‘Play The One We Know’ is the second track from ‘Stole Your rock N Roll’ to get a video. The Album was released March 6th 2020. Get your copy of the album now from their disinfected Big Cartel shop Here
Debut LP from The Mark Vodka Group oh you know those guys from Nova Scotia, Canada. Well, it’s the place to be and the best band there are called The Mark Vodka Group, that’s a fact I’ve not seen disputed and they include members of the Booji Boys? Their 2019 opus ‘Tube Reducer’ was reviewed on these very pages last year. This however is a different beast altogether as ‘I Wanna Piss In The Face Of The World’ kicks things offs we strap ourselves in for a rocket ride of punk rock that raw, rapid and reckless. It’s taking no prisoners as it rattles through the catchy fast-paced opener.
This is different from the Boojis, of course. While they bury hooks in clouds of distortion, the Mark Vodka Group go for a more accessible sound, Sure its still ‘lo-fi’ and very much DIY. They’ve had their sound described like “a bare-bones Descendants at their most irritably bratty, stealing the Oblivians’ homework and doodling stupid faces all over the most insightful parts”. I wouldn’t dispute that. ‘Goon’ is fash and sharp and to the point, it sounds dumb and full of fun as it races to the finish line, Punk as fuck one might say.
It might be quick but its tuneful and ‘Boy (I’m Allergic To You)’ has a tip of the hat to the kings of melodic punk-pop Buzzcocks. It’s not the only time the homage to the Buzzcocks is aired on this record either ‘Everybody’s Punk Now’, which also boasts a killer Buzzcocks homage. Truth be told, Homages seem like a good idea as ‘You’ve Got To Split’ tips the cap to the Ramones. That’s two greats being aped so you know where these guys are coming from right? Right! Even the song titles give a hint ‘Now I Wanna Be A Bad Boy’ they’ve even got a tune for big-time Charlies and they spit out contempt on ‘Big Time Rocker’ and throw in a suitably smart solo to ram their point home even if they are playing to the converted.
‘Touch Of Grey’ reminds me of the great Pete Perrett and his only ones with its gentler less confrontational strummings. Which only leaves ‘Mark’s Blues’ laments at the album’s close, even when the world turns to shit, there’s always booze: “The drinking hasn’t let me down yet.” I guess Mark Vodka isn’t just a random name. This is a really good record, in a time when new bands are thin on the ground especially ones who can pick up the torch and run with it so raise a glass to Mark Vodka Group.
Author: Dom Daley
Ditches, from outta Stockholm Sweden which is already a good start seeing as the country has always thrown up great garage punk rock n roll bands from the Nomads to Hellacopters to the Hives and many many more well, Ditches picked up the baton and seem to be running away with it. If you were to cut em through the middle they’d have a core of Buzzcocks melodies with some bubblegum holding it together via some pretty nifty power-pop whilst heading through the backstreets after dark wearing skinny jeans and sneakers they only stop to smoke a cigarette and pogo before they get back to it.
The melodies come thick and fast with an emphasis on the fast. Opener ‘Out Of This’ sets the pace and the tone and that Shelley melody blueprint is evident on ‘Get Away’. For a debut LP, they are right on the money with leather jackets with the collar turned up these snotty oiks have to know that they can pen some top brain candy that gets in and settles for a while making you feel great inside with that power pop punk rock glow of satisfaction.
The production is bright without glossing over the rough edges, ‘Stitch Me Up’ being a great example. Cool chorus and a real sugar rush of a tune. With eleven songs sticking to the formula its a great debut and with all the promise of another top turn hailing from Sweden in 2020 is exactly what we need another generation of punks coming through re-energising a scene and really appreciating what it takes to write great music. Its like hearing stuff like the Undertones again but from a different time totally – I bet these songs are great live n loud in some sweaty dive bar where you can really lock into the rapid beat and chiming guitars. they seem to know exactly what they’re good at and stick to it well. not a bad track amongst the eleven on offer. Let’s hear it for Ditches more peaks than troughs.
Author: Dom Daley
This fully restored and expanded set from Woolwich Coronet This 2020 version has been newly remastered and includes several tracks that were left off the original release! Includes all-new artwork with full liner notes and a personal message from drummer Rat Scabies !
Available on both digipak CD and a 2LP vinyl set in your choice of either RED or BLUE vinyl! I had this when it first came out many moons ago and loved it. It captured the band at the time perfectly. whilst they might have been at a commercial career-high the studio albums were a bit beige around the time of MCA but live they still had it and that tour was a blaze of fun.
