Silence Means Death - Atomgrad (Guest Review By Dirk Ceustermans)

   

(Photo : Tom Bruelemans)

 Belgian punk fanatic Dirk is back today with something suitably noisy for you to check out...

Atomgrad by Silence Means Death,
taken from Đornata/Silence Means Death split 12", release on Angry Voice Records in 2020.

  Bruges is a town I avoid because of its fame. The mass tourism suffocates the town in a way it does not appeal to me. I should definitely reconsider visiting now that Corona dropped a veil of silence onto its medieval town centre. I want to sense the vibes that effect Silence Means Death's (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063534879627) inspiration to dark and depressive lyrics. I guess it is the D-Beat thing to do.

  Usually crust, d-beat or power violence (a misplaced name for ultrafast hardcore imho) doesn't get me high. However some Belgian and Dutch bands seem to keep it interesting and really enjoyable. SMD is definitely one of them. I saw them perform in Ghent, with a whole string of bands that I do not recommend seeing if you went on the booze the night before. Crude SS was the reason I went over to see the gig. Crude SS were not in good form, or just plain bad that night, SMD saved the day! So I thought to feature them as recently I collected a bit of their stuff on wax.

  These guys from Bruges bring you an excellent blend of Motorhead in a D-Beat package. Vocals do remind me of the singer and good friend Pies, from Belgian's D-Beat legends Capital Scum, but the music has that unmistakable Motorhead inspiration. 

  I selected Atomgrad, one of the first track I heard from them, ripping D-Beat drums and that definite Swedish D-Beat influence in it. At first I even though the title was a Swedish word, but research enlightened me this refers to "closed cities" around military bases or nuclear research plants etc... The song refers most likely to Pripyat, founded on February 4, 1970 as the ninth "atomgrad", a type of closed town in the Soviet Union, to serve the nearby Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. (from wiki). 

  There you go, you got the threat of nuclear disaster, the D-Beat and the superb musicianship, the ingredients to get some exciting powerful punk from one of the most touristic cities in Flanders. Very appropriate for a city drenched into silence during this pandemic era.

https://silencemeansdeath.bandcamp.com/album/split-lp-with-dornata 

  Atomgrad...

Take a last deep breath while you still can A nuclear fallout the end of our days Atomgrad Radiation will strike without a sound Can we escape to survive Atomgrad We took the future from our children away The price we pay is way too high Living into a nuclear world All the warnings we have ignored See us moving to our final course The acid rain drips from my face

Shot Balowski - Critique of Everyday Life

    

"In these interesting times

 Bankers get away with crimes

 The media’s not on your side

 Don’t need to read between the lines..."

  

  Today I'm posting a song by another one of the bands that went down so well on the recent Just Some Punk Songs UK special show (if you missed it you can listen here : https://www.mixcloud.com/mick-fletcher/just-some-punk-songs-uk-special-show/).

  Shot Balowski (https://www.facebook.com/shotbalowski/) are a 3 piece based in Carlisle and Glasgow who's line up features Debbie Ullrich (bass/vocals), Tef Lovegrass (drums/vocals) and Simon Whittle guitar/vocals). Earlier this year they released a debut, self titled album and it ain't half bad. 

  They're a band with a left leaning political worldview who write snappy little punk tunes on subjects such as militant suffragette martyr Emily Wilding Davison, orange hued has-been Donald Trump, hate filled red top The Daily Mail, boxing icon Muhammad Ali, sexy people with guns and fast cars on American tv etc. They even make a good fist of the Bob Marley classic Redemption Song. 

  I assume the album sold out as they've started taking pre orders for a 2nd rerun of the 10" vinyl version : https://shotbalowski.wordpress.com/shop/  

  They're also streaming a couple of tracks from the recent Eton's Burning ep on Bandcamp :   https://shotbalowski.bandcamp.com/album/etons-burning-ep 

  This was the song I chose for the show, it's a fuck you to those greedy, grasping twats that are doing their best to keep most of us in poverty. It's called Critique Of Everyday Life...  

  

M@d.inc - Way Down Shit Creek With No Paddle

 

  M@d.inc (or possibly Mad.Inc) (https://www.facebook.com/MadInc-1831523416969898/) are a London band who formed from the ashes of Mad Mush and are influenced by '77 era Clash. They line up with Dave Leak ( currently also in Stone Heroes ) on Guitar and Vocals, Fleagle ( currently also in Stone Heroes ) on Guitar, Des Connolly ( currently also in Stone Heroes and Shocks of Mighty ) on Drums, Gail Thibert ( currently also in Sarah Pinks Gravediggers/Flowers in the Dustbin ) on Keyboards and Backing Vocals and Paddy (Sophists) on Bass Guitar.

