Gulls - SHAME SHAME SHAME

Fascists: we are coming for you.

Racists: we are coming for you.

Sexists: we are coming for you.

  I first came across powerful Brighton 3 piece Gulls (https://www.facebook.com/gullsbandbtn/) last summer and promptly featured their excellent song Shop (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2019/06/gulls-shop.html) so I was rather pleased a month ago when singer and poet Rhi Kavok sent me their latest single. I played it on the show and then awaited patiently for them to finish off the accompanying video. And now it's here...

  Alongside Rhi, the band feature Boe H (guitar/vocals) and Matt Hickin (drums). They're an incendiary outfit armed with sharp sticks which they use to prod deserving targets. The recipients of their wrath this time around are fascists, racists and sexists, especially one in particular. We're currently living in a time in which the far right is feeling emboldened. Intolerance and hatred are rife. This is in part due to the diversive comments and actions of a number of the worlds politicians. Our own leader being a case in point. I'll leave it up to the band themselves to give you a bit of background on the song...

In August 2018, the UK Foreign Secretary referred to women who wear the veil as ‘letterboxes’.

This was not the first time he’d aired offensive, divisive views:

In 1995, he said that single mothers are, “ill-raised, ignorant, aggressive and illegitimate”.

In 1998, he referred to gay men as "tank-topped bumboys".

In 2002, he referred to African “flag-waving piccaninnies" with “watermelon smiles”.

In 2019, he said money spent on investigating child abuse had been “spaffed up a wall”.

In 2019, he became the Prime Minister.

Johnson spews his hate and hate crimes surge.

If we don’t unite to call out this shameful behaviour, we are complicit in the creation of a cruel, intolerant society.

Put simply: we cannot tolerate intolerance. We must actively fight it, everywhere it rears its ugly head. At work, in the pub, in government: we must call out, challenge and crush those who seek to spread hate and division.

  This is SHAME SHAME SHAME...

Skint & Demoralised - #RefugeesWelcome

(photo : Richard Ellis Media)

  Another political one today....

  Skint & Demoralised are Matt Abbott and David Gledhill, a duo from Yorkshire who recently returned following a 6 year hiatus to release their 4th album. A couple of spells as a volunteer at the Calais Jungle in 2016 seem to have led spoken word artist and vocalist Matt to making this album more of a reflection on what's going on around us (listen to album closer Superheroes for a touching account of what I presume is a real life encounter he had there?). Titled We Are Humans, it deals with the state Britain finds itself in as Brexit divides opinion and the gap between left and right grows ever wider and more volatile. It's about Austerity, frustration, immigration, the hardships faced by the working class and the loss of trust in Parliament. It's a marked departure from their earlier output and it's required listening. Often I'll say on here that a song or an album is timeless, this album however is very much a product of it's time. Very definitely fresh and vibrant 21st century punk that displays a wide range of influences and comes with a message you need to hear. It's available on coloured vinyl from Fierce Panda Records  http://fiercepanda.co.uk/shop.php?release=658  and it's on Bandcamp :   https://nymphsandthugs.bandcamp.com/album/we-are-humans

  They've a few UK gigs lined up before the end of the year and you can check out details here :   https://www.facebook.com/skintanddem/

  This song is a particular favourite. No comment required, just read the lyrics and wonder how so many people can turn their backs on desperate people. It's called #RefugeesWelcome...

The King Blues - Off with their heads

GUESS WHO'S BACK AND PISSED OFF AGAIN?  

  Music is often at it's best and is most exciting when there's something to get angry about. With the way things are heading, both home and abroad, I'm guessing there'll be an upsurge in quality, pissed off records. Today's song is definitely in that category.

  The King Blues combine punk and poetry (and a fair number of other genres) and have recently returned sounding reinvigorated and if the quarter of a million views of their new video (in just 24 hours) are anything to go by, they're more popular then ever. All this despite a Facebook ban on them advertising it due to "threatening language."

  From London, they were a band that I got into fairly early, I bought the first 2 albums, Under The Fog & Save The World, Get The Girl and whilst I enjoyed the next 2 (Punk & Poetry, Long Live The Struggle) they didn't resonate quite as strongly with me. They suffered from an acrimonious break up and that appeared to be that.

  But at a time when their political missives are needed more that ever, they're back with a broadside at those pig fucking Bullingdon Boys that scores a direct hit. Currently a 3 piece featuring Itch, Jamie Jazz and Fruitbag, they're taking their anger and using it to create something special.

  From the new 7 track record (which you can check out here : https://thekingblues2016.bandcamp.com/releases) this is Off With Their Heads......