Role Models/Billy Liar/Empty Page – Water Rats London. 03.10.25

Role Models/Billy Liar/Empty Page – Water Rats London. 03.10.25

It’s been a long time coming, and it’s good to be back. As I head into the big smoke for the first Role Models show in many a moon, I’m excited to hear a bunch of songs I’ve not had the pleasure of hearing live for quite some time and in a venue I’ve not been in for even longer. Hell, Bob Dylan played here, and I also believe it was the first venue the Pogues played in, as well as Oasis, so no pressure, gentlemen.

First up are the ever-impressive Empty Page; however, I entered the venue as they were exiting, much to my shame, as I wanted to catch them, as I haven’t seen them since they last played in the Black Heart with Role Models and their latest album ‘Imploding’ was one of the best albums from a UK band last year. Onto Billy Liar, who was performing with his full electric band, which is something I’ve not seen before, as previously it was just Billy on his own, which is a pretty formidable spectacle in itself, but tonight it was a very different beast, and opening with the excellent ‘Righteous And The Rats’ from his debut album ‘Some Legacy’ the band sounded tight and full of energy. By the time they hit the excellent ‘Baltimore’ they were on fire and it was an impressive sight as Billy led the band through tracks off both his albums, putting a smile on the faces of those present with his storytelling lyrics oozing style and craft with his folk meets working class punk rock but it’s all about the songs, and Billy has a pocketful of em.

There’s even time for a rampant run through the Rancid classic ‘Olympia’, and by the time ‘I Still Struggle’ filled the room, it was almost done. Only time left for a barbaric romp through ‘Hogmanay’ and the night was perfectly poised with a short while before Role Models hit the stage, and the most excellent supporting cast had suitably warmed up the audience.

The lights dimmed as Rags moved centre stage before being joined by the rest of the band for tonight’s headlining set. Opening with a wild and raucous ‘Dance Moves’ before heading straight into ‘Lie For Today’, before ‘Saturday Night Sailor’ thumped through the speakers. It was commented to me how in step the rhythm section was, holding the energy of the songs with a really tight double punch courtesy of Simon and Dan, who were on fire.

It was clear that the spirit of Role Models was filling the room with a bunch of catchy power pop punk rock n roll tunes and keeping them loose is a fine line, but tonight these four walked that tightrope perfectly, and already we were flicking through the albums from ‘Go To Guy’ via ‘Dance Moves’, and ‘(I Broke My Back) Disappointing You’ was like being hit by a steaming train. Loud, fun and boundless energy, this is what rock ‘n’ roll should sound like.

For those who don’t know, there’s more Role Models material outside of the three albums, and tonight we had them hitting us from everywhere. ‘The Charity EP, ‘Fuck You, See You At The Talent Show’ it was coming from all corners tonight. Represented from that fantastic EP were ‘New Reason’ and ‘Little Let Down’, but they bookended the soulful and emotional ‘Bullshit Corner’, a real deep cut from the ‘Forest Lawn’ album, where Rags stood alone on the stage but filled the room with raw emotion before being joined by the rest of the band. Damn, how the fuck weren’t these songs on the damn radio and these four gentlemen playing sold-out shows across the country? If I could have hand-picked the set list, I’d have plumped for a mix of what’s come so far and the bangers that pepper the second half of the set, with the deep cuts like ‘Bullshit Corner’, this was opening up to be one hell of a night.

By the time we hit the homestretch, it was the sing-alongs of ‘Cherry Dear’ followed by ‘Manette Street’, Damn, why did I just look at the time? This awesome reunion was drawing to a close, so it was ‘Radio’ followed by the showstopper of ‘This Eventually Leads Nowhere’, and we were done. Rags said his thanks and left the stage. Still, we weren’t done yet; no, sir, the audience demanded they return to the stage for an encore that was genuinely deserved. There was no fake ending; it was done and dusted. Still, being the good go-to guys, of course, they were going to play one more, Whammo!!! Songs were shouted out, but it was deemed we needed to hear ‘Disappointing You’ one more time when Nick’s amp rebooted, obviously.

It was always a pleasure and never a chore watching these boys, and I was delighted to have made the journey up to London Town to catch them again, and I headed out into the cold London night, happy that once again they delivered the goods and zero bullshit rock ‘n’ roll was delivered, and people left with happy smiling faces. That’s job done, isn’t it? Now, one last request: Can we do this maybe every year, maybe just before Christmas? Pretty please? Whammo!!! It’s been a long time coming, and it’s good to be back.

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Author: Dom Daley

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Eureka Machines announce English and Scottish dates for 2019

Eureka Machines announce English and Scottish dates for 2019

Eureka Machines announce a handful of dates for 2019 which will possibly be their only English and Scottish date this year.  Ticket details & Support for the dates will be as follows –

Saturday 13 April – Audio, Glasgow – Tickets
Sunday 14 April – Bannerman’s, Edinburgh – Tickets
Thursday 18 April – Gulliver’s, Manchester – Tickets
Friday 19 April – Hummingbird, Wolverhampton – Tickets
Saturday 20 April – Borderline, London – Tickets

The Scottish dates will be with the wonderful Powderkeg and Paul Morricone And Con Medicine (the exciting new solo project from Scaramanga Six bloke Paul), and the English dates are with our old pals The Scaramanga Six.

