Wednesday 28 February 2018

Aaron Stingray & The Pizza Party Crashers - Never Got Your Kiss



  I've featured Rochester (New York) bubblegum pop punks The Anderson Stingrays on here before when they teamed up with Richie Ramone on a single. Today I'm featuring frontman Aaron Stingray and a bunch of musicians he's named The Pizza Party Crashers; Joel (guitar), Burger (bass), Greg (drums) and Lily (backup vocals).

  You can get the single they recently released from Bandcamp for a dollar and 50% of that will go towards petfood, pet toys and cleaning supplies at Lollipop Farms Animal Shelter in Fairport, NY. A catchy Ramones, doo wop & 60's girl groups influenced tune and you can help a good cause. This is Never Got Your Kiss...  https://theandersonstingrays.bandcamp.com/track/never-got-your-kiss-single

Tuesday 27 February 2018

Ferris Wheel - Будем Жить!



  Anyone fancy some Belarusian ska punk?

  Ferris Wheel are from Minsk and have been together since 2015. If upbeat ska punk is your genre of choice then these could well be a band that you'll dig. They line up with Mihail Shestak (bass guitar), Andrew Bohdan (vocals), Rusian Poleshuk (guitar), Alex Romanov (trumpet), Nikolai Lifanov (trombone) and Alex Kunski (drums).

  They released their debut album, Выбар, in 2016 and are currently working on a new ep. They also dream of getting over to play some UK gigs. I'm guessing their shows would be very energetic and they'd go down a storm. 

https://ferriswheel2015.bandcamp.com/album/-

  From the album, this song (according to vocalist Andrew) is "a motivation for every person! All those trials and troubles that occur in your life are all nonsense. Live For Nothing!"  Big and bouncy in the style of early Big D And The Kids Table and translating into English as Will Live, this is called Будем жить!.... 


Monday 26 February 2018

Negative Option - Today I Joined The Sweet

 

  Negative Option are a "diy art-punk shambles" from Portland, Oregon. Or at least they were till vocalist Ted decided to retire from music. The other 3 band members, Erika (bass), Jeramy (guitar) and Brian (drums) are taking time out to regroup but are planning on continuing in some form.

  As far as I'm aware, their only release is the 7 track Present Workers cassette which you can get for 5 dollars on Bandcamp. Alternatively the digital version is available "name your price."  https://negativeoption.bandcamp.com/releases

  Released in December, it's pretty damned good and therefore it's a shame that they won't be recording anything else with that line up. They play staccato post punk whilst frontman Ted reminds me somewhat of B52's vocalist Fred Schneider. My favourite song on the ep is the closing track. Platform heels, Wig Wam Bam, Fox On The Run......

  This is Today I Joined The Sweet   

Sunday 25 February 2018

ISS - Armchair Aryan (Richard Spencer's Gifts)



  If the song in yesterday's update was a good example of old school punk rock, I think it's fair to say that today's offering can be described as being a case of dig the new breed. Both, in their own way, being equally wonderful.

  Regular visitors (and listeners to the Just Some Punk Songs show) will possibly know that in my opinion ISS' (Endless Pussyfooting) album was one of last years best releases. Packed full of 45 carefully chosen samples by the likes of Joy Division, The Cure, X Ray Spex, Blitz etc, it was the North Carolina duo's 3rd release following on from the 2015 self titled cassette and the 2016 Studs ep. You can (and should) snap up the s/t cassette and (Endless Pussyfooting) name your price on Bandcamp : https://iss2012.bandcamp.com/

  Whilst you're doing that, make sure to also grab hold of their new 4 track S/T ep. It's also name your price, also wonderful and it features the song I'm highlighting below. If you're looking for a copy on vinyl then it's available through Sorry State Records :  https://www.sorrystaterecords.com/collections/recommended/products/iss-s-t-7

  On the new ep, Rich Ivey and Edwin Jamal Schneider are helped out by Skemata guitarist Jef Leppard on opening track I Wanna Be Dated and by guitarist Colin Cleanse on C.H.U.D.F.R.E.A.K. Swap Meat. You're getting neither of those on here. This is the ep's 2nd track, with a nod to the Dead Kennedys' Nazi Punks Fuck Off, it's called Armchair Aryan (Richard Spencer's Gifts)...

Saturday 24 February 2018

UK Subs - Predator

 

  Once they'd completed their A-Z of album releases, punk legends UK Subs announced that there'd be no more studio albums. Charlie Harper is still far to young at heart however to be content with bringing out the pipe, slippers & Werther's Originals and the Subs are still busy touring and there's still new music. A couple of those releases, 7" singles, came out at the end of last year on their own U.K. Subs Records and it's one of them I'm featuring today.

