Many years ago, I saw the Bluetones (at Reading Festival 2000), so I jumped at the chance to see them play an acoustic set at the fabulous Fulford Arms in York. But before we get to them let me tell you about the support acts. First on stage was Pete Lambert, he is a folky storyteller with an exquisite skill for weaving great tales with his lyrics. I really loved “Ghost” and the bluegrass styled “Without The Whiskey” was a fine way to end a delightful but short set. He was followed onto the stage by Lissy Taylor, she is a wonderfully charismatic singer from Manchester. “She’s A Stunner” and “Healer” were outstanding and her cover of Amy Winehouse’s “Back To Black” was a great version of a classic tune. Before I get to the Bluetones I need to have a little rant. Why do so many punters at gigs talk loudly and persistently when an act, particularly a support artist, is on stage? Why don’t they just go to the pub?
This acoustic gig featured 50% of the Bluetones, which was Mark Morriss and Adam Devlin. Morriss announced it as a game of two halves with set 1 featuring no hits and a 2nd set after a cigarette break with all the hits. Although that was not strictly true as part 1 included some loud and enthusiastic crowd singalongs to “Down At The Reservoir”, “Bluetonic” and “Cut Some Rug”. The high point of the first half for me was “Carry Me Home”. But the one that seemed to hit the capacity crowd right in the heart was “A Parting Gesture” from the band’s debut album ‘Expecting To Fly’ from 27 years ago. After a brief nicotine break, Mark and Adam took the stage for the 2nd set. The cover of the Flying Burrito Brothers, “Hot Burrito #1” (a favourite song of Morriss for 30 years) was stylish and sublime. “Into The Red”, a song about the last great recession taken from the band’s last studio album ‘A New Athens’ sadly is still so relevant. But maybe that is helped by the fact that it is a great song. Incidentally, that last album was released in 2010, when will we see the next one lads? Thehighlight of the second half for me was “Keep The Home Fires Burning”. The one song that will probably never be left off a Bluetones setlist is “A Slight Return” and for this show, it was an absolute peak for a peach of a song which was probably the most popular tune of the night. The Fulford Arms roof was close to being lifted by 150 souls singing the magnificent refrain “You don’t have to have the solution. You’ve got to understand the problem. And don’t go hoping for a miracle. All this will fade away. So I’m coming home. I’m coming home” I was singing it in the car all the way home too. “A Slight Return” is the Bluetones song that even people who claim not to remember the Bluetones know. An intimate and perfect acoustic show from half of a great band. There a still a few dates left on this acoustic tour, grab yourself a ticket if you can, it will definitely be a worthwhile purchase!
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I think it’s time for another Mayhem singles round-up, don’t you? Here comes the fourth for 2023, it includes a baker’s dozen of tunes that have been passed on to me or recommended during the previous few weeks and months, there are some rather spiffing tracks.
It features many artists and bands that have appeared on Mayhem’s pages before. There are also four great cover versions in this collection. There are new tracks from Avalanche Party, Apollo Junction, Vaquelin and Liz Davinci who I think all have new albums coming out sometime this year. Judging from their latest offerings, choosing Mayhem’s album of the year for 2023 will be very difficult! Let me know what you think of this great collection of tunes!
You will find a YouTube link to each song in the title (or a link to the audio of the track) and a link to the artist’s website or one of their social media pages when you click the artist’s name. You can also find the link to a Spotify playlist of all these songs by clicking here.
Ain’t no party like an Avalanche Party and the AP boys are back with what is most definitely a tune for partying to. You probably wouldn’t play this at a work event! I sense an Amazing Snakeheads influence in this fast-paced, frenzied, frenetic, funky, feral, fest of a song. The band all seem to be in top form, especially Kane’s drumming. This is the first single from their upcoming sophomore album, ‘Der Traum Über Alles’. The video is very classy indeed.
