Apparently Lionize was supposed to play across the street at Diesel, but that got canned… so they’re rocking out at the Smiling Moose with us and a couple of other bands. Yeah, it’s a Monday, but it’s an early show… starts at 7:00pm and we’re most likely on 1st. So, take out your Monday work day frustrations by rocking out with us:
I like weird Christmas music. I’m not sure why. Halloween is my favorite holiday, and of course I dig the spooky sound/imagery with “scary” songs… but I listen to that all year long. I just listen to Christmas music when the holiday is approaching, then it’s locked safely away until next year. I’ve always had a thing for odd/goofy songs… and some of these are the goofiest ones yet. I’ll start with whole albums that I have lying around, then I’ll descend into random stuff that I’ve collected over the years.
Happy Birthday, Baby Jesus
Happy Birthday, Baby Jesus – Various Artists[Sympathy for the Record Industry] – This is one goofy 2-disc set. with 13 tracks on each CD. I mean, look at the cover. It looks like an LP from the 70’s… maybe 60’s. This is very punk and garage rock oriented… it’s a lot of sloppy dirty bands just rocking out some Christmas songs… some traditional, some original. One of my favorites is the opener “Christmas Is A Comin’ (May God Bless You)” by the Shitbirds. It starts out nice enough, then descends in to chaos. Claw Hammer’s “The Night Before Christmas” is unsettling, and The Phenobarbidols’ “O Holy Night Parts 1 & 2” is sure to win over a crowd until it gets to part 2 (The most awesome part).
Punk Rock Xmas
Punk Rock Xmas – Various Artists[Rhino] – Of course, any compilation with the Ramones’ “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Wanna Fight Tonight)” is a win in my book. This actually has a couple of the same songs as the previously mentioned CD. I guess if you’re putting out punk rock Christmas songs, you’ve only got so many to choose from. This disc is tight, allt he songs are winners in my book. D.I.’s “Mr. Grinch”, The Damned with “There Ain’t No Sanity Clause”, Sloppy Seconds, Pansy Division, The Humpers… all with great solid catchy tunes. This is a definite one that you need to own if you’re a punk rock fan and Christmas music fan.
The Flesh Eating Rollerskate Holiday Joyride
The Flesh Eating Rollerskate Holiday Joyride – Psychostick[Rock Ridge Music ] “Jingle bell. Jingle bell. Jingle bell. Metal!” is all you really need to know about this one. If you’re going to go out shopping on Christmas Eve, you’ll want to listen to this to prepare yourself for battle with those other maniacal consumers. This is all kinds of heavy and aggressive… and it’s Christmas music. These dudes are also hilarious, which there should be more of in metal. Some metal bands take themselves way too seriously. Psychostick does not… perhaps obvious from the title of the disc.
Oi to the World
Oi to the World – The Vandals[Kung Fu Records] – While there are a plethora of awesome holiday albums out there, I’ll stop here. Everyone has probably heard No Doubt’s cover of “Oi to the World”, not even knowing it’s a cover. The song is catchy, it’s got a good message, and it’s funny. This whole album is ridiculous. With tracks like “A Gun for Christmas”, “Grandpas Last Christmas”, “Christmas Time for My Penis”, and “My First Xmas, As a Woman” you know it’s got to be good. These guys are crazy, and their songs make you tap your feel and put you in a cheery mood. It’s all-in-all a great Christmas disc.
Now, I’d just like to pop up some of my favorite Christmas songs… and I’d love to hear some of yours in the comments section…
This was a project by our friends Jason & Terry. Luckily, they needed a band and we were up for making a video. I know I’m pleased with the results!
Ernie and the Berts owes these cats some thanks as well as Jonathan and Naveed for starring along with Jason & the band… and Erin and Lynn for giving up their house for a day.
Almost forgot, Brendan for helping us record this thing & his patience!
Hopefully, you dig the song and the video. We’re (of course) interested in your thoughts/critique/reviews/compliments/criticisms/etc.!
I have a problem with weird guitars. I’m drawn to them. I love the classic Les Paul shape and sound, but something about goofy-looking guitars really speaks to me. I’ve blogged before about my Galveston B.B. Stone, and drooled over the fanboy/kitsch factor of the Millennium Falcon guitar. Now, I’d like to blog about my most recent 6-string purchase… the Dewey Decibel FlipOut Guitar.
