Tag Archives: Matt Twist

MAD DADDY: The Road Racer EP

Posted on by

The exceptional new EP by Mad Daddy has been on my list of write-ups for ages, but I’m rubbish at keeping up with what I need to do. I’d rather take a nap but that’s no excuse! I’m going to use my words wisely and tell you all about one of the best bands to have ever come from the Isle of Man. The other being my uncle’s band, The 13th Pillar and the other being Voodoo Bandits.

This EP is ridiculous. They should serve time at Jurby’s finest hotel on the Isle of Man for making something this good. Should be a crime! But hey, it isn’t! The EP is made up of 4 fast, ferocious and f….ing incredible songs. Every single song will indeed make you feel like a road racer. Get your leather on and hop on your bike. Go as fast as you legally can and go out into the unknown.

Be Bad is Mad Daddy at their best- it’s filthy, beautifully obnoxious. It’s like Lux and Stiv Bators got into a fight with Iggy Pop, and this song came out. It’s my favourite at the moment, but with a record like this- you cannot settle with just one song. It’s the kind of song that you have to play as loud as you can and snarl along with Dolyn as he unleashes one of the best Mad Daddy songs to date. It goes beyond anything else they’ve done. It is one of the slickest records of the year, and the production is a dream!

Everyone on this record truly shines. Matt’s drumming on this EP is just *chef’s kiss* and again, it smacks you right in the face on Be Bad. The record ends on Here To Stay- Liam and Elvis on this one smash your eardrums on this. Every song on this EP sounds like a band trying to get to the finish line to prove their point. Their point being? Well, that they are one of the best bands in the world. But. you already knew that didn’t you. This is Mad Daddy at their loudest, their best and rowdiest. This EP really does feel like you are on the TT Race Course on Mad Sunday, and no one can keep up with you. It’s such an energetic record. Even though we’re just over a year from their debut record- this EP is another taste of what’s to come from this band.

Mad Daddy have ripped apart bands up and down the UK with their recent shows, and now they are back to mess up your hearing with their rambunctious Punk anthems. Iggy Pop is a huge fan, so that tells you just how special this band are and how remarkable this record is. Every song on this EP was made to be played full volume and with the wind in your hair as you drive and drive, with no destination in mind. It’s a proper gritty record, with songs that’ll have you craving live music, craving more from Mad Daddy. I started writing this review nearly 2 months ago, but for some reason, I’ve not had it in me to finish this or write about music. I’ve got enough records I need to write about so that’ll keep me going! But, if you need something to keep YOU going- go ahead and listen to this record. Isle of Man friends-ride the TT route playing this EP over and over.

Just when you think Mad Daddy have done it all, they unleash a heavy and gnarly record like this on us. It may only 4 songs long, but those 4 songs will ricochet through your eardrums, mind, body and brain at full pelt. Take it all in and play it loud!

MAD DADDY: Mad Daddy.

Posted on by

Well, it’s finally here (it’s been here since Friday just gone but I’ve been lazy, sorry) The full length debut record by the finest noise you’ll hear from the Isle Of Man!

Mad Daddy make a hell of a lot of noise, and if you’re a bit sensitive to noise then you should probably pass this one. Or, stop being silly and get into it! They won’t hurt you. I’m not just saying this because they are from where I grew up, but honestly, Mad Daddy make the kind of music that would make The Cramps proud. There’s the creepy sound, the snarls, the effortlessly cool and slick sound that just makes you wish you could make noise like this.

I’ve been listening to the record non-stop since I was sent a copy, and I can’t get enough of it. You just want to live in the world that they’ve created on this record. These 10 songs were made for you to blast out super loud and just have a great time. Like the great MC5 said, “Kick out the jams motherfuckers!” No truer word was spoken. Words to live by. Don’t let anyone tell you any different. Mad Daddy sure do kick ’em out. They boot them into the deep unknown. Nothing has been the same since. It’s a real Bluesy Punk number this record, and it’s one to really enjoy. For me, I feel like I’m listening to all the old bands I love on one record. You can really hear the influences here but there’s also something else going on that you can’t help but be in awe of.

The songs on this record have this brilliant rugged sound, and the production is nothing short of perfect- but not in a way that makes you feel like you’re listening to something too perfect. You can hear everything going on on this record, and that adds to that lo-fi sound that so many of us love. Nothing beats hearing something like this, and when you’ve got songs like Give It To Me, which is the perfect way to open a record. It’s 2 minutes and 55 seconds of your face getting beautifully smashed in. The whole record is just a masterpiece!

Ride With Me makes you wish you could take a road trip into the unknown. Now, you probably wouldn’t do this on the Isle of Man because the roads are TERRIBLE! But you know, you could hit the road anywhere with this blasting out and it’d just be beautiful. It’s fast and a proper gnarly Punk anthem. The harmonica makes it on this one; it adds this bite to it that you cannot get enough of. Basically, this is a killer record and you just cannot get enough of it.

