Posted in Whathaveyou on December 7th, 2023 by JJ Koczan
Nick Oliveri has put out records this year with Mondo Generator and The Dwarves. He’s toured incessantly, either on his own like the ‘Death Acoustic’ — as opposed to ‘death metal’ — European run he’s got scheduled for early 2024, or with Mondo Generator, who are a trio on fire with Mike Pygmie on guitar and Mike Amster on drums, and in the last couple years, he’s brought forth and developed the band Stöner with former Kyuss bandmate and longtime collaborator Brant Bjork, issuing two albums, a live record and an EP to-date while also touring domestically and abroad to support. He’s done nothing the last few years but work, and to see him on stage as I’ve been lucky enough to do twice in the last two years with Mondo Generator, he’s both a frontman of marked presence and a raw-as-nails punk rocker with a scream that’s unmistakable.
What will next year bring? One assumes more. Oliveri obviously wants to keep momentum on his side, and with full-band stints likely to follow (or precede; one never knows) these March dates, it doesn’t seem unreasonable to expect more word soon. That’s before you get to festivals and all that.
From the PR wire:
NICK OLIVERI – Death Acoustic 2024
– new updated shows – WE 06.03.24 IT TREVIGLIO – NAMA BREWING TH 07.03.24 IT RAVENNA – BRONSON FR 08.03.24 IT PORDENONE – ASTRO CLUB SA 09.03.24 PT TORRES VEDRAS – BANG VENUE SU 10.03.24 DE RAVENSBURG – IRISH PUB SLAINTE MO 11.03.24 DE WEIDEN – SALUTE LIVE CLUB TU 12.03.24 DE OPEN SLOT WE 13.03.24 NL ARNHEM – LUXOR LIVE TH 14.03.24 ES BILBAO – GROOVE FR 15.03.24 ES MADRID – WURLITZER BALLROOM SA 16.03.24 ES BARCELONA – SIDECAR SU 17.03.24 NL DORDRECHT – NL BIBELOT POPPODIUM MO 18.03.24 UK DOVER – THE BOOKING HALL TU 19.03.24 UK NEWCASTLE – THE CLUNY WE 20.03.24 UK GLASGOW – SLAY STUDIO TH 21.03.24 UK BOLTON – ALMA INN FR 22.03.24 UK CARDIFF – FUEL SA 23.03.24 UK LONDON – SIGNATURE BREW SU 24.03.24 UK BOURNEMOUTH – BEAR CAVE TU 26.03.24 NL DEN HAAG – PAARD WE 27.03.24 NL ALKMAAR – VICTORIE
Posted in Whathaveyou on May 26th, 2023 by JJ Koczan
Mondo Generator did a European summer tour like this last year as well, where I was fortunate enough to see them play at Freak Valley Festival. This year, the Nick Oliveri-led trio hit StonerKras, Red Smoke, Hoflärm, SonicBlast and more besides over the course of more than a month of consistent bang bang bang, show show show, plugging away. This is an admirable thing. Gotta get paid, of course, but consider that Mondo Generator could easily be marketing itself as ‘Nick Oliveri‘s gonna sing some Kyuss and QOTSA songs too!’ and probably draw more heads, but to-date they haven’t really gone there. Yes, the bulk of what they do are the band’s own punk rippers, but Oliveri‘s whole catalog is fair game and I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s down to whatever a given evening calls for as to what’s played.
Oliveri is someone preceded by his reputation as a wildman, but I’ll say this: when I was introduced to him outside the show Stöner played in New Jersey last year, he was polite to my wife, which many with less wild reputations are not. Even if they hadn’t killed it when I saw them in 2022, that’d probably be enough motivation for me to put these dates here, if the general relevance wasn’t already enough, which I’ll point out that it is.
You may have recently caught wind of the collaboration between Oliveri and Italy’s Temple of Deimos. I don’t know if there’s anything else planned for while Mondo Generator are in Europe, but their schedule sure seems full, as told by the PR wire:
MONDO GENERATOR announce full European & UK summer tour + festival appearances!
Californian stoner punk icons MONDO GENERATOR (fronted by former Kyuss and Queens of the Stone Age bassist Nick Oliveri) are taking over Europe and the UK this summer, with an extensive summer tour including a few festival appearances!
