Guitar Wolf – Set for 2025 Tour Dates Down Under

Guitar Wolf – Set for 2025 Tour Dates Down Under
Following a successful return to Australia in 2023, during which they blew away everyone in attendance at the last ever Boogie Festival, Tokyo’s incredible GUITAR WOLF will return again in March 2025.

Since forming in 1987 and releasing their first album on Memphis’s legendary Goner Records in 1993 (following their first appearance at Gonerfest), the group, which is fronted by the heroic Seiji and always clothed head to toe in black leather, have taken their wild and dangerous sound to the world, working with labels like Matador and Third Man in the process. They have released 12 albums and are signed to a major label at home in Japan. They first toured Australia in the late ’90s, when Seiji rode on to the stage of a packed Tote on the back of a borrowed motorcycle.

Inspired by the ultra-violent records of ’50s guitar wielding maniac Link Wray as well as motorcycles, the Ramones, Johnny Thunders, the Cramps and Joan Jett, Seiji has called their sound ‘Jet Rock’n’Roll’, but that has nothing to do with Joan. As Seiji explained in an interview in 2012, “I love jet plane. I love noisy music, too. So…there were records…many records…every record have no big sounds. So…easy to listen. I hate that! So! I add jet sounds. Bwaaaahng! Explosion!” (When asked by the same interviewer who came up with the term Jet Rock, Seiji replied, “Me. Yeah, yeah. So we are #1 Japanese Jet Rock Band”.)

Guitar Wolf have their own branded motorcycle jacket, the 613 GW, made by Schott NYC of New York, who make the iconic 613 Perfecto jacket as worn by the Ramones. It’s a jacket that dates back to Marlon Brandon in The Wild One, and the birth of the leather jacket as an outlaw/rebel icon. Guitar Wolf are movie stars themselves too, having starred in the low budget sci-fi horror movie Wild Zero in 1999, a sequel to which they announced last year. 

Despite a number of line-up changes – they are now onto their third bass player Gotz, having suffered the death of original bassplayer Billy (Bass Wolf) by heart-attack aged 38 in 2005, and drummer Takuro has only been with them since 2022 – Guitar Wolf are founded on a singular vision and continue to push forward just as they remain the same. Picture a lone rider pushing through an unending tide of fashion-conscious conformists – that’s what Guitar Wolf are like. 

As they state in their Official Bio on their website, Guitar Wolf “single-mindedly pursu(e) an unchanging style and radiat(e) power that transcends time and space.”

Set to appear at the 10th occurrence of Australia’s premier celebration of garage rock and punk, Jerkfest in Geelong as well as the Meadow Music Festival in Bambra (in the Surf Coast Shire), Guitar Wolf are also playing in Melbourne, Frankston, Bendigo, Castlemaine, Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, Bunbury and Fremantle.  Lucky Melbourne fans will also get a screening of Wild Zero at the Thornbury Picture House, with Seiji and his band mates in attendance.  Full dates are as follows:
On The Loose Presents
GUITAR WOLF AUSTRALIAN TOUR MARCH 2025
FRI 21 MAR MELBOURNE THE CURTAIN (w/ The Prize + The States)  
SAT 22 MAR (ARVO) BAMBRA MEADOW MUSIC FESTIVAL  
SAT 22 MAR GEELONG JERKFEST 10, BARWON CLUB  
SUN 23 MAR FRANKSTON SINGING BIRD STUDIOS (w/ Gnome + more! All Ages show, 4pm – 9pm)
MON 24 MAR WILD ZERO FILM SCREENING  THORNBURY THORNBURY PICTURE HOUSE
WED 26 MAR BENDIGO TRASH CULT (w/ Poppin’ Mommas)
THU 27 MAR CASTLEMAINE THE BRIDGE HOTEL (w/Leon)
FRI 28 MAR BRISBANE CROWBAR (w/The Onyas + Eyes Ninety)
SAT 29 MAR SYDNEY FACTORY FLOOR (w/ Antenna & The Crankees)
THU 3 APR ADELAIDE CROWN AND ANCHOR
FRI 4 APR PERTH SEASONAL BREWING (w/ Zerodent & The Murderbirds) 
SAT 5 APR BUNBURY THE PRINCE OF WALES (w/ Turd!)
SUN 6 APR FREMANTLE BUFFALO CLUB (Doors 5:30pm)Tix available from On the Loose Presents | Instagram, Facebook | Linktree
www.guitarwolf.net

