The Prowlers are from Montreal and have been together playing their infectious brand of oi music since October 1998. They're influenced by the 80's UK oi scene as well as by local bands such as The Dischords, Gassenhaur and Shock Troops.
The song I've posted below comes from their 2012 Hate Us single which was released by Germany's Mad Butcher Records. It's a beefed up cover of a 1969 single by Jamaican reggae group The Versatiles and it's called Spread Your Bed.....
A song today by a band that I can't claim to know much about but whom I stumbled across whilst searching for music to post. Formed in 2003, The Fades are an indie rock band from London who's line up is Dave Lightfoot (guitar, vocals), James Lightfoot (bass), Jonny Bernard (guitar) and Alastair "Flash" Thorpe (drums).
The song you'll find below appeared on their 2012 album Ragnarok which came out on Genepool Records. Their latest release is The Blackdrop ep which you can check out here : https://thefadesband.bandcamp.com/album/the-blackdrop-ep
Name checking a host of awesome bands (SLF, Black Flag, X Ray Spex, Fugazi, The Saints, Ramones and many many more), this is I Love Punk Rock......
I was lucky enough to catch Discord's set at last weekend's Punk And Disorderly Fest in Lancaster and thought that they're a band definitely meriting a place in this blog. They hail from Blackpool, formed in the lead up to the bulldozing of the town's Tache rock club to make way for a supermarket (2011) and are a passionate, hard hitting punk rock behemoth featuring Chris (vocals), Zowie (bass), Dave (guitar) and Jake (drums).
They released the Your Father's Moustache ep to celebrate the last night of the Tache. Their debut album, The Wakes, was released in 2012 and was heralded by Punktastic as "...the punk-rock release of the year. An unrelenting juggernaut that leaves you feeling flame-licked." Second album, Here Come The Weeds followed in 2015 and they're currently in the process of recording a new long player which will be unleashed later this year. You can check their music out here : http://dischorduk.bandcamp.com/.
The song I've chosen for you was one of the highlight's of their set, it's from the debut album and it's a song about the ups and downs of living in Blackpool. This is Seaside Suicide.....
Evil Conduct formed in 1984 and split in 1988 without many people noticing. It was only after the release several years later of a couple of eps and the positive reception that those old recordings received that they reformed and achieved the success that had previously eluded them.
From Roermond, a city in the South East of The Netherlands, they were a proudly working class oi band with a strong skinhead identity. They released half a dozen anthemic studio albums and numerous singles and splits, there were also the 16 Oi! Scorchers! compilation and last years Live At Wild At Heart. The song you'll find below is the title track of 2012's Working Class Heroes album and also featured on their Oi! Rules...Ok! split ep with The Old Firm Casuals.
Unfortunately they abruptly split up in Feb 2015 but their legacy lives on. This is Working Class Heroes.....
Who are the ones who fought for freedom? Who are the ones who gave their lives?
Maybe they didn't have to lose much
But don't forget their kids and wives
Working class heroes
They are the ones who helped to build this land
Working class heroes
They stay united always hand in hand
Working class heroes
With hearts of gold that always shine so bright
Working class heroes
They give you hope, will never leave you side
Is this the way to treat your heroes?
Don't you have no respect at all?
A government that never listens
It seems it's riding for a fall
This ain't a country fit for heroes
The government don't give a shit
They're all so full of self importance
Soon time will come that they'll admit
We need to honour them, we need to honour them
We need to show that we'll remember them
Another song from the UK today, this time from 2012, it's by Night Of Treason, a band from Gosport, a town which is on England's south coast not too far from Portsmouth. They actually wrote a song for their local football team, Gosport Borough, to commemorate their FA Trophy final appearance against Cambridge Town in 2014.
Night Of Treason began life as a covers band but they soon began penning their own material. The album that today's song is taken from is called Gentleman And Hooligans, it came out around 7 years after they got together and benefits from them having had time to mature and hone their sound. They were pleased enough with the record to describe it as "the best English punk album since the 70's."
The line up features Pinky Wallace (who's side project FingerPluckinPinky recently supported John Otway) on vocals, Bill Gaynor - guitar, Pat Gilbert - guitar, Steve Kirk - drums and Lewie Lewis - bass.
