Trampolene release new single ahead of new album and tour

Trampolene release new single ahead of new album and tour

Swansea swashbucklers TRAMPOLENE release a new song Together on March 2nd on the Strap Originals label. Listen here: The track is taken from the band’s eagerly awaited fourth album, ‘Rules Of Love & War’ (r/d 17th March ’23). 

Together is an anthem to solidarity and mutual support, and God knows we need a little of that in our stay home stay subservient screen culture. It is the fourth song (following the release of Thinking Again, Sort Me Out  and Money) to be taken from Rules Of Love & War . 

Rules Of Love & War features 12 new TRAMPOLENE original songs and was produced by Mike Moore (Baxter Dury/Liam Gallagher), Richard Jackson (Super Furry Animals) & Jason Stafford (Albion Rooms). 

Says singer and boss Tramp Jack Jones:“Together is about being stuck in your room, not knowing what to do with your life, when a friend knocks on your door, rescues you and takes you on an adventure…it’s also a song dedicated to ours fans…who are the reason we’ve kept going and the reason we are still together ”

Rules of Love & War will be available on CD, cassette, digital download and 12” black or red vinyl, as well as exclusive formats and signed items. Preorder the album here: https://lnk.fu.ga/trampolene_rulesoflovewar 

TRAMPOLENE who recently completed a string of sold-out shows for Independent Venue Week, play a headline tour of the UK in April. Tickets for all shows are available now from https://shops.ticketmasterpartners.com/trampolene  & https://shops.ticketmasterpartners.com/trampolene-2023    

The band also play Rough Trade East for ‘Wales Week’ (March 4th) and Festivals in Europe during the summer including: Latitude, Kendall Calling, Room To Roam and London Calling in Amsterdam. The full list of dates is:

MARCH

4th London – Rough Trade East (Wales Week)

APRIL

7th Glasgow – The Attic

8th  Newcastle – The Cluny 2

11th Nottingham – Bodega

12th Manchester – Yes

13th  Leeds – Brudenell Social club

14th Bristol -Rough Trade

15th Swansea – Bunkhouse

20th London – 100 Club

28/29/30 Liverpool – Sound City

MAY

19-20 Amsterdam – Paradiso (London Calling)  London Calling 2023 (paradiso.nl)

JULY

7/8 Right to Roam BOLTON

22nd Sat Latitude Festival

27th-30thKendall Calling

https://www.trampolene.co.uk

https://www.youtube.com/user/trampoleneofficial/videos

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https://www.tiktok.com/@trampolene_band

The Van Pelt Announce ‘Artisans & Merchants’

<strong>The Van Pelt Announce ‘Artisans & Merchants’</strong>

NYC Cult Indie Faves The Van Pelt Announce ‘Artisans & Merchants’

Their First New Studio LP In A Quarter Century – Out March 17

Pre-order HERE:

Stream The New Single + Video ‘Punk House’ HERE

Band Announces UK, EU and NYC Shows

Influential band stands among a select few of the most revered second-wave emo / indie bands of all time including their peers in The Promise Ring, Mineral, Christie Front Drive, Boys Life, Braid, Karate, and Rainer Maria.

“The lines between post-hardcore, indie rock, and emo blurred on the two mid-’90s full-lengths from the Van Pelt.”- Pitchfork

“New York City’s The Van Pelt are an influential, but too often overlooked indie rock band — cult favourites for many an emo-inclined crate digger.” – Consequence

“…should be mentioned a lot more than they are when you talk about the history of emo.”- Washed Up Emo

After twenty-five years of waiting, New York City cult indie favourites The Van Pelt have announced a March 17th release date for their upcoming fourth studio full-length, titled ‘Artisans & Merchants,’ which will be released jointly by Spartan Records in North America, La Castanya in Europe/World and Gringo in the UK.

The album was recorded and mixed in Summer / Fall 2021 by Jeff Zeigler (The War On Drugs, Kurt Vile) at Uniform Recording in Philadelphia, PA, and features guest appearances by Nate Kinsella and Ted Leo among others.

The first single ‘Punk House’ is out now, along with a brand-new music video.

