With Just A Hint Of Mayhem

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

Mayhem Virgins – Matilda Florence November 25, 2025

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This is the 26th entry in the Mayhem Virgins series where we showcase artists that have never featured in these pages before. This time it is the turn of Matilda Florence, a young singer songwriter from Wendover in Buckinghamshire who is now based in Salford. I was lucky enough to meet Matilda at the recent Unconvention 2025 in Manchester. Of her music Matilda says “My original music has a timeless pop-folk sound combining powerful yet vulnerable vocals, belying my young years, with influences from Fleetwood Mac to Taylor Swift via Phoebe Bridgers and Lana Del Rey. I craft my songs with a heartfelt poetry creating melodies that instantly get you hooked then reel you in.” It certainly does have a wonderful pop folk vibe while the Fleetwood Mac influence rears its head with some fine US west coast rock sounds, particularly on the delightful “I’ll Wait For You” from her debut album, ‘My Love’ which was released earlier this year. The chilled dreamy quality is apparent in earlier singles that don’t appear on the album too. At times I sense the ghost of Dolores O’Riordan in some of Matilda’s vocal stylings, particularly on “Wonderland”. Since I returned from Manchester last week I have spent a lot of time listening to Matilda’s music and I think she has great potential! Get Matilda Florence on your playlist, you won’t regret it!

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Mayhem Virgins – Fishing 4 Compliments August 5, 2025

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This is the 25th entry in the Mayhem Virgins series where we showcase artists that have never featured in these pages before. This time it is the turn of Fishing 4 Compliments’ a five-piece band from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. Their music revolves around the impassioned, soulful and emotional songs of lead singer–songwriter Eileen Wattam with support from rhythm guitarist Ashley Wattam, lead guitarist and backing vocalist James Alexander, bass guitarist and backing vocalist Steve Dyson, and now former drummer David Sharp. Their music is a fabulous lively mix of blend of folk and pop, with occasional happy tinged jangly indie style guitar sounds. The tunes have excellent melodies and hooks that will catch plenty of compliments (apologies for that terrible pun on the name!). The songs, the music and particularly Eileen’s voice conveys every emotion from introspective and sad, to anger and passion, via ecstatic happiness.

The band members have an eclectic range of influences which include The Beatles, XTC, Tom Petty, Mark Knopfler, The Cure, The Smiths, The Sundays and The Cranberries to name but a few. I can definitely hear a few of those influences in their songs, but there is also so much originality in this band and their music. Dave Beech of RGM Magazine once referred to them as “utterly irresistible” and frankly it is hard not to agree with that.

Their rather splendid debut album, ‘Off The Isle of Somewhere’ was released in April 2020. That was after ten years of playing gigs across the north of England. It was produced, mixed, and mastered by Joseph and David Dunwell of The Dunwells, a Leeds based indie-folk band, who also contributed backing vocals on some tracks. That album explores folksy sounds as well as a rockier seam in some songs.

Eileen kindly sent me their new album for review; it is out on 30th September and is titled ‘Lost In Good Intentions’. Based on the two tracks from the collection released so far, “Ghosts” and “Hard To Please” it will be a corker. Will be? What am I saying it is a bloody corker, there will be a fuller review on these pages next month! The new album was also produced by Joseph and David Dunwell. If you like Beautiful South, Paul Heaton or Eddie Reader you will love Fishing 4 Compliments, but if you just love good music give Fishing 4 Compliments a spin! Check out some of their fine tunes on Spotify (below) while you wait for the new album.

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Mayhem Virgins – abs March 10, 2025

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This is the 24th entry in the Mayhem Virgins series where we showcase artists that have never featured in these pages before. This time it is the turn of supremely talented abs. She is a rising star in music and has been building a good following since 2019. This has been through a great collection of ace singles and from what I hear some amazing live shows, many of them sell outs. Has abs got a particular style? I think her music is difficult to badge into a specific genre or sub genre. Her songs fuse R&B, soul, funk, neo-soul, fine pop and electro pop to highlight just a few. Back in my youth I became a huge jazz funk fan and abs would fit nicely into that mold too. The emotion in her voice is palpable and her songs ooze authenticity and passion. Based on the cover of her current single I reckon she knows how to look cool without even trying.

