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Tommy Hale – ‘Hideaway’

Tommy Hale – ‘Hideaway’

Eight years on from his critically acclaimed Magnificent Bastard album, Dallas roots-rocker Tommy Hale returns with new single, video and album.

The driving ‘Hideaway’ is the opening cut on Tommy’s forthcoming album All At Sea, out through Holiday Disaster Records on 12 April.

Once again, the album was recorded in England, at Wiltshire’s Mooncalf Studio with sometime members of London roots-rock band The Snakes (Simon George Moor, Johnny O’Sullivan and Dan Tilbury) along with guitarist Nick Beere, and was produced by Moor.

The band started the recording in November 2019 and were set to begin on a Monday morning. Tommy received a call on the Sunday evening informing him that his father had had a heart attack and was not expected to live. The recording sessions were abandoned. The following spring the pandemic began. Consequently, the album carries an unavoidable sense of loss, escape and finding solace in the quiet moments that came about because of the unprecedented circumstances.  

It would be easy to lazily bracket Hale’s oeuvre as ‘Americana’, but there’s quite a bit more going on here, with forays into power-pop, alt-rock and classic left-of-centre songwriting in the manner of, say, Randy Newman, Warren Zevon and Kevin Ayres, although Tommy would never be so bigheaded as to compare himself to any of those masters. What is certain, though, is that the clash of Texan and English cultures give them album an unique and vital energy.

“I went into making this album wanting to interpret other people’s songs alongside mine,” explains Tommy. “I’ve always enjoyed hearing a great Willie Nelson song that sounds like it came straight from his soul, only to find out another songwriter wrote it. The record contains two songs from friends of mine that I wanted to see if I could interpret – ‘Esperanza’ by Tex Smith and ‘Radio Towers’ by Greg Vanderpool. These songs always stood out to me as something I wanted to dive into. I also stepped back a bit on writing lyrics and Johnny O’Sullivan stepped forward. I think it added some depth and a different perspective that I couldn’t achieve on my own. I had grown a bit tired of my own thoughts.”

Tommy and his band will play three UK shows around the time of the album’s release:

11 Apr – The Beehive, Swindon

12 Apr – The Giffard Arms, Wolverhampton

13 Apr – Aces & Eights, Tufnell Park, London

Then Comes Silence – ‘Trickery’ (Metropolis Records)

Then Comes Silence – ‘Trickery’ (Metropolis Records)

As all of you gothic rockers out there know, it’s currently a very healthy, varied genre. Indeed, labelling music does it few favours; you either dig a band or you don’t. You can’t force it. But if we must define a genre, Then Comes Silence are, no offence, way ahead of their contemporaries. Perhaps in part because Alex Svenson has been writing and performing for a long time, honing the sound and range of the band. 

This, their seventh album, is the first on the Metropolis label, who were no doubt impressed by the ‘Hunger’ album released in 2022. From the opening notes of ‘Ride Or Die’, their sound is instantly recognisable, whilst across the album the keyboards are more prominent than before, which keeps it interesting and gives the band more scope. Alex refers to their bond, their dedication to each other; “you read my mind, I’m right behind, together we die”.

‘Like A Hammer’ is even more infectious, it’s on regular rotation chez moi. Apparently, each of their albums has “an ABBA moment, a Ramones moment and a  Judas Priest moment”, and this is their ABBA one. They certainly have a knack with addictive chord sequences, so there is that similarity. The metronomic drumming of Jonas really drives the song along.

‘Feel The Cold’ wraps layers of sound around your ears, pumping synths and simple, effective melodies. Since Mattias left, Hugo handles all the guitar parts, and as they’ve shown on their recent tours, this works really well live in conjunction with the backing tracks. ‘Tears And Cries’ is a dark, glam duet with shades of the Glitter Band. ‘Stay Strange’ melds a punchy riff to an unexpected middle-eight, and ‘Stiffs’, with its refrain of “if I can’t have your soul, I can take your bones” should alert the local mortician, with an end like a haunted merry-go-round.

