this music is my life

Sunday 31 March 2024

Split System

If you know me, then I am pretty sure I have told you how Split System are the current best band in the world. With the release of their second album 'Vol II', I stand by this.

Another great band from Melbourne, Split System are rock n roll, garage and punk done brilliantly. With catchy lyrics, buzzing guitars and melodies that get stuck in your head for days, Split System are just cool.

'Vol I' was immediately one of my favourite records of the last ten years, then they released a single in anticipation of the second album and 'on the street' became the catchiest song of 2023.

It is rare that bands release a second album that is not only great but actually sounds better than the first, but Australian bands have a good track record of this, Royal Headache and Eddy Current Suppression Ring' both managed this to name a few.

Wednesday 13 March 2024

Conmen - Get Loose

I will start my comeback with a band I know nothing about, I cannot find the vinyl anywhere (managed to pick up the tape in New York recently though).

Conmen come from Boston, Massachusetts. Get Loose is pure Ramones punk/pop and it is maximum fun. Rock n Roll Disgrace released the LP and Derek (Ex Big Sleep who I have featured before on here) of Wallride records released the tape. Every song is around the 2 minute mark, you will be singing along before the song finishes and you will have a big smile on your face, which is what we all need these days. If you like Marked Men (which you should!) Riverdales and any solid power pop, you will LOVE this. Promise. Here is the album on bandcamp This is the opening track - Enjoy. If anyone wants to sell me the LP, I would be very appreciative. I can't work out how to create paragraphs.

I'm back.

So I thought I would get back into this. It has been over ten years since my last post but apart from now being a fully qualified teacher for the past ten years and getting married, I still live for stupid punk and have a vinyl obession that has spilled out of the stacked shelves in the living room. Not even sure if anyone uses blogspot anymore, but I will give this a go and use instagram to promote this - stevetobesquare Punk seems to be bigger than ever again. So many cool bands across the world covering all genres and loads of bands coming back to play shows again, some that definitely should not have bothered. If you want me to cover a particular band, hit me up. If I even manage to get a few of you into some cool new bands then that would be cool. Hope everyone is safe and well. The world is a horrible place right now but the DIY punk community will always be there and I still count myself lucky that my closest friends have come from this scene. Steve

Friday 14 December 2012

Losing Sleep

I'm back. Sorry im shit. I just saw that since i started this blog ive had 56,642 views which has kinda blown my mind so ive been inspired to start posting again. My first post is a band i hold very dear to my heart. Losing Sleep feature two of my best friends and hail from Kingston, London, not Jamaica. Think the great 90s emo mixed with 2000s pop punk but not shit like so many bands that try this. They just released a brilliant first ep that people are slowly becoming aware of. It is honest, and heartfelt and catchy with some great lyrics about events and issues close to the band member's hearts. Although they have been playing shows for a while now they are still very much a 'fresh' band and in my opinion a breath of fresh air to the diy punk scene in the uk. Sean, the bassist, runs Youth Camp Records (Ten Speed Bicycle, Loose Cannons, Nona, Jackals, Slow Science) http://youthcamprecords.webs.com/ and Liam, guitarist and vocalist plays in pop punk band Home Advantage. On the strength of their first release, i'm excited by this band and i can only see them getting better. Doing a mini tour at the end of January 2013 and im putting them on in Camden at the Black Heart with a pretty ridiculous lineup:

Download the demo here: http://losingsleep.bandcamp.com and check out their tumblr here for news, merch and shit: http://losingsleeplosingsleep.tumblr.com x

Saturday 24 March 2012

Chin Chin - Sound of the Westway

Im ill in bed, the sun is shining and im pissed. That said ive just discovered a great band called Chin Chin who have put a smile on my face so seeing as i cant go out, thought id share it with you.

Having just done a read up on this all girl punk/ new wave band ive discovered they formed in Biel, Switzerland in 1982 and released their first 7 inch in 1984 and then in 1985 their one and only LP 'Sounds of the Westway' which garnered them attention in the UK with NME and allowed them to tour with the Shop Assistants in Germany.

This is perfect crunchy indie punk with new wave sensibilities and some super catchy lyrics and melodies. Their all girl ethics and strong diy stance have made this one of most sought after Indie Pop LPs and after one listen, i can see why.

This is a total winner and if you love Dolly Mixture/The Flatmates/Shop Assistants then you will love this. That is my summer sorted.

http://www.mediafire.com/? urdzez75lt674cr

Tuesday 24 January 2012

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

Sunday 28 August 2011

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!?