#Paisley Underground

[theunderestimator-2]

Seeing a photo of Susanna Hoffs & Molly Ringwald behind the mic at LA radio station KROQ, as captured back in 1985 by Dianne Carter, makes me wonder about the playlist of that particular show.

(via)

[haveyouheardthisband]

[haveyoulistenedtothisalbum-poll]

Tracklist:

Jet Fighter • Stupid Einstein • And So We Ran • Fall to the Ground • A Day in Erotica • Tomorrow • In My Own Time • On My Own • When Lightning Starts • Seeing Is Believing

Spotify ♪ Bandcamp ♪ YouTube

[saisons-en-enfer]

Baby I wish I was dead

[psychedeliclush]

( INFORMATION AND EXAMPLES OF EACH GENRE UNDER CUT )

PAISLEY UNDERGROUND !

Artists: Mazzy Star, The Three O'Clock, The Bangles, The Dream Syndicate, The Rain Parade

Most popular Era: Mid 80s - early 90s

Basic definition: Paisley underground was a movement that formed in Los Angeles. It involves an interesting mix of jangle pop, psychedelia and alternative rock. This eclectic genre gained mainstream popularity when songs like "Walk Like an Egyptian" topped the charts, becoming global hits. The Paisley Underground sound is defined by its jangly guitars, lush vocal harmonies, and introspective, thoughtful lyrics.

Song examples:

RIOT GRRRL !

Artists: Bikini Kill, Bratmobile, Sleater-Kinney, Emily's Sassy Lime, Lunachicks

Most popular Era: 90s

Basic definition: Riot grrrl was an underground feminist punk movement originating in the 90s, predominantly in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Known for its raw, unapologetic attitude, riot grrrl music is characterized by its confrontational lyrics addressing issues such as gender inequality, patriarchy, and sexual assault.  The genre often features fast-paced, guitar-driven music with shouted vocals and a DIY ethos. It came from women wanting to express the same rage and emotions that were considered socially acceptable for men but not so much for women. Riot grrrl is much more than just a genre— it's an entire movement.

Song examples:

[dankalbumart]

She Hangs Brightly by Mazzy Star Rough Trade 1990 Dream Pop / Alternative Rock / Shoegaze / Experimental Rock / Psychedelic Rock / Alternative Pop / Neo-Psychedelia / Alt-Country / Paisley Underground / Psychedelic Folk / Americana

[chasgow]

There's always room for Jello...

[nothing-but-music-videos]

Mazzy Star

"Fade Into You"

Music video, 1993

[savage-kult-of-gorthaur]

THAT WESTONE THUNDER BASS GUITAR IS BIGGER THAN SHE IS.

PIC(S) INFO: Spotlight on "the uncommonly obscure" COMMONERS, a reported sixties rock revival band (file under "mod revival" & "power pop" as well), playing somewhere in L.A., c. 1983. 📸: unknown.

Source: www.picuki.com/media/3139706065952049435.

[spilladabalia]

The Dream Syndicate - When You Smile

[vyva-melinkolya]

when those cellos come in, rapture

[theunderestimator-2]

40 years ago, back when girls ruled: the late Paula Pierce, founder & fearless leader of garage punk rockers The Pandoras, performing at Irving Plaza, NYC, in October 1984.

That particular year was a weird one for the all-girl band since for a short period of time there were two versions of the Pandoras playing under the same name: a new band led by Pierce and another short-lived version featuring all the previous band members, who had released the band's debut EP the previous year but had departed by 1984, just as the "It's About Time" LP was being released. The brand new Pandoras hit the road for a tour that included a handful of dates with the Fuzztones, to promote the debute album.

Paula Pierce sadly passed away at the age of 31 in 1991 but she will always be remembered for her special songwriting talent, blurring the line between tribute and theft, and her presence, since she definitely owned the stage and dominated audiences with her charisma.

Nothing else but live action footage from that October 1984 gig at Irving Plaza, as soundtrack for this the post: "Want Need Love" & "I Want Him".

(via, via)

[haveyouheardthisband]

[haveyoulistenedtothisalbum-poll]

Tracklist:

Manic Monday • In A Different Light • Walking Down Your Street • Walk Like An Egyptian* • Standing In The Hallway • Return Post • If She Knew What She Wants • Let It Go • September Gurls • Angels Don't Fall In Love • Following • Not Like You

*This song was used as the end credits music for the anime adaptation of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders.

Spotify ♪ YouTube

[thewalrusandmeman]

A brand new song for 2025. And for now an exclusive preview for my Tumblr Pals.

New years come and new years go

as quickly as the falling snow.

Slothfully I Sleuth the past

relationship status update fast.

If I was to fall again, run and hide

and count to ten. 

Could you see me 

for the trees or still hear me

in the breeze. 

As I brave new paths with fortitude.

And limit my intake of food.

So if you were to catch me unaware

I wouldn’t feel your advancing glare.

And how is it that I am still here

after all those imposing years,

That linger somewhere in my mind.

And leave me just one step behind. 

