Mid-’70s-formed British punk band The Damned released “Smash it Up” in 1979. This track can be found on Machine Gun Etiquette, the subject matter on which has been interpreted at anarchic and satanic. In the ’80s, The Damned went goth, and in this video, shot overexposed on a soundstage, you can see inklings of that eventuality.

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A couple of weeks ago before the former Soul Coughing frontman came to town, I sent him some e-mail questions, hoping to do an article for the music section. I never heard back—or so I thought. I put together this little number at the last minute, blowing deadline and annoying my coworkers. (They were actually quite nice about it, but still ... )

Then, what should I fish out of my voracious spamtrap but the lost Doughty interview. Magical.

What did you do today? Where are you?

I had a cup of coffee and sat down to type out this interview. I'm in Austin, TX.

How has your live show evolved on this tour?

The song selection changes from night to night—I don't use a set list. I just have a clock onstage to make sure I don't go on too long. I figure out the songs as I go along.

What do you hope people take away from your live show?

A fantabulous, life-changing experience!

Have you ever hit the road alone? Is it weird to tour as a solo artist?

Yeah, I've toured a lot by myself. Besides the obvious challenge of loneliness, it's pretty liberating to be out there by yourself.

The lyrics for your later work deliver meaning, stories and scenes more directly than your Soul Coughing material. How has your process changed over time?

My process has mostly stayed the same—it's me that's changed.

You're known for making killer word choices. How do you find your words? What makes a word or phrase appealing to you?

I listen for the sound of the word as much for the meaning.

Do you also write other things, or mostly lyrics?

I write some prose. Working on a book, but it's been tough going.

Do you ever get sick of talking about your lyrics?

Nah, not really.

Who's your favorite lyricist?

Stephin Merritt.

Favorite MC?

Probably Jay-Z.

I was surprised, when I listened to your latest release, that your guitar instincts are so bluesy. Do you listen to a lot of music that sounds like that?

No, I'm a huge John Lee Hooker fan. He's a big influence on me as a guy playing guitar and singing alone.

What else do you play?

A little bass, and really crude keyboards. I play with two fingers, like a techno producer.

What's the last album you bought?

Love Power Peace, Live in Paris 1972 by James Brown.

Do you have a favorite song that's being played on mainstream FM radio right now?

I love "Bad Romance."

Have you always been into music, or is it something you picked up later in life?

I became obsessed with music at age 12, when I discovered Led Zeppelin.

If you weren't a musician, what would you do for a living?

I have no idea. I'm not much good at anything else.

Was there ever a time when you wanted to stop being a musician and a performer altogether?

Sometimes. It can be a lonely life.

Do you think of yourself as lucky?

Yes, very much so!

Peace, Loving

Albuquerque is being visited by the best kind of aliens—experimental musicians. Headlining tonight’s show at 1kind Studios is Peace, Loving of Boston, MA. Three members of an innovative music/art collective and record label Whitehaus are coming through with handheld tape recorders full of cricket song, homemade instruments and poetry and creative and playful antics.

Cooper-Moore

Cooper-Moore vigorously exercises his right to free expression, whether he's storytelling, pushing the jazz envelope at the piano, or expanding the realm of the folkloric by inventing, building and playing his own musical instruments. He and Albuquerque's own Jeremy Barnes—one-half of A Hawk & A Hacksaw—first met a few years ago in Chicago, and ever since, they've been plotting to explore their musical universes together. They'll do it tonight at 7:30 p.m. at UNM's ARTS Lab with Cooper-Moore on piano and his own original instruments and Barnes on drums and other instruments—"It's going to be accordion-free," Barnes says. The show reprises outside of Albuquerque on Saturday at the Santa Fe Complex (8 p.m.) and Sunday at the El Rito Library (3 p.m.). Donations will be accepted for the Albuquerque show. Call 730-3814. (Mel Minter)

Hail Seizures

Sunday may usually be for winding down and behaving yourself, but today I encourage you to go to a punk rock show! Hail Seizures is on tour and stopping at the Heaven and Hell show house at 400 Wellesley SE. Hail Seizures, from Olympia, Wash., is acoustic folk/punk, lo-fi, high energy. The lineup includes guitar, toy piano, cello and violin.

Also playing is Jake Trujillo from Santa Fe, who is seldom ventures out of his cave. If you see him, you will not forget it. He doesn’t sound much like anyone else, with influences as varied as the Pixies and Frank Sinatra. Butt Lumps is also of New Mexico, she plays banjo and guitar with a lot of heart. I haven’t seen her but she seems well worth a shot.

