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"

Pink Pussycats From Hell - Hellsa

 

1. Who are Pink Pussycats From Hell? 

Pink Pussycats From Hell are a garage rock duo from Lisbon, Portugal. They have been playing together since at least 2009 and Hellsa (June, 2024) is the lead single from their third album Helll.

2. What is Hellsa rocking? 

Hellsa has a garage guitar riff as immediately attractive as a Thai transvestite. The drums are doing overtime to make up for being a band member short and the vocals are delivered as bluntly as a prison rapist's hardon. It's amusing and likeable garage rock. 

3. Who do Pink Pussycats From Hell sound like? 

Bands I know that wear masks - GEE TEE and TISM. 

4. Which bands have influenced Pink Pussycats From Hell? 

MC5, The Cramps, and The Stooges. 

5. What have people said about Hellsa? 

"The band churns out a fun riff or two" - Sea Of Tranquility. 

"It's like a black eye: painful but cool" - Louder Sound. 

"A divine journey to the heart of rock-n-roll" - Glam Magazine.

"She knows my name,

I can't complain"

Split Dogs - And What?

 

1.  Who are Split Dogs? 

Split Dogs are a punk band from Bristol, England. And What? (May, 2024) is the first single from their second album. 

2. What is And What? about? 

And What? is more garage rock'n'roll than Oi or Street Punk with riffs reminiscent of the kind of reappropriated AC/DC guitar riffs Amyl & The Sniffers and The Chats love. What's more And What? is redolent of a bygone British culture.

3. Which bands do Split Dogs sound like?  

Amyl & The Sniffers, Giftshop, and Vice Squad.

4. Which bands have influenced Split Dogs? 

I dunno. They have some love for Sham 69, Murphy's Law, and GBH though. 

5. What have the cut and paste merchants had to say about And What?  

"Stomping, high voltage" - IPA Music.

"Starts with a swinging guitar hook and doesn't take it's foot off the gas" - Punk In Focus.

"This blistering track is a raucous anthem" - Scene Music Media.

"It's rained the whole summer again,

Playin' shows just to keep me sane,

No fuckers standin 'in my way"

Drunk Mums - Livin' At Night

1. Who are Drunk Mums? 

Drunk Mums are a garage rock/punk rock band from Melbourne, Australia, formed in 2011. Livin' At Night (Feb, 2024) is a single from their fourth album Beer Baby (March, 2024). 

2. What is Livin' At Night like? 

Livin'At Night is all a lilting garage rock track epitomising fun and all about escaping work day monotony. It swings along with lovely little rock'n'roll guitar licks and comes equipped with a fit-for-purpose sing-along chorus.  

3. Who do Drunk Mums sound like? 

Animal House, together PANGEA, and Mini Skirt.

4. Which bands have influenced Drunk Mums?

GEE TEE, The Saints, and The Hives.

5. What is are the guttersnipes saying about Livin' At Night? 

"Continues their tradition of delivering raucous rock party anthems" - Maximum Volume.

"This track has ear wormy hooks and it's hard not to love it" - Distorted Sound. 

"Tailored for those beer-raised sing-alongs" - Life Without Andy.

“There's a love and it’s you, I start living at night

It don’t matter what we do, I start living at night”

The Frights - Over It

The Frights are a surf-punk/garage-rock band from San Diego, California. Over It (Nov'18) is the third single from their third album Hypochondriac (Aug'18) The Frights sound similar to SWMRS and FIDLAR. They are influenced by Rancid and Offspring. Zac Carper (FIDLAR) produced. Over It is the sound of a band that has hit it's stride.It sits on top of a fat, lazy riff and milks the loud/quiet dynamic until the cow is dry. Close to radio-friendly, while spiky enough not to alienate their punk fans, Over It is the best thing The Frights have done.

Animal House - No Mama

1.    Who are Animal House?

Animal House are a  garage rock band from Brighton, England (by way of Brisbane, Australia). They have been around for three or four years now and have a handful of singles. No Mama (May'18) is the lead single from their as yet unreleased E.P. Premium Mediocre. 

2. What kind of song is No Mama?

No Mama veers a little closer to their sixties garage rock sound than the 2000's indie rock sound they are also influenced by. It's a great amalgamation of feel good garage rock that bubbles along and doesn't take itself to seriously while yet speaking to universal truths.

3. Who do Animal House sound like?

Hey Geronimo, The Bay Rays, and The Lulu Raes.

4. What have the press said about No Mama?

“A joyfully fun garage-pop number” – The Line Of Best Fit. 

“Rather wryly joyous” – Brighton’s Finest.

“Saw you guys in Paris a few years ago. Keep jammin’ good sirs” – YouTube Comments. 

5. Which bands have influenced Animal House?

The Strokes, Kings of Leon, and Arctic Monkeys.

6. Why should I listen to No Mama?

Because you like sunshiny Australian indie pop rock or because you like sixties garage.

7. Do they have any more bangers?

Oh yes. Figure It Out and Domino are the ones you want.

8. Anything to add?

Yeah English Girls and Sour are cracking too.

Jeff Rosenstock is a punk rock legend who has fronted ska/punk band The Arrogant Sons of Bitches and indie rock band Kudrow. He also does his solo thing and Yr Throat is an album track from his third solo album POST (2018). Jeff Rosenstock's music has been compared to Titus Andronicus, The Ramones and PUP. POST met with universal acclaim for it's punk songs with singalong choruses and vitriol. Yr Throat is a perfect example.

