BONE – Pirate the Islands / The Headlines Have It 7”

Rumble Records – Ft. Lauderdale – 1979

Richard Bone – voices, synthesizers & electronics

Buddy Draise – rhythm devices
John Schavone – bass keyboard
Bill Pimm – guest flute

It really doesn’t matter what this sounds like – the cover’s fuckin’ great! But – in case you’re wondering….this features plenty of synthesizers, creepy vocals, yes – a prominent flute on one song….never quite makes it to the “good” column….almost….but hell it was 1979….I’m sure it was ahead of its time…Said Bone person went on to Shox Lumania in New York and apparently something of a music career….

ZENITH NADIR – We are the Intimidators Flexi

50 Play Records – Tampa (1979)

Too bad the Zenith Nadirs only left one song, because this one is a mixed bag. For a song about intimidating others with the threat of rearranged faces, it’s a fairly dispassionate affair. The guitar is good, probably the best thing about this record, but a little studied in spots. They should have sped it up – but what did they know it being 1979 in Tampa. I’ve seen an interview with them in an old Mouth of the Rat, but know little else about them. I believe they splintered into several different bands.

RICH RAGS – Rejected Dentist Office Music

Orange Records Ltd. – Land O’ Lakes (1979)

On the Level
Rejection
Fast Foods
Straight Girl

John Donniacuo – guitar
Kacy Ross – guitar
Jeffery Levy – drums
Nancy Sebek - backing vocals
Mark Scott – guitar
John Comerford – bass

Having more than two guitarists in a band, unless you’re Lynyrd Skynyrd or Glen Branca, is just an excuse for being too gutless to kick a superfluous friend outta the band. Then you wind up splitting your $30 after the show six ways instead of five. Except for a handful of people, Florida didn’t start figuring out punk rock/new wave until about 1981, and these guys are no exception. I wasn’t aware of their existence back in the day – or the existence of Land O’ Lakes (near Tampa I’m told), for that matter. Three of the four songs are not bad in a 70’s rock type of way, though a little clunky in parts. This is somewhat interesting in that it was released on that David Peel character’s Orange Records label, making them label-mates with everyone’s favorite dead guy, GG Allin. These folks put out one more single and currently have an elaborate website devoted to themselves.