The Dickies - Stukas over Disneyland

Stukas over Disneyland, released after a four-year silence, shows the Dickies training their popcorn wiseguy sights somewhat away from the hardcore and Ramones influences of earlier platters to that of power pop and '60s songs. The former of the two new influences is showcased in the tunefully memorable "Pretty Please Me" and "If Stuart Could Talk"; the latter is evident in "Rosemary" (with its Beatles-on-caffeine bridge), "Wagon Train" (which sports a broad tune that evokes comparisons to old Western T.V. show theme songs), "Out of Sight, Out of Mind" (featuring a chorus that echoes the one in Ricky Nelson's "Garden Party"), and especially the title track (which exhibits noticeable surf music and Chuck Berry influences and sets ironic, humorous lyrics detailing a Disney-based world takeover). Bows to their earlier punk influences can be seen in the uproariously funny "She's a Hunchback" (complete with smart-aleck references to the Victor Hugo novel) and a giddy cover of the Led Zeppelin classic "Communication Breakdown." The 1988 re-release appends three songs ("Gigantor," "I'm Okay, You're Okay," and "Bedrock Barney") cast in the Dickies old cartoon hardcore manner; while all are likable and welcome, the addition of these numbers makes this release seem more stylistically schizophrenic than it originally was. Regardless of the version obtained, this excellent album is an enjoyable and recommended listen. -AMG

Listen Here
 

Buy the album - AMAZON

Grandma's Boyfriend FREE EP DOWNLOAD

Winning best band name this week is "Grandma's Boyfriend" from San Francisco, who have just released a six track 7" single....YES....six tracks on a 7" single!
All but one track on the single come in under the nifty 2 minute mark but they fit everything in there perfectly, this is pure Power Punk Pop and if I was forced to give you a comparison I would say The Dickies meeting The Ramones.  I hope it won't be long until these guys deliver a long player, this is great, get up and jump about music, they are about to go out on the road, unfortunately I don't have any dates, but follow them on Facebook (Link at the bottom of this post) and go and check them out!
 

These guys deliver, short, sharp, punches to the ears and mind

"Grandma's Boyfriend" are:

Mike Ramos - guitar, vocals
George Tarlson - bass, vocals
Malcolm Kenter - drums, vocals 

Go download this for free here:BANDCAMP

Befriend, follow and like here:FACEBOOK

By the 7" single here:http://theloglady.com/catalog.html

Grandma's Boyfriend have been in touch and have given me the following dates for their live appearances, so go along and have some fun if you are in the vacinity!

5/17 >> @ McWorld (5011 Adams Blvd, Culver City, CA)
5/18 >> @ Trunkspace (Phoenix, AZ)
5/19 >> @ Magnetic Music (Taos, NM)
5/20 >> @ Lion's Lair (Denver, CO)
5/21 >> @ TBD, (Salt Lake City, UT)

Grant Lindberg - Tokyo EP FREE DOWNLOAD!

Grant Lindberg is back again with another free offering of brilliant Power Pop heaven!!!!!

When Grant isn't out fishing, he is writing and recording select cuts of Power Pop for our delight and this 5 track EP bolsters up the rest of his back catologue quite nicely, which is also all there on bandcamp also for FREE and I highly recommend that you download it all.

If melodies, crunchy guitars and well crafted songs are your thing, then Grant is your man!

Download the Tokyo EP FREE: HERE

Don't forget to check out all of Grants other offerings too!

Phenomenal Cat Need YOUR help!

As many of you are aware, Phenomenal Cat are one of our little darlings here at "Ice Cream Man Power Pop and More!"  In fact, we adore them and hope that you have enjoyed the single a month free downloads they have provided for you this year as much as we have.

If you have and would like to show your gratitude, the band need your votes to help them to expose themselves....calm down, calm down, I mean in a live performance at "Lounge on the farm festival!"

If you would like to ensure that one of the UK's finest Power Pop bands are in attendance at this festival, please follow the link here: http://www.yousaytheyplay.co.uk/voting/band/Phenomenal%2520Cat  all you need to do is submit an e mail address and your vote will be cast.  Lets make sure that Power Pop gets some representation at this festival.

