Radio Blast - King of the Block (Guest Review by Ralph J Rivera)

First off gotta say Thank You to our host Mr. Mick Fletcher for letting me get this completely biased review up on his blog. YOU inspire me to keep doing this! Now some quick history...

Back on February 29th 2020 I went to the Altantic City Leap Day Pop Punk Festival here in good ol' New Jersey. Some of the best East Coast bands were fully representing with a stacked line-up. Now about 4 bands in, this band from NYC called Radio Blast (https://www.facebook.com/radioblastofficial) took the stage and proceeded to leave my jaw on the floor! I'd only heard their 2019 EP "Let's Rock" but those songs, plus all the newer ones took on a different level in a live environment. These guys played REAL Pop Punk with balls! In the end Radio Blast held their own against such heavyweights as The Sheckies, The Prozacs and headliners The Huntingtons. I walked away a fan and made 4 new friends that day!

After the world collapsed a month later we stayed in touch and their singer/guitarist Kasper always kept me in the loop on new material. Needless to say - I absolutely LOVE this band. So here we are on Halloween 2022 and what has finally seen the light of day? Radio Blast's long awaited Self Titled LP/CD! https://radioblast.bandcamp.com/album/s-t. Available on their Bandcamp and Mom's Cellar Dwellars. The 2 previous EP's were excellent Ramonescore but this LP seems to take that formula a little further. Kicking off with a cool 50 second intro that bursts right into the first song "Lefty (Doesn't Own A Leather Jacket)". No time to take the foot of the pedal now boys! Following with some kick-ass new songs like "Latchkey Kids", "Debbie Downer", "One Track Mind" and ending on the perfect high note with "Back To Coney Island". An album nearly 2 years in the making this is the end result of hard work and perseverance. I can't recommend this album highly enough and do yourselves a favor and check out the video for "King Of The Block"...

Pavid Vermin - The Beach Boys Never Surfed

  

   "You know this song: “Let’s go surfin’ now, Everybody’s learning how, Come on and safari with me!” In the early 1960s, the Beach Boys all but invented California rock, propagating an irresistible West Coast teen fantasy: You’d load your car (a classic Woody) with “boards inside” and drive to the beach to lie in the sand, surf, and swim with pretty girls. Life was good."

  "Their early era-defining hits were all about riding the waves—“Surfing is the only life, the only way of for me.” But the Beach Boys didn’t  live the life they sang about. In fact, only one of the five original band members actually surfed, and lead singer Brian kept a healthy distance from the ocean because he was deathly afraid of the water."

  "In a cruel irony, Dennis, the Beach Boys’ drummer and the only brother who actually knew how to surf, died by drowning in 1983."

  It's only been 3 months since Glenn Robinson, aka Pavid Vermin (https://www.facebook.com/pavidvermin/) last featured on here (with a track from a love letter album to his favourite record label https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2020/06/pavid-vermin-judy-go-home-guest-review.html) but he's back today with the title track of a splendid new ep. Titled The Beach Boys Never Surfed, the ep will be available next month on Jarama 45rpm Records. Limited to 300 copies on sea blue vinyl you can get more details here : https://pavidvermin.bandcamp.com/album/the-beach-boys-never-surfed 

  The title track deserves to be a smash hit but the other 3 songs are also very impressive. Pavid's on top form. Most of Hawthorne, California's finest might not have ridden the waves but they put out some great music. Their influence still lives on. 

  The Beach Boys Never Surfed... 

Radio Blast - Teddy (Guest Review By Ralph J Rivera)

  Ralph returns today with a review of another cool new release...

  In 2019 Radio Blast (https://www.facebook.com/radioblastofficial/) from the Lower East Side of NYC released their debut EP "Let's Rock". 7 Songs of no nonsense straight up Ramonescore. I was hooked. Fast forward to February of 2020 and Atlantic City NJ hosted one of the best Pop Punk festivals in ages. With a stacked lineup that included The Sheckies, The Prozacs and The Huntingtons. I literally watched this band with one EP under their belt hold their own against scene veterans. To say I was blown away would be an understatement.
Since they played that show, one week later the world got shut down. With no shows these guys soldiered on and have released one of the best EP's of 2020. Their newest release is 4 songs of pure Rock and Roll energy. Appropriately titled "In Your Face" this is Radio Blast's testament!

It's available through Mom's Basement or the bands own website. Trust me Kasper, Dom, Mike and Franco are veterans and it shows in the quality of these songs. Don't sleep on this one folks.
https://radioblast.bandcamp.com/album/in-your-face-ep 

  They're almost as powerful in the studio as they are live and this is my favourite song off this platter. Here's "Teddy" a pure Hockey anthem!

