Dirt Bike Annie - Battle Lines

  Formed in 1993, Dirt Bike Annie are a pop punk band from Jersey City who feature Adam Rabuck (guitar/vocals), Dan Paquin (bass/vocals) and Jeanie Lee (guitar/vocals). There's been several drummers over the years including Mike Yannich (Mikey Erg), Heath Weinstein (Dirt Bike Deano), Tommy Vinton and Dennis Donaghy.

  They released a string of singles and albums on cool labels such as Mutant Pop, Stardumb, Dirtnap and Whoa Oh Records before splitting in 2005 after firstly Lee and then Paquin left the band.

  There was a brief reunion in 2010 for the Insubordination Fest but it's taken them until recently to return with a new record. Teaming up with another great pop punk band, The Unlovables, they've released the split album, Reunion Show. You can check it out here : http://whoaohrecords.bandcamp.com/album/reunion-show.

  Also recently released is a new film transfer of one of their old music videos. Taken from their 2003 Show Us Your Demons album, this is the rather excellent Battle Lines.....

Topper - Get In The Line

  Topper are a Swedish band who formed in 2000 and are influenced by the likes of The Clash and Stiff Little Fingers. The line up is Joakim Hammarstedt (lead vocals/guitar), Per Knochenhauer (lead guitar/vocals), Tobias Osterberg (drums) and Staffan Celmins (bass). Celmins replaced original bassist Michael Gustavsson in 2014.

  Their first single, Once A Punk Always A Punk was released in 2000 and stayed in the Swedish charts for several weeks. It was also used as the title track of their debut 2005 album, an album that featured another hit single, Off She Goes. They also released a cover of Sham 69's If The Kids Are United.  Another 5 year gap ensued before the release of sophomore album Punk Don't Death Just Get Through It.

  Last year saw album number 3, Get In The Line. Released on A Message To You Records it's so far seen 2 singles taken from it, So What You Gonna Do and the song featured below......

Top 10 Songs Chosen By Andrew Rowcroft (Silver Foxes, Chainsaw Hookers)

  Some of you may remember that earlier this month I featured a bunch of Russians who were hiding out in Australia making ends meet playing in one of my favourite new bands. http://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/silver-foxes-lost-cosmonauts.html.

  They're called Silver Foxes and their debut ep is available here : https://outloudrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-lost-cosmonauts. Later this year they plan on recording their debut album. Andrew Rowcroft from the band was kind enough to select an awesome top 10 so I'll pass you over to him.......


10 Songs For A Communist Party :

 1)  THE LILLINGTONS - The Russians Are Coming
Some may be fooled into thinking that this was a song looking at the past but it's actually a song looking into the future. The Russians really are coming. FOR THE GLORY OF THE SOVIET UNION!

 2)  SLOPPY SECONDS - Runnin From The C.I.A.
We always need to keep on the lookout!

 3)  BORIS THE SPRINKLER - Russian Robot
Soviet technology is number one. We are building an army of robots

 4)  RIVERDALES - Red Zone Cuba
We love to party in Cuba

 5)  SACK - One helluva party
every communist party is one hell of a party. Andrew WK parties 24/7 we party 25/8

 6)  SUBURBAN AND COKE - Single Single
Awesome band from Perth which is where us Soviet Union spies are currently hiding out. The most isolated city in the world, no one will find us here. An awesome band who love to party!! We love playing shows with these dudes and they really are great Soviet allies

 7)  SCREECHING WEASEL - Planet Of The Apes
There once was a Soviet plan to create an ape army to take over the world. It's never too late

 8)  THE MOANS - Party At The Insane Asylum
The Moans know how to party!! Mr Matt Bennett also spreads our propaganda into the USA. Checkout Outloud! Records!!  http://outloudrecords.bandcamp.com/

 9)  HORROR SECTION - Directive Kill
We are always on a mission to kill

10)  HANSON BROTHERS - My Game
Our game is Bandy!!

Brutal Youth - 53°

Forming in 2010 following the demise of Class War Kids (who were a wonderful band themselves : http://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/the-class-war-kids-reflection-rage.html), Brutal Youth are from Toronto, Canada.

