JOE STRUMMER & THE MESCALEROS - YALLA YALLA

 

Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros - Yalla Yalla

 

Well, so long liberty
Let's forget you didn't show
Not in my time
But in our sons' and daughters' time
When you get the feeling
Call and you got a room
Meantime, we're cutting our hands at the ke-bab shop
In the streets of fear
Forgetting all out best tai-kwon-do moves
On a barrel of beer
We trying to get a signal on a Ragga F.M.
Do the D.T.I., bust CNN
Sucking the wine right outta the vine
Spitting it out again

Groovin', lets cut out of the scene, go groovin'
Groovin', lets cut out of the scene, go groovin'
Drive, drive, drive
Distance no object, rasta for I

Yalla, yalla, yalla, ya-lah
Yalla, yalla, ya-li-oo, whoa
Yalla, yalla, yalla, ya-lah
Jumbalaya on the Bayou

Kool Moe Dee was in the treacherous three
There's old school, new school and Brownie McGee
Going underwater to explode
Now night is falling on the grove
You can but dream

And I hear
Yalla, yalla, yalla, ya-lah
Yalla, yalla, ya-li-oo, whoa
Yalla, yalla, yalla, ya-lah
Jumbalaya on the Bayou

Yalla, yalla, yalla, ya-lah
Yalla, yalla, ya-li-oo, whoa
Yalla, yalla, yalla, ya-lah
There's jumbalaya on the Bayou tonight in the grove

Well, so long liberty
Just let's forget you never showed
Not in my time
But in our sons' and daughters' time
When you get the feeling
Call and you got a room
Meantime, we're cutting our hands on the ke-bab shop
In the streets of fear
Forgetting all those best tai-kwon-do moves
On a barrel of beer
Trying to get a signal through from Ragga F.M.
Do the D.T.I., bust CNN
Sucking the swine right outta the vine
Spitting it back again

Groovin', lets cut out of the scene, go groovin'
Groovin', lets cut out of the scene, go groovin'
Drive, drive
Distance no object, rasta for I

Somebody got a vision of a homeland
From a township, from a township window
Through a township window
Some crazy widow dares to have a vision
Starts seething, like
Seeming like a homeland on the plain
Not in focus yet
Seeming like a homeland on the plain
Not a focus yet

I'm groovin' with a free syle nation
And maximum density

And I say
Yalla, yalla, yalla, ya-lah
Yalla, yalla, ya-li-oo, whoa
Yalla, yalla, yalla, ya-lah
Jumbalaya on the Bayou

Yalla, yalla, yalla, ya-lah
Yalla, yalla, ya-li-oo, whoa
Yalla, yalla, yalla, ya-lah
Only to shine, shine in gold, shine  

JOHN GRANT - PALE GREEN GHOSTS

 

John Grant - Pale Green Ghosts

 

 

Back then I often found myself
Driving on the road at night,
And the radio was broadcasting the ocean.
Warm late Spring wind whips through my hair.
I am right here, but I wanna be there,
And no one in this world is gonna stop me.

Pale green ghosts at the end of May--
Soldiers of this black highway--
Helping me to know my place.
Pale green ghosts must take great care,
Release themselves into the air--
Reminding me that I must be aware.

I-25 and 36 to Boulder
I was getting warm, but now I'm getting colder,
And I stomp my feet--demanding like a child.
I hope you get everything you wanted boy.
I hope you conquer the world and turn it into your toy,
But don't come crying when you're forced to learn the truth.

Pale green ghosts at the end of May--
Soldiers of this black highway--
Helping me to know my place.
Pale green ghosts must take great care,
Release themselves into the air--
Reminding me that I must be aware.

Pale green ghosts at the end of May--
Soldiers of this black highway--
Helping me to know my place.
Pale green ghosts must take great care,
Release themselves into the air--
Reminding me that I must be aware.