He's got his game face on He's got his twig wrapped tight He's gonna show them all Who runs the barn tonight Won't be no face washing When he's on ice If you mess with his guys He'll send you to the pine Keep that chirping in check Or you'll be getting wrecked Better hold on to your mitts He's breaking chiclets with his fist Teddy the enforcer Teddy the enforcer Checking hosers in plain site Teddy the enforcer Teddy the enforcer Watch out its lights out time Teddy the enforcer Teddy the enforcer Timid turtles should think twice Teddy the enforcer Teddy the enforcer Lumber, biscuits, and blood on the ice

The Thorazines - There's Always Time For One More Bro Hymn

 

  Ever get the feeling you can't go on Just remember whose side it is that you're on You've got friends with you till the end If you're ever in a tough situation We'll be there with no hesitation Brotherhood's our rule we cannot bend...

  It's obviously been a very difficult year for most people due to the Corona virus pandemic and things don't look as though they're going to return to anything like normal anytime soon. This is bound to have an effect on people's mental well being. Being cooped up in isolation and possible worries about money matters, job security and the health of vulnerable family and friends are going to take their toll. The song I'm featuring today is about bringing people together and it does exactly that by bringing together a bunch of talented musicians who collaborate on the song; people like J Prozac, Netherlands pop punkers Tower Crane Towers, Californian Ramonescore fan Xara and Mike from Moncton's The Follow Ups. It's inspired by the Pennywise classic Bro Hymn and not only is it in aid of a good cause (all monies made will be donated to Mental Health Awareness programmes) it's also a great song.

  The Thorazines (https://www.facebook.com/The-Thorazines-100947974826148/) are a 3 chord pop punk band from Melbourne (a city that's currently in lockdown due to a second wave of the virus). Despite struggling to get together they've already released a couple of eps this year (She Doesn't Know You're A Creep and Can't Wait For Yesterday) which are both fun and very catchy. They've outdone themselves though with this new track. At almost 5 minutes in length it's somewhat of a pop punk epic but it's one that'll blow your mind. You can grab it here :   https://thethorazines.bandcamp.com/track/theres-always-time-for-one-more-bro-hymn

  There's Always Time For One More Bro Hymn...

Death seemed so far away when we were so young
I thought we’d get smarter but we just grew dumb
It seems no one is listening
And ignorance is blissening
You and I were bound together
We said we’d fight the world forever

Life is too easy for a precious few
Blindly consuming while living subdued
Unaware of their own ignorance
Living lives of insignificance
Charming and useless but they'll never break us now

The end seemed so distant when we were just kids
I honestly thought we would have time to fix it
Now you’re just not listening
The silence is blistering
We had promised to be bound forever
Dared to fight the world together

I know people change and some values can fade
What was once so important starts drifting away
But now you have attached yourself
To what we used to laugh about
We promised to stay gold forever
At least one of us still remembers

We fly under the radar
Tell me none of this is real
The media is blitzing
Controlling what we feel
We've got to weather the storm
Be smart and hold the ones we love
Let the music save our souls.
Yeah, we've got each other and rock and roll.

Life can be so cruel and it’s too hard for some
It tricks us with lies and we now trust no one
But not everyone will let you down
I’m here to say that I’ll always be around
I’ll be with you forever
We can fight this world and rise up together

Sex Dream - Lydia vs Daleks

  Sex Dream (https://www.facebook.com/sxdream/) are a Chicago based 4 piece who combine catchy pop tunes with the energy and punk attitude of The Ramones. Vocalist/bassist Maria Surfinbird is a familiar figure on the Ramonescore scene both with her solo releases, her Russian band Surfinbird  (https://ptica.bandcamp.com/) and with her guest appearances like the one I posted about a couple of years ago when she featured on The Bity's version of a Riverdales classic (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2018/10/the-feat-maria-surfinbird-i-believe-in.html).

  As well as Maria, the band also features Zach (guitar/vocals), Tmmie (guitar/1234s) and Andrew (drums). They recently released a debut album, mixed & mastered by Marky Kobane and featuring 6 pop punk originals plus a beefed up version of Britney Spears' Oops I Did It Again. It's titled Candle On My Skin and it's sure to go down a storm with the bubblegum punk brigade. You can find it here https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/sexdream/candle-on-my-skin-2
https://sexxdream.bandcamp.com/releases

  When you listen to Maria singing, her voice is very beguiling and there's a definite frisson to be had from the title track. Other highlights include Don't Trust This Love and the fun, cat loving Meow Mix. The song you're getting today though is the opening track, it's all silky smooth vocals, gorgeous backing harmonies and a rocking beat. And it features a girl in danger of being exterminated! This is Lydia vs Daleks...

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...

Pavid Vermin - I Don't Wanna Be a Ramone

  Whatever your thoughts are on The Ramones you can't deny their influence. Do a google search for Ramonescore and you'll find links to a multitude of bands (some good, some not so good, several great) and it seems that barely a month passes without someone name checking them in a song. This month alone I can think of at least 3 (Cockwomble - Joey Ramone, Latte+ - Hey Hey It's Dee Dees Birthday Today and the song you'll find below), I wouldn't be surprised if there's more. They're long gone but their legacy lives on.

