WARBRINGER Premieres Explosive New Single ‘Firepower Kills’!

WARBRINGER Premieres Explosive New Single ‘Firepower Kills’!

L.A. thrashers’ sixth album due in February; marathon tour with Enforcer continues this Fall!

Three weeks into their ongoing 54-shows-in-54-days co-headlining tour with Enforcer, the Los Angeles-based thrash quintet WARBRINGER has released a new single, “Firepower Kills.” The song can be streamed on Spotify, Apple Music and other digital platforms

WARBRINGER‘s new album will serve as the follow-up to 2017’s “Woe To The Vanquished,” which Metal Hammer said “delivers all the pounding riffage and machine-gun tempos a thrash freak could want.” The as-yet-untitled new record – which was helmed by returning producer Mike Plotnikoff (In Flames, Fear Factory, All That Remains) and mastered once again by Howie Weinberg (Anthrax, Slayer, Overkill) – will be coming out on Napalm Records and marks the band’s first full-length release with bassist Chase Bryant (Oni), who joined the group last year.

“’Firepower Kills’ is the album opener and is a rapid-fire thrash burner, with both lyrics and music following the theme of the rapidly evolving and really frightening side of technology. We’ve been playing this tune nightly on the current tour and it’s been highly well-received,” explains Warbringer vocalist John Kevill. “We are right in the middle of this massive North American tour with Enforcer and have left a wake of fire over much of the continent. More updates on Warbringer incoming… yes, the future looks bright!”

 

Over the past dozen years, WARBRINGER has released five acclaimed albums of intense, aggressive thrash and toured with a who’s who of metal, including Megadeth, Testament, Obituary, Napalm Death, Exodus, Suffocation, Overkill, Arch Enemy, Kreator, Soilwork, Municipal Waste, Skeletonwitch, Destruction, Nevermore, Symphony X, Iced Earth and Death Angel, among others. More information on the group’s forthcoming album will be unveiled in the coming weeks.

Remaining North American Tour Dates –

 

10/01/2019 The Foundry – Philadelphia, PA

10/02/2019 Dingbatz – Clifton, NY

10/03/2019 The Chance – Poughkeepsie, NY

10/04/2019 Kingsland – Brooklyn, NY

10/05/2019 Blackthorn 51 – Elmhurst, NY

10/06/2019 Fish Head Cantina – Halethorpe, MD

10/07/2019 Cattivo – Pittsburgh, PA

10/08/2019 Canal Club – Richmond, VA

10/09/2019 Black Circle – Indianapolis, IN

10/10/2019 The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA

10/11/2019 Motorco – Durham, NC

10/12/2019 The Haven – Winter Park, FL

10/13/2019 O’Malley’s – Margate, FL

10/14/2019 Crowbar – Ybor City, FL

10/15/2019 Southport Music Hall – New Orleans, LA

10/16/2019 Scout Bar – Houston, TX

10/17/2019 Rock Box – San Antonio, TX

10/18/2019 Come And Take It Live – Austin, TX

10/19/2019 Trees – Dallas, TX

10/20/2019 Aftershock – Merriam, KS

10/21/2019 The Shrine – Tulsa, OK

10/22/2019 89th Street Collective – Oklahoma City, OK

10/23/2019 Launch Pad – Albuquerque, NM

10/24/2019 Herman’s Hideaway – Denver, CO

10/25/2019 Liquid Joe’s – Salt Lake City, UT

10/26/2019 Backstage Bar and Billiards – Las Vegas, NV

10/27/2019 The Rock – Tucson, AZ

10/28/2019 Club Red – Tempe, AZ

For More Info Visit:
www.facebook.com/Warbringermusic
www.warbringermusic.com
www.napalmrecords.com

 

Pardon Us – Wait (Self Release)

Pardon Us – Wait (Self Release)

Pardon us are a pop-punk band from Liverpool who formed in 2014. Some of their members have also played in Flamingo 50, the Down and Outs and Town Bike (No I’ve not heard of them either but I have heard of Pardon Us). They can be seen on the bills of DIY gigs, festivals and all-dayers around the UK, and are often compared to Jawbreaker, J Church and Off With Their Heads (mmm Nah me neither). This is their debut long-player and it’s been worth the wait let me tell you.  If you’ve never heard of them until you read this then let me give you my take on ‘Wait’.

