Tag Archives: Music

GARBAGE: 20 Years Paranoid Tour. 9th September 2018. Manchester Academy.

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There are some experiences in life that can never be replicated. There are some moments where words do not do what you have been through justice. Last night I saw Garbage perform a record in full that came out 20 years ago. This is the record that saved my life. This isn’t an exaggeration; it’s the truth. Music has, and always will be my crutch but Version 2.0 helped me in ways, and still helps me in ways nothing else has. Or could.

This isn’t a typical review of a show. This wasn’t just me going to see a band play live. This was something else. This was an outer-body experience. It was part healing, part saving, part something that I do not know how to put into words.

There were a few songs I knew would break me. I tried listening to one in particular a few days before the show and I couldn’t make it through. How was I going to cope seeing it live? As soon as the opening notes to Medication kicked in, I suddenly wished I was on a higher dose of sertraline. My mind and body couldn’t really come together to fathom what I was experiencing. The brutal truth; Medication got me through being bullied all through secondary school, it got me through the years and years of self-loathing and what comes with it. Just read the lyrics, it’s fairly obvious how I coped. Do I regret it? No. Am I ashamed? Not at all. We all cope differently. So when I heard this song last night, I went back to the days of feeling like I did then. But something happened- it wasn’t just tears of sadness. They were tears of relief knowing that I don’t have to carry that feeling around ever again. Sure I have to face depression and anxiety every day- but certain feelings aren’t there no more.

A moment that truly stood out was Shirley crying at the response we gave the band. But, what else could they expect? People that were there last night were people who idolise the band, who have had their lives saved by them, who use the strength in the band make it theirs. Last night’s show was the best show I’ve ever been to- the main reason being what the record means to me. However, the reaction from everyone was just so beautiful, and totally backs up my theory that crowds in Manchester are just the best.

I loved when Shirley went into Personal Jesus during Wicked Ways. It went perfectly, and was something I just wanted to last forever. I also loved Dreams by Fleetwood Mac being sung by Shirley towards the end of You Look So Fine. That song has always made me cry for reasons I’ll never understand, and to hear Shirley sing You Look So Fine and expose just how vulnerable the song is was just something else. Push It sent everyone nuts- it was incredible. I was stood right at the back, but to see everyone go off for this song was so beautiful. The crowd was made up of every background you can imagine, and it was just a beautiful sea of people coming together to see the band that they adore. There is no better feeling.

Every B-side was played, and my personal favourite was Solider Through This. It’s been a song I have loved since I heard it years and years ago. I loved the fragility in it. I loved Shirley’s speech before she went into it. She said relationships shouldn’t be difficult, that they should be easy. I truly felt that- I was stood next to my girlfriend, my best friend as she said this. There was no one else I’d want to see my favourite band with, and allow them to see me ugly cry like that. Although a difficult song for her to sing live (the lyrics justify why) Shirley’s voice on this was one of my favourite moments of the show. Shirley’s voice at this show was nothing short of mind-blowing. I have never heard anyone sound so tough and powerful. There’s a note in this song near the end that she totally annihilates and every single part of me is covered in goose bumps. She does this numerous of times throughout the show, and I think it’s us, the crowd that make her sound louder than she ever has. I was just in awe of her voice and how Butch, Eric, Duke and Steve play with this energy that puts newer bands to shame.

The Trick Is To Keep Breathing was the song that made me cry the most. I’ve never ever cried like that at a show before, and I never will again-unless it’s seeing this song. This song was my lifeline for so long, and it still is. It’s my go to song when everything is too much or when I just need some form of reassurance. I used to repeat the chorus in my head as I walked the corridors at school and had this feeling in my stomach knowing what I was about to face. This song got me through it, and I am forever in debt to Garbage for this song.

