The Smithereens – “Blood and Roses”

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqML7WbOun8?rel=0]
If you can make it through the 30 second ad, you’ll see the official “Blood and Roses” video!

25 years ago this week, The Smithereens, a rock band proud to be from Jersey, claimed their first spot on the Billboard Maintstream Rock Chart at number 14 with “Blood and Roses,” off their first full length album, Especially For You. This is an important album for Jersey music and pop culture because it’s regarded by critics as one of The Smithereen’s best efforts and also cited by Kurt Cobain to be one of his favorite albums according to his journal. In addition to its video getting MTV airplay, the track “Blood and Roses” appeared in the films Dangerously Close, Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion (I better watch it, that’s 2 Romy and Michele references on this site in one week), and TV’s Miami Vice.

Check out the official website of The Smithereens:

Who Makes Good Music Videos? THE DIRTY PEARLS That’s Who!

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The Sexy Armpit appears in The Dirty Pearls “Who’s Coming Back To Who?” Video

When I think back to when I was a little kid obsessed with MTV, there were always certain videos that would excite the crap out of me. I would be pumped up for days leading up to those Top 100 Videos of All Time countdowns that always seemed to air in the summer. I planned accordingly. I made sure my schedule was cleared, which really just meant that I would forego my typical adventures with my Batman, Star Wars, or Real Ghostbusters action figures. Swimming in the pool was prohibited unless there was a shitty 6 minute video on or an excruciatingly long block of commercials. When my friends or neighbors knocked at my door to ask if I wanted to play kickball down the street, I laughed diabolically in their face. Didn’t they realize the magnitude of this event? It gave me a chance to re-watch all my favorite videos. Back then I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my day.

Let’s see, there was Michael Jackson, Billy Idol, Madonna, Prince, Aerosmith, Guns n Roses, Bon Jovi, Twisted Sister, Poison, Peter Gabriel, The Cars…the list was endless. Since the days of those classic music videos, not only has MTV abandoned music videos altogether, but we’ve also seen the emergence of too many other music video channels. There’s MTV 2, Fuse, VH1 Classic and others. None of which I ever remember to watch due to the fact that I have 900 channels. I JUST WANT MY OLD MTV BACK MUTHATRUCKA!!!

One band has kept it real and has just created a couple of music videos that recall the classic days of MTV and they are The Dirty Pearls. If you haven’t become acquainted with them yet, this is a prime time to jump on board. If MTV still played music videos, these two videos would positively be in heavy rotation.

I was actually part of the filming for “Who’s Coming Back to Who” at Don Hill’s in New York City (RIP), and I’m visible in a few shots throughout the video. Since I won’t make you play Where’s Waldo, here are some of the shots I can be seen in:

The Dirty Pearls Who's Coming Back To Who Video
I’m fist pumping as Director and Star Killer lead singer Jasin Cadic walks by
The Dirty Pearls Who's Coming Back To Who Video
Ominously waiting on line to get in the club behind Tommy Walker of Sweet Fix
The Dirty Pearls Who's Coming Back To Who Video
Just evaluating the goods

The awesome video for their latest track “Static” was filmed with the camera to either the X-Box or the PS3, I can’t remember which one. This video is right up there with the videos for Dire Straits “Money For Nothing” and The White Stripes “Fell in Love With a Girl.”

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Who’s Going To The Dirty Pearls Video Premiere Party?

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After receiving a record amount of entries for any contest ever held here at The Sexy Armpit, one lucky winner will be receiving tickets to see The Dirty Pearls video premiere party at the Bowery Ballroom in NYC! The winning entry was determined by its creative merit, and if it offered that extra oddball flavor that appeals to The Sexy Armpit so much. If you did not win, that doesn’t mean that your entry wasn’t a good one, it just means that the winner went above and beyond to create an extremely insane and dirty entry. The winning entry was coherent and was based on real life events as well.
CONGRATULATIONS TO BRITTANY FROM QUEENS VILLAGE N.Y!
Her entry managed to incorporate Jizzy Pearl, RATT, Faster Pussycat, Six Flags Great Adventure, a couple of lewd sexual situations, and a big stuffed zebra. Although I can’t reprint the whole entry here, it was highly amusing and deserving of the WIN! We’ll see you at the show Brittany! And thanks to all of the participants!
THE DIRTY PEARLS VIDEO PREMIERE PARTY!
JUNE 30th BOWERY BALLROOM, NEW YORK CITY
– The Dirty Pearls Performing Live and premiering 2 brand new music videos!
– Also Stark Killer, Panize, and Sweet Fix in concert
– Hosted by Penthouse Pet Justine Joli
– Other Special Guests

TICKET GIVEAWAY: Get Dirty with The Dirty Pearls!

