Redd Kross Kickstarter Trailer #2

Redd Kross are one of my favorite bands.  They're my favorite band currently recording or touring.  As a major music geek that's (as Bananarama once said), "really saying something." Jeff and Steve McDonald and director Andrew Reich are raising funds to create a Redd Kross documentary. I don't have a pot to piss in but do have a window to throw it from - if you like that sort of thing.  But should you have $10.00 or 100 or more bucks lying around to help make this happen* you should check out the Kickstarter page (here) for the goodies offered for contributors to the cause. There's everything from autographs to your very own backyard concert. The funding period is down to the wire.  Make it happen.  HIT IT!

 

In 1978, in the Southern California beach suburb of Hawthorne, the
same town that was home to The Beach Boys, two brothers Jeff and Steven
McDonald aged 15 and 11 respectively, started a band called The
Tourists. The first time The Tourists played in front of anyone was at
Black Flag's legendary rehearsal space, The Church in Hermosa Beach. The
older band gave The Tourists not only their seal of approval but a new
name - Red Cross. The spelling was later changed to Redd Kross after the high school-age brothers received a cease and desist order from the International Red Cross. Jeff's response was to change their name to "Redd Kross" in an homage to comedian Redd Foxx.

Born Innocent is directed by Andrew Reich an Emmy Award-winning television comedy writer/showrunner, best known as an Executive Producer on Friends. And the film's producer is Emmy Award winning Julian Cautherley. The documentary has already filmed interviews with Jeff and Steve and Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth), Buzz Osbourne and Dale Crover (The Melvins) and original Red Cross member Greg Hetson (Bad Religion, Circle Jerks). With the help of the Kickstarter campaign the filmmakers will interview many other musicians and artists influenced by the seminal Redd Kross.
 

Redd Kross has long been a cult band, a band's band, a secret code word among music fans

that signifies taste and cool. But unlike many cult bands, their music

is eminently accessible. If you like The Beatles or The Ramones or Cheap

Trick, basically if you're a rock and roll fan, you'll like Redd Kross. 

INTERVIEWS WILL INCLUDE

They already have hours of interviews filmed with Jeff and Steve McDonald.

We have also interviewed Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth) Buzz Osbourne and

Dale Crover (The Melvins) and original Red Cross member Greg Hetson (Bad

Religion, Circle Jerks). With your support we hope to film additional

interviews with most if not all of the following fans of the band and

key figures in the Redd Kross story:

• Keith Morris (Black Flag, Circle Jerks, Off!)
• Charlotte Caffey (The Go-Go's)
• Rodney Bingenheimer (KROQ)
• Mike Watt (The Minutemen)
• Chuck Dukowski (Black Flag)
• Pat Smear (The Germs, Nirvana)
• Belinda Carlisle (The Go-Go's)
• Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth)
• Jonathan Poneman (Sub Pop Records)
• Mark Arm (Mudhoney)
• Kim Thayil (Soundgarden)
• Jeff Ament (Pearl Jam)
• A.C. Newman (The New Pornographers)
• Anna Waronker (That Dog)
• Dave Markey (Director, Desperate Teenage Lovedolls and The Year That Punk Broke)
• Jordan Schwartz (We Got Power fanzine)
• John Doe (X)
• Milo Aukerman (The Descendents)
• Lee Burger (Burger Records)
• Anthony Keidis (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
• Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
• Mac McCaughan (Superchunk, Merge Records)
• Raymond Pettibon (artist)
• Jack White (White Stripes)
• Gibby Haynes (Butthole Surfers)
• Steven Malkmus (Pavement)
• J. Mascis (Dinosaur Jr.)
• Greg Dulli (Afghan Whigs)
• Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees)
• Jack Antonoff (fun.)
• Ron and Russell Mael (Sparks)

They will also film interviews with current or former Redd Kross
band members: Brian Reitzell, Robert Hecker, Gere Fennelly, Dez Cadena,
Janet Housden, Roy McDonald, Ron Reyes, Jack Irons, Jason Shapiro, and
Dale Crover.

                     

*Update 9/30/2019 The goal has been reached & the film will be made.

