Haywire - Clocktower Place

 

1. Who are Haywire? 

Haywire are a hardcore punk band from Boston, Massachusetts. They have been making music since 2023 and have already fired off one album. Clocktower Place (Nov, 2024) is from their E.P. For Better Or For Worse (Nov, 2024).

2. What kind of song is Clocktower Place? 

Clocktower Place is one of the bands mellow tracks. A sweet love song with a little bit of high octane backing it is by no means a damp (or limp) squib.

3. Which bands do Haywire sound like?

Internal Affairs, End It, and Conservative Military Image. 

4. Which bands have influenced Haywire? 

I don't know. But they have a member of Loosey guesting on Clocktower Place, as well as members of Chubby & The Gang, Death Before Dishonour, Conservative Military Image collaborating on their debut album.

5. What have people said about Clocktower Place?

"Catchy and cool and so punk!" - Album Of The Year.

"Sad, catchy punk ballad" - Salad Days.

"Oddly bluesy" - Stereogum.

"I love you so much that it hurts,

All the things I should have did,

Your absence is my regret"

The Devil's Sons - Out Of Time

 

1. Who are The Devil's Sons? 

The Devil's Sons are a rock'n'roll band from Edmonton, Canada. They have punk, garage and rockabilly influences in their music and have been making music together since 2014. Out Of Time (Oct, 2024) is from their third album Now And At The Hour Of Death (Sept, 2024). 

2. What kind of song is Out Of Time? 

Out Of Time is an angry rant at today's evils from corporate media to environmental degradation but the righteous fury the singer is channeling is juxtaposed by the joie de vivre of the musicians backing the singer; particularly the keys. 

3. Who do The Devil's Sons sound like? 

The only touchstone I have for Canadian rock is The Headstones. So,that's what I'm going with. Others thought The Sonics and The Cramps. 

4. Which bands have influenced The Devil's Sons? 

I couldn't tell you. But apparently they did a cover of Elvis Presley, and another by The Quakes, so that must be some indication. 

5. What have people said about The Devil's Sons music?

"A raw and unfiltered look at the world right now" - Punk News.

"They blast out their songs with a hellish ferocity" - The Punk Site. 

"Challenging the status quo and demanding the absolute truth" - Click Roll Boom. 

"Fuck this place we'll just go to Mars"

Millington - Radio

 

1. Who are Millington? 

Millington describe themselves as a brass emo band. They are a ska, pop-punk, emo band from Albany, New York, that started playing together in 2018. 

2. What kind of song is Radio? 

Radio is an instantly likeable ska song with familiar beats from all the mainstream American post-2000's ska punk bands. It's not uniquely original but it's doing all the best bits very well. Radio is stickier than a rapist in church.

3. Which bands do Millington sound like?

Reel Big Fish, Less Than Jake, We Are The Union. 

4. Which bands have influenced Millington?

Some of their influences include Green Day, Dashboard Confessional, Blink-182, Less Than Jake, and Fall Out Boy. 

5. What have people said about Millington's music?

"Nostalgic sounds that blend well with their own spin on the ska genre" - New Noise Magazine.

"New ska punk saviors" - 518 Scene. 

"Nostalgic hooks that will fester in your ear for weeks" - Spinning Thoughts.

"Every time we fall in line, we fuck up the youth,

So it's time to find a different avenue" 

Les Diggers - Terre à la Lune

 

1. Who are Les Diggers? 

Les Diggers are a French surf/punk rock band from Hossegor, France, formed in 2019.  Terre à la Lune rolls off their second album Atmosphérique (March, 2024). 

2. What kind of song is Terre à la Lune? 

Terre à la Lune is the kind of playful, simple yet catchy punk that bands like The Ramones or FIDLAR set the bar for. Four to the floor, no surprises all smiles, sweet pop punk.

3. Who do Les Diggers sound like? 

Teen Mortgage, Bad Nerves, and The Ramones. 

4. Which bands have influenced Les Diggers? 

I don't know but they are chesting Nirvana and Stupeflip while sounding like The Ramones so that's a start. 

5. What have people said about Terre à la Lune?

"It's a fucking banger" - YouTube Comments.

"We want more guys" - YouTube Comments.

"Go, go, go" - YouTube Comments.

The Cloverhearts - New Couture

 

1. Who are The Cloverhearts? 

The Cloverhearts are a new generation of Celtic punk band from Australia, Italy and the Czech Republic. They have been playing together since 2021 and New Couture (Nov, 2024) is one of a handful of singles to spring off their second album Loving in Squalor (Dec, 2024). 

2. What kind of song is New Couture? 

New Couture bursts out of the traps led by the bagpipes and accompanied by gang vocals, trad punk riffs and the a timely and caustic word to say about the plague of mouth breathers who condemn others for something they once said on social media. 

3. Who do The Cloverhearts sound like? 

The Mahones, Mr. Irish Bastard, and Paddy and the Rats. Dropkick Murphys if you must. 

