Booji Boys - Stevie Cool

  A new record by Halifax, Nova Scotia, favourites Booji Boys is always a good reason to get excited, especially when it's a new album. It's only been 3 years since they surfaced with their 6 track demo but since then they've been pretty damn prolific with a plethora of garage punk inspired releases. Back in April they gave us a taster of the new album in the form of a 3 track promo tape, now the full thing, titled Tube Reducer, has dropped and it's everything we expected or hoped for. The vinyl version is due out in August from Drunken Sailor                                                                      (preorder : http://www.drunkensailorrecords.co.uk/products/646006-booji-boys-tube-reducer-lp-drunken-sailor-records-drunkensailor-115) but digitally it's available name your price here :     https://boojiboysfuneral.bandcamp.com/album/tube-reducer

  Lining up Justin Crowe (drums), Steve Earle (guitar), Cody Googoo (guitar), Adam LeDrew (bass) and Alex Mitchell (vocals), The Booji Boys have a happy knack of writing catchy pop songs before scuffing them up in their own unique way. What are they singing about? In the main, I haven't got a clue but I don't really care as I'm bouncing off the walls. It's pretty much indecipherable but it's great fun.

  Repeat plays offer up new joys but this is an early favourite, it's called Stevie Cool...

The Speedways - They Don't Know (Review and Interview by Wayne Elliott)

  Pulsebeat (https://www.mixcloud.com/Wayne_Elliott/) host Wayne Elliott today reviews a new song by one of his favourite new bands. It's the flip side of their new single, Seen Better Days, and he even contacted frontman Matthew Julian for a short chat so with no further ado I'll hand you over...

As a rule I am not a big fan of cover versions. When Weller did ‘All Along The Watchtower’ one reviewer pointed out "even he must have realised he was going to come third".. and there in lies the rub. Most are at best an entertaining diversion often for the wrong reasons.
Occasionally one comes along that is a wonderful reinterpretation of the original song. Idles and Jim Jones and The Righteous Mind have both cracked out great versions of 60’s soul numbers recently. The Speedway’s track is of more recent vintage, ‘They Don’t Know’ was originally written and recorded in 1979 by Kirsty MacColl and taken into the top ten 4 years later by Tracey Ullman.
Nottingham band The Speedways are the brainchild of Matthew Julian. Last years debut album ‘Just Another Regular Summer’ was entirely composed and played by Matthew .. the only other musician to feature was a drummer credited as ‘Dec’. It was amongst 2018’s finest and virtually lived on my record player when it first landed and is still getting regular spins. I guess you would call it powerpop and you can hear echoes of Matthew’s beloved Ramones along with hints of The Undertones, The Replacements, Smithereens and Big Star. It is classic guitar pop of the sort seldom heard these days. If there was any justice they would be a radio staple. As the song is a cover .. and you all surely own the album... I thought I would ask Matthew himself to tell us a little about the single.
So Matthew .. why the Kirsty cover ?
It was an inspired choice by Mauro our guitar player.. and it also happens to be one of my favourite songs so I just changed the key from B to G! We've played it live at most of our shows. I love both Kirsty and Tracey's version. It's just a great pop song about teenage love so it suits us really well!
It works great and has a lovely languid feel like you just plugged in and pressed record. How are finding working with a band having initially done this as a solo project ? I have yet to catch you llve but I suspect that the songs have really come to life now you have a proper line up.
Yeah, it definitely has that 'band playing' feel which is what we went for. I even did the solo first take, no messing! (although it's easy when the solo is already written for you!) It's been going great as a band. You're right, it's really given the songs a different energy and attack.
What I like about the album is I can tell what records you have and are influenced by but at the same time it still sounds fresh. I mean there is a definite 70’s powerpop vibe to it yet it doesn’t sound dated. I am not surprised it has been so well received you must be close to selling out the pressing.
Thanks a lot. I love to write simple songs and then turn them into band songs.. so they always start life like Everly Brothers knock-offs!.. and then I plug my guitar in and they become Ramonesy or Power Pop! It's sold really well mate yeah. I'm pleased that people enjoyed it. Just 5 left to shift I think!
Best do a new one then ! Anyhows cheers for the chat any shows coming up you want to plug ?
The new one is 90% written and we're probably gonna make a start on recording it in August! Yeah, 3 really good shows coming up in July. We play the Somers Town Festival on the 13th, the Prince Albert in Brighton on the 15th with our friends from New York The Baby Shakes and then on the 28th we play at the Some Weird Sin Power Pop Weekender at the Lexington in London (3 of us are also backing Nikki Corvette for her show too, so that's pretty ace) Also, if you wanna buy a copy of the 7" single for 'Seen Better Days/They Don't Know' I'm taking pre-orders on the bandcamp page now https://thespeedways.bandcamp.com/ (you can also grab one of the last remaining copies of the LP if you want!)

https://www.facebook.com/JustAnotherRegularSummer/

  This is They Don't Know...

The Media Whores - Frack Off

 

(photo : Deborah Mullen)
 
  So yesterday at work I was revisiting Pacer's excellent 2012 album Making Plans thinking how wonderful it still sounds (https://wearepacer.bandcamp.com/album/making-plans) and thinking aloud, I posed the question is it the best British punk release from the last decade. Obviously with taste being subjective most people would say no and offer up their own choice, one of those people being my old school mate Simmo who nominated The Media Whores' Decade Of Defiance compilation as his choice "one of the best bands I have ever known...they deserve a higher level... all the major bands they support at gigs... and great people... they deserve to be on your blog."

