Featuring Dave Gahan, Nick Cave, Debbie Harry, Mark Lanegan, Warren Ellis, Mick Harvey, Lydia Lunch, Mark Stewart, Jim Jones, Jim Jarmusch, Peter Hayes, The Coathangers, Suzie Stapleton, Duke Garwood & more. If that list doesn’t set your musical taste buds tingling then I don’t know what will. Quite simply I got excited way back when I first heard there was going to be a volume four of Jeffrey Lees sessions. I loved Gun Club from the very first time I heard their music and everything thereafter moving through the posthumous releases I couldn’t get enough so when these releases came out and seeing the list of contributors I was delighted and this is no exception.

Ten years in the making by the late Gun Club titan’s guitarist Cypress Grove, the Project has always
aimed to highlight Pierce as one of America’s most fascinatingly influential singer-songwriters of
the last century while propelling his outpourings into modern times by placing it in the hands of
former collaborators, friends and fans. Following 2009’s We Are Only Riders, 2012’s The Journey Is Long, and 2014’s Axels and Sockets, The Task Has Overwhelmed Us presents stellar interpretations of tracks from Pierce’s Gun Club and solo canons along with fresh works constructed from rehearsal skeletons its simply exquisite. Described as a wild ride doesn’t do it justice from these skeletons and Frankenstein songs have been fleshed out into lean mean rockin machines from Depeche modes Dave Gahan’s opening haunted piano ballad take on ‘Mother of Earth’ through, Mark Lanegan singing ‘Go Tell The Mountain’ backed by Ellis and Cave (who back Jeffrey himself on ‘Yellow Eyes’) is simply haunting and the warmth in the vocal is spine-tingling. Cave duetting beautifully with Debbie Harry again on ‘On the Other Side’. The blitzkrieg bop of ‘Debbie By The Christmas Tree’ is only matched by a thumping Jim Jones ‘Going Down The Red River’.

If it’s beautiful balladeering then Suzie Stapleton doing ‘Secret Fires’ will give you the chills. But the Debbie Harry and Nick Cave duet is simply wonderful no need for superlatives it walks the walk and talks the talk. there are eighteen tracks on offer and I could recount them all and their majestic beauty but I’ll trust you to buy this and revel in the genius and beauty of the music and these interpretations. Jeffrey Lee Pierce went too soon, way too soon he had so much more to offer on top of what he did leave us. Just buy it! it’s worth every second of your time.

Buy Here

Author:Dom Daley

The Jeffrey Lee Pierce Sessions Project: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube

On October 30th Jim Jones unleashes The Righteous Three onto the world with an exclusive filmed performance to help raise funds for The Bowery Electric in New York.

The limitations of Coronavirus have put the full Righteous Mind band on ice for the time being. Stripped back to the raw elements of a three piece featuring Gavin Jay on bass and Aidan Sinclair on drums, Jim lays down heavy duty fuzz riffs over primal, Neolithic rhythms and snarling, growling grooves. The bands first public outing will be a streamed video of two Cramps songs.played live in the studio as part of an online festival for The Bowery Electric. Watch this space for more news from Jim Jones Righteous Three soon.

Like many venues, The Bowery Electric is facing uncertain times. This years ‘Sally Can’t Dance featuring music by The Cramps’ festival will go ahead as a paid live stream, with a mix of socially distanced performances from the venue and pre-recorded videos. Tickets cost $15 USD and the night features a stellar line-up with performances from Kid Congo, Chuck Prophet, Bob Bert, Bebe Buell, The Schizophonics and many, many more.

Air time is 9pm EST (USA) Friday Oct. 30th.  For those not in America or into early morning rock ‘n’ roll, the show will be available for viewing at any time of the day for 2 weeks after broadcast.

Ticket link here: https://theboweryelectric.veeps.com/…/events/d6d35af8136b

Long Live The Cramps and The Bowery!

THE LEGENDARY ROCK ‘N’ ROLL EVENT CONFIRMED TO TAKE PLACE AT THE 02 SHEPHERD’S BUSH EMPIRE APRIL 1ST

 

RENOWNED PRETENDERS FRONTWOMAN CHRISSIE HYNDE CONFIRMED TO RECEIVE ICON AWARD

 

Staking its reputation as an essential rock ‘n’ roll date in the annual calendar, with two now fabled awards nights at the 02 Islington Academy in 2018 and 2019 which saw a vast array of iconic artists performing and rubbing shoulders, the 2020 Vive Le Rock Awards is confirmed to take place this coming April 1st.

