Chubby And The Gang - Company I Don't Want To Keep

 

1. Who are Chubby and The Gang?

Chubby and The Gang are a punk rock band from West London, England. They are Charles Manning-Walkers' band and he formed it in 2019. Charles used to play in hardcore punk bands and still is the guitarist for punk rock's latest and greatest band The Chisel. Company I Don't Want To Keep (Oct, 2024) is an album cut from his third album And Then There Was ... (Chubby and The Gang) (Sept, 2024).  

2. What kind of tune is Company I Don't Want To Keep? 

Company I Don't Want To Keep features abominable production, organ that is as useful as tits on a bull, vocals that might as well have been shouted down a phone and a chorus like an old man rooting; a shadow of his former strength and it comes far too late. I loved songs from the first two albums and I genuinely wanted to find something I liked about this album. This song is a reasonable addition in my opinion. It grew on me slowly like Chlamydia. But Chubby will always be a legend to me.

3. Who do Chubby and The Gang sound like? 

Something pub-rockish, Ian Dury, Dr.Feelgood, maybe even The Stranglers. I don't know, it's not great. Chubby's vocals are very Joey Ramone though.

4.  Which bands have influenced Chubby and The Gang? 

Some of his influences include Lightning Hopkins, The Bobby Fuller Four, Dr. Feelgood (huh, I got one), The Ramones (two), and Coloured Balls. it reminded me of a Japandroid's song for some reason.

5. What have people said about the album And The There Was?

"Rage and vulnerability that blends hardcore punk with the most infectious element of 70's rock'n'roll" - Punk Rock Theory. 

"A mix of control and chaos, love and loneliness" - Flatspot Records.   

"A much more refined effort taking influence from a myriad of genres" - Punktastic.

The Hives - Rigor Mortis Radio

 

1. Who are The Hives? 

The Hives are a garage rock band from Fagersta, Sweden. They have been making music since 1993 and Rigor Mortis Radio (July, 2023) is the third single off their sixth album The Death Of Randy Fitzsimmons (Aug, 2023). 

2. What kind of song is Rigor Mortis Radio? 

Rigor Mortis Radio is a jaunty radio-friendly garage rock song with hand claps and wide appeal to the masses about having the confidence to live life your own way. It carries just enough spark of originality to survive on my playlist as a guilty pleasure. 

3. Which bands do The Hives sound like? 

They are often compared to bands like The Jets, The Vines, The Fratellis, The Von Bondies.  

4. Which bands influenced The Hives? 

Their early influences are said to be Rancid, The Dead Kennedys, Turbo Negro, and New Bomb Turks. 

5. What did the sycophants in the press say about Rigor Mortis Radio?

"Swaggering" - Stereogum.

"Feral energy, a garage punk fizzer to sit along the greats" - Clash Music.

"A slice of grinding stomping and insanely infectious Garage Punk - 100 Word Song Review.

"Here's how much longer I can stand your shit,

I'm gonna hold it back, this tongue in crack,

It's gotta end I'm not an evening snack"

RIXE - Tir Groupé

 

1. Who are RIXE?

RIXE are a street punk band that combine the sound of Oi with post-punk. They come from Paris, France, and have been making music together since 2014. Tir Groupé (Aug, 2024) is the lead single from their E.P of the same name Tir Groupé (Aug, 2024).  

2. What kind of song is Tir Groupé? 

Tir Groupé is the sound of an old car full of young men being driven as fast as it will go down an empty highway. There aren't any highs or lows. It kicks off to a gunshot and goes flat out to the end. It grows on you with time and the drum machine adds an odd endearing quality. 

3. Which bands do RIXE sound like? 

Blitz, Syndrome 81, Camera Silens, and Béton Armé. 

4. Which bands have influenced RIXE? 

They say French Oi from the 80's and others hear a lot of the Italian band Nabat. 

5. What have the cut and paste bandits said about Tir Groupé? 

"A stark, icy street-punk singalong with a drum-machine beat and a warlike sense of melody" - Stereogum. 

"Fuckwave, OI! and pop music as infectious as their previous four Eps" - Bandcamp.

"A clash between the band’s aggressive street-punk edge and their knack for melody" - Add To Want List.

RAT BOY - Mob Mentality

 

1. Who are RAT BOY? 

RAT BOY is Jordan Cardy from Chelmsford, England. He has been making music since 2012 and Mob Mentality (Oct, 2024) is one of a handful of songs to get a release and video from his third album Suburbia Calling (Oct, 2024). RAT BOY's music started out as a blend of hip hop and indie rock but veered toward Rancid style ska and punk rock since signing to Hell Cat for the second album Internationally Unknown (2019). 

2. What kind of tune is Mob Mentality? 

Mob Mentality is Madness style ska in the verses and a Clashesque chorus. The song wears it's Madness influences on it's sleeves. It is what it says on the tin. 

3. Which bands do RAT BOY sound like? 

Jamie T, The Specials, Madness, Rancid.

 4. Which bands have influenced RAT BOY? 

The Clash, The Streets, Beastie Boys, Rancid, Blur, Kasabian. 

5. What have the press said about Mob Mentality?

"Their chaotic youthful sound captures the sound of debauchery" - When The Horn Blows. 

"Scrappy punk meets Brit-pop" - Epitaph. 

"Leans hard into it's British roots, pulling on the sounds of Britpop, 90's indie and 2 Tone ska" - Atwood Magazine. 

