A Facemelting Blog of Staggering Riffage.

Some Velvet Morning - Vanilla Fudge, 1969.

2012-02-07T08:49:00.000-08:00

Hazlewood meet Appice. You know it's going to be heavy.

Black Sabbath. Hands of Doom/Rat Salad. 1970.

2012-02-02T11:01:00.000-08:00

The greatest bass line in the history of face melting riffage. Geezer Butler is the lord of fuck mountain. The man with the blistered thumbs of fury, and velour pants to match.

Tonight! Usher in Groundhogs Day!! At The Cabooze!!! Focus!!!!

2012-02-01T22:02:00.000-08:00

Iron Maiden. Prowler. 1981.

2012-01-31T13:48:00.001-08:00

Stroke inducing riffage.

Al Di Meola. Race with the Devil On A Spanish Highway.1978.

2012-01-26T12:53:00.000-08:00

Frank Zappa. Black Napkins. 1977.

2012-01-20T15:27:00.000-08:00

The unrelenting shredditude on display here rattles my old achey balls something fierce.

Elvin Bishop Group. The Sky is Crying. 1970.

2012-01-18T20:00:00.000-08:00

Blunt.

Santana. Samba Pa Ti. 1971.

2012-01-04T14:09:00.000-08:00

Santana spent years working as a dishwasher and busker in SF before melting faces off of skulls as a full-time noodle lord. When the Paul Butterfield Blues Band pulled a no-show at Filmore West in 1966, that old cranky bastard Bill Graham had to assemble an impromptu group to fill the slot. Carlos was pegged to shred on main axe, and so it was written...

His riffage is on point, and he makes some of the best "guitar faces" in the business.

Long Time Gone - Crosby Stills, Nash, Young & Jones 1969.

2012-01-03T10:07:00.000-08:00

Rhino posted a happy birthday to Stephen Stills with this clip. I've always dug Tom Jones' Parrot years recordings. I gotta say, I like how he fits into the group. . . and those pants.

Hard Stuff. Time Gambler. 1972.

2011-12-14T15:18:00.000-08:00

Try shaking this riff out of your brain this afternoon.

Albert Collins. Snatchin' It Back. 1979.

2011-12-06T22:11:00.001-08:00

Dear god, the Master of the Telecaster is a straight shredder. Shit is giving me boob sweat.

Terry Reid. Bang Bang. 1970.

2011-12-04T19:30:00.001-08:00

From the film Groupies, a 1970 documentary featuring Reid, Ten Years After, Spooky Tooth and cast of Plaster Caster groupie hoochie. You can find most of this film on Youtube. It is barely tolerable, but worth it for the live clips of Reid and Ten Years After. This is the only version of this song I've ever found live video for.

Illusion. Man. 1970.

2011-11-29T14:05:00.001-08:00

Damn, that's a nice little groove, man.

Allman Brothers. Whipping Post. 1970.

2011-11-28T21:07:00.001-08:00

Duane and Dickie diddlin'.

Hor Gorme Garbi - Erkin Koray, 1972.

2011-11-23T06:34:00.001-08:00

I'm moving to Turkey, you turkeys.

I'll Play The Blues For You - Albert King, 1972.

2011-11-12T08:28:00.000-08:00

The Velvet Steamroller lights it up on the stage at Wattstax.

Toredown - Rory Gallagher.

2011-11-09T08:05:00.001-08:00

Good things come in threes.

I could've had religion - Rory Gallagher, 1971

2011-11-09T08:03:00.000-08:00

Laundromat - Rory Gallagher, 1971.

2011-11-09T08:00:00.001-08:00

Frank Zappa. Friendly Little Finger. 1976.

2011-10-26T13:01:00.000-07:00

Most good rock music was made in 1976 or before.

Rainbow. Mistreated. 1977.

2011-10-17T10:19:00.001-07:00

The New Lords. Power. 1971.

2011-10-09T08:56:00.000-07:00

Props to former Leary Records co-owner Randy Staula for this sweet find.

Signed DC - Love, 1970.