Frontman Chris Leo says, “When a bunch of old VHS tapes were unearthed, the band had them digitized and they turned out to be from US tours of the mid-90s. The footage is mainly of daily banalities: random purchases at rest stops, packing and unpacking the van, highway views that could be on the outskirts of Any Town USA. Yet there is a nostalgia to it that’s compelling. The song mirrors the mood in both sound and text. Lines like “The floor is filled with resin on the place where you’re to sleep / if you have enough to drink you can pretend that it’s a sheet” bring any musician back to the rougher side of days on the road — yet again, the subtext here is that the spirit of it all is to be longed for.”

The Van Pelt has announced a series of UK, EU and Brooklyn shows in March and April. See dates below. Pre-order ‘Artisans & Merchants’ here – https://thevanpelt.bandcamp.com

Vive Le Rock – ALL-STAR LINE-UP AT THE O2 SHEPHERDS BUSH EMPIRE, APRIL 6TH

Vive Le Rock – ALL-STAR LINE-UP AT THE O2 SHEPHERDS BUSH EMPIRE, APRIL 6TH

HUGELY ANTICIPATED LORDS OF THE NEW CHURCH REUNION WITH MICHAEL MONROE AND MUCH MORE

AWARDS TO BE PRESENTED BY VICE SQUAD ICON BEKI BONDAGE!

After three long years of delays and cancellations, the Vive Le Rock Awards will finally take place at London’s O2 Shepherds Bush Empire on Thursday April 6th. And the good news is that the next day is a holiday so everyone can all party like it’s 1999!


Featuring all-star chaos and one-off, unique performances, the VLR Awards will salute the legends of punk and rock ‘n’ roll! The last VLR Awards show in 2019 already holds legendary status, but this year the organisers are pulling out all the stops with a packed five-hour long show!


This year will feature three unique sets by legendary acts. The headliners are none other than ’80s goth punk legends LORDS OF THE NEW CHURCH. Joining the band of The Damned’s Brian James, Sham 69’s Dave Treganna and Clash drummer Terry Chimes, will be the one and only Michael Monroe on vocals. Michael was a great friend of Stiv Bators and the only man on the planet to take his place for this one-off performance.

“The ‘Shepherds Bush Empire’ was an old variety gig which is what I think the ‘Vive Le Rock’ show on April 6th is gonna be” states Brain James. “A bunch of different acts doing sensational sets, it’s got all the makings of being a fun, memorable night and a good excuse to play some old ‘Lords’ songs dedicated to the one and only Stiv Bators.”

NEVILLE STAPLE, from The Specials will lift the roof off with a live set of rudeboy classics with his extraordinary band, and East End street punk/West Ham United legends the COCKNEY REJECTS will rock their classics in a fast ‘n’ furious awards set. 

The all-star house band, THE VIVE LE ROCKERS featuring Paul-Ronney Angel and members of Ruts DC, Jim Jones All Stars and Urban Voodoo Machine will back artists including MILLIE MANDERS, BAD BARBEE – Elizabeth Westwood (WESTWORLD) and Jennie Belle Star (THE BELLE STARS), JIM JONES and GIRLSCHOOL’s Kim and Jackie. Compere for the event will be Vice Squad frontwoman and trailblazer BEKI BONDAGE who will host the five-hour extravaganza at the new bigger venue, London’s O2 Shepherds Bush Empire and the awards and champagne will be flowing with special mystery presenters and guests.

“It’s always an honour to be asked to participate in a prestigious Rock ’n’ Roll event, especially when the invitation comes from a man like Eugene who has a bigger quiff than Alvin Stardust,” laughs Beki! “I’d originally planned to go to the VLR awards and get pleasantly hammered but now I’ve been collared into doing some actual work I will have to go easy on the sauce. Hopefully the night will descend into beautiful chaos, gongs will be given, songs will be sung and planks will be spanked and a great time will be had by all!”

VIP packages are available that include a limited awards T-Shirt, VIP access, aftershow party ticket and Vive Le Rock annual.


This is the punk rock ‘n’ roll show of the year so get your tickets HERE:

Find Vive Le Rock online at vivelerock.net


Vive Le Rock!

TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE:

FIND VIVE LE ROCK ONLINE HERE:

HOST – ‘IX’ (Nuclear Blast)

HOST – ‘IX’ (Nuclear Blast)

The last few months would have certainly seen a significant return on investment for anyone with shares in the darker side of music (should such a commodity exist that is). Be it Wednesday Addams dancing to ‘Goo Goo Muck’ on our TV screens or Demon Records releasing the expansive ‘Young Limbs Rise Again: The Story of the Batcave Nightclub 1982 – 1985’ 5 CD set, Goth is very much back in vogue with the mainstream, although it’s not like it ever really ever went out of fashion for some.

Two such musicians who have long harboured such an infatuation with the genre are Nick Holmes and Gregor Mackintosh from epic doom metallers Paradise Lost. So much so that back at the turn of the century on signing a major label deal with EMI they decided to totally reinvent themselves (for a couple of albums at least) as a more Gothically tinged electronic outfit, something that some fans of the band still struggle to get their heads around to this day. For me however, those two albums 1999’s ‘Host’ and 2001’s ‘Believe In Nothing’ still rank within my top 5 albums by the band (1997’s ‘One Second’ being my all-time favourite by the band, just in case you were wondering).

It’s that aforementioned 1999 album that this all-new side project by Holmes and Mackintosh takes its name, but the duo actually cite the origins of the band back to the mid to late 80s, when at a time spent frequenting Yorkshire nightclubs as fledging doom metallers they also found themselves as equally drawn to the burgeoning New Wave and Goth music scenes, and it is this influence that is the underlying theme of the nine tracks that make up ‘IX’ – geddit?

(The commercial stream of the album (from which I’m writing this review) doesn’t contain the duo’s cover of Flock Of Seagull’s ‘I Ran’, but then again that surely spoils the numbers play of the album title too doesn’t it? I shall have to wait for my pre-order copy to finally arrive to solve that mystery.)

Anyway, just like ‘Host’ (the album) ‘XI’ is going to test the patience of any Paradise Lost fan longing for another ‘Draconian Times’ or ‘Faith Divides Us – Death Unites Us’, largely because there are very few guitar riffs on offer. What they are doing though is taking risks with their music when perhaps they don’t need to, and most importantly sounding like they are truly enjoying themselves in the process, although with darkwave/Gothic electro pop that isn’t something that is essentially easy to pick up on. And whilst ‘IX’ might not be a heavy metal album, it most certainly is a darkly doom-laden affair, so there are loads of commonalities within the music, if you are prepared to take the time to absorb what’s on offer. There’s even a song called ‘Wretched Soul’ (how metal is that?) to get the album off and running, albeit for this brooding beast of a tune you need to think of what Paradise sounded like on ‘Host’ and turn up the dial marked “latter day Depeche Mode”, something that is also true of the fantastic ‘Tomorrow’s Sky’ a song that manages to out Depeche even Gahan and Gore’s recent single effort by some considerable distance.

For ‘Hiding For Tomorrow’ there’s a glimpse of what Sister Of Mercy might have sounded like if they’d employed someone to play a thunderous acoustic drum kit instead of relying on Docktor Avalanche to provide the back beat and is that a soupçon of Tears For Fears I hear in there mid song too?

The highlights of ‘IX’ are certainly many, but for me it is the fact that songs like ‘My Only Escape’ and ‘Divine Emotion’ sound exactly how I’d have loved Paradise Lost to have sounded after ‘Believe In Nothing’ that perhaps excites me the most, and with ‘Inquisition’ you have a sumptuous electro drenched lament that would not have sounded out of place on any of Gary Numan’s past few studio records.

‘IX’ then, is most certainly a (soul) courageous record for Nick Holmes and Gregor Mackintosh to be releasing, not just in 2023, but anytime, it’s a record that will no doubt provoke discussion and reactions and will hopefully influence (at least a few of) their peers to take risks with their music too. This is sense of Paradise Lost (almost punk rock) defiance I initially fell in love with all those years ago and it’s great to see, and hear, the guys embracing it once again via this set of superb new material. Go seek out a copy NOW!

