Author: C4ll3ReaQuNC3

The Mocks are a young band from Nieuw-Vennep, the Netherlands. Inspired by the mod-movement from the sixties, they come dressed in the finest tailor-made suits. Their music style is strongly influenced by beat music, such as the Who, the Kinks, the Small Faces and the Motions.
Their live shows capture the raw energy of a bygone era, this is further magnified by their use of vintage guitars, amplifiers and microphones.
Though the band has their roots in music that is more than half a century old, the songs sound refreshing and enlightening in today’s world, where effects and autotune have become the norm.
Get ready for the new beat sensation!

Delinquent garage rockers with a penchant for all things loud and fuzzy and a drive to provide what they feel the world needs more of nowadays – pure rock n roll in its most primitive and scuzzy glory.
Originally from the distant and ever-exotic land of Lawrence, Kansas, the Mudd Club now find themselves based in Bristol and sometimes Machynlleth, Wales, (depending on their mood).
The band lineup features Sadie Morningstar who is responsible for dishing out gritty sass-filled vocals and searing guitar licks so hot and trashy it’ll rip ya to shreds.
Julian West thunders away and bashes out the most primitive and energetic beats to ever grace your ears (or deafen them at least,) while Joe Trudgeon propels the whole lot along with impressive yet solid bass lines, while looking like he’s just time traveled from the 1930s. (Yes, he’s in the band. No, he’s not a lost jazzer who accidentally ended up at a punk show).
Occasionally the Mudd Club’s Bristol line up includes fabulous drummer Steve Frye who brings a different but equally-as-thumping angle to the band with his drumming and certain indie charm.
The Mudd Club are always ready and willing to rock n roll all night with their trashily glamorous action-filled sludge of sonic voodoo and hope to see ya at some gigs later in the year!

Hailed as “London’s powerpop kings” (Vive Le Rock), the Speedways have followed their first two classic albums Just Another Regular Summer (2018) and Radio Sounds (2020) by throwing down the gauntlet and upping the ante with their golden harmonies and shimmering chords for their third album, Talk of the Town (2022).
Let’s get this straight: The Speedways have never been afraid to wear their hearts on their sleeves. Sure, you’ll hear the influence of old reliables The Ronettes, Cheap Trick and Tom Petty, but this time the band have gone all out to create something that pushes the boundaries of what we’ve come to know as powerpop.
Originally envisioned as a one-off studio project for singer-songwriter Matthew Julian, joined by Mauro Venegas, bassist Adrian Alfonso and drummer Kris Hood, The Speedways made their full-band debut at London’s inaugural Pump It Up Power Pop Weekender in 2018, a gig that has the since become THE go-to event of the European powerpop calendar. Live dates in the UK with the likes of Giuda, The Briefs and Protex cemented their growing reputation, and they took the message abroad with rapturously-received tours of Spain, Germany and Sweden.
Second album Radio Sounds (“the best powerpop album in a whole lot of years”, Faster And Louder) and the five-song stopgap covers EP Borrowed And Blue (“an unadulterated, hearts on their sleeves joy to listen to”, Louderthanwar) firmly established them as the current leaders of the European powerpop scene

The most deranged band of the effervescent Valencian punk scene, after their fabulous LP “Visión de Futuro” (Flexidiscos/Discodrome Records), gave the world the EP “225 o​.​p​.​m​.​” (Slovenly Recordings). In their relatively short life, taking into account that the pandemic has caught them in the middle, their concerts have multiplied exponentially in the last two years touring Spain and Europe, filling venues thanks to the word of mouth of their numerous fans, who don’t stop to talking about their crazy-amazing shows.

This is what Tyler Sovelove says about them in Maximum Rocknroll:

Coming from Valencia, Spain, FINALE brings a chaotic mix of off-kilter post-punk grooves and smashing hardcore chroruses. Instrumentally, these tracks are absolutely fantastic. They’re sharp and clean, somewhere between JOY DIVISION and DEAD KENNEDYS. The vocals are a little hard to get over. The high-pitched goofiness of the delivery comes off like sped-up WEEN vocals. It meanders back and forth from annoying to funny in a darkly absurd way. If you can look past that aspect, there is a lot to love here.

