Hi out there. It's been a very hectic couple of weeks, so I am just gonna make it brief.

ON the nite before Halloween there was the NY WASTE/ACTION CAT show at CBGB's. Lucky Lawlor was snapping photos of SLICK PELT (rockabilly), BLOWTOP (punk), PHSYCHOCHARGER (punk) and finally FURIOUS GEORGE (fun punk).

Halloween was subdued this year. The parade was like a high priced hooker, it was very good but it was over too fast. Then it was over to DON HILL's for LOURDS. She was as great as usual, then add costumes and freaks and you have insanity!

Nov 1st, I went to CONTINENTAL to see the WANDA JACKSON 5, a rtolicking rockabilly band fronted by Jodi from the MOTOR CITY BAR. When you get a chance check them out for a marvelous change of pace. They were preceeded by The BASTARDS SONS OF JOHNNY CASH.

Nov 3 was a benefit in the afternoon at 169 BAR/CAFE, afun little spot on the edge of chinatown. I was the mc andthe players were: Julia Greenberg, Brenda Kahn, Jenna, Phillip Foxman, Remy DeLarouque, Greg Boyer, and Black Flamingo. Jenna and Black Flamingo stand out in my mind (I lost my notes, sorry) .

The PARKSIDE LOUNGE is a happening place on Monday nights. On this Monday night, there was a strange four-projector/light show/music performance piece (?!?!?!) but that wasn't why I was there. I was there to see TUPSUT (who that night changed their name to DEAD COMBO). This was Harry from the MOTOR CITY BAR/MAD JUANA and his friend Nuddie. This is a nice change from the psychodelica before. In the front room, during all this, was the HOUSE OF DIABLO. This was Brian Mitchell on percussion and Shawn Pelton on keyboard--both with technoelectric help that was really wild.

On Thursday, November 8, was down to the CONTINENTAL to see MIMI ROCK, fronted by a Japanese bundle of energy named Mimi. But also there was DADDY, LICKY, and STIPPLICON (half of the MOLDY PEACHES).

I rested Friday and Saturday nights, because Sunday night was the grand opening/birthday party at the 1050 LOUNGE at the SKYLINE HOTEL. In the barroom, there was SQUINT doing their jazz/rock fusion, followed by BLACK FLAMINGO and their rendition of Happy Birthday for me. SUPER GROOVE followed with their brand of wild Japanese rock/jazz. It slowed down a bit with the rock ‘n' roll of the CHARLEY BUCKLAND band. Theatrical rock followed as performed by FOLK FICTION. Another birthday song, but performed by THERA , the lead singer, was more of a CARABET-style lapdance ( most appreciated!) The DROSSELLS drove in eight hours for their set, but they didn't look tired at all. MARK PINES and FRIENDS slowed it down to regular rock again; then MIMI ROCK closed the place out. The whole time, DJ BOBBY LUNDO was filling in the spaces between bands.

Meanwhile, in the carabet room, the high-energy pop rock of the NERVE! opened the room, followed by the contemporary rock of DUNCAN. Now it was when we turned it up a notch! First with BLUSH 66, featuring Laura and her Steven Nicks-style voice. Then the place got on its feet for 69 NOVA (they couldn't stay down!). TUESDAY led the boys (Mike, Dave and Joe) through a high-energy set. The NEW YORK RHYTHM ALL STARS featuring JOY RIDER kept everybody moving in a solid R&B groove. Capped off by TAINO, a salsa-influenced rock ‘n' roll band in the style of Santana. All this point we had to close the room because it was getting too wild! I told the owners: You asked for rock ‘n' roll--what did ya expect? Some people....

In all, FRAND WOOD presents and STEMWAY.COM have a great new venue, even if though they changed their mind about rock'n'roll. No problem, we can do jazz and blues. And on Monday and Tuesday, that's what we did! I needed a rock'n' roll fix, so I squeezed in a LOURDS show at DOWNTIME. The fun part of a LOURDS show is watching the convicts! Everybody, I mean everybody, is converted, from the girl rock band before them to the hip-hop/rap R&B band after her. The rapper from the band call it in his words, “SH*T, THAT BITCH IS SIN, MAN!”

That's it for now, folks! Here are Wood's picks for the week:

WOOD'S PICKS
THE FAMOUS 'WOODIES' RATING SYSTEM: = 'heard about it' = 'heard about it..from a reliable source' = 'I...Myself actually reccomend it' = 'You better not miss this' = ' Contact me, I may be able to get you in, it will be soldout"
Nov 16	MIMI ROCK at the ALPHABET LOUNGE (Ave C & 7th Street)   FOLK FICTION at MEOW MIX (E. Houston & Norfolk) 10pm TUT at ARLENE'S GROCERY (Stanton & Orchard) 7:30pm MEMPHIS MORTICIANS at CONTINENTAL (3 Ave at St. Marks)   LOURDS at the CUTTING ROOM (24th Street btwn B'way and 6 AVE) 11pm
Nov 18	JONNY CHAN and DYNASTY SIX at HANK'S SALON (3RD Ave at Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn)
Nov 20	RIPE at KENNY'S CASTAWAYS (Bleecker & Sullivan Sts)
Nov 21	BLUSH 66 at the LUNA LOUNGE (Ludlow btwn Houston and Stanton) MOLDY PEACHES at the MERCURY LOUNGE (E. Houston and Essex Sts.) BLACK FLAMINGO at CB's GALLERY (Bowery and Bleecker Sts) 8:30pm Also at IGGY'S (76th Street at 2nd Ave) 11pm. GRAVEYARD SLUTS at PARKSIDE LOUNGE 10pm JONES CRUSHER at PARKSIDE LOUNGE 11pm LOST SOUL SOCIETY at KENNY'S CASTAWAYS TAINO at ACME UNDERGROUND (Jones St & Lafayette St)
Nov 23	DAVID JOHANSON at THE BOTTOM LINE (West 4th and Mercer) HOT TUNA at the BEACON THEATER (75th and Broadway)
Nov 24	69 NOVA at the BITTER END (Bleecker & LaGuardia Place) 10pm. HOMOCORPS featuring DEAN JOHNSON AND THE VELVET MAFIA & other bands at CBGB'S
Nov 25	1050 LOUNGE (10th Ave and 50th Street) Artists TBA. JOY RIDER and NY RHYTHM ALL STARS at the GROOVE (West 3rd and McDougall) 6pm
Nov 26	SAMI AND KARMEN (FROM MAD JUANA) at MEOW MIX

That's it for now, folks! Take care. FRANK WOOD.