Singles Club – July it’s a sizzler

Singles Club – July it’s a sizzler

EXCESSIVE FORCE – ‘Live Life For Idiots’ (Riot Records)  Hardcore as fuck.  Old school Agnostic Front style hardcore from down under.  To claim it is one of the more mellow songs on the album (soon to be released) it’s an ode to those fools blinded by bull*hit. This is one angry slab of old-school hardcore. What’s not to love?  It’s got a breeze block heavy guitar riff and lyrics to boot.  Get on it kids it’s a belter.

 

 

 

 

 

The Wildhearts – Sort Your Fucking Shit Out’ (Graphite Records)  The second single lifted from the brand new September released album from The Wildhearts is a bonafide banger.  Don’t believe me then take a listen on the youtube link.  Hookey (is that a word) as fuck from the thumping Danny bassline to Ginger’s melody to the humorous but serious message in the title and lyrics.  Everything a Wildhearts fan wants to hear.  Summery as fuck but with the heaviness like a pint of Guinness on a 27-degree day’s sunshine.  Take off your shoes and dance – indeed.  Bring on the album it’s what we all need.   To purchase / stream Sort Your Fucking Shit Out go to: https://ffm.to/syfso  whilst your at it hit this up  to pre-order and pre save 21st Century Love Songs go to: https://ffm.to/21stcenturylovesongs

 

The Dirty Denims – ‘Rock and Roll All Night / Better Believe It’ (Action Rock Jukebox 45 single)(Screaming Crow Records)  A perfectly passable cover of the Kiss Klassic from The Dirty Denims.  Their original submission is an uptempo rocker ‘Better Believe It’. 

 Each band has submitted a rockin’ version of a song that would have been found on your local jukebox in the 70s & 80s backed with an original track from the band. These large-holed 45s are perfect for that old jukebox in your basement. Each single comes with a jukebox title card and a custom 45 adapter in case you don’t have one of those cool old jukeboxes. Each release will feature 100 color vinyl  and 200 black vinyl versions. The first 50 copies sold will be autographed by the band. Right now the singles will only be available on Screaming Crow’s and the bands’ websites. Once all the singles are out, Screaming Crow will compile them into one killer double LP and CD and release them through our normal retail channels.
Website /Bandcamp / Facebook 

 

Black Sheriff – ‘Centerfold / Johnny’s Fight’ (Action Rock Jukebox 45 single)(Screaming Crow Records) A stone cold pop rock classic gets the Sheriff treatment and in fairness its gonna be tough to beat the original but points are awarded for daring to go there and in truth pulling off a pretty impressive take on ‘Centrefold’.  

 

The band sounds more comfortable on their own turf kicking up a shitstorm with ‘Johnny’s Fight’. With a rumbling bassline that heads into a gang-filled chorus that’ll have the boys and girls windmilling and pogoing.

Website / Facebook

 

 

Twiggy Branches – ‘The Radiant Twist.’ (Self Release) Recorded live in the studio by Paul Kostabi (also did cover art) and is mixed by Grammy winner Carl Glanville (U2). Twiggy Branches throw the kitchen sink into ‘The Radiant Twist’ with some super cool Horns a honkin and a hook laden bonafide creppy crawler of a tune.  Another mighty fine slice of Rock and Roll on offer right here.  Fill yer digital boots kids you wont regret it.
SPOTIFY PRE-SAVE: Here / Bandcamp / Facebook
Autogramm – ‘I Am A Situation’ (Nevado Records)  Infectious power-popin post-punk rock from Autogramm as they synth n slide into your noggin via this earworm.  Coming on like an 80s rock band who fell in love with post Tubeway Army Numan and just discovered Kraftwerk.  Splendid stuff ya? The black and white video portrays a Kraftwerk-like, day in the life of actress Kim Kraczon in mid-pandemic Berlin. The video echoes the sentiment of the song’s despondent lyrics. Buy the album Here

 

 

 

 

Little Triggers – ‘YEH MAN’   (ingrooves)  With influences stretching from Humble Pie and the MC5 to The Hives, Wolfmother and QOTSA. Tom Hamilton (lead vocals & guitars) and Jay Radcliffe (drums & backing vocals) make one hell of a din for a duo.  ‘Yeah Man’  is a thumping headache the morning after with a chaotic claustrophobic sound that gets exciting after the brain fog clears.  From the rasping vocals to the distorted bass and thrashing guitars.  Very exciting times for the Liverpool-based pair.  Check em out here 

 

 

 

 

Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard – ‘Crescent Man v Demolition Man’  Those south Wales rascals are back and as barking as ever with a brand new one for your listening pleasure.

