RAT BOY - Mob Mentality

 

1. Who are RAT BOY? 

RAT BOY is Jordan Cardy from Chelmsford, England. He has been making music since 2012 and Mob Mentality (Oct, 2024) is one of a handful of songs to get a release and video from his third album Suburbia Calling (Oct, 2024). RAT BOY's music started out as a blend of hip hop and indie rock but veered toward Rancid style ska and punk rock since signing to Hell Cat for the second album Internationally Unknown (2019). 

2. What kind of tune is Mob Mentality? 

Mob Mentality is Madness style ska in the verses and a Clashesque chorus. The song wears it's Madness influences on it's sleeves. It is what it says on the tin. 

3. Which bands do RAT BOY sound like? 

Jamie T, The Specials, Madness, Rancid.

 4. Which bands have influenced RAT BOY? 

The Clash, The Streets, Beastie Boys, Rancid, Blur, Kasabian. 

5. What have the press said about Mob Mentality?

"Their chaotic youthful sound captures the sound of debauchery" - When The Horn Blows. 

"Scrappy punk meets Brit-pop" - Epitaph. 

"Leans hard into it's British roots, pulling on the sounds of Britpop, 90's indie and 2 Tone ska" - Atwood Magazine. 

"Mob mentality that's reality, murder she wrote,

Call the policeman when you hear the spray cans,

No where left to go"

Grade 2 - Under The Streetlight

 

1. Who are Grade 2?

Grade 2 are a punk band from The Isle of Wight, England. They have been making music since 2013 and Under The Streetlight (Nov, 2022) is the lead single from their third self-titled album Grade 2 (Feb, 2023). 

2. What kind of song is Under The Streetlight? 

Under The Streetlight is woe to go a Rancid rocker saying something about seize the day and have fun. There's a smidgen of the maudlin English indie rock storytelling tradition in there to spice it up and make the classic punk sound their own. It's a belter and the most popular song Grade 2 have.

3. Who do Grade 2 sound similar to? 

Rancid, Gimp Fist, The Interrupters, Dropkick Murphys. 

4. Which bands have influenced Grade 2?

Some of their influences are Rancid, The Clash, Lions Law, The Jam, The Specials, Dropkick Murphys, Green Day, Offspring, Buzzcocks ... 

5. What have the cut and paste merchants said about Under The Streetlight?

"High enery track with a spirited, hopeful melody" - Indie Punk and Alternative.

"Blistring punk music lace with passion, angst, humor and despair" - Prelude Press. 

"Confidence and unrelenting swagger" - Punktuation.

 "We've had our share of these trying times,

So tonight, we're gonna leave them behind"

Gimp Fist - Seventeen

 

1. Who are Gimp Fist? 

Gimp Fist are a street punk band from Bishop Auckland, England. They formed in 2005 and Seventeen (June, 2024) is the lead single from their tenth album Losing Streak (July, 2024). 

2. What kind of tune is Seventeen? 

Seventeen is more pop punk than Oi but it still whips past as fast as a Cheetah's dick. Something about being a retard at school and nostalgia for records. 

3. Who do Gimp Fist sound like? 

The Old Firm Casuals, Booze & Glory, The Last Resort.  

4. Which bands have influenced Gimp Fist? 

Gimp Fist's main influences are Cock Sparrer, The Clash, Rancid, and The Business. 

5. What have the press said about Gimp Fist?

"Fast and furious working class punk rock" - Indie Punk and Alternative.

"Rousing old school UK skinhead rock'n'roll & street punk sound" - Rough Trade.

"An over-arching sense of angst and urgency" - Louder Than War.

SOFT PLAY - Punks Dead

 

1. Who are SOFT PLAY?

SOFT PLAY are a punk band from Royal Tunbridge Wells, England. They were previously known as SLAVES and have a sound that mixes punk/hard core with what might be described as a rap vocal delivery. They have been playing together since 2012 and Punks Dead (August, 2013) is the first single from their fourth album Heavy Jelly (July, 2024). 

2. What kind of tune is Punks Dead?

Punks Dead is one of the greatest punk songs you will ever hear. Born out of anger and refuting the general publics' fucking nasty and stupid comments about the band's name change it really has a bit of vitriol. It is hardcore punk while having a laugh. Massive riffs and not much else needed really.

3. Who do SOFT PLAY sound similar to?

TURNSILE, Kid Kapichi, RAT BOY, and sometimes they remind me of Japandroids. 

4. Which bands have influenced SOFT PLAY?

They say some of the influences they share together as young'uns are The Clash, Rancid, The Ramones, Gang of Four, and Talking Heads.

5. What have the press said about Punks Dead?

“Abrasive and agitated, with relentless guitars punctuating each line of feigned fury” – Far Out Magazine.

“Ferocious” – NME.

“A hard hitting and brutally honest song in every aspect” – For The Punks.

"Thought you were rowdy,

Thought you were punks,

What the fuck's with the new name?

SOFT PLAY more like soft cunts"

SWMRS - Berekely's On Fire

1.    Who are they? 

SWMRS are a pop punk band from Oakland, California. 


2. What have they got?

Berkeley’s On Fire (Aug’18) is a standalone single at the moment. SWMRS are three albums deep. 


3. Who are SWMRS similar to? 

The Frights, FIDLAR, and WAAVES. 


4. What have the press said? 

“Social commentary wrapped in churning guitars” – Paste Magazine. 

“Vibrant song” – Alt Press. 

“Thundering drums and wailing guitars” – We Are The Guard. 

