CROCODILES @ The Abbey, Manchester. 12th July 2026.

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I have seen Crocodiles live more times than I’ve probably seen some family members. Crocs are family anyway so it’s fair. However, on Sunday I went to see them at one of Manchester’s newest venues (but a pub from back in the day) The Abbey. As a pub, it’s a solid 10/10 and as a gig venue it’s still a 10/10 even though I am pretty sure I have never ever sweated that much at a gig before. Sweat was in my eyeballs, back of my leg, my back, my eyeballs again. Hotter than Satan’s bumhole, but my god the gig was incredible. It always is!

Crocodiles were supported by one of the best Manchester bands around- Gold Cup. I’m going to do a separate piece on them but let it be known that they are one of the best live bands around. They’re supporting the equally great GEE TEE at Yes on the 25th July so if you can- go! There’s also air con in Yes so if that doesn’t sway you, I don’t know what will. In short, Gold Cup are where it’s at. Incredible live. I missed them by SECONDS at the Low Four x Sour Grapes recording a few weeks ago. How foolish!

I’ve been a fan of Crocodiles since 2009, and I love telling the story of how I found their music. Have you got a sec? Alright so, 2009. I’ve moved back home after finishing uni and my first girlfriend had broken up with me. One day, I go to HMV (I also worked there and it was the best job ever) and I’m looking through the records, and I spot Cold Cave and Crocodiles. Cold Cave I was aware of, so I picked it up. Crocodiles I knew nothing of, but I grabbed it anyway because the cover got me. I took the records home, and that was it. The past 16 years or so they have been my solid. I just adore them and any chance I can get; I will tell someone to listen to them. Even my mum loves them!

Alright, story time done. They open the set with Love Beyond The Grave. I think? Sunday was nearly a week ago and my memory isn’t too great, but I know they played it! They played a strong mix of old and new songs, and I can confirm that I Dream Of Genet live is beautiful. It’s got that same feel as Sunday (Psychic Conversation #9) that real dreamy number that makes you feel like you’re floating away. That’s exactly what you get from a Crocs show. You always feel like you’re going off into another world. You can’t help but be in awe of them. It’s the way Charlie holds his guitar like it’s a weapon but at the same time you know you’re in safe hands. Is he the best guitarist around? I’ll always say yes. Diego beats the shit out the drums, Atef is the coolest bassist around and Brandon’s vocals have never sounded better. Put that altogether and you truly do have one of the best bands around.

Songs from the new record sound incredible live, and for me it was all about Time Is Wasting Me. It’s one of my favourites from the new record, and it’s great live. I can’t talk about their show without mentioning their cover of 1969. This has become a staple in their live set now, and it’s a joy to see live. What I love about the cover is that they really do make you feel like it’s THEIR song and you’re experiencing it for the first time. It’s one of my highlights of a Crocs show for sure.

It all ends with one of the finest songs ever, Mirrors. I’ll always have a soft spot for this one, and it never ever gets old seeing it live. It never gets old seeing my buddies live. They just know how to put on a show even if we are all frying in the venue!

I love that even though the band have been around for a while people are potentially only seeing the band live for the first time, and you can see how much they love the band and how much it means. All I can say is, welcome to the cult! Irrespective of my biased opinion, it was a great show as always and Gold Cup were also a real joy to watch to. I firmly believe you should end your Sundays by watching some great live, loud bands. Last week was no exception!

MAQUINA : Body Transmission.

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One of the coolest things about music, and bands and just EVERYTHING about music is release day for a record you are SO excited to hear.

I’ve loved MAQUINA for a couple of years, and today their second full length record, Body Transmission is out there. It’s fully out there for everyone to enjoy, play to death and dance to. Now, as it’s been released via Fuzz Club- you just know it’s going to be sensational, right? Right on.

The record starts exactly how you would expect; with one of their most recent releases (dança – featuring Dame Area) and from then on, it’s all go. Every song gets louder and louder. That urgency to move more gets you, and you can’t help but feel you are being sucked into a new world. This world that MAQUINA have already created with their sound is unlike anything else, we already know this. But with Body Transmission, every song feels like you are being ripped out of your body and into something else. That’s one of the many reasons as to why you know you are dealing with something really magical.

