The Prostitutes have graced this blog several times down the years so I'm guessing you don't need much of an intro to them today. Previously from Long Beach but now relocated to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, frontman Kevin McGovern and his band of merry men return with a brand new 6 track ep titled Don't Want A Future. You can snap it up "name your price" on Bandcamp (don't forget to check out their essential back catalogue whilst you're there).... https://theprostitutes1.bandcamp.com/
We were treated to a preview of the ep back in September when they released the excellent Give Me Head Or Give Me Death, the 5 new tracks certainly lives up to that teaser track. The move to Harrisburg seems to have reinvigorated song writer/vocalist McGovern, as well as the new record he's returned to his Fear/Loathing blog to share his favourite releases of 2017 : https://longbeachloathing.blogspot.co.uk/2017/12/top-ten-music-releases-2017.html
The song I'm featuring today is the one which features the lyric "Don't Want A Future." It's a driving, mid paced track with a chorus to die for. This is Robotic....
Comrades are the New York punk/ska/crust/folk collective who first appeared on here in July 2014 with a song about cats (http://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/comrades-cats-not-cops.html). In fact I'm wearing the Cats Not Cops t shirt as I type this intro to a new song by them which also features cats in the title. It's from their new record and it's damn good.
Forming in 2009, Comrades released debut album We Got This!!! in 2013. A decent summation of it that I saw proclaimed it "Fast and full on punk rock. Blistering and angry with dual vocals..." Fortunately, as well as being pissed off, the band can also write catchy tunes.
If you check back in a few days, Alexis from the band will be sharing her Top 10 songs.
From Matter Of Fact, this is Bodega Cats....
CIGAR GUTS AND BOOZE BREATH WITH THE STENCH OF PISS AND DEATH BODEGA CATS THAT I CAN PET TRYING HARD NOT TO GET WET MAKING TIME IN THE BACK ROW WHISKEY PIZZA AND A FREE SHOW TAPPING SPOTLIGHT HALO GLOW
CAUSE IM FEELING STICKY IN SOMEONE ELSES CLOTHES ROADSIDE FREE BIN IS CLOSED AND ITS SMASHED FINGERS PRETTY DRESSES IM CARDIAC ARRESTED FEELING STICKY IN SOME ONE ELSES CLOTHES
SIDEWALKS EATING UP MY SOLES CHEWING MUD UP AS THEY GO THE TEMPERATURE DROPS AND THEN WE ROLL SIDEWALKS EATING UP MY SOULS WITH CHILDREN GETTING PERMISSION FOR ROLES DRINKING ALL THE BEER THEYRE TRYING TO DISPOSE
CAUSE IM FEELING STICKY IN SOMEONE ELSES CLOTHES ROADSIDE FREE BIN IS CLOSED AND ITS SMASHED FINGERS PRETTY DRESSES IM CARDIAC ARRESTED FEELING STICKY IN SOME ONE ELSES CLOTHES
IM SPILLING INK AND DRAWING BLANKS I LOST THE BOOKMARK AND THE PLACE THROWING ROCKS AND GETTING STRAIGHT BUSTED LIPS FROM CHILDRENS GAMES HOPSCOTCH HIPS AND LOSING DAYS SIDEWALK SLAMS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY AND IM RUNNING AWAY FROM ALL THOSE BILLS IM NEVER GOING TO PAY
CAUSE IM FEELING STICKY IN SOMEONE ELSES CLOTHES ROADSIDE FREE BIN IS CLOSED AND ITS SMASHED FINGERS PRETTY DRESSES IM CARDIAC ARRESTED FEELING STICKY IN SOME ONE ELSES CLOTHES
The last guest review of 2017 is by Shane Creech. Shane founded Never Be Quiet Records in 2016 with the intention of releasing music by some of the south coast of England's best bands. Bands in the NBQ family include The Crash Landings, Kill The Colossi and The Mistakes. As well as running the label, Shane plays guitar with The Mistakes and is gearing up for the imminent release of their new album, Anti Social Media.
