Download music connected to your favorite 90s SW Michigan clique

LeonsTemple.com is a music download/networking site for people interested in, fans of, and contributors of music generated by the SW Michigan/Kalamazoo music phenom that happened in the early 90s. We're not sure what else to call it, but in 1992ish there were about 115 bands, 17 venues, and about a 1/2 dozen record contracts in a 70k-person town, with a bunch of hot bands creating genre-breaking energetic music. Basically, if you know what it is you know what will be here. Find those elusive albums that you've long lost or never had and download them on MP3. Not only those, but everything in the family tree - hear what those freaks and geeks did before hand, afterwards, and even what their friends did. Hopefully rare live and b-side type stuff will be posted as well. Feel free to burn them to disc and share with new friends. Leave a message. If you have something to contribute, i.e., music that belongs here, send it on to cool @ leons temple . com (remove spaces). Make it easy for us to post, e.g., write your bio, list band members, send mp3s.

See the latest list and add you own. Latest: kzoo things Posted on 2009-04-03 GO!

Updates:

May 15, 2009

New treats today from the wildtimes: TONGUE and OBTRUSIVE MODE.

Tongue's song "unhappy" will bring you right back. This is the one they used to open with. This is the first time I've heard the bass part, which is pretty neat. J. Gorgone had such a cool bass rig with such a sonic range that, as an audience member, I could only ever hear a rumble and clicks, but never any notes. The influence of Primus, prevalent among TI, Screwtape, and others, dates this within a heartbeat. The second song is unmitigated confusion. JOHN RIEMER promises a third song that he is in the midst of encoding.

DuG Garnett gives a meaty bio for OBTRUSIVE MODE. There is some very neat guitar riffs in this, and the fellow singing sounds genuinelly upset.

April 26, 2009

No new music this month, and it's not my fault. Nobody is sending anything in. Did I forget anything? I suppose I could finally post the unreleased TWITCH albums, Eh, maybe later.

If you are on FACEBOOK, as many are, there is a huge archive of photos from CLUB SODA under the group "CLUB SODA ROCKED, most posted by Club Soda Monarch PAUL TOTH. What I didn't realize was the African Americans sometimes played and visited the club. Who knew?

Here's a treat from the archive. It's The THOUGHT INDUSTRY playing nnon, that thing they used to do at the end to convince us that they were wierd. Oddly, DUSTIN is the only member properly dressed for a rock show. BRENT has apparently stolen a pair of his grammies sweat pants, NZO looks dressed to play the clarinet in the high school orchestra, and CHRISTOPHER LEE apparently thought it would be chilly on stage and brought a sweat shirt.

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I may have to revisit my thoughts on how Paul dressed here. I'm personally no stranger to the plaid button-down tucked into Khakis look, but I'm usually standing in front of a PowerPoint slide.

Speaking of Thought Industry, JEFF WAGNER is writing a book on progressive heavy metal, including the likes of DREAM THEATRE, VOI VOD, QUEENSRYCHE, and our own boots-n-shorts crew. He's looking for a high-rez photo of the band in its progressive metal form (That means he needs nothing from Jeff Borkowski), preferrably in a print-worthy resolution. You can track him down, and maybe buy the book at some point, here http://bazillionpoints.com/zite/?p=21

Here's more stuff abscounded from FaceBook. I think KARLA WESCOTT organized a reunion of Templers, consisting largely of those who haven't expatriated. Apparently everyone still likes to stand in circles and drink beer. A very thin, in-shape crowd given their advanced ages. This first picture of ROLLINGHEAD is one Argyle sweater-vest short of looking like post-eighteenth-hole revelry at the clubhouse. They look like what I imagine my dad's friends to look like.

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If you missed it, there are some new Top 10 lists posted in the past few weeks.

And, you've seen it on the board here: KING TAMMMY guitarist DARRIN DOYLE has published (his first?) a new book called "REVENGE OF THE TEACHERS PET. You can and should buy a copy: HERE ON AMAZON for $11. I received my copy last week and have just started reading it. I'll submit a full book report later.

DuG GARNETT writes in to announce another project (dude's busy!): hey it's DuG again. this time i'm letting everyone know that i have a debut double release from my band RaBiDeArS called The New Shaboom! coming out may 9. anyone interested can visit www.rabidears.net or myspace.com/rabidearsband

Grease and Peace,

March 7, 2009

New music: MONOGLOT and the impossibly so-cleverly-name-its-what? DYNAMIC RIBBON DEVICE CRACKERTAX. I know nothing about this, so throw caution to the wind and leave your opinion.

Here's some torture from FB. Many like myself seemed to like dressing as Cirque de Solie in highschool vs having to dress up in some regimented black and plaid punk rocker uniform. This first chick is so hot that I'd take a time machine to bang her all night long, even though it is me. The young Till is the hairspray queen on the right (you may ignore the other high schoolers:

Speaking of hot chicks, a young Erin Dwight is still foxy despite cutting her hair with a lawn mower. I'm not sure the BILL COSBY sweater is very cool, though.:

Who is this? For a dude who only end up having hair for less than a quarter of his life certainly made some good use of it:

Who is this rarified pussy magnet? You just know this guy was lover. And why am I not picking some of those awesome ones Charlie's been posting?

