Christmas Parade

Dec12

Mistletoe, mince pies, and Xmas songs are all major ingredients in festivities whether you have an appetite for them or not. Without our site having a cookery page, we take a gander at a few of the latter to help get you in the mood.

First up is Merry Christmas To You from British punks Peter118. Stoke-based, the band is the brainchild of Peter Field, former member of Senseless and Ambassadors of Shalom. Originally a solo project, the band has grown into a quartet with Field’s wife Janine on bass/backing vocals, Sam Critchley on drums, and Alisha Palmer on guitar/backing vocals. This year the band has already hit the spot with In Stereo, a split EP alongside US punks No Lost Cause and in particular with the single taken from it, Wasting.

Featured on the compilation Rodney On The Rock Presents: Santa’s Got a GTO Vol. 2 alongside tracks from the likes of CJRamone, Color TV, The Ramonas, Frankie and the Studs, and The Dollyrots, Merry Christmas To You is a slice of old school UK meets raw US punk as infectious as it is enticingly raw. Spicy grooves and hooks collude with hungry riffs and rampant rhythms across less than two minutes of richly appetising rock ‘n’ roll. Admittedly we do not have a natural appetite for Christmas offerings but for songs like Merry Christmas To You we eagerly raise a glass.

Another track hitting the spot is Goodbye Psychotic Christmas. From Brian Kroll & My Son The Bum, who equally have laid down one of the year’s bright spots in the single Mad Man (Playing in a Mad World’s Game) this past February. My Son The Bum has shown itself a band unafraid to explore distinctly individual styles and flavours in their releases and prime songwriter Brian Kroll shows he is a dab hand at seasonal offerings too with the new single.

Draped around a vintage rock ‘n’ roll stroll, inspired by Gene Vincent according to Knoll, melodies wind their temptation as vocals equally lure ears. As much as there is that fifties hue, there is seventies festive seasoning too, the song echoing the seasonal gifts of bands like Mud and Showaddywaddy to capture the imagination and raise the spirit for parties to come.

Introducing us all their Christmas Girl is Italian band Carnaby. Inspired by their experience of being away from loved ones during Xmas due to band commitments, the song is a catchy slice of pop rock with a great sixties pop/seventies mod flavouring.

Hailing from Canicattì, Carnaby was formed in 2010 taking their name as direct reference to the famous London street and its sixties musical heritage. Consisting of brothers Joseph and Vincent Sandonato, Pietro Pelonero, and Giuseppe Racalbuto, the quartet moved to Bristol in 2016 and is currently working on their debut album for release next year.

Christmas Girl is an infectious embrace of familiar essences borne of those earlier mentioned flavours. It sways and teases with its open love of sixties pop, its melodies a warm enticement as rhythms share their firmer touch with the same kind of inescapable catchiness. The track is not particularly unique but a whole lot of fun, just as Christmas should be.

Completing our look is some Holiday Season pop rock from Jeff Michaels. From Boston, MA, singer songwriter Michaels continues his tradition of the past five years in releasing a holiday single and accompanying video. This year it is It’s Been a Long Time, Christmas and its ” simple call for the return of Christmas, and the brighter days we all need.”

The song is a gentle croon with an instinctive catchiness, emotive keys, and a country hued lacing sure to please appetites for mellow yet boisterous pop. Michaels’ voice is equally as enticing, his melodic strains a warm caress matching the tender hug of the sounds around him.

In a time where this type of song can be as unwelcome as some relatives these are four tracks which buck the trend and will easily add something enjoyable to your seasonal soundtrack.

http://peter118.weebly.com/ https://www.facebook.com/Peter118UK/ https://twitter.com/peter118uk

https://www.facebook.com/mysonthebum/ https://twitter.com/mysonthebum https://www.facebook.com/briankrollmusic1

https://www.facebook.com/carnabyband/ https://twitter.com/carnabyband

https://www.jeffmichaelsband.com/ https://www.facebook.com/pg/jmichaelsrocks/

Pete RingMaster

LaFlamme – Broken Hearted Sons

Mar29

laflamme_RingMasterReview

Hailing from Surrey, LaFlamme is a punk ‘n’ roll fuelled band about to release charity single, Broken Hearted Sons, to raise funds and awareness for Muscular Dystrophy UK. It is a three track offering of instinctive and anthemic rock ‘n’ roll which, without fuss, pleases ears and sets attention the way of a great cause.