‘Wait’ is the work of three people who make a very tasty racket, very tasty indeed.  Its loud (hooray) its got melody (hooray) some great lyrics and the album is full of fuckin’ bangers.  Drawing their inspiration from a load of places there are moments of classic Jam happening and also some early punk roots like Husker Du and I’m also having shards of Stiff Little Fingers punching through their wall of sound. I love the simplicity of ‘Brains’ with the gang backing vocals and raw guitar these boys know how to write top tunes.  At times it’s so raw its savage but its always wrapped in a melody which is where I get my SLF and Jam influences from. There is an air of joir de Vivre about it, they’ve penned ten pop songs and played them through distorted guitars with a reckless edge and youthful abandonment at times it could be some britpop fops playing punky or a Supergrass in the melodies songs like ‘Brains’ have a touch of the Jam about them if they went pub rock instead of soul boys.  The arrangements impress me with the gang vocals and attack on the riffage being just loud guitars and not using a wall of virtual sound technologies. ‘Counting Backwards’ is like screaming on top of a mountain and then rolling down it like a big kid and without a care in the world. 

 

I go back to my influence obsession and will site Husker Du and throw in a Replacements (a little bit at least when they were young) and some Buffalo Tom as well on ‘Thankful’.  The Scouse accent comes through loud and clear and I like that on ‘Phil Ochs’.  ‘If The Black Shirt Fits’ is off like a speeding bullet and the vocals are stretched to the limit. Raw and passionate it’s one of the best tracks on the record for sure.  when I stumbled across the singles a while back I found the band really exciting and the album has realised those expectations and that pleases me greatly because after all said and done and all the musical comparisons I could muster Pardon Us is fresh and exciting and the main thing is the songs are bloody good and that’s job done for me. Signing off with ‘We Are The Champions’ is a good place to finish seeing as its true these three are indeed champions.  If they rock up in your town go see em and tell em RPM sent you – you won’t be disappointed – great album!

Buy Wait Here

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Rainy Days & Mondays

Rainy Days & Mondays

With a bunch of fantastic album reviews coming up this week heres a taste of whats coming up as we review the new Dead Furies album but heres something off their last album just to tide you over.

 

This week we also have the brand new Starcrawler album for review and its a banger trust us.  so heres a teaser from that

To round it off try Gyasi for size with their new album reviewed these cats have got it going on

45 RPM – Singles Club Round Up

45 RPM – Singles Club Round Up

 

Another month another visit to the jukebox to see what sevens are spinning round the RPM Jukebox.  this month sees a mixed bag with some of our favorites knocking out 45s and some welcome new bands dipping their toes in the water.  We love a 45 and this month sees some tasty singles. In no particular order this lot are well worth checking out.

Tyla’s Dogs D’Amour – ‘(Everybody Needs) A Friend’ (King Outlaw Records) What a reet little corker this is.  Not expecting a tune this good to come from camp Tyla but hey, here it is, its a gentle rock and roller with all those vital ingredients that were required in the 80s and beyond. It’s got the sloppy rock n roll edge you know you want to hear when Tylas familiar vocal comes in.  ruffle your hair (if you can) get out of bed put this on and you’re good to go. It’s backed by live renditions of ‘111’ with the band firing on all cylinders and you also get an exceptional atmospheric live take on the epic ‘Bullet Proof Poet’ part acoustic part electric but it melts into ‘Angel’ to create a pretty epic eight minutes that makes this worth the price of a pint any day of the week.  Still got it , still relevant, still rockin’? Absofuckinlutely! don’t ever doubt it! Pick it up Here

Suicide Generation – Prisoner Of Love (Surfin ‘Ki Records/ Family Spree/Spaghetty Town Records/Wanda Records) Another day another absolute killer record from Suicide Generation.  This time they’ve got some seriously good labels to share the love around with each label having its own coloured vinyl.  Three tracks of classic Suicide Generation it’s wild, loud and a whole lot of fun in the tradition of Garage Punks from The Stooges to the Damneds debut via channeling some Lux interior   Suicide Generation are an explosion of the finest noise currently making exciting records that you would be foolish to ignore.

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Razorbats – White Trash Radio Another slice of Prime Norweigan Rock and Roll with their usual mix of HArd Rock some classic Rock and a generous slice of power pop a melody and hook to die for Razorbats always deliver and this one is a beauty.  An instant hook on the chorus that you can sing along to and a breakdown that sounds like Had the Police been a ’70s inspired glam Rock outfit then they might have penned this bad boy.