  Last year they released an album titled Treasure and if you like your punk rock to be melody driven and old school (possibly similar to bands like The Boys) then it could well be for you. You can check it out here : https://mdinc.bandcamp.com/releases

  This is the opening track, it's very catchy and the guitar riff in places reminds me slightly of Wonk Unit's I Told You So. It's called Way Down Shit Creek With No Paddle...

The Skints - The Island

  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.

  You can listen to Swimming Lessons here : https://mrbongo.bandcamp.com/album/swimming-lessons

  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...
 

La Femme Brutal - Esplendor

  La Femme Brutal (https://www.facebook.com/lafemmebrutalband/) are Laura Sisteró and Alba Miquel. They're from Barcelona and they recently released a very enjoyable ep titled The Future Is Brutal. It's available via Hidden Track Records and you can check it out here :   https://hiddentrackrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-future-is-brutal

  They released a video for one of the tracks, Ciudad Muerta, and you can watch that here :   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47BPLsgxSuw  It translates as Dead City and it's both powerful and very catchy. The same can be said of the other 3 tracks, there might only be two of them in the band but they make a rich and sonorous noise. I think it's their debut release so as introductions go, it's an impressive one.

  This is my pick of the ep, it's a joyfully upbeat singalong titled Esplendor...

MEMES - J.O.B.S.

(Photo : Kenny Inglis)

  You know what, I often wish I could stay in bed in the morning. Get up when I feel like it (preferably nursing a slight hangover), take the dog for a walk (or maybe to the beach!) and then spend the rest of the day online discovering new music for you wonderful people. Unfortunately I can only do that at weekends as I have to go to work Monday to Friday. Maybe, like Memes, I should have thrown my job application form in the bin...

  Memes (https://www.facebook.com/memestheband/) are a Scottish duo that play a frantic style of post punk. Their excellent debut single Blah Blah Blah (https://sixtonnesdechairrecords.bandcamp.com/album/blah-blah-blah) featured in the Just Some Punk Songs end of year chart and seemed to impress everyone who heard it. The follow up is just as exciting. It's available digitally from Fierce Panda : http://fiercepanda.co.uk/

  There's a number of really good UK bands breaking through at the moment that are obviously inspired by punk but who are splintering off in different directions (I suppose Idles, Slaves and Sleaford Mods are obvious examples as well as Fontaines D.C., Lovely Eggs and Football FC). Memes have everything to be up there with them. 2 singles, 2 winners. A very promising start indeed.

  This is J.O.B.S.

TRAP GIRL - Transwomen and Chokeholds

  WE ARE THE MAMAS AND PAPAS FROM HELL!

  Hailing from Los Angeles, TRAP GIRL (https://www.facebook.com/trapgirlmusic/) are a trans-punk 4 piece featuring Drew Arriola Sands (vocals), Jorges Reveles (drums), Daniel Guzman (guitars/vocals) and Gaby Beretta (bass). Forming in Sept 2014, they've been releasing angry music, dripping with vituperative attitude since their debut ep, From Diamonds To Dust. With song titles such as Dead Men Don't Rape, Protect Yourself, Not Her Body and the song I'm highlighting today you can easily work out some of the main themes that their lyrics deal with. They've also recorded a cover of the Cramps' classic New Kind Of Kick. A debut album titled The Savage Goddess was announced a while ago but has yet to materialise.

  We have however been recently treated to a new 5 track ep. Titled TransAmerican Chokehold, you can find it here : https://trapgirl.bandcamp.com/album/transamerican-chokehold. This is the lead track, it's called Transwomen And Chokeholds...

I'm getting pretty, going to the party and I'm gonna talk to the cutest boy in the room. I got my girls with me. Their gonna rock with me all night long and were gonna talk to the cutest boy in the room.

But it doesn't seem like the party is over but its over for me.
I see him walk towards me i see grab both my friends are me and i feel his cold hard grip around my neck fuck!

Transwomen and chokeholds
Your transamerica is a joke.
Transwomen and chokeholds
Your transamerica is a joke.