To download the Phenomenal Cat FREE single a month, follow this link: http://phenomenalcat.bandcamp.com/

Many thanks in advance from Ice Cream Man and Phenomenal Cat. :)

Brian Young - See What I Made. FREE DOWNLOAD

Brian Young's debut album "See What I made" is beautifully sublime and is somewhat a diary of one mans life experience that could easily be a reflection of each of our own lives.
Each song is delivered with passion and feeling and whilst some of the songs are of rejection and heartache, the music takes the songs to a completely different, happier place.
This is a sparkling debut with a lyrical content that we can all relate to in some way shape or form.  There are many stand out tracks here and not a filler in sight,  Brian's voice sometimes reminds me of David Gedge from the Wedding Present during his Cinerama days, only better!

Brian Young started writing songs at the tender age of 16 with his
first band, The Promise. By the end of college, that band lost a
couple members, gained a couple more, and became The Ideal Husbands.
Just before the year 2000, The Ideal Husbands caught the attention of
indie-pop mecca Shelflife Records, and work began on their debut EP.
Unfortunately, the band dissolved before it was finished, saving one
track (“Statues”) for Shelflife’s OMD tribute CD, Pretending To See
The Future. Soon after the split, Brian bought a bass guitar, a drum
kit, and began recording on his own. Taking a couple songs written
with The Ideal Husbands, as well as a few newer ones, Brian finished
his first solo EP Hi-Lo in 2005.

 
The next year, after moving to a small apartment in South Pasadena CA,
Brian began writing what would become See What I Made. The idea was to
document what was happening at that moment in life. It begins with a
prayer, a less than successful string of dates, finding love, feeling
disillusioned, breaking up, taking long walks at night, a dream, and
learning to laugh at it all (in that order).
 
See What I Made took a ridiculous amount of time to finish. In fact,
by the time it was, Brian had moved on from that small apartment,
played several shows (under the name Swimteam), got married, and then
moved again to Whittier CA. He has started a new band with his wife
Annette, called The Briannettes, and also plays with Los Angeles
indie-pop band The Tartans, and Pasadena post-punks The Guestimates.

Influences include:

The Smiths, The Zombies, Love, Beach Boys, The Kinks,
The Shangri-Las, Curtis Mayfield, Felt, Belle & Sebastian
 
Brian plans on recording a new EP in Summer 2012.

Download "See What I made" FREE: HERE 

Blog: thebriannettes.blogspot.com
Contact: seewhatimade@gmail

The Skywalkers - Year One. FREE or NAME YOUR PRICE!

 I have been meaning to include The Skywalkers on the blog for sometime now and actually feel quite bad that it has taken me so long to get around to sharing this.
Last year a friend back home in the UK called me up and managed to splutter out the bands name in an air of excitement, "You have to hear The Skywalkers, you will love it!" he said, and he was quite right, I found them on the internet within about 5 seconds of him hanging up and was listening to the free download within a minute.  I have to admit that I was slightly bemused by the fact they only had two instruments, a keyboard and a set of drums, but, along with their voices they have captured a sound in time, where notably more instruments were used, and made a brilliant job of it!

You can download the album for FREE but a small contribution to the band will ensure that "Year One" won't be the last we here from this duo.

The Skywalkers is a Freakbeat duo formed in Zwaag and based in Utrecht (NL). They got started in November 2009.

In January they released a self-produced 8 song demo online. They have performed in places all over the Netherlands and also some places abroad.

photo by Luuk Muller

The Skywalkers consist of organ player Jacco Gardner and drummer Hugo van de Poel. Both singer songwriters, they bundled their strengths to write songs together.
Their sound is easily recognizable because of the simple combination of Philicorda organ and basic drums, this together with the overdriven edgy vocals create a raw, energetic whole.

They get their inspiration from bands like; The Zombies, Herman's Hermits, The Seeds, The Electric Prunes, Tomorrow, The Blues Magoos, The 13th Floor Elevators, Love, The Pretty Things, Strawberry Alarmclock and many others that moved the underground scene from '65 till '68.

photo by Luuk Muller

In november 2010 The Skywalkers celebrated their one-year anniversary with the release of Year One.
Year one is a collection of two demo EP's recorded by The Skywalkers between November 2009 and November 2010. Year One is released on limited 12" vinyl by Grey Past Records and is released online for free.