The Apollo Junction lads are back with another offering that will feature on their third album, due out later this year. For the first minute, it is soft, acoustic, mellow, and pensive. Then the sound continues to build with an almost drone-like guitar sound underpinning it. It finally builds to an immense orchestral-sounding, epic finish. The harmonies are superb and I can imagine this sound echoing across festival fields for years to come. Possibly my favourite Apollo Junction song so far.
This is a fine slab of fuzzy, dirty, electric blues. If you are not doing the Grayston Boogie by the end of the track then frankly you should seek medical help. The video has a few fleeting tips as to how to boogie in a Grayston way!
A brave choice to cover this one. No one could ever hope to emulate the original Amy Winehouse, so the Palava choose to take the song in a different direction. An immaculate blues rock vocal and some gritty, scuzzy garage rock style guitars. I have seen the band play this live and they do it well, but this recording is so very much better than that! I bloody love it!
This bunch is from Adelaide, Australia and this track is reminiscent of the softer side of Blink 182. It is a close-to-perfect amalgam of great pop punk and emo. A heartfelt tale of heartbreak. I am looking forward to hearing more from Sad Like You.
Is Liz Davinci descended from Leonardo? I don’t know, but she is certainly an incredibly talented artist. Vocally there are elements of Kate Bush, Suzanne Vega, and Marcella Detroit here. This tune is beautiful and almost baroque in its construction. I love the way that Liz is not afraid to use the space between the notes. This augers well for her forthcoming album ‘Fata Morgana’.
This is the second cover in this singles selection (there will be more) and it does what I think makes a perfect cover in that it isn’t a simple facsimile of the original. This is the first track to be released from the Easy All Stars forthcoming album of a reggae reimagining of Bowie’s ‘The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars’ album. This one works perfectly and bodes well for the album. The Dame’s rarely touched reggae, and when he did it was never particularly good in my opinion. But Easy All Stars with Steel Pulse show with absolute certainty that Bowie can work in a reggae style.
We have another cover in the singles round up. This time it is smoky, heavy, swampy, garage rock version on Nina Simone’s iconic classic “Feelin’ Good”. For me this version takes back ownership of the song from Muse after Matt Bellamy’s somewhat histrionic and over-the-top take on the tune from a few years ago.
Witch Of The East return with a fabulous new song. This is punk, post punk, electro, dance with a goth icing and a pinch of New Order. Based on this, if there is another Witch Of The East album in development it will be bloody wonderful.
Get into this band now, then when they break big you can impress your mates by saying you were there at the start. This song is full on rock with large shots of Yard Act and Sleaford Mods and a shady undercurrent of mounting anger. Go see them live as soon as you can!
Gemma, Danny and Aaron return with a stonking cover of Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game”. It feels like the Velvet Underground made the song originally back in the 60s and then Isaak covered it in 1989. OK, I know that isn’t true, right? This must be top of the list to be on the Twin Peaks soundtrack if there is ever another remake, prequel or sequel. I love that in the blurb to the video on YouTube the band state “Dear lovers, snoggers and nighttime doggers. We’ve recorded a cover of one of our favourites in light of the smoooochin’ season” that cracked me up, well the nighttime doggers bit anyway!
Another banging tune from Vaquelin, it kicks off like Led Zeppelin on Quaaludes and the vocals are classic 70s rock style with a dash of Bowie’s Tin Machine Style. The screaming lead guitar, particularly in the last part of the track is something Mick Ronson would be proud of. The second album from Vaquelin looks like it will be better than the first based on this tune!
The Undercover Hippy is an expert at protest tunes, because it is done in a very clever and subtle way. The reggae backing has shades of another great band, Captain Ska. This song questions the greed and or incompetence of our less than industrious leaders. We need more artists like this calling out the scummy liars in government.
