Lester Bangs and the Delinquents - 'Jook Savages on the Brazos' (1981)

What can one say about Lester Bangs that hasn't been said already? A guru for about a zillion rock critics and Pitchfork-heads, Bangs was the first and greatest of the gonzo-style music scribes.

I just love the guy and would gladly exchange much of what he wrote about the artists for the actual music itself - I haven't listened to The Clash in ages but i re-read his NME piece on the band frequently. If you don't know Bangs then check out the seminal book, 'Psychotic Reactions and Carburetor Dung' for a thorough (if problematic) collection of his work.

I really like Bangs definition of rock n' roll -

Good rock 'n' roll... I don't know. I guess it's just something that makes you feel alive.... To me, good rock 'n' roll also encompasses other things, like Hank Williams and Charlie Mingus and a lot of things that aren't strictly defined as rock ‘n' roll. Rock 'n' roll is like an attitude, it's not a musical form of a strict sort. It's a way of doing things, of approaching things. Like anything can be rock 'n' roll.

What is sometimes forgotten is the fact that Bangs had a brief recording career producing two albums. 'Jook Savages' was recorded with backing band The Delinquents in 1980 (released '81) and is surprisingly good - Lester's delivery is somewhat less than pristine but let's face it - who would want that? Indeed in retrospect Bangs was way ahead of the game, anticipating the way punk would transform itself, in America especially, into no-depression and later alt-country. The album has dated quite well i think and makes for interesting listening both, for those aware of Bangs the writer and even those who don't know him. And dues should be paid also to The Delinquents who do a sterling job supporting our man from Escondido.

Here is Bangs last-ever interview with Jim de Rogatis, from which the above quote is taken

and here are the jook savages.