Of all the bands that I miss seeing live in these days of gig drought, Giuda are top of the list. Luckily, I saw them three times before moving to France. A guaranteed great night out, and always a friendly atmosphere. For me, there are two types of great live bands; the ragged, seat-of-the-pants variety, and the ones who manage to replicate their studio sound onstage. Giuda are clearly in the latter category, but lose none of their power in doing so.
So, the logical step was to release a live album. Thanks to Punk Rock Raduno Records, in collaboration with Wild Honey/Striped Records, there is a limited (probably sold out) run of 300 vinyl copies in black, pink or white. No details of a CD release yet. For once, I’m thankful for streaming services! If you can get yer mitts on a copy, have at it and quickly.
This is a fantastic sounding set of the “hits”; a smorgasbord of delights for the ardent Giuda fan. 14 songs at just over 40 minutes, from the opening salvo of ‘Tartan Pants’ and ‘Back Home’ to ‘Teenage Rebel’, ‘No.10’ and ‘Wild Tiger Woman’. Even ‘Interplanetary Craft’ is improved in concert. The Raduno punk rock festival in Bergamo, Italy, has been going since 2016, the next one is due 14-17th July. Giuda will be back on the road from 12th May in France, maybe I’ll get a chance to see them again. If not, this is as close as you’ll get to the real thing. So, turn it up, get your thumbs in your belt loops and get with it!
First up today we have this banger from Streetwalkin’ Mofos feat. Matt Dangerfield. Streetwalkin’ Mofos is the brainchild of filmmaker Danny Garcia and Joe Klenner (Corazones Muertos). While staying in Sao Paulo during the pandemic, Danny and Joe recruited a few local musicians to record a punk rock album of covers that range from The Boys (“Living in the City”) to Black Flag’s “Wasted”, Elvis Presley’s “Burning Love” or Iggy Pop’s “Houston is Hot Tonight”.
“It’s basically a collection of some of my favorite tunes since I was a kid’ says Garcia before he adds: “but we tried to include as many collaborations as we could”. So in this album you’ll find the legendary Jayne County & A.M. Taylor (on Iggy’s track), Deadbeat Poets (on Paul Collins Beat’s “Walking Out On Love”), The Only Ones’ John Perry (on “Everyone’s a Fool”), Testors’ Sonny Vincent on “Wasted”, The Jetz (“If That’s What You Really Want”), Alabama 3’s Nick Reynolds (on The Romantics’ classic “What I Like About You”), The Boys’ Matt Dangerfield (“Living in the City”), Kill My Coquette’s Natalie Denise Sperl (“Burning Love”) and Brazil’s Luvbites (on Sylvain Sylvain’s “The Kids Are Back”) and Os Roucos’ (on The Nerves’ “Paper Dolls”).
Bristol-based punk-rock three-piece Trashed release their single ‘Decay’ this weekend (April 29th), taken from their debut full-length album ‘Happy In Hindsight’ due later this year.
The trio take energetic punk rock and down-tune it to Slipknot depths, creating sludgy and visceral edges tied together with hooky melodies. The band slammed onto the scene with their debut single ‘Waste Away’ from their subsequent debut EP ‘Yours Not Mine’ in 2019, which was met with critical acclaim and saw them play a handful of successful UK shows, making a name for themselves as ones to watch, before the release of their second EP ‘Faceplant’ came in the Spring of 2020.
With a 2020 full of potential ripped out from under them, the stresses of the pandemic were potent. That, mixed with a flurry of mental health issues for vocalist Jimmy, saw Trashed turn their isolation into a concept album of expression, writing eleven tracks about all aspects of their personal struggles with depression, anxiety, love, and loss.
Decay, the first single from the band’s upcoming debut album ‘Happy in Hindsight’, recorded with Neil D. Kennedy (Creeper, Boston Manor, Milk Teeth), is a song about living alongside suicidal thoughts.
Next up is bullshit-free Oz Hard Rockers riffing it up on ‘Preacher
Following their much-acclaimed, third album Never Say Die (2018), Melbourne-based hard rock act DEAD CITY RUINS has premiered a music video for the high voltage, new single “Preacher“!
Formed in 2010, the Australians sold their belongings and went all-in when it comes to rock ’n’ roll. Tirelessly touring the planet, the band has managed to capture the hearts of its audience gig by gig – much like Rival Sons, Monster Truck, and similar trailblazers of their generation have. They also share a list of influences with these acts, namely Deep Purple, Guns N’ Roses, Zeppelin. Their goal: bring rock ’n’ roll back to the people!