THE NIGHTINGALES - DON'T BLINK

 

The Nightingales - Don't Blink

 

 

 Don't blink until you want to
run the risk of missing something
take the choice upon yourself
be firm but fair with your eyelids
your eyes whisper I sound fascist
some people would kill me for that
Am I so concerned about myself
they want to crucify me for it

Don't blink superiority
don't spill that load of knowledge
bob your tongue out undercover
those itchy fingers straight from college
my belly pinch, try to intimidate me
I will not flinch
I just do not feel guilty

Don't blink unless I want to
I like two sugars in my tea
That's a choice I make myself
don't want your feeble remedy
now, when I was a kid and fell off of my bike
no mothers slap dictates
the taste in tea that I like

Don't blink in front of your heap
they might think you're falling asleep
and dreaming of hot cucumbers
forgetting the safety in the numbers
I'm encourageable and some people would have me for it
It'd make them feel better
to create the room in which to do it

DIRT BOX DISCO - PEEPSHOW

 

If you like your punk rock tongue in cheek and catchy as fuck you've got to check out the Dirt Box Disco boys.

 

Dirt Box Disco - Peepshow

 

LORDS OF THE NEW CHURCH - RUSSIAN ROULETTE

 

Lords of The New Church – Russian Roulette

 

The Lords of The New Church were a bit of a post punk supergroup featuring Stiv Bators (The Dead Boys), Brian James (TheDamned), Dave Tregunna (Sham 69) and Nick Turner (The Barracudas).  Although I listened to quite a bit of their stuff back in the 80s this song kind of passed me by until I heard Jesse Malin’s cover of it a few years back.  Penned by Tony James and Terry Chimes 

 

 

I'm on a helicopter ride through Vietnam.

I'm the Leicester Square kid I'm superman.

I'm putting weight for the Oscar.

Man gonna get through anyway I can.

 

Everywhere everyone is red and green.
I gotta lust for glory and a tape machine.

I'm living out Frank Coppola's dreams.

Outta my mind I'm feelin' mean.

 

I'm Nuremberg Stepper blowin' wets away.

I gotta headful of Hendrix, I'm feelin' OK.

I'm a late night thriller, I'm miss La Ray.

Outta my mind can I come to play?

Hey hey hey we're in the movie.

I feel up and I feel groovy.
Let's go out and get some of that.

Gimme gimme gimme some Russian Roulette. La la la.... I said hey.

LOUISE DISTRAS - DREAMS FROM THE FACTORY FLOOR

Every now and then an artist releases an album that makes people sit up with a start.  That grabs you by the throat and hollers in your face with a call to arms.  Dreams From The Factory Floor is such an album. 

Louise Distras has been playing in our towns and cities for the last few years, either sharing stages with some of the key names on the punk rock circuit or headlining in her own right, spreading her exciting brand of acoustic DIY punk. 

The energy and excitement from these live gigs has finally been channelled into a debut long player.  But don’t be fooled in to thinking just because Louise is an acoustic singer, this is going to be a twee, throw away release.  This is the real deal and it bristles with something sadly lacking in a lot of other current releases. Passion.  You can feel it ooze from every one of the 12 tracks.  The songs tell of the everyday struggle of modern life ("I'm wary of the past and I'm scared of being used, of having no roof and of having no food, I walk down these streets and I've got holes in my shoes, this town will never change, this town will change its tune") , the fight against injustice  ("equal rights aren’t special rights") but there's also an overall optimism that permeates the album.  All this and more are delivered with a voice that ranges from a guttural roar to a soft melodic intonement .  This is punk as fuck and at times the sound is so big you forget it’s just Louise and her guitar  - okay there are bit parts from Jamie Oliver (UK Subs) and Mick Talbot (Style Council / Dexys). 

Louise has been likened to Billy Bragg and Frank Turner and you can see the connection, not only because of the acoustic protest singer tag, but like the aforementioned singers there is potential to cross over to a much wider audience than the appreciative punks who have taken her to their hearts.  

I’ve been patiently hanging around for this album for most of the year but even I’m taken aback at just how great Dreams From the Factory Floor sounds.    This could just well be the debut album I’ve been waiting for since The Clash! 

I just ask two things of anyone reading this, firstly go out and buy the album and give support to this truly independent DIY artist and secondly, next time Louise is playing in a town near you, make sure you get your arse down there, you won’t be disappointed.

