I've only given it the one play so far (I was impressed enough to want to shout about it on here immediately) and it's one of those albums that catches your attention straight away but you just know has enough going on that it'll be even better on repeat plays.
I'm sharing a song that I saw someone mention is "Reminiscent of the buzzcocks." I can hear that but I'm also picking up hints of Sultans Of Ping F.C. and also The Fall. This is Pink Liquor...
Definitely one of the hits on this week's Just Some Punk Songs show was this cover of a song originally released by Hole and is about Hole vocalist Courtney Love's relationship with Smashing Pumpkin's frontman Billy Corgan. The original is a classic and happily, this cover pretty much matches up to it.
Can Filth Is Eternal vocalist Lis D'Angelo match Courtney Love's full throttle performance? I'll leave you to judge. Feel free to comment. This is Violet...
And the sky was made of amethyst
And all the stars were just like little fish
You should learn when to go
You should learn how to say no
Might last a day, yeah
Mine is forever
Might last a day, yeah
Mine is forever
When they get what they want, and they never want it again
And they get what they want, and they never want it again
Go on, take everything, take everything, I want you to
Go on, take everything, take everything, I want you to
And the sky was all violet
I want it again, but violent, more violent
Yeah, I'm the one with no soul
One above and one below
Might last a day, yeah
Mine is forever
Might last a day, yeah
Mine is forever
When they get what they want, and they never want it again
When they get what they want, and they never want it again
Go on, take everything, take everything, I want you to
Go on, take everything, take everything, I want you to
Told you from the start just how this would end
When I get what I want, then I never want it again
Go on, take everything, take everything, I want you to
Go on, take everything, take everything, I want you to
Go on, take everything, take everything, I want you to
Take everything, take everything
Go on, take everything, take everything, I want you to
Go on, take everything, take everything, I want you to
Go on, take everything, take everything, I want you to
Take everything, take everything
In recent month's I've been sent the odd recommendation for bands to check out from the Humberside area by Gary Hockney who was vocalist and bassist with a band called 3-Action and who now (if I remember correctly) is involved with promoting bands at the New Adelphi Club in Hull. I asked him who the best band in that area was and he told me to watch out for Bedsit (https://www.facebook.com/bedsitband) who featured his son Tom and who had a new ep on the way.
The band formed originally as Tom's solo project in 2019 and released a debut ep in 2020 titled Pocket Toy. Last year, fleshed out to a 4 piece featuring Tom Hockney (Guitar / Vocals), Casey Stead (Guitar), George Garnett (Drums) & Tom Scanlon (Bass), they released a debut single titled Go Outside.
That track reappears in re recorded form on the new ep. Titled Dead Bands it boasts an impressive quartet of punk meets grunge tunes 3 of which are quite lively, mosh pit friendly rockers. The title track is a more considered affair which celebrates the heritage of live music. It's available as a cd and digital download : https://bedsit.bandcamp.com/album/dead-bands
This is the opening track, it demonstrates nicely how energetic and inventive these guys can get. It's called Drip Feed...
Rebel, re-tweet, share it, mind rot. Anarchist page, communist plot. Act now, your voice, stand up, slack off. Click-through, adsense, buy now, blood clot.
Drip Feed me. Drip Feed me something real. Drip Feed me. Drip feed me public appeal.
Snowflake, scumbag, slogan, fight back. Elate, enrage, extort, distract. Demograph outrage, kill for a safe space. Sex sells brain cells, incest, lab rat.
Bone Hause are from Boise, Idaho and tag themselves as a "socially conscious post-punk garage rock" quartet. They lined up like this to record their latest ep... Rain Marie (vocals), Billie Nimbuson (guitar), Andre Maldonado (bass) & Joe Black (drums) though following the recording session Billie Nimbuson has left with Andre Maldonado switching to guitar and Allison Winkler joining on bass. Their bio suggests their music should appeal to fans of bands such as The Dead Weather, QOTSA, Joan Jett, Starbenders & X.