When you go to a Garbage show, you are enamoured by all of them. You focus on Shirley stalking the stage like a hungry panther, Butch makes you wish you could play the drums, Duke is the coolest person on the planet, Steve has this laid-back stance but you know he is playing with everything he’s got and Eric drives the band on. I’ve never seen such a perfect bunch of musicians like this before. They fit together. Their bond is just so beautiful.

Excuse the pun, but it was such a special show. Every song made me feel like I was going back 20 years ago to hear this record for the first time all over again. I loved that there were little kids at the show wearing massive headphones-imagine that being your first show you ever go to! Those kids have cool families. I love how this show just brought so many people together all for the same reason. I loved hearing The World Is Not Enough,  Dumb and their cover of Can’t Seem To Make You Mine. Temptation Waits blew my mind a stupid amount! I wanted the show to keep going forever. In my head, it still is. I’m emotionally exhausted from it and I’ve had about 5 hours sleep. I feel like I am still at the show. I want to always stay in that moment.

The show ended perfectly on their cover of Starman. That song has always made me cry (what doesn’t… I know!) and to hear them sing this song, it kind of felt like the band were saying “Stay weird and don’t let anyone take it from you. Ever.” Just like Bowie always did. The way Shirley sings this makes you realise she has definitely studied his performances, and she did the song justice. They all did. They made this song theirs but in a way, you knew it was a tribute and it was so perfectly done.

I never thought I’d see/hear the songs live that saved my life. I never thought I’d experience it. It meant more to me than these words I’ve written can express. If on the off-chance they read this- thank you. You helped this kid deal with more than they could carry, and make it to adulthood.

SKEGSS: My Own Mess.

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Finally, we have the debut record by Skegss. My Own Mess is a brilliant record, and I’m going to do my best to explain why this is one of the finest records you will hear all year.

As I write this, I can see grey rain clouds take over the Manchester skies but Skegss make me feel like I am elsewhere. I feel like I’m on some beach shutting the world off to these songs that are full of the things that sometimes make my mind work overtime. Infinity is one of the best songs on the record, especially the lyrics but truth be told- you can’t pick just one song here. It’s impossible.

This is a record that has surpassed any expectations anyone could have. It honestly doesn’t sound like a debut record; I feel like I am listening to a band I have been listening to for decades or something insane. They have blown my mind on this record, and it is nothing short of a joy to listen to. There are 15 songs on My Own Mess, and because I love this band so much-I want more songs. But what they’ve given us on this record is so great. It is unlike anything else you’ll hear this year or for a long time. It’s one of those records that will just stay with you. When you listen to it in years to come, it’ll make you feel like you did when you first heard it. It holds that much power in it, and I really hope they are proud of what they have done here because it is just remarkable.

Skegss make you make sense of carrying around a bunch of feelings that just make you feel jaded, and wanting to just escape for a while. They are just the ideal band to listen to and let the world be out of your sights for a little bit. They have this gorgeous comforting sound that isn’t always found in bands that make this kind of music. Usually the bands I listen to that have a similar sound just make me want to throw a bunch of stuff around. Skegss are different. Completely different. They just make me want to shut the world off and do whatever the hell I want for a little while. I love the song Paradise; it’s such a gentle song that I hope they put in their live setlist.

Something I really love about this record is that you cannot pick one band that they sound like or who has influenced them. It’s just so different. I mean sure they are a band I would gravitate towards anyway, but there is something about Skegss that is really unlike any other. This is a record to be fully enjoyed. At first, listen to it on your own and soak this record in. Take on board every lyric, fall in love with every element of this beautiful record. Then play it to those you trust will love this record too. Then, play it super loud so everyone on your street can hear. The song, Margarita is one you should definitely play the loudest and you know, maybe take their advice and have one.

My Own Mess is such an enjoyable record and just a real pleasure to listen to. It’s a fun record, and it just makes you feel totally relaxed, even if you find yourself identifying with a lot of the songs/lyrics- it’s totally fine because Skegss just make you feel at ease. I think this is definitely going to be one of my most listened to records for a hell of a long time. It’s just a glorious piece of art. The song Stop makes me wish I could skate; I’d have this song playing as I rip through the streets carefree as fast as possible. Oh, and Midnight Eyes has now just become my favourite. I’m in love with this song for sure.

