‘Madman in the Rain’, the new album from Washington DC-based Dot Dash is out now on The Beautiful Music.  Recorded at New York City’s Renegade Studios and produced by Grammy-winning Geoff Sanoff, ‘Madman in the Rain’ features 12 new Dot Dash songs.  

It’s a strange thing fate but what initially grabbed me was the Dylan Thomas reference in the opening track ‘Forever Far Out’ withits mid 80s feel and strong melody I’m thinking sunshine The Cure and a general production that has them right in the eye of the 80s storm. Theres a change of pace on ‘Space Junk, Satellites’ with a strong melody and doubled up vocals. The organ and shuffle backbeat works well. Hold on because ‘Tense & Nervous’ is a more uptempo slice of There are moments that remind me of listening to Julian Cope and his Teardrop Explodes and then the next song its the same era of inspiration but a real shift in style. ‘Madman in the Rain’ is a building journey that has elements of The Smiths in it and a california slice of sunshine in the melody that works against the title and the idea of Madmen and rain. I think I read somewhere when looking into the band that described them somewhere between REM and The JAm and I can definately hear some of that on songs like ‘Airwaves’ and their is The Byrds in the melodies but I do find my spirits raised when playing records like Dot Dash loudly, there’s just something about the songwriting and production that makes me feel like everythings gonna be ok.

Dot Dash has managed to play shows with some of the finest there has ever been from The Psychedelic Furs, to Ash, Hugh Cornwell (ex-Stranglers), Stiff Little Fingers, The Vibrators, The Fleshtones, Glen Matlock (ex-Sex Pistols), Urge Overkill, and Ian Hunter (ex-Mott The Hoople), to name a few there are many more on their resume and if they have been paying attention then the next one will be an even better record with an even wider influence that they’ve managed to absorb into their DNA. Until then this will do nicely. It’s pop in a lot of places but old school alternative pop played with guitars, bass, drums, keys and a whole lot of melody.

In the 80s it was hard to move fo rbands like this but it changed maybe Dot Dash will spark a return of bands who pen good guitar pop – their reach should be endless and their inspiration timeless. I’m off to grow out my fringe and swoon to ‘Wokeupdreaming’ like a DC take on what Jesus and Mary Chain used to do if they listened to the Byrds and the beach boys. Dot Dash make it sound effortless. Summer music is here and Dot Dash are on my playlist will they be on yours?

Buy Here

Author: Dom Daley

Originally released via Zero Records in Japan back in 1995 ‘Walk On Water’ marked the reunification of what many fans refer to as the “classic” UFO line up of singer Phil Mogg, bassist Pete Way, drummer Andy Parker, keyboardist/guitarist Paul Raymond along with the mercurial talents of guitarist Michael Schenker.

Bringing back producer Ron Nevison to the fold (he had worked with the line up on their influential ‘Lights Out’ and ‘Obsession’ albums) to help re-capture the magic of the band is perhaps the secret behind why ‘Walk On Water’ worked so well and the two Mike Varney produced albums that followed it perhaps didn’t. 

There’s a real vibrancy to Schenker’s playing throughout ‘Walk On Water’s’ eight new studio tracks the guitarist dishing out some fine crunchy riffage over which Mogg’s vocals truly soar, especially on songs like ‘Venus’ and ‘Pushed To the Limit’ both of which would figure in the resulting tour in support of the record (sadly though not the splendid Way/Mogg penned rocker ‘Knock Knock’).

A tour which is captured on ‘Werewolves Of London’, a semi-official 2CD set originally released via Zoom Club Records in 2008, and according to the original sleeve notes, sourced via Pete Way, probably for a couple of Special Brews and a curry, knowing the man. Recorded at Wolverhampton Civic Hall on February 10th 1996 (jeez I was 31 the day before) whilst the band at this point had replaced Andy Parker with Simon Wright (as the former found it impossible to tour due to family commitments) they still sound bang on the button across the 15 track set list. A set list that would feature the usual crowd pleasers such as ‘Natural Thing’, ‘Love To Love’, ‘Only You Can Rock Me’ and ‘Rock Bottom’ alongside three ‘Walk On Water’ tunes (‘A Self Made Man’ in addition to the two I’ve already mentioned), whilst for the UFO purists out there there’s a sublime ‘Electric Phase’ along with a stunning ‘One More For The Rodeo’ to really get excited about.