2011-10-06T09:09:00.000-07:00

It doesn't get much tougher. Thanks Dangerous Minds

You Took Me By Surprise - Sky Saxon (New Seeds), 1970.

2011-10-05T10:44:00.000-07:00

Stone Bunny. Nothing Left. 1970.

2011-09-29T15:29:00.000-07:00

I feel like I'm riding shotgun in Sweet River's Comet when I listen to this.

Jesse Johnson. Be Your Man. 2010.

2011-09-15T10:21:00.000-07:00

Former Morris Day and The Time axe slinger, and Prince protege Jesse Johnson shows that shredding a sick funk jam can age gracefully like a fine wine. Here's the gentleman funkateer in 2010 not losing a fucking step.

Pentagram. Review Your Choices. 1972.

2011-09-04T10:52:00.000-07:00

Great album cover. Great tune. They're like the real life version of Spinal Tap.

The spine of this album reads:

"Twelve new Skeletons for your Closet of Dementia."

Steel Mill (Springsteen). Wind and the Rain. 1970

2011-09-01T23:32:00.000-07:00

Holy fuck! I've always hated Bruce Springsteen until I heard this monster. FUCK!!!!

This band sounds like the cast of fucking Jersey Shore:

Bruce, Vini Lopez, Danny Federici, Vinni Roslin, Steve van Zandt and Robbin Thompson.

Granicus. Bad Talk. 1973.

2011-09-01T23:14:00.000-07:00

Cleveland is one of those towns that you drive through just to take a dump in a dryer at the nearest laundromat. Well, Drew Carey isn't the only pride of that two bit shit-hole. Granicus hails from there.

Robin Trower. Daydream. 1975.

2011-08-29T16:36:00.000-07:00

We let this album howl out of 400 watt speakers, shredding the rolling hills of Sweet River Cottage Creager's estate on Friday. Nothing better really. Live in San Francisco in 1975.

Danny Gatton. Sleepwalk. 1988.

2011-08-25T11:44:00.000-07:00

I'm not a real Telecaster fan boy. I prefer the meatier sounds coming from overcharged Gibsons. That said, hearing a master like Danny Gatton diddle his fiddle like this is a fucking pleasure.

In 1994 Gatton locked himself in his garage and shot himself. It seems the masters are always mercurial and often times battling deep depression. R.I.P. Danny.

Bridge Of Sighs - Robin Trower, 1974.

2011-08-19T12:29:00.000-07:00

Trower peeling the face off the devil's skull with this hard screw. If I had this track when I was back in high school, I'd still be in my parents' basement unapologetically smoking the wallpaper.

The Jam - Dark, 1975.

2011-08-19T09:49:00.000-07:00

Recorded in a basement. Listened to in a basement. (Replace basement with lysergic overload)

Hey you - Corporal Gander's Fire Dog Brigade, 1970.

2011-08-19T09:44:00.000-07:00

Rory Gallagher. A Million MIles Away. 1979.

2011-08-16T10:04:00.001-07:00

BLORT!!!

Roy Buchanan. Hey Joe. 1976.

2011-08-15T14:53:00.000-07:00

He's an unassuming guy. 37 years old in this clip, looks closer to 50. Looks he should be painting little clouds or selling balloons at the wharf. Doesn't stop Roy from completely melting the noses off the faces of the audience members in attendance. Jesus fucking christ. What a burner.

My Time - Golden Dawn, 1968

2011-08-09T11:15:00.000-07:00

Schoolmate of Roky Erickson, George Kinney's band. If anyone bottled the Austin Texas city water from 1968, I'll take two quarts and see you on the other side.

Calling Card - Rory Gallagher, 1977.

2011-08-01T08:33:00.001-07:00

El Chicano. Viva Tirado. 1971.

2011-07-25T11:30:00.000-07:00

Hot damn! This is the blueprint for the Los ChupacaBROS.

Led Zeppelin. How Many More Times. 1970.

2011-07-22T01:15:00.000-07:00

Yep.

PJ Proby. Jim's Blues. 1969.

