I’m not overly enamored for digital releases but sometimes they are a necessary evil like when a band as good as this releases a monster amount of music that would fill several vinyl records or multi CDs. Sure I’ve got everything they’ve ever released be it on Record, tape, or bonus downloads contained in the sleeves. Crazy & The Brains are a unique tour de force. They pay a ragged folky punk rock beat and do it on their own terms. They’ve been at this rock and roll game for long enough now and have so many wildly awesome tunes.

They first crossed my path when they released a split with Jersey Boys The Disconnects and I was blown away. They were a big part of the wonderful label out of Jersey the wonderfully named Baldy Longhair Records. I was sold the acoustic-electric punk rock was excellent but the Xylophone added something unique, something altogether memorable and it bloody well worked. Well, this compilation is Fifty Four track set, Yup, I did say 54! For the first time compiling all their singles, EPs, and covers in one place (God bless you Bandcamp) and all for a piss-taking low $15! Even if you’ve never heard of them $15 bucks is well worth the investment and one you can thank me later for.

From the primitive and tentative first step of those first demos through the brilliant ‘Let Me Go’, ‘Good Lord’, ‘Out in the Weedz’, ‘Into the Ugly’ and the crazy good covers this is a blast!

From ‘Sexy Magazines’ you then get the ‘Intro’ that just about summed the band up in under two minutes. thunderous rhythms and that free-flowing Xylophone tonking away like a bastard into ‘King Kong’ and the quite brilliant ‘Let Me Go’ Man these cats had some serious swing.

They weren’t afraid to mix things up either. ‘Out In The Weedz’ was more retro and had some cool backing vocals and harmonies. When they cut loose and went for it they were majestic – still are. They did cool like ‘Nasty’ as it builds up and cruises through the gears with some epic arrangements going on. ‘Hot Sauce’ is a wonderful change of speed almost a 50s inspired doo-wop era melody that builds once the electric guitar drags it into some Grease lightning party before just ending.

As we enter the final throws of this marathon journey through the band’s development we hit the covers and some crazy interpretations like the beaming ‘Great Big Kiss’ or the tear-jerking ‘Can’t Seem 2 Make U Mine’. They nail ‘Sweet Jane’ and of course, they breeze through ‘Oh Oh I Love Her So’ before they do an admirable job of ‘People Who Die’.

Crazy & The Brains just get it! Whatever IT is they understand that Rock n Roll has to swing and light and shade are important as is the Roll to go with the Rock. They do their music and art on their own terms and their passion shines like lady libertys torch. Punk rockers to the bones and songsmiths to the end, they deserve so much more, and it’s always a pleasure to hear new music from such a great band. Here’s to the next compilation of however many tunes because I’m sure they will reward the listener as much as this one has. Rock on brothers you Crazy, talented, original, beautiful bastards.

Buy Here

Author: Dom Daley

Italian garage-punk tearaways SMALLTOWN TIGERS are back for the Chinese Year of the Tiger.

To celebrate, they’ve just released a video of their cover of Columbus OH action-rockers New Bomb Turks’ ‘Girl Can Help It’.

The track was originally recorded for the album ‘Defiled! A Heavy Medication Tribute To New Bomb Turks‘, released last year.

The band dropped their debut mini-album Five Things to worldwide acclaim in the Spring of 2020, deep in the first lockdown, meaning their accompanying UK tour was first postponed and then cancelled. The girls from Rimini are now determined to make up for it.

As previously announced, they’ll be opening for The Damned on their reunion dates in the Autumn. They’ll also be playing Some Weird Sin’s Pump It Up! Powerpop Weekender in July, alongside Baby Shakes, Duncan Reid & The Big Heads and more…

Dates so far are…

3 July – The Lexington, London (Pump It Up! Powerpop Weekender)

28 Oct – Hammersmith Eventim Apollo, London (w/ The Damned etc)

29 Oct – Hammersmith Eventim Apollo, London (w/ The Damned etc)

3 Nov – O2 Apollo, Manchester (w/ The Damned etc)

4 Nov – O2 Academy, Glasgow (w/ The Damned etc)

5 Nov – O2 Academy, Birmingham (w/ the Damned etc)

More dates TBC

Buy Five Things here

Buy Defiled! here

SmalltownTigers on Facebook

Denver’s Fast Eddy releases their sophomore album, and with a- dare I say it, more mature record (in as much as they are wiser in the songwriting department and have the recording and sound they want nailed!) 

