Chubby and the Gang have shared a new EP entitled ‘Labour of Love’, featuring three brand new songs, as well as a music video for lead single ‘Who Loves Ya (Coup d’état)‘. Labour of Love is available now digitally, and a special picture disc 7″ is available to pre-order now (HERE). Steve Lamacq premiered ‘Who Loves Ya (Coup d’état)’ on his BBC 6Music show yesterday evening.
The video for ‘Who Loves Ya (Coup d’état)’ was filmed and edited by the band’s tour manager, Ted Foster. Frontman Charlie Manning Walker says of the song: “We had the idea to do a Valentine’s Day single and I sort of wanted to show all the angles of love. Warts and all. Quite often it’s not such a smooth experience. Can often feel scary and insane. So I wanted to write a bubblegum song about it but also show the duality of the emotion.
Chubby and the Gang released their acclaimed second album – The Mutt’s Nuts – last year via Partisan. The album was produced by Jonah Falco of Fucked Up, and was featured on year-end lists by Rough Trade and Kerrang! (“uncompromising Brit-punk anthems”). It also earned them a spot touring with Turnstile in the UK, which they just wrapped up. Chubby and the Gang will tour throughout 2022, full dates HERE. US headline touring is set to be announced soon.
The Mutt’s Nuts followed the band’s surprise 2020 critical hit, Speed Kills. Thanks to an unrelentingly fun concoction of hardcore, pub rock, doo wop, and blues, the album cemented them as leaders in a pack of new bands coming out of a new wave of British Hardcore. Alongside classic rock and roll themes of love and loss, their lyrics are rooted in worker’s rights, inequality, police brutality, government failure and gentrification – issues that are built into the fabric of the UK, and magnified in the English capital.
Well, First things first Chubby ain’t Chubby no more! Nope, that’s one thing since the debut album came out. Frontman has become a lean mean frontman machine and he looks the picture of health as a result and tie that in with the super vibrant sleeve artwork you just know you’ve done something right picking up this bad boy.
Seeing as you asked nicely I got the gatefold album with the lyric book and the 3D artwork n glasses – and very nice they are as well. I trust Speed didn’t kill you after all? At least some haven’t been twiddling their thumbs during the lockdowns Chubbys got match fit and brought a bag full of tools, sorry tunes to do this job properly.
Now the main course is fifteen varied tunes from the real world of Charlie ‘Chubby’ Manning and his band of merry men and woman. The Mutt’s Fuckin Nuts (what it should have been called) gets underway with a throbbing pulsating barnstorming title track ‘The Mutt’s Nut’. Sure it takes off exactly where ‘Speed Kills’ took us and that 100 miles an hour stories of the streets walked by Chubby and The Gang. ‘It’s Me Who’ll Pay’ is a supercharged boogie-woogie with plenty of tasty guitar licks for good measure. But hang on kids it’s not all NWOBHC because ‘Coming Up Tough’ has a Malcolm Young riff nailed to a Powerage backbeat and bass throb and what an excellent slab of hobnailed pub Rock it is too. The subtle melody and backing vocals are a joy that shows these yobs have depth as well as talent.
I don’t think Charlie and co give a flying fuck for pigeon holes and have indeed expanded their sound and are dancing behind the beat if it so needs it and they show restraint and plenty of style on this big second album. You get a sense that Charlie knows who he is and what his band are about and will dance to his own tune and by adding songs like ‘Take Me Home To London’ and the closing ‘I Hate The Radio’ shows there are many strings to the Chubby Bow and the passion is loud and clear especially on the heartfelt ‘Take Me Home’ like a barroom modern-day Billy Bragg with attitude. These slower (dare I say It) mature numbers sit really well amongst the more familiar swift kick to the coin purse tunes you might expect. Especially the slow grinding blues of ‘White Rags’ that’s lashed to the wild n reckless ‘Overachiever’.