Buy Here

https://officialhost.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/officialhostuk

Author: Johnny Hayward

Levellers announce new album & Tour ‘Together All The Way’,

Levellers announce new album & Tour ‘Together All The Way’,

The forthcoming ‘Together All The Way’ tour will be bringing the new arrangements of the songs to audiences in all their live glory. It kicked off at Cheltenham Town Hall on February 27th and will include 18-dates across the country finishing on March 18th at the Buxton Opera House. A number of the shows are already sold out. Full tour dates and more information on the new album can be found.

2023 is a landmark year for Levellers. They are celebrating 35 years of being a band and also the 20th Anniversary of their hugely acclaimed Beautiful Days Festival (August 18th – 20th), which they will headline as well as Suede and Primal Scream. You can find the full line up here

Levellers have announced their brand new acoustic album Together All The Way, the follow up to their 2018 Top 20 album We The Collective. The album will be available on Limited edition Red Vinyl and CD and can be pre-ordered here

The first song ‘Down by the River ‘O’ is available now on all streaming platforms and was written by friend and collaborator Rev Hammer about the Great Flood of 1968 in Buntingford.

The last ‘Collective’ album was recorded at Abbey Road with the legendary John Leckie five years ago and resulted in their highest chart position in twenty years. Levellers always planned to do another album where they acoustically reworked songs from their back catalogue, but eventually came to the conclusion not to try to top what they achieved with We The Collective but to go another way.

So they decided to strip everything right back and go for a more traditional, folk approach as they reimagined various songs from their past. They reconvened the collective – this time with Sean Lakeman producing and Al Scott mixing – at their own Metway Studios in Brighton. Everything was recorded live, with the musicians playing through the songs until they had versions they were happy with.

Of the album and recording, the Levellers say, “It was truly a fun record to make, under the rigorous guidance of Sean. Sean’s a musician himself, always bringing ideas and get out of jail free suggestions when we got stuck. It’s a stripped back, raw iteration of the collective with deep folk leanings. As energetic as the first one but definitely different.”

Levellers were joined again by Hannah and Ollie from the Moulettes on cello, vocals and percussion plus the mighty Dan Donnelly on his first official Levellers recording.

Together All The Way is scheduled for release in March 2023, to coincide with the band’s acoustic tour of theatres and venues around the country, with special guests Moulettes (Duo), Wilswood Buoys and Jess Silk. Tickets are available from myticket.co.uk.

And 2023 is an extra special year for the Levellers as not only do they celebrate 35 years of being a band, but it will also be the 20th Anniversary of their hugely acclaimed Beautiful Days Festival, one of the biggest independent music festivals in the UK.

Thu 2 SHRESWBURY Theatre Severn

Fri 3 LIVERPOOL Philharmonic

Sat 4 BIRMINGHAM Symphony Hall

Mon 6 CAMBRIDGE Corn Exchange

Tue 7 NORTHAMPTON Derngate

Wed 8 READING Hexagon

Thu 9 LONDON Hackney Empire

Fri 10 POOLE Lighthouse

Sat 11 TRURO Hall For Cornwall

Mon 13 BARNSTAPLE Queen’s Theatre

Tue 14 YEOVIL Westlands

Wed 15 HARROGATE Royal Hall

Thu 16 HULL City Hall

Fri 17 NEWCASTLE Tyne Theatre & Opera House

Sat 18 BUXTON Opera House

Rich Ragany and the Digressions-‘What we do (to not let go)’ (Barrel & Squidger Records)

Rich Ragany and the Digressions-‘What we do (to not let go)’ (Barrel & Squidger Records)

Do you know this year so far has been a blinder in terms of new releases we’ve only just left February and tipped into March and there have already been any number of contenders for Album of the year, this baby included, and judging by the number of pre-orders I’ve got pending there are going to be a fair few more.

This LP as I slip it onto the virtual deck instantly washes over you drawing you in to a gorgeous blend of Classic Americana, while holding on to a punk driven perspective, and that jarring of styles, so difficult to get right is what singles this Lp out as something a bit special.