The Skywalkers will continue playing gigs in the Netherlands and abroad. There are also plans for the release of a 7" single.

Get the album here: Bandcamp 

Follow, befriend and like here: Facebook

Ruby Coast - Whatever This Is. FREE ALBUM DOWNLOAD

Ruby Coast don't just deliver a colourful cover (artwork by Bill Scott) they also deliver some colourful Indie/Power Pop tunes produced by Howard Billerman the former drummer of Arcade Fire.

From Ontario, Canada, Ruby Coast, bring us 14 tracks of of well written songs wrapped up in some wonderful tune smithery and then give it to us FREE of charge!!!!

Follow, befriend and like Ruby Coast here: FACEBOOK

Download the album FREE here: Bandcamp

The Pulsebeats - Album Review

It is not very often (sadly) that I receive vinyl albums for review, but I love it when I do, the sound quality is amazing and I question myself as to why I started buying cds or downloaded MP3's?  The warmth of the recording is second to none and with today being "Record Store Day" why not go out and buy a record, better still buy The Pulsebeats album!

 The Pulsebeats hail from Santander in Spain a small town with a thriving underground rock and roll scene that apparently doesn't get a lot of attention outside the region, let alone outside Spain, I have a strong feeling that The Pulsebeats are going to go a long way to changing that!

The self titled album fires into life with the amazing song, "The Heart Of A Rhinestone Cowboy" full of jangly guitars a pulsing rhythm and echoes of The Clash in part, this has to be one of my favourite album openers in a long time, a pretty major statement as I gaze across the room at shelves full of records and cds!
Track 2, "Song for Cecilia" fires up with an Strokes style chugging guitar riff and has a catchy sing along chorus that I challenge you not to attempt to sing along with and so the album goes on with "Cynical Ride" another uptempo song that reminds me of the American Power Pop band "Cracker" in its first few opening notes, giving the listener a sense of familiarity with the music, but the band are in no way plagiarists, there is certainly a nod to some classic British and American Punk and Power Pop bands here within the grooves, but they have their very own distinctive style, which, with a nod and a tip of the hat to the greats that have gone before them make this a really great album with hooks and melodies in abundance and so the album continues through all 10 tracks.

This album won't be leaving the turntable anytime soon, unless The Pulsebeats bring out another album tomorrow! 

Buy the album as a digital download a CD or on Vinyl here: BANDCAMP

Follow, befriend and Like The Pulsebeats here: FACEBOOK

The Wellingtons - In Transit

 

There have been a few bands that have come out of the Australian Power Pop Scene that I have really liked but only one that I have loved and they are The Wellingtons!

In Transit is the bands fourth album and probably their best to date, not saying that the previous releases were anything less than brilliant, they just seem to have nailed a certain, je ne c'est pas?  But they have nailed it!  I'd  like to think it is so good because they recorded it in my home country (England) and mastered it at the Abbey Road studios but I think it is more than likely the knack the band have for writing great songs and delivering them with such great finesse.

"In Transit" shows the band at the peak of their game melodically and instrumentally. "I Fell For You" is as dynamic and lush as a hooky ballad can be, with strings, mellotron and crafted, layered harmonies. There's also more jangle and twang than previous Wellingtons albums with sweetly played slide guitar beneath layers of Jeff Lynne style acoustic guitars. The Wellingtons pride themselves on creating instantly memorable pop bliss and they've delivered their finest instalment to date with "In Transit". 

 

 The Wellingtons are currently looking for a new drummer, so if you are a drummer in The Melbourne area of Australia, or know someone that is, and you fancy playing with one of the best power pop bands around, then please e-mail mail@thewellingtonsmusic.com for an audition or a chat.

Contact, befriend and like The Wellingtons here: Facebook

Listen to and watch more Wellingtons videos here: Wellingtons Youtube Channel

The Wellingtons albums are available from all good stockists.