‘Blind Eye’ is the kind of tune that longtime fan Wayne Hussey would be proud of; sinister and catchy. As he said, they’ve got the tunes and the looks. And, of course, Alex’s voice. But the ace up their sleeve (sorry) is that they are greater than the sum of their influences. They have created their own personality. ‘The Masquerade’ proves this by sounding only like Then Comes Silence.

‘Never Change’ has a chiming, spacious riff, similar to Killing Joke, while ‘Dead Friend’ gets a little heavier on the guitars. ‘Runners’ is one of their most atmospheric songs to date, a sign of their desire for progression without losing their identity. With ‘Ghost House’, the album ends on one of their most commercially accessible songs, worthy of radio play, in an ideal world. I’d already preordered, knowing that Then Comes Silence always deliver quality tunes. With every new release, more people are recognising that this band are special. Join us. W.O.O.O.U, as they would say.

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Author: Martin Chamarette

2024 VIVE LE ROCK AWARDS ADD POST PUNK LEGENDS THEATRE OF HATE TO LINE-UP

<strong>2024 VIVE LE ROCK AWARDS ADD POST PUNK LEGENDS THEATRE OF HATE TO LINE-UP</strong>

SHAM 69, RUTS DC, JIM JONES AND TOYAH JOIN A HOST OF PUNK ROCK N’ROLL ICONS AT THE 2024 VIVE LE ROCK AWARDS AT THE O2 ISLINGTON ACADEMY, APRIL 12TH


AWARDS TO BE HOSTED BY VICE SQUAD’S BEKI BONDAGE

TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE:

FIND VIVE LE ROCK ONLINE HERE:

After last year’s sensational Vive Le Rock Awards at London’s O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, which we said would be our last, well…it would be rude not to come back and do it all again!

Vive Le Rock magazine is extremely proud to announce that UK post punk legends Theatre Of Hate will celebrate their founder Kirk Brandon’s VLR award with a special 30-minute awards set at O2 Islington Academy on April 12th. Brandon and Theatre Of Hate are known for hits including ‘Do You Believe In The Westworld’ and ‘The Hop’ and recently completed a mammoth 32 date U.S tour. Theatre Of Hate tour the UK in April.

And in other post punk news, there will be a special tribute to the great Killing Joke guitarist Geordie Walker at the VLR’s, with contributions from Jaz Coleman and the Vive Le Rockers playing a special song for the greatly missed punk legend.

They join the already announced special 30-minute award sets from Hersham Boys Sham 69, and Ruts DC, who will feature very special guests in their one-off appearance, alongside special guest performances from the iconic TOYAH, rock n’ roll king JIM JONES and the one and only Saffron from REPUBLICA, plus Lily from fast rising punks THE MEFFS!

And that’s not forgetting the mighty VIVE LE ROCKERS all-star band, led by the inimitable Paul-Ronney Angel! 

A five hour show with a full programme of awards, winners and celebrity presenters, there’s only one place to be in April and that’s the 2024 VLRs! 

“It’s no exaggeration to say that last year’s Vive Le Rock Awards was many peoples show of 2023,” says Vive Le Rock editor Eugene Butcher. “And this year we have more unique collaborations, one off performances and special guests for a wild night for friends old and new to join together and celebrate these legends of rock n’ roll!”

Tickets and special VIP packages including aftershow party, VLR Two Tone Annual and special Awards T-shirt are available HERE:

Find Vive Le Rock online at vivelerock.net.

Ticket link is here: Tickets: Vive Le Rock Awards, London | Fri, 12 Apr 2024, 18:00 | Ticketmaster UK

Knock Off – ‘Lowerarchy’ (Knock Off Music)

Knock Off – ‘Lowerarchy’ (Knock Off Music)

Album number six from this trio of street punks kicks off in style with the upbeat and vibrant ‘Last Man Standing’. With a pocket full of Steve Jones chords and a melody you can whistle on your way to work it sits nicely alongside the likes of Argy Bargy or the last couple of Last Resort albums its got boundless energy and plenty of heart but the one thing this record has is a great production that taps into the bands strength of writing catchy melodies and really good arrangments and this opener is a great way to get proceedings off with a bang.