Expanded to nineteen tracks this is well worth tracking down and getting hold of from the opening keyboards of ‘Curtain Call’ they were on fire. The quality of the recording is good as well not overdubbed nor flat this is a picture of a band living it large and doing it well. As you would expect there is a decent smattering of tracks from ‘Phantasmagoria’ and ‘Shadow Of Love’ particularly sound great. As does the much-maligned ‘Grimly Fiendish’ that I quite enjoy hearing live these days and back in the day or the mid-’80s to be precise it was quite a departure. It seems odd to hear tracks like ‘There’ll Come A Day’ played so fast and full of energy. that tour with The Fuzztones was exceptional and I have such fond memories of Cardiff New Ocean Club.
‘Gun Fury’ makes me smile as does the version of ‘Lust For Life’ 1985 seems like yesterday but its also so long ago. when the Damned could have been and should have been we are left nuggets of pure Gold like this recording to remind us that it doesn’t matter what happened commercially because they were always the best and still are capable of amazing shows and the odd record that ignites a fire inside my heart and it seems odd to hear them end the set with a one two of ‘Disco Man’ Val Doonigan style followed by a rip-roaring slash of ‘Born To Kill’ If only all bands were this good. Don’t think twice just buy it and revel in it. Fiendishly good!
Author: Dom Daley
Strange Unit gonna be doing some ONLINE gigz during this crazy, unprecedented time. We ask you all to follow his page Here where he will be doing weekly live gigz from his garage! All thingz considered, this is a good time to be a onemanboyweirdoband.
He will be doing multiple shows to ensure friends from UK, Europe, USA, Japan and of course Australia get entertained.
He’ll be donating any tips* to venues affected by this fucking mental situation.
Thank you!
Please share and tell ’em Strange Unit sent ya! Spread the word folks
Rough Trade one of the finest independent record stores in the Western World situated in the fine city of Bristol – home to many a good venue and champion of the arts be it paintings or music Bristol has always had a good grounding and been the stop of many a great band. Tonight it played host to Brightons finest those cheeky chaps who make up Bar Stool Preachers. The venue is a clean purpose-built a big storeroom. Sure it has air conditioning (not switched on obviously) no windows, Painted black, no bar for people to congregate around and chatter its just four walls with a stage at one end with a pretty decent PA and tonight upon its boards treads the 12 legged groovers who are on a mission and six-man mission to spread the word of unity and Rock and Roll and whilst they go about their work they do it with a ten-mile wide smile and a helping hand. You see the Bar Stool Preachers aren’t just a ska-punk band who dabble in several genres of punk rock but are busy making friends across the globe as they make sure there is a pretty impressive BSP carbon footprint left for all to see. If they’re not stateside or in Europe, they are zig-zagging across the UK playing to larger and larger venues packed with jumping bodies who are believing and getting on board this runaway train of a band.
They are about to release album number three as they finalise details and tracklist for it whilst making sure the songs are also road-tested as they seamlessly weave the new songs in with the old favourites. Tonight got sweaty very very quickly as the enthusiastic audience didn’t need any coercing from Tom to get with the programme they were up for it from the start.
A bold move from the band starting with the awesome ‘One Fool Down’ that’s a statement of intent right there. The old old songs from that first record get things up to speed as ‘Trickle Down’ and ‘Looking Lost’ reintroduce everyone with what a good night out sounds like. Next up we get introduced to some of the new material and what an impressive couple of tunes they are with ‘Late Night Transmission’ and ‘Don’t Die Today’ showing that the band are on the right path with even better material and just watching them look like they are having the time of their lives all the time just like a great band should. It’s not playing to a packed main stage at Rebellion or Punk Rock Bowling nor is it 20 thousand diggin the tunes in some aircraft hanger in Germany but you do get the same level of performance and once you lock into Gibbs metronomic tic from side to side you’re involved, oh don’t try running on the spot like Bungle he’s a professional.
Tonights set was perfect and went by in a flash as old mixed with the new and everything in-between as ‘8.6 Days’ ‘Raced Through Berlin’ kissed ‘Start New’ and ‘Ballad Of The M1’ off the first album and then they were gone, wow that was glorious stuff an exhilarating performance for an exceptional band who are right on the money at the moment and as they re-emerge soaking with perspiration there is time for a couple more and its a tight as two Rizzlas romp through ‘Choose My Friends’ before the inevitable knees-up of ‘Bar Stool Preachers’ and they were done.
