Not my favourite venue in this thriving musically diverse city and tonight it looks to have been massively oversold to the point of it being quite uncomfortable and the fact the drunkest knob always manages to stand in my personal space but its been five years since I last saw Amyl And The Sniffers that time was in a pub just up the road where about 100 people witnessed a band on the rise, destined for great things with an infectious way about them that was both innocent and ruthless and to be fair they had the chops then and a pocketful of tunes in Amys Daisy dukes. Fast forward five years and a couple of albums as well as about a bazillion live shows Amyl And The Sniffers are well deserving of the fever pitch that greets them when the lights drop and they bounce on stage and being seventy minutes of no-nonsense punk rock that’s infectious and they now have even more worthy tunes to put out there.

‘Doing In Me Head’ opens the set and the pit which pretty much is the whole of the floor in the O2 goes ape shit. There is very little time for small talk and the band kicks straight into most of their excellent new album ‘Cartoon Darkness’ as well as some of their fine back catalogue. ‘Some Mutts’ is a killer tune and the band who are clearly in sync from all the live shows they’ve played since the pandemic. Amy Talor is a ball of energy not standing still for a second patrolling every inch of the stage and beaming with ‘pinch me’ childlike enthusiasm that says fuck you to the haters and join me for those on board. I get that they’re not for everyone but their force is undeniable and I did think to myself that they won’t be playing these sized venues next time it’ll be the arenas of the circuit no doubt about it and they’re putting in the graft to make that happen as well.

Songs like ‘Security’ and ‘Knifey’ (which was a welcome change of pace) sit really well in the set alongside the tracks off the new album which they pretty much play in its entirety which is a bold move for any band and as headliners they have to play longer than forty-five minutes or do they?

I love their attitude but it does overshadow the songs and in Declan, they have a guy who seems to be of the school of Malcolm Young where it’s about the song and not the player. In Bryce Wilson and Kevin Romer, they have a rock-solid rhythm section that is tight and is driving this juggernaut onward and upwards. Standout tracks for me from the new record were ‘Pigs’ and by the time they hit ‘U Should Not Be Doing That’ and ‘Jerkin’, they were on fire and had the crowd eating out of the palm of their hands. they briefly left the stage before being returning with an olden yet golden ‘GFY’ which was charming before signing off with an impressive ‘Big Attraction’ finale of ‘Balaclava Boogie’ and they were gone.

All in all an impressive night’s work from Australia’s hottest property who are heading right for the top and there isn’t anything that is going to stop them. It’s been a pleasure seeing them go from strength to strength and hope they don’t change or lose that attitude and joie de vivre that has brought them this far. Good on ya you crazy potty-mouthed kids.

Author: Dom Daley

G’DAY: introducing ‘Comfort To Me’ Expanded Edition, a double-disc vinyl 

DISC 1: ‘COMFORT TO ME’ 

DISC 2: The audio from Live at Williamstown, a concert film recorded in September 2021 by PHC Films, featuring a live performance of ‘Comfort To Me’ played start to finish on the Williamstown Docks, with a bonus track ‘Crave’.

‘Comfort To Me’ Expanded Edition is out on 13th May all over the world but you can buy here

We have also released the footage from the live performance of ‘Maggot’ at said Dock, which has not been seen since September 2021.

Late in 2020, Amyl and The Sniffers went into the studio with producer Dan Luscombe to record their sophomore album, ‘Comfort To Me’ and so entered Covid 19, much like the story that is being written all over the globe. Some bands began to put their feet up and ride it out and some bands knuckled down taking the opportunity to start writing some new tunes for a new album and seeing the pandemic as just something they have to deal with, an obstacle of how to record remotely or outside of the box.

Amyl &The Sniffers are no different to everybody else in that respect, maybe, some would say with a more primitive, feral sound perhaps they had a jump start on many others but it’s taken 18 months to get this record to the shops.