abs played her major festival in Sheffield when she opened Tramlines on the Leadmill Stage last year. Her mostly female/ trans band sound great on record and I am very excited to see abs play live soon. She has plenty of plans for 2025, she told me that these include;

  • Doing as many gigs as possible around the UK. (I hope she comes to York!)
  • Playing a couple of festivals that she can’t announce just yet! (Let’s hope at least one is in Yorkshire)
  • Making so many new songs to hopefully release later this year! (Now that sounds rather excellent to me)

This is off the back of some great music. Her self titled EP was released in September 2023 and introduced a hip-hop element to her sound. Meanwhile, her current single “Stellar Collision” released in October last year showcases a sound that just gets better with every release. That song has been picked up by many publications and radio stations. It is a sexy R&B song which Marvin Gaye or Millie Jackson would have been proud of. Some have suggested influences from the likes of Lianne La Havas and Nao. That might be true, but she is definitely one original artist! I am most certainly a fan and I expect abs to feature more in the future on these very pages! Check out her songs on Spotify below. You will not be disappointed!

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Mayhem Virgins – Neckbreakers November 19, 2024

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This is the 23rd entry in the Mayhem Virgins series where we showcase artists that have never featured in these pages before. This time it is the turn of a new band that I chanced upon at the Brudenell Social Club as a part of Leeds Live In The City last Saturday. They are called NECKBREAKERS and I knew nothing about them at all when my good friend and I Simon P wandered into the venue Community Room on Saturday evening. Based on the name I had assumed they might be a hard core metal band, but I was oh so wrong on that score. The band was formed in 2023 by three siblings; Max, Georgie and Ebony Palmer. Lead vocalist Ebony has just turned 19 years old, this is only remarkable because they play with a barrelful of maturity and skill. The band name derives from a nasty accident that befell Georgie during Fresher’s Week at University a few years ago. She broke her neck and was apparently incredibly lucky that it didn’t turn out worse. Max is the eldest of the siblings and had played in a number of bands before forming NECKBREAKERS with his sisters. The band now live in North London but grew up in Welwyn in Hertfordshire. There have been a few top musicians that have come from that area; Alesha Dixon (of Misteeq and solo fame) and Mat Osman (Suede bassist) to name just a couple.

NECKBREAKERS at the Brudenell Social Club Community Room, Saturday 16th November 2024

NECKBREAKERS self released their first single “Waiting On Your Call” in April 2024 and expect to be releasing more songs next year while getting in plenty more live shows. As for their live performance on Saturday night, to say we were blown away would be an understatement. They played with passion, power, soul, emotion and huge energy and they exuded confidence in everything they did. My review of that set will be published soon. But here is a highlight “Their harmonies could split a million atoms, and their songs are so perfectly formed for a young band. Imagine a universe where the Mamas and Papas sing heavenly harmonies for a first-class metal band and then turn up your expectations to the stratosphere. Even then you might not understand just how good NECKBREAKERS are.” I have heard it on good authority that they are very hard working band and that much is clear from that performance in Leeds. Earlier this year according to a paper published in the journal Nature Astronomy, scientists found what could be the brightest known object in the universe: a quasar produced by a massive and voracious black hole. It’s estimated to be emitting light that’s 500 trillion times more intense than Earth’s sun. Well that is the kind of bright future I predict for NECKBREAKERS!

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Mayhem Virgins – Modern Marriage August 26, 2024

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This is the 22nd entry in the Mayhem Virgins series where we showcase artists that have never featured in these pages before. This time it is the turn of ace scouse band Modern Marriage. I found them randomly when I spotted a plea on Facebook to listen to their new single “Grim Up North”. It was very polite and said “We spent a good bit of time in the studio getting these tunes just right for your ears, so, we really do appreciate you taking time out to listen, or giving your mates a shout and telling them to have a listen.
The better our singles perform, then the more gigs and the more decent, meaningful shows we get offered, etc, etc.” Anyway, I listened to it and it is bloody good. A really catchy, bouncy hook-driven indie banger. The band formed in 2021 and played a gig at the iconic Cavern in Liverpool later. They have gigged a lot across the northwest since then and every review or comment that you read online says that their shows are more of a party than a gig. On that evidence, I really need to see them live now.

