Lemuria - band of the week

As with 90% of the bands i post about in this blog, Lemuria are another of my absolute favourites. Lemuria are a three piece from Buffalo, New York and they are your new favourite band: http://www.myspace.com/lemuria

Think of a perfect mix of Weezer, Weakerthans, Superchunk, Lemonheads and the the most amazing dual vocal harmonies and you have Lemuria. Catchy as hell pop punk songs about love mainly and some seriously cute lyrics. If you cant listen to the song Pants and not think about an ex girlfriend/boyfriend then you have no soul. I first heard this band when someone sent me the 'kind of like spitting' split and i thought they were ace. They came over not long after that with the Ringers but were hampered by sound difficulties when i saw them so it was hard to hear. Nevertheless i picked up 'Animal Collection' on cd. A collection of all of Lemuria's b sides, demos, splits and records to that point. Ilovedit. Its amazing. It was obvious that Lemuria would grow in popularity but i never expected to see them play to about 700 people at the Fest 7 last year and about 500 of them were singing. It was insane. I was so excited to see them having learnt all the words but nothing could have prepared me for that. Made me smile from ear to ear. I actually love them. I saw them conquer the UK earlier this year in Swansea, London and Kingston and heard all the shows were incredible. I can only see this band getting increasingly popular. They just released a new single, 'Ozzy' which is about Sheena (the singer's) Dad and the lyrics are as usual, incredible. There are links to all their releases on the myspace so if you enjoy what you hear please please buy their stuff and support a very hardworking DIY band.

Because im generous here is a 12 song sample of some of my favourite Lemuria songs, Enjoy: http://www.mediafire.com/?y2zjyhmdnnm

Fashanu- Band of the Week

Fashanu are a three piece from Durham, England and are in my opinion one of the UK's best kept secrets. They play fast melodic pop punk ala Latterman, Jawbreaker and sound like Armalite in places. They have singalongs galore and some seriously heartfelt lyrics oh, and dual vocals so you know its going to be ace. I cant remember how i came across them but they had one song 'Yoko Ono v Bob Hoskins' on myspace for ages and i couldnt stop listening to it. Had this incredible singalong toward the end of the song 'Next time, we'll start again' Listen at the top of their page: http://fashanudurham.blogspot.com/ I put them on in Kingston to unveil them as it were. They went down a storm, people enjoyed them and most importantly i picked up their debut EP which rules. Gary, guitarist of Fashanu has kindly allowed me to upload a track from the EP so here is my other personal favourite from the EP 'Science is Awesome': http://www.sendspace.com/file/g0qho6 You can buy it from the band direct or at an upcoming show so check out their blog and pick it up.

Discount Horse Records released it which is run by Jon Fashanu (no joke) who plays bass. His distro/label rules and he is the best dude ever. Check it out/buy everything. Onsind are ace too. http://www.myspace.com/discounthorse

I love them so much im bringing them to the south again Dec 19th, this time to Guildford for a fun show with Bangers and Saturday's Kids and more. Ill put more details up soon. Be cool to see you there?!

watch this, support Ian, i love him: http://strikeachorduk.blogspot.com/2009/09/fashanu-yoko-ono-vs-bob-hoskins-go.html

Grown Ups

Grown Ups are a 'loud, fast, melodic punk band with noodley guitars' and they do it better than most. Residing in Michigan City, Indiana, you will find them in basements screaming and sweating and as with By Surprise below, im completely in love with this band. Listen here: http://www.myspace.com/ihategrownups

I hate to use the comparison every time but if you like Algernon Cadwallader and Braid and Cap n Jazz then you will love Grown Ups. So far they have one 4 track demo but that is long out of print and today they uploaded a new song that features the singer of Motion City Soundtrack. They are about to embark on a tour with Castavet (they rule too, download their demo on their myspace: http://www.myspace.com/romancastevet and have just signed to BSM records in the UK, LP out next year which im dead excited about.

