‘THE DEVIL KEEPS COMING TOUR’ IS ROLLING TO TOWN IN OCTOBER 2022!!!!!!!
After a successful support slot on the recent Ricky Warwick tour around the UK, The Virginmarys announce a bunch of headline shows for October
Dates & Tickets Here
Swansea on a beautiful sunny May evening is a great place to be. The historic Patti Pavilion is where I was heading to see the legendary Geoff Tate perform not just Queensryche’s 1986 album Rage For Order in its entirety, but also their most successful album, 1990s Empire. Much has been said over recent years regarding the seemingly never-ending drama regarding Queensryche and ex-members. It does seem, however, that Tate has settled into his stride with his current band and is more than happy to be a legacy act. The number of punters wandering around wearing Queensryche T-shirts gives you a good idea of the demographic here tonight.
Before we get to the main event, we had a short but impressive set from openers Mark Daly & the Ravens. Mixing up a blend of southern rock with some Alice In Chains tinged tunes, Daly puts in an energetic performance. The sparse but appreciative audience thoroughly enjoys what they see and hear. Definitely, someone to keep an eye on.
By the time we are presented with Tate’s entrance, the room fills up considerably and there is an air of anticipation. I’ve been checking out some YouTube videos of recent performances and it seemed like Tate has been firing on all cylinders vocally. Taking to the stage with the classic ‘Walk In the Shadows’, when Tate strolls casually up to the microphone and nails that initial scream, everyone in attendance goes nuts. Snazzily dressed and looking the picture of health, Tate has the audience in the palm of his hand from the get-go. The band works their way through Rage For Order’s tracks and there is only a noticeable lull from the audience when lesser-known songs such as Neue Regel and London are being played. A fantastic rendition of ‘I Will Remember’ closes the first act with style.
After an extended break, the band returns to the stage while the intro to ‘Best I Can’ blasts through the PA. Rapturous applause from the crowd pushes the energy of the band and yet again, Tate is nailing it. For a man in his sixties to be singing this well is no mean feat. Tate gets his saxophone out for ‘The Thin Line’ and the band seems to be having the time of their lives. Scottish guitarist Kieran Robertson gets a great reaction from the crowd every time he sticks his tongue out and nails his parts with gusto. Crowd favourite ‘Jet City Woman’ goes down a storm as does ‘Another Rainy Night’ and ‘Empire’ in its full-blown glory. The sound mix tends to be a little muddy in places and drummer Daniel Laverde is obviously a very capable and talented drummer, but as a drummer myself I don’t like the fact that Daniel is using electronic drums. They just look naff, Queensryche’s original drummer Scott Rockenfield was renowned for the huge drum kits that he used, and it just doesn’t work visually for me in a hard rock/metal setting. Just my opinion of course.
‘Silent Lucidity’ sounds amazing as always. You forget how great that song is and looking around at the crowd singing every word is goosebump enticing. Tate is a master at keeping everyone in attendance entertained, even his anecdote about having to go grocery shopping for the first time in his life due to Covid canceling all his tour plans is very funny. After ‘Anybody Listening?’ the band leaves the stage to more rabid applause, shouts, and screams for more. They return for an encore of ‘Last Time in Paris’ and ‘Take Hold of the Flame’. The band has played for around two and a half hours, Tate is certainly giving his loyal fan base value for money. He is happy to press the flesh with the many fans who are front of stage trying to get a reaction from their hero. He seems genuinely over the moon to back out playing live.
The voice is well and truly alive and well. Go and see Geoff Tate if you get the chance, you won’t be disappointed, but you will be thoroughly entertained.
Author: Kenny Kendrick
The legendary King’s X, comprised of dUg Pinnick, Ty Tabor & Jerry Gaskill, are pleased to announce they have signed with InsideOutMusic/Sony Music worldwide. They will be the label-home for the band’s forthcoming 13th studio album and first new music in 14 years, which has just been completed, the long-awaited new record will see the light of day on the 2nd of September 2022.
The band comments:
“I feel like it’s been forever since we put out a new album, and I’m ready for the world to hear our latest offering, hopefully there’s a little bit of everything that you love about Kings X, three sides of one is the best way to describe it. The groove is with us!” – dUg Pinnick
“It’s really gonna happen! The new record is coming out soon. I’m happy to be working with the team at InsideOut/Sony Music. I’m happy with the record. I’m happy everybody gets to hear it. It’s a happy day. Or at least that’s what I’m telling myself. Hope you enjoy it!!!” – Jerry Gaskill
“I have a long-standing relationship with InsideOut and am so pleased that InsideOut/Sony is releasing the new King’s X album.” – Ty Tabor
InsideOutMusic label-head Thomas Waber adds: “We have known the guys since forever and have been fans even before then. We are really looking forward to adding another album to their impressive legacy. Working on a King’s X album is always a highlight and an honour!”