These boys deserve every adventure they are being presented with because they have the X-Factor and more importantly they have some exceptional tunes no change that not some they have many exceptional songs – they are grounded and they are hungry and appreciative. Get behind one of the brightest hopes we have on Shit Island now when can we do this all over again?
A brilliant compilation of some of the best tracks from previous Witchdoktors albums, on CD in a digipack and on a slab of Wax stalwarts of Tin Pan Alleys 12 Bar Club Withcdoktors have been going for several decades and one of the constants is the fact that over the span of four albums and several EP’s they never let their guard down and turned in a half-arsed shift. Witchdoktors are the real deal and if you’re not familiar with their tunes then let me introduce you.
Back in ’93 a band peddling garage meets swampy Cramps style Rock and Roll but with energy and a sound that was more than just being hip scenesters emerged out of the London scene with a rough guitar edge and plenty of Farfisa to make any self-respecting ghoul blush. but the songs were not mere snake oil apeing their peers they had something with four tunes from the debut making onto the mixtape.
Oddly there is nothing on the mixtape from the first single but a couple did make it from the second. As for the second album ‘I Still Hurt’ makes the cut and I love this tune with a great vocal I scratch my head and feel that I’m as guilty as everyone else because Witchdoktors should be a hell of a lot bigger than they are. I’ve always really enjoyed them live when I’ve headed to the Smoke and happened across them playing usually with one of my favourite bands and I’m always delighted when they’re on the bill.
Four of the track present are re-recorded and incidentally, they all originally appeared on ‘$3 Hooker’ and Andy always delivers a passionate vocal and I do love the way they weave the organ into the mix adding a sense of drama especially on songs like ‘Neck Tattoo’ which is such a blast with that guttural bass throb.
Not that the earlier songs lack anything (because they don’t) they really found their identity and niche on ‘Voodoo Eye’ and had a big sound courtesy of the sympathetic ears of Pat Collier who clearly understands the band and the mixture of sounds they manage to straddle when putting their records together.
so If your looking for a new record to add to the collection then this mixtape is the perfect compilation to acquaint yourself with and introduce your new favouite band of reprobates who ooze Rock and Roll with passion, heart and soul and a C120 full of top tunes. Get It! Oh and for extra Kudos I noticed on Spotify there is even a blinding cover of Neat Neat Neat well and truly served.
Buy ‘Timeless & Dimeless’ Here
Author: Dom Daley
Dinosaur Pile Up
Dinosaur Pile-Up have released an Amazon Original cover of Run DMC’s ‘It’s Tricky’. The track is only available to stream and purchase on Amazon Music.
“We chose ‘It’s Tricky’ because it’s one of my all-time favourite songs. I just love it and it gets me pumped,” says Dinosaur Pile-Up’s Matt Bigland. “We were actually on a drive during a US tour when we were listening to music on the stereo in the van, and we’d been trying to think of which song we should cover – and then ‘It’s Tricky’ came on and Mike turned to me and I turned to Mike and we were both like – WE COULD DO TRICKY!!! And the decision was instantly made.”
“We were stoked on how much fun we could have with it and how heavy we could make it! When we recorded it we basically just had a blast and tried to make it as much fun as possible to record – I think you can hear that in the track. I hope fans get pumped on it – and slam it on the stereo and party.”
Amazon Music listeners can find Dinosaur Pile-Up’s cover of ‘It’s Tricky’ on the playlist Rock Scene, a collection of the most exciting rock tracks around the world. Customers can also simply ask, “Alexa play the Amazon Original by Dinosaur Pile-Up” in the Amazon Music app for iOS and Android and on Alexa-enabled devices. In addition to the new track, Amazon Music listeners can access hundreds of Amazon Originals featuring both emerging and established artists across numerous genres, available to stream and purchase only on Amazon Music.
In 2019, Dinosaur Pile-Up released their acclaimed new album ‘Celebrity Mansions‘ via Parlophone. The album’s release saw Dinosaur Pile-Up lay claim as one of the UK’s most exciting and talked-about rock bands on both sides of the Atlantic. Their singles became radio smash hits with ‘Back Foot’ picking up regular spins from Radio 1 and reaching number four on the US rock radio chart. The album was also touted in Best Of The Year lists across the board.
The band recently announced their largest US tour yet, which will see them headline 15 dates across the States throughout April and May starting on April 16th. In addition, the band will be playing US festivals including Shaky Knees, Epicenter, Welcome To Rockville and more.