  I'm sure they deserve more than that mate but I'll happily write a couple of paragraphs. Hailing from central Scotland they formed in August 2008 and have been sticking it to the establishment with their working class outsider rock ever since. The line up features Craig Anderson (lead vocals/guitar), Doogie Mackie (bass/backing vocals), Chris McArthur (guitar/backing vocals) and Andy Russell (drums/percussion). Bigger and better review sites than this have heaped copious amounts of praise on them doling out favourable comparisons with genre luminaries such as SLF, The Damned, Killing Joke and The Rezillos. Personally I'd say that whilst influenced by a wide range of golden era punksters and rockers they don't really sound too much like any of them, they've managed to come up with their own varied sound. So on the album's lengthy 18 track look back at their catalogue you'll find plenty to enjoy, there's even 3 new tracks from their upcoming 4th album which is pencilled in for later this year (you can review that one for me Simmo!).

  You can get more info here :  https://www.facebook.com/MediaWhband/

  Originally on the 2016 Mercury Music Award nominated album Dangerous Minds, this is an upbeat rocker which rather snappily rhymes "is this an earthquake beneath my feet" with "in the corridors of power I smell deceit." It's a protest song about hydraulic fracturing, the controversial method of getting gas or oil from beneath the ground. It's called Frack Off...

Spam Javelin - Fake News

  Spam Javelin are a sub hardcore band from North Wales with a line up of Llion Broadbent (ex Something Personal) (drums), Neil Crud (ex The Sons Of Selina and 4Q) (vocals/guitar) and Tracey Howarth (ex Bonzai Massacre) (bass). They play "loud fast punk skiffle" and swim against the tide of oppression, depression, suppression, regression, impression, expression and motorway service stations! A bit like Rudimentary Peni but with a sense of humour.

  Forming in 2015 they've released several ep's and a compilation and are now gearing for the release on July 8th of debut album The Crack Whores Of Betws Garmon. The title track is streaming on Bandcamp and a quick look at the titles of the upcoming songs has me licking my lips for Joy Division Tea Room. It'll be released on vinyl and cd by link2wales records. Also on the album is new single Fake News, it's available name your price here : https://spamjavelin.bandcamp.com/

  You can get more info here : https://www.facebook.com/spamjavelinuk/

  They control your minds
  They control your thoughts
  They control your opinions
  They control your actions
  They control you...

  Don't believe a word, it's all Fake News...

Kaleidoscope - Abolition

  Kaleidoscope are a trio from Brooklyn featuring Shiva Addanki (guitar/vocals), Owen Deutsch (drums) and Joe Nelson (bass) who've just released new album After The Futures... It's an intoxicating mix of hardcore, post and noise punk that makes an excellent companion piece to another of my favourite new releases, Exiled by Bad Breeding. Both albums excite, both are angry, inventive and prove that the punk genre in 2019 is as vital and interesting as ever. There's plenty of killer tracks to get your teeth into, highlights include the drumming on Homeland Security, the sublime title track (official video :  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTF-hfLevPY), the closing gut punch of Soft Cage....hell I've not even mentioned the song I've chosen to feature below. Truth be told, the whole album is one big highlight in what's turning out to be a great year for punk releases.

  It's available on vinyl from Toxic State https://www.toxicstaterecords.com/records/kaleidoscope-after-the-futures and you can listen here : https://d4mtlabsinc.bandcamp.com/album/after-the-futures-lp

  The song I've singled out for special attention today is all pounding drums, urgent guitars and barked vocals and it's called Abolition...

Wild Zeros - Don't Want It, Still Get It

  When you hear Bordeaux garage punks Wild Zeros have got a new ep out, it's a time to celebrate. When you realise it's a split with Manchester's Proto Idiot then you know you're getting something very special. The only downside is deciding which song by which band to feature on here as both sides of the ep impress. Then I noticed that Proto Idiot have got a new album out next month called Find Out For Themselves so I'll feature something off that when it's released and in the meantime just point you in the direction of the first video from it...                                     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92VToXCDMbs

  So that leaves me to concentrate on Wild Zeros. They featured on here back in January with their cover of The Penetrators' Teenage Lifestyle https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2019/01/wild-zeros-teenage-lifestyle.html. Now they return with the lead track from the aforementioned split. The ep's available on 7" vinyl (limited edition 300 copies) from new French label Permanent Freak Records and you can find the 2 Wild Zeros tracks on Bandcamp :   https://wildzeros.bandcamp.com/album/split-7-w-proto-idiot-permanent-freak-2019

  If you're familiar with the band you'll be expecting top quality trashy garage punk and you aren't going to be disappointed. Both of their contributions to the ep knock it out of the ballpark. This one's called Don't Want It, Still Get It...

Kill The Colossi - Detonator

  Good old Kill The Colossi, you can always rely on them to come up with a catchy as fuck street punk singalong. I was listening to today's song thinking it's not a blatant Clash rip off by any means but it certainly owes them a debt and then it ends with a blatant Tommy Gun drum riff courtesy of ex Gonads drummer Steve Higgins. A great way to finish a great song. It's the Bournemouth band's first outing as a trio, as well as Steve there's Adam Storey (guitars/lead vocals) and Rowan Miles (bass/backing vocals). It bodes well for future releases (they say there's plenty more new stuff in the pipeline). You can get more info here : https://www.facebook.com/killthecolossi/

  It's a song I can imagine hordes of drunken punks dancing around to in a live setting. It's a relationship song which asks should I stay or should I go? (did someone mention The Clash!). Handle with care as this hand grenade is ready to detonate. The best thing I can say about this song is not only does it make me want to dance but it left me grinning ear to ear. It's that good.

