It’s A Podcast – Episode 16 ‘These Pair Of Monkeys Can Swing’

It’s A Podcast – Episode 16 ‘These Pair Of Monkeys Can Swing’

Welcome to Episode 16 of our little Podcast where DD And Hotshot bring you some top tunes from the archives. We have some brand new tunes from current records that have either just been released or are about to be released as well as tunes from the archives such as Joe Strummers demo outtake of ‘Coma girl’ that is taken from his boxset 002.

First up in this Episode is a Steve Lillywhite recording of Johnny Thunders recording ‘Leave Me Alone’ recorded with current Damned bass player Paul Gray alongside drummer Steve Nicol. It was eventually released on a 10″ EP on Remarquable Records alongside three other tracks. It was a remarkable time for Thunders who went on to release ‘So Alone’ with a veritable host of bonafide Superstars, spawning his best work (arguably) that included the epic ‘You Can’t Put Your Arms Around A Memory’.

Next up Hotshot picked a Hanny J track ‘Days Felt Like Years’ From her 2019 EP ‘Possession’. HAnny is known for her bass playing in Melbourne punks Clowns but this change of pace offers an insight into her talents as a songwriter and singer.

Ming City Rockers have just completed a new album and whilst we wait for them to start dropping details of when we can expect to hear songs of fit you’ll have to make do with ‘Desperate’ from their last album ‘Lime’ which was released early in 2023. We’ve already had the one-track drop so hopefully, it’s soon when we’ll get news.

Guitar pop indie kids Ash released a great new album late last year and have just released it as an extended option ‘Race The Night’ comes out with an extra raft of tracks. If it’s classic tracks you’re after then look no further than Misfits classic ‘Hybrid Moments’ lifted from the Box set version ‘Static Age’. Digitally remastered from the band’s classic debut – You can’t argue that Early Misfits didn’t deliver and anyone whos seen them play recently can testify that they still have it.

Scandinavian punks The Good The Bad And The Zugly are about to release something of a compilation album based on B sides of singles and a new cut that we play spanning the band’s 15 years of doing this. ‘Decade Of Regression’ hits the shops on the 5th of April. Catch them on tour now!

Next up The Drowns knock out their single ‘Ketamine And Cola’ from the album ‘Blacked Out’ get it off Pirates Press and I can promise you – you won’t be disappointed.

Jumping back to Scandinavia the pair offer up The Backstreet Girls and ‘Boogie Woman’ lifted from their latest album of loud infectious rock n roll ‘In Lust We Trust’. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it which is the mantra the band adhere to and continues to turn out top tunes and top albums.

Joe Strummer gets aired and a demo of ‘Coma Girl’ lifted from his second box set ‘002’ The Mescaleros years. It’s hard to believe that Strummer passed in 2002 and those studio albums still sound fresh and relevant all these years later. This is one of the early outtakes of the track and still, I champion it as his most outstanding solo post Clash record. The box set is well worth investigating full of artefacts and really well designed.

Who doesn’t love Slade? I guess if you’re still reading and you hit the link to play the podcast then you’re going to love this live recording which was recently released on splatter vinyl. ‘Them Kinda Monkeys Can’t Swing’ is a barnstorming opener and this version is particularly good. After a quick check, I can correct myself and say this recording was made from a few nights at the theatre in 1975 so right smack in the middle of the band’s pomp. Captured for a BBC performance Slade are remembered by a slew of fine albums that have just had the rerelease treatment and this is one not to miss alongside the Reading performance that the pair chat about. If you’ve never delved into the Slade archive then what better place to start than a live album stacked with absolute bangers. there aren’t many frontmen with a set of pipes like Holders and on this song he gives his vocals a damn good workout.

Maverick Ryan Adams recently dropped five albums on the same day (now that doesn’t happen every day) one of those albums particularly piqued my attention and ‘Skulls’ is lifted from the album ‘1985’. A daunting and huge back catalogue maybe if you start from this recent album drop you have pretty much the whole sound of the guy in one day – five albums mind and all crammed with tunes. Try him.

Gene Loves Jezebel recently released an album on Cleopatra Records ‘x – Love Death Sorrow’ and it contained a very mixed bag in as much as there were Four covers with the originals and one that caught our ears in the classic post-punk/ New Wave ‘Another Girl Another Planet’ but put their Gothic twist and owned The Only Ones classic taking it somewhere we weren’t expecting but thoroughly enjoyed.

