What is Mod? Mr. Suave's Mod, Mod World is one of the web's original modcasts celebrating mod music, and mod-influenced music from past eras including soul, ska, garage, sixties R&B power pop, punk, britpop, acid jazz, lounge, easy listening and more. SEARCH
In the 80s we didn't have the internet, you had to really work to find good music. And it was especially difficult to find "mod" bands. You knew the locals of course, but out there in the hinterlands who knew what the hell was going on. Well, somehow I found out about Washington DC's Modest Proposal early on with the release of their 1985 single I've Seen Your Face Before b/w Nobody Says No and I was hooked. The album that came a couple years later was just as good, delivering a dozen sixties influenced, power pop tracks that have stood the test of time pretty well. The internet makes the world a smaller place, as it did in 2009 when Modest Proposal's lead singer Neal Augenstein contacted me to let me know they were have a reunion show. Now they're beyond just reuniting and the band is putting out a new release, part Modest Proposal, and part their later band The Mondays.
So, to celebrate we're hosting a livestream on Sunday, July 22 at 8pm EDT / 5pm PDT on the modacast Facebook page. Original members Neal and Bill Crandall will be on hand to play some songs and answer questions. The new album comes out August 10th, on Detour Records. Only printing 200 CDs, so you're gonna want to get in on the presale for this one!
After a dozen years of modcasting the tables were finally turned in episode 400 when I was the one getting grilled by Mary Queen of Cosmos in Mr. Suave Behind The Music volume one. And now it's time for Behind The Music volume two with more on scenes, fanzines, the intersection of the mod scene with cocktail culture and the beginnings of Mr. Suave's Mod Mod World.
The Creation -- Biff Bang Pow
Small Faces -- My Mind's Eye
The Kinks -- Mr. Big Man
The Untouchables -- Whiplash
The Idea -- Power Poppers
The Jetz -- Moderns For A Day
Manual Scan -- Plan Of Action
Bad Manners -- Inner London Violence
Donkey Show -- Bali Island
Skeletones -- You Make Me Wanna Laugh
Combustible Edison -- Cat O' Nine Tails
Esquivel -- Mini Skirt
The Bob Crewe Generation -- Girls On The Rocks
Les Baxter & 101 Strings -- Que Mango!
Paul Weller -- Science
Swing Out Sister -- Something Everyday
Nicola Conte -- Free Souls (feat. Bridgette Amofah) - Free Souls
The Jam -- Give Me Just A Little More Time (Live, 1981)
Instead of bonus videos this time around you get bonus flyers and fanzines. I've uploaded tons of old flyers from the 80s southern California mod scene and you can check them all out here. And since we have a nice discussion about the fanzine I edited, Insight Out, I've got some cover shots here as well. From the first cut and paste issue to the full on desktop published issues. One and done, one year five issues. It was a lot of fun interviewing bands like Bad Manners and Buster Bloodvessel, The Skeletones, The Idea, The Funseekers and lots more.
I've got a special treat for you this week. Guest hosting is UK musician and composer André M. André has been pushing out some fantastic, hammond-based soul, funk and R&B for a bit now. When you hear what he's listening to you'll understand why his music is so much fun to listen to. Check out his debut album ‘Cheriton Drive’ and 45s 'Sneaky Thief' and the double A side 'Kenzy's Choice'/'Dap And Dip'. More music is on the way, too.
Branding Iron - Born Too Late
John Fred and His Playboy Band - Judy In Disguise
Paul Weller - Into Tomorrow
Simon Haseley - Bora
Mark Ronson - Outer Version
Professor Longhair - Something On Your Mind
The Byrds - Mr Tambourine Man
The Animals - It’s My Life
Billy Preston - Stop In The Name Of Love
The Valentines - Breakaway
Small Faces - I Feel Much Better
The Who - My Generation (Instrumental)
Keith Mansfield - Exclusive Blend
Dr Feelgood - Malamut
The Doors - Waiting For The Sun
Small Faces - Here Come The Nice
The Beatles - Tomorrow Never Knows
André M - Dodged A Bullet
Everything has a beginning, even the world's longest running modcast. Step into your wayback machine Mr. Peabody and dial up the first ever five episodes of Mr. Suave's Mod Mod World from way back in 2006.
Modcast #1:The 80s Mod Scene
Welcome to episode one featuring a number of lesser known, but still fantastic, mod bands from the US in the 1980s.
Welly, welly, well, sirs, here it is. Start. Stop. Turn it off and back on again maybe it will work. Lo, and behold the modcast is back up and running after some behind the scenes technical difficulties with my host, Podomatic. I don't know if it makes me feel better to know it wasn't just me that suffered, but most all of those who use Podomatic. But no matter everything seems to be back online and in order.
So, without further ado here is my F-U to trolls of the recent weeks who felt the need to tweet or comment on the Facebook show about how terrible this show is. I think one of them said my voice was like listening to nails on a chalkboard. I've always said I had a face for radio and a voice for silent films, so it isn't like I haven't been upfront about this! My first thought was to actually use recordings of nails on chalkboards, but I was too lazy to spend the time to do all that. Most of the complaints were actually about content; apparently my choices aren't mod enough. I beg to differ for so many reasons, mostly because they're wrong. You can listen in to hear my reasoning, the tracks themselves of course, and judge for yourself.
Billy Joel -- It's Still Rock And Roll To Me (1980)
Roger Daltrey -- As Long As I Have You (2018)
The Doughboys -- She Rocks My Soul (2017)
Dr. Feelgood -- Back In The Night (1975)
Foxy Shazam -- Last Chance At Love (2012)
Ian McLagan & The Bump Band -- Little Girl (2004)
The Mads -- Do the Snake (2018)
20/20 -- Kick It Up Twice (1982)
Mary's Danish -- Porcupine (1992)
Slade - So Far So Good (1974)
Blues Magoos -- Pipe Dream (1967)
Pete Townshend & Ronnie Lane -- My Baby Gives It Away (1977)
Electric Light Orchestra -- Rockaria! (1976)
Jet -- One Hipster One Bullet (2009)
Steve Miller Band -- Roll With It (1968)
Nine Below Zero -- Three Times Enough (1981)
Brian Wilson feat. She & Him -- On The Island (2015)
The Shingles (don't Google that on a full stomach) are in the driver's seat this week. Ken and Mike team up for some cool tunes and discussing Mike's new album First Days of Summer, among other bullshit.
Elton John - The Bitch Is Back (Caribou, 1974) Michael Simmons - Do Your Best To Care (First Days of Summer, 2018) Beach Boys - Let Him Run Wild (Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!), 1965) Teenage Fanclub - I Don't Want To Control You (Songs from Northern Britain, 1997) sparkle*jets u.k. - She's My Fave (In, Through, and Beyond, 1998) Urge Overkill - Positive Bleeding (Saturation, 1993) Crowded House - Kill Eye (Temple of Low Men, 1998) Grays - Same Thing (Ro Sham Bo, 1994) Adam Daniel - Battle Song (Blue Pop, 1999) Gilbert O'Sullivan - Clair (Back to Front, 1972) XTC - That Wave (Nonsuch, 1992) Michael Simmons - Fuzzy Green Hat (First Days of Summer, 2018) sparkle*jets u.k. - This Will Be Our Year (Unreleased)
