For Christina

Hey everyone welcome to Outloud. Believe it or not, this is the 30th edition of my column. It certainly doesn't feel like ti has been that long It seems like just yesterday that I accepted my job with Broken Dial and pitched my idea to one of Broken Dial's resident overlords, Shawn. Shawn took one look at my idea, which was and still is, just an excuse for me to geek out all over your computer screens every week, and saw some promise in the idea.

In the past couple of months we have seen it all: rare clips from established acts, fixing the spotlight on bands that time seems to have forgotten along with the weird obscene and the controversial. Hopefully you have enjoyed the ride. At the end of the day, I love writing this column, but my focus is on you loving it too.

Well, since this is my birthday party, or at least my creations birthday party, that I can have any band come and play at the bash. My selection is one of my favorite all time bands, whom whenever I mention them I get blank stares from even those who claim to be musically educated - Camper Van Beethoven. The name be familiar to some of you but only because you have probably heard the band's "hit" song, "Take the Skinheads Bowling" a couple of hundred times. Well, my friends, good old Camper is much more then a one trick pony. Each one of their albums has been fantastic. They even managed to pull of the ultimate rarity and released a great comeback album after an over decade break with all the original members. Nothing can stop Camper.

To me Camper, really trade marked the kind of slacker cool that would later come to light in acts like Pavement. Camper's simple song structures like on the three chord wonder, "Where The Hell is Bill?" and the first track i am going to share with you, "Ambiguity Song" are fine examples. Of the smart, over educated suburban kids being forced into jobs that don't completely fulfill them or the potential that their parents had set aside for them. Camper is unsure, uncaring and that is what made them so endearing. It seems as if genius just flowed from their finger tips.

This clip comes from what I can only guess is the tour for their major label debut, Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart. Check it out.



The reason that I love this particular version so much is because it manages to echo the, "campfire sing-a-long" vibe that the song just screamed for on the record. The super sweet simple melody along with catchy and wonderful lyrics simply make it a smash. Plus it is a joy to hear the kids in the crowd singing along

Another one of my favorite Camper Van Beethoven cuts is their hilarious, almost country-rock, recasting of Black Flag's classic "Wasted". Believe it or not, the song was the perfect fit for them.
Not only does it blend the insane with the beautiful, which Camper did on a regular basis, but the lyrics, although punk rock to the bone can actually come out of lead singer David Lowry's mouth. It's not hard to believe that the guys in Camper Van Beethoven, were hippies, burnouts and were surfers.

Postcard 7

Hey Everyone welcome back to the Postcard From Hell radio show. It has seemed like ages since I have done a radio show and I am oh so happy to be back. You may have noticed some changes to how things get done around here already. For starters you no longer need to download the files to hear them. I have decided that it would be a better move to stream them so you can listen and enjoy without the guilt of killing your hard drive space. The files are listed below and all you have to do is simply press play on them and then the fun can begin. You will have to excuse the space between the widget that makes this all possible and the tracklisting for a certain part. I tried to change this but I ran into trouble, so I decided to just leave it as it is. At least to me, it is not that distracting and I hope you will not hold it against me.

Before we get started just let me state that I am not doing this for any kind of monetary gain. There are no paid advertisements, wither they be in verbal or in the form of links. I do this show because I love music and I love sharing music with people. Helping someone find out about a new band or a song that they are absolutely going to love.

Support the bands by visiting their links (which are provided in the tracklisting section, right under the file) or clicking on the links below to go to one of the many websites to buy a cd

Insound
CD Baby
Asian Man Records
Amazon
CD Universe

Thanks for dropping by and giving me a listen. It means the world to me. Hopefully you will have some fun. oh and as always, if any band or artist disagrees with their material being posted here the show will be taken down immediately. Also, the radio show will only be up for two weeks so I would hurry up and enjoy it before it is gone. If you like what you hear please tell your friends. Now on to the fun.


