Lost Boy ?, Goose Wazoo, 2016

Album Review

I first came across Davey Jones and his Lost Boy ? project at Northside Festival a couple of years ago. The band were playing as a 3-piece at Silent Barn as part of an Exploding In Sound showcase. I remember being drawn to Jones's noisy, lo-fi pop back then.

Then, Jones kept popping up at different things. He played as part of both Baked and Titus Andronicus when that show came to Asbury Lanes. He was the drummer for Wicked Kind, a band I saw as part of the Titus Andronicus #SEVENSEVENINCHES release show for one of their earliest ever sets. Little Dickman Records and I booked Davey Jones as Lost Boy ? to play one of our shows at the Carousel in Asbury Park. Currently, he tours with The So So Glos and Bueno as a part of each of those bands. Somewhere in all of that, Davey Jones found time to put together an album -- an addition to Lost Boy ?'s already extensive catalog of releases, everything played and written by Jones himself -- of some of the most alien-sounding, out-of-left-field, and infectious garage pop I've heard in a long time.

Goose Wazoo is a loose concept album that revolves around the title character, a detective who also happens to be a blob with a melting face. It opens with the twangy "Farmer Mysterious." The song sets the sci-fi, cartoonish tone for the rest of the record as it introduces us to a talking chicken from Tennessee.

...And I'm going to stop here for a second...

...A blob detective with a melting face...

...a talking chicken from Tennessee...

It all sounds kind of absurd. And I guess it is. But Jones is able to do that thing of using a bizarre, sci-fi premise to comment on some very down-to-earth concerns. And the songs are just so good, burrowing into and wrapping themselves around your brain, that it all works incredibly well.

"Replay," over the course of its one-minute running time, uses repetition and the mosquito buzz of Jones's vocals and guitar to capture the debilitating effect of going over and over that dumb thing you did or said (I can identify.). "Born 2 Lose," which premiered here and features a reference to Daniel Johnston's "Walking the Cow," is a countrified cataloging of a life that's been on a downward spiral. And, in an example of what Lost Boy ? is so good at, early single, "Love You Only," takes a straightforward love song and puts it through some sonic stretching and bending until its 50s-inspired song structure sounds like it came from a galaxy far, far away.

On "Pimple Sith," "S.O.S," and the almost spoken-word (over a police radio, or maybe that radio that plays constantly in your head, telling you what to do and how to act) "Detective Clue #1," I hear hints of Built To Spill and Pavement at their least jammy. The title track introduces Goose Wazoo by name and sounds like it could be the theme song to a psychedelically-animated television series.

"Have You Seen My Brain" sounds like a response to the advice in "Detective Clue #1" to "use your brain" to solve cases. Jones asks, "Have you seen mine? Does it make you sick?"

"Deja Vu" and "Crystal Ball" are a pair with Jones realizing he can shape his future through his dreams on the former and then realizing he "was chasing the impossible dream" on the latter. Album-closer "It Before," which we also featured, takes the point of view that there's nothing alarming or insane about intrusive thoughts. Everyone gets them.

Goose Wazoo sees Davey Jones employing a strange idea to get at some of the strangeness that swirls around in everyone's brain. Regret, depression, and self-loathing are things that plague us all at times. By using images of talking livestock, radio transmissions from inside your own skull, and a blob detective who can manipulate time and space, Jones makes all of those feelings -- which, in the still and darkness of a sleepless night, can seem kind of strange -- appear downright normal and mundane.

Goose Wazoo is out now on Little Dickman Records / State Capital Records, and the LP version comes with a comic book / lyric sheet by David Owen Beyers.

The North Jersey Indie Rock Festival and Lost Boy ?'s Goose Wazoo Release Show, 9/10/16

NGHTCRWLRS

Too Much?

My Saturday: 25 bands. More than 12 hours. Many hundreds of photographs. Probably a few pounds lost in water weight from sweating in stifling heat. Sore feet. So a pretty fantastic day and night.

