Rich Jones Interview (Michael Monroe Band, Black Halos etc)

Rich Jones Interview (Michael Monroe Band, Black Halos etc)

You’re currently on tour with Michael Monroe and are about to hit the UK with MC50.  Must be cool gig to get playing in a band with Michael, Sami, Steve and Karl and then getting to play as guests with the likes of Wayne Kramer must be a dream job?

Oh yeah, I mean I grew up with the Hanoi Rocks stuff and I loved it, and these guys are some of my best friends in the world. It’s a rare situation being in a band where there isn’t one arsehole who makes it a nightmare being on the bus, haha. We all get along so great and I think you can see that onstage as well. And those guys are total badasses at what they do so it makes it so easy every night onstage when you know you can rely on everyone else to be killing it. 

The MC50 thing is great for us as well, hopefully, it’ll get us out in front of some people who might not know us and may be surprised by what this band is all about. I think it’s a great fit. Hopefully, we don’t get bottled off! 

You’ve also just finished recording the new album.  When can we all get to hear the new songs?

Hopefully soon, but I’d guess sometime in the spring. We’ve taken our time with it, making sure the mix is right and that that the record is the best it can possibly be. So we’re just going into mastering now, we haven’t really even thought about release dates yet.

How does the writing work within the band?  What with you guys spread out all over the globe?

It really depends. For ‘Blackout States’ I went to NYC with Steve and Karl and we spent a week working out ideas and then finished them up at home. This time we couldn’t really manage to find the time when we could do something like that so everyone did a lot of work at home and then sent demos around. Steve and I will find hotel time when we can and bash around ideas – we wrote one of the new ones in Tokyo last year – but mostly it’s been a case of sending finished songs to each other.

You’ve also gotten together with a few Black Halos to record a new record with those guys as well? Do you get bored easily? 

Ha! I just try to keep busy, I don’t like having a lot of down time. The Black Halos thing has just been rolling along slowly, I try to work on stuff when I have gaps in my schedule. We’ve got enough songs for a record now but we don’t really have a complete band line-up. Jay Millette from the original Halos lineup just played on some stuff but I don’t think he really wants to tour these days. John Kerns has been playing bass and I’d love it if he’d come along for the live shows as well. We’ll see. Karl Rockfist played drums on some stuff and so did TV from Radio Dead Ones. There’s not a lot of pressure on this stuff yet, we’ll probably make some real plans once we’ve recorded a full album. Right now it’s just a bunch of demos and a few finished-sounding songs.

Do you have to get into a different mindset when writing for The Monroes perspective compared to the Black Halos or with Rags?  is there a different pressure involved?

I wouldn’t call it pressure, although I suppose it was at first with Monroe. There’s such a high standard of writing with that band that I was worried that my songs weren’t going to be up to scratch. But now it’s pretty relaxed for me, I kind of know what works and what doesn’t which makes things a lot easier. So I wrote a lot more for this new record than I did for Blackout States. As with anything though, you need to get into a certain mindset for what suits the band and the people that you’re working with. So I know what’ll work for the Halos, and what’ll work for Michael. 

With Rags it’s usually just me and him having a bunch of drinks and a laugh and if something comes out of it, cool. He’s such a great, prolific writer that my involvement in his stuff is usually pretty minimal – I’ll maybe say ‘change a chord here’ or ‘try this bridge’ etc. The bulk of the work is always coming from him.

I don’t suppose you’re going to give away any of the titles of the songs or give us any idea as to what to expect?  

For the Monroe record? Well, I don’t want to give too much away right now. It’s a much more broad record than Blackout States. There’s still some raging punk rock but there’s a lot more diversity in the stuff. I mean we’re not going funk or anything but I think it sounds like a band that’s getting comfortable enough to stretch out more than in the past. We’ve got some great guests on it as well – Nasty Suicide plays some guitar and it’s the first time he’s recorded with Michael and Sami in something like 25 years. So that was cool to be a part of. There’s a couple of other people on there as well. Some surprises 😉 

The artwork and merch also involve yourself and you’ve certainly been responsible for some amazing pieces.  Do you have a particular favourite sleeve you’ve come up with? does it get inspired by the music or are you always coming up with new ideas?

No, I tend to look for inspiration once I get a job. Normally I ask if someone’s looking for a certain vibe and then work from there. It depends on how much free reign I get as well – some bands that I’ve worked with in the past want to let every member have their say in things and it ends up as a sort of ‘design by committee’ situation and that pretty much always turns out awful. As far as favourite stuff that I’ve done… it’s hard to pick one. Feel free to go check ‘em out at my website though *cough* turningrebellion.com. haha

It must be inspiring working with such talented and creative people. You’ve always surrounded yourself with people who work really hard at their passion.  Are there some projects that really stand out that you’ve been involved in?

