Weekend Party

BIRDS OF MAYA tour single and tourdates READY TO TOUR MAY 2010 !!!!!!!

Well here's a representative item from the mail bag...

Dear TestosterTunes..

Shit thnx for released Ready 2 Howl!!! 2 vinyls of hardsike fury!! That shits guitarded int he best way!!!! 1 miner suggestion tho, it's 2 DAM SHORT!! Plz giv me more & mroe blazing licks to fry my head!!

Yrs,

Lucas II in Pittsville

Well Lucas II, your prayers have been answered by your god. I present to you, your ilk, and the sentient beings of this earth a 7inch single hot on the heels of Ready To Howl. It's the third vinyl release from Phila's BIRDS OF MAYA and it's a scorching outlaw anthem titled 'Regulation'. This one finds the rock-solid Killinger/Leaphart/Polizze unit joined by Harmonica Dan, a veteran of institutions such as Boogie Witch, the Mega-Jam Booze Band, and the Philadelphia Record Exchange. Pick it up from the band at a live appearance in May.

All dedicated fans and curious gawkers are encouraged to attend one of these performances by any means necessary. It's taken these guys 12+ years to leave the mid-atlantic, and chances are it won't happen again anytime this century. This trip is nasty, brutish, and short, just like certain other things in this world...

So quit your job and do what you have to do to see these guys and pick up this little record while you're at it..

Here's the dates..

Friday May 7
HORRIBLE FEST @ NOW THAT'S CLASS in Cleveland
with Timmy's Organism, Puffy Areolas, Pop. 1280, Homostupids, Cock ESP, & more

Saturday May 8
at LAGER HOUSE in Detroit
with Johnny Ill Band, Dan Kroha (Gories, Demolition Doll Rods), The Jellyhearts

Sunday May 9
5pm

at PERMANENT RECORDS in Chicago

Sunday May 9

Nighttime

at REUBEN'S PALACE in Chicago

Monday May 10
TBA

Tuesday May 11
at CAFE BOURBON ST in Columbus OH
with Mount Carmel, Churches Burn

Wednesday May 12
at HELTER SHELTER in Pittsburgh
with The Temps, Secret Tombs

Saturday May 15
RECORD RELEASE SHOW @ EL BAR in Philadelphia
with Watery Love

Checking in with Steve-o and Johnny...

Now is as a good time as any to check in on the activities of two longtime friends of the weblog. I'm talking about Mr. Steve Peffer of the greater Cleveland area and John Sharkey, who now resides in the nation of Australia. Each of these fine fellows has embraced new media to give us the gifts of sound and the written word.

Steve has been jocking an excellent radio program called 'Night Music'. His soothing voice penetrates the airwaves from the 4th floor of the Cole Center at Cleveland State University at 89.3FM WCSB on Wednesday nights at 11pm to present a nocturnal mix of of interesting sounds both old and new. The second half of the broadcast can be especially eye-opening as your host takes full advantage of relaxed FCC rules and proceeds to play tunes that some listeners may find objectionable. Subscribe to the podcast at nightmusicradio.blogspot.com.

And Johnny? Well, he spun off his highly rated guest column on this URL into a an outlet of his very own. He's been busy watching our beloved Philadelphia Phillies on mlb.tv on a public computer in Canberra and hunting and pecking his way to an interesting and insightful weblog. They say that distance only makes the heart grow fonder, and this new web presence would seem to confirm that suspicion. Like a stern father, our Johnny celebrates the team's success and ridicules its failures. This is a nice addition to the growing literature on the Phils 3rd straight World Series run. Keep clicking on bigsharkeyshow.blogspot.com for frequent updates and adorable photos from the editor's youth.

Richie Records // TestosterTunes T-shirts for sale

Take a look at Philadelphia's best dressed music act in the new line of Richie Records t-shirts. Those are high-quality American Apparel tshirts in black and slate gray and they feature the iconic logo designed by Hawk Krall. They were expertly printed by Neil Burke of Life's Blood at Monoroid and they're now available to the general public. Size available are men's medium to extra large. There's even a few in woman's size medium in the event that a female or a dainty male wants one. So paypal TestosterTunes at gmail dot com with the proper amount and don't forget to specify size and color..