It is clear from their wonderfully created song titles that they possess that classic, down-to-earth, self-deprecating scouse humour in abundance. Particularly the B-Side of “Grim Up North” “(I Wanna Eat Your Stewed) Prunes (Baby)” and “Gerry And His Pacemaker”. But it is not just the titles. These are great tunes, “(I Wanna Eat Your Stewed) Prunes (Baby)” is a kind of blues punk workout that is hard to compare with anyone! Meanwhile “Gerry And His Pacemaker” reminds me of the humourous side of Brit Pop, a cross between the Inspiral Carpets and the Fall, some Half Man Half Biscuit with a bit of C86 thrown in for good measure. That song was their first single released in June of last year. The fun never stops though, “Terry’s Last Fag” had me dancing around the room almost immediately, it is a cracking party tune. That song was their first single released in June of last year.

“Money! Money! Money! Money! Money! Money! Money!” is a driving punky pop song that makes Abba’s “Money Money Money” seem a bit crap. Not many bands have a song title that features their own name, I can think of maybe Mott The Hoople, Bad Company, Madness and, Black Sabbath. But Modern Marriage can be added to that list with, you guessed it “Modern Marriage” a hard-rocking riffy and sometimes jangly guitar fest. The band goes all Latin and wonderfully weird on the rather excellent “Lewey’s Got A Two Piece” which made me think of another Liverpool band, the magnificent Deaf School at their peak. “Riddled With Coke” is perhaps their heaviest song to date. By listening to them incessantly today I can see why their gigs might equate to parties, I have a huge smile after an hour of Modern Marriage! They are currently unsigned, but any label worth anything ought to get in there now!

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Mayhem Virgins – The Chinaskis February 13, 2024

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This is the 21st in the Mayhem Virgins series where we showcase artists that have never featured in these pages before. This time it is the turn of the Chinaskis, a wonderful Scottish-American band, with the best bits of the music and culture of each nation included in their sound and songs. Their name comes from a character created by writer Charles Bukowski, effectively his alter-ego Henry Charles “Hank” Chinaski. The beat-up, alcoholic loser reflected Bukowski’s life like an exaggerated carnival hall of mirrors. The band initially formed in Glasgow in 2009 and until 2016 they played a succession of sweaty sticky-floored, pub backrooms on the Scottish toilet circuit. They split for an undefined, indefinite period when singer and frontman Robbie Edmonstone emigrated to Dallas in the USA in 2017.

Musically they are a classic guitar band in the mould of the Byrds, Teenage Fanclub, R.E.M, Tom Petty, the Replacements, and the Proclaimers to name just a few. The rhythm section is as close to perfect as a drum and bass pair can be. With Bill Spellman banging out the beat like a human metronome and Andy Lester making his bass talk. The guitar work of Nick Phelps draws some gorgeous riffs and hooks over the songs. The harmonies that enhance Edmonstone’s angelic demon of a voice are ethereal and frankly, simply wonderful. Meanwhile, Edmonstone’s lyrics are up there with the best writers. They are acidic, sarcastic, acerbic, caustic, sharp, and sometimes even soft and mellow. I particularly love “For once upon a time was a time where you made me feel so very small. But now I’m big and strong and to me you mean sweet fuck all” They launched their debut album ‘Songs For The Scunnered‘ in August last year and it is a classy collection of tunes. It was given a 9 out of 10 score in a review by Vive Le Rock magazine, and they know their rock onions! Check this band out, that is an order!

