Hi and welcome back to the New & Improved Live & Otherwise blog, where it pleases us
immensely to bring you yet another fantastic selection of rare & obscure hard stuff that slipped through the cracks back in the day.
Tonight we finally complete a few discographies that long serving visitors will need to fill the gaps in their collections.
So you can stop looking for the missing pieces for your
HARPO, HARVEST MOON and
DAGABAND collections. They're all right here.
We also bring you a new band playing in the vintage style courtesy of
Kenzo, and supply a few more missing pieces of the musical jigsaw we've been bringing you for the last 5 years or so.
Shall we get on with it then?
ROSIE were a Hard Rock band formed by ex THE
GODZ guitarist Mark
Chatfield in Columbus, Ohio in early 1980.
The name Rosie was inspired, as
Chatfield tells it," by the old tale of Rosie Palmer and her five sisters".
The band debuted with a self titled four song 10"
EP in early 1981 and contributed a further track, "Sorry (I Forgot Your Name)", to a radio station sampler album entitled "Q-FM 96 Hometown Album Project Volume 3".
With bassist Jay
Chesbro being replaced by Ed Means, a full length studio album entitled "Precious Metal", was recorded and issued by
Doubletree Records in late 1981.
After a tough start to 1984 due to management problems,
Chatfield opted to join BOB
SEGER's SILVER BULLET BAND for a lengthy tour.
This left vocalist Carl
Shelor to take over guitar duties and sing too.
Bassist Robert "Wild" West was then
succeeded by a new member, Tom
Courteney.
With
Chatfield returning from the
Seger tour, Rosie went into Bison Studios and started working on what was to be their next album.
With
Shelor and
Chatfield being the principal songwriters from the start, the music flowed and they realized they were writing some of Rosie's best music.
That album never came to be however, as
Chatfield got another call from
Seger, and ROSIE was left to look for a replacement.
In the meantime singer Carl B.
Shelor recorded a solo album entitled "Three Guesses" under the "band" name CBS.
It was shelved at the time, (1987), but was later released on CD by Retrospect Records.
In 1988, Mark
Chatfield, who had moved to
Las Vegas and opened his
Cowtown Guitars store, contacted Means and
Shelor about a possible ROSIE reunion.
After some planning, it took place over two nights at one of their favourite old haunts, and was recorded for release as a thank you to the bands loyal fans.
The band's second and final album, "Rosie Live!", was recorded at The
Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio on November 25
th and 26
th 1988.
This venue later became infamous as the place where former
PANTERA guitarist "
Dimebag" Darrell Abbott was gunned down onstage in 2004.
Chatfield still plays with Bob
Seger's Silver Bullet Band, with occasional reformations of The
Godz, and also with Ohio band
LUVHEAD.
Rosie still get back together to play the occasional live show every now and then, but have no plans to record again.
ROSIE - Rosie Live! (1988) USA
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=UBNWTCAEHARPO were a terrific Melodic Hard Rock/Pomp Rock outfit from
Sunbury, Pennsylvania formed way back in 1974.
Their 1981 self-titled debut Mini Album on Mallard Records found favour within the Pomp Rock collector fraternity thanks to the classic track "Rendezvous" that clocks in at 8 minutes and truly is worthy of a place in your collection. The rest of the songs are shorter, more streamlined and rock harder, all great in their own right, but the aforementioned track is something truly special.
On
Harpo went, but they were not to record their first full length album until 1987, when "Armed To Deliver" was issued by Atlas Records.
This is a harder collection of songs, but there's still space for
Harpo to show their subtler side here and there.
The new album captured the attention of
EMI and
Polygram Records with
EMI deciding to take a trip to Scranton to see the band a second time.
Harpo seemed on the verge of getting signed to a major record label when tragedy struck. Lead vocalist John "Lloyd"
Kistner was involved in a very serious auto accident when he was struck head-on by a drunk driver on Christmas Eve, 1988.
After a year of extensive physical therapy, the tenacious
Kistner was again ready to rock.
Before releasing a six song Mini LP entitled "Fire Your Fire" ;
Harpo added a new drummer, Rich Smith, from
Williamsport, PA.
Together with original members
Kerstetter and
Kistner,
Harpo were, once again, heading in the right direction.
