Holy (Italy)

Last week i received a text from Dan of Hammers fame (they are back, believe) asking me if i wanted to put on this band called HOLY from Italy, he said it would be up my street. I listened, thirty seconds in i text daniel back, said it was great and then booked a venue. Holy are fucking raging. This is fast hardcore/scrEMO and definitely relevant to my interests. They list their influences as His Hero is Gone and infest and in pictures ive seen em wearing Government Warning and Kid Dynamite t shirts if that gives you more of a reason to check em out. There is a link below for their debut self titled EP which is excellent and about 8 mins long. holy shit. One of the members is in another great Italian band called Verme who did a split with Human Hands and they happen to be over in the uk this week. Playing Catch in Dalston this Saturday if any of you london types are at a loose end. Great support too: Ten Speed Bicycle, Bird Calls and Well Wisher.

This is fast, heavy, chaotic and angry hardcore punk with a message and their first record makes you take notice. Cannot wait to see them live, going to be intense. Holy are over here in May, Im putting them on May 3rd at the Black Heart pub in Camden, support to be announced. Its going to be the best thursday night you never had.

http://www.mediafire.com/?b75w3jok9jfhdj4

I'm Stranded is arguably one of the greatest punk records of all time and we have Australia's 'The Saints' to thank for that one. Formed in 1974 in Brisbane they described themselves as 'a punk group before it was fashionable' pre dating many key uk punk records. They received much criticism for their live show but this record and the follow up 'eternally yours' featuring horns amongst many other instruments are both perfection in mine and many other's eyes.

This is perfect pop punk. If you dig the ramones and want something fresh then check this out. The songs will be stuck in your head for months. Kissing cousins is my favourite.

http://www.mediafire.com/?zvlx1tmpg2uwqqc


P.S how fucking cool is that record cover!?

DRY HEAVES

Excellent newish hardcore punk straight from the 80s via leeds. Think Black Flag but more party. Featuring members of Mouth and a tonne of other northern bands, the debut demo also has Johnson from Peep Show clips so its a real winner.

Im putting them on with the amazing Down and Outs from Liverpool and man hands and bastad rats in Camden on September 16th at the Black heart. This will be the first show ive put on in London and i'm very pleased with the lineup. You should come and bring a friend.

Check out their debut demo here and then come and dance with me.

http://www.mediafire.com/?mnnl72px6dzm4lj


Facebook event here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=111718695596640

The Observers

I have been so slack with this blog so time to rectify. The football is on so what better excuse. First off i give you one of my favourite punk records from a band i will probably never see but listen to weekly. Portland's, The Observers. It is difficult to pin down exactly what they sound like but its punk, garage, post-punk with some grooving but hard sounds and very intelligent lyrics. The Observers are so abrasive yet so melodic and make you want to dance while screaming about how fucked the world is. Too many this is one of the most important punk albums to exist and i am in that camp. Sadly they split up in 2005 but the singer now fronts the Red Dons who absolutely kick ass and ill upload their stuff next but until then check out 'So What's Left Now' i managed to finally buy a copy of this at the recent Red Dons show in London and this has inspired this post. I think Daniel, Red Dons said it was cool to upload so check it out

http://www.mediafire.com/?3p8allkj5j5gfqx

Tell your children... they have to diiiie

Spraynard - Funtitled

I am currently half way through the ninth listen of my buddies in Spraynard's second full length 'Funtitled' and oh my fuck its incredible. Incredible does not do this justice. I cannot comprehend how far these guys have come since i first heard the demo and saw them tour the UK. It is a testament to friends who want to just play together and share their message to the world.

Im finding it hard to put into words how good this is. The lyrics are mind blowing. Ive had to go back and re listen to certain bits. Spooky, scary is track of the year for sure. This is heartfelt, honest and beautiful song writing about families, friends, music and sticking together through anything that comes your way. Not one song is recognisable from the other, the instrumental bits are perfect, each member has improved so much since the last release and they will only get better. Dos' singing on this record adds yet another dimension and brings it all together. This is the most emo record ive heard in ages and also the most punk. Quite a feat.

Oh man this is so fucking good. I just urge you to download it immediately if you liked anything by them previous to this or just like pop punk or music. Just download it. Proof of how good this is can be seen in how this has had 2,076 downloads in a DAY. UNreal. This is out on Asian Man Records soon but until then download it from Ifyoumakeit. I cannot wait to see them in San Francisco at Asian Man Fest and i cannot wait to scream these lyrics so fucking loud.

This has given me so many goosebumps and made me smile so many times and i cannot see this getting old. 'Not good enough, Gary' has bought me close to tears.

Mark, Dos and Pat. You rule. Congratulations on a perfect record <3 !

http://www.ifyoumakeit.com/album/spraynard/funtitled/

Nona

New band, new demo all the way from West Chester home of Spraynard and some of the best people to ever exist. This is Mimi, who i had the pleasure of hanging out with in Kingston last week, Ed who rules and just released an LP for the Slingshot Dakota record and Sean 'Ska' Morris who sings in Wrap it Up and loves ska and is an all round great dude. This is sweet, rocking and fun pop punk which reminds me of cheeky in places, might be the vocals and also early discount but thats probabably a really obvious comparison. Either way this is rad and i cant wait for the next release. I might get to see them in San Francisco this summer which would rule.

Check out the demo here: http://www.mediafire.com/?hm83577mwtnjw8u

Crash of Rhinos - Distal

Oh mannnnn ive been so pumped on the debut release from the Derby Emo/post hardcore rockers ever since i first saw them when i put them on with Wooderson early last year. Ive just finished my first listen of the record 'Distal' and fucking hell it sounds MASSIVE. I remember watching them with my jaw on the floor, was totally blown away and i asked them if they had anything out. Said they were recording in Italy? and a record would be out soon after. Just over a year later and 'Distal' is here. Epic, twinkly, heavy, loud, beautiful and marvelous are words that spring to mind while i sit here avoiding law revision.

Its got bits of American Football, bits of Braid, and bits of all those US bands that are going around at the mo like Grown Ups, By Surprise and Snowing but does not sound like them which rules. Also got that northern gruff punk charm that the UK has, highlighted in tracks like 'Closure' Its Ex Little Explorer so it was never going to be shit. Seriously great emo in the same kinda vein but less 'punk' than this. Definitely worth investigating.

Im finally getting them back to Kingston July 30th for a matinee mixed bill gig of awesomeness with Sundials from the US, Social Club, Caves and Crash of Rhinos. Its going to be aces.

Fuck this record gets better after every listen. Please download this, i guarantee you wont be disappointed.

oh mannnnn. Nice one lads. So good.

A double gatefold vinyl should be out soooon from these guys: http://www.robatriste.com but until then download the record here:

http://www.mediafire.com/?0o1gc1xp4vz7ydc