The excitement is amped up on the harmonica honking rocket ride of ‘Someone’s Gunna Die’ and the equally out of control thumper ‘Getting Beat Again’ but as we head into the home straight we go on a jazzy little ditty of ‘Lifes Lemons’ that commits to the rollercoaster feel of the record as it climbs up then gently drops before heading for the biggun or so you think but the organ just rolls on and the guitars pick their way to the end through the shimmering crash cymbals to ‘Lightning Don’t Strike Twice’ and after its false opening it’s slide guitars galore as we slam on to the final hurrah and album highlight and fine backbeat bedfellow to the Libertines best work through a Ray Davies style pop song and then we’re done. fifteen songs that fly by in a brave yet safe space. Chubby & The Gang have the world at their feet, It’s theirs if they want it and as long as they keep writing records packed with top tunes then I’m in and I’ll enjoy this one for the next twelve months and then we can all get together and do this again. Fuckin’ top record get it!
OK, so April is well underway and we pay a visit to the singles club as we’ve ad a few belters that need to be spun. Its like London busses, when you wait for ages a whole bunch turn up at once well. The Singles Club is like that.
Chubby & The Gang – ‘Lightning Don’t Strike Twice’ (Partisan Records) London punks Chubby & The Gang are back with a no-holds-barred thunder in a bottle of pub Rockin blues based punk rock. Picture a bit of slide for a prelude before a quick drum roll that’s like a fumble around the back of the disco before the two litres of bow kicks in and its onto the dance floor with your mates because the DJ is playing Sham 69. Chubbys not fucking about with his gang as they knock out an infectious couple of minutes of noise that just burrows down inside your ear and stays put. Can’t wait for the new album? This will have to do…for now. Chubby ain’t going to lose on this evidence he’s a winner and I don’t think he should ever have doubted it. We’ll run the news with the video later in the week along with links for where you can get your grubby mitts on this bad boy!
The Lancasters – ‘Scallywag’ (Fuzzy Cracklins Presents (CA)) Italian rock and rollers release a new video for the single ‘Scallywag’. ‘Scallywag’ talks about the lies that people accept as words of truth, superstitions and other inaccuracies perpetuated by the media, the internet, and other scallywags. From the video, you can hear the band have an ear for the likes of The Kinks and a bit of Dave Edmunds and even some McCartney going on here. With a decent tune the band aren’t to be confused with the Oi! band of the same name. This is a good time slice of rock and roll – enjoy it! Grab it here
Dinosaur Jr. ‘Garden’ (Jagjaruwar) A second taster of the wizardly trio’s new album, ‘Sweep It Into Space’ (co-produced by the band and the inimitable Kurt Vile), ahead of it landing in a few weeks’ time. This time out it’s ‘Garden’ getting an airing, which ranks among the finest Lou contributions to a Dinosaur Jr. record, a soaring, breezy ballad with soft guitar filigree that builds into a wholesome song that never gets out of hand and remains a heartfelt charming song and another great reason to preorder the album. Lou sings on two of the songs off the new album with ‘Garden’ being one of his strongest offerings to date. check out the video here. Excited much?
Ravagers – ‘Down The Road’ (Spaghetty Town Records) Another new track from the much anticipated long player (due September) from Baltimore’s finest. Ravagers wisely used their downtime to decamp to record in Atlanta with Tuk Smith and Dan Dixon where they used their collective skills to hone the Ravagers into the lean fighting machine that we hear today on this single.
The song has a polished edge that wasn’t present on previous offerings and maybe that’s what they needed making them more assessable to the masses. This has a great hook on the chorus and is short but oh so sweet more aggressive than ‘Nasty Night’ but its the second slice of Rock and Roll and a sidestep from the previous release which makes a mouth-watering proposition for the new album. Its littered with rock and roll diamonds glistening with every lick and pounding drum beat. Get an earful of this and get September in yer diary as Ravagers new album month.
Atomic Eater / Kool & The Gang Bangers – ‘Split’ (Helvetes Kitchen/No Front Teeth) It was a no brainer that this slice of Scandi Punk would come out on NFT its the perfect fit, to be fair it’s lo-fi not no-fi with some added drum machine action to accompany the swirling synths. They have a sound that’s a perfect fit for NFT Records and behind that scratching guitar that’s driving this hypnotic tune from start to finish is a really good song. As for Kool & The Gang Bangers, it’s again a lo-fi extravaganza of abrasive guitars and crash band wallop then they were gone. You know where to go for this split if not then head over to Bandcamp. It’s short but oh so sweet!
