Hysteric Narcotics - From The Desolation Where The Greasewood Grows (Raffscallion Records 2010)

American Garage Psychedelic Rock 'N' Roll Band from Livonia, MI, formed in the mid 80's. This is a collection of previously released material & rarities.

Straight Outta Livonia:  The Abbreviated Story of the Hysteric Narcotics

The Hysteric Narcotics burst onto the Detroit rock and roll scene in 1983.  With their first gig at Paycheck’s Lounge opening for the phenomenal Bootsey X and the Lovemasters, the four-man version of the group made an indelible splash on the city that is now more famous for its music than it is for its automobiles.

With a few personnel changes, the Narcotics lasted until 1989 before calling it quits except for the rare reunion show.  It was a long, strange howl in between that had the band visit the East Coast twice and the West Coast once.  In that span of time, the band released their only vinyl LP, “Batteries Not Included,” and released four singles.

Loud, boisterous, truly hysterical, and smitten by the bugs of musicality, hijinx, and harmony, the Hysteric Narcotics must have played hundreds of shows during that six-year-period and thereafter, but, apart from a few regrets (too few to mention), things ended on a good note.  Cloistered at the end in a beat up and rusty Dodge van, it should be noted that their beginnings were shaded by a different kind of insularity.

Livonia, an incubator suburb west of Detroit, seemed just right for babymaking and bandmaking. A boring, centerless, burb with plenty of high schools, two major shopping centers, a race track, and basements and garages galore, Livonia was noted as a rock n’ roll wellspring during the highly-combustible punk rockstrosity of the late 1970s.

Mark Niemenski (bass), Charles “Chip” Sercombe (drums), Sean Curran (guitar), and Mike Murphy (vocals) had all been part of the once-vibrant punk scene that primarily blared from Bookie’s Club 870.  By late 1983, the four original members of Hysteric Narcotics added keyboard/guitar player David Feeny, and searched for something new.

Turned out they managed to make something old new again.  Equipped with a slightly obsessive penchant for 1960s garage rock brought on by the 1970s appearance of Lenny Kaye’s Nuggets and Greg Shaw’s then-dawning Pebbles series, they wrote originals in the spirit of the bygone era when seemingly every teenager across the country was in some kind of garage band.

Then, in short order, Sean Curran left the band to pursue a degree in occupational therapy.  Mark took over on guitar, and Keith Soucy joined the band as bass guitarist.

The Hysteric Narcotics watched with wide eyes as already established and likeminded bands such as the Fleshtones, the Lyres, the Three-O-Clock, the Vipers, and the Pandoras grew in popularity.  They ran into local bands like the Frames and the Vertical Pillows who mined the same fuzzy bedrock that bled into both 60s punk and white trash R&B.

The band also answered an ad for a light show and snatched it up.  It turned out to be the same light show used at Detroit’s legendary Grande Ballroom.  That colorful spectacle combined with the raw energy and wild trousers of the Hysterics psychedelicized both the band and its Detroit-area audience.  The group hit the road, in order to turn the rest of the country onto their unique brand of garage-punk-psychedelia i.e. rock and roll.

In the matter of three years, the band picked up a decent following in the Detroit area, but its line-up shifted radically.  Chip graduated from college and finally settled into a real day job and Dave left to create the Orange Roughies.  Drummer Jerry Barterian and keyboard player Lawrence Ulrich replaced them respectively.

Although the Hysteric Narcotics remained very popular in Detroit-area clubs, they could not seem to master the art of touring, and a tour of the Western states did more damage to the band than good.  It was simultaneously a wild ride and a rude awakening, and shortly thereafter, the band officially broke up but kept up its presence in the Detroit area by playing annual reunion shows, which came to a halt in 1996.

Apparently still not done, the band reformed in 2008 to play friend Jim Shaw’s birthday party, and reformed again in 2010 for a revival to boost the release of their 25-song retrospective CD, “From the Desolation Where the Greasewood Grows.”  Newly revived, they may not be finished yet.    -Source

Hysteric Narcotics - From The Desolation Where The Greasewood Grows (Raffscallion Records 2010) FLAC    320

Enjoy!

