With Just A Hint Of Mayhem

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

“A Thousand Shots” – F.O.D. February 5, 2024

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 7:37 pm
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At last, Belgium has given us a better punk representation than Plastic Bertrand! F.O.D. is classic punk in a Green Day mould, in fact, they started out as A green Day covers band in 2008. By 2011 they decided to move forward with their own songs and released the EP ‘Dance To This’, they have subsequently released some great singles and five albums. There is a Green Day reference in their name, it comes from the song “F.O.D.” on Green Day’s ‘Dookie’ album, the acronym stands for ‘Fuck Off and Die…’. The band is new to me and I am glad I eventually found my way to them. Their new single “A Thousand Shots” is a fine slab of magnificently put-together pop punk. It is fast, full of excellent punk riffs and hooks, and has some fabulous melodies. If I have any criticism it would be that it only lasts for 76 seconds, but with the ability to repeat on streaming who cares? F.O.D. are Hans Roofthooft (guitar god and prime vox), Stijn de Waele (bangin’ backing vox), Pierre Janssens (bombastic bass), and Lode de Feyter (dynamite drums). A quick footnote, I actually quite like Plastic Bertrand’s “Ça Plane Pour Moi”, but it wasn’t real punk was it? Anyway get some F.O.D. into your lugholes, their new album ‘The Once A Virgin Club’ is out on 5th April, followed by a handful of European dates. The single “A Thousand Shots” is out now. The video has a rather wonderful old-school graphics feel about it, which fits the tune perfectly.

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NewDad – Fulford Arms, York – Wednesday 31st January 2024 February 4, 2024

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 7:56 pm
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This was one of thousands of gigs across the country supporting Independent Venue Week (IVW). While it is important to show support and solidarity for your local independent venues please do it all year round and not just during IVW. This is the only way that the grassroots of UK music will survive. Support your scene! So this is an important week for live music and that was evidenced by the presence of 6 Music’s Huw Stephens and BBC Radio York’s Jericho Keys alongside many of the great and good from the York music scene. Headliners were NewDad who released their debut album on 24th January. But more of them later as there was a rather special support act, the sublimely talented Kindelan who hails from this fine city. This would be the fifth time that I have seen Laura Kindelan play live which puts her just behind Gene, David Bowie, Avalanche Party, and Frank Turner in the list of acts that I have seen the most times! I have seen her play solo, with minimal accompaniment, and with a full band. Tonight she was ably supported by an incredibly talented rhythm section and a backing singer with a heavenly tone. Four of tonight’s six songs were from her most recent EP, ‘You Can Reach Me If You Try’. The new songs definitely have a modern R&B and jazz vibe, but when played live Laura takes them in a direction that only she can. Her songs are stunningly good in recorded form, but live they become almost alive themselves. I have previously compared Kindelan to Jeff Buckley and that still stands, she will, I believe, mature into the kind of artist that Buckley would have become had he lived. “Hazel Frustration” was incredible, “Can’t Sleep” was immaculate as was a new song “Know You”. Kindelan gets better every time I see her, will that ever stop? I suspect not!

Kindelan at the Fully Arms January 2024 (Picture by Charlie Daykin)

Headliners NewDad are touring on the back of their new album ‘Madra’ which follows two classy EPs and some fabulous singles. The band was formed in Galway. Ireland in 2018 when Julie Dawson, Áindle O’Beirn, and Fiachra Parslow were in secondary school. Apparently, it was a way of avoiding solo performances for their Leaving Certificate practical music exam. Fourth member Sean O’Dowd joined the band a little later. The NME has compared them to The Cure and Beabadoobee. I can see those comparisons but I can also hear references to the likes of the Sundays and possibly the Cranberries. On their heavier-sounding songs, I sense a bit of Sleeper and Elastica. The new album is good, but live the songs are even better. However, I felt the sound mix was a bit off for much of the set with the vocals appearing way too low in the mix. This improved though, particularly for “White Ribbons” where the mix was spot on, the song was gorgeous and the performance exquisite. NewDad appeared in the Mayhem charts for January, so I am definitely a fan. I will certainly be seeing them again.

