Forming in Feb 2018, Before They Are Hanged (https://www.facebook.com/beforetheyarehanged/) are based around the Peak District, North Derbyshire & Sheffield and feature a line up of Simon Madden (lead vocals), Dan Abrahams (guitar/backing vocals), Trevor Vickey (bass/backing vocals) and Ben Duncan (Drums/backing vocals). They took their name from a novel by Joe Abercrombie (I've read it, it's very good) and their influences include the likes of Bad Religion, Rancid, Descendents, Nirvana etc.
They've been busy working on their debut album which will be ironically titled Welcome To England. They've 5 songs done but now we're all in lockdown the pencilled in release date will be pushed back from the summer to autumn at the earliest. Fear not though, we can get an idea what to expect both from their earlier songs on Bandcamp (https://beforetheyarehanged.bandcamp.com/) and in the form of the brand new track you'll find below. Once this current crisis is over they'll be looking for gigs so give them a shout if you can help.
A powerful wall of sound backs a call to stand for what you believe in, this is Ground Down...
Dave wants to recommend you all check out Bob Vylan (https://www.facebook.com/BobVylan/), a London duo that are currently blowing up big....
And so it started like any other day, scrolling through my feed when a thumbnail of Bob Vylan’s singer appeared for their single ‘We Live Here’ on YouTube. Their singer is wearing a big fake fur animal patterned overcoat, bleached jeans, boots, sports long dreads and a Crass t-shirt, enough to peak my interest in looks alone. Then the song ‘We Live Here’ plays. Finally a band with something of actual, immediate and relevant substance to say. Something that screams honesty and arresting delivery. The song starts with a distorted and lo-fi guitar before a racist sample pauses the song, allowing the full chorus riff to kick in and pin your shoulders to the wall. Some distorted, rapped vocals pepper scenes of recognisable working class British hotspots including the pub, the corner shop, high rises, police cars, and chips. Sounding strongly autobiographical, the singer talks about elements of his life growing up in London as a mixed-race child with a white mum. The delivery of the chorus line ‘we didn’t appear out of thin air / we live here’ batters and bruises its way to its intended target. Racists, bigots and nationalists are placed squarely in the crosshairs.
Sonically, the lo-fi recording is clear enough to make sure they lyrics are heard and their impact can be felt, with the instrumentation grotty enough to broadcast their allegiance to their DIY punk rock roots. And judging by the 6K additional views since I first saw the video a couple of days ago, it looks like Bob Vylan are hitting home. They could be the next Sleaford Mods, or the next Idles in terms of their impact on the modern musical and political landscape…they’ve perfected the acute lyrical snarl we’ve come to expect in punk rock, but it is incredibly rare to hear something so honest and to wear their personal identities and struggles on their sleeve.
It’s easy to write about why you don’t like the government, or against animal abuse or climate change, or to reel off well-worn lines about death/war/destruction: there’s plenty of lines to lift from other bands that have trodden this lyrical path for you. Bob Vylan is for those who are a bit braver than that, and are inviting you into their own personal hell.
Their live gigs showcase the live delivery of a hardcore band, and their tones display the type of filth and grot that you can’t manufacture in an expensive studio. They’re the real deal, and they’ve got bigger balls than everyone else. They sound…dangerous. How many bands have recently achieved that?
Looks like they’ll be working with Venn Records soon, which is owned and managed by Lags from Gallows, so expect to see a lot more of these guys soon. Personally I’ll be shocked if I hear anything better by anyone else all year. https://bobvylan.bandcamp.com/
Hailing from the South Coast of England, anarcho hardcore punks Abrazos recently returned with a new album titled Angry All The Time. It not only features 8 tracks which were recorded in January at The Fishtank in Portsmouth but there's also a bonus 16 tracks recorded live at their Portsmouth gig (where they appeared alongside Rotten Foxes, Pizzatramp and Rash Decision) from Saturday 7th September 2019. It's been released on a USB stick and comes with an impressive 12 page zine of artwork & lyrics. The first run is limited to 60 and the cost is £3 plus postage. If you want one then get in touch with them : https://www.facebook.com/abrazospunk/
The band features members of Hack Job, Armoured Flu Unit and The Shorts; Nath Haywire (guitar), Tony Suspect (drums/vocals) and Alan Marshall (bass/vocals) and their name means Hugs in Spanish. You can find their earlier material streaming here : https://abrazospunk.bandcamp.com/
Of the new tracks on the album, subjects include hunting, the DIY community, more inclusivity in the punk scene, anger at dumbing down, sweat shops, animal cruelty, snowflakes (and those that use the term as a form of abuse) and the worrying number of suicides linked to benefit claims (a song inspired by a frustrated post put on Facebook by Darren Bourne asking a band to write a song about how Universal Credit is shit!). They're angry, short blasts of furious energy and I liked them a lot.
This is the opening track, it's a fuck you to chinless wonders who hunt in packs and it's called Tradition...