 

This time, however, the event has gone bigger and bolder, moving to the 2000 capacity 02 Shepherd’s Bush Empire for the party of the year that also celebrates Vive Le Rock’s tenth anniversary in print, having published its first issue in 2010, it is now the world’s biggest rock ‘n’ roll and punk magazine, independently published by Big Cheese Publishing Ltd in London.

 

The two previous years have featured live appearances from The Damned, The Stranglers, Shakin’ Stevens, Suzi Quatro, members of AC/DC, Sex Pistols, The Specials, Buzzcocks and even England football legend Stuart Pearce, and the event this year continues to grow in stature and size!

 

This year the 2020 Vive Le Rock Awards takes great pleasure in honouring Chrissie Hynde, the primary songwriter and frontwomen for the enormously successful American rock band The Pretenders, with a much-deserved icon award. Chrissie Hynde has long been the embodiment of rock’n’roll cool; a woman of principles and a gifted songwriter with a voice that can melt hearts. Her pivotal role in the early days of punk saw her working in Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood’s Sex shop, leading to musical involvement with the majority of punk’s key players, including even a brief stint in Johnny Moped’s band, before embarking on a multi-million selling rock career with smash-hit songs such as ‘Brass In Pocket’ and ‘Talk Of The Town’.  She is truly worthy of this special award.

 

 

Vive Le Rock are also very proud to welcome London rockers The Only Ones onto the line-up. Frontman Peter Perrett returned in recent years to launch a  successful solo career with two fabulous albums in 2017 and 2019 and now we celebrate The Only Ones legacy, who will be picking up a ‘Classic Song’ award for their timeless 1978 hit ‘Another Girl Another Planet’, which will be performed on the night.

 

Also confirmed to join the melee is soul-brother Jim Jones; Hypnotic, Righteous Mind and Revue, a man who IS rock ‘n’ roll incarnate, who will bring his hand-clapping grooves to the night, alongside former Hellacopters and Backyard Babies guitarist, Swedish rock-god Dregan, who will present an award on the night.

 

Then, just when you thought the evening couldn’t get any hotter, along comes the crazy world of Arthur Brown with his red-hot 1968 hit ‘Fire’, bringing his wild show and worldwide number one smash hit to the event.

 

These join the previously announced artists, Original Rudeboy – The Specials Neville Staple, along with a very special one-off reformation of 80’s goth rockers The Lords of The New Church, fronted by Finnish Hanoi Rocks legend Michael Monroe on vocals. The Vive Le Rockers all-star band will once again back specially invited singers and compere for the night which will see the return of Ed Tudor-Pole of Tenpole Tudor fame (and also 80s T.V show, The Crystal Maze!) and The Damned’s Brian James will accept the Pioneer award.

 

There will be a special section for rockers we have lost in 2019 including Gang Of Four’s Andy Gill, Eddie and The Hot Rods Barrie Masters (who played the 2019 VLR awards) and surf guitar legend Dick Dale.

 

The audience will comprise of invited members of the media, television, fashion and the music world as well as an allocation of tickets for the general public. The VLR Awards are a truly unique, international event celebrating the legends of our music scene. “This isn’t some chicken in a basket awards show, this is a party with the coolest people in rock n’ roll” said Vive Le Rock editor Eugene Butcher.

 

Tickets available HERE:

 

Find Vive Le Rock HERE:

 

You can watch action from the last two VLR Awards here

 

 

Thee Hypnotics have confirmed the full supporting bill for their upcoming UK and European tour. In addition to topping the bill at the Fuzzville Festival in Alicante in Spain, the legendary testifiers will be bringing their devastating live show to BirminghamLeedsLondonRamsgateSouthampton and Cardiff.

 

Each date will have a different support act and adding to the ramalama are rockers Black Bombers (Birmingham), Teeside punk’n’rollers Johnny Seven (Leeds), downtuned desert rockers Sky Valley Mistress and chronicler of the dark Suzie Stapleton (London), grunge revivalists The Nightmares (Ramsgate) and punk rockers The Glorias (Southampton).

 

Suzie Stapleton will also support in Cardiff.