PS: Here is an interview from What Wave #11. I found this here.

Pikes In Panic - Right Or Wrong, They're Still The Captains (2CD Gravedigger's Records 2007)

Pikes In Panic were part of the italian garage-punk invasion of the 80's, blasting out the same kinda primitive teen-beat bands like the Sick Rose, Primeteens, Hermits And Electric Shields got famous for. So it was about time to release the whole Pikes In Panic discography, plus all their live recordings, a bonus videoclip shot during a live concert and 7 never before published tracks for the first time on CD to make their music accessible to all their old fans and upcoming new ones.  

The full package is completed with a insert of 16 pages in colorama with never seen before pictures, old flyers and the complete stroy of the band, plus all the lyrics of their own songs. Their mix of classic 60's garage sounds, r'n'b and soul was a real blast way back in the 80's and it still is, so go and get your music collection complete with two hours of south european garage mayhem at it's best!    -Source

Biography:
80s Garage & Psych band from Siena (Tuscany)  

The Pikes in Panic story begins with the Siennese band Rumble Fish (1983/84) founded by Lorenzo Carlucci (guitar and vocals), Roberto Censi (bass), Gianni Bertacchi (guitar and vocals – then with Barbieri), Marco Pallassini (drums). 

After two years and two self produced cassettes Marco Pallassini decided to leave the band and move to London where he later joined the Cannibals of Mike Spenser, in the early 1980’s one of London’s Psychos most followed bands.

Andrea Brogi (then with Psychomotor Pluck) took Marco’s place and Marco Sammicheli became lead guitarist, at the same time he also played with Arco e I Bizzarri, a band founded by Luca Losi (vocals), Michele Landi (drums) and Claudio Maccari (bass). The Bizzarri were working out a sixty’s sound with various influences and the next step was the obvious merge of the two bands with the addition of the keyboard player Angelo Giallombardo who had already played with the Rumble Fish in the self produced cassette “Garage Band”.

 

This new merge produced an infernal array of sounds ranging from the most diverse musical genders that went from Punk-Psychedelia-Sixties Punk- Hammond style (the first Deep Purple)-Hendrix-Soul Stax and Motown and these influences where clearly perceivable in their songs.

The band quickly tried to develop its own unique sound and they tried to achieve this with their instruments . Just before their first recordings and concerts they roamed across Italy, sacrificing time and money, in search of original instruments (at the time the word “vintage” was unknown and the prices were not as exorbitant as nowadays):

-Lorenzo: a 1966 semiacustic Rickenbacher and Vox ac30 amplifier found at a knock out price in a shop in Siena and a 1964 Fender Jaguar;
-Marco: a 1966 country gentlemen “Chet Atkins” Gretsch all the way from London (carried through customs by two trustworthy friends), a Fender super reverb and twin reverb Fender amplifier. During the recording of the album he also played a 335;
-Angelo: the most perseverant: he managed to get his hands on three Farfisa compacts, a Farfisa professional, two Vox, a very heavy Hammond that caused back ache at every gig (three flights of stairs in Naples at the “Riot” in S. Biagio dei Librai won’t be forgotten in a hurry!), a Fender Leslie amplifier with a powerful ventilator;
-Michele often used to play a Luca’s a set of Hollywood drums with trolley; 

-Roberto never abandoned his Ibanez bass from his punk origins.

 

The powerful and relentless rhythm of Michele, Roberto and Lorenzo (the overwhelming punk energy), Marco’s cutting guitar riffs, distorted and pure, Angelo’s melodious arrangements, his solos on the Farfisa, on the Hammond and on the electric keyboard are a few of the Pike’s characteristics that made them stand out from all the other bands.       Finally we can't forget Luca’s deep, black vocalist voice that so distinguished itself.

An important presence for the band was Marco Begani, their manager. He offered his friendship, but also searched for gigs, record labels, distributors and maintained contacts with other aficionados up until his departure, he produced (together with Massimo Mini) the first EP Chiavoni Day (Microbonf 1985), four songs mixed and recorded in just one day ! The 1000 copies were quickly sold out.