If you’re looking for some boot boy terrace energy then the breakneck bounce of ‘Not Like You’ won’t disappoint. As the riff rattles off the curb the vocal tells it as it is – Bosh! ‘London’ is a rousing cockney knees-up that gets elbowed out of the way by ‘Music In My Heart’ that really rattles along on an excellent melody. You get fourteen songs here so seven aside and the quality is kept high throughout which is a feather in their barrow boy caps as the energy gets pushed and pulled in all directions from the punchy ‘Filth’ which again is helped by a really clear production that helps with the light and shade of the songs leaving room for that guitar to cut through the glugging bass and full throttle drum attack.

The title track sounds pissed off as that guitar is made to sound like a rabid dog barking as it drools, but underneath is that constant rumbling bass that fills the sound and it goes for the jugular. The band keep on course never feeling the need to change things up for the sake of change and preferring to keep it Street and packed with anthems ‘You Sort It Out’ tips the hat to Sparrer on that rousing chorus. Before we’re done you have ‘Hate Culture’ and the Ramones like ‘I Don’t Care’ snarling and steaming in before the album checks out with ‘Society’ and their work here is done. Made to be played live no doubt about it and a top night will be had by all. Knock Off have just delivered a quality album bursting at the seams with pissed off street punk. If you haven’t already then I suggest you get an earfull of this pronto – Oi Oi!

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Author: Dom Daley

Cock Sparrer – ‘Hand On Heart’ (Captain Oi!/Cherry Red Records)

Cock Sparrer – ‘Hand On Heart’ (Captain Oi!/Cherry Red Records)

A very wise man (and record producer) once told me that he thought “some of the best songs ever written start with a chorus.” I argued back that in rock that’s not usually the done thing, you build to the hook, but he then went on to list a whole host of Atlantic Soul, Tamla Motown and Stax tunes just to prove his theory, and it’s something that’s obviously stuck with me to this day.

Whether producer James Bragg had the same conversation during the recording of the long awaited eighth studio album from London Oi!/streetpunk legends Cock Sparrer (Bragg returning to duty following his sterling work on the band’s ‘Forever’ opus), I’ll probably never know, but it’s exactly how ‘Hand On Heart’ begins. BOSH! Straight into the chorus of ‘With My Hand On My Heart’ and this 2 and half minute belter is an instant classic.

What quickly becomes obvious though is whatever chats were had, this time around the Sparrer boys are doing things a little bit different. Yes ‘Hand On Heart’ is quintessentially the band we all know and love, but this time around they are (just like Desperate Measures have done with their recent album) pushing the punk rock envelope just a little bit more. Take the distorted guitar and thumping drum introduction that segues into the fantastic ‘Mind Your Own Business’ for example, is the hook here the gang vocal chorus or the guitar riff? I’ll let you decide, but for me it’s one of the many highlights that ‘Hand On Heart’ has to offer, and yeah this could finally be the sound the band has always looked for from a studio record.

‘I Belong To You’ is up next, and this is a song that if you could cut it open would positively bleed Cock Sparrer, as would ‘No Way Out’ which follows at the album’s mid-point, the latter reminding me of the band circa the ‘Here We Stand’ era (a record which is now 17 years old, jeez). This is feelgood music to shine your cherry reds to getting ready for a Friday night on the town… classic Cock Sparrer.

Talking of which, the lyrically brilliant ‘Rags to Riches’ is all about just that; dressing to impress and having a sense of self pride whatever the world can throw at you. Something that the chugging ‘Take It On The Chin’ (a track that had previously featured the ‘Garry Bushell presents: Oi! 40 Years Untamed’ LP) echoes and it’s at this point I have to say that its tremendous to hear Colin McFaull in such fine voice, delivering some of his most impassioned work to date.