 

Stand Strong Together promo video with Jenny Woo

Dreams From the Factory Floor is released worldwide on 30th September via Street Revolution Records

To pre-order or for more information check http://www.louisedistras.co.uk/ 

EASTFIELD - ANOTHER BORING EASTFIELD SONG

Eastfield - Another Boring Eastfield Song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXqCoIzw5yY

This is another boring Eastfield song
It sounds the same as all the other ones
Repetitive structure of the same three chords
Locomotion in every verse

Some call it 'rail punk' file under punk rock
A poor excuse for suffering writers block
This is another boring Eastfield song
It sounds the same as all the other ones
 
This is not punk, this is not funk, this is not soul, this is not dance
This is not hip-hop, this is not trance, this is not disco
This is not boogie, this is not woogie, this is not jazz, this is not blues
This is not emo, this is not techno, this is not metal

This is another boring Eastfield song
It sounds the same as all the other ones
This is another boring Eastfield song
You can sing along or you should get a life

MY TOP TEN - JOHN HOEY (ANGRY ITCH)

John Hoey

Angry Itch - guitarist and vocals.

Ok so Chris has asked me to blog about my top ten favourite albums about how it's influenced me as I've grown up, these are just my personal choices, so take it or leave it....here goes, in no particular order.....
 

Green Day – Kerplunk

First Green Day album I ever bought, Straight upstairs to my brothers stereo to record it onto cassette and fell in love, dancing round the bedroom playing air guitar and drums wanting to be my new hero, Billie Joe Armstrong, boy could he play at pace, I had no idea what I was letting myself in for…..the start of my journey into punk rock

Personal Favourite tracks - ‘2,000 light years away’, ‘80’ and of course ‘Welcome to Paradise’
 

 

Rancid – And Out Come The Wolves

Now there are some albums when you can remember exactly where you were at the time of buying, this is one of them. I bought it after seeing the video to ‘Ruby Soho’ on MTV2 and loved the hair and the song was so god-damn catchy it was unbelievable and I sang it all the way to the Virgin Mega-store in Sutton Coldfield, I paid £17.99 for the album which was expensive then, the first time I bought a Rancid album, one of the best buys ever and one of my most cherished albums

Personal Favourites – ‘Roots Radical’, ‘Timebomb’, ‘Listed M.I.A’
 

 

Blink182 – Enema of the State

When I first heard Blink182, I wasn’t very impressed, I thought ‘man this guy can’t sing and talks about wanting to hump dogs’ well, my mate Samm got his mom to buy the album when she was in America, they were the ‘new big thing’ and he always had a knack of picking up these new bands like Blink, screeching weasel, Mxpx, Nofx etc…. then saying to me and Ric (Bassist in Angry Itch) check these guys out! So we went to watch them play at the Wulfrun Hall in Wolverhampton, we paid £8 for a ticket and got dropped off outside the venue, the following week they released ‘All The Small Things’ and everyone kept sayng ‘you heard of these?’

Highlights – ‘Aliens Exist’, ‘All The Small Things’, ‘Mutt’
 

 

Oasis – Whats the story (morning glory)

Put simply, Noel Gallagher made me want to play guitar, I thought he was so cool, it was before I got into Green Day & punk music generally so circa 1994/95. I’d listen to ‘wonderwall’ and ‘don’t look back in anger’ all the time, they were my first ‘musical’ love but then my music developed harder and quicker into power chords of punkrock and I never looked back, still a cracking album tho!

Personal Favourites  – ‘Hello’, ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’, ‘Wonderwall’
 

 

NoFX – So Long and Thanks For All The Shoes

We all know, Fat Mike can’t sing, but a band with so much energy and enthusiasm, they were the first band I knew that did it DIY and I love them for that, they helped educate me on punk rock, like that you can ‘make it’ with hard work and effort. ‘Its my job to keep punk rock elite’ is just a tune! The feedback from the guitar intro still gives me a tingle down the spine and the ‘secret track’ of ‘drugs are good’ from the howard stern showed that it was ok to take the mickey out of yourself and just have fun

