Cool interview with artist Shag at Modculture

Over at Modculture they have a great interview up with Shag aka JoSH AGle, one of my favorite pop culture artists.

Any thoughts of doing more “retro London”? Maybe something “Blow Up”? David Hemmings would be flattered! Thinking about it, did “3 Black Crows” cover that ground? Then maybe go for a “mod” theme…we’d all buy the prints!

Retro London is a recurring theme. “Blow Up” is one of my absolute favorite films and it definitely inspired “3 Black Crows”. I stayed away from the subject for a while because it was so identified with “Austin Powers” in most people’s minds but I am planning more “Swinging London” themes in the future.

You'll wanna read the whole thing, and then you'll probably want to break out the exotica vinyl.

I thought this was interesting too:

Why the animals? Wolves & apes seem to appear quite regularly!

I started using animals as a way to tell people that I wasn’t painting the “real” world…I didn’t want people to look at the work and think it was a depiction of actual life. Many of the animals represent personality types: the wolf is a “suave womanizer”, and the bull represents that part of being a male which is totally subjugated by the opposite sex.

Funny story. When I was in high school a few of the mods I was hanging out with came up with Indian themed nick names, a few associated with scooters like Rolling Thunder and Rumbling Bull. Mine was for my tendency toward a certain style of vintage shirts, I was Paisley Wolf. Suave womanizer indeed.

Modcast #226: Come On Now!

Here it is, the 226th of its kind, the latest and greatest modcast. Of course, each one is better than the last. Trust me on this one.

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Birdland -- Wake Up Dreaming (1991)
Phenomenal Cat -- Letters Home From Nazi Occupied France (2012)
Modlife Crisis -- Stella And Me (2012)
The Movements -- She Said (2012)
Suedehead -- Small Town Hero (2011)
The Eddies -- Jungle Beat (2012)
The Candy Strypers -- Callin' Sarah (2012)
The Love Me Nots -- The Girl Lights Up (2011)
The Untouchables -- What's Gone Wrong (1984)
The Moons -- Everyday Heroes (2009)
The Marigolds -- Sticks And Stones (2001)


Modlife Crisis - The Only Way



The Love Me Nots - You're Really Something

From The Vaults: Modcasts #122 & #136

Modcast #122: Watch. This. Now.

Welcome to modcast #122 and welcome to the Moscow Underground a brand new London mod band on this week's show. They've got a really cool, really heavy mod sound, as does the rest of the show. There's more new stuff as well from Supernova, Morrissey, and the Takeover UK, some garage rock from Los Immediatos and Magic Christian, as well as some Britpop from the likes of Blur and Sleeper.

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Moscow Underground - Soho Strut

Morrisey - Last Time I Spoke to Carol

The Takeover UK -- Never Been So Sick

The Supernovas -- Diamonds and Gems

Los Immediatos -- Something Wrong With You

New Salem WitchHunters -- At The border

Magic Christian -- Tomorrow Never Come

Blur -- Clover Over Dover

Sleeper -- What Do You

Automatics -- Watch Her Now

Dead Boys -- (I Don't Wanna Be No) Catholic Boy


Los Immediatos - Ella



Blur -- Charmless Man

Modcast #136: Kickin' It Old School

Mr. Suave's Mod Mod World Kickin' it old school in the mod world this week. Gettin' back to when the gettin' was seriously good, along about 1966 and thereabouts. This week's modcast features a nice set of sixties mod, garage, blues, and psych pop.

The Monkees - Tapioca Tundra (1968)
Alan Brown Set -- Everything's Gonna Be Alright (196
Graham Bond Organisation -- Long Tall Shorty (1965)
Small Faces -- Tell Me Have You Ever Seen Me (1967)
The Fleur de Lys -- Sugar Love (1966)
Human Instinct -- A Day in My MInds Mind (1966)
Pretty Things -- SF Sorrow Is Born 1968
The Plastic Blues Band -- Gone (1966)
Mouse & The Traps -- Lie, Beg, Borrow & Steal (1967)
Powder -- Do I Love You (1966)
Paul Revere & The Raiders -- Kicks (1966)

Graham Bond Organisation

Modcast #225: Can't You Hear The Music?

