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The Barstool Preachers, Riskee & The Ridicule, Bottlekids – Le Pub Newport 09/12/21

The Barstool Preachers, Riskee & The Ridicule, Bottlekids – Le Pub Newport 09/12/21

With the sold-out sign on the door, expectations were building and something special was in the air. Bottlekids, Riskee & The Ridicule, and Bar Stool Preachers is an excellent three-band lineup by anyone’s standard.

The last band I was lucky enough to see pre-pandemic was in Rough Trade Bristol and just happened to be tonight’s headliners. To be fair they were building up a good head of steam ahead of the release of their third album. With the world at their feet, big things were anticipated and expected. Then you know what happened, time virtually stood still as we all retreated to behind our doors. I did a zoom call with Bungle Preacher and that seems such a long time ago now so tonight was a line in the sand hopefully and the start of something new to build on. Lets have it!

To be fair, the creative types might have benefitted from forced isolation and having time to create new music but without human contact, none of us knew what was going to pan out once we were released. Sure as night follows day those Bar Stool Preachers did the only thing they know, and that was to get in the van, throw caution to the wind and get out there and play some live Punk Rock shows to some lovely people (and some not so, probably). Tonight was the turn of South Wales and the awesome venue that is Le Pub. Drawing in openers Bottlekids with their spikey melodic punk-rock driven by a huge bass sound they did a sterling job of setting the mood. I wasn’t familiar with their songs but I have heard them before and I was pleasantly surprised with the songs and with the really good live mix they had it has to be said. With a new album already done and set for a 2022 release, they punched through and it was an impressive set from a band I will definitely be hearing more of.

Riskee & The Ridicule were up next, playing to a full house the band delivered an impressive set featuring some cracking songs. ‘Blue Jacket’, ‘Molotov Cocktail’ and ‘Kaboom!’ went down really well as did their excellent interpretation Of the Lana Del Rey song ‘Young And Beautiful’. The band sounded up for it and were winning new friends with their anthemic and down-to-earth songs, delivered with passion and conviction. Newport has always been a great litmus test for bands from TJ’s to Le Pub they can sniff out an honest band and will payback with mutual respect and love and tonight RATR were feeling the love.

If the Bar Stool Preachers ever needed a band to give them a kick up the arse and a follow that message then tonight the Brighton Boys were going to have to bring their A-game with Bells and whistles.

As the band took the stage in front of a sweaty Le Pub to open up the intro for ‘One Fool Down’ which was the perfect opener to let people know it was showtime and to get ready for the next hour and some to go in full tilt and as Tom took the stage the crowd was already all in.

The band was the last band I saw before the original lockdown (as I said earlier) but the months slipped away and what seemed like years ago disappeared as I put my lockdown fitness routine to the test and got me Adidas Munich working out my legs as I moved to the monster sounds of a tight and up for it band. ‘8.6 Days’, ‘Choose My Friends’, ‘Trickle Down’ and ‘State Of Emergency’ all flew by as the band got a sweat on, constantly moving and living life in the moment and a glance around it seemed as if it was the tonic everyone needed. The band created a massive positive energy that the audience was feeding off and in turn, the band fed off that back. The sound was top-notch and for a sweaty club showed just how good the songs are with a clarity you don’t always get.

The banter was good but kept to a minimum as the band let the music do the talking. We were even treated to some new songs and the lockdown single ‘When The World Ends’ was very apt. The energy and joy emanating from the stage was infectious as we moved towards an encore. What encore? The encore was binned to save the pretense and to carry on the energy that has been building throughout the evening. As we reached the final shot of the anthemic knees-up that is ‘Bar Stool Preacher’ we all had a sing-song and the world was put to rights.

We left the venue having been treated to a proper punk rock show that celebrated community and all that is good about live music. The Bar Stool Preachers didn’t muck about when restrictions were lifted and got straight back on it giving their all every night one would suspect and apart from Tom falling into the drum kit in the first song after reaching blast off levels of energy and then spilling a beer on his pedal it was a most excellent night of punk rock (not that I ever doubted it anyway).

If you’re looking for a night out with top music then put these boys on the top of your wish list, get out there, and support them because they’re not just diamond geezers, they’re packing some of the best tunes out there. Treasure these moments, because it won’t be long before playing small venues will be a thing of the past for The Bar Stool Preachers and we’ll all remember saying we were there. Three excellent bands for the price of a few pints in a sweaty club is just what the Doc ordered. Brilliant!

