GG Allin – “Outskirts of Life”
Occasionally we’ll hear someone refer to an artist or work of art as “sick and wrong,” but seldom do we encounter a vendor of filth so deserving of that distinction as one GG Allin, rest his deranged soul. Named “Jesus Christ” by his abusive, insane father, legend has it the name “GG” came about because his brother couldn’t pronounce “Jesus Christ” and it sort of came out “jeejee” and it stuck. Enough has been said about Allin’s shocking antics. What is not as notorious is the fact that he actually created some good songs along the way. Here’s an anthem of sorts, of a man living on the “Outskirts of Life” and you can be sure he lived every word of. Don’t try this at home, kids. He did it so you don’t have to.
GG Allin
“Outskirts of Life” (mp3)
from “Carnival Of Excess”
(PONK Media)
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Nathaniel Street West – “Motorpsycho Nightmare”
Ah, the travails and adventures of a good motorcycle road trip. Somewhere between a Bob Dylan yarn and a Lynyrd Skynyrd cautionary tale, we find Nathaniel Street West seeking help from a stranger, sleeping under a stove and running for his life. I won’t tell ya the rest, that would be a spoiler. But I am delighted to present this honky tonk, rock and roll, blues-y fried number for your listening pleasure.
Nathaniel Street West
“Motorpsycho Nightmare” (mp3)
from “Light Out For The Territory”
(Puffin Records)
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Deer Tick – “Easy”
This band is a trip. Their bio is entertaining in itself, but it would only amount to a cute story if it the music didn’t rock so. “Easy,” the lead off track from Deer Tick’s latest full length, “Born on Flag Day,” features some brave, intuitive combo playing and lovely instrumental work. Chief tick John Joseph McCauley III sings with a wild man’s spirit and effortlessly good pitch, which isn’t something you hear in your average drunken indie garage band. The lyrics are engaging and intriguing, and these ticks have excellent guitar tones, too. So what’s not to like? Have a listen.
Deer Tick
“Easy” (mp3)
from “Born on Flag Day”
(Partisan Records)
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Arty Hill and the Long Gone Daddys – “Church On Saturday Night”
In this sincere yet humorous ode to the Nashville of old, Arty Hill and the Long Gone Daddys evoke the sound and feeling of true country music. Now, what is true as opposed to untrue country music? Well, I’ll leave that to Arty to explain. “Take me to an opry I can understand,” he sings in his sonorous tenor, as the Daddys deliver a fiddle and steel guitar tribute that can sit comfortably in a play list between the legends invoked here in song. Beautiful.
Arty Hill and the Long Gone Daddys
“Church On Saturday Night” (mp3)
from “Montgomery On My Mind – The Hank E.P.”
(Cow Island Music)
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