The Wildhearts – ‘Remember These Days’ Video

The Wildhearts – ‘Remember These Days’ Video
On 18th June The Wildhearts released a brand new single ‘Remember These Days‘ before their appearance at the Download Pilot Festival on Sunday.
‘Remember These Days‘ is the first single taken from the album ’21st Century Love Songs’, out September 3rd  2021 via Graphite Records

Sometimes inspiration strikes at exactly the right point in time, Ginger explains “I was sitting blind drunk one afternoon, looking at a picture of me and CJ on stage having a great old time. It had been a year since we’d played live and I started to miss it even more. So I started writing this song.
I never write while drunk. I’ve probably my done it half a dozen times in my life. But the picture got me all emotional, thinking about how much fun we used to have, even in the ‘bad old days’. 
It made me want to document these times because who knows, maybe we’ll look back on these times and remember only the good things?”
To purchase / stream ‘Remember These Days’ go  https://ffm.to/rememberthesedays
With The Wildhearts classic line up of Ginger, CJ, Ritchie and Danny still holding strong this creatively brilliant band who helped change the landscape of British rock through the 90’s are showing no sign of slowing down.
21st Century Love Songs is the follow up to Renaissance Men, their highest charting album since 1994’s P.H.U.Q, which debuted at number 11
To celebrate the release of  21st Century Love Songs’ The Wildhearts play an 18 date UK tour. The tour will start in Cardiff on Friday 3rd September and concludes in Southampton on Saturday 25th September.
Their incendiary live performances over the last few years have seen the band’s popularity hit new heights as The Wildhearts continue to cement their reputation and legacy as one of the best bands the UK has ever produced.
Live 2021 dates in full 
Festivals
June 
20 Sun Download Pilot Festival
July
17 Sat Ramblin Man Fair, Maidstone
25 Sun Steelhouse Festival, Ebbw Vale
29 Thu Wacken Open Air 2021, Wacken, Germany
30 Fri Rock and Blues Custom Show, Derby
31 Sat Cleethorpes Rocks, Cleethorpes
August
13 Fri Bloodstock
21 Sat Razernij Festival, Antwerp, Belgium
Headline Tour 
September 
3 Fri Tramshed, Cardiff
4 Sat SWX, Bristol
5 Sun Phoenix, Exeter
6 Mon Cheese & Grain, Frome
8 Wed Academy 2, Manchester
9 Thu Electric Ballroom, London
10 Fri Waterfront, Norwich
11 Sat Chalk, Brighton
12 Sun Madding Crowd, Bournemouth
15 Wed KKs Steel Mill, Wolverhampton
16 Thu Guildhall, Gloucester
17 Fri Boiler Shop, Newcastle
18 Sat Stylus, Leeds
20 Mon Mac Arts, Galashiels
21 Tue Tolbooth, Stirling
22 Wed The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen
24 Fri Foundry, Sheffield
25 Sat Engine Rooms, Southampton
October
1 Fri Great British Alternative Festival, Skegness
2 Sat MK11, Milton Keynes
15 Fri Roadmender, Northampton
16 Sat Cornwall Rocks, Cornwall
November 
5 Fri MMH Radio 10 Year Birthday Bash, Birmingham
11 Thu Hedworth Hall, South Shields
12 Fri Monsterfest,  Inverness
To purchase tickets please go Here
http://www.thewildhearts.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TheWildhearts

The Wildhearts – Live ‘By Request’ – 17th April 2021

The Wildhearts – Live ‘By Request’ – 17th April 2021

 

So here we are. The first Wildhearts live show in over a year. Yet the floor is not stick underfoot, there is no queue for the toilet and the general aroma is way more pleasant than the usual mixture of body odour, alcohol and dry ice. What gives? Well, this just happens to be The Wildhearts live ‘By Request’. An online virtual gig, going out live on a Saturday night. It’s a pay-per-view show, a one-off gig experience that will not be shared or released to the general public. The rice of a ticket gets you access to the show for one live viewing only, £30 gets you a 30-day deluxe pass with over 2 hours of bonus videos.

With a set list chosen by the fans and the promise of a new song from the soon to be released ‘21st Century Love Songs’ opus, tonight promises to be the best time many of us have had since this shitstorm hit the world. So, I hook up the laptop to the TV, and sit down for the virtual doors at 7.45pm with a few tinnies and a bag of Haribo to take in the virtual live Wildhearts experience.