And, a picture of Jim Carrey from the so-so flick about dumb people:

DAVE NASH and BRENT OBERLIN without DAN ROE went out last weekend. We exchanged over 49 emails in order to coordinate meeting at one bar and then going to see Kzoo-ite STEPHEN LYNCH (picture below, homophobes BEWARE). Back in 1992, we discussed, it may have taken exactly 0 emails and probably not even a call to get us in the same bar. I had mentioned, in a different topic line, that TOMMY FULLER and I went fishing one day, because he just happened to stop buy looking for people to go fishing with. Who can do that in our email age? Not me. Tommy, BTW, has some pretty awesome AQUANET era pictures as well from his hair styling days. Someone want to send them in?

Because of the DOWNTURN (it was never the president, it's the system, fools), we had to move servers and many files are gone missing. We're hoping there was little loss of MUSIC, because I don't have that backed up. If you find broken links, please just let us know. Thanks!

February 14, 2009

Finally, we have a few CLUB SODA CALENDARS. COLIN HOOPINGARNER sent these back in July 2007, almost 20 months ago, to which it took JOBY a good long time to scan and post (which we are super-grateful for. Joby had previously given me some excuse about being busy changing tires, which I didn't understand). I took the time to make notes, but I think many people could probably see all sorts of different history in them.

If GEOFF HALSEY feels lazy about BRYERS putting in music time, let it be known that Chris announced this week that his next record is already written and that he is in the 'studio' now laying the tracks. Can't wait!

KARL KNACK sent me a lengthy note this week about calling me fuckface, amongst other things. He's putting CDs in the KPL, so give him a hand if you got them.

Happy Valentines day, my sick hot lovers.

January 25, 2009

New music: SILO. This is a recent project by AARON JEROME, JOBY, and others. Download for free. It's on M4a format, which I think is iTunes. For other would-be contributors, I beleive MP3's are still the most universally compaitble file format.

CARK ASKEW kicks off our FLYERS PAGE. Check it out. There's some good stuff there. The Club Soda calendar is interesting. Selling Heaven gets a Saturday night. Overman on twice in the same month. Hole+thought Industry. Twitch opens. And of course: Keeper Wild! Assembly Required? Shitty band name.

When-oh-when is JOBY going to upload all of those Soda calendars???

I've put up the article/memoir of JOHN HENRY. Not to be confused with the lumberjack whose heart exploded, also known as Animal, tells stories of the day, including a well-vetted one about KRISTY KAMPSMITH. John, arguably under the spells of youth, thought being FOUR PEACE's 'manager' (um, handler?) would be productive work.

If anybody needs things un-posted due to work/family/embarrassement/privacy, etc., let me know at cool @ leons temple . com (remove spaces) and I'll take it down lickety split. People's grandmothers are on the internets these days for chrissakes.

RON MUNIZ and MELISSA FAVARA both became my 'friends' this week on FB, but all they have are pictures of their grubby kids. Who rocks anymore? Nobody. That's who.

Today, or this week, is DAVE NASH's 40th birthday. Happy birthday! If you see him, ask him how many holes could a young buck fuck if young bucks could fuck holes. And then punch him in his cocksucker.

NICK PETROFF and his mullet wrote in to let you all know: "I’ve had some friends find the Catharsis page on your site who also asked about another band I was in, Squelch. Could you please add a link to the Squelch CD http://www.radhs.com/squelch.html in the “Connections” section of the Catharsis page when you get a chance?". Consider it done, Nick.

KARLA would like people to text her. Of all things she could ask for publicly. She's in Henry's story as well, except whereas Kristy gets to be the hot bikini girl, Karla is in the school orchestra. (Dork! Nelson rides by on his bike: "ha ha")

I got a note from MIKE ROSENBAUM and some board posters who are making the case for the likes of MOM HANDY and THE ERJ to be included in our hot beer cotillion. I was going to let GEOFF HALSEY make these decisions, as a clique has to have boundaries to be a proper clique... You see, everything here is viewed through MY eyes, and I used to work nights on Thursday, Friday and Saturday when JAH KINGS were playing SODA. Anyways, they get their own category now.

MARK SHADE, I think we got the link straightened out. You can tell PAUL KIRY to calm the fuck the down. Why is that boy so angry???

AMY STEVENS, our family just got done watching BLUE VELVET this week too, and everybody has been walking around saying "daddy wants to fuck" like it's the new howdoyoudo.

If you haven't yet, download BIRDS already.

Winter sucks it.

