It’s only May, yet it’s hard to keep count of the great albums released this year. As one of my favourite bands is King Salami, it’s no surprise that the debut from Martin Savage And The Jiggerz is up my street, featuring as it does the rhythm section of The Cumberland Three. The energy levels are similar, but this is twelve slices of barbed, garage rock.
‘Between The Lines’ races out of the starting blocks, like early Brian James. ‘On The Run’ doesn’t let up, veering close to the edge of the fretboard, complete with handclaps and police sirens. This, along with ‘Out Of This World’ is reminiscent of the great Larry Wallis, so, if that’s your bag, dive in. It sounds like the album was recorded in a day, a compliment in my opinion. “In, out, put the kettle on” as Monkfish used to say. And, indeed, much like ‘The Fast Show’, there’s no superfluous stuff here; fast, sharp, short songs that fly past.
‘Next In Line’ boogies at a now-expected frantic speed, and it’s on to ‘Eyes Of A Blind Man’ with no time to spare and some wailing harmonica. Put simply, if you like one song, you’ll like them all. ‘Fly By Night’ wouldn’t shame Johnny Thunders. Uncle Dom and I were saying only the other day that very few bands manage to pull off the ‘L.A.M.F’ sound convincingly, but this is an exception.
Single ‘Down The Line’ is slightly more laid back, before ‘Fast And Loose’ is exactly that. ‘On The Corner’ gives Wild Billy Childish a run for his money, and ‘Boomerang’ will hit you in the head.
What more do you want? If infectious, raucous garage rock is your thing, get your preorder in now.
Manchester England, Wet (often) Grey Northern you know all those stereotypes yet the birthplace of Joy Division and The Smiths as well as The Happy Mondays and The Cult the home of some pretty bloody good music diverse, creative and memorable. The latest you should be aware of happens to be the excellent The Empty Page, The band has been around for a while and the two protagonists were part of Obsessive Compulsive prior to that and that was many moons ago. Plying their trade out of Manchester England they peddle a gritty post-alternative sound leaning on the likes of Sonic Youth less the more pretentious edges and their souls are filled with good honest Mancurian perceptions for whats going on around them and in the wider world. The lyrics are personal yet for everyone, they draw you in and make you feel welcome and dress it up in some great songs. ‘Imploding’ looks and sounds like it’s been a labour of love and had to come out in exactly the shape and form they intended and to the best of their ability or not bother to release it at all. These songs are honest and brimming with confidence and putting so much heart and soul into a record has paid off. If only all records could sound this authentic and full of quality music.
Their unwavering belief in what they do is infectious and heartwarming but the bottom line is the music warrants such levels of self-belief. the Empty Page ‘Imploding’ Is a worthy contender and full of great songs. Enough of my waffling let the music begin and wash over me.
The album opens with the bright ‘Dry Ice’ with its thumping wholesome Bassline and steady beat, Kel sounds fantastic both on Bass and the vocal is superb coming on as if Polly Jane Harvey had been on a steady diet of Alt Rock and wanted to cut loose and record an expansive loud record. This is the perfect opener with so much going on sonically it fills your heart with love for music.
One of the first songs I heard off the record is the excellent attitude-heavy ‘Cock Of The Fifth Year’ with its fuzzed-out guitar and thumping rhythm section driving the song right to the pleasure part of your brain. There is so much going on in the song from the great lyrics dripping with attitude as Kel screams “Its A Sense OF Entitlement” Something a lot of us can associate with this song is a blast as it comes to a screeching halt it’s only a couple of songs in and already you can hear that The Empty PAge have stepped up to the mic and forged one hell of an impressive record.
They’ve really nailed that warm Bass and electronic drum sound on the opening of ‘Life Is A Wave’ a song that sounds so focused and well written it’s a sidestep from the previous two tracks and one that showcases Kels vocals.
Sure the band lean on what they clearly love (90s Alt Rock) but they sound modern and marry it so well with where they’re from and what’s influenced them to this point and what continues to influence them. ‘Medication Nation’ is thumping whilst the more ambient and moody ‘I’m A White Hot Blade (Witches Are Wicked)’ on the verse building to the chorus that’s got hints of old Radiohead in how it soars then drops. the band have clearly been paying attention to the music that has influenced them and washed it into their DNA rather than ape what might sound good.
