Photo Credit Charles Peterson
year's "50 Best Rock Albums" and hailed by Rolling Stone in a three-and-a-half (out of four)-starred rave as "an album full of beauty and heart...It's music of conscience, heavy songs with a light touch."
In 2019, Duff McKagan moved into his own recording studio, allowing him a long hoped-for opportunity to "finally explore songs that I may have written the night before or some of those old riffs from years ago. This is a big deal for me." Along with THIS IS THE SONG, the new EP includes the soulful IT CAN'T COME TOO SOON (featuring guest vocals from Seattle, WA-based singer, songwriter, music educator, and community organizer Shaina Sheperd) and PASS ME BY, the latter inspired by distinctly modern confrontation with a gun-toting horsewoman while on a motorcycle trip through the Cascade Mountains.
Duff McKagan is honouring Mental Health Awareness Month with today's premiere of This Is The Song, a brand new, three-track EP available today at all DSPs and streaming services. Produced by longtime collaborator Martin Feveyear (Mark Lanegan, Brandi Carlile), the EP's title track is joined by an official companion video premiering today on YouTube.
"THIS IS THE SONG was written in the middle of a panic attack," Duff McKagan says in a personal statement about the EP. "I couldn't breathe and couldn't see straight, and lately, I have thankfully found my acoustic guitar as a refuge. If I just hold on to that guitar, play chords, and hum melodies, I can start to climb my way out of that hole For those of you who have never experienced something like this, count yourselves blessed To those of you who recognize what I am talking about: YOU ARE NOT ALONE!"
McKagan's first new solo music in close to four years, This Is The Song follows his critically acclaimed sophomore solo album, 2019's Tenderness, named by Loudwire as one of that
A founding member of both Guns N' Roses and Velvet Revolver, Duff McKagan is, at his heart, a songwriter, penning a growing canon of vulnerable, confessional, and authentic material. Produced by 3x GRAMMY® Award-winner Shooter Jennings, Tenderness marked a powerful new chapter for the ever-evolving artist, taking on societal ills and his own personal transgressions against a rich sonic backdrop of Americana-fueled arrangements Among the album's many highlights is the volatile rocker, "Chip Away," which earned extraordinary praise from the Maestro himself, Bob Dylan, who recently declared the song a personal favorite.
"There's a Duff McKagan song called 'Chip Away' that has profound meaning for me," Dylan told The Wall Street Journal. "It's a graphic song. Chip away, chip away, like Michelangelo, breaking up solid marble stone to discover the form of King David inside. He didn't build him from the ground up, he chipped away the stone until he discovered the king. It's like my own songwriting, I overwrite something, then I chip away lines and phrases until I get to the real thing."
I am a great believer in the old adage 'If it ain't broke don't fix it' and the new album from Pizza Weasel is a prime example of that. The band from Kent in the UK proudly declare on their Spotify profile 'making tunes like it was 1996', and they are true to their word.
'Apology Bread' is a gloriously Grungy, Nirvanaesque collection of guitar heavy tracks infused with superb 90's Indie style vocals. While certainly taking influence from the glory days of the indie and grunge rock genre, Pizza Weasel have managed to create a very distinct sound that is undeniably their own.
from start to finish the album is both entertaining and intriguing in equal measure. Tracks like 'Snail' and the album's namesake 'Apology Bread' are both in contention for my top tracks.
A cracking album from a band that definitely has a lot to offer. The cover artwork is pretty awesome as well.
Check out their website for more information. https://www.pizzaweasel.com/
"Songs From The Woods" is the brand new EP from Slow River School, the music project of Brian Magee, a Dublin based musician, photographer, and teacher
Brian's creativity is evident in the diverse nature of the EP From the enchantingly atmospheric opening tracks, "Songs From The Woods" and "When You Were A Child" to the epic guitar solo in "Dream", there really is something for everyone
The vocal performance is solid throughout, with a depth and richness that works well with the varied instrumental styles showcased throughout the record.
The Slow River School project has produced a little gem and it shines brightest with closing track "Still Haunts You", the opening guitar is proper ear worm that is for sure
If you're looking for something new and haven't yet listened to "Songs From The Woods", I thoroughly recommend giving it a go Let your mind go and just chill out for 23 minutes, you won't regret it
The EP is available to stream right now. Visit linktr.ee/slowriverschool for more details.
Fast rising newcomer Coupdekat is back with the final release ‘it’s not you!’ –from her upcoming EP FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY, out 22nd June.
Fusing bouncy pop production, sound effects and the playful vocal melodies she’s becoming known for “it’s not you!” is the third single from Coupdekat’s upcoming EP Laced with lo-fi backing vocals and chanting choruses the young creative solidifies her empowering yet tonguein-cheek style, as she sings “I can’t decide what I like, but it’s not you” , asserting herself and what she wants.
Talking on the track Coupdekat tells us: “‘It’s not you!’ is an empowering track about acknowledging one's desires and feelings rather than ignoring them. Following on from F.Y.E.O, I speak about sexuality and identity; both topics I’ve struggled with personally My producer and I, Dom Anca wanted to create an upbeat dance/pop song with introspective lyrics and raw vocals, continuing to create a genrebending sound. I only recently started working with Dom, but we immediately clicked and bonded over a shared vision of how these new tracks should sound Unlike songs I’ve written previously, ‘it’s not you!’ is the first demo I wrote and composed on Logic from top to bottom, before bringing it to a producer. Surrounding myself with many talented female producers within the Loud LDN collective has motivated me to grow and develop my skills in the studio ”
Whilst Coupdekat’s first EP ‘Imaginary Girls’ explored online relationships and social media during the lockdown, the newcomers upcoming EP, FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY explores a post-lockdown world as well as the
Whilst Coupdekat’s first EP ‘Imaginary Girls’ explored online relationships and social media during the lockdown, the newcomers upcoming EP, FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY explores a post-lockdown world as well as the relationship with herself and others outside of her phone. Representing the synergy of the real world and the virtual world the EP combines live and electronic instrumentation along with a plethora of internet samples distilling the new generation of youth culture
A true creative, Kat has successfully combined her passion for film, photography, music and art into her own live events Co-founded all-female identifying collective ‘Loud LDN’; now with over 80 members, the events have given a platform to showcase and champion female artists and creatives from around the country, picking up support across both the BBC, NME as well an event for ‘Our Generation’ for SPOTIFY.