Author: Dom Daley

HeWhoCannotBeNamed (The Dwarves) Releases Kids Concept Album

HeWhoCannotBeNamed (The Dwarves) Releases Kids Concept Album

HeWhoCannotBeNamed (The Dwarves) Releases Kids Concept Album w/ Milo Aukerman (Descendents), Spike Slawson (Me First and the Gimme Gimmes) and Chris Barrows (Pink Lincolns, Chris Barrows band)

Laptop Punk Records has unveiled the new LP from HeWhoCannontBeNamed of the Dwarves!

Here’s a special gift for the holiday season: HeWhoCannotBeNamed has enlisted the help of family and allies to create an ambitious themed musical that harkens back to the classic works Dr. Seuss and Shel Silverstein. All original songs, all composed and performed by HeWhoCannotBeNamed with the assistance of some very special guests including: Spike Slawson of Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, Chris Barrows of Pink Lincolns and Chris Barrows Band and, Milo Aukerman of Descendents, and many more!
Laptop Punk Records was formed by Grim Deeds in 2020 as an outlet for friends and underground punk artists to release singles and albums digitally, and to release a compilation series in the spirit of Lookout! and Fat Wreck Chords. Laptop Punk emphasizes DIY and encourages home recording projects, and also celebrates side-projects and one-offs from both obscure and well-known artists. Lisa Marr of Cub, Kim Warnick of The Fastbacks, and John Jughead Pierson of Screeching Weasel are among the artists who’ve contributed songs, as well as many obscure and new artists with exciting ideas and talent to offer. Laptop Punk’s mission is to promote inspired songwriting from across the globe, and there are already great releases from international (Japanese, Indonesian, Ukrainian, Russian) artists in the catalog. With new releases launching every month, the pace is set to continue strong into 2022 and a new compilation cd is on the way. Laptop Punk Records Compilation Volume 1 is now available and features 29 hits from a wide variety of artists. 
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Fast Eddy Announce New LP for Spaghetty Town Records and Unveil First Single

Fast Eddy Announce New LP for Spaghetty Town Records and Unveil First Single

Fast Eddy was born out of the miasma of Denver’s Rock n Roll, and independent music scene in 2014. Formed from members of some notable Denver bands as Dirty Few, and Itchy O, their vision started on a late-night ramble. Somewhat of a side project, without much of a direction, the band named their project after their old drug dealer and took to writing songs about the heartache and challenges that come along with the hedonistic rampage that it can mean to pursue music unabashed.


As the band became more of a genuine article, each member brought their own pieces to the table and started writing more genuine, anthem-esque powerpop rock n roll. Micah Morris on guitar and lead vocals, Devon Francy on bass, Arj Narayan on drums, and Lisandro Gutierrez on guitar, had stepped up their game and worked their way into a bigger more encompassing world of rock n roll.


After selling their personal belongings, and almost dying from van malfunctions in transit to simply make their first Atlanta recordings, it’s been one bold leap after the other. but their sacrifice hasn’t come in vain, and they’ve simply come too far to turn back now.


Look for “Take A Look” at record stores and wherever fine MP3s are sold on January 21st, 2022.
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System Reset – Many Hands Make Lies Work (Self-released)

System Reset – Many Hands Make Lies Work (Self-released)

Written and recorded around the pandemic period, System Reset’s first recording since guitarist Shovel (he of Trigger McPoopshute notoriety) and drummer Sturdy joined the fold, sees them rip out seven tracks which put many of society’s ills under the microscope. Mini LP or bulging EP it matters not, what does matter is the quality of the material and once again System Reset hit the nail squarely on the noggin with a well-produced slab of molten punk rock. From the opening ‘March’ tackles the subjects of the day with a UK Government set on making the divide wider and taking away fundamental rights you and I have and crushing them without so much as a whimper as the media ignores what is going on under our noses whilst the clowns in power divert and divide System Reset have their eyes on what’s going on and they let rip.

