Punk

New album: Grey Blue Ashes || Shallow People

By / / Alternative Rock, Indie Rock, Power Pop, Punk / Leave a Comment

Italy is home to so many great bands in the pop punk/powerpop stratosphere, it’s easy to miss a band here and there. Take Rome threepiece Grey Blue Ashes, a band I haven’t heard before. Shallow People is the band’s (Rome, Italy) second album and most recent output, which follows their 2019 debut. On Shallow People, Grey Blue Ashes are not your typical Italian pop punk band though. They sound like punks who play a lot of ‘90s altpop, and ‘80s powerpop and new wave in their tour van. It’s like Jeff Burke and Bob Mould joined forces out of a shared love for the Dirtnap Records catalogue, early The Police, ’80s powerpop and ’90s britpop, if that makes sense.

Shallow People is out now on pretty spectacular looking Half Blue/Half Yellow w/Black Splatter Vinyl through Otitis Media Records.




Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Otitis Media Records

New EP: The Vains || My Ammunition

By / / Garage Rock, Punk / Leave a Comment

The Vains (New Brunswick, Canada & New England, USA) are a new project by members of Phone Jerks, The Ratz and Mitch Kramer. They are fronted by TJ Cabot on vocals, Shandy Lawson & Mitch Kramer on guitar, Bill Blacknorth on Bass and Elvis Belushi behind the drum kit.  The five come out of the gates swinging with a killer debut 5-song EP called My Ammunition. Given the people involved (Cabot wrote the words to the songs the other guys wrote) it should not come as a surprise that this is lo-fi, loud and straight from the garage. But still, I’m blown away by how much fun this EP is and how catchy and melodic the songs are. Part garage rock’n’roll, part pop punk, these short songs are hopefully a teaser of more to come from The Vains.

Play My Ammunition loud and often. It’s out now through Die Hipster Records.




Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Bella Larson & The Scene Kids || Dream Kids

By / / Indie Pop, Punk / Leave a Comment

Bella Larson & The Scene Kids (Duluth, Minnesota) are not the first band to play acoustic bubblegum pop punk – The Lemons come to mind, but they play their songs with infectious enthusiasm, singing their sleazy lyrics with full conviction. If the thought of a bunch of people bringing their acoustic guitars to your campfire usually fills you with dread, the wig wearing Bella Larson & The Scene Kids may very well positively surprise you. They may even put a smile on your face and get you to sing along to their tunes. If you are looking for something quirky and different, give Bella Larson & The Scene Kids’ new record a chance.




Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New EP: Los Refrescos || Los Refrescos

By / / Garage Rock, Power Pop, Punk / 2 Comments

Los Refrescos, not to be confused with The Refrescos (Spain), are from Santiago (Chile). The band started out unprompted when three of his friends (Tomi and Pipe of Devlive, and Tapia of ninjas mutantes adolescentes and my light shines for you) heard the solo material Darby Trash (Ebullición, Confesional, Pizza Boys) was writing in the pandemic lockdowns. They couldn’t wait to join forces and Los Refrescos were born.

This four-song EP feature the first recordings of the band, and it’s immediately clear what his friends saw in the raw material Trash was churning out. Killer hooks, crisp guitar work, an upbeat rhythm section and super sweet melodies. It’s full on garagepop with a touch of late ’70s pop punk and a whole lot of fun fun fun.

For now, add Los Refrescos on your bands to watchlist, and download their EP for a price of your liking. They are only getting started and hope to record new material soon.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Dot Dash || Madman In The Rain

By / / Alternative Rock, Indie Rock, Jangle Pop, Power Pop, Punk / 2 Comments

Singer/guitarist Terry Banks (Tree Fort Angst, St. Christopher, Julie Ocean and the Saturday People), bassist Hunter Bennett (Julie Ocean) and drummer Danny Ingram (founding member of Youth Brigade, Emmapeel, Madhouse) have nothing left to prove. They have made their mark with several memorable and classic records. For the past 11 years, their main project has been Dot Dash, releasing six full lengths in that period. If this is the first time you hear about Dot Dash, i can’t really recommend one out of the six. All of these records are worth checking out. Dot Dash simply seem incapable of making a bad record, and if you’d make a greatest hits record of the band’s discography, it would feature an equal amount of songs from each release. Those who are familiar with the band, will probably smile at the idea of a greatest hits record, and how insanely great that would be.