Mondo Generator European summer tour: 13.07 – Prato (IT) Orto Sonoro Santa Valvola 14.07 – Genova (IT) Bau Fest Villa Rossi 15.07 – Trieste (IT) Stoner Kras Fest 16.07 – Pleszew (PL) Red Smoke Fest 18.07 – Dresden (DE) Chemiefabrik 20.07 – Hoofddorp (NL) Duycker 21.07 – Münster (DE) Rare Guitar 22.07 – Eindhoven (NL) Popei 23.07 – London (UK) Underworld 24.07 – Milton Keynes (UK) Craufurd Arms 25.07 – Swansea (UK) Bunkhouse 26.07 – Corby (UK) The Raven Hotel 27.07 – Bournemouth (UK) Anvil 28.07 – Bradford (UK) The Underground 29.07 – Glasgow (UK) Ivory Blacks 30.07 – Manchester (UK) Satans Hollow 31.07 – Norwich (UK) Waterfront Studio 01.08 – Cheltenham (UK) Frog & Fiddle 02.08 – Dover (UK) The Booking Hall 03.08 – Tilburg (NL) Little Devil 04.08 – Steenwijkerwold (NL) Dicky Woodstock 05.08 – Paris (FR) Petit Bain 08.08 – Chambery (FR) Brin De Zinc 09.08 – Zurich (CH) Safari Bar 10.08 – Marienthal (DE) Hoflärm Festival 11.08 – Ancora (PT) Sonic Blast Festival 12.08 – Innsbruck (AT) Pmk 13.08 – San Zenone Degli Ezzelini (IT) Villa Albrizzi 14.08 – Pula (HR) Monte Paradiso 16.08 – Cagliari (IT) Cueva Rock 17.08 – Caramagna (IT) Last One To Die 18.08 – Ravenna (IT) Hana-Bi 19.08 – Francavilla Al Mare (IT) Frantic Fest 20.08 – Carhaix (FR) Motocultor Festival
MONDO GENERATOR is: Nick Oliveri – Bass & Vocals Mike Pygmie – Guitars Mike Amster – Drums
Posted in Whathaveyou on May 18th, 2023 by JJ Koczan
I don’t feel the need to even really say anything here. The lineup speaks for itself. And those who go to this year’s RippleFest Texas will also speak of it, for years, probably in a similar way people now talk about having been at this or that Emissions From the Monolith when that was going on in Ohio. The stuff of legend, in other words. Yeah, you can put on a fest and try to make it cool and fun, or you can do something like this and make it the highlight of everybody who attends’ year.
Kudos to Lick of My Spoon Productions and Ripple Music on a job well done. This will be something special. Bands have been leaked out one at a time at intermittent daily intervals, but the final lineup is out as of today, and it’s stunning. A blend of generations, a reach from on end of the country to the other, and a swath of the heavy underground all rallied in one place for a few days, pre- and after-parties included. Fucking a. If you’re attending, count yourself lucky.
As seen on socials:
Here it is! The full lineup for RippleFest Texas #3! This will be one for the ages with a stacked lineup and lots of special treats in between. Get your tickets now!
Amazing art by @1horsetown
* playing the Pre-Party + playing the Afterparty
King Buffalo, Acid King, Brant Bjork Trio, Sasquatch, Wo-Fat, Fatso Jetson, Mondo Generator, Unida, The Well+, The Atomic Bitchwax, Telekinetic Yeti*, Duel, Forming the Void, Hippie Death Cult, High Desert Queen*, Avon, War Cloud, Rubber Snake Charmers, Spirit Mother+, Kind, Nick Oliveri, Thunder Horse, Royal Sons+, Restless Spirit*, (Big) Pig, Fostermother, Dead Feathers+, Rainbows Are Free, Warlung*, Sun Voyager, Red Mesa, Dunes, Tia Carrera+, Mr. Plow, The Heroine*, Michael Rudolph Cummings, The Absurd+, GoodEye*, Red Beard Wall, God Damn Good Time Band+
Plus a “Legends of the Desert and Friends” jam session to close out Saturday night!
