Garage

Mike Stax – San Diego, California - Editor of Ugly Things Magazine, Singer of the Loons

1. I know you were born in the UK, please tell us a little bit about your background and what inspired you to move to California?

I was born in Watford, but lived all over England, eventually winding up near Leeds. I became interested in ‘60s music as a kid, and by the time I was in my teens I was a rabid fan of bands like the Pretty Things, Yardbirds, Downliners Sect, Them, Stones et al. One night in late 1979 I heard the Crawdaddys on John Peel and was blown away that a new band from California could play ‘60s R&B with such authenticity. I’d been trying to form a band to play that kind of music but couldn’t find people. After getting all the Crawdaddys records I wrote them a fan letter c/o Bomp Records. A few weeks later I received a reply from their singer/guitarist Ron Silva asking if I’d be interested in coming to San Diego and being their bass player. I was 18 years old and had just got out of school. A couple of months later I was on a plane to the States. That was in November 1980.

2. Tell us about your current band the Loons and your future plans?

After playing bass for many years with the Crawdaddys, the Tell-Tale Hearts and the Hoods, I decided I wanted to be the singer and frontman for a change, so I formed the Loons in 1996. We released our first album in 1998, Love’s Dead Leaves, produced by Ebbot Lundborg of Soundtrack of our Lives. There were a few lineup changes after that, but for the last ten years or so it’s been me, Anja Dixson (bass), Marc Schroeder (guitar), Chris Marsteller (guitar) and Mike Kamoo (drums). Our most recent album, Red Dissolving Rays of Light, was released by Bomp in 2010. We have a new album about two-thirds completed and hope to get that released in early 2013, and maybe play in Europe again then.

3. When did Ugly Things magazine start and why?

In March of 2013 it’ll have been 30 years since the first issue. I started Ugly Things in 1983 because I wanted to spread the word about all the great ‘60s era bands that seemed to have been ignored by most of the world – bands like the Pretty Things, Q65, the Outsiders, the Seeds, the Monks and the Music Machine, to name just a few.

4. What was your favourite edition and why?

My favourite edition is always the one I’m working on, because that’s the one all my passion is wrapped up in. Plus it’s a case of always trying to make each issue better than last. But if I had to pick a personal favourite in might be Issue 13, which had a huge story on the Birds. I really enjoyed interviewing Kim Gardner, Tony Munroe and Ali McKenzie. They really opened up to me, as well as sharing many great photos and clippings from their scrapbooks. I was really proud with how the story turned out. Looking at this issue brings back some great memories for me—sad ones too as Kim is now gone. The last issue (#32) with my interview with Johnny Echols of Love is also one of my favourites.

5. It’s well documented that your favourite band is the Pretty Things, what is about the Pretty Things that make them your seminal band?

The Pretty Things embody everything that is cool and exciting about the bands and the music of the ‘60s, and rock & roll in general. There was purity to everything they did—they never seemed to be motivated by ego or a hunger for fame, they just sort of let things happen and didn’t care about the consequences. They’re still the same way, and that’s inspiring to me. There’s no compromise at all in their music, be it the early raw R&B records, the psychedelic stuff, or the more progressive records that followed. There were few other bands that could master all of those forms so definitively. There’s something about their image, their lifestyle, their attitude and their whole approach to creating music that I can identify with absolutely,

6. When did the very useful 60’s compilation database start on the Ugly Things website and why?

The Searchin’ for Shakes database was started by Menachem Turchick in the late ‘90s and has been a part of the Ugly Things website ever since. It’s an amazing resource for ‘60s fans because you can cross-reference thousands of tracks, bands, and compilations, along with info about original release dates, labels, etc.

7. There is a phenomenal amount of record reviews in each issue for example along with a big team of authors, how long does it take to complete each issue?

We publish the mag twice a year, and it takes 5-6 months to complete each issue. As soon as I send an issue to the printer, I’m already starting work on the next one.

8. I enjoyed the Misunderstood story immensely anything similar in the pipeline?

I’m pleased you enjoyed the Misunderstood story so much. It was a huge undertaking. I spent about four or five years researching that one, interviewing all the band members along with dozens of other people who were associated with them. I was living and breathing the Misunderstood every day, logging hours of long distance phone interviews to New Zealand and the UK, and even traveling to Thailand to interview Rick Brown, as well as making numerous road trips to the Riverside area to meet with other band members. I don’t have anything else in the pipeline that involves that kind of legwork, but whenever I cover a band I try to do it as definitively as possible.

9. You have met many great musicians from legendary bands through Ugly Things magazine over the years any funny tales you can share with us?

