I had the pleasure of visiting Everything After Midnight Mansions last week on the eve of the release of the band’s fabulous new single “I Guess,“. Hear me chew the fat and shoot the shit about all things Everything AfterMidnight and other music-related stuff with three members of this rather wonderful York band! Click here to listen to the interview and let us know if you enjoyed it! Look out for a live review of the band from the single launch gig on Friday 23rd June, that will be coming soon!
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Imagine the Prodigy joining forces with the Chemical Brothers and going in a kind of glam rock direction and utilising David Bowie’s “secret” band from the ‘Earthling’ tour, the Tao Jones Index, well that is what the new track from the Apocalypse Disco sounds like to me. But it is not just homage and definitely not a facsimile, it is banging, beat-laden, and bloody bonkers. Right up my street, in fact, get this lot in your lugholes now, you will have no choice but to shake your booty and dance like nobody is watching! If this is the herald of the apocalypse, bow to your inner illegal rave soul, grab your glowsticks, and smash it until the end of the world with “Thunder” as your soundtrack! Check out the video too, it is madcap and magnificent!
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Everything After Midnight are back with a huge, anthemic, banger of a tune called “I Guess,“. It opens and closes on a relatively quiet and low-key acoustic style vibe, but in between it packs more punches than Muhammad Ali did throughout his whole career. It has a massed choir of jangly guitars but that is sometimes overlaid with mountainous riffs. The drumming is pounding, incessant and insistent, and if you were wondering I do mean that in a good way. Steph’s voice is pitch perfect as she carries the tune perfectly with a real rock panache while remaining in touch with the pop elements of the track, notably the gorgeous hooks, and chorus. Lyrically it is smart, sassy, cutting, and clever, lines like “kiss me, cos’ I’m a number, cold, hotel lobby” evoke sadness, anger, sarcasm, frustration, and much more in just a few seconds. I think Steph is channeling her inner Leigh Nash (vocalist of Sixpence None The Richer) on “I Guess,”, although I suspect that this is certainly unconscious channeling given that band’s biggest hit was back in 1998, some 25 years ago. The production is of absolute quality too, nothing fails in the mixing and you can hear every member of the band playing supremely well. Everything After Midnight’s earlier releases, including 2021’s ‘Still Sleeping’ EP have all been good, but “I Guess,” takes them to a new and magnificent level entirely. Get this band in your life now, you will regret it if you don’t! Also, look out for a gig review on them and an interview with them appearing on these pages very soon!
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This was another gig like the recent DMA’S at the Crescent in York, with help from Crash Records in Leeds, where fans could purchase some niftily priced ticket packages for intimate shows when they bought the new album. So, the large room was full of full-on Squid fans. Given that the band can now sell out places like the Academy in Leeds, this is a small and intimate show. OK, I know that the October O2 Academy Leeds show probably hasn’t sold out just yet, but I am confident that it will. I think it is hard to beat seeing a great band in a great grassroots venue such as the Brudenell. This was my first opportunity to see the classy Brighton five-piece in action and like the partisan crowd I was looking forward to it with great expectation and excitement. The show began with an almost eerie, drone-like orchestral piece of music washing slowly over the stage like an audio version of the first sign of sea mist in John Carpenter’s ‘The Fog’. It was a sound that set the scene perfectly for the band to saunter onto the stage and take up their positions.
The gig was mostly about showcasing their highly acclaimed new album ‘O Monolith’ released just a few days before this appearance. The band has previously stated that this album was influenced by These New Puritans and Talk Talk among others, I can see those influences, but I can hear so much more in their deep, dark, sometimes jarring, tones and melodies. They opened with the second single from ‘O Monolith’, the epic, stygian bass-driven “Undergrowth”. If Donny McCaslin had ever worked with Talking Heads and employed Stanley Clarke on bass, it might have gone some way toward achieving what this track does. Next up was the slightly softer, for at least a part, “Devil’s Den”, intentionally or otherwise I can hear Thom Yorke at his most left field here. Next, the band rolled into “G.S.K.” from their 2021 debut album ‘Bright Green Field’, it is not a song about the pharmaceutical giant, but a reflection on a journey from Bristol to London that flows past a large building occupied by Glaxo Smith Kline. It has a complex jazz feel in its construction, the song, not the building, and synth-style sounds that evoke late 70s Giorgio Moroder. Instrumentally “After The Flash” feels like a warped outtake from Bowie’s epitaph, ‘Black Star’ although Ollie Judge’s vocals are from a vibrant parallel universe.
My highlight was probably “If You Had Seen The Bull’s Swimming Attempts You Would Have Stayed Away”, which is also perhaps my favourite song title in a long while. I can see the Mark Hollis influence here, with perhaps a dash of Radiohead, a pinch of 60s muzak, and a whole packet of Squid. I think it would make a great addition to a horror film co-directed by Tim Burton and Stanley Kubrick. Speaking of films, a perfectly performed “Documentary Filmmaker” was next, a great track from the band’s first album, which was enhanced in a wonderful way. The sadly, short set closed with “Swing (In A Dream)” the magnificent opening track and first single from ‘O Monolith’, every one of the band was on top form for this and the emotion of Judge’s vocals is matched by how the music twists and turns with mood swings of its own. This was a staggeringly good set from a great band, bring on the October tour!
