Episode Fünf

FUCKED UP

You know what's fucked up? The fact that this band plays almost exclusively to the hardcore scene. I understand why, having witnessed frontman Father Damian heartily and heavily take on a crowd of mauling Berlin punks. However, the guitars behind the man in front anchor the madness in a beautiful—gorgeous, even—wash of sound and glory that makes this just really really good music. Listening to their records at home, I could well imagine Fucked Up being backed up by a philharmonic some time in the future.

The band originates out of Toronto, Canada, and has, over the past 8 years, built an unassailable legacy out of ferocious live shows, incessant touring, informed, articulate interviews, an impeccable singles output, and two brilliant full lengths, the latter of which, The Chemistry of Common Life, is on Matador Records.

For more information, see lookingforgold.blogspot.com or www.matadorrecords.com.

"Dude, have you been to Berlin yet?!" covers the music, art and fashion scenes in Berlin, as witnessed by Jenna Young, recent transplant from New York City and guitar player in the rock band Ghetto Ways.

 "Dude, have you been to Berlin yet?!"
 Episode Vier
 
You know the bonus disk on the KISS Vol. 1 DVD boxset? The one tucked in the sleeve as if it is of least importance in the pack? Well, somewhere towards the end of that disk, there's Ace on his knees, swaying back and forth, undulating rock style to whatever he's unleashing on the strings. It's a moment, I tell you. Then fast forward to Black Diamond, the last song on the disk, and you see Peter Criss take over the mic and push out so much natural soul it kind of staggers you for a minute, because you really didn't expect it.
 
 You should check it out.
 
 The Hellacopters out of Stockholm, Sweden, have been a band for more than a dozen years, coming up in the garage, jetting on to larger labels and even a major, then rolling back down to where their feet touched the ground again. This year they decided to break up, and in great group spirit and with respect to their legacy and their fans, the band played a soldout farewell tour through Europe.
 
 For more information, see www.hellacopters.com <http://www.hellacopters.com> .
 

Episode Drei

KING KHAN and KING LOUIE let decadence reign!

Berlin bad boy, MTV darling and consummate crowd-pleaser King Khan recently ripped through the US on the maiden American voyage of his explosive soul revue, King Khan & The Shrines. After 10 years completely destroying the European continent, The Shrines are now being dutifully delivered to an American audience via Vice Records. The 10-piece band played clubs from east to west coast, the Pitchfork Festival in Chicago, and McCarren Pool, Southstreet Seaport and Andrew WK’s new nightclub in New York—early high caliber exposure due to the muscle behind the Vice machine. Like a hypnotist conjuring the sexual electricity slumbering deep within, King Khan can bring a crowd collectively to its knees. Think Stax and Specialty records, Volt and Veejay, Wilson Pickett, Sam Cooke, James Brown, and even Jon Spencer—King Khan has got the predatory magnetism to bend an audience to his will and will soon be seen globally hosting his own show on MTV World. A fine gentleman indeed, the King of Berlin opened his arms to the King of New Orleans—living Louisiana legend Louie Bankston, who was touring and tearing it up on this side of the pond with the dirty swamp stompers, The Royal Pendletons. 

But first, here’s a little Q&A with King Khan...


JY: There’s King Curtis, King Coleman, King Louie, The King of Rock and Soul—Solomon Burke—and then, of course, there’s the King himself—Elvis. And you call yourself King Khan. I’ve seen you live several times and will heartily admit you rip it down. But what gives you the right to carry that crown? 

KK: Well ask my wife...she's been smiling blissfully since 1999!

JY: Over a decade playing in the garage rock realm, you have full-length records out on Voodoo Rhythm, Hazelwood, Sympathy, Goner, Crypt, Norton, In The Red, and Vice, and dozens of singles on smaller labels. It goes without saying that you’re one of the most in-demand artists of your generation. Do you feel that signing now with Vice is going to open up The Shrines and your other popular favorite band, The King Khan & BBQ Show, to a wider audience, bigger tours, more money, better riders? 