"Mob mentality that's reality, murder she wrote,

Call the policeman when you hear the spray cans,

No where left to go"

Dial Drive - Burning Bridges

 

1. Who are Dial Drive? 

Dial Drive are a pop punk band that embrace a variety of genres but rock out of Orlando, Florida. Playing tunes together since 2017 Burning Bridges (Aug, 2024) pops off their second album of the same name Burning Bridges (Sept, 2023). 

2. What kind of song is Burning Bridges? 

Burning Bridges is a stereotypical early 2000's pop punk song with all the bells and whistles but a carries a fair bit of genuine anger at cutting a bad relationship out of your life.

3. Who do Dial Drive sound like?

Blink 182, Sum 41, Fall Out Boy, Taking Back Sunday. 

4. Which bands have influenced Dial Drive? 

Some of Dial Drive's influences include NOFX, Pennywise, Taking Back Sunday, Alkaline Trio, Less Than Jake, Streetlight Manifesto. 

5. What have the press said about Burning Bridges?

"A fantastic sound that is upbeat and full of energy" - The Metal Asylum. 

"A loud, brash declaration of emancipation" - Medium. 

"Just banger after banger" - Find No Enemy.

"And when I said I had enough,

You told me then to suck it up,

I'll need a knife to cut you out of my life"

Grade 2 - Under The Streetlight

 

1. Who are Grade 2?

Grade 2 are a punk band from The Isle of Wight, England. They have been making music since 2013 and Under The Streetlight (Nov, 2022) is the lead single from their third self-titled album Grade 2 (Feb, 2023). 

2. What kind of song is Under The Streetlight? 

Under The Streetlight is woe to go a Rancid rocker saying something about seize the day and have fun. There's a smidgen of the maudlin English indie rock storytelling tradition in there to spice it up and make the classic punk sound their own. It's a belter and the most popular song Grade 2 have.

3. Who do Grade 2 sound similar to? 

Rancid, Gimp Fist, The Interrupters, Dropkick Murphys. 

4. Which bands have influenced Grade 2?

Some of their influences are Rancid, The Clash, Lions Law, The Jam, The Specials, Dropkick Murphys, Green Day, Offspring, Buzzcocks ... 

5. What have the cut and paste merchants said about Under The Streetlight?

"High enery track with a spirited, hopeful melody" - Indie Punk and Alternative.

"Blistring punk music lace with passion, angst, humor and despair" - Prelude Press. 

"Confidence and unrelenting swagger" - Punktuation.

 "We've had our share of these trying times,

So tonight, we're gonna leave them behind"

Gimp Fist - Seventeen

 

1. Who are Gimp Fist? 

Gimp Fist are a street punk band from Bishop Auckland, England. They formed in 2005 and Seventeen (June, 2024) is the lead single from their tenth album Losing Streak (July, 2024). 

2. What kind of tune is Seventeen? 

Seventeen is more pop punk than Oi but it still whips past as fast as a Cheetah's dick. Something about being a retard at school and nostalgia for records. 

3. Who do Gimp Fist sound like? 

The Old Firm Casuals, Booze & Glory, The Last Resort.  

4. Which bands have influenced Gimp Fist? 

Gimp Fist's main influences are Cock Sparrer, The Clash, Rancid, and The Business. 

5. What have the press said about Gimp Fist?

"Fast and furious working class punk rock" - Indie Punk and Alternative.

"Rousing old school UK skinhead rock'n'roll & street punk sound" - Rough Trade.

"An over-arching sense of angst and urgency" - Louder Than War.

The Clause - Weekend Millionaire

 

1. Who are The Clause?

The Clause are an indie pop rock band from Birmingham, England. They have been playing together for over five years and Weekend Millionaire (Sept, 2024) is the lead single from their third E.P of the same name Weekend Millionaire (Oct, 2024).

 

2. What kind of song is Weekend Millionaire? 

Weekend Millionaire is a instantly catchy, radio-friendly indie-pop song that steadily builds up to a ever so slightly rowdy crescendo. Weekend Millionaire also capture that wistful, maudlin, slice-of-life tone captured by indie rock bands like The Courteeners, James or even The Smiths that get juxtaposed with bright and bubbly choruses. I love it.

3. Who do The Clause sound like?

James, The Reytons, The Courteeners.  

4. Which bands have influenced The Clause?

The Clause's main influences are The Rolling Stones, The Doors, Kasabian, and ABBA. 

5. What have the press said about The Clause?

"Effortlessly combine huge hooks with gritty choruses" - Norwich Box Office.

"Limitless amounts of swagger and the seal of approval from Jane's Addiciton frontman Perry Ferrell" - Totalntertainment.

"Among the most exciting up-and-coming indie bands in the U.K." - Northern Exposure.

Chain Cult - Harm Reduction

 

1. Who are Harm Reduction?

Harm Reduction are a Greek post-punk band from Athens, Greece. They have been playing together since 2017. Harm Reduction (Sept,2024) is a single from their second album of the same name.

2. What kind of song is Harm Reduction? 

Harm Reduction is an average modern post-punk song without any of the obvious tropes that run riot in British or American mainstream punk. Except for the Joy Division and Cure comparisons. They are hard-core punk musicians trying to be a bit more melodic and moving towards the centre and it works out okay.

3. Who do Chain Cult sound like? 

MESS, The Cure, and The Sound.

4. Which bands have influenced Chain Cult? 

The bands that have influenced Chain Cult include Misfits, Ramones, Offspring, Youth Avoiders.

5. What have the press said about Chain Cult? 

"Combining gothic atmosphere with basement punk urgency" - Stereogum. 

"Clearly interwoven guitar work frames catchy anthems" - Sorry State Records.

"Fucking solid tune and you are welcome in China anytime" - YouTube Comments.