Personal Favourites – ‘Its My Job To Keep Punk Rock Elite’, ‘Murder The Government’, ‘All Outta Angst’
 

 

Offspring – SMASH

The first Offspring track I ever remember listening to was ‘bad habit’, I was 12 years old and I thought it was so ‘cool’ to sing the middle ‘you stupid dumb s ………………………Man what a track, one of the first records I remember on MTV (when MTV actually played music videos)

Personal Favourites – ‘Bad Habit’, ‘Gotta get away’, ‘Self-Esteem
 

Drongos for Europe – Barcode Generation

‘THE’ first Birmingham punk band I ever saw, I hadn’t even watched them live when (playing in an old band about 10 yr ago) I’d asked Tommy if they fancied doing a charity gig in Brum which we’d organised, the Drongos kindly agreed and I was soooo looking forward to watching them. The first song I ever heard was ‘who the f*ck are you?’ during the soundcheck, WOW! Never heard anything like it, raw, passion, anger and catchy as hell.

Personal Favourites - ‘Spirit Bomb’, ‘Freakazoid’ and ‘Mayday’
 

 

Jimmy Eat World – Bleed American (or now – self titled)

I remember picking up a free CD with Kerrang magazine and it had a song off this album called ‘A Praise Chorus’, loved it, bought the album (it was then called ‘Bleed American’, they changed it because of 9/11) but it showed me different dimensions to music, dynamics, new guitar pedal effects like delays etc. Just a fantastic album to listen to especially when you want to chill out

Personal Favourites – ‘Salt, Sweat, Sugar’, ‘A Praise Chorus’, ‘Cautioners’
 

 

Slipknot – The Subliminal Verses Vol.3

I went to Leeds Festival in the early 2000’s (a day ticket to see NoFX and The Prodigy was the main reasons) they came on and played ‘People = Sh!t’ now, I was never a metal fan but what a great live band these are, the hair on the back of my neck  and introduced me to a lot heavier music and helped me become more open minded about metal

Personal Favourites – ‘Duality’, ‘Pulse of the Maggots’, ‘The Blister Exists’
 

 

The Distillers – Coral Fang
 

I’ve included this because I’m in love with Brody Dalle and have been since their first album, she looks ace, the songs are great and boy can she belt out a snarl or two. I just love the whole attitude of the album, its very brooding

Personal Favourites – ‘Drain the Blood’, ‘Die on a Rope’, ‘Coral Fang’

REBELLION 2013 - SUNDAY

Final day and we managed to keep the pace going. 

As we entered Sam saw a young lad by the name of Louie Raw on the acoustic stage so he stopped off to listen in and was mightily impressed for one so young. 

First on for us was the Terraces in the Arena who certainly woke us up.  We met up to watch Captain Hotknives in the Pavilion.  He had drawn a large crowd and although I have seen him before he had us all crying by the end of the set (with laughter that is). 

We then went to see the Adolescents in the Empress who I thought sounded great although there crowd wasn’t as big as I thought it might be.  

We then decamped to the acoustic stage to chill for a while and managed to see Mauri Clash City Rocker.  As you may guess he predominately played Clash cover but threw in a few other too and was a massive surprise when Colin from Cock Sparrer joined him on stage for Because You’re Young and England Belong’s To Me, aided by an appreciative crowd. 

Next was the Nightingales in the Pavilion.  I thought they sounded great, playing to a small crowd but if you get a chance check them out, still as relevant as ever. 

We then went to see Attila The Stockbroker on the literacy stage, another great set.  I could listen to Attila all night with his poems and stories , usually funny, sometimes biting and a superb and touching piece about his mom which reduced the room to silence. 

Then it was Lene Lovich in the Pavilion.  Another big crowd and to be fair I thought was a really good set and Lene sounded fabulous. 

A quick dash to the Olympia to see Face to Face, another band who suffered with poor sound but even that didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the crowd. 

Then it was back up to the Pavilion to see Peter Hook and The Light.  A slow start but a couple of songs in and once you’d gotten accustomed to Hooky singing these songs that were already ingrained in our consciences, you realised you were actually witnessing something pretty special.
 

