Redd Kross announce UK and European tour

Redd Kross announce UK and European tour

California legends Redd Kross have announced their first UK and European headline dates in several years including two intimate dates at The Lexington in London which promise to be evenings to remember.

Steven McDonald had the following to say:

“This is the most comprehensive headlining tour we’ve done of the UK and Europe since ‘97. We are beyond thrilled to be bringing our booty shaking, mind melting party to your shores. So get your head fixed right and polish up those dancing shoes, because we are ready to DO THIS!”

The evergreen band’s latest album, “Beyond The Door”, landed in August on Merge Records to critical acclaim worldwide. Long famed for their raucous live show you can catch the band live on the following dates:

25.04 – The Albert – Brighton
27.04 – The Deaf Institute – Manchester
28.04 – Broadcast – Glasgow
29.04 – Brudenell Social Club – Leeds
30.04 – The Exchange – Bristol
01.05 – The Lexington – London
02.05 – The Lexington – London

Tickets now on-sale from reddkross.com

Order the album via Merge Records

Further details on Redd Kross & Beyond The Door:

Beyond the Door is available now on CD, digitally, and on limited-edition opaque purple Peak Vinyl in the Merge store.

Beyond the Door is an album inspired by the band’s “total commitment to having the best f*cking time we can have while we’re all still here” (what they like to call “The Party”). Musically, it’s guitars, bass, and drums topped with a generous portion of sweet vocal melodies often delivered with an ambiguous edge. The album marks Redd Kross’ most collaborative record to date. Steven describes this evolution: “Jeff is still very much the driving force behind the compositions, but with more help from me than ever. Jeff and I haven’t shared this much of the writing and singing since Born Innocent in 1981.” Guitarist Jason Shapiro and drummer Dale Crover (Melvins, OFF!) are longtime members of the Redd Kross live band, but this album marks the pair’s recorded debut with the group. Mixed in Los Angeles by Steven McDonald, Beyond the Door includes notable guest appearances from Anna Waronker (That Dog), Geré Fennelly, Buzz Osborne (Melvins), and Josh Klinghoffer.

On the surface, the album title is a playful reference to an Italian horror film the McDonald brothers watched as children, a loose rip-off of both The Exorcist and Rosemary’s Baby that stars Juliet Mills of ’70s television program Nanny and the Professor. But like all things Redd Kross, it would be a sad injustice to stop digging there. No one knows what lies Beyond the Door… but we’re all in front of it.

Inspirations as varied as K-pop, glitter gangs, embarrassed tweens, long-term relationships, a mysterious character named Fantástico Roberto, and much more all contributed to Beyond the Door, an album that lures the listener into Redd Kross’ secret club full of riddles and inside jokes, with the ultimate reward of the perfect pop moment!

IDLES ANNOUNCE LIVE ALBUM ‘A BEAUTIFUL THING: IDLES LIVE AT LE BATACLAN’

IDLES ANNOUNCE LIVE ALBUM ‘A BEAUTIFUL THING: IDLES LIVE AT LE BATACLAN’

DUE OUT 6TH DECEMBER VIA PARTISAN RECORDS

PRE-ORDER HERE

IDLES have announced their first live album ‘A Beautiful Thing: IDLES Live at Le Bataclan’, and have shared the live version of ‘Mother’ taken from the record.

The limited double LP edition will be available across three different colours, each with their own individual artwork. All will be housed in deluxe gatefold packaging, and each will contain a booklet designed by Joe, featuring photographs from the show and a selection of poetry.
“A Beautiful Thing: IDLES Live at Le Bataclan” will also be available to buy on CD and as a download.

The album follows a recent Mercury Prize nomination (and incendiary televised performance) for their critically acclaimed second album “Joy as an Act of Resistance”, and celebrates a landmark couple of years for the band with a top 5 official UK album chart position, an Ivor Novello award for ‘Best Album’, a breathtaking Glastonbury performance, a completely individual appearance on Later With… Jools Holland and a number of sold out tours across the world. IDLES were also recently chosen for Apple’s ongoing Shot On iPhone campaign, with billboards up now across the globe.

Speaking about the album, vocalist Joe Talbot says, “Our show at Bataclan was the end of a very long journey for us. On that tour we learnt so much about ourselves, each other and the audiences we have grown with over the past 10 years. That show was nothing short of catharsis and nothing more than love. We love what we do and the people who have carried us here, there was no hiding that at Bataclan and we are so very grateful that the moment was captured in all its glory, love and fatigue. Long live the open minded and long live the moment.”

IDLES also recently announced a short tour for December to celebrate the bands recent string of achievements – including their biggest headlining date yet on Saturday, 7th December at London’s Alexandra Palace. All five dates went on to sell out within the first 24 hours.

