The Brian Jonestown Massacre
THE BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE Mastermind ANTON NEWCOMBE About The Way He Creates Music
5 Feberuary 2024
(Brussles – photo by Turn Up The Volume)
Read and learn.
In Concert – THE BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE Brussels 2014
Concert photos from the archives of Turn Up The Volume
10 January 2024
Who: Psychedelic US collective led by mastermind Anton Newcombe
Active: since 1990 / 20 albums (so far)
Brussels – 24 June 2014
Anton Newcombe in the sky with diamonds
Let’s spend the show together
Jumpin’ Anton Flash
With a little help from his friends
BJM
ANTON NEWCOMBE And THE BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE Hit The Bullseye Again With New Magnum Psych Opus
Standout longplayers
25 February 2023
Band: THE BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE
New album: THE FUTURE IS YOUR PAST
Released: 10 February 2023 – order info here
Anton Newcombe: “My son Wolfgang is very different to me, thank god, but we have so many things in common; dancing, making up songs, and vocalizing strange combinations of words and ideas that make us laugh, or make sense to us in some meaningful way,” frontman Anton Newcombe said in a press release. “At a certain point, I started writing down these words and random ideas to use as titles. I felt like everything was so sad and hopeless, but I am not helpless. I decided to sing anthems to empower me, to remember to remember, to fight the beast until it dies, to give it everything you got because that’s all there is to give… these were not songs for COVID times, for these times of war and crisis after crisis, these are songs for all time.”
(Photo by Turn Up The Volume)
Louder Than War said:“Aside from plundering the darkest corners of psychedelic rock,
Brian Jonestown Massacre have ventured into all corners of the sonic spectrum from rock’n’roll, blues, folk, country and pop through to blazing swirls of distortion and mesmerising fuzzed up soundscapes. Also do not forget the sonic textures which have been influenced by musical traditions across the globe, especially the middle east. Much of all of this is on this album
albeit in different shades and shapes than before.”
TUTV: Last year’s Fire Doesn’t Grow On Trees was unquestionably one of the best BJTM’s longplayers of the 21st Century. An intoxicating piece of work still playing regularly on my stereo.
Guess what? Only eight months later and 24/7 musician Anton Newcombe hits bulseye again with this fantastic new LP. Fans (including me, of course) know his all-time favorite sonic sphere he operates in for years now.
The 60s psychedelic fuzz and buzz, the famed BJTM feedback, the jingle jangle virtuosity, the affecting, feverish vocals are all around again with an (even) richer and coherent reverberation than in the old(er) days, but most of all the record’s 10 songs, are without any exception, TOPNOTCH TUNES. Every single track has its own magnetizing attraction and its own spellbinding aura. No arty-farty redundancy, only pure spot-on crafted melodies. An art in itself, missing with so many artists/bands.
I know and you know the cliché, but it’s the most effective way to describe this magnum psych opus: no fillers, all killers. File between the Stones’ Their Satanic Majesties Request and Love’s Forever Changes.
SINGLES: Fudge / The Future Is Your Past
– THE FUTURE IS YOUR PAST –
– FUDGE –
ALBUM
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UK Tour 2023
Say no more.
TBJTM: Facebook – Instagram – Discography
THE BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE – 20th Album Arrives Next Month
Coming up
15 January 2023
Band: THE BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE (San Francisco)
Who: The gang of psychedelic music junkie Anton Newcombe
Active: Since 1990 / 20 studio LPs (incl. new one)
New album: THE FUTURE IS YOUR PAST
Out: 10 February 2023 – order info here
Anton Newcombe: “My son Wolfgang is very different to me, thank god, but we have so many things in common; dancing, making up songs, and vocalizing strange combinations of words and ideas that make us laugh, or make sense to us in some meaningful way,” frontman Anton Newcombe said in a press release. “At a certain point, I started writing down these words and random ideas to use as titles. I felt like everything was so sad and hopeless, but I am not helpless. I decided to sing anthems to empower me, to remember to remember, to fight the beast until it dies, to give it everything you got because that’s all there is to give… these were not songs for COVID times, for these times of war and crisis after crisis, these are songs for all time.”
