Out and About in Zurich

Here, for you Roman, is a list of some clubs and music venues in Zurich, to help you find a place to go hear some music. You might try the Helsinki Klub, it's pretty cool, I've been there a couple of times. Hope this helps!
http://www.outandabout.ch/clubs.html

Roman Is Having A Dream Time In Switzerland

Ah Now I Understand The Style Guide For This Blog. Thanks, Roman For Helping Me. I Have Included A Picture That Helps Illustrate My Post While Providing Some Visual Stimulation For Your Readers. Now I Realize That Roman Is Not Updating His Blog Because He Is Extremely Busy Staring At This Clock. It's For His Job, Honest. He Is Working Hard!

Heather Peng Looking for Green Pastures!

Thanks, Heather for taking care of the blog while I am gone, and not just that, as the post below demonstrates you do it tactfully and tastefully! I adore your use of the language, the depth and insight you manage to pack into your few lines, and the creativity you put into your esteemed writing! Just some minor reminders on how we want the blog to look: 1. Main words in headlines start with capitals. 2. Make sure the headline ist not too short and not leaving a lot of empty space (f. e. "Roman is Gay" is way too short, "Roman Is Having A Dream Time in Switzerland" would have been much better. 3. Try to find a picture that fits the story - but no vulgar or offensive material, kids love the blog, too.
Looking forward to your next blog, Heather, and do not fear: I won't sue you before I'm back!

roman is gay

roman moved to switzerland and decided he didn't have to update his blog anymore, oh i guess there is no music in switzerland, how convenient for roman who has decided to turn GAY or LAZY! denise is going to hear about this, do you think she is not going to notice that you turned GAY! and NO LONGER CARE ABOUT MUSIC? don't get me wrong, i am not HOMOFOBIC i love the gays but this is lameness, not love! come on! how busy can you be?

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.

See Christian Gibbs on Broadway!

Time to tell you of "Passing Strange", a rock musical on - hear, hear - Broadway. It tells the story of a young man in Los Angeles who wants to travel the world writing songs. He lands in Amsterdam and Berlin, where he gets to know sex and drugs and rock'n'roll, politics, philosophy and finds out about love. The strong all-black cast is supported by white musicians on stage, most notably the ever rising star Christian Gibbs who adds special rock flavor to the catchy songs written by the witty MC of the cast, Stew, and the elegant bass player Heidi Rodewald. With his offbeat humor Stew, whose semi-autobiographical story is told, creates an instant connection to the audience that is only enhanced by the versatile actors/singers. After the show Christian gave us a tour of the beautiful Belasco theatre, where the legendary Harry Houdini made an elephant disappear. The top apartement, left unchanged since the death of Mr. Belasco, is said to be haunted by his ghost. Another helpful ghost behind the machine makes sure everything stays in tune: the ubiquitous Mike Fornatale. You go to rock shows all the time in dindgy clubs, now treat yourself to the real thing, the New York institution Broadway and enjoy Passing Strange, finally a musical that truly rocks.

Do Robots Do It?

We didn't think so, but no, they do. If they can play such passionate folk music whith such emphatic titles like "I break for Cannibals" and "4 Senses on Alert", they must be capable of sex. Listen to 'No They Do' by Pierre's friend Pete Kellers and you'll find proof in such sorrowful tunes as 'Robot Love' and 'Lonely Robot Blues. It's a concept album of robot folk music, as Pete describes it. Not robotic are the influences they list: Tall Dwarves, Elf Power and Daniel Johnston. We also hear some Violent Femmes in there.

Room Serenade You This Thursday

ANTON SWORD and his fine band kick off their American Tour with two sets of some of his songs and some covers at Club Midway (Avenue B, btw 2nd and 3rd Streets), TONIGHT at 7.30pm. He has invited a dozen or so guest singers. I will sing an old Velevet Underground song in set II, around 9pm. Come by and sing along!

But that's not all. ROOM, impressed by such beautiful recent work from friends such as Lucinda Black Bear, Melomane and The Snow, leave the loud guitars and amps at home and play it safe and soft, probably for the last time at BAR ON A, this THURSDAY, 27th of March. We had so much fun playing five songs for five friends last month, we want to do it again. We start after 9pm and it is, as always, free.

The Painted Word Video

Look Forward to St. Nightingallen!