It then took until 1992 for their next album to appear, "Too Much Is Just Enough".
This one was a bit of a
mish-mash, collecting four new songs and compiling tracks from their first 2 releases for their CD debut.
By the time of 1996's "
Smokin' Gun",
Harpo had become a far heavier proposition, but there's style and finesse in abundance beneath all the bluster.
The band's most recent release, 1997's "
Harpo Live - Go Heavy Or Go Home!", finds drummer Kyle Gilbert replacing Rich Smith, with the band in blinding live form in front of a partisan home town crowd playing 4 brand new tracks as well as their live hits.
The band played their final gig on New Year's Eve 1998, and sadly, that was pretty much it for
Harpo.
These days
Kerstetter and
Silvagni make their living by playing a mixture of classic Hard Rock/Heavy Metal covers in the band SUCKER PUNCH and occasionally reunite to play a full scale gig with their former band mates as
Harpo, reviving their old "hits".
HARPO - Harpo Live - Go Heavy Or Go Home! (1997) USA
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=LD9NELPRThe
Mystick Krewe of
Clearlight was founded in 1996 as a mostly instrumental side-project by members of New Orleans bands
EYEHATEGOD, DOWN and CROWBAR.
This project allowed the members to explore music outside their usual genre, dedicated to exploring the relationship between Blues, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal & Southern Rock.
After several years of shows in New Orleans with the occasional out-of-town show they recorded a five song demo in 1999.
This led to the release of a self-titled debut album on Tee Pee Records in 2000.
This was followed by 2001's "The Father, The Son And The Holy Smoke", a split release with ACID KING on Man's Ruin Records.
"The Father, The Son And The Holy Smoke", featured Scott "Wino"
Weinrich (THE OBSESSED, SAINT VITUS, SPIRIT CARAVAN,
PROBOT, THE HIDDEN HAND) on vocals.
That same year they released a split 7" with The OBSESSED that featured both bands covering
LYNYRD SKYNYRD.
The
Mystick Krewe covered "
Cheatin Woman" and featured Pepper Keenan of CORROSION OF CONFORMITY & DOWN on vocals.
They also had exclusive songs featured on the compilation albums "Inhale" and "High Volume: The
Stoner Rock Collection".
All their
stuff's now sadly out of print, but a while back i made a compilation album containing absolutely everything the band officially released which you can find here in the archives.
To complete your
TMKOC collection, here's their stunning 30 minute long 5 song 1999 Demo.
I guarantee this one will blow yer
sox auf regardless of your musical tastes, whatever your favourite genre,
this'll rock you.
THE MYSTICK KREWE OF CLEARLIGHT - Demo (1999) USA
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=0FWSEHYWSISTER DOUBLE HAPPINESS were a post-Punk Blues Rock band formed in 1986 in San Francisco. They released four studio albums, an
EP, and a live album across their nine-year existence.
Its core members were Gary Floyd and Lynn
Perko, who were in the seminal Punk band THE DICKS.
Sister Double Happiness' music was bluesier than that of the Dicks, and lyrically they were generally more personal in tone than the politically radical style of their earlier band; however, Floyd and
Perko's leftist lyrics and punk influences were not entirely gone.
Debuting in 1988 with a self-titled album on former BLACK FLAG guitarist Greg
Ginn's SST Records, the band spent much of the next few years touring, building up a loyal grass roots following with their emotive Bluesy Alternative Rock.
However, they also split up for a period during this time, with Floyd taking a sabbatical from the band to pursue his interest in Eastern philosophy and spirituality.
With the focus back on the music, 1991 saw the band sign to major label Reprise Records, and release the "Heart & Mind" album, which in turn led to more bouts of heavy touring, both as a headliner and support act.
A switch to Warner
Chappel and the expansion of the band to a quintet
occurred before the release of their third (and best) album, "Uncut" in 1993.
Later the same year, a four song self-titled
EP was issued by Seattle's Sub Pop Records, featuring two "Uncut" tracks and two new recordings.
Issuing album No 4, "Horsey Water" for Sub Pop in 1994, the band gradually began to crumble in the wake of the records release, as the years of fruitless struggle took their toll on interpersonal relationships in the groups ranks.
After the dissolution of Sister Double Happiness in 1995, Floyd formed and primarily played in Europe with the blues group THE GARY FLOYD BAND; a compilation of this material, "Backdoor Preacher Man", is now available.