2011-07-19T12:12:00.000-07:00

That's the Dark Lord James Patrick Page on guitar, Bonham on drums, John Paul Jones on bass, and Percy on harmonica. Hell of backing band, Proby.

Trapeze. Black Cloud. 1972.

2011-07-16T21:04:00.000-07:00

What is it about the Birmingham Black Country that produced such fucking heavy hitters? Bonham, Sabbath and these dudes, Trapeze. Here's a blistering live take from Dallas in 1972. It's got a real Free/Bad Company feel to it. Cock rock to the core.

How The Gypsy Was Born - Frumpy, 1970.

2011-07-15T10:39:00.000-07:00

Thus ends a sweet little triptych into the Krautrock backlog. I guess the good times went badder for the German hippies. Thank, fucking god.

Walk Alone - Eloy, 1970/71.

2011-07-14T10:34:00.000-07:00

A Dump. Clogs. No Drum Kit.

The Work is Done - Birth Control, 1970.

2011-07-13T10:31:00.000-07:00

Highway Star - Deep Purple, 1970 (?)

2011-07-06T11:32:00.000-07:00

Sorry, a 2 million hitter. However, Ritchie and the boys smoke through Gillian's fucking off.

Ellison. Strawberry Rain. 1971.

2011-07-02T11:13:00.000-07:00

I picked up this amazing album at Leary Records a few weeks ago. Some dudes from Montreal. Pretty great. I love the breakdown to the almost "Maggot Brain" guitar. The lyrics begin with "Black mass in heaven..."

I can get down to that.

Warpig. Rock Star. 1970.

2011-06-18T17:08:00.000-07:00

Just picked this up at Leary Records in Ballard.

Some nice pre-metal from Canada, eh.

Love Devotion Surrender. A Love Supreme. 1973.

2011-06-17T09:44:00.001-07:00

My Dad was just in town visiting. Over a meal of fresh raw oysters he recited his memories of living in San Francisco in the late '60's. One of the first concerts he saw there was Santana at a local Union hall. The concert was a tribute to a fallen Hell's Angel named "Joker." Dad talked about how out of place he and his friend Reid were. Two skinny white guys from Northern Minnesota in the presence of hardened criminals, bikers, speed freaks, and acid casualties.

He also told me about the time he saw Mahavishnu Orchestra play at the Guthrie in the 70's after he and my Mom moved back to Minnesota. John McLaughlin shredded a 5 hour set. Dad said it might be the most impressive live performance he's ever witnessed. That's pretty heavy praise coming from a guy who's seen hundreds of concerts including Hendrix, Zep, and just about every amazing blues player you can name.

Here's the two face shredders touching dicks with Buddha and Ganesha. Thanks for the knowledge, pops!

Screaming Night Hog - Steppenwolf, 1970.

2011-06-16T08:50:00.000-07:00

Here's a bonus for you. Covering Don Covay's "Sookie Sookie" on the set of Playboy.

Terry Reid. Rich Kid Blues. 1969.

2011-06-14T23:51:00.000-07:00

Hard to imagine this guy playing some shitty hobbit hole in the West Midlands in 1967. Scratch that, his hot running pipes fit right in with the iron foundries, steel mills, soot, and coal coking operations.

Big-Eyed Beans From Venus / Golden Birdies - Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band, 1972.

2011-06-01T08:40:00.000-07:00

That long lunar note.

Love Sculpture. Sabre Dance. 1969.

2011-05-30T17:41:00.000-07:00

Whoa, Dave Edmunds lays down a deep cut here with "Sabre Dance." This shit is the jam.

Little Girl in Yellow - Tractor, 1972.

2011-05-28T08:43:00.000-07:00

Wait for it. Wait for it. Waaaaaaaaait for it. Okay, okay, so I'm riding in a goblin ship, cool. Hmmm. Pretty long tedious instrumental break here. Wait, what is that in the background? It's coming closer. Closer. Cloooossssser. HOLY FUCKING SHIT I NEVER SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN OFF THAT GOBLIN SHIP!

Hair & Grits - Dennis Coffey, 1969.

2011-05-25T13:20:00.000-07:00

Bold.