  It's called Detonator...

DefektDefekt - Claustrophobia

  Another poundingly brilliant noisy post punk banger for you today (there seems to be a glut of those being released recently which is great).

  DefektDefekt are from Bremen and list a line up of Patzer, Shapland, Wolfinger and The Earl Of Custarde (when available). They've previously featured in the likes of Shakin' Nasties, Cross Stitched Eyes, Cool Jerks, M.O.T.O. etc. Forming at the end of 2014 they quickly released a debut self titled album which is now sold out (vinyl repress coming soon) but available digitally on Bandcamp. Also on Bandcamp is recent follow up DEFEKT DEFEKT 79-81. It's been picked up by those purveyors of good taste No Front Teeth Records and it's available here :
Vinyl : https://www.nofrontteeth.co.uk/
Digital : https://defekt-defekt.bandcamp.com/album/defekt-defekt-79-81

  You can get more info here : https://www.facebook.com/defektdefektband/

  The sound on the album is great (congratulations to whoever produced it), it's a big bold and beefy sound complimented by great songs. Highlights are plenty but I'm going with a song that reminds me a little of side 2 of The Stranglers Black And White lp. This is Claustrophobia...

1981 - Where Did All My Good Dreams Go?

   Here's one of the songs that'll feature on this week's Just Some Punk Songs show (8pm (GMT) today) https://www.facebook.com/events/844636042584478/). It's by anarcho punk band 1981 and it's the lead track on their recent Acts Of Rebellion ep. Based in Turku, Finland, they've been releasing quality fare for the best part of a decade. It's been 3 years since their last release but the new ep was definitely worth the wait.  It's self released on 7" by 19 in 81 Records and you can find it on Bandcamp :   https://i98i.bandcamp.com/album/acts-of-rebellion-ep

  The ep deals with themes of conformism, despair, fear and anxiety in a world we're destroying. They encourage us to speak up and voice our opposition to force fed lies. As the record sleeve says, "Challenge the stereotypes. If you're not ashamed of who you are, the outsiders' opinions begin to grow mute!"

  This is a beautiful song that asks if there's not a better way of living. Where Did All My Good Dreams Go?....

What happened to all my hopes and dreams? 
Where did they all go? 
What happened to my hopeful thoughts 
That we could build a better world 
These days are filled with fear 
These days are filled with fear 
These days are filled with fear 
These days are filled with fear 
Where did all my good dreams go? 

This is a cold world 
Our ignorance has helped to create 
It's what we leave for our children 
That our selfishness has dealt their fate 

All this fear and war... 
I can't take it anymore 
There's gotta be a better existence than this, I know 
Where did all my good dreams go? 

These are our last days 
We live in fear, in fear of the unknown 
Never care to question the truths we're not told 
Nor the facts we are never shown 

All this fear and war... 
I can't take it anymore 
There's gotta be a better existence than this, I know 
Where did all my good dreams go? 

This is a sick world 
People bickering and fighting over material greed 
Lives lived so blindly, rather than meeting each others' needs 
This world has become my nightmare 
Nature torn down and replaced 
No respect for its resources 
We just take and take 
And take and take 
And take and take 
And take and take 
And take and take 
And take and take 
And take and take 
And take and take 
And take 

All this hatred, fear and war... 
I can't take it anymore 
There's gotta be a better existence than this, I know 
In my heart for sure 

What happened to my hopes and dreams? 
Where did they disappear? 
What happened to all my hopeful thoughts 
That we could build a better world? 

Where did all my good dreams go? 
Where did all my good dreams go? 
Where did all my good dreams go? 
Where did all my good dreams go? 
Where did all my good dreams go? 
Where did all my good dreams go? 
Where did all my good dreams, 
Where did all my good dreams go?

Erik Nervous - USPS Threw Your Tape Away

 

  Erik Nervous has featured on the Just Some Punk Songs show several times but a quick search appears to show I've not had any of his songs on here yet. A shameful situation which I'm rectifying now.

  His real name is Erik Hart and he's from NE Indiana with his band being from Kalamazoo, Michigan. He's been pretty damn prolific since surfacing in 2015 with the Shipshewana Swimming demo. Musically he gets comparisons with the likes of early Wire, The Fall and Devo, it's lo fi garage influenced pop songs with minimal production in the vein of bands like Coneheads and Booji Boys. Scuffed up gems that prove you don't need a superstar dj to produce great music. Thoughts on the world around us filtered through an eccentric mind. Check out his music here :   https://eriknervous.bandcamp.com/

    This song is based upon the Ramones classic The KKK Took My Baby Away and was written after half of the cassette copies of his debut full length album that were sold through his Bandcamp page went missing in the post. It's called USPS Threw Your Tape Away...

