BUSH TETRAS    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqn-1z-B4CM ‘Chick’ bands had mostly been a joke until punk came along in the mid-70s. The Bush Tetras ripped the doors off their hinges. They were a formidable force in Manhattan’s downtown rock scene, a deadly serious quartet (three gals and a guy) that was loud, funky, intense and more than a little bit intimidating. Arising from the New York post-rock scene (Pat Place had been one of James White's Contortions and Blacks guitarists), the Bush Tetras attempted a synthesis of African sensibilities (as perceived by white Americans) with the modern dance to form a global tribal music. They invented a big chunk of post-punk in 1979 as their rhythm ‘n’ paranoia classics like Too Many Creep, Take Me To Funkytown and Can’t Be Funky were in regular play at your city dance clubs, The Bush Tetras are currently three-quarters original -- vocalist Cynthia Sley, Place and drummer Dee Pop -- with bassist Val Opielski replacing bassist Laura Kennedy (who died of liver disease in late 2011). A new album is in the works. LEFT BY SNAKES    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsKafaliZLQ Tony Burgess is a Canadian novelist/screenwriter/poet/musician whose Pontypool became a classic cult film. He puts out tons of songs via his band, Left By Snakes. Think Dylan’s Basement Tapes recorded raw on the sport with pure punk vitality. BEECHWOOD USA   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mG_TMKe_SRA    They don’t have Real Rock and Roll bands in New York City any more, do they? Don’t kid yourself. Thank fuck for Beechwood. They’re a trio, glammy and trashy, as much of the best Manhattan rock always was. Allegedly the result of the musical coming together of “an anti-social petty thief, a male hustler, and a delinquent runaway”, these guys are young and anti-social enough to have had New York’s finest beat the fuck out of them during an unauthorised Lower East Side street party last year.