Fontaine’s opener merely walks out of the traps. It hasn’t got its proverbial chest puffed up it just strides confidently with ‘I don’t belong’ coming across like a band weened on the reissues of Joy Division but hooked on melodies from Mozza but with that delightful Dublin lilt. The track never breaks sweat but neither does it want you to look away either.
In a world where bands don’t have to conform or look like they’re in a gang and often look as far removed from being in a band of uncompromising post-punk noisemakers that you could possibly imagine. Fontaines D.C are like that and I doubt they give a single flying fuck what you or I think as to what a band should look like in 2020. In a world where Idles and Sleaford Mods can seemingly walk on water and breakthrough into the mainstream then there’s always room for another and Fontaines might well be that band. this sophomore release rides the coattails of the debut in double quick time in case the streaming generation might forget who you are with the click of a mouse.
It’s not until ‘Televised Mind’ do they get out of that strut walk I mentioned and you can finally take a breath and maybe move if you want. It builds very much along the lines of a joy division with the guts being wrung out of the guitars effects.
Swirling Hawkwind effects signal ‘A Lucid Dream’ is taking hold. With some frantic drumming holding this number together this could be best described as space rock for the Covid generation as it ebbs and flows. Last year, Fontaines D.C. released their debut album Dogrel to widespread acclaim, garnering a legion of fans worldwide along the way. They toured behind it relentlessly. In another time, this would be nothing but a success story: A young band delivering on the hype rather than being swallowed by it. They should have been riding high; it should have been nothing but a triumphant year. But to hear the band speak of it, the whirlwind experience almost destroyed them.
‘A Hero’s Death’. It’s an album that has its moments of frantic, claustrophobic songs that gasp for air often challenging the listener in challenging times. At times there are songs full of charm like ‘You Said’ which is simple song as is the lite and beautifully simple ‘Oh Such A Spring’
‘A Hero’s Death,’ ‘I Was Not Born,’ and ‘Televised Mind’ all predate ‘Dogrel’ so if you liked that then there’s a fair chance this is going to ring your bell as well. They’ve not gone and done a Radiohead and cut their commercial throat deliberately here because they haven’t. Fontaines D.C. know what the do and what they’re good at and hammer it home and using those principles they’ll never go out of fashion nor turn in a bad record like Idles they aren’t always an easy listen and that’s good because different tunes will leap on you when you least expect them to and those records have longevity and I like that dip in and dip out but you know they’re there. ‘Difficult angular sharp sounds for difficult times possibly the perfect chaotic record for the chaotic times we live in. At times challenging and others soothing and just nice.
“A NIGHT AT MONTROSE, DUBLIN” WILL AIR 3RD AUGUST WITH LIVE Q&A
NEW ALBUM A HERO’S DEATH ARRIVES JULY 31ST
Fontaines D.C. are announcing a very special album release show in support of their highly anticipated new offering A Hero’s Death. Filmed by Collective Dublin and captured within 2FM Radio’s studio in Montrose, Dublin – a sweeping space usually the reserve of orchestra performances – “A Night At Montrose, Dublin” will air on Monday 3rd August at 8pm BST / 9pm CEST / 3pm EDT. Fontaines D.C. will perform new album A Hero’s Death (released July 31st via Partisan Records) in its entirety for the very first time, along with selected tracks from their award-winning debut Dogrel. A live Q&A with the band will also mark the occasion. Viewing globally is easy – a link will be emailed to anyone pre-ordering the album via the store. Fans will receive their link 1 hour before the performance begins (7pm BST). The deadline to get involved is 9pm BST on 2nd August.
Get access to the performance by pre-ordering the album HERE.
7th May – Manchester Academy – SOLD OUT
8th May – Manchester Academy – SOLD OUT
10th May – Leicester De Montfort Hall
11th May – Leeds O2 Academy – SOLD OUT
12th May – Newcastle O2 City Hall
14th May – Glasgow Barrowland – SOLD OUT
15th May – Glasgow Barrowland – SOLD OUT
17th May – Cambridge Corn Exchange
18th May – Sheffield O2 Academy
20th May – Birmingham O2 Academy
21st May – Cardiff Great Hall – SOLD OUT
22nd May – Bristol O2 Academy – SOLD OUT
24th May – Bournemouth O2 Academy
25th May – Southampton O2 Guildhall
27th May – London Alexandra Palace
Supports TBC
The band’s UK tour will also be preceded by a new run of EU headline tour dates set to take place across March and April 2021. Full routing and more info can be found HERE.