The bands forthcoming new album saw them working with Emmy Award-winning engineer, mixer, and producer Michael Parnin (Rage Against the Machine, Mark Lanegan) at his Blacksound Studio in California. He comments: “I am very proud of the energy and work put into this album, especially of all the different vocal performances and varied musical influences mixed together as one. In true King’s X fashion, we had several obstacles to overcome, and it wasn’t easy but hopefully worth it to the amazing die-hard fans out there who have been waiting so patiently and to the new listeners hearing King’s X for the first time. It’s an honest labour of love that I am excited the world finally gets to hear.”
King’s X are set to return to stages in 2022, heading to Europe in September and returning to North America for more dates in October. Find the full list of shows below:
Europe & UK
1st September – Backstage Halle, Munich, Germany
2nd September – Veruno Musica Festival, Veruno, Italy
3rd September – Old Capitol, Langenthal, Switzerland
6th September – Hirsch, Nürnberg, Germany
7th September – Colos-Saal – Aschaffenburg, Germany
9th September – Boerderij, Zoetermeer, Netherlands
10th September – Fabrik, Hamburg, Germany
12th September – Spirit of 66, Verviers, Belgium
13th September – Kantine, Cologne, Germany
14th September – Le Forum, Vaureal (Paris), France
16th September – The Brook, Southampton, UK
17th September – Picturedrome, Holmfirth, UK
18th September – Wylam Brewery, Newcastle, UK
20th September – Garage, Glasgow, UK
22nd September – Rescue Rooms, Nottingham, UK
23rd September – Junction, Cambridge, UK
24th September – KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton, UK
26th September – Islington Assembly Hall, London, UK
27th September – Academy 2, Manchester, UK
28th September – Tramshed, Cardiff, UK
30th September – Biebob, Vosselaar, Belgium
1st October – Hypothalamus, Rheine, Germany
North America
28th July – Gramercy Theatre, NYC, NY, USA
29th July – Sellersville Theatre, Sellersville, PA, USA
19th October – Amos’ Southend, Charlotte, NC, USA
20th October – The Concourse, Knoxville, TN, USA
21st October – The Forum, Hazard, KY, USA
23rd October – Brooklyn Bowl, Nashville, TN, USA
25th October – The Howlin’ Wolf, New Orleans, LA, USA
27th October – Come and Take It Live, Austin, TX, USA
28th October – Trees, Dallas, TX, USA
29th October – Warehouse Live, Houston, TX, USA
Look out for more info on the new album in the coming months!
KING’S X online:
https://www.facebook.com/KingsXofficial/
https://www.instagram.com/kingsxofficial/
INSIDEOUTMUSIC online:
www.youtube.com/InsideOutMusicTV
Flood #Redux released October 7th, 2022
original line up reform for an intimate album launch show
Trapped Animal Records is proud to announce the return of 90’s legends Headswim, with a reissue of their seminal psych-grunge masterpiece, ‘Flood’, on October 7th. Released on double vinyl and double CD, this deluxe re-issue will feature previously unreleased BBC sessions, studio B sides, and experiments by the band and their mad scientist friends on disc two!
To celebrate the release, Headswim’s original lineup will be performing Flood in its entirety at The Camden Underworld on Friday, October 7th. This will be the Headswim’s first performance in over two decades!
“If you’d told me 28 years ago that in 2022 Headswim would be performing the entirety of their debut LP at The Camden Underworld, I’d have eaten my hat. Pass the salt.” exclaimed Clovis Taylor.
To pre-order Flood #Reduxon three different double vinyl formats, double CD and download go to headswim.co.uk
There are also bundles available and tickets for the Underworld.
We will be raising money for C.A.L.M – The Campaign Against Living Misery and donating 5% from the sales on headswim.co.uk to the charity. https://www.thecalmzone.net/
I first clapped my ears on Bob Vylan way back when a certain “Lynch your leaders” became my go to track as we worked our way through the first Covid 19 lock-down, then we got hit with “We live here” and the rest is history, I’ve watched Bob Vylan gain traction and get to the point of exploding into the general conscience, and as I type it rumours abound that this baby The Price of Life has hit the charts!!!!