And as always, the visuals by The Mad Alchemist Liquid Light Show
All-Access passes are SOLD OUT! All we have left are 2 Day Passes and Pre/Afterparty tickets available. Many more bands to be announced! Get your tickets now before the full lineup is revealed and the ticket price goes up!
Posted in Whathaveyou on August 9th, 2022 by JJ Koczan
In a manner not dissimilar from how its California fests took largely the same expansive lineup from San Francisco to Los Angeles and Los Angeles to San Francisco, Heavy Psych Sounds is bringing a circus to Berlin and Dresden on Oct. 21 and 22. In association with Greyzone and ElbSludgeBooking, the label has assembled a lineup that includes HPS bands and others like 1000mods and Gozu, and that sense of community outreach isn’t to be understated. The synergy between booking and releasing is a big part of what has allowed Heavy Psych Sounds to become the underground nexus it is, able to do more for bands than many other outlets. The festivals in cities across Europe and now in the US as well are another extension of that.
That’s not really an insight as to the lineup here or the label’s ethic or taste — also choice — but the fact is this is Heavy Psych Sounds doing what it does. More power to them, and so on.
From the PR wire:
HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS FEST BERLIN & DRESDEN full lineup announcement
Heavy Psych Sounds Records & Booking will smash Berlin and Dresden with their highly acclaimed mini festival-series, the HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS FEST!
In cooperation with Greyzone Concerts and ElbSludgeBooking, Heavy Psych Sounds has revealed the full lineup for the upcoming HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS FEST BERLIN & DRESDEN !!!
The HPS Fest Berlin & Dresden will be taking place 21st and 22nd of October, 2022 at the Festsaal Kreuzberg and Urban Spree in Berlin and Chemiefabrik in Dresden !!!
HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS FEST – BERLIN & DRESDEN @ Festsaal Kreuzberg / Urban Spree, Berlin @ Chemiefabrik, Dresden October 21st and 22nd 2022
feat. 1000 MODS NICK OLIVERI BELZEBONG BLACK RAINBOWS ACID MAMMOTH THE LORDS OF ALTAMONT HIGH REEPER SLEEPWULF TONS HIPPIE DEATH CULT GOZU OREYEON WEDGE MOTHER ENGINE
BERLIN TICKETS PRESALE: https://www.greyzone-tickets.de/produkte/602
BERLIN FB OFFICIAL EVENT: https://www.facebook.com/events/1358860387859773/
Posted in Whathaveyou on May 10th, 2022 by JJ Koczan
Still weeks away from hosting its two nights in Los Angeles and San Francisco, Heavy Psych Sounds has unveiled a similar strategy to take place this Fall in Berlin and Dresden. Set for Oct. 21-22, these Heavy Psych Sounds Fest 2022 editions are just beginning to take shape with this first announcement, as roughly a third of the acts and a headliner are still to be revealed, but there’s already stuff to note here. To wit, it’s Nick Oliveri touring and not Mondo Generator or Stöner. Will he play acoustic or have a full band behind him?
Also, the inclusion of High Reeper here makes me wonder if that Philly outfit won’t have a new record out by the time they go. Maybe September to get ahead of the busy Fall season? Pure speculation. After 2016’s High Reeper (review here) and 2019’s Higher Reeper, could this be the year of the highest of all reepers? Stay tuned to find out.
Whoever else ends up being included and whatever the answers to the above questions, one can continue to see Heavy Psych Sounds branching out across Europe and beyond as the foremost purveyor of underground heavy in the world. Ain’t nobody else out there putting out NebulaandOreyeon, Dozer reissues and Witchpit. Label owns one of the most crucial moments in the history of heavy music. It is astounding.
From the PR wire:
*** HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS FEST BERLIN & DRESDEN ***
first bands announcement
Heavy Psych Sounds Records & Booking will smash Berlin and Dresden with their highly acclaimed mini festival-series, the HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS FEST! In cooperation with Greyzone Concerts and ElbSludgeBooking, today Heavy Psych Sounds has revealed the first bands for the upcoming HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS FEST BERLIN & DRESDEN !!!