It was a difficult decision to leave before then end of the set but I was keen to see Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine.  I never got to see the Dead Kennedys back in the day but have loosely followed Jello’s career and was mightily impressed with the recent album, from which they played a selection in addition to the crowd pleasing Holiday in Cambodia and Nazi Punks Fuck Off. 
 

Then it was last band of the weekend time, Sham 69.  Usually by this time I’ve kind of had enough and just want to go to bed but this year still felt quite lively even though we decided to watch from the balcony, couldn’t get a seat and it felt as hot as the tropics.  I thought Sham were a fitting end to the weekend, Jimmy Pursey was on fine form and they ripped through an absolutely blistering set.  Overall great weekend, few minor gripes over sound and running out of bottles of real ale, but that didn’t spoil another great coming together of the weird and the wonderful.

BRASSICK - PELT

Brassick - Pelt

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lId-Q5uEx-M

Check out the excellent video from Brassick for their song Pelt.  Taken from their debut ep Broke & Restless out in September.  Catch Brassick this Saturday at Birmingham Punx Picnic at The Wagon & Horses

REBELLION 2013 - SATURDAY

Saturday was a return to form for us. Full English and we were back on it, okay we might have had an hour or two shut eye first but definite improvement in stamina today.  

First off to the literary stage and listen to John Robb interview Gary Bushell. I kind of went off Bushell after he left Sounds and started writing for the Sun but there is no doubting his positive contribution to the punk and Oi movement over the years. It was an entertaining interview and he told an hilarious tale of when CID turned up at his house looking for Motorheads stolen Bomber stage prop.   

Then it was down to the acoustic stage to see Louise Distras. Louise seems to have come so far in such a short time and seems to be on the road more than the Subs. Her voice seems to vary from melodic to a gravelly roar, sometimes in the same line and she has got a great batch of songs, sometimes political and having a pop at appropriate targets (Sam for some reason seems to think her final song about the creepy men from the internet was about me!?). Her debut album Dreams From the Factory Floor is out at the end of September and is top of the most eagerly awaited albums of the year. I urge you all to buy!



We caught a little bit of Anthrax in the Pavilion before going down to the Olympia to see Dirtbox Disco. They played on the smaller stage and we were a nit nearer the front so the sound wasn’t actually that bad. I’d never heard DBD until the Christmas Rebellion and was shocked at how big a crowd they drew then and the fact that everyone was singing along so we’d made an special effort to see the whole set at Blackpool. They are definitely at the more light hearted end of the punk rock spectrum but have some catchy as hell tunes that get everyone joining in and I would recommend catching them if they play in a town near you. (they are playing at the Birmingham Punx Picnic weekend at the end of August).

Next were King Prawn in the Empress. I love watching some of the ska bands as very often they present a bit of lighter relief amongst the punk rock mayhem but King Prawn are a bit different offering a ska tinged set with a tougher edge than most and I will make an effort to catch them again. 

We saw Terveet Kadet on the Arena stage. A Finnish hardcore band from the 80’s they played a tight wall of sound 20 minute set and left. Brilliant. It’s this variance in styles that keep this festival interesting. 

A quick dash to the Pavilion to catch the second half of Citizen Fish, another politically tinged ska band but so different to King Prawn but still great. It really was now becoming like a mad episode of Runaround (without Mike Reid) rushing from stage to stage to try to catch as many bands as we could. 

We decided to drop in on Chas N Dave as we might never get another chance. They played to a pretty packed Empress but after 20 minutes we decided we’d seen enough. Don’t get me wrong they were good, but they would have been immense if they had taken a leaf out of Terveet Kadet’s book and done a heads down 20 minutes romp through the classics and cleared off.  

Quick drop in on Zounds at the pavilion who sounded great and hopefully I will get chance to see a full set at some stage then it was down to the Arena again to see Hardskin. As Fat Bob proudly announces when they came on stage, Hardskin are an anti-fascist skinhead band. With tongue slightly in cheek they belt out a serious of classics and crowd pleasers and I’m so chuffed they are at the Birmingham Punx Picnic.