The song that Shane's reviewing is by Bristol band White Trash. It's the flip side of their recent Reverse Engineering single. You can get more details here : https://www.facebook.com/whitetrashband/
Over to you Shane....
It's Chrisssssstmas! Well, actually it isn't anymore but it may as well be because my ears are getting a very unexpected present. I'm listening to White Trash "Kill All The Cool Kids" over a can of Kronenbourg and I'm having a fucking great time. Made up of ex members of The Computers, White Trash are a relatively new band but their experience as band members and their talent for song writing shines through immediately. I'm a huge Damned fan (after listening I checked out the video and shock horror, so are they) and I love the sound that their guitars make, especially on the early recordings.
Simply sounding like The Damned wouldn't be enough to keep me interested but luckily White Trash have managed to craft a sound totally of their own. The video is makeshift, it's super low budget, but it's a nice little look into the characters in the band, their live shows and what it's like to be a part of White Trash. There is something refreshing about it, something sounds and looks dangerous here. It's dirty, it's fun and you definitely want to get involved.
Don't get me wrong, there is nothing new and you can hear dashes and splashes of The Clash, The Libertines, Green Day and even scottish indie heroes The View but they manage to still sound like themselves. I immediately wanna play gigs with them, I wanna hear them on the radio whilst I'm driving to work. The vocalist drawls "I wanna know if you're sick and tired too, I wanna know if you feel the same, I wanna know will you be my best friend..." then he tells me that he wants to go kill the cool kids and wants to know where they hang out. I wish I knew!! Absolute belter of a record. Get it in your ears! This is Kill The Cool Kids....
I wasn't going to bother compiling an end of year chart. Not because there's not been lots of great music released during 2017 but because it was proving a near impossible task to decide what to include and what to leave out. There's numerous songs which would grace a Just Some Punk Songs end of year chart but I've decided to produce a Top 20 based on the songs that are demanding inclusion as I'm sat at my pc this morning.
For anyone who's interested there's also 2 shows featuring most of these selections plus a bunch of other great tunes. You can listen to them anytime here
Anyone checking out this chart wondering why their songs aren't featured, if I'd have compiled it on another day, it's quite possible you'd have been included.
So we're rapidly approaching the end of 2017 and in a couple of days I'll post the Just Some Punk Songs Top 20 songs of the year. There'll obviously be many great tracks that I won't be able to fit in, just like there were no doubt many great tracks released this year that I didn't even get around to featuring on the blog. Today I'll post one of those.
PMS 84 are from Portland, Oregon. They formed in early 2014, feature Jesse Cunningham (vocals. He was formerly vocalist with Koward), Anya De La Torre (bass. Ex Vivid Sekt), Dylan Marquet (drums. Ex Combat Knife) and Compton (guitar. He featured on here earlier this month in his other band, Petite) and are heavily influenced by the UK82 punk scene. If you check on Bandcamp you can find a couple of demos, an ep and two tracks from their debut Easy Way Out album : https://pmseightyfour.bandcamp.com/
Bad Sleep are a female fronted power pop trio from Olympia, Washington. Featuring Lily Richeson (who's been in a number of bands such as Squilll Parasol, Inertia! The Dry County etc) ably backed by Jack & Colter, they released their debut S/T ep in September 2016 and returned a year later with the follow up. It's titled No Fun and you can find it "name your price" here : https://badsleepoly.bandcamp.com/
Their sound is a mash up of infectious pop punk and power pop, their songs are upbeat and catchy despite the lyrics at times being several shades darker.
This is the closing track from the ep, it's about having somewhere to escape to from the real world and it's called Science Fiction....
I've been doubting myself and all of my plans Should I stay and remain in one place? The politicians on the TV tell me It's all my fault I aint got no job I aint doing nothing But who needs something?
