Midway Craft House
3/31/18

Still observing this band Acid Carousel out in the wild. 

The shows are fucking wild. This is rock n roll!  

It was as if a barrel of festively dressed elves spilled out of a time portal. If you somehow were born too late for the American counterculture revolution you’d be thrilled to know there’s still young bands out there that praise the sacred pyre of rock n roll established by the early Stones, The Who, and The Byrds. There's a healthy dose of snarling protopunk, and spaghetti western in there too.   

The songs just keep coming. They don’t seem to stop although they do. Some drunken public service announcements on the microphone. The commercial failure of an EP is almost celebrated = the implication if you’re cool enough to be here with us now fuck everyone else - you’re all that matters. Still, you might want to buy the music and keep the band alive.  

At first glance the band seems to be emulating the Brian Jonestown Massacre's pastiche of everything cool from earlier eras. The Ondi Timoner documentary Dig! did inspire legions of BJM  devotees. But could it be Acid Carousel are somehow channeling directly from the metaphysical world? Not copying but conjuring? There's an existential difference. No matter, this is a band to be seen and heard live.

Find them on Bandcamp here: https://acidcarousel.bandcamp.com/​

The podcast with Tristan Thorndyke of Rock 'N' Roll Cannibals is up. 

If you are having any technical issues let me know, thanks. 

A black leather clad apparition appears in the doorway at The Bearded Monk, a  guitar case dangling at side. I wave my hand and the lanky musician makes his way to the table where I’ve assembled a jumble of cables, microphones and gadgetry to record an interview and live performance. All this effort to peer into the soul of a rock n roll believer. With a pompadour, ghostly skin and biker jacket on a skeletal frame, Tristan Thorndyke looks as if he’s stepped out of a time portal from a world where greasers fought preppie kids in varsity sweaters. The music that inspires his three piece band Rock N Roll Cannibals draws its influences from Elvis, Johnny Cash, The Cramps and Link Wray. In a world dominated by electronic music and big data companies, the rebel is carrying an acoustic guitar and a flip phone.    

While I’ve just met Thorndyke for the second time, I feel like I may have known him my entire life. There is something about artists carrying the collective talent and soul of generations past that captivates and what I really want to say without saying it is: “I’ve met you before haven’t I?” Just as a protagonist from Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey will follow a very specific series of events, so it would seem for the musician before me.        

In the morning before the podcast I prepared a series of questions ranging from weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten to how do you feel about the apocalypse? It would be lunacy were not for Thorndyke’s songs like “Jeffrey Dahmer’s Making Dinner Tonight” and “Please Don’t Feed the Werewolves Cocaine.” Who says horror can't be fun? 

After recording the podcast, we get a bite to eat and walk back to a small apartment near Fry Street. Over PBRs we listen to the two Rock N Roll Cannibals releases in a compact living room decorated in horror movie posters. What blares out of the speakers is befitting of the age where teens went to sock hops and slurped cherry cokes at the 5 and dime. I am not totally convinced the music was recorded in the new millennium even as an hour earlier I saw them performed before my very eyes. Perhaps the comic book fan discovered a time machined, jumped back in time, made these records and then returned along with the souls of The King, Buddy Holly, and god only knows who else? The Swamp Thing could be lurking under the sofa. While I have no memory of the 50s I have memories of watching films set in the 50s (while a kid in the 70s and 80s)… it’s almost like I was there being pulled through a wormhole…. I have woken up in modern times and am thoroughly disillusioned.

There’s a podcast coming out in a few days with Tristan Thorndyke: some chit chat with ridiculous, ill-conceived questions that have nothing to do with music and a great live performance of the crooning rock 'n' roll cannibal solo. It’ll be on Mixcloud.

If the Rock 'N; Roll Cannibals sound interesting, check out the website.

http://www.rocknrollcannibals.com/​

The punk band Despero are hitting Andy's Bar in Denton, TX tomorrow December 29th 2017. This is all very exciting as I am newly relocated to Texas, I don't really know many people but the music scene is really kicking here in the Lone Star. The plan is to connect with as many bands as possible here of all genres and to develop a network across the country but specifically develop Southern California to Florida. Seattle to San Diego, Texas to Minnesota. and I guess everything else. Despero is the first of many you can enjoy on the blog.  

