The Ace - Next Time Around

A couple of weeks ago, I received a really nice e-mail asking me if I would like to check out a Beat/Garage/Bubblegum band with a bit of psyche from a band called "The Ace."  I listened to the couple of tracks they had sent with the mail and was blown away.  The band had very kindly offered to send me  a CD if I was interested, I literally bit their hand off with their kind offer (if that is possible in an e-mail?) and eagerly awaited delivery.

The album, "Next Time Around" arrived yesterday with an additional 3 track EP and has barely been off the stereo since.

This 3 piece from Leeds truly evoke the sound and energy of the beat bands of the American west coast, every song here is driven forward with real style and panache.

If, like me, you are a keen collector of the Rubbles, Pebbles and Texas Flasbacks collections, then "The Ace" are a band that you will enjoy immensely.

This album is an absolute listening pleasure from start to finish, anyone who is passionate about the Freakbeat/Beat/Garage genres, will find hours, days, months, years of delight in this album, ace by name ace by nature!

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love here: Facebook

The album and EP are available directly from the band.

Alternatively, for the album or AOB contact: jonnymagus23@btinternet.com

Dot Dash - Winter Garden Light OUT NOW

Dot Dash are back with their second full length release, "Winter Garden Light" and have moved on from their previous musical leanings on the first album, "Spark>Flame>Ember>Ash"  which at times echoed The Jam or The Clash, not that there is anything wrong with that of course, but the bands new direction sees them finding more of a distinctive personality for the band and one that very much suits them!

Dot Dash are:

Terry Banks - guitar, voice;
Bill Crandall - guitar;
Hunter Bennett - bass;
Danny Ingram - drums

Guitarist/singer Terry Banks and bassist Hunter Bennett were in punky power poppers Julie Ocean. Before that, Terry was in a bunch of jangly guitar bands, including The Saturday People, Tree Fort Angst, Glo-Worm and St. Christopher, Guitarist Bill Crandall was in the mod/pop band Modest Proposal. Drummer Danny Ingram began musical life in Dischord-label punks Youth Brigade before moving on to Strange Boutique and later, U.K. guitar-wranglers Swervedriver.

Check out the band's Facebook . 

The album can be purchased from The Beautiful Music, Amazon or iTunes.

The Grimm Generation - Coming Home OUT NOW

The new EP from "The Grimm Generation" is anything but grim.  Yep, it still has the haunting tones of of life itself but it also has so much more as well, Jason and Carmen have moved on leaps and bounds with this latest release, possibly their best material to date.  This time Jason takes control of the lead vocals on the fabulous opening track, "Blink, I'm Gone" and then the reigns are handed back to Carmen Champagne (until closing track "Brooklyn Good), whose distinctive and haunting vocals take us through the rest of the journey on this 5 track EP with more songs about love, life, lust, irony and confessions.
I love the lyrics this duo write and whilst I may not interpret them in the way they are meant, I find myself listening to them intently and constantly return to analyse them again, usually in a completely different way from the previous listen, but that is great songwriting isn't it!

The Grimm Generation's 'Blink, I'm Gone' is a tale of marginalized people heading ever long into their only eventuality: oblivion. Directed by Zack Wussow, 'Blink, I'm Gone' tells the story of criminal conspiracies and the fall out of a few bad decisions. Starring The Grimm Generation's Jason P. Krug as 'The Driver', Carmen Champagne as 'The Muscle', and Lys Guillorn as 'The Boss', 'Blink, I'm Gone' also features a performance by Alexander delCampo as the star crossed 'Asher'. 

Download the EP here: cdbaby

Contact, follow, befriend, like and love The Grimm Generation here: Facebook

Hula Baby - The Rochester Sessions 7" OUT NOW

Hailing from Vallodolid in Spain, a town famed for its Easter celebrations, recognised as an international interest, the town now has something more to offer the world, I am of course referring to the seminal rock 'n' roll band, Hula Baby!

With their infectious blend of Rock'N'Roll and Surf beats, Hula Baby are putting the town on the music map and giving the locals another reason to celebrate, but like any good band in the 21st century, they are not keeping it to themselves, but sharing it with the world.