From the moment the needle drops it’s a smoldering intro, no snotty kids making noise but one that says turn it up mother fucker Fast Eddy’s in the room. ‘Take A Look (The track is a slow burner) The title track grooves out of the speakers with a cooool guitar riff. 

Next up ‘Milwaukee’ is a supremely confident track that should be a radio hit for sure. With a cool backbeat, it’s a foot-stomper with a groove and you just want to move with that tambourine it first appears on the group’s “Toofer” 7” EP also released Spaghetty Town, in 2018. Complete with Thin-Lizzy Esque guitar duties shared between Morris and fellow six-stringer Lisandro Gutierrez, the track is the yin and yang of leading a full-tilt rock n’ roll lifestyle.

This being the first physical album Fast Eddy have released, the band have left noting in reserve and dished up a belter with songs like ‘Kill City’ (not to be confused with the Iggy classic) uptempo and rocking out with some cool riffing and good melodies helping rock out with some cool backing vocals straight out of the Hanoi Rock handbook. 

The album took three recording sessions to Atlanta from 2018-2021, even in the midst of a global pandemic. Thanks to the assistance of Dan Dixon and Biters Tuk Smith, these 10 tracks are far louder and more contagious than anything found at your familiar super-spreader. 

‘Dead Eyes’ is a radio-friendly slice of power pop with some great choppy guitar work. Adding another string to their impressive bow on the laid-back ‘Help Me’ that builds slowly like a bit of 70s glam mixed with some post-punk like Elvis and his attractions. They can still tear it up with the punchy ‘Hurricane Alley’ then they turn it up with a right ripper, ‘Lost’. It’s got some snotty punk rockin attitude mixed with Chuck Berrys rock n roll and a hint of an over-the-top Mott The Hoople for good measure. You can tell the band’s influences reach far and wide and whatever bleeds through is just left to keep on bleeding if the song needs it. An album that keeps on giving and one that with the right level of investment will reward play after play.

‘Game Of Love’ has touches of pomp rock and exaggerated larger-than-life thoughts with some glittery stack heels and huge flowing shirt sleeves but mixed with some tight leather trousers and a smoldering cigarette with a warm glass of single malt. The bridge is huge like Edwardian playhouse knees up or written after daydreaming about Oliver Twist dancing through the streets of sleazy London a few hundred years ago.

Before they sign off that Thin Lizzy dual guitar work is present on the upbeat handclapping ‘Frankie Died’ another tune that could and should be a huge hit. which only leaves the post-punk new wave-like ‘Sunflower’ yet another twist proving that the band won’t be pigeonholed into any particular Genre and just do Fast Eddy a little bit of this and more of that mixed together and poured out onto the turntable making a really impressive album that you really should invest in.

  Available in North America from Spaghetty Town Records and Boulevard Trash.  In Europe, on Dragstrip Riot Records Hell these cats released Killer HEarts last year as well so what are you waiting for?.

Author: Dom Daley

Dirty garage rockers the Dry Retch, welcoming you tonight to celebrate the release of yet more new material; the new album ‘Operation Uranus’. Made extra special by bands outgoing charitable nature for Punk 4 The Homeless who will receiving donations from the proceeds. All wrapped up in a bow in the form of this 4 band bill. 