Split Dogs new Single has plenty of bark

Split Dogs new Single has plenty of bark

Bristol Punk Rock ‘n Rollers Split Dogs bite back with new single ‘Lafayette’ out now via Venn Records

New album ‘Here To Destroy’ set for release on February 28th – pre-order HERE:

Listen/Buy HERE:

UK headline tour confirmed for Feb/March 

Primed to grab 2025 by the scruff of the neck and give it a damn good shaking, high-octane boogie woogie punk rock ‘n rollers Split Dogs are set to embark on their first UK headline tour as they approach the release of their ‘Here To Destroy’ album, due for release on February 28th via Venn Records.

Today, Split Dogs offer up another cut with their new single ‘Lafayette’ which is, says guitarist Mil Martinez “a love letter to our families and the influence they’ve had on our love for music.

At a glance it tells the story of (singer) Harry’s mother growing up in Wolverhampton during the height of the 1970s/80s northern soul scene and the characters she encountered. It also tips a hat to my older brother that passed away in 2023, he played a major role in my song writing growing up.”

The video was shot by drummer Chris Hugall who admits that on the actual day of filming they had no real plan as all of their other ideas had fallen through, but they worked on the fly and the end result compliments the song perfectly.

“It takes you on a journey through the cobbled streets and back bars of the Black Country, Harry’s hometown Wolverhampton,” explains Mil. “From Chewing gum-stained carpets and pints of mild to stone faced locals and tar-stained fingertips. If you fancy a dance? Come out to the club and feel alive!”

Born from the frustration of seeing music become commodified and soulless, vocalist Harry Atkins and guitarist Mil Martinez had the idea to form a band as far back as 2015, with the name ‘Split Dogs’ pulled from the classic zombie film ‘Return of the Living Dead’.

In South London, a young Martinez would hear Status Quo, Bachman Turner Overdrive and Dire Straits on the car radio while his father drove him to school. At home he would invade his older brother’s record collection which leaned towards the harder sounds of punk and heavy metal. Meanwhile in the Black Country, Harry’s mother instilled a love of Northern Soul, Slade and rock’n’roll, with stories of nights out at Club Lafayette and family singalongs at home. According to Martinez, “Our sound is a culmination of all those early influences and, to be honest, it really shows.”

It wasn’t until 2022 that Split Dogs officially arrived on the scene with bass player Suez Boyle joining the band in 2023. Already a prominent figure in the queer punk scene, Suez played the first ever Rebellion Festival at the tender age of 16 with her band The Walking Abortions. Up until that point, drummer Chris Hugall, an old friend of Martinez and former member of ska punks Mouthwash (signed to Rancid’s label Hellcat back in the day), was only on hand to help design artwork. It wasn’t until 2024 that Hugall joined the band full-time cementing the current line-up.

The raucous live shows and infectious lyrics saw the four-piece make a name for themselves among the punks of Bristol, a scene that has always welcomed LGBTQ+ and marginalised people. As word spread, so did the gigging, and soon enough Split Dogs were playing to sold out rooms in mainland Europe, eventually grabbing the attention of UK label Venn Records (Gallows, Bob Vylan, High Vis).

‘Here to Destroy’ was recorded over three days at Middle Farm Studios by producer Peter Miles. All tracks were laid straight to a 16-track reel-to-reel tape machine, no autotune, no effects pedals, no computers. To add to the music’s authenticity, the album was recorded live, with Harry singing along in a vocal booth. No cutting and pasting, just nailing takes. According to Martinez, “It was a blast! We fully immersed ourselves, sleeping in a small apartment below the studio, cooking meals and listening to Pete’s extensive record collection”.

As the album title makes clear, Split Dogs are here to destroy, but they’re also here to rebuild and remind us of music’s essence. “We’re not beholden to the digital age, we don’t want to get famous on social media, we just want to show the world that rock’n’roll is alive and well”.

Heads down, see you at the end. 