 

Thee Hypnotics reunited in 2018 after a 20-year hiatus to play sold-out dates across the UK and Europe in support of the career-spanning and re-mastered vinyl boxset, Righteously Recharged. Featuring the classic line-up of co-founders Jim Jones (vocals) and Ray Hanson (guitar), with Phil Smith (drums) and Jeremy Cottingham (bass), Thee Hypnotics will once again deliver their sonic payload with a savage intensity.

 

“We’re really pleased to be joined by so many good bands,” says frontman Jim Jones. “It means that each and every night of this tour is going to be offering more bang for your buck. You’ll definitely be getting a proper night out.”

 

Tickets for all the shows are available via Thee Hypnotics’ website at theehypnotics.com

 

Thee Hypnotics play

 

MARCH 2020

 

19 – Hare & Hounds, Birmingham UK (w/Black Bombers)

20 – The Warehouse, Leeds UK (w/Johnny Seven)

21 – The Dome, London UK (w/Sky Valley Mistress and Suzie Stapleton)

22 – Music Hall, Ramsgate UK (w/The Nightmares)

24 – The Joiners, Southampton UK (w/The Glorias)

25 – The Globe, Cardiff (w/Suzie Stapleton)

28 – Fuzzville, Alicante ES

Website: https://www.theehypnotics.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theehypnoticsofficial

Twitter: https://twitter.com/theehypnotics

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theehypnoticsofficial

My first thoughts on receiving this baby in my inbox was who are what is the Humanist? Digging into the press release I have a great surprise in that its Rob Marshall, a huge influence on the superb ‘Gargoyles’ LP from Mark Lanegan.

Mark Lanegan is one of the guest vocalists on this beauty as is Dave Gahan, as is RPM fave Jim Jones, as is Mark Gardner (Ride), David Holmes (Portishead) John Robb (The Membranes) and a whole host of others, this just raises the excitement level and you start to get a feel without hearing anything that it’s going to be dark, broody, edgy and industrial, fuzzed-out and in your face.

Reading the blurb and looking into the Marshal background we find that

“Rob formed his first real band in the year 2000: Lyca Sleep spun a dreamy, languorous psychedelica, and toured extensively with South, The Warlocks and Engineers. Later Lyca Sleep morphed into Exit Calm: “This band reclaim the guitar band as something to have faith in again,” wrote Mojo, They released two critically acclaimed albums, played festivals including Glastonbury, V and Leeds/Reading. Big tour supports with Echo and The Bunnymen, Doves and The Music followed. After extensive tours in Europe and Japan, they split in 2015, and Rob found himself without a band, a stranger in rough-around-the-edges, bohemian Hastings on England’s South Coast.”

 

But what does it actually sound like? After working through the industrial confusion, definitely designed that way of the intro we start to drop the tone the repetitive beats and electronic runs not unlike the last Lanegan LP, and as that unmistakable voice hits us, and as “Kingdom” kicks in your going into some dark places, the fuzzed-out industrial edge pushing it up another gear, before the plaintive harmonica draws you into a post-apocalyptic blues setting, this is seriously good stuff! We’re sticking with Lanegan for the next up “Beast of the nation” and in fairness, it floors you from the off, everything I love in industrial stylings, and it sits to me as one of the strongest things Lanegan has recorded.

 

Next up we hand over to Dave Gahan (Depeche Mode), with “Shock Collar”  a different distinctive vibe but absolutely vital you really can’t describe it as Industrial, perhaps post electronic? It definitely takes electronica into all sorts of new areas. My smile is just getting bigger and bigger. Another change of Collaborator and “Lie Down” takes things into a darker more laid back place, hinting to me at Martin Gresch but also drawing on the Depeche Mode pallet.

Ring of Truth” slows things down, lowering the bass, the repetitive beats drawing you in before the softly spoken lyrics wash over you as the soundscapes build and build in the background, this is a great track!!!!

