Dude York - Love Is

1.    Who are Dude York?

Dude York are a power pop/punk band from Seattle, Washington. Love Is (Feb’17) is the third single from their second album Sincerely (Feb’17). 

2. What kind of tune is Love Is? 

Love Is feels like a tight, broke, stripper's ass grinding on your hard-on while you sit on the couch. Both sweet joy and an itch you can't scratch until later. An addictive, muscular riff is front and center while Claire England's anguished vocals tell a familiar tale of falling for the wrong guy. A grungy anthem full of pathos. 

3. Who do Dude York sound like? 

Tacocat, Beverly and Hole. 

4. What have the press said about Love Is? 

“A blown-out anthem” – Stereogum. 

“A thunderstorm from start to finish” – The Grey Eye States. 

“Anthemic” – Brooklyn Vegan. 

5. Which bands influenced Dude York?

Some of their influences are Paramore, Elvis Costello, Weezer and The Misfits. 

6. Why should I give Love Is a fair crack of the whip? 

Because you love a fat riff. Because you like Riot Grrrl bands. 

7. What are Dude Love's best songs? 

Give Tonight a whirl. It's a cracker. Black Jack is a doozy too. 

8. Any more fluff? 

Sincerely was produced by John Goodmanson (Bikini Kill, Sleater-Kinney, Los Campesinos). 

“Some guy is holding my hand,

And he’s the hottest thing I’ve ever seen”

The Hard Aches are a punk rock band from Adelaide, Australia. They have one album and two E.P.'s in the vault. The Hard Aches sound like The Dune Rats, Against Me! and The Smith Street Band. They are big fans of PUP. I Get Like This is the lead single from their debut album Pheromones (2015). I Get Like This is anthemic, heart-on-your-sleeve, farts in the bed honest, punk rock. And as catchy as chlamydia. 

“But I get like this,

When I get fucked up”

The Thermals - Thinking Of You

1.    Who are these heroes?

The Thermals are a punk band from Portland, Oregon. Making magic music since 2002 they have seven long players on their roll of sublime honor. Thinking Of You (March’16) is the third single to come swinging off We Disappear (March’16).

2. What’s on offer?

Thinking Of You has a choppy punk riff and pop harmonies. Both of which are utilized to perfection for two minutes. Nails it. Down tight. Tight.


3. Who are The Thermals like?

Titus Andronicus with a lobotomy. Pop Matters were feeling Green Day's When I Come Around.


4. What is the good word in the rags?

“Blistering offering” – Stereogum.

“A rousing anthem” – Pop Matters.

“Simple, honest, brimming with energy, and catchy as fuck” – Wind Rose Music.



5. Which massive bands had a play in the artistry that is The Thermals?

The Thermals influences include Green Day, Weezer, The Ramones, The Breeders and Speedy Ortiz.


6. Why should I give Thinking Of You a whip through?

The riff.


7. Do The Thermals have any more blinders?

Oh yes. A triumvirate. The first single from We Disappear is the killer Hey You. Now We Can See is stellar. Amazing. Returning To The Fold is essential.


8. Any more words spanner?

Chris Walla, former guitarist for Death Cab For Cutie, produced the new album We Disappear.


 

“I’ve been thinking everything I want to say”

Death Cab For Cutie are an alternative rock band from Bellingham, Washington. Stealing peoples hearts since 1997 they have eight fine long players to talk of. You Are A Tourist was the lead single from the seventh album Codes and Keys (2011), a number one hit and far from a favorite with the critics. Good but.

“When there is a burning in your heart,

Don’t be alarmed”

Dave Dobbyn - You Get So Lonely

 

1.    Who is this elder statesman of rock'n'roll?

Dave Dobbyn. Dave Dobbyn is the rock legend and national treasure responsible for Bliss, Th' Dudes (1979) a national drinking anthem in New Zealand. You Get So Lonely (March'16) is the lead single from Dave Dobbyn's ninth solo album Harmony House (March'16). Dave Dobbyn has seventeen long players, by my count, in his storied career. Music Net NZ put it best, “In the world of pop music, longevity is rarely achieved but Dobbyn’s talents have consistently charmed their way into the consciousness of New Zealanders. This is a national treasure who keeps on shining.”


2. What does Dave have left in the tank?

You Get So Lonely is a timely reminder of Dave Dobbyn's heroic, ineffable, rock genius. You Get So Lonely is the sweetest, morish, pop rock you can imagine. Heartfelt, honest, and emblematic as always of Kiwi's national identity.


3. Who could you possibly compare to Dave Dobbyn?

Crowded House or Split Enz.


 4. What have the press said about You Get So Lonely?


“Empathetic and reassuring” – Elsewhere.

“Poppy new twist” – NZ Herald.

“This here is the gold” – Off The Tracks.

 

 

 

 

5. Which bands cast the light of brilliance on Dave Dobbyn’s music?

Mr Dobbyn said a love of Brian Eno was pivotal in the recording of Harmony House. Dave Dobbyn's first, iconic, band was Th' Dudes and their pivotal influences were The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, The Stranglers, Roxy Music and The Clash.

 

6. Why should I dabble in Dave Dobbyn’s magic?

 

You Get So Lonely is a master songwriter throwing his fans, a nation, a bone. You Get So Lonely is a rock solid pop gem from a musician who wrote a national anthem (Bliss). Rejoice.

 

 

7. Does Dave Dobbyn have any more great songs?

 

Yes. Be Mine Tonight elevates a love song to surreal heights, captured better only by The Beatles. Slice Of Heaven is the best reggae song NZ ever produced, from a nation that embraced Bob Marley as one of their own, a brother to another mother. The title is a precise description. Walking In Light is the pinacle of post-punk.