Things started off for me when I headed up to Jersey City for the inaugural North Jersey Indie Rock Festival. New Jersey independent labels, Sniffling Indie Kids and Mint 400 Records, put together the festival to showcase their bands and some of the artists and businesses from around North Jersey.

The event took place in a recently de-sanctified church called Cathedral Hall. In the main sanctuary upstairs, pews had been removed or moved to the side; but the vaulted ceilings, stained glass windows, and marble all remained. It made a stunning backdrop for the 11 bands who played that stage. Downstairs consisted of a banquet / event hall with a large stage at one end. It was certainly less imposing than the church upstairs, but it was actually a more purpose-built performance space. Vendors and a bar dotted the area around the perimeter of the downstairs room.

Ken DePoto and The Goddamn Jets

Now, let me get out of the way that it was excruciatingly hot. After the first few minutes, I resigned myself to the facts that there was nothing to be done about the weather and that everyone was as gross and sweaty as I was (right?). I just settled in for the bands.

I got to see bands for the first time that I've written about here before like Tri-State, The Clydes, Underlined Passages, LKFFCT, C.R. and The Degenerates, Ken DePoto and Quality Living. I got to enjoy sets from bands that I've seen and enjoyed many times like YJY, dollys, Sink Tapes, Toy Cars, Rocky & The Chapter, and NGHTCRWLRS. I even got to experience some bands like Shane Vidaurri, Young Legs, Ancient Babies, The Bitter Chills, Fairmont, The Maravines, Pixl-Visionary, and a one-minute set from Cult of Mary for the first time. Down the stairs. Up the stairs. Down the stairs. Up the stairs. One really solid set after another.

Dave Sachs (YJY) and Frank DeFranco (Sniffling Indie Kids, NGHTCRWLRS). It was hot.

The festival was an amazing thing to pull off, and I commend the organizers -- Neil Sabatino (Mint 400), Frank DeFranco, Joe Lanza, Eric Goldberg (Sniffling Indie Kids) -- for a job well done. Credit should also go out to the Jersey City 4th Street Arts Organization and Mike McNamara. They're a non-profit that raises money throughout the year to help kids with music and arts education and helped to organize and promote the event. I'd like to thank everyone for allowing me to participate in a small way by having me introduce Underlined Passages and dollys. Also, thanks for inviting so many other bloggers, writers, and photographers. It was great to see so many friendly faces. I look forward to whatever the team has planned for the future.

Ed and Alice Magdziak of You Don't Know Jersey introducing YJY

dollys

Sink Tapes

Festival done and I headed back to the CoolVan for the trip into Brooklyn to help Lost Boy ?, Little Dickman Records, and State Capital Records celebrate the release of Lost Boy ?'s Goose Wazoo. It would be an evening of singing drummers with The Prits, Warcries, and Yucky Duster rounding out the bill.

Chris & Amy Dickman

There wasn't any relief from the heat to be found at Shea Stadium; but, again, I just threw on a dry shirt in the van and rolled with it. It was a pretty festive atmosphere as Lost Boy ? mastermind, Davey Jones, is a fixture in the community that's grown up around Shea Stadium, playing some instrument in what seems like just about every one of the bands that calls the place a home base. As the evening progressed, Shea got more and more packed; and the energy level ramped up.

In keeping with the evening's singing drummer theme, The Band and The Carpenters blasted over the PA between sets. Each opening band brought something slightly different to the proceedings from the noisy, lo-fi pop of The Prits, to the more experimental sounds of Warcries, to the hilarious and hilariously subversive pop punk of Yucky Duster.

Yucky Duster

Davey Jones emceed a joyously sweaty party during Lost Boy ?'s set -- first from behind the drums, then from the edge of the stage. The set included Goose Wazoo, Lost Boy ? deep cuts, a Ramones cover, and guest appearances, including one from Detective Goose Wazoo himself and a turn from Bueno's Luke Chiaruttini whose band I'd just seen on Thursday and who Jones will be touring with in the fall.