Master's Apprentices. Death of a King. 1971.

2011-05-23T18:58:00.000-07:00

Mike may have opened the pandora's box of Aussie jams with that Coloured Balls joint, but let me remind you of the kings of Aussie facemeltage, Master's Apprentices.

Stuff that in your joey pocket and smoke it.

Working Man's Boogie - Coloured Balls, 1973.

2011-05-23T14:27:00.000-07:00

Hey, all you working men out there, it's fucking Monday. Here's a sweet lil' jammer from down-under. Check out that gear GTK logo super at the beginning. Now get back to work, you bitch-cogs.

Life's a Gas - T Rex.

2011-05-16T12:38:00.000-07:00

When you gut the overproduction of the T Rex recordings, one has to admit, Bolan's got some chops.

Out of Control (Journey) - Ansley Dunbar, ?.

2011-05-14T19:00:00.000-07:00

Here's some beefsteak for you, Brewer.

Glendora - Downliners Sect, 1966.

2011-05-12T10:51:00.000-07:00

Crunchy cover of one of the best Perry Como songs pertaining to lust and a mannequin + a delightfully tinny solo from these Eel Pie Island contemporaries of The Stones.

Jerry Reed. Lightning Rod. 1977.

2011-05-11T00:10:00.000-07:00

ZAP!

Upp. Down in the Dirt. 1974.

2011-05-06T16:13:00.000-07:00

Upp was a band that Jeff Beck discovered and used as an opening group for some of the Jeff Beck Group and Beck, Bogert, Appice shows. He produced and played guitar on their first two albums. Total rock/jazz fusion nerdery. Here's Jeff playing with Upp on the BBC in 1974. Hot shit.

Check out the skills of that bass player. His name is Stephen Amazing.

Yep.

The Mickey Finn. Garden Of My Mind. 1967.

2011-05-03T10:23:00.000-07:00

Goddamn, this is some hot shit. It's got a little "Purple Haze" to it. Ya dig?

Bobby Beausoleil. Lucifer Rising Parts 1 & 2. 1972.

2011-05-02T20:28:00.000-07:00

Bobby Beausoleil. AKA "Bobby Bummer" AKA "Cupid."

Convicted murderer, Manson Family member, Death Row inmate, soft-core porn actor, and former member of Arthur Lee's band The Grass Roots, which later became Love.

After being abandoned by his original choice, Kenneth Anger tapped Bobby to complete the film score for Lucifer Rising. His original choice happened to be none other than Jimmy Page who was supposedly too strung out to deliver the goods over a three year period. Beausoleil completed the recordings while in prison for the murder of Gary Hinman.

As described in the book Helter Skelter:

Beausoleil claims that Hinman supplied him with a batch of bad (or weak) mescaline that Beausoleil in turn sold to the Straight Satans motorcycle gang. When the bikers demanded their money back, Beausoleil went to Hinman, who refused to pay. Beausoleil, Atkins, and Brunner held him captive in his own home in an attempt to convince him to refund the money. Beausoleil stabbed Hinman to death the next day. Afterwards, he wrote "Political piggy" on a wall in Hinman's blood in a failed attempt to lead police to believe the murder was done by a group of radicals. On August 6, 1969, Beausoleil was arrested while stalled along side the highway in Hinman's Fiat with the Toyota engine.

Southern California in the late 60's was a seriously fucked up place. Here's a news story on Bobby about his interest in electronic music:

The Yardbirds. Train Kept A Rollin'. 1968.

2011-04-29T08:43:00.000-07:00

The anthem at the office today.

1970 Home Improvements - The Bevis Frond, 1987.

2011-04-28T20:21:00.000-07:00

Hands down Nick Saloman is my favorite brain-destroyer. This is from the late 80-s when he was still playing and recording everything himself.

In The Night - The Power of Zeus, 1970.

2011-04-19T09:01:00.000-07:00

Thanks for the drugs, Barry Gordy. From the Rare Earth label.

Albert Lee. Country Boy. 1984.