City Saints (https://www.facebook.com/citysaintsgbg/) are a working class street punk band from Gothenburg who've been together since 2012 and feature a line up of Stefan Johansson (vocals/harmonica), Gabriel Aadland (guitar/vocals), Carl Linnaeus (bass/backing vocals) and Robbin Larsson (drums). They've released 4 albums and a string of singles and list amongst their influences the likes of Sham 69, Cock Sparrer, Slade, Motorhead, Little Richard, Chuck Berry etc...
There'll be 3 tracks, covers of the Peter And The Test Tube Babies classics Givin Up Drinking and Alcohol plus the title track. This is the entertaining video for that one. Pissed and proud since '78, banned from the pubs since 1982 but they're still going strong in 2020, still playing punk rock n roll. Something we should hear more often, Peter And The Test Tube Babies On The Radio...
Whilst posting new music by bands like Wonk Unit (see yesterday's update) is cool, most of you will have either already heard it or will shortly stumble across it on your own anyway. What's more fun, and it's mainly the aim of Just Some Punk Songs, is to shine a light on songs that are a little more obscure in the hope they find a wider audience. I think you can possibly put today's offering in that bracket.
Fernando & The Teenage Narcs are a side project featuring Vinny Earley from VAGUESS (https://www.facebook.com/vaguessISdead/). They've put out a number of fun releases with titles like Teen Narcs In Space, Major Narc To Ground Control, Can I Buy Some Drugs To Smoke Later? and Fernando Don't Surf. Fun lo-fi garage punk rippers that you can check out here : https://refryrecords.bandcamp.com/music
They've just had a very topical song included on a 38 track compilation from Mort Clique. The album's titled Solidarity! - Support Your Local Underground Punk Scene and it contains great music from the likes of TV Crime, Proto Idiot, Giorgio Murderer and many more. The corona virus has led to the cancellation of all Mort Clique gigs but the rent on their venue still needs paying. The comp will help with that so check it out... https://mortcliqueshows.bandcamp.com/album/solidarity-support-your-local-underground-punk-scene
Afraid to go outside? Don't want to touch anyone? Things so bad that you want to kill yourself so that you don't die!!! You should be in Quarentine...
A new Wonk Unit song is always a cause for joy so let's all celebrate... unless you're a fox hunter in which case go fuck yourself (let's be honest though, no fox hunters are likely to read this blog!).
I'm sure you all know Wonk Unit (https://www.facebook.com/wonkunitband/), the prolific (https://wonk-unit.bandcamp.com/) London band that bring a healthy dose of humour to their working class punk ditties. What you may not know is that they've a new 7" on the way. There's also going to be a new album which will (possibly) be titled White Kayne. If we're lucky, we might get it before the end of 2020, the single will be much sooner and the single's flip side is on Youtube now.
It's a song about fox hunting. A serious subject covered in Wonk's trademark style. First thought is it has a similar vibe to I Told You So (one of the highlights of 2016 album Mr Splashy), second thought is "damn, what a cool B side, I'm guessing the A side's going to be pretty damn special!"
This is Blood Lust...
I’m sorry but if your birds are getting eat you shoot that fox
You don’t dress up in red and round up the dogs
Tip your cap to the toffs, molest the stable jock coz who’s gonna believe him.
This is just your sick blood lust
I’m sorry that you’re still alive to blow that hooter
Coz you deserve the shooter.
You’re vile scarlet peedofiles
Oblivious to life outside your country house.
Don’t even try to justify some country code some country way of life.
This is just your sick blood lust
Don’t try to dress it up coz this is just your sick blood lust .....
Travis Riot (https://www.facebook.com/travisriotofficial/) are a 3 piece from Amherst, Nova Scotia, featuring Dwayne (bass/vocals), Mike (guitar/vocals) and Chris (drums/backing vocals). They're new to me but released a 3 track demo as long ago as 2004. This was followed by a Self Titled album in 2007 which is available name your price here : https://travisriot.bandcamp.com/
After a long wait, they're back with a single and plans for a new album and live dates. A quick listen through of their debut album reveals that they play fast, hard hitting punk rock. It's good stuff and deserves your attention. As for the new single, despite the passage of over a decade not much seems to have changed. The production (by drummer Chris Thomas) is slightly more polished but the music is as hard hitting as ever. It's political punk with lyrics telling us that we are the plague that was foreseen and asking what have we become. It tells us to open up our eyes to their lies. It's a song that bemoans what's going on in a world of drone strikes and terror from above.
London's Dream Nails (https://www.facebook.com/yourdreamnails/) were planning to release their debut album next month but unfortunately due to the current Corona Virus outbreak it's (and the tour in support of it) been put back till September. To whet our appetites, they've been drip feeding us a series of singles and it's the latest one that I'm featuring today...
Described by i-D magazine as the best DIY all-girl punk queertet since Bikini Kill, the band don't hold back with their views on feminism, homophobia and even getting women to the front at their gigs. They're a serious band with serious concerns but they're not afraid to have fun too. They're fresh, energetic and have been picking up plenty of rave reviews and mainstream airplay.