Due to recent troubles with the police, the residents of Heaven and Hell ask that there be no drugs or alcohol at the show, and if possible it is best if show-goers park on Garfield. Still, it’s good music, with good people, in a good place. So be there.

Jim Magnarella

Those who get out have, at some point, probably caught drummer Jim Magnarella playing with The Chris Dracup Trio, The Albuquerque Blues Connection, The Hounds or Trio Soul. Magnarella, who owns Magnarella's Drum Shop and is a part-time music teacher at East Mountain High School, was recently diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus. To help raise money for medical treatment, on Sunday a bouquet of blues bands including Soul Kitchen, Chris Dracup Band, Albuquerque Blues Connection, The Memphis P. Tails, The Hounds, Trio Soul, The Deteriorators, Cadillac Bob & the Rhinestones, Joanie & Combo Special and The Drum Shop Gang will perform at Low Spirits. In addition, 'Charlie "Mr. Hot Lix" Z' is to emcee. "These kinds of things, where all the musicians get together, are pretty fun for everyone. Jim's hoping to be feeling good enough to attend, and hopefully he'll be able to play as well," says Wendy Beach, bass player for Trio Soul. In addition to jams, there will be food prepared by the Mule Kickin' Beer-B-Q Krewe, a raffle and door prizes. The benefit show happens from 3 to 11 p.m. and a $10 donation is suggested. Additional contributions can be made to Jim Magnarella's Benefit Fund at Bank of the West, 1422 Carlisle NE, Albuquerque, N.M. 87106. For more information contact Steve Whitman at stwhitman@msn.com or Wendy Beach at wendyLbeach@yahoo.com.

The ongoing charitable spirit within New Mexico's art community materializes again on Saturday night. Four bands and three dance ensembles--Wagogo, Rodney Bowe and Sina Soul, Racine Kreyol band and dancers, The Deteriorators, The National Institute of Flamenco, Odigba Adama, and Cathryn McGill--unite from 7 p.m. to midnight at El Rey Theater. Tickets are $20 general, and $15 for students and seniors. Get them at rkculturalarts.com, or by calling (786) 877-9800 or 401-8361. All proceeds benefit Yéle Haiti and Families2Families.

The Wild Yaks

In defiance of romantic tradition, this Valentine’s Day the Albuquerque underground attended an early morning noise show at 1kind Studios. It was one of the morning shows that 1kind throws occasionally that encourages breakfast potlucking, coffee drinking and waffle eating.

When I walked into the dimly lit room around 11 a.m. I was confronted by the wafting smell of breakfast and a man smashing a guitar with what appeared to be a mallet in the corner, squeezed between the wall and a piano. The room was filled with an industrial screaming, like supersonic electric drilling or a compression hose.

The first act I saw completely was the local noise duo Baby Shampoo, playing their first show. They shared a sepia-stained 16 mm film upside down, which they had picked up from a thrift store and said was about the Tsunami. Their sounds, made by a horizontal guitar and a few pedals, made an unusual but fitting soundtrack for the film with its images of crashing waves and junkyards. They had edited the end themselves, using watercolors and sharpie for a psychedelic apex to close the set.

Phantastron by Lorin Parker

Rocket Parlour is a husband-wife noise team that recently moved to Albuquerque after a hiatus in Taos. They are known for their unique homemade instruments. For our show, Lorin Parker opened a box full of buttons and levers and lights, and attached to it a long piece of wood mounted with electrical fixtures. His wife Sarah Seelig is a concert pianist, and she played piano along with him. Their noise made the already dark room seem sinister and creepy; it was fun. Lorin Edwin mentioned that he will be teaching “make your own sythesizer” workshops out of 1kind in March, and possibly out of his space in the Harwood Art Center. Stay posted if you like music and science: www.electricwestern.com.

Local noise experience A Church is not a Hospital sat amid a myriad of pedals and instruments like two kids watching bugs. They were just amazing. I don't even want to get into it, come see for yourself next time.

The Wild Yaks were not like the others, being a beat-driven rock band on tour from Brooklyn. They played with a friendly and high energy; I caught them warming up by frolicking around the back of the building before they performed. If you missed them this time, or you've been missing them since, don't worry. They are due to return to New Mexico on March 12 on their way to SXSW. I will keep you informed about that.

I, unfortunately, was dragged away before the last two performances. To keep updated on breakfast shows, noise shows and breakfast/noise shows of the future, visit www.myspace.com/albuquerquediy. Or keep checking here.

This pleases me so. (Hey, whatever. I’m not ashamed. I’ll kill you.) Kazuo raps for educationalrap.com

44 presidents

White House residents

From the revolution

To the age of the Internet

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