Picking a favourite song off this record is impossible, but I can say that right now I’m a bit obsessed with Ain’t Gonna Stop and Let’s Get Messed Up. This whole record is just a joy to listen to. Do I associate this record with a band from the Isle of Man? Heck no! But it sure makes me proud to be from there. This is what we have there, and it is so good to hear music like this coming from such a small place. Mad Daddy could easily be one of those bands that future bands cite as an influence, and that is something to be proud of. I just want to do nothing and play this record loud. But, I’m at work and on my lunch break so I can’t really do that. But hey, if you can slack off- do it. Play this record whilst you’re at it!

There’s so much to love about this record, and you know with songs like Real Bad Day, you kind of feel that you’ve got a band that just get it, you know? The drums on this are my favourite. The drums are really out there on this record, and you can just hear the passion for music on this record from the whole band. If you’re looking for something to just burst your eardrums in the best way, to hear drums that sound like a riot in your ears and songs that will stick in your brain forever- then the Mad Daddy record is for you.

Biased opinion aside, this is just a magnetic record. You don’t want to leave it alone. Ever. You want to keep on playing it. Why sleep when you can listen to this record? Buy it. Play it loud. And when we can all travel again, go see the band play on the Isle of Man!

MAD DADDY.

Posted on by

A few weeks or so I wrote about a band from the Isle of Man called Voodoo Bandits. As I am missing home, my family and friends- I thought I’d make myself even more homesick by writing about THE coolest band on the Isle of Man. They’re called Mad Daddy. Fun fact- the singer is the brother of my best pal’s partner. Small world? Oh you have no idea!

In May, Mad Daddy released their 3rd EP. I was going to just focus on that, but when the music is this good you cannot ignore the greatness at all. If you’re looking for some straight up Rock’n’Roll with that filthy style that The Cramps had- then you’re going to love Mad Daddy. There aren’t many bands around that sound like this now- a lot have come and gone. Left their mark and that’s it. With Mad Daddy, you can hear something else. You feel like you’re in Nashville in the 60s- not the Isle of Man at all!

They released 2 EPs back in 2018, and let me tell you, you’ll be wanting more and more after listening to EP #3. As you go back and listen to their previous releases, you can definitely hear a band that has been influenced by so many bands but have most certainly created something of their own and done the Isle of Man so proud. EP #1 has all the makings of a great band, and by the time we get to EP #2 you know full well that this band isn’t to be messed with at all. The passion is infectious, and it makes you want to dig out some old records too and just have a great old time. They’ve had a bit of a lineup change over the past couple of years, with Matt Twist now as the drummer (he’s a BEAST!) but regardless of who is in the band, you simply cannot deny how tight the sound is and how perfect every damn song is.

I know they’ve probably been compared to The Cramps a stupid amount of times, but to be honest with you, it isn’t a lazy comparison at all. You can hear in Dolyn’s vocals that Lux has played a huge part in his style but by no means does it come across as a replica. What you hear is someone who has been influenced by the greatest band of all time, then gone on to create their own band, with their own style. Pretty sure if Lux was around still he’d love them. How could you not! Songs like One More Time (taken from EP #2) have that signature harmonica sound that makes you feel like a train is about to steamroll into your body then catapult you into the delirious and magical world of Mad Daddy. For me, their first 2 EPs are a solid way of showing the world what Mad Daddy can do but it’s EP #3 that shows us exactly who they are and again, makes you want to hear more and more from them. 

EP #2 has a more Blues feel to it, a little like EP #1 but I’m all about EP #3 because it has a more raw sound to it. Everything about EP #3 is tougher and has way more attitude. It has more of a Punk feel to it, and you’ve just to keep on hitting the repeat button on these songs! The coolest thing about EP #1 and #2 is that they were recorded live at one of the most sacred places on the Isle Of Man- Ballagroove Recording Studios (I think my uncle has  recorded there too with his band/bands.) Knowing they were recorded in this way makes you feel even more so that you’re right there in the room with them. The atmosphere on all 3 EPs is electric and just a real pleasure to listen to.

To sum up, Mad Daddy are one of the coolest bands around and their current lineup is super strong. I’m sure whatever comes next after EP #3 (maybe a full record? World tour? A national holiday named after them?) it’s going to blow us all away. Mad Daddy are a bunch of pals making straight up Punk/Rock ‘n’ Roll music to obliterate your eardrums in the most beautiful way imaginable. So if you like your music fast and like a Glaswegian kiss to the soul, then Mad Daddy are the band for you.

https://maddaddy.bandcamp.com