This single was written following the attack, on a London bus, of Melania Geymonat and Christine Hannigan by a group of young men. It asks the question, what makes so many misogynistic guys hate what they most desire? (The most popular searched term on online porn sites in 2019 was "Lesbian"). No one deserves to live in fear.
There's a Facebook group called Notes From The Underground (https://www.facebook.com/groups/102638490378311/) which is frequented by a knowledgeable bunch of music obsessives and which is crammed full of weird and wonderful music bands from genres such as Egg punk, Devotional and good old hardcore. If you love music that's noisy and off the beaten track then maybe it's the group for you. This was a gem I came across on there.
The album's a blast, no song approaches the 2 minute mark but they're all inventive, upbeat and quirky. There's songs about parasites, the Mothman and the BTK. Others deal with living in society (lots of speeding guitars and la la la la's in this one) and Fake Rockstars (F-A-K-E...). Hell, stop reading and go listen to the damn thing.
This is a highlight, it's about the greatest trip, we're going all around the world....you aren't invited! Unpack Your Bags...
I think I've featured something off just about every release by Bournemouth street punks Kill The Colossi since they formed in 2015. Tracks like Fuck The Taxman, Detonator and 196 Walls all being great sing along anthems from a band that can combine gritty with catchy. One of the comments when I played them on yesterday's Just Some Punk Songs show was that they were poppy enough to make them standout from the crowd. I'm not sure that all street punk and oi fans want their music to be "poppy" but it's certainly not meant as an insult, we're certainly not talking about saccharine sweet levels of poppiness. We're talking about a proper politically aware punk band with a hard edge that can write killer tunes. We're talking about a relatively new UK punk band that deserves mentioning in the same breath as some of their influences; Cock Sparrer, Rancid, UK Subs, Booze & Glory etc.
We're talking about a band with both an ever growing fanbase (they've recently been added to the bill for Rebellion 2020) and a very impressive body of work. This is the latest addition to it...
Their new single reminds me in a way of another great UK street punk band, Wolf Bites Boy (and if those guys are reading this we need new material from you!), in that it's a look back at days gone by. Reflections on times long gone and streets once walked. Friendship and family, memories often formed through the bottom of a glass, good old days. But there's also the realisation that those times have passed, people grow older and the future must be embraced. Life is great, make new memories. Oh, and it's as catchy as ever.
As I'm writing today's update I'm looking out of my front window. Everything's quiet, the sun is out, it's a lovely day and the intro to the song that's playing on my headphones compliments that serenity. It's a gentle and rather beautiful 35 seconds of peace and tranquillity that suggests all's well with the world.
And then.... things change. The appearance of well being was a flimsy construct.
In Evil Hour (https://www.facebook.com/InEvilHour/) are the Darlington hardcore band that line up with Alice (Vocals), Gareth (Guitar), Gib (Bass) and Christian (Drums). They've featured on here a couple of times before so no need to rehash too much info. Let's instead talk about their new song...
It's a warning about how the way we treat our planet is unsustainable. It's the sound of a band that doesn't hold out much hope that as a species we'll avert disaster. It's a song that seems resigned to our inevitable demise; "Seems like we're never going to make it. Seems like we're really gonna die..." 2050 is the date set by the UK government in which they aim to have gas emissions in the UK at almost zero. It's not enough.
A stand out moment in the song comes at around 3 minutes and 20 seconds as Alice utters a growl of utter despondency and frustration and everything switches up a notch. Her passion bleeds through and despite a seeming resignation to our future being bleak there's still fire burning brightly in her belly. You think for a second, maybe there's hope. But then you think who the world leaders are and it's quickly snuffed out. It's not a song of hope but it is very good. You can find it name your price here : https://inevilhour.bandcamp.com/
2050...
Seems like we're never gonna make it
And will this present become past
Whispers from when the old world faded
How did it fall so fast?
You are now left here all abandoned,
Hiding from our desperate calls
Your gilded gates decay, all black and crumbling
Now what good are your walls?
See you when they fall
I am the wind falling silent, still blowing though
I am the quiet that you call home
Bleaching your soil and killing your crops I go
I am the quiet that you call home
Look over scorched and arid landscapes
Kings of all that you observe
Victims of your own dying hubris
Golden masters that you served
My tide comes dark and indiscriminate
Solutions can't be bought and sold
Bodies pile and poison all your water
Now what good are your walls?
Seems like we're never going to make it
Seems like we're really gonna die
All is lost! I am Death!
When you discover you can't eat your tech
Spin the webs! Pull the threads!
I am the unraveling of time that you spent
Build the walls! Ignore the calls!
I am the consequence of all that you wrought
Bring them down! I can wait!
I now have all of the time in the world
Yesterday's featured song was a bit of a left field cover version (Neutrals putting their own spin on The Exploited's Hitlers In The Charts Again) and today you're getting another one that had me thinking oh, I don't think I'm going to like this. But I certainly do, it's another inspired choice and makes me listen to the Del Amitri "classic" in a totally different light.