My heads gunna rot From reading science fiction But at least I got Another world to live in
Got not direction So I'm walking around Up the Hill and back downtown I meet a friend on the corner who tells me About the cops How it's all their fault How we need a reaction But we're all distracted
My heads gunna rot From reading science fiction But at least I got Ursula K LeGuin
It's Christmas..... as Noddy Holder once shouted. So just a quick update today.
I wish all visitors to this blog a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year and I'm also wishing Mark E Smith a speedy recovery from his recent illness.
Here's The Fall with one of those rare beasts, a Christmas song that's not crap. This is Hark The Herald Angels Sing.....
Ero Guro are from Diest in Belgium and feature a line up of Mick Swinnen (vocals), Ward Donders (drums), Lee Swinnen (bass) and Jens Reubens (guitar). They released their debut S/T ep a few months ago (on Ronny Rex Records) and you can check it out here : https://eroguro.bandcamp.com/releases
Their sound is a mix of hardcore and garage punk, it's down and dirty fuzzed up fun. All shouty vocals and rocking riffs, the 6 tracks on the ep point to a bright future for the band.
Prime example is the song you'll find below. This is Borderline....
I’M SICK AND I’M TIRED I’M A PATHOLOGICAL LIAR
I DON’T WANT TO HURT ANYONE MAYBE I’M JUST A BAD PERSON I’M JUST A MACHINE, IT’S NOT WHAT I FEEL I FEEL NOTHING AT ALL, I FEEL IT ALL AT ONCE I GOT A RAZOR IN MY PURSE AND IT’S GETTING COLD I’M SICK OF THIS ROUTINE AND IT’S GETTING OLD
I’M SICK AND I’M TIRED I WANNA GIVE UP AND HIDE HER BUT I’M A PATHOLOGICAL LIAR I DON’T KNOW IF THEY WILL HIRE SOMEONE SICK AND TIRED SLICK AND QUICK AND FIRED UP THE PATHOLOGICAL LIAR
OH IT MAKES IT HARD ON MY STOMACH THE TENACITY OF TERROR WHEN I HAVEN’T HAD ANYTHING IN A WEEK BUT SUNNY SIDE UP DID YOU GET THAT? I THINK MOST OF THEM NOTICED WHERE WERE YOU WHEN I WAS OUT ON THE BATHROOM FLOOR
I’M TIRED AND I’M SICK MAYBE THAT’S WHY I DON’T THINK ABOUT THE DIRTY KITCHEN SINK REALITY IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE, A SUBTLE WINK I’M SICK AND I’M TIRED
The Defects are the Belfast punk veterans who formed way back in 1978, released the Defective Breakdown album and a handful of singles before going their seperate ways. As with many of their contemporaries they reformed many years later and are still releasing great music today (an example being this song I featured a couple of years ago.... justsomepunksongs.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/the-defects-45-minutes.html)
Now lining up with original members Buck Murdoch (vocals) and Glenn Kingsmore (drums) plus newish recruits Roy McAllister (guitar) and Aidy Dunlop (bass) they've once again poked their heads above parapet and released new album Feed The Good Dog. You can get the cd from Punkerama Records.... http://www.punkeramarecords.com/apps/webstore/products/show/7618967 .
From the album, this is an a song about war, death and business. In the current political climate we need bands like The Defects more than ever to hold up a mirror to society. It's called Brotherhood Of Death.....
Another Friday, another guest review. This week Ade Bailey selects a song by a band he went to see on their recent UK tour, Jaya The Cat, and gives his thoughts on their recent album, A Good Day For The Damned. You can check the album out here : https://jayathecat.bandcamp.com/album/a-good-day-for-the-damned
Ade is a member of political punk band Enemies Of Promise and also hosts his own show (Revolution Rock) on Global Punk Radio.
