SMOOCH - KISS OFF 6/14/14 Three Jolly Pigeons - Brooklyn, New York

This all pretty much started with a conversation that Brian (SMOOCH) and Franklin (KISS THIS) had at work as they are both employed by the New York City MTA (Mass Transit Authority) and are seasoned Musicians who also happen to know how to play a KISS tune or two. KISS THIS performed the first KISS album in its entirety a few years back at the Three Jolly Pigeons and SMOOCH are the new kids on the block but indeed a conversation was struck and it went a little like this.

Brian - I challenge You to a KISS OFF !!!, of course totally friendly

Franklin - There is nothing friendly about this there can be only one

I am paraphrasing here and I am not going to start making phone calls, you get the gist. The night was booked and rehearsals began in private amongst the two warring factions. Everyone involved had a complete blast and frankly it was hard not to, We gathered to celebrate KISS a band that means so much to all involved, well most of us.

SMOOCH opened the first of three sets of which one set was allotted to each band and the third would be a "free for all" combining members from both bands who cared to come up and take a shot, sounds a good idea and it certainly worked out that way. Brian brainstormed the idea of making set 3 a KISSAOKE or KARAOKISS celebration but more on that later. SMOOCH performed a 13 song set and being a Space Ace centered band we opened with "Rip It Out" from Ace Frehley's first solo outing and much to my consternation as this is not a simple Drumming song, Damn You Anton Fig, no problems we pulled it off.

The Bob Geldof of "KISS OFF" Brian Dillon who is one of the sweetest Bass Players or even people I have ever met and yes there were Klu Klux KISS jokes made at Franklin's expense but all in the most kind hearted ways, Trust Me.

On Rhythm and Lead Guitar is Carl who eats Yngwie Malmsteen and his like for lunch. I took this photo between songs during the third set as we were chatting in the back line.

It must be said, The Man who is the biggest KISS fan in SMOOCH is indeed Sal who is also an Admin for the KISS - ROCK SOLDIERS Facebook page (see link below)

Being Korean, Irish and Italian can be lonely but not when you are a KISS fan. This photo was taken by Brian during the third set (KISSAOKE) but I had a great time singing backing vocals and playing sparse Tambourine. As a Drummer there is nothing more annoying than a Tambourine All Over The Place, you have to know when "not to play" as well.

I am also not just a Tambourine Player.

Introducing my dear friend and bandmate Joe Cacciola (The Good Yeggs) who did serious justice to SMOOCH' rendition of "Strutter 78" and never having rehearsed the tune with us. I really enjoyed hearing Joe sing this song that I have Loved for 34 years.

SECOND SET - KISS THIS - comprising many of my friends for decades and I will not go into detail as this is not my personal diary. KISS THIS is Daniella, Christine and Nadia (Kick Ass female vocalists), Bill (Vocals), Thomas Roberto & Franklin Poska (Guitars), John Meglino (Bass), Mike Roberto (Drums) who also performed a set of eclectic "Deep Cuts" from the KISS catalog, Let me just say hearing "Sure Know Something" from the Dynasty LP (1979) was a treat.

I snapped a few photos up front but cannot say I remember what song this was, nice photo if I must say so myself.

The Master of Tone, Thomas Roberto. His wife Nina makes a killer Potato Salad as well, of course I told her so myself, maybe over a dozen times.

Daniella Kicking Out The Jams on "C'mon & Love Me"

The sublime and resplendent Mr. Franklin Poska on the Telecaster. I have deep feelings for this man and he helped me cart my Drums from home to gig and from gig to home, no questions asked, no complaints, just a very stand up wonderful man and I have also known him for 30 years and by this time we should hate each others guts but my Love only grows stronger.

THIRD SET - KISSAOKE - I had asked Thomas to take the SMOOCH pics and I took the KISS THIS stills but my camera was in my back pocket for the third portion, in true Jam fashion Brian relinquished his Longhorn Bass to John Meglino halfway through the set so I asked him at that point if he would take some photos of the KISSAOKE segment and of course he did. Brian Dillon who is an excellent emcee (and I have known a few) got some of the members of the audience and the latecomers who arrived involved in coming up to sing some of the KISS classics we all as two bands knew but notation wise for those unsure were willing to learn on the spot, there were chord progressions thrown around for 30 seconds or less and everything sounded just fine. I had a great time watching various members from both bands performing these songs much like watching the STAR WARS and STAR TREK Universes intermingling (OK, Lets Not Get Crazy).  I Really enjoyed hearing Thomas and Sal wailing Lead Guitars on some of the most important Music of my life.