  You don't need an introduction to punk's most enduring band, with a current line up of Charlie Harper (vocals/harmonica), Steve Straughan (guitar), Alvin Gibbs (bass) and Jamie Oliver (drums) they're still pretty much as good as they've ever been. Certainly better than a band that've been together for over 40 years has any right to be. You can keep up to date with gigs etc here :  https://www.facebook.com/UKSubs/

  The 2 7"'s they released last November were The Beast/Dark Matter and Predator/Master Of The Stool. Both typically energetic punk stompers well worth checking out. Dealing with a subject that's been in the news a lot recently, this is Predator....

Friday 23 February 2018

Hardsell - Victory (Reviewed By Jason Long)

 

  Another Friday, another guest review. This time around the song is chosen by Jason Long who produces the excellent Smash The Discos webzine  https://smashthediscos.wordpress.com/

  He's chosen to say a few words in praise of the new album from Hardsell, a band that formed in Holland in 1995 but who now also have a US line up based in vocalist Kris' new home of Austin, Texas.  I'll post a couple of links and then leave you in Jason's capable hands....

https://www.facebook.com/hardsell.punk/

https://www.rebellionshop.com/hardsell-subculture-criminals-cd-pre-order-15-12.html

This past holiday season marked the return of the Dutch Streetpunk heavyweights, Hardsell. It's been way too many years since their last release, but now armed with an American lineup (the EU lineup is still active as well) the band dropped Subculture Criminals. This album has my made my list of "The Golden Few", meaning that it is a complete playthrough album. The sound has matured a bit, but hasn't lost that even blend of hardcore / Oi / and rock that makes Hardsell great. Kris's vocals are heavier than ever, and the lyrical content goes beyond the typical Streetpunk formula. The album is available through Rebellion Records, but copies are making their way to the states, soon to be added to shops like Crowd Control Media. "Victory" is a perfect track to start off with, if you haven't heard Subculture Criminals yet. It's heavy, powerful, and gets you pumped up for the rest of the album.

  This is Victory....


Thursday 22 February 2018

SPLNTR - Wonder Why?

 

  Rather than the usual pile of bills and junk mail, today the postman brought me a rather splendid cd from Fullerton, Orange County band SPLNTR (Cheers to Irish independent label Deadlamb Records for sending it :  http://www.deadlambrecords.com/). I'd not heard the band before despite them having formed in 1992. They split a few years later but got back together after an absence of 13 years and they've recently released new album, Trails.

  The line up on the album is Erick Armeson (vocals), Paul Lieu (drums), Joel Cruz (guitar/vocals tracks 1-7), Eric Le (bass/vocals tracks 1-7), Scot Morency (bass/vocals tracks 8-11), Guy Munselle (bass (touring)) and John Aeder (lead guitar).

  Flipside commented that they were reminded of Black Flag and Minor Threat careering down hill with no brakes and Jello Biafra driving and that's a pretty decent summation (I was going to mention Jello Biafra myself). I've given the album a spin and I'm impressed. It's got a great sound, well produced with strong vocals ably backed by skilled musicianship. Definitely recognisable as coming out of the 90's Californian punk scene so it's certain to be a hit with both the band's old fans and new recruits (like myself). They've shared a stage with most of the big hitters from that era (Fear, Adolescents, Social Distortion, Battalion Of Saints, Angry Samoans, JFA, The Vandals etc etc etc) and it shows. All in all a very solid album so check it out.

  You can find more info here : https://www.facebook.com/splntrband/

  This song is called Wonder Why?..... 
 

Wednesday 21 February 2018

Deathtraps - Are We Having Fun


photo by Jacs Aberdare


  Those that checked out yesterday's update (and there were plenty of you due to Bamboo Vipers' frontman Shaun sharing it over 40 times!) would have noticed me mention that Ashley Colman was very impressed with the Deathtraps song I'd played on the show and had snapped up the cd for a bargain £5. I guess it's as good a time as any to feature that song today.....

  Deathtraps are a "gutter level garage rock n roll" trio from Newport, Wales, who formed from the ashes of The Sick Livers in 2016 and list amongst their influences the likes of Chuck Norris Experiment, The Damned, Zeke, Motorhead, Johnny Thunders, Hip Priests etc. The sound of their music is raw, rocking and full throttle and the line up features Veej Von Trapp (vocals/guitar), Fraser Von Trapp (bass) and Matty Von Trapp (drums).

  Last year they self released their impressive debut album, Justice For The Risca One. You can snap it up "name your price" on Bandcamp (or do as Ashley did and order the cd).

https://deathtraps.bandcamp.com/album/justice-for-the-risca-one
http://deathtrapstheband.bigcartel.com/

  They hint that there could be a new split release in the pipeline so keep an eye on their Facebook page : https://www.facebook.com/deathtrapsband/

  This song has a catchy as hell chorus and features a guest appearance by Adam Jones, it's called Are We Having Fun....