January 11, 2009

Don't tell me I never got you anything. New music this month: BRYERS - BIRDS! Likely you already have this classic because JIM CHERRY or JOBY burned you a copy long ago. This is a real gem. 12 songs written and performed in Bryer's basement, making this his first solo record and the first property available after his awesome "Sleet Volume Drops" CD. This album is quiet and personal, it feels like a solo project. The production value won't win a grammy, but it's a profound lesson in that if you have awesome songs and awesome singing, you can gladly snap along to the drum machine. I think my favorite is "prettiest girl in town" (track 3?) and Ku Ku Bird is an instant classic (track 5 or 6, it's unmistakable).

This reminds me of my least favorite live version of a song, which is the Cure's remake of "Close to me" where they add horns to the song. It's been bothering me for 22 years. Glad I could get it off of my chest. I'm hoping Chris never redoes this album with horns, because it is dandy as-is.

But really, burn this to two discs. One for the car and one for home, and another for the iPod.

Also, I've re-posted the first six songs of HAZEL AND THE BLACK RABBIT for you to download. Copes of that (and my own "Adipisci") are for sale if you need to almost* complete your Bryers collection.

Also, I set up a fan page for the 'temple on facebook. I think the clunky and annoying MySpace has lost out in the Web 2.0 game. Become a fan, if for no other reason, to spread the faith to the uninitiated: http://www.facebook.com/pages/LeonsTemplecom/42531844366

SONIC TRIBE and RESIN MATTRESS now have their own pages. Phew!

* Kevin Oberlin: Chime in on unreleased twitch. Your awaiting fans are legion.

January 1, 2009

Happy Birthday shouts Frosty everytime he is revived. Today marks the second birthday of LEONSTEMPLE. It was January 1, 2007 I started this site, planning on starting small and gradually adding files month by month. We now had over 60 bands, over 300 songs posted, and that probably isn't even half of what is out there. We get about 270 visits per day (this probably includes robots).

Have you seen the Frosty cartoon recently BTW? What an unmitigated piece of shit that is.

KillSwitch, Crick, and GHG are the most popular download. Sometimes we register as many as 500 downloads for some songs, such as "my girl is patriotic".

A scant 18 years ago, Overman debuted at the Eat house on Academy street.

Here's a note Luke deCastro just left me on FaceBook:

Jeff, May your 2009 have the subtle grace of the Pregnant Robot and the irrepressible tenacity of the Frozen Caveman. Truly, your kung fu is the best. The boners you inspire are raging (and figurative...for me...mostly).

Ha!

Dude, I think you're a really good guy and always have thought that. It's a shame we can't just drop by and hang out like back in the day. I'll be having vodka tonics tonight and at least one of those has your name on it, as they say.

Your friend,

Luke

He didn't intend it to go to the temple, but I thought it would be nice to share. At least SOMEBODY is looking forward to 2009. 2008 seemed kind of crappy, and many are glad that it has passed, but not much to look forward to, at least in a sort macro-political-economic way. Fortunately, our lives aren't run individually soley by macro-political-economic means. For example, my boy HUCK here could totally not give a fuck about fiat currency or central banking:

FaceBook, seeming generational in its push, has seemed to sweep heavily into us in our 30's and 40's. If you have nephew or neice in college, you'll see that their posts and friends rank in the thousands. They are fully integrated. Old people, like myself, run websites I guess. Anyways, the point being that this site will work whether it is a museum or it is social spot.

The updates to this site are slowing. People keep promising to send stuff, but time wears on. There is still plenty of fun stuff to come. I get a contribution promised almost weekly.

OVERMAN and SCREWTAPER CRAIG VERITY visited MI lately and found some old flyers (click for bigger):

If anyone was curious about what finish I have on my kitchen counter tops or what my wedding band looks like: feast your eyes on this, fucker. The artistry of these flyers is horrible and I don't recall going to or playing OT's. What a trecherous drunk drive home that must of been! Nice bookings though, with both shows having a very consistent roster. I can practically smell and taste the 'red' show. Who would be the most irreverent? The wild and wackiest? The show on the left would be a seminar on conducting boring but effective band practices. WTF? Why does Screwtape open that show? We had 12 fans in Battle Creek and Tongue only had 9!! This is an outrage that they are headlining! Oh oops, I probably had my shift at Kinkos that night and had to get home early.

TONGUE must of got something on tape. JOHN REIMER must of owned a cassette four-track at the minimum. Someone should send it in.

Congratulations to MATT SAHLGEN and his family, as they have a new son named OSCAR.

CHRISTMAS WITH SMIRK THE GODBLENDER AKA THE SQUID. BRENT OBERLIN and his wife ERICA visited the Till Manse for a pre-holiday visit and sleep-over. Brent was the singer and guitarist for such bands as THOUGHT INDUSTRY, GENIUS HIRED GUNS, and COSMONAUGHT as well as being a corporate accountant. We had a fabu time listening to old 'Temple era records after spending an evening singing carols by the fire with the kids. He also told me the very exclusive status of the new THOUGHT INDUSTRY record. Unfortunately he told me at midnight right before I blacked-out, so I won't be able to share that tidbit with you.