Influenced by the likes of The Clash, The Alarm and Billy Bragg, they're a band that deserve a wider audience, please lend them your ears. This is The Ballad Of The Teddy Boy From Ladbroke Grove.....
Formed in 2008 when they were still teenagers and hailing from the outskirts Bristol, Criminal Mind are a no frills, street punk band that are influenced by the likes of The Clash, Dropkick Murphys, Black Flag and The Ruts and who have the happy knack of being able to pen a catchy tune.
Their debut release was the 5 track Work Or Riot ep which was recorded in vocalist/guitarist Josh Read's house on an 8-track mixer. 2012 brought us their debut album which saw them honing their sound and brought them some well deserved glowing reviews. They've also played live with many of the genres best bands (Rancid, Sham 69, The Business, Street Dogs, UK Subs, Cockney Rejects etc...) though possibly their most memorable touring experience was when they were arrested and held for people smuggling following a European tour! Fortunately all charges against them were dropped.
As well as Josh Read, they currently feature Ben Dowling (bass/vocals), Abel Inglis (guitar/vocals) and Jake Read (drums). They're going to be touring Belgium, Germany and The Netherlands in the summer and there's a new album on it's way as well as an ep which is pencilled in for later in the year.
Whilst we await the new material, here's a song from the debut lp. This is Frustrated & Teenage.....
Today's song is by 4 ladies, Sarah, Emily, Maggie & Patty (Patty is also a member of The Ar-Kaics), who hail from Richmond, Virginia and who've been said to sound a little like a cross between 60's girl group The Shangri-Las and 70's punk acts The Undertones and Protex. Other comparisons mention The Nerves, Paul Collins and The Pretenders so I think by now you get the idea, they're melodic, commercial enough to garner widespread attention but also have enough bite to appeal to anyone who reads this blog.
Drummers. Human metronomes that sit at the back of the stage and bash away on their kits. Are often replaced (or die if you believe Spinal Tap).
Allie Hanlon, from Ottowa (now Los Angeles), was a drummer. Not content on keeping time for others she took up the guitar and began writing and recording her own songs. Taking the name Peach Kelli Pop from a song by Redd Kross and backed by an assemblage of female musicians, she's the new queen of jangly, catchy as hell garage pop 'n' roll. Inspired by artists as diverse as The Spice Girls and The Plasmatics, there's so far there's been two albums, both self titled, and a smattering of singles. Album number 3 is out in April on Burger Records and you can stream a song from it called Princess Castle 1987, here : https://soundcloud.com/peachkellipop/princess-castle-1988
Until I hear the new material I'm posting my favourite song so far. This Is Dreamphone......
Sometimes when I'm missing you I want to call you up on my dream phone under my pillow baby blue I can I call only when I think of you when I wish you were here at home I call you up on my dreamphone I let it ring and ring some more wishin' you'd show up at my door
Dreamphone (dreamphone) dreamphone (dreamphone)
Sometimes when I'm missing you I want to call you up on my dream phone under my pillow baby blue I can I call only when I think of you I wanna kiss your happy feet I wanna hear your voice so sweet but I'm here in my room alone wishin you'd pick up the phone.
Jimmy Lee Lindsey Jr, or Jay Reatard as he renamed himself, was an extremely prolific purveyor of quality music, much of it varieties of lo-fi and garage. He was first noticed at age 15 when a demo he sent to Goner Records was deemed good enough for label boss Eric Friedl to sign him up.
Most of you are probably already familiar with most of his subsequent projects, including The Reatards, Lost Sounds, Bad Times, The Final Solutions, Angry Angles (who featured on this blog a few months back), Terror Visions and Destruction Unit. Today though I'm featuring a song he recorded as part of Nervous Patterns.
Partnered by Memphis based Alicja Trout, who had also featured with him in Lost Sounds, they released a self titled album and a single, Beautiful Brutal, under the Nervous Patterns moniker but the song I'm posting today came out on a 2012 split which also featured a track by Trout's other band, River City Tanlines.
A German language reworking of You Can't Change, which was the b side of Beautiful Brutal, this is Du Kannst Dich Niemals Andern.....
