DELINQUENTS : ABOUT LAST NIGHT
Delinquents; they’re on at Rebellion don’cha know! And they are seriously excited to have put together their first album (as you can see).
This Dundee three piece have Mr Hennessy as their mouthpiece, he fulfils this role on stage and on social media, so what I’m about to say he’s probably said already!
ABOUT LAST NIGHT (VIOLATED RECORDS) is due to be released in September, physical CD’s will however be available from Delinquents at Rebellion.
It’s fantastic when a band that you ‘get’ releases music you erm ‘get’. If ‘About Last Night’ was a stick of Blackpool Rock then it would have ‘1977’ running through it. Lyrically speaking Delinquents appear to be saying ‘fuck you and all who sail in you’ but this band sing it with a smile and you end up feeling that life isn't actually as bad as all that after all, I find that they make me smile.
I guess you could say that there’s some Murican influence within their tunes, and it would also be true to say that Delinquents could fit into a pop punk category, that is if you want to pigeon-hole them, but I believe there’s a bit more to this band. They have a genuine style, their songs are true to their background and ethos, they comment on everyday situations and modern day life and play with energy and honesty. I’m always drawn to bands with character and belief, and Delinquents add catchy lyrics and join in choruses to a great mixture of fast paced sub one minute tracks and slower melodic punk numbers on this, their debut album.
Expect crowd pleasers ‘Fuck You’ and ‘Never Gonna Fit In’ to be joined on your favourites list by many other tracks from this album, ‘Next Generation’ stands out for me and ‘Ctrl,Alt,Defeat’ really did ought to be a set opener.
There you have it, if you’re in Blackpool this week keep a look at for three DELINQUENTS they are on Rebellion Introducing Stage THURSDAY at 3:00pm til 3:30pm and they will have merch.
(After receiving an almighty bollocking from Mr Hennessy for adding a misleading ‘THE” before their band name in my last review I am proud to say that I have reviewed 'About Last Night' without using that particular offending word once! )
DELINQUENTS FACEBOOK
This Dundee three piece have Mr Hennessy as their mouthpiece, he fulfils this role on stage and on social media, so what I’m about to say he’s probably said already!
ABOUT LAST NIGHT (VIOLATED RECORDS) is due to be released in September, physical CD’s will however be available from Delinquents at Rebellion.
It’s fantastic when a band that you ‘get’ releases music you erm ‘get’. If ‘About Last Night’ was a stick of Blackpool Rock then it would have ‘1977’ running through it. Lyrically speaking Delinquents appear to be saying ‘fuck you and all who sail in you’ but this band sing it with a smile and you end up feeling that life isn't actually as bad as all that after all, I find that they make me smile.
I guess you could say that there’s some Murican influence within their tunes, and it would also be true to say that Delinquents could fit into a pop punk category, that is if you want to pigeon-hole them, but I believe there’s a bit more to this band. They have a genuine style, their songs are true to their background and ethos, they comment on everyday situations and modern day life and play with energy and honesty. I’m always drawn to bands with character and belief, and Delinquents add catchy lyrics and join in choruses to a great mixture of fast paced sub one minute tracks and slower melodic punk numbers on this, their debut album.
Expect crowd pleasers ‘Fuck You’ and ‘Never Gonna Fit In’ to be joined on your favourites list by many other tracks from this album, ‘Next Generation’ stands out for me and ‘Ctrl,Alt,Defeat’ really did ought to be a set opener.
There you have it, if you’re in Blackpool this week keep a look at for three DELINQUENTS they are on Rebellion Introducing Stage THURSDAY at 3:00pm til 3:30pm and they will have merch.
(After receiving an almighty bollocking from Mr Hennessy for adding a misleading ‘THE” before their band name in my last review I am proud to say that I have reviewed 'About Last Night' without using that particular offending word once! )
DELINQUENTS FACEBOOK
FIRST WAVE NEW ALBUM PREVIEW :
TOXIC ROCK N' ROLL
<<<<<<<<< NOT THE ALBUM ART
Sometimes a band comes along and you love them because of their music, sometimes it’s because they are good people and you enjoy their crowd. Well, First Wave are the gigging (living) proof that a band can excel in both categories. This Leicester/Corby based three piece band are appearing at a few festivals this summer time, look them up, they are a delight.
The new album from First Wave consists of 10 excellent punk rock tracks. It seems that there has been a bit more care and attention with this album than their previous albums, the production and the sound is great, this is far from the raw sounding DIY stuff that you sometimes get.
The band continues to challenge intolerance and hatred, they comment about the issues of the day and they make their musical points cleverly and always catchily. First Wave remain true to their 1977 influences, these are an ever present throughout this album and you get the feeling that The Clash and Joe Strummer are never too far away from their minds when writing their songs.
This preview isn’t intended to be a spoiler, so I’m not going to itemise each track, those that have seen First Wave live recently will know that Toxic Rock n’ Roll, Berlin and Bataclan Survivors are recent additions to the set. These are all included on the album. I’ve listened to the album 6 or 7 times now, giving it the full headphones treatment, and then blasting it out on the car system. I was initially drawn to the 3 songs that I recognised from the setlist, but having listened to nothing else I have shifted my order of favouritism. I think that this underlines how strong the album is, there isn’t one track that I have wanted to skip over, in fact there are a few that I replay before going on. Berlin still sits high up in the list, but I hope that a couple more off the album can find their way onto the First Wave live set. There’s a great balance about this album, and some mighty fine individual numbers too.