JOE LAWLESS, who besides being 100% of JUST SAY JOE, was the crackly voiced "jaw popped out guy" and the end of SONGS FOR INSECTS, was sick and was in the hospital. Let us all well-wish (Wishing well?) him here. Get better soon, Joe!

MARK SHADE: I got your note. I'm, working on it. RESIN MATTRESS NATION is amply confused.

Also, AARON JEROME wrote with a new project he did with JOBY but I haven't got a chance to post it yet. JOBY can you do this?? Dude, it is you.

MIKE R. wrote in and is going to send us some ERJ. Although I think the high master council of the 'Temple will have to weigh in on whether or not the ERJ was peer enough for this site. GEOFF HALSEY - the decision is yours.

Does anyone feel sympathy for us poor New England Patriots fans whose poor team went 11-5 and missed the playoffs? No? Beuler? You'd think this population of LIONS fans would be able to relate to a tough season. Speaking of Tackleball (was I?) WMU's team, the BRONCOS, was on the national stage this week playing Rice. They got pasted.

Rumor is that KEVIN OBERLIN and CHRIS BRYERS are going to go to APPLEBEE's and then to a MOVIE this weekend. Clever TWITCH fans should track them down and make them rock out "FEEL THE PALM" with their dinnerware.

I'm going to go shovel snow. Happy new year, you little kings and queens of Kalamazoo.

Sweetly,

The Management.

December 11, 2008

Here's a little break from our regularly scheduled programming. It's not Kzoo, but I know about a hundred of you who will enjoy this: http://thetyser.com/

November 26, 2008

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyNZlNmCcuA

Happy thanksgiving, all you punkers and poseurs alike.

November 14, 2008

New music: RESIN MATTRESS. MARC SHADE sends in the submission (submits the send-in?). I'm not sure if this was a release or what, but you can go go go get it now. PAUL KIRY should submit a proper write-up, full of personal quips and insights.

RON CASEBEER sends in this flyer (right+click "open image by itself" to see it larger). He's promised to send some goodies for us all via post.

Is your QUIXOTE collection complete? Not yet, the MANOSAUR (?) sends in the 11th master track, which you can find HERE.

JOHN HENRY has nothing to report right now.

If anyone is curious why the terrorists hate us, it's because we TWITTER. For example, I now know that KARLA WESCOTT is happy to see a doctor last Thursday, KATHRYN VON MAUR went to the library on Thursday, CHONK went to the gas station, JOE LAWLESS might look for a new job, JEFF BORKOWSKI isn't really doing anything at all, DARREN DOYLE is wearing a clown nose (by far the most interesting so far), MATT SAHLGREN ate some meatloaf, LIZ JACKSON likes Phoebe Snow, MOLLY and GEOFF HALSEY are eating Pho I think (certainly one-upping the Sahgrens, but isn't pho so 1996?), and LUKE DECASTRO apparently listens to Prince music. I'm getting bored typing this. Luke should be awarded for successfully calling me on my own lamo twitter, picking an obscurish reference I posted from a Disney movie.

The Bradford boys don't even monkey with this shit.

October 25, 2008

I found this floating between Chonk's and Lawless' Facebook accounts. (right click 'open image' or similar to see a bigger version):

One might look at this and think "sweet, 7 Seconds rock", and then think "cool, we'll get to see FAQ too, what a perfect match-up", and the real treat is to scroll down in the little handwriting and know, that if you were to show up at 11 AM, you could see "just say joe", which, if memory serves, was Joe Lawless + mic + guitar.

October 11, 2008

Anybody got anything for me? Can someone digitize the BANTER CLAN release? Anybody talking to the IN AUTUMN guys recently?

Ten years ago yesterday, BRENT OBERLIN watched me get married and then watched a girl wasted on bubly eat a bowl of gravy. True story. This week he's my fantasy football opponent.

Despite the light update, I've submitted a new top ten list for your enjoyment.

Rumor has it that Brent's brother, KEVIN, should be congratulated on buying a new house with the spoils of (get this) his lucrative career in the MUSIC INDUSTRY. Congrats to him!

September 13, 2008

MEMORIES OF TOMORROW and VINE alum GREG FOWKES sends in a note with some updates on some prominent Kzooites and music for you to download. His note as follows:

Hey, This is Greg Fowkes. I played in a couple Kalamazoo bands. Guitar in Memories of Tomorrow and later, I played bass in Vine. Anyway, I moved to Colorado shortly after Vine broke up, joined later by Ryan Gage, Jake Wilson and Tony Maranda here in Denver. As you know, Ryan is back in K-zoo, Tony lives in Fresno CA and Jake, after a couple years back in Detroit, is here in Denver again. I don't think any of us play music anymore :(

If you're interested, I played bass in a band here in Denver called Space team Electra (not to be confused with Lockheed Electra). We released a few CD's produced by Keith Cleverlsy (Hum, Spirtualized, Flaming Lips, etc) and Sandy Pearlman (Blue Oyster Cult, Clash, etc). We had huge local success but never really caught on nationally. We played one really crappy show in Kalamazoo. I forget who was booking shows at that time but he agreed to squeeze us onto the bill last minute. It was a disaster!