Mon 2 Dec Glasgow, Barrowland Ballroom SOLD OUT
Tue 3 Dec Glasgow, Barrowland Ballroom SOLD OUT
Wed 4 Dec Manchester, Academy SOLD OUT
Thu 5 Dec Leeds, O2 Academy SOLD OUT
Sat 7 Dec London, Alexandra Palace SOLD OUT

‘A Beautiful Thing: IDLES Live at Le Bataclan’ will be released 6th December via Partisan Records. Pre-order HERE

Photo credit: Lindsay Melbourne

The Murder Capital – When I Have Fears (Human Season Records)

The Murder Capital – When I Have Fears (Human Season Records)

When you get your debut album Produced by Flood (PJ Harvey, New Order, Foals) you have to e onto something don’t you? An album that features three singles already released from the band  “Feeling Fades”, “Green & Blue” & “Don’t Cling To Life” as well as their breakthrough song ‘More Is Less’.  Its give you a fairly panoramic vision of how the band sound.

post-rock on the two-part ‘Slowdance’, to the slower,  ‘On Twisted Ground’ a song about loss and keeping your friends close is simple in its bass notes leading the way. To finish the band lay into some industrial throb of the albums sign off ‘Love, Love, Love’, Its an extremely confident album that’ll see The Murder Capital hoover up an audience because at times I hear early U2 (don’t let that put you off) and that’s not a lazy connection due to their geographic existence.  They also touch on Joy Division and I’m also hearing shades of New Model Army thrown into the melting pot as well as a whole bunch of other bands I get flashes of.

There are times when it feels cold and bleak and other times it feels crushing and warm and every available space is filled with noise and that’s not an easy thing to do.  Especially not from a band on their first album. The album’s opener is better dressed than Idles but I guess comparisons will be made. ‘More Is Less’ is like a late-night bare-knuckle street brawl when the guitars kick in and there is an excitement captured in the music. Its an album you’ll have to invest some time in to get to grips with its widescreen appeal and one I can see peeling back track after track like an onion revealing different layers with every play. It’s easy to see how Flood wanted to produce this record and a fantastic job he’s done too.

About to head out the door to tour the backside of this album The Murder Capital are reaching for the stars and they might just catch themselves some.  An amazingly confident and complete debut in the field of alt post-punk or whatever you want to call it.

 

Buy When I Have Fears Here

Author: Dom Daley

Rebellion Festival – Blackpool Winter Gardens – 1st August 2019

Rebellion Festival – Blackpool Winter Gardens – 1st August 2019

It’s the first weekend of August and that can mean only one thing for the more discerning music fan as all roads (or as in our case trainlines) lead us to Blackpool for the annual Rebellion Festival. With one of our mates setting an all new record by taking 13 hours to get to the punk rock capital of the world (well for this weekend anyway) me and Dom Daley feel positively smug getting to our hotel for a 2pm check in and on site as planned for the first of the weekend’s rock ‘n’ roll action and the first of many stage clashes to follow.

It’s probably best I get this elephant out of the room right away really as with 7 stages and over 350 bands playing (just in the Winter Gardens never mind the fringe events) it would take  a football team of reviewers to cover everything on offer and with just me and RPM Editor In Chief Dom Daley on duty this weekend you’ll have to forgive us if you are in a band that played and we didn’t get to see you, as even with some of the bands we did want to catch, things like; band interviews overrunning, turning up at the wrong stage and waiting for 20 minutes before you realised it was the wrongs stage (yup that was me) or even something as simple (but essential) as getting something to eat, just got in the way. So, with this in mind, go pour yourself a libation, sit back and relax and sweat along with us as we take you into the heart of the action at Rebellion 2019.

Kicking things off for me this year are The Kingcrows, a band I’ve wanted to check out live ever since I reviewed their ‘Funland’ album for Uber Rock way back in 2015 but I always epically failed to do so.  Today I’m in the Arena early doors to make sure I catch all the sleaze punk anthems from their latest ‘Brute Force and Ignorance’ album, like ‘Saturday Night Rock City’ and ‘City Kids’ and what I along with the very healthy looking mid-afternoon crowd get is a lesson in how to play your music and enjoy every minute of it. If you can imagine Soho Roses playing Oi! with KISS guitars and like the sound of that curious hybrid you do need to go check out The Kingcrows, because they really are impeckable (ouch!)

Hot tailing it over to a packed-out Club Casbah just in time to catch the tail end of Mille Manders and The Shut Up’s set, Millie with her leg in a cast still manages to cut a commanding figure out front and the double sax attack of ‘Obsessive Transgression’ is enough to get me breaking into an impromptu early afternoon skank. Playing ‘Bacchus’ (a song about drinking) at Rebellion is always going to be like pushing at an open door and is an instant crowd favourite. Its when The Shut Ups tackle ‘Pretty Green’ though that they really show their true class making the Jam track sound like one of their own and promptly hitting the ball right out the park.

With a few minutes to spare between bands I quickly stick my head into the Pavilion to catch Time For Action and get it promptly knocked off by the band’s swaggering Manc attitude. Playing tunes from their debut album ‘Turn It Up’ the four piece’s set gives their old school punk influences a Samba trainer up the arse and in the process makes them immediately stand out.