Not just being an Aussie band the Sniffers have been all over the globe since 2019 touring their debut and have expanded the gene pool they’re fishing in and it shows on this new album.  ‘Comfort To Me’ is still the same beast but with more clothes on figuratively speaking of course.  Written over a long year of lockdown, the album has more Hard Rockin’ influences to the fore, old-school rock’n’roll (AC/DC, Rose Tattoo, Motörhead and Wendy O Williams are there for all to hear but it’s more than that the Cosmic Psychos loom large in their influence), There is also the powerful throb of hardcore like the compelling ‘Choices’ but their tip of the hat to fellow Oz underdogs the Cosmic Psychos on ‘Security’  Lyrically,  it is captivating and Amy does have plenty of energy in her vocals.

 

Sure singing about fighting, lust, booze, chaos and a whole lot more besides she’s looking for love for gawds sake on ‘Security’ and the filthy bass throb on ‘Knifey’ shows a departure with a measured sleazy slog talking about social issues as the menacing tempo slowly grinds through the gears adding a new edge to the bands arsenal and I like it.

 

The opener is inspirational as they are ‘Guided By Angels’ but it leads into ‘Freaks To The Front’ and from the thuggish Bass riff we’re taken around the back and given a good seeing to and throwing the C Bomb isn’t something you often get to hear even on an anti-social punk rock record but here it seems wholly appropriate as the band grab you by the face and shake the listener around for a bit. What a stonking introduction to ‘Comfort To Me’.

 

‘Comfort To Me’ is unapologetic and leading the way in feral punk rock n roll where they don’t seemingly give a flying fuck if you like them or now because they’re playing the songs they’d love to hear in some late-night bar and anyone who’s seen them live can testify that hearing some of these songs like ‘Maggot’ with its melody and Captain Sensible style solo is excellent and full of hidden gems showing themselves if you invest the time to play this record the respect it thoroughly deserves – the rewards are plentiful and as far as writing and recording a little better each and every time you enter a studio then Amyl & The Sniffers are winning.  This is a notch up from the debut and the variety is here and when the band are rocking out in full flight its a thing of real beauty, ‘Capital’ is a beast of a track, and ‘Don’t Need A Cunt (Like You To Love Me)’ is a tip of the hat to Lemmy and Venom at their raucous best if they were punk as fuck. Regardless of the controversial title, it’s a blast and guaranteed to leave one’s ears ringing.

 

Before the record signs off Amyl gives ‘Laughing’ a good seeing to and puts down her line in the sand and be warned not to cross it.  RPM isn’t laughing at Her we’re laughing with her and tunes like this make us love her band a little more on each play.  Which only Leaves the thuggish ‘Snakes’ to sign off with a winning combination of power and attitude. Now snakes terrify me but maybe if I had the attitude of Amyl & The Sniffers then I’d be out stroking the fuckers but until then I’ll just familiarise myself with this serpent and slither off to play it again and probably again and when I’m done I’ll play it some more.  What a top record this is. If you haven’t already jumped on board then please take my advice and give it a whirl it’s a fuckin’ Banger! Stick with it it’s a record that keeps on giving and who doesn’t like a record like that?

Buy Here

Author: Dom Daley

Pre-order or pre-save the new album ‘Comfort To Me’ here: https://amylats.ffm.to/comforttome

 

“The Big Drag,” is lifted off NOFX’s latest full-length, ‘Single Album’ available via www.fatwreck.com

 

Off! are back in the game.  Amen to that.  All profits from this song go to Metallica’s All Within My Hands Foundation and Indian Youth

Some of the writers managed to send in their list of the top ten live shows they went to in 2019.  they attended hundreds of shows all over the place via trains, planes and automobiles.  On another day I’m sure these lists would change many times over.  RPM Online supports Rock and Roll and loves a live show and as you browse through the lists there are many genres covered as well as some familiar suspects there are many new entries this year.  We’d love to take this opportunity to thank all the bands who toured and played shows all over the UK and continue to do so, All the festivals that supported independent music from Rebellion Festivals and Camden Rocks to Steelhouse Festival in South Wales and all the festivals around Europe and wider thank you.  Continue to look after independent Rock and Roll and help it thrive and reach a wider audience if you want to get involved get in touch we always welcome fresh eyes and ears to spread the word: rpmonlinetcb@yahoo.com