First Wave have grown in stature with this album, and there’s a justifiable added self confidence evident on Toxic Rock n’ Roll. Yes, there are the ever present heavy guitar laden riffs with the join in choruses, but there’s just that little bit more to get your teeth into on this album.
The CD is being released very soon, so add First Wave to your watchlist, press ‘like’ on their FaceBook page and that way you will be able to see when and where you can buy the album. I’m sure that it will be an instant favourite, if you are a Clash/Damned/Ramones fan then this album should be in your sights. If you enjoy following a fantastic live band playing relevant punk music then get along to a First Wave gig, go and say hello to the band and become part of the family.
BAND FACEBOOK PAGE
Sometimes a band comes along and you love them because of their music, sometimes it’s because they are good people and you enjoy their crowd. Well, First Wave are the gigging (living) proof that a band can excel in both categories. This Leicester/Corby based three piece band are appearing at a few festivals this summer time, look them up, they are a delight.
The new album from First Wave consists of 10 excellent punk rock tracks. It seems that there has been a bit more care and attention with this album than their previous albums, the production and the sound is great, this is far from the raw sounding DIY stuff that you sometimes get.
The band continues to challenge intolerance and hatred, they comment about the issues of the day and they make their musical points cleverly and always catchily. First Wave remain true to their 1977 influences, these are an ever present throughout this album and you get the feeling that The Clash and Joe Strummer are never too far away from their minds when writing their songs.
This preview isn’t intended to be a spoiler, so I’m not going to itemise each track, those that have seen First Wave live recently will know that Toxic Rock n’ Roll, Berlin and Bataclan Survivors are recent additions to the set. These are all included on the album. I’ve listened to the album 6 or 7 times now, giving it the full headphones treatment, and then blasting it out on the car system. I was initially drawn to the 3 songs that I recognised from the setlist, but having listened to nothing else I have shifted my order of favouritism. I think that this underlines how strong the album is, there isn’t one track that I have wanted to skip over, in fact there are a few that I replay before going on. Berlin still sits high up in the list, but I hope that a couple more off the album can find their way onto the First Wave live set. There’s a great balance about this album, and some mighty fine individual numbers too.
First Wave have grown in stature with this album, and there’s a justifiable added self confidence evident on Toxic Rock n’ Roll. Yes, there are the ever present heavy guitar laden riffs with the join in choruses, but there’s just that little bit more to get your teeth into on this album.
The CD is being released very soon, so add First Wave to your watchlist, press ‘like’ on their FaceBook page and that way you will be able to see when and where you can buy the album. I’m sure that it will be an instant favourite, if you are a Clash/Damned/Ramones fan then this album should be in your sights. If you enjoy following a fantastic live band playing relevant punk music then get along to a First Wave gig, go and say hello to the band and become part of the family.
BAND FACEBOOK PAGE
wreck-age/the lee harveys/heavy drapes gig
It seems like ages ago now, probably towards the back end of last year, when Bitzy Fitzgerald, the lead singer and guitarist of The LEE Harveys announced that they were to be playing one last show before the bands demise. I was determined to go, I had no idea then that the obituary was to be cancelled and that the night would prove to be a wake like no other I’ve ever been to.
I’ve edited a lot of this as it was turning into ‘a tourists guide to Dublin’ and so I’ll just add on a personal note that Dublin, like every other European capital city is expensive compared to the provinces, understand that and move on.
Fibber Magees is a few metres off of O’Connell street, it is unpretentious on the outside, and actually it's unpretentious on the inside too, but look a little further and stay for a while and you will be surprised. There is a courtyard to the back of the pub, this is a shared area along with some of the other bars and restaurants in the immediate vicinity, and it makes for a really great, friendly atmosphere. I found the bar service to be ok in Fibbers, everything else about the place was outstanding.
The gig itself was to consist of 3 bands, Wreck-Age from the Corby area of England, The LEE Harveys on their home turf in Dublin and Heavy Drapes from Edinburgh, Scotland. It was an exciting and highly anticipated line up, all three bands are due to play Rebellion in Blackpool and all 3 have a strong following, (I’m pretty sure that each band will have gained a few more after this night).
First up was Wreck-Age, I’ve not seen them live before, but I’ve seen the various band members playing in other bands, tonight bassist Tony Taylor (First Wave and H-Fi Spitfires) was unavailable and Tone from The LEE Harveys stood in.
What a starter! With Joe (also vocalist for Cretin 77) as the live wire frontman you know that you will be entertained. The set absolutely flew by, I knew a few of the songs (from youtube) and their recent EP (previously reviewed here) and was pleased to see that a lot of the audience seemed to know them too or, they were able to pick up the lyrics pretty quickly.
There was a lot of dancing right from the outset, the songs from the Orbital EP seemed to get a louder response than some of the others, Turn Up to Dance is a real favourite of mine, with a great slashing guitar sound and with Luke on drums driving the song forward. Wreck-Age have a whole arsenal of rather pleasing rapid fire offerings, they delivered a great set.
The LEE Harveys came next, and wow, did they hit the ground running. There was no messing, they came on to a real home team welcome and with the crowd being well and truly warmed up by Wreck-Age they kept the atmosphere and the smiles and the singing going from start to finish.
