THE UP BEAT MOVIE!!!

I'm thrilled about Brandon Smith's Utah Ska documentary, "The Upbeat" because it has so much do with my favorite music and even a little bit of my own personal history. It's centered around Utah's upcoming The Upstarts and the history of the Utah ska scene. It features interviews from The Slackers, Toots Hibbert, Bucket from the Toasters and Buster Bloodvesssel. Also, Utah ska legends, Swim Herschel Swim and Stretch Armstrong to name just a few...oh and then...GOGO13? I laugh. Many of the photos contributed are taken from my old pals; ska promoter, Racquel and her ex-Boyfriend Dustin "Skip" Blad of the early GOGO13 incarnation. I find it hilarious to see pictures of my younger brother in our teenage bedroom in the same documentary with likes of Toots and old fatty himself! HAHAHA! Tyler also had some involvement and is accredited with associate producer status! Way to go everybody!

Support The UP BEAT!!
OFFICIAL SITE LINK
MYSPACE LINK


I previously posted about this here: Link

Emma Cook limited edition range for Fred Perry

!@#$%!
Via:Retro To Go


British designer Emma Cook is the latest name to produce a limited edition range for Fred Perry, the pick of which is this polo shirt.

It references the classic Fred Perry polo, but adds some length and a wide neck, as well as a take on the Fred Perry laurel around that neck. It retails for £80.

Also so in a range are two dresses and a particularly nasty hoodie - you can see them all on the Fred Perry site.

Find out more on the Fred Perry Store website

The Love Me Nots - "Move In Tight"

The Ordinary Boys vs Lady Sovereign - nine2five

Damon Albarn & Ray Davies "Waterloo Sunset"

Absolute Beginners the Play

Via: http://www.modculture.info

Absolute Beginners didn't work as a film, but I have much higher hopes for the theatrical production at the Lyric Theatre in London, which runs from 26th April - 26th May 2007.

The plot stays faithful to the must-read book - a young modernist photographer's take on life on the streets of late 50s West London, played out against a backdrop of emerging racial hatred - and the theatre promises sets that faithfully re-create that late 50s coffee bar vibe.

There's also a soundtrack of authentic tunes of the era, alongside an original score by contemporary jazz composer Soweto Kinch, direction by the highly-rated Roy Williams and strong cast of theatre production regulars.

So it all sounds promising, although you'll not know for sure unless you go along. The month-long season includes some matinee performances, with tickets priced between £9 and £27.

Find out more at the Lyric Theatre website

Just in Time

Here is my best of 2k6. just before 2k7 really gets kickin'. 2006 managed to have a little something of everything i enjoy in music. Disclaimer if i didn't mention your favourite album of 2006 i either didn't listen to it or didn't like it. Sorry for the bummer but that's how it goes.

Matt Costa - Songs We Sing
Matt Costa's music reminds me of donavon maybe not you but that's what i dig about him. A bunch of songs i love hearing a lot of times.


The Aggrolites - The Aggrolites
BOSS. that pretty much covers it. The Aggrolites make great CD's. they should make a live one because the only thing better than their music is their live music.

Ima Robot - Monument to the Masses
I love Ima Robot and i love this CD. It's electro, dance, good times music music. Posi-vibes all around.I had to wait 3 years to hear it but worth it in the end.

Lily Allen - Alright, Still
it doesn't get much better than driving down PCH looking for a place to surf and listening to this CD. It's the perfect blend of mod pop and ska with lyrics that are entertaining to actually listen to. i said back in 2006 that lily Allen and Mickey Ave. would be the big things for 2007 and here we are in March and you know who both of them are.

The Tyde - Threes Co.
Every so often you'll find a bunch of guys that you're friends with in a band that actually rocks. this is one of those bands. i liked their other two albums but this one is where it really hits. they remind me of a rock band from the 60's where....well listen to the CD and you'll know exactly what i'm talking about

Dirty Dozen Brass Band - What's Going On
I was lucky enough to go to the Dirty Dozen's CD release party in New Orleans which was beyond sick. This CD has some great Marvin Gaye covers (from What's Going On), some new songs and a really good message which i always like in my CD's.