Catch Split Dogs live at the following dates:

2/2 Incider Festival, North Somerset

7/2 Milton Arms, Portsmouth 

26/2 Hug and Pint, Glasgow

27/2 Gullivers, Manchester

28/2 Billy Bootleggers, Nottingham 

1/3 The Grace, London 

2/3 Daltons, Brighton 

7/3 Rough Trade, Bristol

Europe

18/3 Supersonic, Paris. France

20/ Cafe Central, Brussels, Belgium 

21/3 La Zone leige. Belgium 

22/3 cafe The Jack, Eindhoven. Netherlands 

23/3 Poppodium Volt, sittard. Netherlands 

26/3 Monkeys Music club, Hamburg. Germany 

27/3 Dreikonigskeller, Frankfurt. Germany

28/3 Museumskeller, Erfurt. Germany

29/3 Freak Show, Essen. Germany

Festivals

23/5 Bearded Theory

24/5 Sneister, Netherlands

9-12/7 2000 Trees

9/8 Rebellion, Blackpool

Find Split Dogs online HERE:

First In Line – ‘Connect The Dots’ (Lövely Records)

First In Line – ‘Connect The Dots’ (Lövely Records)

Swedish hardcore outfit First In Line celebrates their 30th anniversary with the new album “Connect the Dots” with 19 frantic, raw, and energetic tracks showcasing the finest of the Linköping HC scene. First In Line has been flying the flag of fast, melodic hardcore since 1994, so maybe now is as good a time as any to catch up and admit this is my first – an introduction if you like and in time-honoured scandi hardcore the guys kicked my backside. Like Zugly before them, they remain true to the roots of the sound and scene and deliver an album that captures the spirit of Harcore and also delivers some exceptional playing and to be fair some great songs.

If you want loud in-your-face, gritty unrelenting energy then First In Line bang em out.

“Connect the Dots” kicks off in style with the brutal ‘What’ that sets the tone with a full frontal assault on your senses. They do mix it up but dive straight into the pit for ‘Cookies And Cream’ thrashing like motherfuckers.

F.I.L are so pissed off at all injustice and stupidity, we have to get it out of their heads and into the songs that they hope will hit right in the heart of you the listener, who can turn up the will to fight and maybe also be a tiny cog in a machinery that can change the world.” which is an admirable stance indeed.

Nineteen track of Hardcore is a lot to absorb in one take but this is the stuff that makes your day go by quicker and puts a spring in your step. It’s not a long album by any means and of course some of the songs are sub one minute so not exactly taxing. Songs like ‘Inbred’ is the sound of the walls collapsing in on you whilst your listening but you’d rather get through the song than worry about your house caving in.

I love it when an album comes out of the blue and asks you to review it and you just put it on in the background but soon enough you find yourself leaning in and paying attention well, First In Line just did that and this stands shoulder to shoulder with any Hardcore released in a decade and I’ll take that all day long. By the time you get to the uncompromising ‘Black And White’ and ‘Good Friends’ you will be nodding in approval these guys have a fire burning in their collective bellies and who doesn’t like that? It’s fast, furious and on fuckin fire. Get involved, you can thank me later Hardcore as fuck!

Connect with First In Line:
https://firstinline-fil.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/fil_lkpg
https://www.facebook.com/fillkpg
https://x.com/fil_lkpg

Author: Dom Daley

Tokyo Blade – ‘Time Is The Fire’ (Dissonance Records)

Tokyo Blade – ‘Time Is The Fire’ (Dissonance Records)

Tokyo Blade are back with their latest offering ‘Time Is The Fire’. Here, we have another collection of blistering heavy metal delivered in the usual fashion of the lads from Tokyo Blade. I’m not going to go on about their NWOBHM roots, blah blah, we’ve heard it all before. Let’s concentrate on the here and now, I reviewed their previous album Fury back in 2022 and loved that album. ‘Time Is The Fire’ follows on nicely from that, we have 14 tracks that deliver a masterclass in old-school metal. Alan Marsh’s vocals soar over the crunchy riffs spectacularly.

