Conservative Military Image - Yard Hard

1. Who are they?

Conservative Military Image are a hardcore punk band from Chicago/Boston with an Oi sound and they've been running down the streets since 2022 or there abouts. Yard Hard (March, 2023) marches off their first long player Casual Violence (May, 2023).

2. What is Yard Hard about?

A tune about camaraderie in the music scene bursts out of the traps all street fighting skinhead Oi but lays on the fat riffs for the chorus. Done and dusted in a minute flat but catchier than the Thai clap.

3. Which bands do Conservative Military Image sound like?

No one else? A bit like End It, Scowl, SPEED, Agnostic Front, and Violent Way.

4. Which bands have influenced Conservative Military Image?

The main likes are Warzone, early Acca Dacca (AC/DC), The New York Hounds and there is a bit of love for Henry Rollins and Danzig.

5. What have people said about Yard Hard?

"A ripper, as aggressive as it is catchy"- Brooklyn Vegan.

"This band is blowing up and they deserve every bit of it"- Reddit.

"Tried-and-true punk riffs and tough tales of blue-collared life" - Stay Happening.

"You either walk the yard or you're with the guards,

Get your ass over the fence we're going yard hard"

The Orwells - They Put A Body In The Bayou

1.    Who are these lords of rock’n’roll? 

The Orwells are the real deal. A garage rock band from Chicago, Illinois. The Orwells have been kicking arse and taking no names since 2009. They Put A Body In The Bayou (Oct’16) is the second single release from The Orwells' third album Terrible Human Beings (Feb’17).

2. Is their powder still dry?

Still firing but not as explosive. They Put A Body In The Bayou is the sound of fat on the lamb; caustic but not furious, ripping and tearing but not breaking the bones to suck the marrow out. A garage rock song that rolls more than it rocks and has a solid stench of The Stooges while elements of English indie rock waft around the edges too.

3. Who do The Orwells sound like? 

Twin Peaks, The Stooges and FIDLAR. 

4. What have the goons in the press said about the tune?

“A pretty undeniable hook” – Consequence Of Sound.

“Hell-raisers” – Buzzbands LA. 

“Filthy, nasty guitar music” -  Ooyuz. 

5. Which bands would The Orwells not kick out of bed for farting?

Their main influences are The Strokes, The White Stripes, Tom Petty, Twin Peaks and Led Zeppelin. 


6. Why should I give They Put A Body In The Bayou a moment of my time? 

The singers phrasing in the pre-chorus harks back to English garage rock of the 60's. It's golden. 


7. Do these red-hot rebels have anymore blinders?

A trifecta. The tip-top triumvirate of absolute blinders is headed by Let It Burn, given body by Who Needs You and rounded off by Mallrats (La La La). 


8. Any more words chief?

The new album Terrible Human Beings is primarily influenced by The Pixies.

The album is produced by Jim Abbiss who has worked fro The Arctic Monkeys, Peace, The Kooks, Kasabian and The Family Rain. 

“Good boys come in last”

WATERS are an indie pop band from San Francisco, California. They started making music in 2011 and are influenced by Weezer and Grouplove. Grouplove drummer Ryan Rabin co-produced both their albums. WATERS have toured with bands like Cold War Kids and Smallpools. Whats Real (2015) is the title track from the second album and a song Salon called “a near-perfect blend of big power pop.” 

“Just blind and drunk,

 We can never see what’s real”

Twin Peaks - Holding Roses

1. Who are Twin Peaks?

Twin Peaks are garage rock legends from Chicago, Illinois. Creating a racket since 2009 they have three long players in the vault. Holding Roses (April’16)  is the third single release from Twin Peaks' third album Down In Heaven (May’16). 

2. What kind of tune have Twin Peaks rustled up?

Holding Roses is a slow roller with some cranky Mick Jagger style vocals and some rock'n'roll piano thrown in. One for the ladies but it'll worm it's way into anyone's affections.

3. Who do Twin Peaks sound like?

The Frights, Public Access TV, The Orwells. NPR compared Twin Peaks to The Replacements, Velvet Crush and Teenage Fanclub. Panty sniffers.


4. What have the press said about Holding Roses? 

“Immense and infectious” – Stereogum. 

“Has a charming, Stones-ish, mid-tempo grace” – NPR.  

“A mid-tempo, romantic melody with a swelling chorus” – Tenement TV. 

5. Who put the grime in Twin Peaks garage rock?

Twin Peaks are influenced by bands like Jay Reatard, T. Rex, The Strokes, The Stooges and The Rolling Stones. 

6. Why should I give Holding Roses a whirl?

Holding Roses is good value for a change of pace and the authentic garage vibe of Twin Peaks remains true throughout.

7. Do Twin Peaks have any more sound tracks?

Flavor is pure unadulterated genius. Songs don't get better than that. A bonafide garage anthem. I Found A New Way isn't too shabby. 

8. Any more words?

The new album Down In Heaven was produced by R. Andrew Humphrey who produced and engineered Twin Peaks' last album Wild Onion. 

“I can feel my heart beating,

As the tears roll down my tongue”

The Orwells are the real deal. Bastards to bleed for. This garage rock band is from Chicago, Illinois, too. Kicking arse and taking no prisoners since 2009 they have two long players on their roll of honor. Who Needs You was the lead single from their second album Disgraceland (2014). Who Needs You gives the militaristic U.S. government and police state a big serve. Guitarist Matt O'Keefe said, “It’s about being told what to do, what to believe in – which is in a nutshell, the story of America’s youth.” Who Needs You is the sound of The Strokes made better, with a conscience, with the balls of god honest rebellion, and is what real rock'n'roll is all about. Bugger the pretenders.

“You better join the army,

I said “No thank you Uncle Sam”

Cullen Omori - Sour Silk

1.    Who is the bro?

Cullen Omori is from Chicago and is the ex-front man for indie glam/garage rock band Smith Westerns (2007-14). The rest of Smith Westerns formed Whitney. Sour Silk (Feb'16) echoes off his debut album New Misery (March'16).


2. Whats he got?

Sour Silk is spectacularly beautiful indie rock, heartfelt and evocative.


3. Who does he sound like?

Consequence Of Sound are strongly of the opinion he sounds like Smith Westerns.


4. What have the press said about Sour Silk?

“A fresh aesthetic that’s as pleasing as it is undefinable” – Stereogum.

“A hazy and swirling psych-pop number” – Consequence Of Sound.

“Back to the glam hooks” – Flood Magazine.
 

 

 

 

5. Which bands are the wind beneath Cullen Omori's wings?

 

The Smith Western influences were David Bowie, Oasis and T. Rex. New Misery was influenced by OMD, Spiritualized and Kate Bush.

6. Why should I give Sour Silk a whirl?

 

Sour Silk has some really weird vocals that are unbelievably catchy and the tune builds an other-worldly atmosphere. Unique.

 

 

7. Does Mr Omori have any more shiny ones?

 

Sour Silk finds him at the peak of his powers.

 

8. More words?

 

New Misery was recorded by Shane Stoneback who has worked for Vampire Weekend, Ra Ra Riot and Sleigh Bells.

Brian Oblivion from Cults, James Richarson from MGMT and Ted Humphrey from Guards helped play and record the album.

 

 

 

Cock Sparrer are an Oi! punk band from London, England. Playing together since 1972 they are still going strong. Cock Sparrer have seven long players on their roll of honor and Take Em All came off the second Shock Troops (1982). Take Em All was a militant serve at corporate culture and flew the flag for the bands working class origins and values. Take Em All is a popular fan song in Seattle and New York soccer crowds.

“They’re even making money in bed”