The HPS Fest Berlin & Dresden will be taking place 21st and 22nd of October, 2022 at the Festsaal Kreuzberg and Urban Spree in Berlin and Chemiefabrik in Dresden !!!
HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS FEST – BERLIN & DRESDEN @ Festsaal Kreuzberg / Urban Spree, Berlin @ Chemiefabrik, Dresden October 21st and 22nd 2022
feat. BELZEBONG NICK OLIVERI THE LORDS OF ALTAMONT HIGH REEPER SLEEPWULF + more TBA
Posted in Whathaveyou on March 22nd, 2022 by JJ Koczan
Back for its second year and with a fourth day in tow, Ripplefest Texas 2022 confirms its full lineup, a total beast of legends and newcomers. Really, I don’t even know what to say here except that if you’re lucky enough to go, it’s probably the kind of thing you’re going to remember for a long gosh-darn time, and it’s the kind of lineup that serves as lording-over fodder on the part of those who were there to those who weren’t. Well, at least it would if the heavy underground weren’t too cool to each other for that kind of gatekeeping nonsense. In any case, this looks like a massive undertaking to put on, and the roster of assembled acts gets a hearty ‘fucking a’ from my corner of the universe.
Tickets for all four days will run you $150, but I feel like the festival earns that on both quality and quantity of product.
Here’s the announcement, info and links:
RIPPLE FEST TEXAS – The Far Out Lounge – July 21-24
4-day passes available now!
RippleFest Texas 2022 is back and the lineup is as big and hot as Texas itself! 4 days of blistering hot music at Austin’s premier music venue The Far Out Lounge. There will be everything from crushing heavy riffs, to acoustic and banjo picking, to improvisation jam sessions and puppet shows! So many legends and great music that this will be a 4 day weekend you will not want to miss!
FULL LINEUP: Eagles of Death Metal, The Sword, Crowbar, Mothership, Big Business, The Obsessed, Stöner, Spirit Adrift, The Heavy Eyes, Sasquatch, REZN, Fatso Jetson, Heavy Temple, J.D. Pinkus, Lord Buffalo, Lo-Pan, Wino, El Perro, Void Vator, Hippie Death Cult, Howling Giant, Doctor Smoke, Nick Oliveri, High Desert Queen, Destroyer of Light, Ape Machine, High Priestess, Dryheat, Rubber Snake Charmers, Sun Crow, Holy Death Trio, Bone Church, Horseburner, Spirit Mother, Thunder Horse, Mother Iron Horse, The Age of Truth, Salem’s Bend, Las Cruces, All Souls, Kind, Fostermother, The Absurd, Godeye, Ole English, Mr. Plow, Snake Mountain Revival, Blue Heron, Grail, Formula 400, Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol, Eagle Claw, Bridge Farmers.
The Far Out Lounge is located at 8504 South Congress. Winner of Best New Venue at the Austin Music Awards 2020.
Posted in Whathaveyou on August 24th, 2020 by JJ Koczan
Initially a project of Steve Hanford — known for his work in Poison Idea and a slew of others, including most recently Portland, Oregon’s Ape Machine — the various artists project Dominance and Submission: A Tribute to Blue Öyster Cult will see release in the coming months via Ripple Music. What began as a loving homage from Hanford to his favorite band has become a meta-tribute, as it fell to others to complete the project following Hanford‘s death earlier this year. It is, then, honoring as much to him and his work as much as Blue Öyster Cult, since Hanford sits in on many the tracks, including those featuring the likes of Billy Anderson, Rob Wrong (Witch Mountain) and Andrea Vidal (Holy Grove), Jeff Matz of Zeke and High on Fire, Year of the Cobra, Mos Generator and others.
No audio yet, and I expect a solid release date is forthcoming, but the heart with which this has been put together, on both ends, comes through clearly in the announcement below — also the cover art rules — so dig into that in the meantime and when I hear about the rest, I’ll let you know.
Here goes:
Dominance and Submission: A Tribute To Blue Öyster Cult
Californian powerhouse RIPPLE MUSIC is proud to announce the upcoming release of their all-star tribute album to Blue Öyster Cult: ‘Dominance and Submission: A Tribute to Blue Öyster Cult’. The album will feature covers by Steve Hanford, Mark Lanegan, Billy Anderson, Jeff Matz, Zeke, Mondo Generator and other major names of the heavy rock world.