For those of you not familiar with Jaya The Cat, they are the brainchild of Boston’s Geoff Lagadec, the man with undeniably the best beard in Punk Rock. Based now in Amsterdam, they have had a revolving series of members alongside Lagadec since they emerged in 1999. They came to my attention back in 2012 when their track ‘Here Come The Drums’ jumped out of a very average free compilation CD given away with Vive Le Rock and just blew my speakers off their fixings. Here they are in 2017 with their first new album since then, and an absolute belter it is too. It’s tricky to explain what JTC do – it’s always been a beautiful mix of reggae, ska and punk with each record leaning a little more heavily on one of those genres. 'A Good Day For The Damned' seems to be one of those JTC albums that is firmly headed in the punkier direction. It opens with ‘Wine Stained Futon’ and we’re already on familiar ground – a rolling, instant singalong JTC chorus and the constant themes of good times, drinking (lots of drinking) and late-night shenanigans. ‘Rough Guide To The Future’ kicks it up a gear with a huge ska-tinged track, bursting with big guitars and swirling Hammond organs. Business as usual then and everyone’s very happy indeed. ‘Sweet Eurotrash’ is pretty much a perfect JTC tune with all the elements we’ve previously mentioned and lyrics about the perils of hotels, touring, drink and drugs which can’t help but make you smile. As we get further into the album, here comes one of the stand-outs for me in the form of ‘Huddersfield Rain’ a massive anthem (in the vein of Here Come The Drums) which speaks of a post-gig romance set in that hub of West Yorkshire culture. My only gripe with this otherwise perfect track is the mention of sitting on some ‘docks’ in Huddersfield which I’m assuming is a little poetic license on Geoff’s behalf and we can probably forgive him.
For what is a pretty raucous album, its gentler moments are still sublime, a case in point being ‘Fucking In Love’ a light reggae sway-along that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy - it’s great. As the album comes to a close, we get ‘Streets Of Shoreditch’ which is probably the very best track on a very good album. Its unremarkable beginning lulls you into a false sense of security as the first verse ambles nicely then – boom! The chorus, with its almost folk influenced roots, gives you a drunken sing-along on a par with the best of them. As well as being one of the best live acts out there (they tour almost 12 months a year so they should be good!) this record is definitely the best thing they’ve done. Every track is belter and it’s difficult to spot any filler. Certainly one of my albums of 2017 and as they have just been confirmed for Rebellion next year, I expect we can catch them at a venue near us next year too.
Rik & The Pigs are a lo-fi punk band from Olympia, Washington that originally started up as a solo project for Eric Meyer and has expanded into the current 6 piece outfit. "Ricky" Meyer had previously honed his chops in bands such as Sweet Tooth, Shaved Women and Mongoloid.
The first Pigs releases appeared in 2015, there was a demo on Lumpy Records, and the Pig Sweat 7" on Total Punk. Other releases include 2016's Volume 11 cassette and a bunch of singles (Life's A Bust, Baked Transformer and Don't Tell On Me). You can check them all out here : https://rikandhispigs.bandcamp.com/
Now we come hurtling towards the end of 2017 and Feel It Records have released a new 3 track ep. 2 are new songs and one is a reworking of early favourite TV Bloopers. You can check it out here : https://feelitrecords.bandcamp.com/album/blue-jean-queen
There'll be a new record from them in the new year :
Until then, this is the opening song from the current ep. It features Rik wanting to get stoned with The Rolling Stones, he's getting an evil stare like Sonny from Cher... The song's a great slice of sax and drugs and punk "n" roll. Check it out.
Ancient Shapes are from Welland, Ontario and feature alt-country artist Daniel Romano (who is also a member of Attack In Black). I don't know much about them other than it's Daniel's solo project and there's been a couple of albums; 2016's self titled and this year's Silent Rave and now there's an ep. All are on You've Changed Records.
The new ep is called Rats Forever, all proceeds from it will go to Toronto Overdose Prevention Society and you can find it here : https://ancientshapes.bandcamp.com/releases
In 1980, Cornwall punk band The Rats released a self titled album. One of the songs on it was called Teenagers. The opening track on the Rats Forever ep is a cover of that very song. Damn it's good!
Irresistible Urges are a 3 piece post/garage punk band from Eskilstuna which is a city in the southeast of Sweden. The band members are Mick Svensson (guitar/vocals), Patrik Agnesater (drums) and Fredrik Lundqvist (bass).
