Birdland - The Band That Disappeared Off The Face Of The Earth

I'm not exactly sure where I first heard of the UK band Birdland but I am pretty sure it was in an import copy of New Music Express or Melody Maker I would find and read at Newscenter, the local magazine shop near my home.

The band was said to be old-style 70's pre-punk rock and roll, being compared to legendary bands like The Stooges, Saints, Heartbreakers, and other bands. All these groups were really only familiar with the names because circa 1989 their stuff was not so easily found in the Washington DC/Baltimore, MD suburb where I lived. 

The stories of the Birdland's vicious live shows, often ending with fights and broken instruments, really made me want to check out this band but the only stuff available at this time was a few singles barely found in the States. Even if they were available through Melody Maker or New Music Express, the import prices and shipping were way too high for me to afford.

So for now I only read all about the band.

Birdland was founded by two brothers named Robert and Lee Vincent, who had previously played
together in a band called Zodiac Motel. Both were now sporting big peroxide blonde almost bowl-cut hair, similar to famed Los Angeles DJ Rodney Bingenheimer or artist Andy Warhol drummer Neil Hughes followed suit. Bassist Simon Rogers was naturally blonde already. 

After being a fan for about two years without ever actually hearing the band, their debut self-titled album was finally getting a US release.

Then four days after my 18th birthday the video for Birdland's "Shoot Me Down" was on MTV's 120 Minutes and I was finally able to hear what they sounded like. A few weeks later their self-titled album was released in the US on Radioactive Records, 

The album did not disappoint. 

The album kicks off with "Shoot Me Down", the first song I heard on 120 Minutes. It was filled with melody and strong hooks but also rage-filled and nihilistic. A great starter for a debut album. 

"Sleep with Me", which I read was their first single in the UK follows at Track 2. The song is slower but still contains a strong hook. "Wake Up Dreaming" (Track 4) gets a similar treatment.

"Don't Look Back" (Track 3) is another driving song with lead guitars sounding a bit like Echo and the Bunnymen, with singer Robert Vincent's vocals recalling that band's Ian McCulloch.

Like so much rock n' roll, every song is about girls, That is except a cover of a very "controversial" Patti Smith song.( I'm not going to post its name but it's on her album Easter if you want to look it up). I always thought covering this song was a pretty bold move for such a new band. Even bolder when I read it had been released as a single in the UK. 

Next is "Everybody Needs Somebody" (Track 6) which was their first #1 single on the UK Indie Charts. 

Following are three more fast hook-filled catchy songs. My favorite is "She Belongs to Me", with its ringing guitars, and of course more hooks. 

A slower song "Exit" at Track 10, closes out the album. The song incorporates all that made the previous 9 songs on the album so great. Ringing guitars, strong hooks, and of course more heartbreak-filled lyrics.  The song is the perfect ending to the album. I have always loved songs that not only end the album but let us know by the title and lyrics. (Other examples would be "The Last" on The Replacements All Shook Down or "Terminal" on Naked Raygun's Raygun...Naked Raygun albums). 

But it wasn't just the music that was great. The artwork and packaging greatly added even more.

The insert of the CD folded out to a two-sided poster. One side had a blown-up picture of the album cover with Japanese writing on it advertising an upcoming gig, while the other had a picture of guitarist Lee Vincent. The poster would be up on my wall for a couple years, every few months or so switching it over to the other side. 

Then they were gone. 

Over the next few years, I would look through new import issues of NME, and Melody Maker, as well as domestic ones like Rolling Stone or Spin, looking through new album release dates to hoping to see Birdland had new material out soon. They never did. It was almost as if the band was wiped off the face of the earth or possibly hadn't existed at all 

I would have thought so but every once in a while their album would show up in a cutout bin. On a couple occasions, I would see someone wearing one of their shirts around town. Even a couple years on the Upper East Side of Manhattan I almost offered the guy wearing one some cash for his shirt. 

Although many CDs came in and out of my collection, Birdland's album always made the cut to stay in. Since it has never been on any streaming platform (although there are versions people uploaded on YouTube) every so often I would pull it out and listen. Many of their songs would end up on mix tapes I made for people throughout the years.