That punk rock envelope I mentioned earlier gets well and truly ripped to shreds by the time we reach the opening bars of ‘One Way Ticket’. Is this the band writing for a yet to be filmed Bond movie theme? Whatever it is, it’s epic, and the early-70s Slade-mid section is absolute bloody genius, as is the “Where are they?” vocal hook that drives home the pounding ‘Nowhere To Be Found’, a song that could easily have come from (Sparrer guitarist Daryl Smith’s other band) Argy Bargy’s superb ‘Hopes Dreams Lies & Schemes’ album.

Oh, and then there’s my real highlight of ‘Hand On Heart’, the beautiful, (yeah you read that right) ‘My Forgotten Dream’. The string section arranged by Simon Dobson (who’s worked with everyone from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to Bring Me The Horizon) is like a ray of spring sunshine cutting through the clouds on this most wonderful of Cock Sparrer moments, and even the hardest of heart listening to this is going to melt just a little bit, trust me on this one.

Which leaves us just enough time for the album’s final track ‘Here We Stand’, a boisterous call to arms kind of affair, cut from the same cloth as ‘One By One’ from ‘Forever’, and if this really does go on to prove to be the band’s final hurrah, what a way to end it all eh?

There’s no one out there that writes Oi!/streetpunk anthems quite like Cock Sparrer, and that’s a fact. That they have taken their magic songwriting formula and augmented it with new ideas and techniques fifty-two years after the band first got together shows their continued commitment to be the band other band’s look up to when it comes to punk rock music.

‘Hand On Heart’ is released on 5th April 2024 via Captain Oi!/Cherry Red Records on a multitude of formats to suit everyone’s needs and you can catch the band live at two exclusive album release shows at  O2 Shepherds Bush Empire – Saturday 6th April 2024 and O2 Academy Glasgow – Saturday 13th April 2024.

Hand on heart, punk rock doesn’t get much better than this, so get your copy on pre-order NOW! Here

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Author: Johnny Hayward

A Place To Bury Strangers – New Video & Tour

A Place To Bury Strangers – New Video & Tour

FROM ‘THE SEVENS’, NEW MONTHLY 7-INCH SERIES ON DEDSTRANGE

EUROPEAN TOUR IN APRIL

A Place To Bury Strangers release new single ‘Chasing Colors‘ via Dedstrange. ‘Chasing Colors’ appears alongside ‘I Can Never Be As Great As You‘ in the second instalment of ‘The Sevens‘, a series of four 7-inch vinyl records on white vinyl that unveil a treasure trove of previously unreleased tracks from their critically acclaimed 6th album, ‘See Through You‘.

Photo credit: Devon Bristol Shaw

Renowned for their visceral sonic assault and immersive live performances, A Place To Bury Strangers has cemented the end-all-be-all space for over-the-top post-punk/ shoegaze destruction. With this special vinyl collection, the band invites listeners to delve deeper into their sonic universe, exploring uncharted territories and hidden gems.

“When looking back at the recordings that were done around the time of See Through You, there were a bunch of great tracks that just captured life back then and really had something incredible going on,” says frontman Oliver Ackerman. “Even though they are a bit raw and a bit personal, I thought it would be a mistake if they didn’t come out. I thought it would be best to go back to my roots and put out a series of 7-inches the way A Place To Bury Strangers started. That strange weird format where the tracks each speak for themselves; no album context to muddy the water. These tracks are such a contrast to the way I am feeling now and the current songs we’ve been working on so slip back into this moment in time.” 

Release schedule:

23 February:  Change Your God/ It Is Time  

22 March: Chasing Colors/ I Can Never Be As Great As You Are

19 April: Don’t Turn The Radio/ This Is All For you 

24 May: You’ll Be There For Me/ When You’re Gone 

A Place To Bury Strangers Tour Dates:

Fri 5 Apr – Nijmegen, Netherlands @ Doornroosje $

Sat 6 Apr – Köln, Germany @ Club Volta &

Sun 7 Apr – Karlsruhe, Germany @ P8 &

Tue 9 Apr – Milan, Italy @ ARCI Bellezza &

Wed 10 Apr – Bologna, Italy @ Coco Club &

Thu 11 Apr – Rome, Italy @ Monk &

Fri 12 Apr – Palermo, Italy @ Candelai *

Sat 13 Apr. – Messina, Italy @ Retronouveau †

Mon 15 Apr – Zurich, Switzerland @ Bogen F &

Tue 16 Apr – Bern, Switzerland @ ISC Club *

Wed 17 Apr – Marseille, France @ La Make &

Thu 18 Apr – Toulouse, France @ Le Rex &

Fri 19 Apr – Barcelona, Spain @ Barcelona Psych Fest [The Sevens Release Show]