Having been together for almost 4 decades Brazilian hardcore punks Inocentes are legends of the scene and that’s why the Empress Ballroom is very respectably full when I arrive ready to get a good spot for The Bar Stool Preachers. Stuart “Psycho” Pearce is stood next to me too most probably still trying to make amends to Brazilians worldwide for his blatant handball back in 1990. There’s no excuse for the Fergie-time Inocentes seem to magic up at the end of their set though and the time constraints it imposes on the band due to follow them.

Not that it really bothers The Bar Stool Preachers who sauntering onto the stage to ‘The Ecstasy Of Gold’ already look like all-conquering heroes as the house lights reveal a crowd of over 3,000 people packed into the Empress at 5pm on a Thursday (see what I meant about Thursday no longer being the warm-up day in my preview) and with opener ‘One Fool Down’ proceed to take the bloody roof off the place.

‘Trickledown’ follows and T.J. McFaull is (for once) almost lost for words at the crowd response then we are quickly into ‘Warchief’ and the avalanche of crowd surfers begins. It’s during ‘Choose My Friends’ that I notice Cock Sparrer’s Colin McFaull stood side stage and I half hope he’ll appear dressed as Hilda Baker to share the female lead vocal, sadly it’s a no this time and Tom delivers this thrasher solo for once. A new track (which I think is called ‘Late Night Transmission’) follows and this could see the band moving in a much more Clash-like direction with their follow up to ‘Grazie Governo’.

With the Rebellion family celebrating the life of Kathy Rocker along with other lost friends this weekend T.J. dedicates ‘Start New’ to his good friend and then it’s all over in the blink of an eye with a rousing ‘Bar Stool Preacher’. With a US Tour with Bouncing Souls and The Bronx to follow almost immediately after this weekend before the band return to the UK for a ten-date headline tour in September I can but wonder if 2020 will be the year The Bar Stool Preachers get to headline the Empress Ballroom. What do you think?

Looking to cool down after the sauna of the Empress I catch the last song of Dead Objectives playing to a packed out audience on the Introducing Stage before quickly hot footing it back to the Empress once more for New Orleans hardcore punks Pears, yet another band I’d wanted to catch live for some time.  Sadly technical issues with Zach Quinn’s microphone means the band’s normally explosive music is lost in stuttering translation for the first few songs and its only when they break into ‘Mollusks Mouth’ that things truly start to fire on all cylinders. Still with songs as fantastic as the multi-platinum selling (yeah right Zach) ‘Victim to Be’ in the set the earlier sound issues are pretty much soon forgotten.

Taking some time out to grab some much-needed sustenance and to try and cool down I’m quickly back in the sweltering heat of Empress in time for Birkenhead’s very own glam slammers Queen Zee and thankfully I’m not alone in wanting to see them. There’s an almost tribal thump to the glam meets grunge majesty of ‘Lucy Fur’ and the epic ‘Loner’ is where most people will find their entry point. I really don’t want to try and force Queen Zee into some kind of musical pigeonhole as they deserve so much more but ‘Sissy Fists’ which closes things out this evening actually reminds me of Exit_International so I’m sure you’ll agree that’s high praise indeed from RPM Towers. Politically on point with ‘Victim Age’ the band’s choice of backdrop hammers their inclusive message home too and in ‘Fuck The Pain Away’ they have their perfect cover song.  This time last year I witnessed Idles wow an early evening crowd at this very same festival, Queen Zee today give me the exact same buzz. New band of the weekend for me by a long mile.

With Dom promising his old mate Dave Sharp he’d catch him live on the Almost Acoustic stage I tag along hoping to finally cool down with a quiet pint and some Dylan-esque background music, however the place is rammed and hotter than an oven so I leave behind the folk ballads and instead head over to the Club Casbah for some D.I. back in Europe for the first time in over 30 years. Having never been a D.I. fan back in the day but having a few close mates who were and still are I was hoping hearing songs like ‘Chiva’, ‘Pervert Nurse’ and ‘Johnnys Got A Problem’ live might make me an immediate fanboy but even with the crowd going absolutely bananas around me it still all kind of washed over me. That’s not saying the band were poor, far from it, it just didn’t fire me up like The Adolescents (another band I wasn’t a huge fan of back in the day) did just 12 months earlier at this very same festival.

Moving back to the Almost Acoustic stage for the second set of the day from The Bar Stool Preachers I thankfully can’t get into the venue itself as its rammed to the rafters and instead I end up standing (or make that manspreading myself) in front of the only functioning air conditioning unit in the adjoining bar area. Playing a set consisting of tunes largely missing from their earlier Empress set I can but once again marvel at the magic these 6 guys create, and if the call and response during opener ‘All The Broken Hearts’ doesn’t move you to tears then you really are without emotion. Dom finally gets to hear ‘Raced Through Berlin’ live so he’s beaming from ear to ear too as are most of the crowd in fact, who unlike with most of the other shows on the Almost Acoustic stage are all up on their feet and dancing. Rumour has it that the Preachers tried to cheat and sneak a drum kit into their performance tonight, but I reckon they could do this stuff on kazoos and still get people involved, such is their appeal.

