White Collar - Petition Signer

    

  White Collar are a band from Victoria, British Columbia. They introduced themselves last year with a 4 track Demo cassette on Slow Death Records. 

  They were a duo then but now they're back with an expanded line up of Loosey C. (Vocals), L. Danté (Guitar), T3 (Bass) & Peggy Strapon (Drums). Other bands the members play in include Bootlicker, Crosshairs and Headcheese.

 Those 4 demo tracks have been given a slight makeover and they're joined by a further 8 short, sharp blasts of hardcore punk goodness on the band's first 12" release. 

  There's a limited run of 500 copies on clear orange vinyl and you can get them from Static Shock Records : https://staticshockrecords.limitedrun.com/products/813820-white-collar-white-collar-lp

  If you fancy translucent blue vinyl (there's 550 copies) or digital download go here :   https://whitecollarbanned.bandcamp.com/album/white-collar

  I think this may be my pick of the bunch, it's called Petition Signer...

Endless Idiot - Someone Else's Song

  

  As I often do on a Monday, I'm posting the most popular song with the chatroom folk from last night's Just Some Punk Songs show...

  Endless Idiot is a one man endeavour from Stefan Ball. You may remember Stefan from his previous band, Who Killed Nancy Johnson? They featured on here a few time, this being one of them :  https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2019/02/who-killed-nancy-johnson-pretending-to.html

  September 6th will see the release of a new album by Endless Idiot. It'll be titled Stringing Up Wires and it promises to be a more punked up affair than previous releases. So far we've been treated to synthwave, post-punk, hauntology, dark folk, minimalism, field recordings and experimental and orchestral writing. Next up it'll be Stefan letting his hair down a little (something more akin to the Who Killed Nancy Johnson? sound I'm guessing). You can discover more here :  https://endlessidiot.bandcamp.com/album/stringing-up-wires

  This is the teaser track that wowed the listeners last night, it's called Someone Else's Song...

The feet left bruise stains on the stair
When they walked downstairs from the bath
The towel wrapped round the dark wet hair
Slipped down the neck like a mark

And the feeling in the stomach like a punch about to land
The head set at an angle was a habit he can’t stand
Eyes alive with looking, the ears were strained to hear
The head was full of anger, it was too far gone for tears

That day hands packed a bag to run
But then she yelled that wrong
Sick of being the puppet thing
In someone else’s song

And the resolution made was a blade about to cut
The day she picked the knife up was the day she’d had enough
Eyes wide and open, and focused on the door
Knowing that cowardly piece of shit would soon be back for more

Oh, it’s someone else’s song
Someone else’s song

The boots left snail tracks on the stair when dragged downstairs in the dark
The towel wrapped round the open mouth made the face a question mark
She packed its few possessions to show the world it’s gone away
Drove the lot to a far off place and left it there to stay

And the resolution carried out was a way to say goodbye
The day she cleaned the carpets she prepared her alibi
Eyes wide and steady, not listening for the door
Knowing that cowardly piece of shit would not be back no more

Oh, it’s someone else’s song
Someone else’s song
Someone else’s song
Someone else’s
Someone else’s
Someone else’s song

Johnny Flamingo - The Judge

  

  Anyone remember my friend from Belgium, Dirk Ceustermans? He used to pop up on here on occasion a few years back with the odd review of bands (mainly) from his own country. Well I got a message from him yesterday saying Hey Mick how's you? I cant review this one for you. 

  The reason he couldn't review it is because it's his own band. They're based in Zaventem and they're called Johnny Flamingo (https://www.facebook.com/groups/3127315880616798). They recently released a Self Titled ep and you can find it on Bandcamp as a name your price download. 

https://johnnyflamingo.bandcamp.com/album/s-t

  There's also a few vinyl copies if you check the band's Facebook page.

   Anyway, I replied to him, "of course you can't review yourself Dirk, that would be ridiculous. But if you want to send me some info I'll see if I can do anything." 

  So this is what he wrote...

  Mick’s a funny lad, tells me to review my own release… We’re just a bunch lazy old farts living in Belgium that been doing this for 5 years now. Ok there was the Covid days that put things on a halt so there’s a lame excuse for having a 7” out after this long a period. We rehearse in Zaventem, a small town next to the Brussels airport, so we have to turn up everything real loud. We got Benny who loves his dealer, Stefan who's never on top of things, Dummo trying to hold it together and me complaining all the time. I could namecheck some of our previous glorious attempts to fame but that is irrelevant. The thing is, the one with the least under his belt is the most talented imho. Some say his voice sounds like Lee of the Spermbirds, others shout Jello, to us he’s just our singer doing what he likes. We cancel 3 out of 4 offers for shows because we’re rockstars and don’t want to play in little shitty dumps really. I think we’re going to hit the jackpot with our next one, it always has to be the second release innit? These songs are recorded in rehearsal spaces and this release is 100% diy. Lots of ppl helped luckily or this would take another 5 years to see the light. Curious which track Mick will pick.