  Pavid Vermin is a new name to me. He's from Rhode Island and he records fuzzy pop punk songs in his bedroom. There's 3 songs on Bandcamp, Braincation, I Wanna Kill Everyone and the one I'm featuring today. All are good and all are name your price so go check them out...   https://pavidvermin.bandcamp.com/

  So today's song, it's Pavid lying through his teeth. Buzzing guitars and lyrics cribbed from some of the Forest Hills' foursome's most famous releases. As he says; "I only make fun of bands that I love. The Ramones are one of the best. I was thinking - are there any "I Don't Wanna" and "I Wanna" song titles left in the pop punk world? I think this is all that's left."  It's called I Don't Wanna Be A Ramone...

   Stop press : I just had a chat with Mr Vermin and it turns out he's been on here before with this song (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2016/12/glenn-robinson-dont-want-to-go.html) and he even chose a Top 10 for me (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2017/02/top-10-songs-chosen-by-glenn-robinson.html). There's a Pavid Vermin album in the works and it's going to be released on Bloated Kat Records at some point.

The Hung Ups - This Summer

 

 

  The Hung Ups are a trio from Salt Lake City featuring Josh Recker (vocals/guitar), JD (bass) and Schwenny (drums) who're influenced by The Ramones and by a bunch of bands who followed in their footsteps such as Dear Landlord, Banner Pilot, Screeching Weasel, The Queers etc. They've been around for almost a decade and featured on here last year with a song from the Panic Attack ep (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2017/01/hung-ups-make-you-angry.html).

  Last month they returned with a new ep titled Insanity Plea. 5 catchy singalong punk songs that are definitely going to appeal to fans of the of the "Ramonescore" genre but which also have a grittiness and bite that keep them from being too derivative. You can snap it up (along with a fairly impressive back catalogue) name your price on Bandcamp...   https://thehungups.bandcamp.com/album/insanity-plea

  There's a proper video getting released soon for Slipping Away but today I'm highlighting the opening track on the ep. Have you ever been in a situation where the girl of your dreams is with another guy? This is one of those songs, it's called This Summer...

It’s summer why aren’t you here with me? 
There’s no place that I’d rather be 
So take this chance and try something new 
Cuz hanging out with you is all I wanna do 

cuz it's summer and and I wanna be with you 
its a bummer that you like some other dude 
cuz this summers not turning out the way I wanted it to 

summer’s almost over I won’t give in 
I’ll keep chasing you until the end 
You’ll never know if you don’t let me show 
the way I feel and how I won’t let you go

The Young Rochelles - I Never Saw the Ramones

Bambi Guthrie Photography


  Long Beach pop punkers The Young Rochelles have graced this blog several times since they formed in 2013 so I was a bit angry with myself for missing the release of their debut, S/T album (on Sounds Rad! Records), a few weeks before Christmas. With me not noticing it until around a month later the band missed out on being in the running for a spot in the Just Some Punk Songs Best Of 2017 chart. It's a shame as the song featured in today's update would quite probably have been included. Oh well, I suppose it's not as great a tragedy as having missed seeing The Ramones....

  I've previously told you about their releases and that they're a 3 piece featuring Ricky Rochelle (lead vocals/drums), Rookie Rochelle (bass guitar) and Rocky Rochelle (electric guitar/backup vocals). On the new album they're joined by Ray Jay Rochelle who as well as providing backup vocals also fills in with additional guitars. So "what's the album like?" you ask....

  Unsurprisingly it's a blast. More of the same fast, catchy Ramones inspired pop punk gems we've come to expect from them. Songs about girls, skunk apes, more girls, stomach upset and girls... All good fun, lots of harmonies (Ricky has a great voice for this kind of music) and bass driven tuneage. 14 songs, none of which outstay their welcome. Go check it out.....  https://theyoungrochelles.bandcamp.com/

  This is I Never Saw The Ramones....

The Young Rochelles - Not Any Use

 

  Ramonescore is a tag used to describe the many bands that claim The Ramones as an influence and who sound at least a little bit like them. As with all genres, the quality of these bands can vary greatly (though as even the worst of them has put out better music than I'd be capable of doing who am I to criticise any of them). When bands get it right however (obvious names to drop in here include The Lillingtons, Teenage Bottlerocket, The Queers, Screeching Weasel, Riverdales etc.... many more can be found on Ramone To The Bone https://rttb-records.bandcamp.com/ ), they can be worthy successors to the band they worship. As you'll see from the video below, The Young Rochelles are definitely one of the bands who get it right.
 
From Long Beach, New York, they've already featured on this blog here : http://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/the-young-rochelles-stay-at-home-man.html and bassist Rookie Rochelle selected a top 10 of his favourite songs here : http://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/top-10-songs-chosen-by-rookie-rochelle.html so I don't think I need to add much more detail other than to point you in the direction of their Bandcamp : https://theyoungrochelles.bandcamp.com/ and to mention that their debut album is coming this summer.

  They've just released a video for one of the songs that featured on last year's split ep they put out with The Nerdy Jugheads and I think it's pretty damn good. This is Not Any Use.....