Having admitted to you already to not really having liked D.I. back in the day, one band I did love and still do is Portland Oregon heavyweights Poison Idea. Their ‘Feel The Darkness’ LP is one of my all-time favourite hardcore albums so with the prospect of catching one of the last four shows they will ever do on UK soil as part of their ‘The King Is Dead’ tour I found myself letting out an excited little squeal as the band takes to the Casbah stage…but I must admit what follows isn’t exactly what I was expecting. In fact, it takes until ‘Plastic Bomb’ a good 5 or 6 songs in before anything really starts to kick me in the head the way the band did back in the late 80s/early 90s. Working without a set list seems to be the root cause of this and whilst spontaneity can and does work in small clubs here playing to over a 1,000 people it leads to some quite long between song silences which just doesn’t work for me and seems to sap the energy and momentum from the performance.  I want Jerry A in my face and bleeding not pondering over which song to play next and as such even when they do eventually play ‘The Badge’ they’ve kinda lost me already. I love Poison Idea and whilst I enjoyed some of tonight’s set it could and should have been the one I was shouting about loudest but I’m not and that right there is what hurts the most folks.

With Poison Idea playing one of their last UK shows at Rebellion 2019 Fear, over forty years into their punk rock career, are tonight playing their first-ever show on UK soil and Club Casbah is suitably packed out for such an event. Lee Ving might look more like an aged teddy boy these days but he still spits out the 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4 mantra like a teenager and tracks like ‘We Destroy The Family’, ‘I Love Livin’ In The City’ and  ‘Fresh Flesh’ all sparkle with the magic of that seminal ‘The Record’ LP. Yes the band can at times have a loose almost falling apart approach to their art, and Lee’s tendency to sing rather than shout the songs makes them something of an acquired taste, but with the hour fast approaching 1am and my eyes starting to feel more than a little heavy they still manage to keep me enthralled something I fear (ouch) the Empress headliners The Descendents would never been able to do. Still each to their own I suppose and what a great way to finish day 1 of Rebellion 2019. See you in just a few hours folks…that is unless you are doing one of the fringe events well into the wee small hours…in which case see you tomorrow night, maybe?

 

Author: Johnny Hayward

Pt 2 sees a brief summary from Darrel Sutton who managed to catch a whole bunch of band John and Dom missed so without further waffle here goes…

It’s been quite a while since I last made the pilgrimage to Rebellion and, despite having to fit in the small matter of performing two sets with my own beat combo, I was gonna make damn sure I’d try and catch as much of the stellar line-up on offer as the heat and stupid amounts of alcohol and schmoozing would allow.

As well as spending far too much time talking utter shite with my RPM amigos I also sloped off and caught quite a few bands with loads of other acquaintances (such is the nature of Rebellion, allowing catch-ups with old friends from all over the place).

A hectic start which takes in the obligatory Millie Manders and Bar Stool Preachers sets gets a serious adrenaline blast from In Evil Hour whose Rise Against tinged set translates perfectly from the club stages they’ve ruled over recent years to a packed Club Casbah. Vocalist Al positively rules the place and it sets the tone nicely for a quick dash into the Arena to catch Wiltshire’s finest sons The Blunders.  The trio has always been a bit different with their quirky acerbic tunes of disdain and disgust and this slot combined with their slot at Boomtown is no less than they deserve and staples like ‘TV Bastard’ and ‘People Get Smaller’ positively rip.  The festival’s pace doesn’t really slow as the temperature shows no intention of dropping and so with the alcohol kicking in a bit of a break, via a pretty tidy few songs from Diablo furs in the Pavilion, sees me return to action in the company of Flipper. The Arena is, luckily from a heat perspective, not too full to see David Yow and Mike Watt complete a legendary line-up for the band, but unless you are a total nostalgic die-hard their open salvos made The Melvins sound like the Ramones, so I slip off for a much more uplifting closing trio of the Bar Stool Preachers acoustic set, Poison Idea and Fear and a dehydrated stroll back to the hotel.

Bungle, Poison Idea & Fear pictures courtesy of Dod Morrison Photography

45 RPM – unplug the jukebox and do us all a favour

45 RPM – unplug the jukebox and do us all a favour

The Hip Priests / Grindhouse – Split (Savage Magic) It just wouldn’t be a singles round-up without a Hip Priests 45 so here you go, boys and girls, the undisputed kings of UK garage punk rock ‘n’ roll are back in the ring and this time they’re tag-teaming with the down under divas Grindhouse. It’s a no brainer that we’re gonna be all over this slice of noise firstly the two tracks offered up by The Hip Priests are ‘Stand For Nothing’ from the album of the same title and ‘I Hate The City’ that just scorches like a dragster on the Bonneville Salt Flats.  Fair play to the buggers it doesn’t matter what year who they play with and who ignores them and their tunes They know and I know that the Hip Priests are da bomb and always kick serious backside and there is no other band with their volume of quality singles under their collective bullet belts peerless dirty filthy rock and fucking roll.  Get on it before they are all gone.  As for the flip.  Australia has always been strong in the fucked up loud Rock and Roll stakes and there’s no denying that Grindhouse have probably eaten their way through a fair few.  the perfect split partners as their contribution is a Lemmy inspired romp through ‘All Washed Up’ followed by ‘Cum Punch’  I won’t even begin to ask but I do know I like it no I love it (not Cum punching but the tune) Dirty Boys. Single of the month?  What do you think? Of course it is.