Attention Old & Young Punks! Desolation Center Theatrical Trailer

Desolation Center, the indie music festival documentary which has played numerous film festivals worldwide, is set to begin a national theatrical rollout starting on September 13th in Los Angeles. The film

is the untold story of a series of guerrilla music and art performance

happenings in the 80s which inspired the birth of contemporary festival

culture including Burning Man, Lollapalooza and Coachella. The film

combines interviews of punk and post-punk luminaries with rare

performance footage of Sonic Youth, Minutemen, Meat Puppets, Perry

Farrell, Redd Kross, Swans,

Einstürzende Neubauten, Survival Research Laboratories, Savage Republic

and more, giving viewers unprecedented access to a time when pushing the

boundaries of music, art, and performance was like an unspoken

obligation. Directed by the creator and organizer of the original

events, Stuart Swezey, Desolation Center tells the true story of how the

risky, and at times even reckless, actions of a few outsiders were able

to incite seismic cultural shifts.

The film explores an almost lost subcultural story that will also be a catalyst

to future generations to question assumptions and carve out new

possibilities to express themselves. As Thurston Moore also described to

the New York Times, the mood was "one of complete joy and

wonder at being together in a place that might as well have been another

planet." He said the most radical attribute of Desolation Center was that "it asked no permission," and he called the show "one of the great moments" in the history of Sonic Youth. 

*No DVD date as yet, but prick up your ears in about 6 months.

FEATURES: Sonic Youth, Minutemen, Meat Puppets, Perry Farrell, Redd Kross, Einstürzende Neubauten, Survival Research Laboratories, Savage Republic

"Hundreds of punks hit the desert.... The modern music festival was born. These
anarchic desert happenings didn't last long . . . but now their history
is chronicled in a documentary called Desolation Center." - The New York Times

Redd Kross To Release Beyond The Door

 Merge Records will release the new Redd Kross album Beyond the Door on August 23.

I'm really sorry I slept on this everybody.  It's either flooding or hotter than a - (insert something  really super hot and then add a habanero and a ghost chili salsa) in my computer nook and writing has not been a priority. Miss me?  (::crickets::::crickets::) Although I've not been actively blogging for quite some time - I think Redd Kross definitely deserve a mention.  So I'm back to post some righteous information for you.

Merge Records will release the new Redd Kross album Beyond the Door on August 23.  Steven said this album is the most collaborative Redd Kross album since Born Innocent. My promo email said a bunch of promo person stuff that, although their time is appreciated, is left on the cutting room floor for our purposes. I am sure this album will be nothing less than stellar and likely one of the best albums released in the last 7 years ( when their last album Researching the Blues was released). I'm hoping we can look forward to some great melodies, some truth, a bit of kitsch, and I say in all earnest sincerity - a bit of rocking our collective asses off. The track listing is:

Track/Song Title		Duration
The Party		2:09
Fighting		2:25
Beyond the Door		2:32
There's No One Like You		2:49
Ice Cream (Strange and Pleasing)		3:43
Fantástico Roberto		3:54
The Party Underground		3:10
What's a Boy to Do?		3:22
Punk II		1:41
Jone Hoople		3:17
When Do I Get to Sing "My Way"       4:02

CD: Housed in a 4-panel digipak. Includes 12-page booklet with lyrics and photos. LP: Includes lyrics printed on inner sleeve plus digital download. Peak Vinyl: Limited-edition pressing on opaque purple vinyl. Same packaging as standard LP including download. Also, check out the specially priced bundle which includes the album on both CD and Peak Vinyl plus an exclusive t-shirt with the Redd Kross logo in gold on a purple unisex Royal Apparel tee.

Redd Kross Mailing List Subscribers or Thisismyhappeningblogspot.com readers who ask me via facebook message receive 10% off at the MERGE online store www.mergerecords.com/beyond-the-door!  Merge purchases will ship to arrive on or around the release date August 23 & include FREE SHIPPING within the U.S.

As you may know Redd Kross are one of my favorite bands, but which Redd Kross? Well that's the thing - they have been at different times and sometimes simultaneously Punk, Power Pop, Melodic 60s and 70s harmony influenced and/ or straight up Rock. But for quite some time now they have been providing those who care to pay attention with well crafted - call it whatever you want to call it - music that stands the test of time. Music that made me proud to mount some of their album art among the few pieces I've placed in my home.   Like Kiss, they have an "army" of devoted fans who stick with them through decades, styles, and solo albums (*cough*  better than any Kiss effort *cough*). I personally loved taking their tour of the bubblegum factory on Third Eye as much as their (should have been arena filling) Phaseshifter album and their last release Rehearsing the Blues. What category? Who cares? I can tell you they aren't pan flute. I'm sure I'm going to love Beyond the Door too, and don't mind waiting for quality. I also look forward to seeing them on the road with Melvins and Shit Kid.
As you may know Steven McDonald will be doing double duty as he continues to fool Father Time by bassing (yeah I said bassing) for both Melvins and Redd Kross on the summer 2019 tour.