 

 

8. Any more words fool?

 

Dave Dobbyn's new album Harmony House is produced by Samuel Flynne Scott and Luke Buda from the famous Kiwi progressive indie rock band The Phoenix Foundation.

 

 

“There’s line in the sand that you can’t avoid”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SIX60 are a band from my hometown Dunedin, New Zealand, home to influential Kiwi bands The Clean, The Chills, Snapper,The Verlaines and Straight Jacket Fits, to name but a few. SIX60 are local legends who embrace rock, reggae, soul, dub-step and drum and bass. The band had “a meteoric rise to fame” in NZ in 2011 with the release of their debut album, the self-titled SIX60. The album debuted at number one and the singles Rise 2.0 and Don’t Forget Your Roots were number one and two respectively. Don't Forget Your Roots is a reggae classic that doesn't just pay homage to our musical ancestors and the land that shaped them, an anthem of pride, it surpasses them. Don't forget your roots my friend.

“Armed with the power of his homeland,

And with his boots laced tight and a ticket in his hand”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





 



Lisbon - Vice

 

 

1.    Who are these whippersnappers?

Lisbon are an alternative pop band from Newcastle, England. Playing together since 2012. Lisbon have a short player in the bank and a handful of singles. Vice (Feb’16) is a stand alone single.


2. What's on offer? 

Vice is a slinky, funky, big pop number sure to shake arses and with bright lashes of noodling lead guitar.


3. Who do Lisbon sound like?

The 1975 and White.


4. What do the bandits in the press have to say about Vice?

“Upbeat indie pop, a proper bouncy gem” – It’s All Indie.

“Staggeringly catchy” – Wonky Sensitive.

“Follows the same anthemic path” – We Are Going Solo.

 

5. Which bands have put the sparkle into Lisbon’s pop?

Lisbon have big upped bands like Foals, Little Comets, Lionel Ritchie, Michael Jackson, Snake Hips, FKJ, Bon Iver, Bon Iver, Tame Impala, Bombay Bicycle Club and Wolf Alice.

 
6. Why should I give Vice a taste?

The lead guitar kicks off Vice and the melody has more hook and addiction than a Thai fishing trawler. Vice is addictive indie pop with funky spangles.


7. Do Lisbon have any more bangers?

Vice is the one that crushes it.


8. More words?

Lisbon said that, “‘Vice’ is about being young, drunk, in love, troubled, and crazy all at the same time. Lyrically I wanted the song to sound like a diary entry, like some sort of confession. When you’re under pressure and you start juggling all these vices, it makes a recipe for an incredibly fun disaster.”

Vice is produced by Dan Austin who has done nine to five for Doves, The Pixies and The Enemy.

Lisbon have been on the road in 2015 fluffing for Little Comets and Eliza and the Bear.

“You got me drinking ‘till I’m sober”

Cheers Elephant are a now defunct indie pop rock band from Philadephia who fought out of Southern California and played together from 2007 to 2016. Cheers Elephant have three magnum opuses. Airliner (2015) was a stand alone single and Indie Shuffle called it, “tight, clean, feel-good indie rock.” Pop Rock Record were sure it should be Cheers Elephant’s “break through single.” Airliner is an indie anthem.

“I’ve got no silver in my silver lining”

White Lung - Hungry

1.    Who are this happy crew?

White Lung are a punk band from Vancouver, British Columbia with three long players under their arm. Hungry (March"16) is the lead single to come rampaging off their fourth album Paradise (April’16).


2.    What kind of tune is Hungry?

Hungry is a hard rocking belter with tight guitar playing and kick ass, take no prisoners, vocals from Mish Way. A mosher, no doubt about it.

3. Who do White Lung sound like?

Hungry sounds like the best songs by Hole.

 

4. What have the press got to say about Hungry?

“Exquisite layers of guitar perfectly colliding over punishing drums” – Stereogum.

“Furious” – DIY.

“A three-minute contained explosion of darkly melodic power pop” – Pitchfork.

5. Which bands put the bounce in White Lungs boots?

Singer Mish May has spoken of having some love for Nirvana, Television, The Descendents and Oasis. Talking to Pitchfork Miss May big upped Bikini Kill, Hole and L7 and she expressed a softer side to Front Psych in old favorites like Stevie Nicks and the jazz singer Dinah Washington.
 

6. Why should I give Hungry a fair crack of the whip?

Hungry is a powerful combination of tight as a nuns minge rock guitar, rhythm section and explosive vocals. Hungry kicks like a horse, a brutal revelation and a smash hit.
 

7. Do White Lung have any more rippers?

Face Down bangs harder than a prison rapist.
 

 8. Any more good words? 

Mish May is the kind of feminist icon you can be proud of. The Line Of Best Fit describe her as “frank, witty and completly honest” and in a Pitchfork article she talks about finding music success the hard way.

White Lung are doing a five date tour of England this March.
 

“It’s the marshal plan, it’s the only goal”

 

 

 

 

Dessert is served by one of White Lung’s influences the Los Angeles punk band L7. Starting out in 1985 and still going strong L7 have six long players in their roll of rock’n’roll honor. Pretend We’re Dead was the lead single of their third breakthrough album Bricks Are Heavy (1992). Pretend We’re Dead was L7’s iconic hit and a song Spin called “one of grunges most indelible hits.”

 

“Turn the tables with our unity,

They’re neither moral nor the majority”