 

The Snivelling Shits – Bring Me The Head Of Yukio Mishima (Damaged Goods) Sounding like classic late 70’s punk rock The Snivelling Shits spit n snarl their way through this rather splendid single.  Having made a comeback some 40 years after the last time the band played this single celebrates the life and death of the actor, model, poet film director Mishima who ended up losing his head quite literally.  It’s backed by a cover of  ‘Et Moi, Et Moi, Et Moi’ which is more of the same to be fair and a bloody good couple of vintage punk rock tunes. Head over to Damaged Goods to pick up your copy.

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Wilmette – Anxious Body (Mutant League Records)  a 4-piece from the Chicago suburbs that combines pop-punk and hardcore with a fresh style that relies on pop hooks, honest lyrics, and strong musicianship the band’s opener sounds like a load of Taking back Sunday tunes wrapped into one from the quiet opening to the crashing chorus. The EP spread over five tracks covers all bases from the tight chord changes of ‘Carol From HR’ to the video track featured below.  Big sounds from the newcomers.

 

TAROT RATS – Only The Brave (Will Remain) (WDFD Records) Big – Dirty guitar riffs are the order of the day for Tarot Rats who release this new single and video. Tarot Rats offer up a unique and contemporary take on indie blues-rock. With a critically acclaimed eclectic mix of filthy riffs and soulful melodies, the Rats can be found free from the flock of generic sounds, playing all over the UK.

 

https://www.facebook.com/thetarotrats/
https://twitter.com/tarot_rats
https://www.tarotrats.co.uk/

 

The Survival Code – Crosses To Carry, Coffins To Fill (Good Deeds Music) The band are a London-based rock duo with an unabashed passion for riffs, soaring melodies and thunderous drums. Long admired for their driven and energetic live performances, the two-piece serve up intense and brawny rock cuts that lodge deep into your senses. To date, the duo have racked up rampant support from many industry tastemakers, picking up exposure from Kerrang!, Classic Rock, Powerplay, Fireworks Magazine, and Rock Sound Magazine, as well as widespread radio support from Kerrang! Radio and Planet Rock.  Formed in 2012 THE SURVIVAL CODE will continue their ascent with the release of a series of videos to coincide with the EP, as well as a string tour dates:

August 15th – Big Red – London (EP LAUNCH); October 23rd – Bunkhouse – Swansea; 24th – Fuel – Cardiff; 25th – Slaughtered Lamb – London; 26th – The Hope & Ruin – Brighton; 28th – The Tin At The Coal Vaults; 29th Chameleon – Nottingham; 30th – Castle Hotel – Manchester; 31st – Outpost – Liverpool; November 2nd – Old England – Bristol; 3rd – Suburbia – Southampton.

www.thesurvivalcode.co.uk  www.facebook.com/thesurvivalcode/
www.twitter.com/thesurvivalcode  www.soundcloud.com/thesurvivalcode

 

THE FANTASTIC TERRORS – Empty Refrigerator Sunday (Ikaros Records) The Fantastic Terrors released their 7″ debut record, including two songs titled “The Yodeler ” and “Empty Refrigerator Sunday”.  Coming out of Greece The band release a rather strange video to accompany this single.  Loud guitars being the order of the day and a pretty decent introduction.

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Scumbag Millionaire – Rolling Heavy (Suburban Records) The fourth single taken from the bands pretty awesome album sees ‘Rolling Heavy’ on one side and ‘Rolling Heavy’ (live) on the other. To be fair if you don’t already own the album then this will give you a pretty decent indication of what to expect but its not rocket science here it’s Swedish Action Rock and Roll played to excess and with a truck full of passion. If you want our advice then pick this up and do a deal to get hold of the long-player this is taken from ‘Speed’ as well you won’t regret it at all.