 

‘The One Before The Lights Go Out’ intro music plays as the camera pans around the dark depths of some Tudor building. Past silhouetted band members stood as still as statues, headphones on and instruments at the ready, before Ginger leads his band into a roaring version of ‘Dislocated’. Much like the coveted ‘Live In The Studio’ DVD, the cameras are close-up and personal and its actually like being down the front at a gig (remember them?). The band are in a small room facing each other, but this isn’t obvious for the majority of the 1 hour and 15-minute gig, as the camera focus is on the band members faces and their instruments for the most part. The wobbly camera work and the way the camera shots change quickly, mixed with the strobe lighting in a dark room, just adds to the drama and the intensity of the Wildhearts performance. Giving the sensation of being knocked about down the front but without the lasting bruises or the sweat and beer-drenched clothing. “Fuckin hell!” quips Ginger as the final chords of the opening song ring out.

While the show is going out live, it has been pre-recorded and mixed by Dave Draper and I must say The Wildhearts look and sound phenomenal on my TV screen. Their debut album ‘Earth Versus..’ features heavily in a fan favourite set that doesn’t really leave much to the imagination. The likes of ‘TV Tan’, ‘Shitsville’ and ‘Suckerpunch’ transporting us back to 1993. That breakdown and outro in ‘Everlone’ remains to me one of their finest moments all these years later.

‘Sick Of Drugs’, ‘Caffeine Bomb’, ‘The Revolution Will Be Televised’ follow…you know the score, no real surprises, but every song a stone-cold classic, delivered by one of the tightest bands on the planet. Ginger and CJ’s vocal harmonies are spot on, the pair’s guitars crunch just as you want them to, one in the left speaker and one in the right, just like ‘Live After Death’, baby! And the bass and drums combo sound like there’s a war going on coming out of my speakers.

Fan boy Frank Turner joins the band for the sing-a-long anthem ‘Let ‘em Go’ and ‘I Wanna Go Where The People Go’. He gives a performance that is as passionate and excitable as any true fan would give getting to sing with his heroes. And then it’s all over. Job done in 1 hour 15 minutes… leave ‘em wanting more!

 

Did I say more? Well, if you purchased the deluxe pass, you get a wealth of extras. Not only can you watch the gig whenever you like on your chosen media for 30 days, there are bonus interviews to watch, including Frank Turner discussing songwriting with Ginger, mental health with Danny and Rich going over his drum set up. Theres even a curry cooking lesson from CJ.

Then there’s the encore, did I mention the encore yet? New song alert! ‘Splinter’ is an intense burst of punky goodness riding on a mesmerizing 2 chord riff. Its instant, catchy as hell and well, you could say this sets things up nicely as a taster for the album of the year, which you can pre-order right now!

 

Usual symptoms the day after a Wildhearts gig may include: Loss of hearing, sore head, neck and throat and a pocket full of change where 50 notes used to be. Oh, and a massive grin on yer face of course! While most of those symptoms are absent for the first Wildhearts show of 2021, the grin is as wide as it was in 1993! A resounding success by all accounts, but bring on real live shows and ‘21st Century Love Songs’, we are ready and waiting.

Author: Ben Hughes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Wildhearts  announce brand new studio album  ’21st Century Love Songs’

