Hello everyone, hope you’ve been well? I just got back from 4 well needed and thoroughly enjoyed days of cool breezes off of the Pacific in Los Angeles. Now I’m back in the home inferno (my excuse for using Devils in my title) of Phoenix, like a fool I somehow thought the heat that constitutes a desert summer might slacken during my time away. This didn’t happen, nor was world peace found….silly me.

I have to make a few comments about the city of Angels, despite some of the negative generalisations I still think it’s a tremendous city – a vibrant live music scene – dining that’s top class and scenery I’ll never tire of. Worth mentioning in the charmed environs of coastal inhabitants – recession? What recession?  I also passed a good number of Clash related haunts for old times (and Clash Blogs) sake which I will share in the days ahead. For a start name this one below?

Clash connection?

So what’s been going on the last 4 days? I’m catching up with your votes for the Clash Cup and will post the details tomorrow. Some songs look safe for the late stages, but still a week left to vote. There’s been a number of Clash related items on the wires so I’ll share some of them tonight and then get back to regular posts again tomorrow.

I count myself among those who felt Joe Strummer’s soundtrack to Walker is one of the most overlooked pieces of work he was associated with. If you don’t own it I encourage you to give it a try. Be warned it’s so far removed from most of his work that you must (I repeat must) ensure you listen to it with a very open mind. It’s simply a brilliant disc that captures Joe at his best in terms of span – the music has such flavour and richness I can’t find fault. I write about Walker as I found this article about drummer Steven Mitchell who worked with Joe on the soundtrack. Central Pennsylvania (I kid you not) is where you’ll now find Mitchell, who also worked on the soundtrack to amazing film Tucker. I recall that soundtrack being as brilliant as the film also – see it if you haven’t !

The music press (especially in England) must have lost rude photos that they don’t want the Hold Steady to publish such is their reverence for the band. I must be listening to the wrong tracks as I hear a B-list Springsteen fixation but perhaps that’s my ears playing tricks. What I will add though, and as this article from nj.com confirms their track ‘Constructive Summer‘ is one of the far too few that gives Joe Strummer a proper name drop as follows:

“Raise a toast to St. Joe Strummer/I think he might’ve been our only decent teacher”

I think I should be more open with my sentiments toward the band, so if you can provide recommended listening I’ll give it a try – can’t say fairer than that right? In the interim here’s the track in question linked for your listening pleasure.

Addendum – Jason wrote in to offer:

For the Hold Steady, start with the Separation Sunday album and then go to Boys and Girls in America.Hugely influenced by Springsteen, yes, but B-list, definitely not. See them live if you ever have the chance.

If you haven’t tried lala.com yet – give it a go….pretty bloody amazing. The catalog isn’t perfect but it’s a great improvement on some other sites out there and allows you to play entire albums. Moreover, as I’ll always suggest – it can open you up to some new things that you might want to then purchase – and please do so the artists get the money, or at least some.

There’s a number of other cool news pieces to follow up on over the next few days – so please check back. Til then – cheers

Tim