Any free time I’ve had today, I have played this record. I played it twice at the gym, and I can confirm that this is a record to lift weights to. There are some strong gym jams on this record, and I reckon it is going to become my most listened record of the year right next to the new Crocodiles record. Those are my solid top 2 records of the year. My mind will not be changed, or swayed. It’s already set. For me, my favourite song on the record is Bizzaro closely followed by Step On Me. I cannot wait to hear these two songs live in September. If you’ve seen MAQUINA live, you will know that their live shows are not to be fucked with. You feel like you’ve had the most intense work out of your life after you’ve been to their shows, and you find yourself unsure if life will ever make sense again. On stage and on record, that feeling remains. After you’ve played Body Transmission once, you go back to it over and over. There’s something in this record that leaves you wanting more, and you notice EVERY detail on it. When I tell you that this is one of the best produced records of the past few years- believe me. I don’t lie, and I know everything is down to taste- but this record is next level. But that’s MAQUINA all over.

Speaking about the record, the band have said: “We wanted it to feel heavy, focused, and relentless.” They have captured this effortlessly. It is a heavy record, and also really liberating. This is a record to play as loud as you can, wherever you can. If I went to a coffee shop at 8am and this record was blasting out, I would know I was about to have the best day ever. It’s a record that looks at music genre and says “NAH, NOT FOR ME!” It’s beyond any description. Sure, there are electro moments, there are heavy moments and there are more often than not- moments where you just have to move. All of this means that MAQUINA make music that appeals to everyone. They’re for everyone, and you really get that when you go to their shows. Sure, it’s a sweat fest, but it’s also the most liberating place you can imagine.

Body Transmission feels like a million frequencies going right through your body, and all you can do is give in to it. It’s a record that is made with care and must be heard with urgency. I challenge anyone to not fall in love with this band and this record. Everything they did with PRATA, they have done all over again with Body Transmission times a billion, and more. It’s a truly exceptional record.

The way that Halison can scream his lungs out and play the drums in this ferocious manner is just enthralling. João just RUINS the guitar on this record, and he does the same on stage. He’s incredible. The guitar is his weapon, and you can’t help but dig every note, every sound. Mendy again annihilates the bass on this record, and you feel it echo in your ears and starts to thump at your throat and before you know it- all these sounds crash around you, and you have a phenomenal record in your presence. It’s a masterpiece, and it’ll make you fall in love with music all over again.

If you’ve made it this far, and you want more- you can catch the band on tour over the summer and September. You’ve GOT to see them!

Body Transmission is out now via Fuzz Club Records.

CASUAL DRAG @ The Peer Hat, Manchester. 3rd July 2026

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After waiting years to finally see them and after writing about them loads, I got to see Casual Drag play possible THE hottest venue in Manchester- The Peer Hat. I’ve been to a fair few gigs there, and I don’t recall it ever being that hot. I think my eyeballs were sweating.

I also cannot hear out my right ear, so I’m assuming a good night was had!

As short as their set was, they played with all the passion and fury you would expect from a band as great as this. It was truly lovely to see so many people there to see them, and also bands from Scotland just play with slightly more bite.

What drew me to their sounds a few years ago is truly captured in their live shows. I knew it was going to be loud, but I didn’t expect to fully lose my hearing in my right ear (I’m going to see Bruise Control later so hopefully that’ll put everything back into place!) Man, they ripped right through their set last night. We got all the hits, all the jams! They played The Master, I Like It, The Talk, Out Of Sight and many more. They were just a joy to watch.

They played Johnny too which was INSANE! I think that may have been my favourite one, but it’s hard to choose with a band like this.

The energy they have is unreal, and I honestly have no idea how Matt (drummer) didn’t pass out. Richard’s vocals are as crisp as they are on record, and his guitar is a weapon you don’t want to cross. Dominic is effortlessly slick with the bass. And they just play in a way that makes you truly back them, and just love them more than you already do. The way all 3 of them play is just a delight to watch, and I’ve honestly not seen someone play the drums as intensely as Matt does. All 3 of them play as if their lives depend on it, and I guess when you’re in a band that make music as hard and as furious as this, you kind of have to. I’d say I’d watch this band play every night, but I doubt my ears would be grateful for damaging them. But hey, if you’re not a little damaged after a gig- have you had a nice time? Probably not!

I really love finally being able to see a band I’ve loved for son long play live, because everything you first loved about them just gets heightened in that moment. It doesn’t matter the size of the venue; it just matters that you finally get to experience it. I’d honestly urge anyone who gets the chance to see Casual Drag live to absolutely take it. Maybe wear some earplugs though or don’t stand so close to the front. Thinking about it, maybe this is my own fault….

