The Mal Thursday Show: "A Mal Thursday Christmas" 2013 Edition

Mal Thursday is back with a sackful of holiday nuggets from the cream of the garage rock crop. Grafted on to the 2013 edition, as is the custom, are the 2011 and 2009 versions of "A Mal Thursday Christmas," making for a full evening's entertainment. Presented in Living Monophonic Sound.

Playlist:
LOS STRAITJACKETS: It's a Marshmallow World
FLAT DUO JETS: Christmastime (Hey, We're Gonna Rock)
THE VIPERS: Christmas I'll Be Home
THE BROOD: One Winter Night
THE GOREHOUNDS: Yuh, Xmess
THE DOGMATICS: Xmas Time (Sure Don't Feel Like)
JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION: Big Yule Log Boogie
THE RAVERS: It's Gonna Be a Punk Rock Christmas This Year
BEE BUMBLE & THE STINGERS: Nutrocker (bed)
THE TROLLEY: It's Christmas
THE CONNECTION: Christmas Time Again
BIPOLAROID: Merry Xmas
ANGRY JOHNNY & THE KILLBILLIES: Six Bullets for Christmas
THE MOCKERS: There's No War on Christmas
THE DEVIL DOGS: I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day
THE ELECTRIC SIX: You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch
BILLY CHILDISH & THE MUSICIANS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE: Link Wray's Christmas
THE VENTURES: Scrooge
THE GRIP WEEDS: Santa Make Me Good/Christmas, Bring Us
THE 5-6-7-8's: Rock n' Roll Santa
THE FLESHTONES: Super Rock Santa
REIGNING SOUND: If Christmas Can't Bring You Home
UNKNOWN HINSON: Black and Blue Christmas
JIMMY SMITH: Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
THE REDUCERS: Nothin' for Christmas
THE DAMNED: There Ain't No Sanity Clause
MOTT THE HOOPLE: Death May Be Your Santa Claus
A440: Santa Claus Is Comin' Yeah
THE SOULPHONICS: All I Want for Christmas Is a Job
PAUL REVERE & THE RAIDERS: Rain, Sleet, and Snow
THE KAISERS: Merry Christmas, Lupe Lu
YARD TRAUMA: Christmas Tyme
EDD “KOOKIE” BRYNES: Yulesville
SATURDAY’S CHILDREN: Deck Five
THE YOBS: Silent Night
THE EBENEZER SCROOGE APPRECIATION SOCIETY: Hang on Rudolph
LEMMY KILMISTER & BILLY GIBBONS: Run Run Rudolph
DAVIE ALLAN & THE ARROWS: Ho Ho Seven/Hark the Herald Angels Sing
THE FLESHTONES: Hooray for Santa Claus
THE TAILDRAGGERS: Let’s Talk About Claus
THE SONICS: Santa Claus
JERRY & THE LANDSLIDES: Get Off My Roof
THE CHESTERFIELD KINGS: Hey Santa Claus
NICK SWARDSON: A Very Terry Christmas
WILD BILLY CHILDISH & THE MUSICIANS OF THE BRITSH EMPIRE:
Pete Townshend’s Christmas
LOWELL GEORGE & THE FACTORY: Candy Cane Madness
THE WHITE STRIPES: Candy Cane Children
THE VON BONDIES: Ain’t No Chimney
PLAN 9: Merry Christmas
THE SONICS: Don’t Believe in Christmas
REIGNING SOUND: That’s All I Want
THE HENTCHMEN: Shotgun Christmas
THE FIGGS: Father Christmas
THE CHEETAHS: A Message to Santa Claus
FEAR: Fuck Christmas
THE EELS: Everything’s Gonna Be Cool This Christmas
THE DIRTBOMBS: My Last Christmas

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The Mal Thursday Show #54: Friendship is Magic

On the occasion of his 50th birthday, Mal Thursday returns with an extra large podcast chock full of rock n' roll genius. This episode features tracks from "Conspiracy a-Go-Go," the new compilation of songs inspired by the assassination of John F. Kennedy (download it free at turnmeondeadman.bandcamp.com). Also featured is volume 5 of "Songs (the Band Called) Lyres Taught Us" and a belated tribute to the late Lou Reed. Presented in Living Monophonic Sound.