This special tribute album was initiated by Poison Idea’s departed drummer Steve Hanford, in conjunction with Ian Watts of Ape Machine. Founded in 1967, Blue Öyster Cult are considered pioneers of occult rock’n’roll, marking generations with timeless anthems such as “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper”, “Burnin’ for You”, “Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll” or “Godzilla”. The New-York outfit has since then remained a reference act of the 70s rock scene alongside Black Sabbath, MC5, The Stooges or Steppenwolf.
The “Dominance and Submission: A Tribute To Blue Öyster Cult” record will highlight some of the finest work from the legendary American band, with unique contributions from JEFF MATZ of ZEKE and HIGH ON FIRE, MONDO GENERATOR, MOS GENERATOR, GREAT ELECTRIC QUEST, QUASI, HOLY GROVE, WAR CLOUD, APE MACHINE, ZEKE, YEAR OF THE COBRA, FETISH, SPINDRIFT as well as MARK LANEGAN and BILLY ANDERSON. The artwork was designed by Dave Snider.
The concept:
Steven Hanford AKA Thee Slayer Hippy lived the rocky road of the rock and roll veteran. As drummer and producer in Poison Idea he played on two of the most influential records of hardcore – War All The Time and Feel The Darkness. As producer he worked on indie rock projects such as Heatmiser (with frontman Elliot Smith) and punk albums for notable names like The Hard Ons. Due to some struggles with addiction which he later attributed to repressed sexual abuse as a child, Steve found himself in prison on multiple occasions, most recently in 2008 for a seven-year sentence after robbing a Walgreens. While in prison, Steve turned his life around and started recording albums for prisoners with a fellow inmate named Sam Redding (Sam appears on this record). After being released in 2015, Steve jumped on a tour playing drums in The Skull and was soon after introduced to Ape Machine by mutual friend Tony Lash (Heatmiser). Steve quickly joined Ape Machine on drums and also as producer for Darker Seas. While on the road with Ape Machine, Steve decided he wanted to produce a tribute record to one of his favorite bands, Blue Öyster Cult.
Steve had a vision of building a studio and originally wanted to use funds from the sale of the tribute record to get some gear. The goal was to be able to work in his own studio, producing records for other bands. The idea was to have bands come and record BÖC tribute songs in his fledgling studio (temporarily using borrowed gear from Ian Watts) which he would produce, simultaneously making a name for the studio, his production techniques, and his drumming skills. Much of the gear and engineering would be provided by Ian Watts.
Unfortunately, Steve didn’t make it to see the project through to release due to his suffering a heart attack on May 21st 2020. Fortunately for music fans though, he had completed most of the recording for the project, leaving Ian Watts to gather the final pieces and mix the record.
Steve was an accomplished and respected musician and was able to round up a star studded cast of bands for the tribute, including members of Mondo Generator, Quasi, Holy Grove, War Cloud, Mos Generator, Great Electric Quest, Ape Machine, Zeke, Year of the Cobra, High on Fire, Fetish, Spindrift as well as notable names such as Mark Lanegan and Billy Anderson.
With Steve no longer being with us, the proceeds of the record will go to benefit his widowed partner, Kitty Diggins who was left with some financial hardships, including much needed house repairs.
TRACK LISTING & LINEUP 1) ME262 (Steve Hanford, Nick Oliveri, Ian Watts, Mike Pygmie) 2) Dominance and Submission (Steve Hanford, Mark Lanegan, Sam Coomes, Sam Redding) 3) Wings Wetted Down (Steve Hanford, Billy Anderson, Rob Wrong, Andrea Vidal) 4) Tattoo Vampire (Mondo Generator) 5) Stairway to the Stars (War Cloud) 6) Veteran of the Psychic Wars (Ape Machine) 7) Flaming Telepaths (Great Electric Quest) 8) Transmaniacon MC (Mos Generator w/ Steve Hanford) 9) 7 Screaming Dizbusters (Fetish) 10) Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll (Zeke w/ Jeff Matz and Steve Hanford) 11) Fireworks (Year of the Cobra w/ Steve Hanford) 12) Don’t Fear the Reaper (Spindrift and Steve Hanford)
Posted in Whathaveyou on October 11th, 2019 by JJ Koczan
So it’s multi-pronged Nick Oliveri news from Heavy Psych Sounds. All album-related. First and foremost, a new Mondo Generator album. That’s cool. New lineup, same Nick. I’d expect it to be totally off the rails and you should too. Dude has a whole career demonstrating his love of screamy punk, so no reason to think that’s abated. Cool beans, daddy-o.