You can find MP3's and info here. http://www.spaceteamelectra.com.

People keep on threatening to send stuff in. People like ANGIE FOARO and AARON JEROME but where is it?

NASH, OBERLIN, ROE and I are going to see a heavy metal band at a Cambrigde rock club tonight. We'll surely toast the fair city of Kalamazoo at some point, if not just Athens and Richland.

To whomever bought a copy of OVERMAN'S RACECAR this week on iTunes: thank you! Y'll come back, y'here!

August 20, 2008

Echo base, I found him, repeat, I found him:

Also, I've straitened out the links for both Trey's and Adam's TI sites below. They should both come work for the 'Temple.

August 18, 2008

WOW! Two new DAVE GRANT and MIKE ROCHE songs you've never heard. GET THEM NOW. If you are a fan of "Stars" (from the band briefly known as CHOPPER), which might be the most kick assiest song on this site, then you know you need these. An LT exclusive. BRETT FIELDS and MARK BALDWIN play on these as well, and while they should be applauded, it's Mike's big whammy bar and Dave's big husky mouth that should draw you in. UHH!

CHARLIE BRADFORD sends in this feature on BILL CLEMENTS, and as a treat, we get to see Charlie himself. Mysteriously, fiddle music plays over the bass playing. TOMMY UFKES gives a howdoyoudo here as well.

Go to YOUTUBE.com and search for "bradfordnews" to find a feature on HORNET.

Charile also promises to send the unreleased BLACK SPRING sessions recorded after GIRTH was released. One of the songs could be the one that CHRIS BRYERS lists on his Top 10.

TREY, a TI fan and DUSTIN DONALDSON friend writes in:

BTW, the link is http://www.myspace.com/thoughtindustry111. It even includes some possibly illegal downloads of tunes you may have forgotten if, say, your "Mods" cassette melted in your car.

Another good TI read is Adam's www.cultureofnone.blogspot.com. It's a good read. I particularly liked hearing who was "too cool for school" when approached at a Battle Creek Burger King, and the thugy, street gang publicity shot (where Chris is in the hood) is dandy. These are both links posted to the sideboard earlier this week.

Did I ever tell you that the Threshold/Sounds Like Braille camp chimed in? Well they did. Maybe they will send music to post. This would be from Kzoo's Minnesota outpost I beleive.

OK, you can now download all of my new record, AN ADULTY ADIPISCI free of charge. GET IT HERE. Thanks again to all who purchased it!

Enjoy the summer,

August 8, 2008 (08/08/08)

This is off-topic, but if you are the type that thinks our president is a corporatist criminal who should, at the minimum, be impeached, please sign Mr. Kucinich's petition HERE

I already have, and if anyone knows one where we can try Bush for crimes against humanity, or at least throw a pie in his face, please let me know. I would encourage everyone to YOUTUBE both of our principled congressmen, Kucinish and Dr. Paul, for refreshing perspective.

BTW, CHUCK BRADFORD just wrote and he's got some goodies I'm going to post soon.

Now back to our regularly scheduled program...

August 3, 2008

New music today: QUIXOTE's mystery album. Get it now! JASON PAUL sends this in. I accidently overwrote the old Quixote file, so if someone could resend a bio I'll put it up.

Chairman BRENT OBERLIN and his Mrs. ERICA moved in to their new swanky Boston apartment this week. Congratulations! Rockers DAN ROE and DAVE NASH carried boxes, along with science nerds TIM and WALTER, and yours truly. 75% of DESCACRATOR now live in the Boston area (should they get the band back together?)

Speaking of Brent, if anyone wants to join our Fantasy Football league (featuring Nash, myself, Brent, Jon Scott, Mark Davis, and others), shoot me a note. Quitters Craig and MIKE ROCHE have left some holes. $50 wager required, but the winner takes home a bundle. NFL fans only.

July 11, 2008

New music today: PHIL A. SHEO and the GOODS. Get it now! PAUL BAYER shoots these Stoogy tunes over. PASATG were based in both Kalamazoo and New York City, making it the second most relocated band behind the three editions of Kzoo-LA-Kzoo SLEET. This also qualifies as a legitimate TOOLMASTER sighting.

Be sure to read that name slowly - there's a dirty homophone in the first name. Tee hee! They must of took a tip from other cunning linguists FA-Q and FOUR PEACE when naming their band.

The 'Temple has been open for about 18 months now, I think I'll move some of the older news to an archive. We still have some great stuff coming up. We should all look forward to:

• The two unreleased TWITCH albums recorded for the big label
• The eventual release of CHRIS BRYERS' fan favorite BIRDS (doesn't everybody already have this?)
• Burning Tent Revival
• Resin Mattress
• Broken Hearts are Blue, Lockheed Electra and Lemme in Masha
• The Clockmaker demo tape
• Morsel?
• LAPD Riot Midgets VIDEO
• More and more!