Hanging out with Kim Gardner was always a blast. He’d have me in stitches. It was a bit like being an extra in that Dudley Moore movie, Arthur. It was hard to keep up with him. Any conversation with Sky Saxon was always memorable, too. He was perpetually stoned. He’d go into these long bizarre monologues about saving the dogs so we could save the planet.

10. Any further music related projects like the Philip Debarge & Pretty Things and The Misunderstood albums to follow on the record label in the near future?

Recently I’ve been focusing on seven-inch releases. Last year we did a reissue of the Sloths’ “Makin’ Love” single including a repro of the original sleeve. Next up is the Bees’ “Voices Green and Purple,” which should be out by the end of November 2012, with any luck!

11. Other than the Pretty Things what other old masters have impressed you in recent years?

A couple of years ago Anja and I took our then four-year-old son to see Roky Erickson play an ice cream social for a bunch of 3-7 year old kids. He played about eight songs, including “You’re Gonna Miss Me” and then took questions from the kids. That was one of the most fun and surreal shows ever.

12. What new bands have really grabbed your attention?

I’m really impressed with the Strypes. They’re playing exactly the kind of music that got me excited when I was their age and wound up making me move to the States. There are a lot of other really good bands out there these days though. I love the Frowning Clouds from Australia, the Higher State, of course, and also Paul Messis. There’s a new young band from LA that are really cool, too, called the Shag Rats.

13. You will find Ugly Things in the good London record shops but these are becoming few and far between now. How many issues of the magazine do you produce a year and what is the best way to order a copy?

Ugly Things comes out twice a year. If you can’t find it at your local hip record emporium, order it online at www.ugly-things.com

Links

Facebook: Ugly Things
Facebook: The Loons

Next Events:

Ugly Things #34 out November 2012 with the Bees, the Blue Aces, the Haunted, Cyril Jordan on the British Invasion, the Others, the Viletones, Milan the Leather Boy and more.

Cool Yule with your psychotic friends. The Loons at Bar Pink, 3829 30th Street – San Diego, CA 92104 - December 22, 2012.

The band:

Lead vocal: Paul Wright
Lead Guitar: Lee Morse
Rhythm Guitar and backing vocal: Rick Hyde
Bass guitar and backing vocal: Phil Lodge
Drums and percussion: John Gagon
Trumpet: Martin Wilkinson

Discography: We’ve produced a series of demos / recordings over the years, but feel the raw energy of our live performances has yet to be captured in a studio environment. With recording sessions planned for the near future, we hope that we will have something we are happy to release by the autumn.

1. How long have you been active for and how did you get together?

The band has been together for 4 years. Paul, Rick and Phil were in a previous band together. Lee joined as lead guitar in January 2008 and John joined in March 2008. Finally Martin joined in December 2009 to complete the line up.

2. What influences do the band members have in common?

We’ve all got an interest in 60’s culture, the films, fashions and most importantly the sounds.

3. Are there any other bands you’d recommend from your area? Why?

Good friends ‘The Minx’, from Wythenshawe Manchester. We both rehearse at Blueprint studios in Manchester and recently shared support slots for the Moons. The band fuse pumping 60′s organ with a punk / scar ethos, which combines to make a unique sound and energy.

4. What’s the 60’s/underground scene like where you’re from?

We’ve introduced our own very successful night by the name of Run for Cover as we felt that the underground/60’s scene in Manchester was lacking. The night was held in Chorlton in south Manchester and quickly became very popular. Since then the night has moved to the city centre and has played hosts to such acts as the amazing ROSCO (Sterling Roswell of Spacemen 3) and Psych Folk troubadour John Stammers.

5. How would you describe the style you play?

Psychedelic garage with northern soul and mod leanings.

6. What are your live shows like?

Energetic, raw, wire-mesh tight and powerful!

7. What are your main influences in music? Who do/would you play covers by?

Our shared influences include 13th floor elevators, The Stairs, The Sonics. Small faces, The Yardbirds. We currently play 2 covers, liar, liar by The Castaways and Psychotic Reaction by The Count Five.

8. What are your main influences outside of music?

Being from Manchester we’re all into our football & fashion, we like to look our best. We believe that stage performance should be visual as well as audio.

9. Who write your songs and what subjects do you deal with?

Rick is the main song writer although both Lee and John have contributed several songs to the band’s armoury.

10. What’s your favourite song in your repertoire currently? What’s your favourite song by another artist?

Our current favourite song is called ‘the beat goes on’. It’s a Mersey Beat-esque jaunt that is effectively, a call to arms, to rise and conquer the pain inflected by a broken heart. Our current favourite song by another artist is Tosta Mista by Hooded Fang.

11. How would you describe the current underground scene?  Do you participate?

The current underground scene is alive and kicking in London and Liverpool where we gig quite frequently. We have also played across Europe in cities like Berlin, where the scene is immense.

