Friday, March 27, 2020

The Nomads: Showdown (1981 - 1993) 1994


The Nomads are a Swedish garage punk band founded in 1981 by Hans Östlund, Nick Vahlberg, Joakim Tärnström, and Ed Johnson. Today, Östlund and Vahlberg are the only members left of the original line-up.


The band plays music influenced by the MC5, The Stooges, Roky Erickson, The Cramps, The Ramones, New York Dolls, and other early garage rock and punk bands. The Nomads have been an influential band in the Scandinavian garage rock and punk scenes, inspiring bands such as The Hives, Hellacopters, Gluecifer, and many others.
After releasing a number of records in the 1980s the band toured extensively and built a large fanbase without any significant rotation on either radio or television. During the years, touring and recording have decreased but The Nomads still play a number of shows every year in the Scandinavian region.


In 2001 the band celebrated their 20th anniversary with a gig in Stockholm that included appearances by members from Bob Hund, Sator, The Flaming Sideburns, Robert Johnson and Punchdrunks, as well as members of the original line-up.


[Artist Biography by Todd Kristel

Based in Stockholm, the Nomads have stood out from other garage rock revivalists because of the intensity of their performances and the wide range of their influences, which extend beyond the usual
'60s bands to encompass '70s punk, heavy metal, rockabilly, and blues. Their first release was a crude remake of the Sonics' "Psycho"; the band pressed 500 copies of this self-financed single in 1981 but had to discard 50 copies because of defects.
They followed this with another single, a blistering rendition of "Night Time" by the Strangeloves, and received wider recognition with their first mini-album, Where the Wolf Bane Blooms.
 

In 1984, they conducted their first European tour and garnered attention in the United States for their Outburst album. Despite successful attempts to broaden their sound, such as using horns on a recording of Jeff Conolly's "She Pays the Rent" and a trashy synthesizer on the Suicide-influenced "My Deadly Game," they have not managed to gain more than a small cult following in the States; this may be because they have recorded only a limited number of original songs. Nonetheless, they have managed to create some genuinely exciting, if not particularly innovative, music.]


 AllMusic Review by Todd Kristel

This 42-song, two-CD box set features material recorded by the Nomads from 1981 through 1993. The first CD features the best tracks from the band's albums and singles, while the second CD consists primarily of rarities, outtakes, and live performances.
Most of their songs are remakes, and even the originals are indebted to other musicians; for example, "Where the Wolf Bane Blooms" borrows the guitar line from "Borderline" by DMZ, "Call off Your Dogs" was written for the band by Jeffrey Lee Pierce of the Gun Club and Peter Case of the Plimsouls, and "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls" features guest lead guitar by Johnny Thunders. While the group may not be innovative or original, they are a very good garage punk cover band, as proven by their fiery renditions of songs by the Strangeloves ("Night Time," Standells ("Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White"), Tommy Bell ("Swamp Gal"), and others. Overall this is a solid, entertaining collection, but it's probably too extensive for someone who isn't already a dedicated fan.


This record full of singles and rarities from their period 1981-1993 was released in 1994 only on double CD format, and now finally sees the light on remastered deluxe edition. Triple LP with trifold cover, full of awesome photos, interviews texts, etc.

Here we find their own tracks as well as amazing covers from such a wide range of artists... and it even includes the track Jeffrey Lee Pierce from The Gun Club wrote for The Nomads, as well as the cooperation of Johnny Thunders in the studio with them. A brutal exposure of the variety and extreme sound of this legendary and seminal band which is still alive and kicking and delivering killer records and concerts.

The Nomads: Showdown (1981 - 1993)
Label: Sympathy For The Record Industry ‎– SFTRI 333
Format: 2 × CD, Album, Compilation
Country: US
Released: 1994
Genre: Rock
Style: Garage Rock


CD1

01. The Way (You Touch My Hand) [3:21]
02. I'm 5 Years Ahead Of My Time [2:33]
03. Lowdown Shakin' Chills [3:39]
04. Milkcow Blues [4:17]
05. Rat Fink A Boo-Boo [1:35]
06. Real Gone Lover [2:24]
07. Where The Wolf Bane Blooms [2:17]
08. Bangkok [2:47]
09. Don't Tread On Me [3:21]
10. She Pays The Rent [2:04]
11. 16 Forever [3:29]
12. Call Off Your Dogs [2:49]
13. Knowledge Comes With Death's Release [2:49]
14. Surfin' In The Bars [2:56]
15. Temptation Pays Double [2:23]
16. Swamp Gal [4:31]
17. Fire And Brimstone [5:07]
18. Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls [3:22]
19. My Deadly Game [4:29]
20. Wimp [2:56]


CD2

01. Psycho [2:21]
02. Night Time [3:44]
03. Boss Hoss [2:15]
04. Rockin' All Through The Night [1:51]
05. Have Love Will Travel [2:44]
06. Showdown [2:23]
07. Real Cool Time [5:08]
08. Sometimes Good Guys Don'T Wear White [2:36]
09. I'm A Ding Dong Daddy [2:02]
10. Teenage Letter [2:46]
11. Red Cadillac And A Black Moustache [3:16]
12. Driving Sideways On A Oneway Street [2:02]
13. You're Gonna Miss Me [3:38]
14. Stranded On A Dateless Night [2:32]
15. Big Sandy [1:34]
16. This Ain't The Summer Of Love [2:18]
17. Frying Pan [2:33]
18. Salvation By Damnation [3:01]
19. The Next Big Thing [4:17]
20. I Have Always Been Here Before [3:55]
21. Cinderella [2:52]
22. Motorhead [2:21]



PERSONEL

    Backing Vocals – Ebba Forsberg (tracks: 1-17, 1-19), Gustaf-Adolf Krantz (tracks: 2-16), Kissettes (tracks: 1-11), Mats Ernström (tracks: 1- 9), Per Ahlen (tracks: 1-17)
    Bass – Joakim Tarnström (tracks: 1-10 to 1-16, 2-13 to 2-18), Nick VahlBerg (tracks: 2-1 to 2-4)
    Bass, Backing Vocals – Björne Fröberg (tracks: 1-17 to 1-20, 2-19 to 2-22)
    Drums – J. Ericson (tracks: 1-17 to 1-20, 2-19 to 2-22)
    Guitar – Joakim Tarnström (tracks: 2-1), Johnny Thunders (tracks: 1-18)
    Guitar, Vocals – Hans Östlund (tracks: 1-14, 1-18, 1-19, 2-4, 2-18)
    Organ, Percussion – Frank Minarik (tracks: 1-1 to 1-19, 2-6 to 2-21)
    Saxophone – Peder Carlsson (tracks: 2-1)
    Synthesizer – Magnus Gehlin (tracks: 1-17)
    Trumpet – Helperin (tracks: 1-10)
    Vocals, Guitar – Nick Vahlberg
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