That latest ep is titled Confoundead and it boasts 6 tracks of darkly delicious rock music that incorporates elements of garage, grunge and blues to provide a very impressive whole. They're a very talented group of musicians fronted by a kick ass vocalist. You can find it here : https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/confoundead-ep
Today I'm featuring the title track. This is Confoundead...
drinking and smoking and smoking and drinking
all I can do to ignore my heart beating
running away going back home
can’t find a place where I feel I belong
I am tired of trashing all my places
keep my head down and ignore all the faces
of everyone who says I’m not enough
and it gets worse every time that you come along
stop acting confoundead
by the shit coming out of my mouth and
stop being so stupid
you’re so dense and it keeps my head pounding
stop acting stop acting
you’re so dense and it keeps my head pounding
wondering why I can’t get enough
can’t keep a straight face when you act tough
keep my head down throw away my hopes
and you can’t cope when things get rough
yeah I’m so lazy and I’m so crazy
and all of your writing is so fucking cheesy
don’t look at me don’t look at me
don’t look at me until I’ve found the key
stop acting confoundead
by the shit coming out of my mouth and
stop being so stupid
you’re so dense and it keeps my head pounding
stop acting stop acting
you’re so dense and it keeps my heart pounding
and I’m feeling so fucked up
don’t know when I’ll get enough
I can’t make you sort through this stuff
but I’m planning on calling your bluff
stop acting counfoundead
by the shit coming out of my mouth and
stop being so stupid
you’re so dense and it keeps my head pounding
stop acting stop acting
you’re so dense and it keeps my head pounding
Mick Fletcher has kindly asked me, to review Mannequin Death Squad's (MDS) (https://www.facebook.com/mannequindeathsquad) new single “Super Mental Psycho” for his blog, and so here we go. Bare in mind, this is a first for me.
Who am I? - My name is Steve Simms and I sing for, I Will Take You Hunting (IWTYH)
My band, is supporting this Australian punk rock duo in Inverness at the Tooth & Claw, Inverness, this weekend (Friday 12th August).
I will start by saying that the tune is a belter and ripples with a confidence and musical sensibility, reminiscent of Hole /Paramore and Shirley Mansun (Garbage). I would also add that they make a hell of a sound for a 2 piece. Elena Velisnky & Daniel Cohn (aka El & Dan) take turns about, on drums / guitar / vocal duties. El is smashing it, into the net on this track.
El’s bratty vocal swoons and snarls throughout the length of the track. El sure can sing. There is a depth and clarity to the performance / songwriting / mix, which lifts it above the standard pop / punk outfit. They are more likely to crossover into the mainstream then most punks.
The track starts with a crazed / distressed EL on the phone to Dan, and launches into a groove that fools you into thinking its gonna be a standard affair. Then the tune gets choppy and angry (your gonna be pumped up in the moshpit) and the hooks keep coming. The song drops down in the middle 8, which just pulls you further in, and then it gallops off again. Great guitar sound and driving drums. 3 minutes well spent.
I am uncertain whether they have a record labels support (I think possibly not). They have had the help of Australian producer Mark Opitz (INXS, Cold Chisel, Divinyls) on their previous output and that shows in the quality of the track. The video for “Super Mental Psycho” shows 2 musicians very much immersed in the moment and enjoying themselves. I have done a quick trawl through their back catalogue and it sounds consistently good.
As music is more often about image these days, I would say that MDS have that too, and the kids are gonna love ‘em! Hey, us older kids love ‘em too!
MDS are doing it? They are on tour, and making their way around the world sharing their sound. I wish them the very best. I reckon we are gonna hear a lot more from Mannequin Death Squad. We are looking forward to sharing a stage with MDS.
The album's got a rather wonderful title, it's called Don't go to bed mad, stay up and fight all night and I've revisited it this week for more listens and it's very good indeed. The band is comprised of Dave Martin (guitars/drums) and Steve Simms (vocals) and they describe their music as "Feelgood anarchy" & "Raw, righteous rage." The 11 tunes on the album chronicle the world they see today. There is anger and vitriol but their message is love and positivity, and big heavy grooves.