Mark Murphy
Mark’s stripped-down acoustic tracks are brash and beautiful simultaneously. Sounding somewhere between Sunny Day Real Estate and Grant from Feeder. Not a bad place to be. He’s got that rare ability to give adults that feeling of being a teenager all over again, wry smile included. Playing a range of solo material and collected tracks from bands of his career, either way, the set is strong. His own stuff is top end, better than the exquisite Misfits cover that is thrown in. Mark’s songs stand taller than Glenn’s(wink wink).
Vermin Suicides
Bouncy street punk the way you like it with added singalong choruses. These guys know what they are doing and do it well. Influxes of power pop and even the odd ska-tinged riff and a Boney M punk cover? Just what a Saturday night ordered!
BiteBack 
They want the truth. Or at least something that sounds like that. These guys bolster an anthemic heavy twang. They certainly get your attention at times, not quite hitting the spot for me but the crowd are certainly with them tonight. The songs have a throb and urgency and almost hits that anthemic edge. Definitely worth a watch, but a little repetitive tonight. 
The Dry Retch
Relentless, pounding garage rock from our headliners. In their time away the guys have gotten more fierce, faster and somewhat embraced a hardcore element to their sound. Still keeping their intricate elements but with even more focus and agenda but with an added savage quality to the assault. The crowd is a bit restless at this point, perhaps tonight could have benefited from one less band on the bill. The band’s performance doesn’t falter though, every song is a potent wall of fuzz and muscle memory. As ever Merseyside’s hidden gem. 

Author: Dan Kasm

From the end of the ‘80s and early ‘90s Faster Pussycat were the premier league title holders of sleazy Hollywood Rock and Roll bands. As far as debut albums go, their self titled was released the same day as Appetite from Guns N Roses and this one has stood the test of time far better In my humble opinion. They managed to follow it up with the most excellent ‘Wake Me When It’s Over’ two years later and then after Grunge tried to kill off anything even resembling a hair metal band these cats knocked out the much underrated ‘Whipped’ in ’92.

There is also the Japan-only Live and rare EP and the ‘Nonstop EP’ wrapping up what is a complete set of previously released tracks.

Forming in Hollywood, California in 1985, and taking their name from Russ Meyer’s 1965 exploitation trash classic, Faster! Pussycat! Kill! Kill!, Taime Downe (lead vocals), Greg Steele (guitar), Brent Muscat (guitar), Eric Stacy (bass) and Mark Michals (drums) were the darlings of the Hollywood scene on sunset strip along with GnR they were putting in the hard yards on the live scene.

The debut album was all killer and no filler as they released singles ‘Bathroom Wall’ and tracks like ‘Don’t Change That Song’ the rap inspired ‘Babylon’ opening the band up to a global audience they were so much more than being an Aerosmith inspired band. Their infamous appearance in the Penelope Spheeris film The Decline of Western Civilization part 2 – The Metal Years, with the band interviewed as well as performing ‘Cathouse’ and ‘Bathroom Wall’ on stage did no harm propelling them into front rooms everywhere.

The commercial peak came in 1989 with second album, ‘Wake Me When It’s Over’, which reached gold sales status. Featured the singles ‘House Of Pain’ and ‘Poison Ivy’ with The black and white video becoming a classic. ‘Wake Me When It’s Over’ was a slight step to the left of field from the debut opening with the awesome ‘Where There’s a Whip There’s A Way’ as frontman and mainstay Taime Downe Led the band with his cheeky lyrics. They also recorded a cover of Carly Simon’s ‘You’re So Vain’ for the compilation album ‘Rubáiyát’, an album celebrating Elektra Records’s 40th Anniversary that is also included in this box set.

By the time they came to record ‘Whipped!’ the musical landscape had shifted dramatically but this gang of reprobates had gathered to record album number three Led by the single ‘Nonstop to Nowhere’, the band became more experimental pushing the boundaries of their style and spreading their wings ‘Jack the Bastard’ contained a fantastic riff. Despite sold-out tours and grunge, Faster Pussycat called it a day in 1993.

If you haven’t paid them much attention or were unaware they were still out there playing live and making records then this is the perfect one-stop-shop for all your first-wave Faster Pussycat music capturing their heyday in one box. What’s not to like? Besides the music contained is still immaculate all these years later and has certainly stood the test of time.

You know what to do. Hit that link and get involved – four CD’s of the best music from the second half of the eighties and beyond from the kings of sleazy Rock n Roll F-f-f-f-f-faster P-p-p-p-p-p-pussycat!

Buy Here

Steelhouse Festival is excited to reveal the full SIX band Friday line-up which offers a potent dose of the very best of the NWOCR. Previously serving as a curtain raiser for the main weekend event, Friday is now a full blooded first day in its own right. Kicking things off in fine style will be Inglorious, Myke Gray, The Dust Coda, Scarlet Rebels, The Hot Damn! and Valhalla Awaits. What a way to start; and further evidence of the commitment to support new acts alongside the established stars.

