131's - This Ain't Culture

 

1.    Who are these punk prophets?

 

131’s are a new punk band from Melbourne, Australia. This Ain’t Culture (Feb’16) hemorrhages off the 131’s debut self-titled E.P. due in June.

 

 

2. What’s the good word?

 

This Ain't Culture is straight up punk rock, hard as an endoscopy performed with a bricklayers fist and a hand held camera. With crashing guitars, booming bass and furious vocals This Ain't Culture hands out a furious belting to issues of central importance to us all and is an anthem for the marginalised, the dispossessed, the punk nation.

 

 

3. Who do these sainted heroes sound like?

 

The 131’s sound similar to Rancid, Bruce Springsteen's good ones, The Clash, Motorhead, The Jam and Bad Religion say Triple J. And so say all of us.

 

 

4. What have the poxy press said about This Ain’t Culture?

 

 

“Spirited punk rock” – The AU Review.

 

“Heartland rock hooks rallying in their call-to-arms approach” – Rolling Stone Australia.

 

“Punk rock roots and ballsy lyrics” – AAA Backstage.

 

 

 

 

5. Which famous few have left an indelible mark on the fine musical canon of the 131’s?

The 131’s are influenced by nothing but the greatest bands to walk God's green earth. To wit The Clash, The Sex Pistols, Rancid, Radio Birdman, The Saints, The Birthday Party, The Jam, Cock Sparrer (fuck me dead Fred that's how you sling a bass), Rose Tattoo, Bad Religion and Social Distortion.

6. Why should I give This Ain’t Culture a fair crack of the whip?

 

This Ain't Culture is music that matters, that warms the cockles of the heart, that stirs passion and dares you not to shake your arse with manic intensity. The 131's have made a statement of intent and smacked it with contempt right out of the park.

 

 

7. Do the 131's have any more of these bright burning treasures?

 

Debut song so stay tuned. Dig into the gospel of King Cannons for something similar. Take The Rock has the same power, politics and fury.

8. Any more truth?

 

Singer Luke Yeoward fronted Auckland punk band with a bit of mongrel, Suicide Dogs, and rock'n'reggae band King Cannons.

 

The rhythm section, Rich and Hank Richards played in punk rock band The Dirty Love.

The 131’s are opening up for godfathers of punk the Stiff Little Fingers in Melbourne at the end of March. That is the royal nod right there.

 

 

“Culture grows when it’s left alone, not intervened with, bought or sold”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dessert is served by iconic punk legends Stiff Little Fingers. Forged in the flames of Ireland's fight for freedom from the English and senseless sectarian violence in 1977, Stiff Little Fingers are one of punk rock's most popular and influential bands. With ten long players in their role of honour and still going strong the band wrote inflammatory songs that raged against political and military oppression and social alienation. The live album See You Up There (1989) captured the band at the peak of their phenomenal powers at the legendary venue of the Brixton Academy, London (1988). Stand out tracks include Alternative Ulster, Gotta Gettaway, Wasted Life and Suspect Device. A life lived without this album would be hollow and meaningless.

 

“You got the army on the street,

And the RUC dog of repression,

Is barking at your feet”

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

  

 



The Best Indie Songs of 2015 - The Academic

Irish music is on a bit of a tear at the minute, what with Hozier going global, Kodaline finding fame and fortune, The Strypes kicking arse and taking names, old favorites Ash releasing a new album and now these newcomers The Academic and their meteoric rise. Different (March’15) is an indie rock love song. What elevates it above the norm is the passion in it. There’s no tongue in cheek or sly winks to the audience. No overwrought love for all in the world manifest in cheesy generalizations, bubbly pop, handclaps and choral choruses.

 

 

No. Different has a singleness of purpose both in music and lyric. “I want you, I know that you’re different”. It’s passionate. It’s personal. By the second verse the girl’s clothes are off and that’s as good a metaphor as any to this tunes direct approach. Barely pausing to toss off “Ah hah hahs” this is a tune where the band goes straight for the heart just like the protagonist. Similarities to northern English bands exist but in truth the best thing about The Academic is they are rousingly unique. No messing about, Different is one of the best indie songs of 2015.