What I love about their live show is that they sound exactly the same as they do on record. They’ve been doing this a while now, and they deserve way more than they get because they truly are something else live. It is an injustice that they aren’t massive, but it’ll happen. So many incredible bands have come from Glasgow, and Casual Drag are easily in the Top 5 for sure. Everything always seems louder when you witness it live, and that’s part of the charm. They have something to prove, and my god they did just that last night.

Casual Drag have that raw basement DIY Punk/Garage sound that does own my heart (and ears) and not only are bands like this vital for the scene in general, but they are so important to real grassroots venues like The Peer Hat. Live music is so important, and that importance was truly felt last night.

MAQUINA @ Golden Lion, Todmorden. 17th May 2026.

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Sometimes, you go to a gig, and you know you have truly witnessed something very special. Something that in months and in many years to come, you will still be talking about it. It may end up being a reference point for how you want every gig to make you feel or just how out of this world it is. Gigs like that are so special and don’t happen all too often.

On Sunday I went to Todmorden to see MAQUINA at The Golden Lion. In a way, the venue upstairs reminded me of the Shacklewell Arms. It had that same feeling to it, that feeling if knowing that most gigs that happen here turn out to be pretty special.

MAQUINA’s first UK tour was only last year, and they played the YES Basement in Manchester which I am pretty sure would have been one of the best venues to contain their huge sound. They’ll be playing the Pink Room and beyond next time for sure but on Sunday just gone, it was in an upstairs room in a pub in Todmorden. I honestly had no clue on what to expect. Religiously listening to them did not prepare me nor did watching previous live performances on YouTube. The experience was always going to be different but brilliant. I’ve loved the band for bloody ages and to see them play a tiny venue that I don’t even think 100 people were in, was something to really treasure. It was definitely up there being one of the loudest shows I’ve been to in a while, and I was just in awe of the band.

They were on stage for around an hour, but it went by so fast. I could have watched them for another 3 hours (okay so they don’t have enough songs but still!) It was one of the most enthralling gigs I’ve been to. I had no idea where to look. I was right in front of João, and I’m pretty sure some of his sweat landed on my head and in my eye at various points of the night, but I didn’t mind at all. Signs of a great show! Halison sang every word and beat the shit out of his drumkit solidly, and never more in my life have I ever wanted to be a drummer- or to be as cool as these 3. José is THE slickest bassist around. You won’t find anyone better out there. I think it was during Body Control where Halison climbed on his kit, managed to reach to the ceiling of the venue and move his body that would make the most flexible gymnast jealous. This song is something else live, and the way they perform it just makes you become even more obsessed with it.

Pretty much everyone in this sweaty room was moving in ways they’ve never moved at a show before, and MAQUINA give you the freedom to do exactly that. I didn’t stand still for this one. The only thing that ruined it was the person stood behind me trying to film everything and had his phone above my head a stupid amount of time throughout (just move, don’t be an idiot!) But aside from other people, this was one of the best gigs I’ve been to this year. MAQUINA are a band that you just have to see live, and with their new record coming out in July, something tells me that their live shows are going to be even more in demand. There is something really special about their energy and live performances. You can really tell that they love what they do, and that love is strong between them all also.

The band rip through their set, and it is a joy. No, it is an HONOUR to watch them. You cannot help being in awe of them and wish you were in a band as cool as this. The noise they make together is just divine, and you feel like you are part of something truly out of this world. You feel like you are elsewhere when you listen to them, and that’s one of the best feelings you can get from a band both on record and live. I really cannot wait for the record to come out in the summer- I’m pretty sure I will play it to death! Hearing songs like Agony, Pressure/Pleasure live was just the coolest, and I know it’s so typical but Body Control live is just everything you could want. I never want that song to end at the best of times, but my god when you witness it live it absolutely changes how you hear it. Denial was also up there as being one of the killer moments of the set. MAQUINA are a band that once you see them live, you cannot help but want to see them all the time.

There are so many venues in Manchester that they easily could have played but you know, The Golden Lion was the perfect place for them on Sunday. Something tells me they won’t be playing pubs for much longer.

Here’s a few photos I managed to take:

PINS @ Bootleg Social, Blackpool. 15th May 2026.

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I realised last night that after seeing PINS play a hell of a lot of times, I’ve never seen them play in our home city of Manchester. It’ll happen one day, and when it does it will be bloody beautiful. Instead, it was a trip last night to the seaside to see them play the Bootleg Social in Blackpool. This is a brilliant venue, and you can really tell it is such a vital part of Blackpool and it’s very easy to see why. You get a really community feel the second you step in, and you never want to leave. An incredible venue.

