The Quireboys return to the USA in May

The Quireboys return to the USA in May

English rock’n’roll band The Quireboys will make a triumphant and welcome return to the States to finish what they started back in 2020. 

Here are the first ticket links to be announced:

05.04.22    BROOKLYN MONARCH    BROOKLYN,NY   https://bit.ly/3HYmLhL
05.05.22    ANGEL CITY MUSIC HALL    MANCHESTER, NH    https://bit.ly/366y7C6
05.06.22    VAULT MUSIC HALL    NEW BEDFORD, MA    https://bit.ly/3JCLzMm
05.07.22    ARTIE’S    FRENCHTOWN, NJ    https://bit.ly/3hYdDy2
05.08.22    M3 ROCK FESTIVAL    COLUMBIA, MD  https://bit.ly/3JEmzEP
05.10.22    DIAMOND MUSIC HALL    ST.PETERS MO    https://bit.ly/3MEnAPr
05.11.22    BILLIARDS CLUB    LOUISVILLE, KY    https://bit.ly/3t1kJsa
05.13.22    THE VENUE    DENVER, CO   https://bit.ly/3v32QKZ
05.14.22    LEATHERHEADS    DRAPER, UT   https://bit.ly/3LJJ64E
05.15.22    DIVE BAR   LAS VEGAS, NV    TBC
05.18.22    WHISKY A GO GO    W.HOLLYWOOD, CA   https://bit.ly/3oUvee4

Meet N Greet packages Here

The lads were in the throws of a stunning country-wide tour when the pandemic hit – and have been itching to get back ever since.  That time is now, and May 2022 sees the band – most famous for their hit album “A Bit Of What You Fancy” – embark on a fresh tour of the USA taking in New York, Denver, Las Vegas and many more cities across the country including a stop at the prestigious M3 Festival in Baltimore. The tour will reach a triumphant conclusion at the world-famous Whisky a Go Go in West Hollywood – and for the tour The Quireboys are joined by the amazing Midnight Devils and Steve Ramone.

In addition to tickets which will be available shortly, the band are available at most venues for meet and greets – follow the link below to reserve your spot!

Following the band’s inception in London, UK in 1984 – originally as The Choirboys, then The Queerboys, before settling on the less controversial name of The Quireboys – there followed 6 years of hard graft and personnel changes before the inevitable happened – a UK number 2 album.

Spike and Guy have been the backbone of THE quintessential British rock’n’roll band ever since – a journey that has seen them play to 72,000 at 1990’s Monsters of Rock at Donington with the likes of Whitesnake, Aerosmith and Poison – supporting The Rolling Stones that same year, and joining Guns N’ Roses again a couple of years later on their “Use Your Illusion” tour.

The Nightingales – DVD/CD & Vinyl News and UK tour details.

The Nightingales – DVD/CD & Vinyl News and UK tour details.

AEG Presents announce that, following a much-postponed but largely sold-out tour of 2021, The Nightingales will again tour the UK in Spring 2022.  Described by John Robb as “The misfits’ misfits”, The Nightingales are the subject of the documentary feature film, “King Rocker” – written and presented by comedian Stewart Lee, directed by Michael Cumming (‘Brass Eye’, ‘Toast Of London’). The reviews were amazing: “One of my all-time favourite rock-Docs” said Mark Kermode, “The new Gold standard for rockumentaries” agreed The Scotsman. This is a band that matters.

there will be a Special edition King Rocker Bookback DVD/CD and  Vinyl Soundtrack Out 18th March 2022. The   
DVD/CD features full-length film with over 90 mins of extras, soundtrack cd & liner notes from Stewart Lee & Michael Cumming.

Comedian Stewart Lee and director Michael Cumming (Brass Eye, Toast Of London) investigate a missing piece of punk history. Robert Lloyd, best known for fronting cult Birmingham band’s The Prefects and The Nightingales, has survived under the radar for over four decades. But how, if at all, does Robert want to be remembered? The anti-rockumentary ‘King Rocker’ weaves the story of Birmingham’s undervalued underdog autodidact into that of the city’s forgotten public sculpture of King Kong, eschewing the celebrity interview and archive-raid approach for a free-associating bricolage of Indian food, bewildered chefs, vegetable gardening, prescription medicines, pop stardom and pop art.