Now let’s just say this in no reflects a move towards a more socially acceptable standpoint, no movement towards commerciality, and keeping it independent launched on their own Ghost Theatre Records what more could you want?
This is Brutal stuff a nihilistic expose of Tory led policies, outing the far right and the decision makers who stand in the background profiteering from the latest under the counter deal. As the LP opens you get drawn in with the “Walter Speaks” sample and then “Wicked and Bad” tears your face off social-commentary up front and centre. There’s no let up as we move into” Big Man” and “Take that” and that link between grime and punk seems more relevant than anything out there at the moment, both movements born in the underground and each movement within their individual generations ripping into that Tory led new world order, and what we have to do to survive and earn enough to live. By the time we hit “Pretty songs” your hooked and then everything moves up another gear, this is seriously good, from the punk side of things I keep being drawn back to Crass comparisons, while from the grime side I can’t help linking it to Lowkey, (check out terrorist) and some of the early Akala stuff, socially aware but not with the edge presented by this beauty. “Turn off the Radio” is fckin’ immense, this is a heavier LP than the first, at times it draws on grunge, while at other times we’re into straight out hardcore punk, while at others we link in brutal industrial, right up my street, that heavier lilt really hits you with “GDP”.
“Bait the Bear” is almost Slayer’esque how heavy is that opening riff!!! (it’s a rhetorical question, it’s heavy as fck). There really is no let up “Phone Tap(Alexa)” with a thrash drive at it’s core, just builds and builds and then we’re thrown against the wall by “Drug War” probably my favourite track on the lp, punk to the core, but the vocal lead just leaves you speechless, all too quickly we’re into last up “WHATCHAGONNADO”, again there is no let up and the lp as a whole just builds and builds finishing on a high, intense, in your face, shaking you to wake up to what’s really happening, Social commentary with an attitude born on the streets, Get this LP bought, my album of the year so far, lets get Bob Vylan to number 1 !!!!!!
Buy Here
Author: Nev Brooks
NEW ALBUM ‘GET F*CKED’ + AUSTRALIAN TOUR
AUGUST 19 VIA BARGAIN BIN RECORDS
UK preorders – Here Oh and check out ‘6L GTR’ then Get Fucked.
Representing the Isle of Man, it’s only fitting that the “rock n roll, punk blues guys” (Iggy Pop) of Mad Daddy are releasing their ‘Road Racer’ EP to coincide with this year’s TT race. It’s the perfect combination; oil, sweat, hairpin bends and righteous rock n roll.
‘Road Racer’ opens, full throttle through the gears, like ‘Motorbikin’ on bad drugs. Slightly heavier than before, shades of the Chuck Norris Experiment. ‘It Ain’t Easy’ and ‘Be Bad’ tip a nod to the Stooges’ ability with primal riffs, while retaining their own identity, while ‘Here To Stay’ has the requisite “hey, hey, hey”s to get you hitting the repeat button.
No need to reinvent the wheel here, just enjoy the pared back appeal of Mad Daddy. And with a spanking new t shirt design to accompany the TT races, they’ve got my order come Bandcamp Friday in June. You know it makes sense.
Facebook / Twitter / Instagram
Released 4th June on Bandcamp for download, available on all streaming services
Author: Martin Chamarette
The Courettes are hot hot hot! at the moment and rightly so. Heading over to the UK in June for an extensive tour this 10″ record brings together a whole bunch of B sides and outtakes. Striking whilst the iron is hot is a good thing and this duo are knocking out quality records and drawing these together in one convenient place is a bargain. They ask that you play this record loudly and through shite speakers but that’s not an exclusive request because it’s also available on CD as well.
You know the drill with this pair, they’re retro in a wall of sound way and bang up to date current as well. It’s not just a cobbled-together compilation because there are non-album B sides, and three tracks that have added instrumentation on them it also has the Japanese-only split ‘So What’ available right here, right now.
Their brand of pop smart melodies wrapped up in a Rock and Roll sound was perfectly described as not playing Rock and Roll because they are Rock and Roll, if you know – you know! At times you have to concentrate hard on the record because you think it is a four-piece and some making that wall of sound and not just two musicians, it’s got that warm Fuzz on the guitar and a shimmering smokey mix over the top of the whole sound. Surely it’s only a matter of time before everyone gets down with The Courettes and their music maybe one DJ who knows their music will get smart or a Jools Holland to champion this pair and whoosh! away they’ll fly. ‘Tough Like That’ is a bruiser with it’s punchy riff and then the cool smoldering ‘Talking About My Baby’ before it just takes off for the chorus before switching vocals and dropping back into that cool smolder.