 

 

Leigh Fuge 


John Mayer –  02 Arena London

Ryan Roxie –  The Asylum, Birmingham

Michael Monroe –  The Fleece, Bristol

The Cult –  University Great Hall, Cardiff

Kenny Wayne Shepherd –  City Hall, Salisbury

Kiss –  The Arena, Birmingham

Alice Cooper –  Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff

Paul Gilbert –  The Fleece, Bristol

The Wildhearts  – The Tramshed, Cardiff

FM & The Quireboys  – The Globe, Cardiff

Nev Brooks 
Pulled Apart By Horses – Newport Le Pub (Reviewed Here)

Primal Scream –  Great Hall Cardiff

Alice Cooper, MC50, The Stranglers – Motorpoint Arena Cardiff

Nick Cave – Millenium Centre Cardiff

Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Bar Stool Preachers – O2 Bristol

The Hip Priests, DC Spectres, Deathtraps – Le Pub Newport

The Wildhearts, Towers Of London – SWX Bristol

Wonk Unit – Drogonfly Pontypool

Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes – Sin City Swansea

Holy Holy – Tramshed Cardiff

 

 Gareth Hooper
Duncan Reid, Cyanide Pills, Bruno – Louisiana Bristol

Ginger & The Sinners – St John’s church Cardiff

Clowns, BBSC – The Exchange Bristol

Amyl And The Sniffers – Louisiana Bristol

Rich Ragany & The Digressions, The Speedways, More Kicks, The Spangles – The Blackheart London

The Wildhearts, Janus Stark – Komedia Bath

The Hip Priests – Le Pub Newport

Bar Stool Preachers, Rich Ragany & The Digressions – Clwb Ifor Bach Cardiff

Jim Jones & The Righteous Mind – Jacs Aberdare

The Stray Cats, Selector, The Living End – Hammersmith Eventime London

Johnny Hayward
Bar Stool Preachers, Rich Ragany & The Digressions, Social Experiment –  Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff (Reviewed Here)

The Hip Priests, Rotten Foxes, Flash House, Glitter Piss –  The Pipeline, Brighton

Rebellion Festival 2019 – Winter Gardens, Blackpool

Jim Jones & The Righteous Minds, Heavy Flames, Deathtraps –  Jacs, Aberdare

Death By Unga Bunga, Seek Warmth –  Hy Brasil, Bristol

Dboy, The Vega Bodegas, Nigel –  Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff

The Stray Cats, The Selector, The Living End –  Hammersmith Apollo, London

Grave Pleasures – The Fleece, Bristol

Pulled Apart By Horses, Baba Naga, Dactyl Terra –  Le Pub, Newport

Clowns, Broken Bones Gentleman’s Club, Glug – The Exchange, Bristol

Fraser Munro
Adam Ant – St Davids Hall Cardiff

Kiss – Kiss Kruise, Miami

Michael Monroe, Electric Eel Shock – The Fleece, Briatol

The Hip Priests – The Drippers, Deathtraps – JT Soar, Nottingham

Alice Cooper, MC50, Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff

Turbonecro, The Hip Priests – The Chameleon, Nottingham

Dboy – Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff

The Damned – KK’s Steel Mill. Wolverhampton

Skidrow, Backyard Babies – The Forum, London

the Wildhearts, Towers Of London – Tramshed, Cardiff

Ben Hughes
Michael Monroe – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds (Reviewed Here)

