Doo Rag - Gone but Not Forgotten

A little while back I won a Doo Rag 7" on ebay that I had never seen before "Trudge / Breakin' Straw", immediately after Sam emailed me, a huge Doo Rag fan, asking if I'd be willing to sell it to him, he had been trying to track down every Doo Rag track and one of these wasn't available anywhere else. I felt bad...I didn't want to part with this amazing single I've never seen listed before, let alone heard. I said I'd make MP3's out of them and post them so he'd be one step closer on his quest...and I promised if I ever came across this 7" anywhere I'd have to pick it up for him.
We exchanged a bunch of emails back and forth, how I had seen them at CBGB's, probably around 1995 or so with Thermos on drums/boxes, and how I was so amazed at their unique sound. Sam was kind enough to break down their entire discography and share his experience hanging out with Bob himself a few months ago:

First, here's Trudge and Breakin' Straw

From Sam:
This in a nutshell is the history of Doo Rag and best I can tell of order in which the Doo Rag discography shakes down (the history and some information was handed down to me from Bob Log III himself in OKC, OK 2007, and through my own research)...
1990 Bob Log is playing a house party in Tucson,Az covering Fred McDowell songs Bob @ this time plays guitar w/snare drum bolted on to it, a friend jumps in, Thermos Malling(Brad Denboer) and starts to bang on a cheese grater w/a spoon, Doo Rag is born...
1993: 7" hussy bowler/grease & all
1994: barber shop (cassette only,almost impossible to find,2 years later 5 of 6 total trax all of would later make their way onto the lp & cd "what we do":1996, except for 1 trax "barn porn star")
1994: 7" trudge/breakin' straw
1995: Chucked & Muddled(cassette, lp available only on tour,later a cd issued containing 4 extra trax, not available on cassette:these 4 trax where taken from the wmfu radio sessions and john peel bbc radio sessions,doo rag did two of these for peel,1 of which was done over the telephone)
1995: 7" swapwater mop down/engine bread
1996: What we do lp & cd
1996: Thermos plays on 2 trax for Jon Spencer Blues Explosion lp "Now I Got Worry"
1996: While on tour,in support of Ween, Thermos quits,after 6 years of playing together Doo Rag Dies, a few remaining trax are later released there are:
1997: 7" Two tones to tune
1998: 7" x2 split ep Doo Rag/20 miles Sinful Tunes & Spirituals
2000: Thermos Malling along w/(girlfriend, wife, sweetheart ,whatever known) only as

"Walter" release an lp under the name "Coin Architects of Character", it is very, very difficult to find...
2006: Doo Rag reunites in Tucson,Az for the 21st Birthday of the Congress Hotel (Club Congress as it was known, one of the earliest venus in which they played)...
I met bob log recently in oklahoma city (Oct.2007), we drank beer together, smoked grass and then I asked him to explain to me what happened w/Thermos and why he quit, a gentlemen to the end, Bob would not bad mouth his x-band mate, he told me simply too much time on the
road and 1 nite of too much tequila is to blame for the death of Doo Rag...

Bob Log III is really Robert Reynolds III,the III is symbolic, 3rd times a charm. Robert adopted the name Bob Log w/1st band Mondo Guano, 2nd Doo Rag. 3rd, I guess I don't have to explain any further...

Interesting side note, there are 3 trax that Doo Rag performed: Barely Bi-Pedal, Head Cheese & Skolliwoll they came along as an extra cd w/purchase of various artist "yeah but it's a dry heat...(a tucson music comp.) However I have never actually seen this or found anyone who has it, so I can't say one way or the other if it really exists... if it does, rest assured, SAM WILL FIND IT...
God, I wish I could have seen them myself...Consider yourself a "Lucky Bastard" Jason Dean...
I wish you all the best in the future...
---------- sam

Thanks Sam.

Second H. Sam - s/t EP on Shit Music for Shit People and a Record Store Day PIAPTK release

Got a notice about this solo project from Second H. Sam on the Shit Music for Shit People label, looks like they're based 'somewhere between Portugal and Italy"...founded a few years back they're trying to combine great music and art together, putting a lot of effort pairing artists together and getting sleeves like the one above.

The couple of tracks I found on his bandcamp page sound  like a ramshackle trudging Doo Rag busted folk with slide guitar, and SHS's deep reverb Leonard Cohen style drawn out vocals. Random percussion picks up this warped carnival feel on "Cherie Cherie Maria", clinking bottles and metal trash can lids.
Another one, "Sick About You and I" has a delayed warble tremolo guitar, picking up the pace and mixing a kind of junkyard folk with Serge Gainsbourg. Plus plenty of time at the multitracker fiddling around with just the right kind of weirdo layers. This one's got a drum machine and a little bit of a garage feel, loose with layers and laid back vocals, super clean. Check out these samples below and pay that sweet air shipping for this one from Shit Music for you, I mean, Shit People Records.

Shit says:

In less than a year of live shows he amazed the audience with his minimal approach to the music, inspired by glowing romantic scenarios, seen through psychedelic and lo-fi glasses. In his music you can find a little of Johnny Cash, Townes Van Zandt, Hank Williams, Fred Neil, Nick Cave, Lee Hazlewood, Fabrizio De Andrè, Daniel Johnston, Syd Barret, Beck & Thurstone Moore. They say about him: "A blues author from the age of the computers, a Muddy Waters with a MIDi keyboard, a Daniel Johnston without obesity and ADHD syndrome. Reverbered semi-acoustic guitar with vocal sinking in a sea of tape-echoes".
His debut EP is available in vinyl 7" from the italian/portuguese label “Shit Music For Shit People”.
The four songs were recorded at the “Outside Inside” in Montebelluna, with the artistic production of Emanuele "Nene" Baratto from the Movie Star Junkies.
Sam is the singer of the Hormonas from Venezia and the Buzz Aldrin from Bologna. He was also the singer of the John Woo, a punk wave band from the 2000s.