NWOBHM aficionados might baulk at our ignorance when we encounter the recent Cherry Red Records compilation ‘All Systems Go’ and the Crucifixion track ‘Jailbait’. The beauty of these retro boxsets is that you discover bands like this that you might have missed first time around. Don’t take my word for it hit the podcast and get on it.

I think it’s the first Replacements track we’ve dived into on the podcast certainly the first one lifted from the superb ‘Tim’ album box set that came out last year with a superb remix that elevates the album from what we were used to. Possibly hearing the one track in isolation doesn’t do it justice but ‘Kiss Me On The Bus’ is a belter and if you’re new to the Replacements then this is a quality album/box set to dive into it also includes some fantastic live recordings. one of Americas best gifts to music ever – you can take that to the bank.

Finally, on this episode, Laura Jane Grace closes off the show with the title track off her new solo album ‘Hole In My Head’ an album that offers the listener her usual variety of electric and acoustic songs as she rages against the machine. Its her fourth album and this is just a taste of what to expect from another fantastic album. Punk, Folk Rock, Acoustic, Rebel Rousing Grace is compulsive listening and this album maintains the super high standard of songwriting be it as a solo artist or fronting Against Me! or Laura Jane Grace & the Devouring Mothers.

I’m sure you’ll agree if you can understand our poetical Welsh voices we do have the gift of the best music available whatever variety it might be. Join in – let us know what you think. If you have a request or a topic you’d like us to play/discuss then get in touch.

Listen-Folow-Like-Share. Thanks from the pair of us.

Gene Loves Jezebel – Bristol Exchange 28/04/22

Gene Loves Jezebel – Bristol Exchange 28/04/22

Getting over the bridge seems to be hit or miss these days with it being shut what seems like every other day Jay should bring the band back to its roots and when it was moved from The Louisiana to the Exchange, maybe Le Pub in The ‘Port would have been better seeing as there were more people from South Wales in attendance than Bristolians. Anyway, I digress.  After getting this Fortieth Anniversary tour underway in the very worst possible way by having their van nicked, all the gear and merch, it seemed the Gods were out to test the band’s resolve. Judging by tonight’s evidence it would seem nothing was going to stop the fearsome foursome from delivering the goods – not Covid, not venue changes, not van stealing, not chest infections, not nothing, nada, nowt!

Jay seemed particularly chatty and the band sounded relaxed and enjoying being out amongst it.  James and Smiley had only just jumped off the Alarm Tour and hopped on this quick rattle around the UK before heading stateside.  They were battle-ready and had warmed up and had something of a pre-season if you like. Jay wearing a splendid new shirt for the night made his apology about his vocal challenges but it wasn’t needed, the sound was excellent in the venue which has had a couple of upgrades post lockdown which will serve them well.

Getting proceedings underway with a crystal clear and well oiled ’20 Killer Hurts’ From the “Big Commercial  Breakthrough” album ‘The House Of Dolls’ they then went deep with a track off Jay’s solo album ‘Unpopular Songs’ that appeared on ‘VII’ A really underrated song from a really good album (both the solo and ‘VII’). It was also good to hear ‘World Gone Crazy’ dedicated to what’s going on in Eastern Europe from the ‘Dancing Underwater’ album. As I said earlier Jay was on form tonight, indulging in banter with members of the audience and his bandmates it made for a more intimate and warm evening’s entertainment.  ‘Cow’, was excellent and somber and fittingly dedicated to the people of Ukraine. Their first ever single ‘Bruises’, rubbed shoulders with the more commercial ‘Break The Chains’ where with some fine fretwork from messers Stevenson and Risso the band jammed out the songs as much for their own enjoyment it seemed with Pete Rizzo and Smiley locking in really well. You could be forgiven for thinking they’d been a cohesive solid unit for the 40 years.

In a shorter set than last time they were in this City over in the Fleece, what seems like a lifetime ago now it was wonderful to hear ‘Motion Of Love’ which as you’d expect went down really well all around the venue as people began to warm up and then we had the fake encore, rather than mover through the audience to go upstairs and then come back down it was an encore/no encore where the band played a really impressive ‘Steven’ before signing off with ‘Desire’.  Another flawless set of songs old and new played by a band who clearly love their art and deliver it in spades every time even under the most difficult of circumstances.  As we made the journey home it wasn’t long before we wondered why they didn’t play this and that and hopefully next time they will. 

Another night out watching some top-notch Goth ‘n’ Roll that’s been almost two years in the waiting didn’t disappoint.