The Wildhearts  announce brand new studio album  ’21st Century Love Songs’
The Wildhearts 
announce brand new studio album 
’21st Century Love Songs’
on Graphite Records
The Wildhearts are proud to announce the release of 21st Century Love Songs, their brand new full-length studio album on September 3rd through Graphite Records.
21st Century Love Songs is the follow up to Renaissance Men, their highest charting album since 1994’s P.H.U.Q, which debuted at number 11.
“Renaissance Men reminded me of our first album, ‘Earth Vs The Wildhearts’. No one knew how the fans and press would receive it, so it was balls-to-the-wall rock and fuck ’em if they don’t like it. 
Going in again, for ‘21st Century Love Songs’, naturally reminded me of our second album, ‘PHUQ’, where we got to flex our creative muscle, and show everyone what we’re capable of. This time we let the songs simmer until absolutely ready. We let the theme of the album present itself. There’s a subtlety to this album, something that people don’t often associate with The Wildhearts, and a sense of adventure in the unorthodox arrangements of the songs. This is where I become a fan of the band, when we ditch the rule book and just follow our instinct. Sarcastic, fun, angry, proud, experimental and belligerent, all wrapped up in a big ‘fuck you’, this is the sound of the band in their natural habitat. This time we’re in control.” exclaims Ginger Wildheart.
With The Wildhearts classic line up of Ginger, CJ, Ritchie and Danny still holding strong this creatively brilliant band who helped change the landscape of British rock through the 90’s are showing no sign of slowing down.
21st Century Love Songs will be available in usual CD and vinyl formats plus an exclusive limited edition red vinyl.There’s also signed photocards with each format whilst stock lasts, as well as T-Shirt bundles available from the band’s webstore https://www.omerch.com/shop/thewildhearts
To celebrate the release of  21st Century Love Songs’ The Wildhearts play an 18 date UK tour. The tour will start in Cardiff on Friday 3rd September and concludes in Southampton on Saturday 25th September.
Their incendiary live performances over the last few years have seen the band’s popularity hit new heights as The Wildhearts continue to cement their reputation and legacy as one of the best bands the UK has ever produced.
Live 2021 dates in full 
Festivals
July
17 Sat Ramblin Man Fair, Maidstone
25 Sun Steelhouse Festival, Ebbw Vale
29 Thu Wacken Open Air 2021, Wacken, Germany
30 Fri Rock and Blues Custom Show, Derby
31 Sat Cleethorpes Rocks, Cleethorpes
August
13 Fri Bloodstock
21 Sat Razernij Festival, Antwerp, Belgium
Headline Tour 
September 
03 Fri Tramshed, Cardiff
04 Sat SWX, Bristol
05 Sun Phoenix, Exeter
06 Mon Cheese & Grain, Frome
08 Wed Academy 2, Manchester
09 Thu Electric Ballroom, London
10 Fri Waterfront, Norwich
11 Sat Chalk, Brighton
12 Sun Madding Crowd, Bournemouth
15 Wed KKs Steel Mill, Wolverhampton
16 Thu Guildhall, Gloucester
17 Fri Boiler Shop, Newcastle
18 Sat Stylus, Leeds
20 Mon Mac Arts, Galashiels
21 Tue Tolbooth, Stirling
22 Wed The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen
24 Fri Foundry, Sheffield
25 Sat Engine Rooms, Southampton
October
1 Fri Great British Alternative Festival, Skegness
2 Sat MK11, Milton Keynes
15 Fri Roadmender, Northampton
16 Sat Cornwall Rocks, Cornwall
November 
5 Fri MMH Radio 10 Year Birthday Bash, Birmingham
11 Thu Hedworth Hall, South Shields
12 Fri Monsterfest,  Inverness
To purchase tickets please go to: Here
Website / Facebook

The Almighty – ‘Powertrippin’ (Cherry Red Records)

The Almighty – ‘Powertrippin’ (Cherry Red Records)

With high profile tours and two well-received albums under their studded leather belts, Scottish rockers The Almighty found themselves at the pinnacle of the UK rock scene in the early ’90s. Not a week would go by without singer Ricky Warwick’s face peering moodily from the pages of Kerrang! or Metal Hammer. Leather jackets would be emblazoned with their skull & death wings logo at gigs, and hell, they even opened proceedings at Donington Monsters Of Rock ‘92. Their brand of dirty, biker rock n’ roll crossed rock genres and their shows would attract as many Poison t-shirts as it would Motorhead and Metallica.

But times they were a changin’ by the early ’90s, and the sound coming from Seattle was making waves across the world. An extensive tour with the up-and-coming Alice In Chains would inspire the band and take them in a heavier direction. Replacing original guitarist Tantrum with former Alice Cooper guitarist Pete Friesen would also mark a big change to the band’s sound and direction for album number 3.

 

With the onset of Grunge and having now found a new writing partner in Pete Friesen, Ricky Warwick and the boys relocated to a remote farm in Wales to write. Pete’s use of drop d tuning would inspire new ideas and a heavier sound that would take the band away from their punk roots.

 

‘The Almighty’s 3rd album ‘Powertrippin’ was released in April 1993 to rave reviews and would be their most successful release, reaching number 5 in the UK album charts. The first single ‘Addiction’ is the perfect example of where the band was heading. The one thing I remember from first hearing it is how heavy they sounded and how different the production values were compared to previous albums. Listening back now, to me those first two albums sound dated and ‘of their time’ (as many 80’s rock albums now do due to that drum sound). Whereas ‘Powertrippin’ sounds…. massive! This is due in part to producer Mark Dodson who obviously pushed the band hard in the studio and got the most out of them.

 

Don’t get me wrong, I love those first two albums, they had some great songs on there for sure, but to me, The Almighty had now come of age and morphed into the band I wanted them to be. ‘Powertrippin’ has a heavier, edgier sound that is more in tune with the times, yet still retains killer melodies and catchy anthemic choruses.

 

The following two singles continued the theme. ‘Over The Edge’ with its instantly familiar picked riff and gargantuan, anthemic chorus is pure The Almighty, a full-force, rock machine. Whereas ‘Out Of Season’ is a more subdued, moody affair that nods its head to what was coming out of Seattle, in particular Alice In Chains. ‘Sick and Wired’ could’ve been a single and the emotive ‘Jesus Loves You, But I Don’t’ surely should’ve been one. The title track is full of tribal beats and killer riffs, and that cool, effortless riff in ‘Instinct’ still gets me every time. Elsewhere, ‘Eye To Eye’ is a punchy closer, up there with the best. I can safely say there isn’t a bad track on ‘Powertrippin’ and it still sounds as fresh and vibrant today as it did in 1993.

