CMM's 10 Favorite Shows of 2018

1. Dead Boys - Bowery Electric - NYC - 1/28/18

This reformed line up of The Dead Boys has been tearing it up all over the world for the last few years and I've been happy to get to see them play a couple of times. This show was no exception as lead singer Jake Hout channeled the spirit of Stiv Bators in grand fashion while Cheetah Chrome blasted through the blistering riffs that make this band amazing. Can't wait to catch them again in 2019.

2. Desert Daze Festival (My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, Mercury Rev, Kevin Morby and more) - Lake Perris California -10/12-10/14 2018

There are a lot of Festivals that offer unbelievable line ups these days but none were quite like this years Desert Daze Festival in Lake Perris California. Yes this festival was truly "STACKED" with performances from My Bloody Valentine, Sowdive, Mercury Rev, Kevin Morby, Earth and many many more. I must add that this festival had one of the most laid back feels to it which can be rare these days. Everyone was really respectful and watching the bands was comfortable while the sound and lighting were top notch.

3. Joan Of Arc - Elsewhere - NYC - 10/3/18

This show was a last minute surprise. I had not seen Joan Of Arc in about a year and a half and their latest album "1984" was one of my favorites of the year. I realized the morning of the show they were opening for mewithoutyou. Joan Of Arc performed as a three piece and the set included some amazing new material alongside some of my favorites from recent LP's. This was a really fun set to see.

4. Merzbow (at Hospital Festival) - Knockdown Center- NYC - 12/8/18

Hospital Fest was a tremendous event and I could go on and on about all of the acts that performed but I ain't gonna lie I was there to see Merzbow as I've been a fan for roughly 25 years and had never seen him perform before. His hour long set was intense, colorful and incredibly mind bending. Other highlights from his event included Jesu, Final (Justin Broadrick), and the Prurient/Power Trip collaboration.

5. "Sally Suicide" Suicide Tribute - Bowery Electric - NYC - 1/25/18

Incredible tribute evening to Alan Vega and Suicide which featured performances from Bob Bert, Cynthia Ross, Kid Congo Powers and more. The highlight for me was when The Car's Ric Ocasek joined Martin Rev for a performance of "Dream Baby Dream". A great evening indeed.

6. Turkish Delight (Reunion) - The Middle East - Cambridge MA - 7/20/18

It's not everyday that your favorite band gets back together to do a show after a 20 year hiatus but on July 20th 2018 Turkish Delight took the stage at the legendary Middle East in Cambridge MA. The band played tracks from their two albums "Tommy Bell" and "Howcha Magowcha" as well as a stunning rendition of "Damaged Goods" by Gang Of Four. They even let me join them onstage for a ripping rendition of their classic cut "Go Baby" which was a a real honor and thrill. Such an awesome time.

7. Nine Inch Nails, Jesus And Mary Chain - Kings Theater - Brooklyn NY - 10/16/18

First off Kings Theater might be the most beautiful venue in Brooklyn and one of the best places to see a large scale show. Jesus And Mary Chain put on a solid set of some of their most well known songs which was certainly an amazing way to start the evening. Then Nine Inch Nails put on one of the most breathtaking performances you will see and hear anywhere in the universe. I'm by no means a NIN fanatic but this show really floored me. The stage production, musicianship, sound an overall presentation where definitely next level.

8. Ministry - Irving Plaza - NYC - 12/6/18

Ministry put on a tremendous performance at Irving Plaza in NYC. It was amazing to hear "Stigmata", "N.W.O.", "So What" and "Just One Fix" in a live setting again. The crowd was super into it and the band played the tracks with "pinpoint accuracy". Menacing to say the least.

9. Netherlands - Brooklyn Bazaar - Brooklyn NY - 10/20/18

Simply put this band DESTROY everything in their path. The crushing guitar sound and sci-fi-psych vocals of Timo Ellis are relentless and this performance was one of the most intense I came across all year.

10. Men I Trust - Charlies American Cafe - Norfolk Virginia - 3/19/18

It was great to see Men I Trust in one of my favorite intimate venues. The band played a lot of songs from their recent album "Headroom" and their infectious bass lines and in the pocket drumming had the crowd dancing along while Emma's vocals sounded as beautiful as you can imagine.