With Coupdekat’s last single “BABYTEEF” gaining support from the likes of DUMMY, ONES TO WATCH and F-WORD, Spotify support from NEW MUSIC FRIDAY, OUR GENERATION and NEW POP UK and radio support from BBC INTRODUCING LONDON, THREE COUNTRIES, and BBC 6 FRESH ON THE NET, the rising artist looks set to continue on her fast paced trajectory as “it’s not you!” marks Coupdekat as a rising new talent on the pop landscape.
Following his hugely acclaimed performances at this year’s C2C Festival, platinum selling star BRELAND (Bad Realm Records/Atlantic Records/Warner Music Nashville) has announced his debut headline tour of the UK & Europe.
Ahead of his UK return BRELAND says, "The UK has been so important for me as a performer. After my first trip out there last year, I knew I had found an audience that could grow with me over time. I’d love to be one of the primary ambassadors for country music overseas, and I’m looking forward to hitting the ground running on this debut headline tour."
The headline tour will begin in Europe in early September before rolling into the UK for five dates, including London’s Electric Ballroom on September 9th. Tickets for all dates are available for pre-sale from 10am Thursday 4th May, with general sale commencing at 10am the following day. All available to purchase via Fresh off winning Best Rock Album of the Year at the iHeart Radio Music Awards, Ghost announces the coming of PHANTOMIME, a five-song covers EP intended from the start to follow last year's international chart-topping opus IMPERA. A diverse and spellbinding sampling of the GRAMMY Awardwinning band's musical DNA, PHANTOMIME is comprised of covers of classics and deep cuts by Television, Genesis, The Stranglers, Iron Maiden and Tina Turner. PHANTOMIME pays tribute in equal measure to every one of these unlikely bedfellow, influences while stamping them all with Ghost's undeniable sonic signature
The announcement of PHANTOMIME's impending release also solves the mystery of Ghost's recent "Jesus Is Coming" campaign, as referenced in the Good Friday premiere of the newest instalment of the band's long-running webisode series, Chapter 17: Nap Time. PHANTOMIME's May 18 release via Loma Vista Recordings is heralded by Ghost's interpretation of Genesis' 1992 satirical stab at televangelists "Jesus He Knows Me," available now to stream and download.
This second coming of "Jesus He Knows Me" is accompanied by an Alex Ross Perry-directed video that will surely make the case that one person's beauty is another's blasphemy Culminating in a climactic ritual that must be seen to be believed, Ghost's visual interpretation of "Jesus He Knows Me" rises to the occasion in unholy fashion and then some.
Ahead of the headline tour, BRELAND will be performing the main stage at The Long Road Festival on August 27th. In Europe he will also be performing as part of the ‘Heart To Heart’ songwriter series for three dates in Germany in August.
BRELAND will perform the shows on the back of playing to his largest US audiences yet. He is currently touring arenas across North America with Walker Hayes and will then be joining country icon Shania Twain on her tour in June. BRELAND and Shania have also collaborated on a release of a new version of ‘Inhale/Exhale AIR’ taken from her new deluxe album Queen Of Me (Royal Edition)
Rapidly proving himself the brightest star to emerge from Nashville in recent times, BRELAND has more exciting announcements to follow soon ahead of his headline tour
BRELAND UK & EUROPEAN TOUR DATES
August
27th – Leicestershire, The Long Road Festival *
29th – Dusseldorf, Capitol Theatre **
30th – Hamburg, Grobe Freiheit **
31st – Berlin, Urania **
September – Headline Dates
2nd – Oslo, Krosset
3rd – Stockholm, Nalen Klubb
4th – Copenhagen, Ideal Bar
6th – Amsterdam, Paradiso Upstairs
8th – Bristol, Thekla
9th – London, Electric Ballroom
10th – Manchester, Gorilla
12th – Glasgow, St. Luke’s
13th – Belfast, Empire Music Hall
* festival performance
** Heart To Heart songwriter series
With a their debut album 'Casino' receiving critical acclaim and their second album 'Call This A Reality?' going down a storm with fans, the world certainly seems to be Anchor Lane's oyster. I was lucky enough to have a chat with Anchor Lane guitarist Lawrence O'Brien about the current album, touring and stretching. 'Call This A Reality?' is out now for more info visit www.anchorlanemusic.com Don't forget, you can catch the lads live here in 2023:
27 May | Glossop, (The Globe) 'A Night with Anchor Lane' (limited tickets left!)
16 Jun | Lancaster, The Pub
17 Jun | Southampton, Suburbia
01 Jul | Whitehaven, Solway Hall
29 Jul | Butefest, Isle of Bute
05 Aug | The Vault, Newton Stewart
Interviewer and photos: David Weddle
L. Hello, Hello.
D. It's been a canny little while since you put out your last album
‘Call This A Reality’, smashing album, sounds class live by the way.
L. Thanks, we put a lot of effort in to that.
D. Speaking of putting the effort in to it, from the creative side of things you’ve been in Anchor Lane now for the debut album and this album. How does the writing experience compare to your previous bands with Anchor Lane, do you think you’ve managed to bring anything across to this from your previous bands, Attica Rage and Lawrence O’Brien Band?
L. I see, well that was a good question. The thing is everyone you play with, everyone who you are in a band with, has a different experience you bring in different influences than one another and so it was just different by nature in the same way you talk to someone and then someone else, its just a bit different. But you know we definitely have an alignment and a similarity in taste, there’s quite a big common bubble, if you like, that meant when writing there was a lot of opportunity to try different things. As you probably heard on the album there's not really anything that sounds much like anything else, they're all rather different from itself.