Floyd and Sister Double Happiness guitarist Danny Roman also earlier played in BLACK KALI MA, a blues-punk act that recorded an LP entitled "You Ride The Pony (I'll Be The Bunny)" for Alternative Tentacles in 1999.
Gary Floyd is now in a band called THE BUDDHA BROTHERS, and has also recorded solo as a country musician and collaborated with San
Fransiscan Psychedelic Rock act MUSHROOM.
Perko went on to become a member of indie rock band IMPERIAL TEEN in 1996, who have released five albums to date.
Perko also appeared on Black Kali Ma's lone album.
Guitarist Ben Cohen returned to his native France and became more interested in electronic and dance music post-
SDH, recording with THE PARTY & STARDUST, and guesting alongside DAFT PUNK.
Under the alias of BENJAMIN DIAMOND he has released five albums of Dance/
Electro music.
Bassist Jeff Palmer went on to join Psychedelic Pop band
MOMMYHEADS, recording four albums with them, and also joined the reformed SUNNY DAY REAL ESTATE.
His replacement in
SDH, Miles
Montalbano, had also played in BLACK KALI MA and later recorded with JONATHAN
RICHMAN. He's now a respected indie film maker, best known for his movie, "Revolution Summer"
A posthumous Sister Double Happiness album, "A Stone's Throw from Love (Live and Acoustic at the Great American Music Hall 06/17/92)", was released in 1999 by
Innerstate Records.
SISTER DOUBLE HAPPINESS - Sister Double Happiness EP (1993) USA
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=0LUJJPTVForged in the blast furnaces of Pittsburgh and tempered in the waters of the San Francisco Bay comes a new force in the art of
badass; enter MIDNIGHT CHASER!
Influenced by the gods of 70’s and 80’s Hard Rock and Heavy Metal, MIDNIGHT CHASER was originally conceived of by guitarist Stephen
Lauck and bassist “Texas” Josh Hunt while both still living in Pittsburgh, the Rust Belt of
Pennsylvania.
However it
wasn’t until both rockers found themselves relocated to the fog cloaked Bay Area of California that MIDNIGHT CHASER began to take shape.
First recruiting the
steamhammer drumming skills of Brandon Thomas, the pair immediately knew that they had found the missing piece of their rhythm section that they had been searching for.
All that was lacking now was a voice that could suitably realize their ambitions.
Unsatisfied with the pool of vocal talent in their new
surroundings they imported fellow Pittsburgh native Scott Atwood in order to fill the final void and complete that which is MIDNIGHT CHASER.
The line-up finally completed, the band whipped themselves into a creative furor, writing and rehearsing original material while playing shows up and down the West Coast, rocking any venue that would have them from bars and theaters to strip clubs and basements.
Fans of early Hard Rock and Heavy Metal such as JUDAS PRIEST, SAXON,
MOTORHEAD,
FASTWAY and TANK take note!
CD version features five tracks including a cover of the TANK classic "Turn Your Head Around".
The six song vinyl version also adds a cover of
ZZ TOP's "Heard It On The X".
Midnight Chaser is now ready to hit the rest of the world like a runaway train.
Good stuff.
Support the band by buying their music if you like what you hear!
MIDNIGHT CHASER - Midnight Chaser Mini LP (2011) USA
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=RK0JWUMEDAGABAND were a
Chesterfield based
NWOBHM/Progressive Rock trio formed way back in 1976 by Keyboard player Greg
Boynton and his drummer brother Phil.
Adding Bassist/Vocalist John
Youdale,
Dagaband was complete and began touring up and down the country on the pub and club circuit, gradually building up a reputation as a great live band.
However, a serious car crash involving all three members of the band at the time, halted the band's progress, leaving the band members badly injured and without any instruments or equipment.
Little was heard from
Dagaband until 1980, when they released their first record, the "Test Flight" 7", on
Rutland Records.
The record received very favourable reviews in the UK rock press, and the band found themselves adopted by the then-flourishing
NWOBHM movement and
Prog Rockers alike.
A return to the live circuit, with guitarist Steve
Fidler added to the band, supporting BUDGIE on their 1982 British tour, co-
incided with the release of their next record, the 3 song "Second Time Around"
EP.