Formed in 2013 as floods and storms engulfed their home county, LaFlamme consists of guitarist/vocalists Richie Lambert and Kieron Robathan, drummer Dan Motchman, and bassist/vocalist Ditch. Breeding their sound and songs upon inspirations from the likes of AC/DC, The Ramones, Lou Reed, Blink 182, and Biffy Clyro, the band found itself headlining the Surrey Advertiser stage at Guilfest in 2014 and soon after playing support to bands such as The Ramonas and Sex P****Sed Dolls, as well lighting up a host of leading venues across the south east of England. A self-titled laflamme art_RingMasterReview EP awoke further attention whilst the past few months has seen LaFlamme working upon Broken Hearted Sons in aid of Muscular Dystrophy UK; a release inspired by two of Kieron’s cousins who have muscular dystrophy and “have been such an inspiration to do what you love and never give up doing it.”

Broken Hearted Sons is the lead track; a rousing slice of rock ‘n’ roll which, from a subdued yet potent opening, uncages a torrent of rolling rhythms, spiky riffs, and sonic enterprise which simply flow with punk rock infectiousness. It is an undemanding but seriously catchy offering quickly whipping up involvement in feet and spirit, not forgetting an eager appetite for the band’s unassuming but magnetic sound.

With a whiff of Eddie and The Hot Rods to it, the track makes way for the more classic rock scented Breaking In. It’s initial hook and character has a Bowie-esque hue to it whilst further into its melody entwined body, a Thin Lizzy like flavouring colludes with the restrained but vibrant rock ‘n’ roll lighting up the ears.

The closing romp of Liar is similarly textured but soon reveals its own mischievous imagination and boisterous punk ‘n’ roll endeavour. Rhythms alone are a spark to keen physical involvement, eagerness only reinforced by the tenacious vocals and sonic exploits of the guitars.

All three tracks provide honest slices of perpetually enjoyable rock ‘n’ roll; straightforward uncomplicated proposals which get the job done whilst providing thick satisfaction. The fact they are raising funds and awareness for a very worthy cause only thickens the pleasure.

The LaFlamme charity single, Broken Hearted Sons is released 15TH April via Goloud Records.

http://www.laflammeband.co.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/pages/LaFlamme/235358599953530 https://twitter.com/laflammeband http://www.musculardystrophyuk.org/

laflamme show

Pete RingMaster 29/03/2016

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DRAG – Neurotica: A Compendium of Tales Regarding Body and Mind

Jul28

Drag Online Promo Shot

With greater potential in its body than maybe actually exposed in its fiery riot, Neurotica: A Compendium of Tales Regarding Body and Mind the new album from UK punks DRAG, is nevertheless a rather compelling and increasingly enjoyable provocation to get teeth and thoughts into. Nine tracks of old school seeded punk with as much of a nineties twist to its predation as modern inventions, the release is an attention grabbing and imagination stirring entrance by the Midlands quartet.

Since forming, the Birmingham four-piece has earned a strong reputation through their live presence which has seen them play alongside the likes of Toyah Wilcox, SPiT LiKE THiS, Eureka Machines, Fuzzbox, Mister Joe Black, The Sex Pistols Experience, The Ramonas, and Amanda Palmer, as well as a couple of earlier EPs. Their sound as evidenced on the crowd funded Neurotica, is like a raw and antagonistic merger of Au-Pairs and L7 with just as healthy essences of In Evil Hour and Penetration. It is a mix which you expect to be explosive and for the main is within the potent album, though it does miss that key spark to set the promise openly surging through its creativity and sound truly ablaze.

With songs which look at uncompromising themes ranging from self-harm, mental health, to sexuality, Neurotica takes little time in awakening attention and appetite with the opening title track. From the initial scrub of acidic guitar punctuated by thumping beats, the song takes a swift hold and even more so when the band expel a raw and flame of attitude and sonic causticity led by vocalist Heather. The track snarls and rumbles enticingly with the bass of Matt and abrasing guitar craft of Velma crafting an infectious web framed by the punchy rhythms of drummer Andy. Littered with resourcefully catchy hooks around the appealing vocals, it is a formidable and convincing start to entwine thoughts and emotions easily.

The following Fine with its opening moody bass tempting also needs little effort to engage ears and imagination, its strong initial lure expanding into a more reserved but no less potent expanse of rapacious enterprise and contagious DRAG - Neurotica Cover Artwork provocation. It is not a song to startle but certainly keeps the initial impact of the album high before the mighty Axewound preys on the senses. Lyrically and musically it takes no prisoners, with that earlier Au Pairs reference at its most open on both aspects, the raw and honest approach very similar to that offered a few decades ago by those fellow Brummie protagonists. The track is alive with agitated rhythms, intrigue spiced hooks, and a ferocious breath which all combines for one of the major highlights of the album pushing forward the exciting potential of the band.