My friend Larry Hill at the Green Door Music Hall in Fort Walton Beach Florida told me about these guys playing here and voila! He says they are awesome. Give it up for Brady of Despero for taking time to do this.    

​

Austin gets a lot of attention as the live music capital of the USA. Do you feel it is justified? How do you feel about the growth of Austin and gentrification? 
We have been in Austin for a very long time, and played in various bands for years and years, and while it is home and we love it, the "live music capital of the world" may be a lot of hype, although there are a lot of bands here (a ton) and I do think it really makes you raise the bar to be as good as a band as possible, if you want to be noticed at all. 

Gotta ask: are you guys Star Wars fans and what do you think of the latest Disney films?
Well as a grown man who has Star Wars sheets on his bed, I have to say I love the Disney films, and it has very much redeemed the franchise from the horrendous prequel episodes. I realize that the play on the nostalgia factor of my childhood, but I'm totally okay with it.

One thing I notice about punk and metal is it never seems to die and the fans keep it going no matter what. What do you think it is about punk that keeps the torch passing? Can you foresee punk music existing a hundred years from now. 
I think the punk and metal genres respectively will never die for a few reasons. first off it's a great way to rebel, get out aggression, find people who are going through similar things in their life who you can relate to. Also it's great music, and it's always evolving, think as far as metal goes from Black Sabbath to Lamb Of God, or with punk, the Sex Pistols to Propaghandi, and now the genres are old enough that you can play a more classic sound, and it's more like a retro act which is pretty cool if you think about it. So I think there is something for everyone. From hardcore to pop, and everywhere in between.

What’s your favorite city to play? 
While Austin is home, and we love playing there, I would have to say my personal city to play in is probably McAllen, Texas in south Texas near the border, the scene there is very supportive, and they absolutely always show us love, and genuinely want us to return, and it always makes us feel very special, also they are knee deep in Kick ass local bands.

Thanks Brady! 

Follow the band on Facebook!

Check out their Denton show here!

Peace Ya'll
DC

(Anyone got anything cool happening New Year's? Let me know!)

(If you are new to this blog it started in Bangkok which I still call home and now I have relocated to 
Denton but still maintain my connections to Thailand music. If your band is coming to Denton, DFW or thinking of going overseas to Asia feel free to contact me.)

If you are enjoying the blog, make a donation of $5-$10 via Paypal. I am transitioning to new job and your support and contribution is greatly welcomed and appreciated. Paypal = bloozarumba@gmail.com

​Back to blogging! There's Despero, a punk band from Austin coming to Denton on the 29th and we an interview with them. Also interviewed Pok from Panda Records and Stylish Nonsense (Bangkok, Thailand). Still researching the lost list of accomplishments of Ricky Maymi - while he's best known as a founding member of the Brian Jonestown Massacre the guy circles the globe performing and producing with tons of collaborations....BJM tour starts in April I think.... made contact with Johnny Kelly drummer of Danzig and Type O Negative - he conveniently lives I Frisco.... the boys Shane, Evan and Tyler were in town recently - unfortunately no gig to be found (boo!) - they are somewhere south of the border now nursing cervezas and eating street tacos... The Cure's 40th anniversary is coming to London July and it sure would be cool to be there (Ride and Slowdive as support) and connect with all my old friends in the UK.... would be nice if I could figure out how to do an EU trip! Still need to get back to BKK to get my photos - get an exhibit going down in Austin with Marc Savlov... have connected with my old friend John Fesken from the Jersey City/ Prep days - he's in New Orleans... I think he's artist - will have to go down there again and see what he's up to and fire up the Marshalls and drum kit.... I also have thought it would be a great idea to get Matthew and Kae from Fatty's to open a joint in Denton... that's gonna take a lot of planning... and somehow I had idea of a multifaceted facility which was both a bar and restaurant and creative agency/ studio (yeah we need investors!)... other stuff cooking... I want to go to Iqaluit! Also Portland (also forgot I have an interview scheduled with Dustin from PDX's Black P!@#y when they head back to DFW)..... somehow got idea to start my own music initiative in 2019 but I won;t call it a label... this year coming is already looking like total chaos but the fun kind! Happy New Year People! The rock philosopher needs all your support, encouragement and love and hopes to give it too. (if I forgot any insane ideas I have spoken to anyone about.... apologies....) Rock Philosopher Bangkok - I guess it is Rock Philosopher Denton now.... (also will be focusing more on podcasts...)

