Modern Needs: New Year's Eve Shindig!


No cover! Happy hour prices! Free champagne toast!

Friday, December 31st at The Brazen Head
228 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, U.S.A.
Party kicks off at 10PM

Brooklyn's Burning


IMAGINARY ICONS

"Post-punk herky-jerky bleakness... [Imaginary Icons are] one-part Buzzcocks, two-parts Mission Of Burma, three-parts Frustration, and a big dirty spoonful of Wire." -MaximumRocknRoll

Plus: THE THIGH HIGHS and EXPLODED VIEW

Thursday, January 6th. Doors at 8PM.
$7 cover. Tickets available via TicketWeb.

702 Union Street
Brooklyn, U.S.A.

Save The Date!


Annual birthday bash for Dead Flowers' own Mr. Lee, featuring live music from The A-Bones, The Brought Low, The Black Hollies, and The Above. Plus: DJs Ursa Major (Legio SPQR/The Templars) and Pick-A-Bar (The 45 Adapters) spinning razor-sharp tunes all-night!

Modern Needs: Paradise Lost!


Tuesday, December 7th at Last Exit
136 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, U.S.A.
Kicks off at 9PM... No cover!

The December edition of Modern Needs features special guest DJ Tom Dash of the great Imaginary Icons and the much-missed Shop Fronts (as well as the man behind Dot Dash Booking)... Tom and Dead Flowers' own Mr. Lee will be spinning razor-sharp punk, noisy gunk, and art-damaged rock vinyl all night long!

Third Record release party!


THE BROUGHT LOW
with PIGS and FRESH KILLS

Party to celebrate the vinyl release of The Brought Low's Third Record on Heavy Slab Records and the launch of the new label Coextinction Recordings... Bring yer earplugs!

Saturday, November 13th
Doors at 8PM. $10 cover.

The Acheron
57 Waterbury Street
Brooklyn, U.S.A.

When Giants Walked The Earth


ANDY SHERNOFF of The Dictators
with PAUL COLLINS of The Beat & The Nerves

Andy Shernoff tells tales of the days when sex was safe and drugs were cool in his solo musical memoir, When Giants Walked The Earth. Andy weaves a narrative recalling intimate stories of growing up in New York City, the early days at CBGBs and touring the UK at the height of the punk-rock explosion in 1977 while performing his tunes that have been recorded by The Dictators, Joey Ramone, Dee Dee Ramone, Mary Weiss (Shangri La's) and Dion DiMucci.

In 1974 Paul Collins formed The Nerves, who proved to be one of the pioneers of the burgeoning U.S. punk-rock scene, independently releasing their own EP (which included the classic "Hanging on the Telephone"). After The Nerves disbanded in 1977, Collins moved to LA and formed The Beat who toured with The Police, The Jam, and Joe Jackson; and released many acclaimed power-pop albums.

Thursday, November 11th. Doors at 8PM.
$8 in advance — $10 day of show.
(Tickets available via TicketWeb). *

Union Hall
702 Union Street
Brooklyn, U.S.A.

* Sadly this show has been postponed.

Modern Needs: Teenage Heart!


Tuesday, November 2nd at Last Exit
136 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, U.S.A.
Kicks off at 9PM... No cover!

Come on out on Election Day and drown yer voting blues with rock'n'roll, strong drinks and general debauchery... The November edition of the monthly Modern Needs party features special guest DJ Jami Wolf who played in the much-missed Shop Fronts. Jami and Dead Flowers' own Mr. Lee will be spinning rip-roaring rock action and juvenile delinquent anthems all night long!

A Devil's Night Extravaganza!


The Omelets Of Disease features members of The Brought Low, Another Saturday Night, and the Hellbent Hookers covering legendary horror-punks the Misfits; Ghost Rider features members of the Imaginary Icons covering NYC proto-punks Suicide; and The Marvin Barnes Time Machine are a cracking '60s psych-rock cover band.

Saturday, August 30th. Doors at 8PM.
$8 cover (advance tickets available here).