Honestly, it’s this band. Everyone’s got such a great work ethic and we all complement each other really well. Making records with these guys is such a blast – it’s an amazing feeling hearing my home demos get taken to the next level and turned into these fully-realised songs. I love working with Ginger and Jon Poole as well – two absolutely insanely talented guys who push me to work harder and be better at what I do when I’m around them. When we’re not in the pub, that is.

Taking a look at what you’ve done so far take us back to where it all began.  what or who were the main reason you got into playing the guitar and wanted to be in a band?

Oh that’s an easy one. My parents took me to see Queen when I was 8 and that was it. Brian May ripping into the Bohemian Rhapsody guitar solo COMPLETELY sold me on playing music! So by the time I was 12 or 13 I had bands with my school friends playing Black Sabbath and Judas Priest covers (because that’s all I could really manage to learn how to play – Paranoid and Breaking The Law!) and then I never really stopped. Early records I loved were things like Adam & The Ants and The Pretenders. David Bowie. Then I took a little turn into metal for a while – I’ve seen Iron Maiden so many times dude, hahaha! But funnily it was those Hanoi records that made me look back to stuff like the New York Dolls and Johnny Thunders. Seeing the Ramones when I was 18 or 19. Discovering Stiv Bators catalogue of stuff. You know, you keep looking and finding new music and it leads you down these little paths of discovery. I still love it to this day. There’s so much great new music out there that makes me want to keep playing and writing.

You’ve played on plenty of records over the years are there any that people might be surprised to find you had a hand in?

Probably the weirdest one is a single that I recorded a few years ago for Andy Cairns’ birthday. It’s me, Michael McKeegan & Neil Cooper from Therapy?, Tim Wheeler from Ash, Ricky Warwick, Diamond Dave (beloved radio host) and we were called The Gemils. We covered Another Girl, Another Planet and also did one original song called Purveyor Of Quackery. Only 10 vinyl copies of the single were pressed and they were given out to the band members and Andy for his 50th birthday. Possibly the rarest single ever! 

When you’re writing songs how do you go about it?  Is it a guitar part like a riff or a melody that comes first and do you come up with lyrics as well and hows your drumming?

It can be anything. Sometimes it’s a riff or a melody but usually I get a spark for a lyric and start working it into a chorus. I often get ideas while I’m out walking my dogs so I end up quietly singing them into my phone while pretending I’m on a phone call so people don’t think I’m an absolute lunatic. From there it’s a case of working out melodies and writing lyrics that fit. So generally speaking when I’m writing for Michael I’ll try to inhabit his headspace a bit and then write the lyrics from that point of view. Then I’ll demo it all up at home and send the guys a complete song. As for my drumming, well that’s what drum machines are for my friend!

What’s the best thing about your job? Live? Studio?  the creative aspect of writing?  and on the flip side what do (if anything) you least look forward to.  (Travel) (hanging around) making a video or waiting for the records to come out once they’ve been finished?

Touring is fun for sure. Being on the bus, playing the shows – I love those parts of it. I like making records and designing merch, doing the album artwork. That’s all a lot of fun. The airports and soundchecks, missing my family and the endless hours of waiting around I could live without. I’m not a fan of photoshoots and making videos either but they’re a necessary evil, haha. Honestly though, I really can’t complain about anything – this is my day job and it’s the best job in the world. 

A few quick questions.

Do you have a favourite song to play with Michael?

You know, it’s a blast playing pretty much everything in the set. It’s nice to be able to change things up and play some new stuff but I’m not sure I have a favourite. Right now we’re doing an acoustic set in the middle of the show and that’s a lot of fun because it’s something different and refreshing. But then I also like bashing people over the head with the punk rock hammer as well

How does it work when picking a set list?  

There’s just some stuff that we have to play. It’s expected that we’ll play some Hanoi and we’ll play some of the bigger solo songs. So there’s stuff that’s just always there and then we try to mix up the rest of the set as much as we can. I try to stay out of it for the most part because having 5 guys try to pick 20 songs over email is an endless and frustrating experience, haha!

Are all the Hanoi songs fair game and what would you like to play that hasn’t been in the set list yet?

Yeah I guess so. I haven’t really thought about it too much. We’re not gonna play any of the Hanoi ‘reunion’ stuff but we’ll dig into the original band’s material a lot. Right now we’re playing ‘Lost In The City’ and ‘Lightnin’ Bar Blues’ which we’ve never done before. As for stuff I’d like to play – I just want this new record out so we can play some new songs!

When the Monroe album comes out can we in the UK expect a headline tour?  what about some summer dates and a return to Rebellion after this years show-stealing performance easily the best set played at the festival by anyone.

I’m sure we’ll be back to the UK sometime next year. We’d love to do Rebellion again if they’ll have us – it was a blast! I really wasn’t sure how we’d go over but the crowd was fantastic. So we’re looking at summer festival offers now and we’ll see what happens. We’ve got a few in Spain already and hopefully, we’ll get back over to see you guys as well. I think things will become a little more clear once we’ve got the album ready to go!

