The Sideshows / Marc Valentine – The Water Rats, London 10/04/26

The Sideshows / Marc Valentine – The Water Rats, London 10/04/26

Sold-out shows are pretty cool, right? Album launch shows are always pretty cool, but when you have two for the price of one at the same show, it kinda raises the bar. I find myself in London for the weekend after booking to see the Damned almost a year ago so imagine my joy of finding out The Sideshows were launching their debut album the night before and had Marc Valentine as support, what a result that is.

First up tonight was Marc Valentine with his third long player in the bag, ‘Uncommon Side Effects’, and I think it’s fair to say his best as well. Having been lucky enough to have had the album for a few weeks and familiarised myself with the new tunes Marc and his band ripped through the new songs like they were old friends and were well worn into the set that was nothing short of a masterclass in loud power pop with some awesome accompaniments from his band with Richard Davies laying down some fantastic licks on his trusty Les Paul Jr and birthday boy Neil tinkling the ivories.

Marc has perfected the ragged rock n roll love letter to the underground that has a far wider appeal, be it the fantastic ‘You Are The Jet’ or ‘NY UAP’ the support set didn’t do him or his band proper justice they could have headlined and given us twice as long and I’ve no doubt the audience would have stayed with them lapping up every second. The feel-good Friday night was up and running to a wonderful starter choc-full of catchy melodies played with passion and a true belief in what they do. Marc Valnetine laid down the marker for The Sideshows to follow, and the bar was set pretty bloody high.

You can catch the band live all over the place in the coming weeks, and I would highly recommend you do so and get hold of that album, it’s a belter.

With the opening slot lighting the way, The Sideshows have been in rehearsals in Spain for the last week or so and are rightly taking this seriously, with the show being sold out months ago. The self-titled debut album was also released on this day, and if you’re asking, yeah, I think it’s the best work Rags has delivered since the first Role Models album. The thing stinks of great melodies, well-worn stories, and having Sami Yaffa on board shows the level of pedigree you can expect from this record.

The set begins with ‘Brand New’, and for the next hour we are taken on a rock n roll journey through some pretty wicked tunes, and having Gaff joining for added guitar licks and general oomph. The sound is fantastic. We were promised the album in full as well as other gems from the band’s catalogues, so it didn’t take long before Yaffa stepped to the centre of the stage to deliver a thumping ‘Selling Me Shit’ from his solo material, which wasn’t something I was expecting, but a most welcome addition it was too.

Role Models ‘Saturday Night Sailor’ sounded awesome, and it’s hard to believe this is their first live show the sound was exciting and as tight as you’d want for for a first outing the packed room was clearly enjoying it as much as I was and the fact most people in here hadn’t ever heard most of the songs being played but had already bought into it 100%.

After the excellent tribute song to Scott Sorry ‘Not Sorry’ it was a treat to hear Hanoi Rocks ‘Lost In The City’ being bashed out complete with some pretty mean harmonica honking for added coolness. All in all the fifteen song set flew by and with it all being pretty upbeat I couldn’t think of anywhere I’d rather be on a Friday night in ole London Town and to cap it all off with a brief encore they return to lap up the well deserved rapturous applause and a run through the Johnny Tunders classic ‘I Wanna Be Loved’ well, seeing as you’re asking the answer is, The Water Rats Loved ya, lets do this again and if there is any chance of a follow up album down the line I’d be all in to hear what these talented guys can do next but for now lets bask in the glory of a mighty fine record and a memorable rock n roll show just like we used to get.

What a wonderful evening of Rock n Roll from two bands who deserve so much in return. If you can pick up their records and spread the word the world would be a better place and have the perfect Friday night soundtrack. If they hit your town don’t sit on it get out there and let em know the world needs bands like these.

Marc Valentine

The Sideshows

Author: Dom Daley

The Sideshows – ‘The Sideshows’ (Boom Bird Records/European Phonographic/Yeah Right! Records)

The Sideshows – ‘The Sideshows’ (Boom Bird Records/European Phonographic/Yeah Right! Records)

The Digressions may well be on hiatus, The Role Models done and dusted, and The Loyalties a distant memory, but our favourite Canadian-born singer/songwriter who resides on this side of the pond is far from done with rock n’ roll.

Yes, Rich Ragany (Rags to those in the know) has roped in his friend and former Hanoi Rocks/current Michael Monroe bassist Sami Yaffa for a new project. Bringing along longtime drummer Simon Maxwell for the ride, they retreated to Sami’s studio in Spain to bash out a few tunes Rags had on the back burner. Something clicked, the stars aligned, and before you know it, they had an album in the bag, and The Sideshows were born.

Fast forward to 2026, and the power pop trio unleash their debut, self-titled album on an unsuspecting world.

If you are at all familiar with Rich’s past work, then you’ll be pleased to know The Sideshows don’t stray too far from that musical path. Opener and first single ‘Brand New’ feels like a statement of intent from the off. A low-slung, high-energy rocker full of Stiv Bators attitude and 70’s garage rock power. With hooks aplenty, killer vocals and pumping bass driving a song that delivers on all levels, it’s a fine start.