A word to the rock loving people of Eastern Switzerland: Do not miss your chance to see The Nightingales at Palace in St. Gallen on March 26th. Here's a band that weathered all the storms already the first time around in the early Eighties, playing Northern Soul in the left wing of the Fall, Television or Gang of Four. Now, the unique drunkenly dodgy singer Robert Lloyd and his trusty guitarero Alan Apperly are back, reinvigorated, rejuvenated by Matt Wood, who looks like John Cooper Clarke and hits the strings with mozartesque genius. The show in Brooklyn two weeks ago at Death by Audio was pure fireworks of rhythm, rhyme and frantic melodies, swirling around the serenading, barking, burping, howling Lloyd. The band has been touring extensively and is vehemently tight - captivating from the first manic beats to the last stroke. Born and bred, indeed.

Melomane Gear Up For Tour

So Pierre and Daria leave Kenny and Quentin at home, but bring Eveline and Heather along to Germany and Switzerland, where they'll hook up with Privateman Frank to give Europe the yearly dose of Melomane it has come to depend on. There's a goodbye show for all us New Yorkers and if it's as funny as Eveline's invitation blurb, we should all go see them. Here's what Eveline writes:
"Honey, what's for dinner"...Smack your lips on some Texas-style BBQ brisket then shake your hips and shimmy your biscuit! Your swiss art director/trombone slinger Eveline Feldmann and the band Melomane (www.melomane.org) are popping up at Hill Country (30 W. 26th St./Broadway & 6th) on Thursday, March 6 from 9:30-Midnight. So bring your friends, appetite and dancing boots because pig and pop together never sounded better. Melomane plays cinematic, catchy and clever pop-rock. Sounds like Elvis Costello and Serge Gainsbourg collaborating on an album with Calexico.

Sword Cotillion and Extravaganza

The wound of the sword heals, the wound of word never, goes an old african saying...well: here is the Sword with the word: Anton Sword is inviting us to a tour-kick off extravaganza at Club Midway on March 24th. He neither says who the surprise guests during his excursion into pop history are, nor where his tour is going... So come by, ask him, hear the swordsmith. Not to spoil the suprise: Expect Pierre de Gaillande, Kerry Kennedy and Erik Paparazzi among the NYC stars. I'll be among the attention hogs.

Los Angeles and the Track of our Lives

I admit I've been bad at keeping you updated, but I had the pleasure to fly out to Los Angeles to interview Gnarls Barkley. They have a new record out called "The Odd Couple", it sounds a lot like real cool "Pet Sound" Beach Boys, jus a likkle darker. My hit tip: A beautiful track called Surprise.





The real discovery for me in Los Angeles musically was a Swedish band called "The Soundtrack of Our Lives". I have somehow ignored them up to now, and their music thus hit me with the force of chills down the spine and knots in the stomach. Highly recommended from now on -i hope they come to New York soon. There's another great band I neglected to mention on this blog so far, they are called Shack and are from England. The songwriting and leadplaying brothers Head made two great records as the Pale fountains in the Eighties. Lucky you, if you find them.

My friend Minnie Cho has finished her record with Swoon: A great sounding, lush landscape of music, tender, but sharp with lots of room for Minnie to lament love lost and black fate. "Doubt" would in my opinion make a great single. Minnie chooses to keep her voice calm and almost understated. An egdy anger or growling fury here and there wouldn't hurt, though. Them guys don't deserve to be spared, Minnie!

Then I missed two of Anton Sword's shows, one in Jersey, one in the East Village. That, though, doesn' mean I'm getting lazy but rather that Anton is getting busy, craftily aided, I might add, by the mighty guitars of Kristofer Widholm. Let me know how the show was and send pix - i'll post them.

The rest of the action this summer seems to take place in Switzerland. C. Gibbs, currently on Broadway, is planning to visit the quaint country with the good taste, but also Melomane are organizing their tour - Bookers, take the chance to get them to your club on March 29th! Send last minute offers to: peeair@optonline.net. Frank Heer, who has been heard playing with both these artists moreover joined Modfather Charles from HeadQuarters and Zurich legend vocalist Johnny for a series of folksy gigs. Wish we could be there. Already reserved is the 23rd of May for the Silver Jews at the Palace in St. Gall. Moreover, the elusive Here Hare Here have vowed to play together for the first time since 15 years.