Sat 20 Apr  – Madrid, Spain @ El Sol *&

Sun 21 Apr – San Sebastián, Spain @ Dabadaba &

Tue 23 Apr – Paris, France @ Petit Bain ^

Wed 24 Apr – Lille, France @ Le Grand Mix ^

Thu 25 Apr – Maastricht, Netherlands @ Muziekgieterij ^

Fri 31 May  – Brooklyn, NY @ TBA [The Sevens Release Show]

Fri 2 Aug – Beleen, Germany @ Krach am Bach

* With Ceremony East Coast

& With Maquina (PT)

^ With Plattenbau (DE)

† With Patriarchy (US)

$ With ERRORR (DE)

TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE

Pat Todd & The Rank Outsiders – ‘Keepin’ Chaos At Bay’ (Hound Gawd! Records)

Pat Todd & The Rank Outsiders – ‘Keepin’ Chaos At Bay’ (Hound Gawd! Records)

Fourteen new tracks from Pat Todd who seems to be immune from the dreaded writer’s block and just seems to be able to knock out album after album of the highest quality. This Cowpunk rock n roll has mastered the sound and energy to make great records – it’s not difficult to see how Eddy Spaghetty holds him in such high regard.

This Americana or Cowpunk rock n roll is poured into every album and with that formula, they seem to get better and better. As his career progresses Todd’s moulded his craft to suit his strengths, Mixing ’70s punk rock, country, blues, roots rock it’s all in here folks. But the magic formula is heart and soul you just can’t fake it if you want it to be authentic and Todd & his Rank Outsiders couldn’t be accused of that.

The lyrics of the 14-track album are heartfelt and honest. New Originals like ‘Why I Sing’, ‘The Company You Keep’ or ‘Victim Of Dedication’ are warm and comfortable – you know what you’re in for and Todd delivers in spades. Be it the Rankoutsiders or The Lazy Cowgirls this brand of Rock n Roll is heartwarming and full of energy, life-affirming energy

The cover version of “Tower of Song” by Leonard Cohen shows how you can own a tune and energise a song that the listener might not have seen coming, but when it does you know it’s done so well and a fine way to close off the album.

Todd is joined again by guitarist and founding Rankoutsider, Nick Alexander; long-time guitarist and vocalist Kevin Keller, who also takes over the mic on ‘You’re Gonna Loose It All’ (I know makes you sick – so much talent); Steven Vigh on bass and Walter Phelan on drums, the rhythm section, who are driving these songs with boundless energy and belief in the power of Rock and Roll. Amen and halleluiah, Rock and Roll is in safe hands and it sounds bloody great! Buy It!

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Author: Dom Daley

Sabbath – ANNO DOMINI 1989-1995

Sabbath – ANNO DOMINI 1989-1995

ANNO DOMINI 1989-1995

First Boxed Set Celebrating Singer Tony Martin Era

Remastered Versions Of Headless Cross, Tyr, And Cross Purposes, Plus A New Mix Of Forbidden By Tony Iommi

4-LP And 4-CD Versions Available On May 31 on BMG

Watch a newly remastered, HD upgrade of the video for Headless Cross

and preorder: Here

pic Peter Cronin

Black Sabbath’s history with singers Ozzy Osbourne and Ronnie James Dio has been chronicled extensively through the years in multiple collections. Until now, no boxed set has focused on Black Sabbath’s time with Tony Martin, the band’s second-longest-serving singer.

