Lipton's Orphan - Dressin' Scottish, Drinkin' Irish, Talkin' Rubbish

 

1. Who are Lipton's Orphan? 

Lipton's Orphan is Frankie McLaughlin the ex-singer and guitar player from Australian Celtic punk band The Rumjacks (2008 - present). He got kicked out of the band in 2020 for getting handsy and is out on his tod. He's put out a handful of tunes since 2022 and Dressin' Scottish, Drinkin' Irish, Talkin' Rubbish (Jan, 2024) is the most successful so far. 

2. What kind of tune is Dressin' Scottish, Drinkin' Irish, Talkin' Rubbish? 

A swaggering Celtic rock ripsnorter with a lot of pipes and and guitar riffs. More rock than punk and without the cringe that accompanies listening to a lot of second-hand Irish heritage Celtic punk; perhaps because Frankie is Glasgow born and bred from Irish stock before he got transported to the colonies. This has the righteous stink of yesterdays drinking, todays hangover and the pride of winning a barroom brawl lathered all over it. 

3. Who do Lipton's Orphan sound like? 

Black Tartans, Dropkick Murphys, Flogging Molly, and Smokey Bastard. 

4. Which bands have influenced Lipton's Orphan?

The Pogues, UK Subs, GBH, and Gogol Bordello.

5. What have the great unwashed said about Dressin' Scottish, Drinkin' Irish, Talkin' Rubbish? 

"Talent with his words and a natural knack for telling a story" - YouTube Comments.

"No classic instrument better suits rock'n'roll than the Scottish pipes" - YouTube Comments.

"Celtic punk is still going strong!" - YouTube Comments.

"Carved in the image of a man I never knew,

In the name o' the Faither reart baith guid and true"

The Drowns - Ketamine & Cola

 

1. Who are The Drowns? 

The Drowns are a blue collar punk rock'n'roll band from Seattle, Washington. The band members have all done previous in other bands like Madcap and The Briggs. Ketamine & Cola flounces off their third album Blacked Out (Feb, 2024). Black Out is produced by Ted Hutt (Dropkick Murphys, Flogging Molly, The Gaslight Anthem).

2. What kind of song is Ketamine & Cola? 

Ketamine & Cola is classic pub rock'n'roll song with a word to say about the excesses of a night on the turps. 

3. Which bands do The Drowns sound like? 

The Pirates, The Angels, Cheap Trick. 

4. Which bands have influenced The Drowns? 

The Drowns have been influenced by 1950's rock'n'roll, 1970's glam rock and street punk. Some of those bands include The Temptations, Cock Sparrer, Slade, Blitz, and The New York Dolls. 

5. What have the press said about the new album Blacked Out?

"A roaring blast of distorted guitars, rapid-fire drums, and brilliant sing-alongs" - New Noise Magazine. 

"Swaggering rock'n'roll" - Indie, Punk & Alternative.

"A rallying call to punks, rock'n'rollers, and misfits of all stripes!" - Distrotable.

"Lost and violent youth,

Stealing smoke and sniffing glue,

I ain't like you,

No, I ain't like you"

Circa Waves - We Made It

 

1. Who are Circa Waves? 

Circa Waves are an indie pop rock band from Liverpool, England. They have been making music since 2013 and We Made It (October, 2024) is the lead single from their third album Death & Love Pt.1 (January, 2024).  

2. What kind of song is We Made It? 

We Made It is a perfectly serviceable radio friendly pop song that will make a welcome addition to anyone's playlist. It will never be anyone's favorite song but it did remind me of why Circa Waves were an exciting young band ten years ago although the excitement has faded like a street walkers smile.

3. Which band do Circa Waves sound like? 

Circa Waves are similar to Amazons, Sundara Karma, The Courteeners, and The Cribs.

4. Which bands influenced Circa Waves music? 

Some of  Circa Waves' influences include David Bowie, The Strokes, The Vaccines, and The Libertines.

5. What have the cut and paste bandits said about We Made It?

"Captures the vital optimism of their sound" -  When The Horn Blows.

"Oozes with Shudall's hope and optimism" - MNPR.

"A punchy pop rock anthem" - NME.

"Lost your mother,

Don't know if you'll recover,

Found the bottle,

Like so many others"

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"