Don’t be daft it’s one single do yourself a favour and go discover your new favourite band from Norway – you can thank me later and if this is a taste of what’s to come then I can’t wait for the next album on this form it will be a real contender. Facebook

 

Paradise Alley/Plastic Tears – Class of ’92 (Self Release) Turning back the clock Paradise Alley look back all (Plastic) teary-eyed at ’92. It’s a romping glam slammer and these two bands have teamed up to make what might just be the best song for both bands to be fair.  Call it nostalgia call it some old rockers just not wanting to go quietly into the night but whatever the reason for the regrouping of Paradise Alley songs like this makes it worthwhile.  Sounding like 69 Eyes used to sound isn’t a bad place to hitch your wagon and anyone can join in on the chorus.

Available as a CD from the band for the handsome price of £3 so hit em up glamsters and pull on those cowboy boots n backcomb your hair its time to get rockin’

Lauren Tate – What About The Kids (Trash Queen Records) Second single taken off her debut album Lauren Tate heads off in a differnet direction that will have fans purring at her new direction and diversity.  Check out the new album details on her website Here

Los Pepes – Automatic / Here Comes The Darkness (Wanda and Beluga Records) Los Pepes have joined Beluga Records for a guest 7inch record, to support there euro tour. Still the loudest powerpop band on earth…the Motörhead of powerpop! No hit wonder 60s and 70s garage pop melodies drowning in a wall of punk rock guitar. With four new tracks on this 7″.

‘Automatic’ is the best song The Hellacopters never wrote.  Man has Ben ever written a duff track?  Of course he hasn’t and this EP is another blinder Catchy, Melodic, loud and smack bang on the money. They’ve even had time to nip back to the 1960s and nick a Small Faces inspired tune ‘Here Comes The Darkness’ but thats not to say this is Rock and Roll isn’t up to scratch because it isn’t its a splash of fury, 12 bar at breakneck speed wham, bang, thank you, man! and ‘your Justice’  is pure Los Pepes coasting on a wave of everything they’re great at.  Another essential single from London’s finest.

Buy Here

Crapsons – Who’ll Babysit The Goths? (Self Release) In the good old spirit of DIY meet these pair of Herberts from The Wirral with their punk rock noise.  Enjoy!

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Baby Shakes – Cause A Scene (Surfin ‘Ki Records) Features a previously unreleased B side of the Teenage Head track ‘Tearin’ Me Apart’ available in several coloured records this Garage punk rock and roll banger is available Here With a Racey rockin drum beat on the intro its more poppwer than power pop but its sickly sweet and a beautiful thing and well worth checking out. Baby Shakes always do Rock and Roll with a tonne of melody and attitude and the solo is bitchin as they say in some rock and roll quarters.

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Fast Eddy – Toofer One (Spaghetty Town Records/Boulevard Trash) You want Rock and Roll with loud guitars then Spaghetty Town have unopened another cracker in the shape of Fast Eddy.  Having your EP Produced and endorsed by Tuk from Biters is something to wear on your denim cut off. Coming outta Denver these four (named after their Drug Dealer) they’ve been weaned on the best stuff money can buy no not drugs I mean Rock and Roll.  From the power-pop with loud guitars of ‘Hurricane Alley’ its got all the vital ingredients to sustain life from the kickin harmonies on the pre-chorus to the solos and guitar licks that cover the tune its all killer no filler. ‘Milwaukee’ is a distant relative of the Faces if they were born stateside and they saved the best til last as ‘Lost’ is the best tune of the month pure 100% Rock and Roll with energy aplenty its just sunshine on a 45.  Awesome

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The Gotham Rockets – Blast Off (Rum Bar Records/Murry Sounds) When you name check being past as members of The Devil Dogs, The Fleshtones, Jack Black, The Prissteens, Simon & The Bar Sinisters, The Swingin’ Neckbreakers, The Trash Mavericks, and The Waldos, Of course, RPM is gonna be interested in what you have to offer.  From the awesome horn honkin’ on ‘What’s Done Is Done’ via the bad boy boogie of ‘Bad With Girls’ this is the bomb. ‘Rip this Night’ is a slice of classic heads down and jive talk and duck walk as we hand jive through the next three minutes of rock and roll. What a great slice of rock and roll and with added sax appeal its gotta come highly recommended and we endorse it 100%

The Empty Hearts – Coat Tailer (Wicked Cool Records) Just another Cool as tune from these power-pop giants. ‘Coat Tailer’ is a sprightly humdinger with some great harmonies and sharp solos but theres enough bit in that guitar riff and its got Clem Burke on the drum kit.  It’s great to have them back making new music and they’ve found the perfect label for their well-rounded sound.