You paid eight bucks for a tape we made 
Clicked the "I’m not a robot" thing 
But it never got there 
It never got there 
It never got there you say 

Wait five to six business days 
But then April turned into May 
& it never got there 
It never got there 
It never got there you say 

USPS threw your tape away 
They threw it away 
In Pittsburgh PA 

USPS threw your tape away 
They threw it away 
In Pittsburgh PA 

Who knows where your tape could be 
They threw it away 
They threw it away 

Who knows where your tape could be 
They threw it away 
They threw it away 

Ring-a ring-a ring-a the president 
& tell him that he’s a shithead 
Ring-a ring-a ring-a the FBI 
See if they burned it in a fire 

You paid eight bucks for a tape we made 
Clicked the "I’m not a robot" thing 
But it never got there 
It never got there 
It never got there you say 

Wait five to six business days 
But then April turned into May 
& it never got there 
It never got there 
It never got there you say 

USPS threw your tape away 
They threw it away 
In Pittsburgh PA 

USPS threw your tape away 
They threw it away 
In Pittsburgh PA 

USPS threw your tape away 
They threw it away 
In Pittsburgh PA 

USPS threw your tape away 
They threw it away 
In Pittsburgh PA

White Trash - You're Not The Only One

  When Never Be Quiet Records founder Shane Creech guest reviewed Kill All The Cool Kids by White Trash it attracted plenty of interest (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2017/12/white-trash-kill-cool-kids-reviewed-by.html) so I'm sure many of you will be happy to hear the band have just unleashed a killer new single.

  From Bristol and comprising ex members of The Computers, Sharks and Turbowolf they're slowly putting together an impressive catalogue of blisteringly furious punk n roll releases. You can get more info on them here  https://www.facebook.com/whitetrashband/

  An uptempo singalong that proudly wears it's influences on the sleeve of it's scuffed leather jacket whilst still sounding fresh as fuck, this is You're Not The Only One...

Rotten Foxes - Over The Ropes

  Last year Darren Bourne was kind enough to review a song by Rotten Foxes (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2018/10/rotten-foxes-hamburg-hollenfahrt-review.html). As he's not volunteered his services this time around I suppose the task of writing a couple of paragraphs about their "skull crushing, mind melting" new ep falls to yours truly. Hopefully I don't prove to be too much of a let down.

  From Brighton, they're a raucous 4 piece whose first couple of releases were imaginatively titled EPI and EPII. This time around they're getting a little more descriptive by aptly titling their new ep Arrive, Raise Hell, Leave. As they say themselves, it's 4 tracks of the most hotpant melting, skull crushing pure unadulterated filth ever put on 7". A couple of the tracks are available for free download on Bandcamp https://rottenfoxes.bandcamp.com/album/arrive-raise-hell-leave

  The band aren't lying. If you like your punk rock to blister paint then this is definitely for you. If you do like them then you'll be sad to know that they're shortly disbanding due to one of them travelling around the world. They may return in a couple of years, they might not but if you want to see details of their last few gigs go here : https://www.facebook.com/rottenfoxes/

  This is the closing song on the ep so I guess it's possibly their last song ever. If so, it's a fitting way to bow out. A ringing bell, a roaring crowd and an infectious gang vocal chorus, what's not to love. This is Over The Ropes...

PHLOX - Am i Flower?

  Supposedly Phlox is a genus of 67 species of perennial and annual plants in the family Polemoniacea that are mainly found in North America.

  PHLOX are a new flower-powerviolence punk band from Columbus, Ohio featuring members of Slant 6 (bassist/vocalist Myra Power), Ouija Boys (guitarist/vocalist Ian Graham) and Drunks With Guns (drummer Mike Doskocil aka Malcom Bliss). 

  So what the hell's flower-powerviolence? On the evidence provided by Phlox's 4 song Demo it's a mash up of hardcore punk, noise rock, fuzzed up psychedelia and feedback. Am I right in guessing it's named after the song Raging, Hate, Fear And Flower Power Violence by Californian band Spazz? I've no idea to be honest but I do know the Demo came out earlier this month and you can snap it up name your price here : https://phloxxx.bandcamp.com/releases

  This is the lead track, it sounds like a reverb heavy theme to a Charles Manson documentary where madness and warped minds are under discussion as saturated colours splash across images of cult members telling the world why they committed their evil crimes. It's trippy, it's mood music and whilst flowers might be the order of the day, even the flower on the cover looks a thing of forlorn sadness.

  Am I Flower?

Grim Deeds - Cotton Candy Skies

  This initial part of my written introduction is where I'd usually say it's a welcome return from so and so but in all honesty Grim Deeds has never really been away. Squirrelled up in his Foster City home (or often in his parked car or the classroom he teaches in), Grim's been self recording and releasing his pop punk gems at an impressive rate of several per month. His modus operandi is to turn the songs out one at a time (name your price) before collecting them together on albums. Often he'll call on the services of friends to contribute their talents (Kody Templeman, Maria Surfinbird, Eddie Kobane are amongst the names in his phonebook). It's fair to say, if you're a fan of his music, you never have to wait long till the next song drops. You can open his bountiful trove of aural treasure here : https://grimdeeds.bandcamp.com/music

  The latest release (as of when I'm writing this though knowing Grim he'll probably release something else before I get chance to click publish!) is a catchy song for that special one. Love is in the air and Grim is going to sing about it. This is Cotton Candy Skies...

Take me away 
We’re breaking away 
I’ll never leave you sad and feelin' lonely 

‘Cause I know how it feels to be low 
And losing control 
But now i’m free cause you’re my one and only 

And we’ll be 
Endlessly 
Sharing love that’s meant to be 
Together you and I 
Under cotton candy skies 

Kiss me again 
And tell me again 
That we will always be there for each other 

You don’t have to worry your head 
Just love me instead 
And promise we’ll be there for one another 

I can see 
You love me 
And I’m where I want to be 
Together you and I 
Under cotton candy skies 

Why am I the lucky one? 
And why did you choose me? 
There’s no explanation 
But I’m yours eternally

Trampoline Team - Kill You On The Streetcar

  New Orleans 3 piece Trampoline Team have featured twice previously on here with I'll Destroy You and Drug Culture and today they return to make it a triple whammy of killer songs.

