Weekly Mondo Round-Up: The Firecracker Edition

 It's post-Fourth of July here in the States but you would not know that around my neighborhood. Lots of noise, smoke and glitter. No mangled bodyparts just yet, but the evening is still young. Earlier today, after stumbling upon a small Farmer's market in a nearby berg, I was reminded of the last time we visited such a thing. There was a local group of hipster-y, psuedo-folk-jug fellows playing, all covers of course. Nothing inherently wrong with that, especially since covers are the groundwork a lot of bands use to build their chops, but I realized that if you're the kind of group that can instantly play “Me & Julio Down By the Schoolyard” or whatever that hideous Paul Simon song is, then I instantly never want to hear you again. Imagine hearing someone covering some Coltrane, Les Baxter or Killing Joke? Now, that would be sweet. But good lord, no Paul Simon or any other pap that makes middle-upper class middle-aged white people feel comfortable. The ultimate credo of any artist should never ever be “give the people what they want.” Nay, give them what they deserve. That? Is true love. 

 On a far happier and rewarding note, the latest issue of Paracinema is now available for pre-order. In addition to featuring articles covering everything from the great David Patrick Kelly to action film heroes, it will also have my compare/contrasting article on Stephen Sayadian's two equally brilliant films, “Nightdreams” and “Dr. Caligari.” If you haven't seen these films, then do yourself a favor and seek them out immediately. Sayadian is one of the most standout directors to have emerged in the last thirty years, so it was a pleasure getting to explore these two semi-twin works. For the converted and uninitiated alike, you can check out my friend David Arrate's tribute on his Tumblr, My Kind of Story or view the clip below. If these things don't convince you, especially the dancing toast, then you've got ice in your veins, baby. 

One album that has been getting a lot of play this week in Casa Mondo has been Fallen Angels. This is a band that is ripe for some proper rediscovery. Led by Knox, who also founded the legendary punk group The Vibrators, and featuring the entire rhythm section of Hanoi Rocks (Razzle, Sami Yaffa and Nasty Suicide), Fallen Angels were a terrific, trash-rock band that managed to incorporate some emotional gravitas sans the usual gouda baked overdramatics. From the same family tree that begat the New York Dolls, Johnny Thunders & the Heartbreakers, Hanoi Rocks (naturally) and Lords of the New Church, Fallen Angels, especially that killer first album, deserves to be placed next to its more well known brethren. 

Currently working on contributions for both Rupert Pupkin Speaks and the upcoming, William CastleBlog-A-Thon, as well as the usual article work. Wonderful things are afoot.

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