Someone help me find my happy pills 
I need them just to get me through the day 
I'm choking on another fantasy 
I sit and laugh and then I throw it all away 

Are we having fun yet, I don't know 
Are we having fun yet, I don't think so 

Canned laughter give me my happy queues 
So I never ever really have to care 
Tune me into your reality 
or leave sitting, shaking, laughing over there 

Are we having fun yet, I don't know 
Are we having fun yet, I don't think so 

I get addicted to, the things that you put me through 
Can I ride the rollercoaster one more time? 
The things that you say and do 
the shit that you put me through 
are we having fun yet? I don't, I don't 

Someone help me find my happy pills 
Someone help me find my happy pills 

Are we having fun yet, I don't know 
Are we having fun yet, I don't think so 

I get addicted to,ss the things that you put me through 
Can I ride the rollercoaster one more time? 
The things that you say and do 
the shit that you put me through 
are we having fun yet? 
I don't, I don't I don't think so

 
 

Tuesday 20 February 2018

Bamboo Vipers - Silver Boots

 

  Those of you that listened live to this week's Just Some Punk Songs show (you can catch up here if you missed it : https://www.mixcloud.com/mick-fletcher/just-some-punk-songs-180218/)  will have heard me play lots of new music by British bands that went down well with the people in the chatroom (even as I'm typing this I've received a message from regular listener Ashley Colman to say "Deathtraps cd ordered 5 mins ago, £5 Bargain!). The song that I thought went down best of all was by Bamboo Vipers and it's that one I'm posting today.

  Bamboo Vipers are from Lymington and are a "hard punk rock 'n' roll band, armed to the teeth with ever-evolving killer tunes." They boast a line up of Shaun Morris (vocals), Jon Webb (guitar), Al Woodcock (guitar), Alex Rook (bass) and Jake Stillwell (drums). Veterans of the UK scene, members have previously featured in bands such as The Cropdusters, Peeping Toms etc.

  In 2014 they released an album titled Dangling The Bait which Uber Rock called a winner and compared them with both Dead Kennedys and UK Subs. Now they're back with a new ep and they've another sure fire winner on their hands. I'm not sure how long this link will work for as the last one vanished pretty quickly but if you get in early you can get a free download of the ep :  https://wetransfer.com/downloads/52e9798075642fbc19b4fc79a63a502d20180218163521/dd1d4dc710ff90c57e37d2e80f76ebf220180218163521/dec2ba 

  You can get more info on the band here :  https://www.facebook.com/BambooVipers/

  This is the song that got the chatroom excited, it's a glamtastic, 70's inspired romp namechecking the likes of Suzi Quatro, Ted Heath, Jon Pertwee, Burt Reynolds, Blue Peter etc. Pull on your Silver Boots and play loud.....

Monday 19 February 2018

Dog of Man - Sculpture of Calm



  Dog Of Man are a "psyche punk/alt rock" band from Brighton who I know pretty much nothing about other than that they're not your typical punk rock outfit. Their first release surfaced at the end of 2015 and was a full length summation of their early recordings titled It Came From The Basement.

  They followed it up last November with the 3 track ep, Stay Human. You can find both releases "name your price" on Bandcamp....
https://dogofman.bandcamp.com/

  You can check out tour dates or photos of dogs in jackets etc here :  https://www.facebook.com/d0g0fman/

  The opening track from the ep reminds me a little of Nirvana. This is Sculpture Of Calm....


Sunday 18 February 2018

Only Strangers - Saturday Night

 

  Only Strangers are a band from Stoke On Trent who ventured onto my radar a couple of years ago when they released a very good split ep with Pardon Us. They've been together since 2010 and feature a line up of Declan O'Reilly (guitar/vocals), Adam Gater (bass/vocals), Joe Hawthorne (guitar) and Paul Beard (drums).

  As well as their split ep, they've also released a couple of eps and featured on a few compilations but it's the release of their debut, Self Titled, album that'll bring them to the attention of a wider fanbase. It's out now on Manchester label Horn & Hoof Records and you can get it either on cd :  http://hornandhoof.co.uk/ or digitally : https://onlystrangers.bandcamp.com/album/only-strangers-s-t 

  It's definitely a record that should be checked out by fans of the passionate, gruff voiced bands that usually end up wowing the crowds at The Fest in Gainesville. Think Hot Water Music, Iron Chic and (closer to home) Dauntless Elite etc. Think top notch song writing with a driving melodic punk backbeat. These are strangers you'll enjoy getting acquainted with.

  I'll play a different song from the album later today on the Just Some Punk Songs show (https://www.facebook.com/events/575635936120644/) but for the blog, this is Saturday Night....