This year the event will run 29th-31st of July and, once Friday night has blown everyone’s minds, also performing at the top of the mountain will be original KISS guitar legend Ace FrehleyOrange GoblinDiamond HeadH.E.A.TGreen LungBlack SpidersAnchor Lane and Ashen Reach

Promoters Mikey and Max say, “The opening night at Steelhouse has really come into its own over the last few years. It’s now a legitimate full blown opening day. This year’s Friday line-up really shines a light on the best of the New Wave of Classic Rock. Headliners, Inglorious, are one of the genre’s main torch bearers. Scarlet Rebels and Valhalla Awaits are the latest bands from our homeland to really make an impact, whilst the Dust Coda have already broken into the UK top thirty. The Hot Damn! bring an unbridled joyful energy to the proceedings. Add to this ex-Skin/Jagged Edge mainman Myke Gray playing all those classic tracks from his back catalogue – many of which would have influenced the rest of the bill – you’ve got a Friday line-up that hopefully appeals to the NWOCR army!”

This line up offers the best of all possible worlds for lovers of classic rock and of Steelhouse. Friday will kick harder than ever before – and of course Ace Frehley is an undisputed icon of Rock, Diamond Head unrivalled as old school legends. Orange Goblin and Green Lung bring, in every sense, a burst of colour and verve – each pioneering their own way.

Steelhouse Festival were honoured to be voted ‘Best Festival’ by the followers and members of the NWOCRsocial community at the end of 2021. 

2021, in the face of overwhelming odds, was a resounding success – marking as it did the 10thSteelhouse Festival. 2022 has a lot to live up to, but is well on the way to this being the best ever. Weekend and all day tickets are now on sale; demand has been such that Glamping is now sold out.

The Loyal Cheaters are an Italian/German Rock n’ Roll band formed in 2020, inspired and seduced by the 70s and 80s sound of bands like AC/DC, Runaways, Slade and the latest Scandinavian Action Rock. The band has signed a deal with Atomic Stuff for the worldwide promotion of their debut album.

https://www.instagram.com/theloyalcheaters/?hl=it
https://www.facebook.com/theloyalcheaters
https://theloyalcheaters.bandcamp.com

Next up we have no less thann the 9th video off their debut album. Acid Blood are a Swedish punk rock band and you can pick up their debut album in Europe and North America. “Acid Blood” LP in Europe Here Ltd ed “Acid Blood” CD in the USA Here Digital version available on most platforms

Finally how about the third video from Ravagers? Cooler than an ice cube these cats have a new album out on Spaghetty Town and Wanda Records and this is the third video from the album

Theatre Of Hate

ANNOUNCE
‘A THING OF BEAUTY TOUR’
FOR APRIL 2022
TICKETS HERE

In 1980, Kirk Brandon formed Theatre Of Hate from the ashes of heralded punk band The Pack.  Joining Kirk on vocals were notable punk musicians Stan Stammers and Luke Rendall, along with old school friend, Steve Guthrie and Canadian born John “Boy” Lennard, who revolutionised the band’s sound with his haunting sax lines.
 
Theatre Of Hate’s debut double-A-side single, “Legion”/”Original Sin”, topped the independent chart in 1980, and “Westworld”, their debut album, produced by Mick Jones from The Clash and released in 1982, held the number one position for 21 weeks.  The single taken from the album, “Do You Believe In The Westworld?” has become an anthem and is still widely played in clubs and on international radio, as well as featuring on numerous compilation albums.
 
Supporting the likes of The Clash & Ian Dury lead to Theatre Of Hate headlining major venues across the UK & Northern Europe.
 
Theatre Of Hate imploded in 1982, with Kirk taking Stan forward to form Spear Of Destiny, but the band has resurfaced over the years to play some very special shows.
 
Having been asked by John Curd to join The Damned for a massive show at London’s infamous Roundhouse in December 2014 the band once again joined the fray. A short set of dates around the London anchor show attracted rave reviews, as did a 6 night night SOLD OUT run in December 2014. (see reviews below)
 
2015 saw the band play two short jaunts across the UK in April and December both sets of dates wowed large crowds.
 