Side two opens with ‘Gorge (Oh Well)’ an uptempo steady rocker whilst ‘Level Sedentary’ is an off-kilter slice of American Alt Rock with the electric guitar at odd with the spoken vocals all pulling in the same direction its caustic yet calming and charming a mighty fine departure. ‘Big Nasty Palpitations’ sounds so Manchester to my ears mashing up everything that poured out of the fine City in the last 40 years from the driving rhythm to the pulsating synth to the chiming big guitars coming at you from all directions.
‘Leaf Thin’ is a welcome more moody darker song with somewhat hushed vocals and well-positioned fuzzed-out string arrangments with a smart ear for the atmospheric break whilst the drums add drama.
I can’t believe we’ve reached the end of the album and the twisted pop of ‘What Happens Now’ closes the record in fine style. Man, what a fantastic album that really takes you on a journey.
I’m not surprised how damn good this album sounds as I’ve always liked what Kel and Giz have done over the years but I am impressed with the overall quality and ebb and flow of the album it is truly on another level to what they’ve produced previously and that’s credit to them for their ability to capture what’s been inside and pour it out onto this record and take their time to offer up the best album they could possibly give and boy have they delivered. Easily one of the finest albums I’ve heard all year no question this will be an end-of-year contender. Buy IT!
Four bands for less than £20 on a Bank Holiday school night I’ll have that especially when it’s Australias Clowns and the last-minute addition of Pizzatramp. Six thirty doors with a star of 6.45 is like a straight edge mega bill set up and only a few minutes late Pizzatramp take to the Exchange stage and proceed to plow through some of their best material and a few new ones. As per Jim is on form as he regales the Bristol crowd with how he’d carry out the demise of Suella Braverman to howls of laughter and much applause. Of course, we’re treated to the awesome ‘There’s Been a Murder’ and the awesome ‘Millions Of Dead Goths’ but it’s the intro and execution of ‘I Do My Own Research’ that gets the biggest cheer and once again Jim is spot on. It’s a short and brief set but it shows the best of Pizzatramp and their on-fire brand of Hardcore. Let’s wait no longer and have a new album of new material please gents. What a way to open a night of loud raucous punk n metal, now follow that!
Skin Failure have the unenviable task of following Pizzatramp and these southern thrashers waste no time in getting down to business and thrashing out. I was unfamiliar with these gents but they certainly do no harm by just turning up turning on and thrashing like fuck. Frontman Will got off the stage and in the pit to engage with the punters as drinks were spilt and bodies began to pile up. Their Slayer meets Power Trip with some municipal Waste thrown into the party is about as Thrash as you can get and they did it so well getting local metal heads out in force seemed like a good choice and to top it off they had some bangers and Will is in possession of one Hell of a thrashers scream at times he was truly remarkable – Great stuff. ‘Meat Pond Down By The River’ and if you doubt me check out ‘Give R By The River As Bridges Fell’ step aside Tom Arayer Will is in Da House.
The main support is the hard rockin’ March from those there Netherlands and a Belgian bass player I believe. Mashing up some hard rock with a bit of punk rock attitude they went about their work with diligence and a professionalism that the previous two bands might have been lacking but for some reason, their set seemed to go on longer and didn’t grab me like the previous two. Maybe its the lack of speed and thrash or that I wasn’t familiar with their music as with Pizzatramp, who knows? That’s not to say they weren’t any good because that wouldn’t be fair they did have some really good tunes. Fleur was a very able frontperson no doubt about it and the musicianship was good with Bass player Jeroen thumping some great runs like ‘All On Red’. ‘Second To Destroy’ and ‘Reapers Delight’ went down really well.
Onto tonight’s headliners and a band I’ve managed to see quite a few times over several of their albums and this is the second time supporting the new ‘Endless’ album and to be fair the highlights of the current set are indeed tracks off the epic album. ‘Formaldehyde’, ‘Deathwish’, and ‘Bisexual Awareness’ are all superb but the show stopper has to be a magnificent ‘I Gotta Knife’. Fear not long-term fans the band still chug out plenty of early tunes from ‘Bad Blood’ and ‘Lucid Again’ and even without Hanny J they are a formidable beast that rocks like fuck and Stevie Williams is still an amazing ball of energy spending time in the audience being carried around or screaming his lungs out its a beautiful thing.
