This year has been a downright catastrophe with the pandemic stopping live music and seeing us in lockdowns which have stopped us from seeing family and friends and indeed our favourite artists.
Back in march, Billie Joe Armstrong set out to brighten things up a bit with the Green Day frontman putting out cover versions of songs he loved via the Green Day Youtube channel.
I personally loved this as it was something to look forward to each week and lighten the mood in these dark times.
So what we have here is a release of these songs as a physical document of these timeless tunes Billie decided to put his own spin on.
The album starts off with “I think we’re alone now” by “Tommy James and the Shondells” and in fairness, it’s a great version given the power-pop treatment.
Next up we have “War stories” and this is another tune I really enjoyed and I can’t recollect hearing the original by the group Starjet.
“Manic Monday” is a song that I would be very surprised if anybody had not heard before as the original by the bangles has to be one of the most played songs on the radio. Billy does a great version here with him taking the track in a much more guitar orientated direction and the track sounds all the better for it, we are even treated to a guest appearance by Susanna Hoffs of the bangles.
“Corpus Christi” “That thing you do” and “Amico” are enjoyable tracks and keeps the album going nicely.
“You can’t put your arm around a memory” is a track that this reviewer holds very close to his heart as the original by the one and only legend that is “Johnny Thunders” is a true classic in every sense of the word and in fairness to Billie he does a cracking version of a timeless tune.
“Kids in America” is another tune that will be very familiar to listeners as the original by Kim Wilde is still played on the radio a lot to this day and Billie again turns his guitar up and turns this pop classic into a power-pop gem.
“Not that way anymore” is another song this reviewer holds in high esteem as the original was written by Stiv Bators and Frank Secich and is one of my all-time favourite tunes and Billie yet again delivers with a great version that he puts his own unique stamp on.
“That’s Rock ’N’ Roll” is one of the songs that on first listen I thought I’ve heard this before but couldn’t for the life of me think who the original was done by. After some research, it was done by Shaun Cassidy and is a tune that I will definitely play more of.
“Police on my back” originally done by the Equals and covered by punk legends The Clash is a stunning track that Bille does a faithful rendition of.
Bringing this album to a close is “A New England” and like all the way through this album, Billie puts his heart and soul into it and the album finishes on a high.
Billie Joe Armstrong doesn’t know how to deliver a sub-par project and this is another stunning release from the Green day frontman that will give the listener much enjoyment.
It’s less than 12 months since Tensheds released their 4th album ‘Deathrow Disco’, yet December 2019 might seem like a lifetime ago now. Let’s head back to the start of this chaotic year in March, where main man Matt Millership found himself in isolation, an extensive tour cancelled, and no way to promote his music.
He, like many other musicians and artists, adapted to the situation, found ways to create and get an outlet to his fanbase. He performed a Livestream that was successful, and though apprehensive at first, Matt embraced this new format and the following live sessions grew into a regular event affectionately entitled ‘The Punk Palace Sessions’. Matt promised to write and perform a new song every week, he delivered, and the outcome of these sessions are this new solo album, ‘The Days Of My Confinement’, written and recorded entirely in isolation.
Not surprisingly, ‘The Days Of My Confinement’ is the antithesis of ‘Deathrow Disco’. While that last album, funnily enough, deals with its own themes of isolation, musically it is a gritty, alternative beast full of heavy beats and gravelly vocals. ‘The Days Of My Confinement’ is more of a celebration of the piano, and showcases the songwriter’s classic training, and is therefore a much more somber and subdued affair. Working within the confines of his home studio, Matt creates drama and certain moods that he probably would not have managed if the world was a different place during the recording.
There is a certain intimacy to the performance here. These haunting piano sermons are songs stripped bare to the bone, the songwriter bearing his inner soul for all to digest. Opener ‘Ticking Clocks’ sets the scene perfectly as Matt’s tinkling of the ivories contrasts with raspy vocals, before a bass drum beat and layered piano runs take the listener to another plane.