Thanks for your time Rich hopefully I’ll catch you on a show somewhere sometime in the near future and I look forward to hearing all this new music you’ve been recording.  Exciting times.

Thank you, Dom, always a pleasure! Hope to see you soon

Thomas Silver – The Gospel According to Thomas (Volcano Records)

Thomas Silver – The Gospel According to Thomas (Volcano Records)

Leigh Fuge.

2018 is the year that a new Gospel is bestowed upon the world, ‘The Gospel According to Thomas’. This is the long-awaited full length from Thomas Silver. You may recognise that name from his days delivering the riffs with Swedish sleaze gods Hardcore Superstar. Thomas parted ways with the band in 2007 after the awesome Dreamin’ in a Casket album. Over the last 11 years, he has teased new music a few times but finally, the news drops that it’s time for an album. Silver is back, and he’s got some preaching to do.

Hardcore Superstar was one of my biggest influences growing up as a musician and a person. I always loved Silver’s playing and I’ve certainly been hoping for years that one day he would come crashing back onto the stage. Time to strap in, it’s time to listen to the sermon.

‘Caught Between Worlds’ kicks off proceedings. The guitar tone, the rhythmic and bouncy riffs… I’m back in 2005 and I am loving it. This song feels like a natural place to pick up from an 11-year break. This is vintage Hardcore Superstar, but with a more mature edge. Big choruses, big riffs, and big hooks, what a way to start an album.

‘Public Eye’ is track number two and there’s certainly no resting just yet. We’re straight in with a big, head bobbing verse before launching into quite possibly the best chorus hook I’ve heard in 2018. There was a feeling that Silver’s playing created inside me when I spent countless hours trying to learn riffs from their self-titled album and its follow up Dreamin’ In A Casket, two tracks in and this album has transported me to that moment again.

‘Minor Swing’ keeps the tempo up with it’s short, stabbing groove and huge backing vocals. You cannot help but nod your head to this. This banger is short and sweet, before we drop the tempo into D-Day, with it’s clean, sparkling guitars coupled with moody vocals which instantly remind me of the 69 Eyes. The chorus is full of that bombastic, Helskini gothic groove that the 69 Eyes pioneered but with the streetwise attitude of Gothenburg. The mid-section even bears a slight resemblance to an Iron Maiden style section with some driving riffs, soaring solos and harmonized guitars.

‘Coming In, Going Under’ kicks things back into gear with its driving punk riffs and infectious melodies. I’m a sucker for a dramatic pause in any song, this song has plenty to keep me happy. ‘Time Stands Still’ has anthem written all over it. This is the type of song that just demands a room full of people waving their arms and singing along. I’d be lying if I didn’t say the number of guitar harmonies on this album hadn’t been exciting me and we’re only halfway through!

‘Bury The Past’ is a song that anyone who has closely followed Silver’s career over the last decade should be familiar with. It was released as a single back in October 2015. Upon hearing this for the first time three years ago, I was extremely excited, was this marking the comeback of Silver? Unfortunately, at that time, the album didn’t materialize, but as they say, good things come to those who wait. We’ve waited, and Thomas has delivered.

Then we launch into ‘On A Night Like This’, but what’s that? Horns? I always think rock and roll musicians should be more receptive to experimenting with other instruments. The horns perfectly outline the 80’s rock swagger of the songs main riff and chorus.

‘Mean Town’ makes me think of some tracks Silver wrote with HCSS over their first few albums. A combination of pop sensibilities, cleaner guitars and big choruses. For me, the song really takes off when the guitar solo kicks in. The next track, ‘Not Invited’, follows suit with its cleaner guitars and catchy hooks. I’m getting a slight Hanoi Rocks vibe from this track which is certainly nothing to turn your nose up at.

‘All Those Crazy Dreams’ brings the album to a close, the first verse has only just begun, and I know this is going to be a fist in the air, anthemic singalong. It references dreaming about being a rock and roll star, we’ve all been there. The song chronicles the rise of a band from a teenage dream to the big stage. What a ride and what a story.

11 years of waiting has provided 11 tracks of pure gold. I for one have missed the sound of Silver’s guitar playing. Was it worth the wait? You bet it was. If this is the gospel, I’ve seen the light. Let’s hope the next gospel isn’t far behind. It’s time to rejoice.

Released 23/11 & 21/11 in Japan

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The Woolly Bushmen – Arduino (Pig Baby Records)

The Woolly Bushmen – Arduino (Pig Baby Records)

Dom Daley.

Strangely named band of Floridians and not Australians from the middle of nowhere and strange title for their record but these boys rock out with a blues-based psych-out that straddles generations of rock and roll and to be fair they do it ever so well.

From the opening ‘Something New’ they lay their cards on the table and it neatly leads into a Cramps tinged rock and roller that kicks back to the name of ‘Hangin Blue’ sure it’s unoriginal sound and style but you can’t deny its a bloody good time coming out of those speakers? Besides these guys reach back – way back into the depths of this business to draw inspiration and they have the chops to pull this damn thing right off.