To USA : $17

To Canada/Mexico : $19

To the rest of the world : $27

Home Blitz News

photo by Tiffany Yoon

Well it's been a goddamn busy spring season for Handsome Dan and his HOME BLITZ. The new co-ed lineup is universally heralded as the finest group based in the Mid-Atlantic. They just returned from a string of highly rated gigs through the US, they're earning a reputation as one of the finest upbeat no-frills guitar acts on the circuit today, and there's a new record to add to your growing shelf of essential HB releases. Each new HB offering sets a higher standard than the one previous, and this 2-song single on the Almost Ready imprint is no exception. This one's a thick platter that boasts appropriately slick fidelity, proud clean duck-walking guitars, persistent 'Waiting For My Man'-style ivory tickling, piss, vinegar, a blazing, mournful guitar solo, and an echo of Zeppelin. Perpetual Night is a true single in the sense that it's got a bona fide hit on the a-side and a sturdy cut, in this case a cover tune, on the flip. Check the usual avenues and outlets to hear for yourself.

Here's HB's upcoming NY-centric gig schedule...

April 30 @ Death By Audio in Brooklyn

May 15 @ Glasslands in Brooklyn

May 21 @ Pi Lam in University City, Phila

June 4 @ Don Pedro's in Brooklyn

And right here is a link to download a live set from a place called Club 529 in Atlanta. Add it to your mp3 player if you want to hear them competently perform a confident set in front of a ho-hum audience. It was thoughtfully recorded and graciously shared by longtime TestosterFan Henry Owings of the Chunklet organization.

A photo of 2 handsome fans

One, a player of a Rolling Rock guitar. The other, the proud owner of a Thunderkit. Both are concerned about every pitcher but one.

A youtube clip from Monty G

BIRDS OF MAYA 'Ready To Howl'

Here's a new announcement for a new release that you can soon purchase. If you live in the USA and you simply cannot wait and you have to get it into your hands as soon as possible, you may paypal $21 to TestosterTunes at Gmail dot Com . It'll ship in about 3 weeks. Otherwise, be patient and pick it up from store or a favorite mail-order music retailer. Even better, get one from the band themselves at an upcoming live appearance..

BIRDS OF MAYA

Ready To Howl

RR//TT#25

Here it is. It's the most ambitious TestosterTunes release to date: a 3-song, double-LP by the three men of Philadelphia's BIRDS OF MAYA. It's called Ready To Howl and it's the soundtrack to an upcoming feature length film of the same name. Formed in 2002, Birds of Maya is the finest meat n potatoes neanderthal rock group operating today, and they're undoubtedly the outfit most committed to creating throbbing, thoroughly relentless, blues-based hard rock. Astute listeners will note nods to the fried power-rock of Split-era Groundhogs or the relentless garage mayhem of High Rise recorded under claustrophobic sub-Funhouse decadence. Anyone with ears will hear fried-Hendrixisms all over this thing.

Ready To Howl, the film, deals with one dude's struggles in- and outside of polite society. According to the producer, "the order of events is something like... getting off of work, partying, a parking lot bottle fight with a marine, driving drunk, the purchase of a deadly snake for purposes of revenge, hitchhiking, off road driving, car accident, the folly of vindictiveness, and finally a physical and metaphorical ascent to the highest point of the mountain." The soundtrack follows the same line, with album sides tracking Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

This is only BIRDS OF MAYA's second vinyl offering, and it's looooong overdue. Expect new music on Richie Records // TestosterTunes in 2010 and stay tuned for some out of town gigs through the midwest and in the mid-atlantic region.

Ready To Howl tracklist

1. Ready To Howl

2. Porch Dude

3. Heavy on Sunday

BIRDS OF MAYA spring gigs

Saturday April 3 @ DNA TEST FEST in Baltimore

Saturday April 10 @ Human BBQ at Pi Lambda Pi in Philadelphia

Friday May 7 @ Horrible Fest in Cleveland

Saturday May 8 in Detroit

Sunday May 9 in Chicago

Monday May 10 TBA

Tuesday May 11 in Columbus

Wednesday May 12 in Pittsburgh

Saturday May 15 in Philadelphia

Baltimore Event

Hey there's a big gig coming up in Baltimore MD on Saturday April 3 and it's called the DNA TEST FEST. Go down to check out such faves as Psychedelic Horseshit, the Lamps, Home Blitz, Birds of Maya and about 50 more. There's probably going to be beer for sale and they're giving away a cassette with exclusive tracks by all the bands on the bill. And if you can't make it? The Lamps have a couple east coast gigs. Use the internet to find out more about that.