The sound of Rich’s influences is all over this album. The Replacements, Tom Petty and Johnny Thunders all come to mind, and that ain’t a bad place to be in my book. In fact, I’m sure Paul Westerberg would be proud to have written ‘Not Sorry’. Tribal beats and sloppy guitars build to an almost apprehensive verse onto a chorus with a hook you just don’t expect. It’s a great song.

The punkier ‘Our Love In The Shadows’ follows a familiar path, with a feel-good chorus that creates euphoria on first listen and demands the repeat button. A strong song for sure. ‘Rock n Roll Owes Me An Apology’ rounds off Side One nicely, rocking the fuck out with nice ringing guitars and no apologies.

Dropping the virtual needle on Side Two, we have ‘Say Goodbye On A Night Like This’. That may sound like a Bryan Adams song title, but it’s actually a power pop gem of a song. Urgent beats and a killer chorus are the order of the day, and The Sideshows keep the interest high, delivering heartfelt, anthemic and melodic in equal measures. I feel a theme going on with this band. Are you on board yet?

The flipside of the debut single is the more reflective and introspective ‘The Start’, a song that hits in the feels and is up there with the best of Rich’s discography. As with the following ‘This Could Be Everything’, the band create an early Hanoi vibe, emotive and haunting yet with added Billy Idol sneer thrown in for good measure.

The production, handled by Messrs Ragany & Yaffa, gives a very raw, live in the studio feel which lends itself well, especially to the rockers, like album closer ‘We’re Such A Shame’, an in yer face delivery which is surely gonna be a blast to witness live.

Whether it’s with one of his many past bands or as a solo artist, Rich Ragany has always impressed with his ability to deliver heartfelt songs that are uplifting, introspective and will simply brighten your day. ‘The Sideshows’ is another of those albums that delivers, and with the added attraction of the legendary Sami Yaffa on bass duties, it may open this troubadour’s songwriting talents to a whole new audience of fans that love real music played by real musicians who still have a story to tell and a song to share.

Here’s hoping this is the start of a band with an illustrious career, as this self-titled debut is a bit of a banger.

Digital Link Here

European Phonographic

Yeah Right! Records

Author: Ben Hughes

THE SIDESHOWS -DEBUT SINGLE OUT NOW VIA EUROPEAN PHONOGRAPHIC

THE SIDESHOWS -DEBUT SINGLE OUT NOW VIA EUROPEAN PHONOGRAPHIC

This ain’t no sideshow baby, this is The Sideshows!

STREAM/DOWNLOAD THE SINGLE HERE

New Project from Members of Hanoi Rocks, The Digressions & The Loyalties—Straight-Up Rock ’n’ Roll with Heart

The Sideshows is a brand-new project featuring critically acclaimed songwriter Rich Ragany (Role Models, Rich Ragany & The Digressions, The Loyalties, solo), legendary musician Sami Yaffa (Hanoi Rocks, New York Dolls, Jesse Malin, Michael Monroe), and powerhouse U.K. drummer Simon Maxwell (Yo Yos, The Loyalties, Role Models). Their debut features Side A: “Brand New” and Side B: “The Start”—two anthemic rock ‘n’ roll tracks recorded at Yaffa’s own Red Mud Studios in Mallorca, Spain. Songs by Ragany; music by Ragany/ Yaffa/ Maxwell. Engineered by Puter and Sami Yaffa, produced by Yaffa and Ragany, mixed by Andy Brook, and mastered by Graeme Lynch.

Sami tells how it came to be…


I ran into Rags (Ragany) in NYC in the early 2000’s. Seems like a lifetime or two ago now. Rags was a newcomer to the Lower East Side’s music scene, talked a mile a minute, and poured me a couple of free drinks on Jesse’s tab at Niagara Bar, where he was working to make ends meet, while shooting for that glitter in the gutter. Once mutual friend Rich Jones joined our Michael Monroe can can troupe around 2012, Rags started turning up to our gigs in UK and even supported us on a tour there (Turns out he had fallen in love with a lady from the UK and moved after her to a new neighbourhood in London). Over the years of hanging occasionally it became apparent that Rich was a formidable song writer and made great records with The Digressions, Role Models, The Loyalties and solo. When Rags showed up recently at KK’s Steelmill gig in Birmingham to say hi to us (the Monroes that is) he said he had a buncha new songs and was itching to get ’em on 0’s and 1’s. Well hell, I told him I’d been building a small recording studio in my backyard in Mallorca, Spain and said, “Why don’t you come down and we knock a few out and see how the studio sounds? We made a plan, and Rags came over with his anchor, a superb drummer, Simon Maxwell, who had played on pretty much every recording Rich had done in the UK. We proceeded to record. Windows and doors wide open with a view of the Spanish countryside, all silent except for some roosters and lamb bells. Simon said it was a bit different than their usual recording spot, a room with no windows in Croydon. The studio ended up sounding pretty good. We knocked these two songs out in a couple of days, each session followed by a long dinner…and lots of stories. I think this is a beginning of something, I don’t know what, yet, but something. Stay tuned, and in the meantime enjoy these two great RnR songs!

Find The Sideshows online at:

INSTAGRAM

FACEBOOK

EUROPEAN PHONOGRAPHIC