LOSER'S LOUNGE LINEUP: THE KINKS Here be the musicians slotted to pay tribute to The Kinks this weekend. (List is subject to change without notice.)

Thursday
Mike Fornatale
Nick Danger
Edward Rogers
Joe Hurley
Jeni Muldaur
Mary Lee Kortes
Victoria Liedtke
Amanda Thorpe
Tony Zajkowski
Eddie Skuller
Mark Rozzo
David Mosey
Anney Fresh
Keenan Duffy

Friday
Mike Fornatale
Nick Danger
Edward Rogers
Joe Hurley
Natalie Weiss
Julia Greenberg
Victoria Liedtke
Tony Zajkowski
Taro Baughm (7:00 show)
Eddie Skuller (9:30 show)
Wilder Selzer
Mark Rinzel
Adira Amram
Keenan Duffy (9:30 show)
David Mosey
Debby Schwartz

Saturday
Mike Fornatale
Nick Danger
Edward Rogers
Joe Hurley
Natalie Weiss
Joanna Choy
Victoria Liedtke
Tony Zajkowski
Eddie Skuller
Jana Peri
Emily Stine
Wendy Ip
Keenan Duffy
Anney Fresh
Ward White

Here's "All Day and All of the Night" from Shindig! Things don't get more "basic" than this number, which would've made a good theme song for Mongol.



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And here, going out to Deborah, are "Waterloo Sunset" and "The Village Green Preservation Society."



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Illustration: Cliff Mott

LOSER'S LOUNGE: THE CARS VS. DURAN DURAN

It's The Cars, right? Hands down? I mean, even Sean Altman admits, "This contest is a sham, as every sensible listener knows that The Cars will prevail against the Eurotrash posers Duran Duran." (Personally, I'd be curious to see The Cars vs. Talking Heads.)

The face-off will take place at Joe's Pub in six Loser's Lounge events Thursday, April 10 through Saturday, April 12, 2008.

Consider:



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vs.



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Illustration: Cliff Mott

LOSER'S LOUNGE: PAUL MCCARTNEY

This might seem like a routine announcement of the Loser's Lounge salute to The Cute One, taking place at Joe's Pub on

Thu 9:30, December 6, 2007
Fri 7:00 December 7, 2007
Fri 9:30 December 7, 2007
Sat 7:00 December 8, 2007
Sat 9:30 December 8, 2007

And it might seem like just another excuse to post a great illustration by Cliff Mott.

But it's also a perfect opportunity to share an unforgettable musical memory from the 1976 Miss America pageant. I love those Loser's Lounge people, but I wonder if even Nick Danger could come close to meeting the standard established by the pageant's longtime host Bert Parks.



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JACKSONS A WINNER FOR LOSER'S!

I caught the early show of the Loser's Lounge tribute to The Jacksons last night and enjoyed it all. There was a sense of playfulness as well as real enthusiasm for the music—my favorite kind of mix when it comes to these shows.

My favorites: Sean Altman and the Losertones harmonizing on Ben (from the loving sound of it, I don't think Connie Petruk was the only one who had an imaginary pet rat as a child), the regulars performing the obscure Goin' Places (which sounded a lot like material performed by Bloodstone in Last Train to Hollywood), Jana Peri's Benataresque Beat It, Nick Danger's Dirty Diana (over the years he's really grown as an interpreter), Tammy Faye Starlite's Nasty (which probably would have been better if she'd had a cordless mike and a wardrobe malfunction), Tricia Scotti's little Michael vocals over the course of the whole evening (Altman was also very good throughout as a second lead), Michal the Girl's seemingly effortless I Want You Back, and the closing set of Somebody's Watching Me/Thriller/State of Shock featuring the singing and acting talents of Victoria Liedtke and Wilder Selzer. The experience didn't change my preference for the bubblegum funk and soul of The Jackson 5 over the family's disco-transformed productions, but it enhanced my appreciation of both styles.

Here's Goin' Places.



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And here's a chance to hear Jackson and Mick Jagger on State of Shock.



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And here's a very memorable version teaming Jagger with another partner.



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Illustration: Cliff Mott

LOSER'S LOUNGE: THE JACKSONS

The place is Joe's Pub. These are the dates and times:

Thu October 11 9:30 pm
Fri October 12 7:00 pm
Fri October 12 9:30 pm
Sat October 13 7:00 pm
Sat October 13 9:30 pm

Here Michael sings of his affection for a killer rat.