12. What has been the biggest challenge to date?

Finding a hammond player to join the band.

13. How often do you Rehearse? Play Live? Record? Anything interesting coming up?

We are currently rehearsing once a week and have a new ep due to be out in the Autumn. We’re also playing the mod weekender in Brighton for the August bank holiday and will be putting on a single launch at our Run For Cover night in September this year (date to be confirmed)

14. What do you think of the music coverage in the media?

There is coverage of the 60′s underground scene, but you need to know where to look. This suits us. It means those with a genuine interest and enthusiasm for what we do can discover us, and leaves the scene untarnished by those who need to be told what to like.

15. Do you rate any current mainstream or underground bands?

We have a lot of respect for The Coral. To us they are a band that stick to their roots, remain credible and still achieve a good level of mainstream success. Recent bands that have caught our attention with 60′s style garage and pop tendencies, include Toronto’s Hooded Fang and The Hypnotic Eye from South-London.

16. Who/Where would you most like to record with and why?

We would love to work with Jan “Stan” Kybert. He’s worked with a number of bands/artists that we admire including, The Stands, The Draytones and of course Paul Weller.

17. What should we expect from you in the future?  What are your plans and ambitions? What interesting gig dates have you got coming up?

We would like to continue to grow as a band, developing our sound and line-up and to reach as many like minded 60′s enthusiasts as possible, across all of  Europe and beyond!

Band Promo Links -

soundcloud.com/elgazelle

www.facebook.com/elgazelle

www.myspace.com/elgazelle

twitter.com/elgazelle

 

The band…


Darren Howe: (Rhythm Guitar) – he plays guitar and fronts the band with a smile on his face, he’s a real funny bloke.

Mitch Turner: (Lead Guitar) – plays lead and turns his amp up after every song until its the Mitch Turner show! and he’s the biggest tart you’ll ever meet too.

Scott Roberts: (Drums) – in the control room, a reserved character and an excellent drummer with a great voice too… who has a slight obsession with a 50′s rocker who was born in Tupelo Mississippi.

Danny Shwe: (Bass Guitar) – Well I play Bass, sometimes backing Vocals and general moaning and complaining all about tempo.

1. Where are you from and where are you based?

Scott: We’re all from deepest darkest Essex, although Mitch now lives in Brighton, East Sussex.

2. How did you guys meet and what drove you to make music together?

Darren: Scott is my brother in law and we’ve both been in and out him mainly in, me mainly out) of bands for a long time. We both have a passion for anything 60s so decided to come together and do something we’ve both wanted to do for years. Not sure where we met Mitch but we rescued him from a life of hanging round bus stops drinking cheap cider, if he pulls he’s finger out could be one of the greats. I’ve know Danny for about a few months, we met through a lonely hearts column. Small of stature big of talent.

3. Are there any other bands you’d recommend from your area? Why?

Darren:: Erm……… Not that I’ve seen.

Scott: We don’t get the chance to get out and see live bands much anymore we always seem to be out gigging when there’s anything good we fancy.

4. What’s the 60’s/underground scene like where you’re from?

Darren: Balding middle aged men wearing leather waistcoats and tight jeans singing ferry across the Mersey. But that’s enough about us!

Scott: We’ve played for quite a few Scooter Clubs & Rallies, the guys are very supportive and we’ve made some really good friends through doing this.

Mitch: Where I live in Brighton there’s a few good 60’s night, the Nuts are always very good.

Danny: Shameless plug there Mitchell!

5. How would you describe the style you play?

Darren: 60s beat, garage, mod, pop and whatever else takes your fancy done in a frantic what the… are we doing kinda way.

Danny: I would say animated, energetic… FAST! (too fast really, Dazza wont like that ha ha! he likes to play fast.

6. What are your live shows like?

Mitch: Raw 60’s beat sound.

Scott: We like to keep it as authentic as possible, my pet hate is bands trying to replicate the sound with the wrong equipment, it can’t be done.

Darren: He’s going to mention the cymbals…

Mitch: Scott hates modern cymbals!

7. What are your main influences in music? Who do you play covers by?

Scott: Sixties Beat & Garage with sprinkling of Psych

Mitch: The Sonics, The Kinks, The Eyes, The Count Five, early Beatles, Small Faces you get the picture.

8. And who do you despise?

Darren: I despise Tony my next door neighbour he’s been putting that dry wall up for months now.

9. What are your main influences outside of music?

Danny: Everything I see influences me, but I’m probably more influenced by the things I’ve done… or generally messed up!

10. What’s your favourite song in your repertoire currently? What’s your favourite song by another artist?

Mitch: Shake – Small Faces & loving the Pretty Things- LSD.

