Author Archives: Salvi C.

by Salvi C. | November 10, 2010 · 11:21 pm

Four Times the Manitoba, Four Times the Fun

How can you not love Halloween? Throw on some zombie make-up or pink hot pants, and even the meekest shlub gets to indulge their inner wildman.

The Motorz, those shy and retiring wallflowers from America’s #1 party town, Madison WI, took advantage of this year’s Halloween to give voice to their inner Handsomeness. It was the Frequency’s Halloween bash, and The Handsome Dickz were the guests of honor before a crowd of Mexican wrestlers and women in chicken costumes.

It was non-stop Manitoba Madness!! The guys had obviously spent time listening to HDM’s spoken word cds, because the raps were as entertaining as the music was. Mad-town was taken to task over being the back-pack capital of the world, and the audience was constantly reminded what an honor it was for them to see the band. It’s always a good thing when the band is having as much fun as the crowd.
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Filed under Cool covers, Live, Live Review, Tomfoolery

by Salvi C. | October 22, 2010 · 1:24 pm

There Is No Such Thing As Too Much Handsome Dick

Lay-dees and Gentle-men! Tonight’s headline bout is a no-holds-barred, 7-man tag-team match! In this corner, from Parts Unknown, wearing the Mexican wrestling masks, and weighing in at a combined 57 stones: Handsome Brian, Handsome Nobbler, and Handsome Rick Sticks, formerly known as Los Coyote Men, now collectively known as The Handsome Dicks. The Handsome Dicks are flogging their debut EP, “Do The Chupacabra Stomp With The Handsome Dicks,” and can be seen on Saturday, 10/24, as part of Buckfest 2010. Check ’em out if you’re on that side of the pond. (I have no idea why they changed the band name. Maybe they didn’t want to pay their back dues to the Federacion di Lucha Libre.)

And in THIS corner, from Madison, WI, wearing matching flannel and Bucky Badger sweatshirts, weighing in at a combined 720 lbs (723 if they’ve had breakfast), Kyle Motor, Dan Motor, Aaron Motor, and Josh Motor, usually known as The Motorz, Wisconsin’s finest purveyors of sweet and hot r & r, but who for the evening of Saturday, Oct. 30, when they play an all-Dictators set at the Frequency in Madison, will be known as The Handsome Dickz.

If you find yourself at the Frequency gig, come up and say “Hi Sal” to any of the 3 large men who will be up front on the Ross side. The next beer will be on me. Offer void to former Olympians.

— Salvi C.

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Filed under Cool covers, Live

by Salvi C. | October 13, 2010 · 7:48 pm

Diary of a Bad Man

It’s hard to believe that the 4th anniversary of the closing of CBGBs is already upon us. Patti Smith got the headlines, but the two Dictators shows that preceded Patti were really the heart and soul of the weekend. There are a thousand stories to be told from those nights. Here’s mine.

To set the stage: there we were, at the end of the Saturday gig. We had just been thrilled by the Dics’ fantastic performance, capped by the surprise encore appearance of Tommy Ramone to sing “Blitzkrieg Bop.” “Goosebumps” and “tears” were the popular descriptives from everyone in attendance.

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Filed under Dictators Assembled, Live

by Salvi C. | September 9, 2010 · 11:34 am

Be Vewwy, Vewwy Quiet

No sudden movements or loud noises are allowed at DFFD World Headquarters until we recover from the party celebrating our 100th post.

— Salvi C.

‘Today Your Love, Tamara Ward!’

Everyone has a wish list of events from the past that they would like to have the chance to witness or change. Some would dine with dignitaries, some would bear witness to the great art movements, some would prevent wars.

Noble goals, one and all. I’m a little more street with my list. I’d keep Julie Newmar from quitting the “Catwoman” role after only one year. I’d introduce Curley Howard to the concepts of restraint and nutrition, to prevent the world from losing a comic genius at age 46. I’d bi*ch-slap Harry Sinden into stopping Bobby Orr from signing with the Blackhawks. And I’d bring a VCR back to 1975 NYC so I could record the Dictators’ performance at the MS. All-Bare America contest at the Beacon Theater on Sept. 6, 1975.

“More Beauty per Square Inch than the Grand Canyon!”

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Filed under Live, The Cincotta Archives

by Salvi C. | August 25, 2010 · 11:44 pm

I Get a Thrill When I Look at This Billboard

(Photo courtesy of Gene Suttle)

We’re still waiting for BackToAfrica.net to be used by the Nigerian Tourist Bureau, and MinnesotaStrip.edu to be claimed by the Greater St. Paul branch of the Bada-Bing.

Link: iStandTall.com

— Salvi C.

1991: Out of Traction, Back in Action!

Photos courtesy of Kris Quaedvlieg

The summer of 1991 once again found the band with time on its hands. Manitoba’s Wild Kingdom had been dropped by the geniuses at MCA, the Del-Lords had broken up, and our heroes were left with the choice of scattering into the wind (again) or putting the band back together. To quote Manitoba, “We could stay home for the summer and lose money, or go on the road and lose money.” So, in best DIY, 3-to-a-room-at-the-Motel-6 fashion, the road was the choice. The Dictators played 20-plus dates over the course of the summer, the most since the “Bloodbrothers” tour in 1978.

I saw the first three shows from 1991. The 4/27 Palladium show was fun and exciting, but overall a shaky affair. Andy sat this one out, and RTB and Scott both did great jobs carrying the backing vocals. They obviously had worked their tails off rehearsing, but guitar cues were missed left and right, and it took until encores for things to really jell. The Uptown Horns were special guests on a surprise version of “Looking for a Love.”

The first weekend on the road, 5/31 in Providence and 6/1 at the Channel in Boston, were much improved shows, but it still felt like they were playing it safe. The set lists were identical to those from the 1981 shows, and they still seemed tentative. They were still short-arming their throws.

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Filed under Dictators Assembled, Live, Live Review, The Cincotta Archives

by Salvi C. | August 16, 2010 · 5:08 pm

Long Live the King!

On the 33rd anniversary of the death of Elvis, let us quote the immortal words of the Bard, Sir Scott of Kempner, which are from the Dictators’ Palladium show on 8/24/77:

“For the first time in a long time, rock & roll is without a King. The Dictators want to hereby commemorate, and dedicate, this set and every set from now on, to the King, Elvis Presley. Now, and forever.”

— Salvi C.