(Warning, this site is not optimized for smartphones or tablets. Read on a computer if possible. Sorry in advance.)

Hola! I recently met over the net Johnny Palmer of the band Astral Lite out of Florida. While reesraching the Green Door Music Hall in Fort Walton Beach I discovered the band which draws infliuences from The Cure, My Bloody Valentine and The Brian Jonestown Massacre - that's a trifecta!  The following is the email interview  with Johnny. Enjoy. In my last question I asked the bandleader about My Bloody Valentine and his commentary on the album Loveless was wonderfully eloquent. Enjoy the interview.    

Briefly introduce the band, it’s members, hometown, origins, and short list of proudest moments and achievements.
We are Astral Lite and we are a mystic rock band from the Florida Panhandle. There’s not so much a specific hometown as we are scattered all over the Panhandle. So you can just call us a Panhandle-based band. My name is Johnny Palmer and I play guitar, and I sing and write most of the material. I started the band in 2015 with bassist Ricky Stanfield, who recently returned to the band. Another prominent member is Hailey Smith, who joined the band in late 2016 and has taken on the role of producer and occasional co-frontperson of sorts. Up until recently our drummer has been Kaelin Boone. He’s the one who played drums on all of our recordings so far (and soon to be released). He recently left to start his own band (which will be great!) and we have taken on a new drummer named Isaac Grant. We also have just added our first ever keyboardist to the lineup named Soren Salander.
​
A short list of Astral Lite’s achievements includes 1 EP (Mesmerist’s Mainline), a full length album which we recently finished recording and it is set to be released in 2018 (we’ve released 3 singles from it so far), appearances on 3 tribute compilations to My Bloody Valentine, Spiritualized, and The Telescopes (available from The Blog That Celebrates Itself), and quite a few shows under our belt, which include slots at two prominent local festivals: Thrive Fest and Pass The Good Fest (both in 2016).

In one sentence describe the music of Astral Lite to someone who has never heard the band.
​A cathartic culmination of all forms of mystic rock music (psychedelia, post-punk, krautrock, shoegaze, noise rock, etc) and even beyond the scope of rock n’ roll at times.

What makes the band/music unique, different or special?
What makes the band special is that it has always been a haven for the cosmically frustrated. Many people have come in and out of this band as a healing phase, a vessel for revelatory experiences and expression in ways they usually can’t conjure otherwise. What makes the music special is that most of the songs this band has come up with has become their own entities. Sonic sentience. It’s impossible for us to play most of the songs the same way live twice because the majority of them have minds of their own.

What if any are the long term goals and aspirations of Astral Lite?
More or less... simply to bless the musical world with immersive and cosmically invigorating listening experiences the way that only we know how to do. I’d really REALLY love for us to be playing festivals like Levitation and Desert Daze; I think we’d be right at home. But I wouldn’t mind going beyond that as well. A sort of pipe dream of mine might be to open up for The Cure one day. Ha!

What is the most challenging aspect for the band?
I’d have to say keeping a stable lineup. It might never be a solidified “band”, more of a collective of sorts. And I’m okay with that. I have a strong feeling that who all is in the band now is permanent though... we will see.