  They took their name from a 1994 album by Elvis Costello but their sound is rather more hard edged than that might suggest. The line up features Paddy O'Lantern (vocals), Greg (guitar), Kyle (bass) and Kaitlyn (drums).

  2010 saw the release of debut album Spill Your Guts and this was followed by a split with Montreal band Tightrope. 2013 saw them unleash the Stay Honest album and their most recent offering was last years Bottoming Out ep. You can check them all out (along with covers of 7 Seconds and Gorilla Biscuits classics) here : http://brutalyouth.bandcamp.com/.

  From Stay Honest, here's a track you can sing along to.........

 The lights bring me back every single time. Green lines blurred across a starlit sky, and I reassess but don’t change my mind I know I made the right choice. Blanket the hills, bury the dead, the same one thought echoes and then whispered replies from bitter winds “this city hates you too.” As I lay down this throbbing head I hear the words repeat themselves. Don’t listen to a word they’ve said, they’ll never know. I guess some people never change. Some things will always stay the same. With nowhere to go and no one to blame, accept yourself. I guess some people never change and some things will always stay the same, but I won’t forget that one refrain “don’t forget to stay true to yourself.”

Goodbye Johnnys - Disaster Control

  Goodbye Johnnys are a '77 influenced old school punk band from Zurich who feature Crawford Smith (vocals/guitar), Michael Herzig (bass), Peter Baldinger (drums) and Manuel Knobel (guitar). Influenced by the music they listened to during their school years; Saints, Ramones, Johnny Thunders, Gun Club (they took their name from a Gun Club song), Damned etc...... they've been together since 2010.

  They've recently made their Disaster Control album "name your price" on bandcamp so you've no excuse not to check it out..... https://goodbyejohnnys.bandcamp.com/.

  Here's the title track......

Unlovables - Fuck The World

  Somedays, nothing but a classic old cover version will do......

  Unlovables are a catchy as hell female fronted pop punk band from New York City who've recently returned after a 7 year break. First time around they released a couple of albums, Crush, Boyfriend, Heartbreak (2005) and Heartsickle (2007) which you can check out here : http://theunlovables.bandcamp.com/

  Now back with a line up of Hallie Bulleit (vocals/bass), Mikey Erg (drums), Frank Leone (guitar) and Fid (guitar), they've recently released a split album, along with Dirt Bike Annie, called Reunion Show. Time apart hasn't affected their ability to pen sugar rush feel good tunes, check it out on Whoa Oh Records' Bandcamp : https://whoaohrecords.bandcamp.com/releases.

  The song I'm posting isn't from any of those releases, it's taken from 2008's God Save The Queers tribute album and it's their awesome version of Fuck The World......

I called in sick to work today and stayed in bed 'til noon
And now I just don't care what's going on outside this room
Things aren't getting better
My future's not too bright
Fuck the world I'm hanging out with you tonight

Me and you will walk around so pointlessly
Smashing things, jacked up on way too much caffeine
I'm really going nowhere
I hate this shitty life
Fuck the world I'm hanging out with you tonight

The Cleats - Just Wanna Be

 

 
  The Cleats were from Edmonton, Canada and were contemporaries of The Wednesday Night Heroes (with whom they released a split 7" on Longshot Music in 2001). Also in 2001, they released an album called Lost Voices, Broken Strings which featured a dozen old school sing a long punk songs in the vein of bands like The Clash and Stiff Little Fingers (the album finishes with a version of the SLF classic Alternative Ulster).

  I don't really know anything else about them other than that I think they split after guitarist Chris Venner left to go to medical school so if anyone has more info please feel free to add it to the comments section.

  If you want to hear more, most of their songs seem to be on Youtube. Here's one of them, this is Just Wanna Be.......
 

The Thirtysevens - Find Your Death Star

 

According to their Facebook profile, The Thirtysevens play punk rock in the vein of go fuck yourselves! That's Ramones/Screeching Weasel influenced Italian go fuck yourselves if we're being more precise.

  Hailing from Arezzo, there doesn't appear much information about them online so I'll point you in the direction of their albums. Firstly there's Time Travel Math which came out in 2014 on Monkeyrite Records and is available here : http://monkeyrite.bandcamp.com/album/time-travel-math . And secondly there's the recent follow up, In A Row, which was released on One Chord Wonder and can be found here : http://ocwrecords.bandcamp.com/album/ocd017-the-thirtysevens-in-a-row  .