Matt’s classical training lends him well throughout, the clever song structures help pique the interest as each song has a certain ebb and flow. On ‘The Bridge Song’, the strong vocal performance and subdued verse lead this listener into a false sense of security, before stabs of piano chords take me by surprise. To me, it sounds like it was recorded in a church, the piano player being observed by a silent congregation as he plays his heart out. It’s both emotive and dramatic in equal measures.
Elsewhere, the first single ‘Mirrors’ is as epic as it gets, the sweeping chorus as grandiose as its counterpart verse is timid. ‘Hell Is In The Water’ has a fuller band sound that sees Matt explore and incorporate more instruments, he takes us to church on this sermon with handclaps and fuzzy stabs of guitar. On ‘Cotton Wool World’ the delicacy of the delivery is fascinating, Matt’s raw, gravelly tones almost breaking over a piano melody that is dancing on a razor’s edge.
The confines that were forced upon him and the goals that he set himself have worked in his favour, and Matt Millership has created an album that is as majestic as it is stark and chilling. This is not an upbeat or even a happy album, but we are not in happy times and in that way, it seems quite fitting. If you’re a fan of Tom Waits, if you love the echoey, reverb drenched feel of Springsteen’s ‘Nebraska’, or have been enraptured by Nick Cave’s recent ‘Idiot Prayer’ performance, then you could do no wrong getting Tensheds new album in your creepy little mitts for Christmas.
Nothing more heartening than on a cold dark Saturday night during a lockdown I sit down and begin typing my review of this rather sparse yet majestic J Mascis box set being released by Cherry Red Records. In fairness over the last few months, it seems a lot of bands are holding back on new material seeing as they aren’t able to trawl the towns and cities of the world promoting their new wares so its ripe pickings recently for the box set after box set of unreleased material or previously released material and hard to find stuff getting a new lick of paint and packaging and being re-released.
Now some companies just knock out reissues on heavyweight vinyl for the audiophiles out there and then there are some labels who actually excel in this field and release some rather nice box sets full of material both previously and not previously released and right at the top of that list has to be Cherry Red. To be fair they also have knocked out some really decent sets this year coving several genres.
Dinosaur Jr had their classic albums re-packaged a while ago with a plethora of bonus material that added up to some pretty impressive reissues and now it seems the turn of the creator in general J Mascis to release some of his live recordings. Starting with 3 CDs of solo acoustic musings. 93s live at the iconic CBGBs. Martin & Me’ that came out in 95. Then finally a live in Copenhagen recorded in 98.
CBGBs is where Mascis tugs on the heartstrings with a spine-tingling set of acoustic renditions of classic Dinosaur JR tunes with the likes of ‘Thumb’, ‘Keeblin’ and covers of ‘On The Run’ as he strums and picks his way through the set even remembering to talk in between songs it’s a glorious mishmash of songs stripped bare.
‘Martin & Me’ is a much clearer set with some of the same songs but a longer set that includes some rather interesting covers like who knew he’d cover ‘The Boy With The Thorn In His Side’ but its the emotional renditions of songs like ‘Goin Home’ that steals the show and makes the hair on my arms stand up as I type and listen. Ending the set this time with ‘Grab It’.
The third disc is of varying quality and probably my favourite of the three with awesome renditions of ‘Sure Not Over You’, ‘Little Fury Things’, ‘Drawerings’ and ‘Keep The Glove’. Fans will be all over this (sorry) and if you want to hear rough acoustic alternative rock at its finest drawing from the likes of Neil Young and churning out stripped back picking styles from a genuine guitar hero and songwriter.
Don’t think about it go pick up a copy and like I say if you’re already sold on his solo work or Dinosaur Jr then this is a no brainer.
UK rockers, STEVIE R. PEARCE AND THE HOOLIGANS, have released a music video for ‘LUNATICS BY THE POOL‘, it’s the second single taken from their second studio album “MAJOR LEAGUE SON OF A BITCH”, which will be released through HEAVY ROCKA worldwide next year.