Three tracks from A Hero’s Death have been released so far including the title track – the video for which stars Aidan Gillen (Game of Thrones, The Wire, Peaky Blinders) – the lonely and intense “I Don’t Belong“, and brand-new single “Televised Mind“, which you can watch the new video for below.
Fontaines D.C. have shared a new song and accompanying music video. A live favourite, “Televised Mind” heaves, drones, and churns – a perfect embodiment of the bruised and battered – albeit beautiful – throughline on the band’s forthcoming LP, “A Hero’s Death” (out 31st July via Partisan).
Fontaines D.C. frontman Grian Chatten says of the song: “This song is about the echo chamber, and how personality gets stripped away by surrounding approval. People’s opinions get reinforced by constant agreement, and we’re robbed of our ability to feel wrong. We’re never really given the education of our own fallibility. People feign these great beliefs in order to appear trendy, as opposed to independently arriving at their own thoughts.
We were listening to a lot of The Prodigy and The Brian Jonestown Massacre, specifically their song “Open Heart Surgery”. I was interested in extrapolating those types of chord progressions and capturing this droning, hypnotic feel. That last line repeated over and over [“What ya call it”] is a buffer expression that people used here in Dublin. It’s sort of like “umm” or “well…” – it’s what people say when they’re distracted.”
‘A Hero’s Death’ was produced in London by Dan Carey (Black Midi, Bat For Lashes). The band have previously shared other album highlights “I Don’t Belong,” as well as the title track, which features a music video starring Aidan Gillen (Game of Thrones, The Wire, Peaky Blinders). Watch HERE.
Last week Fontaines D.C. also announced a run of Spring 2021 UK tour dates, including a show at London’s Alexandra Palace on 27th May, their biggest UK headline show to date. Routing is as follows:
7th May – Manchester Academy
10th May – Leicester De Montfort Hall
11th May – Leeds O2 Academy
12th May – Newcastle O2 City Hall
14th May – Glasgow Barrowland
17th May – Cambridge Corn Exchange
18th May – Sheffield O2 Academy
20th May – Birmingham O2 Academy
21st May – Cardiff Great Hall
22nd May – Bristol O2 Academy
24th May – Bournemouth O2 Academy
25th May – Southampton O2 Guildhall
27th May – London Alexandra Palace
The band’s UK tour will be preceded by a new run of EU headline tour dates set to take place across March and April 2021. Tickets will also be going on sale this Friday at 9AM BST / 10AM CET. Full routing and more info can be found HERE.
Today, Fontaines D.C. have announced new UK tour dates for May 2021. The new dates will also include the band’s biggest headline UK show to-date at London’s Alexandra Palace.
Dates are as follows:
7th May – Manchester Academy
10th May – Leicester De Montfort Hall
11th May – Leeds O2 Academy
12th May – Newcastle O2 City Hall
14th May – Glasgow Barrowland
17th May – Cambridge Corn Exchange
18th May – Sheffield O2 Academy
20th May – Birmingham O2 Academy
21st May – Cardiff Great Hall
22nd May – Bristol O2 Academy
24th May – Bournemouth O2 Academy
25th May – Southampton O2 Guildhall
27th May – London Alexandra Palace
Supports TBC
Tickets will go on sale Friday 3rd July at 9AM BST – at fontainesdc.com, metropolismusic.com, seetickets.com and ticketmaster.co.uk – but fans can gain access to artist pre-sale on Wednesday 1st July 9AM BST by pre-ordering the album from the band’s official store or signing up to their mailing list at https://www.fontainesdc.com.
NHS staff and Key Workers will also have the chance to secure free tickets to the shows, with 50 being made available at all regional events, and a further 200 for London’s Alexandra Palace. Tickets will be distributed on a first come first served basis, and anyone wishing to apply must email fontaines@metropolismusic.com by 17:00pm BST on Tuesday 30th June, listing their profession and the show they want to attend. Tickets will be limited to 2 per customer. ID will be required.
The news of the tour follows the announcement of the band’s much anticipated second LP “A Hero’s Death”, and comes on the heels of their performance on Later… with Jools Holland earlier this month – watch their remote performance HERE.
‘A Hero’s Death’ was produced in London by Dan Carey (Black Midi, Bat For Lashes). The band announced the album alongside the title track, which features a music video starring Aidan Gillen (Game of Thrones, The Wire, Peaky Blinders). Watch HERE.
The band have also recently shared the opening track from the album. With its lonely intensity, “I Don’t Belong” stands in stark relief to the swagger that kicked off their debut album last year (“Big“). The song is also accompanied by a music video directed remotely by FDC bassist Connor Deegan III. Watch HERE.