Describe the local music scene in your area.
Not very good. Ha! Especially not in Destin! However Fort Walton, Panama City, and Pensacola have their little indie rock scenes, which we have certainly made ourselves a part of all 3. But for the most part the Panhandle is driven by beachy tourist culture so if you come here on vacation you’re more likely to walk into a bar and hear Jimmy Buffet covers instead of a good original band. There are exceptions though. A venue here and there that actually appreciates originality. They are all too rare though.
What bands do other people say Astral Lite reminds them of?
Older folks say it reminds them of the Doors and the Velvet Underground, younger people than them say Joy Division and The Cure, younger people than them say the Black Angels. Our inclination for improv and experimental jamming during our live shows has also earned us comparisons to Can, Hawkwind, Acid Mothers Temple, and Barrett-era Floyd. I do enjoy every comparison we get, as it’s always stuff I’m a big fan of.
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Who are your greatest artistic/personal influences? (can be anything outside music as well) My ultimate musical hero is Robert Smith. The Cure has been with me almost forever, and they honestly just keep getting better to me the older I get. I’ve never related to any lyrical or musical expression more than what is The Cure. They are just the perfect balance of poetic and atmospheric, which is a balance I try to achieve with Astral Lite. Other vastly important musical figures to me include Brian Eno, David Bowie, Leonard Cohen, everyone in Sonic Youth, Lou Reed, Brian Wilson, Syd Barrett, many others... too many to list. Someone who I’ve developed a lot of pull to lately has been Mark Hollis. Those last couple of Talk Talk albums are from another world entirely...
As for non-musical figures, the film works of Jodorowsky are relatively influential to me musically. Holy Mountain is my all time favorite film and I have derived a lot of inspiration from it both lyrically and musically.

What are some artists/ bands in your area you’d recommend people to check out?
My favorite local bands are Action Doug, Analogue Collective, The Jerry Riddle?, and Loyal Customers. There are truly some great original bands here who are often overlooked. Hailey also has a project called “The Fairy Ring” which gets even more transcendental than we do!
In your area, where do music fans go to check out original live music?
In Fort Walton Beach it is the Green Door Music Hall, hands down. Coasters has cool shows sometimes too. But there is a lot I can say (and have said) about what the Green Door has done for the music scene in the Destin-FWB area. As for Pensacola, Chizuko is the place to be. They even have gender neutral restrooms! For Panama City, Mosey’s is where it’s at... and the pizza is great! Santa Rosa Beach also has a coffeeshop venue that’s paired with 30A Songwriter Radio.

If you were critiquing your own band or music, what would you say needs improvement?
I critique my own music all the time. Ha! There are many things I could say but I think most importantly the live show could use a little more flare and dynamics. But we’re working on it!

What can fans expect from an Astral Lite show and when/where are you playing next?
Fans can expect us playing our hearts out. Fans can also expect to never hear the songs the same way twice. Fans can also expect to hear some things that they’ll never hear at another Astral Lite show. You can experience something new with each attendance. Of that I’m sure of.

I think I noticed you’re a fan of My Bloody Valentine… how influential is the band on you and out of the bands few studio recordings (Isn’t Anything, Loveless, mbv) which is most special to you? 
My Bloody Valentine is indeed heavily influential upon myself and the band. We even contributed a cover of “Lose My Breath” to an MBV tribute compilation from the Blog That Celebrates Itself. As for the album of theirs that is most important to me... it’s the obvious answer, but certainly Loveless.  A parable of noise that means a thousand different things to a thousand different people. A record that is literally a different journey upon each listen. You could've heard it a hundred times and still notice something new each time you hear it. Different mindsets yielding different results. "Loveless", when it's anything but. You can sense the frustrating labor of love in each millimeter of it's aural field, rendering it the perfect soundtrack to mystic romantic confusion. The most solid mashup of hellfire drones and ethereal angel sighs... which proves to be an effective combination in a process of scraping each negative vibe off your spirit, so efficiently that you can feel it physically, until it's all over and you are once again reborn. It's not so much an album as it is an audio entity that has taken on it's own life and carries an intention to lead as many souls as possible to perfect bliss. I know, I for one, am in it's debt.

Thanks Johnny!

Astral Lite has a new album called New World Vultures coming out on March 15, 2018. Follow them on Facebook here.  