Duff McKagan/Shooter Jennings – Academy 3, Manchester

The Wildhearts – Stylus, Leeds

Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds

Low Cut Connie – The Fulford Arms, York

Amyl & The Sniffers – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds

Ryan Hamilton Songs & Stories Show – Bloomfield Square, Otley

Tyla’s Dogs D’amour – The Fulford Arms, York

Levellers – The Minack Theatre, Cornwall

Hands Off Gretel – The Fulford Arms, York

Nigel Taylor 

The Stray Cats – O2, Birmingham

Saint Agnes – Plymouth Junction, Plymouth

The Wildhearts – Cavern, Exeter

Motörgoblin (Orange Goblin plays Motörhead) – St Moritz Club, London

Ginger Wildheart – St Johns Church, Cardiff

Queensryche – Islington Assembly Hall, London

Mother Vulture – End of the World Festival, Plymouth

Uriah Heep – Steelhouse Festival, Wales

Cradle of Filth – London Palladium, London

Ghost – Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff

Blaze Bayley – The Junction, Plymouth

Dom Daley
Rebellion Festival – Winter Gardens, Blackpool (Reviewed Here)

The Damned – London Palladium, London

Michael Monroe, Electric Eel Shock – The Fleece, Bristol

Duncan Reid &The Big Heads, Cyanide Pills, Bruno – Louisiana, Bristol

Amyl & The Sniffers – Lousiana, Bristol

Ginger & The Sinners – St Johns Church, Cardiff

Clowns – The Exchange, Bristol

Rich Ragany & The Digressions, The Speedways, More Kicks, The Spangles – Black Heart Camden, London

New Model Army – Tramshed, Cardiff

The Wonder Stuff – O2, Bristol

We got in touch with Mick from Grindhouse when we saw they were going to go on an overseas excursion and we wanted to get up to speed with what they had planned and for the uninitiated, it was a chance for Mick to set out the Grindhouse stall so to speak.  Here with the chatter that matters about all things down under and Grindhouse is Mick ‘Two Fingers’ Simpson. 

Its always been a hotbed of Punk Rock and Roll down under – sure it might have taken a while for us snobs in the Northern Hemisphere to cotton on to some of the bands but the UK can’t get enough of Australian bands at the moment and the trail blazed by the likes of Radio Birdman, The Saints, Cosmic Psycos and Rose Tattoo has recently been reignited by the likes of Amyl & The Sniffers, Grindhouse, The Chats (to name just a few – I Could go on) all making a dent in the scene halfway around the world.  We wanted to get a hold of Grindhouse and see what’s up so we contacted Mick to get the inside track on all things Grindhouse.

G’day Mick. You say you were listening to bootleg albums of your rock and roll heroes hoping one day to imitate them. who and what albums were Grindhouse listening to in the back of that XD?

Ah I see you have done your homework, yeah I grew up on a lot of Australian independent rock kind of by accident. Not that I’m an old fucker but we didn’t have the internet back then so it was a case of finding bands by word of mouth or stumbling across them on peoples stereos at parties or riding around in cars looking for cheap booze and good times. That’s where I discovered Radio Birdman( Radios appear), The Saints, Tumbleweed( Galactaphonic) and Aasteriod B6182. Then wed go out on a Saturday night with a fake ID and watching these bands in the flesh. Ok now I feel a little older ha, ha

 

Tell us a brief history of the band where did you guys meet?

We all grew up in a seaside city called Wollongong but ended up in Melbourne, our drummer had unprotected sex and had to leave the band. We all warned him but he didn’t listen.

The nucleus of the band came from another garage band called the Wardens but I wanted an avenue to really play punk rock, sing about dirty shit and not give a fuck, that’s how Grindhouse came about.

 


You say you’re interested in vintage porn and Mosrite guitars. when you say vintage porn what are we talking here? John Holmes? and the guitars why the Mosrites?

Fuck me I probably wrote that when I first started the band and totally forgot to be honest. Pony plays a 64 Mosrite Ventures that sounds nasty as cat shit but very cool and I used to have a great vintage 70,s porn mag collection in the 90,s so maybe its art imitating life.

 


What does Melbourne make of Grindhouse? will you be welcomed back after your European excursion like prodigal sons or will they close the borders and pretend they’re out so you cant get back in?

We have a loyal bunch of misfits, part-time alcoholics, fare evaders, bum sniffers, serial masturbaters, Lube lovers, weed smokers, vintage porn collectors, speed creeps, and sex freaks we lovingly call Grindhouse fans and that’s just the members of the band.

Hopefully we just clear customs without a strip search( happy for a pat-down), other than that anything else is a bonus.