All of the highlights from the film are here, along with rarities which won’t appear on any of the deluxe reissues of the Nightingales’ catalogue, among them 7″ versions of “Use Your Loaf”, the Bob Luman hit “Let’s Think About Living” and “Black Country”, a glam remix of crowd favourite “Thick And Thin” and a version of Christy & Emily’s “Ghost” which rivals the Nightingales’ take on TLC’s “Unpretty” for sheer beauty.

The only act with roots in the punk era that have gone on to make records more captivating, cutting and entertaining today than at any point in their past; 2022 will be a busy year for the Nightingales, with months of live dates planned, a limited edition remix 12″, deluxe reissues of both ‘Hysterics’ and ‘In The Good Old Country Way’, and a hardcover book collecting Robert’s lyrics.

Tickets for the bands UK tour can be found on sale: Here


 
Birmingham’s original punk group The Prefects had been part of The Clash’s ‘White Riot Tour’, recorded Peel sessions, released a 45 on Rough Trade and, years after splitting had a retrospective released by Fire Records offshoot label Call Of The Void to glowing reviews.  The Nightingales was formed by a few members of The Prefects following that band’s demise in 1979. Comprising an ever-fluctuating lineup, based around lyricist/singer Robert Lloyd, they enjoyed cult status in the early ’80s and were championed by John Peel, who said, “Their performances will serve to confirm their excellence when we are far enough distanced from the 1980s to look at the period rationally and other, infinitely better known, bands stand revealed as charlatans”.


 
In the late Eighties, the Nightingales stopped working but, following the occasional gig between times, they re-grouped in 2004, arriving at the current (and now long-standing) line up, which features Lloyd, Andreas Schmid from Faust on bass, ex Violet Violet wonder drummer Fliss Kitson and on guitar James Smith, who Lloyd had spotted playing with Damo Suzuki. The latest album ‘Four Against Fate’ is out now on Tiny Global Productions.


 
The band’s career-spanning soundtrack to ‘King Rocker’ will be released by Fire Records, alongside a bizarro 12″ remix EP ‘The New Nonsense’, and these will be followed by deluxe expanded versions of the band’s ‘Hysterics’ and ‘In The Good Old Country Way’ albums, and a bookback DVD of ‘King Rocker’. This activity is all capped off with the autumn release of their stunning new album, recorded in Spain, as well as a subsequent support tour and rescheduled shows in Europe and America.

Mickey Leigh’s Mutated Music – ‘Variant Of Vibe’ (Wicked Cool Records)

Mickey Leigh’s Mutated Music – ‘Variant Of Vibe’ (Wicked Cool Records)

Well, to be fair there must be some great genes in the Leigh household seeing as Mickey and his bro both had a heartbeat that played a straight four four beat and when they were cut they would bleed royal rock n roll blood. It’s been a while since that Noo Yawk Drawl was laid onto some wax and ‘Variant OfVibe’ the family gene is carried forth in style as Mickey sure does know how to carry a Rock and Roll tune and dance to his own beat.

Mickey might well be better known as the guy who wrote the book ‘I Slept With Joey Ramone’ (as it goes Netflix is turning it into a film) anyway I digress. ‘Variant Of Vibe’ stands tall on top of the wave that’s rolling through my speakers. Sure there is a similarity in the vocal style why wouldn’t there be? Hard to believe this is his first solo album considering he’s been in and around this scene since the early 70s. I guess it’s fair to say he was indeed paying attention because he’s delivered a pretty impressive album. ‘Trouble Man’ is a barnstormer, kicking up dust just like you’d imagine but with clarity and style.

Whilst I’m on the subject of rockers ‘No Fun Anymore’ is right out of the same ballpark Stiv Bators solo stuff was around the time of the LA La sessions. uptempo, vibrant, catchy, and really well produced – nailing the sound that he needed to elevate these punchy power-pop nuggets.

