Madness In the Parking Lot

DC ROCKS congratulates our friend, Jeff Krulik. His crazy Capital Centre film "Heavy Metal Parking Lot" made it into the book Reefer Movie Madness and also into  a top ten list in USA TODAY.

You may have never seen Jeff, but he's the guy with a camera securely fastened to one eye. He has been a faithful chronicler of the DC rock scene for many years including this clip of one of the last Slickee Boys'shows at the Black Cat- a little movie all unto itself.

Next month Jeff is hosting a panel on the historical rock scene of Northern Virginia which promises to be quite the event. If the Alexandria Roller Rink rings a bell for you, or if you want to learn more, put aside Saturday afternoon, November 6. Watch this space for details coming up soon.

The Yachtsmen Plan to Rock Iota

Mark Noone has had many incarnations including Slickee Boy, Wanktone, Wrangler, Troubadour and Hula Monster, but his latest brainchild The Yachtsmen is a  dream band come true. Here he gets to act out his alter ego- Thurston Howell the Third while doing original rock. The amazing thing is he somehow came up with two other band mates-Joel App and John Penovich who had the same Gilligonian vision. (Call me crazy, but I think that's a bit remarkable.) Taking full advantage of the shtick the Yachtsmen set sail this Monday night for a 50 minute tour at Iota. Opening will be Glasglow which feature two uber talented brothers from New Orleans. Something for everyone, ladies and gentlemen. Show time on the early side- 8:30 p.m.

Seven Days Later Slickee Boy Mark Morphs Into Monster by Lyn2

photo by DC ROCKS


Last week it was all about the Slickee Boys reunion which was a gang buster event. Those guys still rock like it was 1989! This week we've got another band on tap, but with a common denominator.
Just yesterday I heard that an Austin radio station was playing our very own Hula Monsters. That doesn't surprise me because they are unique and the word has spread. Hula Monster talking points:

• No one else plays psychedelic rockabilly Hawaiian swing.
• They attract a wonderfully diverse audience including some of our area's most dedicated and talented dancers.
• They have a rack of Hawaiian shirts for sale at every show.
• And where else can you see the legendary Mark Noone of the Slickee Boys playing ukelele?
• They're talented good people, and your support is always appreciated.

The HULA MONSTERS are playing this Friday at the Hyattsville End of the Summer Jam Party. Rain or shine. 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Free.

A Quandry

Blogger went to the beach, but came back just in time to ponder which show to go to tonight- Alice Despard is back at the Galaxy Hut, and she won't be playing again for quite a while. Then again there is the old folks' show* at The Velvet Lounge with New Standard ( x Penetrators) Ottley (x Slickees) and Rustbuckit (x Blackmarket Baby) All still alive and very much kicking. I'm not sure how The Velvet Lounge can handle all that energy, but it'll definitely be worth finding out.


*sorry, Mary, but that's what everybody's calling it.

Raise Your Hand If You Remember 1977

OK. Thirty years was a long time ago. Jimmy Carter was president. Star Wars came out. Elvis Presley was still alive. (until August) Disco was in, though punk was here. The Ramones' "Teenage Lobotomy" and The Sex Pistols' "God Save the Queen" were up against The Eagles and Fleetwood Mac. Alice Cooper went into rehab; Elvis didn't make it. Talking Heads and the B 52s were coming up. The funk band, Parliament put out "Get Down and Boogie". Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd were still touring. (All that music and my class picked Boz Scagg's "Lido Shuffle" as our song.)
On the dark side, Debby Boone was elected best new artist. My college housemate played "You Light Up My Life" for more than two hours straight- an experience which scarred me for life.

And last but not least, dc space opened its doors.

My memory is crystal clear, but for those of you who are little hazy, and you know who you are, here's a little primer on just some of the names performing this Sunday at the dc space reunion @ the 9:30 club :

Marshall Keith, (Slickee Boys)
Martha Hull, (Slickee Boys, DCeats, the Steady Jobs, The Dynettes)
and Bob Berberich (The Hangmen, Grin, Rossyln Mountain Boys)
are all in Ottley.

Boyd Farrell, (Black Market Baby)
Mike Dolfi, (Black Market Baby)
and Sean Saley (Government Issue, Moodroom)
are in Rustbuckit.

Michael Reidy, ( Razz, Nightman)
Abaad Behram ( Razz, Johnny Bombay & the Reactions)
and Doug Tull( Razz Tommy Keene Billy Coulter)
are in The Howling Mad.

Also, Mark Noone ( Slickee Boys and too many bands to mention) will perform for the first time with The Beatnik Flies, an historic event.

Speaking of too many bands to mention, the performances are limited to ten minutes each and scheduled from 4:30 p.m. until 1 a.m. with five minute change overs. (This is not the old 9:30 by the way, but a very professional night club with a huge staff.) All kinds of music and performing arts will be going on- see previous posts for a large, but partial list.

I would pay twenty dollars just to see a few of these acts, but most importantly this event will help our friend, Tom Terrell and his ongoing struggle with cancer. Not a fun fight or a fair fight, but he's fighting just the same. Please come and celebrate the local scene here, past and present, and give a hand to Tom. Besides being a good cause, it's going to be a great party.


(Michael Reidy @ the 9:30 Club, 2006 by Steve Edgar)

Ottley/Beatnik Fly Alert

Sangha on Westmoreland Avenue in Takoma Park is an unusual space- part store-part somebody's living room- and furthermore, it's a really fun place to see a band. Two blasts (and I don't use that word lightly) from our area past will be there this Saturday. Slickee boy legends, Marshall Keith and Martha Hull make up two out of three members of Ottley- a self described garage band. And Bob Berberich, the other member, was the original drummer for Grin and the Hangmen. The Beatnik Flies have been together, well, since dinosaurs roamed the Earth, but they played Sangha a few months ago, and it was great. It's amazing what this town can cough up in the way of talent.
So here's the scoop from Joe Dolan, spokesman Fly:
"The doors open at 8:30. Ottley will go on about 9:30 for a one hour set. The Beatnik Flies will start at 10:50, and will play until we can't play no more. We are planning on about 20 songs.
THIS SHOW WILL ROCK.
We especially encourage young people to check us out, cause they
usually dig us once they do. Is it our girlish hairdos and dandyish cloths? We don't know.
People should try to get there early, 'cause I don't know how many people this place holds. Admission is
$10 or $6 with student ID. A portion of the proceeds
will be donated to "HUNGRY FOR MUSIC" a charity that
provides musical instruments to kids that cannot afford to buy them.
Also we will be celebrating two birthdays: Martha Hull
(legendary singer of Ottley) and Jennifer (the hard
working lady who runs Sangha Cafe/Sangha Peace
Project. So lets rock!"

Yep, let's go!

Happy Birthday

Today is Mark Noone's Birthday. He's been hanging around this town since Lincoln got here, and he's been giving us music almost as long. Punk, rock, country, (Or is that punk rock country?) Hawaiian western swing. Went to school for it, teaches it. Plays it, sings it, lives it. Go see him if you have a chance. He's in the Rhodes Tavern Troubadours and the Hula Monsters, and if you're really lucky-at a Slickee Boy reunion.