Stevie R. Pearce says: “I always write with an element of truth.. Its all true, each verse tells a different story that all in some way are related to a pool that happened to me.. During a trip to Bangkok last year I witnessed some let’s say “Brits Abroad” discussing their stories of woe.. which were kind of similar to mine…perhaps slights more elaborate.. then it got me thinking about other times in my life where trouble had occurred by a pool… Thus Verse 2- Which is A Warrior Soul incident and verse 3- A day strip Club in Tucson, Arizona during a day off debacle. Alot of the new album has certain depths.. I’ve gone a bit further with it.. However, Lunatics is an 18-30s lads trip to Kavos and just as tacky and we do that very well. The video HAD to be by a pool.. Jason Miller shot it and we had a blast for a day.. Mainly I was happy no-one drowned- but it wasn’t for lack of trying.”
Lusitanian Ghosts – ‘For the Wicked’ (European Phonographic) Lusitanian Ghosts return with their latest single ‘For The Wicked’, The band is led by singer-songwriter and producer Neil Leyton and Swedish guitarist, singer and multi-instrumentalist Micke Ghost, with a cast of musical associates. We were blown away by the album last year and this single is more of the same with the use of their Portuguese chordophone instruments. ‘For The Wicked’ speaks to a lost and apathetic society.
It has a sense of melancholia as the track builds gradually to an anthemic finale. Providing calm in a world which is certainly not calm. It’s a confident record that oozes charm and class.
Prima Donna – ‘Gimme Christmas’ (Wicked Cool Records) Now one of the coolest and best bands over there on the West coast have just rocked up and made us feel all festive with their sleazy Rock and Roller Crimbo tune. I don’t want to hear that sleigh bells aren’t cool because we all know they are really and as these bad boys wind the clocks back to a time when these sort of things really mattered and people wanted to hear what bands had for the festive fun. ‘Gimme Christmas’ is a stomper whilst ‘Misletow Blues’ is a horn honkin twelve-bar booze-up where Alvin Stardust and Shakey are invited to compare the office disco and these bangers are gonna be on loop and you’ll all bloody well enjoy yourselves. Of course you will it’s fantastic. Prima Donna win again!
Rich Ragany & The Digressions – ‘December In My Heart’ (self Release) Pour yourself another eggnog and strap on some mistletoe and tinsel because Rags and the gang have gone and nicked bits from the Christmas goodies past and knocked up a warm n fuzzy tune for the festive season. If you have an office party slip this on and watch the girls from Accounts throw themselves around Health &Safeties handbags with festive abandon. Socially distanced dancing of course the best festive number thus far and unless Mayhem does ‘Little Donkey’ this will be the festive pick at HQ’s party.
Guerrilla Teens – ‘Faux King’s Guillotine (Self Release) they just can’t stop monkeying around. some sleazy garage punk n roll sees the Teens knock out ‘Faux King’s Guillotine’ for our listening pleasure and the best place to pick it up would be on the first Friday of every month from our mutual friends at Bandcamp and whilst you’re there get the album as well. If you don’t you must be bananas.
Fist pumping and with a fantastic rolling riff around a great lyric “remove the head and the body will die”. indeed. Release the hounds or else
Dirty Fences – ‘Garbageman’ (Greenway Records) What a headrush. Dirty Fences do that to you, Chasing into the distance with a hot melody played through the medium of some dirty power pop with a decent dollop of Garage and attitude thrown in for good measure. the B Side is even better, ‘Sometimes Sunshine’ is like Elvis Costello and the Attractions sped up hammering out a melody you feel like you’ve heard before but regardless it’s damn good and you know it and so do they. New York has never sounded so cool if only the Strokes could have sounded this good
Shadows Of Night – ‘Wild Man’ (Wicked Cool Records) oh hell yeah, shake it, baby, as Shadows Of Night are garage rock to the bone with the swirling keys and backbeat and a whole cave of reverb on the guitar as they shout to the devil on ‘wild Man’. This is retro enough to come with a scratch and sniff Afghan Coat whiff. The workout of ‘I Ain’t Got You’ is splendid from the freak-out solo to the keys it’s a blinder and of the highest order and knocks spots of a certain Boston band’s take on this. If only Tyler and Perry could be this authentic.
