Somebody alert Roger Corman. We have the perfect house band for one of his low-budget schlock films: L'Assassins, a quartet of buxom women with a mean look about them and an even meaner, vintage rockabilly sound.
Formed last year and already a major contributor to the growing hole in the ozone, the hairspray- and tattoo-heavy group was a shoo-in for the upcoming Girls Got Rhythm Festival with Ronnie Spector (May 11-12 at the Amsterdam Bar). But first, L'Assassins are throwing their own vintage-style party Saturday at Lee's Liquor Lounge to celebrate the release of a 7-inch single and EP. Produced by Mike Wisti of the Rank Strangers, both editions feature the blasting dance romp "Backseat Bomp," a slithering lick-fest for guitarist Monet Wong, along with "7 p.m." Singer Tea Ann Simpson opens the latter song with the foreboding query, "It's 7 p.m. Do you know where your women are?"
Saturday's show starts at 9 p.m., not 7, and will double as a pajama party, with prizes from Tatters for best dressed. The Reckless Ones and Violent Shifters also perform ($6, 21 & older).
For Real-Phonic
"We're actually not getting paid tonight. They just agreed to cancel our collective late fees." So joked the Pines' David Huckfelt last Friday at what is unquestionably the most ornate and photogenic music venue in town, the James J. Hill Reference Library in downtown St. Paul, where Molly Maher, Erik Koskinen and their great roots-rocking band have been hosting what is unquestionably the best local radio show not actually on the radio, the "Real-Phonic Radio Hour" (it's actually longer than an hour, too). The Pines' pristine, bookcase-softened set was unforgettable, as was the five-guitar all-star finale of Koskinen's "Blood and Money," all of which soon will be archived at Realphonic.com. Next up: Charlie Parr April 26. Word is national music guests are being lined up later this year.
Random mix
Those dastardly punkabilly greats the F*** Knights are taking up a Monday night residency at the Triple Rock for all of April (actually five weeks' worth), with different guests starting with the Porch Knights this Monday. Cover is $5, and another $5 gets you a pint of Old Style beer and a shot of whiskey. ...
Two scene vets who now helm the hip-hop program at McNally Smith College of Music, Sean McPherson (Heiruspecs) and Toki Wright recently started hosting free monthly clinics in local libraries. They wrap up the "Hip-Hop Business" workshop at the East Lake Library on Saturday (3-4:30 p.m.), and then comes the "Hip-Hop Legends" session at Minneapolis' Northeast Library on April 5 (6 p.m.) and the three following Thursdays, followed by "Hip-Hop Masters" in May at the Franklin Library. Details are listed under "events" at McNallySmith.edu. ...
