Monthly Archives: June 2017

Classic Rock, indie rock, New Music, Rock and Roll

The Coffis Brothers ‘You Ain’t Got the Heart’

Santa Cruz based five-piece, The Coffis Brothers & the Mountain Men have released their new single ‘You Ain’t Got the Heart’. The single is off the band’s upcoming EP, due for release later this year. The Coffis Brothers have been writing rootsy Americana songs and gigging around the Bay Area since 2010. They have opened for both Jackie Greene and the Brothers Comatose. They are back with a rootsy rock n roll track that exudes swagger and fiery attitude.
‘You Ain’t Got the Heart’ is a strutting prance and flaunty stride of rock and roll that is infectious and sleek. Bouncy drums and slick sharp guitars scream attitude and panache. The glistening zesty guitar solo will have you on your knees doing air guitar while vocal screams and catchy melody oozes flamboyance and swanky style. It’s a sweat and leather sun soaked classic rock track that shreds everything in its path.

Stream ‘You Ain’t Got the Heart’ below


Indie, Indie Folk, indie rock, New Music, Singer/Songwriter

James Holt ‘Whatever Happened to John?’

James Holt is a singer,songwriter from Manchester whose unique alternative rock sound, is receiving attention and praise from music industry giants and the listening public alike. He has recently released his new single ‘Whatever Happened to John?’ which was chosen by world-renowned producer Brian Eno for the NOISE arts festival.Holt performs regularly at venues and festivals in towns and cities across the UK including prestigious venues such as the Royal Albert Hall in London.
‘Whatever Happened to John?’ is a speedy energetic track blended with rich varieties of euphoric sounds, from country twangs and rock and roll bounce to sensual ethnic sensibilities and loads in between. With a snappy beat and mellow harmonica twangs, it’s an infectious relentless brisk ball that constantly rebounds back with infectious enthusiasm. Slick guitar flickers and mysterious ethnic feature provides a sultry steamy bridge with psychedelic delusional hints. The track continues it’s steam engine pace laced with adrenaline and heart stopping excitement. It’s a refreshing cracking track smothered in bustle charm and staggering swagger. This guy has some talent.

Stream ‘Whatever Happened to John?’ below


electro- pop, Electronic, Indie Pop, New Music, Synth-pop, Worth A Listen

Worth A Listen

Our Worth A Listen Track This Week Comes From April Towers

Nottingham April Towers have released their new single ‘Takes One to Know One’. Since forming, the duo of Alex Noble (vocals, guitars & keyboards) and Charlie Burley (production, samples, guitars & keyboards) have put out a series of singles and EPs including last year’s ‘Silent Fever’ and have played shows and festivals in the UK and Europe. They have been away from the spotlight in recent months honing the finishing touches to their debut album ‘Certified Freaky’. Recorded at Soho’s legendary Dean Street Studios in the same room David Bowie recorded Diamond Dogs, the album is co-produced with highly revered electronic artist-cum-DJ Ben Pearce and mixed by Nathan Boddy.
‘Takes One to Know One’ is a shimmering synth pop track jammed with infectious grooves and lustrous soundscapes. It’s a sweet bubbly can of sugar rush filled pop. Smooth vocals glide along a rich catchy melody while bopping beats slap with honey coated stickiness. With body grooving rhythm and glittering synths it’s instantly enjoyable and teamed with a Pet Shop Boys vibe it’s a timeless gloopy yet smooth delight.

‘Takes One to Know One’ is the first single taken from their debut album, due out early next year, which is currently being funded through Pledge Music, more info here http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/apriltowers