I’ve always loved me some Australian rock and roll but at the moment there seems to be a real demand for it over here in the UK. We recently had the Chats over as well as Cosmic Psycos and Amyl And The Sniffers and Radio Birdman always manage to play London or at least for the past few years. You guys are coming so what can or should we expect?

Its definitely taken off in the UK lately which is great, I think mainland Europe has always been the main staple of o/s touring for Australian bands so its great for bands to have the UK as another option. Historically the UK has always had a strong connection with Australian music from The Saints to The Birthday Party so its no real surprise. As for the mentioned bands, Birdman will always be Birdman but the next generation of younger bands coming through is great even for us as it creates interest in Aussie Independent bands. Amyl and the sniffers are a great live show, the Psychos seem to just find another gear and get better with age and The Chats just supported Iggy Pop in Melbourne so am I jealous? You better fucking believe it.

 


Any other recommendations you could tip us off with. Who would Grindhouse like to drag around Australia with them?

I love a band from Melbourne called Stiff Richards who id call the best garage band in Australia at the moment other than Grindhouse, there,s also a great Ramones inspired garage doo-wop band from Adelaide called Jullitte seizure and the tremor dolls who we love too.



Its been a year since ‘Can I Drive Your Commodore?’ came out. Are we near a follow-up? Tell us about any new music?

We have a plan to record a new album later this year with a working title of “ Sex, Punk, Power” and well be testing some of the new songs on the road which will be cool.

 


The titles on the record made me instantly smile and from those titles, I was buzzin’ to hear the songs and I knew exactly how they were going to sound. What’s the best title you’ve come up with so far? and why don’t more bands sing about Cheese and their love for friends like Gary? Isn’t shit cocaine dangerous? and is the Australian Car industry really dead?

I’ve always loved ‘Wild sex and machine guns” on our first album as its about a woman I worked with who loved those two things which cracked me up. Our titles are inspired by growing up in the suburbs of 80,s Australia so a lot of people connect to the songs. We don’t make cars in Australia anymore and we also have a lot of shit cocaine in this country so I’ve been told.

As for Peter Russel Clarkle, every band should have a song about a celebrity chef who loves tasty cheese.



Are you guys in shape now ready for a hot and sweaty tour of Europe? Can we have a bunch of shows in the UK, please

I don’t know if were hot but were sweaty and ready, id love to do the Uk so fingers crossed we can get there sooner than later. We have a band we love from Nottingham called The Hip Priests who wed love to do it with plus the beer in the UK is always ice cold.(it’s actually fucken very tasty).

Mick did say that they were looking to coming to Shit Island sometime next year hopefully with a brand new album under the hood so its our (and your) duty to demand it and make it happen by showing bands like Grindhouse that the UK loves them and wants to bring them here for some live dates.

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Buy Grindhouse Here

Mullets, high-waisted jeans and short, sharp noise injections. Yeah, Aussie pub rock punks Amyl And The Sniffers are as retro as a pint of Snakebite, a whiff of Old Spice and a mouthful of Space Dust. And we at RPM Online loves ‘em… L-U-V. Their soon to be released debut long player is high on the ‘one to watch out for’ list, and the chance to catch them at one of their first UK headline shows was not an event we were going to pass up.

 

Yet, I was a bit apprehensive coming along to The Brudenell tonight. The last time I saw a show in the smaller Community Room here was He Who Cannot Be Named. About 20 people and a dog turned up to see that punk rock legend, so what chance do these unknown upstarts from down under have?

Well, someone informed the Leeds punk massive on this wet and rainy Wednesday, as by the time Amyl And The Sniffers saunter on stage to large cheers, the place is rammed.

With a quick greeting from diminutive and smiley frontwoman Amy Taylor, the band literally launch into ‘Mole (Sniff Sniff)’.  Dressed in a tight red tracksuit top and high-waisted jeans, she jumps into the crowd and all hell breaks loose for the next 40 minutes.

