With Just A Hint Of Mayhem

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

On This Day Berry Signs Wacko And His Bros And Top Of The Pops Ends! July 26, 2024

Filed under: On This Day — justwilliam1959 @ 1:41 pm
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On 26th July 1968, The Jackson 5 signed a one-year contract with Motown Records after label executive Hank Cosby was blown away by their audition, in which the five brothers played and sang James Brown’s “I Got the Feeling.” among other classic tunes. The group broke US chart records soon after when their first four singles; “I Want You Back,” “ABC,” “The Love You Save,” and “I’ll Be There” all reached number 1 on the Billboard chart. The group appeared on the UK BBC Top Of The Pops show many times, if you include the moments when their song was featured as a dance section by in-house dancers Pan’s People it was 23 times. The first was in February 1970.

While we are talking about Top Of The Pops on July 26, 2006, the final edition of the iconic British music TV show was recorded at London’s BBC Television Centre in front of a studio audience of just 200 lucky punters. It was first broadcast on New Year’s Day 1964 (my fifth birthday!), the series ran to 2,260 episodes, making it the world’s longest-running music show. Sadly, with hindsight, it was co-hosted by Jimmy Saville. But there were plenty of other hosts; Janice Long, Mike Read, Dave Lee Travis, Tony Blackburn, Pat Sharp, Sarah Cawood, Rufus Hound and Reggie Yates. There were no acts in the studio for the final episode but plenty of classic clips including; The Rolling Stones (they kicked the show off with, rather appropriately, “The Last Time”), Spice Girls, Sonny and Cher, Wham!, Madonna, Take That, Beyonce, David Bowie, Gnarls Barkley, Michael Jackson and Coldplay. The show ended with a video of Shakira and Wyclef Jean performing that week’s number one song, “Hips Don’t Lie”. I miss Top Of The Pops, but I don’t miss Saville, he can rot in hell!

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“Typical Fantasy” – Pennine Suite July 25, 2024

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 9:41 pm
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Pennine Suite go full-on happy student disco with the new track “Typical Fantasy”. There is even a disco ball on the cover! It sometimes has a feel of the Killers and drives along like a perfectly tuned Rolls Royce. “Typical Fantasy” is infinitely infectious and creates the most wonderful pop pandemic for your ears. The tune sits with you for a long while after it finishes. This band gets better and better every time!

Click here to listen to “Typical Fantasy” on Spotify.

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“Collateral Damage” – Avalanche Party

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 9:20 pm
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The AP boys are back with a danceable slice of weird twisted pop. It has a deeply dark stygian funk underpinning it through bass and drums that feel like they emanate from somewhere on Dante’s journey below. The keyboard hooks mesmerise while the guitar riffs overpower the listener with ease. Jordan’s vocal is perhaps his best yet. The track takes some of the finest tranches of alternative 80s rock and early goth and repurposes them into a shape that perfectly fits the 21st century. The video is delightfully dark and disturbing too! This masterful song bodes stupendously well for the forthcoming sophomore album!

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Tercelvoice – Fulford Arms – Tuesday 16th July 2024 July 24, 2024

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 4:21 pm
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Sometimes I am attracted to a gig by the name of a band or artist and sometimes I am drawn by the opportunity to see someone I have never seen before. This gig pulled me in for both reasons; I had never seen either act and love the name Tercelvoice. I understand that it comes from the Chaucer poem ‘The Parlement of Foules’ and tercel was derived from the Latin word for “one third”, with “tiercel” referring to a male falcon which is one-third smaller than its female counterpart. There were only two acts on the bill; first, it was Makk from Harrogate. This was a wonderfully intimate set that perfectly showcased his confessional songs. There is an ethereal fragility in his canon of heavenly tunes. It was a set full of highlights, my favourites were “Valleys”, “Fifty” and “Rhyme Or Reason”. But the Radioheadesque “Two” soared high above everything else. If you get a chance to see Makk live then do it!

Tercelvoice is a very tight and hugely talented band. Frontman Andy Squires has a soulful voice that evokes Steve Marriott at times. On the more proggy tracks he projected a prog Tom Petty in his stylings. This is a band that is very difficult to drop into a specific genre box, there is prog, there is funk, there is rock, and many other strands. But most of all they are a bloody good band. The drumming was phenomenal throughout and drove the band to some stratospheric heights. “Hollowman” is gloriously Beatlesesque in its style and execution and was one of my favourites of the evening. There was a beautifully pulled-together Paul Weller and Robbie Robertson going on with “Call To Arms”. Meanwhile, “Take It Apart” has a delightful dark funk feel to it. They certainly saved the best to last with a colossal and perfect “This Is Our Time”, what a tune! Tercelvoice is a stunningly good and highly original band that shines in every department; drums, bass, guitar, and all that is overlaid with soaring and sonically superb voice. Get some Tercelvoice in your life. I met Andy Squires and he is not only a great singer and musician, he is a top bloke!

