Year: 2019

The Bigtakeover digs Protons and ElectronsThe Bigtakeover digs Protons and Electrons

Conan Neutron and the Secret Friends – Protons and Electrons

Neutron and friends have released 12 7″ split singles over the last 18 months in a series called Protons and Electrons. This endeavor includes 12 other bands taking care of the b-sides, and it’s just been released as a two-disc set. Mr. Neutron wastes no time on the first disc, Protons. “Jilted Dragon” and “Armies of the Mind” attack with melodic earworms and deliberate urgency that recall Bob Mould from his Sugar days. Branding Electrons as a collection of b-sides would be unfair. Bands such as The God Eaters, Cartographer, and Quivers among many others offer top-notch songs from post-punk, metal and indie rock genres. P&E throws the sheer ferocity of its rock ‘n’ roll in your face without any fear. … Read the rest

All merch/downloads 20% off Dec. 1st-6thAll merch/downloads 20% off Dec. 1st-6th

All Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends items are a 20% off this week only (ends 12/06/2019). Physical and digital. 

Just use code “bargainissealed” at checkout!

This includes the brand new Protons and Electrons compilation 2XLP and 2XCD, as well as all remaining stock of Protons and Electrons 7”, Art Of Murder LP (while supplies last!) and CDs, Enemy of Everyone LPs and CDs and all t-shirts and hooded sweatshirts.

All orders shipping immediately!
Thanks!

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October/November Tour DatesOctober/November Tour Dates

10/25: Chelsea, MI – Rumpus room w/Tart
10/26: Toronto, ON – Bovine Sex Club w/Not Of, Leonids, So Tired
10/27: Montreal, QC – Turbo Haus w/CRËVE
11/1: Oakland, CA – Elbo Room Jack London w/Reptoid, Rip Room, Antler Family
11/2: Los Angeles, CA – Highland Park Bowl w/Dangerously Sleazy, Space Force
11/3: Anaheim, CA – World Famous Doll Hut w/Alright Spider, hepa.titus, the Patients
11/6: Milwaukee, WI – Bremen Cafe w/MICROWAVES, Ifihadahifi, something is Waiting.
11/7: Chicago, IL – The Owl w/Gerund, Tim Midyett
11/8: Louisville, KY – Kaiju w/Total Void, Bon Air
11/9: Athens, GA – Little Kings Shuffle Club w/Los Meesfits

Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends – October/November 2019 tour
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Conan Neutron and the Secret Friends – Protons and Electrons Compilations LP/CD/StreamConan Neutron and the Secret Friends – Protons and Electrons Compilations LP/CD/Stream

SW027 – Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends – Protons and Electrons compilation. Available for pre-order now. Atom 1-12 collected in a 2 LP and a 2 CD set. 3+ years of work comes to fruition! Artwork by the unstoppable Plastic Flame Press. Lovingly produced by Toshi Kasai, mastered by Bob Weston at Chicago Mastering Servicehttps://neutronfriends.bandcamp.com/album/protons-and-electrons-compilation

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“The Vig” video, by Johnny Arlett“The Vig” video, by Johnny Arlett

Video created by Johnny Arlett (https://www.johnnyarlett.com)

“A swinging little number about psychic gambling or something. Sure to satisfy or annoy fans of prog, noise rock and much more. The Vig (short for vigorish) is interest principal amount owed on a debt or loan, always at a usurious rate, with the idea being that the borrower never ends up paying down the principal and is indebted to the lender by just just covering the interest. The conceit of the song is applying those principles to psychic costs, but it probably works as a more dead on interpretation too.”