This record could only have been grafted from the past fifty years of records and plonked right here right now.  So we’re a little late to the party but that doesn’t matter.  The fact we’ve found the party and we’re turning up carrying a bottle or two is what’s important.  ‘I Don’t Want You’ opens with a great big organ (woof woof) and the sort of echo chamber vocals whilst the drums shuffle towards the chorus its veered into Fuzztones territory. but this garage rock lark isn’t something you can just throw together you have to be in it to win it and Woolley Bushmen are certainly winning.  They might look like lab assistants and Geography teachers but looks can certainly be deceiving as no Geography teacher of mine ever rocked out like these boys do on ‘Don’t Let Him In’ or the 60’s flavoured ‘Too Much Love’.

It’s like a trip into the 50’s doo-wop for the heartbreaking ‘I’d Rather Die’ but you know what it only needs to be one minute and thirty and that’s exactly what you get. they clearly have a sense of humour as ‘Medicated’ just kicked my backside and the lyrics are great it’s like a B Movie in sound and who can deny that keyboard. It makes me want to dance like the swinging 60’s were back in vogue and everyone wanted to go to the rock and roll show and just have a great time. Never too late to the party and never to old to enjoy rock and Roll and never out of step with the general population it’s just others that need to catch up and catch on.  The Woolley Bushmen get on it folks! I think you’ll dig it.

 

The band are touring Europe this Winter so be sure to check em out

 

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Paul Collins Interview Exclusive

Paul Collins Interview Exclusive

With a brand new album out and in the shops the king of power pop took up our invitation to have a chat about his career and the new record.  He shouldn’t need an introduction but seeing as I’m here I’ll give him one for those of you not familiar with any of his work.  He began his recording career with The Nerves back in the early 70’s and weaved his tapestry through the halls Of Power Pop N Roll playing with his band The Beat and as a solo artist he’s penned many a classic tune and continues to this day recording records and playing shows he’s taken the stage with the likes of The Ramones and Green Day over the years and just put out one of the years best power pop albums ‘Out Of My Head’.

Back in the early days of The Nerves How come the three of you didn’t co-write the songs together back then?  
When I joined The Nerves I had not begun to write songs yet, it was only after hearing what Jack and Peter were writing that I decided I had to try too. Jack was the main writer at the time and he was adamant about keeping everything separate. Each of us were to write and sing our own songs. He was very helpful to me though. He spent a lot of time listening and critiquing my songs. He was a great mentor in that respect.
Did you ever imagine you’d be part of the band that spawned such a classic song as ‘Hanging On The Telephone’?  
I knew Hanging on the Telephone was a hit the moment I heard it. It was the first day that I had met Jack Lee, he played me the acetate of the demo he had made and it blew my mind!
Did you think your original version was the best?  
I am very proud of our version it stands up to the test of time.
Have you heard the Def Leppard version or L7’s?  
Yes, and I like the credit Def Leppard gave it on their record. 
After you settled on the west coast was it easy putting the band together?
Back then, The West Coast was a better environment for me and the kind of music I was trying to do. After The Nerves, I had the very good fortune to meet Steve Huff. He became my main songwriting partner for many years. Writing with people is a very personal thing, it has never been easy for me to do. I’m that regards I was very happy to meet Paul Stingo who I worked with on the last record, Out Of My Head.
Bomp have done a great job of reissuing all the older stuff that was pretty hard to get hold of and you managed the and sorted out the tours and stuff did that set you in good stead for later on trying to negotiate the deals?
I have been DIY now for many years, there isn’t a lot of hard negotiating really mostly verbal agreements with people who are more or less friends.
They put out the comp in the noughties with bonus unreleased previously songs is that it now the well completely dry or is there more to eventually come?
There might be a few odds and ends but most of the recorded unreleased tracks have been used.
Moving onto more recent times, were you contacted by Green Day for them to include a track on the American Idiot play?
They never contacted me, they just played the song quite frequently but they always told the audience who it was by, I really appreciated that.
Didn’t you join them on stage as well?  that must have been so cool.
Yes, I played ‘Walking Out Of Love’ with them (2 times in a row!) onstage at the Bowery Electric here in New York for the end of show party they had when ‘American Idiot’ closed. Billy Joe was extremely gracious to me, I will never forget how nice he treated me!
You played with a lot of influential punk bands back in the day when it was all fresh and new, how did the audiences take to the difference in sound from say the Germs and the Weirdos compared to your more melodic power pop.
At the time it seemed to me that the audience related more to The Germs and The Weirdos. We always seemed to be on the outside.
You’ve always championed bands and artists in a business that doesn’t always reward the best; hardest working bands or the most talented, who in your opinion were the ones who fell through the cracks are there any noticeable bands you were convinced were going to be stars?
It such a relative question, nowadays my idea of success has changed. If you can somehow make your living doing what you love then you are a success. I think if you can stay in the game that’s a big part of it. That’s what I am trying to do.
From the king of power pop until this year’s release you’ve released three albums with Alive is it as enjoyable making records as it sounds?
Actually making a record is always a pretty gut–wrenching experience. I am constantly ripping it apart and building it up again in an effort to make it as good as possible.
Your records always sound like they were made with a smile on your face and you are totally happy with what your doing would that be a fair assumption?
No, but that is the trick, you have to make it sound effortless even though you drive yourself nuts trying to do it!
How do you find recording now compared to back in the 70’s is it easier with technology or not?
It has never been easy and hopefully, it never will. I think you have to make a big effort to create something worthwhile.
In fact, it seems like everyone is trying to get back to recording as we did back in the 70’s!
You’ve also recorded with some exceptional players like Chuck Prophet, Greg and Cyril from the Flaming Groovies to name a few do you get a bigger buzz now making a record or touring?
I enjoy what I am doing a lot now mainly because I think I am more in the present. It was a great experience making the Paul Collins record in SF I got to record with so many fantastic musicians, that record will always be a special one for me!
You also do your own management and play an active role with new bands trying to break through.  Is that still exciting for you or is the industry still a massive ballache.
It’s a tough business that is for sure! Being DIY has its pros and cons, the pros are you pretty much get to do what you want. I have come to accept my position in the business and I’m ok with it. I do what I love to do, more or less on my own terms.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received
From Jimmy the Greek who owned The Downbeat in SF. “You gotta have tight beginnings and tight endings and everyone will think you’re great!”
What advice would you give to a hungry young band looking to someone of your skill and status for advice and guidance?
Work your ass off and never give up!
Finally, when do you begin work on the next album?
Still basking in the afterglow of this one!
and what about some shows in the UK?
Love too, it’s just a matter of working out the logistics.
so until he hits the road and someone in the UK offers him some dates I guess we’ll have to make do with the records which is no bad deal.  So thanks to Paul for taking the time to chat to RPM now go check out the new album at the link.