2011-04-18T00:52:00.000-07:00

No blog about face melting could possibly ignore the baddest ass country picker from Herefodshire, England.

Notice Ol' Slowhand in the audience getting served...again.

The Fly - The Mummies, 1991.

2011-04-15T20:11:00.000-07:00

Turn to Stone - Joe Walsh / Barnstorm, 1972.

2011-04-13T11:39:00.000-07:00

Joe flies 'solo' between his stints in the James Gang and helping out some California stockbrokers.

Action Woman - The Litter, 1967.

2011-04-12T20:43:00.000-07:00

Tough-ass MPLS garage. Shit, this place used to be dirty with motorcycle gangs.

untitled solo - dude who works at a pet cemetary, 1976

2011-04-11T20:17:00.000-07:00

Hold on to 1:19.

The Night Watch - King Crimson, 1974.

2011-04-11T19:35:00.000-07:00

Fripp's a dude that noodles the fine line with me. There are times I find him super pretentious, there are other times that he nails it. There's a bit of both in this one.

Cozy Powell. Dance With The Devil. 1973.

2011-04-11T10:45:00.000-07:00

Hey drummers, beat your meat to this.

Cozy Powell has played with just about every awesome band in the history of face melting rock music. The list is incredible. He's the ultimate journeyman, a ringer, a real lone wolf.

Jeff Beck Group. Going Down. 1972.

2011-04-03T23:09:00.000-07:00

Is Jeff Beck my favorite rock guitar player ever? Decisions like this are so damn hard to make.

Take this song for instance. The real virtuoso here is Max Middleton on the ivories. Maybe even Bobby Tench behind the Mic...

Until the winds of Mt. Thor howl through his strings at the 2:17 mark, Beck is just impatiently waiting for Middleton to quit whacking off on the keys. He's fucking stretching his arms and cracking jokes!

I think maybe Hendrix and Gallagher are better "feel" players, and Page is definitely a better composer. There are a lot of dudes that are faster, and many that are more proficient at noodling. But for fucks sake, Jeff Beck has this sound that was just so far ahead of his time.

Listen to that entrance again at 2:17. There is a solid chance that some medicated school girl in the balcony ripped a small, but panty rattling shit after hearing that. Good god.

Blood, Sweat & Tears. Go Down Gamblin'. 1971.

2011-04-02T12:46:00.000-07:00

"Born a natural loser..."

Armageddon. Buzzard. 1975.

2011-03-24T21:47:00.000-07:00

I don't know where you guys are hiding, but there is plenty of untapped face melting macabre to shred to. Take this cut from Armageddon's debut album for instance. That's former Yardbird Keith Relf barking on lead Vox. This shit rips in a Motorhead meets Yes sort of way.

Relf kicked the bucket by electrocuting himself playing an improperly grounded guitar. If that isn't fucking rock and roll, I don't know what is.

Armageddon featured members of Captain Beyond and Steamhammer. Heavy company, dudes.

Eddie Kirkland & Foghat. 1977.

2011-03-10T14:10:00.000-08:00

Holy shit this kicks all sorts of ass. Here's Eddie "Bluesman" Kirkland performing with Foghat as his back-up band in 1977 at the NY Palladium. How that rug stays on Eddie's head is a mystery. Serious shredding.

RIP Eddie Kirkland.

Warpig. Tough Nuts. 1970.

2011-03-04T11:28:00.000-08:00

Kind of a poor, mildly flaccid man's Sabbath. The song is called "Tough Nuts" though, which immediately makes it worthy of a listen.

The Dream. The Doting King. 1968.

2011-02-20T16:05:00.000-08:00

The Dutch are an interesting bunch.

Iron Knowledge. Showstopper. Date ??

2011-01-31T10:47:00.000-08:00

Props to Frank in Chi-town for introducing me to this fuzzed out funk. Those guitars are running hot.

That Did It - Freedom's Children, 1970.

2011-01-26T10:17:00.001-08:00

David and the Dorks. Cowboy Movie. San Francisco, 1970.

2011-01-26T07:25:00.000-08:00

Settle in.