The LEE Harveys have a 1977 feel to them, but their sound is definitely more rounded than a lot of the bands from that era. The lyrics are a clarion call for change, revolution and fighting injustice, their songs are cleverly written with catchy melodic choruses and a storyline interwoven inbetween strong guitar hooks.
Often, when songwriters address the unfairness and injustice in society the listener can be left feeling angry or dispirited, this is definitely not the case with The LEE Harveys, if smiling and dancing, if putting your arms around your mate and joining in with some great songs could start the much needed revolution to make this world a better place then The LEE Harveys music would be included in the soundtrack to the uprising.
The band were tight, they sounded fantastic and the crowd loved every minute of them, I did wonder how the next band would be able to follow that.
Heavy Drapes came next, this band (probably very few others), managed to grab hold of an already brilliant show and elevate it even higher. We were treated to a white knuckle ride of epic proportions, I don’t remember there being more than a couple of seconds between each song, one great punk song on the rock and roller coaster of a ride followed another.
They powered their way through their set, the smiles in the crowd got wider and the dancing got wilder, it was party time Heavy Drapes style. This band have some immediate and immense crowd pleasers, I could pretty much go through their entire set and say that each song fits that category, and it would be true, trust me.
For me Night Trippin', Into the Blue and Should I Suck or Should I Blow should be on every self respecting radio stations playlist and in every discerning record collectors collection. I hope that their forthcoming album will include these tracks and that this will happen.
I have no idea how long Heavy Drapes played for, the crowd loved them, they had the whole place bouncing right up to the end of their planned set, and then they turned the Heavy Drapes party into a punk rock carnival, they read their crowd perfectly and gave us one classic cover after another, there were some people on the shoulders of others, LEE Harveys on the mic and an atmosphere that will be hard to forget. A fantastic end to a fantastic night. Just one of those precious times when you know that you have been to a gig that will be talked about for some time to come.
Thanks to the bands, to Gandalf the sound guy, to the staff at Fibber Magees and to all of the new friends whom I met whilst in Dublin, (and of course to the special punk rock family members who also travelled from over the water and shared so many laughs). What an absolutely stand out night.
GUEST BOOK REVIEW BY ANDY CHALK,
XTRAVERTS BASSIST
As the good Captain often rants on about how Malcom McLaren and Bernie Rhodes have tried to re write The Damned out of Punk rock history it’s a good job that Barry Hutchinson has written this book to set the record straight. Very well detailed, very well written this is an absolute must for all punk rock fans.
Its style and content made it a real pleasure to read and I think this, rather than the superb documentary is a fitting testament to these absolute giants of the punk rock movement.
I first saw the Damned in 1977 and have been bonkers about them ever since and constantly, through this book was reminded of so many facts long since forgotten and was told of oh so many new stories.
They had songs played from the Anything album played on Miami Vice TV Show !!!! What next? Well plenty and its here in all of its lunacy. Drunkenness, setting fire to anything that pleased them, to chaotic gigs and the fact that for a long time after Brian James left they struggled writing lyrics, with friends, engineers and even Vanians' then wife helping out. It delves into how songs were created and the inspirations behind them. For instance "Love Song" was based on the Captains love of trains and trainspotting. "I'll be the ticket if you're my collector. I've got the fare if you're my inspector.
Over the last five years the Damned have become a very tight and professional unit, this book reminds us all that this wasn’t always the case.
The amount of work Barry must have spent getting this book together is mind-blowing and at just under 400 pages it surely is book of the year. Go and buy it now.
LINK TO PURCHASE
Its style and content made it a real pleasure to read and I think this, rather than the superb documentary is a fitting testament to these absolute giants of the punk rock movement.
I first saw the Damned in 1977 and have been bonkers about them ever since and constantly, through this book was reminded of so many facts long since forgotten and was told of oh so many new stories.
They had songs played from the Anything album played on Miami Vice TV Show !!!! What next? Well plenty and its here in all of its lunacy. Drunkenness, setting fire to anything that pleased them, to chaotic gigs and the fact that for a long time after Brian James left they struggled writing lyrics, with friends, engineers and even Vanians' then wife helping out. It delves into how songs were created and the inspirations behind them. For instance "Love Song" was based on the Captains love of trains and trainspotting. "I'll be the ticket if you're my collector. I've got the fare if you're my inspector.
Over the last five years the Damned have become a very tight and professional unit, this book reminds us all that this wasn’t always the case.
The amount of work Barry must have spent getting this book together is mind-blowing and at just under 400 pages it surely is book of the year. Go and buy it now.
LINK TO PURCHASE
YOUNG OFFENDERS AND XSLF
@ SPANKY VAN DYKES
I’ve been downstairs to Spanky Van Dykes many times, and even wandered up to the mezzanine level, but this was the first time that I have seen bands playing in the upstairs ‘back room’. I was impressed, a great size, a decent bar and a nice feel to it. The acoustics and sound worked well, but I’ve a feeling that this may be an issue if it wasn’t dealt with properly by someone in the know.
This charity gig was put on by DNA Promotions and was a fundraiser for Maggies Centre, Nottingham. And despite a couple of bands pulling out this was a fantastic evening. It was great to see a good turnout, and those who came were treated to a top night out.