  From In A Row, this is Find Your Death Star......

I'm trying to talk to you honestly 
But you always find a way 
to turn your back and walk away 
I'm trying to look you in the eyes so deep 
But you always send your back 
as your frontline 

You say “you're too lazy to have fun 
and to understand what's gone wrong “ 
“Feeling your life slipped away 
without achieving your goal “ 
(looking yourself in the mirror) 

And you're still searching for it... 
You gotta find your Death Star 

That' what you really need 
that fucking bad ass thing 
That let you live on, forever 
on and on and on and on...

Letdown - The Bottom

  (Photo: Kailey Elizabeth Photography)

  Letdown are from Oshawa, Ontario and are a "loud, fun and in your face" punk band who've just released their second ep. Titled The Bottom, it's the follow up to last year's Skin + Bones debut. You can find both of them on Bandcamp : http://letdowncanada.bandcamp.com/


  The band is a 3 piece featuring Matt Wilson (guitar/vocals), Jake Otto (bass/vocals) and Ryan McMaster (drums) and they're currently touring the U.S. for the first time. It's their 3rd tour in 12 months (highlights include opening for Gob and playing Toronto's Indy Week). Aside from the aforementioned Gob, they're also influenced by the likes of Sum 41 and Neck Deep.

  This is the title track from the new ep.......

With all these thoughts inside my head 
I find it hard to make them real 
And just to sleep in my own bed 
I can't remember how that feels 
Like waking up inside a house that I know 
I could call my home 
And just to have more than a backpack 
Filled with everything I own 

Please tell me why I feel so low 
Someone take me higher 
Im so tired of life on the bottom 

Im not that bad 
Despite the things that I, 
Will probably never have 
I'm counting ships I've sunk, 
The things I've done, 
And the smoke that fills my lungs 
Im not that bad 

So let me paint you all a picture 
Of just everything I found 
Just like everyone I know 
You saved yourselves and let me drown

Syndrome 81 - Désert urbain

  French Oi music seems to be popular at the moment so following on from the song by Rixe that I posted earlier this month, here's another great tune.

  Syndrome 81 are from Brest and feature a line up of Fabrice (vocals), Damien (guitar), Alexandre (guitar/vocals), Lionel (bass/vocals) and Timothee (drums). An early version of the band released a demo in 2013 whilst the first recordings as a 5 piece came out last summer. First up was a song on a 4 way split called La Force Dans La Oi (which also featured Rixe, Traitre and Outreau), this was followed by a split 7" with Litovsk and an ep called Desert Urbain. You can get them "name your price" here : http://syndrome81.bandcamp.com/.

  If you're looking for top notch Blitz influenced French punk then your search is over, this is Desert Urbain.......


Du béton nostalgie des façades fatiguées 
Les ombres du passé alimentent les regrets 
Rive Droite, Rive Gauche – Ô nuits de débauches 
Remonter ces artères me ramène en arrière 
Des bâtiments rouillés triste modernité 
Des murs restés muets témoins de nos secrets 
Rive Gauche, Rive Droite – Rien ne s'efface 
Des bravades, des lâchetés restées inavouées 

hier comme aujourd'hui ­ ces quartiers hantent nos vies 
aujourd'hui comme demain ­ dans ce désert urbain 
hier comme aujourd'hui ­ à errer jour et nuit 
aujourd'hui comme demain ­ dans ce désert urbain 
ce désert ­ urbain 
ce désert ­ urbain 

Des navires désarmés comme des remparts d'acier 
Des entrepôts rasés sur des quais délabrés 
Rive Droite, Rive Gauche – Ô nuits de débauches 
Tout est abîmé terrible et désolé 
Toutes ces rues désertées, tous ces rideaux fermés 
Les vestiges du passé le long des voies ferrées 
Rive Gauche, Rive Droite – Rien ne s'efface 
Condamné à traîner dans cette cité brisée 

hier comme aujourd'hui ­ ces quartiers hantent nos vies 
aujourd'hui comme demain ­ dans ce désert urbain 
hier comme aujourd'hui ­ à errer jour et nuit 
aujourd'hui comme demain ­ dans ce désert urbain 
ce désert ­ urbain 
ce désert ­ urbain (est le tien)

The Chords - Maybe Tomorrow

  Today seems a good day to slip in a classic......