Covering other powerful topics such as domestic abuse (Crack My Head) is one of the standout tracks on offer. whilst its a difficult lyrical topic to get your head around the soundtrack is brutal but riveting and draws you to the lyrics., mental health gets covered with (Anxiety and Fail-Safe), the rise of the right-wing (Cut The Ties) with a filthy spirit of 82 punk rock bass line that isn’t so much a tap on the shoulder but a thump to the back of the head. work/life imbalance is dialed in on ‘Dead On Your Feet’. Big business gets a poke in the eye courtesy of, well, ‘Big Business’. The EP is a word in your ear put to some fantastic punk rock and it’s a frank soundtrack to a fucked up, post-pandemic world. The more I play it the better it gets which is always a good sign of a quality release.

With current and ex-members of Da Capo, Four Letter Word, Trigger McPoopshute, Red Riot and drawing on a myriad of influences it’s a record that covers many musical bases and has a great flow.

The EP will have a CD and limited 7” of the tracks ‘Fail Safe’ and ‘Big Business’ coming in early 2022 but for now it’s digital only.

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Author: Dom Daley

Bitch Queens release new video for ‘FU Emily’

Bitch Queens release new video for ‘FU Emily’

A brand new video for “FU Emily” – The super-catchy ballad of the latest album “Custom Dystopia”. 
Got some annoying family days ahead with your brat brother or sister or your little racist aunt & uncle? Then this is your soundtrack! Read the RPM review Here then pick up a copy.

THE JIM JONES ALL STARS ANNOUNCE FORMATION AND LIVE DATES

THE JIM JONES ALL STARS ANNOUNCE FORMATION AND LIVE DATES

The explosive new project from the warped musical mind of rock’n’roll evangelist Jim Jones is here!

Open your ears, arms and hearts to welcome The Jim Jones All Stars into your lives! Fronted by legendary testifier Jim Jones – formerly of Thee Hypnotics, Black Moses, The Jim Jones Revue and Jim Jones & The Righteous Mind – his latest project sees him swan dive into not only his primordial influences and his own classic-packed back catalogue, but also into a spicy gumbo of hot, new sounds.

Joined by former Jim Jones Revue members Gavin Jay (bass) and Elliot Mortimer (piano and keyboards), The Jim Jones All Stars are augmented guitarist Carlton Mounsher, singer Ali Jones, drummer Chris Ellul and the three-way sax attack of Stuart Dace, Chuchi Malapersona and Tom Hodges.

Born out of necessity, born out of wedlock and simply born to boogie, The Jim Jones All Stars are an unholy trinity of birth.

“The whole COVID/Brexit problem just made it impossible to continue with The Righteous Mind,” says Jim Jones, “but with various live offers and opportunities still coming in I had to come up with something, or else just go insane.

“Necessity, being the mother of invention, surprised us all when she delivered a healthy, heavyweight, blue-eyed amalgam of incendiary ramalama soul.”

Speaking of the new line-up, Jim Jones has a wicked glint in his eye when he says: “It’s a pleasure to have that much horn going on, as it allows me to plunge into the succulent, dark meat of the low-down, greasy, chitlin’ groove – that’s where all the flavour is!”

Warming to the theme, Jim Jones adds: “There’s a whole new planet of killer songs and I’m landing on it now and preparing to plant my freak flag. And on top of that, we’re going to be deep-frying à la carte from my entire back catalogue.

“This is the gig you’ve been waiting for!”

THE JIM JONES ALL STARS PLAY

FEBRUARY 2022

25 – London, The Lexington

26 – Hebden Bridge, Trades Club

27 – Leighton Buzzard, The Crooked Crow

MARCH

12 – Bedford, Esquires

More dates to follow…

Dirty Pretty Things – London Electric Ballroom ticket details

Dirty Pretty Things – London Electric Ballroom ticket details

LIVE LONDON ELECTRIC BALLROOM MARCH 24TH 2022
After a 15-year absence Carl Barât, Anthony Rossomando and Gary Powell, aka Dirty Pretty Things, are dusting off their instruments to celebrate the 15th anniversary (a Covid year late) of their debut album ‘Waterloo To Anywhere,’ at the Electric Ballroom in Camden (North London) on Thursday 24th March.
Tickets for the show go on sale at 10am on Thursday 16th December and are available from: Here


Carl Barat: “We decided last year, to reunite for the 15th birthday of ‘Waterloo To Anywhere’, but the global pandemic scuppered that. Not wanting to let Covid rob us of this opportunity, we decided to put on a show this coming March, to celebrate a band and time that means the world to us.”