Phenomenal Cat......MORE FREE DOWNLOADS AVAILABLE!!!!!!

Those generous people over at Phenomenal Cat headquarters have decided to make 150 more free downloads available of their first three singles to celebrate the release of the 4th single in their single a month project, "Love on the dole."

If you missed out on a free download before (they went pretty quick), then go over to bandcamp and download, all FREE  http://phenomenalcat.bandcamp.com

Don't forget to go to FACEBOOK to like and to follow!

The Semis - Decapitator Blues FREE DOWNLOAD

Another brilliant find on Bandcamp.  The Semis have a little bit of something for everyone and a lot of everything for everyone, you will find bit of Glam, Britpop, Power Pop within the 12 tracks of Decapitator Blues and much more.  This album will make grey skies look blue, cold days warm and sad faces smile!  Download, kickback and enjoy!!!!

The Semis are a rock band with a beachy garage-pop vibe full of beat and melody. They were formed by songwriter, singer, guitarist Billy Summer. The blindingly handsome and shamefully talented Summer has produced some of the finest classics you’ve never heard deftly intertwining solid gold song craft with unbridled and pure rock N’ roll id. The Semis 2010 album, Back to the Beach, was warmly received by fans and critics alike and was awarded Album of the Year by Creative Loafing magazine. Songs from The Semis have been featured in the movie Dropped Frames, various regional television commercials and the Bravo series Flipping Out. The Semis are always writing, recording, and slaying, that is, if they’re not at the beach. Their new album Decapitator Blues will knock your meat in a knot and can be found on itunes, cdbaby, bandcamp, soundcloud and other fine digital distributors.

Billy Summer - guitars, bass, keys, vocals, drums
Kyle Lovell - drums
Rop Pastore - pedal steel on The Ballad Of Andy Howard
Scott Meyers - keys on Echo 

Photo by Nicole Kilbert.

DOWNLOAD FREE: THE SEMIS

Navigate to the discography on the right hand side of the bands bandcamp page for more music and more free downloads.

The Semis have four essential albums;
Route 666 ( 2004 )
White Powder Black Power (2007)
Back To The Beach (2010)
Decapitator Blues (2011)

all of which can be found here:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/the-semis/id45392330
and here:
http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/TheSemis

other earlier demos can be found here:
http://thesemisrock.bandcamp.com/album/upper-middle-trash

Follow, befriend and like the band: FACEBOOK

Buy the albums if you like them and support the band, they also have a great T Shirt Design too, so why not buy a package and be a ready for the summer in style!

Booking, Press and other enquires to: thesemis@gmail.com

Martha and the Vandellas - Heatwave and Dance Party

 

Martha & the Vandellas began making their first noise on the pop and soul charts with their 1963 album Heat Wave. Martha Reeves had a phenomenally powerful voice, and the Holland-Dozier-Holland title track of the album was a well-deserved Top 10 hit: the instrumental backing is so funky that you hardly mind the long delay before the vocals start. Unfortunately, Motown's music factory wasn't in full gear at this point - H-D-H produced but couldn't be bothered to write any further original material. So the LP does not include any of the Motown standards that the company later recycled as a matter of habit. Instead there are some decent, solidly performed, remakes of vintage tunes ranging from Phil Spector ('Then He Kissed Me') to Wayne Newton ('Danke Schoen'). Two years after their second atempt, the girls issued what is considered to be one of the great party albums of the '60s. Dance Party was, oddly enough, the work of a Motown act that wasn't known for delivering great albums. Martha & the Vandellas had enjoyed some serious hits from 1964 onward, but hadn't quite measured up in the LP department until the release of Dance Party in the spring of 1965. Made up of material from singles that went back to the previous summer, the album benefited from the presence of the group's biggest single, 'Dancing in the Street,' its follow-up, the hypnotically pounding, driving, soaring 'Wild One,' and the classic 'Nowhere to Run,' surrounded by a trio of well-above-average B-sides and covers of such Motown dance standards as 'Mickey's Monkey' and 'Hitch Hike.' Even the rest was hardly filler, however, with Martha Reeves turning in a gloriously impassioned performance on the ballad 'There He Is (At My Door)' and the group acquitting itself beautifully on 'Motoring.' Each side was always good for at least two plays at any self-respecting teen party of the '60s, and it all still holds up today. This comp gathers both albums on one disc for your listening pleasure. Enjoy! http://www.warr.org/, http://www.allmusicguide.com/

 

Listen: HERE

PHENOMENAL CAT - LOVE ON THE DOLE New Single out now for FREE Download!!!!