PAUL COLLINS BEAT “Out of My Head” EURO TOUR 2019 – Buy tickets here
This tour will be done completely by train, a new model for the new millennium of touring! Arrive alive and on time!

Feb 7 Stockholm Melodybox
Feb 8 Malmo Folk å Rock
Feb 9 Hamburg Nochtwache
Feb 12 Mannheim Altes Volksbad
Feb 14 Berlin Cortina Bob
Feb 15 Essen Freak Show
Feb 16 Kortrijk Den Trapp
Feb 17 Utrecht dB’s
Feb 18 Brussels CHAFF
Feb 19 France Orleans Blue Devils
Feb 20 France TBA
Feb 21 Clermont-Ferrand Bombshell
Feb 22 Saint-Etienne Le Clapier
Feb 23 France TBA
Feb 25 Alicante Sala Stereo
Feb 27 Valencia Loco Club
Feb 28 Madrid Fun House
Mar 1 Spain TBA
Mar 2 Spain Segovia

BULLETS AND OCTANE – When We Were Young single/video release

BULLETS AND OCTANE – When We Were Young single/video release

US hard rock band, BULLETS AND OCTANE, have released a new single and music video for ‘When We Were Young‘, the track is taken from their new album ‘Waking Up Dead‘, which was released in May via Bad MoFo Records/Cargo Records UK

 

BULLETS AND OCTANE have added some new dates to their European tour, including a UK tour with CKY.

Bullets and Octane exploded onto the scene in 2003 with their debut EP “One Night Stand Rock N Roll Band” on Critereon Records. 2004 saw the 2nd EP “Bullets And Octane” and their debut album “The Revelry” produced by Gilby Clarke of Guns And Roses also on Critereon Records. In 2005-2006 they Supported Avenged Sevenfold in America and Europe on the City Of Evil Tour.

2006 was a big year for the band as they were signed to RCA/BMG Records. They released their first major label album “In The Mouth Of The Young“, which was produced by Page Hamilton of Helmet. They played The Download Festival and where on “The Family Values Tour” with Korn, Stone Sour, Flyleaf and Deftones. They headlined their own UK tour as well.

2007 saw them Leave RCA for Ares Records, released “Songs For The Underdog” album and tour with Unwritten Law. They had headlining UK Tour with The Knives that year as well. In 2009 they released “Bullets and Octane ” a full length album and Toured the U.K. with Gunfire 76 (Wednesday 13’s project).

In 2016 they played Lost Highway motorcycle show and concert with Social Distortion, Foghat and Eagles Of Death Metal as well as releasing a new song “Burning At Both Wicks“.

In 2017 back at it full time with a solid line up, released songs and videos for “Bad Mother Fucker” and “Waking Up Dead“, headlined a very successful tour of the U.K and Sweden. They finished the “Waking Up Dead” album and played a string of successful shows in Hollywood, Orange County and Las Vegas.