Try them – buy this 10″ you won’t regret it they write and perform wonderful music that let you leave all your real-world woes at the door because for the next half an hour your gonna dream and pretend you’re onto the best-kept secret in music – The Fabulous Courettes Schh! or everyone will cotton on. Bop shawaddy bop baby! Eight tracks to tide us over. Perfecto!
Buy Here
Author: Dom Daley
Now the dust has settled on another wallet-busting RSD, it’s time to assess the picks of the pops and if you weren’t lucky enough to pick one up there are some floating around the internet from shops that unbelievably didn’t sell their allocated copies. Limited to 2500 copies.
During the period leading up to 2004’s ‘Really Really Happy’, The Muffs had been keeping a busy schedule of live performances as well as working through an ever-increasing list of songwriting demos from singer/guitarist Kim Shattuck a process explained on the inner sleeve notes by fellow bandmate Ronnie Barnett. Once this bunch of tunes was narrowed down, the band set to recording them for the album. Appearing as bonus material on the upcoming, expanded 2-CD/Digital reissue of ‘Really Really Happy’, ‘New Improved Kim Shattuck Demos’ represents the only vinyl appearance of these 16 tracks, composed and performed entirely by Kim.
The 16-track, black vinyl LP is fully endorsed by Kim’s friends, family, and bandmates. It also contains a personal note to Kim from bandmate Ronnie Barnett. The world lost Kim to ALS in 2019, ‘New Improved Kim Shattuck Demos’ shows the enigmatic singer, songwriter, and performer in her true creative element. While The Muffs turned this material into their classic fifth album, it all began with Kim.” To get beyond the loss of such talent is like finding the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow that you were always told was a myth. One of the must pick up items these will all go. So until the CD is released this will more than do.
The pick of the pops would have to be a vibrant run through ‘The Story Of Me’ and a banging take on the melodramatic ‘A Little Luxury’ with the raw edge of a demo but it loses none of the drama and with hindsight, I hope she found her Luxury.
Sure it’s missing the final polish and gleams that a fully finished and mastered record has but it’s those rough edges and rawness that hold up these fantastic tunes and if it was possible to love them a little more then it’s job done.
It’ll be interesting to see what the CD is like as it features twenty-two tracks (all of these demos, and a further six that will be released on a 7″ hand stamped single). The explanation on the inner sleeve is a beautiful thing and quite how this took almost twenty years to emerge is another miracle. Much like some of the other RSD releases Bleeding Hearts is the one that springs to mind, an absolute belter of a release and why I’m not down on RSD (not yet) but having these gems to listen to long after the studio finished recordings come out is what loving music is all about and why people are so passionate about it. If you can buy it!
Author: Dom Daley
Long EP or short album you decide. For my sixpence on The Drowns blistering slab of Rock and Roll is this. ‘Live Like Yer Dyin’ just about does exactly what it says on the tin and has a healthy dose of Rock and Roll along the lines of label mates and stalwarts The Harrington Saints. their cut from the same blue-collar roots rock n roll. With a wonderful disposition and outlook of positivity and whatever doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger. It’s a blast straight out of the traps.
The title track is less Rockin in one respect but more upbeat in other respects as it touches on the Galic vibe with shades of SLF and maybe Dropkick Murphys feel with a great walking bass line throughout get your martins on and go for it.
‘The Working Dead’ is a happy-go-lucky thumper with PMA running through its core. It’s comfortable and familiar for sure but it also comes across as fresh and full of excitement.
This is the real deal. If you want some punk rock but a band that also adds some Rock n Roll and isn’t afraid to rock out (‘She’s The Knife’) then this is a band you should get behind, Possibly my favourite track on the album for those Malcolm young rhythm riffs and DC stabs (no pun intended) it’s a top tune full of energy.
Six tracks just isn’t enough I’m sorry but I want more and I love the vibe on the acoustic ‘Look What We’ve Become’ – resisting breaking it out after the opening verse is great. More Gaslight Anthem meets Downtown Struts for sure but that’s another string to the bow. Then to wind things down with the final cut of ‘Tokyo Red Alert’ which pulls several styles together with a social Distortion meets Green Day kinda thing that really works with a country jig vibe on the melody. Just buy the record and go play it – it’ll make perfect sense and you can thank me laters.
Buy Here
Author: Dom Daley
Recent Comments