I dare anyone to leave a Clowns show and not be exhilarated with what they’ve just seen and heard and Melbourne has birthed a beast of a hardcore that just seem to get better and better. Catch them in a sweaty club whilst you can – Clowns ain’t no joke they simply rule. Top night even if I didn’t get home until the wee small hours due to cancelled trains and then a train strike taking effect. but boy was it worth it, I’d do it again tomorrow.
Celebrating fifteen years of causing chaos, destruction and raging like Norse Motherfuckiers across the globe and the root of it all is a catalogue of most excellent records and live shows. The Good The Bad And The Zugly have got the lot and to celebrate they’ve released another album choc-o-bloc with bangers.
satirical know-it-all attitude, Lyrics about god knows what and other things I’m still trying to decifer their debut album so fuck knows when I’ll make sense of this one.
What is this Decade of Regression you ask? well, let me introduce you to what the band considers to be their worst record thus far, A collection of B-songs that have never made the list when dropping their previous records. This album is nothing of the sort and I’m sure tongues were firmly in cheeks when suggesting so. the first glimpse was ‘Walk Around The Porridge’ which I’m reliably informed is a Norweigan term for beat around the bush and it’s a belter. When you dig into this album if you’re new to the band (Which is fine) turn the fuckin stereo up and when you’ve done that turn it up a little more. There sitting comfortably then stand and crack open a beer and give themselves up for Zugly because these tunes demand it. Longterm fans will be already aware of the band’s steadfast uncompromising punk rock hardcore attitude and will know that the band are incapable of making bad albums.
Whilst you’re waiting for Turbonegro to wake from their hiatus coma or Gluecifer to make a new record the GBZ has stolen a march to the crown of Scandi punk rock and seem incapable of putting afoot wrong and this is no exception regardless of the press blurb this record rocks like a mofo make no mistake about it from the opening chords to the final thrashing finale GBZ are on it.
You have the solid Rock of ‘Krenk It Up’ channelling DC with some mega Riff-a-Rama or the ripping ‘Clssic Oslo Attitude’ thats the music equivelant to a punch on the nose. ‘A Couple Of Dudes’ is where Turbonegro would be if they were still making music. But my pick o fthe pack is the riot that is ‘Going Postal’ with its gang vocals that even the most drunk dude in the room can get involved with.
Stream it if you have to but buy it on record for the ultimate experience and if they roll into a town near you don’t hesitate to go – they’ll blow your mind its that simple – All hail the Zuglys they rock like fuck! Buy IT!
Listening to the debut album by The Whole Damn Affair (WDA for simplicity’s sake in this review) has reminded me that there is a whole genre of music that has really disappeared from the mainstream over the past 30-plus years. There was a distinct category that we could refer to as rock music, and people would have a general idea of what it might sound like, whether it ranged from the J. Geils Band to Bruce Springsteen to Tina Turner to Bryan Adams. There was a crossover with the likes of George Thorogood & the Destroyers, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, and other similar acts. With all the increased boxes some people have used to label bands, this one really doesn’t get utilized much for new artists with legacy artists being deemed classic rock, nostalgia, etc. So, what does this have to do with WDA? Musically, this is a timeless rock album with very well-crafted songs and excellent use of female backing vocals and horns to enrich them.
With a final track list order still in flux, I am going to run through this version which may or may not end up the official one per Mister Jimmy. Things kick off here with second single ‘Elegant Ruse’ which introduces itself with a cool drum pattern and then some subtle electric guitar. This song has really grown on me with multiple listens. This one utilizes some horn in the verse that is subtle in the mix but really takes a great song to even loftier heights. The hook isn’t over the top but extremely catchy. The build-up in the song turns into a well-done guitar solo and sets up the end to a song that should be dynamite live. Hints of blues and soul fill second song ‘Rid a Me’ with a full dose of character and a great mix of guitar and horns. The female backing vocals here fill out the sound and make sure there is not one wasted second in this song. The bridge again shows the band knows how to create dynamics within songs, and this is another of many favourites on the album for me.