​- DC

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But It turns out Matthew J and the Science were about as dangerous as an old lady with a wash tub. Their rehearsal space boasted a bath room complete with reading materials that would make a literature teacher squeal and the home decor sensibilities of Motley Crue. I greatly enjoyed my time with the band despite laying on the floor and pretending to be dead through their entire 3 hour rehearsal.  The Rock Philosopher loves a party any time and all the time. Except on this day. 

Before you read the interview the band was kind enough to complete with their own time and at their own volition, here's a bit of commentary on the strengths of the band. 

If Mathew J and the Science only aspire to be an obscure, garage rock gem that someone will mention at a party umpteen years from now for other geeks to go "Hey I know those guys!" then they have already succeeded. They will garner no attention for their social media, their image or being photogenic. I have a feeling I am going to relish meeting these guys for years to come if only because I like finding bands and then proceeding to hail them as gods. Still, they are no gods or wraiths or kidnappers as I may have led you to believe.    

The band
First, the rhythm section kicks ass. As an occasional drummer (you bought the Boaz Zippor CD box set right? That's me on there 90% of the time watered down in the mix.) Marco the drummer makes a 4 piece drum set sound as mesmerizing as... a 5 or even a 6 piece drum set. How he executes those floor tom fills so coolly and swiftly without looking like he's missing the rack tom is beyond me. This is indie rock minimalism at its best. Kudos.         

Dave the bassist, my original captor, seems quite comfortable on the instrument laying the foundation for the guitars to interact with the drums. Bass is the most misunderstood instrument and for most of my life I thought they simply doubled over the guitar line. OK, that's just wrong and an astute bassist like Rummel can add textures and depth guitar and drums cannot accomplish alone. Some nice fluid lines - it's hard to find a good bassist who's available and cool. 

The guitars. I was cuddled up right next to lead guitarist Tracey's amp which kinda felt like a nice 3 hour spooning session with an axe that screams, belts and wails at the top of her lungs more often than your grandma at Bingo. 

Matthew J carries the persona of a mad scientist with a complete vision. He knows what he wants and he's not afraid to ask for it. It's definitely his band. 

I loved what I heard but still have yet to see the band perform live. They were the only music I really caught while there except for a blues fest and a punk show at Killers Tacos in Denton. OK, so here's that interview with the band.  
  

Greetings earthlings!

The Rock Philosopher has been indisposed for the last year taking up space on a planet called Jersey. He'll be back somewhere sometime.

In case you missed the Facebook posts I started a new blog for creative writing. My eyes are pretty much healed and I am looking at the horizon to get a job, get a life and get on outta here.  Without the love and support of my amazing family and friends, I would not be where I am today. Shout out to my amazing mom and big brother Phil - they carried me and now it's time for the bird to fly.  

Back in September, I went to Denton, Texas and had a blast. On my last day there, I met a bassist named Dave Rummel from the Dallas band Matthew J and the Science and went to his band practice in the Big D. I am writing about that experience now. That will most likely appear on this blog and not the new creative writing blog. 

I also have numerous writing projects to attend to including a crowdsourced idea called "The Case of Red 86: a Bangkok Noir." That will appear on the creative writing site. 

On the job front, I am eyeballing jobs in Asia particularly South Korea as they include a flight. The required documents take several weeks/months to get so this may mean I can't get back to Asia until early next year. 

I'd love to be back in Bangkok but would need some job security before I left. Moreover, a visa and work permit are at top of concerns.   If anyone has suggestions let me know.  It's been almost a year since I left.

I am looking to get out of Jersey and head west, work, while my visa documents are processed. Getting back to Bangkok in the most roundabout way probably via the American west.  

I have also conceived idea for a book of short fiction: flash fiction, microfiction, vignettes and short shorts called Painting Pictures With Words. Could use a graphics designer for this project as well the blog. I began putting together an Indiegogo campaign.   

Do you need a creative writer? Contact me as I am looking for freelance writing work. 

Here's the new blog:  http://dccreativewriting.weebly.com/

May be heading to Austin real soon. 
I love you all. I miss you all. I hope to see you soon. 

​DC