In July of last year they released a 3 track demo ep titled [07.13.16]. They recently followed it up with debut album Circadian Rhythm. You can find them both "name your price" here : https://irresistibleurges.bandcamp.com/
Just 8 tracks on the album but with the closing song clocking in at almost 12 minutes and the preceding one at over 7, you get plenty of bang for your buck. In comparison to those, this is a snappy little number. It's called I Carry Rats.....
The Dahlmanns are a power pop/rock n roll band from the coastal town of Moss in Norway. They've been together since 2009 and feature a line up of Line Dahlmann (vocals), Andre Dahlmann (vocals, guitar), Jan Erik Dahlmann (bass), Otto Dahlmann (drums), Magnus Dahlmann (guitar) and Pal Dahlmann (organ).
As you may have noticed, they all share the same surname so it possibly won't come as a surprise that one of their first releases (and one of their best) was 2010's Dancing With Joey Ramone (it was a cover of the Amy Rigby song). Since then they've released a bunch of catchy as hell singles, eps and splits plus 2012's All Dahled Up album. One of the most recent of those releases is a split ep with The Nomads. It's available on 7" from Madrid label Ghost Highway Recordings and you can listen here : https://ghosthighwayrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/l-f-f-l
The Dahlmanns contribution to that split is a gorgeous cover of the Fireball XL5 theme song. Written by Barry Gray for the classic Gerry Anderson tv series and a hit in 1963 for Don Spencer, this is Fireball.....
I wish I was a spaceman
The fastest guy alive
I'd fly you round the universe
In Fireball XL5
Way out in space together
Conquerors of the sky
My heart would be a fireball, a fireball
Every time I gazed into your starry eyes
We'd take the path to Jupiter
And maybe very soon
We'd cruise along the Milky Way
And land upon the Moon
To a wonderland of stardust
We'd zoom our way to Mars
My heart would be a fireball, a fireball
'Cause you would be my Venus of the stars
But though I'm not a spaceman
Famous and reknowned
I'm just a guy that's down to earth
With both feet on the ground
It's all imagination
I'll never reach the skies
My heart is still a fireball, a fireball
Every time I gaze into your starry eyes
Fireball, fireball
Every time I gaze into your starry eyes
Fireball, fireball .........
Petite are one of the many great bands from Portland, Oregon. They're a 5 piece featuring Laura, Wolfgang, Audrey, Shauna and Compton, and they formed just over a year ago. Their music is inspired by classic oi AND some of the more tuneful female fronted indie bands you may have listened to down the years. The cover of their latest demo, a bovver boot with flowers sprouting from it sums them up nicely.
That ep, their second, was released last month. Their debut ep (featuring another juxtaposition on the cover, a jolly looking policeman), came out last February. Both are very good, mixing up different styles of music. Indie-oi? Iron fist in a velvet glove? Whatever, both are well worth snapping up.... https://petitepdx.bandcamp.com/
Material Support are a "Filipina-fronted agit punk band from Queens, New York City, agitated by state repression, government corruption and patriarchy." They formed in 2015 and feature a line up of Jackie (vocals), Simon (guitar), Miles (bass) and AJ (drums).
2016 saw them release debut ep Balikbayan Box Demo, Balikbayan Box referring to the boxes Filipino migrant workers filled with supplies to send back home to their families.
Earlier this year they released the Solidarity single, 2 songs, both powerful & intelligent, that whet the appetite for the debut album which will be on Aklasan Records.
The flip side of the single is presumably inspired by The Clash classic of the same name and was released in support of the protest in Charlottesville against the Unite The Right gathering. The single is available name your price.... https://materialsupport.bandcamp.com/album/solidarity-kyr
This is Know Your Rights.....
Know your rights x3 You don't have to talk to the cops You don't got to talk to no cop But if you have to talk to the cops, be firm and assertive
Am I being detained? Am I free to go? I do not consent to this search Am I free to go?