The opening track ‘Feeding the Rat’ kicks off with a mid-paced headbanger with some great lead work from Andy Boulton and John Wiggins.  Moth to the Fire has some hair metal-tinged riffs, ‘Man on the Stair’ begins with a spooky intro before we get more chuggerama and fist-pumping rhythms. Are You Happy Now is another great track with another pounding riff. ‘The Enemy Within’ starts with a Judas Priest feel, more lovely lead guitar work here and a catchy chorus. ‘Going With the Flow’ showcases some nice bass work from Andy Wrighton, a melodic intro builds into another powerful track. The 47 has some great lyrics about a historical event in Japan where a band of samurai avenged their former master. ‘The Devil in You’ is my favourite track on the album, muscular riffs, and some fine drumming from Steve Pierce drives the track along fantastically. ‘Soldier On‘ has a feel of old school Thin Lizzy with its twin lead attack.

Overall, it is a fantastic bunch of songs that show that Tokyo Blade is still a force to be reckoned with. My only gripe is the processed drum sound, this seems to be creeping in more and more into recordings.

The album is out now! You know what to do.

Buy Here

Author: Kenny Kendrick

Diamond Dogs & Spedding Chris: Macon Georgia Giants (Wild Kingdom)

Diamond Dogs & Spedding Chris: Macon Georgia Giants (Wild Kingdom)

Well, did anyone really see this collaboration coming in 2025? Sweden’s finest boogie-woogie merchants Diamond Dogs joining forces with legendary 70’s producer/session player Chris Spedding (‘Motorbikin’ anyone?) to record a homage to the king of rock n’ roll Little Richard. With the album ‘Slap Bang Blue Rendezvous’ in 2022 and ‘About The Hardest Nut To Crack’ the following year, Sulo and the boys have certainly been keeping busy at this point in their career. I think after 30 years in the business and 13 studio albums down the road, they have earned the right to take it easy and record a tribute to one of their greatest influences.

Recorded live to tape, one hour per track is how Diamond Dogs roll, like the cool cats did back in the day, and it works in their favour. From the off the band have a live energy and a swagger only a true seasoned live band can command. Add to that the guitar talents of Chris Spedding, and we have a really cool match of flavours adding their take on Little Richard’s musical legacy.

These primal bursts of rock n’ roll damnation are perfectly delivered through the Diamond Dogs cannon. Top players, killer vocals and modern production breathe new life into some well-known, and some not so well-known timeless classics. Opener ‘King Of Rock n’ Roll’ is cocksure and full of bravado. Sulo’s raspy tones are on point, aided and abetted by The Duke Of Honk, Spedding on guitar, a cool boogie-woogie bass line and matching song dynamics. Close your eyes and you can just imagine the boys jamming it away in Dog Pound Studios.

The likes of ‘Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey’ and ‘Great Gosh Almighty’ go a long way to remind the listener where the roots of good time rock n’ roll lie, and just how pivotal in the history of music Little Richard truly was. Songs such as ‘Dew Drop Inn’ and ‘True Fine Mama’ lend themselves well to the Diamond Dogs brand of rhythm & blues, but the standouts for me are the killer ‘Poor Dog’, with its great dynamics and build to the chorus here. Also, the low-slung rock n’ roll of closer ‘Bama Lama Bama Loo’ certainly hits the spot.

It’s a good time to be a Diamond Dogs fan. Not only have a bunch of their albums been given the reissue treatment in recent years courtesy of Wild Kingdom (including Sulo’s first solo record) on glorious coloured vinyl, but they continue to write, record and be a touring band.

‘Macon Georgia Giants’ is not only a fitting tribute to the legend that is Little Richard, but it showcases a killer band playing songs they love, pretty much live in the studio. And the thing is, to me this album just sounds like the Diamond Dogs playing Diamond Dogs songs, and if you weren’t aware of the fact they were all Little Richard songs before spinning it, you wouldn’t know any different. And that says a lot for the writing talents of this band for me.