My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade
Everyone in the world says this is one of the best CD's of 2006 so i checked it out and would agree. First i dig a good concept album; i'm a big sucker for them in fact. Second this isn't emo or maybe i forgot what emo is but i'd say it's radio punk. and while you can't fill your life with radio punk it's good in low doses. i don't know what their other albums sound like but this is a good one.

Notorious B.I.G. - Duets
This came out at the very very end of 2005 so i'm including it. I love blasting this CD with songs like 1970 somthing and It has been said you'll see why this guy was such a big deal.

Dr. Dog - We All Belong
By now you can tell that i really like the 60's pop. this i suppose is like the byrds. it's lo-fi and awesome. i listen to it almost every day at work.

The Muse - Black Holes and Revelations
A bit more radio friendly or popier than their previous albums it makes this one stand out more. A CD with a message albeit a sometimes cryptic one. Turn the bass and volume up to 11 on Supermassive Black Hole and you'll know exactly why i picked this CD.

Nas - Hip Hop is Dead
Nas is right in so many ways. Hip Hop is dead. He rips of the muteness of rapping about girls, money and whips and every other cliche so many rappers love to rap about. That stuff's whack (haven't you guys ever heard of blood diamonds you're putting your brothers down while rapping about how fly it is). Anyways Nas kills it on this CD.


Disapointments of 2006

Rx Bandits - ...And the battle begun
Don't get me wrong it's a great CD. I know what i'm about to say it exactly what most people don't like about the bandits but what put them in this catagory was the fact that i felt they were lacking in the content of their lyrics. I like that they play music and shout their message.

The Japanese Motors -
Don't put out an EP/demo i want to hear an album worth of songs. PS where is Toyko?

The Nice Boys - The Nice Boys
Their myspace demo songs were great, the live shows are great but the album was alright nothing special. that's always a bummer and disapointment

Young Birds Fly --- Mod Film Trailer (New)

Upcoming mod movie this month by Leonardo Flores. Looks like fun! What do you guys think?

Azure Ray- New Resolution

In this video, a scooter gang gives a ride to a couple on their way to the Lillith Fair while they lip sync a song that's reminds me a lot of "All Tomorrows Parties" by The Velvet Underground. Very Odd indeed. Someone's got to know where this scooter club is from!

The Jam - Marc Bolan Show - All Around The World Live

OK so this isn't my first time posting something about the Jam, but I had to share. My friend Micah told me about this and it's pretty amazing. The Jam guest starring on the Marc Bolan(from T. Rex) Show. This shows how strange mod was emerging from the glam era. Marc Bolan is so regal! So amazing, so bizarre.

"Jam!"

I recently came across the recent issue of Ciudad magazine. I thought it was kind of cool. It's telling us that the rude boy/ mod fashion is back. So when did it leave?

The Untouchables in Repo Man

I think this is when I first thought Rude Boys were so awesome.
We used to watch the taped-off TV version of Repo Man as kids. We idolized punk rock, but these scooter guys(The Untouchables) were the only thing I thought was cooler than the punkers in this movie. They were all 60's sharp and yet tall and intimidating when they walked into this shot. You knew that Otto was toast.
Well, whatever you might think of the Untouchables today, they were very important to the American mod/ska scene. Yes there is a big 80's cheese factor, but The Untouchables were seminal. I kinda thought that it was like Jerry Dammers passing the torch when I found out that he produced I SPY(FOR THE FBI). I understand the Untouchables were also California's first scooter club. Much respect, live and let dance.

(insert rad reverby surf guitar)

"It's very simple, Mrs. Parks. You don't want me to take it, and I don't want to. I said to my boss: Look, I don't want to repossess this lady's car."

"How was rehearsal, son?" -------- "Okay. Who's this?"

"This is Mr. Otto, deary. From the finance company. He told me he isn't going to take the car this time, even though he could."

"Well...gotta get going."

(from inside) "...I'm tired of giving you money, and you squandering it. You all went out dancing somewhere!" (Otto revs her car and we find it's up on jacks)

"Hey, everything's cool! I like music too, man!" (Biff! Bang! Pow!!)

MODS May Day '79

Don't you love it when people share?

MOD 64 Blog

The Jam - Strange Town

AHH, memories of London. But mostly, memories of Tyler Jacobs' cinema classic and directorial debut, "Moot Local".
Take it away Paul...