‘Dogrel’ debuted Top 10 on the UK album charts, earning Fontaines D.C. a Mercury Prize nomination, #1 Album of the Year positions from BBC 6 Music and Rough Trade, a performance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and numerous sold out tours in the UK and abroad – including triumphantly selling out London Brixton Academy in just 1 week. The Guardian (who gave the album 5 stars) praised ‘Dogrel’ as being “brilliant, top to bottom,” The FADER called Fontaines D.C. “One of the most exciting new bands around,” and NME (who also gave ‘Dogrel’ 5 stars) called them “One of guitar music’s most essential new voices.” Watch a clip from their instantly legendary Glastonbury set HERE.
Hot on the heels of Junes summer sizzlers we had a bunch of other contenders for inclusion. So, it only seemed fair to reconvene the Singles Club this weekend and hit the 45 RPM switch and drop the needle for some new singles from the superb to the very good through the downright weird or catchy but none dull or not worth inclusion. Welcome one and all round two of the June singles Club…
The Sensible Gray Cells – ‘So Long’ (Damaged Goods) This bad boy dropped out of nowhere. I knew they were recording a follow up to the magnificent debut album and then a scuppered tour then this. Fuckin’ champion it is too. A rollicking Who like anthem (handclaps as well) ‘So Long’ is a belter Welcome back gents, I can’t wait to hear the album now. In direct contrast, the humour of the characters involved asks a very pertinent question on the B Side and they’re right. What is the fuckin point of any of em? Never mind just Andrew. Damned fans should be all over this and if its a good representation of the long-player then bring it on I can’t fuckin’ wait. Facebook / Pre Orders Here
Chuck Norris Experiment / Sator – ‘Split’ (Ghost Highway Records) Not heard from CNE in a while and I love a bit of Sator and what they offer so was pleased to see they did a split on the most excellent Ghost Highway Records. Opening up is a right sharp shooting ‘Turning Me Inside Out’ from CNE. Its tight, loud, and fast! everything you want from one of the finest Swedish exports currently making noise. Then a second more laid back groove as ‘One Hand On The Hip’ is a sleazy example of the versatility of the band who can easily excel in the full-tilt rockers as well as chilling with the acoustics and now it seems keeping it short and sweet as well. As for the Sator offering ‘Feathered Remedy’ is up first and the band give it some wellie and it sounds like a runaway steam train rattling down a hill with a great chorus. Wrapping up this bad boy is ‘A Song For You’ which is a glamorous romp in all its sub one minute glory. Buy it before they’re all gone its a banger. CNE Facebook
Spaghetti & Mayer- ‘Shits Fucked’ (Acetate Records) Eddie Spaghetti & Frank Meyer from the awesome Supersuckers and Street Walkin’ Cheetahs respectively put on their shit kickers and kick some shit. Its got a stolen Stooges riff, some rollicking’ barroom piano and a bunch of profanities what’s not to like? It’s a veritable top rock n roll tune by numbers and hits the spot. Only available from Acetate Records direct download it’s the best buck-fifty you’ll spend this pandemic that’s for sure. Get on it kids and turn it up! Now, how about a whole long-player from the two imagine if that were a goer and it sounded as good as this track? Fuck me sideways I’ll take some of that
Jerry Lehane – ‘Kiss My Tattoo’ (Rumbar Records) Taken from his EP Dogmatics man Jerry Lehane releases this mighty fine slice of energetic rock and roll with the emphasis on Rock! from the gutsy solo to the punchy tempo this is like listening to a gang of brothers cruising towards a rumble knowing they will get the job done. Excellent single and well worth checking out. Get on it Here
Dirty Streets – ‘On The Way’ (Alive Records) Like a throwback to a time when long hair and bellbottoms were the thang and three-piece bands were where it’s at. Dirty Streets jam their thang and lean heavily on the dirty blues from Cream to Led Zep and the likes of Free especially on ‘Can’t Go Back’ from its classic guitar break its like Humble Pie and paul Kosoff never roamed the earth. they hit their groove and stay on it. from the hushed laid back summer tune ‘On The Way’ through the hedonistic rock out of ‘Can’t Go Back’ to the jig is up White boy blues of ‘Walk A Mile In My Shoes’ which for me is the pick of the three and quite reminiscent of a certain Georgia Brotherhood band who shook their money maker. The album is eagerly anticipated and is available next month. Website / Facebook
Brian Ray – ‘I Ain’t Superstitious’ / ‘Spell Breaker’ (Wicked Cool Records) Gia Ciambotti take a bow lady. Why did you ask? well take a listen to that voice she can sing the living hell out of that song. whilst its a cover of a classic the vocals take it to another level. that and the neon green and black splatter on that wax. The flip side features the Wicked Cool recording artist Michael Des Barres. Spell Breaker is a cool smouldering track again a great vocal performance from Des Barres on a slab of dark pop-rock with added sparkle on that production of the co written song between Barres and Ray.