Darren: At moment I’m going to go for “The Witch” by The Sonics. Fast, furious and over in a flash.

Danny: I like The Small Faces, so any of those.

11. How would you describe the current underground scene?  Do you participate?

Darren: I’m not really involved in any scene so I wouldn’t like to say.

Mitch: I go to a few 60s nights in and around Essex and in Brighton there’s a few good nights about but not enough of them.

Danny: I don’t know I’m new to all this… but I do join in one way or another…

12. What has been the biggest challenge to date?

Danny: Probably splitting the atom… with the smallest scissors you’ve ever seen!

13. How often do you Rehearse? Play Live? Record?

Mitch: We try and rehearse at least once a week and play live pretty much every weekend. We will be doing a lot of recording this year, we are all ready to go and can’t wait to get original material out there.

14. What do you think of the music coverage in the media?

Darren: I don’t think about it at all.

Danny: Radio is still there, the internet has the biggest influence, it’s just the TV that pisses me off, I mean how many reality pop shows do we need?

15. Do you rate any other current bands?

Darren: Yes

16. Where would you most like to record with and why?

Darren: Toe Rag Studios I’ve seen them on YouTube and they have loads of original equipment and the guy seems pretty cool. Might have to raid the piggy bank for that one though.

Scott: Abbey Road

Danny: Might have to rob a bank for that one Scotty!

17. What should we expect from you in the future?  What are your plans and ambitions?

Darren: Lots more live shows and bags loads of original material.

Mitch: We want to get bigger on the underground scene around the country and start making more of a name for ourselves.

Band Promo Links -

www.shake101.co.uk

www.facebook.com/Shake101

Force 9 by King Mob (Four Spinning Records)

Band Members: Stepher W. Parsons, Chris Spedding, 16, Andy Newmark, Guy Pratt

Engineer: Jarrad Hearman

Label: Steamhammer

Release Date: Nov 8, 2011

Loud, powerful and worthy of the cast behind this. I think I saw Glen Matlock from the Sex Pistols in our NUTs promoted gig of theirs. Snips (aka Stephen W. Parsons) from Sharks, the early 70’s too often forgotten nugget, leads this outfit. It’s Hard Rock with elegant saloon guitars, think Jimmy Page gone Swing. It’s got 5 stars average customer reviews from Amazon and apparently there’s only one more copy left on vinyl. I worked with Steve Parsons myself, he worked as a producer in one of my singles. I know his influences and I can vouch for their depth and exquisite precision. Sit back and be swallowed into this all-star cast’s spell. It is a great commemoration of old friends for now, but if more albums pop out of this determined guerrilla militia I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the newbie bands out there call crying.

GRAB YOUR COPY HERE!

 

 

We brought you a showcase of the best acts that will be playing at LBB8. If you’re still unsure if you’re coming, give it a try… If you’re definitely coming, then get a quick fix. See you all there anyway!

A transcript in case you can’t understand Eron’s Jive English…

Hello everyone and welcome to NUTsCast. We’ve got a special NUTsCast for you on this third official release. Le Beat Bespoké 8 is coming up in April and all the kids are a-shakin’ with anticipation. The crowd dictated our direction and we chose just the songs to give you a taste of what’s coming in April. Sit back, enjoy your cooking, cleaning, your pipe or cigar and beautiful penthouse view of central Tokyo or dodgy dusty basement feel of suburban London. I’m gonna take you on a journey through the acts we chose for Le Beat Bespoké 8.

The Winners of our Battle of the Bands competition and possible rockabilly champions of London will open the festival on Thursday night. Jack Rabbit Slim –  Listen to: Long Time Dead,

Friday night we’ll be bringing you back to the 8 hour technicolor dream in Alexandra Palace 1967… Don’t miss our revealing interview with Arthur Brown and his Surprisingly Crazy World.

A band hailed post-mortem and resurrected to shine even brighter, here’s July with Dandelion Seeds

So we’ve shown you July and we’ve shown you the crazy world of arthur brown, but there’s one more band that will be performing their classic late 60′s album live for the first time since the Hipster Golden Age, a personal favourite of mine, the Pretty Things

ANOUNCEMENT April Come She Will, so hurry and get your tickets before we sell out at www.newuntouchables.com

After the record fair and Dirt Water Records, showcases, Saturday afternoon you’ll hear the wonderful sounds of our new breed garage sensation Thee Vicars,

Before we step into the gloriously sinful night of Saturday, I bring you another personal favourite to grace our stages, Don Fardon & the Sorrows.