Ilkeston punk/rap duo Rats From A Sinking Ship (https://www.facebook.com/RATSFROMASINKINGSHIP/) last appeared on Just Some Punk Songs when they teamed up with Austrian producer Markus Kienzl and legendary poet Benjamin Zephaniah to record one of 2019's best songs (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2019/10/rats-from-sinking-ship-and-markus.html). Today they return with the title track from a new ep which is out on limited edition cd (75 numbered copies, pre sale link going live soon so watch out for it) on April 3rd. The ep will be called Nothing Ever Happens.
It contains 4 new tracks and I'm just about to have my first listen so here's some initial impressions...
The title track is the Del Amitri cover. They were a band I never paid attention to and though it's a song I've heard numerous times it's never really registered. This version though certainly does. Maybe it's because I prefer this style of music, maybe it's just because I actually listened to the lyrics instead of assuming it'd be lame ass kiddy and housewife friendly chart pap. It's a very valid commentary on misplaced values and the apathy that's all to prevalent in western society.
Track 2 is titled Muggins and is a slow burner with rumbling guitar and Lusty challenging "Who are you?..."
Next up is a song with a title that had me liking it before even pressing play. It's a more up tempo broadside at a music industry that's run by men with beards like 70's geography teachers that don't actually like music and who manufacture the same dross format of bands that they can slaver over like some paedophiles wet dream. Watch as the wannabe has beens are disposed of on a big pile of sad dreams, stolen fortunes and repossessed souls. This is just the first part of a song I really like, reality tv shows certainly fair no better in part 2! It's called Stop Making Stupid People Famous, it's very funny (and sad at the same time) and rather scathing.
They round things off with Corrie 94 and a little like the Skids classic TV Stars, it rhymes off a bunch of Coronation Street characters along with the repeat refrain of Your street is my street, My street is your street... You're a native.
All in all an excellent ep from a band that keeps on improving. You're gonna love it.
This is Nothing Ever Happens...
Post office clerks put up signs saying "position closed" And secretaries turn off typewriters and put on their coats And janitors padlock the gates for security guards to patrol And bachelors phone up their friends for a drink While the married ones turn on a chat show And they'll all be lonely tonight and lonely tomorrow
Gentlemen, time please, you know we can't serve anymore Now the traffic lights change to stop, when there's nothing to go And by five o'clock everything's dead And every third car is a cab And ignorant people sleep in their beds Like the doped white mice in the college lab
And nothing ever happens, nothing happens at all The needle returns to the start of the song And we all sing along like before And we'll all be lonely tonight and lonely tomorrow
Telephone exchanges click while there's nobody there The Martians could land in the car park and no one would care Close-circuit cameras in department stores shoot the same movie every day And the stars of these films neither die nor get killed Just survive constant action replay
And nothing ever happens, nothing happens at all The needle returns to the start of the song And we all sing along like before And we'll all be lonely tonight and lonely tomorrow
And bill holdings advertise products that nobody needs While angry from Manchester writes to complain about All the repeats on T.V. And computer terminals report some gains On the values of copper and tin While American businessmen snap up Van Goghs For the price of a hospital wing
And nothing ever happens, nothing happens at all The needle returns to the start of the song And we all sing along like before
And nothing ever happens, nothing happens at all They'll burn down the synagogues at six o'clock And we'll all go along like before And we'll all be lonely tonight and lonely tomorrow
I've got to be honest, whilst previously featuring a couple of songs on here by Oakland band Neutrals (https://www.facebook.com/neutralsnotswiss/), I never expected in my wildest dreams that they'd be back with a cover of a track that featured on the same ep as Dead Cities, the song that had much of Britain spluttering out their evening hot chocolate as a bunch of colourfully coiffured angry looking rowdies called The Exploited made a highly memorable Top Of The Pops appearance. But they are and whilst it's on first glance a left field choice of a song to cover it's also an inspired one that makes total sense.
As you may already know, Neutrals are 2 Americans called Phil (Benson & Lantz) and a Scot called Allan (McNaughton). They released a very good album last year titled Kebab Disco, it was a semi autobiographical indie post-punk delight that you should check out if it passed you by. Next month sees them releasing a new ep, it's called Rent/Your House and it contains 5 new tracks. The vinyl version is via Portland Oregon label Domestic Departure and all proceeds from the ep go towards 2 very deserving causes; RAICES (The Refugee and Immigrant Centre for Education and Legal Services) and Border Angels. You can expect C-86 influenced spiky jangle punk on subjects such as struggling to keep the bailiffs at bay and musclebound oafs that talk with their knuckles so watch out for it : https://neutrals.bandcamp.com/album/rent-your-house-e-p (If you get on that Bandcamp page quickly, they've made available for one day only an unreleased track titled Bus Stop Nights and all funds raised from it will go towards supporting Bay Area relief efforts serving the vulnerable during this current crisis).
This track is in protest of the treatment by the current US administration towards immigrants and refugees and about the growing threat of fascism around the world. It's called Hitler's In The Charts Again...