Saturday 17 February 2018

Vile Assembly - Division Of Labour

 

  Vile assembly are the Liverpool based band that have been getting people to sit up and take notice . Forming with the intention of being whistle blowers on an unjust society, not only are they spreading their message at home, they've been picking up plenty of radio play in The States. They've come to the notice of legendary dj Rodney Bingenheimer and they'll also be playing a few west coast shows (including an industry show at SIR Studios). Add to this a support slot with The Damned in Paris at the end of May, they're a band you'll be hearing more of.

  Featuring 3 friends (Paul Mason, Mark Webb & Mark Wainwright), they'd owned a music studio in Liverpool for a couple of decades but hadn't contemplated making music themselves. Budding poet, and now lyricist and vocalist, Paul Mason was very firmly of the opinion that the world was a vile place, this opinion was reinforced following his decision to spend a month sleeping rough on the streets of Liverpool and San Diego. He found it both horrendous and inspirational and years later Vile Assembly were born in an attempt to shine a spotlight on the ills of modern society.

  They've already picked up global recognition following the release of their first 2 singles, Suicide Feast and Gone. Now they return with a new single which is from debut album, Fattened By The Horrors Of War.

   Great music, intelligent lyrics (in this case railing against corrupt politicians and corporate criminals), what's not to love. This is Division Of Labour....

   

(For this and many more great new punk releases tune in to this week's Just Some Punk Songs show which will air at 8pm gmt on Sunday 17th Feb  :  https://www.facebook.com/events/575635936120644/). 

Friday 16 February 2018

Pkew Pkew Pkew - Before We Go Out Drinking (Reviewed by Spike Forehand)

 

  It's Friday so you're getting another guest review, kindly stepping into the breach today is Spike Forehand. He's contributed a few paragraphs to give his thoughts on Canadian band Pkew Pkew Pkew. Cheers Spike....

  Toronto’s Pkew Pkew Pkew write songs that are straight the point.  No bullshit melodrama or vague references to woman or mental health issues.  It’s all drinking, skateboarding, baseball, pissing off the neighbors, pizza, being broke, and drinking some more.  They don’t so much avoid the depressing/self-deprecating shit, but acknowledge it and say, “Fuck it – let’s go drinking – we’ll pay the price tomorrow.”  

  It’s all played with anthemic power chords and shouted call-and-response lyrics that operate on some weird sub-conscious level to directly link to your fist-pump reflex mechanism.   

  This formula has landed them gigs on tours with Direct Hit!, Anti-Flag, Reel Big Fish and The Flatliners as well as a slot at Fest the last couple of years.


 
  Their 2016 debut/2017 re-release is called +One and it pretty much kicks ass from stem to stern.  So – grab a beer and visit their bandcamp at https://pkewx3.bandcamp.com/ 

  Here’s one that any self-respecting broke-ass drinker would appreciate, it's called Before We Go Out Drinking...   


Thursday 15 February 2018

Cool Jerks - Patriots

 

  Cool Jerks are from Leeds and dropped a calling card in 2016 with their 6 track demo cassette. It's very limited, on Ukranian label Tapetalks and it comes with a lyric sheet which has all the lyrics translated into Russian (http://cooljerks.bigcartel.com/). It's also available digitally "name your price" on the Bandcamp link I'll post below.

  2017 saw them tour the Ukraine before they finished the year in style with the release of another cassette. again on Tapetalks and also on Bandcamp : https://cool-jerks.bandcamp.com/album/patriots. It's very good so check it out.

  Described as being "a furious record full of anger aimed at emerging trends in domestic and foreign policy of international governments, as well as people supporting what is happening with their ignorance...", it takes no prisoners. All 4 tracks are well worth your time and I'd suggest they're a band worth keeping an eye (and 2 ears) on.... https://www.facebook.com/cooljerkspunk/ 

  This is the title track from the ep, it's called Patriots....
 

Wednesday 14 February 2018

Diana Radar - Sex Sells

 