First up came Young Offenders, an Australian 3 piece, a young punk band hailing from Adelaide but with some UK roots. They are Kyle Landman - Vocals/Guitar, Anthony Katern - Bass, and Leigh Shags - Drums.
Young Offenders are playing Glastonbury soon, the details of their other UK gigs can be found on their Facebook page.
Tonight, they walked on stage, picked up their weapons of choice and got our attention from the first moment. These guys are a straight forward, no bullshit, get on with it type of band. From the start to finish they performed with high energy, and a full frontal passion, I was impressed.
The preconceptions that they might be another young imitation Greenday sound alike band was immediately blown out of the water and the fresh and raucous punk tunes just kept on coming. Kyle has a strong stage presence, his vocals are strong and clear, think Alex Turner/Joe Strummer hybrid, strong bass lines and clean riffs are evident throughout. Their songs are majorly catchy and immediately accessible, and really quite clever. The stand out songs for me in a very strong set (including an exceptional Clash cover) was ‘Your daddy’s above the law’ and ‘Wasting Time’ , both feature on their CD single and are quality tunes.
A great start to the evening, Young Offenders were well received and much appreciated. I’d recommend them and definitely go and see them again.
Bandcamp link HERE Soundcloud link HERE
And then came XSLF, I haven’t reviewed them in ages and then two come along almost one after the other!
Tonight was billed as the Arrup Bang CD Album launch in England, I’m not sure that it mattered too much as Henry, Jim and Ave have a strong following and people came from a fair distance to watch the show tonight.
I’ve been following Stiff Little Fingers from the very early days, and never been able to properly understand the ‘split’ in the fan base. A mate, who had never seen XSLF came along with me, he is a lifelong SLF fan and we’ve been to see them together more times than we can remember - so I was interested to hear his views on the evening. Needless to say I couldn’t get a word out of him, he was far too busy singing along and smiling from ear to ear.
The atmosphere in the venue was excellent, sheer happiness, the music was exceptional and the new songs from the new album slotted seamlessly into the set. It speaks volumes when everyone was singing along with these new songs in equal measures to their old favourites.
Website link HERE
This was a good night, it was enjoyed with good people and excellent music.
FIRST WAVE & THE MINI NUKES @ DUFFYS BAR
Another new Leicester city venue for me, an Irish Bar with live music, what could be better? Well not having to drive home would be slightly better to be honest.
The stage area is compact but not too much of an issue with two 3 piece bands playing tonight. The sound was good, and there was a collection bucket for local music charity for kids - thumbs up all round.
First up was The Mini Nukes, and as an influential music personality once famously said, ‘It’s all about the bass’. First time that I’ve seen this Leicester based band and I was drawn towards the skills of Micky the bassist, and whilst doing that I found myself enjoying their set. Punk with a good dose of thunderous Ska, think that just about sums this three piece up, a bit raw in places but their sound and the vibe was a good start to the evening.
Then came my good friends First Wave, it was nice to see some familiar faces had also come along to show their support and that Stooge was out and about again.
First Wave are a tight punk rock machine, their sound delivers on every level, especially lyrically and musically. Their influences are drawn from the early Punk Rock sounds but they expertly bring that noise and music into the present, crowd pleasing songs, catchy riffs and choruses, excellent stuff.
The set tonight included some great tracks from previous albums, a couple of (audience suggested) covers and most excitingly some new numbers from their forthcoming album.
Toxic Rock n Roll is the title track from the almost ready (next few weeks) album, and what an absolute gem this track is. Not only did they nail it, but they blew the bloody doors off. This is a really accomplished barnstorming mutha of a track, it draws on the strengths of each band member and they then meld that together to make it an immediately memorable track. Well done! What a great curtain raiser to the new stuff - can't wait.
I know that these guys are tough on themselves, but they surely have to have been well chuffed with this performance, they are great live, and are great company too. Get them on your radar and keep an eye out for the new album, it will be the soundtrack for your summer.
The stage area is compact but not too much of an issue with two 3 piece bands playing tonight. The sound was good, and there was a collection bucket for local music charity for kids - thumbs up all round.
First up was The Mini Nukes, and as an influential music personality once famously said, ‘It’s all about the bass’. First time that I’ve seen this Leicester based band and I was drawn towards the skills of Micky the bassist, and whilst doing that I found myself enjoying their set. Punk with a good dose of thunderous Ska, think that just about sums this three piece up, a bit raw in places but their sound and the vibe was a good start to the evening.
Then came my good friends First Wave, it was nice to see some familiar faces had also come along to show their support and that Stooge was out and about again.
First Wave are a tight punk rock machine, their sound delivers on every level, especially lyrically and musically. Their influences are drawn from the early Punk Rock sounds but they expertly bring that noise and music into the present, crowd pleasing songs, catchy riffs and choruses, excellent stuff.
The set tonight included some great tracks from previous albums, a couple of (audience suggested) covers and most excitingly some new numbers from their forthcoming album.
Toxic Rock n Roll is the title track from the almost ready (next few weeks) album, and what an absolute gem this track is. Not only did they nail it, but they blew the bloody doors off. This is a really accomplished barnstorming mutha of a track, it draws on the strengths of each band member and they then meld that together to make it an immediately memorable track. Well done! What a great curtain raiser to the new stuff - can't wait.
