The Mau Maus have been added to the 2013 line up for the Punk Rock Picnic. It takes place April 13th & 14th at the Queen Mary in Long Beach California. To buy tickets and for more info go to http://www.punkrockpicnicmusicfestival.com/
Latest
Mau Maus Live Review in Sugarbuzz Magazine
Victoria Joyce has written a great review of the Mau Maus live in the newest Sugarbuzz, it also features photos by Mila Reynaud. Click HERE to read it online.
The Mau Maus
The Redwood Bar and Grill
Downtown Los Angeles
Brixton
South Bay Redondo Beach
By Victoria Joyce
Photography by Mila Reynaud
We took a break from the Sunset Strip Music Festival to head downtown. A very special show by LA Punk Legends, The Mau Maus, were playing a set at the forever funky Redwood Bar with the original 1981 line up. (They was just babies.) Self described as psycho-sexual Punk Death Rock, this show could not be missed.
Check out The Punk Museum being curated by Miss Tacquila Mockingbird for some mind-blowing handbills from some of their seminal shows where the Mau Maus shared stages with Black Flag, The Germs, X, etc.
With some changes to the original, original 70s band, a newer line up of Rick Wilder, Michael Livingston, Scott Franklin and Paul Mars Black formed in 1981 and that is who would be on stage tonight. The last time The Mau Maus went into the studio, they recorded with Robby Krieger (The Doors) on the Mad Dog Studio sessions included two songs for “Hell Comes To Your House Vol. 2.” A scene-stealing performance in the OJ Simpson detective movie “Cocaine and Blue Eyes” accented this “Joyride to the End of the World.”
We were very disappointed Mr. Krieger did not show up at the Redwood. But he was busy at Viper Room, playing a solo show as part of the SSMF. Break on through.
The Redwood is a teensy weensy serious dive bar, five times as long as it is wide, a virtual hall way with a tiny stage in the back. They have been back in business for a few years now reviving the downtown LA Rock to white hot and weird on most weekends. The Redwood features the obscure, the strange and like tonight legendary bands with a capital “L.”
The Tinglers out of Las Vegas opened the evening. Twangy Punk Pop with very strange songs that were just brilliant. Very Garage.
Followed by the Muertones, a trio out of Lincoln Heights with hardcore Dark Surf very Misirlou-Pulp Fiction type stuff. They did a cover of “LA Woman” that was to die for.
Chit-chatting with the Mau Maus pre-set got us some props for the interview Mr. Lucky did with the enigmatic Rick Wilder who may also be doing a book. Paul Mars Black gave us some of the skinny on the earlier Robby Krieger sessions. When the guitar player didn’t show – Robby jumped in and brought out a little bitty Dubose amp to the session. When the bewildered band questioned the size of the box, Krieger informed them this is what was used on all The Doors very own sessions. It’s not the size of the wave, it’s the motion in the ocean.
Taking the stage around 11, The Mau Maus were frightening. The undiluted energy of the original Punk movement was in full flower jogging the memory of a genuine underground scene back in the day-e-ay. You could get hurt if you got too close. And we are not talking about some fake mosh pit full of overweight suburban white boys. More like slam-dancing with scissors and knives kind of thing. It was wonderful to be that scared of a band.
The PA was terrible to the point of being absent if you were squeezed off to the side. (We were.) The enigmatic Rick Wilder’s vocals with his pale white skin and shock of candy apple red hair were more lost than usual. But the musicianship was stellar. The gorgeous Paul Mars Black (also of LA Guns) on drums was sharper than a disposable razor. The classically trained Michael Livingston on guitar was a revelation and one time Cramp, Scott Franklin on bass was a stunner.
We were doubly delighted to learn that another gig was added the following Sunday night, way the hell down in Orange County at the Brixton in Redondo Beach. This time the club was ten times as big and the sound system was 100 times better. The performance was a lot tighter. The contained chaos was crystal clear.
AND HEY KIDS: For a limited time there will be a special deal on the Mau Maus brand new CD, “Scorched Earth Policies” with an eBay bundle including a signed copy of the Mau Maus debut LP (autographed by the 1981 line up), a “Scorched Earth” CD (w/ a 20 page full color booklet with super duper photos by Mila Renaud), a Mau Maus Black Matte Sticker and 3 Mau Maus Posters, all for just $19.78!
Razorcake Review of Scorched Earth Policies
THE MAU MAUS
Scorched Earth Policies: Then & Now
Formed from the ashes of legendary Los Angeles glam rock band Berlin Brats, the Mau Maus have proven to be one of punk rock’s more tenacious groups, with lineups having existed in five different decades now—and yet despite forming in 1977—prior to this CD, the only legitimate recordings one could find were two tracks featured on the second Hell Comes to Your House compilation. In an effort to both clear the vaults and make up for lost time, this features six tracks recorded in 1983 and produced by Doors guitarist Robbie Krieger (who also lays down a barnburner solo on one track), plus eight tracks of more recent vintage that meld fairly seamlessly with the earlier tunes, making this the definitive showcase for this band’s take on punk rock: one part Dolls, one part Stones, mix in a whole lotta attitude ‘n’ hostility and set the whole fuckin’ thing ablaze. An all-around swell collection complete with extensive liner notes, pics, and some of the finest punk rockin’ you’re likely ever gonna come across.