Do you have a warrant? Slide it under the door I choose to remain silent I want to speak to my lawyer
Why did you stop me? Do you have reasonable suspicion? Officer please give me your badge number It is my right to film the police
This week's guest review is courtesy of Alex Kish who presents a radio show (playing many of the songs you'll come across in this blog) on Wassup Rocker Radio. Here's their Facebook page and a Mixcloud link to saved versions of the shows if you want to check them out....
TOUTS hail from Derry, Ireland, the same town as punk rock legends The Undertones. TOUTS are one of the freshest sounding bands I've heard all year.
Their sound is very similar to the 70's punk that I love. Some comparisons I've made are The Clash and Dead Kennedys. I look forward to future releases from the band and so far have loved all their songs. Bomb Scare is one that stuck out with to me because of its breakneck speed and intensity! Other personal favorites are Political People, Saturday Night Scumbag and Sold Out.
Cold Leather are from Berlin and their debut release was last December's Demo Tape which you can find "name your price" on Bandcamp. A year on and they're back with a new 3 track ep on Sabotage Records titled Past Remedy. You can find both here : https://coldleather.bandcamp.com/
The band are a female fronted, dark punk band featuring members of Cult Values, Pretty Hurts etc. All the mentions of them that I can find mention that they sound like pre-hardcore, late 70's Dangerhouse Records type punk. I'm not sure about that but I do know that they're bloody good. The vocals on the title track (below) are right up my street, definitely another song to add to my already overflowing "Best Songs Of 2017" folder.
On yesterday's Just Some Punk Songs show I took a break from new releases and played a bunch of older songs, one of which was from an album called Ash To The Soil which was released in 2009 and is by Warminster anarcho punks A-Heads. It went down a storm in the chatroom and I was able to tell the listeners that A-Heads had a new record out. It's a split ep on Grow Your Own Records with Pedagree Skum and you can get details on the vinyl version or listen digitally here : https://anthraxuk.bandcamp.com/album/a-heads-pedagree-skum-split
A-Heads have been around since the early 80's and were from the same Wessex farm that produced Culture Shock, The Subhumans and Citizen Fish. They released a couple of very decent singles (Dying Man & Forgotten Hero) along with various split releases and cassettes before splitting up in 1985. Since reforming there's been the aforementioned Ash To The Soil plus a few other releases which you can find here : https://a-heads.bandcamp.com/
Today's song is from the split with Pedagree Skum and it's called Blood On The Pavement.....
One of my favourite eps of 2015 was Stiletto Bomb's debut, In The Dark. Featuring J Prozac I liked them every bit as much as his long running band The Prozacs. Unfortunately though, whilst The Prozacs released the excellent Exist album earlier this year (https://theprozacs.bandcamp.com/), from conversations with Jay I knew that he was finding it difficult to keep Stiletto Bomb a going concern. It looks very much as though the band will shortly be no more but I was very happy when he sent me a new ep by them which will be their triumphant farewell. The ep due for release early next year (February?) on Pop-A-Pill Records.
Stiletto Bomb on this release are Jay on guitar and sharing vocal duties with his wife Andrea (Andy Nihilate) and being ably backed by Scotty Blood (bass/backing vocals), Jeff Blood (lead guitar) and the ever dependable Matty Prozac stepping in on drums. It features 6 new tracks and it's great. Which left me rueing the fact that it'd miss out on the Just Some Punk Songs two part Best Of 2017 shows. Luckily, my favourite song from the ep was one Jay wrote a couple of years ago and he was cool enough to release it early as a single.
The song is in honour, respect and admiration of Dan Vapid who is one of Jay's biggest musical inspirations. The cover features a cool collage of Dan's music and the song is a fitting tribute. It's available name your price here : https://stilettobomb.bandcamp.com/album/wont-let-go
P.M.S. are a feminist hardcore punk band from Paris who formed in October 2014 and feature members of Mary Bell and Outreau (the former band appeared on here back in January). The line up is Fredo Mendes Semedo (drums), Isa Vareille (bass), Evelynne Brown (vocals) and Victoria Arfi (guitar).
