Desperate Measures

‘Rinsed’ mini album released September 3rd via Easy Action Records

 

Buy/Stream ‘Flowers At Your Door’ HERE:

 

Headline gig at the legendary London venue the Hope and Anchor on July 30th

 

Support to The Professionals confirmed for their 13-date October 2021 tour

 

DESPERATE MEASURES, the London/New Zealand punk and rock four piece will release their brand-new mini album ‘Rinsed’ on Easy Action records on September 3rd. Containing six tracks of hard-hitting punk with a big helping of rock n’ roll and available on 10” vinyl, CD and download, these recordings feature the new line-up of founder Eugene Butcher, former Glitterati and current Rich Ragany and The Digressions guitarist Gaff, Ricky McGuire (U.K SUBS, The Men They Couldn’t Hang), and former K-Line/Done Lying Down drummer James Sherry.

 

Following the release of ‘The Rich-Tual’, the stomping first single from the ‘Rinsed’ sessions released earlier this year comes new single ‘Flowers At Your Door’. Channelling the dark energy of Iggy Pop, Lords Of The New Church and the Doors, ‘Flowers At Your Door’ is a brooding rocker that finds Desperate Measures shifting in new directions with their new line-up with excellent results and is available via Spotify, i Tunes and Bandcamp today.

 

“Flowers was written after being stuck in pretty much self-isolation for 3 months on last years first lockdown as a relationship went down the pan,” explains frontman Eugene Butcher. “It was a lonely time for a lot of people and this song was born out of all that.”

 

The video was directed, edited and shot by Craig Temple of Racketeer Pictures and perfectly captures the mood of the song.

 

 

Desperate Measures play at London’s iconic Hope and Anchor on July 30th before heading off on a 13 date U.K tour with the Professionals (Paul Cook-Sex Pistols) in October.

 

Dates are:

 

JULY 30TH LONDON HOPE AND ANCHOR (Album launch with Vibrators’ Knox and Backstreet Abortions)

 

OCTOBER 3RD – HRH PUNK, SHEFFIELD ACADEMY

 

Desperate Measures with The Professionals dates as follows:

 

October 2021
Wed 13th Oct Tunbridge Wells Forum
Thur 14th Oct Oxford o2 Academy
Fri 15th Oct Swansea Sin City
Mon 18th Oct Glasgow King Tuts
Tue 19th Oct Newcastle The Cluny
Wed 20th Oct Nottingham Bodega
Thur 21st Oct Birmingham Castle Falcon
Fri 22nd Oct Liverpool EBGB’s
Sun 24th Oct London The Garage
Mon 25th Oct Bristol The Exchange
Tue 26th Oct Leeds Brudenell Social
Wed 27th Oct Milton Keynes Craufurd Arms
Thur 28th Oct Chester Live Rooms

 

This 7th record from the Psych Heavy Lords of Altamont and its a body of work that is as uncompromising as the first and one that follows their own beat from day one to the current time with a steadfast group of influences ranging from The MC5 and The Stooges through to the Stones catching shades of styles like Sabbath and Motorhead along the way.  It’s been 22 years of uncompromising single-mindedness that has evolved slowly into this possibly their finest hour yet. If Action Rock is a thing then this is the embodiment of Heavy Action Rock.

 

Recorded during a worldwide pandemic with members across the globe, its amazing that it ever saw the light of day as the Lords dedication to ‘the old ways’ and paying homage to their sonic forefathers wasn’t possible and having to Mail it in shows the lengths they go to deliver the goods.

‘TUNE IN, TURN ON, ELECTRIFY’ is the perfect title for what you should do when undertaking a listening session with the Lords.  With their emphasis on raw, aggressive garage punk that also takes in elaborate psychedelic trips. Get the sonic rush of “We’ll Never Leave (This World Alive)”, or get your mind blown with “Mud”, then come down again with “Soul In Flames”. Forty-Five minutes of honest heartfelt hard rockin that’s the guarantee you get from these four horsemen of the Apocolypse.

The band has evolved with lineups but has maintained their roots and ended up improving on each record they’ve made sure they’ve not reinvented the Rock and Roll wheel but they’ve kept it spinning and have gotten better at their craft.