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Kunt and the Gang a.k.a. the Kunts and now a.k.a. the Krown Jewels are back. They have previously released some cracking poppy, punky tunes about our “illustrious leaders” including such classics as “Boris Johnson Is A Fucking Cunt”, “Boris Johnson Is Still A Fucking Cunt”, “Prince Andrew Is A Sweaty Nonce”, “Fuck Off Boris You Cunt”, “Fuck The Tories” and “Rishi Sunak Is A Rat Faced Cunt”. Every one of these songs (and all the seemingly endless remix versions) are stone-cold pop classics and I can’t understand why they haven’t all been to the top of the charts and never been played on the radio, can you? Anyway, they are about to take another shot at the chart summit with a new song, “Scrap The Monarchy”. Marvellous lyrics, great hooks, and something to sing along to while you do your damndest to avoid the vile spectacle of the coronation on 6th May. The video below is, I think, an early version of the single which will be released on 5th May according to the Kunt and the Gang Twitter feed, on which they share what looks like an updated lyric video, click here to check that out. I love the lyric about King Charlie Tampon “He propagates the narrative, he’s a climate protester. But his best friend was Jimmy Savile, Britain’s foremost child molester” along with “and his brother Prince Andrew is a nonce case too”. They also mention the pegmeister himself, Prince William with lines such as “maybe we have pegged him wrong”. Get ready to download or stream this worthwhile, spiffing well needed tune on 5th May by clicking here. Oh and apologies if you are offended by nasty words and profanities there are a lot included in this post, a bit late for that warning I know. But maybe you should be more offended by the obscene wealth and privilege of the Royal Family and that in a so-called modern world, the UK has an unelected head of state. Do everything you can to get “Scrap The Monarchy” to the top of the charts!
If you want to sing along here are the lyrics. Printed here without permission, is that ok with you Mr. Kunt?
[Intro] What do they do? What do they do? What do they actually do? What do they do? What do they do? What do they actually do? What do they do? What do they do? What do they actually do? What do they do? What do they do? What do they actually do?
[Verse 1] The coronation seems a good occasion to discuss Why one family live in palaces, all subsidised by us While folks rely on foodbanks, and we’re supposed to rejoice As a crown is chauffeured round in a custom-made Rolls Royce It’s time for this to stop, let’s give the royals the chop
[Chorus] Scrap the monarchy, scrap the monarchy Their pampered lives are vile while people live in poverty In inhumane conditions, while out-of-date traditions Mean we all pay for the royals to live in luxury, so Scrap the monarchy
[Verse 2] King Charles’s fingers are so fat, swollen, sore, and red From swans that he gets fed and things he does in bed He propagates the narrative he’s a climate protester But his best friend was Jimmy Saville, Britain’s foremost child molester And his brother Prince Andrew, he’s a nonce-case too
[Chorus] Scrap the monarchy, scrap the monarchy They turn a blind eye to their pedos like the BBC They think they can pay for it all to go away But covering up for nonces is their lasting legacy, so Scrap the monarchy (Oi) Scrap the monarchy (Oi) They stand for racist values and inequality It’s time to have a vote, then stick them all in a small boat And let them take their chances in some far-flung colony Scrap the monarchy
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Koagula (a.k.a. Kell Chambers) who describes himself as a nomadic singer-songwriter recently released a new album, ‘Ghost To The Light’ and I have had some moments of pure musical pleasure listening to it. The album kicks off with “Every Feather”, which has shades of the Verve or solo Richard Ashcroft. Kell’s voice has a deep yearning on this track and the music is subtle but perfect. Next, it is a delicate and sublime mostly acoustic song with the title track “Ghost To The Light”. I can imagine myself chilling in the sun with a cold beer while listening to this. It has a vibe of mid-70s Floyd, particularly in the fade. Back in the days when he chose some great songs to cover I can imagine Rod Stewart covering “Fallen Magic”. The tune is a gentle David Grayesque deep ballad. “Vanish To The Velvet” opens with a drum pattern that evokes Bowie’s “Five Years” and then takes a sublime jazz route when the other instruments kick in. Kell’s vocals here soar with soulful intent and the delicious guitar solo takes me back to early Hall and Oates. If you like songs with a sad mood, but a real feeling of hope then “Discalceate” is exactly what you need. This is a real thing of ethereal beauty. I must confess that I had to look up the meaning of discalceate, I always love learning new words. Essentially it means barefoot or shoeless. At just over six and a half minutes “Daisy Sonder” is the longest track on the album and it borders on epic. I am looking forward to seeing this played live. I can imagine a crowd in enraptured quiet wonder as they fall in love with this breathtaking tune. The range of the vocals here are immense and come to the end you will want much more. The album was recorded at the magnificent Young Thugs Studio in York and the album closes with two largely acoustic tracks recorded live at the studio, “The Painter” and “Crepuscular”. The first has summer anthem stamped all over it and the second is every bit as good. You need this album in your life now, make it so!