This period was characterised by enthusiastic reviews and articles in fanzines (the real source of the underground scene), in specialist magazines (Rockerilla, Il Mucchio Selvaggio, Buscadero) and nights spent playing and listening to the music of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s.

An important acknowledgment and a great satisfaction for the band was a letter from Jello Biafra (singer of the Dead Kennedys, an expert of sixties punk and a legend for all generations) that spurred the band on to continue and asked for information on the band’s sound!!!The band was constantly supported by a group of wild aficionados that were musically very up-to-date going to all their gigs wherever they played: in and around Siena there was a movement of people, ideas and music that made this Tuscan town one of the liveliest places in central Italy for the sixties-oriented music scene.

 

The EP “Chiavoni Day” was recorded at the Gas studios in Florence that later proposed a contract that brought to the recording of the album Keep it cool and dry (1988) and taking part in the Eighties colour vol. 2 (a compilation edited by Claudio Sorge for his label Electric Eye)

The tiresome wait for the debut album, with months and months of delay and the diverging ideas regarding the production became a real burden for the Pikes. The aims of the record label were a far cry from those of the band and so were the different ideas on just about everything (sound-gigs-photographs). The 2 record producers insisted on separate recordings for each instrument the Pikes were totally against this (in fact all went well when a live recording was decided) and apart from the excellent relationship with the sound technician (Mario Fani) and the less than poor results of the recording, the year and half delay, the long time spent in the recording studios, that was so far from the Pikes’ concept of live band, and lastly the horrendous album cover led to the first real crisis.

Soon after this, Roberto Censi, who wanted a much harder musical approach whilst the other members were listening to more and more rhythm & blues, left and Paolo Migliorini, who definitely preferred this kind of music, took his place (he had played with a rhythm & blues cover band at the same time as the Pikes: Fat Peep Combo where every now and then Luca and Marco would session).
The band took part in a compilation “Lose your mind” (with a demo version of Summer Girl) together with the best Italian psychedelic/garage groups.

With more than 50 concerts throughout Italy those that will be mostly remembered are as support band to the Prisoners (one of the Pikes’ members favourite groups – James Taylor played with Angelo’s farfisa and leslie-fender!!!!!!) and to the Lyres of Jeff “Mono-man” Connolly.

The Pikes like to remember and greet the great bands of that period of the Italian music underground scene with whom they had the pleasure to play: Birdman of Alcatraz (the group that the Pikes most admired and were tied to through mutual respect and friendship) – SteepleJack – Kim Squad & Dinah Shore Hearthbangers – The Storks – The Liars – Gli Avvoltoi – Funhouse – Joe Perrino & the Mellowtones – Double Deck Five – The Gift – The Lager – Psychomotor Pluck.

Once the Pikes broke up:
-Michele has sung and played in Barbieri, Goldfingers. Quarrymen, Ray Daytona & The GooGooBombos and now in the B-Back.
-Luca has sung and played in Ghostrider.
-Roberto has played in Wilderness Underground and in Modulo 101.
-Angelo has played in Goldfingers.      -Source

Pikes In Panic - Right Or Wrong, They're Still The Captains (2CD Gravedigger's Records 2007) FLAC 1 2    320

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Mild Mannered Janitors ‎- Innocence (Vinyl, Screaming Apple Records 1991)

Back in the late 80's and early 90's the MMJ made a name for themselves playing high energy garage rock influenced by Small Faces, Prisoners, Jam, MC5, Fuzztones...loads garagey type stuff.    -Source

They don't exist anymore, but this album is one of the best ever! Always in the mood of their faves, The Prisoners, they run through a 16 song (60 minutes!) mixture of Psyche & Garage!    -Soundflat Versandliste April/May 1994

Very rare German release on Screaming Apple from UK garage/beat band with wild organ sound!    -Source

Mild Mannered Janitors ‎- Innocence (Vinyl, Screaming Apple Records 1991) FLAC   320

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The Undertakers - 13 Savage Garage-Punk Rippers (Vinyl, Recorded 1991, No Brains Records 2001)