 

Along with The Fuzztones these cats are top of the food chain currently still kicking out the jams and with a commercial edge to songs like ‘Burn Me Out’ with a great hook on the chorus and some quality organ tinkling from Jake Cavaliere.

 

The tunes keep rolling and are built on a great hook or a melody they just keep on giving.  With the title track or rather ‘Million Watts Electrified’  having a huge groove and hook on the chorus this is excellent stuff but it’s the stunning arrangement that holds the key to how damn good this record is. I’m hoping this Global lockdown has made bands like this hungry to hit the road and tour these records and we’ll be lucky enough to get an eyeful of this Rock and Roll trip because some of these songs would be nothing short of sensational through a huge PA and the billowing dry ice.

 

Side two starts off with some seriously hard rockin intent as the song’s flow ‘Blast From Kicksville’ is a stomping good time. Bullshit-free high octane rock and it feels great. But then you have your melon twisted with the kaleidoscopic ‘I Just Want’.  There is a Stooges cover just for the CD buyers out there as the vinyl snobs roll their eyes and tut but you can hear it on streaming sites (CD buyers and Vinyl junkies all roll eyes).

With just a pair of tracks left we get the high octane drag racing number ‘Moving (Goats Revenge)’ burning rubber and the well-worn path of denim and leather and Action rocks ties with fast big shiny engines are honoured here.  Which only leaves the epic six-minute ‘Mud (Wet Brain)’ hazy, bass-heavy, drug theme, wailing guitars, vocals dripping with echo.  It’s all here baby Tune In Turn On Electrify! it’s a theme baby and the Lords Of Altamont live it to the full extent if ya believe then throw your arms in the air like you just don’t care because in anyone’s world this is a belter, Buy it!

 

Oh, and did I mention the die cut sleeve is cool as fuck as well. oh well take it from me it is.

 

Buy Here

Author: Dom Daley

The Professionals are delighted to announce ‘The Pretty Vaccinated’ August tour, their first UK shows since playing with Billy Idol three years ago.
The 5 shows include The Stone Valley Festival on 28th August, plus 4 intimate headline shows starting in St Albans at The Horn on 25th and finishing the Boiler Room in Guilford on 29th August.
“Getting out to there to play and see you lovely people has seemed like an unrealistic fantasy for too long.
Our fingers are crossed for our album launch tour this October.
Please don’t let it go tits up again!
So, in the meantime, our marvellous agent has managed to grab us a string of gigs around a festival show on the Saturday.  Yes, they’re not our usual haunts, we had to avoid October locations, but we truly can’t wait to make some noise and get amongst the people.
We’ve been working on the new album. That’s kept us sane through mad times. You’ll get to hear it in October. Before then though, let’s get together to blow away the cobwebs of covid.”  
Tickets are available on their Website
Following 2017’s critically acclaimed album ‘What in the World’, The Professionals will be releasing their third album SNAFU later this year
Formed from the ashes of the Sex Pistols by Paul Cook and Steve Jones, The Professionals are more vital than ever and a formidable live force that needs to be experienced.

The Professionals 2021 live shows 
August  – The Pretty Vaccinated tour
25th  Wed St Albans, The Horn
26th  Thu Bridgwater, Cobblestones
27th  Fri Southend, The Cricketer’s
28th  Sat Newark, Stone Valley Festival
29th  Sun Guildford, Boiler Room
October  – SNAFU tour
13th  Wed Tunbridge Wells, Forum
14th  Thu Oxford, o2 Academy
15th   Fri Swansea, Sin City
16th  Sat Manchester, Factory
18th   Mon Glasgow, King Tuts
19th  Tue Newcastle, The Cluny
20th  Wed Nottingham, Bodega
21st Thu Birmingham, Castle Falcon
22nd Fri Liverpool, EBGB’s
24th  Sun London, The Garage
25th  Mon Bristol, The Exchange
26th  Tue Leeds, Brudenell Social
27th  Wed Milton Keynes, Craufurd Arms
28th  Thu Chester, Live Rooms

Edmonton’s Real Sickies released their newest album “Love is for Lovers” on July 9th via Stomp Records. The band serves up yet another platter full of tasty hooks and punk rock melodies, but this time around with a dash of pop that shows a leap in songwriting craft. Recorded in Edmonton at Rob Lawless’ Physics Lab Studios, the album offers songs that straddle the border between Ramones-style aggression and Strokes reminiscent vocal takes. This color-vinyl release includes everything from explosive rockers to heart-wrenching ballads. “Love is for Lovers” has the whole enchilada!

