Sunday, August 24, 2008

Older Punk / New Wave Rockers need more business savvy

UNNATURAL AXE / WILLIE LOCO ALEXANDER at CHURCH with
CHEETAH CHROME
Friday August 22, 2008

Willie "Loco" Alexander and his Boom Boom Band - David McClean on drums, Sev Grossman on bass and Billy Loosigian on guitar were absolutely explosive to a packed audience of old-time scenesters and nouveau punk rockers. They were just terrific. It was the 30th Anniversary of Unnatural Axe who were listed with "special guests", which must be the split personality of the bandmembers as only Cheetah Chrome performing a great "Sonic Reducer" (from what I could hear outside) seemed to be the guest. Anyway, what appears to be the big attraction at these "30th Anniversary"-type shows are the people in the audience returning to the source of their punk-rock youth, a bit older, wiser and somewhat rough around the edges.

That's Rock & Roll!

This could have been a mega event to send shockwaves through the town. But it wasn't.
It was a cool night with some cool bands proving that over 40 (or in the Boom Booms' case,
over 40, 50 and 60) they could still rock out - and make more sense than a lot of the derivative and mindless music pouring out of The Middle East in Cambridge these days. It isn't that ALL of the bands coming through are watered down, it is just that Unnatural Axe and Willie Loco have something these new bands don't have: personality. That essential element is so important in "drawing" the fans back out. But how long can a Rick Berlin or a Charlie Farren or a Mach Bell rely on old glories, glories which should have been more glorious but were not!

"They Saved Hitler's Brain" struck a chord. But what did the band do with their lucky break?
It would have been a neat addition to the video of "They Saved Hitler's Brain", the movie that inspired it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/They_Saved_Hitler's_Brain

Interesting to note that Wikipedia claims the year was 1982 but at least they do reference
Unnatural Axe.

Here's an example of cross-promotion for bands from the Boston scene moving into other areas that can promote their art:

The Lemonheads on THE GRADUATE SOUNDTRACK

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lemonheads
A cover of "Mrs. Robinson" (recorded to promote the video release of The Graduate) was released as a single to the annoyance of the band and got them the most exposure they'd had so far. This cover was also used in the film Wayne's World 2. When the Ray album was reissued, the track was tagged on to the end. The band enjoyed quite a bit of success on college radio, and modest mainstream exposure. During 1992-1993, Dando's face graced many a magazine cover, and he was included in People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People list. [2]


Even Rob Zombie knew how to take the first 3 Frankenstein films and add his name to the legend:
http://www.amazon.com/Words-Music-Frankenstein-Score-Anthology/dp/B00001QGSG

That should be what The Axe work on, especially with guitarist Tommy White being in the video industry.



THANK YOU FOR AXING:

The members of Unnatural Axe were invited to be on my TV show months ago - it reaches 320,000 homes and has A-list guests - but they didn't take me up on the offer - and it would have been great promotion for THE CHURCH.


THE CHURCH on Friday Night August 22, 2008

Hey, it was deeply flattering to hear people say "The Count is here", and have the social circle outside on the sidewalk buzzing with gossip - my notes on the night centered on this new experience of cigarette smokers migrating outside of the club to the fresh clean air so that they can pollute their lungs and make small talk. Wasn't that supposed to be the original idea of the nightclub? A place where people could socialize? Club Owners worry about their insurance, their rent, their liquor sales, and attendance - as they have to - but no one seems to be looking for solutions - a major sponsor to underwrite the event - mega promotion on the radio and TV stations that care



MOVING INTO THE FUTURE
As I've gravitated away from "the scene" to spend more time in The Matrix, this world of computers, I just can't quite comprehend the logic of a fantastic group like Fox Pass - Jon Macey, Mike Roy and now Steve Gilligan - playing so many times a year and, quite literally, banging their heads against the wall. At least Blondie, Iggy Pop, The Cars, Elvis Costello, The Talking Heads and many others leaped out of the New Wave to establish themselves, but the energy being expended by Unnatural Axe, Willie "Loco", Fox Pass, Third Rail, The Boize and other mainstays of the Boston scene (the ones of us still alive) would be better served marketing their wares on overnight TV or the internet. Not just posting a blog or a myspace but a concerted effort to get a hit on the world wide web. Look, how long can Mach Bell continue recording music, as good as it is, with his only claim to fame being the lead singer for Joe Perry's band for one album and some touring? At a certain point this "cult of personality" that is the individuality of each member of each rock band should consider that an event like Unnatural Axe & Willie Loco at The Church, should have been SPONSORED by a corporate entity, BROADCAST at the very least on New England Cable News, simulcast on WBCN or WAAF - something, anything, to make it just another night at another club in Boston.