The band take to the stage at 9pm and start with Baby Bhangs. 10 years on, and it still feels like you’re hearing it for the first time. What I loved about this set is that we got a mix from every record. Baby Bhangs is the perfect way to open the set, and it sets the tone perfectly. Family of the band were in the crowd last night, and of course ended up on stage for Girls Like Us. Faith tried to get us up there, but I was way too shy. We compromised by me holding her mic until she got back onto the stage. I could have had my real moment there to belt out a number but 1- I cannot sing and 2- I cannot sing. When Faith said back to the band, “They don’t want to come up!” Lois replied with the wonderful, “We’ll take it to them!” And oh boy they did! I’ve seen PINS play many times with different members, but I can honestly say that this lineup of PINS is an absolute dream to watch. They play so well together, and you can really really feel the love on the stage, and it fall perfectly into the laps of the crowd.

I think I’ve said it every single time I’ve written about their shows, but you will not find anyone love being on stage as much as Lois. The way she bounces around on the stage and sings every word into the crowd even when it isn’t her part is adorable, and I think that is one of the many reasons as to why this band are so easy to love and quite clearly  go see every show you can wherever you can! I’ll be holding out for a Manchester show for now!

The setlist was a slice of heaven and then some! For me, it was the surprise of hearing All Hail live. I didn’t expect it to make an appearance and to finally see it live was insane! Trouble is ALWAYS a dream to see live as is Too Little, Too Late- which I think I may have hurt my throating singing along to! Dazed By You will ALWAYS own a piece of my heart, and getting to sing along to this with the person I love the most stood next to me meant a lot. It’s the most perfect, dreamy song.

On the drive home, I said it should be a crime how underrated and how underappreciated PINS are. They are one of the best bands to not only have come from Manchester, but in general. I just absolutely adore them. They’re one of those bands that you don’t get tired of listening to or seeing live. There’s a handful of bands I love that I would happily see play live every night, and PINS are easily in that list. Top 3 for sure! There’s something really special about seeing a band play who you can tell love each other and being on stage together, it’s truly inspiring stuff. I’ve probably said it before, but I really hope some young kid sees PINS play or hears their music and is inspired to make their own noise too. They have that about them, and that is something to be treasured.

Every song on the setlist deserved its place from Serve The Rich to Young Girls to If Only. I will say that If Only is a song that over time, I’ve felt more connected to. The lyrics are so pure and hit you right in the heart. Much like the delicate Got It Bad. The love in the songs and the observations are another reason as to why PINS will always own a piece of my heart. I just love them, and I am so happy that they are still out there touring. They deserve to sell out every venue they play and are a band that you’ve just GOT to see live.

I was in my own world last night as I watched them play. Nothing mattered outside of that room, and that’s how live music should be. PINS play with this effortlessly slick and cool energy, and even though I’m older than them- when I grow up, I want to be as cool as PINS.

PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS + MERYL STREET @ The Crescent, York 14th May 2026.

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On Thursday night, I saw Pigsx7 play one of their finest shows in one of the best venues I’ve been to. There is no denying that The Crescent is one of the most important venues not just in York but in the country. It has everything you could want and enough space to move your body in a questionable fashion without hitting anyone by accident. Before I go into how amazing Pigsx7’s set was- I have to tell you about the support act; Meryl Streek. Meryl Streek is a crucial artist and is someone that HAS to be heard. He’s also proof that you must ALWAYS watch the support act if you are there on time.

A few weeks ago, Meryl Streek played on the Isle of Man and two of the most important (and best) bands from the IOM supported him- Half Naked Headline and Croteau. At the end of the night, I thanked him for playing there and for having those two bands support. Both bands are destined for greatness and deserve the world, and we spoke a little bit about how odd the Island is but also how important it is to have people like him play there. Not only was his set incredibly moving, but as a person, you can absolutely tell that he cares a hell of a lot about those around him, what he’s creating and being heard. He’s a credit to the music industry, and although the crowd seemed a bit reserved for his set- for some, the words truly hit home. Songs like Paddy (this broke me), Kelly and of course Death To The Landlord were so moving to hear and the way he puts his all into his performances is truly captivating. You leave feeling like a different person and also, angrier at the world. He’s a real inspiration and this definitely won’t be the last time I see him live. Music should always move you in any way, and I think if you see his performances and you don’t feel more rage at the world then you’re probably part of the problem.

