Attica Riots - Simply Not Good Enough

 1. Who are they? 

Attica Riots are a Canadian indie rock band and Simply Not Good Enough is the first track on their seven track E.P. Sleeping In The Wild (Oct, 2018).

2. What have they got?

Simply Not Good Enough zips along on jagged guitars and the singer's exhortations. The ska-esque middle eight is a highlight.

3. Who do Attica Riots sound like?

There’s a bit of The Killers, The Rare Occasions and Surf Curse in them.

4. Which bands have influenced Attica Riots?

They have expressed some love for The Shins, Vampire Weekend, Green Day, The Flaming Lips, and Arcade Fire.

5. What have the press said?

“Elements of everything from dance to punk”- Sonic Bids.

“A seamless synergy of rock-solid musicianship and sharp lyricism”- Sonic Bids.

“Hybrid of musicality and acute social commentary”- Sonic Bids.

"You've been lying down for far too long"

Spring King - Detroit

    1.    Who are these rock gods? 

     Spring King are a post-punk band from Manchester, England. Detroit (May'16) is the second single from their debut album Tell Me If You Like To (June'16).

    2. What kind of tune have we got on our hands?

     Detroit is 'hey diddle, diddle, straight up the middle' garage rock'n'roll. Deliciously distorted guitar hammers out a primitive riff and the all in chorus is stickier than a rapist in church. Pure mindless fun.

    3. Who do Spring King sound like? 

     Public Access TV. Animal House and The Vaccines on the outside.

    

    4. What have the wanna be's said about Detroit? 

    “Fizzling and crackling with energy” – Clash Music. 

    “Fuzzy, raw, frenetic and cheerful” – London The Inside. 

    “A break-neck paced, fuzz-pop singalong” – Northern Transmissions. 

5. Who puts the bang in Spring King's buck?

Spring King's main influences are The Beach Boys, Arcade Fire, Ty Segall, The Black Lips and The Clash.

6. Why should I give Detroit a passing glance?

Detroit will make you shake your ass and feel sixteen.

7. Do Spring King have any more barn burners?

They so do. Rectifier is the one you need. Who Are You? has got what you want. Get amongst.

8. Any more words pilgrim?

Get tah fuck. 

“No scales can balance out my destiny”

The Living End are a punk band from Melbourne, Australia, and one of the finest bands to walk God's green earth. Influenced by The Clash, Iggy Pop, The Who and The Jam and with a rockabilly backbone, a punk soul and anthemic choruses, they are one of Australia's finest rock bands ever. In May of 2016 the band released their seventh album Shift and the boys are as strong as ever. Roll On was the second single from the legends second album Roll On (2001) and is a song Ultimate Guitar describe as "a classic."

“We’ll roll on with our heads held high,

Our conscience in the gutter,

Our dreams up in the sky”

The Amazons - Nightdriving

1   1.    Who are the saviours of rock’n’roll? 

     The Amazons. Indie rock band from Reading, England. Putting the world to rights in a couple of minutes since 2015 and a short player and a clutch of singles to the good. Nightdriving (June'16) is a stand alone single at the minute and a taster of their debut album due soon.

     2. What's Nightdriving like?  

     Nightdriving hurtles along like a runaway van; traditional English indie guitar noise capturing ephemeral excitement. The vibe is vital, the vocals impassioned and Nightdriving exudes the best of English rock sensibilities.

     3. Who are The Amazons similar to?

     Oasis, Sundara Karma and Catfish and The Bottlemen. 

     4. What have the venerable citizens of the fourth estate said about Nightdriving?

“A super catchy single with a feel good, upbeat tempo” – Redbrick.

“Driven guitars and a chorus made for bouncing to” – Music Scramble.

“Fucking big tune. Every chance this’ll be one of the songs of summer and The Amazons one of the breakthrough bands of the year” – Gigslutz.

5. Which bands have influenced The Amazons? 

The Vaccines, The Arctic Monkeys, Bombay Bicycle Club, The Killers and Arcade Fire are just some of the bands that rock their boat. 

6. Why should I give Nightdriving a crack of the lash? 

The Amazons are a band on the make and this is one of the brightest gems in their indie rock crown. The tunes cracks along with barely a pause to take breath. Champion.

7. What are The Amazons' other barn burners? 

Stay With Me is the myth-maker, dragon-slayer and stuff of legend. Ultraviolet is bloody good too.

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8. Any more words muppet?

     Nightdriving was produced by Catherine Marks who has done the same for Wolf Alice, Foals and Sunset Sons.