He can do dramatic as well, with the Fuzztones like ‘Go Home Anne’ that has that organ swirl that leads a really cool tune that has an early Stranglers style to it mixing it up. Hot on the heels is the alternative 80s sound of ‘Spanish Eyes’. With the album housing fourteen tracks Mickey almost had two albums worth so you really get your moneys worth as ‘Loneliness’ has him draw on some Bob Dylan vocal stylings for inspiration on this slow burner.

I like Mickey’s unassuming, humble style as he describes what he does, “This may sound complicated, but, it’s only rock n roll. and we love it and don’t want to see it become extinct! Mutated Music = Rescuing Rock ‘n Roll, One Song At a Time.” and he’s right. He is helping save rock and roll one song at a time. Whatever style he adopts be sure that the song needs it, be it straight-up rocker (‘Brave Old World’) or a little punk rock with more energy (‘Lost In Space’) or a bit of balladeering (‘When The Truth Is On Trial’). Mickey uses the light as well as the shade to offer up a multitude of flavours but still the same bottom line – It might Only be Rock n Roll kids, but I like it! I like it a lot cheers Mickey you rool!

Author: Dom Daley

Social Media –

www.facebook.com/MickeyLeigh

www.instagram.com/mickeyleighnyc

https://mickeyleigh.com

http://wickedcoolrecords.com

Satan – ‘Earth Infernal’ (Metal Blade Records)

Satan – ‘Earth Infernal’ (Metal Blade Records)

Geordie metallers Satan first came to prominence as part of the NWOBHM movement in the late seventies and early eighties. They were considered as a proto thrash/speed metal band and were a cutting-edge band at the time. The band reformed in 2011 much to the delight of their loyal fan base. Satan signed with Metal Blade Records in 2018 and released Cruel Magic the same year.

Their latest effort, Earth Infernal tackles subject matter around climate change, politics, and capitalism. Very heavy topics for a very heavy band! The album was recorded in their home city of Newcastle with Dave Curle handling the engineering and mixing of the album with help from the band in the creativity department. I absolutely love the sound of the album; it has a rawness but still enough polish to highlight the great musicianship of the band. It has that NWOBHM feel, the instruments sound ‘real’, I’ve gone on record before stating my dislike of the sound of many of the NWOCR bands that seem to be everywhere and sound the same. None of that here I’m pleased to say!

Opening track Ascendancy kicks off with some nice twin guitar melodies before breakneck drums kick in and take the track into full-on headbanging mode. Vocalist Brian Ross wails away, his range is really shown off here, he sounds incredible. Burning Portrait highlights the skills of drummer Sean Taylor, his jazzy style gives him a Bill Ward vibe that fits perfectly here. Twelve Infernal Lords has an early Maiden feel with the twin guitar attack of guitarists Russ Tippins and Steve Ramsey. The instrumental Mercury’s Shadow starts off with some atmospheric acoustic guitars being strummed aimlessly, the track builds nicely after this and showcases the band’s musical chops.

‘A Sorrow Unspent’ is another barnstormer, a real earworm this one! The album continues to impress with other highlights; ‘Luciferic’, ‘From Second Sight’ and ‘Poison Elegy’. ‘Earth Infernal’ is a quality traditional heavy metal album with strong songs, performances and production values, a very enjoyable listen. The album artwork by Eliran Kantor is fantastic too. If you love your old-school metal, you’ll love ‘Earth Infernal’, there’s plenty for rabid metal fans to sink their fangs into here. Hail Satan!!

Buy Here

Author: Kenny Kendrick

The Undertones – ‘Dig What You Need’(The Best Of The “Reformation Years”) (Dimple Discs)

The Undertones – ‘Dig What You Need’(The Best Of The “Reformation Years”) (Dimple Discs)

‘Dig What You Need’ is the brand new Best of compilation from Derry’s finest The Undertones. Lifted from their two reformation albums, 2003’s “Get What You Need” and 2007’s “Dig Yourself Deep”. The first time on vinyl and They’ve got Paul Tipler to remix and remaster the tracks as well.