Bandcamp

 

 

Glitter Machine – Take The Pain From their debut album, ‘Hanging Out For Fame’. It’s a feral love song and who am I to disagree.  Its got a great groove and some neat guitar-slinging.check out the video

Roxy Girls – ‘Spanners For Hands’ (Moshi Moshi Records) Sunderlands Roxy Girls are sparse power pop punk rock angular sharp guitar chords and licks (not dissimilar to the mighty Buzzcocks) The track is taken from the forthcoming mini-album (remember them?), not unlike the first track released of the record ‘Trials And Tribulations’ which reminded me of vintage louder XTC – I’d wager these cats kick up a shitstorm in a sweaty club with the volume turned up. I look forward to hearing the complete record and not just a single or two – exciting times for new wave fans.FACEBOOK – TWITTER – SPOTIFY – MOSHI MOSHI RECORDS

 

Tidal Babes – ‘OMG’ Do I Like it? Fuck knows its got a great big funky bassline and a lush chorus but infectious pop melodies, described as bubblegum goth summer fun! is about right.  Potty mouth lyrics that come out of the blue won’t see it on BBC but who gives a shite about that?

Singer Lyndsi Austin and songwriter/producer Chris Qualls (Concord Music Publishing/Cutcraft Music Group) were attending a concert in Hollywood when they started discussing a potential new project together. Both grew up playing in rock bands but had switched over to making pop music for years. That night, inspired by the rock show they had just seen (and a little bit of whiskey), the two began brainstorming the foundation for a new band that combined all the things they loved about Southern California and it’s musical history; Surf rock guitars; The energy of Orange County punk rock; Beach Boys harmonies; The sassiness of the east LA socialites and fashionistas; Cruising down Sunset Boulevard.   Facebook – Twitter – Instagram

The Atom Age – Never Looking (Tiger Dream/Asian Man Records.)  The second single off their soon to be released album ‘Cry Til You Die’  mixing up some Rocket From The Crypt for sure (I never understand why more bands don’t invest in some saxophone)  Hailing from Oakland these guys are kicking out the jams for sure.  With a lineage hailing from The Sonics to the Hives they’re channeling some great shit into their own music and it’s paying dividends because if the single is anything to go by then the album is gonna burn. Facebook

City Under Siege – Freaking Out (Third String Records) Straight out of Buffalo NY City Under Siege.  this single precedes their debut album that the band are working on with Weezer producer Marc McClusky.  Its a big pop punk sound and one that will no doubt do rather well for the band who also head out on tour with Mark Rose (Spitalfield) and Ryan Dunson (Rookie of The Year) all across the good ole US of A.

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THE MURDER CAPITAL RELEASE LIVE SESSION VIDEO OF “GREEN & BLUE”

THE MURDER CAPITAL RELEASE LIVE SESSION VIDEO OF “GREEN & BLUE”

DEBUT ALBUM “WHEN I HAVE FEARS” OUT NEXT FRIDAY, 16TH AUGUST ON HUMAN SEASON RECORDS

PRE-ORDER HERE

The Murder Capital have seen previous single releases – “Feeling Fades” and the 12″ of the aforementioned “Green & Blue” – top the vinyl charts already this year, and last month announced a series of strictly limited in-stores and intimate performances for later this month:

Mon 18th Aug – DERRY – Cool Discs @ Sandinos (afternoon show) – performance
Mon 18th Aug – BELFAST – Strange Victory Records – performance + signing
Mon 19th Aug – GLASGOW – Monorail – performance + signing
Tues 20th Aug – MANCHESTER – FOPP (afternoon show) – performance + signing
Wed 21st Aug – LEEDS – Crash – signing
Thurs 22nd Aug – LONDON – Rough Trade East (afternoon show) – performance + signing
Thurs 22nd Aug – BRIGHTON – Resident Music (evening) – performance + signing

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IDLES announce short tour for December

IDLES announce short tour for December

IDLES today announce a short tour for December – including their biggest headlining date yet on Saturday, 7th December at London’s Alexandra Palace.

Tue 3 Dec Glasgow, Barrowland Ballroom
Wed 4 Dec Manchester, Academy
Thu 5 Dec Leeds, O2 Academy
Sat 7 Dec London, Alexandra Palace

Tickets will go on sale this Friday 28th June at 9:30 AM BST but fans can gain access to artist pre-sale on Wednesday 26th June 9:30 AM BST by signing up at https://www.idlesband.com

 


Tickets will go on sale this Friday 28th June at 9:30 AM BST but fans can gain access to artist pre-sale on Wednesday 26th June 9:30 AM BST by signing up at https://www.idlesband.com

With their last shows selling out in minutes IDLES wanted to give as many fans as possible an opportunity to acquire tickets to celebrate what has been an incredible year. Tickets will be limited to 4 per person.

The band will also be working with Big Green Coach to provide a return coach service for fans to travel safely to and from the Alexandra Palace show. There will be services ran from Bristol, Bournemouth, Reading, Southampton and Swindon and tickets will be available direct from: https://www.biggreencoach.co.uk/idles

The band’s latest release “Mercedes Marxist” is currently A-listed at 6 Music and will be released physically on August 2nd as a 7″. The single will include another new song on its B-side, entitled “I Dream Guillotine.” Both tracks were written and recorded during the band’s sessions for “Joy as an Act of Resistance.” and pre-orders are available HERE.