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ABC – Barbican, York – Saturday 27th January 2024

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 3:12 pm
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The last time I saw ABC was at the now iconic Hammersmith Odeon show in November 1982. Now more than 40 years later I will be at an ABC gig again. Once again, it will be with a full orchestra, the Southbank Sinfonia, conducted by Anne Dudley. I believe that the ‘Lexicon Of Love’ is synonymous with orchestral pop music and the album is the finest example of its kind. Trevor Horn’s production on the original album was exemplerary and Anne Dudley’s orchestration was sublime. That is why I was so pleased to see that it was her conducting the Southbank Sinfonia Orchestra on this tour. I know that Martin Fry is the only remaining member of the original line up still performing as ABC, but to be fair he was always and still is the face of the band. While this show was mostly about a full run through of ‘The Lexicon Of Love’ there was always going to be more songs from the ABC song book, and that is what the first set was all about. We were treated to some absolute classics including “When Smokey Sings”, “The Night You Murdered Love”, “Be Near Me”, “One Better World” (Fry’s take on house music), “How To Be a Millionaire” and a particular favourite of mine, “Ocean Blue”. There were also some fab tracks from ‘Lexicon Of Love 2’, I thought “Viva Love” was a great performance.

Part two began with the Lexicon Of Love Overture (as did the first set) before belting into album opener “Show Me”. The crowd were on their feet for “Poison Arrow” and were in mighty fine vocal form, although to be fair Martin Fry put in a stunning vocal performance. The biggest hits, “Tears Are Not Enough” and the iconic “The Look Of Love” mesmerised a Barbican full house. My favourite song from the album has always been “Date Stamp” and this was a heavenly performance of a great tune, especially the backing/ counter point vocal. After “All Of My Heart” we all wondered whether there would be an encore, there was and Martin asked if we would mind a second take on “The Look Of Love”, we were never going to refuse, were we? This goes down as one of the best performances from a long established band that I have ever seen. Everyone in the audience absolutely lapped it up, well apart from a bloke near us who came close to having a ruck and spent part of the first set effing and jeffing loudly. Also, while the programme looked good, I felt it was a bit overpriced at £20, but to be fair I didn’t need one. There are a few shows remaining on this tour, but sadly most are sold out. But if you have a ticket, then you’re in for a proper treat!

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“In The Pines” – Wasting May January 31, 2024

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 6:20 pm
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Ethan DeBoard and Evelyn May Nielsen are the duo that is Wasting May. They are from Orlando Florida and met in High School back in 2018 and began working on music together only last year. Ethan has always had a passion for music and taught himself to play guitar. Evelyn started out as a creative writer and is the mastermind behind Wasted May’s excellent lyrics. They played their first show on September 15th last year in their hometown. Since then they have released a single, “Maureen” and an EP ‘Machine’. Wouldn’t those two words make a great band name? The Maureen Machine anyone? Anyway, they have just released a new single, “In The Pines” and it is rather splendid. It is haunting and ethereal with an occasional feel of the Cocteau Twins. The sound is minimal but also cinematic in its ambition. Evelyn’s vocal is heavenly and the guitar work from Ethan is spellbinding. I love the change to almost a completely different song about two and a half minutes in. This pair should be given free rein to soundtrack a David Lynch film. I am in love with this tune and with Wasting May. You need this track in your life!

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“Burn It Down” – Sun Way Street January 30, 2024

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 9:19 pm
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Sun Way Street is singer-songwriter Steven Eli and multi-instrumentalist Leor Manelis. The pair met online during the pandemic in 2020. Steven is from Ireland, and Leor lives in Colorado. They have spent the time since meeting recording songs, mostly remotely. But in 2023, the duo met face to face for the first time after Steven flew to Colorado, where they continued to record, this time in Leor’s studio and later in Colorado’s Coalesce Audio Studios. They strengthened their sound with the support of some skilled and experienced musicians from Colorado.