During touring in 2014 and 2015 the band constantly recorded at Oxygen Studios in Manchester, the first new studio album in 30+ years is now complete and released via a private pledge! ‘Kinshi’ was released on October 14th 2016 on CD, Vinyl, Download & Dub to pledgers. The 12 brand new songs are simply stunning. 
 
On their upcoming tour, Kirk, Stan and John will be joined by current Spear Of Destiny band member Adrian Portas (New Model Army) on guitar and Chris Bell(Hugh Cornwall) on drums to pay homage to the iconic TOH sound.

 
APRIL 2022
13th– Stockton, Georgian Theatre
14th– Darwen, Library Theatre
15th– Grimsby, Yardbirds
16th– York, Crescent
17th– Dunfermline, PJ Malloys
20th– Brighton, The Albert
16th– Georgian Theatre, Stockton
22nd– Guildford, Holyroyd Arms
24th– London, New Cross Inn
 
TICKETS HERE
 

Italian punk-blues musician Gianni Tbay alias THE BLUES AGAINST YOUTH has unveiled a video from his new album. ‘Particle Filter Blues’ is the first single to be taken from As The Tide Gets High And Low. His first full-length album for Turin’s Escape From Today label, it follows on from 2019’s acclaimed Evil Flatmates album. The album was composed (mostly) and recorded during lockdown by Gianni himself, a first-time occurrence. The album’s main inspirations can be found in the countless tours undertaken by him throughout Europe and especially his US tours during 2018 and 2019. 

“Along the never-ending process of getting and shaking the blues you may bump into a type of blues you can’t shake, no matter how hard you try,” he says. “You just gotta deal with it. The Diesel Particulate Filter can be one of those unshakable ones when it starts to show signs of subsidence. A real itch when you’re on tour and driving to the next destination. So you will find out that you and your vehicle have to put your heads together to keep consumption low, watch out for the oil levels and drive smoothly fast. Preferably on a highway.”

Initially hailing from Rome, but resident in Turin since 2014, Gianni/TBAY is a prolific artist, releasing five full-length LPs and five 7” singles since 2009. Rooted in Outlaw Country and Delta Blues, Gianni’s sound has evolved over the last ten years or so, partially through his discovery of John Fahey and Doc Watson, but mostly through relentless touring to the tune of well over a thousand shows, sharing stages with the likes of Watermelon Slim, Bob Log III, DM Bob, CW Stoneking, Bob Wayne, Popa Chubby and others along the way.

As The Tide Gets High And Low is available to pre-order here.

https://www.thebluesagainstyouth.com/

https://www.instagram.com/thebluesagainstyouth/

To celebrate the release of their new album, ‘The Fantasy Life of Poetry & Crime,’ Peter Doherty & Frédéric Lo will be touring in May with shows in the UK, France, Germany, The Netherlands and Belgium. Tickets go on general sale on Friday 4th February at 10:00am and are available if you preorder the new album now  Here or  Here

The dates are:
MAY

THU 5th Paris Le Trianon

FRI 6th Cologne Carlswerk Victoria

SAT  7th Berlin Metropol

MON 9th Amsterdam Zonnehuis Amsterdam

WED 11th Ghent Handelsbeurs

FRI 13th London Koko

SAT 14th Birmingham Town Hall

MON 16th Liverpool Olympia

WED 18th Aberdeen The Lemon Tree

THU 19th Hull Tower

FRI 20th Cambridge Junction

‘The Fantasy Life of Poetry & Crime’ is released through Strap Originals on Friday 18th March and will be available on Vinyl (in multiple colours), CD, cassette and digital download along with exclusive and signed items from the Official Store  Here

A new single ‘You Can’t Keep It From Me Forever’ is available now to stream and download, along with the previous single ‘The Fantasy Life of Poetry & Crime,’ when you preorder the album Here

https://twitter.com/petedoherty

https://www.instagram.com/peterdohertyofficial

https://www.facebook.com/peterdohertyofficial

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpseZdqx6LOyTZWnnJQTECw

https://twitter.com/straporiginals

https://www.instagram.com/straporiginals