Six Records CMM Wants You To Know

Joan Of Arc "1984" LP (Joyful Noise Recordings)

At nearly 45 years old I think I've finally realized what life is most about to me and that's moments. Yes I am the type that does enjoy what many may consider the "mundane" aspects of life but I now consider those mundane periods to be preparations and build ups to the "moments" and experiences we will never forget. Joan Of Arc's new album "1984" seems to be one of these major moments for a band that has constantly been evolving over the last 20 plus years as founding member Tim Kinsella is joined by an incredible line up of musicians including Bobby Burg, Theo Katsaounis, Melina Ausikaitis and Jeremy Boyle. Opening piece "Tiny Baby" is a stunning combination of comfort, warmth and subliminal stimulation as the group combine elements of minimalist composition, ambient swells and mysterious sonic textures alongside Ausikaitis charming storytelling. This type of experimentation continues throughout "Vertigo" as long droning tones loom over layers of looped and delayed vocal treatments. All of this builds up into "Real Punk Kid" which carries a very anthem like feel to it. It's ominous piano sounds and pulsating bass line set the foundation for yet another incredible performance from Ausikaitis. This song works like a photo album in my mind. It will make you think back to your most fondest memories and some of the greatest hurdles you may have ever had to overcome. It's a true inspiration that radiates an energy I can fully get behind and seems to say "you are not alone". "People Pleaser" adds orchestral aspects to the mix and at this point the vocals move into an even more passionate and free form headspace. You get the feeling that Ausikaitis really enjoyed every minute of the making of this intensely cathartic track. The albums final piece is the spacey, dream like "Forever Jung" which is deeply psychedelic, meditative and insightful. It's beautifully lulling and closes out the album in grand fashion. Such an incredible moment for one of the most innovative bands of our time.

My Great Blue Cadillac "Violent Therapy" (Chapter 1) LP (mygreatbluecadillac.bandcamp.com)

"Violent therapy", the latest release from French goth/post punk duo My Great Blue Cadillac is a thunderous blast of emotional intensity. The bass driven attack of "Falling To You" echoes the spirits of Rozz Williams era Christian Death and is an absolutely relentless piece of music. The melodic but stern approach of "Possessed" shows off the tremendous song writing abilities of the pair while "Rebirth" is a dirge based wall of sonic mayhem that's as primal as it is experimental. The experimentation continues during the infectious cadence of "Hope". It's underlying industrial tones and nontraditional structure make it one of the albums most intense tracks of all. "Pain In Love" teeters on the edge of post punk and metal as it really melts elements of both together in the perfect way. Overall "Violent Therapy" is a phenomenal collection of some of the darkest material I've heard in a long time. Get into it.

Pure Ghost "There Is No Heaven Left In Me" E.P. (pureghostband.bandcamp.com)

Greenville South Carolina's Pure Ghost offer a brilliant balance of heavy riffs and captivating atmospherics throughout "There's No Heaven Left In Me". Opening number "Grey Type" is full of ethereal tones that sway around it's pounding beat and radiant vocals. It's the perfect blend of shoegaze and post hardcore that also shows off their incredible musicianship. The high energy of "Violet Rot" keeps things moving along in fine form while "To Disappear" showcases some of the most inspiring guitar work you will hear anywhere. At last we come to the impeccably well put together title track, as swells of colorful sound rain down everywhere offering the perfect balance of darkness and light. A highly recommended release from one of my favorite new bands.

Savannah Lee "Spectroscope for Sanity" LP (savannahlee.bandcamp.com)

Boston singer songwriter Savannah Lee impresses on her debut full length LP "Spectroscope Of Sanity". One thing is clear about Lee's performance throughout the album...She sings from the heart and plays from the heart. Everything is about feel and passion and being in the moment. Songs like "Theater" and "Seahaven" combine her strong, confident vocal presence with mysterious and atmospheric twists and turns that are quite introspective. "Lilac Smoke" has a lush elegance to it while "Dist. from Being" balances traditional folk with more spacey elements. Other stand out pieces include the wandering flair of "Blinders", cinematic presence of "To Say" and the psychedelic traces that flow throughout "What Would You Say". Overall a remarkable effort that showcases an up and coming artist in their truest form.