“There’s a hurricane of roses on my back”

 

The Academic are an Irish band from Mullingar, a small town in Ireland. They started making music to love in 2013. Different is the debut single off their first EP of the same name (April’15).

Shit you need to know:

Of the song Different this chap said it’s “…a short and snappy hook-laden pop rock song with a chorus that has “future festival anthem” written all over it.”

I'll be buggered if I know what their influences are but they might not hate Bruce Springsteen.

The band have been compared to Kings of Leon. Other comparisons include Catfish and the Bottlemen, The 1975 and Kodaline.

The band have opened for The Pixies and Twenty One Pilots.

Their home town Mullingar is famous for the local music venue The Stables and as the home of One Direction band member Niall Horan.

The Academic do a ‘fuck yeah it’s better’ cover of Taylor Swift Style.

The music press and the music industry are very excited about the bands future, flying lots of labels reps to their gigs and signing them to an international publishing company.

More great The Academic songs are Bear Claws, Girlfriend and Forrest.

 

Sloppy seconds is reserved for Welsh alternative rockers The Alarm and this piece of passionate gold, the live recording of Rescue Me (1987).

About 6.10 for the singalong and all in, it's of religious quality.

“The people tonight are the future of rock n roll”

 

 
 

The Best Indie Songs of 2015 - Longfellow

 
Singing from the bottom of their big bursting hearts, and with lyrics like, “We all need a little love sometimes…we all need love we're gonna work this out”, Longfellow are refreshingly passionate in this song about being there for the ones you love.

 

 

 

Medic (Jan’15) is a song not unlike some others of Kodaline’s, it's strong, fervent and impassioned. It rocks, it pops, it has crescendos and takes pauses. It’s all there for the taking, a band on the cusp of the big tent.

 



Longfellow describe themselves as alternative indie pop rock and come crusading out of London town. They’ve been singing it from the roof tops for more than three years now. Medic is a stand-alone single and they have a short player to their name Prelude (July ’14).

Shit you need to know:

Longfellow plan to record with Coldplay’s producer (Parachutes, A Rush Of Blood To The Head).

The band have supported Keane and Feeder.

Feeling those emotions stirring? Try Siamese Lover, an absolute cracker, or Kiss-Hug-Make Up.



 

 

Dodgy doings go to another band full of heart, playing in a cathedral of love the Irish band Aslan and Crazy World (1993).

And if you got no time just skip to the 4 minute mark for the magic crowd sing-along.

 

 

 

The Best Indie Songs of 2014 - Young The Giant

 

 

 

There’s a yearning quality to Crystalized (Dec'13). Crystalized feels earnest with lyrics like, “This is where I come from, this is where I belong”. It’s chill, sweet and melodic but there’s a stirring of passions in the air.  They are influenced by 

 

 

Young The Giant have been belting tunes out since 2004 and are  from Irvine, California. Crystalized is the second single off Young The Giant’s second opus Mind Over Matter (Jan'14). Sputnik Music thought crystalized is " by far the catchiest song Young The Giant have released so far."

Young The Giant get their passion from listening to Radiohead, David Bowie, U2, and The Strokes.

Young The Giant are similar to New Politics, Walk The Moon, and Youngblood Hawke.

Morrisey is a big fan of the band. 

Still up for more Young The Giant? Try My Body or It's About Time.

 

Danish heavy rock band The Volbeat covered Young The Giant’s My Body on their fifth album Outlaw Gentlemen and Shady Ladies (2013). Volbeat are somewhat similar to Disturbed or Godsmack. They are influenced by Metallica, AC/DC and Elvis Presley.

Volbeat are great, full fucking stop. They give My Body the balls it was missing. But enough prattling, the eagle has landed.