Union Hall
702 Union Street
Brooklyn, U.S.A.

"I Kissed The City Of New York..."



Hoodoo Gurus' set list, 10/5/10
(If our memory serves us right)

"What's In It For Me?"
"I Want You Back"
"Waking Up Tired"
"Television Addict" *
"Burnt Orange"
"Bittersweet"
"Another Thing Coming"
"Miss Freelove '69"
"Over Nothing"
"Cracking Up"
"Come Any Time"
"Leilani"
"2,000 Miles Away"
"What's My Scene?"
"(I Was A) Kamikaze Pilot"
"The Right Time"
"Like Wow-Wipeout!"

* Victims' cover, by request!

(Let's All) Turn On!


HOODOO GURUS
with THE MASTER PLAN and DADDY LONG LEGS

Like most bands, Australia's Hoodoo Gurus were largely the product of their influences; unlike most bands, however, the Hoodoos channeled their inspiration from the vast entirety of the American pop cultural landscape, drawing on such disparate sources as B-movies, bad sitcoms, and junk food — in tandem with the usual suspects like garage-rock, power-pop, and surf — to create a distinctly kitschy and catchy sound. Formed in Sydney in 1981, Le Hoodoo Gurus (as they were originally dubbed) were led by singer/songwriter Dave Faulkner, who along with drummer James Baker previously served as a member of the short-lived Perth punk unit The Victims (best known for the autobiographical single "Television Addict"). Ex-Scientists Rod Radalj and Kimble Rendall rounded out the group's initial lineup, and their unique sound of three guitars and no bass — along with Faulkner's infectious songs — quickly earned them a record deal. After issuing their debut single "Leilani" in 1982, both Radalj and Rendall quit, and were replaced by former Fun Things guitarist Brad Shepherd, and bassist Clyde Bramley.

In 1998, the Gurus announced they were splitting up, and the career-spanning compilation Ampology was issued in 2000. Two years later, Dave Faulkner, Brad Shepherd, and Mark Kingsmill were working together again as members of the garage-influenced The Persian Rugs, and in 2004, after Faulkner had reworked "What's My Scene" from Blow Your Cool as a theme song for an Australian rugby team, the band reunited (with Rick Grossman returning on bass), staging a successful tour down under and releasing a new album, Mach Schau. In 2009 the Hoodoo Gurus inked a deal with Sony Music Australia, resulting in their ninth full-length album, 2010's Purity of Essence and have been touring the world ever since.

[The Master Plan is a NYC punk super-group made up of members of The Fleshtones and The Dictators, while the Andy Shernoff produced Daddy Long Legs is a young, blues-punk band featuring members of The Electric Shadows and the Stalkers.]

Tuesday, October 5th
Doors at 8PM. $15 adv / $17 dos

149 Seventh Street
Brooklyn, U.S.A.

Into the future...


One of punk-rock's longest running bands, The Vibrators emerged from the UK scene in 1976 and quickly found themselves sharing the stage with such notable acts as The Stranglers, Sex Pistols, and The Clash. Their debut album Pure Mania — which was co-produced by Robin Mayhew, the sound engineer for David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust live shows — reached the Top-50 of the UK Albums Chart, and The Guinness Encyclopedia Of Popular Music named it one of the 50 best punk albums of all-time. Their follow-up album V2, narrowly missed the UK Top-30, though the sole single taken from the album, "Automatic Lover," reached the UK Top-40 and earned the band a TV appearance on the prime-time TV show Top Of The Pops. The Vibrators’ final single on Epic, "Judy Says (Knock You In The Head)," was released in June 1978 and years later was included in Mojo magazine’s list of the best punk rock singles of all time.

In their long career The Vibrators have toured with the likes of Iggy Pop, Ian Hunter, The Clash, The Flaming Groovies, UK Subs, and Die Toten Hosen, and have had their songs covered by The Exploited, UK Subs, GBH, and REM, to name but a few.

Saturday, October 2nd
Doors at 10PM. $12 cover.

