Browsed by
Month: March 2016

The Aquanettas: The Aquanettas Kill Anthrax, four songs, 1988

The Aquanettas: The Aquanettas Kill Anthrax, four songs, 1988

PERSONNEL: Deborah Schwartz: Vocals, guitar Jill Richmond: Guitar Claudine Troise: Bass Stephanie Seymour: Drums, back-up vocals TRACK LISTING: Black On Blonde Faults That Ain’t Right Connecting Line With their catchy, no-frills, Stones/Animals-influenced rock n’ roll, sassy stage presence and hippy-punk fashion sense, The Aquanettas were an “it” band on the late ’80s/early ’90s downtown scene, regularly packing them in at clubs like Nightingales and CBGB, touring nationally, and scoring a “major indie” deal with Vancouver-based Nettwerk Records to release their…

Read More Read More

East River Pipe: Point Of Memory, 1990

East River Pipe: Point Of Memory, 1990

PERSONNEL F.M. Cornog: Vocals, all instruments TRACK LISTING Side 1 Shop An Attitude The Politician’s Crippled Helmet On Fatherland Side 2 40 Miles You Will Never Go Away Million, Trillion I believe this was the second tape I got from the great F.M. Cornog; hopefully the first one will turn up. Fred’s music is the defining sound of the ’90s for me, and I mean that in the best way. “Helmet On” is, of course, the main attraction here, appearing…

Read More Read More

Modern Pioneers: Live at CBGB, July 29, 1986

Modern Pioneers: Live at CBGB, July 29, 1986

PERSONNEL Eric Neher: Vocals, guitar Joe Mollura: Vocals, bass Phill D’Ancona: Drums No track listing Modern Pioneers were one of my favorite Long Island-based bands of the 1980s. The 1982 release of their vinyl debut EP, The Big Hookup, was among the first 12-inch indie releases by a local band; a watershed moment. Singer and songwriter Eric Neher was, and is, a compelling on-stage presence, able to convey strong emotion while always remaining firmly in control. His plaintive, soaring vocals, and twanging Mosrite…

Read More Read More

This Universe Is Open!

This Universe Is Open!

On December 31, 2007, I closed Demo Universe for what I thought was the last time. After 20 years of reviewing unsigned and self-released recordings, I was worn out and ready to move on. I’ve not written a music review since. Flash-forward to 2016 and we’re preparing to renovate our basement. Of course, this means cleaning out a basement packed with 30+ years of crap and ephemera. Among the items dragged into the daylight were four cassette tape display boxes, each…

Read More Read More