The Owen Guns – ‘Fuck Cyclists’ (Riot Records) Australian Hardcore Punk act THE OWEN GUNS have released their first single & video ‘F**k Cyclists’for Riot Records (Part of the Golden Robot Global Entertainment Group). ‘F**k Cyclists’ is a short blast of punk rock born out of the frustration of frequently being stuck behind cyclists on narrow country roads. Straight to the point, it pulls no punches.
THE OWEN GUNS would like to point out that they don’t condone acts of violence towards those Lycra clad irritants, no matter how tempting.
The Rellies – ‘Isabella Is Annoying’ (Damaged Goods Records) The Rellies are brothers and songwriters Ryan (13yo) guitar and vocals and Riley (11yo) Bass and Vocals as well as Jarlath (11) on drums and Aiden (12) on guitar. All met in Sydney’s infamous suburb of Kings Cross. What were these young ones doing in such an area? Learning music of course – ha ha. The band has been playing together for around three years. Songwriters Ryan and Riley like to argue a lot at rehearsal but actually love nothing more than to grab their vintage guitars and play songs by their favourite band, The Beatles. Aiden & Jarlath seem happy to do whatever. The Rellies play a mix of indie, garage-punk and rock.
Their greatest achievement is becoming part of the Damaged Goods family and playing live at Sydney venues like The Oxford Arts Factory and El Rocco. Don’t question Damaged Goods Records for they’ve released Cyanide Pills and Thee Spivs previously so they know what they’re doing besides when this enters your head you’ll be annoying everyone you know with the sound of The Rellies.
Fur – ‘Grow Up’ Like a mash-up of Weezer, Green Day and the anti folk club ruled by the likes of Crazy & The Brains this is twisted pop at its finest.
Fontaines D.C. – ‘I Don’t Belong’ (Partisan Records)“I Don’t Belong” taken from the forthcoming album out 31st July on Partisan Records. Pre-order / Pre-save the album: Here
Jailbirds – Watery Grave’ (Golden Robot Records) Drawing their influences from the obvious (Sabbath) and the not so obvious Jailbirds are loud and they play ROCK! They come from Canada and its big riffs, big vocals and big production on this new single. Check out the video below.
Tom Wardle – ‘Secrets’ Power-Pop tastic. Big hook, Big solos & bigger production but sadly no big hair. Tom had praise from high places Namely Rolling Stone Magazine for his last single ‘Jacqueline’ and on this evidence that’s not going to stop any time soon. This power-pop rocker just gets bigger as the song motors along. The recipe isn’t a secret it’s just born out of hard work and talent (obviously) The only downside is the inspiration behind the song. The least said about the tricky trees the better but at least Tom supports his local team which we can get behind. check out the video and
Christmas / Bronco – Split (Lux Noise Records / SIXTEENTIMES MUSIC) CHRISTMAS team up with Swiss heavy-stoner boys BRONCO to deliver you some super delicious sound from the underground. This one comes out on limited colour vinyl and the super saucy sleeve. Bronco dish up ‘Cowboy’ and what a heavy riff-a-rama slice of noise it is. No prisoners at all as for Christmas? well, ‘Candy Me’ is a belter. Crisp riffs and crushing drums is exactly how Turbonegro wish they sounded in 2020. Having Max Motherfucker blow you a kiss at the end is better than a stick in the eye. Hardcore heaven with a cheeky picture on that artwork very cheeky indeed. Very limited numbers so snooze you lose.
L.A. Guns – ‘Let You Down’ (Frontiers) After the excellent return to form last years ‘The Devil You Know’ this sees the guns shifting gears to something a lot less turbocharged. Recording in isolation the band saw fit to get this out for the fans to hear whilst they work on the follow-up Looks like that rich seam they are on is set to continue. Clocking in over five and a half minutes it ebbs and flows nicely something this line up is never set to do is let you down. check it out Here
The Speedways – ‘This Ain’t A Radio Sound’ (Snap Records) Second single from the upcoming album ‘Radio Sounds’ (eta June 2020) sees The Speedways add some stardust via a liberal sprinkling of Keyboards. The verse is light and the perfect foil to the chorus and the dreamy solo. Bv’s and handclaps the Speedways go straight to the top of the Power pop class no question. To add the cover is timewarp tastic. Diggin’ deep and throwing a real curveball shows that Matt and the boys have no boundaries and are fearless in their execution. Should be heard on the wireless all summer all over the land and some. Can’t wait for the album now on the strength of this.
includes our cover of the Billy Ocean classic.