Listen to the sound Of the soldiers dancing Armageddon time On the firing line Don't know what they're doing Looks like trouble's brewing Wunderbar Auf Wiedersehen
Hitler's in the charts again Hitler's in the charts again
You look like a tramp Put you in a camp Join the shower queue In your dancing shoes Be the dancing champ Of your concentration camp Keep on movin' fast Remember Belsen was a gas
Hitler's in the charts again Hitler's in the charts again Moving in trance watch the soldiers dance Bloodstains on their feet scared of everyone you meet Armys on the street can you feel the heat Watch the soldiers fall it couldn't happen here
The Skints (https://www.facebook.com/theskints/) are from London and feature a line up of Jon Doyle (Bass), Jamie Kyriakides (Drums/Vocals). Josh Waters Rudge (Guitar/Vocals) and Marcia Richards (Keys/Sax/Flute/Melodica/Samples/Vocals). They formed as school friends in 2005 and released their first ep in 2008. Since then there's been 4 albums, including their latest, Swimming Lessons (which contains the song you're getting today). Their music is a fresh sounding mix up of reggae, dub, ska & punk and they'll provide a nice change of pace to the usual fare you get on here.
They've just released a new video for a track that's a little harder edged than most of their songs. It's about Little Englanders and ineffective politicians... climate change and dinosaurs in human clothing. It's called The Island...
By their prolific standards, it's been ages since we heard from Nashville power pop heroes Vista Blue (although it's only a week or so ago since side project Ralphie's Red Ryders released their debut single https://ralphiesredryders.bandcamp.com/releases). The band have featured on here often enough that you probably already know if you like them or not. They've been very consistent putting out numerous catchy releases, some sitting slightly on the pop punk side of the fence, others on the power pop side. You know what you're getting with the band so I don't really need to rattle on.
The new release is a 3 track ep titled Rock Acrostics. It's a free download on Bandcamp and in these times of social distancing, Vista Blue are one of several bands determined to get their music out there to give an isolated public something to listen to. You can grab the ep here : ttps://wearevistablue.bandcamp.com/album/rock-acrostics
They promise more new music is on the way.
This song name checks Baltimore pop punkers The Huntingtons, the Ramones influenced band who formed in the 90's and recently featured on here with a track from their new album Muerto, Carcel, O Rocanrol! (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2020/02/huntingtons-too-old-to-care.html). It's a timeless pop punk love song to a favourite band and it's called I Wanna Be A Huntington...
Back in 2016 a band from Belfast came out of nowhere and with a debut album that channelled the spirit of local punk legends Runnin' Riot they walked off with the accolade of the Just Some Punk Songs album of the year. A gritty and passionate modern day oi classic it was the sound of a young band that were authentic and a breath of fresh air. If you missed the album then make amends now : https://takersusers.bandcamp.com/releases
And now, seemingly out of nowhere, a new song. It's an appetiser for an upcoming sophomore album and if it shows us anything it's that the band haven't lost any of that energy or passion. They also haven't lost the knack of writing a catchy tune. It's about the gentrification of Belfast, it's bursting with energy and plenty of gang vocals. These guys want their city back.
This is his write up on Gross Polluter and their new album The People Get... What The People Get
I had become very disillusioned with the American punk scene back in the tumultuous year of 1998. Bands were starting to contaminate their sounds with generic hard rock riffs and pretentious metal productions. The music had gone from raw to disingenuous. It was bound to happen. The chaotic and crazed garage-punk sounds of the early to mid 90s couldn’t maintain their purity unless the band broke up after a few releases. A strange metaphor for life in a way. The punk revival had become too self conscious and eager to please. Blind worship of the usually nauseating flavor of the month became the norm and merch sales were more important than song quality.
A new band called Smogtown from the suburban hell of Orange County released Smog on 45, an intense and unfiltered 7” of destructo beach punk that annihilated everything in its path. A hard reset for a genre that had lost its way. Their soundscapes were gloomy and radiant with menacing guitar and cool as hell catchy vocals. A much needed shot in the arm for punk purists. The band would go on to release a number of devastating full lengths and scorching singles. All killer and no filler.
Here we are again in 2020, living in a time of great paranoia and heavy reliance upon virtual reality. Things seem off kilter and unwound in the modern world. You would think raging punk rock bands would be blasting out of the woodwork all the time but instead there seems to be a small handful committed to the cause which brings us to the brand new full length by Gross Polluter. Made up of former Smogtown members, this monster of a record will kick your ass all over the place. The timing couldn’t be more perfect.
The People Get…What the People Get is a scathing indictment of a socially engineered civilization addicted to instant gratification and superficial superiority. If the Adolescents Blue Album had been recorded in 2020 it might sound something like this but with more artistic risk taking. Classic punk sounds are reconstructed with psychotic interludes and symphonic guitar damage. These guys have never sounded better. There is an unhinged tunefulness and urgency that runs throughout all 10 tracks. Precise in its recklessness, you won’t find a single boring song on here. Gross Polluter’s latest release is epic in its brevity and supercharged angst. This is the best record of 2020 if you ask me. You need this. Available now on GarageRock Records. https://garagerock-records.com/
Hopefully the title of today's song won't apply to the human race as a result of the current Corona Virus outbreak...