  The track I've picked is called The Judge...

Fat Earthers - Cocaine Socialist

  

  Fat Earthers (https://www.facebook.com/fatearthersband) are a garage punk band from Ventnor, a seaside resort town on the Isle Of Wight. They've just released a new song. It's an energetic fuck you which sees them taking their frustrations and channeling them into art. It's the 1st single off an upcoming 2nd album and it makes me want to hear the rest of the tracks (so definitely a case of job well done). 

  You can find it here : https://fatearthers.bandcamp.com/track/cocaine-socialist-2

  It's called Cocaine Socialist... 

Just Some Punk Songs Fantasy Premier League

 

The football season isn't far away now and as usual I'll be running a Just Some Punk Songs league in the Fantasy Premier League. Feel free to join. https://fantasy.premierleague.com/ The code to enter the league is 4hrsa0

Let's see if anyone can beat Vinny Vincent this year (He's won the last 3 titles)

Daffodildos - No Pride

  

  I'm sure you've heard the saying "A dog is for life not just for Christmas." Well similar sentiments are echoed on today's song. 

  The charmingly named Daffodildos (https://www.facebook.com/daffodildosuk) are a queer punk trio from Brighton who recently released a debut single. The band feature Emily Flea on vocals. She's featured here twice before with both The Fleas and as a solo artist : 

https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2018/12/the-fleas-phone-call.html

https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2021/04/emily-flea-park-bench-creep.html

  Now with Daffodildos she's ably aided and abetted by Captain Jax & Anni Von Flange. The single is a critique of the annual Pride day and in particular how it seems (as is the way with most things) to have become a victim of commercialisation. Starting out as a call for justice, Pride has grown into a corporate sponsored party. Daffodildos deliver a message that we shouldn't forget why we have Pride in the first place and it certainly shouldn't just be a one day a year excuse to party.

  You can get the single here. It's a very impressive introduction...       https://daffodildos.bandcamp.com/track/no-pride

  This is No Pride...

No pride in capitalism, big corporations, shops and banks
They say they support our community, but they haven't got our backs
No pride in police brutality, rainbows on their cars
For decades we've been victims of their abuse, who the hell do they think they are


We're here, we're queer
We're never gonna disappear
We've been fighting for our rights our entire lives
Not just once a year


No pride in London zoo, what have those poor animals done to you?
No pride in deportation, there's no need for separation
No pride in transphobia, no pride in TERFs
How can they end up leading the march, tell me could this get any worse?


We're here, we're queer
We're never gonna disappear
We've been fighting for our rights our entire lives
Not just once a year
We're here, we're queer
We're never gonna disappear
You think this is an annual event
But your stuck with us all year


Call yourself an ally because you wear rainbows once a year
But for the rest of the time you remain silent and our community live in fear
The first pride was a protest, but now it's just an excuse
For everyone to get drunk and party all night
While the queers still suffer from regular abuse


We're here, we're queer
We're never gonna disappear
We've been fighting for our rights our entire lives
Not just once a year x4
We're here, we're queer
We're never gonna disappear
You think this is an annual event
But your stuck with us all year

Onlooker - Sit Tight

  

  Onlooker (https://www.facebook.com/onlookertheband) are a Teeside based quartet who released a debut album a couple of years ago titled Total Rest (https://serialbowlrecords.bandcamp.com/album/total-rest). 

  I featured a song from it here :  

  https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2021/06/onlooker-easy-breezy.html

  Last month they returned with a 1st single from an upcoming 2nd album which is as yet untitled but which will be out later this year via Serial Bowl Records   https://serialbowlrecords.bandcamp.com/track/wishing-wellaye

  And now they've upped the ante with what might be my favourite song by them thus far. It's available as a name your price download and it's called Sit Tight... 

Swaraj Chronos - Broken Doll

    

  Swaraj Chronos (https://www.facebook.com/SwarajChronos) are a South London band who are influenced heavily by punk but aren't afraid to experiment with their sound. They've been around since 2019 and feature a line up of Suresh (Bass/Samples/BV), Vanessa (Lead Vocals), Ant (Drums) & Raffaele (Guitar/Samples Editing/BV). 

   They recently released an ep titled Gibberish Madness and I've been giving it a listen. You can do the same over on Bandcamp : https://swarajchronos.bandcamp.com/album/gibberish-madness

  This track demonstrates how you don't have to bang, shout and stamp your feet to get across your message. It's a more considered punk tune than many that feature on here but no less powerful for that. It's called Broken Doll... 