Playlist:
A PASSING FANCY: I'm Losing Tonight
THE STRYPES: Heart of the City
DRUIDS OF STONEHENGE: A Garden Where Nothing Grows
THE DARK COLOURS SINCE 1865: Midnight Train
JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION: Strange Baby
GREG "STACKHOUSE" PREVOST: Get Myself Home
DIRTY LOVERS: Shanty Tramp
THE A-BONES: Shanty Tramp
ROBOTMONKEYARM: Il Bruto (bed)
THE THANES: She's Coming Back to Me
THE MORLOCKS: My Friend the Bird
THE GRIP WEEDS: Lies
THE SADIES: The First Five Minutes
THE VIPERS: Hangar 18 (bed)
THE NEW BREED: Wasting My Time
THE PRIMITIVES: Every Minute of Every Day
THE BLIZZARDS: I'm Your Guy
THE CHAIN REACTION: When I Needed You
THEM: A Girl Like You
THE OUTSIDERS: Lying All the Time
THE CHESTERFIELD KINGS: Help You Ann
LYRES: Now I've Got a Witness (bed)
T. TEX EDWARDS: Lee Harvey Was a Friend of Mine
HOUNDS HOUNDS HOUNDS: Bullet
THE DROOGS: Man Gone Down
MAL THURSDAY AND THE CHEETAHS: Get Outta Dallas!
J F'n K: Back and to the Left
DRIVE-THRU MYSTICS: Black Tears
THE BONNEVILLES: The Drag
THE SATYRS: Yesterday's Hero (bed)
THE ROUGHNECKS: You're Driving  Me Insane
THEE HEADCOATS: Why Don't You Smile Now
THE BLITZ: Vicious
MOTT THE HOOPLE: Sweet Jane
SPIDERS FROM MARS: White Light, White Heat
JOY DIVISION: Sister Ray
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND: What Goes On
THE PURPLE BARRIER: Dawn Breaks Through

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Mal Thursday and the Cheetahs: 'It's All Going By Too Fast' mp3 album

2013 is the year of the Cheetah. Mal Thursday and the Cheetahs, that is. After 21 years, Mal and the Cheetahs' 'It's All Going By Too Fast' album finally sees the light of day, and unleashes upon the world "an unholy marriage of the Music Machine and Guns 'N Roses." Contains selections from "C.J. Sorrow, A Garage Rock Opera." Featuring Nelson Bragg (Brian Wilson Band) and Jeff Conolly (Lyres, DMZ).
  

The Mal Thursday Show #52: The Ballad of Mal Thursday Pt. 9

 

Yet another installment in the ongoing series of semi-autobiographical podcasts using rock n' roll records to tell the story of Mal's life. Featuring recent releases from OBN IIIs, Neighbours, The Breakup Society, Tandyn Almer, and Mal Thursday and the Cheetahs. Presented in Living Monophonic Sound.

OBN IIIs: Damned to Obscurity
THE RATIONALS: Feelin' Lost
THE OTHERS: Fallin' Off My World
THE LOONS: Climbin' the Heap
THE ACID FASCISTS: All Kinds of Twisted
THE BREAKUP SOCIETY: So Much Unhappiness, So Little Time
THE GAUNGA DYNS: No One Cares
PAUL JONES: Free Me
NEIGHBOURS: Tell the Truth
THE IMPRESSIONS: Too Slow
THE ELECTRIC PRUNES: Are You Loving Me More (and Enjoying It Less)
THE SWEET NUTHIN: Your Mystery is History
THE SADIES: Another Year Again
THE HIGHER STATE: High Life
THE REALLY ROTTENS: High Life (bed)
THE RAMONES: I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend
TED TAYLOR: (Love is Like a) Ramblin' Rose
THE NERVOUS BREAKDOWNS: I Dig Your Mind
THE JAM: I Need You (For Someone)
THE JUNGLE ROCKERS: Cool It Out
TANDYN ALMER: About Where Love Is
D.B.: Love You Til Tuesday
GRANT LEE BUFFALO: The Whole Shebang
THE CRAMPS: All Women Are Bad
THE BGs: Born a Man
MAL THURSDAY AND THE CHEETAHS: That's Your Problem
THE BYRDS: Bad Night at the Whisky
SCOTT WALKER: My Death
LONELY MOANS: Lots o' Life
V.U.: Here She Comes Now

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My Massatucky Walkabout, Pt. 1

Today is my birthday, and I'm feeling bloody old. Also a little worse for the wear from all the rocking...Three months ago, I returned to Massachusetts for the "Tour of Route 9" with my old bands the Malarians and the Cheetahs. Last week, I went back again to do two more shows with the Malarians (see previous post). I wrote the following in July, but never published it. Here is part one of "My Massatucky Walkabout."