  They've been around since 2011 and have just released what's probably their hardest hitting release to date. It's a new ep, titled Kill You and it's a high octane ball of fury. Think classic Rip Off Records, think Neighborhood Brats at their angriest. Think good old down and dirty garage punk. It's available on 7" vinyl via Neck Chop Records                                           https://neckchoprecords.com/products/trampoline-team-kill-you-ep-7                                              and you can stream it here :                                                 https://neckchoprecords.bandcamp.com/album/kill-you-ep

  This is the lead track, it's called Kill You On The Streetcar...

The Derelicts - Life of Strife (Review By Kevin Patrick McGovern)

  When you notice Prostitutes frontman Kevin Patrick McGovern (https://theprostitutes1.bandcamp.com/) calling an a record "the album of the decade... catchy.  psychotic and filled with punk rawk rage. Five out of five stars" you tend to sit up and take notice. Not sitting on my laurels I asked him to review the answer and as he's an accommodating kinda guy he was only too happy to oblige.

  The album is out now on vinyl and cd from Digital Warfare Records and it features 5 new songs alongside a sprinkling of the best tracks from past 7" releases. You can get it here :     https://zekeyou.myshopify.com/collections/the-derelicts/products/life-of-strife-lp

  Over to Kevin....

The Derelicts – Life of Strife (Digital Warfare)

I Walk Alone

The first time I was introduced to the Derelicts was in the early 1990s. I was riding in the backseat of my friend’s car, a bunch of us were going to see a second run horror movie at the local budget theatre. We weren’t 21 yet and when the booze was in short supply we’d distract ourselves with random outings filled with diet pills, pain pills, and weed. Stoned out of my mind and artificially wide wake, I heard the menacing bass line that begins their scorching reinterpretation of “My Dads a Fucking Alcoholic” come ripping through the speakers. I was blown away by the incredible power and addictive venom of the band’s intense punk rock attack. Pure and wild, degenerated mayhem. I picked up their classic Misery Maker single on SubPop records shortly thereafter. I listened to it non stop for quite some time. I highly recommend all their past releases. Their mind blowing “Going Out of Style 86-90” CD on Empty Records had all of us degenerates hooked back in those days.

Wrong With This

The band was a destructive combination of raspy vocals, brutal guitar, and contagious rock n roll fury. Excessive simplicity with a rabid pulse. Punk rock for the punk rockers. Things happened and the band dissolved sometime in the mid 90s. A few years ago they started up again with Duane back on vocals and Neil on guitar, both from the original lineup. I was beyond stoked when I heard they had a new album coming out. It’s finally here and the Derelicts deliver on all levels. This thing burns with an intensity you just don’t find in modern music. Hyper guitar and manic vocals fuel the songs while leaving enough breathing room for gritty grooves and melody. A sinister combination of early 80s hardcore and dirty 70's punk. This record hits hard and never lets up. Available from Digital Warfare records. Vinyl supply limited.


Life Of Strife...

Dress Up - Green Room

 

(photo : Renate Winter)
 
  The song I'm posting today is by a band called Dress Up, the song's called Green Room and it's from an upcoming album called The Big One. I was struggling to find anything about them but noticed the person who put the song on Youtube also posted videos by Aussie skate punks Children of Finland Fighting in Norway (C.O.F.F.I.N.). I then discovered C.O.F.F.I.N. were touring with Austin, Texas hardcore skate punks Dress Up. Adding 2 + 2 together I worked out Dress Up are Alex Bond (vocals), Anthony Sardella (guitar), Max Fitzgibbon (bass) and JoJo Williamson (drums). They've already released an album and a single and you can find them here  https://dressup69.bandcamp.com/  Thinking it'd be cool to eliminate the masculine vibe you'd expect in this type of music they started dressing up in women's clothing whilst playing shows.

  Is the song about the celebrity waiting room where they sit and sup drinks whilst waiting to perform? Maybe it's about the 2015 movie where a touring punk band are attacked by nazi skinheads? To be honest I haven't got a clue, it might be about something completely different. The music's pounding hardcore and the lyrics are to a large part indistinct though from what I can make out it goes I see you every day, you don't know what to say BLAH BLAH BLAH... Baby in the green room BLAH BLAH, Baby in the green room BLAH BLAH, Baby in the green room BLAH BLAH, Baby in the green room... 

  It clocks in at around 78 seconds and it's great.

  This is Green Room...