If you’re a Springsteen fan, think back to the classic Darkness on the edge of town, The River, Nebraska period a songwriter redefining, honing in his style, very much as Rich has within the songs on this LP, embracing influences while building on his own style, (think if Bruce Springsteen did punk rock) moving to a beat that’s beginning to fully form, if you think Tom Petty, the Aforementioned Bruce Springsteen, hinting at Steve Earle but also dragging in Jesse Malin and some of the raw blues tinges of Lucinda Williams.  This is a real step up from the Role Models a shift in focus embracing the past but moving into a future of real creativity.

Looking at the tracks stand outs for me “Til I’m on my feet again” hits hard with a huge sense of drive , desire and urgency  reaching out to the future that’s not coming quick enough. Next up the searing, soul searching “The end of all things”. Not to say the prior tracks are weak tracks truth be told there isn’t a weak track on the LP.

“Forever Ghosts” and “Pretty Breeze” to me perfectly illustrate the light and shade within this baby play them back to back and you’ll see what I mean, So what do we have?

Contender for LP of the year? Definitely

A songwriter strengthening his style, embracing change? Absolutely

The LP that breaks outwards from the scene opening the music up to whole new audiences? Defiantly!!!

Do yourself a favour Buy, download, treat yourself to the t-Shirt, be one of the cool kids and more importantly support the artist.

Buy Here

Author: Nev Brooks

Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus!

Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus!

The release of The Alarm’s brand new album FORWARDS is announced for June 2nd 2023 and is available to pre-order / pre-save now. (Click here to pre-order / pre-save Forwards now!).

The Alarm [Acoustic] UK Tour dates as follows:

May 24th LIVERPOOL Epstein TheatreTICKETS HERE
May 25th BRISTOL St. Georges TICKETS HERE
May 30th NEWCASTLE The Cluny TheatreTICKETS HERE
May 31st TRING Court Theatre TICKETS HERE
June 3rd SALE Waterside Arts CentreTICKETS HERE
June 4th STROUD Subscription Rooms TICKETS HERE
June 6th LONDON Union Chapel, Islington TICKETS HERE
June 7th PORTSMOUTH Wedgewood Rooms TICKETS HERE
June 8th YORK The Crescent TICKETS HERE
June 9th HULL The Welly TICKETS HERE

Seconds out round two Trampolene. With anew album coming out this month hit up the linktree and get on it as they release their brand new studio album the same day they release a limited edition hand stamped live album recorded on the opening night of the Swansea Arena Here

Bringing up the rear are South Wales reprobates Deathtraps with their brand new video for ‘Imitator’ lifted from their excellent album ‘Appetite For Prescription’ which you can purchase Here along with their other albums and some excellent limited edition shirts.

Dr Feelgoods Gordon Russell Interview exclusive

Dr Feelgoods Gordon Russell Interview exclusive

Having snuck into my Top 10 albums of 2022 with ‘Damn Right!’, Dr Feelgood produced the goods against the odds. A great album of 11 new songs that live up to the band’s name. So, it seemed like the right moment to ask returning guitarist Gordon Russell for an interview on all things Feelgood. He very kindly took the time to answer my questions. Read on…

Hi Martin.

Thanks for the good album review and it’s a pleasure to do this. Here we go

How did you come to rejoin the band?

I think things had stagnated for a few years in the band. Same show, no new album or even new songs so they were looking for a change.The pandemic was a good time for the guys to turn things around so they asked me if I’d like to rejoin, I was delighted of course

How does it differ, playing with Phil and Kevin now, than the first time around? The live clips on YouTube seem to be joyous. I live in France and hope to catch one of your gigs here later this year. I often replaced Steve when he took his holidays, so we have played together quite a bit over the years. But it’s no different than before. Phi and Kevin are the best rhythm section and we all still have good energy, so it works. Yes, we have lots of fun onstage which makes it fun for the audience to watch too. We will be playing in France later this year. Dates are still to be announced but yes do come and see us.

Robert Kane does a great job of doing his own thing, rather than emulating Lee. No disrespect to anyone else, but the two of you seem to have clicked with the songwriting on ‘Damn Right!’. As I said in my album review, the songs show influences from Wilko and Gypie while keeping your style of playing. It sounds like Feelgood, not a tribute, which was a very pleasant shock for me! How did the two of you approach writing? Had you already written some ideas before rejoining the band? Glad you like our album. Robert and I started writing as soon as I was back in. We didn’t plan to record so soon, but it was just a natural thing to do, and it worked immediately.  As most songwriters will tell you there is no set way to write songs. But with us, sometimes Robert would send lyrics my way to complete songs and sometimes I would send him riffs or ideas to finish.  We had a similar vision so it all came together quickly. 