It was one month ago today that I made my return to the concert stage with a gig at the Sierra Grille in Northampton, Mass., which is located in the building that once housed the Bay State Hotel, where I used to book shows in the mid-'90s under the guise of my rock 'n roll alter-egomaniac Mal Thursday. For the proper historical context, check out Ken Maiuri's June 3rd piece in The Daily Hampshire Gazette:

Clubland: Local legend Mal Thursday returns to reanimate Valley

Although the tour was not a popular move at home (my marriage would be in much better shape had I kept it to just the four dates with the Malarians, or had not gone at all), it was something I had to do, and in spite of it all, I'm damn glad I did it.

I flew in on the afternoon of the first gig, a Cheetahs show with the Egos and Evil Bill at the Sierra Grille, former site of the Bay State Hotel, where I ruled the roost back in the salad days of the Northampton music scene circa the mid-'90s. It wasn't a total triumph, but it was good to be back. The next night, we played a barn-burner at Church of Boston on a bill with Lyres (sounding as good as they ever have, and I've witnessed dozens of their shows over the past quarter-century) and the Coffin Lids. Northampton band the Immolators were supposed to be on the bill as well, but Mike Dumont a/k/a Liv Damage got lost in traffic, despite the fact that the club is just a few blocks from Fenway Park. I drove back from the gig with Cheetah David Trenholm, and once we exited the Mass Pike, we navigated a spooky, foggy, winding route that was totally Ichabod Crane-like.

New England: it's centuries-old crazy.

I then had several days off, most of which were spent on my own without access to a car, the internet or cable TV. I had plenty of time for reflection, and to rehearse with the Malarians. I had pooh-poohed the idea of a reunion for many years, owing to the fact that founding member Slater Awan (Kent Garver) was dead. But I warmed to the idea over time, and we kicked serious ass. And miraculously, my voice held up.

Thanks to Ken Maiuri, Matthew Dube, Gary Carra, and Vincent Bator for writing up my return; Marc Solomon for providing shelter and sanity; the boys in the bands, with a special shout-out to Les LeBarge a/k/a Les Fillin, for learning 25 songs and rocking them thoroughly; and a host of others, not least Jeff Conolly, Tim Downie, Mark Sheehan, O'Brien Tomalin, our producer Sean Slade, Glenn Merrill-Skoloff, Dancing Larry, Andrea Newhouse, Meag Kennedy, the Immolators, the Egos, Evil Bill, and Peter "Spec" McHugh.

No thanks, and a special place in hell for the Malarians' opening act at Church, who have started a "Boycott the Malarians" Facebook page because they felt that should have received a bigger cut of the $130 that was to be split between the three bands. They were an awful, awful semi-pro '80s synth-drivel band made up of NBA employees. I think the horrible lead singer was their boss, and they were afraid to tell him that he looked like a spastic or that his songs were terrible. I did go slightly batshit on their lame asses, calling them "Kobe-enablers" and accusing them of being "in cahoots with the L.A. Rapers."

They did, however, generate some good one-liners:
"They make A-Ha sound like AC/DC."
"Like Missing Persons without Dale Bozzio or Flock of Seagulls with less balls."
"The Malarians may or may not have stolen their money, but they stole 45 minutes of my life."
"Music to eat a gun by."

Fuck 'em. I had a ball.

Mal Thursday's Victory Lap

Mal Thursday's Victory Lap by Vincent Bator

Once upon a time in the early ‘90s, the western Mass. indie music scene was a vibrant, buzzing place to be. Rumors floated through the air (and in the “industry” thanks to a Billboard article in 1992) constantly that the next big scene after Seattle was Northampton.