  The Chords formed in south east London in 1978 and were one of the more successful of the mod revival bands that hitched a ride on the punk/new wave juggernaut. Often compared with The Jam, they were originally signed to Jimmy Pursey's J P Productions though most of their success came once they were on Polydor.

The classic line up featured Billy Hassett (vocals/guitar), Martin Mason (bass), Chris Pope (guitar) and Brett "Buddy" Ascott (drums). They released their debut single, Now It's Gone, in 1979 and followed it up with chart hit Maybe Tomorrow. Their debut album was 1980's So Far Away.

  There were a number of other singles but they called a day in 1981 (they got back together to tour and release a single in 2010). A compilation of their best stuff titled This Is What They Want came out in 2000 on Polydor.

  One of the best of the mod revival singles of the time, this is Maybe Tomorrow.....


Sometimes I just get a feeling
Crazy dreams inside
People hiding wearing uniforms
Screams of laughter shouts you lied
Pointed fingers and questions why
Scared scared people with their lives all torn

Imgination
A real sound
From the streets
From the towns

Sometimes I watch and wait
Signs of voices and screams
Dreaming now is this just a funny joke
Can this all be just a dream
Oh no it can't be it's to obscene
Thats when I see you staring at me

Imgination
A real sound
From the streets
From the towns
Silent Footsteps
Whispers all about
It's too late
The deadly underground

Cause we saw you
Surely not this time
Yes we saw you
You were wearing the uniforms
Yes you were wearing the uniforms
But it ain't no crime

Sometimes I go all silent
And lose all sense of time
Your hating mind eyes with thought
Where and when the sun don't s***ne
When the dogs don't bark or whine
Thats when I see you stare around

Reality
Or just lies
From those who
Talk with lead
Be good now
And don't do nothing
Cause if you do
Bang bang
Bang bang
Your dead

The Scandals - Perfect Timing

  The Scandals formed in 2004 and are from Bayonne, New Jersey. Fronted by gruff voiced songwriter/singer/guitarist Jared Hart (who has a new solo album out titled Past Lives And Pass Lines), the line up is rounded out by Anthony Iarossi (guitar), Sean Carney (bass/backing vocals) and Paulie Yaremko (drums). Influenced by the likes of The Bouncing Souls & Social Distortion and utilising a do it yourself ethos they've shared a stage with numerous top acts including The Gaslight Anthem, Youth Brigade, Agent Orange, New Found Glory, Alkaline Trio etc etc etc......

  Last year they re released their debut album, The Sound Of Your Stereo, and it's from that record that today's song is taken. You can check out the album (and the rest of their music, including the recent split with Jaguar Shark) here : http://thescandals201.bandcamp.com/album/the-sound-of-your-stereo


  Here's a song that you might just wanna hang out with, this is Perfect Timing......

The Piniellas - Mystery Girl

  The Piniellas are from Seattle and have been together since 2011. They're one of the many bands that play Ramones inspired pop punk but I think it's fair to say that they're one of the catchiest.

  They line up thus; Scott Matthews (vocals/guitar), Leif Larson (bass/backing vocals), Tahoe Jeff (guitar/backing vocals) and Miles Ezra Freeborn (drums). Their first release (whilst still a 3 piece) was 2012's Without A Fight ep but 2015 saw them return with a debut album on Kid Tested Records called Struck Out Looking. Chock full of songs that'd be smash hits in a world where more people deserved ears (and featuring backing vocals by the legendary Joe Queer), you can check it out here : https://the-piniellas.bandcamp.com/album/struck-out-looking.

  Here's a lady that's worth you spending some time with, Mystery Girl......

Jet Packs - Some Dreams Are

  Jet Packs are an alcohol fuelled 4 piece melodic punk band from Vladimir, Russia who were recently recommended to me by Dumbheads guitarist Dmitriy Onikov. They've been together since 2007 and I've seen comparisons made between them and a number of great bands such as Descendents, Jawbreaker and Husker Du. 