I know that these guys are tough on themselves, but they surely have to have been well chuffed with this performance, they are great live, and are great company too. Get them on your radar and keep an eye out for the new album, it will be the soundtrack for your summer.
MINATORE/KISS MY ACID/TV SMITH/ DRAGSTER
Sometimes you see a gig advertised and you just know straight away that it will be one to see. This was it and then some, new sounds, established favourites and great people. Add to that a brill venue and the knowledge that you was going to meet up with some great people and it was bound to be enjoyable. And so it proved, (this was the night when terrorism affected London, again we heard the news after the show had finished), I thought long and hard about posting this review and then decided that music could be used as a positive against the current wave of hatred, alienation and intolerance. We need to support live music, and let it bring us together.
MINATORE
Another chance to see two great musicians plying their trade in a great venue. MINATORE are really hitting their stride at the moment, lots of gigs in the pipeline and making friends and connections wherever they play. Their sound is ‘on trend’ at the moment and one that attracts alternative/punk rock fans from a wide spectrum. They bring an electric energy and belief to their music, Morgan (drummer/vox) provides a superb accompaniment to the super-charged performance of guitarist and vocalist Tommy.
I became a fan after seeing them at a Headcheck Records weekend recently and then reviewed their ‘Top Down’ EP. The set tonight was strong, full of heavy scuzzy riffs and mesmeric rocking rhythms, it set the bar high, and the ‘feel good’ vibe that this band provided continued throughout the evening.
MINATORE are quite rightly receiving praise from many people within the punk/alternative scene, they are very popular amongst the bands that they have played with - I can only see good things happening to them, much deserved too.
KISS MY ACID
First time that I’ve seen this Dublin(ish) trio live. I had checked out a number of their tracks online and expected a lively show full of power chord punk, I was not disappointed - in the slightest.
Kiss My Acid continued the energy seen from the opening band. Freda delivers big time in the role of lead vocals and guitar, there is a melodic, yet sneering delivery to her sound, (I’m deliberately overlooking the Green Day influences as I never really got them, and I enjoyed Kiss My Acid a whole lot more). The band have a good on stage chemistry and an easy rapport with the audience. They are currently on tour to showcase their first album ‘Fundamentally ill’, it has some great tracks, and is a natural predecessor to their debut EP. As the title suggests Kiss My Acid are addressing the hot topic of living with mental illness in their album, they address this head on and with some style. They had a great bunch of like minded (aka as pissed) friends with them, this made for a lively atmosphere throughout their set. Go and see them if you get the chance, they are great live.
TV SMITH
Not the first time that I have seen this punk rock troubadour, in fact I can go back to May 1977 when I first saw The Adverts along with The Damned at Retford Porterhouse. The energy and intensity of the songs continued from start to finish of the set. TV Smith always gives a great performance, his songs are heartfelt and powerful. The lyrics from the early songs are just as relevant now as they were back in the Thatcher era. A thoroughly genuine guy, it shines through in his music and his delivery. Always a pleasure, and a huge reason for me to believe that punk rock is full of fantastic human beings.
dragSTER
The last time that I saw dragSTER and TV Smith on the same bill was at the Undercover Festival in 2015, I remember that Tim was sharing a merch table with Fi from dragSTER and I spent a good lot of my beer allowance on them!
Now ‘Dead Punk’ is up there with some of my all time favourite albums, so it will come as no surprise to learn that this was a continuation of a most excellent night. Heavy garage punk at it’s most powerful just about describes dragSTER, they have a hardcore heavy guitar and vocals sound as satisfying as the idling engine of a Harley Davidson. And then just like when you open the throttle Fi’s vocals kick in and you are blown away. These guys don’t mess about, they knock you down from the opening chords and don’t take their foot from your throat until the end. Such a great set, I have to say that I’ve never seen dragSTER put in a run of the mill performance, this one for me, was up there with their best.
Another quality night at The Maze in Nottingham and another quality line up from Headcheck Records.
XTRAVERTS
21ST CENTURY MOTORBIKE/WILD BOYS SINGLE
This single from High Wycombe original punks has been widely tipped to be the last from the band, (I’m flagging this up now as you may want to nip off and place your order pretty sharpish - the original Xtraverts 45’s command a massive price on the open market with Blank Generation being like the penny black of vinyl singles, expect £150 plus).
Right, now that you’re back let’s start this thing up
21st Century Motorbike
Xtraverts have a full on sound these days, they are a tight, rocking 5 piece, and the excellent frontman Nigel Martin has been there and done that (lots!) His distinctive vocals and songwriting style shines through on both of these tracks. 21st Century Motorbike romps along at a high paced punk/rockabilly pace and, (for those of us who need a run up just to get out of a chair these days) it is all over just a little too quickly, just as you get revved up, with your feet moving and your head nodding it is coming to a close. Don’t get me wrong, from the beginning to the end of this track you get the feeling that the throttle is open from the start and you take the corners and the lights without thinking about touching the brakes once. It's full on punk.
This track is a real crowd pleaser, it will appeal to the large number of original punks who follow the Xtraverts, and to those who enjoy the direct approach of the early punk bands.