 

Back with Lanegan, upfront and to the fore this is the upbeat Lanegan sound that permeated the last LP and live performance, but “Skull” is anything but upbeat after such a strong start you wonder if things are going to drift but fair play John Robb  “English Ghosts “ is potentially the best track on the LP, a dark industrial gothic masterpiece. How do you follow that? By changing sound and direction obviously!!! There’s’ a fuzzed-out 60”s psych feel to “In my arms again” before it shifts through the gears draggin the 60’s up to date. “ When the lights go out” featuring Mark Gardiner of Ride maintains the blissed-out “90’s sound of the ride era before “Truly to late” takes it in another direction with Ilse Marie providing a very different slant to what almost drifts into Cocteau twins territory.  “How’re you holding up” maintains the 60’s vibe and then we’re into “Mortal eyes” again shifting and uncoiling in a multitude of electronic directions, weaving its way into the subconscious, again one of many standouts on this LP, ‘Shoot kill” again is a bit of a blinder, Jim Jones bringing the garage rock grunge to electronica, hinting at exterminator style Primal Scream with a punk rock attitude thrown in for good measure!!! And way too soon we’re into the Lanegan led closer “Gospel”

 All in all, what a great LP to start the reviewing year, I’d potentially say it’s going to be there or there about’s for my LP of the year come year ends listings!!! Who said Rock and Roll is Dead, it’s getting more eclectic and interesting every year.

Buy ‘Humanist’ Here

Author: Nev Brooks

Thee Hypnotics have announced a run of UK and European dates for spring 2020. The legendary testifiers will top the bill at the Fuzzville Festival in Alicante in Spain, which will be preceded by warm-up gigs in the UK including a headline show at The Dome in London.

 

Thee Hypnotics reunited in 2018 after a 20-year hiatus to play sold-out dates across the UK and Europe in support of the career-spanning and re-mastered vinyl boxset, Righteously Recharged. The successful year culminated in a string of rapturously received shows with former tour buddies Mudhoney that found Thee Hypnotics at the top of their game.

 

And now they’re back for more undiluted action with the classic line-up of co-founders Jim Jones (vocals) and Ray Hanson (guitar), with Phil Smith (drums) and Jeremy Cottingham (bass). Still harbouring an intense belief in assaultive rock’n’roll as liberation and delivering their sonic payload with a savage intensity, this influential and legendary group will bear witness once again.

 

“We’ve had so many people asking for more shows that it really felt like a case of unfinished business,” says frontman Jim Jones. “But more than that, it was great to be playing together again after all that time. The chemistry was still there.”

 

“Even though the chemicals are firmly in the past!” adds guitarist Ray Hanson. “But we’re going to be cooking up some real highs on this tour.”

 

Tickets for all the shows are available via Thee Hypnotics’ website at theehypnotics.com

 

Thee Hypnotics play

 

MARCH 2020

 

19 – Hare & Hounds, Birmingham UK

20 – The Warehouse, Leeds UK

21 – The Dome, London UK

22 – Music Hall, Ramsgate UK

24 – The Joiners, Southampton UK

25 – The Globe, Cardiff

28 – Fuzzville, Alicante ES

Website: https://www.theehypnotics.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theehypnoticsofficial

Twitter: https://twitter.com/theehypnotics

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theehypnoticsofficial

 

Seventeen songs in an hour reworked with a bunch of their friends guesting on a song each what a genius idea.  It features over eighty musicians from around the globe making it one hell of a logistical project calling in Friends from as diverse projects as Vic from The Slackers through Jim Jones (not quite a stretch granted) the son of Dave a Crash Test Dummy and previous work colleagues such as Wilco Johnson.  A truly epic and exciting undertaking but something I expect to truly show off the songwriting talents of Paul- Ronny and his band of ne’erdowells and zombie drummers.

The album gets underway with The Great Malarky tackling ‘Orphans Lament’ and putting a twist on the tune but keeping it totally Gypsy like so were eased in gently. whereas Jim Jones takes ‘Killer Sound’ in an altogether dark place with that piano sounding truly terrifying in its sparse run but as you might expect Jim puts in a stellar performance and incidentally he plays everything on his version which deserves a mention and a tip of the hat to him – exceptional stuff and someone that clearly gets what UVM are all about.  What a brilliant performance of a menacing song.  The Future Sound Of London asked Jesus for help and knocked out a wonderful ‘Help Me Jesus’.

One of my Favourite UVM songs (certainly live) would have to be ‘High Jeopardy Thing’ and Dr Will & The Wizards drag it through the swamp then shine it up not as good as the original for sure but it’s all about the interpretation and its good.  Whilst the delta blues thang gets turned up with ‘Bucket Of Blood’ from Son Of Dave for what is a truly bourbon-soaked bop n stroll for sure. the last couple of tracks have embraced the UVM mantra and run with it even if they’ve both headed off down to that crossroads and traded their souls for a shot at these tunes.

