The Shade - Born Too Soon

I first heard about this band at the recent "March Of The Mods"tour, in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust, in Brighton, unfortunately, due to a tyre blow out on my car and discovering that the spare in the boot was the wrong wheel, I arrived at the venue late and missed their set.

It must have been some set though as the venue was really buzzing and several friends of mine that had caught the set were really raving about them to me.

The Past Tense took to the stage and dedicated one of their songs to The Shade and said, "I hope you like it."  To which the guy standing next to me (who turned out to be The Shade's singer) said, "Like it, I'm gonna f***ing dance to it too!" and so he and another band member from The Shade did, and they gave it all, no shuffling around, they were jumping about and really having fun.  I caught up with them later and said I was sorry I missed the set and they very kindly bestowed upon me a CD and a button badge, on my return to Sweden the next day I put the cd in the stereo and you know, they play just like they danced!

 This is one of the most exciting young bands to come onto the mod/power pop scene, young, full of energy, passion and dedication (they travelled 300 miles to play the one show AND for charity!)  

Singer Callum Grimshaw has a voice that for me sits somewhere between that of Stairs frontman Edgar Summertyme, Steve Marriot and Paul Weller, and once again full of passion in the delivery of each and every word sung.  Of course, this is all backed by three very able bandmates in the form of Nathan Griffiths on guitar,  Josh Greenwood on drums and Jordan Hunt on bass who drive the music along with all the power you would expect from a young, supercharged band.

I have a feeling that we will be seeing these guys a lot more in the future and judging from the buzz they charged the Volks Tavern venue with, I would suggest that you go see them live if you get the chance, be sure to check your tyres before you set off! 

  

Listen and download more songs here: Soundcloud

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

http://www.theshade.biz/

http://www.myspace.com/theshade_uk
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheShadeUK

The Sharks - Blow EP. FREE DOWNLOAD

The Sharks are back again with yet another 4 track EP available for free download.  Once again this prolific band serves up 4 very tasty chops of guitar driven Punk/Power Pop sure to blow (excuse the pun) the cobwebs away and the bloody doors off, as usual!

FREE DOWNLOAD: Bandcamp

Contact, befriend, like and love The Sharks here: Facebook

Propeller - Don't Be Sorry Again (Name Your Price)

Let me introduce you to "Propeller" who have won my album cover art of the year (so far) with their second album "Don't Be Sorry Again."  But, you can't judge a book by its cover, right?  Wrong.  Firstly, this is a record anyway and secondly, it is packed to the rim with some fantastic cuts of Power Pop/Indie Rock, complete with chunky, chopping guitars, songs with strong melodies and hooks that will have you reminiscing of bands like Teenage Fanclub, in their early to mid career stage, Dinosaur Jr. The Replacements and Superdrag, to name a few, but they have plenty of originality to their sound to keep you hanging on every line delivered.

This is an album to be played loud to enjoy it to the maximum, and, for me personally, this would be great driving music and is certainly an album that will be making its way into my car stereo, home stereo and Ipod, this really is a blinder of an album and at a name your price fee, it is an absolute steal.  Yes, you can get it for free, but if you like it, please pay something as it will ensure that we get to hear more from Propleller in the future and for that not to happen would be a crime.  Go get it!!!!

Re-grouping in a San Rafael, CA garage, Propeller climbed out of the ashes of San Francisco's, Varsity Drag (comprised of members of Unbalanced and The Lemonheads), who's debut album "For Crying Out Loud" was released on the UK label Boss Tuneage and received favorable reviews worldwide. Propeller blends Greg Randall and Will Anderson's bright melodies with punchy guitar work which has produced "Don't Be Sorry Again" and "The Fear Of Rock And Roll". Solid records chock full of ultra-catchy gems. Propeller is an essential addition to any music lover who has The Replacements, Husker Du, Big Star, Buzzcocks, Teenage Fanclub and Dinosaur Jr., in their stack.

Stream and download the album here: Bandcamp

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

More Singles!

The Starkwells - Monsters In The Dark

There is something about bands from the Asturias region of Spain, where they just seem to strike the right balance in their form of Pop/Power Pop and The Starkwells are no exception to this rule, ok, it is a rule that I made up, but I stand by it completely!

The 4 tracks on this new EP from the 4 piece from Gijon have everything you could wish for, strong melodies, some nice guitar riffs and very pleasing harmonies driven along by a good solid rhythm section.

I can envisage this band going from strength to strength and releasing a great album in the future, one to keep your eyes on!

Stream the EP "Monsters in the Dark" here: Bandcamp

Contact, follow, befriend, buy the record, like and love The Starkwells here: Facebook

Official Website here: The Starkwells

What, Really s/t Promo

From Spain we travel to Italy to me "What, Really?"  who hail from Brennero Turnpike which I believe sits somewhere between the mountains of Trento and the plains of Bologna, anyway, this isn't a geography lesson, but it is a lesson into how to knock out some adrenalin fuelled power pop with attitude, this is a really great promo and once again, I think we can expect great things from this 3 piece in the future, if this is the quality of their promo then I can only guess that what is to come is going to be brilliant!!!!

Download the Promo here for a name your price fee: Bandcamp

Contact, follow, befriend, like and love What, Really? here: Facebook

Official Website: What, Really?