Conan Neutron: Vocals/Guitars Tony Ash: Bass Dale Crover: Drums Toshi Kasai: Production and Engineering… Read the rest

Jilted Dragon Video (by Rick Valentin)Jilted Dragon Video (by Rick Valentin)

Directed by Rick Valentin, from Protons and Electrons – SW027 – September 20th, 2019
Conan Neutron: Vocals/Guitars, Tony Ash: Bass, Dale Crover: Drums, Jeff Byron: synths, omnichord, extra “stuff”
Produced and Engineered by Toshi Kasai

Also from Protons and Electrons: SW022: Atom 8 – Jilted Dragon / Turbo Lightning – Give a Man A Brain, released 5/14/2019
https://neutronfriends.bandcamp.com/album/protons-and-electrons-compilation
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Protons and Electrons: Atom 12 – Parade of Deceit / Dale Crover Band – Sell OutProtons and Electrons: Atom 12 – Parade of Deceit / Dale Crover Band – Sell Out

Atom 12 (of 12!) of Protons and Electrons is up! Parade of Deceit / B/W Dale Crover Band – Sell Out.
DOUBLE DOSE OF CROVER!

As always free to listen to on bandcamp, you can buy digital for $2 and you can pre-order the vinyl if you feel so inclined (ships mid next month)

This here, Parade of Deceit is a nervy lil’ number about outrage fatigue and general disgust with the Newstainment Industrial Complex, confirmation bias and political actions designed to exhaust, demoralize and infuriate. Don’t we all just love a parade?

With a DOUBLE DOSE OF CROVER!

Dale Crover Band, in their first released recording of the live unit (Dale Crover, Steven Mcdonald, Mindee Jorgenson, Toshi Kasai) , meanwhile… give you a delightful homage/medley sure to please fans WHO listen.

That’s Protons and Electrons, folks.
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Protons and Electrons: Atom 11 – The Vig / Cartographer – Turnip, The Cloth ClownProtons and Electrons: Atom 11 – The Vig / Cartographer – Turnip, The Cloth Clown

Protons and Electrons Atom 11 is now up for listening and pre-order: It’s Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends (Conan Neutron, Tony Ash, Dale Crover) with The Vig, and Cartographer with Turnip, The Cloth Clown.

I believe this is the first Cartographer release in 8 years. So there you go!

Cartographer is very closely tied to the NeutronFriends mythos, by nature of Conan being bandmates with Ben and Chris in Replicator, and with Chris and Andre in Mount Vicious. Without Replicator (and to a lesser extant Mount Vicious), there would be no Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends in any capacity.

Cartographer is burly, aggressive and uncompromising noise rock. While the band members don’t take anything too seriously, the music is serious as a heart attack. Pummeling drums, jagged guitar and bass that evokes pure sleaze and menace make a fully formed package of Noiserock(TM) delivery. I believe their song is about a birthday clown that wants to have sex with a young Ben Adrian’s mom.

The Neutron Friends tune is an homage to a classic gambling term. The Vig (short for vigorish) is interest principal amount owed on a debt or loan, always at a usurious rate, with the idea being that the borrower never ends up paying down the principal and is indebted to the lender by just just covering the interest. The conceit of the song is applying those principles to psychic costs, but it probably works as a more dead on interpretation too.

The EarthQuaker Devices Bit Commander, features prominently in the “proggy” chorus bit. While, I think the guitar sound in the verses are just straight into a cranked Bassman.

Anyway, vinyl ships in September but you can listen to the tunes on bandcamp now.… Read the rest

Protons and Electrons: Atom 10 – Amargosa State of Mind / Maple Stave – Thunderkiss ’85Protons and Electrons: Atom 10 – Amargosa State of Mind / Maple Stave – Thunderkiss ’85

Free to listen, $8 to pre-order vinyl, $2 to buy digital

Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends is, as always, Conan Neutron on Vocals and guitar, Tony Ash on bass and Dale Crover on drums. This time we are joined by Sean Kirkpatrick of the pAperchAse and Nervous Curtains on synth, piano, keys, etc, and Josh Hensley of the rutabega on harmony vocals. 
It’s a lot more low key than a lot of our stuff and is directly written about the Amargosa Opera House and Hotel in Death Valley Junction California.