MELVINS / REDD KROSS / SHIT KID  https://www.facebook.com/shitkidmusic/

US TOUR 2019

25 Jul Atlanta, GA The EARL 26 Jul Asheville, NC The Grey Eagle - ALL AGES SHOW! 27 Jul Carrboro, NC MRG30 @ Cat's Cradle SOLD OUT! 03 Sep San Diego, CA Casbah 04 Sep Santa Ana, CA Observatory 05 Sep Los Angeles, CA Troubadour 07 Sep Sacramento, CA Holy Diver 08 Sep Berkeley, CA Cornerstone 09 Sep Eugene, OR Wow Hall 11 Sep Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge 13 Sep Seattle, WA Neumo’s 14 Sep Seattle, WA Neumo’s 15 Sep Spokane, WA The Big Dipper 16 Sep Missoula, M Top Hat Lounge 17 Sep Salt Lake City, UT Urban Lounge 19 Sep Ft. Collins, CO Aggie Theatre 20 Sep Englewood, CO Gothic Theatre 22 Sep Kansas City, MO The Record Bar 23 Sep Omaha, NE The Waiting Room 24 Sep Minneapolis, MN First Avenue 25 Sep Madison, WI High Noon Saloon 26 Sep Chicago, IL Metro 27 Sep St. Louis, MO The Ready Room 28 Sep LOUSIVILLE, KY HIGHLAND FESTIVAL GROUNDS AT KY EXPO CENTER 30 Sep Indianapolis, IN The Vogue 01 Oct Grand Rapids, MI Pyramid Scheme 02 Oct Cleveland, OH Grog Shop 03 Oct Detroit, MI El Club 04 Oct Columbus, OH A&R Music Bar 05 Oct Pittsburgh, PA Rex Theatre 07 Oct Syracuse, NY Wescott Theatre 08 Oct Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club 09 Oct Hamden, CT Space Ballroom 10 Oct Brooklyn, NY Warsaw 11 Oct Asbury Park, NJ Stone Pony 12 Oct Philadelphia, PA Underground Arts 13 Oct Baltimore, MD Otto Bar 15 Oct Richmond, VA The Broadberry 16 Oct Carrboro, NC Cat’s Cradle 17 Oct Charlotte, NC Visulite Theatre 18 Oct Athens, GA 40 Watt Club 19 Oct Birmingham, AL Saturn 21 Oct Orlando, FL The Social 22 Oct Ft. Lauderdale, FL Culture Room 23 Oct Tampa, FL The Orpheum 25 Oct Pensacola, FL Vinyl Music Hall 26 Oct New Orleans, LA One Eyed Jacks 27 Oct Baton Rouge, LA Spanish Moon 28 Oct Houston, TX Warehouse Live Studio 29 Oct San Antonio, TX Paper Tiger 30 Oct Austin, TX Mohawk 31 Oct Dallas, TX Trees 03 Nov Tucson, AZ Club Congress 04 Nov Phoenix, AZ Crescent Ballroom 05 Nov Las Vegas, NV The Bunkhouse Saloon

New Band Alert! Broken Bat

Brothers and sisters I'm setting off the fire alarm and clearing the way for a brand new band who call themselves Broken Bat. I have nothing to stream or embed as they are currently recording, but it will surely be amazing. Broken Bat are: Ty Segall (Fuzz, Ty Segall Band & more), Steve McDonald (OFF!, Redd Kross, Ze Malibu Kids & more), and Dale Crover (Melvins and more). In the spirit of promoting things I truly recommend and artists I believe are great without any corporate bs in the way, I'm hoping I can get an interview or an early preview of their music for you! Stay tuned!