There’s a cherry on top of every night, that is the DJs of NUTsWorld who will be taking you into the wee hours of the morn, remember kids, it’s no use whining when the tickets have gone, times are fast and it’s all one click away at  www.newuntouchables.com

I interviewed the Trashmen myself, and they didn’t have a lot to say… they were to busy screaming! Saturday night at Le Beat Bespoke 8

It’s Sad, but it’s Sunday finally. Now we’ll be testing your moves with two rooms on Sunday night, on Room A, Cataluñas Armada devastation the Pepperpots. Singing with the Pepperpots is the unforgettable Maxine Brown

On the other room A will be the garage palatable, a great European band I once had the privilege of having a bus ride with, Wild Evel & the Trashbones

Scotland’s finest will leave you with a pre-nostalgia to an undoubtably memorable event, The Poets live at LBB 8, yes, you heard me right, the Poets…

How does it feel to have heard it all and still not have a glimpse? I’m with you brothers and sisters, tickets at  www.newuntouchables.com

Eron the Red Baron, DJ MrE out…

Who are the members of your band and what do they do?

Louise Turner: Vocals
Mark Mortimer: Bass
Scott Riley: Organ, piano, vocals
Nigel Horton: Drums
Tony Russell: Guitars, vocals
Miri May: Vocals
Donald Ross Skinner: producer, guitar
Rich Skilbeck: Trumpet, flugelhorn, saxes
Simon Holland: Harmonica, trumpet, flugelhorn
Josh Large: Trombone

How did you guys meet and what drove you to make music together?

DC Fontana’s current line up is relatively new and we create music as a form of constant cathartic evolution designed to keep us out of the asylum as long as we possibly can.

How would you describe the style you play?

Art & soul… I think of it as melodic psychedelia copulating with earthier soul, jazz & folk vibes to create a cinematic offspring. It’s sonic medicine for poorly times.

What are your live shows like?

We never cut corners & always give an honest, 100% all or nothing effort that is value for money for these frugal, screwed up days but also, whenever we have the money, we like to make the bigger gigs more of a happening and add a whole visual ‘art & soul’ aspect to illustrate the music itself. This could mean elements of performance art, surrealism, optical decor etc and is all part of our creed that encourages us to make cool short films as well. We see ourselves as more than just songwriters and musicians and it’s why we spend so much time and money on making our records, videos and gigs up to a certain quality. We revel in working with talented photographers, dancers, painters, film-makers, graphic designers, costume makers, performance artists, lighting wizards, folk-dancers & others.

What are your main influences in music? Who do/would you play covers by? And who do you despise?

We are a sound-clash of sundry sonic tapestries woven from more than 300 years of influence and many people inspire us – some are probably obvious and a lot are not! The past may inform our present but we don’t feel the need to re-enact anything and so if we do play covers we inject our own DNA direct into their bloodstream. We’ve sprinkled our gigs with a few eclectic covers; from Morricone to World Of Oz, from Peru’s Traffic Sound to Germany’s Heidi Brühl & from the Velvet Underground to Jackie Lomax as well as Julie Driscoll & Pentangle… But there are no boundaries – I’d cover anything we felt we could add our own slant to. It doesn’t have to fit neatly into any generic bag to qualify. I try not to waste my energies on despising anything or anyone and prefer to be vibed up with positivity rather than weighted down in the misery of the gargantuan diet of rubbish the general public is force-fed on…

What are your main influences outside of music?

First & foremost, our friends and families but also I enjoy the various peripheral delights attached to creating music like the elements of art and film-making. Being in a group should be more than knocking off a few chords & lyrics – it should be an exhilarating ride and I am keen to work with people who awash with interesting ideas who can take on board our own individual personalities and help twist things. We made our ‘Six Against Eight’ video an eight-minute short film to pay homage to Pat McGoohan whereas on the more recent ‘Meshkalina’ video we wore hand-crafted animal masks while having fun exploring our love of late 60s/early 70s folk-horror movies like ‘the Wicker Man’ & ‘Blood On Satan’s Claw.’ The ‘Abbesses’ video sees us taking elements of ‘the Avengers’, “the Girl On A Motorcycle’ & late 50s nouvelle vague movies.

How many official recordings have you done?  How many released?  Where can they be found? And who write your songs and what subjects do you deal with?

The Contessa / Snake Charmer: 7” vinyl single (DCTone Records)
Six Against Eight: CD / mp3 album (DCTone Records)
Meshkalina / It Don’t Worry Me 7” vinyl single (Heavy Soul Records)
Meshkalina CD / mp3 EP (DCTone Records)
La Contessa CD / mp3 (DCTone Records)
La Contessa 12” vinyl album (Teensound / Misty Lane Records)
All available from www.dcfontana.com/shop.html

Subject matter varies wildly from the everyday like sex, freedom, joy and despair, unrequited love, mortality and even biscuits through to existentialism, metaphysics & the horrors of love turning violent, the ghosts of famous dead people having a mediaeval hoe-down after dark in Paris and the modern-day cult of underachieving banality. Some songs are the product of story-telling and much of it is personal experience given real animated life.  Expect the unexpected.

