With Just A Hint Of Mayhem

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

Jamnesty – Fulford Arms, York Friday 11th July 2025 July 13, 2025

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 11:22 am
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On a baking hot July evening, the Fulford Arms in York was lit up with an electric mix of energy, activism, and genre-hopping joy for this year’s Jamnesty gig, a fundraiser in support of Amnesty International. (If you would like to donate, just click here) The lineup was packed with local talent and rising stars, each bringing something distinctive to the stage, a fiery combination that nearly blew the roof off. It was also great to see so many staff and students from Huntington School on the night and on the stage!

The evening opened with El & Ewan, a duo whose stripped-back acoustic set delivered a punch of raw honesty. Armed only with guitar and their voices they gave us a delightful set of gorgeously performed, mostly, sad songs. They both seemed a little nervous, but that didn’t stop them from playing a simply gorgeous cover of Keane’s “Somewhere Only We Know”.

Next up, the Sparrows took the stage with a richer, bluesy, dirty garage rock sound. There were covers from the 60s to the 90s from artists that included the Stone Roses, Johnny Cash, Oasis (sadly), James and the Beatles. “Sit Down” was a mega hit with the crowd as they swayed, then stomped, then whooped. A huge shout out to the drummer who was, frankly, phenomenal! A great set from a fresh band.

The tone shifted both dramatically and delightfully with The Fruity Pebbles, who brought neon energy and a funk-pop vibe that was danceable and addictive. They had the room bouncing from their first song. Beneath their wonderfully playful façade was tight musicianship and a band that clearly seemed to have rehearsed well. Their take on Abba’s “Voulez Vous” poured funk into an already funky tune and the emotion was off the scale as they closed with a powerful take on Robbie Williams’ “Angels”.

Next it was a chance for deep groove to meet grit as the Apocalypse Disco lived up to their name. This was a fusion of funk, disco, and dystopian theatrics. Think Giorgio Moroder meets Nine Inch Nails in a synthy warehouse rave, or perhaps the Prodigy on speed. Frontman Robin led a hypnotic performance of “Alive” that turned the Fulford Arms into a sweaty dance floor, the ceiling was dripping sweat too. The apocalyptic groove ran deep as the duo showed that they were easily the most danceable protest music of the night. Namaste motherfuckers!

Then came Fendry, whose headline set proved exactly why they’re one of the UK’s most talked-about rap acts right now. He gave the early part of his set to the mightily talented Rashevos (I hope I spelled that correctly).After that Fendry commanded the crowd from his first rhyme to his last cipher. He has confidence, style, skill and just the right level of arrogance. He has the talent to be as big as Skepta or even Eminem. Fendry is a rapper and grime artist originally from York, but now based in Wembley, London. His recent rise has been through the PenGame rap battle circuit and a string of energetic singles, he continues making waves in the underground scene. He is undefeated in several battles, including wins against JM and Domi Dusk. He gave the crowd a bold, beautiful end to a night of music that meant something.

Jamnesty 2025 at the Fully wasn’t just a gig, it was a statement. The Fulford Arms provided the perfect DIY venue vibe, and the acts each channeled the spirit of resistance, rebellion, and release in their own way. Whether it was acoustic melancholy or disco-punk anarchy, the message rang clear: music can, and will, fight back! Our world needs more nights like this, if you fancy organising your own Jamnesty event then click here for more information.

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‘Wake Up, Shut Up, Work’ – Millie Manders and the Shutup July 2, 2024