I was so excited to wear my brand new blouse and shoes.
I couldn't wait to see both my girls walk into my room.
were getting ready together, were riding together thru every green light
and were gonna remember this night forever.

But it doesn't seem like the party is over but its over for me.
I see him rush towards us, i see him pick up my girls right off their feet
and I feel a hard cold push into the street fuck!

Transwomen and chokeholds
Your transamerica is a joke.
Transwomen and chokeholds
Your transamerica is a joke.

Transphobia isnt an isolated incident, trans people go thru this shit everyday so you wanna step to me or one of my friends be prepared for our fire because were on the rise and were gonna fight and now you're gonna pay!

Transwomen and chokeholds
Your transamerica is a joke.
Transwomen and chokeholds
Your transamerica is a joke.

So you want us on the floor?!
Your transamerica is a joke
were gonna show up to your door!
Your transamerica is a joke!

Radio Blast - Radio Blast

  Radio Blast (https://www.facebook.com/radioblastofficial/) are a relatively new band, they formed in the lower east side of New York City in 2018 and their mission statement is to write catchy songs that pay homage to their favourite Ramonescore bands. I'm guessing they take their name from the 1992 Screeching Weasel single? (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2014/03/screeching-weasel-radio-blast.html). They line up with Kaspar Kielland (vocals/guitar), Dom Sorace (drums/backing vocals), Mike Horowitz (guitar/backing vocals) and Franco Jaramillo (bass/backing vocals).

  Last May they released their debut ep. Titled Lets Rock! it features 7 catchy tunes (including the song you'll find below). It's available as a free download. Also on Bandcamp is September's Dog In The Window single https://radioblast.bandcamp.com/ An upcoming release that they'll feature on is the compilation album Ramonescore Brigade Volume One which will also feature The Prozacs, Radio Buzzkills, Follow Ups and many more.

  They're currently busy putting together a debut album for release later this year. In the meantime, this is the lead track from Lets Rock! It's not a Weasel cover but it is called Radio Blast...

Ramoms - Going Into 3rd

  Hey! Ho! Lets Go... here's today's update.

  Ramoms (https://www.facebook.com/ramomsband/) are from Philadelphia and feature a line up of Jodi Ramom (Vocals), Sharon Ramom (Guitar),  Molly Ramom (Bass) and Ginger Ramom (Drums). I bet you can't guess who they're influenced by. That's right, The Sex Pistols!

  Nah, obviously it's the Ramones. They're a band who take songs originally recorded by Forest Hills finest and put their own spin on them. For example on their debut ep, Problem Child, we got Gritty Is A Punk, Boogie Not Snot and Rockaway Beach (which I guess they couldn't think up a pun for). This time around, on new ep Teacher's Pet, we get Going Into 3rd, The PTA Took My Mommy Away and Beat On The Brat (ok, not all their song titles are puns). Plans are in place for a 3rd ep.

  Teacher's Pet is available from Pirates Press on impressive looking 7" olive green with white splatter vinyl https://shop.piratespressrecords.com/products/ramoms-teachers-pet-7?fbclid=IwAR3KtcmOUx3qEiEjEdLW54cwAp00VHwfItHPDYXk_yBZ7rzcUlI45qBSTBs and digitally : https://ramoms.bandcamp.com/album/teachers-pet

 Not only does it look great, it sounds great too. They might be parodying their heroes but it's respectfully done. This is the opening track, Going Into 3rd...

Mr. Wrong - Nuclear Generation

  Happy New Year everyone and welcome to 2020, let's hope there's as much great music released as there was in 2019 (and let's hope the mainstream start picking up on some of it!).

  It's only right to begin the 20's with a song from a 12" that will be released in a week or so so. It's by a 3 piece post-punk band from Portland, Oregon who's line up is Moffett (Guitar/vox), Ursula (Drums/vox) and Leona (Bass/vox). They're called Mr. Wrong (https://www.facebook.com/mrwrongband/) and I could have sworn I featured them on here a couple of years ago when they released their Babes In Boyland album but I can't find that update anywhere so I must have just played a track from it on the show. Not to worry they feature today.

  The new album is titled Create A Place and it's out on the 12th of January on Water Wing Records. You can preorder it on vinyl and digital (plus check out a couple of songs) here :   https://mrwrongwitches.bandcamp.com/album/create-a-place-2

  This is the opening track, it's a catchy post-punk ear worm that reminds me in places of The B-52s. Lyrics are political (with your landslides and your borders and your new world order...) it's a funky joy with a serious message. It's called Nuclear Generation...