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UPDATE – ok so when I wrote the review below, thanks to Spotify (and I believe that Apple Music and other streaming sites do the same) I thought it was the actual EP. But no, that is just how streaming services titled it. Incidentally, I have not edited my initial review below, so things like the EP title are not right, although the post title has been amended to show the EP’s real title, ‘You Can Reach Me If You Try’, which is out on 10th May. The picture above has also been swapped from the original post! Anyway, this means that I have some good news and bad news for you. Which do you want first, the good or the bad? The bad news first you say? OK then. The bad news is that at the moment you only have four great songs available from Kindelan’s upcoming EP. But the incredible good news is that when the EP hits the streets on 10th May it will include three more fabulous tunes from Kindelan. I am quite excited by this, so much so that I plan to review the additional three songs as part two of my EP review in the next few weeks! Is that OK with you dear reader?
Kindelan recently completed the release of her EP ‘Can’t Sleep’ with the release of the title track. It contains four gorgeous, blissed-out 21st-century R&B tracks. We have already reviewed two of the tracks here at Mayhem Towers when they were released as singles. Those two songs were “The Other Side” and “Feast“. I said that “The Other Side” is a great song, with both soulful and ethereal vocals and reminiscent of what the offspring of Nina Simone and Minnie Riperton might have sounded like toward the end. The tune has some sublime jazzy and folky twists and turns. The band is really tight and the production is perfect. I can imagine Solange doing a great cover of this song. The tune deals with the perennial issue many of us encounter in believing that the grass is greener on the other side. The lyrics are deep and I suspect that my interpretation of those words may be different from other people’s, but that for me is what makes a great song. I love the lines “We need the green, tell me why it always feels out of reach. I can see the other side one day I swear I’ll go there when I have the time“. I have previously compared Laura’s talent to that of Jeff Buckley and while I stand by that for some elements of “Feast” I sense more of Kate Bush here, from around ‘The Sensual World’ period. In fact, lyrically it made me think of the title track of that aforementioned Kate Bush album. When I originally reviewed the tune back in 2021 I said that it was sultry, moody, and jazzy and the guitar work is chilled and even eerie at times. That is still how I feel about the song, which Kindelan recently referred to as an unintentionally saucy song during her live set at the Welcome To The North showcase put together by BBC Radio York, Jericho Keys, and Young Thugs Studio.
“Hazel Frustration” is perhaps my favourite track from this collection, at least today. Laura’s voice is sublime and rhythmically it has elements of Beyonce in her softer songs. The production of this tune, particularly the multi-part harmonies and the drums is set perfectly to underpin that delightful and fresh vocal. The whole EP was produced by Ed Allen and Laura Kindelan. The wonderfully produced video for “Hazel Frustration” was co-directed and edited by Nathan Luke, one of the most talented videographers I know. Check out the video below. The EP’s title track evokes Kendrick Lamar and has smoky late-night jazz vibes throughout. Laura’s voice is at its most soulful here even with some relatively dark lyrics. The band comes together perfectly here as they build the noise to a crescendo and then take it down to softer tones before getting loud again. The chorale-style backing vocals elevate the song to something that Brian Wilson would have been very proud of. I have compared Kindelan to many great artists in this review, but she is not a simple facsimile of any of them. She is an obscenely talented artist who soaks up influences like a sponge before drawing out just the magical drops of water that enhance her unique style and delivery. If you are not a fan of Kindelan yet, you will be after you have listened to this EP. Click here to find the EP on Bandcamp, it can also be found on all major streaming sites.