Chesty Malone and the Slice ’em Ups – ‘The Fine Art of Choking’ (Quarantine Version) (self Release) The lockdown seems to have galvanised a lot of bands and has got the old creative juices flowing and Chesty Malone are no exception. Looking for a soundtrack to get those exercises done well here you go ‘The Fine Art Of Choking’ is that soundtrack. A little more laid back (if I might be so bold) than the usual fair from these Noo Yawk City maniacs but fear not my punk rockin’ friends it’s a bonafide fuckin’ banger. If you really want to push yourself then ‘State Violence/State Control’ is more in your face punk rock kicking and screaming but what else would you expect if you cover a Discharge song. Wonderful noise as always maybe we should quarantine these punk rockers more often. Love the solo on this. Buy Here
Matty James Cassidy – ‘4x4x1’ (Self Release) Hold on a cotton-picking minute! Matty James Cassidy has lassoed in a few of his bandmates to play on these four countrified blues numbers as the band rip it up on the barnyard ‘The Race Is On’ and capture the mood perfectly. Next up they twist the Stones ‘Dear Doctor’ into a much lighter beast and take ownership of this classic and do it justice. ‘How Come’ is a real belter and the arrangement is excellent and adds a much-needed chink o flight in these dark times. Everybody loves a bit of boogie woogie on the old joanna and some clean guitar breaks right? Yehaw!
To take this excellent EP home Matty goes for the acoustic ‘Old Shoes’ and an end must come which is a shame because this is a really excellent collection. Great stuff. Buy Here
Pabst – ‘Hell’ (Ketchup Tracks / The Orchard) Berlin’s Pabst have released the video for brand-new single ‘Hell’, a song that openly confronts the darker emotions and what a banger it is too. After supporting the likes of Husker Du’s Bob Mould Pabst are set to release their new album ‘Deuce Ex Machina’ mid-June and if this is an indication of what to expect then its something to look forward to and get in on the pre-orders. A fantastic song from a really talented band who write great hooks and use everything at their disposal call it post-punk, indie pop, whatever they clearly know how to write great tunes and ‘Hell’ is another. Pre-order the album HERE. Facebook
Fontains DC – ‘A Hero’s Death’ (Partisan Records) Barely a year since their debut ‘Dogrel’ earned them a spot as one of the most acclaimed new bands of 2019, Dublin’s Fontaines D.C. will return with ‘A Hero’s Death’ the LP in a couple of months. A glimpse under the curtain as to what to expect is the video for the title track of the new album right here.
Michael Des Barres – ‘Anarchy In The UK’ (Wicked Cool Records) fronted the bands Silverhead and Power Station. The latter played the Live Aid festival in 1985. Michael is currently a DJ in Little Steven’s Underground Garage and yup you’ve read that right This release is a cover of The Sex Pistols’ ‘Anarchy in the UK’, which was produced and arranged by Stevie Van Zandt. If you’re expecting a snarly slice of Des Barres punk rock then I suggest you step away from the speakers now. This one got strings and swing and whilst I’m not really convinced if he just tried to copy the original we’d all be laughing like we did when Mutley Crue and Megadeth had a go at being the Pistols. The B-side is an original, which features Genya Ravan on co-lead vocals. and that’s much more appealing. Facebook Buy Here
Hot Nuns – ‘Rude, Dumb & Anxious’ (Loyal Blood Records) Norwegian power punk rock duo Hot Nuns, featuring members of Blood Command are back with a new EP titled “Rude, Dumb & Anxious” it features four new tracks including a cover of The Boys’ “First Time”.