Enjoy your summer!

July 4, 2008

Happy Independence day! As an athiest framer nut, this should technically be my family's Christmas. We're going to gather around the fire and read Sam Harris and Dr. Paul articles together.

BROKEN HEARTS ARE BLUE and VINE vocalist RYAN GAGE writes in with a howdoyoudo and to inform me of the band Le’me in Masha, of which he/we don't know if recorded music exists. I'll put up the record all the same and we'll wait.

In the meantime, he directs us to BHAB video (and there's others) on YouTube:

See in full glory and explore more: ON youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4B-3rh9ZzWY

JOHN HENRY was attacked by Islamists from Turkey. (a new heavy metal band perhaps?)

DOUG GARNETT announces his new project:

...just wanted to let peeps know that i've got a new band down here called RaBidEaRs, it's total guitar rock, complete with solos and monster riffs. Hints of Foo Fighters, Black Sabbath, Deftones, U2, Chevelle, Muse, Radiohead, TV On The Radio, Blur, Led Zeppelin, Smashing Pumpkins and on and on it goes... Just wrapping up a 7 song demo which I'll send to you in mp3 format for anyone interested in hearing some good old rockarolla. It's been over 3 years since I had picked up a guitar so I've been having crazy good times playing again, also doing vocals for this band too.

I presume you will be able to track this down at his site Vs The Suct.

Thanks to all who have purchased my new album. There's still a few left, so get them while they're hot!

June 25, 2008

The new TASM Lab is out: An Adulty Adiscipi featuring CHRIS BRYERS and MICHELLE GRAF singing some of my very pretty songs. Get it now! I know you may feel obligated to buy a copy just because I do such a fabu job on this website, but you should actually buy it because its good. CD and MP3 version available here: BUY FROM CD BABY or buy it at -- ITUNES. There is also a bunch of information on my TASMLAB.com site.

The unwashed will still be able to download it for free by collecting the tracks over time at HERE

For that matter, you can pick up the rest of BRYERS "Hazel and the Black Rabbit" HERE.

For better or worse, NICOLE DEMENT sends in photos of Craig Verity, Bob from FAQ and others (mostly OVERMAN, befitting my TASM edition of the update). Let this be an invitation for anyone to send photos (KATHY VON MAUR?). I have a few from PAUL TOTH I still haven't posted yet.

June 15, 2008

New music today: LOLLYGORE and MARIE LAVEAU. Get it now! CHARLES BARKENBUS sends this in and writes: "I like the site. I'd like to see more of the less well known bands represented too." Dude, EVERY band on this site is less well known. Case in point, our random Frech poster even decries the relative obscurity of The THOUGHT INDUSTRY.

For better or worse, this counts as a legit HAGEN FENSTERMAKER sighting.

Here's something fun from ALLYSON MARTIN, it's a post-mortem of the Kzoo rock scene done by STOKER the Friday's mascot and bemoans how sucky 1995 was:

Allyson is also requesting any obscure TWITCH/SLEET stuff people may have. She's building an archive of all things rock to share with little Martinettes when they are older.

HAPPY FATHERS DAY to likes of JEFF BORKOWSKI, CHARLES BRADFORD, PAUL ENZIO, MATTHEW SAHLGREN, BRETT FIELDS, CHRIS SIMMONS, STEVE MARTIN, JOEL JOHNSON, GEOFF HALSEY, DAN ROE and countless others I'm forgetting.

Like it or not, it will be TASMMANIA (not to be confused with the down under country, TASMANIA) here soon.

June 10, 2008 IDIOT! I haven't picked up email from the leonstemple address since I changed it in March. I appologize to everyone I've ignored. D'oh!

June 7, 2008

New music today: TIMBREFIRE. Get it now! It is ROB STIMPSON new project.

I finally got word from guitar hero and now-professor CHUCK WOOD. He's going to send in some VINE, BROKEN HEARTS ARE BLUE, and a lesser known project LOCKHEED ELECTRA featuring BAD RONALD on drums. Besides being a whip on the guitar, the guy can really name a band like nobody's business.

As I'm converting many of my old 4-track cassettes to MP3's, I'm tempted to post some of the almost-embarrassing tracks from Chuck and Mine's highschool music projects, featuring AL WISEMAN on vocals, played with the squishiest drum machine you'll ever hear.

DOUG GARNETT sends word of a new album THE WORLD VS. THE SUCT, complete with new photos and web presentation. CHECK IT OUT at his WEBSITE www.vsthesuct.com. He sings quite well, IMO, which is often the Achilles heel of many of these one-man-band type projects.

Speaking of which, MY new TASM project is in the can and I'm overjoyed. It's being pressed as I write this, and I'll certainly make no small ordeal about it's release in the coming weeks. It features new songs, sung by CHRIS BRYERS and Ex-Dahlia starlett MICHELLE GRAF.

