Nightmares and Kings

The first Trash Shack of the 2019 resurrection featured two excellent bands, The Shakin' Nightmares and The Kings of Hong Kong. .

The Trash Shack Universe has it's own music and images. Surf, Link Wray, ReVerb , all the Billies from Rocka to Psycho , some Western Swing, Mariachi , Rock and Roll and Punk Energy an a very impressive Garage. It has a current home at The Doll at The Black Bull but can be found further afield at The Cluny and maybe Scotland, London and further west .

I must make a mention of the amazing Art Installation outside The Doll At The Black Bull featuring various punk icons which you can see here. I spoke to the artists who , apart from being very talented were engagingly pleasant.

Immaculate quiffs, Gibson Guitars, Masks and Tattoos are always not very far from what might be be seen as the Trash Shack core.

So here we go:

The Shaking Nightmares

Starting their set with the brooding instrumentation of "(I've Got) The Shakin' Nightmares" (effectively their signature song) before the vocals appeared , then following up immediately with "Unbelievin'" (you can see my Youtube take here). The sound improved as they went along they looked the part introducing many different styles.

Their penultimate song was a stunning version of Little Richard's "Keep A Knockin'" which I caught a minute of on my phone and you can see here.

If the night had finished there it would have been worth it but there was more to come......

The Kings of Hong Kong

The first full masked band I've seen since The Coyotemen (who are prime Trash Shack beef) ,  and the Kings of Hong Kong carry a huge stage presence,  and a double bass , tattoos , masks and a sound channeling Link Wray, Robert Gordon with mohicans, hats, menace and style. I caught a song called "Empire of Love" here but have been impressed by a lot of the videos on their Youtube Channel.

Soall in all an excellent Trash Shack night.

Lux Lives At The Black Bull

...well to be more accurate The Doll at The Black Bull in Gateshead. There have been quite a few of these excellent afternoon gigs both here and The Cluny 2 where lots of local musicians form band sor the day to remember various great garage bands from the sixties and the seventies.

Today was (again) The Cramps with Lux Interior and Poison Ivy and while anyone brought up on a diet of X-Factor, Commercial Local Radio and the last twenty years of Radio One would not appreciate the excellent agressive raw coolness on display at these gigs.

Like The Stooges, Iggy Pop and Link Wray the sound is both challenging and fun with raw psychobilly rhythms fueled by whatever fills your particular glass.

This was four hours of sound, half a dozen bands for a mere five pounds and to be quite honest, and one of the sets was worth that. I'm dovetailing this post with the Forbidden Dicks take on "Human Fly" and Poison IVs interpretation of "She Like Heroin To Me" . There's also so instagram videos here. as well as details of the rest of the bands and upcomping Trash Shack dates.

Trash Shack has been resurrected so make a date for future gigs in the piece of toilet roll you call your diary, next one up on 23rd March.

Trash Shack: February 2012 - Jackhammers, Women In Revolt and Maximum Zeros

A couple of weeks back I revieved the Star and Shadow Barbarella gig featuring Women In Revolt but was disappointed to find no youtube footage of the band . This week I managed to miss the Beth Jeans Houghton & The Hooves of Destiny new album launche at The Central , Gateshead thatnks to EMI's appaling (lack of) promotion , but did get to another excellent Trash Shack gathering.

Brian Coyteman's Collection

Featuring three bands for two quid , in the brilliant surroundings featuring , I believe, Brian Coyoteman's collection of trash memorabila in the wall cabinets , we were treated to three excellent bands , although no youtube footage is available for the Maximum Zeros and The Jackhammers , so you'll just have to take my word for it.




First up were the Maximum Zeros , loud thrashy punk the in the style of the legendary Saints , the also covered "River Deep, Mountain High" and an excellent version of Vince Taylor's "Brand New Cadillac". Too loaud to record on my camera , but excellent nonetheless , well worth seeing if you get the chance.

Lady Annabella of Jesmond

Lady Annabella and Photographer Friend

Women In Revolt

Next we had the excellent trans gender garage rock of Women In Revolt , featuring Sheena Ravolta in best Iron Lady two piece on vocals with matching hair and handbag , Staggering BeBearded Rosie Lea on guitar , Mitch "Male" Mitchellson on drums , and the lovely blonde bassist who'se name escapes me but will update this when I find out. Anyway they delivered an excelelnt entertaining set including numeraous Electric Chairs covers (or should that be "Electric Chair Covers) , no matter , a superb time was had by all , the band being augmented by the lovely Lady Annabella of Jesmond on dance !!

Jackhammers

Jackhammers CD - Nice Stiff Pastiche

Finally we had the Glasgow Bawbags The Jackhammers , more high energy rock punk , again to loud for my camera to record , but I bought their CD "Give 'Em Enough Dope" and a tote bag as well. The CD is weel worth the investment , and the band , like everything tonight were superb.

 


The Trash Shack presentation are excellent and ludicrous value for money so get yourself down , and if you see ANY of the bands playing within striking distance get yourself down there!!

Trash Shack X-Mas Bash 2011

I got in at 1am today which is quite late for me on a school night , after attending this excellent 3 band trash bash at The Central Bar in Gateshead. The line up was (in order of appearance)

• Dick Bronte and the Cosmonauts
• The Coyotemen
• Lord Rochester

The first two bands I knew , but Lord Rochester only through word of mouth and Youtube!!.

The place was jumping and standing room at a premium , but from the first notes it was obvious that the mini multicoloured coxcombed soundcrew were spot on .

Dick Bronte sounded good and everyone remarked it was the best they'd every seen them. Lead singer Kenny was in great voice as well as providing eye candy for at least a few ladies I know , while bearded Phil's guitar sounded great and the rhythm section were excellent .  They specialise in obscure rock and roll , and grarge rock and a solid version of Rufus Thomas' "Walkin' The Dog" , was accompanied by an impressive take on Dave Bartholomew's "The Monkey Speaks" , and a darkly comic "Black Cadillac" amongst others . A superb opening set for the night.

Next up were The Coyotemen , still "taking shit from no man" , in which mild mannered pub host Dave Campbell is transformed in to silver Mexican Wrestling Masked wild rockin' animal "Ratty" Coyoteman , jumping from floor to wall to ceiling , running through classics such as "Any Port In A Storm" , "Loopy Lopez" , "Primitive Urge" and lots lots more. Sound again spot , although Ratty reckoned someone had knocked his microphone out of tune , but the sounded great to me , and the crowd agreed. How much good staff can you get in a single night!! And there was more....


Headliners were the impecably turned out Bo Diddley guitar toting Lord Rochester , with Lady Muck loking lovely on her McCartneyesque Hofner violin bass providing solid rhythm with sophistication , and on drums the marracas weilding Scot Siberian Tim. A heady mix of originals an covers "C.A.D.I.L.L.A.C." , "I tried to send a monkey by UPS" , "Deathbed" , "Seasick" as well as Chuck Bery's "Almost Grown" , and Bo Diddley's "Hey Bo Diddley". A revelation and will be definitely seeing them again (well all the bacds)

All in all a night of pure gold , you really should have been there!!