Then one day while again listening to the album, I decided to look up the band online and maybe finally find out what happened to this once so hyped group.

There really wasn't too much about Birdland available online. A Wikipedia entry and a few fans writing blurbs in their blog were mostly all I could find. 

But I also did manage to find an interview with the band where they talked about what happened. 

It seems there were a couple factors that led to the band not releasing. The main one is tension and infighting with the two brothers. But unlike other bands, like Oasis, with strong sibling rivals, Birdland could not make it through it.

Another factor was poor management and not much support by the record label. Although Radioactive Records did get distribution from RCA Records, it was still a very small label with just a couple bands including Goodbye Mr Mackenzie (with future Garbage singer Shirley Manson), Black Grape (featuring ex-Happy Monday Shaun Ryder), and The Ramones, which at that point only had one or two albums left in them. 

(They also had the band Live, which I think the label put too much focus on)

So the mystery of what happened to the once heat-seeking destructive rock and roll band Birdland as finally been solved. 

There is a semi-light at the end of the tunnel. A couple years back Birdland did reunite to do a couple shows. Unfortunately, none of them were in the US. But it does show they are still willing to play. I think one of them even now plays in a NYC based band.  There is hope some possible future shows will be over on this side of the ocean. 

1999 Falsies/El Secondhand Tour Diary

 June 12th - New Brunswick, NJ - Day 2

The house we were staying at was the A.D.L. house of New Jersey. ADL stands for Animal Defense League. It actually said it on the door. 

Oh great. Vegans. Mean vegans. 

In place of artwork on the walls were pictures of animals being tortured in laboratories. Framed too! They also had a cabinet full of tapes containing raids they carried out on animal testing facilities.

Besides the two girls, there were a couple guys living there too. One's name was Chet and he was actually a pretty cool guy. I was telling him how I brought a new camera to “document” some of the tour but did not have time to pick up any film. He then opens up a drawer and pulls out 10 rolls of film. From his job at Staples. Then he proceeded to give about 12 packs of batteries. 

I offered him money but he would not take any from me. I gave him a CD and a 7” out of the distro.

The second guy who lived there was Dariyus. Dairy for short. I thought it was pretty ironic his name was Dairy and he was a vegan. A militant vegan at that.

The girls said he was a dick but when I talked to him he did not seem that bad of a guy.

We went down to the Melody Bar for the Hot Water Music/Leatherface show since the Falsies were off that day. 

While waiting outside for the show to start we heard sounds of fire engines. I do not think at any time in my life that I have heard fire engine sirens. They ended up coming to the place I was at.

This Melody Bar was on fire. 

Luckily it was nothing serious but the bar had to be shut down for the day. 

The show was moved to 331 Somersett, a house around the corner that sometimes hosted shows. Originally the show was supposed to be two different shows. One at day and one at night. With the change in “venue”, they decided to combine them into one show. 

The new lineup includes Error Type 11 ( a Sound Exchange Alumni), Radar Mercury, Ensign, Kid Dynamite, Hot Water Music, and Leatherface. 

I think it actually turned out for the better. 

Aaron and I set up our distro and sold tons of shit. Plus we gave away a Falsies sticker or patch with

331 Sommersett 

each purchase. So despite not playing the Falsies still got some good exposure.

We met some of our friends from around the including Jim from Kill Your Idols, Coach from Two Man Advantage, Chris the bassist from Purpose, Mike from Savage Boys and Girls Club (who was now playing bass in Kid Dynamite, who was playing the show) , and of course the guys from El Secondhand.

Of course, I finally got the chance to see Leatherface, one of my all-time favorite bands who I never thought I would have the chance to see. I bought three shirts. When was I ever going to see them again?

1999 Falsies/El Secondhand Tour Diary

 1999 Falsies/El Secondhand Tour Diary - Day 1

Day 1 June 11th

We leave for the first day. We thought all the stuff in the van, merch, instruments etc was secure. We were wrong.

The van wasn't even on the highway yet when we came to a short stop and all the distro and merchandise came crashing down on us.