Gary Powell: “It’s great to be back performing music that was born out of friendship and the opportunity to create and express, at a time when it would’ve been easier for us not to. We are looking forward to reengaging with old friends and making some new ones.”


Anthony Rossomando: “The spirit of DPT will always coarse through my veins. I’ve been anticipating this moment for years! Let’s gooo.”


Carl Barât, Gary Powell and Anthony Rossomando formed Dirty Pretty Things after the Libertines tour came to an end in 2004. They recruited Oscar, Grammy and Golden Globe-winning American songwriter Anthony Rossomando, who had toured with the Libertines as the second guitarist, and on bass was Didz Hammond from The Cooper Temple Clause. As time stands still for no man Didz Hammond is unfortunately not able to fulfil his role, being bass player/backing vocalist for the up and coming show, which is unfortunate – but leaves the role to be filled by the Klaxons very own Jamie Reynolds, who has had a long-standing relationship with the band and has performed with them previously at Glastonbury.


Dirty Pretty Things signed to Universal’s Vertigo label and recorded their debut album ‘Waterloo To Anywhere’ in LA with Dave Sardy (Oasis, Jet) and in Glasgow with Tony Doogan (Belle & Sebastian, Mogwai). Their first single ‘Bang Bang You’re Dead’ went top 5. Their second single ‘Deadwood’ was also a hit and ‘Waterloo To Anywhere’ entered the UK album charts at No 3 in August ‘06. Their second album ‘Romance At Short Notice’ followed in 2008. Universal will reissue ‘Waterloo To Anywhere’ on vinyl in June 2022. 


Carl Barât and Gary Powell have released three albums with the Libertines: ‘Up The Bracket’ (’02), ‘The Libertines’ (’04) and ‘Anthems For Doomed Youth’ (’15); two with Dirty Pretty Things: ‘Waterloo To Anywhere’ (’06) and ‘Romance At Short Notice’ (’08). Carl Barât released a self titled solo album (’10) and one with his new band The Jackals ‘Let It Reign’ (’15). 


As previously announced CarlBarât will also be playing eleven UK shows on the ‘Live Revive Tour’ in January 2022. Details Here

Social Experiment – ‘Everything Is Connected to Everything Else’ (Blind Destruction/Deviance/Mass Productions/Maloka)

Social Experiment – ‘Everything Is Connected to Everything Else’ (Blind Destruction/Deviance/Mass Productions/Maloka)

Three years can be a mighty long time in the music industry with styles and tastes changing with the ‘next big thing’ and bands going out of fashion almost overnight. However, in the three years since south Wales punks Social Experiment unleased their brutal (and totally unfashionable) ‘Rumours Of Our Demise Are Not Greatly Exaggerated’ debut, the planet on which we reside has become one of intense and constant upheaval, with the next big thing (musically at least) being the last thing on anyone’s minds.

What Social Experiment skilfully do with ‘Everything Is Connected to Everything Else’ (their long overdue second long player) is take those things and use them to shape the soundtrack to our seemingly never-ending apocalypse by delivering a dozen razor-sharp missives that would be guaranteed to have Daily Mail readers instantly up in arms.

From the UK’s escalating homelessness problem courtesy of ‘System Failure’ to the political corruption of ‘Social Experiment’ via the illegal breeding of designer dogs, castigated by ‘Fashion Accessory’, nothing is seemingly off limits, with even that mate you had who has now become a bit of racist cunt due to the fallout from Brexit even getting a mention during ‘I Don’t Like Your Attitude’. Puddle (vocals), Newt (bass), Nicky (drums) and Paul (guitar) literally blaze through their set in a little over thirty two minutes and at times they make me wonder is this what an early Discharge jamming with Slayer might sound like? There’s even time for some levity at the end of it all via the Dirtbox Disco-esque ‘Drinking After The Bell’. It’s not all doom and gloom you know.

Anger might very well be an energy but when it’s used positively and comes all wrapped up in a glorious production/mixing job courtesy of Danny Guy and Jason Livermore, you can’t help but feel inspired by the likes of ‘Thank You – Fuck You’, ‘Destitution’ (complete with a spoken word intro courtesy of ole toad face Farage) and perhaps the band’s most commercial track to date, the excellent ‘Same Shit, Different Day’.