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This is the sixteenth song in the Play It Again Mayhem series which began back in 2020. Check out the previous entries along with this new one in the Play It Again Mayhem Spotify Playlist, click here to take a listen! It has been nearly ten months since the last one, how lazy was I? Anyway this is a song I consider an underrated classic from 1976 by legendary blues guitarist Elvin Bishop, entitled “Fooled Around And Fell In Love”. Bishop was not the vocalist on “Fooled Around And Fell In Love” though, that job fell to Mickey Thomas who many of you might know as vocalist, backing vocalist, and guitarist for Jefferson Starship and Starship from 1979. Elvin Bishop apparently felt that the tune better suited Mickey Thomas rather than the real gravelly blues sounds he created himself. It was this song and his other work with Elvin Bishop that helped Mickey Thomas get the gig with Jefferson Starship, which evolved into simply Starship.
The song’s best chart position was number three in the USA and New Zealand. It only reached number 34 in the UK, but I am proud to say I bought a copy all those years ago. The tune has been featured in many films, my favourite was its appearance in the first ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy’ film in 2014 as a part of the now rather famous mixtape. It was that film that made me fall in love with the song all over again. Rod Stewart covered the song in 2006, but frankly, that was not Rod’s finest moment and, for me, does not even come close to the original. The track remains one of my favourite songs of all time.
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I had an absolute blast interviewing Matt (a.k.a. Smell) of Snablades and Segregates last week. Hear us chew the fat for 80 minutes and enjoy the ace raconteur that Matt is when regaling us with some great stories of his life! Click here to listen to the interview.
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Here comes the fifth Mayhem Singles Round-Up for 2023, it includes eleven songs that have been passed on to me or recommended during the previous few weeks and months, there are some really brilliant tracks. It features four acts that have appeared on Mayhem’s pages before. Three of those bands are from Yorkshire, and I think one of the new to Mayhem artists is too. 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.
Perhaps their rockiest track to date and it makes me even more excited for the new album. Harmonies and hooks made in heaven and a chorus that hangs out in your head for ages.
Who would have guessed that such a stunning band would arise from the ashes of the Receivers, but Pennine Suite have released an absolute classic of a tune with “M.O.W.O.” I can’t wait to hear this at a gig. It has screaming guitars, magnificent vocals, and wonderfully weird keys at the intro and outro. I bloody love this song!
This is a song that I discovered by a great alignment of chance, my wife was out walking our dog Ziggy along the River Foss close to where we live in York and came across Janita filming a music video, for this very song! It is a fabulous slice of modern R&B with magnificent pop sensibilities and a touch of early Joan Armatrading. I know absolutely nothing about Janita, other than she is a great singer and this is a fabulous tune!
This lot aren’t big on writing bios for their socials, this is probably because they focus more on creating fantastic dark pop-rock songs with an old-school emo vein just like this.
Monad is Tel Aviv musician Eshchar Nachmany and with this track, he has unleashed a rock-tinged slab of almost manic EDM. I bloody love this, especially the gorgeous orchestral overtones.
This is a jaunty, poppy, and yet dark break-up song, following hot on the heels of the rather fantastic “Keep Her”. One listen and I was hooked, after the second listen I was addicted! Erin’s album is out later this month and I reckon it will be bloody good!
Fred is the former guitarist/ keyboard player from Noah and the Whale and with this tune, he shows he has a knack for producing great music. It has a sad, lament style, a 70s US West Coast vibe, and is simply a stunningly good rock ballad.
I am quite a fan of Kunt and the Gang and all their associated outlets; the Kunts, Krown Jewels, and others. Now that Aussie Paedo Rolf Harris is dead, why not celebrate with this wonderfully irreverent little ditty from Kunt and the Gang. If you are easily offended perhaps don’t play it. If you are a Rolf Harris fan, can I simply ask what the fuck are you doing here?
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This was not a standard DMA’S show, the boys are used to playing much bigger venues these days. Their biggest headline show to date was the Alexandra Palace in London for 10,000 fans back in October 2021. This was essentially a fans-only special acoustic show supported by Crash Records as part of the band’s ‘How Many Dreams? UK Record Store Tour’. If you bought the new DMA’S album, you could purchase up to four tickets. It was, as expected. a sell-out and the Crescent is a perfect intimate setting for a gig like this. The crowd was full of DMA’S acolytes and disciples who worshipped the band and hang onto their every word. The DMA’S are very much a lad band in the bastard sons of Oasis lineage. That said they do have some great songs with epic choruses though, most of which knock the spots of anything Oasis recorded after “(What’s The Story) Morning Glory?” They have had some pretty high-level support slots with Liam Gallagher, the Kooks, and Richard Ashcroft to name just a few. On record, particularly with the new album, their fourth, the DMA’S have begun to develop and move a little further away from the core sound of their earlier songs. But at the Crescent they were playing to the gallery and pulled out all the stops to make this a truly special treat for their fans. The crowd voiced their “lad band chant” of “D, D, DMA” at every opportunity and every one of the audience seemed right up for a great night, and that is exactly what DMA’S delivered.