Postcard 7
Part One


---Me Talking
The Orion Experience - Obsessed With You (Cosmicandy)
The Nerves - Hangin On The Telephone
Big Dipper - She's Fetching (Heavens)
---Me Talking
Aqueduct - Split The Difference (Or Give Me Death)
Awek - Phototype (Awek EP)
Allen Clapp - Something Strange Happens (Something Strange Happens)

Part Two


---Me talking
Pernice Brothers - Clearspot (Overcome By Happiness)
Pavement - Grave Architecture (Wowee Zowee)
Low - Murderer (Drums and Guns)
---Me talking
Thing One - Move It (Thing One EP)
Heavy Vegetable - Song For Wesley (Frisbee)
Autumn Defense - Silence (Circles)

Part Three


---Me Talking
Brainiac - Vincent Come on Down (Hissing Prigs of The Static Coutre)
Arthur Russell - A Little Lost
Belle And Sebastian - Get Me Away From I'm Dying (If your feeling Sinister)
---Me talking
Leadbelly - Where Did you Sleep Last Night?
Flying Burrito Brothers - My Uncle (Gilded Palace of Sin)
Old Crow Medicine Show - Hard To Love (O.C.M.S)

Part Four


Hickey - Naked Cult (Various States of Disrepair)
We Are Wolves - Maquiqe (Pure Maquiqe)
The Coast - Stop The Kazoo Symphony
---Me Talking
Ladybug Transistor - The Swimmer
Paul Westerberg - Love You In The Fall (Open Season Soundtrack)
Sea Wolf - Your A Wolf (Get To The River Before It Runs Too Low)

Part Five


David Peel - Lower East Side (Have a Marijuana)
Colossal - Table Settings
Phosphorescent - Be Dark Night (Pride)
----
Dan Bern - The Fifth Beatle (Live)

Sting gets Stung

As you people may or may not know, I absolutely hate Sting. And it seems it has been a banner year for Sting haters world-wide. Heroes of mine like, ex-Jam frontman Paul Weller, have come out in full support of the cause. Weller's contribution was spitting on a photo of Sting and saying that his music sucked at an art opening (for more information on this and the article please visit "Now That's Entertainment". Well done, Mr. Weller. Anyways, I am happy to announce that more anti-Sting statements are filing in from all over the country. Which genius has decided to waltz into my hear this week by calling Sting a "petulant pansy"? Stewart Copeland that's who. For those that are not aware, Stewart Copeland plays drums in Sting's group The Police. Copeland did not need to publicly speak out against Sting to win my respect and admiration because he already has it from being a good drummer and getting in several fist fights with sting during The Police's career. I thank Stewart again for his contributions to the cause. For more on this hilarious story take a gander at the article

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070601/en_nm/police1_dc

The Show Must Go On

Hey guys,

I am back from my extended break from the Postcard from Hell radio show. I have been so busy writing, interviewing, doing press and nearly everything under the sun to really take the time to sit down and play some rock and roll. Well, have no fear I have come to my senses and I am ready to get back to work and putting on the best damn show I can for you guys. So stay tuned for further developments on this front.

Ann Coulter is Satan

Ann Coulter is Satan. I usually don't post or focus on politics, but I found myself drawn to this hilarious clip of Coulter trying to fight her way out of a hole and it spiraled downward from there. Before I knew it I had several clips I wanted to share with you guys about how stupid, bigoted and homophobic she really is. Sadly, instead of laughing at a bulk of this footage it makes me cry. The fact that not only does she hold these views and get on TV but that people buy her books, go to see her speak and respect this fucking lunatic. It should make you want to vomit blood. This stuff should make you want to pick up a guitar, start a website, start a political discussion group or just riot in the streets. We need to do something to stop people like this.

Prepare to be crushed

Ladies and gentlemen, the human race is now one genius shorter. Author/genius/poet/essayist and all around great guy Kurt Vonnegut died yesterday after suffering from brain damage which he received after falling several weeks prior. Words cannot express the level of admiration I have for this man. His unique vision, word choice, story subjects and overall attitude are not only fun to read but also extremely important lessons in writing 101. He will be greatly missed by all of his friends and fans worldwide. Luckily, we still have his books to guide us through the tough times.

Kurt Vonnegut 1922-2007

So That's Don Bolles Crime

In the weirdest story you are likely to hear this year, Don Bolles, drummer of great punk bands like The Germs, Nervous Gender and .45 Grave, is under arrest. His crime? Drug possession. Here's what happened. Bolles was driving around LA when he was pulled over for having his taillight out. Like any good American, Bolles pulled over and spoke politely with the cop. For some reason, the cop searched Bolles car and came up with an odd bottle of shampoo: Dr. Bonner's Shampoo. For those of you that don't know, Dr. Bonner's Shampoo is made using hemp seed oil. The officer seeing the bottle quickly did a drug test on it and guess what? It turned up positive for pot. Bolles was then removed from his car and arrested. At the moment he is being held on possession charges. He has a set bail but at the moment he can't pay it. His friends are asking for good people like you and me to throw in a couple of bucks to help out one of our heroes. So, if you got a little extra cash in your pocket or your need a dose of good karma send an email to: deernora@yahoo.com and say that you want to help fight the good fight.