Eel Men are a band formed in June 2021.
Faced with the explosion of the world, they have made use of the adversity. Reflecting the instability of the present and the microcosm of North London, prioritising angular guitars, straight rhythms and fanatical storytelling.
Their second single ‘Archetype/West Green Pirate’, is out now.
As the inaugural release from the Haringey Warehouse District-based imprint Eade Audio. Both songs weave a hangover dream of folly and sneer, further extending their musical and lyrical reach.
Archetype serves as a follow up to the ‘Live at New River Studios’ Cassette, recorded by at the band’s spiritual home in June 2022, and their debut single ‘Are You There God It’s Me/Meantime’ released in August of 2021.
The new single was recorded at Hackney’s fabled hardline analogue institution Toe Rag Studios by Liam Watson and distribution comes from No Front Teeth records. This release also coincides with a shifting of members (Alec joining on bass and Dan switching over to keyboard and percussion) and introducing additional percussive and melodic elements as heard on the B side.
After a series of sold out London gigs at The Shacklewell Arms and New River Studios, 2023 will see the long awaited debut album, UK and international tours, yet continuing to forage the murky waters of their origin.

“London based 4-piece plays raw yet unmistakable heartfelt rock’n’roll, thoroughly out of time and fashion, we do truly worship, joining the dots between Garage, Soul, 60s Beat, Mod, Punk, and Psychedelia, mining Brian Jones and Jeff Beck guitar riffs along with Pretty Things, Troggs or The Action groovy energy, not to mention the ’90s Scouser outsiders The Stairs. The band’s gritty and soulful new single sways and throbs through rambunctious drums, chugging bass lines and relentless abrasive guitar riffs laced with piercing distorted strains, around nostalgic vocal angst, rocking and rolling to the beat of the “archetype.” – WHITE LIGHT//WHITE HEAT, 2023

“Short collection of excellent power pop/mod revival from this British band. If you like the JAM or even the KINKS, this tape will be up your alley. Catchy, melodic vocals with clean strummed guitars and basketball basslines, EEL MEN use the classic vocabulary of British rock music but create something fresh and immediately enjoyable. It sounds polished and DIY at the same time, carefully arranged but still drawn from punk around the edges. All four songs are jams (get it?) and I look forward to more. And if this was really recorded live, EEL MEN are a band to check out, because the performance is flawless” – MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL, 2022

“Eel Men have a single out that’s been available for a few months now. This four piece all met up during the bits of lockdown people were allowed to meet up in, jammed some tunes then shortened them enough for a set of fabulous Buzzcocks, Beatles-like, Garage Pop gems. An album is planned for this year and the band are hoping to fulfil their collective dream of gigs in ‘Scunthorpe, Harlow and Atlanta’ according to a scrap of paper found in our top left pocket the following morning after seeing them” – LOUDER THAN WAR, 2021

The Jackets mix the best elements of Rock and Roll into a potent, irresistible cocktail with a ferocity that is full of good humor, high spirited fun, and full blast excitement!
The Jackets are based in Bern, Switzerland and consist of front woman Jack Torera, Chris Rosales (an American expat originally from Los Angeles) and Samuel “Schmidi” Schmidiger.
Charismatic singer and guitarist Jackie Brutsche (aka Jack Torera) is an energetic elemental force, androgynous and wild. With her distinctive voice, her fuzz guitar, stage acrobatics and stage make-up, she captivates. Together with the uncompromisingly rhythm and groove section of Chris Rosales on drums and Samuel Schmidiger on bass the Jackets create the perfect three-piece; raw, direct and together with Brutsche turn every Jackets concert into an unforgettable event.
The Jackets strip Rock and Roll down to its essential components then build something unique to their personalities and their need for self-expression. The music feels new because it is authentic and free of cliché but still captures the simplicity that Rock and Roll must have to stay honest and bold! Songs like “Wasting My Time”, “Keep Yourself Alive” and “Freak Out” have become new anthems for new times but keep the spirit and roots of garage punk in the heart of the song. They mix Punk and Psychedelic ‘60s that make your body move and lyrics that feed your mind. The Jackets are not afraid to play ballads or the most primitive punker. It always sounds groovy when it’s The Jackets!
Since 2008, The Jackets have brought their high energy live performances to stages throughout Europe playing at some of the most well-known festivals in the genre (Funtastic Dracula Carnival, Cosmic Trip Festival, Purple Weekend, Euro Ye Ye, Hipsville, Festival Beat) and America where they have toured the East and West coast of the USA several times including stops in Canada and Mexico.

