The Days of Lore

Dig Los Dug Dug’s

Wednesday, April 27th, 2011 | musiX | No Comments

I know you’re excited ecstatic about those Kinks reissues, but this pair of reissues from Durango, Mexico psych, avant-garage band—and TDoL faves—Los Dug Dug’s is something to truly get enthused about (I’m also kind of thrilled to have just written a sentence containing the words “psych,” “avant-garage,” “enthused,” “ecstatic” and “excited” in it).

Los Dug Dug’s first two records—their self-titled 1971 debut and 1972’s Smog LP—have been given the vinyl treatment. Needless to say, they’re must-haves … or consider yourself a have-not. The band looked north of the border (mostly to the America-invading Beatles) and ended up sounding something like the Fab Four-meets-Jethro Tull-meets-the MC5. Guitarist-vocalist Armando Nava formed Los Dug Dug’s (named after the band’s Durango, Durango birthplace) after the dissolution of his previous band Xippos Rock. Their debut album—cantado sólo en inglés—is the mellower of the two, taking on more elements of ’60s pop. Smog is generally regarded as the band’s masterpiece, finished after inter-band tensions forced Nava into seclusion for two weeks while he wrote and rewrote songs. Los Dug Dug’s shed some members to become a taut power trio, Nava sang in Spanish again, and the album is the noisiest effort of their short existence.

Los Dug Dug’s went on to release a few more records, but this pair is really all you need. TDoL recommendation: Buy ‘em both. It’ll be the best 464 pesos you’ll spend this year.

“Lost In My World” - Los Dug Dug’s (Dug Dug’s, 1971)

“No Somos Malos” - Los Dug Dug’s (Smog, 1972)

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Tags: Armando Nava, Los Dug Dug's, Mexican psych, reissues, Smog, Xippos Rock

Aqui. Ahora. En el futuro.

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 | musiX | 1 Comment

I come to you from the past. I wrote this almost a week ago so that it would reach you in the future … as we meet here at this very moment in the present. ¿Confundido?

As you read these words I am in Guanajuato, Mexico—the birthplace of Diego Rivera—perhaps inside the very house he lived in … that or I’m looking at dead people at the Museo de las Momias. And there’s a very good chance I have a cold Negra Modelo in one hand and a fish taco in the other (TDoL likes to multi-task). Or there’s a chance my tender, white flesh is cooking on a beach in Melaque (with a cold Negra Modelo in one hand and a fish taco in the other). I can’t really tell you because … well, I’m not even here yet. Or am I. Am I not?

That said—this is all you’re going to get from The Days of Lore until el 15 de marzo. So I’m taking this time to tell you what’s on the horizon. First off, I’ve been listening to Soft Crash, the new LP from Orland, Calif. trio Nothing People (whom I’m convinced are actually from a distant planet), and it is creeping me out … in a good way. And Titus Andronicus‘ new album The Monitor is teaching me what really happened during the Civil War—it rocked! Look for more thorough reports on these and much more upon my return. If I return.

But the big news here at TDoL HQ is that I’m gearing up for the first-ever The Days of Lore Presents show on April 16 at the Doug Fir that will include The Mother Hips along with a couple of great Portland bands in Jared Mees & the Grown Children and Monarques. It’ll be an unforgettable night of rock … and with any suerte I will have a Negra Modelo in one hand and a fish taco in the other. Look for giveaways of some Mother Hips goodies in the coming weeks.

I leave you now with a little slice of Mexico with Los Dug Dug’s, a band out of Durango that created their psychedelic sounds after hearing the Beatles in the late-’60s. The band’s self-titled debut is still one of my favorites … probably the best 127 pesos I’ve ever spent.

“Let’s Make It Now” - Los Dug Dug’s

“Eclipse” - Los Dug Dug’s

Tags: Jared Mees & the Grown Children, Los Dug Dug’s, Mexico, Monarques, Nothing People, Soft Crash, The Mother Hips, Titus Andronicus