An unreleased recording from '91 by four Eugene, Oregon lads. The title pretty much says it all. 60's stlye punk like the best Miracle Workers stuff. This is Kevin's pre-Spider Babies band. An explosion of Vox guitars, Fuzz Farfisa and a heavy dose of post-mortem sexual frustration ! 13 Savage Garage-Punk Rippers from haunted R'n'B pounders to girl-done-me-wrong punk stompers!!!! These recordings date back to 1991. That was a black hole era for things that sounded like this...ESPECIALLY for freaky and creepy Fuzzed out Farfisa and Voxx shattering's that this band made. "The Sixties Return" movement of the mid 80's didn't do much other than give the Grateful Dead it's only ever chart hit and 95% of the bands that were attempting the sound had more in common with the Beatles and the Byrds than the Sonics and the Stones. This was recorded during the days of grunge and this is alot sounds more bitter and splattery. An unadulterated footslog of dirty noise and liquid lights. A member or two went on to form the Spider Babies and this was recorded by Fred Cole.    -Source

The Undertakers - 13 Savage Garage-Punk Rippers (Vinyl, Recorded 1991, No Brains Records 2001) FLAC   320

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The Bullet Biters - Stranglers United (Mielilevyt 2013)

Hailing from the frozen  wastelands of Finland  comes The Bullet Biters one of the best bands you probably never heard of.These psycho kats have been knocking them dead in their homeland since 2004.With 2 successful ep's under their belt the band has quietly gained a rep for been kinda kool.You could say that they are one of Finland's best kept secrets.Well hopefully that's going to change with the release of "Stranglers United" the band's debut album. This puppy crashes the door with 12 original psycho rockers that are just straight up kool.You could say  this modern psychobilly done with an old school take .It has a a familiarity to it but at the same time it's a breath of fresh air. Highlights include: "Strangler Of Deserted Beach', " Delirium Rock", "She´s My Mystery Girl"and  the sure fire butt-kicker "Voodoo Transit".
Stranglers United is one of those albums that will appeal to more than just the psychobilly crowd .From the first track to the last it fires on all cylinders.How good is it ; you have to be a  brain dead kind of a guy not to like it. Recommended.    Source

More Info

The Bullet Biters - Stranglers United (Mielilevyt 2013) FLAC    320

Many thanks to L. & F.

Enjoy!

De Stekkers - Trash We Can EP (2013)

Another great band from the Netherlands. These are the tags at bandcamp: punk garage primitive trash 



De Stekkers, depraved organtronic garage punk from the south of the Netherlands.
The Philicorda-organ breathes the vibe while De Stekkers check out the crowd with their notorious 3D glasses. De Stekkers play in a classic garage-lineup: vocals, guitar, bass, drums and organ. Inspired by bands such as The Sonics and The Oblivians, with illustrious titled songs such as ‘Fight’, ‘Helleluja’ and ‘Bikini Carwash’ this quintet produces depraved organtronic garage punk!
The EP ‘Trash We Can’ containing five De Stekkers originals was released in February 2013. During the summer that same year the song ‘Los Balados’ appeared on the vinyl compilation ‘Dutch Garage Rock Explosion’ released on Kliko Records. October 2016 the compilation sampler ‘Garage in my Living Room’ has been released, containing another De Stekkers song ‘Not Strange’.
Source

Give it a listen, here or on their bandcamp-site.  Bandcamp also offers an album-download in various formats (MP3, FLAC, WAV...) with “name your price”.

Enjoy!

The Reaction - Action With The Reaction (Handclap Records 2012)

 

The Reaction is a Dutch nederbeat/garageband that is inspired by Q65, the Outsiders, the Who and the Pretty Things.

You can describe their sound as raw sixties garage with ripping vocals,banging drums, catchy riffs, throbbing bass and a haunting philicorda organ.

The Reaction released a 10 inch titled “Action with The Reaction”. All tracks on this record are original recordings. Their second release was the 7 inch single “Go Wild”, which was written as themesong for the anual Go Wild! festival. The killer track ‘Thunder” is the b-side.
The band already played great shows in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium.
This show will be part of the releasetour for their new record!