In 2018 they are looking to release the album “Waking Up Dead“. They are already slated to headline U.K. dates and Sweden dates in February to kick off the 20 Year anniversary of the band with what has been touted as the most solid line up in it’s history.

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Taurus Trakker – All Shook Up Again In W 10 (Self Release)

Taurus Trakker – All Shook Up Again In W 10 (Self Release)

Dom Daley,

Always nice to have some Taurus Trakker on the player and this their fourth long player is possibly their most accomplished piece thus far. It gets Mick Jones (yeah he of the Clash) to handle the production as they proceed to groove and shake the listener with their hypnotic bluesy punk rock ‘n’ roll.  Inextricably linked with Ladbrook Grove and the surrounding part of West LondonTaurus Trakker follow on from what Jones and his old band used to knock out from this part of the Capital.  For those joining us for the first time, a brief introduction would be this;  these cats ply a trade in blues-based rock ‘n’ roll that has a heap of groove and swing and they write songs that would get your heart pumping if you were to happen upon them in some late night bar on the wrong side of town and there is an honesty with their lyrics that tell tales from the streets that they walk upon and social and economic ideals that are honest and worthy.

 

Whilst it’s still the same loose rock ‘n’ roll vibe happening its clear they are tighter as a unit and the production is a lot sharper on this album compared to previous offerings as well.  Having had their studio taken away by property developers in their part of town and then the fire at Grenfell Tower Taurus and their sense of community came to the fore with a lot of who they are bleeds into what they do and if you’re looking for the sound of West London and Ladbrook Grove then Taurus Trakker are it.

 

I think maybe one thing Mick Jones has been able to get the band to do is shorten the songs and tighten them up and reach a climax rather than jam them out into a lot longer which helps with the impact of the tunes. ‘Vibe On Me’ is a good example of this.  Taurus has always been a band I like to hear what singer Martin is saying and regardless of what he’s saying I’m paying attention God he might be reading out the terms and conditions of his railcard but I want to know about it.

I love the raw energy and spirit of ‘Letter To Elvis’ and its a step or hip shake in the right direction even if the content saddens me because Martins right you know. Its a progression from the last ‘Death Coaching’ album and possibly contains their finest work to date (it is in my opinion anyway)

Their mashing up of the blues with punk rock attitude has them rocking with a unique vibe and songs like ‘To Much Sugar’ demonstrate this perfectly well and the heavy blues of ‘Uncool Jack’ will also underline this theory.  Having said all that if these guys were from New York or Chicago you wouldn’t bat an eyelid and would say how cool their vibes are and their gritty working-class rock n roll is in the moment and catches the spirit of community and Taurus Trakker is the sound of people who are proud of where they come from and where their roots lock them into.  Check out ‘All Shook Up Again In W10’ its got a bunch of great tunes and you’d be a fool to pass up this invitation to check em out.

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Jonny Cola And The A Grades, Paper Dress Vintage, Hackney, Nov 2nd

Jonny Cola And The A Grades, Paper Dress Vintage, Hackney, Nov 2nd

Martin Chamarette. 

When I heard that one of my all-time favourite bands were reforming for a one-off gig, this was my early Christmas present to myself. Like most of the bands that I love and attempt to champion, Jonny Cola And The A-Grades were doomed to obscurity. I did warn them; “if I love you, there’s no hope”. Though this is not entirely my fault; the public is not known for their great taste.

Twenty years earlier, and they could have been on a par with Suede and Pulp, deservedly so. Their album ‘Spitfire’ is still one of the best I’ve ever heard, so I headed to Paper Dress Vintage with great excitement. The boutique come venue suits their unique brand of glam pop anthems well.

I was relieved to get there in time to see the support set by Sister Witch. Theirs is a darker mood, but complements the atmosphere. Lux Lyall is ethereal and enchanting upfront, while David Ryder Prangley is still masterful with a sleazy riff. That’s another album I need to get.

And so, The A Grades take to the stage, launching into ‘Wronghead’, and Jonny reaches the mic just in time, to a round of applause. Boys, you have been missed. Classic, lost single ‘Marlborough Road’ follows, and I lose track of the set list and embrace this special moment. The small room is packed, everyone knows the words, and my few photos are wobbly as the floor is shaking.

Highlights? They possess so many great tunes, but hearing ‘Halo’ one more time is fantastic, while ‘Ripples’ threatens to make my eyeshadow run. Just something in my eye. Jonny is clearly a little shocked at the warmth of their reception. But all of us here know; this was a special band. ‘Straight To Video’ is epic. I’d have loved them to have played ‘Spitfire’ in its entirety, but it’s all good. Jonny refuses to end the set with a slightly wobbly ‘The Party’s Over’, so we get a rare airing of ‘Disappearing Act’. One early sign of Christmas that I can forgive is Jonny’s Santa hat for encore ‘All I Want For Christmas Is An Action Man’.

