It's Burnt Finger's Birthday and we give him Room!

Bernd writes: What should I add, I'm usually not that big in self PR but I guess I can blame it on Roman who was so kind to organize and also made that great flyer. Please ignore that strange person on the picture but isn't it a BEAUTIFUL guitar? I should try to sell it to Gretsch for their ads (the picture, not the guitar, that is).

So yes, please come and join us and have a drink! Oh, right, feel free to bring friends, relatives, and kids and whatever (did I just write kids? well, what the heck - fine, yeah, kids too) and forward this, I don't have everybody's email address and at my age people tend to forget a lot so don't be angry if you don't get this email from me but from a friend of yours...

Bernd

P.S.: You think 6 pm is early? I don't know about you but I'm not getting younger...

I Saw Mick Jones and The Clash Won

So I finally got to see The Clash in New York! 24 years after being denied attendance of their show in Bern, Switzerland, by parents and teachers (which in hindsight, didn't turn out to be such a bad thing, cause they just kicked out Mick Jones and it wasn't that good anyway), I've seen them all. Mind you, not together. My brother an me went to one of Joe's last shows with the Mescaleros at Irving Plaza, about a year before he died. Then, last year, an astounding Paul Simonon lent his full credibility to Damon Albarn with The Good, The Bad and the Queen. Now, Mick Jones played Irving Plaza, standing on the same stage from which Joe belt out a last "I fought the law". Now, Mick was in the best of moods, helped by the trusty guitar of Tony James and a couple of shots of whiskey, I guess, but all the merrier. James was Billy Idols sidekick in Generation X, the first punk poppers, and then briefly had success with the rather embarrassing Sigue Sigue Sputnik. He must have a flair for unusual names, Mick and Tony's band thus is called Carbon/Silicon - why, nobody really knows, at least it's easy to google. They didn't play any clash songs, except for a bit of "Police on my back" mixed into one of their new songs. The pieces are pretty nice pop rock tunes, especially memorable was "The Global War on Culture" and those moments when Jones and James showed off on guitar. Mick was, after all, the best punk guitar player. But with The Clash it's a bit like with the Beatles: Just like McCartney solo always lacked that shot of bitter Lennon, Mick's boyish singing lacks the bite of the Strummer.

Friday Picks For Non-Planners: Mick Jones in NYC

In case you have no idea yet what to do tonite, here a few tips for shows of musicians who definitely are worth your attention:

a) Carbon/Silicon, Irving Plaza, 20 bucks: Mick Jones, guitar player of the Clash and Tony James, guitar player of Generation X, Billy Idol's first group, bring their new band to NYC. We just wish Paul simonon was on bass. And dedicate a prayer to Saint Strummer.

b) Anti-Nowhere League, Club Europa, 10 bucks: Second wave punx (ca. 84) from England, 24 years later still going strong. A furious version of Streets of London made them famous back then, we hope it's still in the set. Lead singer animal, we hear, is still roaring.

c) Steve Wynn, Luna Lounge, 12 bucks: Former singer of psychedelic rockers Dream Syndicate, recently released a new Album of great pop tunes. Last time I've seen them, he was backed by an excellent band. Plus Luna Lounge needs your support. If you dont go tonite, do not miss former Feelies main man, Glenn Mercer, there.