‘Burn Me Down’ reminds me a bit of ‘Sticky Fingers’ era Stones with the instruments all having room to breathe in the mix. The piano works perfectly in the song, and this really could have been a fun straight-ahead rock n roll song for the likes of the Georgia Satellites, Izzy Straddlin, the Poor Boys (remember them?), etc. Vocally, Mister Jimmy sings all the songs here with a smooth delivery that has just the right amount of grit where it doesn’t feel too smooth. Currently placed in the traditional ballad spot, ‘Trouble Again’ slows the tempo a bit with Mister Jimmy channelling some Michael Hutchence in the verses but doesn’t qualify as a ballad. I mentioned it earlier, but WDA makes me want to hear all these songs live. The first single ‘Hard Way Down’ wraps up the first half of the album and is one of my favourite songs over the past several years. I have been living with this album for about a month now, and one of the comparisons that has come to mind for this song goes back to the 90’s band The Loveless that arose from the ashes of the Electric Angels. Where they turned the gloss and pop up for maximum effect, WDA have turned up the rock and soul here. Lyrically, musically- songs really don’t come much better than this for my tastes.
Kicking off the second half of the album (vinyl due later this year), the band keep the momentum moving with ‘A Question Tonight.’ The band again channels soul into their sound with this hook-filled anthem, and the breakdown leads into my favourite guitar solo on the album. The band kick into ‘Falling Apart’ which musically reminds me a bit of Lenny Kravitz and will be a bonus track on the vinyl and a future b-side. Musically, this is probably the heaviest (in the context of these songs) WDA go. I like the way the band fills the mix with the instruments and the backing vocals, but everything is still easy to discern while listening. ‘Fleet Foot Runner” increases the tempo as a straight-ahead rocker but gets a bit overshadowed within the songs on the album. Coming in at a tight two and a half minutes though, I have not skipped this one and find it has grown on me.
Kicking off the final stretch is current single ‘Not Your Fault’ which lyrically is an awesome message from an adult son to his mother who had him as a teenager. Filled with imagery that fuels an already powerful message, WDM pack this song with emotional depth and match it musically with an up-tempo beat. There is an assertiveness musically to ‘Take It Out on Me’ combined with some grit and darkness for a catchy rocker designed to make people move their body. Wrapping up the album is ‘We Don’t Work’ which dials back the intensity and again reminds me a bit of the Stones. The band ends on a high note with the sax work being highlighted.
The Whole Damn Affair have crafted a brilliant album that deserves a wide audience, and I think that can happen if people check it out because I immediately started telling my friends about this band when I heard them. If you want to hear some rock music filled with soul and heart, get this one fired up for a listen and then hopefully buy a copy on vinyl when it becomes available. I know I will.
‘The Whole Damn Affair” is available Digitally May 10th with vinyl coming later this year.
‘Live At The Lexington’ is a limited edition vinyl LP that His Lordship will be selling exclusively on their forthcoming UK tour.
The album was recorded at one of their early live shows back in December 2022 and anyone who was there will remember the electric atmosphere in the room that night. 11 raucous renditions including the previously unavailable live favourite ’Sleepwalk’ plus that evenings special homage to Wilco Johnson ’She Does It Right’. Each ‘Live At The Lexington’ vinyl LP comes with a free CD copy – housed in a printed card sleeve – shrink wrapped inside, so everyone is catered for in one nifty package.
These are limited to 700 copies worldwide and only available on the merch table at our UK shows in May.
Join us for episode 28 where the fun boy three becomes The Four Musketeers as Martin ‘D’Artagnan’ Chamarette joins for some musical nonsense as he picks some top tunes to play on our Podcast in the hop it catches fire and people tune in and enjoy what we have to offer.
This week we have Slade and Sweet from the 70s through to the 00s and beyond as we try and spread the love with our pop picks.
Martin adds to the tapestry with his picks of Jonny Cola & The A Grades as well as Dave Ryder Prangley so hit that link and dive in for some of the best tunes we can offer. As always like – follow and subscribe you know it makes sense.