  When I started this blog back at the end of 2013 it was just supposed to be somewhere that I'd collect together a bunch of songs that I liked. I didn't intend to write much but thought I better at least do a couple of lines otherwise what was the point. I certainly didn't expect people would get in touch and ask me to review stuff. I've never been a reviewer, I wouldn't really know how to convey why I like something so basically I say here's a song, here's a bit of info about the band and here's where you can get the record from. When on the odd occasion people have asked me to review stuff, not wanting to say no I've tried my best to oblige. Problem is, recently I've been getting lots of people asking. I'm very grateful to them for giving as monkeys what I think and for thinking Just Some Punk Songs is somewhere they want their music to appear (very very grateful actually) but I'm getting a backlog of stuff to post. Ideally I want to get back to posting the songs that I've discovered myself whilst maybe squeezing the occasional request in. I've a few that I've promised to feature (bear with me if you're waiting, I'll get there eventually) but after that? Who knows. I'm tempted to say no to everyone who asks but then I'd feel a twat. Maybe instead of asking,  people could post their music in the New Punk Rock Music group on Facebook then I could listen without feeling under pressure to post it. Maybe I could post 2 songs a day but there's only me and I just haven't got the time (and asking you guys to check out more than 1 song a day could be a bit much). I could try and post all requests but then the backlog grows and I'd end up posting stuff that isn't to my taste. I suppose it's a better problem to have than in the early days of the blog when there were often only a couple dozen vews a day.

  I just want to post music that gets me excited and help it reach a wider audience so if I have to start saying no to people, I'll feel shitty but maybe it's the only way to go? I've turned Friday's over to guest reviewers so it's not me picking the songs. Thoughts anyone?

  Sorry for waffling on, let's get to some music. Frank Trobbiani asked me to listen to a band he's helping out, they're from Melbourne and they're called Diana Radar.

  After starting off in 2014 as a 4 piece playing garage influenced rock they underwent a few line up changes before settling on the current line up of Rory, Jay, Luke and Wes. They decided to move in together and share a house whilst at the same time focusing on playing live. You can get more info on them here :  https://www.facebook.com/Diana-Radar-338014396404460/ 

  The one annoying thing about the band is that vocalist Rory Trobbiani's vocals remind me very much of someone else and I'll be damned if I can think who. They've a new single out and that's the song I'm featuring today. This is Sex Sells....

Tuesday 13 February 2018

Red Or Dead - Strummer And Burnel



  Those of us that are old enough to have been around in the late 70's will remember that the UK punk scene was a hotbed of exciting new music with bands springing up in cities and towns across the country. Angry young men and women were discovering that you didn't necessarily have to be all that talented to join in the fun. All you needed, according to Mark Perry, was to learn 3 chords and away you went. Obviously though, many of those young punks were very talented, Strummer and Burnel were just a couple of them.

  The mention of punk rock brings to mind noisy, fast songs. Often accompanied with lyrics protesting about pretty much everything. With socially active North Wales band Red Or Dead you get plenty of lyrics that hit out at deserving targets, what you don't get is noisy or fast. Instead you get a more considered approach, they're still trying to bring down the system but they're doing it at their own pace. Think intelligent acoustic folk with a punk influence, I'm almost tempted to say think latter day Chumbawamba, but maybe that's just me. Think well crafted songs that make you engage your brain rather than jump around.

  They released their new album last month to a fanfare of positive press. It's titled Trotsky Waltz and you can check it out here :   https://red-or-dead.bandcamp.com/album/trotsky-waltz

  Another link worth sharing is their Facebook page...   https://www.facebook.com/redordeadmusic/

  The song you'll find below is a look back to a time when the band members were probably a little rowdier (if they were even around back then), before they became old punks and decided that angry songs were better delivered with rapier as opposed to bludgeon. This is Strummer And Burnel....

Monday 12 February 2018

Stiletto Bomb - Crashing Worlds



  Does anyone remember the tv series Fringe? If you don't, I highly recommend you watch it as it's one of the greatest shows ever. At the risk of giving away spoilers, the show really hit it's stride once Leonard Nimoy turned up and the heroes from the show (Olivia Dunham, Walter Bishop, Peter Bishop) discovered that there was a parallel universe and alternative timelines. They met alternate versions of themselves and I'd like to think that whilst over on the other side they spent at least a little time listening to Stiletto Bomb who in that dimension had achieved the success they deserved (they hopefully were also served in MacDonalds by talentless hack Ed Sheeran).

  Anyway, before you all rush off to stream the show, here's today's update. Stiletto Bomb wave us goodbye with their second and final ep. It'll be released later this month on Die Hipster! Records and it's certainly a case of them going out with a bang (one of the songs from it was rush released as an early single and featured in the Just Some Punk Songs best of 2017 chart). The other 5 tracks are also great so head on over to Bandcamp and get those pre orders in....   https://stilettobomb.bandcamp.com/album/the-stiletto-bomb-ep

  When you listen to the ep, you'll discover the reason for the Fringe themed opening paragraph. I'm a sucker for sci fi themed pop punk tunes, especially when they're as good as this. Unfortunately Stiletto Bomb have been gradually winding down for the last 12-18 months but joint lead vocalist Jay has worked hard to make sure we get one last record from them before concentrating on both The Prozacs and on helping young pop punk band Color Killer fulfill their undoubted potential (https://www.facebook.com/ColorKillerBand/).