CLASS - First To Finish Last

  

  CLASS are from Tucson, Arizona and they've been impressing for a while now with Clash meets powerpop style of punk rock (or as their Bandcamp page just as correctly has it, The Boys meets Exploding Hearts). If you've not come across them so far then I'd recommend the 2-4-1 album released by Drunken Sailor Records that collected together the tracks from the two cassettes they released on Feel It Records : https://drunkensailorrecords.bandcamp.com/album/2-4-1-lp

  They've just released a new single. It's on Total Punk Records, one of the first two singles released as part of that labels The Order Of The Dirty Plates series (the other single being by Itchy And The Nits). The band's line up on the single is Joe Jennings (Bass), Ryan Chavira (Drums), Richard (Guitars/Vocals) & Randall (Guitars/Vocals). 

  It's limited to 300 copies on 7" vinyl (which I'm sure will sell very quickly) and you can get it, along with the digital version, here : https://nowthatsclass.bandcamp.com/album/total-punk-order-of-the-dirty-plates-singles-club-2024

  This track is called First To Finish Last... 

Gen Gap - My House

  

  Here's one of the "hits" with the chatroom on last night's Just Some Punk Songs show...

  Gen Gap are a hardcore punk quintet from Philadelphia who've just released a debut ep titled Hanging Out With Gen Gap. It's 9 tracks of fast & furious tuneage that, as is my preference, not only has power and pace but also has enough melody to latch onto your brain. The songs are of the blink and you'll miss 'em variety, prepare to be blown away. 

  It's available on 7" vinyl (300 copies) from MF Records (the label of Jim Shomo from Dark Thoughts)  https://mfrecords.bigcartel.com/product/gen-gap-hanging-out-with-gen-gap-ep

  You can also get it as a name your price download :  https://mfrecordsrulesok.bandcamp.com/album/hanging-out-with-gen-gap

  This track's called My House...

Unicorn Dogs - They Hate Change

  

  Unicorn Dogs (https://www.facebook.com/unicorn.dogs.music) are a fairly new band from Baltimore, Maryland who've just released a debut album titled Age Typical Junk Behaviour. It's 14 songs in 23 minutes, these guys don't fuck about. Their Bandcamp page throws out the names of some of their influences; Dillinger Four, The Copyrights, Dear Landlord, Hospital Job, Houseboat, Charlie Brown Gets a Valentine, The Riverdales and The Steinways all get a mention, as does Mutant Pop Records. It's pop punk sensibilities with balls. Gritty and melodic, a great combination.

  The album's available on cd and digital download :                  https://unicorndogs.bandcamp.com/album/age-typical-junk-behavior 

  Lyrically they opine on mind numbing office jobs, being thin skinned and social withdrawal. They also sing about being unwilling to adapt, this song's called They Hate Change...

They hate change, A fixed point of view They hate change, Stick to what they knew They hate change, No forward only back They hate change, No peace just attack Not interested in learning a new way They're only interested in trying to stay... unchanged They hate change and they’re in the way Only dead things don't change, you are a dead thing You hate change, get the fuck out of the goddamn way

IRKED - Crippling Empath

  

  Well this week's Just Some Punk Songs show is shaping up very nicely, 20+ new releases and some outstanding tracks chosen. Including the one I'm posting on here today. It's on tomorrow (Sunday) at the earlier than usual time of 6pm (as I'll be in the pub at 8 watching the football!). 

  Some of you may remember back in December when I posted the end of year chart (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2023/12/just-some-punk-songs-top-100-songs-of_27.html), a song called Backstreets featured. It was an impressive debut by a band from Newcastle Upon Tyne called Irked (https://www.facebook.com/irkedband). 

  That song is now featured on a one sided 12" ep that's available via Wrong Speed Records. It's already pretty much sold out so if you want one click the link now https://irked1.bandcamp.com/album/ep 

  5 tracks, each a winner. Including this one which is called Crippling Empath... 

Hellscape - Dybbuk (Guest Review By Ralph J Rivera)

  

  Well the hinting in yesterday's update worked. Over to you Ralph...

So 2024 has definitely turned into the year of "Female Fronted" bands. It could be Modern Punk/Hardcore or even New Wave, Garage Rock or Noise Rock. Women are making their mark these days stronger than ever. Pretty much ALL my favorite releases this year have a female presence. SO this amazing Demo/EP dropped on my birthday & I can't stop listening to it.

https://advancedperspective.bandcamp.com/album/hellscape

"Hellscape" from London have managed to absorb everything great about 80's Death-Rock & Los Angeles style Hardcore. After listening to this 3 times in a row I had to order the vinyl! This is going to be a future classic! Their singer "Ciara" has studied all the greats and can hold her own as one of the best new Punk vocalists. Their guitar player "Ben" has also done his homework as his riffs instantly made me want to pick up my guitar! The rythmn section is on par with vintage 45 Grave! 6 songs that you'll want to listen to over & over. Dig this song - "Dybbuk" and see if you can recognize where that intro came from!