Dead Dirty Dinosaurs – ‘Bad Timing’ (Riot Records / Golden Robot Records) ‘Bad Timing’ is the latest single from the Dead Dirty Dinosaurs and the third release with the force that is Riot Records and their parent company Golden Robot Records. Bad Timing is a very decent dirty understated riff with great production that helps the song as you focus on the melody and that dirty low-down riff. Pre-order/pre-save Bad TimingHERE
Hells Ditch – ‘The Likes Of Us’ Laying down some modern American sounding indie post-punk rock the likes of Menzingers and not a million miles from the Americana of Gaslight Anthem but the punkier end. The one thing I was surprised at was these guys are from Lincoln and not Boston. They have the potential to be a big noise on the scene over on this sound of the pond.
Radio Days – ‘I Gotta Love’ (snap Records) Power Pop with a bit of edge sees Radio Days knock out a classic slice of Rock and Roll with a cool riff and lick and harmonies that hit you right in the heart. A backbeat the love to use and the perfect partner for the Subways or More Kicks. You even get a free pin badge with this slice of Milanese magic.
Rod Hamdallah – ‘Crawling Back’ (Hound Gawd! Records) Atlantas Swampy Garage Rock played like they’ve just crawled out of the ’50s and have landed on the ’60s shoreline. With a great melody that does what the geeta does, it’s retro rock n roll at its finest with a good hook on the chorus. Sure you could dance to it and wig out on the solo. as for the instrumental on the B side? Perfect for a 7″ b side I guess all weird and mystical for a band from Georgia. Always worth checking out.
Automatics – ‘Octonary’ (Blank Generation Records) Limited pressing on white vinyl this record sees the Pistols Steve Jones and the Legend that is Johnny Thunders guest appearance email steve@blankgeneration.show for details of how to order your copy. The songs of real interest are obviously ‘Wild One’ featuring Thunders iconic guitar tone wailing in on the solo and the track ‘Peace On Earth’ for the equally iconic tones of Steve Jones.
The Octonary EP features 4 previously unreleased tracks by the Automatics and is a limited edition release of 300 only on 7″ white vinyl, and comes housed in a luxury sleeve with 4-page lyrics and info booklet. The purpose of the EP is to promote the EIGHT albums of unreleased Automatics material that is now ready to download and stream on most platforms. For a cheeky peek at the Jonesy influenced ‘Peace On Earth’ open the video. Well worth having in your collection that’s a no brainer.
Lately I seem to hear the term Garage Rock attached to just about everything I’m listening too, as it was to this baby, without going into a rant about how many different styles and eras there are of Garage Rock (again). I’m just going to look at this as a release grounded in influences, but ultimately standing up on its own as of today, it’s going to just be classed as seriously cool music.
For the uninitiated (I would expect very few who read RPM to be uninitiated) the Sensible Gray cells consist of Captain Sensible and Paul Gray from you know where alongside Marty Love (Johnny Moped amongst others) on drums with a guest appearance from Monty Oxymoron.
As the LP kicks off I’m not so much drawn into a garage rock vibe but instead led back to thoughts of Phantasmagoria era Damned ‘Sell her Spark” is a great opener, but I can’t help but wonder what it would have sounded like with Dave Vanian on vocals? And that’s a thought that I just can’t shift, and it comes back to me intermittently throughout.
The fact is this could be an absolutely cracking Damned LP, and to court controversy, I rate it a better Damned LP than Evil Spirits, but lets not go there! As I’m blasting through the first few tracks, “Black Spider Memo man” for some strange reason hits at “Eloise” but at the other end of the scale “So long” smashes through the speakers more in tune with classic Who material, were the Who ever a garage rock band? Where as ‘Just a little Prick” runs everywhere from Pink Floyd to the kinks via the Beatles its ridiculously catchy and holding on to some classic influencers.
