Megan Black is a new artist to me. How the hell have I missed her up to now? I was lucky enough to see her perform a stunning, soulful, acoustic set at an Un-Convention Showcase show in Gullivers, Manchester last month. It was clear that she knows how to play to an audience and the way she performed here made it clear to me that she can, and undoubtedly will, be headlining much bigger venues in the near future. Megan has already played a lot of festival stages and has opened for a few big acts including Fantastic Negrito. She owned the stage in Manchester and I saw brief glimpses of both Stevie Nicks, particularly in her stagecraft. Snack called Megan a “Rock Goddess” and I have to agree with that! The night after seeing her I listened to a lot of her songs on streaming services. I thought she was magnificent in an acoustic setting, but listening to her with a full band, the power is immense. I suspect that power is probably seismic in a live setting with a full band. I spoke to her briefly after her set at Gullivers and on top of being a wonderfully gifted musical talent she is also a fabulous human being too. I absolutely need to see her play live with her band now, she is at the top of my live list for 2027.
But the purpose of this piece is to introduce you to her new single “Poison In The Water”. The song slams into your head like a juggernaut. It is a bluesy rock song that is not afraid to layer itself with some gorgeous pop hooks. The deep bass opening line sets the scene for something dark and brooding. This song is instantly anthemic and subliminally insists that you listen to it again and again. It feels like a dig at control, but not just a dig it is as subtle as a sledgehammer, and it smashes hard and takes no prisoners. The song I think is a wake up call to all of us who feel downtrodden and put upon by the powers that be. It also seems to serve as a feminist call to arms. If you had to judge an artist on one song then “Poison In The Water” makes Megan Black the Empress of the whole fucking universe! But don’t simply judge her on this one song listen to her other stuff and go and see her play live if you get the chance. You will become a Megan Black fan, that is no longer a choice, that is an unstoppable fact once you hear her!
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Millie Manders and the Shutup are back with yet another powerhouse of a single, “Age Disgracefully”. The song takes a wonderfully deep dig at the beauty industry with a justified rage. Millie and the band have developed so much since their early years. They started as a great ska punk band and now they are simply a great band. Millie writes protest songs that matter, which cut to the heart of an issue and always work well. On top of all that the hooks here are perfect and the song won’t let you go. In the verses Millie’s vocal delivery occasionally reminded me of the late, great Poly Styrene. It hits hard enough to crease heavily botoxed skin! Remember products like Botox are toxins, don’t do it people, just listen to this and age disgracefully like all the best people do. I think age disgracefully is my new mantra, I even bought an age disgracefully t-shirt the last time I saw Millie Manders and the Shutup live, at the Rebellion Festival in Blackpool in August!
The band are currently partway through their Age Disgracefully Tour, with plenty more UK dates to come (see below). The dates are in more intimate venues than in the recent past. Support will come via The Empty Page from Manchester; Bugeye from London; TOAST from the South West; and Tokyo Taboo from London. Speaking about the tour Millie said “Coming back to grassroots venues with a smaller capacity than we have been playing recently is going to be so wonderfully intense and intimate. We will be bringing our melting pot of party and rage as we Age Disgracefully in a time that is so unforgiving in so many ways.” If you have never experienced Millie Manders and the Shutup live, get yourself a ticket now you will not regret it!
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I had the pleasure of bumping into Manchester based folk rock artist Catherine Bullock at Un-Convention in Manchester last week. I am so glad I did, because if I hadn’t I might not have heard about their new song which will be released to the world on 29th October. It is called “Mummify Me” and is the first single of her Youth Music Next Gen funded EP (release details to be confirmed). I love that excellent grants like this are available to talented artists to enable their music to have a bigger chance of success.
Catherine says the song “compares the terror of beginning a new queer relationship to mummification, Frankenstein’s Monster, and changing guitar strings, famously the three scariest things in the world“. I don’t like the idea of being mummified, but then I am not a pharaoh so that is probably unlikely, I want to learn the guitar one day but the thought of changing a string makes me very nervous, so I empathise with that one. But as for Frankenstein’s monster I love him, he gets a bad press, Dr. Frankenstein is who scares me! So it looks like Catherine and me are in agreement about some scary things at least.