Also on the bill for Wolverhampton will be the ace Empty Page

you can buy ‘Victories’ Here

Twelve days of Christmas – A look back at 2018 with RPM – February

Twelve days of Christmas – A look back at 2018 with RPM – February

February 2018

Foulmouthed Filthy February or something like that.

February began with a road trip to see a band who for me has been my go-to pilgrimage in North Wales for The Gathering weekend for the last quarter of a century (almost). A weekend celebrating the music of Mike Peters & The Alarm reached a high point on the Saturday night as a Four-hour performance rounded off an impressive weekend. I’ve enjoyed going for almost quarter of a century where special guests have included Billy Duffy, Craig Adams, Steve Diggle, Pete Wylie, Dave sharp, Ian McNabb, Eddie McDonald and a whole bunch of other musicians I’ve forgotten and I’ve managed to attend without missing a single year.

I must admit the thought of such a marathon performance on a Saturday night filled me with dread can any fans watch for four hours? The answer is a resounding yes! It flew by and was one of the best Saturday night shows I’ve ever seen Peters perform especially when he was joined on stage by Craig Adams for the final hour (that still doesn’t sound right – the final hour). Roll on February 2019 when I can do it all again.

 

Staying on the live front, Other RPM scribes went to some far-flung countries to catch their Rock n Roll with Craggy taking in an excellent show from Fertile Hump live at Kabinet Muz, in Brno. but a large gathering of writers took in a show or two when the Damned went around the UK this time with the added excitement of Paul Gray back in the fold for the first time in decades which was rather nice.  Seeing the Damned with a new album in tow and playing sold out shows all across the UK in decent sized venues was awesome and it has to be said so were the band.  Gray seemed to give them a right shot in the arm just in time for this stint of dates was easily the highlight of February. But with the recent news of our Brother Scott Sorry battling a serious illness the Rock and Roll community rallied and a series of benefit shows were arranged to raise funds for Scott at such a difficult time what with the American Health system being what it is  The likes of Role Models, Main Grains and  The Empty Page rocked out at The Parish to rave reviews whilst Wakefield Warehouse saw the Professionals, the Wildhearts, Massive Wagons and Sonic Boom Six take care of business and send Positive vibes across the ocean as well as money raised at these spectacular shows.

Before Feb was done The UK also saw the return of Bullets And Octane and Ben attended a memorable show in York that proved that Gene Louis had lost none of the fire he had inside his beating heart when he first toured the UK.

 

As for recordings to hit the shelves, historically early in the year, things open slowly in the music business and January being about new resolutions before finally seeing new releases hit the shelves, so, Feb saw an avalanche of really big hitters for RPM writers.  We had the release of Imperial State Electric’s Live album ‘Anywhere Loud’ as well as some garage awesomeness from the likes of the Cavemen and The Bellrays getting round to release records. 

Several writers were also impressed by the latest Buffalo Tom long player ‘Quiet And Peace’ with Craggy picking it as one of his albums of the year. February belonged to a few foul-mouthed releases, the first came in the shape of Jonesey with their self titled long player with its down n dirty sleazy punk rock n roll and song titles and lyrics that would make a sailor blush no doubt about that. But one of the years highlights hit us like a sledgehammer between the eyes has to be Motherfuckin’ Motherfuckers with ‘MFFFMF’ (I think that’s the correct amount of F’s) inspired by Supershit 666 and the idea of some friends from the most splendid Bitch Queens and Oz and Lee from the mighty Hip Priests recording a mini album packed full of songs that were written in the shortest of times. I’ll let Lee Love tell you, good people, what happened, ” Ah the dumb Lee Love story. Well, me ‘n’ Oz went To Basel for a few days to hang out with our mates from Bitch Queens and we ended up getting pissed (as you do) and I was winding them up saying I could write and get em to record a mini album in a day. So we went into the Queens studio the next day and played through everything once maybe twice and hey presto it was done”.  Creating that Copters supershit 666 vibe.

To be fair this pack of loons rose to the occasion and absolutely knocked it out of the park in fact they didn’t just knock it out of the park they followed out tied it to the back of their pick up truck dragged it around the wood then kicked any life left in it out then did it all again for shits and giggles.  An absolute giant of punk rock n fuckin roll – make no mistake about that! Motherfuckin’ Motherfucker should and one day will rightfully be seen as a classic of its genre.

 

Also, The motherfuckin’ Dwarves were taking back the night in February as well and a jolly fine record that was.  Maybe it should be renamed Fuckin’ foulmouthed February from now on.  What a month. Outstanding stuff.