There is a stunning documentary on it called Amargosa. 
Here’s what that link says:
“In the ghost town of Death Valley Junction stands the Amargosa Opera House, where for the past 33 years former New York dancer and artist Marta Becket has performed her own ballets in the theater she spent seven years handpainting with stunning murals.”

Yup. I (Conan) consider Marta Becket to be a personal inspiration and the Amargosa Opera House to be a paragon of DIY attitude and uncompromising vision. This song is meant to honor her achievements and memory, and to celebrate the idea that empty spaces are places to paint, what is possible.

If you’ve ever seen Lost Highway, it’s the hotel at the end.
It’s an incredible place in the middle of absolutely NOWHERE and Marta Becket was an American treasure.

On the other side is the incredible Maple Stave, Chris does time as second guitar for us quite a bit and does a LOT of our art. Evan has sat in as well, on guitar and drums. They are a hell of a band.

Let me just quote what Chris wrote about their song: 
“The short version: the Maple Stave split with Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends is out today. We recorded it in November with the great Nick Petersen, and it was mastered by the great Bob Weston. It is the first Maple Stave recording since 2006 (I believe) to include bass guitar.
It is available for download here:

The long version:
Back in summer of 1998 things were weird for me. I had started listening to stuff like Polvo and June of 44, which skewed my songwriting, pushing it away from the more traditional likes of Sebadoh and Guided By Voices. It was also weird because I was about to start college, and I was scared to some degree. As far as a band went, I knew I’d start from scratch, and, with that, could do whatever.
On August 5th 1998, I went to the Lizard & Snake (long, long gone Chapel Hill cafe/club), probably on the suggestion of a friend. The show I went to see featured two bands I knew nothing about. They were Bicentennial Quarters (local opener; about 20 years gone as of this writing) and U.S. Maple. Like hearing “Enemy Insects,” “My Black Ass” or “Of Information & Belief” for the first time in my car, on Jefferson Road, not long before, these bands blew me away. (note: I first heard “My Black Ass” in a friend’s car in an Amoco parking lot in Boone, NC somewhere in 97/98) I didn’t understand what was happening, but knew it was good. It gave me a much greater understanding of how much you could play with song structure, and though I’d say that I likely lean more toward traditional styles when writing, it broadened my horizons enough to understand that pushing things further than I had been was absolutely ok to do.

I left that show and came up with the name Maple Stave as a nod of appreciation. I wrote it down in a notebook in case I ever needed it.

I moved to Boone, started college, but caught up with Bicentennial Quarters a couple months later at Carrboro Elementary, opening for Shellac. It was a big deal to see Shellac. A growing number of albums in my collection featured at least one of the band members’ names and I had a quickly growing appreciation for their work (which still carries on; I’ll still sometimes think how good something sounds only to find one of their names in the liner notes). I wasn’t in a good band, we had nothing that was worthy of recording or mastering, but I knew one day it would happen. Despite how angular and aggressive the music is, Shellac proved to be perfect gentlemen. After the show, I approached Bob and asked if he would work with my band. He said he would, told me he had a day rate and if he had to fly anywhere we’d have to cover expenses and gave me his phone number. That number remained on the wall of my apartments for years, in case I ever felt like I needed it.

So then, 2018 rolls around, 20 years down the line from all this, and Conan asks us to record something to be a part of his seven inch series. We go out and record with our buddy, Nick Petersen, send it off to Conan, feeling really good about what we’ve done (Nick is great guy, does great work, and always makes us feel at home). Conan sent the file off to be mastered, and, not long after, I got the file back. It was from Chicago Mastering, it was from Bob Weston, and it was one of the happiest moments I’ve had out of a quarter century of playing music.

I wasn’t in a happy spot toward the end of last year. I wrote an angry song, while trying to be diplomatic. Evan helped me a lot with whittling down and rephrasing, as per usual, all for the best. It’s about trying to be honest with yourself and someone else. And it has one of best titles we’ve probably ever slapped on a song.”… Read the rest