Lost Boy ?

As Lost Boy ? were finishing up, my friend Joe and I made our way down to the CoolVan for the ride home. I was pretty much toast, but it was a great day. Sunday? Less of a great day, but that's the price I pay, I guess.

Portrait of Goose Wazoo by David Owen Byers

Pictures from the entire day will be going up into the Flickr galleries as soon as I finish exporting them. If you prefer squished, low rez versions, those will be up on the Facebook page.

Lost Boy ?'s Goose Wazoo Is Out Today, and Here's Another Comic

"Born 2 Lose"

Today marks the release of Lost Boy ?'s Goose Wazoo. The physical release comes with a comic book drawn by David Owen Byers; and, on this release day, Lost Boy ? have given us another installment. This one accompanies track "Born 2 Lose."

Lost Boy ?'s Davey Jones is one of the best at creating garage pop that's both quirky and accessible. On "Born 2 Lose," Jones sings of a life that's been on a downward spiral over the infectious twang and churn of guitars. He even includes a reference to Daniel Johnston ("I've been walking the cow.") whose lo-fi, outsider catalog is a clear inspiration for Lost Boy ?.

"Born 2 Lose" is the third track on Lost Boy ?'s Goose Wazoo, which is out today on State Capital Records / Little Dickman Records. You can order it from State Capital or grab it from your favorite online music retailer. The vinyl release is limited to 200 copies (half on "creamsicle" vinyl, half on "brainsicle" vinyl).

If you're near Brooklyn on Satruday, September 10th, you can pick up a copy at the Goose Wazoo record release show at Shea Stadium where Lost Boy ? will be joined by Yucky Duster, Warcries, and The Prits.

Premiere: Latest Single from Lost Boy ?'s Goose Wazoo

Photo: Natalie Kirch

"It Before"

The brain is analytical. It's a computer. When we have a big problem or a situation we don't want to face, our brains run through all of their options. All of them. There's nothing abnormal or insane about that. It's when our brains start to stick on some of the extreme options that we have to start speaking up and asking for help.

On Lost Boy ?'s latest single, "It Before," Davey Jones sings about contemplating the most drastic of solutions over wildly chugging guitar, drums, and the sax of Preservation Hall Jazz Band's Ben Jaffe. The song displays Lost Boy ?'s signature left-field approach to garage pop; and it's probably the catchiest, most upbeat and danceable song about suicide you're likely to hear. Actually, scratch that last part. It's one of the catchiest most danceable tracks you're likely to hear regardless of subject matter.

"It Before" is the second single from Lost Boy ?'s upcoming Goose Wazoo; and, like the title track released last week, it comes with a lyric sheet in the form of a comic strip by David Owen Beyers. Self-recorded and a concept album about a blob detective, Goose Wazoo is due from Little Dickman Records / State Capital Records on September 9th. The album will be available digitally and on limited-edition, multi-colored vinyl.

Goose Wazoo

Lost Boy ? celebrate the release of Goose Wazoo with a show at Shea Stadium on September 10th. You can also catch them this weekend in Asbury Park when they play a free show with Pop Empire and Corrina, Corrina at Anchor's Bend on Friday, August 12th.

Check out "It Before," its accompanying comic, and all of Lost Boy ?'s announced shows below.

Lost Boy ? Shows

Aug 12 -- Anchors Bend -- Asbury Park, NJ
w/ Corrina Corrina + Pop Empire

Aug 13 -- Little Skips -- Brooklyn, NY
w/ Dumb Wolves + Sic Tic + more

Aug 26 -- Shea Stadium -- Brooklyn, NY
w/ Bueno

Sept 10 -- Shea Stadium (Release Show) -- Brooklyn, NY

Sharkmuffin Announce Tour. Releasing New Flexi Single on 2/12.