Sweam "Drift Aside // Point of Reference" E.P. (sweam.bandcamp.com)

It must be something about the incredibly beautiful scenery that brings out the best in bands from Oslo, Norway. This is the first release I've heard from Swean and the rich, looming soundscapes that make up this latest E.P. made me an instant fan. The other worldly tones that make up "Drift Aside" are inspiring to say the least. It's layers of modulated guitar leads and tight, in the pocket drumming set the foundation for it's dream driven vocals. "Point Of Reference" sounds even more epic and emotional and adds a slight touch of mid 90's emo to the mix, as underlying seas of noise create a sonic frenzy that's absolutely stunning. I can't wait to hear more from this powerfully engaging band.

Witch Watch "Seconds" Single (witchwatch.bandcamp.com)

From the first few seconds I heard "Seconds" I was hooked on Witch Watch. This is the first single from the Minneapolis based indie pop units upcoming album "Underground/Overground" and it's an incredibly catchy song that will have you singing along in no time. It's swinging beat, rumbling bass line and delicate guitar leads blend perfectly with Anna Neighbors soothing vocals. The best part about this digital single is that it includes 3 bonus tracks that are also top notch. "Feral Fountains" is a rich dreamy number full of beautiful atmospherics. "Blood Orange Curfew" and "Discarded Rituals" are also very appealing acoustic based pieces that infuse the stunning ambient elements that make this band great. Highly recommended.

"Approaching Noise" An interview with Caustic Roll Dave

Barcelona based musician Caustic Roll Dave has been releasing records for several years now. His latest album "Approaching Noise" blends traditional blues sounds with industrial beats matched with an experimental twist creating a sound all his own We sat down with Dave to discuss how he got into music and the artists that inspired him early on, the current music scene in Barcelona and the making of "Approaching Noise".

CMM-What are some of your first musical memories and what bands/artists made the biggest impact on your musical style?

Dave-My first musical memories are from my childhood. My father is a huge fan of Dylan and artists like The Stones, Creedance Clearwater Revival, Hendrix, blues and jazz, so he played this music on the Hi-Fi while I was playing at home. I was really lucky with that. I’ve been listening to music so many years, I’m quite old so lots of music has influenced me in some way. As I said before, music I listened to at home I think Dylan, Stones and blues like John Lee Hooker (when he plays alone), Lighting Hopkins, Robert Johnson… surely made an impact on me. People usually ask me about blues artists but although I like it I’m not a huge expert of any blues artist. I think I’m more into artist who have been influenced by blues…. Ok maybe It’s a stupid thing, who is not influenced by blues in some way? Artists focused in raw and primitive sounds for example like The Stooges, Cramps, JSBX, The Sonics, ... really made the hit on me. Hip Hop was a true influence as well. Public Enemy, NWA, Beastie Boys,Geto Boys, etc… I love those guys man. The sampling process is a key process in my music, and the Bomb Squad productions maybe are the top of all that. That links with James Brown and the primitive funk from the early 70’s. They bring the groove!!! The 90’s which I say they begun aprox in 1987, make a deep impact as I lived that musical period so intense. Ok I know the 70’s or 60’s or whatever have so much good music but they weren’t contemporary to my existence, so I guess that was definitely a point. Jane’s Addiction, Nine Inch Nails, PJ Harvey, Nick Cave, Soundgarden, Screaming Trees, Beck, Pixies, Kyuss, Man or astroman… there was a blend of everything those years. And of course Tom Waits, and other classics, say Neil Young or Led Zeppelin… The 50’s rockers like Eddie Cohran as well.

CMM-What was the song writing and recording process like when making your latest album "Approaching Noise"? Any particular inspiration for the songs?