D. That sounds like it was an intentional thing, that you all wanted to have it completely different from each other so nothing sounded the same or was it just experimenting with different sounds. Were you looking for something in particular or were you just wanting to write an album for how you felt at the time you were writing it, what was the goal?
L. The goal was to make something that was different, I guess. There was also an intention, definitely, to write something more modern than our previous stake, with Casino. We wanted something that sounded like a band from now rather than having one foot in a traditional door and one foot in the modern door, we wanted to be in the modern house. We wanted to be sitting in the kitchen, purely two feet in the house of modern. Anyway, strange, obscure tangent aside, we wanted something individual and we wanted something that represented us as people who are in their mid twenties in Glasgow, in Scotland in 2022, 2021 at the time. And yeah, just have something that’s truthful rather than something that kind of derogative.
D. You did mention you are from Glasgow, has there been any major influences from other artists in the area that you feel like you want to sound like that person or you’ve drawn influence from a particular band or a particular part of the uniqueness of Glasgow?
L. Well Glasgow has a really good music scene and there are bands locally, like Monkey Puzzle and bands like Megalomatic that definitely took an influence in what we wanted to write like. You know, you go to gigs of your friend's bands and that definitely sort of inspires you. Because its someone who is living the same life as you and they are creating something that is kind of rootsy and inspirational that way, and then of course you’ve got the big bands as well. So Biffy Clyro was a big influence on the album although, ironically its not me whose the Biffy Clyro fan its more the other two. I can appreciate them and I think they’re brilliant musicians but they don’t resonate with me in the same way that Metallica and Pantera , Wolf Alice and bands like that do.
D. Yeah, I can see the influence from those bands in your playing, on Casino particularly, there's a lot of fantastic solos and you saying that there I was like, I totally get where that came from now.
L. The thing is at the root there, I am Metal as hell. But there is a fair departure from that on this album, it was more to have a song setting the solos was kind of a lesser priority we just wanted something that kind of bridged that area between being a Metal record, a punk record and even a pop record, you know I’d say that the influences and hence the outcome of the songs is based in pop, because you know you can have all that aggression but if you have all that screaming over it, its not really going to have much throw in ways of being tangible.
D. A lot more depth to it I guess?
L. Yeah, a lot more melody. I dunno I just can’t do things with out melody despite all the brutality that I’m in to.
D. Do you have a favourite track from the new album to play live and why?
L. It’s probably ‘ I don’t have another soul to pour’ which is the second single and is the last song on the album. It was second last when it was written and although it does have a pop element to the verse and chorus parts of the song, the way we play it is pretty indulgent on the instruments. We go a bit bad on the guitar bit, a bit mad on the drums and you know me, that’s my area, that’s my ball park.
D. On the flipside of that I guess, is there a track that you don’t particularly like playing live?
L. From the new album there isn’t really anything because we really tried so thoroughly to make something that had no weak spots. We had plenty of songs that weren’t as good but you know, the secret is you know when to say goodbye to them. So we by the time we were done, we probably put together 30 or 35 songs, and its twelve including the interval that are on there, to give you an idea. So maybe it’s the best third roughly speaking. And that was just because we didn’t want an album that was two great songs at the beginning and a great song at the end. We wanted something that was thorough because theres a few to many albums like that.
D. I can think of one or two.
L. (Laughs) I can think of one or two hundred as well.
D. Was that a collective decision. Did you all sit down and pick this, this, this or was it like individually you’ve all got these song ideas in you head and you’ve gone through them before presenting them to the rest of the band members. How does your creative process work?
L. So with Casino it was much more of everyone in the room and just making riffs and the melodies and stuff together. But for some reason that just wasn’t working this time, coming out of lockdown I personally had a lot of feelings and a lot of ideas and being the kind of person who likes to make sure I know what I’m giving before I project it. So the songs on the album came from my pitches. So I would put together, sometimes it was just a verse and chorus and sometimes it was a first full structure. I would put together the guitar parts and the lyric parts and the melody that goes along with the lyrics and I would send it in, people would get the gist of it and we’d throw our ideas around and then either if it was at the latter end of the process and there wasn’t much development beyond that before we recorded it with Bruce and some of them were like year long developments that just kind of gradually refined themselves into what they were going to be. So there are some songs that are pretty similar to how they were when I sent them in minus drums and Conor signing and all that, and then some of them like ‘Sycophant Disorder’ is a complete spin on its head from how it started so the half of the chorus is what we ended up with so it’s a real mix but I guess that the point is I was sending in the ideas and we’d thrash it out together until everybody was happy with it. And then you eventually got what you can hear on the record.
D. I wanted to speak very briefly about the people you have worked with in the past, you’ve got the likes of Ricky Warwick and Toby Jepson – Wayward Sons and other iconic names. Toby Jepson was in Little Angels and they were actually my first concert so it was pretty cool when I saw his name there, with that in mind is there anybody out there that you would love to work with that you haven’t worked with so far?
L. Really? Wow, that’s amazing. Well I mean how long have you got? There are hundreds of people who are icons of ours that I would love to work with. Someone I would really love to work with is Nuno Bettencourt.
D. Talking about playing live, you’ve toured pretty consistently recently.
L. We have been known to do so yep.
D. You came to Newcastle recently and there was a bit of a hiccup with the venue so you had to end up playing with a line-up that you might not normally play with I guess. It was an indie kind of line-up.
L. Yeah so it was a funny one. Pardon me, they all kind of blend in to one eventually, it’s kind of like remembering what you had for dinner that night. Remind me what the venue was called.
D. That was Anarchy Brewery.
L. Anarchy Brewery, yeah. So it was a really, really nice place. It was kind of echoey because it was made of stone but the stage sound was really good. And it was good time because you had real mix of folks. I think it ended up well. They were really nice to us, they gave us on departure some really nice craft beers. There was a guy on the bar called Scott, a guy with a big beard and a heart the size of him, he was just really nice.
