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”

Lois - Monkey Girl

1.   Who are this cheerful looking crew?

Lois are an indie rock'n'roll band from Nottingham, England and making wild music since 2007. Lois have one long player The Polperro Horse Bus Company (2015) for keepsies and a short player. Monkey Girl (Sept'15) bounces off the album and is a 2011 re-release. Worth the trouble but.

2. What kind of gold have we gleaned from Lois?

Monkey Girl is a vital, modern garage rocker with grimey, fuzzy, reverb filled guitars and lashings of sixties rock trimmings for flavor. The rhythm bounces like an epileptic Eskimo's bum making love in the snow.

3. Who do Lois sound like?

Monkey Girl is like Allah La's Every Girl and Night Beat's No Cops but with more grit. The Kinks come to mind.

Nottingham Live compared Lois to The Manic Street Preachers, Kula Shaker and Primal Scream.

4. What have those bastions of fine taste, the music press, got to say about Monkey Girl?

“Retro-tinged coolness with a fresh and exciting modern edge.” – Reverb Nation.

“Pay attention... this is how you make a single.” – Leftlion Magazine.

“This song is so catchy you will be fighting an earworm for weeks.” – Rock At Night.

 

 

5. Which bands have influenced these fine fellows?

Lois’ major influences are The Doors, The Beatles, The Small Faces and Elvis Presley. Lois have also mentioned some love for Booker T and The MG's, Labelle, T Rex, The Rolling Stones, The Charlatans and The Long Blondes.

 

6. Why should I give Monkey Girl a whirl?

Garage rock is huge at the minute and Monkey Girl is a vital addition. As catchy as the flu in a kindy.

 

7. Do Lois have any more good songs?

Be True To Yourself has an epic Oasis or Beatles singalong quality.

 

8. Any more pearls of wisdom about these mystical musicians?

Check out the support crew on Lois' recordings. Guy Massey has gone to work for The Beatles and The Manic Street Preachers. Jim Spencer has slaved in the dungeon for The Charlatans, The Cribs, Oasis, The Vaccines and New Order. Jon Astley has put nose to the grind for The Who and The Small Faces. Rock'n'roll nobility my friends.
 

 

“I see you walk out with Honky Tonk,
Dressed in your high heels I see through you,
Unlike the others you’re still abused”

 



 

Dessert is served by Ratatat a New York indie electronic rock duo. Playing together since 2001 the band have five long players under the bed. Cream On Chrome (April'15) rolls off their fifth album Magnifique (2015). Line Of Best Fit say Cream On Chrome, “Slowly builds to an ebulliently unnerving crescendo.” Don't wait for the vocals to kick in it's an instrumental.