You can catch them live at
MON 26 JUNE – THE OLD BLUE LAST – LONDON, UK

Stream ‘Takes One to Know One’ below


Album Review

The Strypes ‘Spitting Image’ Album

The Strypes have released their third album ‘Spitting Image’. It was written and rehearsed in the local Town Hall in the bands hometown Cavan, and recorded in legendary Rockfield in Wales. The explosive four piece comprised of members Ross Farrelly (Lead Vocals/Harmonica),Josh McClorey (Lead Guitar/Vocals), Pete O’Hanlon (Bass Guitar/Harmonica) and Evan Walsh (Drums/Drums), kick started their career with a well-received performance on the Late Late Toy Show in the winter of 2010, the indie foursome released their debut EP in April of 2012 before following it up with two critically-acclaimed albums ‘Snapshot’ and ‘Little Victories’ in 2013 and 2015, respectively. The band who all grew up within a few miles of each other, all the same age have toured relentlessly together for over 5 years. Now they return with their highly anticipated new album ‘Spitting Image’ which sees the band take a step further with their sound.
‘Spitting Image’ is a thirteen track collection of tight, slick surf rock blended with their signature R&B, with new wave flows and ridiculously catchy pop smacks. ‘Behind Closed Doors’ kicks off this beachy upbeat vibe. It’s snappy bright and oozing feel good sunshine. With a melody that is The Beach Boys – esque and luscious, it becomes clear they have tightened up their sound becoming more sophisticated while still holding a fun care free vibe.It’s playful, energetic and exuberant as it bounces with an infectious beat with sharp zealous guitars that stride and sparkle with vibrant enthusiastic luminosity. ‘Consequence’ has a gleaming guitar feature that adds a sting to the hazy track while passionate vocals give a raspy grit. Rich percussion and well crafted, it follows its predecessor blazing with intensity and a golden radiance. The jaunty ‘(I Need A Break From) Holidays’ is up next with dazzling guitars and a punky vibe while ‘Grin and Bear It’ bring us mellow nostalgic tones with a melty sweet melody and zesty golden guitar flickers. The riff based infectious ‘Easy Riding’ glides in with a strutting tempo and swagger infused charm. The infectious explosive chorus will have you dancing around the room like a fool. It’s a confidence building little gem, play this song in the morning and you will be set for the day nothing will get you down. With a shredding harmonica feature it’s got all the quirky components you need. It’s the lion tamer of the album. ‘Great Expectations’ introduces itself with a beautiful warm instrumental. This track bounces with a peppy fun rebound. Another melodic delight with blissful guitar – it’s sublime. ‘Garden of Eden’ begins with a steamy sultry guitar feature and sizzling distortion with gently luring vocals it’s the scorching hot temptress of the album. Sticky muggy tones and sensual sway add an enticing bewitching almost psychedelic effect while the harmonica stings break up the hazy delusion with refreshing sharp bursts. ‘A Different Kind of Tension’ brings us back to the animated sprightly sound and ‘Get Over It Quickly’ returns us to the sun soaked breezy shimmy summer fun sound. ‘Turn My Back’ is vibrant with a neck snapping beat and rapid tempo that will have you bopping along uncontrollably. ‘Blue Shades Over Red Eyes’ is a smooth glide of positivity. It’s a shades on and prance like a boss kind of track. ‘Mama Give Me Order’ takes the role of the tender gripping heartfelt track.It’s simple with just acoustic accompaniment yet quite powerful. The rhythmically rich ‘Oh Cruel World’ brings us to the end of the album with a warm twang and African beat. It’s hard not to clap along to this insanely catchy track. It sums up the album well, irresistible melody tight production and extremely danceable. This track will make you want to listen to the entire album again and again.
The Strypes have created an album rich with great tunes. Their knack for an irresistible melty melody is undeniable and their slick refined musicianship for this album is incredible. They really have grown immensely creating an album that is a treasure trove of opulent sounds.

Stream ‘Spitting Image’ below


Alt Rock, indie rock, New Music, Rock

Look to the Lady ‘My Name’

Hailing from county Wicklow, Look to the Lady are a hard-hitting alternative rock band, whose dynamic ranges from quiet moments of melancholy to raucous musical madness. Consisting of the lady; Kelly Bolger on vocals, Josh Meakin and John Dunne on guitars and the Newell brothers Michael and Paul on drums and bass, Look to the Lady have been working the Dublin scene hard over the past few years. With regular shows across Dublin. The release of their acclaimed début EP ‘Mechanical Lights’ in 2014 secured a reputation and an increasing fan base. Having headlined venues such as the Mermaid Bray and Charleville Castle, Look to the Lady have proved that with hard work comes reward. The band have been working on an eclectic collection of new material for some time, waiting for the perfect time to release it to the world. They have recently released their single ‘My Name’ along with a stunning video to accompany it.
‘My Name’ is an impressively sophisticated track well layered and mighty with a rock sound that is earthy and breezy while packing a potent punch. Kelly Bolger’s soaring, angelic, powerhouse of vocals are compelling and really quite outstanding. With crunchy guitars strident throughout, Look to the Lady have created a sound and style so satisfying and dark you almost hunger for it. With strong bass and punchy drums teamed with a haunting thrilling melody these guys have meticulously built a song brick by harmonious brick from start to finish, adding textures, tone and emotion and letting it flourish throughout. Keep and eye out for these guys.