Mooner - Unpronouncable Name EP

Mooner began life in 2007 as a bedroom project, in Oregon, of Lee Ketch, where he recorded all the instruments using some basic tools in attempt to pay homage to bands like The Hertbreakers, The Attractions, Television and Wilco, the type of tight rock that a solo dud couldn't be, in 2011 the band as they are now were formed and they certainly put out the tight rock with big guitars, hooks galore and a sound that equals or surpasses the bands influences.

Download "Shapeshifter"free here and buy the complete EP: Bandcamp

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

Anna Bradley - The Last Great Day Before The Body Was Found.

Staying in the US, this time with Anna Bradley, which is not a solo artist as I first thought, but a band, none of whom are named Anna Bradley!

This is a great 4 track EP with a very big sound and a fantastic production, an almost wall of guitars type production, similar to MBV, Boo Radleys etc but cleaner-ish!  Recorded at Mama Cocos Funky Kitchen, the band say that: "we run sticky melodies built from a lifetime of listening to and living classic and alternative pop songs on top of a purring, revving racecar of a rhythm section to create something that attempts to transcend the simple title "indie rock." 

That sums them up perfectly, and, as with the other bands featured today, I expect more great things to come from Anna Bradley!

Download the 4 track EP here for FREE : Bandcamp

(Be sure to check out the bands back catologue too!)

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

Ice Cream Man Power Pop and More (PROUDLY) presents: The Sharks.

A new twist for the "Ice Cream Man" today, the very first release in what will hopefully be the first of many digital releases under the title of "Ice Cream Man Power Pop and More presents......"

To kick it all off, I have chosen Brixtons ultimate Punk/Power Pop band "The Sharks" and selected 14 songs from their vast collection of music for your listening pleasure.  This band will blow the bloody doors off with their upbeat, melodic punky power pop!

The purpose of these releases is to promote the bands beyond the realms of the blog and get this music out to as many people as possible, and, for our own pleasure, of course.  Enjoy!

Many thanks to Paul Harvey, Davey Cane, Robbie Butcher and Will Udall of The Sharks for their kind co-operation with this first release.

You can download the album FREE or for a name your price fee here:

 Ice Cream Man Records Bandcamp

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

Visit The Sharks Bandcamp page to find the whole catologue of their amazing music here: http://thesharks.co

Singles round up.

In my attempt to catch up with myself after 3 weeks of no internet, I am going to round up all the singles that I have been sent in the last few weeks, starting off with this one from The Sensibles, which I featured last year and also finished in the joint number one spot with Bang 74.  Why am I featuring it again?  Well, the band have now decided to make the single available for FREE or a name your price fee. I absolutely love this EP and now you can too.  Go get it here: Bandcamp 

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

Spires - Sterling

Now, if you like a little pop/psyche, then this one should certainly appeal to you, full of, well, pop and psyche, and done beautifully too!

Spires are a band from Brooklyn, New York formed in November 2012. Initially the home recording project of 22 year- old Matt Stevenson, the band has become more of a collaborative effort and now includes Andy Davis (guitar), Jack Collins (bass), and Ethan Snyder (drums). A follow up single to "Sterling" will be released in late February. For a list of upcoming shows visit the Spires Facebook page here: Facebook  Find the download here: Bandcamp

The Smoggers - Breaking Your Boots With The Smoggers

Another one of our favourites on the blog is The Smoggers, freakbeat, gargage psyche at its very best!

Truly the Finest Amazing Fuzzed Out Trash that you are going to find on a 7” TODAY!!! 
With Four Hyper Psycho tracks (each one under 2 minutes) you are going to be Breaking more than your Boots when you slap this rekkid on and have your own Beat A Go Go!  I'd call it Hard Core Garage!! 
Of course it’s recorded in MONO under deft production by none other than That Maniac Mike Mariconda !!! 

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

Download the EP here: Bandcamp  400 7" singles were released for this, 200 in black vinyl and 200 in purple vinyl, all numbered, so if like me you love your vinyl, grab one at the brilliant KOTJ records here: KOTJ Records

Axolotl Daydream - Axolotl Daydream

Now, do we call this a mini album or an extended extended play?  It doesn't really matter, it is free to download so just go and get it, this is some pretty sweet, melodic power pop from Salem, Oregon featuring father and son team Tim and Isaac King, Tim is the father who does the guitars and vocals and Isaac is the son, who coincidentally laid down these drums at the tender age of 11!!!!

Go get the 7 tracks FREE here: Bandcamp

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

Kevin Lee &The Kings - Breakout

Kevin Lee & The Kings lean on the rockier side of Power Pop with some chunky guitars, big hooks and driving beats pushing the songs forward nicely and are great to rock out to.

The songs on the album are extremely well written and produced to a very high standard and sometimes move at a pace that may make you think the songs are about something other than heart break, however, listening to the lyrics, these are very much songs of loss, love and despair.

They say an artist has to suffer for their art, and to produce an album like "Breakout," with its lyrical content, you can only imagine, but as far as producing a top quality album with some really touching, meaningful lyrics, Kevin Lee has certainly achieved that and we have gained an album of songs written with real passion and sincerity, not to mention energy.

On "Breakout" Kevin Lee and The Kings create classic, strong guitar rock/power pop with a modern edge.  The rebellious "Burn it Down" gives listeners the confidence to face whatever life throws at them. And, from "Gold Digger" with it's quirky low-key verse to the ultra catchy "Too Little Too Late," Lee's songs stay in your head and keep you coming back for more.

Sell music on Amazon at ReverbNation.com

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love Kevin Lee and The Kings here: Facebook

The album is available here: cdbaby

Official website: http://www.kevinleeonline.com