Pigsx7 play 12 songs. No encores. No prisoners. No timewasting. No love for Download Festival. They limber up during the opener The Wyrm and you know you’re about to witness over an hour of chaos, magic, and the inability to hear for a few hours after. At their previous shows I’ve been to, I’ve always stood near the back but this time- the front (or a row behind from the front.) Not too close to the speakers but close enough to know that I would have a ringing in my ears for a few hours at the end. Bliss. I knew the show would be magical, but when you see a band, you love play in a venue that’s as special as this- it makes it something else. The setlist is perfect (although I still want to hear their cover of Hot Stuff live) and although 12 songs isn’t enough when it’s a band you adore with all you have- those 12 songs are delivered in a way that transcends how you hear them on record. Pigsx7 are my gym band, and their music has enabled me to lift heavier than I thought was possible but they’re a band that lyrically get me right in the gut. There is something so special about this band, and you know what? Fuck Download Festival for ignoring greatness for 16 years in a row. However, as the band did mention- playing venues like The Crescent means a lot more. It’ll always mean more.

As always, Matt introduces the band as 80s/90s Wrestlers but also mixes it up with 80s/90s Pop Stars too. We were joined by not only Rick Flair but also Rick Astley on a Thursday. In York. How lucky were we!? When you watch a band like Pigsx7 you have no idea where to look because every single one of them on stage is the best at what they do, each of them are the heartbeat of the band. Each of them plays with this urgency. The way Matt moves on stage is similar to how my cat psyches herself up to chase her little draft excluder toy. Focussing and moving in a way that shows she isn’t someone to be messed with. She then plays for 10 minutes and has a lie down. Matt doesn’t do this, none of them do. They all stay firmly focussed on stage and play as if their lives depend on it. Their sound is distinctive and vital. They aren’t just a great band on record, but live they take it to a different level- and they cannot be touched. They blitz through the set, and they play 4 songs in a row with no break (I cannot remember which 4 they were but at the end I did think they all needed a little rest because it was so intense in the best way.) Adam was able to go for a piss whilst Headbanger of the Evening was awarded so that’s always good!

The setlist was a dream, and the venue was perfect for them. I’ve seen them play the Ritz in Manchester and also New Century Hall but there is something really special about seeing them in a venue like this to really make you appreciate their sound even more. Stitches into GNT then into World Crust is just chef’s kiss. Collider into Toecurler? A DREAM! Was it the best I’ve seen them? Yes. Will this go down as one of my favourite gigs I’ve ever been to? Hell yes.

CROTEAU: Silent Sound.

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What do YOU know about the Isle of Man? Let’s be honest, not a lot. Not a lot happens there. Not a lot to do, nowhere to go. I grew up there, and I have a love/hate relationship with the place. There are some stunning beaches there but if you want to feel shit, then walk round Douglas town centre. HOWEVER, I will say that there have been and there are some brilliant bands that have come from the little rock in the middle of the Irish Sea, and I am SO happy to write about the debut record from the best band around from there- Croteau.

Croteau have been around for a few years and fun fact, and also a way to make me feel old- I went to high school with guitarist Ali’s mum. Croteau are everything you could want from a local band who are evidently going places. Their sound is pretty much unlike anything else around, and it’s that rage and level of ferociousness in their sound that makes them so appealing.

What I’ve really loved seeing the lead up to the release was the band sharing music and books that have inspired the record. A lot of it includes books and bands I was listening to from like 14/15 and still do. Knowing that writers like Camus, Bukowski, Burroughs and of course the greatest- Ginsberg are being shown to younger generations still gives me a lot of hope. Punk ain’t dead- it’s everywhere. Some bands that inspired the record are New York Dolls, TJAMC, Fugazi, The Stooges- come on now! You can hear it right in the record, and it is so fucking cool. I always thought my uncle was the coolest person on the Isle of Man and was in the best band from there (The 13th Pillar closely followed by The Bastinados with THEE coolest of ‘em all, Raz) but Croteau are definitely up there. They’re the best new band from the IOM for sure and absolutely the loudest. I really hope some UK promoters get hold of them and get them over to the UK because there are so many venues that their sound could beautifully destroy. YES Basement or The Castle in Manchester would be ideal for them. Alright, so praise aside for everything they do. I need to go into the record. Buckle up.