Terror Claws (https://www.facebook.com/TERRORCLAWS/) are an 80's influenced hardcore punk band with a contemporary edge. They're from the North West of England (Wigan & Timperley) and list amongst their influences the likes of Poison Idea, Dag Nasty, The Suicide File and Go It Alone. They released a Self Titled ep just over a year ago and have now returned with a follow up. Titled Patient Zero, it's another 4 hard hitting punk tunes about how fucked up society is... We're living in a modern hell, some of us slave to a screen whilst others to a shattered body. High tech can be toxic and rumours faster to spread than truths.
The band features Battle (vocals), Chance (guitar), Mikey (drums) and D.A. (bass). D.A. was previously in UK hardcore band Jailcell Recipes. Coronavirus permitting, they've a gig on Weds 22nd April (celebrating Earth Day) at the relaunched Wigan venue The Den. The gig will hopefully also feature Liverpool band Coughin Vicars (ex SSS/Walk The Plank/Cold Ones/Salem Rages.... https://coughinvicars.bandcamp.com/releases).
This is the closing track, it's inspired by late 70's era Hawkwind. The lyrics are a pretty good allegory for what's happening in the world at the moment. It's called Heading For Extinction...
A new band today, they're called Ralphie's Red Ryders (https://www.facebook.com/ralphiesredryders/), they're from Holman, Indiana and they feature a line up of Ralphie, Flick and Schwartz. They write songs about bullies, BB guns, school, the Bumpus hounds, major awards, and everyday life in Holman. A bit of digging reveals they take their name from the bb gun which Ralphie wanted in the 1983 family movie A Christmas Story. The movie is set in 1940 in the fictional town of Hohman, Indiana and the gun was named for the comic strip cowboy character Red Ryder who was created in 1938 and appeared in numerous films and on tv in the 40's and 50's. The comic strip was cancelled in 1963 but the gun is still in production. If you're familiar with the movie you may recognise Ralphie, Flick and Schartz as characters from it, more likely than that though, you'll listen to the song below and think, "damn, that sounds like Vista Blue!"
So are the reports of Vista Blue's demise true? According to frontman Mike Patton, there's new material from them coming soon so happily it would appear not. Also on the way is a full length cd from Ralphie's Red Ryder, it'll be released by Outloud! Records in November. In the meantime there's a couple of tracks name your price on Bandcamp : https://ralphiesredryders.bandcamp.com/releases
This song is one of Mike's baseball songs (sort of!). "Four Eyes" Shottenhoffer is a fictional baseball player mentioned in A Christmas Story by Old Man Parker (played by Darren McGavin aka Kolchak: The Night Stalker) when he tells his wife that the Sox (probably Chicago White Sox) traded "Bullfrog" for the utility infielder. The entirety of the dialog about the two players is reproduced below:
Old Man Parker: "They traded Bullfrog. I don't believe it."
Mrs. Parker: "What's that?"
Old Man Parker: "Well, for Christ's sake, the Sox traded Bullfrog... the only player they've got, for Shottenhoffer. "Four Eyes" Shottenhoffer, a utility infielder. Got a whole goddamned team of utility infielders."
Mrs. Parker: "That's nice."
Miley Silence are a raw, hardcore punk band from Hamburg who formed in 2019 and who announced themselves with a Demo last September. Now they're preparing to release a new Self Titled cassette which will feature 8 tracks (including re recorded versions of the 2 from the Demo). It'll be available on 27th March via No Spirit and you can pre order it here : https://nospirit.bandcamp.com/
To support it they'll be heading out on the road with the Hugs Till We Die Tour playing a number of European shows including one with Just Some Punk Songs' favourites Neighborhood Brats. Details are on Facebook and Bandcamp.
Both available songs are very good, Daddy Is A Racist is pretty self explanatory and blasts through it's 67 run time with plenty of bite and bile. The other is twice as long but no less scathing. I'm assuming it takes it's title from the recent documentary about gender in diy and underground UK music scenes (trailer : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3kPqcBh6vU). It's titled So, Which Band Is Your Boyfriend In...
Damn! Today's song is a deceptively enticing little number. I actually listened to it last week whilst checking out a few new releases and I sort of didn't really take much notice and moved onto the next cab on the rank. Then today I saw that the Upset The Rhythm Twitter account were recommending I checked out a new song by Es that had been uploaded to Soundcloud. Being a fan I followed their recommendation and enjoyed the song and as I was browsing the interweb I let the Soundcloud player carry on in the background only to soon have my interest grabbed by an hypnotic, slightly familiar sound. It was the song I'd not really paid much attention to last week and it was luring me onto the rocks like the sweetest of Sirens. Can I recommend you give it your full attention....
Primo! are a post punk band from Melbourne with a line up of Suzanne Walker, Violetta Del Conte-Race, Xanthe Waite and recent recruit Amy Hill. They also feature in several other bands including Constant Mongrel, Terry and The Shifters. They released a cassette in 2016 and a debut album titled Amici in 2018; sophomore album Sogni will be out on April 17th on vinyl via Antifade (AU) and Upset The Rhythm (UK). There's a couple of tracks streaming on Bandcamp, teaser single Best And Fairest is also really good which suggests we're in for a great album. Today however you're getting the other song, it reminds me a little of classic Swiss band Kleenex/Liliput at their most serene and it's called Perfect Paper...