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“Pay It Forward” – Madam Misfit July 18, 2024

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 3:30 pm
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Madam Misfit has moved away from pure chap hop and steampunk style with the brilliant new single “Pay It Forward”. She perfectly channels her inner Lily Allen over a backing track that the Avalanches would be extremely proud of. The track retains her electro-swing thing stylings too. If the world was right and full of justice this song would be a huge hit. Why not make it so?

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“Sleeptalking” – Molly Rymer

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 3:14 pm
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Molly Rymer is an abundantly talented artist from Leeds, you may recognise her name from our recent interview with her. She has just released the latest track that will form a part of her first EP which will hit the streets later this year, hot on the heels of another great song, “Two Years This May” from earlier this year. This one is called “Sleeptalking” and showcases her wonderful confessional style of writing and performing. It is a delicate and gorgeous song in which Molly’s voice is the star, floating across the music like an angel’s wings. She has a soulful style and it feels like she is singing just for you! Get some Molly Rymer music into your life now, you will not be disappointed!

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“Medusa” – Elthia July 16, 2024

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 6:00 pm
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Elthia is a supremely talented indie/ pop/ rock singer-songwriter and she recently released a new tune, “Medusa”. The song has a hypnotic beat and mesmerising melodies. The hooks are like not too venomous snake bites. This is dance-led dream pop at its best. Elthia’s music has been a TikTok sensation and that is because it is so good. But it is not just the music that showcases her huge talent, the video for “Medusa” is a mini movie, with horror elements akin to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”, especially the Zombie dance routine part. Elthia cites Jacko as a hero, of the “Medusa” video she said “It is inspired by the music videos of Lady Gaga and Michael Jackson, I wanted the video to act as a short film, enhancing the aesthetic and creating a visual world for the song to exist in. I made all of the costumes myself, including a 15-foot snake tail, an Iris van Herpen-inspired dress, and a full-body suit based on a venomous sea snake. The music video blends reality and fantasy, capturing the chilling aura of a monster story that could exist in the real world, right under your nose, waiting to be discovered“. This has hit written all over it and I hope it is as massive as it deserves to be. I think a dance remix would work well too.

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“That Way” – The Jellybricks July 15, 2024

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 10:20 pm
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The Jellybricks from Harrisburg, PA have a new single out via Wicked Cool Records, it is called “That Way”. The song is an impeccable illustration of perfect power pop. The harmonies and melodies weave their way through an immaculate production. The hooks are top-drawer and mesmerise you until they simply barricade themselves into your brain and refuse to leave. Guitarist/vocalist Bryce Connor says of the track, “‘That Way’ is a song about finding the perfect girl, and the perfect love, and… always wanting it to be exactly that way.” Meanwhile, guitarist/vocalist Larry Kennedy says, “‘That Way’ evolved a little bit through our creative process, starting out with a slightly different chorus than what landed on the record. This is part of the fun of the band working collaboratively with Producer Geoff Sanoff. We keep fine-tuning these songs until we think they are the best they can be, and that means sometimes there are pleasant surprises for us in the sound of the end result.” This song is a fine slab of 21st-century rock ‘n’ roll. You need to listen to it right now! How has this band been around for so long without me hearing about them? I need to rectify that by listening to much more from the Jellybricks!

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“Glasgow” – Pale Waves

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 3:47 pm
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Photo by Kelsi Luck

Pale Waves are back with the second single from their forthcoming album ‘Smitten’ which hits the streets, via Dirty Hit, on 20th September. The song is called “Glasgow”, a city which many have sung about including ABBA, The Snuts, Hue & Cry, Aztec Camera, Deacon Blue, Lewis Capaldi, Belle & Sebastian, Jessie Buckley, Mogwai, and many others. But this tune from Pale Waves is up there with the best of them. It is full of gorgeously recorded jangly indie-pop guitars and leaves you with a smile on your face despite the lyrics being a little sad at times. Singer Heather Baron-Gracie says “Glasgow is my favourite from Smitten, it’s about leaving someone because you know it’s no good for either of you anymore. It somehow breaks my heart but also makes me feel euphoric at the same time.” This could easily become a real summer anthem, not just for 2024. Can you imagine the hooks and melodies ringing around festival fields? I certainly can! The band has a tour in support of the album too, check out the picture below for details.

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“Imposter Syndrome” – Karobela July 14, 2024

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 9:48 pm
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KAROBELA (pronounced ka-ro-bella) has just released their new single “Imposter Syndrome”, it is mighty and magnificent in equal measure. It has metal, pop, emotion, and earth-shattering riffs. The melody and vocal harmonies are heavenly but without the clouds and harps. Lyrically I believe it explores struggling with understanding who you are and having confidence and belief in yourself. The song oozes hope! You can sing to this, dance to it, play air guitar along with it, headbang to it, or simply just listen to it! Do you love great music? Then you will adore Karobela!

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