Next up The Ugly romps with rhythmic bait which inspires another wash of greed to an already hungry appetite whilst the grizzled bass tone found by Matt grumbles potently within the weave of sonic and defiant endeavour. The song keeps things roaring nicely but does lack the stature and persuasion of its predecessors as does in some ways Dandy Boy, though in other aspects it stands out pleasingly. A union of acoustic guitar and the melodic tones of Heather, her voice revealing more of its strength here than at any other point of the release, the song gently caresses and provokes, keeping its poise and lure as the rest of the band bring their evocative touches to the increasingly intensive track. Keys add good expression to the song too though it also feels like there is a spark missing to really exploit its creative strength, something which applies to Neurotica as a whole.

Shock & Bad Taste with its more defined L7 lures comes next to set feet and reactions on eager edge, its riling riffs and jabbing rolling beats as inviting as the vocal belligerence and sonic entrapment colouring the richly satisfying track. It is soon left sounding a little pale though by Hell 7 (American Mary), the track a ferocious scorching of corrosive riffs and merciless rhythms from the first second which settles into a less threatening gait for a few breaths before unleashing a chorus which gnaws at the senses with anthemic mastery. Again it is fair to say that there is not much to challenge the boundaries of punk rock but plenty to give it an invigorating incitement.

The album is brought to a close by firstly the pleasing Wet with its scowling sound and challenging premise, and lastly through the predatory stalking of Dead Zebra. Both tracks ignite another wave of satisfaction if again failing to match previous heights upon the album; the forced vocal growls offered by Heather in the last of the two an element which defuses the potency of the song and leaves thoughts feeling unconvinced for the only time. Each song still leaves Neurotica: A Compendium of Tales Regarding Body and Mind on a high with that rich promise flooding both, as it does the album, to leave pleasure high and excited anticipation over DRAG ahead.

Neurotica: A Compendium of Tales Regarding Body and Mind is available now on the band’s own Sleazy Punk Records @ http://dragbirmingham.bandcamp.com/album/neurotica-a-compendium-of-tales-regarding-body-mind-2

http://www.sleazypunk.com/

8/10

RingMaster 28/07/2014

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DRAG unveil their ‘Neurotica’, on 28th July‏

Jun22

SLEAZY PUNK ROCKERS ‘DRAG’ DROP THEIR EXPLOSIVE DEBUT ALBUM ‘NEUROTICA’ ON MONDAY 28th JULY THROUGH ALL NATIONAL STORES.

“If being different is the key to success then surely DRAG are destined for greatness” – BBC Music

“A sleazy punk band with grown-up songs, great image and a live show to match? Yeah, we couldn’t resist either’ – Skin Deep Magazine

If Courtney Love and Sid Vicious had a baby and it was raised on The Dresden Dolls, L7 and The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, what would it sound like? DRAG are the answer. The brazen four-piece have been reared in Birmingham and were conceived over three years ago. Spewing out raucous riffery and killer hooks, the rising Midlanders spit out a sound that’s loaded with attitude and unbridled energy. Their stage show is always mesmerising and hard-hitting; their performances ooze sexual prowess and are as compelling as they are defiant.

Composed of Heather (Vocals), Velma (Guitar), Matt (Bass), and Andy (Drums), DRAG have toured throughout the UK and have shared the stage with the likes of Toyah Wilcox, SPiT LiKE THiS, Eureka Machines, Fuzzbox, Mister Joe Black, The Sex Pistols Experience, The Ramonas, and Amanda Palmer (The Dresden Dolls). The High-flying foursome have also made numerous appearances throughout the tattoo festival circuit. As well as building a formidable live reputation, the unstoppable noiseniks have received glowing accolades from everyone from Skin Deep to BBC; the sleazy punks have also racked up critical acclaim throughout the underground.

DRAG’s music was born out of a love for the 90’s riot grrrl era, and their DIY ethic has been one of the defining features of the band since their inception. It is therefore a natural progression that their forthcoming debut album, “Neurotica: A Compendium of Tales Regarding Body and Mind” has been funded completely independently through Kickstarter. As the title suggests, “Neurotica: A Compendium of Tales Regarding Body and Mind”, deals with some deep and dark topics; with lyrical themes that address issues that most other bands wouldn’t touch, such as self-harm, mental health, and sexuality, DRAG do this without sacrifice or apology—their music is their art and the band pour everything into their craft. From the tragically poignant ‘Dandy Boy’ to the explosively aggressive ‘Dead Zebra’, DRAG take the audience on a roller coaster of emotions and have produced an electrifying album that will command your attention.

DRAG - Neurotica Cover Artwork