“DJ with half a Brain”, hits that Fuzztones vibe raw American garage rock, but presented from a typically British standpoint. I wonder as I’m listening through for the umpteenth time how great this would have been as a Damned track with Vanian to the fore, lets hope it can somehow be assimilated into a Damned live show. “Jam tomorrow” is a great track, different to everything that has come before, with some seriously cool guitar work from the Captain and a great keyboard run, hinting at Dub and Pschedelia with maybe a hint of the Orb within the samples.
Taking stock this is a seriously good LP, grounded in that guitar based underground rock that we’ve grown up with not afraid of experimentation, not afraid to push some boundaries, but at times I just wish certain tracks could have been recorded by the Damned! You’ll be able to pick them out.
There’s an early Syd Barrett quintessentially English vibe to “What’s the point of Andrew” a very definitive anti Royalist sentiment that any sane individual would wholeheartedly agree with, yes it takes the Piss.
“Fine Weather friend” could have been written for Dave Vanian, that name just keeps coming up, but when you listen the theatrics are just there, the vocal presentation is tailor made, again with some serious guitar work and a terrific locked down bass run. Next up “I married a monster” is a real burner, grounded in the underground, and “You and me” follows suite before we’re into LP closer ”Another world” weaving it’s way forward as a real slab of Psychedelia, an almost Eastern feel to the guitar led intro.
Great LP, now how do we persuade the Captain to hand over some of the vocal duties to his day job vocalist and introduce them to a Damned live performance?
Filmed and Recorded in Tokyo over 3 nights in March 2020 just before the covid lockdown this here double CD/DVD package is Tyla hitting all the right notes (ok most of em) on some Dogs classics.
It’s fair to say these iconic tunes still manage to send a chill down the spine of fans even when it’s one man and his guitar. Its an armoury of tunes most performers would be proud to have in the locker and be it in a large hall or small intimate back room of a club its often a spine-tingling walk through some mighty fine songs we grew up loving especially when they’re stripped back to one man and his guitar and when Tyla is on form you can be taken right back to a time when we were obviously much younger and these songs were fresh and packed a powerful punch that has managed to stand the test of time and for many of these more than 30 years have passed.
‘Errol Flynn’ kicks off proceedings and already you can see that this is a live in the raw affair there are no overdubs no bells and whistles added in the studio is straight from the board and into your ears. Whilst the CD deals with classic period Dogs tunes from ‘Last Bandit’ through ‘Heroine’ the majestic ‘Johnny Silvers’, ‘Drunk Like Me’, ‘I Don’t Want You To Go’ and ‘How Come It Never Rains’ with added harmonica. I drifted off thinking of the many times I saw Tyla stumble into town wherever it is deepest darkest West Wales of Capital Cities it was always a night out enjoying some of my favourite songs and this sounds intimate and emotional albeit thousands of miles away ‘How Come It Never Rains’ slowed down is an emotional tune and the memories come flooding back and Tyla sounds in fine voice.
Oh, hang on ‘I Don’t Love Anyone’ is thrust forward and centre and what a beautiful tune it is too. It’s classic Tyla and could easily fit into the late 80s period of productivity and slots in nicely here. Ending the CD with ‘Satellite Kid’ is just about spot-on as a waft of Thunderbird wine and hazy tropical cigarette smoke passes my mind’s eye and I think back to hazy days consigned to time. Dancing in HMV Oxford Street as the band played and we helped ourselves to T-shirts handed out by the band and half-remembered shows in the Astoria, Hammersmith Odeon and Town and Country as well as cardiff square Club and the Railway Inn all blur into one. Music is the best thing in my life and Tyla J Pallas has curated the soundtrack on many occasions and this is a nice reminder even if it is from Tokyo.
As for the DVD section ‘The State I’m In’ plays whilst we watch grainy footage before the multi angle footage shot in Tokyo kicks in and what you get here is fresh material ranging from ‘Comfort Of The Devil’ and ‘Billy Two Rivers’ before we get some home made quality footage shot in soundcheck which is the order of the rest of the film. live interspersed with soundcheck footage.