(Photo by Turn Up The Volume)
Singles/clips (shared so far): Fudge / The Future Is Your Past
– THE FUTURE IS YOUR PAST –
– FUDGE –
TBJTM: Facebook – Instagram – Discography
10 GEMS – THE BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE
Turn Up The Volume picks 10 gems of favorite artists/bands
1 September 2022
Who doesn’t like making all sorts of (play)lists?
I do. Best of lists, end-of-the-year lists, golden oldies lists,
only family lists, guilty pleasure song lists, summer lists,
brand new song lists. Okay, stop, I think I made my point.
Today: THE BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE
Californian-born/Berlin-based musical centipede Anton Newcombe and
his troops released so far 19 studio albums (and multiple collaborative projects),
with Fire Doesn’t Grow On Trees as the most recent and best one in years, and
number 20 The Future Is Your Past lands in October.
I know, you wonder, how is it possible to select
just 10 gems out of countless candidates? Well, I
picked the first ten that popped into my mind.
Enjoy this psychedelic mind massage.
10 GEMS
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TOUR 2022/2023
BJTM: Instagram – Bio – Discography
Turn Up The Volume’s 20 BEST KNOCKOUTS Of The Month – JULY 2022
A stream of rattling rippers, jagged jams, and magnific musings
All 20 knockouts together on Spotify…
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Knockout by Knockout…
1. ‘Silenced’ by THE BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE (Los Angeles/Berlin)
Early this month psych rock virtuoso Anton Newcombe and his orchestra
released new LP Fire Doesn’t Grow On Trees. Their 19th and one of their
best to my keen ears.
And Silenced is one of its standout grooves.
Here’s why…
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2. ADD bY VIAGRA BOYS (Sweden)
The Swedish allies launched their 3rd longplayer CAVE WORLD a couple
of weeks ago. Another swell one with ADD as one of the pithiest tracks.
Make your best move here…
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3. ‘Eight Fivers’ by GILLA BAND (Ireland)
The Irish noiseniks are back in town. Their 3rd
full-length Most Normal arrives in October.
With the lead-single they do again what
they do best, making bone-chilling
chainsaw music.
Cuts like a knife.
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4. ‘Live To Love’ by ILA (Belgium)
Ila is a Belgian post-punk trio fronted by bewitching songstress Ilayda Cicek.
Last year they had their stunning debut album Felt out, containing one of the
best singles of 2021 with Leave Me Dry.
Brand new piece Live To Love confirms
the immense intensity of ILA.
They are here to stay!
Press play and get puzzled…
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5. O.K. Sis by HEY TEAM (The Netherlands)
“This song is about a friend that you loved but just cannot be near. They always get
into trouble, always cause drama/fights, make a bunch of empty promises and get
you to do a bunch of intense stuff for them without getting anything in return.”
It’s a blazing bass/drum tandem that ignites this jiggish jackhammer with ardency
and flamboyance and keeps on steamrolling for the full 140 seconds.
And when an avid Amazon jumps in with pithy and bouncy vocals
you know, you feel and you hear straight away that we have a winner.
Check for yourself…
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6. ‘Baby, I Had An Abortion’ by PETROL GIRLS (UK/Austria)
Last month this raging feminist post-hardcore 4-piece unleashed their 3rd album
named Baby. A badass beast of a record mixing raw power, mouthy screams, and a tsunami of loud and clear messages.
In the light of the incredible Roe v Wade debacle, disrespecting women’s fundamental
human rights, this LP’s sassy slam is a middle finger to all anti-abortion idiots.
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7. ‘Kick Me’ by DANNY ELFMAN and IGGY POP (US)
American film soundtrack composer DANNY ELFMAN has a new album
out, titled BIGGER. MESSIER., on 12 August with reimagined versions of
songs from his last year’s Big Mess longplayer. More info here.
It features guest vocals from Trent Reznor, HEALTH, Zach Hill
of Death Grips, Xiu Xiu, Squarepusher, Ghostemane.
And the omnipresent Iggy Pop joined the fun too with this kick-ass jam.
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8. ‘Living Dead’ by TV DEATH (Newcastle UK)
These psycho-billy maniacs produce a wall-of-holy-smoke havoc on this horror-ific haymaker with sawing guitars, punk turbulence, hellish vocals a pulverizing chorus.
Deadly knockout, right? You betcha.
.
