Estrus: Shovelin’ the Shit Since ’87

Boy, was I excited when I first heard the news of this new Kickstarter campaign! A new book from Korero Press featuring the complete history of infamous independent garage-rock record label, Estrus Records!

From the Kickstarter campaign page:

Dweebs, punkers and shitheads rejoice! Estrus: Shovelin’ the Shit Since ’87 gives you the sights, sounds, stories...and shit...behind the iconic independent record label Estrus Records. The book—a roughly 9" x 12" cinder block of a publication—chronicles label founder Dave Crider’s journey from small-town hobbyist to regarded move-and-shaker in the DIY/punk/garage rock circuit.

Not only will Shovelin’ include the matchless imagery that accompanied Estrus releases by artists like Art Chantry, Frank Kozik, Darren Merinuk, Alex Wald, and (Chris) COOP, but it contains stories and other words of wisdom from members of The Mummies, Man or Astroman?, The Makers, The Mono Men — plus other bands that don’t start with the letter “M” like Fireballs of Freedom, The Nomads, Cheater Slicks, The Drags, Sugar Shack, Guitar Wolf, The Trashwomen, Gas Huffer,  The Oblivians, Prisonshake, The Von Zippers, Lord High Fixers, Phantom Surfers, The Quadrajets, The Statics, Estrella 20/20, Gasoline, Jackie & the Cedrics, The Fall-Outs, and more…

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I'm backing this one 100% simply for the absolutely incredible work from one of my favorite graphic designers, Art Chantry. An endless flow of amazing work him and a host of other well-known artists that created now-iconic work for the label...

Ah, heck. The label put pout some REALLY awesome music, too!

And apparently I'm not the only one excited for this new book release, because in about 2 hours the ENTIRE project was fully funded! Nice work! But I still kicked in to grab a copy of this one, because it's a mandatory addition to my library.

Give the Kickstarter page a visit to get in on this one. It's open until April 20th and it's already fulled funded, so it's a done deal!

  

The Cramps - "Garbage Man"

We're at the start of a three-day holiday weekend. Time to get crankin' on my next Halloween project. The motivation is finally hitting hard and it's time to fill my days with orange and black, leading up to the big night.

Now I just need some killer music to REALLY get me into the mood...

Take it away, Lux!

On The Road To Transworld...

I've got the wheels pointed west and in just eight short hours, I'll be there. St. Louis. Gateway to the West. Home of the Transworld Halloween & Attractions Show.

Image courtesy of Frontier Airlines. Even though I'm driving...

This will be year two for me at Transworld, so I'm super excited and I'm hoping to do even more than last year. The car is packed, the camera is charged, the iPod is stuffed full with some road trippin' music and I'm totally amped for the weekend ahead.

If you're going to be at the show, come find me at the Closed Casket Studios booth, #407. Stop by and say hello!

Time to get going, so I need to set the tone for this weekend with an epic tune by one of the greatest rock and roll bands to ever grace this planet, Rocket From The Crypt. If I don't see you in St. Louis, I'll see you here next week with a full recap of the weekend's events!

Reverend Horton Heat, Live in Akron 6-14-17

So just two days after getting home from the whirlwind weekend that was the Midwest Haunters Convention, brother Scrapes and I decided to take in a show to keep the craziness going.

It's not often that bigger named acts make a stop here in Akron (most swing through Cleveland), but when they do, we definitely make it a priority to go check them out.

And thus was the case last Wednesday at Musica, when we got the triple-bill treat of rockabilly stalwarts the Flat Duo Jets, southern California skate punk legends Agent Orange and Texas psychobilly masters Reverend Horton Heat. I had seen Agent Orange and Reverend Horton Heat in the past, but how could I pass up a show of this caliber, only literally five minutes down the road from my house!?

I grabbed the trusty camera and headed out...

Unfortunately, we entered a packed house half way through the Flat Duo Jets' opening set, and we opted for a trip to the bar before a trip to the stage, so I wasn't able to get any pictures. But take my word for it, that band still brings it! After their foot-stomping set, we set up at the front of the stage to catch the next band.

Even with a broken wrist, Mike Palm and the rest of Agent Orange still belted out their skate rock classics, making the 15-year-old skate rat in me quite happy!

After the Agent Orange set, Reverend Horton Heat took the stage and blazed through their headlining set. Absolute tightness, precision and fun, ending with an incredible cover...

Posted by Mike Bloomhuff on Wednesday, June 14, 2017

An amazing show all around. All three bands sounded great and I couldn't be happier that they played a small club here in Akron. And all just five minutes from the Cemetery! Not a bad way to spend a Wednesday night...

Calabrese - "Born With A Scorpion's Touch"

Believe in Rock and Roll!