Dave-The song writing process is “there is no process”. Some structures can begin just from a simple drum loop or a beatbox idea. Some from a chord or a guitar riff. My music is very primitive and simple; there are no complicated structures, changes and so on. Always music first and then lyrics. Recording process is quite slow. I would like to improve that! But the way of writing affects that. You try something, then you change that, then I leave it there for some time, I come back, etc… There’s no particular inspiration for the songs. I think the album works well as a whole unique identity but there isn’t a common message or thread.

CMM-How did the song "Low Cost Countdown Beat" come about? What inspired you to make that track?

Dave-I think this song or “Many Pigs” are representative of that mess of primitive old bluesy sound and industrial or electronic beats I look for. Say Industrial Blues? Maybe… In Low Cost Countdown Beat I think there’s some Alec Empire breakbeats inspiration that I blend with the old style blues harmonica sounds. I think It works perfectly in that song.

CMM-Any particular gear you all used in making the album?

Dave-Well, sure the rare or the non-usual one is the Resontaor Cavaquinho. Somekind of a ukulele with the resonator system of a Dobro. I bought it in Rio de Janeiro. The opening riff in “What We Undertand” for example is that instrument. The software I used is so old, it’s quite ridiculous in some way. It hasn't been updated in the last 10 years???

CMM-If you could do a film score for any film director who would it be?

Dave-Not really any preference. I think what kind of film I would have to attempt to score would be more important. Wim Wenders , Jim Jarmush, Cohen could be a choice…

CMM-What is the music scene like in Barcelona right now?

Dave-It is strange to answer this question because I realize that I’m out of the scene, It seems that Caustic Roll Dave is not welcomed hahahaha,… If we could agree that there’s one. There are a lot of people doing music in different directions. There are also people trying to get new things out or to promote gigs but times are hard except for a few that reach that level of popularity to be everywhere and generally repeating the formula that works for them and it seems people love. But I think it’s quite similar everywhere.

CMM-Any touring or shows planned for the coming months?

Dave-No. I would say that for the moment the touring is coming to an end. I will begin again to restart after summer. But I had a call from and electronic festival yesterday. That’s interesting and it seems that not everybody is a prisoner of music genres.

CMM-Were do you see the future of your music heading? Any different sounds or genres that you would like to explore more and incorporate into your music?

Dave-I usually change my mind every day. Sometimes I want to focus more in the groove and beats, heading to a more hip hop oriented sound. Sometimes I would move to the desert and bring more desert-stoner feelings. And maybe tomorrow I think I will do an electronic album. Or do an acoustic EP. So finally I decide I’m going to do some caustic-rolling music. Actually I’m a little confused. I’m listening to some demos I have recorded this year and I can’t say that there’s a particular direction. I've been thinking of making a band, too as I play alone. I think It could be very challenging to try that but at the same time it would take a lot of time and work.

"Five For Friday" with Mike Pougounas of New Zero God

New Zero God is a Post Punk/Goth band founded in 2006 by former members of The Flowers Of Romance. Their latest album “Short Tales & Tall Shadows” takes you into a world of light and darkness where Gothic elements merge into a psychedelic mood and draws the listener into a sound of theatricality. Vocalist/Keyboardist Mike Pougounas shares some of his favorite songs in this weeks edition of "Five For Friday" but first enjoy the video for their latest single "Garden Of Mazes".

The Ruts - In A Rut

This was my first 7” single. I had the pleasure of meeting their drummer, David Ruffy, a few years ago. “In A Rut / H Eyes”. A single I still own. The Ruts remain an all time favorite and I was happy that Henry Rollins joined them that night on July 16 2007. Everyone should watch the video of that night

The Psychedelic Furs - India

By the late 70’s a friend of mine went to London for studies. He worked for some clubs and when he came back next year he brought a great number of cassettes that he recorded by jacking a tape recorder to the soundboard. XTC, Blondie, Police, Nazareth and many more. But, the ones I loved most were The Psychedelic Furs. They didn’t have an album yet so I called the top radio dj of the country on the phone during his show to ask for a song of theirs. “The Psyche…what?” I was having great laughs with “Mr Know Everything”… After a couple of years Psychedelic Furs became big… I was in my post-punk phase.