Their new single, “Burn It Down” came out a couple of weeks ago, and it is damned good. It has an infectious hook with indie-pop stylings and a retro 90s soft dock feel. It chugs along like the perfect hit songs always do, and it certainly deserves to be a huge hit. It is strangely different and quirky, and I hope it gets plenty of airtime. Sun Way Street are planning live shows in the US and Europe this year, I hope they play near me!

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The New York Brass Band – Fulford Arms – Sunday 14th January 2024 January 29, 2024

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 10:15 pm
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This was the first matinee gig I have been to in many years and the final gig celebrating the 10th birthday of the fabulous Fulford Arms. It was a two-set show from the magnificent New York Brass Band, a New Orleans-styled jazz-type band from York. But they are so much more than just a jazz or brass band. They are the ultimate party band that can raise a storm at festivals, parties, weddings, and intimate gigs like a matinee birthday party for the Fulford Arms. They are an 8-piece unit including four family members, and oh boy can this bunch play. They had the crowd on their feet from the first number and kept it that way the whole afternoon. I always think a band performs better when they are having fun themselves, and the New York Brass Band were having their own on-stage party. I loved some of the brassed-up Motown tracks they played, particularly “I Want You Back” and “Just My Imagination.” The female artist medley was ace and included some Spice Girls, B*Witched, S Club 7, and Weather Girls. I also feel that their version of Bruce Channel’s “Hey Baby” took ownership of the song back from DJ Ötzi who had a huge hit, a UK number one, in 2000 with an atrocious version of the track. The second set was even funkier with some excellent renditions of Earth, Wind, and Fire and Kool and the Gang tunes. At one point we even had a very polite York mosh circle/ conga going on which was huge fun! The cover of Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing” was one of the highlights for me, in an afternoon full of them. To quote from that tune, “hot just like an oven” was exactly what the New York Brass Band made the Fulford Arms feel like on a cold Sunday afternoon in January! Bring on next year’s birthday, this one was fabulous! Well done to the Fulford Arms and all the fantastic staff and punters!

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“Airhead” – KMFDM January 26, 2024

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 5:59 pm
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KMFDM are lining up their 23rd studio album, ‘Let Go’ for release and they are most definitely not stale. The new single “Airhead” comes just days after the previous one “Let Go”. It has a fabulous 80s and 90s rock vibe which reminded me of both Joan Jett and Garbage. If the rest of the album is as good as these two tracks it will be very special indeed. KMFDM was originally named Kein Mehrheit Für Die Mitleid, which was loosely translated by the band as “no pity for the majority” They are a multinational industrial rock band from Hamburg led by Sascha Konietzko, who founded the band in 1984 as a performance art project in Paris. The current line-up includes Sascha “Käpt’n K” Konietzko (on Bass, Beats, Synths & Vocals), Lucia Cifarelli (on vox), Andy Selway (Drums) and Andee Blacksugar (Guitars). Lucia provides the voice on “Airhead” and gives it her best Shirley Manson. This is a great single and I am most definitely looking forward to the album! The video is a splendid journey down memory lane and so are the lyrics, especially the opening lines, “Born the year of the Chia pet – Blondes were in, but I’m brunette – Vietnam and Donkey Kong – I was busy getting high with Cheech & Chong.” Check out this fabulous song, you will love it, I certainly do!

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“Save the Children / Tuwaokoe Watoto” – Afro Neat

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 4:38 pm
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Following the success of their 2022 Christmas tune “It’s Christmas In Ukraine” Afro Neat returns with “Save the Children / Tuwaokoe Watoto” and all proceeds will be going to the charity Save The Children. It is a jaunty tune with a great message and Afro Neat, who I think are a collective of musical talents are fronted by Kenyan Producer J Nana and Lano Msanii, also from Kenya. The song was written by Frank Robinson. There is a mini-album/ EP of the tune, also called “Save The Children / Tuwaokoe Watoto” which contains seven different versions of the song including instrumentals and Swahili versions. Give this track a spin, it is a nifty little tune and you will be raising money for a great cause too!