To be fair I think I speak for quite a few and admit to not really having paid much attention to Derry’s favourite sons and their output post Fergal. Much to my embarrassment, it would seem. You see, I loved the original band they were a big fixture on my record player as a young man growing up in West Wales and when Fergal and the band broke up I guess we all moved on. I wasn’t keen on Fergals direction and That Petrol Emotion just wasn’t what I wanted either so another great band was filed in the drawer…Remember them or whatever happened to?

Now I knew they reformed with a new frontman but I’d moved on. it was a chance viewing many years later of a documentary about the band that my love for them was reignited. Now I knew they released a few albums but never got involved and seeing as the best tracks off the noughties albums are here, reissued on vinyl for the first time, I must admit to being gutted I didn’t dive in earlier and wholeheartedly regret not trusting my instincts.

Back in the day when I first heard that debut album, I like many was totally blown away by their pop-rock melodies and Ramones-like relentless wall of sound. We all know how they were championed by BBC DJ John Peel. With disco and youth club classics like ‘Teenage Kicks’, ‘Get Over You’ and ‘My Perfect Cousin’ But this is about the reformed Undertones who in 1999 with new singer Paul McLoone got back amongst it releasing two really strong albums.

Now you’ll never please all the people all the time but with releases like this its to try and catch old fans (like Me) or tempt in new ones maybe too young to remember the bands heyday. you know what? this release does an excellent job in just that showcasing just what the band has to offer and giving a great cross-section of those Two naughties albums. Damian O’Neill said of this bunch of tunes, they are all firm favourites on an Undertones set list these days, all songs penned by John O¹Neill and Michael Bradley. 

So it’s a no brainer really that there is a best-of compilation taken from the two albums with Paul McLoone. O’Neill even spoke of his excitement that producer and mixing maestro Paul Tipler was on board with the songs providing a fresh pair of ears to make them sound even better than they originally did. What you have here is a bunch of songs that flow really well and as a “new” record it sounds impressive and current. So dig this compilation people both old and new for ‘Dig What You Need’ has some most excellent tunes.

The thirteen chosen songs kick off with a straight down-the-line rocker with a great hook and melody ‘Thrill Me’. To be fair McLoone has a belting voice and knocks this one right out of the park on what I would consider to be a bread and butter sound of The Undertones. That wall of overdriven guitar – a banging melody that sounds like it’s played with huge grins all around. The album doesn’t roll out in sequence as on the original records but jumps around which helps. ‘I Need Your Love’ is Rock and Rolling along with a great air of Joie de vivre much like a lot of the band’s songs. Its power pop with a smile and an offer of a great time.

It’s not all one-dimensional though ‘Joyride’ is more pop less power and they do add keyboards to proceedings along the way which adds another texture. The chosen songs from ‘Dig Yourself Deep’ sound fresh, the title track is a great song with a big chorus and a smart mid-tempo groove. to be fair there isn’t much between the best songs on offer they all shine and it’s great to hear them for the first time. Maybe the only question I have would be why a best of and not just a re-release of both records on vinyl? I guess a taster is a good place to start before you Dig into this proper and maybe if this does well both records on vinyl will come. Until then this will more than do. Never mind dig – This is what you need – Buy It!

Bandcamp ‘Dig What You Need’ Pre-Order: https://theundertones.bandcamp.com  

Digital ‘Dig What You Need’ Pre-order: https://orcd.co/undertonesdig

Author: Dom Daley


The Undertones dates in full:

March

10 – Sheffield, UK @ Leadmill *

11 – Northampton, UK @Roadmender ^

12 – London, UK @ Electric Ballroom ^

17 – Brighton, UK @ Chalk ^

18 – Frome, UK @ Cheese & Grain ^

19 – Cardiff, UK @ Cardiff SU Great Hall ^

31- Newcastle, UK @ Boiler Shop ^

April

01 – Manchester, UK @Academy – ^

02 – Liverpool, UK @ O2 Academy ^

09 – Munich, Germany @ Feierwerk

10 – Weinheim, Germany @ Cafe Central

22 – Dublin, Ireland @ Academy

May13 – Bremen, Germany @ Kulturzentrum Lagerhaus

14 – Düsseldorf, Germany @ Zakk

15 – Hamburg, Germany @ Markethalle

17 – Malmo, Sweden @ Plan B

18 – Oslo, Norway @ Vulkan Arena

20 – Göteborg, Sweden @ Pustervik

21 – Stockholm, Sweden @Slaktkykan

22 – Copenhagen, Denmark @ Pumpenhuset

*Special guest Neville Staple Band

^Special guest Hugh Cornwell Electric

Tickets available from : https://www.bandsintown.com/a/17292-the-undertones

Ravagers – ‘Badlands’ (Wanda Records/Spaghetty Town Records)