To a degree, that hype was well-founded: Bands like Sebadoh, New Radiant Storm King, and Scud Mountain Boys were attracting the attention of the music business. All of those bands (or their collective members) were widely hailed by the critics and hugely influential on a new crop of artists.

But there was a great local music scene prior to those halcyon days, and one individual who both participated in it, and then later promoted it, is returning to Massachusetts to get his due.

In 1984, a Hampshire College student on the seven-year plan, formed a garage-rock band heavily steeped in the music of The Seeds, The Sonics, DMZ, Lyres, and Roky Erickson, that decades later would be influential on a whole new generation of like-minded musicians. The band was The Malarians, and that guy was the snappily-monikered Mal Thursday. In 1986, the group released its seminal recording In the Cool Room (Chunk Records) and the rest as they say, is history.

While not a huge record in its time, In the Cool Room (remixed and remastered in 2009) defines an era, a genre, and ultimately The Malarians. The band recorded a CMJ charting EP, Know, in 1988, and recorded an unreleased LP, Malarians for Mothers and Daughters a/k/a Heavy Hits during that time. In 1989, after a series of line-up defections, the latest incarnation of the band recorded a live LP, Finished in This Town. And a year later, the band was indeed done.

The Malarians/Courtesy of Chunk Archives

Life After The Malarians

Mal went on to form Mal Thursday and the Cheetahs in the ‘90s, working in the same vein as The Malarians.

What really cemented Thursday’s stature in the local scene was the label that he ran, Chunk Records, and the Bay State Hotel where he booked bands from 1992-1995.

Chunk Records released more than two dozen records (mostly 45s and compilations on vinyl), many of them by local bands such as Zeke Fiddler, Steve Westfield, Tizzy, Queer, and The Veronica Cartwrights. The complete story of the label is lovingly re-created by Thursday at his blog.

Thursday was partly responsible for growing a music scene in Northampton while booking the Bay State Hotel with local and national indie music groups. The Bay State Hotel had a comfy “living room” atmosphere that was both intimate and conducive to experiencing up-and-coming bands or bands that were breaking. For all that’s exciting about Northampton’s current music scene, nothing compares to those times.

Mal Thursday Returns

On June 3rd, Mal Thursday & The Cheetahs return to the Bay State (or the Sierra Grille if you prefer), and The Malarians as well on June 10th. A sort of victory lap, The Cheetahs and The Malarians will also play a date each in Boston, while the Malarians play Worcester and Amherst (part of Hampshire College’s 40th anniversary).

Never one to be inactive, Thursday, now a family man living in Austin, TX, has been busy with numerous musical projects, most recently overseeing the re-releases of both of his old bands’ recording output, hosting a show on GaragePunk Podcast Network and writing a film column.

In a recent e-mail exchange with Northampton Media, Thursday (real name: J.M. Dobies) talks retrospectively about his career, the Bay State Hotel, and why he’s touring again.

NM: How did a kid from Massena, NY, of all backwater ‘burgs, turn out like you?

MT: Growing up in Massena was sort of like growing up in Canada, in that it was 10 miles from the border, and an hour from Montreal. We got to enjoy the cultural benefits of Canadian television and radio. My parents were pretty cosmopolitan, my father being the young doctor who moved to the North Country because of the area’s Eisenhower-era boom economy with the St. Lawrence Seaway and the aluminum industry.

I always read a lot. I loved rock ‘n’ roll. I went to boarding school in 1977, where I first dabbled in music, and tried to sing with a band. In the Fall of 1980, I went to Hampshire College which was where I really got into music, much to the detriment of my studies (although I did eventually graduate seven years later)...

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

The Malarians' 'In The Cool Room,' 'Know,' and More Now Available as Digital Downloads

Originally released on Chunk Records in the 1980s, the recordings of my old band The Malarians (the American Garage Band, not the Spanish ska band) are now available as digital downloads at Amazon and several other services, and coming soon to iTunes. The remixed, remastered, and reanimated version of In The Cool Room, our lovable first LP from 1986, is available now at Amazon.com, on the Chunk Archives label.

The 20-track 2-for-1 Know/Finished In This Town CD combines the Malarians' most successful release, 1988's bombastic, blistering five-track statement of purpose Know with the equally feverish 1989 live recording Finshed In This Town. Available June 1st.

