Handsome Dick Manitoba
Born In the Bronx 
(Liberation Hall)

You know, Manitoba didn't have to do this. With his Dictators titan stature, he coulda been baskin' in the neon renown that illuminates the 1970s Punk Pantheon.

In this IPOD Era, though, the singer not only writes genuinely
recommendable songs (the material is consistently robust), but fires them off with the same degree of blast-attitude as the rope-burned, Jewfroed sparkplug who reaped CBGB subcultural back-slaps. 

The Man's as capable of relaxed, heart-deep soulfulness as the hurtling, guitar-crunching rock and roll with which he's oft identified, and of which there's a jaw-juttin' abundance here.

Collaborator Jon Tiven, besides boasting songcraft acumen, infuses flabbergasting guitar. His tenor sax, pounded keys, and backing vocals raise the sound from Big to Bigger to Biggest. 

Further asserting that this alternately detonative and finger-poppingly pacific endeavor belongs on the top shelf, is the caliber of players assembled. Among their number are Sally Tiven, Simon Kirke, Chuck Mead, and Michael Shrieve.

A personal favorite is "Big Army Brass," inspired by Ed Wood's classic "Plan 9 From Outer Space." (Future events such as these will affect you, in the future.)

Believe in HDM. This is not just a hobby for him. (Duck, but keep your ears open.) 


(In a way, Manitoba is the reason I'm "DC Larson:" 1978 brought the third Dictators LP, Bloodbrothers. I took it down from a record store rack. On the back, the singer was billed as "H.D. Manitoba." I gazed into space. 'How would that formulation work, for me? I'm David Charles Larson, so that'd make me "DC Larson."' I liked the sound of that.)

Reccommended: "Big Army Brass," "Shelley," "Callie Mae," "Eighth Avenue Serenade," "Back To My TV," "Layers Down," "Eve of Destruction," "Thicker Than Blood," "Soul Punk King of NYC," "Surfside," "Magenta Street," "Born In the Bronx," "The Cooker and the Hit."

Videos: "Callie Mae" (LIve at Bowery Electric, 2018, with the Wanderers)



HDM Fan Facebook site (Personalized, autographed CDs available.)

Amazon ordering