Are there already some songs for another album, or are you just enjoying the gigs at the moment? The band certainly doesn’t look like slowing down. We’re not thinking about another album at the moment but I always have new riffs and song ideas. So I’m sure they’ll come out when needed.We certainly do enjoy touring and playing so while people keep coming to our shows we’ll keep doing it. All the shows we’ve done so far this year have been sold out which is great!

The end of ‘Last Call’ is lovely, the band were obviously loving playing it together. Was most of the album recorded essentially live? Last Call is 100% live! We did that one evening after dinner in one take. It was a magic moment. We recorded all the songs in 4 days!  And Dave Bronze our producer mixed it in two days 

a couple of weeks later. So pretty quick work. All the rhythm tracks, eg bass, drums and rhythm guitar are completely live. Robert added the vocals and harmonica after and I added the guitar solos after too. I did most of the solos in one take because I wanted them to sound live and be in the moment. Also Dave our producer wouldn’t let me do them again. Ha (laughs)

In preparation for the gigs, did you listen to ‘Doctor’s Orders’ again? If so, how did it sound? I still enjoy it, even if the band at the time felt that some of the rough edges got lost in the mix. Not really. I didn’t like it at the time because as you say, we thought it a bit too clean. But when I listen back to it now (that’s very occasionally) I think it’s a good album. Some fun songs there.

How does playing with Robert differ from playing with Lee? Both very different but both excellent frontmen and very easy to work with.

Can you tell us about your guitar and amp set-up? Does it differ when in the studio? Pretty much the same. Live I use a G&L ASAT deluxe as my main guitar. I do a few numbers on slide guitar where I use my very old Burns Trisonic. I also have a Fender Telecaster standing by as a spare. The amplifier I’m using at the moment is a Fender Hot Rod Deville 2×12. I also have Fender Hot Rod Deville 4×10 which comes out occasionally. I have a small pedal board which consists of a Boss Stage Tuner, A Boss Blues Driver for solos and a TC Electronic analogue delay which is on for a couple of the more bluesy songs. For the album, I used my 2 stage guitars on everything. Although it was the Fender Telecaster for the solo on Mary Ann. The amplifier I used on every song was a Vox AC 30 except for the song Put Your Money where Your Mouth Is, which is a borrowed Orange amp. Hardly any effects recording except a tremolo for the song I Need a Doctor and a fuzz box for Mary Ann. That’s it really. Quite basic.

Catch Dr Feelgood on the road at a town near you soon. Dates are regularly added on their Facebook page

Author: Martin Chamarette

Scumbag Millionaire – ‘Barely Alive! B-Sides And Oddities’ (Suburban Records)

Scumbag Millionaire – ‘Barely Alive! B-Sides And Oddities’ (Suburban Records)

Gothenburg Action Rockers have cobbled together a double album’s worth of B-side and other non-album-work and those already in the know will be aware that the band simply don’t do bad songs so it is like having another studio record – or two to be fair. They’ve selected 16 tracks for this release, which was not an easy task, considering the number of releases since the birth of Scumbag Millionaire in 2014. The fact it’s nonsense free, zero fucks given record speaks volumes. No CDs, No limited editions on splatter, no cassette tapes – precisely zero Bullshit!

The Scumbags do love a record much like a lot of their peers and big hitters in this scene they’ve done loads of splits on 7″ with many of their equals and some of the genre’s big hitters. It’s great to see lots of those songs here and seeing as most are on long-since sold-out records it’s a chance for many to hear these songs for the first time.