What’s the favorite song of yours currently?

A brand new one called ‘Devilangel’ which may appear on the next album.

How would you describe the current underground scene?  Do you participate?

Yes we participate whenever we can…. I personally love the diversity of peoples, clothes, tastes and styles: it mirrors our own search for the end of the rainbow.

What has been the biggest challenge to date?

Avoiding financial meltdown.

How often do you rehearse? Play Live? Record?

We are undoubtedly old school and gig frenetically; usually we play twice a week & rehearse weekly though it’s difficult as we all live so far apart.

What do you think of the music coverage in the media?

It can be summed up neatly in two famous words: shit sandwich.

Do you rate any other current bands?

As with all eras there are lots of great bands making great music across the spectrum of genre and even more people producing a great festering pile of kak. I particularly like the Silver Factory among others. The great challenge right now for all of us is to get our music heard because with the music industry imploding and the global economic difficulties I believe it’s never been as tough as it is now for people in the arts to stay afloat, let alone flourish.

Who/Where would you most like to record and why?

Recording with the strings section of the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra on our first record is hard to top actually – that was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever done in my life but we are forever pushing the boundaries with quixotic and interesting ideas and on the next album we are planning to record one track inside a church with a choir.

What should we expect from you in the future?  What are your plans and ambitions?

We are very ambitious and currently in a rich vein of song-writing; we’re corralling quite a corpulent collection of new tunes and there is a lot of music to be made yet! We will be heading into the studio as soon as we can to record new material but a lot depends on available funds because it costs us a lot for us to do the interesting things we do and everyone is struggling. I think we’ve made great strides this year and we are looking to keep building on what we’ve achieved thus far, disseminate our music as far as we can and continue to make interesting music and art. Although I find it difficult to quantify ‘success’ in this day and age we are happy with our first records – feel we’ve come a very long way in recent moons. It’s been exciting to play in so many different countries but there’s so much more we want to do; we all see our initial success as laying down a foundation for a brighter future.

Band Promo Links:

Website: www.dcfontana.com
www.myspace.com/dcfontana
www.facebook.com/dcfontana

The Band are… 

Aron: Bass & vocals
Mats: Drums
Måns: Guitar, vocals & sound fx
Sebastian: Guitar & vocals

How did you guys meet and what drove you to make music together?

Måns and Sebastian run a 60s club (99^th Floor) together and they talked about forming a new band a couple of years ago. Soon Mats, from Sebastian’s previous band The Giljoteens, joined. They now had the songs and the style but they needed a young handsome, untouched bass player. Aron, of Les Artyfacts, was the man for the job. He couldn’t play bass at first but he was young, handsome and untouched for sure.

Or: We all knew each other from before and all our previous groups more or less split up at the same time so The Flight Reaction is basically the debris from The Giljoteens, The Maggots and Les Artyfacts.

No seriously, we met at a record fair. We were the only guys who weren’t fat and smelly and fought over expensive seventies prog albums with songs about unicorns. When we started talking it turned out that we all know things about women as well! Incredible where life takes us sometimes!

No really, honestly, we all met at a zoo. We lived in the same cage and then we managed to escape together. You should see us when we haven’t shaved for a couple of weeks.

How would you describe the style you play?

Garage beat ‘n’ moody sounds, with more than a hint of psychedelia. No hippie drivel or stoner shite though.

Our style is very sixties influenced, but with no obvious carbon copy stuff – it’s all our own take on it and we really go for melodies and diversity in arrangements etc. We just pretend that nothing’s happened since 1967 when we compose. That’s not very hard, since almost nothing has happened since then.

What are your live shows like?

We try to present an equal mix of super great songs with tight harmonies and more freaky excursions, without falling into that tired ‘long guitar solo’ trap that a lot of people think is the same as ‘psychedelic’. Instead we opt for just taking off into echoes ‘n’ sounds, kinda Barret Floyd style but mixed with a stronger garage groove. We’re still working on getting a lightshow aswell, but most modern venues have black backdrops and lame ‘rock lights’… Of course we dress up for the occasions as well. You won’t see us hanging from any ceilings though – the music, sounds and our good looks are the show!

What are your main influences in music? Who do/would you play covers by? And who do you despise?