D. What I was going to ask was that it did seem to phase you and your performance didn’t seem to be affected by the last minute change. How do you prepare for a live show, is there something in particular you do for every venue regardless of where it is?
L. Yeah so, I would say the most important thing which might be an unusual answer, is stretching. Cos you know, if you think of Graeme you know, he’s been crammed in a van and you’ve suddenly to do stuff that’s not exactly primary school stuff that you're performing so you need to stretch yourself. And the thing is between the soundcheck and maybe you’ve got a Green room and you’ve got to run the merch because you don’t have your own merch guy so you’ve kind of got to like.. I find myself standing by the merch and trying to discretely stretch without drawing too much attention to myself. and the others go through similar sort of routines, you just try to find a corner and that’s when you try to touch your toes.
D. You’ve gone from support band for a lot of the last year, you were supporting Virgin Marys recently. And you’ve gone from support act to headline act on this current tour with this album. Do you feel an extra pressure being a headliner or is it something that doesn’t phase you?
L. It’s actually a relief believe it or not. And I think one of things is that all of the time that you’re travelling, getting that extra time on stage makes it really worthwhile. Because sometimes when your playing and travelling from wherever to wherever you only get half an hour a go, and it feels kind of like you’re just getting started and you have to end. But if you’re getting an hours worth its like you know we’ve come here to actually have a good length of time. And also, you know, you can get in early and get to soundcheck and change your clothes, eat and do your stretching all within about half an hour before you have to go on stage again. Its so much better pace. It’s nothing to do with us not wanting to be a support band for the sake of other bands, it’s more of a scheduling thing.
D. It’s interesting to find that you feel less of a pressure being the headline, I would have assumed that it would be the other way around so that’s really interesting to find out.
L. I’m not sure if that’s a common answer but it’s and honest one.
D. You are have a few dates left this year, you have Glossop at the end of this month then Lancaster, Southampton and all the way up to Whitehaven – Solway Hall. There are a couple of bands on there with you, Religion of Tomorrow and Arguer.
L. Arguer and Religion of Tomorrow, yes it’s nice having support set up so early. I feel that’s not always a thing that happens. We’ve turned up to venues before and the interpretation has been that the support band was the figment of the promoter’s imagination.
D. What do you do in that situation?
L. One time we supported ourselves. Our support didn’t show up so Conor, he’s one for the acoustic guitar so he did a mix of Anchor Lane songs and some covers. And then the joke was of course, when we got on stage “That support act was shite!” .
D. What do you hope the future hold for Anchor Lane, have you got a target in mind or are you happy to just keep creating as you go?
L. You know the more time that we keep doing this, the more people get to hear our music and get to hear our message. And you know we are just kind of looking for an exponential endeavour really. We’re just looking to tour as much as we can and get on more of the supports and bring more people to our shows. Just keep doing what we’re doing really, you just build it and build it and then you’ve got something you can take serious pride in.
D. Do you have any words of advice for any one starting out in the music business that you’ve learnt that you wish someone had told you when you started out?
L. The thing is for me it seems to have worked out alright because, you know, I’ve got my own teaching business and we’ve got Anchor Lane which is a thriving business as well. But I was so focussed on the intricacy of music itself all the way growing up that I got a bit of a fright when I became an adult and I actually had to start thinking about finances. Going hey wait a minute I actually completely forgot about trying to make this into a business. You figure it out. My advice is allow yourself to get caught up in the wonder of music but also consider it as a logical endeavour as well.
D. Sound advice. Awesome well thank you very much, its been a pleasure speaking with you.
L. It has been Dave, very much so, speak to you soon.
I had the incredible opportunity to attend the highly anticipated Steel Panther concert opened by rock legends Winger in Newcastle last night, and it was a night to remember. The band, known for their unique blend of hard rock and melodic sensibilities, delivered an electrifying performance that left the audience in awe.
The atmosphere at the venue was electric from the moment the lights dimmed and the band took the stage. Kip Winger, with his charismatic stage presence, commanded the crowd’s attention with his powerful vocals and dynamic energy. His voice was as strong and captivating as ever, effortlessly hitting high notes and showcasing his vocal range The entire band proved their exceptional musicianship throughout the entire set
Reb Beach’s guitar skills were simply mindblowing. His solos were filled with blistering speed, intricate melodies, and tasteful improvisations that showcased his technical prowess. The chemistry between the band members was palpable, and it was evident that they were having a blast on stage. Winger’s setlist was a fantastic mix of their classic hits and newer material. The crowd erupted with excitement as the band opened with the energetic anthem “Can’t Get Enuff” then straight into “Seventeen,” instantly transporting us back to the glory days of ‘80s rock. Other favourites like “Headed for a Heartbreak” and “Miles Away” had the audience singing along at the top of their lungs, relishing in the nostalgia that the band effortlessly evoked
One of the highlights of the evening was the band’s flawless performance of their epic song, “Proud Desperado”. It is the first song on their new album “Seven” and is a killer live track. Kip’s delivery resonated deeply with the crowd, and the band’s tight instrumentation enhanced the song’s poignant atmosphere.
The gig's production was top-notch, with a dynamic light show that perfectly complemented the band’s performance. The sound quality was excellent, allowing every instrument and vocal nuance to shine through. The venue itself provided a great atmosphere as ever, the historic setting fostered a strong connection between the band and the audience.
Winger undeniably delivered a fantastic show in Newcastle. Their passion for music, remarkable talent, and dedication to their craft were evident in every note they played. The crowd’s enthusiasm was infectious, and the energy in the room was electric. For fans of ‘80s rock and anyone who appreciates incredible musicianship, a Winger concert is an absolute must-see.
I left the concert with a renewed appreciation for the band’s music and a sense of nostalgia that will linger for days to come Winger proved that they are still a force to be reckoned with, and I can’t wait to see what they have in store for us in the future.