4. Which bands have influenced The Cloverhearts? 

The Rumjacks, NOFX, and Fiona Apple. 

5. What have people said about The Cloverhearts music? 

"Bagpipe laden, raucous Celtic-punk'n'roll" - London Celtic Punks. 

"Bounce factor inducing anthems" - Back Seat Mafia. 

"Blaring bagpipe anthems and twisted tin whistle tunes" - The Flapper.

"At the click of a button you tie your own rope" 

Burly Wood - Side By Side

 

1. Who are Burly Wood? 

Burly Wood are an alternative rock band with elements of punk and grunge from Montreal, Canada. A band made from accomplished musicians from other bands they have been making music since 2016 and Side By Side (August, 2024) is from their second E.P. Horror Vacui (2024). 

2. What kind of song is Side By Side? 

Side By Side has an earnest pop punk sound like The Ataris or PUP but with all the polish you would expect from well established musicians. 

3. Who do Burly Wood sound like?

PUP, The Ataris, Dinosaur Jr, and Weezer. 

4. Which bands have influenced Burly Wood?

I don't know. One of them is rocking a Rise Against T and I'm thinking they wouldn't hate bands like Weezer, Modern Baseball, and The Wonder Years. You'll have to ask them though.

5. What have people said about Burly Wood's music?

"A refreshing sound" - Pitch Perfect.

"Music that resonates on a deeper level" - Tunepical. 

"An explosive brand of alternative rock" - Bombshell Radio.

"I should have spent more time with me when I was young,

I wouldn't feel unsafe with everything I do"

The Ritzy Kids - Reverie

 

1. Who are The Ritzy Kids? 

The Ritzy Kids are a pop punk band from Sydney, Australia. They started making music in 2021 and Reverie (May, 2024) is a stand alone single at the moment but I wouldn't die of shock if it graced their debut album. 

2. What kind of song is Reverie? 

Reverie is more immediate, vital and arresting than their genre description of pop punk would lead you to suppose. The vocals soar through the stratosphere and everything else is just generating the urgency to keep this supersonic song aloft. Reverie is a commercially viable fucking banger that I'd expect to hear on any modern rock radio station. 

3. Who do The Ritzy Kids sound like? 

Kings of Leon, Body Jar, and Luca Brasi. 

4. Which bands have influenced The Ritzy Kids? 

Green Day, Millencolin, and Body Jar. 

5. What have people said about The Ritzy Kids music?

"A tightly wound, emotionally charged punk-rock sucker punch" - Nick Milligan.

"Nostalgic 2000's punk feel" - The Ritzy Kids.

"This sounds like a gay Green Day" - Some Rando.

"You know I can't sit here, all alone in this city,

While the demons break bread with the thoughts in my head"

Locked Shut - Roll The Dice

 

1. Who are Locked Shut? 

Locked Shut are a hardcore punk band from Missouri, Columbia. They are fronted by Alex Kelly; a successful pop, hip-hop, musician/producer who traded under the moniker of Oliver Francis. Roll The Dice (Sept, 2023) is from a demo but Locked Shut have a debut album out called The New Chaos (August, 2024) that you should also definitely check out. 

2. What kind of song is Roll The Dice? 

Roll The Dice continues a trend of easy listening and accessible hardcore punk with vocals that are sang not shouted and more inventive song structure. There's a word to say obviously for folk who try their luck with the wrong with the wrong person and while it may sound a little try hard I wouldn't say that to their face. Maybe. 

3. Who do Locked Shut sound like? 

SPEED, Turnstile, and Trapped Under Ice. 

4. Which bands have influenced Locked Shut?

Comeback Kid, Turnstile, Green Day, Sum-41, and Saosin. 

5. What have the press said about Locked Shut's music?

"Explosive sound and unrenting energy" - Punkaganda Press. 

"Turbulent and untamed" - Columbia Tribune. 

"Heft and menace" - Revolver Mag.

"So go ahead and push your luck,

Always shootin' double sixes got you all fucked up,

Placin'bets that you can't back up"

Schedule 1 - Travesty

 

1. Who are Schedule 1?

Schedule 1 are a post-punk band with elements of diverse genres from Vancouver, Canada. They have been making music since 2020 and Travesty is from their debut album Crucible (April, 2024). 

2. What kind of song is Travesty? 

Travesty is a mélange of 80's post-punk bands of the Simple Minds or U2 ilk, but without the baby fat and pop filler, and some of the French/Canadian cold wave bands like Home Front and RIXE.

3. Who do Schedule 1 sound like? 

Home Front, Spiritual Cramp and High Vis. 

4. Which bands have influenced Schedule 1?

Home Front, Japandroids and Joy Division. 

5. What have the musical press said about Travesty?

"High energy melodic punk" - Release Wave. 

"Driving bass, angular bass and emotive melody" - Thoughts Words Action. 

"Hard hitting drum beats and thrumming bass pulses" - White Light/White Heat.

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"