bands on here, but it’s worth keeping for the few good songs I don’t have, like “Watch the Tractor” by Gone. My favorite is the Minutemen’s punkish cover of Van Halen’s “Ain’t Talking About Love.” I’ve never heard a bad version of that song, even from the garage band I played drums for in junior high.

• Artist: Painted Willie
• Title: Live From Van Nuys
• Year: 1986
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1986 – Bought it when I was working at Mother’s Records in Hampton, VA.
• Keeper: Maybe

“Live From Van Nuys With A Kiss And A Grapefruit” is etched into the vinyl margin on the side first. I have no idea what that means, but on most indie labels it’s worth taking a second to peak. Often there are little notes there, sometimes they’re funny.

Again, this was in the era when I would buy anything SST put out. I probably bought this because look like a heavy rock/metal band and I needed something with crunch. For the most part they deliver, but it’s little more punk than I expected, not a bad thing. I like the first song “Crossed Fingers” a lot. Doubt it’s a keeper though.