As for my favourite Urban Voodoo Machine song that can change depending on what time of day it is but I guess there are some I gravitate towards no matter when what or where and hearing these interpretations has twisted my melon man and put a new spin on the songs for sure. Tigre Blanco take ‘rusty Water’ somewhere I wasn’t expecting it to go.  Whilst Ledfoot takes ‘Emptiness’ into the void and in a strange way makes it warm and comforting.

To be fair none of these artists or songs they’ve chosen was ever going to make synth pop out of what they had to work with and for the most part, its around the mantra of Bourbon soaked Gypsy Blues Bop ‘n’ Stroll and what a creative and inspirational bunch of people have come together around the Gypsy Hotel and from the original germ what a community that now exists making wonderful sounds in all directions The Broadway Twisters smash it up on one of my favourite tunes and play a pretty straight rock n roll ‘Cheers For The Tears’ which goes to show you don’t have to dissect and reconstruct a tune sometimes just rip it up baby!

I particularly like TV Smiths take on the classic ‘Goodbye To Another Year’ and his cheeky inclusion of an extra verse well done that man – he clearly gets it. Then back to back that full-fat version with the beautiful and touching  ‘Loretta’s Lament’ performed by Katherine Blake to send a shiver down your spine.  Wait, Los Plantronics turning up the disco surf for ‘The Theme for The Urban Voodoo Machine’ oh look if you know you know.  Los Plantronics should be the music played over every tannoy in every supermarket the world over it would certainly make the experience more enjoyable (pitch that to the supermarkets)

To finish off we have the single ‘Heroin (Put My Brothers In The Ground) where Wilco does his thing all over this very different version than the one that was cut on the ‘In Black ‘n’ Red’ album and showing the versatility in the songwriting because its quite different to the other version included on this very album. which only leaves ‘Dirty Water’ to close off the album in fine style with The Inmates kicking up a shit storm as they sign off this love letter to old London town and all who sail in her.  Well done whoever pulled this together, its a testament to those who know and a better late than never to those just jumping on board.  ‘Friends & Family’ is an absolute blast from the first to the last it’s bursting with passion and talent and if you ever had a doubt then forget that just get out there and get it and whilst your waiting – get a bottle of plonk and a shot of bourbon and get ready to bop n stroll! majestic stuff indeed.

 

 

Buy ‘Friends And Family’ Here

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Author:Dom Daley

With the debris barely settled following the release of their critically acclaimed explosive second album,‘CollectiV’, and near sold-out spring UK and European tour, testifying rockers Jim Jones & The Righteous Mind have announced details of brand new, limited edition 7” coloured vinyl single, ‘Get Down Get With It’. It will be supported by 11 UK gigs in September and October.

 

Made famous by Little Richard and Slade, ‘Get Down Get With It’, will be limited to just 1000 copies. Released by Ma§onic Records via Cargo on 20 September on pink vinyl and backed with a reading of Link Wray’s ‘Ace Of Spades’, it will be on sale only at tour venues and selected independent record stores.

 

Pushing the VU meters well into the red, ‘Get Down Get With It’ is arguably the noisiest and rawest record that Jim Jones has recorded over an illustrious career that has seen him front the legendary bands Thee Hypnotics, Black Moses and The Jim Jones Revue. What is beyond debate is that it’s a glorious call to arms guaranteed to get your ass off your seat and your feet on the floor.

 

Speaking of the new single, Jim Jones says: “’Get Down Get With It’ became the rallying cry for the ‘CollectiV’ tour, so it made sense to go back into the studio, turn everything up to 11 and totally rip it up.”

 

He continues: “Liars and charlatans have got the world tearing itself apart right now when really, we should be coming together. Even if it’s just for a few minutes, this absolutely does that and lives up to its name.”

 

Jim Jones & the Righteous Mind will also embark on a UK tour that calls in at Manchester, London, and Brighton among others. Billed as ‘An invitation to get down get with it’, the London date takes place on 21 September at The Garage in Highbury. Promising a Saturday night extravaganza with a full supporting cast of special guests and performers, the event is topped off with a 2.30am late night license for extended reveling.

 

“We had to turn people away when we last played London so we wanted to go to a bigger venue and put on a really special event for our hometown,” explains Jim Jones. “In addition to support from Ye Nuns, Chrome Mountain and Suzie Stapleton, we’ve got rock’n’roll DJs Helene de Joie and Las Titis to keep the party going into the early hours, as well as dancing from Rebel Skin and more.