Again, the record was very well reviewed, and the band also went down very well with Budgie's audiences on the tour.
In the summer of 1983 guitarist Steve
Fidler quit
Dagaband to form LAST CHAPTER.
He was replaced by Sean
Piggott, who had briefly been a member of the band in their early days.
By mid 1984
Piggott had bailed out again, resulting in the recruitment of ex-
TAMARISK guitarist Nick May who joined in early 1985.
Dagaband split up in 1986 whilst in the process of recording their debut album, frustrated by their slow progress and beset by financial problems.
May went on to play with QUASAR,
JADIS and THE ENID joining
KARNATAKA in mid 2005.
In 2009 the
Boynton brothers and Nick May decided to get back together to complete the album they'd begun nearly 25 years earlier.
Tragically it was not to be, as the band's driving force, Greg
Boynton died suddenly in early 2010, before work had resumed on the unfinished album.
DAGABAND - Second Time Around EP (1982) UK
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=XXFS0MNXFinally, HARVEST MOON were a five piece
NWOBHM band from North Wales, who originally formed in early 1979 from the ashes of a prior act called STEPPING STONES.
From the start they were a popular live draw in their home country, playing countless club dates and supporting larger bands passing through.
The band also gigged hard in the North West Of England, which brought them to the attention of Manchester's Smile Records label.
1980 saw Harvest Moon release their first record, the 3 song "The Lion And The Snake"
EP, released on Smile.
Harvest Moon then won the Radio City FM Battle Of The Bands contest at Liverpool Empire in 1980, where the judges were former THIN LIZZY guitarist Gary Moore,
RAINBOW's Graham Bonnet and DEEP PURPLE/GILLAN vocalist Ian Gillan.
As a result of this exposure the band signed a contract with Charisma Records.
However their only Charisma release was to be the excellent "Tales Of Wonder" 7" released in 1981.
The record sold well in Wales and was championed by DJ Tommy Vance who played it often on his BBC Radio 1 Friday Rock Show.
Charisma sadly decided not to pick up Harvest Moon's option after the label was bought by new owners and dropped the band from their roster.
After this the band opted to shorten their name to THE MOON, and tried to build up their profile again.
Under this name they played to the biggest crowd of their career at a festival at
Wrexham Football Ground in 1982 alongside
MOTORHEAD, TWISTED SISTER, TANK, RAVEN, ORION & RAMPANT ANTICS.
This was to prove to be another false dawn however, with a split coming in late 1983.
Guitarist Glynn
Porrino then went on to join
NIGHTWING, first appearing on record with them on the 1985 live album " A Night Of Mystery - Alive! Alive!".
Porrino remained with
Nightwing until the band split in 1988, at which point he formed Hard Rock band WHITE
TYGRZ with ex-Harvest Moon members "Pablo" Jones & bassist "
Mogga".
Porrino rejoined the reformed
Nightwing in 1996 in time for their "Natural Survivors/VI" album.
He remains with the band to this day, and appears on their most recent release 2008's "8472".
Tony "Sully "O'Sullivan is still active in the world of music, recording and gigging under the name SULLYSIXTY.
Bassist John "Mogga" Morris has also kept busy in music, playing in CHARLIE and DIZZY MAMA, and now gigging with BADGER BELL.
Nowadays, singer Steve "Pablo" Jones is a well respected artist, but still plays music too, and has reunited with Porrino in a Blues Rock band called KARAC.
Jones also recently released a solo album entitled "Pablo's Gone Bouzouki".
HARVEST MOON - The Lion & The Snake EP (1980) UK
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=LBRMVUA3So there y'go, lots of interesting stuff to get your teeth into tonight. Whether you're hearing some for the first time or reaquainting yourself with an old favourite, trust me, you need
all of these.
Thanks to
Kenzo for providing the Midnight Chaser Mini LP, based on this upload i really look forward to hearing their debut full-length album which is apparently due out at years end. Give 'em a listen and play them to anyone who says that they don't make 'em like they used to.
Also thanks to all of you who took the time to share your feedback about the last post, it was quality over quantity, but your encouraging words are what spur me on to keep doing this. Keep them coming folks!
See you back here in 2-3 weeks for more of the similar, 'til then take care people.