Second, a lost Mondo Generator album from 2010. Wondering why it’s been lost. His whole SWAT-standoff was 2011, so that timing doesn’t really fit. Maybe we’ll find out, maybe not, but right on either way. That might be even rawer than the new record.
Third, a new installment of the apparently ongoing series of N.O. Hits at All compilation releases that Heavy Psych Sounds has been doing over the last couple years. What on earth could be left? I’m sure plenty.
And if you’re wondering as to the timing on any of this, Mondo Generator are rolling out on a massive European tour next February, so it doesn’t seem unreasonable to think something will show up around then, though we won’t find out for sure until next week when the presales go up.
Till then, the PR wire:
Heavy Psych Sounds to announce a band signing: MONDO GENERATOR – coming back with a brand new album !!!
We are so stoked to welcome in our roster one of the most crazy bands in the world.
Ladies and gentlemen please welcome MONDO GENERATOR !!!
The band is coming back with a new line up: Nick Oliveri (ex Kyuss, QOTSA), Mike Pygmie and Mike Amster will release a brand new album after 8 years via Heavy Psych Sounds.
An “unreleased” album, lost in 2010 will also be released in 2020, last but not least the new Nick Oliveri N.O Hits At All Vol. 666 will also see the light next year !!!
PRESALE FOR ALL 3 ALBUMS STARTS: OCTOBER 17th
The band will be also touring Europe during February and March 2020, including HPS Fests in Paris, Antwerp, London and Deventer.
*** MONDO GENERATOR EUROPEAN TOUR 2020 *** 05.02.2020 IT Roma-Traffic 06.02.2020 IT Pescara-Scumm 07.02.2020 IT North East Tba 08.02.2020 CH Winterthur-Gaswerk 13.02.2020 IT Ravenna-Bronson 14.02.2020 IT Cagliari-La Cueva Rock 15.02.2020 IT Parma-Splinter 16.02.2020 IT Cecina-Spazio Live Ritmi 17.02.2020 IT Torino-Blah Blah 18.02.2020 IT Erba-Centrale Rock 19.02.2020 FR Chambery-Le Brin Du Zinc 20.02.2020 CH Olten-Coq D’Or 21.02.2020 DE Siegen-Vortex 22.02.2020 DE Oldenburg-MTS Record Shop 23.02.2020 DE Hamburg-tba 24.02.2020 DE Berlin-Zukunft** 25.02.2020 DE Dresden-Chemiefabrik** 26.02.2020 AT Salzburg-Rockhouse 27.02.2020 AT Innsbruck-PMK 28.02.2020 IT Bozen-Pippo Stage 29.02.2020 DE Wiesbaden-Kreativefabrik 01.03.2020 DE Karlsrhue-Jubez 02.03.2020 DE Augsburg 03.03.2020 LU Luxembourg-tba 04.03.2020 FR Nantes-Le Ferraieur 05.03.2020 FR Paris-Glazart “Heavy Psych Sounds Fest” 06.03.2020 BE Antwerp-Trix “Heavy Psych Sounds Fest” 07.03.2020 UK London-Underworld “Heavy Psych Sounds Fest” 08.03.2020 NL Deventer-Burgerweeshuis “Heavy Psych Sounds Fest” 09.03.2020 UK Nottingham-Albert’s* 10.03.2020 UK Bristol-Exchange * 11.03.2020 UK Manchester-Star&Garter* 12.03.2020 UK Glasgow-Nice n’ Sleazy* 13.03.2020 BE Diksmuide-Music Club 4AD 14.03.2020 NL Rotterdam-Baroeg w/t ALUNAH* w/t DUEL**