And speaking of Michelle, she's also finished a new album with her twosome band TETHER with Bostonite STEPHEN. It's a gothy/Swansy bass-vocals combo, with Michelle providing layers of harmonies over strummed bass chords. We finished the transfer over here in my tASM studio last month. When will it be out? Not sure.. these things take time.

BTW, I finally got a chance to listen to COSMONAUT yesterday. It's really cool. You should buy it or download it and stick it in your ipod.

May 25, 2008

New music today: FATSACK. Get it now! ROB STIMPSON also sends in his new stuff called TIMBREFIRE which I will post later (I like to make people wait).

Yesterday was DAVE NASH's wedding. I was best man and a good time was had by all. TASM Fellow KEVIN BANKS was there, as well as JON and STARLA SCOTT. CRAIG VERITY was supposed to go, but girlfriend LEILA got into a scooter accident.

For anyone who watches a lot of NOGGIN like I do, you'll notice that Moose's new song features TEDUARDO from Kalamazoo. Who's Teduardo? Did he play in a King Tammy side project? I thought Ron Muniz was the closest thing Kalamazoo had that resembled a Hispanic person. Mysteries...

Happy memorial day weekend, kids!

May 18, 2008

New music today: EXOTIC FOXES. This is MANDY NEUBECKER's big city indy project. The two song EP (7 inch I guess) was provisioned by BRIAN KOSKUC.

So Brian had sent this in on June 1, 2007, almost a year ago, but he did provide the MP3s and some info. If you want me to post something, please send the MP3s in an e-mail, and try to populate the written part of the page as best you can. It makes it easy for me. If you just send a note saying "here's some stuff you can track down if you want" then I probably wont unless you are LITA FORD or someone cool like that.

LEPPOTONE has posted a bunch of videos of SINATRAS, SLEESTACKS and even karoke parties. Check them out:

You can go to YOUTUBE.com

May 5, 2008

JOHN HENRY (is this an alias? I thought Dan Jager played drums for 4Peace) posts a good read and a neat flyer.

And because no story is true unless I was personally part of it, here's me at the 4 peace house itself:

BTW, here in Boston there is a popular (or at least well-publicized) rap band called Four Peace, you can check them out here: FOUR PEACE.

May 3, 2008

New music today: SPITE. This mid-eighties punk band featured the likes of Scott Boman, Tommy Fuller, Willie Badlands, and Dan-O. Got get em'.

As promised you can download three new tracks off of CHRIS BRYER's new album HAZEL AND THE BLACK RABBIT. Over time you can collect the whole album DOWNLOAD THEM HERE.

I find this hard to beleive, but 652 people downloaded GHG's "My Girl's Patriotic" in April alone (second place was "Dutch Mafia", with third, fourth, and fifth going to Killswitch and Crick). I have to wonder if there are MP3 spiders or something, but then they'd all be getting hit that much.

April 24, 2008

If you haven't already yet, go ahead a download the few posted tracks of HAZEL and the BLACK RABBIT because they are coming down next week and will be replaced with a few new ones. We've decided to give the album away for free, but in a clever, frustrating way where you'll have to collect all the songs over time. We'll be doing this with other new releases as they come. Perhaps even with the new THE THOUGHT INDUSTRY album that is forthcoming.

No update this week: A mixed Kzoo/Boston crew will be heading to hip and historical Portland this weekend to hold DAVID NASH's bachelor party. Yup, dude's getting married next month. I've just heard that Portland (Maine, not OREGON Geoff, Molly, Karla and Craig) has highest ratio of bars to people in the US, vying with San Fran for the honor.

April 20, 2008 New music today: JIM JONES and THE KOOL-ADE KIDS. Got get em'.

Want an easy way to browse the songs on this site? Just use the ugly but simple root directory of the songs foler: http://www.leonstemple.com/songs/. Don't forget to look in the "Joby" folder, as there are treats in there.

DESCACRATOR metal maurader DAN ROE and his family are coming over today for a playdate. We both have little girls named Adelaide, and I expect Satan worshiping to be kept at a dim hum.

April 9, 2008 WTF? Kalamazoo's one and only Jewish guy sings on YOUTUBE. It's a video, but I'd keep yer dicks in yer pants.

April 6, 2008

"These are the greatest songs ever written" I believe is what SO THIS IS OUTERSPACE guitarist and voxalist BRYAN CHARLES says on the amusing STIO PDF you can download (a first for the site. The upcoming TASM record will undoubtadly have an Excel sheet attachment just for one-ups-manship). BRIAN KOSCUK sends this in, but inexplicably only sent two of the seven songs. Perhaps the others are for sale somewhere? Anyways, Check it out!

According to board rumors, SNORKEL will be playing a show in July. No one has sent me their MP3's yet though. I'd also like unknown person to send me RESIN MATTRESS and FATSACK recordings as well please. The 'Temple just wouldn't be complete with out them.

