Showing posts with label garage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label garage. Show all posts

Aug 2, 2011

Dexter Romweber-Flat Duo Jets(1985-1998)



If you had put enough research or study on Mr Jack White, you should know that one of his major influence is this rockabilly band from Athens called the Flat Duo Jets. He confessed of owning all their records, said he practically slept with their album Go Go Harlem Baby as a teenager and proclaim that they are the best kept secret of the rock n roll underground .

In fact its guitarist, Dexter Romweber is credited as 'the man who make Jack White as Jack White'. I mean you could see his influence all over Jack; like his intensity onstage, the two-piece duo format and his love of cheap, old instrument, and that whole fuck-new-technologies attitude, to name a few. The only big difference I noticed is that while Jack's influences are primarily the old blues legend like Howlin' Wolf and Son House, Dexter is more into the rockabilly roots with the like of Elvis Presley and Gene Vincent....and motherfucking Chopin!

Jack had been blowing their horn for quite a while, like in that documentary "It Might Get Loud" where he discuss one of their song 'Frog went A-Courtin'. That is what I like about the guy, he gave the credit where the credit is due. In fact I bet most of this generation that heard about Flat Duo Jets is through Jack White.

"I aint discuss thing in my private life..thats just what turn your mothers on!"-Dexter




"Much has been said about rockabilly roots-rocker Dexter Romweber over the years, both positive and negative, and sorting fact from fiction is no easy undertaking. Words like "crazy," "possessed," "frenzied," and "demented" get thrown around quite a bit. But so do words like "authentic," "visionary," "genuine," and "genius." Which of these terms most accurately describes the man is up for debate. While that last g-word is thrown around way too often these days, don't be too quick to dismiss this description of Dexter. As for the man himself, Romweber seems to shrug off the attention responding simply by saying, "You tend to get a reputation traveling around, playing rock-n-roll." Indeed. And Dexter's credentials precede him in this department.


Romweber has been "travelling around, playing rock-n-roll" since the mid-1980's. He and drummer Crow made up the seminal roots outfit Flat Duo Jets that hailed from Chapel Hill, NC and, for a short time, Athens, GA. Often pegged by critics and casual fans as simply rockabilly, the Duo Jets were adept at playing in a multitude of styles. Their music stemmed from a love of 50's rock-n-roll artists like Eddie Cochran, Buddy Holly, Little Richard, Elvis, et al, and they played it with passion and abandon-exactly what rock-n-roll is all about." Dexter Romweber: Beyond Flat Duo Jets.


GO GO HARLEM BABY
RED TANGO
SAFARI
TWO HEADED COWS
WHITE TREES(bonus-Crazy Hazy Kisses, Jet Tone Boogie)



Dec 25, 2009

Maybe Tesla does the astro..Maybe Edison is AC/DC

The White Stripes-Wasting my time




And if i'm wasting my time
then nothing could be better
than hanging on the line
and waiting for an honest word forever

And if you're saying goodbye
please don't you think me bitter
for recalling every rhyme
from the book the page
the line the word the letter

Well the windows turning blue
and the waters ever flowing
and i hope i'm not a fool
for laughing at myself
as you are going



Ahhh...Jack'n'Meg duo is still the best. Especially with their older stuff, y'know their classics like Canon, Astro and covers of Death Letter(Son House) and One More Cup of Coffee(Dylan) from their self-title and De Stijl album. I know Jack had been messing around with a couple of band aside White Stripes-The Racounteurs and Dead Weather, I think maybe he miss the sound of a full band, though the new bands sound more hollow to me if you compare them with the 'Stripes.
The 'Stripes is currently working on their seventh album after Meg recovered from her acute anxiety that forced the band to cancel their US tour in '07, and Meg need some time to start over from her 'one year dead-halt' as Jack put it. The latest offering from the duo is the film "Under Great White Northern Light", document their Canadian tour which include live concert and off-stage footage. Gonna post them links as soon as somebody rip 'em cos I dont think its even on sale now(only can order from their site).

Jack White' word of wisdom-

" It seems like everybody today is so available - ready, willing and available for anything, and will go on and be part of a reality show at the drop of a hat. It seems like nobody has any sort of dignity any more. Dylan was trying to maintain his dignity, and a lot of people from an era earlier than maybe 40 or 50 years, it was easier to maintain that dignity. But I think something's really been lost world-wide. They don't want you to have dignity, they just don't want you to. It pisses them off. They wanna tear you down if you have dignity. It scares them. They're not jealous. They're just scared I think."-The White Stripes Uncut

Oh yeah, before I forget.. if you cats out there dig the 'Stripes maybe you want to check out this band from Vancouver called The Pack A.D (stand for after death); a blues-rock, guitar-drum duet similar to the 'Stripes concept but the difference is that they are both girls. Dont be mislead tho, these chicks fuckin rocks, HARD! And their blues have this kind of old school vibe whereas White Stripes bend the blues to fit the ears of the modern masses. Still they both sound kind of similar on your first 2-3 round of their albums, Tintype and Funeral Mixtape..
Tintype, Funeral Mixtape credit to the dudes from Pascalito's Way blog.


“the Pack A.D., a Vancouver blues-punk duo that proves you don’t need a bulging package to play the devil’s music. You do need balls, though. And drummer Maya Miller and guitarist-vocalist Becky Black are packing some pretty serious gonads—musically speaking, of course.”
- Sarah Rowland (Georgia Straight) from straight.com-

Dec 13, 2009

Lesson 16een: Dead Groovy Action.

Last release from Radio Caroline. Portrait, a best of compilation:

1. dead groovy action
2. tengoku rock
3. blacky black
4. disco mexico
5. dirty heaven
6. mack anna
7. good time roll
8. lazy
9. strawberry town
10. twistin' head
11. come on lets go
12. charlene
13. sticky stink
14. just like maria
15. hurry up
16. for the boy
17. adelaide
18. stand by me

part 1 , part 2






The only projects of ex-TMGE member that sound close enough to the garage legend.

Radio Caroline(2003-2009) is:
Koji Ueno(ex-TMGE)-bass, backing vo.
Patch(ex-Violets)- vo, guitar
Shinya Kusube(ex-Neatbeats)-drum, backing vo.