Chubby And The Gang - All Along The Uxbridge Road

  It's no doubt a sad indication of how boring my life is but not many things bring me the joy that discovering a stunning new song does. Sometimes you can click a link you've stumbled across and get a pleasant surprise, other times you'll see the band name, the song title or even just a picture (or in the case of today's song all three) and know it's going to be a joyous moment. If you're anything like me you'll find it impossible to listen to the song you'll find below without wanting to immediately play it again....and again,

  A new band, Chubby And The Gang are from London and feature Chubby Charles (Arms Race, Violent Reaction) plus 3 members of Gutter Knife (http://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2019/03/gutter-knife-boots-on-ground.html). They've a debut double A sided 7" single due out on July 5th. Limited to 300 copies it'll be available from Static Shock Records. You can pre order it here :   https://staticshockrecords.limitedrun.com/products/645076-chubby-and-the-gang-all-along-the-uxbridge-road-7

  Don't have a turntable? Then go here for the digital version :   https://staticshockrecords.bandcamp.com/album/all-along-the-uxbridge-road

  So what does it sound like? The Bandcamp page namechecks The Kids, Cyanide and The Carpettes, the tags include punk, hardcore and power pop. I can't really argue with their assessment. The production job by Fucked Up's Jonah Falco is spot on, it's a hardcore stomper that's really upbeat. It's an exuberant blast of fun, it's even got handclaps and harmonica! Now I'm off to listen to it again! I suggest you do to.

  It's called All Along The Uxbridge Road...

Gulls. - SHOP

  Gulls are a punk 3 piece from Brighton who formed in 2016 and who's line up is Rhi Kavok (poetry), Trixie Dean (aka Boe H) (guitar/vocals) and Matt Hickin (drums). I've seen their sound described as being akin to Sleaford Mods in a high speed collision with Bikini Kill on bumper cars whilst Rhi's poetry tackles themes of local and global injustice. Wittily they tag themselves as playing Brighton rock.

  You can get more info on them here : https://www.facebook.com/gullsbandbtn/ and here :   https://www.gullsband.co.uk/

  A couple of months ago they released an excellent single (which I managed to miss as I obviously don't spend enough time online looking for new music!) but which attracted the attention of Tom Robinson who played them on his Radio 6 show. If like me you've been unaware of them till now I think you'll like it. Inspired by the closure and sale to property developers of Kensal Rise Library it's a protest song about gentrification and it's called SHOP...

Hygiene - English Disease

  One of the songs that went down best on last week's show (https://www.mixcloud.com/mick-fletcher/just-some-punk-songs-020619/) was a track off the new album by London post punks Hygiene. The band features the unlikely monikered Dick Turpentine (bass), Guy L. Less (guitar), Nat King Dole (vocals) and Pat C. Bedsit (drums) and they list amongst their influences the likes of The Faces, Cock Sparrer, The Sweet, Glitter Band, Roxy Music and Cockney Rebel (though everyone just seems to compare them to The Fall).

  It's been 8 years since debut album Public Sector was released by La Vida Es Un Mus (not heard it? go snap it up "name your price" https://lavidaesunmus.bandcamp.com/album/public-sector-lp). The follow up is titled Private Sector and this time it's on Upset The Rhythm (if vinyl's your thing go here : http://upsettherhythm.bigcartel.com/product/hygiene-private-sector-lp-pre-order). There's a few decent "proper" reviews been posted online that you could do worse than checking out (The Quietus, Dusted, Wire) so I'll just tell you it's really good and give you a link to their Facebook page   https://www.facebook.com/Hygiene-126660907380779/

  This song will go down well with fans of one of Just Some Punk Songs' current favourites, Vintage Crop (https://vintagecrop.bandcamp.com/). Shouting about costume dramas, Routemaster busses, the royal family, Sunday roasts etc, this is English Disease....

The Prozacs - Wishing & Waiting

  The Prozacs are back with a new album, their 5th studio lp and the first since 2017's Exist. It's titled Ambivalence and if you're familiar with the band you'll have a good idea of what to expect. It's the usual repast of well written, heartfelt punk. Jay's been doing this for long enough now that composing quality songs is probably second nature to him, it certainly sounds that way. A harder task is no doubt ploughing on year after year as punk music remains outside of the mainstream and talented band members move on and need replacing (I notice several new faces on this release). It takes a love of the genre to carry on for so long so it's great to report that the album is a winner. It's available on vinyl, cd and digital download from Outloud! Records and the band's Bandcamp page :   https://theprozacs.bandcamp.com/

  You may remember The Ripper and Outta My Face (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2018/06/the-prozacs-outta-my-face.html) from last years split single with Marko And The Bruisers. The other 9 songs on the album match them for quality. The one I'm featuring today is the longest track and sees Jay longing for something more than the daily grind. Admitting he needs to spend more "us time" having fun in the sun with the woman he loves it's straight from his heart and it's called Wishing & Waiting...

High Praise - No Fun

  High Praise are a new melodic 4 piece punk band from Brighton who've just released debut ep Another Day. They features members of the likes of Gnarwolves and His & Hers and the ep is a very promising launching pad. I can hear hints of bands like Nirvana, Weezer and early Joyce Manor in their sound (my mate Darren hears Samiam) though I suggest you give them a listen and decide for yourselves...   https://highpraiseuk.bandcamp.com/album/another-day

  Being a fledgling outfit, there's not much info on them yet but you can give them a like here :   https://www.facebook.com/highpraiseuk/

  This is my favourite song on the ep, it's called No Fun...

Fresh - Revenge

 

  It's Sunday which means it's Just Some Punk Songs show day. Tune in at 8pm (gmt) to hear an hour's worth of great new music, including the song that I'm featuring on here today (Details and link here :   https://www.facebook.com/events/466833420739257/).

  Fresh are no strangers to this blog (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2017/09/fresh-bible-camp.html), they're the indie punk 4 piece from London who formed in 2015 and released a very impressive 2017 Self Titled album. Now they're back with a new album (and numerous gigs including a tour with Slingshot Dakota).