The Wild Things are a British rock band fronted by Sydney Rae White, who you may recognize from her starring role in the hit Netflix/BBC show ‘Uncle’.
Their latest single ‘Heaven Knows’ is a bright burst of pop-rock that hits you square in the jaw. The track is their ode to the many generations of rock that came before them; a soaring 90s chorus, an 80s punk outro and a very ballsey spoken word drop – their female twist on rock and soul of the 50s/60s.
The band have recently completed work on their second album, ‘Afterglow’, which was coproduced by none other than Pete Townshend himself. Townshend also features across several tracks as either a writer or performer.
‘Only Attraction’, ‘Lay On, Take Off’, and ‘Heaven Knows’ (their current single) – all taken from their upcoming second album ‘Afterglow’ – have been released to worldwide acclaim. These songs have been featured across multiple Spotify/Amazon/Apple worldwide playlists, received significant radio play from Virgin FM and BBC Radio 2, and have been championed by Elton John on his Apple Music show ‘Rocket Hour’.
Rolling Stone Magazine wrote an article on the band discussing their recent successes, and were given the world premieres of their last two releases.
The Wild Things have charted in a variety of countries over the last year, including Mexico, Chile, South Africa, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Singapore, Luxembourg, and Finland.
Their music videos have already racked up over 10 million views on TikTok, and they have close to a million streams on Spotify alone.
In the last year, The Wild Things have played at some of the most prestigious venues in the world, including Madison Square Garden, The Royal Albert Hall, Manchester AO Arena, The MGM Vegas, and The Kiss Kruise. They have even shared the stage with legendary acts such as The Who, Pearl Jam, KISS, and more… And their success shows no signs of slowing down. In the summer of 2023, The Wild Things will be supporting KISS in the UK and Europe, playing venues as large as Plymouth Stadium and the O2 Arena London.
www.jesselynnmadera.com
The Wild Things will be supporting KISS this summer for their UK and European dates, playing venues as large as Plymouth Stadium and the O2 Arena London.
In the last year, The Wild Things have played at some of the most prestigious venues in the world, including Madison Square Garden, The Royal Albert Hall, Manchester AO Arena, The MGM Vegas, and The Kiss Kruise. They have even shared the stage with legendary acts such as The Who, Pearl Jam, KISS, and more.
UK Tour Dates:
June 3 - Argyle Stadium, Plymouth
June 5 - Birmingham Arena
June 6 - Newcastle Arena
July 5 - O2 Arena, London
July 7 - Manchester Arena
July 8 - OVO Hydro, Glasgow
released their new single 'Warhound' on 19th May, out on FIFA Records.
'Klubber Lang' make a welcome and thunderous return with their new single 'Warhound', the perfect follow up to last Novembers, widely acclaimed 'The Sad Professor' , with the Dublin outfit continuing their release of unrelentingly visceral rock songs.
Klubber Lang have garnered many admirers both at home and further afield and have created a real level of expectation with the series of singles they have released over the last 3 years, this being their 8th under the FIFA Records banner. Add to this their explosive live shows, which have included much-coveted tour support slots with
'Girls Against Boys' and fellow Irish heavy hitters 'Kerbdog', it is no wonder why the quartet have garnered so many plaudits.
Like previous singles 'Make Amends', 'Sleep Well', 'I Will Not Wait', 'This Place' and the aforementioned 'The Sad Professor', the Dublin noise merchants latest offering has the trade mark, pounding rhythm section, inventive guitar riffs and the brilliantly unique vocal delivery of frontman McGoldrick. Once again, the combination has delivered another original and compelling strain of noise rock.
Klubber Lang are Ciaran McGoldrick, Ciaran Tallon, Fin O'Leary and Ronan McHugh. 'Warhound' will be available on all streaming platforms right now.
Since playing their last full-scale UK tour in 2022, the band has turned their minds to how they would like to celebrate their 50th anniversary with their fans. They have decided to embark on a short tour visiting some truly special and iconic venues to mark their golden anniversary.
First formed in 1974, The Stranglers uncompromising attitude was embraced by the punk movement of the late 70s but their musicianship and menace transcended the genre. They created their own unique sound and achieved over 25 Top 40 singles and 18 Top 40 albums, with their most recent release Dark Matters reaching number 4, their highest UK chart position since Feline in the early 80s and being acclaimed as their best in decades
The Stranglers plan to make these milestone anniversary shows extra special with two sets featuring songs from the band's inception through to the present, showcasing their unique fifty year career. These truly special events will be unmissable for fans of the Meninblack.
Tour Dates:
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20 Mar - CAMBRIDGE Corn Exchange
21 Mar - SHEFFIELD City Hall
23 Mar - PORTSMOUTH Guildhall
25 Mar - BRISTOL Beacon
26 Mar - LONDON Royal Albert Hall
Tickets for The Stranglers' 50th Anniversary UK Tour will go on sale on 19th May
Don't miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to celebrate one of the greatest bands in British music history on their 50th anniversary tour
linktr.ee/TheWestOrder
The exciting four-piece rock band The West Order return with their triumphant second single, 'Girl Without A Name'.
Hailing from Prestwick in Scotland, the band turned heads with their debut release 'Falling Down' which led to The West Order playing headline shows as well as finishing off 2022 playing at the legendary King Tuts Wah Wah Hut in Glasgow.
This new single, 'Girl Without A Name' was written back in 2017 by the band's vocalist and guitarist Dylan and since then The West Order have been tweaking the song as a unit.
Of course, a couple of years of a global pandemic stunted the band's momentum but now they are set to realise their ambitions with this frankly incredible new single.
About 'Girl Without A Name' the band said: "..it's a little bit different to our other tunes, it's a bit softer in the verses with a light floaty guitar riff over an acoustic guitar which then smashes into a heavy chorus with loud guitars and tight drum fills...almost Nirvana-esque."