Lords Of The New Church - Russian Roulette

When Lords of the New Church released their first album I was flabbergasted. The band had everything: Stiv Bators (The Dead Boys), Brian James (The Damned), Dave Tregunna (Sham 69) and Nick Turner (The Barracudas). The sound wasn’t punk anymore. Within a year or two, the sound of my band, The Flowers of Romance turned into gothic rock.

DIE KRUPPS - Fatherland

In the mid 90’s I bought this Die Krupps album. They sent some of their tracks to other musicians in order to remix them. They came up with a double album. “Fatherland” which was remixed by the Sisters of Mercy. Nine Inch Nails were around the corner too. There was something happening in music. I came up with an industrial track called “Channel Z” for the new Flowers of Romance album and had long discussions with my producer, Wayne Hussey, formerly guitarist of The Sisters of Mercy and then leader of The Mission UK. “Channel Z” went to #5 and two years later I decided to make an industrial goth band called Nexus. I formed my own record label and released four albums of mine and eight more by other artists.

Southern Death Cult - Moya

By the mid 00’s my growing interest about the English post punk scene of the late 70’s took over again. There were thousands of tracks that I didn’t have the chance to find before but now, thanks to the internet, I could!!! I started listening to “old” stuff again. I was discovering bands that released a couple of singles and that was all for them… I rediscovered punk rock. DIY all the way baby! I closed my record label, put Nexus on hold and formed New Zero God with the intention to play post punk? Goth? Who cares? Southern Death Cult was one of my biggest influences when I was a kid. So I decided to return to that sound…

Lucid Dreamtime - An Interview with Ricky Turner Of Howling Cloud

Brisbane, Australia musician Ricky Turner makes his unique brand of music under the name Howling Cloud. His latest E.P. "Lucid Dreamtime" is available now as a limited edition cassette from Custom Made Music. You can pick up a copy at custommademusicva.com or howlingcloud.bandcamp.com Ricky took the time to discuss the music that influenced him early on, movie soundtracks and the recording process of the E.P. Enjoy the interview below and have a listen to his tracks "Acid Rain" and "Deadman Dreaming".

CMM-What's the first music you remember hearing as a child and what artist made the biggest impression on you?

Ricky-It must be hearing my dad blasting AC/DC in the car heading to the coast on weekends. It was hot, fast, and loud - seeds were definitely planted there. But I think it was hearing the likes of Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin from my parents collection that really gave me the music bug.

CMM-When did you start making music of your own and what was the first instrument you learned to play?

Ricky-First started with acoustic guitar in my early teens I think. Pretty early on I was getting more enjoyment from playing around improvising tunes than I was learning songs or getting lessons, so really i've been making my own music ever since then. I'll pick up most things pretty quickly and have a play but i'm generally satisfied with that, a 'jack of all trades' I guess.

CMM-Did you play in a lot of bands growing up?

Ricky-There was pretty much always a group of friends who I was jamming and playing songs with, but nothing serious.

CMM-When did you start making music as Howling Cloud?

Ricky-About 5 years ago. I started spending a lot of time taking instruments with me on bush walks, playing in different spaces, making field recordings, etc. So the project was born out of those experiences.

CMM-Your latest release "Lucid Dreamtime" is an eclectic collection of experimental psychedelic sounds. What was the writing and recording process for it like?

Ricky-As mentioned above, playing and recording in the bush was the foundation of the project but the process itself varied a fair bit. Some songs are based on riffs that came to me in certain places then recorded back in the studio, sometime i'd set up drones and try to 'tune in' to the surrounding sounds then play along, or watch a tree sway and try to mimic it's movement musically...basically the whole ritual turned into a bit of a personal journey for me, and so in the end some of the music is written to try and help the album convey that.

CMM-Any particular gear you used on it.

Ricky-Nothing particularly special, just a good variety, with a healthy dose of effects of coarse. Apart from guitars I used various hand percussion instruments, singing bowls, didgeridoo, dan moi, and flute to name a few.

CMM-What direction do you see the next Howling Cloud recordings moving in and what do you have planned for a follow up release?