BMG explores this prolific period from the godfathers of heavy metal in a new collection that brings four albums back into print after an extended absence. ANNO DOMINI 1989-1995 will be available from BMG on May 31 in 4-LP and 4-CD configurations. The set contains newly remastered versions of Headless Cross (1989), Tyr (1990), and Cross Purposes (1994), plus a new version of Forbidden(1995) that guitarist Tony Iommi remixed specially for the collection.

Several albums make their vinyl debut in the LP version of ANNO DOMINI, whilethe CD version contains three exclusive bonus tracks: the B-side “Cloak & Dagger” and the Japan-only releases “What’s The Use” and “Loser Gets It All.” A booklet comes with the set featuring photos, artwork, and liner notes by Hugh Gilmour. The collection also contains a Headless Cross poster and a replica concert book from the “Headless Cross Tour.”

ANNO DOMINI picks up Black Sabbath’s story in 1989, two decades and multiple lineup changes into the band’s groundbreaking career as metal originators. At the time, membership had solidified around riffmaster and founding member Tony Iommi, legendary drummer Cozy Powell (Jeff Beck, Rainbow, Whitesnake), singer Tony Martin, and longtime Black Sabbath collaborator and keyboardist Geoff Nicholls (Quartz, Bandy Legs).

The group originally released Headless Cross in 1989 on I.R.S. Records, the first of a five album deal with the label. Praised by fans and critics alike, the band’s 14th studio release produced three singles: “Devil And Daughter,” “Call Of The Wild,” and the title track. Bassist Neil Murray (Whitesnake, Gary Moore) joined for the “Headless Cross Tour” and stayed to record Sabbath’s next album, 1990’s Tyr. Named for the Norse god of war, the album explores similar mythological themes in songs like “The Battle Of Tyr” and “Valhalla.” On “The Sabbath Stones,” the band channels Old Testament fire and brimstone into a classic bruiser.

In 1992, following a successful world tour, this incarnation of Black Sabbath was put on hold when the band reunited temporarily with Ronnie James Dio. Two years later, Martin and Nicholls were back in the studio with Iommi to record 1994’s Cross Purposes. The band was completed with the addition of founding Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bobby Rondinelli of Rainbow.

The Tyr-era Black Sabbath lineup reunited in 1995 when Powell and Murray returned to record Forbidden. It was the band’s 18th studio album, and its last for nearly 20 years. (In 2013, Iommi, Osbourne and Butler released Black Sabbath’s final studio album, 13.) Forbidden, produced by Ernie C of Body Count, the hard rock band fronted by rapper/actor/Sabbath fan Ice-T, who appears on the song “Illusion Of Power.” Since its release, sonically improving the album has been one of Iommi’s pet projects.

He explains, “I was never happy with the guitar sound, and Cozy was definitely never happy with the drum sound… So, I thought it would be nice to do it for him in a way.” He adds, “I just felt that, without changing any of the songs, there was an opportunity to go back and bring out some of the sounds and make it more what people would expect Sabbath to sound like.”

The Dandy Warhols – ‘Rockmaker’ (Sunset Blvd Records)

The Dandy Warhols – ‘Rockmaker’ (Sunset Blvd Records)

It’s hard to believe that Portland, Oregan psyche rockers The Dandy Warhols have been plying their trade for 30 years, in fact its nigh on 25 years since breakthrough hit single ‘Bohemian Like You’ was plastered all over MTV and made the band household names on both side of the continent.

Now, singer/guitarist Courtney Taylor-Taylor and his band return with their 12th studio album ‘Rockmaker’, self-produced and recorded by the band at their studio The Odditorium in Portland.

While The Dandies generally deal in fuzzy, shoegaze anthems for the outcasts, the disenchanted and the occasional Hollywood a lister, there are always a few stand out cuts that hint at Taylor-Taylor’s ability to pen a catchy radio friendly hit, and ‘Rockmaker’ is no exception. There may not be anything as instant and catchy as the aforementioned ‘Bohemian Like You’, but ‘Rockmaker’ certainly has its moments. And roping in celebrity mates like Debbie Harry, Slash and Black Francis certainly helps. Last year’s Iggy Pop-esque single ‘Summer Of Hate’ hinted at the overall vibe of the album. It’s as cool as the slick, AI generated video suggests, and recalls the power pop roots of the band’s glory days. It has the (raw) power to make you dance like no one’s watching.