DeeCRACKS – ‘Lost In The Middle’ (Pirates Press) A most excellent song from Europes finest. Its not as rapid as I was expecting and slowing down the attack has ‘Lost In The Middle’ coming across as more Rocket From the Crypt rather than The Ramones and its a really good tune for it. Pick up the album here
Venomous Pinks – ‘Based On A True Story’ (Self Released) Tracks taken from the bands Bridge City Sessions. Arizona punk rockin trio sound fantastic like the Ramones meets L7 with a whole bunch of attitude that seems like it’s well suited to the live session arena and seeing as they have a liking for TSOL in their press kit it was a no brainer for me.
Head over to iTunesHere or SpotifyHere and save this cracker. The lead track is indeed a take on the Joan Jett track but they amp it right up and give the original a damn good run for its money.
The Automatics – ‘Shine Everlasting’ It’s an uplifting track taken from the album’ A Grand Swandive Into The Void’ The band host an impressive back catalogue of old school punk n roll with catchy powerpop hooks and ‘Shine Everlasting’ is a great example of what they can deliver. check out the video and their impressive back-catalogue over on www.theautomatics.co.uk. they’ve been around for several decades and some and were regulars back in the day at venues like The Marquee Club when it was on Wardour street
HUMAN FAILURE – ‘Barbed Wire State’ (Riot Records) Of course they’re punk as fuck – with a name like human Failure and singing about barbed wire states it’s like 82 never happened. But from the bass rumble and caustic riff its howling feedback and raw vocals is always a winner.
The bands upcoming ‘Urchin EP’ begins with a flat-out hardcore that’s done in the blink of an eye or 30 seconds, starting the EP with a bang and giving a taste of what’s to come. It then opens up to more melodic and metal flavours and ends with driving hardcore punk. Check out these Australian noise bringers Here
Jesse Malin – ‘The Way We Used To Roll’ (Wicked Cool Records) Saving the best till last here’s the new one from the inimitable Jesse Malin Available now on Wicked Cool Records Here
A laid back mid-period Stones like number sees Malin not waiting on a friend but forging ahead on his own. Some great interplay going on here with a fantastic arrangement bring on a new album we need it! ‘Time Runner’ is another with that Jesse Malin swagger going on upbeat and thoroughly enjoyable over and over again.
IDLES have shared a new animated video for album highlight “Kill Them With Kindness”. The video, which was directed and designed by James Carbutt and animated by Pip Williamson, is taken from the band’s critically-acclaimed UK number one album “Ultra Mono“, which was released in September via Partisan Records.
Here’s another beaut from the brand new awesome live Wildhearts album get into some ‘Urge’
Finally, we have Kilfeather with a track off the excellent album ‘Island Of Lost Toys’
Ok so it isn’t Christmas In A Crackhouse but it’s the new old school wonk we love round here. Get an ear full of some classic Wonk Unit. Oof!
Hailing from West London, Charlie Manning and his group of wandering minstrels – Chubby and the Gang – might be right up there with Dirt Box Disco in the “don’t be fooled by the shit name” awards but could be real contenders to nick the latter’s Rebellion crown.
Kicking off with a fast and frantic two-minute declaration on intent – Do “Chubby and the Gang Rule Okay”? Fuck yeah!
I guess you could start with a Sham or Cockney Rejects comparison. It’s certainly very London street punk but there’s definitely some Damned in there too along with a ton of other bands in your record collection. But that’s a good thing, right? Believe me, you’re gonna love it…….
Second up is “Pariah Radio” and it’s a banger, proving that speed and melody aren’t mutually exclusive
I’ve heard a few people say that this could be the album of the year and three songs in, “All Along The Uxbridge Road” may have sealed the deal for me. If you don’t believe me, feast your eyes on this…
“Speed Kills” is the first song so far that breaks the two-minute barrier and with a sprinkling of Generation X it doesn’t disappoint. While “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” might be a bit more of the same, “Trouble” slows things down a gear with a bit of a love song. A wonderful tuneless tune with a hint of Madness.