For what is essentially a straight from the mixing desk recording (something Paul Raymond confirmed within the original CD’s sleeve notes) this a fantastic (albeit slightly flawed) live recording, in fact it’s one that I would rank up there alongside ‘Strangers In The Night’ just because it isn’t as perfect as that record. Once again Schenker sounds absolutely spellbinding in his six string delivery with the finely tuned Mogg as always as cryptic/succinct with his between song banter. Then again, we surely wouldn’t want it any other way, would we?

Listening to both releases once again all these years on, and whilst its great to hear the guys back together and writing some cracking new material on ‘Walk On Water’, I can’t help but think there’s a little something missing from the record when compared to those  aforementioned late 70s UFO albums, and the fact the original CD came with two bonus re-recorded versions of ‘Doctor Doctor’ and ‘Lights Out’ (along with a spoken word track ‘Message For Japan’ not included in this reissue), probably spoke volumes for what would happen over the next couple of years as the band once again struggled to function as a working unit. Something you can just sense is already happening within the grooves of ‘Werewolves of London’.

With both title’s having been out of print for some years it’s now Cleopatra’s turn to give both titles an all-new audience both on CD, and now for the first time ever on glorious looking (and eye wateringly expensive) coloured vinyl pressings. ‘Walk On Water’s’ eight track album complemented by the re-recorded bonus tracks as an additional 7” EP, complete with all new cover art, whilst ‘Werewolves Of London’ gets a kind of ‘Strangers In The Night’ cover art makeover and comes complete with a 17″ x 22″ poster of the band!

The flame of the ’Walk On Water’ era of UFO certainly burned brightly, and yeah, oh so briefly it looked like the five guys might finally attain the levels of success they so justly deserved for all their hard work and stellar back catalogue, but UFO being UFO it just wasn’t to be, as once again the band started to slowly unravel, in some cases in truly spectacular fashion. Relive the magic (and not the misadventures) of those years via these quality reissues.

http://www.ufo-music.info/

https://www.facebook.com/UFOofficial/

https://ufoofficial.bandcamp.com/album/walk-on-water

Author: Johnny Werewolf Of Newport’ Hayward

20 date  May / June UK tour 

with special guests 

Bow Wow Wow 

Legendary 2-Tone group The bEAT led by vocalist Dave Wakeling have announced a 20 date UK tour.

Starting on 26th May at the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill, the tour includes a hometown show on 12th June at the Town Hall in Birmingham, the London Roundhouse on 16th June, before concluding at the Great Hall in Cardiff on 30th June. Special guest on the tour will be Bow Wow Wow with Annabella.

Really looking forward to our UK tour, after last years sold out run. It was great to see so many friends again after the pandemic, and to dance some of that good old Two Tone Love and Unity together! These are testing times, connection and community are a great comfort, and so it will be great to see you this summer.

A special bonus to be touring with Annabella and Bow Wow Wow; quite by accident, we will be celebrating a US tour we did together 40 years ago, and she still sounds great nowadays

A chance to thrill in the moment while also taking a stroll down memory lane, you can even dance like a teenager if you want to, till your knees remind you in the morning!   See you there, Love, Dave x” 

– Dave Wakeling.

The bEAT formed in 1979 and released their debut single, an infectious cover of the Smokey Robinson classic ‘Tears of A Clown’ on 2-Tone Records, which went straight into the UK national charts at #6. Along with their contemporaries The Specials, Madness and The Selecter, The bEAT became an overnight sensation. Over the course of the next five years The bEAT released three studio albums ‘I Just Can’t Stop It’, ‘Wha’appen’ and ‘Special Beat Service’ and enjoyed a series of classic hit singles between 1979-1983 such as ‘Mirror in the Bathroom’, ‘Best Friend’, ‘Can’t Get Used to Losing You’, ‘Hands Off…She’s Mine’, ‘Too Nice To Talk To’, ‘Drowning’, ‘Doors of your Heart’, ‘Save it for Later’, ‘I Confess’, ‘Stand Down Margaret’ and ‘Twist and Crawl’. 