Redd Kross / Red Cross Performing Their First EP Live

Red Cross Perform the Posh Boy EP Live - Club Lingerie Oct 13, 2010


Thanks to youtube user FurleyVision

More New Jeff McDonald

"Sister Shake It!" Jeff McDonald


For hardcore Redd Kross fans or weirdos only. I am both - so that works out well for me.
Available via Beauty Is Pain 1443 N. Highland Ave. Hollywood, Ca. 90028

OFF! 5.22.2010

Keith Morris, Steven McDonald, Dimitri Coats and Mario Rubalcaba are OFF!



6th St. Warehouse - May 2, 2010

OFF!

Check out harcore band OFF!



Featuring:
Keith Morris - vocals
(Circle Jerks/Black Flag/Midget Handjob/Buglamp)

Dimitri Coats - guitar
(Burning Brides)

Steven McDonald - bass
(Redd Kross/Tourists/Tater Totz/Sparks/Beck)

Mario Rubalcaba - drums
(Earthless/RFTC/Hot Snakes/Clikitat Ikatowi & a few others)


Thanks to youtube user marginwalker01 for posting and allowing embedding.

http://www.myspace.com/off
http://www.facebook.com/offband
http://offofficial.com/

New Jeff McDonald (Redd Kross)

Jeff McDonald Performs The Outrageous Incantations of Beatrice Winters is available as a limited edition vinyl only release at:

Beauty Is Pain
1443 N. Highland Ave.
Hollywood, Ca. 90028

Amoeba Records / Vacation / Ebay / random Goodwill Stores in the Los Angeles and anywhere vinyl is sold.
To pay via paypal Paypal
click here.

Pressing limited to 500. "When They're Gone They're Gone!"

To preview on facebook
click here.

Learn To Play Redd Kross "Gnarly Christmas"

Learn to play the Redd Kross song "Gnarly Christmas" in a free online lesson from Robert Hecker on Playthisriff.com. I've never even heard the song. I have "Super Sunny Christmas" and "Mary Christmas," but not "Gnarly Christmas." So if anyone has the goods - message me.

click here

Congratulations to Steve McDonald and Anna Waronker

Sources tell me that Anna Waronker (That Dog, Ze Malibu Kids, solo) gave birth on Saturday to a healthy baby boy, whose name is yet to be determined. ( hint - Alfie) This is the first child for Waronker and husband Steve McDonald (Redd Kross, SMG, Ze Malibu Kids, session musician). Congratulations to them, and three is the magic number, yes it is.

Plans are still afoot, and recording sessions taking place for a new Redd Kross album to follow up the success of the bands Neurotica Line Up Tour.

Redd Kross "Downtown" / Got Live If You Must Dvd

I still can't get my hands on the dvd and it is really bugging me. Both a friend and I have tried to order it to no avail for months -- well before Christmas.

Sparks / Redd Kross/Flyin' Our Freak Flags

"All Sparks records play well with one another," says Steven McDonald
now, who (with Jim Wilson, Marcus Junca, and Steven Nistor) helped
perform those 21 albums during a break from his usual duties as the
bassist of Redd Kross – another L.A. rock 'n' roll brother team, he
adds. "The songs weave a continuum that makes the music undeniably
Sparks. All good bands are insular. Sparks are definitely not to be
excluded from that tradition. They have their own set of values and
interests that are unique to Sparks and Sparks fans alike. All my
friends that have been deep Sparks enthusiasts from the get-go are all
truly unique freak-flag-fliers – my favorite kind of people!"

LA City Beat, February 11 2009

The latest Sparks Recording:

Redd Kross New Live DVD

The old tune "After School Special" sounds great from the upcoming DVD Got Live if You Must! http://reddkross.com/exclusive/

Steve McDonald This Is Not a Rebellion [EP] / Redd Kross

I own this cd, but it has long been scarce and highly sought after by Redd Kross fans.
If you want it - snatch it up while you have the chance. Steve McDonald (Redd Kross) had his first cd released at age 14, has played with Beck and Sparks, and is a very respected music producer. He is currently working with his brother Jeff on the new Redd Kross album.


Redd Kross is a great band whose style varies from project to project. If you're curious or missing any in your library - check them out here:Redd Kross Cds

The (classic cd) Neurotica reissue was great, but the recent Third Eye reissue by Rhino has no bonus tracks. The band wasn't asked for their input or they would have gladly obliged. Still - I bought one for a friend for her birthday. Redd Kross makes the perfect gift for the groovy.


If you don't own Sound it Out
by Ze Malibu Kids - I highly recommend it.