 

Phenomenal Cat continue with their single a month releases with their latest track "Love on the dole" and they continue to display that they are a musical force to be reckoned with!  

The new single has slightly more edge to it than the previous releases and still hits the bits that other songs can't reach.

Once again, there are only 200 free downloads of the single available, so go over to bandcamp and take advantage of their generosity.

To avoid any future disappointment in missing future releases from Phenomenal Cat, go over to their facebook page, click like and show them some love!

Free download available here:  BANDCAMP

Like and follow: Facebook

IF YOU, LIKE ME, THINK THAT THIS BAND ARE GREAT, THEN PLEASE SHARE THE LINK WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND REMEMBER, IT IS A FREE DOWNLOAD!!!

Fastbacks - The Question Is No

Featuring 14 songs spanning 12 years (and five drummers), The Question Is No is not only a terrific introduction to Fastbacks, but an excellent summary of the early years when they were one of the dozens of Seattle punk bands who couldn't get a hearing outside of Washington. While from the start Fastbacks were a band that loved first-wave pop-punk (think Ramones, Buzzcocks, and Rezillos), theirs was pop-punk with a difference; Kurt Block was willing to betray his fondness for '70s rock in his guitar solos, and his lyrics suggested the confused and angst-ridden internal monologue of an adolescent while dealing with the hopes, fears, and everyday realities of an adult. Bloch managed all this in a manner that was at once personal and unpretentious, thanks in part to the vocals of Kim Warnick and Lulu Gargiulo, who blend the offhand blather of punk with a sweetness that gives this band a very human warmth. Compiling singles, compilation tracks, and a few unreleased tunes (including one with a teenage Duff McKagan behind the traps), The Question Is No is as good as collection as you could ask for of the band's formative period and features some of their most energetic, rollicking performances. -AMG

 Listen: Fastbacks

Marty Graveyard (Ex The Madd) album in the making!!!!!

For those of you who are still smarting over the demise of The Madd, here is some excellent news!!!!!!

Marty's Graveyard 'Summer Holiday'! 'Summer Holiday' is the first solo album by Marty Graveyard, known as the drummer / singer of The Madd! Marty also wrote some songs for this acclaimed power-pop combo, including the singles' I Know’ and 'Step into the sun’ .. After rave reviews from the press about his songs, Marty decided to write more and in no time there was an entire album of catchy guitar pop/rock material on the shelves.
 When The Madd disbanded it was the logical step to go solo and make album himself! How to make a record like you're on your own? Simple, you play all the instruments yourself.  Drums, Bass, Guitar, Keys, Vocals and harmonies are all performed by Marty. However, sometimes you just need something extra. Therefore, Marty also asked a number of artists to contribute to 'Summer Holiday'. Guest contributions are there from a.o. Joe Sixpack (Ragtime Wranglers) and Dave von Raven (The Madd) The production of 'Summer Holiday' was done by Marty Graveyard and his former bandmate Marcel Fakkers .. 'Summer Holiday' can be described as a feelgood guitar pop album. Catchy choruses and ditto Guitar Lines make you feel like it's summer forever. Marty has developed a unique style and sound with influences from a.o. the Californian popsound. If you think of The Beach Boys you're a step in the right direction .. Sprinkle a glimmer of punk rock on top of that and you get 'Summer Holiday'! If you really want to enjoy the summer?! .. Then you go on 'Summer Holiday' Marty Graveyard!

The album "Summer Holiday" will be released in June, meanwhile, here is a little teaser......