Getting over the bridge seems to be hit or miss these days with it being shut what seems like every other day Jay should bring the band back to its roots and when it was moved from The Louisiana to the Exchange, maybe Le Pub in The ‘Port would have been better seeing as there were more people from South Wales in attendance than Bristolians. Anyway, I digress. After getting this Fortieth Anniversary tour underway in the very worst possible way by having their van nicked, all the gear and merch, it seemed the Gods were out to test the band’s resolve. Judging by tonight’s evidence it would seem nothing was going to stop the fearsome foursome from delivering the goods – not Covid, not venue changes, not van stealing, not chest infections, not nothing, nada, nowt!
Jay seemed particularly chatty and the band sounded relaxed and enjoying being out amongst it. James and Smiley had only just jumped off the Alarm Tour and hopped on this quick rattle around the UK before heading stateside. They were battle-ready and had warmed up and had something of a pre-season if you like. Jay wearing a splendid new shirt for the night made his apology about his vocal challenges but it wasn’t needed, the sound was excellent in the venue which has had a couple of upgrades post lockdown which will serve them well.
Getting proceedings underway with a crystal clear and well oiled ’20 Killer Hurts’ From the “Big Commercial Breakthrough” album ‘The House Of Dolls’ they then went deep with a track off Jay’s solo album ‘Unpopular Songs’ that appeared on ‘VII’ A really underrated song from a really good album (both the solo and ‘VII’). It was also good to hear ‘World Gone Crazy’ dedicated to what’s going on in Eastern Europe from the ‘Dancing Underwater’ album. As I said earlier Jay was on form tonight, indulging in banter with members of the audience and his bandmates it made for a more intimate and warm evening’s entertainment. ‘Cow’, was excellent and somber and fittingly dedicated to the people of Ukraine. Their first ever single ‘Bruises’, rubbed shoulders with the more commercial ‘Break The Chains’ where with some fine fretwork from messers Stevenson and Risso the band jammed out the songs as much for their own enjoyment it seemed with Pete Rizzo and Smiley locking in really well. You could be forgiven for thinking they’d been a cohesive solid unit for the 40 years.
In a shorter set than last time they were in this City over in the Fleece, what seems like a lifetime ago now it was wonderful to hear ‘Motion Of Love’ which as you’d expect went down really well all around the venue as people began to warm up and then we had the fake encore, rather than mover through the audience to go upstairs and then come back down it was an encore/no encore where the band played a really impressive ‘Steven’ before signing off with ‘Desire’. Another flawless set of songs old and new played by a band who clearly love their art and deliver it in spades every time even under the most difficult of circumstances. As we made the journey home it wasn’t long before we wondered why they didn’t play this and that and hopefully next time they will.
Another night out watching some top-notch Goth ‘n’ Roll that’s been almost two years in the waiting didn’t disappoint.
In a week where I’ve seen The Mission, Salvation, Rose Of Avalanche, The Alarm, and now Gene Loves Jezebel is it really 2022? Good times until next time.
OK, so what are we calling noisy Rock n Roll these days? Punk n Roll? Action Rock? Deathpunk? Nah who gives a shiny shit if it’s loud N Rockin’ then let’s just call it what Lemmy called Motorhead Loud Rock n Roll. That’ll do for me and I guess it’ll do for The Brokendolls as well. Because they play loud (i guess) and it’s definitely Rock n Roll.
IT has its roots straddled from the Northern fields of Scandi Rock al A Backyard Babies (early Babies please) and some hard Rock from whatever continent you care to associate with loud guitars, punk rock and a taste for leather jackets and tattoos. The record kicks off in style from the mellow beginnings of ‘Snakecharmer’ with the melodramatic dueling guitars twisting their way into your brain before falling into line Thin Lizzy style and rockin’ like fuck! into a more Zugly territory with ‘No Return’ its like a barking dog of a tune. With a good hook on the chorus and some shit-kicking verses.
Their off into some sort of groove with ‘I Am Right’ with the gang vocals packing a punch it reminds me of Radio Dead Ones which, believe me, is a great place to be. From here on it’s pretty relentless with a pounding rhythm and confrontational vocals wrapping themselves around an intense temp and plenty of big chorus gang vocals to be getting on with.
There’s plenty of groove on ‘Weer All Crazee Now’ from the vocals to the snarling guitars its striding several genres from the hard rock zero fucks given through the punk n roll that needs to be heard live in a sweaty club with a loud PA. If that’s not possible then shove this on your stereo and turn the fucker up.
It’s got tunes to get the adrenalin going and your heart pumping hard ‘You Will Always Walk Alone’ is a good case in point from the Rock riff to the throwback solo and the hard rock stabs before getting back into the gang vocals to take this fucker home.
I do like the twisted song titles where they bastardize classic titles much like Zugly do and ‘I Love Myself For Hating you’. Then it was done. A short but sweet slab of noise that will please those searching for a new (ish) band they can get behind that loves rocking out and doing it with attitude. Get on it kids it’s a banger!
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