Ravagers – ‘Badlands’ (Wanda Records/Spaghetty Town Records)

Rock n’ roll is alive and kicking baby, and it lives in Baltimore! Well, that’s where these snotty, street punks known as Ravagers can be found anyways. Taking their tricks from all your favourite punk n’ roll bands, they come outta the gutters screaming like the bastard sons of Hanoi Rocks and The Dead Boys jamming out with The Exploding Hearts. And if those names aren’t enough to whet the appetite, you’re on the wrong page entirely. Just look at that cover art and tell me you don’t want that on vinyl right now!

This is the debut long player from the 8-legged denim & leather clad four piece, and it’s no surprise to discover former Biters and current Restless Hearts leader Tuk Smith at the production helm, as this 10-track ‘all killer, no filler’ affair comes on like his former band’s early EPs (and we all know how good those are, right kids?).

Right from the off, Ravagers are firing on all cylinders. Previous single ‘Down That Road’ has a cool as you like gang vocal chorus that is preceded by urgent beats, guitars shooting from the hip and snotty vocals spat with enough venom and attitude to make this listener pay attention. It’s instant, it’s exciting and it will make you wanna don a leather jacket, grease back your hair and go look for some action.

Yes, there’s an element of danger and a whole lotta energy packed into the sonically seductive grooves of ‘Badlands’. Untamed, unkempt and undernourished, Ravagers certainly have an appetite for destruction. They seem like the sorta band that would steal your beer, shag your girlfriend and piss on your rims without giving it a second thought. In fact, they’d probably write a song about it, and you’d buy it, cuz it would be fuckin’ killer!

Think Motörhead drums, the power chords of Ramones and Stooges raw power, all wrapped up with anthemic power pop melodies, that’s a sure-fire recipe for rock n’ roll success, baby! Frontman Hagen sure has a Stiv Bators drawl about him, and the powerful rhythm section backs up the guitars of the singer and former Biters man Matt Gabbs to perfection.

‘Shake The Reaper’ is ‘Badlands’ pièce de résistance. A haunting, almost gothic picked guitar intro leads into a killer AC/DC riff, with pumping bass and no-frills beats. A catchy chorus with stabs of keys to accompany it, here they remind me a lot of New York punks Wyldlife, as they also do on ‘White Widow’, not a bad thing at all in my book. Man, this band have street anthems designed to blast at top volume, at maximum speed. Play loud, play fast and leave the competition weeping in the rear-view mirror. Just blast out the high energy, hook-laden ‘Trespasser’ for further evidence.

There’s a 70’s glam rock stomp to ‘Blackout’, it has a killer hook any sleazy rock n’ roll band would kill for and its fast becoming an album highlight for me with each play. The thing all these songs have in common? Loud guitars, killer hooks and enough anthemic choruses to give the Swedish action rockers a run for their money.

Ravagers have been causing debauchery for nearly a decade. 2 EP’s and a whole bunch of touring cemented a notorious live reputation. They have opened for the likes of The Damned and The Adicts, and played the Las Vegas’ Punk Rock Bowling Festival amongst others.

Who knows where live music will take us in the coming months and years and how well underground bands will adapt to survive. But I’ll tell you one thing, on the evidence of their debut album, these street rats called Ravagers have what it takes to survive these trying times. A punk rock energy and a handful of great tunes could take them far. Hell, these boys are so confident, they have a song called ‘Suzi (has an Uzi)’ and it didn’t even make the album!

If they drag their skinny arses over the pond, make no bones about it, I’ll be there in a shot, and so should you. But for now, track down this album and buy it on your favourite musical format of choice. You won’t regret it.