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Snapblades have just released a new EP on Vinyl Eddie Records, the 8th release on the not-so-fledgling label based in York. Snapblades are Matt “Smell” Keeley (vox and bass) and Dan “Gottie” Gott (Drums, Guitars and vox). There are six tracks including two covers. Interestingly and perhaps groundbreakingly for the way the world currently exists and the way the music industry wants to operate, there will be no digital release of any kind for the EP. In the punk duo’s words, “No social media. No streaming. No Bullshit” That is a real old-school punk approach, but it might mean that they never get to read this review as I won’t have the ability to tag them anywhere! I am really keen to understand if the band’s no socials and no streaming experiment works, are you? They go on to say “Punk rock has become a form of prostitution. A popularity contest that no one can win! It never used to be this way. Punk was the sound of the streets. And those streets were angry. Very angry!Can people still muster the effort to find music, without it being spoon-fed to them?Snapblades offer up a social experiment: do people still listen to music press? (These are questions Snapblades will find out the answers to”. I suppose a big question is what exactly is the music press these days? The inkies are long gone, monthly publications are glossy and mostly backward-looking and that leaves us with online stuff, right? So perhaps most reviews of this EP will be online and on socials.
But all of that is a different discussion, what about the EP? It opens with the hard and heavy riff fest that is “Panto”. I am reminded of peak Motorhead with the speed and anger captured in this track. “Obedience” carries on where “Panto” leaves off and it has a euphoric 70s punk feel, maybe early Damned or the Adverts. The first of the two covers is Flint’s “Broken Toys” and the boys do this song some serious justice and it is my current favourite. “Shiny Shoes” has a feel of 70s punk once again, maybe Chelsea, or TV Smiths band again. “Flowers And Thorns” sounds like it might be a decent demo for a full-on metal assault, something I think this pair have in them. Instrumentally and vocally it is possibly the best-recorded track on the EP. The collection closes with a cover of Media Control’s “Anti Social” and it oozes old-school punk vibes. This is a damned good EP, that hits you like the Incredible Hulk on a sackload of whizz and gives you no respite until the end. Click here if you want to get your hands on a black vinyl or limited edition splatter vinyl from Vinyl Eddie Records. I have a question for Snapblades, have they deliberately chosen to do covers from bands that are also not present anywhere on social media, or is this part of their master plan and these songs are in fact secretly Snapblades originals? I am not being cynical here, just curious, because if they were in fact Snapblades’ own tunes, that would be very punk in my opinion! I hope to find out when I see the band later this month 🙂
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Sparks are back and oh boy are the Mael brothers on top form. “The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte” is in my opinion one of their best singles ever. It stands alongside classics like “Amateur Hour” and “The Number One Song In Heaven”. It is the lead single and title track from their new album, their 26th (if you count ‘FFS’, their 2015 collaboration with Franz Ferdinand), scheduled for release in May on Island Records. It is hard to believe that the first album came out more than 50 years ago, particularly given how fresh this new track sounds. It is a fine slab of 21st-century orchestral electro-disco with a hook in the chorus that is to die for!. The video, which features Cate Blanchett, is stunning, well-filmed, well-edited, and both weird and funny in equal doses, I love it! I am now trying to perfect my Cate Blanchett moves! The band is touring from May this year with dates in the UK, Europe, USA, Canada, and Japan. These dates include two nights at the Royal Albert Hall in London and an appearance at the Glastonbury Festival in June. Check out the video below and let me know what you think of the tune.
