February 14, 2007
I just wanted to shout out to KEXP Blog for helping Rock Sellout dramatically increase site traffic the past couple of days. Thanks folks, very much appreciated!
To show my appreciation for their efforts, I’ve posted an ad in the Rock Sellout Supporters section.
Speaking of supporters, our friends over at The Yellow Stereo have posted a Valentine’s Day Mix as well as some other goodies for you. Check it out!
Album Leaks: It looks like the new Kings Of Leon album has leaked.
February 10, 2007
If you were making a mix for our readers, what would be the first three songs you’d select?
1.13th Street – Kevin K.
2.GIMME DANGER by Iggy and The Stooges
3.Poison Heart – the Ramones
Photo: Ash Larson
Name any musical influence(s)?
That’s a broad question. I have so many. Going all the way back to the 1920s and 30s with some of the German cabaret divas like Marlene Dietrich and Sarah Leander and then into the 40s and 50s with Billie Holiday. Then of course I am very much into 1960s garage band music. Really primitive rock and roll with fuzz guitars, cheesy organs and screaming vocals. Like much of the stuff you find on the BACK FROM THE GRAVE, PEBBLES and NUGGETS samplers. I’m also into the garage revival of the 80s and the new garage revival that’s happening all over again now. Just listen to CHESTERFIELD KINGS for example. Lots of people don’t realize it, but 1960s garage bands were really the first punk rockers. I also get a lot of ideas from early glam rock like The New York Dolls and The Stooges, David Bowie and others. Then there was the first wave of punkrock from New York and England. The Ramones are one of my favorite bands. Blondie and Debbie Harry would probably be my main mentor. I like a lot of the stuff coming out of London in 1977 like The Boys, 999, Buzzcocks, The Lurkers, TV Smith and The Adverts and things like that. I liked the melodies of the original punk a lot more than the later hardcore stuff. These days one of my favorite bands and influences has got to be The Dwarves. I also like a lot of crossover stuff like The Peepshows, Turbonegro, Mooney Suzuki, Bangkok Five, Wildhearts and stuff like that. Almost “hard rock” kinda bands but with punk influences. Believe me, I’m totally into rock and roll, especially raw and primitive shit, none of that little girly “la la” shit that Indy chicks listen too. It makes me vomit. I am also into a lot of German bands you’ve probably never heard of like Die Arzte, Razzia, Slime, etc.
What new music are you currently listening to?
Well, I already talked a lot about it previously, but as far as new music goes, I like The Bangkok Five, Primadonna, a glam punk band from LA, The Turbo A.C.s are amazing, The Midnight Creeps are great, The DeRita Sisters are one of my all-time favorites, The Knights Of The New Crusades and a few others.
Name a band (current or defunct) that would be your dream act to open for on a major tour?
I’d love to open for Blondie of course. Debbie Harry has been a constant inspiration for me. The fact that she still performs at age 62 is amazing. And she can still sing. Not many artists can do that, especially in rock and roll. I would have wanted to open for the original New York Dolls back in 1974 or The Ramones at some point.
Who, if anyone, would you like to collaborate with?
I’d love to work with a really kick ass guitarist. I have yet to meet him or her, but someone who knows how to write a good rock and roll song. Maybe Eddie Spaghetti from The Supersuckers or Captain Sensible from The Damned. And of course Debbie Harry again.
Tell us something about you that we can’t find on Google.
I’d be interested to know that too. Haha. Well I’m a Polish girl who was born in Bavaria and then grew up in western Germany near the Dutch border. I played in a band in Germany called COCKROACH CANDIES. I used to write a column for the great punk fanzine in Germany called PLASTIC BOMB. I am addicted to eye-liner and pineapples, but I don’t eat the eyeliner of course. Everything I touch smells like Cloe Narcisse. I love turkish food! My friend Hellsinki makes the best corsets in the world and I am probably the biggest DERITA SISTERS fan in the world.
February 7, 2007
Contest Winners: Congrats to Luke, Rich, and Lisa…your packages will ship soon. New contest tomorrow!!
New Playlist: I came to the conclusion this evening that putting together the Rock Sellout playlist is no longer fun…it’s a tedious chore. I think from this point forward, I will regularly maintain it as opposed to the monthly update I’ve been offering.
Rock Sellout Army: Terry Hackbarth and I braved the subzero elements this weekend and rode the Amtrak to Chicago to promote Rock Sellout and see the mighty Redd Kross tear the roof off the Double Door. As soon as the photos from Wes hit my inbox, I’ll post a full review and slideshow.
Chicago residents can find free Rock Sellout buttons and postcards at Reckless Records.
From the Best Album You Haven’t Heard Department: The debut album from Milwaukee’s testa rosa has been receiving incredibly good press. I picked up a copy on my way home Sunday and fell in love with it. Here’s what people are saying:
“Testa Rosa’s self-titled debut shimmers with melody” – Bobby Tanzilo (OnMilwaukee.com)
“..a sparkling pleasure” – Jon Gilbertson (JS Online)
“Best local release in many a moon — an alterna-pop joy from start to finish.” – Atomic Records
“Do yourself a huge favor-go out and buy six copies of this…one for yourself and give one each to five of your friends. You and they will be thankful and blown away all at the same time.” – Chris “Ceasar Palace” Tishler (Rock God Extraordinaire)
testa rosa’s debut can be purchased from their MySpace site. Check out the Blondie-esque goodness of the opening track “Ollie & Delilah” at the top of our new playlist.
January 25, 2007
While I impatiently wait for the design and printing of our real stickers to be completed, I am planning to print a few fakes on label stock that I’d love to send your way with a first edition Rock Sellout button. Quantities are going to be extremely limited, so act fast!
I’m far from rich (and don’t want to make several trips to the post office figuing out postage costs), so all I’m asking of you is to send me a self-addressed stamped snail mail envelope with the same amount of return postage it takes to get the envelopes to me.
Here’s where to send your envelopes:
Rock Sellout
c/o Kip Gasparick
1140 Moraine Way #18
Green Bay, WI 54303