Buy Here

Author: Ben Hughes

Frank Black – ‘Teenager Of The Year’ (30th Anniversery Tour Edition)’ (4AD Records)

Frank Black – ‘Teenager Of The Year’ (30th Anniversery Tour Edition)’ (4AD Records)

The solo albums broke up the Pixies way back in the day yada, yada, yada. Well, time proved that Frank could indeed combine both and his band was indeed only on hiatus. It’s hard to believe it’s thirty years since this album dropped just look at the catalogue we have to feast over since eh? This limited edition ‘Teenager of the Year 30th Anniversary Tour Edition’ on double gold vinyl is a joy to (be)hold It is remastered from the original analogue master tapes for all you audiophile geeks out there but it does sound as fresh as the day I first heard it. It was an album I played to death when it came out and got my first shiny Discman it was a constant companion on CD its also cut at 45 rpm for optimum playback and is pressed on double gold vinyl. The album also comes in a gatefold sleeve with liner notes by both Frank Black and producer Eric Drew Feldman, and is his usual lavish affair to be fair.

Its widely regarded as Franks finest solo album and an album maybe, the Pixies should have made but with hindsight maybe he needed to break free to actually record this album in this way and had it had the Pixies baggage it wouldn’t have had the lasting impact or sounded anything like it does.

Sprawling over twenty-two tracks and an hour of music it’s a joy to drop the needle and have the chaos of ‘Whatever Happened To Pong?’ blast out of my speakers. I’ll fess up and say I still think his debut self-titled record is my favourite but this is a pretty awesome follow-up by anyone’s standards. The single off the record was strong, ‘Headache’ had a memorable earworm of a melody that is as strong as anything he’d written previously or since to be fair.

If you are humming and arghing over shelling out on this reissue then let me try to soothe any fears and just encourage you to go and get it. It’s a beautiful thing. christ, The opening side is faultless offering a variety of Blacks styles from the rockin out of ‘Thalassocracy’ to the pop rock of ‘Calistan’ it doesn’t harm a record when it sounds like its captured live and the band are this freakin good. Oh by the way the same band are doing the live shows as well.

The lyrics have aged really well and having been able to play this record for it’s second birth has been a joy and something a thirty years older me has really appreciated more than I thought I would. The Bowie esk ‘Ole Mulholland’ never sounded so good. Viewing it through more mature eyes has thrown up different perspectives and had me leaning to tracks I previously dismissed – songs like ‘Fazer Eyes’ with its twists and turns and ‘SpaceIs Gonna Do Me Good’ with its parping horns and shakers left me hazy but a welcome return to the turntable for sure. Come Join me you won’t regret it and if it’s a first dabble with Frank Black then dive in you won’t regret it the guys a genius. Buy It!

Tickets for the Teenager Of The Year shows are available from here: https://blackfranc.is

Buy Here

Author: Dom Daley

Willie Dowling – Tour Dates

Willie Dowling – Tour Dates

Having tinkled the ivories on the recent Quireboys tour, Willie Dowling will be touring the UK to promote his recent solo album ‘The Simpleton’, which got a rave review here at RPM. We’ve followed Willie’s career from The Grip onwards, including Honeycrack, The Sugar Plum Fairies, Jackdaw 4 and The Dowling Poole, and it’s likely he will be playing a selection of rarities from this cracking back catalogue.

Joining Willie for the nine dates are Andy Lewis on bass and Darby Todd on drums. You could even book tickets now for a romantic soirée on the 14th of February at the 100 Club for you and your paramour. From Bedford to Ballymena, check the tour dates below and williedowling.com for regular updates.

Tickets Here

Buy Music Here

Jah Wobble tour rolls on this week

Jah Wobble tour rolls on this week

“This band goes from strength to strength. We’ve had great shows over recent months throughout Europe, the UK, Ireland, the USA and Canada, and we can’t wait to play more” JAH WOBBLE

The legendary bassist JAH WOBBLE continues his huge touring schedule over recent years with the announcement of a further UK tour for the Spring of this year. The dates will feature his band the Invaders Of The Heart and will include several Metal Box Rebuilt In Dub shows which feature former Siouxsie & The Banshees guitarist Jon Klein and rework the second Public Image Ltd album with additional tracks from the debut album First Issue.