Pink Floyd. Atom Heart Mother. 1972.

2011-01-24T21:39:00.000-08:00

My favorite Pink Floyd song. I remember playing this at full volume on 300 watt Pioneer club hammers in my apartment above the Hinky Dink convenience store in Bozeman. I didn't have shit for furniture, but I had those kick ass speakers, Maddog 20/20, Marlboro Reds, and lots of weed.

Black Sabbath. Behind the Wall of Sleep. 1970.

2011-01-19T09:02:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite jams from the Sabb's debut album. Bill Ward sounds like he's swinging battle axes at the drums. Nice little jazz riffin' by Iommi here as well.

Awesome With My Life - Brother and Sister, 2006.

2011-01-14T12:41:00.000-08:00

Public Animal #9 - Alice Cooper, 1972.

2011-01-13T07:22:00.000-08:00

Day 4 of blasting nothing but Alice Cooper in my car. I've started driving with a switchblade in my teeth.

Johnny Winter. Stranger. 1983.

2011-01-09T18:32:00.000-08:00

Roy Buchanan. Hey Joe. 1976.

2011-01-09T18:28:00.000-08:00

David Bowie. Moonage Daydream. 1973.

2011-01-06T08:29:00.000-08:00

Mick Ronson completely loses his shit at about the 3:30 mark. Love those 3 minute long guitar solos.

Humble Pie. For Your Love. 1970.

2010-12-23T10:55:00.000-08:00

I'm going to have to rethink the whole 'Terry Reid was the best of the Brit blues wailers' frame of mind I've been in for the past few years. Steve Marriott is a fucking superbeast.

It goes without saying, but Humble Pie had one hell of a line-up. Peter Frampton before he was talk-boxing the panties of pre-teens is some kind of treasure.

Fast Bluesy Woman - Tucky Buzzard, 1972.

2010-12-21T13:02:00.000-08:00

(Ozzy) Jake E. Lee 198x.

2010-12-20T09:59:00.000-08:00

I have seen many things in my life, but never have I seen an axe chop someone's face off in three minutes eighteen seconds. Sure it may be your typical 80's Spandex rock, but you've got to admit...

Funkadelic. Super Stupid. 1971.

2010-12-18T14:24:00.000-08:00

When was the last time you got weird? Like wear a diaper and run around the city weird?

Funkadelic was a straight up psychedelic rock outfit. They embody every tenement of "face melting" that exists.

Be My Friend - Free, 1970.

2010-12-16T10:09:00.000-08:00

My god, can that motherfucker sing!

Cries From the Midnight Circus - The Pretty Things, 1970?

2010-12-14T08:41:00.000-08:00

Bubble Puppy. Hot Smoke & Sassafras. Late 70's.

2010-12-07T15:15:00.000-08:00

It has been said that Bubble Puppy was the best band from Texas until ZZ Top blew up. They moved to LA and changed their name to Demian after that. Some really rare shitty footage from a late 70's reunion.

Demian rocks!

Buffalo. Shylock. 1973.

2010-12-06T14:20:00.000-08:00

Kind of getting tired of finding bands that totally rock with terrible lead singers. Oh well, this Aussie group is pretty sweet, despite their front man *Haggar'ing the track.

*Haggar - To wreck something awesome by putting your shitty imprint on it. Named after Sammy Haggar.

Scorpions. He's a Woman, She's a Man. 1977.

2010-12-04T19:32:00.000-08:00

Down at Georgetown Records today and I picked up the Scorpions debut Lonesome Crow and their 1976 album, In Trance. Both are gems, but that debut album wasn't even released stateside for years because of how hard it rocks. Needless to say, I'm pretty excited about that one, and I even talked the dude down $10 off the price tag. Success!

The dude at the counter had this to say:

"Dude, SCORPS! I used to hate this fucking band when I was a kid. Thought they were soulless. Now I just think they fucking kick all sorts of ass. Fuck! Nice!"

'Nuff said.

ZZ Top-El Diablo. 1980

2010-12-03T12:22:00.000-08:00

Time to sprinkle in some dark and plodding with the boogie.