  Their debut album, Co-Protest was released in 2011 and they've also recorded a number of eps. Their most recent release was out last month and is called Granfalloon. Echoing the album's phantasmogorical mood, the cover features a photograph of the Gloucestershire cheese rolling tournament at Coopers Hill. You can check out most of their music here : https://jetpacks.bandcamp.com/album/granfalloon.

  When thinking about which song to feature I was drawn to the snappily titled Rise Against Bad Religion but Dmitriy insists that Some Dreams Are is the highlight of the album and my ma always told me "son, never argue with a dumbhead!"  This one's for you Dmitriy, Some Dreams Are.......

Some dreams are really worth dreaming 

Some dreams should have deeper meaning 

Some dreams are more real than the other 

But I want to hold a koala 

My mom thinks (that) I should be driving 

My dad sees my business as thriving 

My girl tries to make me love flowers 

But I want to hold a koala

Marvelous Mark - Doin' Fine

  One of my favourite bands is Teenage Fanclub, especially during the period twentysomething years ago when they were putting out albums of the quality of Bandwagonesque, Thirteen and Grand Prix. Songs like What You Do To Me, Norman 3, Sparky's Dream etc are absolute power pop classics. Today I'm posting a song from a new album that brings to mind those great records.

  Marvelous Mark, aka Mark Fosco, previously featured with Fucked Up's Ben Cook and No Warning's Matt Delong in Toronto band Marvelous Darlings. Now flying solo, he combines all the best bits of Teenage Fanclub, Big Star and Weezer to produce music that I can't see why anyone with even a modicum of good taste wouldn't fall in love with.

  We've already had a limited edition cassette ep (Husband Material) and a 7" single (Bite Me) but great as they were, he's topped those releases with a new album called Crushin'. Just out, on Drunken Sailor records, it's only 8 songs long but everyone of them is a winner. You can listen here : https://soundcloud.com/marvelousmark/sets/crushin

  From the album, this is Doin' Fine.....

Knucklehead -The New Black List

    I've asked Randy Smith, of Rebel Time Records (https://rebeltimerecords.bandcamp.com), if he'd be kind enough to select a top 10 list of his favourite Canadian punk songs. His instructions are to show how great Canadian punk music is, a 10 song history lesson. No pressure Randy!

  Possibly a pointer to how his list will come out, here's a from one of his favourite bands, "a band that put out some great if somewhat unappreciated records."

  Knucklehead are a socio-political punk rock band from Calgary, Alberta, who formed in 1994 and are influenced by the likes of Social Distortion, Stiff Little Fingers and Cocksparrer. Originally a trio featuring Kyle Hegel (vocals, drums), Matt Young (bass) and Clayton MacNeill (guitar), they expanded to a 5 piece and after a couple of changes settled down with Jimmy James coming in on guitar and Eric Jablonski on drums.

  They've released 5 albums and a number of singles but today's song is the title track from 2005's The New Black List, which came out on Stumble Records and is definitely worthy of your attention......


There's a whole new world outside 
And it's getting tense 
It's not so safe anymore to voice dissent 

There's a new generation of McCarthyists
With a new black list

So do I know? No I don't know who's a patriot
Yeah do I know? No I don't know
Who's a patriot

They're not gonna stop until there's only
One last choice
They're not gonna stop until there's only
One last voice
There's a new generation of McCarthyists
With a new black list

So do I know? No I don't know who's a patriot
Yeah do I know? No I don't know
Who's a patriot
So do I know? No I don't know who's a patriot
Yeah do I know? No I don't know
Who's a patriot

Who's a patriot?

 

Trampoline Team - I'll Destroy You

  Here's another great song from 2015 that I missed when it was released towards the back end of last year. It's by Trampoline Team, a band that come from New Orleans and who formed in 2011.

 They released the Midlife Crisis ep in 2013 and followed it up last year with the Velveteen Dream 7". They're a trio featuring Sam DeLucia (vocals/bass), Michael He-Man (Hohan) (guitar/vocals) and Shelby Grosz (drums).

