THE SHOVEL PLAYLIST - 19 / 03 / 14

What's on the Shovel playlist this week

Brassick - Broke & Reckless e.p.
Where have I been these last 6 months! 5 tracks of punk n ska excellence.

Spirit Bomb - Killer In Your Stereo e.p
Following on from their recent debut gig this e.p. sets the bar very high indeed

Daniel Johnson - Lost and Found Album
Daniel is an interesting and inspiring person, releasing many of his early albums on self recorded cassettes - love the chaotic feel to his recordings and wish I made homemade cassettes when I was young

Discharge - Hear Nothing, See Nothing, Say Nothing LP
It's been over a month since I saw the D-Beat wizards and this has not been far from the stereo since.  

Johnny Cash - Live at St Quentin
Playing to a captive audience Johnny had the crowd eating out of his hands from the get go.

 

 

The Hold Steady - Spinners

Not heard the album yet but the lead single from Teeth Dreams is pure anthemic Alt Country pop.

 



Against Me - Transgender Dysphoria Blues - LP
Laura Jane Grace's tales about the issues she has faced over the last few years - for me the album is truly full of soul and hope apart from being a great fucking punk record to boot.

Hook Line Riot - Sirens
Just got a copy of the debut album by Hook Line Riot and with songs as catchy and anthemic as Waiting Room Exit it's no wonder it's been on the stereo all week.  Album review to follow.

Courtney Barnett - The Double E.P. - A Sea of Split Peas
Compilation of the first two e.p.s by the Melbourne guitar playing singer song writer.  Got a great lo-fi feel to it and a tinge of humour too.

The Clash - Combat Rock
Probably my least favourite Clash album back in the day but the Sound System remaster of Combat Rock is the album that benefits the most and the album sounds fresh & exciting.












 

D-BEAT IN DIGBETH

 

Potteries noise merchants bring D Beat to the Adam & Eve. 

The weather outside was frightful, but there was an altogether more enjoyable storm reigning indoors.  It’s easy to overlook just how influential Discharge were.  Possibly the first British hardcore band, it’s disappointing that it’s mainly the American bands who get all the plaudits and mentions when it comes to setting the blueprint for punk at the noisier end of the punk spectrum but Discharge were instrumental in inspiring a whole generation of hardcore and thrash bands. 

The venue was busy with an enthusiastic and good natured crowd and Discharge didn’t disappoint.  With only Royston Wainwright and Anthony Roberts on bass and guitar from the original line up the band don’t seem to  have lost any of their spirit or sound, the distinctive D Beat drumming style still very much in evidence courtesy of David Caution.  The line up is completed by Varukers lead singer Anthony Martin and although he has a different delivery to original singer Cal, his voice complements the overall Discharge sound. 

And as for the music?  It was as loud and glorious as you would expect and hope for.  Songs such as Decontrol and State Violence State Control oozed forth with passion and delivered a sonic storm that kept the front half of the venue in a constant frenzy for the entire gig.   Playing for around an hour, the set drew upon songs from those first few E.Ps right the way through to more recent releases. 

If you prefer your punk towards the hardcore sound then you could do a lot worse than checking out Discharge who, for these ears anyway, still sound as vital and exciting as they did in the early 80’s. 

Another great gig at the rather splendid Adam & Eve. 

DISCHARGE - DECONTROL

Discharge - Decontrol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvf6k7QZpfM

They fill you up with their fucking lies
You're the victims of government schemes
They take liberties they've no right to take
And you believe they're oh so right
They only show concern when war is declared
Cos you're their power and glory
This whole affair's so fucking unfair
It's so fucking sick

Decontrol, decontrol
We're being shit on far too long