13 songs. 13 perfectly crafted Punk anthems. These are the songs that some kid in Year 7 or 8 on the Isle of Man is listening to as they walk the corridors waiting for the day to end because the walls at school trap you. I say this as someone who had the worst time in high school. Music was my escape. Some kid trying to find their way is going to be listening to this record as they go about their day and it’s going to grip ‘em, and by Year 9 they will have found their people and started their own band. It may not be this year; it could be in a few years. But they will find this record when the time is right for them, and they’ll have their mind blown and eardrums ripped wide open and ruined in the best way possible.

Every song needs to be played loud and maybe go louder than you think with this one. I absolutely love the song Mandy- it’s one I keep going back to, and what I love about this record is that I feel like I’m finding bands like the Ramones or The Stooges or MC5 for the first time, and I’m being sucked into this world where anything is possible but I’m also angry at how fucked the world is. Every song is an anthem just crying out to be screamed back at the band. Fragile Piece? Genius. Loaded Gun? Work of art. Manic? 34 seconds of angst-ridden BLISS. The whole record oozes rage in all the right forms, and the want for change but also knowing the world is corrupt. There are no tender moments here. There is nothing but beautiful loudness and urgency.

Play this record loud enough to disturb your neighbours, and your neighbour’s neighbour and beyond. Throw your body around to Get Nowhere. Get those frustrations out. They’re the most dangerous band on the Isle of Man, don’t you know! This is the kind of danger we need. That bite and that passion in the music.

If this is how they sound on their debut record, then there’s no telling what their future holds. They’ve got IT man. Whatever you want a band to have, Croteau have got IT.

The kids are gonna be alright. It’s adults that are the problem.

CROCODILES: Greetings From Hell.

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Tomorrow my buddies and also one of my all time favourite bands release their 9th record (that’s if we don’t count the three Shitty Times records.) What can they do on record number 9 that they haven’t already done?!

Well, EVERYTHING. What I love about Crocs is that even though they have a distinctive sound (it’s in Brandon’s voice, and it’s in Charlie and Brandon’s guitar style- always) but they also manage to give you something you’ve not heard before. I remember finding their music in 2008/9, and I hadn’t heard anything like it before. That feeling is there with every record they put out and they’ve truly excelled once again on Greetings From Hell. The title for the record makes me think of The Cramps, who are according to me and those with good taste, are one of the best bands of all time. I’m only two songs in but I can tell you this is my record of the year.

Let’s Be Strangers is going to be up there as one of my favourite songs of the years. It’s a got a fuck you/fuck off feel to it, I’m always down with that. There are so many things to adore about this record, and to make you truly fall all the way back in love with Crocodiles all over again. It’s only been 3 years since their last record, and in that time they’ve both continued to work on their equally great side projects (Crush of Souls and Psychic Pigs- both are different from each other, and just phenomenal.) I do have some fear inside that they’ll stop making records as Crocodiles one day, but I hope that day comes when Charlie and Brandon are like 90 years old, and need a rest. Let’s not think about it, ha! So back to the record.

I Dream Of Genet is a billion percent a title of a song that Patti Smith would love, right? It’s a real catchy number and I hope they do this on tour because it will be a joy to witness. That’s one of the things I truly love about Crocodiles- it’s their live shows. I saw them last year in Newcastle, and I can honestly say that out of the 20+ times I’ve seen them- THAT was their best show for me. There was something about the venue, the company, the setlist and everything in between- it was just an honour to be in that crowd that night. I obviously feel a huge sense of pride when I listen to Crocodiles, and that feeling is very much there for this record. Every record is them at their very best, and this is truly one of the best things they’ve ever done. I know my opinion is hugely biased but, in this case, I know I’m right.

Brandon and Charlie met nearly 30 years ago in San Diego at an antifascist gathering (always on the right side of history these two, and will ALWAYS speak up for what’s right) and you can really hear their bond on this record. They may live on opposite sides of the world (Paris and Los Angeles) but that doesn’t stop them from making the most perfect record every single time. I guess distance does make the heart grow fonder. The 10 songs on this record are a prime example of why Crocs are the best at what they do. If you’re someone who has never listened to them (firstly, where have you been?! My own mother loves this band!) Greetings From Hell is a great starting point and work your way backwards. There’s something really special about their music, and every record for me, is right there when I need it. Music is that best friend that’s always there with no condition or expectation. That’s why I really love this band- they’ve been there through the good and bad, and I couldn’t imagine a world without their sounds!