The bEAT have toured the world alongside artists such as The Clash, The Police, The Specials, The Pretenders, REM, Talking Heads and David Bowie, and they continue to do so today selling out their last UK tour in 2022.

The bEAT UK 2023 shows in full 

May 

Fri    26th Del La Warr Pavillion Bexhill 

Sat 27th The Great Wall  Gillingham 

Tue 30th Hanger 34 Liverpool 

June

The  1st  Engine Shed  Lincoln

Fri 2nd Becket University  Leeds

Sat  3rd O2 Ritz Manchester

Sun  4th Epic Studios  Norwich 

Wed 7th Queens Hall Edinburgh 

Thu 8th Boiler Shop  Newcastle 

Fri 9th Barrowlands Glasgow

Mon 12th Town Hall  Birmingham 

Wed 14th O2 Academy  Bournemouth 

Fri 16th Roundhouse London

Mon 19th Roadmender Northampton

Wed 21th Junction  Cambridge 

Thu  22ndHMV Empire  Coventry 

Fri  23rd Rock City  Nottingham 

Wed 28th G Live Guilford 

Thu 29th The Forum  Bath 

Fri 30th The Great Hall  Cardiff 

Get tickets for the 2023 UK Tour here for one of the most popular and influential bands of the 2-Tone Ska movement – https://www.seetickets.com/tour/the-beat-bow-wow-wow

Music? It’s a shit business, as someone nearly famous once said. Were there any justice, the likes of Jonny Cola and Jez Leather would be household names. After the demise of the A-Grades, you’d forgive them for giving in. But, regardless of the grind of holding down day jobs, they continue to make glorious music. Which, without a record label, is nigh on impossible to release in a physical format. It’s a shame, because this album of 20 songs is, at turns, beautiful, catchy, melancholy and joyous.

With the average song length of 3 minutes, there’s no time to get bored, or stuck in a rut. There’s echoes of the A-Grades, obviously, but also Pulp, Cockney Rebel, Erasure, Pet Shop Boys and ABBA.

And with ‘A Song For Europe’, they have perhaps unwittingly written a potential Eurovision winner, complete with castanets. Once heard, never forgotten.

‘My Couchette’, with its bouncing bass line, is 2 minutes of salacious pop, ‘Breakfast In Trieste’ manages to be Ken Bruce friendly and sad in equal measure; “don’t be the last chip in the casino”.

‘He Bled’ would make Vince Clark proud, while ‘Split Personality’ has those backing vocals that Mauro was/is so good at.

‘Bristol’ is an ear worm with dark undertones; “I tried to talk to God last night, but it went to answer phone”, ‘Statues’ reminds me a little of when Blur were actually good, with a chorus from 1974, and ‘Night Train To Istanbul’ brings a bit of funk to the proceedings. Jonny continues to make seemingly innocent phrases sound ominous and seedy, thankfully.

‘Delta Blues’ is a slice of wonderful pop, a duet with Caz from Desperate Journalist, the Christmas song you didn’t know you needed. Check out the video. ‘Goodnight Vienna’ made me laugh out loud, while ‘Dunroamin’ is the perfect end to what should be a double album on vinyl/CD, bleak but beautiful. There’s much more here, obviously, but just trust me. Go over to Bandcamp, listen and then click ‘buy’. All musicians should aim this high, and I’m equally delighted that they’ve created this album and disappointed that so few people will hear it. Be one of the few.

Buy Here

Author: Martin Chamarette

new album
LP  |  CD  |  digital
out 14.04.23
(Frontiers)

pre-order/save
(LP format out 04.08.23)

includes the single
YOU BETRAY

L.A. Guns will release a new studio album entitled ‘Black Diamonds’ on 14th April via Frontiers. Produced by founding member and guitarist Tracii Guns, ‘Black Diamonds’ is another tour-de-force by the long-running hard rockers that is guaranteed to please their legion of followers. The song ‘You Betray’ is available from today as the first single from the record.

Written and recorded during 2022, ‘Black Diamonds’ sees Guns, vocalist Phil Lewis and co. continuing on the same inspiring and successful musical journey that has already reaped the recent albums ‘The Missing Peace’ (2017), ‘The Devil You Know’ (2019) and ‘Checkered Past’ (2021). While not shying away from flexing their hard rock muscles, the Gunners have also incorporated introspective acoustic songs reflective of their ‘70s classic rock influences on what is a highly varied set.