  The song I'm posting is called I'll Destroy You and it's from their debut album, Make It Faster which was released on Pelican Pow Wow records and you can check it out here : http://trampolineteam.bandcamp.com/album/make-it-faster.

   Regular readers will know I'm a sucker for catchy, up tempo, female fronted punk tunes. This ticks all those boxes and more.......

Wednesday Night Heroes - All On The Outside

  The Wednesday Night Heroes formed in Edmonton, Canada in 1997 whilst still at school. They were a street punk band who released 3 albums of catchy, fast paced music; The Wednesday Night Heroes (2001), Superiority Complex (2003) and Guilty Pleasures (2007). There were also a handful of singles and split's with The Cleats and For The Worse.

  Influenced by UK punk bands such as Oxymoron, Peter And The Test Tube Babies, GBH and The Ejected, they've had several line up changes down the years but mainstays included the MacKinnon brothers Graeme (vocals) and Luke (bass), Konrad Adrelunas (guitar) and Jay Zazula (drums).

  Despite splitting in 2009 they got back together for a one off show in 2014. Graham MacKinnon has previously featured on this blog with his new band, No Problem.

  From Guilty Pleasures, this is On The Outside.....

Just flip the switch for the new sensation
Or flip it off for punk of the streets (and they say)
WE STAND...OUTSIDE...Won't be like them
WE STAND...OUTSIDE...Like we give a shit

Better get back to the factory
Poisonous gas is killing me...ALL ON THE OUTSIDE
Watch them come, watch them fall
Read the writing on the wall...ALL ON THE OUTSIDE

Full speed ahead in the wrong direction
Why we wake up now from this fantasy (and they say)
WE STAND...OUTSIDE...never be like them
WE STAND...OUTSIDE...Like we give a fuck

Better get back to the factory
Poisonous gas is killing me...ALL ON THE OUTSIDE
Watch them come, watch them fall
Read the writing on the wall...ALL ON THE OUTSIDE

Like this...ALL ON THE OUTSIDE
ALL ON THE OUTSIDE
We stand...ALL ON THE OUTSIDE 

When they say streetpunk's through
Just look' em down and say fuck you

We stand...ALL ON THE OUTSIDE
ALL ON THE OUTSIDE...from you
ALL ON THE OUTSIDE
ALL ON THE OUTSIDE
Watch them come, watch them fall
Read the writing on wall
(don't know line please add)

When they say streetpunk's through
Just look' em down and say fuck you

Slightly Less Infected - Witchy

  A new band today featuring Heather Jacket (Parker) from Jane Doe (http://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/jane-doe-jane-doe.html) and Brandon Vitale from Life On Mars (http://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/life-on-mars-all-sports-suck.html).

 From St Louis, Missouri, Slightly Less Infected have only been together for a few months (their first gig is at The Haunt, St Louis, on Sunday Jan 17th) and have just released a demo called It's Only A Flesh Wound. Joining Heather and Brandon are vocalist Sheena Von Killer and bassist Jack Destruction. The demo was recorded live and it's an uncompromising hardcore assault that suggests the debut album that's penned in for later this year will definitely be one to watch out for.

  You can snap up the demo "name your price" here : http://braindead-records.bandcamp.com/album/its-only-a-flesh-wound-demo.  It's on Braindead Records and their catalogue (available on the same link) has "name your price" releases by Jane Doe, Life On Mars and several other great bands.

  Burn The Witch
  She's The Bitch

 This is Witchy................

The Avoiders - Billy

  The Avoiders are a hard edged punk band from Ridge, Long Island, New York who comprise of John Browne (vocals), Craig (guitar), Dan McKasty (bass), Leppie (drums) and Joe Maher (guitar). Influenced by the likes of Rancid, Dead Kennedys, Authority Zero, The Misfits, Casualties, Bad Religion, The Descendents, Sublime etc they announced themselves in 2014 with the 7 track procrasti-NATION ep : http://theavoiders.bandcamp.com/album/procrasti-nation.
2016 will see them release a new cd.

  From the ep, this is Billy.......

New Town Animals - Lose That Girl

  A rather good pop punk song today.