 

When Honesty is the best policy.  Kris had this to say about his new video.  “To be honest, I wrote it trying to write a Kurt Baker Band song. I’m pretty terrible at guitar so I have to keep it really basic. I’ve always loved Kurt’s melodies and the way Kurt and Wyatt Funderburk re-harmonize different sections.”

DANGEREENS – ‘Streets Of Doom’  (Golden Robot Records)  After recently signing a global record deal with Golden Robot Records, Montreal glitter punk outfit DANGEREENS will release their first single through the label, ‘Streets of Doom’! Out on the 26th of July, the single will be available on all digital platforms.

Dubbed the most elegantly decadent rock n’ roll unit of the 21st century, DANGEREENS’ upcoming single ‘Streets of Doom’ takes you back to the glory days of 70’s glitter rock. One listen and the influences will come pouring out and transport you back into one of the finest ever rock eras!

‘Streets of Doom’ is a contemporary, deadbeat take on a Homeresque tragedy, describing the thoughts and feelings of a hopelessly in love drug dealer. The song is built on a straight 4/4 throbbing rhythm section with syncopated accents, and features take-no-prisoner, oversaturated fuzzed-out guitars, and careless, snarly vocals.

Pre-Save/Pre-Order to ‘Streets of Doom’ HERE

 

Pat Todd & The Rankoutsiders – ‘ You Might Be Through With The Past, But The Past Ain’t Through With You’ / ‘Ruby Baby’ (Heavy Medication Records) Another out and out rocker from the wonderful Pat Todd and his Rank Outsiders. With a howling good time harmonica from the kick-off, this is just a stomping old-time rocker with some smart solo and a Pat spitting out the words hell yeah! Flip it over and ‘Ruby Baby’ is a twelve-bar boogie it’s like Todd fronting the best of the Georgia Sats and Them Scorchers.  What’s not to like?

Buy it Here

 

 

 

 

Dirty Fences – ‘Inside Out’ (Self Release) Rapid like a Gatlin gun firing power-pop bullets all over the shop.  ‘Inside Out’ is punchy with a big sloppy chorus.  As the New Yorkers get down to business – the Buzzcocks like ‘Broken Saddle So’ lets the listener have it in spades.  This band has never released a bad track and this seven-inch is another two gems.  Check it out here

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dez Dare – ‘My My Medulla’ (Ch!mp Records)   Australian-born, Brighton-based musician (otherwise known as Darren Smallman!) has a new single out today called ‘My My Medulla’, lifted from the new album ‘Hairline Ego Trip’ out now on Ch!mp Records.  Dez can turn in a decent tune to be fair as this one deals with the autism that Darren has grown up with.

“Being Autistic I have always struggled to communicate with the people around me, feeling a physical barrier nearly like a wall of distortion in between me and the world,” explains Darren. “This song looks at the struggle to find clarity with the ones you love and the force it takes to include yourself in the world outside your mind.”  Knowing the struggle of someone on the spectrum all too well I love seeing and hearing people like Dez achieve what he’s already managed.

 

Clowns – ‘Sarah’ (Fat Wreck Chords)  another day another banger from Australia’s finest – Clowns.  The second track to be lifted from their new album (due later this year) this is another earworm that will burrow down and delight you when you least expect it or if you are already familiar with the band then you know what to expect.  Awesome stuff.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hailing from Venice Italy this four-piece have managed to harness the best of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and a modern version of Jesus and Mary Chain and whilst they were at it they’ve remembered how Brown and Squires wrote melodies. From the off ‘Twin Mime’ is a brooding swirling mass of heaving guitars and tub-thumping. It’s a really good intro that fires into the stop-start of ‘Zyko’ with a really satisfying bass line that holds it all together whilst the guitars howl and rage all around.