‘Scared Of Dying’ peppers the Dogs set along with the excellent ‘All You Had’ and as the credits roll ‘Mad Bad Jack’ wraps up what is an impressive CV by anyones standard. I used to love collecting all the Tyla solo bootlegs back in the times of Dial up and whilst this is not exactly Blockbuster quality is has charm and more than enough top tunes to lure in fans far and wide and its great to see Tyla and Dave Kusworth sitting next to each other sharing a good time in the credits.
It’s been a funny old year and it began with this trip to Japan and will end with the footage and audio. Hopefully 2021 will be a much better year and Tyla will get out there and tour round an acoustic set with all these classics untilthen this will be alright innit.
*This edition is different from the KO/Cargo edition (release date 12 Feb 2021)by way of packaging which will be in a jewel case and not numbered or Signed.*
Re-Schedule UK Headline Tour Dates Announced October 2021
The Last Internationale announce the release of their new live record ‘Live At Arda Recorders’ on 18thDecember 2020. Re-scheduled UK Headline Tour dates in October 2021. The process of recording the album was captured for a behind the scenes and live documentary. For this release The Last Internationale recorded with good friends from the French electro rock band Shaka Ponk: Ion Meunier, on drums, Mandris Da Cruz on Bass and Steve Desgarceaux on Keys.
Known for their live performances The Last Internationale’s new record ‘Live At Arda Recorders’ captures both the groups explosive and intense live style but also allowing the audience to feel the soulful blues roots that run deep through their sound.
Whilst the album explores a more intimate setting for the group it never shies away from the gritty, rough around the edges and heavy traits synonymous with their 2019 album ‘Soul On Fire’ which showed a song-writing evolution towards a more complex, full-bodied sound; that truly reflects the band’s musical and personal growth.
2019 was a standout year for The Last Internationale, they released their second studio album the critically acclaimed ‘Soul On Fire’, performed a host of sold out headline shows across Europe and in addition to this appeared as special guest to the legendary UK rockers The Cult and California rock outfit Rival Sons.
Today the group drop the first single and video from the up and coming record with the groove driven track ‘Try Me’The band comments: “For this record, what we wanted to do was bring the live stage energy into the studio. We want people to get the full experience of a TLI show and the team at Arda were instrumental in helping us perfectly blend our rock, blues, hip-hop, and folk influences into a perfect colourful bleeding spectrum of soft dynamics to a full sonic assault. When we mixed it, we’d take the song into the car and if the speakers weren’t kicking air into our legs or the doors rattling, we’d send it back for another revision. When we were told “it’s too much,” we’d always ask for more. The result is that NY boom-bap without the use of triggers or samples. It’s raw, it’s imperfect, it’s perfect, it’s… live. No overdubs (except the backing vocals because the backup singers failed to show up), no stacking guitars, no labouring over parts. We just plugged in and played. So turn it up, close your eyes, scream your lungs out, and pretend you’re at a live show until this damn pandemic is finally over. See you soon, in the flesh.”
The Last Internationale – ‘Live At Arda Recorders’ Pre-Order HERE
Festival Shows – 2021
Tue 1stJune – Acoustic show Stourport (Festival Warm Up Intimate Show)
Fri 4thJune – Nova Rock, Austria
Sun 6thJune – Download Festival, UK
Wed 7thJuly – Mad Cool Festival, Spain
UK Headline Tour – 2021
Tue 1st June – Acoustic show Stourport (UK)
Sat 23rd Oct – Night People, Manchester (UK)
Sun 24th Oct – Exchange, Bristol (UK)
Mon 25th Oct – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds (UK)
Tue 26th Oct – Stereo, Glasgow (UK)
Wed 27th Oct – Hare & Hounds, Birmingham (UK)
Thu 28th Oct – 100 Club, London (UK)
There’s an Elephant in the room. Nah not the fact that this second album from The Dirty Strangers has guest slots from some Rolling Stones and also a tune co-written by Keif Richards but the fact that Alan Clayton has always been a top Rock and Roll songwriter and churned out albeit infrequent albums but they’ve always been a bit bloody good, regardless of who’s playing on them.
Oh, and to be fair most of us did arrive at the party due to the association with a couple of six-string slingers who also have a penchant for churning out the odd decent album Keif and Ronnie or something like that.
