While some of their appeal may rely on past glories, in these uncertain times Mudhoney have never seemed more necessary.
An Ideal For Living Blog
242 posts
Now 50 Years Old 'The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society' Evokes An Arcadian Vision Of A Fast Disappearing England
Fuelled by scathing fury and a seemingly inexhaustible supply of scuzzy riffs, Digital Garbage sees Mudhoney frontman Mark Arm set his sights on post-truth America. Over the course of 11 tracks, Arm vents his spleen at everything from evangelical Christianity and gun control, to right-wing paranoia and the spirit-crushing status anxiety of social media. On opener Nerve Attack, Arm […]
Anniversary tours are always tricky, especially for a band with the cachet of the MC5. Reputations can be destroyed, legacies tarnished and there’s always the risk of being accused of “selling out”. Wayne Kramer has faced such a backlash before having previously reformed the band for a one-off show in 2003 with two surviving members as part of a […]
The suitably vampiric surroundings of Camden’s KOKO provides the perfect ambience for a diabolical double header, with Jon Spencer and The Melvins ghosting in for Halloween. Up first, despite being arguably the bigger name in the UK, Spencer is in explosive form. After a brief false start, for which keyboardist Sam Coomes generously assumes responsibility, the band really hits their stride. Powered by the […]
Like all the best guitarists, Jon Spencer‘s signature sound is instantly recognisable. Whether it be Pussy Galore, Boss Hog, Heavy Trash or the Blues Explosion, the moment a record comes on you know it’s him. There’s an electricity about his music you can practically taste – and it’s no different with his debut solo album – the optimistically titled Spencer Sings The […]
Hailed for their explosive live shows, Northside were an intrinsic part of the Madchester/baggy scene, which fused indie rock guitars with the dance beats of a flourishing underground rave culture. Signed to iconic Manchester label Factory, the band’s first single Shall We Take A Trip was promptly banned by the BBC, after the corporation took exception to its frank references to illicit drug-taking, particularly LSD. They […]
If you thought Brix and the Extricated were nowt but a glorified Fall tribute band, well think again.
Neville and Christine Sugary Staple have reunited with Specials‘ guitarist Roddy Byers, aka Roddy Radiation, for a new single and album. The single’s release was delayed following the fatal stabbing of Neville’s grandson Fidel Glasgow after an altercation outside a Coventry nightclub. A 23-year-old man has since been arrested over the death of Fidel, 21, who died in hospital after the […]