Jimmy Alvarado
Razorcake Magazine
Mau Maus Live So. Cal. Dates – Don’t Miss It!
Don’t miss the Mau Maus live one week from tonight at the Redwood Bar in Downtown Los Angeles and at the Brixton in Redondo Beach. The new album will be for sale and you can have the 1981 version of the Mau Maus sign your copy!
New Mau Maus Video Debuts Tonight!
Here’s the new video for “Warbaby” by Glen Bennett featuring newly declassified secret atomic bomb films, blitzing action and Rick Wilder
Santa Barbara Live Review
Legendary L.A. punk rock band gives first-ever performance in Santa Barbara
Rick Wilder performs during The Mau Maus concert at Whiskey Richards on Sunday night. Click here for more photos of The Mau Maus and openers Crying 4 Kafka. (L. Paul Mann / Noozhawk photo)
By Jeff Moehlis, Noozhawk Contributing Writer | Published on 07.26.2012 1:25 p.m
When I asked Rick Wilder what we could look forward to at the concert on Sunday night at Whiskey Richards by The Mau Maus, the L.A. punk rock band for which he is the frontman, he declared, “Punk rock insurrection meets nuclear horror show circus.”
And you know what? He was right!
The Mau Maus were a force of shock and awe back in the late 1970s, with wild performances at the Hollywood punk rock club The Masque and elsewhere around Los Angeles, and sometimes beyond. With various lineup changes but always Wilder at the helm, they somehow survived (as individuals and as a band) into the 1980s, ultimately recording a collection of songs in 1983 with ex-Doors guitarist Robby Krieger in the producer’s chair.
However, these tracks went unreleased until a little more than a month ago when the album Scorched Earth Policies: Then and Now came out, an instant classic that also includes new recordings by Wilder and the blazing band/“chaos machine” currently on tour: Michael Livingston on guitar, Scott “Chopper” Franklin on bass guitar, and Paul “Black” Mars on drums. (All except Livingston also played on the 1983 recordings.)
The Mau Maus’ music is old-school punk rock at its finest, with loud guitar, fast rhythms, snarling singing and song titles that would make your mother blush. And, as on the new album, they delivered the sound and fury of old-school punk rock in concert, to the delight of the small but enthusiastic and oft-moshing crowd at Whiskey Richards.
If there is justice in the musical universe, the recent album release and live performances will raise The Mau Maus’ 21st-century profile, bringing them into the punk rock pantheon where they belong, alongside the Sex Pistols, The Ramones, the Dead Kennedys, X, the Buzzcocks, etc.
Thanks to Electric Sex Enterprises for bringing these guys and openers Crying 4 Kafka to Whiskey Richards, and thanks to The Mau Maus for keeping the punk rock flame burning.
Setlist
Doomsdaze
Dead or Alive
Sex & The Single Sniper
Laughtrack
Never Talk to Strangers
Greenlight
Family Jewels
Joyride (To the End of the World)
Sex Girls in Uniform
Rectum of Nefertiti
All Fall Down
Warbaby
Faker
(I’m) Psychotic
— Noozhawk contributing writer Jeff Moehlis is a professor of mechanical engineering at UCSB. Upcoming show recommendations, advice from musicians, interviews and more are available on his Web site, music-illuminati.com.
New Record Review at Strange Reaction
The Mau-Maus
Scorched Earth Policies: Then & Now
Produced: Robbie Krieger, the Mau Maus & Geza X
Ratchet Blade Records
Rick Wilder – Vocals
Michael Livingston – Guitar
Scott ‘Chopper’ Franklin – Bass
Paul ‘Black’ Mars – Drums
1. (I’m) Psychotic
2. Dead or Alive
3. Laughtrack
4. Rectum of Nefertiti
5. Sex & the Single Sniper
6. Puberty
7. Warbaby
8. Faker
9. All Fall Down
10. Never Talk to Strangers
11. Joyride to the End of the World
12. Family Jewels
13. Doomsdaze
14. Greenlight
This album is the first (and only legit) release by the most notorious punk band of the late 1970′s, early 1980’s, it contains six songs from a 1983 session produced by Doors guitarist Robbie Krieger (remixed in 2010), as well as eight songs from their 2011 session produced by the Mau Maus and Geza X.
The CD includes a twenty-page full-color booklet that gives you the complete history of the Mau Maus!
Prior to this release the only recorded evidence that The Mau-Maus existed were the two songs on Hell Comes To Your House 2, Sex Girls in Uniforms, and We All Fall Down. Now, after all these years you can hear why they were one of the most legendary bands in all of Los Angeles.
If I had to sum up the overall Mau-Maus sound on this album, it’d be this: they seem to be the perfect hybrid of The Seeds and The Sex Pistols. The great sound of 1960’s garage guitars, and Mr. Wilder’s kick-ass snarling vocals.