 

“You can also expect some very special guests who we’ll reveal on the night.”

 

He adds: “With tubes and buses running all night and all of Sunday to recover, it’s the perfect night out.”

 

Jim Jones & The Righteous Mind will tour the UK in the autumn. They play:

 Tickets are on sale now here: http://www.righteousmind.co.uk/

SEPTEMBER

 

19 – York, Fulford Arms

20 – Manchester, Night & Day Café

21 – London, The Garage

22 – Bristol, The Exchange

26 – Norwich, Waterfront

27 – Brighton, Green Door

28 – Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach

29 – Southampton, Joiners

 

OCTOBER

 

03 – Southend, The Railway Hotel

04 – Hastings, The Piper

05 – Bedford, Esquires

 

Jim Jones & The Righteous Mind are:

 

Jim Jones – vocals and guitar

Gavin Jay – bass/contrabass/backing vocals

Mal Troon – guitar/pedal steel/backing vocals

Matt Millership – piano/organ/backing vocals

Andy Marvell – drums

 

JIM JONES & THE RIGHTEOUS MIND ANNOUNCE STAND ALONE NEW SINGLE, ‘GET DOWN GET WITH IT’, AND UK AUTUMN TOUR

JIM JONES & THE RIGHTEOUS MIND ANNOUNCE STAND ALONE NEW SINGLE, ‘GET DOWN GET WITH IT’, AND UK AUTUMN TOUR – TEASER AND TICKETS HERE!With the debris barely settled following the release of our critically acclaimed explosive second album,‘CollectiV’, and near sold-out spring UK and European tour, we’re thrilled to announce the release of our new, limited edition 7” coloured vinyl single, ‘Get Down Get With It’, and autumn UK tour.Made famous by Little Richard and Slade, ‘Get Down Get With It’, will be limited to just 1000 copies. Released by Ma§onic Records via Cargo on 20 September on pink vinyl and backed with a reading of Link Wray’s ‘Ace Of Spades’, it will be on sale only at tour venues and selected independent record stores. Pushing the VU meters well into the red, ‘Get Down Get With It’ is arguably the noisiest and rawest record that Jim Jones has ever recorded. Jim Jones says: “’Get Down Get With It’ became the rallying cry for the ‘CollectiV’ tour, so it made sense to go back into the studio, turn everything up to 11 and totally rip it up.”He continues: “Liars and charlatans have got the world tearing itself apart right now, when really, we should be coming together. Even if it’s just for a few minutes, this absolutely does that and lives up to its name.” Jim Jones & The Righteous Mind play:SEPTEMBER19 – York, The Fulford Arms20 – Manchester, Night & Day Cafe 21 – London, The Garage22 – Bristol, Exchange26 – Norwich, The Waterfront Norwich27 – Brighton, The Green Door Store [SOLD OUT]28 – Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach29 – Southampton, The JoinersOCTOBER03 – Southend, The Railway Hotel. Clifftown Road04 – Hastings, The Piper05 – Bedford, Bedford EsquiresTickets are on sale now here: http://www.righteousmind.co.uk/Get Down Get With It!

Posted by Jim Jones and the Righteous Mind on Monday, 22 July 2019

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Well, we certainly didn’t stand still in the last seven days as we brought you reviews from a range of artist old and new with The Lemonheads starting things off with the second studio album of cover versions entitled ‘Varshons 2‘.  As Evan Dando and Co, head out on a UK tour this week to promote the record RPM gave it the thumbs up as Dando led the band through some pretty diverse waters.  Westerberg, Cave and the Eagles all made it onto the record which as an aside came out in a scented banana yellow version as well.

 

 

It was also a week that saw two live albums hit the death decks at RPM with Metallica lending a ‘Helping Hand’ Where they released a double album with proceeds going to a most admirable cause and helping the most vulnerable in society a real genuine act of kindness that doesn’t get the exposure it truly deserves as the rock stars are often castigated for their excesses but seldom praised when they do reach out with a simple yet effective act of kindness.  So a huge well done from us at RPM as Johnny H gets stuck into the double slice of vinyl trouble.

 

 

The second of our live reviews came when Martin gave The Godfather a good seeing to with their fantastic ‘This Is War’ the once over. describing it as, “Loud Sharp and Beautiful”, is about as close a summery as you can get.  It’s fair to say that it damn near captures the current line up right at the top of their game.  It’s certainly raw it’s certainly loud and no question it has the Godfathers roaring on all cylinders and has you wondering why all live albums can’t sound this good.  Essential listening no doubt about it.