Many albums load the best songs towards the front to draw you in and by having the song I'm highlighting below plus the aforementioned title track at 2 and 3 it was tempting to think these guys were doing just that... but the hits just kept on coming until we got to the back end... tracks 9, 10 &11 (Knickers, Lay Down Your Guns, Is It OK?/Toxic Culture). Remarkably they finished things off every bit as powerfully they started.
Unsound Advice (https://www.facebook.com/unsoundadvice) are Jay (Guitar/Vocals), Ben (Bass/Vocals) & Brett (Drums), a trio from Brisbane who play an energetic mix of rock, punk and grunge.
They've just released a new 6 track ep titled Surprise Party For Psychics. The name came about because it seems that no psychics predicted the Covid pandemic, You can get it here : https://unsoundadvice.bandcamp.com/
This is the lead track and somewhat of a live fan favourite. It's about following the herd and stifling your own creativity in order to fit in. It's called Robot Insanity...
They're all obeying the signs Swimming with the stream Your sons and daughters They're all falling in line They all dress the same And follow orders Come on and join the parade Go with the flow You know you wanna Fit the pattern they made Conform to their rules Or you're a goner
They want robots, robots Robotic Insanity They want robots, robots No creativity, It's Robotic Insanity
They made a tracking device We gave to ourselves No reservation And now we're paying the price The algorithms feed them information And they keep selling their lies Distorting everything that they inform us But all you do is comply Your thoughts aren't your own You are conformist
Riviera Kid are two best friends from Margate & Boughton who make "heavy melodic music with protest poetry lyrics." Johnny Yum Yum sings and plays guitars whilst Dan Atkinson sings and plays drums. They're DIY punks with day jobs living the weekend dream. They formed in the summer of 2018 and released their first ep, It's Not A Matter Of A Or B, at the start of 2019. It mixed elements of hardcore, grunge and punk to create a noisy and socially conscious statement of intent.
They returned a couple of months ago with a new ep. Titled Stay Positive it's another powerful slice of shouty punk goodness in which they enlist the help of Jim Jam, Kate Wintie, Liz Hayward and Jim Kemp on backing vocals. It's available on Back From The Dead Records on cd and digital download : https://rivierakid.bandcamp.com/album/stay-positive
I've been meaning to post a track for a while and I've had Casual Racism (lyric video here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpfP0idpkSo) lined up and ready to go but whilst listening to the ep again I find myself drawn to a different song. It's a song that's going to be on the new #SolidarityNotSilence compilation from Hell Hath No Fury Records later this summer and it's both energetic and highly addictive with the added backing vocals ensuring the chorus is one of the catchiest you'll have heard recently.
"If you see a problem you can fix...DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT."
"You don't need to up and quit...DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT"
"Your life can flash before your eyes...DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT"
"Before you even realise...DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT."
"Your mental health might fall apart...DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT."
"It's never too late to make a start...DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT."
"The world can be a shitty place...DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT."
"It's not all bad it's not too late...DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT."
Sounds good yeah? Then DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! Click play...
Forming in 2005, Litterbug (https://www.facebook.com/litterbugblackpool/) are the Blackpool punk 3 piece featuring a line up of Stuart Diggle (guitar/vocals), Toby Ridehalgh (drums) and Andy Higgins (bass/vocals). Inspired by the likes of The Buzzcocks, Undertones, Briefs, Pixies etc, they've released an impressive catalogue of sub 3 minute catchy punk tunes that never fail to impress. They recently compiled 2 of their albums, Your Perception Is Not My Reality & Countdown to Schadenfreude, on one cd for a bargain £7. Now they follow that up with a brand new 16 track album titled Abstract Melodies Saying Terrible Things.
The album is like a box of chocolates, open it up and choose from a selection of tasty treats. Unwrap the foil and indulge yourself on a bitter sweet song about looking back on your life and wondering if you'd have lived it differently Gorge yourself on a crunchy bite sized track about battling to get out of bed as you struggle to fit in with society. There's the sticky toffee centred Sludge ("We all get stuck in the mud")... It's a selection you can easily indulge yourself on, you'll soon be sat there at the end of Waiting For Something To Happen with a pile of wrappers and a full belly wanting to start over again.