 

‘Factice’ is a proper ‘Darklands’ era Mary Chain and that is a great place to plant your flag in the ground in my book with a steady droning rhythm behind the rolling riff whilst the melody swoons.  I reviewing this whilst hiding indoors as the temperature hits a staggering 31 degrees and the Gothic majesty isn’t lost on me for a second as I only stop to paint my nails a darker shade of black with ‘Begin Again’ rattling around the room. Saying that there are gothic undertones at play would be an understatement as well as the ebow on ‘Begin Again’ its reminiscent of The Mission’s influence. There is also usage of the synth drone on ‘Evil Evil’ as they build their wall of noise that is very addictive and rather enjoyable when the guitar joins in for some whiplash overdrive.

There is a brief detour as the acoustics come into focus on the majestic ‘Helluva Zoo’  (no I don’t know what it’s about either but I don’t care) its an excellent arrangement and tune there is a naivety about it that is really appealing and shades of Echo and his Bunnymen as well as other 80’s alt-rock bands that populated the charts here in the UK.  This album is a confident and reassuring collection of songs that grab the listener and demand their attention.  I might be late to the New Candys party but it’s better late than never and on the strength of this album I’m delving into their catalogue for sure there is certainly a lot to be impressed with from the arrangments to the melodies to the influences and the overall flow of the album its a winner and one I suspect will burn long into the rest of 2021 and beyond.  Always a satisfying feeling when an album has legs and just runs off with you Shoegazing psychs are coming for us all we might as well give in if it sounds as good as this.

Buy Here

Website

Author: Dom Daley

BLACK LABEL DOUBLE BILL!

On 6th September it’s a 101 Films Black Label double bill, with two powerful early works from iconic director Penelope Spheeris (The Decline of Western Civilisation, Wayne’s World).

Title 021 on the Black Label is SUBURBIA (1983), a searing drama that is both an authentic and compassionate study of the Los Angeles punk rock scene of the early 1980s, and a bleak indictment of the American suburban experiment. Starring real-life punks rather than trained actors, and featuring live performances from punk bands D.I., T.S.O.L. and the Vandals, special features in include a brand new, 30-minute interview with director Penelope Spheeris, and two commentaries with filmmakers and cast.

Continuing the theme of suburban alienation, title 022 on our premium imprint is THE BOYS NEXT DOOR (1985), a violent and disturbing crime thriller starring Maxwell Caulfield and Charlie Sheen as a pair of handsome teenagers who embark on a sickening killing spree in Los Angeles.

While Spheeris would go on to become best known for her documentary and comedy filmmaking, this pair of uncompromising films — her first two narrative features — remain among the director’s strongest and most hard-hitting work.

Both packages include a limited edition slipcase and booklet, with new writing on the making and context of the films.

 

Pre Order Here

23The mainstays of The DeRellas Timmy and Luca decided before Covid hit the world that the band must evolve and a shake-up of personnel was undertaken.  It was both a brave and bold move considering how well the lineup was producing the goods in the studio and on stages up and down the country but you snooze you loose and so we entered Lockdown 2020 with plans afoot for The Derellas to enter the studio to follow up the excellent High Rise Supersize single.  A successful Kickstarter campaign ensued and the band entered Perry Vale Studios with the legendary Pat Collier to begin work on the ‘Somethings Gotta Give’ album and finally, in August of 2021, it will hit the streets with a bang! Crash! & bit of a Wallop!

 

Right from the off it is fair to say the production is top notch and a fuller more hard edge to the songs takes DeRellas 2021 in a different direction maybe less Glam punk and more focussed punk rock sounding DeRellas.  Sure the song topics are about the down n dirty, Glam Punk staple diet of love, life, booze, one night stands and rolling from day to day enjoying life.  ‘Don’t Tell Me What I Did Last Night’ has Timmy delivering a sympathetic vocal and to be fair he does it very well and its the one or rather one of the most notable things is the vocals suit the songs very well and the Subs influenced tones sit very well on this record.

 

Its got a dash of early Manics very mich in evidence on songs like the sleazy ‘Underground LUV’ which is an excellent laid back ode to love L-U-V. Lucas tone and solos sit very nicely in the mix and to be fair is the shining star on the record.  Its like the DeRellas coming of age album and finally after all the line up changes have finally cracked the code for whatever it was they were searchign to destroy.  ‘Emergency 2020’ deals with the current times in a nutshell with a great Stonesy riff and melody up to the Sonic Temple like solo leaving just enough headroom for the Sweet like breakdown to take this one back to the chorus.  Great stuff.