Now of course, as this is a Cherry Red release, it’s been given the deluxe treatment. A bonus disc choc-a-bloc with rarities and curiosities from the era, makes this a worthwhile purchase for diehards and occasional fans alike. CD2 is a 16-track affair consisting of b sides, live tracks and demos. Most fans will probably have these tracks already, but it’s still great to have them collected in one pretty package.

 

Live tracks and covers versions from the ‘Liveblood’ EP are present and correct, including Neil Young’s ‘Fuckin Up’, The Sex Pistols ‘Bodies’ and their excellent version of ‘In A Rut’. Single b sides ‘Insomnia’ and ‘Blind’ are welcome additions and an acoustic version of ‘Hell To Pay’ sounds fantastic.

 

The demos are interesting as well, in that they show the progression of the songs from writing to finished product. ‘Out Of Season’ sounds like a completely different song in demo form, and is a great example of what a good producer can do for a band.

 

Also worth noting is the inclusion of ‘Soul Destruction’, the title track of the band’s second album, that was never actually recorded, so the inclusion of the previously unavailable demo is a nice throwback.

 

With extensive liner notes from the band and Malcome Dome, this 2-disc edition is a must have for fans of The Almighty and the perfect companion to the forthcoming ‘Welcome To Defiance (1994-2001)’ box set also available on Cherry Red records.

 

For me, ‘Powertrippin’ is the highlight of the band’s career, an album that came at a time when rock music was going through changes. Brit Rock was on the horizon, and with the likes of Terrorvision and The Wildhearts in the charts, the UK rock scene was very healthy and exciting. While The Almighty continued with a run of strong albums, I feel ‘Powertrippin’ remains a testament to how great and how powerful they were at the height of their career.

 

Buy Powertrippin’ Here

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Author: Ben Hughes

 

 

 

 

 

Rainy Days & Mondays

Rainy Days & Mondays

IDLES have shared a new animated video for album highlight “Kill Them With Kindness”. The video, which was directed and designed by James Carbutt and animated by Pip Williamson, is taken from the band’s critically-acclaimed UK number one album “Ultra Mono“, which was released in September via Partisan Records.

Here’s another beaut from the brand new awesome live Wildhearts album get into some ‘Urge’

Finally, we have Kilfeather with a track off the excellent album ‘Island Of Lost Toys’

Ok so it isn’t Christmas In A Crackhouse but it’s the new old school wonk we love round here.  Get an ear full of some classic Wonk Unit.  Oof!

THE WILDHEARTS – ‘THIRTY YEAR ITCH’ – Double live album Release Date: 4th December 2020

THE WILDHEARTS – ‘THIRTY YEAR ITCH’ – Double live album Release Date: 4th December 2020
Just in case you didn’t know – The Wildhearts are releasing a brand new live album.  Reviewed Here
It gets an official release in December for those who didn’t know.
“Ginger gave me two instructions: “Loud guitars and loud crowd”….I didn’t have a choice in either as that’s what was captured during the recording” – Live album producer Dave Draper

At a time when we are craving live shows more than ever, Round Records presents  ‘The Wildhearts – 30 Year Itch’, recorded live during the band’s ‘The Renaissance Men’ and ‘Diagnosis’ tours during 2019.

The 17-track album showcases the incendiary energy that has made The Wildhearts one of the best loved UK live rock acts of the last thirty years. A perfect moment in time, thirty years from the band first playing live, that shows a band still at the height of their powers, bristling with energy as they deliver classic tracks such as ‘Caffeine Bomb’, ‘Suckerpunch’, ‘Let Em Go’, ‘Vanilla Radio’ and ‘I Wanna Go Where The People Go’.

Ginger says, “There are a few authorised bootleg live albums of The Wildhearts doing the rounds, but as soon as Danny rejoined the band I knew I had to capture the classic Wildhearts line up on record. There were a few reasons for this, the main one being that we’re still alive, which is a situation that could change at any second with this group.

I also wanted people to hear how insanely powerful The Wildhearts are as a live band. Pounding drums, chainsaw bass and bombastic guitar riffs, all underpinning harmony vocals and huge anthemic songs that every member of the audience sings like a football crowd. 
It’s a surprisingly emotional blend of noise, passion and unity.

As far as I’m concerned this is a classic album by a unique band playing timeless songs that don’t fit into any established genre. Is it rock? Is it punk? Who cares, it’s The Wildhearts.”