Stevie And The Sleaze - I Wanna Blow My Brains Out

(photo : Sarah Shelton)

  A recent update on here saw me say a few glowing words about Puppy & The Hand Jobs. Today you're getting more glowing words about a band that feature P&THJ's vocalist Jaime Paul Lamb. Hailing from Phoenix, Arizona, they're called Stevie And The Sleaze and they also boast members of The Raincoats, US Bombs and Mighty Sphincter. The line up is Stevie Davis (bass & vocals), bacpac (guitar & vocals), Jaime Paul Lamb (guitar & vocals) and Danny Hawkins (drums & vocals). Their sound is very much influenced by '77 style punk rock. You can get more info on them here :   https://www.facebook.com/stevieandthesleaze/

  I recently stumbled across them when they featured on Whatever68 Radio's impressive 44 track compilation Noise Party Worldwide 2019 which is available on Bandcamp as a name your price download https://whatever68radio.bandcamp.com/album/noise-party-worldwide-2019

  The track on the comp (Looking For A Date) is taken from the band's new Self Titled album. It's an impressive slice of catchy garage trash that's available on cassette and as a digital download. It's definitely worth checking out : https://stevieandthesleaze.bandcamp.com/album/stevie-and-the-sleaze

  This is the closing track, it's a dumb, fun singalong titled I Wanna Blow My Brains Out...

Midnite Snaxxx - Disconnected

   I've got to be honest, I was a little surprised when I heard Slovenly Recordings were releasing the new album by Oakland California's Midnite Snaxxx. I thought the band's catchy garage stylings may have been a little on the poppy side for a label that's associated with all that's wholesomely trashy about the genre. You know what though, whoever decided to unite band and label is a blooming genius.

  The new album is titled Music Inside and it's my favourite Midnite Snaxxx release yet. Back in 2017 I was comparing them with The Ramones, Dictators and Cheap Trick (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2017/02/midnite-snaxxx-rule-world.html) and whilst those comparisons could still be considered valid, this time around there's a whole lot more variety to the album. Boasting 12 tracks, none of which gets too close to the 3 minute mark, it's a lean, energetic and inventive treat. It transcends their roots and is in my opinion more influenced by spiky post-punk than any of the illustrious bands the various members have previously graced. It's available on limited edition turquoise vinyl (100 copies), black vinyl or digital download...
https://slovenly.bandcamp.com/album/midnite-snaxxx-music-inside-lp

  This song is a good example of their new post-punk direction, it's called Disconnected...

Epic Problem - Bleeding Out

  All good things come to an end and that was the case last May when an announcement appeared on the Epic Problem Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/epicproblemuk/); "On Friday just gone, we played what will now be our last ever gig. There will be no countdown, there will be no “final show” and there will be no reunions." The band are from New Mills (a small town in Derbyshire, 15 miles from Manchester) and feature Neil "Mackie" McLennan (from Blitz) on guitar/vocals, Morry (bass/vocals), James (drums) and Jake McCullough (vocals/guitar). They'd been together since 2010.

  There was an addition to the announcement though...   "We still have one more release in the form of a currently un-named EP, but after that it will be pastures new." Christmas day saw Brassneck Records add that ep to their Bandcamp page. It's titled Grace and features 3 songs which remind us why we were sad to hear of them going their separate ways. Fingers crossed those pastures new involve them making new music in whatever form. https://brassneckrecords.bandcamp.com/album/grace

  It's also available in 3 different coloured limited edition vinyl :   http://brassneckrecords.bigcartel.com/product/e-p-grace?fbclid=IwAR2L4cGPxR8f-b87vRFNSebPmJRWBbSxc7Hw-hgfqjk1IU_rSZzTCK1JM7s

    This is the lead track on the ep, a fine example of their brand of melodic punk. Featuring an appropriate lyrical couplet "you think these things are built to last, but somehow you you know they're gonna end" it's called Bleeding Out...