Both this new single 'Girl Without A Name' and The West Orders' debut single 'Falling Dawn' appear on their upcoming 'All Is Mine' EP which is out on May the 25th. The band are to play a special hometown show at The Buf in Prestwick on June the 3rd.
The West Order are Dylan (vocals and guitar), Cammy (guitar), Daniel (drums) and Darren (bass and vocals). Meeting while at school, Daniel, Dylan and Darren were joined by Cammy in 2021. Their influences range from The Beatles to Green Day to The Snuts.
OCEANS ON ORION's new single/video - 'TAME' ft. Aliki Katriou (Eight Lives Down)!
Get ready for a thrilling ride as Oceans On Orion unleash their heaviest single to date "Tame" on May 19th, featuring special guest vocalist Aliki Katriou!
"Tame" showcases the band's unique blend of melodic metal, clean vocals, and growls. The overall impact leaves an undertone reminiscent of 80s metal, but entirely in tune with today's heavier, modern aesthetic. The emotion-laden lyrics of the song express the protagonist's desire for freedom and individuality, refusing to be tamed by others' expectations and restrictions.
With exceptional vocal performances by Lev and Aliki, the song offers a modern take on the tried and true "Beauty and the Beast" concept. Aliki, the versatile and enigmatic vocalist of Eight Lives Down, whose unique growl tone, ranging from guttural growls to clean, melodic singing, blends with Lev's signature clean singing switching from harmonies to extreme contrast with great effect.
The music video for "Tame" brings the song's message to life with powerful, monolithic visuals, set to a desolate raw concrete landscape against which Lev and Aliki rebel. As the video unfolds, they struggle to break free from the metaphoric chains that bind them, symbolizing their defiance against being tamed and their determination to live life on their own terms.
Experience the raw energy and passion of "Tame" – an anthem for the untamed and unstoppable spirits among us.
Oceans on Orion's debut album "Start from Nothing" has been released on March 24th, 2023 via LMH Records .
New Wave of British Heavy Metal stalwarts
RAVEN unleash their crushing new single 'Surf The Tsunami', taken from the upcoming album, All Hell's Breaking Loose.
RAVEN's new single/video 'Surf The Tsunami', released today, showcases the relentless, resolute energy the three-piece brings to everything they do. Prepare yourself for a truly vehement ambush as drummer Heller gatecrashes your eardrums with a furious flurry of his own, before some supreme twister riffs bring on the full metal chaos!
"The second video from our new album is 'Surf The Tsunami' which features our very own 'Drum Tsunami' Mike Heller!" enthuses co-founding bassist and vocalist John Gallagher. "It has a blistering opening... killer riffs and I get 'Tsunamied' in the middle... it's 100% Metal!!!"
Set for release via Silver Lining Music on June 30th, RAVEN's new album, All Hell's Breaking Loose, demands that you prepare yourself for a metal rampage the likes of which you haven't enjoyed in many a year!
"It's pretty overwhelming when you listen to the new record. It's also great to know that we can perform the songs live. We're not doing any kind of tapes and all that bullshit! We can still just be a kick-ass power trio!" adds John.
The Newcastle pioneers, formed by the Gallagher brothers (bassist/vocalist John and guitarist Mark) and rounded out by drummer extraordinaire Mike Heller have emerged from Heller's own Heaven And Heller Studios in Los Angeles with 10 crisp, visceral metal classics, each fused with riffs, twists, turns, chaos and more hooks than all the Hellraiser movies combined (think hyperbole, 'turn-it-UP' and find out for yourself)!
The recently released lead single 'Go For The Gold' is an amalgamation of riffs and furious, percussive madness, yet behind it all a melodic journey that makes it multi-dimensional skullcrushing. Title track 'All Hell's Breaking Loose' twists and turns with accents and flavours buried inside the chaos; 'Turn Of The Screw' bounces on the upbeats before smashing you with a thunderous chorus; 'The Far Side' has as classic a metal riff as you'll hear in 2023; 'Desperate Measures' is pure '81-saturated tales of hardship and despair, if you ever wondered what RAVEN at the Marquee were like on a sweaty metal night in '83; 'Edge of A Nightmare' is your portal to paradise, thundering as hard as the opener 'Medieval'.
What RAVEN have delivered with All Hell's Breaking Loose is permission for everyone to remember exactly what it's like to lose yourself in the healing aural waters of supreme heavy metal music, resplendent in sweat-soaked denim and leather.
All Hell's Breaking Loose will be available on 12" Black Vinyl, 12" Limited Edition Green Vinyl, CD Digipak, Tape Cassette, Digital Formats and special D2C bundles; pre-order now.
Following from the release of their new album "Venomous Anonymous" in 2022 and just off the Monsters Of Rock Cruise in the US, The Cruel Intentions are set to play a headline show in the heart of London's iconic Camden Town, at the Camden Assembly. Tickets are available here
The Norwegian hard rock n' roll band are ready will take their unique blend of rock music and incendiary performance to the UK and they can't wait.
The band comments: "We're extremely happy and excited to be back in the UK to play, we've always felt welcome and have a good time here. Home to so many of our rock, punk and metal heroes, it's a privilege to play this kind of music on these grounds.
The rock´n roll roots goes deep in the UK and we'll bring a high energy, full throttle, feelgood set to keep the spirit and party alive!"
The Cruel Intentions are also set to play a series of festival dates and headline shows throughout Europe in 2023, with more dates to be announced.
26th May – London, Camden Assembly, UK
27th May – Call of The Wild Festival, UK
8th July – Time To Rock, Sweden
26th August – HRH Sleaze Festival, UK
2nd September – Indoor Summer, Germany
9th September – Glam Slam, Belgium
29th October – Byscenen, Trondheim, Norway
Fast-rising London lyricist KayOrAlpha drops his heavy-set drill heater “Midnight Calls” – releasing via GRM DAILY - www.instagram.com/kayoralpha
Excluding an unrelenting cadence that depicts the vigorous sounds of South East London, “Midnight Calls” emerges as another incendiary drill offering from the 21-year-old rapper and creative. Manoeuvring across emotive guitar licks and sharp percussive textures, KayOrAlpha envisions the trials and tribulations faced through inner-city life, balancing disruptive influences with a crystal-clear focus and ability to distil a new generation of youth culture flourishing across his city and beyond.