The duo comments on the album. “The record is four tracks of stripped-down punk rock. Its only drums, bass, and our vocals. We have a rule that if we can’t play it live we can’t put in on record either. So there is no cheating here. Not trying to be pretentious, but we try to make music the same way Lars Von Trier made Dogville. No fancy extra layers needed to get the story across. The lyrics are mostly about sad losers longing for love except for the title track ‘Rude, Dumb & Anxious’ which is about people who will say whatever about stuff they don’t know just to fit in and look good.” So the proof is always in the pudding as they say. The opening track comes on like a thunder blast of melodic aggression not to dissimilar to something Therapy? might write (with some obvious sound differences second cousins if you like). ‘I Love You Still’ is more of the same a groovy adjit pop tune played by post-punk rockers. they’re not the first to go with the overdriven bass and drums but they do fill a room and its surprisingly listenable that’s for sure. The track I was looking forward to hearing most was how they’d interpret the Boys cover and to be fair they do a sterling job and one I’m sure the writers would be proud of but then again it’s such a classic it’s hard to fuck up even if that’s what you were trying to do. To wrap it up the title track is a right banger as well so top marks from me for this EP. great effort! Facebook
FRND CRCL – ‘Deception’ (FCMedia) New Joirsee pop-punkers go for broke on their new album and pay homage to the genre rather than reinvent it. This is taken from their second album and like I say does a grand job in a Blink or all American rejects style. Nothing new but really well done. It’s bright and upbeat and ebbs and flows nicely. Layered with acoustic guitars n all sorts so a lot going on when it’s loud it’s loud and when it’s building it does so rather well to be fair. More punk than pop to be fair Website / Facebookyou can buy the album Here
Thee MVPs – ‘A Song For The Councillor’ (Eesy Records) A song about how we should probably get together more often. Sardonic verses, a damn catchy chorus (even if it is wordless) a shreddy middle 8, a motown bassline followed by a heavy chug riff in the bridge, a little bit of everything this record offers all in one tune, something the psych heads can shake it too, the dads with a night off can crowdsurf too, goths can throw shapes too and the skaters and crust punks can throw fists too (all common sightings at any MVPs gigs). Lyrically speaking it’s Funeral Part 2 without the name, a Spiritual Successor which is also spiritual with the words without getting too Rainbow Rhythms. I think this tune is ringing through a bit clearer during this pandemic if you ask me, everyone really should talk to each other more. In memory of Uncle Will, who served in the Desert Rats in WW2, who we all called Councillor when he arrived at the pub after he’d ridden his bike two miles into town and put his bets on for the day, he passed at 96, he only packed in the cycling 6 months prior. Gravesend’s Harry Dean Stanton. The Second Single from the First LP from Thee MVPs and the First LP from Eeasy Records.
SHIT TINNIES – ‘Town’ (Riot Records) Shit Tinnies you that’s their name Shit Tinnies haha is there such a thing? They’re a whirlwind of punk rock, ska, hip-hop and everything in between but here it’s more basic and street punk. Exploding onto the Sydney scene in early 2019, Of course they’re Australian where else on the planet is it called a tinnie? To be fair they play a fairly standard punk sound clearly influenced by the likes of Rancid on this evidence and others like some of the Brit Oi! bands who’ve seen a resurgence in recent years it’s great to hear young ones taking on board the sounds and turning it into something new and trying to keep things fresh will also get the metal fans on board with those crunching riffs FacebookBuy Here
Jessie Wagner – ‘Over And Over’ (Wicked Cool Records) Sweet sweet soul music from Jesse with some cool brass and some blues that would make joe Perry blush when he’s honkin’ for bobo. The horn section adds some polish to a really cool tune. It’s soulful and street cool all in one and like she’s shaken her moneymaker and danced with Kravitz and played her Bellrays albums over and over. To add another texture the laid back ‘Put Off Saying Goodbye’ is soulful and her velvet-smooth vocals against the violin is wonderful and the fact she resists breaking out on the tail end of this is great to hear. A really impressive introduction to a very talented performer I can’t wait to hear more.
The Zipheads & The Nosebleed – ‘Banrobber’ / ‘Train In Vain’ (The Strummer Foundation) both popular stalwarts of the DIY punk scene have teamed up with the Joe Strummer Foundation to release a song each from The Clash’s back catalogue in their own raucous styles, raising money to provide opportunities to musicians and support to projects around the world that create empowerment through music. What’s not to like a great worthwhile cause and two fantastic songs. Worth a couple of quid of anyone’s money if you can support it at these tough times then grab yourself a couple of top covers in exchange
Goldie Dawn – S/T (Drunken Sailor Records) ‘Gone With The Wind’ is the sound of about a dozen awesome bands rolled into one bubblegum blowing snotty slice of rock and roll. So it’s not the catchiest record you’ll ever hear but its pretty damned good for an introduction especially when the engine gets warmed up after a couple of minutes and they channel their inner Brain James. ‘Crime’ will certainly clean out any hearing problems with the feedback before we roll off round the block on a badass hotrod of attitude punk rock n roll. Love the riff as it scuffs off the rock-solid rhythm like the bastard child of Ziggy era Bowie. but wait the best is yet to come as ‘What’s Inside (Never Dies)’ and what a Heartbreakers joy ride this is. So yup its got handclaps and a Walter Meets Johnny guitar lick coursing through its veins and I’m always a sucker for some of that. top tune. But it’s not ending there because the band does ease back a little as we ride out into the sunset with ‘It’s Nothing To Me’. Bookmark Goldie Dawn or whatever it is the kids do these days I’m expecting great things if this is what they can offer us. Buy Here
Percy – ‘Will Of The People’ (Ten Foot Records) The track comes from their new album ‘Seaside Donkeys’. The album is a work that represents the gritty realism of the 2020s and that is extremely relevant to a country and planet on the brink of unchartered waters. Will Of The People is a fine slice of punk rock with gritted teeth this song sums up living on Shit Island for many people. Buy Here
Cement Shoes – ‘A Love Story Of Drugs & Rock & Roll & Drugs’ (Drunken Sailor Records) After they’ve finished fuckin’ round with the universal fanfare its heads down and hit go but don’t just hit it SMASH The Fucker! ‘Smashed On Glass’ is like a punch in the face using an elephants hoof on the end of a jackhammer. A marvelous slam of punk rock but it doesn’t end there because ‘Knocked Into The Reptile Enclosure’ sounds exactly how you’d feel if you were. Terrifying wild frantic and a little metal. But wait, there’s more but this time it’s a little more melodic and restrained. ‘Going Off The Grid’ is like a psychedelic hardcore Black Sabbath jammin’ with The Fall. Fucked up? You bet but I like it to be fair I like it a lot. Cement shoes kick right off – great stuff and right fuckin’ noisy!