“What’s the point of having a voice,

If it gets stuck inside your throat”

Black Lips - Can't Hold On

1.    Who are the Black Lips?

Black Lips are a garage rock band, with a side of bluesy psychedelia, from Atlanta, Georgia. Can’t Hold On (April’17) is the lead single from their eighth album Satan’s Graffiti or Gods Art? (May’17). 

2. What kind of tune is Can't Hold On?

Can't Hold On is a foot to the floor retro-rock song without any frills.

3. Who do the Black Lips sound like? 

Night Beats, The Orwells, and King Tuff.

4. What have the cut and paste jackals said about Can't Hold On? 

“Snarling” – Paste Magazine. 

“As chaotically cathartic as ever” – Stereogum. 

“Shambolic take on garage rock” – Consequence Of Sound.

5. Which bands inspired the Black Lips?

The Black Lips main influences are 13^th Floor Elevators, Led Zeppelin, The Ramones, The Rolling Stones, and Bo Diddley. 


6. Why should I give Can't Hold On a spin? 

Because you like punky garage bands like The Orwells. Because you love retro-rock'n'roll like The Growlers.


7. What are the Black Lips best songs? 

Throw It Away, Take My Heart, and Can't Dance. 


8. Any more words you charlatan?

Satan’s Graffiti or Gods Art? is produced by Sean Lennon (Fat White Family). 

Freedom Fry are a light indie pop duo from Los Angeles, California. Playing together since 2011 they have released a string of E.P.'s and singles. Freedom Fry sound something like Katie Herzig, Blondfire, and STRFKR. Their main influences are Beach House, The Surfaris, and The Ventures. Wild Child (April'17) is a stand alone single and is commercial indie pop with a hint of desert Americana and nostalgic melancholy. Hard not to like though and that's the point.

“Woah, well bless my soul,

Living on love & rock’n’roll”

Polish Club - Come Party

1.    Who are Polish Club?

Polish Club are a bluesy/soulful garage rock duo from Sydney, Australia. Come Party (Feb’17) is the second single from their second album Alright Already (March’17). 

2. What's Come Party sound like? 

Soul singing, pop harmonies, furious drumming and steady garage-rock riffs all come together into a party anthem. Come Party is an unhinged rush of rock'n'roll.

3. Who do Polish Club sound like? 

The Vines, Death From Above 1979 and Black Lips. 

4. What have the press said about Come Party?

“An unstoppable powerhouse” – The AU Review. 

“Rollicking garage rock” – Tone Deaf.

“A non-stop sweaty fest of garage-rattling rhythms and gut-busting singing” – Triple J.

5. Which bands have influenced Polish Club? 

The White Stripes, Otis Reading, Blackstreet, The Vines and Mariah Carey. 


6. Why should I give Come Party a gander? 

Because you love soul vocals and garage guitar.


7. What are Polish Party's best songs?

Come Party is the top of the pile. But don't eschew Beat Up, Beeping, or My House.

8. Any more words? 

Polish Club recorded five or so songs in Los Angeles at the behest of Rob Cavallo (producer of Green Day, Goo Goo Dolls and My Chemical Romance) but felt the songs weren’t true to the band so they didn’t release them. 

“Oh baby I ain’t foolin’,

So honey quit your droolin’”

The Vines are a garage rock band from Sydney, Australia. Making a fucking racket since 1994 they have recorded six albums together. The Vines are similar to The Hives, The Von Bondies and The Subways. They are influenced by The Kinks, Nirvana and Queens Of The Stone Age. Get Free is the second single from their debut album Highly Evolved (2002), both their most commercially and critically popular album. NME voted Highly Evolved their second most popular album of the year and Pitchfork described Get Free as starting “with a riff that sounds like revving up a lawnmower” and having an “extra catchy bridge tacked on to make it an even bigger hit.” Get Free is two minutes of no-nonsense garage rock'n'roll.

“She never loved me,

Why should anyone?”

GHOSTS - Sky Polar

1.    Who is he? 

GHOSTS is Caleb Hoehner a multi-instrumentalist/producer making lo-fi garage rock in Richmond, Virginia, since 2012. Sky Polar (Oct'16) is a track off his fourth album i don't know what i'm doing (Oct'16). 

2. What kind of song is Sky Polar? 

Sky Polar is a bouncy garage rock song propelled forward by frenetic drums and led by gorgeous, melodic, lead lines. 

3. Who do GHOSTS sound like? 

Bass Drum of Death, Nai Harvest and The Orwells.

4. What have the press said about Sky Polar?

“An ass shaking pace” – YouTube Comments.

“Fuzz & din aesthetics” – RVA Magazine.

“A dance floor filler” – YouTube Comments.

 5. Which bands have influenced GHOSTS? 

The bands that have inspired GHOSTS are Nirvana, The Pixies, The Orwells, Bass Drum Of Death and Twin Peaks. 

6. Why should I give Sky Polar a listen? 

Because you like punk music from a basement and appreciate lead guitar. 

7. What are GHOSTS best songs?

Love/Hate is indispensable and I Wanna Die Happy is top notch. 

8. Any more words? 

Caleb Hoehner is the nicest guy in rock'n'roll.

“I got 100 bucks that says I end up alone”

King Tuff is a garage rock musician from Vermont. He has been making his own music since 2006 and has recorded four albums. King Tuff is similar to Jay Reatard, Ty Segall and together PANGEA. He is influenced by Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan and John Lennon. Keep On Movin' is from King Tuff's second self-titled long player King Tuff (2012). Paste called Keep On Movin,' “nothing short of spectacular.”

“I sing a magic song”

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”