I guess fitting in all your influences and whats in your DNA into a decent song is what every artist is searchign for and whilst this isn’t perfect its the best thing the DeRellas have naild onto tape by some considerable length.  The flow of the album in its pace of each song is well lthought and the studo shine from Mr. Collier is most complimentry and will give these songs longevity long after the dayglo spray paint has dried and the guyliner has faded.

 

The tip of the hat to the mid 80s glory days when every turn was a Hanoi Rocks or A Lords Of The New Church or a Dogs D’Amour slamming into a Soho Roses and a Cheap and Nasty filled the gaps its been a long time for bands to delve into the best that period had to offer and ‘Lifes Crashing’ fills that void very nicely in style and delivery. ‘Pressure Gonna Get Ya’ is another that sails on the influence of maybe a ‘Holy Bible’ era preachers and Timmys distressed vocal is perfect for this and he delivers it in spades some fo his best lyrics to boot.

 

If you just want snotty punk the ‘Sonic Detonator’ will get you pogoing, along with the wonderfully glamarous Jonesy chug of ‘Soho Hotel’ it’ll give you the chance to join in on the chorus and punch the air and rejoice. One of the albums best songs for me is the laid back ‘Our World Tomorrow’ and as it builds like the bastard child of Stiv and Billy Halo its something that sets this album apart from the previous albums and confirms that maybe this was indeed the right path for the band to head down.

 

The album isn’t front loaded as we head into the home straight and an updated version of a fantastic glam punk stomp of ‘High Rise Supersize’ signs of a really impressive album thats been well worth the wait.  I leave you in no doubt at all that if you were undecided about this then fear not because you wont have any regrets at all because as a listener nothings gotta give because ‘Something’s Gotta Give’ gives everything and more.  Get It!

 

 

Buy Here

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Author: Dom Daley

BOB MOULD

ANNOUNCES 2022 SOLO ELECTRIC UK + IRELAND TOUR DATES

8LP DISTORTION: LIVE BOX RELEASED AUG 6th ON DEMON

Legendary musician Bob Mould today announces a run of Solo Electric 2022 UK and Ireland tour dates beginning January 19th at Whelan’s in Dublin. The tour, perfectly timed with the incoming release of Mould’s Distortion: Live vinyl boxset, will see him perform solo versions of music from across his 40+ year career, including songs from the Distortion collection and from his landmark band Hüsker Dü, as well as from last year’s explosive and critically acclaimed Blue Hearts album. As Mould notes: “I’m looking forward to the upcoming Solo Electric shows in the UK and Ireland. I’m excited to be performing songs from 2020’s Blue Hearts, as well as revisiting the prior 40 years of my songbook.”

On top of that Mould has also shared a video in which he, along with his friend, actor, comedian and avid Mould fan Fred Armisen, open the boxes of the different vinyl volumes of Mould’s career retrospective boxset Distortion. Armisen penned the introduction to Mould’s massive 24-CD Distortion box which was released last autumn by Demon.  The vinyl volumes have been released periodically over the last year, with the fourth and final vinyl box Distortion: Live now scheduled to be released by Demon on August 6th. The 8LP set includes live recordings from Mould’s solo career as well as performances by his band, Sugar.

 

As on the previously released box sets in the Distortion collection, the fourth volume sees each album being mastered by Jeff Lipton and Maria Rice at Peerless Mastering in Boston and is presented with brand new artwork designed by illustrator Simon Marchner and pressed on 140g clear vinyl with unique splatter effects. This box set includes 4 live albums: Live At The Cabaret Metro, 1989 (first time on vinyl); the Sugar album The Joke Is Always On Us, SometimesLiveDog98 (first time on vinyl), and Live at ATP 2008 (first time on vinyl). In addition, the set includes a 28-page companion booklet featuring liner notes by journalist Keith Cameron; contributions from Bully’s Alicia Bognanno; rare photographs and memorabilia, and a bonus LP Distortion Plus: Live, which features live rarities including B-Sides and stand-out tracks from the Circle of Friends concert film.