Slash turns up for the stand our rocker ‘I’d Like To Help You With Your Problem’, a glorious behemoth of a song, full of 70’s rock bombast and touches of psychedelia for the tousle-haired guitar slinger to get his fingers around.

While Taylor-Taylor claims this album was inspired by the metallic, punk riffs of The Misfits, and is their take on where guitar-based rock n’ roll should be heading in 2024, ironically, it’s the prime 90’s Beck style tunes that come over as the strongest.

The funky, lo-fi ‘Root Of All Evil’ is a dancefloor filler in the waiting. With its blasts of horns and overly catchy hook, it’s one of those Dandies tracks that just feels as effortlessly cool as it is chic. It’s up there with the likes of ‘Bohemian..’ and ‘Junkie…’ for me after just a handful of listens.

The brilliantly titled ‘Alcohol And Cocainemarijuananicotine’ is full of electronica, pulsating beats and repetitive dance beats. It may be their answer to ‘that’ QOTSA song’ but comes across as the best song The Viagra Boys haven’t written yet. ‘Love Thyself’ is again, from the Iggy school of punk rock/power pop circa 1982. Basic rhythms, crunchy guitars and cool vocals delivered with the sort of nonchalant drawl that says “I don’t give a fuck, but fucking listen to this!”

‘Real People’ is raw, abrasive and real messy in a good way and Debbie Harry lends sultry vocals to the more subdued and dare I say, balladry feel of closer ‘I Will Never Stop Loving You’.

Call it alt-rock, call it art-rock, call it what you like, but with trademark fuzzy guitars, lo-fi soundscapes and anthemic moments littered throughout, ‘Rockmaker’ is a return to form from a band who continue to experiment and push boundaries with their sound. You could say no two Dandy Warhols albums sound alike, but they all sound like The Dandy Warhols, and ‘Rockmaker’ is as strong and fresh as their early releases. Which ain’t a bad a place to be 30 years into your career.

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Author: Ben Hughes

Human Toys/Dry Retch – Outpost, Liverpool – 07.03.24

Human Toys/Dry Retch – Outpost, Liverpool – 07.03.24

Got in a bit too late tonight to catch Raw Bones open up, for which I can only apologise. From the bit I caught and what heard from the other punters I certainly need to pull my socks up next time they’re on. 

What I would like to say before continuing my review, in relation to a different night’s event. What an amazing venue Outpost is. Tonight’s event is a prime example of it’s smooth running and how it’s a beacon for DIY touring bands. This place was my last gig before we went into Lockdown and my first one back when we came out of (one of the many) Lockdown(s). Fiercely independent and very welcoming. It’s a challenging time for all places of hospitality right across the board. No one needs spurious and childish retorts online that can hamper a business. Please treat staff and facilities with respect. Keep our venues busy. Keep our venues open. Thanks.

Birkenhead stalwarts the Dry Retch, take us through their usual tour de force, throwing heavy artillery our way and lobbing the occasional grenade of quips and wordplay. Treating us to favourites such as ‘12,000 miles from new’ and the truely pulsating ‘hate the young’. We’re also treated to a new track, that is absolute seismic garage terror. Definitely one to keep an eye out for.

Human Toys hit the stage and introduce us to their brand of theremin infused Parisian punk rock fury. Excellent guitar chops married with energetic and chaotic mic work. This duo engage with the crowd at all opportunities and show nothing but enthusiasm throughout. In a couple of years these pair could have the potential to be a cult live act that everyone will seek out, such as Bob Log III, Messer Chups and the Courettes. But they’re not quite there yet, at times, coupled with unnecessary feedback it can be a little all over the place. Perhaps I caught these guys on a bad night, but it definitely hasn’t put me off in the future. Judging by their new 45 that has just dropped, ‘go go alco’/’generation shit’, the material is only getting better. 

https://thedryretch.bandcamp.com/

https://humantoys.bandcamp.com/

Author: Dan Kasm