  The album's titled Withdraw, it features a dozen emotionally honest songs written by vocalist Kathryn Woods based on real life experiences. Alt pop influenced by the likes of Martha, ONSIND, Lemuria, Muncie Girls etc. Catchy but with an edge, razorblades wrapped in velvet. It's available on vinyl and cd from Specialist Subject Records and digitally...
http://shop.specialistsubjectrecords.co.uk/products/637101-fresh-withdraw-lp-cd

https://freshpunks.bandcamp.com/album/withdraw

  You can get more info here : https://www.facebook.com/freshpunks/

  This song starts out gently before building into a joyous and passionate singalong. "I am valued I am loved, I will get revenge on everyone who's done me wrong..."  It's called Revenge...

The Drowns - The Bricks Of 'Ol Rainier

 

  Oi yesterday, street punk today. Don't say that I don't spoil you!

  The Drowns are Aaron-Rev Peters (vocals), Jake Margolis (drums), Andy Wylie (bass/vocals) & Jonny Wade (guitar), they're from Seattle and Los Angeles and between them have played in bands such as Success, Time Again, The Shell Corporation, The Briggs and Madcap. Last year saw the release of their debut album, View From The Bottom https://thedrowns.bandcamp.com/album/view-from-the-bottom  The album was packed with "blue collar anthems and earned them favourable comparisons with the likes of Bouncing Souls and Cock Sparrer.

  Now they're back with a new single, it's two impressive tracks and it's available on 7" in  beer vinyl, red vinyl and cokebottle green vinyl from Pirates Press Records   https://shop.piratespressrecords.com/products/the-drowns-the-sound-7

  You can get more info on them here : https://www.facebook.com/thedrowns/ 

  The single features The Sound on one side though my favourite song is on the flip. An anthemic singalong, the band's sound has been beefed up from the album due to the addition of Jonny on second guitar and a top notch recording job by Jesse O'Donnell from Noi!se. The Drowns are rapidly becoming essential listening. This is The Bricks Of Ol' Rainier...

 

No Heart - Forever Young

  I don't think I've posted any oi music for a couple of months, maybe due to a lack of a decent release since the excellent City Miles album or maybe me just missing anything good that's come out but that changes today as I've got a belting anthem for you.

  No Heart are from Victoria, British Columbia and feature Mike (guitar/vocals), Mike Jo (guitar), Jorden (bass) and Will (drums). They've been around since 2016 and have released a single (Scum/Snake In The Grass), an album (Can't Get Out) and splits with Sabotage and The Opposition. You can check them out here : https://noheartvanisle.bandcamp.com/

  They've been quiet recently but that's about to change in the form of a new 7"ep. Titled Circles it's available on Swedish label PST Records. You can find it here :   http://www.hardandsmart.se/vinyler/no-heart-circles-ep.html

  They've posted a couple of songs from it to Youtube, both really good. The song I'm going with is one of my favourite oi songs of the year, the story of someone who's getting older but ain't settling down. His life is falling apart but he's still a teenager at heart. What I love about it is the guitar sound, I hesitate to say it reminds me a little of a beefed up C-86 sound as I don't want to put any of the boots and braces crowd off but damn it's almost like The Wedding Present on steroids (if David Gedge had swallowed a sack full of gravel). I'm impressed.

  This is Forever Young...

Arse - Safe Word

(photo : joseastwood)


  One of the highlights, according to the folk in the chatroom, when this week's Just Some Punk Songs show went out was the new single by Sydney punks Arse. The band is a three piece featuring Dan Cunningham (vocals/guitar), Jono Boulet (bass) and Tim Watkins (drums) and they got together in 2017. Their first release was the Primitive Species ep although I don't think I heard them till they collaborated on a split 7" with fellow Sydney band Party Dozen  :   https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2018/10/arse-feat-party-dozen-power-tripper.html

  The song you'll find below is the title track from an upcoming ep. It's a pounding post hardcore banger on the subject of excess. Instead of a sexual safe word, vocalist Dan needs saving from his vices. He wants to feel good all the time but pleasure always leads to pain.   https://arse.bandcamp.com/track/safe-word

  They'll be supporting the ep this month and next with a bunch of gigs and you can check out dates here : https://www.facebook.com/arseband/

  The folk in my chatroom have immaculate taste. This is Safe Word...

Nancy No Shoes - Nil By Mouth

  Way back in May of last year I posted a song by new South Wales hardcore punks Nancy No Shoes and said that it was part of a debut ep (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2018/05/nancy-no-shoes-crimes-against-humonarchy.html). Over 12 months later the ep still hasn't surfaced but another song from it has. It's another winner so I'm banging on about it today.

  The band feature's Jimbob from Pizzatramp and Nicola from Brassick and so it's probably no surprise that their music is a full on aural assault. Both songs thus far unleashed are impressive beasts indeed. Whereas the previous one dealt with the removal of Windsor's homeless from the streets in order to keep them out of sight of the world's media during the Royal wedding, this new song is another political broadside, this time about the social care system. It highlights how it's been torn apart and sold off and how people and families are extorted whilst staff are overworked, underpaid and undervalued. It's about how heartbreaking it is seeing people making fortunes out of the suffering of the elderly whilst those in power sit by apathetically.


  They promise the ep will be out soon so hopefully I'm not posting the 3rd song from it next year. I'm sure this will whet your appetites, it's called Nil By Mouth...

