“If you’re creating something you want to see it through to the end.”
– Glenn Mercer
New Jersey’s The Feelies formed in the late ‘70s around the core of guitarists Glenn Mercer and Bill Million. Between their seminal first record, 1980’s Crazy Rhythms, and 1991’s Time for a Witness, their post-punk, Velvet Underground and Jonathan Richman-inspired sound evolved from their twitchy, polyrhythmic debut to more atmospheric, complex guitar pop, leading critic Robert Christgau to say of the final record of their original run, “the minimalism of Crazy Rhythms was always misleading.”
Post-Feelies, Mercer worked on several other projects, including the band Wake Ooloo and a solo record. Million left music entirely and for nearly twenty years, reportedly, didn’t touch his guitar, leading previous attempts to reunite the band to stall without his involvement. Now, Million is back, and for the first time since 1991, The Feelies have a new record called Here Before. Despite its self-referential lyrical winks to their past, the new record would sound right in their discography next to The Good Earth or Only Life.
I spoke with Glenn Mercer recently about the new record, his relationship with Bill, and how one band becomes R.E.M. while another unfairly disappears into semi-obscurity.
Every week we ask you guys to show us your ink in celebration of Tattoo Tuesday: we choose one favorite submission each from Twitter and Tumblr and they win a free 3 month membership to SuicideGirls.com.
To celebrate Cinco de Mayo, vintage style icon Dita Von Teese has put her own twist on the world’s favorite Mexican cocktail. As a spokesperson for Cointreau, the drink naturally includes the orange liqueur (Cointreau is a triple sec produced in Angers, France). But there’s also some more unlikely ingredients which give it a kick and a contrasting demure floral note.
This Sunday (May 8th) our very special in-studio guests are the Dance Hall Pimps and Kristeen Young.
Originally from St. Louis, though now New York-based, Kristeen Young is more Kate Bush than Kate Bush (she has a staggering 4-octave vocal range). The insanely talented singer/songwriter has a new Tony Visconti-produced EP out called “V The Volcanic” and is in the midst of a 4-week residency at LA’s Hotel Café.
LA’s Dance Hall Pimps blend blues, rockabilly and Americana with punk rock and more than a hint of goth. Catch the 21st century show band’s eclectic electric mix at The Viper Room on Saturday May 14.
Listen to SG Radio live Sunday night from 10 PM til Midnight on Indie1031.com
Its December 25th 1986, and Nikki Sixx is alone in his mansion, crouched naked under his Christmas tree with a needle in his arm, scribbling in his diary about watching his holiday spirit coagulate in a spoon. He writes, ”Merry Christmas its just you and me, diary. Welcome to my life.”
This is just one scene from a particularly harrowing chapter in Motley Crue bassist and founder Nikki Sixx’s new memoir The Heroin Diaries – a collection of riveting entries from his personal journals spanning one year from 1986 to 1987, a year he considers the height of his downward spiral into drug addiction. It’s a story about drugs, depression, and the train-wreck of self-destruction – but ultimately it’s one man’s story about survival told with unflinching and unapologetic honesty.
INTO: Silliness, having adventures, geeky indulgences, tattoos, fierce Japanese fashion, bright colors, kick ass music, loving life.
NOT INTO: Incorrect spelling and grammar, hate.
MAKES ME HAPPY: The night sky, my cat, manga and anime, sunshine, Yu Gi Oh: The Abridged Series, dry British humor, nature, hockey, Nostalgia Critic, Brian Drummond as Ryuk.
MAKES ME SAD: Snow and cold, stupidity, ignorance.
HOBBIES: Adventuring, crushing extreme.
5 THINGS I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT: Food, air, sun, my cat, music.
VICES: Candy, caffeine, manga, makeup, things are that kawaii desu *v*.
I SPEND MOST OF MY FREE TIME: Piercing the heavens with my drill.