Footnote! Based on the picture of the band at the top of this post, my wife thinks that Robbie Edmonstone looks like me. That is possible given that my Dad was born “out of wedlock” in Glasgow in 1931. Could we be distant cousins? 🙂

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Mayhem Virgins – The Bridge City Sinners January 8, 2024

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This is the 20th in the Mayhem Virgins series where we showcase artists that have never featured on these pages before. This time it is the turn of the Bridge City Sinners all the way from Portland Oregon, where they began a busking journey. They formed in 2016 and are purveyors of country, punk, folk, dark sounds and so much fun. If goth bands smiled and made bluegrass music they might sound like the Bridge City Sinners. I imagined them coming from a parallel universe where the Charlie Daniels Band joined forces with Gogol Bordello! The instrumentation feels properly organic and includes stand-up bass and banjo among other fine instruments. Their current album, ‘Unholy Hymns’, is a classic, and even with streaming, you will not want to skip any of the fabulous songs. This follows their self-titled release in 2016 and ‘Here’s To The Devil’ in 2019. All were released on the band’s own Flail Records label. The current album ‘Unholy Hymns’ made it to number 70 on the US Billboard charts in 2021.

Reading about them online suggests that they are an incendiary force of nature on stage and I really want to see them soon. Their own bio says that their live show is as punk as fuck, now that sounds perfect to me! If you are in the USA they are playing dates in Reno, Vegas, and LA at the end of March. Before that, they play a show in Vancouver on 16th March. Scott Michaud plays double bass as though it is connected to his nervous system. Lightin’ Luke adds some demonic fiddle and wonderful vocals. King Strang plays some superb guitar and Clyde McGee is a banjo god! Lead singer Libby Lux is a superstar in waiting, and probably won’t have to wait for too long! It is worth checking out some of the band members’ solo material too, Libby Lux’s “Two Dollar Bill” video is included below.

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Mayhem Virgins – ALT BLK ERA August 23, 2023

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It is nearly a year since our last Mayhem Virgins post, where we post artists and bands who have never featured on these pages before. This is the 19th in the series and it is dedicated to West Bridgford sisters, Nyrobi, and Chaya Beckett-Messam. Eagle-eyed readers will know that technically ALT BLK ERA have had a mention before, in my recent preview of this year’s Leeds Festival where I highlighted them as one to watch when they headline the BBC Introducing stage on Saturday. ALT BLK ERA‘s music will defy all your attempts to slot them into a specific genre box. Their sound has metal, punk, pop, electronic, rap, goth, alternative and maybe even emo. The band have said that they are influenced by the Prodigy and Ashnikko among others. I think Baby Metal, Delilah Bon, Bob Vylan and Skindred might play a part too.

I have always been a huge fan and admirer of bands and artists that have a true eclecticism in their sound and for me, ALT BLK ERA can bear comparison with the likes of David Bowie, Prince and, Kate Bush to name a few. In fact, Nyrobi and Chaya are around the age that Kate Bush first came to the attention of the music industry and listening to their music and watching their videos suggest to me that they are also in possession of that magnificent latent talent that Kate Bush showed in her early recordings. The band began during lockdown when their mother encouraged them to learn everything that they could about the music industry. In my opinion that was a very wise move. Eventually they joined the eNGine Room which is a government-funded artist development label that helps to nurture and develop young talent and provide them with experience and skills that will help them as they progress along their chosen musical and performing journey. They have been featured on the radio via BBC Introducing a few times, so it is quite appropriate and well-deserved that they will be heading the BBC Introducing Stage at Leeds and Reading this weekend. Tom Robinson described ALT BLK ERA as “Daring, adventurous and wildly original” on BBC Radio 6. Tom knows his stuff! I haven’t seen them perform yet, but I will experience that in just a few days and I am excited by the prospect. I imagine that their stage presence and live show will be off-the-scale special.

I love that they have recorded tracks in what they describe as SOLAR and LUNAR styles. SOLAR tracks are piled high with monumental guitar riffage and rap that is not afraid to challenge the ciphers of the best rappers in the business. Meanwhile, the LUNAR tracks are infused with an air of darkness, menace and, raw emotion by the wonderful use of chilling synth-driven strings and ethereal harmonies. Their debut EP ‘Freak Show’ hits the world on 1st September, I suspect it might already be pencilled in for many of those best of 2023 lists. I have been listening to a lot of ALT BLK ERA tracks and every one of them is a future classic. Right now “Rockstar”, “Mosh Girl Summer” and the incendiary “I’m Normally Like This” are my favourites, but that will probably be different tomorrow. Get this band in your life NOW!