This track is about our cctv society. We pay our taxes but the bastards in charge still want to bleed you of more money at every opportunity. It's titled Getting Fined...
There's a long running UK punk music mag called Vive Le Rock which must be doing something right as it's still a going concern whilst most other print magazines have disappeared. It's great that punks can get their regular fix of everything noisy but I have a problem with it.
First off, let me admit that they won't give a toss what I think as if I was in charge no doubt their audience would have disappeared long ago but I can't help think it's a bit of a nostalgia fest aimed at people who've never listened to anything released since they were at school 40 years ago. Lets check out the new issue, a cover photo of Stiff Little Fingers and the promise of articles on the likes of Psychedelic Furs, Boomtown Rats, Gang Of Four, Wendy James, Shane Macgowan etc. Sure, they grudgingly tip their hat to Aerial Salad and Pears but in general, exciting new bands get short shrift as new ways are found to blow smoke up the same old wrinkly backsides.
But hey, that's obviously what the people want.
Over on Just Some Punk Songs though, you aren't getting Jake Burns or Bob Geldof and their ilk. You're getting bands that will keep punk exciting and fresh for future generations. We're looking forwards not backwards. You're getting Cold Meat instead of Crass, The Chats instead of The Undertones and DefektDefekt instead of The Stranglers. And today, you're getting a band with a 6 year old vocalist!
Unicorn Fart Sugar are Domestics' bassist Rhodes and his young daughter. They've been keeping busy during the current lockdown doing musical stuff. The result of this endeavour is a debut Self Titled ep and do you know what? It's bloody good. It's fun and very catchy. It's available on the splendidly named Runny Bum Records' Bandcamp page as a name your price download : https://hobopope.bandcamp.com/album/unicorn-fart-sugar
4 tracks of growly punk fun with handclaps and cutting lyrics such as "Daddy is a poo" and "I'm gonna eat, eat, eat, apples and bananas...I'm gonna poo, poo, poo out apples and bananas." It says more to me than anything on the latest Boomtown Rats album. Get them on your next cover Vive Le Rock!
This is another food based track, it's called Pizza And Grapes....
This time around rather than aiming their bile at the political elite, their target seems more personal. The new single starts off deceptively restrained despite that growling bass still making it's presence felt. Give it 30 seconds or so though and everything gets much bouncier. Vocalist Sunny sounding like he's been listening to a mix of oi classics alongside maybe Sleaford Mods or Rats From A Sinking Ship. I particularly like the cool guitar work in the latter stages (more please). I'm guessing that as well as being obviously talented, this lot are a pretty versatile band that are going to one day put out a cracking album.
"I'm always sick and tired of when the people criticise a thing that they don't even know a thing about, can you please do your research, please do a deep search"
I suppose I better double check my facts today...
Track Not Found are a duo from Guernsey featuring Grace Tayler (Guitar/Vocals) and Maisie Bisson (Bass/Vocals). Straight away I feel as though I've fucked up my fact checking mission as live videos of the band clearly show them as a 3 piece and that damn drumkit doesn't play itself but I'm getting my info from their Facebook page so blame them not me! They've both a distinctive look and a distinctive sound and "pull on influences from classic jazz to grime, smooth-ass funk to metal from our emo days and this has resulted in riff-lead grungy songs with the occasional rap and/or kazoo." They've been together since 2016 and have released an ep titled The Only Way Is Lost and a single called Science (Gone Wrong), you can find them here : https://tracknotfound.bandcamp.com/
Recently they returned with a new single and it's a shout out to anyone who may have been less than complimentary about their music. This is Everyone Hates Track Not Found...
We live in interesting times is a quote often attributed to Robert F Kennedy (though supposedly it was first used in 1936 by Sir Austen Chamberlain) and with the current state of politics both in the UK and abroad there's lots of bands releasing music that reflects this so this weekend I'm going to feature a couple.