 Official Website: http://www.martygraveyard.com/

Contact, like and follow Marty: FACEBOOK

(Don't forget to click "LIKE" on Martys facebook page to keep up with the release details)

"Summer Holiday" will be reviewed here on the blog as soon as it is released! :)

Rooney - Rooney

Robert Carmine paid attention to what his older siblings were listening to while he was growing up, later taking note from big brother Jason Schwartzman and his band, Phantom Planet. Carmine and pals compose Rooney, and their self-titled debut is roughcast with chunky riffs and magnetic harmonies, slyly challenging Phantom Planet's glossy pop sound at the same time. Producers Keith Forsey and Brian Reeves craft a solid mix of power-chord punk and chamber pop bits for a dynamite collection. It's sunny rock & roll, really and incredibly fresh in avoiding any kind of comparison to Weezer. The first three tracks introduce Rooney's infectious indie pop style, showcasing how sharp the band is in and outside the studio. "Blueside" flirts with '60s surf rock while "Stay Away" churns such energy for a jagged, punk cut. The listener should be sucked in by now thanks to Rooney's boyish charm. If not, the playful, jilted love song "If It Were Up to Me" will leave you swooning. Rooney relishes in the band's youth, concentrating on getting the perfect hook without sounding too silly. The five-piece are barely old enough to drink, yet they deliver a real rock sound that's rich in emotion and cleverness. From the swanky guitar work of "I'm Shakin'" to the Cars-inspired "Simply Because," Rooney's sweet demeanor is undeniable. The album's quirky appeal is reflective of Rooney's self-assuredness as musicians, and likely characteristic of where the band stands personally. -AMG

 

 

Listen: HERE

The Jessica Fletchers - What Happened to the?

Jessica Fletchers show a lot more imagination and style than many of the bands mining the rich load of neo-psychedelia, certainly more than the bands on their label, Rainbow Quartz. The group hails from Norway and is firmly stuck back in the mid-'60s about where the Kinks meet the Small Faces, just down the lane from where the Marmalade and the Move hang out. They aren't strict recreationists on What Happened to the ?; however, there is a thoroughly modern dose of Elephant 6-style cuteness on songs like "Early Monday" and "Do You Know What She Hides." They also take some elements from garage rock (pounding tempos, simple chords changes) on songs like "Let's Go" and "Beatbox." Throw in some Beach Boys (the cuddly "You Can Have Japan"), Beatles (the dreamy "Shoot"), and the Spencer Davis Group ("I Got News") and you have quite the comprehensive, not to mention entertaining, tour of the mid-'60s. They also pay a lot of attention to arrangements, making sure to stuff each song full of interesting sonic details. This keeps the similarly written songs from all sounding the same. And it helps the band claw its way through the crowd of bands trying to do similar things and make What Happened to the ? one of the more interesting debuts of 2003. It's just a shame that the cover design is so uninteresting. Rainbow Quartz should have used the original cover that the record had when it was released in Norway. It would be too bad if the amateurish look turned away prospective fans. If you are one of those fans, please don't judge this book by its cover. -AMG

Listen:HERE

The La's - BBC in Session.

 

 It's quite possible that the La's showcased on BBC in Session is the closest to the ideal sound Lee Mavers had in mind when he sweated over the group's debut. The group is so lean and clean in these 17 radio sessions that their pop sparkles. It sounds genuinely out of time, hearkening back to the golden age of British pop and pointing toward the golden age of Brit-pop, especially when stripped of the lightest production flair Steve Lillywhite imposed on the band's debut. This doesn't necessarily make for a revelation -- there's no change on the arrangement, not even on the funky outtake "Come In Come Out," the tunes are just brought down to the bone -- but that doesn't make BBC Sessions any less valuable for die-hard La's fans: this is the group at their purest, arguably at their best, and it's as addictive as the classic studio LP.  AMG

