I just got a hold of a 13th Floor Elevators show from 1966 so it's a bit ironic that I've also recently acquired Garage Mayhem: Live at Asbury Lanes, a collection of contemporary garage rock. Asbury Lanes is a music club born only a few years ago out of the desire of an Asbury Park, NJ promoter to find a spot to showcase garage and psychobilly bands. The disused bowling alley of the album's title was resurrected as a live music venue and Garage Mayhem is a sampler of some of the bands that have performed there.
This album is totally without pretension and has provided me with some of the most fun listening all year. The promotional material lists four "key tracks" but this recommendation can be ignored as the whole album is a blast and full of good vibes from 40 years ago. Seven bands get two songs each with Muck & the Mires starting things off with "It's About Over Now", a high-energy song full of fuzzy guitar. "FM Receiver" by The Brimstones shows that garage rock was the prototype of punk with its chunky riff and general sense of anarchy.
More than a patina of surf emerges with The Coffin Daggers as they veer towards The Ventures with "Forgotten Prisoner" and then over to Man or Astroman? on "Shark Attack" with the staccato organ and 50s B-movie dramatics. The big burly voice of Sam Steinig dominates Mondo Topless while the two tracks by Sons of Moon features some great harmony singing. Why their ultra-catchy "No Soul to Sell" was passed by for key track status is a mystery. The last band here is Thee Minks and they feature the only female voices of the set. "Shut Up and Kiss Me" is a strong closer with the pounding beat and Hope Diamond (or is it Liz Lixx?) expressing her desire to have another beer and lose her mind with a potential lover. And she likes it dirty too.
Fans of the Farsifa no longer have to wear grooves in their old ? and the Mysterians albums because Headshop Records has some new blood for you. Now why did I ever get rid of my Standells tape?
No comments:
Post a Comment