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9. ‘Blue Skies’ by FEVA (Newcastle, UK)
This razzle-dazzle master blaster races and rushes with vivid vigor and fervid
firmness. Punk ‘n roll at its razor-sharp best. And when the towering chorus kicks
in the sky-screaming vocals go through the roof. Amazeballs energy in overdrive.
Steaming score!
Go beserk…
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10. ‘Love Is Free’ by THEM VIBES (Nashville)
A few years ago I saw these striking Nashville gunslingers
live in Belgium. A sweaty rawk and roll gig I’ll never forget.
The band’s new single is another convincingly proof of their
let the good times roll spirit.
Its bang-on boogie woogie drive awakes your lazy limbs
and invites you to jump around to the heated beat.
Elevating – in sound and story – corkers like
this are totally welcome in these grim times.
Hail hail…
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11. ‘Repetition’ by HATIF (Sweden)
If this Krautrock-like rotating electro ripper doesn’t trigger
your body, mind, and senses you need to change your meds.
Its repetitive rhythm mesmerizes and stupefies. Its sickly sticky synth swirl is simply irresistible and its magnetic voice brought the late great Talk Talk leader Mark Hollis
to mind.
Check the vibes here…
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12. ‘Bystander’ by DROPBEAR (Boston)
Talking about a victorious debut single.
On this Herculian stroke metal, shoegaze and classic guitar rock mania (think Eddie Van Halen and Neil Young‘s Crazy Horse) meet with forceful effect, while Rachel Bacon‘s vocals float above the giant raucousness. Bystander is a slow-burning torch, a powerhouse with mammoth riffs. Hefty score from their sterling 5-track EP Spiralized.
Tune in here…
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13. ‘No Exit’ by HVIRESS (Brighton UK)
The obscure slow-progressing synth/guitar intro could easily be the shadowy intro
theme of a film noir starring this duo – Hana Piranha and Mishkin Fitzgerald – as Femmes Fatales with spine-chilling voices that cause a sensation of puzzlement and perturbation strengthened by the heavy metallic reverberations in the back.
Spellbinding!
Roll the tape below.
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14. ‘You Don’t Live Around Here Anymore’ by THE CRAWLING EYE (UK)
This splendid mid-tempo electronic-pop-rock belter wouldn’t
be out of place on a Garbage album, especially vocally.
Singer Regan Meredith has that charismatic Shirley Manson tonality.
When her vivid voice reaches for the sky midway, shivers roll down
your spine.
What a thrill!
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15. ‘No More Good News’ by JO-JO & THE TEETH (London)
When you look glamorous, move glamorous, and sound glamorous,
you have my attention in a flash. This London’s colorful gang’ new wallop
mourns the loss of heroes such as Tom Petty and genius Bowie.
Its avid flow gets under your skin from the get-go. A voltaic retro-resounding
guitar goes solo midway and challenges the somber mood. And Amazon
Jo-Jo spices the ripper with her notable rock voice.
A solid gold glam rock punch.
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16. ’20 Questions’ by LITTLE FUSS (Boston MA)
This starry-eyed pop peach with a booming bass beat and
a vibrant flavor entertains your eager ears on the spot.
This is what pop-ular music is all about. You can sing along,
hum along, whistle along and it puts a big smile on your face.
Any questions? Ask Little Fuss.
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17. ‘A Line Of Shots’ by THE AFGHAN WHIGS (Cincinnati)
High-passionate mavericks The Afghan Whigs from Ohio
with general Greg Dulli upfront will share their 9th longplayer
named How Do You Burn? with the world on 9 September.
A Line Of Shots is one of the brill tracks we heard so far off the LP.
A slo-mo diamond.
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18. ‘Too Close To The Sun‘ by THE SEA AT MIDNIGHT (Los Angeles)
Vince Grant is no stranger to Turn Up The Volume. His dedication to darkwave
is infectious as he shows again here with his new shadowy single. Sonically you still
hear Joy Division and The Cure echoes.
Too Close To The Sun is an addictive melody at heart locked in tenebrous eurhythmics. Think of lots of The Cure hits (Close To You / Friday I’m In Love / Lovecats and so many more). They were experts in writing uncomplicated pop tunes and made them sound instantly captivating.
Grant also unites aural catchiness with shady musicality including
a melancholic saxophone solo in this new composition. Top.
Press play here.