Stay Tuned

Hey guys,

I just figured I would let you know that I am recording a new show tomorrow. It promises to be a good time full of some really great music. We also have a special guest, as my good friend Merced Perez-Hall will be on the air with me chatting about music, our trip to England and life in general. I hope you tune in.

Now, Thats Entertainment!

I have been telling people for years that Paul Weller is the shit but for some reason I am never believed. Maybe it's his not-so-good solo albums, rapidly balding hair or his "too cool for school" attitude that gets that reaction. But you can't help but respect the former Jam frontman for performing his finest act since he recorded, "Town Called Malice"(which despite what everyone thinks came from their last album) as he spit on a photo of Sting. Now that's entertainment!

Here is the actual story for those that want all of the gory and hilarious details.
_____________
NME: Paul Weller spat on a portrait of Sting on Wednesday (March 28) at the Teenage Cancer Trust gig.

As previously reported Weller joined Noel Gallagher at the charity event for a version of The Jam's 'The Butterfly Collector' and The Beatles' 'All You Need Is Love'.

According to The Mirror, during the interval of the event at London's Royal Albert Hall Weller saw a picture of Sting's gig from 2000 and decided to deliver his own style of music criticism.

According to the report, Weller "marched straight up to it [the photo], coughed-up as much phlegm as he could muster and planted it plum in the middle of The Police frontman's head... as he walked away, Weller then snarled: 'Fucking twat!'".

Weller has never shy of expressing his opinions of Sting, recently stating: "He's a fucking horrible man. Not my cup of tea at all. Fucking rubbish. No edge, no attitude, no nothing."
________________

If anyone finds out any more information please pass it along to me.

Victoria

Hey Everyone,

I am back from England and Scotland. Let's just say we had an interesting time over there. The trip kicked off with the band getting deported and only got wackier from there. If you want the full details feel free to tune into the next addition of the Postcard From Hell radio show which will be hitting the airwaves around the third or fourth of April. If you have any requests for the program please send them in, I would love to play the music that you love.

See you then,
---Dan

Here Comes Postcard 4

Hey Everyone,

Here is the fourth edition of the Postcard From Hell Radio Show. A couple of things to mention before you give the show a download. First of all, you will notice that I wanted to play the MC Paul Barman track, "Cock Mobster" but on the audio track I decide to do something else well fuck what I said I figure the people need "Cock Mobster". Oh and the David Sugar track I wanted just didn't work with Cool Edit Pro. I tried like mad to find the song on Soulseek and like 8 million websites but it just didn't work so I had to settle for this other Sugar song which is pretty good as well. Word to the wise listen to the whole Sunny Day song at the end.

Happy Listening


Part 1
http://www.sendspace.com/file/v83ixb

--Me talking
Camper Van Beethoven--Take the Skinheads Bowling
Roxy Music---Love is the drug
Big Star--Thirteen
===Me talking
Joe Jackson--I am the man
The Notwist--Pilot
The Feelies--Fa-Ci-La

Part 2
http://www.sendspace.com/file/s8wxxo

--Me talking
Aqueduct---Split the Difference
The Frogs--Reelin and Rockin 2
Ladybug Transistor--Meadwport Arch
---Me talking
One AM Radio--Lest We Forget
Durutti Column--Sketches of Summer
MC Paul Barman--Cock Mobster!


Part 3
http://www.sendspace.com/file/qq9izq

--Me talking
Heavenly--Tool
Exploding Hearts--Rumors around town
Ozma--Domino Effect
---Me talking
Arsonwelles--City of St
Ris Paul Ric---The Sleeparound
Royksopp--Eple


Part 4
http://www.sendspace.com/file/fup1s8

--Me talking
Junior Senior--Rhythm Bandits
Goblin--Death Dies
David Sugar---Warm Analogue
--Me talking
Skalariak--Vodka Revolution
Smashing Pumpkins--1979
Pavement--Range Life


Part 5
http://www.sendspace.com/file/bl0p8b

--Me talking
The Adverts--Bored Teenagers
Oingo Boingo--Controller
Ween--Reggaejunkiejew
--Me talking
Sunny Day Real Estate--Song About An Angel

Extra! Extra!