The guys were not sure if I, now buried in tons of records, and instruments was laughing or crying underneath all the rubble. ( I was laughing). 

We had to wait until we found a safe spot to pull over to fix all the stuff that had fallen. 

Although I was fine, part of me was worried this would be one of those situations you hear on the news where people get hit by subway trains and are perfectly fine, but when the train is removed, with nothing there to hold them together, the person dies.

Was it just like that but with records holding me together?

Luckily when the records were removed I was ok.

“No smoking in the van”. Maybe joining this tour wasn't such a great idea, 

We stopped at a gas station, Aaron (singer/guitarist) and I jumped out, quickly lighting up smokes, totally oblivious to pools of gas near us. We didn't care. A nicotine fix was needed, 

We arrived at the first show. The Town is called Gallows Township but it looked like it might as well have been called Deliverance.I didn’t know that New Jersey had country towns like this

Despite the venue being a baseball field/community center, there were plenty of kids there who wanted to have a good time and enjoy some live music. 

Falsies played well overall despite Marc (drummer) breaking his drums during the first song.  

After the show, we meet up with a couple girls that we had met on a previous road trip up to New Jersey. The band would be crashing at the group house they lived at in New Brunswick, NJ before we met up with El Secondhand the next day. 

Now it was about 12 am. None of us had eaten all day and New Brunswick still being 2 ½ miles away, we decided to stop at a diner. 

Since we were all very exhausted we inadvertently made fools of ourselves. Jay (bassist) by accident put cream in his water instead of his coffee and I proceeded to try and light my cigarette with a pack of gum. 

Then it was off to New Brunswick. As we drive off in the van I close my eyes. The next thing Ken (guitarist) is announcing we are there.

 I love cover songs, usually. If done right they can rival the original or,   in some cases exceed them. 

 Here are a few of my favorites from throughout the years.

 Of course, in the usual list fashion, there are some rules I set for  myself: 

 

1 - I have to also really like the original version. This means Soft Cell's "Tainted Love" and Naked Eyes "Always Something There To Remind", two songs I can listen to and never tire of, can not be on the list because I barely know the original Goria Jones or Niel Sedeka versions, Agnostic Front's "Crucified" because I am not really fond of Iron Cross's original. 

2- No songs from the album that were all covers or from tribute albums. There are some I really like Sonic Youth's version of The Carpenter's "Superstar" ( itself a cover of a Delaney and Bonnie song) would be on this list but was usually recorded for the purpose of being on that collection. These were all done because the bands just liked them.

1- 7 Seconds - 99 Red Balloons (NINA)  - Walk Together, Rock Together LP (1985,

BYO Records) - There was a time when I had a 45 of Nena's hit which had the German version on one side and the English on the other side. I used to play one side, flip it over, and repeat.  I'm sure there are many fans of the Reno, Nevada melodic hardcore band 7 Seconds who are not aware this is a cover since they have been playing it for so long. For me it was seeing this on a cassette copy of their Walk Together, Rock Together Ep  (before it was extended to a full album) that brought me to be a fan of the band. 

2 - Botch-  O Fortuna (Orff) - John Birch Conspiracy EP (1997, Excursion Record) - An opera opus turned into a math/metal anthem. Pretty cool that Botch took on such a task so early in their career. 

3 - Breeders  - Happiness is a Warm Gun (The Beatles) -

Pod Album (1990, 4AD Records) - Being a humongous Pixies fan, I, of course, picked up bassist Kim Deal's (now on guitar) side project The Breeders, with Tanya Donnelly (Throwing Muses), bassist Josephine Wiggs (Perfect Disaster), and drummer Shannon Doughton (who was really Britt Walford from Slint, who I would not hear until the next year when Spiderland was released).. A couple songs in, as the producer Steve Albini called them, "The Bangles From Hell" debut album Pod was a cover of The Beatles' darkest song "Happiness is a Warm Gun" (off "The White Album"). Somehow the Breeders version was even darker fitting the mood of the album. Side Note: Kim's sister Kelly would not be a part of the band until 1992's Safari EP