For you today I have song by a synth punk band from both Luttich (in Belgium) and Aix-La-Chapelle (in Germany) called Komplikations. Describing themselves as punk elektrorockers they're probably the first band I've featured not to use guitars, instead relying solely on vocals, synthesizer and drums.
They formed in June 2011, released a debut ep in 2012 (called Step Forward, it features the song I'm highlighting today), and then followed it up in 2013 with Poverty and 2014 with Going Down. You can check out their back catalogue over at Rockstar Records : http://rockstarrecords.bandcamp.com/ .
Influenced by the likes of 70'S L.A. synth punks Screamers, they comprise of Alen on vocals, Lio on synth and Karsten on drums. This is one of their earliest songs but one of their best, it's called Defect,,,
Here's a song that I only heard for the first time yesterday, it's such an upbeat, feel good record that i had to post it in here.
Louis Lingg And The Bombs are an energetic, political, anarcho-punk band from Paris who are influenced by the likes of The Dickies, The Briefs and The Epoxies and who feature Josh (guitar/vocals), Arno Life (guitar/vocals), Julie Hate (vocals), Clem Phlegm (keyboards) and Zgaygoire (drums). They're named after the German immigrant and anarchist, Louis Lingg who committed suicide whilst on death row in 1887 after he had been arrested in connection with Chicago's Haymarket Square bombing. Despite many of their songs dealing with serious subjects, it doesn't stop them being fun. You can check out their music on bandcamp : http://louislinggandthebombs.bandcamp.com/ .
This song, Destroy Civilisation, is from their 2012 album Alphabet Of A Revolution.......
Sat in Vicky Park, let it all out, to a bottle, on a bench. He said "This city is a criminal, a highwayman, a thief. It stole my perseverance, made off with my mental health, dumped me off of Tower Bridge with concrete on my feet and I'm struggling. I'm looking for some guidance, can you spare an ounce of strength so I can take this fucking sorry arse of mine back home to bed?" and the bottle, it said, "Everybody makes decisions they regret sometimes, everyone makes certain judgments based on plans that never seem to find their way to a conclusion. They change tack and double back on promises they made to themselves. But you won't find the answers at the bottle of a bottle, cheap cider never paved the way for any kind of progress to be made but for what its worth there's one thing that I know; You've got to let some parts die to let other parts grow." You'll always make mistakes, you'll always fuck shit up. You'll sometimes make bad choices and blame that shit on bad luck. You will often face decisions that you do not want to make and find your self on paths that you did not mean to take. There is always an answer, there is always a lesson, a lining of silver about every situation and asking for help is not the same thing as failing.
Formed in London in 2004 as a duo comprising of Dan Bond and Josh McKenzie, Apologies, I Have None took their name from a line in a song by Canadian hardcore band Grade. A couple of eps (Done & Two Sticks and SIx Strings) brought them much critical acclaim, a growing fanbase and more than a few comparisons to Against Me! Their escalating success led to them adding PJ Shepherd on bass and Joe Watson on drums and their upward momentum continued with the release of their debut album in 2012 (named London). Original member, Dan Bond, left in February of this year but they're carrying on as a 3 piece and in May released the Black Everything ep. Today's song can be found on their debut album and is called Concrete Feet.......
A band I've only just recently stumbled across on the blog today. Hailing from Whittier, California, 3FT are influenced by your staple pop punk bands like Green Day, Blink 182, New Found Glory etc but they aren't just another pop punk band, allowing the heavier sounds from other influences (Pennywise, Bad Religion, Black Flag...) seep in. Forming in 2009, they've been honing their talent in 2013 released the Set Sail ep, from which today's song comes. According to their bandcamp, their debut album (Make Or Break) will be released in November of this year and I'll be interested to hear how they've progressed, frontman Ken Snow (Ken Gonzalez) promises they're getting faster and louder. Available for name your price here : http://3ftmusic.bandcamp.com/track/anarchy this is Anarchy......