From their self-titled 1988 debut right up to the aforementioned and widely praised comeback records, Guns and Lewis have always delivered solid rock ’n’ roll to their fans. Ever since reuniting as L.A. Guns in 2017, a rekindling of creative energy has continued unabated, with ‘Black Diamonds’ showing no sign of this renaissance slowing any time soon.

Unlike many of their peers, L.A. Guns were never pretty poster boys, but more the sort of outfit you would be terrified to bump into in a dark alley. However, despite having the songs to back up that streetwise image, they have also written numerous moving, powerful numbers such as ‘The Ballad Of Jayne’, proving that there have always been serious songwriting chops on display.

From their powerful early years to the prolific activity since Guns and Lewis reunited, the history of L.A, Guns has been well documented, but suffice to say that the duo have been the driving force behind their classic songs. As excited and inspired today as when they started out, but with years of experience and wisdom behind them (not to mention a renewed, stronger creative and personal relationship), they have just hit a new peak.

Phil Lewis – vocals
Tracii Guns – electric & acoustic guitars, Mellotron
Ace Von Johnson – electric guitars
Johnny Martin – bass, electric guitars
Shawn Duncan – drums (live)
Adam Hamilton – drums (studio), string arrangements

official website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram

London glamsters Rachel Stamp have announced a one-off London show in celebration of the reissue of their classic debut album.

The androgynous four-piece had become darlings of the London rock scene during the late 90s, sharing stages with acts as diverse as No Doubt, Cheap Trick and Korn.

Following a string of indie hits, Hymns For Strange Children was recorded and mixed in a week with Nine Inch Nails producer John Fryer.  It emerged in early 2000 to waves of ecstatic reviews and magazine covers, leading to a sell-out UK tour culminating in a show at  the 2,000 capacity London Astoria.

“We paved the way for a whole generation of fans to be themselves and not to blindly conform to what someone else told them they should be,” says singer/bassist David Ryder Prangley today. “It was really tough to walk around looking the way we did back then. There was a lot of verbal and physical abuse directed towards us and I’m sure it was the same for our fans, but we all lived through it and came out the other side for the better.

“I meet a lot of musicians who used to come and see us play when they were teenagers and were inspired by us,” he adds. “But I don’t think there has really been a band since Rachel Stamp that mixed heavy, distorted guitars with synths and melodic vocals like we did. We’re still unique in that way and I’m very excited that Hymns For Strange Children is being re-released and hopefully reaching a whole new audience.”

Now fully digitally remastered and repackaged, the album is being released on vinyl for the first time ever through Easy Action Records on 14 April, in a limited edition of 700 pink vinyl copies. There’ll also be new CD edition with bonus tracks, plus a digital edition available from all the usual platforms.

To celebrate Rachel Stamp will be playing a special show at London’s O2 Academy Islington on the album’s release date. Tickets are on sale to O2 priority customers now and go on general sale on Wednesday 8 February at 10.00 am.

Tickets https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/event/1F005E2DE27235FF

I Get Knocked DownThe untold story of Leeds-based anarcho-pop band Chumbawamba.

IN CINEMAS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023LIVE Q&A FROM DUNSTAN BRUCE

I Get Knocked Down is the untold story of Leeds-based anarcho-pop band Chumbawamba. Founding band-member Dunstan Bruce is 59, and he is struggling with the fact that the world seems to be going to hell in a handcart. Twenty years after his fall from grace, Bruce is angry and frustrated, but how does a retired middle-aged radical get back up again? In this punk version of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, Dunstan is visited by the antagonistic ghost of his anarchist past – his alter ego, ‘Babyhead’ – who forces him to question his own life, sending him on a search for his long-lost anarchist mojo. Following Bruce’s personal voyage of rediscovery, redemption, and reawakening, I Get Knocked Down acts as a call to arms to those who think activism is best undertaken by someone else.