149 Seventh Street
Brooklyn, U.S.A.

The 36th Annual Atlantic Antic


The Atlantic Antic is a street fair held yearly on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, from Hicks Street all the way to Fourth Avenue. Estimated to be the second-largest annual gathering in Brooklyn after the Labor Day Carnival, the Antic features eclectic food stands, live music on nine different stages, belly dancing, and entertainment for children. Last year roughly 600 vendors and over a million people were estimated to have attended.

135 Atlantic Avenue
Brooklyn, U.S.A.

Totally uncensored rock'n'roll!


THE BROUGHT LOW
Outer borough champions of high-energy boogie rock, The Brought Low recently released their third full-length album, the aptly titled Third Record, to near-universal acclaim. Heavy music blog The Obelisk called them "the best rock and roll band in New York" and The Big Takeover said "Previous albums have been excellent, but Third Record takes the group to a whole 'nother level, indisputably placing the Brought Low in the ranks of the Great American Bands."

NAKED HEROES
"... they make their musical parents proud, rivaling The Black Keys or Black Sabbath. If you enjoy absolute chaos from a band that only has two members, then you are in for an experience when it comes to The Naked Heroes." --KEXP 90.3 FM Seattle

KINGS DESTROY
Hailing from the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn, Kings Destroy features guitarists Carl Porcaro and Chris Skowronski from NYHC legends Killing Time, vocalist Steve Murphy from Uppercut, drummer Rob Sefcik formerly of Man's Ruin, The Begotten, Uppercut and Electric Frankenstein, and bassist Ed Bocchino of Stanley and Uppercut. The common bond? "An addiction to excessive volume, power and driving, distorted riffs." With influences ranging from Zeppelin and the Who to The Melvins, Yob and The Cro-Mags, KD describes their sound as "brutal Sabbath heaviness with hardcore outbursts and disturbed vocals verging on the demented."

Saturday, September 25th
Doors at 9:15PM. $8 cover.

Union Hall
702 Union Street
Brooklyn, U.S.A.

Modern Needs: Fall Freak Out!


Tuesday, September 7th at Last Exit
136 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, U.S.A.
Kicks off at 9PM... No cover!

The September edition of the monthly Modern Needs party features special guest DJ Leah Lugosi of rock'n'soul greats, the Nouvellas. Leah and Dead Flowers' own Mr. Lee will be spinning only the finest in razor-sharp 1960s rock, psych, soul, and beat vinyl all night long... As a special treat, the party will also feature giveaways from one of the world's finest reissue labels, Sundazed Music!

Non-stop dancing



LA LA BROOKS of The Crystals
with JENNY DEE & THE DEELINQUENTS
NOUVELLAS and SUBWAY SOUL CLUB DJs

Brooklyn-born La La Brooks was the youngest member of The Crystals, just 15, when she sang lead vocal on the 'Wall Of Sound' classics "Da Doo Ron Ron" and "Then He Kissed Me" at Gold Star studios in LA for producer Phil Spector. ("A cloudburst of handclaps, Don Randi's driving piano triplets and honking saxes, Hal Blaine's drum fills rattling like gunfire, "Da Doo Ron Ron" is probably the most irrepressibly exhilarating song that Spector ever recorded. LaLa Brooks's vocal a gust of sheer, heart-lifting lovestruck joy." - Tearing Down the Wall of Sound: The Rise and Fall of Phil Spector.)

In 1968, La La appeared in the original Broadway production of the musical Hair, where she performed the song "Aquarius." She also toured with and recorded for various artists (such as the Neville Brothers, Bobby Womack and Isaac Hayes), made short appearances in films, and contributed songs to various soundtracks, including the 1970 classic, Cotton Comes To Harlem. Currently, La La is backed by Boston's Jenny Dee & The Deelinquents.

Friday, September 10th
Doors at 8PM. $15 cover.

149 Seventh Street
Brooklyn, U.S.A.

Modern Needs: August Aggravation!


Tuesday, August 3rd at Last Exit
136 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, U.S.A.
Kicks off at 8PM... No cover!

