King Missile: Bowery Electric, New York, NY (9/15/2017)

My first exposure to New York band King Missile was via the Video Jukebox Network. The video for "My Heart Is A Flower" from The Way To Salvation converted me fairly easily. I went out and bought the cassette not too long afterwards. I took my time in investigating their back catalog and the next thing I knew Happy Hour (which is approximately 60 minutes in length) was released. Happy Hour featured the major MTV hit "Detachable Penis" and the minor MTV hit "Martin Scorsese". After 1994's King Missile I kind of checked out and was basically done with King Missile. So was lead singer John S. Hall apparently, as the band broke up not too long after this album. 

Since the breakup of King Missile, Hall went to law school and is now an Intellectual Property Analyst. He also formed King Missile III and King Missile IV and released records under that moniker as well. The current incarnation of KM feature longtime members Dave Rick on guitar and Roger Murdoch on drums (apparently keyboardist Chris Xefos does in fact play with the band when he's on the East Coast as he lives in California now). So, King Missile is basically a hobby for Hall and his bandmates. 

The sound at Bowery Electric is, like any teeny-tiny venue, hit or miss. The band themselves sounded fine. Hall's vocals were kind of drowned-out in the din. From where I was standing - front and center - I had to strain to hear him. That said, he made the best of the situation, freely roaming into the audience and interacting with the patrons, mid-song.  

The band tackled many a classic from the Shimmy Disc years ("Sensitive Artist", "Take Stuff From Work" and "Jesus Was Way Cool") and classics from the Atlantic years ("My Heart Is A Flower", "Detachable Penis", "Socks" and "Martin Scorsese"). They tackled items they've covered on record ("Mr. Johnson" and "Betrayal Takes Two") as well as covers by local legends ("Rockaway Beach"by The Ramones and "Gratitude" by Beastie Boys) . They ended the show with a cover of The Buzzcocks' "What Do I Get". 

Despite the wonky sound and the somewhat halfheartedness of the entire performance, it was a fun show. It was nice to finally see the band as I'd never seen gotten around to seeing any incarnation of King Missile. I got to meet John before the show and buy a copy of the new KMIV disc (This Fuckin' Guy); he's very approachable and makes himself very available to his people. 

An entertaining show.

No Alternative (2013/1993 Legacy/Arista Records)

No Alternative is a compilation album that was released in the Autumn of 1993 by Arista Records and was funded by the Red Hot Organization. The Red Hot Organization is a non-profit organization that has released over a dozen album and raised over 10 million dollars towards AIDS-research. No Alternative is a various artists compilation of several leading lights of the mid 90's alternative pop movement. This was the age of  MTV's 120 Minutes and Alternative Nation, when clueless major labels signed any and everything vaguely “alternative”. This made for an interesting time as bands who weren't given the time of day (before Nevermind by Nirvana introduced Modern Rock and Alternative to those who'd otherwise had never been exposed to it) were suddenly given the keys to the kingdom.

In tandem to the record's release, MTV produced and hour-long No Alternative special which was later released on home video. To celebrate it's twentieth anniversary, it was reissued on 180 gram vinyl and was issued on RECORD STORE DAY in 2013. Like other alternative comps of the day (i.e. DGC Rarities Volume One, Born To Choose and the Singles OMPS) No Alternative was something of a staple of the Alternative Music Lover's collection and thus has something of a 90's relic status.

The inherent problem with compilations like these, is that no one artist ends of bringing their best material to the table. There are several live versions of songs and covers as well. Stars of the day include Soundgarden, Smashing Pumpkins and an unlisted track by Nirvana. Established acts like Bob Mould, Sonic Youth, Beastie Boys, Jonathan Richman and the legendary Patti Smith. Bands on the cusp of their stardom like Matthew Sweet, Goo Goo Dolls, Sarah McLachlan and Soul Asylum. And indie stars like Pavement, Uncle Tupelo, Buffalo Tom and The Breeders.

Obviously there's going to be plenty of hit-and-miss per individual listener. But my personal favorite tracks are “Superdeformed” by Matthew Sweet featuring the fantastic Ivan Julian of the Voidoids and the Outsets on lead guitar and the legendary Nicky Hopkins on piano, “For All To See” by Buffalo Tom, “Can't Fight It” by Bob Mould (recorded just before his stint with Sugar) and “Unseen Power Of The Picket Fence” by Pavement. That's not to say that the Goo Goo Dolls cover of The Rolling Stones' “Bitch” isn't amusing as it features the late Buffalo lounge singer The Incredible Lance Diamond on lead vocals or Sonic Youth's take on their early track “Burning Spear” isn't worth an precarious listen or the Beastie Boys live take of “It's The New Style” isn't flat-out great.

That's for you to decide.

Here's The Video Review:

Dedicated to: The Incredible Lance Diamond