Acid Blood – ‘Waste No Time’ ( JanML/MvL) Swedish punk band Acid Blood have a brand new video out for the track “Waste No Time”, taken from the LP ‘Acid Blood’). The video was directed by Nicklas Viberg and shot at the old blues bar Droskan in the bands hometown of Umeå. Like a steamtrain that can’t stop fueled by Motorhead riffs and a tonne of attitude. Acid Blood are right on it like Graham Bonnett but better, much better.
Following the release of their critically acclaimed debut album ‘Dogrel’ (#9 in the UK album chart) as well as a sold out US tour with labelmates IDLES, an electrifying performance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and yet another BBC 6 Music A listing for their fan-favourite single ‘Boys In The Better Land’; Fontaines D.C. have now shared a new video for album track ‘Sha Sha Sha’.
Directed by Hugh Mulhern (Boys In The Better Land, Too Real) the video takes place in the same circus company (Duffy’s) as featured on their critically-acclaimed debut album ‘Dogrel’s artwork.
TOUR DATES:
23 JUN 2019 / NL / Amsterdam / Loose Ends
24 JUN 2019 / CR / Zagreb / INmusic Festival
26 JUN 2019 / UK / Eden Project / Eden Sessions
(supporting Liam Gallagher)
29 JUN 2019 / UK / Glastonbury Festival
04 JUL 2019 / FR / Chavanches / Les Eurockeennes
05 JUL 2019 / ES / Vilanova i la Geltrú / VIDA Festival
06 JUL 2019 / RU / Saint Petersburg / Stereoleto
07 JUL 2019 / RU / Moscow / Bol Festival
11 JUL 2019 / BE / Dour / Dour Festival
13 JUL 2019 / UK / Glasgow / TRNSMT Festival
14 JUL 2019 / UK / London / Citadel Festival
19 JUL 2019 / NL / Nijmegen / Valkhof Festival
20 JUL 2019 / FR / Carhaix-Plouguer / Les Vieilles Charrues
25 JUL 2019 / CH / Nyon / Paleo Festival
26 JUL 2019 / UK / Oxford / Truck Festival
27 JUL 2019 / UK / Rainton / Deer Shed Festival
28 JUL 2019 / UK / Pikehall / Y Not Festival
02 AUG 2019 / IE/ Waterford / All Together Now
04 AUG 2019 / CA / Montreal, QC / Osheaga Festival
08 AUG 2019 / NO / Oslo / Oya Festival
09 AUG 2019 / DE / Haldern Pop Festival
11 AUG 2019 / IT / Sicily / Ypsigrock festival
15 AUG 2019 / FR / Saint-Malo / La Route du Rock festival
1 SEP 2019 / UK / Wiltshire / End of The Road Festival
06 SEP 2019 / US / Brookyn, NY / Music Hall Of Williamsburg+ SOLD OUT!
07 SEP 2019 / US / Philadelphia, PA / Johnny Brenda’s+ SOLD OUT!
08 SEP 2019 / US / Boston, MA / Great Scott+ SOLD OUT!
11 SEP 2019 / US / Washington, DC / U Street Music Hall+
12 SEP 2019 / US / Columbus, OH / Ace of Cups+
13 SEP 2019 / US / Toronto, ON / Horseshoe Tavern+
14 SEP 2019 / US / Detroit, MI / El Club+
15 SEP 2019 / US / Chicago, IL / Lincoln Hall+
17 SEP 2019 / US / Minneapolis, MN / 7th Street Entry+
20 SEP 2019 / US / Vancouver, BC / Fox Cabaret+ SOLD OUT!
21 SEP 2019 / US / Portland, OR / Mississippi Studios+
22 SEP 2019 / US / Seattle, WA / Neumo’s+
24 SEP 2019 / US / San Francisco, CA / The Independent+
26 SEP 2019 / US / Los Angeles, CA / Teragram Ballroom+
27 SEP 2019 / US / Dana Point, CA / Ohana Festival+
01 NOV 2019 / ES / Madrid / Chango
02 NOV 2019 / ES / Barcelona / Razzmatazz 3
04 NOV 2019 / DE / Cologne / Gebäude 9
05 NOV 2019 / DE / Berlin / Bi Nuu
07 NOV 2019 / BE / Brussels / Botanique
08 NOV 2019 / NL / Amsterdam / Bitterzoet
10 NOV 2019 / FR / Paris / Le Bataclan
11 NOV 2019 / FR / Nantes / Stereolux
19 NOV 2019 / UK / Manchester / O2 Ritz