Go catch them live for a rousing experience full of dirty nederbeat!

Discography:
Message in the Fire (full length/2018)
Go Wild (7″/2015)
Action with the Reaction (10″/2014)

The Reaction is:
Hugo van Dijken – Vocals
Jeroen Teunis – Guitars
Marc Dirks – Bass
Kees Chetouki – Drums
Mirjam Sieben AKA Miss Philips – Philicorda organ and Guitar 

Source

The Reaction - Action With The Reaction (Handclap Records 2012) FLAC    320

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The  Reaction - Go Wild + Thunder 7'' (Handclap Records 2014) FLAC    320

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The Defectors - Baby Gimme Love (E.S.P. Recordings 2001)

With second album release "Baby Gime Love", Danish 60's Punk combo The Defectors are finally taking their rightful place in Garage-Heaven. First album "Let Me..." gave us an act with great insight of the core of 60's inspired Garage, and with a great talent of making it work in tunes and appearace. "Let Me..." opened the world to The Defectors, and accomplished great reviews, touring and International Tv-appearance on MTV "Alternative Nation" and was presented as only Danish act by marc Almond on New Music Television. Now the Defectors are about to show the World (again) that they mean serious business. as the debut "Let Me..." showed everybody that these 5 geezers have what it takes to call themselves 60'ies inspired Garage, second album "Baby Gimme Love" takes The Defectors over the top, and in 13 Rock'n'Rolling tracks show the World that The Defectors have what it takes to stay in business. "Baby Gimme Love" is a certified 60's Punk classic already. Every song made with great feeling, proving these guys have Rock'n'Roll in their veins. One track better than the next one and all sticking together like Garage-glue to one big beautiful lump of true Garage-Energy. Among the 13 tracks you'll also find a couple of necessary covers classic lust'O'Rama Garage hit "I Can't Do) Another Mistake" and Mr. Elvis Costello's evergreen "You Belong to me", which the Defectors with small means have made into the true Garage song it always has been! With "Baby Gimme Love", The Defectors proves in every sense that they're on the top of the current international Garage-scene and they intend to stay there for a looonnnggg time!  (Amazon customer review)

The Defectors - Baby Gimme Love (E.S.P. Recordings 2001) 
FLAC   320

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Wolftone - Bring Down The Sun (2015)

Wolftone is a very unbelievable, brilliant band that I stumbled over lately. They sound to me like a fusion between the Droogs, Baby Woodrose and Neil Young w. Crazy Horse in their best moments. If you like these bands, this could be something for you.

Some words from Nasoni Records who released the LP-version of this album:
From the peaty soils up in Holland comes Wolftone. A three-headed Dutch “Soul band”, What….? Yes , SOULBAND!!! Not your average Soul, but that dirty Fuzzed-Up, Psych, Garage kinda Soul!! Their debut record “Bring Down the Sun” is filled with “Dirt, Love & Dirty Love”. With their heavy fuzzed riffs, great hooks and sweet choruses Wolftone delivers eleven powerful songs that stick with you. Whether you like it or not.

Give it a listen, here or on their bandcamp-site. 
Bandcamp also offers an album-download in various formats (MP3, FLAC, WAV...) with “name your price”.

Enjoy!

The Defectors - Let Me... (E.S.P. Recordings 1998)

The Defectors play 60's inspired garage punk in the vein of bands like Miracle Workers, Fuzztones, Gravedigger V and Stomachmouths. They're into the sounds and looks of 60's instruments like the Farfisa Organ, Rickenbacker guitar and bass, Vox guitar and Fender amplifiers, also using the effects of the period - fuzzboxes, trems, spring reverbs and tape echo - to re-create the sounds they admire.