In a week where I’ve seen The Mission, Salvation, Rose Of Avalanche, The Alarm, and now Gene Loves Jezebel is it really 2022?  Good times until next time.

Author: Dom Daley 

GENE LOVES JEZEBEL Announce UK Tour & European tours

GENE LOVES JEZEBEL Announce UK Tour & European tours

GENE LOVES JEZEBEL have announced a UK tour to celebrate their 40th anniversary getting underway in Newcastle on May 20, 2020.

Featuring original members Jay Aston (vocals), James Stevenson (guitars) and Pete Rizzo (bass) are joined by long serving drummer Chris Bell and will be digging deep into the bands glittering career.

Before the band heads to the UK they will be Special Guests for The Mission on part of their United European Party Tour 2020. We’ll be joining them for all of their Spanish and Portuguese dates.
Ticket Link to all shows Here

Mon 09 Mar 2020 Valencia, Spain Sala Moon
Tue 10 Mar 2020 Valencia, Spain Sala Moon
Wed 11 Mar 2020 Lisbon, Portugal Lisboa Ao Vivo
Thu 12 Mar 2020 Lisbon, Portugal Lisboa Ao Vivo
Fri 13 Mar 2020 Porto, Portugal Hard Club
Sat 14 Mar 2020 Porto, Portugal Hard Club
Mon 16 Mar 2020 Madrid, Spain, Sala Mon
Tue 17 Mar 2020 Madrid, Spain, Sala Mon
Wed 18 Mar 2020 Barcelona, Spain Razzmatazz 2
Thu 19 Mar 2020 Barcelona, Spain Razzmatazz 2

40th Anniversary Tour Headline UK Tour: May 2020

20th            NEWCASTLE – Trillians
21st            EDINBURGH – Opium
22nd            GLASGOW – Audio
23rd            MANCHESTER – Night People
24th            WOLVERHAMPTON – Slade Rooms
28th            BRISTOL – Louisiana
29th            BEDFORD – Esquires
30th            LONDON – O2 Islington Academy
31st            BRIGHTON – Chalk

Tickets are available here:
http://www.flagpromotions.co.uk/
https://www.ticketweb.uk/search?q=gene+loves+jezebel
http://tickets-scotland.com/events.html?event_searchtext=gene+loves+jezebel&event_method=search

Beauty In Chaos – ‘Finding Beauty In Chaos’ (33.3 Music Collective)

Beauty In Chaos – ‘Finding Beauty In Chaos’ (33.3 Music Collective)

The brainchild of Human Drama/Gene Loves Jezebel guitarist Michael Ciravolo, Beauty In Chaos is a goth-tastic supergroup project that brings together legendary names from the likes of The Mission, The Cure, Gene Loves Jezebel, Cheap Trick and Ministry to contribute on their debut album ‘Finding Beauty In Chaos’.

Influenced by the like of My Bloody Valentine, The Cocteau Twins and Lush, the LA-based guitar slinger hooked up his delay and reverb pedals joined forces with Ministry producer Michael Rozon and set about creating soundscapes rich in gothic goodness. Then enlisted the help of various musical acquaintances, such as Michael Aston, Wayne Hussey and Al Jourgensen, to add their own unique talents.

 

Opener ‘Road To Rosario’ sets the scene. With Michael Aston taking lead vocals, it unsurprisingly comes on like a lost Gene loves Jezebel cut as haunting, effect-ridden guitars weave in and out between a pounding bass line and lush distinctive vocals. A crisp production job ensures no sound goes unnoticed as guitars and vocals build in unison to create a killer opener.

Up next, ‘The Storm’ is the first of a trio of tracks to feature The Awakening main man Ashton Nyte on vocals. Atmospheric and emotive old school Goth, just the way we like it, baby! Later on, he opens his dark soul on the nomadic, Eastern tinged ‘Bloodless & Fragile’ and the moody closing title track. These tracks would not sound out of place on The Crow soundtrack.

Al Jourgensen lends his dulcet tones to an industrial tinged take on T Rex’s ‘20th Century Boy’ and pulls it off with ease, while the unmistakable vocals of The Mission main man Wayne Hussey are perfect for ‘The Long Goodbye’ and the simply enthralling ‘Man Of Faith’ (also featuring the talents of The Cure bassist Simon Gallup), possibly the stand out tune of the day for me.

Human Drama vocalist Johnny Indovina adds ethereal Bowie textures to ‘Memory Of Love’ and Ville Valo romanticism to ‘Beauty Lies Within’.