  One of many quotable lines from Fringe is "Sometimes the world we have is not the world we want. But we have our hearts and our imaginations to make the best of it." Stiletto Bomb existed in a world that never fully embraced them but they gave it a hell of a go, maybe over on the other side they're still going strong.

  When you leave the stage, leave your audience wanting more. They certainly did that. This is Crashing Worlds.....

Sunday 11 February 2018

Tommy And The Commies - Devices



  There's been some excellent new bands featured on here who combine elements of power pop and punk rock to provide some of the most irresistibly catchy songs you could hope to hear. Just off the top of my head I can mention the likes of Los Pepes, The Number Ones, Corner Boys, TV Crime, Aerosol Burns, Radiohearts, Fashionism, First Base etc (There's plenty more, just click the power pop tag and you'll find them sprinkled in amongst a plethora of Vista Blue updates!). Today another band joins those ranks, they're from Sudbury, Ontario, they're called Tommy And The Commies and hopefully they're just beginning along a road that'll see them mentioned in the same breath as fellow Canadians Pointed Sticks and Modernettes.

  Last August they unleashed their debut release, it was a self titled 4 track cassette and it's available digitally on Bandcamp. Proving that wasn't a one off, they returned earlier this month with cassette #2. Titled Tommy And The Commies  ...Again, it's another sure fire winner that's eliciting gushing praise from discerning music lovers everywhere. Will they be able to live up to the hype? Do they even care?  Sometimes you just get a feeling that a band have the potential to be great. See what all the fuss is about here :  https://tommyandthecommies.bandcamp.com/

  Keep an eye on their Facebook page to see if they can fulfil all their early promise.... https://www.facebook.com/TOMMYSCOMMIES/

  This is the lead track from the new release. it's called Devices....



Saturday 10 February 2018

Elm Tree Circle - Feel The Burn

 

  Elm Tree Circle are an emo pop-punk band from Iserlohn in Germany who've been together for a couple of years or so. During that time they've been busy touring around Europe and Asia sharing stages with the likes of The Ataris, Pears, Such Gold etc. Starting up as a solo project, they're now a 4 piece featuring Jo (drums), Henne (guitar), Nic (guitar/vocals) and Rob (bass).

  Their debut release was 2016's Drawn ep (check it out here :  https://elmtreecircle.bandcamp.com/album/drawn). They'll be following it up in May with a debut album, The Good Life, that'll be released by their new label Krod records. Keep an eye out for that plus check out their tour dates here :  https://www.facebook.com/ElmTreeCircle/ 

  As a lead up to the album, they'll be releasing a few singles, the first of which you'll find below. They should appeal to fans of bands such as American Football, Modern Baseball and Pup. Their sound is a bit more polished than what I usually listen to but they're undeniably catchy so give them a listen.

  This is Feel The Burn....

 

Friday 9 February 2018

Black Mambas - Lusty Lady (Reviewed By Ed Stuart)



  When Radiohearts' frontman Ed Stuart sent me a guest review of a song by RMBLR a few weeks ago he slipped in a second review of a song by Los Angeles rockers Black Mambas. (If anyone has a recent favourite punk song they want to guest review get in touch).  It's taken from their Moderation album :

https://blackmambas.bandcamp.com/album/moderation-2

  You can find out more about them, including their upcoming gig with The Dickies, here : https://www.facebook.com/blckmambas/

  This was What Ed had to say....

  The leather jacket wearing LA rock n’ rollers are back with a proper LP, Disconnected, released last year. This LP does more with eight songs than most bands do with twelve. “Lusty Lady” is like a second coming of Dr. Feelgood and Eddie and The Hot Rods with early Kids, Saints and Chuck Berry ‘50’s riffs all mixed in. It’s a like a sock hop dance party with switchblades instead of poodle skirts. Who knows that's where they hide the knives. “Lusty Lady” is a very good song on a very good LP.


Black Mambas have been honing their chops playing backyard parties before they graduated to playing Japan last year. Mambas were part of the Wild Records crew, but now Disconnected put out their Moderation LP. Black Mambas have always been known for their high paced no frills ‘50’s meets ’77 punk rock n’ roll. If Rebel With A Cause was re-made today, Black Mambas should be the soundtrack for the drag race.

  This is Lusty Lady....


Thursday 8 February 2018

The Hip Priests - No Time (Like Right Now)

 

  The Hip Priests are from Lincoln & Nottingham, have been together since 2006 and describe themselves as playing overdriven garage punk rock n roll. They claim to be the inbred, oversexed, white trash sons of Iggy Pop, Johnny Thunders, Lemmy and Handsome Dick Manitoba. If you're new to the band, I think by now you have a good idea what to expect.