The Jackets are a universe of their own. They have been moving forward independently and steadily since their formation and have built a large and loyal fan base all over the world. Over the years the band has successfully worked together with several labels releasing four full length LP’s – Stuck Inside (2009, Subversiv Records), Way Out (2012, Soundflat Records) and Shadows Of Sound (2015, Voodoo Rhythm Records). In 2017 the band joined forces with producer and musician King Khan (King Khan & The Shrines) who produced a limited edition 7” vinyl single, Be Myself/Queen Of The Pill (2017) as well as their fourth LP Queen Of The Pill (2019) which was also mixed and mastered by Jim Diamond (White Stripes), both released on Voodoo Rhythm Records. In 2022 The Jackets formed their own label, Wild Noise Records and released the 7″ single, Pie in the Sky/Misery of Man in March of 2023.
wildnoiserecords.com

Scotland’s top Rock n’ Roll Combo!
In keeping with great Rock & Roll, Lord Rochester embrace the simplicity of sound and song using the maraca powered shuffle of artists such as Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Jimmy Reed and Lonnie Mack to create great stripped back driven rock and roll.
Entertaining and stylish!
Since they first got together in 2008 they have released a lot of vinyl and two CDs. Lord Rochester have also performed in session for the BBC, recorded at the famous Perrotti Studios in Gijon, Spain and provide the theme music for the ’Vic Galloway Show’ on BBC Radio Scotland.
Scotland’s best sounding (and best looking) rock and roll show have toured Japan, played all over Europe and the UK and toured their native Scotland from the Borders to Aberdeenshire and from the Central Belt to the Highlands and not forgetting the Shetland Islands. Be it high profile music festivals or small intimate shows, the effect is the same; always entertaining and stylish, the trio (guitar, bass, spartan drum set and three voices) bewitch the audience, large or small. Fundamentally, Lord Rochester is one of the easiest bands to put on, they turn up on time, have a very short sound-check, have the best looking guitars and are decked out in tartan

Some of New York’s finest, Hank Wood and the Hammerheads have been feeding punks with a dirty garage rock for years, with a sound that is undeniably unique – a mixture of hardcore and garage with a bit of soul thrown in for good measure. They’re fervently loud enough for a mosh pit yet occasionally so tender they can bring tears. After a couple of raging LP’s cheekily focused on going and staying home, their self-titled record expanded their sound into something different and larger – a catchy, pummeling, bluesy and wailing masterpiece that marked their transition into something rather new. Live, they kick ass.

Pic: Jeanette D.Moses

Kenny and his daughter, vocalist and drummer Inez McClain, formed the nucleus of the Exbats over a decade ago, when Inez was just 10 years old; today, Bobby Carlson rounds out the group on bass. Despite their remote location in Bisbee, Arizona, just 11 miles north of the U.S.-Mexican border, the group quickly racked up accolades citing a wealth of influences that run from cartoon quintet the Archies to punk rock originators the Avengers, and from the so-sweet-it-hurts 1910 Fruitgum Company to Los Angeles antiheroes the Weirdos. Truthfully, the Exbats embrace a wider swath of musical styles, incorporating blue-eyed soul, tongue-in-cheek country, Brit pop, psych, and R&B into their sound.
Like the best records to croon along with, Now Where Were We is captivatingly simple, yet hardly simplistic. The Exbats are singing from their hearts—and they aren’t afraid to bare their souls. “We’re an honest band, doing our best,” Kenny says. “Maybe listeners will feel like their ears are refreshed and ready for more noise from the world, or maybe they’ll feel like they found a new friend that isn’t remote or shrouded by commercial intentions. Maybe some of these songs will get stuck in their heads. We hope they smile and sing along.”