Buy Here

Bandcamp

Wanda Records

Spaghetty Town Records

Facebook

Author: Ben Hughes

Singles Club – March (or die)

Singles Club – March (or die)

Welcome to the singles club, we’ve not had many sittings recently probably due to the Christmas period but they’ve started to trickle in and when we had a few exciting tunes fly in we had to fire up the jukebox and get some 45″ RPM action going.

First up is a mighty fine 7” split for groups LJ & The Sleeze (Richmond, VA) and Killer Hearts (Houston, TX).

LJ & The Sleeze / Killer Hearts – Split (Eight Ball Record$) The 2 song split features the first new tune since Killer Hearts Debut LP was released last year (one we certainly championed here) ‘Skintight Electric’ was truly all killer and absolutely no filler. ‘High Temptress’ is more of the same with manic, rabid rock and roll resplendent with its chest-beating & frantic tempo, those Dead Boys inspired solos and catchy choruses that make you want to sling down a yard of ale before running through a brick wall – great stuff.


LJ & The Sleeze’s side of the split holds the newly redone ‘I’m Bad’, off of their LP ‘Stay Sleezy’, giving in-your-face punk attitude aplenty. It’s got a swagger and a hook that you won’t be able to free from your head, nor would you want to. Menacing and snotty with just enough snarling venom to make you want to root through your sister’s purse to fund this record. Exactly how a split should be done – Get on it Here it’s out in the middle of March so be sure to keep that link locked down – you won’t regret it.

Totally Slow – ‘The Lost Art of Shutting Up’ ( Refresh Records) Another new one on us comes out off their new album ‘Casual Drag’ its indie punk rock with a great hook and a foot in the past it’s got a tonne of energy like melodic punk of so-cal punks a really good earworm that just gets better the more you hear it.

I love the breakdown and want to hear more. Which is the whole original point of a 45″ single right? I dove into the back catalogue and am currently loving ‘Casual Drag’. Pick it up Here

These Arms Are Snakes – ‘Camera Shy’ (Suicide Squeeze Records) US hardcore/mathrock band These Arms Are Snakes have today announced a new rarities release called ‘Duct Tape & Shivering Crows’ which will be released April 15th via Suicide Squeeze Records.

Formed from the ashes of legendary noise bands Botch and Killsadie, These Arms Are Snakes had a 7-year run in the early 2000s and released three albums and many Eps and splits, toured relentlessly, before splitting in 2009.

Described rather wonderfully as a ‘synth-infused noise rock, bad-trip psychedelia, flamboyant proto-metal boogie, and unhinged basement-show hardcore,’ These Arms Are Snakes reformed for some reunion gigs in 2021 and now have this rarities comp

The Good The Bad And The Zugly – ‘One Dimensional Man’ (Fysisk Format) Any day you get to head a new GBATZ tune is a great fucking day so today must be fanfuckingtastic seeing as two of them have shown up. The first earworms from their new Covid produced album is here. ‘Nostradumbass’ is a huge melodic masterclass. Sure it’s the B side but its got a poptastic lick and a chorus that could have been lifted from Abba.

Now the A-side is loud and has a thumping rhythm and the hook is classic Turbonegro-tastic to boot right out of that ballpark. It’ll take a while to properly burrow down and lay its musical explosions that will go off for weeks to come but you know they’re in there. Bring on that damn album and bring it on now. Essential purchase! Here

The Blue Carpet Band – The Slow Death Of Camden (Bomber Music) dealing with the gentrification and all the changes happening on the once rock n’ roll streets of Camden Town. Major brands taking over and the loss of iconic venues and drinking places have erased the edginess and excitement. The rock’n’roll bandits are all gone. Pretty much the same thing happened in Soho and Wardour St and I guess the LES of Manhattan and St Marks and Time Sq as well as a host of other places to boot. Mores the pitty but these times they are a-changing but Rock and Roll will never die don’t you go thinking otherwise.