Dark Harvest Commandos - Clown Island

      

  My friend and occasional Just Some Punk Songs contributor Ralph J Rivera has been notable by his absence from this blog recently (hint hint Ralph) but that hasn't stopped him recommending great music in Facebook. 

  On one such recommendation he espoused "Relentless Anarcho-Punk Thrash from Glasgow, Scotland. Obviously "Disaffect" was a huge influence on this band. Excellent female vocals & very time appropriate lyrics. This band would have been huge in the early 90's Crust scene. 6 songs that blow by you in a flash so listen repeatedly! Killer Punk Rock 2024!"

  He was talking about Dark Harvest Commandos (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559276021875). As he mentioned, they're a DIY hardcore outfit from Glasgow and they've recently released a Self Titled ep on Sanctus Propaganda. It's half a dozen short, sharp bursts of social and political commentary. It's bloody good too so check it out :  https://sanctuspropaganda.bandcamp.com/album/s-t-ep

  This one's calling for the Tory scum to go so no doubt they were celebrating round at Dark Harvest Commandos towers last week (although the collapse of the SNP vote probably won't have been received with the same zeal) . It's called Clown Island...

Inspired to stand up So, I sat down to write, Pissed off with Society, I’m fucked off with this shite! Vote for Independence? The dead folk had their say Stuck on Clown Island with Brexit, It’s the poorest folk who pay Libraries and Swimming pools, Closing anything that feeds the mind Stop voting in the Tories, Refuse to accept this shit! No funding for communities, No staff to run the show. Striking Doctors and Nurses, It’s the Tory scum who have to go! Look at our brothers across the channel, They’re rioting in France! The streets still have legitimacy, Let’s give ourselves a fighting chance! I remember Stop the City, I remember Kill the Bill, The State only understands violence, Stand up, Get the Tories out! Billions for their best mates, 12 years austerity for us, History will show they raped the UK, Stand up, Get the Tories out! Vote for Independence? The dead folk had their say Stuck on Clown Island with Brexit, It’s the poorest folk who pay

Zatopeks - Jarama Valley

  

  No need to write much about today's song as I featured London band Zatopeks (https://www.facebook.com/zatopeksband) last month (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2024/06/zatopeks-fine-sunny-day.html).

  I just wanted to let you know that the new album, Loitering And Sauntering, is out now and I'd say it's probably my favourite release of the year so far so go snap it up, you won't regret it :   https://zatopeks.bandcamp.com/album/loitering-and-sauntering 

  I played this song on last night's Just Some Punk Songs show and the chatroom loved it so I'll highlight it again here. It's a rejigged version of Woody Guthrie's Red River Valley, leaning more lyrically to the version from 1938 by Alex McDade, of the British Battalion, XV International Brigade which was published in The Book of the XV International Brigade by the Commissariat of War, Madrid. It's called Jarama Valley... 

There’s a valley in Spain called Jarama It’s a place we all know so well It was there that we fought against the fascists We saw that peaceful valley turn to hell We signed up with the Lincoln Battalion We’re proud of the fight that we made And we know that you people of the valley Will remember our Lincoln Brigade From this valley they say we are going But don’t hasten to bid us adieu Even though we lost the battle at Jarama We’ll set this valley free before we’re through You will never find peace with these fascists You’ll never find friends such as we So remember our Lincoln Battalion The people that’ll set this valley free Now all of this world is like Jarama So green, and so bright, and so fair No fascists will live in our valleys Or breathe in our new freedom’s air

Troubles - Cry Days

  

  Here's a catchy little tune for you by a trio from Helsinki called Troubles. I don't know anything about them other than they released a Demo last September and that they've just followed it up with Demo #2. Their music is low fi garage/pop punk and the song you'll find below stuck in my head for some reason. 

  You can get both Demos as name your price downloads here : https://troublespunk.bandcamp.com/

  This is about those times we all go through when staying in bed seems the best option, it's called Cry Days...

There's something rotten inside of me
It gasps my breath I cannot sleep
I break the mirrors reminding
who I used to be, unwhining
Now I'm sick and tired of it all
I stay in my bed I stay alone

Cry days
I'm your biggest fan
Devil stains my mind and my palms
He knows I got some idle hands

Something is bleeding to my knees
It ruins my mood it ruins my sheets
Days numb and completely sore
Don't wanna go out anymore
I'm sick and I'm tired of it all
I stay in my bed, I stay alone