 

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Rainy Days & Mondays

Rainy Days & Mondays

As today is Monday RPM likes to send you on your way back to work with three awesome songs and videos. We’ve got three bangers starting with this beaut from Razorbats,  ‘This High’ was released a few years ago and with footage taken at Slugfest its as glam as it gets and there are plenty of handsome RPM chaps in the audience.

Second up is the recent Beach Slang track ‘I Hate Alternative Rock’ A new song by a band who’ve never made a bad record.

Finally, a brand new video from Kyle Craft & Showboat Honey with ‘2 Ugly 4 NY’ their forthcoming new album ‘Showboat Honey’ will be available worldwide July 12th, 2019 from Sub Pop.  Great video and tune.

 

 

45 RPM – You Spin Me Round Like A Record

45 RPM – You Spin Me Round Like A Record

 

Welcome, welcome, welcome step inside the 45’s club and see what delightful singles and videos get pushed through our virtual and physical letterbox. a right mixed bag arrive for this update and there is only one place we could possibly start and that’s with HeWhoCannotBeNamed and his brilliant video for ‘Good Fuck’ taken from his new album  ‘The Good, The Bad, and The Brutal’.  Spin the black circles and keep it 45…

 

Jake Starr & The the Delicious fullness ‘All The Mess I’m In’ (Beluga Records)  This Singles comes in four delicious coloured sleeves and fours different coloured records, Blue, Red, White, Black.

After fronting Washington DC garage rockers Adam West for nearly 17 years, soft-spoken, introverted, and mild-mannered Jake Starr took a few years off to recharge his batteries. Now he’s back with a band of brothers (and sister) alongside him to deliver the best in high-octane, garage rock-n-roll. With Sean Crowley (Hall Monitors) on guitar and backing vox, Louie Newmyer (tons of bands) on bass, and Nathaniel Osgood (ex-Phobes) on drums, this swinging combo is the perfect mix of the Small Faces, Chocolate Watchband, Easybeats, Music Machine, and everything nice in 1966. The A-side is a rock solid retro rocker but the gem here is ‘Biff Bang Pow’ a cover of the Creation number and with its fuzzed up lead guitar its a real hoot and sure to fly off the shelves – our advice if you want the colours you better get a move on and shake your shit over to Beluga.

Facebook  Order the single direct from Beluga: Here

 

Lags – ‘Knives And Wounds’ (Casu Marzu Records/To Lose La Track/Fuzzy Cluster Records) Next up is the new single from Lags.a post-hardcore band out of Rome, Italy, They’re gearing up to release their second album, SOON, on March 29th, and they’ve teamed up with Heavy Consequence to premiere the video for the new song “Knives and Wounds”.  The song is an anthemic track with a sound reminiscent of bands like Hot Water Music, BoySetsFire, and Sparta, as singer Antonio Canestri delivers the lyrics with a powerful rasp.

As mentioned, the album SOON will arrive on March 29th. Pre-orders for the disc are available here and here.

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We Three Kings – Give It To Me Go! (self Release)

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Powersolo “Transfixing Motherfucker” EP (Slovenly) If it’s on Slovenly then we want to know about it.  Wear it like a badge of honour because Slovenly don’t put out rubbish and when we got this pottymouthed single we virtual high fived Powersolo for having the cheek to knock out a garage dripping rock n rolling old school it’s like Bo Diddley and the Cramps going shot for shot and having some instruments thrown in for good measure. These Danish rock n rollers kick out the jams for sure and even manage a tune in their native tongue which is always cool with RPM.

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 The Cavemen “Lowlife” EP (Slovenly) Always happy to review a Caveman record that for sure and Lowlife doesn’t disappoint.  The Lead track sounds like The New York Dolls in full peacock swagger and that guitar solo fuckin’ rules! ‘Baby I’d Do It For You’ is like a rocket, all speed and fuck you fury straight out of the traps and it doesn’t relent until it crashes and burns. To close off this monster is a dark brooding Cavemen progbustin four-minute classic.  Like they’ve been down to the crossroads and old Nick has thought fuck this do your worst I’m off.  the Cavemen rip it up like hooch when you’ve run out of moonshine.  Single of the month? I can’t see anything else even coming close. Get these dirty rock n rollers on tour with Brother Jim Jones and his righteous mind that would be perfect. Facebook

Priors “Call For You” EP (Slovenly Recordings) Hailing from Montreal this five-piece wall of garage rock n roll fills me with joy due to their understanding that garage punk rock comes in many forms and they hit you right in the kisser with their guitar driven rock n roll and the lead track ‘Call For You’ is a force of nature, a wall of guitars,  unrelenting and unforgiving yet the tune has melody and makes me feel warm and fuzzy. ‘Destroyer’ is more of the same to be fair maybe a little more uncompromising but equally enjoyable. Which just leaves ‘Swelter’ to shake its shit with its awkward rhythm to pulverise you with. A most excellent record and available through their bandcamp in very limited quantities so don’t sleep on this one.  Bandcamp

 