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I kid you not.



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Illustration: Cliff Mott

LOSER'S LOUNGE: LEE HAZLEWOOD NEW YORK MEMORIAL TRIBUTE/SEND-OFF PARTY

I didn't make it to the Lee Hazlewood tributes presented by Loser's Lounge, but I gather that it was excellent. And now I read that, come 9:30 pm on September 9, 2007, the Loser's Lounge will offer a Lee Hazlewood New York Memorial Tribute/Send-Off Party at Joe's Pub. I think I'm gonna miss that too, but it's okay: You can go without me and let me know how it all turns out.

Sez Loser's lounge:

Joe McGinty and Loser's Lounge will honor Lee Hazlewood with a special memorial tribute/send-off party on September 9 at Joe's Pub in New York City. The Loser's Lounge Tribute to Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood was the second ever Loser's Lounge back in 1994. The Loser's Lounge then reprised the show in February of 1998, and once again in 1999 with Lee and his wife Jeane in attendance. Lee had a grand old time at his tribute, sitting in the VIP booth at Fez, drinking Chivas and telling stories. Though he initially said that he didn't want to appear on stage, at the end of the show he felt compelled to make a speech to show his appreciation. It was truly one of the highlights in the 13 year history of Loser's Lounge.

In 2001, Lee personally invited Joe to his 72nd birthday in Phoenix, Arizona, and shortly after, invited him to his home in Beaumont, Texas to discuss a possible NYC concert with members of the Loser's Lounge band backing him up (sadly this concert never came to fruition). Also, he submitted a new recording, "For My Birthday", to be included in the 2000 Loser's Lounge CD "How Can A Loser Ever Win", and agreed to an interview with Joe for Sound Collector magazine.

Lee Hazlewood will always remain close to the hearts of Joe and the performers of Loser's Lounge, and it is with great respect and honor that we will present a special memorial tribute to Lee Hazlewood on Sept. 9, 2007 at Joe's Pub. Lee had requested that no funeral service be held in his honor, but rather to "have a party", so please come to Lee's NYC send-off party. A good time will be had by all, and we would make Lee very happy, wherever he is.

Lee's classic "F**k the Hits" speech is now on the Loser's Lounge MySpace page.

Lee Hazlewood Interview by Joe McGinty from 2001 is here.

Illustration: Cliff Mott

LOSER'S LOUNGE: A VERY SERGE BASTILLE DAY

Here, straight from Loser's Lounge Central, is the lineup for the Serge Gainsbourg tribute at Joe's Pub at 7:00 and 9:30 on Saturday.

Michael Cerveris
Ed Rogers & Amanda Thorpe (Bedsit Poets)
Pierre De Gaillande (Melomane)
Kerry Kennedy
Kristofer Wydholm (Morex Optimo)
Sean Altman & Sue K
Patti Rothberg
Boshra Alsaanti (Looker)
Nick Danger
Joanna Choy
Lianne Smith (7:00 pm only)
Joe Hurley
Stan Harrison
Mike Fornatale
Flaming Fire
Adira Amram (9:30 pm only)

And here's must-see footage of a performance of Gainsbourg's Comic Strip. Can you identify at least one of the two singers?



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Illustration: Cliff Mott

LOSER'S LOUNGE: FLEETWOOD MAC

Here's the roster of guest performers for this week's gigs:

Thursday
Alison Pierce
Jana Peri
Mark Rinzel
Mike Fornatale
Wendy Ip
Cid Le Seac'h
Nick Danger
David Foster
Mary Lee Kortes
Joanna Choy

Friday
Lianne Smith
The HoHos
Christine Smith
Victoria Liedtke
Ed Rogers & Amanda Thorpe
Mike Fornatale
Julie Klausner
Katia
Nick Danger
Eddie Skuller
Julia Greenberg
Joe Hurley
Joanna Choy
Natalie Weiss

Saturday
Lianne Smith
The HoHos
Michal The Girl
Mike Fornatale
Wendy Ip
Katia
Nick Danger
David Mosey
Erik Paparozzi
Joe Hurley
Joanna Choy
Natalie Weiss

And here's a glimpse and an earful of Fleetwood Mac c. 1969!



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Illustration: Cliff Mott