But I am waffling on without talking about this quirky, quality modern folk song. Catherine’s voice welcomes you into the song and the tender intricacies of her often powerful vocal performance keeps you there for the whole performance. The lyrics are deep, humorous and very meaningful in equal measures. I particularly love “Take me and wrap me, reserve me, preserve me. Mummify me” which incidentally is the only mention of the title in the song. As the vanguard single I reckon it’s a very strong indication that the EP will be something very special indeed. Remember the name Catherine Bullock because I think they will push on to great things.
I know it is not strictly a Halloween song but I will be playing on my radio show on Friday 30th October, Halloween Eve! If you want to find out more about Catherine here are their socials and website!
I was alerted to this brilliant song when McKinley James shared it on his socials. I was hooked from the opening lines “This one goes out to the biggest cunt in the United Kingdom. Fuck you frog face and your five million quid”. Proceeds from downloads will be given to charities in Clacton, so you know the drill, download this fucking tune now! While you’re at it listen to “Put Your Vote In The Bin” and download that too.
Fartage the Fagash Fuhrer is many things, but he sure as shit isn’t a man of the people. James has nailed the slimy excuse for a human being with this song. As for Farage he says he is fighting the establishment, he is the fucking establishment. People of Clacton you know what to do next Thursday, vote Binface, gain your Bindependence. If all of you who voted for other parties last time and all of you who couldn’t be arsed to vote last time vote for Count Binface then Mr. Racist Milkshake Target is toast! Have “Man Of The People” playing in your earphones when you vote! If you are a Reform voter and you are reading this then what the fuck are you doing here? Fuck off!
Musically McKinley James and the Flat Caps remind me of Dr. Feelgood with a punkier garage rock vibe with a delightful dirty blues sound. Possibly one of my new favourite bands. Make them yours! You can find them on Instagram by clicking here. You can download or listen to the track by clicking here.
Warrior vs. Wanker
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Skylights are back at last with a colossal thumping anthem of a tune, “Fever”. The opening guitar sound alludes to some of John Squire’s finest moments. Then the drums batter the door down and give the track an uncompromising dark Motown garage rock vibe. The vocals hit peak power, passion and emotion with hooks built to echo around arenas and festivals. The song perfectly showcases a band that are equipped and ready to elevate the mercury levels higher than ever before. This is rock music that grabs you by the balls and makes you listen. Skylights are not just back; they are back and ready to get bigger and better!
Click here to get your hands on a very special signed vinyl copy of the single!
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The Claypool Lennon Delirium is a band formed by the rock supremo Les Claypool once the main man of Primus and Sean Ono Lennon. The musical universe has worked some wonderful juju bringing these two together. Add former members of Stone Giant and Cake to the mix too. They are scheduled to release a staggeringly good album, ‘The Great Parrot-Ox and the Golden Egg of Empathy’ on 1st May. They have now put out the third single from that album. It is called “Meat Machines” and it is a tad fucking awesome! Lennon has called the band’s music as progadelic and it would be hard to disagree with that.
“Meat Machines” starts off with some chunky, fat synth licks and then gets some overlaid choral voices then the guitars and drums kick in just before the vocal. The pace picks up and from here on in you are infected with this magnificent song. I love the little reggae vibe thrown into the mix later. Lyrically the song perfectly questions the purpose of humans with lines like “And are humans nothing more than meat machines? Or is there more? Is there more to us?” and “When you can’t see the maze you’re in, how can you escape it?” Is there more to us as humans? I am not sure there is given the current state of the world. However this song gives me a sliver of hope!
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If you like your soul music chilled, emotional and leaning towards old school then look no further than Marcy James’ cover of Dee Dee Sharp’s 1965 classic “I Really Love You”. Produced by the legendary Butch Ingram the keeper of the Philly Soul flame and out now on Society Hill Records this is truly sublime. Fresh off her success in the professional theater circuit Marcy is currently starring in ‘Jesus Kept Me’ in Philadelphia. Her mission with this track is stated as “Bringing peace and joy back to the global airwaves“. With this recording I think she has made a big step towards that vision of peace and joy. Give this song a spin, it will brighten your day! Click here to find it on Soundcloud.