The B Side is a light Beatles esque tune with more great vocals as it just sort of reminds me of walking through a park kicking leaves carefree.  The Empty Hearts doing what they do best writing great power pop – Result.

Available on glow in the dark vinyl – Cool.  Buy it  Here

 

45 Rally – Bigly (Rum Bar Records)  Switzerland’s garage rock sensations 45 RALLY have taken all of their song titles from presidential tweets. But in keeping up with their Swiss heritage, they have decided to remain politically neutral. The music here, a combination of Bubble Gum, Garage Rock, Country and Punk was created for everyone’s listening pleasure.  So to all of  our Conservative, Liberal and Moderate fans,  it’s time to unite! Grab your earbuds, some chocolate and hit the slopes with TWEETS FOR MY SWEET by 45 RALLY! With an equally swing yer pants video this is happy garage for sure.

Screamer – Halo (the Sign Records) Heavy Fuckin’ Metal! make no bones about it folk Screamer aren’t nu metal or Death Metal they just rock like a steam train.  Fist pumpin’, Denim, and leather-clad, long-haired, metalheads.  think Tank think Motorhead think Tysondog think real metal.  Screamer do no frills metal and its Rockin’. with a new album that has a man with wings on a horse al thats missing is some fire and a weapon like a mace or a hammer and they’d be all in. The album is due this month and its called ‘Highway Of Halos’ get on it.

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Right Hand Left Hand – Chacabuco (Bubblewrap Collective) clocking in at the most unsingle like length of a couple of seconds under seven minutes and two minutes elapse before former Estrons singer Taliesyn Kallstrom joins the party.  Post-Rock duo Right Hand Left Hand are back with a brand new album. Following on from their self-titled, Welsh Music Prize-nominated second album, their third offering, ‘Zone Rouge’, tells the story of humanity’s contempt for the earth beneath us, the air above us and the people around us. Layers of guitars and driving drums are the order of the day married with ambient space in between call it art rock or post-punk indie but one thing it does is build and build.

’Chacabuco’ is available to buy and stream digitally on 27th September. The album will follow on 15th November 2019. It will be available digitally, on CD, and on limited edition double clear vinyl. They launch the album with a show at Clwb Ifor Bach in Cardiff on the 13th of November, more info here: https://www.facebook.com/events/400022130707013/?ti=cl

Alice Cooper – The Breadcrumbs EP (earMUSIC) 12″ six tracks from the Coop singing about Iggy and The MC5 how can this possibly not have RPM salivating at the sight and sound?  ‘Detroit City 2020’ sounds good – Sure its modern Alice Cooper but there is more of the old school garage rocker in this and out of all his contemporaries I can’t think of any that are still out there doing it night after night and delivering the good and managing to still churn out new music that is relevant and bloody good. If you were impressed with the opener then hold onto your bobblehead because ‘Go Man Go’ is having it big time.  A good tempo with a lotta rhythm and some blazing guitar work. Sure it helps when you can call on yer mates like Wayne Kramer and drag ou tof them such great performances this was always going to be a winner. He gets his funk on on ‘Your Mama won’t Like Me’ and those horns are quality. I’ll admit I’m not so fussed on the lackluster ‘Devil With A Blue Dress On’ but the bar is raised on the finale of ‘Sister Anne’.  So all in all a mighty fine way to round off this singles club and with it being a 12″  long ‘un the Coop might just have taken it on the home straight.

Buy Breadcrumbs Here

Happy Birthday Taime Downe

Happy Birthday Taime Downe

Gustave Molvik better known to you and me as Taime Downe lead singer of Faster Pussycat was born on this day in 1964.

Taime first formed a band named The Bondage Boys, and going under the stage name “Vaun Hammer”, he released a song with this band called “The Loser” on ‘Northwest Metalfest’, a compilation featuring ten Seattle-area bands. he left Seattle for San Diego before moving on to Los Angeles.