March 29, 2008

Here's a treat - NEW MUSIC: SELLING HEAVEN "BUTTERFLY" DEMO. I transfered the tape last weekend, probably the last time it could be played before it the tape itself would snap. Hissy, warbly, in mono, quiet - a terrible transfer. Maybe someone else could transfer it? Plus, just like the original cassette, it doesn't have any track listings broken out (like CDs do). You just download the giant 35meg MP3 and you're forced to listen to the whole album.

Songs on it include "My Country", "Napoleon's Homecoming", "Butterfly", "Waiting for Superman", and "Drone". It surprisingly holds up really well, with the song writing probably being more complex and progressive sounding than their later demo. It's neat hearing Chris Bryers sing after we knew he was good. I think when this came out, we weren't sure whether he was someone like myself, Chuck Bradford, Karl Knack, Kevin Oberlin or a hundred other guys who just did a good impression of being a lead singer, but wasn't a geniune vocal talent. When you hear it now, it sounds just like good ole' top notch Bryers. In context, this would be the first time we heard Clementsian super-bass, and it seemed more like the amazing achievement it was and not a foible that most of his *critics* feel these days. Of course, Butterfly is far and away some amazing bass playing. Dude plays feedback for chrissakes. Chris's lyric content paints him as having a mindset like a disgruntled vietnam vet politico, despite being a 19 year old from South Haven. I know, I know, its a song persona and I never owned a Bunnysuit, but if you thought it was real, you'd have to wonder why some chick didn't stomp on Chris' heart in highschool and bring out his girl and love themes earlier.

I'm SORRY I put up bad SNORKEL tracks. All but one file downloaded as a broken 1kb file. If anyone can download them and send them over, it would be greatly appreciated.

DOUG UDEL has posted his TOP TEN LIST. Check it out! I've recently talked to both BRENT OBERLIN and DAVE NASH recently who are both working on their top ten list, but can only get to about SIX before they run out of ideas/memories. As official rulemaker, let me say that a list of six is fine. You can write whatever you want and post it.

March 23, 2008

NEW MUSIC: SNORKEL. Go get it! It's just as you remember.

We have a board troller who is impersonating other members. I personally find it enjoyable to make fun of Brent and Bryers and Rit as much as anybody, but you have to identify yourself, otherwise its only a nuisance, and you don't get to be made fun of back. I'm going to resist putting a sign-up for posts. If there is any post you don't like, be it too cruel, mis-labeled, forged or whatever, send me a note at cool @ leons temple . com (remove spaces) and I will fix it / delete it.

Was it you, CHRISTOPHER LEE?

BRENT and his wife ERICA are having coffee in my kitchen right now. The newlyweds came here to the Till Manse to party hard - blow and vodka shots until the wee hours, up all night sleep all day. Actually, we played peek-a-boo and burped babies.

Check out this very related blog/site by BLACKJACK. Some kzoo info that's probably much more up-to-date than this musoleum: http://rockandorrollkalamazoo.blogspot.com/

March 15, 2008

NEW MUSIC: BARNES-AMAINA! Go get it! Two little-heard projects from BRIAN & RUSS BARNES, the first was their band THE ENTANGLED, who played Soda to maniacal crowds (I have a flyer from an Overman show with them, I think), and the second is their more recent KNOW NOTHINGS, which, I think, but am not sure, is their adult-age hobby project.

CHRISTIAN HAGLUND from Sweden wrote recently (odd that we have so much representation in Sweden, given TOOLMASTER's manse location). Christian had a band in Sweden called KALAMAZOO, partly due to his appreciation of THOUGHT INDUSTRY and (I presume) some of the other related projects. Anyways, Christian doesn't play in Kalamazoo anymore, but you can check out his new stuff at www.myspace.com/depressiveart. He says he's famous in Sweden, but how would we know? He probably has a girlfriend in Canada too. (Kidding, I'm a goose). Anyways, he's promised to send some KALAMAZOO to the 'temple (as if we didn't have enough of it already -- Wakka wakka wakka!)

Here's some memories from PAUL TOTH, least of which is ROBIN (is she still alive?) on stage with the GOD BULLIES. Or is she on stage? I'm baffled, because it looks like the crowd is tuned into to something in the OPPOSITE direction, meaning their must be something more interesting than ole' googley eyes and Miss Grungy -- could it be ... what??? Maybe BLANE TOWNSEND telling a joke? GARRET giving out free Burger King? DARREN DOYLE doing a karate chop? I guess we'll never know, making us all KNOW NOTHINGS (see how I tied all this together?)

March 9, 2008

NEW MUSIC: FLETCHER! Go get it! This BRYAN CHARLES band. He sent me these files about a year ago, that's how far behind we are in posting, but we have the rest of our lives, right?

Also, my new TOP TEN LIST - Check it out.

March 5, 2008

BREAKING NEWS - - Through our sophisticated network of street agents*, we've heard that a fine sampling of the 'Temple could be heard on WIDR today, thanks to DJ Irreversible (for his sake, I hope he hasn't seen the film of the same name. It's nasty.).

Here's his show, check it out. It looks like its every Wednesday:

Here's the playlist, taken from WIDR's site:

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