Watch the video for ‘My Name’ below


Album Review, Alt- Pop, Indie, Indie Pop, New Music

Golden Curtain ‘Underwater Gospels’ Album

Golden Curtain is the collaborative relationship between an indie rock band from New Zealand and a California poet. The band consists of members Andrew Mckenzie (vocals, guitar), Andrew Gladstone (vocals, drums), Brad Gamble (bass).After striking up a friendship with Hawkes Bay’s Golden Curtain around the time their debut album came out in 2011, Alex Green and Golden Curtain front man Andrew Mckenzie started collaborating via Skype on a truly transpacific musical endeavour. The result is the release of the ‘Underwater Gospels’ album
‘Underwater Gospels’ is ten tracks of laid back indie pop. From the twinkling soundscapes coated in edgy guitar strides of ‘Heart Attack Summer’ to the almost country warmth and bounce of ‘Etc Etc’,Golden Curtain give an album that is light and cosy while also displaying a knack for sublime melody and rich rhythm. ‘ I Changed My Mind For You’ has a beachy reverb laden, catch a wave vibe. It’s relaxed with echoing backing vocals and a bouncy rhythm. ‘Amen’ blasts with soulful handclaps lushly textured rhythm and nautical basslines. With a catchy percussion section that draws you into its groove and sweet passionate melody, it’s hot summers evening fireside bliss. ‘So Easy’ is sun soaked nostalgia smooth with a day dream melody and bright guitar feature that flickers and glows lifting the track into a hazy vibe. Soft beat, velvety raspy vocals and warm tones it verges into country territory without actually crossing that line.’The Captain’ is your tender slow jam while ‘The Pier’ closes the album with a doo wop vibe mixed with subtle swirling guitars and bouncy drums. The “bop shoo be doo wop” lyrics add a quirky catchy element that will have you singing along in no time.
‘Underwater Gospels’ is a display of Golden Curtain’s intricate attention to detail as they create an album easy to listen to and relaxed while maintaining rich luscious soundscapes.

Stream ‘Underwater Gospels’ below


New Music, Punk Rock

Ragweed ‘Silver Spoon’

After 8 self booked tours Brighton’s Ragweed have released their debut AA single ‘Rust Box’ on Milky Bomb Records in November 2016, receiving mutual praise from radio stations and blogs alike. Their second single ‘Silver Spoon’ sees the trio exploring a much darker, sleazy and dirty corner of their minds. Their sound caught Alan Douches of West Side Music’s attention over in New York, most famous for his work with Motor Head, Cancer Bats, Every Time I Die and Screaming Females, who mastered the band’s second single ‘Silver Spoon’ was released with has 2  other tracks ‘Grey Matter’ and West Coast Pop’.
 ‘Silver Spoon’ announces itself with a gritty filthy riff shredding against punchy drums and creepy catchy melody. It’s mighty powerful and heavy perfect for sticky mosh pits and manic headbanging. ‘Grey Matter’ follows in a swarm of neck snapping fury. Yelling rasp on vocals and crashing guitars make for a frenzy soaked track with beating blood thirsty drums that create a massacre of sound. ‘West Coast Pop’ follows this whip-lashing trend with vigorous guitars and an aggressive bounce on drums that smash through the track with wild ferocity. Ragweed give us  a fierce 3 track powerhouse of savage pummelling punk rock.