  New Town Animals were from Abbotsford, Vancouver and formed in 1998. Lead singer Nick Newtown was a Brit which gave them a sound more akin to the punk I grew up listening to a generation earlier as opposed to the plethora of Canadian and American bands that were around at the turn of the Millennium. Also featuring were future Briefs/Cute Lepers bassist Stevie Kicks, future Tranzmitors/Fashionism frontman Jeffrey McCloy,  Bobby Beefy (guitar) and Chucky (drums).

  December 2000 saw them release their debut single, the A side of which features below. There was also a split ep with Delateurs which featured Baby You're The Reason and a cover of Sham 69's Little Rich Boy. Their only album, Is Your Radio Active? followed in 2001, a 5 star review on Amazon describes it as being full of 3 minute pogo pop punk songs reminiscent of The Undertones, The Briefs and The Shocks. They also released a couple of other singles (Fashion Fallout and Cori Street) before calling it quits. You can listen to their music here : http://newtownanimals.bandcamp.com/

  If you're a reader of this blog you'll either already love this song or you'll discover a new favourite in a moment. This is Lose That Girl.....

Brain Ape - Blond Hair Blue Eyed Boy

 

  Brain Ape are a Scratch Rock band from London. If you're unfamiliar with Scratch Rock, you aren't alone but I'd guess it's a combination of grunge, punk and stoner rock.

  They've been together since 2012 (they being Minky Tres-Vain (vocals/guitar), Dydy (guitar/vocals), Sol Alex Albret (bass/vocals) and Siberian Alien (drums) though they're now a 3 piece following Dydy's move abroad, You'll also find them playing together in another band called A Twisted Carnival.

  Their debut album was released by Schlimbum Records and is called Dara O'. Bringing to mind the likes of Nirvana, Sonic Youth and Queens Of The Stone Age, it's the kind of stoned out guitar heavy music you'd normally associate with sprawling, dusty American landscapes rather than suburban London. You can d/l it for free here : http://www.schlimbumrecords.com/album-dara_o.html

 
  Their most recent release is the single Blond Hair Blue Eyed Boy, their last as a 4 piece, you can grab it free here : http://schlimbumrecords.com/album-bhbeb.html

  You can check out the video below......

Kronstadt Uprising - Blind People

  "when the bomb has been dropped what we gonna do?"


  An old favourite from the 80's today.....

  Kronstadt Uprising formed in 1981 (following the demise of The Bleeding Pyles) and took their name from the unsuccessful 1921 rebellion against the Bolsheviks during the Russian Civil War (Kronstadt was a Russian naval fortress on Kotlin Island in the Gulf of Finland). From Southend, England, the original line up featured Steve Pegrum (drums), Spencer Blake (vocals), Paul Lawson (guitar) and Andy Fisher (bass). Blake left the band "due to his lack of commitment" and Lawson took over on vocal duties in 1982.

  If you want a detailed history of the band I'd recommend you check out this excellent article : http://www.southendpunk.com/html/kronstad.html.

  The song I'm posting today was the lead track on 1983's Unknown Revolution ep and it's a pounding, passionate classic of the eras anarcho punk scene called Blind People.....

Worriers - Yes All Cops

 (photo by Kenneth Bachor)


  Worriers are from Brooklyn, New York, their first release was a single called Past Lives which came out in 2011, this was followed a couple of years later by single number 2, Sinead O'Rebellion. Later that year, Don Giovanni Records released debut album, Cruel Optimist and the same label put out the follow up, Imaginary Life, last August. You can find those releases out here : https://worriers.bandcamp.com/.

  The powerhouse behind the band is songwriter/vocalist/guitarist Lauren Denitzio who before forming Worriers had previously been a member of The Measure [sa]. There's been a number of line up changes since they started up but their latest album, produced by Against Me!'s Laura Jane Grace, also featured Mikey Erg (drums/backing vocals), Rachel Rubino (guitar), John Mclean (guitar), Audrey Zee Whitesides (bass) and Lou Hanman (backing vocals).

  The band know how to make catchy music but their main strength is the songwriting, lyrics touch upon social, political and gender topics. A prime example is the song posted below which addresses police violence and how society is at least in part complicit by remaining silent in the face of that violence.

 This is Yes All Cops.......