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Jesus Cringe is described as irreverent, shape-shifting space rock project. It is the brainchild of Belgian musical genius Alexis Pfrimmer. Signed to Epictronic Records and the first of this trio of singles was issued back in February. It is called “Disastrology” and it is vey dark and seems to depict the end of the world with the earth dying screaming. At the end of the video the protagonist appears to become stardust once again which is what we are all made of, right? Musically all three tracks have a vibe akin to Bowie’s final album ‘Blackstar’ as if Trent Reznor had worked on it.
Pfrimmer seems to have dispensed with the traditional rock band format and has utilised a combination of Violin, Mandolin, Baritone Saxophone, Piano, Synthesizer and Drums. It is probably the epic use of Baritone Saxophone that made me think of Bowie. The second single, “Unhinged Byproduct” came out on Good Friday. The song and video appear to tell the tale of the seven deadly sins with a huge dose of perfect satire.
The latest release is “No Man’s Gland” which in keeping with the previous release came into the world on another key date in the Christian Calendar, Easter Monday. This one deals with a near death experience and a return to life. I am an atheist and I bloody love this dark trinity of tunes, although I suspect many of those that follow the path of theism might think differently! This is dark, industrial type rock at its finest and it works even better with no guitar or bass. If the rest of the album is this good when it arrives then it could well be in the running for album of the year!
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Leeds singer songwriter Molly Rymer has released a second single from her forthcoming 4-track EP project called ‘Alone When The Lights Come On’. Molly says that each track follows themes of identity, reflection, and denial often with the narrator questioning their reality. So this might be quite a deep collection. Earlier this year Rymer released “City Half Awake” with her full band. It is one of her older songs and benefits from a deeper musical bed and some gorgeous fiddle.
The new single is called “Lie” and it reached the world on 3rd April. The song starts slow and soft with minimal instrumentation and slowly builds into a song with huge cinematic level depth and organisation. Lyrically Molly cleverly plays the dual meaning of the word contrasting the “speaking untruthfully with intent to mislead or deceive” definition with the separate meaning of simply lying down with someone. I think this might be Molly’s strongest vocal so far in her career. The emotion in her voice is palpable and it suggests that this is a kind of relationship that she has lived through. Ultimately it feels like it is about hanging on to a relationship when you know it really isn’t working nor going to work
I am looking forward even more to the EP now. I also still need to see Molly Rymer play live. I hope that will happen soon!
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Earlier this month the High Priestess of Brat Punk and the Queen of all marginilised, mistreated minorities released “Illegal Aliens” possibly her best song so far. It is a powerful protest song driven by anger, caring, empathy. Much of the songs caustic venom and rage is directed at the patriarchal powers that be, notably the fascist Trump regime. It is built on a bed of music made from punk, hip-hop, nu-metal and the lyrics are in your face. The words are raw and passionate and convey a huge outrage better than some of the greatest protest songs that have come before. The depths of Delilah’s ire on this track are never ending. Why are more people not as angry as her at the various shit shows and vile people that are running/ ruining the world? To paraphrase the Sex Pistols Delilah “means it maaan!” Delilah has said “I’m donating all proceeds from my ‘Digital Downloads’ bought directly from my website to MIRAC (Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee) a grassroots volunteer based charity helping immigrants impacted across Minnesota with food banks, legal advise, support and protest organisation.” Go to her website to download this epic song, https://merch.delilahbon.co.uk/
Delilah has described the genesis of “Illegal Aliens” as “a song I wrote and produced in response to the violence happening currently in the US as over 73,000 immigrants including documented citizens and children have been captured and detained in unsanitary overcrowded ‘camps’ with no legal representation or justice. 38 people (that we know) have died within these camps without access to medical care, reporting abuse, SA and violence at the hands of ICE agents. 12 People have been shot and 4 killed, with thousands taking to the streets in protest to defend their neighbours while many hide within their homes in fear. I wrote this song back in February last year and have sat on this rage for too long. Before, I was too nervous to release this song as I had tours in the USA, but now is not a time for holding back, now is a time of urgency as we watch peoples lives being torn apart before us. This song is for those that are standing up and fighting back, a soundtrack to your incredible activism and strength“.