“Diving in a pool of silhouettes I’ve seen”

     

     

     The Griswolds are a bubbly synth-pop band from Sydney, Australia. Slapping together happy-go-lucky tunes together since 2012 they have manufactured one solid long player Be Impressive (2014). Mississippi (2013) was the band's first big hit, making it to the top ten of U.S. college radio, and has choral vocals and a surprisingly deep soulful bent. Give it a crack.

     

“Here we go,

Walking down the Mississippi on our own”

Nothing But Thieves - Excuse Me

1.    Who are these happening people?

Nothing But Thieves are an alternative rock band from Southend-On-Sea, England. Started in 2012 they hit mainstream popularity in the UK with their debut album Nothing But Thieves(Oct'15) being a number one vinyl hit in the UK and top 20 on the US Billboard Rock Charts. Excuse Me is track one from the album.


2. What’s on the platter?

Excuse Me is the proof in the pudding. The first minute is just atmospheric buildup and then the tune explodes into the chorus. Fine alternative rock with spaced out backup vocals.


3. Who are Nothing But Thieves similar to?

Foals and Civil Twilight. Excuse Me has hints of Muse and Radiohead.

4. What have the rags said about Excuse Me?

“A perfect introduction to the band and their unmistakable sound” – Bring The Noise.

“One of the records most destinctive songs” – Pop Matters.

“It’s epic” – Renowned For Sound.

 

 

5. Which bands are the muse for Nothing But Thieves?

The band picked out Led Zeppelin, Arcade Fire, Radiohead, Jeff Buckley, Pink Floyd, Pixies, The Foo Fighters, Kings Of Leon, TV On The Radio, Kendrick Lamar and My Bloody Valentine as the important inspirations.

6. Why should I give Excuse Me a lash?

To see what the hype is about at the least. Massive monolith of a chorus for second.
 

7. Have Nothing But Thieves got the goods?

Trip Switch isn't too shabby.
 

8. Any more words pal?

Julien Emery produced the album and he has punched in for bands like Lower Than Atlantis, Simple Plan and Halestorm.

Nothing But Thieves picked up a support slot for Muse's UK shows in April.

“Under the gun”

 

 

 

It would be rude to go past Muse for seconds. Muse are an alternative rock band from Teignmouth, England. Letting loose with their space rock flights of fancy since 1997 they have sold over twenty million albums. Psycho came storming off the band's seventh album Drones (2015). Psycho is a fiery serve at militarism on both an individual and social level, as well as a personalinventory ,and came flinging riffs like a pissed off Greek God letting rip with the lightning. NME said Psycho “sounds like three men in a room bashing thunderously at their instruments, wringing the most eviscerating noise they can from them.”

“Your mind is just a program,

And I am the virus”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shields - Masters Of The Universe

1.    Who are they?

Shields are an alternative pop band from the mean streets of Newcastle, England. They have one long player How Do We Fix This? (Feb'16) on their resume and Masters Of The Universe is the B-side of the album single Alive (Jan'16).


2. What kind of wonderful is Masters Of The Universe?

Guitars blaze, giant post-punk bass bubbles incessantly, pop harmonies elevate the bridge and it all coalesces in an explosive, sweet sour chorus; pop rarely dabbles so widely and successfully. Masters Of The Universe is a pop stomper that lives up to the title. Killer.


3. Who are Shields similar to?

Those bastions of all thats proper, The Guardian, are on the ball, comparing Shields to Maximo Park and The Futureheads. Vulturehound were feeling Franz Ferdinand.

 
4. No one is listening to Masters Of The Universe so what have the press said about the album?

“Shields rescue indie on debut” – Subba Cultcha.

“Murderously infectious, polished pop” – The Guardian.

“A cocktail of the most joyous celebration imaginable” – God Is In The TVzine.
 

 

5. Which bands have inspired this glorious melange?

Some of the bands influences are Everything Everything, Arcade Fire, Battles, Led Zeppelin and The Beach Boys.


6. Why should I press play on Masters Of The Universe?

Bands often put a tune they love, but aren't sure will get a popular reception, as a B-side. Masters Of The Universe is Shields flexing hidden muscles. Brilliant.


7. Do Shields have any more bangers?

Surely. Alive is an indie pop beast about following your dream and Mezzanine is the hit and absolutely delicious.


8. Any more words bubs?

How Do We Fix This? was produced by Adrian Bushby who has punched in for Muse, The Foo Fighters, Feeder, The Smashing Pumpkins, The Subways and more.

In 2015 Shields fluffed for Everything Everything and Placebo.

Masters Of The Universe was featured by Jonathan Hunt's Indie Rock Playlist (March'16).

 

“I’m watching you, you little creep”

 

 

 

Bad Books are an indie folk rock band from Atlanta and Brooklyn. Members of Machester Orchestra have teamed up with Kevin Devine in this side-project since 2010. The band have two long players to their name and Forest Whitaker was the lead single to ramble off the second II (2012). More rock than folk, Forest Whitaker is pretty catchy and amusing.