  The line up features Nathan Von Cruz, Lee Love, Austin Rocket and Joe Blow, their influences include the likes of Motorhead, Zeke, The Stooges and The Damned and their rocking back catalogue can be checked out here :  https://thehippriests1.bandcamp.com/

  They've a tour lined up beginning in April comprising of gigs both on home soil and in Sweden, for more details check here :  https://www.facebook.com/thehippriests/ 

  Their latest release is a new 4 track ep, the title track is the one you can see below and is a 10 minute blast of uplifting rock n roll with horns, riffs and the kitchen sink all thrown into the mix. Think MC5, Rocket From The Crypt etc.

  This is No Time (Like Right Now).... 

Wednesday 7 February 2018

Neighborhood Brats - Night Shift



  Neighborhood Brats are the San Francisco punk band who were formed in 2010 by vocalist Jenny Angelillo and guitarist George Rager and who over the course of the next 5 years burned brightly before bowing out due to the various pressures of being in a band taking their toll. They left us with a bunch of great records and a disappointment that they had called it a day just as they were hitting their stride.

  Those releases included a bunch of killer eps, the No Sun No Tan comp and excellent debut album Recovery. They'd certainly left their mark.

  Then in 2016 they returned, playing a bunch of dates and with Angelillo & Rager being joined by Gabe Katz (drums) and Tony Teixeira (bass). Next month will see them release a new 7" single. Titled Night Shift, it'll be available on Taken By Surprise Records and you can check out the title track (plus their blistering back catalogue) here :  https://neighborhoodbrats.bandcamp.com/album/night-shift

  There's also going to be a new 12" so watch out for that :
https://www.facebook.com/neighborhoodbrats/

  This is Night Shift.....

Tuesday 6 February 2018

Dboy - Three Piece Band

 

  A couple of days ago I received a message from Moscow resident Kirill Kutchokokov pointing me in the direction of a new live album by a band called Dboy. I always have mixed feelings about these type of messages as I only want to post songs I like on this blog but I don't like saying no to people as it's only my opinion and everyone's tastes are different (and any music I don't like tends to be more sucessful than the music I do). Fortunately I enjoyed their album (which unfortunately for them probably means they will never hit the mainstream, but that's the mainstream's loss).

  Anyway, their album... It's called Prove Your Love - Live In Belem. As the title suggests, it was recorded live in Belem, Brazil, in front of a rabidly enthusiastic audience and it was mastered by fellow countryman Boris Diakov. According to Bandcamp it's The most important album of recent history, so check it out....  https://proveyourlove.bandcamp.com/releases

  What else can I tell you about them?  To me they sound very much influenced by both The Ramones and The Spits, they're a 3 piece, they seem to have formed late last year, they've a website (join their fan club today and receive their love  https://www.dboylove.com/ ). and they've a few gigs coming up in Canada where they'll be playing with bands of the calibre of Ancient Shapes, First Base, Flesh Rag and School Damage.

  Any stories you may hear about them being from Canada or their album not being live are very definitely fake news and should be dismissed.

  From Prove Your Love, this is called Three Piece Band.....



Monday 5 February 2018

Peter118 - Wasting

 

  Between 2000 and 2005, Peter Field was bassist with UK punk band Senseless (the band that also featured members of Wolf Bites Boy), he then discovered religion, became a Christian and has since been in bands such as Risen From Ruins and AOS (Ambassadors Of Shalom). He now fronts Peter118. Based in Stoke-On-Trent and originally a solo project, they've now expanded to full band format and boast the talents of Janine Szczepanski (bass), Alisha Palmer (guitar/backing vocals) and Sam Critchley (drums).

  Originally on Thumper Punk Records, (you can check out their Need You More ep here : https://peter118.bandcamp.com/ ) they've recently signed to Raven Faith Records and are preparing to release both a live album and a compilation of their previously released eps. You can get more info here :  https://www.facebook.com/Peter118UK/ 

  Taking inspiration from the likes of early Blink 182 and a big favourite of the legendary Rodney Bingenheimer, this is a song taken from a split 6 track ep with No Lost Cause called In Stereo. It's out now on In Presence Records and the song is called Wasting....

 

Sunday 4 February 2018

The USA (Undying Swan Act) - Saturday TV

 

  The USA (or Undying Swan Act) are a 3 piece UK alt rock band from Boston, Lincolnshire who formed in 2014 and are already preparing to release their third album. You can check out their first 2 releases, Meat-Suits With Faces and Boston Beast here :  https://the-usa.bandcamp.com/ 

  The line up of the band is Jon Parkinson (vocals/bass), Warwick Eede (guitars) and Chris Scott (drums). They'd previously played together 20 years ago in a band called Sherman. Very much a diy outfit, their 3rd album will be released at the end of this month, it'll be available to download soon and will be called Damp Squid. There's a few songs from it available on Youtube, including the one you'll find below. You can find out more info on Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/UndyingSwanAct/ 

  This is one of the new songs and it's called Saturday TV....