Covers…

The covers we play at the moment are ‘Citadel’ by the Rolling Stones (a UK band from the sixties who ventured into psychedelia for a short while around 1967, just like The Hollies) and ‘Green Destroys the Gold’ by the Beacon Street Union. We’ve also played ‘My Time’ by The Golden Dawn and ‘Nothing Can Bring Me Down’ by the Twilighters.

Influences…

Måns: The experience… and yeah stuff the 13^th Floor Elevators, New Colony Six, Silver Apples, the Pretty Things, Moby Grape, the Dovers, the Seeds, Barret Floyd, the Deep, Tages, countless (mostly US) punkadelic garage bands. A few eighties bands like the early Rain Parade, Laughing Soup Dish, the Steppes and some others also did some things that were very similar to what we wanna project with our music, methinks. Real psychedelia, and garage beat sounds, would be the short answer, I guess.

Aron: Tages, Pretty Things, the Wanted, the Smoke, St Louis Union, les Fleurs de Lys, Ronnie Bird…

Mats: The Crystal Chandelier, the Human Expression, and the Morning Dew – that type of moody psychedelia…

Sebastian: 60’s garage and psychedelia in general from bands that only mostly only recorded a 45 or two. The Dovers, Pink Floyd, Oscar & the Majestics, Electras, MG & the Escorts just to name a few.

Spitting vomit…

Måns: I hate hippie and theatre music, like Santana or the Doors. I don’t like cover bands much, like for example Led Zeppelin. I’m not into sports so I’ve never understood when people play as many notes as possible very fast.

The short answer to this question is: I like good music and hate bad music. And I am always right.

Aron: I have to say that I think Jimi Hendrix is quite boring. Overall bands/artists that play too much just to show how “skillful” they are.

Mats: Bands who are acting cool…

Sebastian: Cover bands are so boring, why bother? I mean the songs have already been done and probably much better anyway…

What are your main influences outside of music?

Måns: L.S.D.! No seriously… hehehe… life itself and all that’s going on around me. Love ‘n’ height. Nowadays I fly on memories ‘n’ feelings when tapping into those certain areas, lyricswise and so on. Magical thinking.

Aron: La belle époque, Napoleonic uniforms and 19^th C mysticism.

Mats: Like everyone else I enjoy collecting 45’s and when time allows watching old movies.

Sebastian: Apart from playing, I enjoy collecting records and playing them of course. Food and wine is a great passion of mine and the good thing is that you can combine the two extremely well together with friends, playing those records.

How many official recordings have you done? How many released? Where can they be found? And who write your songs and what subjects do you deal with?

Three singles to this date. Two are released on Copasetic records in Germany and one is released on 13 O’Clock records in the US.

Where can they be found? In well stocked record stores and around that thing called “the internet”… there is something called “google” which may be helpful when looking for newly released records.

What’s your favourite song currently?

Måns: The 13^th Floor Elevators ‘Roller Coaster’ and the Silver Apples ‘A Pox on You’ are always my favourite songs. Right now though I’m particularly fond of playing the Models ‘Bend Me, Shape Me’ on MGM over and over… and I keep getting blown away by Tages ‘Fantasy Island’ every time I play it…

Aron: Ronnie Bird ‘Rain in the City’, Cherry Slush ‘I Cannot Stop You’,  The Wanted ‘Here to Stay’

Mats: The Mystic Tide – “Frustration”, the Raving Madd – “Boundaries” and Crystal Chandelier – “Your Land of Love” go on repeat on my record player…

Sebastian: Park Avenue Playground ‘The Trip’, Painted Faces ‘I Lost You in My Mind’, Ramases & Selket ‘Mind’s Eye’, Paul Martin ‘It Happened’

How would you describe the current underground scene? Do you participate?

In Sweden there’s not really an underground scene for what we are doing – but there may be  seeds sown and when/if that’s harvested we will probably be there. We try to contribute organising clubs and spinning records from time to time. People generally love the things we are playing without necessarily being part of the small scene that we’ve got.

Good Swedish bands… Trummor & Orgel, the Fourtune Tellers, Voladoras, the Satans, Early Days…

What has been the biggest challenge to date?

To try and live in this world, surrounded by idiots.

How often do you Rehearse? Play Live? Record?

Often enough to not forget what we’re doing, haha! We’re recording at the rehearsal from time to time, when we got new songs. It’s a good way to work on lyrics and arrangements in between rehearsals. We’ve been playing live quite a lot. Gigs just kept pouring in for a while. Right now we’ve decided to concentrate on the album instead though, but if the right offer comes along we’re game!

What do you think of the music coverage in the media?

Mainstream media rock journalists probably have the easiest and most retarded ‘job’ on the planet… basic writing about whatever is ‘in’ this week and generally just making shit up in between getting drunk at free gigs. The biggest thing since the Beatles is apparently TV programmes where ‘average people’ sing washed out karaoke versions of washed out hits, so that’s what the mainstream ‘music media’ mostly write about these days.