Soon as they are finished quick dash next door to the Empress to complete the London town knees up with the Cockney Rejects. At times suffering with slight sound problems they still belted out the classics and threw in a couple of tracks from East End Babylon album and Power and The Glory
to boot. Great set and always worth checking out.

We’d missed so many great band tonight but next up was the possible high light of the weekend. Managed to catch the Ruts DC a couple of times last year and they had been brilliant on both occasions so tonight was going to be tough to match it. Firstly they played the Pavilion where the sound had been good all weekend. Secondly Dave Ruffy and Segs both seemed really relaxed and were enjoying themselves. And those songs. A great mix of tracks from the excellent Rhythm Collision Vol 2 album, Ruts DC back catalogue and tunes from the mighty Ruts. Where do you start? It Was Cold, Backbiter, Dope For Guns, Something That I Said, Babylon’s Burning, Staring At The Rude Boys, West One, Love In Vein, In A Rut, H Eyes, Jah War. Say no more. On a day where highlights were great (Louise Distras etc) Ruts DC stole the show and maybe it’s because I’m a sentimentalist and they were one of my favourite bands but I don’t care because I fucking loved every moment.


Finally, went to see the Misfits in the Olympia, truly awful sound meant it was hard to distinguish between the songs at times but still sang along to Skulls and was that really a cover of Rise Above I heard? Best day so far!

 

LOUISE DISTRAS - DREAMS FROM THE FACTORY FLOOR - REVIEW COMING SOON

LOUISE DISTRAS

DREAMS FROM THE FACTORY FLOOR

RELEASE DATE: 30TH SEPTEMBER 2013

STREET REVOLUTION RECORDS

CATALOG NUMBER FR0001

With a clenched fist full of fury that targets injustice, apathy and X Factor culture - "Louise Distras is poised to single-handedly reinvigorate the punk scene" with the release of her debut album 'Dreams From The Factory Floor', out 30th September via Street Revolution Records.

Described as "the 21st century Joe Strummer who personifies punk rock spirit and renegade soul", Louise Distras is making her own mark as an activist in our urban sprawl. On International Womens Day, she set out to "empower young women" by releasing her debut single 'The Hand You Hold'. It was angry, pointed and "an anthem for female empowerment", asking the media: 'Who are you to say/we should look this way?'

"I'm sick of the way women and young girls are reduced to stereotypes and exploited", says Louise, who is proud to be putting the purpose back into pop.

Praised as "the only new generation punk artist to catch the eye of the mainstream press since the Sex Pistols!", Louise has garnered much attention from major press and fanzines alike including BBC Radio 1 who said "Louise Distras is destroying it now and flying the flag, she is what all punk should be about!"

Fresh from performing on the Leftfield Stage at this years Glastonbury Festival, this summer will see Louise Distras touring in support of her debut album throughout mainland Europe with Street Dogs followed by a Canadian tour this Autumn with The Mahones.

You can bet your last fiver that you'll be seeing alot more of this talented song-smith in the not too distant future. Most likely hitchhiking, guitar slung over her shoulder on the way to a town near you! For more information visit www.louisedistras.co.uk

Louise Distras

Dreams From The Factory Floor

Debut album out 30th September via Street Revolution Records

Engineered by Pat Collier

Produced by Steve at Perry Vale Studios in London

 

TRACKLIST

1. Stand Strong Together

2. Bullets

3. Love Me The Way I Am

4. The Hand You Hold

5. Not In Our Name

6. Black and Blue

7. Shades Of Hate

8. No Mercy

9. One Thousand Tears

10. Story Is Over

11. Dreams From The Factory Floor

12. People Of The Abyss

 

THE MAHONES + LOUISE DISTRAS AUTUMN CANADIAN TOUR DATES

4 October - The Casbah, Collingwood ON
5 October - Beaus Oktoberfest, Vankleek Hill ON
11 October - Bobby's Place, Moose Jaw SK
12 October - Bobby's Place, Moose Jaw SK
13 October - Wild Bill's, Banff AB
14 October - Wild Bill's, Banff AB
16 October - Pawn Shop, Edmonton AB
17 October - The Gateway, Calgary AB
18 October - The Regent Inn, Revelstoke AB
19 October - Royal Legion, Jasper AB
24 October - Queens, Nanaimo BC
25 October - Wise Hall, Vancouver BC

LINKS

www.louisedistras.co.uk

www.facebook.com/louisedistras

www.twitter.com/louisedistras

REBELLION 2013 - FRIDAY

Friday started slightly sluggishly, as we all felt the effects of over indulgence on the first day. 