I've been meaning to post today's song for a a few weeks now but it kept getting pushed back to "next in line" but now it's worked it's way to top of the pile and if you've not yet heard it I think you'll be impressed.
Shrinkwrap Killers are Greg Wilkinson from doom metal outfit Brainoil and Earhammer Studios. They're (He's) from Oakland, California and had a cassette album out a year ago titled Parents + FBI = Cahoots. I've had a listen and it's pretty decent though I've got to say that the new track which you'll find below blows it out of the water. If you're a fan of catchy garage punk and in particular The Spits you'll want to check out the Stolen Electronics to Shove Up Your Ass EP. It's 2 tracks on a 7" single, it's #3 of 5 in the Systemic Surgery series each hand numbered and limited to 200 and you can also get it digitally : https://shrinkwrapkillers.bandcamp.com/album/stolen-electronics-to-shove-up-your-ass-ep
It's very catchy and quite humorous (unless maybe you're a looter). It's a heady 90 second brew of budget bubblegum (or it would be if that was a genre). It's gang violence done by looney tunes. It's bloody marvellous. Check it out...
Hey There, We're gonna beat your ass! So tired of talking, now it's time to swing. Hey There, We're gonna beat your ass! You've Looted one too many things this time.
Breaking windows and stealing cars. Stolen electronics we're gonna shove up your ass.
Hey There, We're gonna beat your ass! So tired of talking, now it's time to swing. Hey There, We're gonna beat your ass! You've Looted one too many things this time.
They play a mix of punk, alt and indie and count amongst their influences the likes of Alkaline Trio, Saves The Day, Leatherface, The Descendents, Hot Water Music etc... They've actually called in favours from some of those influences, the album was produced by Rodrigo Palma (Saves The Day) and Derek Grant (Alkaline Trio) whilst guesting on backing vocals is a certain Frankie Stubbs. It's a quality album created by people with impeccable credentials, you'll be impressed.
They've released a video for lead track Cemetery Sparrow which is a song I played on the show a few weeks ago and it's definitely worthy of your attention (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvbDOZNDPJw) but the song I'm highlighting today is the equally impressive My Moral Line...
I’ll say when I’ll say when I’ll say when
My moral line Has been crossed It’s been crossed and redefined Out of shape and twisting up my mind Living lost and walking blind I need a better place and time To hide me Where they won’t find me
I’ll say when Too little too late I’ll say when Too little too late I’ll say when Too little too late I’ll say when Too little
Thoughts and prayers Thoughts and prayers for everyone
First they came for them And I didn’t speak up Because I wasn’t them Then they came for you And I didn’t speak up Because I wasn’t you Then they came for me And there was no one left to speak.
Whilst trying to dig up a little more info to pad out this update I came across an ad for a gig in which they supported Sick On The Bus and it featured a quote from this very blog describing the band as “A blast of scratchy, lo fi nihilism. Minimalist punk rock songs that don't outstay their welcome, cheap & cheerfully recorded and very good indeed" and to be honest I'm not going to top that today. The new single is very much in the same vein, it's prime budget rock, it's raw punk tuneage, it's highly recommended. It's called Killer Cops...
The Clinch (https://www.facebook.com/theclinchofficial/) are a street punk 5 piece from Melbourne who formed in 2017 and who's music takes it's influences from the best of 80's east London oi!, punk, Aussie rock and traditional union songs. Lining up with Steve Bunce (Vocals), Luke Mathews (Guitar), Andy Lynch (Guitar), Brendan McRae (Bass) and Sam Barker (Drums) they're preparing to release a follow up to acclaimed debut album Our Path Is One. It's going to be titled Basecamp and it'll be available on vinyl and cd on Sunny Bastards (and on cd on OSU! Records in Australia). The digital version will precede it and will be on the usual platforms on 23rd March.
The album contains 11 catchy, anthemic singalongs. Gritty vocals stand out nice and clear over instruments that are played with gusto by a band that have clearly honed their skills supporting the likes of Cockney Rejects, SLF, The Exploited etc... The album was produced by Jason Fuller, who also produced one of last year's best albums : St Anger by Private Function, so you know it's going to sound great. There's a launch for it on 18th April at Bendingo Hotel, Collingwood with support from NZ/Melb heavyweights No Class, Brisbane originals Plan of Attack, local legends Bulldog Spirit, melodic Oi! from The Opposition and up and coming powerhouse The Stripp and you can check out details here : https://www.facebook.com/events/868057103652674/
I'll play an unreleased track on this week's Just Some Punk Songs show (later today and then throughout the week on various global radio stations : https://www.facebook.com/events/829393824223940/ ) but on here today I'm posting the video for the title track. This is Basecamp...