The August edition of the monthly Modern Needs party features returning guest DJ Eric Davidson of The New Bomb Turks and author of the recently published We Never Learn: The Gunk Punk Undergut 1988-2001... Eric and Dead Flowers' own Mr. Lee will be spinning scorching gunk punk action and juvenile delinquent anthems all night long. Along with the vinyl onslaught, the party will kick off with Eric reading selections from his book and a screening of rare video clips from his personal collection!

The return of the king...


with MOTHER'S CHILDREN (Canada)
THE ANABOLICS and SUICIDE DOLLS

The Beat was founded by Paul Collins, who spent his pre-teens living in Greece, Vietnam and Europe before returning to his native New York. He studied at the prestigious Julliard Music School and eventually moved to San Francisco where he joined songwriter Jack Lee and bassist Peter Case (The Plimsouls) to form The Nerves in 1974. The Nerves proved to be one of the pioneers of the burgeoning U.S. punk-rock scene, independently releasing their own four song EP which included the classic "Hanging on the Telephone," later to become a hit for Blondie.

After The Nerves disbanded in 1977, Collins moved to LA and formed The Beat with bassist Steve Huff, drummer Mike Ruiz and lead guitarist Larry Whitman. Their friend Eddie Money recommended The Beat for management by legendary concert promoter Bill Graham. Under new management, The Beat toured with The Police, The Jam, and Joe Jackson. They also made numerous TV appearances and recorded their debut self-titled album with producer Bruce Botnick (The Doors, Love). The album featured Beatles and Byrds-influenced guitars and catchy choruses, defining the skinny-tied power-pop which The Knack took to the charts. In the ’90s, The Beat re-formed as the Paul Collins’ Beat and continue to write and tour releasing critically acclaimed albums for the Get Hip and Alive labels.

Thursday, August 19th. Doors at 8PM.
$8 cover (advance tickets available here).

Union Hall
702 Union Street
Brooklyn, U.S.A.

Modern Needs: Summer Slam!


Tuesday, July 6th at Last Exit
136 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, U.S.A.
Kicks off at 9PM... No cover!

The July edition of the monthly Modern Needs party features special guest Benjamin Howard Smith (the DJ formerly known as Ben Diesel) of The Brought Low fame... B.H.S. and Dead Flowers' own Mr. Lee will be spinning scorching rock action and juvenile delinquent anthems sure to get you drinking and shakin' yer ass all night long!

LiveFastDie live in Brooklyn!





All photos by Andrea Rizzo

The New Bomb Turks live in Brooklyn!










"Writing about and actually creating rock'n'roll are two very different things. Saturday night at the Bell House in Brooklyn, NY, double-threat singer and music scribe Eric Davidson, leader of the New Bomb Turks, left little doubt which one he prefers." ... Story continues here: New Bomb Turks Reunite In Brooklyn (AOL Spinner)

All photos by Andrea Rizzo
(except first photo courtesy of Amy Verdon)

There's a light...


Federale • The Suede Brothers
Whooping Crane • The Live Ones

Friday, June 25th
Doors at 8PM. $7 cover.
(Open bar from 8-9PM)

Northside Festival @ Trash Bar
256 Grand Street (btwn Driggs & Roebling)
Brooklyn, U.S.A.

Aspirin Aspirations


Dead Flowers presents a release party for
We Never Learn: The Gunk Punk Undergut, 1988-2001

We Never Learn: The Gunk Punk Undergut is the first and only book on the last great wave of down-and-dirty rock’n’roll, one whose hangover can still be felt in bars and clubs across the globe. The book is the next chapter in the Please Kill Me/American Hardcore/Our Band Could Be Your Life succession. Musician and journalist Eric Davidson (Village Voice, CMJ, SF Bay Guardian) was there as this scene unfolded as the frontman for Ohio punks the New Bomb Turks, and he tracks the roots and history of this largely undocumented movement. This is the last generation of punks and rockers to conquer city after city without the diluting force of the Internet.