The Blue Carpet Band are true Rock and Rollers and this is another slice of sleazy Rock n Roll. Check it out – you won’t regret it. With a new album on the way 2022 is shaping up nicely. Buy Here

Find The Blue Carpet Band Online at: FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM BOMBER MUSIC

Electric Boys – ‘Favorite Hello, Worst Goodbye’ (Mighty Music) Another new song recorded by these hard rockin’ Swedes during the “Ups!de Down” sessions. The first one, “Favorite Hello, Worst Goodbye” is out on digital platforms now.

Claiming the song is made up using Cheap Tricks DNA is a big call but it isn’t a million miles from the mark. The Electric Boys play solid hard rock n roll and do it well. Conny Bloom rallies his troops through this meaty rocker and slides some neat fretwork. Fans will lick it up no doubt it’ll be interesting to hear more of this new material

Supera Morza – ‘I’m Working It Out’ (Bad Apple Music Group) The band’s third single sees Supera Morza, ‘Working It Out’ hailing from Manchester these spikey individuals play uncompromising punk rock. It’s possibly in the same ballpark as Blackwater and Cabbage in its gritty, angular post-punk attack with melody and aggression. Two-and-a-half minutes of uncompromising shit or bust anarchic grunge. Hailed as one of Manchester’s most exciting prospects expect to hear and see a lot more of these guys. The previous singles ‘Roadkill’ which had similarities to Nirvana pre ‘Nevermind’ (which isn’t a bad thing either) and my personal favourite the frantic Scrubber. Check them out via Facebook and Spotify

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Fontains D.C – ‘I Love You’ (Partisan Records) Taken from the band’s forthcoming album ‘Skinty Fia’ due in April. A slow-burning, brooding and intense love song the track sees the band offer up a dark insight into what they’ve been up to during lockdown. It follows hot on the heels of ‘Jackie Down The Line’. Check out the video here.

Stacy Crowne had their single reviewed here last year but have since shot a video for the B side of their cover of Golden Earrings ‘Radar Love’ check out the lively ‘Dead Of Night’ Get it while it’s hot Here

The Vibrators – ‘The Albums 85-90’ (Captain Oi!)

The Vibrators – ‘The Albums 85-90’ (Captain Oi!)

A follow up on two successful Captain Oi! box sets by the band, ‘THE EPIC YEARS’ and ‘THE ALBUMS 1979-85’

Disc One is the band’s first-ever live album that includes Punk classics like ‘Baby Baby’, ‘Automatic Lover’ and ‘Troops Of Tomorrow’. The recordings are vibrantly captured and the band’s boundless energy is well captured. When I’m listening it dawned on me how overlooked the band’s catalogue has been in general terms. Knox and the gang wrote some really great slabs of power pop punk rock and had it down to a tee and did it better than most of that time period. None more outstanding than ‘Amphetamine Blue’ which has stood the test of time and is still a stone-cold classic.

The second disc is 1988’s ‘Recharged’ album which features the single ‘String Him Along’ that opens the album in a more countrified power-pop but the band was able to go from that to the more aggressive and choppy ‘Hey Little Doll’. ‘Go Go Go’ is pure Rock n Roll’ and indicative of the time with regards to the production. One of my favourites off the album is the acoustic ‘Every Day I Die A Little’ maybe a predictable rise and fall middle section as the drums kick in but a top track all the same. Rounded off nicely with a crowd-edited rendition of ‘Disco In Moscow’.

Disc Three is the ‘Meltdown’ album which now adds the previously non LP ‘Wasted Life’ as a bonus track. ‘Office Girls’ kicked off the album and the band had lost none of their appetites to pen spikey punchy power pop, tight verses and uplifting chorus. Again I love the balladeering on ‘So Young’ with its great saxophone break from Waterboy Anthony Thislewaite that took the Green On Red sounding track into another direction making it one hell of a song. The band mixed the songs up quite a bit on ‘Meltdown’ running through their repertoire of influences from the balladeering to the tougher punkier songs and other genres getting some oxygen which helped make The Vibrators one of the best bands to emerge out of punk and beyond.