First up are London punk/grunge outfit Diamond In The Dirt. They formed back in 2015, are influenced by the likes of Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes, Slaves, Queens Of The Stone Age etc and feature a line up of Sunny (guitar/vocals), Sam Tids (guitar/vocals), Aden Maine (bass/vocals) and Billy Fuller (drums/vocals). 2016 saw the release of their debut ep, Hopeless, and they've just released a video to their recent single, Brexshit. You can get more info on them here : https://www.facebook.com/DiamondintheDirtUK/ and check out their music here : https://diamondinthedirt.bandcamp.com/
The single was recorded before Boris Johnson took over as pm from Theresa May but I'm sure the sentiment remains the same. It asks the question was it worth it? It's a vituperative 79 second eruption of anger and rage that doesn't hide it's contempt for those who play the game of politics whilst the public pay a heavy price. This is Brexshit...
You’re a number, not a name Stand in line conform, complain You believe what you’ve been told We are not the fucking same We don’t care what they all say The black cross is just a game Fingers cross the future's grey Cut the head of Mrs. May
Propaganda, fit the mould Just how much have you been sold All for what All for what All for what All for what All for what All for what All for what All for what All for what All for what All for what All for one
The weekend has arrived so I suppose I better start putting together a playlist for Tuesday's Just Some Punk Songs show (shameless plug : https://www.facebook.com/events/235748777103418/). One song that'll feature is a new one from Mary Bell.
Influenced by the likes of Sonic Youth and Bratmobile, they're a band from Paris who I wrote about last year when featuring a song from their very fine (name your price on Bandcamp) debut album https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2017/01/mary-bell-empty-puppet.html I don't really need to repeat myself so I'll just point you towards their Facebook and band pages (https://www.facebook.com/MaryBellFTW/) (http://marybellftw.com/) and get on with telling you that they're preparing to release (on Oct 1st) a new ep titled Histrion. It'll contain 6 tracks on 45 rpm 12" vinyl and it'll also be available digitally. Pre order it here : https://marybellftw.bandcamp.com/
There's a couple of songs already available for you to stream, this is the second one that's been teased out. When I play Mary Bell on the show, the chatroom folk are always very complimentary, I'm sure they will be again for this critique on the pressures faced by women after giving birth and the need to put their lives on hold and Be A Mom...
They tell me I'm a muff and i'm supposed to hide my stuff Since birth that I am wrong Abort my ideas and get along
They tell me I must be a mom Forget what's really turning me on
Living at society's pace 10-day-make-up dripping on my face Since birth that I'm too serious And now I know that... We are living in a farce And I'm so pissed at the human race
They tell me I must be a mom Forget what's really turning me on
Since birth that I'm too showy And I'd rather hide my cavities Living at society's pace 10-day-make-up dripping on my face We are living in a farce We are living in a farce
They tell me I must be a mom Forget what's really turning me on
And I'm so pissed at the human race... And I'm so pissed at the human race...
Litterbug are the Blackpool based 3 piece featuring Stuart Diggle (vocals/guitar), Cassius Streetly (drums/backing vocals) and Andy Higgins (bass/backing vocals) who last featured on here a couple of years ago (http://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/litterbug-i-will-not-explain.html). With influences ranging from Tom Waits to Death Cab For Cutie (fear not punk fans they also list the likes of Buzzcocks, Ramones, Saints, Briefs, Pagans etc), they tag themselves as a mixture of punk/surf/pop/grunge.
Pop on over to their Bandcamp page and you'll find their It's Punk Rock Jim, Bur Not As We Know It collection alongside 2016's Artistic Harassment album and the following year's Your Perception Is Not My Reality album. More importantly you'll also find new album Countdown To Schadenfreude. This release contains 7 of the best of their older tracks along side 7 new songs. Very good it is too https://litterbug.bandcamp.com/album/countdown-to-schadenfreude
4 of the new tracks will feature on a coloured vinyl 7" (hopefully out next month). They've also numerous gigs lined up (including next week's Nice N Sleazy Festival in Morecambe) so give them a like on Facebook and check them out https://www.facebook.com/litterbugblackpool/
There's times when I yearn for bands to experiment. I want my punk music in 2018 to take chances, to push the envelope and to prove to any naysayers it's not a tired old genre. Other times however, I want to listen to a band that just writes straight up '77 influenced catchy punk gems. Litterbug fall into the latter category. Top tunes, plenty of energy, a total blast. A band that should appeal to punk fans of any age. If you haven't heard them yet, check out the video below but leave yourself time to listen to the album too as I guarantee you'll want to.