The Lost Riots - About You

  I think it's fair to say that New Haven's The Lost Riots are one of the most punk rock sounding bands out there. There's maybe slight hints of garage and hardcore in their sound but basically they sound exactly how you'd hope an archetypal old school American punk band would sound like. By that I mean proper punk and not your watered down Blink Day Glory kinda thing. Fronted by Jeffrey Thunders on distinctively snotty vocals and guitar the band also features Matt Mullarkey (bass), Scott Fitch (guitar), Noel Thomas (guitar) and Chadwick Gregory (drums). They're influenced by bands such as Dead Boys, The Heartbreakers, Stooges and Black Flag. You can find out more here :   https://www.facebook.com/TheLostRiots/

  They've been on this blog a few times previously and are back today with a song from their new album The Kids You Love To Hate. The first thing that strikes me about the album is that during their time together (they formed in 2012) their sound hasn't really changed much. Maybe the production is slightly better and as a whole the album is probably more consistent throughout but otherwise it's the sound of a band sticking with what they know and love and doing it really well. As well as the regular members, the album sees guest appearances by Cry Havoc vocalist Jonny Disaster and The Travis Bickle Army frontman, Eric Montes. You should check it out...

https://thelostriots.bandcamp.com/album/the-kids-you-love-to-hate

  This song is about reminiscing about a long lost friendship, it features some very solid playing and great gang backing vocals. It's called About You...

Alice Bag Band - No Gifts for Nazis

  I'd just like to wish all the visitors to the Just Some Punk Songs blog and listeners to the show a very merry Christmas. Thanks for your support and I hope you all got lots of gifts today...... Unless you're a nazi.

  This is a festive song from Alice Bag Band. No Gifts For Nazis...

https://getbetterrecords.bandcamp.com/album/no-gifts-for-nazis

Crapsons - Who'll Babysit The Goths

  Quoting from their Facebook profile (https://www.facebook.com/crapsons/), Crapsons are two noisy idiots from the Wirral."  Those two noisy idiots being Markey (bass/vocals) and Gilbert (drums/vocals). They've been picking up some very positive press; "Crapsons are the most punk band I’ve seen in a while”..."Snotty and brilliant"...“Crapsons are reminiscent of The Sleaford Mods, Half Man Half Biscuit and a raw high school garage punk band. The influences are easy to hear but they come out sounding original with fast paced fuzzy bass and crashing cymbals as the singer spits bars like a young John Cooper Clarke.”

  Sounds to me as though they're worth a listen!

  Luckily enough, they recently released a new single so let's check it out...

  Nice and gnarly with humour aplenty and a big singalong chorus. Lots of bass and energy, lyrics about scallies, smackheads and sticking Brexit up your arse. I recommend you give them a listen. I'm just off to check out their earlier releases on Bandcamp https://crapsons.bandcamp.com/

  The rest of you can enjoy one of the two videos they released to help promote the single. This is Who'll Babysit The Goths...

Scallies are always chasing me
The hipsters accept mediocrity
And While the punks march to the sound of their beat
The vegans are telling you what to eat
Smack heads walk fast down our street
The drunks, they can’t stay on their feet
While homelessness is a travesty
I still can’t party with 50p

Who’ll babysit the goths? x8

There’s a general election on a WhatsApp group
The Tabloids are lined with unreliable scoops
You’ve got to go the gym, start giving a damn
Stop posting quotes on Instagram
Just put your feet up, it’s time to relax
Completely abolish council tax
The Tory party are one hell of a Farce
You can stick your Brexit right up your arse

Who’ll babysit the goths? X8

Not Me

Mum, what’s for my tea?

Who’ll babysit the goths? X8

There’s no point in crying, What are you so sad about? X 3

There’s no point in crying, Who will babysit the goths?

Interview With Gino Bambino (Gino and the Goons)

  

  Hi Gino, many thanks for agreeing to the interview, I won't pretend to be a Gino And The Goons expert but I've listened to your music for a few years and featured you in blog updates a few times so hopefully my questions will turn out ok.  I suppose the obvious place to start is by asking where you grew up, what you listened to as a youngster and when did you start discovering the rock n roll acts that have been an obvious inspiration? 

  Honestly, I never completely grew up.  I was born and raised in Mudflap, Pennsylvania.  Which is in the northwestern part of the state.  Great for hunting and fishing which I don't do. Not that's a bad thing just ain't my bag.  I'm the youngest out of five kids and between my parents, brothers and sisters I listen to what they listened to.  To just name the good ones that stayed with me would be, Willie Nelson, AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Alice Cooper, The Cramps and the Rolling Stones. I still listen to all those bands.  Black Flag, Ramones and Motorhead changed my life.  Old country and blues music changed my life.  Shit, I could go on.  Minutemen, Meat Puppets and Butthole Surfers.... Link Wray, Dead Moon and all things Fred Cole.  New Bomb Turks, Teengenerate, Oblivians, The Gories, Pat Todd! The Lazy Cowgirls and the Rankoutsides!  There's a thing people say quality or quantity.  Both Pat Todd, Fred Cole and the Rolling Stones have both.  Hank Williams!! 