Singing backing Vocals on "Cold Gin" here but I really Loved accompanying the ladies of KISS THIS on B. Vox for "Doctor Love". Dont know if it sounded any good but it felt right, no pics or thankfully recordings survive.

I believe this singers name was Joe but as soon as he stepped up I knew that he was a singer, Joe performed "Rocket Ride" and "Black Diamond"As a matter of fact all of the singers were Great, Not one dud. It was a Great Evening Celebrating one of the bands New York City should be proud to call their own.

Brian's KISS OFF Ad.

KISS ROCK SOLDIERS FACEBOOK PAGE

The Sight Of A Touch Or The Scent Of A Sound

Upon awakening from my slumber the song "Granny Takes A Trip" by The Purple Gang was running through my head and I pondered the quaintly marketed idea of producing sound recordings that were not only intended to be appreciated while Tripping Out or under the influence of any mind expanding substance(s) but also to aurally reproduce the effect to anyone curious enough in an unaltered state who cared to listen, this of course is still done today but was rife in the later half of the 1960s when the counter culture at large was experimenting Psychedelic alteration.

Also of interest is the fact that while many of these Musicians, Producers, Writers, Engineers and Interns had tried the Lysergic Acid all the way down to a few innocent puffs of *weed* they were not necessarily under the influence while catching this "Vibe" on tape, this of course comes down to minutiae and who remembers or even really cares (aside from the odd Syd Barrett story or three) as everyone was Stoned.

Here are a few Favourites of mine.

Granny Takes A Trip was the name of a boutique (clothes store) in the Kings Road, Chelsea, London in the 60s and inspired the title of this Classic Psych track by The Purple Gang from 1967/8.

Trivial Fact - The Pink Floyd were also recording their debut single "Arnold Layne" in the same studio at the time.



While this is hardly a Psych tune it was the second one that came to mind as my fading Dream fragmented before me as I gained consciousness and most likely due to the fact that it has the most Dreamlike quality both in the lyrics, production and instrumentation put across. The line "Beatles and Bolan's" came to mind and as this was 1973 Marc Bolan's star was just on the wane. The outbreak of "T. Rextasy" in England was only comparable to "Beatlemania" nine years previous so strong words indeed from King Crimson lyricist Pete Sinfield on whose first solo outing this song featured, Vocals shared with Greg Lake who was also hugely successful at the time with Emerson, Lake & Palmer.



The last track that entered my mind before I fully awoke was the Classic "My White Bicycle" by Tomorrow, this comes as no surprise since I have been thinking about the Tomorrow LP for months now meaning to give it a listen, Just a Great record overall. The "White Bicycle" in question according to their Drummer John "Twink" Alder was inspired by an idea put into use at the time in Amsterdam where there would be White Bicycles for free use to the public, you would get where you were going and leave the Bicycle for the next person. Speaking of Twink read on.



Twink (John Alder) is one of the legends of Psych Rock through Osmosis if nothing else. He was the Drummer for Tomorrow, The Pretty Things, The Pink Fairies, Mick Farren, Pinkwind and Stars (featuring Syd Barrett) amongst many others all the while hobnobbing with the legends. "Ten Thousand Words In A Cardboard Box" is to me one of those perfect Psych songs from start to finish and the LP "Think Pink" which this is taken from is truly a watermark. This was previously recorded by another of Twink's bands The Aquarian Age but his solo version actually frightens me.



Simon Dupree & The Big Sound would later morph into the band Gentle Giant but their song "Kites" to me always captured the feel of a brilliant Psychedelic single with its haunting melody, otherworldly instrumentation and calming lyrics which altogether seem to float along just like Well,... a Kite.



This posting was inspired by a Dream wherein I was questioning the inclusion of some of my Psych CDs on display versus other candidates of the genre.