The members are all "defected" from other bands to join under the psychedelic banner and spread the garage virus. The band was formed in 1997 as Thee Fuzz Arts by Martin Budde (drums/organ) (of psychobilly band Godless Wicked Creeps), Nikolaj Grummesgaard (guitar/vocals)(now guitarist in Godless Wicked Creeps) and Torben Skovgaard (bass). This constellation contributed a song to a tribute album to local football team AGF, before recruiting Jonas Jorgensen to play drums. This freed Martin to concentrate on plying organ and enabled the band to play live. Shortly after that Mort Harder took over lead vocal chores and they changed the band name to the Persuaders. The Persuaders was, however, by no means an original band name, it turned out, so late 1998 saw them change again - this time to their present name. Nikolaj left to join Godless Wicked Creeps shortly thereafter, and he was replaced by Mik Stegger. They recorded their debut album early 1999. They worked for a month on old analogue equipment, which means they spent five days recording and 26 days soldering things that were broke.
The album is called "Let Me" and it is released by danish label E.S.P.Recordings/Kick Music (www.kick.dk/defectors).    Source

Defectors - Let Me... (E.S.P. Recordings 1998) FLAC    320

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VA - Nardwuar The Human Serviette Presents...Clam Chowder & Ice Vs Big Macs & Bombers (Nardwuar Records 1991)

Nominally a Canada vs. USA "battle of the bands" with a side dedicated to music from each country.  The tracks are interspersed with snippets of various Nardwuar interviews (the Johnny Freedom and Hank the Hobo segments are particularly good), a sample of him singing at the tender age of eight and his suitably-titled "Friendship Intro"!  Despite the amusingly overstated premise on the back cover, the compilation is very worthwhile; the Nomeansno, Superconductor, The Muffs and Beat Happening tracks are particular highlights.
Included is a 24 page booklet ("The Nardwuar Book of Life and Nardventure") featuring artwork from each band and a couple of notes about the interviews. (walsgrave @rateyourmusic.com)

Side A

01 - Friendship Intro - Nardwuar + The Umen vs God

02 - NoMeansNo - Ya Little Creep

03 - Sherlocks - How Low

04 - Superconductor - Debonair

05 - Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet - Early One Morning

06 - Johnny Freedom vs Nardwuar

07 - Smugglers - She's Got Everything

08 - Les Gruesomes - Quand Je Marche Dans La Rue

09 - Hank The Hobo vs Nardwuar

10 - Me, Mom + Morgentaler - Laura

11 - Nardwuar Singing At Age 8

12 - Evaporators - Citizen Freak

 

Side B

01 - A-Bones - Homicide

02 - Squirrels - Betsy

03 - Celery vs Nardwuar

04 - Mudhoney - Fuzzbuster

05 - Mummies - Uncontrollable Urge

06 - Hoods - She Ain't Doin' Me Wrong

07 - Nardwuar vs Gilligan

08 - Muffs - Get Me Out Of Here

09 - Devil Dogs - 354 ⅔

10 - Tom Vu vs Nardwuar

11 - Beat Happening - Knock On Any Door

“Nardwuar the Human Serviette” (born John Ruskin July 5, 1968) is a Canadian celebrity interviewer and musician from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He is the lead singer and keyboardist for The Evaporators and plays in Thee Goblins.

He legally changed his name in 1986, and argues that "no one refers to Iggy Pop as 'James Osterberg'". When asked to explain his name, Nardwuar once quipped "Nardwuar equals dumb silly name, like Sting; Human means human, as in Human Fly; and Serviette is something you can't get in the U.S. because down there they're called napkins."

VA - Nardwuar The Human Serviette Presents...Clam Chowder & Ice Vs Big Macs & Bombers (Nardwuar Records 1991)  FLAC     320

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The Daytonas - Parabolica (2xVinyl, Corduroy Records 1996)

Swedish surf sounds of the 90's on Corduroy Records!!!

A Double-LP in a gatefold cover. LP 1 "Instrumental Record", LP 2 "Vocal Record". 

Interesting fact: 

Guitarist "Lars Kjellén" also played  for "The Stomach Mouths" back in the 80s.

Hard to find any information about this album. That's what "Discogs" tell us about the "Daytonas".

Nineties Swedish band utilizing surf and hot rod vocals and surf instrumentals in the spirit of the early Beach Boys and Ronny & The Daytonas.

 

The Daytonas - Parabolica (2xVinyl, Corduroy Records 1996) FLAC   320
 
Enjoy!!!