Although the release date of the album was set pre Covid, the albums Imminent release will give the fans a little taste of what they can’t have with the current situation.

Mastered once again by maestro Dave Draper, this double album captures the band’s balls out performance that still kicks the ass of crowds up and down the country, 30 years since they started!

Dave explains “‘Never Outdrunk, Never Outsung‘ was my first adventure into the world of working with The Wildhearts. I carried a lot of pressure on my shoulders to make sure it was as close to the experience of actually being in the crowd. Judging on what the feedback has been since it came out, I can say I think it worked out just fine.

So when the time came around to make another live album for the boys, myself and Elliot Vaughan once again jumped in the car and captured a few shows from The Renaissance Men and Diagnosis tours of 2019.

When it came to the mixing, like on ‘Never Outdrunk…’, it was really good to hear older tracks having a new lease of life and power from the boys…. the two songs from ‘Endless Nameless’ that have made this new album are highlights for me and I’m sure many of you will agree. Timeless songs with all you mad bastards singing your hearts out on. What’s not to like? Ginger gave me two instructions: “Loud guitars and loud crowd”….I didn’t have a choice in either as that’s what was captured during the recording, Thank you for making my job a lot easier, guys!”

The album will be released commercially on the 4th December 2020. The commercial release also features an exclusive limited edition coloured vinyl version and also a CD version with 4 exclusive postcards, that will only ever be available with this version.

Buy ’30 Year Itch’ Here

The Wildhearts – ‘30 Year Itch’ (Round Records)

The Wildhearts – ‘30 Year Itch’ (Round Records)

If 2019 was the year the music world once again woke up to The Wildhearts, then 2020 really should have been the year that they cemented their position as the very best seven-legged live band the UK has to offer.

 

Luckily for me The Wildhearts were one of the last bands I got to see live before the world was consumed by the Covid-19 pandemic, and now when I think back to that amazing Friday night headline slot at Butlin’s Punk & Alternative Weekend – where playing to a largely partisan audience they made so many new friends – I take one look at the track listing of ’30 Year Itch’ (the band’s soon to be released double live album) and I must admit I can’t help get a little robot chubby on at the prospect of hearing the band delivering the goods once again…albeit right here in my living room.

 

Consisting of 17 tracks spanning the length and breadth of the band’s (almost) three-decade long career – and thankfully avoiding some of the perhaps more obvious tracks – this album was recorded across both The Renaissance Men and Diagnosis tours undertaken by the band in 2019 and achieves what every great live album sets out to achieve by making you feel like you are right back in the audience stage front and centre (don’t worry though as other crowd positions are available if the pit is a bit too rough for you). Plus choosing to work once again with the wizard that is Dave Draper really does add plenty of sonic salt ‘n’ shake to proceedings, making this one of the most remarkable sounding live albums I’ve heard since Exit_International’s ‘Live At Le Pub’.  Anyone spot the connection?

 

From the furry boxing glove opener that is ‘Dislocated’ through to the set closing – best song ever with a music video filmed on a flatbed truck – ‘I Wanna Go Where The People Go’ there is hardly a second to catch your breath as riff after motherfucking riff hit you from every direction, and whilst ‘Let ‘Em Go’ might not be in my list of all-time favourite Wildhearts’ songs it’s impossible not to be swept along in the moment and I suddenly find myself singing along at the top of my voice.

 

Highlights? Well hearing the likes of the sublimely brutal ‘Urge’ and err anthemic ‘Anthem’ live is most welcome in my house, whilst the huge singalongs that are ‘Sick Of Drugs’ and ‘Vanilla Radio’ are just designed to have you bouncing down the street when you plug this sucker into your in-car stereo system.  Of the deeper cuts aired here ‘The Revolution Will Be Televised’ and ‘The Jackson Whites’ perfectly capture the band’s latter years, whilst in ‘Diagnosis’ (which seems to be  everyone’s favourite song from 2019’s ‘Renaissance Men’ album) the guys have written perhaps their most ‘Earth V’s’ era sounding song in many a long year, and thus perhaps unintentionally brings them sonically full circle.

 

Whatever you may think about this point though in this current rich vein of form The Wildhearts really are a 30-year itch you can’t help but scratch, and what more, if you were lucky enough to pre-order this bad boy from the band’s website you should have also have received a bonus 4 track CD of tracks not included on the album including a blistering ‘Top Of The World’ plus a pogotastic ‘Shame On You’ before ‘Nothing Changes But The Shoes’ and ‘My Baby Is A Headfuck’ sends yours truly ambling off down memory lane via two tracks that still sound as awesome as they did when they first got me into The Wildhearts all those years ago.