Imagine you could pick up all the good and the great from the 60s, 70s and 80s Rock n Roll that ever stumbled around Carnaby Street or one of the dive bars in Soho and as you hoovered it all up (and remembered to take note or almost remember) then you put it to music well that’s the sound of the Dirty Strangers that is with some added thunderbird mouthwash for good measure and a sprinkling of super talented mates.
Alan Clayton is joined for the last time by this impressive line up consisting of the super talented Paul Fox, ‘Steady’ Ray King on Bass Guitar, Mark Harrison Drums & Backing VOX, Scott Mulvey on Keys & Backing VOX, and the impressive Angie Brown on guest vocals. Now seems like as good a time as any to give this bad boy a re-release and for me to give this album a leg up.
The keyboards swirl and then Clayton’s instantly recognisable drawl enters the fray.’The Biggest Mouth’ is a foot-stomping rock and roller. Of course, it’s not original and it might even be dated with the production and arrangement but hell, it’s only Rock and Roll and I like it.
‘Party 4 2’ is exactly that, it’s a party for two dancing through your speakers. Then a track was co-written by a certain Mr. Richards that Boogie Woogies into the ether has me wondering how 1993 missed this album first time around. I blame the lame music press for only being interested in gazing at its collective shoes whilst wigging out on churned up long solos from Soundgarden or self-harming over Nirvana whilst over there Clayton and his muckers were kicking up a shitstorm in the name of a good time and supplying all the toons it would seem.
It wasn’t all twelve-bar parties you know they were rivalling anything the Quireboys might have had in the locker at the time as ‘High Heels And Hangovers’ is swinging from the chandeliers with style and when the time was right Clayton could slow things down like The Faces did like on the majestic ‘Only For You’ with its false starts and laid back finger work from Fox. It also has some fine vocal arrangments and a killer delivery but the Ian Maclagan like touch on those keys is a game-changer and adds a tonne of class to proceedings. superb song!
No time like after a masterclass in balladeering to smash it up with some good old Rock and Roll as ‘Special Girl’ has a whole bunch of attitude and swagger. Songs like ‘Got To Know Her’ are easily as good as some of the better songs Ian Hunter was rocking up with his ‘Dirty Laundry’ and his Rant Band. Before we finish there’s always time for some acoustic pickings and ‘The Gamblers Song’ provides the service and had this been a Frankie Miller song or dare I say it Stones song it would have been a smash. It could have broken out with the big drum fill but it doesn’t – its more restrained than that and that’s the difference in class you’ve either got it or you ain’t and on this occasion, The Dirty Strangers are dripping in class.
With time for a couple more Rockers before this party gets shut down it seems as good a time as any to pay this a visit. If you are a dreamer always looking for that Rock and Roll fix then you can stop looking because I can point you in the right direction for a good time. The Dirty Strangers ‘Burn The Bubble’ is a long lost classic with variety and class just waiting for you to come along and bring a bottle.
Born in the winter of 1976 along side the Ramones’ first album and the Damned’s New Rose. Jiffy Marx has toured all over North America and Europe with a kitchen sink of bands such as Black Rice, Blood Meridian, Hard Drugs, Jiffy Marker and most recently Canadian new wave revivalists Autogramm. On hiatus from touring and while chipping away at Autogramm’s sophomore album, Marx took a weekend to visit his pals from Seattle’s Bread & Butter. Over the course of 36 hours they managed to drink a shit load of beer, eat a ton of peanut butter pretzels, and track Jiffy’s first solo 45rpm single.
There are 50 limited picture sleeve edition 7″s available through the band, the label, and Green Noise Records until they sell out!
This is Andy Guttercat’s 1st Solo release, since leaving The Guttercats. Enjoy ‘Two Faced People’. The song is available to purchase: Bandcamp / Apple / Spotify / Amazon
Finally for something completely different we bring you Lyoness with the new single ‘Vulture & The Snake’
This year has been a downright catastrophe with the pandemic stopping live music and seeing us in lockdowns which have stopped us from seeing family and friends and indeed our favourite artists.
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