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I had a great deal of fun interviewing the supremely talented and all-round decent human being Carol Hodge. She released her fourth album just a short while ago and it is damned good. Click here to check out the interview to hear Carol talk about the album, what she is currently listening to, and what it is like playing with artists such as Ginger Wildheart and Steve Ignorant.
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This was a free gig put together by Young Thugs Studio and Jericho Keys of BBC Radio York. It showcased just some of the vast musical talent we have in the north. Kicking it all off in a packed room it was the Feens from Scarborough. Like all the acts performing it was a five-song set, “Eyes Open” and the new track “Eternal Sunshine” were particular highlights for me. This was the third time I have witnessed the Feens playing live and if you like your rock nicely polished but with an edge, you will love them. I can hear elements of Arcade Fire, Vampire Weekend, 10cc, and New Order in their songs, but those are just minor influences, the Feens have originality and energy in abundance. Next, from the other side of the room, a very Later With Jools style set up, it was the hugely talented Kitty VR. She performed a batch of sublime new songs that she has been working on for a while, she has produced them all herself, and based on this set I can hardly wait for them to be out in the world. Kitty’s voice was pitch-perfect and dazzled the crowd. Kitty has some torch singer tropes and some gorgeous torch songs with a soft blues feel with jazzy undertones. Next, it was a monumental banging DJ set from ace DJ Rory Hoy. We were tightly packed but easily managed some constant fists-in-the-air action and even managed to do as the song instructed when House Of Pain’s “Jump Around” came on.
Now it was time for the grand piano in the corner to take centre stage as Max Dalton, formerly frontman of the rather amazing York rock band Hello Operator. This was all about Max and the piano, although he did have some guitar and percussion support. His new material is very different from what he did with Hello Operator and has a real 1930s vaudevillian jazz in a smoky gin joint vibe and bundles of 21st-century attitude. Lyrically I was reminded of early Leo Sayer, songs that tell stories. Finally, it was up to Kindelan to close proceedings. I first saw Laura Kindelan playing live almost six years ago and I have been a fan ever since. Kindelan’s EP will be released soon, with a launch gig at the Brudenell in Leeds in June. The strength of the songs that will be on that EP are truly immense. “Feast” (an unintentionally saucy tune) and “Hazel Frustration” are my current favourites. This was the first time I have seen Laura perform with a band and what a fine band it is. The sound was fabulously well-mixed and crystal clear. The chorale-style Beach Boys harmonies were ethereal and otherworldly. This is modern R&B with a smooth jazz injection. Kindelan’s songs and music is comparable to Kendrick Lamar and her vocals at times evoke Nina Simone. I love the way Laura and the band use the space between the notes and sometimes embrace the quiet.
It was great to meet so many stalwarts of the York music scene in the crowd at Young Thugs, including Marnie Glum, Nathan Luke, and members of Sun King, Pennine Suite, and the Corsairs. It was also great to have the chance to catch up with Laura Kindelan and Kitty VR at the end of the evening. An immense thank you to Jericho Keys and Young Thugs for making this happen, when is the next one?
Click here to listen to the radio broadcast of the show on BBC Radio York, it is available for 30 days and also includes some interviews with all the artists.
The previously mentioned Nathan Luke was co-director and editor on this rather spiffing video for Kindelan’s “Hazel Frustration”.
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I had the absolute pleasure of interviewing one of York’s finest bands, City Snakes last week. Click here to check out the interview and discover so much more about the City Snakes lads. from the name of the band to musical influences and some fun stuff too, it’s all there! I should point out that owing to a couple of technical issues (damn those gremlins to hell and back) there are two points in the interview where the microphone cut out, so apologies for two little clunky moments. After you have listened to the boys chatting with me why not check out some of their tunes on Spotify.
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With Just A Hint Of Mayhem 