Featuring reading and film presentation by author Eric Davidson, and The New Bomb Turks live NYC reunion. Plus: live sets from Live Fast Die and the Ex-Whites, delicious barbecue, and DJ action from Viking Thrust (Live Fast Die) and Justin (Collector Scum).

Saturday, June 26th
Doors at 6PM. $12 cover.
(Advance tix available now!)

149 Seventh Street
Brooklyn, U.S.A.

Modern Needs: Rough And Tough!


Tuesday, June 1st at Last Exit
136 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, U.S.A.
Kicks off at 9PM... No cover!

The June edition of the monthly Modern Needs party features special guest DJ Pick-A-Bar of 45 Adapters/SPQR fame... Pick-A-Bar and Dead Flowers' own Mr. Lee will be spinning only the finest in 1960s rock, psych, soul, ska, and rocksteady wax!

Getcha Teeth On Benefit Show


Getcha Teeth On is a benefit for Bell House security guard, Patrick. Patrick was hit by a car while riding his bike home one night after work. He suffered injuries such as broken ribs, a collapsed lung and a brief stint in a coma. He is now rested, recovered and ready for work... except for one thing, his teeth! Come down to The Bell House, listen to some great bands, eat some cupcakes, drink some booze and come help put a smile back on Patrick's face!

Tuesday, April 27th
Doors at 8PM. $10 cover.

149 Seventh Street
Brooklyn, U.S.A.

Modern Needs: Spring Shakedown!


Tuesday, May 4th at Last Exit
136 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, U.S.A.
Kicks off at 9PM... No cover!

The May edition of the monthly Modern Needs party features special guest DJ Lupe Loop of Les Sans Culottes and Discovery fame... Lupe and Mr. Lee will be spinning top-notch 1960s vinyl certain to get you shakin' a serious tail feather all night long!

Brooklyn rock action


Carlton Melton (ex-Zen Guerilla)

Saturday, May 1st.
Doors at 8PM. No cover.
(Free BBQ while it lasts)

46 Third Avenue
(Corner of Atlantic)
Brooklyn, U.S.A.

Modern Needs: The Resurrection!


Tuesday, April 6th at Last Exit
136 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, U.S.A.
Kicks off at 8PM... No cover!

Tonight's party features special guest DJ Eric Davidson, New Bomb Turks vocalist and the author of the upcoming We Never Learn: The Gunk Punk Undergut, 1988-2001 (Backbeat Books). Eric and Mr. Lee will be spinning only the finest in real punk and garage scorch!

Modern Needs


Modern Needs is a swingin' new DJ party featuring garage, beat, punk, psych, soul, power-pop, and rock’n’roll sounds from the 1950s to the now, hosted by Mr. Lee of Dead Flowers Productions with special guest DJs and monthly themes... Happening the first Tuesday of every month at the great Last Exit bar in Brooklyn.

[ Modern Needs was originally a DJ night hosted by Ben Diesel at Barmacy in the 1990s... We are proud to resurrect the party! ]

The Brought Low Spring Fling


"Previous albums have been excellent, but Third Record takes the group to a whole ’nother level, indisputably placing The Brought Low in the ranks of the Great American Bands." -The Big Takeover

Saturday, March 13th - Painesville, OH
Nemeth's Lounge (40 North State Street)
w/The Suede Brothers

Sunday, March 14th - Columbus, OH
Rumba Café (2507 Summit Street)
w/Bush League All Stars
(Early 6PM show!)

Monday, March 15th - Chicago, IL
The Double Door (1572 North Milwaukee Avenue)
w/Wolfer & Imperial Battlesnake

Tuesday, March 16th - St. Louis, MO
The Library (706 Lafayette Avenue)
w/Tilts (ex-Shame Club) & Gold Tooth

Thursday, March 18th - Austin, TX
Club Encore (611 Red River )
Small Stone SXSW Showcase
w/Dixie Witch, House Of Broken Promises
Solace, Sasquatch, Throttlerod & Luder

Saturday, March 20th - Richmond, VA
Venue to-be-announced
w/RPG

Hell's Kitchen rock action!