Sixteen tracks of Rock solid Action Rock. In the old days a single would be the lead track of an album and maybe a couple of live cuts or an unfinished demo or remix but a lot of bands that respect the format of the 7″ don’t just pad it out and you often find absolute gems wedged onto a 7″ and bands like Scumbag Millionaire tend to drop singles throughout the year that aren’t just promo for a new album and that’s where compilations like this come in handy especially when the singles sell out in the blink of an eye and you can’t find a copy for love nor money. Well, this bad boy kicks off with the piano tinkling barnstormer that is ‘No Speed No Punk’ an absolute tour de force that the sound of a freight train steaming through your front door and devastating everything in its path but with added piano for texture, beautiful.

If you’re not familiar with Scumbag Millionaire this might be a great place to jump in. It gives a fantastically rounded view of where they’re at and the quality of what they do. It’s often full tilt, no compromising hard rockin’ punk n roll. The songs are born from a steady diet of Motorhead, MC5, and Machine Gun Etiquette but with some fantastic harmonica or piano added to show there is more going on here than crash bang wallop. It’s scandi Rock with Hellacopters and Gluecifer but with more aggression songs like ‘Schizo’ are what Backyard Babies could have been. As a stand-alone album if you didn’t know it was B Sides and oddities you’d be floored at how fuckin’ good this album is. ‘I’m In Love’ is like being kicked by a horse and enjoying it.

The band said of this record that it was coming out on black vinyl, no CD no bullshit and boy did they deliver. This is the poster boy for all killer no filler and if you ever wanted to know what high energy hard Rockin was then this is where it’s at. I can’t wait for vol two at some point because they’ve done over twenty-five singles so this being the first sixteen there’s scope for more more more.

I love the reckless take on ‘Burning Police Cars’ and then following it with the punk as fuck ‘Calm Down’. As the record comes screeching to its final track you get the wonderful ‘Paul Stanley’ that’s the mid-pace with the huge Bass rumble and drum breakdown that deserves to be covered in beer as the pit turns into a heaving mess before the filthy Bass chug of ‘Leave Me Be’ is the penultimate call to arms of an amazingly good comp. leaving only ‘Rubber Legs’ to sing off lifted from their fine Iggy tribute they shared with The UK’s finest noise makers The Hip Priests.

If you’re still reading then you know what to do next, buy steal or borrow this album it’s essential!

Buy Here

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Author: Dom Daley

Black Star Riders/Michael Monroe/Phil Campbell & The Bastard Sons – Leeds 02 Academy – 19th February 2023

Black Star Riders/Michael Monroe/Phil Campbell & The Bastard Sons – Leeds 02 Academy – 19<sup>th</sup> February 2023

I rarely venture out to academy size gigs these days, not for lack of wanting I hasten to add, it just seems most of the bands I’m interested in play smaller more intimate venues. But after catching The Interrupters last summer, it sure reminded me of a lot of the rock shows I used to attend back in the day at academy size, and who doesn’t like a full-on rock show?

So, with Black Star Riders coming into town promoting their highly acclaimed new album ‘Wrong Side Of Paradise’, and bringing with them not only the Michael Monroe band but also Phil Campbell & The Dirty Bastards, well it would be a shame to miss this.

I wouldn’t say I’m a massive Motörhead fan, but Phil Campbell once came to my flat and I made him a cup of tea, but that’s another story. Anyway, Phil Campbell & The Bastard Sons are not Motörhead, but in the same way as Black Star Riders they channel the spirit of the band that came before them. What The Bastard Sons are though, is a full-on, old school hard rock band, and a good one at that. The sole non-Campbell onstage, new singer Joel Peters, works the crowd like a pro tonight. A larger-than-life personality with a larger-than-life voice, he splits the crowd for audience participation, mixing up originals like ‘We’re The Bastards’ and ‘Get On Your Knees’ with Motörhead classics like ‘Going To Brazil’ and ‘Born To Raise Hell’, the band are mightily impressive. The rhythm section is tight, the guitar tone fantastic and Phil must be proud having his sons up there keeping the spirit of Motörhead alive for fans and the younger generation.

