Chubby and The Gang - Hold Your Breath

 

  Chubby and The Gang Rule OK? Both a statement of fact and the kick ass opening track to the debut album from London's best new band. Those of you that saw the Just Some Punk Songs list of the Top 100 Songs Of 2019 will be in no doubt as to how impressed I was with the band's debut single, All Along The Uxbridge Road (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2019/12/top-50-songs-of-2019.html), so it was a given I was eagerly awaiting the release of the album. The release date is January 17th and you can pre order the vinyl version from Static Shock Records now (the ltd edition blue vinyl is definitely worth checking out). Happily for those of us with an impatient nature, the album's already streaming on Bandcamp so you can listen here :   https://staticshockrecords.bandcamp.com/album/speed-kills

  The band don't have much of an online presence but basically Chubby is Charlie Manning-Walker (aka Charlie Fresh) from Crown Court (https://crowncourt.bandcamp.com/) ably backed up by three members of Brighton band Gutter Knife; Luke Austin, Ethan Stahl and Joe McMahon.  (https://gutterknifeuk.bandcamp.com/). They play fast paced punk rock (the Bandcamp write up throws in names such as Motorhead, The Kids and Cockney Rejects) though they can slow things down when required (as on the tracks Trouble (You Were Always On My Mind) and album closer Grenfell Forever). Their sound is bolstered by the occasional use of Hammond organ.

  If you're in The States, you'll soon be able to catch them live as they're over there later this month touring with The Royal Hounds

  I was watching a BBC 4 programme last night, Chris Packham : Forever Punk, and it was an enjoyable enough look back at the 70's but what bugs me about those type of shows is that they wax lyrical about something that changed many of our lives 40 years ago but never seem to acknowledge that plenty of great new punk bands are still releasing exciting and very very good music in 2020. If by any chance you read this Chris, check out the new breed. They're great.

  This is an unapologetic blast of speedy aggro punk called Hold Your Breath...