Kid Congo Powers, the premier voodoo guitarist for seminal sexy, swampy bands like Gun Club, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds and The Cramps, Powers is a restless aesthete whose earlier solo efforts explored and mixed genres. He has also played with the Divine Horsemen, the Angels of Light, Die Haut, and Knoxville Girls. Born in La Puente, California, Powers is a second generation Mexican American. His earliest childhood influences were the Southern California Chicano rock band Thee Midniters. In 1976, he was president of The Ramones fan club, then ran a fanzine for The Screamers.
After traveling to London and New York City he returned to L.A. and in 1979 met Jeffrey Lee Pierce. Pierce taught him to play guitar using open tuning, and they formed The Creeping Ritual, which became The Gun Club. Powers left that group before their recording debut, instead joining New York-based band The Cramps in December 1980. Powers rejoined the Gun Club briefly in 1983, touring with Pierce’s band in Australia the following year, and then again between 1985 and 1988.
Powers joined Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds in Berlin, Germany, September 1986 for several albums and corresponding tours. Powers recorded the Tender Prey and The Good Son albums with Cave and his band, and he said in early 2015 that he “loved” the “primaeval element of rock’n’roll” that they had a firm grasp of. During April 1990, it was amicably decided with Nick Cave that he leave The Bad Seeds and concentrate on The Gun Club, which he had reconvened with Jeffery Lee Pierce during downtime in 1989.
For The Pink Monkey Birds, whose name Kid credits to inspiration from David Bowie, Powers initially collaborated with New York City guitarist Jack Martin, who he has also collaborated with for the Congo Norvell and Knoxville Girls projects.Later, Powers recruited Kiki Solis on bass, Ron Miller on drums, and Jesse Roberts on guitar and keyboards. The band moved to In The Red Records and released the much acclaimed debut studio album, Dracula Boots, which was called a “return to form.”
Dracula Boots consists of numerous genres, including southern soul, 60s Chicano rock, and psychedelic imagery, a stripped-down, no-frills set of volcanic songs. British magazine N.M.E. wrote: “In short, on Dracula Boots Kid Congo Powers has once again found the juicy jugular of soul-fired, funked-up rock’n’roll. You’d be foolish not to take a bite.”
In 2011, Kid Congo and The Pink Monkey Birds released their second album, Gorilla Rose, which was also on the In The Red Records label. Eamon Carr of The Dublin Evening Herald said of Gorilla Rose, “Having a working band is paying off. Gorilla Rose elevates seedy go-go weirdness to the level of high art.
They stil touring around the world while recording more Lp’s
Kid Congo Powers was profiled by Vogue in late April 2016 while promoting his band’s fourth album.In the interview, he was noted for his iconic sense of punk style and he mentions the aesthetic importance of tying the look of the band to match the music.
“For me, the whole art of being a band—and I do think it’s an art—is to create a whole world, a whole language, that is every aspect. The Gun Club, we kind of made it up as we went along, but what I learned from The Cramps and Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds is that they created a whole uncompromising world, and it’s all kind of sprung out of that. You want to communicate with people, and I think through all aesthetics—artwork, the look, and music—you get to keep your world, and you get to let people enter your world and live in your world with you”

Selected discography
1981 The Cramps – Psychedelic Jungle
1983 The Cramps – Smell of Female
1984 The Gun Club – The Las Vegas Story
1987 The Gun Club – Mother Juno
1990 The Gun Club – Pastoral Hide and Seek
1991 The Gun Club – Divinity EP
1985 The Fur Bible EP
1988 Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Tender Prey
1990 Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – The Good Son
1988 Barry Adamson – Moss Side Story
1994 Congo Norvell – Music to Remember Him By
1998 Mark Eitzel – Caught in a Trap and I Can’t Back Out ‘Cause I Love You Too Much, Baby
2005 Kid Congo Powers – Solo Cholo
2006 Kid Congo and the Pink Monkey Birds – Philosophy and Underwear
2006 Madrugada – Live at Oslo Spektrum [DVD]
2009 Kid Congo and The Pink Monkey Birds – Dracula Boots
2011 Kid Congo and The Pink Monkey Birds – Gorilla Rose
2013 Kid Congo and The Pink Monkey Birds – Haunted Head
2016 Kid Congo and The Pink Monkey Birds – La Araña Es La Vida
2021 Kid Congo and The Pink Monkey Birds – Swing From The Sean DeLea

Selected filmography
1987 Wings of Desire
1999 Modern Young Man (film short)[16]
2000 Once and Future Queen[17]
2000 Hair Burners[18]
2017 Scumbag
2022 The Resort (TV Series)