They released a demo in 2016 and next month will see them unleash their first ep (on Danger Records). You can check out a track from it and snap up the "name your price" demo here : https://pmsxmusic.bandcamp.com/
The shared song from the new ep is a sub 1 minute kick in the balls called Cocaine Cunt.....
One of the best labels of 2017 has been Drunken Sailor Records. Possibly the most eagerly awaited release still to come this year, amongst the listeners of the Just Some Punk Songs show, is the new album by The Booji Boys. Today's update features both and throws in a superb "name your price" 21 track compilation as well.
Drunken Sailor have put out releases by many bands that have appeared on here including TV Crime, Downtown Boys, First Base, Liquids, Cheap Whine etc. They've collected together a track from each of their 2017 releases and made them available name your price here : https://drunkensailorrecords.bandcamp.com/album/2017-sampler
Go snap it up now, it's essential listening.
The new Booji Boys album is called Weekend Rocker and it'll be out in time for Christmas. From the comments I've heard it's going to be a classic. There was a very limited (17 copies!) vinyl version available to the public in October but the rest of us will have to wait a while longer to hear it. There is however a video for one of the songs, this is Sister.....
An interview today with South Coast Steve..... Steve Higgins.
Steve's been in a number of bands over the years and is currently drummer for 3 very decent Uk acts. We recently chatted about those bands, his thoughts on influential oi legend Gary Bushell and his thoughts on political infighting and the state of the current scene.
Just Some Punk Songs : How old were you when you discovered punk and who were the first bands you loved?
Steve Higgins :I was probably 14 or 15 and remember having Never Mind The Bollocks on cassette by the Sex Pistols and Black and White on cassette by Stranglers. I liked the anti establishment stance most of the bands took towards what was happening in the mainstream I also got into the Clash, Siouxsie And The Banshees and the John Foxx era of Ultravox!
JSPS : Was there much of a local punk scene or any good local bands?
SH : Not at first as I grew up in Bury st Edmunds, Suffolk.
A few local bands I remember were the Wynd-ups, they became 13th Chime and supported Theatre of Hate in Cambridge. As I remember Criminal Tendencies who later became Condemned 84 had a couple of guys I knew from Bury St Edmunds too. I know that those latter bands have issues.
JSPS : From what I can make out, your first band was Cries Of Tammuz in 1992. Following this was a bunch of bands I'm not familiar with such as The Heroines, Ordeal X, Monument, The Outcast Band and The Unit. What led you to join your first band, were they a punk band and are any of those early bands ones people should track down?
SH : Ok so Cries Of Tammuz was the first band I recorded with in 1993 they were a Gothic alternative Rock band likened to Fields Of The Nephilim
Some people may like some of it, it’s dark and atmospheric
In truth I gravitated more towards the Goth Dark Wave side of music in the early ‘80s into the mid ‘00s so the likes of Killing Joke, Banshees, The Cure & Joy Division I had more in common with.
I guess I reestablished my true punk roots when I moved to the south coast in 2010 when I saw an ad to join The Gonads and the inspiration for the church of Oi came out of that to help me re-connect and find out about the newer bands in the scene we know today.
The Heroines were like Throwing Muses, Pixies, PJ Harvey.
Ordeal X had more in common with Killing Joke and the Ruts.
Monument was a splinter band of Faces Of Sarah.
The Outcast Band are likened to The Waterboys, New Model Army &
The Levellers.
The Unit are 3 piece punk band which is/was Harv Harks solo project who now plays in Menace and is also in Missile. The Gonads - Warriors
JSPS : Did joining The Gonads feel like a step up? Where they still drawing in decent crowds this many years on from their heyday and Gary Bushell seems to be a bit of a devisive figure amongst some people. What's he really like?
SH : Joining The Gonads was a bit of both if I’m honest on the one hand it got me back into playing and listening to punk old and new including Oi and Streetpunk.