KK: It isn’t really the label that decides whether or not we should be considered the new rock ‘n roll royalty. Vice is nice with its promotion, but we bled for 10 years on our own without any videos or “tour support.” We earned our gold through lots of blood, sweat, tears and cum. If anything, what got us better tours, riders, and such is the evolution and sophistication of our God-given musical talent and the simple fact that you can't stop rock ‘n roll!

JY: Yeah! Having personally witnessed onstage fellatio and anal audience firebreathing at one of your shows, I assume massive partying was in full effect on this Shrines’ tour. Can you give us any highlights? Are the audiences in the states taking to the soul spectacle like their European brethren?

KK: Someone from the Shrines—and I am not naming names—fucked a girl next to a dumpster and almost got tons of garbage emptied on them. I got to sing duets with Kid Congo, Ian Svenonius, Jello Biafra, the Gris Gris, Jay Reatard, Cole Alexander, Mark Sultan, Bradford Cox, Jon Spencer and the Mighty Hannibal. This was the first of many Shrine US Invasions. God Bless America and the American soul music that we play. We are finally getting a chance to bring it all home to Jerome!!!!! About time something like this took place. Move over Amy Winehouse...the freak brothers are rollin’ in and THEY HAVE VISAS!!!!!!!!!!!!

JY: What’s next for The Shrines?

KK: $$$$$$$ Bling! $$$$$$$ Maybe backing up Beyonce, Trina... I wanna venture into hip hop, do a country album, and move to New York right away!

"Dude, Have You Been to Berlin Yet?!"
Episode Zwei

YEAR LONG DISASTER

What do Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Mick Taylor, Malcom and Angus Young, Dee Dee Ramone, Phil Lynott and Johnny Thunders have in common? Ax innovators, all, but that's not where I'm going here. Ask any boy or girl and they'll tell you right away: damage and charm. When it comes to rock and roll, we can lock step behind a tight riff, player sight unseen. But to burn our interest even brighter, visual hints of damage and charm are required. Daniel Davies, descended from the stellar Sixties lineage of the brothers Davies of The Kinks, and at only twenty-six years of age, can already riff heavy, rip a solo, and groove live with the unselfconscious command of his collective musical forefathers. 

In support of their debut album on Volcom Records, Year Long Disaster—with Brad Hargreaves on drums and Rich Mullins on bass—has toured the US several times, playing stadium rock arenas with the Foo Fighters and massive venues with Motorhead, The Misfits and label brothers Turbonegro and Valiant Thorr. Recently, they swum the seas to Europe and hit the summer festival and small club circuits. 

See www.yearlongdisaster.com for more details.

“Dude, have you been to Berlin yet?!”

Episode eins

FITZ
Twisted Robot booking agent out of London and Berlin, Mighty Robot warehouse warden in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, club owner, label owner, party planner, behind the scenes rock purveyor. For the past nine years, Fitz has been an integral component in the noise, rock, punk, new wave, and psych movements burgeoning throughout four continents. Originally from The Land of Thin Lizzy, Fitz now resides in Berlin, where, with his business partner Paul Carlin, he runs the club West Germany, promotes shows at other venues around town, and books a select few bands touring European soil. Rocking through small clubs and massive festivals in six-week jaunts, the Twisted Robot roster currently includes Comets on Fire, Six Organs of Admittance, Black Dice, Japanther, and Rick Rubin's new darlings, Howlin' Rain.
  
Showcased here are Brooklyn’s DIY indie punk sons, Japanther (www.myspace.com/japanther), and London’s Sun Ra Archestra-meets-Bette Davis amalgam, Chrome Hoof (www.myspace.com/chromehoof). See also www.twistedrobot.com.

“Dude, have you been to Berlin yet?!” covers the music, art and fashion scenes in Berlin, as witnessed by Jenna Young, recent transplant from New York City and guitar player in the rock band Ghetto Ways.