The biggest cheer of their set goes up as bassist Tyla thumps out ‘that’ bass line. They were always gonna end with ‘Ace Of Spades’, right? The crowd go wild, and so they should.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen Michael Monroe support anybody before, and I’ve never seen him do such a short set. This band don’t do bad shows, never give less than 100% onstage. The opening salvo of ‘One Man Gang’ and ‘I Live Too Fast To Die Young’ works a treat. The die-hards down the front know the words and the uninitiated are getting a shock treatment in high energy rock n’ roll. The Finnish Iggy Pop is on fire and the usual onstage chaos surrounds the whirlwind vocalist, who as ever is mesmerizing to watch, as he gets tangled up in microphone cables, does the splits and climbs the rigging. He swings the mic stand precariously close to guitarist Steve Conte’s head, but its all in a day’s work for the Michael Monroe band.

Older singles ‘Last Train To Tokyo’ and ’78’ go down well and get the crowd singing them back to the livewire singer as he bounds about the stage. If this is mainly a Black Star Riders fanbase tonight, I would say the band have won them over by now. And any who are not convinced may be shedding a tear by the time they finish the Hanoi Rocks classic ‘Don’t You Ever Leave Me.

‘Ballad Of The Lower East Side’ is arguably the strongest song in the band’s solo discography and it sounds killer live, yet as Michael climbs the rigging for the second time, the power is cut and the band stop playing mid-song! Seems the 02 don’t like rock stars climbing on their equipment. Funnily enough, the last time I saw this band, at The Brudenell up the road, there was an actual power cut on the equipment on the exact same song. What are the chances of that?

The band shrug it off and launch into ‘Motorvatin’ to get things back on track. ‘Dead, Jail Or Rock N Roll’ and ‘Up Around The Bend’ end a killer set that didn’t exactly go to plan, but rock n roll’s like that sometimes. I like it when a band has to work for it and I pity any band who has to follow The Monroes night after night.

Black Star Riders have that unenviable task, and while Ricky Warwick doesn’t possess the maniacal stage presence of Michael Monroe, he is one of the last of a dying breed of classic rock frontmen who are still out there doing it and doing it well. A 10-year anniversary for any band these days is something to celebrate, and Black Star Riders have morphed into quite the classic rock band now.

With original members drummer Jimmy Degrasso, bassist Robbie Crane and the Richard Branson of rock n’ roll Scott Gorham back in the fold for this tour, tickets have flown out, and the 02 is buzzing with anticipation as the band break into newbie ‘Pay Dirt’. In a leather jacket, his hair greased back and a Les Paul swinging from his hips, Ricky Warwick looks mean, moody and healthy, and his gritty voice is as powerful as it ever was back in The Almighty days. With the ever-smiling Wayward Sons guitarist Sam Wood by his side (who looks uncannily like a young Scott Gorham) the band sound impressive too.

The first half of the set weighs heavily on the new album. The single ‘Better Than Saturday Night’ is a killer highlight, ‘Riding Out the Storm’ and the title track ‘Wrong Side Of Beautiful’ showcase Warwick’s songwriting ability and suggests this album could go down as their strongest effort. They even breathe new life into their cover of The Osmonds ‘Crazy Horses.

Ricky introduces Scott Gorham to great cheers and the 71-year-old Thin Lizzy guitarist joins Black Star Riders for the rest of the set. The likes of ‘All Hell’s Breaking Loose’, ‘Testify Or Say Goodbye’ and ‘Bound For Glory’ all hit the spot and are welcomed like old friends to a crowd of a certain age. The spirit of Thin Lizzy seems omnipresent and of course a couple of choice songs get aired tonight. Phil Campbell joins them for ‘Don’t Believe A Word’ and a sublime ‘Jailbreak’ comes later in the set and understandably gets the biggest reaction of the night.

While the first half of the set was strong, I felt the latter half suffered and felt ploddy and a bit so-so. Only the addition of the Lizzy covers lifted thing for me. Hey, but I’m just nit-picking, really.

Big academy rock shows are always an event and tonight was no different. 3 bands who are well suited, all channelling the sprits of the bands who came before them, yet all with strong material that sets them apart from the legacy of those classic bands. And whether you’re a fan of Motörhead, Hanoi Rocks or Thin Lizzy, all had great new things to offer, as well as dipping into the past.

But finding out The Academy takes 25% of profits from the band’s merch and the fact that a pint and a G&T cost £17 reminds me why I favour the smaller shows these days.

Author: Ben Hughes