Skegss are going on a pretty big tour in support of this record over the next few months. Come out and watch them, and let them just blow whatever is left of your mind.

My Own Mess is out RIGHT NOW via Ratbag Records!

ANNA CALVI: Ghost Rider (Suicide cover.)

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This is something I should have written ages ago but you know, better late than never. If you’ve ever read any of what I’ve written, you’ll have seen a lot about Anna CalvI. There are so many reasons as to why I pretty much idolise her- the main one being how she is just effortlessly cool. However, another reason is that covered a song I really love by one of the greatest bands of all time.

A while ago Anna covered Ghost Rider by Suicide. If you’ve heard the original, you’ll know just how brilliant it is. It’s this ferocious song that just rips right through you like a motorbike zig zagging on the road. Swerving in an out of traffic. Flirting with danger. How could anyone ever cover this song? How could anyone cover this song and still make it as amazing as the original? Could anyone? Of course. Anna Calvi’s cover of Ghost Rider is this wild and raw version of a song that, you never thought anyone could ever take on. You didn’t think anyone could take this song on. Alan Vega and Martin Rev made music that was so out there, so ahead of its time and so gritty. What has Anna done with this song? Pull up a chair. Here we go.

Her recorded version of this is around the 2.40 mark. There’s a live clip that I’ve obsessed over today that’s about 6 minutes. Irrespective of the duration, Anna makes this song sound like someone coming for your soul. The heart is throwaway here. The soul is what she wants between her teeth with the remains of you dripping off her guitar. That’s the beautiful feeling that Anna gives you with her music, and my god she enhances this with her take on Ghost Rider. The way she uses her guitar as a machine gun on this song is insane. It makes me want to throw stuff, break stuff and just go bananas. The intro to this song has always been something that covers me in goose bumps, but Anna does it in a way that just makes you turn to jelly. Her voice is almost like a whisper, then she lets out those yelps that just grip you. I love how Anna and Colette from TwoFiftyFour both have vocals that can be really delicate then can be straight up loud and powerful in such a beautiful way. It reminds of Shirley Manson. These three have such distinctive vocals, and I’m pretty sure all three of them could take on a song by Suicide and turn it into a masterpiece all over again. I’d love to hear Shirley take on Dream Baby Dream and Colette take on Johnny. Imagine!

Suicide had this sound that just made them really standout, and to take on their songs you better be tough and fearless with it. Anna takes on Ghost Rider and makes you feel like Suicide have covered it. She makes it her own and turns it into this monster emerging from the depths of a lake or a forest, and will eventually rise to give chase. Suicide make it sound like a smutty New York alleyway encounter. If this doesn’t appeal to you, then why on earth not. I love music that has this unclean feel, and Suicide always gave me that. I loved how their music always made (and still does) me feel like nothing else has. It is unlike anything I’ve ever heard, and that’s why I adore Anna’s version of Ghost Rider. Time and time again she makes me feel like I’m finding her music for the first time. For a band or singer to have this ability is something we should never take for granted.

The way how Anna sings Ghost Rider is so different to how it was sang by Alan Vega. Alan’s vocals are quite clear and prominent. Anna takes the song, sings it softly but you can hear this urgent breathing coming out as she sings. It sounds like she is being chased as she sings this or maybe she’s the one doing the chasing. I’m going to go with the latter. It’s like she is running after someone, telling them this tale and every time those yelps come out of her and her guitar just turns into this electrifying force, you feel as if she has caught up with you and done whatever she wants with you. She rips you soul from within and takes over it by the end of the song. Her songs have always felt like a film to me, so cinematic and Suicide have always done this too, I feel. I can totally see why she took this song on. It’s like it was made for her to cover. She goes beyond doing the song justice. As someone who is pretty much obsessed with Suicide, I am utterly in awe of Anna’s cover of this incredible song. It was one of the first songs I heard by Suicide, so it holds a bit of sentimental value to me. To hear a singer I absolutely adore take on a song by a band I am forever in awe of, and make it their own. To make them take this song someplace else and make you forget it is a cover just blows my mind.