Listen:Here

Redd Kross - Show World 1997

Kicking off with an exuberant version of the L.A. power pop-classic-that-almost-wasn't, "Pretty Please Me" -- and unsurprisingly Steve and Jeff McDonald and company rock the bastard to the ground with a smile this time around -- Show World is yet more fun from a band who dedicates themselves to a smart good time. In ways, Redd Kross had found history catching up to them by this time -- any number of bands had stumbled across the loud and brash- '70s pop-punk approach that was the group's raison de etre. But the fact that they hadn't gotten the attention they deserved for it didn't keep them from still going at it with gusto; Bless their hearts. If songs like "You Lied Again" and "Vanity Mirror" didn't introduce any curveballs to the basic sound, they still sounded pretty damn fantastic, singalong energy overdriven up to ten and beyond. Slightly slower tracks like "Girl God," the mega-orchestrated ballad "Secret Life," and the handclap crazy "Follow the Leader" showcase the band's calmer side well enough -- again, no surprises, but none were expected or needed. Best song title of the bunch this time around: "One Chord Progression," which lives up to its name just so. "Teen Competition" lets them cock rock out with the best of them, but doesn't forget the sugar in the chorus even as the distortion completely screws with the mix at one point, while "Get Out of Myself" has one brilliant moment with so much hyper-flange that why the speakers don't melt upon contact is a mystery. Source: [AMG]

Listen:HERE

The Uprising Tour Bristol

Here is a great gig if you are in Bristol tomorrow night.  The Gaurdian said British Rock ,N, Roll is dead....obviously they know nothing about music!

Thee Vicars - I Wanna Be Your Vicar ALBUM RELEASE

 

This album fell through the letterbox today (well, the in mail) and it is exactly what we expected from Thee Vicars....wall to wall kick arse rock'n''roll..... if you only buy one album this year, buy this one and dance until December!!!!!!

Fall down to your knees because Thee Vicars are about to deliver another chunk of garage punk gospel!

Heralded as the “heirs to The Horrors” only with a better cut of suit, this Bury St Edmunds band won’t think twice about dragging your favourite indie chart toppers down an alley and kicking them “kung fu style” into orbit before setting their hair straighteners alight. Their words, not ours.
Now cut down to a three piece of Mike Whittaker, Chris Langeland and Alex De Renzi, they’ve never sounded better. This, their third album, still retains much of the mod-influenced garage-punk sound of their previous work but gives it a good dunk in the Mississippi until echoes of Memphis legends The Oblivians can be heard.
Upholding the garage-rock tradition of full throttle non stop gigging, Thee Vicars are constantly touring Europe and the UK, as well as having made a jaunt to the USA. They’ve opened for the likes of The Horrors, Black Lips and everyone’s favourite bandage clad punks The Mummies, and it shouldn’t be long before these clergymen are taking centre stage themselves.
The Guardian says “They might dress smartly, all suited and booted, but Thee Vicars create an unholy, unruly row. They are much like the Cribs’ new favourite proponents of back-to- basics rifferama, the Strange Boys... Together they create a decent fuzzy racket, full of energy and heavy on the treble, with a low-end throb that does the job.”
Meanwhile, writing about their second album Clash Magazine said, “Ironically, in displaying barely a drop of originality, Thee Vicars actually sound fabulously fresh when set against the current crop of synth-pop bunnies.”
Indeed, when the next big thing consistently looks and sounds like it was just spawned from Topman HQ, Thee Vicars couldn’t have picked a better time to unleash their rock‘n’roll attack. They may not be holy, but they sure as hell give a reason to be thankful!

 

Album available from: Dirty Water Records

Contact, Like and follow: Facebook

Follow this link for a pre release special price order: DW Discount 

The Jags - Evening Standards

The Jags are a fondly remembered one-hit wonder of the late-70s U.K. power pop explosion. The quartet was formed in 1978 by the Yorkshire-based songwriting team of Nick Watkins (vocals) and John "Twink" Adler (guitar), with Steve Prudence (bass) and Alex Baird (drums). In July of 1978, they signed to Island Records and released a promising four-track EP. Their debut LP in 1980, Evening Standards, included the memorable, though highly derivative, "Back of My Hand," which had reached the U.K. Top 40 the previous fall. The follow-up, "Woman's World" barely scraped its way on to the charts. Though Evening Standards featured a really solid set of punchy power pop songs, critics focussed instead on Watkins' Costello-like delivery, writing the band off as merely mimics. As steam ran out of the power pop craze, the band attempted to change their sound a bit. 1981's No Tie Like the Present featured a slightly new direction, but it was generally overlooked. By 1982, the Jags had disbanded for good, though "Back of My Hand" had a revival of sorts in the '90s, appearing on several compilations. AMG

Listen:  HERE

England Road - Memory Lane EP

Formed in 2011, England Road are one of the youngest bands currently playing in the south coast. Aged just 14-17 they have musical ability well beyond their years. Playing their own compositions as well as recognised Indie and hard rock classics, they are held in high regard by all bands they have played with.