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 4:04 pm
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Millie Manders and the Shutup will release their sophomore album ‘Wake Up, Shut Up, Work’ on 2nd August. They are arguably one of the greatest live acts the UK has ever produced and having seen them four times I can attest to that! Their first album ‘Telling Truths, Breaking Ties’ was an exquisite debut, how will the new one compare? Read on to find out! The new album kicks off with “Angry Side” which was issued as a single earlier this year. It stays closer to the band’s root ska punk sound and Millie had this to say about it “I guess, a letter from my teenage self, apologising for being so angry and wanting to burn down the world. I had a lot going on back then and I hid behind bravado a lot. I suppose it’s also me telling my younger self that it’s OK to have been that angry when I went through a bunch of trauma that I couldn’t process well enough to deal with it all. I was a kid.” The song perfectly encapsulates the fiery and purposeful passion that Millie possesses. The next track is “Shut Your Mouth” which showcases how the band can move across so many styles and genres, this is full-on punky metal and no one can do sarcasm, anger, and humour in a lyric as well as Millie can. This was a single last year and the chorus hook stays with you and has you repeating the “shut your mouth” line regularly in your head, well I think it was always in my head, or did I sing out loud at work? There are some sublime punk riffs on “Me Too” that take down the misogyny of the #metoo perpetrators, this song hits the target flawlessly. Lyrics like “Make her feel like she’s the one on trial / They say that she had tempted him / Said; ‘Asking for it, weren’t you though?” are exceptionally brilliant. Despite the song’s titular global movement, in 2024 less than 2% of rape victims in the UK ever get justice in a court. Millie says this of the track “For people who have been raped or abused, I want them to know that they’re not weak and it wasn’t their fault, and even if they didn’t get justice, they’ve been heard.” There is a ska pop punk feel to “Fun Sponge”. I have often used the epithet of energy vampire for people with the ability to suck all the life and fun out of others, now I will be using fun sponge. “Fun Sponge” will be even better in a live show. The instrumentation on “Windows” makes you want to dance crazily around the room, which is what I did. In the verses, Millie shows just how good she is at writing ace lyrics that might also stand up as poetry. There is a supremely well-pulled-together 70s pop-rock vibe on “RIP” which shows just how versatile this astonishingly great band has become. The bass alone is worth the listen.

The opening guitar on “Halloween” draws you in oh so delicately to what is essentially a modern power ballad of lost love. I can imagine this being a real audience pleaser in a live show, a time to get your lighters and phones in the air. Millie’s vocals are tender, emotional, and quite frankly gorgeous on this one. The strings add so much depth to a sublime and magnificent ballad. Live favourite “Rebound” is next and it rocks like an absolute bastard, try and listen to this and not sing along, I bet you can’t! It is a great critique of someone who clearly cannot get over their ex. The simple venom in the lines “Saying you’re over your ex now, ex now. You’re ready to move on to something new’ But they’re all you ever talk about
When you’re here with me. Might think I wanna hear about it, But you’re boring me” is simple and so very effective. Fans of the band will know, and love, “One That Got Away” which is simply a song that packs far more punch than Tyson Fury. “Threadbare” keeps the tempo of the album switched to number 11 and this will, I am sure, be a song in which Millie ventures into the crowd at her gigs.

On the classy and punky “Can I Get Off” Millie takes aim at how the mainstream media and so many people in the world have stood by while the Israel Defence Force commits acts against the Palestinian people that are tantamount to genocide. But she doesn’t direct her venomous and righteous rancour only at what is going on in Gaza she talks of Chad, Ethiopia, Congo, China, Sudan, and the refugees that risk their lives to cross the channel. It riles me that so many people have fallen for the “you can’t criticise the Israeli government because it is anti-semitic” line. It is not, I despise what the Israeli government is doing, but I don’t hate Jewish people. In exactly the same way I despise everything about Hamas, but not all Palestinians are Hamas. This conflict has been around for years and did not just begin when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7th last year. Millie takes on the “if you are against Israel you must support Hamas” line head-on in the lyric “Am I siding with Hamas? Are you gonna ask that one again?” I am 100% behind her on this. Millie talks of white fragility and our apparent need to side with aggressors because there is money in weapons, oil, and gold. The UK government is complicit with so much of the world’s oppression and killing, it needs to stop. In the song’s coda, she calls on the “boys in bands” to speak out, rather than be quiet and worry about losing followers. If your followers (and I include mine in that) are too cowardly to say anything while people are being murdered then we don’t fucking need them! Shouting “Fuck The Tories” at gigs is fine, but it isn’t enough. Most people who follow bands probably hate the Tories but are uninformed or scared when it comes to other conflicts in the world. Millie says this of the song, “The Western world is privileged because it has pillaged resources from everyone else in the world. We need to unlearn what we know and recognise the suffering people are going through as a result of our greed. “Can I Get Off? is an outpouring of my frustrations about that“. The album ends with “Pressure” which had me thinking of the Clash, but fronted by Millie Manders. This album will, deservedly, be a contender for album of the year in so many publications.