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“Soft” – Line Beauclair January 25, 2024

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 10:51 pm
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Line Beauclair has just released her first single, “Soft”. It is a gorgeous concoction of love, emotion, fragility, and an almost transcendent and succulently sultry vocal. It is the kind of song that comes along very rarely that can open your heart and step right in, the hair on the back of my neck stood up throughout every play. The minimalist instrumentation helps create a perfect backdrop for lyrics that describe that point in time in a relationship where both parties are completely vulnerable with each other. Line said of “Soft” “I think this song captures the universal feeling letting go and being truly ourselves with another person, something that becomes harder every day in a society where appearances carry such weight.” She also said that it is “A song that I hope helps people be more open and vulnerable – something to remind you that putting up a front can sometimes be very detrimental and that we all need to be gentle with ourselves and others from time to time.” I love the lyrics, particularly the lines “And the world was rough. It scarred us. So we built our own. We don’t need to be tough. Just needed us. To have a home“

Line was born in northern France, her mother is French and her father is American. She appears to draw influences from both countries with shades of Jane Birkin and Lana Del Ray. Line lives in Paris and adds French cool and style to sublime US balladry and songcraft. Line describes her influences as ““Growing up I was surrounded by 60s French music and was heavily influenced by their ability to craft intelligent songs with deeper meaning all while creating a magnetic vibe and atmosphere. It really helped me integrate the idea that lyrics do not need to sacrifice melody or energy. I was able to understand that further thanks to American artists like Lana Del Rey or Taylor Swift, that are able to brilliantly combine both to create true pop anthems. I am now based in Paris but have lived all over France, which has inspired me greatly, and writing in places such as St Tropez and New York City have truly helped me refine my musical style.” Take a listen, if you love great music, you will adore this track.

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PERCY – Fulford Arms, York – Saturday 13th January 2024 January 24, 2024

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 6:44 pm
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This was one of several shows to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the fabulous Fulford Arms. Only three years until the venue becomes a teenager! The poster above shows JUKU as a headliner supported by special guests. Sadly, no thanks to that bastard Covid-19, JUKU could not play. Which left us with Special Guests, who are Special Guests? Are they a band, no, but that might make a good name, right? There were three special guests; No Como Crees, Speedreaders, and new headliners PERCY.

So first up it was No Como Crees. We got two-thirds of a punky trio forced into an acoustic set thanks to drummer Dave getting the back door trots, or as Roxy Music once said, both ends burning! Did this stop No Como Crees? No, they were absolutely ace with a towering display of slacker rock! Their original tunes were fabulous and their cover of Jessie J’s “Price Tag” was stunningly spectacular and supremely sublime. Vinnie and Harrison, you fucking rock! I am sure Dave rocks too when he doesn’t have the Dehli belly!

Speedreaders were next with a kind of drone-driven indie sound. Sometimes it sounded like shoegaze on speed, and I do mean that in a good way. The harmonies were mostly perfect. There is a definite Velvet Underground influence with Speedreaders. The particular highlights for me were “Little Things” and “Nobody Died” and the wild wig out on the closing number was full-on psychedelic.

When JUKU had to pull out PERCY, those West Yorkshire Super Heroes, pulled on the number twelve shirt and headlined. They have a new album coming out later this year and their set was pretty much that whole album. They opened with what is now a solid PERCY classic, “What Les Said.” “Blackout” is brilliant and in my opinion owes a small debt to Ian Dury. I really love “Thinking Of Jacking It All In Again” and this was the first time that song had ever been played in York. It has a weird and mesmerising fairground-style rhythm to it. Introduced as a song for autistics who are not really autistic it was “Do You Think I’m On The Spectrum?” This is the kind of song that probably only PERCY could write. The same could be said of the wonderful and very dark “I Can Hear Orgies” which reminded me a little of Public Image Limited at their finest. ”It’s Not About The Money” (at least that is what I think it is called) is definitely a future PERCY classic. they closed with the modern ghost story in a song that is “Last Train To Selby”, a truly epic track. So many of the new songs have a classy and more punky edge and for me, this bodes very well indeed for the new album. This was another brilliant set from one of York’s finest bands as they enter their 28th year!

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