We live in a world now where Alan Vega is no longer with us, and it’s something that’s pretty hard to take in. When he died, the loss really hit me. When I listen to Anna’s cover of Ghost Rider it eases the loss and longing for a band that are no more because she just makes it something else. She turned it into her own masterpiece.

3 MINUTE RIOT.

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Mexico is home to many great things, and one of these being Three Minute Riot. If any name of a band could sum up what Punk is- these guys most definitely do it.

They have recently put out a brutally loud EP which consists of five songs that make you feel as if you’re having you face smashed in. This is mostly felt on the opener, Rich Against The Machine. There is something about the band that reminds me a little of Black Flag. There’s just certain moments in their songs that give you that angst that you gain from your teenage years and carry with you beyond, because what makes you angry is what you see happening in the world. Their songs are aggressive, but not in a way that fills you with fear. If anything, they will make you feel like you’ve got to do your bit to make the world a better place, if you can.

Their bio states, “We do not know what we sound like, but it’s cool.” I like this, and I think it’s a real honest approach to their music and can make you entirely curious about the band. When you listen to them, you can just imagine what their live shows are probably like. You know it’ll be intense, heavy and with everyone yelling the words as loud as possible back at them. It’ll have a united feel to it- this is what bands like 3 Minute Riot do. They unleash our common frustrations, and in that it just brings a mass of people together. In this instance, it’ll be in a small sweaty bar where personal space is something that doesn’t exist- but that’s part of the appeal. It may not be a huge arena, but it’s a place where a bunch of people are really hearing their message and taking note.

I know I said that 3 Minute Riot have a solid Punk sound/influence, but there is something else there. Some parts of All Against The Wall could pass as some early Glam Rock kind of number (think New York Dolls- they took that style and made it Punk.) There’s this Johnny Thunders riff throughout, and I enjoy this a lot. It’s probably my favourite song off the EP, and there’s also parts of this song where it goes off into this wild Garage Rock sound. It’s the vocals that stay Punk, always. It’s there, and it’ll never go. The band have the backbone of Punk throughout their songs.

I think they’ve only been a band for maybe over a year now, but their sound makes you feel as if they have been together for a long, long time. They are definitely a band that know how they want to sound and what they want, and need to say. They’re most certainly a band that need to be heard, and heard loudly.

Cursibaby sounds like something you’d hear from Dead Boys. It’s real snotty and smutty kind of song. You could imagine Stiv losing his shit to this. It may be the last song on the EP, but it’s the one that you’ll probably keep going back to and play louder each time. It’s got this 70s Punk sound that Dead Boys took and made their own just wonderfully oozing out of the song. It’s in the vocals, it’s in the music, it’s all over this song and I reckon it’d be a pretty great song to see live.

None of us may not know, or ever know what 3 Minute Riot sound like but there is nothing wrong with this. It’s part of what makes them appealing and makes you intrigued about them and their music. So play them loud to really get a feel for what they are about!

IDLES: Joy As An Act Of Resistance.

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“If someone talked to you
The way you do to you
I’d put their teeth through
Love yourself.”

 

A band like Idles don’t need me or anyone really, to tell you how amazing they are. What you need to know about them is that they are the most important band in this country. If you’re looking for a band that will unleash all your rage, if you’re looking for a band that’ll expose what makes us all vulnerable- then you NEED Idles. You just need them. It’s all well and good to love a band, but when you get to the point of needing them- don’t ever let that go. Don’t be afraid of it either.