When Taime Got to LA he worked for ‘Retail Slut’ in Hollywood and ran the stage lights at the Troubadour. Magnus Walker of Serious Clothing accidentally got his start when walking into Retail Slut, Taime wanted to buy the pants off him, so he ordered pairs for the store. In 1985 he formed the band Faster Pussycat. The band released their self-titled debut album in 1987 on the same day Guns N Roses released ‘Appetite For Destruction’ and the rest, as they say, is history. The bands toured the UK together ending with an epic night at the world-famous Hammersmith Odeon along with The Quireboys.  whilst Guns were being touted as the most dangerous band in the world and Appetite was hailed as the greatest Rock album for decades – As good as Appetite was those clued in would agree that it was that self-titled Faster Pussycat record that really stood the test of time and is head and shoulders the better of the two.  I know its not a competition but whilst Guns n Roses played stadiums Faster Pussycat never achieved such riches.

Faster Pussycat were signed to Elektra Records and sold over 500,000 copies of 1989’s follow up ‘Wake Me When It’s Over’ and had hit singles like ‘.House Of Pain’ and ‘Poison Ivy’. MTV was good to Faster Pussycat who waited three years to follow up with a third the much-maligned ‘Whipped’ which was a lot better than the band got credit for with the single ‘Nonstop To Nowhere’  it also had some great tracks although quite diverse in style ‘Friends’ and the excellent ‘Jack The Bastard’. The band then dropped off a cliff and weren’t heard of for what seemed like an age.

In the interim Downe went on to form The Newlydeads for which he wrote and produced. Around 1998, he opened his own club, called The Pretty Ugly Club, with co-owner JD Terziu, and the club achieved the same level of success as The Cathouse, the club Taime had formerly run with Riki Rachtman at the height of Faster Pussycat and Guns upward trajectory. Taime has also been the promoter of other clubs in L.A. such as Thunder Pussy and Pretty Pussy. He also was the DJ at Metal Skool with Josh Richman as the MC.

The Newlydeads were a different beast and the music landscape had changed since Downe burst on the scene with his sleazy band of brothers.  it was now 1997 and with a more industrial edge and not afraid to push the boundaries Downe hooked up with Kyle K formerly of Bang Tango the band was probably best known for their exceptional cover of ‘Cities In Dust’.  A year later they revisited the album with ‘Re-bound’ made up of remixes before recording ‘Dead End’ in 2001.

Downe Resurrected Faster Pussycat with a fucked-up industrial mash-up of classic Faster Pussycat tracks that left the songs almost unrecognisable along with a really messed up cover of ‘I Was Made For Loving You’ and one new track entitled ‘Blood’. to be fair to Downe he kept the name alive touring every shit hole in Europe and the USA with a new line up of the band they went on to record ‘The Power And The Glory Hole’ which had the tribute to Bianca from Betty Blowtorch who lost her life under tragic circumstances  they also included a great version of ‘shut Up And Fuck’.

there were wars of words with members of the original line up and patched up friendships along the road. Downe has had some health issues in recent years but looks healthy and has quit the cigarettes and looks and sounds like he’s wound the clock back.  Happy Birthday Taime Downe you still rock and RPM love Ya man! So don’t change that song!

SMALLTOWN TIGERS unveil video for ‘Just Friends’.

SMALLTOWN TIGERS unveil video for ‘Just Friends’.
Italian upstarts SMALLTOWN TIGERS have just unveiled the video for their debut single ‘Just Friends’.
The release comes just in time for their first ever UK dates which kick off on Thursday 10 October in Southend and include an appearance at Loud Women’s 4th Birthday Party at London’s iconic Hope & Anchor venue.

Hailing from the Adriatic resort of Rimini, the Tigers hit the road last Spring for a tour with NYC powerpoppers Baby Shakes, and have been preparing their debut album for release in the New Year. The album was produced by blues-punk guru Stiv Cantarelli (Silent Strangers, J.D. Hangover) with the tracks mastered for release by legendary Detroit producer Jim Diamond (White Stripes, Dirtbombs, Sonics).

Smalltown Tigers play the following dates…

Thurs 10 Oct – The Railway Hotel, Southend-on-Sea

Fri 11 Oct – The Shacklewell Arms, Dalston, London (w/ The Speedways)

Sat 12 Oct – The Hope & Anchor, Islington, London (Loud Women 4th Birthday – onstage 5pm)

Sat 12 Oct – Biddle Bros, Clapton, London (w/ The Dublo)

Out now, ‘Just Friends’ is available from Bandcamp and all the usual digital platforms.

Gun Announce Best of and tour Dates

Gun Announce Best of and tour Dates

Scottish rock veterans GUN are thrilled to announce the release of their best of album “R3L0ADED”, due out on 29thNovember via Silver Lining Music. In addition the band will launch the first single “Superstition”.