The other thing I wanted to be sure to mention before this weekend is this Record Store day release from Mike over at People in a Position to Know Records, this really cool split single from Wooden Wand and Catherine Irwin covering Hazel Dickens, who I'm just finding out about myself, and it's always great when a record like this can be just great on it's own and paying tribute to a deeper music history...an underappreciated songwriter who wasn't in it for Coachella or Bonoroo, I don't even care if I spell that right. Old time protest music and not making a dime.

Wooden Wand's side is as minimal and just plain heartbreaking as this material should be, slow, mindfully recorded acoustic guitars, and a smooth backup vocal. Recorded in perfectly silent pin drop warmth that ought to be perfect for turning up and putting the speakers in the windows of the porch. Reminding me tonally of that first Iron & Wine record, when you can get away with a single mic and a guitar, why wouldn't you? Because you would probably sound stupid. James Toth  does not.
Catherine Irwin does "Lost patterns" an equally intimate tiny room recording with a lonesome lap steel and barley strummed guitar. It takes a single like this with such attention to detial that makes you want to find out more about the original artist who could write songs about sitting at the kitchen table drinking beer. Great harmony's and Catherine has that crazy range from growly despair to southern twang...all housed in PIAPTK's matchbook style letterpressed cardboard sleeves.

Wooden Wand & Catherine Irwin Sing the Songs of Hazel Dickens 7"
Wooden Wand and Catherine Irwin (of Freakwater) pay tribute to legendary bluegrass protest singer, Hazel Dickens.
This was INTENDED to be (and hopefully still will be) a Record Store Day Exclusive. Unfortunately, despite our sending in the info to them months ago, following up, jumping through hoops, etc, they STILL haven't put it on the list. So, until they recognize it as an official RSD exclusive, I will have some copies here for sale. Once they get back to me about it, I will be taking these down and official RSD stores will be the only places to get them. And that, of course, means you probably won’t be able to get them. 90% of the run went out to distro already, so I only have a few copies anyway. Limited to only 459 copies worldwide, (but numbered out of 500) each 7" comes in a beautiful, hand-set-letterpressed, silkscreened, and numbered Arigato Pak.

Doesn't look like there are any left from Mike direct at this point but you can hear samples of this single over at PIAPTK, look for it this Saturday, or send him an email, you never know.

Here's the original track from Hazel, "A few old memories":

Ty Segall on chocolate covered records

Ty Segall from the Traditional Fools has just released this solo 7" offering on Chocolate Covered records. Ty has been performing drum duties in the Fools and ever since I found that out, I can't help but hear the lazer focus on the rhythm section, the percussion is relentless, the influence of thinking about that particular area: pounding.

The sleeve of a demented 50's scene gone cat... all cut and pasted...might give you a clue about what's lurking under the surface...just barely.
I had some other things to say about the art but this single doesn't waste any time diving right into serious low-fi stomping. The bass range sounds all peaking out, recorded at 11. Strumming like mad electric with some surf reverb turned up, That echo that you wonder is it even in the same room? Is this a room sound? Is he singing in the bathroom, it's organic, really natural.
This really reminds me of Bob Log... or Doo Rag definitely...the same use of the guitar. It's all strumming, like a washboard, the sound of the strings becomes percussive, there's a melody there but it's stripped down, barely two notes. The frantic-ness of 'Here We Go' with stomping tamborine on the high hat. Now that I'm hearing it again, I don't think there's any snare here?
The sound of crackling cables barely hanging on ends the leg shaking and we're onto......

(Go have a listen from CC, click play on the realplayer track thingy...then you will click on the buy button.....trust me.)

'It' is kick drum at speed, supportingTy's ultra blown out vocals. Again we're playing through some kind of severly broken equipment, which is sounding so analoge and fuzzy. It's the best kind of low-fi...It's recorded really specifically, with all kinds of tracks, effects, I'm sure but with a patina of gainy film. An old blockbuster.
Like everything is just turned up, all in the red for the majority of this weighty EP... a lot heavier than Traditional Fools who seem to want be taken a little less seriously, this is in your face, and catchy as hell, immediately...there's no time getting used to this. It's turned up full at low levels, mixed right at the max for 45. The guitar is just overwhelming, a low nonstop roar. It's seriously loud, and keeps getting louder.
It can't be talked over at your party.
Front and center.

On the Bside 'Son of Sam' alternates between that reverb guitar but slightly different drum recording it sounds like. Cleaner ride cymbal and even more mechanical sounding reverb this time. The drum drops in and out. Ty here is like Screaming Jay Hawkins, or John Spencer...channeling that flair.... the whoop and holler, bellowing out in the middle of nothing...tortured. Well, not exactly tortured, this is pure fun...maybe it's more like a good sermon.
'Son of a bitch!'
That warbly electrified blues vocal with a howl at the end. I am tracking down the original by Chain Gang...thanks for schooling me Ty.
This makes way for 'Sweets', another crafted little jem based on that great muffled sound.
Is something wrong with the stereo?
Honestly.
It's 4 songs that don't let up, a more finely tuned sound than Tradiional fools, It sounds like a lazer focused vision of a very particular low-fi. A succinct vision and a hell of a solo single across all 4 tracks.


$6 From Chocolate Covered Records:
Ty Segall steps out from behind the drumkit of the Traditional Fools and sit down behind a much simpler drum kit to start his own one-man band. It's crunchy, lo-fi goodness for the whole family...
...the Manson family! Includes a cover of Chain Gang's "Son of Sam." Now that's hip!