SIde note: I have to mention NY Dolls, Johnny Thunders, VU, Lou Reed...NYC in the 60's and 70's.  Oh, and the Devil Dogs.... I know I know I'll stop..

SAMF

  Were Gino and the Goons your first band? I notice it was a good few years between you forming the band and your debut release. Any particular reason for that? 

  It was the first band where I played guitar, vocals and was songwriter and leader of the gang.  After playing drums for other people's bands and just being a fill in I wanted to control everything. Ha! Though I was opened to Goons ideas and trying to make it feel as much as a band as I could.  But I put my name in the band for a reason, ya dig?  I wanted people who were fun to hang out with and wanted to do it to the fullest.  Ability was last on the list though, it was on the list just towards the bottom.  Anyway, I wrote a few songs and really liked how they sounded. (Hit It! and Get On Down from the first record and Better Believe from the latest on Drunken Sailor). I Moved to Baltimore, Md. and was still playing drums. I didn't think I could start my own band at this point. I started playing with an old friend,  I was doing all the work in that band but not writing.  I figured if I'm going to do all the leg work, all the hard work I'll do it with my songs and my band. Though he wrote great songs I was ready to go it alone. So I pulled the first band of Goons together.  The drummer had a drum set but didn't know how to play.  So I took away his kick drum and we just did floor tom, with tambourine, snare and cymbal.  Right hand used a shaker for a bunch of songs.  If they couldn't make a show or a recording I did it myself or pulled other people together.  Most of the time it was last minute. Like person in the crowd last minute. Another point of putting my name in the band was I couldn't have anyone hold me back.  I didn't and don't have time to wait for anyone.  Nothing personal, I just have shit to do. Just when those Goons were ready to record in Baltimore time ran out and  I moved to Tampa, Fla. in 2010.  It was another year before I pulled another band of Goons together.  By the time we were ready to record and it was 2012.   

https://www.facebook.com/GINO-and-the-GOONS-269493892726/

  "Goons come and go. Some come and come again. Others don't."   

   Any particular reason for the fluid line up? Are you that hard to work with! or is it just easier bringing in different people as and when required?  

  I started this band some 12+ years ago myself, I laid all the ground work, do all the grunt work, and all the stuff that isn't the most fun, but I always envision  the Goons as a band, always considering a Goon's opinion and valuing their input. Sure I get final say, I'm Gino. I put my name in the title of the band for a reason. But I'm open minded.  I've been beat up, strangled, disrespected and left to the side of the road as the Goons rode away in my own personal vehicle. Leaving me stranded some 1500 miles from home.  Despite all that, I'm one of the easiest and most fun people to work for and to be around. Not to mention charming and handsome. Some Goons are Goons for life and some are not. I can't expect others to be on my schedule, and I sure as hell can't be on theirs.

  "Beat up, strangled, disrespected and left to the side of the road as the Goons rode away in my own personal vehicle" it sounds as though you have some interesting tour stories? Anything particular spring to mind and which do you prefer, playing live or releasing a new record? 

  Some of my favorite stories are when we pull into town, eat at a good local place, play a killer show and everyone there is into it and dancing, we sell some merchandise, hang out laughing and drinking, have a decent place to sleep, find a Waffle House in the morning and then hit the road. 

  Recording is ok but I definitively prefer playing live.

SHE CAN TAKE IT

https://drunkensailorrecords.bandcamp.com/album/do-the-get-around-lp

  It only seems like 5 minutes since I was featuring a song from your Do The Get Around album on the blog but you've already released album number 5, Off The Rails. Any particular reason for the fast turn around?

https://bigneckrecords1.bandcamp.com/album/gino-and-the-goons-off-the-rails

  Bart at Big Neck asked to do a record and when we recorded we ended up doing 20 songs. Shortly after Bart asked, Julian from Drunken Sailor asked for a record. I asked Bart if he minded us doing another record at the same time and he was cool with it and so was Julian. Off The Rails was supposed to come out first but it didn’t work out that way. We have 10+ more songs ready to go but I’m gonna wait to record them.