20 NOV 2019 / UK / Liverpool / O2 Academy
21 NOV 2019 / UK / Glasgow / SWG 3
22 NOV 2019 / UK / Leeds / Stylus
23 NOV 2019 / UK / Sheffield / Leadmill
25 NOV 2019 / UK / Birmingham / O2 Institute
26 NOV 2019 / UK / Oxford / O2 Academy
27 NOV 2019 / UK / London / O2 Forum
28 NOV 2019 / UK / Brighton / Concorde 2
30 NOV 2019 / UK / Bristol / SWX
1 DEC 2019 / UK / Southampton / The 1865
7 DEC 2019 / IRE / Dublin / Vicar Street SOLD OUT!
8 DEC 2019 / IRE / Dublin / Vicar Street EXTRA DATE
10 JAN 2020 / UK / Newcastle / O2 Academy
11 JAN 2020 / UK / Nottingham / Rock City
Dublin City. Five young men with a head full of dreams and songs. With the likes of Idles breaking out of Bristol with their post-punk tunes now seems the right time right place for a band like Fontaines D.C to step up and show what they have.
Part indie, part punk, part pop all delivered with a broad Dublin accent I like what I hear. ‘Big’ is uptempo and lays the ground zero point from which Fontaines D.C are kicking this off. Its a slightly restrained rage like a cross between Idles (there’s no getting away from it) and someone like Pavement. ‘Sha Sha Sha’ is a Friday night out of work and down the pub anthem for the underdog and it makes you feel good. ‘Too Real’ is a brooding wall of noise. As it ebbs and flows rather nicely in a New York City kinda way that maybe had the Strokes been from Dublin then they might have had a bash at this. That Strokes vibe comes through on ‘Television Screen’ as well as it builds nicely.
‘Hurrican Nicely’ doesn’t make any sense to me but what does make perfect sense is that rhythm section roll on the cymbals and the rumble of the bass which is great and only escalates when the guitars kick in. Its got a heart as big as The Falls back catalogue and the flat delivery of the lyrics would have Mark E Smith inhaling with great approval I’m sure. In contrast ‘Roy’s Tune’ has a really strong melody and gets sung in a very Britpop sort of way as the song drifts along.
With many hats being worn here it’s hard to pinpoint or categorise the band which is refreshing and helps you listen to the songs without expecting to hear this style or that style. There is a reflective mood to ‘The Lotts’. ‘Liberty Belle’ is made for a sweaty live environment as is ‘Boys In The Better Land’ in all it’s happy go lucky let’s make a noise kinda way. Then to end it with the late night smokey barroom lament of ‘Dublin City Sky’ is a fine way to put a full stop on this barrel full of alternative music and a big bunch of very enjoyable tunes. It could go one of two ways here I guess- one, I’ll want to hear some of these songs again and again as they draw me in or two. I’ll crave a loud night in listening to a lovely Dublin lilt telling me stories of his home town and the people who live there all wrapped up in some gritty alternative rock and roll. Always a pleasure and never a chore that’s for sure.
Fontaine’s opener merely walks out of the traps. It hasn’t got its proverbial chest puffed up it just strides confidently with ‘I don’t belong’ coming across like a band weened on the reissues of Joy Division but hooked on melodies from Mozza but with that delightful Dublin lilt. The track never breaks sweat but neither does it want you to look away either.
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