In under twelve months the band released the follow up to ‘Meltdown’ with the fourth disc in this set 1989’s ‘Vicious Circle’ album which features the Billy Fury cover of ‘Halfway To Paradise’ single and the rare bonus B-side ‘Drive’. With a better fuller more rounded production that really suited The Vibrators songs, ‘Vicious Circle’ kept the show on the road with topical ‘Polltax Blues’ adding some grunt to proceedings and that Stooges piano tonk underpinning the rolling riff.

Whilst ‘Fire’ was still snotty having it lean on the Billy Fury cover still sounds weird such is the contrast.

The final disc is the band’s tenth album, imaginatively called ‘Volume Ten’. Opening with ‘Losing It’ is something of a classic sounding Vibrators song with a strong pop melody and chorus glued together with a sharp guitar riff that leads to a palatable chorus. ‘Hot For You’ is more uptempo and yet another example as to how good the band was even when they did a cover of ‘Rave On’ which I’m still not sure about. It’s not like they were struggling with writer’s block and could have gone with just original tunes but hey ho what do I know.

The clamshell box also has a booklet containing detailed liner notes overseen by Jon ‘Eddie’ Edwards which are pretty cool.

For a relatively cheap amount of dosh, these Vibrators box sets are a fantastic purchase and people who possibly got blown off course and missed out on these recordings now have the chance to fill those gaps with some great records. Pick one up it’s a no-brainer!

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Author: Dom Daley

Urge Overkill – ‘Oui’ (Omnivore Recordings)

Urge Overkill – ‘Oui’ (Omnivore Recordings)

Chicago’s Urge Overkill has been away a while in fact it’s a decade since we really heard anything from the pair but they’re about to put that to rights with the much-anticipated release of ‘Oui’ and its magnificent artwork. To be fair as soon as the needle dropped the artwork became a big part of the record and a painting certainly does paint a thousand words because this record is a beast.

Unfairly remembered by many as that band who did the cover of ‘ Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon’ but those who know simply know. They were much more than that (great tune and working of it as it was) the Grunge striding Rock of ‘Saturation’ was excellent (still is) and then ‘Exit The Dragon’ which saw the band call it a day for a while but with a varied catalogue of albums UO are a welcome return and its refreshing to hear a guitar album that’s just that – no tricks or gimmicks just great tunes recorded well and released in a timely undelayed fashion. Some might say a more mature-sounding band in 2022 but who cares, elder statesmen, survivers, rockers. It’s all good in my book and refreshing to hear a band just kick out the jams at their own pace in their own style.

Well, it’s been a while but Nash Kato and King Roeser are back in the groove with ‘Oui’, and what a return it is. Guitars are turned up and the pair sound right on it, enthused and full of energy ‘Oui’ is loud and focussed. There is a weird But here. The record does kick off in controversial style with a cover this time of the classic Wham! song ‘Freedom’ . Sure they give it the UO treatment and twist it to fit their style of old-school Radio friendly rock but I do wonder is it needed here? I’m not convinced (personally) but I’m happy to let it grow on me, besides it just sounds great to have a new UO record. Sure, it’s a great song – boundless energy and played with a cheeky playful smile but to open your first album in over a decade? Brave and controversial.

‘Necessary Evil’ is understated with cool hooks on the chorus with a finely distorted guitar chugging away under some smart licks and the vocals weave really well together to make for a great song. The tempo is maintained through the rockin’ ‘Follow My Shadow’.   ‘How Sweet the Light’ has got a touch of the Who about it from the drum rolls to the building verses with some great drumming. ‘Forgiven’ has got an all-American riff that has been well worn by the likes of Mellencamp when he wanted a ‘Leg Up’ it’s a driving rhythm and the slightly croaky vocals work really well as the Blues are chased away.

It sounds like the band is enjoying writing and playing – there is no pretense or experimental moments just solid rock n roll   Past Urge records always had at least one song where the band got silly or experimental.  Here, it’s surprisingly focused.  I do get the impression that this is a record that will continue to grow on me and moments where a fill changes the groove or tempo will jump out and prelong the journey which always makes for a slow-burning album that gets better with age.  

Hopefully, ‘Oui’ will do well and people will lap it up and it won’t be another decade before we get another Urge Overkill record to champion.

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Author: Dom Daley

Rainy Days & Mondays

Rainy Days & Mondays

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