Fountain - Invisible Wasp

1. Who are Fountain? 

A band in need of a better fucking name and an alternative rock band/duo from Northampton, England. They have been making noise together since 2023 and Invisible Wasp (Feb, 2024) is the first single from their debut E.P. Stolen Flowers Bring Sickness (March, 2024). 

2. What is Invisible Wasp got going for it?  

Invisible Wasp has a retro riff that reminds me of Sisters Of Mercy (Vision Thing era) others are feeling late 2000's early 2010's alternative British rock; but really it just has back-in-the-day British alternative rock vibes. It's propelled forward by skating-down-a-steep-as-fuck-road-and-you-have-the-speed-wobbles-and-if-you-start-to-think-about-it-you-will-stack-it drums. 

3. Who do Fountain sound like? 

Well having listened to this and the E.P. I'm feeling bands like Rival Sons, Sisters of Mercy (you know which album), and Wolf Mother. 

4. Which bands have influenced Fountain? 

I'd love to be able to tell you. Do some press you pricks. But I'm guessing they don't hate The Ramones, Royal Blood, or Beware of Darkness. 

5. What have the press said about Invisible Wasp? 

"Energetic band, good rock" - Skiddle.

"All out punk-tinged headbanger" - Northampton Chronicle.

"A maniacal riff, harmoniously paired with pulsating drums" - Occulate.

FEARS - The Squeeze

1. Who are these critters?

FEARS are an alternative rock’n’roll band from London, England. Birthed in 2016 the gentlemen have an E.P. and a single to their names. The Squeeze (April'16) is the single. 

2. What kind of racket is The Squeeze?

The Squeeze is sawdust on the floor, sideways glances brimful of malice, creaking leather and the stench of whiskey and smoke. Standard issue, straight up the middle, bluesy rock'n'roll made to the highest standards. A tasty big stomper with swagger.

3. Who do FEARS sound like?

Royal Blood, The Family Rain and The Quireboys. 

4. What have the press said about The Squeeze?

“Blistering hot track” – Real Rock And Roll.

“Vivacous rock’n’roll with a fuzzed up, serrated edge” – The Indie-pendent.

“A raucous statement full of revitalized distorted energy” – Planet Mosh. 

5. Which bands have put the boot into FEARS? 

No knowledge. But if The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin don't figure than I am a Chinaman.


6. Why should I give The Squeeze a flick past the ears?

The Squeeze is the sound of an up-and-coming band ripping and tearing it up. Balls in a vice. The real squeeze.


7. Do FEARS have any more of these smash and grabbers?

Early doors mate. Early doors.


8. Anything else?

Not a dicky.

“You can count on your fingers every time you told the truth”

The Quireboys are a hard rock band from London, England. They formed in 1984 and are still going strong. The band have recorded about ten albums over the years. The Quireboys debut album A Bit Of What You Fancy (1990) was the only one that mattered and the only one to chart; making it to number 2 on the U.K. album charts. Then it was all downhill from there. Hey You (1989) is the hit single from the album and The Quireboys signature song, a song Rush On Rock called “a bonafide rock anthem.”

“I caught you out, no word of a lie,

Seen you walking with another guy”

Broken Hands - Four

1.    Who are these shit kickers?

Broken Hands are an indie rock band from Canterbury, England. Four (Feb’16) screams off Broken Hand’s debut album Turbulence (Sept’15) and is one of a handful of singles thrown out into the ether.

2. What kind of treat do we have on our hands?

Four has a nasty street fighting riff three balls big. Four is the sound of it kicking off big style and is done and dusted before you had a chance to take names. Riotious rock'n'roll with no apologies.

3. Who do Broken Hands sound like?

Four has the intensity of Kassassin Street's primal banger Centre Street Atom.  Broken Hands have been compared to Queens Of The Stone Age, Primal Scream and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. NME were feeling Kasabian early doors and Royal Blood.
 

4. What have the cut and paste merchants said about Four?

“Riff heavy, radio ready club banger” – Popped Music.

“Dirty riffs and high-octane urgency” – Hare and Hounds.

“Power charged riffing” – Bitter Sweet Symphonies.

 

 

 

5. Who puts the jet fuel in Broken Hand’s flight?

Broken Hands have big-upped Queens Of The Stone Age, Catfish and The Bottlemen, My Morning Jacket, Secret Machines and Band Of Skulls.

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

Four has the vicious adrenaline charge of a curb stomping and is indicative of fresh rock'n'roll with no pretences.
 

7. Do Broken Hands have any more of these vital rockers?

They so do. What You've Taken has a casual, sublime sauntering strut and Who Sent You has a massive atmospheric rocking vibe.
 

8. Any more words?
 

Turbulence was produced by Tom Dalgety who has done nine to five for Royal Blood, Band Of Skull, The Maccabees and Killing Joke.

Broken Hands are some down to earth motherfuckers. In an interview they offered up the fact that they share bath water “pretty regular.”

 

“My wheels won’t break but can barely take the strain”

 

 

The double dip is Bradford’s finest The Cult. The goth rockers started in 1983 and are still going strong. Hidden City (Feb’16) is the band’s tenth album and the first to be compared favorably to the sublime stadium rock of Electric and Sonic Temple. The third single from the album, Hinterland (Jan’16), brings the big Billy Duffy riffs out to play and was produced by Bob Rock who has put nose to grind for Metallica, Motley Crue and Bon Jovi. Exclaim called Hinterland “rip-snorting” and it is a fine return to form from these legends of rock’n’roll.

“The dream of life is fading”

 

 

 

The Best Indie Songs of 2015 - D.I.D. (Dog Is Dead)

D.I.D. Hotel (Nov’14) has a straight from the seventies rock sound. You keep expecting Kelso to say something stupid. After the initial vocal harmonising the monster dirty ass glam guitar comes on like a kick to the yoghurt maker. But it’s not all guitar on steroids. There are vocal parts with sparse musical accompaniment providing the pauses between the noisy waves. 

Hotel rocks harder than a prison rapists grin and grooves like Deeelite . Hotel has delicate but powerful choral harmonies that soar above us mere mortals too. There is a sense of disappointment in the song but you won’t be. This song grows on you like a cock sore, faster than you ever believed possible. God damn right you’re listening to one of the best indie songs of 2015.

“Drunk fight, left of the line
I can run if I get desperate"

D.I.D. were formerly known as Dog Is Dead until disgruntled ex-dog owners forced a change of name. They are a five piece indie pop band from Nottingham, England. They’ve been offending peoples pretentious sensibilities since 2007. Hotel is a stand-alone single, maybe from their forthcoming second album.

Shit you need to know:

Hotel the band said is, “a complete Frankenstein of 70’s rock, soul and blues, something heavy enough to bang your head to but melodically soulful and harmony laden.”

The track Hotel has been compared to Royal Blood, Drenge and Muse. While others noted a wistful Ray Davies (The Kinks) and Alt J feel to it.

D.I.D. have described their music as “indie pop for the disco” and “uplifting pop for jazz junkies and choir folk”.

The group pitch wood listening to Dire Straits, Bruce Springsteen and Talking Heads.

The band have been described as ruthlessly professional and determined.

In 2010 D.I.D. supported Ok Go, in 2011 Bombay Bicycle Club and in 2013 Two Door Cinema.

The other smashing tunes from D.I.D. (what a fuckin stupid band name Dog Is Dead was cool) are Talk Through The Night, Do The Right Thing and Two Devils.

Sinful seconds is from the Californian rock band Rival Sons and Keep On Swinging (2012). Another nut cracking retro-rock number.

“Where there's a will there's a way
Lord helps those who help themselves”