JANUARY

Fri 24 BEDFORD Esquires

FEBRUARY

Thu 06 TUNBRIDGE WELLS Forum (METAL BOX)

APRIL

Fri 04 LICHFIELD Arts

Fri 11 BARTON UPON HUMBER Ropery Hall

Sat 19 LONDON Ska Festival @ 100 Club (METAL BOX)

Thu 24 NOTTINGHAM Metronome

Fri 25 TODMORDEN Unitarian Church

Sat 26 EDINBURGH La Belle Angele (METAL BOX)

Sun 27 GLASGOW St Luke’s Church (METAL BOX)

MAY

Sat 17 ST HELEN’S Citadel Theatre

Fri 23 SOUTHAMPTON Joiners

Sat 24 CANTERBURY Gulbenkian Arts Centre (METAL BOX)

Fri 30 BRADFORD ON AVON Live Music Festival

Tickets available from www.songkick.com

“Jah Wobble has “a job of work to do,” he proclaims right from the off tonight but, first, “If you’re English, can we have a moment’s uncomfortable silence?”. Comedy silence over, the bass maelstrom begins …” LOUDER THAN WAR

Jah Wobble was born John Wardle in 1958 – renamed by Sid Vicious who, under severe influence one night, struggled to pronounce his name correctly – and is an English bassist, singer and composer. He began his incredible 45+ year career in music as a founding member of Public Image Limited in 1978 with Keith Levene and former Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon and quickly became known for his distinctive and trailblazing bass, combining elements of dub, funk and world music. During his time with PiL, he played on the band’s acclaimed albums First Issue and Metal Box and collaborated with Keith Levene and Martin Atkins on a variety of side projects. He left PiL in 1980 to pursue a solo career, releasing his debut album The Legend Lives On … Jah Wobble In Betrayal, followed by a succession of acclaimed solo albums and collaborations with the likes of Brian Eno, Sinead O’Connor, Bjork, Holger Czukay from Can, Chris Connelly from Ministry, The Edge from U2 and Geordie Walker from Killing Joke. His work showcased his unique style and his interest in world music, particularly that of Africa and the Middle East, and his ability to blend diverse styles into a cohesive whole continues to receive accolades.

Wobble is also a prolific writer and author, having published numerous books on music, politics and spirituality, as well his autobiography Dark Luminosity: Memoirs Of A Geezer which was expanded and reprinted by Faber last year, earning wholesome praise from The Times Literary Supplement and The Independent amongst others. He is also renowned for his interest in Eastern philosophy, having written extensively on the subject. As a musician and artist he remains highly influential and continues to make a significant impact on the world of music and beyond, ensuring his status as an original and important figure in the history of the arts. He has stories to tell and recounts them with charm, with humour and with honesty. One of his most recent solo albums, The Bus Routes Of South London, was written and recorded on … buses in South London. Of course it was.

Legendary hardly begins to cover it …

WEBSITE: www.jahwobble.com

TICKETS: www.songkick.com

BANDCAMP: https://jahwobble.bandcamp.com

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/real_jah_wobble/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Jah.Wobble.Music/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/realjahwobble

Long Island – ‘The Freedom of Being Young’ (Self-Released)

Long Island – ‘The Freedom of Being Young’ (Self-Released)

Indie music isn’t the first genre that comes to mind when we think of RPM Online, but there are times a band pops up and leaves such an impression that you want to let others know about them, especially when I know our readers also have diverse tastes. Long Island was a brand-new name for me in the last quarter of 2024. Based in Huddersfield, it appears they released their debut album two years ago which is now on my list of albums to hear. This mini album or EP came out a few months ago. The band had popped up as a YouTube recommendation one night when I was looking for new music. The algorithm on there and I have made some great discoveries over the years, and this has definitely been one of them.

The first songs I heard from this release carried a bit more power to them than others on here. Rhiannon Stephenson’s vocals carry a sense of urgency on the rocking ‘Want It More’ where Cameron Conner lets loose on lead guitar too. That was my first introduction to the band with the follow-up song on this release ‘Get Up and Go’ the next one. Stephenson’s lyrics hit the soul and remind us of times in the past (for me) when we didn’t feel like we were in the right place in life. She feels like the voice inside your head that helps us push forward when we feel the darkness around us. I love the guitar riff in the song, and this one currently stands as my favorite here. There is a pop sheen in the hook of the chorus and a wash of guitar that provides the perfect sonic backdrop for the vocals. Conner’s production and mix is stellar across the entire release.