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19. ‘Big Shot City’ by INTERPOL (NYC)
Two weeks ago New York City‘s darlings dropped their 7th LP titled
The Other Side Of Make Believe. In my aural opinion their best
since their 2002 debut.
Big Shot City is a musing for the midnight hours.
Moony and moody.
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20. ‘Great White Shark’ by JESSIE KILGUSS (Brooklyn, NY)
Kilguss‘s voice is just amazing. Resonating somewhere between the magnific
voices of nightingales Angel Olsen and Sharon Van Etten. Yes, that is amazing and
Great White Shark is also a heartfelt sort of musing that those two emotive ladies love. Say no more.
He tears open
From the heart
From the root
From intuition
He tears open
From the gut
From the soul
From inner vision
Wonderful!
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See/hear you next week, music junkies
THE BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE – 19th Album ‘FIRE DOESN’T GROW ON TREES’ Is One Of ANTON NEWCOMBE’s Best
Standout longplayers
10 July 2022
Band: THE BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE (San Francisco)
Who: The gang of psychedelic music expert Anton Newcombe
Active: Since 1990 / 19 studio LPs incl. new one.
New Album: FIRE DOESN’T GROW ON TREES
Order info: here
Anton Newcombe: “When you are compelled to do the right thing, when you live by some internal code, and you don’t shy away from standing up to and in the face of adversity or against the mob or the man no matter what that might mean to ‘your fame or prospects’,
it’s doing the right thing…for some it might be taking a knee, or even a baton or bullet.
That’s a fire inside you, and it doesn’t grow on trees. I create my own culture because it is what I need and what I feel isn’t being provided. It doesn’t exist unless I participate… A lot of the album is about affirmation by just living. Existentially, this time period has felt pretty dark so it’s about fighting the good fight. I’m singing to empower other people. First of all, I’m getting whatever I need out of it, but I can see it as something other people can identify with.”
(Anton Newcombe – photo by Turn Up The Volume)
Turn Up The Volume: Best BJTM album in years with a lot of familiar BJTM fuzz/buzz, fervent feedback, and jingle jangle brilliance, as we know for years now, but with a richer, yes even poppier and more mellow resonance at times (like on ballad diamonds Whats In
A Name? and Before and Afterland) and overall with feverish and impassioned vocals that affect me more with every spin, sending shivers down my spine.
On the other hand, it’s another BJTM record that easily could have been recorded in the mid-60s when psychedelic pop/rock was all over the place. That’s the sound-exploring decade Anton Newcombe loves so much and inspires his own sonic universe so much.
From the past to the future.
But, as ever, with great albums – whether musically influenced by the past or not – it’s always about containing top tunes that you’ll listen to for a very long to come. And here you get 10 standout ones out of 10. The cliché ‘all killer, no filler‘ is totally applicable here. Trust me, this is one of the best LPs of 2022. FACT!
Stream full album on Spotify
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TBJTM: Facebook – Instagram – Discography
THE BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE And MERCURY REV Hit The Road Together In 2022
THE BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE Released ‘THEIR SATANIC MAJESTIES’ REQUEST’ 25 Years Ago
18 June 2021
Band: THE BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE (San Francisco)
Who: The gang of psychedelic music expert Anton Newcombe
Active: Since 1990 / 18 studio albums (so far)
Album: THEIR SATANIC MAJESTIES’ REQUEST – 2nd LP
Released: 18 June 1996 – 25 years ago today
AllMusic/Jason Ankeny: “Truth in advertising: the Brian Jonestown Massacre’s sophomore album does, as promised, spring forth from the Rolling Stones’ long-underrated 1967 masterpiece ‘Their Satanic Majesties Request’, copping not only Mick and Keith’s leering bad-boy attitude but also their rock-and-roll-circus spirit… ‘Second Request’ is painted by Eastern drones and psychedelic tangents, each track bubbling with dozens of sound effects including sitars, mellotrons, farfisas, didgeridoos, tablas, congas, and glockenspiels. Travelling through the past, darkly, the Massacre arrives on the other side unscathed; their music is too rich to be merely retro, and too knowing to be merely slavish, the Stones themselves haven’t made a record this strong or entertaining in years.” Score: 4.5/5.
Turn Up The Volume: Petrifying psychedelia in motion.
Stream album…
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