Joy As An Act Of Resistance came out on Friday, but I wanted to listen to the record a few times before I declared my love for it. I wanted to process everything about this record before I delved into this absolutely beautiful, brutal and powerful record. It’s a record everyone needs to hear and pay attention to. The lyrics need to be heard at all costs.

Idles are a band that are incapable of making songs that aren’t important or that do not need to be heard with urgency. Joy is a record that exudes everything I want from a record. You can call it Punk, you can lob this into any genre you want but first and foremost- call it honest. Every song oozes this truth that may make a listener squirm at time but the most part, you’ll see yourself in these beautifully honest songs. Take the song, June for instance. I can’t relate to it, but my god I can pick up on the pain there. That pain hits you right in the heart and just breaks you. The way Joe uses his words on this song are just…I honestly don’t feel like I have the right to touch on this song. All I can do is just admire his fragility in this song and the way he lays out his experience. I’m utterly proud of him, and the band.

There are so many important songs on this record. They all are, but we all know just how vital the song Danny Nedelko is (Danny is the lead singer of Heavy Lungs) which touches on immigration. The chants and the heavy guitar on this song just blow my mind- and I can’t get enough of how brilliant Joe is as a songwriter. He’s obviously one of the greatest frontmen of our generation. He is someone to just be in awe of with his words. I could easily write an essay on brilliant a writer he is. Maybe that’ll happen at some point.

Love Song is probably my favourite. I love the devotion in the lyrics, and how the band make it sound quite sinister. I guess if someone didn’t really know the band, they’d think they were a bunch of stalkers. But really, it’s just an excellent ode to the one you love. I love the way Joe sings, “Look at the card I bought. It says “I love you.” It’s definitely the way Joe sings this line that adds a proper comical value to it.

Before I wrap this up, I need to talk about Samaritans. The song reflects on how the notion of masculinity has become quite toxic. For far too long, men have been programmed to not cry or talk about their feelings. But what’s one of the biggest killers of men? Suicide. We cannot turn a blind eye to this. We cannot keep turning people away who need help- gender should not matter in this. We should all feel like we can talk about what is hurting us. The lyrics may be simple, but this is what makes them hit home. They don’t need to create something over the top to make a point. They do it in their way, and their way makes you bloody well listen. Cry To Me is a song that you need to play almost immediately after. Just read the lyrics, and you’ll understand why. It’s one of the best covers I’ve ever heard.

Joy is a masterpiece. It is a body of work that has songs that just need to be heard. I’m toying constantly with what song I love the most, and I should stop- I know. But I can definitely tell you that Television hits home a lot. My level of self-confidence and self belief is laughable, but this songs makes me feel alright. Just a little, and you know.. I can’t ask for more than that.

We spend far too much time pulling each other apart, this record is a form of reassurance that we aren’t alone. It’s a record that is just so vital. Play it to kids in school so they understand it’s okay to not always be okay. Play it in the workplace to use as a method to encourage people to talk. Play it to your loved ones so neither of you feel alone again. I could tell you to play it loud- but the most important thing to do, is to just listen.

I’m aware that this could have been written better or I could have touched on other things within the record, but that’s probably for others to do who do not have such a personal attachment. It’s a phenomenal record that everyone must hear. Not just because of how brilliant it is, but because of everything it represents.

CONWAY SAVAGE.

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“Conway was the anarchic thread that ran through the band’s live performances. He was much loved by everyone, band members and fans alike. Irascible, funny, terrifying, sentimental, warm-hearted, gentle, acerbic, honest, genuine – he was all of these things and quite literally ‘had the gift of a golden voice,’ high and sweet and drenched in soul.”~ Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds.

Of all the bands I’ve ever loved, The Bad Seeds are the one that have always been there- before I even knew who they were. I’ve told my introduction to Nick Cave story many times. It’s one I hold dear to me. Even dearer, I hold the music. The Bad Seeds will always, irrespective of the line-up, be a band that are the world to me.