4 -Down By Law - Best Friend (The Outlets) - S/T LP  (1991, Epitaph Records) - On Down, By Law's debut album they were Dave Smally, of course just off a stint fronting my favorite band ALL (as well as Dag Nasty and DYS, but I have to admit I had not heard either of those bands yet), backed by Dave Naz, Ed Urlik, and Chris Bagnozzi of The Chemical People. Two bands are part of what I call "The Big Three of Cruz Records" ( The third being Big Drill Car). Of course, I bought their self-titled debut album on the day it was released. The album has twelve powerful surf-influenced melodic punk songs. Right dab in the middle is "Best Friend", a song the liner notes say was originally by The Outlets. It would be almost 25 years until I would finally hear the Outlets's version when a comp of theirs popped up on Spotify. 

5 - The Futureheads - Hounds of Love (Kate Bush) - The Futureheads LP (2004, Rough Trade

Records) - Kate Bush is such a great and classic singer, with very complex song parts (check out the strings in her original version of this song) I am sure covering her song is not an easy task. The only other ones I've heard are Red Kross doing "Wuthering Heights" (on the Freedom of Choice comp) and Placebo doing "Running Up That Hill" years before Stranger Things gave the song new life. Somehow this XTC meets Stiff Records UK band pulled it off turning it into a fast-paced sing-along tune on their 2004 debut self-titled album. 

6 - Juliana Hatfield - Raisans (Dinosaur Jr) - Forever Baby EP ( 1992, Mammoth Records) - While in her previous band The Blake Babies, Julianna Hatfield had covered "Severed Lips", off Dinosaur Jr's self-titled debut album. That song would have probably made this list if as a seriously deep cut, Juliana hadn't covered a song off of my all-time favorite album Dinosaur Jr's You're Living All Over Me. Probably very hard to find a physical copy so search this song out on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever else you listen to music. While there check out the all-electric version of the song "Nirvana", which was previously recorded acoustic on The Blake Babies Rosy Jack World EP (where the "Severed Lips" cover was also located). 

7 - Helmet - Oven (Melvins) - Smells Like Smoked Sausage 2x7" (1992, Sub Pop Records) - I am

not a big Melvins fan at all. The only two albums I have by them are Gluey Port Treatments and Ozma, because they happen to be on the same CD. I still really listen to them but "Oven" off of Ozma would make it on a lot of my mixtapes. So I was pretty excited when Helmet covered it on one of the releases I received during my one year as a member of the Sub Pop Single club. This song is also Born Annoying, their collection of singles and B-sides 

8 - Killdozer - "I Am I Said" (Neil Diamond) - Little Baby Buntin' ( 1985, Touch and Go Records) - A band that does great cover versions. Each one is sung in bassist Michael Gerld's gravily voice. Even though I love this cover of Neil Diamond's classic tale of "Lost Between Two Shores" I actually like their cover of Coven's "One Tin Soldier" about equally. But that one was on an album of all cover songs entitled This One's For Ladies Only (also previously available on picture disc and 5x7" box set) which excludes it from being considered for this list. 

9 - The Melvins - Goin' Blind (KISS) - Houdini LP (1993, Atlantic Records) - Besides the first

two  Melvins albums are mentioned in the Helmet entry, sometimes I will pull out the 1993 Houdini album. Sometimes to listen to the whole thing but most times is just to blast this awesome version of the Kiss classic. Another cover by the Melvins I can listen to over and over is The Beatles "I Want to Hold Your Hand" but that, like Dinosaur Jr's almost equal version of "Goin' Blind", is on a record of all covers.  

10 - The Damned - Alone Again Or (Love) - Anything LP (1988, MCA Records) - Last but not least is the song that finally brought me to check out the band Love. (You can read about that here: here). Make sure to check out the video where at the end a plane flies by at the exact right moment. 

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4MfR7z5EfdcX6H28lWAbDI?si=bdce13f710a24498

2022 Was a pretty good year for new music releases.

These are my favorites.

No particular order since the type of music is so varied but the ones with asterisks may have gotten just a little more play.