Do you often wonder to yourself, "When is the next Postcard From Hell radio show available for download?" Well then boy, oh boy do I have something for you. This fancy widget allows me to send all of you fine people the information as soon as the show as released. I also see the emails become more newsletter based in the future. I hope to impart to you some music news, playlists for the show and eventually some trivia questions and contests. So don't think twice, sign up right now. It is what Bob Dylan would do. In the interest of making things easier the sign up for the newsletter will be on the right side of the page just under the music news RSS feed.

Hometown Throwdown

In the spirit of spreading music you haven't heard of, I figured for next week's show I would play music from local bands. Not every great band get signed. Not every band makes more than one record and when they do they are on incredibly hard to find indie labels. So if you have a favorite local band and would like to share them with the 10 people or so that listen to this show feel free to drop me a line before Thursday.

I am also debating taking the show live through shoutcast. I was wondering would any of you listen if that were to happen?

Head to the Polls

Now that Postcard From Hell 3 is up I can put up this poll. Let me know what you thought.



And just so you know all of the options are Simpsons/Futurama quotes. And yes, I am that cool.

Postcard 3

Hey Guys,

The 3rd edition of the Postcard From Hell radio show is now up. I know I had a really bad show last time but I have rebounded with what I think is a pretty great show. It's a valentine's day program for those in love, out of love and pretty much anywhere in between. There will be appearances by Tom Waits, Ween, Benni Hemm Hemm, Thin Lizzy and more. The show was alot of fun to do and I just hope you have fun listening. So set your speakers to heartbreak and get downloading!

Part One
http://www.sendspace.com/file/9vd0wi
---Me talking
The Ramones--The KKK Took My Baby Away(For my cousin Greg)
Jawbreaker--Do you still hate me?
The Replacements--Don't Ask Why
--Me talking
Petit Project--Pretty girls make me nervous
Ween--Baby Bitch
Modern Lovers--Girl Friend

Part Two
http://www.sendspace.com/file/rkhgb5
--Me talking
Westbound Train---My heart belongs to you
Sam Cooke--Cupid(Live)
The Beatles--I Will
---Me talking
Thin Lizzy--Running Back
The Pernice Brothers--Grudgefuck(Live)
Rivers Cuomo--Wanda

Part Three
http://www.sendspace.com/file/nkjsre
--Me talking
The Actionslacks--Shinning Jewels(Dedicated to someone)
Benni Hemm Hemm--Ku-ui-po
Ben Folds Five--Song for the dumped
--Me talking
John Lennon--Real Love(Requested by Daniella)
Rufus Wainwright--Foolish Love
Tom Waits--Hang down your head

Part Four
http://www.sendspace.com/file/fi862w
--Me talking
Johnny Cash--I Still Miss someone
Frank Black--Stupid Me
Bob Dylan--Don't think twice, It's Alright
--Me talking
Hank Williams--Love Sick Blues
Flying Burrito Brothers--Do Right Woman
Magnolia Electric Co.--Don't Fade On Me

Part Five
http://www.sendspace.com/file/waolnh
--Me talking
The Rolling Stones--Paint It Black
Beat Happening--Cast A Shadow
Elliott Smith--Waltz 2
--Me talking
Smoking Popes--Zing went my heartstrings

Part Six
http://www.sendspace.com/file/yis0cv
Allen Clapp--Flintstones and Honeycombs
Steve Earle--Valentine's Day
--Me talking
The Pogues--A Rainy Night In Soho

THE END

Liberty, Justice and The Ian MacKaye

Washington DC is reportedly considering legislation that would ban all youth from attending clubs. Currently, the law allows venues catering to youth to also sell liquor to those over 21.

The reasoning behind the law is a little confusing, since it stems from a teenager's death at Club 1919. The victim was killed when another patron's gun fired during an altercation with a bouncer. The law has support from both the mayor and council members, but neither explained what exactly the ban would accomplish nor why the mere presence of youth caused an otherwise perfectly safe loaded weapon to go off.

Several scene lumnaires appeared in front of Councilman Jim Graham's roundtable on the issue. The highlight of the discussion was a brief speech by god head, and a hero of yours truly, Ian Mackaye. Take a gander.

D-Day is on V-Day

Hey Guys,

New Show on Wednesday!