After grabbing breakfast and another hour or two kip we started at a more sedate pace listening to John Robb interviewing members of The Outcasts and The Defects about the punk scene in Northern Ireland and specifically Belfast and also their portrayal in the Good Vibrations film.  Really interesting and at times funny as fuck. 

We then decamped to the acoustic stage and listened to banjo maestro Jim Sorrow.  Next up on the acoustic stage was Attila the Stockbroker.  Seen him quite a few times before and as usual he didn’t disappoint with a mix of political, humorous and at times touching songs and poetry (despite several technical problems). 

We were beginning to get back into our stride so ventured down to the Empress to see The Skints, catchy ska from the Smoke and mighty fine too. 

Hazel O’Connor was on in a packed Pavilion with a more paired down sound of keyboards and sax but that didn’t stop her belting out a storming set, and slipping in a few amusing anecdotes too. 

Popped out for a bite to eat and bit of fresh air then it was back to see Mike Only (ex-King Blue) on the acoustic stage.  Thought he was really good and maybe doesn’t quite match the stage presence of someone like Vic Ruggiero the night before still went down really well. 

We then went down to our first visit to the Olympia to see Eddie & The Hot Rods who like most bands over the weekend in the Olympia suffered from a poor sound (especially on the larger of the two  stages).  But still went down a storm.

 

It was a real toss up then between long time favourites the Damned and new boys and girls Pete Bentham & the Dinner Ladies.  Pete won!  This time back in the Pavilion were we first saw them and still employing a squad rotation system.  They sounded as good as ever and they are the kind of band that truly make this festival great, a bit different to the mainstream but punk as fuck in attitude.  And a set packed with killer tunes.  Check out the recently released Space Punx ep for a quick fix and I have it on good authority from the horse’s mouth (well Pete’s) that a new album is in the pipeline. 

We hung around in the Pavilion for a short while but the endurance test that is a day at Rebellion was taking its toll on all of us, so we rather shockingly decided to call it a day and head off for an early night.  Felt slightly guilty for missing some great bands today but there were so many clashes it was impossible not to miss some bands over the weekend that I really wanted to see.  I suppose with something as large and great as this you have to focus on the good stuff you end up experiencing.

ANGRY ITCH - SCRATCH IT TIL IT BLEEDS EP

 

Oh Boy, this is good.

Every now and then a band comes along who really grab you.  I was lucky enough to go see Pete Bentham & the Dinner Ladies at the Adam & Eve a couple of months ago (who by the way are absolutely brilliant) and was completely blown away by one of the support bands, Angry Itch. 

They have just released their debut EP, Scratch It Til It Bleeds.

 

Brought together through a love of loud, brash music and a mutual, burning hatred of Phil Collins, Angry Itch are an amalgamation of Great Barr punksters This Side Up and Knockout Ned comprising John Hoey - Guitar/Vocals,  Richard Ellis - Bass/Vocals, Luke Deakin - Drums/Shouting

And oh man, this EP is amazing.  The Birmingham punk bands such as GBH and Drongo's For Europe and even Rotunda seem to have developed a Birmingham sound over the years (and thats not a band thing) but these guys seem to offer something a bit different They are tighter than a nans habit on a celibacy stint and the lyrics are delivered with the enthusiasm of kid with ADHD on speed with all of the answers. I think a bit Blitz, Husker Du, Descendants, Leatherface, so no pressure dudes. 

 

9 Livers is an up two three four catchy as fuck punk rock steam roller drinking song classic.  All Locked Up is more of the same about the riots a couple of years ago and FROC (Fuck Right Off Cameron) is as political and fuck you hard as nails in your face as you are going to hear this year.  I think these guys could possibly be my new favourite band.