One person in particular just embodied The Bad Seeds to the fullest; Conway Savage, who sadly left us yesterday.

Those who love The Bad Seeds know just how vital Conway was, is…was…is…always will be. I’m not ready for past tense just yet.

I could write a thousand and more words as to why he truly made a difference. As to why he was one of the best musicians I’ve ever heard. I never saw him play live with the band, but he was on a lot of The Bad Seeds songs that I love and adore.

For nearly thirty years, Conway was a Bad Seed. But you know what they say, once a Bad Seed- always a Bad Seed.

Thank you for everything Conway. Thank you.

x

SKEGSS.

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Hailing from Byron Bay, Skegss are one of the most exciting bands you’ll listen to this year and probably, ever. They make music that holds a sunny disposition that just makes you happy, even if you feel the total opposite. They’re definitely one of the best bands around who are making this kind of noise. It’s addictive Surfer Rock that just makes you want to have a good time, all the time.

On Friday, their debut record, My Own Mess will be released. I could have held off and just wrote about it then but this band is way too good for me to wait this one out. I cannot get enough of their feel good songs, and the way they just make you forget all your troubles. I’ve spent most of my morning at work with a migraine thinking I’m going to puke, but as I listen to Skegss on my dinner break- I feel alright!


Skegss make the kind of music that makes you want to just hit the beach and watch the world go by. They have such gorgeous songs that just make you feel so good, you know. Sometimes this is just what the mind, body and soul needs. I am so excited to hear the record on Friday. It’ll be a dinner break well spent writing about it. As I listen to them for the god knows how many time, I can’t get my head round the fact that their debut record hasn’t come out yet. They sound like a band who have been at this for absolutely ages and are about to release their fourth or fifth.
In November they’ll be touring the UK, and are playing one of my favourite venues in Manchester- The Deaf Institute, and get this- Dumb Punts are supporting them! That’s one of the best line-ups this year. Also, my birthday is in November so I’ll treat this as a belated celebration. I love how Skegss can just flip your mind inside out with their infectious songs that just make every part of you feel pretty damn great.
They’ve released a handful of singles and EPs, so if you’ve heard them then you’ll already have had a taste of how exceptional their debut record is going to be. I can’t wait to catch one of their shows in November. They give off such a DIY feel, and I’m pretty sure that their live shows are going to be just as wild as they sound on record. Australia sure knows how to hit us with amazing Surfer/Garage Rock. Skegss are a band that you cannot help but constantly praise. There is something about them that makes you really root for them, and hope they last a long, long time. We need bands like this. We need bands like Skegss to make us feel good especially when the world can be quite cruel at times. Their gentle and freeing sound is so consistent, and it’s definitely most apparent in the gorgeous song, Stranger. This is one of my favourites but to pick just one is impossible. Stranger is such a captivating song that I want to listen to on a loop. It feels like a soothing ray of sunshine. Then you’ve got New York California which is just a sublime song. This is the one that I cannot get enough of, and I really hope they play it in November because I’ve just GOT to see this one live.


I’m super excited to listen to the new record on Friday and to write about it. I’m pretty confident that it’ll be one of the best records we will hear this year. Sure summer may be over for most, but Skegss give us that summer mood in every song. Take some time out, and let Skegss provide the songs to watch the world drift by.

My Own Mess will be out this Friday on Ratbag Records.

Oh, one last thing- just listen to this song, and let it make you feel entirely free and let everything go:

THE DRACU-LAHS.

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Taking a break from my Costa Rican Garage Rock obsession, (please do feel free to send me more bands!) I’ve found a band from Indiana that make something that sounds like a cheap Horror film. I love them, and I hope you do too.

The Dracu-Lahs are made up of five friends who make scary music for us weirdos. They make the kind of music that would fit nicely in a horror film from the 60s. There’s this pretty cool atmosphere in the music that makes you think that maybe they aren’t real people; maybe we’ve dreamt them up and off they go into the night looking for prey.