Their will be a special Valentine's Day edition of the show that will be posted early tomorrow. Once again I am sorry about the events of last week's show. It was a total bomb but don't worry I have bounced back!

See Ya on Wednesday,

Dan

Folks, THE BAND! and Lady Janis

It's damn hard to find an act that rocked harder than The Band. It's harder still to find a group that had more fun playing live than The Band.



How can you not watch this footage and not smile ear to ear? What a great bunch of cats they were. We miss you Manuel and Danko!

Since I posted one performance from Festival Express why not two? This piece of footage is Lady Janis tearing the house down with "Cry Baby". If her first word in this performance doesn't make the hair stand up in the back of your neck you are not alive.

Know Your Enemy

Is Joe Escalante an asshole?



The Vandals Scandal

Many people know The Vandals. Their poppy fun and funny punk rock is extremely easy to get into and is very kid friendly. That is why nearly every kid I knew growing up had at least one Vandals album in their collection. For a long time I thought that The Vandals had either formed in the 90's or were at least in their original line up, but I was wrong on both accounts. The Vandals were actually started in 1980 by two Huntington Beach teenagers, vocalist Stevo and guitarist Jan Nils Ackerman. After a couple of weeks of discussion of how cool their band would be they picked up bassist Steve Pfauter and an unnamed drummer and began practicing. A few months passed and the band had a new drummer Joe Escalante. With Escalante the band hit the vibrant west coast punk scene like a bomb. They played with the likes of Black Flag, The Germs, Descendents, X, Social D and TSOL. They released their debut EP, Peace Thru Vandalism, in 1982. In 1984 the band was the first band signed to LA indie Epitaph Records. While on Epitaph they released their debut full length "When In Rome Does As The Vandals". A short time after the album was released Stevo either quit the band or was fired depending on who you ask.

Now here is where the story gets interesting. Escalante decided to keep the band going and hired ex-Fallen Idols vocalist Dave Quackenbush to replace Stevo. This version of The Vandals gigged around for several years until they hit a speed bump around 1987. Epitaph released the copyright and music that was included on the band's first two albums to Escalante. This is believed to have happened in more of a literal sense as Brett Gurewitz says he physically gave Escalante the master recordings. Escalante without the consent of his bandmates past and present approached Time Bomb Records to re-release the albums. Time Bomb agreed and when the album came out Escalante was given credit for all of the words and music. When Stevo found out about this he was furious. He argued that the name of the band and songs had been thought up before Escalante joined the band and as such should not be given the credit for them. Once Jan Nils Ackerman found this out he promptly left The Vandals. Ackerman and Stevo were debating reforming The Vandals without Escalante, which they did. The show was a success. Escalante, who at this point was a practicing high-priced entertainment lawyer, stepped in filing an injunction against his former bandmates from performing as The Vandals or performing any of their songs till the matter was resolved. Escalante argues that the other members of The Vandals signed away their rights in return for his performance at a first album Vandals reunion show. The rest of the band denies this ever happened. Regardless, the rights stayed in Escalante's hands and he continued to perform as The Vandals throughout the world. Worst of all Escalante sold the use of several Vandals songs to un-punk causes and companies like Sony and Adidas.

The rest of the band would sue Escalante periodically over the next twenty years. The band would always lose or settling the case. in 2003 his former bandmates sued him again for mismanaging the band's back catlog and not issuing royalites that were owed. The suit was settled out of court. Stevo died in 2005 of an overdose of prescription pills which was rumored to have been caused by his trouble with Escalante. When asked about the authorship of the songs in question Escalante often contradicts himself both in court and in interviews. Escalante still owns the rights to the Vandals name and music past, present and future.

Also working against him

1. Escalante's association with "un-punk" bands like Blink 182 and The Ataris.

2. His conservative views and attitudes
--Joe is a practicing catholic who votes republican and is anti-gay marriage.

3. The fact that he bullfights
---What sort of guy goes down to Mexico to stab, torture and taunt a bull that has already been severally injured? That's right Joe Esaclante. What would make someone do that in the name of sport? This shows what kind of dick Escalante really is, the kind that hurts animals for fun. There are some good Christian morals in that, way to go Joe, the big guy is probably real proud of you. He has been practicing and competing in the sport since the early 90's.


So the answer is Yes!

Love Notes

Hey Everyone,

So as I said on the show I am going to be cranking out a show really fast for Valentine's Day. I only have till Wednesday to get it done. So If you have any requests for the program shoot them into me a soon as possible.