Wild Boys
This, for me was an instant thumbs up. Loved the intro, loved the vocals and then the anthemic chorus. Wild Boys has a driving rhythm, and an undercurrent of naughtiness, it's a song to get your head down, elbows out and stomp your way through this fantastic track. It’s bound to be a terrace/crowd pleaser - we seem to be emulating a lot of the social situations of the ‘70s at the moment and this track encapsulates the tribalism and aggression of those days. It grabs hold of your (insert colour of laces) Doc Martens and drags you into the present day. Whatever scarf you have tied around your wrist, or club emblem tattooed across your forehead, whatever style of jacket you wear this track will appeal to you.
It’s a fantastic number, there will be lots of singing/shouting along and fists in the air as the wild boys and girls get into the groove.
Both songs are sub 3 minute gems, I have tried to approach the review in an objective fashion, but personal bias obviously plays a part in music, and I would struggle to be negative about anything that the Xtraverts released for our enjoyment.
You can obtain your piece of punk rock history at one of the few upcoming Xtraverts concerts or via their web-site (HERE), official release is imminent and pre-orders are being taken, BUT save one for me.
XTRAVERTS are :
Nigel Martin
Nick Chapman
Po
Reg Charles
Andy Chalk
FACEBOOK group
I really hope that this isn't the last Xtraverts single, and I know that there are a lot of Xtraverts out there who feel the same. Stay strong, live free.
This single from High Wycombe original punks has been widely tipped to be the last from the band, (I’m flagging this up now as you may want to nip off and place your order pretty sharpish - the original Xtraverts 45’s command a massive price on the open market with Blank Generation being like the penny black of vinyl singles, expect £150 plus).
Right, now that you’re back let’s start this thing up
21st Century Motorbike
Xtraverts have a full on sound these days, they are a tight, rocking 5 piece, and the excellent frontman Nigel Martin has been there and done that (lots!) His distinctive vocals and songwriting style shines through on both of these tracks. 21st Century Motorbike romps along at a high paced punk/rockabilly pace and, (for those of us who need a run up just to get out of a chair these days) it is all over just a little too quickly, just as you get revved up, with your feet moving and your head nodding it is coming to a close. Don’t get me wrong, from the beginning to the end of this track you get the feeling that the throttle is open from the start and you take the corners and the lights without thinking about touching the brakes once. It's full on punk.
This track is a real crowd pleaser, it will appeal to the large number of original punks who follow the Xtraverts, and to those who enjoy the direct approach of the early punk bands.
Wild Boys
This, for me was an instant thumbs up. Loved the intro, loved the vocals and then the anthemic chorus. Wild Boys has a driving rhythm, and an undercurrent of naughtiness, it's a song to get your head down, elbows out and stomp your way through this fantastic track. It’s bound to be a terrace/crowd pleaser - we seem to be emulating a lot of the social situations of the ‘70s at the moment and this track encapsulates the tribalism and aggression of those days. It grabs hold of your (insert colour of laces) Doc Martens and drags you into the present day. Whatever scarf you have tied around your wrist, or club emblem tattooed across your forehead, whatever style of jacket you wear this track will appeal to you.
It’s a fantastic number, there will be lots of singing/shouting along and fists in the air as the wild boys and girls get into the groove.
Both songs are sub 3 minute gems, I have tried to approach the review in an objective fashion, but personal bias obviously plays a part in music, and I would struggle to be negative about anything that the Xtraverts released for our enjoyment.
You can obtain your piece of punk rock history at one of the few upcoming Xtraverts concerts or via their web-site (HERE), official release is imminent and pre-orders are being taken, BUT save one for me.
XTRAVERTS are :
Nigel Martin
Nick Chapman
Po
Reg Charles
Andy Chalk
FACEBOOK group
I really hope that this isn't the last Xtraverts single, and I know that there are a lot of Xtraverts out there who feel the same. Stay strong, live free.
BASH THE BISHOP WEEKEND IN WORTHING 26TH - 27TH MAY 2017
This was the 4th year of this very popular South coast DIY festival, it has now found a new spiritual (alcohol fuelled) home, at Bar 42 on the seafront at Worthing. This is a great weekend, the bands all know and trust the team at Pick Yer Nose Promotions, and it makes for a well run and laid back (well for the punters anyway) event. Thanks to India, Alan and Jim and all of the bands who played, it was a brilliant weekend, full of laughter, friendship and great music. Here's my abbreviated version -
Bar 42 is small and imperfectly formed, but what it lacks in space it more than makes up for in service, value and sound. The two sound guys got the levels right, and even though a couple of the bands over ran because they were late setting up or due to a power issue they managed the weekend pretty well.
The venue is centrally located and there are a number of large hotels in close vicinity, but these do get booked up quickly and there are few bargains to be had. I stayed outside of Worthing and had the hassle of fighting the bank holiday traffic, (taxis were expensive after 11pm) there is a multi storey car park close to the venue, it is surprisingly cheap and offers 24hr parking for £10 (2017 prices). THe date for next years Bashing the Bishop has already been settled, so book early.
DAY 1 Highlights
Ambition Demolition:
I have been looking forward to seeing this West Country 3 piece for a while, in fact I've been trying to get to see them ever since I reviewed their debut EP. I have to say that I was not disappointed. These guys have a really good vibe about them, their music is direct, it's accessible and it makes me smile. I find it quite difficult to remember lyrics these days, and was beginning to lose heart but thanks to Ambition Demolition I have been able to add a few more songs to the memory bank. I can confidently sing along to Punk for Life and Us Against The World, and bloody well enjoy it too. It's feel good Punk Rock a perfect fit for the beginning of a weekend such as this.