You really need to buy this album and to make it easy for you I have given you eight preorder outlet links below. Click on any of them and get yourself sorted for getting your hands on a brilliant album early next month!

Amazon, Banquet, Cool Discs, Crash Records, Resident, Rough Trade, Sister Ray and Truck. 

The picture above gives details of the autumn tour in support of the new album. Be There or be square. I hope to see you in Hull on 6th November!

The double A-Side release in April of “Can I Get Off” and “Angry Side” targetted raising funds for the non-profit organisation Mercy Without Limits whose mission is “To educate and empower women and children by enabling them to have an effective and positive role in constructing a better society.” They began by working in Syria but now work in many areas of conflict in the Middle- east, including Gaza. Pre order the album and if you can please make a donation to Mercy Without Limits .

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“UNDER” – Ghost Arcadia June 13, 2024

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 3:16 pm
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London-based four-piece rock band Ghost Arcadia is back in the classy rock groove with their first single in 14 months, “UNDER” which hit the streets last month. It is an emotional-sounding, anthemic song with a huge sound to match the clearly massive ambition it carries. There are titanic guitar riffs, harmonic and guttural vocals from Reuben Beau Davies, and some cinematic synth patterns. This might seem a bit pop driven at times, but underneath it all it is as heavy as fuck! The band spoke about the inspiration for the track “It’s an exploration of the everyday battles we face within ourselves. From addiction to self-doubt, we all face battles at some point in our lives. The song conveys the message that even when you are at your lowest, there is still a way out; there is still a light left to guide you from the “Under”. Sometimes, we must dive into our darkest depths before we can finally find a way out.” The song is a great taster for their new EP ‘What We Become’ which will arrive later this year!

Click here to listen to “UNDER” on Spotify!

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The Apocalypse Disco – Fulford Arms, York – Friday 5th April 2024 April 7, 2024

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 4:57 pm
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The original line-up for this gig included Fully Arms favourites I Tell Lies, sadly they had to pull out. What was their replacement like? They might be a late addition to the bill, but what a fucking magnificent band Safe Harbour is! Heavy, passionate, emotional songs and they didn’t just play, this was a proper show. They played an explosive set, with intensity dialed up to 11, and gave it everything. The singer is totally captivating and has an awesome, soaring voice. There were many highlights but for me, the biggest were “Let Me Breathe” and “Sedated”. I hope I got the title of the second one right! This is a band that I think can become huge!

Next up it was one of Mayhem’s favourite bands Hærtstrings, winners of last year’s Fulford Arms Battle Of The Bands contest. It is hard to believe that this band played their first gig around seven months ago. They get better every gig and I think I have now seen them four or five times. They clearly watched Safe Harbour and rose to the challenge of “how the fuck do you follow that” with a great performance. KJ’s face makeup gave him an ethereal look under the lights, although I think he suffered for that by sweating white makeup into his eyes. His voice was great, he channels his passion and anger perfectly, and he is shaping up to be a great frontman. The whole band were in top form, but I will mention guitarist Archie, who, despite a cut finger, played like a guitar god. I have always loved a band or artist that it is not easy or impossible to put into a genre box and Hærtstrings are one of those!

Finally, it was time for headliners the Apocalypse Disco. They have one of the best band names ever and were on fire tonight. If the apocalypse was truly happening then this gig would have been the one to end the world with! Ian and Robin make far more sound than you would expect from two people and what a sound it is. banging tunes that arise from the ashes of the Prodigy with an added punk attitude. Their music compels you to dance and if you were standing still during this set, what is wrong with you? “Welcome To The Disco” is a post-apocalyptic party anthem and “Alive”, which we were treated to twice, is an electro singalong like no other. I don’t believe that anyone was quiet during that song. And are there many better opening lines than “God loves a sinner, thank fuck for that”, I think not! They gave a lovely shout-out to Kurt Cobain and played an incredible cover of George Harrison’s “Art Of Dying”. Following Safe Harbour and Hærtstrings was a huge challenge, but the Apocalypse Disco did it with a performance which registered on the Richter Scale!

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