Veteran of numerous bands, including the much missed Exploding Hearts, King Louis Bankston is currently the mastermind behind New Orleans power pop/punk n roll band Missing Monuments. Formed in 2009 they're now a 4 piece and are signed to the excellent Dirtnap Records who released their 2013 s/t album (their 2nd long player). Originally appearing on the (I'm Gonna) Love You Back To Live ep, this is the catchy as hell Another Girl.....
Hopefully today's song is going to introduce most of you to a band you haven't heard before, even more hopefully once their new album, Blood And Sand, comes out next week you'll all rush to check it out. Think Iron Chic, fronted by the vocalist from ONSIND, and you won't be a million miles away from Bear Trade. The north east of England outfit play a "stabby, chuggy, jaggy" brand of upbeat melodic punk rock, their aim is to have fun whilst enjoying their love of punk rock, gigging and drinking. Treat your ears, this is Son Of The Manse.......
In this hands he holds up a plan that he wrote today. Penned from his fathers values. Values of simple men. Oh preach to me boy, you come from better stock. You can't believe what we've learnt from our own, could be of any worth. So many people depend on you now, but not for what you did but what you said. Don't turn your back on me boy, don't turn your back. The worst of us couldn't handle what you struggled with all of your life, and the words that you said don't bring comfort. I love you boy. Darling it's all over now, this barrel has been scraped. In twenty year this will be trivial, maybe then you'll want me back. Darling don't lose sleep. Building a pyramid, waging a war. Keeping the sabbath. What would the primes say? I don't know. To live in misery living a lie. Primes should be proles
As previously mentioned, I'm open to suggestions for songs to add, especially cool stuff I've not previously heard. One such recommendation has been sent by Chris Parker of Chain Letters and here it is, the first band from Finland to feature in the blog. I've no idea of the state of the power pop scene in Helsinki but I do now know that there's at least one great group from there. As I know nothing about them other than it appears they've released 3 ep's (First Times, One Time Thing and Mono Mono) if anyone wants to add info to the comments please feel free. This song, recommended by Chris, is from their s/t debut and is called Girl On The Run and it's a killer tune........
Today's entry in this pick n mix punk rock time machine is from London 4 piece Good Throb. A live 9 track demo tape released in 2011 was followed a year later by a 4 track s/t single (name your price : http://superfirecords.bandcamp.com/album/s-t-7 ). More diy punk with an attitude followed in 2013 with the Culture Vulture single ( free here : http://goodthrob.bandcamp.com/album/culture-vulture-7 ) and coming soon will be the debut lp, charmingly called Fuck Off. This is Bag and it's great......
A 1 minute blast of fuck you on the blog today from a band who's members go by the names Erika Ebola, Danny Dysentery, Ally Acidosis, Tommy Tinnitus and Stella Salmonella. The Ills are a garage/punk/pop/trash/riot grrrl 5 piece, they got together in 2010 and are currently based in Iowa City. Influenced by the likes of Rip Off Records' Loli And The Chones and boasting "no friends, no talent, no songs over a minute and a half!" they've so far released a couple of eps and an album called Tuning Out. The first ep is available free here : http://theillsrock.bandcamp.com/album/i-kill-me-ep
From the album, this is 1-2-3 Hate U......
One of the best things about doing this blog thus far is being able to share music from bands from the UK who might otherwise not get the exposure that our American cousins get. Being honest, I've no idea how well known today's band are across the pond (or any of the other British bands that have featured thus far) but a part of me hopes people on foreign shores stumble across the blog and discover that there's some great bands over here, most of whom are deserving of a wider audience.
Punk rock can take many forms. It can be a rallying call for a disgruntled youth, it can be a song about a girl, it can be pretty much anything. Todays band, The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing, are a Steampunk band from London who take their name from some chalked graffiti left by Jack The Ripper. Formed in 2008, they have a rather distinctive style which combines humour and Victorian era history to great effect. This song, Brunel, is taken from This May Be The Reason Why The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing Cannot Be Killed By Conventional Weapons.....
Founded in 2007 in Orange County, California, Vultures United are a hardcore punk band who a couple of years back decided to put out a cassette containing covers of songs that originally had female vocalists. After coming up with more songs than intended, they expanded it to album length. Called Girls, it includes this rip roaring version of X Ray Spex's Oh Bondage, Up Yours!.....