And tonight, for me, was like Christmas and birthday rolled into one. A bittersweet farewell, but one to treasure.

On such a spectacular sign off how could it be that RPM had two people at the venue  – both with notebooks and pencils in hand Role Models Rich Ragany was also in attendance and had this to say about the return of Jonny Cola & The A Grades

 

Rich Ragany. 

Reunions and farewells are cuttin’ onions and church bells. Ring, ring, ringing away and forcing tears, representing the death knell of some glorious, glamorous misspent youth or past. Jonny Cola & The A-Grades never seemed too interested in that schlocky nonsense. They always seemed more about the here and now, giving Saturday night’s cracked actors a cracked pavement to amble down. Romantic, lust filled and knowing there may be some suffering tomorrow. But it’s worth it. It always was, and Friday reminded me of that.

Alice Cooper met up with Jarvis Cocker and Lou Reed. Bought something unmentionable from Elliot Easton and, hey… does anyone have David’s number? Not Jones’… he never answers. I mean Johansen’s… To say there is an eclectic mix of influences present in the band’s music is an understatement. They proudly flaunted that on the night. Wonderfully, I never thought once of anyone else but The A-Grades. Doing without trying. Cool.
There. I said it. The good ones never try.
With each member an excellent player (making the ranks of such wonderfully ongoing concerns as Simon Drowner’s Desperate Journalist and Mauro Venegas in The Speedways), you never got a sense of overplaying. Just bright, shimmering, slutty entanglements on the exact right side of falling apart, letting us know we in the audience were as well. If we want to be.

And Jonny. Jonny, please. What an engaging performance. Sly smile worn warm… and real. I was moved
The songs and legacy of the band are not relegated to reunions to cast your mind back. This show was a reminder of the songs that should remain part of our soundtracks.
Those weekends were great, sure. So was this one.
Well played boys.

*Footnote RPM has copies of their final single ‘Blow Up’ on white vinyl available just email us with a sob story and we might open the vault and sell you one*

TV Smith – Chelsea Club – Vienna 25/10/2018

TV Smith – Chelsea Club – Vienna 25/10/2018

When a good friend of mine had planned a trip to Vienna to watch TV Smith, it was a no-brainer when he asked if I’d like to join him. Vienna is a little over an hour away from my home in the Czech Republic, and I assume due to the differences in economies many touring acts stop at Vienna rather than here.

I’d never seen the Adverts main man on stage in any form, and to be honest, he’d fallen off my radar for a while so I was intrigued to know what this would be like, and in a venue, I’d never been to before – the Chelsea Club. My friend had informed me that his most recent album ‘Land of the Overdose’ was excellent, so I didn’t let the ‘Chelsea’ nature of the club (the Wi-Fi was Stamford Bridge so it was no accident) put me off.

We entered the club to the sounds of Austrian ska polka ensemble Skolka. Not being a big ska fan myself, I was surprised when I was being unwittingly attracted by their vibrant energy. Before I knew it, I was buying CDs from the groups, enigmatic singer, while my friends were buying T-shirts. Fair play, they were fantastic and absolutely won me over. All that brass and dancing went down a storm and we were a little apprehensive about how one man with his acoustic was going to follow that.

Luckily, the crowd who had fully enjoyed that show remained in the tightly packed, smoky club to witness TV Smith take to the stage. Again, I can admit being a bit ignorant on the Smith front, but I’d recently heard the song ‘Replay’ (from the 2014 album ‘I Delete’) somewhere and loved it. However, it wasn’t until he pulled it out early on in his set that I remembered it was him! It had been lost somewhere to the back of my mind. Truly though, it is a fantastic song and it was immediately obvious that this one guy with a guitar was going toe to toe with an 8-person strong band full of brass.

TV Smith shines with energy, and to prove it he must’ve played for around two hours that night, playing pretty much the new album entirely, alongside numbers cherry-picked from his extensive back catalogue. A party from the off, songs such as the title track of the aforementioned ‘I Delete’ really got the crowd going but of course many will know him for the Adverts songs which he held on to until the end, particularly ‘Gary Gilmore’s Eyes’ and ‘Bored Teenagers’. A fantastic night all round, and well worth a trip across the border.

Buy TV Smith Here

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Sick Things – Sick Things (Gods Candy Records)

Sick Things – Sick Things (Gods Candy Records)

Dom Daley.

Montreal, QC-based rock band Sick Things recently released a video for their single, ‘Sick Things’ which coincidentally is the name of the band and the album and the single so even the dumbest Rock and Rolla can remember that can’t they?  sure they can (it worked for me) and if they tune in they are sure in for a treat.  Released earlier this summer on CD this is about to get a spanking new release on wax from the good people at Gods Candy Record and on hearing this for the first time I had to congratulate the label for its good choice yet again.