There’s a couple of unexpected diamonds in amongst the black ashes that permeate this collection of dark, gothic goodness. Namely, the power pop of ‘Drifting Away’, featuring an on form Robin Zander and top backing vocals courtesy of a certain Michael Anthony amongst others. Then Dug Pinnick and Ice T pump up the volume to industrial levels for ‘Un-Natural Disaster’, a song that retains the de-tuned, grungy feel of King’s X, while the spoken word rap of Ice T takes things down a darker street.

 

Collaborative musical projects run the risk of losing direction and focus, but Ciravolo takes the signature sound of each vocalist and adds his own textures to create an outstanding work of art that is both dark and cinematic and flows as a complete album.

‘Finding Beauty In Chaos’ is an album that celebrates the alternative late 80’s and puts a modern, edgy twist on a genre that has a place in the dark hearts of rockers, ravers and lovers the world over.

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Buy ‘Beauty In Chaos’ Here

Gene Loves Jezebel / Cauda Pavonis – The Fleece Bristol 17/01/19

Gene Loves Jezebel / Cauda Pavonis – The Fleece Bristol 17/01/19

As I enter The Fleece on a grim Thursday night the support band have just taken the stage and local band Cauda Pavonis might not be everyone’s cup of tea with their steampunk full goth schtick which was as unavoidable as the backing tapes and recorded synths but some people in attendance were getting into it as the set wore on.  Frontwoman Su was a likable and engaging singer but the music was not really to my taste although I do remember a couple of titles in ‘Aces And Eights’ and ‘Love Like Broken Glass’ and I do remember them singing  about nurseries and other goth things but I wasn’t really here for that I did get distracted by the fleeces video screens either side of the venue displaying the countless tribute bands currently boggin’ up (or maybe propping up ) venues like this and I remember feeling quite sad about it as the Goths played on and maybe I should take more of an interest in them because at least they weren’t peddling someone else’s music and all power to them for what they do as it must be a serious niche scene. 

Anyway onto the headliners Gene Loves Jezebel who are covering six UK cities on their first jaunt in a decade featuring Pete Rizzo, James Stevenson, and Jay Aston. You know when you get a feeling that this is going to be good well as soon as Stevenson hit the strings to unleash ‘Twenty Killer Hurts’ it wasn’t all best of material and you could never accuse Gene Loves Jezebel of hopping on the nostalgia circuit because it certainly didn’t feel like that nor did the band perform like they were just going through the motions. 

‘Cow’ was dedicated to Vegans in the audience and to be fair when Jay asked how many were in attendance you could have heard a pin drop (Bristol keeping it old school). ‘Sweet Sweet Rain’ was dedicated to Jay’s motherland just across the border and ‘Kiss Of Life’s’ ‘Why Can’t I’ was majestic.

The last studio album featuring these three had ‘Someone You Love’ and ‘Flying’ represented and they transitioned seamlessly into the middle of the set. there were plenty of crowd pleasers yet to play and the clock was ticking I did start to think if we’d manage to cram in so many songs I wanted to hear.  It was a dip into the archives for ‘Bruises’ of the first album which had me thinking how long ago that was and to be fair to Jay he’s certainly got the peter pan thing happening as he’s managed to stay  rock n roll pencil thin and like his heroes he dances and jokes with the audience and is on good form tonight sharing stories about the songs as they come thick and fast. ‘Gorgeous’, ‘Jealous’, ‘Break The Chains’ were all aired before Jay introduced the first song off the first album and one that had the powers that be had read or listened to the lyrics would unquestionably have banned it ‘Upstairs’ sounded fresh and vibrant like it could have been recently written never mind recorded in nineteen eighty-three! Rizzo thumped his bass like a good un and the band sounded so locked in and tight and to bring the main set to a dignified ending ‘Desire’ was aired.

With the clock showing almost half eleven it was good to be out on a school night at a late one and it was great to hear ‘Always A Flame’ from the ‘Immigrant’ album before the inevitable curtain closer of ‘Motion Of Love’ and then it was done Gene Loves Jezebel were off into the cold night air after delivering a most excellent set of old and new and doing it with a smile and like a band that gave a shit about what they were playing and how they delivered it.  Let’s hope it’s not another decade before we get to do this all again Gene Loves Jezebel I salute you that was most excellent. If you read this Jay you sent a couple of us back over the bridge with big smiles hoping next time there is a date closer to the green green grass of home – Diolch yn Fawr yawn I chi

Buy Gene Loves Jezebel Here

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