The Chatham Singers

There will be a new Billy Childish record (gets released in a few weeks), and in my opinion it is amongst the best things he has released in recent years. Billy, Nurse Julie, and Wolf have revisited the Chatham Singers brand this time around with the Damaged Goods LP, "Juju Claudius". I found the album on another blog, I was curious to get a sneak preview. Buy it when it comes out, or pre-order the album here.

"Juju Claudius" has some of the best gritty, stripped-down blues/folk Billy has ever done. He sings some songs, Julie sings some songs, and they sing some together, and it all works. Also noteworthy is the fact that the name "Wild Billy Childish" is absent from the band name now....

Here is a sampling:
Evil Thing
Angel Of Death

Thatcher's Children

One of the top releases of the past few months has to be the lastest from Wild Billy Childish & The Musicians of the British Empire, "Thatcher's Children". The album doesn't find Billy straying too far from the last 2 albums, but if you dig him, you'll dig this too. Once again, Billy doesn't handle all of the lead vocal duties, as Nurse Julie takes the mic a couple times. Some of the songs continue the "A Quick One" era Who-isms, while others are closer to straight up punk. He still likes to revisit melodies of past songs and give them new lyrics. At this point, there's not much new to say about the music, but he's still one of my personal favorites.

Here's a link where they each list their favorite movies of all time.
Here's a video clip of an interview he did with Ian Svenonius

Here's a few tunes from the new album:
Thatcher's Children
Loray Head
Back Amongst the Medway Losers

Punk Rock At The British Legion Hall

Billy strikes again. This time, Billy Childish has unleashed the debut LP of his latest band, Wild Billy Childish And The Musicians Of The British Empire. Punk Rock At The British Legion Hall takes the two songs from the debut 7" from the new band and adds 12 more new songs the fold. The MBE consist of his wife Nurse Julie on bass (and lead vocals on "Date with Doug") and Wolf Howard (his cohort from the Buffs) on drums. Now, it would be a lie to say that this album is groundbreaking, but it sure does rock. Within the last few years, Billy's songwriting has developed a much more melodic sense then he used to display. He has always been one to wear his influences on his sleeve, but recently he has been displaying a massive Who (A Quick One era especially) influence. Backing vocals, harmonies, and falsettos are appearing in songs that sound almost "pretty" (albeit in a trashed-up form). There are a few songs that fall into this category on Punk Rock... including "Birthday Boy". Don't be fooled though, because there is also a rough instro song, and plenty of the good old rocknroll that has been his bread and butter for almost 30 years.

One of my favorite songs is "Bugger The Buffs", which appeared with a different title on the "Last Of The Buff Medways" 7", which was that band's final release. It's a bare-bones rocker with an excellent rant-style vocal from Billy in a similar vain to classics of his such as "punk rock ist nicht tot", "you are all phonies", and "We Hate The Fuckin' NME". The song more or less tells the story of his career, while name dropping people like Kurt Cobain and "Jackie" White who have revered him. There's also the requisite swipe at ex-lover Tracey Emin. He's bitter that people who have been hugely influenced by him are making millions while he's still living in relative poverty. "We pick up the crumbs that fall from the tables". You got to hand it to him, he has continuously gone out of his way to remain an outsider in every aspect. I may be a bit biased, but I recommend this album for anyone reading this blog right now. And don't be surprised if you see this at or near the top of list for best albums for 2007 at the end of the year.

Here's a song: Bugger The Buffs

Buy the album from Damaged Goods Records

Billy Childish Videos

Thee Headcoats - Just 15



Thee Headcoats - Oh Yeah



Billy Childish & The Blackhands - Can I Ask You Baby

The Buffets

As requested by Mr. Radnauseum, here is some Buffets. The Buffets were a one-off all girl band put together by Billy Childish in 2005, although the album, Saucy Jack didnt get released until last year. Here's the description of the band from the man himself:

The Buffets: a meal consisting of several spicy little dishes from which guests serve themselves Featuring Sister Tiffany Lee Linnes - vocals and guitar (Ex Stuck-up's singer), Nurse Julie - bass and vocals (Chatham Singers) Matron Bongo - drums and vocals (Ex Headcoatee / Dutronc / Speed Of Sound and many many more)

On the afternoon of Sunday April 3rd 2005 Sister Tiffany Lee flew in from Seattle and The Buffets had their first rehearsal.

On Monday the 3rd the girls recorded their debut LP, and on Tuesday the 4th It was Mixed and considered good.

On Friday the 8th they played their first and final show - with their male counterparts, The Buff Medways - to a Capacity audience at London’s famous Dirty Water Club, Next day, Sister Tiffany flew home again.

Their debut album is the record of that brief moment in rock and roll history.

It was a hectic week but one that will hopefully encourage others to do less, quickly.

Here's that top LP for you to enjoy now – and remember, this Buffet is all you can eat!

Jack Chatham
April 9th 2005 Chatham

The album fits nicely in the cd rack next to the Del Monas and Headcoatees, as you can hear for yourself:

Sally Sensation
Just 15

Dan Melchior

Billy Childish's sphere of influence is quite large actually. There are several musicans/bands that he has recorded with/toured with/just generally been associated with that get to share his spotlight with him. One of those guys is Dan Melchior, who through his solo albums, his Broke Revue albums, and other odds and ends is challenging Billy for prolific-ness (??). Here is a small sample of his work. He tends to work in the same damaged blues/rock/garage medium as many of Billy's projects.
The first one is actually from the Billy Childish & Dan Melchior album, "Devil In The Flesh". It's Length Of Pipe
Here is one from The Broke Revue album, "This Love Is Real". It's The Longest Train
Here is one from The Broke Revue album, "Old Time Futureshock". It's One More Time
Lastly, here is a song from the Holly Golightly & Dan Melchior album, "Desperate Little Town". It's Directly From My Heart



Check out Dan Melchior's website and here is his Myspace page

If anyone out there has any other of his albums and would like to share a song or two, lemme know.

Billy Childish & The Singing Loins

Just got back from Vermont, and am ready to start posting again. As promised, here is a repost of the Singing Loins tracks that were originally posted here.

Skinner's Rats
The Pub On The Corner
Medway Wheelers

And now, here are some songs from the collaboration album the Singing Loins did with Billy Childish from the album At The Bridge.



You Make Me Die
The Bitter Cup
One More Bottle To Drink