“R3L0ADED” is a real declaration of intent. GUN are looking to the road ahead, to new challenges, unfulfilled ambitions. While the album is a celebration of the band’s illustrious past, it also forcibly underlines that their focus is fixed firmly on the future. There’s a real feeling of optimism and creativity… of so much more to be achieved.

Whilst celebrating the 30thAnniversary of “Taking On The World”, the band’s 1989 debut album, the double record gathers in one collection GUN’s best singles, taken from their award-winning career spanning three decades. “R3L0ADED” is presented as a double album, Disc 1 features singles from the band’s seven albums, such as first chart hit ’Better Days’ (1989), ‘Steal Your Fire’ (1992), ‘Don’t Say It’s Over’ (1994) and ‘Favourite Pleasures’ (2017).

Guitarist Giuliano “Jools” Gizzi comments: “R3L0ADED is a collection of our best singles.  We wrote a bunch of songs – the best we could do and had no idea if they’d be successful or if people would connect with them.” He then continues: “They are the soundtrack to a lot of good times and bad.  Now, people come up to us to say how these songs have touched them or made an impact, however small, in their lives. In 1989, we WERE taking on the world. We still are.”

Frontman Dante Gizzi adds: “Taking On The World really put us on the map.  Thirty years ago, our dream was simply to sign a record deal, release an album and maybe go on tour, no more than that. So it’s great to recognise something which means so much to us, and also to the people who have stayed with us over the years.“

Disc 2 is a collection of cover songs, which includes ‘Word Up’ by Cameo (1986), for which the band won the prestigious MTV Europe Music Award for Best Cover.  The band have recorded new versions of ‘Every 1’s A Winner’ by Hot Chocolate (1978), ‘(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)’ by The Beastie Boys (1986), ‘Union City Blue’ by Blondie (1979), ‘Rock The Casbah’ by The Clash (1982), ‘Everybody Knows’ by Dixie Chicks (2006), ‘Diamonds’ by Rihanna (2012) and ‘Take Me To Church’ by Hozier (2013).  Firm proof GUN can also pull some real musical aces from the pack are the inclusion of the classic ‘Superstition’ by Stevie Wonder (1972) and ‘Success’ by Iggy Pop (1977).

Jools reveals: “These tracks are our favourite songs by acts we’ve grown up with.  But we tried not to pick the obvious ones. Our aim was to make heavy rock versions of these great songs.  It’s what we do.  It’s become one of our strengths both live and in the studio.”

Dante continues: “There are many people out there who still want to hear GUN… We have an incredibly loyal fan base, so we owe it to them – as well as ourselves – to keep shooting for goal. Everything is a challenge or a pressure… but it’s a good challenge or a good pressure.  We’ve never had it any other way.  You always want to march on.  But the feeling is that there is still so much more to be done.  We’re far from finished.  R3L0ADED is just the beginning… the start of a new chapter.”

To coincide with the album release and the 30thanniversary of seminal debut album “Taking On The World”, the band will embark on a full UK tour alongside other two rock legendary names: FM and Dan Reed Network.

The Big 3-0 Tour Dates
9thDecember – Bristol – o2 Academy
10thDecember – Southampton – Engine Rooms
11thDecember – London – o2 Shepherds Bush Empire
13thDecember – Wolverhampton – KK’s Steel Mill
14thDecember – Norwich – LCR UEA
15thDecember – Nottingham – Rock City
17thDecember Newcastle – o2 Academy
18thDecember – Leeds – o2 Academy
20thDecember – Manchester – Academy 2
21stDecember – Glasgow – Barrowland

The Bar Stool Preachers, Rich Ragany & The Digressions, Social Experiment Sat 21st Sept Clwb Ifor Bach

The Bar Stool Preachers, Rich Ragany & The Digressions, Social Experiment Sat 21st Sept Clwb Ifor Bach

Social Experiment hit the stage at the early time of seven-fifteen due to Cardiff seemingly giving up its city to the busiest night in a long time as the Stadium Across the road having seventy thousand petrol heads in for a show but the clued in people of South Wales braved the gridlock for the main event happening on one side of Womanby Street. Puddle is quite the striking frontman with his wonderfully pert mowhawk as he belted out the words to their songs stalking the front of the stage like a caged beast the four-piece sound tight and deliver their hardcore punk with gusto.  Tackling social issues and hammering out tracks drawn from their most excellent album ‘Rumours Of Our Demise Are Not Greatly Exaggerated’. The only local boys on tonight’s bill kick things off with a really impressive set they’re hard to ignore and certainly prove to be a tasty chaser for tonights session.