 

“You started a band,

that was cool for awhile then it turned pretty bland

 

Great Caesar - Hey Mama

1.    Who are these lovelies?

Great Caesar are a socially conscious indie rock band with a brass section that sashay out of Brooklyn, New York.  Hey Mama (March’16) flows off the Great Caesar E.P. Jackson’s Big Sky (March’16).


2. What’s the tune like?

Hey Mama starts out a soulful acoustic song, vocal led and dripping in emotional resonance. The brass lightly brings up the rear and the instruments blend slowly in. No fear. The vocal only breakdown sends a frisson down your spine and then the band and brass dime out and Hey Mama becomes transcendental. Ticks all the boxes.


3. Who do Great Caesar sound similar to?
 
Operation Every Band have their finger on the pulse with The Decemberists, Bronze Radio Return and Hey Marsailles. Throw in The Lumineers if you must.


4. What is the good word from the press?

“An uplifiting ode” – Nerdist.

“A compelling emotional performance” – My Space.

“Simple and stark” – Ear Milk.

5. Who put the lolly in Great Caesar’s music?

Great Caesar are influenced by The Beatles, Paul Simon, Elton John, Arcade Fire, Mumford & Sons and The Dave Matthews Band and have sent some love to Sufjan Stevens. The band also have a background in ska.
 

6. Why should I give Hey Mama a crack?

Great Caesar have played prisons and talked to the folk in there and Hey Mama is the good oil from those visits. Compelling musically, spiritually and emotionally. Frontman John Parker has said the EP is “our first real statement.” Real is exactly what Hey Mama is.
 

7. Do Great Caesar have any more of these treasures?

Hey Mama stands head and shouilders above the rest. Don't Ask Me Why is popular.

 

8. More words fool?

John Michael Parker, band frontman, said the coolest thing about the difference between being a musician and a doctor in this interview.

 

“I wanna be where a boy can be free,

But I’ve got time that I owe the state”

It would be rude to go past The Lumineers for the second innings. The Lumineers are an indie folk rock band from Denver, Colorado by way of Ramsey, New Jeresy. They are crazy popular and their debut album The Lumineers (2012) went to number two in the Billboard Charts, sold a million half and the single Ho Hey (2012) topped the charts and sold two million plus. Cleopatra (March'16) is the second single from The Lumineers second album Cleopatra (April'16) and is a cracking tune about a woman The Lumineers came to know through “...a friend. “She drives taxis and is this badass lady – she’ll pick you up at the airport with a cigarette hanging out her mouth and a beer can between your legs.”

 

“Damn your wife, I’d be your mistress just to have you around”

 

 

Spring King - Rectifier

1.    Who are these champions?

Spring King are a post-punk band from Manchester, England, that started in 2012. Spring King have released a couple of E.P.’s and singles. Rectifier (Feb’16) is a stand alone single.
 

 2. What kind of tune is Rectifier?

A bass string intro gives Rectifier bounce before it graduates to a full on rock out.
 

3. Who do Spring King sound similar to?

Estrons. Sundara Karma maybe.

4. What have the press said about Rectifier?

“Crisp build up, the distorted vocals and the delicious pop touch beneath the noise” – Clash Music.

“Pulsating” – It’s All Indie.

“One hectic motherfucker of a track” – When The Gramophone Rings.

 

5. Who puts the feedback in Spring King’s guitars?

Spring King’s list of influences are The Beach Boys, Arcade Fire, Ty Segall, The Clash, The Black Lips, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Marley, The Projectors, Stan Getz, Chet Baker and Astrud Gilberto.

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

Spring King’s opening blows in the fight for title of English rock’n’roll’s best newcomers, the singles City and Who Are You?, showed great promise. Rectifier comes good on that promise. Recitifier nails it. Rectfier is a rollicking piece of essential, noisy and addicitve rock’n’roll.


7. Do Spring King have any more bangers?

Who Are You? is the one you want.


8. Any more words?

Spring King were propelled into fame and fortune by Zane Lowe playing it as his first song on his new radio show.

If you want to know the bands favorite music and food and everything else then read this NME article. Boring ass shit but.


 

“I’m leaving this town”

 

 

 

 

 

Dessert is served by The Swedish post-punk band The Sounds. Started in 1999 and with five long players in the vault this band have been compared to Blondie and The Cars and have toured with The Strokes and The Foo Fighters. Yeah Yeah Yeah comes from their fourth album Something To Die For (2011) and is a tall strutting synth pop gem that kicks ass and doesn't take names.

“You don’t float like a butterfly or sting like Ali,

Dress like Prince but to the lowest degree”