Stream ‘Silver Spoon’ below


Live Music, Live Music Review

The Strypes ‘Spitting Image’ album launch at The Thomas House, Dublin With Support From David Keenan

I was invited to head down to The Strypes ‘Spitting Image’ album launch at The Thomas House, Dublin. The four piece seemed dedicated to include all ages of their fans in the celebrations by performing an under 18s show beforehand giving their younger demographic a chance to enjoy their live show. We sat outside the room listening to The Strypes put on a wild performance for the screaming young fans claustrophobically jammed into the room. I thought surely they can’t maintain this energy and vitality for two shows in a row.
The door opened to the second round of fans as they packed into the room tightly like sardines in a tin I could feel the temperature rise and the oxygen being stolen from me with each breath, it was going to get sticky and warm very fast. David Keenan kicks off the show warming up the crowd with his powerful emotional vocals and lyrics that cut deep.With just his guitar for accompaniment he glides from soft lulls to sharp potent wails while the audience sway gently. Belting out tracks like ‘Cobwebs’ and ‘The Good Old Days’ with a lilting twang and traditional Irish influence. His strong weighty lyrics and knack for story telling is perhaps wasted on the eager young faces but never the less undoubtedly striking and in the moment compelling. Keenan calls Harry Hoban on stage to accompany him for his final track to play keys adding an elegant graceful tone to his set. Keenan’s performance seems almost personal, it’s a man on a stage telling you his life story without flashy effects, it’s simple and raw.

The crowd push forward as they wait restlessly for The Strypes with Miles Kane blasting through the speakers to keep them entertained. A mixed bunch in the audience, The Strypes seem to hold a following of all ages. One man I spoke to who was there with his daughter loved the boys just as much as she did and had seen them many times before. These were hard core fans who knew every detail, every strand of hair on the lads heads.

The four piece take to the stage triumphantly and blast straight into some new tunes from the new album starting with ‘Behind Closed Doors’. Filled with a Californian vibe and exploding with electric energy one thing I noticed from the start, this album is definitely a game changer. The performance is slick punchy and mighty, the crowd erupt jumping,moshing and singing guitar riffs and lyrics – they know every song inside out. The atmosphere in that room was volcanic. Pete O’Hanlon passes out free badges to the crowd, who in turn later hand Ross Farrelly a can shouting “session! session!”. A circle of moshers leap and push for the bouncy ‘(I Need A Break From) Holidays’.They dedicate ‘Grin And Bear It’ to David Keenan. The crowd are wild and in a frenzy thirsty for track after track pushing forward and just jumping manically. Josh McClorey had to ask them to move back a little because they were crushing the people in the front. Not only did The Strypes showcase some slick dexterous playing they made sure everyone was safe at the show regularly checking if everyone was ok and handing out their water to parched fans. It was a sticky stuffy show that got wilder and wilder as the set went on. The band played well past their set with old songs like ‘What A Shame’ and ‘Scumbag City’ setting the crowd alight. With Evan Walsh drumming like a speed demon in flashy sun glasses and Pete O’Hanlon (who was reunited with a lost sock) exuding swagger and pizzazz, these guys effortlessly absorb the crowd into their brand of Beatlemania. They included everyone from the back of the room to the front in their party and boy was it insane.

The Strypes have grown into a band who can put on a monstrous show with outstanding stamina and vitality while showcasing their sophisticated, slick, refined sound and fun swagger-infused showmanship. I highly recommend seeing The Strypes live.

Watch the video for The Strypes new single ‘Great Expectations’ below


New Music, Rock

Queens of the Stone Age ‘The Way You Used to Do’

Queens of the Stone Age have eased the ravenous hunger of their eagerly awaiting fans with the released their new single ‘The Way You Used to Do’ from their upcoming album, ‘Villains’ which was produced by Mark Ronson and is due for release August 25th. It’s a finger snapping danceable number soaked in a slick bluesy guitar riff. Doused in greased back swagger with an effortlessly cool saunter and prance, it’s light and bouncy with just the right amount of dark grit. Homme delicately glides between vocal croons and steamy wails while punchy drums and sultry guitars create a foot tapping hip shaking groove. It’s insanely catchy and feverishly thrilling. Once that riff takes hold of you you’re hooked compelled to blissfully put it on repeat.

Stream ‘The Way You Used to Do’ below