Atomic TV

In 2000, Trenton, NJ garage rockers The Swingin’ Neckbreakers played an an in-store set at Towson’s Record & Tape Collectors in support of their new album “The Return of Rock” (Telstar Records, 2000). Formed in 1992 by brothers Tom (bass) and John Jorgensen (drums), with Jerry Orbach (Law and Order) lookalike Jeff Jefferson on guitar, the Neckbreakers play the kind of no-nonsense vintage trash rock that compares favorably with Southern Culture on the Skids, The Lyres, and The Flat Duo Jets – the kind of lo-fi rock Atomic TV loves. The second part of this broadcast includes the 30-minute Elliott Smith documentary short “Strange Parallel,” a 1998 promo film directed by Steve Hanft to introduce the reclusive singer-songwriter to a larger audience following his discovery via the soundtrack of the 1997 film “Good Will Hunting.”

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“Man About Town” Tom Warner shares his favorite things on this episode of Atomic TV: Gratuitous Violence, Turkish Taffy, Scopitones, Lesbian Vampire Films, French Chicks, Jack Webb, Kung Fu, Tommy Keene and more!”

Pizzicato Five – “Sweet Soul Revue” — This was my first glimpse of my fave J-Pop band Pizzicato Five and the images of Miss Maki Nomiya shaking those maracas and evoking the style and charm of Audrey Hepburn in the roof concert scene while P5 mastermind-maestro Yasuharu Konishi boogies away on his Hofner bass and original guitarist Keitaro Takanami strums his Fender guitar have become iconic for me…This was my first transmission from a band that never made a bad or uninteresting video and it always stuck with me. I read that this song was a big hit in the Philippines and that it was used on Japan’s Ranma 1/2 syndicated TV show. A real treat! –Tom Warner