Before this, Dinosaur Pile-Up will be playing their largest headline UK show to date at London’s O2 Forum Kentish Town on April 3rd, with a few tickets still available to purchase. The band have also announced a warm-up show at The Wardrobe, Leeds on April 1st. All tickets are available via Here
In the summer they will be returning to the UK to play a string of festivals and have already been announced for 2000 Trees, Y Not Festival, Burn It Down and Boomtown, as well as European festivals including Mad Cool in Spain and Ireland’s Sunstroke Festival, with more to be announced soon.
There is no letting up for Dinosaur Pile-Up in 2020 as they continue their stratospheric rise.
UK HEADLINE DATES
April 1st – Leeds, The Wardrobe
April 3rd – London, O2 Forum Kentish Town
UK & EU FESTIVAL APPEARANCES
June 6th – Marshall Live at Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes
June 13th – Sunstroke Festival, Kildare
July 9th – 2000trees, Cheltenham
July 11th – Mad Cool Festival, Madrid
July 24th – 26th– Y Not Festival, Derbyshire
July 31st – August 2nd– Truck Festival, Oxfordshire
August 12th – 16th– Boomtown, Winchester
September 5th – Burn It Down Festival, Torquay
Just over two years ago, snowed in and listening to new sounds I had a link bounced over to me by Pity my Brain’s main man Jamie Richards, that stopped me in my tracks, the LP was called Time the band was called Dystopian Future Movies. Looking into the background after duly ordering said LP I found that the band’s mainstays were Bill Fisher & Caroline Cawley from the rather tasty Church of the Cosmic Skull (If you haven’t discovered them yet I suggest you get a shift on!!).
For this album Bill and Caroline are joined in the band, by Guitarist, Rafe Dunn and Bassist Oisin O’Doherty. The rather stunning artwork comes from an image of an abandoned Tuberculosis Sanitorium in Caroline’s native Ireland.
Dark indeed and that’s where I want to start this review, opener “Countenance”, eases it’s way out of the speakers, at times Intense, at times sparse, leading with a dark brooding sense of decay, Caroline’s vocals adding an almost otherworldly ethereal feels. Being honest if you try and pitch a particular style of genre, you’d be wrong! Taking a stab I’d say post-Industrial at times? Highlighting a time in the future, where dark paths have been taken. There’s an underlying dread, but maybe a sense of hope?
Moving on next up “wreckage” draws you in, the discordant acoustic lead demanding attention before the vocals lift it up a gear you start to get the feel of a story being played out musically, the counterpoint vocals giving it a depth before we’re drawn into an industrial-style framework, with Bills drumming starting to become incessant, demanding almost. Before we get lost in the wreckage we’re moved forward into “Rules” almost a taking stock of what’s happening, vocally this is a powerful performance, the voice setting the tone for the at times sparse orchestration that eventually pulls you upwards and into the story unfolding. “All the Light” is a coming to terms song what’s come before and a movement away from where we’ve been. Again the vocals lead over a discordant, sparse musical background drawing you indefinitely less is more giving this track both an intensity and fragility. This fragility comes to the fore within next track “Kathleen”, a real stand out.
Moving or easing forward into “Black cloaked” and we’re drawn back into a haunted past, unable to break free from what we’ve experienced, this is a seriously good track and really pins you back, probably the most intense on the album, distorted, discordant and driving in equal measures. Before we’ve come to terms with what we’ve heard we come to a conclusion with “Ten years” we’re now the observer overseeing the whole, removed no longer part of the story.
This is a seriously good LP, bursting with ideas, and me for one will look forward to seeing it translated into the live arena.
Author: Nev Brooks
First Up and out of the traps this morning is The Interrupters with their slide trombone and the highly contagious cover of Billie Eilish’s ‘Bad Guy’. Like a little ray of sunshine any day of the week.
Thee MVPs New album ‘Science Fiction’ is due out 29th May via EEASY RECORDS and the lead track is ‘Ship Episode/Planet Episode’ and is first up this morning. They’re also touring the UK:
May 7 – Glasgow – Flying Duck
May 8 – Manchester – Meltchester Fest
May 21 – Newcastle – Cluny
May 22 – Bristol – The Lanes
May 23 – Cardiff – Psych and Noise Fest
May 26 – Hull – Polar Bear – Sesh
May 28 – Birmingham – Dead Wax Social
May 29 – London – The Lexington
Follow Thee MVPs: FACEBOOK / TWITTER / BANDCAMP
Finally, get a load of the mullets on The Chats with ‘Dine n Dash’ nuff said, Taken from The Chats ‘HIGH RISK BEHAVIOUR’ out March 27 Tra kids.
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