 

‘30 Year Itch’ is truly amazing stuff! Make sure you are in on the celebrations when the double album goes back on sale via the band’s website soon.

Buy ’30 Year Itch’ Here

Author: Johnny Hayward

Strange Unit are back and tooled up with ‘Nail Meet Hammer’

Strange Unit are back and tooled up with ‘Nail Meet Hammer’
Ahead of this Friday’s release, Strange Units Scott got in touch to tell us all about the EP. For the first time since last Novembers release ‘Strange Unit’ and since COVID-19 hit the globe a lot has happened and after testing out new material during lockdown Scott takes up where the band are at…

“Nail, Meet Hammer” is the first track taken from the next full STRANGE UNIT album. Following the release of “STRANGE UNIT” in November 2019, I began working on new material that I was testing during the “LIVE from the STRANGE ROOM” live streams earlier this year.

I then had a hard-drive crash and lost a bunch of tunes. That was a fucking HUGE bummer and took a punt at sending my laptop to a data recovery specialist to get my stuff back.

In the meantime, I downloaded some free apps that some music production companies made available for free, and had to use them to get ideas down. Now, these apps were sequencing-type software – Developed for non-guitar based music. I struggled with getting to grips with them but had to get ideas down, and “Nail, Meet Hammer” was a result.

When I got the laptop back up and running, and transferred the idea into the realm of ‘rock’ it was perfectly formed, although a lot more succinct and direct than anything I’d written before.

I roped in Stuart Richardson* to mix as we have not worked together since Midasuno’s debut single, and had Dave Draper to master it (The Wildhearts, Mutation, Ryan Hamilton) as he is also great and super easy to work with.

What really changed things was wanting to get a video shot, so worked with a team of brilliant local (To me in Geelong, Australia) team who brought the track to life – And I finally got to finish a music video with my good friend Jeremy Belinfante (Who shot the currently unreleased video for MUTATION’s “Devolution” which has tonnes of green-screened DEVIN TOWNSEND (NOTE – WE WILL FINISH THE VIDEO ONE DAY)).

I then reached out to Jon-Lee Martin (Of KONG / THEN THICKENS fame) with the video, who jumped on the chance to smash out the wonderful artwork.

Dylan (Bass) and Lee (Drums) now round out the STRANGE UNIT trio and will be playing our first show as a band this September.

RE: B-sides on the EP.

TRASH FIRE: I did think at one point this was going to be a single, but it doesn’t reflect how nuts the next album is going to be.
WHAT’S YR TRUTH?: Another track that was written earlier this year that also veered off course from the new direction.
SCENTLESS APPRENTICE: After watching Post Malone doing that live stream, I had to have a crack myself. This is the first cover I think I have ever done where I have managed to get my mark/stink over.

 

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BANDCAMP RELEASE FEATURES EXCLUSIVE AUDIO/VISUAL BONUS CONTENT
SUBSCRIBE TO THE STRANGE UNIT YOUTUBE CHANNEL TO SEE THE OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO: Here

MUTATION:
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The Wildhearts/Backyard Babies/CKY – Newcastle, O2 Academy – 28th January 2020

The Wildhearts/Backyard Babies/CKY – Newcastle, O2 Academy – 28th January 2020

I’ve seen The Wildhearts in many venues across the country over the last 28 years, but never at their hometown gig in The Toon. So when a co-headline tour with Sweden’s finest the Backyard Babies was announced, it was a toss-up between Manchester or Newcastle for me, I opted for the latter for no other reason than it was the first date of the UK leg of this tour. A 2-hour car journey is a small price to pay for an evening in the company of 2 of my favourite rock ‘n’ roll bands.

 

It’s been 20 years since Camp Kill Yourself first gained recognition through Jackass on our TV screens and there has been a lot of water under the bridge in that time. Following a lengthy hiatus, CKY return, albeit as a two-piece, featuring founding members Chad Ginsburg on vocals/guitar and drummer Jess Margera.

With early doors at 6 pm the duo hit the stage at the only-just rock ‘n’ roll time of 7 pm to a fair-sized crowd, it must be said. To be honest, I’m unfamiliar with most of their material, but they sound pretty cool. Their skate punk/stoner rock hybrid sound fits the bill nicely, and while I could name 10 young UK bands off the top of my head that would’ve killed for the opening slot on this tour, they hold their own. Originally the guitar player, Chad excels in his role as frontman, peeling off metal-edged licks and technically proficient riffs on his CKY emblazoned Musicman guitar. He’s engaging with the crowd and thankful for the support. The likes of ‘Attached At The Hip’, ‘Escape From Hellview’ and the classic set closer ’96 Quite Bitter Beings’ show a band with punk ethics and technically heavy tunes that are still here to party like its 1999.