You can get to hear the other two songs on the ep Don't Be A Dick and Bailout on their soundcloud page and if you love these songs the other three songs on the EP are even better and the live experience even more so.

 

To get a copy of the ep catch Angry Itch at the Punx Picnic on 31st August at the Wagon and Horses or on 28th Sept at the Wagon & Horses as part of the Punk Rock Chaos gig headlined by Rotunda. Or speak to me nicely and I might be able to hitch you up with a copy.

REBELLION 2013 THURSDAY

Thought I’d share some thoughts on Rebellion Festival 2013

 

Being veterans of six or seven Rebellions (or Wasted) we kind of knew what to expect.  It’s a coming together of the weird and wonderful in a four day punk and alternative festival but is actually far more diverse that the title suggests
 

We managed to check in a bit early at the travel lodge, quick beer in the room while Sam spiked the Mohican, steady stroll to the Winter Gardens, wrist banded up and another beer and it was first band time: 
 

The Dipsomaniacs from Sunderland in the Arena.  Massive surprise that Dickie Hammond wasn’t on stage with them although he was down the front watching and got a couple of song dedications from Steve Smith.  Sound was a bit iffy for the first couple of songs but then it all clicked into place and they sounded great with their catchy but edgy punk rock tunes.  Should be on everyone’s to see list. And California on the front Line is a veritable punk rock classic.

 

Then it was a quick sprint to the new band stage at the Pavilion to catch the end of the Maid Of Ace set. They had drawn a large crowd and with good reason, the singer has got a voice bigger than Blackpool Tower with a powerhouse of a band and they did a cracking version of We’ve Got A Fuzzbox’s ‘ Rules & Regulations’. 
 

We hung around in the Pavilions to catch another new band, The Minx from Manchester.  Decked out in Dr Martens and Fred Perry's (except for the keyboard player sporting a PIL t-shirt) they sounded a bit post punk, a bit indie with a healthy shot of Buzzcocks thrown in and they sounded every bit as good as that combination suggests. 

 

We decided to decamp to the acoustic stage where Max Splodge was just starting a short set accompanied by a man with a kazoo, musically perhaps a bit lacking but hell this is a punk festival and in pure entertainment value more than made up for any technical shortcomings. 

 

Popped out for a quick Harry Ramsden then back in time for The Talks from Hull in the Empress Ballroom.  A crowd pleasing Ska tinged set that left everyone in a good mood and set up the rest of the night  nicely. 

 

We caught the Cundeez and The Surgeons in the Pavilion who were both good then it was back to the acoustic stage to see Vic Ruggiero from the Slackers performing a solo slot.  He had literally just arrived before going on stage but that didn’t stop him delivering a blistering set of solo stuff, Slackers tunes and some great covers including Rudie Can’t Fail and Beat on The Brat.  Despite having to rush back to catch the last train he hung around for a chat and was definitely an early highlight of the weekend and is coming back to the UK later in the year with a full Slackers tour. 











 

 

Next up for us was the self- proclaimed original rude-boy Neville Staple.  No longer part of the Specials he still plunders their back catalogue for his own take on their tunes as well throwing in plenty of ska classics.  Always a crowd pleaser. 

 

Managed to catch part of the Ramonas set, an all girl Ramones covers band, you get the idea.  By this time of night the drinks had been flowing, everyone was in high spirits and this was just perfect.  And it just re-iterated what great tunes the Ramones  had. 

 

Headlining in the Empress were New Model Army.  I’ve not seen them for around 20 years and until fairly recently had only picked up the occasional album by them.  Now expanded to a five piece they opened with a couple of new numbers from their forthcoming album, a brave move but one they easily pulled off.  They have never been a band to rest on their laurels and rely on greatest hits oldies set, so we got a great selection of tunes covering their 30 plus years back catalogue.  The band have an amazing fan base who were very much in evidence and it was great to see people standing on shoulders of friends during some of the slower songs, a real hairs sticking up on my arms taking me back to the old days moment.  Was a great performance, will try to catch them again on their tour later in the year and cannot wait to get a copy of the new album. A great first day.