December the 18th 2011 saw them become the youngest band in history to have their own headline night (at the average age of 15!!) at the legendary venue “The Joiners Arms” in Southampton.

England Road have a strong following in both Southampton and Portsmouth and regularly play big venues across the region. They are fast gaining a reputation in the local area as the 'ones to watch'.

 When I first heard "England Road" on the  Glory Boy radio  show I envisaged a band that had been doing a long apprenticeship on the boards of venues all over the country, so to discover that they were so young and had played a handful of gigs was a complete surprise!

They have, quite obviously, wasted no time in mastering their instruments and honing their stage presence, so much so that they have already been compared to some of the bigger bands that have been plying their trades for 20 years plus, we won't name any names so as not to embarrass anyone.


England Road are a hard working band too with gigs lined up well into the summer, all in the south of England at the moment, but I am sure it won't be long before they spread their wings for ventures across the land.

Check out the upcoming gigs list: England Road Live

Listen to samples from the EP: Memory Lane EP

England Road Official Website: OFFICIAL

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England Road continued their rise for 2012 in style. They followed up their recent success in the Hampshire Youth Music Services ‘Battle of the Bands’ semi final, in which they stormed into the final on 5^th May at The Fernham Hall, Fareham, Hampshire, with a live audition for a major UK competition.

They sailed through to the regional finals of this years Live and Unsigned UK (which is later to be screened on SKY TV). February 25^th saw the young band from Southampton (aged 14-17) take on the adults and show them how its done. Belting out a 2 minute rendition of ‘You Chose Your Fate’ taken from their forthcoming first EP, England Road prompted a spontaneous round of applause from the judges and ticked all the right boxes.

England Road are held in high regard by all bands they have played with and are fast gaining a reputation in the local area as 'ones to watch'. They already have a strong following in both Southampton and Portsmouth and are regularly playing big venues throughout the region.

They will return to Highlight, Unit R04, Blvd Buildings, Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth, PO1 3TW on the 22^nd April to compete in the regional final along with 17 other bands from the first auditions. If successful, they will go on to compete in the area final and will be one step away from competing in the UK Final at the O2 in London.

The Sick Rose - No Need for Speed

The Sick Rose were arguably the first European garage band to have the impact globally in the same manner as The Chesterfield Kings (from the Timothy Gassen's book Knights of Fuzz 1980-1995).
Lead garage band in the Eighties, The Sick Rose with his fuzz and farfisa attack impressed the audience with full powered gigs, since the first released Faces LP, dated 1986.
The band performed alive with some legends of the genre (The Fuzztones, Dream Syndicate, The Nomads, Stomach Mouths and so on) and produced four full records but disbanded in 1990...
The Band comes back in 2006 with a new work, Blastin' out, produced by DOM MARIANI, the legendary leader of the Stems.
The new album gains a very good critic response and lead the band to several promotion tours.
Between 2006 and 2008 the Sick Rose toured Germany, Greece, Italy and Spain, opening for Jeff Conolly (Lyres).
Our new album NO NEED FOR SPEED is finally out!
This past fall Dom Mariani, from DM3 / Stems, flew from Perth, Australia to produce our 6th studio album. He did an incredible job! The result is a great album of power pop with many unespected undertones. We're very proud of it and we are dying to play the new songs live at our upcoming shows!

This has been a great week for music on the blog and this band along with their new album are the prefect end to the perfect week, after partying Friday and Saturday, I have put on this album and continued the party mode into Sunday!  Full of energy, 60's styled garage fuzz and some jangly Rickenbacker fuelled Power Pop, we are gonna be ripping it up until Wednesday....the party isn't over yet, go buy this album!!!

Official Page: http://www.thesickrose.com/

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