Brought to life with a gritty official music video, the young talent’s story-telling lyricism seamlessly shines with atmosphere and intent, as he reconciles the pressures experienced on the roads with an enlightened approach – a truly inspiring new name on a direct path to regaining breakout status in the UK landscape.
After a life-changing experience halted his musical journey, KayOrAlpha has been steadily perfecting his unique soundscape. A clear impulse for combining cutthroat bars and infectious instrumentals was drawn across his recent tracks “Lemme Introduce Myself (Intro)” and “Brodie’s Keeper” - amassing well over 100K views across GRM DAILY while receiving support from key tastemakers incl. MIXTAPE MADNESS, NOTION and VIPER MAGAZINE.
Gaining strong backing by selling royalties directly to his dedicated fans (via SongBits), KayOrAlpha’s authority and trailblazing musical delivery set him as one of London’s most exciting underground artists crashing into wider consciousness. With many more releases to come this year, get ready to hear and see a whole lot more.
Glasgow alt-rockers - Lo Raysreturn with dark, synth-driven new single Die Beside You
Following the recent release of their track 'Algorithm Gods', rising Glasgow four-piece Lo Rays have shared their latest single 'Die Beside You.'
Taken from their forthcoming debut EP, 'Die Beside You' is a moody, captivating track that pairs vocalist Laura Takala's compelling lyrics against the band's propulsive guitars, drums, and synthesisers, showcasing once again Lo Ray's masterful style of electro-rock.
Like previous track 'Algorithm Gods', the new single 'Die Beside You' was fully recorded at Lo Rays' own home studios and produced by the band, featuring Laura's selfdesigned synthesisers.
Speaking about the new single, Laura said: "Die Beside You is about taking control of your own narrative and living by your own terms. Being the last song on our upcoming EP, Die Beside You completes the dystopia storyline that starts with oppression and ends with rebellion.
A conditioned mind living under an oppressive system awakens and rises against its oppressors. The music video takes us into a post-apocalyptic future where a rebel cause is planning a hacking mission against the corporate overlords and the algorithms that they use to control the world."
Lo Rays' vocalist and founding member, Finnish songwriter Laura Takala, formed the band after moving to Glasgow in 2018. With Scott Bathgate (guitar), Ryan Jones (bass) and Murray Bartle (drums), the rising talents take inspiration from the likes of Bring Me The Horizon, Enter Shikari, and Grimes.
In 2022, Lo Rays' profile grew thanks to their selfproduced single 'Event Horizon', which received support on Alyx Holcombe's BBC Introducing Rock on Radio 1. A cyberpunk collaboration 'Take You Down' with producer Papa Sob was also chosen for a Track of the Week on BBC Introducing Scotland.
Lo Rays supported SNASH at packed-out King Tut's and Gen and The Degenerates on the Glasgow-date of their tour. They ended 2022 on a high by playing live on BBC Introducing Scotland, performing three of their own songs and a rock version of Wham's 'Last Christmas'.
shares new single ‘Landlubber’ taken from upcoming debut album ‘D.I.Y.’
Taken from his upcoming debut full-length ‘D.I.Y.’, Landlubber was recorded at Humm Studios with Dom Mitchison (The Manatees, Pet Shimmers, Heavy Lungs), mixed by Ky Witney (The Naturals) and mastered by Pete Maher (Pixies, Jack White, The Rolling Stones) and explores relationship insecurities and how people can change for all of the wrong reasons.
Discussing what inspired the single, Lucky Thief explains, “Landlubber looks at themes of paranoia, insecurity and regret in relationships, all of which I have experienced. In changing for the worst in a relationship, new behaviours come to light, even within yourself which you may never have expected.”
Following up on the March release of his debut single ‘Silencer’, comes ‘Landlubber’, the upcoming second single from Bristolbased rock multi-instrumentalist Lucky Thief due for release May 19th, taken from his upcoming debut album ‘D.I.Y’ due later this year.
Lucky Thief is the project name for multiinstrumentalist Ed Jefferson. Giving up piano at the age of 10, Ed never cared for music lessons; instead he taught himself every instrument you hear. Lucky Thief’s music is reflective and relatable, drawing inspiration from his own experiences of mental illness, alcohol abuse, sex and his religious upbringing.
Blending his unique way of playing with his raw, alluring vocals and confessional lyrics, Lucky Thief aims to draw you into his journey, and doesn’t let you go again until the finishing note.
Three years in the making, Lucky Thief’s upcoming debut album ‘D.I.Y’ is due in the Summer of 2023. He spent the latter part of 2022 auditioning a full band to be able to take the album live throughout the UK in 2023. Their debut live show sees them supporting Krooked Tongue at Bristol’s Dareshack.
Formed in 2017, MY-HI have six successful singles under their belt which have seen them supported by the likes of BBC Introducing, BBC Radio One, Amazing Radio and Soundsphere Magazine as well as play alongside bands such as Kid Kapichi, Tigercub and securing slots at festivals all over the UK.
With their latest single Phaser, they approached recording in a whole new way. The track originally started life from this very live session. Recored at Brighton Electric Studios with Alex Gordon (The Cure, Blood Red Shoes, The Xcerts), the guitars were then re-amped through various amps and pedal boards to create the gritty sound they were aiming for.
The song lyrically explores the concept of societal pressures; The constant pressure to perform, stand out amongst the crowd and to be the best version of ourselves.
