Algebra Mothers Strawberry Cheescake Black Punk Rock

I said I would never link to music on this blog, but minds are made for changing. Since I moved back to Michigan, I rely on my friend Robert to tip me off culturally. He sent me a great link to a recently rediscovered African-American punk rock band from Detroit called "Death" profiled in the New York Times March 15. It reminded me of my favorite black punk record from Michigan (and how lucky I was to grow up with the Michigan blues...from John Lee Hooker to Jack White, Detroit has always been the home of rock. It comes from the industrial crunch of the auto plants, think Iggy and the Mc5) But I digress. The Algebra Mothers (or affectionately, the A-Moms) were a short lived punk rock group from Detroit with a black lead guitarist and singer named Gerald Collins. Their entire output, sadly, consists of one single, "Strawberry Cheescake" which you can hear on the great KBD website. It was recorded in 1979 and released as a 45 the same year. I sold mine. Roctober.com has an article by James Porter and Jake Austen "Black Punk Time: Blacks in Punk, New Wave and Hardcore 1976-1984" which certainly begs for a major book publisher and major compilation. Jack White? Are you listening?

Garage Hangover

Now THIS is a fun website and quite an accomplishment. Pick your state. If you are near my age, chances are you'll find the fellows who played at your prom (or tried to). For the record, mine was "The Uncalled Four" and we only played one gig, a battle of the bands. But we beat that greaser band from Muskegon who dared to play Beatles covers. Allow an hour or two, this site is more addictive than u tube.

http://www.garagehangover.com/