There are red lines in the sand Total sites of state control Rocket fuel for a just cause Disappointment never sees parole A shock through the central nerve Turn down through leaded soul Crawl forward on burning rags Crawl back from a shallow hole And the searchlight hurts my eyes As they open for the first time Cos the light wont save me now Save me from my own And to go back to the start To the start where I was gold Basecamp pointed to the stars Basecamp far from home On the verge of nothing Painted statues unravel, unfold Sealed with a kiss on paper wings Never said I didn’t like the cold No ground from which you came Lets water rise, blackened fault Memory working steel in war Broken down by force recalled And the sunlight hurts my eyes As they open for the first time Cos the light won’t save me now Save me from my own And to go back to the start To the start where I was gold Basecamp pointed to stars Basecamp far from home
There's lots of excitement building about the upcoming release of the debut album by The Chats (quite rightly too, it's going to be a great album) but another Australian band with a new release to get excited about are Aborted Tortoise (https://www.facebook.com/AbortedTortoise/). They've just released an ep (it'll be out soon on 7" via Goodbye Boozy Records but is streaming now) titled Scale Model Subsistence Vendor and it's bloody brilliant.
They're from Perth and line up with Connor Lane (Vocals), Tom Milan (Guitar), Charles Wickham (Guitar), John Peers (Bass) and Alex Patching (Drums). With a range of influences that takes in the likes of The Ramones, Dick Dale, The Mummies, The Saints etc, they play "stupid music for stupid people." Being honest though, the only stupid people are those that don't check the band out. It's snotty, irreverent punk music with garage and surf influences and should definitely appeal to those that are eagerly awaiting the aforementioned Chats lp. They formed in 2013 and you can find their releases, including the new one, here : https://abortedtortoise.bandcamp.com/
Expect energy, expect attitude, expect to be blown away. This is the lead track, it's titled Making A Mint...
We only have to wait about 10 seconds until we get one of Hank's trademark grunts. It comes during a relatively restrained intro to track 1, Look At You. Almost straight after this though the pace picks up and we get exactly what we clicked play for. Top notch ramblings from a man who to me uses his voice pretty much like an extra instrument. I've not always been able to work out the lyrics but they aren't all that important truth be told, these songs are all about the groove. You can easily get swept up as vocals, guitar, drums and organ combine to create a wall of sound.
All 4 tracks are winners, possibly Tomorrow edging it as my favourite (I'll play it on this week's Just Some Punk Songs show). I'd say that the production on this ep might just soften a few edges compared with early releases though I think they've been edging slowly in this direction over the years. It's still up tempo, still exciting but maybe just a little smoother. I doubt we'd get it anytime soon but I can imagine Mr Wood one day releasing a Nick Cave style orchestral record.
For now though, enjoy this. It's called Look At You...
There was a third release by that label last week and it's been chosen by Bandcamp as one of the best punk albums from February. A decent choice for a very good album.
That album is if course the new Self Titled long player by Erik Nervous & The Beta Blockers. Erik (real name Erik Hart) featured on here last year when he was riffing on the Ramones' classic The KKK Took My Baby Away (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2019/06/erik-nervous-usps-threw-your-tape-away.html) but this is his first proper release with The Beta Blockers after they tested the waters with a couple of cassettes. The line up is Erik (guitar, synthesizers, tenor saxophone, vocals, bass (3, 6), drums (3, 5) ), Joe "Roldy" Varchola (bass) and Jeff Mahannah (drums) with Matt Ferrara contributing additional vocals on the song I'm featuring today.
What can you expect from the lp? A dozen inventive rippers that take inspiration from the kind of angular post punk bands that used to frequent the John Peel show back when mainstream radio used to (grudgingly) acknowledge that decent music existed. Typical verse, chorus, verse structure is often sacrificed in favour of something more playful. Think Pink Flag era Wire battling it out with Ausmuteants round at Mark E Smith's house (actually, don't as that line sounded better in my head than wrote down! Just listen to the album and make your own spurious comparisons). https://drunkensailorrecords.bandcamp.com/album/st-lp-9
I think my favourite track is probably No Chorus but let's try and entice the casual punk fan by posting the Siouxsie And The Banshees cover. This is Make Up To Break Up...
Spots warts and blemishes Deep receding crevices Seem to disappear With foundation on my face Foundation on my face!
Shadow conjures cheekbones Hides a nasal disgrace A disfigured atrocity Jutting out of place Jutting out of place!
Make up to break up Make up to break up Make up to break up Make up, break up, make up To break up
Girls with eyes like swimming pools Are the ones that I despise 'Cause I need lots of colour To hide my bloodshot eyes Hide my bloodshot eyes!
Now to paint by number Over the cavernous pit Lots of glossy red To hide my pale cracked lips Hide my pale cracked lips!
Make up to break up Make up to break up Make up to break up Make up, break up, make up
Now comes the break up From the make up Just like the devil's rain See-see-colours run insane Colours run insane!
Foundation starts to tremble My nose a grotesque abstract My mouth a gaping gap My eyes are shooting blood My face is cracking up My face is cracking up!