BUNNIE ENGLAND & THE NEW ORIGINALS
Bunnie England And The New Originals are NYC's hardest-working and hardest-partying live rock'n'roll karaoke band and ex house band at Magnetic Field (R.I.P.). From The Replacements to The Ramones, from Cheap Trick to The Cure, from the Stooges to the Stones, they've got over 175 songs in their catalog for you to sing... and turn yourself into a rock star!

Thursday, March 11th
Doors at 8PM. No cover!

807 Ninth Avenue
Hell's Kitchen, NYC

Old century rock'n'roll



They say with youth comes energy and with age wisdom, but nobody told The Brought Low to slow down and wise up.

Three records in and with countless shows under their belt, this NYC powerhouse power trio has set the benchmark for the sort of classic hard-rock that the mainstream's long forgotten and the underground only claims to represent. You want a cheap, mass produced facsimile, I'm sure some by-the-numbers corporate act is overcharging for their tepid arena-rock. You want generic bar-rock, go to your local club. You want the real deal, go see The Brought Low.

In the words of guitarist/singer Benjamin Howard Smith, the aptly titled Third Record (Small Stone Records) has the band "coming to terms with their punk rock roots" while remaining true to their undisputed and undeniable classic-rock sound.  The end result is an invigorating, unrelenting kick in the ass with hard charging rockers like "Old Century Man" and "Everybody Loves A Whore" having just as much soul as cry-in-your-beer ballads "A Thousand Miles Away" and "Last Man Alive," and grooves as deep as new live favorites "The Kelly Rose" and "Matthew’s Grave."

Recorded fast'n'dirty with producer Andrew Schneider (Pelican, Cave In, Scissorfight), Third Record is the album that finally matches the band's intense live energy. It's a new chapter in The Brought Low's continuing reign as the heavyweight champs of classic hard-rock.

Formed in 1999 by Sweet Diesel's Benjamin Howard Smith and drummer Nick Heller, The Brought Low released their self-titled debut album in 2001 on Tee Pee Records. Several tours and members later the band solidified its line-up with bassist Robert Russell. 2006's Right On Time, their first on Small Stone, was hailed as an instant classic by The Boston Phoenix, Lollipop, Roadburn and Stonerrock among others. The band is renowned for their awesome live show and has shared the stage with such bands as Them Crooked Vultures, The Supersuckers and Nebula.

CD Release Date: March 11th, 2010
(Available now on iTunes)

Through the mists of time


Australia's Raven Records presents The I.R.S. Years 1980-1985 – It's Super Rock Timea superb 26-track, 78-minute CD collection from one of America’s original, and longest-running, garage-rock bands, self-proclaimed Living Legends, The Fleshtones. Formed in 1976 in Queens, New York by vocalist Peter Zaremba and guitarist Keith Streng, The Fleshtones combined fuzzed guitar and Farfisa organ with '50s rockabilly and '60s r&b into a potent retro stew they called “Super Rock.” Contemporaries of Suicide and The Cramps on the late-'70s NY scene, the group became a huge influence on early '80s garage-rock revivalists Dream Syndicate, Plimsouls, Hoodoo Gurus, etc. Amazingly, they are still at it today, finally garnering respect for being as raucous as ever. It's Super Rock Time covers their key five year tenure with Miles Copeland’s record label. Culled from their classic albums (Roman Gods, Hexbreaker!, and Speed Connection) and numerous EPs and singles, highlights include the frat-rocking "Girl from Baltimore," the whomping "Screamin' Skull," the moody "Shadow Line," the Standells-like "Stop Fooling Around" and one of their most memorable tunes, a tasty cover of Lee Dorsey’s "Ride Your Pony." Many tracks are appearing on CD for the first time. With superb quality audio, detailed notes and color booklet, this excellent release is a must for fans of irresistible, reverb-drenched garage/r&b.

Release Date: March 5th, 2010
Catalogue Number: RVCD311