Every single song on this record has been crafted in the most delightful way you could imagine. Listening to a new Crocs record is like going home, or having your favourite meal or drink, or hanging with your favourite person and/or cat. It’s familiar and it feels like home. For me, the band are home. The ultimate safe space. The ultimate band. The record is Crocodiles at their very best and songs like Whips and Chains are MADE to be heard live. The record picks up from where Upside Down In Heaven left off, and that’s something I love about Crocodiles. Every record picks up from where the previous left off, but always ALWAYS gives you something new and a reason to keep on fallin’ back in love with them.

I don’t normally do this, but I want to dedicate what I’ve written to a very special and cool person who we sadly lost this week- Gregg Foreman. Gregg was such an important person to music and to those who love music. From his work with the Delta 72 to Cat Power to Gossip to L.A. Witch and to Crocodiles. Not forgetting Lydia Lunch too. There’s many, many more he worked with. Everyone loved him, and now- everyone will miss him. So much about Gregg reminds me of Raz, and that’s why this loss hits harder than it may have done. Every day Gregg would post his gratitude list on Instagram, and I’d look forward to it every day because you knew he meant every word and the world around him meant so much. I hope wherever he is now, he knows how loved he is and is at peace. And I hope he’s up there creating the best band in the world with Johnny Thunders, Rowland S. Howard and Lux. Imagine the noise. Forever our Moth.

Greetings From Hell by Crocodiles is out tomorrow via Invisible Hits, and like their last record is produced by the excellent Jonah Falco.

You can order the record here: https://crocodilesband.bandcamp.com/album/greetings-from-hell

Play the record loud. Hug your mates. Go see Crocodiles live.

MAQUINA.

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Okay, so by now you’ve probably got hip to MAQUINA and are aware of how great they are. I’ve loved them for about a year, but I am very unreliable with my writing so I’m choosing right now to write about why they are probably one of the most exciting bands around.

If you love your music dark but also gives you space to dance or just move your body around in the most freeing manner- then you are going to feel right at home with Lisbon’s finest, MAQUINA. There’s 3 of them in the band, and their sound makes it feel like there’s an orchestra of them. Symphony of a genre of music that goes beyond a name. How they make you feel transcends any description. They make you feel like you do anything- even something like running right through a wall or trying to save the world. They make you feel like you can do the impossible. Is it like a religious experience? Sure. Is it like an out of body experience? Hell yes. HELL YES. I’ve listened to a lot of music in my time, and I’ve written about bands I love a lot. My aim is to always find something that makes me feel like I am listening to Psychocandy or Seventeen Seconds for the very first time. If I get that feeling, I’m home. I am fully there. MAQUINA go beyond that- they’ve conveyed everything I love about music. There’s this brutal feel to it. It’s like The Vacant Lots meets Depeche Mode with Psychic TV coming in for the kill. It is pure heaven, and I wish I had some musical talent because this is the kind of noise I’d want to make.

Most of their songs last just under the 10 minute mark, and I’ve been listening to them a lot whilst at the gym. Turns out this kind of music will make you lift HEAVY. I feel like, their sound would work in a 70s New York police film, where the streets are dirty and the cops are corrupt. Like you’ve properly stepped into a world you have zero business being part of. There’s an eeriness to their sound and an addictive energy that just consumes you with every listen.

Of course I am besotted with the anthem that is Body Control, but I have to tell you one of the best things they’ve released HAS to be Dirty Tracks For Clubbing. 4 songs, just under an hour. 4 songs built on this exceptional passion, rage, fury, and lyrics that are screamed in the most euphoric way. You feel like you’re on the run, but no one can keep up with you. You won’t let them. It’s like running free down a highway far from home in the dark. The car lights blind you, but you avoid being thrown about. How so? Because MAQUINA’s sound makes you feel like nothing can touch you. In decades to come, we’ll be writing about the impact this band have had; I can already feel the impact they will have on young bands starting and trying to find their way.

Normally, I’d review a record and tell you why it needs your attention but with MAQUINA, all I can do is tell you how sensational they are. Is every song a masterpiece? A billion percent and more. Every song has purpose, and every song needs to be played loud. Sure, they deserve to play stadiums, but they are made for those sweaty small venues where you can feel every hit of the drum rip through your eardrums, and your skull starts to shake. That’s how big and how powerful their sound is.