  About your song writing. How much is autobiographical. I'm thinking about songs like Pills In My Pocket, Glory Days Gone, Got No Friends etc. Also To me your songs sound like very good scuffed up pop songs, is it your intention to write "hits" even if you know in the modern world only anodyne overproduced crap makes the charts?

  I didn't write those songs you mentioned so I can't answer that.  For me, sometimes they are autobiographic sometimes half and half, sometimes not at all. I like that term, scuffed up pop songs.  I have no idea what the modern world is or what it likes.  I don't even know what people my age like.  I know what I like. So I write songs I like and hope other people like it too.

  I'll just finish up with the obvious question of is there a pencilled in release date for the other batch of tracks you mentioned?

  End of 2020 beginning 2021

  Thanks Gino

OFF THE RAILS

  

Surgery Without Research - Rats

  Typical, you wait ages for Just Some Punk Songs to feature a song called Rats and then 2 come along at once....

  Kent punks Surgery Without Research seem to be making a habit of featuring on here in December as it's only just over a year since I posted a song from their Thugs In Blue ep (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2018/12/surgery-without-research-thugs-in-blue.html). They return today as they've released an impressively crammed 25 track album called Clusterfuck. This time around Andy H (vocals/guitar), Mark Spooner (guitar) and Dave Booker (bass) have been joined by new drummer Chris Hogg (although Nathan Antino still features on several songs). The album's taken 3 years to finish but it's well worth the wait. One of the songs from it also features as the title track of the recently released Simon Says ep (it went down a storm on a recent Just Some Punk Songs show so I'm sure the album will be as equally well received). You can get both on cd or as digital downloads here : https://surgerywithoutresearch.bandcamp.com/

  Clusterfuck is the sound of an angry band. It's proper punk protest music though there are sporadic bursts of humour. Titles include Sheep, Religious Bullshit, Payday Punk, Tory Clowns... many of the targets of their wrath are tried and tested but it's all extremely well done. This song features a lyric video, it's a more sedate pace than most of the album but it's no less heartfelt. It's called Rats...

The Drones - Rats

  Today I'm posting a song that originally saw the light of day last year but has just turned up on Bandcamp and as I missed it before I'll stick it on here today.

  You probably know The Drones (https://www.facebook.com/thedronesuk/). Not to be mistaken with any bands of the same name they hail from Manchester and originally formed way back in 1974 as a glam rock outfit called Rockslide. By 1976 they'd changed their name and hitched their horse to the punk wagon and relocated down to London where they released a fistful of singles and an album called Further Temptations. Like many of their contemporaries they've split and reformed and currently feature a line up of Steve 'Wispa' Cundall (bass/vocals), Al Crosby ( Ed Banger & the Nosebleeds - lead guitar) and Brian Grantham (ex Slaughter And The Dogs - drums).

  The new ep came out on the band's own Idle Records but is now available again on Different Class Records of Portugal. It's titled Will You Stand In Front Of Bullets? and it's available on red, yellow or black vinyl and as a digital download :   https://differentclassrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-drones-will-you-stand-on-front-the-bullets-ep

 This one fucking song won't save the world but it will get you singing along. It's called Rats...

Hostile Minds - Sound the Alarm

  It's been a while since we heard from Plymouth oi! band Hostile Minds (https://www.facebook.com/hostilemindsoi/). They featured on Rebellion Records' Oi! Ain't Dead 6 comp alongside a number of other top genre acts (Crown Court, B Squadron, Hard Wax, Top Dog, City Miles, Brassknuckle and Clockwork Soldiers) but aside from that it was 2017's Life On File ep.  (https://hostileminds1.bandcamp.com/album/life-on-file). Drummer/vocalist Tom Boutwood has popped up a number of times with his other bands, Hard Wax, Arch Rivals, Riot City Radio and Dead Legions whilst bassist Matt Colton is also in Hard Wax & Riot City Radio and guitarist Tom Murphy is in Riot City Radio so I don't suppose we can complain about their lengthy absence. Especially as that absence is now at an end...

  Back in October they reported that plans to get a new album finished this year were behind schedule but that they'd be back in the studio in the new year. Happily they've just finished a song and uploaded it to Youtube to tide us over. As far as appetite whetters go, it's a good one. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Andrew 'Doc' Collins at PMC Studios, Plymouth, it sounds great. Nice and gritty bovver rock with a big singalong chorus. The change from a 4 piece to a trio hasn't affected them, they're still as powerful as ever. Sirens are blaring out, Sound The Alarm....