Ooey Gooey is probably my favourite song so far, the title alone was enough to have me hooked. It’s a brilliant Garage Rock kind of song, but there’s something about it that makes you want to grab someone to make them learn the words with you, and you just shout the lyrics back and forth at each other. It’s a really great song, and it’s a pretty solid song to listen to whilst roaming the streets on your own just killing a bit of time.

Their bio states that their sound is, “Lo-fi horror garage fuelled by whiskey” which is a pretty accurate description of them. They sound like drunken vampires who feed off whiskey when there’s no more blood left to drain. It’s a perfect description of The Dracu-Lahs, and they really do have this solid raw sound that makes you feel you are watching them in their rehearsal room as they go absolutely apeshit. If you listen to the song Ants, you’ll get what I mean. It’s a completely wild song and you can sense how out of control they are when the music takes over, and I’m fairly sure that this is something that seeps into the crowd when at their shows. You can’t help but want this band to utterly possess you.

The Dracu-Lahs earlier songs are a bit louder and more brutal on the ears, and that’s something I really love about them. There’s this addictive angst in their earlier music, but don’t get me wrong- it’s definitely still there. This rage that comes out in the music just makes you want to break shit- even the stuff you probably shouldn’t break. Nothing is safe nor sacred when you start blasting out The Dracu-Lahs.

Never Have I Ever is one of their earlier songs that sound a bit like Wavves when Nathan was starting out. There’s this really cool Surfer Rock sound going on, but there’s definitely something Punk about the song. From their earlier songs, this is one I definitely love the most but honestly they’re just a great band who have such a big and mesmerising sound. I can’t get enough of them.

They make it sound so easy to play these kind of songs and to just take the listener deep into the underworld, and it’s most apparent on the song Succubus. They remind me of Misfits and The Cramps a little bit; brilliantly noisy and creepy. I just love them, and I love music that can freak me out a little bit. Their sound just gives off this real rowdy feel and you cannot help but let it all take hold of you. Again, they are a band that you’ve just got to play loud. The drums are ridiculous- so powerful and insane. I love how they dominate the songs at times to give off this sense of urgency. I love when a band does this.

The Dracu-Lahs are such an exciting band, and they have such a great DIY feel to their music. That’s just one of the many things I love about them. An absolute pleasure to listen to and write about!

LOS ESQUIZOIDES.

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My last band of the evening from Costa Rica are Los Esquizoides who have stated that The Mummies are an influence of theirs, so I am super excited to write about them.

There are three people in Los Esquizoides, and the way they scream on their songs and play with this boisterous energy makes you feel as if there is a gang of them. I love this big sound they have, and I’m just in awe of how great they sound. I love how they have taken all the elements of music that I love and have made something out of this world. The songs are fast and full of this energy that just grips you.

Goose is an incredible vocalist. He just lets his voice go out of control which is met with Paula on bass and Adrian on drums. Goose destroys the guitar also, and together they just have this amazing brutal sound that makes you want to join their band.

Something that I really admire about them is that they do not sound overproduced- they just let you hear them as they are. Utterly loud and unapologetically Punk. They have so much bite in their sound, and it just makes you want to make your own noise. I just love them and how they can truly take Punk and stretch it beyond our wildest imagination. They really have this ability to take something from the past and launch it into a time and place no one has been to yet. They are out of this world- are they human? I just fucking love them and how insanely talented they are.

I’m focusing a lot on their Mala Suerte, Es Viernes 13 record that came out in July. It’s a record that once you hear, you’re going to be hooked. You truly are, and once they get you- that’s it. The sound on this record is so good. It’s the kind of record that, if it was a person- you’d probably want to marry it or something. It’s got this sound that can shatter your bones and make you just want to move in wild ways. It’s just a record that you cannot get enough of. There is so much to talk about on this record, and I love that you can pick up on what influences them but by no means do they try and copy what’s been done before. There is something there that’s going to last longer than any of us on this planet. I love how Los Esquizoides just make you question everything you’ve ever listened to before and wonder why it took so long to find them.