Doyle From Grown Ups has kindly given me permission to upload their four track demo so here it it: http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=e98c52dd8c4b03d190a82c7bb0fad7ad6e5e58696618596ca2d0568e5b24962e

'Three day weekend' is the hit. Let me know what you think! Enjoy.

By Surprise- Band of the Week

By Surprise are one of my bands of the Year for sure. I cant stop listening to them. They are from New Jersey and they sound like an awesome mix of mid-west 90s emo ala The Get Up Kids and the Promise Ring. Listen here: http://www.myspace.com/bysurpriserock

The vocals are raspy, the guitars are jangly and the songs are super catchy. I'm yet to see them live and really do hope they visit our little island one day.

Dan from the band very kindly sent me some links for you to enjoy so here is a download for their 2007/2008 EP '478' so called that because it was a 4 track 7" lasting approximately 8 minutes, clever eh. Get it HERE: http://www.sendspace.com/file/yttl01 The ever so awesome Runner Up Records label: http://www.myspace.com/runneruprecordsusa run by Sean and Andrew, released .the By Surprise/Hightide Hotel Split 7" earlier this summer and on it was one of my songs of the year, if not the decade. 'CB Radio' has one of the catchiest last 30 seconds of a song ever. You need to hear this so here it is: http://www.sendspace.com/file/nvbnos By Surprise have the most beatiful and clever lyrics and just plain rule. If you are currently loving Algernon Cadwallader then i'm 99.9% sure you will love this. Get Involved.

Buy their records here, they often appear in the distro: http://sncl.collective-zine.co.uk/ if not contact the band and Runner Up Records.

'No, you're so much trouble'

Slingshot Dakota

Slingshot Dakota are a wonderful two piece from Brooklyn New York and they are great. Tom plays drums and sings a bit and Carly plays guitar, keys, sings and does everything else! They play beautiful twinkly indie rock songs about being in love and being posi but they are still punk as fuck. If you love lemuria, Good Luck, Algernon Cadwallader, Paul Baribeau, and Little Lungs then i can see no reason why you wont like Slingshot Dakota. Im in love with the vocals. Im gonna fall asleep listening to them tonight. Listen to them: http://www.myspace.com/slingshotdakota download their demo: http://www.ifyoumakeit.com/album/slingshot-dakota/demo-3/ and after that buy their new album, link on their myspace. Carly also does solo stuff: http://www.myspace.com/carlycomando. Their first release is out of print so check that out too: http://www.mediafire.com/?cn89ucsnqjw

'I'm gonna love this until the day i die'

Saturday's Kids

Saturday's Kids are a breath of fresh air to the UK hardcore/punk scene. Taking on heavy Dischord influences they mix post-punk and hardcore with a snarling, yelpy vocal. The result is real good. They come from South wales and are only 17/18 which is nuts. They also win the award for the most beautifully packaged cd i own. As you can see from the picture on the left, their is a lyric sheet, a sheet with a quote, im presuming to sum up the song and its all lovingly screen printed and packaged. Totally DIY.

I picked up their demo at a show as they give it away free so keep your eyes open in distros, definitely a band to watch out for. Until then, their demo is also up for free download here: http://www.zshare.net/download/6123700657716be5/ i highly reccomend this. Interesting stuff.

Men - 'Norwichmo'

Men: http://www.myspace.com/menoftheuk are a band i found thanks to a recommendation from a dude in the band. Upon first listen i just thought, this is different and i like it.

Hailing from sunny Norwich in the UK they are a three piece who play a brilliant mix of melodic punk ala Hot Water Music, quirky indie ala Devo and great dollop of Superchunk. My friend Pags just described them as 'Gruffchunk' im down with that.

The best news is they have kindly put a bunch of songs about 'sticking it to the man' up for free download HERE: http://www.mp3.com/artist/menoftheuk/songs/

THIS IS RAD. Thanks Men.