Usually, I do a Top 15 or 20 but this year I could only narrow to 30 something

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Horsegirl - Versions of Modern (Matador) - Drony, melodic, and noisy in all the right places. In my opinion much better than that other all-female band sopping up all the hype this year (For fans of: Helium, Young Marble Giants, Sonic Youth)

Ex-Void - Bigger Than Before (Don Giovanni) - Noisy and buzzing melodic pop with intertwining male and female vocals from ex-members of Joana Gruesome (For fans of: Heavenly, Velocity Girl, Joana Gruesome)

Thee Oh Sees - A Foul Form (Castleface)* - the ever-prolific Los Angeles by way of San Francisco band goes anarcho punk on this one (For fans of Crass, Rudimentary Peni, Conflict)

Mountain Goats - Bleed Out (Merge) - Not the usual Mountain Goats fair here. This is a tribute to action movies of the 1980s (For fans of 80's action movies)

Anxious - Little Green Houses (Run For Cover) * - This band has come a long way in a short time. Just a few years ago they were very noisy angular emo. On this album, they go for more of a late 90's/early 00's pop/emo sound, with some growly vocals thrown about. (For fans of Glasseater, (early) Jimmy Eat World, (later) Jawbreaker)

No Plan - EP (Indecision) * - Various members of Orange County hardcore bands show their appreciation for 90's pop/punk. Singer Eva Hall's (also of the band Power Alone) vocals may be a little harsh for some but give them a hot because they fit the songs perfectly (For fans of Tilt!, Fifteen, Discount)

Chat Pile - Gods Country (Flenser) - Oaklahoma noise rock with a singer who is equal parts Paige Hamilton and Bobcat Goldthwait (For fans of Helmet, Unsane, Jawbox)

Beach Rats - Rat Beat (Epitaph)* - Ari from Lifetime, a couple members of the Bouncing Souls, and Brian Baker (of Dag Nasty, Minor Threat, Bad Religion, Fake Names, et all) team up for some old-school punk rock with tons of hooks (For fans of Lifetime, the less melodic Queers songs, and Kid Dynamite)

Nina Nastasia- Rudderless Horse (Temporary Residence)* - Singer/songwriter returns after 12 years with an album about her long-time partner who committed suicide the day after she left him. Very intense stuff here. Produced by Steve Albini. (For fans of Iris Dement, and Cat Power)

Crushed on You - This is Where the Party Starts (Indecision) - Record in 2008 but never officially released. Justin Pearson of Unbroken and Kill Holiday with a couple other Orange County hardcore alumni. The band took their name from an Unbroken song but their sound was from Kill Holiday. However, they did make it more upbeat and louder this time around. (For fans of Kill Holiday, The Wildhearts, and Manic Street Preachers)

Interrupters - In the Wild (Hellcat) - Very catchy melodic punk rock with a slight ska influence coming through the long-running band. Lead by the vocals of Aimee (Allen) Interrupter. I'd skip over the "featuring "insert name here" songs. The bad really sound great on their own. (For fans of: Distillers, early No Doubt, The Selecter)

The Prize - Wrong Side of Town EP (Anti Fade)* - Australian Power/Pop punk with male and female vocals and so many hooks. (For fans of The Fastbacks, Rezillos, Exploding Hearts)

Pulley - Golden Life (SBAM) - Long running Orange County melodic punk band with Scott Radinsky from Sacred Straight, Ten Foot Pole, and the Chicago White Sox (really) on vocals. (For fans of Orange County melodic punk rock)

Belle and Sebastian - A Bit of Previous (Jeepster/Matador) * - 2023 was the year I finally made a deep dive into Belle and Sebastian. This album's May release is what set it off. (For fans of Camera Obscura, Magnetic Fields, and Stereolab)

The Mysterines - S/T (Universal) - UK band that lives up to the hype with loud driving 90's alternative rock guitars. (For fans of Hole, The Stooges, PJ Harvey)

Hammered Hulls - Careening (Dischord) - Alec Mackaye lead angular D.C. band. Also features Mary Timony (from Helium, Wild Flag, Ex Hex) on bass (For fans of The Minutemen, Gang of Four, Circus Lupus)