I was drawn to the goofiness when I saw it somewhere online. I even saw it hanging in Pittsburgh Guitars once, but I had no play money at the time, and couldn’t justify getting the thing.
I bought it through ebay a while ago, as my last band (Gasoline Dion) was kind of petering itself out of existence. I hadn’t really gotten the chance to use it on stage until recently. It always draws out a question or admiration. I don’t think I’ve drawn ire from anyone yet… except the expressed-yet-repressed hatred that my friend and guitar-guru Dave has toward just the general idea of the thing.
Dewey Decibel FlipOut Models
Yet despite his disdain for the abomination of an axe, Dave did help me install some GFS pickups to replace the stock ones… since I do like that beefier fat-Strat sound. They’re some great pickups for the price. Ernie and the Berts recently recorded a demo, and I’m quite happy with the tone coming from the guitar. I also like the feel of the frets. This has become my “it” guitar of the moment.
The weird thing about these guitars other than the backwards body is the color schemes and names. I oddly enough chose the “Lit Cigarette” color scheme. I wouldn’t mind a black pick-guard, but I don’t think you can walk into any guitar shop and just pick one up.
Fallout Shelter - Oct 30th, 2010
Obviously, I like the whimsical/goofy factor with this thing, and my “stage name” being ERiC AiXeLsyD, I felt that that backwards guitar should certainly fit that quite well.
I’m glad that Dewey Decibel makes this guitar, and I’m glad that I found one… or it found me. I’d love to see photos of other FlipOuts in action. I know they even have basses if you want some backwards bottom-end. They may just be prototypes, their web page hasn’t changed for quite some time… and as it last stands they’re available for pre-order, “to be filled in 2005.”
If you have one of these guitars, or know someone who does… post photos!
I know I had a blast, hopefully everyone in attendance did too. This show felt great. My “being in a band again” nerves or jitters or whatever they were are gone. I wasn’t thinking about what I was playing… I was thinking about goofing around and being entertaining. Hopefully it payed off. I need to remember to tape my cords to the floor so I don’t unplug my pedal. Ha ha.
The square guitar. People have gone out of their way to tell me how ugly it is at shows. People have exclaimed their approval and asked where I got such a crazy instrument. People have just shaken their heads in wonderment or disapproval, sometimes it’s hard to tell which is which.
ERiC AiXeLsyD's Galveston B.B. Stone
Many years ago now (2000 if the date on the photo below from the day I bought it is accurate), I saw it hanging on the wall in a venue where my old band used to play that also doubled as a music store. I had to have it. I don’t know why. It was just absolutely goofy. I had certainly never seen another one. Would I again? Probably not. It had to be mine. I ended up trading in a nice “Cimar by Ibanez” Fat-Strat style guitar that I had recently purchased from Music Go Round in Monroeville just to buy the thing. I paid $75 for the Fat-Strat, and somehow got $125 off of the price of the square guitar in dealing for it.
Girl? No, guitar! - 12/23/2000 - The Day I bought the Square guitar.
At first, I didn’t know anything about it other than it was a Galveston and it had a “Made in Korea” sticker on the back. It took me a while to track down that it was a B.B. Stone model, and that there are only about 8 or 12 of the Galveston brand in the US. B.B. Stone is apparently a Korean blues artist and guitar-builder, and he designed the guitar with Jerker Antoni of Sweden’s Eagle Instruments. There are 24 pieces worldwide, the ones around the world are branded with the groovy Eagle headstock.
I did have to replace the original pickups, as it didn’t quite have enough punch. My friend and musical gear advisor (most likely to his dismay)Dave suggested & helped install some killer GFS pickups. Now the sound is a little better, and it gives an aural kick in the ears to match the obvious kick in the eyes.
Sure, there are other square guitars… like Bo Diddley’siconicsquare guitar, or the George Barris-designed Dragula by Hallmark. This one is pretty simple though, and for better or worse, it’s become part of my rock n’ roll identity.
I have come across other owners, almost bought a black one a few years back, but didn’t have any extra cash at the time. There are a few reviews up at Harmony Central. I’d love to get a hold of the 23 or so other owners out there and get their thoughts on them.
World (and Lunar) Domination 
