11-11-2015

Setlist:
1. Jokers - All Wrong
2. Half Japanese - Girls Like That
3. The Silver - Popper
4. Wheelz Of Steel - Why Me / Thrills
5. Adjéèf The Poet And Friends - Iekk! I'm A ... Freak
7. The Shadow Ring - Basic Everyday Life
8. Z - Violence Action
9. Kaoru Abe - Alto 2

Jokers - "All Wrong"

Off their S/T LP, recorded in 1972, released on Fading Sunshine Records in 2011.

From Tehran, Iran - Jokers were a Heavy Psych trio with tripped out and crazed blues rhythms drowned in reverb and wah, backed by simple yet great bass and drumming. The record crowns them as "Iran's Psychedelic Treasure" - and I'd say they deserve that title.

The record itself is short on names, simply saying that the members are Vaheed, (guitar, vocals) Comran, (bass) and Afshin (drums) - looks like we may have another Silvers-esque manhunt on our hands!

Half Japanese - "Girls Like That"

Off the "1/2 Gentlemen / Not Beasts" album released on Armageddon Records in 1980.
Previously featured on 8/9/2015.
A cult band, Half Japanese have done everything in the book, well, nearly. Their early Noise Rock days in "1/2 Gentlemen / Not Beasts" would largely influence modern Noise Rock. Half Japanese - love 'em!

The Silver - "Popper"

Off the "Do You Wanna Dance?" single released on Black Label Series Records in 1980.

Previously featured on 8/20/2015.
After my previous entry on The Silver, I'm afraid I don't have much to add. Weird, outsider and outlandish kiddy noise rock from Finland, ya dig? I know I dig it. Their happy and fun-filled A-Side, "Do You Wanna Dance?" meets a dark contrast in comparison to "Popper," the gloomy and somewhat Throbbing Gristle-esque B-side.

Wheelz Of Steel - "Why Me / Thrills"

Off the "Volume 1" LP released independently in 1983.

No clue what to think about this one - Wheelz Of Steel have a reputation in the deep corners of the internet as being "so horrible it's life changing" and "so mentally depraved it's actually scary." Consisting of 2 brothers from Milwaukee - Richard and Raymond Markowski. Also, both of them are dead - just too add more wood to the depressing fire.

Adjéèf The Poet And Friends - "Iekk! I'm A ... Freak"
Off the "Iekk! I'm A ... Freak" single released on Action Records in 1967.
Odd? Yes! Adjeef The Poet was a pseudonym for Ad Visser, from the Netherlands. His first recorded effort, Visser would later become a Media Personality in the Netherlands, recording educational and childrens albums in the late 80's and early 90's. Strange man! 

The Shadow Ring - "Basic Everyday Life"
Off the "Hold Onto I.D." album released on Siltbreeze Records in 1997.
A batshit mixer and an out of place mixer looms under Graham Lambkins spoken word dialogue. With the mood and atmosphere that lurked on songs such as "Persuasion," (Throbbing Gristle) "Grapefruit," (DNA) and such other classics, most notably "The Gift" (The Velvet Underground).
With a menacing and disassociative feeling, it's not quite hard to see why The Shadow Ring have become a cult band.

Z - "Violence Action"
Off the "Violence Action" Flexi-Disc released on Z Records in 1988.
A barrage of Noise and feedback, Z's output is small - one flexi, one split and one tape. The production seems to be a mishap, what was clearly aimed to be a Crust Punk / Anarchopunk EP came out as a collage of shredding noises. What sounds like a fire alarm harmonizing with a blow dryer, this strange relic of Japanese Punk is not something to be forgotten.

Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band - "Veterans Day Poppy"
Off the "Trout Mask Replica" LP released on Straight Records in 1969.
Fitting, isn't it?

Kaoru Abe - "Alto 2"

Off the "Thursday Night / Live 1972.7.13" album, released on PSF Records in 2003.

Kaoru Abe (pronounced like Kaw-Ru Ah-Bay) was a Japanese Alto Saxophonist most known for his solo improvisational pieces. Dying quite young due to what is believed to be drugs, Abe's style was more desperate than Ayler and more endurant than Kirk, if you can believe such a thing. Well known for having 30 minute long pieces, this is a shorter one of his works.