London scratch rockers Brain Ape are back with a new single. The trio that is Minky Tres-Vain (vocals/guitar), Sol Alex Albret (bass/vocals) and Jacob Powell (drums/vocals) have been melding together elements of punk, stoner rock and grunge since 2012 and are improving with every release. Debut album Dara O came out in 2014 and was followed last year by Auslander. The latter of those was described as an album that you want to hurt your neck to and you can check it out here : https://brainape.bandcamp.com/releases
A slightly condensed version of a track from Auslander has been given a single release. It's a more considered track than much of their other output. Less shouty, more moody ominous rumbling...loudQUIETloud. The spirit of late 80's/early 90's Seattle runs through it. It's still nearly 6 minutes long but will keep your attention throughout.
I tried to decipher the lyrics and discover what the song is about and I got David Bowie's alienation from society and his obsessive impulse to write. No doubt I'm completely wrong so decide for yourselves. This is Graphomania.....
Diamond In The Dirt are a 4 piece hardcore grunge-punk band from London who formed in 2015 and line up with Sunny (guitar/vocals), Sam Tids (guitar/ backing vocals), Aden Maine (bass/ backing vocals) and Billy Fuller (drums). They list amongst their influences the likes of Nirvana, Frank Carter And The Rattlesnakes, CKY, Pulled Apart By Horses, Queens Of The Stone Age etc.
2017 proved to be a quiet year for them but they promise this year we'll be seeing a lot more of them. They've recently got a new website if you want to check for latest updates.... https://www.diamondinthedirtofficial.com/
This is the title track of the ep, it's energetic, it's catchy and it'll make you want to smash things! I played it on last night's show and it went down a storm so I'll share it to a wider audience today. It's called Hopeless....
Fitness are from Chicago, they formed in 2013 and are a 4 piece that combine punk, grunge and beefed up rock n roll riffs. Whilst they grew up listening to Weezer's Blue album & Thin Lizzy, their music is definitely modern day punk. Energetic and shouty, vibrant and bold.
Last month saw them return with a new 6 track ep called Puppet Show. It's available on vinyl (100 copies violet vinyl, 200 black) from Don't Panic Records and you can also find it digitally here https://dontpanicitsadistro.bandcamp.com/album/puppet-show
An urgent gravel throated singalong, This is Pauly's Shore.....
"We treat ourselves like meat We have no self esteem....."
Usually I try to say just nice things about the bands that appear on this blog, today however I think I'm probably justified in saying that this update is by a bunch of cunts!
According to their Bandcamp profile, Clark Cunt are a 4 piece featuring Drum Cunt, Bass Cunt, Guitar Cunt and vocal Cunt. They've just released their debut 8 track album, Genital Warfare, and as with all Braindead Records' releases you can snap it up "name your price"..... http://braindead-records.bandcamp.com/album/genital-warfare.
Information on the band is pretty much impossible to find online so I'll just tell you that the songs on the album are angry and confrontational (mainly) female fronted grunge punk rants against "pricks without a brain" and small men with muscle cars. This is a band that urges women everywhere to stand together and refuse to be treated as second class citizens.
This is the lead track, it's called Cosmetic Surgery.....
It's almost exactly 2 years since the 4 Elliott sisters from Hastings who comprise Maid Of Ace first appeared in this blog (http://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/maid-of-ace-bone-deth_25.html). Now Amy Catherine, Alison Cara, Abby and Anna Coral return with a song from their second album, Maid In England.
Earning them favourable comparisons with the likes of The Distillers, L7, Hole and pretty much any other decent hard hitting band featuring strong, guttural female vocals, the album (which the band released themselves) has been racking up some pretty impressive reviews. They've also been going down a storm on their current European tour.
Top notch punk from the streets, this is Made In England......
