I was quite excited to go and see Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard live in my home town back in April but then the world decided to go tits up and the show never took place.  There is however a bill poster at the venue that I plan to liberate when all these baddie germs finally fuck off.

Now, after being tipped off by friend and colleague Mr. H Bomb Hayward that there was a new band in town and they played Rock and Roll and weren’t afraid to wear double denim. Then hearing the first couple of tunes I and seeing them strut their stuff on TV I was rather looking forward to the live experience having already paid upfront for my album pre-sale and finally mid pandemic it duly arrived.

Now, first things first.  When the packet was left on the doorstep by my friendly Royal Mail person he duly backed off.  Now, was this a sign? was he just pandemic virus fearful and following guidelines? or who knows, maybe, he knew what was lurking inside the 12″ x 12″ cardboard mailbox. I have to say dai yawn diolch, Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard, for daring to run with such a confident album cover.  I just hope it was done with a straight face and there was no giggling taking place.  Boy, its a statement album cover if ever there was one I’ll give you that.  Like Jaggers crotch with the zipper or Lords Of The New Church and their ‘Like A Virgin’ picture sleeve, this bad boy is right up there.

Anyway enough shenanigans what are the fucking tunes like? I mean, they could have gone with a Dwarves cover or a pose of Ian Botham proportions but if they didn’t have the chops to back it up they were going to look a little daft mun as they say around these parts.

Fear not my Rock and Roll comrades for as soon ‘Double Denim Hop’ is counted in the confidence of the sleeve is instantly matched with a ’70s Bolan Boogie-woogie, glam rock stomper, to rival any of the pretenders to the retro crown. For on this evidence alone, Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard (so good they named them thrice) have it sewn up as they stomp and Rock right out the door and back again. The dueling solos and the chorus is so spot on its one of those earworms you simply can’t shake out of your head for days. What an opener.

This ten-track behemoth has got it all.  They are like a little band of magpies as they nick a riff from over there off that Kinks record and they were clearly paying attention to the Bolan Boogie.  I’d wager they have more than a passing hankering for a small faces record or two. To be fair for the first few tracks they just Take Care Of Business and kick out the jams.

They even entertain with the slight interlude of audio widescreen panoramic views entitled ‘Theme From Early Morning’.   Before chilling out with the acoustic ‘Long Day/Free Day’ with its simple arrangement and sparse vocal that grows and grows but never goes too far.

They head off into “we’ve joined a cult” tune with the breezy ‘John Lennon Is My Jesus Christ’ as they tip their hat to the people who clearly inspired them to pick up their instruments and play. Penultimately they head off into a sixty second Fleetwood Mac noodle but sound like they lost interest as well. This only leaves the ‘Sugarloaf Mountain Crucify Me’ when they set a foot into Neil Young territory, briefly, Which is cool even if it does take almost four minutes to raise its pulse.

In the main, this is a breath of fresh air, the sound of a band enjoying making music and playing with passion, heart and a cheeky grin.  Just get a copy and turn it up mun – Right up!

Buy ‘The Non-Stop Ep’ Here

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Author: Dom Daley