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There’s been many famous PEARLS throughout history, but how many of them would you actually want to get DIRTY with? Starting today right here at The Sexy Armpit we have your chance to score two tickets to experience The Dirty Pearls live in concert at their huge “Who’s Coming Back to Who” Video Premiere Party at the Bowery Ballroom on JUNE 30th, also featuring the finest rock bands NYC has to offer Star Killer, Panzie, and Sweet Fix. You’ll not only see all these bands rock out, but you’ll also witness special guests AND the premiere of The Dirty Pearls epic video for their latest single “Who’s Coming Back To Who?”

Below is a list of famous Pearls throughout history. All you need to do is choose who you would like to get down and dirty with and email us a sentence stating why you chose that person. Example: “I’d like to get DIRTY with Jizzy Pearl because I wanted to f*ck him when I was 12″ or if you don’t swing that way then, “I’d like to get Dirty with Pearl S. Buck because her last name rhymes with —-” You catch my drift. The funniest or most creative answer wins! Feel free to come up with your own. HAVE FUN!
SEND YOUR SUBMISSION TO: SEXYARMPIT@COMCAST.NET
SUBJECT LINE: THE DIRTY PEARLS
Here are your options:
1. Minnie Pearl – Country comedienne known for always wearing a hat with a price tag hanging from it and starring in the TV show Hee Haw. Her pickup line to a young “feller” was “How-w-w-DEE-E-E-E.”
2. Jizzy Pearl – Rock Singer best known as the front man of Love/Hate, and formerly of RATT, L.A Guns, and Adler’s Appetite. Pretty sure his nickname says it all.
3. Pearl S. Buck – Pulitzer Prize winning author of the sleep inducing The Good Earth. The First women to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. If “descriptions of peasant life in China” turn you on, then Pearl S. Buck will blow your mind.
4. Earl “The Pearl” Monroe – A true basketball pioneer, Monroe is a Hall of Fame Point Guard who played for the New York Knicks and the Baltimore Bullets. He was great at handling balls if that helps sway your decision in any way.
5. Pearl Gallagher – The 3rd maid on Diff’rent Strokes played by Mary Jo Catlett. Pearl was sort of like a mix of Mrs. Garrett and Julia Child. After the crushing departures of Edna and Adelaide, Pearl sure knew how to fill the void if you know what I mean.
CONTEST WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED 6/20. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BYPASS THIS CRAZY CONTEST THEN PURCHASE TICKETS HERE!

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Star Killer Causes a Stellar Explosion in Newark

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Crime was the least of my worries on Saturday night as I ventured to QXT’s in Newark NJ to check out the NYC industrial metal band Star Killer in their first official New Jersey appearance. Lead singer Jasin Cadic grew up in New Jersey, so putting on a show for us here in his home state was a priority.

For over 20 years QXT’s has been the only club in the area where you could hear new wave, goth, 80s, industrial, and punk all in the same venue. As a lifelong Jersey resident, one of the reasons why I never went to the club wasn’t because of the crime in Newark, it was mostly because I doubted that I’d fit in. I listen to the genres of music that their DJ’s spin but visually I always figured I’d have to show up looking like I was the lead singer in a Cure cover band. But, upon hearing that Star Killer would be playing a show at QXT’s I threw all my apprehensions out the window because I knew I had to see them live. For months and months I’ve been listening to their EP (which is available HERE for a limited time free of charge) on my iPod and looking at a few videos from YouTube of shows that went down elsewhere. It was New Jersey’s time to feel the power of Star Killer live, and damn it was a spectacle.

I was in luck, it was superhero night at QXT’s. Glowing lights drenched the scantily clad Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy who were dancing all up on each other. It seemed like a typical night for them, although there was no trace of Batman anywhere. There were other girls dressed as characters from the film Kick-Ass as well as a couple of female Robins too. Holy supertight latex Batman!

As we arrived at the bar I noticed our female bartender’s costume. “Black Spiderman, right?” I asked her. “NO! VENOM!” she snapped back at me dumbfounded that I didn’t know who she was supposed to be dressed like. The Sexy Armpit cut her some slack and decided that her blood wasn’t made up of geekoglobin like mine and she was probably unaware of the origin of Venom. When she bought the costume I’m sure it said “Sexy Venom Costume” because every costume for a girl is “Sexy,” but this one really looked more like your basic black Spiderman costume from Secret Wars. Too confusing for untrue believers. Nevertheless, she was completely attentive and appreciative of her tips. My partner in crime for the night, Money Marc and I hung out and soaked in the scene until Star Killer finally stormed the stage.

Just before it was announced that the band was about to go on there were a few people who trickled out to the offshoot rooms in QXT’s. They really missed out because Star Killer stunned the crowd. For those in attendance who stayed to check them out, it was obvious from their banging heads and lots of crowd feedback that they liked what they were witnessing.