Hour back... GET IT?

Yo don't forget to print out directions before you leave

Yeah I will. I think Theresa is going to get a road atlas also, as you advised.

And you have to stick to your finess program. Be sure to find time for your pushups each morning.

Ok I'll make sure each place we crash has ample floor space.

Promise me you'll call every night so I know you're ok?

I promise.

If I don't answer, leave a message and I'll call you back in an hour.

Get It Away

Here's a fine youtube vid. It's SSD performing "Get It Away" from their 1983 12" of the same name. Listen close to that swirling guitar sound that would define a number of records reissued on the Taang! imprint.

BIRDS OF MAYA photo and news

Here's a photo of BIRDS OF MAYA performing a tune called "Heavy on Sunday". Keep your stupid eyes peeled for their long overdue second release, a 2xLP titled Ready To Howl (RR//TT25). Peep them at the DNA TEST FEST on April 3rd in Baltimore and at some select cities in the Midwest in the spring.

HOME BLITZ on TOUR in the USA SPRING 2010

Tuesday, March 16 – Pittsburgh

Helter Shelter

Wednesday, March 17 – Memphis

Buccaneer Lounge

Friday, March 19 – Austin

WFMU Showcase @ Encore

Saturday, March 20 – Austin

Parts Unknown/Load/Siltbreeze Showcase

@ Club 1880

Sunday, March 21 – New Orleans

Saturn Bar

Monday, March 22 – Huntsville, AL

Voodoo Lounge

Tuesday, March 23 – Atlanta

529

Wednesday, March 24 –

Nashville

Little Hamilton

Thursday, March 25 – Charlotte, NC

201212

Saturday, April 3 – Baltimore

DNA Fest III @ Sonar

Saturday, April 10 – Philadelphia

Human BBQ @ Pi Lambda Pi

SPOTLIGHT ON: Spring Training & Off-Season Acquisitions

Here's a piece filed by international Philadelphian John Sharkey. He's been on the other side of the globe for some time and it seems that the distance has given him some perspective on our Phils.

