After the success of the Christmas messages from bands on the site I thought, why not do one myself, so I did! This is my message to the With Just A Hint Of Mayhem supporters and all those you love and care for. Take a look and feel free to comment! I have added a few of my favourite Christmas tunes below my video 🙂
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Wow, Christmas Eve already, the bearded weirdo arrives on his sleigh tonight led by living venison with an inflamed nose! I wanted to end the 12 Days Of, Mostly, Punky Christmas, with a song that I love by a band that back in the day were the best by far! The Ramones with “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)”, the video is rather good too 🙂
Happy Christmas to each and every one of you, thank you for sticking with this blog and let’s hope 2021 is so much better, it couldn’t be worse could it?
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How do you fancy another Christmas message? You do? How about one from probably my favourite band in the world right now? OK then Jordan from Avalanche Party has a message for you below, especially if you’re a jazz fan! 😉
After you have taken a look at the message click here to visit the Avalanche Party website and go to the merch tab where you’ll find some great T-shirts and CD and vinyl copies of their album, but surely you already own the album, right? If not get clicking!
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Thanks to Covid this is only the third gig I have been to since March 14th, well that is if I count the Receivers set outside Vinyl Eddie’s for Record Store Day Drop 1 in August, and frankly I do count that one!. The second was an outdoor socially distanced show at the Centre for Early Music in York, Elkyn and Fawn played that one in September. But this is the first socially distanced indoor gig I have been to and huge praise and respect to Joe, Chris, Harkirit and all the staff who worked that night. It felt safe, drinks delivered direct to your table. Sure the rules on not singing, shouting and dancing were a bit weird, but it meant we were at a real gig at last. Special thanks and respect to the security guy who had to eject two people for blatant disregard of the rules. Even in these times some people are just dickheads!
Anyway on to the show, Avalanche Party are probably my favourite band in the world right now and 2020 should have been huge for them off the back of the release of their stunning debut album, ’24 Carat Diamond Trephine’ last year. But Covid and the ensuing shitstorm of a year has laid all the best plans to waste. I have seen Avalanche Party more than anyone except for Frank Turner and David Bowie so obviously I had high hopes for this show. I knew we wouldn’t get the usual raucous, sweaty, passionate, punky performance that we have come to expect, but I still had high hopes for the night.
They opened their first set with “Bugzy” with Jordan on keys and vocals, Jared on saxophone, playing in a very Bowie style and Harry from the Black Lagoons on acoustic guitar. This was followed by a magnificent electronic noisefest run through ace single “I’m So Wet”. “Johnny Dream” was like an outtake from ‘Lodger’ period Bowie. Some awesome bass runs from Joe on this one. Jared’s sax was also very Bowiesque too. Kane the drummer finally arrived for “Praise”, an older song, but one that remains epic and anthemic. Hot on the heels of praise was “Money” another true Avalanche Party anthem, and it seemed even more soulful and anthemic in this setting. It was turning into a wonderful Avalanche Party oldies fest as they closed the first set with “Let’s Get Together”, which makes me think that they have always had a bit of glam rock in them.
Perhaps the highlight of the second set were two cover versions, the Beatles “Tomorrow Never Knows” and a stunning take on the gospel classic “Wade In The Water” that one gave me goosebumps. “Howl” is a stupendous song and perhaps the bands finest single to date, it was great to hear it in such a stripped back form. Jordan sang a couple of songs solo on stage with only his keyboard to accompany him, one of these was “Rebel Forever” I think. Those two songs really showcased what a fantastically versatile vocalist he is, the bloke oozes soul and passion. “Every Last Drop” featured Harry from the Black Lagoons on violin and Jordan joked that this was Harry’s GCSE violin exam. Next was another great almost doo wop style cover of “It’s A Sin” by Canadian artist Tonetta, check him out he is bloody good. The band out did the Flying Pickets and the Housemartins for their classy acapella skills on this number. They closed with a barnstorming, consider it was a stripped back show, take on yet another classic, “Solid Gold”
This is a band who improve every time you see them. They are still on an upward trend and a long way from reaching their peak. They proved tonight that they can perform in any environment and if this type of show is the future of gigs for the foreseeable future then Avalanche Party have it nailed. A true joy to experience, even my wife, who has never seen them before, and to be fair this is not her usual taste in music, absolutely loved it!
All the photos were taken on my cheap Chinese phone, with the exception of the set list which was taken by Avalanche Party’s Joe Bell!
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Day 11 of the 12 Days Of Mostly Punky Christmas series and after Reel Big Fish yesterday how about more ska punk today? Yes? Well let’s cut the rug with the bouncy, bass driven ska punk Christmas party anthem “Oi To The World” from No Doubt.
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I wasn’t sure whether this Christmas message idea would work or not, but I think it has. This is the eighth one and it is now the turn of West Yorkshire Superheroes, PERCY! Earlier this year the band released the rather fabulous ‘Seaside Donkeys’ album and the vinyl release is something special. You can download it from their BandCamp site and from the same place you can still avail yourself of one of the remaining vinyl albums too. Just click here, you won’t regret it! Well worth the investment, this is a classic album. Given that we haven’t seen the last of Brexshit, the vile gift that keeps on giving, PERCY and their songs will be very relevant for many, many years yet! Now enjoy the PERCY Christmas message from singer guitarist Colin!
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So many great bands and so many great Christmas messages, this one is from the Notorious Lightbulbs. This is their third appearance in these pages and there will certainly be more! Check out their fun Christmas message below. Also you need to get this band in your life, check out their socials below.
I am overwhelmed by the spirit, kindness and effort shown by so many bands who have given us a Christmas message here at With Just A Hint Of Mayhem. This one is from a great British band, the Suncharms. All being well they hope to brighten up 2021 with their debut album. Based on what we have heard from them so far I am sure it will be bloody good! Get yourself some rather excellent Suncharms tracks over on their BandCamp page, just click here. There is also a rather decent looking T-Shirt on the merch page too, click here for that. The band also contributed a fab track to ‘Comfort and Joy – A Shiny Happy Christmas Compilation’, click here to download the album, it’s a corker!
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Day 10 of 12 already on our 12 Days Of, Mostly, Punky Christmas, where has the time gone? Today it is the turn of ska punk superstars Reel Big Fish with “Skank For Christmas” if you don’t dance to this you need medical attention, you might be dead!
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I am really enjoying the numerous Christmas messages that some of our favourite bands have put together for our readers. This one is from yet another great band from York, yes we are a hot bed of musical talent up here 🙂
Thanks to social distancing it is singer and guitarist Nick who is giving the message on behalf of the band, but the sentiments are shared by all the other Receivers. This band have released a couple of awesome tracks this year. You can check them out below the Christmas message. While you do click here and buy yourself some great vinyl and T-Shirt Receivers merch. Hot off the press the boys have secured a support slot with The Royston Club at the Victoria Vaults in January, click here to get yourself a ticket, this will be a sell out!
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