Seasons come and seasons go 

Sunshine melts the ground below,

Will I catch a glimpse of you 

Softly smile bid you adieu.

If I was to call you then

Withhold the number once again. 

Would I get the same old tone 

that leaves me tearing up the phone.

As I brave new paths with fortitude.

And limit my intake of food.

So if you catch me unaware 

I wouldn’t feel the advancing glare.

And how is it that i’m still here

after all those imposing years,

That linger somewhere in my mind.

And leave me just one step behind. 

[weneverlearn]

Dream Syndicate -- Demo Recordings, 12/27/81

Here's a cool thing I stumbled onto, like a couple years ago, then stumbled on again recently.

Steve Wynn -- singer/leader f one of my favorite bands, the Dream Syndicate -- posted this great sounding demo from the band's first rehearsal with forever drummer Dennis Duck. And you can hear from this demo that he fit like a glove from the get-go.

Below is Wynn's explanation of the demo from the band's 12/26/21 Facebook post, on the then-occasion of the band's 40th birthday, below; and below that, the demo! Check it all out!

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December 27, 1981…….a memory from a Sunday evening, 40 years ago.

Karl Precoda and I had been meeting regularly and jamming in my father’s basement in West LA over the course of the previous months, having met when he showed up to try out on bass for a band I was goofing around with at the time. “I don’t like this band very much but you’re really good—we should get together and play again sometime.”

There was an immediate chemistry between the two of us and, most of all, we were just having fun jamming on one chord for hours or playing loose versions of CCR covers or fooling around with some new songs I had been writing. I called up Kendra Smith, my best friend at the time and band mate from when we had both attending UC Davis in the years before. Like me, she had moved back to LA and had just recently started playing bass. I knew she’d dig what we were laying down and she enthusiastically joined our aimless duo and before long we found a drummer named Randy who I believe I met at the Rhino Records store where I was working at the time. Randy was game and enthusiastic but as much as an inspired but limited amateur as me and Kendra and Karl which was just fine since we had no ambition beyond making noise in the basement.

One day Kendra said, “I was talking to Dennis Duck at a party in Pasadena and he said he might like to play with us sometime.” Now, you have to understand that Dennis was a rock star as far as we were concerned. He was 6 years older than the rest of us and had already made a mark on the LA post punk scene, drumming with his band Human Hands. They’d put out records! They’d been played on the radio! I had seen them play live several times including a great show at the Whiskey a Go Go where they opened for the Feelies and the nervous energy of both bands coupled with a 103 degree fever I was battling from the flu to make for one of the most memorable shows I’ve seen to this day (and interestingly enough, the topic of conversation with me and Dennis and the Feelies’ Glenn Mercer at a show we played together just a few weeks ago in NYC at City Winery).

Anyway, I was a little incredulous that Dennis would want to play with us. But I was also pretty cocky and full of beans about our cool little raggedy combo and on Sunday, December 27, I called him up on a torrentially rainy afternoon (it DOES rain in Southern California sometimes) and said, “Hey, we’re getting together to jam in my dad’s basement tonight. Wanna come over?” Dennis lived an hour away in Pasadena, it was pouring and he would have to load up his own drums to make the trek but somehow I was doggedly persistent enough to convince him to come out. I guess I made a good case or maybe just wouldn’t shut up until he said yes. To this day, he’s surprised he agreed.

Anyway, Dennis arrived, drums dripping from the rain outside, set up and started playing with us in the basement . He had brought along a boom box to record the rehearsal. We didn’t try to impress him or even say much about what we were doing. We just did our thing and he played along. At the end, he packed up and I helped him to his car. “Thanks for coming out and playing with us,” I said—I am nothing if not polite—and he didn’t say all that much in return. I figured he was probably wondering why he bothered to come out and play with kids like us and pretty much assumed we wouldn’t be hearing from him again.

A few days later I called Dennis to thank him for coming out and asked him if he had listened to the cassette he had recorded of the rehearsal. He answered, “I’ve listened to nothing ELSE since then. It’s one of the best things I’ve heard in a long time. I want to play with you guys.” And that was that. Three weeks later we made a quick four-song demo that became our first EP and only a few days after that we played our first show, opening for PIL spin-off band Brian Brain at Club Lingerie in Hollywood and we were off and running, only a handful of days after the first time we played together.

40 years ago. Hard to believe. Since then, Dennis and I have held the fort, first with Karl and Kendra and then, over the following years in the 80’s, with Dave Provost and Paul B. Cutler and Mark Walton and now for the last 10 years with the consistent lineup of me, Dennis, Mark, Jason Victor and Chris Cacavas. Our new album comes out next June with the first single being released in March. With any luck we’ll be out there on road for much of the latter part of the year.

But for now, happy 40th Birthday to the Dream Syndicate. Like many good and incendiary things, it all started in the basement.

Here’s a link to that first rehearsal, copied directly from Dennis’ cassette that he still has all these years later.

Dream Syndicate Live at Rehearsals on 1981-12-27