As I sat down to write this review, the rock world was waking up to the tragic news that the Angelic Upstarts’ legendary frontman Thomas ‘Mensi’ Mensforth had lost his battle with Covid. Now you may be wondering why I mention this here in summing up? Well in Social Experiment the legacy of Mensi’s work, in not just music but also his fight and spirit, is very much still alive, and I couldn’t help but smile as ‘System Failure’ came blasting out the speakers angry as fuck, it actually had me thinking “this one’s for Mensi.”

And who knows, maybe, just maybe, Leonardo DaVinci really was onto something when he said ‘Everything Is Connected to Everything Else’ all those years ago – even when it comes to punk rock.

To find out for yourselves if the Italian polymath really was indeed correct, click on the following link and go order your copy of the album on LP or CD.

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Author: Johnny Hayward

Dirtbag Republic – ‘Tear Down Your Idols’ (Shock Records/Vanity Music Group)

Dirtbag Republic – ‘Tear Down Your Idols’ (Shock Records/Vanity Music Group)

As retro-obsessed as I am, a proper throwback of an album would surely be a fine way to round off my reviewing duties for the year. That album? ‘Tear Down Your Idols’, the just-released new album from Canadian gutter rockers, Dirtbag Republic.

Formed by singer Sandy Hazard and guitarist Mick Wood in 2014, ‘Tear Down Your Idols’ (titled in reference to both the tearing down of favourite bands that blow up big and heritage acts going through the motions on stage) is the Vancouver band’s third album, following 2015’s self-titled debut and 2017’s ‘Downtown Eastside’.

Described in the press blurb as having definite Hanoi Rocks and Dead Boys influences, I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t more than a whiff of the former in the sonics ensconced in this eleven-track long player – ‘Sorry’ being a fine example. It’s a much more harder-edged album, though – more of a street rock ‘n’ roll record that will appeal to fans of Backyard Babies (probably the clearest soundalike here) and Buckcherry. There’s a mainlining of prime, pre-MTV Aerosmith here too. I’m guessing that you’ve already decided as to whether you’re going to check this album out just because of the bands that I’ve just mentioned? Well, here’s another one: I couldn’t help but be reminded of Helsinki scuzz rockers Hybrid Children when listening to ‘Tear Down Your Idols’.

The barroom piano on ‘Don’t Answer To No One’ adds another classic rock ‘n’ roll element, elevating the track to the top of my ‘must-play’ list from this album. At the bottom? Throwback records often trawl up questionable lyrics and this one is no different: the “anorexia nervosa” refrain in ‘Skinny’ is an eyebrow- rather than a fist-raiser that made even my headphones wince. The Manic Street Preachers’ ‘4st 7lb’ it is not.

Even though an idea that should never have made it past the rehearsal room does take the foot off the class, the band never takes it off the gas for the majority of the album; ‘Tear Down Your Idols’ could easily fill a space in your low-slung rock ‘n’ roll music collection.

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Author: Gaz Tidey

CUIR – ‘ALBUM’(Rockstar Records)

CUIR – ‘ALBUM’(Rockstar Records)

Well, here’s a late contender for one of my favourite albums of the year. I love finding things by accident. I saw a Facebook post on my local venue’s page for a gig next January. The photo alone grabbed my attention. As you can see. A strong image, I was intrigued, so I searched out the album via Bandcamp. Eleven tracks, only two that run over two minutes. A short, sharp shock.

From the off, it gets under the skin, with ‘Maniac’ setting the tone. Gloriously basic drum machine, punk riffs aplenty, 80s synths and barked vocals in French. Don’t panic! You really don’t need to know what’s going on. Whether it’s ‘Blouson Noir’ or ‘Cut Cut’, this is gonna have you pogoing around in no time.

While it’s not ‘OFF’, he has a similar approach in brevity; if you can’t do it in two minutes, forget it. Somewhere between a demented, sped-up Sigue Sigue Sputnik and Spunk Volcano, there’s not much more I can add. If it’s your thing, you’ll love it immediately. How it transfers to the stage remains to be seen. I’ll find out next month. Stay tuned, punk-pop pickers. Not arf!

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Author: Martin Chamarette