MAQUINA don’t make music for people who value their hearing or want music played softly. Oh no! They make it for those of us who want the loud, we want the distortion, we want that fury. We want it to make it way through our eardrums, deep into our skull and swirl around our bodies, and for nothing to ever feel the same again. Bands like this do not come around often. Bands like this will, however, last a lifetime. Their influence will be felt for a long time. The three of them make the perfect soundtrack to life in general. There’s no bad time to listen to this band- so if you’ve never heard them before, do it right now.

MAQUINA (meaning machine in Portuguese) make music that deserves to be heard, to be treasured and to be seen live. Their sound is like worlds clashing and creating something truly beautiful. There’s a delicious lo-fi sound that is so chaotic, you can just tell they love making music together and do what they want. There’s nothing more musically inspiring than that.

BRUISE CONTROL: Record Release Shows 2026

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ALL ABOARD THE BRUISE CRUISE!!!!

Where do I even begin writing about the Bruise Control record release shows? Over the weekend they played Leeds, Liverpool, and Manchester. I went to two out of three. VERY Nearly did them all but didn’t.

The first show was at Crash Records in Leeds on Saturday just gone. About 15 of us (maybe less) were cramped in this excellent record shop. How on earth could a place so small contain the sound of Bruise Control? Well, to be fair it didn’t. Jim marched up and down the shop, he even opened the front door and sang to the good people of Leeds. When I say sing, he absolutely screamed at them, and it was beautiful. Maybe he scared someone at the bus stop with their shopping or maybe, they became their new favourite band. Let’s go with the latter because there is nowt scary about the Bruisers! There was a very slight incident where a beer was spilt on the floor and Jim nearly blew the place up (total exaggeration but go with it.) In the end, Jim did most of the set at the back of the shop whilst stood on the counter. He couldn’t cause any mischief up there (he absolutely could and he did, and this is why we LOVE Bruise Control.) At the end I told him it was like the NPR Tiny Desk Concerts gone wild. Hopefully, the owners at Crash Records have forgiven these angels. You don’t book a band like Bruise Control and expect nothing rowdy to happen. It was such a joy to see them play to such a small crowd, and it’ll definitely be the last time they play to such a small number of people because they deserve to be selling out every stage possible. A sound so big cannot be contained and neither can their energy. The way they are with each other is just gorgeous too. I’ve never seen a band with such a bond with each other and such love for everyone around them. Their stage presence is next level, and that’s the Manchester charm through and through.

Now we move onto Monday nights show. The band played the Basement at YES. It holds around 60 people give or take. I’ve never been to this part of YES before and it pretty much became my favourite venue. A real dive bar with such a stunning atmosphere. My favourite venue is the Shacklewell Arms, and I miss that place so much, and for the past 8 years of being in Manchester, I’ve been trying to find a venue that I hold that dearly. The Basement at YES does this and more. I could happily be there every night!

The band are on stage at 8 and are done by 8.45. We’re home by half 9. This is BLISS. There is no better way to spend a Monday night than seeing the band you absolutely adore rip apart a venue. The crowd were a dream too, and honestly, Bruise Control fans are pretty much the kindest and best people you’ll ever meet. What I love about Bruise Control shows is that, although they are beyond rowdy and loud- you will feel so safe there. The world outside doesn’t matter at all, and sometimes (most of the time) we need that. We need that safe space and to just let it all out. Jim sprinting into the crowd a couple of times was also a highlight! He cannot be contained- let him be free!

Niall’s dad was at the show, and I remember seeing the band support Amyl And The Sniffers at the Albert Hall in 2022- it felt like their show, and I remember Jim’s mum (I think) on the balcony a row in front of me singing along. It was so beautiful. You can’t help but be proud of this band. They are everything Punk should be. They are everything a community should be. Writing about them and getting to share how much I love them brings me so much joy. And I hope someone out there who may not have heard of them before, goes and listens to them and falls in love with them like I did back in 2022.

The new songs are INSANE live, and of all the times I’ve seen them- the show on Monday was IT. I thought their show at SOUP last year was it, and nothing could top it. But this was something else. 60 of us in a dark basement on Monday night- the ideal setting for the best band around.

They all truly shone at this show. Tommy is an INSANE drummer, Niall is an unreal guitarist, Jim is THE best frontman around and Ruby makes you wish you could be as cool as her; she makes playing bass look so effortlessly easy. They’re all exceptional at what they do, and they are easily one of the few bands I could watch play every night and just never ever get tired. My ears may hate me, but who cares!?

UP THE BRUISERS!