"While tackling familiar lyrical preoccupations, feels more experimental in terms of instrumentation and tone."
Alternative Rock
33 posts
Aided by the late Ricky Wilson's unusual guitar tunings Rock Lobster set out the B-52's' off the wall manifesto right from the get go
Formed, curiously enough, on the day Mark E Smith left this Earth, Manchester trio Cold Water Swimmers recently celebrated their first birthday. Now the hard-hitting three piece, featuring Chris Bridgett, of Dub Sex on vocals and guitar, with Carrie Lawson (Bass) and Selina Woolnough (Drums) are releasing a new double A-side Summer Breeze/I'll Be Your Witness.
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 […]
If you thought Brix and the Extricated were nowt but a glorified Fall tribute band, well think again.
MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer is heading to the UK in November on the latest leg of his Kick Out The Jams 50th Anniversary Tour. The MC50 tour features a host of top musicians, including Soundgarden axeman Kim Thayil, drummers Brendan Canty (Fugazi) and Matt Cameron (Pearl Jam), with bass from Faith No More‘s Billy Gould. Vocals will be supplied by Marcus Durant of Blues rockers Zen Guerrilla. Guest appearances are also expected from Afghan Whigs‘ Greg […]
*In no particular order some of my favourite music moments. No41 Sell Me A Lemon by Ming City Rockers. Bang up to date with this one – at least by my standards. I was turned on to Ming City Rockers by none other than Walter Lure – last man standing of New York’s Heartbreakers. Walter said he’d never heard such […]