5. Which bands influenced SWMRS?

Some of SWMRS main influences are The Ramones, The Beach Boys, The Clash, Public Enemy, and Weezer. 

6. Why should I give Berkeley's On Fire a listen?

The song has a word to say about far-right politics, the propaganda machine and outrage culture. They aren’t in favor of any of them! And vitriol is the best sauce for cooking pop punk songs in. Berkeley's On Fire is angry and catchy (in a Beastie Boys Fight For Your Right To Party kind of way) in equal measure. 

7. What are SWMRS best songs? 

Figuring It Out and Miley are the best SWMRS bangers. 

8. Any more words? 

The drummer is Billie Joe Armstrong's (Green Day) son.

RAT BOY - Internationally Unknown

1.    Who is RAT BOY? 

RAT BOY is Jordan Cardy from Chelmsford, England. He has been making music since 2012. Internationally Unknown (Oct’18) is the title track from RAT BOY's second album Internationally Unknown (Jan’19). 


2. What's he got? 

A commercially pleasing song that mixes hip-hop beats and radio-friendly production with faux-angsty punk. And a sticky chorus. Standard issue wank but its done well. 


3. Who does RAT BOY sound like? 

Jamie T (to a t). The Streets or Beastie Boys at a stretch. 


4. What have the copy and paste cunts said?

“Rabble-rousing riot act” – Discover Music. 

“Pure punk with LA sunshine drenched production” – Nest HQ.

“Upbeat and angsty, infectious tune” – It's Not Records.

5. Who is RAT BOY influenced by? 

The Clash, Beatie Boys, The Streets, Blur and Rancid.

6. Why should I give the tune a listen? 

Unknown Internationally is pure pop stupidity with enough of the musical trappings of angry rock (read: punk) that it just might tickle your tail feather. RAT BOY is one of the genuinely most interesting cross-genre artists England has at the moment and his (second going on third) album has some straight up punk credibility. 

7. What other tunes does RAT BOY have worth a listen? 

Revolution is genius. And No Peace No Justice with Tim Armstrong (from Rancid) has got to be done. On principle. It isn't too shabby either. 


8. Any more words? 

Unknown Internationally (the album) was knocked up in a couple of weeks after a bromance between RAT BOY and Tim Armstrong (singer from Rancid). Armstrong produced the album and at different times members of The Interrupters and Rancid lent a hand.

Bloodboy - Sex Crime

1.    Who?

Bloodboy is Lexie Papilion an indie pop musician from Los Angeles.  Sex Crime (Feb’18) is a single from her debut album Punk Adjacent (2018).

2. What?

Sex Crime is a retro-eighties pop song brought up to date in tune and words. A feminist voice in the lyrics is a given, beguiling, not strident. 

3. Who does Bloodboy sound like?

Blondie, Pat Benetar, and Bec Sandridge.

4. What have the plastic punchers said about Sex Crime?

“Continuing to push the boundaries of pop rock music” – Vents Magazine. 

 “Danceable, status-quo questioning indie-pop anthem” – Paper Mag. 

 “Fun retro music” – Fem Music. 

5. Which bands have influenced Bloodboy?

The Clash is Lexie Papilion's favorite band. Then David Bowie, Talking Heads, Ariel Pink, and Elvis Costello.

6. Why should I give Sex Crime a listen?

Because 80's pop is your guilty pleasure. Because you can't abide anything in the Top 50. Because you don't need to hear another song about how much money he has or how many women he sleeps with.


7. Does she have any more bangers?

Checkout Keep Your Disease. 


8. Any more words?

Punk Adjacent is produced by Taylor Locke (The New Pornographers, Sloan, Pearl Charles). 

“She laughed when he told her,
Wishes he was older”

The Howl & The Hum are a hypnotic pop/post punk band from York, England. They have been compared to Portishead and Massive Attack. The Howl & The Hum are influenced by bands like Bob Dylan, My Bloody Valentine, and Kendrick Lamar. They have been playing together for a couple of years and have a handful of singles out there. Portrait I (Jan'18) is the best of the lot. The phrasing and the voice is exquisite and the gradual build finally brings the guitar climax in the third minute. Rewards the patient.

“But angel leaves an imprint on your broken bones”

Bad Nerves - Last Beat

1.    Who are Bad Nerves? 

Bad Nerves are a garage pop/punk rock band from East London, England. Last Beat (Aug'17) is the B-side to their Radio Punk single. The chaps have a handful of singles to their name.

2. What are Bad Nerves packing?

Last Beat is a fiery and urgent rock'n'roll. The tune is no frills and races in at the two minute mark. Explosive garage rock that feels exciting and immediate.

3. Who do they sound like?

The So So Glos, and The Ramones.

4. What have the press said about Bad Nerves?

“Thrilling power pop rock’n’roll” – High Clouds.

“Undeniably joyous” – Read Dork.

“Scuzzier than ever” – DIY.

5. Which bands give Bad Nerves a chubby?

David Bowie, The Ramones, The Clash, Ty Segall, and Jay Reatard. 

6. Why should I give Last Beat a spin?

Because you love furious rock'n'roll that don't take a breath. 

7. Have they got any more pearlers?

Check out the A-side Radio Punk.

8. Any more words?
Get on with ya. 

Superorganism are an indie pop buzz band from East London. They evolved out of The Eversons. Everybody Wants To Be Famous (Jan'18) is their fourth, and most popular, single from their debut album Superorganism (March'18). An album some reviewers lost their shit over. Superorganism sound like STRFKR or MGMT. Everybody Wants To Be Famous is both melancholic indie pop and breezy effervescence at the same time.

 “Feeling like a boss and staring at the stars”