The only tv TV Smith wanted watched, in the taproom of The Knitting Factory, was himself. No matter how punk rock the crowd, he could sense their distraction. The epic Yankees-Boston championship struggle was on display on the bar monitor. "Even my drummer's watching the fucking tv." he protested. Grudgingly it was duly clicked off, and then we all got on the same page, which was TV Smith, of the famous 1977 band The Adverts, unlike his two recent quickie acoustic visits, playing with a full band - america's own Midnight Creeps, no mean rockin' outfit. Apparently they had met at the UK 'Holidays In The Sun' fest earlier in the year. Apropos of the original Adverts, the band included one beautiful girl, not to mention a wicked drummer. TV was well able to do his unique wacky punk stomp as they wailed. The songs, as always, were great.

TV & co returned a couple of weeks after this, having gone all the way to the West Coast and back, and played an absolute blinder at CBGB during the CMJ Marathon (900 bands in 3 days). A couple of days later I was talking to one CMJ'er, a college radio type from Kentucky I had just met. I asked what was the best thing he had seen during the week. "Funnily enough" he said "It was a guy from The Adverts, you know.." he searched for the name.. - I floored him by digging into my bag and fishing out a handy copy of the VCD of this show.. So soon, who knows, we may start to hear tv on the radio.

Obviously yes there is a VCD of the show, 15 songs. TV bought a bunch to take back to the uk, bless him, so you should be able to pick one up at a gig. Else you can get it from the pinstand for $4 inc. mail ($5 foreign) - if interested email orders@pinstand.com with the subject=VCD339, and I'll let you know the process.