"Red" / "Fun Stuff"

Brooklyn's Sharkmuffin, who played one of our carousel shows over the summer, just announced a 5-week tour that will take them around the East and West Coasts of the USA with a few stops in and around Austin, TX for this year's SXSW. Sharkmuffin will also be making stops at Asbury Park Yacht Club on 3/4 and at Brooklyn's Aviv on 3/3 and Shea Stadium on 3/27. The noise / surf / garage pop trio are touring in support of last year's excellent Chartreuse, a joint release between State Capital Records and our friends over at Little Dickman Records.

Speaking of the Sharkmuffin / Little Dickman relationship, on February 12th, they get together to release a pair of new Sharkmuffin singles, "Red" / "Fun Stuff," on flexi disc. You can pre-order those now, and maybe you'll be able to pick one up at a show.

Here are Sharkmuffin performing as part of the Little Dickman Records / CoolDad Music / Arcade Radio "Sundown at the Carousel" series. Check out all of their tour dates below.



Sharkmuffin on Tour:

2/12 @ The Lost Room, Los Angeles, CA
2/13 @ 4th Street Vine, Long Beach, CA
2/14 @ Strummer's, Fresno, CA
2/17 @ Soda Bar, San Diego, CA
2/18 @ Nitelight, Oakland, CA
2/19 @ TBA, San Francisco, CA
2/20 @ Redwood Bar, Los Angeles, CA
2/21 @ GNARBURGER (in-store), Los Angeles, CA
2/23 @ Hemlock Tavern, San Francisco, CA
2/24 @ Kelly's Olympian, Portland, OR
2/25 @ The Funhouse, Seattle, WA
2/26 @ Dante's, Portland, OR
2/27 @ Duffy's, Chico, CA
2/28 @ Five Star Bar, Los Angeles, CA
3/3 @ AVIV, Brooklyn, NY
3/4 @ Yacht Club, Asbury Park, NJ
3/5 @ Tralfamadore, Philadelphia, PA
3/6 @ The Garage, Winston-Salem, NC
3/7 @ Calico Room, Wilmington,NC
3/8 @ Reggie's, Wilmington, NC
3/9 @ The Wrecking Ball, Atlanta, GA
3/10 @ Jack Rabbits, Jacksonville, FL
3/11 @ TBA, New Orleans, LA
3/12 @ TBA, Memphis, TN
3/13 @ White Water Tavern, Little Rock, AL
3/14 @ Lolas on 6th, Fort Worth, TX
3/15-3/19 @ SXSX, Austin, TX
3/21 @ Blind Mule, Mobile, AL
3/22 @ Georgia Theatre (roof), Athens, GA
3/23 @ house party, Nashville, TN
3/24 @ Magnolia Bar, Louisville, KY
3/25 @ Ace of Cups, Columbus, OH
3/26 @ Hucklebucks, Pottsville, PA
3/27 @ Shea Stadium, Brooklyn, NY

Sharkmuffin, Chartreuse, 2015

Album Review

When I went to Brooklyn's Northside Festival in 2014, one of the bands I'd resolved to see was Sharkmuffin. I don't exactly remember what got them on my radar back then, but I've always really enjoyed their 1097 EP. Anyway, I was pretty blown away by their live show. The combination of noise and pop is right in my wheelhouse, and frontwoman Tarra Thiessen manages to simultaneously project slackery nonchalance and riotous rage.

Today, the band release their full-length debut, Chartreuse. The core duo of guitarist / vocalist Thiessen and bassist Natalie Kirch are joined on the record by legendary Hole / Death Valley Girls / Upset drummer Patty Schemel.

Note: Schemel is the most prominent in a long line (12 and counting) of Sharkmuffin drummers. In a nice touch, each Sharkmuffin drummer -- past and present -- gets a small portrait on Alex Citrin's Chartreuse cover art.

The album kicks off with the title track. Thiessen's vocals sound like they're coming from an echo-chamber located somewhere in the movie Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, and the whole track conjures images of go-go boots and people dancing the monkey.