I would not be recommending this whole EP if the two prior songs were the only standouts here. If we circle back to the beginning, this release starts with the poppy ‘It’s Our Time’ where the band unleash a lush sounding first track to bring casual listeners in to hear more. Ironically, I would say this has been more of a grower for me. Imagine one of the peppier songs by the Cure if they were having a good day and wanted to share the good news. I know that sounds off the wall but try to imagine it or better yet listen to this album. The backing vocals hit a sweet spot here too. Another of my favorites has grown to be ‘Just Another Day’ where the tempo is a swirly slower beat providing Stephenson an opportunity to shine. The organic feel across these songs feels very natural with Jan van Beem’s drums driving the songs and making me want to hear the band live. Bass duties have been split on this release between Jack Peters and Paddy Spence-Lewis.

If you read the title ‘Daydream,’ you may think of something that has a massive pop infusion, and you would not be wrong. If there is one song that does not fully connect with me, it is likely this one, but I don’t think I would be the primary audience here either. It is a solid song for me and one I would more expect to hear in a club before the lights come back on in full again. Things slow down for the beginning of ‘Homewrecker’ which is another emotional powerhouse. Emotion and genuineness drip off Stephenson’s vocals drawing you closer to the speaker. I am reminded of the time I was lucky enough to see the band Rural Alberta Advantage live, when they started a song in a similar manner, and you could have heard a feather hit the ground because of how enraptured the audience was. This song then surges forward in an adrenaline rush and another solid hook.

Those songs lead us back to where we began and then we have the band close with ‘Young,’ a de facto title track. The tempo is again quicker here with the band closing with another winner that can connect with rockers and probably a younger audience who appreciate the more rambunctious offerings of Olivia Rodrigo. The line in the chorus about ‘missing the freedom of being young’ connects with an older person like me and also strikes a similar vibe to Tilly Kingston’s song ‘Youth is Wasted’ in sentiment. I could see the audiences of each artist appealing to the other.

A couple months ago or so, I had never heard of Long Island but was pulled right in as a fan of the band and what they are doing here. It might be the slightly harder songs that brought me into the fold, but it is the entirety of the release that kept me listening to this over and over again. Give Long Island a listen and appreciate what this young band is already doing. I look forward to seeing where they go next.

‘The Freedom of Being Young’ is available now. Buy Here

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Author: Gerald Stansbury

Plastic Tears – ‘Old Treasures And Lost Pleasures’ (Star Trash Records)

Plastic Tears – ‘Old Treasures And Lost Pleasures’ (Star Trash Records)

Whilst purging the late runners and riders of 2024 several EPs landed on the RPM desk that were enjoyed over the festive period and even played on the podcast and one of these EPs happened to be from Scandinavia who’ve been around for ages but has recently gone through plenty of changes and a freshen up so they decided to reintroduce themselves with a bite-size EP where they perform three old tunes and a brand new one as an introduction to the new members and shake off the cobwebs on some old hidden gems.

Joining Miqu, Eco and Kupe are Junza formerly of fishface on guitar and Samer on Bass duties formerly from Lordi so on with the show and opening track ‘Motorhome’ which was originally done in 98 and sounds like it could have been written yesterday. With its carefree guitar lick and happy-go-lucky tempo is a great slice of sleazy Rock n Roll helped with a great production. ‘Bad Ballerina’ is a new song with some bad boy boogie and a fair sprinkling of piano for good measure to add some timeless Rock n Roll to proceedings.

‘Subway’ has a quicker tempo and was originally from Miqus band Indian Giver with plenty of swagger and a bad attitude it has groove and a killer chorus. the EP is closed off with ‘St Babylon’ that’s more Glam Rock than the others with a big hook and was written thirty years ago (Yikes) the breakdown would have seen this a chart bothering tune in the late 80s but we live in very different times in 2025. So there you have it, a new, old EP from Plastic Tears and a process that the band hints at possibly repeating in the future when old songs get a dusting down and reworked for the modern age.

I like Plastic Tears and hopefully, this new lineup can deliver a new LP and who knows some shows in this neck of the woods.

Buy Plastic Tears Here

Author: Dom Daley