Join us this week as we walk you through some pretty awesome tunes both old and new. Kicking off with a new song from Rich Ragany and his brand new solo album that’s released in a month but pre-sales are up now from his label Here
We delve back into the 80s for some Sea Hags and a track off their one and only self-titled album before we hit you with a brand new song off the soon-to-be-released Redd Kross double album! Yes Double. Pre Orders Here
We just keep giving. Try some Scandinavian Glunk in the shape of Leaded Fuel next before we offer some Ultrabomb who also have a new album on pre-sales.
Does anyone remember Electric Angels? well, we do and this is their Drinking Song the band was the springboard for Ryan Roxie who is currently playing with Alice Cooper. Fancy some cock Rock courtesy of CC from Poison? Hotshot did which is why we played a song from his project Samantha 7 with a track called ‘Framed’. We dug up a classic Fallen Angels track off that debut album because it’s one of those criminally underrated records that deserve to have more ears on it so here’s ‘Dagger In My Heart’.
In the 80s NYC dished up some sleazy rock n roll in the shape of Uncle Sam and a track off the ‘Heaven Or Hollywood’ record as we ‘Live For The Day’. Hotshot offers up Jizzy Pearls Love HAte and ‘Spinning Wheel’ which is quickly followed by the epic Warfare with ‘ Noise Filth and Fury’ that was the ultimate MEtal/punk crossover that paved the way for the likes of Midnight and they had a fan in Lemmy. So what’s not to like?
We heard of the recent passing of Jock from X-Ray Eyes so we played ‘Blind Sniper’ off the band’s latest release, Rest in Peace Jock.
Mo Bergs The Pursuit Of Happiness popped into my head earlier this week and I couldn’t get this banger out of my brain. ‘I’m An Adult Now’ is a stone wall classic. The Daniel James Gang offer some ‘Misery’ right from the sleazy side of the Replacements pocket and we love that, we also love some Indonesian Junk as well but they’re for a later episode so this banger will do for now.
We head into the home straight with a track off the RSD album from Dead Horse a band made up of a Damned, Sex Pistol, Generation X and twenty Flight Rocker that you should have picked up on RSD 2024 if you have any self respect, if not fear not we can sort you out with one of the tracks here.
Crazyhead released one of the singles ever and most definitely one of the best titled songs ever and we bring yo the original version from the 12″ not the overproduced album take which is still great but not as good as this version.
If you stick around with this episode we bring yo the mighty Scott Drake and a track called ‘Champagne On Ice’ a much underrated artist who is currently tearing it up with Guerrilla Teens a band you should also check out. We sign off Episode 27 with some Garage Rock from the awesome Suicide Generation and ‘Prisoner Of Love’ so until next time stay tuned and like-share-follow the RPM Online Podcast – It’s A Revolution
Millie Manders and The Shutup will conclude their Angry Side tour with a date at London Downstairs @ The Dome on Thursday 16 May which will also feature an exclusive opening acoustic set of unreleased songs from the band’s forthcoming second album Wake Up, Shut Up, Work.
The band recently announced that the album will be released on 2 August on vinyl, CD and all major download and streaming platforms.
Following their rapturously received and predominantly sold out Angry Side tour throughout April, MILLIE MANDERS AND THE SHUT UP are now preparing for the final date at DOWNSTAIRS @ THE DOME in LONDON on THURSDAY 16 MAY. The London show will include an exclusive opening acoustic set of unreleased songs from the band’s forthcoming second album – WAKE UP, SHUT UP, WORK – to be released on 2 August 2024 and support on the night will come from VOODOO RADIO. TICKETS
WAKE UP, SHUT UP, WORK – the eagerly awaited follow up to their acclaimed debut Telling Truths, Breaking Ties – is available to preorder on vinyl and CD here: https://linktr.ee/milliemanders
Talking about the new album, Millie Manders says:
“Our sophomore album has been so much more collaborative as a band, and it’s been a really wonderful process in terms of expansion and evolution of our sound while maintaining a lot of what we have already put out on Telling Truths, Breaking Ties. It’s also been a great opportunity to bond as musicians, writing in rooms together in blocks over the last year or so. We are all so proud of what we have achieved, and we all hope that Wake Up, Shut Up, Work has a similarly warm reception when it’s released into the world.”