Star Killer’s aggressive onslaught of industrial metal featured songs that are immediately memorable and always get me pumped such as their single “As The Sky Is Falling.” As he introduced the song, singer Jasin Cadic even gave a shout to The Sexy Armpit for being big supporters of the band which was pretty f*cking awesome of him. The stage was lit up with green lasers and blue and red lights as Star Killer tore into many songs from their EP as well as an incredible cover of Joan Jett’s “I Hate Myself For Loving You.” If you are as unsure about getting into a new band as I was about heading to QXT’s, get over it and download their EP now! Star Killer will definitely appeal to hard rock and metal fans, especially those who are into Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson and Korn. Click Here for our full review of Star Killer’s debut EP 

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvQYNy7geXE?rel=0]

Buzz F’n Aldrin’s “Rocket Experience”

In honor of the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11 landing on the moon, I present to you Buzz Aldrin’s “Rocket Experience” rap, straight from FunnyorDie.com! At first, Aldrin’s rap skills may seem rudimentary, but after a couple of listens and a hefty helping of freeze dried ice cream, you’ll come to respect his skillz. Assisting Aldrin on his “Rocket Experience,” were Qunicy Jones, Snoop Dogg, Talib Kweli, and Soulja Boy.

Buzz Aldrin is from Montclair, New Jersey and attended Montclair High School! Thanks for reppin’ Jersey on the motherf’n MOON, Buzz!

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Asbury Park: Butch Walker’s “Here Comes The…” Video

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It feels pretty awesome that Butch Walker chose the legendary Asbury Park, NJ as the locale to film his most recent video for “Here Comes The…” “It’s pretty fun and we shot it in Asbury Park, NJ, which is the coolest little city I’ve seen in quite some time…” said Butch in one of his latest blog posts.

“You sunk my battleship!” That’s what the mannequin said after her human boyfriend beat her at the game, or at least that’s what he imagined she’d said. No, this is not Lars and the Real Girl, this is Butch’s music video about a guy who copes with his girlfriend leaving him by hooking up with a mannequin wearing his ex-girlfriend’s dress. They do all the silly relationship stuff like take pictures in the park, sip Dunkin’ Donuts iced coffee, and fall asleep on the couch.

Pink assists with vocals on the track from Walker’s latest album Sycamore Meadows, which has proved to be one of the most successful singles of his solo career thus far. Butch has reached heights on his own that bands can’t even do with a full staff of PR people and record execs behind them. It wouldn’t matter if Pink sang backup vocals on this track or not because the song is so well written and enjoyable to listen to. In any normal musical climate this song is a mega hit just like the majority of Walker’s other music.

The New Jersey backdrop is a bonus but the video is truly imaginative, and tells a story. All of Butch’s videos have been entertaining and a throwback for me. They remind me of videos that I would’ve seen on MTV countdowns when I was a kid, and NONE of his videos had heavy cable TV airplay. “Here Comes The…” fits nicely in line with the videos for “Bethamphetamine” starring Avril Lavigne and “The Weight of Her” starring Taryn Manning. Check them out and stop by Butch’s website to see all the stuff he has going on: www.butchwalker.com

New Jersey’s Horror Punk Icon: Glenn Danzig

Sure, horror punk icons are awesome, but they’re even more awesome when they’re from Jersey! It’s insane that so many younger people out there are only familiar with Glenn Danzig because of MTV’s heavy rotation of the video for his track “Mother” in 1993. You should be chained to a wall if you weren’t aware that Danzig is the founder and former lead singer of Lodi, NJ’s legendary Misfits. Presently, Danzig is working on a new album and also runs his own record label called Evilive, and the 18 & over comic book company Verotik.

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– In 2002, our favorite fast food freaks from the Jersey Shore paid Danzig the ultimate pop culture tribute when he appeared in the Aqua Teen Hunger Force episode, Cybernetic Ghost of Christmas Past from the Future.

– Yex13’s YouTube channel offers the rare “original” version of Shakira’s “Hips Don’t Lie” video, which features her duet with Glen Danzig. Watch it, especially if you feel like laughing your devilock off.

The Smithereens: “Time Won’t Let Me” from Timecop

Rarely do I have a hard time finding the right words, but this is one of those occasions. I was alive and kicking in 1994 when Timecop was released in theaters, but for reasons which escape me, “Time Won’t Let Me” remember this video. I also don’t remember much about the Timecop sequel, TV show, or video game spawned from it either. If I wasn’t searching for The Smithereens on YouTube, I wouldn’t have came across this lost treasure of cheesiness.

Straight from the Armpit of New Jersey, Carteret to be exact, The Smithereens formed in 1980 and enjoyed success throughout the early ’90s with several power pop hits. In 2000, lead singer Pat DiNizio was gracious enough to grant me an in-studio interview and performance on my college radio show at WKNJ-FM. At that time, DiNizio was gunning for the N.J seat in the U.S Senate, and although he didn’t win, he made quite an impact with headlines all over the place. I’ll wager that I’m not the only one who doesn’t remember The Smithereen’s cover of The Outsider’s “Time Won’t Let Me” from Jean-Claude Van Damme’s highest grossing movie ever, Timecop, but let’s take a look at the video starring the entire band and Muscles from Brussels himself!

The Smithereens are playing The Stone Pony in Asbury Park on June 27th, 2009.