The Backyard Babies closed the show for the German dates. Now, with both bands getting an equal 75 minutes stage time, it’s the sleazy Swedes chance to show The Wildhearts massive what they got going on.

Backyard Babies stroll on stage to massive cheers as oversized blue police lights flash, outlining their silhouettes in the dark. Photographers in the pit fight for the elusive killer shot, as frontman Nicke Borg and livewire guitarist Dregen, jump on their respective ego risers stage front and kick into ‘Good Morning Midnight’ from last year’s return to form album ‘Sliver and Gold’.

Wrapped up in a hoodie and a leather jacket, Nicke incites the crowd to riot from the off and the packed Academy responds in spades. In skinny jeans, leather waistcoat and a straw boater Dregen is looking more rock ‘n’ roll than he has in the last few years, and the diminutive guitarist is in fine form. With his custom Gibson E335 hanging from his knees he peels off killer licks, making good use of the stage and plays every solo on his riser, high above the heads of the front few rows.

A killer ‘Nomadic’ follows ‘Shovin Rocks’, the frontman getting the Academy crowd to sing every chorus with him. Yeah, the newer songs sound a lot better than I imagined to be fair, but it’s not until ‘Heaven 2.9’ that things really get cooking. The following ‘Highlights’ sounds amazing before Nicke brings out the dreaded acoustic. An acoustic guitar would not have happened at a ‘Total 13’ era Backyard Babies gig, right? But hey, that was 2 decades ago and who’s to argue at a singer/songwriter wanting to channel his inner troubadour? Well, ‘Painkiller’ is pretty much a Dogs D’amour tune anyways, so I’m cool with that and to be fair it’s a surprise highlight of the main set for me, along with the awesome, Dregen led ‘Star War’.

If you only made it in time for the 5 song encore you would not have been disappointed. ‘Look At You’ was a breath of fresh air when it came out back in 1998 and its easily the best tune of their career-spanning set. Even witnessing Nicke take a tumble jumping on his riser during a killer ‘Minus Celsius’ doesn’t compete for set highlight.

With a bruised ego and a battered Gretsch, the singer continues like a pro and doesn’t even change guitar for the closing one-two of ‘Brand New Hate’ and ‘People Like People Like People Like Us’.

I’ve heard reports that Backyard Babies are not at their best live these days, but for me, they absolutely killed it tonight. They are tight, professional and they know how to put on a high energy rock ‘n’ roll show. Yes, the setlist could’ve been stronger, and with the addition of a few more classics from ‘Total 13’ or ‘Stockholm Syndrome’ they could’ve stolen the show from the headliners tonight.

 

But the headliners are not going to be overshadowed tonight. This is The Wildhearts and this is their gaff!  Let’s just ease the crowd in gently, shall we? No. Let’s grab ‘em by the ball sack and twist the fucker till it bleeds! They open with ‘Everlone’; I’ve never seen them open with that before. The first ace has been played.

But this band has so many aces in their pack right? ‘Diagnosis’ follows, not only is it one of the most important songs (lyrically) in modern history, it has quickly become a live fan favourite. The building AC/DC  riff into that killer refrain, it’s so…dare I say it ‘classic rock’, and I don’t mean that in a bad way. The first time I heard it, it was like I’ve always known it.

The band is on fire, Ginger is remarkably happy after a few days climbing the walls in Germany with no weed and (as he later informs us) nursing a major hangover. The singer, CJ, and Danny all take to the mics and interact throughout the set between songs. And what songs!  ‘Vanilla Radio’, ‘…Shitsville’ and newbie ‘Let Em Go’ fly by in no time at all, the packed room singing every word back to the grinning frontman. Ginger and CJ giving multiple opportunities for photographers to capture the elusive jump shot.

It’s great to see ‘The Revolution Will Be Televised’ back in the set; personally I would love to hear more from that era. But then ‘Dislocated’ takes the energy levels up a notch or two. The intensity of this song live is up there with the feeling I got watching ‘Suckerpunch’ live for the first time, and that is a good thing to witness. ‘My Kinda Movie’ is a welcome addition to the set this time around; again, the intensity of this song live is so, so good.

Encore time ‘Geordie In Wonderland’ is sung probably louder than any other time I can imagine and the closing ‘My Baby Is A Headfuck’ is as good a way to bow out as any other.

While the demographic of a Wildhearts show is generally middle-aged these days, there are plenty of teenagers in attendance tonight, for many, it will be there first Wildhearts show, it could even be their first rock show. Imagine this gig being your first show? The Wildhearts and Backyard Babies set the bar really high tonight, good luck to all bands who try to follow.

Author: Ben Hughes