Crows – Chain Of Being (Balley Records)  London post punk noisemakers sign to Joe Talbot of Idles Balley Records and ‘Chain Of Being’ is the first song released off their debut album  “Silver Tongues” released on March 22nd Pre-order Here. They head out on tour with Idles in March to coincide with the album check em out Facebook

The Anomalys “Trooper” EP:(slovenly Recordings) Straight out of the Garage in Amsterdamned these rock n rollers kick up a veritable shit storm with their fairly traditional reverb dripping rock n fucking roll. ‘Fire In The Hole’ is the second song in and flys by in less that one and a half minutes of rowdy rock n roll just as we like it. To be fair that’s pretty much a done deal for the band as its only the fourth track that the tempo drops below boiling, ‘Anomolyphant’ is an instrumental but doesn’t really go anywhere but three out of four isn’t bad at all.  Keep an eye on these noisemakers. Facebook

 

 

 

Erica Drive – All We Are  – Emo alternative rockers Erica Drive are about to drop their second album and have released ‘All We Are’ to pave the way.  South coast five-piece worked with Mike White (wolf Culture)  and had the tracks mastered by My Chemical Romance engineer  John Naclerio With heavy riffs and crisp production I’m sure the band will pick up more than the last albums 10,000 Spotify plays. Full-length album to come in early April.Twitter    Facebook

 

 

The Empty Page – ‘When The Cloud Explodes’ (Punk Fox Records) the Empty Page has grown up as a band in public and that journey has landed them here at this junction with a new single on offer this coming Feb the 22nd to be precise.  Its a confident slab of alt-rock shaped using the inspiration of their idols it’s got a great hook and feel to it as lyrically it celebrates their roots and obsession with the wet northern weather with a huge wall of sound. Stirring stuff indeed and if this is the strength of the new material it won’t be long before bands are citing the Empty Page as an influence alongside your Sonic Youths and Pixies. Great stuff!

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Vain vipers – Kissy Doll (Volcano Records) I couldn’t resist throwing this bad boy up here just because I could. Can you believe outside the parody shite that is Steel Panther there are still heavy on the ride fretboard tappers out there strutting their shit like its cock rock o’clock and people really want to hear this. Like anyone dances on their bed wearing some Vain Viper grits who hasn’t been paid to. I also love that the axeman (that’s what cock rockers call their six stringers right?)  has got a replica Slash tattoo on his right gun. Absolute comedy gold can’t wait for the follow up its like 1987 never ever happened.

Death By Unga Bunga – ‘So Far So Good So Cool’ (Jansen Records)

Death By Unga Bunga – ‘So Far So Good So Cool’ (Jansen Records)

Johnny Hayward.

With RPM barely a month old there is obviously a huge stash of great music already released in 2018 that we’d never had the chance to share with you guys, until now!

The bizarrely named Death By Unga Bunga and their fifth studio album ‘So Far So Good So Cool’ is about as perfect a place as any to start though as having just wowed audiences across the UK in support of Irish rockers Ash we thought it was about time you also discovered why this 5 piece from Norway were handpicked by Tim Wheeler and Co out of relative obscurity to secure such a prestigious slot.

Originally released back in April of this year I first got to hear about the band when a Facebook mate of mine sent me a link to the total nerdgasm that is the video to their track ‘Into The Night ‘with a note that simply said “this is your new favourite band.”

Well that infectious slab of powerpop was certainly enough to grab my attention and the fact that the band also just happened to look like the bastard sons of Biff Malibu only helped to increase my interest. The real game changer happened just before ‘So Far So Good So Cool’ was finally due to hit the streets though when the guys dropped the second video from the record, the superb ‘Soldier’, a song so catchy I just had to get my shots at my local rock ‘n’ roll doctor and experience the full majesty of Death By Unga Bunga.

Having lived with this record (it’s also out on CD and download) for nearly six months there is rarely a day that goes by when ‘So Far So Good So Cool’ isn’t actually on my stereo, as the 11 tracker (note 2 tracks are quirky incidental interludes) is simply one of the best powerpop records you will hear anywhere this year.

With a particular penchant for writing instantly memorable 3:30 minute pop/rock tunes just like say Cheap Trick, Thin Lizzy, The Knack and yes, their UK touring buddies Ash what Death By Unga Bunga do ever so well is make their own particular brand of powerpop sound totally unique to them, something I haven’t really felt since the heady days of when Scandinavia was seducing my eardrums at an alarming rate with genre defining bands such as Gluecifer, Division of Laura Lee and Randy.

It’s simply impossible to pick a stand out track amongst the 9 equally brilliant tracks captured within the all killer no filler grooves of ‘So Far So Good So Cool’ but ‘Boys’ really is up there with the very best hard rock tracks released this year and in ‘So Cool’ the Bunga boys give Turbonegro a lesson in how to use synths without having to sound like Van Halen circa ‘1984’.

‘So Far So Good So Cool’ is quite simply essential listening for anyone who has albums by the likes of Fuzzbubble, Sugarbomb and The Semantics within their collection. I’m just gutted I didn’t get a chance hear this record played live.

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