Welcome to the mod world friends. What a crazy world it is, too. Here it is March 13, a week from the dawning of the spring era here in Seattle, and by jove it snowed last night. Believe it or not, it's untypically cold here right now.

One thing is hot thought. This modcast. From start to finish, from The Twin-Sets to The Housemartins, from top to bottom, this thing is smokin' hot. Best be careful or you'll burn your ears.

A quick shout out to a couple of fantastic blogs for providing much inspiration: Ice Cream Man Power Pop and More (Ding Ding) and Shotgun Solution, both of which are reliable sources for cool music tips and hints.

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The Twin-Sets -- Take Your Rest
The Morlocks -- Born Loser
Black and Whites -- Gonna Have Some Fun Tonight
The Last Ones -- Bit of You
B-Back -- Are You Ready?
Karol Keyes -- Can't You Hear The Music?
Danielle -- I'm Gonna Marry The Boy
The Spinshots -- If I Would Fall
Death By Chocolate -- Zap The World
Betty & The Werewolves -- Plastic
The Housemartins -- Anxious

Betty & The Werewolves -- Euston Station


The Morlocks -- You Don't Know

Modcast #224: Movers & Groovers

It's another modcast alright. More movers. More groovers. Some shakers. All righteous. It's epic.

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The Goldstars -- Agile, Mobile & Hostile
The Theme - The First Time I Saw You
The Mods -- King and Country
Pop Quiz -- Moves and Grooves
Derriere -- Battle Plan
Mother Earth -- Very Together
Brand New Sinclairs -- I Was
The Urges -- Psych Ward
This Is Ivy League -- London Bridges
The Very Most -- The Title
The Mob -- Give It To Me




Brand New Sinclairs -- Heal My Soul

From the Vaults: Modcasts #176 & #18

Modcast #176: A Firm Grasp Of The Obvious

Welcome to Mr. Suave's Mod Mod World. My mod world has been rocking out to a lot of power pop this week, so I kicked things off with a bit of early 80s Seattle power pop, courtesy of Jim Basnight and the Moberly's. Basnight is a jack of all trades when it comes to music, and something of a basketball fiend with the rest of his life, running a college basketball blog dedicated to the UW Huskies.

Even with all the power pop I've been imbibing of late the first full set of the show is new soul music. The soul revival continues, full-fledged with groups like the Diplomats and Fitz & The Tantrums, and winding its tentacles into indie pop with acts like She & Him. And, since it is summer, or at least the last few days of summer, I had to throw a little bit of summery, sunshiny, effervescent pop music. I don't know what in the world Japanese band The Bridge is singing about, but whatever it is it sounds good to me. They were one of the forerunners of Tokyo's whole Shubuya-kei scene in the early 90s that produced a slew of great artists/bands like Pizzicato Five, Towa Tei, Flippers Guitar, Fantastic Plastic Machine and a bunch more. I'm thinking I could do an entire show with just Shubuya bands. Hell I could easily do two such shows. And I just might.

Just to keep you all on your toes I've rounded things out with a set of two-tone styled ska, most notably featuring all girl ska band The Belle Stars. Most people, if they know The Belle Stars at all, probably know them from their hit cover of "Iko Iko" that was featured in the movie Rain Man, allegedly because Dustin Hoffman liked the band and lobbied for their inclusion -- no matter that the song had languished for five years before that and the band had already broken up. But, for my money their best stuff was their early stuff, so you get their debut single from 1980 like it or not (I think you'll like it).