You try to act surprised but it’ll never work.

The news fades over all the kids they hurt.

But you see the real picture when America hates

echoing out over the flyover states.

 Sometimes silence is a loaded gun

in the hands of all of us.

Nothing hurts like doing nothing can.

They’ll only give it up when we rip it from their cold dead hands.

 I’ve got a problem with excuses for some.

It’s not the worst of them it’s every last one.

Don’t expect a benefit you don’t extend to me.

You’ve got a lot of power, you’ve got a lot of greed.

 I just believe what I see,

complacent ignorance and reality.
I’ve learned not to trust anyone

least of all men in blue uniform.

Seventeen Again - Nobody Knows My Song

  The last few days have seen songs by bands from Germany, Italy, Australia, America and France so today I'm continuing my globetrotting by posting something from a country who's punk bands all seem to be as energetic as hell.

  Seventeen Again are a band I know very little about but my research tells me they're from Japan, formed in 2004 and feature Yabuson (vocals/guitar), Osawa (bass) and Ushi (guitar).

  In 2008, they released a split ep with No People and today's song was one of the two songs they contributed. The song, Nobody Knows My Song, also turned up on debut album, Never Wanna Be Seventeen Again (2009). They've since released a couple more albums, Fuck Forever (2012) and  少数の脅威  (2015). There's also a cassette only label run by Yabuson called I Hate Smoke Tapes  http://ihatesmoketapes.tumblr.com/.



  The video for Nobody Knows My Song will hopefully have you bouncing round your room......

Upright Citizens - Holocaust

  From Bottrop in the Ruhr, Upright Citizens formed in 1981 and were one of the first German punk bands to sing in English. They were hard edged, pissed off and catchy as hell and weren't afraid to wear their social and political beliefs as a badge of honour.

  Often named as their best release, their debut ep came out in 1982, contained 9 tracks, and was called Bombs Of Peace. Amongst it's delights is the song that you'll find posted below.

  Their debut album, Make The Future Mine & Yours, followed a year later and was another winner. Both this album and the ep were re released together by Rude Records in 2014.

  They were one of the few German punk bands to tour the US and supported the likes of Bad Religion and Dead Kennedys, D.O.A. and UK Subs. Their final gig was on a charted pleasure boat on the Rhine in 2003.

  A cover of a song that was originally on the b side of British punks Crisis' No Town Hall 7". This is Holocaust.......

You've read it in a book You've seen it on a T.V. screen To you it's a nightmare But to some it's a dream They've hidden their swastika Behind the national flag You'd better watch out brothers They're heading for a comeback Remember Belsen, remember Auschwitz They're trying to say they didn't exist Don't let them put this country in chains Don't let six million die in vain Belsen, Auschwitz, Dachau No more holocaust

 

Ratbones - Lost In East Berlin

  Following on from yesterday's dose of Soviet themed pop punk, here's something similar (and equally as good). Whereas yesterdays band, Silver Foxes, were from Australia, today's update features Ratbones who are based in Genova and Milan, Italy.

  Forming in 2003, they're a Ramones influenced 3 piece comprising of Ludo Ratbone (vocals/guitar), Pablo Raton (drums) and Andre Monelli (bass/backing vocals). They released their s/t debut album in 2013 and followed it up with the Ratwars ep last autumn. Check 'em out here : https://ratbones.bandcamp.com/

  The Ramones had problems with the KKK, Ratbones are having problems with the KGB, luckily for us those abduction issues led to great songs. This is Lost In East Berlin........

The KGB took away my babe, 
took my baby away from me 
The KGB took away my babe 
And I don't know what to do 

The Stasi agents took away my babe 
they took my baby away from me 
The Stasi agents took away my babe 
now I don't know what to do 

I am here lost in East Berlin 
And I don't know what to do 
East Berlin but the lights are blue 
and I don't know what to do 

The KGB took away my babe, 
took my baby away from me 
The KGB took away my babe 
And I don't know what to do 

The Stasi agents took away my babe 
they took my baby away from me 
The Stasi agents took away my babe 
now I don't know what to do 

I am here lost in East Berlin 
And I don't know what to do 
East Berlin but the lights are blue 
and I don't know what to do