(I’m) Psychotic and Puberty are my favorite cuts from the album.
If you get the chance to get a copy of this, go get it.
Rating: *** Three out of three stars.
Read this review HERE
Stench Radio Interview w/ Ed Colver Slideshow
We’re posting the interview conducted by Stig Stench on June 29th 2012 in two parts, both are to accompanied by a slideshow of never seen before photos of the Mau Maus by the great Edward Colver. The photos were taken between the years of 1980 and 1983 and are direct scans from Ed’s negatives. Here’s Part I, check back for Part II. Thanks to Stig Stench and Edward Colver.
Jersey Beat Magazine Review
The Mau Maus – Scorched Earth Policies: Then & Now (ratchetbladerecords.com)
ATTENTION! ATTENTION! ATTENTION!! The missing link has been found Between The Dough Boys and The Dictators, and they’re here to rock yer socks off!! Listen to the first cut, first nasty lick, first fierce, nasal vocal from the new album (produced by the Doors’ Robbie Kreiger, Geza X, and the band) by the legendary 70’s punk/glam/rock ‘n’ roll band The Mau Mau’s, and you will be in Punk Rock Heaven (is there really a Rock ‘N’ Roll Heaven?). The guitars sound like shrapnel shards exploding from a landmine and the rhythm section is down and dirty like two whirling dervishes on a mission. Then there are the vocals: Warped, nauseating, gruff, and other-worldly. All total, just the right mixture for a goddamn, attitude-driven, snot nosed punk rock band!
I’m on my first of what willzbe several listens of The Mau Mau’s (they get a gazillion points for one of the best band names ever) first album in quite a few years, and I’m just… vibing!! My typing skills are minimal (two finger typing), but listening to this amazingly cool album I’m, “typing to the beat!” Something like a bazillion words per minute, right along with the manic beat that The Mau Mau’s have burned onto this party platter. Heavy stuff!
By the third go-round, I’m getting into the lyrics (the beat is STILL relentless), and they singing about being psychotic (“I’m Psychotic,”) the end of the world (“Joyride,”) rectums (“Rectum of Nefertiti,”) and – what else – ROCK ‘N’ FUCKIN’ ROLL (“Never Talk to Strangers,” “Doomdaze!”)
You might think that a band with so much road under their heels would rest on their laurels, or make an album with a couple of decent songs and the rest just mush. Well, Scorched Earth Policies: Then & Now is ALL KILLER-NO FILLER!! You will not want to stop this disc from playing ‘til you squeezed all of the friggin’ musical mojo outta this mother!
Where the Dictators shouldered heavy metal as a means to commercialize their punky pop, and NJ’s Dough Boys gave us some of the heaviest punk riffage this side of the Ramones, The Mau Mau’s inject wit, economy, intelligence, and classic pop structure into raw, powered punk rock. Not that the other bands I mentioned didn’t possess the same elements, it’s just that The Mau Mau’s mojo is definitely their own. Period.
Bottom line, this album is a fun-filled blast of riffs and roars that rock like crazy! It’s a credible continuation of what’s come before, and a hard look into the future. It doesn’t get any more neanderthalic and fun than this .
Sparkplug Magazine Album Review
The Mau Maus-“Scorched Earth Policies:Then And Now”
Well this explains what Geza meant when he said he was busy with something awhile back.
Hard review to write.I should be able to just say,”What did you god damned expect?” and leave it at that. But I’d probably get in trouble.
First off,if you’ve never heard of the Mau Maus/Berlin Brats, turn in your LA Punker card to this magazine for shredding, you don’t deserve it.
The Mau Maus were the king gods of snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory. Always finding a way to mess it up. Impossible to get in to the studio, pissing people off, in short Punk as Fuck. They managed to get booted from Decline And Fall Of Western Civilization for the love of god. One of the anti-hero’s,one of the upper echelon of woulda, coulda, shoulda. Until now.
The classic 81 lineup somehow was corralled in to the studio, to actually attempt the completion of an actual album, with Geza X controlling the knobs, and probably locking the door to keep em the hell in there until they were done.
And what an album it is.
A combination of tracks from the ’83 sessions with Robbie Krieger (you might have heard about him from a Val Kilmer flick) and stuff recorded now. This is, well, “What did you god damned expect?” If you have any affinity and love for Masque era punk, this is the album that’s been floating through your best nightmares for years now.
There are no hiccups and lacks in intensity between the ’83 tracks and the new tracks, if somebody didn’t tell you which were which, you’d have no clue they weren’t recorded all at once.
This is late 70’s LA punk. I’m not going to compare it to anyone. What’s the point? You don’t compare the influence to the influenced. If you don’t know what this sounds like, your loss buddy-o. Because you’re only getting what you should expect.
-The Right Wrong Reverend Paul Putrid
SPARK PLUG Magazine
Read it HERE
LINKS
CLICK THE COVER TO PREVIEW ALBUM!
Photo of the day