Tommy O’Dell’s voice was in great shape and Johnny Took was the band’s key communicator with their fervent fans. Looking at how the band reacts with their punters it is clear that they really “get” who put them where they are, truly humble and in many respects not just a lad band, but a people’s band. I can’t see DMA’S ever doing a Royal Blood. The set had many highs, for me “Silver” from 2020’s ‘The Glow’ album and “Fading Like A Picture” from the new album were stunning. Of course, they performed their now obligatory cover of Cher’s “Believe” which is always good. For their next cover, I would love to see them tackle a rock cover of a Kylie classic in homage to a fellow Aussie success story. Set closer “Everybody’s Saying Thursday’s The Weekend” ended the short set on a high of mountainous proportions. For a short time you never would have believed it was a Sunday night, the crowd went mental and were properly “mad for it”.
There are three dates left on this tour, but I reckon they might all be sold out, but give it a try just in case!
Sun 11 June Edinburgh Assai Records @ The Caves Tue 13 June Middlesbrough Reflex Records @ The Empire Wed 14 June Manchester Crash Records @ GorillaJune
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I must confess I had been looking forward to this event for a long while. The long-awaited and highly anticipated show formally signalled the release of Kindelan‘s debut EP ‘You Can Reach Me If You Try’. Until earlier this year I had only ever seen Laura Kindelan perform solo, but now she is back with a full band under the tasteful, yet simple, moniker Kindelan. So was it a good show from Kindelan? You will need to carry on reading to find out because first I need to tell you about the rather spiffing support act, Hannah Rowe. This was the first-ever gig for Hannah and her band, something you never would have guessed as they were so tight and on form. Hannah’s voice is deeply soulful and at times evocative of Adele, Minnie Riperton, and Deniece Williams. But those are just simple comparisons, Hannah’s voice is very much her own. The band was stunning throughout, the guitar player wove a path from soul to pop via some choppy funk motifs. The drummer was beautifully understated and commanding at the same time. Keep your ears open and your eyes peeled for Hannah Rowe, she is damned good!
Hannah Rowe and some of the band
Next month, it will be six years since I very first experienced Laura Kindelan performing live as support to Billie Marten at City Screen Basement in York. I have seen her quite a few times since then and she just gets better and better. I recently saw her play with the band at Welcome To The North in Young Thugs Studio in York. That was the first time I had ever seen her play backed by a full band. This EP launch showcase at the Brudenell in Leeds was the full Kindelan with the added addition of a brass section. This was also a huge gig for Laura and the band, not many people get to headline the main room at the Brudenell and many of those don’t get to pack it out so much. There was clearly much love, and anticipation, in the room for Kindelan. The band, and Laura, were in top form with everyone performing at 100%. Is this jazz, modern R&B, rock, pop, or something else? Well, it is a bit of all that and something special that is that Kindelan sparkle. The first words Laura uttered when she took the stage were “What the fuck” and frankly that summed up the size of this achievement perfectly, even if it wasn’t a “typically Laura thing to say”. The songs on the new EP are irresistibly stunning. My EP highlights from this awesome Brudenell set were “Hazel Frustration”, “Feast” and “She”. However a newer song, “Bruises” was a haunting tale of sorrow about domestic abuse. Laura co-wrote the tune and apparently didn’t want to sing it as it “wasn’t her story”. However, it is sadly the story for many people and one that she and the band tell with empathy, care, passion, anger, and love. I have previously compared Laura Kindelan with some great performers including Jeff Buckley, Kendrick Lamar, and Nina Simone. I can definitely reiterate all those influences based on this fabulous set. The jazz element to all the songs was enhanced by the addition of the brass duo which for me brought some Donny McCaslin vibes to proceedings. One thing that really stands out with this band and Laura as a commanding frontwoman is that they have no fear about using the space and quiet between the notes, which adds a level of atmosphere that some artists can only dream of. Once again the backing vocal harmonies were majestic and magical. It is clear how much Laura rates this band after seeing her step into the audience while the rest of the band finished the show with a final fun and funky jam. This felt like a show that many, many people will look back on as one of the best gigs they have seen. Gig of the year so far for me certainly! After a couple more dates (London 8th June, York 10th June) I believe Laura will be taking advantage of some well-earned downtime to recharge her batteries, I wish her well with that, but I also look forward to where she takes her music next.
Laura Kindelan
Meanwhile, get some Kindelan in your life, you won’t regret it. Check out my two-part review of the EP by clicking here for part 1 and here for part 2. Also, feel free to check out my recent interview with Laura Kindelan here.
The Kindelan Brudenell Setlist
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Last week I had the absolute pleasure of interviewing the incredibly talented musician Liz Davinci. Listen to what Liz says about music (including her own, especially the new album), jazz, classical, Kate Bush, Tori Amos, Marilyn Monroe, and many other things! Click here to listen to the complete interview and click here to check out Liz’s fabulous new album ‘Fata Morgana’ on Spotify.
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