 

You see the more you dig into to new music hitting the office desk (so to speak) the more patterns seem to appear and right here right now Canada is winning any race for the best straight up power pop rock n roll bands currently releasing music anywhere on the planet.  Damn, there must be something in the water right now because every time I turn on the stereo and play a Canadian band they are killing me with the tunes and Sick Things are no exception and the latest release to hit the death decks that get a toe tap and nod of approval from RPM HQ.

‘Take The Head From The Crown’ doesn’t hang about and goes straight for the kill with a foot stomper as the guitars wail and the floorboards shake this is happening, folks.  Cutting its teeth on 70’s classics like early Kiss, Cheap Trick and a healthy dose of duelling Thin Lizzy like guitars there isn’t much time to shoot the breeze and waffle because drum roll after soaring solo this is good stuff.  Before you have time to wipe the dribble of your chin ‘Boogalooser’ is shaking its backside like the finest show off wanna be guitar slinger in town this is how Biters started I’m sure of it.

It doesn’t stop there – this is no flash in the pan because if anything this record is getting stronger if anything by the time we reach ‘I Got News For You’ the riffs are getting sharper and we’re burning rubber towards Hellacopters territory maybe with a little less attitude but in the same ballpark.  Thank fuck the acoustic guitars come out for ‘We Got It Figured Out’ but only briefly were in for a classic acoustic layered rocker and who doesn’t love those BV’s?

This record is really consistent from start to finish and its quality is relentless I just hope they windmilled their way through the recordings and drank plenty of beer and are living the dream because the likes of Lynott opened up this path for others to follow and whilst the trail is still there we need bands to earn their stripes and pass through the door marked Stage ahead because the bright lights are shining and those electric guitars won’t duel themselves.

It’s got the energy and swing of that debut Black Crowes album and the attitude of prime Thin Lizzy with the melody of Cheap Trick and they even remembered the cowbell – what’s not to like for fuck’s sake this record is as much fun as is legally possible and I’m thinking you should go get some.  Eleven slices of prime good time with extra slices of solo on top – buy it!

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Black Heart Breakers – Rotting Out (Self Release)

Black Heart Breakers – Rotting Out (Self Release)

Dom Daley.

Australian rock and rollers are back in their corner taking another swing

Australia has got a fine pedigree for making top-notch punk rock n roll from the saints through Radio Birdman and more recently The Chats, Amyl & The Sniffers and who can ignore Main Street Brats and Living End and Cosmic Psychos.  Well kids add Black Heart Breakers to that list as their coming of age release is with us.  Rotting Out might only have six tunes on it but they are the best the band have written so far and show a quality of songwriting they’ve not displayed thus far and I’m somebody who liked what they’ve done before when I say liked I loved it.

Having knuckled down and earned their stripes by playing shows with the likes of Radio Birdman this Sydney four-piece have stepped up a notch and deserve your ears for what amasses to six songs in sixteen minutes and within those sixteen minutes, they capture some real genuine magic.  They marry some classic influences and make something that isn’t just a copy but have moulded their influences into something they can claim to be their own which isn’t something that every band achieves and isn’t easy to do.

‘Why Not Me’ starts with a thunderous bass and floor tom work out that harnesses some pace and aggression as we hurtle to the gang vocals that the likes of the Living End have made a living off.  The production is sharp and sympathetic to the passion that is obvious to anyone listening.  It’s great to hear a band firing on all cylinders straight out of the blocks and if this slab of punk rock and roll is an indication of what’s to come then play on!

The band has made no secrets of loving the Ramones and to be honest there might not be enough bands out there that hold dear the melodies that Da Brothers used to hack out but Black Heart Breakers understand this and thrive off it. ‘Melody’ might be about a young lady but if she’s listening then she’s gonna be one happy lady because this is excellent. The playing is noticeably better than anything they’ve done before as ‘Angels Take Me’ has some sumptuous basslines rolling through its melodic sub-three minutes of punk rock.

Had someone like Green Day released ‘Save Me’ people would be drooling over it and the gang vocals I bet are great live and having one converse foot firmly planted in Dee Dee’s lyric book it’s all good now let’s go Hey Ho!. But the best is coming over the horizon as ‘Burning Out’ introduces a horn section and as I raise an eyebrow as soon as the first toots hit my speakers I’m sold.  This is the finest few minutes that Hayden and the boys have had so far.  What a song! The breakdown is Clash-tastic and I mean that as a badge of honour and in no way a bad thing.  Fantastic track.

To take this mini album home ‘Giving Up’ is a laid-back tune about friendship that builds and builds sure it’s been done a million times but if the song works then do it and this works a treat.  I love the rolling drums on the build-up to the chorus and the solo is on fire! Tres bien boys tres bien.  One of the most rounded and best mini albums I’ve heard all year. Check out Black Heart Breakers because the world needs youngsters like these they make old men like me fall in love with music over and over again. Cheers!

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