With Just A Hint Of Mayhem

Music reviews, gig reviews, fun trivia and extra added random stuff!

“Heartbeat” – Earthquake Lights January 22, 2024

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 4:40 pm
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Earthquake Lights hail from New York and are based in Brooklyn. The production, harmonies, and orchestration on their new single “Heartbeat” is sublime. They have been referred to as alt-rock, but on this song alone they are just an awesome band. The emotion in this track is palpable and the sadness, sorrow, and ultimately hope is clear in the gorgeous understated vocals and cinematic feel of the tune. At one point the kick-drum and bass poignantly mimic the sound of a heart murmur. The song is inspired by the loss of a vulnerable family member, who it feels was really, really loved. Singer Myles Rodenhouse says of the track “It’s about that moment before the end – when you know it will end but do not know when exactly.” It is a truly beautiful song on par with Elton John’s “Song For Guy”. The song is dedicated to the Mikel sisters. I love it! The band has appeared on these pages once before, back in March 2019 when we reviewed their song “The Eight-One“.

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“Back In Time” – Georgia Reed January 21, 2024

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 11:30 pm
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After a five-year hiatus, Georgia Reed has not released new music until late last year. The Australian singer-songwriter has relocated to the UK and is returning to her music in a huge way. Her single, “Haunted” issued last November was the first of four songs lined up for release in the coming months. Following hot on the heels of the haunting and dancey “Haunted” comes the new track “Back In Time”. It has an ethereal hymn-like feel with its heavenly, echoey, counterpoint backing vocals. Meanwhile, Georgia’s voice is stunning in this dark ballad which contains a hopeful vibe. There is a yearning emotion in the vocal and it is hard not to be moved by her voice. There are some incredible lyrics on show, I particularly love the line “I think god gives me lemons just to see what I create”. Take a listen to Georgia Reed, I love her stuff and I think that you will too.

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On This Day Adam Told James Tiberius Kirk To Wear White Sox! January 19, 2024

Filed under: On This Day — justwilliam1959 @ 6:02 pm
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On 19th January 1980, the first independent record charts were published in the UK. Those charts became a huge success and all the “inkies” used to include them in their publication every week. On that first week 44 years ago “Where’s Captain Kirk? by Spizzenergi was the best-selling indie single and a pre-fame Adams and the Ants had the number one indie album with ‘Dirk Wears White Sox’. I still love that album!

To be included in the indie chart, a record had to be distributed independently of the major record companies’ corporate framework; the music genre was irrelevant. This is why “Save Your Love” by Renée and Renato made it to number one in the indie charts in December 1982 and Black Lace was atop of the Indie charts in August 1984 with “Agadoo”. Strangely those two never seem to appear on Indie compilations, do they?

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“Violently Ill” – POLEVAULTER

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 12:26 am
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The esteemed Louder Than War referred to POLEVAULTER as “Sleaford Mods without the cringe”. Perhaps a bit harsh on Sleaford Mods, but probably true. POLEVAULTER is the perfect example of dance-punk done brilliantly well. Yes, there are some Sleaford Mods in their sound, plus the Prodigy, and the Shamen. It is impossible not to move to new single “Violently Ill”. This is a sonic attack on an industrial scale. If this track had any more power it would leave a mushroom cloud above the dance floor, it is incendiary in the way it hits you. Listening to this tune did not make me violently ill, in fact, it made me ecstatically happy. The electro beats and synth hooks pummel you into submission. This track is made to be shouted across festival fields across the world. I know that this is a dark sound, but if you want to cure your ills and make your life better, then listen to “Violently Ill” by POLEVAULTER. The video which accompanies the track is deep, dark, disturbing, delightful, and DIY. It was directed by Jon Franz and shot and edited by Lucie Armstrong. The band’s debut album hits the streets on 26th January and last week they performed the album on repeat for 8 hours straight from 4pm to midnight on 13th January via a live stream to raise funds for the Gaza Sunbirds, a para-cycling team based in the Gaza Strip. The team is currently providing emergency food parcels and aid to families sheltering around the Gaza Strip. For more info and to donate visit: https://www.justgiving.com/page/polevaulterforgazasunbirds

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“Cardinals” – Telltale January 17, 2024

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 11:02 pm
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Ace rock band Telltale from Richmond, Virginia are John Carteret on vox, Bryce Marshall on gutsy guitar, Tim Fogg on booming bass, and Travis Slack on dynamite drums. A few days ago they released a new single, “Cardinals”. It has riffs with the power to smash Tyson Fury into next week and enough emotion to explode even the hardest of hearts. At its core this track is infectious punky grunge, but it is also so much more than that. This is a band that is extremely talented in the way they write and how they play. This single follows hot on the heels of the rather splendid single from December, “Otherside”. They have released some cracking tunes over the past few years, check them out on Spotify. A final note for all you fact fans, why are the band called Telltale? Apparently they are named after the Edgar Allan Poe story “The Tell-Tale Heart.” The band has said that as hyphens don’t work in social handles, they made it one word! The Poe reference definitely makes me love Telltale even more!