We also brought you a summary of this years Gathering from North Wales as Mike Peters and the Alarm romped through a huge chunk of their back catalogue over two nights with plenty of special guests that included original Alarm Guitar player Dave Sharp, from Texas Ryan Hamilton and 80’s pop rockers Mark Shaws then Jerico. This year’s festivities weren’t without incident as the PA went down twice but it didn’t deter PEters who climbed into the audience with his acoustic guitar and un mic’d got the audience singing along and making the most out of a potentially bad situation and making it a memorable evening no doubt about it.  Gathering twenty-Seven was again a privilege to attend and I can’t wait for 2020 and number twenty Eight.

We also brought you The Spangles album launch show from way up North otherwise known as Harrogate as Ben Hughes had an equally splendid evening with an immensely talented band playing one hell of a debut album.  I for one hope there is a lot more to come from these three guys because their album was easily one of 2018 best releases.

As far as news goes we joined the rock world in wishing Bernie Torme a speedy recovery from his hospitalization from double Pneumonia and hope he’s back to full health as soon as possible. The same for our Australian friend Hayden McGoogan from The Black Heart Breakers who also found himself in Hospital this past week – Get yourselves fit and health please gents and I’m sure I speak for all the writers at RPM in wishing you both speedy full recoveries.

There was also some superb festival news as The Dead Boys were announced as headliners for this year’s Rebellion Festival in Blackpool along with Walter Lure who will be playing L.A.M.F. at the festival and across the channel in Belgium Sjock Festival announced a raft of superb bands added to this years festival including RPM favourites The Hip Priests and Barstool Preachers who play alongside The Hives, Hellacopters, Electric Frankenstein, the Briefs  and Gluecifer. To be fair news wise last week was a bumper week for great rock n roll news.

 

Anyway, that was last week on RPM and as we are always looking forward here’s what you can expect this coming week on the website. We’ve got a couple of bumper interviews with the likes of Slyder from Last Great Dreamers as they announce a lot of dates for 2019 in what appears to be a hugely busy year for the band.  Also, we have a monster interview with “Demons” Matheus Carlsson which should see your Friday seem a lot more enjoyable as we spoke about the past present and future of the band in what also looks like a great year for the band.

As for album reviews we’re once again scouring the globe for great bands and we’ve certainly got those coming at you with the debut long player from ‘Wet Dreams’ reviewed today by Johnny H and there is also the long-awaited long player from Jim Jones & the Righteous Mind’ coming later this week as ‘CollectiV’ has certainly been entertaining RPM HQ and what will be one of the years top albums no question about that. We also look back on some significant happenings this coming week in punk, rock and pop music history so keep it RPM folks for all your turbocharged Rock n Roll!

Stay Sick,

L-U-V RPM

 

South Wales power pop punkers have finally released their debut EP after a turbulent tragic beginning the band are on an even keel and plan to cast their net far and wide with tour dates emerging and some nice support slots to The Quireboys and Jim Jones & The Righteous Mind.  Frontman Ginge has been seen shouting at moving traffic on the M4 that he’s winging it he’s also been doing the artwork and Winging it, playing guitar and winging, singing yup you guessed it he’s winging that too.  But on the strength of this video, he’s doing a pretty good job at winging things.  The full EP review is coming to RPM soon but in the meantime, we thought we’d let you see what he’s been up to since the Sick Livers.  Captain Ginge has patched up his vessel and is ready to sail the often choppy shark infested rock and roll high seas.

 

“THIS SHIP AIN’T GOING DOWN” HAS LANDED!
“REAL LIFE GLORIES” PRESALES NOW OPEN!

Limited Edition (100 copies)…

CD in Glossy Wallet
2 Exclusive Pin Badges
Sticker
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Nicotine Pretty – This Ship Ain't Going Down (2018)

"THIS SHIP AIN'T GOING DOWN" HAS LANDED!"REAL LIFE GLORIES" PRESALES OUT!Limited Edition (100 copies)…CD in Glossy Wallet2 Exclusive Pin BadgesStickerImmediate Downloadhttp://www.nicotinepretty.bandcamp.com

Posted by Nicotine Pretty on Saturday, 22 September 2018