Following on from a first successful tour to the USA Delilah was scheduled to return later this year. However those plans have had to be cancelled thanks to the Nazi regime in the White House. America has become a totalitarian state where anyone who dares to be different, is not white skinned, straight or MAGAs is deemed persona no grata. I am radical leftist woke scum and proud of it. But the state of Trumpstein right now would be dangerous for anyone as outspoken as Delilah. Land of the free? Seriously? Delilah does not want her US fans, or Bon Bons, to be too disappointed so she has organised a one off gig in May at the Brudenell Social Club in Leeds which will be professionally filmed and recorded for later release. The show will be dedicated to those US fans that have missed out on the tour and all profits from the show will be donated to 3 charities that will support immigrants impacted by ICE detention and family separation.
I believe that the lyrics are so powerful I have copied them below, I hope you don’t mind that Delilah!
“ILLEGAL ALIENS” – DELILAH BON – LYRICS
She did things that nobody would ever think of Now she wants to do transgender operations on illegal aliens that are in prison This is a radical left liberal As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government That there are only two genders, male and female
Yeah, yeah, yeah All these people in the street Holding signs, scream with me We’re the mothеrfuckin’ change That these men don’t wanna see I see women and workers The immigrants, POC The Indigenous people No LGB without T
All these people in the street Holding signs, scream with me We’re the motherfuckin’ change That these men don’t wanna see I see women and workers The immigrants, POC The Indigenous people No LGB without T
Look, if that is the president How fucking misguided is everything? What happened to loving thy neighbour? You’ve traded him into the government They’re putting them all in these camps We’re watching it all on our apps I’m scrolling my phone and feeling so helpless Just waiting for someone to act Man, fuck your opinions, it’s awful Mexican children in courtrooms You went from “protecting the kids” To letting them die just sat in their classroom I go from believing in change To hiding my face with the shame They’re pointing their finger at immigrants, finger at anything Other than what’s in their face
All these people in the street Holding signs, scream with me We’re the motherfuckin’ change That these men don’t wanna see Looking around at these artists I wonder why none of them talkin’ So many not speaking about Gaza, speaking about nothing Carry on scrolling
All these people in the street Holding signs, scream with me We’re the motherfuckin’ change That these men don’t wanna see I see women and workers The immigrants, POC The Indigenous people No LGB without T
Try to divide us, keep us in silence Segregating the people with violence Talking about freedom, talking about justice Talking about all of those seeking asylum Talking about Gaza, all of those people? Sending them back to the rubble? Sending them back, knowing that nothing exists Go ahead, call it collateral I feel ready for change Ready to say, say it with all of my chest I will take to the street Using my voice for those that gave every breath The President’s calling them aliens Illegal aliens Dehumanize and terrify the majority They’re putting all the blame and the hate on minorities I never get it I see the way that these people are indoctrinated Force fed all the words that they never question Walking blind in the line with a billionaire His right hand in the air, sayin’ “Look what happens when a rich prick gets All of the money while we pay the debt Hands in the air, I’m the worst one yet” Saluting these people that don’t even know what it means yet
Organise, defy, resist (Thirty thousand beds) Organise, defy, resist (In Guantanamo to detain the worst criminal illegal aliens) Organise, defy, resist (Threatening the American people) Organise, defy, resist
Look, if that is the president How fucking misguided is everything? What happened to loving thy neighbour? You’ve traded him into the government You’re feeding your people with scraps While saying that you got their back Distracting the people with immigrants, people with anything Other than what is a fact Sending ’em back, taking the land from the natives Drilling for oil, you’ve killed their environment, fact All of your power is built on systemic racism Putting your foot on their back Watching as systems divide You on the left and you on the right Controlling the masses and trying to hide They are the enemy, they are the reason you’re tired Nothing to do with minorities Nothing to do with the people just living their life Nothing to do with the women and girls You’re raping and killing, removing their rights Nothing to do with the immigrants Nothing to do with the books that you’re setting alight Nothing to do with these people But look at him, look at the men on his side Where is your anger? Where is the “save the children” when children are legal as brides? Where is your passion for kids When all of these immigrant children are spending the night Treated like criminals, treated like animals Holding their palms up out to the sky You’ve traded them into the government
All these people in the street Holding signs, scream with me We’re the motherfuckin’ change That these men don’t wanna see I see women and workers The immigrants, POC The Indigenous people No LGB without T
The problem’s in our phone (They’re fucking the robots) The problem’s in our home The problem is the media They wanna take control (The men are fucking the robots) The problem, the problem We see it every time we scroll The problem is the media (Let’s delete them) They wanna take your soul
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