 

Rich Ragany and The Digressions have battled horrendous motorway traffic and vuvuzela brandishing speedway maniacs to make their Welsh debut tonight. So, after all that just as they launch into the sublime late summer sounds of ‘Little Let Down’ and guitarist Gaff’s amp decides to go up in flames, I must admit my heart kind of sinks a little bit for them.

Fear not though (power)pop pickers as after a quick on-stage tactical reshuffle this little hiccup is quickly put to one side and the remaining Digressers set about delivering a finely woven set of songs largely drawn from the ‘Like We’ll Never Make It’ album, Rich’s debut solo release.

Highlights? Well, there’s the rambunctious ‘Scotty Thompson’ which crops up mid-set, which is a song that could very easily out Cockney tonight’s headliners in its composition. Then there’s the bristling energy of ‘Your Distance’ where Rich along with rhythm guitarist Kit Swing combine their voices to lift even the hardest of hearts in attendance tonight.

Having already supported the likes of alt-rock legends The Lemonheads and The Rolling Stones buddies The Dirty Strangers it’s easy to see why Rich Ragany and The Digressions have such a broad church appeal and I must admit I was enjoying myself so much along with most of the rest of the audience that I didn’t really scribble down anything else. Then again isn’t this what Saturday nights are supposed to be all about?

With the good decision to take this to the main room it was time for headliners The Bar Stool Preachers to stand tall and show the good people of this city exactly what all the fuss is about.  Without fanfare they didn’t so much hit the stage but gave it a right seeing to with a size ten. The energy and enjoyment oozing from the band is a joy to see and they waste no time at all winning the crowd over who have come to dance and have a seriously good time.

Without the blink of an eye this (now) five piece really work the stage and audience alike and their love of the music wins over even the hardest cynic and with ‘One Fool Down’ coming fairly early on in the set is a real blast.  There are plenty of people singing every word as the songs from their first two studio albums get peeled off the bands hard work ethic is really paying off as they might be a guitar lite they are still tighter than a pair of soaking wet rizlas the three out front lock-in and move like its been choreographed or rather a well-oiled machine who’ve toured their backsides off in Europe and America over the last few years.

There was time for a few new songs as well which even on first or second time of hearing already sound like the band has taken another step up the ladder thats not to say songs of the first two are weak because they are absolutely not but this is shaping up to be next level stuff. older sounds are welcomed like old mates songs like ‘Ballad Of The M1’ and ‘Start New’ are fresh and ‘DLTDHYOTWO’ sounded magnificent and Tom was (Bar Stool) preaching to converted as he expressed his feelings towards the current unwanted encombant of Number 10.  It’s great to hear a band so driven and right up for it and bloody well enjoying every second of their journey and its a journey I’m more than happy to jump on board with.  One of the best bands the UK has to offer right now and if you get the chance to see them play a club show anytime soon then take it because when the next album comes out you’ll be having to see them headline venues the size of the University across town and who knows from there.

One of the most enjoyable night’s entertainment for a long long time with three quite different bands but all with a common bond – they love music and play with their hearts on their sleeves and leave nothing behind (well apart from a Bass guitar), They have something to say and say it well – with passion, conviction and enthusiasm that’s infectious and great to see.

This was The Bar Stool Preachers third time in South Wales and their first headline show and they totally owned it and looked so comfortable like they’d been headlining for years and years.  Come the revolution if there’s to be a soundtrack then these boys will provide it.

Author: Dom Daley & Johnny Hayward (who reviewed Rich Ragany)

JUNKYARD “Old Habits Die Hard” CD/LP/T-Shirt Bundle Pre-sale!