Saturday 3 February 2018

CASTRO - Personal Question



  As with last year, in order to try and ensure the Just Some Punk Songs end of year chart doesn't miss anything out, I've created a Best of folder in which I'll add songs from throughout 2018 that make me go WOW! Then come December I'll visit that folder to try and sort out a Best of chart. One song that has gone straight into that folder is the one you're getting posted today.

  CASTRO are a fairly new Norwegian band featuring members that have previously been in the likes of Angor Wat, Israelvis, Life But How To Live It, The School, Funny Farm etc. Those members are Katja Benneche Osvold (vocals), Viggo Mastad (guitar), Morten Skjørholm (guitar), Karl-Martin Hoddevik (bass) and Jens-Petter Wiig (drums). They released their debut album, The River Need, in 2014 and you can find it along with their 3 eps here :  https://castrotheband.bandcamp.com/ 

  Later this month they will be releasing their new album, titled Inf*.idelity it'll be available on vinyl and cd on their own Kong Tiki label and also on top UK label Boss Tunage. You can get more details and check out a couple of tracks here :   https://bosstuneagerecords.bandcamp.com/album/infidelity

  The lead track of the recent Personal ep will also appear on the new album. They've just released a video for it. When my other half watches mainstream shows on tv such as The X Factor, The Voice etc she's not always impressed when I wander off to do other stuff. She's not always impressed when I criticise the acts on those shows. She quite probably won't be impressed with the song you'll find below. But to me, this is how music should be, vibrant, exciting and passionate. I love this song, I love the video, it gives me the sort of buzz that mainstream music never does. In an alternate universe somewhere maybe a Simon Cowell doppelganger is salivating over this song.

 This is Personal Question....



Friday 2 February 2018

Chelsea - Suit In The Spotlight (Reviewed By Michael Odonnell)

   

  As it's Friday you're getting another guest review today. Michael Odonnell is going to say a few words about a record that was released last year by genre veterans Chelsea. Michael used to live in my old home town of Lancaster and back in the 80's we went to a few gigs together (The Cult and The Meteors are a couple I remember) when we weren't geting drunk and hitting various dodgy dancefloors when the likes of The Sisters Of Mercy or an embryonic Jesus And Mary Chain came pounding out of the speakers. He moved down to the Midlands many years ago but he still seems to have a decent taste in music. He's one of the organisers of The Bearded Theory Festival and will be helping put on the likes of Sleaford Mods, Jimmy Cliff, Idles, UK Subs, Therapy? and much less embryonic Jesus And Mary Chain. It's on in May in Derbyshire and details are here if anyone's interested....  http://www.beardedtheory.co.uk/

  Here's his review.....


CHELSEA. MISSION IMPOSSIBLE.

Chelsea kicked off in 1976 right at the birth of the musical movement known as Punk Rock, their debut single 'Right To Work' was named in Mojo's list of best punk rock singles some 20 years later and still hold up well today.

https://www.facebook.com/ChelseaPunkbandOfficial/

Fast forward to 2017 and the current line up on Mission Impossible are still as relevent and rocking today! This latest album includes original members, vocalist Gene October and guitarist James Stevenson. Firing on all cylinders from the opening salvos of the title track not giving up until the closer 'Make It Happen'. Highlights along the way include the towering shimmering 'Control' and the machine gun bark of 'Just Like Me'



Things in 2017 are just a wee bit more polished than back in 76 but the biting edge and witty lyrics are still evident across each and every track, my personal fave bieng 'Old Town' which I enjoyed blasting out from my car stereo!!!

Wether you are an old fan or relatively new to the band give this album a spin or two and enjoy!.


  As it's already on Youtube, the song you're getting today is Suit In The Spotlight.... 

Thursday 1 February 2018

Runt - DWP



  Runt are a new band from London who's members have previously featured in bands such as Good Throb, Frau, Efialtis, Sarcasm, Cianuro, Permission, Personnel and No. In 2016 they released a Demo cassette and then on Christmas Day 2017 they released their debut album. It's called Positions Of Power and you can get it from La Vida Es Un Mus either on vinyl or digitally :  https://lavidaesunmus.bandcamp.com/album/positions-of-power-mlp

  Given the past history of the band members, it's no surprise that the songs on Positions Of Power are short, angry blasts of primitive hardcore punk. I've seen plenty of comparisons with Crass bandied about though whilst hearing certain sinilarities I'm not sure that I'd say they were too alike. What I do know is that singer Ashleigh Holland is one of the most recognisable and powerful vocalists in UK punk.

  This song is gloriously furious and it's called DWP ....