Things get bigger and more psychedelic during the chorus on "Mondays." Schemel's drumming shines here. "Straight Lines" lumbers along on a slow build, Thiessen lowering her register a little bit to keep with the sluggish, dreamy feel and Kirch contributing some subtle backing vocals.

One of the standouts for me is the surfy "Broken Teeth." Again, the song sounds like it's coming from another, cooler if more lo-fi era. Kirch's bass keeps the riff going throughout the song as Thiessen does a bit of her own thing on guitar before coming back to the main theme.

Single "First Date" details a horrible Tinder date in just over one frenetic minute. "Tampons Are for Sluts," on the other hand, is the set's longest track coming in at a whopping 3 minutes. It opens with a bass riff reminiscent of the Breeders' "Cannonball" and alternates between a loping, lazy verse and a manic and noisy chorus.

"I Called You from the Moon" closes things out with a final burst of energy. Thiessen puts everything into her vocal while Schemel and Kirch form a pummeling rhythm section. The song, and the record, end with the high-pitched squeal of Thiessen's guitar and an emphatic exclamation point from the band.

Chartreuse comes in at 21 minutes. Almost all of the songs revolve around some type of repeated theme, making them perfectly suited to head-bobbing and (*gasp*) dancing. The band riff off of these themes taking songs into surf, pop, punk, and outer space from time to time. The way in which -- just like during their live performances -- Sharkmuffin alternate between moments of lackadaisical stonerdom and manic energy keeps things interesting throughout.

If you like noise, if you like pop, if you like jumping around and doing the monkey while screaming a big "Fuck You!" to that shitty first date you had a while back, you'll love this.

You've got three chances to experience all of that live this weekend as Sharkmuffin celebrate the release of Chartreuse. On Friday, 8/7, they're at Brooklyn's Shea Stadium with Lost Boy ?, Charlie Bliss, BOYTOY, and Fruit & Flowers. On Sunday, 8/9, Sharkmuffin play Killkenny's in Newark with Overlake, Lost Boy ?, Spowder, and Thee Trebleros.

For those of us in my neck of the woods, Sharkmuffin play a free release show at Asbury Park Yacht Club on Saturday, 8/8 with Lost Boy ? and garage rockers The Von Mons.

Chartreuse is out now as a joint release between State Capital Records and Asbury's own Little Dickman Records.

Sharkmuffin Releasing Debut LP on Little Dickman / State Capital

Sharkmuffin at Bar Matchless last June.

Chartreuse

Sharkmuffin, the Brooklyn via the Jersey Shore fuzzy noisy surfy poppy duo of Tarra Thiessen (guitar) and Natalie Kirch (bass), will be bringing their debut full-length, Chartreuse, to the world via a joint release with NY / NJ-based label State Capital Records and Asbury Park's own Little Dickman Records.

Chartreuse album art by Alexandra Citrin

The pair have roots on the Jersey Shore. They even met at a New Jersey beach house on July 4th, 2012. Just a few months later, the house where Sharkmuffin was born met someone named Sandy; and you can probably figure out the rest. Sharkmuffin's under 10-minute blast of an EP, 1097, takes its title from the address of that fateful / ill-fated beach house.

After hearing the tracks off of that short burner of an EP, I made it a point at last year's Northside Festival to catch a set from Sharkmuffin. They did not disappoint, filling the small space at Bar Matchless with their jagged and noisy garage pop. Thiessen's coffin-shaped guitar case even looked right at home in the Bar Matchless tomb-like back room.

For Chartreuse, Sharkmuffin got help from ex-Hole / current Upset drummer, Patty Schemel; and I'm looking forward to the results of that collaboration. The album is due on vinyl, cassette, and digital download on August 7th.

This is a really cool band, and it's really cool that they've hooked up with State Capital, who also released a record by our friends The Everymen, and our buds at Little Dickman.

Check out 1097 for a taste of your newest local band.