JUNKYARD “Old Habits Die Hard” CD/LP/T-Shirt Bundle Pre-sale!
Acetate Records unleashes Junkyard’s previously unreleased 1992 album “Old Habits Die Hard” on November 22!
“Junkyard is not a band from the 80s. Junkyard is not a band from the 90s. Junkyard is pure kick-ass bar-hopping motorcycle-ridin’ rock n roll that seems as relevant today as when they first started.” – Riki Rachtman

Junkyard opens the vault and blows the dust off a killer collection of recordings slated as the follow up to 1991’s “Sixes, Sevens and Nines.” Guitarist Brian Baker’s (Bad Religion, Minor Threat) opening riff serves up the concoction of raucous, bittersweet, bloozy rock that follows. Loose and tight in good measure, with stomping beats and dual guitars zigzagging around David Roach’s raspy howl… make no bones about it – this band could play.
The strut and swagger of “Pushed You Too Far” and the soulful “Tried & True” are balanced by the slow, dirge of “Blue Sin” and the melancholic duet “Hangin’ Around With My Dreams.” “Old Habits” recalls everything from Sticky Fingers-era Stones and ZZ Top to the Ramones and Lynyrd Skynyrd (who they toured with in ’91). More than anything else, though, it sounds like Junkyard.
Back in 1992, Junkyard was a well-oiled machine, their previous two releases performed well, they had multiple videos in rotation on MTV, and successful club and arena tours under their belt. Looking to infuse more of their musical sensibilities into their third effort, they began writing and recording and in a short few months, they had compiled over 20 songs. The new material reflected more of their alt/punk roots, which wasn’t much of a directional change considering their strong punk pedigree.
But the major label’s rush to jump on the next “popular music trend” quickly led to Junkyards demise. “At this point, Nirvana’s “Nevermind” album had been out a few months and we all kinda knew which way the wind was blowing,” singer David Roach recalls, “we didn’t really ‘officially’ break up as a band, it was as simple as the party’s over.” So, with zero fanfare, the band members signed their release paperwork from Geffen (a whopping 2 page fax), gathered their gear and parted ways… the tapes were left to gather dust in the vaults.
Twenty years later, Geffen re-released the first two Junkyard albums and once again, the band was in demand. Tours of Japan and Europe followed, including a headlining slot at Serie Z Festival in Spain, and the band started writing again. In early 2017, Junkyard released “High Water”, their first full-length album in 26 years on LA indie, Acetate Records. The album peaked at 24 on Billboard’s Hard Rock Charts and Junkyard once again played to packed houses across America and Europe. With the band back in form, it seemed like the right time to dust of the tapes.
“Old Habits Die Hard” pretty well summarizes where the band was at the time,” Roach continues, “The addition of Tim Mosher (yes, way back then) brought another element to what Chris Gates and I had been doing. So it was the hard rock, blues, southern thing plus some more melodic and punk which was also a natural course considering where we came from.”
“During the months we recorded these songs we were in various stages of dealing with Geffen. Trying to write a single, but also trying to not care and write for ourselves. The songs indicate the direction we were ultimately not able to take until all these years later.”
“Old Habit’s Die Hard” will be released via streaming, CD and ‘Beer’ colored vinyl on November 22, 2019. A limited number of signed LPs will also be available via acetate.com.

A limited number of signed LPs will also be available!

Track Listing:
1. Introduction
2. Pushed You Too Far
3. Out Cold
4. Tried & True
5. Fall To Pieces
6. Blue Sin
7. Holdin’ On
8. Staredown
9. I Come Crawling
10. Hangin’ Around
11. Take Me Home
12. One Foot In The Grave

Tyla is kept busy making records in time for Christmas

Tyla is kept busy making records in time for Christmas

New Releases for Pre-order!

A new single, mini-album and live release all coming soon from Tyla’s Dogs D’Amour… Keeping himself and his band out of trouble by writing and recording new music Tyla is set to put out a single – ‘(Everybody needs) A Friend’ From the Brillo new forthcoming ‘Jack O’Byte Bluesy’ album plus 3 live Tracks from the recent 2 London Shows (2019) ‘111’ (Electric), ‘Bullet Proof Poet’ and ;Angel, (full band Acoustic) that won’t be on the ‘In Vino Verilivicus’ 2 disc DVD/CD. release.

 

 

 

‘Jack O’Byte Bluesy’ PRE ORDER (Release November 2019) .. This album has a Heavy Bluesy feel..
Relase date for Shops Nov.15th….but you’ll have them before…he says!!..if you pre order

 

 

Then to round it all off just in time for Christmas maybe for Santa to empty his sack when he’s dived down yer chimney and drunk yer red ‘In Vino Verilivicus MMXIX’

A 2 Discs – 1DVD 1CDs Filmed over 2 nights (August 2019) from Acoustic and the Electric sets. Features songs from Graveyard and In Vino…plus all the old favourites..
PRE ORDER…Release December 2019

Tyla’s Art Tavern