Skurvi :
Massive sing along anthemic oi punk with excellent tunes and a full on performance. Not the first time I've seen them, it won't be the last. The small, hairy walled sweat box where the bands performed was absolutely boiling after a couple of their tracks and I withdrew to the bar and listened from there. I caught up with Chelsea/Church of Eon muso Nic Austin after the set and he made special mention of the excellent drumming from Craig on their numbers. (Craig was later heard to say that he has accumulated 15 years of bad drumming habits? Not having that!)
The Spacewasters:
What a great choice from the promoters, this band played some excellent rock and roll, frontman MIck told us that they didn't really play punk, but it was top drawer scuzzy garage rock and really enjoyable. Their effort and musicianship was electric and reminded me very much of another London combo, The Witchdoktors, (also immensely popular amongst us old punks).
XSLF:
A personal favourite, lovely hard working musicians, they play the old Stiff Little Fingers stuff with a smile on their face and are real crowd pleasers. This was the first time that I saw them playing three new tracks from their recent CD (see Archives/Music Reviews) and I genuinely believe that the new stuff fitted in really well and will become crowd favourites in a short space of time. Added to that the inclusion of guest backing singers on Barb Wire Love (Charlie Harper being the most noticeable) and you had a treasured memory to close the first day highlights.
DAY 2 Highlights
Murderers Row :
I always enjoy checking out bands that I haven't seen or heard before, sometimes the enjoyment fizzles out pretty quickly and on other occasions the reward is finding a band to stick with. And so it was with Murderers Row, a three piece from Southampton fronted by Rach, a rather sassy vocalist/bass player and accompanied by parter in crime Matt on lead and vocals and very recently drumming sensation Geoffrey 'Wildsticks'. I was memsmerised throughout their set by his powerhouse, almost heavy rock drumming style and enjoyed them immensely. Even when the 'age' of the crowd was mentioned by Rach. Will be keeping an eye out for this band and hope to bring them up to Nottingham.
Floating Palace of Sin :
Brilliant! Great energetic performance, (even with a stand in bass player) they rip through their songs with a fierceness and belief that gets everyone in the crowd going. 'Jolene' and 'Donald Trump is a cunt' were the highlights of a strong set for me, and 'Xena made me gay' actually the whole set was immense, what a fantastic start to day 2.
Rage DC :
Another favourite, hadn't seen these guys for a while, but it didn't take long to get in the swing of their energetic, full on punk rock. Rage DC always give a total performance and today was no exception, 100% energy and great tunes makes for a really enjoyable set. It was over all too quick, R.I.P Mr VIP is a constant earworm in these days of celebrity scandals, go and check their albums out and make sure to see them live. Memorable, and just top, top people.
5 Go Mad :
Another band that I've reviewed before, and they are probably in danger of being the most reviewed on these pages. Today was guitarist and serial guffaw-er Brian Barnetts birthday, but that didn't stop the rest of the band taking the piss and generally giving the poor bloke the usual grief! Well, they have added a couple of new songs to the set, and were certainly more polished than I remember them from before. I found out what a frotter was and had a great time singing along with their irreverant ditties. Good fun, and another sweaty set came to an all too quick conclusion.
There is another day 2 review, written by Steve Whitehouse available to read on the Pick Yer Nose Promotions Facebook page (LINK HERE). You can also find a full list of the bands that played and early details of next years Bash The Bishop weekend.
Still to come - Missile CD review
Bar 42 is small and imperfectly formed, but what it lacks in space it more than makes up for in service, value and sound. The two sound guys got the levels right, and even though a couple of the bands over ran because they were late setting up or due to a power issue they managed the weekend pretty well.
The venue is centrally located and there are a number of large hotels in close vicinity, but these do get booked up quickly and there are few bargains to be had. I stayed outside of Worthing and had the hassle of fighting the bank holiday traffic, (taxis were expensive after 11pm) there is a multi storey car park close to the venue, it is surprisingly cheap and offers 24hr parking for £10 (2017 prices). THe date for next years Bashing the Bishop has already been settled, so book early.
DAY 1 Highlights
Ambition Demolition:
I have been looking forward to seeing this West Country 3 piece for a while, in fact I've been trying to get to see them ever since I reviewed their debut EP. I have to say that I was not disappointed. These guys have a really good vibe about them, their music is direct, it's accessible and it makes me smile. I find it quite difficult to remember lyrics these days, and was beginning to lose heart but thanks to Ambition Demolition I have been able to add a few more songs to the memory bank. I can confidently sing along to Punk for Life and Us Against The World, and bloody well enjoy it too. It's feel good Punk Rock a perfect fit for the beginning of a weekend such as this.
Skurvi :
Massive sing along anthemic oi punk with excellent tunes and a full on performance. Not the first time I've seen them, it won't be the last. The small, hairy walled sweat box where the bands performed was absolutely boiling after a couple of their tracks and I withdrew to the bar and listened from there. I caught up with Chelsea/Church of Eon muso Nic Austin after the set and he made special mention of the excellent drumming from Craig on their numbers. (Craig was later heard to say that he has accumulated 15 years of bad drumming habits? Not having that!)