Ricky-I have a few recordings already that will probably end up on the next release but at this stage i'm still unsure when that'll be done. It's a fairly slow moving beast so far and will probably continue to be that way. I'm also busy with my electronic side project at the moment, so I daresay the next Howling Cloud album will likely be more synth heavy.

CMM-If you could do a movie score for a film by any director who would it be and why?

Ricky- I love Alejandro Jodorowski's films, they're very surreal and there's heaps of room for various styles of music to be sown together, so I'd have a lot of fun with that. Jim Jarmusch's "Dead Man" would be a film id love to do, except that Neil Young already did the perfect soundtrack!

CMM-How about a collaboration with any other musical artist?

Ricky-Maybe Dylan Carlson from Earth, I just feel like I really "get" his musical style, so patient and spacious.

CMM-What are you long term goals as far as the music of Howling Cloud? Do you consider it a lifelong project?

Ricky-It's hard to say much in regards to the long term/lifelong status of Howling Cloud. I've always taken a "go with the flow" approach so I'm usually just dealing with the present moment with little attachment to end results or goals. For now I'd like to finish the next album and focus on some ideas I have for sound-art installations, and see where things go from there. But I'm always open to whatever comes my way, so who knows, maybe an 8-piece live show world tour one day?

"Five For Friday" with James Ivey of The Dirty Sun

The Dirty Sun is the project of San Diego musician James Ivey. The son of a Nashville musician Ivey grew up surrounded by country musicians. He discovered punk rock in his early teens and and when he discovered Einsturzende Neubaten it changed his total outlook on music. His dark post punk compositions are full of haunting tones, cold electronic beats and walls of distorted guitars. James shares some of his favorite songs with us in this weeks edition of "Five For Friday" but first enjoy the video for his track "Open Door".

Scraps- 1982

Scraps is Laura Hill, a one woman band from Brisbane Australia. Her songs consist mostly of old cheap Yamaha Portasound keyboards and a cheap drum machine for beats. Many of her songs sound like the internal drum machine on the Portasound. I fell in love with her music instantly. Cheap, dated keyboards, basic beats, an awesome voice, great songs. Minimalism at it’s finest.

The KVB- Shadows

The KVB is the audio/visual project of Klaus Von Barrel & Kat Day, based in London. Combining shoegaze guitars, minimal synth melodies, hypnotic drum machine beats and reverb drenched vocals with abstract imagery while playing live. What’s not to like?

Einsturzende Neubaten- Nagorny Karabach Live

When I first heard Einsturzende Neubaten my initial thought was- “what the hell is this?” After getting to know more about the band they changed the way I thought about music and made me question “what exactly is music?” Gathering and building instruments from scrapyards, stealing metal to turn into instruments from construction sites, touring and finding their instruments in scrap yards in each town because they were too heavy and bulky to take with them in a van, throwing molotov cocktails at their audience, utilizing air and styrofoam peanuts live, electrified wires, saws, springs, and somehow turning many of their songs into a beautiful masterpiece, and many other songs into chaotic noise. Nagorny Karabach Live is a prime example of Neubaten at their best.

Chad VanGaalen- Clinically Dead

Chad VanGaalen is a musician, producer, and visual artist from Calgary Canada. "Clinically Dead” was the first song I ever heard from him and it hit all of the things in my brain I love about music. Chad makes videos for all sorts of bands including his own, records everything himself on an old TASCAM 388, and has produced a bunch of other people’s records including another band I love from Canada, “Women”.

The Horrors- Primary Colors- entire album

Primary Colors in my opinion is the greatest shoegazy album ever made. There, I said it. I love My Bloody Valentine and Kevin Shields obviously had an impact on the sound of this album. Throughout the album there are swirling pitch bent guitars and pitch bent organs that remind me of music you would here on "The Munsters” if they had an organ player on acid. The Horrors have one of the best rhythm sections in music today, in my opinion, in addition to a guitar player who makes his own effect pedals, a very creative keyboardist, and one of the best voices in music today. “Mirror’s Image” is one of my favorite songs from this album.