My second gig was at the Garage in London supporting the Cockney Rejects in front of 500.
On the other hand the Gonads are more of a joke band and I don’t really like that side although he has written a few socio political songs too.
Gonad’s headline gigs were generally only people that heard the early stuff.
People recognised Garry more for his tv and journalistic work.
Before I’d met him I knew about his past and my thought was Garry Bushell that wanker. But then as I got to know him a bit better I realised that he was one those people that was constantly kicking against the pricks, although I would say that he could have said more to unite the scene rather than divide. But in the end I guess when you're young you tend to be blinkered in your opinions then as you get older and wiser your mind expands and opens up more to what’s going on. I’ve met people through the years at gigs whose opinions and ideologies that they had when young have since changed to be less ignorant and more tolerant.
Like you hinted at earlier people either love or hate Garry Bushell.
The Decatonics - Standards
JSPS : You left The Gonads in 2013 and are now drummer with The Decatonics, Kill The Colossi and most recently The Crash Landings (all great bands that have previously featured on here). Is it hard finding the time to commit to all 3 bands? What does the future hold for them (I think Kill The Colossi in particular have a sound that should see them appeal to young punk fans and with the right material could be one of the biggest home grown punk bands around)
SH : It’s a case of prioritising which band has gigs etc that specific week so you focus on that.
As regards KtC we have our debut album all recorded, it just needs mixing.
Also on Wednesday this week we did a rehearsal as a 3 piece which seemed to go better than expected.
JSPS : Crash Landings' All Guts No Glory was one of my favourite albums of 2016 but they were pretty quiet this year. Anything on the horizon for them?
SH : TCL have a lot of new songs that are being worked on as we speak hopefully there will be an album or ep mid 2018.
JSPS : The oi scene has always been pretty splintered but it seems to me that where it was once left wing against right, nowadays more and more bands that aren't political are getting dragged in and targeted by the more extreme elements just because they refuse to get involved in the political side of things. Have you experienced any of this in the bands you've been in? I'm sure you know of plenty of non political bands that have. Do you think it's something that's getting worse?
SH : That’s a toughie!
I think the bands want people to like them and be entertained by them whilst trying to stand in the middle.
I haven’t experienced this in the bands I’ve played in yet.
Kill The Colossi - For Honour
JSPS : You started Facebook group The Church Of Oi. Their description is "Oi/Streetpunk is a Religion open to one and All Regardless of Race Colour Creed or Subculture. Music Unites All" It's a group that promotes oi music but won't tolerate extremism or politics. To me it seems a safe haven away from scene bullshit where fans can get together and just enjoy the music. There's also an increasing number of great oi bands getting invited to play the Rebellion Festival. Would you agree the oi scene is as healthy now as it's been since the mid 80's? And which new bands do you recommend to anyone who might be looking to explore the scene?
SH : Yes I believe that punk Oi Streetpunk alternative music has no colour or creed, as you can see what has happened with particularly the Skinhead culture worldwide like the Far East etc and South America. The scene is in a good place right now but there will always be someone somewhere that wants to stir up negativity. Regarding the 80s I was someone who was more on the anarcho punk side of things with the likes of Crass, Exploited, Discharge etc. New bands I like are the more melodic progressive ones like Arch Rivals Booze n Glory Boots n All Out of Order City Saints The Mistakes Grade 2 Dare I say Crash Landings Resistance 77 I could mention KtC Make sure you check out Never Be Quiet Records too. Being in a covers band can be fun but at the same time it can make you complacent
I always have a need to be playing, recording and writing new otherwise I’d get bored. As Drummer musician and yourself as a DJ you may be seen as liking one specific style of music but because we are enthusiastic about music it doesn’t make any difference as to what style it conforms too as long as you like it.
JSPS : Thanks Steve, it sounds as though you'll be having a busy and productive 2018 and I look forward to hearing the new stuff... Kill The Colossi - Fuck The Taxman