The Bobby Lees -Bellevue (Ipecac)* - Named after a ghost that would visit singer Sam Quartan, The Bobby Lee's play unhinged rock n' Roll that is the perfect mixture of Concrete Blonde and Jon Spencer Blue Explosion. If you check them out, make sure to stay for the raucous Waterboys cover that closes out the album (For fans of Concrete Blonde, Boss Hog, John Spencer Blues Explosion)

Onelinedrawing- Tenderwild (Iodine) - Jonah Mantranga's new set of his patented stripped-down positive introspective songs he has been doing so well for the past 20-plus years. I saw him live in October, taking all requests from the audience on what we wanted him to play. (For fans of:

Witch Fever - Congregation (Music for Nations) - Loud Black Sabbath-influenced madness, with a touch of goth, from the UK. This time with a singer named Amy Walpole, who could give Babes in Toyland singer Kat Bjelland a run for her money (For fans of Babes in Toyland, (early) Hole, Super Heroines)

Dazy - Outofbody (Lame-O)* - One-man band Dazy, aka James Goodson, delivers 12 songs of short indie fuzzy power/pop in 25 minutes. All chock full of hooks. (For fans of Teenage Fanclub, Eugenius, Ash)

Cave In - Heavy Pendulum (Relapse) - The first Cave In album I have really liked since their debut Until Your Heart Stops. Great to rock or zone out to (For fans of Torche, Baroness, Kyuss)

Press Club - Endless Motion (Inertia) - Australian melodic punk band slows it down a little on this one channeling Team Dresch. Singer Natalie Foster possesses such an awesome voice. I can't wait to see what these guys do in the future. (For fans of Team Dresch, The Gits, faster Belly and Throwing Muses songs)

Omega Glory - S/T (State of Mind) - Pulverizing grinding downtuned noisyness. The vinyl sounds good on 33 1/3, which I first played it on by accident as well as the intended 45. (For fans of Deadguy/Kiss it Goodbye, Carcass, Botch)

Scrunchies - Feral Coast (Dirtnap) - Fast, rock and rockin', full of distortion, and kicking up a bunch of dirt. Would not have been out of place on Empty or Sympathy for the Record Industry. (For fans of: Red Aunts, Sleater-Kinney, Bratmobile)

Forever Unclean - Best (Disconnect Disconnect) - Spaztic out or control pop/punk out of Copenhagen. Released on January 1rst, thus just making this list (for fans of early Alkaline Trio, Action Patrol, 80's Lookout Records bands)

Déjà Vega - Personal Hell (Paperhead) - A loud mix of Brit Pop and Post Punk. Ringing guitars and a load of melody all throughout. Unbelievable that such a wonderful racket is being played by only a three-piece group. (For fans of Shame, Stellastar, Bloc Party)

Supercrush- Melody Maker EP (Supercrush) - Sugary power/pop played by former hardcore guys. (For fans of: Teenage Fanclub, Swervedriver, Superdrag)

L.S. Dunes - Past Lives (Fantasy) - Supergroup of early 00's "screamo" bands I never really got into like Circa Survive, Thursday (their second album was great!), My Chemical Romance, and Coheed and Cambria. (For fans of the member's previous bands, but more rockin' )

Dot Dash - Madman in the Rain (Dot Dash) - D.C. band mixes a little mod sound into their power/pop sound. (For fans of Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Paul Collins Beat, Boo Radleys)

The Big Moon - Here is Everything (Fiction) -

Martha - Please Don’t Take Me Back (Dirtnap)

Fight the Future - Clenched Fist Head Held High EP (Fight the Future) - 7 Seconds inspired feminist hardcore with a slight NYHC influence. Singer Kelly (who at one time played bass for Good Clean Fun among others) actually sings instead of growling and screeching like a lot of the current female-fronted hardcore bands do. Nothing wrong with that of course. (For fans of 7 Seconds, War on Women, The Avengers)

Rotten Mind - Unflavored (Lovely) * - 77 punk-inspired garage rock out of Sweden (For fans of Marked Men, Night Birds, Estrus Records catalog)

Sunliner- S/T (Lockjaw) - Melodic anthem-filled punk rock band out of Leeds, England. (For fans of: Gaslight Anthem, Hot Water Music, Polar Bear Club