IN CINEMAS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023

(** SCREENING ACCOMPANIED BY A LIVE Q&A WITH Dunstan Bruce)

  • SAT 04 FEB: FILM FACTORY, LEIGH. TICKETS
  • SUN 05 FEB: TOWER ARTS CENTRE, HELENSBURGH. TICKETS
  • TUE 07 FEB: HACKNEY PICTUREHOUSE, LONDON (**WITH Q&A) TICKETS
  • WED 15 FEB: SHOWROOM, SHEFFIELD (**WITH Q&A). TICKETS
  • THU 16 FEB: BRITISH MUSIC EXPERIENCE, LIVERPOOL (**WITH Q&A). TICKETS
  • FRI 17 FEB: BREWERY ARTS CENTRE, KENDAL (**WITH Q&A). TICKETS

February 2, 2023 — Take a deep breath. Everything’s okay – and it’s about to take a stratospheric upturn with former Cinderella frontman Tom Keifer #keiferband’s “A Different Light.”

Penned a decade ago by Tom and Savannah Keifer, the song truly gives meaning to the saying, “Good music has no expiration date.” The lyric etches a timeless message that’s as relevant, if not more so, today than it was ten years ago. A fan favorite upon the release of Keifer’s 2013 critically acclaimed THE WAY LIFE GOES, “A Different Light,” now with a brand new music video, is being released to commemorate the ten year anniversary of #keiferband and Keifer’s debut solo release.

The new video, produced and edited by Joshua Smith, features fan-shot live footage of the band from the first year on tour (2013) through the most recent tour in 2022. Opening in somber black-and-white profiles of suffering souls, Keifer’s sultry vocals reflect the troubles of those in despair as shimmering instrumental vibrations build into an iconic key change. Within the first minute, the viewer is graced with an exalted perspective, and a fully technicolor, changed world. The anthem and video wind between contemplative compassion and explosive enthusiasm, ultimately landing on a perspective of hope and array of smiles where “everybody shines.” 

 Courtesy of Tom Keifer

Keifer says, “‘A Different Light’’s lyric really struck a chord with people and we’ve had countless requests since its release for a music video. The fans have been right there with us over this ten-year journey capturing show after show on their phones. Including the live videos they shot in the video is our way of expressing gratitude and making them part of the ten year anniversary.”  

Tom Keifer remains a resilient, relevant figure in the rock world through constant reimagination and renewal. His story begins as the singer-songwriter, guitarist, and front man of hard rock heavyweights Cinderella. His signature voice and guitar, and bluesy, no-BS arena-shaking songwriting, were integral in moving 15 million records worldwide. Over the past decade, Keifer transitioned his talents to a solo career, enjoying continued success recording and touring with #keiferband. #keiferband is Tom Keifer, Savannah Keifer, Tony Higbee, Billy Mercer, Jarred Pope, Kory Myers, Tanya Davis. Two critically-acclaimed albums have been released to date: THE WAY LIFE GOES (2013) and RISE (2019). THE WAY LIFE GOES was praised by industry publications upon its release: Rolling Stone described the album as “14 blues howlers… [it] calls to mind Cinderella but with an even more rootsy undercurrent”; Guitar Player said, “Keifer flat-out knows how to play vibey guitar parts with ungodly tone…. this guy is singing better than ever to complement his great 6-string parts”; Vintage Guitar praised the album’s “killer blues-rock playing and tones, hooks galore, and strong songwriting”; and the Los Angeles Daily News commended that Keifer has “an amazing, raspy voice and a knack for writing songs that lodge themselves on the brain and refuse to leave for days.”

With the release of #keiferband’s “A Different Light” video, 2023 will commemorate ten years of incredible memories with their fans. The band will be celebrating the milestone this year on their “LIVE LOUD TOUR.” Plenty of high energy, eardrum-shattering shows are in the works for 2023. Tour dates will be announced in the coming weeks.

As the second video for our two for tuesday we visit Keifers ‘Rise’ video from a few years ago as a tribute to lip syncing from a man unfairly lumped in with the hair metal because Keifer was so much more than that’ Enjoy

www.TomKeifer.com

www.facebook.com/TomKeiferOfficial

www.twitter.com/TomKeiferMusic

www.instagram.com/TomKeiferofficial

www.youtube.com/user/TomKeifermusic

There was one album in particular that got me through the first Covid lockdown here in the UK, and that was ‘Graveyard Island’ the superb third album from Isle of Wight punk rocking skinheads Grade 2. Released at the tail end of 2019, it was a record that had initially passed me by, but once I discovered it (via a good friend who also resides on Graveyard Island) it was like a true beacon of punk rock hope shining through those darkest of days.