Then there’s fantastic publications like Ugly Things, Shindig!, your own publication and so on, of course.

Do you rate any other current bands?

The Higher State and Paul Messis, Trummor & Orgel… we know there are lots more but these cats are the ones that spring to mind right off the bat.

Who/Where would you most like to record and why?

At the Abbey Road studio in ’67. Why? SF Sorrow, Piper… Or Gold Star in ’67! Or the Fenton studio! But seriously, it would be stunning to record at Atlantic here in Stockholm. It’s a huge old studio that’s been at the same location since the fifties. They still have all the old gear, including a sound technician who’s worked there since the sixties and knows all about doing analog tape phasing etc.. Masses of killer mics and tube compressors. Large recording room, looking just like it did in 1965. Way too expensive for us at this moment though. So we plan to record at our rehearsal and add vocals ‘n’ fluff in a studio run by an old friend who’s a dream to work with. It will hopefully be totally great.

What should we expect from you in the future? What are your plans and ambitions?

We would like to be the new standard bearers of a psychedelic revolution! Change the world etc – nothing less! Get rich, buy castles, invent a time machine and go back to 1966-1970 to buy records and meet Marianne Faithful. Have our own goose farm and produce foie gras. Travel in space. Lay golden eggs.

We will settle for making a really great LP though, and that’s in the works. We have a bunch of new songs and we’ve already made pre production recordings to choose songs, plan the flow and production etc. The plan is to have a good balance between live in the studio takes and whatever studio trickery we may come up with. We think that a studio album is something completely different from a live show. Live there’s the audience and the whole aspect of ‘now’. On a studio album we’ll make up for the lack of that by adding other elements instead – it’s more like a psychedelic ride though your mind, with us as the guides and non-captains!

We also have a new ’45 coming out soon, on 13 O’Clock records which may be the greatest little label in the known universe right now. It’s our take on the Rolling Stones – Citadel, backed with an original – Mourning Light. Apart from blowing you away it’ll also give you a taste of our recording philosophy… a deliberate mess! The third sound must be present and the best way to invite that is to accept chaos and just record what’s going on. Just like life itself. It’s a-happening!

Band Promo Links:

Live:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8w4mWET1l5M&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxJg2d0x1tA&feature=related

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Flight-Reaction/167460559987563

The Band are…

Four twisted and bitter people, carrying out their cause through early 60s rock n roll.

Where are you guys from?

The highest rafters and the deepest pit. Where screams echo loudest.

How did you guys meet and what drove you to make music together?

Anger and lost love.

Are there any other bands you’d recommend from your area? Why?

Voola and the Jayhawks. Voola screams louder.

What’s the 60’s/underground scene like where you’re from?

Ups and downs, lefts and rights.

How would you describe the style you play?

60′s style garage with a touch of British rock n roll.

What are your live shows like?

A behind the sofa Dr Who episode

What are your main influences in music? Who do/would you play covers by? And who do you despise?

Joe Meek. Link Wray. The Renegades. John Leyton. Us? Despise?

What are your main influences outside of music?

Ice hockey. Flowers. Love songs. Vendetta.

How many official recordings have you done?  How many released?  Where can they be found? And who write your songs and what subjects do you deal with?

None… yet.

What’s your favorite song in your repertoire currently? What’s your favourite song by another artist?

For us, One Fine Day. The Tempests ‘Look Away’.

How would you describe the current underground scene?  Do you participate?

We’ve only just begun.

What has been the biggest challenge to date?

Seeing each other on stage.

How often do you Rehearse? Play Live? Record?

As often as posisble which is about once every two months

What do you think of the music coverage in the media?

Getting better, though terms/genres get used too liberally.

Who/Where would you most like to record with and why?

Toerag Studios! Imagine, they got equipment from Abbey Road Studios!
But I also think we’d do good on a old tape recorder..

What should we expect from you in the future?  What are your plans and ambitions?

Stop the screaming in our heads.

What can we expect from your Le Beat Bespoké performance? What have you got in store for us?

We really want to give it all and warm the people up before the Trashmen enter the stage. It’s a true honour to be their pre-band and we will make sure no one will be disappointed. Some dancing, jumping, screaming, and singing about lost love… Join us !!

Band Promo Links:

www.facebook.com/screaminvendettas

 

Newuntouchables.com ‘head honcho’ and compiler of the Le Beat Bespoké LP Series selects some underground gems that can often be found filling the dancefloors at various events around the UK and Euro Scene based Clubs and Events! Well worth a listen! To listen to the podcast, click the play button in the left hand corner of the Podcast Player below! Et Voila!