Mal Thursday's Comeback Tour of the Commonwealth! June 3-12

That's right, kids, GaragePunk icon and legend in his own mind Mal Thursday is reforming two of his old bands to shake things up this June in Massachusetts:

MAL THURSDAY & THE CHEETAHS:
Thursday June 3rd @ Sierra Grille, NORTHAMPTON
Friday June 4th @ Church, BOSTON
w/ Lyres, The Coffin Lids, and The Immolators


THE MALARIANS:
Weds. June 9th @ Church, BOSTON
Thurs. June 10th @ Sierra Grille, NORTHAMPTON
w/ The Immolators
Fri. June 11th @ Lucky Dog Music Hall, WORCESTER
w/ Lyres and The Immolators
Sat. June 12th @ Hampshire College, AMHERST

Order The Malarians' In the Cool Room CD HERE.
Order Mal Thursday & The Cheetahs: The Complete Recordings HERE.

The Malarians: In the Cool Room CD Now Available

The 25th Anniversary Limited Edition of the In the Cool Room album is now in stock and ready to ship. The Malarians' first record features the definitive line-up of the band: Mal Thursday (vocals, harmonica, Farfisa organ, and harpsichord), Johnny Tomorrow (electric guitar and vocals), Bob Medley (guitar, keyboards, and vocals), Slater Awn (bass and vocals), and Lime Rickey (drums and vocals), with special guests Jimm Chanson and Leo Gorcey.

"Announcing the paradigm-shifting reality of The Malarians' In The Cool Room 2010 Edition, the CD that is not for the weak, and perhaps not even for the strong. The '80s garage band, led by Mal Thursday (who these days is better known as the host of the "Mal Thursday Show" and "Florida Rocks Again!" radio programs), had a reputation as a blistering live act whose recordings only scratched the surface of their savage sonic assault. Malarian guitar maestro Johnny Tomorrow has located and dusted off the original tapes from the In the Cool Room sessions and remixed and remastered the band's first album into the heartbreaking work of staggering genius it was always one good remix away from being."
-- Bobby Lightfoot, Froist

During the month of March, you can order the CD HERE, save $1 off the regular price, and get a bonus mp3 from the next wave of reissues in the series: Know, Finished in This Town, Malarians for Mothers and Daughters, and Mal Thursday & the Cheetahs: The Complete Recordings. Yea-yuh!

Tracklist:
* Tuesday's Child
* Gilligans Wake
* Superlungs My Supergirl
* Up to No Good
* The Lone Star Surfer
* Mopar
* One Time Only
* Little Girls Cry
* Brightness
* Old Enough to Know
* Deep inside
* Where You Gonna Go? (bonus track)

So don't miss out on this withering, feverish set of timeless garage rock rave-ups. Order now, save a dollar, and get a bonus mp3 unearthed from the Malarial vault. And don't forget to pay a call on The Malarians Swag Shack at Cafe Press, where you can buy T-shirts, Coffee Mugs, Beer Steins, BBQ Aprons, and much, much more, all emblazoned with Malarian imagery.

Mal Thursday & the Cheetahs: The Complete Recordings

Mal Thursday & the Cheetahs:The Complete Recordings

Following the break-up of the Malarians, Mal Thursday formed the Cheetahs, with whom he released the heartwarmingly profane holiday classic "A Message to Santa Claus" on Chunk Records in 1992. That was followed up in 1993 by a split 7" with Angry Johnny, featuring the band's version of the Johnny Cash classic "Ring of Fire" with guest vocals (and pig squeals) from Angry. Now you can get the complete recordings of Mal Thursday & the Cheetahs, produced by Mal and Sean Slade.

Recorded at Slaughterhouse in Amherst and the Lanes in Boston and mixed at Fort Apache, it's 13 tracks of raw power and awe-inspiring stupidity from Mal and the Cheetahs: Nelson Bragg (now with Brian Wilson's band), Chris Soucy, Ezra Gale, and Brent Nielsen, with backing vocals and tambourine from garage legend Jeff Conolly (Lyres, DMZ).

The Complete Recordings includes "Get Outta Dallas," "Torn Up," "Try It My Way," "Spundalina," "It's All Going By Too Fast," and all of the tracks from the Chunk seven-inches.

Get it HERE, only $9.99 (plus shipping) via PayPal.