We end this week on a high note with the Earth interview and some Alabama Thunderpussy covering Jethro Tull off the first Sucking the ’70s compilation on Small Stone. I’ve always kind of thought Alabama Thunderpussy never got their due. They were excellent on Man’s Ruin, and then they were excellent on Relapse. Their more metal last album wasn’t really my thing, but they had some really killer songs and I don’t think Relapse at the time knew what to do with them. Pretty sure if the Johnny Weils or the Johnny Throckmorton-fronted lineups were putting out records now, they’d be gods to the new breed of Southern rockers. Who the hell knows.

The moral of the story is listen to The Might Could, and I think it might be time for Small Stone to do a third Sucking the ’70s. Would be cool to hear Gozu take on Blue Öyster Cult or some crazy harmonized arena rock, Iota, Lo-Pan, Backwoods Payback and the rest of the new crop chime in.

Bonus argument for the above clip: I’ve had “Hymn 43” stuck in my head forever because the Aqualung cassette pretty much never leaves my car anymore. It’s become a permanent fixture, just one of my listening options. AM/FM radio, CD, Tull. Not a bad way to go.

Tomorrow is The Patient Mrs.‘s birthday. Out of courtesy to her, I won’t say which one, but it’s a biggie, and we’ll be celebrating tomorrow night out to dinner in NYC, then over to the Mercury Lounge to catch Wino, Scott Kelly and Man’s Gin. If you see us there, be sure to wish her a happy birthday. And if you don’t know what she looks like, she’ll be the one looking patient. Rock.

I’m on deadline next week to both do and transcribe a Clutch interview and also to transcribe a Weedeater interview that’s already in the can, so we might have a double-feature week rather than the average one-per. We’ll see how that goes and if I can muster the time to actually get it done. I’m backlogged on interviews at this point and they just keep coming. Wo Fat, Suplecs. The other night I had a brief but very pleasant conversation with Jeannie Saiz of Shroud Eater — just kind of getting an introduction to/general idea about the band — so that’ll be posted sooner than later as well. Lots to come.

But yeah, tomorrow, the patient birthday, Sunday, homework, Monday, back at it. Hope to see you on the forum over the weekend. It’s that big orange link in the sidebar. Can’t miss.

It is hour three of a football game about which you couldn’t care less if they paid you. Your family is just approaching the line of intoxicated where the passive aggression is activated. Your little cousin has just asked you where he or she can score some pot. You were hopeful this year would be different. You need an escape.

Suddenly, you remember The Obelisk posted a buttload of videos for just such an occasion, called it a “Pre-Thanksgiving Media Blitz,” figuring that maybe on this most familial of holidays, heads might need a break from everything, if only for a couple minutes. And is there a better way to spend that break than watching high quality live videos from Kyuss, Dozer, Colour Haze, Alabama Thunderpussy, Dixie Witch, Black Pyramid and — for those whose day is even a little more stressful — Acid Bath? You’ve already hid out in the bathroom long enough to do all the crossword puzzles in that book. Relax and enjoy the entertainment. At least catch your breath.

Truth be told, this is as much for me as it is for any of you who might see the benefit of it. Being the pajama-clad social misfit I am, even the thought of bringing my family together with that of The Patient Mrs. is enough to make me want to crawl into a hole. I fully anticipate excusing myself from the before-dinner goings on to come upstairs and watch at least one of these clips. And to make it holiday-special, I tried to find the best quality stuff I could. The Colour Haze video from DunaJam alone gives me a sense of inner peace, which I anticipate needing on Thanksgiving as much as another glass of wine.

If you’re like me (and if not, congratulations on your well-adjustedness), please enjoy the videos after the jump and remember, no matter what the tv tells you, you don’t actually have to get up at five in the morning to go shopping at Target.

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I’ve been giving some thought the last week or so to doing an Obelisk podcast. Only thing is it would take a shitload of time and I don’t know if anyone would bother listening. Let me know what you think in the comments thread, and in the meantime, enjoy these six songs.

It was originally only going to be five, but then I figured in the fine spirit of old school C.O.C., I’d add one more. Feel free to minimize and listen that way as you go about work or whatever.

Lowrider – Dust Settlin’Lowrider – Dust Settlin’
Natas – AdolescentesNatas – Adolescentes
Alabama Thunderpussy – Three StarsAlabama Thunderpussy – Three Stars
Nebula – Anything from YouNebula – Anything from You
Sasquatch – Rattlesnake FlakeSasquatch – Rattlesnake Flake
Kyuss – Supa Scoopa and Mighty ScoopKyuss – Supa Scoopa and Mighty Scoop

A couple days ago, I sent Birds of Prey vocalist Ben Hogg (also of Beaten Back to Pure and the even more extreme Plague the Suffering) an email, asking him if he would kindly write up a feature on his experience making The Hellpreacher, the third BOP album, due out in April via Relapse. His response was a reassuring, “I’m down. Gimme a few days,” and I knew then the right choice had been made.

True to his word, a couple days later, Ben sent the following report on the origins of the band and the coming together of The Hellpreacher. After the jump, bear witness to the one and only Ben Hogg.

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