Dot Dash’s last album dates back to 2018, and I was surprised to discover there is a new one out this week. It’s called Madman In The Rain, and Banks, Bennett and Ingram again do not disappoint. Madman In The Rain will sound instantly familiar to fans – the warm and distinct voice of Banks is such a joy to behold. The band’s sound still has firm roots in eighties music and is a mix of jangly powerpop, mod, punk and indie rock. Songs like Forever Far Out, Tense & Nervous, Airwaves and Saints / Pharaohs are prototypical Dot Dash hits. The new record feels more varied than the average Dot Dash record though. There are more pop oriented and slower songs, and the record closes with Dead Gone, a song that may very well be the most upbeat song in the band’s discography yet – I have to test this assumption later.

Dot Dash have nothing left to prove but they keep going at it, winning over hearts and minds of music fans one at a time. Really, this band deserves a much bigger fanbase. Or like Dot Dash sing “You can’t go on, you can’t go back. You gotta have a heart to have a heart attack.” Madman In The Rain is out now through The Beautiful Music.




Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New EP: Tramhaus || Rotterdam

By / / Indie Rock, Punk / 1 Comment

Dutch live sensation Tramhaus follow up their single I Don’t Sweat b/w Karen Is A Punk with a four-track EP named after their hometown Rotterdam. Opening song Make It Happen has become a classic in no time, an anthem with a bewitching melody and convincing lyrics. The title refers to the city’s slogan (“one which provokes a feeling of absurdity and disbelief when seen in the light of the harsh reality of neo-liberal policies”), the accompanying video portrays the true working-class from a less photogenic part of the metropolis (“the people so often neglected in a city which is expanding beyond the reach of the everyday people”). You’ll understand that the five band members have their hearts in the right place, and feel at home in authenticity and roughness, which probably also underlies their post-punk sound. The three other songs here – Amour Amour, Marwan and Seduction, Destruction – are heavy, dark and dangerous, guaranteed to thrill a live audience.

Rotterdam is out now on vinyl 12″ through Subroutine Records.

Add to wantlist: Discogs || Subroutine

New album: Rabbit || Good Love Is A Hot Chip

By / / Garage Rock, Power Pop, Punk / Leave a Comment

Recently, I saw Melbourne power pop sensation Romero perform their first European show. They met my high expectations, and their debut LP is a lock for my AOTY list. Here is the debut by a band from Hobart, which lies 700+ kms south of Melbourne on the island of Tasmania, that I have been equally excited about since their amazing debut single. I am talking about Rabbit, and the Australian connection is not the only similarity between the two. Both bands have a guitar driven powerpop sound, and both have a powerhouse vocalist. But whereas Romero seem to have a good level of soul in their DNA, Rabbit are punks at heart. That reveals itself in the pace and level of bite in certain songs on the band’s debut album Good Love Is A Hot Chip. The record opens strongly with two major hits Sunday Best and Safeguard. Rabbit absolutely find the sweet spot between powerpop and punk on these songs: Both are loud, yet full of contagious melodies.

Rabbit aren’t afraid to experiment though. Putting two six minute slower songs in the middle of a record that otherwise is pretty loud and fast? That takes guts. Somehow, Rabbit pull it off. The songs function almost as an interlude offering a breather to the listener, and make the remaining 4 songs hit even harder. Rabbit just dropped a mesmerizing video for one of these two songs and it definitely adds to its power. The video contains self-recorded footage of the Tasmanian masked owl and the grey goshawk. Beautiful birds that are endangered species and actually prey on RABBITS. Yeah, to say Rabbit is a pretty cool band would be an understatement.