Discussing the meaning behind the song, lyricist and vocalist Daniel Veal states: "In a landscape strewn with endless financial hurdles, vainglorious boasters and vague, unattainable cliches, it's easy to get lost in it all. To compare. To lose yourself and your ambition. The lyrics are lightly seasoned with self acceptance, a pinch of urgency and a healthy splodge of diving headfirst into the unknown, unapologetically. It's important not to lose sight of your aims and to ride the maddening wave through the peaks and troughs of life! Even when you aren't quite sure of where the hell it's taking you. I've always pictured our brains as this phaser machine. A machine that can manipulate itself to adapt to whatever situation we find ourselves in, even when we are partially unsure of who we are at times. I suppose the song is a low key identity crisis, but from an angle of 'it's normal to be completely alienated from your own self'. You're a phaser, yes you are!"
To celebrate the release of their recent single 'Phaser', Brighton-based alternative-rock four-piece MY-HI have today released a live session, filmed by Avocado Baby Film at Brighton's Electric Studios.
Vanity Mirror, dreamy lo-fi bedroom pop from Los Angeles, have just released their highly anticipated debut LP PUFF (We Are Busy Bodies) with an accompanying video for the song Somehow You Know. The album is a delight to listen to with its sweet sixties-tinged melodies and starts where their other baroque-pop project, Electric Looking Glass, leaves off. The third single from Vanity Mirror's debut album PUFF, Somehow You Know, is a slacker lullaby for misfits and romantics.
Written in a church garden on an overcast bank holiday, Somehow You Know is simple and understated, an anticipated sleeper hit of PUFF. Reflecting on the track Randall said, "Somehow You Know is a somewhat of a lullaby. It wasn't an immediate choice for a single but one of our favourites and a track that a lot of close friends had highlighted as one of their favourites. I think it has an immediacy in its simplicity. I think this video captures that and we're so excited to share it." Listeners of Vanity Mirror's debut album will hear careful nods to The Kinks, Idle Race and The Raspberries delicately woven into the hook-filled compositions.
Tuesday's News, the album's second track, is a lo-fi masterpiece with sweet guitars and a building rhythm with Randall's lovely singing. The pleasant melody rings out with wintery lyrics but takes you to warm, sunny places in its charming pop harmonies. It's hummable, optimistic, and a fun play anytime track; a perfect pick-me-up with an earworm melody. Another highlight of the debut album is Dandelion Wish. Randal describes Dandelion Wish as "a sophisticated bedroom pop ditty for wayward situationships. It's the second single from Vanity Mirror's debut album PUFF; a vulnerable collection of homespun pop experiments. This lo-fi flowerballad blends soft nylon strumming with sparkling electric jangle; playful mellotron flourishes with an urgent quirksome rhythm section. Catch a ray of sun in your window and whistle along."
Launching at the same time as their debut LP, the video for Somehow You Know was directed and edited by the band's friend Fred Joseph of Expo Aktuell Films in Los Angeles. Randall explains, "We have been big fans of Fred's for a long time. He's a true artist and creates stunning analog TV/film pieces often utilizing period accurate vintage video equipment. He works out of the lovely Savannah Studios and you may have seen his work with many choice West Coast artists as of late. Fred was generous to collaborate with us to create this stunning vignette for Somehow You Know. Filmed with black and white vintage broadcast cameras, the camera floats around the studio on a track capturing us performing the song but also discovering a series of other little surreal and romantic scenes featuring our friends. Almost like a dream sequence or moment of clarity when many interconnected memories flood your mind all at once. And that is really what the song is about, making sense of things without being able to necessarily verbalize it." The band was inspired by Andy Warhol Factory film tests but also 60's TV specials.
Sabrina Kennedy is due to release her debut EP Wheel Of The Year, out May 25th and available to pre-save now. Marking the EP announcement Sabrina has released a striking visualiser for the new single ‘Magic & Mayhem’.
It features a video montage of Sabrina which sees her charming snakes, burning sage, reading tarot cards and more. Watch it here.
‘Magic & Mayhem’ is a bold pop rock track where punchy punk riffs pair with Sabrina’s grand vocals delivering spellbinding melodies and magnetic hooks. The song has been quick to prove a hit and has received strong acclaim including being featured in the Kerrang Chart, highlighting the best new music of the week.
Regarding the single Sabrina says, “This song came from trying to fit in with an elite crowd that was intrigued by the witch and the magic, but it couldn’t hold space for it or handle it. I quickly realized that in the confines of their tiny world was loneliness and distraction. There is magic and mayhem running through my blood and I decided I could no longer repress it. It’s about fully embracing the wild woman who lives within me and the magic that runs through my veins.”
Sabrina’s debut EP Wheel Of The Year showcases her artistic versatility which proves a force to be reckoned with. It is a glimpse into Sabrina life living through ‘the wheel of the year’ – the Wiccan calendar that predates our own –and it journeys through the different seasons of her life.
The four-song EP begins with ‘Puritan’, which evokes the spring equinox and its former ritual sacrifices that pre-dated Easter. Among its dark R&B laced pop Sabrina declares “you can burn me at the stake like a Puritan.” A powerful statement about the lengths she’s willing to go to defend her right to be herself.
Meanwhile ‘Red Wine’ is the EP’s most reflective and sultry moment, representing the autumn equinox and Halloween with eerie trap beats and empowering lyrism among a huge rock crescendo.
“Other than my love for red wine, this song was bred from the confides of my flat during the dark time the world was facing in lockdown,” Sabrina begins about the song. “I delved into the darkest parts of my soul channelling the divine feminine energy that is Mary Magdalene, the misunderstood whore. ‘Red Wine’ is the direct relationship between Mary Magdalene and Jesus - two lost souls just trying to get by.”
‘Overflow’ completes the EP, it is an expansive pop ballad evoking a sense of Sia grandeur and represents the winter solstice. “Overflow is feeling everything so deeply and profoundly that you completely lose control in the process,” she says. “Accessing the deepest parts of yourself and allowing everything to burn to the ground to build a new.”
Sabrina will be playing a headline show in London to celebrate the EP on the same day as the release. Tickets for the show at The Grace on are on sale now.