Triple Sundae - Pollution

  Forming in 2014, Triple Sundae are a 4 piece melodic punk band from London who's influences include the likes of The Menzingers, Lifetime, PUP, Spraynard etc. Their first release was The Brainfreeze ep, they followed it up a year later with Flaked Out and then took things up a notch with line up changes and last year's Peace Of Mind ep. Gigs alongside Jeff Rosenstock, Authority Zero, Ducking Punches, Petrol Girls etc have seen them grow their fanbase and that fanbase will no doubt be impressed with new ep, Glow. This time around you get 6 songs for your cash and the lead track is on Bandcamp : https://triplesundae.bandcamp.com/album/pollution They'll be self releasing the full ep on June 7th.

    They're currently on a UK tour with Jukebox Romantics and are making plans for a debut album. You can get more details here :  https://www.facebook.com/triplesundae/

    Glow is a well produced ep that reminds me a little of Iron Chic. Frontman Hassan Afaneh has just the right kind of vocal range for this type of music and the rest of the band, Mike, Andy & Zandro provide impressive backing. As with previous releases, the ep deals with mental health issues, case in point being the song you'll find below which "highlights how our own bad habits and ways of procrastinating can poorly affect our mental health without us noticing directly."

  This is Pollution...

Find a better way, 
To clear your mind, 
Reset your brain. 
I need some time to illustrate 
my thoughts before I start the day, 
but I always check my phone as soon as I’m awake, 
and it sets the tone for the rest of my day. 

It's mental pollution, 
and constant distractions. 
Reality loosens, 
Leads to subconscious destruction. 
I need to practice moderation, 
to overcome compulsion 

Roll another one, 
never mind my spoiled lungs, 
don't wanna stay up all night, 
With my thoughts. 
Swear if I don’t roll another one, I’ll stay up all night, 
So I rolled another one, 
And shut my brain off. 

It's mental pollution, 
and constant distractions 
Reality loosens, 
Leads to subconscious destruction. 
I need to practice moderation, 
to overcome compulsion. 

Need to practice moderation 
To overcome my compulsion 

Reality loosens, it’s mental pollution. 
We're all deluded.

Covert Flops - (I Was A) Dick For Tracy

  The Covert Flops single that I featured on here back in March (https://covertflops.bandcamp.com/album/defcon-1-2-3-4) went down very well and I've heard nothing but gushing praise for their new album so it's a no brainer that I'm going to post something from it.

  A quick recap, they're a 3 piece pop punk band from Pendleton, Indiana who should appeal to fans of The Lillingtons, Ramones, Queers etc. The album is titled Defcon 1-2-3-4 and it's a blast. You can probably tell if you'll like it just by checking out the cool cover artwork (from Cretin Face Design). There's 11 catchy songs on subjects such as the Illuminati, Riff Randell, Tromaville, Michael Myers, Pamela Anderson... This is a punk band that don't want to change the world, smash the system or overthrow the government. They just want to have fun so why not put down those protest banners, crack open a beer and join the party. You can get the cd from Outloud! Records   https://outloudrecords.bandcamp.com/album/defcon-1-2-3-4  or the digital download here :   https://covertflops.bandcamp.com/album/defcon-1-2-3-4

  This is one of the highlights, (I Was A) Dick For Tracy...

Dead Arms - Apocalypse Yow

  Dead Arms are a 4 piece noise punk band with members from London, Kent and California. Those members, General Waste (vocals), Phil Glitter (guitar), Danny 5 Bands (bass) and Kitty Techno (drums) also feature in USA Nails, Los Bitchos, Death Pedals and It Often Takes A War. (Quick plug, both Dead Arms and USA Nails will feature on this week's Just Some Punk Songs show which starts today at 8pm GMT : https://www.facebook.com/events/449173645663091/).

  Formed in 2011, they name as influences the likes of Hot Snakes, The Stooges and Nirvana but admit that the bands people most often compare them too are Jesus Lizard. Off and Part Chimp. You can get more info here : https://www.facebook.com/DeadArms/

  They've just released a new album, it's titled Simply Dead (https://deadarms.bandcamp.com/album/simply-dead) and if you're a fan of pissed off noise then it'll be for you. There's songs about a racist called Nigel who immigration drove to racial hate, broadcast news being full of lies (spin is king), homelessness etc. The music is hard hitting, the lyrics often cryptic and relevant to the world around us, it's an album with plenty to say. Case in point the song you'll find below, accompanied by a Brexit themed video of braying jackasses, this is Apocalypse Yow...

Guess the guest on Through The Keyhole 
Never meant to get this far 
Fame rips my life apart 
Now you know I’m a fucking liar 

EAT - CAT - MEAT 
Make me invisible 
EAT - CAT - MEAT 
Make me invincible 

Guess the guest on Through The Keyhole 
Never meant to get this far 
Fame rips my life apart 
Now you know I’m a fucking liar 

EAT - CAT - MEAT 
Make me invisible 
EAT - CAT - MEAT 
Make me invincible 
EAT - CAT - MEAT 
Make me invisible 
EAT - CAT - MEAT 

Why don’t you come here? 
Why don’t you come here, no more? 
Why don’t you come here? 
Why don’t you come here, no more? 
Why don’t you come here? 
Why don’t you come here, no more? 
Why don’t you come here? 
Why don’t you come here, no more? 

Guess the guest on Through The Keyhole 
Never meant to get this far 
Fame rips my life apart 
Now you know I’m a fucking liar 

Loud Noises 
Pained Voices 
Loud Noises 
Pained Voices 
Loud Noises 
Pained Voices 
Loud Noises 
Pained Voices