Alice Cooper - Super Duper Alice Cooper Screening 4/30/14 Village East, New York City

I wonder if when Dusty Springfield sang "Son of a Preacher Man" she had Alice Cooper in mind, the answer is inevitably no but he really is the son of a preacher man. Alice is a true American Hero and his alter ego Vincent Furnier is quite the genius who was thrown into this all unplanned, it just sort of happened. You see what I did there ? well whatever. And Planned it was once the band got a radar fix.

Banger Films is back with a Doc about Alice and myself being a huge fan of the Rush Documentary "Beyond The Lighted Stage" (By Banger Films) AND of course ALICE COOPER I did have high hopes for this film and was not disappointed. Ample time is spent on the early (pre Love It To Death) years and whereas I am almost always a "Get On With It" Documentary viewer in this case I was enthralled with back stories and I do know the bands history.

Moving forward after this Is Super Duper Alice Cooper Superstar and I always love to hear stories from this period of his career, our poor hero Alice is spiraling downwards in his Larger than "Lifestyle" but he is also feted by everyone including the old school Hollywood Elite (Jack Benny, George Burns, Groucho Marx etc) and is the only Rock Star to ever hold a Friars Club membership.

Also possibly forgotten over the years is how Huge of a Star Alice was in the 70s. Lots of unreleased footage graces this film including a short excerpt from a segment on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and a promo Video EP clip of Alice in "From The Inside" performing "Inmates (We're All Crazy)" Really sticks out in the memory.

Just a Great treat to view this amongst an intimate crowd in a Beautiful Movie Theater. Maybe 40 or 50 of us in a Huge Room, Great Audio as well and it was quite odd to hear "Dead Babies" coming through these speakers which most likely are more sympathetic to Bing Crosbys crooning.

Also the choice of the song "Alma Mater" for the end titles really pleased me greatly it being a favorite of mine and a fitting end song.

I had to take a screen shot, took a few but this one came out the clearest.

The Beautiful Chandelier/Candelabra at Village East Theater.

Twas a Miserable Rainy day in Manhattan all day.

And just a three block walk over to the right was Ottos Tacos which I have been wanting to try for almost a year, Absolutely Delicious. I ordered the Steak Carne Asada Taco, A Chicken Taco, A Carnitas Taco and Masa Fries. I made a mistake while ordering so got one extra Taco but Hey, I have been waiting a year, I am not going to send it back.

SUPER DUPER ALICE COOPER WEBSITE

SPAM

GODZILLA 2014 2

G 2014 2

Gy2

GY

GODZILLA 2014 Trailer

 

The Biggest news for 2014 amongst Kaiju and Sci-Fi fans alike has to be Legendary Pictures reboot of the Godzilla franchise with Gareth Edwards (Monsters) directing. The film stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Ken Watanabe and Bryan Cranston (in his first film role since the conclusion of the epic "Breaking Bad" TV series).

First glimpse we got of The Big G 2014 came in a teaser trailer shown at the San Diego Comic-Con in July, 2012. This powerful clip showed us a decimated San Diego (?) landscape with a voice over of J. Robert Oppenheimers (Father of the atomic bomb) speech culminating in the line "Now I Am Become Death, Destroyer Of Worlds" after which we get a brief glimpse of Godzilla uttering that classic roar. As of this writing there has been confirmation that Godzilla will have his Atomic Breath and will be sparring against at least 2 Kaiju.

December 10, 2013 and the (first) trailer is released to an expectant fan base and just about all of us found it electrifying. It can be broken up into 3 parts.

1. The HALO Jump (High Altitude - Low Opening) sequence. This method is usually deployed when the aircraft is in imminent danger and must fly above the surface to air (SAM) missile zone. Does this mean Godzilla was blowing planes out of the air with his Atomic Breath ? I certainly hope so (Thanks to Bill and Frank for bringing this to my attention). This segment concludes with the paratroopers gaining visibility of a city in flames as they emerge through the cloud cover, but wait there is something moving there in the smoke and we spy a very familiar dorsal fin ever so briefly.

2. Shock and Awe. Here we see quick jump cuts of the civilians, military, scientists and M.U.T.O. Emergency agency personnel also known as the actors.

3. G Itself. same shot as from the 2012 teaser but Epic just the same. We will only know for sure this coming May when the film is released but everyone is in your corner.

The Return Of The King.

KAIJUROBOT.COM