After a momentary pause in the frantic riffery, we’re off again…..“The Rise And Fall Of The Gang” and “Hold Your Breath” gets the fists pumping in oi-tastic fashion and when bands can play live again, “Moscow” is gonna rip your local club apart.
“Bruce Grove Bullies” kicks into a Kinks-tastic riff and with a healthy undercurrent of Hammond Organ, while the yanks will go mental over the bark and bite of “Blue Ain’t My Colour”.
There’s no way you can avoid the comparison of “Grenfell Forever” to early Billy Bragg but fuck it, I for one think it’s a real stand-out tune.
“Union Dues” rounds things on in a Quo-tastic way. And what a way to say goodbye.
So there you go, thirteen songs that’ll fit on one side of a C60.
Speed Kills is available to pre-order now on the band’s Bandcamp page on yellow vinyl (with cartoon sticker sheet), black vinyl (with colour-in sleeve and crayons), hipster-friendly cassette, and ye olde traditional CD.
The good news just keeps coming for these city Herberts with the release of a new song ‘UNION DUES’ – LISTEN HERE
Their album ‘SPEED KILLS’ will be reissued on Nov 20th Eagle-eyed viewers will clock famed West London venue Bush Hall in the video and the band are thrilled today to announce a live show there for May 15th 2021.
Fronted by local electrician Charlie Manning, Chubby and the Gang have been leading a pack of bands coming out of a new wave of British Hardcore. Underneath an unrelentingly fun concoction of hardcore, pub rock, doo wop, and blues, Speed Kills boasts songs of deep substance and political conscience with a precise sense of time and place. Produced by Jonah Falco of Fucked Up, it has also proved to be one of this year’s surprise critical hits.
The album was remastered for vinyl at West London’s Metropolis Studios. The standard edition will be available on yellow vinyl and include a cartoon sticker sheet. There will also be a limited-edition version that includes a black-and-white colour-in sleeve with crayons.
Chubby and the Gang will return with a new album in 2021 – more details on that coming shortly.
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.
The emotional centerpiece off the Bristol band’s forthcoming LP, ‘Ultra Mono’ (out Sept 25th via Partisan). The accompanying music video features the band driving with their parents through their hometown streets to the shops, providing a grey window into suburban English life that matches the song’s heavyhearted churn.
Frontman Joe Talbot says of the song: “‘A Hymn’ is a hymn that rejoices in the sinister flesh-eating virus of the pedestrian. It sings the tune of normal’s teeth sinking into your neck as you sleep stood up with your eyes open. Amen.”
“A Hymn” follows the release of other ‘Ultra Mono’ highlights “Mr. Motivator” and “Grounds,” the latter of which earned a spotlight in the NY Times (“What’s a British post-punk band to do at a moment of black American protest that has spread worldwide? Slam and declare solidarity.”)
Ahead of release, IDLES will host a series of three live performances from an iconic studio space (to be named later) on Aug 29 & 30, which will be professionally recorded, filmed, and livestreamed. Tickets on sale now, more info and link to purchase HERE.
Talbot also recently launched a new virtual talk show called BALLEY TV, rolling out new episodes every other Friday this summer. Guests have already included Mike Skinner (The Streets), Nadya Tolokonnikova (Pussy Riot), Lauren Mayberry (CHVRCHES), Hak Baker + more. Watch the most recent episode HERE featuring Arlo Parks and Billy Bragg. Subscribe to see more episodes HERE.
Produced by Nick Launay (Nick Cave, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Arcade Fire) and Adam ‘Atom’ Greenspan (Anna Calvi, Cut Copy), with Kenny Beats (FKA Twigs, DaBaby, Vince Staples) providing additional programming, ‘Ultra Mono’ was sonically constructed to capture the feeling of a hip-hop record. The album also features guest vocals from Jehnny Beth (Savages), and additional guest contributions from Warren Ellis (Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds), David Yow, and Jamie Cullum.
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.
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.
Recent Comments