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Monday Full-Length: The Stooges, Fun House

Posted in Bootleg Theater on March 17th, 2014 by JJ Koczan

The Stooges, Fun House (1970)

There are few enough unfuckwithable albums in all of creation and The Stooges put out at least two of them. The Ann Arbor four-piece would come over the years to help define the grit and anti-refinement arrogance at the core of punk and American rock in general, but their early works are psychedelic masterpieces as well. In light of the March 15 passing of founding drummer Scott Asheton, it seemed only fair to kick this week off with a prime bit of Rock Action. Hence Fun House.

It’s the second of the three ultra-necessary Stooges original-run albums, preceded by their 1969 self-titled debut and followed in 1973 by Raw Power. Asheton along with his brother Ron, who died in 2009, reunited with legendary frontman Iggy Pop in 2003 for shows and in 2007, The Stooges released The Weirdness to mixed but ultimately favorable reception. Scott Asheton suffered a stroke in 2011 and final work with the band that defined a good portion of his public life was 2013’s Ready to Die, though it will always be the first three records that serve as the band’s legacy.

I can’t claim to be any kind of expert on The Stooges or anything else, but Scott Asheton was someone whose creativity fostered and mentored that of many in his wake, and the most fitting tribute to one who kicked so much ass seemed to be kicking more ass, and if Fun House is guaranteed to do anything, it’s that. Hope you enjoy.

The reason this didn’t go up Friday was because I didn’t get home until 3:30 in the morning. I’d gone to see Ogre‘s CD release show with Eldemur Krimm in Portland, Maine, and well, that’s a solid two-hour drive. Lesson learned? Nah, probably not. Was a very cool time, and I’ll have a review up today just as soon as I get enough caffeine in my system so that my eyes are all the way open instead of all squinty like they are now. 3PM or so, let’s say. Maybe 4.

That live review aside, I’ve decided sort of unofficially — though how I’d make something like this official, I don’t even know; is there paperwork I should fill out? — that this week is Vinyl Week. I’ve got enough of a backlog of records waiting to be reviewed that I can do one each day and that way I get caught up and everybody likes vinyl. I might try to sneak a tape review in there as well — the Young Hunter/Ohioan split did me right for the late night drive back from Portland the other night — but no CDs this week, regular reviews are on hold for the time being, and I’m making vinyl the priority. Sounds crazy? Well it just might work.

So look out for writeups on Eidetic Seeing, White Dynomite, Bushfire and hopefully one or two others. It’ll be fun. Even more if my turntable holds up.

Tomorrow I’ve also got a From Beyond track premiere set to launch. You might remember their 2012 single, “The Dead Still Ride” (streamed here) was good times.

Hope this is the start of a tremendous week. I know I usually say it for the weekend, but please check out the forum and the radio stream.

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Friday Long-Player: The Stooges, The Stooges (1969)

Posted in Bootleg Theater on November 9th, 2012 by JJ Koczan

Yeah, yeah, I know, Fun House is the shit. Raw Power is the shit. You’ll get no argument out of me. But I’m feeling something a little psychedelic to go with my primal, so The Stooges‘ 1969 self-titled debut it is. I could probably go on for a month about the legacy of this record — I’m pretty sure they teach classes on The Stooges at Michigan State — but fuck it. You know. Fuck it. The “I Wanna be Your Dog” riff alone is heavier than everything.

Tonight is Clamfight, Kings Destroy and Black Pyramid at Union Pool in Brooklyn. The show is free. I’m going to leave my office in about an hour’s time and head into the city to see it, and I can’t wait. I know these bands about as well as I know anything, but hell, good friends is good times, and all the dudes in these bands are excellent. If you’re in Rochester or Allston, MA, they’re coming your way this weekend. Don’t miss it.

Monday, I’ll have a review of the show, and over the course of the weekend, I plan on catching up on emails I still haven’t answered since Hurricane Sandy shoved her category one boot up my and the rest of my beloved Garden State’s collective ass, as well as sending out some email interview questions. Maybe someone will get back before the end of the week. Maybe I’ll get someone on the phone. I don’t really know. Internet isn’t back up at my house yet and so things are a bit screwy on that end. Look for Venomous Maximus, Bell Witch and whatever other reviews I can wrap my tired head around doing.

I’ve also been trying to get an essay written about not being in a band for the last month at least and maybe that’ll finally boil over. We’ll see I guess. I’m not gonna worry about any of it tonight. Tonight I’m going to go see three kickass bands whose work I respect to no end. I’m gonna give Clamfight their CDs. I’m gonna talk to Kings Destroy about their new record, to Black Pyramid about theirs. I’m gonna take a bunch of shitty pictures and maybe one or two decent ones, and then I’m gonna drive back to the valley late and crash out like I’m cashing in a favor. It’s gonna be excellent.

Wherever you are and whatever your plans, I hope you have a great and safe weekend. See you on the forum and back here Monday.

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