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Jim Basnight & The Moberlys -- Tonight (198?)
Fitz And The Tantrums -- Dear Mr. President (2010)
Diplomats of Solid Sound -- Promise Of A Brand New Day (2010)
She & Him -- Don't Look Back (2010)
Bridge -- Pool Side Music (1994)
Very Truly Yours -- Things You Used To Say (2010)
Skypark -- Secret Hideaway (1998)
Belle Stars -- Hiawatha (1981)
Kingpins -- Plan Of Action (1996)
The President's Men -- State Of Mind (1980)
The Ruiners -- Happy Birthday Bitch! (2010)

She & Him -- You Really Got A Hold On Me


Fitz & The Tantrums -- Winds Of Change

Modcasst #18: Chillin' in Mr. Suave's Mod Lounge

Welcome to Mr Suave's Swingin' cocktail lounge and now you can enjoy a few of the songs that started me down the lounge music path. There is no doubt that my involvement in the mod scene led me to being a lounge music junkie loving all sorts of easy listening, space age pop, acid jazz, swing and other retro types of music. Lucky for me!

Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66 -- Mais Que nada
Madness -- Los Palmas 7
The Style Council -- Paris Match
Burt Bacharach -- Bond Street
Bert Kaempfert & His Orchestra -- Mambo Mania
Les Baxter -- Tropicando
Combustible Edison -- The Millionaire's Holiday
Pink Martini -- Sympathique
Stereophonic Space Sound Unlimited -- Robot A Go Go
Combustible Edison -- The Checkered Flag

Modcast #223: Good to the Last Drop

Welcome to the show. And what a show. Of course I have this little advanatage of having heard all the songs already while I was putting this thing together. And repeatedly. I couldn't help grinning the entire time. Kinda like soup. Mmm. Mmm. Good. It's a tasty treat you got coming people. I'm actually happy for you.

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Missing Andy -- Heartbeat Away (2011)
The Men -- I Don't Need No Doctor (2003)
Mystery Action -- Conspiracy (2000)
Diplomats of Solid Sound -- Fascination (2010)
MG & The Escorts -- A Someday Fool (1967)
The Rolling Stones - Little By Little (1964)
Danny White -- Natural Soul Brother (1966)
Amy Winehouse -- The Girl From Ipanema (2011)
Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 -- (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay (1966)
Sarah Vaughn -- One Mint Julep (1962)
Lack Of Afro -- P.A.R.T.Y. (2011)


The Men -- Four Good Men And True


Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 -- Pretty World

From the Vaults: Modcasts #63 & #69

Once more into the vault my friends, once more into the vault. Step back in time, to a time when the modcast was young and fresh. Take a giant step outside your current listening constraints and journey with me all the way back to those oh so sweltering days of Summer 2007. I've opened up the vaults and dusted off a classic modcast that I think you'll enjoy. Again.

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Modcast #63: Mod For The Summer

Welcome to Mr. Suave's Mod Mod World, I opened today's show with a track from a band called Airborne Toxic Event, and even though they're out of Los Angeles man they sound a lot like a british band with obvious influence from Franz Ferdinand and the Fratellis. The rest of the show is equally as good. I think there is pretty much something for everyone here -- except for the Def Leppard crowd (you know who you are, now leave me alone and learn to like better music).

The Airborne Toxic Event -- Does This Mean You're Moving On?
Tsar -- Wanna Get Dead
Pristine - King Without a Crown
The Rifles -- One Night Stand
The Mary Onettes -- Void
The Procession -- Major and Minor
The Lodger -- Kicking Sand
Mando Diao -- Paralyzed
Crawling Walls -- Tell Me Why
Paul Bevoir -- Maybe Not

The Lodger -- Let Her Go

Modcast 69: Mods, Skins, Punks

Welcome to Mr. Suave's Mod Mod World, this week is a very garage rock sorta show so enjoy.

Fleshtones -- Push Up Man
The Lizardmen -- Mind on Fire
Plan 9 -- I'm Not There
Pandoras -- Stop Pretending
Tuff Darts -- (Your Love Is Like) Nuclear Waste
The Indikation -- Don't Send Me No Flowers
The Groovie Ghoulies -- An Unsolved Mystery
The Professionals -- Mods, Skins, Punks
The What -- East Coast Kids
The Tearjerkers -- Love Affair
TSOL -- Word Is

The Pandoras -- You're All Talk