Unfinished Business. Phillies Spring Training 2010 Hello my fellow Americans and lovers of all thing fair and true, it's that time again when the grass has risen green and the smell of victories near and far flow from the every enthusuatic pore of the pretzel man. When fathers, if not for only a few months, love their sons again. When the common stranger on Shunk Street becomes a familiar acquaintence if not a true soul brother. When we all stop fantasizing about how much rope we would need to hang Donovan McNabb's entire family. When punks and jocks alike come together to taste the sweet possiblity of champoinship glory, just like the end of Major League (good movie). I'm talking about Phillies Spring Training, what a grand feeling is upon us..... I'm sure the man on everybody's mind first thing is big-money acquisition Roy Halladay and why shouldn't it be. I mean, we did give up the one truly holy member of last years pitching staff, the mighty Clifton Lee, to attain him. This came as a shock and a blow to all the Phaithful, your emminance included, that we'd cast aside the beast with the grease after his stunning performances in games 1 and 5 of last years dismal Fall Classic. Seems like betrayal. But yet this is a business to some and the mighty Halladay deal was done before you could say Judas. We'll have to cry ourselves to sleep as Roy shows up like a warrior sharpening the mace everyday at 6am for training to fill the shoes left behind. I'm not sure it will be a problem for old mate. Stew on this thought for a minute; Halladay=better pitcher. Cliff Lee = better dude. I don't believe for a second that this move was a lateral one and the possiblity of this pitching staff getting it's shit together for 2010 with Halladay a part of it makes my chones tickle. He simply is the best pitcher in the Majors. I think we'll all stop belly-aching around mid-april if my predictions are correct. It's a new day, let's live it. The Big Man Ryan Howard returns to Clearwater to handle "unfinished business" left over from last season referring to the WS loss to the drug cheats up the turnpike. A svelt Howard weighing in at about 245 has come to training ready to slay all that stands in his way. "Last year didn't go the way we wanted it to. Hopefully everybody come in here with the mind set of unfinished business. We all get locked-in and have good Spring Training and carry it out through the season". If last years 45 dingers and paltry 14 errors is any indication of whats to come The Bat is definitely not fucking around. WATCH OUT, BRO! Chase Utley has been hitting the weights on the off season apparently as he reported to camp looking like an ox thats been cock-teased for 3 months and last year's (first half, at least) golden rod latin lover Rual Ibanez has reported healthy and ready to fight. Ibanez, who suffered from a sports hernia throughout the second half of last season had abdominal surgery this winter and is looking forward to making the big bell rock on a nightly basis at Citizens Bank Park. I know we all didnt buy these shirts for nothing...... Korean righty and worthless traitor Chan Ho Park has declined the Phils offer of 3.25 mil to relieve and instead opted to sign a one year aggreement with the Yankees for 1.25 mil plus 300 grand in incentives. When asked why such a horrendous move was made he replied in broken english that "I have chosen the Yankees, a prestigious team that can advance to the Wolrd Series again." Well, Parky the last time I checked the Phils weren't chopped liver. What exactly are you trying to have translated? Well, I wish nothing but the best for you and hope you enjoy your time being Joba Chamberlain's foot-stool and Andy Petites syringe receptacle in the bullpen for most of 2010. I'm not really sweating Park's departure now that Danys Baez was a acquired to fill some gaps in the bullpen. A career ERA of 4.04 is not something to salivate over but the righty has experience and with 114 career saves and a WHIP of 1.31 I'm betting the sabermetricians are putting their money on this man. Bring on the Cuban heat! 2008 World Series MVP and 2009 Expert Whiner Cole Hamels reportedly is "more mature" and "ready to put last year behind him". I guess his grandmother had stern words for the boy as she rode him all winter about his house chores and his team moral bulding skills. I hope he put as much work into a 3rd pitch as he did massaging granny's bunions. Speaking of melt-down mothers, Brad Lidge- the man responsible for 11 blown saves and numerous beaten wives last year - is reportedly in great shape after having surgery on both his elbow and knee during the off season. Last monday Lidge fired from the mound and "felt great!". Hopefully feeling great and not pitching with a Parkinsonian tremor go hand in hand. I myself am hoping for the full recovery of good ol' Lights-Out. Prodigal son Placido Polanco has returned to the hot corner for the Fightin's and this man couldn't be happier about it. I'm sorry but Pedro Feliz and his 35 errors and mercurial plate presence last year is not worth 5 million dollars (He and Brett Myers can enjoy the sultry sounds of Geto Boys reunions down in Houston while we enjoy the sounds of violent victories) This copiously domed Dominican will surely strengthen the Phil's infield to a force as impenetrable as an Amish singles night. All in all children I think we have here a team so focused on their third World Series run that not even J-Roll's jinxing predictions could taint them. Everything is falling into place. The core players have remained intact, Jayson "The Rooster" Worth has grown a grizzly facial mess now looking like a homeless Godsmack, Blanton and Victorino got good new money in arbitrations and Chooch Ruiz finally getting paid a salary more than his part-time dishwashing side gig after games last year. I can see why the world has them poised to be the first National League team to make it to the Series 3 times in a row since the Cardinal back in '42, '43 and '44.Even the man behing it all, Charlie Manuel, just has one thng to tell his boys: "Just Win!" I for one have a hankering for another parade where man, woman and Puerto Rican alike can come together in brotherly love on the streets of Philadelphia, embrace like siblings and proudly loot as many Luggage stores as their blackened hearts desires. Unity. Fuck the Mets. Fuck the Drug Cheats. Go Phillies! JSIII

MegaJam Booze Band youtube vid

Yo peep this vid of the Booze Band live on a big stage. Filmed by a nice girl with a camera.

HOMOSTUPIDS in Pittsburgh, New Brunswick, & Providence

Hey readers... Three lucky towns are being rewarded with HOMOSTUPIDS appearances pretty soon. Why these places? Who knows. Why now? Who cares. Who wants to live in this places? Not me. But if you do have the chance, just go see 'em and sip a beer and just accept The Load have some laughs with your peers.

Thursday Feb 25 in Pittsburgh @ a house on Harrison St

Friday Feb 26 in New Brunswick, NJ @ some house w/ WATERY LOVE

Saturday Feb 27 in Providence, RI @ 17 Mules

Megajam Booze Band for Saturday night in Phila

Yo here's what it looks like in the room where the Megajam Booze Band rehearses one song at a time for this event..

SPOTLIGHT ON: Some Snow; a Photo Essay