There are a few actual skinheads down the front tonight, full on DM’s and braces brigade and any thoughts older members of the audience may have had about quietly snapping away at the front are quickly dispersed for fear of gaining more bruises than photos. A circle quickly forms front centre as skins, punks and rockers launch at each other, having the time of their lives, while us bemused punters try to avoid their flailing limbs and stay on our feet. And that’s just the first one minute and 30 seconds!

The uber cool ‘Westgate’ follows. A rumbling bass and jagged guitar riff bursts from the PA as Amy struts the stage and eyes the audience with a deathly stare, coming on like the bastard child of Wendy O Williams and Debbie Harry. She holds her microphone tight, as if an invisible man is trying to wrestle it from her grasp, as she barks the words to a stunned audience. To her side guitarist Dec and bassist Calum deliver the riffs and rumble, while behind them Bryce keeps the back beat.

Holy shit! This band is good, jaw-droppingly good. I would go so far as to say their recorded output does not do them justice live. If they manage to bottle this energy for their debut album then they surely have the world at their feet.

 

Between songs the live-wired singer is like a different character, with a proper loveable Aussie girl next door charm. “Someone told me you guys hate Manchester, why?” she asks prior to ‘70’s Street Munchies’. The whole band look bemused at the “Yorkshire” chants they get in reply, before launching into a high energy version that sees the singer headbanging like a loon for the entire song. As she arches her back, microphone in the air Iggy style, and snarls “…and I’m wearing my favourite sweataahh!” it feels like we are witnessing an iconic moment in music history.

I spy a girl down the front, a tinnie in her hand, shaking and pogo-ing on the spot round and round, the can frothing  over, lost in her own world, as a couple of skinheads bound back and forth in front of her, this is how a punk rock show should go down ladies and gents.

‘I’m Not A Loser’ is probably their greatest song, a proper anthem. Yet the following

‘Balaclava Lover Boogie’ has full blown shake appeal. It brings the energy of prime Stooges to the fore. Powerful and intense as it builds on that riff and when it kicks back in again after the first verse it reaches another plane entirely, sublime stuff indeed.

They end a high energy set with the recent 7 incher ‘Some Mutts Can’t Be Muzzled’. With its “do you remember me” refrain, it’s part Ramones part Wendy O Williams and all killer no filler for sure.

 

Opening with a “sniff sniff” and climaxing with a “woof woof”, Amyl And The Sniffers delivered the goods and left us wanting more. They came, they saw and they conquered The Brudenell in 45 minutes, no encores, no fucking about…job done. Shit, it’s only 10pm! What the hell do we do now?

Tonight was one of those shows where I felt like I was witnessing the start of something great. One thing’s for certain, I will go out of my way to catch this band when they return to our shores, and I highly recommend that you do the same.

 

Author: Ben Hughes

Buy Amyl & The Sniffers Here

Well, it’s that time of the week again so why not take ten minutes our of your day say fuck it work can wait and enjoy these three songs we highly recommend starting with everyone’s favourite Australians who’ve been over here in the UK this past week.  a country so big its its own continent is really kicking out the jams lately with some superb bands so here’s our pick starting with Amyl & The Sniffers with easily the best mullets in music bar no one

Next up is the slackers and hipsters anthem of choice but we just know its quality punk rock ladies and gentlemen the second best mullets in rock n roll,  I wanted to show the new video for Pub Feed but felt it was a step too far to show the gratuitous footage of uncalled for sandals and socks combo Oi! Chats, sort it out. –

Finally ‘ave some tractor rock with the Cosmic Psycos and a song about all our towns –

Not a country I could visit seeing as every creature there wants to kill you and I’m terrified of snakes so I’ll just settle for them producing some of the best bands old and new and that’s good enough for me.  First up today we have the brand new video from the most excellent Clowns

 

Second up and its a right banger from Amyl & The Sniffers who are about to drop a new record and tour the UK which we can’t wait for so the new single will just have to do

Couldn’t decide what to throw in for the third was it going to be The Living End or Black Heart Breakers it would have been Main Street Brats if they only made a video maybe in the future so this time its a classic bit of footage from Radio Birdman with ‘Descent Into The Maelstrom’