Fast forward to Rebellion 2022 and playing to a packed Pavilion audience Grade 2 then went and delivered one of the performances of the weekend, giving us an immediate sneak peak of the new album they already had up their sleeves (more of which in a second) to help kickstart a blistering set of older tunes that instantly had the audience in singalong punk rock heaven. They then turn up on the “hush hush” Pirates Press released Cock Sparrer tribute album, that snook out around Christmas time, and here the lads managed to take a Sparrer deep cut and truly make it sound like one of their own, which is no mean feat I’m sure you’ll agree. Reviewing that album for RPM (something you can read here)  I declared that 2023 really could be Grade 2’s year, so with their fourth album now cued up on my system and ready to play, what would the next 35 minutes have in store for me, and would the album actually live up to my high expectations?

Just like during their aforementioned Rebellion slot ‘Judgement Day’ gets things off and running in fast and furious style, the bass of Sid Ryan rattling the speakers with its punchy bottom end and drummer Jacob Hull attacks his kit like the IOW’s very own Joey Castillo whilst it’s the almost Dick Dale like guitar work of Jack Chatfield that truly propels this 1 minute 32 second ball of sonic fury, and before you know it we’re into one of the album’s (many) highlights, the cowbell (yup punk rockers use cowbells too) tonking beauty that is ‘Fast Pace’. It’s on tunes like this where Grade 2 really stand out from the punk rock pack, ditching the speed for a more intense melody packed approach, in many ways they remind me of Newport’s very own 60 Foot Dolls. This is music meant to be danced to, and there’s even a Hammond organ solo that crops up mid song to seal the deal. Fantastic stuff!

Up next, ‘Under The Streetlight’ takes us back to ‘Murder Town’ complete with a doff of a cap to the band’s label masters Rancid, whilst ‘Doesn’t Matter Much Now’ is another bootboy terrace anthem in the making, very much like latter day Argy Bargy. Then there’s the early days Jam anger of ‘Midnight Ferry’ which switches the perils of missing the last tube home for the last boat home, and oh the delights of living on an island eh!  I must give a special mention here to the band’s ear for a melody, as this tune could very easily have been a contender back in the days when singles sold, instead of TikTok views, actually lead to artists becoming household names.

Having been one of the lead videos from the album ‘Brassic’ is the song that initially got me truly excited about this record, its jagged riff and instantly memorable chorus (complete with female backing vocals) knocking the tune well and truly out the park.

As the album reaches its midway point the tracks that fall either side, the Matt Freeman like 58 second blast of ‘Gaslight’ and the anthemic ‘Don’t Stand Alone’ complete with its (once again) glorious backing vocals, really are the perfect example of the two sides of the Grade 2 songwriting coin, and it’s at this almost perfect point I’m going to dip out and let you discover the rest of the album for yourselves, because you really do have to hear it.

I said it at the top of the review that I thought 2023 could very well be Grade 2’s year, and with a proper multi-date UK tour kicking off in just a few weeks’ time, along with dates with Rancid and The Bronx (now that is a one hell of line up) later in the year, it very well could be, it just needs you to get off your arses, buy those gig tickets and most importantly snap up copies of this 15-track Grade-A punk rock record. It’ll never be off your turntable, or out your CD player (you might even be constantly streaming this) come its February 17th release date.

What the hell are you waiting for?

Hit the links below to make it all happen!!!!

Buy Here

https://www.facebook.com/grade2iow

https://grade2official.co.uk/

Author: Johnny Hayward

Blag’s CONTRABAND video is here.  Thrill to the wild trucker exploits of Ralph Champagne and the whole crew! This is the best video you will see this year! Animated by the Mad Twins, artistic sisters working out of war torn Ukraine!

Its the perfect way to start any week – go Ralph!

Next up is this new video courtesy of The Dogmatics. This raucous slice of Boston Garage Punk 101 spent 3 weeks at #1 on the Radio Indie Alliance overall Top Chart. Its the lead track from the bands new EP out on the awesome Rum Bar Records.