In 1990, the Quireboys released their debut album ‘A Bit Of What You Fancy’. An album that brought British rock’n’roll to the attention of virtually every country in the world. This was no overnight success though, as the band had worked tirelessly, touring every club and venue up and down the country, paying their dues, and learning their craft. Their hard work finally paid off.
The debut album made them the second biggest selling band of the year on EMI / Parlophone, and with one of the world’s biggest managers, Sharon Osborne, together with Rod McSween at ITB agency, the Quireboys toured the globe, not only playing their own sold out shows, but also as special guests on stadium tours to artists such as the Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Guns’n’Roses, Aerosmith, and Bon Jovi, to name a few, the list could go on endlessly, just as the band have continued endlessly themselves.
At the start of every show, even since the beginning, you’ll hear Spike proclaim, ‘WE’RE THE QUIREBOYS AND THIS IS ROCK’N’ROLL’. Everyone knows this is the invitation to get the party started, have a great evening of music, and to clap your hands and stamp your feet. Songs that make you laugh, make you cry, and all emotions in between. Old friends will be there, new ones are made, plus, as is now legendary, you’ll be able to meet the band at the bar. All the emotions of a Quireboys show are to be found on the new album ‘Wardour Street’, due for release this coming September 13th via Cadiz Music. There are songs that will make you want to rock’n’roll, there are also songs from the heart, to make you laugh, love and cry, which is fitting, as the album is dedicated to the band’s co-founder, and best friend, the legend that was Guy Bailey, rock n’ roll personified!
So, who did the Quireboys ask to step in on guitar for the new album and shows this year? Only a legend could grace the position of another legend, who else could they turn to, other than their great friend Luke Morley, who kindly agreed to help out while Thunder are on hiatus. Luke has also produced the new album.
On May 24th the Quireboys will release a new single from the album titled ‘Raining Whiskey’ that features the vocals of Scottish singer and songwriting legend Frankie Miller.
“Let’s cut to the chase, Frankie Miller is the singer’s singer, and the songwriter’s songwriter,” explains Spike. “Just ask Sir Rod Stewart, Willie Nelson, Elton John, Joe Walsh, the list is endless, even Ray Charles had a hit with one of his songs.
“I first met Frankie at the Brit awards in 1993, the year The Faces performed with Bill Wyman on bass,” continues Spike. “It was both an honour, and a shock when Frankie came up to me and congratulated me on the Quireboys success, and as we got talking, we hit it off straight away.”
In 2014 Spike released the album ‘100% Pure Frankie Miller’, a collection of Frankie’s songs reimagined by Spike and mutual friends Luke Morley, Simon Kirke, Ian Hunter, Andy Fraser, Bonnie Tyler, Ronnie Wood, Mark Stanway, Tyla Pallas etc.
“There were enough songs to last a lifetime and I put my heart and soul into listening to them all. It was an incredible journey into how he wrote songs, and how a chorus could become a verse, then that chorus become a bridge into another melody under the same chords. How not to over sing, when to over sing, but most of all write from your heart, from the first person, but also how to write in the third person. So hard to explain.
“And now, years later, going through the new songs I’d written for the new Quireboys album ‘Wardour Street’, with Luke Morley, he asked whatever happened to the song ‘Raining Whiskey’. I told him I’d never released it, and the recording was still sitting in Rockfield Studios. We got the tapes from our very good friend Nick Brine, who’s mixed the new album, and we’ve rerecorded it, in a rock n roll style we believe the Quireboys fans will love. Obviously, the first person to hear the new version of ‘Raining Whiskey’ was Frankie Miller, he loves it and urged us to release it as a single
So, it is my honour to present the new single by the Quireboys, featuring Frankie Miller. ‘Raining Whiskey’.
The flipside of the single features ‘Jeeze Louise’, released earlier this year and showcasing the Quireboys at their bar room brawling, rock n’ roll best, displaying to the world exactly how it should be done and what to expect from their forthcoming album.
“This album has been both heartbreaking and amazing to make,” summarises Spike. “I know Guy Bailey will be proud of the record, especially, having Luke Morley playing guitar, and for me to be singing with his favourite vocalist, Frankie Miller. This is for you; I love you Guy x”.
‘Wardour Street’ will be released September 13th via Cadiz Music. Pre-order HERE:
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