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Mayhem Virgins – Bonnie Mai September 4, 2022

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This is the eighteenth in our Mayhem Virgins series and features talented British artist Bonnie Mai. Sometimes you can come across new music and artists in strange and random ways, can’t you? I met Bonnie Mai at the Leeds Festival last weekend, she wasn’t performing there (not yet anyway), she was at the BBC Introducing Stage. We got talking and I discovered that Bonnie Mai is a singer and has released a clutch of great songs, so having heard them I think she is an excellent choice for our Mayhem Virgins series. For those who don’t know what the series is, it is simply an opportunity for us to showcase artists who have never appeared on these pages before. So please welcome Bonnie Mai to the expanding Mayhem Virgins club, most of who will feature regularly after that initial post. Bonnie Mai struck me as a cool and decent human being on that first meeting, although her online presence gives her a nice air of mystery like she just appeared on the planet a few years ago to grace us with some great music. Check out her Spotify profile detail below, I love it!

Not your standard potted history is it? That is what makes it stand out. Anyway, let’s talk about Bonnie Mai‘s music as we open the doors to the House Of Bonnie Mai. She has six singles and EPs available on Spotify, check them out. My favourite so far is probably “Slush Papi” which oozes confidence and sexiness over a modern R & B sound with some harmonic overdubbed vocals that drag you into the song and won’t let you go until the song ends, but even then you can’t forget it. The video is great too, you can see that below. “Chasing The Feeling” is a percussive tour de force of a kind of message song, with Bonnie Mai delivering a sultry and powerful vocal. The acapella version showcases just how good Bonnie Mai’s voice is. Meanwhile “Fall In Love” has a hybrid ska/ reggaeton/ electronica style, once again with some ace percussion and the keyboards give the song an almost oriental feel. The Ian Solo remix of “When Time Stands Still” is an anthem for female empowerment and I suspect may be directed at a former partner. The synth sound on here is reminiscent of early Depeche Mode. The enigmatic Bonnie Mai is a woman of many talents who deserves wider exposure, you need to check out her music, you will not be disappointed!

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Mayhem Virgins – Lynx Deluxe August 22, 2022

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This is the seventeenth in our Mayhem Virgins series and it features Lynx Deluxe an Anglo-American rock band. But the rock band moniker does not do them justice, they encompass rock, blues, rock ‘n’ roll, funk, soul, post-punk, glam rock, and many more musical forms. The band consists of

Andy Browne (vocals, guitar)
Lucy Theodora (bass, vocals)
Brad Mattson (drums, samples)
Dean Browne (guitar, vocals)
Billy Fields (keys, arp)


Andy Browne (vocals and guitar) was raised in Birmingham in the UK. He fronted Atlanta band Nightporters and with them got to support some great bands; The Clash, REM, the Beat, and the Replacements. Lucy Theodora (bass and vocals) is Andy’s partner and muse she was raised in Georgia and studied psychology at Georgia State University. Brad Mattson was born and raised in Minnesota and delivers a perfect beat with his drumming. Billy Fields (keys, Moog, and vocals) was born in Atlanta. The band members have an eclectic musical taste which includes David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield, Barry White, Stevie Wonder, Japan, the Clash, Mick Ronson, and Bill Nelson of another band that uses Deluxe in their name, Be Bop Deluxe. They released their first album, ‘Jungleland’ last year.

The album is a classy collection of songs that has many influences and yet remains very original. “Jane Goodall” reminded me of the Cramps and is a song about the English Primatologist Jane Goodall. I can hear a Clash influence in “A Little Piece Of England”. It is hard to believe that “The Struggle” was written before Covid struck, given how pertinent to these times it is. My current favourite track on the album is “Steppin’ On Gold” which has tones of Tom Petty, Paul Weller, and Roger Daltrey. The eleven tracks are all damned good and there is no filler on the album at all. It has anger, love, spirit, passion, and hope in every note, riff, and groove. The production is clear, crisp, and incredibly clear. It has a live feel to it. I have listened to the album a couple of times now and I am definitely hooked on Lynx Deluxe! Click here to check out the album on Spotify.

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