Yayna is the song to kick off the latter all frills section of the record. It is another example of how natural a fit the punky powerpop sound is for Rabbit. The album closes with Gone Gone Gone, the first song I heard from this band. It has lost nothing of that first spark. It’s pretty awesome to see a band that released just one highly promising single succesfully make the jump to a great full length. Good Love Is A Hot Chip is a blast and a must own. Recorded with Zac Blain of A. Swayze & The Ghosts, mastered by Mikey Young, it’s out now on Tape through Rough Skies Records. Please tell me a vinyl release is in the pipeline.




Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: The Oxys || A Date With The Oxys

By / / Glam Rock, Punk / 1 Comment

A Date With The Oxys may be their debut album, but The Oxys have firm roots in punkrock’n’roll history with members having played with the Dead Boys, The Flash Boys, Sylvain Sylvain and M.O.D. What happened in the past of course is no guarantee for current succes, but in case of The Oxys there is no need to worry. The ten songs on A Date With The Oxys are driven by sleazy guitars, catchy hooks and worship to the altar of ’70s glampunk’n’roll. A strong first outing by the band, and songs like Voodoo Queen and Rock n Roll Eyes sound like instant classics.

A Date With The Oxys is out now through Dead Beat Records.




Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Discogs

New album: Various Artists || Tracknaphobia Vol. 2 (Tarantula Tapes)

By / / Alternative Rock, Garage Rock, Indie Pop, Indie Rock, Power Pop, Punk / Leave a Comment

We don’t often write about compilations, but they (still!) are a great resource to discover new music. Compilations are of course also a great way to put the spotlight and celebrate a certain label and scene. Both of these strengths apply to the new Tarantula Tapes comp Tracknaphobia Vol. 2. In the liner notes, Tarantula Tapes give a third reason why comps can be great: it’s a way to build a community and a scene. Tracknaphobia Vol. 2. serves as the label’s thank you to everyone involved in keeping the underground music community alive – from musicians, labels and techicians to designers, podcasts and writers. The sense of gratitude applies not just to the past, but has its eye on the here and now, and the future: The 16 band, 16 song comp sounds curated by someone who is on top of the diversity and quality of the current punk rock and indie scene. If this was a weekly radio show, I’d sure be tuning in again and again.

Tracknaphobia Vol. 2 is out now, on Tape of course.




Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Macaroni Birthday || Sing Rock ‘N’ Roll Songs for Children

By / / Indie Pop, Punk / Leave a Comment

Patrick McCormack and Eric Warner (Toronto, Ontario) usually play their music pretty fast and loud in bands like Beliefs, Sam Coffey & The Iron Lungs, Arietta, Neon WIndbreaker, Milk Lines, First Base, Viking Club, Dollarama, and Bike Club. What you may not know yet is that the duo also have a project that comes without a parental advisory sticker: As Macaroni Party, the duo play stripped down family proof rock’n’roll songs.

Macaroni Birthday started more or less unintentionally, when Warner started writing songs for his three kids to make them smile and eat their fruits and greens. Apparently the approach worked well enough to scale up the project from Warner’s kitchen table to the rest of the globe. Macaroni Birthday released a well received self-titled debut last year that left the kids wanting more. Hence a follow up was recorded with 14 additional nuggets for kids with short attention spans and parents who plainly refuse to accept the kind of music that enters your home once you start to have kids. Sing Rock ‘N’ Roll Songs for Children is a fun record for kids and parents alike. Macaroni Birthday take and teach the lessons of punk and DIY culture and make them relatable to youngsters, like the importance of thinking for yourself, be anything you’d like to be, taking care of your friends, having fun, and eating pizza.

CD out now through We Are Busy Bodies.




Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

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