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“Is This Love” – James January 16, 2024

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 10:51 pm
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James are back to their anthemic indie best with the new single “Is This Love”. It is the first track to be issued from their upcoming new studio album, their 18th, ‘Yummy’ which arrives on 12th April. Musically, lyrically and vocally the band is firing on all cylinders. How could you not love lyrics like “Love is a bomb, a Tsunami that rolls over our life as we cling to the wreckage of our peace of mind”. Tim Booth proves that he really is a master of his craft and will not settle for the easy route and simply rehash “Sit Down” again and again, even after more than 40 years at the helm of one of the UK’s finest bands. James are most definitely still very fresh and I suspect will never have a sell-by date! They will be supporting the album with a UK tour in June this year. They will be supported by Razorlight. Click here for tickets.

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“Wish You Were Dead” – Lola Young

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 10:03 pm
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Lola Young is new to me and I am so glad I found her music. I am also sorry that I am so late to the party! She is from South East London and is in her early 20s. On her Spotify bio, she says this of herself, “Music is everything to me, helps me try and make sense of myself and the world around me. I’m pretty hopeless with love, I hate flowers (unless they’re dead), I can’t sit still for more than 10 minutes, but I figure out my heart and mind through poetry, and melody”

Her current single was released a few days ago and it is close to perfect. It has a dark pop-rock vibe and would be a surefire radio hit. But sadly, the smart and appropriate use of some profanities will prevent that. But if you love great music you need to give it a spin. The musicianship on the track is first class and Lola’s voice is magnificent. It carries a message of soul-bearing emotion and deep, deep feeling, particularly of that bad kind of love. She has described the song, and perhaps its source, as “a song to help me process an abusive and at times toxic relationship I experienced, even though at times I felt trapped, it’s about loving a person regardless of the fact they are hurting you“. Check out some of her other stuff too.

I rarely watch TV adverts, but if I did I might have discovered Lola earlier with her sparse and beautiful cover of “Together In Electric Dreams” for the John Lewis Christmas advert in 2021. It spent 8 weeks on the chart and peaked at number 7. She was at the acclaimed Brit School which has produced a talented array of alumni including Adele and Amy Winehouse to name just a couple. I feel there are some similarities between the vocal styles of Lola and Amy. But Lola Young is an incredible vocalist in her own right. Get Lola Young into your life, you will not be disappointed. She has a UK? EU tour coming up and also a number of US dates. I am not sure I can make any of them, but she is definitely on my must see list now.

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“Stress” (Featuring Razkid) – MINAS January 15, 2024

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 11:26 pm
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Has anyone ever recorded their anger so perfectly as James Minas has on his new track “Stress”. He punk raps about his anger with life and I think his anger with himself. This is a dark and deep track that wears its heart on its sleeve and leaves you unsettled and angry. Maybe that is the result that MINAS wanted. It is a colossal tune and, for me, is a real torchbearer for true punk ethos! It will be on his upcoming EP, ‘Grazes’. I love it. MINAS is off to SXSW and the Yanks won’t know what is about to hit them! Click here to listen to the song on Spotify.

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The Howl And The Hum – The Crescent, York – Tuesday 19th December 2023

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 5:49 pm
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This was to be the final Howl And The Hum Show. Frontman Sam Griffiths, Bradley Blackwell (Bass), Conor Hirons (Guitar), and Jack Williams (Drums) have decided to call it a day on one of the best bands to emerge from York. Will they ever come back together? Who knows, but whatever happens I am sure that each of them will continue to make music in one form or another and the canon of songs they leave behind will remain truly wonderful. But before I get to that final performance I must tell you about the fabulous support act, Bar Pandora. What a performance! A truly gorgeous synth-pop sound, a bit like Kate Bush and Siouxse Sioux arriving on the electronic pop scene in the UK in 1981/ 82. While there were influences this is very much a talented and original artist. I loved the glitter apparel, although the synth/ bass player didn’t get the memo on the glitter look. But to be fair he made up for it by looking like a cooler version of Graham Coxon. I bloody love Bar Pandora!

Finally, it was time to say a final goodbye to the magnificent Howl And The Hum. This was the final of a few farewell shows at the Crescent and it was an emotionally charged night for everyone in the room, myself included. Alongside the palpable emotion inside the Crescent, the songs, as expected, oozed emotion. “Hostages” always brings a tear to my eye and tonight was no exception, I witnessed many others leaking salty liquid from their eyes too. While “Hostages” was probably the peak moment for me both, “Godmanchester Chinese Bridge” and “The Only Boy Racer On The Island” were awe-inspiring. “Sweet Fading Silver” deserves a special mention too. The band even took us back to their days as a covers band with a rousing and rollicking rendition of AC/ DC’s “Highway To Hell”. I have been lucky enough to see the Howl And The Hum play live a few times and until tonight I had never really noticed the Talking Heads influence, but it is deep in their sound. So farewell you wonderful band and I am looking forward to whatever comes next from all of you!

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The Darkness – O2 Academy Leeds – Monday 18th December 2023 January 14, 2024

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 11:31 pm
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Review to follow soon!

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