Los Esquizoides are easily one of the most exciting bands around, and not just in Punk and Garage Rock. There is something about them that just makes you want to be totally invested in what they are going to do next. I’m totally enamoured by their sound and how brilliantly raw the songs are. It’s really obvious on the song I Know. I can’t call any of their songs as my favourite, every single one I’ve listened to has made me feel like I’ve discovered music for this first time. I just love them.

I love the song I Can’t Fit In. It’s got this real snotty Dead Boys feel about it, and maybe this could take the lead in being one of my favourites. I love the jangly sound with the fuzzy vocals. They’re just a band that make you immediately obsessed with them. They also have this hyperactive version of Surfin’ Bird that just makes you feel like you’re listening to someone who’s had way too much sugar. It’s a brilliant cover. Their demos are so good, and you cannot help but be in awe of these three people who make such incredible music- the demos are just as strong as their other songs. They’re just exceptional.

This is just the start of my love and obsession for Garage and Punk bands from Costa Rica. I know that there is more out there, and I cannot wait to delve further into it. But for now, wrap up your Saturday evening or start your day (depending on your time zone) by blasting out Los Esquizoides as loud as you possibly can.

LAS PYRAMIDES.

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Some of my neighbours are having parties and playing really awful dance music, but I’ve found some bands to block it all out with and play louder. Next up are Las Pyramides- an exceptional band to play whilst drowning out noise from others.

Of course, from Costa Rica this band are obviously great. They’ve been going around 3 years I think, and in July this year they put a really great EP out which I’m going to focus on.

The songs are strong Garage Rock songs that you’ve just GOT to play loud irrespective of if you have noisy neighbours. They make the kind of music you’d want to see at your local dive bar, they just give off such a beautiful energy with their music and I can’t get enough of it. I love how Fabian makes his guitar sound a bit like a chainsaw and unleashes his brilliant vocals at the same time. He makes his guitar sound like an intimidating weapon used to rip through the ears of anyone who listens to them. He’s an exceptional guitar player. Kevin has this really slick playing style which goes so well with Fabian, and you have Jose who just goes totally nuts on the drums. Together, these three have created something to truly move you and leave you wanting more and more.

Mente Perdida is my favourite song by them (I think it means Lost Mind) and it’s just under six minutes long. It’s a euphoric song that again, has this chainsaw guitar sound but the bass and drums are more relaxed here. I adore Fabian’s voice on this one, and like Kevin and Jose- this song truly shows how brilliant they each are as musicians, and together they just create such fascinating songs. Mente Perdida is the kind of song you’d hear in a bar when you’re just down on your luck and it unexpectedly makes everything alright. I love that then you listen to this song, you have no idea who it could be or when it is from. I really love when bands can make you feel like this because for me, it just shows how great they are and how powerful music really is.

There may only be three of them in the band but they give off this feeling that there’s about four others in the band. Their sound is huge, like really huge but not in an overwhelming way. They are exceptional musicians who make you just really focus on how well they sound together. I know I’ve mentioned it above, but Mente Perdida is a prime example of how effortlessly brilliant they sound together, and how great they are as musicians. Las Pyramides make music that goes beyond being Garage Rock and the style I love. They push themselves so much, and are unafraid to scare you with their sound or soothe you with their songs. They are a sheer joy to listen to, and again, I reckon they are a band that are just a pleasure to see live.

Las Pyramides are a band that just make your mind and body feel free, and like nothing matters- even if it painfully does. I love how they can just send you batshit wild with songs like Temprano En La Mañana- you just know that this is THE song that makes everyone go nuts in their live shows.

The band have this infectious energy that just makes you feel like you can’t enough of their wild sound. You can really sense the passion in their music and how they can just lead you into the unknown with their music.