The three tracks on this EP are sung entirely in Spanish, but don't let that put you off, you will be singing along fluently whilst riding the crest of the wave that the bands music creates....Rock 'N' Roll indeed!

This EP is limited to just 350 copies on the brilliant KOTJ (Kick Out The Jams) label, so if, like me, you love your vinyl, get an order in quick as they are sure to sell pretty fast!

Contact, follow, befriend, like and love Hula Baby here: Facebook

Order your EP here: KOTJ RECORDS

(If you have any problems with the language, drop them an e-mail and they will help you out)

Find more by Hula Baby here: Bandcamp

And, if like me, you love your T-shirts, Hula Baby have a really fantastic design on theirs which you can have in a variety of colours for a mere 10 Euros with which you get a download of one of their albums!!!!!

Button Up - "Modena" and "Covered Up" EP OUT NOW

What an album to take us into Friday and the weekend, get your dancing shoes on, slip into your glad rags, fire up the scooter and hit the town. The weekend is here
I first heard "Button Up" on the Glory Boy Radio show a few weeks ago and immediately fell in love with their mixture of Northern Soul, Mod and Hammond beats, the 4/4 beat gets me every time, you can't help but tap your feet to the music and more often than not you end up dancing........with a great big smile on your face too!

Button Up new 10 track album “Modena” is out now and released on button up RECORDS. The musical theme comes from the title and includes the musical styles of Northern Soul, Ska and the Hammond Mod sound all blended together. Modena contains 5 tracks with vocal and 5 tracks intrumental, written by founding member and bass player Garry John Kane. The oustanding vocal talent of Sara Kerr leads on 4 up-tempo northern soul style tracks including the successful single/video from the album “Listen To Your Heart (Beat)”.  Mark Hannaway displays a Joe Strummer/Terry Hall vocal style on the Ska/2-tone track “Someday” to create another stunning vocal performance.   The other 5 Intsrumental tracks have a blend of Reggae, Garage and the wonderful “Midnight Stroll” and “Two, Two One” top the Sixties Hammond feel on the tracks.

Button Up are: 

Andy Gardner – guitars Garry John Kane – bass, guitars, percussion  Greg Barnes – keys and pianos  Lesley Mclaren – drums and percussion Sara Kerr – vocals

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love "Button Up" here: Facebook

Buy the album "Modena" the latest EP "Covered Up" and everything else by the band here: Button Up Records

Downloads are available at itunes, Amazon MP3 and emusic

Thee Eviltones - In The Shadow Of The Beast

From Nottingham in the UK, this band deliver their wares by way of fuzzy, dirty guitars, rip raw vocals, pounding drums and driven blood dripping bass, all in a  60's style garage frenzy, mix that with their leanings towards the dark side, a dash of punk attitude and you have a band that are struggling to remain human amidst their own creation, ladies, gentleman and beasts of the night, I give you THEE EVILTONES!

Tattered, torn and covered in the blood of a thousand demons, Thee Eviltones are the fearsome four horsemen of Apocalyptic Garage rock. The delivery of their debut album "In The Shadow of the Beast" is imminent, coming straight from the gaping jaws of Hades. 
Thee Eviltones are a four-piece rock n' roll band, bound by a love of garage rock and influenced by 60s soul, surf rock and punk. They provide a grooving soundtrack for stories of horror and terrifying dreams.
"In The Shadow of the Beast" is a 13 track artillery of savagely raw, yet soulful tunes that encapsulates everything Thee Eviltones have strived to create from their twisted sadistic minds. Along with the 12 virulent original tracks, "In The Shadow of the Beast" features a nightmarish version of Rolling Stones classic "Paint it Black" further ensuring that "In The Shadow of the Beast" will no doubt melt faces and take names to great effect.

Follow, contact, befriend, like and love....if you dare...here: Facebook

Buy the album: itunes Amazon

Official Website with gigs, news and more here: http://www.theeeviltones.co.uk

The Turnback - If I Were God. New video from the upcoming release.

Ice Cream Man favourites, The Turnback are back with a new video from their upcoming new release which promises to be a real scorcher.  Enjoy!

Contact, follow, befriend, like and love The Turnback here: The Turnback