Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Monday, September 28, 2015
Saturday, September 26, 2015
Friday, September 25, 2015
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Sunday, September 13, 2015
Saturday, September 12, 2015
APRIL "HERSHEY" CURTIS-MAY SHE REST IN PEACE
We had a relationship, which started in the late '70s and continued into the 1980s before we eventually lost touch with each other.
When we first met, she was calling herself Roxanne Ratt, and I was still known as Bilbo Bizarro, which worked OK during glitter daze but thinking I needed a more punk sounding name, she christened me with my new alias, Bill Bored. Shortly thereafter, she went on to rename herself Roxanne Hershey, and then just Hershey.
With the distance between Burbank and Whittier being what it was, combined with the fact that we were both transportationally challenged, we were mostly limited to arranging time together on the weekends, at Clubs like the Masque, Whisky, Club 88, etc. With e-mail and texting not yet invented, We frequently wrote letters to each other during the week to keep in touch and coordinate our weekend events. Recently I came across some of those old letters.
We reconnected years later, through Social media in 2012, and were able to catch up with each other.
I was pleased to learn that she had worked her way through school, ending up with a Masters Degree, and was happily married, living in Ventura with her beloved Beagles. Apparently she had become quite the animal advocate, and specifically, a champion of the Beagle Rescue effort.
It turned out she was suffering from a debilitating condition, and was keeping it a secret. It eventually took her away from us, and she died in her sleep on April 3rd, 2015.
For those who love and miss her, and for those interested in the musings of a teenage punk in the early days of the West Coast Scene, I'd like to share a few of those letters in the following post.
Monday, September 7, 2015
RECORD REVIEW- CinX
Los Angeles based band, CinX (pronounced sin-ex), has just released a new collection of songs penned entirely by pouty Angelino heartthrob, Cindy Ramos. While the band might be considered "Punk" by some standards, this is not your typical crude thrash LP.
One gets the sense that there is far more depth of musical exposure in CinX, drawing from a variety of influences including, the roots of punk, classic rock and blues. On first listen, this reporter was drawn back to the early days of the West Coast Punk Scene, recalling the classic sounds of bands like the Avengers, the Eyes and UXA. Unlike many other bands, however, CinX is not locked in to a single style, and at times is even reminiscent of legendary LA "girl group" the GTOs.
The band itself consists of Cindy, providing lead vocals and guitar (though while listening to her you'd never suspect that she only picked a guitar up for the first time a mere five years ago). In addition to pumping up the bottom end on bass, Mike Villalobos provided his production skills for the album, and Jody Hill keeps the pace on drums. Additional artists contributing to this effort are, Sylvia Juncosta on stunt guitar, Steven Kopp and Stephen Reed on background vocals, Maurice Fitzmaurice on keyboards, and Michael Alvidrez on upright bass.
You'll certainly want to keep an eye on this up and coming ensemble,
and can purchase their new album at CD Baby-
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/cinx
https://www.facebook.com/CinXBand?fref=ts
Los Angeles based band, CinX (pronounced sin-ex), has just released a new collection of songs penned entirely by pouty Angelino heartthrob, Cindy Ramos. While the band might be considered "Punk" by some standards, this is not your typical crude thrash LP.
One gets the sense that there is far more depth of musical exposure in CinX, drawing from a variety of influences including, the roots of punk, classic rock and blues. On first listen, this reporter was drawn back to the early days of the West Coast Punk Scene, recalling the classic sounds of bands like the Avengers, the Eyes and UXA. Unlike many other bands, however, CinX is not locked in to a single style, and at times is even reminiscent of legendary LA "girl group" the GTOs.
The band itself consists of Cindy, providing lead vocals and guitar (though while listening to her you'd never suspect that she only picked a guitar up for the first time a mere five years ago). In addition to pumping up the bottom end on bass, Mike Villalobos provided his production skills for the album, and Jody Hill keeps the pace on drums. Additional artists contributing to this effort are, Sylvia Juncosta on stunt guitar, Steven Kopp and Stephen Reed on background vocals, Maurice Fitzmaurice on keyboards, and Michael Alvidrez on upright bass.
You'll certainly want to keep an eye on this up and coming ensemble,
and can purchase their new album at CD Baby-
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/cinx
https://www.facebook.com/CinXBand?fref=ts
Sunday, September 6, 2015
RAYMOND COLLINS-Chattanooga Choo-Choo- Ray was my mom's first cousin. When his mother passed away, my grandmother went over there to help sort her belongings.She found a 4 track cart that Ray had made for her and gave it to me. Ray had gone into the studio with his guitar, and recorded some of her favorite songs. I had it transferred to digital by the good people at Penguin Studios, in Eagle Rock, and here's one of the tracks. I guess you could say I got this tape by a Mother, of songs about his mother, from my mother's mother...
Saturday, September 5, 2015
UNDER THE FLOOR AGAIN- The Damned are currently in town. Unfortunately, I can't see them this time but a while back, and with the help of Steve G, and Rory, I got to watch the show from the wings at their performance at the El Ray Theater. This tune is not often performed live, and Dave surprised me by going offstage, and standing right in front of me for a minute before returning to the stage. I think Wes may have used some of my footage in his new documentary on the band but I'll have get a look at his film first to know for sure.
PNX NEWS PHOTO CONTEST!
At PNX News, we appreciate our loyal audience! We would like to invite you to post a "Selfie" on our PNX News Facebook Page (only one photo per person).
Each month, our PNX Editors will select several photos to be "PNXed", and displayed on the PNX Website www.pnxnews.com. Those lucky fans will also receive a surprise package, which may contain stickers, buttons, patches or ??? One lucky winner will also receive a PNX T-Shirt and be proclaimed "PNX Punk Of The Month"
Be creative and who knows? It just might be you!
At PNX News, we appreciate our loyal audience! We would like to invite you to post a "Selfie" on our PNX News Facebook Page (only one photo per person).
Each month, our PNX Editors will select several photos to be "PNXed", and displayed on the PNX Website www.pnxnews.com. Those lucky fans will also receive a surprise package, which may contain stickers, buttons, patches or ??? One lucky winner will also receive a PNX T-Shirt and be proclaimed "PNX Punk Of The Month"
Be creative and who knows? It just might be you!
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
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