 

Pre-order:

Pre-order Distortion: Live here: http://smarturl.it/DistortionLive


UK/IE tour dates:

Jan 19th | Dublin, IE – Whelan’s
Jan 21st | Liverpool, UK – Arts Club
Jan 23rd | Cardiff, UK – The Globe
Jan 24th | Chester, UK – The Live Rooms
Jan 25th | Birmingham, UK – The Mill
Jan 27th | Stoke, UK – The Sugarmill
Jan 28th | Bristol, UK – Thekla
Jan 29th | Nottingham, UK – Rescue Rooms
Jan 31st | Glasgow, UK – Oran Mor
Feb 1st | Newcastle, UK – Riverside
Feb 3rd | Southampton, UK – Engine Rooms
Feb 4th | Brighton, UK – Concorde 2
Feb 5th | Oxford, UK – O2 Academy 2
Feb 7th | Leeds, UK – Brudenell Social Club

Tickets for all shows available Here

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Formed in L.A.’s South Bay in the late 70s, Descendents began as a power trio featuring bassist Tony Lombardo, drummer Bill Stevenson, and guitarist Frank Navetta (d. 2008). The band recruited vocalist Milo Aukerman in 1980 and set about acquainting themselves with the Southern California Punk movement. Over the years, the band has sustained a potent catalogue and single vision, further cementing them as US punk legends.

‘9th & Walnut’ is the location in Long Beach, Southern California, at which the band wrote their earliest music. The first release was the Fat EP back in 1981, then followed it up with the scene-defining ‘Milo Goes To College’ the following year. This much is known. What is about to unfold are the songs the group wrote before anyone had heard their name even if it’s the last thing they’ve released. (it’ll all make sense)

In 2002, the original four-piece lineup — Frank Navetta, Tony Lombardo, Bill Stevenson, and Milo Aukerman — got back into the studio to finally record their first-ever songs. The songs were written by the band before recording the ‘Fat EP’ (1981).  In a (Wal)nut shell, this is the Descendents’ earliest material, something of a “lost” until now that is.

 

From the band’s distinct surf-beats to the crunching guitars, it’s all here.  packed with a tonne of great melodies and harmonies. From the classic punk (“Sailor’s Choice,” “I’m Shaky”), antisocial gonzo punk (“You Make Me Sick”), Damn they even murder ‘Glad All Over’ (in a good way) marrying the harmonies with the rapid guitar attack taking ownership I guess.  It’s eighteen songs in twenty-five minutes so there’s no time to get bored or skip tracks.

 

Some of these songs were written when Frank was only 14 years old.” When the band reconvened to record them, it was just like the earliest days: “We just fell right into our old mode. It was so natural.” said Frank.  It’s incredible to think really and it must have been a lot of fun for the band to do, that urgency and youthful energy comes across in the recordings.  the progtastic ‘Nightage’ clocking in at a ridiculous post two minutes is just showing off. ‘Mohicans’ is almost collage pop-rock with enthusiasm and loud guitars but the melody is poptastic.

 

There are freshly recorded versions of  ‘Like the Way I Know,’ in all its sub-one-minute splendor. Descendents’ debut tracks “Ride the Wild” and ”It’s a Hectic World” (heard here for the first time with vocals by Milo). Considering these songs’ age (40 fuckin years) they sound as potent and fresh as the day they were written. Which is a tribute to both the band’s talent, enduring, and endearing qualities.

 

Californian punk bands are a much-maligned bunch and the ones who crashed and burnt tend to have the fondest regards looking back but to be fair and give credit where it’s due.  Sure X, Germs and Fear delivered some seminal moments but it’s the bands who lasted the course that should get the biggest pat on the back and accolades like the Adolescents, Bad Religion and of course The Descendents.  Cherish it and play it loud.  Whilst it might not get the credit their latter releases get (which is fair) but it will make a very nice addition to a lot of people’s record collection mine included.

Pre-order ‘9th & Walnut’ HERE:

Descendents are vocalist Milo Aukerman, bassist Tony Lombardo, late guitarist Frank Navetta, and drummer Bill Stevenson.

visit: WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM

Author: Dom Daley