The Spacewasters:
What a great choice from the promoters, this band played some excellent rock and roll, frontman MIck told us that they didn't really play punk, but it was top drawer scuzzy garage rock and really enjoyable. Their effort and musicianship was electric and reminded me very much of another London combo, The Witchdoktors, (also immensely popular amongst us old punks).
XSLF:
A personal favourite, lovely hard working musicians, they play the old Stiff Little Fingers stuff with a smile on their face and are real crowd pleasers. This was the first time that I saw them playing three new tracks from their recent CD (see Archives/Music Reviews) and I genuinely believe that the new stuff fitted in really well and will become crowd favourites in a short space of time. Added to that the inclusion of guest backing singers on Barb Wire Love (Charlie Harper being the most noticeable) and you had a treasured memory to close the first day highlights.
DAY 2 Highlights
Murderers Row :
I always enjoy checking out bands that I haven't seen or heard before, sometimes the enjoyment fizzles out pretty quickly and on other occasions the reward is finding a band to stick with. And so it was with Murderers Row, a three piece from Southampton fronted by Rach, a rather sassy vocalist/bass player and accompanied by parter in crime Matt on lead and vocals and very recently drumming sensation Geoffrey 'Wildsticks'. I was memsmerised throughout their set by his powerhouse, almost heavy rock drumming style and enjoyed them immensely. Even when the 'age' of the crowd was mentioned by Rach. Will be keeping an eye out for this band and hope to bring them up to Nottingham.
Floating Palace of Sin :
Brilliant! Great energetic performance, (even with a stand in bass player) they rip through their songs with a fierceness and belief that gets everyone in the crowd going. 'Jolene' and 'Donald Trump is a cunt' were the highlights of a strong set for me, and 'Xena made me gay' actually the whole set was immense, what a fantastic start to day 2.
Rage DC :
Another favourite, hadn't seen these guys for a while, but it didn't take long to get in the swing of their energetic, full on punk rock. Rage DC always give a total performance and today was no exception, 100% energy and great tunes makes for a really enjoyable set. It was over all too quick, R.I.P Mr VIP is a constant earworm in these days of celebrity scandals, go and check their albums out and make sure to see them live. Memorable, and just top, top people.
5 Go Mad :
Another band that I've reviewed before, and they are probably in danger of being the most reviewed on these pages. Today was guitarist and serial guffaw-er Brian Barnetts birthday, but that didn't stop the rest of the band taking the piss and generally giving the poor bloke the usual grief! Well, they have added a couple of new songs to the set, and were certainly more polished than I remember them from before. I found out what a frotter was and had a great time singing along with their irreverant ditties. Good fun, and another sweaty set came to an all too quick conclusion.
There is another day 2 review, written by Steve Whitehouse available to read on the Pick Yer Nose Promotions Facebook page (LINK HERE). You can also find a full list of the bands that played and early details of next years Bash The Bishop weekend.
Still to come - Missile CD review
Getting to know you.....
Given my recent self-imposed quiet spell I was a little reticent to commit to a review of a non UK band, let alone a rock band that I hadn’t seen or heard of before.
But then curiosity and my inability to ignore talented musicians, got the better of me and so I checked them out. I admit to having closet rock tendencies and it was the videos that initially caught my attention. I was impressed, so here goes :
Søndag are a European rock band, they sing in English (American), their sound alternates between driving drums and low key guitars accompanied by melodic vocals, they remind me a lot of Nine Inch Nails and, (hold your breath) to a lesser extent the bastard offspring of an Alice in Chains and Nickelback unholy union.
They are currently working on their second album and are actively seeking a record label to assist, it is a strong possibility that we could see them live in the UK before the end of 2017, and they are well worth looking out for. Previous concerts over here have been well supported and they have a good UK following.
Check out Bright Things the title track of their debut album on you tube, there is a low end Metal/Rock vibe running through a lot of their songs, but this, for me is a top track. YOUTUBE
Søndag are -
Marcello Lega_Guitars
Riccardo Lovotti_Drum
Marco Benedetti_Guitars
Riccardo Demarosi_Voice / Bass Guitar
You can find their Facebook page HERE
Their YouTube channel is HERE
And bandcamp with added merch is HERE
But then curiosity and my inability to ignore talented musicians, got the better of me and so I checked them out. I admit to having closet rock tendencies and it was the videos that initially caught my attention. I was impressed, so here goes :
Søndag are a European rock band, they sing in English (American), their sound alternates between driving drums and low key guitars accompanied by melodic vocals, they remind me a lot of Nine Inch Nails and, (hold your breath) to a lesser extent the bastard offspring of an Alice in Chains and Nickelback unholy union.
They are currently working on their second album and are actively seeking a record label to assist, it is a strong possibility that we could see them live in the UK before the end of 2017, and they are well worth looking out for. Previous concerts over here have been well supported and they have a good UK following.
Check out Bright Things the title track of their debut album on you tube, there is a low end Metal/Rock vibe running through a lot of their songs, but this, for me is a top track. YOUTUBE
Søndag are -
Marcello Lega_Guitars
Riccardo Lovotti_Drum
Marco Benedetti_Guitars
Riccardo Demarosi_Voice / Bass Guitar
You can find their Facebook page HERE
Their YouTube channel is HERE
And bandcamp with added merch is HERE